Bacteria cooperate to maximize their impact on oil spills
Researchers make progress in clarifying the link between biofilm formation and oil degradation.
Oil spills are disastrous for the natural environment, as they lead to long lasting pollution that harms surrounding wildlife. However, certain oil-degrading bacteria thrive in oil-spill conditions and contribute remarkably to the bioremediation of oil. Although biofilms, which are communities formed by bacteria, play a crucial role in the bioremediation of oil, how biofilms engage with oil in the ocean has remained unclear.
In a study published in Science, researchers have made significant progress in clarifying the link between biofilm formation and oil degradation using a state-of-the-art microfluidic observation system. Combined with high-resolution confocal microscopes, this system helps to visualize the interactions between bacterial cells and microscopic oil droplets that measure about half the diameter of a hair.