Molecular Markers in Hydrocarbon Degradation: State of the Art and Prospective in South America

LANFRANCONI MP,; ALVAREZ HM

Bioremediation in Latin America: Current Research and Perspectives

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlín; Año: 2014; p. 193 - 208

In South America petroleum production is one of the principal economic resources for various countries. Although petroleum and its derivatives fuel daily life, the major concern to their use is related to the high environmental risk of oil spills. Whether it is a large and acute or small and frequent exposure, the ecosystem must adapt to the scenario and rely on those microorganisms capable of regenerating the system. Bacteria have a central role in bioremediation and different catabolic pathways involved in saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons removal have been identified from isolated strains. The traditional isolation and pure cultivation approach allows a thorough physiological study of the process occurring in these strains. However, the accuracy in linking composition to function using this approach is debatable. Culture-independent techniques applied to the metabolism of components of petroleum can be used to discover novel genes and catabolic routes directly from the environment. This chapter presents an updated overview of different approaches and molecular markers used in hydrocarbon degradation in coasts from South America as well as those methods already used outside the geographic scope of this work that still need to be acknowledged in this region.