Functional complementarity in a heavy oil-degrading consortium through cross-feeding, detoxification, pH stability, and transcriptional relief

IF 10.6 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Journal of Hazardous Materials Pub Date : 2026-10-14 DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.143918

José Aparecido de Sousa Bernardino Leite, Júlia Firme Freitas, Patrícia Vieira de Araújo, Douglas Felipe de Lima Silva, Lucymara Fassarella Agnez Lima

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In vitro</em> assays validated that the consortium maintains neutral pH, mitigates toxic phenol accumulation, and displays bidirectional exudate cross-feeding. This detoxification prevents enzyme inhibition and triggers systemic transcriptional relief, as evidenced by RT-qPCR and total oil and grease (TOG) analysis. Social coordination is supported by quorum sensing networks (LuxI/LuxR and RiPP-like). Integrating <em>in silico</em> modeling with <em>in vitro</em> validation reveals functional complementarity through cross-feeding, detoxification, pH buffering, and bioavailability enhancement, sustaining continuous heavy oil mineralization.</div></div><div>Heavy oil bioremediation is challenged by hydrocarbon recalcitrance and toxicity, requiring synergistic microbial consortia. 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引用次数: 0

Abstract

•
Genomic and in vitro screening enabled the rational design of bacterial consortia.
•
BMC degraded 77% of 16° API heavy oil in 15 days, outperforming monocultures.
•
Biological pH buffering prevented acidification, preserving degradation activity.
•
Cross-feeding detoxified aromatic intermediates, driving transcriptional relief.
•
Metabolic division of labor in alkane and aromatic pathways drives mineralization.

Heavy oil bioremediation is challenged by hydrocarbon recalcitrance and toxicity, requiring synergistic microbial consortia. This study formulated a tripartite biodegradation microbial consortium (BMC) comprising Micrococcus luteus BD1, Acinetobacter baumannii subsp. oleum ficedula BD54, and Ochrobactrum oleinvorans BD61, guided by genomic screening and Flux Balance Analysis (FBA). In microcosms, the BMC achieved 77% degradation of heavy oil (16° API) in 15 days, significantly outperforming monocultures. Initially, all strains attack aliphatic fractions, with BD1 operating via monooxygenases and adh, while BD54 and BD61 secrete biosurfactants (80% emulsification). In late stages, as BD54 and BD61 shift to complex aromatic cleavage (benD and pcaH), BD1 transitions into a detoxifying "metabolic sink" supporting pH stability. FBA and Flux Variability Analysis (FVA) provided a testable hypothesis of proton-associated metabolism. In vitro assays validated that the consortium maintains neutral pH, mitigates toxic phenol accumulation, and displays bidirectional exudate cross-feeding. This detoxification prevents enzyme inhibition and triggers systemic transcriptional relief, as evidenced by RT-qPCR and total oil and grease (TOG) analysis. Social coordination is supported by quorum sensing networks (LuxI/LuxR and RiPP-like). Integrating in silico modeling with in vitro validation reveals functional complementarity through cross-feeding, detoxification, pH buffering, and bioavailability enhancement, sustaining continuous heavy oil mineralization.

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通过交叉取食、解毒、pH稳定和转录缓解的重油降解联合体的功能互补

•基因组和体外筛选使细菌联合体的合理设计成为可能。BMC在15天内降解了77%的16°API稠油，优于单一培养。•生物pH缓冲防止酸化，保持降解活性。•交叉喂养解毒芳香中间体，驱动转录缓解。•在烷烃和芳香途径的代谢分工驱动矿化。重油生物修复受到烃类难降解性和毒性的挑战，需要协同微生物群。本研究构建了由黄体微球菌BD1、鲍曼不动杆菌亚种组成的生物降解微生物联合体（BMC）。在基因组筛选和通量平衡分析（FBA）的指导下，研究了油棕乳杆菌（ochrobacum oleinvorans） BD61。在微观环境中，BMC在15天内对稠油（API为16°）的降解率达到77%，明显优于单一培养。最初，所有菌株都攻击脂肪组分，BD1通过单加氧酶和adh起作用，而BD54和BD61分泌生物表面活性剂（80%乳化）。在后期，当BD54和BD61转变为复杂的芳香裂解（benD和pcaH）时，BD1转变为支持pH稳定的解毒“代谢汇”。FBA和通量变异性分析（FVA）提供了一个可验证的质子相关代谢假设。体外实验证实，该联合体维持中性pH值，减轻有毒苯酚积累，并显示双向渗出交叉喂养。RT-qPCR和总油脂（TOG）分析证明，这种解毒可以防止酶抑制并触发系统转录缓解。群体感应网络（LuxI/LuxR和类似ripp的网络）支持社会协调。将硅模型与体外验证相结合，揭示了通过交叉喂养、解毒、pH缓冲和生物利用度增强，维持持续的稠油矿化的功能互补。重油生物修复受到烃类难降解性和毒性的挑战，需要协同微生物群。本研究构建了由黄体微球菌BD1、鲍曼不动杆菌亚种组成的生物降解微生物联合体（BMC）。在基因组筛选和通量平衡分析（FBA）的指导下，研究了油棕乳杆菌（ochrobacum oleinvorans） BD61。在微观环境中，BMC在15天内对稠油（API为16°）的降解率达到77%，明显优于单一培养。最初，所有菌株都攻击脂肪组分，BD1通过单加氧酶和adh起作用，而BD54和BD61分泌生物表面活性剂（80%乳化）。在后期，当BD54和BD61转变为复杂的芳香裂解（benD和pcaH）时，BD1转变为支持pH稳定的解毒“代谢汇”。FBA和通量变异性分析（FVA）提供了一个可验证的质子相关代谢假设。体外实验证实，该联合体维持中性pH值，减轻有毒苯酚积累，并显示双向渗出交叉喂养。RT-qPCR和总油脂（TOG）分析证明，这种解毒可以防止酶抑制并触发系统转录缓解。群体感应网络（LuxI/LuxR和类似ripp的网络）支持社会协调。将硅模型与体外验证相结合，揭示了通过交叉喂养、解毒、pH缓冲和生物利用度增强，维持持续的稠油矿化的功能互补。下载：下载高分辨率图片（245KB）下载：下载全尺寸图片

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来源期刊

Journal of Hazardous Materials 工程技术-工程：环境

CiteScore

25.40

自引率

5.90%

发文量

3059

审稿时长

58 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Hazardous Materials serves as a global platform for promoting cutting-edge research in the field of Environmental Science and Engineering. Our publication features a wide range of articles, including full-length research papers, review articles, and perspectives, with the aim of enhancing our understanding of the dangers and risks associated with various materials concerning public health and the environment. It is important to note that the term "environmental contaminants" refers specifically to substances that pose hazardous effects through contamination, while excluding those that do not have such impacts on the environment or human health. Moreover, we emphasize the distinction between wastes and hazardous materials in order to provide further clarity on the scope of the journal. We have a keen interest in exploring specific compounds and microbial agents that have adverse effects on the environment.