Oil is still the main energy matrix on the planet. However, it is also a primary polluting source. Several petroleum-derived hydrocarbons are toxic and can persist in the environment for many years. In this way, developing green and ecologically friendly techniques to treat
residues and environments contaminated by hydrocarbons is of interest. In this sense, microorganism-mediated bioremediation stands out since microorganisms represent the largest biomass on the planet and are responsible for the biogeochemical cycles, presenting a high metabolic versatility, which includes different genes and metabolic pathways associated with the degradation of compounds, such as hydrocarbons, being applicable in bioremediation
strategies.
Significant work has been done concerning microbial hydrocarbon bioremediation during recent decades, and a variety of mixed cultures and pure cultures have shown their metabolic versatility in hydrocarbon degradation. However, our knowledge about the constitution and dynamics of microbial ecosystems responsible for hydrocarbon degradation is still limited, since a large portion of microbes are unculturable in the laboratory by the available techniques. Thus, cultivation-independent techniques, such as metagenomics, metaproteomics and metatranscriptomics, have allowed access to the genetic heritage of non-cultivable species, which may bring significant contributions to the knowledge of genetics, biochemistry, and microbial ecology for the treatment of hydrocarbon contamination. For example, the cultivation-independent techniques have been applied to identify the
compositions of microbial communities relevant to hydrocarbon bioremediation, and to elucidate how environmental factors affect the functions of hydrocarbon-degrading communities. Furthermore, with the aid of genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics, a deeper understanding of microbial hydrocarbon degradation from genes to metabolic pathways can be achieved.
Regarding this lack of knowledge about the microbial universe, it is essential to invest in research that leads to a better understanding of species, genes, and their mechanisms of gene
expression control and metabolic pathways associated with hydrocarbons degradation, aiming at strategies of increasingly efficient bioremediation.
In this context, this collection focuses on genetics, biochemistry, and molecular ecology of microbial hydrocarbon degradation and biotechnological approaches to bioremediation. This
article collection welcomes high-quality works, including (but not limited to) the following themes:
• Genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways involved in hydrocarbon degradation
• Gene expression control mechanisms involved in hydrocarbon degradation
• Roles and mechanisms of biosurfactants as adjuvants in hydrocarbon degradation
• Emerging technologies valuable in microbial bioremediation of hydrocarbon contamination
Oil is still the main energy matrix on the planet. However, it is also a primary polluting source. Several petroleum-derived hydrocarbons are toxic and can persist in the environment for many years. In this way, developing green and ecologically friendly techniques to treat
residues and environments contaminated by hydrocarbons is of interest. In this sense, microorganism-mediated bioremediation stands out since microorganisms represent the largest biomass on the planet and are responsible for the biogeochemical cycles, presenting a high metabolic versatility, which includes different genes and metabolic pathways associated with the degradation of compounds, such as hydrocarbons, being applicable in bioremediation
strategies.
Significant work has been done concerning microbial hydrocarbon bioremediation during recent decades, and a variety of mixed cultures and pure cultures have shown their metabolic versatility in hydrocarbon degradation. However, our knowledge about the constitution and dynamics of microbial ecosystems responsible for hydrocarbon degradation is still limited, since a large portion of microbes are unculturable in the laboratory by the available techniques. Thus, cultivation-independent techniques, such as metagenomics, metaproteomics and metatranscriptomics, have allowed access to the genetic heritage of non-cultivable species, which may bring significant contributions to the knowledge of genetics, biochemistry, and microbial ecology for the treatment of hydrocarbon contamination. For example, the cultivation-independent techniques have been applied to identify the
compositions of microbial communities relevant to hydrocarbon bioremediation, and to elucidate how environmental factors affect the functions of hydrocarbon-degrading communities. Furthermore, with the aid of genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics, a deeper understanding of microbial hydrocarbon degradation from genes to metabolic pathways can be achieved.
Regarding this lack of knowledge about the microbial universe, it is essential to invest in research that leads to a better understanding of species, genes, and their mechanisms of gene
expression control and metabolic pathways associated with hydrocarbons degradation, aiming at strategies of increasingly efficient bioremediation.
In this context, this collection focuses on genetics, biochemistry, and molecular ecology of microbial hydrocarbon degradation and biotechnological approaches to bioremediation. This
article collection welcomes high-quality works, including (but not limited to) the following themes:
• Genes, enzymes, and metabolic pathways involved in hydrocarbon degradation
• Gene expression control mechanisms involved in hydrocarbon degradation
• Roles and mechanisms of biosurfactants as adjuvants in hydrocarbon degradation
• Emerging technologies valuable in microbial bioremediation of hydrocarbon contamination