ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Jet A-1 Bacterial Contamination: a Case Study
of Cultivable Bacteria Diversity, Alkane
Degradation and Biofilm Formation
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Center for Research, Consulting and Training in Microbiology, Genetics and Biotechnology (MICROGEN),
Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Submission date: 2018-08-25
Final revision date: 2018-10-13
Acceptance date: 2018-10-21
Online publication date: 2019-07-30
Publication date: 2019-09-17
Corresponding author
Ana-Maria Tănase
University of Bucharest, Department of Genetics, Aleea Intrarea Portocalelor nr.1-3, 060101 Bucharest, Romania
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(6):4139-4146
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ABSTRACT
Bacterial contamination during fuel storage can lead to fuel biodegradation (biodeterioration) or
infrastructure problems (i.e., microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), biofouling, etc.). Jet A-1
storage tank samples were screened, and 23 morphologically distinct bacterial strains were isolated.
6 isolates revealed biofilm initiation capacity. For 12 isolates the alkane monooxygenase gene (alkB) was
successfully detected. The 12 alkB-possessing isolates were 16S rDNA sequences identified as belonging
to Bradyrhizobium, Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Methylobacterium and Lelliottia genera. In
addition to possessing enzymatic equipment (AlkB) required for alkane oxidation, 10 out of 12 isolates
were able to use Jet A-1 and n-tetradecane as their sole carbon source and energy. Biofilm initiation
capacity and the ability to grow on different hydrocarbons highlights once again that fuel bacterial
contamination can lead to serious fuel and storage system alterations. In contrast, their adaptation to high
concentrations of hydrocarbons highlights the potential use of our isolates for bioremediation processes.