Open AccessCharacterization of an oil‐degrading Microcoleus consortium by means of confocal scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy
Author(s) -
Diestra Elia,
Solé Antonio,
Martí Mercedes,
de Oteyza Tirso Garcia,
Grimalt Joan O.,
Esteve Isabel
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
scanning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.359
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1932-8745
pISSN - 0161-0457
DOI - 10.1002/sca.4950270404
Subject(s) - scanning electron microscope , transmission electron microscopy , scanning confocal electron microscopy , microscopy , scanning transmission electron microscopy , confocal microscopy , materials science , confocal laser scanning microscopy , chemistry , nanotechnology , biology , biophysics , optics , composite material , microbiology and biotechnology , physics
A consortium of microorganisms with the capacity to degrade crude oil has been characterized by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis using CLSM shows that Microcoleus chthonoplastes is the dominant organism in the consortium. This cyanobacterium forms long filaments that group together in bundles inside a mucopolysaccharide sheath. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have allowed us to demonstrate that this cyanobacterium forms a consortium primarily with three morphotypes of the heterotrophic microorganisms found in the Microcoleus chthonoplastes sheath. The optimal growth of Microcoleus consortium was obtained in presence of light and crude oil, and under anaerobic conditions. When grown in agar plate, only one type of colony (green and filamentous) was observed.