Petroleum microbiology - Part 1: Underlying biochemistry and physiology

In the microbial world, hydrocarbons are widely used by bacteria, fungi and algae as a substrate from which to extract energy and building blocks for cellular structures. These metabolic capabilities have resulted in the development of microbial technologies for enhanced petroleum recovery, biorefining and petroleum waste management. With advances in molecular biology, techniques to describe microbial communities have emerged and been applied to environments where hydrocarbonoclastic microorganisms are found (1). As new culture approaches are developed, our understanding of the diverse physiologies and metabolic tools that microorganisms employ to detect, access, internalize, and consume hydrocarbons will expand. In addition, the varied approaches that microorganisms employ to mitigate potentially toxic effects on their cellular structures and functions will be revealed.