Bacteria against pollution

Pseudomonas are aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria. They can use over one hundred organic compounds as a source of energy and carbon. Because of this, some strains have been used to remove highly polluting, hard-to-degrade compounds, such as some components of oil, fungicides, pesticides and herbicides. Research is testing several methods to use these bacteria in ecological disasters caused by oil leaks from tankers. In particular, strains are being selected in an attempt to find those that are able to feed on oil. These micro-organisms break up the masses of crude oil that float on the water or soil the beaches and destroy them through digestion.

 
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Special reports

From the Multimedia section

Facts

  • Bio-luminescence

    Many sea animals, including a lot of fish and molluscs that live in the dark in the ocean depths...

    Bacteria as miners

    The ability of chemoautotrophic bacteria to take energy from...

    Bacteria as detergents

    Enzymes are proteins produced by the cells of all living organisms...

  • Bacteria as Sherlock Holmes

    A drop of blood, a fragment of skin or a hair found on the scene of a crime can supply…

    Down-pouring bacteria

    It sounds incredible, but recent researches have found that bacteria can cause some atmospheric phenomena...

    High-fashion bacteria

    Some bacteria, the Clostridia, were used to make textile fibres...

  • Who lives well with low oxygen?

    <i><span style="font-style: normal; " class="Apple-style-span"><i><em>Aquandriella fermentas</em> </i>lives in stagnant waters and can stand complete anaerobiosis...</span></i>

    Predator mushroom

    <em>Pleutrotus ostreatus</em> mushroom does not have teeth or claws but it is...

    Let’s eat!

    The economic importance of fungi is increased by the “edible” mushrooms...

  • 13 May 2011

    Bio-luminescence

    Many sea animals, including a lot of fish and molluscs that live in the dark in the ocean depths...

    Bacteria as miners

    The ability of chemoautotrophic bacteria to take energy from...

  • Bacteria as detergents

    Enzymes are proteins produced by the cells of all living organisms...

    Bacteria as Sherlock Holmes

    A drop of blood, a fragment of skin or a hair found on the scene of a crime can supply…

  • Down-pouring bacteria

    It sounds incredible, but recent researches have found that bacteria can cause some atmospheric phenomena...

    High-fashion bacteria

    Some bacteria, the Clostridia, were used to make textile fibres...

  • Bio-luminescence

    Many sea animals, including a lot of fish and molluscs that live in the dark in the ocean depths...

  • Bacteria as miners

    The ability of chemoautotrophic bacteria to take energy from...

  • Bacteria as detergents

    Enzymes are proteins produced by the cells of all living organisms...