RAPID: Accelerating biodegradation of hydrocarbons from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico with Naturally Occurring Marine Substrates

该提案的主要目标是确定提高墨西哥湾北部沿海地区深水地平线灾难性石油泄漏造成的碳氢化合物生物降解率的方法。这次正在进行的石油泄漏灾难的范围和影响是前所未有的，迫切需要尽快获得关键环境数据的信息。本研究的目标包括：(1)确定受影响地区加速生物降解速率的内源性有机物来源；(2)确定促进多环芳烃（PAH）降解并进行PAH基因水平基因转移的本地微生物联合体的组成和基因组潜力；(3)研究在一年的石油风化过程中微生物联合体的速率过程和组成的变化。将通过实验确定当地海洋基质是否适合加强到达海岸的碳氢化合物的生物降解。将用合适的有机源进行实地试验，以确定原位降解率。微生物联合体的组成和基因组潜力促进多环芳烃降解在实验室和现场设置将进行调查。长期目标是根据可靠的生物数据制定可行的工程解决方案，以协助减轻近海和沿海石油污染的长期影响。布鲁斯·汉密尔顿项目主任环境可持续性5/24/10

The primary goal of this proposal is to determine means of enhancing rates of biodegradation of the hydrocarbons in the coastal zone of the Northern Gulf of Mexico resulting from the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The scope and impact of the this ongoing oil spill disaster are of unprecedented scale and information on key environmental data is critically needed as quickly as possible. The objectives of this research include (1) identify sources of endogenous organic matter in the affected areas that accelerate biodegradation rates, (2) identify the composition and genomic potential of the indigenous microbial consortium to promote polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) degradation and to undergo horizontal gene transfer off PAH genes, and (3) examine changes in rate processes and composition of the microbial consortium as the oil is weathered over the course of a year. The suitability of local marine substrates for enhancing the biodegradation of the hydrocarbons reaching the shore will be determined experimentally. Field experiments with the suitable organic source will be conducted to determine rates of in situ degradation. The composition and genomic potential of the microbial consortium to promote PAH degradation in laboratory and field settings will be investigated. A longer term objective is to develop feasible engineering solutions based on sound biological data to assist in mitigating the long-ranging effects of offshore and coastal oil contamination. Bruce HamiltonProgram DirectorEnvironmental Sustainability5/24/10