Putative biosurfactants from polar microbial consortia
- 1University of Manitoba
Abstract
Biosurfactants (BS) are amphiphilic microbial metabolites that are biodegradable, low in toxicity, and environmentally compatible, making them attractive for applications in food, pharmaceutical, and bioremediation industries. This study investigated the phylogenetic composition and biosurfactant-producing potential of marine oil snow (MOS)-associated microbial consortia from the Churchill Marine Observatory, western Hudson Bay. MOS aggregates were cultivated in mineral Bushnell-Haas (BH) medium supplemented with 3% (w/v) NaCl, using motor oil as the sole hydrocarbon source. Enrichment cultures capable of growth in BH medium were subsequently evaluated for biosurfactant production using qualitative and quantitative assays at 4 {degrees}C and 20 {degrees}C. All cultures were maintained as enrichment consortia throughout the study. A total of eight enrichment cultures were identified as biosurfactant-producing consortia. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that Pseudoalteromonas dominated all consortia, while Paraglaciecola, Marinomonas, and other taxa were present at varying relative abundances. Although none of the consortia exhibited high emulsification activity (E24 > 40%), biosurfactant yields were significantly higher at 4 {degrees}C. Additionally, three consortia tested positive for rhamnolipid-type biosurfactant production.
Related
- Assessment of Microbial Consortia for Biogenic Mineralization Potential of Lead (Pb) using Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation and Nitrate Reduction
- Multichromatic Dynamic Control of Multi-Membered Microbial Consortia Compositions for Chemical Production
- Ratiometric growth-rate control enables robust coexistence in competing microbial consortia
- Microbial systems for azo dye biodegradation: enzymatic mechanisms, microbial consortia, and emerging biotechnological strategies
- Antifungal Activity of Sourdough Microbial Consortia and the Impact of Volatile Organic Compounds
BibTeX
@misc{vidanage2026putative,
title = {{Putative biosurfactants from polar microbial consortia}},
author = {T. Vidanage and D. Desmond and R. E. Collins},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.64898/2026.11.02.763558},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.02.763558v1},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Putative biosurfactants from polar microbial consortia
AU - T. Vidanage
AU - D. Desmond
AU - R. E. Collins
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.11.02.763558
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.02.763558v1
AB - Biosurfactants (BS) are amphiphilic microbial metabolites that are biodegradable, low in toxicity, and environmentally compatible, making them attractive for applications in food, pharmaceutical, and bioremediation industries. This study investigated the phylogenetic composition and biosurfactant-producing potential of marine oil snow (MOS)-associated microbial consortia from the Churchill Marine Observatory, western Hudson Bay. MOS aggregates were cultivated in mineral Bushnell-Haas (BH) medium supplemented with 3% (w/v) NaCl, using motor oil as the sole hydrocarbon source. Enrichment cultures capable of growth in BH medium were subsequently evaluated for biosurfactant production using qualitative and quantitative assays at 4 {degrees}C and 20 {degrees}C. All cultures were maintained as enrichment consortia throughout the study. A total of eight enrichment cultures were identified as biosurfactant-producing consortia. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that Pseudoalteromonas dominated all consortia, while Paraglaciecola, Marinomonas, and other taxa were present at varying relative abundances. Although none of the consortia exhibited high emulsification activity (E24 > 40%), biosurfactant yields were significantly higher at 4 {degrees}C. Additionally, three consortia tested positive for rhamnolipid-type biosurfactant production.
ER -