The peculiar biotechnological applications of Oleispira spp. in the natural cleansing of oil-polluted marine systems stimulated the study of the phenotypic characteristics of the Oleispira antarctica RB-8(T) strain and modifications of these characteristics in relation to different growth conditions. Bacterial abundance, cell size and morphology variations (by image analysis) and hydrocarbon degradation (by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection, GC-FID) were analysed in different cultures of O. antarctica RB-8(T). The effects of six different hydrocarbon mixtures (diesel, engine oil, naval oil waste, bilge water, jet fuel and oil) used as a single carbon source combined with two different growth temperatures (4° and 15 °C) were analysed (for 22 days). The data obtained showed that the mean cell volume decreased with increasing experimental temperature. Three morphological bacterial shapes were identified: spirals, rods and cocci. Morphological transition from spiral to rod and coccoid shapes in relation to the different substrates (oil mixtures) and/or growth temperatures was observed, except for one experimental condition (naval oil waste) in which spiral bacteria were mostly dominant. Phenotypic traits and physiological status of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria showed important modifications in relation to culture conditions. These findings suggest interesting potential for strain RB-8(T) for ecological and applicative purposes.

中文翻译：

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Oleispira antarctica RB-8(T) 在不同生长条件下的表型变异

Oleispira spp. 特有的生物技术应用。在石油污染的海洋系统的自然清洁中，刺激了对南极橄榄 RB-8(T) 菌株表型特征的研究，以及这些特征在不同生长条件下的变化。在 O. antarctica RB-8(T) 的不同培养物中分析了细菌丰度、细胞大小和形态变化（通过图像分析）和碳氢化合物降解（通过气相色谱和火焰离子化检测，GC-FID）。分析了用作单一碳源的六种不同碳氢化合物混合物（柴油、发动机油、船舶废油、舱底水、喷气燃料和油）与两种不同的生长温度（4°C 和 15°C）相结合的效果（对于 22天）。获得的数据表明平均细胞体积随着实验温度的升高而减小。确定了三种形态细菌形状：螺旋状、杆状和球菌。观察到与不同底物（油混合物）和/或生长温度有关的从螺旋形到杆形和球形的形态转变，除了一种实验条件（海军废油），其中螺旋细菌占主导地位。碳氢化合物降解细菌的表型特征和生理状态显示出与培养条件相关的重要改变。这些发现表明菌株 RB-8(T) 具有用于生态和应用目的的有趣潜力。观察到与不同底物（油混合物）和/或生长温度有关的从螺旋形到杆形和球形的形态转变，除了一种实验条件（海军废油），其中螺旋细菌占主导地位。碳氢化合物降解细菌的表型特征和生理状态显示出与培养条件相关的重要改变。这些发现表明菌株 RB-8(T) 具有用于生态和应用目的的有趣潜力。观察到与不同底物（油混合物）和/或生长温度有关的从螺旋形到杆形和球形的形态转变，除了一种实验条件（海军废油），其中螺旋细菌占主导地位。碳氢化合物降解细菌的表型特征和生理状态显示出与培养条件相关的重要改变。这些发现表明菌株 RB-8(T) 具有用于生态和应用目的的有趣潜力。