Surfactants, both synthetic and natural, are used in a wide range of industrial applications, including the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Organisms from extreme environments are well-adapted to the harsh conditions and represent an exciting avenue of discovery of naturally occurring biosurfactants, yet microorganisms from cold environments have been largely overlooked for their biotechnological potential as biosurfactant producers. In this study, four cold-adapted bacterial isolates from Antarctica are investigated for their ability to produce biosurfactants. Here we report on the physical properties and chemical structure of biosurfactants from the genera Janthinobacterium, Psychrobacter, and Serratia. These organisms were able to grow on diesel, motor oil, and crude oil at 4 °C. Putative identification showed the presence of sophorolipids and rhamnolipids. Emulsion index test (E₂₄) activity ranged from 36.4–66.7%. Oil displacement tests were comparable to 0.1–1.0% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solutions. Data presented herein are the first report of organisms of the genus Janthinobacterium to produce biosurfactants and their metabolic capabilities to degrade diverse petroleum hydrocarbons. The organisms’ ability to produce biosurfactants and grow on different hydrocarbons as their sole carbon and energy source at low temperatures (4 °C) makes them suitable candidates for the exploration of hydrocarbon bioremediation in low-temperature environments.

中文翻译：

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来自极地微生物的低温生物表面活性剂。


合成和天然表面活性剂广泛用于工业应用，包括石油烃的降解。来自极端环境的生物能够很好地适应恶劣的条件，并代表了发现天然存在的生物表面活性剂的令人兴奋的途径，但来自寒冷环境的微生物因其作为生物表面活性剂生产者的生物技术潜力而在很大程度上被忽视。在这项研究中，研究了来自南极洲的四种适应寒冷的细菌分离株生产生物表面活性剂的能力。在这里，我们报告了来自詹蒂诺杆菌属、精神杆菌属和沙雷氏菌属的生物表面活性剂的物理性质和化学结构。这些生物体能够在 4°C 的柴油、机油和原油中生长。推定鉴定显示存在槐糖脂和鼠李糖脂。乳液指数测试( E ₂₄ )活性范围为36.4–66.7%。驱油测试与 0.1–1.0% 十二烷基硫酸钠 (SDS) 溶液相当。本文提供的数据是詹蒂诺杆菌属生物体生产生物表面活性剂及其降解多种石油烃的代谢能力的首次报告。这些生物体能够在低温（4°C）下生产生物表面活性剂并以不同的碳氢化合物作为其唯一的碳和能源生长，这使得它们成为探索低温环境下碳氢化合物生物修复的合适候选者。