Screening of Halophilic Bacteria Able to Degrade Crude Oil Contamination from Alborz Oil Field, Qom, Iran.

Halophilic bacteria which adapted to live under extreme conditions are worthy sources of enzymes in industrial microbiology and bioremediation. This study aimed to isolate halophilic bacteria which are able to use crude oil as the only carbon source. Fifteen soil samples were collected from Alborz oil field near city Qom, Iran. Liquid mediums containing soil samples, 5,10 and 15% of artificial sea water (ASW) and crude oil as the sole carbon source incubated at 37 °C for one week. Two gram negative moderately halophilic bacteria designated BM1 and BM2 were isolated. Supplementary molecular analysis using 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that they belong to Halomonas and Ochrobactrum genera, respectively. Biochemical tests showed they are both positive for extracellular lipase activity. Considering to cleanup the majority of oil contamination at Alborz oil field, further efforts should be focused on research to understand the degradation mechanism and identification of the enzymes involved in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]