University of Duisburg-Essen, Biofilm Centre, Universitätsstr. 5, 41451, Essen, Germany.
University of Duisburg-Essen, Biofilm Centre, Universitätsstr. 5, 41451, Essen, Germany.
N Biotechnol. 2019 Mar 25;49:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nbt.2018.11.006. Epub 2018 Nov 28.
Microorganisms are present in oil reservoirs around the world where they degrade oil and lead to changes in oil quality. Unfortunately, our knowledge about processes in deep oil reservoirs is limited due to the lack of undisturbed samples. In this review, we discuss the distribution of microorganisms at the oil-water transition zone as well as in water saturated parts of the oil leg and their possible physiological adaptations to abiotic and biotic ecological factors such as temperature, salinity and viruses. We show the importance of studying the water phase within the oil, because small water inclusions and pockets within the oil leg provide an exceptional habitat for microorganisms within a natural oil reservoir and concurrently enlarge the zone of oil biodegradation. Environmental factors such as temperature and salinity control oil biodegradation. Temperature determines the type of microorganisms which are able to inhabit the reservoir. Proteobacteria and Euryarchaeota, are ubiquitous in oil reservoirs over all temperature ranges, whereas some others are tied to specific temperatures. It is proposed that biofilm formation is the dominant way of life within oil reservoirs, enhancing nutrient uptake, syntrophic interactions and protection against environmental stress. Literature shows that viruses are abundant in oil reservoirs and the possible impact on microbial community composition due to control of microbial activity and function is discussed.
微生物存在于世界各地的油藏中，它们会降解石油并导致石油质量发生变化。不幸的是，由于缺乏未受干扰的样本，我们对深部油藏中的过程的了解有限。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了微生物在油水过渡带以及水饱和油段中的分布及其对温度、盐度和病毒等非生物和生物生态因素的可能生理适应。我们展示了研究油相内水相的重要性，因为油段内的小水滴和小口袋为微生物在天然油藏中提供了一个特殊的栖息地，并同时扩大了石油生物降解区。环境因素如温度和盐度控制着石油的生物降解。温度决定了能够栖息在储层中的微生物的类型。变形菌门和古菌在所有温度范围内都普遍存在于油藏中，而其他一些则与特定温度有关。有人提出，生物膜的形成是油藏中主要的生活方式，它增强了营养物质的吸收、共生相互作用和对环境胁迫的保护。文献表明，病毒在油藏中大量存在，并且由于控制微生物的活性和功能，可能对微生物群落组成产生影响。
