Microbes reshape oil droplets for efficient biodegradation

A team of French and Japanese scientists have discovered that a type of oil-eating microbe, Alcanivorax borkumensis, reshapes droplets to optimize biodegradation. The researchers observed that when exposed to crude oil, the bacteria formed biofilms around the oil droplets. In one experiment, the bacteria formed a sphere around the droplet, while in another, finger-like protrusions radiated out from the sphere, resulting in faster and more efficient consumption of the droplet. The protrusions increased the oil surface area exposure, allowing more bacteria to consume the oil simultaneously. This finding provides insights into the process of crude oil consumption by sea microbes and could contribute to the development of more effective oil spill cleanup strategies.