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Microbiology JoVE (Open Access) Citable · DOI

Prospecting Microbial Strains for Bioremediation and Probiotics Development for Metaorganism Research and Preservation

DOI: 10.3791/60238-v
What you'll learn
  • ✓ Isolate estrogen and oil-degrading bacteria from marine samples
  • ✓ Assess microbial bioremediation capacity using culture-based methods
  • ✓ Evaluate probiotic potential of isolated strains for coral health
  • ✓ Preserve and maintain bioremediation-capable microbial consortia
Protocol

Pollution affects all biomes. Marine environments have been particularly impacted, especially coral reefs, one of the most sensitive ecosystems on Earth. Bioremediation is the capacity of organisms to degrade contaminants. Here, we describe methodologies to isolate and test microbes presenting bioremediation ability and potential probiotic characteristics for corals.

Difficulty
intermediate
Total time
~1–2 weeks (isolation and enrichment phases; screening varies by strain)
Model organism
Coral species (host); marine microorganisms
Biosafety
BSL-1

Steps

1
Collect and store water and coral samples

Gather seawater and coral tissue samples from field sites or aquaria. Preserve samples at appropriate temperature to maintain microbial viability for downstream isolation.

▶ 01:27
2
Isolate EE2-degrading bacteria from environmental samples

Enrich seawater or coral-derived samples in minimal medium containing estrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) as sole carbon source. Plate serial dilutions to obtain pure cultures of EE2-degrading isolates.

▶ 03:11
3
Isolate oil-degrading bacteria from environmental samples

Enrich marine samples in minimal medium supplemented with crude oil or refined hydrocarbons. Culture and plate to isolate oil-degrading bacterial strains.

▶ 05:50
4
Characterize bioremediator consortium and probiotic traits

Combine isolated degrader strains into a consortium. Test for antimicrobial, quorum-sensing, or stress-mitigation properties relevant to coral health and bioremediation efficacy.

▶ 07:35
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