Volume 5, Number 3/4, pp. 84-88
The theoretical basis of universal identification systems for bacteria and viruses
L. Amiranashvili 1, N. Gagelidze 1, L. Tinikashvili1, Kh. Varsimashvili 1, D. Chrikishvili 1, D. Graves 3, E. Kirtadze 1, M. Ghoghoberidze 1 and G. Kvesitadze 1
1
S. Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Georgian Academy of Sciences, 10th km David Agmasheneblis Kheivani, 0159 Tbilisi, Georgia
2
A. Janelidze Institute of Geology, Georgian Academy of Sciences, 9 M. Alexidze St, 0193 Tbilisi, Georgia
3
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 311A Towne Building, 220 South 33 St. Philadelphia, PA 19104-6393, USA
Microflora from Georgian soils contaminated with organic toxicants have been investigated in order to reveal microorganisms that can degrade mineral oil. 202 strains of freshly isolated cultures together with others kept in our collections have been tested for their ability to degrade such oil. Cultures kept in the collection utilized mineral oil much more efficiently when supplemented with glucose. Over 70% of the freshly isolated cultures possessed some oil degradative ability but only 25% of them were characterized by average and heavy growth on 2% oil-containing media. In three strains the total petroleum hydrocarbons were reduced to trace amounts after 3 weeks of incubation.
Keywords: bio-emulsifying ability, carbohydrate, oil degradative capability, total petroleum hydrocarbons