Genomic and Metabolic Adaptations of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria in Iraq’s Surface Waters

Abstract

Oil exploration and extraction operations have contributed significantly to hydrocarbon contamination in surface water in Iraq. Molecules which acquire an adaptive properties through the genomic and metabolic changes of indigenous bacteria able to live in hydrocarbon polluted areas of the world are investigated. Water samples were gathered from twelve distinct polluted locations. GC-MS was used to determine the amount of hydrocarbons in the water. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) was measured to determine the level of pollution. Citrobacter freundii and Bacillus cereus were isolated and identified using 16S rRNA sequencing and VITEK 2. Bioinformatics analysis and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were used to identify genetic mutations in hydrocarbon-degrading pathways. Metabolomic and proteomic analyses assessed functional adaptations. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these strains are genetically related to industrial and coastal bacteria from China and India. Statistical analyses of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation were performed to verify that the results were robust. This study provides valuable insights into microbial adaptation in hydrocarbon-impacted habitats, and assesses the suitability of such strains in bioremediation technologies