Distribution of pathogenic vibrios and Vibrio spp. in the water column and sediment samples from the southern Gulf of Mexico.

This study quantified the distribution of Vibrio spp. by qPCR and pathogenic vibrio species by metagenomics, during 2 oceanographic cruises-XIXIMI-04 and XIXIMI-05 -in the southern Gulf of Mexico (GoMex). A total of 708 samples from various levels of the water column and 22 sediment samples were analyzed, according to a designed net of sampling lines. Sampling was focused on reported water masses with distinctive characteristics, to detect the presence-absence of vibrios. The results indicated that the genus Vibrio was detected along the entire water column and in sediments. Pathogenic vibrios, such as V, campbellii, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus or V. cholerae were also detected in the water column and in sediments, in both oceanographic cruises. Thus, the ecological conditions of the GoMex permit the growth of Vibrio spp. in deep water environments of the GoMex, despite continuous oil input from natural and anthropogenic sources.

Detection of Alcanivorax spp., Cycloclasticus spp., and Methanomicrobiales in water column and sediment samples in the Gulf of Mexico by qPCR.

Water column and sediment samples were collected in the southern Gulf of Mexico (GoMex) during 3 oceanographic cruises: XIXIMI-04 (September 2015), XIXIMI-05 (June 2016), and XIXIMI-06 (August 2017). DNA that was extracted from the samples was analyzed by qPCR to detect and quantify bacterial groups that have been reported to metabolize alkanes (Alcanivorax) and aromatic hydrocarbons (Cycloclasticus) and are involved in methane production (Methanomicrobiales). The results were then analyzed with regard to the water masses that are currently detected in the GoMex. Generally, we observed a decrease in the proportion of Alcanivorax and a rise in those of Cycloclasticus and Methanomicrobiales in samples from the surface to deep waters and in sediment samples. Scatterplots of the results showed that the relative abundance of the 3 groups was higher primarily from the surface to 1000 m, but the levels of Cycloclasticus and Methanomicrobiales were high in certain water samples below 1000 m and in sediments. In conclusion, oil-degrading bacteria are distributed widely from the surface to deep waters and sediments throughout the southern GoMex, representing a potential inoculum of bacteria for various hydrocarbon fractions that are ready for proliferation and degradation in the event of an oil spill from the seafloor or along the water column.

Microarray analysis of Neosartorya fischeri using different carbon sources, petroleum asphaltenes and glucose-peptone.

Asphaltenes are considered as the most recalcitrant petroleum fraction and represent a big problem for the recovery, separation and processing of heavy oils and bitumens. Neosartorya fischeri is a saprophytic fungus that is able to grow using asphaltenes as the sole carbon source [1]. We performed transcription profiling using a custom designed microarray with the complete genome from N. fischeri NRRL 181 in order to identify genes related to the transformation of asphaltenes [1]. Data analysis was performed using the genArise software. Results showed that 287 genes were up-regulated and 118 were down-regulated. Here we describe experimental procedures and methods about our dataset (NCBI GEO accession number GSE68146) and describe the data analysis to identify different expression levels in N. fischeri using this recalcitrant carbon source.