Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic-Resistant and Biosurfactant-Producing Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria from Industrial Contaminated Soils

Abstract

In the current study, soil samples were collected from regions contaminated with industrial waste containing petroleum and its derivatives, including areas around a tire factory in Kırşehir, a chrome factory in Mersin and Kazanlı, and the Karaduvar refinery regions in Mersin, Türkiye. A total of 40 bacteria were isolated from the soil samples. The isolates were identified using molecular methods as well as morphological, physiological, and biochemical tests. Based on the results of 16S rRNA sequence analysis, it was revealed that the isolates belonged to the genera Bacillus, Diaphorobacter, Cupriavidus, Acinetobacter, Massilia, Staphylococcus, and Azospirillum. The antibiotic and heavy metal resistance of the strains were determined. Furthermore, the Drop Collapse method was employed to evaluate the biosurfactant production abilities of the strains, confirming that certain strains possess biosurfactant-producing capabilities. Consequently, distinct bacterial species capable of degrading polyaromatic hydrocarbons, resisting antibiotics and heavy metals, and producing biosurfactants were successfully isolated from contaminated areas in the current study. It is thought that the utilization of species with these properties in bioremediation studies will contribute to the restoration of ecosystem balance.