BACTERIAL DIVERSITY IN MAJOR OIL SHALE MINES IN CHINA

Bacteria play a crucial role in the long-term bio-transformations of oil shale. Nevertheless, little is known about the true profile of oil-shale bacterial community. Here we reported the survey of bacterial diversity in major oil-shale mines in China (Fushun, Huadian and Maoming mines) using clone library and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of the culture-independent PCR-amplified 16S ribosomal DNA. Bacterial community diversity was generally abundant except the weathered sample of Maoming. Besides over 50% unidentified bacteria, bacterial communities in the three mines involved Proteobacteria (alpha-, beta- and gamma-), Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi and Deinococcus-Thermus. Proteobacteria were the most predominant in each mine. There was a big difference at the genus level between any two mines, but most of the involved sequences well matched with known hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. It was indicated that the adaptation of bacterial commnnities in oil-shale mines was most possibly driven by a combination of oil shale characteristics and environmental factors. This study highlights the understanding of bacterial communities in oil-shale deposits of China and reveals a large amount of indigenous bacteria as potential resources for further studies of oil-shale bio-utilization and eco-environmental protection of mines