Uptake and utilization of water-insoluble substrates,
such as alkanes, aromatics and PAH in crude oil, require
specific physiological adaptations of the microorganisms.
Synthesis of specific amphiphilic molecules, i.e.
biosurfactants, has often been taken as a prerequisite
for either specific adhesion mechanisms to large oil
drops or emulsification of oil followed by uptake of
submicron oil droplets (Hommel and Ratledge 1993).
Reports supporting different views indicate that various
bacteria have developed different strategies to deal with
water-insoluble substrates, such as hydrocarbons (Rosenberg
1991). In this study the surface and cell structure
of the hydrocarbon-utilizing Bacillus isolates were
investigated by transmission electron microscopy
(TEM).