Crude oil biodegradation by synthetic microbial consortia: Performance and mechanisms under a top-down enrichment strategy

Key Points

• Enhanced biodegradation of crude oil was observed with synthetic microbial consortia.
• The top-down enrichment strategy increased degradation efficiency by approximately 45%.
• Analysis involved synthetic microbial consortia and various hydrocarbon-degrading mechanisms.
• This approach suggests potential for improved environmental remediation of oil spills.