Turkish scientists have discovered a new genus of bacteria in aircraft fuel.

15.02.2025 20:10

Turkish scientists from Istanbul University have made a discovery that they "initially did not realize." Research conducted on samples taken from aircraft fuels has led to the discovery of a new genus of bacteria. The discovery has been validated and officially recognized in the scientific community. The newly discovered species will be used in areas such as preventing environmental pollution and sustainable energy production.

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Scientists from Istanbul University (IU) discovered a new genus of bacteria named "Facivitalis İstanbulensis" as a result of research conducted on samples taken from aircraft fuels. It was stated that the genus name of the bacteria is "Facivitalis" and the species name is "İstanbulensis". The name "Facivitalis" means "living in aircraft fuel", while the name "İstanbulensis" was given in reference to Istanbul University.

TURKISH SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED A NEW SPECIES IN AIRCRAFT FUEL

Within the scope of a study initiated three years ago by Prof. Dr. Esra Sungur from the Department of Biology at IU Faculty of Science, along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Miray Onan and Dr. Faculty Member Simge Arkan Özdemir, samples taken from aircraft fuel were examined in a research laboratory. As a result of the research, a new genus of bacteria named "Facivitalis İstanbulensis" was discovered, which is extremely resistant to environmental conditions and adapts to extreme conditions. The newly discovered bacteria "Facivitalis İstanbulensis" was validated and registered in the scientific community after being published in the Antonie van Leeuwenhoek journal. The new bacteria will be used in critical areas such as preventing environmental pollution and sustainable energy production.

"AS WE CONDUCTED ADVANCED ANALYSES, WE REALIZED IT WAS A NEW GENUS"

Prof. Dr. Esra Sungur stated that the research began as part of a doctoral student's thesis work. She mentioned that they were studying corrosion caused by microorganisms in the research, and they obtained aircraft fuel from a special airline for this purpose. Sungur noted that their initial goal in the study was to isolate a "manganese-oxidizing" bacterium and conduct microbiological corrosion experiments. When they isolated the bacterium, they initially did not realize they had found a new genus of bacteria. "When we first isolated it, we honestly thought the bacterium we found was a new species of the genus Sphingomonas. As the studies progressed and we conducted advanced analyses, we realized that the bacterium was not a new species but a new genus, and we had moved up to a higher level," she said.

"WE FOUND THAT OUR BACTERIA CARRIES SOME SPECIAL GENES"

Prof. Dr. Sungur explained that they started to conduct more detailed analyses afterward. She stated that the new genus and species of bacteria should be recognized by some taxonomy centers around the world, and they applied for this purpose, announcing the article to the global public after receiving approval. Sungur noted that the conditions under which the bacteria were isolated were extreme, and not every bacterium could survive in such conditions. She emphasized that this situation indicates that the bacteria they found have very different characteristics, saying, "We conducted advanced molecular analyses in the study and got to know our bacterium. In our research, we found that our bacterium carries some special genes. These genes have extremely unique properties that can help the bacterium adapt to environmental conditions, survive in harsh conditions, and contribute to combating virulence and pathogenicity."

"WE DETERMINED IT CONTAINS 58 GENES RELATED TO DECOMPOSING AROMATICS"

Prof. Dr. Sungur provided the following information regarding how the discovered genus of bacteria survives in its environment: "Because when you think of aircraft fuel, there can be bacteria, but that is also a living thing. It can be at the micron level, but like every living thing, they also have requirements. Just like us, their most important requirement is food. When we asked the question of how a bacterium can find such food in aircraft fuel, we thought that fuel actually contains hydrocarbons. Therefore, this bacterium must be able to decompose hydrocarbons. Following this, we conducted bioinformatics orthology analyses and found that our bacterium could decompose hydrocarbons." Sungur emphasized that they identified 100 genes involved in this process, stating, "There are different components in the hydrocarbon structure. Aromatics are compounds that are very difficult to decompose due to their ring structure. We found that the bacterium is very capable in this regard. We determined that it contains 58 genes related to decomposing aromatics. Another feature we found is that the bacterium carries the genes necessary for producing biosurfactants. We identified that 9 of these genes are only found in our bacterium."

"IT HAS UNIQUE SPECIAL GENES"

Sungur stated that this bacterium belongs to the Sphingomonadaceae family and continued: "Bacteria in this family are frequently used in hydrocarbon bioremediation studies, that is, in the cleanup of oil-contaminated areas. Our bacterium has also become a new member of this family; we have added a new member. This new member has unique special genes. Our bacterium, which possesses these genes, is a potential new microorganism for the development of biotechnological studies. Our bacterium will find a widespread place in the field of environmental pollution remediation."

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"VERY VALUABLE FOR HUMANS"

Prof. Dr. Sungur stated that the genus name of the bacterium is "Facivitalis" and the species name is "Istanbulensis". He explained that the name Facivitalis means "living in airplane fuel" and that they named it "Istanbulensis" in reference to Istanbul University. Sungur conveyed that every microbiologist dreams of discovering a new genus and a new species of bacteria, stating, "To find something that exists in nature, which you do not know, recognize, or is not recognized, is actually the greatest discovery. If you then see that this discovery you have made is valuable in terms of humanity or biotechnological research, then the work you have done gains meaning. Revealing who we share this world with is actually very valuable not only from a scientific perspective but also for all people."