Alcanivorax: Unique Genus of Hydrocarbon‐Degrading Bacteria

ABSTRACT Natural seepage, anthropogenic activities and accidents affect the ecosystem by increasing hydrocarbon footprints in the environment and cause a disruption in the biogeochemical balance. In addition, these imbalances result in human diseases and a decrease in the diversity of animals and microorganisms. Microbial bioremediation is the only sustainable option for the cleanup of hydrocarbon‐impacted wastes, and the genus Alcanivorax is famous for its extraordinary ability to degrade hydrocarbons. The remarkable capacity of the Gram‐negative bacterial genus Alcanivorax to break down a variety of hydrocarbons, including long‐chain n ‐alkanes, has attracted a lot of attention in the field of environmental biotechnology. Because they can effectively use petroleum hydrocarbons as their only carbon and energy source, these bacteria are very well‐suited for bioremediation and contribute significantly to the natural mitigation of oil spills and other hydrocarbon contaminants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review specifically addressing the taxonomy, genomic features, and hydrocarbon degradation mechanisms of the genus Alcanivorax .