Alcanivorax borkumensis is a type of marine bacterium that is known for its ability to degrade long-chain hydrocarbons, such as those found in crude oil. It was first isolated from oil-contaminated seawater near the island of Borkum in the North Sea, and has since been found in many other oil-contaminated environments.

A. borkumensis is an aerobic bacterium, which means that it requires oxygen to grow and reproduce. It is a gram-negative bacterium with a curved, rod-like shape. Its genome has been sequenced, and it has been found to possess a range of genes involved in hydrocarbon degradation, including those encoding enzymes that break down long-chain hydrocarbons.

Studies have shown that A. borkumensis can use a range of hydrocarbons as a sole source of carbon and energy, including alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics. It can also degrade hydrocarbons under a wide range of environmental conditions, including high salinity and low temperatures.

A. borkumensis has attracted attention for its potential use in bioremediation efforts to clean up oil spills and other hydrocarbon-contaminated environments. Its ability to degrade long-chain hydrocarbons, which are typically more resistant to degradation than shorter-chain hydrocarbons, makes it a valuable tool for environmental management. However, further research is needed to understand its full potential and limitations in bioremediation applications.