To combat the long lasting and the critical issue of the oil spill in Gulf of Mexico, scientists have discovered a special bacterium that can assist in its cleaning. This bacterium is known as the “NY3” and is said to possess an "extraordinary capacity" to fabricate rhamnolipids, which can further break the oil components and decompose its various poisonous composites.

The oil spill has released a substance called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water, which is a carcinogenic and mutagenic compound. To degrade this, scientists have given a non-toxic substance called rhamnolipids, which will not harm the microbial flora, human beings and animals.

This discovery has been made by Oregon State University (OSU) along with two other Chinese Universities the Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology and Nanjing Agricultural University, Xinhua. And now, OSU is filing a copyright for their discovery.

One of the researchers, Xihou Yin, said, “Some of the most toxic aspects of oil to fish, wildlife and humans are from PAHs. They can cause cancer, suppress immune system, cause reproductive problems and damage nervous system”.

The rhamnolipids produced by NY3 strain can assertively and proficiently degrade at least five PAH compounds, besides resisting a series of temperature, pH and salinity surroundings.