In an embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to an oleaginous bacterium. In some embodiments, the oleaginous bacterium includes lipids and at least one exogenous and inducible gene. In some embodiments, the exogenous and inducible gene encodes at least one protein capable of inducing lysis in the oleaginous bacterium to release the lipids. In an addition embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a method of releasing lipids into an environment. In general, the method includes one or more of the following steps of: (1) introducing at least one oleaginous bacterium of the present disclosure to the environment; and (2) inducing expression of at least one exogenous gene in the oleaginous bacterium to thereby induce the expression of at least one protein. In some embodiments, the protein facilitates the lysis of the oleaginous bacterium and release of the lipids into the environment.