Search

Introduction: The study of microorganisms in specific regions with specific characteristics has long been important. Howz Soltan is a salt lake in the central desert zone of Iran, which is considered as an area of great salinity. The present study was conducted to isolate halophilic bacteria from Howz Soltan lake in order to achieve maximum information concerning to microbial diversity of the lake.Material and methods: For this purpose, samples were collected from five regions. Then the samples were diluted and cultivated on Molten haloid agar with different salt concentrations (5-35%). The plates were incubated at 37ºC in aerobic conditions. Biochemical characterizations, utilization of carbon sources and production of exoenzymes were investigated.Results: In total 205 different colonies were grew on medium with 5-35% salt concentrations. Of all isolates 18 strains were grew on medium with 15-35% salt concentrations. These strains were considered extreme halophilic bacteria and the rest were halotolerant and moderate halophilic bacteria. The results obtained from microscopic analysis of the isolates indicated that 178 isolates were gram positive bacilli, cocci and filamentous and 27 isolates were gram negative with bacilli shape. Phenotypic identification recognized that the isolated strains of extreme halophilic bacteria were Halobacterium ,Haloarcula ,Halorubrum and Halococcus. In addition, enzyme production assay of these strains showed some of them have capability to produce different enzymes viz., amylase, lipase, protease, DNase, urease, xylanase and gelatinase. Conclusion: In general, our finding showed the huge diversity of halophilic bacteria in Howz Soltan lake. Furthermore, these bacteria could be considered as sources of halotolerant enzymes in different industries.

Saline soils are widely spread in Iran. These intact soils are a great source for the isolation of new bacteria with highly functional metabolites in biotechnology. Actinomycete strains were isolated on starch casein agar and ISP2 with different concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 5 and 10%) from treated soil samples. Pure colonies were cultured on a casein glycerol medium. After complete growth, the plates were covered with a thin layer of Muller Hinton Agar (1%) containing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Active metabolites of selected strains were extracted and their antibacterial activities analyzed by agar well diffusion method. 38% of isolates produced antibiotics against the pathogen. The metabolites produced by act-2 and act-5 isolates, which had a more effective inhibition zone against MRSA, were extracted and anti MRSA activity of act-5 extract was shown. The antimicrobial activity of act-5 against other bacteria was also investigated and the bacterium was identified. In this study halophilic actinomycetes producing bioactive compounds were isolated from the saline soils of Qom and the anti-MRSA potential of their metabolites was investigated for the first time. The results of this study show the potential of saline soil actinomycetes for the production of useful metabolites.

Introduction:Pectinase or pectinolytic enzymes are complex enzymes which include pectin methyl esterase (EC.3.1.1.11), pectin lyase (EC.4.2.2.2) and polygalacturonase (EC.3.3.1.15) which degrade pectin in the cell wall of plant cells. These enzymes have many industrial applications that some of them are active in extreme condition regarding to temperature, pH and salt concentration. In this study, the bacteria with an ability to produce pectinase enzyme in salty condition were identified and the corresponding gene was analyzed. Materials and methods: Strains from Urmia, Inche boron and Gomeshan Ponds were inoculated in the media containing pectin precursors. By analyzing the clear zones around the colonies based on I2/KI indicator, the positive strains were selected. Quantification of enzyme activity on all three types of pectinase was carried out by spectrophotometry. In order to molecularly screen the bacterium contained pectinase gene, the bacterium genome was amplified using appropriate primers. Results: Seventeen positive strains for pectinase (10 from Gomeshan Lake, 6 from Inche Boron Lake and 1 from where Urmia Lake) were identified among 130 studied samples. According to size of clear zone of enzyme activity in the qualitative test, activity level of all three pectinase enzymes in R2S25 strain of Inche Boron Lake was measured and the growth curve was obtained. Molecular study showed that all strains contain desired gene segment. Discussion and conclusion: Quantitative evaluation showed that production and activity of pectinase enzyme in R2S25 strain increased simultaneously with increasing the growth of selected strain in logarithmic phase. Molecular study also showed that the genuses of Martelella, Aeromocrobium, Planococcus, Marinobacter, Virgibacillus, Kocuria and Micrococcus contain the pectinase gene.

Background: Bacteria are one of the important sources of producing enzymes. The aim of this study was to the isolate the halophilic bacteria producing amylase, lipase and pectinase from saline soil of the center of Iran. Methods: In this study, soil samples were collected from Dagh Biarjmand and Haj Aligholi in Semnan province. At first, isolated halophilic bacteria were cultured and screened for producing of hydrolytic enzymes including amylase, lipase and pectinase using enzyme-specific media. The enzymatic activities of isolates were recognized by induction of growth inhibition zone and/or precipitation around colonies after addition of related indicators. Afterward, enzyme positive isolates were identifies using the 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Out of 7 bacterial isolates, 4 bacteria with amylase activity, 6 bacteria with lipase activity and 3 bacteria with pectinase activity were recognized and identified. Results showed that 2 isolates with the ability of producing all three types of enzymes belong to Bacillus genus using molecular identification methods. Furthermore, the halophilic bacteria producing amylase and pectinase were belonging to Bacillus and Halobacillus genera. Besides, bacteria producing lipase belonged to Bacillus and Virgibacillus genera. Conclusion: The Bacillus bacteria isolated from the soil can produce all three amylase, pectinase and lipase enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: L-Asparaginase is an anti-neoplastic drug used in lymphoblastic leukemia chemotherapy. Nowadays, this enzyme derived from bacterial sources, mostly L-asparaginase II from Escherichia coli and in lesser amount L-asparaginase of Erwinia sp. has medical utilization. The long-term usage of these agents leads to allergic reactions; therefore new L- asparaginase with new immunological characteristics is required. Halophilic bacteria might contain L-asparaginase with novel immunological properties that can be used in hypersensitive patients. Materials and methods: In this study, the production of L-asparaginase by 130 halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from saline environments in Iran was screened. Modified M-9 agar medium was used for qualitative analysis. In the selected strain, growth curve plotting, asparaginase activity assay and analysis for the effect of some factors on the production and enzyme activity were done. Results: 40 strains produced L-asparaginase. Most of L-asparaginase producers were member of genus Halomonas and Marinobacter (21.4%). GBP­x3 is potent bacteria in L-asparaginase production which belonged to Vibrio sp. based on 16S rRNA analysis. Optimized factors for L-asparaginase production were 350C (0.65 IU/ml), pH 8 (0.926 IU/ml) and 2.5% NaCl (0.903 IU/ml). The highest activity of L-asparaginase was in 350C (0.781 IU/ml), pH 8 (0.82 IU/ml) and without NaCl (0.806 IU/ml). Discussion and conclusion: The aim of this study was to screen the production of L-asparaginase through 130 halophilic and halotolerant bacteria which were isolated from saline environments in Iran. The results of this work indicate that the bacterium, Vibrio sp. GBP­x3 displays to be potent for asparaginase production.

Introduction: Pectinase or pectinolytic enzymes are complex enzymes which include pectin methyl esterase (EC.3.1.1.11), pectin lyase (EC.4.2.2.2) and polygalacturonase (EC.3.3.1.15) which degrade pectin in the cell wall of plant cells. These enzymes have many industrial applications that some of them are active in extreme condition regarding to temperature, pH and salt concentration. In this study, the bacteria with an ability to produce pectinase enzyme in salty condition were identified and the corresponding gene was analyzed. Materials and methods: Strains from Urmia, Inche boron and Gomeshan Ponds were inoculated in the media containing pectin precursors. By analyzing the clear zones around the colonies based on I2/KI indicator, the positive strains were selected. Quantification of enzyme activity on all three types of pectinase was carried out by spectrophotometry. In order to molecularly screen the bacterium contained pectinase gene, the bacterium genome was amplified using appropriate primers. Results: Seventeen positive strains for pectinase (10 from Gomeshan Lake, 6 from Inche Boron Lake and 1 from where Urmia Lake) were identified among 130 studied samples. According to size of clear zone of enzyme activity in the qualitative test, activity level of all three pectinase enzymes in R2S25 strain of Inche Boron Lake was measured and the growth curve was obtained. Molecular study showed that all strains contain desired gene segment. Discussion and conclusion: Quantitative evaluation showed that production and activity of pectinase enzyme in R2S25 strain increased simultaneously with increasing the growth of selected strain in logarithmic phase. Molecular study also showed that the genuses of Martelella, Aeromocrobium, Planococcus, Marinobacter, Virgibacillus, Kocuria and Micrococcus contain the pectinase gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lake in the protected Bakhtegan zone is the shelter to wildlife and very important from an ecological and environmental viewpoint. The lake has a unique diversity in terms of Halophilic and Halotolerant bacteria. Based on our experiments, from among the six genera of Halobacteriaceae, only the four Halobacterium, Haloarcula, Halococcus, and Haloferax genera were isolated, the greatest frequency (mean: 54%) belonging to Halobacterium and the least frequency (mean: 4%) belonging to Haloferax among the isolated genera. The Halotolerant bacteria isolated included Pseudomonas sp., Flavobacterium sp., Micrococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. genera. The greatest number of Halotolerant bacteria isolated from the lake water was Pseudomonas (mean: 72%). Furthermore, the number of total coliforms was greater than the number of fecal coliforms. Statistical analysis revealed that Halophilic and Halotolerant colonies had the same mean numbers only at Tashk and Gomban sampling sites but that the mean numbers obtained at Dehzir sampling site was significantly different from those obtained at the former two. It was also found that increasing salt concentration and pH level increased the number of halophilic colonies while increased levels of dissolved oxygen decreased their numbers. Salt concentration, pH level, and DO level had similar effects on the number of total and fecal coliform colonies.

Introduction: L-Asparaginase is an anti-neoplastic drug used in lymphoblastic leukemia chemotherapy. Nowadays, this enzyme derived from bacterial sources, mostly L-asparaginase II from Escherichia coli and in lesser amount L-asparaginase of Erwinia sp. has medical utilization. The long-term usage of these agents leads to allergic reactions; therefore new L- asparaginase with new immunological characteristics is required. Halophilic bacteria might contain L-asparaginase with novel immunological properties that can be used in hypersensitive patients. Materials and methods: In this study, the production of L-asparaginase by 130 halophilic and halotolerant bacteria isolated from saline environments in Iran was screened. Modified M-9 agar medium was used for qualitative analysis. In the selected strain, growth curve plotting, asparaginase activity assay and analysis for the effect of some factors on the production and enzyme activity were done. Results: 40 strains produced L-asparaginase. Most of L-asparaginase producers were member of genus Halomonas and Marinobacter (21.4%). GBPx3 is potent bacteria in L-asparaginase production which belonged to Vibrio sp. based on 16S rRNA analysis. Optimized factors for L-asparaginase production were 350C (0.65 IU/ml), pH 8 (0.926 IU/ml) and 2.5% NaCl (0.903 IU/ml). The highest activity of L-asparaginase was in 350C (0.781 IU/ml), pH 8 (0.82 IU/ml) and without NaCl (0.806 IU/ml). Discussion and conclusion: The aim of this study was to screen the production of L-asparaginase through 130 halophilic and halotolerant bacteria which were isolated from saline environments in Iran. The results of this work indicate that the bacterium, Vibrio sp. GBPx3 displays to be potent for asparaginase production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]