Isolation and identification of Ectoine-producing Halophilic Bacteria from the Deccan Trap Region of India
*Shilanjali Bhalerao and Dayanand Agsar
Department of Microbiology, Gulbarga University Kalaburagi - 585106 (India) *Correspondence: shilanjali1993@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to isolate and identify microorganisms that can produce ectoine from the Deccan trap area of the states of Hyderabad and Karnataka. The Microorganism that produce ectoine were found in the soil samples from the Deccan Trap region. A 16S rDNA sequencing analysis that was done to identify the strain. The biological characteristics of the strain were also investigated. Studies were conducted on the capacity to accumulate ectoine at various concentrations of NaCl. The effect of an osmotic downshock solution affected the release of ectoine and rate of survival. An isolate {strain DSH-3} that produced ectoine was selected for further study, a total 33 bacterial colonies that were isolated from soil samples. Strain DSH-3 was identified as Halomonas spps and it was found to be closely related to Halomonas daqingensis, with 99.21% identity based on 16S rDNA sequencing. At a concentration of 15% {w/v} NaCl, the strain DSH-3 showed a total cell dry weight {CDW} of 7.8 wt%. Maximum total ectoine synthesis of 0.5 wt% was attained by strains DSH-3 at 15% NaCl concentration. After incubation the bacterium DSH- 3 for 30 min in a 6% of sodium chloride the effect of downshock solution, with a survival rate of 96% for bacteria and a 40% release of ectoine, it showed impressive results. Some bacteria appear to use ectoine accumulation and secretion as a common adaptation strategy to survive in a saline milieu. The level of our understanding, for the first time the soil sample collected from a Deccan trap area revealed the presence of halophilic bacteria that produce ectoine.