Diversity of Bacillus And Actinomycetes in the water and sediment samples from Kumarakom region of Vembanadu lake

Diversity of different groups of Bacillus and Actinomycetes in the water and sediment samples from kumarakom estuary was analysed to find out potential strains for further application. Bacillus genera was identified and grouped into five phenogroups .Phenogroups show differences in the shape of the spore,position of the spore,and swelling of the sporangium.Ability of the isolates to elaborate various hydrolytic enzymes and their ability to reduce nitrate and ferment various carbohydrate sources were also studied.

Probiotic effect of Bacillus NL110 and Vibrio NE17 on the survival, growth performance and immune response of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Eight hundred and eighty-¢ve strains of bacterial isolates fromvarious samples associatedwith the natural habitat ofMacrobrachiumrosenbergii were screened for their probiotic potential. Two putative probionts namely Bacillus NL110 and Vibrio NE17 isolated from the larvae and egg samples, respectively, were selected for experimental studies and were introduced to the juveniles of M. rosenbergii (0.080 0.001g) through di¡erent modes such as through feed, water and both. The probiotic potential of the above bacteria in terms of improvements inwater quality, growth, survival, speci¢c growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio and immune parameters was evaluated. The treatment groups showed a signi¢cant improvement in SGR and weight gain (Po0.001). Survival among di¡erent treatment groups was better than that in the control group. There were also signi¢cant improvements in the water quality parameters such as the concentration of nitrate and ammonia in the treatment groups (Po0.05). Improvements in immune parameters such as the total haemocyte count (Po0.05), phenoloxidase activity and respiratory burst were also signi¢cant (Po0.001). It is concluded that screening of the natural micro£ora of cultured ¢sh and shell¢sh for putative probionts might yield probiotic strains of bacteria that could be utilized for an environment-friendly and organic mode of aquaculture

"Alkaline Lipase Production by Marine Bacillus smithii BTMS 11"

Considering the potential of marine environment present study was designed for the screening and isolation of a potential salt tolerant. alkaline and thennotolerant lipase producing bacteria from the costal belts of South India and consequent development of ideal bioprocess for industrial production, purification characterisation and evaluation of the potential of the lipase enzyme for various industrial applications 1. Screening and isolation of a potential lipase producing bacteria. 2. Optimization of various physicochemical factors in Submerged fennentation for the production of alkaline lipase 3. Purification ofthe lipase enzyme 4. Characterisation of the enzyme 5. Evaluation of the enzyme for various industrial applications

Banana waste as substrate for a-amylase production by Bacillus subtilis (CBTK 106) under solid-state fermentation

Bacillus subtilis CBTK 106, isolated from banana wastes, produced high titres of a-amylase when banana fruit stalk was used as substrate in a solid-state fermentation system. The e¤ects of initial moisture content, particle size, cooking time and temperature, pH, incubation temperature, additional nutrients, inoculum size and incubation period on the production of a- amylase were characterised. A maximum yield of 5 345 000 U mg~1 min~1 was recorded when pretreated banana fruit stalk (autoclaved at 121 ¡C for 60 min) was used as substrate with 70% initial moisture content, 400 lm particle size, an initial pH of 7.0, a temperature of 35 ¡C, and additional nutrients (ammonium sulphate/sodium nitrate at 1.0%, beef extract/peptone at 0.5%, glucose/sucrose/starch/maltose at 0.1% and potassium chloride/sodium chloride at 1.0%) in the medium, with an inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 10% (v/w) for 24 h. The enzyme yield was 2.65-fold higher with banana fruit stalk medium compared to wheat bran

Biofilm Forming Multi Drug Resistant Staphylococcus spp. Among Patients with Conjunctivitis

Biofilm forming multidrug resistant Staphylococcus spp. are major reservoirs for transmission of ophthalmic infections. They were isolated from ocular patients suffering from conjunctivitis. In this study we analyzed biofilm forming ability, antibiotic resistance profile of the Staphylococcus spp. isolated from clinical ocular patients, and their phylogenetic relationship with other community MRSA. Sixty Staphylococcus spp. strains isolated from clinical subjects were evaluated for their ability to form biofilm and express biofilm encoding ica gene. Among them 93% were slime producers and 87% were slime positive. Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were dominant strains among the isolates obtained from ocular patients. The strains also exhibited a differential biofilm formation quantitatively. Antibiotic susceptibility of the strains tested with Penicillin G, Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, Methicillin, Amikacin, and Gentamicin indicated that they were resistant to more than one antibiotic. The amplicon of ica gene of strong biofilm producing S. aureus strains, obtained by polymerase chain reaction, was sequenced and their close genetic relationship with community acquired MRSA was analyzed based on phylogenetic tree. Our results indicate that they are genetically close to other community acquired MRSA

Detergent compatible alkaline lipase produced by marine Bacillus smithii BTMS 11

Bacillus smithii BTMS 11, isolated from marine sediment, produced alkaline and thermostable lipase. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography which resulted in 0.51 % final yield and a 4.33 fold of purification. The purified enzyme was found to have a specific activity of 360 IU/mg protein. SDS-PAGE analyses, under non-reducing and reducing conditions, yielded a single band of 45 kDa indicating the single polypeptide nature of the enzyme and zymogram analysis using methylumbelliferyl butyrate as substrate confirmed the lipolytic activity of the protein band. The enzyme was found to have 50 C and pH 8.0 as optimum conditions for maximal activity. However, the enzyme was active over wide range of temperatures (30–80 C) and pH (7.0–10.0). Effect of a number of metal salts, solvents, surfactants, and other typical enzyme inhibitors on lipase activity was studied to determine the novel characteristics of the enzyme. More than 90 % of the enzyme activity was observed even after 3 h of incubation in the presence of commercial detergents Surf, Sunlight, Ariel, Henko, Tide and Ujala indicating the detergent compatibility of B. smithii lipase. The enzyme was also found to be efficient in stain removal from cotton cloths. Further it was observed that the enzyme could catalyse ester synthesis between fatty acids of varying carbon chain lengths and methanol with high preference for medium to long chain fatty acids showing 70 % of esterification. Results of the study indicated scope for application of this marine bacterial lipase in various industries

Studies on the effect of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the life and activity of Perna spp

In the present study an endeavour has been made to analyse the acute toxicity of WAFs of Bombay High crude and Light Diesel oil on commercially important bivalve species Perna viridis and Perna indica by static bioassay methods. The toxic effects of chemicals in the WAF on the organisms ; their tissues and eventually on rate functions have been elucidated. Marine oil pollution not only affects productivity and quality of marine organisms but also eventually affects the health of human population due to a possible health risk by way of consumption of oil contaminated seafood

Characterization of Bacteriocins from Bacillus licheniformis strain BTHT8 and Bacillus subtilis strain BTFK101 isolated from marine sediment

Pathogenic microorganisms such as Bacillus cereus, Listeria Monocytogenes and Staphylococcus sp have caused serious diseases, and consequently contributed to considerable economic loss in the food and agricultural industries. Antibiotics have been practically used to treat these pathogens since penicillin G was discovered more than half a century ago. Many different types of antibiotics have been discovered or synthesized to control pathogenic microorganisms. Repetitive use and misuse of antibiotics by the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries have caused the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, even to the strongest antibiotics currently available; therefore, the rapid development of more effective antimicrobial compounds is required to keep pace with demand. Bacteria were isolated from marine water and sediment samples collected from various locations off the coast of Cochin and salt pans of Tuticorin using pour plate technique. One hundred and twelve isolates were obtained. Seventeen isolates exhibiting antimicrobial activity were segregated after primary screening. The secondary screening which was aimed at selection of bacteria that produce proteinaceous inhibitory compounds, helped to select five strains viz. BTFK101, BTHT8, BTKM4, BTEK16 and BTSB22. The five isolates inhibited the growth of six Gram positive test organisms viz. B. cereus, B. circulans, B. coagulans, B. pumilus, Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium perfringens. After quantitative estimation of the bacteriocin production, the two strains BTFK101 and BTHT8 were selected for further study.

BIOPROCESS OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYTASE FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISOLATE BACILLUS MCCB 242

A study was undertaken to isolate phytase producers from environment and to segregate the most highly efficient phytase producer and to develop a bioprocess technology for commercial application. During this process, a potential phytase producer Bacillus MCCB 242 was isolated and characterized phenotypically and genotypically. Subsequently, phytase production was optimized, the enzyme purified and characterized and an appropriate downstream process also could be standardized.Precisely, through this work an environmental isolate Bacillus MCCB 242 could be brought out as phytase producer for commercial application. The enzyme production could be optimized and characterized, and an appropriate downstream process standardized. Cytotoxicity studies revealed the enzyme safe for feed application, especially in fish.