Evaluation of the enzymatic profile of microbial isolates from Lonar Soda Lake

Abstract

Alkaliphilic Gram positive bacteria were isolated and characterized from water and soil samples from alkaline Lonar lake, India. Total viable count of composite water and soil sample was found to be 1.4 × 10⁵ cfu/mL and 1.7 × 10⁷ cfu/gm, respectively. Thirty strains were isolated using different enrichment and isolation media. Alkaline protease assay was carried out to determine specific enzyme activity of partially purified alkaline protease. Ten alkaline protease producing isolates were identified as <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> LS-1, <i>Bacillus clausii</i> LS-2, <i>Bacillus megaterium</i> LS-3, <i>Bacillus licheniformis</i> LS-4, <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> LS-6, <i>Bacillus alcalophilus</i> LW9, <i>Alkalibacillus</i> <i>sp.</i> MGR8, <i>Bacillus horikoshii</i> MGR25, <i>Micrococcus sp.</i> MGR30 and <i>Alkalibacterium sp</i>. MGR11 on the basis of morphological, biochemical, physiological characterization, antibiotic sensitivity, enzyme profile and 16s rRNA sequencing. Out of these ten alkaline protease producers, nine isolates were belonged to phylum firmicute and one isolate belonged to phylum actinobacteria. Out of ten selected isolates, seven isolates were alkaline amylase producers. Two isolates were alkaline lipase and cellulase producers.