Characterization, Phylogenetic Analysis and Potential Applications of Heterotrophic Bacteria Inhabit Sand Dunes of Thar Desert, India

Abstract

Microorganisms inhabit extreme environments are novel in terms of phylogeny and also valuable source of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. The present study focused on isolation and characterization of moderately thermophilic heterotrophic bacteria from Thar Desert using culture dependent method and assessment of their potential for production of industrially important enzymes. Screening of bacteria from sand dune samples collected from arid region of India led to isolation of total eight moderately thermophilic bacterial strains. All strains were characterized morphologically, biochemically and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. The phylogenetic analysis of strains revealed that these strains affiliated to genera Bacillus (5 strains), Geobacillus (2 strains) and Aeribacillus (1 strain), which were able to grow between 25-60 ° C. The present study documented the occurrence of species Geobacillus thermodenitificans, Bacillus paralicheniformis and Aeribacillus pallidus in sand dunes of Thar Desert, India. These moderately thermophilic strains showed an ability to produce one or more extracellular enzymes like amylase, protease, lipase and asparaginase. Thus, the strains isolated from Thar Desert could be potential candidates for industrial applications. The present study showed that bacterial strains exist in the same ecological niche might have ability to produce distinct enzymes.

Keywords

• 16s rrna gene
• bacillus
• phylogenetic analysis
• thar desert
• moderately thermophiles