Open AccessSynthetic extreme environments: overlooked sources of potential biotechnologically relevant microorganisms
Author(s) -
Sibanda Timothy,
Selvarajan Ramganesh,
Tekere Memory
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
microbial biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.287
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 1751-7915
DOI - 10.1111/1751-7915.12602
Subject(s) - paenibacillus , pantoea , microorganism , microbiology and biotechnology , proteus , pseudomonas , enterobacter , biology , citrobacter , acinetobacter , bacteria , aeromonas , 16s ribosomal rna , biochemistry , antibiotics , escherichia coli , gene , genetics
Summary Synthetic extreme environments like carwash effluent tanks and drains are potential sources of biotechnologically important microorganisms and molecules which have, however, remained unexplored. Using culture‐ and molecular‐based methods, a total of 17 bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Shewanella , Proteus , Paenibacillus, Enterobacter and Citrobacter , Aeromonas , Pseudomonas and Pantoea were identified. Hydrocarbon utilization and enzyme production screening assays showed that Aeromonas sp. CAC 11, Paenibacillus sp. CAC 12 and Paenibacillus sp. CAC 13 and Citrobacter sp. PCW 7 were able to degrade benzanthracene, naphthalene and diesel oil, Paenibacillus sp. CAC 12 and Paenibacillus sp. CAC 13 could produce cellulase enzyme, while Proteus sp. BPS 2, Pseudomonas sp. SAS 8 and Proteus sp. CAL 3 could produce lipase. GC ‐ MS analysis of bacterial secondary metabolites resulted in identification of 107 different compounds produced by Proteus sp. BPS 2, Paenibacillus sp. CAC 12, Pseudomonas sp. SAS 8, Proteus sp. CAL 3 and Paenibacillus sp. CAC 13. Most of the compounds identified by both GC ‐ MS and LC ‐ MS have previously been determined to have antibacterial, antifungal and/or anticancer properties. Further, microbial metabolites which have previously been known to be produced only by plants or microorganisms found in natural extreme environments were also identified in this study. This research has revealed the immense bioresource potential of microorganisms inhabiting synthetic extreme environments.