Screening and isolation of halophilic bacteria producing extracellular hydrolyses from Howz Soltan Lake,Iran

Screening of bacteria from different areas of Howz Soltan playa, a hypersaline lake in the central desert zone of Iran, led to the isolation of 231 moderately halophilic bacteria, which were able to grow optimally in media with 5–15% of salt, and 49 extremely halophilic microorganisms that required 20–25% of salt for optimal growth. These isolates produced a great variety of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. A total of 195, 177, 100, 95, 92, 68, 65, 33, and 28 strains produced lipases, amylases, proteases, inulinases, xylanases, cellulases, pullulanases, DNases, and pectinases, respectively. In comparison with gram-negative bacteria, the gram-positive halophilic rods, showed more hydrolytic activities. Several combined activities were showed by some of these isolates. One strain presented 9 hydrolytic activities, 4 strains presented 8 hydrolytic activities, 10 strains presented 7 hydrolytic activities and 29 strains presented 6 hydrolytic activities. No halophilic isolate without hydrolytic activity has been found in this study. According to their phenotypic characteristics and comparative partial 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the halophilic strains were identified as members of the genera: Salicola, Halovibrio, Halomonas, Oceanobacillus, Thalassobacillus, Halobacillus, Virgibacillus, Gracilibacillus, Salinicoccus, and Piscibacillus. Most lipase and DNase producers were members of the genera Gracilibacillus and Halomonas, respectively, whereas most of the isolates able to produce hydrolytic enzymes such as amylase, protease, cellulose (CMCase) and inulinase, belonged to gram-positive genera, like Gracilibacillus, Thalassobacillus, Virgibacillus, and Halobacillus.     

巴里坤湖和玛纳斯湖嗜盐菌的分离及功能酶的筛选

目的:了解新疆巴里坤湖与马纳斯湖中嗜盐菌及功能酶的多样性。方法:从两湖中采集水样进行菌种分离,采用PCR方法扩增出其16S rRNA基因(16S rDNA),并测定了基因的序列。对分离菌株进行了蛋白酶、淀粉酶、酯酶、脂肪酶、以及纤维素酶的筛选。结果:从两湖水样共分离得到51株嗜盐菌。基于16SrDNA序列的同源性比较和系统发育学分析,发现从两湖分离获得的中度嗜盐菌分别属于Planococcaceae、Bacillacea、Staphylococcus、Halomonadaceae、Salicolaceae以及Pseudomonadacaeae 6个属。分离得到的极端嗜盐古菌属于Halobacteriaceae属。功能酶筛选结果表明产蛋白酶的嗜盐菌共有15株,产酯酶的共有23株,产淀粉酶的共有8株,未获得产脂肪酶和纤维素酶的嗜盐菌。结论:新疆巴里坤湖和马纳斯湖中有丰富的嗜盐微生物资源及酶资源,有重要的研究意义和应用前景。     

新疆泥火山产酶嗜盐放线菌的筛选及多样性

[目的]了解新疆乌苏泥火山嗜盐放线菌及其产酶功能多样性.[方法]分别采用含有5%与10%NaCl的5种分离培养基,稀释平板涂布法对泥火山土壤样品进行分离;利用五种筛选培养基定性检测酶活性;在形态特征、耐盐性实验及16S rDNA基因测序的基础上进行系统发育学分析.[结果]获得嗜盐放线菌43株,极端嗜盐放线菌3株.4株嗜盐放线菌产脂肪酶,30株产半乳糖苷酶,27株产淀粉酶,6株产酯酶,4株产纤维素酶,1株同时产4种酶.系统发育学分析结果表明其中24株为拟诺卡氏菌属(Nocardiopsis),1株为链霉菌属(Streptomyces).产两种酶的菌株10006与Nocardiopsis exhalans(AY03600)相似性为96.64%(小于97%),可能是潜在的新种.[结论]本研究表明新疆乌苏泥火山中存在大量的产半乳糖苷酶及淀粉酶的嗜盐放线菌,所分离到的拟诺卡氏菌属产酶多样性比较高,并且潜藏着新的微生物资源.     

Survival of extremely and moderately halophilic isolates of Tunisian solar salterns after UV-B or oxidative stress

Adaptation to a solar saltern environment requires mechanisms providing tolerance not only to salinity but also to UV radiation (UVR) and to reactive oxygen species (ROS). We cultivated prokaryote halophiles from two different salinity ponds: the concentrator M1 pond (240 g·L(-1) NaCl) and the crystallizer TS pond (380 g·L(-1) NaCl). We then estimated UV-B and hydrogen peroxide resistance according to the optimal salt concentration for growth of the isolates. We observed a higher biodiversity of bacterial isolates in M1 than in TS. All strains isolated from TS appeared to be extremely halophilic Archaea from the genus Halorubrum. Culturable strains isolated from M1 included extremely halophilic Archaea (genera Haloferax, Halobacterium, Haloterrigena, and Halorubrum) and moderately halophilic Bacteria (genera Halovibrio and Salicola). We also found that archaeal strains were more resistant than bacterial strains to exposure to ROS and UV-B. All organisms tested were more resistant to UV-B exposure at the optimum NaCl concentration for their growth, which is not always the case for H(2)O(2). Finally, if these results are extended to other prokaryotes present in a solar saltern, we could speculate that UVR has greater impact than ROS on the control of prokaryote biodiversity in a solar saltern.     

Characteristics of the heterotrophic bacterial populations in hypersaline environments of different salt concentrations

Solar salterns, based on a multi-pond system, give a discontinuous gradient of salt concentrations. The heterotrophic bacterial populations of ponds containing from 10% salt to saturation have been studied. Saltern samples were spread on agar plates containing different media for halophilic bacteria and one medium made with water of the pond plus nutrients. Replica plating was done to determine the salt range for growth of the colonies. We studied 150 strains to determine the salt spectra of growth, the morphology, and nutrient requirements. The following conclusions were reached: (a) In salt concentrations above 10% (total salts), most bacteria are halophilic and few are halotolerant; (b) the two types of halophilic bacteria, moderate and extreme, show different distributions; in these ponds a narrow overlap exists between 25% and 32% salts with moderate halophiles predominating below this interval and extreme halophiles above it; (c) the populations of moderate halophiles are highly heterogeneous, and the salt concentration of their habitat affects their taxonomic composition, salt range for growth, and nutrient requirements. The population composition of extreme halophiles is less affected by the salt concentrations at which these bacteria are found.     

The extremely halophilic bacterium Salicola marasensis IC10 accumulates the compatible solute betaine

The extremely halophilic bacterium strain IC10 was isolated from a solar saltern on Isla Cristina (southern Spain). Phylogenetic, genotypic and phenotypic data supported the inclusion of this strain in the species Salicola marasensis. An analysis of intracellular organic osmotic solutes showed glycine betaine to be present, contributing to the overall osmotic balance, and this was the only compatible solute accumulated when S. marasensis IC10 was grown over a wide range of external NaCl concentrations (10–25%, w/v).     

Base sequence homology and renaturation studies of the deoxyribonucleic acid of extremely halophilic bacteria

The genetic relatedness among various strains of halophilic bacteria has been assessed by deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA-DNA) duplex formation and ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA) hybridization. All of the strains of extremely halophilic rods are closely related, and the extent of divergence of base sequence is similar for the major and minor DNA components. Parallel experiments with ribosomal RNA revealed a relationship between the extremely halophilic rods and cocci and a more distant relationship to moderate halophiles and to a photosynthetic extreme halophile. Renaturation studies of halophile DNA exclude the possibility that the satellite DNA represents multiple copies of a small episomal element. The kinetics of DNA renaturation show that the genome size of the extreme and moderate halophiles is similar to that of Escherichia coli.     

安徽定远盐矿可培养嗜盐微生物多样性

【背景】嗜盐微生物多生活于高盐环境,具有独特的生理代谢特征,是一类重要的极端环境微生物资源。【目的】为更好地认识我国陆相盐矿的嗜盐微生物多样性组成,更好地开发利用嗜盐微生物资源积累丰富的微生物菌种。【方法】对安徽定远盐矿盐芯样品进行嗜盐微生物的纯培养分离,并对所分离菌株进行基于16SrRNA基因的测序和序列相似性分析,并对所分离菌株进行物种多样性分析。在此基础上,对代表菌株进行菌落形态和耐盐度及酶活测定。【结果】通过纯培养共分离获得了嗜盐微生物264株,其中嗜盐古菌150株,占56.8%;嗜盐细菌114株,占43.2%。嗜盐古菌物种分别来自于Halorubrum、 Halopenitus、 Haloterrigena、 Natrinema、 Natronoarchaeum和Natronomonas等6个属;嗜盐细菌物种分别来自于Pseudomonas、Aliifodinibius、Halobacillus、Halomonas和Halospina等5个属。通过代表菌株的酶活平板检测,发现产胞外蛋白酶菌株1株,酯酶1株,淀粉酶2株;能液化明胶菌株2株。在物种多样性组成方面,发现嗜盐古菌的物种多样性指数高于嗜盐细菌。【结论】本研究对我国安徽定远陆相盐矿的可培养嗜盐微生物多样性进行探究,积累了丰富的嗜盐微生物菌株资源。     

Screening and characterization of the protease CP1 produced by the moderately halophilic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain CP76

A total of 26 proteolytic moderate halophiles were isolated and characterized. Most isolates were members of the genus Salinivibrio (16 strains), while others were identified as Bacillus (4 strains), Salinicoccus (2 strains), or members of the gamma-Proteobacteria (4 strains). Strain CP76 was selected as the best producer of an extracellular protease, designated CP1, and was used for further studies. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene in addition to phenotypic tests led to the placement of this organism in the genus Pseudoalteromonas. Maximal protease production was detected at the end of the exponential growth phase. This CP1 protease was purified and biochemically characterized, showing optimal activity at 55 degrees C, pH 8.5, and high tolerance to a wide range of NaCl concentrations (0 to 4 M NaCl). The most interesting features of this enzyme are its moderate thermoactivity, its activity at a range of pH values (6-10), and, especially, its salt tolerance (optimal activity at 7.5% total salts). The purified protease has a molecular mass of 38 kDa, and the N-terminal amino acid sequence determined showed similarity to metalloproteases previously described. The protease activity was strongly inhibited by EDTA, PMSF, and Pefabloc. No significant inhibition was detected with E-64, bestatin, chymostatin, or leupeptin. These results suggest that Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain CP76 produces an extracellular metalloprotease moderately thermotolerant and stable at high salt concentrations.     

Isolation and identification of moderately halophilic bacteria producing hydrolytic enzymes from the largest hypersaline playa in Iran

Iran has many hypersaline environments, both the permanent and seasonal ones. One of the seasonal hypersaline lakes in the central desert zone is Aran-Bidgol Lake in which microbial diversity has not been characterized, thus the potential usage of this microbial community in biotechnology remained unknown. In this study, screening the halophilic hydrolytic enzyme-producing bacteria from different areas of this lake led to isolation of 61 gram-positive and 22 gram-negative moderately halophilic bacteria. These bacterial isolates were shown to produce a wide variety of hydrolytic enzymes including DNase, inulinase, amylase, lipase, pectinase, protease, chitinase, pullulanase, cellulase, and xylanase. The most common enzymes were DNase and inulinase in gram-positive bacteria, lipase in gram-negative bacteria, and pullulanase and cellulase in gram-positive cocci. Interestingly, combined hydrolytic activates were observed in some isolates. According to their phenotypic characteristics and comparative partial 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the moderately halophilic strains belonged to the genera Halobacillus, Thalassobacillus, Bacillus, Salinicoccus, Idiomarina, Salicola, and Halomonas.     

Diversity of moderately halophilic bacteria producing extracellular hydrolytic enzymes

AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the diversity of moderately halophilic bacteria with hydrolase activities. METHODS AND RESULTS: Screening bacteria from different hypersaline environments in South Spain led to the isolation of a total of 122 moderately halophilic bacteria able to produce different hydrolases (amylases, DNases, lipases, proteases and pullulanases). These bacteria are able to grow optimally in media with 5-15% salts and in most cases up to 20-25% salts. In contrast to strains belonging to previously described species, that showed very little hydrolase activities, environmental isolates produced a great variety of hydrolases. These strains were identified as members of the genera: Salinivibrio (55 strains), Halomonas (25 strains), Chromohalobacter (two strains), Bacillus-Salibacillus (29 strains), Salinicoccus (two strains) and Marinococcus (one strain), as well as eight non-identified isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Moderately halophilic bacteria are a source of hydrolytic enzymes such as amylases, DNases, lipases, proteases and pullulanases. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Although most culture collection strains are not able to produce hydrolases, it has been shown that environmental isolates can produce these potentially biotechnological important enzymes.     

Growth Potential of Halophilic Bacteria Isolated from Solar Salt Environments: Carbon Sources and Salt Requirements

Eighteen strains of extremely halophilic bacteria and three strains of moderately halophilic bacteria were isolated from four different solar salt environments. Growth tests on carbohydrates, low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids, and complex medium demonstrated that the moderate halophiles and strains of the extreme halophiles Haloarcula and Halococcus grew on most of the substrates tested. Among the Halobacterium isolates were several metabolic groups: strains that grew on a broad range of substrates and strains that were essentially confined to either amino acid (peptone) or carbohydrate oxidation. One strain (WS-4) only grew well on pyruvate and acetate. Most strains of extreme halophiles grew by anaerobic fermentation and possibly by nitrate reduction. Tests of growth potential in natural saltern brines demonstrated that none of the halobacteria grew well in brines which harbor the densest populations of these bacteria in solar salterns. All grew best in brines which were unsaturated with NaCl. The high concentrations of Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ found in saltern crystallizer brines limited bacterial growth, but the concentrations of K⁺ found in these brines had little effect. MgSO₄ was relatively more inhibitory to the extreme halophiles than was MgCl₂, but the reverse was true for the moderate halophiles.     

Isolation and characterization of halophilic bacteria from Urmia Lake in Iran

Urmia Lake is one of the most permanent hypersaline lakes in the world which is threatened by hypersalinity and serious dryness. In spite of its importance no paper has been published regarding bacterial community of this lake. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the halophilic bacteria in the aforementioned lake. In so doing, thirty seven strains were isolated on six different culture media. The isolated strains were characterized using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Growth of the strains occurred at 2535 degrees C, pH 6-9 and 7 to 20% (w/v) NaCl indicating that most of the isolates were moderately halophiles. Catalase, oxidase and urease activities were found to be positive for the majority of the isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolated bacteria belonged to two major taxa: Gammaproteobacteria (92%, including Salicola [46%], Pseudomonas [13.5%], Marinobacter [ 11%], Idiomarina [11%], and Halomonas [8%]) and Firmicutes (8%, including Bacillus [5%] and Halobacillus [3%]). In addition, a novel bacterium whose 16S rRNA gene sequence showed almost 98% sequence identity with the taxonomically troubled DSM 3050T, Halovibrio denitrificans HGD 3T and Halospina denitrificans HGD 1-3T, each, was isolated. 16S rRNA gene similarity levels along with phenotypic characteristics suggest that some of the isolated strains could be regarded as potential type strain for novel species, on which further studies are recommended.     

Comparison of Bacterial Biodiversity and Enzyme Production in Three Hypersaline Lakes; Urmia,Howz-Soltan and Aran-Bidgol

This research is a comparative study on the diversity of halophilic bacteria with hydrolytic activities in three significant hypersaline lakes; Urmia in the northwest and Howz-Soltan and Aran-Bidgol in the central desert in Iran. Isolated strains from these saline lakes were found to be halotolerant, moderately and extremely halophilic bacteria. The bacteria in each saline lake were able to produce different hydrolytic enzymes including amylase, protease, lipase, DNase, inulinase, xylanase, carboxy methyl cellulase, pectinase and pullulanase. 188, 302, 91 halophilic strains were isolated from Urmia Lake, Howz-Soltan and Aran-Bidgol playa, respectively. The numbers of Gram-positive strains were more than Gram-negatives, and among Gram-positive bacteria; spore-forming bacilli were most abundant. Due to the unique physico-chemical conditions of the lake environments, the hydrolytic activities of isolated strains were significantly different. For instance, isolated strains from Howz-Soltan playa did not produce pectinase, DNase, amylase, lipase and inulinase, while the isolates from Aran-Bidgol playa had a great ability to produce pectinase and DNase. The strains from Urmia Lake were also good producers of DNase but failed to show any chitinase activity. The diversity of halophilic bacteria from the mentioned three saline lakes was also determined using PCR-amplified 16S rRNA followed by phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S rRNA sequences.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12088-014-0481-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

岱山盐场可培养嗜盐菌的多样性及其产酶活性筛选

从岱山盐场采集样品,利用选择性培养基分离培养嗜盐菌,对盐田环境中可培养嗜盐菌的多样性及产酶活性进行研究.共分离得到181株嗜盐菌菌株,通过真细菌和古生菌两对通用引物扩增其16S rRNA 基因,并采用限制性内切酶Hinf I进行ARDRA(amplified rDNA restriction analysis)多态性分析,共分为21个不同的操作分类单元(operation taxonomy units, OTUs),其中嗜盐细菌有12个OTUs,嗜盐古菌有9个OTUs.选取具有不同酶切图谱的代表菌株进行克隆测序,BLAST 比对及系统发育分析将嗜盐细菌归于7个属,其中嗜盐单胞菌属(Halomonas)的菌株数占优势,是嗜盐细菌总数的46.8%;嗜盐古菌归于4个属,盐盒菌属(Haloarcula)的菌株数占优势,是嗜盐古菌总数的49.1%.对分离菌株的产酶活性进行检测表明,岱山盐田环境蕴含丰富的产淀粉酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶等生物活性酶的嗜盐菌, 其中盐盒菌属产酶菌株数最丰富.研究结果表明,岱山盐田环境中具有较为丰富的嗜盐菌多样性,是筛选产酶菌株的重要资源库.     

Influence of salt concentration on the susceptibility of moderately halophilic bacteria to antimicrobials and its potential use for genetic transfer studies

The influence of salinity on the susceptibility of 13 moderately halophilic collection strains belonging to the genera Chromohalobacter, Deleya, Halomonas, Vibrio, and Volcaniella to 10 common antimicrobials has been studied. Three different patterns of tolerance were found when salinity was varied from 10 to 1% (wt/vol) total salts in the testing media. The first one included the responses to ampicillin and rifampicin, where only minimal effects on the susceptibility were found. All moderate halophiles showed a high sensitivity to rifampicin regardless of the salt concentration. In the second group, including the responses to the aminoglycosides gentamycin, kanamycin, neomycin, and streptomycin, a remarkable and gradual increase of the toxicity was detected at lower salinities. Thirdly, the highest heterogeneity was found for the rest of antimicrobials assayed (trimethoprim, nalidixic acid, spectinomycin, and tetracycline), where the effect of salinity was moderate and dependent on both the individual strain and the antimicrobial tested. The data presented here should facilitate genetic studies on moderate halophiles. Thus, they simplify the design of selection media for genetic exchange experiments. Besides, by using low-salinity media, genes encoding resistance to a number of antimicrobials, especially to aminoglycosides, can be used as genetic markers for plasmids or transposons to be transferred to these extremophiles.     

Types and properties of some bacteria isolated from hypersaline soils

Five rhizosphere soil samples from the dominant xerophytic plants, and nearby root-free soil samples were obtained from a series of hypersaline soils (5.0–10.7% NaCl) from sites near Alicante in Spain. Physico-chemical analyses were made, and the bacterial flora estimated using three different plating media. Counts from rhizosphere soil were always significantly higher than those from root-free soils. A total of 211 strains isolated were purified and identified to genus level; 12 could not be classified. The range of salt concentration allowing growth was determined for each isolate, but this did not correlate with the salt content of the soil habitat. Most isolates appeared to be typical moderate halophiles (with optimum growth between 5 and 15% salts), but about half of them grew on normal media with only 0.9% naCl, a notable difference from moderately halophilic aquatic bacteria. Extreme halophiles were rare but this may have been due to an insufficient incubation period.     

Temperature and pH optima of extremely halophilic archaea: a mini-review

Archaeal microorganisms that grow optimally at Na⁺ concentrations of 1.7 M, or the equivalent of 10% (w/v) NaCl, and greater are considered to be extreme halophiles. This review encompasses extremely halophilic archaea and their growth characteristics with respect to the correlation between the extent of alkaline pH and elevated temperature optima and the extent of salt tolerance. The focus is on poly-extremophiles, i.e., taxa growing optimally at a Na⁺ concentration at or above 1.7 M (approximately 10% w/v NaCl); alkaline pH, at or above 8.5; and elevated temperature optima, at or above 50°C. So far, only a very few extreme halophiles that are able to grow optimally under alkaline conditions as well as at elevated temperatures have been isolated. The distribution of extremely halophilic archaea growing optimally at 3.4 M Na⁺ (approximately 20% w/v NaCl) is bifurcated with respect to pH optima, either they are neutrophilic, with a pH_opt of approximately 7, or strongly alkaliphilic, with pH_opt at or above 8.5. Amongst these extreme halophiles which have elevated pH optima, only four taxa have an optimum temperature above 50°C: Haloarcula quadrata (52°C), Haloferax elongans (53°C), Haloferax mediterranei (51°C) and Natronolimnobius ‘aegyptiacus’ (55°C).     

艾丁湖可培养嗜盐菌多样性及功能酶、抗菌活性筛选

【目的】探究艾丁湖可培养嗜盐菌的多样性、功能酶活性以及抗菌活性,进一步了解其次级代谢产物情况,为新型生物活性物质的发掘提供依据。【方法】选用以20种糖及糖的衍生物作为唯一碳源的寡营养培养基从艾丁湖5个样点中分离得到298株嗜盐菌,根据形态特征去重复后,选取62株菌运用16S r RNA基因系统发育分析的方法研究样品中嗜盐菌的多样性;从不同类群选取22株代表菌株,采用点接法进行3种功能酶的筛选,运用平板对峙法检测代表菌株对12种病原菌的抗菌活性。【结果】从5%、10%和15%3个盐浓度中分别分得221、54和23株嗜盐菌,获得的嗜盐菌分布在9个科18个属;其中放线菌分布于4个属,细菌分布于14个属;Nocardiopsis和Pontibacillus属为艾丁湖可培养嗜盐菌的优势类群,分别占17.7%和16.1%;有15株嗜盐菌相似性低于98.5%,可能为潜在新种。所选取的22株代表菌株中,分别有68.2%、22.7%和72.7%的实验菌株具有蛋白酶、淀粉酶和酯酶活性;45.5%的代表菌株对12种病原菌表现出了抗至少1种病原菌的活性,其中一株Nocardiopsis属放线菌能抗9种病原菌,表现出了广谱的抗菌活性。【结论】新疆艾丁湖土样中嗜盐菌的多样性较丰富,而且具有较好的生物活性,为后续进一步研究其次级代谢产物提供了依据。