微囊藻毒素降解菌的筛选、鉴定及其胞内粗酶液对藻毒素MCLR的降解

【目的】从巢湖底泥中分离筛选高效的藻毒素降解菌,并初步研究其胞内粗酶液降解藻毒素-LR(MC-LR)的特性,为水体中藻毒素污染的微生物治理提供有效的菌源与理论依据。【方法】利用富集驯化培养技术,以MC-LR为唯一碳源,分离筛选MC-LR降解菌,通过形态观察、生理生化实验及16S rRNA序列分析鉴定菌株,并考察其胞内粗酶液在不同条件下对MC-LR的降解特性。【结果】分离得到1株能高效降解MC-LR的菌株M6。分子鉴定结果表明,该菌株为蜡状芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus)。其降解MC-LR的活性物质为胞内酶,而且至少有3种酶参与了MC-LR的降解,它们是菌体本身的组织酶而非诱导酶。当反应体系pH值为8.0,胞内粗酶液浓度为404.9 mg/L,MC-LR的初始浓度为10 mg/L时降解率最高,16 h可达98.7%。【结论】分离出的MC-LR降解菌为蜡状芽胞杆菌,该菌株对MC-LR有较高的降解能力,并且酶促反应受到反应体系的pH值、胞内粗酶液浓度以及藻毒素初始浓度等因素的影响。     

一小型温泉中降解淀粉细菌的筛选、鉴定与淀粉酶性质初步分析

为筛选耐热淀粉酶产生菌并揭示其在温泉中的分布情况,从腾冲县腊幸村一小型热泉不同部位采集样品进行微生物分离及鉴定。样品在65℃培养,挑选形态有差异的菌落点种淀粉-台盼蓝平板,共获得34株具有淀粉降解能力的细菌。分子鉴定结果显示,从温泉底部沙土中筛选得到细菌具有较高的生物多样性,9株具有淀粉降解能力的细菌分别属于土芽胞杆菌(Geobacillus)、厌氧芽胞杆菌(Anoxybacillus)和芽胞杆菌(Bacillus)3个属、7个种,菌株间16S rDNA序列均有一定的差异。对编号为201(Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius)和208(Anoxybacillus flavithermus)的菌株胞外淀粉酶进行初步分析,其胞外淀粉酶最适温度分别为60和70℃,均高于淀粉糊化温度,具有一定的应用潜力。     

基于可培养方法分析云南腾冲小空山火山谷芽胞杆菌分布特征

【目的】为了解云南腾冲小空山火山谷土壤中可培养芽胞杆菌种类分布特征。【方法】采用可培养手段对小空山火山谷阳坡、谷底和阴坡土壤中的芽胞杆菌进行分离培养,根据16S rRNA基因序列同源性对分离菌株进行鉴定,并分析系统发育地位。利用Canoco5软件分析采样点芽胞杆菌种类分布特征与土壤样品理化性质的相关性。【结果】从火山谷土壤样品中共分离获得180株芽胞杆菌,16S rRNA基因测序鉴定结果表明分离菌株隶属于芽胞杆菌纲2个科(芽胞杆菌科和类芽胞杆菌科)、6个属、34个种,其中芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus) 11个种,类芽胞杆菌属(Paenibacillus) 14个种,短芽胞杆菌属(Brevibacillus)3个种,赖氨酸芽胞杆菌属(Lysinibacillus)4个种,嗜冷芽胞杆菌属(Psychrobacillus)1个种和绿芽胞杆菌属(Viridibacillus)2个种,其中7个菌株与其最近模式菌株16SrRNA相似性低于种的界定阈值(98.65%),为芽胞杆菌潜在新物种。优势属为芽胞杆菌属和类芽胞杆菌属,优势种为蕈状芽胞杆菌(Bacillusmycoides),图瓦永芽胞杆菌(Bacillustoyonensis),蜡状芽胞杆菌(Bacilluscereus),解木糖赖氨酸芽胞杆菌(Lysinibacillusxylanilyticus),蜂房类芽胞杆菌(Paenibacillusalvei)和沙地绿芽胞杆菌(Viridibacillus arenosi)。其中16个种分离自阳坡,29个种分离自阴坡,9个种分离自谷底,三者共同种类为6种。阳坡、谷底和阴坡的芽胞杆菌种群分布Bray-Curtis相似性为62.4%,多样性分析结果表明,Shannon指数(H′)大小次序为阴坡阳坡谷底。环境因子分析发现,芽胞杆菌种群分布多样性特征与其土壤的海拔高度、碳氮比和硫含量呈负相关,而和碳源和氮源含量呈正相关。【结论】从以上结果得出,云南腾冲火山谷有着较为丰富的芽胞杆菌资源,且还存在可分离培养的芽胞杆菌的潜在新物种,为利用火山微生物资源提供了保障。     

基于可培养法分析亚热带植物内生与根际芽胞杆菌种类分布异质性

【背景】芽胞杆菌是农业上重要的微生物菌剂,对植物具有促生、防病、防虫等作用。【目的】了解亚热带植物内生和根际芽胞杆菌的种群分布,为其功能挖掘提供科学依据。【方法】采用可培养手段对甘蔗(Saccharum officinarum)、红麻(Hibiscus cannabinus L.)、黄麻(Corchorus capsularis L.)、黄秋葵(Abelmoschus esculentus)和玫瑰茄(Hibiscus sabdariffa)根际土壤和根内生芽胞杆菌进行分离,利用16S rRNA基因测序对分离菌株进行分类鉴定,并分析系统发育地位。【结果】共获得了可培养芽胞杆菌菌株144株,其中根内生芽胞杆菌82株,根际土壤62株。经16S rRNA基因测序鉴定为芽胞杆菌4个属37个种,分别为芽胞杆菌属、短芽胞杆菌属、类芽胞杆菌属和赖氨酸芽胞杆菌属。芽胞杆菌菌落数量和种类在根部及其根际土壤中差异较大,根际土壤中芽胞杆菌菌落数量远远大于根部,根际土壤中芽胞杆菌菌落含量范围为(0.2-370.0)×10~5CFU/g,而根部为(0.1-81.0)×10~3 CFU/g。根部分离获得的芽胞杆菌种类远大于根际土壤中,从作物根际土壤中共获得了芽胞杆菌19个种,从根部获得内生芽胞杆菌共32个种。阿氏芽胞杆菌(Bacillus aryabhattai)、仙草芽胞杆菌(Bacillus mesonae)和假蕈状芽胞杆菌(Bacillus pseudomycoides)同时存在于4种作物的根际土壤和根部,其他芽胞杆菌种类仅存在于1种作物的根际或者根部。【结论】亚热带作物根际土壤和根部芽胞杆菌种类和数量极为丰富,而且还存在可分离培养的芽胞杆菌潜在新物种,这为了解植物与根际微生物相互作用、根际环境生态平衡提供了理论基础和科学依据。     

青海可可西里嗜碱芽胞杆菌资源调查

【目的】了解可可西里嗜碱芽胞杆菌资源多样性及产酶多样性,为芽胞杆菌功能资源挖掘和菌剂开发提供基础。【方法】采用Horikoshi I培养基,通过可培养法分离青海可可西里土壤中的嗜碱芽胞杆菌,利用16S r RNA基因序列初步鉴定分离获得的芽胞杆菌。采用透明圈法分析分离菌株的产蛋白酶、纤维素酶及木聚糖酶活性。【结果】从青海可可西里土壤中共分离获得66株嗜碱芽胞杆菌,根据16S r RNA基因序列相似性分析,发现它们隶属于6个属22个种,分别为芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)、纤细芽胞杆菌属(Gracilibacillus)、喜盐芽胞杆菌属(Halobacillus)、咸海鲜芽胞杆菌属(Jeotgalibacillus)、类芽胞杆菌属(Paenibacillus)和嗜冷芽胞杆菌属(Psychrobacillus),其中以芽胞杆菌属(Bacillus)为优势属。2株嗜碱芽胞杆菌与它们最近匹配模式菌株的16S r RNA基因序列相似性为97.00%和98.65%,为潜在新种。三种酶活检测结果表明产酶菌株约占总分离菌株的95.00%,其中55株具有产蛋白酶活性,27株具有产纤维素酶活性,8株能够产木聚糖酶。【结论】青海可可西里蕴藏着较丰富的嗜碱芽胞杆菌资源及丰富的产酶资源,为后续嗜碱芽胞杆菌的挖掘提供理论基础。     

油田采出水石油烃降解菌分离、鉴定及高通量选育复合诱变菌株

【目的】为解决石油烃类物质(Total petroleum hydrocarbons,TPHs)引起的环境污染问题,提高野生型菌株对TPHs的降解率。【方法】基于微生物修复技术,通过富集培养、初筛和复筛从油田采出水中分离TPHs优势降解菌株,经形态学、生理生化以及16S rRNA基因序列分析确定其种属。采用紫外线与等离子体复合诱变技术,以96孔板发酵法替代摇瓶培养发酵,采用以多功能酶标仪双波长紫外光谱法测定为基础的高通量筛选方法选育TPHs高效降解菌株,并通过方差分析检验突变株的遗传稳定性。【结果】经鉴定,分离自采出水的野生型菌株PW04为多食鞘氨醇杆菌(Sphingobacterium multivorum)。通过复合诱变获得了3株能够高效降解TPHs的突变菌株：S. multivorum PW04-H10、S. multivorum PW04-G9、S. multivorum PW04-A6,降解率分别为85.1%、82.7%、82.9%。遗传稳定性分析结果表明这3株菌遗传性能均稳定。【结论】经分离、诱变选育出的TPHs高效降解菌株其降解率最高达85.1%,与野生型菌株相比提高了48%,可显著降低环境中TPHs含量,有效修复原油污染环境。     

耐高温沼渣降解菌的筛选及复合菌剂降解效果研究

分离筛选耐高温纤维素降解细菌，构建可快速降解沼渣的复合菌剂，缩短堆肥腐熟时间。采用高温富集筛选法，从宁夏中卫市秸秆堆和畜禽粪便中分离筛选耐高温细菌，经羧甲基纤维素钠水解试验和滤纸条崩解试验复筛获得具有纤维素降解能力的菌株。通过纤维素酶和木质素酶活性比较，确定目标菌株并进行分类鉴定。开展拮抗性试验和菌种复配，构建复合型菌剂；经沼渣堆肥场地试验验证复合菌剂的促腐熟效果。本研究筛选获得2株耐高温纤维降解细菌——蜡样芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus)W44菌株和解蛋白芽胞杆菌(Bacillus proteolyticus)X51菌株，纤维素酶活性分别为34 812.69 U/L和34 159.10 U/L。比较菌株W44/X51配比分别为1:1、1:2和2:1的复合菌剂对沼渣堆肥的促腐熟效果，添加不同的复合菌剂均缩短了沼渣堆肥腐熟时间，其中1:2处理腐熟时间最短，较CK提前18 d。蜡样芽胞杆菌W44和解蛋白芽胞杆菌X51按1:2配比的复合菌剂可用于沼渣快速堆肥发酵。     

一株高效降解木糖的耐酸、嗜热厌氧杆菌的生理特性及产物分析

【目的】分离高效降解木糖的嗜热厌氧杆菌菌株,用于发酵生产生物燃料乙醇,为后继的构建基因工程菌株及联合生物工艺提供材料。【方法】运用亨盖特厌氧操作技术从胜利油田油层采出液两年的富集样中分离到一株嗜热厌氧杆菌xyl-d。采用形态学观察、生理生化指标鉴定及基于16S rRNA的系统发育学分析确定其分类地位。【结果】菌株xyl-d为革兰氏阴性厌氧杆菌,菌体大小为(1.35-5.08)μm×(0.27-0.40)μm,单生、成对或成簇生长,芽胞圆形,端生。温度生长范围30-85℃(最适温度65℃);pH范围3.0-10.0(最适pH 7.5);NaCl浓度范围0%-4%(最适NaCl浓度2.0%)。发酵D-木糖的产物是乙醇、乙酸、CO2及少量的异丁醇、丙酸。菌株xyl-d的(G+C)mol%含量为45.6%,与热厌氧杆菌属模式菌株威吉利热厌氧杆菌(Thermoanaerobacter wiegelii)DSM10319T及嗜热乙醇杆菌(Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus)DSM2246T的16S rRNA序列相似性均为99.3%。菌株利用D-木糖产乙醇的最佳初始pH为8.5;少量酵母粉能刺激生长并显著提高发酵D-木糖的产醇率,使乙醇成为主要的发酵产物;培养基中乙醇浓度达到7%(V/V)时菌体生长受到抑制,最佳生长条件下D-木糖的降解率可达91.37%,最佳产醇条件下发酵1摩尔D-木糖可产生1.29摩尔的乙醇。【结论】菌株xyl-d是从特殊生境(油藏)中分离到的一株高效降解D-木糖的耐酸、嗜热的厌氧杆菌,其为半纤维素降解产乙醇的联合生物工艺提供了菌源。     

尼古丁降解菌SCUEC1菌株的分离及其降解基因

【目的】分离并鉴定1株具有尼古丁降解能力的细菌,研究其尼古丁降解特性并对其降解基因进行分析,为尼古丁微生物降解提供基础。【方法】从烟草种植地土壤中分离1株具有尼古丁降解能力的细菌,通过16S r RNA基因和生理生化特性对该菌株进行鉴定,检测该菌株尼古丁降解率与生长量的关系,并进一步对该菌株进行尼古丁浓度耐受性测定,采用高通量测序技术对菌株进行全基因组测序,BLAST比对分析尼古丁降解相关基因。【结果】筛选到1株具有尼古丁降解能力的细菌,经鉴定命名为根癌土壤杆菌(Agrobacterium tumerficience)SCUEC1菌株,根癌土壤杆菌SCUEC1菌株尼古丁降解率可达到94.81%,该菌株在尼古丁浓度为0.50–5.00 g/L范围内生长良好且有较高的尼古丁降解能力。对根癌土壤杆菌SCUEC1菌株全基因组序列进行BLAST比对分析,推测该菌株的尼古丁降解代谢途径与中间苍白杆菌SYJ1菌株的尼古丁降解途径相似。【结论】本研究揭示了Agrobacterium tumerficienceSCUEC1菌株具备尼古丁降解特性,初步推测出尼古丁降解相关基因和降解代谢途径,为尼古丁微生物降解提供基础。     

八门湾红树林土壤芽胞杆菌分离与多样性分析

【目的】了解八门湾红树林海漆林区土壤中可培养芽胞杆菌资源的多样性。【方法】采用水浴处理与直接涂布相结合的方法选择性分离土壤中的芽胞杆菌;利用16S rDNA PCR-RFLP与16S rDNA序列分析技术研究可培养芽胞杆菌资源的遗传多样性和系统发育关系。【结果】16S rDNA PCR-RFLP酶切图谱UPGMA聚类分析表明,在100%的相似性水平上,分离的155株芽胞杆菌分属21个遗传类群,显示了较为丰富的遗传多样性;由21种遗传类型代表菌株的16S rDNA序列分析结果得知,这些芽胞杆菌主要分布在Bacillaceae和Paenibacillaceae科下的Bacillus、Halobacillus、Virgibacillus和Paenibacillus 4个属,其中Bacillus为优势属;有8株芽胞杆菌的16S rDNA序列与数据库中相应模式菌株的最大相似性在95.1%-99.0%之间。【结论】八门湾红树林土壤可培养芽胞杆菌有着较为丰富的遗传多样性,并存在新的芽胞杆菌物种资源。     

产耐热β-葡萄糖苷酶细菌的筛选与鉴定

从中国高校工业微生物资源和信息中心(CICIM-CU)菌种库的1323株细菌保藏物中筛选出20株产β-葡萄糖苷酶能力较高的细菌.通过16S rDNA序列鉴定,初步确定其中有5株为嗜热溶胞土芽孢杆菌 (Geobacillus sp.),其余为地衣芽孢杆菌 (Bacillus licheniformis).对其中编号为F1...     

A polyphasic taxonomic study of thermophilic bacilli from shallow, marine vents

Eighty-seven thermophilic, aerobic, spore-forming bacteria were isolated from shallow, marine, thermal vents of the Eolian Islands (Italy) and tested for a broad spectrum of phenotypic characteristics. A numerical taxonomy study was performed on these isolates and 8 thermophilic Bacillus and Geobacillus reference strains by 89 selected features. Results from cluster analysis showed the formation of nine clusters. Most of the isolates (83%) fell into several phenetically well distinguished clusters, loosely related to Geobacillus thermodenitrificans. The remaining isolates grouped together with different reference strains. Eighteen isolates, representative of the different clusters, were selected for subsequent genotypic characterisation, including partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis of 18 strains and almost complete 16S rDNA sequences of 9 strains. Subsequent DNA/DNA reassociation studies and determination of the base composition of DNA identified seven isolates as Geobacillus thermodenitrificans, two isolates as G. thermoleovorans and one isolate as Bacillus pallidus. Four isolates represented two novel species of Bacillus. The remaining four represented novel Geobacillus species, one of which has recently been described as Bacillus vulcani DSMZ 13174 T.     

南方红豆杉根际溶无机磷细菌的筛选、鉴定及其促生效果

【目的】对南方红豆杉(Taxus chinensis var.mairei)根际溶无机磷细菌进行了分离、筛选与鉴定,并对获得的高效溶磷菌株进行了温室盆栽试验。本研究为通过生物途径改善南方红豆杉磷素供应,促进其生长提供了优良的菌株资源。【方法】利用选择培养基从南方红豆杉根际土壤中共分离出具溶磷能力的细菌;采用NBRI-BPB培养基进行复筛获得溶磷能力较强的溶无机磷细菌;并采用钼锑抗比色法测量其在NBRIP培养基中经4d发酵后的可溶性磷含量;通过形态指标、生理生化测定、Biolog系统和16S rDNA序列分析鉴定细菌种类;并进行了溶磷菌株的室内盆栽实生苗接种试验。【结论】从南方红豆杉根际共分离出4株高效溶磷细菌,分别鉴定为荧光假单胞菌(Pseudomonas fluorescens)、蜡状芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus)、草木樨中华根瘤菌(Sinorhizobium meliloti)和地衣芽胞杆菌(Bacillus licheniformis);4株细菌对南方红豆杉苗期的生长有明显的促进作用。     

大熊猫肠道纤维素分解菌的分离鉴定及产酶性质

【目的】从健康大熊猫新鲜粪便中分离具有纤维素酶活性的菌株,并对其进行菌种鉴定及产酶性质研究。【方法】利用羧甲基纤维素钠培养基分离纯化具有较高纤维素酶活性的菌株,根据形态学特征、生理生化特性以及16S rDNA分析对其进行分类鉴定,研究影响该菌株纤维素酶的产酶条件,以及对不同纤维素底物的降解情况。【结果】分离得到一株纤维素酶产生菌株P2,该菌株为好氧的革兰氏阳性细菌,生长温度范围20-50℃(最适温度37℃),pH范围6.0-9.0(最适pH7.0),NaCl浓度范围0%-15%(最适2%NaCl),培养24h达到产酶高峰。16S rDNA基因序列分析显示,菌株P2与解淀粉芽胞杆菌(Bacillusamyloliquefaciens)NBRC15535相似性为99.66%。该菌株对四种纤维素底物(滤纸、脱脂棉、秸秆、竹纤维)均有不同程度的降解,内切葡聚糖酶、外切葡聚糖酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶和总酶活具有不同的酶活变化。【结论】本研究首次从大熊猫粪便中分离出了好氧纤维素分解菌,并鉴定为解淀粉芽胞杆菌,对上述四种纤维结构均有一定的破坏和分解作用,为进一步研究大熊猫竹纤维消化机制提供了菌源。     

一株油脂降解菌的筛选鉴定及降解效果分析

为了筛选分离得到一株具有油脂降解能力的菌株,同时探究菌株的特性和降解能力。以屠宰场污染土作为菌源,通过梯度驯化法最终筛选分离得到能够将橄榄油作为单一碳源生长的降解菌。随后通过形态特征观察、Biolog生理生化测试以及16S rRNA基因序列比对分析鉴定,实验菌株为革兰氏阴性菌,属于无色杆菌属（Achromobacter sp.）,在构建的系统发育树上与Achromobacter pulmonis聚为一支。综合运用紫外分光光度法和高效液相色谱法检测,测得实验菌株培养4~5 d时对橄榄油的降解率可以达到90%,同时测得菌株降解油脂的最适pH和最适温度分别为7.5和35 ℃,该菌株在盐浓度低于40 g·L-1环境中降解率较高。此外实验结果表明,实验菌株对各类型油脂均具有较高的降解效率,具有广泛的应用前景。     

椰子织蛾幼虫肠道细菌的初步分离鉴定及功能分析

[目的] 研究椰子织蛾幼虫肠道微生物的种类和功能,以揭示其消化利用寄主老叶的机制。[方法] 采用传统微生物分离培养技术分离培养肠道细菌,用16S rRNA基因序列分析的方法鉴定菌株,采用透明圈染色法对所得菌株进行功能性验证。[结果] 基因序列检测对比鉴定得到9种可培养细菌菌株,主要属于变形菌门和厚壁菌门以及放线菌门;功能性验证结果表明,伯克霍尔德氏菌、解淀粉芽孢杆菌、贝莱斯芽孢杆菌、蜡样芽孢杆菌菌株具有纤维素降解酶,寒气玫瑰单胞菌、解淀粉芽孢杆菌含木聚糖降解酶。[结论] 椰子织蛾肠道中存在可培养的具有降解纤维素及木聚糖能力的细菌,这些细菌可能有助于椰子织蛾取食消化椰子等老叶,研究所获得的肠道微生物菌株也为后续研究该虫与环境的关系及相关菌株应用于农业、能源、环保价值的探索提供帮助。     

Chemical warfare? Effects of uropygial oil on feather‐degrading bacteria

Anti-microbial activity is a commonly suggested but rarely tested property of avian uropygial oil. Birds may defend themselves against feather-degrading and other potentially harmful bacteria using this oil. We preliminarily identified 13 bacterial isolates taken from the plumage of wild house finches Carpodacus mexicanus , measured bacterial production of the enzyme keratinase as an index of feather-degrading activity, and used the disc-diffusion method to test bacterial response to uropygial oil of house finches. For comparison, we performed the same tests on a type strain of the known feather-degrading bacterium Bacillus licheniformis . Uropygial oil inhibited the growth of three strongly feather-degrading isolates (including Bacillus licheniformis ), as well as one weakly feather-degrading isolate and one non-feather-degrading isolate. Uropygial oil appeared to enhance the growth of one weakly feather-degrading isolate. Growth of the remaining isolates was unaffected by uropygial oil. These results suggest that birds may defend themselves against some feather-degrading bacteria using uropygial oil.     

Description of heterotrophic bacteria occurring in paper mills and paper products

AIMS: To isolate aerobic mesophilic bacilli and thermophilic bacteria from different paper mill samples and to evaluate their potential harmfulness. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 109 mesophilic and 68 thermophilic isolates were purified and characterized by automated ribotyping and partial 16S rDNA sequencing. The mesophilic isolates belonged to the genera Bacillus (13 taxa), Brevibacillus (three taxa) and Paenibacillus (five taxa). The thermophilic bacteria represented seven taxa of Bacillus, Geobacillus or Paenibacillus, four of proteobacteria and one of actinobacteria. The most frequently occurring bacteria were Bacillus cereus, B. licheniformis, Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensis and bacteria closely related to Paenibacillus stellifer, P. turicensis or Leptothrix sp. One mill was contaminated throughout with bacteria of a novel mesophilic genus most closely related to Brevibacillus centrosporus and another with bacteria of a novel thermophilic genus most closely related to Hydrogenophilus thermoluteolus. One B. cereus isolate producing haemolytic diarrhoeal enterotoxin was detected and all the tested B. licheniformis isolates produced a metabolite toxic to boar sperm cells. CONCLUSIONS: The bacilli and thermophilic bacteria isolated represent species which should not present occupational hazards in paper mill environments. The most harmful bacterium detected was B. licheniformis and potentially also B. cereus. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Knowledge of the microbial diversity in a paper mill provides a rational basis for development of an effective controlling programme. A database constructed from the fingerprints generated using automated ribotyping helps to identify and trace the contamination routes of bacteria occurring in paper mills.     

Degradation of African locust bean oil by Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus isolated from soumbala,a fermented African locust bean condiment

AIMS: To investigate predominant isolates of Bacillus subtilis and B. pumilus in soumbala, a fermented African locust bean condiment, for their ability to degrade African locust bean oil (ALBO). METHODS AND RESULTS: Agar diffusion test in tributyrin and ALBO agar was used for screening of the isolates for esterase and lipase activity, respectively. The quantity and the profile of free fatty acids (FFA) during 72 h of degradation of ALBO by the Bacillus isolates were studied by titration and gas chromatography. The degradation of tributyrin and ALBO was variable among the isolates. Two strains of B. subtilis and two strains of B. pumilus showed significantly higher esterase and lipolytic activities than the others. The degradation ALBO was most pronounced in enriched nutrient agar except for one isolate of B. pumilus degrading ALBO to the same extent regardless of the enrichment. The quantity of FFA released from ALBO by the most lipolytic strains of Bacillus increased mainly between 0 and 24 h and differed among the isolates. The profile of FFA was similar for the Bacillus isolates with oleic acid (C18:2) occurring as the major FFA in all the samples except in samples incubated with B. subtilis B9 where stearic acid (C18) was dominant. CONCLUSION: Bacillus isolates from soumbala showed high strain dependent lipolytic activity against ALBO. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study contributes to the selection of Bacillus strains to be used as starter cultures for controlled production of soumbala.