Question

Screening of halophilic bacteria and its applications

Answer 1

Despite the high concentration of salt, a great diversity of life forms can be observed in this environment and they found in all the three domains of life, Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Halophiles include prokaryotic and eukaryotic salt-loving microorganisms of saline environments which are able to balance the high osmotic pressure. To adapt to high level saline, they have developed a number of biochemical strategies to maintain cell structure and function. The diversity amongst hamophiles regards to the concentration of salts, temperatures, pH conditions, and redox conditions that the organisms are adapted. Thermophilic, psychrophilic, mesophilic, alkaliphilic, aerobic and anaerobic halophilic bacteria have been described,. Halophiles play an important role in the carbon and phosphorus cycles in saline environments. Some of them are able to degrade organic compounds, such as crude oil which makes them potential candidates in bioremediation studies.

Halophiles are diverse with regard to the concentration of salt which they are adapted. They are able to produce hydrolytic enzymes in hypersaline environment which possess a potential importance in industrial area . Moderately halophilic bacteria represent a group of microorganisms that is widely distributed in salinity zones. They show optimum growth at 5-15% NaCl [12-13]. The bacteria grow at salt concentrations above 20% (w/v) to saturation named extremely halophilic . Slightly halophilic microorganisms are capable of growing optimally in media containing 2-5% NaCl.