Abstract

PHYLOGENETIC AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERIZATION OF HALOPHILIC BACTERIAL ISOLATES OF UPPER CRETACEOUS FOSSILS IN ARIYALUR PENINSULA

Antony Prabhu J, Melchias G*, Edward A, Kumaravel P

ABSTRACT

Bacterial diversity in calcite fossils is the subject of research to resolvetheir relationship with fossil in the context of evolution and potentcommercial application. Though early attempts on Precambrian andTriassic fossils dug out the presence of various halophilic survivors,their existence in the later upper cretaceous period has not been studiedextensively. On cultivable investigation, the fossil yielded fivebacterial strains with unique Physiological, and functional attributes.Molecular and phylogenetic analysis unraveled their taxonomic statusand correlated their relationship with their marine origin. To bolsterthis fact, extensive growth characterization studies in the presence of NaCl2, CaCl2, MgCl2,and NH4Cl. We resolved two of the five isolates to be moderately halophilic and twohalotolerant strains. They displayed wide range of sustainability against a range of organicsolvents, heavy metals, detergents and antibiotics. Detection of biofilm formation and effluxpumps in the isolates paved the way for possibility of bioprospecting them for potentialenzymes of commercial value such as DNase, amylase, protease, inulinase and xylanase.

Keywords: Halophilic bacteria, Enzymes, Phylogenetics.