Characterization of polyextremotolerant bacterial strains (Kocuria, Virgibacillus, and Halomonas) with industrial potential isolated from the İzmir Çamaltı Saltern

Abstract

In this study, industrially important halotolerant bacterial strains were isolated and identified from seawater and bulk samples from the İzmir Çamaltı Saltern. Three selected isolates underwent comprehensive analyses including phenotypic, biochemical, and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and accession numbers were taken from GenBank. Species specific trees were constructed using MEGA 6.06 software. The isolates were classified within the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria, exhibiting highest sequence similarity to the genera Virgibacillus (95%), Kocuria (99%), and Halomonas (99%), respectively. The strains were designated as Virgibacillus sp. CT-5 (KP238666), Kocuria sp. CT-6 (KP238667), and Halomonas sp. CS-5 (KP238669). Phenotypic characterization revealed that Virgibacillus sp. CT-5 is thermotolerant, growing at 20–55 °C; Kocuria sp. CT-6 is psychrotolerant, growing at 4-37 °C; and Halomonas sp. CS-5 exhibits both psychrotolerance and thermotolerance, growing at 4-45 °C. All strains were alkalitolerant, thriving within a pH range of 5-11, and halotolerant, with growth observed at 0-22% (w/v) NaCl for Virgibacillus sp. CT-5, 0-19% (w/v) for Kocuria sp. CT-6, and 0-25% (w/v) for Halomonas sp. CS-5. This study presents three polyextremotolerant bacterial strains -Kocuria sp. CT-6, Virgibacillus sp. CT-5, and Halomonas sp. CS-5- isolated from the İzmir Çamaltı Saltern. Their multiple tolerance traits render them highly promising candidates for various industrial applications. This is the first report documenting the polyextremotolerance of these strains from this area.

Affiliated Institutions

• Ege University TR

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