Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Simona NEAGU, Mihaela Marilena STANCU
Saline environments, characterized by extreme conditions, are unique habitats that harbor diverse microorganism communities capable of synthesizing biomolecules, such as extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and carotenoid pigments with significant industrial potential. These biomolecules are important in microorganisms’ survival and adaptation to harsh environments. The present study aimed to isolate several new biomolecule-producing microorganisms from two salt wells (Curmătura and Băicoi, Prahova County, Romania). The strains NC18, NC21, NC28, and SB1 were isolated using a selective agar medium supplemented with 3.4 M sodium chloride (NaCl). Specifically, NC18, NC21, and NC28 were obtained from Curmătura, while SB1 was isolated from Băicoi. As a result of their ability to grow on agar medium with 1–5 M NaCl, all the new isolates were included in the extreme halophilic organisms. Based on their phenotypic and molecular characteristics, all these strains were included in the domain Archaea. The four isolates NC18, NC21, NC28, and SB1 were further assessed for their ability to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, including lipase, protease, amylase, cellulase, xylanase, and pectinase, as well as carotenoid pigments. Due to their ability to produce a range of bioactive compounds, the halophilic isolates present promising opportunities for diverse biotechnological applications, such as industrial enzyme production, and the development of bio-based products.
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