Isolation of strain GUMF5, an archaeon from the Dead Sea-Israel possessing cellulase.

A strain designated GUMF5 was isolated in Goa-India from sediments of Dead Sea-Israel  and identified as haloarchaeon based on 16S rRNA gene analysis similarity value of 99.84%. Strain GUMF5 grew on mineral salts medium with 20% NaCl and 0.

Haloferax sulfurifontis GUMFAZ2 producing xylanase-free cellulase retrieved from Haliclona sp. inhabiting rocky shore of Anjuna, Goa-India.

Salt stable cellulases are implicated in detritic food webs of marine invertebrates for their role in the degradation of cellulosic material. A haloarchaeon, Haloferax sulfurifontis GUMFAZ2 producing cellulase was successfully isolated from marine Haliclona sp., a sponge inhabiting the rocky intertidal region of Anjuna, Goa.