Enhanced production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer by endophytic cereus RCL 02 utilizing sugarcane molasses as sole source of carbon: a statistical optimization approach.

Polymers of biological origin have become a topic of interest due to growing concerns about the environmental impact of the disposal of plastics. In recent years, the production of ecobenign microbial polymer polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) using inexpensive and renewable resources has gained significant interest as these compounds are highly biodegradable, biocompatible, and sustainable. This study used leaf endophytic isolate RCL 02, obtained from the oil-yielding plant L.

Biosynthesis and accumulation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)-polyethylene glycol, a hybrid co-polymer by endophytic Bacillus cereus RCL 02.

Co-polymerization of microbial polyesters, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), with synthetic polymers has become an established and promising tool in the recent past for improving the material and biological properties of the biopolyesters. Bacillus cereus RCL 02, a leaf endophytic bacterium of the oleaginous plant Ricinus communis L., has been reported to produce a significant amount of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] under batch cultivation.

Endophytic bacteria with plant growth promoting abilities from L.

Endophytic bacteria colonizing the internal tissues of plants are known to improve plant growth by a wide variety of mechanisms. This study envisages the isolation and evaluation of plant growth promoting attributes of bacterial endophytes in perennial fern L. A total of 20 phenotypically distinguishable bacterial endophytes were isolated from surface sterilized leaf lamina, petiole, rhizome and spike of L.

Microbial extracellular polymeric substances: central elements in heavy metal bioremediation.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microbial origin are a complex mixture of biopolymers comprising polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, uronic acids, humic substances, lipids, etc. Bacterial secretions, shedding of cell surface materials, cell lysates and adsorption of organic constituents from the environment result in EPS formation in a wide variety of free-living bacteria as well as microbial aggregates like biofilms, bioflocs and biogranules. Irrespective of origin, EPS may be loosely attached to the cell surface or bacteria may be embedded in EPS.

Reduction of hexavalent chromium by cell-free extract of Bacillus sphaericus AND 303 isolated from serpentine soil.

Cell-free extracts (CFEs) of chromium-resistant bacterium Bacillus sphaericus AND 303 isolated from serpentine soil of Andaman, India reduced Cr(VI) in in vitro condition, and the reductase activity was solely localized in the soluble cell-fractions (S12, S32, and S150). The enzyme was constitutive as the CFEs from cells grown in Cr(VI)-free and Cr(VI)-containing media reduced a more or less equal amount of Cr(VI). Optimum Cr(VI) reductase activity was obtained at an enzyme (S150) concentration equivalent to 4.

Biosorption of cobalt by fungi from serpentine soil of Andaman.

Fungi belonging to Aspergillus, Mortierella, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Pythium, Rhizopus and Trichoderma, isolated from serpentine soil of Andaman (India) were screened for cobalt-resistance. Eleven out of total 38 isolated fungi which tolerated > 6.0 mM Co(II) were evaluated for cobalt biosorption using dried mycelial biomass.

Occurrence of heavy metal-resistance in microflora from serpentine soil of Andaman.

Serpentine soils collected from Saddle Hills, Chidyatapu and Rutland of Andaman Islands, India were analyzed for physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics and compared with those from adjacent non-serpentine localities. The serpentine soils contained high levels of nickel (1740.0-8033.

Aerobic chromate reduction by chromium-resistant bacteria isolated from serpentine soil.

A group of 34 chromium-resistant bacteria were isolated from naturally occurring chromium percolated serpentine soil of Andaman (India). These isolates displayed different degrees of chromate reduction under aerobic conditions. One of the 34 isolates identified as Bacillus sphaericus was tolerant to 800 mgl(-1) Cr(VI) and reduced > 80% Cr(VI) during growth.