Gülşen Altuğ
Istanbul University, Turkey
Title: Occurrence and distribution of Bacillus species in Turkish marine environments
Biography
Biography: Gülşen Altuğ
Abstract
Although Bacillus species are isolated in both terrestrial and marine environments, marine bacilli display more effective metabolically peculiarities depending on the specific environmental conditions of marine habitats. While Bacillus species play a significant role in biogeochemical recycling processes of metal salts, some of them described as potential biocontrol agents. In this study, occurrence and distribution of Bacillus species were investigated using culture-dependent and independent methods in the sea water samples taken from various marine areas of Turkey in different periods between 2000 and 2016. Variable environmental parameters; temperature, salinity, conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen were recorded in-situ. The members of Bacillaceae were identified using both culture dependent methods; VITEK compact 30 micro identification system and molecular methods; bacterial DNA isolation, real time PCR (Q-PCR), PCR product purification, DNA sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis. Micro-geographical distribution of Bacillus species and environmental variables were determined. The most common species were recorded to be B. flexus. Besides, Bacillus cereus, B. thuringiensis, B. pumilus, B. firmus, B. mycoides, B. megaterium, B. oceanisedimini, Geobacillus stearothermophilus showed high frequency of occurrence. The metabolic characteristics and color, spore-forming forms and resistivity frequencies against heavy metal salts of the strains have been shown that marine bacilli isolated from the marine areas have significant potential for possible biotechnological applications such as remediation of heavy metal polluted areas, can be used as a source of natural carotenoids and bio-drugs.