Screening and Identification of Efficient Biosurfactant Producing Bacteria for some Medical Applications

Abstract

Biosurfactant is a shortcut term for surface-active agent produced by microorganisms and has ability to reduce surface tension between immiscible matters. This study was aimed to isolate, screen and identify biosurfactant producing bacteria from oil-polluted sites from south of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Out of the total 42 bacterial isolates, 4 biosurfactant producing bacterial strains were detected through different screening tests. The isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. These active isolates named EMB6, EMB 18, EMB 19, EMB 24. They were displayed the surface tension ≥ 40 mN/m, scored 30% in BATHA assay, they were shown positive activity with drop collapse test, also with oil displacement test (> 2 cm), and produce dark blush halo on CTAB assay. These isolates were identified using 16 S rRNA. The isolate EMB 6 was closely related to Klebsiella quasivariicola (98.24%); isolates EMB 18, EMB 19 and EMB 24 closely belonged to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (99.41%); (96.19%) and (97.51%) respectively. Results in this study proved that these isolates had an outstanding potential for production of biosurfactant which can be used in food and medical applications.