Volume 6, Number 4, p.p. 149-154
Unusual actinomycetes from various types of soils in Georgia
D. Pataraya,* M.Gurielidze, T. Berishvili, N. Cholokava, R. Ckvedelidze, T. Urushadze and E. Kvesitadze
Durmishidze Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, D. Agmashenebelis Kheivani 10 km, 0159 Tbilisi, Georgia
Cultures of 283 types of halophilic, alkalophilic, acidophilic and thermophilic actinomycetes were isolated from the soils of various geographical and climatic regions of Georgia: saline, raw humus calcareous, gray cinnamonic soils, chernozems, red podzols and yellow podzols. Among these, the halophilic and alkalophilic actinomycetes dominate. The morphological and cultural properties and development phases of the isolated cultures have been studied. It was established that among the halophilic actinomycetes, representatives of the genera Streptomyces, Streptosporangium, Nocardia, Saccharomonospora, Saccharopolyspora, Micromonospora, Promicromonospora were found, and the ability of halophilic and alkalophilic actinomycetes to transform various toxic hydrocarbons—naphthalene, hexane, benzene, dichlorobenzene, and crude oil—was demonstrated. Eight cultures with protease activity have been identified among the halophilic and alkalophilic actinomycetes. This new collection of extremophilic actinomycetes has many potential uses in novel biotechnologies.
Keywords:
alkalophiles, extremophilic actinomycetes, halophiles, protease activity.