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ABSTRACT
Thermophilic aerobic bacteria were isolated from two geothermal areas in Neuquén province using two different enrichment methods and a total of 30 isolates were obtained. From chicken feather enrichment cultures, strains affiliated to Bacillus cytotoxicus and Bacillus licheniformis were isolated and all of them demonstrated the capability to degrade completely chicken feather. A preliminary research on biotechnological enzymes' potential demonstrated that all the isolates displayed at least one of the extracellular hydrolytic enzymes tested. Most of the isolates showed protease, inulinase and/or pectinase activities, while cellulase and xylanase activities were less common. In light of these findings, geothermal areas of Argentina may be considered as a potential source of thermophilic bacteria able to produce many industrially relevant enzymes.
Acknowledgments
Dr Donati would like to especially thank Dr. Ana Monasterio and the authorities of EPROTEN (Ente provincial de termas Neuquén) for allowing access to the Copahue geothermal system and facilitate the collection of the samples.
Funding
This work was partially supported by grants PICT 2012-0623, PICT 2013-0630, PICT 2014-1655 (ANPCYT) and PIP 112-201101-00662 (CONICET).