ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT BACTERIA  FROM THE FUR OF BACTRIAN CAMEL IN THE COLD DESERT OF NUBRA VALLEY:

The application of bacterial enzymes with significant potential in various industries has become a critical aspect of contemporary microbiological research, drawing intense interest from scientists in the field of industrial microbiology. Researchers are engaged in a quest to uncover new sources of extremophilic bacterial strains to investigate the functionality of their enzymes and assess their industrial value. In this context, the cold desert of Nubra Valley in Ladakh attracted our attention due to the presence of Bactrian camels, a critically endangered species that thrive in extreme environmental conditions.

We encountered these camels at high altitudes in Ladakh, prompting us to investigate the population of extremophilic bacteria found on their fur. Our study aimed to isolate distinct bacterial strains from both the fur and the fur roots of these camels, and to characterize these strains based on their production of enzymes such as alkaline protease, amylase, keratinase, collagenase, gelatinase, elastase, acid phosphatase, and caseinase. These enzymes hold significant economic value for industries involved in wool degradation, pharmaceuticals, and more.

Initially, four distinct bacterial strains were isolated from serially diluted fur samples, while two strains were isolated from serially diluted fur roots. This yielded a total of six strains, designated as BCF1, BCF2, BCF3, BCF4, BCFR5, and BCFR6, which are considered unique due to their exclusive source.

Basic characterization of these strains, including Gram staining and Chromagar plate morphology, suggested their probable identities. BCF1 was identified as either Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, BCF2 as Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus megaterium, and BCF3 as Bacillus polymyxa. Subsequent qualitative enzyme assays revealed some remarkable findings. All strains showed positive results in a keratinase plate assay conducted with chicken feathers as the substrate. This result suggests that the strains are adapted to the fur of Bactrian camels, as bacteria associated with animal fur often produce keratinase to degrade keratin, potentially causing camels’ fur to shed. Given that keratinase enzymes are widely used in the wool-degrading industry, these bacterial strains may hold significant industrial value.

Furthermore, the strains BCF1, BCF2, BCF3, and BCF4 tested positive in protease assays, while BCF1, BCF2, and BCF3 were positive in amylase assays, indicating potential applications in multiple industries. Planned quantitative analyses aim to quantify enzyme production and determine enzyme activity, providing concrete evidence for the relevance of extracting metabolites from these bacteria. The economic significance of such enzymes is vast, particularly in the medical field. For instance, bacterial collagenase is crucial for treating conditions such as Peyronie’s disease, Dupuytren’s contracture, glaucoma, burns, and wounds. It is also essential for isolating pancreatic islet cells for transplantation, tissue remodeling and repair, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma). Moreover, elastase is significant in the pharmaceutical industry for treating damaged skin fibers, inhibiting contaminating bacteria, treating carbuncles and furuncles, and in the meat tenderization industry, among other uses.

Additionally, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling enzymes capable of degrading almost every ECM component, which is crucial for embryonic development and angiogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinase-8, in particular, functions as a metastasis suppressor by modulating tumor cell adhesion and invasion. It also offers protection in cases of bleomycin-induced lung injury, periodontitis, and allergy-induced airway inflammation.

While some of these enzymes have been previously studied, our investigation is unique due to the novel source and distinctiveness of the strains, which may produce the aforementioned enzymes more efficiently and at a lower cost, thereby offering substantial benefits to various industries. The goal of this study is to explore innovative processes for isolating a range of bacterial strains from Bactrian camel fur and to quantify and purify at least four enzymes for commercial use that are tolerant of harsh industrial conditions.

In summary, this research contributes to both industrial and medical microbiology by introducing novel methods for extracting valuable enzymes that could revolutionize industrial microbiology and address numerous complex challenges in this field.

Sukanya Chatterjee

University/College name : St. Xavier's College-Kolkata (Autonomous)