Production of cellulose from native bacterial isolates isolated in Iran

Subject Areas : Applied Microbiology

Raheleh Taheri ¹ (MS.c., Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Damghan Branch, Damghan, Iran.)
Hatef Ajudanifar ² (Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Damghan Branch, Damghan, Iran.)
Parastoo Pourali ³ (Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Shahrood Branch, Shahrood, Iran.)

Received: 2013-04-30 Accepted : 2013-07-01 Published : 2014-03-01

Keywords: Cellulose, Acromobacter spanius, Pseudomonas luteola, Pseudomonas durifulva,

Abstract :

Background and Objectives: The microbial cellulose which is produced by some strains of Acetobacter and Gluconobacter is structurally similar to plant cellulose. Based on this feature, the microbial cellulose has been used in medical and industrial productions as an important raw material. The aims of this study were to isolate the native bacteria species producing cellulose and to evaluate their production rate. Materials and Methods: In this study, 65 samples were collected from different types of local vinegars, juices and fruits and were cultivated in Hestrin-Schramm's agar medium. Afterward the isolates with maximum ability to produce cellulose were selected and identified using biochemical tests and PCR method. After purification of the cellulose, enzymatic digestions method by cellulase enzyme and scanning electron microscope were used to confirm the presence of cellulose.   Results: Totally, 20 strains with the cellulose production ability were isolated, of them 5 strains with maximum production ability were selected for further investigation. Base on biochemical tests and sequencing method, theses isolates were classified as Acromobacter spanius, Pseudomonas luteola and Pseudomonas durifulva. In this study, the wet and dried weight of the cellulose production were measured as 16.6 and 0.1g, respectively. Conclusion: According to the findings, the cellulose can be produced by native isolates other than Acetobacter and Gluconobacter. In this study, the new native strains of produced cellulose were introduced for the first time in Iran. Also, the produced cellulose by these species has suitable traits in comparison with standard strains.