ORIGINAL ARTICLE Characterization of antibiotic resistant and enzyme producing bacterial strains isolated from the Arabian Sea

Abstract Marine bacteria are known to produce many bioactive molecules and extracellular enzymes of com-mercial importance. We have investigated the bacterial diversity of the coastal area of Karwar, Karnataka State, India. Among these bacterial isolates, five bacterial strains were selected and identified by their morphological, bio-chemical characteristics and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The identified bacterial isolates, Bacillus toyonensis PNTB1, Lysinibacillus sphaericus PTB, Vibrio vulnificus PMD, Shewanella MPTDBS, and Pseudomonas chlororaphis PNTB were characterized for their tolerance to salt and antibiotics. Vibrio vulnificus PMD showed maximum tolerance at higher concentration of salt than other bacteria. These bacterial strains were screened for the production of extracellular enzymes such as lipase, cellulase, pectinase, tannase, chitinase, and L-glutaminase. Vibrio vulnificus showed maximum production of L-glutaminase enzyme. Bacillus toyonensis PNTB1 shows lipase, CM-cellulase and chitinase activities. These isolated bacterial cultures were also utilized most of the aromatic compounds at 7 mM. These findings indicate the organisms present in this zone may have more potential applications in biore-mediation, agricultural, industrial, and therapeutics