Antibiotic resistance profile of halophilic microorganisms isolated from tannery effluent

80-86Halophiles are defined as organisms showing considerable growth at salt concentrations higher than 100 g L-1. Based on the halophilicity, halophiles can be broadly classified as slightly, moderately or extremely halophilic depending on their requirement for NaCl. Halophilic microorganisms, metabolically diversified, comprising Archaea, Bacteria, and Eucarya, are found distributed all over the world in hypersaline environments including drained soak liquor and brine cured hides. Plasmids mediating resistance to antimicrobial agents have been found in many halophilic bacteria examined so far. For the purpose of protection of salt cured hides, adequate knowledge and exposure related to characteristics of halophilic bacteria is very important as halophilic microorganisms secrete bacterial collagenases responsible for collagen damage in the form of ‘Red heat’. All the halophilic bacteria isolated from the drained soak liquor used in these experiments were proved to be motile, aerobic and extremely pleomorphic Gram negative organisms. The growth curve of the halophilic bacteria showed slower growth profile at 37°C compared to E. coli. Effective plasmid isolation further strengthened the antibiotic resistance of the halophiles. Analysis of drained soak liquor was followed to examine the related important features of the halophilic species. Optimum salinity of media and pleomorphic Gram-negative nature of halophiles were found as causative factors of insensitivity to antimicrobial agents (AMA). It was found that darkness and low temperature would resist ‘Red heat’ on hides