Novel Organophosphate Pesticide Utilizing Alkaline Phosphatase Producing Polyextremophile Bacillus Flexus from Lake Ecosystem of North Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT: The biodiversity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) producing microbes from the lake ecosystem of the North Gujarat region was explored. Methyl Green dye and Phenolphthalein diphosphate supplemented MG-PDP medium screened ALP producing microbes as deep green stained cultures. The best ALP producing isolate was put through phenetic and genetic identification on the basis of morphology, biochemistry, physiology and 16S rRNA analysis. This best ALP producer proved to be catalase and oxidase positive, spore forming, noncapsulated, motile, vancomycin sensitive Gram-positive rod which gives optimum ALP production at pH 9.0, 35ºC and 0.5% NaCl concentration. Scanning Electron Micrographs revealed unique pili like bridge between bacterial cells and no flagella. N-BLAST search of the 16S rRNA sequence of the isolate (GenBank accession no JN415115) exhibited maximum similarity (98%) with Bacillus flexus. Organophosphorous Pesticide Acephate was utilized as sole Carbon source accompanied with the release of inorganic phosphate indicating its role in organophosphate pesticide bioremediation