ISOLATION, SCREENING, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CHITINASE PRODUCING BACTERIA FROM MARINE WASTES

Objective: Aim of this study deals with screening and characterization of chitinase-producing bacteria from marine waste and its deposited soil along the coastal regions in Chennai.Methods: The soil samples were collected aseptically and subjected to serial dilution to isolate the bacterial strains. Totally, 35 morphologically different microorganisms were isolated and were screened for their chitinolytic activity in colloidal chitin incorporated media through zone assay using Congo red stain. The biochemical tests were performed for the isolated to prove their validity and further with sequencing to determine the species.Results: The isolates were screened based on the size of the zone formed. Best chitinase producers were subjected to biochemical tests and 16s ribosomal RNA sequencing. A novel strain, Acinetobacter ASK18, a gram-negative, motile organism was identified. Thus, the isolate may be a potent producer of chitinase, and the marine wastes can be utilized efficiently to generate a high value-added product.Conclusion: A novel strain, Acinetobacter ASK18, would further be subjected to purification of the enzyme produced, and hence the active principle could be evaluated as an effective pharmacological drug in anticancer and antibacterial properties.Keywords: Marine wastes, Chitinase, Congo red, Biochemical tests, 16s rRNA sequencin