SCREENING OF BIOSURFACTANT PRODUCTION BY BACILLUS SP ISOLATED FROM COASTAL REGION IN CUDDALORE TAMILNADU

Marine microorganisms produce extracellular or membrane associated surface-active compounds (bio surfactants). Biosurfactant are organic compounds belonging to various classes including glycolipids, lipopeptides, fatty acids, phospholipids that reduce the interfacial tension between immiscible liquids.This study deals with production and characterization of biosurfactant from Bacillus sp. The efficiency of Bacillus spstrain isolated from a marine sediments soil sample from coastal region -Cuddalore. Methods: Bushnell Haas (BH) liquid medium was used as the enrichment medium with 1 %(v/v) diesel as the sole carbon source to sole ate diesel degrading bacteria. Serial dilutions (1/10) from the third enrichment process were plated out into BH agar plates, which were covered with 100 μl of diesel oil and incubated at 30°C for approximately one week. The single colonies were streaked into nutrient agar plates incubated at 30°C overnight and stored at 4°C until further use. To elute the biosurfactant from TLC and screen the antimicrobial activity of biosurfactant against clinical pathogens by agar well diffusion method. Result: The results showed the Bacillus sp strains could be effective for crude oil biodegradation. Conclusion: Bacillus spproduces bio surfactant which helps in conversion of the hydrophobic layer into small micelles which it can easily engulf as a carbon source which is the basic nutritional requirement. Key words: Isolation, Bacillussp, Biosurfactant , TLC and Agar well method