Isolation and identifacation of amylase producing bacteria

Amylases enzyme act on glycosides bond of starch and related polysaccharides. It is used to obtain maltose, glucose and maltodextrins in various lengths during
industrial processes. Amylases enzyme have high demand in industrial process. The objectives of this research were to isolate amylase producing bacteria from soil
samples and to identify amylase producing bacteria using Gram’s staining, biochemical test and 16s rDNA analysis. A total of 15 isolated colonies were isolated from soil sample collected at Agropark, UMK Jeli, Kelantan. The serial dilution of the soil sample was incubated at 37°C for 24hours on nutrient agar (containing 2.5% starch). Bacteria colonies that capable of hydrolyzing starch were then transferred into nutrient agar for further characterization and identification. The biochemical tests include catalase, Triple Sugar Iron (TSI), Methyl Red (MR), Voges-Proskauer (VP), 6.5% NaCl broth, citrate which was used for preliminary identification of amylase
producing bacteria. Molecular identification through 16s rDNA were also carried out. The potential amylase producing bacteria of each colony were able to identified
through biochemical test. The potential bacterial obtained for isolates 1, 6, 7, 8, and 12 were B. anthracis or B. thuringiensis or B. cereus whereas for isolates 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9 were B. panthothentic or B. circulans. Isolate 10 was identified as B. coagulans while Isolate 11 was B. macquariensis. As for 16s rDNA identification, the process can be further studied by sending the PCR product for sequencing to confirm the potential bacteria obtained in this study.