Isolation of α-amylase producing bacteria from the coastal waters of Bay of Bengal, Visakhapatnam

Bacteria have been regarded as treasure of many useful enzymes viz., amylases, proteases, lipases, hydrolases and reductases.. Bacteria screened during the study (Aug., 2008 - Jun., 2010) were of Bacillus species. Out of 1618 isolates, 143 isolates exhibited 3-11mm clear zone of starch hydrolysis, 17 exhibited above 11mm and the rest of them yielded less than 3mm zone. By determining the alpha-amylase production of the isolates by 3, 5-Dinitro salicylic acid method, the high yielding 17 isolates were observed. The highly potent alpha-amylase producing bacteria would prove promising results in bakery, food, fodder for poultry, automation dishwashing and laundry industries. alpha-amylase was also useful in solving the problem of water pollution of industrial effluents and sewage water by hydrolyzing the substrates.