title: Screening for genes coding for putative antitumor compounds, antimicrobial and enzymatic activities from haloalkalitolerant and haloalkaliphilic bacteria strains of Algerian Sahara Soils.
abstract: Extreme environments may often contain unusual bacterial groups whose physiology is distinct from those of normal environments. To satisfy the need for new bioactive pharmaceuticals compounds and enzymes, we report here the isolation of novel bacteria from an extreme environment. Thirteen selected haloalkalitolerant and haloalkaliphilic bacteria were isolated from Algerian Sahara Desert soils. These isolates were screened for the presence of genes coding for putative antitumor compounds using PCR based methods. Enzymatic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities were determined by using cultural dependant methods. Several of these isolates are typical of desert and alkaline saline soils, but, in addition, we report for the first time the presence of a potential new member of the genus Nocardia with particular activity against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition to their haloalkali character, the presence of genes coding for putative antitumor compounds, combined with the antimicrobial activity against a broad range of indicator strains and their enzymatic potential, makes them suitable for biotechnology applications.
authors: Microbiology Group, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, USTHB, BP 32, EL ALIA, Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria.
authors: Okba
authors: O
authors: Selama
authors: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors: Gregory C A
authors: GC
authors: Amos
authors: Microbiology Group, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, USTHB, BP 32, EL ALIA, Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria.
authors: Zahia
authors: Z
authors: Djenane
authors: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Borsetto
authors: Department de Biologie, Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS), Vieux Kouba, Alger, Algeria.
authors: Rabah Forar
authors: RF
authors: Laidi
authors: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Porter
authors: Microbiology Group, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, USTHB, BP 32, EL ALIA, Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria.
authors: Farida
authors: F
authors: Nateche
authors: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors: Elizabeth M H
authors: EM
authors: Wellington
authors: Microbiology Group, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, USTHB, BP 32, EL ALIA, Bab Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria.
authors: Hocine
authors: H
authors: Hacène
mesh_terms: D000352:Africa, Northern; D000462:Algeria; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D001709:Biotechnology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005843:Geography; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009615:Nocardia / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017931:DNA Primers