title: Description of a halocin-producing Haloferax larsenii HA1 isolated from Pachpadra salt lake in Rajasthan.
abstract: Haloarchaea grow in the extreme environment, such as high salt concentration, and secrete antimicrobial peptides known as halocins. Identification of Haloferax larsenii strain HA1 was carried out using biochemical and molecular methods. Strain HA1 was found as a strict aerobe, catalase positive and Gram negative. It was able to grow optimally at 15 % NaCl (w/v), 42 °C and pH 7.2. Strain HA1 was sensitive to bile acid, was resistant to chloramphenicol and could not utilize arginine. Halocin, produced by strain HA1, was stable up to 100 °C and in a pH range of 5.0-9.0. Antimicrobial activity was not affected by organic solvents, surfactants and detergents, but it was completely lost in the presence of proteinase K, suggesting proteinaceous nature of the compound. It was halocidal against indicator strain Hfx. larsenii HA10. The molecular weight of halocin HA1 was found to be ~14 kDa. These properties of halocin HA1 may be applicable to the preservation of salted foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, 124001, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Biochemical Engineering Department, BT Kumaon Institute of Technology, Dwarahat, 263653, Uttarakhand, India.
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, 124001, Haryana, India. santoshgenetics@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Santosh Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tiwari
mesh_terms: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D019621:Haloferax / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D007194:India; D008970:Molecular Weight; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002374:Catalase
keywords: Extreme environments; Haloarchaea; Halocidal; Halocin HA1; Haloferax larsenii HA1