title: Cellulolytic and proteolytic ability of bacteria isolated from gastrointestinal tract and composting of a hippopotamus.
abstract: The bioprospection for cellulase and protease producers is a promise strategy for the discovery of potential biocatalysts for use in hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials as well as proteic residues. These enzymes can increment and turn viable the production of second generation ethanol from different and alternative sources. In this context, the goal of this study was the investigation of cellulolytic and proteolytic abilities of bacteria isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a hippopotamus as well as from its composting process. It is important to highlight that hippopotamus gastrointestinal samples were a non-typical sources of efficient hydrolytic bacteria with potential for application in biotechnological industries, like biofuel production. Looking for this, a total of 159 bacteria were isolated, which were submitted to qualitative and quantitative enzymatic assays. Proteolytic analyzes were conducted through the evaluation of fluorescent probes. Qualitative assays for cellulolytic abilities revealed 70 positive hits. After quantitative analyzes, 44 % of these positive hits were selected, but five (5) strains showed cellulolytic activity up to 11,8 FPU/mL. Regarding to proteolytic activities, six (6) strains showed activity above 10 %, which overpassed results described in the literature. Molecular analyzes based on the identification of 16S rDNA, revealed that all the selected bacterial isolates were affiliated to Bacillus genus. In summary, these results strongly indicate that the isolated bacteria from a hippopotamus can be a potential source of interesting biocatalysts with cellulolytic and proteolytic activities, with relevance for industrial applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema, São Paulo, 09913-030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Geomárcia Feitosa
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: da Cruz Ramos
authors.affiliation: São Paulo Zoo Park Foundation, Av. Miguel Estéfano, 4241, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04301-905, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia Locosque
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema, São Paulo, 09913-030, Brazil.|Latin American Institute of Life Sciences and Nature, Federal University of Latin American Integration, Av. Tarquínio Joslin dos Santos, 1000, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, 85870-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Michel Rodrigo Zambrano
authors.initials: MRZ
authors.lastname: Passarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema, São Paulo, 09913-030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marghuel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vieira Silveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua 3 de Maio, 100, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04044-020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Noma
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua 3 de Maio, 100, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04044-020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lilian Caroline Gonçalves
authors.initials: LCG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema, São Paulo, 09913-030, Brazil.
authors.forename: Larissa Vieira
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Zezzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua 3 de Maio, 100, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04044-020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alyne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marem
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua 3 de Maio, 100, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04044-020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Costa
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Santos Rocha
authors.affiliation: São Paulo Zoo Park Foundation, Av. Miguel Estéfano, 4241, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04301-905, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Batista
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: da Cruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua 3 de Maio, 100, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04044-020, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Juliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Diadema, São Paulo, 09913-030, Brazil. suzan.pantaroto@unifesp.br.
authors.forename: Suzan Pantaroto
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: de Vasconcellos
keywords: Bacillus; Biofuel; Cellulase; Protease; Screening