Insights into physiology and metabolic capabilities of Pedicoccus strains isolated from Yucatan saline environments
Coastal wetlands and marshes are among the most valuable and biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. In the Yucatan peninsula, wetlands cover an area of 8,000 km2, and include high salinity spots. Microorganisms present in these environments play important roles mediating the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and are adapted to survive under very stringent conditions such as high salt concentration and oxygen deprivation, and could synthesize enzymes and molecules with potential novel activities. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is a group of Gram-positive bacteria with broad applications as result of the diverse metabolic capabilities. These microorganisms are usually isolated from nutrition rich environments such as fermented foods, dairy environments, and gut of different organisms; however, studies of LAB isolated from non-lactic environments remain scarce. In our research group, microorganisms identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus were isolated from sediments of Yucatan wetlands and coastal marshes with salinities between 8-296 g/kg. Interestingly, the isolation was not possible in samples with lower salt concentration. P. pentosaceus is a dietary supplement extensively used in the food industry as a probiotic to improve the nutritional value of food products, as well as to increase the flavor and texture of food.