Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Abstract

Production of Protease Showing Antibacterial Activity by Bacillus subtilis VCDA Associated with Tropical Marine Sponge Callyspongia diffusa

Rachanamol RS, Lipton AP, Thankamani V, Sarika AR and Selvin J

The marine sponge Callyspongia diffusa associated bacterium produced protease enzyme which effectively inhibited the human pathogen S. aureus and fish pathogens viz., V. fluvialis, V. anguillarum, V. vulnificus and E. cloacae. The species identity of Bacillus subtilis VCDA (GenBank Accession No. KJ789102) was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The maximum protease activity was noted at 30°C and at pH 9. Protease production was stimulated in the presence of glucose (1.5%), tryptone (1.5%), NaCl (1.5%) and metal ions Ca²⁺ (1 mM) and Fe2+ (10 mM). The 46 K Da Bacillus subtilis VCDA protease was partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation and Sephadex G-100 column.