Isolation and Characterization of Thermophilic Bacteria from Microbial Mats Present Carpet Comanjilla Geothermal Hot Spring, México

In the present study, the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of bacteria isolated from the geothermal zone of Comanjilla, Guanajuato, Mexico, was performed. The thermal water studied is classified as hyperthermal water, of deep origin, and with low mineralization. The production of microbial mats in the thermal water is about 1 ton in fifteen days in an area of 40 m2. It consists of several stratified layers of green and orange color, each dominated by specific types of microorganisms such as diatoms, cyanobacteria, but mainly bacteria. Eight isolates were identified by morphological, microscopic, biochemical, molecular, and physiological characteristics. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA of the isolates revealed that two isolates could be identified as Bacillus licheniformis. BLAST search analysis of the sequence showed maximum identity with Bacillus (similarity 97 to 99%). The results revealed the apparent domination of the gen. Bacillus represented by Brevibacillus agri and Paenibacillus sp. The isolates showed the ability to produce some thermostable enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and protease, which have a wide range of applications in the agricultural, food and pharmaceutical sectors. This diversity of thermophilic bacteria present in the microbial mats of the geothermal zone of Comanjilla is typical for Mexico's central zone. It is the first study of these microorganisms in the area, which makes it a place of great interest from the biotechnological and industrial point of view, and for of diversity and technology as well. At the same time, study of the thermophilic bacteria as a functional unit will help to understand better how these complex and integrated communities adapt to the life in the thermal waters.