Razieh Sadati - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
Nima Shaykh-Baygloo - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Rasoul Shokri - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran

Isolation of new microbial species from extreme environments is one of the most efficient approaches for the development of novel bioactive metabolites. The aim of the present study was to explore the pharmaceutical bacterial resources from the water and sediments of hypersaline Lake Urmia. Using different culture conditions and media led to the isolation of ۲۰ bacterial strains. Halophilic bacteria were screened for the production of antibacterial agent against multi-drug resistant strains of Escherichia coli through agar well diffusion assay. Halophilic bacteria DNA extraction was done by boiling method. The results showed that two Halomonas strains, LUH۱۶ and LUH۲۰ identified by analysis of ۱۶S rRNA gene sequences were the potent producers of antimicrobial metabolites against various strains of E. coli. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of eight secondary metabolites with the relevant antimicrobial properties. Our findings led us to focus on Halomonas strains as potent producers of antimicrobial compound that might be an alternative against antibiotic-resistant pathogens such as pathogenic Escherichia coli.

Antibacterial activity, Halomonas, Hypersaline, Lake Urmia