Halomonas maura was discovered more than six years ago in Asilah salt flats, to the north of Morocco, during the development of a work with the purpose of separating exopolysaccharides producer microorganisms, microbial organisms very useful in food, drug and cosmetic industry, especially because of its high viscosity in solution. Currently, these compounds are opening new possibilities in scientific-technical research all over the world.
In this sense, Microbial Exopolysaccharides research team of the UGR started the genetic study of this bacterium to describe the features of its genome. Montserrat Argandoña Bertrán´s thesis appears as a consequence of these studies, read in the Department of Microbiology of the University of Granada (UGR).
In the absence of oxygen
This bacterium is characterized by its ability to develop in the absence of oxygen. It can specifically breathe in anaerobiosis by fixing atmospheric nitrogen; it allows it to survive in extreme conditions. This microorganism can be found in earth adhered to certain plants roots in these salt flats.
In fact, this type of bacteria, the halophilic ones, are mainly characterized by the fact that they grow in the presence of high salt concentration. Furthermore, this bacterium is one of the halophilic microorganisms that is more abundant in these soils.
All these properties make easier to colonize ecosystems in adverse conditions. In the Department of Microbiology of the UGR take care of proving it. The laboratories boast high technology and specific means to carry out biochemical studies. “Once we isolated the bacterium, we started a series of projects to manipulate it with different external conditioning”, Argandeña points out.
According to the author of the thesis, “it would be interesting to study its use as a fertilizer in in medium-salinity soils salinity revegetation programs with native species”. Ana del Moral García and Fernando Martínez-Checa Barrero, supervisors of the study, intend to confirm the possibilities of this bacterium as a project for the future. That is why they want to characterize with precision the genes responsible for nitrogen fixation, a process which has already been proved by chemical tests.
Further information: Microbial Exopolysaccharides Research Team
Department of Microbiology of the University of Granada
Prof. Ana del Moral García.
Phone number: 958 24 38 75.
E-mail: fmcheca@ugr.es
Prof. Fernando Martínez-Checa Barrero.
Phone number: 958 24 99 67
E-mail:fmcheca@ugr.es
