Four halotolerant fungal isolates originating from the saltwater Lake Urmia in Iran wereselected during a screening program for salt resistance and a-amylase activity. The isolates were identified based on sequencing the ITS region and a part of the β -tubulin gene, as Penicillium chrysogenum (isolate U1; CBS 132820), Fusarium incarnatum (isolate U2; CBS 132821), and Penicillium polonicum (isolate U3; CBS 132822, and isolate U4; CBS 132823). The growth of these isolates was determined by measuring the colony diameter and mycelia dry weight in Sabouraud dextrose agar and yeast nitrogen base medium supplemented with NaCl, KCl, and LiCl. Isolate U4 showed a growth up in 15% NaCl and U1 was the only isolate that could grow in 20% KCl. None of the strains grew in a media containing LiCl. The salt supplemented medium did not increase the size of colony diameter in all isolates (p>0.05). The ability of the selected isolates for amylase production was quantitatively tested and showed that P. polonicum isolate U4 was the most potent producer of amylase with a yield of 260.9 U/L after 60 h, whereas P. polonicum isolate U3 was the lowest one with a production level of 97.9 U/L after 48 h. P. polonicum isolate U4 could be a suitable candidate for production of amylase on an industrial scale after optimization.

Background: The aim of this study was to discover new natural products from novel actinomycetes isolated from unexplored Urmia HYPERSALINE Lake.Methods: Marine samples were collected from different points in the coastal of Urmia lake and totally 20 actinomycetes were isolated using different isolation media. All the isolates were characterized and identified by microscopical and macroscopical observations. Sequencing and analysis of 16S rDNA from chosen isolates was performed.Results: Identification of the isolates revealed that all isolates belong to the genus Streptomyces sp. The isolated marine actinomycetes were screened for their antimicrobial activity against the human bacterial pathogens Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia. Among 20 isolates, 8 showed antibacterial activity. The marine isolate Streptomyces sp. CS1 was found to be more efficient in the production of secondary metabolites.Conclusion: In conclusion, escalating reports on discovery of diverse natural compounds from halophilic and halotolerant actinomycetes, which inhabit in Urmia Lake, suggested that this physiological group has enormous capacity to produce array of secondary metabolites with disparate activities.

Background and Objectives: Halothermophilic bacteria are adapted to high osmolarity and can grow in high saline envi-ronments and high temperatures. This study was aimed at the isolation of halothermophilic bacteria from Howz-e Sultan HYPERSALINE lake in the central desert zone in Iran. Materials and Methods: Samples were collected and after preparing dilutions, the samples were cultured on Molten haloid agar with different salt concentrations (5-35%), then the plates were incubated at 35-70º C in both aerobic and anaerobic con-ditions. Biochemical characterizations, utilization of carbon sources, production of exoenzymes and antibiotic susceptibility were investigated. Taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses were performed using 16S rRNA gene sequences. Results: One of the isolated bacteria was found to be Gram-positive, hyperhalophilic, thermophilic, endospore-forming, and was named as 1-9 h isolate. The bacterial cells were bacilli-shaped, which produced endospores at a subterminal position. This isolate was an aerobe and facultative anaerobe and grew between pH 5. 0 and 10. 0 (optimal growth at pH 7. 0-7. 5), at temperature between 15° C and 65° C (optimal growth at 40-45° C) and at salinity of 9-32% (w/v) NaCl, growing optimally at 18% (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, isolate 1-9 h belongs to the genus Bacillus within the phylum Firmicutes and showed the closest phylogenetic similarity to Gracilibacillus sp. IBP-V003 (99. 0%). Conclusion: Based on the results of its phenotypic and genotypic properties, strain 1-9 h represents a novel strain of the genus Gracilibacillus. It can be used in various fields of industry and biotechnology.

Nitrogen removal from HYPERSALINE wastewater was successfully started up by inoculating estuarine sediments for 140 days. Efficient ammonia and total nitrogen removal was sustained under specific ammonia loading of 0.016-0.139 kg N/[kg VSS day] in a sequencing batch reactor. Stable nitrite accumulation was observed during nitrification. The specific ammonia consumption rate was higher than the value of freshwater activated sludge and salt-acclimated freshwater activated sludge. With methanol as carbon source, specific nitrite reduction rate of halophilic denitrifiers was much less than the freshwater counterpart. Halophilic activated sludge was characterized as good settling and flocculation prosperity with small floc size and net-like sludge structure. The abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria outnumbered ammonia-oxidizing archaeas in both estuarine sediments and the activated sludge. Nitrifier population was dominated by the halophilic members of genus Nitrosomonas. This study demonstrated the application of mixed halophilic consortia for efficient nitrogen removal, overcoming the limits and difficulties of applying freshwater bacteria for saline wastewater treatment.