Screening and identification of bacteria producing polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from a Malaysian hot spring

A screen was conducted to search for polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from thermophilic bacteria. A total of fifty-two isolates were obtained from water and soil samples from a hot spring using enrichment culture. The production of amylase, xylanase, pullulanase and cellulase was screened using chromogenic substrates. Four isolates were found to be positive for amylase, 10 were positive for xylanase, 7 were positive for pullulanase and 2 for cellulase activities. Representative isolates were preliminarily identified using 16SRNA gene sequencing technique, and belonged to the genera of Geobacillus, Anoxybacillus, and Bacillus sp. The results indicate that hot springs in Malaysia are rich in microbial life from the Bacillaceae family, and are productive as a source of biocatalysts.