Biosynthetic adaptation of endophytic bacteria to chemically support host plant is very remarkable. Hence these organisms from medicinal plants are considered as highly valuable sources for natural products with diverse bioactivity. Their metabolite diversity and biosynthetic versatility have been increasingly explored for drug discovery. In this study, an endophytic Bacillus mojavensis with broad spectrum antibacterial properties has been analyzed for the chemical basis of its activity. By LC–MS/MS the organism was identified to have the biosynthetic ability to produce lipopeptides surfactin and fengycin. The impressive antibacterial activity of B. mojavensis as reported in the study indicates its broad antimicrobial applications.
Protease production by Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus cerus sources follows similar profiles with marginal differences in activity levels (690, 648 U/mL/min, respectively). Optimum pH values of proteases were closer to the neutral at 60°C. Lower scouring efficiency was observed in proteases produced by B. cerus compared to that of B. licheniformis, in terms of weight loss (4.0 and 3.34%), drop absorbency (1.59 and 3.28 s), extractable impurities (2.03 and 2.82%) and Ruthenium red binding (35 and 43%). Reduction in the tear strength was observed in protease-scoured samples compared to the alkali-scoured samples. FTIR results showed the elimination of nitrogen-containing compounds related to proteins, while the peaks related to wax, pectin were present in the scoured cotton samples.
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