“…For long time storage, the isolates were kept at −80°C in MRS broths containing 15% (v/v) glycerol. These pure colonies were further identified based on their macroscopic and microscopic traits like colony elevation, shape, color, texture and Gram staining [16], their physiological characteristics such as growth at different temperatures (10,15, 37 and 45°C), pH (1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4.4, 6 and 9.6) and NaCl concentrations (2.5, 6.5, 10, and 18% w/v) [17] and their biochemical traits like catalase, oxidase, indole production, methyl red test, Voges-Proskauer test, citrate utilization, and urease [18].…”