Hydrolytic Enzyme-Producing Bacteria from Algerian Hot Springs: Attractive Industrial Molecules

Abstract

AbstractIndigenous thermophilic microorganisms in hot environments, such as terrestrial hot springs, have shown interesting adaptive capacities and thus constitute an important source of unconventional bioactive molecules of which enzymes are a part. Of these microorganisms, species belonging to the genus Bacillus have been well known as among the best producers of enzymes. Thermostable enzymes, also called thermozymes, isolated from thermophilic microorganisms, have a biotechnological potential and industrial significance due to their inherent stability under harsh industrial conditions, in addition to their performance at high temperatures. Hydrolases, especially thermostable hydrolases, are considered as compounds of great commercial importance in various industrial applications in medical, agricultural, and environmental processes. Algeria has more than 282 hydrothermal springs that can be important sources of novel microorganisms, genes, and molecules, which might be used in a large number of applications in various fields. Although there are intensive studies on the isolation of enzyme-producing bacteria from terrestrial hot springs around the world, research studies on thermophilic enzymes produced by the Bacillus species isolated from Algerian hot springs remain relatively rare. The results of the first investigations carried out in Debagh Hot Springs, the hottest hydrothermal source in Algeria, showed an extremely promising potential of enzyme production. This chapter considers the current advances in this topic, emphasizing on the thermozymes produced by the genus Bacillus, particularly isolated from Algerian hot springs, and their potential applications in different fields.KeywordsAlgerian hot springsThermophilic bacteriaHydrolytic activitiesBiotechnology