Isolation and Identification of Cellulose-Degrading Bacteria from Different Types of Samples

Microbiological utilization of cellulose is the key factor for the utmost material flow in the biosphere. The present study aimed at the isolation and identification of bacteria with cellulase activity from cellulose containing samples. Samples were collected from soil, domestic kitchen waste, and sawdust. A total of 42 bacterial isolates were isolated through serial dilutions and spread plate method in carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) agar media. The isolates were then screened using congo red staining on CMC agar plates for cellulolytic activity. Among the 42 isolates, only 24 (57%) isolates showed cellulolytic activity. Morphological and biochemical assays suggested that the cellulose-degrading bacterial isolates were members of the genus Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Salmonella sp. The Salmonella sp. (CDB18) (0.5170 IU/ml/min), Bacillus sp. (CDB20) (0.4890 IU/ml/min) and Bacillus sp., (CDB13) (0.4016 IU/ml/min) showed maximum enzymatic activity. Therefore, these bacterial species can be utilized for effective biodegradation of cellulose-containing substrates.