Distribution, Isolation And Characterization Of Bacteria With Industrial Potential In Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Lake Nakuru is an economically important natural resource in Kenya. Despite the unique ecological characteristics exemplified by this lake, the industrial potential of microbes in the lake has barely been explored. The main objective of this study was to determine the distribution of bacteria, isolate and characterize bacteria with industrial potential. This was achieved through intensive ecological study of three sites on the lake for a period of six months (January to June 2010). Total bacterial counts were determined by direct epifluorescence microscopy of acridine orange stained samples on black polycarbonate filters. Heterotrophic plate counts were plated on 4% NaCl and 1 % Na2CO3 nutrient agar. Enzymatic activities of bacteria towards various macromolecules were investigated for 30 selected isolates by testing their ability to degrade such substrates as starch, cellulose, casein and lipids. The potential use of bacterial isolates for feather degradation was determined by allowing isolates to grow on a feather waste medium as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Genomic DNA of four isolates (LNS08, LNC09, LNC11 and LNC06) that showed highest potential to degrade macromolecules and feathers was amplified by PCR and subsequently sequenced. Temperature and pH variations in the lake were low throughout the sampling duration. Dissolved oxygen varied tremendously in the lake with a high value of about 18.4±5.1 mg/l in February and a low mean value of 2.08mg/l in April 2010 when a highest rainfall event occurred and consequently higher total counts (TC) and heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) were recorded. There were significant (P