Bacteria from South Indian Fermented Foods and Food-Waste Dump Sites as Sources of Fibrinolytic Enzymes

Abstract

Many blood clot-dissolving agents, such as urokinase, streptokinase and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) have been utilized in clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Fibrinolytic enzymes from microbial source especially those from food-grade microorganisms; have now attained much more attention as typical thrombolytic agents because of the side effects of the latter. In this study, we detail the isolation and identification of fibrinolytic enzyme producing bacteria from south Indian fermented foods and food waste dumped sites. Presence of fibrinolytic enzymes in the bacterial strains was analyzed by fibrin plate assay and quantified by fibrin degradation assay. Selected strains were identified by biochemical and 16S rDNA analysis. The fibrinolytic enzymes were isolated and purified from these strains by ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by dialysis and ion exchange chromatography. Potential fibrinolytic enzyme producing bacterial strains were obtained from food waste dumped soil were selected and identified as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus pumilus. The molecular weight of the isolated enzymes was around 29 KD and these enzymes were effective in dissolving clot both in vitro and in vivo.