ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Meghna Arya1, Garima Chauhan1, Tazeem Fatima1, Asha Kumari1, Digvijay Verma2 and Monica Sharma1
1Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
2Department of Environmental Microbiology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Article Number: 9279 | © The Author(s). 2025
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2025;19(2):1085-1100. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.19.2.11
Received: 30 January 2024 | Accepted: 18 March 2025 | Published online: 02 May 2025
Issue online: June 2025
Abstract

A novel thermophilic lignocellulolytic bacterium, Geobacillus stearothermophilus TP-3, was isolated and characterized from the Tapovan hot spring in India. The cellulase production of TP-3 was optimized using a One-Factor-at-a-Time (OFAT) approach followed by a Plackett-Burman design, leading to a three-fold enhancement in enzyme yield. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequencing revealed high sequence similarity with Geobacillus sp. H6a. The cellulase enzyme exhibited optimal activity at 50 °C under alkaline conditions (pH 8.0) and retained ~68% of its activity across a broad temperature range (40-70 °C) for up to three hours, demonstrating remarkable thermo-alkali stability. The ANOVA revealed that three factors-glucose, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and yeast extract-significantly affected cellulase production, with yeast extract emerging as the most influential factor. Notably, TP-3 efficiently degraded agronomic residues, including wheat bran and sugarcane molasses, highlighting its potential for sustainable agricultural waste valorization and bioethanol production. The exceptional thermostability and lignocellulolytic potential of G. stearothermophilus TP-3 position it as a promising candidate for industrial bioconversion processes.

Keywords

Lignocellulosic, Thermophilic Cellulase, Geobacillus, Agro-waste Management, Saccharification

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