Abstract—Haloarchaeal strains from solar salterns of Ribandar and Siridao, Goa, India were tested for tolerance to cadmium. The four strains selected named as BBK2, BK6, BS2 and BS17 belonged to different genera of halophilic archaea. An initial screening for various heavy metals [Zn, Cu, Ag, Co and Cd] was performed. Cadmium (Cd) concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mM Cd in complex and glucose synthetic media containing high sodium chloride concentrations were used. Growth was monitored by monitoring optical density (O.D.) values for each of the sample cultures in 24 hr intervals for an incubation period of 5-7 days. Pigmentation and growth was observed in test cultures in complex nutrient media containing cadmium. Interesting results for pigmentation scans of the tested strains having varying peak intensities and exhibiting spectrophotometric profiles associated with typical haloarchaeal pigments were obtained. Correlation between peak intensities of the tested strains and the amount of cadmium in test media was also observed. This investigation shows cadmium tolerance in haloarcheal strains.

Index Terms—Cadmium, haloarchaea, metal tolerance, solar salterns.

Adit Chaudhary is with the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa campus, NH 17B, Zuarinagar, Sancoale, Goa 403726, India. Now he is with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003, India (e-mail: adit.chaudhary89@gmail.com).
Imran Pasha M. was with BITS Pilani, K. K. Birla Goacampus, Goa 403726, India. Now he is with Quintiles, Bangalore, Karnataka 560103, India (e-mail: imran.mohammed@quintiles.com).
Bhakti B. Salgaokar and Judith M. Braganca are with the BITS Pilani, K.K. Birla Goa campus, NH 17B, Zuarinagar, Sangoale, Goa 403726, India (e-mail: bhakti.salgaonkar@yahoo.in, judith@goa.bits-pilani.ac.in).

 

Cite: Adit Chaudhary, Imran Pasha M., Bhakti B. Salgaonkar, and Judith M. Braganca, "Cadmium Tolerance by Haloarchaeal Strains Isolated from Solar Salterns of Goa, India," International Journal of Bioscience, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 1-6, 2014.