Isolation and Screening of Halophilic Bacteria for Production of Hydrolytic Enzymes.

There is a great interest on study of extreme microorganisms because of their special characteristics in biotechnology. Particularly, halophilic microorganisms which live in saline environments throughout of their different adaptation mechanisms produce metabolites with great potential. Some of its biomolecules has been studied and applied in industrial processes, such as exopolyssaccharides, carotenoid pigments, bacteriorhodopsin etc. beside certain enzymes especially hydrolases (pectinases, amylases, proteases, lipases, etc.) are important. Recent researches on halophilic microorganisms and their biomolecules have increased around the world. Saline environments such as saline lakes or saline soils are excellent sources for isolation of halophilic microorganisms. However, few saline environments have been studied in depth in order to evaluate the special characteristics of halophilic biomolecules. In this review, the importance of halophilic microorganisms for biotechnological industries, methods for their isolation; techniques for physiological, taxonomical and molecular characterization have been highlighted so as to establish them as important source for enzyme production.