INVESTIGATION OF SOME PROPERTIES OF BACILLUS SPP. ISOLATED FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS SOIL

In this study, soil samples were taken from the Kuriki Mound, the silo, the furnace ruins, and graves within the excavation area, 14 km south of the city of Batman. VITEK biochemical identification tests determined that there were 8 isolates of Brevibacillus borstelensis, 7 isolates of Bacillus cereus, 6 isolates of B. subtilis, 1 isolate of Paenibacillus macerans, 1 isolate of B. popillia, 1 isolate of B. polymyxa isolates, 2 isolates of B. coagulans, and 1 isolate of B. larvae. The identified strains were subjected to heavy metals and antibiotic resistance profiling, antimicrobial and enzyme activity, and PHB formations were investigated. The highest heavy metal resistance in terms of Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value was observed against the manganese (16Mm), in comparison to the reference strain (B. subtilis NRRL B-209). The highest level of antibiotic resistance was observed against cefotaxime, while the lowest antibiotic resistance was exhibited against gentamycin. Bacillus spp., antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative/positive bacteria, yeast, mold and clinical isolates was determined using the agar well diffusion technique. The tested isolates were devoid of any antimicrobial activity against Gram negative bacteria. The bacilli obtained in the course of our study showed activity against the isolates B. cereus, S. epidermidis and B. subtilis. Clinical isolates showed maximum antimicrobial activity against Acinetobacter spp., while against Vancomycine resistant Enterecocci (VRE) they showed no antimicrobial activity. The bacillus Bacillus isolates showed antifungal activity against the previously mentioned yeasts (Sacchoromyces cerevisia, S. baulardi and Rhodotorula. rubra). 10% of the Bacillus isolates showed amylase and protease activity. Poly- beta , hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was observed in only 4 out of the 27 Bacillus isolates.