Myxobacteria from Syrian soil, Morphology and Biochemical test

Abstract

Myxobacteria belong to Eubacterial predators that feed on other bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. They secrete a wide range of secondary metabolites, antibiotics, and hydrolytic enzymes that they use to eliminate prey. They can be found in different types of soils, and these bacteria are characterized by their mobility. They glide on solid surfaces and form fruiting bodies containing resistant myxospores, which ensures the survival of these spores in unfavorable conditions.                                                        

Through this study, Myxobacteria were isolated for the first time in Syria from soil samples collected from Yaafour and Jdaidet Artouz areas, grown on VY/2 medium, characterized morphologically and biochemically, and studied under the

microscope.

The soil samples collected from Yafour and Jdeidet Artouz were characterized as alkaline (pH 7.8) (pH 8) respectively. Accordingly, the properties of the alkaline environment were utilized as they may support much more new unidentified species of Myxobacteria.

Regarding biochemical tests, these bacteria showed positive results in each of the tests (mobility - catalase urea, starch, nitrates, release of hydrogen sulfur gas, and gelatin decomposition). As for the morphological aspect, the spore cells are characterized by having a rod-like shape and a short, rounded end. Using malachite green, the spores appeared in the form of spherical clusters, these characteristics are possessed by most types of Myxobacteria.

This study shows the necessity of using different methods for isolation, such as (WCX - filter papers) methods, adding wet parts of soil to the isolation media, and the importance of adding the antibiotic Cycloheximide after sterilization. It was observed after varying periods of incubation that the use of filter paper methods was more effective in isolating Myxobacteria spores than the WCX methods. This may be due to the presence of cellulose-degrading Myxobacteria strains in the soil of Yafour more than the strains of bacteria-degrading Myxobacteria in the soil of Jdeidet Artouz,  traditional isolation methods such as WCX and filter paper methods may have their own limitations, they may be suitable for some but not all types of  Myxobacteria. In addition,  Myxobacteria  are affected by the physical and chemical properties of the soil, so these factors play an important role in the emergence and isolation of Myxobacteria.