Bacteria in Zambales spring may prove useful

BOTOLAN, Zambales — A bacteria found in the Poon Bato Spring here may prove useful in the field of medicine and science.

According to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman College of Science, the newly discovered Lysinibacillus zambalensis was found by scientists from the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), and the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS).

Joyce Amarachi Aja, Lawrence Dave Llorin, Erwin John Sioson, Dr. Ron Leonard Dy, Dr. Jose Enrico Lazaro and Dr. Carlo Arcilla were among the team who found the bacterium.

The group conducted DNA analysis, metabolic profiling, and chemotaxonomic analysis, citing that the new species is part of the Lysinibacillus genus.

The genus is known to have the potential to create bioactive metabolites integral in the creation of medicine and the study of science.

Genome analysis shows that the bacterium has eight unique biosynthetic gene clusters that can create new bioactive compounds, including antibiotic peptides.

Under laboratory conditions, the Lysinibacillus zambalensis is known to withstand 30°C, pH 8.0 and 0.5 percent salt. The bacterium can also create endospores.

The newly found bacterium can broaden the knowledge on Lysinibacillus and can contribute greatly in the biotechnology sector, especially on creating new medicine and bioactive agents.