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Title: Insights into the diversity and survival strategies of soil bacterial isolates from the Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert, the driest, with the highest radiation, and one of the most ancient deserts in the world, is a hostile environment for life. We have a collection of 74 unique bacterial isolates after cultivation and confirmation by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Pigmentation, biofilm formation, antimicrobial production againstEscherichia coliMG1655 andStaphylococcus aureusHG003, and antibiotic resistance were assessed on these isolates. We found that approximately a third of the colonies produced pigments, 80% of isolates formed biofilms, many isolates produce growth inhibiting activities againstE. coliand/orS. aureus, and many were resistant to antibiotics. The functional characterization of these isolates gives us insight into the adaptive bacterial strategies in harsh environments and enables us to learn about their possible use in agriculture, healthcare, or biotechnology.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1651732
PAR ID:
10496694
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Frontiers
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Frontiers in Microbiology
Volume:
15
ISSN:
1664-302X
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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