Enhanced Production of Bacitracin by a Mutant Strain Bacillus Licheniformis Uv-mn-hn-8 (enhanced Bacitracin Production by Mutagenesis)

The present study is focused on the improvement of Bacillus licheniformis through random mutagenesis to obtain mutant having enhanced production of bacitracin. Many isolates of Bacillus licheniformis were isolated and the isolate GP-40 produced maximum bacitracin production (16±0.72 IU/mL). Treatment of Bacillus licheniformis GP-40 with ultraviolet (UV) radiations increased bacitracin production to 29±0.69 IU/mL. Similarly, treatment of vegetative cells of GP40 with chemicals like N-methyl N'-nitro N-nitroso guanidine (MNNG) and Nitrous acid (HNO2) increased bacitracin production to 35±1.35 IU/mL and 29±0.89 IU/mL respectively. Studies regarding the combined effect of UV and chemical treatment on parental cells exhibited significantly higher titers of bacitracin with maximum bacitracin production reached to 47.6±0.92 IU/mL. An increase of 2.97 fold production of bacitracin in comparison to wild type was observed. Mutant strain was highly stable and produced consistent yield of bacitracin even after 15 generations. On the basis of kinetic variables, notably μ(h)max, Yp/x, qp, Qp and Qx mutant strain B. licheniformis UV-MN-HN-8 was found to be a hyperproducer of bacitracin.