Molecular identification of polyhydroxyalkanoates-producing bacteria isolated from enriched microbial community

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are especially interesting because of their similar properties to synthetic plastics and their potential use as biodegradable polymers. Many strategies have been employed to effectively and economically produce PHAs, among them a production process based on mixed microbial populations, enriched from activated sludge could be one of the alternative technologies. Defining the bacterial species creating these anonymous populations is crucial for the improvement of cultivation strategy. Moreover, enriched bacterial populations could be a promising source for microbes, useful in many biotechnological projects. The main object of this study was to characterize the microorganisms creating the microbial consortium cultured towards PHAs production. After cultivation, bacteria were identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach. The presence of genes engaged in PHAs synthesis was detected using PCR. The performed analysis revealed that among eleven isolated bacterial strains, four possessed the ability of polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis.