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Updated: Sep 19, 2025

Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution
Published on: December 30, 2021
Exploring microbial diversity in the Kharasinpur hot spring of West Bengal, India
Rakesh Goswami1,2, Aniket Sarkar1, Bidyut Bandyopadhyay1
1Department of Biotechnology, Oriental Institute of Science and Technology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.
Background:
Hot springs are natural geothermal environments that harbour thermophilic microorganisms with significant biotechnological potential. Despite extensive studies on many Indian hot springs, Kharasinpur Hot Spring in West Bengal remains totally unexplored in terms of microbial diversity and physicochemical properties.
Methods:
A total of seven bacterial isolates were obtained from water samples collected at the Kharasinpur Hot Spring. These isolates underwent morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular characterization through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Water samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters such as temperature, pH, total hardness, iron concentration, salt content, and total dissolved solids (TDS).
Results:
The water temperature was recorded at 65 °C with a slightly alkaline pH (7.24). The 16S rRNA analysis identified isolates belonging to the phyla Pseudomonadota (e.g., Pseudomonas sp., Hydrogenophaga sp.) and Bacillota (e.g., Staphylococcus sp., Neobacillus sp.). The high iron content in the hot spring water was notable and rendered it unsafe for direct human consumption.
Conclusion:
This study provides novel insights into the microbial diversity and physicochemical characteristics of a relatively unstudied Indian hot spring. The findings contribute to broader research efforts on hot spring ecosystems in India, enhancing our understanding of their microbial ecology and potential health implications.
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