Karstbase Bibliography Database

Cave ecosystems are exposed to specific environmental conditions and offer unique opportunities for bacteriological studies. In this study, the Kadıini Cave located in the southeastern district of Antalya, Turkey, was investigated to document the levels of heterotrophic bacteria, bacterial metabolic avtivity, and cultivable bacterial diversity to determine bacterial enzyme profiles and antimicrobial activities. Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were quantified using spread plates. Bacterial metabolic activity was investigated using DAPI staining, and the metabolical responses of the isolates against substrates were tested using VITEK 2 Compact 30 automated micro identification system. The phylogenic diversity of fourty-five bacterial isolates was examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses. Bacterial communities were dominated by members of Firmicutes (86 %), Proteobacteria (12 %) and Actinobacteria (2 %). The most abundant genera were Bacillus, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas. The majority of the cave isolates displayed positive proteolytic enzyme activities. Frequency of the antibacterial activity of the isolates was 15.5 % against standard strains of Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, S.aureus, and methicillin-resistant S.aureus. The findings obtained from this study contributed data on bacteriological composition, frequency of antibacterial activity, and enzymatic abilities regarding possible biotechnological uses of the bacteria isolated from cave ecosytems