Identification and characterization of rubber degrading Actinobacteria

Abstract

Abstract. Of a great concern, the huge amount of waste rubber materials can cause environmental prob-lems. Various methods have been proposed to solve this proplem. One of those is the biodegradation of it by microorganisms. Bacteria able to degrade and use natural rubber latex as the sole source of carbon and energy were isolated from different ecosystems. 42 rubber-degrading bacteria were isolated. Out of these isolates, 31 were identified as Streptomyces, 5 as Micromonospora, 3 as Actinoplanes, 2 as Gordona and 1 as Nocardia species. All rubber-degrading isolates were identified as members of Actinobacteria which is a large group of mycelium forming Gram-positive bacteria. Interestingly no Gram-negative bacteria could be isolated