Tooba Khan

Ms. Tooba Khan


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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26 October 2022 in Microorganisms
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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TKTooba Khan
Tooba Khan
OAOthman M Alzahrani
Othman M Alzahrani
MSMuhammad Sohail
Muhammad Sohail
KHKhwaja Ali Hasan
Khwaja Ali Hasan
SGSalman Gulzar
Salman Gulzar
SAShebl Abdallah Abdel-Gawad
Shebl Abdallah Abdel-Gawad
Endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria isolated from halophytic plants support their host to survive in hyper-saline soil. These bacteria are also known to produce various enzymes with potential industrial applications. In this study, the endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria were isolated from Arthrocnemum macrostachyum collected from Karachi, Pakistan, and their ability to produce various extracellular enzymes was assessed using commercial and natural substrates. In total, 11 bacterial strains were isolated (four endophytic; seven rhizospheric). Bacillus was found to be the most abundant genus (73%), followed by Glutamicibacter (27%). The isolates including Glutamicibacter endophyticus and Bacillus licheniformis are reported for the first time from A. macrostachyum. All of the isolates were capable of producing at least two of the five industrially important hydrolytic enzymes tested, i.e., xylanase, cellulase, amylase, pectinase, and lipase. Lipase production was found to be highest among the isolates, i.e., up to 18 IU mL−1. Although most of the isolates could grow at a wide range of temperatures (4–55 °C), pH (1–11), and salt concentrations (2–12%), under extreme conditions, very little growth was observed and the optimal growth was recorded between 2% and 6% NaCl, 25 and 45 °C, and 7 and 9 pH. Our results suggest that these isolates could be potential producers of enzymes with several biotechnological applications.