Enzymatic activity of bacteria isolated from the gut of Cylindroiulus sp.: Future prospect for decomposing agent

Abstract

Millipede Cylindroiulus sp. is well known as decomposer invertebrate. Its ability to break down organic waste is related to microbiota in their gut. Gut bacteria are known to be able to produce enzymes which have the potential as an organic waste decomposing agent. This study aimed to obtain potential bacteria in producing hydrolytic enzymes from the gut of Cylindroiulus sp. and to evaluate their enzymatic activities. Gut bacteria were isolated from Cylindroiulus sp. living in the household organic solid waste composter. Furthermore, isolated bacteria were analyzed quantitatively for their amylase, cellulase, protease, whereas qualitatively for lipase activities using semi-selective media. In this research, nine bacterial isolates were obtained. Three isolates namely EKG A1, EKG A4, and EKG A5 were able to produce all of the enzymes and identified as Bacillus genera. The highest index of enzyme activity in amylase, cellulase, and protease were 2.13 ± 0.08, 2.56 ± 0.03, 4.49 ± 0.17, respectively. Cylindroiulus sp. gut bacteria were prospectively applied to decompose organic solid waste.