As the world energy consumption is growing yearly there is an ongoing search for 'greener' energy sources. One of the main goals is to find replacements for petroleum-based fuels for transportation. Biofuels are considered an answer to this problem because it can be used in current engines with little to no modification. Although biofuels offer many advantages there is a growing need for improved production process, such that can be achieved by the use of enzymatic process, such as for producing biodiesel from oil or ethanol from lingo-cellulosic biomass.
The Olive Fly (Bactrocera oleae) larvae reside in and feed on the fat and lingo-cellulose rich olive fruit stone and pulp. I have screened larvae microflora for lipases and cellulases producing bacteria. Of the 24 isolates 13 presented positive enzymatic activity on Rhodamine B and olive oil based growth medium, indicating the presence of lipase, and on growth medium with CMC (a cellulose derivative) as a sole carbon source, indicating the presence of cellulase. The isolates that presented positive activity were identified as Brevibacterium spp.
These preliminary results show that the olive-fly microflora could serves as a new source for cellulase and lipase producing bacteria. This is only the opening shot for a wider scale scans and characterization of the bacteria and the enzymes they express for the biofuels industry from this environment.
