Identification of Lipase ProducersStaphylococcus aureus and Studyingthe Effects of Some Physicochemical Factors on Lipase Production

Abstract

Lipases catalyze both the hydrolysis and synthesis of triacylglycerols. In addition to theindustrial uses of lipases, there is an evolving literature on their role as important microbialvirulence factors. One hundred samples were collected from different body sites and lesions of inand out patients from both sexes who attended Al-Kadhimyia Teaching Hospital and MedicalLaboratories in Baghdad Teaching Hospital during the period from March, 2012 untilSeptember, 2012 for the isolation and identification of Staphylococcus aureus. Identification ofbacterial isolates was performed according to the standard protocols. According to lipase activitymeasurement, it was revealed that isolate no. 12 was the higher producer as compared to theothers and thus it was selected for further work.The results demonstrated that the best lipaseproduction was in the alkaline pH (8) and at temperature of 30oC. It is also shown that theaddition of 0.001M BaCl2 and 2mM KCl to the culture media has dramatically increased lipaseactivity. Conversely, the addition of 10mM NaCl, 0.001M FeSO4.7H2O, and 2M NaF has causedsignificant reduction in lipase activity.