Environmental Impact Reduction of Synthetic Dyes Through Marine Bacterial Biodegradation

Abstract
Azo dyes are widely used in industrial applications and contribute significantly to environmental
pollution due to their persistence and toxicity. This study focuses on the biodegradation of synthetic
azo dyes and antibacterial potential of halophilic bacteria isolated from water samples collected along
the east coast of Tamil Nadu, India. The isolates were identified through morphological, biochemical,
and molecular (16S rRNA) methods. The selected halophilic strains were evaluated for dye degradation
under optimized conditions. Protein estimation and SDS-PAGE analysis were performed to study
protein expression associated with biodegradation. Further characterization of efficient isolates was
carried out to understand their functional properties. Additionally, waterborne pathogenic bacteria
were isolated and identified to assess the antimicrobial activity of the halophilic strains. The results
demonstrated effective dye degradation and significant antibacterial activity, highlighting the dual
potential of halophilic bacteria in environmental bioremediation and antimicrobial applications.
Keywords
Azo dye biodegradation; Halophilic bacteria; Bioremediation; Antibacterial activity; Waterborne
pathogens; SDS-PAGE