African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12481

Full Length Research Paper

Isolation, purification and identification of bacteria from the shoes worn by children

Hui Li, Changqing Zhao, Jin Zhou, Huanhuan Shao and Wuyong Chen*
National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Institute of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 04 April 2011
  •  Published: 16 May 2011

Abstract

13 strains of bacteria were isolated from 12 shoes that were worn by children aged 6 to 12 for more than half a year. Through morphological observation, physiological and biochemical measurements, as well as 16SrRNA sequence analysis, the bacteria were identified as follows: Bacillus licheniformisBacillus subtilis (5 subspecies), Bacillus spore (3 subspecies), Bacillus anthracisStaphylococcus aureusBacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus thuringiensis. The results may contribute to the selection of efficient antimicrobial agents for children's shoes and insole.

 

Key words: Children’s shoes, bacteria, isolation, identification.