European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EXTRACELLULAR LIPASE PROFILE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM WOUND

*Orjiakor I. P., Olowomofe, T. O., Ajayi A. O., Fatoyinbo, A. A., Ukhureigbe O.M. and Femi-Ola, T.O.

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus has always been reported for the clinical importance in infection while the industrial potential can easily be overlooked; therefore this research was designed to study the extracellular lipase activity of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from surgical wound culture. Forty-one isolates of Staphylococcus sp. were collected, inoculated and incubated; the isolates were confirmed using cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. The lipolytic activity was determined qualitatively using Tributyrin agar. The lipase produced was further quantified. Twenty-six (63.4%) of the isolates fermented mannitol. The isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were coagulase and catalase positive. All the confirmed twenty-six isolates were also positive for lipase production by hydrolysing the media. The specific activities of lipase produced by the Staphylococcus aureus strain ranged from 0.008μm/min/mg to 0.050μm/min/mg. The Staphylococcus aureus strains reached their peak of lipase production at different time intervals. Twenty-seven percent of the isolate reached a peak of lipase production between 20-25hrs of incubation while twenty-three percent (23%) each reached peak between 10-15hrs and 15-20hrs, the next twelve percent (12%) reach their peak between 35-40hrs and approximately four percent (4%) attained their peak between 25-30hrs and 30-35hrs. The differences in the growth rate and attainment of peak of lipase production may be an indication that the Staphylococcus aureus varied widely in their physiological and biochemical properties.

Keywords: Enzyme, Lipase, Mannitol, Staphylococcus aureus