Production and characterization of Bacterial Cellulose by Leifsonia sp CBNU-EW3 Isolated from the Earthworm, Eisenia fetida

A total of five bacterial strains were isolated from earthworm, Eisenia fetida and examined for bacterial cellulose (BC) production in Hestrin-Schramm medium (HS). Among the five strains tested, CBNU-EW3 exhibited excellent BC production and was identified as Leifsonia sp. by 16S rDNA sequence analysis. BC production by Leifsonia sp. CBNU-EW3 was optimum at pH 5, 30 degrees C, and with glucose and yeast extract as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, according to 15 day-long experiments. (XRD) analysis of the dried pellicle indicated that the BC was partially crystalline type I. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis showed that the obtained pellicle contained the same functional groups as typical BC. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images showed that the BC micro-fibril matrix consisted of a flat surface with large pore size and cellulose aggregation.