Isolation Techniques Used for Molecular Characterization of Beneficial Microorganisms

Abstract

Microbiological techniques used for isolation, characterization, and identification of beneficial microbes (bacteria, fungi, algae, and actinomycetes) from conventional techniques such as culture, microscopic, and biochemical, to more advanced physical and molecular routines such as isolation of genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and 16S rRNA sequencing are crucial to cracking the mystery of the microbial world. These methods give microbiologists the ability to separate distinct microbial species from complex populations, allowing for in-depth research of their specific traits, metabolic processes, and genetic make-up. The choice of characterization and identification methods coupled with a deep knowledge and understanding of principles and mechanisms of action of each technique is of great significance to adequately culture, purify, characterize, identify, and classify with a high precision any given microorganism. In view of the above, this chapter aims to explain various conventional and molecular techniques used for isolation, characterization, and identification of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and algae. The merits and limitations of some of these techniques will also be highlighted.