Assessment of lipase and protease activities of aquatic fungi isolated from Yankari Warm Springs, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Auwalu L., Ali A. D. and Amienyo C. O.

Microbiology Research International
Published: September 2 2025
Volume 13, Issue 3
Pages 47-51

Abstract

Microbial enzymes are essential in industrial bioprocesses, with applications in textiles, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and biofuels. This study investigated extracellular lipase- and protease- producing fungi isolated from Yankari Warm Springs, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Five dominant fungal species were selected for evaluation of their enzymatic activities. Isolates were obtained using baiting techniques with sterilized cannabis seeds in sterile water and identified morphologically and microscopically. Enzyme activities were quantified over five days using spectrophotometric assays. Significant (p < 0.05) variations in enzyme production were observed among species and across incubation periods. For lipase activity, Aphanomyces astaci exhibited early and consistently high activity (270.10 ± 0.04 µmol/min on Day 4), while Penicillium chrysogenum and Saprolegnia parasitica recorded the highest activities (282.89 ± 0.04 and 290.58 ± 0.01 µmol/min, respectively). Activity declined on Day 5, with some species showing negative values. Protease activity also varied: P. chrysogenum peaked on Day 1 (43.55 ± 0.08 µmol/min) but decreased thereafter, whereas Leptolegnia caudata and A. astaci recorded maximum activity on Day 3 (565.07 ± 0.39 and 477.35 ± 0.24 µmol/min, respectively). S. parasitica demonstrated sustained and significant protease production. These results underscore the high enzymatic potential of fungi from thermophilic aquatic ecosystems, particularly for industrial processes requiring thermostable enzymes. Fungi isolated from Yankari Warm Springs thus represent promising candidates for applications in biodegradation, waste treatment, and industrial biotechnology.

Keywords: Aquatic fungi, lipase activity, protease activity, enzyme assay, Yankari Warm Springs, fungal isolates, biotechnological potential.

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