Reyhaneh Mohammadnejad - MSc. Student, Department of Microbiology, College of Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Fars, Iran
Elham Moazamian - Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, College of Sciences, Agriculture and Modern Technologies, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
Ali Asghar Amiri - Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Agriculture and Modern Technologies, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

Introduction: Lectins are regarded as ubiquitous proteins or glycoproteins, owing to their specific feature; binding reversibly to carbohydrates occurring on cells surfaces that makes them a part of strategies chosen by pathogens to bind to host tissues that results in infection. Isolation, molecular detection and distribution of Lectin producing Bacillus subtilis bacteria in the soil samples of central zone of Fars province was the aim of the work. Materials and methods: Soil samples of different weather conditions were collected. The bacterial species were isolated from soil samples by using serial dilution method. To isolate Lectins, the cell free liquid media was submitted to precipitataion with ammonium sulfate to 70% saturation after incubating bacterial isolates in media rich in carbohydrates. Hemagglutination of 2% suspension of rabbit blood cells was used to test the presence and activity of purified Lectins. In order to increase the purity of Lectins in samples, a heat shock to a temperature of 70 0C for 30 minutes was applied to eliminate other thermolabile proteins. Concentration of the protein was measured by nanodrop. Results: A total number of 46 colonies were isolated based on their colony morphologies and biochemical assays, among them 41 were verified as Bacillus subtilis after molecular identification. 25 numbers of Lectin samples could agglunitate red blood cells which confirm the presence and activity of the selections produced by related bacteria species. Conclusion: Some parts of Fars province are rich in saprophytic bacteria, Bacillussubtilis with Lectin producing activity. The method mentioned above is efficient for Lectin producing.

Lectin, Bacillus subtilis, Soil sample