Diversity of Bioactive Metabolites Produced by Thermophilic Bacillus Strains Isolated from Jordanian Hot Springs

This study explores the metabolic diversity of thermophilic Bacillus species isolated from Jordanian hot springs.Sixteen strains from Ma'en thermal springs, exhibiting robust growth at elevated temperatures (45-55°C), were investigated for their potential in producing valuable bioactive compounds.Crude extracts, obtained through organic solvent extraction, underwent HPLC-MS analysis to reveal secondary metabolite spectra under various growth conditions.Strains M5a, M13a, and M1c displayed potential in producing biologically active metabolites.The purification process of the M5a strain extracts involved sequential techniques including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP18 column chromatography, and preparative TLC.This process resulted in the isolation of diverse compounds, including indole derivatives (1-acetyl-β-carboline, indole-3carboxylic acid, tryptophol), adenosine, tyrosol, p-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, ferulic acid, uracil, 3-methyl uracil, and the identification of four diketopiperazine derivatives (cyclo (Phe, Pro), cyclo (Pro, Ile), cyclo (Leu, Pro), and cyclo (Pro, Tyr)).Structural validation of these compounds was achieved through AntiBase, utilizing 1H NMR and MS data and literature comparisons.Despite similar metabolic profiles, strains exhibited varying activities, including antimicrobial potential.This study marks the first report on purified biochemical compounds from thermophilic bacteria, emphasizing untapped microbial diversity in thermal springs.Intriguing activities and distinct UV-absorbing bands on TLC suggest promising prospects for isolating novel, active metabolites.This research enhances our understanding of the biotechnological potential of thermophilic Bacillus strains, emphasizing the importance of exploring their chemodiversity for industrial applications and functional genomics.