Aashoqullah Sajaad
Ataturk University, Turkey
Abstract Title:
Isolation and identification of alkali amylase-producing bacteria from lake van, optimization of enzyme production conditions, and evaluation of Its biotechnological potential
Biography:
Aashoqullah Sajaad was born in 1989 (1368 SH) in the First District of Kohistan, Kapisa Province. He completed his primary and secondary education at Mir Masjidi High School in Kohistan, graduating with excellent marks. Following the national entrance exam (Kankor), he was admitted to the Faculty of Education at Alberoni University, where he studied in the Department of Chemistry and Biology. In 2013, he graduated with top honors (Kaderi status) with a cumulative grade point average of 93% and received a letter of appreciation from the University Presidency.
In 2014, he participated in a competitive recruitment process for a biology position announced by the Ministry of Higher Education of Afghanistan. Achieving the highest score among eight candidates, he was appointed as a faculty member in the Department of Biology.
In 2018 (1397 SH), he was awarded a competitive ICCR scholarship to pursue higher studies in India. In 2020, he earned his Master’s degree from the Department of Molecular Biology at Bangalore University, graduating with "Grade A" honors. During his studies in India, in addition to his thesis, he authored two research papers published in international journals. Upon the successful completion of his studies, he returned to his home country and resumed his duties as a lecturer.
In 2022, he participated in a competitive scholarship program announced by the Republic of Türkiye. After successfully passing the examinations and selection process, he moved to Türkiye to pursue his PhD. He dedicated 2022 to learning the Turkish language, successfully completing his language training in 2023. He officially commenced his doctoral coursework in 2023 and is currently continuing his advanced research and studies. During 2024 and 2025, he has published two additional research articles in international peer-reviewed journals
Research Interests:
Alkaline amylases are of considerable industrial importance due to their remarkable stability under harsh environmental conditions. Lake Van, one of the world's largest alkaline lakes, represents a unique ecological niche for the isolation of alkaliphilic microorganisms with valuable enzymatic properties. The present study aimed to isolate alkaline amylase-producing bacteria from Lake Van, optimize enzyme production using low-cost substrates, purify the enzyme, and evaluate its potential application in industrial detergent formulations.
Approximately 80 bacterial isolates were obtained from different locations of Lake Van and screened for amylase production on starch agar medium. Among these isolates, six exhibited significant amylolytic activity. Based on both qualitative and quantitative enzyme production, the most efficient isolate was selected for further characterization. Optimization experiments demonstrated that maximum amylase production was achieved at 25°C and pH 9.0, using starch as the carbon source and yeast extract as the nitrogen source. In addition, potato peel was successfully utilized as an inexpensive substrate to enhance enzyme production while reducing production costs.
The enzyme was subsequently purified, and its purity was confirmed to be approximately 98% by SDS-PAGE analysis. The purified alkaline amylase exhibited excellent stability over a broad range of pH values, temperatures, and in the presence of different metal ions. Furthermore, its biotechnological potential was assessed through stain removal assays performed both independently and in combination with commercial detergents. The enzyme demonstrated high stain-removal efficiency, indicating its promising application in detergent industries. The utilization of potato peel as an agro-industrial waste substrate also provides an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for large-scale enzyme production.
