ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL PATHOGENIC BACTERIA ON AQUATIC INSECTS - AN EXAMPLE STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY IN TURKIYE (ERZURUM PROVINCE)

Insects, leading the richest group in species diversity in the world of living organisms, display the largest diversity in feeding, habitat and adaptation to different living environments. In addition to studies related to the use of insects in the search for alternative foods in the world in general, the focus has been on toxicological and pathogenic research about insects. The habitats of aquatic beetles are the water sources used for both agricultural and drinking water, so aquatic beetles gain further importance. This study collected aquatic insects from different localities in Erzurum and its surroundings. After insect species were identified and their digestive tracts were dissected under aseptic conditions, microbiological analyses were performed. Isolates were identified by analyzing molecular and conventional data together. In addition to conventional analyses, 16S rRNA gene sequences were amplified with PCR reaction and DNA sequencing analyses were performed. GenBank accession numbers were obtained after BLAST analyses of the obtained DNA sequences. This study aimed to identify definite and potential human pathogens in bacteria isolated from the intestinal microbiota cultures, characterized by conventional and molecular methods of the aquatic insects.