M.Sc.

Sixty three isolates belonged to Bacillus spp. were isolated from 18 soil samples (uncontaminated and contaminated with hydrocarbons and fuels) collected from different locations in Baghdad and Basra governorates. All the isolates (63) were primarily screened for their ability in biosurfactant production depending on blood hemolysis activity at blood agar base, which referred that 34 isolates of the total (63 isolate) were biosurfactant producer.

Two isolates were used in this study, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were identified according to morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. The two bacteria were treated with 100mM of Trehalose to study the effect of this sugar on the preservation of the bacteria from several factors The results showed that Trehalose preserved the S.aureus from dehydration (drying) for one month in room temperature and the Trehalose keep the bacteria more viable in comparison with the control.