Background: Heavy metals are toxic for human beings, animals and even plants. For example, nickel causes contact hypersensitivity and also may have carcinogenic effects in human. There are physicochemical and biological methods for removing these elements from environment. Some bacteria are able to remove these elements. In this study, the resistance of bacteria in Aran and Bidgol Salt Lake to heavy metals has been evaluated.

Materials and Methods: Seven bacterial samples of the lake were transferred to Ventosa culture medium. Isolated colonies were grown on the medium containing nickel. The resistant bacteria were transferred to media containing other heavy metal elements. Biochemical, morphological and phylogenetic studies were done based on sequencing of 16S rDNA gene in order to identify the isolated resistant bacteria. In addition, enzymatic potency of the bacteria was evaluated for determination of biotechnological value.

Results: 16s rDNA sequencing was applied only for one (out of 46) isolated halophilic bacterium. The bacterium displayed a good potency for growing up in the medium containing 2.5-10% NaCl with a considerable tolerance to nickel and other heavy metals.

Conclusion: A bacterium with 98% homology with Salinovibrio costicola species is resistant to some toxic metals and it also has the potency of removing nickel from the contaminated environment and producing some industrial enzymes.