Isolation and Screening of Potent Antibiotic-Producing Actinomycete

Abstract

This study delves into the realm of actinomycetes, with a specific focus on their ability to produce antibiotics. Actinomycetes, a subset of gram-positive bacteria, are well-known for generating various secondary metabolites, including antibiotics. Indeed, a majority of today's antibiotics trace their origins back to actinomycetes, notably the Streptomyces genus. The research aims to isolate actinomycetes from soil samples and assess their effectiveness against different pathogenic bacteria and fungi, with the goal of extracting natural compounds with potential medical uses. 23 actinomycete morphotypes were isolated from diverse soil sources such as agricultural fields, garbage dumps, and gardens. These isolates were then screened for their antimicrobial activity against various test microorganisms, including Escherichia coli (MTCC 2939), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 1305), Candida albicans (MTCC 183), and Aspergillus flavus (MTCC 873). Notably, isolate BT 22 demonstrated superior antibacterial and antifungal properties compared to other isolates. Further analysis confirmed the isolate's identity as belonging to the Streptomyces genus, known for its prolific production of bioactive compounds. These findings highlight the potential of actinomycetes, particularly Streptomyces, as a valuable source of natural products with a wide range of applications in medicine and industry. The discovery of novel antimicrobial compounds from these organisms offers promise in combating antibiotic resistance and advancing therapeutic strategies.