Abstract

PROFILING OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ACTINOMYCETES AGAINST CLINICAL PATHOGENS

Joselin J., Geetha T., Jenisha W., Udhayashri S., Gayathri M. and Karthik Sundaram S.*

ABSTRACT

A class of bacteria known as actinomycetes is capable of generating a wide range of antibacterial compounds. Most commonly found in soil, actinomycetes develop colonies when they compete with other organisms and release secondary metabolites that are utilized to either suppress or eliminate the rival organism. This study used actinomycetes isolation agar to separate actinomycetes from soil samples obtained from selected diverse areas on our college campus, with the goal of discovering actinomycetes that can synthesis enzymes and antimicrobials with for medical and pharmaceuticals applications. The ability of the organisms to produce antimicrobial compounds was used in their selection process; this was demonstrated by the creation of a zone of inhibition surrounding the colonies in the incubated plates. The microorganisms that underwent screening for antimicrobial properties were analysed in relation to specific clinical specimens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Four of the approximately ten actinomycetes that we identified demonstrated effective antibacterial activity against the chosen clinical specimens. The results of this investigation demonstrated the high potential for naturally existing actinomycetes to develop secondary metabolites that are still proven to be powerful and efficient against clinical infections.

Keywords: Actinomycetes, antimicrobial effect, actinomycetes agar, crowded plate technique.