Dynamism of Antimicrobial Activity of Actinomycetes—A Case Study from Undisturbed Microbial Niche

Abstract

Escalation of drug resistant microbes (bacteria) had forced researchers to search new and im-proved therapeutic compounds from different possible sources, including metabolites secreted by the actinomycetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of antimicrobial actinomy-cetes from physiologically distinct soil of different geographical locations. Forty five soil samples were collected from 5 districts of Gujarat including two sanctuaries as source of survey for bioac-tive actinomycetes. Crowded plate technique was used for isolation and Agar cylinder method was employed for the antimicrobial screening. A total of 171 actinomycetes were isolated and screen-ed against eighteen pathogens responsible for causing diseases in plants and humans. Results in-dicate that 79% of the isolates were active against at least one of the eighteen tested pathogens. Some of the actinomycetes strain had shown strong antibacterial and antifungal activity which may be a good source of obtaining novel antimicrobials.