Abstract

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HEAVY METALS AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT BACTERIA FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLES

S.M. Gopinath*, Sheetal, Suneetha T.B, Amar Shankar

ABSTRACT

In current years toxic heavy metal pollution has become one of the most critical environmental problems. In the present study, screening, isolation and characterization of heavy metal and antibiotic resistant bacteria from different environmental samples was carried out. Those bacterial isolates which shows >512 μg/ml. minimum inhibitory concentration were examined for antibiotic resistance activity. Antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, amoxicillin and erythromycin were taken for antibiotic resistance activity. Concentration of antibiotics were taken >16 to >64 μg/ml. Then characterization of selected bacterial isolate was carried out by 16S rDNA technique. The bacteria which has more resistivity towards both heavy metal and antibiotics that was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and is the most heavy metal and antibiotic tolerant bacteria found in the environment.

Keywords: Heavy metals, MIC, 16S rDNA.