Abstract

ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION, TAXONOMIC STUDIES AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF AN ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCING SOIL BACTERIUM FROM MANGROVE REGION OF SUNDARBANS, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Bikas Kumar Kundu* and Prasanta Kumar Sircar

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize, taxonomic studies and biological activities of antibiotic producing soil bacterium isolated from Mangrove region of Sundarban, West Bengal, India, designated as IIIM-A. For the taxonomic placement of the organism, morphological studies of the isolated organism were done primarily under light microscope growing the isolated organism on the solid media and in liquid media. The nature of growth, colony morphology, colour and nature of mycelia and diffusible pigments were studied in different bacteriological media. Physiological characters of the organism were determined by the studies of melanin pigment formation, proteolysis, urease activity, starch hydrolysis; H2S gas production, utilization of different carbon sources and antagonistic activity in addition to the study of cell wall composition. Tube dilution technique and agar cup assay were employed to determine the antimicrobial activities against gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria and few species of fungi as test organisms.

Keywords: Soil, Bacteria, Mangrove, Sundarban, West Bengal, India, Characterization, Taxonomy, Antagonism.