Abstract

SCREENING OF MICROORGANISMS FOR ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY FROM THE LACHHIWALA RESERVE FOREST OF HIMALAYAS – A BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT

Nidhi Srivastava, Ahongshangbam Ibeyaima and Indira P. Sarethy*

Abstract

Lachhiwala Reserve Forest, a subtropical deciduous forest of the biodiversity-rich Himalayas in India, is an under-explored forest for microbial diversity studies. This study was undertaken with the objective of characterization of microbial diversity and investigates their potential for production of antimicrobial and other compounds. Microorganisms were isolated from the study area on different media (Nutrient agar, Potato Dextrose agar and Glucose Yeast Extract), amended with antibiotics, and further characterized for antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Production of extracellular enzymes (protease, lipase, amylase and cellulase) was also studied. A total of sixty eight distinct bacterial and colonies of bacteria and fungi were obtained. UK-201, UK- 204, UK-205, UK-207, UK-208, UK-217, UK-220, UK-222 and UK-223 showed broadspectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria and yeast. Results show that this habitat harbors a diverse microbial population. Isolation using amended media resulted in a larger diversity of cultivable microbial population. The selected isolates are being studied for taxonomic novelty.

Keywords: Multidrug-resistant; natural product; actinomycetes; antimicrobial.