Isolation and screening of antibiotic producing actinomycetes from soils in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

To isolate and screen antibiotic producing actinomycetes from potential soil samples of Gondar town, Ethiopia. Fifteen soil samples were collected, serially diluted and spread on starch casein and oat meal agar supplemented with amoxicillin and cyclohexamide for inhibition of bacteria and fungi, respectively. Cross streak method was used to check antagonistic activity of isolated actinomycetes against test organisms. Solid state fermentation and crude extraction were used for the production of antibiotics from isolates. Agar well diffusion was used for antimicrobial activity of crude extracts against test organisms. Three isolates (Ab18, Ab28 and Ab43) have been shown high antagonistic activity during primary screening. Inhibition zones obtained from crude extracts showed significance differences when compared with standard antibiotics tested against test organisms (P<0.05). Inhibition zone of crude extracts from isolate Ab18 against Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC7000603 and Escherichia coli ATCC25922 were (14±1) mm and (35±1) mm, respectively which were strong active when compared to amoxicillin (0 mm) and tetracycline [(13±1) mm for Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC7000603 and (33±1) mm for Escherichia coli ATCC25922]. Crude extracts from isolate Ab18 showed (20±1) mm and (15±1) mm inhibition zones against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains 2 (MRSA2) and MRSA4, respectively. Crude extract from isolate Ab43 has shown inhibition zones of (16±1) mm and (17±1) mm against MRSA2 and MRSA4, respectively. Combination of Ab18 and Ab43 has shown high antimicrobial activity (18±1) mm against MRSA2 and MRSA4. There was not any scientific report on soil actinomycetes producing antibiotic in the study areas. Therefore, isolation and screening of actinomycetes from such areas in optimum condition may contribute the discovery of new antibiotics. Potent antibiotics from these actinomycetes could contribute a lot to fight against antibiotic resistant pathogens. Selected isolates have been shown strong antimicrobial activity against resistant pathogens. Further purification, structural elucidation and characterization are recommended to know the quality, novelty and commercial value of these antibiotics.