Production of antibiotics by marine Actinomycetes induced by human pathogens

Abstract

Cross species signal transfer mediated induction of antibiotic production by the marine actinomycetes against common bacterial pathogens was investigated in the present study. Marine actinomycetes were isolated and analyzed for their efficacy in antibiotic production against common clinical pathogens viz., Pseudomonas sp., Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella and Proteus sp. Out of 4 actinomycetes isolates analyzed, two isolates exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas and proteus sp. Isolate designated as PAS5 (S.echinatus) and PAS8 (A.mutabilis) produced antibiotic when co-cultured with Pseudomonas and proteus sp. cells. Cell free extract of PAS5 (S.echinatus)and PAS8 (A.mutabilis) cultivated in the presence of heat killed Pseudomonas and Proteus sp. cells was subjected to solvent extraction by ethyl acetate and antimicrobial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion method. Present study on induced antibiotic production by Pseudomonas and Proteus sp. gives in a new insight for the discovery of pathogen targeted or specific antibiotic production which can be later commercially developed.