Characterization of the Antibacterial Activity of Bacteria Associated with Stylissa Sp , a Marine Sponge

摘要

Among marine invertebrates, sponges are the most prolific phylum, with regard to presence of novel pharmacologically active compounds. Bacteria, living on the surface of marine invertebrates, have been found to produce chemicals that have potential antimicrobial activities. To test this hypothesis, a total of about 30 bacterial isolates associated with the marine sponge, Stylissa sp collected from North Bay, Andaman were successfully screened for antimicrobial activity against selected human, animal and plant pathogens including Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus durans, Streptococcus lentus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Rolstonia solanacearum using disc diffusion assay. The bacterial isolates were identified as belonging to the genera Marinomonas, Alteromonas, Marinobacter, Chromohalobacter, Halomonas, Cytophagas and Amylocolate based on their biochemical properties. Of the total bacterial isolates tested, 66.67% were found to have antimicrobial properties ranging from broad spectrum to species specific. One of the isolates, S8 inhibited K. pneumoniae with about 95% and 30% of the efficiency of Erythromycin and Ciprofloxacin, respectively. The findings of the study highlight the importance of sponge surface–associated bacteria in producing new natural compounds with antimicrobial activities.