Nathalea V. De Leon, Greeny Joky A, Perucho, Liezel U. Tamon (March 2011)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
The Philippines is rich in Natural resources yet not well investigated on various fields including antibiotic-producing actinomycetes. In this study, Actinomycetes were isolated from sediments in Palawan and were tested for their antimicrobal activity against test organisms E. coli, S. aureus, S. cerevisiae, A. niger and E. coli Clinical Strain. Chosen isolates were characterized. Actinimycetes were isolated from sediments in Brgy. San Jose, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. Cross streak method was used to determine the antimicrobal activity of the isolates against the test organisms used in the study. The isolates were characterized through direct smearing. A told of 33 isolates were obtained from the sediment samples collected but only 15 isolates were tested for antimicrobial activty against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, S. cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger. Six of the fifteen isolatess showed activity against at least one of the five test organisms. No isolate was found to be active against S. aureus. This study confirmed the presence of antibiotic-producing actinomycetes in Palawan. Selected isolates were further screened against the E. coli clinical strain during the secondary screening. Through cultural and morphological characterization, one isolate is suspected to be a member of genera Streptomyces, Actinomudra or Nocardia. The results of the study suggest that Palawan sediments may be a potential source of novel antibiotics.