SYNERGISTIC AND INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF SEPTICEMIA BACTERIA ON SILKWORM

Microbes spend energy to produce secondary metabolites (defensins) in order to colonize various environments. Production of defensins by septicemia causing bacteria of silkworm and its of synergistic or inhibitoryactivity on selected bacteria were studied. Well diffusion method was employed to define the defensins activity in microenvironment. Different aliquots of supernatant containing defensins fromSerratia sp., and Bacillus sp., were examined on test cultures of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Results revealed inhibition of E. coli and S. aureus by supernatants of Serratia species in different degree based on different concentrations. Therapeutic applications of defensins may potentially serve as an alternate to classical drug therapy for infections of humans by their specific and narrow spectrum of activity.