SCREENING OF POTENTIAL ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCING ACTINOMYCETES FROM THE SOIL OF GANGA RIVER BED OF HARIDWAR

Actinomycetes are the mostly widely distributed group of microorganism in nature which is of high commercial value and thus are routinely screened for new antibiotics. We have undertaken this study to resolve the problem of antibiotic resistance. 6Actinomycetes were isolated from the soil by serial dilution method. Based on the biochemical characterization Nocardia sp. was chosen to check antibacterial potential. Optimization of growth was carried out at 290C for 5-7 days on Glycerol Yeast Extract Agar Medium. Antibacterial activity was studied against E.coli and Bacillus sp.. Antibacterial activity was determined using disc diffusion method. Antibacterial metabolite extracted using ethyl acetate was effective and gave zone of inhibition of 13mm and 20mm against the used pathogenic Bacillus and E.coli strains. As most microorganisms have developed resistance to existing antibiotics. So it has provoked the need of constant research like ours on the production of newer antibiotics. Keywords: Actinomycetes, antibiotics, Nocardia sp., E.coli, Bacillus, disc diffusion, GYEAM, Antibacterial potential.