Isolation and characterization of forest soil bacteria with potential capacity as antibacterial producers

Abstract

Antibiotics are among the most prescribed drugs worldwide but their effectiveness is facing serious clinical concern especially due to the emergence of resistant bacteria. Therefore, this research was conducted to isolate and identify bacteria that inhabit forest soil which may produce antibacterial substances. Soil samples were collected from two locations which were Kampung Maras and Hutan Lipur Sekayu, Terengganu. A total of 37 bacterial isolates were collected. All these bacteria were characterized using several biochemical tests and staining. There were seven Gram positive bacteria and 30 Gram negative bacteria. Results from the tests revealed the identification of Enterobacter sp., Corynebacterium sp., Serratia sp., Erwinia sp., Klebsiella sp., Citrobacter sp., Clostridium sp., Vibrio sp. and Aeromonas sp. Based on the antibiotic susceptibility test, none of these bacteria, however, produced antibacterial substance against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Bacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Klebsiella sp. and Pseudomonas sp. Further investigation of bacteria producing antibacterial substances should be carried out in the future to combat the emergence of resistant bacteria. V