Isolation and identification of bacteria potentially producing antibacterial compounds from tree bark

Abstract

Nowadays, infectious diseases are the number one cause of high mortality. Discovery of new antibacterial compound has attracted scientists to understand the infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria which nowadays becoming more resistant to the common antibiotics. Antibacterial compound has been discovered by scientists from bacteria colonized in soil, trees and others. The aims of this study were to isolate and identify bacteria producing from tree bark and to determine the potential of bacterial isolates in producing antibacterial compound. The tree bark samples were collected from Casuarina eqiusetifolia and Lawsonia inermis which were located at Coastal Area and Kg. Gong Badak in Terengganu. A total of ten bacterial isolates were characterized using Spread Plate Method. Further identification of the isolates was done by using Gram Stain and Biochemical Test. Based on the result, several bacteria were identified which included Serratia sp., Vibrio sp., Lactobacillus sp., Clostridium sp., Bacillus sp. and Streptococcus sp. The capability of bacteria to produce antibacterial compound was determined using Disc Diffusion Test. However, there was no antibacterial activity detected in any of the bacterial isolates collected from the tree bark. Thus, this study should be investigated further by selecting the tree barks which may have good conditions for bacteria to grow. Apart from that, culture conditions must be taking into account because this is an important factor to grow bacteria that producing antibacterial compound.