Abstract:
This study was conducted in Chagar Hutang, Redang Island. Mucus samples
secreted by the green turtle, Chelonia mydas during the oviposition process was
collected using sterile universal bottles. The sediment samples surrounds the nesting
area was also co!Jected. Mucus samples were brought back to the laboratory for
screening of antimicrobial properties and also for identification of bacteria present.
While the sediment sample was only analyse for the purpose of bacteria identification.
Kirby-Bauer method was used to screen the antimicrobial properties in the mucus
samples. No inhibition zone was observed meaning that there was no antimicrobial
properties in the green turtle cloaca. On the other hand, the identification of bacteria
present in the samples was first screened based on their morphological characteristics
such as the shape, elevation, margin and also pigmentation. Once identified, the single
pure colony was isolated for genotypic identification using the 16S rRNA (primers
63F and l 389R) cloning via Polymerase Chain Reaction. PCR products were then run
in 1.5% of agarose gel for the formation of band at 1400Kb. Purified PCR products
were sent for sequencing at the First BASE Laboratories Sdn Bhd. Sequences
obtained were analyze using Chromas, BioEdit Sequence Alignment Editor and
search for sequence similarity using NCBI BLAST. The two different bacteria
identified from the mucus samples are Shewanella haliotis and Pseudoalteromonas
spongiae. While the bacteria that identified from the sediment was Vibrio hepatarius.
