Screening of actinomycetes from earthworm castings for their antimicrobial activity and industrial enzymes

Abstract

Actinomycetes from earthworm castings were isolated and screened for their antimicrobial activity and industrial enzymes. A total of 48 isolates were obtained from 12 samples of earthworm castings. Highest numbers of isolates were recovered from forest site (58.33 %) as compared to grassland (25%) and agricultural land (16.66%). The growth patterns, mycelial coloration of abundance actinomycetes were documented. The dominant genera Identified by cultural, morphological and physiological characteristics were Streptomyces (60.41%) followed by Streptosporangium (10.41%), Saccharopolyspora (6.25%) and Nocardia (6.25%). Besides these, other genera like Micromonospora, Actinomadura, Microbispora, Planobispora and Nocardiopsis were also recovered but in low frequency. Among the 48 isolates, 52.08%were found active against one or more test organisms. Out of 25 active isolates 16% showed activity against bacterial, human fungal as well as phytopathogens. Among 48 isolates 38, 32, 21, 20, 16 and 14 produced enzyme amylase, caseinase, cellulase, gelatinase, xylanase and lipase respectively while 10 isolates produced all the enzymes. More interestingly 2, 3, and 1 isolates produced amylase, xylanase and lipase at 45°C respectively. In the view of its antimicrobial activity as well as enzyme production capability the genus Streptomyces was dominant. The isolate EWC 7(2) was most promising on the basis of its interesting antimicrobial activity and was identified as Streptomyces rochei. The results of these findings have increased the scope of finding industrially important actinomycetes from earthworm castings and these organisms could be promising sources for industrially important molecules or enzymes.

Earthworms and cadmium – Heavy metal resistant gut bacteria as indicators for heavy metal pollution in soils?

“…Actinomycetales genera Streptomyces, Rathayibacter, Nocardioides, Agromyces and Rhodococcus have been associated with the soil and earthworm cast and gut. The genus Streptomyces has antimicrobial activity and enzyme production capability in the earthworm gut (59). Furthermore, Streptomyces caeruleus has been found to help earthworms in organic matter metabolism and plant material decomposition (60).…”

Nocardiopsis species as potential sources of diverse and novel extracellular enzymes

“…A majority of these isolates produced industrially important enzymes such as amylases, proteases, gelatinases, lipases, DNases, cellulases, ureases and phosphatases. On another occasion, Kumar et al (2012) have isolated actinomycetes from earthworm castings and have screened them for antimicrobial activities and industrial enzymes. Streptomyces, Streptosporangium, Saccharopolyspora, Nocardia, Micromonospora, Actinomadura, Microbispora, Planobispora and Nocardiopsis were obtained.…”

Production of Alkaline Enzymes by Marine Actinobacteria Isolated from Black Sea Sediments

“…Comparing the findings with results from several studies, we observed that our strains are well producers, considering their production abilities of the enzymes studied. For instance, in a research conducted by Kumar et al (2012), the authors aimed to screen actinomycetes for antimicrobial activity and industrial enzymes, and obtained forty-eight strains from earthworm castings. They screened them for the production of five enzymes including amylase, caseinase and lipase, and reported that only ten isolates produced all the enzymes studied.…”