Antimicrobial and Enzymatic Activities of Mangrove-associated Actinomycetes

Abstract

This study delves into the enzymatic and antimicrobial capabilities of actinomycetes isolated from the Setiu Wetland mangrove in Terengganu, Malaysia. A total of eighteen actinomycete bacteria were isolated and characterized from the site. These isolates underwent antimicrobial assessments targeting a representative range of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria  and a fungus were employed for the testing. The results of the antimicrobial evaluations demonstrated pronounced effectiveness of the majority of isolated actinomycetes against Gram-negative bacterial strains. Intriguingly, a notable observation was the inhibition against Streptococcus uberis on nutrient agar by 27.7% of the isolates. In conjunction with the antimicrobial investigations, an array of enzymatic assays encompassing amylase, protease, lipase, phosphate solubilization, urease, and cellulase were executed. The outcomes revealed that a substantial portion of the examined actinomycetes exhibited positive reactions in at least half of the conducted assays, with amylase and protease production being particularly prominent, were observed from 94% of the isolates. These findings, drawn from the amassed dataset, underscore the remarkable diversity of antimicrobial and enzymatic activities within the actinomycetes thriving in the mangrove environment. This diversity exemplifies the adaptability of these mangrove-associated actinomycetes, underscoring their capacity to generate a versatile spectrum of secondary metabolites and biochemical responses as a strategy for survival within this unique ecosystem.