Preliminary biological screening of microbes isolated from cow dung in Kampar

Abstract

Five distinct morphologically and physiologically isolates were isolated from cow dung at Kampar, Perak, Malaysia and cultured on nutrient agar (NA) plates. Morphological studies including microscopic examination,  gram-staining and endospore staining were performed. Isolates K1 and K5 were gramnegative, while isolates K2, K3 and K4 were gram-positive. Isolates K2 and K4 were able to form endospore. Susceptibilities of five isolates to 17 different types of antibiotics were evaluated using the
Kirby-Bauer assay. Each individual isolate was resistant to at least 35% of the antibiotics tested. Antibacterial activities against 11 types of test organisms were evaluated. Isolate K4 produced antibacterial agent which inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli. Enzymatic assay for the presence of
22 types of enzymes were screened. All isolates produced protease, lipase and esterase lipase. Further studies will be done for identification of all the species.

Key words: Nutrient agar (NA), Kirby-Bauer assay (disk-diffusion assay), antibacterial activities, enzymatic assay.