Abstract
Twelve actinomycetes strains were isolated from the soil samples of the Himalaya and screened for their antimicrobial activity. Their cultural characteristics in different culture media were studied. ERIH-44 showed both antibacterial and antifungal activity. The 16S rRNA pattern of ERIH-44 strongly suggested that it belongs to the genus Bacillus. The morphological and physiological characters were also recorded. ERIH-44 had the ability to produce amylase. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using broth microdilution technique. The ethyl acetate extract of ERIH-44 was tested against bacteria and fungi, and showed the following MIC values: Bacillus subtilis (< 15.62 mu g/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (< 15.62 mu g/ml), Escherichia coli (125 mu g/ml) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (500 mu g/ml), Botrytis cinerea (500 mu g/ml) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (1000 mu g/ml). (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.