SELECTIVE ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOCARDIOPSIS FLAVESCENS VJMS-18 FROM COASTAL REGIONS OF ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial potential of Nocardiopsis flavescens isolated from the marine environment. Methods: Attempts were made to isolate actinomycete strains from marine coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, India. The soil samples collected were pre-treated with calcium carbonate, diluted and plated on three different media to isolate actinomycetes. All the isolates were screened for antimicrobial activity by using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Among the fifty isolates screened, one potent strain designated as VJMS-18 exhibited high antimicrobial activity. The isolate was identified by using micro-morphological, cultural, biochemical, physiological and molecular approaches. Results: The Potent strain was identified as Nocardiopsis flavescens VJMS-18. It showed good growth on YMD agar amended with 3% NaCl. Growth pattern of the isolate was studied by culturing it in YMD broth. The culture broth was extracted with ethyl acetate and tested for antimicrobial activity. It exhibited high antimicrobial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as fungi. Conclusion: The present investigation reveals that Nocardiopsis flavescens VJMS-18 isolated from the coastal environment is the potential source of novel bioactive compounds.