SHRUTI DUDEJA, VINOD CHHOKAR, VIKAS BENIWAL AND ANIL KUMAR*
Department of Bio & Nano Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar-125 001
(Haryana), India
*(e-mail : bhankhar@gmail.com; Mobile : 94165 33004)
(Received : September 21, 2021; Accepted : November 12, 2021)
ABSTRACT
To overcome the problem of multidrug resistance, the most serious concern is developing new drugs
with different modes of action by exploring potent microorganisms from different sources. The present
study was carried out to isolate potential fungi with the ability to produce antimicrobial compounds. A
total of eight fungal isolates were isolated from Manikaran hot spring and screened for antimicrobial
activity. Out of them, three were found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against one of the three test
organisms tested viz., gram-positive- Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC No. 3160), gram-negative- Escherichia
coli (MTCC No. 1687) and the fungus Candida albicans (MTCC No. 183) during primary screening. Fungal
isolates MKH 4 and MKH 12 were inhibitory against E. coli and S. aureus (antibacterial) and MKH 16 was
inhibitory against C. albicans (antifungal). Analysis of the crude metabolites of MKH 4, MKH 12 and
MKH by thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed the presence of bioactive components with Rf value of
0.88, 0.80, 0.74, respectively. The potential isolates MKH 4, MKH 12 and MKH 16 were studied
morphologically and microscopically and identified as Aspergillus sp. and could be studied further for
enhancing its potential of antibiotic production.
Key words : : Manikaran hot spring, fungi, test organism, TLC, Aspergillus