Isolation and screening of soil Actinomycetes as source of antibiotics active against bacteria

A total of 117 actinomycetes strains were isolated from the wasteland alkaline and garden soil samples of the Ghaziabad and screened for their anti-bacterial activity.They were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on four test microorganisms.Fifteen actinomycetes isolate which exhibited antimicrobial activity against at least two of the test organisms and were characterized by conventional methods.The cultural characteristics of isolates were also studies in different culture media.The results indicated that six isolates were highly active against Staphylococcus aureus strains.Seven isolates were highly active with an inhibition zone more than 20 mm in diameter.Most of the isolates inhibited growth of the Gram negative bacteria tested.All the antibiotic producing actinomycetes were isolated at different temperatures from non agricultural wasteland alkaline soil and compost rich garden soil.Fifteen isolates showed activity against bacteria in which most of them from wasteland alkaline soil where the less interference by human for agriculture or other purpose.These microorganisms may have capability to produce some of the most important medicines ever developed.