Antibiotic activity of marine microorganisms

Abstract

1. 41 sea water samples vollected between 18°00'N – 72°00'E and 18°52'N – 72°85'E were screened for marine bacteria possessing antagonistic properties againstStaphylococcus aureus andSalmonella typhosa. 2. Of 60 cultures elaborating antibiotic principles, a majority (45) were aerobic spore forming bacilli; the rest included gram-positive cocci (11), gram-negative bacilli (2) and streptomycetes (2). 3. The majority of the isolates showed higher activity against the gram-negative test organism. 4. Eleven different media were used to observe the effect of nutrients on the production of antibiotic substances.