Abstract
A total of 112 soil-inhabiting fungal isolates were recorded from different stretches of Subarnarekha river basin (21° 33′ to 23° 32′ north latitude and 85° 9′ to 87° 27′ east longitude), mainly its stretch within the state of West Bengal, India. All isolated fungal groups were grown into potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Fungal extracts were collected from the grown-up fungus colony after incubation of fungal culture in a liquid medium. Tests for estimation of coliform bacteria were conducted by MPN and MFT methods. Heavy metals were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and experimental designs were made following standard literature to observe antibacterial activity as well as to assess heavy metals removing potential of isolated fungal strains. The highest coliform count in MPN test (> 2400 MPN/100 ml) was recorded at S-II followed by S-I and S-III during monsoon season. Out of five identified fungal species (Fusarium sp., Rhizopus sp., Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp. Pythium sp.), the fungal strain, Aspergillus penicillioides F12 (MN210327) has exhibited the highest heavy metal tolerance activity. It showed resistance against Pb(II) and Cd(II) up to 1000 ppm and Hg(II) up to 200 ppm. Alongside, the specific fungal extracts of this species have also revealed antibacterial activity by proving their effectiveness as potential inhibitor against human pathogenic gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae, and gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.
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