Strain improvement of Streptomyces hydrogenans KMF-A1 for Antifungal Metabolite Production

Abstract

Mangroves are found to be an excellent source for the isolation of novel bioactive metabolite producing microorganisms. Streptomyces hydrogenans KMFA-1, isolated from mangrove soil sample is exclusively known for its potent activity against various pathogenic fungi. The present study is focused on strain improvement of Streptomyces hydrogenans KMFA-1 by physical and chemical mutagens such as ultraviolet irradiation and nitrous acid (HNO2) respectively, for enhancing the production of antifungal metabolite against C. albicans and Pectinotrichum llanense. The parent isolate KMF-A1 produced 20mm inhibition zone diameter of antifungal activity while, the UV mutant designated as UV7, yielded 28mm and the nitrous acid mutant. UV7N4 (KMF-A1) exhibited 30mm inhibition zone diameter. The mutant strain produced improved antifungal activity by 1.5-fold increase with respect to wild strain.