CHARACTERIZATION OF MARINE ACTINOMYCETES SPECIES ISOLATED FROM AZHIMALA COASTAL REGION, KERALA AND IT’S EFFICACY AGAINST UROPATHOGENIC BACTERIA

Actinomycetes are virtually unlimited sources of novel compounds with many therapeutic applications and hold aprominent position due to their diversity and proven ability to produce novel bioactive compounds. The present study isaimed to prove the antagonistic activity of marine actinomycetes against uropathogens. 13 marine actinomycetes wereisolated from various marine sediment samples collected from different stations in the Azhimala coastal region, part ofthe Arabian Sea on the western coast of India. The sample collection and isolation of actinomycetes were done byfollowing the standard microbiological methods and the isolated colonies were characterized based on theirmorphological parameters. The morphologically distinct 13 isolates obtained in the present study, the isolates SD65,SD66, SD67, SD68, SD69, SD70, SD71, V66, V67, V68, V69,V70,V71 among them 3 isolates,V67,V68 and V70showed significant antagonism against selected uropathogens collected from a tertiary care center inThiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The results were promising and indicated that actinomycetes with distinctive biologicalactivity are abundant in the marine environment along Kerala's coast.