ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to isolate and screen soil microorganisms that have potential to produce antibiotics. Twenty (20) soil samples were collected from four (4) different dump sites in Umuahia metropolis and analyzed for antimicrobial producing microorganisms. The organisms were isolated after serially diluting the soil samples and plating using the spread plate method of inoculation on Tryptone Soy agar and Sabouraud Dextrose agar. A total of thirty four (34) were recovered. Antibiotic activity screening of the isolates using the paper disc diffusion technique reveals that thirteen (13) of the isolates showed antibacterial activity against different strain of test bacteria with zone of inhibition ranging between 9mm and  18mm. isolate D31 produced the largest zone of clearing (18mm) against Staphylococcus aureus. Other isolates were active against at least two of the test organisms with isolate C27 recording zones of clearance in the range of 14mm, 10mm and 11mm against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Enterococcus faecalis respectively. Most of these isolates were identified to be in the genus Bacillus and Micrococcus. Therefore, it is confirmed that soil sampes collected from different dump sites in Umuahia metropolis were found to be a potential source of novel antibiotics.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page                                                                                                                              

Certification                                                                                                       

Dedication

Acknowledgments 

Table of contents 

List of tables   

Abstract 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction   

1.1 Meaning of Microorganism    2

1.1.1 Meaning of soil Microorganisms   

1.1.2 Factors that affects soil microorganisms    4

1.1.3 Secondary metabolites

1.1.4 Meaning of antibiotics   

1. 2 Aims and Objectives   

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review

2.1 Dump sites   

2.2 Occurrences of antibiotic producing microorganisms from dump sites

2.3 Factors considered in selection of antibiotics   

2.4 antibiotics and its classification   

2.5 Physiology of antibiotics production     

2.6 Factors affecting antibiotics production

2.7 Fermentation conditions     

2.8 Biology and pathogenicity of some test organisms   

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Collection of sample     

3.1 Media used     

3.2 Media preparation   

3.3 Isolation of microorganisms   

3.4 purification of isolates   

3.5 Preparation of inoculums of test organisms   

3.6 Gram-staining     

3.7 Biochemical identification of bacteria isolates     

3.8 Biochemical test       

3.9 Confirmation of antibacterial activity   

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion       

5.1 Conclusion   

References