Isolation and Identification of Sponge-Associated Fungus Producing Anti Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Bacterial Substances

Abstract

Marine sponges are rich sources of bioactive substances with various pharmacological activities. Previous studies have shown that most bioactive compounds wereoriginally produced by associated-microorganisms. In our study on marine pharmaceuticals, we collected 19 sponge specimens from Riung water, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia. A total 33 fungi isolates were isolated from the sponges. Then, the isolates were screened for antibacterial activity using overlay method against the MRSA and MDR E. coli.Then, the active isolates were cultured on malt extract broth medium to provide the crude extract that tested against the MRSA and E. Coli using. One isolate, anassociated of the sponge Agelas sp. showed to be amostpromising fungus.The isolate was determined based on morphological characteristics and genetic analyses as Fusarium solani. The extract of the isolate has astronger activity to E. coli and S. aureus than the activity of the chloramphenicol. It can be concluded that the isolate has potential as a new source of antibacterial compounds.