Isolation and Characterization of Antibiotic Producing Fungi from Soil

This study was aimed to isolate and characterize antibiotic producing fungi from the soil environment within Ahmadu Bello University main campus Samaru, Zaria. Soil samples were collected from five different locations within Ahmadu Bello University main campus for the Isolation of fungi. Spread plate method involving serial dilution technique was used for the Isolation using Saboraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Six species of fungi were isolated from the soil samples and then characterized microscopically and macroscopically. The fungi were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp, Fusarium sp (P14) and Fusarium sp (P15). Sensitivity test using Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae as test pathogens was employed to determine the ability of the fungal isolates to produce antimicrobials. All the fungal isolates were found to inhibit the growth of at least one of the test pathogens except Fusarium sp (P14). Aspergillus niger produces zones of inhibition of 9mm, 5mm and 6mm against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus fumigatus produces zones of inhibition of 5mm against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Aspergillus sp produced zones of 6mm against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, Penicillium sp which produces a zone of 10mm, 7mm and 6mm against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The findings of this study show that antibiotic-producing fungus are prevalent in the soil of Ahmadu Bello University's main campus in Samaru, Zaria, and that these strains could be used by pharmaceutical companies to produce antibiotics from local sources.