PROTEIN FRACTION FROM ACTINOMYCETES ISOLATES INHIBITS PROTEASE ACTIVITY SECRETED BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Ashwini B. and Manjula I. K.*

ABSTRACT

The pathogenic potential of staphylococcus aureus is attributable by the production and secretion of various toxins, pathogenic factors such as various enzymes that include proteases which collectively contribute to the virulence of the organism. The present study focused on targeting proteases that were secreted into the growth medium during the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The proteases that were secreted by the Staphylococcus aureus were checked for their inhibition activity by the cell free culture extracts from actinomycetes isolates that were isolated from maize-rhizosphere soil. The isolation of actinomycetes from maize-rhizosphere soil was done by serial dilution plating and cellulose ester membrane isolation methods. Five isolates belonging to Streptomyces sp, Microbispora sp, and Thermomonospora sp. exhibited protease inhibition as assayed by well diffusion activity using skim milk agar media and observation of the extent of hydrolysis zone due to protease activity. The protein fractions with protease inhibition activity were extracted from the actinomycetes isolates by protein purification that resulted in the separation of prominent protein bands after subjecting to electrophoretic separation technique.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, Proteases, Actinomycetes isolates, Protease inhibition.