Preliminary study on inhibitory activity of Enterobacter sp. strain KD111 isolated from the Cow feces

The objective of the present study was to isolate Enterobacter sp. from the faecal matter of cow followed by its screening for antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria having clinical importance. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characterisation of seven isolates obtained from cow dung sample, isolate KD111 was probably identified as Enterobacter sp. and screened for its inhibitory activity against 14 test organisms comprising both Gram-positive and Gram-negative types using cross-streak method, in which both i.e. test organisms and isolates were streaked perpendicularly on nutrient agar plates followed by measurement of inhibition zone between the streaks after incubation. The preliminary screening revealed significant antimicrobial activity of Enterobacter sp. against Salmonella typhi (MTCC 3216), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 7443) and Bacillus cereus (MTCC 6728) with highest inhibition against Salmonella typhi (MTCC 3216) and Bacillus cereus (MTCC 6728). Our results indicate that Enterobacter sp. may act as a producer of bioactive antimicrobial metabolites and therefore should be analysed further for its possible application as therapeutic agent.