Home⇛Scientific Augustinian⇛vol. 14 no. 1 (2024)

Short Communication: Antibiotic Sensitivity and Characterization of Selected Microorganisms Isolated from Mangrove Leaf Litter

Jilla A. Tornalejo | Ma. Faustina Gerona | Josia Nem Layson | Goldie Gail Bergano | Rumar Nelle Gascon

Discipline: Pharmacology

 

Abstract:

Mangrove environments, often referred to as "microbial hotspots", host diverse microbial species; however, it is increasingly threatened by urbanization and human activities, contributing to pollution and the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to characterize microorganisms isolated from mangrove leaf litter and assess their potential antimicrobial resistance, given that these areas are used for recreation, aquaculture, and are densely populated. Samples of decayed mangrove leaves approximately 1.5 cm in diameter were streaked onto nutrient agar with 25 ppt artificial seawater and incubated at room temperature for 72 hours. Dominant colonies were selected and subsequently restreaked on selective media, including McConkey Agar (MCA), Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), Eosin-Methylene Blue Agar (EMB), and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) for bacterial and fungal isolation, respectively. Four dominant bacterial and five fungal isolates were selected and characterized, with one bacterial isolate, OISP-C1 subjected to 16s rRNA sequencing and antibiotic sensitivity testing. Results identified OISP-C1 as Bacillus cereus, resistant to erythromycin, intermediately sensitive to ciprofloxacin, and sensitive to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and doxycycline. While the study was limited to a small sample size and specific site, the findings point to the presence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in mangrove ecosystems, posing risks to human health and the broader biotic community. This emphasizes the need for further investigation into the implications for human health and ecosystem management.



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