Abstract

Six actinomycetes strains were isolated from soil and deteriorated wood taken from an oldhouse in the medina of Fez, Morocco. The antimicrobial activity of these strains wastested against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus strains and Staphylococcus strains) andGram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas strain and Escherichia strain) and Candida albicans. Among the six isolates, five showed activity against at least one of the testmicroorganisms. The activity was also found in organic extracts of the isolates. Furthermore, the organic extract from one strain was sensitive to temperature and proteinase K indicating that the active substance would be of protein nature. Molecularidentification of the isolates was performed on the basis of 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Three isolates were attributed to Streptomyces genus, namely: Sj32 which could be identified as Streptomyces flavolimosus, Sj33 (Streptomyces spiroverticillatus) and Sj38 (Streptomyces parvus) whereas Sj68 and Sj69 could be indicated as Saccharothrixviolacea.

Key words: Actinomycetes, Streptomyces, Saccharotrix, antimicrobial activity, molecular identification, 16S rDNA.