Antimicrobial Properties of Insect Gut Associated Bacteria

2 Abstract: In general microorganisms produce secondary metabolites which are not asessential for the survival of the organism. The organism produces an inhibitory product may be an antibiotic which doesn't allow the growth of other organisms. In this present study the bacteria are isolated from the gut of short horned grasshoppers and screened their antagonistic efficacy. A mixed population of bacteria was observed in the respective agar plates and was identified as Pseudomonas sp, Bacillus sp and Micrococcus sp and Escherichia coli. To test for antagonistic effect the gut isolated bacteria were tested against fiveselected human pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Vibrio parahameolyticus and Candida albicans. It was observed that gut associated Pseudomonas sp had broad antagonistic activity against fungus Vibrio parahameolyticus, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli. Although the preliminary screening is in the first stage but in the near future it can pay the way for isolation of newer microbial secondary metabolites in the form of antibiotics from different strains which is isolated from short horned grasshoppers.