Screening of potential antibiotic action of cellulolytic fungi

Twenty different strains of filamentous fungi were initially selected for e valuation of cellulolytic activity using a single test in a simple mineral salts culture medium with filter payer as the only carbon source. Those fun gi strains that were capable of completely breaking the filter paper strip within 4-8 d were assayed also for antimicrobial action, using Staphyloccoc us aureus ATCC 6538r according to the so-called agar piece method. We scree ned three different strains with both capacities: the production of cellulo lytic activity and antibiotic action. The experimental results suggest that the fungi Penicillium sp. F0PC01, Asperigillus sp. F0Q001, and Cephalospor ium sp. F03800 have both capabilities because they grew rapidly on cellulos e as the only carbon source and were able to produce an area of growth inhi bition in S. aureus of approx 2.04, 1.57, and 2.39 cm, respectively, on aga r plates using the agar piece method. Subsequently, the antibiotic producti on obtained with those cellulolytic strains was evaluated by submerged ferm entation at the flask level, in a simple culture medium containing lactose without biosynthesis precursor, obtaining 3670, 2830, and 4060 antibiotic u nits/mL, referred to as penicillin G, whereas for cellulolytic activity, th e results were 1.34, 1.81 and 0.57 FrU/mL, respectively.