Evaluation of Antifouling Potential of Staphylococcus Sp. Isolated from Marine Sea Water

Abstract

Background: Marine biofouling indicates the accumulation of marine microorganisms, algae and other organisms on the immersed surfaces of boats and ships. Biofouling causes severe problems to marine industries and shipping in worldwide which leads to huge economic loss and technical problems. To reduce these problems some synthetic organic compounds are used as antifouling coatings. But these antifoulants are found to be toxic and lethal to marine life forms and could pollute the marine environment.

Objective: Based on these perseptives it is necessary to identify an ecofriendly novel antifoulant from marine microbes. 

Methods: To investigate the antifouling activity, the bacterial strains were isolated from the Vizhinjam harbor and the isolated strains were subjected to screening of antifouling activity using cross streak, cover slip and microtiter assays. The extracellular protein of bacterial strain which showed remarkable antifouling activity was purified using TLC and column chromatography and the compounds were identified using LC-MS.

Result: The antifouling activity was found to be higher in A7, Staphylococcus sp. among the selected strains. The bioactive compounds present in the strains were Phytone synthase, 1-3–diphosphoglycerate, Benzophenone 2-3 cyclooctane and 2, 2 diphenyl-1- picryldrazyl. The current study revealed that the A7, Staphylococcus sp. could produce potent antifoulant which can be used to control biofouling in marine environment.

Novelty: The present findings indicate that marine microorganisms could provide a promising source for antifouling compounds. With the improvement of cultivation and isolation methods novel antifoulants may be obtained which will provide more candidates for the marine coating industries.