Resumo

C. DA SILVA, Josy et al. Antimicrobial activity of Penicillium species kept under two preservation methods. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2010, vol.30, n.1, pp.48-54. ISSN 1315-2556.

In this study, we investigated the viability and antimicrobial activity of 60 Penicillium spp. conserved under mineral oil and sterile distilled water. The fungi were reactivated in specific culture media and verified according to their macro and micromorphologic characteristics. Their antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and Mycobacterium smegmatis was determined by the agar block and bioautography techniques. Viability of cultures corresponded to 46.7% for those conserved in distilled water and 43.3% for those conserved in mineral oil. The antimicrobial activity in solid media revealed that Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were the most susceptible to the bioactive components, while Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis the most inactive. The antimicrobial activity of the chemical components of the Penicillium species was demonstrated through bioautography; these results open new possibilities for the identification of components with antifungal and antibacterial potential.

Palavras-chave : Penicillium; preservation; viability; antimicrobial activity.