Resumen:
This report describes the isolation and characterization of bacterial isolates that
produce anti−microbial compounds from one of the South Shetland Islands, King George Is−
land, Antarctica. Of a total 2465 bacterial isolates recovered from the soil samples, six
(BG5, MTC3, WEK1, WEA1, MA2 and CG21) demonstrated inhibitory effects on the
growth of one or more Gram−negative or Gram−positive indicator foodborne pathogens (i.e.
Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae,
Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Bacillus cereus). Upon examination of their 16S rRNA se−
quences and biochemical profiles, the six Antarctic bacterial isolates were identified as
Gram−negative Pedobacter cryoconitis (BG5), Pseudomonas migulae (WEK1), P. corru−
gata (WEA1) and Pseudomonas spp. (MTC3, MA2, and CG21). While inhibitors produced
by strains BG5, MTC3 and CG21 were sensitive to protease treatment, those produced by
strains WEK1, WEA1, and MA2 were insensitive to catalase, lipase, −amylase, and prote−
ase enzymes. In addtion, the six Antarctic bacterial isolates appeared to be resistant to multi−
ple antibiotics.