Antibacterial activity of The Soft Coral Symbiont Bacteria Sarcophyton sp. Against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus Bacteria in The Waters of Lemon Island and Kaki Island, Manokwari

¹ Doctor Program of Environmental Science, Graduate Program, University of Papua, 98312 West Papua, Indonesia
² Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, University of Papua, 98312 West Papua, Indonesia.
³ Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Papua, 98312 West Papua, Indonesia.
⁴ Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Papua, 98312 West Papua, Indonesia.
⁵ Department of Oceanography, College of Marine Science, National Sun Yat-sen University, 804 Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

^* Corresponding author: t.tururaja@unipa.ac.id

Abstract

Microorganisms that interact with soft corals contribute to their hosts in the form of protection against marine pathogens. The study aimed to determine the characteristics of symbion bacteria isolated from Sarcophyton sp soft corals and their antibacterial activity. Bacterial characteristics were carried out through macroscopic tests by observing the shape of colonies, microscopic tests with Gram staining, biochemical tests including indole tests, motility, MR/VP, Citrate (SCA), temperament, TSIA, catalase, and inhibition tests against pathogenic bacteria Escherichia and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that 13 isolates of soft coral symbiont bacteria could be inhibited. The entire isolate has a round and irregular shape, the edges are flat and notched. Antibacterial isolates have a convex elevation, white and yellow in color. Of the 13 isolates, 3 isolates are gram-positive and 10 isolates are negative. Bacterial isolate is the best antibacterial against E.coli with strong inhibitory strength (4 isolation) and very strong (3 isolation). For bacterial isolates, it is the best antibacterial against S. aureus with strong inhibitory strength (4 insulation) and very strong (1 isolation). From the results of the inhibition test, all isolates can produce antibacterial properties that inhibit the growth of E.coli and S. aureus bacteria..