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Bacteria and Actinomycetes Growing on Floppy and Compact Discs Under Ambient Conditions

MAHBUBAR RAHMAN KHAN
Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Botany, Dhaka University, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

MIHIR LAL SAHA
Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Botany, Dhaka University, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

SANJIDA BINTE ZUHA
Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Botany, Dhaka University, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Floppy and compact discs gradually loose their quality. On closer examination deteriorated discs showed diverse microbial growth on their surfaces. Among the associated organisms 15 actinomycetes and 12 bacterial isolates were selected for detailed studies. The selected actinomycetes were Streptomyces diastaticus, S. rimosus, S. cyaneus, S. olivaceoviridis, S. halstedii, S. fulvissimus, S. albidoflavus, S. exfoliates and S. griseoflavus and the bacterial strains were Bacillus lentus, B. circulans, B. badius, B. laterosporus, B. larvae and B. thuringiensis. In addition, Micrococcus sedentarius was also isolated. Utilization of crushed disc materials was observed during this study, which was indicative of deterioration of floppy and compact discs.

Keywords: Compact disc, Floppy disc, Microorganisms, Recalcitrant

Location: Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Botany, Dhaka University

Start Date: 00-07-2005

End Date: 00-12-2006

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: Diseases

Objectives:

The present work was undertaken to isolate and study the microorganisms associated with floppy and compact discs.

Methodology:

Different types of floppy and compact discs were collected from different shops and residences. The collected floppy discs having brand names were mostly unusable. These were kept in plastic bag at room temperature for detailed studies. The collected discs were examined both under naked eyes and under microscope for microbial growth. Here phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy were helpful in revealing microbial growth. During the period of this work, July 2005 to December 2006, the minimum temperature was 15.7ºC in December 2005 and the maximum was 33.7ºC during April-May 2006. The prevailing humidity was minimum (48.2%) in March 2006 and maximum (80.1%) in August 2006. Direct inoculation and enrichment culture techniques were used for the isolation of the microorganisms from the collected samples. Some floppy discs were buried under soil and after three months the discs were retrieved for observation. Pieces of retrieved floppies were inoculated in different media for growing the microorganisms. The enrichment culture was used to isolate organisms with rare capabilities (Prescott et al. 2002). So modified compact disc media were prepared using different layers of crushed CD and then CD with microbial growth was inoculated. Normally, actinomycete is a slow grower. In the present study, different isolation media viz. oatmeal agar (Shirling and Gottlieb 1966), glucose asparagine agar (Waksman 1967), modified Bennett’s agar (Iwasa et al. 1970), nutrient agar (NA) and nutrient broth (NB) media were used. Nystatin (50 µg/ml) was added in each plate to avoid fungal contamination (Williams and Davies 1965). Bacteria were studied by using wet mount and stained smear techniques; while actinomycetes were observed by applying special techniques such as, whole mount, cover slip culture on solid medium (Kawato and Shinobu 1959), cover slip culture in liquid medium (Luedemann 1969) and impression. Physiological and biochemical tests, as stated in the Bergey's manual Vol. 2 (Sneath et al. 1986) and Vol. 4 (Williams et al. 1989) were carried out and an attempt was made to identify organisms. Manual of Microbiological Methods (SAB 1957), Microbiological Methods (Collins and Lyne 1984) and Understanding Microbes (Claus 1995) were also consulted. An experiment was designed to investigate whether the constituents of compact disc were utilized by the organisms or not. To carry out such investigation, crushed compact disc was added with tryptone yeast extract broth (ISP-1) and nutrient broth (NB) media. Each type of media had two sets - one set contained 1.5% crushed CD and another set with only diluted broth (control). Two isolates from compact disc viz. CDA-8 and CDA-13 were inoculated, respectively in ISP-1 and NB media. The result was observed after 28 days of incubation at room temperature.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Bot. 37(1): 7-14, 2008 (June)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The work presented here indicates that in our environment, there are microorganisms which are capable of growing on the floppy discs and compact discs that results in serious deterioration in reproduction quality of these materials. This is more damaging, particularly in any humid tropical country like Bangladesh. Thus a detailed study about the nature of these organisms is required not only for the academic interest but also for undertaking any measure to safeguard our valuable archival materials.

Knowledge Management: Journal