Antimicrobial activity of G-0 against bacteria and fungi isolated from cement lime roofs

Resumen

The cements lime roofs are an economic solution for the popular buildings construction. In spite of this, when this cement pieces are installed in tropical weather, in a short time they suffer visible decay signs, which can destroy them partial or totally. Recently, fungal and bacterial strains responsible for its biodeterioration have been isolated. The possibility to use new antimicrobial products for covering, protecting and enlarging the life time of this cement lime roofs requires a microbiological study to determine the antibacterial and antifungal action of the possible preservative agent against different microorganisms and the minimal active concentration of this product. In the present work, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of a new Cuban product named G-0 was studied against seventeen bacterial and twelve fungal strains principally isolated from similar lime roofs with evident signs of biodeterioration in order to establish its Minimal Inhibitory, Bactericidal and Fungicidal Concentration (MIC, MBC and MFC, respectively). Bacterial strains belonging to the Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Micrococcus genera and fungal strains of  Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Monilia, Aureobasidium and Tritirachium genera were used. These results demonstrate the inhibitory  properties of G-0 against all microbial cultures tested. The MIC, MBC and MFC values of all sensitive microorganism strains have been found. The fungicidal effects of this product were evident in all the fungal cultures used, but bactericidal properties have been observed only in 82.3 % of the bacterial strains tested. It was obvious that the antifungal action of G-0 is bigger than its antibacterial activity.