Molecular profile and antibacterial properties of endophytic bacteria from avocado (Perseaamericana Mill.) leaf against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 3223

Avocado (Persea americana Mill.) is a medicinal plant that can grow in sub-tropical areas in Indonesia. The leafs are used in traditional medicine. The interaction between bacteria in plant and plant tissues provides an opportunity for a natural source of antimicrobial substances. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of endophytic bacteria from Avocado (P. americana Mill.) leaf and how the activity of endophytic bacteria against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 3223. The method used in this research is descriptive by testing the antibacterial activity using the Kirby Bauer method. The selected isolates were confirmed molecularly with the 16S rRNA gene. Ten bacterial isolates were found from 3 genera of them Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. The results of the activity test of ten isolates of endophytic bacteria could againts S. epidermidis ATCC 3223 which was characterized by the presence of a clear zone around the disc. The diameter of the inhibition zone varies in the weak, medium, and strong categories. There were two isolates with strong inhibitory activity category, namely EP3 with a diameter of 14.63 mm and EP4 with a diameter of 13.43 mm. Based on BLAST analysis, the selected bacterial isolates EP3 with a percentage of 100% were related to Bacillus pumilus strain DDWD with accession number MK537366.1 and Bacillus stratophericus strain PMS45 with accession number KK527639.1. Bacterial isolate EP4 with a percentage of 100% closely related to B. subtilis strain FC24749 with accession number MK577394.1.