Sains Malaysiana 55(1)(2026): 47-59

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5501-04

 

Exploring Actinobacteria from Karst Cave on Sumba Island: A New Source of Antimycobacterial Compounds

(Menerokai Aktinobakteria daripada Gua Karst di Pulau Sumba: Sumber Baharu Sebatian Antimikobakteria)

 

ADE LIA PUTRI^1,2,*, YULIN LESTARI², IMAN RUSMANA² & ARIF NURKANTO¹

 

¹Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Science and Techno Park Soekarno. Jl. Jakarta Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, West Java 16911, Indonesia

²IPB university, Indonesia, Jl. Raya Dramaga, Kampus IPB Dramaga Bogor, 16680 West Java, Indonesia

 

Diserahkan: 8 Mac 2025/Diterima: 6 November 2025

 

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) mycobacteria are considered a major challenge in tuberculosis treatment, creating an urgent need for novel antimycobacterial drugs. Actinobacteria, known for their ability to produce bioactive compounds, are considered promising sources for new drug discovery. In this study, 87 actinobacteria isolates were successfully obtained from five samples collected in a karst cave on Sumba Island, Indonesia. The isolates were screened for antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis wild-type (WT-M.smeg), rifampicin-resistant (RIF^R-M.smeg), isoniazid-resistant (INH^R-M.smeg), and multidrug-resistant (MDR-M.smeg) strains. Sixteen extracts were found to inhibit WT-M.smeg, with three extracts from isolates KRST 02-20, KRST 03-10, and KRST 05-08 showing potent activity against all resistant strains (≥95% growth inhibition). The extract of isolate KRST 03-10 was observed to exhibit the most significant inhibition, with IC₅₀ values of 9.63 µg/mL (WT-M.smeg), 29.64 µg/mL (RIF^R-M.smeg), 10.89 µg/mL (INH^R-M.smeg), and 27.76 µg/mL (MDR-M.smeg). Molecular identification showed that this isolate has the highest similarity (98.91%) with Streptomyces cinereoruber NBRC 12756. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol as a compound with potential antituberculosis activity, while liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) detected nocardamine, L-α-palmitin, erucamide, and 2-anisic acid, all known for their antimicrobial activity. An unidentified compound, NP-011220 (C₁₁H₁₈O₂), was also detected in high relative abundance. Further research is needed to evaluate the activity of the most promising isolate, KRST 03-10, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and to purify its active compounds.

Keywords: Isoniazid-resistant; Mycobacterium smegmatis; multidrug-resistant; rifampicin-resistant; tuberculosis

 

Abstrak

Mikobakteria rintang pelbagai ubat (MDR) dianggap sebagai cabaran utama dalam rawatan tuberkulosis, mewujudkan keperluan mendesak untuk ubat antimikobakteria baharu. Aktinobakteria yang dikenali kerana keupayaannya menghasilkan sebatian bioaktif, dianggap sebagai sumber yang berpotensi untuk penemuan ubat baharu. Dalam kajian ini, 87 pencilan aktinobakteria telah berjaya diperoleh daripada lima sampel yang dikumpulkan di gua kars di Pulau Sumba, Indonesia. Pencilan telah disaring untuk aktiviti antimikobakteria terhadap strain Mycobacterium smegmatis jenis liar (WT-M.smeg), rintang rifampisin (RIFR-M.smeg), rintang isoniazid (INHR-M.smeg) dan rintang pelbagai ubat (MDR-M.smeg). Enam belas ekstrak didapati menghalang WT-M.smeg dengan tiga ekstrak daripada pencilan KRST 02-20, KRST 03-10 dan KRST 05-08 menunjukkan aktiviti yang kuat terhadap semua strain yang rintang (perencatan pertumbuhan ≥95%). Ekstrak pencilan KRST 03-10 menunjukkan perencatan yang paling ketara dengan nilai IC50 9.63 µg/mL (WT-M.smeg), 29.64 µg/mL (RIFR-M.smeg), 10.89 µg/mL (INHR-M.smeg) dan 27.76 µg/mL (MDR-M.smeg). Pengenalpastian molekul menunjukkan bahawa pencilan ini mempunyai persamaan tertinggi (98.91%) dengan Streptomyces cinereoruber NBRC 12756. Analisis kromatografi gas-spektrometri jisim (GC-MS) mengenal pasti 2,4-di-tert-butilfenol sebagai sebatian dengan aktiviti antituberkulosis yang berpotensi, manakala kromatografi cecair-spektrometri jisim resolusi tinggi (LC-HRMS) mengesan nokardina, L-α-palmitin, erukamida dan asid 2-anisik, semuanya dikenali dengan aktiviti antimikrobnya. Sebatian yang tidak dikenali, NP-011220 (C11H18O2) juga dikesan dalam kelimpahan relatif yang tinggi. Kajian lanjut diperlukan untuk menilai aktiviti pencilan yang paling berpotensi, KRST 03-10 terhadap Mycobacterium tuberculosis dan untuk menulenkan sebatian aktifnya.

Kata kunci: Mycobacterium smegmatis; rintang isoniazid; rintang pelbagai ubat; rintang rifampicin; tuberkulosis

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: adel004@brin.go.id