Pharmacologyonline 3: 603-613 (2009) Saurav and Kannabiran 603 CHROMIUM HEAVY METAL RESISTANCE ACTIVITY OF MARINE STREPTOMYCES VITSVK5 Spp. (GQ848482) Kumar Saurav and K. Kannabiran* School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore-632 014, Tamil Nadu, India. Summary Marine actinomycetes, Streptomyces spp. VITSVK5 was screened for heavy metal resistance activity. The isolate was also screened for dye decolourization activity. Agar diffusion assay for heavy metal resistance showed that the isolate was resistant to chromium (VI and III). The isolate was less resistant to arsenic. However it was sensitive to lead and nickel nitrate. Based on polyphasic taxonomic characterization the isolate was identified as a novel Streptomyces spp. and designated as Streptomyces spp. VITSVK5. The 16Sr DNA sequence of the Streptomyces spp. VITSVK5 was deposited in GenBank under the accession number GQ 848482. The novelty of this study is that it is the first report that Streptomyces spp. VITSVK5 showing resistance against the chromium. Considering the heavy metal resistant activity of the strain, it could be used as potential strain for large scale production and to be used against toxic heavy metal chromium (VI and III). Keywords: Actinomycetes, Streptomyces spp. VITSVK5, heavy metal resistance * Corresponding author Dr. K.Kannabiran Professor, Division of Biomolecules and Genetics, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University Vellore-632014, Tamil Nadu, India. Tel.: +91-0416-2202473; Fax: +91-0416- 2243092 / 2240411. E -mail: kkb@vit.ac.in