Isolation of bacteriocins from Vibrio Spp. and Pseudomonas Spp. attached to aquatic particulate material

UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Amanda Lynn Bost (Creator)

Institution

The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )

Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/

Advisor

Ronald Sizemore

Abstract: Bacteriocins are antimicrobial compounds that are produced by a diverse group of bacterial species that kill other bacterial species. Recent studies of the marine environment have shown that antibiotic-like substances are more likely to be produced by bacteria that are attached to particulate material than those that are free-living. This study tested the production of presumptive bacteriocins from bacteria attached to particulate material and free-living bacteria. Water samples were collected monthly over a twelvemonth period from three freshwater and three saltwater sites near Wilmington in Southeastern North Carolina. Water samples were plated to determine total viable counts and the total viable population was screened for presumptive Vibrio and Pseudomonas spp. In freshwater samples Pseudomonas spp. predominated while in saltwater samples Vibrio spp. predominated. Free-living bacteria and bacteria adhered to particulate matter from both groups were screened for antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial activity (presumptive bacteriocin) was common among free-living bacteria and bacteria attached to particulate material from both freshwater and saltwater samples. However, a higher percentage bacteriocins were produced from bacteria adhered to particulate material than from free-living bacteria in the surrounding water for both species. A higher percentage of bacteriocins were produced by bacteria isolated from freshwater than bacteria isolated from saltwater. Bacteriocins from Pseudomonas spp. displayed a narrow range of antimicrobial activity with over 68% of the bacteria showing antimicrobial activity against only one test organism, E. coli. Vibrio spp. bacteriocins displayed a broader range of antimicrobial activity with 90% of bacteria showing activity against one of three different Vibrio spp.: V. vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus and V. harveyi.

Isolation of bacteriocins from Vibrio Spp. and Pseudomonas Spp. attached to aquatic particulate material
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Created on 1/1/2009
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Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science

Language: English

Date: 2009

Keywords

Bacteriocins, Fresh water--North Carolina--New Hanover County--Sampling, Pseudomonas--North Carolina, Vibrio--North Carolina

Subjects

Vibrio -- North Carolina

Pseudomonas -- North Carolina

Bacteriocins

Fresh water -- North Carolina -- New Hanover County -- Sampling

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