Date of Award
2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Walstrom, Katherine
Area of Concentration
Chemistry
Abstract
With the rise of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, the search for novel compounds exhibiting antimicrobial properties has become an important area of research. Antimicrobial secondary metabolites produced by novel species of bacteria provide a new avenue for drug innovation. A red pigment-producing bacteria with antimicrobial properties was isolated from marine sediment off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida and named MI3. The genome of MI3 showed less than 78% identity to known bacterial species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the genome showed MI3 represents a new species of the genus Zooshikella. SEM imaging showed the bacteria to be spirillum shaped and forming a biofilm. MI3 produced a red pigment that displayed two absorbance peaks, 575 nm at low pH and 480 nm at higher pH. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the extract indicated the presence of prodigiosin and cycloprodigiosin with m/z peaks at 324.20 and 322.19 respectively. Genomic analysis indicated the presence of secondary metabolic biosynthetic gene clusters including prodigiosin, ectoine, and aryl polyene. Further analysis of the genome revealed a homologous gene with 77% identity to a gene proposed to be associated with C-H activation and cyclization of prodigiosin, PRUB680. MI3 was also determined to have several antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factors, transporters, and drug targets.
Recommended Citation
Ruhnke, Cara, "GENOME SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF A NOVEL SEDIMENT-DERIVED MARINE BACTERIUM AND ITS BIOSYNTHESIS OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL MOLECULES PRODIGIOSIN AND CYCLOPRODIGIOSIN" (2022). Theses & ETDs. 6294.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6294