Microbial Sociality In Biofilms,
2022
Dartmouth College
Microbial Sociality In Biofilms, Swetha Kasetty
Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations
Biofilms are communities of microorganisms attached to surfaces through various self-secreted matrix materials. Biofilms are dynamic communities with extensive interactions between their residents. Microorganisms compete, cooperate, and communicate with each other in biofilms. These ecological interactions determine the emergence or loss of strains/species and are critical in the formation and proliferation of biofilms. Furthermore, most natural biofilms are formed by multiple microbial species and strains and these interactions within the biofilm dramatically influence community composition and structure over time. Microbial interactions also influence clinically relevant outcomes such as antibiotic resistance and host virulence. In this thesis we explore the potential …
Assessing The Activity Of Antimicrobial Peptides Against Common Marine Bacteria Located In Rotifer (Brachionus Plicatilis) Cultures,
2022
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia
Assessing The Activity Of Antimicrobial Peptides Against Common Marine Bacteria Located In Rotifer (Brachionus Plicatilis) Cultures, Chelsea Woods, Lindsey Woolley, Gavin Partridge, Mengqi Chen, Evan F. Haney, Robert E.W. Hancock, Nicky Buller, Andrew Currie
Fisheries Research Articles
Rotifers are used as the first feed for marine fish larvae and are grown in large cultures that have high loads of organic matter and heterotrophic bacteria; these bacteria are passed on to the developing fish larvae and can potentially lead to bacterial infections. A modified minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) protocol for antimicrobial peptides was used to determine the potency of ten antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in artificial seawater relevant to a rotifer culture (salinity of 25‰) against common marine pathogens. All of the AMPs had antimicrobial activity against the bacterial isolates when the salt concentration was approximately zero. However, in …
Parameter Estimation Using Nudging On The Logistic Growth Equation,
2022
Florida State University
Parameter Estimation Using Nudging On The Logistic Growth Equation, Susan Rogowski
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Evaluating Soil Health Changes Following Cover Crop And No-Till Integration Into A Soybean (Glycine Max) Cropping System In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley,
2022
Mississippi State University
Evaluating Soil Health Changes Following Cover Crop And No-Till Integration Into A Soybean (Glycine Max) Cropping System In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Alexandra Gwin Firth
Theses and Dissertations
The transition of natural landscapes to intensive agricultural uses has resulted in severe loss of soil organic carbon (SOC), increased CO₂ emissions, river depletion, and groundwater overdraft. Despite negative documented effects of agricultural land use (i.e., soil erosion, nutrient runoff) on critical natural resources (i.e., water, soil), food production must increase to meet the demands of a rising human population. Given the environmental and agricultural productivity concerns of intensely managed soils, it is critical to implement conservation practices that mitigate the negative effects of crop production and enhance environmental integrity. In the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) region of Mississippi, USA, …
The Impact Of Iaa And Tryptophan On Microcystis Bloom Community Dynamics,
2022
James Madison University
The Impact Of Iaa And Tryptophan On Microcystis Bloom Community Dynamics, Hunter R. Baylous
Masters Theses, 2020-current
Microcystis aeruginosa is a freshwater cyanobacterial species that degrades freshwater and brackish ecosystems due to its capacity to form toxic cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs). There both abiotic and the biotic factors that exacerbate the presence of cyanoHABs. Current research is looking at the microbial interactions that occur between microbes and phytoplankton. Microbes interact with cyanobacteria in the phycosphere, where nutrients are exchanged between the two. Understanding the chemical currencies exchanged can help to show interactions that are beneficial for cyanoHAB formation A key player in the growth promotion of cyanoHABs is hypothesized to be auxins, which are synthesized by …
The Development Of A Global Shoreland Information Database May Help Determine The Appropriate Bacteria And Nutrient Technology Needed To Remediate Oil Contaminated Shorelands,
2022
Seattle Pacific University
The Development Of A Global Shoreland Information Database May Help Determine The Appropriate Bacteria And Nutrient Technology Needed To Remediate Oil Contaminated Shorelands, Tiffany Ann Veeder
Honors Projects
The use of oil and its derivative products is well known world-wide. The benefits of oil are many and its products, for example, range from gasoline used in our automobiles to its use in plastics, building products, and medical supplies. Oil spill hazards associated with oil extraction, production, and transportation can have devastating impacts on the environment and local economies. When oil spills happen in the water, for instance, major shorelands are placed at risk of significant harm. As oil contaminates shorelands, the impacts can range from killing sea creatures and seabirds to destroying entire ecosystems. To help mitigate the …
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In Freshwater Crayfish,
2022
University of Mississippi
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria In Freshwater Crayfish, Colby Finch
Honors Theses
The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is increasing in natural aquatic environments. Alongside this, organisms that live in these ecosystems are increasingly harboring antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, I analyzed the capacity for the crayfish species Procambarus vioscai paynei to harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Crayfish, as well as water and sediment, were sampled from a pond at the University of Mississippi Field Station. The guts of crayfish were plated on TSA agar, as well as agar containing vancomycin, erythromycin, penicillin, tetracycline, or ciprofloxacin. Following incubation, counts of bacteria were determined. Selected bacterial isolates were tested for multiple antibiotic-resistance. Bacterial isolates were also …
Detecting Potentially Neurotoxic Pseudo-Nitzschia Species In The Grand Strand Area,
2022
Coastal Carolina Univeristy
Detecting Potentially Neurotoxic Pseudo-Nitzschia Species In The Grand Strand Area, Chesney Price
Honors Theses
Pseudo-nitzschia is a globally distributed diatom genus which contains 26 neurotoxin (domoic-acid) producing species. In shallow coastal waters these diatoms are associated with both the development of harmful algal blooms and the bio-accumulation of toxins in shellfish that can impact human health. Pilot data recovered in 2018 indicated the presence of multiple species of Pseudo-nitzschia, including domoic-acid producing taxa. We hypothesize that we will recover a similar species diversity using multiple sampling dates during the summer of 2021. Environmental DNA (eDNA) samples taken from the public shellfish harvesting area waters at Huntington Beach State Park (SC) over a two month …
Comparative Transcriptomic Study Between Cyanobacteria That Contain Chlorophyll D And Those That Lack Chlorophyll D,
2022
Northern Illinois University
Comparative Transcriptomic Study Between Cyanobacteria That Contain Chlorophyll D And Those That Lack Chlorophyll D, Fernanda Montoya
Honors Capstones
All cyanobacteria, which perform oxygenic photosynthesis on Earth, contain the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll a (Chl a) that absorbs light in the violet and red region of the visible spectrum. Cyanobacteria of the Acaryochloris species, however, contain the rare photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll d (Chl d) that absorbs light in the far-red region. Chl d’s ability to absorb light in this region allows it to avoid competing with other photosynthetic organisms for light. Creating a photosystem that uses Chl d in plants would be of great use for agricultural land optimization, but requires knowledge of the biosynthetic pathways of …
An Analysis Of The Effects Of Temperature And Other Environmental Factors On Microorganismal Productivity Within Aquatic Ecosystems Using Long-Term Data From Various Lter And Ilter Sites,
2022
Columbus State University
An Analysis Of The Effects Of Temperature And Other Environmental Factors On Microorganismal Productivity Within Aquatic Ecosystems Using Long-Term Data From Various Lter And Ilter Sites, Andrew Dorbu
Theses and Dissertations
Global climate change is a phenomenon resulting in more extreme weather patterns and species diversity loss. In this study, I explore the impacts of climate change on regional patterns of microbial productivity. Variation in microbial productivity was explained using temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen as predictors in regression models with data from the LTER and iLTER network of sites that ranged from the poles to the equator. I found a positive relationship between temperature and productivity. Antarctica and Arctic sites exhibited the strongest positive relationships supporting prior research demonstrating temperature as one of the driving forces of productivity change in …
Effect Of Mycorrhizae Inoculation On The Growth And Success Of Three Taxodium Distichum Hybrids In Saline - Impacted Coastal Soils,
2022
Stephen F. Austin State University
Effect Of Mycorrhizae Inoculation On The Growth And Success Of Three Taxodium Distichum Hybrids In Saline - Impacted Coastal Soils, Elif Ilhan
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
In 2008, Galveston Island was severely impacted by Hurricane Ike, resulting in high salt deposition in the soil and groundwater. This caused a loss of many native plant species. A study was initiated to determine effective ways to promote the growth conditions of three bald cypress genotypes (Taxodium distichum var distichum and Taxodium distichum var mexicanum crosses) in salt-affected soils. The treatments applied were mycorrhizae inoculation, fertilizer application, and a combination of mycorrhizae inoculation and fertilizer application. A total of sixty (60) trees planted in plots of three rows and divided into five randomized replication blocks of four treatments …
Describing The Effect Of Thin Layer Sediment Placement On Coastal Microbial Communities Using Foraminifera Diversity,
2022
University of Rhode Island
Describing The Effect Of Thin Layer Sediment Placement On Coastal Microbial Communities Using Foraminifera Diversity, Elizabeth B. Billings
Senior Honors Projects
Salt marshes are rich ecosystems that play an important role in aquatic food systems and prevent erosion while also providing essential habitats for wildlife. Climate change has resulted in rising sea levels and erosion of these coastal wetlands. Thin Layer Sediment Placement (TLP) is a restoration effort being implemented to mitigate the effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems. The TLP process raises elevation of the marsh and provides substrates for vegetative growth by spraying dredged sediment over existing marsh. The impacts of TLP on microbial populations is not widely understood, therefore metrics are required to study the effects of …
Temporal And Spatial Comparison Of Pseudo-Nitzschia Species Composition And Domoic Acid In Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island And The Northeast U.S. Shelf,
2022
University of Rhode Island
Temporal And Spatial Comparison Of Pseudo-Nitzschia Species Composition And Domoic Acid In Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island And The Northeast U.S. Shelf, Isabella Church, Bethany D. Jenkins
Senior Honors Projects
Diatoms are unicellular algae that make up a significant portion of phytoplankton biomass at the base of marine food webs. Narragansett Bay (NB), RI is home to several species of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia (P-n), some of which are known to cause harmful algal blooms through the production of the potent neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). This toxin can lead to Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning in humans through the consumption of affected shellfish. Although the presence of P-n has been well established in NB for over 50 years, DA levels have only recently become a problem, with shellfish harvest closures …
Nitrogen Availability In Dune Systems And Its Effect On Root Fungal Endophyte Communities.,
2022
University of Louisville
Nitrogen Availability In Dune Systems And Its Effect On Root Fungal Endophyte Communities., Haley E. Sage
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses
As global change persists, changes in resource availability can influence plant-microbe interactions. To understand how resource availability can influence these interactions and species diversity, I focused this research on how varying nitrogen (N) levels affect root endophyte communities in the plant species Ammophila breviligulata, an ecosystem engineer in the dune system. I analyzed the relationship between nitrogen addition and microbial community composition across 60 plots treated with three nitrogen addition levels (control, low, and high) in a long-term experimental field site in the Lake Michigan dunes. I identified Ammophila breviligulata's root endophyte community after creating a culture collection and …
Alterations Of The Gut Mycobiome In Patients With Ms - A Bioinformatic Approach,
2022
University of Connecticut
Alterations Of The Gut Mycobiome In Patients With Ms - A Bioinformatic Approach, Saumya Shah
Honors Scholar Theses
The mycobiome is the fungal component of the gut microbiome and is implicated in several autoimmune diseases. However, its role in multiple sclerosis (MS) has not been studied. We performed descriptive and formal statistical tests using the R language to characterize the gut mycobiome in people with MS (pwMS) and healthy controls. We found that the microbiome composition of multiple sclerosis patients is different from healthy people. The mycobiome had significantly higher alpha diversity and inter-subject variation in pwMS than controls. Additionally, Saccharomyces and Aspergillus were over-represented in pwMS. Different mycobiome profiles, defined as mycotypes, were associated with different bacterial …
Effects Of Continuous In Situ Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation On Microorganisms,
2022
Clemson University
Effects Of Continuous In Situ Low-Dose Ionizing Radiation On Microorganisms, Molly E. Wintenberg
All Dissertations
Precise detection and monitoring of nuclear fuel cycle, enrichment, and weapon development activities are critical for supporting warfighter preparation in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) operations, clandestine activities, and nuclear compliance. A biological sensing system could serve as an alternative to traditional detection methods by using organic material naturally present in the environment to discreetly detect residual trace nuclear material. Microorganisms provide an optimal platform for an alternative sensing system; however, their response to low levels of ionizing radiation is poorly characterized. Combining the power of next-generation sequencing and transcriptomic analysis, this dissertation takes an approach to obtain …
The Microbiome Characterization And Comparison Of Loggerhead (Caretta Caretta) And Green (Chelonia Mydas) Sea Turtle Eggs In Broward County, Florida,
2022
Nova Southeastern University
The Microbiome Characterization And Comparison Of Loggerhead (Caretta Caretta) And Green (Chelonia Mydas) Sea Turtle Eggs In Broward County, Florida, Colleen Mcmaken
All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations
All seven extant species of sea turtles are classified as threatened or endangered due to natural and anthropogenic impacts. Sea turtle conservation efforts are largely dedicated to ensuring healthy nesting activity. Hatching success of sea turtle eggs can be affected by several factors including the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. However, it is unclear as to which microbes have the most impact on hatching success and how they are transmitted into the eggs. The primary aims of this study characterized and compared the bacterial communities (microbiomes) from the i) cloaca of nesting sea turtles; ii) sand within and surrounding the nests …
Diversity Of Bacteriophage In Burkholderia Species,
2022
Bowling Green State University
Diversity Of Bacteriophage In Burkholderia Species, Abigail Price
Honors Projects
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria and offer the potential of a therapeutic alternative to chronic infections that do not respond to antibiotic-based therapies. B. vietnamiensis is one of a number of Burkholderia species involved with chronic drug resistant infections in the lungs of individuals with compromised respiratory systems, as found in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and, most especially, are of particular significance in patients with cystic fibrosis. The diversity of the Burkholderia species is explored by using online databases and looking at bacteriophage or phage-encoding viruses found in B. vietnamiensis. The open reading frames …
Assessing Environmental Factors That Influence Cyanobacterial Blooms In Skinn Lake,
2022
Bowling Green State University
Assessing Environmental Factors That Influence Cyanobacterial Blooms In Skinn Lake, Kloe Atwood
Honors Projects
Global lakes are experiencing an increase in toxic algal blooms that can be damaging to the environment. These blooms are caused by cyanobacteria, specifically a species called Planktothrix. Skinn Lake, in Ohio, is a location of a cyanobacterial bloom that is mainly populated by Planktothrix rubescens. This lake was further examined to identify the major toxin-producing bacteria and identify environmental microbes surrounding the bloom. When the data was examined it was found that the microbiomes of the lake greatly differed between the winter (bloom) months and the summer (non-bloom) months. This difference can be viewed within the nutrient analysis from …
Composting During Winter Versus Summer: A Microbial Analysis,
2022
Western Michigan University
Composting During Winter Versus Summer: A Microbial Analysis, Madison Ochs
Honors Theses
Pre-consumer food waste, hay, and woodchips were composted using two different methods of static composting: forced aeration (FA) and natural aeration (NA). The composting process was performed during the winter and summer for 106 and 124 days, respectively. The composting process for both winter and summer processes did not reach the temperature above the 40°C threshold of the thermophilic stage in composting. The microbial communities present during different timepoints (start, peak, and final) along the composting process were analyzed with DNA sequencing techniques and visualized using QIIME 2, an open-source bioinformatics platform. The microbial communities of the winter and summer …
