Effects Of Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms On Microbial Community Dynamics And Plant Growth Responses Of Aeroponically Cultivated Spinach,
2025
Northern Michigan University
Effects Of Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms On Microbial Community Dynamics And Plant Growth Responses Of Aeroponically Cultivated Spinach, Veronica Snow
All NMU Master's Theses
Regional food insecurity caused by the inability to use conventional farming techniques year-round in cold climates increases the need for access to quality, locally sourced, and affordable foods year-round. Shifting from a soil-based system to aeroponics can increase yields, as aeroponic systems are not weather-reliant and can operate year-round. Aeroponics, a subgroup of hydroponics, induces growth by misting nutrient-rich solutions onto the plant roots. These systems use space and water more efficiently and rely less on fertilizers and pesticides but are vulnerable to errors in nutrient application, power loss, and rapid pathogen spread. Adding Vermicompost (VCT) and plant growth-promoting microorganisms …
Impact Of Shear Flow On Marine Biofilms Using Hyperspectral Imaging,
2025
Clemson University
Impact Of Shear Flow On Marine Biofilms Using Hyperspectral Imaging, Shantanu Mahesh Kore
All Theses
Various microbial communities in marine biofilms cause biofouling on submerged surfaces, posing challenges to marine industries. Despite their ecological and economic importance, biofilms' biomechanical and biochemical responses to hydrodynamic shear stress are insufficiently understood, particularly in dynamic flow conditions. To fill this gap, our study uses an innovative fiber-optic hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system and a supercontinuum laser source to examine marine biofilms' structure, composition, and detachment behavior at different shear stress levels.
To detect spectral and spatial heterogeneity in live biofilms without labeling, we created a custom imaging pipeline that captures reflectance spectra in the 600-850 nm range, targeting microbial …
Seasonal Detection Of Coliphages In Freshwater Bodies At Coastal Carolina University,
2025
Coastal Carolina University
Seasonal Detection Of Coliphages In Freshwater Bodies At Coastal Carolina University, Ella Caldwell
Honors Theses
Bacteriophages, commonly referred to as phages, are non-living viruses that only infect bacteria. As the most abundant biological entities on Earth, understanding their role in regulating microbial populations is essential. This ongoing research aims to identify naturally occurring bacteriophages that could effectively control bacteria blooms. The primary objective of this study is to detect coliphages on Coastal Carolina University's campus and determine their viral families. Coliphages are a subgroup of bacteriophages that specifically infect coliform bacteria. Water samples were collected across multiple sites on campus, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to amplify the viral DNA from the potential …
Bacterial Microbiomes In Different Depths Of Sand At The Mississippi Gulf Coast,
2025
University of Mississippi
Bacterial Microbiomes In Different Depths Of Sand At The Mississippi Gulf Coast, Hays S. Roth
Honors Theses
Microbial communities in sand play essential roles in their ecosystems, yet little is known about how bacterial diversity and function vary across different sand depths. This study investigated bacterial microbiomes at varying depths (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm) on Biloxi East Beach, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and assays of extracellular enzyme activity. 11,161 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified across all samples, with the most abundant bacterial phyla being Planctomycetota, Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidota. Depth had a significant impact on bacterial community composition, with surface layers having more diverse bacterial communities. Microbial diversity …
Antibiotic Resistance Testing And Enumeration Of E. Coli, Coliforms, And Salmonella In Canada Geese Feces Based On Natural Water Sources And Retention Ponds,
2025
Governors State University
Antibiotic Resistance Testing And Enumeration Of E. Coli, Coliforms, And Salmonella In Canada Geese Feces Based On Natural Water Sources And Retention Ponds, Ceejay Ritzke
Research Days
Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) are migrating birds. They can transmit antibiotic resistant bacteria when they are traveling. They do this by ingesting antibiotic resistant bacteria that is on the food they eat in one area, and then excrete some of it at the next place they travel to. Retention ponds have increased amounts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that Canada geese can pick up if they stop there while migrating. Canada geese that land at a retention pond should have an increased amount of antibiotic resistance compared to landing at a natural water source. Their feces were tested in eight different areas …
Investigating The Effect Of Soil Origin On Antibiotic Production In Streptomyces,
2025
University of Minnesota - Morris
Investigating The Effect Of Soil Origin On Antibiotic Production In Streptomyces, Emu Suzuki
Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025
Streptomyces bacteria produce antibiotics that inhibit competing microorganisms. We hypothesized that Streptomyces from the rhizosphere (around plant roots) would be more likely to produce antibiotics than those from bulk soil (further away from roots). Soil samples were collected from rhizosphere and bulk soils in transitional and long-term organic fields of corn and alfalfa. Streptomyces from these soils were cultured on glucose-asparagine agar media. Their antibiotic production was evaluated by testing whether they could inhibit the growth of two target Streptomyces strains. No significant effects of soil type (rhizosphere vs. bulk), crop, or management on antibiotic production were observed for one …
Life After Death: Investigating The Resistance And Recovery Of Fungal Communities To Foundation Tree Mortality,
2025
University of New Mexico
Life After Death: Investigating The Resistance And Recovery Of Fungal Communities To Foundation Tree Mortality, Jessie F. Marlenee
Biology ETDs
Tree mortality can have cascading effects on the composition and resilience of interacting fungal communities. Yet, little is known about the impact tree mortality, distinct from abiotic drivers (i.e., drought), has on these communities. This dissertation focuses on the resilience of fungal communities to experimental tree mortality in a piñon-juniper woodland. In chapter one, I found that piñon mortality reduced piñon fine root biomass and piñon mycorrhizal fungal diversity, whereas juniper mycorrhizal fungi were unaffected by juniper mortality. In chapter two, I revealed that piñon mortality altered the composition and spatial structure of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi in the soil, …
The Isolation And Characterization Of Acidovorax And Brevundimonas Bacteriophages With Preliminary Biocontrol Study On Arabidopsis Thaliana,
2025
University of South Carolina - Columbia
The Isolation And Characterization Of Acidovorax And Brevundimonas Bacteriophages With Preliminary Biocontrol Study On Arabidopsis Thaliana, Minh Quynh N. Vu
Senior Theses
As antibiotic-resistance becomes an increasing global concern, researchers are looking for alternatives to combat phytopathogenic rhizobacteria – one of which is through the application of phage biocontrol. To elucidate the complex tripartite relationships between phage, bacteria and plant interactions, nine novel phages were isolated from potential phytopathogenic strains of Acidovorax (RBW13) and Brevundimonas (RBW18). These phages were isolated from root samples obtained from the Rocky Branch Creek and the Broad River located in Columbia, SC. Using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), we identified seven “medium sized” phages (~40 kbp), one “large-sized” phage (~200 kbp), and one “small-sized” phage ( < 25 kbp). Three phages were determined to be lambda-like due to their “ladder-building” patterns on PFGE. Although spot-tests revealed that all phages seemed to have broad host ranges that spanned over multiple genera, plaque-formations must be observed in future experiments to determine if these phages can infect their hosts productively. Preliminary in planta experiments were performed on Arabidopsis thaliana …
Cis-2-Decenoic Acid Modulation Of Vibrio Vulnificus Biofilms,
2025
University of South Carolina
Cis-2-Decenoic Acid Modulation Of Vibrio Vulnificus Biofilms, Gracie K. Anderson
Senior Theses
Vibrio vulnificus is a marine bacterial pathogen perpetrating severe wound and gastrointestinal infections in humans. The growing incidence of V. vulnificus infections and the widening ecological range of the species, closely linked to climate change trends, draw attention to an increasing need for methods to combat V. vulnificus infections without further augmenting the threat of antimicrobial resistance. The results presented herein highlight the ability of an unsaturated fatty acid diffusible signal factor, cis-2-decenoic acid (CDA), to influence the behavior of biofilms formed by a virulent human isolate strain of V. vulnificus (ATCC 27562). Results indicated that joint treatment of biofilms …
Virulence Analysis, Characterization Of Integron, And Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In Strains Of Acinetobacter Baumannii Recovered From The Hydrological Sub-Region Of Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas,
2025
Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica
Virulence Analysis, Characterization Of Integron, And Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In Strains Of Acinetobacter Baumannii Recovered From The Hydrological Sub-Region Of Soto La Marina, Tamaulipas, Tunde Olarinde Olaniyan, Ana Verónica Martínez Vázquez, Susana Silvia Fernández Dávila, Cesar Marcial Escobedo Bonilla, Virgilio Bocanegra Garcia
Research Symposium
Background: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an important bacterium due to its frequent recovery as a multidrug-resistant pathogen in hospital settings. Its antimicrobial resistance capacities made it an important challenge to health care. Colistin has been adopted as the last resort drug for managing infections associated with A. baumannii and many other multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB). Because of the rise in the use of colistin for the treatment of MDR-GNB, the evolution and spread of colistin-resistant bacteria is possible thus raising a potential threat to public health. However, we have chosen to focus on A. baumannii, a …
Microbial Source Tracking Protocols For Differentiation Of Fecal Bacteria From Cow, Deer, And Horse,
2025
Kennesaw State Univeristy
Microbial Source Tracking Protocols For Differentiation Of Fecal Bacteria From Cow, Deer, And Horse, Nika Shams, Michael Beach
Symposium of Student Scholars
Microbial source tracking (MST) attempts to identify specific animal sources of fecal contamination in the environment. While traditional fecal coliform enumeration can give a general measure of contamination, the specificity imparted by modern MST provides a more informative assessment of contaminants and their likelihood to affect human health outcomes.
We have been developing an MST system that detects DNA biomarkers from the gram-negative bacterial genus Bacteroides and the family Lachnospiraceae. They are strict anaerobes found in large quantities in the intestines of animals. Unlike E. coli or Enterococci, host-specific strains of Bacteroides and Lachnospiraceae exist. To this end, we …
The Role Of Anthropogenic Influences On A Tropical Lake Ecosystem And Its Surrounding Catchment: A Case Study Of Lake Sentani,
2025
Thomas Jefferson University
The Role Of Anthropogenic Influences On A Tropical Lake Ecosystem And Its Surrounding Catchment: A Case Study Of Lake Sentani, Sulung Nomosatryo, Daniel Lipus, Alexander Bartholomäus, Cynthia Henny, Iwan Ridwansyah, Puguh Sujarta, Sizhong Yang, Dirk Wagner, Jens Kallmeyer
College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers
Lake Sentani is a tropical lake in Indonesia, consisting of four interconnected sub-basins of different water depths. While previous work has highlighted the impact of catchment composition on biogeochemical processes in Lake Sentani, little is currently known about the microbiological characteristics across this unique ecosystem. With recent population growth in this historically rural area, the anthropogenic impact on Lake Sentani and hence its microbial life is also increasing. Therefore, we aimed to explore the influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the microbial diversity of Lake Sentani. Here, we present a detailed microbiological evaluation of Lake Sentani, analyzing 49 different …
Investigating Drivers In Phytoplankton Between Lentic And Lotic Ecosystems Within Twelvepole Creek Watershed,
2025
Marshall University
Investigating Drivers In Phytoplankton Between Lentic And Lotic Ecosystems Within Twelvepole Creek Watershed, Devin Lee Farmer
Theses, Dissertations and Capstones
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) threaten aquatic ecosystems, local economies, and water quality. While extensively studied in lakes (lentic systems), their impact on flowing waters (lotic systems) remains underexplored. This study examined algal drivers in both ecosystems within the same watershed, focusing on Beech Fork Lake (lentic) and Twelve Pole Creek (lotic). Key environmental factors, including pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels, were measured using in situ sensors and laboratory analysis. Water samples were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and algal biomass for comparison to environmental conditions. Phytoplankton was preserved for identification in future research. By comparing these environments, this study …
Molecular Characterization Of Fungus-Arthropod Associations,
2025
West Virginia University
Molecular Characterization Of Fungus-Arthropod Associations, Angie M. Martin
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Arthropods, or phylum Arthropoda, are the largest group of animals, accounting for over three quarters of all animal records on NCBI Taxonomy. And yet, only 40% of all deposited sequences on NCBI Nucleotide come from arthropods. Clearly, arthropods are an understudied group of animals: they are small, often drab, and lead lives very alien to our own. Arthropods have chitinous exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages, and include crabs, barnacles, insects, spiders, and millipedes. Since the era of DNA based studies took off in the 1980s, DNA and other small molecules have been integral to our understanding of the Earth …
Microbial And Plant Biodiversity In Appalachian Agroecosystems And Their Implications For Soil Health,
2025
West Virginia University
Microbial And Plant Biodiversity In Appalachian Agroecosystems And Their Implications For Soil Health, Kinsey Reed Close
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The sustainability of agricultural landscapes depends on understanding the complex interactions between plants, soil, and microbes. In Appalachia, a region shaped by complex terrain and long histories of human and ecological interaction, small family farms produce hay, livestock, and row crops. These agroecosystems, though often treated as “artificial” by many ecologists, have the potential to support both food production and biodiversity conservation if managed with an understanding of ecological complexity. This dissertation examines how plant and microbial diversity interact with soil and management to influence nutrient cycling, soil health, and long-term resilience in Appalachian agricultural systems. A literature review revealed …
Watershed-Level Survey Of Antimicrobial Resistance From Onsite Wastewater Systems,
2025
West Virginia University
Watershed-Level Survey Of Antimicrobial Resistance From Onsite Wastewater Systems, Trey Franklin Clark
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has quickly become one of the largest global health and development threats. Research related to environmental modes of transmission of AMR has accelerated in recent years, and the US Environmental Protection Agency is particularly interested in this emerging contaminant. Knowledge of how onsite (decentralized) wastewater treatment systems contribute to this issue is lacking, so this research serves to analyze and quantify the environmental dissemination of AMR and fecal contamination from these sources at a watershed level while using statistical analysis to assess relationships between physiochemical, spatial, and sampling parameters. This research surveyed four watersheds …
Impact Of Glufosinate On Soil Microbial Community Dynamics,
2025
The University of Texas at Arlington
Impact Of Glufosinate On Soil Microbial Community Dynamics, Sarobi Das
Biology Dissertations - Archive
The increasing global regulations of glyphosate due to its possible carcinogenicity and environmental hazards have necessitated the search for alternative herbicides. Glufosinate-ammonium offers a sustainable attribute due to its low toxicity and limited reported herbicide resistance cases. Despite its increasing agricultural importance, very limited studies are done on its environmental impact, especially on the soil systems. This thesis examines the ecological behavior of glufosinate in soil, precisely focusing on its effect on the dynamics of soil microbiome and the potential use of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 for bioremediation by reversing the effect of microbial dysbiosis. A series of 30-day mesocosm studies …
Unveiling The Bacterial Communities Of Aphaenogaster: Taxonomic Composition, Developmental And Species Influences, And The Impact Of Climate Change,
2025
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Unveiling The Bacterial Communities Of Aphaenogaster: Taxonomic Composition, Developmental And Species Influences, And The Impact Of Climate Change, Lily Kelleher
West Chester University Master’s Theses
Ants are vital keystone species in many ecosystems because they provide ecosystem services such as: seed dispersal, soil bioturbation, and pest control. However, ant bacterial symbioses remain largely unstudied, but these interactions are crucial because microbes play a vital role in the ants’ overall health. Today, global climate change is impacting our biodiversity, and we can use information about how changing temperatures impact the symbiotic bacterial communities associated with ants to predict future impact. Aphaenogaster rudis and A. fulva remain understudied in terms of their bacterial community and are important North American species. For this study, ants from several colonies …
Microbial Mavericks: Turning Hazards Into Snacks,
2025
University of Texas at Arlington
Microbial Mavericks: Turning Hazards Into Snacks, Alison G. Blanton
Biology Dissertations - Archive
Symbiotic associations with microbes are widespread across life and provide hosts with essential and beneficial functions. A growing concern in pest management is symbiont-mediated detoxification (SMD), a form of metabolic resistance to insecticides. The best-known example of SMD involves the bean bug Riptortus pedestris, where an environmentally acquired but obligate Caballeronia symbiont confers resistance to the organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion. Motivated by this model, I began my work in another known bug-Caballeronia symbiosis: Leptoglossus phyllopus, native to the United States. I then expanded the study to include two additional U.S.-native hosts, Leptoglossus zonatus and Anasa tristis. Representative …
Spatial And Temporal Shifts In Bacterial Communities And Nutrient Removal In Two Springfield Wastewater Facilities,
2025
Missouri State University
Spatial And Temporal Shifts In Bacterial Communities And Nutrient Removal In Two Springfield Wastewater Facilities, Rubina Sherchan
Graduate Theses/Dissertations
Bacterial communities play a central role in the biological nutrient removal and overall performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, very few is known about the spatial and seasonal dynamics of these communities. This study explores the spatial and seasonal variations in bacterial community composition across multiple treatment stages in two municipal WWTPs—Southwest (SWTP) and Northwest (NWTP)—in Springfield, Missouri. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, I analyzed 87 samples collected during summer and winter of 2024 from influent, sludge, aeration basins, clarifiers, and final effluent stages. I retrieved 16.4 million (summer) and 3.2 million (winter) sequences. Proteobacteria dominated both seasons …
