Project description:The objective was to identify functional genes encoded by Fungi and fungal-like organisms to assess putative ecological roles Using the GeoChip microarray, we detected fungal genes involved in the complete assimilation of nitrate and the degradation of lignin, as well as evidence for Partitiviridae (a mycovirus) that likely regulates fungal populations in the marine environment. These results demonstrate the potential for fungi to degrade terrigenously-sourced molecules, such as permafrost and compete with algae for nitrate during blooms. Ultimately, these data suggest that marine fungi could be as important in oceanic ecosystems as they are in freshwater environments.
Project description:Chemical analysis of the compounds present in sediment, although informative, often is not indicative of the downstream biological effects that these contaminants exert on resident aquatic organisms. More direct molecular methods are needed to determine if marine life is affected by exposure to sediments. In this study, we used an aquatic multispecies microarray and q-PCR to investigate the effects on gene expression in juvenile sea bream (Sparus aurata) of two contaminated sediments defined as sediment 1 and 2 respectively, from marine areas in Northern Italy.
Project description:This study is aimed to isolate marine actinomycetes from sediments from Andaman and the Gulf of Thailand. All 101 marine actinomycetes were screened for anti-biofilm activity. Streptomyces sp. GKU223 showed significantly inhibited biofilm formation of S. aureus. The evaluation of supernatants of anti-biofilm activity produced by Streptomyces sp. GKU223 has been performed. Since the interaction between marine actinomycetes and biofilm forming bacteria has never been investigated, proteomic analysis has been used to identify whole cell proteins involved in anti–biofilm activity. Understanding the interaction at molecular level will lead to sustainably use for anti-biofilm producing marine actinomycetes in pharmaceutical and medicinal applications in the future.