Browsing by Author "Nguyen, Hoang-Yen Xuan"

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    Phylogeny, Bioactivity, and Physiology of Unique Bacterial Isolates from Hawaiian Marine Sponges from Hawaii Island: Insights into the Bacteria-Sponge Relationship
    (ProQuest LLC, 2015) Nguyen, Hoang-Yen Xuan
    The goals of this study were to 1) investigate the diversity of cultured bacterial isolates from Hawaiian marine sponges Haliclona sp., Petrosia sp., and Iotrochota protea from Coconut Island and Puhi Bay on the East side of Hawaii Island, 2) identify any unique and/or strong candidates for carrying out further bioactivity and gene screening such as nonribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide peptide synthase assays and 3) begin to assess their significance to their sponge host. The bacterial isolates contained unique and diverse bacterial isolates according to phylogenetic analysis, nonribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide peptide synthase screening, Violacein synthetic gene screening, bioactivity assay, and physiological assessments. One isolate, designated PB004-2 (A1), contrasts with its most similar BLAST neighbor, Brevibacterium frigoritolerans, in color, form, and media and temperature growth conditions. Another isolate, designated S0022 B001, whose BLAST neighbor is a Pseudomonas sp., shows nonmotility, absence of flagella in SEM images, and may possess Violacein-like synthesis genes, indicating S0022 B001 may be a new Pseudomonas species. The crystal formation, inconclusively precipitated calcium carbonate, may serve a purpose in the sponge. Findings from this research may indicate that 1) bacteria isolated from the Hawaiian sponges have their unique role in their respective sponge host, 2) may be important to each other's health, and 3) may be important to sponge health.