Seasonal Fluctuation in Cytoskeletal Vibrio mreB protein
Mentor 1
Charles Wimpee
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
27-4-2018 1:00 PM
Description
This laboratory has studied bioluminescent bacteria in the Boca Ciega Bay of Florida for many years. Most of these bacteria are in the genus Vibrio. However, most Vibrio species are not bioluminescent. We have recently started collecting total Vibrios (i.e., not just bioluminescent ones), with the intention of following seasonal changes in the microbial community. This project involves characterization of total cultured Vibrios, using gene sequences for identification. The surface water Vibrio community collected in December 2017/January 2018 is being compared to Vibrios collected in August 2017 from the surface water and sea grass. We have seen seasonal fluctuations in bioluminescent Vibrios, but this is the first comparison of the Vibrio community as a whole in a seasonal context. Vibrios were cultured on TCBS agar, and DNA from individual colonies was subjected to sequence analysis. The mreB gene (encoding a ubiquitous cytoskeletal protein) was amplified using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), followed by DNA sequencing and homology searches using the BLAST program available through the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI). Sequence comparisons and diversity data will be presented.
Seasonal Fluctuation in Cytoskeletal Vibrio mreB protein
Union Wisconsin Room
This laboratory has studied bioluminescent bacteria in the Boca Ciega Bay of Florida for many years. Most of these bacteria are in the genus Vibrio. However, most Vibrio species are not bioluminescent. We have recently started collecting total Vibrios (i.e., not just bioluminescent ones), with the intention of following seasonal changes in the microbial community. This project involves characterization of total cultured Vibrios, using gene sequences for identification. The surface water Vibrio community collected in December 2017/January 2018 is being compared to Vibrios collected in August 2017 from the surface water and sea grass. We have seen seasonal fluctuations in bioluminescent Vibrios, but this is the first comparison of the Vibrio community as a whole in a seasonal context. Vibrios were cultured on TCBS agar, and DNA from individual colonies was subjected to sequence analysis. The mreB gene (encoding a ubiquitous cytoskeletal protein) was amplified using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), followed by DNA sequencing and homology searches using the BLAST program available through the National Center for Biotechnology (NCBI). Sequence comparisons and diversity data will be presented.
