Date of Award

1993

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

Program/Concentration

Biology

Committee Director

Andrew S. Gordon

Committee Member

Paul W. Kirk, Jr.

Committee Member

Lloyd Wolfinbarger

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.B47 G55

Abstract

Three different estuarine microenvironments in the lower Chesapeake Bay were investigated for the occurrence and geographical distribution of antimicrobic-producing bacteria. Samples were taken from the water column, fish skin, and algal surfaces. A total of 1472 bacterial isolates were assayed for antimicrobial activity against fungal, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial test organisms. Of the total bacterial isolates assayed, 5. 2% were active antimicrobic producers. Algal surf aces were shown to have a higher incidence of antimicrobic-producing bacteria than the water column or fish skin. No antimicrobic activity was demonstrated by bacteria isolated from the flounder fish skin. The majority of the antimicrobic-producing bacteria were Gram-negative with Aeromonas and Vibrio strains having the highest numbers of antimicrobic producers. Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, which are Gram-positive, had the highest percent of inhibition.

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DOI

10.25777/8a4d-gb96

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