Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Major/Program
Biology
First Advisor's Name
Laurie L. Richardson
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
DeEtta Mills
Second Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Third Advisor's Name
Fernando Noriega
Third Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Fourth Advisor's Name
John Berry
Fourth Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Fifth Advisor's Name
Marta Gomez-Chiarri
Fifth Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Keywords
black band disease, corals, quorum sensing, acyl homoserine lactones, metagenomics, temperature, coral disease, secondary metabolites, autoinducer-2, antimicrobial production
Date of Defense
6-30-2017
Abstract
Black band disease (BBD) of corals is a temperature dependent, highly virulent, polymicrobial disease affecting reef-building corals globally. The microbial consortium of BBD is primarily comprised of functional physiological groups that include photosynthetic cyanobacteria, sulfate reducers, sulfide oxidizers and a vast repertoire of heterotrophic bacteria. Quorum sensing (QS), the cell-density dependent communication phenomenon in bacteria, is known to induce expression of genes for a variety of virulence factors in diseases worldwide. Microbes capable of QS release signals such as acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) and autoinducer-2 (AI-2), which coordinate microbial interaction. The focus of the present study was to investigate the presence and potential role of QS in BBD pathogenicity, utilizing culture dependent and independent methodologies. Isolates across coral health states including BBD, were screened for production of QS signals, and AHL and AI-2 production capabilities were analyzed via LC-MS/MS. The effect of temperature on AHLs was also examined. Additionally, antimicrobial production capabilities of isolates were tested. BBD metagenomes were utilized to screen for sequences related to QS, antimicrobial synthesis, and antimicrobial resistance genes. BBD isolates represented a significantly higher proportion of isolates capable of producing QS signals in comparison to healthy coral isolates. Several AHLs produced by coral derived bacterial cultures were identified, and three AHLs, specifically 3OHC4, 3OHC5 and 3OHC6, showed a significant increase in production at an elevated temperature of 30 °C, which correlates with increased BBD incidence on reefs with increasing water temperature. Most of the BBD cultured isolates were identified as vibrios. Several sequences related to QS, antimicrobial synthesis and resistance genes were detected in the BBD metagenomes. Based on the findings of this study, a model for potential microbial interactions amongst BBD heterotrophs, centered around QS, is proposed. Taken together, the findings from this study provide a clearer understanding of the potential role of QS in BBD, and serve as the basis for further studies aimed at elucidating the pathogenesis of an intricate coral disease.
Identifier
FIDC001986
Recommended Citation
Bhedi, Chinmayee D., "Quorum Sensing Signals Produced by Heterotrophic Bacteria in Black Band Disease (BBD) of Corals and Their Potential Role in BBD Pathogenesis" (2017). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3367.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3367
Included in
Bacteriology Commons, Biology Commons, Biotechnology Commons, Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Microbial Physiology Commons, Pathogenic Microbiology Commons
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