Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antibiotic activity of epiphytic bacteria isolated from intertidal seaweeds

  • Published:
Microbial Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A survey of antibiotic-producing bacteria from the microbial flora attached to seaweeds and the study of their antibiotic capacities were carried out. From 5 species of green and brown marine algae, 224 bacterial strains were isolated and tested for antibiotic production. A total of 38 strains displayed antibiotic activity, withEnteromorpha intestinalis being the source of the highest number of producer strains. All epiphytic bacteria with antibiotic activity were assigned to thePseudomonas-Alteromonas group. Antagonism assays among the isolates demonstrated that each producer strain inhibits the growth of the other producers, as well as of some nonproducer strains also isolated from seaweeds. Likewise, an autoinhibitory effect was observed in all antibiotic-producing strains. Antibacterial spectra of all the strains include activity againstStaphylococcus, Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Pasteurella, andAchromobacter. A preliminary characterization of the antibiotic substances produced by these epiphytic bacteria demonstrated that they are low molecular weight compounds, thermolabile, and anionic and are not affected by proteolytic enzymes. The role that these inhibitory substances can play in the natural environment is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Andersen RJ, Wolfe MS, Faulkner DJ (1974) Autotoxic antibiotic production by a marineChromobacterium. Mar Biol 27:281–285

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baam BR, Gandhi NM, Freitas YM (1966) Antibiotic activity of marine microorganisms. Helgoländer wiss Meeresunters 13:181–185

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ballester M, Ballester JM, Belaich JP (1977) Isolation and characterization ofa high molecular weight antibiotic produced by a marine bacterium. Microb Ecol 3:289–303

    Google Scholar 

  4. Barefoot SF, Klaenhammer TR (1983) Detection and activity of Lactacin B, a bacteriocin produced byLactobacillius acidophilus. Appl Environ Microbiol 45:1808–1815

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Barja JL (1979) Interacciones microbianas en el medio marino Aislamiento y caracterización de un antibiótico producido por una bacteria marina. PhD dissertation, University of Santiago, Spain, 225 pp

    Google Scholar 

  6. Barry AL Thornsberry C (1980) Susceptibility testing: diffusion test procedures. In: Lennette LH (ed) Manual of clinical microbiology. American Society for Microbiology, Washington DC, pp 463–474

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bernard P, Pettazzi G (1977) Purification partielle de deux antibiotiques produits par une bactérie marine appartenant un genreAlteromonas. Rev Int Oceanogr Med 45–46:59–70

    Google Scholar 

  8. Buck JD (1982) Nonstaining (KOH) method for determination of Gram reactions of marine bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 44:992–993

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Buck JD, Meyers SP, Kamp KM (1962) Marine bacteria with antiyeast activity. Science 138: 1339–1340

    Google Scholar 

  10. Burkholder PR, Pfister RM, Leitz FN (1966) Production of a pyrrole antibiotic by a marine bacterium. Appl Microbiol 14:649–653

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chan ECS, McManus EA (1969) Distribution, characterization and nutrition of marine microorganisms from the algaePolysiphonia lanosa andAscophyllum nodosum. Can J Microbiol 15:409–420

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cheng KI, Ingram JM, Costerton JW (1970) Release of alkaline phosphatase from cells ofPseudomonas aeruginosa by manipulation of cation concentration and of pH. J Bacteriol 104: 748–753

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. De Freitas MJ, Fredrickson AG (1978) Inhibition as a factor in the maintenance of microbial ecosystems. J Gen Microbiol 106:307–320

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dogget RG (1968) New anti-Pseudomonas agent isolated from a marineVibrio. J Bacteriol 95:1972–1973

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Fujioka RJ, Loh PC, Lau LJ (1980) Survival of human enteroviruses in the Hawaiian ocean environment: evidence for virus inactivating microorganisms. Appl Environ Microbiol 6:1105–1110

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gauthier MJ (1969) Substances antibactériennes produits par les bactéries marines. I. Étude systématique de l' activité antagoniste de souches bactériennes marines vis-à-vis de germes telluriques. Rev Int Oceanogr Med 15–16:41–60

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gauthier MJ (1976) Modification of bacterial respiration by a polyanionic antibiotic produced by a marineAlteromonas. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 9:361–366

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gauthier MJ (1977)Alteromonas citrea, a new Gram-negative, yellow-pigmented species from seawater. Int J Syst Bacteriol 27:349–354

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gauthier MJ, Flatau GN (1976) Antibacterial activity of marine violet-pigmentedAlteromonas with special reference to the production of brominated compounds. Can J Microbiol 22:1612–1619

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gould AR, May BK, Ellito WH (1975) Release of extracellular enzymes fromBacillus amyloliquefaciens. J Bacteriol 122:34–40

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Grein A, Meyers SP (1958) Growth characteristics and antibiotic production of Actinomycetes isolated from littoral sediments and materials suspended in seawater. J Bacteriol 76:457–463

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Krassilnikova EN (1961) Antibiotic properties of microorganisms isolated from various depths of world oceans. Mikrobiologiya 30:545–550

    Google Scholar 

  23. Laycock RA (1974) The detrital food chain based on seaweeds. I. Bacteria associated with the surface ofLaminaria fronds. Mar Biol 25:223–231

    Google Scholar 

  24. Leifson E (1963) Determination of carbohydrate metabolism of marine bacteria. J Bacteriol 85:1183–1184

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Mayfield CI, Innis WE (1977) A rapid simple method for staining bacterial flagella. Can J Microbiol 23:1311–1313

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Mayr-Harting A, Hedges AJ, Berkeley RCW, (1972) Methods for studying bacteriocins. In: Norris JR, Ribbons DW (eds) Methods in microbiology, Vol 7A. Academic Press, London, pp 315–422

    Google Scholar 

  27. McCall JO, Sizemore RK (1979) Description of a bacteriocinogenic plasmid inBeneckea harveyi. Appl Environ Microbiol 38:974–979

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Oliver JD (1982) Taxonomic scheme for the identification of marine bacteria. Deep-Sea Res 29:795–798

    Google Scholar 

  29. Rosenfeld DW, Zobell CE (1974) Antibiotic production by marine microorganisms. J Bacteriol 54:393–398

    Google Scholar 

  30. Shewan JM, Hobbs G, Hodgkiss W (1960) A determinative scheme for the identification of certain genera of Gram-negative bacteria with special reference to the Pseudomonadaceae. J Appl Bacteriol 23:379–390

    Google Scholar 

  31. Shiba T, Taga N (1980) Heterotrophic bacteria attached to seaweeds. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 47: 251–258

    Google Scholar 

  32. Shuval HI, Asce M, Thompson A, Fattal B, Cymbalista S, Wiener Y (1971) Natural inactivation processes in seawater. J San Eng Div Am Soc Civ Eng 5:587–600

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sieburth JM, Brooks RD, Gessner RV, Thomas CD, Tootle JL (1974) Microbial colonization of marine plant surfaces as observed by scanning electron microscopy. In: Colwell RR, Morita RY (eds) Effect of the ocean environment on microbial activities. University Park Press, Baltimore, pp. 418–432

    Google Scholar 

  34. Toranzo AE, Barja JL, Hetrick FM (1982) Antiviral activity of antibiotic-producing marine bacteria. Can J Microbiol 28:231–238

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Tsukidate J (1971) Microbiological studies ofPorphyra plants. II. Bacteria isolated fromPorphyra leucostica in culture. Bull Jpn Soc Sci Fish 37:376–379

    Google Scholar 

  36. Wratten SJ, Wolfe MS, Andersen RJ, Faulkner DJ (1977) Antibiotic metabolites from a marine Pseudomonad. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 11:411–414

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departemento de Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    Manuel L. Lemos, Alicia E. Toranzo & Juan L. Barja

Authors
  1. Manuel L. Lemos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alicia E. Toranzo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Juan L. Barja
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lemos, M.L., Toranzo, A.E. & Barja, J.L. Antibiotic activity of epiphytic bacteria isolated from intertidal seaweeds. Microb Ecol 11, 149–163 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010487

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02010487

Keywords

Search

Navigation