Abstract
Aim: To explore seaweed-associated bacteria as prospective producers of bioactive material with antibacterial properties. Materials & methods: 143 bacterial species were isolated from the surface of 15 New Zealand marine macroalgae. Bacterial extracts obtained using dimethyl sulfoxide and ethyl acetate were screened for antagonistic activities against three antimicrobial susceptibility indicators: Kocuria rhizophila, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli, using well-diffusion method. For selected species, minimum inhibitory concentration was determined, followed by a phylogenetic identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Results: Among all bacteria screened, seven that belonged to the genera Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, Psychromonas and Cobetia, showed antagonistic activity against all three indicators. Conclusion: Seaweed-associated bacteria produce bioactive compounds with antimicrobial potential and possible biomedical application in aquatic habitats.
Author contributions
M Tangestani: conceptualization, methodology, investigation, formal analysis, writing – original draft. P Broady: supervision, conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, writing – review and editing. A Varsani: writing – review and editing.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.