Publication Date
2013
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Athanasios Bubulya (Committee Member), B. Laurel Elder (Committee Member), Barbara Hull (Advisor)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Actinobacteria, one phylum of gram positive bacteria, are found throughout all the environments on earth. Actinobacteria have long been studied for the benefits they provide, both to their environment and to humans, and have a great capacity for adaptation and evolution. They decompose organic matter, replenishing nutrients into the soil, and as such are important members of the food chain. Humans benefit from the exploitation of Actinobacterial metabolites as antimicrobial drugs. These antimicrobials have been effectively utilized for decades in the fight against infectious disease. Despite the success of this drug arsenal we are now in the midst of an epidemic of multidrug-resistant superbugs that render established drugs ineffective. In order to find new antimicrobial drugs, researchers have turned to the recent discovery of several new species of marine Actinobacteria and analyzed their metabolites for antimicrobial activity. Several metabolites were effective in vitro, and may lead to the development of marketable pharmaceuticals.
Page Count
65
Department or Program
Department of Biological Sciences
Year Degree Awarded
2013
Copyright
Copyright 2013, all rights reserved. This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.
