Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Heterotrophic bacteria associated with the green alga Ulva rigida: identification and antimicrobial potential
Ismail, A.; Ktari, L.; Ahmed, M.; Bolhuis, H.; Bouhaouala-Zahar, B.; Stal, L.J.; Boudabbous, A.; El Bour, M. (2018). Heterotrophic bacteria associated with the green alga Ulva rigida: identification and antimicrobial potential. J. Appl. Phycol. 30(5): 2883-2899. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-018-1454-x
In: Journal of Applied Phycology. Springer: Dordrecht. ISSN 0921-8971; e-ISSN 1573-5176, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Ulva rigida C.Agardh, 1823 [WoRMS]
Author keywords
    Epiphytic bacteria; Ulva rigida; 16S rRNAidentification; Phylogeny; Antibacterial activity

Authors  Top 
  • Ismail, A.
  • Ktari, L.
  • Ahmed, M.
  • Bolhuis, H., more
  • Bouhaouala-Zahar, B.
  • Stal, L.J., more
  • Boudabbous, A.
  • El Bour, M.

Abstract
    Heterotrophic bacteria associated with the green alga Ulva rigida, collected from the coast of Tunisia, were isolated andsubsequently identified by their 16S rRNA gene sequences and by phylogenetic analysis. The 71 isolates belong to four phyla:Proteobacteria (Alpha-and Gamma- subclasses), Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Most of the isolates belong toProteobacteria. The Gram-positive Firmicutes and especially the genus Bacillus were well-represented at the surface of U. rigida,collected from the coast as well as from the lagoon, while Actinobacteria were represented only at the surface of algae collectedfrom the coast of Cap Zebib. Bacteroidetes were more represented at the surface of algae collected from the Ghar El Melh lagoon.The bacterial community of the water surrounding the algae was different from that associated with the surface of the algae.Moreover, the abundance of bacteria in the surrounding water was much lower compared to the density of bacteria associatedwith the surface of the algae. Bacteria isolated from the algal surface were tested for their antimicrobial potential. The resultsshow that ~ 36%of the algae-associated bacterial isolates possess antibacterial activity whereas free-living bacteria, isolated fromthe surrounding water, did not show such activity. The surface of U. rigida was colonized by a high diversity of culturable andpossibly novel epiphytic bacteria that may be an important source of antimicrobial compounds and are therefore ofbiotechnological interest.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors