Since the discovery of penicillin in 1929, microorganisms have been the target of many antibiotic discovery projects.  These investigations have typically involved terrestrial microbial isolates.  In recent decades, the marine environment has been recognized as a valuable source of new microbial strains.  In this study, marine bacteria were isolated using new types of sea-water based media, including dilute nutrient media, bacillus media, and media based entirely on fish products, then investigated for the production of anti-mycobacterial metabolites.  Over 100 isolates were cultured on a small scale in various media, with and without challenge by Mycobacterium marinum, the causative agent of fish tuberculosis and a close genetic relative to M. tuberculosis.  Results of the study indicate that culture of marine bacteria with a stationary-phase challenge by M. marinum can increase the production of antibiotic compounds in marine bacteria by as much as 50%.

Media Investigation in the search for new anti-tuberculosis compounds from marine bacteria

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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