Marine bacteria research in Chuuk state, Micronesia

Abstract

Chuuk State (also known as Truk) is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). There are unspoiled natural environment and a variety of biota in Chuuk state. To discover for industrially useful bacteria, we collected samples (seawater, marine organisms, sediments etc.) from the marine environments of Chuuk. We screened bacteria around 1,200 strains including five strains of novel genus. We analyzed the genome of Ochrovirga pacifica, Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens, Microbubifer sp., Oceanicola sp., and Vibrio owensii. Then, we predicted useful genes from the genome such as saccharification enzymes (glucanase, xylanase, agarase, and amylase etc.), bioactive enzymes (L-asparaginase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase etc.), and carotenoid synthesis enzymes. We expressed and enzyme characterized of those genes in E. coli. Those selected genes may be potential candidates for use in drug, cosmetics, and bioethanol industries.d samples (seawater, marine organisms, sediments etc.) from the marine environments of Chuuk. We screened bacteria around 1,200 strains including five strains of novel genus. We analyzed the genome of Ochrovirga pacifica, Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens, Microbubifer sp., Oceanicola sp., and Vibrio owensii. Then, we predicted useful genes from the genome such as saccharification enzymes (glucanase, xylanase, agarase, and amylase etc.), bioactive enzymes (L-asparaginase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase etc.), and carotenoid synthesis enzymes. We expressed and enzyme characterized of those genes in E. coli. Those selected genes may be potential candidates for use in drug, cosmetics, and bioethanol industries.