Honors Theses and Capstones
Date of Award
Fall 2012
Project Type
Senior Honors Thesis
College or School
COLSA
Department
Biological Sciences
Program or Major
Medical and Veterinary Sciencess
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
First Advisor
Cheryl Whistler
Abstract
Vibrio fischeri and Euprymna scolopes squid establish mutualistic symbiosis and select for each other in the natural environment. V. fischeri provides bioluminescent camouflage for E. scolopes while E. scolopes provides nutrients for V. fischeri. The most intriguing aspect of this relationship is that E. scolopes is highly selective and only allows sustained colonization by luminous, but not dark V. fischeri. Luminescence is the key symbiosis trait; however, other bacterial factors may also allow squid recognition. We hypothesized that there are luminescence linked traits that contribute to colonization. V. fischeri with luminescence variation was isolated and tested for oxidative resistance, morphology, siderophore, biofilm, chitinase activity, motility, and auxotrophy. Siderophore and chitinase activity demonstrated correlation with luminescence while all other phenotypes didn’t demonstrate direct relations.
Recommended Citation
Liu, Feier, "One can’t stand on its own: Are non-luminescence traits necessary for V. fischeri colonization of E. scolopes?" (2012). Honors Theses and Capstones. 84.
https://scholars.unh.edu/honors/84