Analysis of Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts from the Moss Physcomitrella patens

Mitchell Hall,* Lia R. Valeeva, Olivia Boskovic, Eugene Shakirov.
Department of Biological Sciences, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, 25755

Presentation Category: Science & Technology (Oral Presentation)

Student’s Major: Biology

Mosses are ancient land plants that are characterized by the presence of many unique secondary metabolites, some of which have been shown to have significant antimicrobial activity. The main Objective of our studies is to identify and characterize secondary metabolites and secretome components with antimicrobial activity from the model moss Physcomitrella patens. Several P. patens strains collected from natural habitats across the world are used in our experiments. We extracted intracellular and secreted metabolites from these strains and used them to test for antibacterial activity. The results of several preliminary experiments showed that secreted metabolites from P. patens strains Gransden and Villersexel inhibited the growth of gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, but not gram-negative bacteria. In our first two experiments, we were able to see a clear 12-14 mm zone of bacterial growth inhibition around paper disks containing 0.5 mg/ml metabolites from Gransden and Villersexel strains. Current experiments are underway to test metabolites from other moss strains and to extend the panel of microbial strains tested.

Funding: SURE

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: a West Virginia SURE program