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The microbial ecosystem of beer spoilage and souring: Competition and cooperation in the age of bioinformatics
Title
The microbial ecosystem of beer spoilage and souring: Competition and cooperation in the age of bioinformatics.
Creator
Kettring, Andrew, Moore, Sean, Cole, Alexander, Self, William, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The brewing industry generates $350 billion in revenue in the US annually, representing 1.9% of the gross domestic product. Spoilage is a persistent problem throughout production and distribution that causes economic loss, and is therefore meticulously avoided. Contrarily, artisanal sour beers are necessarily produced by a diverse variety of these spoilage organisms metabolically interacting in symbiosis as a microbial ecosystem. We sought to gain insight into factors driving assembly of...
Show moreThe brewing industry generates $350 billion in revenue in the US annually, representing 1.9% of the gross domestic product. Spoilage is a persistent problem throughout production and distribution that causes economic loss, and is therefore meticulously avoided. Contrarily, artisanal sour beers are necessarily produced by a diverse variety of these spoilage organisms metabolically interacting in symbiosis as a microbial ecosystem. We sought to gain insight into factors driving assembly of microbial communities by testing a long-debated Darwinian hypothesis. A collection of community members were screened in co-culture and novel bioinformatics tools were developed to predict observed interactions. A fundamental understanding of these relationships is paramount to beer production and sets a precedent for the study of similar microbial communities that impact human health.
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Date Issued
2017
Identifier
CFE0007288, ucf:52147
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007288
The Microbial Biochemical Potential of Two Detention-Retention Marshes in the Kissimmee River Valley Watershed
Title
The Microbial Biochemical Potential of Two Detention-Retention Marshes in the Kissimmee River Valley Watershed.
Creator
Winkelmann, Douglas A., ,, Natural Sciences
Abstract / Description
University of Central Florida College of Natural Sciences Thesis; One of the major programs to abate the deterioration of water quality in the Lake Okeechobee watershed was the addition of detention-retention facilities. The microbial biochemical potential of two different detention-retention marshes in the Kissimmee River Valley were examined to determine their effectiveness to improve water quality. The kinetics of decomposition and nutrient mineralization and assimilation, as mediated by...
Show moreUniversity of Central Florida College of Natural Sciences Thesis; One of the major programs to abate the deterioration of water quality in the Lake Okeechobee watershed was the addition of detention-retention facilities. The microbial biochemical potential of two different detention-retention marshes in the Kissimmee River Valley were examined to determine their effectiveness to improve water quality. The kinetics of decomposition and nutrient mineralization and assimilation, as mediated by microorganisms, and the enumeration of microorganisms capable of utilizing various substrates were studied. Various communities within each marsh were studied during a 2-year period. The decomposition rates of 3 plant substrates were determined. Chitin was used as a standard for organic decomposition. Chitin had significantly higher (p [less than] 0.05) rates of decomposition than the plant material in all sites at both marshes. Chitin decomposition rates were significantly different (p[less than]0.05) between sites. Significant differences (p[less than]0.05) in rates of decomposition were also found between the 3 plant substrates. the difference in decomposition rates for the 3 plant substrates existed within sites, as well as between sites. The number of microorganisms and the mineralization and assimilation rates were significantly different (p[less than]0.05) between the detention-retention marshes. Significant differences (p[less than]0.05) in numbers of microorganisms and rates were also found between sites within each marsh. The variation in detrital processing demonstrated that site-specific dynamics occurred in the detention-retention marshes. Higher decomposition rates were associated with sediment sites containing organic matter with either a continuous, shallow flow of water or alternate wet/dry periods. Decomposition rates were lowest at sites containing sandy sediments, and dry soil sites without a flow of water. Higher aerobic and anaerobic bacterial activity was also associated with sediment sites containing organic matter with either a continuous, shallow flow of water at alternate wet/dry periods. Higher fungal activity was associated with alternate wet/dry sediment sites, but only during dry periods. Microbial activity was lowest at sites containing sandy sediments and in water columns.
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Date Issued
1981
Identifier
CFR0008161, ucf:53068
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFR0008161
Character Evolution and Microbial Community Structure in a Host-associated Grasshopper
Title
Character Evolution and Microbial Community Structure in a Host-associated Grasshopper.
Creator
Raszick, Tyler, Song, Hojun, Fedorka, Kenneth, Hoffman, Eric, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The spotted bird grasshopper, Schistocerca lineata Scudder (Orthoptera: Acrididae), is a widely distributed species found throughout most of the continental United States and southern Canada. This species is known to be highly variable in morphology, with many distinct ecotypes across its native range. These ecotypes display high levels of association with type-specific host plants. Understanding the evolutionary relationships among different ecotypes is crucial groundwork for studying the...
Show moreThe spotted bird grasshopper, Schistocerca lineata Scudder (Orthoptera: Acrididae), is a widely distributed species found throughout most of the continental United States and southern Canada. This species is known to be highly variable in morphology, with many distinct ecotypes across its native range. These ecotypes display high levels of association with type-specific host plants. Understanding the evolutionary relationships among different ecotypes is crucial groundwork for studying the process of ecological differentiation. I examine four ecotypes from morphological and phylogeographic perspectives, and look for evidence of distinct evolutionary lineages within the species. I also begin to explore the potential role of the microbial community of these grasshoppers in ecological divergence by using 454 pyrosequencing to see if the microbial community structure reflects the ecology of the grasshoppers. I find support for a distinct aposematic lineage when approaching the data from a phylogeographic perspective and also find that this ecotype tends to harbor a unique bacterial community, different from that of a single other ecotype.
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Date Issued
2014
Identifier
CFE0005540, ucf:50316
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005540