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My interesting Adopted bacterial pigment is Prodigiosin, derived from the bacterium Serratia Marcescens. Although Prodigiosin is not fully explored, researchers have found many uses like being an antibacterial, anticancer agent, aiding during DNA cleavage, a coloring agent in the food industry and being nontoxic towards the environment as well as normal cells in the body.
This red color bacterial pigment displaced above is known as Prodigiosin, derived from the rod shape bacterium known as "Serratia Marcescens". A common name known for this bacterium is “The Red Diaper Syndrome”.
Scientists discovered that Prodigiosin can prevent the growth or reproduction of E. coli. Being a bacteriostatic agent damages the RNA synthesis and metabolic activities required by the bacterium to reproduce and thus prevents the reproduction process. Researchers have also established that when Prodigiosin is no longer being added to the E. coli, the bacterium will eventually start to reproduce once again. This proves that Prodigiosin could prevent E. coli from reproducing.
Over the past year Prodigiosin has been under intense research. They found it useful in the medical industry, as it damages cancer cells, but not normal cells (proving that Prodigiosin is an anticancer agent and a nontoxic substance). Prodigiosin with copper ions cause oxidative damage to the double stranded DNA. Research shows Prodigiosin assisting in the bactericidal activity, and causing nucleic acid degradation thus effecting the extracellular DNA dependent bacterial biofilms. Read for more information
The reasons I found this bacterial pigment to be quite intergring, is for the beautiful vibrant red color produced, and the fact that Prodigiosin is environmentally friendly and produces very little to no toxins. As an environmentalist, and soon to be microbiologist, I find it comforting that there are microbes that are environmental friendly to work, while having many human uses.
This experiment investigates the biological role prodigiosin plays on the microbial competition. Prodigiosin antimicrobial nature was tested by viewing the effects of Prodigiosin on the growth and secreted virulence on four types of bacteria. The results proved that Prodigiosin inhibits bacterial growth, bacterial virulence factor protease production and biofilm formation. Prodigiosin can compete against bacteria in its natural soil and water environments.
Scientists characterized Prodigiosin as a natural red pigment. This pigment plays a role in pharmaceutical and the food industry, being an antifungal agent, immunosuppressive as well as removing artificial colorants to a more natural colorant in the food industry. Research shows that Prodigiosin is non-toxic, non-allergic, and no-carcinogenic ( means can be used in sunscreens). Read the article for details on interesting applications of the bacterial pigment Prodigiosin.
Prodigiosin plays a role in many felids, like agriculture (producing various organic byproducts or aiding during fermentation to produce PG), medicine, food industry and the environment etc. PG production is in limited supply but is required for protecting the growth of popular crops, hence extensive research is performed on Prodigiosin to further our understanding of the applicational uses. Read journal for detailed information on the applications of bacterial pigment Prodigiosin.
