HR: 0800h
AN: OS51C-1310    [Abstracts]
TI: Characterization Of Sponge-Associated Microbial Communities
AU: * Bailey, K L
EM: kbailey@seas.marine.usf.edu
AF: Albany State University, 504 College Drive, Albany, GA 31705 United States
AU: Weisz, J
EM: weisz@email.unc.edu
AF: Institute of Marine Sciences , 3431 Arendell Street , Morehead City, NC 28557 United States
AU: Lindquist, N
EM: nlindquist@email.unc.edu
AF: Institute of Marine Sciences , 3431 Arendell Street , Morehead City, NC 28557 United States
AB: To more fully understand the endosymbiotic relationship between sponges and microorganisms, it is necessary to characterize the microbial communities of the sponges. In this study, DNA was extracted from each of three individual sponges from four sponge species collected in a shallow mangrove cut in Florida Bay near Key Largo, Florida. A fragment of the 16S rRNA gene from sponge-associated bacteria was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The resulting PCR products were analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), which separates DNA fragments based on their sequence differences. Some 16S sequences appeared to be shared by each of the four sponge species, while other fragments found in only particular species likely represent unique bacterial strains that play a role in sponge nutrition.
DE: 4840 Microbiology
SC: Ocean Sciences [OS]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting