Abstract
We used high throughput pyrosequencing to characterize stomach and gut content microbiomes of Crassostrea virginica, the Easter oyster, obtained from two sites, one in Barataria Bay (Hackberry Bay) and the other in Terrebonne Bay (Lake Caillou), Louisiana, USA. Stomach microbiomes in oysters from Hackberry Bay were overwhelmingly dominated by Mollicutes most closely related to Mycoplasma; a more rich community dominated by Planctomyctes occurred in Lake Caillou oyster stomachs. Gut communities for oysters from both sites differed from stomach communities, and harbored a relatively diverse assemblage of phylotypes. Phylotypes most closely related to Shewanella and a Chloroflexi strain dominated the Lake Caillou and Hackberry Bay gut microbiota, respectively. While many members of the stomach and gut microbiomes appeared to be transients or opportunists, a putative core microbiome was identified based on phylotypes that occurred in all stomach or gut samples only. The putative core stomach microbiome comprised 5 OTUs in 3 phyla, while the putative core gut microbiome contained 44 OTUs in 12 phyla. These results collectively revealed novel microbial communities within the oyster digestive system, the functions of the oyster microbiome are largely unknown. A comparison of microbiomes from Louisiana oysters with bacterial communities reported for other marine invertebrates and fish indicated that molluscan microbiomes were more similar to each other than to microbiomes of polychaetes, decapods and fish.
Highlights
The Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is well known for its commercial value and importance as an ‘‘ecosystem engineer’’ [1,2,3]
Stappia ( Labrenzia) has been isolated from C. gigas and C. virginica, and in the latter implicated as an antagonist for the etiological agent of Juvenile Oyster Disease [11]
The results revealed substantial differentiation between stomach and gut microbiomes of animals from one site (Lake Caillou), but somewhat less differentiation for the second site (Hackberry Bay)
Summary
The Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is well known for its commercial value and importance as an ‘‘ecosystem engineer’’ [1,2,3]. Culture-dependent studies have characterized Vibrio and other genera associated with bulk animals and specific tissues [6,7,8,12,13] including identification of ‘‘indigenous’’ bacteria in C. gigas haemolymph [14,15]. Such studies have shown that an Eastern Mediterranean oil spill did not affect oysterassociated bacteria [16]. Culture-independent studies have documented patterns of diversity among different populations and tissues, compared hatchery-raised and wild animals, and identified the e-Proteobacterium, Arcobacter, as a major contributor to the microbial community of the Chilean oyster, Tiostrea chiliensis [17]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
