Abstract
In order to facilitate the evaluation of archaeal community diversity and distribution in high-temperature environments, 14 16S rRNA oligonucleotide probes were designed. Adequate hybridization and wash conditions of the probes encompassing most known hyperthermophilic Archaea, members of the orders Thermococcales, Desulfurococcales and Sulfolobales, of the families Methanocaldococcaceae, Pyrodictiaceae and Thermoproteaceae, of the genera Archaeoglobus, Methanopyrus and Ignicoccus, and of the as yet uncultured lineages Korarchaeota, Crenarchaeota marine group I, deep-sea hydrothermal vent euryarchaeotic group 2 (DHVE 2), and deep-sea hydrothermal vent euryarchaeotic group 8 (DHVE 8) were determined by dot-blot hybridization from target and non-target reference organisms and environmental clones. The oligonucleotide probes were also used to evaluate the archaeal community composition in nine deep-sea hydrothermal vent samples. All probes, except those targeting members of Sulfolobales, Thermoproteaceae, Pyrodictiaceae and Korarchaeota, gave positive hybridization signals when hybridized against 16S rDNA amplification products obtained from hydrothermal DNA extracts. The results confirmed the widespread occurrence of Thermococcales, Desulfurococcales, Methanocaldococcaceae and Archaeoglobus in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, and extended the known ecological habitats of uncultured lineages. Despite their wide coverage, the probes were unable to resolve the archaeal communities associated with hydrothermally influenced sediments, suggesting that these samples may contain novel lineages. This suite of oligonucleotide probes may represent an efficient tool for rapid qualitative and quantitative characterization of archaeal communities. Their application would help to provide new insights in the future into the composition, distribution and abundance of Archaea in high-temperature environments.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
