Open AccessQuantification of bacterial and archaeal symbionts in high and low microbial abundance sponges using real‐time PCR
Author(s) -
Bayer Kristina,
Kamke Janine,
Hentschel Ute
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6941.12369
Subject(s) - chloroflexi (class) , biology , proteobacteria , archaea , phylum , 16s ribosomal rna , firmicutes , microbial population biology , metagenomics , dominance (genetics) , bacterial phyla , microbial ecology , ecology , bacteria , gene , genetics
In spite of considerable insights into the microbial diversity of marine sponges, quantitative information on microbial abundances and community composition remains scarce. Here, we established q PCR assays for the specific quantification of four bacterial phyla of representative sponge symbionts as well as the kingdoms E ubacteria and A rchaea . We could show that the 16 S r RNA gene numbers of A rchaea , C hloroflexi , and the candidate phylum P oribacteria were 4–6 orders of magnitude higher in high microbial abundance ( HMA ) than in low microbial abundance ( LMA ) sponges and that actinobacterial 16 S r RNA gene numbers were 1–2 orders higher in HMA over LMA sponges, while those for C yanobacteria were stable between HMA and LMA sponges. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of A plysina aerophoba tissue sections confirmed the numerical dominance of C hloroflexi , which was followed by P oribacteria . A rchaeal and actinobacterial cells were detected in much lower numbers. By use of fluorescence‐activated cell sorting as a primer‐ and probe‐independent approach, the dominance of C hloroflexi , P roteobacteria , and P oribacteria in A . aerophoba was confirmed. Our study provides new quantitative insights into the microbiology of sponges and contributes to a better understanding of the HMA / LMA dichotomy.