Microbial diversity and pigment synthesis in the accessory nidamental gland: species-specific and color-associated patterns in bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana).

ABSTRACT:

Background

In certain cephalopod species, two distinct symbiotic organs host large populations of microorganisms: the light organ, regulated by the daily cycle, and the accessory nidamental gland (ANG), regulated by the female reproductive cycle. While host-microbiota interactions in the light organ of the bobtail squid are well understood, the dynamics within the ANG remain largely unexplored. This study uses the bigfin reef squid, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, as a model to investigate the microbiomes associated with specific regions of the ANG, capitalizing on its relatively large gland size compared to the bobtail squid. Our goal was to characterize species-specific microbiomes in the ANG and explore how pigmented region-dependent microbes contribute to reproductive fitness in bigfi

SUBMITTER: Chiu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11992831 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature