The Microbial Landscape of Sea Stars and the Anatomical and Interspecies Variability of Their Microbiome.

ABSTRACT: Sea stars are among the most important predators in benthic ecosystems worldwide which is partly attributed to their unique gastrointestinal features and feeding behaviors. Despite their ecological importance, the microbiome of these animals and its influence on adult host health and development largely remains unknown. To begin to understand such interactions we sought to understand what bacteria are associated with these animals, how the microbiome is partitioned across regions of the body and how seawater influences their microbiome. We analyzed the microbiome composition of a geographically and taxonomically diverse set of sea star taxa by using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and compared microorganisms associated with different regions of their body and to their local environment.

SUBMITTER: Jackson EW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6099117 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature