Diversity and structure of bacterial and archaeal communities associated with the vulnerable sponge Halichondria cebimarensis

Author(s)

Nascimento-Silva, Gabriel ; Costa, Carolina Mendes ; Lobo-Hajdu, Gisele ; Custodio, Marcio Reis ; Hardoim, Cristiane Cassiolato Pires

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ANTONIE VAN LEEUWENHOEK INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY; v. N/A, p. 16-pg., 2023-01-16.

Abstract

Sponges are essential components of the marine benthos and well known for their complex and abundant associated microbial communities. There are five endemic species of the genus Halichondria on the Brazilian coast and H. cebimarensis is one of the least studied. This sponge has a very limited geographic distribution and is classified as vulnerable. In order to understand the bacterial and archaeal communities associated with this sponge, samples of H. cebimarensis were collected from the southwestern Atlantic coast (Brazil, Sao Paulo state). Choanosome samples were separated and processed to be (i) inoculated in three different culture media; (ii) investigated by transmission electron microscopy; (iii) submitted to 16S rRNA metabarcoding. Forty isolates were obtained and 12 were identified as belonging to the Bacilli class. The culture-dependent approaches allowed us to access unique members of the microbial community. Our analyses revealed that this animal belongs to the Low Microbial Abundance group of sponges. Culture-independent approaches showed that the H. cebimarensis microbiome is dominated by the heterotrophic Gammaproteobacteria AqS2 ("Ca. Amphirhobacter heronislandensis"). This is the first study to reveal details of the microbiome of this vulnerable sponge and is an important step in understanding how this sponge functions, its biotechnological potential and a contribution to conservation efforts. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/17189-7 - Holobiome of the marine sponges, effects of the climate changes and biotechnological potentials: a holistic and multidisciplinary approach
• Grantee: Cristiane Cassiolato Pires Hardoim
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Young Investigators
• FAPESP's process: 19/04707-8 - Interactions between unicellular eukaryotes and Porifera: physiological function and biotechnological applications of associated thraustochytrids
• Grantee: Gabriel Nascimento Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 19/07646-0 - Holobiome of the marine sponges, effects of the climate changes and biotechnological potentials: a holistic and multidisciplinary approach
• Grantee: CAROLINA MENDES COSTA
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 17/10157-5 - Holobiome of the marine sponges, effects of the climate changes and biotechnological potentials: a holistic and multidisciplinary approach
• Grantee: Cristiane Cassiolato Pires Hardoim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Research Program on Global Climate Change - Young Investigators