Distribution of Symbiobacterium thermophilum and related bacteria in the marine environment

• Published in: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry Vol. 72; no. 1; pp. 204 - 211
• Main Authors: Sugihara, T.(Nihon Univ., Fujisawa, Kanagawa (Japan). Coll. of Bioresource Sciences), Watsuji, T, Kubota, S, Yamada, K, Oka, K, Watanabe, K, Meguro, M, Sawada, E, Yoshihara, K, Ueda, K, Beppu, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry 01.01.2008; Japan Society for Bioscience Biotechnology and Agrochemistry; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria - classification; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGICAL INTERACTION; CONCHA; COQUILLE; DISTRIBUCION GEOGRAFICA; distribution; DISTRIBUTION GEOGRAPHIQUE; DNA Primers; Feces - microbiology; Firmicutes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION; Geography; INTERACCION BIOLOGICA; INTERACTIONS BIOLOGIQUES; Japan; Lactobacillaceae - classification; Lactobacillaceae - genetics; Lactobacillaceae - isolation & purification; MARINE AREAS; marine environment; MICRO-ORGANISME THERMOPHILE; MICROORGANISMOS TERMOFILOS; Ostreidae - microbiology; oyster shell; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; REGION MARINE; RNA, Bacterial - genetics; RNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - isolation & purification; Seawater - microbiology; Seaweed - microbiology; SHELL; SIMBIOSIS; Symbiobacterium; Symbiobacterium thermophilum; SYMBIOSE; SYMBIOSIS; THERMOPHILIC MICROORGANISMS; uncultured microorganism; Water Microbiology; ZONAS MARINAS; Japan; Marine environment; oyster shell; Bivalvia; Oyster; Bacteria; Microorganism; Invertebrata; Mollusca; distribution; uncultured microorganism; Symbiobacterium
• ISSN: 0916-8451; 1347-6947
• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.70619

We study the ecological distribution of a unique syntrophic bacterium, Symbiobacterium thermophilum, and related bacteria. In this study, we found that they were frequently obtained from seashells and several marine samples. Symbiobacterium also grew from sterilized oyster shells incubated undersea for 2 or 3 months on the coast of Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan. 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny of the clones obtained from the Symbiobacterium-positive cultures demonstrated the potential diversity of this bacterial group, which constitutes a distinct clade between Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. We successfully isolated two new Symbiobacterium strains from oyster shells. 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny indicated that one belongs to S. thermophilum, and that the other is affiliated with a different species. We also isolated Ureibacillius spp., which showed activity supporting the growth of S. thermophilum.