Molecular diversity of fungal and bacterial communities in the marine sponge Dragmacidon reticulatum

Abstract

The present work aimed to investigate the diversity of bacteria and filamentous fungi of southern Atlantic Ocean marine sponge Dragmacidon reticulatum using cultivation-independent approaches. Fungal ITS rDNA and 18S gene analyses (DGGE and direct sequencing approaches) showed the presence of representatives of three order (Polyporales, Malasseziales, and Agaricales) from the phylum Basidiomycota and seven orders belonging to the phylum Ascomycota (Arthoniales, Capnodiales, Dothideales, Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Pleosporales, and Saccharomycetales). On the other hand, bacterial 16S rDNA gene analyses by direct sequencing approach revealed the presence of representatives of seven bacterial phyla (Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Lentisphaerae, Chloroflexi, and Planctomycetes). Results from statistical analyses (rarefaction curves) suggested that the sampled clones covered the fungal diversity in the sponge samples studied, while for the bacterial community additional sampling would be necessary for saturation. This is the first report related to the molecular analyses of fungal and bacterial communities by cultivation-independent approaches in the marine sponges D. reticulatum. Additionally, the present work broadening the knowledge of microbial diversity associated to marine sponges and reports innovative data on the presence of some fungal genera in marine samples.

Fungi found in Mediterranean and North Sea sponges: How specific are they?

“…However, one quantitative statement that can be made for the seven sponge studied here is that with the exception of P. ficiformis the number of fungal reads was very low in comparison to the number of sponge reads (2550 reads vs. 330,884 reads). This is in line with the low relative abundance of fungi in nineteen other sponge species that were assessed by cultivation-independent methods (Gao et al 2008;He et al 2014;Passarini et al 2015;Rodríguez-Marconi et al 2015;Wang et al 2014). The low number of fungal reads also corraborates the lack of microscopic observation of fungi reported from sponge tissues.…”

“…The state of the art is that we currently know very little about fungi from sponges. Based on the data shown here and other cultivationindependent studies targeting sponge-associated fungi (Gao et al 2008;He et al 2014;Passarini et al 2015;Rodríguez-Marconi et al 2015) there are indications that we know very little because there is little to be known. The combination of low numbers of fungal reads retrieved from sponges with their unspecific nature based on the currently available data point towards merely accidental presence of fungi in sponges.…”

Digitizing mass spectrometry data to explore the chemical diversity and distribution of marine cyanobacteria and algae

“…To date, biodiversity studies have mostly relied on available genomic information (Bowen et al, 2013; Passarini et al, 2015). While organisms might be phylogenetically related, their metabolomic repertoire may vary greatly.…”

Basidiomycota isolated from the Mediterranean Sea – Phylogeny and putative ecological roles

“…The strain MUT 4775 was identified as Coprinellus radians and MUT 2331 as Psathyrella candolleana. The species C. radians is not new to the marine environment and was found in association with the marine sponge Dragmacidon reticulatum (Passarini et al, 2015) and with the zoanthid Palythoa haddoni (Qin et al, 2015). Species of Psathyrella occur mainly in terrestrial habitats, even though the ability to occupy uncommon niches is not rare for this genus (e.g.…”