Compositional Difference of Sponge-Associated Bacterial Isolates between Chuuk Island, a Tropical Ocean and Taejongdae Korea, a Temperate Ocean

Abstract

Sponge-associated microorganisms have been highlighted due to their potential of producing novel bioactive products. In the present study compositional difference of isolates from variety of sponge-associated bacterial strains from tropical ocean, Chuuk Island, Micronesia, and temperate ocean, Taejongdae, Korea based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Majority of isolates from temperate area affiliated into the -Proteobacteria and was distributed into various genera of the families Rhodobacteraceae and Erythrobacteraceae. Most isolates from tropical area affiliated only into the genus Pseudovibrio and produce a different clade from the temperate isolates even in the same genus. Isolates belonging to the γ-Proteobacteria also displayed similar results. In case of Bacteroidetes, isolates clearly discriminated as Flavobacteria from temperate area or Sphingobacteria from tropical area. It is unclear, however, whether the generic difference of sponge-associated isolates between tropical and temperate ocean in this study could be occurred due to differences of environmental condition such as temperature and/or difference of sponge species. [Supported by Marin-Bio 21 Program & KORDI (PE97801)]