Sponges are known for their symbiotic associations with bacteria and to a lesser extent with fungi.It has been argued that the association between fungi and sponges is not truly symbiotic,and fungal presence is incide...Sponges are known for their symbiotic associations with bacteria and to a lesser extent with fungi.It has been argued that the association between fungi and sponges is not truly symbiotic,and fungal presence is incidental.Nevertheless,a vertically transmitted endosymbiotic yeast has been observed by transmission electron microscopy in sponges of the genus Chondrilla.Our work was focused on documenting the presence of yeasts associated with marine sponges from Puerto Rico.Sponge samples were taken from healthy mature colonies of Ircinia strobilina,Tedania ignis,and Chondrilla caribensis.A total of 36 yeast morphotypes were isolated and analysed by sequencing the nuclear ribosomal ITS region.Saccharomyces cerevisiae,was isolated from all the samples,comprising the first report of this yeast as a common inhabitant in marine sponges.Other yeasts isolated include the halophilic black yeast,Hortaea werneckii,and an unidentified species belongs to the Sporidiobolales(Basidiomycota).The high isolation frequency of S.cerevisiae from our sponge samples supports the possibility that Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an active member of the sponges’microbial community.展开更多
基金supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute(HHMI 2012-NCE).
文摘Sponges are known for their symbiotic associations with bacteria and to a lesser extent with fungi.It has been argued that the association between fungi and sponges is not truly symbiotic,and fungal presence is incidental.Nevertheless,a vertically transmitted endosymbiotic yeast has been observed by transmission electron microscopy in sponges of the genus Chondrilla.Our work was focused on documenting the presence of yeasts associated with marine sponges from Puerto Rico.Sponge samples were taken from healthy mature colonies of Ircinia strobilina,Tedania ignis,and Chondrilla caribensis.A total of 36 yeast morphotypes were isolated and analysed by sequencing the nuclear ribosomal ITS region.Saccharomyces cerevisiae,was isolated from all the samples,comprising the first report of this yeast as a common inhabitant in marine sponges.Other yeasts isolated include the halophilic black yeast,Hortaea werneckii,and an unidentified species belongs to the Sporidiobolales(Basidiomycota).The high isolation frequency of S.cerevisiae from our sponge samples supports the possibility that Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an active member of the sponges’microbial community.
