Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Compost Microcosms as Microbially Diverse, Natural-like Environments for Microbiome Research in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: September 13, 2022
Microbiota from Litopenaeus vannamei: digestive tract microbial community of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus
Jaqueline Tuyub Tzuc1, Diana Rendíz Escalante2, Rafael Rojas Herrera2
1Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación (UMDI), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Puerto de Abrigo s/n, Sisal, Yucatan Mexico.
Abstract:
Bacteria capable of producing different extracellular enzymes of potential relevance in digestive processes were isolated from the stomach, hepatopancreas and intestine of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. A total of 64 strains with proteolytic activity were isolated and grouped into 16 clusters based on morphological characteristics: 4 groups were isolated from the intestine; 5 from the hepatopancreas; and 7 from the stomach. Molecular methods (16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing) and phenotypic criteria (Gram stain, catalase and oxidase tests, cell and colony morphology) were used to identify strains, which corresponded to Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio genera. These genera are reported to form part of the digestive tract microbial community in shrimp. Both genera were isolated from all three tested tissues. One member of each morphologic group was selected for analysis of the presence of amylases, lipases/esterases and chitinases. Most of the strains had all the tested enzymes, indicating that the L. vannamei digestive tract microbiotic flora includes groups which have the potential to contribute to the degradation of dietary components.
Related Concept Videos
Microbiota of the Large Intestine
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine
The Skin Microbiota
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
Introduction to the Human Microbiota
Functions of the Gut Microbiota

