Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2025
08:38
Application of Flow Vermimetry for Quantification and Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Gut Microbiome
Published on: March 31, 2023
672
Cassiopea xamachana microbiome across anatomy, development, and geography
Allison H Kerwin1,2, Aki Ohdera2, Juliet Bier1
1Department of Biology, McDaniel College, Westminster, Maryland, United States of America.
Plos One
|April 11, 2025
Summary
The bacterial microbiome of the upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea xamachana) was characterized. Medusae and larvae host distinct bacterial communities, offering insights into holobiont dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Marine microbiology
- Jellyfish symbiosis
- Holobiont research
Background:
- The Cassiopea xamachana jellyfish is a model for host-photosymbiont-microbiome interactions.
- The bacterial microbiome of wild C. xamachana remains largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the bacterial microbiome of wild Cassiopea xamachana medusae and larvae.
- To compare bacterial communities across different life stages and host structures.
Main Methods:
- Collected wild medusae and larvae from the Florida Keys.
- Performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.
- Developed a bacterial isolate library and conducted metabolic assays.
Main Results:
- Medusa bacterial communities were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria.
- Larval communities differed, featuring Pseudomonadota taxa like Alteromonas and Pseudoalteromonas.
- Endozoicomonas was the dominant genus in medusae, consistent across structures and sexes.
Conclusions:
- Distinct bacterial communities exist in C. xamachana medusae and larvae.
- Bacterial microbiome composition influences holobiont function and model system utility.
- Further research on this bacterial component is crucial for understanding the C. xamachana holobiont.
