title: Alpha-proteobacteria cultivated from marine sponges display branching rod morphology.
abstract: Most isolates recovered from marine environments are Gram-negative proteobacteria, even with the use of various media and media additions to enhance recoverability. Cultivation studies with two genera of deep-water sponges yielded nine isolates that demonstrated bulbous branching rod morphology, which is usually associated with microorganisms staining Gram-positive. Gram reactions indicated that the isolates were Gram-negative, which was confirmed by partial 16S rDNA sequencing. All nine isolates were shown to be alpha-proteobacteria most closely related to other alpha-proteobacteria isolated from various sponges.
authors.affiliation: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, 5600 US 1 North, Fort Pierce, FL 34946, USA.
authors.forename: Julie B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Dedra K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Harmody
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D020561:Alphaproteobacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001295:Atypical Bacterial Forms / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D011161:Porifera / Q000382:microbiology*; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology