title: Isolation of new Symbiodinium strains from tridacnid giant clam (Tridacna crocea) and sea slug (Pteraeolidia ianthina) using culture medium containing giant clam tissue homogenate.
abstract: Recent molecular biological studies have revealed that some photosymbiotic invertebrates dwelling in coral reefs host several genetically different dinoflagellates, Symbiodinium species, as symbionts. However, little is known about the difference in physiologic characteristics among these symbionts living in a single host, because some Symbiodinium strains are difficult to culture in vitro. To isolate some of these Symbiodinium strains, we have developed an agar culture medium plate containing antibiotics and a giant clam tissue homogenate. Using-this medium we isolated two new Symbiodinium strains from two molluscan hosts, Tridacna crocea and Pteraeolidia ianthina, each of which hosted two different Symbiodinium strains belonging to Symbiodinium C and D, respectively. The tissue homogenate was essential for the growth of Symbiodinium D. Although it was not essential for the growth of Symbiodinium C, it did stimulate the initial growth. For the isolation of some Symbiodinium strains, isolation medium containing host homogenate is effective.
authors.affiliation: Marine Biotechnology Institute, Heita 3-75-1, Kamaishi, Iwate 026-0001, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishikura
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takishita
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haga
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000469:parasitology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry; D046508:Culture Techniques; D017931:DNA Primers; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D007564:Japan; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012908:Snails / Q000469:parasitology*; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D017931:DNA Primers; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S