title: Distribution of Symbiobacterium thermophilum and related bacteria in the marine environment.
abstract: We study the ecological distribution of a unique syntrophic bacterium, Symbiobacterium thermophilum, and related bacteria. In this study, we found that they were frequently obtained from seashells and several marine samples. Symbiobacterium also grew from sterilized oyster shells incubated undersea for 2 or 3 months on the coast of Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan. 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny of the clones obtained from the Symbiobacterium-positive cultures demonstrated the potential diversity of this bacterial group, which constitutes a distinct clade between Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. We successfully isolated two new Symbiobacterium strains from oyster shells. 16S rRNA gene-based phylogeny indicated that one belongs to S. thermophilum, and that the other is affiliated with a different species. We also isolated Ureibacillius spp., which showed activity supporting the growth of S. thermophilum.
authors.affiliation: Life Science Research Center, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Kameino, Fujisawa,Japan.
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugihara
authors.forename: Tomo-o
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Watsuji
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Kazune
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Michiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meguro
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshihara
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beppu
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000145:classification; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005843:Geography; D007564:Japan; D007777:Lactobacillaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D012624:Seaweed / Q000382:microbiology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S