title: Phylogenetic characterization of the bacterial assemblage associated with mucous secretions of the hydrothermal vent polychaete Paralvinella palmiformis.
abstract: As part of an ongoing examination of microbial diversity associated with hydrothermal vent polychaetes of the family Alvinellidae, we undertook a culture-independent molecular analysis of the bacterial assemblage associated with mucous secretions of the Northeastern Pacific vent polychaete Paralvinella palmiformis. Using a molecular 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic approach, clone libraries were constructed from two samples collected from active sulfide edifices in two hydrothermal vent fields. In both cases, clone libraries were largely dominated by epsilon-Proteobacteria. Phylotypes belonging to the Cytophaga-Flavobacteria and to the Verrucomicrobia were also largely represented within the libraries. The remaining sequences were related to the taxonomic groups Fusobacteria, Green non-sulfur bacteria, Firmicutes, gamma- and delta-Proteobacteria. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of Verrucomicrobia, Fusobacteria and green non-sulfur bacteria on hydrothermal edifices. The potential functions of the detected bacteria are discussed in terms of productivity, recycling of organic matter and detoxification within the P. palmiformis microhabitat.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Biotechnologie des Extrêmophiles, Département de Valorisation des Produits, IFREMER, Centre de Brest, BP 70, 29280 Plouzané, France. karine.alain@ifremer.fr
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alain
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olagnon
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Desbruyères
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pagé
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: S Kim
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Juniper
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quérellou
authors.forename: Marie-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cambon-Bonavita