The gut of geographically disparate Ciona intestinalis harbors a core microbiota.
It is now widely understood that all animals engage in complex interactions with bacteria (or microbes) throughout their various life stages. This ancient exchange can involve cooperation and has resulted in a wide range of evolved host-microbial interdependencies, including those observed in the gut. Ciona intestinalis, a filter-feeding basal chordate and classic developmental model that can be experimentally manipulated, is being employed to help define these relationships. Ciona larvae are first exposed internally to microbes upon the initiation of feeding in metamorphosed individuals; however, whether or not these microbes subsequently colonize the gut and whether or not Ciona forms relationships with specific bacteria in the gut remains unknown. In this report, we show that the Ciona gut not only is colonized by a complex community of bacteria, but also that samples from three geographically isolated populations reveal striking similarity in abundant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) consistent with the selection of a core community by the gut ecosystem.
Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, USF Health, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
Larry J
LJ
Dishaw
Division of Neonatology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, USF Health, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
Jaime
J
Flores-Torres
Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Simon
S
Lax
Post-Baccalaureate Program in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, United States of America.
Kristina
K
Gemayel
College of Marine Sciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
Brittany
B
Leigh
Department of Animal Physiology and Evolution, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
Daniela
D
Melillo
Department of Molecular Genetics, All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
M Gail
MG
Mueller
Department of Animal Physiology and Evolution, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
Lenina
L
Natale
Department of Animal Physiology and Evolution, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
Ivana
I
Zucchetti
Department of Animal Physiology and Evolution, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
Rosaria
R
De Santis
Department of Animal Physiology and Evolution, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
Maria Rosaria
MR
Pinto
Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, USF Health, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America.
Gary W
GW
Litman
Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratories, University of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Jack A
JA
Gilbert
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D002938:Ciona intestinalis / Q000382:microbiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D054892:Metagenome / Q000235:genetics; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S