SSU rDNA microbial profile of Grampus griseus (Risso's dolphin) brain
Genomic DNA was extracted from 25mg of brain tissue from each animal using the Bioline Isolate II Genomic DNA kit (Bioline, Australia). The SSU rDNA assays applied were based on the primer pair Euk7F (AAC CTG GTT GAT CCT GCC AGT) and Euk570R (GCT ATT GGA GCT GGA ATT AC), amplifying approximately 500 to 550 bp of the 5′ end of the eukaryotic SSU rDNA (hypervariable V1-V3 region). Amplification and Illumina sequencing was performed at MR DNA, Shallowater, TX, USA (assay Euk7A/Euk570R). The barcoded PCR amplicons were pooled and sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform, utilising Illumina’s TruSeq DNA library Single End sequencing chemistry (MR DNA, TX, USA).