Microbiome sequencing of toxigenic and nontoxigenic Pseudo-nitzschia cultures
Microbiome sequencing was done to determine whether host toxicity of the harmful algal genus, Pseudo-nitzschia, correlates with microbiome composition and diversity differences between cultures. Microbiome composition and diversity were compared between two toxigenic species (P. multiseries and P. pungens), and within toxin-variable strains of the same species (P. pungens). Cultures were isolated from a coastal New England system (Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island) to study microbiome correlations with toxicity in a novel system.