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Vibrio harveyi Associated with Aglaophenia octodonta (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria)

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Abstract

A previously unknown association between a luminous bacterium, Vibrio harveyi, and a benthic hydrozoan, Aglaophenia octodonta, is described. Aglaophenia hydrocladia showed a clear fluorescence in the folds along the hydrocaulus and at the base of the hydrotheca, suggesting the presence of luminous bacteria. This hypothesis was confirmed by isolation of luminous bacteria from Aglaophenia homogenates. Phenotypic characterization of bacterial isolates was performed by several morphological, biochemical, and cultural tests, completed with 16S rDNA sequence analysis. All the isolates were referred to a single species: V. harveyi. The association between V. harveyi and A. octodonta has epidemiological as well as ecological significance. Therefore, A. octodonta may function as habitat “islands” providing a unique set of environmental conditions for luminous bacteria colonization, quite different from those already recorded from the plankton for other Vibrio species.

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Aknowledgments

Financial support was provided by MURST (COFIN and FIRB projects) and the European Community (MARBEF and IASON networks, Marie Curie Project). Cecilia Bucci and Doris De Vito helped both in the field and in the laboratory. Maurizio Salvatore Tredici and Paolo D'Ambrosio provided technical support.

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  1. Istituto Ambiente Marino Costiero, Sezione di Taranto, CNR, 74100, Taranto, Italy

    L. Stabili

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, Via Prov. Lecce-Monteroni, Lecce, 73100, Italy

    L. Stabili, C. Gravili, S. Piraino, F. Boero & P. Alifano

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  1. L. Stabili
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  2. C. Gravili
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Correspondence to L. Stabili.

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Stabili, L., Gravili, C., Piraino, S. et al. Vibrio harveyi Associated with Aglaophenia octodonta (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria). Microb Ecol 52, 603–608 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9010-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9010-7

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