Enticknap, J. J., R. Thompson, O. Peraud, J. E. Lohr, M. T. Hamann and R. T. Hill.
2004. Molecular analysis of a Florida Keys sponge: Implications for natural products
discovery. Marine Biotechnol. 6:S288-293.
Abstract
An orange sponge, Axinella corrugata, was sampled from Conch Reef, Key Largo,
Florida and the associated microbial community subjected to molecular analysis. DNA
was extracted from a 5-g sample of sponge tissue and the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was
amplified by PCR. A clone library was constructed and 50 clones were sequenced.
Sequence analysis indicated that 38% of clones belonged to the Actinobacteria group,
32% to the α-Proteobacteria and 22% to the γ-Proteobacteria. Denaturing gradient gel
electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis confirmed that there appears to be a diverse variety of
bacteria present within the sponge tissue that is different than the bacteria found in the
surrounding water column.