Endobacteria in the tentacles of selected cnidarian species and in the cerata of their nudibranch predators
This is a first comparative phylogenetic analysis of cultured endobacteria, discovered in tentacles of cnidarian species (Tubularia indivisa, Tubularia larynx, Corymorpha nutans, Sagartia elegans) and cerata material of selected nudibranch species (Berghia caerulescens, Coryphella lineata, Coryphella gracilis, Janolus cristatus, Polycera faeroensis, Polycera quadrilineata, Doto coronata, Dendronotus frondosus). Shared pathogenic activities were found among other microorganisms in Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis group (TTX), and Vibrio splendidus group (haemolytic, septicaemic, necrotic activity). Specific autochthonous nudibranch endobacteria of extremely low similarity to their next neighbours (e.g. Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea (95%), Orientia tsutsugamushi (84%), Gracilimonas tropica (96%), Balneola alkaliphia (95%), Loktanella rosea (97%)) were detected in nudibranch cerata. SEM micrographs provide insight into endobacterial aggregates in cnidarian tentacles and nudibranch cerata. Since certain nudibranch predators prey on cnidarian species it is assumed that cnidarian tentacle bacteria were directly transferred to nudibranch cerata. The pathogenic endobacteria may serve as chemical defence to nudibranch and cnidarian species investigated.
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