Stenotrophomonas-like bacteria are widespread symbionts in cone snail venom ducts.

Stenotrophomonas-like bacteria are widespread symbionts in cone snail venom ducts. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2017 Oct 06;: Authors: Torres JP, Tianero MD, Robes JMD, Kwan JC, Biggs JS, Concepcion GP, Olivera BM, Haygood MG, Schmidt EW Abstract Cone snails are biomedically important sources of peptide drugs, but it is not known whether snail-associated bacteria affect venom chemistry. To begin to answer this question, we performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of eight cone snail species, comparing their microbiomes with each other and with those from a variety of other marine invertebrates. We show that the cone snail microbiome is distinct from those in other marine invertebrates and conserved in specimens from around the world, including the Philippines, Guam, California, and Florida. We found that all venom ducts examined contain diverse 16S rRNA gene sequences bearing closest similarity to Stenotrophomonas spp. bacteria. These sequences represent specific symbionts that live in the lumen of the venom duct, where bioactive venom peptides are synthesized.Importance In animals, symbiotic bacteria contribute critically to metabolism. Cone snails are renowned for the production of venoms that are used as medicines and as probes for biological study. In principle, symbiotic bacterial metabolism could either degrade or synthesize active venom components, and previous publications show that bacteria do indeed contribute small molecules...
Source: Applied and Environmental Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Appl Environ Microbiol Source Type: research