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Microbial communities of the carapace, gut, and hemolymph of the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus

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Abstract

The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus is an important fisheries resource that is subject to mortality and morbidity from hemolymph infections. We used culture-independent methods based on the analysis of 16S rRNA genes to characterize and quantify the microflora from the carapace, gut, and hemolymph of C. sapidus with the goals of (1) characterizing the C. sapidus microbial assemblage and (2) identifying the reservoirs of potential pathogens associated with the crab. We found that the carapace, gut and hemolymph microflora have a core Proteobacteria community with contributions from other phyla including Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Spirochetes, and Tenericutes. Within this Proteobacteria core, γ-Proteobacteria, including the members of the Vibrionaceae that are closely related to potential pathogens, dominate. Bacteria closely related to hemolymph pathogens were found on the carapace, supporting the hypothesis that punctures, molting damage, or broken dactyls may be routes for hemolymph infections. These results provide some of the first data on the blue crab microbial assemblage obtained with culture-independent techniques and offer insights into the routes of infection and potential bacterial pathogens associated with blue crabs.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative Traineeship S0867882 (CEG), National Science Foundation awards IOS-0725245 (KGB, LEB), and NSF OCE 12-37130 (JTH). This is publication #403 from the Grice Marine Laboratory. We thank Nat Johnson and Kristin Stover (Burnett Lab) for their assistance in collecting specimens. We thank two anonymous reviewers and the Editors for suggestions that have helped improved the quality and focus on this MS.

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  1. Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Carrie E. Givens & James T. Hollibaugh

  2. Grice Marine Laboratory, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA

    Karen G. Burnett & Louis E. Burnett

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  1. Carrie E. Givens
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  2. Karen G. Burnett
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  3. Louis E. Burnett
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  4. James T. Hollibaugh
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Correspondence to James T. Hollibaugh.

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Communicated by T. Reusch.

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Givens, C.E., Burnett, K.G., Burnett, L.E. et al. Microbial communities of the carapace, gut, and hemolymph of the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus . Mar Biol 160, 2841–2851 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-013-2275-8

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