Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Recent Advances in the Metagenomics of Marine Mammals Microbiome

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Understanding Host-Microbiome Interactions - An Omics Approach

Abstract

In recent years, marine life has gotten highly popularized through research, education, and audio-visual programs especially in exploring marine mammals. Marine mammals are warm-blooded animals, evolved from three different terrestrial groups and adapted to marine environment; few of them spend their entire lifespan in the sea and few come out to sea shore at a particular stage. Further, they act as an indicator of environmental change and ocean health. Seawater and different biological niches provide the base to marine mammals for harboring a rich microbiome that plays a major role in host nutrition, tissue differentiation, health, disease, and immune responses. Microbiota has been observed to be species-specific, related to the evolutionary divergence and host phylogeny. Several researchers are pursuing studies to better understand the marine microbial association, as these megafauna are under threat due to hunting, habitat degradation, and infectious diseases. This expanding knowledge will help in developing strategies for marine mammal’s health improvement and their conservation. In this book chapter, we emphasize the microbe-host association in marine mammals and recent metagenomic studies untapping the marine host-specific microbial diversity. It also portrays the unique evolutionary lineages of marine mammals and provides baseline information on normal as well as pathogenic microbiota.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anthony SJ, Leger JAS, Pugliares K et al (2012) Emergence of fatal avian influenza in New England harbor seals. mBio 3(4):e00166-12. doi:10.1128/mBio.00166-12

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Appel MJG (1987) Canine distemper virus. In: Appel MJ (ed) Virus infections of carnivores. Elsevier, New York, NY, pp 133–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Apprill A (2011) Humpback whales harbor a combination of specific and variable skin bacteria. Environ Microbiol Rep 3:223–232

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Apprill A, Robbins J, Eren AM et al (2014a) Humpback whale populations share a core skin bacterial community: towards a health index for marine mammals? PLoS One 9(3):e90785. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090785

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Apprill A, Robbins J, Eren AM et al (2014b) Humpback whale populations share a core skin bacterial community: towards a health index for marine mammals? PLoS One 9(3):e90785. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090785

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Avalos-Téllez R, Suárez-Güemes F, Carrillo-Casas EM et al (2010) Bacteria and yeast normal microbiota from respiratory tract and genital area of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). In: Mendez-Vilas A (ed) Current research, technology and education topics in applied microbiology and microbial biotechnology. Formatex Pub, Malaga, pp 666–673

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett T, Wohlsein P, Bidewell CA et al (2004) Canine distemper virus in a Californian sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Vet Rec 154:334–336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bik EM, Costello EK, Switzer AD et al (2016) Marine mammals harbor unique microbiotas shaped by and yet distinct from the sea. Nat Commun 7:10516. doi:10.1038/ncomms10516

  • Bricker BJ, Ewalt DR, Mac Millan AP et al (2000) Molecular characterization of Brucella strains isolated from marine mammals. J Clin Microbiol 38:1258–1262

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brulc JM, Antonopoulos DA, Berg Miller ME et al (2009) Gene-centric metagenomics of the fiber-adherent bovine rumen microbiome reveals forage specific glycoside hydrolases. Proc Natl Acad Sci 106:1948–1953. doi:10.1073/pnas.0806191105

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Butina TV, Denikina NN, Belikov SI (2010) Canine distemper virus diversity in Lake Baikal seal (Phoca sibirica) population. Vet Microbiol 144:192–197

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collinson ME, Hooker JJ, Skelton PW et al (1991) Fossil evidence of interactions between plants and plant-eating mammals. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 333:197–208. http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/333/1267/197.abstract

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dailey MD (2005) Parasites of marine mammals. In: Rohde K (ed) Marine Parasitology. Cisro Publishing, CAB International, Wallingford, pp 408–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Deagle BE, Kirkwood R, Jarman SN (2009) Analysis of Australian fur seal diet by pyrosequencing prey DNA in faeces. Mol Ecol 18:2022–2038. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04158.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diaz MA, Bik EM, Carlin KP et al (2013) Identification of Lactobacillus strains with probiotic features from the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). J App Microbiol 115:1037–1051. doi:10.1111/jam.12305

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dunn LJ, Buck JD, Robeck TR (2001) Bacterial diseases of cetaceans and pinnipeds. In: Dierauf LA, Gulland FMD (eds) Handbook of marine mammal medicine: health, disease, and rehabilitation. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 309–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Eigeland KA, Lanyon JM, Trott DJ et al (2012) Bacterial community structure in the hindgut of wild and captive dugongs (Dugong dugon). Aquat Mamm 38(4):402–411. doi:10.1578/AM.38.4.2012.402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estes JA, Terborgh J, Brashares JS et al (2011) Trophic downgrading of planet Earth. Science 333:301–306

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fahsbender E, Rosario K, Cannon JP et al (2015) Development of a serological assay for the sea lion (Zalophus californianus) Anellovirus, ZcAV. Sci Rep 5:9637. doi:10.1038/srep09637

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Garner MM, Lambourn DM, Jeffries SJ et al (1997) Evidence of Brucella infection in Parafilaroides lungworms in a Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi). J Vet Diagn Invest 9:298–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Geraci JR, DJ ST Aubin IK, Barker RG et al (1982) Mass mortality of harbor seals: Pneumonia associated with influenza A virus. Science 215:1129–1131

    Google Scholar 

  • Greig DJ, Gulland FMD, Smith WA et al (2014) Surveillance for zoonotic and selected pathogens in harbor seals Phoca vitulina from central California. Dis Aquat Org 111:93–106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hess M, Sczyrba A, Egan R et al (2011) Metagenomic discovery of biomass-degrading genes and genomes from cow rumen. Science 331:463–467. doi.org/10.1126/science.1200387

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hurley JA, Costa DP (2001) Standard metabolic rate at the surface and during trained submersions in adult California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). J Exp Biol 204:3273–3281

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kluge M, Campos FS, Tavares M et al (2016) Metagenomic survey of viral diversity obtained from feces of subantarctic and south american fur seals. PLoS One 11(3):e0151921. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151921

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe JM, Duignan FJ, Marsh AE et al (1998) Meningoencephalitis due to a Sarcocystis neurona-like protozoan in Pacific Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina richardsi). J Parasitol 84:1184–1189

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanyon JM, Marsh H (1995) Digesta passage time in the dugong. Aust J Zool 43:119–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ley RE, Hamady M, Lozupone C et al (2008) Evolution of mammals and their gut microbes. Science 320(5883):1647–1651

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Shan T, Wang C et al (2011) The fecal viral flora of california sea lions. J Virol 85(19):9909–9917

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maratea J, Ewalt DR, Frasca S Jr et al (2003) Evidence of Brucella sp. infection in marine mammals stranded along the coast of southern New England. J Zoo Wild Med 34:256–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MÃ¥rtensson PE, Nordøy ES, Messelt EB et al (1998) Gut length, food transit time and diving habit in phocid seals. Polar Biol 20:213–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller MA, Crosbie FR, Sverlow KW et al (2001) Isolation and characterization of Sarcocystis from brain tissue of a free living southern sea otter (Enhydra lurris nereis) with fatal meningoencephalitis. Parasitol Res 87:252–257

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald WL, Jamaludin R, Mackereth G et al (2006) Characterization of a Brucella sp. strain as a marine-mammal type despite isolation from a patient with spinal osteomyelitis in New Zealand. J Clin Microbiol 44:4363–4370

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Merson SD, Ouwerkerk D, Gulino LM et al (2014) Variation in the hindgut microbial communities of the Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris over winter in Crystal River, Florida. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 87:601–615. doi:10.1111/1574-6941.12248

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muegge BD, Kuczynski J, Knights D et al (2011) Diet drives convergence in gut microbiome functions across mammalian phylogeny and within humans. Science 332(6032):970–974. doi:10.1126/science.1198719

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nathani NM, Patel AK, Chandra Shekar M et al (2015) Effect of roughage on rumen microbiota composition in the efficient feed converter and sturdy Indian Jaffrabadi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). BMC Genomics 16:1116. doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2340-4

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nathani NM, Chandra Shekar M, Dave BP (2016) Sedimentomics – exploring the microbial treasures in deep marine environments. J Investig Genomics 3(2):00047. doi:10.15406/jig.2016.03.00047

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson TM, Rogers TL, Carlini AR et al (2013) Diet and phylogeny shape the gut microbiota of Antarctic seals: a comparison of wild and captive animals. Environ Microbiol 15:1132–1145. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.12022.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson TM, Apprill FA, Mann J (2015) The marine mammal microbiome: current knowledge and future directions. Microbiol Aust 36:8–13. doi:10.1071/MA15004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng TFF, Suedmeyer WK, Wheeler E et al (2009a) Novel anellovirus discovered from a mortality event of captive California sea lions. J Gen Virol 90:1256–1261. doi:10.1099/vir.0.008987–0

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ng TFF, Charles M, Kelly B (2009b) Discovery of a novel single-standard DNA virus from a sea turtle fibropapilloma by using viral metagenomics. J Virol 83:2500–2509. doi:10.1128/JVI.01946-08

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ng TFF, Elizabeth W, Denise G et al (2011) Metagenomic identification of a novel anellovirus in pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardsii) lung samples and its detection in samples from multiple years. J Gen Virol 92:1318–1323

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ng TFF, Mesquita JR, Nascimento MSJ et al (2014) Feline fecal virome reveals novel and prevalent enteric viruses. Vet Microbiol 171:102–111. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2014.04.005

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nishiwaki M, Marsh H (1985) Dugong. In: Ridgway SH, Harrison R (eds) Handbook of marine mammals. Academy, New York, NY, pp 1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Nymo IH, Tryland M, Godfroid J (2011) A review of Brucella infection in marine mammals, with special emphasis on Brucella pinnipedialis in the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata). Vet Res 42:93. doi:10.1186/1297-9716-42-93

  • Ohishi K, Ninomiya A, Kida H et al (2003) Influenza virus infection in seal (Phocidae): seroepidemiological survey of influenza virus in Caspian seals (Phoca caspica). Comp Immunol Microb 28:39–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen MA, Nordoy ES, Blix AS et al (1994) Functional anatomy of the gastrointestinal system of the northeastern atlantic minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). J Zool London 234:55–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pomeroy LW, Bjornstad ON, Holmes EC (2008) The evolutionary and epidemiological dynamics of the paramyx oviridae. J Mol Evol 66:98–106

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Preen A (1995) Diet of dugongs: are they omnivores? J Mammal 76(1):163–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith AW, Akers TG, Madin SH et al (1973) San Miguel sea lion virus isolation, preliminary characterization and relationship to vesicular exanthema of swine virus. Nature 244:108–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens E, Lipscomb TP, Gulland FMD (1999) An additional case of leptospirosis in a harbor seal. J Wildl Dis 35:150

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart JR, Townsend FI, Lane SM et al (2014) Survey of antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from bottlenose dolphins Tursiop struncates in the southeastern USA. Dis Aquat Org 108:91–102. doi:10.3354/dao02705

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suriya J, Chandra Shekar M, Nathani NM et al (2017) Assessment of bacterial community composition in response to uranium levels in sediment samples of sacred Cauvery River. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 101(2):831–841. doi:10.1007/s00253-016-7945-2

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wells RS, Rhinehart HL, Hansen LJ et al (2004) Bottlenose dolphins as marine ecosystem sentinels: developing a health monitoring system. Eco health 1:246–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams TM, Haun J, Davis RW et al (2001) A killer appetite: metabolic consequences of carnivory in marine mammals. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 129:785–796

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful to the Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India, for support in the form of Early Career Research Award-National Post Doctoral Fellowship to CSM (Grant No. PDF/2016/001239) and NMN (Grant No. PDF/2016/000190).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Science, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India

    Chandra Shekar Mootapally, Paresh Poriya & Indra Ramjibhai Gadhvi

  2. Department of Life Sciences, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India

    Neelam Mustakali Nathani

  3. Fisheries Science Institute, Chonnam National University, Yeosu, 59626, Republic of Korea

    Balu Alagar Venmathi Maran

Authors
  1. Chandra Shekar Mootapally
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paresh Poriya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Neelam Mustakali Nathani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Balu Alagar Venmathi Maran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Indra Ramjibhai Gadhvi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chandra Shekar Mootapally .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Saurashtra University, UGC-CAS Department of Biosciences Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India

    Ravindra Pal Singh

  2. Saurashtra University, UGC-CAS Department of Biosciences Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India

    Ramesh Kothari

  3. Anand Agricultural University, College of Vet. Sc. & Animal Husbandry Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India

    Prakash G. Koringa

  4. Saurashtra University, UGC-CAS Department of Biosciences Saurashtra University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India

    Satya Prakash Singh

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mootapally, C.S., Poriya, P., Nathani, N.M., Venmathi Maran, B.A., Gadhvi, I.R. (2017). Recent Advances in the Metagenomics of Marine Mammals Microbiome. In: Singh, R., Kothari, R., Koringa, P., Singh, S. (eds) Understanding Host-Microbiome Interactions - An Omics Approach. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5050-3_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation