Molecular characterization of microbial community diversity associated with blood cockles (Anadara granosa) in blood cockle farms

• Published in: Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences
• Main Author: Zarkasi K.Z.; Shukri A.A.A.; Nazari T.F.; Abdullah A.A.A.; Daud F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hashemite University 2019
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071750602&partnerID=40&md5=65602fbc40dcfa7d927ddad4dfe1a648

Microbial communities of blood cockles (Anadara granosa) collected from blood cockle farms at the coastal area of Northern Malaysia were examined using a standard cultivation method and 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing analysis. This study is aimed at identifying the major abundance of blood cockles' microbes and their potential relationship with different farm locations and environmental conditions. 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing and culturable microbial numbers were found to be slightly different among the samples in two different farms probably because of some environmental factors such as pollution, fresh water load, and the distance or closeness between the farm location and agricultural and industrial zones. The results indicated that most of the microbes found were typically present in blood cockles and in highly dynamic communities. The results revealed that there were slight similarities among the sampling times, and significant differences regarding the microbes' numbers between the different farm locations. Based on these results, the blood cockle microbial communities were highly dynamic and were greatly predominant by Vibrio spp., Klebsiella spp. and Bacillus spp. Other microbial genera found were E. coli, Aliivibrio spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus spp., Pseudoalteromonas spp., and Micrococcus spp. existing in a minor abundance. These findings demonstrate the microbial diversity and the major abundant species in blood cockles. Hopefully, this study provides a good understanding of blood cockle microbial communities. © 2019 Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences.