Detection of the Light Organ Symbiont, Vibrio fischeri, in Hawaiian Seawater by Using lux Gene Probes

摘要: Symbiotic bacteria that inhabit the light-emitting organ of Hawaiian squid Euprymna scolopes are distinctive from typical Vibrio fischeri organisms in they not visibly luminous when grown laboratory culture. Therefore, abundance these seawater samples cannot be estimated simply by identifying them among colonies arise on nutrient agar plates. Instead, we have used luxR and polymerase chain reaction generated luxA gene probes to identify both non-visibly V. DNA-DNA hybridization. The were specific, hybridizing at least 50 100 times more strongly immobilized DNAs strains than those pure cultures other related species. Thus, even could identified obtained natural their probe-positive reaction. Bacteria samples, either within or distant habitats, collected membrane filters incubated until appeared. then observed for hybridized with lux determine number total (both luminous). We detected no significant differences CFU any water (≤1 3 CFU/100 ml). However, (up 900 ml) found only habitats squids. A criteria confirm indistinguishable symbiotic fischeri. species specific gave a reliable estimate culturable samples. Images