1. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of the prokaryotic community inhabiting crystallizer ponds.
- Author
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Antón J, Llobet-Brossa E, Rodríguez-Valera F, and Amann R
- Subjects
- DNA Probes, DNA, Archaeal analysis, DNA, Archaeal genetics, DNA, Ribosomal analysis, DNA, Ribosomal genetics, Haloarcula isolation & purification, Haloferax isolation & purification, In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics, Archaea genetics, Archaea isolation & purification, Sodium Chloride, Water Microbiology
- Abstract
A fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol suitable for the identification of prokaryotes inhabiting hypersaline environments was developed and applied to several crystallizer ponds with salinities above 36% from a multipond solar saltern in Alicante, Spain. Two morphotypes were abundant in these environments: rods and square or square-like prokaryotes that could be affiliated to Bacteria and Archaea, respectively, by FISH with domain-specific probes. FISH with a newly designed probe proved that the archaeal 16S rDNA sequence most frequently recovered from the crystallizers, SPhT, originated from the dominant square-like prokaryotes. These uncultured prokaryotes have the morphology of Walsby's square bacteria. Additionally, FISH with a probe targeted to the genus Haloarcula, members of which are frequently isolated from this environment, indicated that this genus accounts for less than 0.1% of the total prokaryotic community.
- Published
- 1999
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