Phylogenetic analysis of a highly specific association between ectosymbiotic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and marine nematode

Phylogenetic studies of a sulfur-oxidizing, chemoautotrophic, ectosymbiotic bacteria proliferating on a marine nematode, Laxus sp., using hybridization probes reveal the phylogenetic association between the marine nematode and the bacteria. 16S rRNA sequencing studies indicate the unique and stable symbiosis. The nematode ectosymbionts are present in the lowermost level of a branch that depicts three bivalve endosymbiont families, with only free-living bacteria from genus Thiomicrospira as their closest relations.