Predominance of Harveyi clade luminous bacteria in coastal waters of South Andaman, India

摘要

The diversity, distribution, and mechanisms of bacterial speciation of Vibrio species belonging to Harveyi Glade are an important global research interests due to their pathogenic activity in coastal environments. Luminous bacteria are also known to act as environmental indicators in coastal waters. This study demonstrates that luminous bacteria belonging to harveyi Glade are predominant in seawater, sediment, surfaces of marine animals and plants, and light organs of leiognathid fishes. Molecular phylogenies for eighteen morphologically distinct and potentially luminous strains chosen out of 57 isolated luminous bacteria. Sequence analysis of luxA gene as a molecular marker identified luminous bacteria belonging to Harveyi Glade, Photobacterium Glade, and Anguillarum Glade distinctly. Rich biodiversity and distribution of luminous bacterial species (30% to 40%) was found in association with coral reef samples of south Andaman. This study confirms and reveals the evidence on predominant association of Harveyi Glade luminous vibrio's in coastal waters of south Andaman.