Microbiome of accessory nidamental gland of cephalopods

Many female squids and cuttlefish have a symbiotic reproductive organ called the accessory nidamental gland (ANG) that hosts a bacterial consortium hypothesized to be involved with egg defense against pathogens. Despite the broad distribution of this organ among cephalopods, little is known about the global microbial diversity of these symbionts.We used 16S rRNA gene community analysis to characterize the ANG microbiome from different cephalopod species and assess the relationship between host and symbiont phylogenies. The ANG microbiome of eleven species of cephalopods from four families (superorder: Decapodiformes) and that span seven different geographic locations was characterized.