Microbiota composition and metabolomic profiles of the deep sea sponges Weberella bursa, Stryphnus fortis and Geodia barretti along a depth gradient

In this study we assessed prokaryotic community and metabolite profiles of the three deep sea sponges: W. bursa, S. fortis and G. barretti collected at the Davis Strait at depth range of 200 - 1400 m. Microbial composition was investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing by applying the Illumina MiSeq technology and metabolomic profiles were screened using UPLC-QTOF mass spectrometry. The overall aim of this study is to investigate to what extend depth influences microbial composition and metabolite profiles of the deep sea sponges.