Oyster hatchery microbiomes in response to probiotics

Larval oysters in hatcheries are susceptible to diseases caused by bacterial pathogens, including Vibrio spp. Previous studies have shown that daily addition of the probiotic Bacillus pumilus RI06-95 to water in rearing tanks increases larval survival when challenged with the pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus. We propose that the presence of probiotics causes shifts in bacterial community structure in rearing tanks, leading to a net decrease in the relative abundance of potential pathogens. During three trials spanning the 2012-2015 hatchery seasons, larvae, tank biofilm, and rearing water samples were collected from control and probiotic-treated tanks in an oyster hatchery over a 12-day period after spawning. Samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing of the V4 or V6 regions.水产孵化场中的牡蛎幼体易受包括弧菌属（Vibrio spp.）在内的细菌性病原菌引发的病害侵袭。此前已有研究证实，在养殖水箱水体中每日添加益生菌短小芽孢杆菌（Bacillus pumilus）RI06-95，可在幼体受到病原菌珊瑚弧菌（Vibrio coralliilyticus）攻毒时提升其存活率。本研究推测，益生菌的存在会使养殖水箱内的细菌群落结构发生改变，最终使潜在病原菌的相对丰度整体降低。在2012至2015年孵化季开展的三组试验中，研究人员于产卵后的12天周期内，从某牡蛎孵化场的对照组与益生菌处理组水箱中采集了幼体、水箱生物膜以及养殖水体样本。通过对16S rRNA的V4区或V6区进行测序，对样本展开了分析。