Project description:The microbiota is considered critical for normal vertebrate homeostasis and it may exert its effects at a local level within the gastrointestinal tract, or systemically through the production of bacterial metabolites. To date, investigations into the role that the microbiota plays in reptile physiology are rare. To address this knowledge gap, we explored the relationship between differences in microbial communities to see if they accounted for differences in haematology and biochemistry values, in different populations of nesting flatback turtles (Natator depressus). We found that microbiota composition was not correlated to any of the blood analytes we measured in flatbacks. This study is the first of its kind in reptiles and highlights the need for further investigations to determine mechanisms by which the microbiota influences the physiology and health of reptiles.
Project description:A single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) virus is presented from a metagenomic data set derived from Alphaproteobacteria-infected hepatopancreatic tissues of the crab Eurypanopeus depressus The circular virus genome (4,768 bp) encodes 14 hypothetical proteins, some similar to other bacteriophages (Microviridae). Based on its relatedness to other Microviridae, this virus represents a member of a novel genus.
