NOAA ‘Omics Seminar Series (October 19, 2022): Metagenomic discovery of a marine polychaete

This seminar is part of the NOAA 'Omics Seminar Series, which takes place on the third Wednesday of every month. 'Omics describes a suite of cutting-edge tools used to analyze DNA, RNA, proteins, or metabolites.
Date: October 19, 2022
Title: Metagenomic discovery of microbial and host genetic features of the marine polychaete Sirsoe methanicola colonizing a methane hydrate in the Gulf of Mexico
Presenter: Dr. Jean Lim
Abstract: The methane ice worm Sirsoe methanicola is the only macrofaunal species observed to colonize methane hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico. Our recently published metagenomic analysis of the worms’ gut contents and worm fragments predicted diverse metabolic capabilities related to microbial cycling of sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen compounds, as well as microbial synthesis of amino acids and B vitamins. The ice worm microbial community was dominated by uncultured Sulfurospirillum, a taxon previously considered free-living rather than host-associated. From the metagenomic data, we also assembled the 18S rRNA gene, 28S rRNA gene, and a complete 17,403 bp mitochondrial genome of S. methanicola. Assembled marker gene sequences were near-identical to previously published S. methanicola sequences, and the mitogenome represents the first complete mitogenome of the family Hesionidae. Other functional genes related to S. methanicola were also annotated in the metagenomes. Our study highlights the utility of metagenomics in elucidating both microbial and host genetic features in this poorly understood deep-sea marine polychaete.