2011/729 Tackling microbial related issues in cultured shellfish via integrated molecular and water chemistry approaches

By Sharon Appleyard

Aquacultured species such as oysters and abalone live their entire lifecycle in seawater, and co-exist with a wide range of innocuous, pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms. Some microbes cause  diseases resulting in significant losses for the farms.

This study set out to provide shellfish farms with the monitoring tools and capability to help reduce product loss and strengthen husbandry and management techniques, thereby reducing the impacts of disease and increasing farm profitability. Using state-of-the-art techniques including Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA), this report provides the first in-depth analysis of microbial communities and water chemistry associated with shellfish culture in Australia. Metagenomic analyses were effective in resolving taxonomic identity, community profile changes and assessment of microbial abundance from water samples from these shellfish farms without the need for cultivation of microbes within the laboratory.