Ref ID : 7432
Slava S. Epstein, Dennis A. Bazylinski, and William H. Fowle; Epibiotic Bacteria on Several Ciliates from Marine Sediments. J.Eukaryot.Microbiol. 45(1):64-70, 1998
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Bacterial epibionts were observed on the surface of the marine sediment ciliate Geleia fossata. Rod-shaped bacteria, from 2-10x10E3 per ciliate, were universally positioned in ciliated grooves, in apparent spatial association with dikinetids. SEM and TEM examination of the ciliates confirmed that a tight affiliation exists between the epibiotic bacteria and ciliate cortex ultrastructures. These observations, as well as the distinct bacterial distribution pattern over ciliate surface, suggest that there is a close epibiont/host physiological integration. Epibiotic bacteria were also observed on the surface of other sediment ciliates from the genera Loxophyllum, Tracheloraphis, Geleia, Paraspathidium, and Cyclidium. These findings indicate that the bacterial/protozoa associations are widespread in the marine benthic environment. The potential benefits for both epibionts and their hosts are discussed.