Culture independent molecular analysis of bacterial communities in the mangrove sediment of Sundarban, India

A culture-independent molecular analysis of the Sundarbans mangrove sediment revealed a diverse bacterial community, with Gammaproteobacteria being the most abundant group. The study identified at least eight bacterial phyla, including Proteobacteria, Flexibacteria (CFB group), Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, and Gammatimonadates. Notably, some clones showed similarity to bacteria linked to sulfur cycling in saline environments, suggesting their role in maintaining the S-cycle. The analysis also hinted at potential hydrocarbon or oil contamination in the sediment. This research employed 16S rRNA gene libraries and phylogenetic analysis to uncover the microbial diversity in this unique ecosystem, providing insights into its ecological functions and environmental health.

Ghosh, A., Dey, N., Bera, A., Tiwari, A., Sathyaniranjan, K., Chakrabarti, K., & Chattopadhyay, D. (2010). Culture independent molecular analysis of bacterial communities in the mangrove sediment of Sundarban, India. Saline Systems, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1448-6-1