Meeting Abstract

P2-88     A Novel Mycoplasma Found in the Genome of Gorgoncephalus (Ophiuroidea) Aroh, OL*; Halanych, KM; Auburn University; Auburn University olo0002@auburn.edu

Mycoplasma is a group of mollicutes bacteria that are one of the smallest and simplest self-replicating organisms, their genome size ranges from about 540-1300 kb. Mycoplasmas are ubiquitously found in the environment and in humans, animal, and plant tissues. They have been found present in different species of marine organisms including fishes, echinoderms, and cold-water corals. Here we report a novel Mycoplasma from Antarctica. The earliest studies that suggested the presence of Mycoplasma in Antarctica includes a 1974 study where Mycoplasma was isolated from urogenital tract of men that resided in Antarctica for 17 months and a 1992 report of a Mycoplasma-like bacterium in the hypolimnion of Ace Lake Antarctica. Other than these reports, to the best of our knowledge, there is minimal knowledge of the presence of mycoplasmas in Antarctic organisms. In sequencing the genome of Gorgonocepahlus chilensis, a filter-feeding basketstar from Antarctica, a complete Mycoplasma genome (CheckM completeness of 97.9%) approximately 796Kb in size was found. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of the Mycoplasma bacteria found in this organism showed that they are sister clade to Mycoplasma mobile 163K which was isolated from a freshwater tench fish. A KEGG pathway comparison between these two organisms showed that they both have similar metabolic pathways. This organism lacked virulence factors which are usually present in pathogenic mycoplasmas suggesting that they are non-pathogenic. This study shows that Mycoplasma are indeed widespread and can withstand and survive in extreme conditions despite its small genome size. In addition, a 2018 study reported that a disease possibly caused by Mycoplasma is threatening a starfish (Odontaster Validus) found in Antarctica. This is a hypothesis that is still being investigated, however, our study provides data that can potentially support this hypothesis.