Meeting Abstract

P2-65   -   The potential role of the microbiome in supporting stress tolerance during embryonic diapause. Camara-Lavadores, JE*; Romney , ALT; Podrabsky, JE; Portland state University; Portland State University; Portland State university jocam2@pdx.edu

Abstract: Microbial symbioses with multicellular organisms have led to some astonishing adaptations for survival in extreme environments. Recently focus has turned to the role of the microbiome in shaping the neurodevelopment, physical performance, behavior, and diet of host organisms. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that microbial symbionts may regulate and support metabolic dormancy and stress tolerance during embryonic diapause. We hypothesize that microbial symbionts, passed to embryos through maternal or paternal transmission, support stress tolerance during diapause by providing metabolic pathways required for survival that are not encoded in the host genome. As a first step, we aim to characterize the microbiome of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus gametes and embryos during development and diapause. Ovary, testes, liver, white muscle, and gut tissue were isolated from adult fish using aseptic techniques in a biosafety cabinet. DNA was isolated from tissues using a Qiagen DNEasy blood and tissue kit. Quantitative PCR will be used to compare relative levels of microbial 16S RNA in each tissue. Eventually, we hope to sequence the microbiome of these tissues and identify potential symbionts to better characterize how they may contribute to metabolic pathways in developing and diapausing embryos. These data are critical for better understanding the role that microbes may play in regulating vertebrate development and in the dynamic of evolution in metabolic dormancy.