454 Pyrosequencing reveals diversity of Bdellovibrio and like organisms in fresh and salt water.

Bdellovibrio-and-like organisms (BALOs) are Gram-negative, predatory bacteria that inhabit terrestrial, freshwater and saltwater environments. They have been detected primarily by culture-dependent methods which have limitations. In this study, diversity and community structure of BALOs in freshwater and saltwater samples were characterized by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing with specific BALO group primers. Novel Bacteriovorax 16S rDNA sequences were found both in saltwater enrichment cultures and in situ environmental samples, but no new operational taxonomic units were detected in the freshwater samples. The results revealed unexpected diversity of BALOs and advance understanding of the similarities and differences between Bdellovibrio and Bacteriovorax diversity and distribution in the environment.