Malays. Appl. Biol. (2018) 47(2): 95–101
IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH Holothuria
(Mertensiothuria) leucospilota FROM PANGKOR ISLAND
FATIN NAJIHAH MUHAMMAD LUTFI*, MARYAM MOHAMED REHAN*,
KAMARUL RAHIM KAMARUDIN, MOHD ZULHAFIZ CHE ZAHRI,
HANINA MOHD NOOR and SALINA MAT RADZI
Food Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology (FST),
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Bandar Baru Nilai,
71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
*E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Accepted 24 April 2018, Published online 25 May 2018
ABSTRACT
Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota is the most abundant sea cucumber species in Malaysia. This study aimed to identify bacteria isolated from the external and internal body parts of H. leucospilota collected from the coastal water of Pangkor Island, Perak, Malaysia. A total of 26 bacterial samples were isolated using streak plate method from eight body parts of two fresh H. leucospilota specimens and from the surrounding surface sediments and seawater. Identification of the bacterial isolates was based on microscopic examination, 16S rDNA amplification and phylogenetic analysis using the neighbour-joining method. Three genera of bacteria were identified namely Vibrio, Bacillus, and Acinetobacter. The genus Vibrio was found to be the main bacterial group associated with the H. leucospilota specimens from Pangkor Island.
Key words: Holothuria leucospilota, Bacteria, 16S rDNA, Pangkor Island
