RESUMEN
As part of an ongoing examination of microbial diversity associated with hydrothermal vent polychaetes of the family Alvinellidae, we undertook a culture-independent molecular analysis of the bacterial assemblage associated with mucous secretions of the Northeastern Pacific vent polychaete Paralvinella palmiformis. Using a molecular 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic approach, clone libraries were constructed from two samples collected from active sulfide edifices in two hydrothermal vent fields. In both cases, clone libraries were largely dominated by epsilon-Proteobacteria. Phylotypes belonging to the Cytophaga-Flavobacteria and to the Verrucomicrobia were also largely represented within the libraries. The remaining sequences were related to the taxonomic groups Fusobacteria, Green non-sulfur bacteria, Firmicutes, gamma- and delta-Proteobacteria. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of Verrucomicrobia, Fusobacteria and green non-sulfur bacteria on hydrothermal edifices. The potential functions of the detected bacteria are discussed in terms of productivity, recycling of organic matter and detoxification within the P. palmiformis microhabitat.