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Sun F, Yang H, Zhang X, Tan F, Wang G, Shi Q. Significant response of coral-associated bacteria and their carbohydrate-active enzymes diversity to coral bleaching. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 201:106694. [PMID: 39163656 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Analysis of bacterial carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) contributes significantly to comprehending the response exhibited by coral symbionts to the external environment. This study explored the impact of bleaching on the bacteria and their CAZymes in coral Favites sp. through metagenomic sequencing. Notably, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) unveiles substantial difference in bacterial communities between bleached and unbleached corals. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Chloroflexi, exhibit noteworthy alterations during coral bleaching. CAZymes profiles in bleached coral disclosed a significant increase in Glycosyltransferases (GTs) abundance, suggesting an intensified biosynthesis of polysaccharides. Conversely, there is a marked reduction in other CAZymes abundance in bleached coral. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Chlorobi, and Planctomycetota exhibit greater contributions to CAZymes in bleached corals, with Rhodobacterales, Cytophagales, Burkholderiales, Caulobacterales, and Hyphomicrobiales being the main contributors. While Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi demonstrate higher contributions to CAZymes in unbleached corals. The changes in bacteria and their CAZymes reflect the ecological adaptability of coral holobionts when facing environmental stress. The alterations in CAZymes composition caused by bleaching events may have profound impacts on coral nutrient absorption and ecosystem stability. Therefore, understanding the dynamic changes in CAZymes is crucial for assessing the health and recovery potential of coral ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulin Sun
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongqiang Yang
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Nansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, China.
| | - Xiyang Zhang
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fei Tan
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guan Wang
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Shi
- South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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Wang C, Roeroe KA, Zhou Z, Niu G, Du J, Hu W, Zheng X. Gene expression plasticity governing symbiosis during natural coral bleaching. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176046. [PMID: 39241871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The increasing global frequency and severity of coral bleaching events, driven by the loss of endosymbiotic algae, pose a significant threat to these vital ecosystems. However, gene expression plasticity offers a potential mechanism for rapid and effective acclimatization to environmental changes. We employed dual transcriptomics to examine the gene expression profile of Seriatopora hystrix, an ecologically important scleractinian coral, across healthy, mildly bleached, and severely bleached colonies collected from the waters of Likupang, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Our analysis revealed that coral bleaching is associated with gene plasticity in calcium signaling and focal adhesion within coral hosts, as well as with endoplasmic reticulum stress in symbionts. Notably, we identified specific genes associated with innate immunity that were predominantly overexpressed in mildly bleached coral hosts. This overexpression implies that high expression plasticity of these key genes might contribute to bleaching resistance and the preservation of the host-symbiont relationship. Our findings offer a detailed insight into the dynamics of bleaching resistance in S. hystrix, shedding light on the variability of bleaching risks in Indonesian reefs and underscoring the coral's ability to utilize gene expression plasticity for immediate survival and potential long-term adaptation to climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | | | - Zhi Zhou
- School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Gaofeng Niu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jianguo Du
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Observation and Research Station of Wetland Ecosystem in the Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai 536015, China; Observation and Research Station of Island and Costal Ecosystem in the Western Taiwan Strait, Ministry of Natural Resources, China
| | - Wenjia Hu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Observation and Research Station of Wetland Ecosystem in the Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai 536015, China; Observation and Research Station of Island and Costal Ecosystem in the Western Taiwan Strait, Ministry of Natural Resources, China
| | - Xinqing Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China; Observation and Research Station of Wetland Ecosystem in the Beibu Gulf, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beihai 536015, China; Observation and Research Station of Island and Costal Ecosystem in the Western Taiwan Strait, Ministry of Natural Resources, China.
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Huang S, Luo L, Wen B, Liu X, Yu K, Zhang M. Metabolic signatures of two scleractinian corals from the northern South China sea in response to extreme high temperature events. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 198:106490. [PMID: 38636276 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Coral bleaching events are becoming increasingly common worldwide, causing widespread coral mortality. However, not all colonies within the same coral taxa show sensitivity to bleaching events, and the current understanding of the metabolic mechanisms underlying thermal bleaching in corals remains limited. We used untargeted metabolomics to analyze the biochemical processes involved in the survival of two bleaching phenotypes of the common corals Pavona decussata and Acropora pruinosa, during a severe bleaching event in the northern South China Sea in 2020. During thermal bleaching, P. decussata and A. pruinosa significantly accumulated energy products such as succinate and EPA, antioxidants and inflammatory markers, and reduced energy storage substances like glutamate and thymidine. KEGG analysis revealed enrichment of energy production pathways such as ABC transporters, nucleotide metabolism and lipid metabolism, suggesting the occurrence of oxidative stress and energy metabolism disorders in bleached corals. Notably, heat stress exerted distinct effects on metabolic pathways in the two coral species, e.g., P. decussata activating carbohydrate metabolism pathways like glycolysis and the TCA cycle, along with amino acid metabolism pathways, whereas A. pruinosa significantly altered the content of multiple small peptides affected amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, the osmoregulatory potential of corals correlates with their ability to survive in heat-stress environments in the wild. This study provides valuable insights into the metabolic mechanisms linked to thermal tolerance in reef-building corals, contributes to the understanding of corals' adaptive potential to heat stress induced by global warming and lays the foundation for developing targeted conservation strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Huang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Li Luo
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Beihua Wen
- School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xurui Liu
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 511458, China.
| | - Man Zhang
- Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
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Sun F, Yang H, Zhang X, Tan F, Wang G, Shi Q. Metagenomic and metabolomic analysis of the effect of bleaching on unsaturated fatty acid synthesis pathways in coral symbionts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:169487. [PMID: 38142991 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) are known to play a vital role in regulating stress resistance and metabolism in corals. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the microbial and functional composition of the UFA synthesis pathway (UFASP) remains lacking. This study employed metagenome and metabolome to investigate the microbial community, function, and metabolic response of UFASP in reef-building corals inhabiting the Nansha Islands. Our findings revealed significantly higher diversity for the UFASP microbe in bleached corals compared to unbleached corals. Furthermore, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and taxonomy assessments exhibited notable distinctions in the microbe between the two coral states. Notably, the dominant microorganisms involved in UFASP were Dinophyceae, Sordariomycetes, Ulvophyceae, and Chlorophyceae. Bleaching resulted in a considerable increase in fungal abundance within coral symbionts. A total of 12 KEGG Orthology (KO) were identified in UFASP, with PCoA analysis indicating significant differences in their abundance between bleached and unbleached corals. UFASP's beta-Oxidation module exhibited reduced abundance in bleached corals. Contribution analysis highlighted the participation of Symbiodiniaceae, Ascomycota, Chlorophyta, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria in UFASP. Notably, Symbiodiniaceae and Ascomycota were the major contributors to two UFASP modules, with the latter displaying greater involvement in bleached corals. Furthermore, significant differences in n3 and n6-family metabolites were observed between bleached and unbleached corals. Notably, bleaching induced a reduction in metabolites of Symbiodiniaceae, while an increase in the multiple UFAs abundance was detected in bleached corals. These findings suggest that bleaching-induced alterations coral symbionts composition directly impact the functionality of UFASP, ultimately affecting the corals' capacity to adapt to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Daya Bay Marine Biology Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya, China
| | - Hongqiang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Nansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya, China.
| | - Xiyang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Nansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya, China
| | - Fei Tan
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Nansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya, China
| | - Guan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Nansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya, China
| | - Qi Shi
- Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China; Nansha Marine Ecological and Environmental Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha, China; Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya, China
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Zhang Y, Luo L, Gan P, Chen X, Li X, Pang Y, Yu X, Yu K. Exposure to pentachlorophenol destructs the symbiotic relationship between zooxanthellae and host and induces pathema in coral Porites lutea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167956. [PMID: 37884147 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Stress from chemical pollutants is among the key issues that have adverse impacts on coral reefs. As a persistent organic pollutant, pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been detected in the seawater of Weizhou Island and was proved to have significant adverse effects on aquatic animals. However, little is known about its effects on scleractinian coral. Therefore, we investigated the response of the coral Porites lutea to PCP stress. Coral bleaching, photosynthesis parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities of P. lutea under PCP exposure were documented. After 96 h of exposure, significant tissue loss and bleaching occurred when the PCP concentration exceeded 100 μg/L. The density of symbiotic zooxanthellae decreased from 2.06 × 106 cells/cm2 to 0.93 × 106 cells/cm2 when the PCP concentration increased from 1 μg/L- 1000 μg/L. Long-term exposure of 120 days to PCP at 0.1 μg/L also led to coral bleaching, the maximum photochemical quantum yield of PSII in P. lutea nubbins significantly decreased to 0.482. The analysis of microbial community distribution indicated that the increase of the pathogenic bacterium Citrobacter may be one of the inducers of coral bleaching. Conjoint analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics showed that the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates in zooxanthellae was abnormal, leading to the destruction of its symbiotic relationship with the host. The immune system of the host was disrupted, which could be linked to the prevalence of coral pathema. The toxic responses of PCP on both zooxanthellae and its host were further confirmed by the upregulation of the differential metabolites including 1-naphthylamine and phosphatidylcholine, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Lan Luo
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Pin Gan
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xuan Chen
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xiaoli Li
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yan Pang
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yu
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Kefu Yu
- School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519000, China.
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