1
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Krueger Q, Phippen B, Reitzel A. Antibiotics alter development and gene expression in the model cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17349. [PMID: 38784394 PMCID: PMC11114123 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Antibiotics are commonly used for controlling microbial growth in diseased organisms. However, antibiotic treatments during early developmental stages can have negative impacts on development and physiology that could offset the positive effects of reducing or eliminating pathogens. Similarly, antibiotics can shift the microbial community due to differential effectiveness on resistant and susceptible bacteria. Though antibiotic application does not typically result in mortality of marine invertebrates, little is known about the developmental and transcriptional effects. These sublethal effects could reduce the fitness of the host organism and lead to negative changes after removal of the antibiotics. Here, we quantify the impact of antibiotic treatment on development, gene expression, and the culturable bacterial community of a model cnidarian, Nematostella vectensis. Methods Ampicillin, streptomycin, rifampicin, and neomycin were compared individually at two concentrations, 50 and 200 µg mL-1, and in combination at 50 µg mL-1 each, to assess their impact on N. vectensis. First, we determined the impact antibiotics have on larval development. Next Amplicon 16S rDNA gene sequencing was used to compare the culturable bacteria that persist after antibiotic treatment to determine how these treatments may differentially select against the native microbiome. Lastly, we determined how acute (3-day) and chronic (8-day) antibiotic treatments impact gene expression of adult anemones. Results Under most exposures, the time of larval settlement extended as the concentration of antibiotics increased and had the longest delay of 3 days in the combination treatment. Culturable bacteria persisted through a majority of exposures where we identified 359 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The largest proportion of bacteria belonged to Gammaproteobacteria, and the most common ASVs were identified as Microbacterium and Vibrio. The acute antibiotic exposure resulted in differential expression of genes related to epigenetic mechanisms and neural processes, while constant application resulted in upregulation of chaperones and downregulation of mitochondrial genes when compared to controls. Gene Ontology analyses identified overall depletion of terms related to development and metabolism in both antibiotic treatments. Discussion Antibiotics resulted in a significant increase to settlement time of N. vectensis larvae. Culturable bacterial species after antibiotic treatments were taxonomically diverse. Additionally, the transcriptional effects of antibiotics, and after their removal result in significant differences in gene expression that may impact the physiology of the anemone, which may include removal of bacterial signaling on anemone gene expression. Our research suggests that impacts of antibiotics beyond the reduction of bacteria may be important to consider when they are applied to aquatic invertebrates including reef building corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinton Krueger
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
- Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER) Center, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
| | - Britney Phippen
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
| | - Adam Reitzel
- Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
- Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER) Center, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States of America
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2
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Lima LFO, Alker AT, Morris MM, Edwards RA, de Putron SJ, Dinsdale EA. Pre-Bleaching Coral Microbiome Is Enriched in Beneficial Taxa and Functions. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1005. [PMID: 38792833 PMCID: PMC11123844 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12051005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Coral reef health is tightly connected to the coral holobiont, which is the association between the coral animal and a diverse microbiome functioning as a unit. The coral holobiont depends on key services such as nitrogen and sulfur cycling mediated by the associated bacteria. However, these microbial services may be impaired in response to environmental changes, such as thermal stress. A perturbed microbiome may lead to coral bleaching and disease outbreaks, which have caused an unprecedented loss in coral cover worldwide, particularly correlated to a warming ocean. The response mechanisms of the coral holobiont under high temperatures are not completely understood, but the associated microbial community is a potential source of acquired heat-tolerance. Here we investigate the effects of increased temperature on the taxonomic and functional profiles of coral surface mucous layer (SML) microbiomes in relationship to coral-algal physiology. We used shotgun metagenomics in an experimental setting to understand the dynamics of microbial taxa and genes in the SML microbiome of the coral Pseudodiploria strigosa under heat treatment. The metagenomes of corals exposed to heat showed high similarity at the level of bacterial genera and functional genes related to nitrogen and sulfur metabolism and stress response. The coral SML microbiome responded to heat with an increase in the relative abundance of taxa with probiotic potential, and functional genes for nitrogen and sulfur acquisition. Coral-algal physiology significantly explained the variation in the microbiome at taxonomic and functional levels. These consistent and specific microbial taxa and gene functions that significantly increased in proportional abundance in corals exposed to heat are potentially beneficial to coral health and thermal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís F. O. Lima
- Marine Biology, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA;
- San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Amanda T. Alker
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, SA 5045, USA;
| | - Megan M. Morris
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA;
| | - Robert A. Edwards
- Flinders Accelerator Microbiome Exploration, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia;
| | | | - Elizabeth A. Dinsdale
- Flinders Accelerator Microbiome Exploration, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia;
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3
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Pogoreutz C, Ziegler M. Frenemies on the reef? Resolving the coral-Endozoicomonas association. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:422-434. [PMID: 38216372 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Stony corals are poster child holobionts due to their intimate association with diverse microorganisms from all domains of life. We are only beginning to understand the diverse functions of most of these microbial associates, including potential main contributors to holobiont health and resilience. Among these, bacteria of the elusive genus Endozoicomonas are widely perceived as beneficial symbionts based on their genomic potential and their high prevalence and ubiquitous presence in coral tissues. Simultaneously, evidence of pathogenic and parasitic Endozoicomonas lineages in other marine animals is emerging. Synthesizing the current knowledge on the association of Endozoicomonas with marine holobionts, we challenge the perception of a purely mutualistic coral-Endozoicomonas relationship and propose directions to elucidate its role along the symbiotic spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Pogoreutz
- EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France.
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32 (IFZ), 35392, Giessen, Germany.
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4
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Delgadillo-Ordoñez N, Garcias-Bonet N, Raimundo I, García FC, Villela H, Osman EO, Santoro EP, Curdia J, Rosado JGD, Cardoso P, Alsaggaf A, Barno A, Antony CP, Bocanegra C, Berumen ML, Voolstra CR, Benzoni F, Carvalho S, Peixoto RS. Probiotics reshape the coral microbiome in situ without detectable off-target effects in the surrounding environment. Commun Biol 2024; 7:434. [PMID: 38594357 PMCID: PMC11004148 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06135-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs), or probiotics, can enhance coral resilience against stressors in laboratory trials. However, the ability of probiotics to restructure the coral microbiome in situ is yet to be determined. As a first step to elucidate this, we inoculated putative probiotic bacteria (pBMCs) on healthy colonies of Pocillopora verrucosa in situ in the Red Sea, three times per week, during 3 months. pBMCs significantly influenced the coral microbiome, while bacteria of the surrounding seawater and sediment remained unchanged. The inoculated genera Halomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, and Bacillus were significantly enriched in probiotic-treated corals. Furthermore, the probiotic treatment also correlated with an increase in other beneficial groups (e.g., Ruegeria and Limosilactobacillus), and a decrease in potential coral pathogens, such as Vibrio. As all corals (treated and non-treated) remained healthy throughout the experiment, we could not track health improvements or protection against stress. Our data indicate that healthy, and therefore stable, coral microbiomes can be restructured in situ, although repeated and continuous inoculations may be required in these cases. Further, our study provides supporting evidence that, at the studied scale, pBMCs have no detectable off-target effects on the surrounding microbiomes of seawater and sediment near inoculated corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia Delgadillo-Ordoñez
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Neus Garcias-Bonet
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Inês Raimundo
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Francisca C García
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Helena Villela
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eslam O Osman
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Erika P Santoro
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joao Curdia
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joao G D Rosado
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pedro Cardoso
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Alsaggaf
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adam Barno
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chakkiath Paul Antony
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carolina Bocanegra
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael L Berumen
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Francesca Benzoni
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raquel S Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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5
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Messer LF, Bourne DG, Robbins SJ, Clay M, Bell SC, McIlroy SJ, Tyson GW. A genome-centric view of the role of the Acropora kenti microbiome in coral health and resilience. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2902. [PMID: 38575584 PMCID: PMC10995205 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46905-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial diversity has been extensively explored in reef-building corals. However, the functional roles of coral-associated microorganisms remain poorly elucidated. Here, we recover 191 bacterial and 10 archaeal metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the coral Acropora kenti (formerly A. tenuis) and adjacent seawater, to identify microbial functions and metabolic interactions within the holobiont. We show that 82 MAGs were specific to the A. kenti holobiont, including members of the Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, and Desulfobacterota. A. kenti-specific MAGs displayed significant differences in their genomic features and functional potential relative to seawater-specific MAGs, with a higher prevalence of genes involved in host immune system evasion, nitrogen and carbon fixation, and synthesis of five essential B-vitamins. We find a diversity of A. kenti-specific MAGs encode the biosynthesis of essential amino acids, such as tryptophan, histidine, and lysine, which cannot be de novo synthesised by the host or Symbiodiniaceae. Across a water quality gradient spanning 2° of latitude, A. kenti microbial community composition is correlated to increased temperature and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, with corresponding enrichment in molecular chaperones, nitrate reductases, and a heat-shock protein. We reveal mechanisms of A. kenti-microbiome-symbiosis on the Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the interactions underpinning the health of this keystone holobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren F Messer
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK.
| | - David G Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Steven J Robbins
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Megan Clay
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Sara C Bell
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Simon J McIlroy
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Gene W Tyson
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.
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6
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Voolstra CR, Raina JB, Dörr M, Cárdenas A, Pogoreutz C, Silveira CB, Mohamed AR, Bourne DG, Luo H, Amin SA, Peixoto RS. The coral microbiome in sickness, in health and in a changing world. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41579-024-01015-3. [PMID: 38438489 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01015-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Stony corals, the engines and engineers of reef ecosystems, face unprecedented threats from anthropogenic environmental change. Corals are holobionts that comprise the cnidarian animal host and a diverse community of bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microorganisms. Recent research shows that the bacterial microbiome has a pivotal role in coral biology. A healthy bacterial assemblage contributes to nutrient cycling and stress resilience, but pollution, overfishing and climate change can break down these symbiotic relationships, which results in disease, bleaching and, ultimately, coral death. Although progress has been made in characterizing the spatial-temporal diversity of bacteria, we are only beginning to appreciate their functional contribution. In this Review, we summarize the ecological and metabolic interactions between bacteria and other holobiont members, highlight the biotic and abiotic factors influencing the structure of bacterial communities and discuss the impact of climate change on these communities and their coral hosts. We emphasize how microbiome-based interventions can help to decipher key mechanisms underpinning coral health and promote reef resilience. Finally, we explore how recent technological developments may be harnessed to address some of the most pressing challenges in coral microbiology, providing a road map for future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-Baptiste Raina
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Melanie Dörr
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Claudia Pogoreutz
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | | | - Amin R Mohamed
- Marine Microbiomics Laboratory, Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haiwei Luo
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shady A Amin
- Marine Microbiomics Laboratory, Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Raquel S Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biology Research Center (CBRC), Biological, Environmental Sciences, and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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7
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Kiran A, Hanachi M, Alsayed N, Fassatoui M, Oduaran OH, Allali I, Maslamoney S, Meintjes A, Zass L, Rocha JD, Kefi R, Benkahla A, Ghedira K, Panji S, Mulder N, Fadlelmola FM, Souiai O. The African Human Microbiome Portal: a public web portal of curated metagenomic metadata. Database (Oxford) 2024; 2024:baad092. [PMID: 38204360 PMCID: PMC10782148 DOI: 10.1093/database/baad092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that comprehensive and harmonized metadata are fundamental for effective public data reusability. However, it is often challenging to extract accurate metadata from public repositories. Of particular concern is the metagenomic data related to African individuals, which often omit important information about the particular features of these populations. As part of a collaborative consortium, H3ABioNet, we created a web portal, namely the African Human Microbiome Portal (AHMP), exclusively dedicated to metadata related to African human microbiome samples. Metadata were collected from various public repositories prior to cleaning, curation and harmonization according to a pre-established guideline and using ontology terms. These metadata sets can be accessed at https://microbiome.h3abionet.org/. This web portal is open access and offers an interactive visualization of 14 889 records from 70 bioprojects associated with 72 peer reviewed research articles. It also offers the ability to download harmonized metadata according to the user's applied filters. The AHMP thereby supports metadata search and retrieve operations, facilitating, thus, access to relevant studies linked to the African Human microbiome. Database URL: https://microbiome.h3abionet.org/.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariem Hanachi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics (LR16IPT09), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Faculty of Science of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Nihad Alsayed
- Kush Centre for Genomics and Biomedical Informatics, Biotechnology Perspectives Organization, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Meriem Fassatoui
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics & Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ovokeraye H Oduaran
- The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Imane Allali
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Suresh Maslamoney
- Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Ayton Meintjes
- Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Lyndon Zass
- Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Jorge Da Rocha
- The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Rym Kefi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics & Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Alia Benkahla
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics (LR16IPT09), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Kais Ghedira
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics (LR16IPT09), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Sumir Panji
- Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Nicola Mulder
- Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Faisal M Fadlelmola
- Kush Centre for Genomics and Biomedical Informatics, Biotechnology Perspectives Organization, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Oussema Souiai
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics (LR16IPT09), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust, Blantyre 3, Malawi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool CH64 7TE, UK
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8
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Maire J, Collingro A, Horn M, van Oppen MJH. Chlamydiae in corals: shared functional potential despite broad taxonomic diversity. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae054. [PMID: 38707840 PMCID: PMC11070183 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Cnidarians, such as corals and sea anemones, associate with a wide range of bacteria that have essential functions, including nutrient cycling and the production of antimicrobial compounds. Within cnidarians, bacteria can colonize all microhabitats including the tissues. Among them are obligate intracellular bacteria of the phylum Chlamydiota (chlamydiae) whose impact on cnidarian hosts and holobionts, especially corals, remain unknown. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of previously published 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding data from cnidarians (e.g. coral, jellyfish, and anemones), eight metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of coral-associated chlamydiae, and one MAG of jellyfish-associated chlamydiae to decipher their diversity and functional potential. While the metabarcoding dataset showed an enormous diversity of cnidarian-associated chlamydiae, six out of nine MAGs were affiliated with the Simkaniaceae family. The other three MAGs were assigned to the Parasimkaniaceae, Rhabdochlamydiaceae, and Anoxychlamydiaceae, respectively. All MAGs lacked the genes necessary for an independent existence, lacking any nucleotide or vitamin and most amino acid biosynthesis pathways. Hallmark chlamydial genes, such as a type III secretion system, nucleotide transporters, and genes for host interaction, were encoded in all MAGs. Together these observations suggest an obligate intracellular lifestyle of coral-associated chlamydiae. No unique genes were found in coral-associated chlamydiae, suggesting a lack of host specificity. Additional studies are needed to understand how chlamydiae interact with their coral host, and other microbes in coral holobionts. This first study of the diversity and functional potential of coral-associated chlamydiae improves our understanding of both the coral microbiome and the chlamydial lifestyle and host range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Maire
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Astrid Collingro
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Matthias Horn
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No 3, Townsville 4810, QLD, Australia
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9
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Maire J, Philip GK, Livingston J, Judd LM, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH. Functional potential and evolutionary response to long-term heat selection of bacterial associates of coral photosymbionts. mSystems 2023; 8:e0086023. [PMID: 37909753 PMCID: PMC10746172 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00860-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Symbiotic microorganisms are crucial for the survival of corals and their resistance to coral bleaching in the face of climate change. However, the impact of microbe-microbe interactions on coral functioning is mostly unknown but could be essential factors for coral adaption to future climates. Here, we investigated interactions between cultured dinoflagellates of the Symbiodiniaceae family, essential photosymbionts of corals, and associated bacteria. By assessing the genomic potential of 49 bacteria, we found that they are likely beneficial for Symbiodiniaceae, through the production of B vitamins and antioxidants. Additionally, bacterial genes involved in host-symbiont interactions, such as secretion systems, accumulated mutations following long-term exposure to heat, suggesting symbiotic interactions may change under climate change. This highlights the importance of microbe-microbe interactions in coral functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Maire
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gayle K. Philip
- Melbourne Bioinformatics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jadzia Livingston
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Louise M. Judd
- Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Linda L. Blackall
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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10
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Modolon F, Schultz J, Duarte G, Vilela CLS, Thomas T, Peixoto RS. In situ devices can culture the microbial dark matter of corals. iScience 2023; 26:108374. [PMID: 38162026 PMCID: PMC10755713 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Most microorganisms found in environmental samples have never been cultured and can often only be explored through molecular or microscopic approaches. Here, we adapt the use of in situ diffusion-based devices to culture "yet-to-be-cultured" microorganisms associated with coral mucus and compare this with a traditional culturing method. The culturability of microorganisms associated with mucus of the coral Pocillopora damicornis increased by 420% and 570% with diffusion growth chambers and microwell chip devices, respectively, compared with the traditional method tested. The obtained cultures represent up to 64.4% of the total diversity of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) found in the mucus of the coral P. damicornis. In addition, some previously uncultured microorganisms, such as members of the family Nitrosopumilaceae and halophilic/halotolerant bacteria were cultured. Our results validate alternative microbial culturing strategies to culture coral-associated microorganisms, while significantly increasing the culturability of previous microbial dark matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flúvio Modolon
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Júnia Schultz
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biology Center (CBRC), Environmental and Engineering Sciences Division (BESE Thuwal, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gustavo Duarte
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biology Center (CBRC), Environmental and Engineering Sciences Division (BESE Thuwal, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Caren Leite Spindola Vilela
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Raquel Silva Peixoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biology Center (CBRC), Environmental and Engineering Sciences Division (BESE Thuwal, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia
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11
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Howard RD, Schul MD, Rodriguez Bravo LM, Altieri AH, Meyer JL. Shifts in the coral microbiome in response to in situ experimental deoxygenation. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0057723. [PMID: 37916820 PMCID: PMC10686059 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00577-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Marine hypoxia is a threat for corals but has remained understudied in tropical regions where coral reefs are abundant. Though microbial symbioses can alleviate the effects of ecological stress, we do not yet understand the taxonomic or functional response of the coral microbiome to hypoxia. In this study, we experimentally lowered oxygen levels around Siderastrea siderea and Agaricia lamarcki colonies in situ to observe changes in the coral microbiome in response to deoxygenation. Our results show that hypoxia triggers a stochastic change of the microbiome overall, with some bacterial families changing deterministically after just 48 hours of exposure. These families represent an increase in anaerobic and opportunistic taxa in the microbiomes of both coral species. Thus, marine deoxygenation destabilizes the coral microbiome and increases bacterial opportunism. This work provides novel and fundamental knowledge of the microbial response in coral during hypoxia and may provide insight into holobiont function during stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel D. Howard
- Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Monica D. Schul
- Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Lucia M. Rodriguez Bravo
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Andrew H. Altieri
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
- Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Julie L. Meyer
- Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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12
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Li J, Zou Y, Li Q, Zhang J, Bourne DG, Lyu Y, Liu C, Zhang S. A coral-associated actinobacterium mitigates coral bleaching under heat stress. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:83. [PMID: 37996910 PMCID: PMC10668361 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00540-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The positive effects of exposing corals to microorganisms have been reported though how the benefits are conferred are poorly understood. Here, we isolated an actinobacterial strain (SCSIO 13291) from Pocillopora damicornis with capabilities to synthesize antioxidants, vitamins, and antibacterial and antiviral compounds supported with phenotypic and/or genomic evidence. Strain SCSIO 13291 was labeled with 5 (and - 6)-carboxytetramethylrhodamine, succinimidyl ester and the labeled cell suspension directly inoculated onto the coral polyp tissues when nubbins were under thermal stress in a mesocosm experiment. We then visualized the labelled bacterial cells and analyzed the coral physiological, transcriptome and microbiome to elucidate the effect this strain conferred on the coral holobiont under thermal stress. RESULTS Subsequent microscopic observations confirmed the presence of the bacterium attached to the coral polyps. Addition of the SCSIO 13291 strain reduced signs of bleaching in the corals subjected to heat stress. At the same time, alterations in gene expression, which were involved in reactive oxygen species and light damage mitigation, attenuated apoptosis and exocytosis in addition to metabolite utilization, were observed in the coral host and Symbiodiniaceae populations. In addition, the coral associated bacterial community altered with a more stable ecological network for samples inoculated with the bacterial strain. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide insights into the benefits of a putative actinobacterial probiotic strain that mitigate coral bleaching signs. This study suggests that the inoculation of bacteria can potentially directly benefit the coral holobiont through conferring metabolic activities or through indirect mechanisms of suppling additional nutrient sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China.
| | - Yiyang Zou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiqi Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - David G Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Yuanjiao Lyu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cong Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Si Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Sanya National Marine Ecosystem Research Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China
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13
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Evans JS, Paul VJ, Ushijima B, Pitts KA, Kellogg CA. Investigating microbial size classes associated with the transmission of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). PeerJ 2023; 11:e15836. [PMID: 37637172 PMCID: PMC10460154 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective treatment and prevention of any disease necessitates knowledge of the causative agent, yet the causative agents of most coral diseases remain unknown, in part due to the difficulty of distinguishing the pathogenic microbe(s) among the complex microbial backdrop of coral hosts. Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a particularly destructive disease of unknown etiology, capable of transmitting through the water column and killing entire colonies within a matter of weeks. Here we used a previously described method to (i) isolate diseased and apparently healthy coral colonies within individual mesocosms containing filtered seawater with low microbial background levels; (ii) incubate for several days to enrich the water with coral-shed microbes; (iii) use tangential-flow filtration to concentrate the microbial community in the mesocosm water; and then (iv) filter the resulting concentrate through a sequential series of different pore-sized filters. To investigate the size class of microorganism(s) associated with SCTLD transmission, we used 0.8 µm pore size filters to capture microeukaryotes and expelled zooxanthellae, 0.22 µm pore size filters to capture bacteria and large viruses, and 0.025 µm pore size filters to capture smaller viruses. In an attempt to further refine which size fraction(s) contained the transmissible element of SCTLD, we then applied these filters to healthy "receiver" coral fragments and monitored them for the onset of SCTLD signs over three separate experimental runs. However, several factors outside of our control confounded the transmission results, rendering them inconclusive. As the bulk of prior studies of SCTLD in coral tissues have primarily investigated the associated bacterial community, we chose to characterize the prokaryotic community associated with all mesocosm 0.22 µm pore size filters using Illumina sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. We identified overlaps with prior SCTLD studies, including the presence of numerous previously identified SCTLD bioindicators within our mesocosms. The identification in our mesocosms of specific bacterial amplicon sequence variants that also appear across prior studies spanning different collection years, geographic regions, source material, and coral species, suggests that bacteria may play some role in the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S. Evans
- St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
| | - Valerie J. Paul
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft. Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Blake Ushijima
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft. Pierce, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Biology & Marine Biology, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Kelly A. Pitts
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft. Pierce, Florida, United States of America
| | - Christina A. Kellogg
- St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
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14
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Pascoal F, Tomasino MP, Piredda R, Quero GM, Torgo L, Poulain J, Galand PE, Fuhrman JA, Mitchell A, Tinta T, Turk Dermastia T, Fernandez-Guerra A, Vezzi A, Logares R, Malfatti F, Endo H, Dąbrowska AM, De Pascale F, Sánchez P, Henry N, Fosso B, Wilson B, Toshchakov S, Ferrant GK, Grigorov I, Vieira FRJ, Costa R, Pesant S, Magalhães C. Inter-comparison of marine microbiome sampling protocols. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:84. [PMID: 37598259 PMCID: PMC10439934 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00278-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Research on marine microbial communities is growing, but studies are hard to compare because of variation in seawater sampling protocols. To help researchers in the inter-comparison of studies that use different seawater sampling methodologies, as well as to help them design future sampling campaigns, we developed the EuroMarine Open Science Exploration initiative (EMOSE). Within the EMOSE framework, we sampled thousands of liters of seawater from a single station in the NW Mediterranean Sea (Service d'Observation du Laboratoire Arago [SOLA], Banyuls-sur-Mer), during one single day. The resulting dataset includes multiple seawater processing approaches, encompassing different material-type kinds of filters (cartridge membrane and flat membrane), three different size fractionations (>0.22 µm, 0.22-3 µm, 3-20 µm and >20 µm), and a number of different seawater volumes ranging from 1 L up to 1000 L. We show that the volume of seawater that is filtered does not have a significant effect on prokaryotic and protist diversity, independently of the sequencing strategy. However, there was a clear difference in alpha and beta diversity between size fractions and between these and "whole water" (with no pre-fractionation). Overall, we recommend care when merging data from datasets that use filters of different pore size, but we consider that the type of filter and volume should not act as confounding variables for the tested sequencing strategies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a publicly available dataset effectively allows for the clarification of the impact of marine microbiome methodological options across a wide range of protocols, including large-scale variations in sampled volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Pascoal
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169- 007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Paola Tomasino
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal
| | - Roberta Piredda
- Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Grazia Marina Quero
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnologies, National Research Council (IRBIM-CNR), Largo Fiera della Pesca 2, 60125, Ancona, Italy
| | - Luís Torgo
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Julie Poulain
- Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057, Evry, France
| | - Pierre E Galand
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Écogéochimie des Environnements Benthiques (LECOB), Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Jed A Fuhrman
- Marine & Environmental Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alex Mitchell
- EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Tinkara Tinta
- National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station Piran, Piran, Slovenia
| | | | - Antonio Fernandez-Guerra
- Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alessandro Vezzi
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Ramiro Logares
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM), CSIC. Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, ES08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Hisashi Endo
- Bioinformatics Center, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Japan
| | - Anna Maria Dąbrowska
- Department of Marine Ecology, Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences, Sopot, Poland
| | - Fabio De Pascale
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Pablo Sánchez
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM), CSIC. Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, ES08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nicolas Henry
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, AD2M ECOMAP, UMR 7144, Roscoff, France
- CNRS, FR2424, ABiMS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université, Roscoff, France
| | - Bruno Fosso
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Bryan Wilson
- Department of Biology, John Krebs Field Station, University of Oxford, Wytham, OX2 8QJ, UK
| | | | | | - Ivo Grigorov
- Technical University of Denmark, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Rodrigo Costa
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
- Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB) and i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Stéphane Pesant
- EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1SD, UK.
| | - Catarina Magalhães
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 4450-208, Porto, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169- 007, Porto, Portugal.
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15
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Doering T, Tandon K, Topa SH, Pidot SJ, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH. Genomic exploration of coral-associated bacteria: identifying probiotic candidates to increase coral bleaching resilience in Galaxea fascicularis. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:185. [PMID: 37596630 PMCID: PMC10439622 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01622-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reef-building corals are acutely threatened by ocean warming, calling for active interventions to reduce coral bleaching and mortality. Corals associate with a wide diversity of bacteria which can influence coral health, but knowledge of specific functions that may be beneficial for corals under thermal stress is scant. Under the oxidative stress theory of coral bleaching, bacteria that scavenge reactive oxygen (ROS) or nitrogen species (RNS) are expected to enhance coral thermal resilience. Further, bacterial carbon export might substitute the carbon supply from algal photosymbionts, enhance thermal resilience and facilitate bleaching recovery. To identify probiotic bacterial candidates, we sequenced the genomes of 82 pure-cultured bacteria that were isolated from the emerging coral model Galaxea fascicularis. RESULTS Genomic analyses showed bacterial isolates were affiliated with 37 genera. Isolates such as Ruegeria, Muricauda and Roseovarius were found to encode genes for the synthesis of the antioxidants mannitol, glutathione, dimethylsulfide, dimethylsulfoniopropionate, zeaxanthin and/or β-carotene. Genes involved in RNS-scavenging were found in many G. fascicularis-associated bacteria, which represents a novel finding for several genera (including Pseudophaeobacter). Transporters that are suggested to export carbon (semiSWEET) were detected in seven isolates, including Pseudovibrio and Roseibium. Further, a range of bacterial strains, including strains of Roseibium and Roseovarius, revealed genomic features that may enhance colonisation and association of bacteria with the coral host, such as secretion systems and eukaryote-like repeat proteins. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides an in-depth genomic analysis of the functional potential of G. fascicularis-associated bacteria and identifies novel combinations of traits that may enhance the coral's ability to withstand coral bleaching. Identifying and characterising bacteria that are beneficial for corals is critical for the development of effective probiotics that boost coral climate resilience. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talisa Doering
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Kshitij Tandon
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Sanjida H. Topa
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Sacha J. Pidot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Linda L. Blackall
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD Australia
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16
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McCauley M, Goulet TL, Jackson CR, Loesgen S. Systematic review of cnidarian microbiomes reveals insights into the structure, specificity, and fidelity of marine associations. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4899. [PMID: 37580316 PMCID: PMC10425419 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39876-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms play essential roles in the health and resilience of cnidarians. Understanding the factors influencing cnidarian microbiomes requires cross study comparisons, yet the plethora of protocols used hampers dataset integration. We unify 16S rRNA gene sequences from cnidarian microbiome studies under a single analysis pipeline. We reprocess 12,010 cnidarian microbiome samples from 186 studies, alongside 3,388 poriferan, 370 seawater samples, and 245 cultured Symbiodiniaceae, unifying ~6.5 billion sequence reads. Samples are partitioned by hypervariable region and sequencing platform to reduce sequencing variability. This systematic review uncovers an incredible diversity of 86 archaeal and bacterial phyla associated with Cnidaria, and highlights key bacteria hosted across host sub-phylum, depth, and microhabitat. Shallow (< 30 m) water Alcyonacea and Actinaria are characterized by highly shared and relatively abundant microbial communities, unlike Scleractinia and most deeper cnidarians. Utilizing the V4 region, we find that cnidarian microbial composition, richness, diversity, and structure are primarily influenced by host phylogeny, sampling depth, and ocean body, followed by microhabitat and sampling date. We identify host and geographical generalist and specific Endozoicomonas clades within Cnidaria and Porifera. This systematic review forms a framework for understanding factors governing cnidarian microbiomes and creates a baseline for assessing stress associated dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M McCauley
- Department of Chemistry, Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Centre, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - T L Goulet
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - C R Jackson
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - S Loesgen
- Department of Chemistry, Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, University of Florida, St. Augustine, FL, USA
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17
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Page CE, Ainsworth TD, Leggat W, Egan S, Gupta AS, Raoult V, Gaston TF. Localising terrestrially derived pollution inputs to threatened near-shore coral reefs through stable isotope, water quality and oceanographic analysis. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115193. [PMID: 37399735 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Near-shore coral reefs are at high-risk of exposure to pollution from terrestrial activities. Pollution impacts can vary with site-specific factors that span sources, rainfall and oceanographic characteristics. To effectively manage pollution, we need to understand how these factors interact. In this study, we detect terrestrially derived nutrient inputs on near-shore reefs at Norfolk Island, South Pacific by analysis of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and stable isotopes. When compared to a reef site with predominantly oceanic inputs, we found that both the lagoon and a small reef adjacent to a catchment have signatures of human-derived DIN shown through depleted δ15N signatures in macroalgae. We find pollution exposure of reef sites is associated with known and unknown sources, rainfall and mixing of water with the open ocean. In characterising exposure of reef sites we highlight the role of site-specific context in influencing pollution exposure for benthic communities even in remote island systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Page
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia.
| | - T D Ainsworth
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
| | - W Leggat
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University Dr, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - S Egan
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
| | - A Sen Gupta
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UNSW, Kensington, NSW 2033, Australia
| | - V Raoult
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University Dr, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Marine Ecology Group, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - T F Gaston
- University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University Dr, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
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18
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Xu M, Cheng K, Xiao B, Tong M, Cai Z, Jong MC, Chen G, Zhou J. Bacterial Communities Vary from Different Scleractinian Coral Species and between Bleached and Non-Bleached Corals. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0491022. [PMID: 37191552 PMCID: PMC10269541 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04910-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bleaching is one of the most relevant factors implicated in the integrity of coral reef ecosystems, with the increasing frequency and intensity of damaging events representing a serious threat to reef biodiversity. Here, we analyzed changes in coral-associated bacteria from three types of non-bleached and bleached scleractinian corals (Acropora digitifera, Galaxea fascicularis, and Porites pukoensis) in Hainan Luhuitou peninsula coastal areas. The community structure of symbiotic bacteria differed significantly among the three apparently healthy corals. The bleached corals had higher bacterial alpha diversity and some specific bacteria genera, including Ruegeria, Methyloceanibacter, Filomicrobium, Halioglobus, Rubripirellula, Rhodopirellula, Silicimonas, Blastopirellula, Sva0996 marine group, Woeseia, and unclassified_c_Gammaproteobacteria, were consistently increased in bleached groups. Network analysis revealed significantly different degrees of modularity between bleached and non-bleached groups at the bacterial genus level, and a higher proportion of links was dominated by positive co-occurrences. Functional prediction analysis illustrated that coral-associated bacteria remained relatively consistent in the bleached and non-bleached groups. Structure equation modeling revealed that the bacterial community diversity and function were directly influenced by host and environment factors. These findings suggested that coral-associated bacterial responses to bleaching occur in a host-dependent manner, informing novel strategies for restoring coral and aiding adaption to bleaching stress. IMPORTANCE Accumulating evidence indicates that coral-associated bacteria play an important role in the health of holobionts. However, the variability of the symbiotic bacterial community structure among coral species with different coral health statuses remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated three apparent non-bleached (healthy) and bleached coral species (sampled in situ), involving related symbiotic bacterial profiles, including composition, alpha diversity, network relationship, and potential function. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to analyze the relationship between coral status and abiotic and biotic factors. The bacterial community structure of different groups was shown to exhibit host-specific traits. Both host and environmental impacts had primary effects on coral-associated microbial communities. Future studies are needed to identify the mechanisms that mediate divergent microbial consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiting Xu
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai), Weihai, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Keke Cheng
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
| | - Baohua Xiao
- Shenzhen Institute of Guangdong Ocean University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengmeng Tong
- Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhonghua Cai
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mui-Choo Jong
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guofu Chen
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, People’s Republic of China
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai), Weihai, Shandong Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
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19
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Segaran TC, Azra MN, Lananan F, Wang Y. Microbe, climate change and marine environment: Linking trends and research hotspots. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023:106015. [PMID: 37291004 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microbes, or microorganisms, have been the foundation of the biosphere for over 3 billion years and have played an essential role in shaping our planet. The available knowledge on the topic of microbes associated with climate change has the potential to reshape upcoming research trends globally. As climate change impacts the ocean or marine ecosystem, the responses of these "unseen life" will heavily influence the achievement of a sustainable evolutionary environment. The present study aims to identify microbial-related research under changing climate within the marine environment through the mapping of visualized graphs of the available literature. We used scientometric methods to retrieve documents from the Web of Science platform in the Core Collection (WOSCC) database, analyzing a total of 2767 documents based on scientometric indicators. Our findings show that this research area is growing exponentially, with the most influential keywords being "microbial diversity," "bacteria," and "ocean acidification," and the most cited being "microorganism" and "diversity." The identification of influential clusters in the field of marine science provides insight into the hot spots and frontiers of research in this area. Prominent clusters include "coral microbiome," "hypoxic zone," "novel Thermoplasmatota clade," "marine dinoflagellate bloom," and "human health." Analyzing emerging trends and transformative changes in this field can inform the creation of special issues or research topics in selected journals, thus increasing visibility and engagement among the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thirukanthan Chandra Segaran
- Climate Change Adaptation Laboratory, Institute of Marine Biotechnology (IMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Mohamad Nor Azra
- Climate Change Adaptation Laboratory, Institute of Marine Biotechnology (IMB), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Research Center for Marine and Land Bioindustry, Earth Sciences and Maritime Organization, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Pemenang, West Nusa Tenggara, 83352, Indonesia.
| | - Fathurrahman Lananan
- East Coast Environmental Research Institute, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Gong Badak Campus, 21300, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
| | - Youji Wang
- International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
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20
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Sengupta P, Sivabalan SKM, Mahesh A, Palanikumar I, Kuppa Baskaran DK, Raman K. Big Data for a Small World: A Review on Databases and Resources for Studying Microbiomes. J Indian Inst Sci 2023; 103:1-17. [PMID: 37362854 PMCID: PMC10073628 DOI: 10.1007/s41745-023-00370-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms are ubiquitous in nature and form complex community networks to survive in various environments. This community structure depends on numerous factors like nutrient availability, abiotic factors like temperature and pH as well as microbial composition. Categorising accessible biomes according to their habitats would help in understanding the complexity of the environment-specific communities. Owing to the recent improvements in sequencing facilities, researchers have started to explore diverse microbiomes rapidly and attempts have been made to study microbial crosstalk. However, different metagenomics sampling, preprocessing, and annotation methods make it difficult to compare multiple studies and hinder the recycling of data. Huge datasets originating from these experiments demand systematic computational methods to extract biological information beyond microbial compositions. Further exploration of microbial co-occurring patterns across the biomes could help us in designing cross-biome experiments. In this review, we catalogue databases with system-specific microbiomes, discussing publicly available common databases as well as specialised databases for a range of microbiomes. If the new datasets generated in the future could maintain at least biome-specific annotation, then researchers could use those contemporary tools for relevant and bias-free analysis of complex metagenomics data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratyay Sengupta
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Centre for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
| | | | - Amrita Mahesh
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Centre for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
| | - Indumathi Palanikumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Centre for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Kuppa Baskaran
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Centre for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
| | - Karthik Raman
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Centre for Integrative Biology and Systems mEdicine (IBSE), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
- Robert Bosch Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (RBCDSAI), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036 India
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21
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Mohamed AR, Ochsenkühn MA, Kazlak AM, Moustafa A, Amin SA. The coral microbiome: towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of coral-microbiota interactions. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad005. [PMID: 36882224 PMCID: PMC10045912 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Corals live in a complex, multipartite symbiosis with diverse microbes across kingdoms, some of which are implicated in vital functions, such as those related to resilience against climate change. However, knowledge gaps and technical challenges limit our understanding of the nature and functional significance of complex symbiotic relationships within corals. Here, we provide an overview of the complexity of the coral microbiome focusing on taxonomic diversity and functions of well-studied and cryptic microbes. Mining the coral literature indicate that while corals collectively harbour a third of all marine bacterial phyla, known bacterial symbionts and antagonists of corals represent a minute fraction of this diversity and that these taxa cluster into select genera, suggesting selective evolutionary mechanisms enabled these bacteria to gain a niche within the holobiont. Recent advances in coral microbiome research aimed at leveraging microbiome manipulation to increase coral's fitness to help mitigate heat stress-related mortality are discussed. Then, insights into the potential mechanisms through which microbiota can communicate with and modify host responses are examined by describing known recognition patterns, potential microbially derived coral epigenome effector proteins and coral gene regulation. Finally, the power of omics tools used to study corals are highlighted with emphasis on an integrated host-microbiota multiomics framework to understand the underlying mechanisms during symbiosis and climate change-driven dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin R Mohamed
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Michael A Ochsenkühn
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmed M Kazlak
- Systems Genomics Laboratory, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Moustafa
- Systems Genomics Laboratory, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Department of Biology, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Shady A Amin
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
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22
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Paulino GVB, Félix CR, da Silva Oliveira FA, Gomez-Silvan C, Melo VMM, Andersen GL, Landell MF. Microbiota of healthy and bleached corals of the species Siderastrea stellata in response to river influx and seasonality in Brazilian northeast. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:26496-26509. [PMID: 36369436 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23976-9] [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: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although coral bleaching is increasing worldwide due to warming oceans exacerbated by climate change, there has been a growing recognition that local stressors may play an additional role. Important stressors include the physicochemical and microbiological influences that are related to river runoff. Here, we investigated the microbiota associated to mucus and tissue of endemic coral Siderastrea stellata, collected from Brazilian northeast coral reefs of Barra de Santo Antônio (subject to river runoff) and Maragogi (minimal river runoff) during both the rainy and dry seasons. We sequenced the V4 region of 16S rDNA and used multiple R packages to process raw data and performed statistical analysis to reveal the microbial community structure composition and functional predictions. Major dissimilarities between microbial communities were related to seasonality, while healthy and bleached specimens were mainly associated with the enrichment of several less abundant taxa involved in specific metabolic functions, mainly related to the nitrogen cycle. We were not able to observe the dominance of groups that has been previously associated with bleachings, such as Vibrionaceae or Burkholderiaceae. The influx of freshwater appears to increase the homogeneity between individuals in Barra de Santo Antonio, especially during the rainy season. By contrast, we observed an increased homogeneity between samples in Maragogi during the dry season. Understanding the dynamics of the coral microbiota and how bleaching appears in response to specific environmental variables, in addition to determining the conditions that lead to a more robust coral microbiota, is essential for choosing the most appropriate area and conservation methods, for example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Vasconcelos Bastos Paulino
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Diversidade Biológica E Conservação Nos Trópicos, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Ciro Ramon Félix
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Diversidade Biológica E Conservação Nos Trópicos, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Francisca Andréa da Silva Oliveira
- Laboratório de Ecologia Microbiana E Biotecnologia (Lembiotech), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Campus Do Pici, Bloco 909, Fortaleza, CE, 60455-760, Brazil
| | - Cinta Gomez-Silvan
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Vânia M M Melo
- Laboratório de Ecologia Microbiana E Biotecnologia (Lembiotech), Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Campus Do Pici, Bloco 909, Fortaleza, CE, 60455-760, Brazil
| | - Gary L Andersen
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Melissa Fontes Landell
- Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
- Setor de Genética-ICBS, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Av. Lourival Melo Mota, S/N, Tabuleiro Dos Martins, CEP: 57072-900, Maceió, AL, Brasil.
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23
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Krishnaswamy VG, Mani K, Senthil Kumar P, Rangasamy G, Sridharan R, Rethnaraj C, Amirtha Ganesh SS, Kalidas S, Palanisamy V, Chellama NJ, Chowdula S, Parthasarathy V, Rajendran S. Prevalence of differential microbiome in healthy, diseased and nipped colonies of corals, Porites lutea in the Gulf of Kachchh, north-west coast of India. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114622. [PMID: 36279912 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are constantly subjected to multiple stresses like diseases and fish predation, which can profoundly influence the coral microbiome. This study investigated the differences in bacterial community structure of healthy, white syndrome affected and blenny nipped coral colonies of Porites lutea, collected from the coral reefs of Gulf of Kachchh, north-west coast of India. Present study observed that the stressed coral colonies harbored more OTUs and contained higher diversity values compared to healthy corals colonies. Similarly, beta diversity analysis indicated the dissimilarities among the three coral samples analyzed. Though the taxonomy analysis indicated bacterial phyla like Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria among the entire coral samples studied, there was a variation in their relative abundances. Huge variations were observed in the relative dominance at the bacterial genera level. About 13phyla and 11 genera was identified in healthy coral. The PBN sample was found to contain Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Lentisphaerae as dominant phyla and Endozoicomonas, Dyella, Woeseia, and Winogradskyella as dominant genera. The PWS sample contained Proteobacteria, Lentisphaerae, Spirochaetes, and Tenericutes as dominant phyla and Endozoicomonas, Arcobacter, Sunxiuqinia, and Carboxylicivirgia as dominant genera. Among the healthy samples, sequences belonging to Uncultured Rhodospirillaceae were dominant, while Woeseia and sequences belonging to Uncultured Rhodovibrionaceae were dominant among the blenny nipped white syndrome infected corals. Although any previously established pathogen was not identified, present study revealed the presence of a potentially pathogenic bacterium, Arcobacter, among the diseased corals. It also demonstrated a dynamic microbiome among the Porites lutea colonies on subjecting to various stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veena Gayathri Krishnaswamy
- Department of Biotechnology, Stella Maris College (Autonomous), Affiliated to University of Madras, Chennai, 600 086, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Kabilan Mani
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, 641 004, India.
| | - P Senthil Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, 603110, Tamil Nadu, India; Centre of Excellence in Water Research (CEWAR), Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Kalavakkam, 603 110, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Biotechnology Engineering and Food Technology, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India; School of Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
| | - Gayathri Rangasamy
- Department of Sustainable Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Chennai, 602105, India
| | - Rajalakshmi Sridharan
- Department of Biotechnology, Stella Maris College (Autonomous), Affiliated to University of Madras, Chennai, 600 086, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Sai Sruthi Amirtha Ganesh
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, 641 004, India
| | - Suryasri Kalidas
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, 641 004, India
| | - Vignesh Palanisamy
- Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, 641 004, India
| | - Nisha Jayasingh Chellama
- Marine Biology Regional Station - Zoological Survey of India, #130 Santhome High Road, Chennai, 600028, India
| | - Satyanarayana Chowdula
- Marine Biology Regional Station - Zoological Survey of India, #130 Santhome High Road, Chennai, 600028, India
| | - V Parthasarathy
- Department of Physics, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (Deemed to be University), Padur, 603103, Chennai, India
| | - Saravanan Rajendran
- Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tarapaca, 1775, Arica, Chile
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24
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Taniguchi A, Kuroyanagi Y, Aoki R, Eguchi M. Community Structure and Predicted Functions of Actively Growing Bacteria Responsive to Released Coral Mucus in Surrounding Seawater. Microbes Environ 2023; 38:ME23024. [PMID: 37704450 PMCID: PMC10522842 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me23024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A direct relationship exists between diverse corals and fish farming in Keten Bay, Amami-Oshima, Japan. The release of coral mucus has a significant impact on the microbial activity of surrounding seawater. To obtain a more detailed understanding of biogeochemical cycles in this environment, the effects of coral mucus on the community structure and function of bacteria in surrounding seawater need to be elucidated. We herein used a bromodeoxyuridine approach to investigate the structures and functions of bacterial communities growing close to mucus derived from two different Acropora corals, AC1 and AC2. The alpha diversities of actively growing bacteria (AGB) were lower in mucus-containing seawater than in control seawater and their community structures significantly differed, suggesting that the growth of specific bacteria was modulated by coral mucus. Rhodobacteraceae and Cryomorphaceae species were the most dominant AGB in response to the mucus of Acropora AC1 and AC2, respectively. In contrast, the growth of Actinomarinaceae, Alteromonadaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, and SAR86 clade bacteria was inhibited by coral mucus. The results of a Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2) ana-lysis suggested that the predicted functions of AGB in mucus-containing seawater differed from those in seawater. These functions were related to the biosynthesis and degradation of the constituents of coral mucus, such as polysaccharides, sugar acids, and aromatic compounds. The present study demonstrated that complex bacterial community structures and functions may be shaped by coral mucus, suggesting that corals foster diverse bacterial communities that enhance the ecological resilience of this fish farming area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akito Taniguchi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Naka-machi, Nara, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Yuki Kuroyanagi
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Naka-machi, Nara, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Ryuichiro Aoki
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Naka-machi, Nara, Nara 631-8505, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Eguchi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kindai University, 3327-204 Naka-machi, Nara, Nara 631-8505, Japan
- Agricultural Technology and Innovation Research Institute, Kindai University, 3327-204 Naka-machi, Nara, Nara 631-8505, Japan
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25
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Puntin G, Sweet M, Fraune S, Medina M, Sharp K, Weis VM, Ziegler M. Harnessing the Power of Model Organisms To Unravel Microbial Functions in the Coral Holobiont. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0005322. [PMID: 36287022 PMCID: PMC9769930 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00053-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stony corals build the framework of coral reefs, ecosystems of immense ecological and economic importance. The existence of these ecosystems is threatened by climate change and other anthropogenic stressors that manifest in microbial dysbiosis such as coral bleaching and disease, often leading to coral mortality. Despite a significant amount of research, the mechanisms ultimately underlying these destructive phenomena, and what could prevent or mitigate them, remain to be resolved. This is mostly due to practical challenges in experimentation on corals and the highly complex nature of the coral holobiont that also includes bacteria, archaea, protists, and viruses. While the overall importance of these partners is well recognized, their specific contributions to holobiont functioning and their interspecific dynamics remain largely unexplored. Here, we review the potential of adopting model organisms as more tractable systems to address these knowledge gaps. We draw on parallels from the broader biological and biomedical fields to guide the establishment, implementation, and integration of new and emerging model organisms with the aim of addressing the specific needs of coral research. We evaluate the cnidarian models Hydra, Aiptasia, Cassiopea, and Astrangia poculata; review the fast-evolving field of coral tissue and cell cultures; and propose a framework for the establishment of "true" tropical reef-building coral models. Based on this assessment, we also suggest future research to address key aspects limiting our ability to understand and hence improve the response of reef-building corals to future ocean conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Puntin
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Marine Holobiomics Lab, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Michael Sweet
- Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian Fraune
- Institute for Zoology and Organismic Interactions, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Mónica Medina
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Koty Sharp
- Department of Biology, Marine Biology, and Environmental Science, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Virginia M. Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Marine Holobiomics Lab, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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26
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Abstract
The vast majority of environmental microbes have not yet been cultured, and most of the knowledge on coral-associated microbes (CAMs) has been generated from amplicon sequencing and metagenomes. However, exploring cultured CAMs is key for a detailed and comprehensive characterization of the roles of these microbes in shaping coral health and, ultimately, for their biotechnological use as, for example, coral probiotics and other natural products. Here, the strategies and technologies that have been used to access cultured CAMs are presented, while advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these strategies are discussed. We highlight the existing gaps and potential improvements in culture-dependent methodologies, indicating several possible alternatives (including culturomics and in situ diffusion devices) that could be applied to retrieve the CAM "dark matter" (i.e., the currently undescribed CAMs). This study provides the most comprehensive synthesis of the methodologies used to recover the cultured coral microbiome to date and draws suggestions for the development of the next generation of CAM culturomics.
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27
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Huntley N, Brandt ME, Becker CC, Miller CA, Meiling SS, Correa AMS, Holstein DM, Muller EM, Mydlarz LD, Smith TB, Apprill A. Experimental transmission of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease results in differential microbial responses within coral mucus and tissue. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:46. [PMID: 37938315 PMCID: PMC9723713 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00126-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) is a widespread and deadly disease that affects nearly half of Caribbean coral species. To understand the microbial community response to this disease, we performed a disease transmission experiment on US Virgin Island (USVI) corals, exposing six species of coral with varying susceptibility to SCTLD. The microbial community of the surface mucus and tissue layers were examined separately using a small subunit ribosomal RNA gene-based sequencing approach, and data were analyzed to identify microbial community shifts following disease acquisition, potential causative pathogens, as well as compare microbiota composition to field-based corals from the USVI and Florida outbreaks. While all species displayed similar microbiome composition with disease acquisition, microbiome similarity patterns differed by both species and mucus or tissue microhabitat. Further, disease exposed but not lesioned corals harbored a mucus microbial community similar to those showing disease signs, suggesting that mucus may serve as an early warning detection for the onset of SCTLD. Like other SCTLD studies in Florida, Rhodobacteraceae, Arcobacteraceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Fusibacter, Marinifilaceae, and Vibrionaceae dominated diseased corals. This study demonstrates the differential response of the mucus and tissue microorganisms to SCTLD and suggests that mucus microorganisms may be diagnostic for early disease exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Huntley
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, USVI, USA
- Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Marilyn E Brandt
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, USVI, USA
| | - Cynthia C Becker
- Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
- MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, Cambridge and Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Carolyn A Miller
- Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Sonora S Meiling
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, USVI, USA
| | | | - Daniel M Holstein
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Science, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Tyler B Smith
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, USVI, USA
| | - Amy Apprill
- Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
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28
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Haydon TD, Suggett DJ, Siboni N, Kahlke T, Camp EF, Seymour JR. Temporal Variation in the Microbiome of Tropical and Temperate Octocorals. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 83:1073-1087. [PMID: 34331071 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01823-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial members of the coral holobiont play an important role in determining coral fitness. However, most knowledge of the coral microbiome has come from reef-building scleractinian corals, with far less known about the nature and importance of the microbiome of octocorals (subclass Octocorallia), which contribute significantly to reef biodiversity and functional complexity. We examined the diversity and structure of the bacterial component of octocoral microbiomes over summer and winter, with a focus on two temperate (Erythropodium hicksoni, Capnella gaboensis; Sydney Harbour) and two tropical (Sinularia sp., Sarcophyton sp.; Heron Island) species common to reefs in eastern Australia. Bacterial communities associated with these octocorals were also compared to common temperate (Plesiastrea versipora) and tropical (Acropora aspera) hard corals from the same reefs. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, bacterial diversity was found to be heterogeneous among octocorals, but we observed changes in composition between summer and winter for some species (C. gaboensis and Sinularia sp.), but not for others (E. hicksoni and Sarcophyton sp.). Bacterial community structure differed significantly between all octocoral species within both the temperate and tropical environments. However, on a seasonal basis, those differences were less pronounced. The microbiomes of C. gaboensis and Sinularia sp. were dominated by bacteria belonging to the genus Endozoicomonas, which were a key conserved feature of their core microbiomes. In contrast to previous studies, our analysis revealed that Endozoicomonas phylotypes are shared across different octocoral species, inhabiting different environments. Together, our data demonstrates that octocorals harbour a broad diversity of bacterial partners, some of which comprise 'core microbiomes' that potentially impart important functional roles to their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trent D Haydon
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - David J Suggett
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Nachshon Siboni
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Tim Kahlke
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Emma F Camp
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Justin R Seymour
- Climate Change Cluster, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
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Evans JS, Paul VJ, Ushijima B, Kellogg CA. Combining tangential flow filtration and size fractionation of mesocosm water as a method for the investigation of waterborne coral diseases. Biol Methods Protoc 2022; 7:bpac007. [PMID: 35187265 PMCID: PMC8848328 DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpac007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The causative agents of most coral diseases today remain unknown, complicating disease response and restoration efforts. Pathogen identifications can be hampered by complex microbial communities naturally associated with corals and seawater, which create complicating "background noise" that can potentially obscure a pathogen's signal. Here, we outline an approach to investigate waterborne coral diseases that use a combination of coral mesocosms, tangential flow filtration, and size fractionation to reduce the impact of this background microbial diversity, compensate for unknown infectious dose, and further narrow the suspect pool of potential pathogens. As proof of concept, we use this method to compare the bacterial communities shed into six Montastraea cavernosa coral mesocosms and demonstrate this method effectively detects differences between diseased and healthy coral colonies. We found several amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in the diseased mesocosms that represented 100% matches with ASVs identified in prior studies of diseased coral tissue, further illustrating the effectiveness of our approach. Our described method is an effective alternative to using coral tissue or mucus to investigate waterborne coral diseases of unknown etiology and can help more quickly narrow the pool of possible pathogens to better aid in disease response efforts. Additionally, this versatile method can be easily adapted to characterize either the entire microbial community associated with a coral or target-specific microbial groups, making it a beneficial approach regardless of whether a causative agent is suspected or is completely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Evans
- U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | | | - Blake Ushijima
- Smithsonian Marine Station, Ft. Pierce, FL 34949, USA
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
| | - Christina A Kellogg
- U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
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30
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Selberherr E, Penz T, König L, Conrady B, Siegl A, Horn M, Schmitz-Esser S. The life cycle-dependent transcriptional profile of the obligate intracellular amoeba symbiont Amoebophilus asiaticus. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6499296. [PMID: 34999767 PMCID: PMC8831229 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-living amoebae often harbor obligate intracellular bacterial symbionts. Amoebophilus (A.) asiaticus is a representative of a lineage of amoeba symbionts in the phylum Bacteroidota. Here, we analyse the transcriptome of A. asiaticus strain 5a2 at four time points during its infection cycle and replication within the Acanthamoeba host using RNA sequencing. Our results reveal a dynamic transcriptional landscape throughout different A. asiaticus life cycle stages. Many intracellular bacteria and pathogens utilize eukaryotic-like proteins (ELPs) for host cell interaction and the A. asiaticus 5a2 genome shows a particularly high abundance of ELPs. We show the expression of all genes encoding ELPs and found many ELPs to be differentially expressed. At the replicative stage of A. asiaticus, ankyrin repeat proteins and tetratricopeptide/Sel1-like repeat proteins were upregulated. At the later time points, high expression levels of a type 6 secretion system that likely prepares for a new infection cycle after lysing its host, were found. This study reveals comprehensive insights into the intracellular lifestyle of A. asiaticus and highlights candidate genes for host cell interaction. The results from this study have implications for other intracellular bacteria such as other amoeba-associated bacteria and the arthropod symbionts Cardinium forming the sister lineage of A. asiaticus.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Selberherr
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria
| | - T Penz
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,current affiliation: CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - L König
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - B Conrady
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A Siegl
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Horn
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Schmitz-Esser
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, USA
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31
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Moynihan MA, Goodkin NF, Morgan KM, Kho PYY, Lopes Dos Santos A, Lauro FM, Baker DM, Martin P. Coral-associated nitrogen fixation rates and diazotrophic diversity on a nutrient-replete equatorial reef. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:233-246. [PMID: 34294880 PMCID: PMC8692400 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01054-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The role of diazotrophs in coral physiology and reef biogeochemistry remains poorly understood, in part because N2 fixation rates and diazotrophic community composition have only been jointly analyzed in the tissue of one tropical coral species. We performed field-based 15N2 tracer incubations during nutrient-replete conditions to measure diazotroph-derived nitrogen (DDN) assimilation into three species of scleractinian coral (Pocillopora acuta, Goniopora columna, Platygyra sinensis). Using multi-marker metabarcoding (16S rRNA, nifH, 18S rRNA), we analyzed DNA- and RNA-based communities in coral tissue and skeleton. Despite low N2 fixation rates, DDN assimilation supplied up to 6% of the holobiont's N demand. Active coral-associated diazotrophs were chiefly Cluster I (aerobes or facultative anaerobes), suggesting that oxygen may control coral-associated diazotrophy. Highest N2 fixation rates were observed in the endolithic community (0.20 µg N cm-2 per day). While the diazotrophic community was similar between the tissue and skeleton, RNA:DNA ratios indicate potential differences in relative diazotrophic activity between these compartments. In Pocillopora, DDN was found in endolithic, host, and symbiont compartments, while diazotrophic nifH sequences were only observed in the endolithic layer, suggesting a possible DDN exchange between the endolithic community and the overlying coral tissue. Our findings demonstrate that coral-associated diazotrophy is significant, even in nutrient-rich waters, and suggest that endolithic microbes are major contributors to coral nitrogen cycling on reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly A Moynihan
- Earth Observatory of Singapore, Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Nathalie F Goodkin
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kyle M Morgan
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Phyllis Y Y Kho
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Federico M Lauro
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David M Baker
- Division for Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Patrick Martin
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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32
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Thatcher C, Høj L, Bourne DG. Probiotics for coral aquaculture: challenges and considerations. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 73:380-386. [PMID: 34749049 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Globally, coral reefs are under pressure from climate change, with concerning declines in coral abundance observed due to increasing cumulative impacts. Active intervention measures that mitigate the declines are increasingly being applied to buy time for coral reefs as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy. One such mitigation strategy is coral restoration based on large-scale coral aquaculture to provide stock for reseeding reefs, with the added potential of selecting corals that better tolerate environmental stress. Application of probiotics during production and deployment, to modulate the naturally occurring bacteria associated with corals, may confer health benefits such as disease resistance, increased environmental tolerance or improved coral nutrition. Here, we briefly describe coral associated bacteria and their role in the coral holobiont, identify probiotics traits potentially beneficial to coral, and discuss current research directions required to develop, test and verify the feasibility for probiotics to improve coral aquaculture at industrial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callaway Thatcher
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas, QLD 4814, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, DB17-148, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Lone Høj
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, DB17-148, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, 1 Angus Smith Drive, Douglas, QLD 4814, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, DB17-148, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
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33
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Luo D, Wang X, Feng X, Tian M, Wang S, Tang SL, Ang P, Yan A, Luo H. Population differentiation of Rhodobacteraceae along with coral compartments. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:3286-3302. [PMID: 34017056 PMCID: PMC8528864 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01009-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Coral mucus, tissue, and skeleton harbor compositionally different microbiota, but how these coral compartments shape the microbial evolution remains unexplored. Here, we sampled bacteria inhabiting a prevalent coral species Platygyra acuta and sequenced genomes of 234 isolates comprising two populations in Rhodobacteraceae, an alphaproteobacterial lineage representing a significant but variable proportion (5-50%) of the coral microbiota. The Ruegeria population (20 genomes) contains three clades represented by eight, six, and six isolates predominantly sampled from the skeleton (outgroup), mucus (clade-M), and skeleton (clade-S), respectively. The clade-M possesses functions involved in the utilization of coral osmolytes abundant in the mucus (e.g., methylamines, DMSP, taurine, and L-proline), whereas the clade-S uniquely harbors traits that may promote adaptation to the low-energy and diurnally anoxic skeleton (e.g., sulfur oxidation and swimming motility). These between-clade genetic differences were largely supported by physiological assays. Expanded analyses by including genomes of 24 related isolates (including seven new genomes) from other marine environments suggest that clade-M and clade-S may have diversified in non-coral habitats, but they also consolidated a key role of distinct coral compartments in diversifying many of the above-mentioned traits. The unassigned Rhodobacteraceae population (214 genomes) varies only at a few dozen nucleotide sites across the whole genomes, but the number of between-compartment migration events predicted by the Slatkin-Maddison test supported that dispersal limitation between coral compartments is another key mechanism diversifying microbial populations. Collectively, our results suggest that different coral compartments represent ecologically distinct and microgeographically separate habitats that drive the evolution of the coral microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danli Luo
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR ,grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaojun Wang
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR ,grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Feng
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR ,grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mengdan Tian
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Sishuo Wang
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Sen-Lin Tang
- grid.506939.0Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Put Ang
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Aixin Yan
- grid.194645.b0000000121742757School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Haiwei Luo
- grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR ,grid.10784.3a0000 0004 1937 0482Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
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34
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Maire J, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH. Intracellular Bacterial Symbionts in Corals: Challenges and Future Directions. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2209. [PMID: 34835335 PMCID: PMC8619543 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Corals are the main primary producers of coral reefs and build the three-dimensional reef structure that provides habitat to more than 25% of all marine eukaryotes. They harbor a complex consortium of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and protists, which they rely on for their survival. The symbiosis between corals and bacteria is poorly studied, and their symbiotic relationships with intracellular bacteria are only just beginning to be acknowledged. In this review, we emphasize the importance of characterizing intracellular bacteria associated with corals and explore how successful approaches used to study such microorganisms in other systems could be adapted for research on corals. We propose a framework for the description, identification, and functional characterization of coral-associated intracellular bacterial symbionts. Finally, we highlight the possible value of intracellular bacteria in microbiome manipulation and mitigating coral bleaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Maire
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; (L.L.B.); (M.J.H.v.O.)
| | - Linda L. Blackall
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; (L.L.B.); (M.J.H.v.O.)
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; (L.L.B.); (M.J.H.v.O.)
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
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35
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Becker CC, Brandt M, Miller CA, Apprill A. Microbial bioindicators of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease identified in corals and overlying waters using a rapid field-based sequencing approach. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:1166-1182. [PMID: 34431191 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a devastating disease. Since 2014, it has spread along the entire Florida Reef Tract and into the greater Caribbean. It was first detected in the United States Virgin Islands in January 2019. To more quickly identify microbial bioindicators of disease, we developed a rapid pipeline for microbiome sequencing. Over a span of 10 days we collected, processed and sequenced coral and near-coral seawater microbiomes from diseased and apparently healthy Colpophyllia natans, Montastraea cavernosa, Meandrina meandrites and Orbicella franksi. Analysis of bacterial and archaeal 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences revealed 25 bioindicator amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) enriched in diseased corals. These bioindicator ASVs were additionally recovered in near-coral seawater (<5 cm of coral surface), a potential reservoir for pathogens. Phylogenetic analysis of microbial bioindicators with sequences from the Coral Microbiome Database revealed that Vibrio, Arcobacter, Rhizobiaceae and Rhodobacteraceae sequences were related to disease-associated coral bacteria and lineages novel to corals. Additionally, four ASVs (Algicola, Cohaesibacter, Thalassobius and Vibrio) were matches to microbes previously associated with SCTLD that should be targets for future research. Overall, this work suggests that a rapid sequencing framework paired with specialized databases facilitates identification of microbial disease bioindicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia C Becker
- Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.,MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering, Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Cambridge and Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | | | - Carolyn A Miller
- Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Amy Apprill
- Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
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36
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Maire J, van Oppen MJH. A role for bacterial experimental evolution in coral bleaching mitigation? Trends Microbiol 2021; 30:217-228. [PMID: 34429226 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coral reefs are rapidly declining because of widespread mass coral bleaching causing extensive coral mortality. Elevated seawater temperatures are the main drivers of coral bleaching, and climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of destructive marine heatwaves. Efforts to enhance coral thermal bleaching tolerance can be targeted at the coral host or at coral-associated microorganisms (e.g., dinoflagellate endosymbionts and bacteria). The literature on experimental evolution of bacteria suggests that it has value as a tool to increase coral climate resilience. We provide a workflow on how to experimentally evolve coral-associated bacteria to confer thermal tolerance to coral hosts and emphasize the value of implementing this approach in coral reef conservation and restoration efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Maire
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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37
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Natural experiments and long-term monitoring are critical to understand and predict marine host-microbe ecology and evolution. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001322. [PMID: 34411089 PMCID: PMC8376202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine multicellular organisms host a diverse collection of bacteria, archaea, microbial eukaryotes, and viruses that form their microbiome. Such host-associated microbes can significantly influence the host’s physiological capacities; however, the identity and functional role(s) of key members of the microbiome (“core microbiome”) in most marine hosts coexisting in natural settings remain obscure. Also unclear is how dynamic interactions between hosts and the immense standing pool of microbial genetic variation will affect marine ecosystems’ capacity to adjust to environmental changes. Here, we argue that significantly advancing our understanding of how host-associated microbes shape marine hosts’ plastic and adaptive responses to environmental change requires (i) recognizing that individual host–microbe systems do not exist in an ecological or evolutionary vacuum and (ii) expanding the field toward long-term, multidisciplinary research on entire communities of hosts and microbes. Natural experiments, such as time-calibrated geological events associated with well-characterized environmental gradients, provide unique ecological and evolutionary contexts to address this challenge. We focus here particularly on mutualistic interactions between hosts and microbes, but note that many of the same lessons and approaches would apply to other types of interactions. This Essay argues that in order to truly understand how marine hosts benefit from the immense diversity of microbes, we need to expand towards long-term, multi-disciplinary research focussing on few areas of the world’s ocean that we refer to as “natural experiments,” where processes can be studied at scales that far exceed those captured in laboratory experiments.
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Sweet M, Villela H, Keller-Costa T, Costa R, Romano S, Bourne DG, Cárdenas A, Huggett MJ, Kerwin AH, Kuek F, Medina M, Meyer JL, Müller M, Pollock FJ, Rappé MS, Sere M, Sharp KH, Voolstra CR, Zaccardi N, Ziegler M, Peixoto R. Insights into the Cultured Bacterial Fraction of Corals. mSystems 2021; 6:e0124920. [PMID: 34156291 PMCID: PMC8269258 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01249-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria associated with coral hosts are diverse and abundant, with recent studies suggesting involvement of these symbionts in host resilience to anthropogenic stress. Despite their putative importance, the work dedicated to culturing coral-associated bacteria has received little attention. Combining published and unpublished data, here we report a comprehensive overview of the diversity and function of culturable bacteria isolated from corals originating from tropical, temperate, and cold-water habitats. A total of 3,055 isolates from 52 studies were considered by our metasurvey. Of these, 1,045 had full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences, spanning 138 formally described and 12 putatively novel bacterial genera across the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria phyla. We performed comparative genomic analysis using the available genomes of 74 strains and identified potential signatures of beneficial bacterium-coral symbioses among the strains. Our analysis revealed >400 biosynthetic gene clusters that underlie the biosynthesis of antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and other secondary metabolites. Moreover, we uncovered genomic features-not previously described for coral-bacterium symbioses-potentially involved in host colonization and host-symbiont recognition, antiviral defense mechanisms, and/or integrated metabolic interactions, which we suggest as novel targets for the screening of coral probiotics. Our results highlight the importance of bacterial cultures to elucidate coral holobiont functioning and guide the selection of probiotic candidates to promote coral resilience and improve holistic and customized reef restoration and rehabilitation efforts. IMPORTANCE Our paper is the first study to synthesize currently available but decentralized data of cultured microbes associated with corals. We were able to collate 3,055 isolates across a number of published studies and unpublished collections from various laboratories and researchers around the world. This equated to 1,045 individual isolates which had full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences, after filtering of the original 3,055. We also explored which of these had genomes available. Originally, only 36 were available, and as part of this study, we added a further 38-equating to 74 in total. From this, we investigated potential genetic signatures that may facilitate a host-associated lifestyle. Further, such a resource is an important step in the selection of probiotic candidates, which are being investigated for promoting coral resilience and potentially applied as a novel strategy in reef restoration and rehabilitation efforts. In the spirit of open access, we have ensured this collection is available to the wider research community through the web site http://isolates.reefgenomics.org/ with the hope many scientists across the globe will ask for access to these cultures for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Sweet
- Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Helena Villela
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Tina Keller-Costa
- Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rodrigo Costa
- Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences (iBB), University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Stefano Romano
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - David G. Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Megan J. Huggett
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, Australia
- Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | | | - Felicity Kuek
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Mónica Medina
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julie L. Meyer
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Moritz Müller
- Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - F. Joseph Pollock
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
- Hawaii and Palmyra Programs, The Nature Conservancy, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
| | - Michael S. Rappé
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA
| | - Mathieu Sere
- Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom
| | - Koty H. Sharp
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Nathan Zaccardi
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Raquel Peixoto
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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39
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Keller AG, Apprill A, Lebaron P, Robbins J, Romano TA, Overton E, Rong Y, Yuan R, Pollara S, Whalen KE. Characterizing the culturable surface microbiomes of diverse marine animals. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6157762. [PMID: 33681975 PMCID: PMC8012112 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Biofilm-forming bacteria have the potential to contribute to the health, physiology, behavior and ecology of the host and serve as its first line of defense against adverse conditions in the environment. While metabarcoding and metagenomic information furthers our understanding of microbiome composition, fewer studies use cultured samples to study the diverse interactions among the host and its microbiome, as cultured representatives are often lacking. This study examines the surface microbiomes cultured from three shallow-water coral species and two whale species. These unique marine animals place strong selective pressures on their microbial symbionts and contain members under similar environmental and anthropogenic stress. We developed an intense cultivation procedure, utilizing a suite of culture conditions targeting a rich assortment of biofilm-forming microorganisms. We identified 592 microbial isolates contained within 15 bacterial orders representing 50 bacterial genera, and two fungal species. Culturable bacteria from coral and whale samples paralleled taxonomic groups identified in culture-independent surveys, including 29% of all bacterial genera identified in the Megaptera novaeangliae skin microbiome through culture-independent methods. This microbial repository provides raw material and biological input for more nuanced studies which can explore how members of the microbiome both shape their micro-niche and impact host fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail G Keller
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Amy Apprill
- Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Philippe Lebaron
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Microbiennes, USR 3579 Sorbonne Université (UPMC) Paris 6 et CNRS Observatoire Océanologique, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Jooke Robbins
- Center for Coastal Studies, 5 Holway Ave., Provincetown, MA, 02657, USA
| | - Tracy A Romano
- Mystic Aquarium, a division of Sea Research Foundation Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT, 06355, USA
| | - Ellysia Overton
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Yuying Rong
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Ruiyi Yuan
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Scott Pollara
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
| | - Kristen E Whalen
- Department of Biology, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA, 19041-1392, USA
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40
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Silva-Lima AW, Froes AM, Garcia GD, Tonon LAC, Swings J, Cosenza CAN, Medina M, Penn K, Thompson JR, Thompson CC, Thompson FL. Mussismilia braziliensis White Plague Disease Is Characterized by an Affected Coral Immune System and Dysbiosis. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 81:795-806. [PMID: 33000311 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01588-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are one of the major drivers of coral reef decline worldwide. White plague-like disease (WPL) is a widespread disease with a complex etiology that infects several coral species, including the Brazilian endemic species Mussismilia braziliensis. Gene expression profiles of healthy and WPL-affected M. braziliensis were analyzed in winter and summer seasons. The de novo assembly of the M. braziliensis transcriptome from healthy and white plague samples produced a reference transcriptome containing 119,088 transcripts. WPL-diseased samples were characterized by repression of immune system and cellular defense processes. Autophagy and cellular adhesion transcripts were also repressed in WPL samples, suggesting exhaustion of the coral host defenses. Seasonal variation leads to plasticity in transcription with upregulation of intracellular signal transduction, apoptosis regulation, and oocyte development in the summer. Analysis of the active bacterial rRNA indicated that Pantoea bacteria were more abundant in WPL corals, while Tistlia, Fulvivirga, and Gammaproteobacteria Ga0077536 were more abundant in healthy samples. Cyanobacteria proliferation was also observed in WPL, mostly in the winter. These results indicate a scenario of dysbiosis in WPL-affected M. braziliensis, with the loss of potentially symbiotic bacteria and proliferation of opportunistic microbes after the start of the infection process.
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Affiliation(s)
- A W Silva-Lima
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
| | - A M Froes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
| | - G D Garcia
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - L A C Tonon
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - J Swings
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - C A N Cosenza
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - M Medina
- Pennsylvania State University, 324 Mueller Lab, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - K Penn
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - J R Thompson
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - C C Thompson
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil
| | - F L Thompson
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Av. Carlos Chagas Fo. S/N-CCS-IB-Lab de Microbiologia-BLOCO A (Anexo) A3-sl 102, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil.
- Sage/Coppe, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica-CT2, Rua Moniz de Aragão, no. 360-Bloco 2, Ilha do Fundão-Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Brazil.
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41
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Goulet TL, Goulet D. Climate Change Leads to a Reduction in Symbiotic Derived Cnidarian Biodiversity on Coral Reefs. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.636279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic relationships enable partners to thrive and survive in habitats where they would either not be as successful, or potentially not exist, without the symbiosis. The coral reef ecosystem, and its immense biodiversity, relies on the symbioses between cnidarians (e.g., scleractinian corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish) and multiple organisms including dinoflagellate algae (family Symbiodiniaceae), bivalves, crabs, shrimps, and fishes. In this review, we discuss the ramifications of whether coral reef cnidarian symbioses are obligatory, whereby at least one of the partners must be in the symbiosis in order to survive or are facultative. Furthermore, we cover the consequences of cnidarian symbioses exhibiting partner flexibility or fidelity. Fidelity, where a symbiotic partner can only engage in symbiosis with a subset of partners, may be absolute or context dependent. Current literature demonstrates that many cnidarian symbioses are highly obligative and appear to exhibit absolute fidelity. Consequently, for many coral reef cnidarian symbioses, surviving changing environmental conditions will depend on the robustness and potential plasticity of the existing host-symbiont(s) combination. If environmental conditions detrimentally affect even one component of this symbiotic consortium, it may lead to a cascade effect and the collapse of the entire symbiosis. Symbiosis is at the heart of the coral reef ecosystem, its existence, and its high biodiversity. Climate change may cause the demise of some of the cnidarian symbioses, leading to subsequent reduction in biodiversity on coral reefs.
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42
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Thome PE, Rivera-Ortega J, Rodríguez-Villalobos JC, Cerqueda-García D, Guzmán-Urieta EO, García-Maldonado JQ, Carabantes N, Jordán-Dahlgren E. Local dynamics of a white syndrome outbreak and changes in the microbial community associated with colonies of the scleractinian brain coral Pseudodiploria strigosa. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10695. [PMID: 33604172 PMCID: PMC7863780 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Reef corals in the Mexican Reef System have been severely affected by the emergence of a white syndrome that resembles both White Plague II and SCTLD descriptions. Meandroid scleractinian coral species are among the most severely affected. To gain insight into this affliction we conducted a broad study in the brain coral Pseudodiploria strigosa at a rear reef site in the NE Mexican Caribbean. We describe macro and microscopical signals of the disease, characterize the outbreak dynamics, the tissue histopathology, explore immunological responses in the individuals, and compare microbial assemblages associated with the surface mucus layer of healthy and unhealthy colonies. At the study site, the white syndrome outbreak on P. strigosa showed a high incidence rate in summer-fall and a low one in winter, as well as low survival expectation of diseased colonies at the end of the study. After 306 days of observation, out of 96 tracked colonies, eight remained apparently healthy and seven were diseased. No effective resistance to colony disease progression was observed once white syndrome signs developed. Tissue loss rate during the study varied among colonies (mean = 10.8 cm2, s.d. = 7.8 cm2) suggesting a complex relation between causal agents and colony resistance. The deterioration of tissues was evidenced from the basal to the surface body wall of polyps (up to 66% hypertrophy and liquefactive necrosis in unhealthy colonies), implying that microscopic alterations begin before macroscopic signals develop, suggesting this may be a systemic disease. We measured high levels of phenoloxidase (two orders of magnitude higher PO activity than P. strigosa affected by BBD) and antibacterial activity without significant reduction in unhealthy samples from the mucus layer, indicative of an enhanced immunological response. Results showed that opportunistic bacteria dominated damaged colonies, where six genera of the Bacteroidia class were found with significant changes in unhealthy colonies after DeSeq2 analysis. Nevertheless, histological observations did not support infection of the tissues. The opportunistic overload seems to be contained within the mucus layer but may be associated with the mortality of tissues in a yet unclear way. Future research should focus on experimental infections, the tracking of natural infections, and the immunocompetence of corals in the face of environmental pressures due to local, regional, and global impacts. If environmental deterioration is the primary cause of the continuing emergence and re-emergence of lethal coral diseases, as has been proposed by many authors, the only true option to effectively help preserve the coral reef biodiversity and services, is to restore the environmental quality of reef waters at the local scale and reduce greenhouse gases at the global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia E Thome
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Jacqueline Rivera-Ortega
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Jenny C Rodríguez-Villalobos
- Departamento de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.,Ecosistemas y Conservación, ProAzul Terrestre A.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Daniel Cerqueda-García
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Edgar O Guzmán-Urieta
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - José Q García-Maldonado
- CONACyT, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Mérida, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Natalia Carabantes
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Eric Jordán-Dahlgren
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
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43
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Boilard A, Dubé CE, Gruet C, Mercière A, Hernandez-Agreda A, Derome N. Defining Coral Bleaching as a Microbial Dysbiosis within the Coral Holobiont. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111682. [PMID: 33138319 PMCID: PMC7692791 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral microbiomes are critical to holobiont health and functioning, but the stability of host–microbial interactions is fragile, easily shifting from eubiosis to dysbiosis. The heat-induced breakdown of the symbiosis between the host and its dinoflagellate algae (that is, “bleaching”), is one of the most devastating outcomes for reef ecosystems. Yet, bleaching tolerance has been observed in some coral species. This review provides an overview of the holobiont’s diversity, explores coral thermal tolerance in relation to their associated microorganisms, discusses the hypothesis of adaptive dysbiosis as a mechanism of environmental adaptation, mentions potential solutions to mitigate bleaching, and suggests new research avenues. More specifically, we define coral bleaching as the succession of three holobiont stages, where the microbiota can (i) maintain essential functions for holobiont homeostasis during stress and/or (ii) act as a buffer to mitigate bleaching by favoring the recruitment of thermally tolerant Symbiodiniaceae species (adaptive dysbiosis), and where (iii) environmental stressors exceed the buffering capacity of both microbial and dinoflagellate partners leading to coral death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Boilard
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.B.); (C.G.)
| | - Caroline E. Dubé
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.B.); (C.G.)
- California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA;
- Correspondence: (C.E.D.); (N.D.)
| | - Cécile Gruet
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.B.); (C.G.)
| | - Alexandre Mercière
- PSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, 66860 Perpignan CEDEX, France;
- Laboratoire d’Excellence “CORAIL”, 98729 Papetoai, Moorea, French Polynesia
| | | | - Nicolas Derome
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.B.); (C.G.)
- Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences et de Génie, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Correspondence: (C.E.D.); (N.D.)
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44
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Chu X, Li S, Wang S, Luo D, Luo H. Gene loss through pseudogenization contributes to the ecological diversification of a generalist Roseobacter lineage. ISME JOURNAL 2020; 15:489-502. [PMID: 32999421 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00790-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Ecologically relevant genes generally show patchy distributions among related bacterial genomes. This is commonly attributed to lateral gene transfer, whereas the opposite mechanism-gene loss-has rarely been explored. Pseudogenization is a major mechanism underlying gene loss, and pseudogenes are best characterized by comparing closely related genomes because of their short life spans. To explore the role of pseudogenization in microbial ecological diversification, we apply rigorous methods to characterize pseudogenes in the 279 newly sequenced Ruegeria isolates of the globally abundant Roseobacter group collected from two typical coastal habitats in Hong Kong, the coral Platygyra acuta and the macroalga Sargassum hemiphyllum. Pseudogenes contribute to ~16% of the accessory genomes of these strains. Ancestral state reconstruction reveals that many pseudogenization events are correlated with ancestral niche shifts. Specifically, genes related to resource scavenging and energy acquisition were often pseudogenized when roseobacters inhabiting carbon-limited and energy-poor coral skeleton switched to other resource-richer niches. For roseobacters inhabiting the macroalgal niches, genes for nitrogen regulation and carbohydrate utilization were important but became dispensable upon shift to coral skeleton where nitrate is abundant but carbohydrates are less available. Whereas low-energy-demanding secondary transporters are more favorable in coral skeleton, ATP-driven primary transporters are preferentially kept in the energy-replete macroalgal niches. Moreover, a large proportion of these families mediate organismal interactions, suggesting their rapid losses by pseudogenization as a potential response to host and niche shift. These findings illustrate an important role of pseudogenization in shaping genome content and driving ecological diversification of marine roseobacters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chu
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Siyao Li
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Sishuo Wang
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Danli Luo
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Haiwei Luo
- Simon F. S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR. .,Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
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45
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Goulet TL, Erill I, Ascunce MS, Finley SJ, Javan GT. Conceptualization of the Holobiont Paradigm as It Pertains to Corals. Front Physiol 2020; 11:566968. [PMID: 33071821 PMCID: PMC7538806 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.566968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corals' obligate association with unicellular dinoflagellates, family Symbiodiniaceae form the foundation of coral reefs. For nearly a century, researchers have delved into understanding the coral-algal mutualism from multiple levels of resolution and perspectives, and the questions and scope have evolved with each iteration of new techniques. Advances in genetic technologies not only aided in distinguishing between the multitude of Symbiodiniaceae but also illuminated the existence and diversity of other organisms constituting the coral microbiome. The coral therefore is a meta-organism, often referred to as the coral holobiont. In this review, we address the importance of including a holistic perspective to understanding the coral holobiont. We also discuss the ramifications of how different genotypic combinations of the coral consortium affect the holobiont entity. We highlight the paucity of data on most of the coral microbiome. Using Symbiodiniaceae data, we present evidence that the holobiont properties are not necessarily the sum of its parts. We then discuss the consequences of the holobiont attributes to the fitness of the holobiont and the myriad of organisms that contribute to it. Considering the complexity of host-symbiont genotypic combinations will aid in our understanding of coral resilience, robustness, acclimation, and/or adaptation in the face of environmental change and increasing perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar L Goulet
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States
| | - Ivan Erill
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marina S Ascunce
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sheree J Finley
- Department of Physical Sciences and Forensic Science Programs, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Gulnaz T Javan
- Department of Physical Sciences and Forensic Science Programs, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
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46
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Speare L, Davies SW, Balmonte JP, Baumann J, Castillo KD. Patterns of environmental variability influence coral-associated bacterial and algal communities on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2334-2348. [PMID: 32497352 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A coral's capacity to alter its microbial symbionts may enhance its fitness in the face of climate change. Recent work predicts exposure to high environmental variability may increase coral resilience and adaptability to future climate conditions. However, how this heightened environmental variability impacts coral-associated microbial communities remains largely unexplored. Here, we examined the bacterial and algal symbionts associated with two coral species of the genus Siderastrea with distinct life history strategies from three reef sites on the Belize Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System with low or high environmental variability. Our results reveal bacterial community structure, as well as alpha- and beta-diversity patterns, vary by host species. Differences in bacterial communities between host species were partially explained by high abundance of Deltaproteobacteria and Rhodospirillales and high bacterial diversity in Siderastrea radians. Our findings also suggest Siderastrea spp. have dynamic core bacterial communities that likely drive differences observed in the entire bacterial community, which may play a critical role in rapid acclimatization to environmental change. Unlike the bacterial community, Symbiodiniaceae composition was only distinct between host species at high thermal variability sites, suggesting that different factors shape bacterial versus algal communities within the coral holobiont. Our findings shed light on how domain-specific shifts in dynamic microbiomes may allow for unique methods of enhanced host fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Speare
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sarah W Davies
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John P Balmonte
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Ecology and Genetics - Limnology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Justin Baumann
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Karl D Castillo
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Environment, Ecology, and Energy Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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47
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Biagi E, Caroselli E, Barone M, Pezzimenti M, Teixido N, Soverini M, Rampelli S, Turroni S, Gambi MC, Brigidi P, Goffredo S, Candela M. Patterns in microbiome composition differ with ocean acidification in anatomic compartments of the Mediterranean coral Astroides calycularis living at CO 2 vents. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 724:138048. [PMID: 32251879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Coral microbiomes, the complex microbial communities associated with the different anatomic compartments of the coral, provide important functions for the host's survival, such as nutrient cycling at the host's surface, prevention of pathogens colonization, and promotion of nutrient uptake. Microbiomes are generally referred to as plastic entities, able to adapt their composition and functionality in response to environmental change, with a possible impact on coral acclimatization to phenomena related to climate change, such as ocean acidification. Ocean sites characterized by natural gradients of pCO2 provide models for investigating the ability of marine organisms to acclimatize to decreasing seawater pH. Here we compared the microbiome of the temperate, shallow water, non-symbiotic solitary coral Astroides calycularis that naturally lives at a volcanic CO2 vent in Ischia Island (Naples, Italy), with that of corals living in non-acidified sites at the same island. Bacterial DNA associated with the different anatomic compartments (mucus, tissue and skeleton) of A. calycularis was differentially extracted and a total of 68 samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In terms of phylogenetic composition, the microbiomes associated with the different coral anatomic compartments were different from each other and from the microbial communities of the surrounding seawater. Of all the anatomic compartments, the mucus-associated microbiome differed the most between the control and acidified sites. The differences detected in the microbial communities associated to the three anatomic compartments included a general increase in subdominant bacterial groups, some of which are known to be involved in different stages of the nitrogen cycle, such as potential nitrogen fixing bacteria and bacteria able to degrade organic nitrogen. Our data therefore suggests a potential increase of nitrogen fixation and recycling in A. calycularis living close to the CO2 vent system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Biagi
- Unit of Holobiont Microbiome and Microbiome Engineering (HolobioME), Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Erik Caroselli
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy; Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy
| | - Monica Barone
- Unit of Holobiont Microbiome and Microbiome Engineering (HolobioME), Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Martina Pezzimenti
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Nuria Teixido
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, 181 chemin du Lazaret, F-06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France; Villa Dohrn-Benthic Ecology Center, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80077 Ischia (Naples), Italy
| | - Matteo Soverini
- Unit of Holobiont Microbiome and Microbiome Engineering (HolobioME), Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Simone Rampelli
- Unit of Holobiont Microbiome and Microbiome Engineering (HolobioME), Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Turroni
- Unit of Holobiont Microbiome and Microbiome Engineering (HolobioME), Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Gambi
- Villa Dohrn-Benthic Ecology Center, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80077 Ischia (Naples), Italy
| | - Patrizia Brigidi
- Unit of Holobiont Microbiome and Microbiome Engineering (HolobioME), Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Goffredo
- Marine Science Group, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy; Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy.
| | - Marco Candela
- Unit of Holobiont Microbiome and Microbiome Engineering (HolobioME), Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy; Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, viale Adriatico 1/N, 61032 Fano, Pesaro Urbino, Italy.
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Rasmussen L, Barnes C, Mak SST, Kjartansdóttir KR, Hansen TA, Doan-Nhu H, Nguyen-Ngoc L, Guldberg Frøslev T, Hellström M, Hansen AJ. Increased Bacterial Richness Associated With Lesions Within the Porites spp. of Vietnam. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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49
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Hartman LM, van Oppen MJH, Blackall LL. Microbiota characterization of Exaiptasia diaphana from the Great Barrier Reef. Anim Microbiome 2020; 2:10. [PMID: 33499977 PMCID: PMC7807684 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-020-00029-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Coral reefs have sustained damage of increasing scale and frequency due to climate change, thereby intensifying the need to elucidate corals’ biological characteristics, including their thermal tolerance and microbial symbioses. The sea anemone, Exaiptasia diaphana, has proven an ideal coral model for many studies due to its close phylogenetic relationship and shared traits, such as symbiosis with algae of the family Symbiodiniaceae. However, established E. diaphana clonal lines are not available in Australia thus limiting the ability of Australian scientists to conduct research with this model. To help address this, the bacterial and Symbiodiniaceae associates of four Great Barrier Reef (GBR)-sourced E. diaphana genotypes established in laboratory aquaria and designated AIMS1–4, and from proxies of wild GBR E. diaphana were identified by metabarcoding of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and eukaryotic rRNA gene ITS2 region. The relationship between AIMS1–4 and their bacterial associates was investigated, as was bacterial community phenotypic potential. Existing data from two existing anemone clonal lines, CC7 and H2, were included for comparison. Results Overall, 2238 bacterial amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were observed in the AIMS1–4 bacterial communities, which were dominated by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, together comprising > 90% relative abundance. Although many low abundance bacterial taxa varied between the anemone genotypes, the AIMS1–4 communities did not differ significantly. A significant tank effect was identified, indicating an environmental effect on the microbial communities. Bacterial community richness was lower in all lab-maintained E. diaphana compared to the wild proxies, suggesting a reduction in bacterial diversity and community phenotypic potential due to culturing. Seventeen ASVs were common to every GBR lab-cultured anemone, however five were associated with the Artemia feedstock, making their specific association to E. diaphana uncertain. The dominant Symbiodiniaceae symbiont in all GBR anemones was Breviolum minutum. Conclusion Despite differences in the presence and abundance of low abundance taxa, the bacterial communities of GBR-sourced lab-cultured E. diaphana are generally uniform and comparable to communities reported for other lab-cultured E. diaphana. The data presented here add to the global E. diaphana knowledge base and make an important contribution to the establishment of a GBR-sourced coral model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Michael Hartman
- Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. .,The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
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50
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Lima LFO, Weissman M, Reed M, Papudeshi B, Alker AT, Morris MM, Edwards RA, de Putron SJ, Vaidya NK, Dinsdale EA. Modeling of the Coral Microbiome: the Influence of Temperature and Microbial Network. mBio 2020; 11:e02691-19. [PMID: 32127450 PMCID: PMC7064765 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02691-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Host-associated microbial communities are shaped by extrinsic and intrinsic factors to the holobiont organism. Environmental factors and microbe-microbe interactions act simultaneously on the microbial community structure, making the microbiome dynamics challenging to predict. The coral microbiome is essential to the health of coral reefs and sensitive to environmental changes. Here, we develop a dynamic model to determine the microbial community structure associated with the surface mucus layer (SML) of corals using temperature as an extrinsic factor and microbial network as an intrinsic factor. The model was validated by comparing the predicted relative abundances of microbial taxa to the relative abundances of microbial taxa from the sample data. The SML microbiome from Pseudodiploria strigosa was collected across reef zones in Bermuda, where inner and outer reefs are exposed to distinct thermal profiles. A shotgun metagenomics approach was used to describe the taxonomic composition and the microbial network of the coral SML microbiome. By simulating the annual temperature fluctuations at each reef zone, the model output is statistically identical to the observed data. The model was further applied to six scenarios that combined different profiles of temperature and microbial network to investigate the influence of each of these two factors on the model accuracy. The SML microbiome was best predicted by model scenarios with the temperature profile that was closest to the local thermal environment, regardless of the microbial network profile. Our model shows that the SML microbiome of P. strigosa in Bermuda is primarily structured by seasonal fluctuations in temperature at a reef scale, while the microbial network is a secondary driver.IMPORTANCE Coral microbiome dysbiosis (i.e., shifts in the microbial community structure or complete loss of microbial symbionts) caused by environmental changes is a key player in the decline of coral health worldwide. Multiple factors in the water column and the surrounding biological community influence the dynamics of the coral microbiome. However, by including only temperature as an external factor, our model proved to be successful in describing the microbial community associated with the surface mucus layer (SML) of the coral P. strigosa The dynamic model developed and validated in this study is a potential tool to predict the coral microbiome under different temperature conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís F O Lima
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Maya Weissman
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Micheal Reed
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Bhavya Papudeshi
- National Center for Genome Analysis Support, Pervasive Institute of Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Amanda T Alker
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Megan M Morris
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Naveen K Vaidya
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Dinsdale
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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