The coral microbiome: towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of coral–microbiota interactions

FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 47(2)

Published: March 1, 2023

Corals live in a complex, multipartite symbiosis with diverse microbes across kingdoms, some of which are implicated vital functions, such as those related to resilience against climate change. However, knowledge gaps and technical challenges limit our understanding the nature functional significance complex symbiotic relationships within corals. Here, we provide an overview complexity coral microbiome focusing on taxonomic diversity functions well-studied cryptic microbes. Mining literature indicate that while corals collectively harbour third all marine bacterial phyla, known symbionts antagonists represent minute fraction this these taxa cluster into select genera, suggesting selective evolutionary mechanisms enabled bacteria gain niche holobiont. Recent advances research aimed at leveraging manipulation increase coral's fitness help mitigate heat stress-related mortality discussed. Then, insights potential through microbiota can communicate modify host responses examined by describing recognition patterns, microbially derived epigenome effector proteins gene regulation. Finally, power omics tools used study highlighted emphasis integrated host-microbiota multiomics framework understand underlying during change-driven dysbiosis.

Language: Английский

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Development of a portable toolkit to diagnose coral thermal stress

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: Aug. 24, 2022

Abstract Coral bleaching, precipitated by the expulsion of algal symbionts that provide colonies with fixed carbon is a global threat to reef survival. To protect corals from anthropogenic stress, portable tools are needed detect and diagnose stress syndromes assess population health prior extensive bleaching. Here, medical grade Urinalysis strips, used an array disease markers in humans, were tested on lab stressed Hawaiian coral species, Montipora capitata (stress resistant) Pocillopora acuta sensitive), as well samples nature also included Porites compressa . Of 10 diagnostic reagent tests these two appear most applicable corals: ketone leukocytes. The test strip results M. explored using existing transcriptomic data same provided evidence detected strips. We designed 3D printed smartphone holder image processing software for field analysis strips (TestStripDX) devised simple strategy generate color scores (reflecting extent bleaching) camera (CoralDX). Our approaches deployable methods, can be improved future (e.g., coral-specific strips) inexpensive freely available software.

Language: Английский

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Characterizing transcriptomic responses to sediment stress across location and morphology in reef-building corals

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e16654 - e16654

Published: Jan. 30, 2024

Anthropogenic activities increase sediment suspended in the water column and deposition on reefs can be largely dependent colony morphology. Massive plating corals have a high capacity to trap sediments, active removal mechanisms energetically costly. Branching less but are more susceptible light limitation caused by sediment. Despite deleterious effects of sediments corals, few studies examined molecular response with different morphological characteristics stress. To address this knowledge gap, study assessed transcriptomic responses branching massive Florida Hawai‘i varying levels exposure. Gene expression analysis revealed responsiveness across species sites. Differential Expression followed Ontology (GO) enrichment identified that had largest developmental processes metabolism, while significantly enriched GO terms were highly variable between despite similar morphologies. Comparison DEGs within orthogroups all sediment, there was not concerted gene set morphology or location. These findings illuminate specificity genetic basis underlying coral susceptibility sediments.

Language: Английский

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Gene expression response under thermal stress in two Hawaiian corals is dominated by ploidy and genotype

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Transcriptome data are frequently used to investigate coral bleaching; however, the factors controlling gene expression in natural populations of these species poorly understood. We studied two corals,

Language: Английский

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Intron dynamics reveal principles of gene regulation during the maternal-to-zygotic transition

RNA, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(5), P. 596 - 608

Published: Feb. 10, 2023

The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is a conserved embryonic process in animals where developmental control shifts from the maternal to zygotic genome. A key step this transcription, and deciphering MZT requires classifying newly transcribed genes. However, due current technological limitations, starting point remains challenge for studying many species. Here, we present an alternative approach that characterizes transcriptome changes based solely on RNA-seq data. By combining intron-mapping reads transcript-level quantification, characterized dynamics during Drosophila melanogaster MZT. Our provides accessible platform investigate can be applied nonmodel organisms. In addition zygotically genes, our analysis revealed over 300 genes express different transcript isoforms splicing, polyadenylation, promoter usage. vast majority of these have potential subject regulatory control, two-thirds encode proteins. Thus, reveals additional layer regulation MZT, new transcripts generate proteome diversity.

Language: Английский

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Peeling back the layers of coral holobiont multi-omics data

iScience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(9), P. 107623 - 107623

Published: Aug. 14, 2023

The integration of multiple 'omics' datasets is a promising avenue for answering many important and challenging questions in biology, particularly those relating to complex ecological systems. Although multi-omics was developed using data from model organisms with significant prior knowledge resources, its application non-model organisms, such as coral holobionts, less clear-cut. We explore, the emerging rice Montipora capitata, intersection holobiont transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, microbiome amplicon investigate how well they correlate under high temperature treatment. Using typical thermal stress regime, we show that transcriptomic proteomic broadly capture response coral, whereas metabolome patterns likely reflect stochastic homeostatic processes associated each sample. These results provide framework interpreting generated systems, biotic interactions among microbial partners.

Language: Английский

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Population genetic differentiation of the ubiquitous brooding coral Pocillopora acuta along Phuket Island reefs in the Andaman Sea, Thailand

BMC Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: Aug. 26, 2023

Abstract Background The widespread Indo-Pacific coral species Pocillopora acuta Lamarck, 1816 displays varying levels of asexual versus sexual reproduction, with strong repercussions on genetic diversity, connectivity and structuring within among populations. For many geographic regions, baseline information diversity is still lacking, particularly in the Andaman Sea. region suffered a massive heat-induced bleaching event 2010 high cover loss branching such as P. . A subsequent 2016, however, revealed mild response pocilloporids compared to other taxa region, suggesting that rare, heat tolerant genotypes had been selected by event. In order test whether this potential ‘evolutionary rescue’ has led low we conducted population survey covering total nine different populations (336 individuals) along 50 km coastal stretch around Phuket Island, Thailand. We used six microsatellite markers assess genotypic determine prevalent mode reproduction (i.e. or recruitment). Results contrast Indian Ocean populations, majority corals study adopted (75% across all populations). At same time, substantial regional gene flow was observed Island differentiation indicated three clusters were separated only few kilometers. Patterns isolation distance over 0.7 – 40 suggest small-scale barriers, changing currents throughout each monsoonal season, potentially contributing locally restricted dispersal larvae. Conclusions occurrence distinct short stretches suggests not extreme impoverishment. While more in-depth genomic analyses are necessary investigate changes following events, our results will help guide conservation efforts maintain likely be dominant future, warmer Sea reefs.

Language: Английский

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Dominance of the coral Pocillopora acuta around Phuket Island in the Andaman Sea, Thailand

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Abstract Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758), a species complex, consists of several genetic lineages, some which likely represent reproductively isolated species, including the acuta Lamarck, 1816. can exhibit similar morphological characteristics as P. , thus making it difficult to identify species‐level taxonomic units. To determine whether ‐like colonies on reefs in Andaman Sea (previously often identified ) consist different we sampled individual at five sites along 50 km coastal stretch Phuket Island and four island towards Krabi Province, Thailand. We sequenced 210 coral samples for mitochondrial open reading frame six distinct haplotypes, all belonging according literature. Recently, was observed efficiently recolonize heat‐damaged Thailand well globally, potentially important future reefs. Specifically light global change, this study underscores importance high‐resolution molecular recognition, since units are factors population studies, latter crucial management conservation efforts.

Language: Английский

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Highlight: Genomic Insights May Provide a Blueprint for Coral Conservation

Genome Biology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Multiomics data integration, limitations, and prospects to reveal the metabolic activity of the coral holobiont

FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 100(5)

Published: April 10, 2024

Abstract Since their radiation in the Middle Triassic period ∼240 million years ago, stony corals have survived past climate fluctuations and five mass extinctions. Their long-term survival underscores inherent resilience of corals, particularly when considering nutrient-poor marine environments which they thrived. However, coral bleaching has emerged as a global threat to survival, requiring rapid advancements research understand holobiont stress responses allow for interventions before extensive occurs. This review encompasses potential, well limits, multiomics data applications applied holobiont. Synopses how different omics tools been date current restrictions are discussed, addition ways these may be overcome, such recruiting new technology studies, utilizing novel bioinformatics approaches, generally integrating data. Lastly, this presents considerations design studies support lab-to-field marker monitoring systems. Although much mechanism eluded investigation date, multiomic already produced key findings regarding holobiont’s response, potential advance field further.

Language: Английский

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