201
|
Beinart RA, Nyholm SV, Dubilier N, Girguis PR. Intracellular Oceanospirillales inhabit the gills of the hydrothermal vent snail Alviniconcha with chemosynthetic, γ-Proteobacterial symbionts. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2014; 6:656-664. [PMID: 25756119 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Associations between bacteria from the γ-Proteobacterial order Oceanospirillales and marine invertebrates are quite common. Members of the Oceanospirillales exhibit a diversity of interactions with their various hosts, ranging from the catabolism of complex compounds that benefit host growth to attacking and bursting host nuclei. Here, we describe the association between a novel Oceanospirillales phylotype and the hydrothermal vent snail Alviniconcha. Alviniconcha typically harbour chemoautotrophic γ- or ε-Proteobacterial symbionts inside their gill cells. Via fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy, we observed an Oceanospirillales phylotype (named AOP for ‘Alviniconcha Oceanospirillales phylotype’) in membrane-bound vacuoles that were separate from the known γ- or ε-Proteobacterial symbionts. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we surveyed 181 Alviniconcha hosting γ-Proteobacterial symbionts and 102 hosting ε-Proteobacterial symbionts, and found that the population size of AOP was always minor relative to the canonical symbionts (median 0.53% of the total quantified 16S rRNA genes). Additionally, we detected AOP more frequently in Alviniconcha hosting γ-Proteobacterial symbionts than in those hosting ε-Proteobacterial symbionts (96% and 5% of individuals respectively). The high incidence of AOP in γ-Proteobacteria hosting Alviniconcha implies that it could play a significant ecological role either as a host parasite or as an additional symbiont with unknown physiological capacities.
Collapse
|
202
|
Lema KA, Bourne DG, Willis BL. Onset and establishment of diazotrophs and other bacterial associates in the early life history stages of the coral Acropora millepora. Mol Ecol 2014; 23:4682-95. [PMID: 25156176 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Revised: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Early establishment of coral-microbial symbioses is fundamental to the fitness of corals, but comparatively little is known about the onset and succession of bacterial communities in their early life history stages. In this study, bacterial associates of the coral Acropora millepora were characterized throughout the first year of life, from larvae and 1-week-old juveniles reared in laboratory conditions in the absence of the dinoflagellate endosymbiont Symbiodinium to field-outplanted juveniles with established Symbiodinium symbioses, and sampled at 2 weeks and at 3, 6 and 12 months. Using an amplicon pyrosequencing approach, the diversity of both nitrogen-fixing bacteria and of bacterial communities overall was assessed through analysis of nifH and 16S rRNA genes, respectively. The consistent presence of sequences affiliated with diazotrophs of the order Rhizobiales (23-58% of retrieved nifH sequences; 2-12% of 16S rRNA sequences), across all samples from larvae to 12-month-old coral juveniles, highlights the likely functional importance of this nitrogen-fixing order to the coral holobiont. Dominance of Roseobacter-affiliated sequences (>55% of retrieved 16S rRNA sequences) in larvae and 1-week-old juveniles, and the consistent presence of sequences related to Oceanospirillales and Altermonadales throughout all early life history stages, signifies their potential importance as coral associates. Increased diversity of bacterial communities once juveniles were transferred to the field, particularly of Cyanobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria, demonstrates horizontal (environmental) uptake of coral-associated bacterial communities. Although overall bacterial communities were dynamic, bacteria with likely important functional roles remain stable throughout early life stages of Acropora millepora.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley A Lema
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia; Centre for Marine Microbiology and Genetics, Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Qld, 4810, Australia; AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, 4811, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
203
|
He X, Slupsky CM. Metabolic fingerprint of dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) in microbial-mammalian co-metabolism. J Proteome Res 2014; 13:5281-92. [PMID: 25245235 DOI: 10.1021/pr500629t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
There is growing awareness that intestinal microbiota alters the energy harvesting capacity of the host and regulates metabolism. It has been postulated that intestinal microbiota are able to degrade unabsorbed dietary components and transform xenobiotic compounds. The resulting microbial metabolites derived from the gastrointestinal tract can potentially enter the circulation system, which, in turn, affects host metabolism. Yet, the metabolic capacity of intestinal microbiota and its interaction with mammalian metabolism remains largely unexplored. Here, we review a metabolic pathway that integrates the microbial catabolism of methionine with mammalian metabolism of methanethiol (MT), dimethyl sulfide (DMS), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), which together provide evidence that supports the microbial origin of dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2) in the human metabolome. Understanding the pathway of DMSO2 co-metabolism expends our knowledge of microbial-derived metabolites and motivates future metabolomics-based studies on ascertaining the metabolic consequences of intestinal microbiota on human health, including detoxification processes and sulfur xenobiotic metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan He
- Department of Nutrition, Department of Food Science and Technology, One Shields Avenue , University of California, Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
204
|
Ransome E, Rowley SJ, Thomas S, Tait K, Munn CB. Disturbance to conserved bacterial communities in the cold-water gorgonian coral Eunicella verrucosa. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2014; 90:404-16. [PMID: 25078065 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial communities associated with healthy and diseased colonies of the cold-water gorgonian coral Eunicella verrucosa at three sites off the south-west coast of England were compared using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone libraries. Significant differences in community structure between healthy and diseased samples were discovered, as were differences in the level of disturbance to these communities at each site; this correlated with depth and sediment load. The majority of cloned sequences from healthy coral tissue affiliated with the Gammaproteobacteria. The stability of the bacterial community and dominance of specific genera found across visibly healthy colonies suggest the presence of a specific microbial community. Affiliations included a high proportion of Endozoicomonas sequences, which were most similar to sequences found in tropical corals. This genus has been found in a number of invertebrates and is suggested to have a role in coral health and in the metabolisation of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) produced by zooxanthellae. However, screening of colonies for the presence of zooxanthellae produced a negative result. Diseased colonies showed a decrease in affiliated clones and an increase in clones related to potentially harmful/transient microorganisms but no increase in a particular pathogen. This study demonstrates that a better understanding of these bacterial communities, the factors that affect them and their role in coral health and disease will be of critical importance in predicting future threats to temperate gorgonian communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ransome
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, UK; School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Plymouth, UK; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
205
|
Local genomic adaptation of coral reef-associated microbiomes to gradients of natural variability and anthropogenic stressors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:10227-32. [PMID: 24982156 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1403319111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Holobionts are species-specific associations between macro- and microorganisms. On coral reefs, the benthic coverage of coral and algal holobionts varies due to natural and anthropogenic forcings. Different benthic macroorganisms are predicted to have specific microbiomes. In contrast, local environmental factors are predicted to select for specific metabolic pathways in microbes. To reconcile these two predictions, we hypothesized that adaptation of microbiomes to local conditions is facilitated by the horizontal transfer of genes responsible for specific metabolic capabilities. To test this hypothesis, microbial metagenomes were sequenced from 22 coral reefs at 11 Line Islands in the central Pacific that together span a wide range of biogeochemical and anthropogenic influences. Consistent with our hypothesis, the percent cover of major benthic functional groups significantly correlated with particular microbial taxa. Reefs with higher coral cover had a coral microbiome with higher abundances of Alphaproteobacteria (such as Rhodobacterales and Sphingomonadales), whereas microbiomes of algae-dominated reefs had higher abundances of Gammaproteobacteria (such as Alteromonadales, Pseudomonadales, and Vibrionales), Betaproteobacteria, and Bacteriodetes. In contrast to taxa, geography was the strongest predictor of microbial community metabolism. Microbial communities on reefs with higher nutrient availability (e.g., equatorial upwelling zones) were enriched in genes involved in nutrient-related metabolisms (e.g., nitrate and nitrite ammonification, Ton/Tol transport, etc.). On reefs further from the equator, microbes had more genes encoding chlorophyll biosynthesis and photosystems I/II. These results support the hypothesis that core microbiomes are determined by holobiont macroorganisms, and that those core taxa adapt to local conditions by selecting for advantageous metabolic genes.
Collapse
|
206
|
Carlos C, Torres TT, Ottoboni LMM. Bacterial communities and species-specific associations with the mucus of Brazilian coral species. Sci Rep 2014; 3:1624. [PMID: 23567936 PMCID: PMC3620669 DOI: 10.1038/srep01624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the existence of species-specific associations between Brazilian coral species and bacteria. Pyrosequencing of the V3 region of the 16S rDNA was used to analyze the taxonomic composition of bacterial communities associated with the mucus of four coral species (Madracis decactis, Mussismilia hispida, Palythoa caribaeorum, and Tubastraea coccinea) in two seasons (winter and summer), which were compared with the surrounding water and sediment. The microbial communities found in samples of mucus, water, and sediment differed according to the composition and relative frequency of OTUs. The coral mucus community seemed to be more stable and resistant to seasonal variations, compared to the water and sediment communities. There was no influence of geographic location on the composition of the communities. The sediment community was extremely diverse and might act as a "seed bank" for the entire environment. Species-specific OTUs were found in P. caribaeorum, T. coccinea, and M. hispida.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camila Carlos
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
207
|
The gut of geographically disparate Ciona intestinalis harbors a core microbiota. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93386. [PMID: 24695540 PMCID: PMC3973685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It is now widely understood that all animals engage in complex interactions with bacteria (or microbes) throughout their various life stages. This ancient exchange can involve cooperation and has resulted in a wide range of evolved host-microbial interdependencies, including those observed in the gut. Ciona intestinalis, a filter-feeding basal chordate and classic developmental model that can be experimentally manipulated, is being employed to help define these relationships. Ciona larvae are first exposed internally to microbes upon the initiation of feeding in metamorphosed individuals; however, whether or not these microbes subsequently colonize the gut and whether or not Ciona forms relationships with specific bacteria in the gut remains unknown. In this report, we show that the Ciona gut not only is colonized by a complex community of bacteria, but also that samples from three geographically isolated populations reveal striking similarity in abundant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) consistent with the selection of a core community by the gut ecosystem.
Collapse
|
208
|
Tout J, Jeffries TC, Webster NS, Stocker R, Ralph PJ, Seymour JR. Variability in microbial community composition and function between different niches within a coral reef. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2014; 67:540-552. [PMID: 24477921 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-013-0362-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
To explore how microbial community composition and function varies within a coral reef ecosystem, we performed metagenomic sequencing of seawater from four niches across Heron Island Reef, within the Great Barrier Reef. Metagenomes were sequenced from seawater samples associated with (1) the surface of the coral species Acropora palifera, (2) the surface of the coral species Acropora aspera, (3) the sandy substrate within the reef lagoon and (4) open water, outside of the reef crest. Microbial composition and metabolic function differed substantially between the four niches. The taxonomic profile showed a clear shift from an oligotroph-dominated community (e.g. SAR11, Prochlorococcus, Synechococcus) in the open water and sandy substrate niches, to a community characterised by an increased frequency of copiotrophic bacteria (e.g. Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas) in the coral seawater niches. The metabolic potential of the four microbial assemblages also displayed significant differences, with the open water and sandy substrate niches dominated by genes associated with core house-keeping processes such as amino acid, carbohydrate and protein metabolism as well as DNA and RNA synthesis and metabolism. In contrast, the coral surface seawater metagenomes had an enhanced frequency of genes associated with dynamic processes including motility and chemotaxis, regulation and cell signalling. These findings demonstrate that the composition and function of microbial communities are highly variable between niches within coral reef ecosystems and that coral reefs host heterogeneous microbial communities that are likely shaped by habitat structure, presence of animal hosts and local biogeochemical conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Tout
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia,
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
209
|
Montalvo NF, Davis J, Vicente J, Pittiglio R, Ravel J, Hill RT. Integration of culture-based and molecular analysis of a complex sponge-associated bacterial community. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90517. [PMID: 24618773 PMCID: PMC3949686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 02/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial communities of sponges have been studied using molecular techniques as well as culture-based techniques, but the communities described by these two methods are remarkably distinct. Culture-based methods describe communities dominated by Proteobacteria, and Actinomycetes while molecular methods describe communities dominated by predominantly uncultivated groups such as the Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Acidimicrobidae. In this study, we used a wide range of culture media to increase the diversity of cultivable bacteria from the closely related giant barrel sponges, Xestospongia muta collected from the Florida Keys, Atlantic Ocean and Xestospongia testudinaria, collected from Indonesia, Pacific Ocean. Over 400 pure cultures were isolated and identified from X. muta and X. testudinaria and over 90 bacterial species were represented. Over 16,000 pyrosequences were analyzed and assigned to 976 OTUs. We employed both cultured-based methods and pyrosequencing to look for patterns of overlap between the culturable and molecular communities. Only one OTU was found in both the molecular and culturable communities, revealing limitations inherent in both approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naomi F. Montalvo
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeanette Davis
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jan Vicente
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Raquel Pittiglio
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Russell T. Hill
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
210
|
Lema KA, Willis BL, Bourne DG. Amplicon pyrosequencing reveals spatial and temporal consistency in diazotroph assemblages of theAcropora milleporamicrobiome. Environ Microbiol 2014; 16:3345-59. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Revised: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley A. Lema
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Marine and Tropical Biology; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- Centre for Marine Microbiology and Genetics; Australian Institute of Marine Science; Townsville Qld 4810 Australia
- AIMS@JCU; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - Bette L. Willis
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Marine and Tropical Biology; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| | - David G. Bourne
- Centre for Marine Microbiology and Genetics; Australian Institute of Marine Science; Townsville Qld 4810 Australia
- AIMS@JCU; James Cook University; Townsville Qld 4811 Australia
| |
Collapse
|
211
|
Guerra M, López MA, Estéves I, Zubillaga AL, Cróquer A. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy: a tool to identify gross chemical changes from healthy to yellow band disease tissues. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2014; 107:249-258. [PMID: 24429476 DOI: 10.3354/dao02680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Yellow band disease (YBD) is a common and wide-spread Caribbean syndrome that affects the genus Orbicella, a group of species that constitute the framework of Caribbean coral reefs. Previous studies have shown that the structure and function of bacterial assemblages vary between healthy tissues and YBD lesions; however, how the molecular composition of tissues varies as tissues transition from healthy to YBD has not been determined before. The present study provides the first survey of macromolecules found from healthy (H), apparently healthy (AH), transition (TR) and YBD tissues of Orbicella faveolata. For this, we used Fourier-transformed mid-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to compare absorption profiles as a proxy for the gross molecular composition of decalcified H, AH and YBD tissues. We found a significantly higher level of infrared absorption for bands assigned to lipids in H tissues compared to YBD tissues, suggesting that lipid compounds are more abundant in compromised tissues in relation to other macromolecules. We also found a lower level of intensity of bands assigned to carbohydrates and proteins in YBD tissues, compared to H and AH tissues. A similar pattern was observed for phospholipidic compounds in relation to fatty acids. This study is the first to show that healthy and YBD-compromised tissues have different infrared absorption profiles, suggesting that alterations in the biochemical composition occur during pathogenesis. Future studies should focus on determining the actual concentration of these compounds in H, AH, TR and YBD tissues and on testing the role of translocation of photoassimilates from H tissues and/or from endolithic algae to YBD tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayamarú Guerra
- Unidad de Tecnología Laser y Optoelectrónica and Unidad de Geoquímica, Instituto Zuliano de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Km 15 Carretera Via a La Cañada, Maracaibo 4001, Venezuela
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
212
|
Séré MG, Tortosa P, Chabanet P, Turquet J, Quod JP, Schleyer MH. Bacterial communities associated with Porites white patch syndrome (PWPS) on three western Indian Ocean (WIO) coral reefs. PLoS One 2013; 8:e83746. [PMID: 24391819 PMCID: PMC3877091 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The scleractinian coral Porites lutea, an important reef-building coral on western Indian Ocean reefs (WIO), is affected by a newly-reported white syndrome (WS) the Porites white patch syndrome (PWPS). Histopathology and culture-independent molecular techniques were used to characterise the microbial communities associated with this emerging disease. Microscopy showed extensive tissue fragmentation generally associated with ovoid basophilic bodies resembling bacterial aggregates. Results of 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed a high variability between bacterial communities associated with PWPS-infected and healthy tissues in P. lutea, a pattern previously reported in other coral diseases such as black band disease (BBD), white band disease (WBD) and white plague diseases (WPD). Furthermore, substantial variations in bacterial communities were observed at the different sampling locations, suggesting that there is no strong bacterial association in Porites lutea on WIO reefs. Several sequences affiliated with potential pathogens belonging to the Vibrionaceae and Rhodobacteraceae were identified, mainly in PWPS-infected coral tissues. Among them, only two ribotypes affiliated to Shimia marina (NR043300.1) and Vibrio hepatarius (NR025575.1) were consistently found in diseased tissues from the three geographically distant sampling localities. The role of these bacterial species in PWPS needs to be tested experimentally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu G. Séré
- Agence pour la Recherche et la Valorisation Marines (ARVAM), Ste Clotilde, Réunion Island, France
- Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institut de la Recherche pour le développement (IRD), Ste Clotilde, Réunion Island, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Pablo Tortosa
- Centre de Recherche et de Veille sur les maladies émergentes dans l'Océan Indien (CRVOI), Ste Clotilde, Réunion Island, France
- University of Réunion Island, Ste Clotilde, Réunion Island, France
| | - Pascale Chabanet
- Institut de la Recherche pour le développement (IRD), Ste Clotilde, Réunion Island, France
| | - Jean Turquet
- Agence pour la Recherche et la Valorisation Marines (ARVAM), Ste Clotilde, Réunion Island, France
| | - Jean-Pascal Quod
- Agence pour la Recherche et la Valorisation Marines (ARVAM), Ste Clotilde, Réunion Island, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
213
|
Pratte ZA. Microbial functional genes associated with coral health and disease. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2013; 107:161-71. [PMID: 24334358 DOI: 10.3354/dao02664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Both the incidence and prevalence of coral disease are rapidly increasing, and as a consequence, many studies involving coral microbial associates have been conducted. However, very few of these have considered microbial functional genes. This is an underutilized approach for studying coral disease etiology which is capable of revealing the molecular processes of the coral microbial community. This review presents a summary of the known microbial functional genes that have been linked to coral health and disease. Overall functional gene diversity tended to be lower in healthy corals than diseased or bleached corals, and respiration and photosynthesis functional genes appeared to be crucial to coral health. Genes associated with the nitrogen cycle were the most studied, were highly represented within the coral holobiont, and their expression often shifted in diseased or stressed individuals. Carbon metabolism, such as fatty acid and amino acid catabolism, also tended to shift in unhealthy corals. Genes associated with sulfite respiration as well as dimethylsulfoniopropionate degradation have been detected, although they have yet to be directly associated with coral disease. In addition, genes associated with xenobiotic degradation, antibiotic resistance, virulence, and oxidative stress may all be involved in maintaining coral health. However, the links between these functional genes and their roles in interacting with the coral host are not clear. Continuing identification of coral-associated microbial functional genes within the coral holobiont should facilitate advances in the field of coral health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe A Pratte
- Florida International University, Department of Biological Sciences, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
| |
Collapse
|
214
|
A bacterial pathogen uses dimethylsulfoniopropionate as a cue to target heat-stressed corals. ISME JOURNAL 2013; 8:999-1007. [PMID: 24335830 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Revised: 10/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Diseases are an emerging threat to ocean ecosystems. Coral reefs, in particular, are experiencing a worldwide decline because of disease and bleaching, which have been exacerbated by rising seawater temperatures. Yet, the ecological mechanisms behind most coral diseases remain unidentified. Here, we demonstrate that a coral pathogen, Vibrio coralliilyticus, uses chemotaxis and chemokinesis to target the mucus of its coral host, Pocillopora damicornis. A primary driver of this response is the host metabolite dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a key element in the global sulfur cycle and a potent foraging cue throughout the marine food web. Coral mucus is rich in DMSP, and we found that DMSP alone elicits chemotactic responses of comparable intensity to whole mucus. Furthermore, in heat-stressed coral fragments, DMSP concentrations increased fivefold and the pathogen's chemotactic response was correspondingly enhanced. Intriguingly, despite being a rich source of carbon and sulfur, DMSP is not metabolized by the pathogen, suggesting that it is used purely as an infochemical for host location. These results reveal a new role for DMSP in coral disease, demonstrate the importance of chemical signaling and swimming behavior in the recruitment of pathogens to corals and highlight the impact of increased seawater temperatures on disease pathways.
Collapse
|
215
|
Ransome E, Munn CB, Halliday N, Cámara M, Tait K. Diverse profiles ofN-acyl-homoserine lactone molecules found in cnidarians. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2013; 87:315-29. [DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Revised: 09/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Ransome
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory; Plymouth Devon UK
- School of Marine Science and Engineering; Plymouth University; Plymouth UK
| | - Colin B. Munn
- School of Marine Science and Engineering; Plymouth University; Plymouth UK
| | - Nigel Halliday
- School of Molecular Medical Sciences; Centre for Biomolecular Sciences; University of Nottingham; Nottingham UK
| | - Miguel Cámara
- School of Molecular Medical Sciences; Centre for Biomolecular Sciences; University of Nottingham; Nottingham UK
| | - Karen Tait
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory; Plymouth Devon UK
| |
Collapse
|
216
|
Correa H, Haltli B, Duque C, Kerr R. Bacterial communities of the gorgonian octocoral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2013; 66:972-85. [PMID: 23913197 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-013-0267-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae is a common inhabitant of Caribbean reefs and is a well-known source of diterpenes with diverse biological activities. Notably, this octocoral is the sole source of the pseudopterosin family of anti-inflammatory diterpenes and is harvested to supply commercial demand for these metabolites. We have characterized the composition of the bacterial community associated with P. elisabethae collected from Providencia Island, Colombia, using both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. Culture-independent analysis revealed that the bacterial communities were composed of eight phyla, of which Proteobacteria was the most abundant. At the class level, bacterial communities were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria (82-87 %). Additionally, operational taxonomic units related to Pseudomonas and Endozoicomonas species were the most abundant phylotypes consistently associated with P. elisabethae colonies. Culture-dependent analysis resulted in the identification of 40 distinct bacteria classified as Bacilli (15), Actinobacteria (12), Gammaproteobacteria (9), Alphaproteobacteria (3), and Betaproteobacteria (1). Only one of the 40 cultured bacteria was closely related to a dominant phylotype detected in the culture-independent study, suggesting that conventional culturing techniques failed to culture the majority of octocoral-associated bacterial diversity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first characterization of the bacterial diversity associated with P. elisabethae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hebelin Correa
- Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, District of Colombia, Colombia
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
217
|
DMSP biosynthesis by an animal and its role in coral thermal stress response. Nature 2013; 502:677-80. [PMID: 24153189 DOI: 10.1038/nature12677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Globally, reef-building corals are the most prolific producers of dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP), a central molecule in the marine sulphur cycle and precursor of the climate-active gas dimethylsulphide. At present, DMSP production by corals is attributed entirely to their algal endosymbiont, Symbiodinium. Combining chemical, genomic and molecular approaches, we show that coral juveniles produce DMSP in the absence of algal symbionts. DMSP levels increased up to 54% over time in newly settled coral juveniles lacking algal endosymbionts, and further increases, up to 76%, were recorded when juveniles were subjected to thermal stress. We uncovered coral orthologues of two algal genes recently identified in DMSP biosynthesis, strongly indicating that corals possess the enzymatic machinery necessary for DMSP production. Our results overturn the paradigm that photosynthetic organisms are the sole biological source of DMSP, and highlight the double jeopardy represented by worldwide declining coral cover, as the potential to alleviate thermal stress through coral-produced DMSP declines correspondingly.
Collapse
|
218
|
Bozo-Hurtado L, García-Amado MA, Chistoserdov A, Varela R, Narvaez JJ, Colwell R, Suárez P. Identification of bacteria in enrichment cultures of sulfate reducers in the Cariaco Basin water column employing Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments. AQUATIC BIOSYSTEMS 2013; 9:17. [PMID: 23981583 PMCID: PMC3765856 DOI: 10.1186/2046-9063-9-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Cariaco Basin is characterized by pronounced and predictable vertical layering of microbial communities dominated by reduced sulfur species at and below the redox transition zone. Marine water samples were collected in May, 2005 and 2006, at the sampling stations A (10°30' N, 64°40' W), B (10°40' N, 64°45' W) and D (10°43'N, 64°32'W) from different depths, including surface, redox interface, and anoxic zones. In order to enrich for sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), water samples were inoculated into anaerobic media amended with lactate or acetate as carbon source. To analyze the composition of enrichment cultures, we performed DNA extraction, PCR-DGGE, and sequencing of selected bands. RESULTS DGGE results indicate that many bacterial genera were present that are associated with the sulfur cycle, including Desulfovibrio spp., as well as heterotrophs belonging to Vibrio, Enterobacter, Shewanella, Fusobacterium, Marinifilum, Mariniliabilia, and Spirochaeta. These bacterial populations are related to sulfur coupling and carbon cycles in an environment of variable redox conditions and oxygen availability. CONCLUSIONS In our studies, we found an association of SRB-like Desulfovibrio with Vibrio species and other genera that have a previously defined relevant role in sulfur transformation and coupling of carbon and sulfur cycles in an environment where there are variable redox conditions and oxygen availability. This study provides new information about microbial species that were culturable on media for SRB at anaerobic conditions at several locations and water depths in the Cariaco Basin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorelei Bozo-Hurtado
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - M Alexandra García-Amado
- Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Andrei Chistoserdov
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
| | - Ramon Varela
- EDIMAR, Fundación La Salle, Margarita, Venezuela
| | | | - Rita Colwell
- University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Paula Suárez
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela
| |
Collapse
|
219
|
Rodriguez-Lanetty M, Granados-Cifuentes C, Barberan A, Bellantuono AJ, Bastidas C. Ecological Inferences from a deep screening of the Complex Bacterial Consortia associated with the coral, Porites astreoides. Mol Ecol 2013; 22:4349-4362. [PMID: 23865748 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Revised: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The functional role of the bacterial organisms in the reef ecosystem and their contribution to the coral well-being remain largely unclear. The first step in addressing this gap of knowledge relies on in-depth characterization of the coral microbial community and its changes in diversity across coral species, space and time. In this study, we focused on the exploration of microbial community assemblages associated with an ecologically important Caribbean scleractinian coral, Porites astreoides, using Illumina high-throughput sequencing of the V5 fragment of 16S rRNA gene. We collected data from a large set of biological replicates, allowing us to detect patterns of geographical structure and resolve co-occurrence patterns using network analyses. The taxonomic analysis of the resolved diversity showed consistent and dominant presence of two OTUs affiliated with the order Oceanospirillales, which corroborates a specific pattern of bacterial association emerging for this coral species and for many other corals within the genus Porites. We argue that this specific association might indicate a symbiotic association with the adult coral partner. Furthermore, we identified a highly diverse rare bacterial 'biosphere' (725 OTUs) also living along with the dominant bacterial symbionts, but the assemblage of this biosphere is significantly structured along the geographical scale. We further discuss that some of these rare bacterial members show significant association with other members of the community reflecting the complexity of the networked consortia within the coral holobiont.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Camila Granados-Cifuentes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Fl, 33199, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA, 70504, USA
| | | | - Anthony J Bellantuono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Fl, 33199, USA
| | - Carolina Bastidas
- Departamento de Biologia de Organismos, Universidad Simon Bolivar, Caracas, 1080-A, Venezuela
| |
Collapse
|
220
|
Pike RE, Haltli B, Kerr RG. Description of Endozoicomonas euniceicola sp. nov. and Endozoicomonas gorgoniicola sp. nov., bacteria isolated from the octocorals Eunicea fusca and Plexaura sp., and an emended description of the genus Endozoicomonas. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2013; 63:4294-4302. [PMID: 23832969 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.051490-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Two Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, strains EF212(T) and PS125(T), were isolated from the octocorals Eunicea fusca and Plexaura sp., respectively. EF212(T) was isolated from a specimen of E. fusca collected off the coast of Florida, USA, and PS125(T) was isolated from a specimen of Plexaura sp. collected off the coast of Bimini, Bahamas. Analysis of the nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that these novel strains were most closely related to Endozoicomonas montiporae CL-33(T), E. elysicola MKT110(T) and E. numazuensis HC50(T) (EF212(T), 95.6-97.2 % identity; PS125(T), 95.1-96.4 % identity). DNA-DNA hybridization values among EF212(T), PS125(T), E. montiporae LMG 24815(T) and E. elysicola KCTC 12372(T) were far below the 70 % cut-off, with all values for duplicate measurements being less than 35 %. Both EF212(T) and PS125(T) required NaCl for growth and showed optimal growth at 2-3 % NaCl, 22-30 °C and pH 8.0. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c), C16 : 0 and C14 : 0. The DNA G+C content of EF212(T) was 48.6 mol% and that of PS125(T) was 47.5 mol%. In addition to the genotypic differences observed between the two novel strains and related type strains, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic experiments also revealed differences between strains. Thus, strains EF212(T) and PS125(T) represent novel species of the genus Endozoicomonas, for which the names Endozoicomonas euniceicola sp. nov. and Endozoicomonas gorgoniicola sp. nov., respectively, are proposed. The type strains are EF212(T) ( = NCCB 100458(T) = DSM 26535(T)) for Endozoicomonas euniceicola sp. nov. and PS125(T) ( = NCCB 100438(T) = CECT 8353(T)) for Endozoicomonas gorgoniicola sp. nov. An emended description of the genus Endozoicomonas is also provided to encompass differences observed in the results of genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic tests compared from the original and amended genus descriptions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca E Pike
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
| | - Brad Haltli
- Department of Chemistry, University of PEI, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
| | - Russell G Kerr
- Department of Chemistry, University of PEI, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
221
|
Brown T, Bourne D, Rodriguez-Lanetty M. Transcriptional activation of c3 and hsp70 as part of the immune response of Acropora millepora to bacterial challenges. PLoS One 2013; 8:e67246. [PMID: 23861754 PMCID: PMC3701546 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of disease outbreaks on coral physiology represents an increasing concern for the fitness and resilience of reef ecosystems. Predicting the tolerance of corals to disease relies on an understanding of the coral immune response to pathogenic interactions. This study explored the transcriptional response of two putative immune genes (c3 and c-type lectin) and one stress response gene (hsp70) in the reef building coral, Acropora millepora challenged for 48 hours with bacterial strains, Vibrio coralliilyticus and Alteromonas sp. at concentrations of 10(6) cells ml(-1). Coral fragments challenged with V. coralliilyticus appeared healthy while fragments challenged with Alteromonas sp. showed signs of tissue lesions after 48 hr. Coral-associated bacterial community profiles assessed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis changed after challenge by both bacterial strains with the Alteromonas sp. treatment demonstrating the greatest community shift. Transcriptional profiles of c3 and hsp70 increased at 24 hours and correlated with disease signs in the Alteromonas sp. treatment. The expression of hsp70 also showed a significant increase in V. coralliilyticus inoculated corals at 24 h suggesting that even in the absence of disease signs, the microbial inoculum activated a stress response in the coral. C-type lectin did not show a response to any of the bacterial treatments. Increase in gene expression of c3 and hsp70 in corals showing signs of disease indicates their potential involvement in immune and stress response to microbial challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - David Bourne
- Australia Institute of Marine Sciences, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
222
|
Webster NS, Negri AP, Flores F, Humphrey C, Soo R, Botté ES, Vogel N, Uthicke S. Near-future ocean acidification causes differences in microbial associations within diverse coral reef taxa. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2013; 5:243-51. [PMID: 23584968 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Revised: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms form symbiotic partnerships with a diverse range of marine organisms and can be critical to the health and survival of their hosts. Despite the importance of these relationships, the sensitivity of symbiotic microbes to ocean acidification (OA) is largely unknown and this needs to be redressed to adequately predict marine ecosystem resilience in a changing climate. We adopted a profiling approach to explore the sensitivity of microbes associated with coral reef biofilms and representatives of three ecologically important calcifying invertebrate phyla [corals, foraminifera and crustose coralline algae (CCA)] to OA. The experimental design for this study comprised four pHs consistent with current IPCC predictions for the next few centuries (pHNIST 8.1, 7.9, 7.7, 7.5); these pH/pCO₂ conditions were produced in flow-through aquaria using CO₂ bubbling. All reduced pH/increased pCO₂ treatments caused clear differences in the microbial communities associated with coral, foraminifera, CCA and reef biofilms over 6 weeks, while no visible signs of host stress were detected over this period. The microbial communities of coral, foraminifera, CCA and biofilms were significantly different between pH 8.1 (pCO₂ = 464 μatm) and pH 7.9 (pCO₂ = 822 μatm), a concentration likely to be exceeded by the end of the present century. This trend continued at lower pHs/higher pCO₂. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed variable and species-specific changes in the microbial communities with no microbial taxa consistently present or absent from specific pH treatments. The high sensitivity of coral, foraminifera, CCA and biofilm microbes to OA conditions projected to occur by 2100 is a concern for reef ecosystems and highlights the need for urgent research to assess the implications of microbial shifts for host health and coral reef processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N S Webster
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Qld, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
223
|
La Rivière M, Roumagnac M, Garrabou J, Bally M. Transient shifts in bacterial communities associated with the temperate gorgonian Paramuricea clavata in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. PLoS One 2013; 8:e57385. [PMID: 23437379 PMCID: PMC3577713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial communities that are associated with tropical reef-forming corals are being increasingly recognized for their role in host physiology and health. However, little is known about the microbial diversity of the communities associated with temperate gorgonian corals, even though these communities are key structural components of the ecosystem. In the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, gorgonians undergo recurrent mass mortalities, but the potential relationship between these events and the structure of the associated bacterial communities remains unexplored. Because microbial assemblages may contribute to the overall health and disease resistance of their host, a detailed baseline of the associated bacterial diversity is required to better understand the functioning of the gorgonian holobiont. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The bacterial diversity associated with the gorgonian Paramuricea clavata was determined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism and the construction of clone libraries of the bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA. Three study sites were monitored for 4 years to assess the variability of communities associated with healthy colonies. Bacterial assemblages were highly dominated by one Hahellaceae-related ribotype and exhibited low diversity. While this pattern was mostly conserved through space and time, in summer 2007, a deep shift in microbiota structure toward increased bacterial diversity and the transient disappearance of Hahellaceae was observed. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE This is the first spatiotemporal study to investigate the bacterial diversity associated with a temperate shallow gorgonian. Our data revealed an established relationship between P. clavata and a specific bacterial group within the Oceanospirillales. These results suggest a potential symbiotic role of Hahellaceae in the host-microbe association, as recently suggested for tropical corals. However, a transient imbalance in bacterial associations can be tolerated by the holobiont without apparent symptoms of disease. The subsequent restoration of the Hahellaceae-dominated community is indicative of the specificity and resilience of the bacteria associated with the gorgonian host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie La Rivière
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, CNRS/INSU, IRD, Aix-Marseille Université, Université du Sud Toulon-Var, Marseille, France
| | - Marie Roumagnac
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, CNRS/INSU, IRD, Aix-Marseille Université, Université du Sud Toulon-Var, Marseille, France
| | - Joaquim Garrabou
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, CNRS/INSU, IRD, Aix-Marseille Université, Université du Sud Toulon-Var, Marseille, France
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Bally
- Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, CNRS/INSU, IRD, Aix-Marseille Université, Université du Sud Toulon-Var, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
224
|
Bourne DG, Dennis PG, Uthicke S, Soo RM, Tyson GW, Webster N. Coral reef invertebrate microbiomes correlate with the presence of photosymbionts. ISME JOURNAL 2013; 7:1452-8. [PMID: 23303372 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2012.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Coral reefs provide habitat for an array of marine invertebrates that host symbiotic microbiomes. Photosynthetic symbionts including Symbiodinium dinoflagellates and diatoms potentially influence the diversity of their host-associated microbiomes by releasing carbon-containing photosynthates and other organic compounds that fuel microbial metabolism. Here we used 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon pyrosequencing to characterise the microbiomes of 11 common Great Barrier Reef marine invertebrate species that host photosynthetic symbionts and five taxa in which they are absent. The presence of photosynthetic symbionts influenced the composition but not the species richness, evenness and phylogenetic diversity of invertebrate-associated microbiomes. Invertebrates without photosynthetic symbionts were dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, whereas those hosting photosynthetic symbionts were dominated by Gammaproteobacteria. Interestingly, many microbial species from photosymbiont-bearing invertebrates, including Oceanospirillales spp., Alteromonas spp., Pseudomonas spp., Halomonas spp., are implicated in the metabolism of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). DMSP is produced in high concentrations by photosynthetic dinoflagellates and is involved in climate regulation by facilitating cloud formation. Microbiomes correlated with host taxa and replicate individuals from most sampled species grouped in distance-based redundancy analysis of retrieved 16S rRNA gene sequences. This study highlights the complex nature of invertebrate holobionts and confirms the importance of photosynthetic symbionts in structuring marine invertebrate bacterial communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David G Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
225
|
Fernandes N, Steinberg P, Rusch D, Kjelleberg S, Thomas T. Community structure and functional gene profile of bacteria on healthy and diseased thalli of the red seaweed Delisea pulchra. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50854. [PMID: 23226544 PMCID: PMC3513314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease is increasingly viewed as a major factor in the ecology of marine communities and its impact appears to be increasing with environmental change, such as global warming. The temperate macroalga Delisea pulchra bleaches in Southeast Australia during warm summer periods, a phenomenon which previous studies have indicated is caused by a temperature induced bacterial disease. In order to better understand the ecology of this disease, the bacterial communities associated with threes type of samples was investigated using 16S rRNA gene and environmental shotgun sequencing: 1) unbleached (healthy) D. pulchra 2) bleached parts of D. pulchra and 3) apparently healthy tissue adjacent to bleached regions. Phylogenetic differences between healthy and bleached communities mainly reflected relative changes in the taxa Colwelliaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Thalassomonas and Parvularcula. Comparative metagenomics showed clear difference in the communities of healthy and diseased D. pulchra as reflected by changes in functions associated with transcriptional regulation, cation/multidrug efflux and non-ribosomal peptide synthesis. Importantly, the phylogenetic and functional composition of apparently healthy tissue adjacent to bleached sections of the thalli indicated that changes in the microbial communities already occur in the absence of visible tissue damage. This shift in unbleached sections might be due to the decrease in furanones, algal metabolites which are antagonists of bacterial quorum sensing. This study reveals the complex shift in the community composition associated with bleaching of Delisea pulchra and together with previous studies is consistent with a model in which elevated temperatures reduce levels of chemical defenses in stressed thalli, leading to colonization or proliferation by opportunistic pathogens or scavengers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neil Fernandes
- The Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter Steinberg
- The Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Doug Rusch
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Staffan Kjelleberg
- The Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Torsten Thomas
- The Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
226
|
Lee OO, Yang J, Bougouffa S, Wang Y, Batang Z, Tian R, Al-Suwailem A, Qian PY. Spatial and species variations in bacterial communities associated with corals from the Red Sea as revealed by pyrosequencing. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:7173-84. [PMID: 22865078 PMCID: PMC3457102 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01111-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial associations with corals are common and are most likely symbiotic, although their diversity and relationships with environmental factors and host species remain unclear. In this study, we adopted a 16S rRNA gene tag-pyrosequencing technique to investigate the bacterial communities associated with three stony Scleractinea and two soft Octocorallia corals from three locations in the Red Sea. Our results revealed highly diverse bacterial communities in the Red Sea corals, with more than 600 ribotypes detected and up to 1,000 species estimated from a single coral species. Altogether, 21 bacterial phyla were recovered from the corals, of which Gammaproteobacteria was the most dominant group, and Chloroflexi, Chlamydiae, and the candidate phylum WS3 were reported in corals for the first time. The associated bacterial communities varied greatly with location, where environmental conditions differed significantly. Corals from disturbed areas appeared to share more similar bacterial communities, but larger variations in community structures were observed between different coral species from pristine waters. Ordination methods identified salinity and depth as the most influential parameters affecting the abundance of Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, Serratia, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Achromobacter in the corals. On the other hand, bacteria such as Chloracidobacterium and Endozoicomonas were more sensitive to the coral species, suggesting that the host species type may be influential in the associated bacterial community, as well. The combined influences of the coral host and environmental factors on the associated microbial communities are discussed. This study represents the first comparative study using tag-pyrosequencing technology to investigate the bacterial communities in Red Sea corals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- On On Lee
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
| | - Jiangke Yang
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
| | - Salim Bougouffa
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
| | - Yong Wang
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zenon Batang
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Renmao Tian
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
| | | | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
227
|
Vega Thurber R, Burkepile DE, Correa AMS, Thurber AR, Shantz AA, Welsh R, Pritchard C, Rosales S. Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44246. [PMID: 22957055 PMCID: PMC3434190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 07/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
With the continued and unprecedented decline of coral reefs worldwide, evaluating the factors that contribute to coral demise is of critical importance. As coral cover declines, macroalgae are becoming more common on tropical reefs. Interactions between these macroalgae and corals may alter the coral microbiome, which is thought to play an important role in colony health and survival. Together, such changes in benthic macroalgae and in the coral microbiome may result in a feedback mechanism that contributes to additional coral cover loss. To determine if macroalgae alter the coral microbiome, we conducted a field-based experiment in which the coral Porites astreoides was placed in competition with five species of macroalgae. Macroalgal contact increased variance in the coral-associated microbial community, and two algal species significantly altered microbial community composition. All macroalgae caused the disappearance of a γ-proteobacterium previously hypothesized to be an important mutualist of P. astreoides. Macroalgal contact also triggered: 1) increases or 2) decreases in microbial taxa already present in corals, 3) establishment of new taxa to the coral microbiome, and 4) vectoring and growth of microbial taxa from the macroalgae to the coral. Furthermore, macroalgal competition decreased coral growth rates by an average of 36.8%. Overall, this study found that competition between corals and certain species of macroalgae leads to an altered coral microbiome, providing a potential mechanism by which macroalgae-coral interactions reduce coral health and lead to coral loss on impacted reefs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Vega Thurber
- Florida International University, Deptartment of Biological Sciences, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Oregon State University, Deptartment of Microbiology, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Deron E. Burkepile
- Florida International University, Deptartment of Biological Sciences, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Adrienne M. S. Correa
- Florida International University, Deptartment of Biological Sciences, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Oregon State University, Deptartment of Microbiology, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Andrew R. Thurber
- Oregon State University, College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Andrew A. Shantz
- Florida International University, Deptartment of Biological Sciences, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Rory Welsh
- Florida International University, Deptartment of Biological Sciences, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Oregon State University, Deptartment of Microbiology, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Catharine Pritchard
- Florida International University, Deptartment of Biological Sciences, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, Charleston, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Rosales
- Florida International University, Deptartment of Biological Sciences, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
- Oregon State University, Deptartment of Microbiology, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
228
|
Barott KL, Rohwer FL. Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs. Trends Microbiol 2012; 20:621-8. [PMID: 22944243 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2012.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2012] [Revised: 08/08/2012] [Accepted: 08/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent work has shown that hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic matter (OM) from algae disrupts the function of the coral holobiont and promotes the invasion of opportunistic pathogens, leading to coral morbidity and mortality. Here we refer to these dynamics as the (3)DAM [dissolved organic matter (DOM), direct contact, disease, algae and microbes] model. There is considerable complexity in coral-algae interactions; turf algae and macroalgae promote heterotrophic microbial overgrowth of coral, macroalgae also directly harm the corals via hydrophobic OM, whereas crustose coralline algae generally encourage benign microbial communities. In addition, complex flow patterns transport OM and pathogens from algae to downstream corals, and direct algal contact enhances their delivery. These invisible players (microbes, viruses, and OM) are important drivers of coral reefs because they have non-linear responses to disturbances and are the first to change in response to perturbations, providing near real-time trajectories for a coral reef, a vital metric for conservation and restoration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Barott
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
229
|
Hamada M, Shoguchi E, Shinzato C, Kawashima T, Miller DJ, Satoh N. The complex NOD-like receptor repertoire of the coral Acropora digitifera includes novel domain combinations. Mol Biol Evol 2012; 30:167-76. [PMID: 22936719 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/mss213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity in corals is of special interest not only in the context of self-defense but also in relation to the establishment and collapse of their obligate symbiosis with dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. In innate immunity system of vertebrates, approximately 20 tripartite nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor proteins that are defined by the presence of a NAIP, CIIA, HET-E and TP1 (NACHT) domain, a C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, and one of three types of N-terminal effector domain, are known to function as the primary intracellular pattern recognition molecules. Surveying the coral genome revealed not only a larger number of NACHT- and related domain nucleotide-binding adaptor shared by APAF-1, R proteins, and CED-4 (NB-ARC)-encoding loci (~500) than in other metazoans but also surprising diversity of domain combinations among the coral NACHT/NB-ARC-containing proteins; N-terminal effector domains included the apoptosis-related domains caspase recruitment domain (CARD), death effector domain (DED), and Death, and C-terminal repeat domains included LRRs, tetratricopeptide repeats, ankyrin repeats, and WD40 repeats. Many of the predicted coral proteins that contain a NACHT/NB-ARC domain also contain a glycosyl transferase group 1 domain, a novel domain combination first found in metazoans. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the NACHT/NB-ARC domain inventories of various metazoan lineages, including corals, are largely products of lineage-specific expansions. Many of the NACHT/NB-ARC loci are organized in pairs or triplets in the Acropora genome, suggesting that the large coral NACHT/NB-ARC repertoire has been generated at least in part by tandem duplication. In addition, shuffling of N-terminal effector domains may have occurred after expansions of specific NACHT/NB-ARC-repeat domain types. These results illustrate the extraordinary complexity of the innate immune repertoire of corals, which may in part reflect adaptive evolution to a symbiotic lifestyle in a uniquely complex and challenging environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayuko Hamada
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
230
|
Sharp KH, Ritchie KB. Multi-partner interactions in corals in the face of climate change. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2012; 223:66-77. [PMID: 22983033 DOI: 10.1086/bblv223n1p66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Recent research has explored the possibility that increased sea-surface temperatures and decreasing pH (ocean acidification) contribute to the ongoing decline of coral reef ecosystems. Within corals, a diverse microbiome exerts significant influence on biogeochemical and ecological processes, including food webs, organismal life cycles, and chemical and nutrient cycling. Microbes on coral reefs play a critical role in regulating larval recruitment, bacterial colonization, and pathogen abundance under ambient conditions, ultimately governing the overall resilience of coral reef systems. As a result, microbial processes may be involved in reef ecosystem-level responses to climate change. Developments of new molecular technologies, in addition to multidisciplinary collaborative research on coral reefs, have led to the rapid advancement in our understanding of bacterially mediated reef responses to environmental change. Here we review new discoveries regarding (1) the onset of coral-bacterial associations; (2) the functional roles that bacteria play in healthy corals; and (3) how bacteria influence coral reef response to environmental change, leading to a model describing how reef microbiota direct ecosystem-level response to a changing global climate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Koty H Sharp
- Eckerd College, 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33711, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
231
|
Bacterial associates of two Caribbean coral species reveal species-specific distribution and geographic variability. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:6438-49. [PMID: 22773636 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01162-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Scleractinian corals harbor microorganisms that form dynamic associations with the coral host and exhibit substantial genetic and ecological diversity. Microbial associates may provide defense against pathogens and serve as bioindicators of changing environmental conditions. Here we describe the bacterial assemblages associated with two of the most common and phylogenetically divergent reef-building corals in the Caribbean, Montastraea faveolata and Porites astreoides. Contrasting life history strategies and disease susceptibilities indicate potential differences in their microbiota and immune function that may in part drive changes in the composition of coral reef communities. The ribotype structure and diversity of coral-associated bacteria within the surface mucosal layer (SML) of healthy corals were assessed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting and 454 bar-coded pyrosequencing. Corals were sampled at disparate Caribbean locations representing various levels of anthropogenic impact. We demonstrate here that M. faveolata and P. astreoides harbor distinct, host-specific bacteria but that specificity varies by species and site. P. astreoides generally hosts a bacterial assemblage of low diversity that is largely dominated by one bacterial genus, Endozoicomonas, within the order Oceanospirillales. The bacterial assemblages associated with M. faveolata are significantly more diverse and exhibit higher specificity at the family level than P. astreoides assemblages. Both corals have more bacterial diversity and higher abundances of disease-related bacteria at sites closer to the mainland than at those furthest away. The most diverse bacterial taxa and highest relative abundance of disease-associated bacteria were seen for corals near St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) (2.5 km from shore), and the least diverse taxa and lowest relative abundance were seen for corals near our most pristine site in Belize (20 km from shore). We conclude that the two coral species studied harbor distinct bacterial assemblages within the SML, but the degree to which each species maintains specific microbial associations varies both within each site and across large spatial scales. The taxonomic scale (i.e., phylum versus genus) at which scientists examine coral-microbe associations, in addition to host-elicited factors and environmental fluctuations, must be considered carefully in future studies of the coral holobiont.
Collapse
|
232
|
Ceh J, Raina JB, Soo RM, van Keulen M, Bourne DG. Coral-bacterial communities before and after a coral mass spawning event on Ningaloo Reef. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36920. [PMID: 22629343 PMCID: PMC3353996 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2012] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria associated with three coral species, Acropora tenuis, Pocillopora damicornis and Tubastrea faulkneri, were assessed before and after coral mass spawning on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Two colonies of each species were sampled before and after the mass spawning event and two additional samples were collected for P. damicornis after planulation. A variable 470 bp region of the 16 S rRNA gene was selected for pyrosequencing to provide an understanding of potential variations in coral-associated bacterial diversity and community structure. Bacterial diversity increased for all coral species after spawning as assessed by Chao1 diversity indicators. Minimal changes in community structure were observed at the class level and data at the taxonomical level of genus incorporated into a PCA analysis indicated that despite bacterial diversity increasing after spawning, coral-associated community structure did not shift greatly with samples grouped according to species. However, interesting changes could be detected from the dataset; for example, α-Proteobacteria increased in relative abundance after coral spawning and particularly the Roseobacter clade was found to be prominent in all coral species, indicating that this group may be important in coral reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janja Ceh
- School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
233
|
Barott KL, Rodriguez-Mueller B, Youle M, Marhaver KL, Vermeij MJA, Smith JE, Rohwer FL. Microbial to reef scale interactions between the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis and benthic algae. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 279:1655-64. [PMID: 22090385 PMCID: PMC3282354 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2011.2155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 10/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Competition between reef-building corals and benthic algae is of key importance for reef dynamics. These interactions occur on many spatial scales, ranging from chemical to regional. Using microprobes, 16S rDNA pyrosequencing and underwater surveys, we examined the interactions between the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis and four types of benthic algae. The macroalgae Dictyota bartayresiana and Halimeda opuntia, as well as a mixed consortium of turf algae, caused hypoxia on the adjacent coral tissue. Turf algae were also associated with major shifts in the bacterial communities at the interaction zones, including more pathogens and virulence genes. In contrast to turf algae, interactions with crustose coralline algae (CCA) and M. annularis did not appear to be antagonistic at any scale. These zones were not hypoxic, the microbes were not pathogen-like and the abundance of coral-CCA interactions was positively correlated with per cent coral cover. We propose a model in which fleshy algae (i.e. some species of turf and fleshy macroalgae) alter benthic competition dynamics by stimulating bacterial respiration and promoting invasion of virulent bacteria on corals. This gives fleshy algae a competitive advantage over corals when human activities, such as overfishing and eutrophication, remove controls on algal abundance. Together, these results demonstrate the intricate connections and mechanisms that structure coral reefs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Barott
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
234
|
Abstract
The compatible solute dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) has important roles in marine environments. It is an anti-stress compound made by many single-celled plankton, some seaweeds and a few land plants that live by the shore. Furthermore, in the oceans it is a major source of carbon and sulphur for marine bacteria that break it down to products such as dimethyl sulphide, which are important in their own right and have wide-ranging effects, from altering animal behaviour to seeding cloud formation. In this Review, we describe how recent genetic and genomic work on the ways in which several different bacteria, and some fungi, catabolize DMSP has provided new and surprising insights into the mechanisms, regulation and possible evolution of DMSP catabolism in microorganisms.
Collapse
|
235
|
Steinke M, Brading P, Kerrison P, Warner ME, Suggett DJ. CONCENTRATIONS OF DIMETHYLSULFONIOPROPIONATE AND DIMETHYL SULFIDE ARE STRAIN-SPECIFIC IN SYMBIOTIC DINOFLAGELLATES (SYMBIODINIUM SP., DINOPHYCEAE)(1). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2011; 47:775-83. [PMID: 27020013 DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.01011.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) are sulfur compounds that may function as antioxidants in algae. Symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium show strain-specific differences in their susceptibility to temperature-induced oxidative stress and have been shown to contain high concentrations of DMSP. We investigated continuous cultures of four strains from distinct phylotypes (A1, A13, A2, and B1) that can be characterized by differential thermal tolerances. We hypothesized that strains with high thermal tolerance have higher concentrations of DMSP and DMS in comparison to strains with low thermal tolerance. DMSP concentrations were strain-specific with highest concentrations occurring in A1 (225 ± 3.5 mmol · L(-1 ) cell volume [CV]) and lowest in A2 (158 ± 3.8 mmol · L(-1 ) CV). Both strains have high thermal tolerance. Strains with low thermal tolerance (A13 and B1) showed DMSP concentrations in between these extremes (194 ± 19.0 and 160 ± 6.1 mmol · L(-1 ) CV, respectively). DMS data further confirmed this general pattern with high DMS concentrations in A1 and A13 (4.1 ± 1.22 and 2.1 ± 0.37 mmol · L(-1 ) CV, respectively) and low DMS concentrations in A2 and B1 (0.3 ± 0.06 and 0.5 ± 0.22 mmol · L(-1) CV, respectively). Hence, the strain-specific differences in DMSP and DMS concentrations did not match the different abilities of the four phylotypes to withstand thermal stress. Future work should quantify the possible dynamics in DMSP and DMS concentrations during periods of high oxidative stress in Symbiodinium sp. and address the role of these antioxidants in zooxanthellate cnidarians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Steinke
- University of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UKCollege of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, Delaware 19958, USAUniversity of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Patrick Brading
- University of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UKCollege of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, Delaware 19958, USAUniversity of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Philip Kerrison
- University of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UKCollege of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, Delaware 19958, USAUniversity of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Mark E Warner
- University of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UKCollege of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, Delaware 19958, USAUniversity of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - David J Suggett
- University of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UKCollege of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes, Delaware 19958, USAUniversity of Essex, Department of Biological Sciences, Coral Reef Research Unit, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
236
|
García-Amado MA, Bozo-Hurtado L, Astor Y, Suárez P, Chistoserdov A. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analyses of the vertical distribution and diversity of Vibrio spp. populations in the Cariaco Basin. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2011; 77:347-56. [PMID: 21507026 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01116.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cariaco system is the second largest permanently anoxic marine water body in the world. Its water column is characterized by a pronounced vertical layering of microbial communities. The goal of our study was to investigate the vertical distribution and diversity of Vibrio spp. present in the Cariaco Basin waters using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA fragments. Representatives of the Vibrio genus were detected by nested and direct PCR in seawater at 10 depths. Sequence analyses of 55 DGGE bands revealed that only 11 different operational taxonomic units (OTU) are identified as Vibrio species. Between one and five OTUs were detected at each depth and the most common OTUs were OTU 1 and OTU 2, which phylogenetically clustered with Vibrio chagasii and Vibrio fortis, respectively. OTUs 3 and 4 were only found in the anoxic zone and were identified as Vibrio orientalis and Vibrio neptunius, respectively. Several Vibrio species detected are potentially pathogenic to human, prawns and corals such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio fischeri and Vibrio shilonii. In the Cariaco Basin, different Vibrio species were found to be specific to specific depths strata, suggesting that this genus is a natural component of the microbial communities in this marine redox environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alexandra García-Amado
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Gastrointestinal, Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
237
|
Galkiewicz JP, Pratte ZA, Gray MA, Kellogg CA. Characterization of culturable bacteria isolated from the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2011; 77:333-46. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01115.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
|
238
|
Marinomonas brasilensis sp. nov., isolated from the coral Mussismilia hispida, and reclassification of Marinomonas basaltis as a later heterotypic synonym of Marinomonas communis. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2011; 61:1170-1175. [DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.024661-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated strain R-40503T, was isolated from mucus of the reef-builder coral Mussismilia hispida, located in the São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo, Brazil. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain R-40503T belongs to the genus Marinomonas. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of R-40503T was above 97 % with the type strains of Marinomonas vaga, M. basaltis, M. communis and M. pontica, and below 97 % with type strains of the other Marinomonas species. Strain R-40503T showed less than 35 % DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) with the type strains of the phylogenetically closest Marinomonas species, demonstrating that it should be classified into a novel species. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses provided further evidence for the proposal of a novel species. Concurrently, a close genomic relationship between M. basaltis and M. communis was observed. The type strains of these two species showed 78 % DDH and 63 % AFLP pattern similarity. Their phenotypic features were very similar, and their DNA G+C contents were identical (46.3 mol%). Collectively, these data demonstrate unambiguously that Marinomonas basaltis is a later heterotypic synonym of Marinomonas communis. Several phenotypic features can be used to discriminate between Marinomonas species. The novel strain R-40503T is clearly distinguishable from its neighbours. For instance, it shows oxidase and urease activity, utilizes l-asparagine and has the fatty acid C12 : 1 3-OH but lacks C10 : 0 and C12 : 0. The name Marinomonas brasilensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain R-40503T ( = R-278T = LMG 25434T = CAIM 1459T). The DNA G+C content of strain R-40503T is 46.5 mol%.
Collapse
|
239
|
Barott KL, Rodriguez-Brito B, Janouškovec J, Marhaver KL, Smith JE, Keeling P, Rohwer FL. Microbial diversity associated with four functional groups of benthic reef algae and the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis. Environ Microbiol 2011; 13:1192-204. [PMID: 21272183 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2010.02419.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The coral reef benthos is primarily colonized by corals and algae, which are often in direct competition with one another for space. Numerous studies have shown that coral-associated Bacteria are different from the surrounding seawater and are at least partially species specific (i.e. the same bacterial species on the same coral species). Here we extend these microbial studies to four of the major ecological functional groups of algae found on coral reefs: upright and encrusting calcifying algae, fleshy algae, and turf algae, and compare the results to the communities found on the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis. It was found using 16S rDNA tag pyrosequencing that the different algal genera harbour characteristic bacterial communities, and these communities were generally more diverse than those found on corals. While the majority of coral-associated Bacteria were related to known heterotrophs, primarily consuming carbon-rich coral mucus, algal-associated communities harboured a high percentage of autotrophs. The majority of algal-associated autotrophic Bacteria were Cyanobacteria and may be important for nitrogen cycling on the algae. There was also a rich diversity of photosynthetic eukaryotes associated with the algae, including protists, diatoms, and other groups of microalgae. Together, these observations support the hypothesis that coral reefs are a vast landscape of distinctive microbial communities and extend the holobiont concept to benthic algae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Barott
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
240
|
Sneed JM, Pohnert G. The green macroalga Dictyosphaeria ocellata influences the structure of the bacterioplankton community through differential effects on individual bacterial phylotypes. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2010; 75:242-54. [PMID: 21155850 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.01005.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine macroalgae are subjected to large numbers of bacteria in their environment. These bacteria have the potential to affect the health and ecology of algae in a variety of ways and can be both beneficial and harmful to the algae. Therefore, algae have likely evolved mechanisms to differentially regulate the growth of bacterial species. In this study, we examined the effects of the green alga Dictyosphaeria ocellata on the bacterioplankton community in field enclosure experiments and on individual, naturally co-occurring bacterial strains in laboratory co-culture experiments. In field experiments, we compared the bacterioplankton communities of enclosures with and without D. ocellata using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and found that the alga significantly changed the bacterial community composition. Seven bacterial phylotypes were eliminated in the presence of the alga and five were found exclusively with the alga. We also examined the effects of algal-treated water on the development of the bacterial community within enclosures and found no change in the community composition. Laboratory co-culture experiments revealed that D. ocellata and D. ocellata extracts affect the growth of individual bacterial strains in a species-specific manner and that the mechanisms responsible for these effects also differed by bacterial species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Sneed
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Analytics/Bioorganic Analytics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
241
|
Jensen S, Duperron S, Birkeland NK, Hovland M. Intracellular Oceanospirillales bacteria inhabit gills of Acesta bivalves. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2010; 74:523-33. [PMID: 21044098 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00981.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel bacterium was discovered in the gills of the large bivalve Acesta excavata (Limidae) from coral reefs on the northeast Atlantic margin near the shelf break of the fishing ground Haltenbanken of Norway, and confirmed present in A. excavata from a rock-wall in the Trondheimsfjord. Purified gill DNA contained one dominant bacterial rRNA operon as indicated from analysis of broad range bacterial PCR amplicons in denaturant gradient gels, in clone libraries and by direct sequencing. The sequences originated from an unknown member of the order Oceanospirillales and its 16S rRNA gene fell within a clade of strictly marine invertebrate-associated Gammaproteobacteria. Visual inspection by fluorescent in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy indicated a pleomorphic bacterium with no visible cell wall, located in aggregates inside vacuoles scattered within the gill cells cytoplasm. Intracellular Oceanospirillales exist in bathymodiolin mussels (parasites), Osedax worms and whiteflies (symbionts). This bacterium apparently lives in a specific association with the Acesta.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sigmund Jensen
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
242
|
Geng H, Belas R. Molecular mechanisms underlying roseobacter-phytoplankton symbioses. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2010; 21:332-8. [PMID: 20399092 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2010.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2009] [Revised: 03/01/2010] [Accepted: 03/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Roseobacter clade of alpha-proteobacteria are among the most abundant and ecologically relevant marine bacteria. Bacterial isolates and gene sequences derived from this taxonomic lineage have been retrieved from marine environments ranging from sea ice to open ocean mixed layer to tropical coral reefs, and in ecological niches ranging from free-living plankton to sponge symbiont to biofilm pioneer. Although roseobacters are cosmopolitan in the marine environment, their numbers and activity significantly rise with increases in the population density of phytoplankton [1,2], suggesting that these bacteria are highly adapted to engage in these symbioses. This review examines the molecules and phenotypes of roseobacters that are important in establishing and maintaining the symbioses between roseobacters and phytoplankton.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haifeng Geng
- Center of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
243
|
Mouchka ME, Hewson I, Harvell CD. Coral-Associated Bacterial Assemblages: Current Knowledge and the Potential for Climate-Driven Impacts. Integr Comp Biol 2010; 50:662-74. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icq061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
|
244
|
Raina JB, Dinsdale EA, Willis BL, Bourne DG. Do the organic sulfur compounds DMSP and DMS drive coral microbial associations? Trends Microbiol 2010; 18:101-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2009.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2009] [Revised: 12/01/2009] [Accepted: 12/04/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
245
|
Alves N, Neto OSM, Silva BSO, De Moura RL, Francini-Filho RB, Barreira E Castro C, Paranhos R, Bitner-Mathé BC, Kruger RH, Vicente ACP, Thompson CC, Thompson FL. Diversity and pathogenic potential of vibrios isolated from Abrolhos Bank corals. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2010; 2:90-95. [PMID: 23766002 DOI: 10.1111/j.1758-2229.2009.00101.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We performed the first taxonomic characterization of vibrios and other culturable microbiota from apparently healthy and diseased Brazilian-endemic corals at the Abrolhos reef bank. The diseases affecting corals were tissue necrosis in Phyllogorgia dillatata, white plague and bleaching in Mussismilia braziliensis and bleaching in Mussismilia hispida. Bacterial isolates were obtained from mucus of 22 coral specimens originated from the Abrolhos Bank (i.e. Itacolomis reef, Recife de Fora reef and Santa Barbara Island) in 2007. Vibrios counts in the water and coral mucus were approximately 104 cfu ml(-1) and 106 cfu ml(-1) respectively. One hundred and thirty-one representative vibrio isolates were identified. Most vibrio isolates (n = 79) fell into the core group using the pyrH identification marker. According to our analysis, diseased corals did not possess a unique vibrio microbiota. Vibrio species encompassed strains originated from both apparently healthy and diseased corals. The pathogenic potential of representative vibrio isolates (V. alginolyticus 40B, V. harveyi-like 1DA3 and V. coralliilyticus 2DA3) were evaluated in a standardized bioassay using the animal model Drosophila melanogaster and caused 25-88% mortality. This is the first taxonomic characterization of the culturable microbiota from the Brazilian-endemic corals. Endemic Brazilian corals are a reservoir of the vibrio core group. Vibrio alginolyticus, V. harveyi and V. coralliilyticus are dominant in the mucus of these corals and may be a normal component of the holobiont.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Alves
- Department of Genetics, Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Laboratory of Population Genetics of Drosophila Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, and National Museum, Coral Vivo, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Conservation International Brazil, Marine Program, BA, Brazil. Department of Biology, Paraiba State University, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Department of Enzymology, University of Brasilia, DF, Brazil. Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Microrganims, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
246
|
Todd JD, Curson ARJ, Nikolaidou-Katsaraidou N, Brearley CA, Watmough NJ, Chan Y, Page PCB, Sun L, Johnston AWB. Molecular dissection of bacterial acrylate catabolism - unexpected links with dimethylsulfoniopropionate catabolism and dimethyl sulfide production. Environ Microbiol 2010; 12:327-43. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.02071.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
247
|
Kimes NE, Van Nostrand JD, Weil E, Zhou J, Morris PJ. Microbial functional structure of Montastraea faveolata, an important Caribbean reef-building coral, differs between healthy and yellow-band diseased colonies. Environ Microbiol 2009; 12:541-56. [PMID: 19958382 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2009.02113.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A functional gene array (FGA), GeoChip 2.0, was used to assess the biogeochemical cycling potential of microbial communities associated with healthy and Caribbean yellow band diseased (YBD) Montastraea faveolata. Over 6700 genes were detected, providing evidence that the coral microbiome contains a diverse community of archaea, bacteria and fungi capable of fulfilling numerous functional niches. These included carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycling, metal homeostasis and resistance, and xenobiotic contaminant degradation. A significant difference in functional structure was found between healthy and YBD M. faveolata colonies and those differences were specific to the physical niche examined. In the surface mucopolysaccharide layer (SML), only two of 31 functional categories investigated, cellulose degradation and nitrification, revealed significant differences, implying a very specific change in microbial functional potential. Coral tissue slurry, on the other hand, revealed significant changes in 10 of the 31 categories, suggesting a more generalized shift in functional potential involving various aspects of nutrient cycling, metal transformations and contaminant degradation. This study is the first broad screening of functional genes in coral-associated microbial communities and provides insights regarding their biogeochemical cycling capacity in healthy and diseased states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikole E Kimes
- Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
248
|
Microbial disease and the coral holobiont. Trends Microbiol 2009; 17:554-62. [PMID: 19822428 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2009.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2009] [Revised: 09/04/2009] [Accepted: 09/21/2009] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Tropical coral reefs harbour a reservoir of enormous biodiversity that is increasingly threatened by direct human activities and indirect global climate shifts. Emerging coral diseases are one serious threat implicated in extensive reef deterioration through disruption of the integrity of the coral holobiont - a complex symbiosis between the coral animal, endobiotic alga and an array of microorganisms. In this article, we review our current understanding of the role of microorganisms in coral health and disease, and highlight the pressing interdisciplinary research priorities required to elucidate the mechanisms of disease. We advocate an approach that applies knowledge gained from experiences in human and veterinary medicine, integrated into multidisciplinary studies that investigate the interactions between host, agent and environment of a given coral disease. These approaches include robust and precise disease diagnosis, standardised ecological methods and application of rapidly developing DNA, RNA and protein technologies, alongside established histological, microbial ecology and ecological expertise. Such approaches will allow a better understanding of the causes of coral mortality and coral reef declines and help assess potential management options to mitigate their effects in the longer term.
Collapse
|
249
|
Kirkwood M, Todd JD, Rypien KL, Johnston AWB. The opportunistic coral pathogen Aspergillus sydowii contains dddP and makes dimethyl sulfide from dimethylsulfoniopropionate. ISME JOURNAL 2009; 4:147-50. [PMID: 19776768 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2009.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The ascomycete Aspergillus sydowii is associated with a serious epizootic of sea fan corals in the Caribbean. Corals are rich in the compatible solute, dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), produced by their symbionts, the dinoflagellate Symbiodinium. As other Aspergillus species can catabolize DMSP, liberating dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the process, we tested A. sydowii strains, obtained from diseased corals and other environments, for this Ddd(+) phenotype. All the strains, irrespective of their geographical or environmental origins, made DMS from DMSP, and all of them contained homologs (>87% identical) of the dddP gene, which encodes an enzyme that releases DMS from DMSP and which occurs in other Ddd(+) fungi and in some marine bacteria. The dddP gene was likely acquired by the Aspergillus fungi by inter-domain horizontal gene transfer from alpha-proteobacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Kirkwood
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
250
|
Identification of genes for dimethyl sulfide production in bacteria in the gut of Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus). ISME JOURNAL 2009; 4:144-6. [DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2009.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|