1
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Sparagon WJ, Arts MGI, Quinlan ZA, Wegley Kelly L, Koester I, Comstock J, Bullington JA, Carlson CA, Dorrestein PC, Aluwihare LI, Haas AF, Nelson CE. Coral thermal stress and bleaching enrich and restructure reef microbial communities via altered organic matter exudation. Commun Biol 2024; 7:160. [PMID: 38351328 PMCID: PMC10864316 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05730-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Coral bleaching is a well-documented and increasingly widespread phenomenon in reefs across the globe, yet there has been relatively little research on the implications for reef water column microbiology and biogeochemistry. A mesocosm heating experiment and bottle incubation compared how unbleached and bleached corals alter dissolved organic matter (DOM) exudation in response to thermal stress and subsequent effects on microbial growth and community structure in the water column. Thermal stress of healthy corals tripled DOM flux relative to ambient corals. DOM exudates from stressed corals (heated and/or previously bleached) were compositionally distinct from healthy corals and significantly increased growth of bacterioplankton, enriching copiotrophs and putative pathogens. Together these results demonstrate how the impacts of both short-term thermal stress and long-term bleaching may extend into the water column, with altered coral DOM exudation driving microbial feedbacks that influence how coral reefs respond to and recover from mass bleaching events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley J Sparagon
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, Department of Oceanography and Sea Grant College Program, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA.
| | - Milou G I Arts
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Texel, The Netherlands
| | - Zachary A Quinlan
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
| | - Linda Wegley Kelly
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
- San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
| | - Irina Koester
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Jacqueline Comstock
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, The Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA
| | - Jessica A Bullington
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, Department of Oceanography and Sea Grant College Program, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - Craig A Carlson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, The Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA
| | | | - Lihini I Aluwihare
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, USA
| | - Andreas F Haas
- Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Texel, The Netherlands
- San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
| | - Craig E Nelson
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, Department of Oceanography and Sea Grant College Program, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
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2
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Terzin M, Laffy PW, Robbins S, Yeoh YK, Frade PR, Glasl B, Webster NS, Bourne DG. The road forward to incorporate seawater microbes in predictive reef monitoring. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:5. [PMID: 38225668 PMCID: PMC10790441 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00543-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Marine bacterioplankton underpin the health and function of coral reefs and respond in a rapid and sensitive manner to environmental changes that affect reef ecosystem stability. Numerous meta-omics surveys over recent years have documented persistent associations of opportunistic seawater microbial taxa, and their associated functions, with metrics of environmental stress and poor reef health (e.g. elevated temperature, nutrient loads and macroalgae cover). Through positive feedback mechanisms, disturbance-triggered heterotrophic activity of seawater microbes is hypothesised to drive keystone benthic organisms towards the limit of their resilience and translate into shifts in biogeochemical cycles which influence marine food webs, ultimately affecting entire reef ecosystems. However, despite nearly two decades of work in this space, a major limitation to using seawater microbes in reef monitoring is a lack of a unified and focused approach that would move beyond the indicator discovery phase and towards the development of rapid microbial indicator assays for (near) real-time reef management and decision-making. By reviewing the current state of knowledge, we provide a comprehensive framework (defined as five phases of research and innovation) to catalyse a shift from fundamental to applied research, allowing us to move from descriptive to predictive reef monitoring, and from reactive to proactive reef management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Terzin
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB no3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia.
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
| | - Patrick W Laffy
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB no3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Steven Robbins
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Yun Kit Yeoh
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB no3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
| | - Pedro R Frade
- Natural History Museum Vienna, 1010, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Glasl
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole S Webster
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB no3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Antarctic Program, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Kingston, TAS, 7050, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB no3 Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia.
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
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Villela H, Modolon F, Schultz J, Delgadillo-Ordoñez N, Carvalho S, Soriano AU, Peixoto RS. Genome analysis of a coral-associated bacterial consortium highlights complementary hydrocarbon degradation ability and other beneficial mechanisms for the host. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12273. [PMID: 37507453 PMCID: PMC10382565 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38512-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we report the oil degradation genetic potential of six oil-degrading bacteria (ODB), previously used as a bioremediation consortium, isolated from the hydrocoral Millepora alcicornis and seawater. The strains were identified as Halomonas sp. (LC_1), Cobetia sp. (LC_6), Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis (LC_2), Halopseudomonas aestusnigri (LC_3), Shewanella algae (LC_4), and Brucella intermedia (LC_5). The taxonomic identification differed from that of the original paper when we used whole genome gene markers instead of just 16S rRNA gene. Genes responsible for the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons and n-alkanes were found in all genomes, although different (and complementary) steps of the metabolic pathways were unique to each strain. Genes for naphthalene and toluene degradation were found in various strains. We annotated quinate degradation genes in LC_6, while LC_3 and LC_5 presented genes for biosurfactant and rhamnolipid biosynthesis. We also annotated genes related to beneficial mechanisms for corals, such as genes involved in nitrogen and DMSP metabolism, cobalamin biosynthesis and antimicrobial compounds production. Our findings reinforce the importance of using bacterial consortia for bioremediation approaches instead of single strains, due to their complementary genomic arsenals. We also propose a genome-based framework to select complementary ODB that can provide additional benefits to coral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Villela
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division King, Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Flúvio Modolon
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division King, Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Júnia Schultz
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division King, Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Biology Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nathalia Delgadillo-Ordoñez
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division King, Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division King, Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological, Environmental and Engineering Sciences Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Raquel Silva Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division King, Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
- Computational Biology Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
- Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Biological, Environmental and Engineering Sciences Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955, Saudi Arabia.
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4
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Doane MP, Johnson CJ, Johri S, Kerr EN, Morris MM, Desantiago R, Turnlund AC, Goodman A, Mora M, Lima LFO, Nosal AP, Dinsdale EA. The Epidermal Microbiome Within an Aggregation of Leopard Sharks (Triakis semifasciata) Has Taxonomic Flexibility with Gene Functional Stability Across Three Time-points. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:747-764. [PMID: 35129649 PMCID: PMC9957878 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-01969-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The epidermis of Chondrichthyan fishes consists of dermal denticles with production of minimal but protein-rich mucus that collectively, influence the attachment and biofilm development of microbes, facilitating a unique epidermal microbiome. Here, we use metagenomics to provide the taxonomic and functional characterization of the epidermal microbiome of the Triakis semifasciata (leopard shark) at three time-points collected across 4 years to identify links between microbial groups and host metabolism. Our aims include (1) describing the variation of microbiome taxa over time and identifying recurrent microbiome members (present across all time-points); (2) investigating the relationship between the recurrent and flexible taxa (those which are not found consistently across time-points); (3) describing the functional compositions of the microbiome which may suggest links with the host metabolism; and (4) identifying whether metabolic processes are shared across microbial genera or are unique to specific taxa. Microbial members of the microbiome showed high similarity between all individuals (Bray-Curtis similarity index = 82.7, where 0 = no overlap, 100 = total overlap) with the relative abundance of those members varying across sampling time-points, suggesting flexibility of taxa in the microbiome. One hundred and eighty-eight genera were identified as recurrent, including Pseudomonas, Erythrobacter, Alcanivorax, Marinobacter, and Sphingopxis being consistently abundant across time-points, while Limnobacter and Xyella exhibited switching patterns with high relative abundance in 2013, Sphingobium and Sphingomona in 2015, and Altermonas, Leeuwenhoekiella, Gramella, and Maribacter in 2017. Of the 188 genera identified as recurrent, the top 19 relatively abundant genera formed three recurrent groups. The microbiome also displayed high functional similarity between individuals (Bray-Curtis similarity index = 97.6) with gene function composition remaining consistent across all time-points. These results show that while the presence of microbial genera exhibits consistency across time-points, their abundances do fluctuate. Microbial functions however remain stable across time-points; thus, we suggest the leopard shark microbiomes exhibit functional redundancy. We show coexistence of microbes hosted in elasmobranch microbiomes that encode genes involved in utilizing nitrogen, but not fixing nitrogen, degrading urea, and resistant to heavy metal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Doane
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia Australia
| | - Colton J. Johnson
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Shaili Johri
- Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, Pacific Grove, CA USA
| | - Emma N. Kerr
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia Australia
| | | | - Ric Desantiago
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Abigail C. Turnlund
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD Australia
| | - Asha Goodman
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA USA
| | - Maria Mora
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA USA
| | | | - Andrew P. Nosal
- Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California – San Diego, CA La Jolla, USA
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5
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Nelson CE, Wegley Kelly L, Haas AF. Microbial Interactions with Dissolved Organic Matter Are Central to Coral Reef Ecosystem Function and Resilience. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2023; 15:431-460. [PMID: 36100218 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-042121-080917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To thrive in nutrient-poor waters, coral reefs must retain and recycle materials efficiently. This review centers microbial processes in facilitating the persistence and stability of coral reefs, specifically the role of these processes in transforming and recycling the dissolved organic matter (DOM) that acts as an invisible currency in reef production, nutrient exchange, and organismal interactions. The defining characteristics of coral reefs, including high productivity, balanced metabolism, high biodiversity, nutrient retention, and structural complexity, are inextricably linked to microbial processing of DOM. The composition of microbes and DOM in reefs is summarized, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of biogeochemical processes carried out by microorganisms in diverse reef habitats are explored in a variety of key reef processes, including decomposition, accretion, trophictransfer, and macronutrient recycling. Finally, we examine how widespread habitat degradation of reefs is altering these important microbe-DOM interactions, creating feedbacks that reduce reef resilience to global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig E Nelson
- Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education, Department of Oceanography, and Sea Grant College Program, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA;
| | - Linda Wegley Kelly
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA;
| | - Andreas F Haas
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, The Netherlands;
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6
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Goodman AZ, Papudeshi B, Doane MP, Mora M, Kerr E, Torres M, Nero Moffatt J, Lima L, Nosal AP, Dinsdale E. Epidermal Microbiomes of Leopard Sharks ( Triakis semifasciata) Are Consistent across Captive and Wild Environments. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10102081. [PMID: 36296361 PMCID: PMC9610875 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10102081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterizations of shark-microbe systems in wild environments have outlined patterns of species-specific microbiomes; however, whether captivity affects these trends has yet to be determined. We used high-throughput shotgun sequencing to assess the epidermal microbiome belonging to leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) in captive (Birch Aquarium, La Jolla California born and held permanently in captivity), semi-captive (held in captivity for <1 year in duration and scheduled for release; Scripps Institute of Oceanography, San Diego, CA, USA) and wild environments (Moss Landing and La Jolla, CA, USA). Here, we report captive environments do not drive epidermal microbiome compositions of T. semifasciata to significantly diverge from wild counterparts as life-long captive sharks maintain a species-specific epidermal microbiome resembling those associated with semi-captive and wild populations. Major taxonomic composition shifts observed were inverse changes of top taxonomic contributors across captive duration, specifically an increase of Pseudoalteromonadaceae and consequent decrease of Pseudomonadaceae relative abundance as T. semifasciata increased duration in captive conditions. Moreover, we show captivity did not lead to significant losses in microbial α-diversity of shark epidermal communities. Finally, we present a novel association between T. semifasciata and the Muricauda genus as Metagenomes associated genomes revealed a consistent relationship across captive, semi-captive, and wild populations. Since changes in microbial communities is often associated with poor health outcomes, our report illustrates that epidermally associated microbes belonging to T. semifasciata are not suffering detrimental impacts from long or short-term captivity. Therefore, conservation programs which house sharks in aquariums are providing a healthy environment for the organisms on display. Our findings also expand on current understanding of shark epidermal microbiomes, explore the effects of ecologically different scenarios on benthic shark microbe associations, and highlight novel associations that are consistent across captive gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asha Z. Goodman
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
- Correspondence: (A.Z.G.); (E.D.)
| | - Bhavya Papudeshi
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 3929, Australia
| | - Michael P. Doane
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 3929, Australia
| | - Maria Mora
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Emma Kerr
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Melissa Torres
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Universtity of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jennifer Nero Moffatt
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Universtity of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lais Lima
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
| | - Andrew P. Nosal
- Department of Biology, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - Elizabeth Dinsdale
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 3929, Australia
- Correspondence: (A.Z.G.); (E.D.)
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7
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Ide K, Nakano Y, Ito M, Nishikawa Y, Fujimura H, Takeyama H. The Effect of Co-Culture of Two Coral Species on Their Bacterial Composition Under Captive Environments. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 24:871-881. [PMID: 35997836 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-022-10149-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Coral symbionts are important members of the coral holobiont, and coral bacterial flora are essential in host health maintenance and coral conservation. Coral symbionts are affected by various environmental factors, such as seawater temperature, pH, and salinity. Although physicochemical and chemical factors have been highlighted as possible causes of these effects, the effects of water flow and the co-culture of different species corals have not been elucidated. In this study, we designed an artificial rearing environment to examine the impact of environmental and biological factors on Acropora tenuis, one of the major coral species in Okinawa, and Montipora digitata, during their co-culture. We intervened with the water flow to reveal that the movement of the rearing environment alters the bacterial flora of A. tenuis. During the rearing under captive environment, the alpha diversity of the coral microbiota increased, suggesting the establishment of rare bacteria from the ocean. No differences in the bacterial composition between the control and water flow groups were observed under the rearing conditions. However, the structure of the bacterial flora was significantly different in the co-culture group. Comparison of bacterial community succession strongly suggested that the differences observed were due to the suppressed transmission of bacteria from the ocean in the co-culture group. These results enhance our understanding of interactions between corals and shed light on the importance of regional differences and bacterial composition of coral flora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keigo Ide
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
- Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshikatsu Nakano
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Tokyo, Japan
- Marine Science Section, Research Support Division, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Michihiro Ito
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yohei Nishikawa
- Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Fujimura
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Haruko Takeyama
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
- Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovation, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Institute for Advanced Research of Biosystem Dynamics, Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Tokyo, Japan.
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8
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Lima LFO, Alker AT, Papudeshi B, Morris MM, Edwards RA, de Putron SJ, Dinsdale EA. Coral and Seawater Metagenomes Reveal Key Microbial Functions to Coral Health and Ecosystem Functioning Shaped at Reef Scale. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02094-6. [PMID: 35965269 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02094-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The coral holobiont is comprised of a highly diverse microbial community that provides key services to corals such as protection against pathogens and nutrient cycling. The coral surface mucus layer (SML) microbiome is very sensitive to external changes, as it constitutes the direct interface between the coral host and the environment. Here, we investigate whether the bacterial taxonomic and functional profiles in the coral SML are shaped by the local reef zone and explore their role in coral health and ecosystem functioning. The analysis was conducted using metagenomes and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) associated with the coral Pseudodiploria strigosa and the water column from two naturally distinct reef environments in Bermuda: inner patch reefs exposed to a fluctuating thermal regime and the more stable outer reefs. The microbial community structure in the coral SML varied according to the local environment, both at taxonomic and functional levels. The coral SML microbiome from inner reefs provides more gene functions that are involved in nutrient cycling (e.g., photosynthesis, phosphorus metabolism, sulfur assimilation) and those that are related to higher levels of microbial activity, competition, and stress response. In contrast, the coral SML microbiome from outer reefs contained genes indicative of a carbohydrate-rich mucus composition found in corals exposed to less stressful temperatures and showed high proportions of microbial gene functions that play a potential role in coral disease, such as degradation of lignin-derived compounds and sulfur oxidation. The fluctuating environment in the inner patch reefs of Bermuda could be driving a more beneficial coral SML microbiome, potentially increasing holobiont resilience to environmental changes and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís F O Lima
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Amanda T Alker
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Bhavya Papudeshi
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Megan M Morris
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Elizabeth A Dinsdale
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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9
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Varasteh T, Tschoeke D, Silva-Lima AW, Thompson C, Thompson F. Transcriptome of the coral Mussismilia braziliensis symbiont Sargassococcus simulans. Mar Genomics 2021; 61:100912. [PMID: 34710723 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2021.100912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A transcriptomic profile of Sargassococcus simulans 103B3, isolated from the coral Mussismilia braziliensis in Abrolhos, Brazil, is presented. A total of 631.3 Mbp transcriptomic sequences were obtained. The transcriptomic analysis disclosed transcripts coding for enzymes relevant for holobiont health including genes involved in I. Light harvesting complex (LHC), II. Organic matter utilization and III. Oxidative stress and microbial defense (Oxidoreductases) enzymes. The isolate exhibited transcripts for uptake and utilization of a variety of carbon sources, such as sugars, oligopeptides, and amino acids by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic (TRAP) type transporters. Collectively, these enzymes indicate a mixotrophic metabolism in S. simulans with metabolic capabilities for the degradation of an array of organic carbon compounds in the coral Mussismilia and light harvesting within the low-light environments of Abrolhos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tooba Varasteh
- Institute of Biology and Sage-Coppe, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Diogo Tschoeke
- Institute of Biology and Sage-Coppe, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Arthur W Silva-Lima
- Institute of Biology and Sage-Coppe, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Thompson
- Institute of Biology and Sage-Coppe, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Thompson
- Institute of Biology and Sage-Coppe, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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10
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Roth F, El-Khaled YC, Karcher DB, Rädecker N, Carvalho S, Duarte CM, Silva L, Calleja ML, Morán XAG, Jones BH, Voolstra CR, Wild C. Nutrient pollution enhances productivity and framework dissolution in algae- but not in coral-dominated reef communities. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 168:112444. [PMID: 33984578 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem services provided by coral reefs may be susceptible to the combined effects of benthic species shifts and anthropogenic nutrient pollution, but related field studies are scarce. We thus investigated in situ how dissolved inorganic nutrient enrichment, maintained for two months, affected community-wide biogeochemical functions of intact coral- and degraded algae-dominated reef patches in the central Red Sea. Results from benthic chamber incubations revealed 87% increased gross productivity and a shift from net calcification to dissolution in algae-dominated communities after nutrient enrichment, but the same processes were unaffected by nutrients in neighboring coral communities. Both community types changed from net dissolved organic nitrogen sinks to sources, but the increase in net release was 56% higher in algae-dominated communities. Nutrient pollution may, thus, amplify the effects of community shifts on key ecosystem services of coral reefs, possibly leading to a loss of structurally complex habitats with carbonate dissolution and altered nutrient recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Roth
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Baltic Sea Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Yusuf C El-Khaled
- Marine Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Denis B Karcher
- Marine Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany; Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Nils Rädecker
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos M Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Computational Biology Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Luis Silva
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maria Ll Calleja
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Department of Climate Geochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (MPIC), Mainz, Germany
| | - Xosé Anxelu G Morán
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Burton H Jones
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Christian Wild
- Marine Ecology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
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11
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Wambua S, Gourlé H, de Villiers EP, Karlsson-Lindsjö O, Wambiji N, Macdonald A, Bongcam-Rudloff E, de Villiers S. Cross-Sectional Variations in Structure and Function of Coral Reef Microbiome With Local Anthropogenic Impacts on the Kenyan Coast of the Indian Ocean. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:673128. [PMID: 34248882 PMCID: PMC8260691 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.673128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs face an increased number of environmental threats from anthropomorphic climate change and pollution from agriculture, industries and sewage. Because environmental changes lead to their compositional and functional shifts, coral reef microbial communities can serve as indicators of ecosystem impacts through development of rapid and inexpensive molecular monitoring tools. Little is known about coral reef microbial communities of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). We compared taxonomic and functional diversity of microbial communities inhabiting near-coral seawater and sediments from Kenyan reefs exposed to varying impacts of human activities. Over 19,000 species (bacterial, viral and archaeal combined) and 4,500 clusters of orthologous groups of proteins (COGs) were annotated. The coral reefs showed variations in the relative abundances of ecologically significant taxa, especially copiotrophic bacteria and coliphages, corresponding to the magnitude of the neighboring human impacts in the respective sites. Furthermore, the near-coral seawater and sediment metagenomes had an overrepresentation of COGs for functions related to adaptation to diverse environments. Malindi and Mombasa marine parks, the coral reef sites closest to densely populated settlements were significantly enriched with genes for functions suggestive of mitigation of environment perturbations including the capacity to reduce intracellular levels of environmental contaminants and repair of DNA damage. Our study is the first metagenomic assessment of WIO coral reef microbial diversity which provides a much-needed baseline for the region, and points to a potential area for future research toward establishing indicators of environmental perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sammy Wambua
- Pwani University Bioscience Research Centre (PUBReC), Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya.,Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Hadrien Gourlé
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Etienne P de Villiers
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Oskar Karlsson-Lindsjö
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nina Wambiji
- Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Angus Macdonald
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Erik Bongcam-Rudloff
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Santie de Villiers
- Pwani University Bioscience Research Centre (PUBReC), Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya.,Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
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12
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Varasteh T, Hamerski L, Tschoeke D, Lima AS, Garcia G, Cosenza CAN, Thompson C, Thompson F. Conserved Pigment Profiles in Phylogenetically Diverse Symbiotic Bacteria Associated with the Corals Montastraea cavernosa and Mussismilia braziliensis. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 81:267-277. [PMID: 32681284 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01551-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Pigmented bacterial symbionts play major roles in the health of coral holobionts. However, there is scarce knowledge on the diversity of these microbes for several coral species. To gain further insights into holobiont health, pigmented bacterial isolates of Fabibacter pacificus (Bacteroidetes; n = 4), Paracoccus marcusii (Alphaproteobacteria; n = 1), and Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis (Gammaproteobacteria; n = 1) were obtained from the corals Mussismilia braziliensis and Montastraea cavernosa in Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. Cultures of these bacterial symbionts produced strong antioxidant activity (catalase, peroxidase, and oxidase). To explore these bacterial isolates further, we identified their major pigments by HPLC and mass spectrometry. The six phylogenetically diverse symbionts had similar pigment patterns and produced myxol and keto-carotene. In addition, similar carotenoid gene clusters were confirmed in the whole genome sequences of these symbionts, which reinforce their antioxidant potential. This study highlights the possible roles of bacterial symbionts in Montastraea and Mussismilia holobionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tooba Varasteh
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
| | - Lidilhone Hamerski
- Instituto de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Diogo Tschoeke
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
| | - Arthur Silva Lima
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
| | - Gizele Garcia
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
- Departamento de Ensino de Graduação, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - Campus UFRJ - Macaé Professor Aloisio Teixeira, Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 27930-480, Brazil
| | | | - Cristiane Thompson
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Thompson
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-599, Brazil.
- SAGE - COPPE, Centro de Gestão Tecnológica - CT2, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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13
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14
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Lima LFO, Weissman M, Reed M, Papudeshi B, Alker AT, Morris MM, Edwards RA, de Putron SJ, Vaidya NK, Dinsdale EA. Modeling of the Coral Microbiome: the Influence of Temperature and Microbial Network. mBio 2020; 11:e02691-19. [PMID: 32127450 PMCID: PMC7064765 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02691-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Host-associated microbial communities are shaped by extrinsic and intrinsic factors to the holobiont organism. Environmental factors and microbe-microbe interactions act simultaneously on the microbial community structure, making the microbiome dynamics challenging to predict. The coral microbiome is essential to the health of coral reefs and sensitive to environmental changes. Here, we develop a dynamic model to determine the microbial community structure associated with the surface mucus layer (SML) of corals using temperature as an extrinsic factor and microbial network as an intrinsic factor. The model was validated by comparing the predicted relative abundances of microbial taxa to the relative abundances of microbial taxa from the sample data. The SML microbiome from Pseudodiploria strigosa was collected across reef zones in Bermuda, where inner and outer reefs are exposed to distinct thermal profiles. A shotgun metagenomics approach was used to describe the taxonomic composition and the microbial network of the coral SML microbiome. By simulating the annual temperature fluctuations at each reef zone, the model output is statistically identical to the observed data. The model was further applied to six scenarios that combined different profiles of temperature and microbial network to investigate the influence of each of these two factors on the model accuracy. The SML microbiome was best predicted by model scenarios with the temperature profile that was closest to the local thermal environment, regardless of the microbial network profile. Our model shows that the SML microbiome of P. strigosa in Bermuda is primarily structured by seasonal fluctuations in temperature at a reef scale, while the microbial network is a secondary driver.IMPORTANCE Coral microbiome dysbiosis (i.e., shifts in the microbial community structure or complete loss of microbial symbionts) caused by environmental changes is a key player in the decline of coral health worldwide. Multiple factors in the water column and the surrounding biological community influence the dynamics of the coral microbiome. However, by including only temperature as an external factor, our model proved to be successful in describing the microbial community associated with the surface mucus layer (SML) of the coral P. strigosa The dynamic model developed and validated in this study is a potential tool to predict the coral microbiome under different temperature conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laís F O Lima
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Maya Weissman
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Micheal Reed
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Bhavya Papudeshi
- National Center for Genome Analysis Support, Pervasive Institute of Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Amanda T Alker
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Megan M Morris
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Naveen K Vaidya
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Dinsdale
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
- Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
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15
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Taking Advantage of the Genomics Revolution for Monitoring and Conservation of Chondrichthyan Populations. DIVERSITY-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/d11040049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Chondrichthyes (sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras) are among the oldest extant predators and are vital to top-down regulation of oceanic ecosystems. They are an ecologically diverse group occupying a wide range of habitats and are thus, exploited by coastal, pelagic and deep-water fishing industries. Chondrichthyes are among the most data deficient vertebrate species groups making design and implementation of regulatory and conservation measures challenging. High-throughput sequencing technologies have significantly propelled ecological investigations and understanding of marine and terrestrial species’ populations, but there remains a paucity of NGS based research on chondrichthyan populations. We present a brief review of current methods to access genomic and metagenomic data from Chondrichthyes and discuss applications of these datasets to increase our understanding of chondrichthyan taxonomy, evolution, ecology and population structures. Last, we consider opportunities and challenges offered by genomic studies for conservation and management of chondrichthyan populations.
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16
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Abstract
Tropical scleractinian corals are dependent to varying degrees on their photosymbiotic partners. Under normal levels of temperature and irradiance, they can provide most, but not all, of the host's nutritional requirements. Heterotrophy is required to adequately supply critical nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. Scleractinian corals are known as mesozooplankton predators, and most employ tentacle capture. The ability to trap nano- and picoplankton has been demonstrated by several coral species and appears to fulfill a substantial proportion of their daily metabolic requirements. The mechanism of capture likely involves mucociliary activity or extracoelenteric digestion, but the relative contribution of these avenues have not been evaluated. Many corals employ mesenterial filaments to procure food in various forms, but the functional morphology and chemical activities of these structures have been poorly documented. Corals are capable of acquiring nutrition from particulate and dissolved organic matter, although the degree of reliance on these sources generally has not been established. Corals, including tropical, deep- and cold-water species, are known as a major source of carbon and other nutrients for benthic communities through the secretion of mucus, despite wide variation in chemical composition. Mucus is cycled through the planktonic microbial loop, the benthos, and the microbial community within the sediments. The consensus indicates that the dissolved organic fraction of mucus usually exceeds the insoluble portion, and both serve as sources for the growth of nano- and picoplankton. As many corals employ mucus to trap food, a portion is taken back during feeding. The net gain or loss has not been evaluated, although production is generally thought to exceed consumption. The same is true for the net uptake and loss of dissolved organic matter by mucus secretion. Octocorals are thought not to employ mucus capture or mesenterial filaments during feeding and generally rely on tentacular filtration of weakly swimming mesozooplankton, particulates, dissolved organic matter, and picoplankton. Nonsymbiotic species in the tropics favor phytoplankton and weakly swimming zooplankton. Azooxanthellate soft corals are opportunistic feeders and shift their diet according to the season from phyto- and nanoplankton in summer to primarily particulate organic matter (POM) in winter. Cold-water species favor POM, phytodetritus, microplankton, and larger zooplankton when available. Antipatharians apparently feed on mesozooplankton but also use mucus nets, possibly for capture of POM. Feeding modes in this group are poorly known.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter M Goldberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
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17
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Papudeshi B, Haggerty JM, Doane M, Morris MM, Walsh K, Beattie DT, Pande D, Zaeri P, Silva GGZ, Thompson F, Edwards RA, Dinsdale EA. Optimizing and evaluating the reconstruction of Metagenome-assembled microbial genomes. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:915. [PMID: 29183281 PMCID: PMC5706307 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4294-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Microbiome/host interactions describe characteristics that affect the host's health. Shotgun metagenomics includes sequencing a random subset of the microbiome to analyze its taxonomic and metabolic potential. Reconstruction of DNA fragments into genomes from metagenomes (called metagenome-assembled genomes) assigns unknown fragments to taxa/function and facilitates discovery of novel organisms. Genome reconstruction incorporates sequence assembly and sorting of assembled sequences into bins, characteristic of a genome. However, the microbial community composition, including taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity may influence genome reconstruction. We determine the optimal reconstruction method for four microbiome projects that had variable sequencing platforms (IonTorrent and Illumina), diversity (high or low), and environment (coral reefs and kelp forests), using a set of parameters to select for optimal assembly and binning tools. Methods We tested the effects of the assembly and binning processes on population genome reconstruction using 105 marine metagenomes from 4 projects. Reconstructed genomes were obtained from each project using 3 assemblers (IDBA, MetaVelvet, and SPAdes) and 2 binning tools (GroopM and MetaBat). We assessed the efficiency of assemblers using statistics that including contig continuity and contig chimerism and the effectiveness of binning tools using genome completeness and taxonomic identification. Results We concluded that SPAdes, assembled more contigs (143,718 ± 124 contigs) of longer length (N50 = 1632 ± 108 bp), and incorporated the most sequences (sequences-assembled = 19.65%). The microbial richness and evenness were maintained across the assembly, suggesting low contig chimeras. SPAdes assembly was responsive to the biological and technological variations within the project, compared with other assemblers. Among binning tools, we conclude that MetaBat produced bins with less variation in GC content (average standard deviation: 1.49), low species richness (4.91 ± 0.66), and higher genome completeness (40.92 ± 1.75) across all projects. MetaBat extracted 115 bins from the 4 projects of which 66 bins were identified as reconstructed metagenome-assembled genomes with sequences belonging to a specific genus. We identified 13 novel genomes, some of which were 100% complete, but show low similarity to genomes within databases. Conclusions In conclusion, we present a set of biologically relevant parameters for evaluation to select for optimal assembly and binning tools. For the tools we tested, SPAdes assembler and MetaBat binning tools reconstructed quality metagenome-assembled genomes for the four projects. We also conclude that metagenomes from microbial communities that have high coverage of phylogenetically distinct, and low taxonomic diversity results in highest quality metagenome-assembled genomes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-017-4294-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Papudeshi
- Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.,National Center for Genome Analysis Support, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - J Matthew Haggerty
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, 92115, California, USA
| | - Michael Doane
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, 92115, California, USA
| | - Megan M Morris
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, 92115, California, USA
| | - Kevin Walsh
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, 92115, California, USA
| | - Douglas T Beattie
- Department of Biology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dnyanada Pande
- Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Parisa Zaeri
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Genivaldo G Z Silva
- Computational Science Research Center, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Fabiano Thompson
- Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Department of Computer Science, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Dinsdale
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, 92115, California, USA.
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