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Colocalization and potential interactions of Endozoicomonas and chlamydiae in microbial aggregates of the coral Pocillopora acuta .

Justin MaireKshitij TandonAstrid CollingroAllison van de MeeneKatarina DamjanovicCecilie Ravn GotzeSophie StephensonGayle K PhilipMatthias HornNeal E CantinLinda L BlackallMadeleine J H van Oppen
Published in: Science advances (2023)
Corals are associated with a variety of bacteria, which occur in the surface mucus layer, gastrovascular cavity, skeleton, and tissues. Some tissue-associated bacteria form clusters, termed cell-associated microbial aggregates (CAMAs), which are poorly studied. Here, we provide a comprehensive characterization of CAMAs in the coral Pocillopora acuta . Combining imaging techniques, laser capture microdissection, and amplicon and metagenome sequencing, we show that (i) CAMAs are located in the tentacle tips and may be intracellular; (ii) CAMAs contain Endozoicomonas (Gammaproteobacteria) and Simkania (Chlamydiota) bacteria; (iii) Endozoicomonas may provide vitamins to its host and use secretion systems and/or pili for colonization and aggregation; (iv) Endozoicomonas and Simkania occur in distinct, but adjacent, CAMAs; and (v) Simkania may receive acetate and heme from neighboring Endozoicomonas . Our study provides detailed insight into coral endosymbionts, thereby improving our understanding of coral physiology and health and providing important knowledge for coral reef conservation in the climate change era.
Keyphrases
  • climate change
  • healthcare
  • single cell
  • microbial community
  • public health
  • human health
  • gene expression
  • cell therapy
  • mass spectrometry
  • risk assessment
  • health information