Differential specificity between closely related corals and abundant Endozoicomonas endosymbionts across global scales.

ABSTRACT: Reef-building corals are well regarded not only for their obligate association with endosymbiotic algae, but also with prokaryotic symbionts, the specificity of which remains elusive. To identify the central microbial symbionts of corals, their specificity across species and conservation over geographic regions, we sequenced partial SSU ribosomal RNA genes of Bacteria and Archaea from the common corals Stylophora pistillata and Pocillopora verrucosa across 28 reefs within seven major geographical regions. We demonstrate that both corals harbor Endozoicomonas bacteria as their prevalent symbiont. Importantly, catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) with Endozoicomonas-specific probes confirmed their residence as large aggregations deep within coral tissu

SUBMITTER: Neave MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5335547 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature