Recombination contributes to population diversification in the polyploid intestinal symbiont Epulopiscium sp. type B.

ABSTRACT: Epulopiscium sp. type B (Lachnospiraceae) is an exceptionally large, highly polyploid, intestinal symbiont of the coral reef dwelling surgeonfish Naso tonganus. These obligate anaerobes do not form mature endospores and reproduce solely through the production of multiple intracellular offspring. This likely makes them dependent on immediate transfer to a receptive host for dispersal. During reproduction, only a small proportion of Epulopiscium mother-cell DNA is inherited. To explore the impact of this unusual viviparous lifestyle on symbiont population dynamics, we investigated Epulopiscium sp. type B and their fish hosts collected over the course of two decades, at island and reef habitats near Lizard Island, Australia. Using multi-locus sequence analysis, we found that recombination pla

SUBMITTER: Arroyo FA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6461767 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature