Microbiomes of clownfish and their symbiotic host anemone converge before their first physical contact.

ABSTRACT:

Background

One of the most charismatic, and yet not completely resolved example of mutualistic interaction is the partnership of clownfish and its symbiotic sea anemone. The mechanism explaining this tolerance currently relies on the molecular mimicry of clownfish epithelial mucus, which could serve as camouflage, preventing the anemone's nematocysts' discharge. Resident bacteria are known as key drivers of epithelial mucus chemical signature in vertebrates. A recent study has proposed a restructuration of the skin microbiota in a generalist clown fish when first contacting its symbiotic anemone. We explored a novel hypothesis by testing the effect of remote interaction on epithelial microbiota restructuration in both partners.

Methods

With metataxonomics, we investigated th

SUBMITTER: Emie AG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8130386 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature