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High microbiome and metabolome diversification in coexisting sponges with different bio-ecological traits

ABSTRACT:

Marine sponges can host abundant and diverse microbiomes, which can largely influence the metabolism and other phenotypic traits of the host. However, information on the potential relationships between sponge microbiomes and metabolic signatures, other than secondary metabolites explored for biotechnological purposes, needs further investigation. Applying an integrated approach, we investigated the microbiomes associated with 4 ubiquitous Mediterranean sponge species (i.e., Petrosia ficiformis, Chondrosia reniformis, Crambe crambe and Chondrilla nucula), correlated with their metabolomic patterns (in terms of lipidomics) and microbial predicted functions. Microscopy observations of sponge tissues revealed differences in microbial abundances, which, however, were only partially linked to their diversity assessed through metabarcoding. The microbiomes of the 4 sponges showed a species-specific composition and a different core size, which was independent from the microbial diversity of the surrounding seawater. Predicted functions of the associated microbiomes allowed identifying 2 functional host clusters: one more related to heterotrophic pathways and the other more linked to phototrophic activities. Differences in the microbiomes were also associated with different metabolic profiles, mostly due to specific compounds characterizing the host and its microbiome. Overall, this study provides new insights on the functionality of sponges and their prokaryotic symbioses’, and in particular, it discloses a descriptive sketch of the diverse compartments forming the sponge holobiont.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - reverse phase, Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse phase

SUBMITTER: Valerio Mazzella

PROVIDER: MTBLS5125 | MetaboLights | 2024-02-21

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights

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Project description:Sponges are efficient filter feeders, removing significant portions of particulate and dissolved organic matter (POM, DOM) from the water column. While the assimilation and respiration of POM and DOM by sponges and their abundant microbial symbiont communities have received much attention, there is virtually no information on the impact of sponge holobiont metabolism on the composition of DOM at a molecular-level. We applied untargeted and targeted metabolomics techniques to characterize DOM in seawater samples prior to entering the sponge (inhalant reef water), in samples exiting the sponge (exhalent seawater), and in samples collected just outside the reef area (off reef seawater). Samples were collected from two sponge species, Ircinia campana and Spheciospongia vesparium, on a near-shore hard bottom reef in the Florida Keys. Metabolic profiles generated from untargeted metabolomics analysis indicated that many more compounds were enhanced in the exhalent samples than in the inhalant samples. Targeted metabolomics analysis revealed differences in diversity and concentration of metabolites between exhalent and off reef seawater. For example, most of the nucleosides were enriched in the exhalent seawater, while the aromatic amino acids, caffeine and the nucleoside xanthosine were elevated in the off reef water samples. Although the metabolic profile of the exhalent seawater was unique, the impact of sponge metabolism on the overall reef DOM profile was spatially limited in our study. There were also no significant differences in the metabolic profiles of exhalent water between the two sponge species, potentially indicating that there is a characteristic DOM profile in the exhalent seawater of Caribbean sponges. Additional work is needed to determine whether the impact of sponge DOM is greater in habitats with higher sponge cover and diversity. This work provides the first insight into the molecular-level impact of sponge holobiont metabolism on reef DOM and establishes a foundation for future experimental studies addressing the influence of sponge-derived DOM on chemical and ecological processes in coral reef ecosystems.

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High microbiome and metabolome diversification in coexisting sponges with different bio-ecological traits

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