Title: | Coral metabolite gradients affect microbial community structures and act as a disease cue |
Author(s): | Ochsenkuhn MA; Schmitt-Kopplin P; Harir M; Amin SA; |
Address: | "Biology Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 129188, United Arab Emirates. Research Unit Analytical BioGeoChemistry, Helmholtz Centre Munich, Ingolstadter Landstrasse 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany. Lehrstuhl fur Analytische Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universitat Munchen, Alte Akademie 10, 85354, Freising, Germany. Biology Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 129188, United Arab Emirates. samin@nyu.edu. Chemistry Division, New York University Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 129188, United Arab Emirates. samin@nyu.edu" |
DOI: | 10.1038/s42003-018-0189-1 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 2399-3642 (Electronic) 2399-3642 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Corals are threatened worldwide due to prevalence of disease and bleaching. Recent studies suggest the ability of corals to resist disease is dependent on maintaining healthy microbiomes that span coral tissues and surfaces, the holobiont. Although our understanding of the role endosymbiotic microbes play in coral health has advanced, the role surface-associated microbes and their chemical signatures play in coral health is limited. Using minimally invasive water sampling, we show that the corals Acropora and Platygyra harbor unique bacteria and metabolites at their surface, distinctly different from surrounding seawater. The surface metabolites released by the holobiont create concentration gradients at 0-5 cm away from the coral surface. These molecules are identified as chemo-attractants, antibacterials, and infochemicals, suggesting they may structure coral surface-associated microbes. Further, we detect surface-associated metabolites characteristic of healthy or white syndrome disease infected corals, a finding which may aid in describing effects of diseases" |
Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEOchsenkuhn, Michael A Schmitt-Kopplin, Philippe Harir, Mourad Amin, Shady A eng England 2018/11/13 Commun Biol. 2018 Nov 5; 1:184. doi: 10.1038/s42003-018-0189-1. eCollection 2018" |