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The host transcriptome remains unaltered during the establishment of coral–algal symbioses
Author(s) -
VOOLSTRA CHRISTIAN R.,
SCHWARZ JODI A.,
SCHNETZER JULIA,
SUNAGAWA SHINICHI,
DESALVO MICHAEL K.,
SZMANT ALINA M.,
COFFROTH MARY ALICE,
MEDINA MÓNICA
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04167.x
Subject(s) - biology , symbiodinium , coral , symbiosis , acropora , host (biology) , coral bleaching , anthozoa , dinoflagellate , coral reef , ecology , cnidaria , reef , endosymbiosis , zooxanthellae , gene , chloroplast , bacteria , genetics , biochemistry , plastid
Coral reefs are based on the symbiotic relationship between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium . We followed gene expression of coral larvae of Acropora palmata and Montastraea faveolata after exposure to Symbiodinium strains that differed in their ability to establish symbioses. We show that the coral host transcriptome remains almost unchanged during infection by competent symbionts, but is massively altered by symbionts that fail to establish symbioses. Our data suggest that successful coral–algal symbioses depend mainly on the symbionts' ability to enter the host in a stealth manner rather than a more active response from the coral host.