Symbiosis
- High levels of floridoside at high salinity link osmoadaptation with bleaching susceptibility in the cnidarian-algal endosymbiosis
Summary: Using the coral model Aiptasia, we show increased thermotolerance at high salinities, concomitant with a reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) release by algal endosymbionts. This suggests a mechanistic link between osmoadaptation and thermotolerance, mediated by ROS-scavenging osmolytes.
- Transcriptomic analyses highlight the likely metabolic consequences of colonization of a cnidarian host by native or non-native Symbiodinium species
Summary: Colonization by the homologous symbiont, Symbiodinium goreaui, resulted in greater glycogen synthesis and ammonium assimilation capacity in the host than when it was colonized by a heterologous symbiont (S. trenchii).
- Symbiosis in the microbial world: from ecology to genome evolution
Summary: At a recent Company of Biologists workshop, evolutionary biologists discussed the major outstanding questions in symbiosis research.
- High salinity conveys thermotolerance in the coral model Aiptasia
Summary: High salinity can be a factor contributing to increased cnidarian thermal tolerance, as indicated by reduced algal endosymbiont loss and reduced photosynthetic impairment in the sea anemone Aiptasia. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper as part of the supplementary information.
- Dietary saccharides and sweet tastants have differential effects on colonization of Drosophila oocytes by Wolbachia endosymbionts
Summary: The density of Wolbachia infection in Drosophila oocytes is significantly increased by dietary sugars, but not sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners.