Taxonomic and functional characterization of bacterial communities associated to corals of the São Paulo

Author(s)

Camila Carlos

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia
• Defense date: 2014-07-04

Examining board members

Laura Maria Mariscal Ottoboni; Valeria Maia de Oliveira; Fabiana Fantinatti Garboggini; Lucio Fabio Caldas Ferraz; Suzan Pantaroto de Vasconcellos

• Advisor: Laura Maria Mariscal Ottoboni

Abstract

Coral reefs are one of the ecosystems most threatened by global climate changes. Studies have shown the importance of the coral microbiota in stress and disease resistance. In this work, the taxonomic and functional characterization of the bacterial communities associated with corals from the coast of São Paulo State, Brazil, allowed the identification of species-specific interactions between corals and bacteria and the identification of the bacterial functions responsible for the establishment of these interactions. The taxonomic composition of mucus, water and surrounding sediment of four coral species found in the coast of Sao Paulo State was assessed by 16S rDNA pyrosequencing of metagenomic DNA. The microbial communities found in samples of mucus, water, and sediment differed according to the taxonomic composition, and the coral mucus community seemed to be more stable to seasonal changes. The taxonomic composition of the microbiota of the soft coral Palythoa caribaeorum was distinct from the other species belonging to the order Scleractinia, indicating the influence of phylogenetic relationships in shaping the microbial communities associated with the coral. The metagenome of Madracis decactis and the Brazilian endemic species Mussismilia hispida was sequenced by pyrosequencing. Most of the sequences obtained could not be annotated, which might indicate an abundance of unknown microorganisms, especially viruses. Among the annotated sequences, an abundance of viral sequences in both libraries was observed. The metagenomas M. decactis and M. hispida were compared with metagenomes datasets available in the MG-RAST database and through these comparisons, the most abundant genes or functions of the corals¿ metagenomes were identified, for example, genes for resistance to antibiotics of the aminoglycoside class. Finally, the genome of an isolate of mucus of M. hispida, Paracoccus sp . SM22M - 07 was sequenced. The comparative analysis of this genome with other genomes of the genus Paracoccus revealed unique functions of the bacteria isolated from coral mucus, such as genes of the type IV secretion system, which may contribute to the establishment of coral-bacteria interactions. All results presented and analyzed in this work show a great diversity, both taxonomic and functional, of the bacterial community associated with Brazilian corals. The seasonal stability of these communities is an important property that contributes to preventing the colonization by pathogenic bacteria. The results presented here represent an extensive inventory of microbial diversity in an ecosystem threatened by global climate change and will allow future comparisons, modeling and estimates of the rates of reduction of microbial diversity in marine environments (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/02325-6 - Characterization by pyrosequencing of coral mucus associated microbiota from State of São Paulo coast
• Grantee: Camila Carlos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate