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A Millimeter Scale Flexural Testing System for Measuring the Mechanical Properties of Marine Sponge Spicules
Published on: October 11, 2017
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Thermal stress modifies the marine sponge virome
Patrick W Laffy1, Emmanuelle S Botté1, Elisha M Wood-Charlson1
1Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB#3, Townsville, 4810, Queensland, Australia.
Environmental Microbiology Reports
|July 9, 2019
Summary
Marine sponges
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Virology
- Ecology
Background:
- Marine sponges host diverse microbial and viral communities.
- High symbiont specificity makes sponges ideal models for studying host-associated viromes.
- Environmental changes can impact these complex symbiotic relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the response of the sponge virome to thermal stress.
- To assess changes in viral community composition and function.
- To understand the role of viruses in sponge health under stress.
Main Methods:
- Metaviromic analysis of sponge-associated viruses.
- Exposure of the sponge Rhopaloiedes odorabile to elevated seawater temperature (32 °C).
- Comparison of viral communities before, during, and after thermal stress.
Main Results:
- Increased abundance of endogenous retro-transcribing viruses (Caulimorviridae, Retroviridae) under thermal stress.
- Complete loss of ssDNA viruses in thermally stressed sponges.
- No significant changes in auxiliary metabolic genes within the virome.
Conclusions:
- Elevated temperatures trigger replication of endogenous retro-transcribing viruses in sponges.
- Viral community shifts do not confer direct benefits to the host under thermal stress.
- Replicating retroviruses may contribute to sponge health decline during thermal stress.
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