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Published on: June 30, 2021
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Body-Plan Reorganization in a Sponge Correlates with Microbiome Change
Sergio Vargas1, Laura Leiva1, Michael Eitel1
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Palaeontology & Geobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany.
Molecular Biology and Evolution
|June 8, 2023
Summary
Sponge bleaching due to loss of symbiotic cyanobacteria triggers significant body plan changes and impacts gene expression. This highlights a deep evolutionary link between animal development and microbiome health.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Animal-microbiome interactions are crucial for development.
- Microbiome disturbances may affect animal physiology and morphology.
- Sponges host symbiotic microorganisms, including cyanobacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of photosymbiont loss (bleaching) on sponge morphology and development.
- To assess the transcriptomic and microanatomical changes in sponges experiencing microbiome disruption.
- To explore the evolutionary origins of animal-microbiome communication.
Main Methods:
- Comparative morphological and microanatomical analysis of shaded (bleached) and control sponges (Lendenfeldia chondrodes).
- Transcriptomic analysis to identify changes in gene expression.
- Focus on signaling pathways involved in morphogenesis and immunity.
Main Results:
- Shading induced bleaching and a shift from foliose to thread-like morphology.
- Microanatomy was altered, with reduced cortex and choanosome development.
- Significant transcriptomic changes were observed, including modulation of Wnt, TGF-β, and TLR-ILR pathways.
Conclusions:
- Microbiome collapse in sponges leads to profound morphological and genetic reorganization.
- A strong coupling exists between the sponge's transcriptomic state and its microbiome.
- This interaction suggests ancient evolutionary roots for animal-microbiome responsiveness.
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