Targeted single-cell genomics reveals novel host adaptation strategies of the symbiotic bacteria Endozoicomonas in Acropora tenuis coral

AbstractEndozoicomonas bacteria symbiose with various marine organisms and are known to be beneficial for coral health. However, genome analysis of coral-associated Endozoicomonas has been limited owing to the difficulty in cultivation and metagenomic approach by contamination of host-derived sequences. In this study, we applied a novel single-cell genomics technique using droplet microfluidics to obtain single-cell amplified genome (SAGs) for coral-associated Endozoicomonas spp. genome. We obtained seven novel Endozoicomonas genomes from Acropora tenuis coral. These genomes revealed that Endozoicomonas bacteria played host-associated functions in host corals and had undergone independent host-adaptive evolution in different clades. These adaptive evolutions were mediated by host-derived eukaryotic-like genes, some of which were speculated to influence host immune mechanisms. These genes are speculated to enhance coral tolerance to environmental stresses. This study suggests the possibility of host adaptation of Endozoicomonas spp. in symbiosis with corals and their contribution to coral bleaching tolerance.