Chromera velia is endosymbiotic in larvae of the reef corals acropora digitifera and A. tenuis

Vivian R. Cumbo*, Andrew H. Baird, Robert B. Moore, Andrew P. Negri, Brett A. Neilan, Anya Salih, Madeleine J H van Oppen, Yan Wang, Christopher P. Marquis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Scleractinian corals occur in symbiosis with a range of organisms including the dinoflagellate alga, Symbiodinium, an association that is mutualistic. However, not all symbionts benefit the host. In particular, many organisms within the microbial mucus layer that covers the coral epithelium can cause disease and death. Other organisms in symbiosis with corals include the recently described Chromera velia, a photosynthetic relative of the apicomplexan parasites that shares a common ancestor with Symbiodinium. To explore the nature of the association between C. velia and corals we first isolated C. velia from the coral Montipora digitata and then exposed aposymbiotic Acropora digitifera and A. tenuis larvae to these cultures. Three C. velia cultures were isolated, and symbiosis was established in coral larvae of both these species exposed to all three clones. Histology verified that C. velia was located in the larval endoderm and ectoderm. These results indicate that C. velia has the potential to be endosymbiotic with coral larvae.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)237-244
Number of pages8
JournalProtist
Volume164
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013
Externally publishedYes

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