Microbiome reduction and endosymbiont gain from a switch in sea urchin life history

Animal gastrointestinal tracts harbor a microbiome that is integral to host function, yet species from diverse phyla have evolved a reduced digestive system or lost it completely. Whether such changes are associated with alterations in the diversity and/or abundance of the microbiome remains an unte...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2021-04, Vol.118 (16), p.1-7
Main Authors: Carrier, Tyler J., Leigh, Brittany A., Deaker, Dione J., Devens, Hannah R., Wray, Gregory A., Bordenstein, Seth R., Byrne, Maria, Reitzel, Adam M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
Amino acids
Biological Sciences
Biosynthesis
Digestive system
Evolution
Gastrointestinal tract
Life history
Microbiomes
Microorganisms
Nutrition
Reduction
Symbiosis
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Summary:Animal gastrointestinal tracts harbor a microbiome that is integral to host function, yet species from diverse phyla have evolved a reduced digestive system or lost it completely. Whether such changes are associated with alterations in the diversity and/or abundance of the microbiome remains an untested hypothesis in evolutionary symbiosis. Here, using the life history transition from planktotrophy (feeding) to lecithotrophy (nonfeeding) in the sea urchin Heliocidaris, we demonstrate that the lack of a functional gut corresponds with a reduction in microbial community diversity and abundance as well as the association with a diet-specific microbiome. We also determine that the lecithotroph vertically transmits a Rickettsiales that may complement host nutrition through amino acid biosynthesis and influence host reproduction. Our results indicate that the evolutionary loss of a functional gut correlates with a reduction in the microbiome and the association with an endosymbiont. Symbiotic transitions can therefore accompany life history transitions in the evolution of developmental strategies.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.2022023118