Insights into the genomic repertoire of Aquimarina litoralis CCMR20, a symbiont of coral Mussismilia braziliensis.

Aquimarina litoralis CCMR20 originated from the coral Mussismilia braziliensis (Sebastião Gomes Reef, Brazil, summer 2010). To gain new insights into the genomic repertoire associated with symbioses, we obtained the genome sequence of this strains using Illumina sequencing. CCMR20 has a genome size of 6.3 Mb, 32.6%GC, and 5513 genes (37 tRNA and 4 rRNA). A more fine-grained examination of the gene repertoire of CCMR20 disclosed genes engaged with symbiosis (heterotrophic carbon metabolism, CAZymes, B-vitamins group, carotenoid pigment and antioxidant molecules production). Genomic evidence further expand the possible relevance of this symbiont in the health of Mussismilia holobiont.Whole Genome Shotgun project has been deposited at DDBJ/ENA/GeneBank under the accession number WEKL00000000.

Conserved Pigment Profiles in Phylogenetically Diverse Symbiotic Bacteria Associated with the Corals Montastraea cavernosa and Mussismilia braziliensis.

Pigmented bacterial symbionts play major roles in the health of coral holobionts. However, there is scarce knowledge on the diversity of these microbes for several coral species. To gain further insights into holobiont health, pigmented bacterial isolates of Fabibacter pacificus (Bacteroidetes; n = 4), Paracoccus marcusii (Alphaproteobacteria; n = 1), and Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis (Gammaproteobacteria; n = 1) were obtained from the corals Mussismilia braziliensis and Montastraea cavernosa in Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. Cultures of these bacterial symbionts produced strong antioxidant activity (catalase, peroxidase, and oxidase). To explore these bacterial isolates further, we identified their major pigments by HPLC and mass spectrometry. The six phylogenetically diverse symbionts had similar pigment patterns and produced myxol and keto-carotene. In addition, similar carotenoid gene clusters were confirmed in the whole genome sequences of these symbionts, which reinforce their antioxidant potential. This study highlights the possible roles of bacterial symbionts in Montastraea and Mussismilia holobionts.