The Evolution, Assembly, and Dynamics of Marine Holobionts

Abstract

The holobiont concept (i.e., multiple living beings in close symbiosis with one another and functioning as a unit) is revolutionizing our understanding of biology, especially in marine systems. The earliest marine holobiont was likely a syntrophic partnership of at least two prokaryotic members. Since then, symbiosis has enabled marine organisms to conquer all ocean habitats through the formation of holobionts with a wide spectrum of complexities. However, most scientific inquiries have focused on isolated organisms and their adaptations to specific environments. In this review, we attempt to illustrate why a holobiont perspective—specifically, the study of how numerous organisms form a discrete ecological unit through symbiosis—will be a more impactful strategy to advance our understanding of the ecology and evolution of marine life. We argue that this approach is instrumental in addressing the threats to marine biodiversity posed by the current global environmental crisis. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Marine Science, Volume 16 is January 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Transcriptomic responses of Mediterranean sponges upon encounter with symbiont microbial consortia

“…We hypothesize that the different NLRs under regulation act in synergy in D. avara to recognize between different microbial cues. Furthermore, we propose that the differential response to A. aerophoba -symbiont treatment between sponge species could be the result of [ 1 ] “foreign” vs. “ native” recognition of the microbial consortia by D. avara and A. aerophoba , respectively and/or [ 2 ] the repertoire of immune genes harbored by the host and the degree to which these are induced. The latter explanation may be related to species-specific traits, as well as to the HMA-LMA status of the sponges.…”

Host–symbiont plasticity in the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana: strobilation across symbiont genera

“…The presence of certain microorganisms is also critical for the animal during the early stages of development (McFall-Ngai et al, 2013). It has become increasingly evident that most, if not all, marine organisms rely on the presence of symbionts throughout their life cycles, as reviewed by Gonzaĺez-Pech et al (2024). For example, many invertebrate larvae rely on the presence of a bacterial biofilm to settle and develop into adults and require the presence of specific bacteria for settlement (Freckelton et al, 2017;Cavalcanti et al, 2020).…”

Ultrastructural insights into cellular organization, energy storage and ribosomal dynamics of an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon from oligotrophic oceans

“…Comprehending the intricate cellular structure of microorganisms holds paramount importance in advancing our understanding of metabolic functions in ecology, evolution, and biogeochemistry (González-Pech et al, 2023). Despite remarkable advancements in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) technology and the potential value of archaeal structural biology in medical and industrial applications (Shin et al, 2014), the realm of structural biology of marine archaea remains relatively underexplored, necessitating efforts to comprehensively grasp their cellular structure and physiological mechanisms (Lipp et al, 2008;Stahl and de la Torre, 2012).…”