Forever competent: deep-sea bivalves are colonized by their chemosynthetic symbionts throughout their lifetime.

摘要: Summary Symbiotic bivalves at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps host chemosynthetic bacteria intracellularly in gill cells. In bivalves, the gills grow continuously throughout their lifetime by forming new filaments. We examined how newly developed tissues are colonized with horizontal vertical symbiont transmission (Bathymodiolus mussels versus a vesicoymid clam) using fluorescence situ hybridization electron microscopy. Symbiont colonization was similar clams independent of modes. Symbionts were absent growth zones gills, indicating that symbionts colonize formed filaments de novo after they is continuous process host's lifetime. abundance distribution suggested shaped developmental stage Self-infection, which cells from ontogenetically older tissues, may also play role. mussels, infection led to changes cell structure those described other epithelial infected intracellular pathogens, such as loss microvilli. A better understanding factors affect bivalve could provide insights into interactions between tissues.