Keeping it in the family: Coevolution of latrunculid sponges and their dominant bacterial symbionts

摘要: The Latrunculiidae are a family of cold water sponges known for their production bioactive pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids. Previously it was shown that the bacterial community associated with Tsitsikamma sponge species comprises unusual taxa and is dominated by novel Betaproteobacterium. Here, we have characterized communities six latrunculid representing three genera (Tsitsikamma, Cyclacanthia, Latrunculia) as well Mycale species, collected from Algoa Bay on South African southeast coast. all seven were single Betaproteobacterium operational taxonomic unit (OTU0.03), while second OTU0.03 dominant in sp. Betaproteobacteria OTUs different closely related phylogenetic relationship follows hosts. We propose members specialized group symbionts may coevolved A Spirochaetae present Cyclacanthia but absent Latrunculia sponges. This study sheds new light interactions between point to potential involvement biosynthesis secondary metabolites.