IDENTIFYING CHANGES IN THE BACTERIAL MICROBIOME OF MODEL ORGANISM AIPTASIA FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN SALINITY STRESS

Abstract:
Prior research has indicated that after a period of salinity stress, the coral model organism Exaiptasia diaphana (Aiptasia) exhibits increased resilience to thermal and pathogenic stressors. While this resilience has been observed, the mechanism for what changes within Aiptasia is still unknown. One possible explanation for this change in resilience is the bacterial community within the anemone holobiont. The goal of this study is to create a dataset of these bacteria found in each condition which could be used in further research by other lab members in the future. Primarily, the initial focus of this project will focus on the development of methodology for replicating studies. Aiptasia (n = 66) will be cultured at 35 ppt (typical seawater salinity) and 42 ppt (salinity stress within a healthy range) before extraction of bacterial samples and DNA sequencing. The presence or loss of particular bacteria could indicate which bacterial symbionts are selecting for resilient traits against salinity, thermal, and pathogenic stress. This analysis will create a database for these bacterial communities to be used in repeated and further studies. Actively, the focus of this project is to build the methodology for creating this database and running the first tests during the Spring of 2025. Aiptasia serves as a model organism for coral organisms vital for reef-building and protection of marine ecosystems. Understanding what mechanisms within an anemone’s bacterial community may be selecting for resilient traits may lead to a greater understanding of what components of the coral holobiont can defend coral reefs.