212
5.2.8 Let’s Go Viral on the Model Metaorganism
Aiptasia
Jan D. Brüwer
1*
, Christian C. Voolstra
1
1
Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and
Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),
23955 Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
*corresponding author: bruewer_j@gmx.de
Keywords: Coral reefs, Model system, Virus,
Metaorganism, Symbiosis
Anthozoans, including stony corals and sea anemones,
are associated with a variety of bacteria, archaea, and viruses
and, thus, form metaorganisms or holobionts. They receive
special attention, due to their endosymbiosis with zooxanthellae algae of the genus Symbiodinium that, in the case of
corals, provide the foundation for the ecologically and economically important reef ecosystems. While the bacterial
community is the main focus, comparatively few studies
have investigated the viral component of metaorganisms. In
order to study the viral community and potential ecological
functions of viruses in the cnidarian-algae symbiosis, we reanalyzed a previously published RNA-Seq dataset of the
model metaorganism Aiptasia (sensu Exaiptasia pallida)
featuring three different symbiotic states with Symbiodinium
(aposymbiotic, partially populated, and fully symbiotic).
Our bioinformatic approach included the removal of host
and endosymbiont sequences (Aiptasia and Symbiodinium)
prior to viral sequence characterization. Aiptasia seem to
harbor a diverse and relatively complex viral community,
dominated by viruses of the families Herpesviridae,
Partitiviridae, and Picornaviridae. Some distinct members
of the viral community change significantly in relative abundance across altered symbiotic states of Aiptasia with
Symbiodinium. Additionally, we assembled the Aiptasia core
virome comprised of viruses from 11 viral families that were
present across all specimens. Our study provides a first
insight into the viral community of the cnidarian model system Aiptasia and a bioinformatics pipeline to tease out viral
signatures from existing organismal RNA-Seq data. Aiptasia
forms a dynamic assemblage with a variety of viruses in
which presence and absence of Symbiodinium aligns with
viral community differences.
5.3 Abstracts of Poster Presentations
5.3.1 Alternative Methods for Assessing Habitat
Quality in River Systems
Quentin Mauvisseau
1*
, Andrew Ramsey
1
, Alix Blockley
1
,
Jim Campbell
2
, Rein Brys
3
, Michael Sweet
1
1
Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability
Research Centre, College of Life and Natural Sciences,
University of Derby, Derby, UK
2
SureScreen Scientifics Ltd, Morley Retreat Church Lane,
Morley, Derbyshire, DE7 6DE, UK
3
Research Institute for Forest and Nature, B-1070
Brussels, Belgium
*corresponding author: Q.Mauvisseau@derby.ac.uk
Keywords: Environmental DNA (eDNA), Detection,
Freshwater ecosystems, Invasive species, Endangered
species
Environmental DNA (or eDNA) refers to the traces of
DNA (originating from skin, gametes or mucus, for example)
which are left by any given organism or group of organisms in
any given ecosystem. Using eDNA, it is possible to therefore
assess the presence or absence of either a specific species (a
more targeted approach) or the whole community (a metagenomic approach). Recent studies have also suggested that
quantification of biomass can also be retrieved from eDNA
data. Monitoring biodiversity is a cornerstone for the evaluation of ecosystem health. In freshwater ecosystems, the assessment of water quality relies heavily on biological monitoring
and the detection of specific key indicator species, endangered
species or those which may be harmful to the ecosystem or
invasive in nature. The aim of this PhD is therefore to develop
and assess various methods focused around the eDNA concept
and explore and improve various aspects associated with this
non-invasive methodology in order to assess habitat quality of
freshwater systems. Throughout the various experiments associated with the PhD, new eDNA methods will be mapped
against more traditional survey methods which are more routinely utilized to date; electrofishing and hand searching, for
example. Each aspect of the study involves a variety of different ‘project partners’ who will insure the new techniques
developed during the PhD move from principle into practice
and start to influence policy through the UK and the rest of
mainland Europe. Furthermore, working with our commercial
project partners ensures each technique can be developed into
a fully validated and commercially available product available
to a wider end user group.
6 Sentinels of the Sea: Ecology
and Conservation of Marine Top Predators
Dominik A. Nachtsheim
1,2
and Brigitte C. Heylen
3,4
1
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research,
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6,
25761 Büsum, Germany
2
BreMarE – Bremen Marine Ecology, Marine Zoology,
University of Bremen, P.O. Box 330440, 28334 Bremen,
Germany
3
Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of
Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
4
Terrestrial
Ecology
Unit,
Ghent
University,
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Appendices
5.2.8 Let’s Go Viral on the Model Metaorganism
Aiptasia
Jan D. Brüwer
1*
, Christian C. Voolstra
1
1
Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and
Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST),
23955 Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
*corresponding author: bruewer_j@gmx.de
Keywords: Coral reefs, Model system, Virus,
Metaorganism, Symbiosis
Anthozoans, including stony corals and sea anemones,
are associated with a variety of bacteria, archaea, and viruses
and, thus, form metaorganisms or holobionts. They receive
special attention, due to their endosymbiosis with zooxanthellae algae of the genus Symbiodinium that, in the case of
corals, provide the foundation for the ecologically and economically important reef ecosystems. While the bacterial
community is the main focus, comparatively few studies
have investigated the viral component of metaorganisms. In
order to study the viral community and potential ecological
functions of viruses in the cnidarian-algae symbiosis, we reanalyzed a previously published RNA-Seq dataset of the
model metaorganism Aiptasia (sensu Exaiptasia pallida)
featuring three different symbiotic states with Symbiodinium
(aposymbiotic, partially populated, and fully symbiotic).
Our bioinformatic approach included the removal of host
and endosymbiont sequences (Aiptasia and Symbiodinium)
prior to viral sequence characterization. Aiptasia seem to
harbor a diverse and relatively complex viral community,
dominated by viruses of the families Herpesviridae,
Partitiviridae, and Picornaviridae. Some distinct members
of the viral community change significantly in relative abundance across altered symbiotic states of Aiptasia with
Symbiodinium. Additionally, we assembled the Aiptasia core
virome comprised of viruses from 11 viral families that were
present across all specimens. Our study provides a first
insight into the viral community of the cnidarian model system Aiptasia and a bioinformatics pipeline to tease out viral
signatures from existing organismal RNA-Seq data. Aiptasia
forms a dynamic assemblage with a variety of viruses in
which presence and absence of Symbiodinium aligns with
viral community differences.
5.3 Abstracts of Poster Presentations
5.3.1 Alternative Methods for Assessing Habitat
Quality in River Systems
Quentin Mauvisseau
1*
, Andrew Ramsey
1
, Alix Blockley
1
,
Jim Campbell
2
, Rein Brys
3
, Michael Sweet
1
1
Aquatic Research Facility, Environmental Sustainability
Research Centre, College of Life and Natural Sciences,
University of Derby, Derby, UK
2
SureScreen Scientifics Ltd, Morley Retreat Church Lane,
Morley, Derbyshire, DE7 6DE, UK
3
Research Institute for Forest and Nature, B-1070
Brussels, Belgium
*corresponding author: Q.Mauvisseau@derby.ac.uk
Keywords: Environmental DNA (eDNA), Detection,
Freshwater ecosystems, Invasive species, Endangered
species
Environmental DNA (or eDNA) refers to the traces of
DNA (originating from skin, gametes or mucus, for example)
which are left by any given organism or group of organisms in
any given ecosystem. Using eDNA, it is possible to therefore
assess the presence or absence of either a specific species (a
more targeted approach) or the whole community (a metagenomic approach). Recent studies have also suggested that
quantification of biomass can also be retrieved from eDNA
data. Monitoring biodiversity is a cornerstone for the evaluation of ecosystem health. In freshwater ecosystems, the assessment of water quality relies heavily on biological monitoring
and the detection of specific key indicator species, endangered
species or those which may be harmful to the ecosystem or
invasive in nature. The aim of this PhD is therefore to develop
and assess various methods focused around the eDNA concept
and explore and improve various aspects associated with this
non-invasive methodology in order to assess habitat quality of
freshwater systems. Throughout the various experiments associated with the PhD, new eDNA methods will be mapped
against more traditional survey methods which are more routinely utilized to date; electrofishing and hand searching, for
example. Each aspect of the study involves a variety of different ‘project partners’ who will insure the new techniques
developed during the PhD move from principle into practice
and start to influence policy through the UK and the rest of
mainland Europe. Furthermore, working with our commercial
project partners ensures each technique can be developed into
a fully validated and commercially available product available
to a wider end user group.
6 Sentinels of the Sea: Ecology
and Conservation of Marine Top Predators
Dominik A. Nachtsheim
1,2
and Brigitte C. Heylen
3,4
1
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research,
University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6,
25761 Büsum, Germany
2
BreMarE – Bremen Marine Ecology, Marine Zoology,
University of Bremen, P.O. Box 330440, 28334 Bremen,
Germany
3
Behavioural Ecology and Ecophysiology, University of
Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
4
Terrestrial
Ecology
Unit,
Ghent
University,
K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Appendices