301
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
M. Kumar, P. Ralph (eds.), Systems Biology of Marine Ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62094-7_15
Chapter 15
Exploring the Complexity of MacroalgalBacterial Interactions Through Interkingdom
Signalling System
Ravindra Pal Singh, Ramesh Kothari, and Suhelen Egan
Abstract Macroalgae belong to a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that
play an essential role in marine ecosystems. These ecosystem engineers contribute
significantly to global primary production and are the major habitat formers on
rocky shores in temperate waters, providing food and shelter for marine life.
Macroalgae harbour a rich diversity of associated microorganisms with varied functions related to host performance and defence. In particular, epiphytic bacterial
communities have been reported as essential for normal morphological development of the algal host. Moreover, bacteria with antifouling properties are thought to
protect chemically undefended macroalgae from detrimental, secondary colonization by other microscopic and macroscopic epibiota. This tight relationship suggests that macroalgae and epiphytic bacteria interact as an integrated functional
entity or “holobiont”. Many of these interactions are controlled via chemical signalling systems in a type of interkingdom communication. Indeed recent studies have
demonstrated that chemical signalling molecules from bacteria regulate important
functions in green algae such as reproduction and host defence.
Keywords Macroalgae • Quorum sensing • Morphology • Macroalgal-microbial
interaction • Next-generation sequencing
R.P. Singh (*) • R. Kothari
Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot 360005, Gujarat, India
e-mail: ravindrapal.1441@gmail.com
S. Egan
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation,
The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Contents
15.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 302
15.2 Quorum Sensing and Cross Kingdom Communication with Macroalgae ..................... 304
15.3 Host-Associated Bacterial Diversity and Next- Generation Sequencing ........................ 306
15.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 309
References ................................................................................................................................. 309
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
M. Kumar, P. Ralph (eds.), Systems Biology of Marine Ecosystems,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62094-7_15
Chapter 15
Exploring the Complexity of MacroalgalBacterial Interactions Through Interkingdom
Signalling System
Ravindra Pal Singh, Ramesh Kothari, and Suhelen Egan
Abstract Macroalgae belong to a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that
play an essential role in marine ecosystems. These ecosystem engineers contribute
significantly to global primary production and are the major habitat formers on
rocky shores in temperate waters, providing food and shelter for marine life.
Macroalgae harbour a rich diversity of associated microorganisms with varied functions related to host performance and defence. In particular, epiphytic bacterial
communities have been reported as essential for normal morphological development of the algal host. Moreover, bacteria with antifouling properties are thought to
protect chemically undefended macroalgae from detrimental, secondary colonization by other microscopic and macroscopic epibiota. This tight relationship suggests that macroalgae and epiphytic bacteria interact as an integrated functional
entity or “holobiont”. Many of these interactions are controlled via chemical signalling systems in a type of interkingdom communication. Indeed recent studies have
demonstrated that chemical signalling molecules from bacteria regulate important
functions in green algae such as reproduction and host defence.
Keywords Macroalgae • Quorum sensing • Morphology • Macroalgal-microbial
interaction • Next-generation sequencing
R.P. Singh (*) • R. Kothari
Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot 360005, Gujarat, India
e-mail: ravindrapal.1441@gmail.com
S. Egan
School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation,
The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Contents
15.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 302
15.2 Quorum Sensing and Cross Kingdom Communication with Macroalgae ..................... 304
15.3 Host-Associated Bacterial Diversity and Next- Generation Sequencing ........................ 306
15.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 309
References ................................................................................................................................. 309