337
16.5.5.2 Metabolomics
It is the study of metabolites and their interactions within a biological system.
Among all other “omics” measures, metabolomics is a powerful approach because
metabolites and their concentrations directly reflect the underlying biochemical
activity. Thus, metabolomics best represents the molecular phenotype. There are
two main approaches in metabolomics studies. Untargeted approach measures as
many metabolites as possible from a range of biological samples without any
(intended) bias, whereas targeted approach measures a set of metabolites. For coral
microbiology studies, mainly untargeted metabolomics approach is used. For
example, a study on metabolomics of reef benthic interactions reveals a bioactive
lipid involved in coral defense. These were platelet-activating factor (PAF) and
lyso-PAF, similar to central inflammatory modulators present in mammals. This
shows that self and non-self-recognition among some of the oldest extant holobionts involve bioactive lipids identical to those in highly derived taxa-like humans
(Quinn et al. 2016).
Acknowledgment NPP and SBK sincerely thank CSIR and DBT for providing financial assistance by awarding JRF and SRF. This study is a part of the ongoing CSIR Network project
VACCIN. This book chapter has been assigned to CSIR-CSMCRI—121/2016 registration
number.
References
Agostini S, Suzuki Y, Higuchi T et al (2012) Biological and chemical characteristics of the coral
gastric cavity. Coral Reefs 31:147–156
Ainsworth TD, Fine M, Blackall LL et al (2006) Fluorescence in situ hybridization and spectral
imaging of coral-associated bacterial communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:3016–3020
Austin B, Alsina M, Austin D et al (1995) Identification and typing of Vibrio anguillarum: a comparison of different methods. Syst Appl Microbiol 18:285–302
Austin B, Austin D, Blanch A et al (1997) A comparison of methods for the typing of fishpathogenic Vibrio spp. Syst Appl Microbiol 20:89–101
Autenrieth I, Hantke K, Heesemann J (1991) Immunosuppression of the host and delivery of iron
to the pathogen: a possible dual role of siderophores in the pathogenesis of microbial infections? Med Microbiol Immunol 180:135–141
Azam F, Malfatti F (2007) Microbial structuring of marine ecosystems. Nat Rev Microbiol
5(10):782–791
Banin E, Vassilakos D, Orr E et al (2003) Superoxide dismutase is a virulence factor produced by
the coral bleaching pathogen Vibrio shiloi. Curr Microbiol 46:418–422
Barott KL, Rodriguez-Brito B, Janouškovec J et al (2011) Microbial diversity associated with four
functional groups of benthic reef algae and the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis.
Environ Microbiol 13:1192–1204
Bayer T, Neave MJ, Alsheikh-Hussain A et al (2013) The microbiome of the red sea coral
Stylophora pistillata is dominated by tissue-associated endozoicomonas bacteria. Appl Environ
Microbiol 79:4759–4762
Böhm M, Hentschel U, Friedrich A et al (2001) Molecular response of the sponge Suberites
domuncula to bacterial infection. Mar Biol 139:1037–1045
16 Role of Bacteria in Coral Ecosystem
16.5.5.2 Metabolomics
It is the study of metabolites and their interactions within a biological system.
Among all other “omics” measures, metabolomics is a powerful approach because
metabolites and their concentrations directly reflect the underlying biochemical
activity. Thus, metabolomics best represents the molecular phenotype. There are
two main approaches in metabolomics studies. Untargeted approach measures as
many metabolites as possible from a range of biological samples without any
(intended) bias, whereas targeted approach measures a set of metabolites. For coral
microbiology studies, mainly untargeted metabolomics approach is used. For
example, a study on metabolomics of reef benthic interactions reveals a bioactive
lipid involved in coral defense. These were platelet-activating factor (PAF) and
lyso-PAF, similar to central inflammatory modulators present in mammals. This
shows that self and non-self-recognition among some of the oldest extant holobionts involve bioactive lipids identical to those in highly derived taxa-like humans
(Quinn et al. 2016).
Acknowledgment NPP and SBK sincerely thank CSIR and DBT for providing financial assistance by awarding JRF and SRF. This study is a part of the ongoing CSIR Network project
VACCIN. This book chapter has been assigned to CSIR-CSMCRI—121/2016 registration
number.
References
Agostini S, Suzuki Y, Higuchi T et al (2012) Biological and chemical characteristics of the coral
gastric cavity. Coral Reefs 31:147–156
Ainsworth TD, Fine M, Blackall LL et al (2006) Fluorescence in situ hybridization and spectral
imaging of coral-associated bacterial communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:3016–3020
Austin B, Alsina M, Austin D et al (1995) Identification and typing of Vibrio anguillarum: a comparison of different methods. Syst Appl Microbiol 18:285–302
Austin B, Austin D, Blanch A et al (1997) A comparison of methods for the typing of fishpathogenic Vibrio spp. Syst Appl Microbiol 20:89–101
Autenrieth I, Hantke K, Heesemann J (1991) Immunosuppression of the host and delivery of iron
to the pathogen: a possible dual role of siderophores in the pathogenesis of microbial infections? Med Microbiol Immunol 180:135–141
Azam F, Malfatti F (2007) Microbial structuring of marine ecosystems. Nat Rev Microbiol
5(10):782–791
Banin E, Vassilakos D, Orr E et al (2003) Superoxide dismutase is a virulence factor produced by
the coral bleaching pathogen Vibrio shiloi. Curr Microbiol 46:418–422
Barott KL, Rodriguez-Brito B, Janouškovec J et al (2011) Microbial diversity associated with four
functional groups of benthic reef algae and the reef-building coral Montastraea annularis.
Environ Microbiol 13:1192–1204
Bayer T, Neave MJ, Alsheikh-Hussain A et al (2013) The microbiome of the red sea coral
Stylophora pistillata is dominated by tissue-associated endozoicomonas bacteria. Appl Environ
Microbiol 79:4759–4762
Böhm M, Hentschel U, Friedrich A et al (2001) Molecular response of the sponge Suberites
domuncula to bacterial infection. Mar Biol 139:1037–1045
16 Role of Bacteria in Coral Ecosystem