title: The host transcriptome remains unaltered during the establishment of coral-algal symbioses.
abstract: Coral reefs are based on the symbiotic relationship between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. We followed gene expression of coral larvae of Acropora palmata and Montastraea faveolata after exposure to Symbiodinium strains that differed in their ability to establish symbioses. We show that the coral host transcriptome remains almost unchanged during infection by competent symbionts, but is massively altered by symbionts that fail to establish symbioses. Our data suggest that successful coral-algal symbioses depend mainly on the symbionts' ability to enter the host in a stealth manner rather than a more active response from the coral host.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95344, USA.
authors.forename: Christian R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Voolstra
authors.forename: Jodi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schnetzer
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunagawa
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Desalvo
authors.forename: Alina M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Szmant
authors.forename: Mary Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Coffroth
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medina