title: Transmission of a heterologous clade C Symbiodinium in a model anemone infection system via asexual reproduction.
abstract: Anemones of genus Exaiptasia are used as model organisms for the study of cnidarian-dinoflagellate (genus Symbiodinium) endosymbiosis. However, while most reef-building corals harbor Symbiodinium of clade C, Exaiptasia spp. anemones mainly harbor clade B Symbiodinium (ITS2 type B1) populations. In this study, we reveal for the first time that bleached Exaiptasia pallida anemones can establish a symbiotic relationship with a clade C Symbiodinium (ITS2 type C1). We further found that anemones can transmit the exogenously supplied clade C Symbiodinium cells to their offspring by asexual reproduction (pedal laceration). In order to corroborate the establishment of stable symbiosis, we used microscopic techniques and genetic analyses to examine several generations of anemones, and the results of these endeavors confirmed the sustainability of the system. These findings provide a framework for understanding the differences in infection dynamics between homologous and heterologous dinoflagellate types using a model anemone infection system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, I-Shou University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wan-Nan U
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium , Checheng, Pingtung , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan; Living Oceans Foundation, Landover, MD, United States of America.
authors.forename: Anderson B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Mayfield
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis , United States.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University , Taipei , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ling-Lan
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shao-En
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Peng
keywords: Endosymbiology; Marine biology; Microalgae