Genomic resources for the two Acidobacteriota type species Acanthopleuribacter pedis (KCTC 12899) and Sulfidibacter corallicola (M133). This includes their re-sequenced genomes, as well as RNA sequencing data for S. corallicola cultured w/ and w/o Porites coral-derived dissolved organic matter.
Coral reefs are marine biodiversity hotspots that provide a wide range of ecosystem services. They are reservoirs of bioactive compounds, many produced by microbial symbionts of reef invertebrate hosts. However, for the keystone species of coral reefs—the reef-building corals—we still lack a systematic assessment of their microbially encoded biosynthetic potential and the molecular resources at stake due to the alarming decline in reef biodiversity. Here, we analysed microbial genomes reconstructed from 820 reef-building coral samples of three representative coral genera collected at 99 reefs across 32 islands throughout the Pacific Ocean (Tara Pacific). By contextualising our analyses with the microbiomes of other reef species, we found that only 10% of the 4,224 microbial species and less than 1% of the 645 species exclusively identified in Tara Pacific samples had genomic information available. Furthermore, the biosynthetic potential of reef-building coral microbiomes rivalled or surpassed that of traditional natural product sources like sponges. Among the biosynthetically rich bacteria in the reef microbiome, we identified novel groups of Acidobacteriota that interact with coral holobionts and harbour new enzymology and bioactive compounds. Linking macro-organismal biodiversity loss to host-specific microbiomes and their biotechnological potential, this study underscores the importance of reef conservation.