Larval transcriptomic responses of Acropora tenuis to Durusdinium strains

Abstract

Coral recruits of the reef-building coral genus Acropora acquire dinoflagellate symbionts, primarily Durusdinium and Symbiodinium, in early life stages. While the molecular responses of host corals to Symbiodinium are well documented, those to Durusdinium during early life stages remain poorly understood. In this study, we report the larval transcriptomic responses of Acropora tenuis to inoculation with three different Durusdinium strains. We found that few gene expression changes were elicited in planula larvae exposed to Durusdinium, while obvious gene expression changes were observed in planula larvae inoculated with Symbiodinium. These findings suggest that gene expression of host corals is flexibly controlled depending on the identity of the algal symbionts.