Methods and Strategies to Uncover Coral-Associated Microbial Dark Matter
Júnia Schultz, Flúvio Modolon, Alexandre Soares Rosado, Christian R. Voolstra, Michael Sweet, Raquel S. Peixoto
Abstract
The vast majority of environmental microbes have not yet been cultured, and most of the knowledge on coral-associated microbes (CAMs) has been generated from amplicon sequencing and metagenomes. However, exploring cultured CAMs is key for a detailed and comprehensive characterization of the roles of these microbes in shaping coral health and, ultimately, for their biotechnological use as, for example, coral probiotics and other natural products. Here, the strategies and technologies that have been used to access cultured CAMs are presented, while advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these strategies are discussed.
Topics & Concepts
CoralDark matterCoral bleachingBiologyEcologyAstrophysicsPhysicsMicrobial Community Ecology and PhysiologyPhotoreceptor and optogenetics researchCoral and Marine Ecosystems Studies