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Grube, M./ M. Köberl/ S. Lackner/ C. Berg/ G. Berg 2012: Host-parasite interaction and microbiome response: Effects of fungal infections on the bacterial community of the Alpine lichen Solorina crocea. - FEMS Microbiology Ecology 82(2): 472-481. [RLL List # 231 / Rec.# 34610]
Keywords: Host-parasite interaction/ Lichen symbiosis/ Lichenicolous/ Microbiomes/ Pyrosequencing/ abundance/ alpine environment/ bacterium/ biome/ correspondence analysis/ environmental conditions/ fungal disease/ gene expression/ host-parasite interaction/ lichen/ microbial community/ nitrogen fixation/ Alps/ Eastern Alps/ Acidobacteria/ Bacteria (microorganisms)/ Planctomycetes/ Proteobacteria/ Solorina crocea/ Theobroma cacao
Abstract: The lichen symbiosis allows a self-sustained life under harsh environmental conditions, yet symbiotic integrity can be affected by fungal parasites. Nothing is known about the impact of these biologically diverse and often specific infections on the recently detected bacterial community in lichens. To address this question, we studied the arctic-alpine 'chocolate chip lichen' Solorina crocea, which is frequently infected by Rhagadostoma lichenicola. We sampled healthy and infected lichens at two different sites in the Eastern Alps. High abundances of Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria were identified analyzing 16S rRNA gene regions obtained by barcoded pyrosequencing. At the phylum and genus level, no significant alterations were present among infected and healthy individuals. Yet, evidence for a differentiation of communities emerged, when data were analyzed at the strain level by detrended correspondence analysis. Further, a profile clustering network revealed strain-specific abundance shifts among Acidobacteria and other bacteria. Study of stability and change in host-associated bacterial communities requires a fine-grained analysis at strain level. No correlation with the infection was found by analysis of nifH genes responsible for nitrogen fixation. © 2012 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2012.01425.x
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