Host identity drives distinct prokaryotic and microeukaryotic microbiomes across four cold-water coral species in a near-pristine Mediterranean reef.

Host identity is the primary driver of distinct prokaryotic and microeukaryotic microbiomes across four deep Mediterranean cold-water coral species, each with signature communities.

• Why it matters: Near-pristine Cabliers reef corals likely rely on symbiotic microbes, but how microbial community structure varies among coral hosts in this setting was unknown.
• What they did: The study used Illumina MiSeq DNA metabarcoding of 16S and 18S rRNA gene V4 regions to profile microbiomes in Madrepora oculata, Desmophyllum pertusum, Leiopathes glaberrima, and Acanthogorgia hirsuta.
• The result: Acanthogorgia hirsuta showed reliance on microbes for organic matter processing (including the BD1-7 clade), while Madrepora oculata and Desmophyllum pertusum had distinct symbionts, including Endozoicomonas and the SUP05 clade, respectively.

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