Prokaryotic communities adapted to microhabitats on the Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) growing in the high-altitude urban Dal Lake / Comunidades procarióticas adaptadas a los microhábitats del loto indio (Nelumbo nucifera) que crece en las zonas urbanas de gran altitud del lago Dal

Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is one of the dominant aquatic plants cultivated in Dal Lake, situated at 1586 m above mean sea level (MSL) in the northeast of Srinagar, Kashmir. Despite their economic and ecological role, the microbial communities associated with the lotus plant are still unexplored. In this study, we investigated the prokaryotic communities on surfaces of different lotus microhabitats (roots, rhizome, leaves, flowers, and fruits), lake water, and sediments using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Overall, prokaryotic diversity decreased significantly on the surface of lotus microhabitats in comparison to the lake water and sediments. Among the microhabitats of lotus, roots and leaves harbored more diverse communities in comparison to rhizomes, fruits, and flowers. A total of 98 genera were shared by lotus and the Dal Lake sediments and water. However, significant differences were found in their relative abundance; for example, Pseudomonas was the most dominant genus on the majority of lotus microhabitats. On the other hand, Flavobacterium was highly abundant in the lake water, while a higher abundance of Acinetobacter was recorded in sediments. Additionally, we also noted the presence of potential human pathogenic genera including Escherichia-Shigella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Raoultella, Serratia, and Sphingomonas on the lotus microhabitats. Predicted functions of prokaryotic communities revealed a higher abundance of genes associated with nutrient uptake in the microhabitats of the lotus. This study offered first-hand information on the prokaryotic communities harbored by lotus plants and water and sediments of the Dal Lake and demonstrated the adaptation of diverse communities to microhabitats of lotus.(AU)

Prokaryotic communities adapted to microhabitats on the Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) growing in the high-altitude urban Dal Lake.

Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is one of the dominant aquatic plants cultivated in Dal Lake, situated at 1586 m above mean sea level (MSL) in the northeast of Srinagar, Kashmir. Despite their economic and ecological role, the microbial communities associated with the lotus plant are still unexplored. In this study, we investigated the prokaryotic communities on surfaces of different lotus microhabitats (roots, rhizome, leaves, flowers, and fruits), lake water, and sediments using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Overall, prokaryotic diversity decreased significantly on the surface of lotus microhabitats in comparison to the lake water and sediments. Among the microhabitats of lotus, roots and leaves harbored more diverse communities in comparison to rhizomes, fruits, and flowers. A total of 98 genera were shared by lotus and the Dal Lake sediments and water. However, significant differences were found in their relative abundance; for example, Pseudomonas was the most dominant genus on the majority of lotus microhabitats. On the other hand, Flavobacterium was highly abundant in the lake water, while a higher abundance of Acinetobacter was recorded in sediments. Additionally, we also noted the presence of potential human pathogenic genera including Escherichia-Shigella, Enterobacter, Pantoea, Raoultella, Serratia, and Sphingomonas on the lotus microhabitats. Predicted functions of prokaryotic communities revealed a higher abundance of genes associated with nutrient uptake in the microhabitats of the lotus. This study offered first-hand information on the prokaryotic communities harbored by lotus plants and water and sediments of the Dal Lake and demonstrated the adaptation of diverse communities to microhabitats of lotus.

Characterization of coral associated ciliates and their interactions with disease lesion progression of Indian Scleractinian corals.

Ciliates associated with advanced diseased lesions of Acropora sp. and Porites sp. in the field were isolated and characterised using microscopic and molecular analysis. The identified dominant coral-associated ciliates as Holosticha sp. and Cohnilembusverminus was propagated in vitro and taken for further study. Ciliates high cell numbers with substrate containing bacteria-free mucus confirms the feeding preference for nutrients in mucus instead of bacteria. Therefore, fatty acid composition of the coral mucus was analysed and noted for the different composition levels of SAFA, MUFA and PUFA in both the genera. This suggests the possible feed specific interactions of ciliates with coral mucus and tissues. Conversely, Holosticha sp. was observed for invading the host cells for its voracious ingestion of Symbiodiniaceae cells and tissues. Moreover, the aquarium based investigation revealed that the ciliates migrate to the injured and early disease signs of corals enhancing the tissue loss and disease lesion progression. Thus, our results indicate that the ciliates interact with the immunocompromised disease corals and play a major role in progression of disease lesions leading to rapid coral mortality.