Microbe Profile: Durusdinium trenchii: a thermotolerant coral symbiont

Key Points

• This research aims to explore the traits of Durusdinium trenchii and its role in coral resilience against climate change.
• Profiled the symbiont's thermotolerance and bleaching susceptibility effects on corals.
• Analyzed genome duplication, photoprotective mechanisms, and lipid profiles.
• Investigated ecological flexibility and prevalence in warming oceans.
• Durusdinium trenchii conferred increased thermal tolerance to corals but affected host growth negatively.
• Genomic traits linked to resilience included significant genome duplication and unique lipid profiles.
• The microbe showed a generalist nature, enhancing coral survival in varying environmental conditions.

Abstract