Biology subjects

Diez-Vives, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Diez-Vives, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Ocean depth modifies host-microbiome ecology and evolution

A major unsolved question in ecology and evolution is how similar free-living and symbiotic microbial communities are. In marine systems, depth homogenises free-living communities due to stronger dispersal and weaker environmental filtering compared to surface waters. We show that symbiotic communities of marine sponges follow a different pattern, with a subset of sponge species mirroring the increased similarity with depth seen in their free-living counterparts, while others remain highly host-specific both in shallow and deep waters. Moreover, in deep waters, more phylogenetically similar hosts harbor more similar microbiomes, yet host-symbiont cophylogeny nearly vanishes. This reveals two contrasting eco-evolutionary assembly rules: in more constant environments like the deep sea, community assembly is driven by host and environmental filtering with minimal signature of coevolution, whereas in variable environments, like shallow waters, host-symbiont coevolution is strong and key to maintain host-specific microbiomes.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

The archaeal class Nitrososphaeria is a key player of the reproductive microbiome in sponges during gametogenesis

Sponge-associated microbes play fundamental roles in regulating their hosts physiology, yet their contribution to sexual reproduction has been largely overlooked. Most studies have concentrated on the proportion of the microbiome transmitted from parents to offspring, providing little evidence of the putative microbial functions during gametogenesis in sponges. Here, we use 16S rRNA gene analysis to assess whether the microbial composition of five gonochoristic sponge species differs between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals and correlate these changes with their gametogenic stages. In sponges with mature oocytes, reproductive status did not influence either beta or alpha microbial diversity. Interestingly, in two of the studied species, Geodia macandrewii and Petrosia ficiformis, which presented oocytes at the previtellogenic stage, significant microbial composition changes were detected between reproductive and non-reproductive individuals. These disparities were primarily driven by differentially abundant taxa affiliated with the Nitrososphaeria archaeal class in both species. We speculate that the previtellogenic stages are more energetically demanding, leading to microbial changes due to the phagocytosis of microbes to meet nutritional demands during this period. Supporting our hypothesis, we observed significant transcriptomic differences in G. macandrewii, mainly associated with the immune system, indicating potential changes in the sponges recognition system. Overall, we provide the first insights into the possible roles of sponge microbiomes during reproductive periods, potentially uncovering critical interactions that support reproductive success.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2020

The genomic basis of animal origins: a chromosomal perspective from the sponge Ephydatia muelleri

The genomes of non-bilaterian metazoans are key to understanding the molecular basis of early animal evolution. However, a full comprehension of how animal-specific traits such as nervous systems arose is hindered by the scarcity and fragmented nature of genomes from key taxa, such as Porifera. Ephydatia muelleri is a freshwater sponge found across the northern hemisphere. Here we present its 326 Mb genome, assembled to high contiguity (N50: 9.88 Mb) with 23 chromosomes on 24 scaffolds. Our analyses reveal a metazoan-typical genome architecture, with highly shared synteny across Metazoa, and suggest that adaptation to the extreme temperatures and conditions found in freshwater often involves gene duplication. The pancontinental distribution and ready laboratory culture of E. muelleri make this a highly practical model system, which with RNAseq, DNA methylation and bacterial amplicon data spanning its development and range allows exploration of genomic changes both within sponges and in early animal evolution.

evolutionary biology↗