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    Making a Model - Investigating the Molecular Machinery of the Coral Symbiosis Model System Aiptasia

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    PhD Dissertation
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    Chap2_CC7-H2-B01_Data.xlsx
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    Type
    Dissertation
    Authors
    Cziesielski, Maha Joana cc
    Advisors
    Aranda, Manuel cc
    Committee members
    Voolstra, Christian R. cc
    Merzaban, Jasmeen cc
    Weis, Virginia
    Program
    Marine Science
    KAUST Department
    Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division
    Date
    2019-04
    Embargo End Date
    2020-05-12
    Permanent link to this record
    http://hdl.handle.net/10754/652830
    
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    Access Restrictions
    At the time of archiving, the student author of this dissertation opted to temporarily restrict access to it. The full text of this dissertation became available to the public after the expiration of the embargo on 2020-05-12.
    Abstract
    Coral reefs are the most diverse marine ecosystems of significant ecological and economic importance, globally. Increasing environmental stress imposed by global warming, ocean acidification and pollution has led to the continuous decline of coral reefs. For reefs to thrive and survive, they rely on the stable endosymbiosis between coral animal and photosynthetic algae. The fragile symbiotic relationship is dependent on a balanced metabolic exchange, which is easily disturbed by stress, consequently leading to the loss of the endosymbiotic algae - a process known as bleaching. Since corals energetically rely on the algae, the breakdown of symbiosis can have fatal consequences. However, the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms of this symbiosis are thus far poorly understood. The small sea anemone Aiptasia has provided an experimentally tractable model organism, furthering our understanding on the function of symbiosis and hence, coral susceptibility and resilience to stress. Nonetheless, this model organism is comparatively young and therefore, requires innovative approaches as well as establishment and optimization of protocols. In this thesis, we applied transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenomic tools in Aiptasia, with the aim to assess the dynamics of symbiosis and thermotolerance. Heat stress studies, on Aiptasia's originating from geographically distinct regions, provided insight into the cnidarian-algae symbiosis mechanisms and the role of metabolic compatibility in symbiosis. Furthermore, findings elucidated that associating with thermotolerant algae can improve the cnidarian host's tolerance, potentially acting as a form of local adaptation. Finally, the role of epigenetic mechanisms in cnidarian symbiosis was investigated, by optimizing Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and establishing the genomic landscape of histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) in Aiptasia. These new results will enable progressing Aiptasia further as a model organism and thus, advance our understanding on the complex mechanisms of coral symbiosis.
    Citation
    Cziesielski, M. J. (2019). Making a Model - Investigating the Molecular Machinery of the Coral Symbiosis Model System Aiptasia. KAUST Research Repository. https://doi.org/10.25781/KAUST-3HP78
    DOI
    10.25781/KAUST-3HP78
    ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
    10.25781/KAUST-3HP78
    Scopus Count
    Collections
    Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division; Marine Science Program; PhD Dissertations

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