Whole genome metagenome of coral Porites lutea (Agri g).

The coral reef ecosystem is Earth's most biologically diverse and productive ecosystem. The functioning of coral reefs relies on the mutually beneficial association of symbiotic dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) and other organisms, such as bacteria, protists, viruses, and endolithic algae, forming a community in coral tissue called the holobiont. The coral reefs are highly sensitive and vulnerable to environmental disturbances, serving as global indicators of climate change. The stressful conditions caused by ambient stressors compel expulsion of symbiotic algae and subsequent infection leading to coral bleaching. In the Indo-Pacific Ocean, scleractinian coral Porites are common reef-building corals. The massive coral tissues of Porites spp. are health compromised, forming discolouration of purple, pink, and blue, representing an inflammatory response commonly observed in the Gulf of Mannar. This abnormal pink pigmentation in the coral Porites spp. develops as swollen pink discoloration areas described as pink spots and pink lines. Thus, to study the molecular mechanism of abnormal pink pigmentation, the whole genome metagenome of the healthy and pigmented tissue was investigated to understand the inflammatory response during stress.