Associated bacteria affect sexual reproduction by altering gene expression and metabolic processes in a biofilm inhabiting diatom (Seminavis robusta)

The goals of this study are to compare NGS-derived transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq) of Seminavis robusta in presence and absence of associated bacterial spent medium (Maribacter sp. and Roseovarius sp.) in order to highlight the effect of bacterial exudates on diatom gene expression and metabolic processes. Transcriptomics of 6 different treatments of Seminavis robusta mating type - (MT-) treated with spent medium of associated bacteria (Roseovarius sp. and Maribacter sp.). In three treatments S. robusta was sexually induced (SIP, SIPM and SIPR), in other three treatments it was not sexually induced (C, M, R). Differential gene expression was employed to find genes influenced either by the induction fo sexuality, by the presence of bacteria or by both effects.