Effect of symbiont type on coral host gene expression

The goal of this study was to understand how different symbiont species modulate gene expression in host corals. Fragments of the coral Montastraea cavernosa were manipulated to contain either Cladocopium C3 symbionts, or thermotolerant Durusdinium trenchii symbionts. Tag-based RNA sequencing was used to analyze gene expression in corals with different symbionts under control temperatures and in response to short term heat stress.