Bacterial community of the poriferan Halisarca dujardini

The communication processes between bacteria and host cells may have originated in basal multicellular animals. Sponges have evolved exclusively in the presence of symbiotic microorganisms throughout their evolutionary history. Their tissues are inhabited by complex microbial communities, which can account for up to 40% of the sponge's total biomass. Symbiotic bacteria play a crucial role in sponge metabolism, participating in detoxification, digestion, and protection against pathogens.The aim of this project was to identify the bacterial species composition of the Arctic sponge Halisarca dujardini. To this end, sponge samples were collected from the White Sea and sequenced together with their associated bacteria. The resulting sequences will be used to assemble the genomes of bacterial symbionts. These data will serve as a basis for identifying bacterial enzymes involved in the host's biochemical pathways. Our study may shed light on the fundamental principles of co-evolution between multicellular organisms and their symbionts.