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Marine microbiology is the study of the microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, viruses and microbial eukaryotes) in the marine environment, including their biodiversity, ecology and biogeochemistry. The use of metagenomics has been fundamental in revealing the abundance and composition of marine microbial ecosystems.
This study reveals that some bacteria living in the phycosphere of marine diatoms and dinoflagellates are host-specific with genomic functions matching their hosts, while some termed as ‘foundation’ bacteria can span both phycosphere types.
Diatoms are key marine primary producers and establish intricate partnerships with bacteria. Bacterium Loktanella enables diatoms to indirectly utilize glucose and maintains their photoautotrophic metabolism, indicating a common oceanic association.
Mathematical representations of overflow metabolism, mixotrophy, exoenzymes and reactive oxygen species detoxification recapitulate dynamics in co-cultures of Prochlorococcus and eight heterotrophic bacteria.
