RNA-seq reveals active microbiome functional roles across coral Porites lutea compartments (microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com)

• RNA-seq reveals distinct active microbiomes in three coral compartments.
• First transcriptomic evidence of carbon transfer by Ostreobium to holobiont.
• Metabolic redundancy in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur pathways identified.

"A study used RNA-seq to profile the active microbiome of healthy coral Porites lutea across three compartments: coral tissue, green endolithic algal layer (Ostreobium), and deeper skeleton. Distinct metabolically active communities were found, with substantial metabolic redundancy in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur pathways. First transcriptomic evidence showed Ostreobium transferring fixed carbon to other holobiont members. The findings highlight microbial roles in nutrient cycling and reactive species scavenging."