Cover Image

Integrins mediate symbiont-specific uptake in cnidarian larvae

Endosymbiosis between dinoflagellate algae and cnidaria is fundamental for coral reef health. Appropriate symbiont selection is required for sufficient host nutrient acquisition and could be tailored to increase cnidarian stress tolerance. Previous research suggested glycan-lectin interactions facil...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jones, Victor (Author) , Dörr, Melanie (Author) , Siemers, Isabelle (Author) , Rupp, Sebastian (Author) , El Hilali, Sami (Author) , Brites, Sara (Author) , Surm, Joachim M. (Author) , Mägele, Ira (Author) , Gornik, Sebastian G. (Author) , Ferguson, Meghan (Author) , Guse, Annika (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: January 2026
In: EMBO reports
Year: 2026, Volume: 27, Issue: 2, Pages: 291-310
ISSN:1469-3178
DOI:10.1038/s44319-025-00645-9
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-025-00645-9
Get full text
Author Notes:Victor A.S. Jones, Melanie Dörr, Isabelle Siemers, Sebastian Rupp, Sami El Hilali, Sara Brites, Joachim M. Surm, Ira Maegele, Sebastian G. Gornik, Meghan Ferguson & Annika Guse
Description
Summary:Endosymbiosis between dinoflagellate algae and cnidaria is fundamental for coral reef health. Appropriate symbiont selection is required for sufficient host nutrient acquisition and could be tailored to increase cnidarian stress tolerance. Previous research suggested glycan-lectin interactions facilitate symbiont uptake; however, blockage of such interactions does not fully inhibit symbiosis establishment, suggesting other receptors are at play. Here, we use a combination of cnidarian model systems and human cell lines to determine if phagocytic integrins facilitate symbiont recognition and uptake. Integrins are highly expressed in the gastrodermal tissue of the host, where symbiosis takes place, and symbiont uptake alters the expression of integrins and downstream signaling molecules. Blockage of integrin binding sites with competitor peptides reduces symbiont uptake, while uptake of non-symbiotic algae, or uptake in a non-symbiotic cnidarian, is unaffected. Finally, overexpression of phagocytic integrins in human cells increases symbiont uptake, and mutation of the active binding site abolishes uptake. Our findings reveal integrins as important receptors for symbiosis establishment and shed light on the evolutionary functions of integrins during phagocytosis.
Item Description:Online veröffentlicht: 16. Dezember 2025
Gesehen am 11.02.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1469-3178
DOI:10.1038/s44319-025-00645-9

Similar Items