Microbial Depletion Is Associated with Slower Cnidarian Regeneration.

Microbiomes play an important role in physiology and development in cnidarians, but how these communities influence tissue regeneration is poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of antibiotic exposure on regeneration and microbial communities in two cnidarian models, the sea anemones Nematostella vectensis (non-symbiotic, hereafter, Nematostella) and Exaiptasia diaphana (symbiotic, hereafter, Aiptasia). Bisected animals were incubated in either sterile or antibiotic-treated artificial seawater for 7 days and regeneration was monitored daily.