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van der Schoot RJ, Hoeksema BW. Host specificity of coral-associated fauna and its relevance for coral reef biodiversity. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:65-88. [PMID: 37838302 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Coral-associated fauna predominantly consists of invertebrates and constitutes an important component of coral reef biodiversity. The symbionts depend on their hosts for food, shelter and substrate. They may act as parasites by feeding on their hosts, by overgowing their polyps, or by excavating their skeletons. Because some of these species partly reside inside their hosts, they may be cryptic and can easily be overlooked in biodiversity surveys. Since no quantitative overview is available about these inter-specific relationships, this present study adresses variation in host ranges and specificity across four large coral-associated taxa and between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans. These taxa are: coral barnacles (Pyrgomatidae, n = 95), coral gall crabs (Cryptochiridae, n = 54), tubeworms (Serpulidae, n = 31), and date mussels (Lithophaginae, n = 23). A total of 335 host coral species was recorded. An index of host specificity (STD) was calculated per symbiont species, based on distinctness in taxonomic host range levels (species, genus, family, etc.). Mean indices were statistically compared among the four associated taxa and the two oceanic coral reef regions. Barnacles were the most host-specific, tubeworms the least. Indo-Pacific associates were approximately 10 times richer in species and two times more host-specific than their Atlantic counterparts. Coral families varied in the number of associates, with some hosting none. This variation could be linked to host traits (coral growth form, maximum host size) and is most probably also a result of the evolutionary history of the interspecific relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roeland J van der Schoot
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert W Hoeksema
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.
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2
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Tang CH, Lin CY, Li HH, Kuo FW. Microplastics elicit an immune-agitative state in coral. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168406. [PMID: 37939952 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Microplastic pollution in the ocean is a major problem, as its pervasiveness elicits concerns the health impacts microplastics may have on marine life (such as reef-building corals). As a primary endpoint, the organismal lipidome can define the weakening of fitness and reveal the physiological context of adverse health effects in organisms. To gain insight into the effects of microplastics on coral health, lipid profiling was performed via an untargeted lipidomic approach on the coral Turbinaria mesenterina exposed to ~10 μm polystyrene microparticles for 10 days. Considerable microplastic accumulation and obvious effects relating with immune activation were observed in the coral treated with a near environmentally relevant concentration of microplastics (10 μg/L); however, these effects were not evident in the high level (100 μg/L) treatment group. In particular, increased levels of membrane lipids with 20:4 and 22:6 fatty acid chains reallocated from the triacylglycerol pool were observed in coral host cells and symbiotic algae, respectively, which could upregulate immune activity and realign symbiotic communication in coral. High levels of polyunsaturation can sensitize the coral cell membrane to lipid peroxidation and increase cell death, which is of greater concern; additionally, the photoprotective capacity of symbiotic algae was compromised. As a result, coral physiological functions were altered. These results show that, realistic levels of microplastic pollution can affect coral health and should be a concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Ho Tang
- National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan; Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Aerosol Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Yu Lin
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Hui Li
- National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan; Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Wen Kuo
- National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung, Taiwan
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3
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Villafranca N, Changsut I, Diaz de Villegas S, Womack H, Fuess LE. Characterization of trade-offs between immunity and reproduction in the coral species Astrangia poculata. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16586. [PMID: 38077420 PMCID: PMC10702360 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Living organisms face ubiquitous pathogenic threats and have consequently evolved immune systems to protect against potential invaders. However, many components of the immune system are physiologically costly to maintain and engage, often drawing resources away from other organismal processes such as growth and reproduction. Evidence from a diversity of systems has demonstrated that organisms use complex resource allocation mechanisms to manage competing needs and optimize fitness. However, understanding of resource allocation patterns is limited across taxa. Cnidarians, which include ecologically important organisms like hard corals, have been historically understudied in the context of resource allocations. Improving understanding of resource allocation-associated trade-offs in cnidarians is critical for understanding future ecological dynamics in the face of rapid environmental change. Methods Here, we characterize trade-offs between constitutive immunity and reproduction in the facultatively symbiotic coral Astrangia poculata. Male colonies underwent ex situ spawning and sperm density was quantified. We then examined the effects of variable symbiont density and energetic budget on physiological traits, including immune activity and reproductive investment. Furthermore, we tested for potential trade-offs between immune activity and reproductive investment. Results We found limited associations between energetic budget and immune metrics; melanin production was significantly positively associated with carbohydrate concentration. However, we failed to document any associations between immunity and reproductive output which would be indicative of trade-offs, possibly due to experimental limitations. Our results provide a preliminary framework for future studies investigating immune trade-offs in cnidarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Villafranca
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Isabella Changsut
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | | | - Haley Womack
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
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4
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Hawthorn A, Berzins IK, Dennis MM, Kiupel M, Newton AL, Peters EC, Reyes VA, Work TM. An introduction to lesions and histology of scleractinian corals. Vet Pathol 2023; 60:529-546. [PMID: 37519147 DOI: 10.1177/03009858231189289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Stony corals (Scleractinia) are in the Phylum Cnidaria (cnidae referring to various types of stinging cells). They may be solitary or colonial, but all secrete an external, supporting aragonite skeleton. Large, colonial members of this phylum are responsible for the accretion of coral reefs in tropical and subtropical waters that form the foundations of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems. Coral reefs worldwide, but particularly in the Caribbean, are experiencing unprecedented levels of disease, resulting in reef degradation. Most coral diseases remain poorly described and lack clear case definitions, while the etiologies and pathogenesis are even more elusive. This introductory guide is focused on reef-building corals and describes basic gross and microscopic lesions in these corals in order to serve as an invitation to other veterinary pathologists to play a critical role in defining and advancing the field of coral pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aine Hawthorn
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
- U.S. Geological Survey, Seattle, WA
| | - Ilze K Berzins
- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- One Water, One Health, LLC, Golden Valley, MN
| | | | | | - Alisa L Newton
- ZooQuatic Laboratory, LLC, Baltimore, MD
- OCEARCH, Park City, UT
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5
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De K, Nanajkar M, Mote S, Ingole B. Reef on the edge: resilience failure of marginal patch coral reefs in Eastern Arabian Sea under recurrent coral bleaching, coral diseases, and local stressors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:7288-7302. [PMID: 36031676 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22651-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Marked by strong El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effects during 2014-2016, global coral reefs underwent mass bleaching. Here, we conducted a comprehensive (2014-2019) study, coinciding with the 2014-16 ENSO, to investigate the response and resilience potential of marginal coral communities to the combined impact of recurrent thermal anomalies and multiple anthropogenic stressors before, during, and after the mass bleaching episodes. Our result unveiled that thermal-stress-driven back-to-back annual coral bleaching episodes caused coral mortality and significantly decimated coral cover, primarily in 2015 and 2016. Subsequent benthic regime shifts toward macroalgal and algal turf colonization, followed by an increase in coral disease prevalence and recruitment failure was observed after the recurrent bleaching episodes. Algal cover increased from 21% in 2014 to 52.90% in 2019, and a subsequent increase in coral disease occurrence was observed from 16% in 2015 to 29% in 2019. The cascading negative effect of multiple stressors magnified coral loss and decreased the coral cover significantly from 45% in 2014 to 20% in 2019. The corals in the intensive recreational diving activity sites showed higher disease prevalence, concurring with high mechanical coral damage. The present study demonstrates that consecutive thermal bleaching episodes combined with local stressors can cause declines in coral cover and promote an undesirable regime shift to algal dominance in marginal coral reef habitats within a short duration. These results are of particular interest given that marginal reefs were traditionally perceived as resilient reef habitats due to their higher survival threshold to environmental changes. The present study indicates that mitigation of local stressors by effective management strategies, in conjunction with globally coordinated efforts to ameliorate climate change, can protect these unique coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyan De
- CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403002, India.
| | - Mandar Nanajkar
- CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403002, India
| | - Sambhaji Mote
- CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403002, India
| | - Baban Ingole
- CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa, 403002, India
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6
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Lewis BM, Suggett DS, Prentis PJ, Nothdurft LD. Cellular adaptations leading to coral fragment attachment on artificial substrates in Acropora millepora (Am-CAM). Sci Rep 2022; 12:18431. [PMID: 36319668 PMCID: PMC9626494 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23134-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive propagation by asexual fragmentation in the reef-building coral Acropora millepora depends on (1) successful attachment to the reef substrate through modification of soft tissues and (2) a permanent bond with skeletal encrustation. Despite decades of research examining asexual propagation in corals, the initial response, cellular reorganisation, and development leading to fragment substrate attachment via a newly formed skeleton has not been documented in its entirety. Here, we establish the first "coral attachment model" for this species ("Am-CAM") by developing novel methods that allow correlation of fluorescence and electron microscopy image data with in vivo microscopic time-lapse imagery. This multi-scale imaging approach identified three distinct phases involved in asexual propagation: (1) the contact response of the coral fragment when contact with the substrate, followed by (2) fragment stabilisation through anchoring by the soft tissue, and (3) formation of a "lappet-like appendage" structure leading to substrate bonding of the tissue for encrustation through the onset of skeletal calcification. In developing Am-CAM, we provide new biological insights that can enable reef researchers, managers and coral restoration practitioners to begin evaluating attachment effectiveness, which is needed to optimise species-substrate compatibility and achieve effective outplanting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M. Lewis
- grid.1024.70000000089150953School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - David S. Suggett
- grid.117476.20000 0004 1936 7611Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Peter J. Prentis
- grid.1024.70000000089150953Centre for Agriculture and Bioeconomy and School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD Australia
| | - Luke D. Nothdurft
- grid.1024.70000000089150953School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD Australia
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7
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Harman TE, Barshis DJ, Hauff Salas B, Hamsher SE, Strychar KB. Indications of symbiotic state influencing melanin-synthesis immune response in the facultative coral Astrangia poculata. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2022; 151:63-74. [PMID: 36173117 DOI: 10.3354/dao03695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Increased ocean warming is causing detrimental impacts to tropical corals worldwide. Compounding the effects of heat stress, incidences of tropical coral disease have risen concurrently. While tropical coral responses to these impacts are well studied, temperate coral responses remain largely unknown. The present study focused on the immune response of the temperate coral Astrangia poculata to increased temperature and disease. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. poculata were collected from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island (USA) in summer and winter seasons and exposed to control (18°C) versus elevated temperatures (26°C) in the presence of an immune stimulant (i.e. lipopolysaccharide) for a 12 h period. Prophenoloxidase (PPO) and melanin concentrations from the melanin-synthesis pathway were assessed via spectrophotometry to examine immune responses. While PPO measurements were higher on average in symbiotic corals compared with aposymbiotic corals, temperature and season did not significantly affect this metric. Melanin was significantly higher in symbiotic compared to aposymbiotic corals, implying that symbiotic state may be important for melanin-synthesis response. Conversely, melanin as an immune response may be of less importance in aposymbiotic A. poculata due to the potential capacity of other immune responses in this species. In addition, differences in resource allocation to immune investment as a result of symbiosis is plausible given melanin production observed within the present study. However, thermal stressors may reduce the overall influence of symbiosis on melanin production. Future studies should build upon these results to further understand the entirety of innate immunity responses in temperate coral species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler E Harman
- Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, 740 West Shoreline Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441, USA
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8
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Huang CY, Hwang JS, Yamashiro H, Tang SL. Spatial and cross-seasonal patterns of coral diseases in reefs of Taiwan: high prevalence and regional variation. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2021; 146:145-156. [PMID: 34672264 DOI: 10.3354/dao03624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Although research on coral diseases is increasing worldwide, it remains limited in Taiwan. Taiwan is located at the Tropic of Cancer and contains both tropical and subtropical reefs. We conducted spatial and cross-seasonal surveys in Taiwan in 2018 and identified 7 types of disease and nondisease lesions and 6 potential factors influencing coral health. The overall mean prevalence of disease and nondisease lesions varied considerably across the reef regions, and host susceptibility differed among the coral taxa. The overall mean prevalence of disease and nondisease lesions was highest in Kenting (mean ± SEM: 8.58 ± 1.81%) and lowest on the Southern Islands (2.12 ± 0.73%). Although the prevalence of diseases did not differ significantly between the seasons, cyanobacteria-related diseases-including black band disease (BBD), BBD-like syndrome, and other cyanobacterial syndromes-were slightly more prevalent in autumn than in spring. Furthermore, 3 of the potential factors influencing coral health (i.e. turf algae, bioeroding sponges, and coral bleaching) were strong predictors of disease and nondisease lesion prevalence. These results advance our understanding of coral disease ecology in Taiwan and highlight the need for further research on the correlations between diseases, hosts, and environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Yun Huang
- Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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9
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Snyder GA, Eliachar S, Connelly MT, Talice S, Hadad U, Gershoni-Yahalom O, Browne WE, Palmer CV, Rosental B, Traylor-Knowles N. Functional Characterization of Hexacorallia Phagocytic Cells. Front Immunol 2021; 12:662803. [PMID: 34381444 PMCID: PMC8350327 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.662803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phagocytosis is the cellular defense mechanism used to eliminate antigens derived from dysregulated or damaged cells, and microbial pathogens. Phagocytosis is therefore a pillar of innate immunity, whereby foreign particles are engulfed and degraded in lysolitic vesicles. In hexacorallians, phagocytic mechanisms are poorly understood, though putative anthozoan phagocytic cells (amoebocytes) have been identified histologically. We identify and characterize phagocytes from the coral Pocillopora damicornis and the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and microscopy, we show that distinct populations of phagocytic cells engulf bacteria, fungal antigens, and beads. In addition to pathogenic antigens, we show that phagocytic cells engulf self, damaged cells. We show that target antigens localize to low pH phagolysosomes, and that degradation is occurring within them. Inhibiting actin filament rearrangement interferes with efficient particle phagocytosis but does not affect small molecule pinocytosis. We also demonstrate that cellular markers for lysolitic vesicles and reactive oxygen species (ROS) correlate with hexacorallian phagocytes. These results establish a foundation for improving our understanding of hexacorallian immune cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A Snyder
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Shir Eliachar
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Michael T Connelly
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Shani Talice
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Uzi Hadad
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Orly Gershoni-Yahalom
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - William E Browne
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, United States
| | - Caroline V Palmer
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Benyamin Rosental
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Nikki Traylor-Knowles
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
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10
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Levy S, Elek A, Grau-Bové X, Menéndez-Bravo S, Iglesias M, Tanay A, Mass T, Sebé-Pedrós A. A stony coral cell atlas illuminates the molecular and cellular basis of coral symbiosis, calcification, and immunity. Cell 2021; 184:2973-2987.e18. [PMID: 33945788 PMCID: PMC8162421 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Stony corals are colonial cnidarians that sustain the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on Earth: coral reefs. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about the cell types and molecular pathways that underpin the biology of reef-building corals. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we define over 40 cell types across the life cycle of Stylophora pistillata. We discover specialized immune cells, and we uncover the developmental gene expression dynamics of calcium-carbonate skeleton formation. By simultaneously measuring the transcriptomes of coral cells and the algae within them, we characterize the metabolic programs involved in symbiosis in both partners. We also trace the evolution of these coral cell specializations by phylogenetic integration of multiple cnidarian cell type atlases. Overall, this study reveals the molecular and cellular basis of stony coral biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shani Levy
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel
| | - Anamaria Elek
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Grau-Bové
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simón Menéndez-Bravo
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Iglesias
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amos Tanay
- Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Mass
- Department of Marine Biology, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel; Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Sdot Yam, Israel.
| | - Arnau Sebé-Pedrós
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
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11
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Picciani N, Kerlin JR, Jindrich K, Hensley NM, Gold DA, Oakley TH. Light modulated cnidocyte discharge predates the origins of eyes in Cnidaria. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3933-3940. [PMID: 33976785 PMCID: PMC8093662 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex biological traits often originate by integrating previously separate parts, but the organismal functions of these precursors are challenging to infer. If we can understand the ancestral functions of these precursors, it could help explain how they persisted and how they facilitated the origins of complex traits. Animal eyes are some of the best studied complex traits, and they include many parts, such as opsin-based photoreceptor cells, pigment cells, and lens cells. Eye evolution is understood through conceptual models that argue these parts gradually came together to support increasingly sophisticated visual functions. Despite the well-accepted logic of these conceptual models, explicit comparative studies to identify organismal functions of eye precursors are lacking. Here, we investigate how precursors functioned before they became part of eyes in Cnidaria, a group formed by sea anemones, corals, and jellyfish. Specifically, we test whether ancestral photoreceptor cells regulated the discharge of cnidocytes, the expensive single-use cells with various functions including prey capture, locomotion, and protection. Similar to a previous study of Hydra, we show an additional four distantly related cnidarian groups discharge significantly more cnidocytes when exposed to dim blue light compared with bright blue light. Our comparative analyses support the hypothesis that the cnidarian ancestor was capable of modulating cnidocyte discharge with light, which we speculate uses an opsin-based phototransduction pathway homologous to that previously described in Hydra. Although eye precursors might have had other functions like regulating timing of spawning, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that photoreceptor cells which mediate cnidocyte discharge predated eyes, perhaps facilitating the prolific origination of eyes in Cnidaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Picciani
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of California at Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
- Present address:
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyYale UniversityNew HavenCTUSA
| | - Jamie R. Kerlin
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of California at Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
- Present address:
Department of BiologyCalifornia State UniversityNorthridgeCAUSA
| | | | - Nicholai M. Hensley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of California at Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
| | - David A. Gold
- Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesUniversity of California at DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Todd H. Oakley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine BiologyUniversity of California at Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraCAUSA
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12
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Thome PE, Rivera-Ortega J, Rodríguez-Villalobos JC, Cerqueda-García D, Guzmán-Urieta EO, García-Maldonado JQ, Carabantes N, Jordán-Dahlgren E. Local dynamics of a white syndrome outbreak and changes in the microbial community associated with colonies of the scleractinian brain coral Pseudodiploria strigosa. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10695. [PMID: 33604172 PMCID: PMC7863780 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Reef corals in the Mexican Reef System have been severely affected by the emergence of a white syndrome that resembles both White Plague II and SCTLD descriptions. Meandroid scleractinian coral species are among the most severely affected. To gain insight into this affliction we conducted a broad study in the brain coral Pseudodiploria strigosa at a rear reef site in the NE Mexican Caribbean. We describe macro and microscopical signals of the disease, characterize the outbreak dynamics, the tissue histopathology, explore immunological responses in the individuals, and compare microbial assemblages associated with the surface mucus layer of healthy and unhealthy colonies. At the study site, the white syndrome outbreak on P. strigosa showed a high incidence rate in summer-fall and a low one in winter, as well as low survival expectation of diseased colonies at the end of the study. After 306 days of observation, out of 96 tracked colonies, eight remained apparently healthy and seven were diseased. No effective resistance to colony disease progression was observed once white syndrome signs developed. Tissue loss rate during the study varied among colonies (mean = 10.8 cm2, s.d. = 7.8 cm2) suggesting a complex relation between causal agents and colony resistance. The deterioration of tissues was evidenced from the basal to the surface body wall of polyps (up to 66% hypertrophy and liquefactive necrosis in unhealthy colonies), implying that microscopic alterations begin before macroscopic signals develop, suggesting this may be a systemic disease. We measured high levels of phenoloxidase (two orders of magnitude higher PO activity than P. strigosa affected by BBD) and antibacterial activity without significant reduction in unhealthy samples from the mucus layer, indicative of an enhanced immunological response. Results showed that opportunistic bacteria dominated damaged colonies, where six genera of the Bacteroidia class were found with significant changes in unhealthy colonies after DeSeq2 analysis. Nevertheless, histological observations did not support infection of the tissues. The opportunistic overload seems to be contained within the mucus layer but may be associated with the mortality of tissues in a yet unclear way. Future research should focus on experimental infections, the tracking of natural infections, and the immunocompetence of corals in the face of environmental pressures due to local, regional, and global impacts. If environmental deterioration is the primary cause of the continuing emergence and re-emergence of lethal coral diseases, as has been proposed by many authors, the only true option to effectively help preserve the coral reef biodiversity and services, is to restore the environmental quality of reef waters at the local scale and reduce greenhouse gases at the global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia E Thome
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Jacqueline Rivera-Ortega
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Jenny C Rodríguez-Villalobos
- Departamento de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.,Ecosistemas y Conservación, ProAzul Terrestre A.C., La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Daniel Cerqueda-García
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del Mar, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Edgar O Guzmán-Urieta
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - José Q García-Maldonado
- CONACyT, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Mérida, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Natalia Carabantes
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
| | - Eric Jordán-Dahlgren
- Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
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13
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Sassi CFC, Farias GMD, Vasconcelos ADS, Macedo RSD, França JPDS, Sassi R. Histopatological effects of bleaching and disease on the coral Siderastrea stellata from coastal reefs of Brazil. IHERINGIA. SERIE ZOOLOGIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4766e2021007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Histological analysis of bleached samples of Siderastrea stellata Verrill, 1868, with white plague disease and with alteration in the color pattern, revealed drastic tissue and cellular disturbances, such as lysis of the external epithelium, hyperplasia of gastrodermis, apoptosis of epithelial cells and zooxanthellae, and degradation of mesenteric filaments and reproductive cells. Fungal hyphae, diatoms, and cyanobacteria were present in diseased samples and colonies with alteration in the color pattern. Furthermore, bleached and diseased samples showed significant reductions in the number of zooxanthellae per 100 µm2 of gastrodermis and significant reductions in the diameters and volumes of stage V oocytes. We found that bleaching events, diseases, and colonies with alteration in the color pattern promoted degradation of reproductive cells, resulting in the consequent interruption of the reproduction of the coral S. stellata, which is one of the most common Brazilian coral species. The implications of these indirect effects of bleaching, disease, and changes in coral color patterns in the population dynamics of Brazilian reefs are discussed.
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Fuess LE, Palacio-Castro AM, Butler CC, Baker AC, Mydlarz LD. Increased Algal Symbiont Density Reduces Host Immunity in a Threatened Caribbean Coral Species, Orbicella faveolata. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.572942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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15
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Parisi MG, Parrinello D, Stabili L, Cammarata M. Cnidarian Immunity and the Repertoire of Defense Mechanisms in Anthozoans. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:E283. [PMID: 32932829 PMCID: PMC7563517 DOI: 10.3390/biology9090283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Anthozoa is the most specious class of the phylum Cnidaria that is phylogenetically basal within the Metazoa. It is an interesting group for studying the evolution of mutualisms and immunity, for despite their morphological simplicity, Anthozoans are unexpectedly immunologically complex, with large genomes and gene families similar to those of the Bilateria. Evidence indicates that the Anthozoan innate immune system is not only involved in the disruption of harmful microorganisms, but is also crucial in structuring tissue-associated microbial communities that are essential components of the cnidarian holobiont and useful to the animal's health for several functions including metabolism, immune defense, development, and behavior. Here, we report on the current state of the art of Anthozoan immunity. Like other invertebrates, Anthozoans possess immune mechanisms based on self/non-self-recognition. Although lacking adaptive immunity, they use a diverse repertoire of immune receptor signaling pathways (PRRs) to recognize a broad array of conserved microorganism-associated molecular patterns (MAMP). The intracellular signaling cascades lead to gene transcription up to endpoints of release of molecules that kill the pathogens, defend the self by maintaining homeostasis, and modulate the wound repair process. The cells play a fundamental role in immunity, as they display phagocytic activities and secrete mucus, which acts as a physicochemical barrier preventing or slowing down the proliferation of potential invaders. Finally, we describe the current state of knowledge of some immune effectors in Anthozoan species, including the potential role of toxins and the inflammatory response in the Mediterranean Anthozoan Anemonia viridis following injection of various foreign particles differing in type and dimensions, including pathogenetic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giovanna Parisi
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Daniela Parrinello
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Loredana Stabili
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Matteo Cammarata
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy;
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16
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Rasmussen L, Barnes C, Mak SST, Kjartansdóttir KR, Hansen TA, Doan-Nhu H, Nguyen-Ngoc L, Guldberg Frøslev T, Hellström M, Hansen AJ. Increased Bacterial Richness Associated With Lesions Within the Porites spp. of Vietnam. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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17
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Examining the Effect of Heat Stress on Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767) from a Mesophotic Coral Ecosystem (MCE). WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12051303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Coral reefs are under increasing pressure from global warming. Little knowledge, however, exists regarding heat induced stress on deeper mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs). Here, we examined the effect of acute (72 h) and chronic (480 h) heat stress on the host coral Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767) collected from an upper MCE (~30 m) in Florida, USA. We examined six immune/stress-related genes: ribosomal protein L9 (RpL9), ribosomal protein S7 (RpS7), B-cell lymphoma 2 apoptosis regulator (BCL-2), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), catalase, and cathepsin L1, as a proxy for coral response to heat stress. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the gene expression. Overall, both acute and chronic heat stress treatments elicited a response in gene expression relative to control samples. Acute heat exposure resulted in up-regulation of catalase, BCL-2, and HSP90 at all time points from hour 24 to 48, suggesting the activation of an oxidative protective enzyme, molecular chaperone, and anti-apoptotic protein. Fewer genes were up-regulated in the chronic experiment until hour 288 (30 °C) where catalase, RpL9, and RpS7 were significantly up-regulated. Chronic heat exposure elicited a physiological response at 30 °C, which we propose as a heat-stress threshold for Montastraea cavernosa (M. cavernosa) collected from an MCE.
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18
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Sharma D, Ravindran C. Diseases and pathogens of marine invertebrate corals in Indian reefs. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 173:107373. [PMID: 32272136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Diseases in marine invertebrate corals have been reported worldwide and have been associated with infection by various microbial pathogens that cause massive mortality. Several bacterial species, especially Vibrio species but also members of the cyanobacteria, fungi, viruses, and protists, are described as important pathogens associated with coral disease and mortality. The present work provides an updated overview of main diseases and implicated microbial species affecting corals in Indian reefs. Further study on pathogen diversity, classification, spread and environmental factors on pathogen-host interactions may contribute a better understanding of the coral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diksha Sharma
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR - National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, 403004 Goa, India
| | - Chinnarajan Ravindran
- Biological Oceanography Division, CSIR - National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, 403004 Goa, India.
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19
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Carella F, Miele C, De Vico G. Nodular-like growth and axial thickening in gorgonians are a defensive response to endolithic cyanobacteria, involving amyloid deposition. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2020; 138:155-169. [PMID: 32162614 DOI: 10.3354/dao03451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
An accurate approach to coral disease study is critical for understanding the global decline of coral populations. Such an approach should involve the proper use of medical concepts and terminology to avoid confusion and promote clarity in the coral disease literature. Inflammatory and neoplastic disorders have been frequently confused in corals. They are both reported as 'growth anomalies' because of their possible gross similarity, but in fact they are very different types of lesions and pathologic phenomena. In this work, we assessed the distribution and prevalence of growth anomalies, externally visible as nodular-like lesions, in the soft corals Eunicella cavolinii and E. singularis in 2008-2009 in 3 different areas along the Campanian coastline of Italy. Histopathology revealed them as chronic inflammatory lesions, resembling chronic inflammatory lesions of vertebrates, encapsulating an unidentified pathogen. Congo red and Masson Fontana histochemistry highlighted an amoebocyte infiltration with the presence of new apposition of melanin coupled with amyloid sheets intended as part of the defensive response, as reported in other invertebrates. A parallel molecular analysis of 16S rRNA of the lesions suggested that the causative agent is an endolithic cyanobacterium belonging to the order Nostocales. This is the first study assessing the presence of amyloid fibrils in corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Carella
- Laboratory of Marine Pathology, Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy
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20
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Bridges MC, Woodley CM, Peters EC, May LA, Galloway SB. Expression and Characterization of a Bright Far-red Fluorescent Protein from the Pink-Pigmented Tissues of Porites lobata. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 22:67-80. [PMID: 31853751 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-019-09931-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Members of the anthozoan green fluorescent protein (GFP) family display a diversity of photo-physical properties that can be associated with normal and damaged coral tissues. Poritid coral species often exhibit localized pink pigmentation in diseased or damaged tissues. Our spectral and histological analyses of pink-pigmented Porites lobata lesions show co-localization of bright red fluorescence with putative amoebocytes concentrating in the epidermis, suggesting an activated innate immune response. Here we report the cloning, expression, and characterization of a novel red fluorescent protein (plobRFP) from the pink-pigmented tissues associated with lesions on Porites lobata. In vitro, the recombinant plobRFP exhibits a distinct red emission signal of 614 nm (excitation maximum: 578 nm), making plobRFP the furthest red-shifted natural fluorescent protein isolated from a scleractinian coral. The recombinant protein has a high molar extinction coefficient (84,000 M-1 cm-1) and quantum yield (0.74), conferring a notable brightness to plobRFP. Sequence analysis suggests the distinct brightness and marked red shift may be inherent features of plobRFP's chromophore conformation. While plobRFP displays a tendency to aggregate, its high pH stability, photostability, and spectral properties make it a candidate for cell imaging applications and a potential template for engineering optimized RFPs. The association of plobRFP with a possible immune response furthers its potential use as a visual diagnostic and molecular biomarker for monitoring coral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Bridges
- Graduate Program in Marine Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Charleston Laboratory, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Cheryl M Woodley
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Charleston Laboratory, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Esther C Peters
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Lisa A May
- Consolidated Safety Services, Inc., NCCOS Charleston Laboratory, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Sylvia B Galloway
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Charleston Laboratory, NOS, NOAA, Charleston, SC, USA
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21
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Pollock FJ, Lamb JB, van de Water JAJM, Smith HA, Schaffelke B, Willis BL, Bourne DG. Reduced diversity and stability of coral-associated bacterial communities and suppressed immune function precedes disease onset in corals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:190355. [PMID: 31312497 PMCID: PMC6599770 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.190355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Disease is an emerging threat to coral reef ecosystems worldwide, highlighting the need to understand how environmental conditions interact with coral immune function and associated microbial communities to affect holobiont health. Increased coral disease incidence on reefs adjacent to permanently moored platforms on Australia's Great Barrier Reef provided a unique case study to investigate environment-host-microbe interactions in situ. Here, we evaluate coral-associated bacterial community (16S rRNA amplicon sequencing), immune function (protein-based prophenoloxidase-activating system), and water quality parameters before, during and after a disease event. Over the course of the study, 31% of tagged colonies adjacent to platforms developed signs of white syndrome (WS), while all control colonies on a platform-free reef remained visually healthy. Corals adjacent to platforms experienced significant reductions in coral immune function. Additionally, the corals at platform sites that remained visually healthy throughout the study had reduced bacterial diversity compared to healthy colonies at the platform-free site. Interestingly, prior to the observation of macroscopic disease, corals that would develop WS had reduced bacterial diversity and significantly greater community heterogeneity between colonies compared to healthy corals at the same location. These results suggest that activities associated with offshore marine infrastructure impacts coral immunocompetence and associated bacterial community, which affects the susceptibility of corals to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Joseph Pollock
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Joleah B. Lamb
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jeroen A. J. M. van de Water
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, 8 Quai Antoine 1er, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Hillary A. Smith
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Britta Schaffelke
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bette L. Willis
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David G. Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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22
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Ben-Zvi O, Eyal G, Loya Y. Response of fluorescence morphs of the mesophotic coral Euphyllia paradivisa to ultra-violet radiation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5245. [PMID: 30918298 PMCID: PMC6437176 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41710-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Euphyllia paradivisa is a strictly mesophotic coral in the reefs of Eilat that displays a striking color polymorphism, attributed to fluorescent proteins (FPs). FPs, which are used as visual markers in biomedical research, have been suggested to serve as photoprotectors or as facilitators of photosynthesis in corals due to their ability to transform light. Solar radiation that penetrates the sea includes, among others, both vital photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and ultra-violet radiation (UVR). Both types, at high intensities, are known to have negative effects on corals, ranging from cellular damage to changes in community structure. In the present study, fluorescence morphs of E. paradivisa were used to investigate UVR response in a mesophotic organism and to examine the phenomenon of fluorescence polymorphism. E. paradivisa, although able to survive in high-light environments, displayed several physiological and behavioral responses that indicated severe light and UVR stress. We suggest that high PAR and UVR are potential drivers behind the absence of this coral from shallow reefs. Moreover, we found no significant differences between the different fluorescence morphs' responses and no evidence of either photoprotection or photosynthesis enhancement. We therefore suggest that FPs in mesophotic corals might have a different biological role than that previously hypothesized for shallow corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Or Ben-Zvi
- School of Zoology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. .,The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat, Israel.
| | - Gal Eyal
- School of Zoology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,The Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, Eilat, Israel.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Yossi Loya
- School of Zoology, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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23
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Hoeksema BW, van der Schoot RJ, Wels D, Scott CM, Ten Hove HA. Filamentous turf algae on tube worms intensify damage in massive Porites corals. Ecology 2019; 100:e02668. [PMID: 30801685 PMCID: PMC6850283 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bert W Hoeksema
- Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, Leiden, 2300 RA, The Netherlands.,Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, PO Box 9505, Leiden, 2300 RA, The Netherlands
| | - Roeland J van der Schoot
- Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, Leiden, 2300 RA, The Netherlands
| | - Dagmar Wels
- Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, Leiden, 2300 RA, The Netherlands
| | - Chad M Scott
- New Heaven Reef Conservation Program, 48 Moo 2, Koh Tao, Suratthani, 84360, Thailand
| | - Harry A Ten Hove
- Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, Leiden, 2300 RA, The Netherlands
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24
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DeLeo DM, Herrera S, Lengyel SD, Quattrini AM, Kulathinal RJ, Cordes EE. Gene expression profiling reveals deep-sea coral response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:4066-4077. [PMID: 30137660 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Deep-sea coral communities are key components of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and were adversely affected by the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Coral colonies exposed to oil and dispersant exhibited mortality, damage and physiological signatures of stress. Understanding how corals respond to oil and dispersant exposure at the molecular level is important to elucidate the sublethal effects of the DWH disaster and reveal broader patterns of coral stress responses. Gene expression profiles from RNAseq data were compared between corals at an impacted site and from a reference site. A total of 1,439 differentially expressed genes (≥twofold) were shared among impacted Paramuricea biscaya colonies. Genes involved in oxidative stress, immunity, wound repair, tissue regeneration and metabolism of xenobiotics were significantly differentially expressed in impacted corals. Enrichment among the overexpressed genes indicates the corals were enduring high metabolic demands associated with cellular stress responses and repair mechanisms. Underexpression of genes vital to toxin processing also suggests a diminished capacity to cope with environmental stressors. Our results provide evidence that deep-sea corals exhibited genome-wide cellular stress responses to oil and dispersant exposure and demonstrate the utility of next-generation sequencing for monitoring anthropogenic impacts in deep waters. These analyses will facilitate the development of diagnostic markers for oil and dispersant exposure in deep-sea invertebrates and inform future oil spill response efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M DeLeo
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida
| | - Santiago Herrera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephen D Lengyel
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrea M Quattrini
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, F.W. Olin Science Center, Claremont, California
| | - Rob J Kulathinal
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Erik E Cordes
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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25
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Adding insult to injury: Ship groundings are associated with coral disease in a pristine reef. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202939. [PMID: 30208117 PMCID: PMC6135382 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2013, the remote Tubbataha Reef UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the western Philippines, experienced two ship groundings within four months: the USS Guardian (USSG), a US military vessel, and the Min Ping Yu (MPY), an illegal Chinese fishing vessel. Here, we present the results of coral disease assessments completed two years post-grounding and recovery patterns monitored annually within these grounding sites. Site assessments were undertaken in three distinct zones: ‘ground zero’, where reef was scoured to its limestone base by direct ship impact; the ‘impact border’, containing surviving upright but damaged, abraded and fragmented colonies injured during ship movement; and undamaged ‘control’ sites, remote from the ship groundings but located on the same atoll. Coral diseases were dominated by white syndromes, and prevalence was an order of magnitude higher within the impact border zones than within the other zones two years after the events. Hard coral cover has steadily increased at a mean rate of 3% per year within the scoured USSG site at a rate comparable to control sites. In contrast, recovery has been negligible within the rubble-dominated MPY site, suggesting that substrate quality strongly influenced recovery processes such as recruitment, as larvae do not survive well on unstable substrates. Long-term recovery trajectories from these two grounding events appeared strongly influenced by movement of the ship during and after each event, and site-specific wave-influenced persistence of rubble and debris. High prevalence of coral disease among damaged but surviving colonies two years post-grounding suggested long-term impacts which may be slowing recovery and creating localized pockets of higher persistent disease prevalence than that of the surrounding population.
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26
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Palmer CV, Baird AH. Coral tumor-like growth anomalies induce an immune response and reduce fecundity. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2018; 130:77-81. [PMID: 30154275 DOI: 10.3354/dao03258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Coral growth anomalies (GAs) are chronic diseases that adversely affect organism health and fitness. We investigated immunity and fecundity within and among GA-affected and visually healthy control colonies of the reef-building coral Acropora hyacinthus. Compared to controls, GAs had higher activity of the key immunity enzyme phenoloxidase (PO), suggesting a localised immune response within the GA. Both GAs and healthy tissue of GA-affected colonies had significantly greater total potential PO (tpPO)-PO activity inclusive of the activated latent PO, prophenoloxidase-than control colonies. Higher tpPO activity in GA-affected corals suggests elevated constitutive immunity compared to visually healthy controls. Additionally, fewer GA-affected colonies produced gametes, fewer polyps had oocytes (p < 0.001) and the number of oocytes per polyp was lower. Therefore, GAs in A. hyacinthus might induce, or represent a shift in resource investment towards immunity and away from reproduction. While the effect on population growth is likely to be small, reduced fecundity in GA-affected colonies does suggest a selective pressure against GAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline V Palmer
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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Galtier d'Auriac I, Quinn RA, Maughan H, Nothias LF, Little M, Kapono CA, Cobian A, Reyes BT, Green K, Quistad SD, Leray M, Smith JE, Dorrestein PC, Rohwer F, Deheyn DD, Hartmann AC. Before platelets: the production of platelet-activating factor during growth and stress in a basal marine organism. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1307. [PMID: 30111600 PMCID: PMC6111180 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Corals and humans represent two extremely disparate metazoan lineages and are therefore useful for comparative evolutionary studies. Two lipid-based molecules that are central to human immunity, platelet-activating factor (PAF) and Lyso-PAF were recently identified in scleractinian corals. To identify processes in corals that involve these molecules, PAF and Lyso-PAF biosynthesis was quantified in conditions known to stimulate PAF production in mammals (tissue growth and exposure to elevated levels of ultraviolet light) and in conditions unique to corals (competing with neighbouring colonies over benthic space). Similar to observations in mammals, PAF production was higher in regions of active tissue growth and increased when corals were exposed to elevated levels of ultraviolet light. PAF production also increased when corals were attacked by the stinging cells of a neighbouring colony, though only the attacked coral exhibited an increase in PAF. This reaction was observed in adjacent areas of the colony, indicating that this response is coordinated across multiple polyps including those not directly subject to the stress. PAF and Lyso-PAF are involved in coral stress responses that are both shared with mammals and unique to the ecology of cnidarians.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert A Quinn
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | | | - Louis-Felix Nothias
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mark Little
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Clifford A Kapono
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ana Cobian
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Brandon T Reyes
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Kevin Green
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Steven D Quistad
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA.,Laboratoire de Génétique de l'Evolution (LGE), Institute of Chemistry, Biology, and Innovation, ESPCI ParisTech/CNRS UMR 8231/PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Matthieu Leray
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Jennifer E Smith
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Pieter C Dorrestein
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Forest Rohwer
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Dimitri D Deheyn
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Aaron C Hartmann
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA .,National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
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Fuess LE, Mann WT, Jinks LR, Brinkhuis V, Mydlarz LD. Transcriptional analyses provide new insight into the late-stage immune response of a diseased Caribbean coral. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:172062. [PMID: 29892394 PMCID: PMC5990752 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.172062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Increasing global temperatures due to climate change have resulted in respective increases in the severity and frequency of epizootics around the globe. Corals in particular have faced rapid declines due to disease outbreaks. Understanding immune responses and associated potential life-history trade-offs is therefore a priority. In the autumn of 2011, a novel disease of octocorals of the genus Eunicea was first documented in the Florida Keys. Termed Eunicea Black Disease (EBD), the disease is easily identified by the dark appearance of affected tissue, caused by a strong melanization response on the part of the host. In order to better understand the response of corals to EBD, we conducted full transcriptome analysis of 3 healthy and 3 diseased specimens of Eunicea calyculata collected from offshore southeast Florida. Differential expression and protein analyses revealed a strong, diverse immune response to EBD characterized by phagocytosis, adhesion and melanization on the part of the host. Furthermore, coexpression network analyses suggested this might come at the cost of reduced cell cycle progression and growth. This is in accordance with past histological studies of naturally infected hard corals, suggesting that potential trade-offs during infection may affect post-outbreak recovery of reef ecosystems by reducing both organismal growth and fecundity. Our findings highlight the importance of considering factors beyond mortality when estimating effects of disease outbreaks on ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Whitney T. Mann
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Lea R. Jinks
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Vanessa Brinkhuis
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 8th Avenue SE, St Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Laura D. Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
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Intra-colony disease progression induces fragmentation of coral fluorescent pigments. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14596. [PMID: 29097717 PMCID: PMC5668308 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15084-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
As disease spreads through living coral, it can induce changes in the distribution of coral's naturally fluorescent pigments, making fluorescence a potentially powerful non-invasive intrinsic marker of coral disease. Here, we show the usefulness of live-imaging laser scanning confocal microscopy to investigate coral health state. We demonstrate that the Hawaiian coral Montipora capitata consistently emits cyan and red fluorescence across a depth gradient in reef habitats, but the micro-scale spatial distribution of those pigments differ between healthy coral and coral affected by a tissue loss disease. Naturally diseased and laboratory infected coral systematically exhibited fragmented fluorescent pigments adjacent to the disease front as indicated by several measures of landscape structure (e.g., number of patches) relative to healthy coral. Histology results supported these findings. Pigment fragmentation indicates a disruption in coral tissue that likely impedes translocation of energy within a colony. The area of fragmented fluorescent pigments in diseased coral extended 3.03 mm ± 1.80 mm adjacent to the disease front, indicating pathogenesis was highly localized rather than systemic. Our study demonstrates that coral fluorescence can be used as a proxy for coral health state, and, such patterns may help refine hypotheses about modes of pathogenesis.
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Transcriptomes and expression profiling of deep-sea corals from the Red Sea provide insight into the biology of azooxanthellate corals. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6442. [PMID: 28743941 PMCID: PMC5526985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05572-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance of deep-sea corals, our current understanding of their ecology and evolution is limited due to difficulties in sampling and studying deep-sea environments. Moreover, a recent re-evaluation of habitat limitations has been suggested after characterization of deep-sea corals in the Red Sea, where they live at temperatures of above 20 °C at low oxygen concentrations. To gain further insight into the biology of deep-sea corals, we produced reference transcriptomes and studied gene expression of three deep-sea coral species from the Red Sea, i.e. Dendrophyllia sp., Eguchipsammia fistula, and Rhizotrochus typus. Our analyses suggest that deep-sea coral employ mitochondrial hypometabolism and anaerobic glycolysis to manage low oxygen conditions present in the Red Sea. Notably, we found expression of genes related to surface cilia motion that presumably enhance small particle transport rates in the oligotrophic deep-sea environment. This is the first study to characterize transcriptomes and in situ gene expression for deep-sea corals. Our work offers several mechanisms by which deep-sea corals might cope with the distinct environmental conditions present in the Red Sea As such, our data provide direction for future research and further insight to organismal response of deep-sea coral to environmental change and ocean warming.
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Quinn RA, Vermeij MJA, Hartmann AC, Galtier d'Auriac I, Benler S, Haas A, Quistad SD, Lim YW, Little M, Sandin S, Smith JE, Dorrestein PC, Rohwer F. Metabolomics of reef benthic interactions reveals a bioactive lipid involved in coral defence. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2016.0469. [PMID: 27122568 PMCID: PMC4855392 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Holobionts are assemblages of microbial symbionts and their macrobial host. As extant representatives of some of the oldest macro-organisms, corals and algae are important for understanding how holobionts develop and interact with one another. Using untargeted metabolomics, we show that non-self interactions altered the coral metabolome more than self-interactions (i.e. different or same genus, respectively). Platelet activating factor (PAF) and Lyso-PAF, central inflammatory modulators in mammals, were major lipid components of the coral holobionts. When corals were damaged during competitive interactions with algae, PAF increased along with expression of the gene encoding Lyso-PAF acetyltransferase; the protein responsible for converting Lyso-PAF to PAF. This shows that self and non-self recognition among some of the oldest extant holobionts involve bioactive lipids identical to those in highly derived taxa like humans. This further strengthens the hypothesis that major players of the immune response evolved during the pre-Cambrian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Quinn
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mark J A Vermeij
- Carmabi Foundation, Piscaderabaai, Willemstad, Curaçao Aquatic Microbiology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aaron C Hartmann
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Sean Benler
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Andreas Haas
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Steven D Quistad
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yan Wei Lim
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Mark Little
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Stuart Sandin
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer E Smith
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Pieter C Dorrestein
- Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Forest Rohwer
- Biology Department, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
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van de Water JAJM, Lamb JB, Heron SF, van Oppen MJH, Willis BL. Temporal patterns in innate immunity parameters in reef‐building corals and linkages with local climatic conditions. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen A. J. M. van de Water
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco MC 98000 Monaco
| | - Joleah B. Lamb
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Cornell University Ithaca New York 14850 USA
| | - Scott F. Heron
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration–Coral Reef Watch James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Marine Geophysical Laboratory Physics Department College of Science, Technology and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
| | - Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science PMB 3, Townsville MC Townsville Queensland 4810 Australia
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
| | - Bette L. Willis
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
- AIMS@JCU James Cook University Townsville Queensland 4811 Australia
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Séré M, Wilkinson DA, Schleyer MH, Chabanet P, Quod JP, Tortosa P. Characterisation of an atypical manifestation of black band disease on Porites lutea in the Western Indian Ocean. PeerJ 2016; 4:e2073. [PMID: 27441106 PMCID: PMC4941741 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent surveys conducted on Reunion Island coral reefs revealed an atypical manifestation of black band disease on the main framework building coral, Porites lutea. This BBD manifestation (PorBBD) presented a thick lighter-colored band, which preceded the typical BBD lesion. Whilst BBD aetiology has been intensively described worldwide, it remains unclear if corals with apparently similar lesions across coral reefs are affected by the same pathogens. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach involving field surveys, gross lesion monitoring, histopathology and 454-pyrosequencing was employed to provide the first comprehensive characterization of this particular manifestation. Surveys conducted within two geomorphological zones over two consecutive summers and winters showed spatial and seasonal patterns consistent with those found for typical BBD. Genetic analyses suggested an uncharacteristically high level of Vibrio spp. bacterial infection within PorBBD. However, microscopic analysis revealed high densities of cyanobacteria, penetrating the compromised tissue as well as the presence of basophilic bodies resembling bacterial aggregates in the living tissue, adjacent to the bacterial mat. Additionally, classical BBD-associated cyanobacterial strains, genetically related to Pseudoscillatoria coralii and Roseofilum reptotaenium were identified and isolated and the presence of sulfate-reducers or sulfide-oxidizers such as Desulfovibrio and Arcobacter, previously shown to be associated with anoxic microenvironment within typical BBD was also observed, confirming that PorBBD is a manifestation of classical BBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Séré
- Agence pour la Recherche et la VAlorisation Marines (ARVAM), Saint-Denis, Réunion, France; Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI), Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; UMR ENTROPIE, Labex CORAIL, Research Institute for the Development (IRD), Saint-Denis, Réunion, France
| | - David A Wilkinson
- Unité Mixte de Recherche "Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical" (UMR PIMIT), Université de La Réunion, Inserm1187, CNRS9192, IRD249, Plateforme de Recherche CYROI , Saint Denis , Réunion , France
| | - Michael H Schleyer
- Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) , Durban , KwaZulu-Natal , South Africa
| | - Pascale Chabanet
- UMR ENTROPIE, Labex CORAIL, Research Institute for the Development (IRD) , Saint-Denis , Réunion , France
| | - Jean-Pascal Quod
- Agence pour la Recherche et la VAlorisation Marines (ARVAM) , Saint-Denis , Réunion , France
| | - Pablo Tortosa
- Unité Mixte de Recherche "Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical" (UMR PIMIT), Université de La Réunion, Inserm1187, CNRS9192, IRD249, Plateforme de Recherche CYROI , Saint Denis , Réunion , France
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Raymundo LJ, Work TM, Miller RL, Lozada-Misa PL. Effects of Coralliophila violacea on tissue loss in the scleractinian corals Porites spp. depend on host response. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2016; 119:75-83. [PMID: 27068505 DOI: 10.3354/dao02982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We investigated interactions between the corallivorous gastropod Coralliophila violacea and its preferred hosts Porites spp. Our objectives were to experimentally determine whether tissue loss could progress in Porites during or after Coralliophila predation on corals with and without tissue loss and to histologically document snail predation. In 64% of feeding scars, tissue regenerated within 3 wk, leaving no trace of predation. However, in roughly 28% of scars, lesions progressed to subacute tissue loss resembling white syndrome. In feeding experiments, scars from snails previously fed diseased tissue developed progressive tissue loss twice as frequently as scars from snails previously fed healthy tissue. Scars from previously healthy-fed snails were 3 times as likely to heal as those from previously diseased-fed snails. Histology revealed marked differences in host responses to snails; P. cylindrica manifested a robust inflammatory response with fewer secondary colonizing organisms such as algae, sponges, and helminths, whereas P. rus showed no evident inflammation and more secondary colonization. We conclude that lesion progression associated with Coralliophila may be associated with secondary colonization of coral tissues damaged by predator-induced trauma and necrosis. Importantly, variation at the cellular level should be considered when explaining interspecific differences in host responses in corals impacted by phenomena such as predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Raymundo
- University of Guam Marine Laboratory, Mangilao, Guam 96923, USA
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36
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Strader ME, Aglyamova GV, Matz MV. Red fluorescence in coral larvae is associated with a diapause‐like state. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:559-69. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2015] [Revised: 11/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marie E. Strader
- Department of Integrative Biology The University of Texas at Austin 1 University Station C0930 Austin TX 78712 USA
| | - Galina V. Aglyamova
- Department of Integrative Biology The University of Texas at Austin 1 University Station C0930 Austin TX 78712 USA
| | - Mikhail V. Matz
- Department of Integrative Biology The University of Texas at Austin 1 University Station C0930 Austin TX 78712 USA
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Miller J, Sweet MJ, Wood E, Bythell J. Baseline coral disease surveys within three marine parks in Sabah, Borneo. PeerJ 2016; 3:e1391. [PMID: 26732905 PMCID: PMC4699778 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Two of the most significant threats to coral reefs worldwide are bleaching and disease. However, there has been a scarcity of research on coral disease in South-East Asia, despite the high biodiversity and the strong dependence of local communities on the reefs in the region. This study provides baseline data on coral disease frequencies within three national parks in Sabah, Borneo, which exhibit different levels of human impacts and management histories. High mean coral cover (55%) and variable disease frequency (mean 0.25 diseased colonies m(-2)) were found across the three sites. Highest disease frequency (0.44 diseased colonies per m(2)) was seen at the site closest to coastal population centres. Bleaching and pigmentation responses were actually higher at Sipadan, the more remote, offshore site, whereas none of the other coral diseases detected in the other two parks were detected in Sipadan. Results of this study offer a baseline dataset of disease in these parks and indicate the need for continued monitoring, and suggest that coral colonies in parks under higher anthropogenic stressors and with lower coral cover may be more susceptible to contracting disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Miller
- School of Biology, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK
| | - Michael J Sweet
- School of Biology, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK
| | - Elizabeth Wood
- Marine Conservation Society, Ross-On-Wye, UK; Semporna Islands Darwin Project, Tun Sakaran Marine Park Complex, Malaysia
| | - John Bythell
- School of Biology, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK
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Séré MG, Tortosa P, Chabanet P, Quod JP, Sweet MJ, Schleyer MH. Identification of a bacterial pathogen associated withPoriteswhite patch syndrome in the Western Indian Ocean. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:4570-81. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu G. Séré
- Agence pour la Recherche et la Valorisation Marines (ARVAM); Ste Clotilde Reunion Island France
- Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI); Durban KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
- IRD - UMR ENTROPIE; Labex CORAIL; CS 41095 97495 Sainte Clotilde Cedex La Réunion
| | - Pablo Tortosa
- Unité Mixte de Recherche “Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical” (UMR PIMIT); Université de La Réunion; Inserm1187; CNRS9192, IRD249; Plateforme de Recherche CYROI; 2 rue Maxime Rivière 97490 Ste Clotilde Saint Denis France
| | - Pascale Chabanet
- IRD - UMR ENTROPIE; Labex CORAIL; CS 41095 97495 Sainte Clotilde Cedex La Réunion
| | - Jean-Pascal Quod
- Agence pour la Recherche et la Valorisation Marines (ARVAM); Ste Clotilde Reunion Island France
| | - Michael J. Sweet
- Molecular Health and Disease Laboratory College of Life and Natural Sciences; University of Derby; Kedleston Road Derby UK
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Ocampo ID, Zárate-Potes A, Pizarro V, Rojas CA, Vera NE, Cadavid LF. The immunotranscriptome of the Caribbean reef-building coral Pseudodiploria strigosa. Immunogenetics 2015; 67:515-30. [PMID: 26123975 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-015-0854-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The viability of coral reefs worldwide has been seriously compromised in the last few decades due in part to the emergence of coral diseases of infectious nature. Despite important efforts to understand the etiology and the contribution of environmental factors associated to coral diseases, the mechanisms of immune response in corals are just beginning to be studied systematically. In this study, we analyzed the set of conserved immune response genes of the Caribbean reef-building coral Pseudodiploria strigosa by Illumina-based transcriptome sequencing and annotation of healthy colonies challenged with whole live Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Searching the annotated transcriptome with immune-related terms yielded a total of 2782 transcripts predicted to encode conserved immune-related proteins that were classified into three modules: (a) the immune recognition module, containing a wide diversity of putative pattern recognition receptors including leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins, immunoglobulin superfamily receptors, representatives of various lectin families, and scavenger receptors; (b) the intracellular signaling module, containing components from the Toll-like receptor, transforming growth factor, MAPK, and apoptosis signaling pathways; and (3) the effector module, including the C3 and factor B complement components, a variety of proteases and protease inhibitors, and the melanization-inducing phenoloxidase. P. strigosa displays a highly variable and diverse immune recognition repertoire that has likely contributed to its resilience to coral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván D Ocampo
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cr 30 No. 45-08, Bogotá, Colombia
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Lozada-Misa P, Kerr A, Raymundo L. Contrasting Lesion Dynamics of White Syndrome among the scleractinian corals Porites spp. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0129841. [PMID: 26120844 PMCID: PMC4488276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0129841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
White syndrome (WS) is currently the most prevalent disease of scleractinian corals in the Indo-Pacific region, with an ability to exist in both epizootic and enzootic states. Here, we present results of an examination of WS lesion dynamics and show that potentially associated traits of host morphology (i.e., branching vs. massive), lesion size, and tissue deposition rate influence disease severity and recovery. Lesion healing rate was positively correlated with initial lesion size in both morphologies, but the rate at which lesions healed differed between morphologies. New lesions in branching Porites cylindrica appeared less frequently, were smaller and healed more quickly, but were more abundant than in closely-related massive Porites sp(p). The positive association between lesion size and healing rate was partly explained by geometry; branching limited lesion maximum size, and larger lesion margins contained more polyps producing new tissue, resulting in faster healing. However, massive colonies deposited tissue more slowly than branching colonies, resulting in slower recovery and more persistent lesions. Corallite size and density did not differ between species and did not, therefore, influence healing rate. We demonstrated multiple modes of pathogen transmission, which may be influenced by the greater potential for pathogen entrainment in branching vs. massive morphologies. We suggest that attributes such as colony morphology and species-specific growth rates require consideration as we expand our understanding of disease dynamics in colonial organisms such as coral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Lozada-Misa
- NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Alexander Kerr
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Guam, United States of America
| | - Laurie Raymundo
- Marine Laboratory, University of Guam, Guam, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Seveso D, Montano S, Reggente MA, Orlandi I, Galli P, Vai M. Modulation of Hsp60 in response to coral brown band disease. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2015; 115:15-23. [PMID: 26119296 DOI: 10.3354/dao02871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Brown band disease (BrB), a virulent coral disease characterized by a dense concentration of ciliates ingesting coral tissue, is responsible for ongoing coral losses on Indo-Pacific reefs. Although several efforts have been made to identify the microbial communities associated with BrB and study the disease ecology, less attention has been given to the effect of ciliate presence on coral physiology. Levels of the mitochondrial heat shock protein 60-kDa (Hsp60, a biomarker indicative of cellular stress) were analyzed in apparently healthy coral polyps located at different distances along the advancing front of infection in Acropora muricata colonies affected by BrB in a Maldivian reef. Different Hsp60 levels were found in different parts of the same colony. Starting from a basal protein level in the healthy control colonies, a down-regulation of Hsp60 expression was detected near the ciliate band, indicating that the Hsp60 defense activity was probably already compromised due to the rapid progression rate of the BrB ciliate on the diseased branches and/or to the etiology of the disease. Moving away from the band, the Hsp60 levels gradually returned to a state comparable to that found in the control, showing that cellular damage was confined to areas near the infection. In conclusion, we propose the analysis of Hsp60 modulation as a useful tool for examining physiological variations that are not detected at the morphological level in corals subjected to epizootic diseases, while providing new insights into the immune response of corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Seveso
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milano 20126, Italy
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van de Water JAJM, Ainsworth TD, Leggat W, Bourne DG, Willis BL, van Oppen MJH. The coral immune response facilitates protection against microbes during tissue regeneration. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:3390-404. [PMID: 26095670 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Increasing physical damage on coral reefs from predation, storms and anthropogenic disturbances highlights the need to understand the impact of injury on the coral immune system. In this study, we examined the regulation of the coral immune response over 10 days following physical trauma artificially inflicted on in situ colonies of the coral Acropora aspera, simultaneously with bacterial colonization of the lesions. Corals responded to injury by increasing the expression of immune system-related genes involved in the Toll-like and NOD-like receptor signalling pathways and the lectin-complement system in three phases (<2, 4 and 10 days post-injury). Phenoloxidase activity was also significantly upregulated in two phases (<3 and 10 days post-injury), as were levels of non-fluorescent chromoprotein. In addition, green fluorescent protein expression was upregulated in response to injury from 4 days post-injury, while cyan fluorescent protein expression was reduced. No shifts in the composition of coral-associated bacterial communities were evident following injury based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon pyrosequencing. Bacteria-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization also showed no evidence of bacterial colonization of the wound or regenerating tissues. Coral tissues showed near-complete regeneration of lesions within 10 days. This study demonstrates that corals exhibit immune responses that support rapid recovery following physical injury, maintain coral microbial homeostasis and prevent bacterial infestation that may compromise coral fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen A J M van de Water
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia
| | - Tracy D Ainsworth
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia
| | - William Leggat
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia
| | - Bette L Willis
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.,Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Qld 4810, Australia
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Séré MG, Chabanet P, Turquet J, Quod JP, Schleyer MH. Identification and prevalence of coral diseases on three Western Indian Ocean coral reefs. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2015; 114:249-261. [PMID: 26036832 DOI: 10.3354/dao02865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Coral diseases have caused a substantial decline in the biodiversity and abundance of reef-building corals. To date, more than 30 distinct diseases of scleractinian corals have been reported, which cause progressive tissue loss and/or affect coral growth, reproductive capacity, recruitment, species diversity and the abundance of reef-associated organisms. While coral disease research has increased over the last 4 decades, very little is known about coral diseases in the Western Indian Ocean. Surveys conducted at multiple sites in Reunion, South Africa and Mayotte between August 2010 and June 2012 revealed the presence of 6 main coral diseases: black band disease (BBD), white syndrome (WS), pink line syndrome (PLS), growth anomalies (GA), skeleton eroding band (SEB) and Porites white patch syndrome (PWPS). Overall, disease prevalence was higher in Reunion (7.5 ± 2.2%; mean ± SE) compared to South Africa (3.9 ± 0.8%) and Mayotte (2.7 ± 0.3%). Across locations, Acropora and Porites were the genera most susceptible to disease. Spatial variability was detected in both Reunion and South Africa, with BBD and WS more prevalent on shallow than deep reefs. There was also evidence of seasonality in 2 diseases: the prevalence of BBD and WS was higher in summer than winter. This was the first study to investigate the ecology of coral diseases, providing both qualitative and quantitative data, on Western Indian Ocean reefs, and surveys should be expanded to confirm these patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu G Séré
- ARVAM, 2 rue Maxime Rivière, CYROI, Technopole de La Réunion, 97490 Ste Clotilde, Reunion, France
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Abstract
The authors documented gross and microscopic morphology of lesions in corals on 7 islands spanning western, southern, and eastern Micronesia, sampling 76 colonies comprising 30 species of corals among 18 genera, with Acropora, Porites, and Montipora dominating. Tissue loss comprised the majority of gross lesions sampled (41%), followed by discoloration (30%) and growth anomaly (29%). Of 31 cases of tissue loss, most lesions were subacute (48%), followed by acute and chronic (26% each). Of 23 samples with discoloration, most were dark discoloration (40%), with bleaching and other discoloration each constituting 30%. Of 22 growth anomalies, umbonate growth anomalies composed half, with exophytic, nodular, and rugose growth anomalies composing the remainder. On histopathology, for 9 cases of dark discoloration, fungal infections predominated (77%); for 7 bleached corals, depletion of zooxanthellae from the gastrodermis made up a majority of microscopic diagnoses (57%); and for growth anomalies other than umbonate, hyperplasia of the basal body wall was the most common microscopic finding (63%). For the remainder of the gross lesions, no single microscopic finding constituted >50% of the total. Host response varied with the agent present on histology. Fragmentation of tissues was most often associated with algae (60%), whereas necrosis dominated (53%) for fungi. Two newly documented potentially symbiotic tissue-associated metazoans were seen in Porites and Montipora. Findings of multiple potential etiologies for a given gross lesion highlight the importance of incorporating histopathology in coral disease surveys. This study also expands the range of corals infected with cell-associated microbial aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Work
- US Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Honolulu Field Station, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - G S Aeby
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kaneohe, HI, USA
| | - K A Hughen
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
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Fernandes RF, Maia LF, Couri MRC, Costa LAS, de Oliveira LFC. Raman spectroscopy as a tool in differentiating conjugated polyenes from synthetic and natural sources. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2015; 134:434-441. [PMID: 25033235 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2014.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This work presents the Raman spectroscopic characterization of synthetic analogs of natural conjugated polyenals found in octocorals, focusing the unequivocal identification of the chemical species present in these systems. The synthetic material was produced by the autocondensation reaction of crotonaldehyde, generating a demethylated conjugated polyene containing 11 carbon-carbon double bonds, with just a methyl group on the end of the carbon chain. The resonance Raman spectra of such pigment has shown the existence of enhanced modes assigned to ν₁(CC) and ν₂(CC) modes of the main chain. For the resonance Raman spectra of natural pigments from octocorals collected in the Brazilian coast, besides the previously cited bands, it could be also observed the presence of the ν₄(CCH₃), related to the vibrational mode who describes the vibration of the methyl group of the central carbon chain of carotenoids. Other interesting point is the observation of overtones and combination bands, which for carotenoids involves the presence of the ν₄ mode, whereas for the synthetic polyene this band, besides be seen at a slightly different wavenumber position, does not appear as an enhanced mode and also as a combination, such as for the natural carotenoids. Theoretical molecular orbital analysis of polyenal-11 and lycopene has shown the structural differences which are also responsible for the resonance Raman data, based on the appearance of the (CH3) vibrational mode in the resonant transition only for lycopene. At last, the Raman band at ca. 1010 cm(-1), assigned to the (CH₃) vibrational mode, can be used for attributing the presence of each one of the conjugated polyenes: the resonance Raman spectrum containing the band at ca. 1010 cm(-1) refers to the carotenoid (in this case lycopene), and the absence of such band in resonance conditions refers to the polyenal (in this case the polyenal-11).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaella F Fernandes
- NEEM - Núcleo de Espectroscopia e Estrutura Molecular, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-330 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Lenize F Maia
- NEEM - Núcleo de Espectroscopia e Estrutura Molecular, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-330 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Mara R C Couri
- NEEM - Núcleo de Espectroscopia e Estrutura Molecular, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-330 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiz Antonio S Costa
- NEQC - Núcleo de Estudos em Química Computacional, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-330 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fernando C de Oliveira
- NEEM - Núcleo de Espectroscopia e Estrutura Molecular, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, 36036-330 Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
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van de Water JAJM, Lamb JB, van Oppen MJH, Willis BL, Bourne DG. Comparative immune responses of corals to stressors associated with offshore reef-based tourist platforms. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 3:cov032. [PMID: 27293717 PMCID: PMC4778433 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cov032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Unravelling the contributions of local anthropogenic and seasonal environmental factors in suppressing the coral immune system is important for prioritizing management actions at reefs exposed to high levels of human activities. Here, we monitor health of the model coral Acropora millepora adjacent to a high-use and an unused reef-based tourist platform, plus a nearby control site without a platform, over 7 months spanning a typical austral summer. Comparisons of temporal patterns in a range of biochemical and genetic immune parameters (Toll-like receptor signalling pathway, lectin-complement system, prophenoloxidase-activating system and green fluorescent protein-like proteins) among healthy, injured and diseased corals revealed that corals exhibit a diverse array of immune responses to environmental and anthropogenic stressors. In healthy corals at the control site, expression of genes involved in the Toll-like receptor signalling pathway (MAPK p38, MEKK1, cFos and ATF4/5) and complement system (C3 and Bf) was modulated by seasonal environmental factors in summer months. Corals at reef platform sites experienced additional stressors over the summer, as evidenced by increased expression of various immune genes, including MAPK p38 and MEKK1. Despite increased expression of immune genes, signs of white syndromes were detected in 31% of study corals near tourist platforms in the warmest summer month. Evidence that colonies developing disease showed reduced expression of genes involved in the complement pathway prior to disease onset suggests that their immune systems may have been compromised. Responses to disease and physical damage primarily involved the melanization cascade and GFP-like proteins, and appeared to be sufficient for recovery when summer heat stress subsided. Overall, seasonal and anthropogenic factors may have interacted synergistically to overwhelm the immune systems of corals near reef platforms, leading to increased disease prevalence in summer at these sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen A J M van de Water
- ARCCentre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University,Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University,Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC,Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
- Corresponding author: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
| | - Joleah B Lamb
- ARCCentre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University,Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University,Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC,Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- ARCCentre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University,Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC,Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Bette L Willis
- ARCCentre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University,Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University,Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- AIMS@JCU, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC,Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
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Work T, Meteyer C. To understand coral disease, look at coral cells. ECOHEALTH 2014; 11:610-8. [PMID: 24723160 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0931-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Revised: 03/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Diseases threaten corals globally, but 40 years on their causes remain mostly unknown. We hypothesize that inconsistent application of a complete diagnostic approach to coral disease has contributed to this slow progress. We quantified methods used to investigate coral disease in 492 papers published between 1965 and 2013. Field surveys were used in 65% of the papers, followed by biodetection (43%), laboratory trials (20%), microscopic pathology (21%), and field trials (9%). Of the microscopic pathology efforts, 57% involved standard histopathology at the light microscopic level (12% of the total investigations), with the remainder dedicated to electron or fluorescence microscopy. Most (74%) biodetection efforts focused on culture or molecular characterization of bacteria or fungi from corals. Molecular and immunological tools have been used to incriminate infectious agents (mainly bacteria) as the cause of coral diseases without relating the agent to specific changes in cell and tissue pathology. Of 19 papers that declared an infectious agent as a cause of disease in corals, only one (5%) used microscopic pathology, and none fulfilled all of the criteria required to satisfy Koch's postulates as applied to animal diseases currently. Vertebrate diseases of skin and mucosal surfaces present challenges similar to corals when trying to identify a pathogen from a vast array of environmental microbes, and diagnostic approaches regularly used in these cases might provide a model for investigating coral diseases. We hope this review will encourage specialists of disease in domestic animals, wildlife, fish, shellfish, and humans to contribute to the emerging field of coral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Work
- Honolulu Field Station, National Wildlife Health Center, US Geological Survey, PO Box 50167, Honolulu, HI, 96850, USA,
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Vidal-Dupiol J, Dheilly NM, Rondon R, Grunau C, Cosseau C, Smith KM, Freitag M, Adjeroud M, Mitta G. Thermal stress triggers broad Pocillopora damicornis transcriptomic remodeling, while Vibrio coralliilyticus infection induces a more targeted immuno-suppression response. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107672. [PMID: 25259845 PMCID: PMC4178034 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Global change and its associated temperature increase has directly or indirectly changed the distributions of hosts and pathogens, and has affected host immunity, pathogen virulence and growth rates. This has resulted in increased disease in natural plant and animal populations worldwide, including scleractinian corals. While the effects of temperature increase on immunity and pathogen virulence have been clearly identified, their interaction, synergy and relative weight during pathogenesis remain poorly documented. We investigated these phenomena in the interaction between the coral Pocillopora damicornis and the bacterium Vibrio coralliilyticus, for which the infection process is temperature-dependent. We developed an experimental model that enabled unraveling the effects of thermal stress, and virulence vs. non-virulence of the bacterium. The physiological impacts of various treatments were quantified at the transcriptome level using a combination of RNA sequencing and targeted approaches. The results showed that thermal stress triggered a general weakening of the coral, making it more prone to infection, non-virulent bacterium induced an ‘efficient’ immune response, whereas virulent bacterium caused immuno-suppression in its host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremie Vidal-Dupiol
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Nolwenn M. Dheilly
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
| | - Rodolfo Rondon
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Reponse Immunitaire des Macroorganismes et Environnement, Ecologie des Systèmes Marins côtiers, UMR 5119 CNRS-Ifremer-UM2, Montpellier, France
| | - Christoph Grunau
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
| | - Céline Cosseau
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
| | - Kristina M. Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Michael Freitag
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité 227 CoRéUs2 “Biocomplexité des écosystèmes coralliens de l’Indo-Pacifique”, Laboratoire d’excellence CORAIL, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Guillaume Mitta
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
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The presence of biomarker enzymes of selected Scleractinian corals of Palk Bay, southeast coast of India. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:684874. [PMID: 25215288 PMCID: PMC4151617 DOI: 10.1155/2014/684874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The health and existence of coral reefs are in danger by an increasing range of environmental and anthropogenic impacts. The causes of coral reef decline include worldwide climate change, shoreline development, habitat destruction, pollution, sedimentation and overexploitation. These disasters have contributed to an estimated loss of 27% of the reefs. If the current pressure continues unabated, the estimated loss of coral reef will be about 60% by the year 2030. Therefore, the present study was aimed to analyze the enzymes involved in stress induced by coral pathogen and its resistance. We focused on the enzymes involved in melanin synthesis pathway (phenoloxidase (PO) and peroxidases (POD)) and free radical scavenging enzymes (super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT)) and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) in selected scleractinian corals such as Acropora formosa, Echinopora lamellosa, Favia favus, Favites halicora, Porites sp., and Anacropora forbesi. Overall, PO activity of coral was significantly lower than that of zooxanthellae except for Favia favus. Coral colonies with lower PO and POD activities are prone to disease. Maximum antioxidant defensive enzymes were observed in Favia favus followed by Echinopora lamellose. It is concluded that assay of these enzymes can be used as biomarkers for identifying the susceptibility of corals towards coral bleaching induced by pathogen.
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Pollock FJ, Lamb JB, Field SN, Heron SF, Schaffelke B, Shedrawi G, Bourne DG, Willis BL. Sediment and turbidity associated with offshore dredging increase coral disease prevalence on nearby reefs. PLoS One 2014; 9:e102498. [PMID: 25029525 PMCID: PMC4100925 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, coral reef ecosystems have declined to the extent that reefs are now threatened globally. While many water quality parameters have been proposed to contribute to reef declines, little evidence exists conclusively linking specific water quality parameters with increased disease prevalence in situ. Here we report evidence from in situ coral health surveys confirming that chronic exposure to dredging-associated sediment plumes significantly increase the prevalence of white syndromes, a devastating group of globally important coral diseases. Coral health surveys were conducted along a dredging-associated sediment plume gradient to assess the relationship between sedimentation, turbidity and coral health. Reefs exposed to the highest number of days under the sediment plume (296 to 347 days) had two-fold higher levels of disease, largely driven by a 2.5-fold increase in white syndromes, and a six-fold increase in other signs of compromised coral health relative to reefs with little or no plume exposure (0 to 9 days). Multivariate modeling and ordination incorporating sediment exposure level, coral community composition and cover, predation and multiple thermal stress indices provided further confirmation that sediment plume exposure level was the main driver of elevated disease and other compromised coral health indicators. This study provides the first evidence linking dredging-associated sedimentation and turbidity with elevated coral disease prevalence in situ. Our results may help to explain observed increases in global coral disease prevalence in recent decades and suggest that minimizing sedimentation and turbidity associated with coastal development will provide an important management tool for controlling coral disease epizootics.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Joseph Pollock
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Joleah B Lamb
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Stuart N Field
- Department of Parks and Wildlife, Marine Science Program, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia; Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Scott F Heron
- NOAA Coral Reef Watch, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Marine Geophysical Laboratory, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Britta Schaffelke
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - George Shedrawi
- Department of Parks and Wildlife, Marine Science Program, Kensington, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bette L Willis
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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