Nature of coral-Chromera interaction revealed: photosynthetic symbionts are not always beneficial to corals [2018-01-24]
An international team of scientists, led by Prof David Miller and Dr Amin Mohamed, has found that the coral-associated alga Chromera, despite being a near-relative of Symbiodinium (the photosynthetic symbiont essential for the survival of reef-building corals), is not beneficial to corals. Previously it had been assumed that Chromera was an alternative coral photosymbiont that was more tolerant of heat stress than is Symbiodinium. The new study, published in Nature’s ISME Journal, comprehensively debunks the myth that Chromera is beneficial to corals. Rather than being greeted as a friend, corals mount a hostile response when exposed to Chromera.
To better understand the coral-Chromera association, the researchers investigated the response of every gene in the coral genome from the moment the juvenile coral first interacts with Chromera. The team compared this with the typical response of a coral larva to the known ally, Symbiodinium sp, and saw very different responses from those typical for beneficial types of Symbiodinium.
https://www.coralcoe.org.au/blog/nature-of-coral-chromera-interaction-revealed-photosynthetic-symbionts-are-not-always-beneficial-to-corals?platform=hootsuite |
Amin [2017-04-03]
My PhD work on coral-algal symbiosis has been awarded the 2016 Virginia Chadwick Award for the best PhD student publication in 2016.
Mohamed AR, Cumbo V, Harii S, Shinzato C, Chan CX, Ragan MA, Bourne DG, Willis BL, Ball EE, Satoh N and Miller DJ (2016). The transcriptomic response of the coral Acropora digitifera to a competent Symbiodinium strain: the symbiosome as an arrested early phagosome. Molecular Ecology 25(13): 3127-3141.
The Virginia Chadwick awards recognise each year, five outstanding publications lead-authored by ARC Centre of Excellence graduate students. These awards were established by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in honour of Virginia Chadwick following her death in 2009. The awards are in recognition of Dr Chadwick’s significant contribution to securing the future of coral reefs worldwide during her role as Chair of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and as a member of the Centre of Excellence’s Advisory Board. |
Preparing for a new relationship: Coral and algae interactions explored [2016-11-30]
Coral cannot survive on its own for long. It needs to create a symbiotic relationship with algae to survive. Algae provides approximately 90 percent of the energy coral needs, which means that their partnership must be preserved in order to keep the coral healthy. In order to protect coral, algae, and the marine species that live in reef environments, scientists need to know more about how the symbiotic relationship between coral and algae begins. In collaboration with Amin Mohamed and Prof. David Miller at James Cook University, Prof. Noriyuki Satoh and Dr. Chuya Shinzato of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), found changes in coral gene expression when introduced to algae. They have recently published their results in Molecular Ecology.
Read the full report in the link below:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160623095607.htm |
The Genetic Dance Of Corals & Algae [2016-11-30]
AsianScientist (Jun. 28, 2016)
In the very early stages of coral symbiosis—four hours, to be exact—algae induces significant changes in coral gene expression.
Scientists in Japan and Australia have found that corals undergo changes in gene expression within hours of when algae are introduced. Their results, published in Molecular Ecology, could help scientists better understand the symbiotic relationship between corals and algae. Read more from Asian Scientist Magazine at: http://www.asianscientist.com/2016/06/in-the-lab/coral-algae-symbiosis/
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