Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin M. M. Mason, Mitsumasa Koyanagi, Tomohiro Sugihara, Makoto Iwasaki, Vladlen Slepak, David J. J. Miller, Yusuke Sakai, Akihisa Terakita
Summary: We identified six opsins from a coral species, including three novel opsins. We characterized the properties of four of these opsins and found that opsins 1 and 6 can activate Gs-type G protein in a light-dependent manner, with maximum sensitivities at 472 nm and 476 nm, respectively. Opsin 4 can induce intracellular Ca2+ increases through light-dependency. Our findings reveal that corals possess multiple opsins that regulate light-dependent signaling through different cascades.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Astrid M. Perez, Jacob A. Wolfe, Janse T. Schermerhorn, Yiwen Qian, Bekim A. Cela, Cody R. Kalinowski, Garrett E. Largoza, Peter A. Fields, Gabriel S. Brandt
Summary: This study found that the thermal stability of a critical metabolic enzyme in the stony coral Acropora millepora significantly increases in the presence of its cofactor NAD(+). The determination of the complex structure revealed variable NAD(+) occupancy across the tetrameric enzyme, with regions of difference identified that may account for the increased thermal stability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diane L. Brinkman, Florita Flores, Heidi M. Luter, F. Mikaela Nordborg, Maxime Brooks, Thomas F. Parkerton, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: The risks posed by petroleum spills to coral reefs are not well understood. This study aims to quantify the toxicity thresholds of aromatic hydrocarbons to reef-building corals. The results show that Acropora millepora is more sensitive to aromatic hydrocarbons compared to other corals and aquatic taxa.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jane Xu, Oliver Mead, Aurelie Moya, Cuneyt Caglar, David J. J. Miller, Marcin Adamski, Maja Adamska
Summary: Branching scleractinian corals are niche-constructing organisms with the ability to regenerate quickly. This study identified genes involved in the regeneration process and found similarity to genes involved in wound healing and regeneration in other species. Comparing results from different experimental conditions demonstrated the feasibility of using corals as experimental models in fundamental biology research.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Florita Flores, Joseane A. Marques, Sven Uthicke, Rebecca Fisher, Frances Patel, Sarit Kaserzon, Andrew P. Negri
Summary: This study found that the Great Barrier Reef is negatively impacted by the combined effects of the contaminant diuron and climate change, particularly affecting the physiological responses of corals, with photosynthesis being significantly affected. It suggests that water quality guideline values may need to be adjusted as climate conditions change.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
K. Petrou, B. L. Nunn, M. P. Padula, D. J. Miller, D. A. Nielsen
Summary: Coral reefs are threatened by warming oceans, with severe coral bleaching events recorded. Research on the proteome of coral host and symbiont under elevated temperature revealed significant changes in proteins related to oxidative stress, photosynthesis, and nutrient exchange, highlighting key differences between the two entities.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lisa K. K. Roepke, David Brefeld, Ulrich Soltmann, Carly J. J. Randall, Andrew P. P. Negri, Andreas Kunzmann
Summary: Behavioral responses are sensitive and effective indicators of organism stress. In this study, we tested the effects of three non-toxic anti-fouling coatings on the swimming velocity and activity of coral larvae, and found that these coatings significantly affected the larvae's swimming velocity and activity.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brett M. Lewis, David S. Suggett, Peter J. Prentis, Luke D. Nothdurft
Summary: This study establishes an attachment model for Acropora millepora coral and provides insights into the key steps of asexual propagation. The model allows for evaluating attachment effectiveness, optimizing species-substrate compatibility, and achieving successful coral outplanting.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michael Sweet, Mark Bulling, Dorsa Varshavi, Gavin R. Lloyd, Andris Jankevics, Lukas Najdekr, Ralf J. M. Weber, Mark R. Viant, Jamie Craggs
Summary: Coral reefs are facing unprecedented declines in health globally, prompting suggestions for human-assisted evolution or gene flow to restore reefs effectively. Research on coral metabolomes, especially on Scleractinian corals, is limited, highlighting the need for further exploration of metabolic responses to climate change.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Gerard Ricardo, Hugo Kiff, Florita Flores
Summary: High post-settlement mortality is a major limiting factor for coral reef population recovery, but newly settled corals have been observed to exhibit robust regeneration following physical damage. Despite potential damage from physical interactions during recruitment, coral recruits show resilience to damage and can survive in dynamic habitats.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
B. Mason, I Cooke, A. Moya, R. Augustin, M-F Lin, N. Satoh, T. C. G. Bosch, D. G. Bourne, D. C. Hayward, N. Andrade, S. Foret, H. Ying, E. E. Ball, D. J. Miller
Summary: A candidate antimicrobial peptide, AmAMP1, was identified in coral Acropora millepora, showing activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This peptide belongs to a family of AMPs found in corals and their close relatives, with a conserved arrangement of six cysteine residues in the C-terminal mature peptide. AmAMP1 is expressed in ectodermal cells during late stages of coral development, sharing a Cys motif with sea anemone Shk neuropeptides.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lisa A. Golding, Monique T. Binet, Merrin S. Adams, Justin Hochen, Craig A. Humphrey, Gwilym A. V. Price, Amanda J. Reichelt-Brushett, Matthew Salmon, Jenny L. Stauber
Summary: Adult corals are highly sensitive to dissolved manganese, experiencing tissue sloughing without bleaching. However, there is a lack of chronic toxicity data for this endpoint. Through acute and chronic experiments, it was found that adult Acropora millepora had an EC50 of 2560 μg Mn/L for tissue sloughing, but no chronic toxicity was observed at concentrations up to 1090 μg Mn/L (NOEC). The coral-specific acute-to-chronic ratio was derived and combined with data for other marine organisms to establish manganese guidelines for long-term protection of marine species.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sanaz Hazraty-Kari, Masaya Morita, Parviz Tavakoli-Kolour, Saki Harii
Summary: Seawater temperature rise due to climate change negatively impacts coral reef communities. The study investigated the response of Acropora tenuis larvae to thermal stress and its effect on their thermal tolerance during the juvenile stage. Larvae were exposed to different temperatures and their settlement success and survival were assessed. The results showed that larval thermal stress did not enhance thermal tolerance in juveniles, posing a potential threat to their resilience against heatwaves.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Filippo Scialo, Alberto Sanz
Summary: Mitochondria are essential for producing energy in cells, but they also generate Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which play a critical role in determining cell fate and maintaining cellular homeostasis. Accumulation of defective mitochondria during aging leads to high levels of ROS production, causing oxidative stress and disrupting redox signaling.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Keigo Ide, Yohei Nishikawa, Toru Maruyama, Yuko Tsukada, Masato Kogawa, Hiroki Takeda, Haruka Ito, Ryota Wagatsuma, Rimi Miyaoka, Yoshikatsu Nakano, Koji Kinjo, Michihiro Ito, Masahito Hosokawa, Kei Yura, Shoichiro Suda, Haruko Takeyama
Summary: This study utilized a novel single-cell genomics technique to obtain the genomes of uncultured coral-associated Endozoicomonas spp. and discovered that different Endozoicomonas species may have varying host adaptation strategies and functional potentials.
Article
Microbiology
Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Jean-Baptiste Raina
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michaela E. Miller, Cherie A. Motti, Mark Hamann, Frederieke J. Kroon
Summary: This study examined the ecological risk of microplastics (MPs) in coral reef ecosystems by comparing MP contamination in a simple food web with that in the surrounding environment. Samples were collected from different trophic levels and environmental matrices, and MPs were found to bioconcentrate but not biomagnify. The complexity of marine food webs and the heterogeneity of MPs in the environment highlight the importance of trophic transfer as a pathway of exposure.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Amanda L. Dawson, Marina F. M. Santana, Joost L. D. Nelis, Cherie A. Motti
Summary: Significant progress has been made in the harmonisation of methods for microplastic analysis, but the analysis and interpretation of control data has been overlooked. Current consensus on the best method for utilizing control data is lacking, resulting in arbitrary use of methods. This study tested 51 methods and found that only 7 methods showed promise in correcting background contamination, suggesting LOD/LOQ methods or statistical analysis comparing means should be used in future microplastic studies.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Omar Mendoza-Porras, Thao V. Nguyen, Rohan M. Shah, Peter Thomas -Hall, Lee Bastin, Dione J. Deaker, Cherie A. Motti, Maria Byrne, David J. Beale
Summary: This study investigated the metabolite and lipid profiles of Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) tissues, including eggs. A total of 410 metabolites and 367 lipids were identified, with amino acids and peptides being the most abundant. COTS eggs had more diverse asterosaponins compared to other tissues. Metabolite and lipid profiles provided insights into tissue-specific processes and potential control strategies of COTS populations. Additionally, COTS was found to be a novel source of molecules with therapeutic and cosmetic properties.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandra M. Gulizia, Kishan Patel, Bronson Philippa, Cherie A. Motti, Lynne van Herwerden, George Vamvounis
Summary: Plastic pollution in the oceans is a growing concern, especially due to the presence of toxic additives. This study aims to understand the leaching properties of plasticisers from microplastics. The leaching behaviors of different plasticisers were investigated under controlled aqueous conditions, and their release rates were modeled using diffusion and boundary layer models. The results provide valuable information for predicting plasticiser concentration and assessing toxicity responses and environmental water quality.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Florian U. U. Moeller, Craig W. W. Herbold, Arno Schintlmeister, Maria Mooshammer, Cherie Motti, Bettina Glasl, Katharina Kitzinger, Faris Behnam, Margarete Watzka, Thomas Schweder, Mads Albertsen, Andreas Richter, Nicole S. S. Webster, Michael Wagner
Summary: Marine sponges play a critical role in marine ecosystems as filter-feeders and reef-builders, and they harbor dense communities of microbes. These microbes contribute to the processing of dissolved organic matter (DOM). A study using metaproteogenomics and laboratory incubations found that a dominant gammaproteobacterial symbiont in a marine sponge expressed a pathway for the import and dissimilation of taurine, a common metabolite in marine sponges. The symbiont also imported and used DMSP as a carbon and sulfur source. These findings highlight the importance of biogenic sulfur compounds in the interaction between marine sponges and their microbial symbionts.
Article
Plant Sciences
Caleb C. Butler, Kira E. Turnham, Allison M. Lewis, Matthew R. Nitschke, Mark E. Warner, Dustin W. Kemp, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, William K. Fitt, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Todd C. LaJeunesse
Summary: This study identified five new species in the genus Cladocopium, which are widespread and have diverse hosts. These findings are important for understanding ecological research, genetic research, and conservation efforts in the face of environmental changes.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meaghan K. Smith, Bronwyn A. Rotgans, Tomas Lang, Ryan Johnston, Tianfang Wang, Saowaros Suwansa-ard, Utpal Bose, Nori Satoh, Michaela Egertova, Michael R. Hall, Maria Bryne, Maurice R. Elphick, Cherie A. Motti, Scott F. Cummins
Summary: This study investigates the ultrastructure of the radial nerve cords (RNCs) in the Pacific crown-of-thorns starfish and identifies various secreted proteins and neuropeptides, providing insight into the ecological impact, movement, and regeneration of this coral predator.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Meaghan K. K. Smith, Bronwyn A. A. Rotgans, Tomas Lang, Ryan Johnston, Tianfang Wang, Saowaros Suwansa-ard, Utpal Bose, Nori Satoh, Michaela Egertova, Michael R. R. Hall, Maria Byrne, Maurice R. R. Elphick, Cherie A. A. Motti, Scott F. F. Cummins
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Wing Yan Chan, David Rudd, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Microbial symbionts in multicellular hosts often localize within specific body structures or cell types, playing critical roles in host health and nutrient exchange. However, conventional methods for measuring host-microbe metabolite exchange have limitations. In this study, we developed a mass spectrometry imaging workflow that allows for in situ analysis of host and symbiont metabolomes in a cnidarian animal without the need for isotopic labeling or skeleton decalcification. Our findings reveal the importance of specific lipids in regulating symbiont acquisition and distribution, and demonstrate the impact of symbiont identity on host metabolism.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Hugo J. Scharfenstein, Carlos Alvarez-Roa, Lesa M. Peplow, Patrick Buerger, Wing Yan Chan, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Through chemical mutagenesis and thermal selection, Durusdinium trenchii, Fugacium kawagutii, and Symbiodinium pilosum strains of Symbiodiniaceae showed increased photosynthetic efficiency under thermal stress. However, there were trade-offs in the growth rates of the heat-evolved D. trenchii lineage at both ambient and elevated temperatures. Reduced nutrient uptake rates in F. kawagutii and S. pilosum heat-evolved lineages suggest changes in nutrition resource usage and allocation processes. These findings enhance our understanding of the physiological responses and adaptive capacity of Symbiodiniaceae cultures to thermal selection.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Wing Yan Chan, Luka Meyers, David Rudd, Sanjida H. Topa, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen
Summary: Experimental evolution of coral microalgal symbionts can enhance the thermotolerance of adult corals without trade-off against growth under ambient temperature. This study demonstrates that heat-evolved symbionts can persist in corals for a long time and potentially provide long-term benefits to coral thermotolerance.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Cathie A. Page, Christine Giuliano, Kelley Meehan, Rebecca Fisher, Cherie A. Motti, Andrew P. Negri, Carly J. Randall
Summary: High macroalgae cover can reduce coral larval settlement and hinder coral recovery. In this study, the allelopathic effect of Lobophora sp. on the settlement of 9 coral species was tested. The results showed that Lobophora extracts had varied effects on different coral species, indicating interspecific variation in Lobophora sensitivity.
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Keren Maor-Landaw, Marion Eisenhut, Giada Tortorelli, Allison van de Meene, Samantha Kurz, Gabriela Segal, Madeleine J. H. van Oppen, Andreas P. M. Weber, Geoffrey I. McFadden
Summary: The symbiotic partnership between corals and dinoflagellate algae is crucial for coral reefs. The transporter protein BmSWEET1 in dinoflagellate cells is responsible for transferring glucose from algae to the host coral tissue, providing the necessary energy for coral reefs. This study provides insights into the mechanism of nutrient exchange in coral-algae symbiosis.
ISME COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)