Beneficial bacteria can help keep Florida coral healthy, researchers report
(萌妹社区Org.com) -- Bacteria that could potentially help corals resist the devastating disease white pox have been found by researchers at the University of Florida and Mote Marine Laboratory.
The findings could help maintain the health of Florida鈥檚 coral reefs, which bring in billions of dollars to the state annually and are important for tourism, fisheries, shoreline protection and pharmaceutical research.
鈥淐oral reefs are a major attraction for tourists in Florida,鈥� said Max Teplitski, a microbiologist and an associate professor at UF鈥檚 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. 鈥淭hey support the economies of South Florida, and they鈥檙e also important for fisheries and, in general, healthy ecosystems.鈥�
鈥淯nfortunately, in the past 20 years, corals have been degrading due to global environmental changes and direct human impacts, like overfishing and other pressures,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd also, diseases have been wiping out stressed corals in South Florida.鈥�
White pox is caused by Serratia marcescens, a bacterium that commonly occurs in feces of animals and is capable of attacking a variety of animals and plants.
To combat white pox, Teplitski and a team of researchers began studying the interactions between the pathogen that causes the malady and other microorganisms that live on corals.
Their findings are detailed in a study Teplitski co-authored in this month鈥檚 issue of The ISME Journal: Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology.
Corals are ancient creatures that recruit microorganisms such as bacteria to protect themselves from disease. Their characteristic structure is built by animals known as polyps.
In the study, the researchers screened several hundred bacteria isolated from coral and non-coral polyps for the ability to help ward off white pox.
The researchers found four bacteria that stopped white pox disease progression under controlled laboratory conditions and, to some degree, protected the polyps from getting sick.
They also noted that polyps containing the bacteria survived white pox infection, whereas those without the bacteria died.
Based on these results, scientists may begin checking individual polyps for the presence of beneficial bacteria before introducing them into a reef system as part of coral reef restoration.
Kim Ritchie, senior scientist and manager for the marine microbiology program at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, said Florida鈥檚 coral reefs are some of the sickest in the world.
鈥淭hey seem to be in the worst shape,鈥� said Ritchie, a co-author of the study. 鈥淏ut the more we can learn about the balance of beneficial bacteria and pathogenic bacteria, the easier it will be to help the coral reefs in the Keys become healthier.鈥�
The research was funded by sales of Protect Our Reefs specialty license plates, a statewide program administered by Mote Marine Laboratory Inc.
Study authors also include Ali Alagely, a former UF undergraduate student, and Cory Krediet, a doctoral student in the interdisciplinary ecology program at UF鈥檚 School of Natural Resources and Environment.
Provided by University of Florida
