Hannah Swain / Biology / Faculty Mentor: Laura Mydlarz
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) is an isolated coral reef ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico, where coral disease outbreaks are rare. However, in August 2022, NOAA divers identified an acute tissue loss disease affecting multiple coral species. To investigate, fifteen Pseudodiploria strigosa samples were collected across three health states: healthy from a healthy colony (HH), healthy from a diseased colony (HD), and diseased from a diseased colony (DD). Samples were analyzed for gene expression and histopathology to assess how the disease affects both the coral host and symbiont across health states. Differentially expressed gene analysis identified an upregulation of immune functions in the HD portion of diseased colonies, while Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) revealed immune functions correlated with disease phenotypes, such as algal symbiont size and vacuole size. By integrating these disease traits with coral host and symbiont responses, this study aims to uncover gene networks driving these physical changes. Findings will improve understanding of coral disease dynamics and inform conservation strategies for FGBNMS. More broadly, this research provides key insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying coral disease resilience, aiding reef management and protection efforts.
Leave a Reply