Compositional homogeneity in the pathobiome of a new, slow-spreading coral disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coral reefs face unprecedented declines in diversity and cover, a development largely attributed to climate change-induced bleaching and subsequent disease outbreaks. Coral-associated microbiomes may strongly influence the fitness of their hosts and alter heat tolerance and disease susceptibility of coral colonies. Here, we describe a new coral disease found in Micronesia and present a detailed assessment of infection-driven changes in the coral microbiome.

Results

Combining field monitoring and histological, microscopic and next-generation barcoding assessments, we demonstrate that the outbreak of the disease, named 'grey-patch disease', is associated with the establishment of cyanobacterial biofilm overgrowing coral tissue. The disease is characterised by slow p

SUBMITTER: Sweet M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6873542 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature