Project description:Florida’s coral reefs are currently experiencing a multi-year disease-related mortality event, that has resulted in massive die-offs in multiple coral species. Approximately 21 species of coral, including both Endangered Species Act-listed and the primary reef-building species, have displayed tissue loss lesions which often result in whole colony mortality [Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD)]. Determining the causative agent(s) of coral disease relies on a multidisciplinary approach since the causation may be a combination of abiotic, microbial or viral agents. Metaproteomics was used to survey changes in the molecular landscape in the coral holobiont with the goal of providing useful information not only in diagnosis, but for prediction and prognosis. Specifically, in the case of SCTLD, defining molecular changes in the coral holobiont will help define disease progression and aid in identifying the causative agent by clearly defining traits of disease progression shared across affected species. Using samples from nine coral species (46 samples total; those appearing healthy, n = 23, and diseased, n = 23), analysis of the coral and its associated microbiome were performed using bottom-up proteomics. Ongoing analysis (including improving coral holobiont genome-based search space) will demonstrate the utility of this approach and help define improved future experiments.
Project description:Female genital tract (FGT) diseases such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexually transmitted infections are prevalent in South Africa, with young women being at an increased risk. Since imbalances in the FGT microbiome are associated with FGT diseases, it is vital to investigate the factors that influence FGT health. The mycobiome plays an important role in regulating mucosal health, especially when the bacterial component is disturbed. However, we have a limited understanding of the FGT mycobiome since many studies have focused on bacterial communities and have neglected low abundance taxonomic groups, such as fungi. To reduce this knowledge deficit, we present the first large-scale metaproteomic study to define the taxonomic composition and potential functional processes of the FGT mycobiome in South African reproductive-age women. We examined FGT fungal communities present in 123 women by collecting lateral vaginal wall swabs for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Project description:Probiotic applications show great potential for coral restoration, though conventional probiotics may form only transient associations with hosts. A proof-of-concept study revealed that Ruegeria MC10, an evolutionarily endosymbiont lineage, could persistently colonize coral tissue and enhance host health throughout an 8-month field experiment. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying successful symbiosis, we conducted a comparative proteomic analysis of three Ruegeria strains – the MC10 representative MC10-B4 and two coral-derived counterpart, MC0-A5 and MC15-BG7 - in response to metabolites from the coral Acropora pruinosa. Following 4-hour exposures to coral tissue extracts or autoclaved 0.22 μm-filtered seawater (AFSW) controls at 28°C during exponential phase, we performed comprehensive protein characterization by LC-MS/MS. Differential protein expression profiles revealed strain-specific adaptations.