biostudies-literatureUnknown8(4)Kelley ERTexas State AquariumTomlinson Fund at Smith CollegeRampant coral disease, exacerbated by climate change and other anthropogenic stressors, threatens reefs worldwide, especially in the Caribbean. Physically isolated yet genetically connected reefs such as Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) may serve as potential refugia for degraded Caribbean reefs. However, little is known about the mechanisms and trade-offs of pathogen resistance in reef-building corals. Here, we measure pathogen resistance in <i>Montastraea cavernosa</i> from FGBNMS. We identified individual colonies that demonstrated resistance or susceptibility to <i>Vibrio</i> spp. in a controlled laboratory environment. Long-term growth patterns suggest no trade-off between disease resistance and calcification. Predictive (pre-exposure) gene expression highlights Royal Society open science210113https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8059587biostudies-literatureGene expression associated with disease resistance and long-term growth in a reef-building coral.PMC8059587Wright RMSleith RSKelley ERMatz MVfalseGene expression associated with disease resistance and long-term growth in a reef-building coral.Rampant coral disease, exacerbated by climate change and other anthropogenic stressors, threatens reefs worldwide, especially in the Caribbean. Physically isolated yet genetically connected reefs such as Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) may serve as potential refugia for degraded Caribbean reefs. However, little is known about the mechanisms and trade-offs of pathogen resistance in reef-building corals. Here, we measure pathogen resistance in <i>Montastraea cavernosa</i> from FGBNMS. We identified individual colonies that demonstrated resistance or susceptibility to <i>Vibrio</i> spp. in a controlled laboratory environment. Long-term growth patterns suggest no trade-off between disease resistance and calcification. Predictive (pre-exposure) gene expression highlights 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Apr2025-04-04T14:35:16.333Z2022-02-10T10:30:38.662ZS-EPMC80595873399613110.1098/rsos.210113