King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) scientists have discovered that corals can be trained to resist disease before outbreaks occur. The research, conducted using corals from the Red Sea, suggests that reefs worldwide could be protected through this method.
According to SPA, the study published in ISME Host Microbe found that corals exposed to inactive forms of a disease-causing pathogen or sub-lethal doses became more resistant when encountering the disease again later. This process is known as pathogen priming.
The discovery provides the first evidence that corals can develop an immune memory-like response, despite lacking the adaptive immune systems found in vertebrates and humans. Professor of Marine Science at KAUST and senior author Raquel Peixoto stated that corals exposed to a pathogen were better able to respond to the same disease agent upon second encounter.
Research indicates the protective effect is linked to changes in the coral and its microbiome, which consists of microorganisms that support coral health. The team has filed a patent application regarding the use of pathogen priming to strengthen resistance. The source did not include the current status of the patent application.
How does the pathogen priming process work in corals? Pathogen priming works by exposing corals to inactive forms of a disease-causing pathogen or sub-lethal doses. According to the KAUST study published in ISME Host Microbe, this process allows the corals to become more resistant when they encounter the same disease agent again later, functioning similarly to how vaccines prepare a body to recognize future threats.
What makes the discovery regarding coral immune responses unique? The discovery is unique because it provides the first evidence that corals can develop a protective, immune memory-like response. This is notable because corals lack the adaptive immune systems that are typically found in humans and other vertebrates, yet they can still be trained to strengthen their natural defenses against disease.
What factors contribute to the protective effect in corals? The protective effect is linked to changes occurring within the coral itself as well as changes in its microbiome. The microbiome is defined as the community of microorganisms that live alongside the coral and support its overall health, contributing to the coral’s ability to respond to pathogens.