The Possible Role of Cyanobacterial Filaments in Coral Black Band Disease Pathology

Kramarsky-Winter, E; Arotsker, L; Rasoulouniriana, D; Siboni, N; Loya, Y; Kushmaro, A

The Possible Role of Cyanobacterial Filaments in Coral Black Band Disease Pathology

Kramarsky-Winter, E Arotsker, L Rasoulouniriana, D Siboni, N

Loya, Y

Kushmaro, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Microbial Ecology, 2014, 67 (1), pp. 177 - 185
Issue Date:: 2014-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kramarsky-Winter, E	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Arotsker, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Rasoulouniriana, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Siboni, N https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6082-0949	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Loya, Y https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6870-9444	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kushmaro, A	en_US
dc.date.available	2013-10-02	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Microbial Ecology, 2014, 67 (1), pp. 177 - 185	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0095-3628	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43877
dc.description.abstract	Black band disease (BBD), characterized by a black mat or line that migrates across a coral colony leaving behind it a bare skeleton, is a persistent disease affecting massive corals worldwide. Previous microscopic and molecular examination of this disease in faviid corals from the Gulf of Eilat revealed a number of possible pathogens with the most prominent being a cyanobacterium identified as Pseudoscillatoria coralii. We examined diseased coral colonies using histopathological and molecular methods in order to further assess the possible role of this cyanobacterium, its mode of entry, and pathological effects on the coral host tissues. Affected areas of colonies with BBD were sampled for examination using both light and transmission electron microscopies. Results showed that this dominant cyanobacterium was found on the coral surface, at the coral-skeletal interface, and invading the polyp tissues and gastrovascular cavity. Although tissues surrounding the invasive cyanobacterial filaments did not show gross morphological alterations, microscopic examination revealed that the coral cells surrounding the lesion were dissociated, necrotic, and highly vacuolated. No amoebocytes were evident in the mesoglea of affected tissues suggesting a possible repression of the coral immune response. Morphological and molecular similarity of the previously isolated BBD-associated cyanobacterium P. coralii to the current samples strengthens the premise that this species is involved in the disease in this coral. These results indicate that the cyanobacteria may play a pivotal role in this disease and that the mode of entry may be via ingestion, penetrating the coral via the gastrodermis, as well as through the skeletal-tissue interface. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Microbial Ecology	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s00248-013-0309-x	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Microbiology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Animals	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Anthozoa	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cyanobacteria	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	DNA, Bacterial	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	RNA, Ribosomal, 16S	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Microscopy, Electron, Transmission	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Phylogeny	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Indian Ocean	en_US
dc.title	The Possible Role of Cyanobacterial Filaments in Coral Black Band Disease Pathology	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	67	en_US
utslib.for	0602 Ecology	en_US
utslib.for	0605 Microbiology	en_US
utslib.for	0503 Soil Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - C3 - Climate Change Cluster
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	67	en_US

Abstract:

Black band disease (BBD), characterized by a black mat or line that migrates across a coral colony leaving behind it a bare skeleton, is a persistent disease affecting massive corals worldwide. Previous microscopic and molecular examination of this disease in faviid corals from the Gulf of Eilat revealed a number of possible pathogens with the most prominent being a cyanobacterium identified as Pseudoscillatoria coralii. We examined diseased coral colonies using histopathological and molecular methods in order to further assess the possible role of this cyanobacterium, its mode of entry, and pathological effects on the coral host tissues. Affected areas of colonies with BBD were sampled for examination using both light and transmission electron microscopies. Results showed that this dominant cyanobacterium was found on the coral surface, at the coral-skeletal interface, and invading the polyp tissues and gastrovascular cavity. Although tissues surrounding the invasive cyanobacterial filaments did not show gross morphological alterations, microscopic examination revealed that the coral cells surrounding the lesion were dissociated, necrotic, and highly vacuolated. No amoebocytes were evident in the mesoglea of affected tissues suggesting a possible repression of the coral immune response. Morphological and molecular similarity of the previously isolated BBD-associated cyanobacterium P. coralii to the current samples strengthens the premise that this species is involved in the disease in this coral. These results indicate that the cyanobacteria may play a pivotal role in this disease and that the mode of entry may be via ingestion, penetrating the coral via the gastrodermis, as well as through the skeletal-tissue interface. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43877