Spatial Epidemiology of the Stony-Coral-Tissue-Loss Disease in Florida

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 7

Published: March 19, 2020

The stony-coral-tissue-loss disease has recently caused widespread loss of coral along the Florida reef tract. Yet little is known about where, when, and why this outbreak occurred. In absence a definitive pathogen, it essential to characterize ecology document spatio-temporal dynamics outbreak. Here, we investigate epizootiology at multiple spatial temporal scales tract from May 2014 December 2017. We used interpolation hotspots, Ripley's K analysis examine contagion, model assess rates spread, Bayesian ecological environmental covariates that may have influenced occurrence severity Our results show affected reefs scale hundreds kilometers, with significant clusters up 140 km. epizootic clearly followed contagion model, suggesting was highly contagious. rate spread linear moved slightly faster north (~ 100 m d-1) than south 92 d-1). difference in between direction indicate currents facilitated transmission. analyzed dataset showed least 19 species deep diverse sites were greater risk shallow low diversity sites.

Language: Английский

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Pathogenesis of a Tissue Loss Disease Affecting Multiple Species of Corals Along the Florida Reef Tract

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: Nov. 1, 2019

An outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), emerged on reefs off the coast southeast Florida in 2014 and continues to spread throughout Florida's Reef Tract. SCTLD is causing extensive mortality multiple species signs vary among affected with differences rates (acute subacute), lesion morphology (adjacent bleached zone or not) occurrence (focal multi-focal). We examined virulence, transmission dynamics response antibiotic treatment exhibiting different types lesions from two regions Florida. M. cavernosa subacute region near Fort Lauderdale was compared corals (multiple species) acute Middle Keys. Corals both showed progressive but situ rate significantly higher tagged colonies Aquaria studies occurred through direct contact water column for regions. However, success vs. lesions. There 100% test species, meandrites, touching Among three lesions, transmitted readily O. faveolata (100%) followed by (30%) no occurring P. astreoides. Diseased fragments all tested responded a cessation slowing suggesting that bacteria are involved progression. Mortality canvernosa exposed microbes may be types. since not measured Keys, we cannot completely rule out common pathogen less virulent within cavernosa.

Language: Английский

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Chemical and genomic characterization of a potential probiotic treatment for stony coral tissue loss disease

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: April 6, 2023

Abstract Considered one of the most devastating coral disease outbreaks in history, stony tissue loss (SCTLD) is currently spreading throughout Florida’s reefs and greater Caribbean. SCTLD affects at least two dozen different species has been implicated extensive losses cover. Here we show Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain McH1-7 broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against SCTLD-associated bacterial isolates. Chemical analyses indicated produces potential antibacterials, korormicin tetrabromopyrrole, while genomic analysis identified genes potentially encoding an L-amino acid oxidase multiple metalloproteases (pseudoalterins). During laboratory trials, arrested or slowed progression on 68.2% diseased Montastraea cavernosa fragments treated ( n = 22), it prevented transmission by 100% 12). chemically characterized probiotic that effective prophylactic direct treatment for destructive as well a alternative to antibiotic use.

Language: Английский

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Probiotics reshape the coral microbiome in situ without detectable off-target effects in the surrounding environment

Communications Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: April 9, 2024

Beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs), or probiotics, can enhance coral resilience against stressors in laboratory trials. However, the ability of probiotics to restructure microbiome situ is yet be determined. As a first step elucidate this, we inoculated putative probiotic bacteria (pBMCs) on healthy colonies Pocillopora verrucosa Red Sea, three times per week, during 3 months. pBMCs significantly influenced microbiome, while surrounding seawater and sediment remained unchanged. The genera Halomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Bacillus were enriched probiotic-treated corals. Furthermore, treatment also correlated with an increase other beneficial groups (e.g., Ruegeria Limosilactobacillus), decrease potential pathogens, such as Vibrio. all (treated non-treated) throughout experiment, could not track health improvements protection stress. Our data indicate that healthy, therefore stable, microbiomes restructured situ, although repeated continuous inoculations may required these cases. Further, our study provides supporting evidence that, at studied scale, have no detectable off-target effects near

Language: Английский

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Rhodobacterales and Rhizobiales Are Associated With Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and Its Suspected Sources of Transmission

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: April 23, 2020

In 2014, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) was detected off the coast of Miami, Florida, USA, and continues to persist. Along Florida Reef Tract (FRT), coral reefs have previously succumbed disease outbreaks. However, SCTLD can up a 99% mortality rate has affected 23 species scleractinian corals. addition its high rate, fast spread through FRT led regional near-extinction at least one species, Dendrogya cylindrus. Although persisted for over 5 years, etiology is unknown. As means characterize potential pathogens, we collected tissue samples from four species: Stephanocoenia intersepta, Diploria labyrinthiformis, Dichocoenia stokesii, Meandrina meandrites. were apparently healthy (AH) corals, unaffected (DU) lesion (DL) on diseased Samples three zones: (1) Lower Keys (ahead boundary, "vulnerable zone"), (2) Upper (post-SCTLD outbreak, "endemic (3) Middle (SCTLD active prevalent, "epidemic zone"). From each zone, sediment water also identify reservoirs pathogen. We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon high-throughput sequencing methods microbiomes coral, water, samples. identified relatively higher abundance bacteria orders Rhodobacterales Rhizobiales in DL compared AH DU tissue. Also, our results showed abundances endemic epidemic zones vulnerable zone. pathogens samples, but not Our data indicate that may play role be reservoir.

Language: Английский

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Three decades of heat stress exposure in Caribbean coral reefs: a new regional delineation to enhance conservation

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 9(1)

Published: July 29, 2019

Increasing heat stress due to global climate change is causing coral reef decline, and the Caribbean has been one of most vulnerable regions. Here, we assessed three decades (1985-2017) exposure in wider at ecoregional local scales using remote sensing. We found a high spatial temporal variability stress, emphasizing an observed increase over time ecoregions, especially from 2003 identified as point stress. A spatiotemporal analysis classified into eight heat-stress regions offering new regionalization scheme based on historical patterns. The confirmed years 1998, 2005, 2010-2011, 2015 2017 severe widespread events recognized 2002-2004, after which frequent subsequent years. Major may be associated with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), but highlight relevance long-term ecoregions all ENSO phases. This work produced baseline basin that will enhance conservation planning efforts underway.

Language: Английский

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Long-term hexavalent chromium exposure facilitates colorectal cancer in mice associated with changes in gut microbiota composition

Food and Chemical Toxicology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 138, P. 111237 - 111237

Published: March 4, 2020

Language: Английский

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Effectiveness of topical antibiotics in treating corals affected by Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease

PeerJ, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8, P. e9289 - e9289

Published: June 9, 2020

Since 2014, Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) has led to mass mortality of the majority hard coral species on Florida Reef Tract. Following successful treatment SCTLD lesions laboratory corals using water dosed with antibiotics, two topical pastes were developed as vehicles directly apply antibiotic treatments wild corals. These tested placebos and additions amoxicillin active multiple species. The effectiveness without antibiotics (placebo treatments) was 4% 9%, no different from untreated controls. Adding both significantly increased 70% 84%. Effectiveness this method seen across five species, success rates more effective paste ranging 67% ( Colpophyllia natans ) 90% Orbicella faveolata Montastraea cavernosa ). Topical application is a viable tool for halting disease affected by SCTLD.

Language: Английский

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Disease Diagnostics and Potential Coinfections by Vibrio coralliilyticus During an Ongoing Coral Disease Outbreak in Florida

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 11

Published: Oct. 26, 2020

A deadly coral disease outbreak has been devastating the Florida Reef Tract since 2014. This disease, stony tissue loss (SCTLD), affects at least 22 species causing progressive destruction of tissue. The etiological agents responsible for SCTLD are unidentified, but pathogenic bacteria suspected. Virulence screens 400 isolates identified four potentially strains Vibrio spp. subsequently as V. coralliilyticus. Strains this known pathogens; however, cultures were unable to consistently elicit loss, suggesting an opportunistic role. Using improved immunoassay, VcpA RapidTest, a toxic zinc-metalloprotease produced by coralliilyticus was detected on 22.3% Montastraea cavernosa (n=67) and 23.5% diseased Orbicella faveolata (n=24). VcpA+ corals had significantly higher mortality rates faster progression. For VcpA- fragments, 21.6% 33.3% M. O. faveolata, respectively, died within 21 d observation, while 100% similarly sized fragments both during same period. Further physiological genomic analysis found no apparent differences between Atlantic cultured here pathogens from Indo-Pacific highlighted diversity among their immense genetic potential. In all, is believed be coinfections that exacerbate existing lesions, which contributing intraspecific observed colonies. study describes virulence well diagnostic tools capable tracking pathogen involved, important contributions management understanding SCTLD.

Language: Английский

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Coral reef restoration efforts in Latin American countries and territories

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(8), P. e0228477 - e0228477

Published: Aug. 5, 2020

Coral reefs worldwide are degrading due to climate change, overfishing, pollution, coastal development, coral bleaching, and diseases. In areas where the natural recovery of an ecosystem is negligible or protection through management interventions insufficient, active restoration becomes critical. The Reef Futures symposium in 2018 brought together over 400 reef experts, businesses, civil organizations, galvanized them save identify alternative solutions. highlighted that solutions discoveries from long-term ongoing projects Spanish-speaking countries Caribbean Eastern Tropical Pacific were not well known internationally. Therefore, a meeting scientists practitioners working these locations was held compile data on extent efforts, advances challenges. Here, we present unpublished 12 case studies five Latin American countries, describe their motivations techniques used, provide estimates total annual project cost per unit area intervened, spatial as duration. We found most used direct transplantation, gardening method, micro-fragmentation larval propagation, aimed optimize scale-up approaches (51%) alternative, sustainable livelihood opportunities (15%) followed by promoting conservation stewardship re-establishing self-sustaining, functioning ecosystems (both 13%). Reasons for restoring mainly biotic experimental 42%), idealistic pragmatic 8%). median all $93,000 USD (range: $10,000 USD-$331,802 USD) (2018 dollars) intervened 1 ha 0.06 ha-8.39 ha). duration 3 years; however, have lasted up 17 years. Project feasibility high with 0.7 0.5-0.8). This study closes knowledge gap between academia overcomes language barrier providing first comprehensive compilation efforts America.

Language: Английский

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