Abu Dhabi:A new study from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has highlighted the crucial role of coral-associated bacteria in helping corals survive extreme heat by producing steroid hormones that bolster their immune response.
According to Wam, the study, published in Nature Microbiology, reveals that Endozoicomonas, a group of bacteria commonly found with corals globally, produces steroid hormones like testosterone and progesterone when temperatures rise. These hormones enable corals to launch a stronger immune reaction to heat stress, thereby improving the survival rate of coral cells.
The research focused on Acropora pharaonis corals from the Arabian Gulf, including specimens collected near Saadiyat Island. NYU Abu Dhabi Research Associate Amin Mohamed, the study's first author, explained that when temperatures increase, corals lose some ability to produce crucial steroid hormones for immune regulation. The bacterial partners compensate by producing these hormones, helping the coral activate an immune response necessary for cell survival in high temperatures.
The production of steroid hormones is typically associated with complex organisms, with only a few bacteria, including those in the human gut, known to produce them. This study uncovers a previously unknown function of the coral microbiome, showing that these bacteria provide essential molecules to their coral hosts under stress.
NYU Abu Dhabi Associate Professor of Biology Shady Amin, the study's senior author, emphasized that these bacteria do more than just coexist with corals. They provide molecules needed to regulate the coral's immune response during significant stress periods. This breakthrough enhances the understanding of bacterial contributions to coral resilience and host-microbe interactions, suggesting a new direction for coral conservation efforts.
The research was conducted through NYU Abu Dhabi's Centre for Genomics and Systems Biology.