Microbial Symbiosis in Corals: A Mechanistic Approach
A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 1429
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Corals are phylogenetically basal organisms that harbor numerous symbionts ranging from fish to viruses. The relationships between these coral animals and their partners may be complex, varying from mutualistic to parasitic. Many of the relationships provide coral animals with sources of nutrition, oxygen, and protection from disease while the animals themselves provide their partners with nutrition and protection from the elements. The assemblage of the microorganisms and the coral animals that harbor them is known as a “holobiont”. When there is an imbalance between the animal host and its symbionts, there is a breakdown of one or more of these associations, resulting in physiological disruptions, at times leading to disease and even death. In recent years, with the development of novel culture and molecular tools, these relationships are beginning to be clarified mechanistically, leading to a greater understanding of how microorganisms may affect the holobiont as well as coral reef function and health. This Special Issue will focus on the following:
- The roles of microorganisms in coral health and disease;
- The mechanism by which microorganisms affect coral physiology;
- Novel model systems for studying the relationship between microorganisms and coral animals;
- Advances in technologies for assessing the roles of microorganisms in holobiont functioning.
Dr. Esti Kramarsky-Winter
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- symbiosis
- pathogen
- virus
- bacteria
- microorganism
- holobiont
- health
- tissue
- mucus
- mechanism
- ingestion
- penetration
- cilia
- molecular
