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Melting Syndrome in Ricordea yuma

Poster · June 2018

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Zachary Millar
University of Guelph
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 Melting Syndrome in Ricordea yuma
Zachary Millar, Paul Huber, John Lumsden
Pathobiology, University of Guelph

INTRODUCTION RESULTS DISCUSSION

• Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on the Bacteriology • The 7 unique bacteria analyzed are currently known species and
planet, with species estimates reaching upwards of 9 million [1] • 12 pure cultures were isolated from the coral tissue involved in the melting event none have previously been displayed as pathogenic to coral
• While corals face numerous threats, mortality due to infectious • 16S rDNA sequencing resulted in 7 identifiable and different species, some species made multiple • Water quality analysis demonstrated that no parameters were
disease can be extreme appearances out of scale
• Coral disease appears to be increasing in frequency due to: • Vibrio tubiashii was the most common isolate • The rate of infection is rapid, taking a healthy coral to a mucus
• Changing environments • All isolates except one were members of genus Vibrio, exception was Shewanella ball in 14 days
• Increasing environmental stressors • No inclusion bodies or virus were found during EM, giving no
• Corallimorpharia is an Order of Cnidaria, which is what all obvious signs to bacterial or viral infection
Timeline of Infection
corals are classified under • The cryopreserved tissue reinfection trial should help to
• Three tropical genus are highlight any bacteria or virus cause, as it will be filtered at 0.22
identified: microns
• Ricordea • The remaining steps will hopefully provide insight into the
• Rhodactis cause
• Discosoma • If no pathogen is found other steps will be taken to investigate
• Recent melting episode in further
Hagen Aqualab was observed • An alternative hypothesis suggests that the move from natural
and samples collected for to artificial lighting causes this melting syndrome instead of a
mortality investigation Day 4 Day 8 Day 13 pathogen, the mechanism for this are currently unknown

Hypothesis: I hypothesize that the observed melting episode was caused

by a currently unknown pathogen. Microscopy
Objective: Identify and characterize the pathogen. Light Microscopy
FUTURE WORK
• Complete the virome analysis
METHODS • Characterize tissue types and further observe prepared samples for
light microscopy
1) Create a timeline of initial infection, and analyze water • Attempt reinfection with filtered cryopreserved tissue
chemistry over infection period. • Examine healthy Ricordea yuma for their bacterial assemblages
2) Perform bacteriology. Utilize 16S rDNA to get sequence of a
pure culture.
3) Perform a virome analysis. MORE ONGOING CORAL PROJECTS
4) Perform transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to look for
Healthy Tissue Diseased Tissue
inclusion bodies or viruses. • Currently we are also working on DNA Barcoding as many
5) Perform light microscopy for general histology description. different types of Corallimorpharia as possible
Electron Microscopy • We are also keeping the corals and using a processing called
6) Cryopreserved tissues will be utilized to determine if
• No visible inclusion bodies or virus “fragging” to examine their regeneration rates and protein
reinfection can occur on healthy individuals.
• A limited number of visible zooxanthellae, expression levels

Completed to Date: similar to bleaching

1) Create a timeline of initial infection.
2) Perform bacteriology. Utilize 16S rDNA to get sequence of a
pure culture.
4) Perform TEM to look for inclusion bodies or virus.
5) Perform light microscopy for general histology description.
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• The tissue shows obvious signs of necrosis in
diseased tissues further highlighting what can be REFERENCES
seen above in the light microscopy [1] Knowlton, N. Coral Reef Biodiversity – Habitat Size Matters. Science. 2001:
292:5521, 1493-1495.
I’d like to thank, Paul Huber, John Lumsden, Ryan Horricks,
Robert Harris, and Ryan Eagleson for their assistance in
various aspects. I’d also like to thank NSERC and the OVC
Scholarship program for funding this research.