Trends in Microbiome and Digital One Health

Abstract:

Most microbiomes of marine ecosystems and organisms have been impacted by anthropogenic action and can no longer be considered pristine. These microbiomes are usually enriched with pathogens, especially in degraded areas, and constitute a key point to consider for conservation purposes. Here, I will explore coral-microbiome symbiotic interactions to investigate (i) symbiotic relationships that are correlated with thermal and pathogen resistance, (ii) the human-assisted manipulation of these interactions to support conservation and restoration efforts (through the use of probiotics), including field trials; (iii) bacterial-driven changes to the coral epigenome, and (iv) the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in degraded corals, and its response to microbiome manipulation. Our results demonstrate new interactions between corals and their associated microbiome, and also provide evidence that corals also respond to probiotic application in field trials. We will also discuss how the rehabilitation of degraded coral reef microbiomes can contribute to One Health.