Cellular immune mechanisms of corals and sea anemones

Innate immunity and mutualistic symbiosis are two fundamentally important, connected but opposing mechanisms for survival. For the host organism, innate immunity detects and destroys foreign pathogens, while mutualistic symbiosis allows the host to interact with foreign organisms in a mutually beneficial way. To maintain mutualistic symbiosis, the innate immune system must be able to distinguish between both self and “other” and, within other, between beneficial and pathogenic.

An ecologically important example of this exists in stony corals. While also maintaining a beneficial relationship with an endosymbiotic algae dinoflagellate, Symbiodiniaceae, stony coral innate immune system must also constantly identify potential pathogens. Symbiodiniaceae live within coral cells that comprise the gastrodermis. They provide nutrients to the coral host, and in return, the Symbiodiniaceae gets physical protection and a consistent food source. During heat stress, there is a reduction in the benefits of the relationship between the coral host and Symbiodiniaceae, and dysbiosis occurs, resulting in a process called bleaching. Information is lacking on the plasticity and function of the coral cells responsible for the innate immune reaction, and/or the cells responsible for symbiosis.

Collaboration: Dr. Benyamin Rosental, Ben Gurion University of the Negev

Funding: National Science Foundation and Binational Science Foundation, Award #: 1951826

Associated Publications:

Snyder, G., Browne, W.E., Traylor-Knowles, N.*, Rosental, B.* (2020) Fluorescence-activated cell sorting techniques for the isolation of scleractinian cell populations. JoVE. *co-senior authors LINK

Rosental, B., Kozhekbaeva, Z., Fernhoff, N., Tsai, J., Traylor-Knowles, N. (2017) Coral cell separation and isolation by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). BMC Cell Biology. 18(1): 1-30. LINK