KAUST researchers find coral disease resistance potential

A study from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has shown that corals can be trained to enhance their resistance to diseases through a technique called "pathogen conditioning," which is similar to vaccines in stimulating the immune system, despite their lacking an adaptive immune system. The research demonstrated that corals exposed to non-lethal pathogenic factors become more resistant when faced with the same factor again, accompanied by changes in their associated microbial communities. This discovery marks the beginning of new methods to protect coral reefs, especially as environmental stresses and diseases increasingly threaten their survival. The technique could be used in restoration and hatchery programs to boost their resilience. As a result of the study, corals develop a form of protective memory, opening new horizons for proactive coral reef conservation.

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