Using biological and chemical tools, NYU Abu Dhabi Associate Professor of Biology Shady Amin and Professor of Biology John Burt are asking key questions about the role the microbiome plays in the adaptation and evolution of marine hosts such as corals. They are integrating high-resolution metagenomic sequencing to examine the dynamics of the coral microbiome under conditions of heat stress and disease.
Corals don’t live alone; they are host to a diverse community of symbiotic organisms, including bacteria and viruses. The ability to identify microbial signatures linked to resilience helps scientists explore the potential for microbiome-based interventions in coral conservation. This work is contributing to a growing body of research that recognizes the microbiome as a key player in coral reef adaptation.
Run by the Center of Genomics and Systems Biology (CGBS), this is the first time a study of this kind has been conducted in the UAE. Postdoctoral associate Trent Haydon is currently collecting field samples and establishing baseline datasets from multiple reef sites across the UAE.
