Coral Reef Damage/Destruction https://greenmedinfo.com/taxonomy/term/70762/all en "Sunscreens cause coral bleaching by promoting viral infections." https://greenmedinfo.com/article/sunscreens-cause-coral-bleaching-promoting-viral-infections PMID:  Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Apr ;116(4):441-7. PMID: 18414624 Abstract Title:  Sunscreens cause coral bleaching by promoting viral infections. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: Coral bleaching (i.e., the release of coral symbiotic zooxanthellae) has negative impacts on biodiversity and functioning of reef ecosystems and their production of goods and services. This increasing world-wide phenomenon is associated with temperature anomalies, high irradiance, pollution, and bacterial diseases. Recently, it has been demonstrated that personal care products, including sunscreens, have an impact on aquatic organisms similar to that of other contaminants. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to evaluate the potential impact of sunscreen ingredients on hard corals and their symbiotic algae. METHODS: In situ and laboratory experiments were conducted in several tropical regions (the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and the Red Sea) by supplementing coral branches with aliquots of sunscreens and common ultraviolet filters contained in sunscreen formula. Zooxanthellae were checked for viral infection by epifluorescence and transmission electron microscopy analyses. RESULTS: Sunscreens cause the rapid and complete bleaching of hard corals, even at extremely low concentrations. The effect of sunscreens is due to organic ultraviolet filters, which are able to induce the lytic viral cycle in symbiotic zooxanthellae with latent infections. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that sunscreens, by promoting viral infection, potentially play an important role in coral bleaching in areas prone to high levels of recreational use by humans. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/sunscreens-cause-coral-bleaching-promoting-viral-infections#comments Coral Reef Damage/Destruction Sunscreen Environmental Toxicity Environmental Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:37:36 +0000 greenmedinfo 75025 at https://greenmedinfo.com Molecular docking and antibacterial activity of Sargassum fusiforme extracts against major coral pathogens. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/molecular-docking-and-antibacterial-activity-sargassum-fusiforme-extracts-agai PMID:  World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2023 Sep 25 ;39(11):318. Epub 2023 Sep 25. PMID: 37743438 Abstract Title:  Molecular docking and antibacterial activity of Sargassum fusiforme extracts against major coral pathogens. Abstract:  The present study evaluates the antibacterial properties of alkaloids and the crude extracts (ethanol, n-hexane and ethyl acetate) from seaweed Sargassum fusiforme against coral pathogens (Photobacterium galatheae, Vibrio harveyi, Bordetella trematum, and Ochrobactrum pseudogrignonese) isolated from coral Porites lutea. To our knowledge, this is the first in vitro assay for such extracts on Porites lutea coral pathogens. Bacterial pathogens have been identified using 16S RNA and BankIt into gene bank and given the accession numbers (OR401000; OR401001; OR401336, and OR400998 respectively). GC-Mass profiling conducted for n-hexane compounds confirmed the presence of thirty-eight molecules, twelve of which have been previously reported for their bioactivity. The results revealed that alkaloids and n-hexane extract demonstrated eminent antibacterial activity compared to the other extracts against the tested coral pathogenic bacteria. Molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the twelve previously mentioned bioactive molecules to get a full understanding of the interaction of those bioactive molecules on vital bacterial proteins (Hemolysin protein (PDB ID: 1XEZ) and Cytoplasmic proteins (PDB ID: 3TZC)). Docked twelve molecules against hemolysin protein (PDB ID: 1XEZ) came exactly in line with the docked result of the same molecules with cytoplasmic proteins (PDB ID: 3TZC), proving the bioactivity of 6-O-Palmitoyl-L-ascorbic acid, 3TMS derivative; Glycerol monostearate, 2TMS derivative and Eicosanoic acid complexes in antibacterial activity action and score higher than reference ligand. Those three compounds will be investigated separately in future in vitro assay soon. Our conclusions align with the study&#039;s antibacterial in vitro assay results. The present study reports the novelty of different extracts of S. fusiforme as an antibacterial agent against coral pathogenic bacteria that trigger diseases in Porites lutea. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/molecular-docking-and-antibacterial-activity-sargassum-fusiforme-extracts-agai" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/molecular-docking-and-antibacterial-activity-sargassum-fusiforme-extracts-agai#comments Coral Reef Damage/Destruction Seaweed: Brown Anti-Bacterial Agents In Vitro Study Sun, 05 Nov 2023 19:14:10 +0000 greenmedinfo 282914 at https://greenmedinfo.com Realistic levels of microplastic pollution can affect coral health and should be a concern. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/realistic-levels-microplastic-pollution-can-affect-coral-health-and-should-be- PMID:  Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jan 15 ;908:168406. Epub 2023 Nov 7. PMID: 37939952 Abstract Title:  Microplastics elicit an immune-agitative state in coral. Abstract:  Microplastic pollution in the ocean is a major problem, as its pervasiveness elicits concerns the health impacts microplastics may have on marine life (such as reef-building corals). As a primary endpoint, the organismal lipidome can define the weakening of fitness and reveal the physiological context of adverse health effects in organisms. To gain insight into the effects of microplastics on coral health, lipid profiling was performed via an untargeted lipidomic approach on the coral Turbinaria mesenterina exposed to ~10 μm polystyrene microparticles for 10 days. Considerable microplastic accumulation and obvious effects relating with immune activation were observed in the coral treated with a near environmentally relevant concentration of microplastics (10 μg/L); however, these effects were not evident in the high level (100 μg/L) treatment group. In particular, increased levels of membrane lipids with 20:4 and 22:6 fatty acid chains reallocated from the triacylglycerol pool were observed in coral host cells and symbiotic algae, respectively, which could upregulate immune activity and realign symbiotic communication in coral. High levels of polyunsaturation can sensitize the coral cell membrane to lipid peroxidation and increase cell death, which is of greater concern; additionally, the photoprotective capacity of symbiotic algae was compromised. As a result, coral physiological functions were altered. These results show that, realistic levels of microplastic pollution can affect coral health and should be a concern. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/realistic-levels-microplastic-pollution-can-affect-coral-health-and-should-be-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/realistic-levels-microplastic-pollution-can-affect-coral-health-and-should-be-#comments Coral Reef Damage/Destruction Microplastic Toxicity Environmental Mon, 18 Dec 2023 03:38:50 +0000 greenmedinfo 285053 at https://greenmedinfo.com The impact of the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil release was devastating to deep-water coral communities in the Gulf of Mexico https://greenmedinfo.com/article/impact-bpdeepwater-horizon-oil-release-was-devastating-deep-water-coral-commun PMID:  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Mar 27. Epub 2012 Mar 27. PMID: 22454495 Abstract Title:  Impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on a deep-water coral community in the Gulf of Mexico. Abstract:  To assess the potential impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on offshore ecosystems, 11 sites hosting deep-water coral communities were examined 3 to 4 mo after the well was capped. Healthy coral communities were observed at all sites&gt;20 km from the Macondo well, including seven sites previously visited in September 2009, where the corals and communities appeared unchanged. However, at one site 11 km southwest of the Macondo well, coral colonies presented widespread signs of stress, including varying degrees of tissue loss, sclerite enlargement, excess mucous production, bleached commensal ophiuroids, and covering by brown flocculent material (floc). On the basis of these criteria the level of impact to individual colonies was ranked from 0 (least impact) to 4 (greatest impact). Of the 43 corals imaged at that site, 46% exhibited evidence of impact on more than half of the colony, whereas nearly a quarter of all of the corals showed impact to&gt;90% of the colony. Additionally, 53% of these corals&#039; ophiuroid associates displayed abnormal color and/or attachment posture. Analysis of hopanoid petroleum biomarkers isolated from the floc provides strong evidence that this material contained oil from the Macondo well. The presence of recently damaged and deceased corals beneath the path of a previously documented plume emanating from the Macondo well provides compelling evidence that the oil impacted deep-water ecosystems. Our findings underscore the unprecedented nature of the spill in terms of its magnitude, release at depth, and impact to deep-water ecosystems. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/impact-bpdeepwater-horizon-oil-release-was-devastating-deep-water-coral-commun#comments BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster Coral Reef Damage/Destruction Petroleum Exposure And Toxicity Crude Oil/Petroleum Environmental Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:45:53 +0000 greenmedinfo 73726 at https://greenmedinfo.com The likelihood of disease increases from 4% to 89% when corals are in contact with plastic. https://greenmedinfo.com/article/likelihood-disease-increases-4-89-when-corals-are-contact-plastic PMID:  Science. 2018 01 26 ;359(6374):460-462. PMID: 29371469 Abstract Title:  Plastic waste associated with disease on coral reefs. Abstract:  Plastic waste can promote microbial colonization by pathogens implicated in outbreaks of disease in the ocean. We assessed the influence of plastic waste on disease risk in 124,000 reef-building corals from 159 reefs in the Asia-Pacific region. The likelihood of disease increases from 4% to 89% when corals are in contact with plastic. Structurally complex corals are eight times more likely to be affected by plastic, suggesting that microhabitats for reef-associated organisms and valuable fisheries will be disproportionately affected. Plastic levels on coral reefs correspond to estimates of terrestrial mismanaged plastic waste entering the ocean. We estimate that 11.1 billion plastic items are entangled on coral reefs across the Asia-Pacific and project this number to increase 40% by 2025. Plastic waste management is critical for reducing diseases that threaten ecosystem health and human livelihoods. <p><a href="https://greenmedinfo.com/article/likelihood-disease-increases-4-89-when-corals-are-contact-plastic" target="_blank">read more</a></p> https://greenmedinfo.com/article/likelihood-disease-increases-4-89-when-corals-are-contact-plastic#comments Coral Reef Damage/Destruction Microplastic Plastics in the Ocean Environmental Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:54:12 +0000 greenmedinfo 161545 at https://greenmedinfo.com