Are viruses involved in coral bleaching?
The following information appeared in the Marine Biological Association News. March 2001: Coral bleaching is an important environmental problem resulting in the destruction of coral reefs. It is known to result from a range of environmental stresses, the most significant of which is elevated temperature. The mechanism of coral bleaching, which manifests itself as a loss of zooxanthellae and /or chlorophyll from coral hosts, is poorly understood. Willie Wilson’s group have isolated a transferable infectious agent believed to be a virus, from symbiotic zooxanthellae of the temperate sea anemone Anemonia viridis. The infectious agent is induced by elevated temperature. Once induced, the filtered agent can be further propagated without heat induction. The zooxanthellae therefore appear to harbour a latent viral infection that is induced by exposure to elevated temperatures. Environmentally-regulated viral induction mechanisms may contribute to bleaching events in coral reef environments. W
