Evidence Of An Inflammatory-Like Response In Non-Normally Pigmented Tissues Of Two Scleractinian Corals

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 13 Aug 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Increased prevalence of coral disease is affecting reefs world wide, however the capacity of corals to resist disease and fight infection is unknown.

The melanin pathway is utilised throughout the invertebrates as part of an inflammatory response and its presence was investigated within two hard coral species. Enzymes involved in the melanin pathway were found in both species, but melanin deposits were only located in one.

The presence of the melanin pathway suggests that corals possess basic resistance mechanisms.

Differential utilisation of the pathway between species may explain observations of varying susceptibility to disease.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

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