Characterization of the defense properties of healthy and diseased coral mucus.

The surface mucus layer of corals aids in feeding, silt removal, and defense against pathogens. However, first line of defense of secreted mucus of corals against tissue damage generated through pathogen or environmental factors is poorly understood. Hence, we used various methods such as a well diffusion assay and tests for quorum quenching, free radical scavenging, antioxidant enzyme expression and phenoloxidase (PO) activity to determine the mucus defense properties using mucus of healthy and diseased Porites sp.

Characterization of coral associated ciliates and their interactions with disease lesion progression of Indian Scleractinian corals.

Ciliates associated with advanced diseased lesions of Acropora sp. and Porites sp. in the field were isolated and characterised using microscopic and molecular analysis.