Scientists identify live immune cells in a coral and sea anemone

Date:
August 17, 2021
Source:
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric
Science
Summary:
A new study has identified specialized immune cells in the
cauliflower coral and starlet sea anemone that can help fight
infection. The findings are important to better understand how
reef-building corals and other reef animals protect themselves
from foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses found in and around
coral reefs.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new study led by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and the Ben Gurion University
of the Negev has identified specialized immune cells in the cauliflower
coral and starlet sea anemone that can help fight infection. The findings
are important to better understand how reef-building corals and other
reef animals protect themselves from foreign invaders like bacteria and
viruses found in and around coral reefs.


==========================================================================
The researchers found that immune cells make up about three percent of
the total cell population and that they have at least two populations
of immune cells that perform functions unique from digestion.

"These findings are important because they show that corals have the
cellular capabilities to fight infection and that they have unique cell
types that were previously not known," said Nikki Traylor-Knowles, an
assistant professor of marine biology and ecology at the UM Rosenstiel
School and co-senior author of the study.

To uncover these specialized immune cells, the researchers exposed
foreign particles such as bacteria, fungal antigens, and beads into
a cauliflower coral (Pocillopora damicornis) and starlet sea anemone (Nematostella vectensis) in the laboratory. They then used a process,
called fluorescence-activated cell sorting, to isolate different cell populations.

They found that specialized cells, known as phagocytic cells, engulfed
the foreign particles, while small, fluid-filled structures inside the
cells, called phagosomes, worked to destroy the invaders as well as
their own damaged cells.

Immune systems in animals provide an important protective defense response
to recognize and destroy foreign substances in their tissues.

"We need to have a better understanding of how coral cells perform
specialized functions such as fight infections as the climate change
crisis drastically reduces global coral reef biomass and diversity
worldwide," said Traylor- Knowles. "Our findings can help in the
development of diagnostic tools for assessing coral health." Support for
the study was provided by seed funding from the University of Miami
Research Awards in Natural Sciences and Engineering, National Science Foundation-U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation grants (NSF grant: 1951826, BSF grant: 2019647), the Israel Science Foundation, European
Research Council and Human Frontiers Science Program.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Miami_Rosenstiel_School_of_Marine_&
Atmospheric_Science. Original written by Diana Udel. Note: Content may
be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Grace A. Snyder, Shir Eliachar, Michael T. Connelly, Shani Talice,
Uzi
Hadad, Orly Gershoni-Yahalom, William E. Browne, Caroline
V. Palmer, Benyamin Rosental, Nikki Traylor-Knowles. Functional
Characterization of Hexacorallia Phagocytic Cells. Frontiers in
Immunology, 2021; 12 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.662803 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817193039.htm

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