MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of bacteria from Acropora cervicornis samples with White Band Disease

Abstract

White Band Disease (WBD) is one of the most harmful coral syndromes in the Caribbean, deteriorating the structure of many corals during the eighties and nineties. Since its etiology is not entirely known, the use of techniques aimed a t identifying the associated agents could provide an approach to the composition of the populations involved in the deterioration of A. cervicornis. Therefore, this research's objective was to isolate and characterize bacteria associated with WBD in A. cervicornis from hanging nurseries of Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park, Colombia, using MALDI-TO F MS and PCR. The results showed the presence of Bacillus cereus bacteria in individuals with bleaching signs from nurseries and transplant areas on Isla Tesoro and Isla Ceiner. One of these strains sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed was closely related t o Bacillus thuringiensis, with similarities of up to 99%. The presence of B. cereus could indicate a special relationship between this microorganism and WBD. However, it is imperative to carry out more studies on identifying the bacteria associated with this disease to support these findings.