Probiotics May Help Coral -

Probiotics May Help Halt Coral Disease Devastating Caribbean Reefs

New study shows promising results using naturally occurring bacteria to treat stony coral tissue loss disease.

FORT PIERCE, FL – [June 7, 2025] — Scientists have successfully used a probiotic treatment to slow the spread of a deadly coral disease threatening Caribbean reefs, offering a potential new tool in the fight to save one of the ocean’s most vital ecosystems.

In a groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Marine Science, researchers from the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce and partner institutions reported that a naturally occurring bacterium—Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain McH1-7—significantly reduced tissue loss in great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) colonies infected with stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD).

SCTLD, first observed off Florida in 2014, spreads rapidly and affects more than 30 species of reef-building corals. The disease has since moved throughout the Caribbean, raising alarms about widespread reef decline. Traditional treatments like amoxicillin offer only temporary relief and must be frequently reapplied. In contrast, the probiotic offers a potentially longer-lasting and more sustainable approach.

“This created a little mini-aquarium that kept the probiotics around each coral colony,” said Dr. Valerie Paul, head scientist at the Smithsonian Marine Station and lead study co-author.

During a two-and-a-half-year field trial off Fort Lauderdale, scientists applied McH1-7 in two formats: a paste on diseased lesions, and a seawater solution contained within weighted plastic bags placed over coral colonies. The bag method proved most effective: corals treated this way lost only 7% of their tissue, compared to 35% in untreated controls. Surprisingly, the paste treatment resulted in even more tissue loss than control pastes.

“We’re not entirely sure why the paste worsened outcomes,” said Paul. “It’s possible high concentrations of the bacteria caused low-oxygen conditions or disrupted the coral microbiome.”

Despite those concerns, marine scientists say the bag delivery method is a breakthrough that offers a safer and potentially scalable alternative to antibiotics.

“Their approach is a safer solution than antibiotic treatments,” said Dr. Amanda Alker, a marine microbiologist at the University of Rhode Island. “It doesn’t require specialized equipment and can be widely implemented.”

Challenges remain, including determining how to scale the method across vast reef systems and tailoring probiotics to regional and species-specific differences. Researchers are exploring time-release systems and other solutions to broaden the technique’s use.

“Coral probiotics is a challenging field,” said Dr. Amy Apprill of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. “But this study marks a major advance.”

As ocean temperatures rise and coral diseases become more prevalent, researchers believe probiotic strategies like these will become essential tools in reef conservation.

Editor’s Note: Why This Matters to Recreational Scuba Divers
Stony coral tissue loss disease is one of the most serious threats facing Caribbean reefs—some of the most popular dive destinations in the world. Divers play a crucial role in safeguarding these ecosystems. This research underscores the importance of decontaminating dive gear between sites to prevent spreading SCTLD. It also offers hope that emerging science, including field-deployable probiotics, could help preserve the vibrant underwater environments that divers treasure. Awareness, responsible diving practices, and support for reef science are more critical than ever.

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