Welcome to Marine Microbial Symbioses

• Submit an abstract to our AMSA Session (Cairns, Aug 7-11 2022)

   Title: Marine microbial symbiosis: connecting current trends and future perspectives Chair(s):  Kate Quigley (Australian Institute of Marine Science)  Matthew Nitschke (Australian Institute of Marine Science)  Cheong Xin Chan (Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland)  Madeleine van Oppen (Australian Institute of Marine Science & University of Melbourne)  Yun Kit Yeoh (Australian Institute of Marine Science) Inka Vanwonterghem (University of Queensland) Description: …

  21 February, 2022
• Wing wins two awards

    BioSciences Community Engagement Excellence Award 2021. Botany Foundation Women in Science of the Environment Fellowship (WISE) 2021

  6 August, 2021
• Madeleine and Linda successful in ARC Discovery Grant 2021-2023

  Our partner investigator on the grant is Asst Prof Nikki Traylor-Knowles from the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, USA. Summary of the work: "This project aims to decipher the functions of coral-associated bacteria by taking advantage of low-diversity microbiomes that are naturally found in some coral species. A further aim is to unveil the importance of bacterial genome …

  20 November, 2020
• PhDone! Congratulations Giada.

  From all of us here at the Marine Microbial Symbioses group, we'd like to congratulate Giada on completing her PhD! Giada is incredibly dedicated and has committed herself to her research, being awarded the opportunity to travel to Cambridge during her studies and winning the Ethel McLennan Award in 2019. Thank you for your hard work and contributions to the field, …

  21 September, 2020
• Congratulations, Ashley!

  On behalf of the Marine Microbial Symbioses group, we'd like to say a huge congratulations to Ashley Dungan who presented her PhD Thesis completion seminar today via Zoom. Ashley is an irreplaceable presence in our community, and has consistently approached her research with passion, enthusiasm and rigour. Her contributions to the field of coral bleaching research are invaluable, and we …

  18 August, 2020
• Well done, Justin!

  Well done to Justin, one of our post-docs, whose final paper from his PhD has just been published in PNAS! Justin's PhD focused on the obligate symbiosis between a major crop pest, the cereal weevil Sitophilus, and its bacterial endosymbiont, Sodalis pierantonius. You can find the paper here.  

  29 July, 2020
• Kelly’s puppies!

  We are very excited to announce that our beloved lab dog, Kelly, gave birth to four beautiful golden retriever pups on Monday! All of the pups (3 girls and 1 boy) are healthy and happy, and Kelly is taking great care of them. ​

  10 July, 2020 News
• Congratulations Linda

  Congratulations to group leader Professor Linda Blackall, who was elected to the Australian Academy of Science! Linda was one of 20 scientists elected to the Academy this year, all recognised for their outstanding contributions to science and their fields.

  25 May, 2020 News
• Weekly meetings, COVID-19 style

  We've had to make some adjustments with the new COVID-19 restrictions, but everyone has been up to the challenge.

  20 April, 2020 News

Fundamentals of Cnidarian Microbe Symbioses

We examine how the host and symbionts recognise one another and maintain a functional cohabitation, how microbial communities vary in space and time, how they are transmitted from one host generation to the next, and the functional roles of host-associated microbes.

Engineering of Coral Photosymbionts

We use experimental evolution to enhance the thermal tolerance of the coral photosymbionts, Symbiodiniaceae, with the aim to increase the climate resilience of corals.

Coral Probiotics

We study the potential to augment the capacity of keystone coral taxa to tolerate stress through the manipulation of their associated prokaryotic communities, akin to probiotics in other animals.

Engineering Corals for Climate Resilience

We explore a range of approaches targeted at the coral host animal with the aim of enhancing coral climate resilience, including interspecific and intraspecific hybridisation, assisted gene flow, and conditioning (epigenetic programming).

Symbiodiniaceae-bacterial symbioses

We study  Symbiodiniaceae (Breviolum minutum)-bacterial symbioses using Imaging (mass spectrometry imaging, fluorescence in situ hybridization via fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy) to explore bacterial localization, cellular heterogeneity, cell-to-cell signalling, and general chemical dynamics and Microfluidics (fluorescence microscopy and high-speed imaging to track and quantify the motion of fluorescently labelled bacteria) to interrogate bacterial responses to linear gradients of algal exudates.

Microbial Corrosion

Microbiologically influenced corrosion of metal surfaces in marine environments leads to corrosion rates of up to several millimetres per year. We use metagenomics to determine the corroding microbial community structure and their metabolic properties.

• Academics

  Madeleine van Oppen

  I was originally trained in marine ecology, developed as an ecological geneticist post-BSc and began to study corals in 1997 and coral-associated microorganism in 2000. My microbial studies were initially limited to the dinoflagellate endosymbionts of corals, but more recently I have ventured into the study of other microbial groups that inhabit corals, including prokaryotes, viruses, and fungi.

  My group’s current research focuses on the field of coral reef restoration, in particular the development of coral stock better able to cope with disturbed environments and predicted future ocean conditions (assisted evolution). This includes the manipulation of microbial communities associated with corals, laboratory evolution of algal endosymbionts, selective breeding of corals, and the conditioning of corals to predicted future ocean conditions.

  I completed my PhD on the molecular biogeography of seaweeds at the University of Groningen (Netherlands) in 1995, and subsequently conducted postdoctoral positions at the University of East Anglia, UK (speciation in cichlid fishes), and James Cook University, Australia (Molecular relationships in the coral genus Acropora, and Genetic diversity and specificity of acroporid coral-dinoflagellate symbioses). In 2001, I took up a position at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), Townsville. I commenced my position as a professor in the School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, in 2015, while still maintaining a part-time position as Senior Principal Research Scientist at AIMS. I currently hold an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship (2019-2023).

  E-mail: madeleine.van@unimelb.edu.au                         Link to AIMS page

   

  Linda Blackall

  Linda is an environmental microbial ecologist, who has studied many different complex microbial communities ranging from host associated through to free living in numerous environments. Her research has covered mammalian microbiomes of marsupials, humans, ruminants and horses; and the microbiota of non-mammals including corals and sponges. Environmental microbiomes explored in Linda’s research span wastewater treatment (aerobic and anaerobic), solid waste digestion (landfill and composting), bioelectric systems and microbiologically influenced corrosion. The numerous methods she develops and employs in her research allow elucidation of microbial complexity and function in these diverse biomes.

  E-mail: linda.blackall@unimelb.edu.au

   

• Postdoctoral researchers

  Pranali Deore

  

  Pranali's current research centres around the understanding of symbiotic interactions between algal dinoflagellate and bacterial species that are crucial for coral health. She uses a range of advanced visualisation and biophysical techniques to study coral dinoflagellate and bacterial associations. Her previous research experiences broadly involved the study of microalgal photosynthesis, phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions and microalgal transgenics.

  Pranali holds a joint PhD degree in Applied Biology from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, India and Monash University, Australia. Apart from being a scientist, Pranali is an intermediate-level yogi and a decent cyclist.

  E-mail: pranali.deore@unimelb.edu.au

   Ashley Dungan

  

  I completed my PhD in late 2020 on the feasibility of bacterial probiotics in mitigating climate change in cnidarians at The University of Melbourne with Profs. van Oppen and Blackall. In early 2021 I transitioned to a research fellow position in the same group. My research interests are in applied microbiology strategies to enhance resilience to climate change. Specifically, my current research looks to understand the functions of individual bacterial species in their symbiosis with coral and to manipulate those functions to promote coral survival during periods of thermal stress.

  Outside of research, I am an advocate for equity in science opportunities for women, members of the LGTBIA+ community, people of colour, Indigenous community members, minorities, people with disabilities, and anyone else who has ever felt that they do not belong. I serve as co-Chair of the People and Culture Committee (UoM) and am a member of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME) Early Career Scientist Committee.

  https://twitter.com/Symb10sis

  https://www.ashleydungan.com/

  E-mail: ashley.dungan@unimelb.edu.au

  Patrick Buerger

  Patrick is a molecular ecologist at Macquarie University currently based at the University of Melbourne, with a research focus on coral resilience to climate change. Using omics technologies and comparative genomics, he investigates genomic adaptations and their impact on the thermal tolerance of corals and their algal symbionts. Current projects include genome and transcriptome sequencing of heat evolved algal symbionts to identify molecular mechanisms that support an increased thermal tolerance. Previously, Patrick worked as a postdoctoral fellow with CSIRO's Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform and the University of Melbourne, and completed his PhD in Marine Science at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, Australia.

  If Patrick is not in the laboratory, he is passionate about innovative technologies that improve environmental conservation and science communication.

  E-mail: patrick.buerger@mq.edu.au

  Wing Chan

  

  My research focuses on coral reef conservation and restoration. I commenced my postdoc at the University of Melbourne in 2019 and my project examines the feasibility of enhancing coral climate resilience via the introduction of resilient microalgal endosymbionts. I completed my PhD at the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the University of Melbourne, exploring the potential of hybridization as a tool for coral reef conservation.

  My Honours Degree at the Australian National University investigated the calcification responses of corals to diurnal variation in seawater carbonate chemistry. Other than coral reefs, I have also been involved in research on marine micro-plastics, radioactive dating, and isotope analysis. Outside the office, I am passionate about science outreach and aviation, and serve as a helicopter flight instructor.

  E-mail: w.chan@unimelb.edu.au

   Justin Maire

  I am originally from Lyon, France, where I completed all my studies. I did both my master’s and my PhD under the supervision of Dr’s Abdelaziz Heddi and Anna Zaidman-Rémy, and worked on the obligate symbiosis between the cereal weevil Sitophilus and its bacterial endosymbiont Sodalis pierantonius. S. pierantonius provides its insect host with vitamins and amino acids, allowing Sitophilus to thrive exclusively on cereals. As such, Sitophilus is considered as a major crop pest around the world. In a first project, I investigated the mechanisms preventing a chronic host immune activation because of the constant association with immunogenic bacteria. Then, I studied how this association is modulated across the insect's lifecycle, particularly during metamorphosis.

  In 2019, I joined Prof. Madeleine van Oppen’s lab in Melbourne for my first postdoc. My project is part of the important effort to enhance coral’s climate resilience through assisted evolution. My projects involve the identification and characterization of closely-associated bacterial symbionts of Symbiodiniaceae and cnidarians, and in fine the genetic engineering of those symbionts to improve stress resistance in the coral holobiont.

  E-mail: justin.maire@unimelb.edu.au

• Postgraduate researchers

  PhD Candidates 

  Cecile Ravn Gøtze

  Originally from Denmark, I have always been surrounded by a long coastline which early on sparked a life-long penchant for the sea. Following a career in design and tailoring, I decided to pursue a more engaging and satisfying career path and so I completed my Master’s degree in Microbial Ecology at the University of Copenhagen. Inspired by findings on the importance of the gut microbiome in mammalian health, I have since become fascinated with studying microbial activity and coral-associated microbes through microsensor and genetic approaches.

  It has long been known that corals are comprised of a wide array of microorganisms, although a lotremains unknown about the interplay between microbial partners and coral host.Under the supervision of Prof Madeleine van Oppen, Prof Linda Blackall and Dr. Lone Høj the majority of my graduate research will be carried out at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, AIMS. Here, I will try to decipher coral microbiome interactions and function by studying the minimal microbiome, which constitutes the smallest subset of coral-associated symbiont on which the host depends for its survival.

  E-mail: c.ravngtze@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Talisa Doering

  I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Free University in Berlin, Germany, but I conducted the research for my undergraduate thesis at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany. There, I worked in the research unit ofMarine Evolutionary Ecology andanalysed the transgenerational phenotypic plasticity of marine sticklebacks to simulated climate change. Afterwards, I completed my Master of Science in Biological Oceanography at Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel. During my master thesis in the unit Marine Symbioses at GEOMAR and Phuket Marine Biological Center, Thailand,I tested whether a coral microbiome transplantation procedure using a fresh tissue homogenate of heat tolerant donor colonies of Pocilloporaverrucosa can increase coral bleaching resilience of heat sensitive conspecifics. After my studies, I continued to work as a research assistant at GEOMAR and performed a similar study with Porites lutea colonies. 

  I started my PhD at the end of 2019 under the supervision of Prof.’s Madeleine van Oppen, Linda Blackall and David Francis. My research aims at developing successful bacterial probiotics and probiotic techniques that enhance coral bleaching resilience. I am working with the sea anemone Exaiptasiadiaphana and one coral species, Galaxeafascicularis.

  E-mail: tdoring@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Rania Ismail

  (Information to come)

  Hugo Scharfenstein

  Originally from Paris, France, I pursued my tertiary studies in the UK where I completed a BSc in Biology at the University of Bristol, followed by a MSc in Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh. After my studies, I worked at the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research in Porto, Portugal, on the discovery of marine natural products in cyanobacteria. During this time I started to investigate the capacity of free-living Symbiodiniaceae to form symbiolites (i.e., microbialites containing Symbiodiniaceae cells).

  I joined the Marine Microbial Symbioses group in early 2020 as a PhD candidate under the supervision of Professor Madeleine van Oppen. I am currently based at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, where my research is focused on establishing new symbioses between aposymbiotic corals and heat stress tolerant Symbiodiniaceae that were previously developed through experimental evolution. These bioengineered corals will be tested for improved bleaching resilience at elevated temperatures, in the hope of developing a new approach for coral reef conservation and adaptation.

  E-mail: hscharfenste@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Allison Mertin

  

   I completed a Bachelor of Conservation Biology in 2019 at the University of Wollongong, Australia, in my honours year I investigated the culturable seed mycobiome of two Banksia species from the Sydney Basin Bioregion.

  Even though I work with plants, the tools and techniques to study microbial symbioses are similar, whether they be in marine, freshwater or terrestrial ecosystems and so in 2020 I pursued a PhD jointly with the Marine Microbial Symbioses lab and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney under the supervision of Prof Linda Blackall, Douglas Brumley, Marlien van der Merwe and Edward Liew.

  My research uses Next Generation Sequencing, microfluidics and greenhouse experiments to describe the bacteria and fungi within seed from native Australian plants and explore their plant growth promoting potential. I am particularly interested in applying this knowledge to improving the outcomes of restoration programmes.

  I am also a keen bushwalker with an interest in ceramics and design, which I studied prior to finding my pathway to science.

  amertin@student.unimelb.edu.au

  twitter @AllisonMertin

  Master students

  Isini Buthgamuwa

  

  I graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Microbiology. I had been interested in pursuing a career in environmental microbiology throughout my undergraduate degree, so I volunteered in this laboratory over my summer break and throughout the final year of my degree. This sparked my interest in marine microbiology, and I really wanted to explore the field further.

  Hence, I continued my studies with the Master of Science (Biosciences) under the supervision of Dr Justin Maire, Prof Madeleine van Oppen and Prof Linda Blackall. My research project assesses the feasibility of experimental evolution for coral-associated bacteria in improving coral thermal bleaching tolerance, and I therefore aim to experimentally evolve coral bacteria belonging to the Endozoicomonas genus using oxidative stress conditions to enhance antioxidant capabilities.

  E-mail: ibuthgamuwa@student.unimelb.edu.au

• Staff

  Sarah Jane Tsang Min Ching – Lab manager & Research assistant

  

  Originally from the tropical island Mauritius, I completed my Bachelor of Science at Northeastern University in Boston, USA with a double major in Marine Biology and Environmental Science with a concentration in Wildlife Studies. I joined the Marine Microbial Symbiosis group in early 2019 as a Master of Science (BioSciences) candidate under the supervision of Professor Madeleine van Oppen and Drs Wing Chan and Patrick Buerger. During that time, I investigated the physiological performance of cnidarian animals that associate with different types of lab-evolved Symbiodiniaceae and determined the potential trade-offs that could result from establishing symbiosis with those algal symbionts.

  After the completion of my MSc at the end of 2020, I stayed on with the Marine Microbial Symbiosis group as the Lab Manager and I was also appointed as the Research Assistant for the Bacterial-Algal Symbiosis project funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. As the Lab Manager, I oversee many tasks and responsibilities including, but not limited to, the proper functioning and maintenance of equipment and infrastructure, ensuring compliance and that all biosafety documentation are up to date, the coordination of purchases, and the training of new lab members. As the Research Assistant, I am responsible for the culturing and maintenance of our study organisms which include several bacterial species as well as the Symbiodiniaceae Breviolum minutum. I also work closely with the appointed Research Associate, Dr. Pranali Deore, assisting her with any tasks in our investigation of the symbiotic formation and maintenance between bacteria and dinoflagellate endosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae) of corals.

  Email: s.tsangminching@unimelb.edu.au

  Rumi Sakamoto – Research assistant

  

  Originally from Japan, I completed a Bachelor of Science with a major in Environmental Science at the University of Melbourne in 2019. During my undergraduate studies, I gained interest in the conservation, sustainability, and diversity of species under climate change scenarios. From the beginning of 2020, I started studying the Master of Science (BioSciences) under the supervision of Prof. Madeleine van Oppen and Dr. Wing Chan. My research investigated the interaction between cnidarian hosts and photosynthetic algae (Symbiodiniaceae) under elevated temperatures. I studied the impacts of elevated temperatures on sea anemones associated with heat-evolved Symbiodiniaceae strains from the measurements of photosynthetic performance, respiration rate, and metabolite composition.

  After completing the Master's degree in 2021, I started working as a research assistant at the Marine Microbial Symbiosis Lab. As a research assistant, I take care of the marine organisms in the lab, such as corals and Symbiodiniaceae cultures. At the same time, I take part in various projects by helping postdoctoral researchers, PhD and Masters students in the lab.

  Email: rumi.sakamoto@unimelb.edu.au

  Kelly – Lab Dog

  Kelly is a six-year-old golden retriever. While in the office she specialises in mental health and emotional support. She is a recent retiree from the breeding program with Seeing Eye Dogs Vision Australia, where she had three litters of puppies (16 total puppies). Her babes have gone on to distinguishedcareers as seeing eye dogs, assistance dogs with Integra, or as pet dogs. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys sleeping on the couch and playing fetch with her mom Ashley.

  Email: Ashley.dungan@unimelb.edu.au

  Ocean – Lab Dog

  

  Ocean is a three-year-old Labrador retriever whose full time job is as a breeding dog for Seeing Eye Dogs Vision Australia. Elite Seeing Eye Dogs are sourced from SEDs own “in-house” breeding program. She had her first litter of six puppies on 30 June 2022. Ocean lives and goes to work with Ashley and big sis Kelly. See SEDs breeder caring web page for more information. On her days off, Ocean loves to chase birds, eat carrots, and play tug with Kelly.

  E-mail: info@seda.org.au

• Alumni

  Camila Pintos – Former MSc student

  

  I completed a Bachelor of Biotechnology in 2017 in my home country, Paraguay. Here, I was involved in research projects in the field of environmental and industrial biotechnology, studying the bioprospecting capabilities of isolated bacteria. After that I completed the Master of Biotechnology at The University of Melbourne under the supervision of Prof. Linda Blackall. My project used metabarcoding analysis to screen microbial species present in river samples from the Murray-Darling Basin togain understanding about the ecosystem. My research interests are in the field of applied microbial diversity and bioprospection.

  Giada Tortorelli – Former PhD student

  

  I received my BSc in Marine Biology and my MSc in Biodiversity and Evolution from the Alma Mater Studiorium University of Bologna, Italy. As a master and then postgraduate student, I investigated the impacts of global warming on the reproduction of a scleractinian temperate coral along a natural temperature and solar radiation gradient; it is here that I developed a deep interest and passion in coral biology. As a PhD candidate in the Marine Microbial Symbioses Group at the University of Melbourne, I work under the supervision of Prof McFadden, Prof van Oppen and Prof Davy. My focus is the symbiosis between Cnidarian and Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates that power coral reefs, using the anemone Exaiptasia diaphana as model organism to study corals. I am interested in the initial steps during the establishment of this mutualistic association: based on the hypothesis that Symbiodiniaceae endosymbionts and Apicomplexa parasites arose from a common ancestor that invented a powerful recognition system and mechanisms for invading and surviving in the host, my main aim is to investigate the inter-partner signalling and molecular events that allow recognition between host and photosymbionts in the setup of symbiosis.

  Ashley Dungan – Former PhD student and Research Assistant

  

  Originally from NY, USA, I completed my Bachelors of Science degree in Biology in 2011, conducting a senior research project in the field of environmental microbiology. I completed my Master’s degree at Nova Southeastern University in Florida under Dr. Nicole Fogarty, where I studied the impact of ocean acidification on the calcification of Caribbean adult and juvenile corals. After graduating in 2015, I worked for Mote Marine Laboratory in the Florida Keys as a Staff Chemist in the Ocean Acidification program; there I continued my work with corals and began working with Diadema antillarum, the long-spined sea urchin. Beginning early 2017, I joined Prof.’s Madeleine van Oppen and Linda Blackall at the University of Melbourne as a Ph.D student. My current research focuses on developing a bacterial probiotic to mitigate coral bleaching and assessing the efficacy of that probiotic using the model organism for corals, Exaiptasia diaphana. My research interests are in the field of climate change, coral reef ecosystems, and assisted evolution.

  Giulia Holland – Former Research Assistant

  

  I completed my Bachelor of Science at The University of Melbourne, majoring in marine biology with a broad interest in ecology and climate change. Having completed a research project at the Marine Microbial Symbiont Facility during my undergraduate degree where I characterised the bacterial communities in Exaiptasia diaphana, I now work as a research assistant at the MMSF. Here, I am helping to characterise the prokaryotic microbiome of the corals Plesiastrea verispora and Galaxea spp., through the collection of pure cultures and metabarcoding. In 2019, I began a Master of Environment at The University of Melbourne.

  Ruby Vanstone – Former MSc student and Research Assistant

  

  Leon Hartman – Former PhD Student

  Microbial communities hosted by cnidarians show evidence of both dynamism and stability, with change suggestive of adaptation by the holobiont to environmental stress. My research investigates whether Exaiptasia diaphana's thermal tolerance can be enhanced through manipulation of its prokaryotic communities. Comparison of metabolite production by thermally stressed anemones inoculated with native and manipulated communities will be used to measure the effect of this approach.

  E-mail: leon.hartman@unimelb.edu.au

  Katarina Damjanovic – Former PhD Student and Research Assistant

  After completing both Bachelor and Masters degrees in Life Sciences at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (Switzerland), I started my PhD in October 2015 at the University of Melbourne. The major part of my research is conducted at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, where I investigate the feasibility of manipulating coral-associated bacteria (with the aim to enhance coral stress tolerance). Focusing on the corals Acropora tenuis and Platygyra daedalea (both broadcast spawners), as well as Pocillopora acuta (also a brooder), my experiments consist in inoculating early life stages of these corals with microbiomes and assessing the efficiency and persistence of the inoculations. Larvae and recruits exposed to various microbes are reared under controlled conditions and their microbiomes are regularly characterised through 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. I also use fluorescence in situ hybridisation microscopy to gain insights into the transmission modes of bacteria in A. tenuis and P. acuta.

  E-mail: kdamjanovic@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Keren Maor-Landaw – Former Postdoctoral Researcher

  My post-doctoral studies focus on membrane transporters that are crucial to the cnidarian-Symbiodiniaceae symbiotic relationship. The symbiotic algae provide energy by transferring their photosynthetic production to the host and in return derive benefits from the host in the form of nutrients and shelter. Successful exchange of compounds through membranes is a fundamental key feature enabling the effective partnership and must be facilitated by proteins in the cellular membranes of each of the partners as well as in the symbiosome interface.

  As a PhD student in Bar Ilan University, Israel, supervised by Prof. Oren Levy, I explored how corals respond to climate change and which cellular processes are involved during environmental stress. I compared the gene expression response of corals possessing different morphologies and corals from different ecosystems – sub tropical to temperate corals.

  My MSc at Haifa University, Israel, under the supervision of Prof. Dan Tchernov and Prof. Sarit Larisch, was focused on the apoptotic enzyme Caspase 3 in a Mediterranean coral following an ocean acidification scenario, and its correlation to a unique ecophenotye.

  E-mail: keren.maor@unimelb.edu.au

  Hannah Epstein – Former PhD Student

  I am a PhD candidate at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at JCU and the Australian Institute of Marine Science under the supervision of Prof. Madeleine van Oppen, Prof. Philip Munday and Dr. Gergely Torda. My research explores the main drivers of community composition in the coral microbiome to inform the development of microbiome engineering techniques that may enhance climate resilience in corals. My project is part of a larger collaborative study led by Madeleine van Oppen and Ruth Gates (Hawai’i Institute of Marine Science) researching assisted evolution approaches for corals in the face of climate change.

  Hannah completed her PhD in October 2018 and is now a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Victoria, Canada.

  E-mail: hannah.epstein@my.jcu.edu.au

  Leela Chakravarti – Former PhD Student

  Leela has completed her PhD in February 2019, working on the thermal tolerance of coral-associated algal photosymbionts.

  E-mail: leelajchakravarti@gmail.com

  Sam Girvan – Former Masters Student

  With a keen interest in marine biology and genetics I completed my Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne with a double major in zoology and marine biology. I finished my Masters of Bioscience degree in 2019 under the supervision of Dr.'s Patrick Buerger and Madeleine van Oppen at the University of Melbourne. My research project aimed to discover whether the algae-associated bacterial communities have evolved alongside the algae, potentially allowing the observed increase in algal thermal tolerance determined from previous studies.

  E-mail: sgirvan@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Roy Belderock – Former Masters Student

  I completed my masters at University of Amsterdam. My main interests are conservation genetics, adaptation and symbiotic interactions in reef ecosystems. Especially the interest in symbiotic interactions is what brought me to this lab.

  In the past I gained experience studying reproductive isolation in Caribbean giant barrel sponges by applying histological techniques in combination with DNA barcoding. At the Marine Microbial Symbiont Facility, I expanded on that skill set with Symbiodiniaceae reinfection experiments on Exaiptasia diaphana. In addition, I also worked on inducing sexual reproduction of E. diaphana. The larvae could help the team to study the Symbiodiniaceae recognition pathway in early life stages.

  E-mail: roy.belderok@unimelb.edu.au

  Gabriela Lozano Rodriguez – Former Research Assistant

  I am passionate about working to preserve the environment and have worked on a number of projects in this field. Before moving to Australia to study a Master of Biotechnology at the University of Melbourne, I spent five years working in environmental, chemical and pharmaceutical industries in Mexico. My earlier research projects have related to the purification, structural elucidation and mechanism of action of toxins produced by fire coral (Millepora alcicornis) to understand its potential medicinal applications. I am currently working as a Research Assistant at the Marine Microbial Symbioses Group at the University of Melbourne where I am working to develop a spawning protocol for multiple genotypes of coral. I love the outdoors and spend as much time as I can hiking and playing flag football.

  E-mail: alozano@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Sanjida Halim Topa – Research Assistant

  

  I am originally from Bangladesh. I came to Melbourne to pursue my doctoral degree in late 2013 after finishing bachelor’s in pharmacy. I completed my PhD in early 2018 from Swinburne University of Technology under supervision of Professor Linda Blackall. My PhD thesis was entitled “Quorum quenching processes through surface treatments”. My research focused on a crucial problem of biomedical science; biofilm formation (one of the phenotypes of bacterial quorum sensing) which is one of the major reasons for development of antibiotic resistance and implant device failure in biomedical science. I have been involved in different industry funded research projects in Swinburne focusing on antimicrobial resistance since then.

  Currently I am working as a research assistant in Professor Madeleine van Oppen’s lab in the field of coral and this mostly includes the microbial communities associated with corals. 

  E-mail: sanjida.topa@unimelb.edu.au

  Luka Meyers – Former Honours Student and Research Assistant

  

  I completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Marine Science and Management at Southern Cross University, in Northern NSW. With a keen interest in marine invertebrates, I took a semester off my studies to research the ecology and behaviour of two exploited Holothuroid species (Stichopus vastus and Thelenota anax) at Lizard Island Research Station. I began working with corals when I joined Prof. Peter Harrison’s team as a research assistant. The work involved collecting and rearing coral spawn in the field and at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), releasing the cultured larvae back onto degraded reefs and monitoring recruitment. In 2020, I was selected by Dr. Wing Chan to determine the effect of ocean acidification on the skeletal structure of hybrid and purebred coral recruits using 3D X-ray microscopy and scanning electron microscopy at the Centre of Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (CMCA) in Perth. Earlier this year, I joined the Marine Microbial Symbiosis group as a research assistant, where I maintain coral stocks and assist on a variety of experiments.

  Email: luka.meyers@unimelb.edu.au

  Karla Heric – Former Masters Student

  I studied a Bachelor of Science with a major in Genetics at The University of Melbourne. During my undergraduate studies, I completed a summer research internship at CSIRO, where I observed how genetic technologies are being implemented to preserve ecosystems, strengthening my interest in environmental conservation. I am currently studying a Master of Science (Biosciences) supervised by Madeleine van Oppen and Justin Maire. My research project focuses on the symbiosis between coral algae and their associated bacteria, and aims to characterise the function of bacterial strains believed to play a role in algal climate resistance.

  E-mail: kheric@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Annika Lamb – Former PhD Student

  I am interested in using genetic and molecular approaches to better understand and inform the conservation of wildlife. I completed my Bachelor of Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Science (Hons) majoring in Genetics and Ecology and Conservation at Monash University. During my Honours year, I investigated whether the mitochondrial genomes of Australian birds have evolved under climate-driven selection.

  I began my PhD in 2018, supervised by Madeleine van Oppen, Peter Harrison, Ary Hoffmann and Craig Humphrey. My research investigates interspecific hybridisation as a novel option for reef management, particularly in the context of producing more resilient coral stock (compared to the native stock) for coral reef restoration initiatives.

  E-mail: amlamb@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Tara Sharma – Former Masters Student

  I completed my BSc in Physics and Genetics, and an Honours in Genetics, at the University of Western Australia. My honours project involved developing a computational pipeline to differentiate members of the Bemisia tabaci cryptic species complex using nanopore sequencing data. This sparked an interest in the field of bioinformatics, and so I decided to study it further.

  Currently, I am in the MSc (Bioinformatics) program at the University of Melbourne. My project, under the supervision of Dr. Patrick Buerger and Dr. Rahul Rane, is to compare and analyse the transcriptomes of heat-evolved Symbiodiniaceae strains.

  tsshar@student.unimelb.edu.au

  John Boikov – Former Masters Student

  From the US by way of Brisbane and New Zealand I hold a Bachelors in Science (Biology and Statistics) and Masters in Bioscience Enterprise from The University of Auckland.  Metabolomics was the discipline in which I was “baptised by acetone” at the Villas-Boas lab, University of Auckland. Subsequently I forayed into the business of Nanotechnology and Consumer Healthcare. I am now studying the Masters in Bioinformatics at the University of Melbourne under the supervision of Professor Madeleine van Oppen and Dr. Patrick Buerger, my research involves genomic analysis of Symbiodiniaceae samples bred under different heat stress regimens.  

  E-mail: jboikov@student.unimelb.edu.au

  Emily Flynn – Former Masters Student

  I completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, with a major in genetics. I've always had an interest in both cell biology and conservation biology so I decided to continue my studies through a Master of Science (Biosciences) under the supervision of Madeleine van Oppen and Wing Chan. My research project is investigating whether it is possible to induce sexual reproduction in the algal symbiont Symbiodininaceae as a way to accelerate experimental evolution.

  E-mail: ecflynn@student.unimelb.edu.au

  ShiQi Guo – Former Masters Student

  I am originally from China and completed a major in marine biology at the University of Melbourne in 2020. After some volunteering experiences in laboratory, I explored my interest in understanding the physiological processes underlying the ecological phenomenon. I am currently studying a Master of Bioscience, supervised by Madeleine van Oppen, Linda Backall and Ashley Dungan. My research project focuses on the metabolic interactions between sea anemone (Exaiptasia diaphana, a model organism for corals) and its symbiotic bacteria, and aims to understand the functions of bacterial symbionts in the coral host and their effects on coral physiology.

  E-mail: shiqig2@student.unimelb.edu.au

Recent Publications

2022

McLeod IM, Hein MY, Babcock R, Bay L, Bourne DG, Cook N, Doropoulos C, Gibbs M, Harrison P, Lockie S, van Oppen MJH, Mattocks N, Page CA, Randall CJ, Smith A, Smith HA, Suggett DJ, Taylor B, Vella KJ, Wachenfeld D, Boström-Einarsson L (2022) Coral restoration and adaptation in Australia: The first five years. PLoS ONE, 17(11): e0273325. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273325

van Oppen MJH, Raina J-B (2022) Coral holobiont research needs spatial analyses at the microbial scale. Environmental Microbiology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.16237.

van Oppen MJH, Coleman MA (2022) Advancing the protection of marine life through genomics. PLoS Biology, 20(10): e3001801. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001801.

Salazar OR, Arun PN, Cui G, Bay LK, van Oppen MJH, Webster NS, Aranda M (2022) The coral Acropora loripes genome reveals an alternative pathway for cysteine biosynthesis in animals. Science Advances, 8, eabq0304

Chen Y, Shah S, Dougan KE, van Oppen MJH, Bhattacharya D, Chan CX (2022) Improved Cladocopium goreaui genome assembly reveals features of a facultative coral symbiont and the complex evolutionary history of dinoflagellate genes, Microorganisms, 10, 1662. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10081662

Hobbs RJ, O’Brien JK, Bay L, Severati A, Spindler R, Henley M, Quigley K, Randall C, van Oppen MJH, Hagedorn M, Daly J (2022) A decade of coral biobanking science in Australia – transitioning into applied reef restoration. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 960470..

Buerger P, Vanstone RT, Maire J, van Oppen MJH (2022) Long‐term heat selection of the coral endosymbiont    Cladocopium C1^acro (Symbiodiniaceae) stabilizes associated bacterial communities. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23, 4913. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094913.

Howells EJ, Hagedorn M, van Oppen MJH, Burt JA (2022) Challenges of sperm cryopreservation in transferring heat adaptation of corals across ocean basins. PeerJ, 10:e13395. http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.13395.

Deore P, Wanigasuriya I, Ching SJTM, Brumley DR, van Oppen MJH, Blackall LL, Hinde E (2022) Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM): a non-traditional approach to study host-microbial symbioses. Microbiology Australia, 43(1), 22–27. doi:10.1071/MA22008.

Maire J, Buerger P, Chan WY, Deore P, Dungan AM, Nitschke MR, van Oppen MJH (2022) Effects of ocean warming on the underexplored members of the coral microbiome. Integrative and Comparative Biology, icac005. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icac005.

Dungan AM, Maire J, Perez-Gonzalez A, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH (2022) Lack of evidence for the oxidative stress theory of bleaching in the sea anemone, Exaiptasia diaphana, under elevated temperature. Coral Reefs, 41, 1161-1172. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-022-02251-w.

Quigley KM, van Oppen MJH (2022) Predictive models for the selection of thermally tolerant corals based on offspring survival. Nature Communications,13, 1543. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28956-8.

Tsang Min Ching SJ, Chan WY, Perez-Gonzalez A, Hillyer KE, Buerger P, van Oppen MJH (2022) Colonization and metabolite profiles of homologous, heterologous and experimentally evolved algal symbionts in the sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana. ISME Communications, 2, 30. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43705-022-00114-7.

Dungan AM, Hatman LM, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH (2022) Exploring microbiome engineering as a strategy for improved thermal tolerance in Exaiptasia diaphana. J Applied Microbiology, DOI: 10.1111/jam.15465.

Suggett DJ, van Oppen MJH (2022) Horizon scan of rapidly advancing coral restoration approaches for 21^st century reef management. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20210240.

Scharfenstein HJ, Chan WY, Buerger P, Humphrey C, van Oppen MJH (2022) Evidence for de novo acquisition of microalgal symbionts by bleached adult corals. ISME J, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-022-01203-0.

Hartman LM, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH (2022) Antibiotics reduce bacterial load in Exaiptasia diaphana, but biofilms hinder its development as a gnotobiotic coral model. Access Microbiology, 4, 000314, DOI 10.1099/acmi.0.000314.

Matsuda S, Chakravarti L, Cunning R, Huffmyer A, Nelson C, Gates R, van Oppen MJH (2022) Temperature mediated acquisition of rare heterologous symbionts promotes survival of coral larvae under ocean warming. Global Change Biology, DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16057.

2021

Tortorelli G, Davy SK, van Oppen MJH, McFadden GI (2021) Cell wall proteomic analysis of the cnidarian photosymbionts Breviolum minutum and Cladocopium goreaui. J Eukaryotic Microbiology e12870. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeu.12870.

Marhoefer SB, Zenger KR, Strugnell JM, Logan M, van Oppen MJH, Kenkel CD, Bay LK (2021) Signatures of adaptation and acclimatization to reef flat and slope habitats in the coral Pocillopora damicornis. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.704709.

Bairos-Novak KR, Hoogenboom MO, van Oppen MJH, Connolly SR (2021) Coral adaptation to climate change: meta-analysis reveals high heritability across multiple traits. Global Change Biology, DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15829.

Maire J, van Oppen MJH (2021) A role for bacterial experimental Evolution in coral bleaching mitigation? Trends in Microbiology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2021.07.006.

Tortorelli G, Rautengarten C, Ebert B, Bacic A, Davy SK, van Oppen MJH, McFadden GI (2021) The cell surface carbohydrates of symbiotic dinoflagellates and their role in the establishment of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. ISME J. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-01059-w.

Dungan AM, Bulach D, Lin H, van Oppen MJH, and Blackall LL (2021) Development of a free radical scavenging probiotic to mitigate oxidative stress in cnidarians. Microbial Biotechnology. DOI:10.1111/1751-7915.13877.

Beltran VH, Puill-Stephan E, Howells E, Flores-Moya A, Doblin M, Nunez-Lara E, Escamilla V, Lopez T, van Oppen MJH (2021) Physiological diversity among sympatric, conspecific endosymbionts of coral (Cladocopium C1acro) from the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 40, 985-997.

Maire J, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH (2021) Microbiome characterization of defensive tissues in the model anemone Exaiptasia diaphana. BMC Microbiology, 21, 152.

Bongaerts P, Cooke IR, Ying H, Wels D, den Haan S, Hernandez-Agreda A, Brunner CA, Dove S, Englebert N, Eyal G, Foret S, Grinblat M, Hay KB, Harii S, Hayward DS, Lin Y, Mihaljević M, Moya A, Muir P, Sinniger F, Smallhorn-West P, Torda G, Ragan MA, van Oppen MJH, Hoegh-Guldberg O (2021) Morphological stasis masks ecologically divergent coral species on tropical reefs. Current Biology, 31, 2286-2298.

Quigley K, Marzonie M, Ramsby B, Abrego D, Milton G, van Oppen MJH, Bay LK (2021) Variability in fitness trade-offs amongst coral juveniles with mixed genetic backgrounds held in the wild. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8:636177. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.636177.

Chan WY, Oakeshott JG, Buerger P, Edwards OR, van Oppen MJH (2021) Adaptive responses of free-living and symbiotic microalgae to simulated future ocean conditions. Global Change Biology, 27, 1737-1754.

Maire J, Girvan SK, Barkla SE, Perez-Gonzalez A, Suggett DJ, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH (2021) Intracellular bacteria are common and taxonomically diverse in cultured and in hospite algal endosymbionts of coral reefs. ISME J, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00902-4.

Dungan AM, van Oppen MJH, Blackall LL (2021) Short-term exposure to sterile seawater reduces bacterial community diversity in the sea anemone, Exaiptasia diaphana. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 1249

Chan WY, Chung J, Peplow LM, Hoffmann AA, van Oppen MJH (2021) Maternal effects in gene expression of interspecific coral hybrids. Molecular Ecology, 30, 517–52.

2020

van Oppen MJH, Oakeshott JG (2020) A breakthrough in understanding the molecular basis of coral heat tolerance. PNAS, 17 (46), 28546-28548

Damjanovic K, Blackall LL, Peplow LM, van Oppen MJH. Assessment of bacterial community composition within and among Acropora loripes colonies in the wild and in captivity. Coral Reefs, 39, 1245-1255.

Cooke I, Ying H, Forêt S, Bongaerts P, Strugnell J, Simakov O, Zhang J, Field M, Hayward D, Bell S, Bourne D, van Oppen MJH, Ragan M, Miller D. 2020. Genomic signatures in the coral holobiont reveal host adaptations driven by Holocene climate change and reef specific symbionts. Science Advances, 6, eabc6318.

Blackall, LL, Dungan, AM, Hartman, LM, & van Oppen, MJH (2020). Probiotics for corals. Microbiology Australia, 41(2), 100–104.

Buerger, P, Alvarez-Roa, C, Coppin, CW, Pearce, S.L, Chakravarti, LJ, Oakeshott, JG, Edwards, OR, & van Oppen, MJH (2020). Heat-evolved microalgal symbionts increase coral bleaching tolerance. Science Advances, 6(20), eaba2498.

Chakravarti, LJ, Buerger, P, Levin, RA, & van Oppen, MJH(2020). Gene regulation underpinning increased thermal tolerance in a laboratory-evolved coral photosymbiont. Molecular Ecology, 29, 1684-1703.

Damjanovic, K, Blackall, LL, Menéndez, P, & van Oppen, MJH (2020). Bacterial and algal symbiont dynamics in early recruits exposed to two adult coral species. Coral Reefs, 39(1), 189–202.

Damjanovic, K, Menéndez, P, Blackall, LL & van Oppen, MJH (2020). Mixed-mode bacterial transmission in the common brooding coral Pocillopora acuta. Environmental Microbiology, 22(1), 397–412.

Dungan, AM, Bulach, D, Lin, H, van Oppen, MJH, & Blackall, LL (2020). Development of a free radical scavenging probiotic to mitigate coral bleaching [Preprint]. Bioengineering. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.07.02.185645

Dungan, AM, Hartman, LM, Tortorelli, G, Belderok, R, Lamb, AM, Pisan, L, McFadden, GI, Blackall, LL, & van Oppen, MJH (2020). Exaiptasia diaphana from the great barrier reef: A valuable resource for coral symbiosis research. Symbiosis, 1–12.

Hartman, LM, van Oppen, MJH & Blackall, LL (2020). The Effect of Thermal Stress on the Bacterial Microbiome of Exaiptasia diaphana. Microorganisms, 8(1), 20.

Hartman, LM, van Oppen, MJH, & Blackall, LL (2020). Microbiota characterization of Exaiptasia diaphana from the Great Barrier Reef. Animal Microbiome, 2, 1–14.

Jin, YK, Kininmonth, S, Lundgren, PB, van Oppen, MJH, & Willis, BL (2020). Predicting the spatial distribution of allele frequencies for a gene associated with tolerance to eutrophication and high temperature in the reef-building coral, Acropora millepora, on the Great Barrier Reef. Coral Reefs, 39(1), 147–158.

Maor-Landaw, K, van Oppen, MJH, & McFadden, GI (2020). Symbiotic lifestyle triggers drastic changes in the gene expression of the algal endosymbiont Breviolum minutum (Symbiodiniaceae). Ecology and Evolution, 10(1), 451–466.

Matthews, JL, Raina, J-B, Kahlke, T, Seymour, JR, van Oppen, MJH, & Suggett, DJ (2020). Symbiodiniaceae-bacteria interactions: Rethinking metabolite exchange in reef-building corals as multi-partner metabolic networks. Environmental Microbiology, 22(5), 1675–1687.

Quigley, KM, Randall, CJ, van Oppen, MJH, & Bay, L. K. (2020). Assessing the role of historical temperature regime and algal symbionts on the heat tolerance of coral juveniles. Biology Open, 9(1).

Quigley, Kate M, Bay, LK, & van Oppen, MJH (2020). Genome-wide SNP analysis reveals an increase in adaptive genetic variation through selective breeding of coral. Molecular Ecology, 29, 2176-2188.

Selmoni, O, Lecellier, G, Ainley, L, Collin, A, Doucet, R, Dubousquet, V, Feremaito, H, Ito Waia, E, Kininmonth, S, Magalon, H, Malimali, S, Maugateau, A, Meibom, A, Mosese, S, René-Trouillefou, M, Satoh, N, van Oppen, MJH, Xozamé, A, Yékawene, M, … Berteaux-Lecellier, V. (2020). Using Modern Conservation Tools for Innovative Management of Coral Reefs: The MANACO Consortium. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 609. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00609

Tortorelli, G, Belderok, R, Davy, SK, McFadden, GI, & van Oppen, MJH (2020). Host genotypic effect on algal symbiosis establishment in the coral model, the anemone Exaiptasia diaphana, from the great barrier reef. Frontiers in Marine Science.

van Oppen, MJH, Medina, M (2020). Coral evolutionary responses to microbial symbioses. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 375(1808), 20190591. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0591

2019

​Robbins SJ, Singleton CM, Chan CX, Messer LF, Geers AU, Ying H, Baker A, Bell SC, Morrow KM, Ragan MA, Miller DJ, Forêt S, Ball E, Beeden R, Berumen M, Aranda M, Ravasi T, Bongaerts P, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Cooke I, Leggat B, Sprungala S, Fitzgerald A, Shang C, Lundgren P, Fyffe T, Rubino F, van Oppen M, Weynberg K, Robbins SJ, Singleton CM, Xin Chan C, Messer LF, Geers AU, Ying H, Baker A, Bell SC, Morrow KM, Ragan MA, Miller DJ, Foret S, Voolstra CR, Tyson GW, Bourne DG, Voolstra CR, Tyson GW, Bourne DG, ReFuGe C (2019) A genomic view of the reef-building coral Porites lutea and its microbial symbionts. Nature Microbiology, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-019-0532-4.

Damjanovic K, Menéndez P, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH (2019) Early life stages of a common broadcast spawning coral associate with specific bacterial communities despite lack of internalized bacteria. Microbial Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-019-01428-1.

Quigley KM, Bay LK, van Oppen MJH (2019) The active spread of adaptive variation for reef resilience. Ecology & Evolution, DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5616.

Damjanovic K, van Oppen MJH, Menéndez P, Blackall LL (2019) Experimental inoculation of coral recruits with marine bacteria indicates scope for microbiome manipulation in Acropora tenuis and Platygyra daedalea. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, 1702, doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01702.

Chan WY, Peplow LM, Menéndez P, Hoffmann AA, van Oppen MJH (2019) The roles of age, parentage and environment on bacterial and algal endosymbiont communities in Acropora corals. Molecular Ecology, 28, 3830-3843, https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.15187.

Smith HA, Moya A, Cantin NE, van Oppen MJH, Torda  (2019) Observations of simultaneous sperm release and larval planulation suggest reproductive assurance in the coral Pocillopora acuta. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 362, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00362.

van Oppen MJH, Blackall LL (2019) Coral microbiome dynamics, functions and design in a changing world. Nature Reviews Microbiology, in press.

Cavicchioli R, Ripple WJ, Timmis KN, Azam F, Bakken LR, Baylis M, Behrenfeld MJ, Boetius A, Boyd PW, Classen AT, Crowther TW, Danovaro R, Foreman CM, Huisman J, Hutchins DA, Jansson JK, Karl DM, Koskella B, Welch DMB, Martiny JBH, Moran MA, Orphan V, Reay D, Remais JV, Rich V, Singh BK, Stein LY, Stewart FJ, Sullivan MB, van Oppen MJH, Weaver SC, Webb EA, Webster N (2019) Scientists’ warning to humanity: microorganisms and climate change. Nature Reviews Microbiology, doi.org/10.1038/s41579-019-0222-5.

Chan WY, Hoffmann AA, van Oppen MJH (2019) Hybridization as a conservation management tool. Conservation Letters, 0, e12652, doi:10.1111/conl.12652.

​Epstein HE, Smith HA, Cantin NE, Torda G, van Oppen MJH (2019) Temporal variation in the microbiomes of Acropora species does not reflect seasonality. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10: 1775, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01775.

Riginos C, Hock K, Ambrocio MM, Mumby PJ, van Oppen MJH, Lukoschek V (2019) Asymmetric dispersal is a critical element of concordance between biophysical dispersal models and spatial genetic structure in Great Barrier Reef corals. Diversity & Distributions, DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12969.

Chakravarti LJ, Negri AP, van Oppen MJH (2019) Thermal and herbicide tolerances of chromerid algae and their ability to form a symbiosis with corals. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10:173. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00173.

Epstein H, Torda G, van Oppen MJH (2019) Relative stability of the Pocillopora acuta microbiome throughout a thermal stress event. Coral Reefs, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-019-01783-y.

Chan WY, Peplow LM, Menéndez P, Hoffmann AA, van Oppen MJH (2019) Enhancing larval fitness of reef-building corals via interspecific hybridization: implications for coral reef restoration. Scientific Reports, 9:4757 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41190-5.

Epstein H, Torda G, van Oppen MJH (2019) Microbiome engineering: Enhancing climate resilience in corals. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 17(2), 100-108, doi:10.1002/fee.2001.

​Price NN, Muko S, Legendre L, Steneck R, van Oppen MJH, Albright R, Carpenter RC, Chui Pui A, Fan T-Y, Gates RD, Harii S, Kitano H, Kurihara H, Mitarai S, Nozawa Y, Padilla-Gamiño J, Put A.O., Sakai K., Suzuki G., Edmunds PJ (2019) Global biogeography of coral recruitment: tropical decline and subtropical increase. Marine Ecology Progress Series,621, 1-17. 

Epstein H, Torda G, Munday P, van Oppen MJH (2019) Parental and early life stage environments drive establishment of bacterial and dinoflagellate communities in a common coral. ISME J, 13, 1635–1638, doi.org/10.1038/s41396-019-0358-3.

​Buerger P, Weynberg KD, Wood-Charlson EM, Sato Y, Willis BL, van Oppen MJH (2019) Novel T4-bacteriophages associated with black band disease in corals. Environmental Microbiology, 21, 1969-1979.

• Wing's career as marine scientist and helicopter instructor

  

  HeliOps magazine: Women in the helicopter industry- Life as a marine scientist and a flight instructor

  https://bronnibowen.com.au/2021/01/10/on-wing-chan-for-heliops-magazine/

• Wing hosts Ocean Youth Ambassador program

  

  Ocean Youth Ambassador program is for young people aged 13-25 who are keen on marine science and conservation. The program includes guest lectures, mentoring, lab visits and a citizen science project. During the program, the ambassadors learn the challenges our ocean faces and make positive actions in conservation. They develop and presented their community engagement projects in the annual Ocean Youth Pitch Fest and execute their ideas in local schools and communities.

  Guest lecture by Wing: Coral reefs in a more acidic and warming ocean

  Image: Lab visit at Melbourne University – Corals and their fascinating symbionts (fluorescence microscopy)

• Justin Maire et al. 2021 paper in ISME J shows algal symbionts of corals harbour intracellular bacteria

  The ability of corals to build and sustain reefs is supported by tiny intracellular algae that live inside the cells lining their gut.

  Our new research, published in the International Society for Microbial Ecology Journal, has found that these microalgae also have their own internal symbionts – that is, bacteria living inside their cells.

  This study was co-authored with Sam Girvan, Sophie Barkla, Dr Alexis Perez-Gonzalez and Professor Linda Blackall from the University of Melbourne, and Professor David Suggett from the University of Technology, Sydney.

  https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-russian-dolls-of-coral-reefs

• June 2021: Madeleine secures new funding for assisted evolution research at AIMS

  

  AIMS research into fast-tracking the adaptation of corals to warming oceans has received a welcome boost from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation through their latest round of international grants to help coral reefs resist climate change.

  Professor Madeleine van Oppen’s research on speeding up heat adaptation in the corals’ symbiotic microalgae has demonstrated the method can improve heat tolerance in coral larvae. Now, thanks to the additional funding provided by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, van Oppen and her team will move their investigations from the lab into the field to further develop the approach.

  Paul G. Allen Family Foundation funding to help corals adapt to climate change | AIMS

• Reef Rescue film: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/reef-rescue/

  

• Australia’s top scientists elected as Fellows of the Academy in Australian Academy of Science (25 May 2020)

• ‘Heat resistant’ coral developed to fight bleaching in ScienceDaily (21 May 2020).

• Lab-grown algae might help save corals from climate change by Ula Chrobak, in Popular Science (15 May 2020)

• Coral bleaching: Scientists ‘find way to make coral more heat-resistant’ in BBC (14 May 2020)

• Lab-evolved algae could protect coral reefs by Warren Cornwall, in Science (13 May 2020)

• Radio Marinara (3 May 2020)

• What it’s really like to be a marine biologist by Siobhan Hegarty, in ABC (12 March 2020)
• Corals can’t keep up with climate change, and scientists are stepping in by Corryn Wetzel, in ScienceLine (31 January 2020)

• Breeding Baby Corals for Warmer Seas by Dr Nerissa Hannick, in Pursuit (26 March 2019)

• Researchers embrace a radical idea: engineering coral to cope with climate change by Warren Cornwall, in Science (21 March 2019)

• Time to speed up coral evolution? by Elizabeth Finkel, in Cosmos (5 April 2018)

• The Great Barrier Reef can repair itself, with a little help from science by Ken Anthony, Britta Schaffelke, Line K Bay & Madeleine van Oppen, in The Conversation (10 October 2017)

• Submit an abstract to our AMSA Session (Cairns, Aug 7-11 2022)

   Title: Marine microbial symbiosis: connecting current trends and future perspectives Chair(s):  Kate Quigley (Australian Institute of Marine Science)  Matthew Nitschke (Australian Institute of Marine Science)  Cheong Xin Chan (Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland)  Madeleine van Oppen (Australian Institute of Marine Science & University of Melbourne)  Yun Kit Yeoh (Australian Institute of Marine Science) Inka Vanwonterghem (University of Queensland) Description: …

  21 February, 2022
• Wing wins two awards

    BioSciences Community Engagement Excellence Award 2021. Botany Foundation Women in Science of the Environment Fellowship (WISE) 2021

  6 August, 2021
• Madeleine and Linda successful in ARC Discovery Grant 2021-2023

  Our partner investigator on the grant is Asst Prof Nikki Traylor-Knowles from the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, USA. Summary of the work: "This project aims to decipher the functions of coral-associated bacteria by taking advantage of low-diversity microbiomes that are naturally found in some coral species. A further aim is to unveil the importance of bacterial genome …

  20 November, 2020
• PhDone! Congratulations Giada.

  From all of us here at the Marine Microbial Symbioses group, we'd like to congratulate Giada on completing her PhD! Giada is incredibly dedicated and has committed herself to her research, being awarded the opportunity to travel to Cambridge during her studies and winning the Ethel McLennan Award in 2019. Thank you for your hard work and contributions to the field, …

  21 September, 2020
• Congratulations, Ashley!

  On behalf of the Marine Microbial Symbioses group, we'd like to say a huge congratulations to Ashley Dungan who presented her PhD Thesis completion seminar today via Zoom. Ashley is an irreplaceable presence in our community, and has consistently approached her research with passion, enthusiasm and rigour. Her contributions to the field of coral bleaching research are invaluable, and we …

  18 August, 2020
• Well done, Justin!

  Well done to Justin, one of our post-docs, whose final paper from his PhD has just been published in PNAS! Justin's PhD focused on the obligate symbiosis between a major crop pest, the cereal weevil Sitophilus, and its bacterial endosymbiont, Sodalis pierantonius. You can find the paper here.  

  29 July, 2020
• Kelly’s puppies!

  We are very excited to announce that our beloved lab dog, Kelly, gave birth to four beautiful golden retriever pups on Monday! All of the pups (3 girls and 1 boy) are healthy and happy, and Kelly is taking great care of them. ​

  10 July, 2020 News
• Congratulations Linda

  Congratulations to group leader Professor Linda Blackall, who was elected to the Australian Academy of Science! Linda was one of 20 scientists elected to the Academy this year, all recognised for their outstanding contributions to science and their fields.

  25 May, 2020 News
• Weekly meetings, COVID-19 style

  We've had to make some adjustments with the new COVID-19 restrictions, but everyone has been up to the challenge.

  20 April, 2020 News

Contacts:                                        Address:

M van Oppen: 0409267577                       Botany Building

L Blackall: 0424186346                              University of Melbourne

                                                                         Parkville 3052

Lab Tel: +61 (0) 383446653                       Room 217,  Biosciences 2

For supervisor enquiries please contact the relevant supervisor via the People page.