Molecular Mechanisms of Thermal Tolerance
Coral thermal tolerance and bleaching response are complex molecular traits. We monitor and analyze corals with naturally improved thermal tolerance via acclimatization and/or adaptation and we examine the mechanisms that influence these traits via forward and reverse genetics and a range of molecular assays. A better understanding of the core cellular and molecular causes and consequences of bleaching is fundamental to any intervention to conserve reefs. Our focus is on developing and using techniques from outside the coral community to move beyond correlation to functional molecular studies of coral bleaching.
Ongoing Projects
Gene knock-down of targets in the bleaching cascade to manipulate phenotypes
Evaluation of antioxidant dynamics in thermally stressed corals through gene expression, protein activity and cellular damage assays
Correlative research on differences between stress tolerance phenotypes and selection during heat stress
Publications
Tortorelli G, Fisher NL, Varela AC, Rosset S, Ashely IA, Majerová A, Smith K, Hughes K, Drury C. Selective conservation of symbiont cell-surface glycans across generations in a vertically transmitting coral. ISME (2026). Link.
Walker NS, Luke H, Miller S, Kealoha D, Caruso C, Johnston EC, Mujica EM, Hancock JR, Drury C. Positive associations between growth and thermal tolerance in the reef-building coral Montipora capitata. Marine Ecology Progress Series (2025). Link.
Tortorelli G, Rosset S, Sullivan CES, Woo S, Johnston EC, Walker NS, Hancock JR, Caruso C, Varela A, Hughes K, Martin C, Quinn RA, Drury C. Heat-induced stress modulates cell surface glycans and membrane lipids of coral symbionts. ISME (2025). Link.
Majerová E, Steinle C, Drury C. BAK knockdown delays bleaching and alleviates oxidative DNA damage in a reef-building coral. Communications Biology (2025). Link.
He S, Rangel-Huerta E, Hill E, Ellington L, Chen S, Robb S, Majerová E, Drury C, Gibson M. An evolutionarily conserved Hox-Gbx segmentation code in the rice coral Montipora capitata. eLife Reviewed Preprint (2024). Link.
Majerová E, Drury C. A BI-1 mediated cascade improves redox homeostasis during thermal stress and prevents oxidative damage in a preconditioned reef-building coral. Frontiers in Marine Science (2022). Link.
Drury C, Dilworth J, Majerová E, Caruso C, Greer JB. Expression plasticity regulates intraspecific variation in the acclimatization potential of a reef-building coral. Nature Communications (2022). Link.
Majerová E, Carey F, Drury C, Gates RD. Preconditioning improves bleaching tolerance in the reef-building coral Pocillopora acuta through modulations in the autophagy pathway. Molecular Ecology (2021). Link.