‘Chlamydia-like bacteria’ discovered in coral in the Great Barrier Reef – so is it safe?

Researchers examining the Great Barrier Reef have discovered the coral in the world-wonder is infested with a bacteria closely related to chlamydia.

A team led by the University of Melbourne found two kinds of bacterial clusters in  coral tissue, including a relative to a chlamydia-causing bacteria (Chlamydiales), and Endozoicomonas.

This is the first time the pathogens responsible for chlamydia infections in mammals have been detected in corals, according to lead researcher, Dr Justin Maire.

While it is not yet known if the bacteria is helpful or harmful to the coral, it’s unlikely that humans will suffer be affected by swimming in the reef. 

‘It’s a big jump from the marine environment to the human environment. I would say you can sleep soundly,’ Dr Maire told Yahoo News. 

Although it’s not yet known if their presence is helpful or harmful for coral, it’s ultimately unlikely that humans will suffer any consequence while swimming

While researchers don’t believe that a wave of chlamydia will wash over the Gold Coast, there is reason to believe the bacteria might help corals.

‘There is a possibility that this bacterium gets nutrients and energy from other coral-associated bacteria, and for those of us working to understand coral biology, the possibility that the bacteria living inside coral tissues are interacting with each other is quite thrilling,’ Dr Maire told New Atlas.

‘One of the focus areas in my lab is the development of bacterial probiotics for corals, helping to improve their resistance to thermal stress and survival rates caused by climate warming,’ co-author of the study, Madeleine van Oppen added.

‘We still know very little about the functions of coral-associated bacteria, and this new study will help us to figure out whether probiotics are a feasible solution and if bacteria such as Endozoicomonas are best placed to do the job.’

Marine heat waves caused by global warming have caused bleaching of corals in the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven wonders of the natural world.

Corals turn white in heated waters because of a chemical reaction that causes their natural colour to vanish, which has been noted in reefs around the world.

The process of bleaching is incredibly harmful to the ecosystems which rely on the reef, with the harmful effect requiring decades to reverse.

‘It’s a big jump from the marine environment to the human environment. I would say you can sleep soundly,’ Dr Maire told Yahoo News regarding the chlamydia-causing bacteria (pictured)

The new research from the University of Melbourne, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (Townsville) and the University of Vienna, was published in Sciences Advances earlier this week. 

Researchers say the next step will be to specify what role the bacteria plays in the coral and then report the potential benefits. 

One benefit researchers are hoping for is that the strains of bacteria help coral synthesise vitamin B, which could mitigate the effects of bleaching.