--- title: "Coral microbiome analysis during disease emergence – Case Study – Biomcare" description: "Coral reefs worldwide are under increasing pressure from environmental stress and disease outbreaks, with major consequences for ecosystem health and biodiversity. Researchers at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine studied the bacterial microbiome of coral samples collected from reefs near St Kitts during a period when Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease emerged on the reef." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://biomcare.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Case Studies", "item": "https://biomcare.com/cases" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Coral Microbiome & Disease" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://biomcare.com/#organization", "name": "BiomCare", "url": "https://biomcare.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://biomcare.com/favicon.ico" }, "description": "Biomcare delivers microbiome intelligence for agriculture, animal science, and translational research - from DNA sequencing to actionable insights.", "email": "info@biomcare.com", "sameAs": [ "https://linkedin.com/company/biomcare" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://biomcare.com/#website", "name": "BiomCare", "url": "https://biomcare.com", "publisher": { "@id": "https://biomcare.com/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Article", "headline": "Coral microbiome analysis during disease emergence – Case Study – Biomcare", "description": "Coral reefs worldwide are under increasing pressure from environmental stress and disease outbreaks, with major consequences for ecosystem health and biodiversity. Researchers at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine studied the bacterial microbiome of coral samples collected from reefs near St Kitts during a period when Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease emerged on the reef.", "url": "https://biomcare.com/cases/coral-microbiome-disease", "publisher": { "@id": "https://biomcare.com/#organization" } } ] } ] --- [![Biomcare](data:image/png;base64,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)](/) [Services](/services) [Applications](/applications) [Resources](/resources)[Cases](/cases) [Company](/company) [Contact](/contact-biomcare) Toggle menu 1. [Home ](/) 2. [Case Studies](/cases) 3. Coral Microbiome & Disease Life Science & Animals # Coral microbiome analysis during disease emergence Client: Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Services used: Bioinformatics & Statistics Microbiome Profiling ## Problem Coral reefs worldwide are under increasing pressure from environmental stress and disease outbreaks, with major consequences for ecosystem health and biodiversity. Researchers at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine studied the bacterial microbiome of coral samples collected from reefs near St Kitts during a period when Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease emerged on the reef. Understanding how the coral microbiome changes before and during disease outbreaks is an important step toward identifying early warning signals, tracking disease-associated shifts, and improving reef health monitoring. ## Question Are there detectable pre-disease alterations in the coral microbiome, and how does the microbiome change during the onset and progression of coral disease? ## What we did The client collected coral samples over time and generated a longitudinal microbiome dataset spanning the period before and during the emergence of coral disease. Biomcare received the raw sequencing data together with supporting metadata on sampling design, disease status, location, and other relevant variables, and carried out the statistical analysis of the microbiome dataset. Our work focused on structuring and analysing a complex longitudinal dataset so that microbiome changes could be assessed in the context of time, disease development, and reef location. ## Insight This project advances research into microbiome perturbations linked to coral disease emergence and progression. It also demonstrates Biomcare's ability to support clients flexibly, whether by contributing a specific analytical component or by strengthening the interpretation of complex microbiome studies. While this project was research-driven, the same capabilities are highly relevant for commercial clients working with microbiome data in environmental monitoring, aquaculture, animal health, and other applied settings. ### Interested in a similar project? Tell us about your research goals and we'll outline how we can support your project. [Contact us](/contact-biomcare) Typical response within 1-2 business days ### Related case studies [ ![](/assets/Deciphering-Soil-Biology-Lzefxm1t.webp) Agriculture & Environment #### Deciphering Soil Biology across more than 100 diverse agricultural fields Read case study ](/cases/deciphering-soil-biology)[ ![](/assets/case-ag-product-monitoring-2usDusMb.webp) Agriculture & Environment #### Microbiome Monitoring of AG products Read case study ](/cases/microbiome-monitoring-ag-products) ![Biomcare](data:image/png;base64,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) Leading microbiome research partner delivering cutting-edge DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and consulting services for agriculture and life sciences. 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