Probiotics can help heal ravaged coral reefs
Probiotics are everywhere, claiming to help us poop, restore gut health, and more. They can also be used to help threatened coral reefs. A bacterial probiotic has helped slow the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) in wild corals in Florida that were already infected with the disease. The findings are detailed in a study published June 5 in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science and show that applying this new probiotic treatment across coral colines helped prevent further tissue loss.
SCTLD first emerged in Florida in 2014. In the 11 years since, it has rapidly spread throughout the Caribbean. This mysterious ailment has been confirmed in at least 20 other countries and territories.
Other coral pathogens typically target specific species. SCTLD infects more than 30 different species of stony corals, including pillar corals and brain corals. The disease causes the soft tissue in the corals to slough off, leaving behind white patches of exposed skeleton. The disease can devastate an entire coral colony in only a few weeks to months.
The exact cause of SCTLD is still unknown, but it appears to be linked to some kind of harmful bacteria. Currently, the most common treatment for SCTLD is using a paste that contains the antibiotic amoxicillin on diseased corals. However, antibiotics are not a silver bullet. This amoxicillin balm can temporarily halt SCTLD's spread, but it needs to be frequently reapplied to the lesions on the corals. This takes time and resources, while increasing the likelihood that the microbes causing SCTLD might develop resistance to amoxicillin and related antibiotics.
'Antibiotics do not stop future outbreaks,' Valerie Paul, a study co-author and the head scientist at the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Florida, said in a statement. 'The disease can quickly come back, even on the same coral colonies that have been treated.'
Paul and her colleagues have spent over six years investigating whether beneficial microorganisms (aka probiotics) could be a longer lasting alternative to combat this pathogen.
Just like humans, corals are host to communities known as microbiomes that are bustling with all different types of bacteria. Some of these miniscule organisms produce antioxidants and vitamins that can help keep their coral hosts healthy.
[ Related: Caribbean coral is getting sick and dying. A probiotic could help. ]
First, the team looked at the microbiomes of corals that are impervious to SCTLD to try and harvest probiotics from these disease-resistant species. In theory, these could be used to strengthen the microbiomes of susceptible corals.
They tested over 200 strains of bacteria from disease-resistant corals and published a study in 2023 about the probiotic Pseudoalteromonas sp. McH1-7 (or McH1-7 for short). Taken from the great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa), this probiotic produces several antibacterial compounds. Having such a stacked antibacterial toolbox made McH1-7 an ideal candidate to combat a pathogen like SCTLD.
They initially tested McH1-7 on live pieces of M. cavernosa and found that the probiotic reliably prevented the spread of SCTLD in the lab. After these successful lab tests, the wild ocean called next.
The team conducted several field tests on a shallow reef near Fort Lauderdale, focusing on 40 M. cavernosa colonies that showed signs of SCTLD. Some of the corals in these colonies received a paste containing the probiotic McH1-7 that was applied directly to the disease lesions. They treated the other corals with a solution of seawater containing McH1-7 and covered them using weighted plastic bags. The probiotics were administered inside the bag in order to cover the entire coral colony.
'This created a little mini-aquarium that kept the probiotics around each coral colony,' Paul said.
For two and a half years, they monitored the colonies, taking multiple rounds of tissue and mucus samples to see how the corals' microbiomes were changing over time. They found that the McH1-7 probiotic successfully slowed the spread of SCTLD when it was delivered to the entire colony using the bag and solution method. According to the samples, the probiotic was effective without dominating the corals' natural microbes.
While using this probiotic appears to be an effective treatment for SCTLD among the reefs of northern Florida, additional work is needed to see how it could work in other regions. Similar tests on reefs in the Florida Keys have been conducted, with mixed preliminary results, likely due to regional differences in SCTLD.
The team believes that probiotics still could become a crucial tool for combatting SCTLD across the Caribbean, especially as scientists fine tune how to administer them. Importantly, these beneficial bacteria support what corals already do naturally.
'Corals are naturally rich with bacteria and it's not surprising that the bacterial composition is important for their health,' Paul said. 'We're trying to figure out which bacteria can make these vibrant microbiomes even stronger.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
Sally Ride became the first American woman in space 42 years ago today. Here's how weather played a role then and now.
For the launch to be successful, the weather had to be near perfect, and the east coast of Central Florida was basking in amazing conditions that morning. Liftoff commenced without delay with temperatures in the low 70s and near-still wind. This NASA file photo dated June 1983 shows America's first woman astronaut Sally Ride, as she communicates with ground controllers from the flight deck during the six-day space mission of the Challenger. Ride, the first US woman to fly in space, died on July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61. - But bad weather in Florida upon return to Earth June 24, 1983, forced Challenger to land three time zones away at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in the Mojave desert, where still conditions were certain, especially for a powerless glider that depended on a stable atmosphere to land comfortably. The base also provided very wide runways for a smooth Challenger landing. Sally Ride and STS-7 returns safely in California after bad weather in Florida changed the landing location. NASA Advertisement NASA has strict parameters in place when it comes to weather to 'greenlight' a launch — most of which are obvious. Wind speed and direction need to be light and steady. High winds of 30 miles per hour or more will usually scrap flight plans for the day, and any sudden changes in wind direction may cause issues as the rocket moves vertically through the atmosphere. (Back when Sally Ride was breaking barriers in the Space Shuttle program, launches were delayed or canceled when wind speeds were as low as 22 miles per hour.) Advertisement High visibility with little to no cloud cover is also necessary. Any instability in the atmosphere, albeit minor, can cause lightning when a rocket burning copious amounts of fuel at extreme temperatures blasts through. Apollo 12 was struck by lightning twice during liftoff on Nov. 14, 1969, because of its heat production. Essentially, the rocket's exhaust system acted as a lightning rod and sparked lightning with already-lifting air from a nearby cold front. Temperatures and humidity both play critical roles in NASA rocket launches, as everything from the structural integrity and rocket performance can be impacted by weather conditions. Fuel, insulation, wiring, and other components can expand, contract, or break down if weather conditions aren't ideal. Many will remember the Challenger's last trip on Jan. 28, 1986, when air temperatures were 36 degrees, approximately 15 degrees colder than any other shuttle launch, causing the O-ring seal to become brittle and ultimately fail, leading to a catastrophic explosion. All Weather continues to play a critical role in NASA's strict 'launch commit criteria,' and if anything is near or outside the safe range, the launch is delayed or scrubbed for another day. Here's a look at an example weather checklist when considering safe conditions to launch. An example of the weather checklist utilized to proceed or delay a rocket launch at Cape Canaveral. NASA Ken Mahan can be reached at
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
ADC Therapeutics Announces Updated Data from LOTIS-7 Clinical Trial Presented at the European Hematology Association 2025 Congress
ZYNLONTA® in combination with glofitamab (COLUMVI®) in patients with r/r DLBCL demonstrated clinically meaningful benefit with overall response rate (ORR) of 93.3% and a complete response (CR) rate of 86.7% across 30 efficacy evaluable patients 25 of 26 patients achieving CR remained in CR as of the data cut-off Initial data show the combination is generally well tolerated with a manageable safety profile Company expanding enrollment for LOTIS-7 to 100 patients at 150 µg/kg dose Company to host conference call today at 8:00 a.m. ET/2:00 p.m. CEST LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- ADC Therapeutics SA (NYSE: ADCT), a commercial-stage global leader and pioneer in the field of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), today announced updated data from the LOTIS-7 Phase 1b open-label clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of ZYNLONTA® in combination with the bispecific antibody glofitamab (COLUMVI®) in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) to be presented at the European Hematology Association 2025 Congress (EHA2025) in Milan, Italy. The Company will host a conference call and webcast featuring LOTIS-7 trial principal investigator and EHA presenting author, Juan Alderuccio, MD, Clinical Site Disease Group Leader, Lymphoma Section, at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine today at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the results. To access the conference call, please register here. "The data seen in this study with the combination of ZYNLONTA and glofitamab has shown a manageable safety profile along with strong efficacy data from patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, with complete responses observed regardless of prior therapy, including CAR-T," said Mohamed Zaki, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "The combination of these two anti-cancer agents holds significant promise for advancing the treatment landscape and addressing unmet need in patients with these hard-to-treat lymphomas." The presentation highlights updated data as of April 14, 2025, in which r/r LBCL patients received dose levels of 120 µg/kg or 150 µg/kg of ZYNLONTA plus the bispecific antibody glofitamab, with 41 patients evaluable for safety and 30 patients evaluable for efficacy. Key highlights of the LOTIS-7 data presentation are as follows: Best overall response data among the 30 efficacy evaluable patients shows overall response rate (ORR) of 93.3% (28/30 pts) as assessed by Lugano Criteria Complete response (CR) rate of 86.7% (26/30 pts) Of these, 25/26 patients achieving CR remain in CR as of the data cut-off Median time to CR in 120 µg/kg = 80 days Median time to CR in 150 µg/kg = 42 days 12 patients converted from stable disease (SD) or partial response (PR) to CR over time (1 and 11 pts respectively) Of the 6 patients previously treated with CAR-T and undergoing response assessment, 5 achieved a CR Among the 41 safety evaluable patients, the combination was generally well tolerated with a manageable safety profile and no DLTs across dose levels Grade 3 or higher treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) observed in > 5% of patients included neutropenia (24.4%), anemia (9.8%), AST increased (7.3%), GGT increased (7.3%), and thrombocytopenia (7.3%) In the 150 µg/kg dose, cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (23.8%), all of which were Grade 1, and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) (4.8%), with one case of Grade 2, were observed In the 120 µg/kg dose, CRS all grades (55%), all of which were Grade 1/2 except one case of Grade 3, and ICANS (10%), with one case of Grade 1 and one case of Grade 2, were observed TEAEs leading to discontinuation included 3 each for ZYNLONTA and glofitamab There were no Grade 5 TEAEs observed "We believe these new data are differentiating and further reinforce the potential of ZYNLONTA plus the bispecific glofitamab to improve outcomes for DLBCL patients who need it most," said Ameet Mallik, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics. "This early safety and efficacy data support the ongoing expansion of this study to 100 patients at the 150 µg/kg dose of ZYNLONTA plus glofitamab. We look forward to discussing the results with Dr. Alderuccio during our conference call today in addition to the presentation of the data set across two key conferences." This data will be shared at EHA2025 during a poster presentation on June 14 at 6:30 p.m. CEST and also as an oral encore presentation at the 18th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) in Lugano, Switzerland on Friday, June 20 at 9:00 a.m. ET. The Company plans to share additional data before the end of 2025. Conference Call InformationTo access the conference call, please register here. The participant toll-free dial-in number is 1-800-836-8184 for North America and Canada. It is recommended that you join 10 minutes before the event, though you may pre-register at any time. A live webcast of the call will be available under "Events and Presentations" in the Investors section of the ADC Therapeutics website at The archived webcast will be available for 30 days following the call. About LOTIS-7LOTIS-7 is a Phase 1b global multicenter, multi-arm study in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) including Part 1 (dose escalation) and Part 2 (dose expansion). The three dosing arms include ZYNLONTA plus polatuzumab vedotin, ZYNLONTA plus glofitamab, and ZYNLONTA plus mosunetuzumab T-cell-engaging bispecific monoclonal antibodies (BsAbs). Enrollment in LOTIS-7 includes Part 1 of the study with a 3+3 dose escalation in 3L/3L+ heavily pre-treated patients with ZYNLONTA doses starting at 90 µg/kg and then proceeding to 120 µg/kg and 150 µg/kg. Part 2 includes dose expansion in 2L/2L+ large B-cell lymphoma in the ZYNLONTA plus glofitamab arm at dose levels determined from Part 1 (120 µg/kg and 150 µg/kg of ZYNLONTA plus the approved dosing of glofitamab). Primary endpoints of the study include safety and tolerability. Secondary efficacy endpoints include ORR, DOR, CRR, PFS, RFS, and OS as well as pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity. For more information about the LOTIS-7 trial, visit (NCT04970901). About ZYNLONTA® ZYNLONTA® is a CD19-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC). Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ZYNLONTA is internalized by the cell, where enzymes release a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) payload. The potent payload binds to DNA minor groove with little distortion, remaining less visible to DNA repair mechanisms. This ultimately results in cell cycle arrest and tumor cell death. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (NOS), DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma and also high-grade B-cell lymphoma. The trial included a broad spectrum of heavily pre-treated patients (median three prior lines of therapy) with difficult-to-treat disease, including patients who did not respond to first-line therapy, patients refractory to all prior lines of therapy, patients with double/triple hit genetics and patients who had stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy prior to their treatment with ZYNLONTA. This indication is approved by the FDA under accelerated approval and in the European Union under conditional approval based on overall response rate and continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Please see full prescribing information including important safety information about ZYNLONTA at ZYNLONTA is also being evaluated as a therapeutic option in combination studies in other B-cell malignancies and earlier lines of therapy. About ADC Therapeutics ADC Therapeutics (NYSE: ADCT) is a commercial-stage biotechnology company helping to improve the lives of those affected by cancer with its next-generation, targeted antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). The Company is advancing its proprietary ADC technology to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. ADC Therapeutics' CD19-directed ADC ZYNLONTA (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl) received accelerated approval by the FDA and conditional approval from the European Commission for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. ZYNLONTA is also in development in combination with other agents and in earlier lines of therapy. In addition to ZYNLONTA, ADC Therapeutics has multiple ADCs in ongoing clinical and preclinical development. ADC Therapeutics is based in Lausanne (Biopôle), Switzerland and has operations in London and New Jersey. For more information, please visit and follow the Company on LinkedIn. ZYNLONTA® is a registered trademark of ADC Therapeutics SA. Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the potential of ZYNLONTA® in combination with the bispecific antibody glofitamab, including the reproducibility and durability of any favorable results initially seen in patients dosed to date, and the Company's research, development and regulatory plans, including the timing and results of clinical trials and the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "would", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "seem", "seek", "future", "continue", or "appear" or the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: whether future LOTIS-7 clinical trial results will be consistent with or different from the LOTIS-7 data presented at EHA and ICML and future compendia and regulatory strategy and opportunity; the expected cash runway into mid-2026 the Company's ability to grow ZYNLONTA® revenue in the United States; the ability of our partners to commercialize ZYNLONTA® in foreign markets, the timing and amount of future revenue and payments to us from such partnerships and their ability to obtain regulatory approval for ZYNLONTA® in foreign jurisdictions; the timing and results of the Company's or its partners' research and development projects or clinical trials including LOTIS 5 and 7, as well as early research in certain solid tumors with different targets, linkers and payloads; the timing and results of investigator-initiated trials including those studying FL and MZL and the potential regulatory and/or compendia strategy and the future opportunity; the timing and outcome of regulatory submissions for the Company's products or product candidates; actions by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities; projected revenue and expenses; the Company's indebtedness, including Healthcare Royalty Management and Blue Owl and Oaktree facilities, and the restrictions imposed on the Company's activities by such indebtedness, the ability to comply with the terms of the various agreements and repay such indebtedness and the significant cash required to service such indebtedness; and the Company's ability to obtain financial and other resources for its research, development, clinical, and commercial activities. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company's other periodic and current reports and filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, achievements or prospects to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or prospects expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. CONTACTS:Investor RelationsMarcy GrahamADC 650-667-6450 Media RelationsNicole RileyADC 862-926-9040 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ADC Therapeutics SA Errore nel recupero dei dati Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Kratom helps fight pain, but can be dangerous. Missouri needs to regulate it
Missouri lawmakers chose not to restrict access to kratom and its derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH, during this year's legislative session. That was the right call. But the current legal vacuum leaves consumers unprotected and responsible businesses without clear standards. As legislators begin shaping the 2026 agenda, the next step is clear: Adopt science-based regulation that protects public health and supports recovery. Kratom is a plant native to Southeast Asia that has been used for centuries to relieve pain and support recovery from substance use. Today in Missouri, it is sold in the form of capsules, powders and teas in wellness shops and smoke stores. Some people use it like coffee to improve focus or energy. Others, especially those managing chronic pain or recovering from opioid addiction, rely on it for more important reasons. Its naturally occurring compound 7-OH can be isolated and refined from the kratom plant, and it shows particular promise as a harm reduction tool. One of those people is one 76-year-old Marine veteran from Kansas City I know who served in Vietnam. He lives with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and long-term complications from cancer treatment. After struggling with conventional medications, he found relief through 7-OH. This vet's story reflects what we hear from customers every day. I run a business that serves people across Missouri, from cities to rural communities. Many are veterans, chronic pain patients or people in recovery. Some rely on kratom products daily to stabilize their health and avoid more dangerous substances. That is why we have adopted strict quality standards, including third-party testing for potency and purity, transparent labeling and ID checks to prevent sales to anyone under 21. But not every seller follows these practices. And without statewide regulation, nothing requires them to. Right now, kratom and 7-OH are legal to sell to anyone, anywhere in the state, with no consistent protections in place. This creates an environment where bad actors can mislabel products and ignore safety standards, putting vulnerable people at risk. In past years, some lawmakers have proposed bans as a solution. But we have seen what happens when gaps in oversight lead to blanket prohibition instead of thoughtful reform. The war on drugs criminalized demand without offering safer, regulated alternatives. That pushed people into underground markets and compounded the harm. We can take a better approach right here in Missouri. This year, lawmakers came close. The Missouri House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan kratom consumer protection bill. It would have barred sales to minors, banned adulterated products and established clear rules for labeling and safety. But the Senate failed to act before the session ended, leaving Missourians without these basic protections. When lawmakers return next year, they should make kratom and 7-OH regulation a priority. Done right, it would preserve access for adults, ensure consistency across the market and crack down on reckless sellers. It would also level the playing field for responsible businesses that are already meeting high standards. Lawmakers now have the chance to lead with both compassion and common sense. We do not need another moral panic. We need clear, enforceable rules that protect consumers and support recovery. Next year, must be the year we get this right. Vince Sanders is the founder and president of CBD American Shaman, one of the largest CBD retail chains in the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, the company has grown to encompass more than 360 franchise locations across the country.
