Our research on coral probiotics and resilience to marine heatwaves has been featured by Mongabay, highlighting new possibilities for microbiome-based coral conservation.

The article explores our field study in the Red Sea, where probiotic and postbiotic treatments were tested directly on Acropora cf. valida corals during a natural marine heatwave. Treated corals showed greater resistance to heat stress, maintaining colour and photosynthetic performance compared with untreated corals.

The study is particularly significant because it provides evidence that microbial treatments can support coral resilience under real-world ocean conditions, moving beyond controlled laboratory and aquarium experiments.

While probiotics are not a substitute for addressing climate change, they could become an additional tool to help protect corals from increasing environmental stress and support future restoration efforts.

Read the full story on Mongabay → https://news.mongabay.com/2026/10/probiotics-prevented-coral-bleaching-during-a-red-sea-heat-wave-study/