Contact our project leads for more information about these highlighted projects and the other work we do within this node.
Coral reef productivity by sponges and bacteria
We are examining the genomic and metabolic details of the sponge-bacteria partnership to inform environmental restoration, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
Project leads: Sandie Degnan, Bernard Degnan
Marine sponge holobionts
We aim to establishment of sponge holobionts, physiological interactions between hosts and symbionts, and microbial functions that support sponge fitness.
Project leads: Nicole Webster, Steven Robbins
Marine hologenomics
We are studying how animal immune and metabolic systems interact and co-evolve with their symbiotic microbes to create a single super-organism – the holobiont.
Project leads: Sandie Degnan, Sheen Wong, Bernard Degnan
Sponge holobiont response to climate change
We are studying the impacts of temperature and ocean acidification on sponge holobionts using metagenomics and transcriptomics to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning acclimatisation.
Project leads: Nicole Webster, Inka Vanwonterghem
Genomics and evolution of symbiosis
We use advanced computational and comparative genomic approaches to understand the evolution of algae and algal symbionts of corals, and its implications on the ecological success of coral reefs.
Project lead: Cheong Xin Chan
Sponges as models in animal-microbe symbioses
We are leading an international consortium to develop common suite of approaches and tools for multiple sponge species to understand the evolution and function of animal symbioses.
Project lead: Sandie Degnan
