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How a newly identified bacterium saps corals of their energy

The microbe can sense when their hosts ramp up production of nutrients

coral

Microbiologist Grace Klinges (shown) and colleagues have identified a type of parasitic bacteria that steals energy from host corals.

Allyson DeMerlis

By Kathleen O'Neil

- More than 2 years ago

A mysterious bacterium had been detected living in Caribbean corals, sapping them of energy and organic building blocks needed to grow.