american society for microbiology

It has long been known by scientists that many bacteria and viruses cause illnesses by first attaching themselves to sugar molecules on the cell surfaces lining mammals' sinuses and throats, including humans. For example, viral particles can cling to these molecules--also known as sialic acids, or SAs--in a manner similar to that of keys inserted into locks.

In a pioneering study shedding light on the hidden world of corals, researchers have taken a closer look at how coral microbiomes adapt when faced with a critical challenge: hypoxia, or dangerously low oxygen levels in the surrounding water.