Seaweeds are a ubiquitous group of photosynthetic organisms that play an essential role in many aquatic ecosystems. Seaweeds also host complex microbiomes. While symbiotic interactions with these microbiomes are essential for seaweeds, we now also know that microorganisms can be responsible for negative outcomes, such as disease of the host.
In this seminar I will discuss how anthropogenic stressors can disturb the microbiome (i.e., causing dysbiosis) resulting in the proliferation of opportunistic pathogens leading to disease. I will present some of our recent work using genomic and phenotypic approaches that sheds light onto the virulence traits of these opportunistic marine pathogens. Finally, I will describe studies that show mitigation of disease through the addition of beneficial microorganisms, their possible mode of action and their potential biotechnology application.