Coral reefs, vital to marine biodiversity and ecosystems, are collapsing under the pressure of global warming and local stressors, threatening their economic and environmental contributions, valued at nearly $10 trillion USD annually. My research addresses this crisis by pioneering microbial-based solutions to enhance coral resilience and health. Leveraging my background in microbial ecology, I developed and validated the concept of Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs), establishing a framework for coral probiotics that mitigate stress and improve coral health.
Early in my career, I transitioned from studying plant and mangrove microbiomes to coral reef restoration, culminating in foundational work on BMCs. This framework introduced the concept of customized probiotics to enhance coral resilience, which has since become a transformative research field. My initial proof-of-concept experiments demonstrated the efficacy of BMCs in mitigating stress and improving coral health. These findings, published in leading journals and recognized with prestigious awards, inspired global research and funding in coral probiotics. Since joining KAUST, my work has expanded to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying microbial-driven coral resilience, develop scalable delivery systems, and implement pilot studies in real-world environments. The Coral Probiotics Village (CPV), a first-of-its-kind underwater laboratory, exemplifies this translational research approach, enabling groundbreaking studies on coral health and ecosystem restoration. Recent results have shown that probiotics not only protect corals from bleaching and mortality but also improve the health of surrounding reef organisms, supporting a holistic "One Reef Health" concept. Beyond research, my contributions to science policy, education, and global collaborations have amplified the impact of microbial solutions for climate change mitigation. This colloquium will highlight my journey from concept to application, emphasizing the scientific breakthroughs, practical implementations, and broader impact of my research in advancing coral resilience and contributing for the resilience of marine ecosystems.

Prof. Peixoto is a pioneering researcher who played a central role in establishing the field of coral probiotics, transformative and rapidly growing area of study that has catalyzed broader research into probiotics for wildlife. Her groundbreaking experiments proved the concept and demonstrated that probiotics not only mitigate coral bleaching but also prevent coral mortality, establishing a solid foundation for their application in coral reef conservation and restoration efforts. Her work emphasizes the practical application and real-world impact of science, bridging the gap between research and action through innovative solutions for environmental challenges. Prof. Peixoto has received numerous prestigious awards for her work, including the recent 2023 Rachel Carson Award in Applied Microbiology (SDG 14) and the 2024 Frontiers Planet Prize as Saudi Arabia’s National Champion. She currently serves as Chair of the Marine Science Program at KAUST, President of the International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), and Co-Chair of the Conservation Committee at the International Coral Reef Society (ICRS), where she also leads ICRS’s climate delegations to the UN COP conferences. In addition to her leadership roles, Prof. Peixoto is a member of prominent scientific advisory boards, including those for CORDAP, ASM, and the ISME Climate Change Committee. Through initiatives such as the Coral Probiotics Village, the development of scalable probiotic delivery systems, and groundbreaking field trials, her work has set a benchmark for the translation of microbial research into actionable solutions, influencing global policies and strategies for climate change resilience and biodiversity conservation.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=RW9EL9IAAAAJ&hl=en
https://marinemicrobiomeslab.kaust.edu.sa/