Transcriptom comparison within zooids from the stony coral Acropora spp. (Cnidaria) supports increase stress and immune responses in bleached zooids

In this study, comprehensive EST libraries from a natural coral colony Acropora spp. with zooids of either high or low symbiont density were determined and characterized. Expression level differences among GO terms and selected single genes were analyzed to detect different regulated cellular processes between established symbiotic and bleached zooids in natural environmental.