UTA Researches Algae for Human Immune Health

Marine animals like jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones often engage in a symbiotic relationship with algae living inside their cells. In this partnership, the animals provide the algae with nutrients and a safe environment, while the algae share some of the food they produce through photosynthesis.

While this food-sharing arrangement benefits the jellyfish, a new study by researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington suggests it comes with a drawback: the algae can alter the host animal’s immune system in a way similar to human pathogens, such as the parasites responsible for malaria. This immune modulation weakens the jellyfish’s defenses, making it more vulnerable to infections.

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