This study was supported by the State Key Development Programs for Basic Research of China (2021YFC3100502).

The corals used for the present study were Seriatopora caliendrum, which are cultured in our lab. All the corals were kindly provided by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
1. Inspection and startup
NOTE: Each module must be tested for tightness and function individually before assembling the system. Deionized water should be used to test the module&#39;s tightness. Commercial details of all...

A Combined Micro-Device System for Promoting and Monitoring Coral Growth

<ol>
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V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coral+decline+threatens+fish+biodiversity+in+marine+reserves.">Coral decline threatens fish biodiversity in marine reserves.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 101 (21), 8251-8253 (2004).</li><li>Hughes, T. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Global+warming+and+recurrent+mass+bleaching+of+corals.">Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals.</a> Nature. 543 (7645), 373-377 (2017).</li><li>Carpenter, K. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=One-third+of+reef-building+corals+face+elevated+extinction+risk+from+climate+change+and+local+impacts.">One-third of reef-building corals face elevated extinction risk from climate change and local impacts.</a> Science. 321 (5888), 560-563 (2008).</li><li>Hughes, T. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spatial+and+temporal+patterns+of+mass+bleaching+of+corals+in+the+Anthropocene.">Spatial and temporal patterns of mass bleaching of corals in the Anthropocene.</a> Science. 359 (6371), 80-83 (2018).</li><li>Albright, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reversal+of+ocean+acidification+enhances+net+coral+reef+calcification.">Reversal of ocean acidification enhances net coral reef calcification.</a> Nature. 531 (7594), 362-365 (2016).</li><li>Hoegh-Guldberg, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coral+reefs+under+rapid+climate+change+and+ocean+acidification.">Coral reefs under rapid climate change and ocean acidification.</a> Science. 318 (5857), 1737-1742 (2007).</li><li>Mason, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Decline+in+symbiont+densities+of+tropical+and+subtropical+scleractinian+corals+under+ocean+acidification.">Decline in symbiont densities of tropical and subtropical scleractinian corals under ocean acidification.</a> Coral Reefs. 37 (3), 945-953 (2018).</li><li>Prouty, N. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vulnerability+of+Coral+reefs+to+bioerosion+from+land-based+sources+of+pollution.">Vulnerability of Coral reefs to bioerosion from land-based sources of pollution.</a> Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 122 (12), 9319-9331 (2017).</li><li>Heery, E. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Urban+coral+reefs:+Degradation+and+resilience+of+hard+coral+assemblages+in+coastal+cities+of+East+and+Southeast+Asia.">Urban coral reefs: Degradation and resilience of hard coral assemblages in coastal cities of East and Southeast Asia.</a> Marine Pollution Bulletin. 135, 654-681 (2018).</li><li>Rosenberg, E., Koren, O., Reshef, L., Efrony, R., Zilber-Rosenberg, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+microorganisms+in+coral+health,+disease+and+evolution.">The role of microorganisms in coral health, disease and evolution.</a> Nature Reviews: Microbiology. 5 (5), 355-362 (2007).</li><li>Bui, V. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Diversity+and+biogeography+of+coral+mucus-associated+bacterial+communities:+The+case+of+Acropora+formosa.">Diversity and biogeography of coral mucus-associated bacterial communities: The case of Acropora formosa.</a> Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 11 (1), 74 (2023).</li><li>Hass, A. F., Smith, J. E., Thompson, M., Deheyn, D. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+reduced+dissolved+oxygen+concentrations+on+physiology+and+fluorescence+of+hermatypic+corals+and+benthic+algae.">Effects of reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations on physiology and fluorescence of hermatypic corals and benthic algae.</a> PeerJ. 2, 235 (2014).</li><li>Raj, K. D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Low+oxygen+levels+caused+by+Noctiluca+scintillans+bloom+kills+corals+in+Gulf+of+Mannar,+India.">Low oxygen levels caused by Noctiluca scintillans bloom kills corals in Gulf of Mannar, India.</a> Scientific Reports. 10 (1), 22133 (2020).</li><li>Luo, Y. S., Zhao, J. L., He, C. P., Lu, Z. H., Lu, X. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Miniaturized+platform+for+individual+coral+polyps+culture+and+monitoring.">Miniaturized platform for individual coral polyps culture and monitoring.</a> Micromachines. 11 (2), 127 (2020).</li><li>Pang, A. P., Luo, Y. S., He, C. P., Lu, Z. H., Lu, X. 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This coral culture system is designed to simulate and provide a relatively natural or customized microenvironment for corals to be transplanted into and survive. Meanwhile, as a self-developed equipment, this system needs to be reliable, user-friendly, and safe. For example, in terms of temperature control, the seawater temperature should be controlled appropriately based on the daily environmental circumstances. The system was tested by culturing the coral for 1 month, confirming the system's reliability.
<p class="...

The deterioration of coral reef ecosystems has been occurring worldwide over the past 70 years. Considering all the major coral areas across Central America1, Southeast Asia2,3,4,5,6, Australia7,8, and East Africa9, the global coverage of coral reefs has halved since the 1950s10. This mass loss of coral reefs has resulted in ecological and economic problems. For example, by tracing the presence/absence and abundance of all kinds of coral-dependent fishes for 8 years, researchers concluded that the coral decline has directly caused a substantial decrease in fish biodiversity and abundance in Papua New Guinea11. This result proved that the coral decline can not only undermine coral reef-based biological systems but also reduce fishery incomes.
Over decades of field surveys, including direct monitoring, remote sensing, and data comparison, the scientific community has identified several factors causing the mass coral decline. One major reason for the mass coral decline is coral bleaching caused by high seawater temperatures12,13. By combining bleaching and meteorological records, scientists have concluded that coral bleaching is happening more frequently in El Ni&#241;o-Southern Oscillation phases14. Another reason for the coral decline is ocean acidification. Owing to the increased CO2 concentration in both the atmosphere and seawater, calcium carbonate dissolves faster than before, causing downscale net coral reef calcification15. Indeed, it has been concluded that when the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere reaches above 500 ppm, tens of millions of people will suffer, and the coral reefs will be at risk of significant deterioration and symbiodinium detachment16,17. There are other factors that can also affect coral survival, such as inshore pollutants causing or accelerating coral decline. Researchers in Hawaii measured the carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen isotopes in corals, along with the dissolved inorganic carbonate and the related nutrients (NH4+, PO43-, NO2&#8722;, and NO3&#8722;), and concluded that pollution from the land magnified the coastal acidification and bioerosion of corals18. Further to pollution, urbanization also endangers coral survival and causes relatively low architectural complexity in corals, as revealed by a study on the coral survival status in Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong, and Okinawa. Thus, the impact of anthropogenic stressors and the superimposed effects of climate change are leading to widespread reduced biodiversity on coral reefs and an associated decline in coral ecological function and resilience19.
It should also be noted that a large number of microorganisms participate in the physiological functions of corals, including nitrogen fixation, chitin decomposition, the synthesis of organic compounds, and immunity20, and these microorganisms should, thus, be included when considering coral reef deterioration. In natural environments, such as coral reefs, many factors cause hypoxic or anoxic conditions, including insufficient water circulation, algal exudate, and algal overgrowth. This phenomenon negatively affects the population distributions of coral and coral-related microorganisms. For example, Vietnamese scientists found that in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Ujung Gelam, bacterial composition in the coral Acropora Formosa could be affected by dissolved oxygen at different locations21. Researchers in the United States explored hypoxic or anoxia conditions in corals and found that algal exudates can mediate microbial activity, leading to localized hypoxic conditions, which may cause coral mortality in the direct vicinity. They also found that corals could tolerate reduced oxygen concentrations but only above a given threshold determined by a combination of the exposure time and oxygen concentration22. Researchers in India found that when Noctiluca scintillans algae bloomed, the dissolved oxygen decreased to 2 mg/L. Below this concentration, about 70% of Acropora montiporacan died because of hypoxic conditions23.
All the abovementioned facts and factors suggest that environmental change leads to the deterioration of coral reefs. To culture and study reef corals under certain conditions, it is important to accurately and comprehensively build up a controllable microscopic environment for reef corals to inhabit. Normally, scientists focus on temperature, light, water flow, and nutrients. However, other features, such as the dissolved oxygen concentration, microorganism abundance, and microorganism diversity in the seawater, are commonly ignored. To this end, our group has explored the possibility of applying small equipment to culture coral polyps in a relatively controlled environment24,25. In this work, we designed and built up a modular micro-device system for coral culture. This modular micro-device system can provide a controllable micro-environment in terms of the temperature, light spectrum, dissolved oxygen concentration, nutrients, and microorganisms, etc., and has the capacity for expansion and upgrade.
Modules and functions of the device 
The micro-device system was inspired by the Berlin system26, but no live rocks are used in the current system. As shown in Figure 1, the current system comprises six main modules, two brushless motor pumps, one gas pump, one flow-through UV lamp, one power supply, certain electronic control components, and the related wires and screws. The six main modules include a seawater store module (with an air pump and temperature sensor), a temperature control module, an algae purification module, a microbial purification module, an activated charcoal purification module, and a coral culture module.
Device architecture 
As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, the overall micro-device system can horizontally be divided into two compartments with a temperature control module in between. For safety reasons, all the seawater-containing modules and parts are placed in the left compartment, named the culture compartment. The other electronic parts are placed in the right compartment, named the electronic compartment. Both compartments are sealed or packaged within shells. The temperature control module is fixed in a divider plate in between. The shell of the culture compartment includes a baseboard and three screw-fixing plates. This design ensures compartment tightness and facilitates the operation of the system. Additionally, the tightness favors accurate temperature control. The shell of the electronic compartment includes a baseboard, two screw-fixing plates, and one front control panel.
Water circulation 
An inner and outer seawater circulation loop connected to the seawater store module was pre-designed. The inner circulation loop successfully connects the seawater store module, temperature control module, flow-through UV lamp, algae purification module, and microbial purification module. This circulation loop aims to provide suitable physiochemical and physiological seawater conditions for the corals, and no frequent maintenance is needed. The algae purification module contains Chaetomorpha algae, which absorbs the extra nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) in the water. The microbial purification module contains the bacterial culture substrate, which cultivates the microbiome to transfer nitrite and ammonium into nitrate for water purification. All these modules need to be replaced only under critical circumstances.
The outer circulation loop successively connects the seawater store module, coral culture module, and activated charcoal module. This circulation loop aims to provide light, tightness, water current, and high seawater quality to the corals. The seawater can be refreshed through a water inlet and a water outlet. Additives are added through a three-way valve, and the seawater sample can also be extracted from this valve for inspection. Air can be pumped in through an air inlet and discharged from an air outlet.
Electronic design 
A 220 V AC power supply with a switch and a fuse is used for the whole system. The input power is divided into four branches. The first branch goes to a 12 V DC power supply, which directly powers the heating panel, cooling panel, and cooling fan. This branch also indirectly powers two pumps and two lighting panels through a four-channel DC transformer. The second branch goes to a PID temperature controller. The third branch goes to an air pump power supply. The last branch connects to a UV lamp power supply. A solid-state relay connects the PID temperature controller and the cooling panel in the temperature control module. A regular relay is used to connect the PID temperature controller and the heating panel. The four-channel DC transformer converts the voltage to that required.
There are two control panels on the right part of the system. There are four switches and one controller for the UV lamp on the top panel, including a main power switch, a UV lamp power switch, an air pump switch, and a temperature control switch. The main power switch controls the 12 V power supply of the system.
A PID temperature controller, a cycle timer, a four-channel DC transformer, and a three-channel timer are on the front panel. The PID temperature controller adjusts the water temperature by controlling the heating and cooling panels in the temperature control module. The temperature control module only works when the inner circulation pump is working and the water is flowing past the temperature control module. The cycle timer is connected to the air pump power line. Its purpose is to assign the working time period to the air pump. There is a three-channel timer deployed in the electronic compartment too. This timer controls the work time period for the air pump, coral light, and algae light.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>12V DC power supply</td>
			<td>Delixi Electric Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>CDKU-S150W</td>
			<td>12V12.5A</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3% hydrogen peroxide solution</td>
			<td>Shandong ANNJET High tech Disinfection Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>75% ethanol solution</td>
			<td>Shandong ANNJET High tech Disinfection Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Air pump</td>
			<td>Chongyoujia Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>NHY-001</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Air sterilizing filter</td>
			<td>Beijing Capsid Filter Equipment Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>S593CSFTR-0.2H83SH83SN8-A</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Camera</td>
			<td>SONY</td>
			<td>&#913;7r4-ILCE-76M4A</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coral nutrition solution</td>
			<td>Red Sea Aquatics Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>22101</td>
			<td>Coral nutrition</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Coral pro salt (sea salt)</td>
			<td>Red Sea Aquatics Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>R11231</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cycle timer</td>
			<td>Leqing Shangjin Instrument Equipment Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>CN102A</td>
			<td>220V version</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Double closed quick connector</td>
			<td>JOSOT Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>NL4-2103T</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Flow-through UV lamp</td>
			<td>Zhongshan Xinsheng Electronic technology Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>211</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Four-channel transformer</td>
			<td>Dongguan Shanggushidai Electronic Technology Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>LM2596</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Macro lens</td>
			<td>SONY</td>
			<td>FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microbiome source solution</td>
			<td>Guangzhou BIOZYM Microbial Technology Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>303</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mini-photo studio</td>
			<td>Shaoxing Shangyu Photography Equipment Factory</td>
			<td>CM-45</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PID temperature controller</td>
			<td>Guangdong Dongqi&#160; Electric Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>TE9-SC18W</td>
			<td>SSR version</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pump (for water)</td>
			<td>Zhongxiang Pump Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>ZX43D</td>
			<td>Seaswater version</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pure water machine</td>
			<td>Kemflo&#160;(Nanjing) environmental technology Co, ltd</td>
			<td>kemflo A600</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Solid-state relay</td>
			<td>Delixi Electric Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>DD25A</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Surface active agents</td>
			<td>Guangzhou Liby Group Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>Libai detergent</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Three-channel timer</td>
			<td>Leqing Changhong Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>CHE325-3</td>
			<td>220V version</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water sterilizing filter</td>
			<td>Beijing Capsid Filter Equipment Co., Ltd</td>
			<td>S593CSFTR-0.2H83SH83SN8-L</td>
			<td>NULL</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

an integrated micro-device system for coral growth and monitoring

Corals are fundamental organisms in marine and coastal ecosystems. With the advancement of coral protection research in recent years, precise control of the coral culture environment is highly in demand for coral conservation and study. Here, we developed a semi-closed coral culture micro-device system as a multi-functional platform, which can provide accurate and programmable temperature control, a sterile initial environment, long-term stable water quality, an adjustable dissolved oxygen concentration, and a customized light spectrum for corals. Owing to the modular design, the coral culture system can be upgraded or modified by installing desirable new modules or removing existing ones. Currently, under appropriate conditions and with proper system maintenance, the sample corals can survive for at least 30 days in a healthy state. Furthermore, due to the controllable and sterile initial environment, this coral culture system can support research into the symbiotic relationship between corals and associated microorganisms. Therefore, this micro-device system can be applied to monitor and investigate sea corals in a relatively quantitative manner.

Author Spotlight: Advancing Coral Culture - Creating a Semi-Quantitatively Controlled Microenvironment System to Counter Current Limitations 

An Integrated Micro-Device System for Coral Growth and Monitoring

The aim of our research is to develop an artificial microenvironment system for coral culture and study. The microenvironment in the micro-device system can at least be semi-quantitatively controlled. At the present, the existing equipment and the system used for coral culture lack precise control over temperature and other environmental factors.Additionally, these system are open, making them susceptible to contamination from an airborne substance. Our indoor coral culture system boasts a superior control accuracy, and the microbial tightness compared to other similar system or tanks. Additionally, our system is commercially cost-effective.Using this micro-device system, we can somehow customize the environmental parameters like temperature, strength, or metabolite concentration, which will make the coral study more quantitative and might promote the current coral research. We would like to know about longevity of corals in this artificial micro-device. Another important question that we want to address is how the artificially built-up system affects the growth process of corals in comparison to the nature environment.

Temperature control accuracy 
The system temperature is normally set to 23-28 &#176;C depending on the coral species. However, as one of the most important factors, temperature fluctuation can strongly affect coral survival. Hence, temperature control accuracy is a decisive factor for the coral culture system. A temperature sensor and an independent data collector with a temperature range from 9 &#176;C to 32 &#176;C can be used to test the temperature control accuracy in the coral culture module. W...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Advancing Coral Culture — Creating a Semi-Quantitatively Controlled Microenvironment System to Counter Current Limitations at JoVE.com

This protocol describes the development of a modular controllable micro-device system that can be applied for the long-term culturing and monitoring of sea corals.

Corals are fundamental organisms in marine and coastal ecosystems. With the advancement of coral protection research in recent years, precise control of ...

an-integrated-micro-device-system-for-coral-growth-and-monitoring

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

1.1K ビュー.  Southeast University. 本研究の目的は、サンゴの養殖と研究のための人工微小環境システムの開発です。マイクロデバイスシステムにおける微小環境は、少なくとも半定量的に制御することができる。現在、サンゴの養殖に使用される既存の機器やシステムでは、温度やその他の環境要因を正確に制御できません。さらに、これらのシステムはオープンであるため、空気中の物質による?...

ビデオ: 著者スポットライト:サンゴ文化の進歩 - 電流制限に対抗するための半定量的に制御された微小環境システムの作成 

This protocol describes the development of a modular controllable micro-device system that can be applied for the long-term culturing and monitoring of sea...

a semi-automated workflow for the cryopreservation of coral sperm to support biobanking and aquaculture

Author Spotlight: Developing Efficient Cryopreservation and Biobanking Technologies for Global Reef Restoration

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A Semi-Automated Workflow for the Cryopreservation of Coral Sperm to Support Biobanking and Aquaculture

a brain tumor/organotypic slice co-culture system for studying tumor microenvironment and targeted drug therapies

A Brain Tumor/Organotypic Slice Co-culture System for Studying Tumor Microenvironment and Targeted Drug Therapies

Many types of human brain tumors are localized to specific regions within the brain and are difficult to grow in culture. This protocol addresses the role of tumor microenvironment and investigates new drug treatments by analyzing fluorescent primary brain tumor cells growing in an organotypic mouse brain slice.

preparation of cross-linked sodium alginate microspheres with different metal ions using the microfluidic electrospray technology

Author Spotlight: Advancing Therapeutics with Biocompatible Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Microspheres

The protocol describes the preparation of sodium alginate microspheres cross-linked with different metal ions using a microfluidic device for drug carrier design. The antimicrobial properties and slow drug release of these microspheres were also...

Developing Sodium Alginate Hydrogel Microspheres for Biomedical Use

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rapid glyco-qualitative assessment of recombinant proteins using a fully automated system

Author Spotlight: Advancing Protein Glycosylation Research Using a Fully Automated System

A system for the automated and rapid analysis of glycans on proteins was previously developed. This article presents the protocol for "glyco-qualitative analysis," optimized for a broad spectrum of users, such as those engaged in analyzing glycan structures in biopharmaceuticals and other glycoconjugate...

Automated Lectin-Based Glycan Profiling Using Bead Array in a Single Tip (BIST)

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gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based targeted metabolomics of hard coral samples

Author Spotlight: Separation of Coral Host Tissues and Algal Symbionts and Analyzing Their Metabolites 

Here, we present the extraction and preparation of polar and semi-polar metabolites from a coral holobiont, as well as separated coral host tissue and Symbiodiniaceae cell fractions, for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry...

Metabolite Profiling of Hard Coral Samples Using GC-MS

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controlled reversible visceral arterial ischemia, venous congestion and combined malperfusion via midline laparotomy in rats

Author Spotlight: Advancing Spectral Characterization of Physiological and Malperfused Tissues

This article introduces a standardized procedure for controlled, reversible malperfusion of visceral organs in rat models. The aim is to induce these malperfusion states with a high degree of methodological certainty and control while maintaining technical simplicity and error...

Rat Model for Visceral Organ Malperfusion Studies

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an ex vivo model of ovarian cancer peritoneal metastasis using human omentum

Author Spotlight: Advanced Ex Vivo Model for Investigating Cancer-Adipose Microenvironment Interaction 

This protocol describes the establishment of a three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo model of cancer cell-omentum interaction. The model provides a platform for elucidating pro-tumor mechanisms within the adipose niche and for testing novel...

Establishing a 3D Ex Vivo Model for Ovarian Cancer-Omentum Interaction

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a photopolymerizable hyaluronic acid-collagen model of the invasive glioma microenvironment with interstitial flow

Author Spotlight: Patient-Informed 3D Model for Studying Glioblastoma Invasion via Interstitial Fluid Flow

We present a method for replicating the glioma tumor microenvironment at the invasive front that incorporates interstitial fluid flow. This model is a hyaluronan-collagen I hydrogel in a tissue culture insert where a fluid pressure head can be applied. Invasion can be quantified, and cells can be isolated or lysed.

Replicating Glioblastoma Invasion with Hyaluronan-Collagen I Hydrogel System

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establishing a physiologic human vascularized micro-tumor model for cancer research

Author Spotlight: Creating Human Vascularized Micro-Tumors as Models for Translational Cancer Research 

This protocol presents a physiologically relevant tumor-on-a-chip model to perform high-throughput basic and translational human cancer research, advancing drug screening, disease modeling, and personalized medicine approaches with a description of loading, maintenance, and evaluation procedures.

Preparing a Microfluidics-Based Vascularized Human Micro-Tumor Model

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Optimizing Coral Sperm Cryopreservation from Threatened Coral Species

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determining cell number during cell culture using the scepter cell counter

Determining Cell Number During Cell Culture using the Scepter Cell Counter

The Scepter Cell Counter is a handheld automated device that can be used to count cells, monitor cell diameter and volume, and be used to check the health and quality of cellular populations from one culture to the...

maintaining and assessing various tissue and cell types of the eye using a novel pumpless fluidics system

Author Spotlight: Advancing Eye Physiology Research via a Multi-Channel Flow Culture for Optimal Tissue Maintenance and Real-Time Assessment 

Real-time analysis of live tissue yields important functional and mechanistic data. This paper describes the protocols and critical variables to ensure accurate and reproducible generation of data by a novel and pump-free multi-channel fluidics system that maintains and assesses a wide range of tissue and cell models.

Pumpless Multi-Channel Flow Culture to Maintain and Assess Tissues and Cells

effective techniques for the feeding and ex situ culture of a brooding scleractinian coral, pocillopora acuta

Author Spotlight: Advancing Coral Research by Exploring Climate Change Resistance, Ex Situ Aquaculture, and Reproduction Strategies 

Climate change is impacting coral reef ecosystems globally. Corals sourced from ex situ aquaculture systems can help support restoration and research efforts. Herein, feeding and coral culture techniques that can be used to promote the long-term maintenance of brooding scleractinian corals ex situ are...

Effective Techniques for the Feeding and Ex Situ Culture of a Brooding Scleractinian Coral, Pocillopora acuta

routine maintenance of micro-device system to promote optimum coral growth

Routine Maintenance of Micro-Device System to Promote Optimum Coral Growth

using avian skin explants to study tissue patterning and organogenesis

Author Spotlight: Insight into the Current Experimental Avian Skin Explant Methodologies

Here we describe protocols for three types of avian embryonic skin explant cultures that can be used to examine tissue interactions, 4D imaging timelapse movie (3D plus time), global or local perturbation of molecular function, and systems biology characterization.

A Comprehensive Review of Avian Embryonic Skin Explant Culture Protocols

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concentric gel system to study the biophysical role of matrix microenvironment on 3d cell migration

Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration

The mechanical properties and microstructure of the extracellular matrix strongly affect 3D migration of cells. An in vitro method to study the spatiotemporal cell migration behavior in biophysically variable environments, at both population and individual cell levels, is...

the replica set method: a high-throughput approach to quantitatively measure caenorhabditis elegans lifespan

The Replica Set Method: A High-throughput Approach to Quantitatively Measure Caenorhabditis elegans Lifespan

Here we describe the Replica Set method, an approach to quantitatively measure C. elegans lifespan/survival and healthspan in a high-throughput and robust manner, thus allowing screening of many conditions without sacrificing data quality. This protocol details the strategy and provides a software tool for analysis of Replica Set...

The Replica Set Method: A High-throughput Approach to Quantitatively Measure Caenorhabditis elegans Lifespan

controlled semi-automated laser-induced injuries for studying spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish larvae

Controlled Semi-Automated Laser-Induced Injuries for Studying Spinal Cord Regeneration in Zebrafish Larvae

The present protocol describes a method to induce tissue-specific and highly reproducible injuries in zebrafish larvae using a laser lesion system combined with an automated microfluidic platform for larvae...

Inspection and Startup of the Micro-Device System for Coral Growth Monitoring

To begin, connect all the modules and pumps. Ensure the water flows circularly over the system for a minimum of 30 minutes. Inspect all the seams for potential leaks.After conducting the tightness test, evacuate and dry the water inside. Then, load the appropriate contents in the modules. Fix the modules onto the baseboard using the screws and connect the inner circulation modules to the outer circulation modules.Then, inject the seawater into the water inlet of the seawater store module. Once the water level reaches three centimeters above the water inlets of the pumps, switch them on and continue injecting the seawater. Now, turn on all the switches and set the seawater pump voltages to nine volts.Set the water temperature to 25 degrees Celsius. Next, set the cycle timer to one minute on and one minute off. Set all three channels of the three-channel timer to 9:00 a.m.on and 5:00 p.m.off.

Coral Growth and Monitoring Using the Micro-Device System

After setting the micro drive system, add one milliliter of the commercial microbiome source solution into 500 milliliters of the seawater while stirring. Next, inject 50 milliliters of the diluted solution and 10 microliters of the commercial coral nutrition solution into the circulation system. Switch on the inner circulation pump and turn on the air pump to culture the microbiome for 21 days.Cut the rock coral branches into a length of three to five centimeters. Adhere these coral branches onto 3D-printed coral support bases. Place the coral branch samples back into the original seawater tank for a minimum of seven days for recovery.Fix the coral support base onto the rotation unit using glue. Assemble the coral culture module and connect it to the outer circulation loop. Position the camera on the top of the studio and capture the images from a vertical view.Next, place the coral culture module in the mini photo studio with the coral positioned in the center and at the bottom. Capture coral images by rotating the outside handle. The coral culture module effectively controlled the seawater temperature and prevented temperature fluctuation, which can strongly affect coral survival.The sample corals'tentacles extended over one month indicating that the system provided a suitable survival environment for the coral.

To begin, perform leakage inspection for system safety by inspecting the baseboard, seam, and connectors for water stains or droplets. The transparent nature of the system's cover shell facilitates visual inspection of water leakage. Extract 10 milliliters of seawater using a syringe from the three-way valve between the activated charcoal and seawater module.Dissolve the additives in the extracted seawater and inject the solution back into the system through the three-way valve to replenish the system with nutrients and other reagents. To reduce toxic concentration and eutrophication in the culture system, exchange water by switching off the power of the entire system and unplugging the power cable for safety. Then remove the coral culture module and connect the outside wastewater pipeline to the outlet in the seawater store module.Now rotate the system and position it front side down. Turn on the outlet and allow the seawater to flow out from inside the system. Discharge the required amount of seawater and take off the outlet.Afterwards, reset the system, and inject the newly-prepared seawater through the water inlet. Reinstall the coral culture module into the system. Switch on the system and wait for the system to get back to normal.