We hope this work proves to be a valuable tool for the coral research and restoration community, encouraging others to creatively apply machine learning to disease classification questions. 🧬

This approach enabled us to identify gene expression profiles that classify phenotypically similar diseases, which helps us not only to characterize the differences between two similar diseases but also to create a reliable model for identifying co-occurring infections along a reef. 🪸

The model was successful in classifying in situ corals with either white plague or SCTLD, with a classification rate of 98.95% (AUC) and an overall error rate of 0.0754. 🥳

Using coral gene expression data, we identified biomarkers through logistic regression and differential expression. We built a Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) model that reliably distinguishes between WP and SCTLD, which was tested and validated using in situ samples.

🪸 New paper alert 🧬
We developed a highly accurate diagnostic tool that classifies between two #coral diseases: white plague and stony coral tissue loss disease. This model accurately classified in situ collected diseased samples, supporting its use as a diagnostic tool.
rdcu.be/eCNic

New #RSOS paper: Machine learning reveals distinct gene expression signatures across tissue states in stony #coral tissue loss disease: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... @kelseybeavers.bsky.social @mad-em.bsky.social @emily-vanburen.bsky.social

🎉 Exciting news! The last manuscript from my dissertation was just published in Royal Society Open Science!
And in a fun twist of fate, the cover of this issue happens to feature a Caribbean coral colony 🪸 (not from our study, but still serendipitous nonetheless!)

Would love to be added thanks! 🪸

Would love to be added!

Excited to be presenting at Ocean Sciences #OSM24 this year! If you want to hear about innovative ways to leverage machine learning in genetic expression studies to classify and characterize coral disease come to my talk tomorrow!

Jazzed to announce BU Biology's 2024 Emerging Scholars in Global Change Biology! Are you an amazing postdoc looking for an awesome professional development activity! Please check this out!
Plz repost! I don't know how to reach everyone on here so any help appreciated!
www.bu.edu/biology/emer...

@kelseybeavers.bsky.social giving an amazing talk at the Texas Advanced Computing Center symposium for Texas researchers! We had a great time visiting with everyone and seeing our server, Frontera ! @emily-vanburen.bsky.social