Initially the word plastid was more suitable than "chloroplast" when describing organelles of apparent algal descent in any protist, but that lack any chlorophyll or light absorbing pigment.
[6] Chromera velia was first isolated by Dr Bob Moore (then at Carter Lab, University of Sydney) from the stony coral (Scleractinia, Cnidaria) Plesiastrea versipora (Faviidae) of Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia (collectors Thomas Starke-Peterkovic and Les Edwards, December 2001).
[1] It was also cultured by Moore from the stony coral Leptastrea purpurea (Faviidae) of One Tree Island Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia (collectors Karen Miller and Craig Mundy, November 2001).
[1] Through a variety of phylogenetic tests on the orthologous genes found in similar organisms, researchers were able to relate C. velia to dinoflagellates and apicomplexans which are alveolates.
[10] A structure resembling an apical complex in the flagellate,[11] includes a conoid or pseudoconoid and long sacculate micronemes,[2][11] confirming a relationship to apicomplexans.
[17] Discovery of these two genetic features, the UGA-Trp, and the poly-U tailed photosynthesis genes, indicates that C. velia provides an appropriate model to study the evolution of the apicoplast.
[23] An unexpected finding in Chromera was a large (1 μm diameter) ever-present organelle bounded by two membranes, originally thought to be the mitochondrion.
[citation needed] The discovery of Chromera velia and its unique plastid which is similar in origin to the apicoplasts, provides an important link in the evolutionary history of the apicomplexans.
[24] Although researchers are still discussing why apicomplexans would sacrifice their photosynthetic ability and become parasitic, it is suggested that clues might be gathered by studying aspects of the evolution of the Chromerida, such as the development of an apical complex of organelles that were used by later descendants to invade host cells.
[12][27] It does appear that C. velia exist as a free-living phototroph when necessary or when environmental conditions are suitable, but can also infect coral larvae and live as an intracellular parasite.
[32] C. velia could serve as a convenient model target for the development of antimalarial drugs, since it effectively contains the original apicoplast, as it were, and since its nuclear genome closely resembles that of the ancestral proto-parasites.
In the laboratory setting, working with apicomplexan parasites can be difficult, hazardous and expensive, because they must be infected into live host cells (in tissue culture) to remain viable.
Chromera velia, is more easily maintained than apicomplexan parasites, yet is related to them, so may potentially provide a laboratory model for the understanding or development of antimalarial treatments.
The economic burden from apicomplexan parasites is estimated in the billions of dollars,[33][34] (see also Malaria) on top of the human and animal costs of these organisms.
An increased understanding of the evolutionary roles and functions of apicoplasts and apical complexes can impact on research about the apicomplexan parasites of livestock animals, making C. velia of interest in an agricultural context as well as in the medical and ecological fields.
[citation needed] Analysis of environmental metagenomic datasets has revealed that there are other species related to C. velia and V. brassicaformis associated with corals, but yet to be described.
Cultured chromerids by comparison can be hypothesized to move between the free-living and coral-associated states, as they are found in M. digitata eggs[35] but are also associated with seaweed, judging from correlations in macroalgal metagenomic datasets.
[citation needed] The first Chromera conference and workshop was held at the Heron Island Research Station, Queensland, Australia from November 21–25, 2011.
The second conference was held in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, from June 22–25, 2014, arranged by the Oborník lab, via open email list.