Vibrio harveyi: a significant pathogen of marine vertebrates and invertebrates

Evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for the rapid detection of Vibrio harveyi in cultured marine shellfish

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the rapid, sensitive detection of Vibrio harveyi in mariculture shellfish.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A set of four primers, two outer and two inner primers, were designed from the toxR gene sequence of V. harveyi. The LAMP reaction was conducted at 65 degrees C for 60 min. There were no cross-reactions with other bacterial strains indicating a high specificity of the LAMP. The detection sensitivity of the LAMP assay for V. harveyi with both of pure cultures and added shellfish cultures is about 10(-5) dilution level (equivalent to 17.2 cells per reaction). The amplification products were detected by visual inspection using SYBR Green I. The detection sensitivity using the LAMP method was 10 times higher than that of conventional PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

The LAMP assay established in this study is an extremely specific, sensitive and rapid for identification of V. harveyi in mariculture shellfish.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This LAMP technique provides an important detecting tool for the detection of V. harveyi infection both in the laboratory and field. This technique is recommended as an applied protocol for health management programme and disease surveillance of in hatcheries as well as in grow-out pond, to prevent the disease outbreak.

Bacteriocin as weapons in the marine animal-associated bacteria warfare: inventory and potential applications as an aquaculture probiotic

As the association of marine animals with bacteria has become more commonly recognized, researchers have increasingly questioned whether these animals actually produce many of the bioactive compounds originally isolated from them. Bacteriocins, ribosomally synthesized antibiotic peptides, constitute one of the most potent weapons to fight against pathogen infections. Indeed, bacteriocinogenic bacteria may prevent pathogen dissemination by occupying the same ecological niche. Bacteriocinogenic strains associated with marine animals are a relevant source for isolation of probiotics. This review draws up an inventory of the marine bacteriocinogenic strains isolated from animal-associated microbial communities, known to date. Bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) and fully-characterized bacteriocins are described. Finally, their applications as probiotics in aquaculture are discussed.

Vibrio harveyi hemolysin induces ultrastructural changes and apoptosis in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) cells

Vibrio harveyi hemolysin (VHH) is considered a major pathogenic virulence factor to fish. However, the VHH active-site mutant has lost all hemolytic and phospholipase activities as well as pathogenicity. In this study, the effect of VHH on erythrocytes and a gill cell line from flounder was elucidated. Erythrocyte membranes formed thin tubular protrusions immediately after exposure to VHH, and membrane corrugations were evident after extended incubation. In contrast, the mutant VHH did not induce any gross morphological changes. With VHH-treated FG-9307 cells, a cell line derived from flounder gill, destruction of organelles and formation of features resembling apoptotic bodies were observed. Immunogold staining showed that a large amount of VHH was deposited on the membranes and membrane debris of erythrocytes and FG-9307 cells after treatment with VHH. Apoptotic features, such as chromatin condensation and apoptotic bodies, were observed in VHH-treated FG-9307 cells using DAPI staining. Moreover, cell cycle analysis showed that VHH increased the proportion of cells in G1 phase. In addition, VHH significantly increased the percentage of apoptosis, the number of TUNEL positive apoptotic cells, and caspase-3 activity in FG-9307 cells when compared with the untreated controls. These data suggested that VHH killed the cells through apoptosis via the caspase activation pathway.

Identification of Vibrio harveyi as a causative bacterium for a tail rot disease of sea bream Sparus aurata from research hatchery in Malta

A bacterial disease was reported from gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) within a hatchery environment in Malta. Symptoms included complete erosion of tail, infection in the eye, mucous secretion and frequent mortality. A total of 540 strains were initially isolated in marine agar from different infected body parts and culture water sources. Subsequently 100 isolates were randomly selected, identified biochemically and all were found to be Vibrio harveyi-related organisms; finally from 100 isolates a total of 13 numbers were randomly selected and accurately identified as V. harveyi by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and species-specific PCR. Ribotyping of these strains with HindIII revealed total of six clusters. In vivo challenge study with representative isolates from each cluster proved two clusters each were highly pathogenic, moderately pathogenic and non-pathogenic. All 13 isolates were positive for hemolysin gene, a potential virulence factor. Further analysis revealed probably a single copy of this gene was encoded in all isolates, although not in the same locus in the genome. Although V. harveyi was reported to be an important pathogen for many aquatic organisms, to our knowledge this might be the first report of disease caused by V. harveyi and their systematic study in the sea bream hatchery from Malta.

Expression of immune-related genes in the digestive organ of shrimp, Penaeus monodon, after an oral infection by Vibrio harveyi

In all previous studies, to study shrimp immune response, bacteria were directly injected into the shrimp body and as a consequence the initial step of a natural interaction was omitted. In this study we have instead used an immersion technique, which is a more natural way of establishing an infection, to study immune responses in black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Normally, Vibrio harveyi (Vh) is highly pathogenic to post-larval shrimp, but not to juveniles which usually resist an infection. In post-larvae, Vh causes a massive destruction of the digestive system, especially in the hepatopancreas and in the anterior gut. We have therefore investigated changes in transcription levels of fifteen immune-related genes and morphological changes in juvenile shrimp following an immersion of shrimp in Vh suspension. We found that a pathogenic bacterium, Vh, has the capacity to induce a local expression of some immune-related genes in shrimp after such a bacterial immersion. Our results show that in the juvenile gut small changes in expression of the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes such as antilipopolysaccharide factor isoform 3, crustin and penaeidin were observed. However some other genes were more strongly induced in their expression compared to the AMP genes. C-type lectin, Tachylectin 5a1 and mucin-like peritrophic membrane were increased in their expression and the C-type lectin was affected most in its expression. Several other examined genes did not change their expression levels. By performing histology studies it was found that Vh infection induced a strong perturbation of the midgut epithelium in some regions. As a consequence, the epithelial cells and basement membrane of the infected site were completely damaged and necrotic and massive hemocyte infiltration occurred underneath the affected tissue to combat the infection.

RNAi knock-down of the Litopenaeus vannamei Toll gene (LvToll) significantly increases mortality and reduces bacterial clearance after challenge with Vibrio harveyi

In this study, we used real-time PCR to simultaneously monitor the responses of 12 key genes of the shrimp innate immune system in Litopenaeus vannamei after challenge with Vibrio harveyi. In the proPO activating system, we found that proPO was up-regulated (3.3x control at 36hpi). The hemolymph clotting genes transglutaminase (TGase) and clotting protein were also up-regulated, as were 5 genes in the antimicrobial peptide system (ALF, Crustin, Lyz, PEN2 and PEN4), with only PEN3 showing no significant changes. In the antioxidant defense system, SOD was slightly elevated while GPx was substantially down-regulated. In the pattern recognition receptor system, at 24hpi, the Toll gene (LvToll) showed the highest relative increase in expression level of all the investigated genes (15x greater than the sterile seawater control). In the second part of this study, when LvToll was knocked down by RNAi silencing, there was no effect on either survival rates or bacterial number in unchallenged shrimp. There was also no difference in mortality rates between control shrimp and LvToll-silenced shrimp when these two groups were challenged with a viral pathogen (white spot syndrome virus; WSSV). However, when LvToll-silenced shrimp were challenged by V. harveyi, there was a significant increase in mortality and bacterial CFU counts. We note that the increase in bacterial CFU count occurred even though treatment with EGFP dsRNA had the opposite effect of reducing the CFU counts. We conclude that LvToll is an important factor in the shrimp innate immune response to acute V. harveyi infection, but not to WSSV.

AI-2 quorum-sensing inhibitors affect the starvation response and reduce virulence in several Vibrio species, most likely by interfering with LuxPQ

The increase of disease outbreaks caused by Vibrio species in aquatic organisms as well as in humans, together with the emergence of antibiotic resistance in Vibrio species, has led to a growing interest in alternative disease control measures. Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism for regulating microbial gene expression in a cell density-dependent way. While there is good evidence for the involvement of auto-inducer 2 (AI-2)-based interspecies QS in the control of virulence in multiple Vibrio species, only few inhibitors of this system are known. From the screening of a small panel of nucleoside analogues for their ability to disturb AI-2-based QS, an adenosine derivative with a p-methoxyphenylpropionamide moiety at C-3′ emerged as a promising hit. Its mechanism of inhibition was elucidated by measuring the effect on bioluminescence in a series of Vibrio harveyi AI-2 QS mutants. Our results indicate that this compound, as well as a truncated analogue lacking the adenine base, block AI-2-based QS without interfering with bacterial growth. The active compounds affected neither the bioluminescence system as such nor the production of AI-2, but most likely interfered with the signal transduction pathway at the level of LuxPQ in V. harveyi. The most active nucleoside analogue (designated LMC-21) was found to reduce the Vibrio species starvation response, to affect biofilm formation in Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio cholerae, to reduce pigment and protease production in V. anguillarum, and to protect gnotobiotic Artemia from V. harveyi-induced mortality.

Targeting the replication initiator of the second Vibrio chromosome: towards generation of vibrionaceae-specific antimicrobial agents

The Vibrionaceae is comprised of numerous aquatic species and includes several human pathogens, such as Vibrio cholerae, the cause of cholera. All organisms in this family have two chromosomes, and replication of the smaller one depends on rctB, a gene that is restricted to the Vibrionaceae. Given the increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistance in pathogenic vibrios, there is a need for new targets and drugs to combat these pathogens. Here, we carried out a high throughput cell-based screen to find small molecule inhibitors of RctB. We identified a compound that blocked growth of an E. coli strain bearing an rctB-dependent plasmid but did not influence growth of E. coli lacking this plasmid. This compound, designated vibrepin, had potent cidal activity against V. cholerae and inhibited the growth of all vibrio species tested. Vibrepin blocked RctB oriCII unwinding, apparently by promoting formation of large non-functional RctB complexes. Although vibrepin also appears to have targets other than RctB, our findings suggest that RctB is an attractive target for generation of novel antibiotics that only block growth of vibrios. Vibrio-specific agents, unlike antibiotics currently used in clinical practice, will not engender resistance in the normal human flora or in non-vibrio environmental microorganisms.

Multi-drug resistant bacteria continue to emerge and there is a pressing need for the development of new antibiotics. Here, we carried out a cell-based high throughput screen to identify inhibitors of RctB, the initiator of replication of the second chromosome found in all the species of the Vibrionaceae. This family of bacteria includes several human pathogens, including Vibrio cholerae, the cause of cholera, as well as several species that damage economically important marine organisms. We identified a compound—designated vibrepin—that has potent cidal activity against V. cholerae and inhibited growth of all vibrio species tested. Vibrepin blocked RctB unwinding of the origin of replication of the second V. cholerae chromosome, apparently by promoting the formation of large non-functional RctB complexes. Vibrepin represents a new class of antibiotic that specifically targets a particular family of microorganisms (the Vibrionaceae). Such targeted agents will not engender resistance in the normal human flora or in non-vibrio environmental microorganisms. Thus, in principle, genes mediating resistance to these compounds will not arise in and be transferred from non-vibrios to vibrios, perhaps postponing the development of resistance.

Evaluation of the vaccine potential of a cytotoxic protease and a protective immunogen from a pathogenic Vibrio harveyi strain

Vibrio harveyi is an important aquaculture pathogen that can infect a number of fish species and marine invertebrates. A putative protease, Vhp1, was identified from a pathogenic V. harveyi strain isolated from diseased fish as a protein with secretion capacity. Vhp1 is 530 amino acids in length and shares high sequence identities with several extracellular serine proteases of the Vibrio species. In silico analysis identified a protease domain in Vhp1, which is preceded by a subtilisin-N domain and followed by a bacterial pre-peptidase C-terminal domain. Purified recombinant protein corresponding to the protease domain of Vhp1 exhibited apparent proteolytic activity that was relatively heat-stable and reached maximum at pH 8.0 and 50 degrees C. The activity of purified recombinant Vhp1 protease was enhanced by Ca(2+) and inhibited by Mn(2+) and ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid. Cytotoxicity analyses indicated that recombinant Vhp1 protease was toxic to cultured Japanese flounder cells and could cause complete cell lysis. Immunoprotective analysis using Japanese flounder as an animal model showed that purified recombinant Vhp1 in the form of a denatured and proteolytically inactive protein was an effective subunit vaccine. To improve the vaccine potential of Vhp1, an Escherichia coli strain that expresses and secrets a cytotoxically impaired Vhp1 was constructed, which, when used as a live vaccine, afforded a high level of protection upon the vaccinated fish against lethal V. harveyi challenge. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Vhp1 is a cytotoxic protease and an effective vaccine candidate against V. harveyi infection.

Ingestion of bacteria overproducing DnaK attenuates Vibrio infection of Artemia franciscana larvae

Feeding of bacterially encapsulated heat shock proteins (Hsps) to invertebrates is a novel way to limit Vibrio infection. As an example, ingestion of Escherichia coli overproducing prokaryotic Hsps significantly improves survival of gnotobiotically cultured Artemia larvae upon challenge with pathogenic Vibrio campbellii. The relationship between Hsp accumulation and enhanced resistance to infection may involve DnaK, the prokaryotic equivalent to Hsp70, a major molecular chaperone in eukaryotic cells. In support of this proposal, heat-stressed bacterial strains LVS 2 (Bacillus sp.), LVS 3 (Aeromonas hydrophila), LVS 8 (Vibrio sp.), GR 8 (Cytophaga sp.), and GR 10 (Roseobacter sp.) were shown in this work to be more effective than nonheated bacteria in protecting gnotobiotic Artemia larvae against V. campbellii challenge. Immunoprobing of Western blots and quantification by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that the amount of DnaK in bacteria and their ability to enhance larval resistance to infection by V. campbellii are correlated. Although the function of DnaK is uncertain, it may improve tolerance to V. campbellii via immune stimulation, a possibility of significance from a fundamental perspective and also because it could be applied in aquaculture, a major method of food production.

Characterization of two host-specific genes, mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (mshA) and uridyl phosphate dehydrogenase (UDPDH) that are involved in the Vibrio fischeri-Euprymna tasmanica mutualism

While much has been known about the mutualistic associations between the sepiolid squid Euprymna tasmanica and the luminescent bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, less is known about the connectivity between the microscopic and molecular basis of initial attachment and persistence in the light organ. Here, we examine the possible effects of two symbiotic genes on specificity and biofilm formation of V. fischeri in squid light organs. Uridine diphosphate glucose-6-dehydrogenase (UDPDH) and mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (mshA) mutants were generated in V. fischeri to determine whether each gene has an effect on host colonization, specificity, and biofilm formation. Both squid light organ colonization assays and transmission electron microscopy confirmed differences in host colonization between wild-type and mutant strains, and also demonstrated the importance of both UDPDH and mshA gene expression for successful light organ colonization. This furthers our understanding of the genetic factors playing important roles in this environmentally transmitted symbiosis.

Environmental determinants correlated to Vibrio harveyi-mediated death of marine gastropods

Vibrio harveyi is an emerging pathogen that causes mass mortality in a wide variety of marine animal species; however, it is still unclear which environmental determinants correlate V. harveyi dynamics and the bacterium-mediated death of marine animal life. We conducted a correlation analysis over a 5-year period (2003-2007) analysing the following data: V. harveyi abundance, marine animal mortality and environmental variables (seawater temperature, salinity, pH, chlorophyll a, rainfall and total viable bacterial counts). The samples were collected from a coastal area in northern Japan, where deaths of a marine gastropod species (Haliotis discus hannai) have been reported. Our analysis revealed significant positive correlations between average seawater temperature and average V. harveyi abundance (R = 0.955; P < 0.05), and between average seawater temperature and V. harveyi-mediated abalone death (R = 0.931; P < 0.05). Based on the regression model, n degrees C rise in seawater temperature gave rise to a 21(n)-fold increase in the risk of mortality caused by V. harveyi infection. This is the first report providing evidence of the strong positive correlation between seawater temperature and V. harveyi-mediated death of marine species.

The outer membrane protein VhOmp of Vibrio harveyi: pore-forming properties in black lipid membranes

Vibrio harveyi is known to cause fatal vibriosis in marine animals. Here, an outer membrane protein from V. harveyi, namely, VhOmp, was isolated and functionally characterized in terms of pore-forming contact with artificial lipid membranes. The native VhOmp exists as a trimer of a molecular weight similar to that of the porin OmpF from Escherichia coli. Reconstitution of VhOmp into black lipid membranes demonstrated its ability to form ion channels. The average pore conductance of VhOmp was revealed to be about 0.9 and 2 nS in 0.2 and 1 M KCl, respectively. Within transmembrane potentials of +/-100 mV, VhOmp pores behaved as ohmic conduits, and their conductance scaled linearly with voltage. Nonlinear plots of the pore conductance versus symmetrical salt concentrations at either side of the protein-incorporating membrane suggested the influence of interior channel functionalities on the passage of charged species. In the presence of Omp-specific polyclonal antibodies, the pore-forming property of VhOmp was modulated so that the usual step-like current increments were replaced by random transitory current fluctuations. VhOmp exhibited a strong biological activity by causing hemolysis of human red blood cells, indicating that VhOmp may act as a crucial determinant during bacterial infection to animal host cells.

Genomic and systems evolution in Vibrionaceae species

Background

The steadily increasing number of prokaryotic genomes has accelerated the study of genome evolution; in particular, the availability of sets of genomes from closely related bacteria has facilitated the exploration of the mechanisms underlying genome plasticity. The family Vibrionaceae is found in the Gammaproteobacteria and is abundant in aquatic environments. Taxa from the family Vibrionaceae are diversified in their life styles; some species are free living, others are symbiotic, and others are human pathogens. This diversity makes this family a useful set of model organisms for studying bacterial evolution. This evolution is driven by several forces, among them gene duplication and lateral gene transfer, which are believed to provide raw material for functional redundancy and novelty. The resultant gene copy increase in one genome is then detected as lineage-specific expansion (LSE).

Results

Here we present the results of a detailed comparison of the genomes of eleven Vibrionaceae strains that have distinct life styles and distinct phenotypes. The core genome shared by all eleven strains is composed of 1,882 genes, which make up about 31%–50% of the genome repertoire. We further investigated the distribution and features of genes that have been specifically expanded in one unique lineage of the eleven strains. Abundant duplicate genes have been identified in the eleven Vibrionaceae strains, with 1–11% of the whole genomes composed lineage specific radiations. These LSEs occurred in two distinct patterns: the first type yields one or more copies of a single gene; we call this a single gene expansion. The second pattern has a high evolutionary impact, as the expansion involves two or more gene copies in a block, with the duplicated block located next to the original block (a contiguous block expansion) or at some distance from the original block (a discontiguous block expansion). We showed that LSEs involve genes that are tied to defense and pathogenesis mechanisms as well as in the fundamental life cycle of Vibrionaceae species.

Conclusion

Our results provide evidence of genome plasticity and rapid evolution within the family Vibrionaceae. The comparisons point to sources of genomic variation and candidates for lineage-specific adaptations of each Vibrionaceae pathogen or nonpathogen strain. Such lineage specific expansions could reveal components in bacterial systems that, by their enhanced genetic variability, can be tied to responses to environmental challenges, interesting phenotypes, or adaptive pathogenic responses to host challenges.

Heterogeneity in quorum sensing-regulated bioluminescence of Vibrio harveyi

Quorum sensing (QS) refers to the ability of bacterial populations to read out the local environment for cell density and to collectively activate gene expression. Vibrio harveyi, one of the best characterized model organisms in QS, was used to address the question how single cells behave within a QS-activated community in a homogeneous environment. Analysis of the QS-regulated bioluminescence of a wild type strain revealed that even at high cell densities only 69% of the cells of the population produced bioluminescence, 25% remained dark and 6% were dead. Moreover, light intensities greatly varied from cell to cell at high population density. Addition of autoinducer to a bright liquid culture of V. harveyi increased the percentage of luminescent cells up to 98%, suggesting that V. harveyi produces and/or keeps the autoinducers at non-saturating concentrations. In contrast, all living cells of a constitutive QS-active mutant (DeltaluxO) produced light. We also found that QS affects biofilm formation in V. harveyi. Our data provide first evidence that a heterogeneous population produces more biofilm than a homogeneous one. It is suggested that even a QS-committed population of V. harveyi takes advantage of heterogeneity, which extends the current view of QS-regulated uniformity.

Identification of vhhP2, a novel genetic marker of Vibrio harveyi, and its application in the quick detection of V. harveyi from animal specimens and environmental samples

AIMS

To investigate the species-specific prevalence of vhhP2 among Vibrio harveyi isolates and the applicability of vhhP2 in the specific detection of V. harveyi from crude samples of animal and environmental origins.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A gene (vhhP2) encoding an outer membrane protein of unknown function was identified from a pathogenic V. harveyi isolate. vhhP2 is present in 24 V. harveyi strains isolated from different geographical locations but is absent in 24 strains representing 17 different non-V. harveyi species, including V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus. A simple polymerase chain reaction method for the identification of V. harveyi was developed based on the conserved sequence of vhhP2. This method was demonstrated to be applicable to the quick detection of V. harveyi from crude animal specimens and environmental samples. The specificity of this method was tested by applying it to the examination of two strains of V. campbellii, which is most closely related to V. harveyi. One of the V. campbellii strains was falsely identified as V. harveyi.

CONCLUSIONS

vhhP2 is ubiquitously present in the V. harveyi species and is absent in most of the non-V. harveyi species; this feature enables vhhP2 to serve as a genetic marker for the rapid identification of V. harveyi. However, this method can not distinguish some V. campbellii strains from V. harveyi.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

the significance of our study is the identification of a novel gene of V. harveyi and the development of a simple method for the relatively accurate detection of V. harveyi from animal specimens and environmental samples.

Cloning and expression of a hepcidin gene from a marine fish (Pseudosciaena crocea) and the antimicrobial activity of its synthetic peptide

Hepcidin gene is widely expressed in various fish, suggesting that this antimicrobial peptide is a very important component in the innate immune system. Large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) is one of the important economic species of marine-cultured fish but knowledge of its innate immune mechanism is lacking. In this study, we characterize a P. crocea hepcidin gene named as PC-hepc. It consists of an open reading frame of 258 bases encoding 85 amino acids and has a conserved sequence in common with other known hepcidins. The genomic DNA of PC-hepc contains three exons and two introns, the same organization as other reported hepcidins, indicating that PC-hepc is one member of the hepcidin family in fish. The tissue-specific expression of PC-hepc gene in normal fish and the expression pattern in LPS-challenged fish at the time course of stimulation were investigated. The expression of PC-hepc mRNA was significantly increased in the spleen, heart and stomach but not significantly induced in the liver after LPS challenge. An interesting finding is the demonstration of high amounts of PC-hepc transcripts in the kidney in normal fish and their maintenance through 48h exposure to LPS challenge. The synthetic PC-hepc demonstrated a rather wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity in vitro against bacteria and fungi tested, and particularly showed strong activity against the principal fish pathogens, Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio parahaemloyticus, Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio harvryi. The study indicates that PC-hepc may play a role with a tissue-specific mode in the innate immunity of P. crocea.

Evolution of tolerance to PCBs and susceptibility to a bacterial pathogen (Vibrio harveyi) in Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) from New Bedford (MA, USA) harbor

A population of the non-migratory estuarine fish Fundulus heteroclitus (Atlantic killifish) resident to New Bedford (NB), Massachusetts, USA, an urban harbor highly contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), demonstrates recently evolved tolerance to some aspects of PCB toxicity. PCB toxicology, ecological theory, and some precedence supported expectations of increased susceptibility to pathogens in NB killifish. However, laboratory bacterial challenges of the marine pathogen Vibrio harveyi to wild fish throughout the reproductive season and to their mature laboratory-raised progeny demonstrated comparable survival by NB and reference killifish, and improved survival by NB males. These results are inconsistent with hypothesized trade-offs of adaptation, and suggest that evolved tolerance in NB killifish may include mechanisms that minimize the immunosuppressive effects of PCBs. Compensatory strategies of populations persisting in highly contaminated environments provide a unique perspective for understanding the long-term ecological effects of toxic chemicals.

Quorum sensing in veterinary pathogens: mechanisms, clinical importance and future perspectives

Under certain circumstances the individuals of a bacterial population may find advantages in acting together and making "collective decisions". This phenomenon is better known as quorum sensing. When the concentration of signal molecules produced by the surrounding bacteria exceeds a certain threshold, the bacterial population acts as a single organism, collectively expressing virulence genes, biofilm forming genes, etc. Several mechanisms of quorum sensing are discussed, each with its distinct signal molecules and respective receptors. Some of these mechanisms are restricted to sensing intraspecies signalling, but interspecies and even interkingdom signalling have also been described. Several veterinary pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella Typhimurium use quorum sensing as a means to optimize virulence gene expression and host colonization. Therefore, targeting of the QS mechanisms may provide a novel strategy for combating bacterial infections, also in veterinary medicine.

Bacterial quorum-sensing network architectures

Quorum sensing is a cell-cell communication process in which bacteria use the production and detection of extracellular chemicals called autoinducers to monitor cell population density. Quorum sensing allows bacteria to synchronize the gene expression of the group, and thus act in unison. Here, we review the mechanisms involved in quorum sensing with a focus on the Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio cholerae quorum-sensing systems. We discuss the differences between these two quorum-sensing systems and the differences between them and other paradigmatic bacterial signal transduction systems. We argue that the Vibrio quorum-sensing systems are optimally designed to precisely translate extracellular autoinducer information into internal changes in gene expression. We describe how studies of the V. harveyi and V. cholerae quorum-sensing systems have revealed some of the fundamental mechanisms underpinning the evolution of collective behaviors.

Pathogenic Vibrio harveyi, in contrast to non-pathogenic strains, intervenes with the p38 MAPK pathway to avoid an abalone haemocyte immune response

Vibrio harveyi is a marine bacterial pathogen responsible for episodic abalone epidemics associated with massive mortalities in France, Japan, and Australia. The aim of this study was the understanding of a possible role of the p38 MAPK in abalone haemocyte responses towards this bacterium. First, the pathogenicity of different V. harveyi strains was compared in both immersion and injection trials, and clear differences were detected. The three strains, ORM4, 04/092, and 05/053, all isolated from moribund abalone, induced up to 80% mortalities in immersion or injection challenges (LD(50) (ORM4) = 2.5 x 10(2) CFU animal(-1)). The two strains, LMG 4044T and LMG 7890 were non-pathogenic towards abalone in immersion trials, and needed very high numbers for killing by intramuscular injections (LD(50) = 8.9 x 10(4) and 1.6 x 10(5) CFU animal(-1), respectively). To start unraveling the mechanism explaining these differences, the p38-MAPK, a keyplayer in antimicrobial immune response, was studied. The non-pathogenic strain, LMG 7890 can be eliminated by abalone haemocytes and induces haemocyte phagocytosis and high ROS production. With different concentrations of a p38-specific inhibitor, SB203580, p38 implication was shown. This inhibitor reduced phagocytosis and ROS induction leading to LMG 7890 proliferation. In the case of the pathogenic ORM4 which can not be eliminated by abalone haemocytes, no phagocytosis and ROS production was induced, and a retarded p38 activation was observed. Taken together, our results suggest that p38 MAPK modulation may be one of the ways of virulent V. harveyi to attack its host and escape abalone immune response.

An outer membrane protein, OmpK, is an effective vaccine candidate for Vibrio harveyi in Orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides)

The outer membrane proteins of the fish pathogen, Vibrio harveyi, have a role in interaction between bacterium and host and are potential candidates for vaccine development. In this study, the gene encoding an outer membrane protein, OmpK, which serves as the receptor for broad-host-range vibriophage KVP40 in V. harveyi, was isolated and characterized. Then the OmpK gene coding for mature peptide was subcloned into prokaryotic expression vector pBV220 and transformed into Escherichia coli DH5 alpha strain. After temperature induction, a recombinant protein was detected about 28 kDa in molecular weight and accounted for 24.8% of total proteins of whole cell as estimated by SDS-PAGE and scanning analysis of gel image. Polyclonal antibodies were raised in rabbits against the purified protein and the reaction of the antibody was confirmed by western blotting using the purified protein and crude extract of V. harveyi. Orange-spotted groupers (Epinephelus coioides) vaccinated with recombinant OmpK produced specific antibodies, and were highly resistant to infection by virulent V. harveyi. These results indicate that the OmpK is an effective vaccine candidate against V. harveyi in Orange-spotted groupers.

Summer immune depression associated with increased susceptibility of the European abalone, Haliotis tuberculata to Vibrio harveyi infection

Haliotis tuberculata mortality outbreaks have occurred in France since 1998 and were attributed to a pathogenic Vibrio harveyi. These mortalities were recorded in September, a month with abalone reproduction and characterised by high seawater temperatures. The importance of gonadal maturation and temperature increase on abalone immunity and susceptibility to V. harveyi infection needed to be clarified. Therefore, an immune survey analyzing a large panel of parameters was performed from June to September 2007 on abalone from the Bay of Brest. The data obtained were put in relation with abalone reproductive status and its susceptibility to V. harveyi. Most parameters showed clear patterns from early to late summer and during gametogenesis, phagocytosis and phenoloxidase activity were reduced, whereas basal reactive oxygen species production and agglutination titres were significantly increased. Total haemocyte counts went up after the partial spawning event at the end of June, and cell complexity diminished. Using a Principal Component Analysis, the "haemolymph profile" was shown to decrease in parallel with spawning and gonadal maturation processes, and reached a minimum just after total spawning. A significant correlation between this "haemolymph profile" and disease susceptibility allowed us to establish for the first time in abalone, a clear concordance between maturation and spawning processes, immune status and abalone susceptibility to V. harveyi.

Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde derivatives reduce virulence in Vibrio spp. by decreasing the DNA-binding activity of the quorum sensing response regulator LuxR

BACKGROUND

To date, only few compounds targeting the AI-2 based quorum sensing (QS) system are known. In the present study, we screened cinnamaldehyde and substituted cinnamaldehydes for their ability to interfere with AI-2 based QS. The mechanism of QS inhibition was elucidated by measuring the effect on bioluminescence in several Vibrio harveyi mutants. We also studied in vitro the ability of these compounds to interfere with biofilm formation, stress response and virulence of Vibrio spp. The compounds were also evaluated in an in vivo assay measuring the reduction of Vibrio harveyi virulence towards Artemia shrimp.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that cinnamaldehyde and several substituted derivatives interfere with AI-2 based QS without inhibiting bacterial growth. The active compounds neither interfered with the bioluminescence system as such, nor with the production of AI-2. Study of the effect in various mutants suggested that the target protein is LuxR. Mobility shift assays revealed a decreased DNA-binding ability of LuxR. The compounds were further shown to (i) inhibit biofilm formation in several Vibrio spp., (ii) result in a reduced ability to survive starvation and antibiotic treatment, (iii) reduce pigment and protease production in Vibrio anguillarum and (iv) protect gnotobiotic Artemia shrimp against virulent Vibrio harveyi BB120.

CONCLUSION

Cinnamaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde derivatives interfere with AI-2 based QS in various Vibrio spp. by decreasing the DNA-binding ability of LuxR. The use of these compounds resulted in several marked phenotypic changes, including reduced virulence and increased susceptibility to stress. Since inhibitors of AI-2 based quorum sensing are rare, and considering the role of AI-2 in several processes these compounds may be useful leads towards antipathogenic drugs.

Identification of immune-related genes from kidney and spleen of turbot, Psetta maxima (L.), by suppression subtractive hybridization following challenge with Vibrio harveyi

Suppression subtractive hybridization was used to investigate the response of turbot, Psetta maxima (L.), to Vibrio harveyi, by using a cDNA library constructed from artificially infected turbot kidney and spleen mRNA. Forty-nine expressed sequence tags were obtained. Several immune system genes were identified, including a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ia gene and a heat shock protein 70 gene. Some signalling molecules were also present in the cDNA libraries, including src-family tyrosine kinase SCK, sgk-1 serine-threonine protein kinase and amyloid precursor-like protein 2. The full length of MHC class Ia cDNA was cloned from turbot cDNA by rapid amplification of cDNA ends polymerase chain reaction. The nucleotide sequence of turbot MHC class Ia has been submitted to GenBank with accession number EF032639. The turbot MHC class Ia cDNA has an open reading frame encoding 354 amino acids, and the deduced amino acid sequence of turbot MHC class Ia has 68%, 54%, 51%, 52%, 57%, 33%, 29% and 29% identities to those of olive flounder, medaka, rainbow trout, Atlantic cod, tiger puffer, chicken, mouse and human, respectively. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR was performed for the MHC class Ia gene, and it was revealed that the expression level of the MHC class Ia gene in V. harveyi-challenged turbot increased to fourfold that of the controls.

Vibrio harveyi sepsis in a child with cancer

A paediatric oncology patient presented with central line sepsis caused by Vibrio harveyi, a gram negative bioluminescent marine bacterium known to be pathogenic to fish and marine invertebrates, after swimming in the sea.

Bacteria associated with the rapid tissue necrosis of stony corals

The rapid tissue necrosis (RTN) is a common disease of both wild and captive stony corals, which causes a fast tissue degradation (peeling) and death of the colony. Here we report the results of an investigation carried out on the stony coral Pocillopora damicornis, affected by an RTN-like disease. Total abundance of prokaryotes in tissue samples, determined by epifluorescence microscopy, was significantly higher in diseased than in healthy corals, as well as bacterial counts on MB2216 agar plates. Further experiments performed by fluorescent in situ hybridization using a 16S rDNA Vibrio-specific probe showed that vibrios were significantly more abundant in diseased than in healthy corals. Accordingly, bacterial counts on TCBS agar plates were higher in diseased than in healthy tissues. 16S rDNA sequencing identified as Vibrio colonies from diseased tissues only. Cultivated vibrios were dominated by a single ribotype, which displayed 99% of similarity with Vibrio harveyi strain LB4. Bacterial ribotype richness, assessed by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rDNA, was significantly higher in diseased than in healthy corals. Using an in silico software, we estimated that a single terminal restriction fragment, putatively assigned to a Vibrio sp., accounted for > 15% and < 5% of the total bacterial assemblage, in diseased and healthy corals respectively. These results let us hypothesize that the RTN in stony corals can be an infectious disease associated to the presence of Vibrio harveyi. However, further studies are needed to validate the microbial origin of this pathology.

The natural furanone (5Z)-4-bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-3-butyl-2(5H)-furanone disrupts quorum sensing-regulated gene expression in Vibrio harveyi by decreasing the DNA-binding activity of the transcriptional regulator protein luxR

This study aimed at getting a deeper insight in the molecular mechanism by which the natural furanone (5Z)-4-bromo-5-(bromomethylene)-3-butyl-2(5H)-furanone disrupts quorum sensing in Vibrio harveyi. Bioluminescence experiments with signal molecule receptor double mutants revealed that the furanone blocks all three channels of the V. harveyi quorum sensing system. In further experiments using mutants with mutations in the quorum sensing signal transduction pathway, the compound was found to block quorum sensing-regulated bioluminescence by interacting with a component located downstream of the Hfq protein. Furthermore, reverse transcriptase real-time polymerase chain reaction with specific primers showed that there was no effect of the furanone on luxR(Vh) mRNA levels in wild-type V. harveyi cells. In contrast, mobility shift assays showed that in the presence of the furanone, significantly lower levels of the LuxR(Vh) response regulator protein were able to bind to its target promoter sequences in wild-type V. harveyi. Finally, tests with purified LuxR(Vh) protein also showed less shifts with furanone-treated LuxR(Vh), whereas the LuxR(Vh) concentration was found not to be altered by the furanone (as determined by SDS-PAGE). Therefore, our data indicate that the furanone blocks quorum sensing in V. harveyi by rendering the quorum sensing master regulator protein LuxR(Vh) unable to bind to the promoter sequences of quorum sensing-regulated genes.

Luminescence, virulence and quorum sensing signal production by pathogenic Vibrio campbellii and Vibrio harveyi isolates

AIMS

To study the relationship between luminescence, autoinducer production and virulence of pathogenic vibrios.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Luminescence, quorum sensing signal production and virulence towards brine shrimp nauplii of 13 Vibrio campbellii and Vibrio harveyi strains were studied. Although only two of the tested strains were brightly luminescent, all of them were shown to produce the three different types of quorum sensing signals known to be produced by Vibrio harveyi. Cell-free culture fluids of all strains significantly induced bioluminescence in the cholerae autoinducer 1, autoinducer 2 and harveyi autoinducer 1 reporter strains JAF375, JMH597 and JMH612, respectively. There was no relation between luminescence and signal production and virulence towards brine shrimp.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a large difference between different strains of Vibrio campbellii and Vibrio harveyi with respect to bioluminescence. However, this is not reflected in signal production and virulence towards gnotobiotic brine shrimp. Moreover, there seems to be no relation between quorum sensing signal production and virulence towards brine shrimp.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The results presented here indicate that strains that are most brightly luminescent are not necessarily the most virulent ones and that the lower virulence of some of the strains is not due to a lack of autoinducer production.

Biodiversity among luminescent symbionts from squid of the genera Uroteuthis, Loliolus and Euprymna (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)

Luminescent bacteria in the family Vibrionaceae (Bacteria: γ-Proteobacteria) are commonly found in complex, bilobed light organs of sepiolid and loliginid squids. Although morphology of these organs in both families of squid is similar, the species of bacteria that inhabit each host has yet to be verified. We utilized sequences of 16S ribosomal RNA, luciferase α-subunit (luxA) and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapA) genes to determine phylogenetic relationships between 63 strains of Vibrio bacteria, which included representatives from different environments as well as unidentified luminescent isolates from loliginid and sepiolid squid from Thailand. A combined phylogenetic analysis was used including biochemical data such as carbon use, growth and luminescence. Results demonstrated that certain symbiotic Thai isolates found in the same geographic area were included in a clade containing bacterial species phenotypically suitable to colonize light organs. Moreover, multiple strains isolated from a single squid host were identified as more than one bacteria species in our phylogeny. This research presents evidence of species of luminescent bacteria that have not been previously described as symbiotic strains colonizing light organs of Indo-West Pacific loliginid and sepiolid squids, and supports the hypothesis of a non-species-specific association between certain sepiolid and loliginid squids and marine luminescent bacteria.

Identification and pathogenicity of Vibrio ponticus affecting cultured Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes)

AIMS

To rapidly determine the causative agent of mass death in Lateolabrax japonicus in Zhelin Bay of Guangdong Province in China in April 2004.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirty-six strains, numbered sequentially from RP01 to RP36, were isolated from six diseased fish. All of the strains were identified as being of the same vibrio species according to the results of universal primer PCR combined with DGGE (UPPCR-DGGE). RP30 was one of these strains that was randomly selected and analysed by using a morphological, physiological and biochemical plate, Biolog GN2 Microplate System and API 20E system. Furthermore, RP30' 16S rDNA was sequenced and aligned in Genbank. Its virulence to Lateolabrax japonicus (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes) was also tested. RP30 is most closely related to four Vibrio ponticus strains (99.3% similarity). LD50s were 2.5 (x103 CFU per fish for intraperitoneal inoculation (IP) and 3.2 (x103 CFU per fish for intramuscular inoculation (IM), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigated pathogenic agent of Lateolabrax japonicus (Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes) was V. ponticus.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

UPPCR-DGGE is very helpful in epidemiologic investigation. Interestingly, this is the first report that V. ponticus infects cultured marine fish. DGGE was likewise first introduced to epidemiologic investigation of fish disease.

Alternatives to antibiotics to control bacterial infections: luminescent vibriosis in aquaculture as an example

The massive (mis)use of antibiotics to control infections in aquaculture has resulted in the development of resistant strains, which have rendered antibiotic treatments ineffective. Moreover, the horizontal transfer of resistance determinants to human pathogens and the presence of antibiotic residues in aquaculture products for human consumption constitute important threats to public health. Therefore, to make the aquaculture industry more sustainable, new strategies to control infections are urgently needed.

Inhibition of Vibrio biofilm formation by a marine actinomycete strain A66

China remains by far the largest aquaculture producer in the world. However, biofilms formed by pathogenic Vibrio strains pose serious problems to marine aquaculture. To provide a strategy for biofilm prevention, control, and eradication, extracts from 88 marine actinomycetes were screened. Thirty-five inhibited the biofilm formation of Vibrio harveyi, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio anguillarum at a concentration of 2.5% (v/v). Thirty-three of the actinomycete extracts dispersed the mature biofilm. Six extracts inhibited the quorum-sensing system of V. harveyi by attenuating the signal molecules N-acylated homoserine lactones' activity. Strain A66, which was identified as Streptomyces albus, both attenuated the biofilms and inhibited their quorum-sensing system. It is suggested that strain A66 is a promising candidate to be used in future marine aquaculture.

Multiple small RNAs act additively to integrate sensory information and control quorum sensing in Vibrio harveyi

Quorum sensing is a cell-cell communication mechanism that bacteria use to collectively regulate gene expression and, at a higher level, to coordinate group behavior. In the bioluminescent marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi, sensory information from three independent quorum-sensing systems converges on the shared response regulator LuxO. When LuxO is phosphorylated, it activates the expression of a putative repressor that destabilizes the mRNA encoding the master quorum-sensing transcriptional regulator LuxR. In the closely related species Vibrio cholerae, this repressor was revealed to be the RNA chaperone Hfq together with four small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) called Qrr1-4 (quorum regulatory RNA). Here, we identify five Qrr sRNAs that control quorum sensing in V. harveyi. Mutational analysis reveals that only four of the five Qrrs are required for destabilization of the luxR mRNA. Surprisingly, unlike in V. cholerae where the sRNAs act redundantly, in V. harveyi, the Qrr sRNAs function additively to control quorum sensing. This latter mechanism produces a gradient of LuxR that, in turn, enables differential regulation of quorum-sensing target genes. Other regulators appear to be involved in control of V. harveyi qrr expression, allowing the integration of additional sensory information into the regulation of quorum-sensing gene expression.