Acronym COBACVIR
Category
Marine Biotechnology
Title Coordinated Bacterial Virulence: Relevance in Winter Ulcer Programme National Programme
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National Coordinator Henning Sørum Coordinator email henning.sorum@nvh.no
Coordinator institution
NMBU - Norwegian University of Life Sciences (Norway)
Institutions involved
BNITM - Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (Germany) ,
NA - Cermaq Norway AS (Norway) ,
SINTEF-SFH - SINTEF Fisheries and Aquaculture (Norway) ,
UMU - UMEA University (Sweden) ,
UiO - University of Oslo (Norway) ,
Start year 2012 End year 2014 Funding (€) € 668,370 Website https://www.fhf.no/prosjekter/prosjektbasen/900725/ Summary The bacterium Moritella viscosa is considered the main agent of winter ulcer a disease that affects cultured fish in marine waters. In winter ulcer outbreaks, co-infection with M. viscosa and Vibrio wodanis is common. Little is known about the interplay between the two bacteria. We plan to identify key components that contribute to the communication between them that are relevant for pathogenicity. The genomes of one isolate of M. viscosa and a co-isolate of V. wodanis from the same salmon are sequenced. From the genome of M. viscosa several putative virulence factors were identified, however, little is known about the expression of these factors. A transcriptome analysis for their identification under condition relevant to M. viscosa pathogenesis will be performed and compared to gene expression when co-cultured with V. wodanis. A glimpse into the V. wodanis genome also showed genes encoding potential virulence factors in addition to quorum sensing systems (QSs). No QSs system has been detected in the genome of M. viscosa. In an attempt to understand and identify factors important to the relations between M. viscosa and V. wodanis during infections we plan the construction of transposon mutant libraries of both organisms. These libraries will be used for screening and identification of genetic elements relevant in disease development. For such purposes various bioassays will be performed made possible by high throughput screening technology. We will then identify and complement the various mutated genes before we finally test a selection of strains in cell culture assays.
Goal:
To investigate several key factors of importance for virulence in Moritella viscosa that cause winter sores and bacteria that are often isolated with it such as Aliivibrio wodanis to create a basis for understanding the development of the disease.
Sub-objective
1. To identify a complete overview of virulence factors relevant to M. viscosa and A. wodanis through genome analysis.
2. To perform systematic testing of strains with mutated virulence genes for the ability to express virulence and develop disease in both disease models and in the natural host.
3. To perform expression testing of immune-related genes in model organisms and in Atlantic salmon in response to infection with virulence gene-mutated M. viscosa and A. wodanis in infection trials.
4. To study mobility and adherence in wild-type and mutated strains in cell culture, in model systems and by using imaging studies.
To study hemolysins and other cell toxins using mutants in an adapted high-through-put system and in an infection model.
Keywords
Fish;
Salmon;
Bacteria;
Disease;
Genetic;
Marine Region
76
Not associated to marine areas
0
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