Project description:VarS/A is one of the global factors regulating diverse aspects of metabolism and virulence of bacteria including pathogenic Vibrio spp. An experiment to identify VarS/A-regulon in V. vulnificus revealed that a putative LuxR-type transcriptional regulator was down-regulated in ΔvarA mutant. To investigate the roles of this regulatory cascade from VarS/A to a LuxR-type regulator in V. vulnificus, the target gene regulated by a LuxR-regulator was identified and its expression was characterized.
2015-03-25 | GSE67192 | GEO
Project description:Microbial communities of Anadara tuberculosa, a bivalve from the Colombian Pacific coast
Project description:Members of the genus Vibrio include many pathogens of humans and marine animals that share genetic information via horizontal gene transfer. Hence, the Vibrio pan-genome carries the potential to establish new pathogenic strains by sharing virulence determinants, many of which have yet to be characterized. Here, we investigated the virulence properties of Vibrio proteolyticus, a Gram-negative marine bacterium previously identified as part of the Vibrio consortium isolated from diseased corals. We found that V. proteolyticus causes actin cytoskeleton rearrangements followed by cell lysis in HeLa cells in a contact independent manner. In search of the responsible virulence factor involved, we determined the V. proteolyticus secretome. This proteomics approach revealed various putative virulence factors, including active type VI secretion systems and effectors with virulence toxin domains; however, these type VI secretion systems were not responsible for the observed cytotoxic effects. Further examination of the V. proteolyticus secretome led us to hypothesize and subsequently demonstrate that a secreted hemolysin, belonging to a previously uncharacterized clan of the leukocidin superfamily, was the toxin responsible for the V. proteolyticus-mediated cytotoxicity in both HeLa cells and macrophages. Clearly, there remains an armory of yet-to-be discovered virulence factors in the Vibrio pan-genome that will undoubtedly provide a wealth of knowledge on how a pathogen can manipulate host cells.
Project description:The parasitic amoeba, Neoparamoeba perurans is the causative agent of Amoebic Gill Disease in salmonids. The parasite has previously been reported to lose virulence during prolonged in vitro maintenance. In this study, the impact of prolonged culture on N. perurans virulence and its proteome was investigated. Three isolates of N. perurans maintained in culture for varying durations were compared. Two isolates, attenuated and virulent, had their virulence assessed in an experimental trial using Atlantic salmon smolts and their bacterial community composition was evaluated by 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Soluble proteins were isolated from a newly acquired, virulent and attenuated N. perurans culture and were analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D PAGE) coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). An experimental challenge trial using Atlantic salmon smolts confirmed a loss in virulence in an N. perurans culture that was maintained in vitro for 3 years. A greater diversity of bacterial communities was found in the microbiome of the virulent isolate harbouring predominant genera belonging to Pseudoaltermonas spp, Vibrio spp and Fluviicola spp. Microbial community richness was reduced in the attenuated microbiome, with a singular species, Thalassopira xiamenensis, representing a large proportion of its microbiome. A collated proteome database of N. perurans, Amoebozoa and four bacterial genera resulted in 24 proteins differentially expressed between the three cultures. The present LC-MS/MS results indicate protein synthesis, oxidative stress and the plausible occurrence of immunomodulation are ultimately upregulated in a newly acquired N. perurans culture and future studies may exploit these protein identifications for therapeutic purposes in infected farmed fish.
Project description:Combining Geobacter spp. dominated biofilms and anaerobic digestion effluents - The effect of effluent composition and electrode potential on biofilm activity and stability