The impact of host-pathogen interactions on the virulence of luminescent vibrios towards brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana)

The virulence of luminescent vibrios is determined by the expression of different virulence genes. In this project, a model system with gnotobiotic brine shrimp (Artemia) larvae will be used to study virulence gene expression in vivo during infection. Furthermore, the impact of bacterial cell-to-cell communication (quorum sensing) and host stress hormones on virulence gene expression will be studied as well.