In vivo detection of virulence gene expression of vibrios during infection of aquaculture organisms with reverse transcriptase realtime PCR

The aim of the project is to monitor the expression of virulence genes by different wild type vibrios (showing differences in virulence) by reverse transcriptase realtime PCR with specific primers. Moreover, the impact of bacterial cell-to-cell communication (quorum sensing) and host-bacteria communication (by means of host stress hormones) on expression of virulence genes will be investigated as well.