Phenotypic variation in Vibrio harveyi : virulence factors and immune response in Artemia franciscana

Ondertitel:Fenotypische variatie in Vibrio harveyi : virulentie factoren en immuunreactie bij Artemia franciscana

Phenotypic (phase) variation or phenotypic switching is defined as a process of reversible, high frequency phenotypic variation. Until now, little is known about phenotypic variation in Vibrio especially in luminous vibriosis diseases for many aquaculture species. Vibrio harveyi, a luminescent Gram-negative motile marine bacterium, is an important pathogen responsible for causing severe diseases in shrimp, finfish and molluscs leading to severe economic losses. The present study showed that switching from the luminescent (L) to the non-luminescent (NL) state changed the phenotypic physiology or behavior of V. harveyi. Subsequently, gnotobiotic Artemia model organism (GART) system was used to investigate the influence of virulent and non-virulent L and NL of the wild type V. harveyi and its quorum sensing (QS) mutant on immune defense of A. franciscana. Next, the full-length sequence of Hmgb1 of A. franciscana was isolated for the first time in this thesis. In conclusion, this study indicates that in vitro virulence factors are changed as a result of phenotypic variation in V. harveyi. These alterations in the L and NL variants of the wild type BB120 and its QS mutant

ISBN:9789059899339

Jaar van publicatie:2016

Toegankelijkheid:Open