Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-04T18:50:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 graciela.pdf: 3846018 bytes, checksum: 8627ef4106394bfa14dc343ddcfbbbdb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-07-21 / Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Vibrios genomes are not fully known. This thesis focused on the annotation of four draft genomes ( V. alginolyticus 40B, V. communis 1DA3, V. mimicus VM603 e VM573), the performance comparison of three automated genome annotations (SABIA, RAST and GRC) and the identification of putative unique genes (strain specific genes) in the genomes. The genomes of Vibrios contained between 3,745 and 4,977 genes, of which 2,900 were real genes, 898 were hypothetic conserved genes and 385 were hypothetic genes. The majority of known gene products were related to general functions and unknown functions (R and S), metabolism and amino acid transport (E) and transcription (K) on the basis of the COG (clusters of ortologs group). The comparison of three automated genome annotation systems indicated that each system had advantages and disadvantagens. The SABIA Server revealed interactivity with many biologic databases, such as InterPro and Swiss-Prot. The RAST server was useful for comparative genomics of specific genomes and metagenomes. The GRC server was useful annotation offline as it can be installed and run on a local computer. The genomes of Vibrios showed differences in the genic content revealled by BLAST atlas and BLAST. Each genome showed 289 to 1,432 unique genes, resulting of comparisons with organisms phylogenetically closest related. The comparison of the genomes of V. alginolyticus 40B and V. alginolyticus 12G01 revealed that 40B has 541 unique genes. The comparison of V. communis 1DA3 and V. campbellii ATTC genome revealed 1,432 unique genes in 1DA3. V. mimicus VM573 and VM603 genomes showed 334 and 289 unique genes, respectively. The vast majority of unique genes were related with carbohidrates, stress response, virulence, cell wall and capsule, indicating that this sub-group of genes may be associated with adaptation of strains to differents habitats and ecologic niches. / Genomas de vibrios ambientais ainda são pouco conhecidos. O presente trabalho de dissertação de mestrado envolveu a anotação de quatro genomas parciais de vibrios ( V. alginolyticus 40B, V. communis 1DA3, V. mimicus VM603 e VM573), a comparação da performance de três sistemas automáticos de anotação de genomas (SABIA, RAST, e GRC) e a determinação de genes putativos únicos de cada um dos quatro genomas. Os genomas de vibrios apresentaram entre 3.745 e 4.977 genes, dos quais em média 2.900 são válidos, 898 são conservados hipotéticos e 385 são hipotéticos. Os genomas apresentaram similaridade em termos de classes de grupos ortólogos com a maioria dos genes válidos identificados nas classes: funções gerais e desconhecidas(R e S), transporte e metabolismo de aminoácidos(E) e transcrição(K) de acordo com as classes de grupos ortólogos (COG) e a maioria das classes foram similares. A comparação entre os anotadores automáticos sugeriu que cada anotador apresenta prós e contras. O anotador SABIA apresenta uma grande interatividade com os bancos de dados biológicos, tais como o InterPro e Swiss-Prot. O anotador RAST é muito útil para comparação genômica do organismo de interesse com os diversos genomas e metagenomas presentes nos bancos públicos, enquanto que o anotador GRC pode ser utilizado localmente, sem a necessidade de acesso à internet. De acordo com as análises comparativas por meio da anotação realizada com o auxílio do BLAST e BLAST Atlas, os genomas de vibrios ( V. alginolyticus 40B, V. communis 1DA3, V. mimicus VM603 e VM573) também apresentaram diferenças em termos de conteúdo gênico, indicando que cada linhagem de vibrio possui sub-grupos de genes únicos. Cada um dos quatro genomas apresentaram de 289 a 1.6432 genes únicos de acordo com o as comparações pareadas com os vizinhos filogenéticos mais próximos disponíveis nos bancos de dados. Assim, a comparação entre os genomas das linhagens V. alginolyticus 40B e V. alginolyticus 12G01 resultou na descoberta de 541 genes únicos na linhagem V. alginolyticus 40B. A comparação entre os genomas de V. communis 1DA3 e V. campbellii ATTC BAA-1116 resultou na descoberta de 1.432 genes únicos na linhagem V. communis 1DA3 e a comparação entre os genomas de V. mimicus VM603 e VM573 resultou na descoberta de 334 e 289 genes únicos, em cada uma destas linhagens. Há um predomínio de genes únicos, sobretudo, pertencentes as classes relacionadas com carboidratos, resposta ao estresse, virulência, aminoácidos e derivados, parede celular e cápsula, sugerindo que estes genes estariam associados com a adaptação das linhagens à diferentes condições ambientais e diferentes nichos ecológicos.

Vibrio vulnificus is a marine pathogen of human health concern, capable of causing potentially fatal wound infections in a select group of the population. Previous studies have indicated this species’ strong negative correlation with salinity, not typically found above 30 ppt. This study assessed the ability of V. vulnificus to become Viable But Nonculturable in response to elevated salinity (35 ppt) as well as investigated novel methods for confirming their entrance into this state. Results showed a complete loss of culturability in both Environmental and Clinical strains of this bacterium by 9 days after inoculation. Using a High Content Imager, it was determined that these pathogens were not dying (< 10%) in response to the treatment and were partially becoming cocci (≈35%). This study indicates the importance of understanding the impact environmental parameters have on this human pathogen, and what it means for reliably detecting them. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Typescript (photcopy) / x, 194, xxxvi leaves, [5] leaves of plates : ill. ; 31 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, 1975

<p>Aim Because of the major problems that certain Vibrio specie, especially Vibrio harveyi, can cause the aquaculture industries a rapid method to identify Vibrio isolates is required. Early diagnosis of a V. harveyi infection could facilitate disease surveillance, treatment and prevention in cultured marine animals. Therefore, the use of PCR to aid in the identification of Vibrio is increasing and a way of extracting DNA in a cheap, fast and easy way is also of an important requirement to facilitate rapid diagnosis.</p><p>Methods This report comprises biochemical profiling and PCR methods in the characterisation of four isolates of V. harveyi and single isolates of V. tubiashii, V. alginolyticus, V. anguillarum, V. splendidus, V. tapetis and V. parahaemolyticus.</p><p>Strains were examined for adherence to a Hep-2 cell line. Four different DNA extraction methods were evaluated and compared. The detection limits and the analytical limits of two PCR methods for Vibrio were determined.</p><p>Results The overall findings were that the use of a greater range of biochemical substrates than are in the API 20E is necessary to identify Vibrio strains, and that none of the strains tested adhered to Hep-2 cells. All extraction methods successfully produced DNA with the kit method giving the purest samples. RNA was a contaminant of the other techniques but this could be overcome by treating extracts with RNase. The rapid microwave extraction method gave appropriate PCR amplicons when tested.</p><p>Conclusion PCR determination of the VH-sequence in combination with VHA and a distinguishable colonial morphology may be a good choice for the identifying of Vibrio harveyi.</p>

Quorum sensing (QS) is a type of cell-to-cell communication that allows the bacteria to communicate via small molecules to coordinate activities such as growth, biofilm formation, virulence, and stress response as a population. QS depends on the accumulation of signal molecules as the bacterial population increases. After a critical threshold of the signal molecules are reached, the bacteria induce a cellular response allowing the bacteria to coordinate their activities as a population. In Vibrio anguillarum, three parallel quorum-sensing phosphorelay systems channels information via three hybrid sensor kinases VanN, VanQ, and CqsS that function as receptors for signal molecules produced by the synthases VanM, VanS, and CqsA, respectively. The phosphorelay systems converge onto a single regulatory pathway via the phosphotransferase VanU, which phosphorylates the response regulator VanO. Together with the alternative sigma factor RpoN, VanO activates the expression of a small RNA, Qrr1 (Quorum regulatory RNA), which in conjunction with the small RNA chaperone Hfq, destabilizes vanT mRNA, which encode the major quorum-sensing regulator in V. anguillarum. This thesis furthers the knowledge on the quorum-sensing phosphorelay systems in V. anguillarum. In this study, three additional qrr genes were identified, which were expressed during late logarithmic growth phase. The signal synthase VanM activated the expression of the Qrr1-4, which stands in contrast to Qrr regulation in other vibrios. Moreover, in addition to VanO, we predict the presence of a second response regulator which can be phosphorylated by VanU and repress Qrr1-4 expression. Thus, VanU functions as a branch point that can regulate the quorum-sensing regulon by activating or repressing VanT expression. Furthermore, VanT was shown to directly activate VanM expression and thus forming a negative regulatory loop, in which VanM represses VanT expression indirectly via Qrr1-4. In addition, VanM expression was negatively regulated post-transcriptionally by Hfq. Furthermore, a universal stress protein UspA repressed VanM expression via the repression of VanT expression. We showed that UspA binds Hfq, thus we suggest that UspA plays a role in sequestering Hfq and indirectly affect gene expression. This thesis also investigated the mechanism by which V. anguillarum can attach to and colonize fish skin tissue. We show unequivocally that fish skin epithelial cells can internalize bacteria, thus keeping the skin clear from pathogens. In turn, V. anguillarum utilized the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen to evade internalization by the fish skin epithelial cells. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanism by which pathogen interacts with marine animals to cause disease.

Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic human and animal pathogen that is predominantly found in estuarine waters. In aquatic ecosystems, it colonizes filter-feeders, such as oysters, and has been found to form biofilms on the surface of various marine organisms, including plankton, algae, fish, eels, and crustaceans. The bacterium can spontaneously develop a rugose phenotype, which is associated with the production of polysaccharide(s) that impart a raised, wrinkled appearance to cells, copious biofilm formation, and increased stress resistance. Biofilm and rugose colony development, along with pellicle and aggregate formation, are believed to be crucial for the environmental survival and persistence of V. vulnificus. As the biosynthesis of polysaccharide(s) is a key feature linking these physiological processes, the main objectives of this study were to identify polysaccharide loci contributing to survival phenotypes in V. vulnificus and to gain insight into the regulation of these loci. Two polysaccharide loci (brp and rbd) were found to contribute to biofilm formation. The brp locus is regulated by the second messenger c-di-GMP and by at least two transcriptional regulators BrpR and BrpT. Lesions in glycosyltransferases in the locus or in either of the regulators abated the inducing effects of c-di-GMP on biofilm formation. The rbd locus is regulated not by c-di-GMP, but instead by a response regulator (RbdG) belonging to the TCRS family, which is encoded within the locus. The biofilms associated with the expression of the brp and rbd polysaccharides were structurally unique and simultaneous expression of both loci dramatically enhanced pellicle formation. Each locus also provides unique survival characteristics; the development of rugosity and stress resistance could be attributed to brp expression whereas rbd expression augmented aggregate formation. The ability of V. vulnificus to differentially regulate expression of the brp and rbd polysaccharides may allow the bacterium to “fine tune” its biofilm lifestyle to maximally benefit from the characteristics associated with each locus.

Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic human and animal pathogen with the highest death rate of any foodborne disease agent. The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is essential for virulence. Over 100 CPS types (carbotypes) have been identified among natural isolates, yet little is known about the genetic mechanisms that drive such diversity. Chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, induces competence in Vibrio species. We found that transformation frequency varies by strain and (GlcNAc)2 was the shortest chitin-derived polymer capable of inducing competence. We confirmed that V. vulnificus can undergo chitin-dependent carbotype conversion following the uptake and recombination of complete cps loci from exogenous genomic DNA. The acquisition of a partial locus was also demonstrated when internal regions of homology between the endogenous and exogenous loci existed. Thus, the same mechanism governing the transfer of complete cps loci also contributes to their evolution by generating novel combinations of CPS biosynthesis genes.

Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic human and animal pathogen with the highest death rate of any foodborne disease agent. The capsular polysaccharide (CPS) is essential for virulence. Over 100 CPS types (carbotypes) have been identified among natural isolates, yet little is known about the genetic mechanisms that drive such diversity. Chitin, the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature, induces competence in Vibrio species. We found that transformation frequency varies by strain and (GlcNAc)2 was the shortest chitin-derived polymer capable of inducing competence. We confirmed that V. vulnificus can undergo chitin-dependent carbotype conversion following the uptake and recombination of complete cps loci from exogenous genomic DNA. The acquisition of a partial locus was also demonstrated when internal regions of homology between the endogenous and exogenous loci existed. Thus, the same mechanism governing the transfer of complete cps loci also contributes to their evolution by generating novel combinations of CPS biosynthesis genes.

Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic human and animal pathogen that is predominantly found in estuarine waters. In aquatic ecosystems, it colonizes filter-feeders, such as oysters, and has been found to form biofilms on the surface of various marine organisms, including plankton, algae, fish, eels, and crustaceans. The bacterium can spontaneously develop a rugose phenotype, which is associated with the production of polysaccharide(s) that impart a raised, wrinkled appearance to cells, copious biofilm formation, and increased stress resistance. Biofilm and rugose colony development, along with pellicle and aggregate formation, are believed to be crucial for the environmental survival and persistence of V. vulnificus. As the biosynthesis of polysaccharide(s) is a key feature linking these physiological processes, the main objectives of this study were to identify polysaccharide loci contributing to survival phenotypes in V. vulnificus and to gain insight into the regulation of these loci. Two polysaccharide loci (brp and rbd) were found to contribute to biofilm formation. The brp locus is regulated by the second messenger c-di-GMP and by at least two transcriptional regulators BrpR and BrpT. Lesions in glycosyltransferases in the locus or in either of the regulators abated the inducing effects of c-di-GMP on biofilm formation. The rbd locus is regulated not by c-di-GMP, but instead by a response regulator (RbdG) belonging to the TCRS family, which is encoded within the locus. The biofilms associated with the expression of the brp and rbd polysaccharides were structurally unique and simultaneous expression of both loci dramatically enhanced pellicle formation. Each locus also provides unique survival characteristics; the development of rugosity and stress resistance could be attributed to brp expression whereas rbd expression augmented aggregate formation. The ability of V. vulnificus to differentially regulate expression of the brp and rbd polysaccharides may allow the bacterium to “fine tune” its biofilm lifestyle to maximally benefit from the characteristics associated with each locus.

Preventing diseases in aquatic animals is of significant economic importance, since small fish have high mortality rates due to high incidences of disease, low water quality among others. Several years ago, the main treatment to protect fishes against different bacterial diseases in hatchery conditions were chemotherapeutic agents (antibiotics) or vaccination. The previous methods may change the profile of a healthy gut microflora, while the vaccination method can be stressful for fish; both methods can enable the access of some pathogens. The use of chemotherapeutic agents can also lead to resistant bacteria, and so their use should be restricted or at least controlled; and so, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of different amounts of probiotics on the water quality parameters in the culture of grouper fingerling (Epinephelus Coioides); species which has become one of the main cultured fish in Taiwan according to FAO. The effects of the probiotic, Bacillus subtilis, on grouper fingerling breeding and water quality was evaluated in this study by adding the probiotic to the feed. Two concentrations of probiotic were administered including 0.1%, 1.0% and the control. During the experiment, fingerling development, growth rate, survival rate and water quality parameters including ammonia-N and nitrite-N, total bacterial count, and presumptive Vibrio count were determined. The presumptive Vibrio count presented was significantly suppressed after Bacillus treatment.