Developing Diagnostics for Vibrio Coralliilyticus and Coral Vibriosis

该项目将促进俄勒冈州科瓦利斯俄勒冈州立大学的Claudia Hase博士和澳大利亚汤斯维尔澳大利亚海洋科学研究所(AIMS)的David Bourne博士对致病性海洋弧菌的新的合作研究。这项合作的长期目标是更好地了解与珊瑚疾病相关的弧菌的作用和生态。这次访问的研究目的是检验哈斯博士开发的检测珊瑚弧菌某些酶的方法的可行性。图氏弧菌最近在美国太平洋西北部的贝类幼体生产中造成了毁灭性的损失，哈斯博士已经证明，一种分泌的金属蛋白酶是图比亚弧菌毒性的关键因素。伯恩博士报告说，珊瑚弧菌的一种99%类似的酶对珊瑚漂白至关重要，并概述了迫切需要更好的珊瑚疾病诊断工具。对自然水域和患病珊瑚中的病原菌及其毒素进行快速和具体的检测，对于更好地了解疾病的起因和提供早期预警至关重要，使珊瑚礁管理者能够减轻疾病暴发的影响。因此，这一合作将使广泛的海洋研究活动受益。这项拟议工作的更广泛影响包括支持俄亥俄州立大学的学生与PI to AIMS一起旅行，伯恩实验室的现有学生将参与拟议的工作。所描述的项目为学生提供了极好的教育机会，因为大多数拟议的实验都是直截了当的，非常适合学生参与科学过程。

This project will catalyze new collaborative research on pathogenic marine vibrios between Dr. Claudia Hase at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, and Dr. David Bourne of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville, Australia. The long-term goal of this collaboration is a better understanding of the role and ecology of Vibrio bacteria associated with coral disease. The research objectives of this visit are to examine the feasibility of methods developed by Dr. Hase to detect certain enzymes from Vibrio coralliilyticus. V. tubiashii has recently caused devastating losses in shellfish larvae production in the Pacific Northwest of the US and Dr. Hase has shown that a secreted metalloprotease is a critical factor for the toxicity of V. tubiashii. Dr. Bourne reported that a 99% similar enzyme of V. coralliilyticus is critical for coral bleaching and outlined the urgent need for better diagnostic tools for coral disease. Rapid and specific detection of pathogenic bacteria and their toxins in natural waters and diseased corals is paramount to better understand disease causation and to provide early warning allowing reef managers to mitigate the effect of disease outbreaks. Thus, this collaboration will benefit a broad range of marine research activities.The broader impacts of this proposed work include providing support for an OSU student to travel with the PI to AIMS and current students in the Bourne lab will participate in the proposed work. The described project provides excellent educational opportunities for students as most of the proposed experiments are straightforward and are well suited for the engagement of students in the scientific process.