Developing Diagnostics for Vibrio Coralliilyticus and Coral Vibriosis

该项目将促进俄勒冈州科瓦利斯的俄勒冈州州立大学的Claudia Hase博士和澳大利亚汤斯维尔的澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（AIMS）的大卫伯恩博士之间关于致病性海洋弧菌的新合作研究。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。是次访问的研究目的，是探讨由长濑博士发展的方法，以检测溶珊瑚弧菌的某些酵素的可行性。V. tubiashii最近在美国太平洋西北部的贝类幼虫生产中造成了毁灭性的损失，Hase博士已经表明分泌的金属蛋白酶是V. tubiashii毒性的关键因素。Bourne博士报告说，一种与V. coralliilyticus 99%相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。快速和具体地检测自然沃茨和患病珊瑚中的致病细菌及其毒素，对于更好地了解疾病的原因和提供预警，使珊瑚礁管理人员能够减轻疾病爆发的影响至关重要。因此，这项合作将有利于广泛的海洋研究活动。这项拟议工作的更广泛影响包括为俄勒冈州立大学的学生提供支持，与PI一起前往AIMS，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很简单，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.