Vibrio-bivalve interactions and the emergence of epidemic V. parahaemolyticus

海洋病原性弧菌引起的全球感染数量。近年来稳步增长。其中包括严重的人类病原体，如副溶血性弧菌，它导致严重的贝类传播的胃肠炎。新的高致病性副溶血性弧菌克隆的出现及其大流行性传播提出了导致致病菌株持续存在和进化的环境决定因素的问题。本研究旨在探讨副溶血弧菌在海洋双壳贝类中的适应机制及选择力。鉴于副溶血性弧菌与双壳类的密切关系，假设对双壳类宿主的适应性驱动了毒力性状的进化，并增强了副溶血性弧菌对人类的致病潜力。特别感兴趣的将是适应性策略的研究，殖民和入侵双壳类组织和抵抗清除的血淋巴。这项工作预计将产生的弧菌双壳类相互作用的作用，在人类致病性克隆的演变的基础知识，并将有助于了解新出现的食源性病原体的传播和感染机制。

The number of worldwide infections caused by marine pathogenic Vibrio spp. have steadily increased in recent years. Among them are serious human pathogens, such as V. parahaemolyticus which causes severe shellfish-borne gastroenteritis. The emergence of new highly pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus clones and their pandemic spread raise the question for the environmental determinants leading to the persistence and evolution of pathogenic strains. The aim of this project is to investigate the adaptive mechanisms and selective forces favoring growth and survival of V. parahaemolyticus in marine bivalves. Given the close association of V. parahaemolyticus with bivalves, it is hypothesized that adaptations to the bivalve host drive the evolution of virulence traits and enhance the human-pathogenic potential of V. parahaemolyticus. Of special interest will be the study of adaptive strategies to colonize and invade bivalve tissues and to resist clearance by the hemolymph. The work is expected to yield fundamental knowledge on the role of Vibrio-bivalve interactions in the evolution of human-pathogenic clones and will contribute to understanding mechanisms of transmission and infection of an emerging food-borne pathogen.