Functional characterization of pilus and secretion system biogenesis in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

副溶血性弧菌(Vibrio parhaemolyticus，VP)是一种常见于海洋河口环境的嗜盐细菌。VP附着于多种贝类，特别是牡蛎和螃蟹，因此，当食用煮得不熟或生的海鲜时，受VP污染的贝类对人类健康构成重大威胁。出于这个原因，需要对VP如何附着在贝类上以及VP如何在感染期间分泌毒素的高级知识。 VP使用菌毛结合并附着在贝类动物上，菌毛最好地描述为细菌表面发现的细毛状延伸部分。菌毛形成网状结构，通常使细菌聚集，然后结合到海洋环境中的甲壳素表面，如牡蛎和龙虾壳。一旦结块，VP细菌就会形成生物膜，这些生物膜是细菌细胞的密集群落，在表面形成一层粘稠的覆盖物。 我们的研究计划描述了研究和探索VP如何在甲壳素表面生成生物膜的实验目标。我们计划使用现代和创新的方法来解决将影响海洋环境的关键问题。我们的研究还将为海鲜安全倡议做出贡献，并将使水产养殖业受益。理想情况下，更好地了解细菌生物膜将有助于水产养殖业采取操作措施限制受弧菌污染的海鲜产品。

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) is a halophilic bacterium commonly found in marine estuarine environments. Vp attaches to a variety of shellfish, especially oysters and crabs, and as a result, Vp contaminated shellfish poses a significant threat to human health when poorly cooked or raw seafood is consumed. For this reason, advanced knowledge of how Vp adheres to shellfish and how Vp secretes toxins during infection is required. Vp binds and adheres to shellfish using pili, which are best described as thin hair-like extensions found on the surface of the bacteria. Pili form a mesh work, often allowing the bacteria to clump and then bind to chitin surfaces in the marine environment such as oyster and lobster shells. Once bound in clumps, Vp bacteria form biofilms which are dense communities of bacterial cells that form a slimy covering on surfaces. Our research program describes experimental objectives to investigate and explore how Vp generates biofilms on chitin surfaces. We plan to use modern and innovative approaches to address key questions that will impact on the marine environment. Our research will also contribute to seafood safety initiatives and will benefit the aquaculture industry. Ideally a better understanding of bacterial biofilms will aid the aquaculture industry in operational measures to limit Vibrio contaminated seafood products.