Investigating bacterial virulence of aquatic pathogens using multiple host-pathogen models

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Virulence is defined as the ability of a bacterial pathogen to injure a host by producing factors that are essential for the pathogen to invade, multiply and thrive in the host. There is an ongoing research effort to identify and functionally describe these factors in order to understand the behavior of bacterial pathogens. This research is also crucial for the development of judicious treatments that can be used as alternatives to antibiotics which are less and less effective against a wide variety of pathogens infecting humans, but also animals. For example, the aquaculture is afflicted worldwide by the emergence of antibiotic multi-resistant pathogens.******The long-term objective of my research program is to identify the molecular basis of the virulence factors produced by aquatic pathogens as well as ways to inhibit or modulate them in order to prevent or treat bacterial infections. ******Over the next five years, my research program will continue to concentrate on the study of Aeromonas salmonicida, a major fish pathogen. We will continue to explore the involvement of the numerous mobile genetic elements in the instability of its genome leading to loss of virulence factors in response to stressful conditions. We will also initiate research on the interaction of A. salmonicida with protozoa and fish in a new AQuatic Containment level 2 (AQC2) in vivo facilities, opening the door to experiments not feasible in the past.******My proposed research program will provide a better understanding of the virulence of A. salmonicida and of pathogens in general including its interactions with multiple hosts. Based on our ongoing effort to understand the pathogenic basis of A. salmonicida and the objectives set out in this proposal, we are confident that concrete treatments against this bacterium will be possible on a relative short term.