Search results for "flavobacterium"
showing 10 items of 84 documents
Cooperation between CRISPR-Cas types enables adaptation in an RNA-targeting system
2020
AbstractCRISPR-Cas immune systems adapt to new threats by acquiring spacers from invading nucleic acids such as phage genomes. However, some CRISPR-Cas loci lack genes necessary for spacer acquisition, despite apparent variation in spacer content between strains. It has been suggested that such loci may use acquisition machinery from co-occurring CRISPR-Cas systems. Here, using a lytic dsDNA phage, we observe spacer acquisition in the native host Flavobacterium columnare that carries an acquisition-deficient subtype VI-B locus and a complete subtype II-C locus. We characterize acquisition events in both loci and show that the RNA-targeting VI-B locus acquires spacers in trans using acquisit…
Mucin induces CRISPR-Cas defence in an opportunistic pathogen
2021
AbstractParasitism by bacteriophages has led to the evolution of a variety of defense mechanisms in their host bacteria. However, it is unclear what factors lead to specific defenses being deployed upon phage infection. To explore this question, we exposed the bacterial fish pathogenFlavobacterium columnareto its virulent phage V156 in the presence of a eukaryotic host signal (mucin). All tested conditions led to some level of innate immunity, but the presence of mucin led to a dramatic increase in CRISPR spacer acquisition, especially in low nutrient conditions where over 60% of colonies had obtained at least one new spacer. Additionally, we show that the presence of a competitor bacterium…
Outside-host predation as a biological control against an environmental opportunist disease
2017
Abstract Environmentally growing opportunist pathogens are a common threat to human health and food production. Due to environmental growth of the pathogen, these diseases are difficult to control with disinfectants and antibiotics. Thus, there is a need for sustainable and effective control methods against environmentally growing opportunist diseases. Predation is often a major limiting factor in the outside host environment. Here we propose that it could be used in the biological control of these diseases. We introduce a novel epidemiological model for environmentally growing opportunists combining pathogen growth within-host (SI model) and outside-host into classical predator-prey model.…
Prevalence of genetically similarFlavobacterium columnarephages across aquaculture environments reveals a strong potential for pathogen control
2020
SummaryIntensive aquaculture conditions expose fish to bacterial infections, leading to significant financial losses, extensive antibiotic use and risk of antibiotic resistance in target bacteria.Flavobacterium columnarecauses columnaris disease in aquaculture worldwide. To develop a bacteriophage-based control of columnaris disease, we isolated and characterized 126F. columnarestrains and 63 phages againstF. columnarefrom Finland and Sweden. Bacterial isolates were virulent on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and fell into four previously described genetic groups A, C, E and G, with genetic groups C and E being the most virulent. Phage host range studied against a collection of 228 bact…
Invasion Ability and Disease Dynamics of Environmentally Growing Opportunistic Pathogens under Outside-Host Competition
2014
Most theories of the evolution of virulence concentrate on obligatory host-pathogen relationship. Yet, many pathogens replicate in the environment outside-host where they compete with non-pathogenic forms. Thus, replication and competition in the outside-host environment may have profound influence on the evolution of virulence and disease dynamics. These environmentally growing opportunistic pathogens are also a logical step towards obligatory pathogenicity. Efficient treatment methods against these diseases, such as columnaris disease in fishes, are lacking because of their opportunist nature. We present a novel epidemiological model in which replication and competition in the outside-hos…
A link between ectoparasite infection and susceptibility to bacterial disease in rainbow trout
2006
Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were infected concomitantly with Argulus coregoni and Flavobacterium columnare and their survival was compared with that of fish infected with either the parasite or the bacterium alone. The mortality of fish challenged with A. coregoni was negligible while infection with F. columnare alone led to significantly lower survival. However, compared with single infections, the mortality was significantly higher and the onset of disease condition was earlier among fish, which were concomitantly infected by A. coregoni and F. columnare. This data presents, for the first time, experimental support for the hypothesis that an ectoparasite infection increases suscep…
Freezing Induces Biased Results in the Molecular Detection of Flavobacterium columnare
2006
ABSTRACT Specific PCR detection and electron microscopy of Flavobacterium columnare revealed the risk of false-negative results in molecular detection of this fish pathogen. Freezing and thawing destroyed the cells so that DNA was for the most part undetectable by PCR. The detection of bacteria was also weakened after prolonged enrichment cultivation of samples from infected fish.
Diversity of chlorophenol-degrading bacteria isolated from contaminated boreal groundwater
1999
Chlorophenol-degrading bacteria from a long-term polluted groundwater aquifer were characterized. All isolates degraded 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol at concentrations detected in the contaminated groundwater (10 mg 1(-1)). Pentachlorophenol was degraded by three isolates when present alone. In two gram-positive isolates, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol was required as an inducer for the degradation of pentachlorophenol. The gram-positive isolates were sensitive to pentachlorophenol, with an IC50 value of 5 mg/l. Isolates belonging to the Cytophaga/Flexibacter/Bacteroides phylum had IC50 values of 25 and 63 mg/l. Isolates belonging to alpha-, beta- and gamma-Proteobacteria g…
Saprophytism of a fish pathogen as a transmission strategy
2009
Fish farming creates conditions where disease transmission is enhanced and antibiotic treatments are commonly used to cure bacterial diseases to prevent severe losses due to infections. Ability to persist in such an environment has been suggested to lead to the evolution of high virulence. Columnaris disease caused by Flavobacterium columnare is a growing problem in freshwater fish farming. Transmission of the disease is poorly known, and survival of F. columnare in the rearing environment has not been studied. This paper addresses both transmission of columnaris disease and survival strategy of F. columnare. Saprophytic activity of F. columnare was studied by infecting rainbow trout finger…
The Influence of Infective Dose on the Virulence of a Generalist Pathogen in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Zebra Fish (Danio rerio)
2015
Pathogen density and genetic diversity fluctuate in the outside-host environment during and between epidemics, affecting disease emergence and the severity and probability of infections. Although the importance of these factors for pathogen virulence and infection probability has been acknowledged, their interactive effects are not well understood. We studied how an infective dose in an environmentally transmitted opportunistic fish pathogen, Flavobacterium columnare, affects its virulence both in rainbow trout, which are frequently infected at fish farms, and in zebra fish, a host that is not naturally infected by F. columnare. We used previously isolated strains of confirmed high and low …