Visualisation of zebrafish infection by GFP-labelled Vibrio anguillarum.
Vibrio anguillarum is an invasive pathogen of fish causing a septicaemia called vibriosis. In this work, transparent zebrafish were immersed in water containing green fluorescent protein labelled V. anguillarum. The infection was visualised at the whole fish and single bacterium levels using microscopy. The gastrointestinal tract was the first site where the pathogen was detected. This enteric localisation occurred independently of the flagellum or motility. On the other hand, chemotactic motility was essential for association of the pathogen with the fish surface. In conclusion, the zebrafish infection model provides evidence that the intestine and skin represent sites of infection by V. anguillarum and suggests a host site where chemotaxis may function in virulence.
O'Toole
Ronan
R
Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. ronan.otoole@vuw.ac.nz
Von Hofsten
Jonas
J
Rosqvist
Roland
R
Olsson
Per-Erik
PE
Wolf-Watz
Hans
H
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002633:Chemotaxis; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009068:Movement; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014733:Vibrio / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000382:microbiology*
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins