title: NMR-based microbial metabolomics and the temperature-dependent coral pathogen Vibrio coralliilyticus.
abstract: Coral bleaching occurs when the symbioses between coral animals and their zooxanthellae is disrupted, either as part of a natural cycle or as the result of unusual events. The bacterium Vibrio coralliilyticus (type strain ATCC BAA-450) has been linked to coral disease globally (for example in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Great Barrier Reef) and like many other Vibrio species exhibits a temperature-dependent pathogenicity. The temperature-dependence of V. corallillyticus in regard to its metabolome was investigated. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were obtained of methanol-water extracts of intracellula rmetabolites (endometabolome) from multiple samples of the bacteria cultured into late stationary phase at 27 degrees C (virulent form) and 24 degrees C (avirulent form). The spectra were subjected to principal components analysis (PCA), and significant temperature-based separations in PC1, PC2, and PC3 dimensions were observed. Betaine, succinate, and glutamate were identified as metabolites that caused the greatest temperature-based separations in the PC scores plots. With increasing temperature, betaine was shown to be down regulated, while succinate and glutamate were up regulated.
authors.affiliation: Analytical Chemistry Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA.
authors.forename: Arezue F B
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Boroujerdi
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vizcaino
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: Sara Lien
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Tracey B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Schock
authors.forename: Pamela J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Bearden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000382:microbiology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006358:Hot Temperature; D055432:Metabolomics; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D014733:Vibrio / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity