title: Virulence Changes to Harveyi Clade Bacteria Infected with Bacteriophage from Vibrio owensii.
abstract: Vibrio owensii is one of the most virulent vibrios known being able to kill crustacean larvae at 10(2) CFU ml(-1). This study describes virulence changes to naïve strains of Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio campbellii when infected with the bacteriophage VOB from a closely related species V. owensii 47666-1. The bacteriophage from V. owensii was induced into lytic phase by using mitomycin C at 100 ng ml(-1). One strain of V. harveyi and two strains of V. campbellii from 29 tested containing no prophage were susceptible to lysogenic conversion with VOB. Virulence changes induced in Harveyi clade bacteria included the up-regulation of protein secretion, statistically significant increased haemolysin and chitinase production and increased mortality to nauplii of Penaeus monodon. No change in siderophore production was observed. Bacteriophage VOB is likely to be responsible for some of the virulence factors expressed by V. owensii. As this bacteriophage is able to infect strains of V. harveyi and V. campbellii this phage may contribute to increased virulence of other vibrios in aquaculture and in the natural environment.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia ; College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, Cotabato Philippines.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Busico-Salcedo
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia ; Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811 Australia.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Owens
keywords: Bacteriophage VOB; Crustacea; Luminescent vibriosis; Vibrio campbellii; Vibrio harveyi; Vibrio owensii; Virulence