Academic Journal
Elevated virulence in TCP-PAI carrying strains indicates the pathogenicity island's important role in Vibrio mediterranei pathogenicity to bivalves.
| Title: | Elevated virulence in TCP-PAI carrying strains indicates the pathogenicity island's important role in Vibrio mediterranei pathogenicity to bivalves. |
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| Authors: | Zou X; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resource, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, China., Zhang H; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resource, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, China; Ninghai Institute of Mariculture Breeding and Seed Industry, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315604, China., Liu S; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resource, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, China; Ninghai Institute of Mariculture Breeding and Seed Industry, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315604, China., Xu J; Sanmen Bay Modern Agricultural Development Zone in Ninghai County, Ningbo 315600, China., Lin Z; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resource, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, China; Ninghai Institute of Mariculture Breeding and Seed Industry, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315604, China., Xue Q; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Aquatic Germplasm Resource, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315100, China; Ninghai Institute of Mariculture Breeding and Seed Industry, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo 315604, China. Electronic address: qxue@zwu.edu.cn. |
| Source: | Journal of invertebrate pathology [J Invertebr Pathol] 2026 Jun; Vol. 216, pp. 108551. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jan 27. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Academic Press Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0014067 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1096-0805 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00222011 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Invertebr Pathol Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: New York, NY : Academic Press Original Publication: New York. |
| MeSH Terms: | Vibrio*/pathogenicity , Vibrio*/genetics , Bivalvia*/microbiology , Genomic Islands*/genetics, Virulence/genetics ; Animals ; Polymerase Chain Reaction |
| Abstract: | Several Vibrio spp. are important shellfish pathogens. Vibrio mediterranei, notorious for its pathogenicity to bivalve larvae, contains a pathogenicity island, TCP-PAI, homologous to the Vibrio cholerae TCP gene cluster. This study explored the role of TCP-PAI in V. mediterranei pathogenicity by comparing TCP-PAI (+) and TCP-PAI (-) strains isolated from larval and juvenile Chinese razor clams (Sinonovacula constricta) and blood clams (Tegillarca granosa). Three independent PCR assays were developed to detect TCP-PAI, tcpA, and tcpB, respectively. The assay amplified a 949 bp band for TCP-PAI (-) strains, a 13375 bp band for TCP-PAI (+) strains, a 415 bp band for tcpA, and a 400 bp band for tcpB, with detection limits of 1.98 × 103 copies/µL for TCP-PAI and 1.38 × 103 copies/µL for tcpA and tcpB. A total of 352 Vibrio spp. isolates were collected from larval clams, including 300 from healthy razor clams, 6 from healthy blood clams, and 46 from diseased blood clams. Three isolates (1% of total) from healthy razor clams were identified as V. mediterranei and all were determined to be TCP-PAI (-). Ten isolates (21.7% of total) from diseased blood clams were identified as V. mediterranei and all were TCP-PAI (+). No V. mediterranei was detected in healthy blood clams. Infection experiments showed TCP-PAI (+) strains were associated with up to 99% and 96.67% mortality in razor clams and blood clams, respectively, significantly higher than TCP-PAI (-) strains (71% and 48.89%). These findings highlight TCP-PAI as a key virulence factor in V. mediterranei pathogenicity. The developed PCR assays provide a tool for further studies on TCP-PAI's role and transmission, offering insights into V. mediterranei pathogenesis in bivalves. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Bivalves; Detection method; Pathogenicity; TCP-PAI; Vibrio mediterranei |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260129 Date Completed: 20260701 Latest Revision: 20260701 |
| Update Code: | 20260701 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jip.2026.108551 |
| PMID: | 41610947 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1096-0805 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jip.2026.108551 |