<i>Exaiptasia pallida</i> Infection Model Reveals the Critical Role of <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i> T3SS Virulence Factors in Its Pathogenicity for Sea Anemones.

ABSTRACT: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis. While its interaction with edible marine animals is well known, its impact on non-edible hosts remains under-explored. Using the sea anemone Exaiptasia pallida, we investigated Vibrio parahaemolyticus pathogenicity and the role of the Type III Secretion System (T3SS). In vivo infections with a 10⁷ CFU/mL inoculum of V. parahaemolyticus induced a 50% mortality rate after 7 days (LC50). Using isogenic mutant strains of V. parahaemolyticus with impaired key regulatory components of T3SS, impT3SS1 (CAB2), and impT3SS2 (CAB3), we demonstrated that disruption of T3SS1 significantly reduced anemone mortality. Next, we observed a time-dependent downregulation of T3SS1 effect

SUBMITTER: Perrone A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12031060 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature