| Description: |
Vibrio harveyi is a bioluminescent marine bacterium in which the luminescence genes are regulated by quorum sensing. Within the aqueous environment, this free living organism can be found throughout the water column, buried in the sediment, as well as on the exterior surfaces of marine organisms. Unlike the related bacterial species, Vibrio fischeri, which forms a mutualistic association with a squid species, Vibrio harveyi does not form any symbiotic relationship with any other organism. However, there is one well documented example of a relationship with another microorganism causing a phenomenon known as the Milky Sea effect. This occurs when large areas of the ocean are filled with luminescing V. harveyi living in association with colonies of the microalga Phaeocystis. Vibrio harveyi is a pathogen of fish and invertebrates, including sharks, sea-bass, seahorses, lobster, and shrimp. Its pathogenicity depends on the concentration of V. harveyi cells at a given time. Diseases caused by V. harveyi include eye-lesions, gastro-enteritis, vasculitis, and luminous vibriosis. Luminous vibriosis is a leading cause of death among commercially farmed shrimp and other aquaculture. The infection enters through the mouth and forms plaques, then spreads to the innards and the appendages. Loss of limb function and appendage degradation has been documented. Contamination can spread all the way to egg and larval tanks, thus causing an even bigger problem for shrimp farmers. Luminous vibriosis has been documented in many other crustaceans all of which glow in the dark when infected. |
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