In Vitro Propagation of the Protozoan Perkinsus Marinus, A Pathogen of the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica

ABSTRACT The in vitro effects of the Perkinsus marinus serine protease on the intracellular survival of Vibrio vulnificusin oyster hemocytes were examined by using a time-course gentamicin internalization assay. Results showed that protease-treated hemocytes were initially slower to internalize V. vulnificus than untreated hemocytes. After 1 h, the elimination of V. vulnificus by treated hemocytes was significantly suppressed compared with hemocytes infected with invasive and noninvasive controls. Our data suggest that the serine protease produced byP. marinus suppresses the vibriocidal activity of oyster hemocytes to effectively eliminate V. vulnificus, potentially leading to conditions favoring higher numbers of vibrios in oyster tissues.

Download Full-text

Host oyster tissue extracts modulate in vitro protease expression and cellular differentiation in the protozoan parasite, Perkinsus marinus

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s003118200200286x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 126 (4) ◽

pp. 293-302 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

E. A. MACINTYRE ◽

C. G. EARNHART ◽

S. L. KAATTARI

Keyword(s):

Serine Proteases ◽

Protozoan Parasite ◽

Eastern Oyster ◽

Defined Medium ◽

Tissue Homogenate ◽

Oyster Tissue ◽

Perkinsus Marinus ◽

Tissue Extracts

Perkinsus marinus is responsible for a chronic disease (Dermo) of the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. In order to simulate the in vivo environment more closely, a chemically defined medium (JL-ODRP-3) was supplemented with tissue homogenate extracts or plasma from oysters possessing varying degrees of susceptibility to P. marinus infection. In media supplemented with extracts from highly susceptible oysters (C. virginica), P. marinus cells secreted elevated amounts of a set of low molecular weight serine proteases (LMP: 30–45 kDa) as assessed by enhanced digestion within gelatin-substrate SDS–PAGE gels. Oyster species of low susceptibility (C. gigas and C. ariakensis) did not exhibit this ability to upregulate P. marinus LMP expression. Oyster extract supplementation also led to pronounced changes in P. marinus cellular morphology, such that the cells were comparable to those observed within naturally infected oysters.

Download Full-text

Effects of air-exposure gradients on spatial infection patterns of Perkinsus marinus in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms ◽

10.3354/dao02964 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 118 (2) ◽

pp. 139-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

JC Malek ◽

DL Breitburg

Keyword(s):

Crassostrea Virginica ◽

Eastern Oyster ◽

Perkinsus Marinus ◽

Air Exposure

Download Full-text

Effects of Triclosan on the Oyster Parasite, Perkinsus marinus and Its Host, the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica

Journal of Shellfish Research ◽

10.2983/0730-8000(2008)27[769:eototo]2.0.co;2 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 769-773 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Fu-Lin E. Chu ◽

Eric D. Lund ◽

Jennifer A. Podbesek

Keyword(s):

Crassostrea Virginica ◽

Eastern Oyster ◽

Perkinsus Marinus

Download Full-text

Vibrio vulnificus Load Reduction in Oysters after Combined Exposure to Vibrio vulnificus–Specific Bacteriophage and to an Oyster Extract Component†

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-68.6.1188 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 68 (6) ◽

pp. 1188-1191 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

WILLIAM PELON ◽

RONALD B. LUFTIG ◽

KENNETH H. JOHNSTON

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Crassostrea Virginica ◽

Vibrio Vulnificus ◽

Eastern Oyster ◽

Load Reduction ◽

Combined Exposure ◽

In Vitro System ◽

Iron Deficient ◽

Specific Bacteriophage

Oysters infected with Vibrio vulnificus can present a serious health risk to diabetic, immunocompromised, and iron-deficient individuals. Numerous studies have been conducted with the goal of eliminating this organism from raw oysters. We utilized two natural oyster-associated components: pooled Vibrio vulnificus–specific bacteriophage and an extract of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) that contains an antimicrobial component we named anti–Vibrio vulnificus factor, which is bactericidal for V. vulnificus. Although each component alone can reduce V. vulnificus numbers independently, the simultaneous use of both components in an in vitro system successfully more effectively reduced V. vulnificus bacterial loads.

Download Full-text