Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
08:03
Quantifying Vibrio cholerae Colonization and Diarrhea in the Adult Zebrafish Model
Published on: July 12, 2018
Healthy corals maintain Vibrio in the VBNC state
1Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel 69978.
Environmental Microbiology Reports
|June 15, 2013
Summary
Coral mucus harbors Vibrio bacteria, which can enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state when attached. Detached mucus allows Vibrio resuscitation, potentially aiding coral health by preventing pathogen infections.
Area of Science:
- Marine microbiology
- Coral reef ecology
- Bacterial physiology
Background:
- Vibrio species are significant in coral health and disease.
- Understanding coral-Vibrio interactions is crucial for reef conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Vibrio growth dynamics in coral mucus.
- To determine factors influencing Vibrio resuscitation in Oculina patagonica mucus.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of Vibrio in attached and detached coral mucus.
- Monitoring bacterial growth over time using colony-forming units (cfu) and total counts.
- Assessing the role of coral holobiont products in Vibrio maintenance.
Main Results:
- Attached mucus had low Vibrio populations (1% of total viable count).
- Detached mucus showed a 50,000-fold increase in Vibrio within 4 hours.
- Vibrio likely exist in a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state on attached corals.
Conclusions:
- Coral mucus facilitates Vibrio resuscitation upon detachment.
- A diffusible, unstable coral signal may maintain Vibrio in the VBNC state.
- VBNC Vibrio may protect corals against pathogenic infections.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Marine Microbial Ecology
Marine microbial ecosystems are shaped by distinct physicochemical limits, including high salinity, low nutrient availability, and fluctuating oxygen levels. These conditions favor smaller microbial cell sizes, which maximize their surface-to-volume ratio for efficient nutrient uptake.Microbial activity and community composition are closely linked to biogeochemical cycles, particularly in dynamic environments like estuaries, where halotolerant microbes thrive in response to variable salinity...
01:24Microbial Corrosion
Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
01:26Bacterial Phylum Verrucomicrobiota
The phylum Verrucomicrobiota comprises at least four characterized orders, with most species classified within the order Verrucomicrobiotales. Members of this phylum are either aerobic or facultatively aerobic, with the ability to ferment sugars. A notable exception is the genus Methylacidiphilum, which consists of aerobic methanotrophs. Additionally, some Verrucomicrobiota establish symbiotic relationships with protists. These bacteria are widely distributed across various environments,...
01:25Cholera
Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...
01:28Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria
Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that perform photosynthesis without producing oxygen. They primarily include purple sulfur bacteria, purple nonsulfur bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, and green nonsulfur bacteria. These bacteria are classified into the Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Chlorobi, and Chloroflexi lineages, each with distinct physiological and ecological adaptations.Purple sulfur bacteria belong to the...
01:28Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...