TY - JOUR

T1 - Genomic Analysis of Pasteurella atlantica Provides Insight on Its Virulence Factors and Phylogeny and Highlights the Potential of Reverse Vaccinology in Aquaculture

AU - Ellul, Rebecca Marie

AU - Kalatzis, Panos G.

AU - Frantzen, Cyril

AU - Haugland, Gyri Teien

AU - Gulla, Snorre

AU - Colquhoun, Duncan John

AU - Middelboe, Mathias

AU - Wergeland, Heidrun Inger

AU - Rønneseth, Anita

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Pasteurellosis in farmed lumpsuckers, Cyclopterus lumpus, has emerged as a serious disease in Norwegian aquaculture in recent years. Genomic characterization of the causative agent is essential in understanding the biology of the bacteria involved and in devising an efficient preventive strategy. The genomes of two clinical Pasteurella atlantica isolates were sequenced (≈2.3 Mbp), and phylogenetic analysis confirmed their position as a novel species within the Pasteurellaceae. In silico analyses revealed 11 genomic islands and 5 prophages, highlighting the potential of mobile elements as driving forces in the evolution of this species. The previously documented pathogenicity of P. atlantica is strongly supported by the current study, and 17 target genes were recognized as putative primary drivers of pathogenicity. The expression level of a predicted vaccine target, an uncharacterized adhesin protein, was significantly increased in both broth culture and following the exposure of P. atlantica to lumpsucker head kidney leucocytes. Based on in silico and functional analyses, the strongest gene target candidates will be prioritized in future vaccine development efforts to prevent future pasteurellosis outbreaks.

AB - Pasteurellosis in farmed lumpsuckers, Cyclopterus lumpus, has emerged as a serious disease in Norwegian aquaculture in recent years. Genomic characterization of the causative agent is essential in understanding the biology of the bacteria involved and in devising an efficient preventive strategy. The genomes of two clinical Pasteurella atlantica isolates were sequenced (≈2.3 Mbp), and phylogenetic analysis confirmed their position as a novel species within the Pasteurellaceae. In silico analyses revealed 11 genomic islands and 5 prophages, highlighting the potential of mobile elements as driving forces in the evolution of this species. The previously documented pathogenicity of P. atlantica is strongly supported by the current study, and 17 target genes were recognized as putative primary drivers of pathogenicity. The expression level of a predicted vaccine target, an uncharacterized adhesin protein, was significantly increased in both broth culture and following the exposure of P. atlantica to lumpsucker head kidney leucocytes. Based on in silico and functional analyses, the strongest gene target candidates will be prioritized in future vaccine development efforts to prevent future pasteurellosis outbreaks.

KW - Aquaculture

KW - In silico analysis

KW - Lumpsucker

KW - Mobile elements

KW - Pasteurella atlantica

KW - Pathogenicity

KW - Phylogeny

KW - Vaccine

KW - Virulence factors

U2 - 10.3390/microorganisms9061215

DO - 10.3390/microorganisms9061215

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34199775

AN - SCOPUS:85107202403

VL - 9

JO - Microorganisms

JF - Microorganisms

SN - 2076-2607

IS - 6

M1 - 1215

ER -