Quorum Sensing in Vibrio and its Relevance to Bacterial Virulence

The genus Vibrio is made up of some of the most ubiquitous bacteria found in the marine ecosystem. Containing 91 different species, these short rod shaped Gram-negative bacteria are found all over the world, in temperate to warm aquatic environments, ranging from off-shore areas and estuaries to coastal waters. Some Vibrio species are found as a part of the normal marine flora or on the surface and/or in the gastrointestinal tract of marine organisms like fish, shellfish, coral, sea grass, shrimp, and zooplankton while others are symbionts in light organs or even pathogens causing disease and death [1,2]. The epizootic bacterial disease caused by the genus Vibrio, termed vibriosis, brings about grievous economic loss to the worldwide aquaculture industry. It is, thus, essential to understand the virulence mechanisms and the underlying regulatory systems in these pathogens as part of an effort to prevent and control vibriosis.