Shrimp AHPND-causing plasmids encoding the PirAB toxins as mediated by pirAB-Tn903 are prevalent in various Vibrio species

Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 7:7:42177. doi: 10.1038/srep42177.

Abstract

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is a newly emerging shrimp disease caused by pirAB toxins encoded by a plasmid found in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The pirAB toxins are the homologs of the Photorhabdus insect-related (Pir) toxins. Here, we report the complete sequences of the AHPND-causing plasmid isolated from V. owensii, as well as those of its 11 siblings (pVH family). In addition, we also included 13 related plasmids (pVH-r family) without the pirAB genes isolated from a variety of species within the Vibrio Harveyi clade. Furthermore, the pirAB-Tn903 composite transposon was identified in pVH, and both ends of the transposon appeared to have inserted simultaneously into the ancestor plasmid at different sites. The homologue counterparts of pirAB were also detected in a non-pVH plasmid in V. campbellii. Taken together, our results provide novel insights into the acquisition and evolution of pirAB as well as related plasmids in the Vibrio Harveyi clade.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Toxins / biosynthesis*
  • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Biological Evolution
  • DNA Transposable Elements*
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Hepatopancreas / microbiology
  • Hepatopancreas / pathology
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Penaeidae / microbiology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plasmids / chemistry*
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Seafood
  • Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
  • Vibrio / classification
  • Vibrio / genetics*
  • Vibrio / isolation & purification
  • Vibrio / pathogenicity
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / classification
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / genetics*
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / isolation & purification
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • toxin A, Photorhabdus
  • toxin B, Photorhabdus