Open AccessPoly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate‐accumulating bacteria protect gnotobiotic Artemia franciscana from pathogenic Vibrio campbellii
Author(s) -
Halet Dirk,
Defoirdt Tom,
Van Damme Petra,
Vervaeren Han,
Forrez Ilse,
Van de Wiele Tom,
Boon Nico,
Sorgeloos Patrick,
Bossier Peter,
Verstraete Willy
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2007.00305.x
Subject(s) - biology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , enrichment culture , pathogen , vibrio , vibrionaceae , 16s ribosomal rna , virulence , strain (injury) , gene , biochemistry , genetics , anatomy
A poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB)‐accumulating enrichment culture was obtained using activated sludge from a polyphosphate‐accumulating reactor as inoculum. PHB accumulated by the enrichment culture significantly enhanced the survival of Artemia nauplii, infected with the virulent pathogen Vibrio campbellii LMG 21363. A strain was isolated from the enrichment culture, based on its ability to accumulate PHB, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the isolate revealed 99% sequence similarity to Brachymonas denitrificans AS‐P1. The isolate, named PHB2, showed good PHB‐accumulating activity (up to 32% of the cell dry weight). PHB accumulated by isolate PHB2 was able to protect Artemia completely from the V. campbellii strain. Our data indicate that PHB‐accumulating bacteria, such as B. denitrificans PHB2, could be used as an an effective and economically interesting alternative strategy to control infections in aquaculture.