AUTHOR=Dias Graciela M. , Bidault Adeline , Le Chevalier Patrick , Choquet Gwenaëlle , Der Sarkissian Clio , Orlando Ludovic , Medigue Claudine , Barbe Valerie , Mangenot Sophie , Thompson Cristiane C. , Thompson Fabiano L. , Jacq Annick , Pichereau Vianney , Paillard Christine 

TITLE=Vibrio tapetis Displays an Original Type IV Secretion System in Strains Pathogenic for Bivalve Molluscs

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00227

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.00227

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>The Brown Ring Disease (BRD) caused high mortality rates since 1986 in the Manila clam <italic>Venerupis philippinarum</italic> introduced and cultured in Western Europe from the 1970s. The causative agent of BRD is a Gram-Negative bacterium, <italic>Vibrio tapetis</italic>, which is also pathogenic to fish. Here we report the first assembly of the complete genome of <italic>V. tapetis</italic> CECT4600<sup>T</sup>, together with the genome sequences of 16 additional strains isolated across a broad host and geographic range. Our extensive genome dataset allowed us to describe the pathogen pan- and core genomes and to identify putative virulence factors. The <italic>V. tapetis</italic> core genome consists of 3,352 genes, including multiple potential virulence factors represented by haemolysins, transcriptional regulators, Type I restriction modification system, GGDEF domain proteins, several conjugative plasmids, and a Type IV secretion system. Future research on the coevolutionary arms race between <italic>V. tapetis</italic> virulence factors and host resistance mechanisms will improve our understanding of how pathogenicity develops in this emerging pathogen.</p>