Analysis of physiological and gene expression changes related to Vibrio harveyi adaptation in the time of global warming

Vibrio species represent one of the most diverse genera of marine bacteria known for their ubiquitous presence in natural aquatic systems. Several members of this genus including Vibrio harveyi are receiving increasing attention lately because they are becoming a source of health problems, especially for some marine organisms widely used in sea food industry. To learn about adaptation changes triggered by V. harveyi during its long-term persistence at elevated temperatures, we studied adaptation of this marine bacterium in sea water microcosms at 30 oC that closely mimicks the upper limits of sea surface temperatures recorded around the globe. Total RNA was isolated from Vibrio harveyi ATCC 14126 cultures by triplicate. To carry out this analysis, total RNA was isolated from the initial inoculate grown in marine broth at 26ºC (control) and from V. harveyi cells after their permanence in sterile seawater at 30ºC for 12 hours, 3 and 6 days (Stress). RNA samples were submitted for sequencing. Read were aligned to Vibrio harveyi ATCC 43516 genome.