Molecular targets for coevolutionary interactions between Pacific oyster larvae and their sympatric Vibrios

Bacteria of the Vibrio genus are the most predominant infectious agents threatening marine wildlife and aquaculture. Due to the large genetic diversity of these pathogens, the molecular determinants of Vibrio virulence are only poorly understood. Furthermore, studies tend to ignore co-evolutionary interactions between different host populations and their locally encountered Vibrio communities. We explored the molecular targets of such co-evolutionary interactions by analyzing the genomes of nine Vibrio strains showing opposite virulence patterns toward two populations of Pacific oysters introduced into European Wadden Sea.