Bioluminscent symbiotic marine bacterium. Aliivibrio fischeri ES114

Vibrio fischeri strain ES114. This strain was isolated from the light organs of the squid Euprymna scolopes. Interestingly, the genome encodes a cholera toxin phage-like element on chromosome II. However, the cluster of genes responsible for phage excision is missing, and the two CTS genes have been replaces. There are also a number of pilus synthesis genes present in the genome, which may function during symbiosis. Comparison of the genome from this organism and the pathogenic Vibrio spp. will shed light on both the virulence as well as symbiosis-establishing mechanisms.