Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Controls Edwardsiella tarda Virulence via Oxaloacetate
TL;DR
Findings reveal that this enzyme plays a critical role in controlling bacterial disease-causing ability through its effects on cellular metabolism, and shows promise as a safe and effective vaccine candidate to protect farmed fish against Edwardsiella infections.
Abstract
Simple Summary Edwardsiella tarda is a bacterium that causes severe disease in fish, leading to major economic losses for aquaculture worldwide. Understanding how this bacterium causes infection is essential for developing effective prevention strategies. In this study, we investigated a key bacterial enzyme called phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), which helps control the bacterium’s energy metabolism. When we removed the gene responsible for producing this enzyme, the bacteria became less harmful to fish, grew faster, and showed increased movement. Importantly, this modified bacterium triggered a strong immune response in fish and protected them against subsequent infection with the deadly form of the bacteria. Fish that received the modified bacteria survived at much higher rates compared to unprotected fish. These findings reveal that this enzyme plays a critical role in controlling bacterial disease-causing ability through its effects on cellular metabolism. The modified bacteria show promise as a safe and effective vaccine candidate to protect farmed fish against Edwardsiella infections, potentially reducing disease outbreaks and economic losses in aquaculture while decreasing the need for antibiotic treatments.