Journal of invertebrate pathology最新文献

{"title":"Enhanced virulence through genetic engineering of Beauveria bassiana blastospores by overexpression of a cuticle-degrading endochitinase","authors":"Gabriel Moura Mascarin ,&nbsp;Somraj Shrestha ,&nbsp;Christopher A. Dunlap ,&nbsp;Jose Luis Ramirez ,&nbsp;Jeffrey J. Coleman","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108420","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108420","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetic engineering of entomopathogenic fungi combined with fast-acting infective blastospores grown by liquid fermentation offers an innovative approach to develop more efficient mycoinsecticides targeting a broad spectrum of arthropod pests, thus minimizing the over-reliance on synthetic chemical insecticides. In this research, <em>Beauveria bassiana</em> (Ascomycota: Cordycipitaceae) was genetically engineered by integrating multiple copies of an endogenously derived <em>Chit1</em> gene, which encodes a constitutively expressed chitinase putatively involved in insect cuticle degradation, into its genome, with the aim at enhancing blastospore virulence. Genomic analysis of two highly virulent mutants overexpressing <em>Chit1</em> identified 4 and 2 copies of this gene in their genomes, designated as ^O<em>^EBbChit1</em>-3 and ^O<em>^EBbChit1</em>-5, which were significantly upregulated by approximately ∼ 3- to 5-fold higher compared to the wild-type (WT) strain, thus confirming elevated gene expression and chitinase activity consistent with overexpression of the target gene. Compared with the WT, the median time to lethality (LT₅₀) of the ^OE<em>BbChit1</em> mutants was shortened to 75.7 %, and the median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) decreased approximately 4.6-log₁₀ fold when blastospores were applied to <em>Galleria mellonella</em> larvae via the natural cuticle infection route. Among the phenotypic traits examined, oxidative stress was more pronounced in the highly virulent mutants, which exhibited slightly reduced blastospore production <em>in vitro</em> than the WT strain. Moreover, infections by the highly virulent mutants increased the density of total hemocytes relative to the WT and mock control, thus triggering a rapid insect immune response. Collectively, our findings provide compelling evidence of an innovative strategy based on the genetic improvement of <em>B. bassiana</em> by overexpression of the native chitinase in fast-acting blastospores, thus leading to enhanced virulence with minimal detrimental phenotypical effects in fungal development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108420"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144804260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana on behavior of termite Reticulitermes chinensis","authors":"Hammad Hassan ,&nbsp;Ali Hassan ,&nbsp;Taqi Raza ,&nbsp;Jinli Ding ,&nbsp;Arshad Ali ,&nbsp;Qiuying Huang ,&nbsp;Min Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108419","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108419","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Termites play a dual ecological role as vital decomposers and significant pests that cause economic damage globally. In China, Reticulitermes chinensis is a prevalent subterranean termite species managed primarily through chemical termiticides, which pose environmental and health risks. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), particularly Beauveria bassiana, offer a promising alternative due to their eco-friendly targeted approach to pest control. This study investigated the effects of B. bassiana on various behaviors (allogrooming, trophallaxis, vibration, cannibalism, burial, locomotion, and foraging) and the survival of R. chinensis. Termites exposed to higher fungal concentrations (10⁸ conidia/ml) showed significantly increased allogrooming and vibration behaviors, while trophallaxis remained unaffected. Burial behavior was significantly more pronounced in response to fungus-killed termites compared to controls (cadavers killed by freezing), though cannibalism showed no significant difference between the two dead cadaver types. Locomotion analysis revealed that exposure to B. bassiana reduced distance moved and velocity, while increasing turn angle and angular velocity, as measured at 24 and 48 h after fungal exposure. Foraging activity after infection was notably disrupted, with reduced time spent and fewer visits to food zones. Mortality was dose-dependent in individually caged termites, but no significant survival differences were observed when termites were caged with nestmates, suggesting potential social buffering effects. These findings demonstrate that B. bassiana not only impacts termite survival but also alters behaviors, highlighting its potential as a biological control agent. However, termite behavioral defenses may mitigate fungal spread, necessitating further investigation into optimizing fungal pathogenicity within social insect colonies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108419"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144804259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection and identification of Melissococcus plutonius in stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) from Brazil","authors":"Érica W. Teixeira ,&nbsp;Thaís A. Viana ,&nbsp;Maria Augusta P. Lima ,&nbsp;Gustavo F. Martins ,&nbsp;Anete P. Lourenço","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108418","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108418","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>European Foulbrood (EFB), caused by the bacterium <em>Melissococcus plutonius</em>, primarily affects young bee larvae, which may lead to colony decline. Once thought to affect only western honey bee <em>Apis mellifera</em>, EFB is now spreading to other bee species in Brazil. We identified EFB and detected <em>M. plutonius</em> in 10 species of stingless bees (Meliponini, Apidae) across the States of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Santa Catarina, including new cases in <em>Partamona helleri</em>, <em>Plebeia droryana</em>, <em>Melipona quadrifasciata quadrifasciata</em>, <em>Nannotrigona</em> cfr. <em>testaceicornis</em>, and <em>Tetragonisca angustula</em>. The bacterium <em>M. plutonius</em> was also detected in larval food, honey, pollen, and other materials from the colonies of some stingless bee species, as well as in <em>A. mellifera</em> honey from colonies adjacent to stingless bee colonies, suggesting the rearing environment aids bacterial transmission. Our study highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and strict management practices, as no effective treatment exists in Brazil.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108418"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144773202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Replication of two reoviruses in continuous cell lines derived from Diaphorina citri","authors":"Saptarshi Ghosh,&nbsp;Ke Wu,&nbsp;Bryony C. Bonning","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108421","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108421","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ability of <em>Diaphorina citri</em> cell lines to support the replication of viruses was assayed using virus stocks enriched from Florida, USA and Taiwan psyllid populations that contained six of the seven <em>D. citri</em> viruses described to date. This study provides conclusive evidence for the replication of two reoviruses (D. citri Cimodo-like virus and <em>D. citri reovirus</em>; DcRV) from the Florida virus stock in Dici3 and to a lesser extent in the Dici3F cell line. The other four viruses were either not detected or did not replicate in either cell line. Unexpectedly, none of the viruses from the Taiwan sample, including DcRV replicated in Dici3 cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108421"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144781665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do sibling hosts harbor sibling parasites? The case of Aggregata sp. (Apicomplexa: Aggregatidae) infecting Octopus bimaculoides Pickford and McConnaughey, 1949 in the northwest Mexican Pacific","authors":"Graciela Esmeralda Colunga-Ramírez ,&nbsp;Camino Gestal ,&nbsp;Sheila Castellanos-Martínez","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108416","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108416","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genus <em>Aggregata</em> comprises cosmopolitan Apicomplexa parasites that infect cephalopods and show high host specificity. Their heteroxenous life cycle requires two hosts: a crustacean (merogony) and a cephalopod (gamogony/sporogony). <span><span>Poynton et al. (1992)</span></span> reported <em>Aggregata millerorum</em> in <em>Octopus bimaculoides</em> from California (USA) and described the smoothness of the sporocyst surface. In this study, four of eight <em>O. bimaculoides</em> collected in Ensenada, Baja California, harbored <em>Aggregata</em> sp. showing bifurcate tubular projections on sporocysts similar to those of <em>Aggregata polibraxiona</em>, which was described in <em>Octopus bimaculatus</em> from the Gulf of California. Thus, <em>Aggregata</em> sp. (present study) and <em>A. polibraxiona</em> (from the Gulf of California) may be the same species. We employed morphological, histological, and molecular approaches to describe and identify <em>Aggregata</em> sp. inhabiting <em>O. bimaculoides</em> from Ensenada. The sporocyst surfaces of <em>Aggregata</em> sp. (present study) and <em>A. polibraxiona</em> shared tubular bifurcated projections but differed in the sizes of the sporocysts (10–18 vs 12–24 µm) and sporozoites (11–18 vs 16–26 µm). Phylogenetic analyses of partial 18S rDNA sequences placed both <em>Aggregata</em> species infecting <em>O. bimaculatus</em> and <em>O. bimaculoides</em> in the same clade, indicating a lack of phylogenetic informativeness. Additional 18S rDNA data are needed to clarify whether <em>O. bimaculoides</em> from Ensenada harbor <em>A. polibraxiona</em>, are co-infected by multiple <em>Aggregata</em> species, or host a novel species. This work highlights the importance of integrative taxonomy in studies of <em>Aggregata</em> species and the need to develop novel molecular markers (e.g., ITS and COX) to enhance species-level classification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108416"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144766707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bald disease in a natural population of the purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus of the Mediterranean Sea: From spines to tissues","authors":"Francesca Carella ,&nbsp;Monica Correggia ,&nbsp;Angelina Cordone ,&nbsp;Ottavia Iacovino ,&nbsp;Francesca Maresca ,&nbsp;Grazia Villari ,&nbsp;Ana Roque ,&nbsp;Gionata De Vico","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108415","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108415","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, unusual mortality outbreaks have been reported in the echinoderm populations over broad geographic regions. The present work used different diagnostic approaches to unravel the Bald Sea Urchin Disease (BSUD) causes in a natural population of <em>Paracentrotus lividus</em> from the Gulf of Naples sampled in 2021. Symptomatic individuals displayed the typical signs such as test discoloration and ulceration, loss of spines and pedicellariae and visceral hyperpigmentation. Scanning electron microscopy of diseased individuals (stage 2 and stage 3) revealed a bare exoskeleton with multiplying bacteria penetrating the damaged test, and histopathology revealed inflammatory lesions and phagocytosis only in stages 2 and 3, with Gram negative and positive bacteria at stage 3. Metagenomics revealed an increase in DNA virus and <em>Proteobacteria</em> during disease progression. Microbial community analyses failed to reveal a single putative pathogen associated with symptoms, but microbiome analysis showed higher diversity in asymptomatic individuals compared to the symptomatic. Different <em>Vibrio</em> spp. belonging to the <em>Splendidus</em> clade were also isolated, with <em>V. crassostreae</em> as the most represented in advanced stages of disease. We cannot confirm that the observed microorganisms were associated with tissue damage and their contribution to the disease outcome remains unclear as they could be just opportunistic in the lesions. This preliminary study on a wild population highlights the importance of morphological analysis (histopathology and SEM) coupled with microbiome and metagenome analyses in sea urchin disease investigations. Moreover, we suggest also performing transmission electron microscopy (TEM), experimental challenges and <em>in situ</em> hybridization methods (ISH) to provide morphological evidence of potential infective agents. Future studies should also include histopathology of the test.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108415"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144764907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptomic analysis reveals the role of MicroRNAs during Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei infection in shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)","authors":"Tingyue Liu ,&nbsp;Yi Qiao ,&nbsp;Huiwen Jiang ,&nbsp;Xiaohui Cao ,&nbsp;Jie Cheng ,&nbsp;Ge Jiang ,&nbsp;Xiaoman Sun ,&nbsp;Hui Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108413","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108413","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ecytonucleospora hepatopenaei</em> (EHP) is a microsporidian parasite that infects <em>Penaeus vannamei.</em> To study the effects of EHP infection on shrimp microRNA (miRNA) expression, we deep-sequenced the miRNA expression profiles of <em>P. vannamei</em> before and after EHP infection. A total of 86 miRNAs were differentially expressed in <em>P. vannamei</em> infected by EHP, potentially targeting over 15,600 genes involved in protein binding, cellular components, intracellular parts, and biological regulation. Moreover, the target genes were significantly enriched in several KEGG pathways, including Endocytosis and Apoptosis. Additionally, the study found that differentially expressed miRNAs, such as miR-315-x, miR-92-y, and miR-317-z, are involved in multiple regulatory processes during EHP infection, influencing growth, immune regulation, and metabolic balance. These findings reflect the mechanisms by which shrimp coordinate their defense response and metabolic regulation through miRNA expression in response to EHP infection. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of shrimp response to microsporidian infection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108413"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144749728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neoflabelliforma diaphanosoma n. sp. (Microsporidia) from hypoderm of diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum (Crustacea: Sididae) in China","authors":"Meiqi Weng ,&nbsp;Chenxi Zhang ,&nbsp;Xunbo Miao ,&nbsp;Chuangzheng Yang ,&nbsp;Mei Cao ,&nbsp;Nan Sun ,&nbsp;Suxing Liu ,&nbsp;Xingqiang Wang ,&nbsp;Jinyong Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new microsporidian species was described from the hypoderm of <em>Diaphanosoma leuchtenbergianum</em> sampled from a eutrophic water body of Changshu city, Jiangsu province, China. Infected daphnia generally appeared opaque due to numerous spores accumulated in the host integument. The earliest developmental stages observed were uninucleate meronts which were in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm. Multinucleate sporogonial plasmodia developed into uninucleate sporoblasts by plasmotomy. Mature spores were ovoid and monokaryotic, measuring 4.65 ± 0.21 (4.28–5.24) µm long and 2.49 ± 0.15 (2.12–2.82) µm wide. Isofilar polar filament coiled 8–11 turns and arranged in 2–3 rows. Bipartite polaroplast consisted of the tightly packed anterior lamellae and posterior tubules. The exospore was covered with tubular structures and was composed of two layers. Phylogenetic analysis based on the obtained SSU rDNA sequence indicated that the present species clustered with three <em>Neoflabelliforma</em> species (<em>N. dubium</em>, <em>N. aurantiae</em>, and <em>N. leuchtenbergianum</em>) and an unidentified microsporidium from soil with high support values to form an independent branch within canonical Microsporidia. Based on the morphological characters and ultrastructural features, as well as SSU rDNA-inferred phylogenetic relationships, a new species was erected and named as <em>Neoflabelliforma diaphanosoma</em> n. sp.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108414"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144749729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Widespread detection of Wenzhou shrimp virus 8 (WzSV8) and it’s implication in cultured shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farms of India","authors":"P.Ezhil Praveena ,&nbsp;Sudama Swain ,&nbsp;N.U. Allie,&nbsp;V. Kathirkaman,&nbsp;S. Kannan,&nbsp;K.B. Balagopal,&nbsp;M.P. Shreelekha,&nbsp;T. Bhuvaneswari,&nbsp;Kuldeep K Lal,&nbsp;Subhendu Kumar Otta","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108412","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108412","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Like in other parts of world, Indian shrimp aquaculture industry is also suffering from diseases and mortalities and many of the pathogens have invaded into India. Here, an attempt was made to investigate the presence of newly described shrimp virus, Wenzhou shrimp virus 8 (WzSV8). More than 200 shrimp samples from different locations of India were collected and analysed for the presence of this virus. Widespread detection of WzSV8 was observed in shrimp farms of India where 58% of samples were found to be positive for this virus. Many of the samples had only WzSV8 infection and in others co-infection with other shrimp pathogens such as WSSV, IMNV and EHP were observed. Presence of WzSV8 was confirmed through PCR, histopathology, <em>in situ</em> hybridization, transmission electron microscopy and transcriptomics. To find out target organs for the detection of WzSV8, hepatopancreas, gut, stomach, gill and muscle were processed by PCR. Only samples from HP, gut and stomach were positive for this virus and muscle and gill were negative. A strong correlation of WzSV8 with shrimp white gut syndrome (WGS) was observed where WGS samples always had high load of this virus. Phylogenetically the Indian isolates were closer to Chinese isolates. The role of this virus in causing disease directly or precipitating the pathological conditions through co-infection needs to be studied further. Particularly, analysing the role of WzSV8 in shrimp white gut syndrome may provide clues about the disease mechanism</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108412"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Susceptibility of Lion’s paw scallop (Nodipecten subnodosus) juveniles to a pirAB-positive Vibrio campbellii strain isolated from Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp affected by Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND)","authors":"Krizia Pretell Monzón ,&nbsp;Damaris Esquén Bayona ,&nbsp;Yuriko Saavedra Ríos ,&nbsp;Frank Guzman Escudero ,&nbsp;Judith Villano Arango ,&nbsp;Carlos A. Amasifuen Guerra ,&nbsp;Cristina Escobedo Fregoso ,&nbsp;Edouard Kraffe ,&nbsp;Rosa Cueto Vega ,&nbsp;Benoit Diringer","doi":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jip.2025.108404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is a serious bacterial infection affecting penaeid shrimp, caused primarily by <em>Vibrio</em> species harboring the <em>pirAB</em> toxin genes. While AHPND has been studied extensively in shrimp, its potential impact on other marine invertebrates remains largely unexplored. This study evaluates, for the first time, the susceptibility of juvenile lion’s paw scallops (<em>Nodipecten subnodosus</em>) to AHPND-associated <em>Vibrio campbellii</em> (_VCAHPND-VP3) strains isolated from <em>Litopenaeus vannamei</em> shrimp outbreaks. Experimental infection by immersion assays demonstrated a dose-dependent response, with 100 % cumulative mortality at 5 × 10⁶ CFU/mL, while lower concentrations resulted in subclinical infections. The presence of _VCAHPND-VP3 in gill and stomach tissues was confirmed by nested PCR detection of <em>pirAB</em> genes. Comparative pathogenicity assays between _VCAHPND-VP3 and the native <em>Vibrio alginolyticus</em> strain revealed that, despite similar rates of bacterial uptake, only _VCAHPND-VP3 caused high mortality, highlighting the critical role of PirAB toxins in virulence. Whole genome sequencing of the _VCAHPND-VP3 strain confirmed the presence of the <em>pirAB</em>-carrying plasmid, previously reported as pVA1 and revealed additional genes associated with pathogenicity and mobile genetic elements. These results confirm the susceptibility of mollusk species to AHPND-associated <em>Vibrio</em> and highlight potential ecological risks related to the dissemination of <em>pirAB</em>-positive vibrios in coastal environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16296,"journal":{"name":"Journal of invertebrate pathology","volume":"213 ","pages":"Article 108404"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144731768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}