Document Type
Poster
Date of Original Version
3-27-2026
Abstract
Vibrio pathogens have been implicated in mass mortalities of oyster larvae in hatcheries globally. To address this critical aquaculture challenge, this project aims to develop CRISPR-associated transposase (CAST)-based microbiome editing tools for aquaculture-associated bacterial communities. This emerging microbiome editor enables site- and species-specific inserts of large DNA cargos to target bacteria within complex microbial communities without DNA double-strand breaks. These technologies can be applied directly to decrease oyster aquaculture losses due to Vibrio coralliilyticus and Vibrio mediterranei by disrupting their virulence genes, introducing ‘kill switches’, or expressing toxic peptides under inducible promoters to regulate abundance. Microbiome editing has huge potential to mediate vibriosis and similar diseases in oyster aquaculture but is in need of extensive optimization for non-model organisms. This project will test a suite of promoters, origins of replications, and selective markers to optimize CAST-editing in these species. Once CAST and microbiome editing techniques are established in these species, the approaches can be adapted to any relevant mariculture system and microbial pathogen. This poster will include information on proposed methods for optimizing CAST-editing in Vibrio coralliilyticus and Vibrio mediterranei, methods of pathogen abundance control/gene disruption, and the technology’s implications for oyster aquaculture systems.
Recommended Citation
Hardwick, Molly; Rivera-Ortiz, J. Elaine; and Alker, Amanda T., "Microbiome Editing in Vibrio for Oyster Aquaculture and Disease Mitigation" (2026). Poster Presentations. Paper 19.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/gradcon2026-posters/19