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Journal of fish diseases
Mar 28, 2025; e14122.

O-Antigen Gene Cluster Reveals Genomic Variation in Chilean Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi Through Multiplex PCR-Based Genotyping Scheme.

Pierre Lopez, Ruben Avendaño-Herrera
Author Information
  1. Pierre Lopez: Laboratorio de Organismos Acuáticos y Biotecnología Acuícola, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile. ORCID
  2. Ruben Avendaño-Herrera: Laboratorio de Organismos Acuáticos y Biotecnología Acuícola, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile. ORCID
PMID: 40151085 DOI: 10.1111/jfd.14122

Abstract

Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi emerged as a major pathogen in Chilean salmon farming in early 2023, causing 32.9% of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) mortalities. Although recent studies have provided valuable insights into T. dicentrarchi through virulence mechanisms and genome analysis, genetic diversity based on the O-antigen gene cluster remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted a comparative genomic analysis of O-antigen biosynthesis genes in 30 whole-genome sequenced strains, including the T. dicentrarchi type strain. The analysis identified a single O-antigen gene cluster (O-AGC) consisting of 20 genes involved in the biosynthesis of this component of the lipopolysaccharide layer. Variations in the O-AGC revealed antigenic diversity within the species, allowing classification into four distinct groups, designated Types 1 to 4. Based on these findings, we developed a multiplex PCR-based genotyping scheme, which was successfully applied to 25 bacterial isolates from Chilean fish farms. Most isolates were identified as Type 1 and 3, while Types 2 and 4 were less common, with the same number of isolates. We also investigated whether core genome phylogeny correlated with O-AGC Types by including publicly available genomes from Chile, Norway and Canada. Notably, T. dicentrarchi isolates clustered into two groups: one comprising isolates from Norway and Canada, all belonging to Type 1. Another group consisted of Chilean isolates with diverse O-AGC Types (i.e., 1, 2, 3 and 4), including the type strain. This multiplex PCR approach provided a valuable tool for rapid and reliable typing of T. dicentrarchi, facilitating epidemiological studies and aiding in the selection of appropriate isolates for the vaccine development against tenacibaculosis in fish farms.

Keywords

O‐antigen gene cluster Tenacibaculosis fish diseases molecular genotyping salmonid aquaculture

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Grants

  1. /Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
Journal Article

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