Marine scientists have isolated Vibrio pectenicida as the key agent responsible for sea star wasting disease (SSWD). This horrible disease has wiped out approximately 90% of sea stars on the Pacific coast. This important breakthrough comes after more than 10 years of focused research. The hitch Scientists wanted to figure out what’s causing the highly infectious disease that has decimated over 20 species of sea stars from Mexico to Alaska.
Vibrio species are well-known members of their genus known for their destructive effects on coral and shellfish. Once infected with this strain, SSWD (FHCF-3) produces extensive lesions and a dissolution of the antarctic sea star’s body. Since the outbreak started in 2013, almost six billion sunflower sea stars have died. This tremendous loss is almost 90% of their population, all at the hands of this deadly pathogen.
As a naturally occurring bacterium, it thrives in warmer sea waters, thus its appearance increases in abundance during the summer months. This unique environmental adaptability brings with it fears for upcoming outbreaks as ocean temperatures keep increasing from climate change. As a marine evolutionary ecologist, Melanie Prentice explains, it’s vitally important to know how Vibrio pectenicida operates with its sea star hosts. Her research illuminates this important connection.
“How does the pathogen interact with the sea star host to cause disease? That’s going to be critical information in terms of thinking about things like treatments,” – Melanie Prentice.
Throughout all of her research, Prentice brings to light the significant role that sea stars play in marine ecosystems. Along with researchers from the University of British Columbia and the University of Washington, the Hakai Institute helped her publish those findings.
“Sea stars are absolutely fundamental to the health of marine ecosystems,” – Prentice.
Vibrio pectenicida has a dark track record. In France, this pathogen was responsible for the complete collapse of multiple species of scallop larvae in the 1990s. Its capacity to quickly overpower marine species is a grave concern for advocates and scientists, as well.
The discovery of Vibrio pectenicida is a step toward understanding the impact to sea stars. Prentice adds that other strains could be playing a role in driving SSWD too.
“We have one strain that causes sea star wasting disease, but I believe that there’s probably going to be many more,” – Prentice.
For that reason, researchers are working hard to discover new and inventive strategies to defeat this nasty bacterial foe. One such approach has offered a glimmer of hope — using probiotics to strengthen the immune systems of sea stars. In addition to emerging as a stopgap measure, resistance breeding represents a long-term solution by identifying and breeding the most resilient sea star populations.
“That might actually be more effective at fighting off this pathogen,” – Prentice.
Despite the daunting odds, Prentice looks to the future, hoping that abundance of healthy, diverse sea star populations will be restored.
“I would love to one day see these ecosystems return,” – Prentice.
