PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Marek Kirs
Co-INVESTIGATOR: Claudia Häse
Graduate fellow: Diksha Vijay Poojari
Research Track: Aquaculture

Vibriosis is a bacterial disease causing high mortality in both commercial shellfish hatcheries and coral restoration nurseries across Hawaiʻi. Disease outbreaks, primarily caused by Vibrio species, are a significant source of economic loss and are being exacerbated by changing ocean temperatures that increase pathogen virulence. Current methods to detect Vibrio are slow, costly, and lack the real-time speed needed for effective intervention, representing the main impediment to managing disease in these facilities. To bridge this knowledge gap, the project’s goal is to improving monitoring methods for pathogenic Vibrio species by evaluating a novel, monoclonal antibody-based lateral dipstick test, the Vibriosis RapidTest, in local hatcheries and nurseries to characterize the distribution and variety of Vibrio communities. Ultimately, by providing a sensitive, rapid, and usable diagnostic tool, this work aims to enable timely management decisions that prevent and reduce pathogen contamination in critical marine production and conservation facilities.