: a fundamental model system for bacterial genetics and pathogenesis research.

Species of the genus occupy diverse aquatic environments ranging from brackish water to warm equatorial seas to salty coastal regions. More than 80 species of have been identified, many of them as pathogens of marine organisms, including fish, shellfish, and corals, causing disease and wreaking havoc on aquacultures and coral reefs. Moreover, many species associate with and thrive on chitinous organisms abundant in the ocean. Among the many diverse species, the most well-known and studied is , discovered in the 19th century to cause cholera in humans when ingested. The field blossomed in the late 20th century, with studies broadly examining evolution as a human pathogen, natural competence, biofilm formation, and virulence mechanisms, including toxin biology and virulence gene regulation. This review discusses some of the historic discoveries of biology and ecology as one of the fundamental model systems of bacterial genetics and pathogenesis.