Vibrio bacteria are microbes in the natural plankton of the coastal ocean. Yet, several Vibrio species are human pathogens. It is hence of great concern that Vibrio-related wound infections and fatalities have increased along Baltic Sea coasts, probably stimulated by ocean warming. Future climate change may escalate this problem, posing a threat to human health and tourism industry. Yet, projections neglect the influence of ecosystem engineers such as mussels and macrophytes, that may regulate Vibrio abundance in coastal habitats, as recent findings suggest. BaltVib aims to delineate the Vibrio status, determine biotic and abiotic key factors regulating Vibrio, and elucidate the option for nature-based solution strategies to control pathogenic Vibrios in nearshore Baltic habitats where humans interact with the sea. This will be accomplished through interdisciplinary integration of marine, microbiological, molecular and socio- ecological expertise from seven Baltic nations.

2021

2024