Vibrio spp. are ubiquitous marine bacteria that are ecologically and metabolically diverse members of planktonic and animal associated microbial communities. They encompass the ancient and well-studied human pathogen, Vibrio cholerae, and two other human pathogens, V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus, as well as some less thoroughly characterized animal pathogens. Virulence is based on a wide diversity of mechanisms involved in motility and host colonization, in ability to persist and develop, and in damage generation. Polysaccharides may play major roles in virulence and are major components of extracellular polymeric matrix synthesized upon biofilm growth. They may also exhibit biological features, especially those similar to animal-derived glycosaminoglycans (GAG). Bacterial polysaccharides include EPSs which are released to the surrounding medium, and two surface polysaccharides: lipopolysaccharides (LPS) with an O-antigen polysaccharide linked to the Lipid A core complex and capsular polysaccharides (CPS) with K-antigen.

Diversity of biosynthetic pathways involved in glycopolymers biosynthesis in Vibrio spp. was analysed through in silico identification of genes encoding CAZYmes and comparative genomic approaches. In parallel, ability to form biofilm and extracellular matrix composition is studied. The aim is to provide a better knowledge of the polysaccharide gene cluster importance and to facilitate discovery of new bioactive carbohydrate compounds.