Characterization and Analysis of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPRs) in Pandemic and Non-Pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus Isolates from Seafood Sources

Abstract

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is one of the significant seafood-borne pathogens causing gastroenteritis in humans. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are commonly detected in the genomes of V. parahaemolyticus and the polymorphism of CRISPR patterns has been applied as a genetic marker for tracking its evolution. In this work, a total of 15 pandemic and 36 non-pandemic V. parahaemolyticus isolates obtained from seafood between 2000 and 2012 were characterized based on hemolytic activity, antimicrobial susceptibility, and CRISPR elements. The results showed that 15/17 of the V. parahaemolyticus seafood isolates carrying the thermostable direct hemolysin gene (tdh+) were Kanagawa phenomenon (KP) positive. The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index ranged between 0.1 and 0.4, and 45% of the isolates have an MAR index ≥ 0.2. A total of 19 isolates were positive for CRISPR detection, including all tdh+ trh− isolates, two of tdh− trh+, and each of tdh+ trh+ and tdh− trh−. Four spacer types (Sp1 to Sp4) were identified, and CRISPR-positive isolates had at least one type of spacer homolog to the region of Vibrio alginolyticus megaplasmid. It is of interest that a specific CRISPR profile and spacer sequence type was observed with correlations to the hemolysin genotype (tdh/trh). Thus, these provide essential data on the exposure of foreign genetic elements and indicate shared ancestry within different genotypes of V. parahaemolyticus isolates.

Serological and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns As Well As Molecular Characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Isolated from Coastal Waters in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

“…In this study, the antibiotic resistance patterns among V. parahaemolyticus indicated that 12 (30%) of isolates had significant MAR index values above 0.2, while the highest MAR index value above 0.3 indices occurred among two strains of O1:K25 and O10:KUT serovars isolated from DMF and MOI sites, respectively. This agrees with other studies elsewhere that detected an MAR index above 0.2 among 45% of pandemic and non-pandemic V. parahaemolyticus isolated from seafood [69]. The MAR indices that exceed 0.2 indicated that these isolates originated from high-risk contamination and may pose human risks [70,71].…”

Diarrhea-Causing Bacteria and Their Antibiotic Resistance Patterns Among Diarrhea Patients From Ghana

“…Although self-limiting, strains of V. parahaemolyticus are virulent enough to cause outbreaks and can be fatal ( Jung, 2018 ). With recent reports of antimicrobial-resistant strains ( Tan et al, 2020 ; Jingjit et al, 2021 ), there is an urgent need to tackle it.…”

Characterization and Genome Analysis of Vibrio campbellii Lytic Bacteriophage OPA17

“…The host range of phage OPA17 was tested against V. campbellii ( n = 118) isolates obtained in this study and from a previous report ( 27 ). Other species of vibrios used in host range determination include V. alginolyticus ( n = 4), V. parahaemolyticus ( n = 7) ( 57 – 59 ), V. vulnificus ( n = 5) ( 60 ), and one each of V. furnissii and V. harveyi ( Table 1 ). The spot assay was performed to assess the lytic spectrum of the phage based on the bacterial susceptibility pattern.…”