Vibrio cholerae embraces two major evolutionary traits as revealed by targeted gene sequencing

Abstract

Vibrio cholerae inhabits aquatic environments worldwide and has over 200 recognized serogroups classified by O-polysaccharide specificity. Here, we report that V. cholerae selects either of two genetic traits during their evolution. Sequencing of the specific gene locus MS6_A0927 revealed that 339 of 341 strains of V. cholerae and closely related Vibrio species originating from 34 countries over a century carried either metY (M) (~1,269 bp) or luxR-hchA (LH) (~1,600 bp) genes, and consequently those vibrios were separated into two clusters, M (45.4%) and LH (54.6%). Only two strains contained both M and LH in the same locus. Moreover, extensive polymorphisms in those genes were detected in M and LH with 79 and 46 sequence variations, respectively. V. cholerae O1 strains isolated from cholera outbreaks worldwide, and some non-O1 strains evolving from O1 via exchange of genes encoding cell surface polysaccharides possessed LH alleles. Analysis of polymorphisms in the gene locus implicated a high degree of genetic diversity and identical subpopulations among the V. cholerae species.

Novel gas producing Vibrio cholerae: a case report of gastroenteritis with acute kidney injury

“…Cholera, caused by the Gram-negative bacterium V. cholerae , can be treated using antibiotics along with administration of intravenous fluids and oral rehydration salts [ 7 ]. V. cholerae isolates from primary culture are identified by colonial appearance, Gram stain, biochemical testing, serology (agglutination with specific antisera), 16S rRNA PCR, specific PCR and sequencing [ 2, 10–12 ].…”

“… V. cholerae carries several virulence-related genes to provoke pathogenic processes in the infected hosts. The key virulence factors of serogroups O1 and O139 include cholera toxin (CT), which is responsible for profuse watery diarrhea [ 7 ].…”

Incidence and Virulence Factor Profiling of Vibrio Species: A Study on Hospital and Community Wastewater Effluents

“…However, owing to Vibrio's highly flexible genomic structure, the risk of horizontal gene transfer (virulence) between pathogenic and environmental Vibrio strains is high, increasing the number of pathogenic strains of Vibrio in aquatic environments [20]. The O1 and O139 serogroup of V. cholerae have been among the leading virulent groups and are known to harbour cholera toxin [21][22][23]. The pathogenicity of Vibrio depends on the combination of virulence factors such as cholera toxin (ctxA) and the aptitude of V. cholerae to colonize the colon with the colonization factor (tcpA) toxin co-regulated pilus along with zot (generally is involved in invasion) [24].…”