Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

TransFLP — A Method to Genetically Modify Vibrio cholerae Based on Natural Transformation and FLP-recombination
12:13

TransFLP — A Method to Genetically Modify Vibrio cholerae Based on Natural Transformation and FLP-recombination

Published on: October 8, 2012

Isolation and characterization of bacteriophage-resistant mutants of Vibrio cholerae O139

S R Attridge1, A Fazeli, P A Manning

  • 1Department of Molecular Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, AstraZeneca R&D Boston, The University of Adelaide, Medical School, 35 Gatehouse Drive, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia. stephen.attridge@adelaide.edu.au

Microbial Pathogenesis
|April 21, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Vibrio cholerae O139 O-antigen is crucial for complement resistance and infant mouse colonization, more so than its capsule. Genes wzz and wbfP are vital for capsule biosynthesis.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Vibrio cholerae O139 produces a capsule involved in complement resistance and bacteriophage receptor function.
  • Bacteriophage JA1 resistance in O139 mutants is linked to alterations in capsule and O-antigen expression.
  • Understanding these surface structures is key to V. cholerae virulence and host interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the roles of capsule and O-antigen in Vibrio cholerae O139 virulence.
  • To identify genetic determinants responsible for capsule and O-antigen biosynthesis.
  • To correlate in vitro complement resistance assays with in vivo colonization potential.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of spontaneous JA1-resistant Vibrio cholerae O139 mutants.
  • Assessment of complement resistance using in vitro assays.
  • Evaluation of infant mouse colonization potential.
  • Preliminary genetic complementation studies to identify relevant genes.

Main Results:

  • JA1-resistant mutants exhibited loss of capsule and/or O-antigen.
  • O-antigen production was found to be significantly more important than capsule for complement resistance and mouse colonization.
  • One in vitro complement resistance assay effectively predicted bacterial recovery in colonization experiments.
  • Genes wzz and wbfP were implicated in capsule biosynthesis but not O-antigen.

Conclusions:

  • O-antigen is a primary virulence factor for Vibrio cholerae O139, contributing more to complement resistance and colonization than the capsule.
  • The identified genes wzz and wbfP are essential for capsule formation.
  • The study provides insights into the genetic basis of V. cholerae O139 surface antigen expression and its impact on virulence.

More Related Videos

Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates07:58

Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates

Published on: May 30, 2017

Quantifying Vibrio cholerae Colonization and Diarrhea in the Adult Zebrafish Model08:03

Quantifying Vibrio cholerae Colonization and Diarrhea in the Adult Zebrafish Model

Published on: July 12, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Techniques for Isolation of Pure Cultures01:24

Techniques for Isolation of Pure Cultures

Microorganisms are routinely cultured in the laboratory using various techniques to isolate, grow, and quantify them for further study. These methods rely on inoculating microorganisms into a suitable growth medium under aseptic conditions to prevent contamination. Depending on the objective, inoculation can involve direct transfer or the use of diluted bacterial suspensions as the inoculum.Streak-Plate Method for IsolationThe streak-plate method is a common technique for obtaining pure...
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence01:28

Regulation of Bacterial Virulence

Pathogenic bacteria employ a range of regulatory mechanisms to modulate the expression of virulence genes in response to environmental and host-derived signals. These mechanisms ensure that virulence factors are expressed only under favorable conditions, thereby optimizing infection and survival strategies.Mechanisms of Virulence RegulationKey regulatory strategies include:Two-Component Systems: These consist of a membrane-bound sensor kinase and a cytoplasmic response regulator. Environmental...
Cholera01:25

Cholera

Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...