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

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Identification and characterization of phage PS166 lysogens from non-O1, O139 strains of Vibrio cholerae

Siddhartha Basu1, Ranajit K Ghosh

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India. basu@pharm.stonybrook.edu

Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
|October 1, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Non-O1, O139 Vibrio cholerae strains can acquire virulence through bacteriophages. Two strains were found to harbor phages identical to PS166, suggesting phage mediation in the emergence of new cholera pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Non-O1 and non-O139 Vibrio cholerae serogroups are increasingly significant causes of cholera.
  • The mechanisms by which these serogroups acquire virulence factors are not fully understood.
  • Bacteriophages are known vectors of virulence genes in Vibrio cholerae.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential role of bacteriophages in the pathogenicity of non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae.
  • To explore the origin and acquisition of virulence properties in these emerging cholera strains.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of bacteriophage particles from ten non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae clinical isolates using mitomycin C.
  • Determination of virulence profiles via multiplex PCR.
  • Characterization of isolated bacteriophages using restriction profiling (BglII, KpnI, HaeII) and Southern hybridization for ribotyping.

Main Results:

  • Two Vibrio cholerae strains (PG128, PG130) were identified as harboring infectious phage particles.
  • The isolated phages exhibited identical host range and restriction profiles to the temperate vibriophage PS166.
  • While lacking major virulence determinants, strain PG128 possessed accessory virulence genes (hlyA, mshA, rtxC, toxR).

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest bacteriophage mediation in the emergence of novel Vibrio cholerae pathogens.
  • This highlights the potential for phage-mediated transfer of virulence traits in non-O1, non-O139 Vibrio cholerae.

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