Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
07:58
Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates
Published on: May 30, 2017
Cholera in the 21st century
Richelle C Charles1, Edward T Ryan
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|July 30, 2011
Summary
Understanding cholera outbreaks, host-pathogen interactions, and prevention strategies is advancing. New research on Vibrio cholerae ecology, transmission, and immunity offers hope for improved cholera control.
Area of Science:
- * Microbiology and Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
- * Global Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Background:
- * Cholera remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating a deeper understanding of its transmission dynamics.
- * Environmental and biological factors critically influence the occurrence and spread of Vibrio cholerae.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To review recent advancements in understanding the ecological and biological factors driving cholera outbreaks.
- * To explore new insights into host-pathogen interactions during cholera infections.
- * To examine evolving cholera treatment and prevention strategies, including vaccination.
Main Methods:
- * Comprehensive literature review of recent research on cholera outbreaks and pathogenesis.
- * Analysis of studies on Vibrio cholerae ecology, transmission dynamics, and host immunity.
- * Evaluation of current and emerging cholera control and prevention measures.
Main Results:
- * Enhanced understanding of Vibrio cholerae ecology, including the roles of bacteriophage, biofilm, hyperinfectious states, and weather events.
- * Safe water and sanitation remain crucial, while the role of cholera vaccination is expanding.
- * New knowledge on long-lived protective immunity post-infection may bolster global control efforts.
Conclusions:
- * Advances in understanding protective immunity and outbreak dynamics can significantly improve cholera control.
- * Integrated strategies combining improved sanitation, safe water, and evolving vaccination approaches are key.
- * Continued research into host-pathogen interactions and environmental factors is vital for future prevention.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cholera
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,...
01:30Reservoir of Infection
Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...
01:18Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents
Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
01:22Botulism
Botulism is a life-threatening neuroparalytic condition caused by botulinum neurotoxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobe.In adults, the toxin enters the body in different ways: in foodborne botulism, the preformed toxin is absorbed in the intestine. In wound botulism, spores grow in injured tissue and release the toxin into the blood. Infant botulism differs mechanistically from adult forms. In infants, botulism commonly...
01:23Stringent Response in E. coli
Bacterial growth is closely tied to nutrient availability, with cells proliferating exponentially under favorable conditions and entering a stationary phase when resources become scarce. This transition is mediated by a regulatory mechanism known as the stringent response, which allows bacteria to adapt to nutrient deprivation by modulating gene expression and metabolic activity.During nutrient scarcity, intracellular amino acid levels decline. It results in the accumulation of uncharged tRNAs...