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Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates
Published on: May 30, 2017
Vibrio vulnificus genome suggests two distinct ecotypes
Thomas M Rosche1, Eric A Binder, James D Oliver
1Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
Environmental Microbiology Reports
|June 15, 2013
Summary
Vibrio vulnificus exhibits genetic dimorphism, with distinct clinical (vcgC) and environmental (vcgE) gene alleles. These genotypes show different environmental responses, suggesting they may be diverging into separate species.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Environmental Science
Background:
- * Vibrio vulnificus is a significant estuarine pathogen causing food-borne and wound infections.
- * Its ubiquity in water and shellfish contrasts with a relatively low disease incidence, suggesting varying strain virulence.
- * Previous research identified a dimorphism in the virulence correlated gene (vcg) locus (vcgC for clinical, vcgE for environmental).
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the prevalence of the vcgC/vcgE dimorphism across multiple V. vulnificus genes.
- * To determine if this dimorphism extends to housekeeping genes.
- * To explore differential responses of V. vulnificus genotypes to environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- * Examination of eight V. vulnificus genes with available data.
- * Comparative analysis of gene alleles from clinical and environmental isolates.
- * Assessment of the impact of environmental conditions on different V. vulnificus genotypes.
Main Results:
- * The C/E dimorphism was observed in all eight examined V. vulnificus genes, including housekeeping genes.
- * Significant differences in environmental response were noted between the C and E genotypes.
- * This genetic dimorphism correlates strongly with isolation source (clinical vs. environmental).
Conclusions:
- * The C/E dimorphism is a widespread genetic characteristic in V. vulnificus.
- * The distinct environmental responses suggest functional differences between the genotypes.
- * Findings support the hypothesis that C and E genotypes represent distinct ecotypes, potentially diverging into separate species.
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