scholarly journals Virulence of Cholera Toxin Gene-Positive Vibrio cholerae Non-O1/non-O139 Strains Isolated From Environmental Water in Kolkata, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eizo Takahashi ◽  
Sadayuki Ochi ◽  
Tamaki Mizuno ◽  
Daichi Morita ◽  
Masatomo Morita ◽  
...  

Cholera toxin (CT)-producing Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 cause acute diarrheal disease and are proven etiological agents of cholera epidemics and pandemics. On the other hand, V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 are designated as non-agglutinable (NAG) vibrios and are not associated with epidemic cholera. The majority of NAG vibrios do not possess the gene for CT (ctx). In this study, we isolated three NAG strains (strains No. 1, 2, and 3) with ctx from pond water in Kolkata, India, and examined their pathogenic properties. The enterotoxicity of the three NAG strains in vivo was examined using the rabbit ileal intestinal loop test. Strain No. 1 induced the accumulation of fluid in the loop, and the volume of fluid was reduced by simultaneous administration of anti-CT antiserum into the loop. The volume of fluid in the loop caused by strains No. 2 and 3 was small and undetectable, respectively. Then, we cultured these three strains in liquid medium in vitro at two temperatures, 25°C and 37°C, and examined the amount of CT accumulated in the culture supernatant. CT was accumulated in the culture supernatant of strain No.1 when the strain was cultured at 25°C, but that was low when cultured at 37°C. The CT amount accumulated in the culture supernatants of the No. 2 and No. 3 strains was extremely low at both temperature under culture conditions examined. In order to clarify the virulence properties of these strains, genome sequences of the three strains were analyzed. The analysis showed that there was no noticeable difference among three isolates both in the genes for virulence factors and regulatory genes of ctx. However, vibrio seventh pandemic island-II (VSP-II) was retained in strain No. 1, but not in strains No. 2 or 3. Furthermore, it was revealed that the genotype of the B subunit of CT in strain No. 1 was type 1 and those of strains No. 2 and 3 were type 8. Histopathological examination showed the disappearance of villi in intestinal tissue exposed to strain No. 1. In addition, fluid accumulated in the loop due to the action of strain No. 1 had hemolytic activity. This indicated that strain No. 1 may possesses virulence factors to induce severe syndrome when the strain infects humans, and that some strains of NAG vibrio inhabiting pond water in Kolkata have already acquired virulence, which can cause illness in humans. There is a possibility that these virulent NAG vibrios, which have acquired genes encoding factors involved in virulence of V. cholerae O1, may emerge in various parts of the world and cause epidemics in the future.

2006 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 2937-2946 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ghosh ◽  
D. R. Saha ◽  
K. M. Hoque ◽  
M. Asakuna ◽  
S. Yamasaki ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Cholera toxin gene-negative Vibrio cholerae non-O1, non-O139 strain PL-21 is the etiologic agent of cholera-like syndrome. Hemagglutinin protease (HAP) is one of the major secretory proteins of PL-21. The mature 45-kDa and processed 35-kDa forms of HAP were purified in the presence and absence of EDTA from culture supernatants of PL-21. Enterotoxigenicities of both forms of HAP were tested in rabbit ileal loop (RIL), Ussing chamber, and tissue culture assays. The 35-kDa HAP showed hemorrhagic fluid response in a dose-dependent manner in the RIL assay. Histopathological examination of 20 μg of purified protease-treated rabbit ileum showed the presence of erythrocytes and neutrophils in the upper part of the villous lamina propria. Treatment with 40 μg of protease resulted in gross damage of the villous epithelium with inflammation, hemorrhage, and necrosis. The 35-kDa form of HAP, when added to the lumenal surface of rat ileum loaded in an Ussing chamber, showed a decrease in the intestinal short-circuit current and a cell rounding effect on HeLa cells. The mature 45-kDa form of HAP showed an increase in intestinal short-circuit current in an Ussing chamber and a cell distending effect on HeLa cells. These results show that HAP may play a role in the pathogenesis of PL-21.


2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 1909-1918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Ceccarelli ◽  
Arlene Chen ◽  
Nur A. Hasan ◽  
Shah M. Rashed ◽  
Anwar Huq ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTNon-O1/non-O139Vibrio choleraeinhabits estuarine and coastal waters globally, but its clinical significance has not been sufficiently investigated, despite the fact that it has been associated with septicemia and gastroenteritis. The emergence of virulent non-O1/non-O139V. choleraeis consistent with the recognition of new pathogenic variants worldwide. Oyster, sediment, and water samples were collected during a vibrio surveillance program carried out from 2009 to 2012 in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.V. choleraeO1 was detected by a direct fluorescent-antibody (DFA) assay but was not successfully cultured, whereas 395 isolates of non-O1/non-O139V. choleraewere confirmed by multiplex PCR and serology. Only a few of the non-O1/non-O139V. choleraeisolates were resistant to ampicillin and/or penicillin. Most of the isolates were sensitive to all antibiotics tested, and 77 to 90% carried the El Tor variant hemolysin genehlyAET, the actin cross-linking repeats in toxin genertxA, the hemagglutinin protease genehap, and the type 6 secretion system. About 19 to 21% of the isolates carried the neuraminidase-encoding genenanHand/or the heat-stable toxin (NAG-ST), and only 5% contained a type 3 secretion system. None of the non-O1/non-O139V. choleraeisolates containedVibriopathogenicity island-associated genes. However,ctxA,ace, orzotwas present in nine isolates. Fifty-five different genotypes showed up to 12 virulence factors, independent of the source of isolation, and represent the first report of both antibiotic susceptibility and virulence associated with non-O1/non-O139V. choleraefrom the Chesapeake Bay. Since these results confirm the presence of potentially pathogenic non-O1/non-O139V. cholerae, monitoring for totalV. cholerae, regardless of serotype, should be done within the context of public health.


mBio ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ok S. Shin ◽  
Vincent C. Tam ◽  
Masato Suzuki ◽  
Jennifer M. Ritchie ◽  
Roderick T. Bronson ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTCholera is a severe diarrheal disease typically caused by O1 serogroup strains ofVibrio cholerae. The pathogenicity of all pandemicV. choleraeO1 strains relies on two critical virulence factors: cholera toxin, a potent enterotoxin, and toxin coregulated pilus (TCP), an intestinal colonization factor. However, certain non-O1, non-O139V. choleraestrains, such as AM-19226, do not produce cholera toxin or TCP, yet they still cause severe diarrhea. The molecular basis for the pathogenicity of non-O1, non-O139V. choleraehas not been extensively characterized, but many of these strains encode related type III secretion systems (TTSSs). Here, we used infant rabbits to assess the contribution of the TTSS to non-O1, non-O139V. choleraepathogenicity. We found that all animals infected with wild-type AM-19226 developed severe diarrhea even more rapidly than rabbits infected withV. choleraeO1. UnlikeV. choleraeO1 strains, which do not damage the intestinal epithelium in rabbits or humans, AM-19226 caused marked disruptions of the epithelial surface in the rabbit small intestine. TTSS proved to be essential for AM-19226 virulence in infant rabbits; an AM-19226 derivative deficient for TTSS did not elicit diarrhea, colonize the intestine, or induce pathological changes in the intestine. Deletion of either one of the two previously identified or two newly identified AM-19226 TTSS effectors reduced but did not eliminate AM-19226 pathogenicity, suggesting that at least four effectors contribute to this strain’s virulence. In aggregate, our results suggest that the TTSS-dependent virulence in non-O1, non-O139V. choleraerepresents a new type of diarrheagenic mechanism.IMPORTANCECholera, which is caused byVibrio cholerae, is an important cause of diarrheal disease in many developing countries. The mechanisms of virulence of nonpandemic strains that can cause a diarrheal illness are poorly understood. AM-19226, like several other pathogenic, nonpandemicV. choleraestrains, carries genes that encode a type III secretion system (TTSS), but not cholera toxin (CT) or toxin coregulated pilus (TCP). In this study, we used infant rabbits to study AM-19226 virulence. Infant rabbits orally inoculated with this strain rapidly developed a fatal diarrheal disease, which was accompanied by marked disruptions of the intestinal epithelium. This strain’s TTSS proved essential for its pathogenicity, and there was no diarrhea, intestinal pathology, or colonization in rabbits infected with a TTSS mutant. The effector proteins translocated by the TTSS all appear to contribute to AM-19226 virulence. Thus, our study provides insight intoin vivomechanisms by which a novel TTSS contributes to diarrheal disease caused by nonpandemic strains ofV. cholerae.


2014 ◽  
Vol 197 (3) ◽  
pp. 654-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua J. Thomson ◽  
Sarah C. Plecha ◽  
Jeffrey H. Withey

Vibrio choleraeis the causative agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera. The production of the virulence factors that are required for human disease is controlled by a complex network of transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulators. ToxT is the transcription regulator that directly controls the production of the two major virulence factors, toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) and cholera toxin (CT). The solved crystal structure of ToxT revealed an unstructured region in the N-terminal domain between residues 100 and 110. This region and the surrounding amino acids have been previously implicated in ToxT proteolysis, resistance to inhibition by negative effectors, and ToxT dimerization. To better characterize this region, site-directed mutagenesis was performed to assess the effects on ToxT proteolysis and bile sensitivity. This analysis identified specific mutations within this unstructured region that prevent ToxT proteolysis and other mutations that reduce inhibition by bile and unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, we found that mutations that affect the sensitivity of ToxT to bile also affect the sensitivity of ToxT to its positive effector, bicarbonate. These results suggest that a small unstructured region in the ToxT N-terminal domain is involved in multiple aspects of virulence gene regulation and response to human host signals.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 36-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
DK Yadav ◽  
D Tamrakar ◽  
R Baral ◽  
P Jha ◽  
S Gautam ◽  
...  

Background On 2011, Cluster of cholera cases was reported in the Tilathi VDC of Saptari, Nepal. Objective The outbreak was investigated to identify the etiological agent and possible source of infection and guiding the prevention and control measures. Methods Demographic and clinical details were collected from the suspected case-patients, and the outbreak was described by time, place, and person. Focus group discussion and Key informant interview were conducted to assess the practice of sanitation, source of drinking water and probable cause of diarrheal disease. Five stool samples and 10 water samples of tube well and ponds were collected and microbiological study was done in BPKIHS Dharan. Results A total of 111 persons suffered with diarrhea and 02 died of it (attack rate 3.05%, case fatality rate 1.8%). All age groups were affected with disease (median age 26 yrs) and males were affected more than females. Descriptive epidemiology suggested the clustering of cases were around the pond where they clean utensils, take bath and wash clothes. The Vibrio cholerae 01 El Tor, Ogawa serotype was isolated in 03 out of 05 suspected stool samples and in all three of the pond water samples. They reported that most of the houses do not have the toilet and people do not wash their hands regularly with soap and water after defecation. Conclusion Vibrio cholerae was the causative agent behind the outbreak and probable source of infection was the problematic pond water which they used for different purpose. Immediate chlorination of the pond was recommended to halt further spread of the epidemics. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v10i4.10992 Kathmandu Univ Med J 2012;10(4):36-39


mBio ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Ritchie ◽  
Haopeng Rui ◽  
Roderick T. Bronson ◽  
Matthew K. Waldor

ABSTRACTCholera is a severe diarrheal disease, caused byVibrio cholerae, for which there has been no reproducible, nonsurgical animal model. Here, we report that orogastric inoculation ofV. choleraeinto 3-day-old rabbits pretreated with cimetidine led to lethal, watery diarrhea in virtually all rabbits. The appearance and chemical composition of the rabbit diarrheal fluid were comparable to those of the “rice-water stool” produced by cholera patients. As in humans,V. choleraemutants that do not produce cholera toxin (CT) and toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) did not induce cholera-like disease in rabbits. CT induced extensive exocytosis of mucin from intestinal goblet cells, and wild-typeV. choleraewas predominantly found in close association with mucin. Large aggregates of mucin-embeddedV. choleraewere observed, both attached to the epithelium and floating within the diarrheal fluid. These findings suggest that CT-dependent mucin secretion significantly influencesV. cholerae’s association with the host intestine and its exit from the intestinal tract. Our model should facilitate identification and analyses of factors that may governV. choleraeinfection, survival, and transmission, such as mucin. In addition, our results using nontoxigenicV. choleraesuggest that infant rabbits will be useful for study of the reactogenicity of live attenuated-V. choleraevaccines.IMPORTANCECholera remains a significant threat to populations in developing nations. Currently, there is no reproducible, nonsurgical animal model of cholera, the secretory diarrheal disease caused byVibrio cholerae. We found that oral infection of infant rabbits withV. choleraeled to lethal, watery diarrhea in most rabbits. Using this disease model, we discovered a new role for cholera toxin (CT) during infection. This toxin not only caused secretory diarrhea but also profoundly influenced howV. choleraeassociates with the intestine and how the pathogen exits from the host. Rabbits inoculated withV. choleraethat does not produce CT developed mild diarrhea, suggesting that this model may prove useful for generating improved live attenuated-V. choleraevaccine candidates. Overall, our findings suggest that the infant rabbit model will enable pursuit of several new avenues for research on cholera pathogenesis, as well as serve as a vehicle for testing new therapeutics.


1999 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 4879-4885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renée M. Tsolis ◽  
L. Garry Adams ◽  
Thomas A. Ficht ◽  
Andreas J. Bäumler

ABSTRACT Limited knowledge is available about the virulence mechanisms responsible for diarrheal disease caused by Salmonella typhimurium. To assess the contribution to diarrheal disease of virulence determinants identified in models of infection, we tested a collection of S. typhimurium mutants for their ability to cause enteritis in calves. S. typhimurium strains carrying mutations in the virulence plasmid (spvR),Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) (spiB), or SPI-5 (sopB) caused mortality and acute diarrhea in calves. An S. typhimurium rfaJ mutant, which is defective for lipopolysaccharide outer core biosynthesis, was of intermediate virulence. Mutations in SPI-1 (hilA andprgH) or aroA markedly reduced virulence and the severity of diarrhea. Furthermore, histopathological examination of calves infected with SPI-1 or aroA mutants revealed a marked reduction or absence of intestinal lesions. These data suggest that virulence factors, such as SPI-1, which are required during intestinal colonization are more important for pathogenicity in calves than are genes required during the systemic phase of S. typhimurium infection, including SPI-2 or the spvoperon. This is in contrast to the degree of attenuation caused by these mutations in the mouse.


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