Detection of Virulence Associated Genes in Clinical Strains of Vibrio mimicus

• Published in: Microbiology and immunology Vol. 45; no. 8; pp. 613 - 616
• Main Authors: Bi, Kewei, Miyoshi, Shin-ichi, Tomochika, Ken-ichi, Shinoda, Sumio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-01-2001; Center for Academic Publications Japan
• Subjects: Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Cholera Toxin - genetics; ctx gene; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; Fimbriae Proteins; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Bacterial; Genetics; Humans; Membrane Proteins; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; polymerase chain reaction; tcpA gene; tcpP gene; toxR gene; toxS gene; toxT gene; Transcription Factors - genetics; Vibrio - genetics; Vibrio - pathogenicity; Vibrio Infections - microbiology; Vibrio mimicus; virulence associated genes; Epidemic; Polymerase chain reaction; Gene amplification; Gene; Pathogenesis; Virulence; Primer; Bacteria; Vibrionaceae; Detection; Vibrio mimicus
• ISSN: 0385-5600; 1348-0421
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2001.tb01292.x

A total of 42 clinical strains of Vibrio mimicus were examined for the presence of virulence associated genes toxR, toxS, toxT, tcpP, ctx and tcpA by PCR assay. Almost all strains were shown to have the toxR gene, while the toxS gene was found in 27 strains. On the other hand, five strains possessed both toxT and tcpP genes, but others had neither. Only two strains were positive for amplification of the ctx gene, whereas no PCR product with tcpA primers was detected. The results indicate the incomplete copies of virulence cascade in V. mimicus strains. The pathogenesis and epidemic potential of this species is also discussed.