Vibrio ecology, pathogenesis and evolution

Vibrio ecology, pathogenesis and evolution
Author: Rita R Colwell
Publisher: Frontiers E-books
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2014-10-24
Genre: Microbiology
ISBN: 288919289X

Vibrios are Gram-negative bacilli that occur naturally in marine, estuarine, and freshwater systems. Some species include human and animal pathogens capable of causing gastroenteritis, wound infections, cholera, and fatal septicemia. Over the past decades, cutting edge research on Vibrio genomics has promoted a tremendous advance in our knowledge of these pathogens. Significant developments include the discovery of emerging epidemic clones, tracking the spread of new strain variants, and an intensified appreciation of the role of mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance spread as well as pathogenesis. Furthermore, improved understanding of the interaction of Vibrios with a variety of living organisms in the aquatic environment has documented the significant role of environmental reservoirs in their seasonal cycle favoring persistence of the pathogen during inter-epidemic periods and enhancing disease transmission. This Research Topic is dedicated to our current understanding in these areas and will bring together leading experts in the field to provide a deep overview of Vibrios ecology and evolution, and will suggest the pathway of future research in this field.

Ecology, Evolution and Virulence of Environmental Vibrios

Ecology, Evolution and Virulence of Environmental Vibrios
Author: Adèle James
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

Global change, including anthropogenic activities, have resulted in an increase in the incidence of Vibrio-associated illnesses. These diseases not only affect humans but also marine animals. Despite strong ecological and economic consequences, little is known about population structure and virulence mechanisms of vibrios in the environment. To better understand and manage those diseases, we explored the ecology, the evolution and the virulence of these infectious agents. First, we found that some environmental strains were virulent towards oyster and we identified original virulence mechanisms related to their ecology and evolution. In France, oyster-farms are facing massive mortality events associated with the presence of a virus and bacteria of the genus Vibrio. We showed that the virus appears neither essential nor sufficient to cause high mortality rates contrary to the vibrios that play a major role. Juvenile diseased oysters were always co-infected by several populations, but only one, Vibrio crassostreae, was detected systematically and in abundance. Its virulence is dependent on a type VI secretion system that is carried by a conjugative plasmid. Our results suggest that V. crassostreae first differentiated into a low-virulent oyster colonizer and turned into a pathogen after acquisition of the virulence plasmid. The narrow distribution of the plasmid suggests that it has been selected by high density farming areas. Finally, we showed that the plasmid transfer or selection was enhanced in oysters, which suggests that oysters represent a niche for horizontal gene transfer. Overall, this work can lead to the development of diagnostic tools and epidemiological monitoring of pathogenic vibrios.

Vibrionaceae Diversity, Multidrug Resistant and Management

Vibrionaceae Diversity, Multidrug Resistant and Management
Author: Learn-Han Lee
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2018-05-10
Genre:
ISBN: 2889454762

Vibrio are Gram-negative bacteria that naturally inhabit riverine, estuarine and marine aquatic environments. Some Vibrio are known to be capable of causing gastroenteritis, wound infections, cholera and fatal septicemia in severe cases. Over the past decades, research on Vibrio has increased and has caused a great development in our knowledge of these pathogens. Focus of this research includes the discovery of emerging epidemic clones, the traits of new strains, and the occurrence of multidrug resistant strains in the ecology. Moreover, improved understandings of the prevalence, pathogenesis and evolution of Vibrio have revealed the significant role of these pathogens in enhancing disease transmission. The complete genomic sequences of Vibrio have been determined in providing a rich set of data illuminating the metabolic versatility of the species. This book is dedicated to improving our knowledge and understanding, not solely focusing into the prevalence, detection, pathogenesis, virulence, pandemic clones and multidrug resistance, but also looking at the management of the multidrug resistance through different strategies such as non-antibiotic resistant strategies that involved the application of knowledge in bacteriophages.

Ecology, Virulence and Detection of Pathogenic and Pandemic Vibrio Parahaemolyticus

Ecology, Virulence and Detection of Pathogenic and Pandemic Vibrio Parahaemolyticus
Author: Pendru Raghunath
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Total Pages: 134
Release: 2016-08-15
Genre: Microbiology
ISBN: 2889199126

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram negative, halophilic bacterium that occurs in the coastal and estuarine environments worldwide and is implicated in several cases of seafood-born gastroenteritis around the globe. However, not all strains of V. parahaemolyticus are pathogenic. Clinical isolates of V. parahaemolyticus most often produce either the thermostable direct haemolysin (TDH) or TDH-related haemolysin (TRH) encoded by tdh and trh genes, respectively. A pandemic clone of O3:K6 which was first detected in Kolkata (India), has been responsible for many outbreaks in Asia and the USA. With the emergence of pandemic clone of V. parahaemolyticus, this organism has assumed significance. Although most of the V. parahaemolyticus outbreaks are invariably related to seafood consumption, pathogenic strains are rarely isolated from seafood. Virulent strains producing TDH or TRH and the pandemic clone, which is responsible for most of the outbreaks (that have occurred after 1996) have been rarely isolated from seafood and other environmental samples. This could be due to the occurrence of pathogenic strains in the estuarine environment at a lower level compared to non-pathogenic strains. Another reason can be that the pathogenic stains are more sensitive to dystropic conditions in the aquatic environment and rapidly become non-culturable. Similarity in growth kinetics between virulent and non-virulent strains also made the isolation of virulent strains from the aquatic environment difficult. Several studies were done to determine the factors responsible for an increased virulence and persistance of pandemic clone. However, none of those studies were conclusive. Several researchers have proposed various genetic markers for specific detection of pandemic clone of V. parahaemolyticus. But many of those genetic markers were found to be unreliable. Recently, seven genomic islands (VPaI-1 to VPaI-7) unique to pandemic clone were identified. This Research Topic is dedicated to improve our current understanding of ecology, pathogenesis and detection of pathogenic and pandemic clone of V. parahaemolyticus, and will also strive to identify areas of future development.

Putting Vibrio Cholerae in Context

Putting Vibrio Cholerae in Context
Author: Mohammad Tarequl Islam
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2021
Genre: Vibrio
ISBN:

Phylogenomic structuring of the Vibrio cholerae clade is an important area of study in the context of the alarming spike of human morbidities due to environmental pathogens around the world. Even after decades of research, the structuring of natural populations of V. cholerae and its sister species is poorly understood. Ecological and epidemiological importance of the clade shouts for a sound understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and environmental dynamics within the clade in their natural settings. In this thesis, my goal is to answer few broad questions on the biology of the V. cholerae clade: i) How different is the evolutionary trajectory of pathogenic lineages from environmental populations ii) To what extent environmental and biogeographic factors impact the intra-species diversity of the model species: V. cholerae iii) Is our understanding of the phylogeny and ecology of the V. cholerae clade consistent with the inclusion of the recently discovered sister species of V. cholerae from both environmental and clinical settings. To address these questions, I have employed culture-based techniques, phenotypic characterization, high throughput amplicon sequencing, whole genome sequencing, quantitative PCR (qPCR) as well as phylogenetic and taxonomic inference tools. I have found potential signatures in V. cholerae population structure in cholera endemic and non-endemic regions. I have also shown the impact of environmental factors on the intra-species diversity of V. cholerae population naturally occurring in a cholera endemic area. Furthermore, I am describing here the genetic, phylogenetic and biological traits, as well as interaction of a novel sister species with V. cholerae: V. paracholerae sp. nov. Moreover, I delineate the phylogenetic and molecular spectrum of a novel sister species of V. cholerae: V. tarriae, isolated from human and environmental samples only from cholera free locations in the USA. The studies presented herein consolidates the understanding of the natural diversity and ecology of the clade containing V. cholerae and its close relatives at species and sub-species level, which could be a significant stride in our knowledge on this group of microorganisms.

Vibrio Pathogenicity Island-2

Vibrio Pathogenicity Island-2
Author: Salvador Almagro-Moreno
Publisher:
Total Pages: 187
Release: 2009
Genre: Bacteriology
ISBN:

The emergence of many pathogenic species is due to the acquisition of genetic material in the form of pathogenicity islands (PAIs). As a model PAI, we work with Vibrio Pathogenicity Island-2 (VPI-2), a 57 kb integrative element encoded within pathogenic strains of Vibrio cholerae. V. cholerae is a natural inhabitant of brackish and estuarine environments; however it is widely known as the etiological agent of the severe diarrheal disease cholera. A neuraminidase (NanH) is encoded within VPI-2 that unmasks the receptors of the cholera toxin, the main cause of the watery diarrhea. The term sialic acid embraces a diverse group of nine-carbon aminosugars that are widely found in mucous surfaces such as the human gut. In this study, we examined the distribution and evolution of the genes involved in the catabolism of sialic acid among bacteria (Nan) and found that they were confined to pathogenic and commensal organisms. We also uncovered several putative HGT events, some of them among kingdoms. Subsequently, we determined the function of the NanA, NanE and NanK proteins encoded within VPI-2 in V. cholerae. In addition, we found that the ability to utilize sialic acid as a carbon source conferred a competitive advantage to pathogenic isolates of V. cholerae, highlighting an important relationship between the exploitation of host{u2019}s resources and bacterial colonization. Consequently, we focused on the first step in the transfer of virulence genes within a PAI through the study of VPI-2 excision. We found that VPI-2 excision is affected by environmental stimuli. and is tightly regulated by its cognate integrase and two novel RDFs. Interestingly, one of the RDFs also affected the excision of another PAI, showing for the first time cross-talk among two PAIs. We also studied the evolution of VPI-2 among a wide number of sequenced V. cholerae.

Vibrio Cholerae and Cholera

Vibrio Cholerae and Cholera
Author: Kaye Wachsmuth
Publisher:
Total Pages: 488
Release: 1994
Genre: Cholera
ISBN:

Presents the latest molecular studies of virulence, colonization, gene regulation, and the O1 antigen. Gives an in-depth and analytical approach to the epidemiology of cholera that includes outbreak investigations, case-control studies, and surveillance functions. Describes the molecular approach to epidemiologic problems and questions. Tracks the global spread of cholera by genetically defining individual strains. Addresses possible intervention and prevention strategies, including the latest vaccines, and their public health relevance.

Indicators for Waterborne Pathogens

Indicators for Waterborne Pathogens
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 329
Release: 2004-06-19
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0309091225

Recent and forecasted advances in microbiology, molecular biology, and analytical chemistry have made it timely to reassess the current paradigm of relying predominantly or exclusively on traditional bacterial indicators for all types of waterborne pathogens. Nonetheless, indicator approaches will still be required for the foreseeable future because it is not practical or feasible to monitor for the complete spectrum of microorganisms that may occur in water, and many known pathogens are difficult to detect directly and reliably in water samples. This comprehensive report recommends the development and use of a "tool box" approach by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and others for assessing microbial water quality in which available indicator organisms (and/or pathogens in some cases) and detection method(s) are matched to the requirements of a particular application. The report further recommends the use of a phased, three-level monitoring framework to support the selection of indicators and indicator approaches.Â

The Pangenome

The Pangenome
Author: Hervé Tettelin
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2020-04-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030382818

This open access book offers the first comprehensive account of the pan-genome concept and its manifold implications. The realization that the genetic repertoire of a biological species always encompasses more than the genome of each individual is one of the earliest examples of big data in biology that opened biology to the unbounded. The study of genetic variation observed within a species challenges existing views and has profound consequences for our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underpinning bacterial biology and evolution. The underlying rationale extends well beyond the initial prokaryotic focus to all kingdoms of life and evolves into similar concepts for metagenomes, phenomes and epigenomes. The book’s respective chapters address a range of topics, from the serendipitous emergence of the pan-genome concept and its impacts on the fields of microbiology, vaccinology and antimicrobial resistance, to the study of microbial communities, bioinformatic applications and mathematical models that tie in with complex systems and economic theory. Given its scope, the book will appeal to a broad readership interested in population dynamics, evolutionary biology and genomics.