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Thermostable direct hemolysin gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus: a virulence gene acquired by a marine bacterium

1995; American Society for Microbiology; Volume: 63; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1128/iai.63.6.2093-2099.1995

1098-5522

Mitsuaki Nishibuchi, James B. Kaper,

Salmonella and Campylobacter epidemiology

evidence for the importance of TDH in the enteropathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus has only recently been obtained by using genetically altered strains and more-sensitive assays. The molecular studies of the gene encoding TDH (tdh) have also revealed other interesting features regarding sequence divergence, mobility, and regulation. In this review, we summarize the results of these genetic studies of the tdh gene which indicate that TDH is a major virulence determinant of KP-positive V. parahaemolyticus strains and that the KP-positive phenotype results from highlevelexpressionofaparticulartdhgene.Theseattributesmake the KP phenotype a good marker for a virulent strain. We also speculate about the origin and variation of the tdh gene and about why the virulence genes, thetdhandtdh-related hemolysin (trh) genes, are present in only a small population of V. parahaemolyticus.Theextensivedataavailableforthetdhgene help us to better understand potentially pathogenic bacteria such asV. parahaemolyticusin the natural environment.