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The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Nov 2018Vibrio vulnificus is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious, potentially fatal infections. V. vulnificus causes three distinct syndromes: an overwhelming... (Review)
Review
Vibrio vulnificus is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious, potentially fatal infections. V. vulnificus causes three distinct syndromes: an overwhelming primary septicemia caused by consuming contaminated seafood, wound infections acquired when an open wound is exposed to contaminated warm seawater, and gastrointestinal tract-limited infections. Case-fatality rates are higher than 50% for primary septicemia, and death typically occurs within 72 hours of hospitalization. Risk factors for V. vulnificus infection include chronic liver disease, alcoholism, and hematological disorders. When V. vulnificus infection is suspected, appropriate antibiotic treatment and surgical interventions should be performed immediately. Third-generation cephalosporin with doxycycline, or quinolone with or without third-generation cephalosporin, may be potential treatment options for patients with V. vulnificus infection.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Female; Food Microbiology; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Public Health; Risk Factors; Seafood; Seawater; Sepsis; Surgical Wound Infection; Treatment Outcome; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus; Young Adult
PubMed: 29898575
DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2018.159 -
Environmental Microbiology Feb 2018Vibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative aquatic bacterium first isolated by the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1964. This bacterium... (Review)
Review
Vibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative aquatic bacterium first isolated by the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1964. This bacterium is part of the normal microbiota of estuarine waters and occurs in high numbers in molluscan shellfish around the world, particularly in warmer months. Infections in humans are derived from consumption of seafood produce and from water exposure. Vibrio vulnificus is a striking and enigmatic human pathogen, yet many aspects related to its biology, genomics, virulence capabilities and epidemiology remain elusive and poorly understood. This pathogen is responsible for over 95% of seafood-related deaths in the United States, and carries the highest fatality rate of any food-borne pathogen. Indeed, infections associated with this pathogen that progress to primary septicaemia have a similar case fatality rate to category BSL 3 and 4 pathogens, such as anthrax, bubonic plague, Ebola and Marburg fever. Interestingly, V. vulnificus infections disproportionately affect males (∼85% of cases) and older patients (> 40 years), especially those with underlying conditions such as liver diseases, diabetes and immune disorders. New insights from molecular studies and comparative genomic approaches have offered tantalising insights into this pathogen. A recent increase and geographical spread in reported infections, in particular wound cases, underlines the growing international importance of V. vulnificus, particularly in the context of coastal warming. We outline and explore here a range of current data gaps regarding this important pathogen, and provide some current thoughts on approaches to elucidate key aspects associated with this bacterium.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Child; Female; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Shellfish; United States; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus; Virulence; Young Adult
PubMed: 29027375
DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13955 -
Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2023When the first microbial genome sequences were published just 20 years ago, our understanding regarding the microbial world changed dramatically. The genomes of the... (Review)
Review
When the first microbial genome sequences were published just 20 years ago, our understanding regarding the microbial world changed dramatically. The genomes of the first pathogenic vibrios sequenced, including Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus revealed a functional and phylogenetic diversity previously unimagined as well as a genome structure indelibly shaped by horizontal gene transfer. The initial glimpses into these organisms also revealed a genomic plasticity that allowed these bacteria to thrive in challenging and varied aquatic and marine environments, but critically also a suite of pathogenicity attributes. In this review we outline how our understanding of vibrios has changed over the last two decades with the advent of genomics and advances in bioinformatic and data analysis techniques, it has become possible to provide a more cohesive understanding regarding these bacteria: how these pathogens have evolved and emerged from environmental sources, their evolutionary routes through time and space, how they interact with other bacteria and the human host, as well as initiate disease. We outline novel approaches to the use of whole genome sequencing for this important group of bacteria and how new sequencing technologies may be applied to study these organisms in future studies.
Topics: Humans; Phylogeny; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio vulnificus; Whole Genome Sequencing
PubMed: 36792883
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-22997-8_16 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Jun 2024Antibiotics are often used to treat severe infections, with third-generation cephalosporins and tetracyclines combined or fluoroquinolones alone being recommended by...
Antibiotics are often used to treat severe infections, with third-generation cephalosporins and tetracyclines combined or fluoroquinolones alone being recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Increases in antibiotic resistance of both environmental and clinical vibrios are of concern; however, limited longitudinal data have been generated among environmental isolates to inform how resistance patterns may be changing over time. Hence, we evaluated long-term trends in antibiotic resistance of vibrios isolated from Chesapeake Bay waters (Maryland) across two 3-year sampling periods (2009-2012 and 2019-2022). ( = 134) and ( = 94) tR-confirmed isolates were randomly selected from both sampling periods and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility against eight antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. A high percentage (94%-96%) of isolates from both sampling periods were resistant to ampicillin and only 2%-6% of these isolates expressed intermediate resistance or resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, amikacin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Even lower percentages of resistant isolates were observed and those were mostly recovered from 2009 to 2012, however, the presence of multiple virulence factors was observed. The frequency of multi-drug resistance was relatively low (6%-8%) but included resistance against antibiotics used to treat severe vibriosis in adults and children. All isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, indicating its sustained efficacy as a first-line agent in the treatment of severe vibriosis. Overall, our data indicate that antibiotic resistance patterns among and recovered from the lower Chesapeake Bay have remained relatively stable since 2009.IMPORTANCE spp. have historically been susceptible to most clinically relevant antibiotics; however, resistance and intermediate-resistance have been increasingly recorded in both environmental and clinical isolates. Our data showed that while the percentage of multi-drug resistance and resistance to antibiotics was relatively low and stable across time, some isolates displayed resistance and intermediate resistance to antibiotics typically used to treat severe vibriosis (e.g., third-generation cephalosporins, tetracyclines, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and aminoglycosides). Also, given the high case fatality rates observed with infections, the presence of multiple virulence factors in the tested isolates is concerning. Nevertheless, the continued susceptibility of all tested isolates against ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, is indicative of its use as an effective first-line treatment of severe spp. infections stemming from exposure to Chesapeake Bay waters or contaminated seafood ingestion.
Topics: Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio vulnificus; Bays; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Longitudinal Studies; Maryland; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Vibrio Infections; Humans
PubMed: 38809043
DOI: 10.1128/aem.00539-24 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2020The () hemolysin (VVH) is a pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC). Although there has been some debate surrounding the virulence effects of the VVH, it is... (Review)
Review
The () hemolysin (VVH) is a pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC). Although there has been some debate surrounding the virulence effects of the VVH, it is becoming increasingly clear that it drives different cellular outcomes and is involved in the pathogenesis of . This minireview outlines recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of gene expression, the biological activity of the VVH and its role in pathogenesis. An in-depth examination of the role of the VVH in pathogenesis will help reveal the potential targets for therapeutic and preventive interventions to treat fatal septicemia in humans. Future directions in VVH research will also be discussed.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Hemolysin Proteins; Humans; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus
PubMed: 33193453
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.599439 -
Journal of Fish Diseases Oct 2022In this research, Vibrio vulnificus formalin-killed (FKCs) vaccine and ghost (VVGs) vaccine were successfully developed, and shown to prevent vibriosis of Scophthalmus...
In this research, Vibrio vulnificus formalin-killed (FKCs) vaccine and ghost (VVGs) vaccine were successfully developed, and shown to prevent vibriosis of Scophthalmus maximus resulting from V. vulnificus. The antibody titre of FKCs and VVGs vaccine was 1: 2 and 1: 2 . The RPS of FKCs and VVGs vaccine was 60% and 80%. In order to improve the understanding of vaccine protection mechanism, transcriptome data was used to analyse the immune response of S. maximus infected with V. vulnificus after vaccination with FKCs and VVGs vaccine. In the SmCon and SmIV groups, a series of innate immune-related genes were upregulated (such as, TLR5, Tp12, AP-1 and IL-1β) or downregulated (such as, CASP6 and CASP8), which suggested that the immune protection mechanism induced by inactivated vaccine was similar to that of autoimmune response. In the SmIV and SmGho group, a number of innate and adaptive immune-related genes (such as, STAT1, IFN-γ and MHC Ia) were activated, in which the expression of these genes was higher in SmGho, and VVGs vaccine induced stronger innate and acquired immune responses. In conclusion, the results lay a foundation for further study on the molecular mechanisms of immune protection induced by VVGs vaccine and FKCs vaccine.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Vaccines; Fish Diseases; Flatfishes; Formaldehyde; Immunity; Vaccines, Inactivated; Vibrio; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus
PubMed: 35771999
DOI: 10.1111/jfd.13678 -
Biology Open Jun 2022Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic pathogen that naturally inhabits sea water globally and is responsible for most vibriosis-related deaths. The consumption of V....
Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic pathogen that naturally inhabits sea water globally and is responsible for most vibriosis-related deaths. The consumption of V. vulnificus contaminated seafood and exposure of wounds to Vibrio can result in systemic infection, with increased risks of amputation and extremely high rates of mortality. However, the pathogenicity and virulence factors of V. vulnificus are not fully understood. The genomic characterization of V. vulnificus will be helpful to extend our understanding on V. vulnificus at a genomic level. In this manuscript, the genome of V. vulnificus strain MCCC 1A08743 isolated from contaminated prawns from Zhanjiang, China, was sequenced using Illumina HiSeq X Ten system and annotated through multiple databases. The strain MCCC 1A08743 genome included 4371 protein-coding genes and 117 RNA genes. Average nucleotide identity analysis and core genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that MCCC 1A08743 was most closely related to strains from clinical samples from the United States. Pathogenicity annotation of the MCCC 1A08743 genome, using Virulence Factor Database and Pathogen-Host Interactions database, predicted the pathogenicity of the strain, and this was confirmed using mice infection experiments, which indicated that V. vulnificus strain MCCC 1A08743 could infect C57BL/6J mice and cause liver lesions. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Phylogeny; Seafood; Vibrio vulnificus; Virulence
PubMed: 35766638
DOI: 10.1242/bio.059299 -
Current trends in polymerase chain reaction based detection of three major human pathogenic vibrios.Critical Reviews in Food Science and... 2022, and are the most significant aquatic pathogens of the genera , account for most -associated outbreaks worldwide. Rapid identification of these pathogens is of great... (Review)
Review
, and are the most significant aquatic pathogens of the genera , account for most -associated outbreaks worldwide. Rapid identification of these pathogens is of great importance for disease surveillance, outbreak investigations and food safety maintenance. Traditional culture dependent methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive whereas culture-independent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays are reliable, consistent, rapid and reproducible. This review covers the recent development and applications of PCR based techniques, which have accelerated advances in the analysis of nucleic acids to identify three major pathogenic vibrios. Emphasis has been given to analytical approaches as well as advantages and limits of the available methods. Overall, this review article possesses the substantial merit to be used as a reference guide for the researchers to develop improved PCR based techniques for the differential detection and quantification of species.
Topics: Humans; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio vulnificus
PubMed: 33146031
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1841728 -
Trends in Microbiology Jan 2017There is a growing interest in the role of climate change in driving the spread of waterborne infectious diseases, such as those caused by bacterial pathogens. One... (Review)
Review
There is a growing interest in the role of climate change in driving the spread of waterborne infectious diseases, such as those caused by bacterial pathogens. One particular group of pathogenic bacteria - vibrios - are a globally important cause of diseases in humans and aquatic animals. These Gram-negative bacteria, including the species Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae, grow in warm, low-salinity waters, and their abundance in the natural environment mirrors ambient environmental temperatures. In a rapidly warming marine environment, there are greater numbers of human infections, and most notably outbreaks linked to extreme weather events such as heatwaves in temperate regions such as Northern Europe. Because the growth of pathogenic vibrios in the natural environment is largely dictated by temperature, we argue that this group of pathogens represents an important and tangible barometer of climate change in marine systems. We provide a number of specific examples of the impacts of climate change on this group of bacteria and their associated diseases, and discuss advanced strategies to improve our understanding of these emerging waterborne diseases through the integration of microbiological, genomic, epidemiological, climatic, and ocean sciences.
Topics: Animals; Climate Change; Climatic Processes; Hot Temperature; Humans; Seawater; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio cholerae; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio vulnificus; Water Microbiology
PubMed: 27843109
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2016.09.008 -
Journal of Bacteriology Nov 2020Pathogenic species use many different approaches to subvert, attack, and undermine the host response. The toxins they produce are often responsible for the devastating... (Review)
Review
Pathogenic species use many different approaches to subvert, attack, and undermine the host response. The toxins they produce are often responsible for the devastating effects associated with their diseases. These toxins target a variety of host proteins, which leads to deleterious effects, including dissolution of cell organelle integrity and inhibition of protein secretion. Becoming increasingly prevalent as cofactors for toxins are proteins of the small GTPase families. ADP-ribosylation factor small GTPases (ARFs) in particular are emerging as a common host cofactor necessary for full activation of toxins. While ARFs are not the direct target of cholera toxin (CT), ARF binding is required for its optimal activity as an ADP-ribosyltransferase. The makes caterpillars floppy (MCF)-like and the domain X (DmX) effectors of the multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin also both require ARFs to initiate autoprocessing and activation as independent effectors. ARFs are ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotes and are key regulators of many cellular processes, and as such they are ideal cofactors for pathogens that infect many host species. In this review, we cover in detail the known toxins that use ARFs as cross-kingdom activators to both stimulate and optimize their activity. We further discuss how these contrast to toxins and effectors from other bacterial species that coactivate, stimulate, or directly modify host ARFs as their mechanisms of action.
Topics: ADP-Ribosylation Factors; Animals; Bacterial Toxins; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Multigene Family; Vibrio Infections; Vibrio vulnificus
PubMed: 32900828
DOI: 10.1128/JB.00278-20