Environmental investigations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters after outbreaks in Washington, Texas, and New York (1997 and 1998)

Differences in stress response after UVC or UVA irradiation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The SOS response is a global regulatory network for repairing DNA damage induced by various environmental stresses such as UV irradiation. The Escherichia coli SOS response has been extensively studied. However, there are no reports on the SOS response in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In this study, we examined the SOS response in V. parahaemolyticus and compared the differential expression of genes induced by UVC and UVA irradiation. In UVC-exposed wild-type cells, expression of several DNA repair genes was increased. However, expression of these genes was not increased in ΔrecA or lexA mutants. Cell filamentation was observed in wild-type cells, but not in ΔrecA and lexA mutant cells. Sensitivity to UVC was significantly increased in ΔrecA, lexA mutant and Δlon strains compared with wild type. In the case of UVA irradiation, LexA-controlled DNA repair genes were minimally induced and cell filamentation was not observed. Sensitivity to UVA was the same in the mutant and wild-type strains. These findings suggest that there is a RecA-LexA-mediated SOS response in V. parahaemolyticus, and that this response is important to UVC tolerance but does not contribute to UVA tolerance.

Origins and colonization history of pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in South America

The dynamics of dissemination of the environmental human pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus are uncertain. The O3:K6 clone was restricted to Asia until its detection along the Peruvian coasts and in northern Chile in 1997 in phase with the arrival of El Niño waters. A subsequent emergence of O3:K6 strains was detected in austral Chile in 2004. The origin of these 1997 and 2004 population radiations has not yet been conclusively determined. Multiple loci VNTR analysis using seven polymorphic loci was carried out with a number of representative strains from Asia, Peru and Chile to determine their genetic characteristics and population structure. Asian and Chilean subpopulations were the most genetically distant groups with an intermediate subpopulation in Peru. Population structure inferred from a minimum-spanning tree and Bayesian analysis divided the populations into two genetically distinct groups, consistent with the epidemic dynamics of the O3:K6 clone in South America. One group comprised strains from the original Asiatic population and strains arriving in Peru and Chile in 1997. The second group included the remaining Peruvian Strains and Chilean strains obtained from Puerto Montt in 2004. The analysis of the arrival of the O3:K6 clone at the Pacific coasts of South America has provided novel insights linking the origin of the invasion in 1997 to Asian populations and describing the successful establishment of the O3:K6 populations, first in Peru and subsequently in the South of Chile owing to a possible radiation of Peruvian populations.

Regulation of type III secretion system 1 gene expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus is dependent on interactions between ExsA, ExsC, and ExsD

Vibrio parahaemolyticus ExsA is the transcriptional regulator for type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1) while ExsD blocks T3SS1 expression. Herein we show that deletion of exsC from V. parahaemolyticus blocked synthesis of T3SS1-dependent proteins under inducing conditions (contact with HeLa cells), while in trans complementation of the ΔexsC strain with wild-type exsC restored protein synthesis. Under non-inducing conditions (Luria broth plus salt), in trans expression of exsC in a wild-type strain resulted in synthesis and secretion of T3SS1-dependent proteins. Deletion of exsC does not affect the synthesis of ExsA while expression of T3SS1 genes is independent of ExsC in the absence of ExsD. Co-expression of recombinant proteins with different antigenic tags demonstrated that ExsC binds ExsD and that the N-terminal amino acids of ExsC (positions 7 to 12) are required for binding. Co-expression and purification of antigentically tagged ExsA and ExsD demonstrated that ExsD directly binds ExsA and presumably prevents ExsA from binding promoter regions of T3SS1 genes. Collectively these data demonstrate that ExsD binds ExsA to block expression of T3SS1 genes, while ExsC binds ExsD to permit expression of T3SS1 genes. ExsA, ExsC, and ExsD from V. parahaemolyticus appear to be functional orthologues of their Pseudomonas aeruginosa counterparts.

Refrigerated Seawater Depuration for Reducing Vibrio parahaemolyticus Contamination in Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas)

The efficacy of refrigerated-seawater depuration for reducing Vibrio parahaemolyticus levels in Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) was investigated. Raw Pacific oysters were inoculated with a mixed culture of five clinical strains of V. parahaemolyticus (105 to 106 most probable number [MPN] per g) and depurated with refrigerated seawater (5°C) in a laboratory-scale recirculation system equipped with a 15-W gamma UV sterilizer. Depuration with refrigerated seawater for 96 h reduced V. parahaemolyticus populations by >3.0 log MPN/g in oysters harvested in the winter. However, 144 h of depuration at 5°C was required to achieve a 3-log reduction in oysters harvested in the summer. Depuration with refrigerated seawater at 5°C for up to 144 h caused no significant fatality in the Pacific oyster and could be applied as a postharvest treatment to reduce V. parahaemolyticus contamination in Pacific oysters. Further studies are needed to validate the efficacy of the depuration process for reducing naturally accumulated V. parahaemolyticus in oysters.

Development of a toxR-based loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for detecting Vibrio parahaemolyticus

BACKGROUND

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of seafood-related bacterial gastroenteritis and outbreaks worldwide. Sensitive and specific detection methods are needed to better control V. parahaemolyticus infections. This study aimed at developing a highly specific and sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detecting V. parahaemolyticus in oysters. A set of five LAMP primers, two outer, two inner, and one loop were designed based on the published V. parahaemolyticus toxR sequence. Specificity of the assay was evaluated using a panel of 36 V. parahaemolyticus and 39 other strains. The assay sensitivity was determined using serial dilutions of V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 27969 culture ranging from 10(8) CFU/ml to extinction. The assay was also tested in experimentally inoculated oyster samples.

RESULTS

The toxR-based LAMP assay was able to specifically detect all of the 36 V. parahaemolyticus strains without amplification from 39 other strains. The detection limit was 47-470 cells per reaction in pure culture, up to 100-fold more sensitive than that of toxR-PCR. When applied in spiked oysters, the assay was able to detect 1.1 x 10(5) V. parahaemolyticus cells per gram of oyster without enrichment, up to 100-fold more sensitive than that of toxR-PCR. Standard curves generated for detecting V. parahaemolyticus in both pure culture and spiked oyster samples showed good linear relationship between cell numbers and the fluorescence or turbidity signals.

CONCLUSIONS

The toxR-based LAMP assay developed in this study was sensitive, specific, and quantitative, holding great potential for future field detection of V. parahaemolyticus in raw oysters.

Prevalence, serotyping and molecular characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in mussels from Italian growing areas, Adriatic Sea

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains in Italian mussels from different geographical areas of the Adriatic Sea and to determine their serotypes, toxigenic profiles and pandemic potential. Out of 559 samples analysed during 2007, 65 (11.6%) were positive for V. parahaemolyticus. None of the isolates had the genes for thermostable direct haemolysin (tdh) and pandemic marker (toxRS), while five strains (7.7%) had that for TDH-related haemolysin (trh). Regarding geographical location of the toxigenic strains, three were from the Adriatic coast of Puglia, one from Veneto, and one from the Marches. The trh-positive V. parahaemolyticus isolates from Puglia belonged to O1:KUT (2/3) and O1:K37(1/3) serotypes, the trh-positive isolate from the Marches to OUT(O untypeable):KUT serotype, and that from Veneto to O3:KUT. The prevalence of trh-positive V. parahaemolyticus obtained from mussels in this study was higher respect to that reported in previous studies from other European and Extraeuropean countries. The Health Authorities should be more aware of the epidemiological role of environmental V. parahaemolyticus in local food-borne diseases, and increase the microbial surveillance on these microorganisms isolated from shellfish.

Prevalence and genetic diversity of pathogenic populations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in coastal waters of Galicia, Spain

The natural reservoirs and biological characteristics of pathogenic populations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in marine habitats remain unclear due to difficulties in obtaining pathogenic strains from the environment. The distribution and characteristics of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus were investigated over 1 year in three coastal environments in Galicia (Spain), including areas of the major international ports in the region. Vibrio parahaemolyticus was present in 35.3% of the samples analysed, and 535 strains were isolated over the period of study. Virulence genes were detected in 94 strains with diverse genetic traits: 66 trh+/tdh-, 24 trh-/tdh+ and 4 trh+/tdh+. Different spatial and seasonal patterns were observed in relation to genetic traits. The trh+/tdh- strains were detected exclusively in northern areas and prevailed in the autumn, when seawater is warmer and less saline, whereas the trh-/tdh+ strains were found in all three areas throughout winter and spring. Characterization of potentially pathogenic strains from the environment revealed an unexpectedly diverse array of serotypes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles (pulsotypes) that were unrelated to clinical strains of V. parahaemolyticus that are prevalent in Spain. The results of the current study provide a novel view of V. parahaemolyticus in Europe, in which diverse pathogenic groups are constitutive components of the environmental populations in coastal habitats.

Environmental occurrence and clinical impact of Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus: a European perspective

Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are ubiquitous Gram-negative bacterial pathogens found naturally in marine and estuarine waters, and are a leading cause of seafood-associated bacterial illness. These pathogens are commonly reported in the USA and in many Asian countries, including China, Japan and Taiwan; however, there is growing concern that V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus may represent an important and increasing clinical problem in Europe. Several factors underlie the need for a greater understanding of these non-cholera vibrios within a European context. First, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus infections are increasing, and tend to follow regional climatic trends, with outbreaks typically following episodes of unusually warm weather. Such findings are especially alarming given current predictions regarding warming of marine waters as a result of global climatic change. Second, a myriad of epidemiological factors may greatly increase the incidence as well as clinical burden of these pathogens - including increasing global consumption and trade of seafood produce coupled to an increase in the number of susceptible individuals consuming seafood produce. Finally, there is currently a lack of detailed surveillance information regarding non-cholerae Vibrio infections in Europe, as these pathogens are not notifiable in many countries, which probably masks the true clinical burden of many human infections. This review will present a pertinent overview of both the environmental occurrence and clinical impact of V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus in Europe.

Foodborne pathogens in retail oysters in south China

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the occurrence of important foodborne pathogens in shellstock Pacific oysters in the food markets in South China.

METHODS

From July 2007 to June 2008, retail oysters were collected in different seasons from South China and analyzed for the prevalence and levels of Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

RESULTS

None of L. monocytogenes could be detected in any of the 202 oyster samples tested, while E vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus could be detected in 67 (54.9%) and 109 (89.3%) of the 122 oyster samples analyzed, respectively, with an MPN (most probable number) value greater than or equal to 3. V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus with a more than 102 MPN/g were found in 36 (29.5%) and 59 (48.4%) of the 122 oyster samples, respectively. The tdh and trh genes were detected in 4 (0.3%) and 8 (0.6%) of the 1 349 V parahaemolyticus isolates, respectively. Of the 122 samples, 4 (3.3%) was positive for either tdh or trh. The levels of V. vulnificus and total V. parahaemolyticus in oysters in South China varied in different seasons.

CONCLUSION

V. vulnificus and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus are frequently found in oysters in south China, which may pose a potential threat to public health. Data presented here will be useful for the microbiological risk assessment in oysters in China.

A new group of cosmopolitan bacteriophages induce a carrier state in the pandemic strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

A clonal population of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3 : K6 serovar has spread in coastal waters, causing outbreaks worldwide since 1996. Bacteriophage infection is one of the main factors affecting bacterial strain concentration in the ocean. We studied the occurrence and properties of phages infecting this V. parahaemolyticus pandemic strain in coastal waters. Analysing 143 samples, phages were found in 13. All isolates clustered in a closely related group of podophages with at least 90% nucleotide sequence identity in three essential genes, despite distant geographical origins. These bacteriophages were able to multiply on the V. parahaemolyticus pandemic strain, but the impact on host concentration and subsequent growth was negligible. Infected bacteria continued producing the phage but were not lysogenized. The phage genome of prototype strain VP93 is 43 931 nucleotides and contains 337 bp direct terminal repeats at both ends. VP93 is the first non-Pseudomonas phage related to the PhiKMV-like subgroup of the T7 supergroup. The lack of a major effect on host growth suggests that these phages exert little control on the propagation of the pandemic strain in the environment. This form of phage growth can be modelled if phage-sensitive and -resistant cells that convert to each other with a high frequency are present in clonal cultures of pandemic V. parahaemolyticus.

Serodiversity, pandemic O3:K6 clone, molecular typing, and antibiotic susceptibility of foodborne and clinical Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates in Jiangsu, China

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major foodborne pathogen in China, Japan, and other Asian countries. In this study, we collected 437 strains of V. parahaemolyticus and investigated their serotypes, distribution of virulence genes, and presence of pandemic O3:K6 clone strains. A total of 327 strains were isolated from food and 110 strains were isolated from active surveillance hospitals or food outbreaks during 2005 to 2008. Presence of the tdh and trh genes is the key characteristic of virulent strains. Positive for both the tdh gene and group-specific polymerase chain reaction is the key characteristic of pandemic strains. A total of 9 O serogroups and 62 serovars were identified in all strains. Nine O serogroups and 56 serovars existed in 327 foodborne strains, and 6 O serogroups and 20 serovars existed in 110 clinical strains. Among the 327 food isolates, 6 isolates belonged to the pandemic clone with the orf8 gene (1 isolate was O1:KUT (untyped) and 5 isolates were O3:K6) and 4 isolates carried the trh gene (2 isolates belonged to O1:KUT and 2 isolates belonged to O5:KUT and O5:K17). Seventy-nine percent of the clinical isolates were pandemic strains, 9.4% of which lacked the orf8 gene. O3:K6 was the main serovar of the pandemic strains accounting for 83.5% of the clinical pandemic strains. Pandemic clonal serovars included O3:K6, O1:KUT, O1:K25, O1:K26, and O4:K68, and the newly emerging serovars O1:K36, O3:K25, and O3:K68 identified in the current study. O3:K6 was the dominant serovar in pandemic strains. All pandemic isolates had identical arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction fragment patterns, but did not share similar antibiotic sensitivity patterns. These results suggest that high serodiversity of V. parahaemolyticus was present in foodborne strains. Pathogenic isolates, especially pandemic isolates, were present in high-priced iced seafood and became the potential risk factor in food.

Detection of the tdh and trh genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates in fish and mussels from Middle Black Sea Coast of Turkey

AIM

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the occurrence of potential pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafoods using DNA-based techniques in comparison with bacteriological methods.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From 120 fresh and processed fish and mussel samples collected from Middle Black Sea, 32 isolates were identified as V. parahaemolyticus by bacteriological methods and confirmed by tl gene-based conventional PCR. Of them, 13 isolates were found positive for only tdh gene, six isolates for only trh gene and 13 isolates for both genes by multiplex PCR.

CONCLUSIONS

It is the first report demonstrating the presence of potential pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates from the Black Sea seafoods by PCR detection of tl, trh and tdh genes that was found more rapid than bacteriological methods.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study confirmed the previous reports that characterization of potential pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates based on the PCR techniques was reliable and cost-effective. These results suggest that molecular detection methods should be included in Turkish Standards of seafood control in addition to bacteriological methods.

Serogroup, virulence, and genetic traits of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the estuarine ecosystem of Bangladesh

Forty-two strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were isolated from Bay of Bengal estuaries and, with two clinical strains, analyzed for virulence, phenotypic, and molecular traits. Serological analysis indicated O8, O3, O1, and K21 to be the major O and K serogroups, respectively, and O8:K21, O1:KUT, and O3:KUT to be predominant. The K antigen(s) was untypeable, and pandemic serogroup O3:K6 was not detected. The presence of genes toxR and tlh were confirmed by PCR in all but two strains, which also lacked toxR. A total of 18 (41%) strains possessed the virulence gene encoding thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH), and one had the TDH-related hemolysin (trh) gene, but not tdh. Ten (23%) strains exhibited Kanagawa phenomenon that surrogates virulence, of which six, including the two clinical strains, possessed tdh. Of the 18 tdh-positive strains, 17 (94%), including the two clinical strains, had the seromarker O8:K21, one was O9:KUT, and the single trh-positive strain was O1:KUT. None had the group-specific or ORF8 pandemic marker gene. DNA fingerprinting employing pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SfiI-digested DNA and cluster analysis showed divergence among the strains. Dendrograms constructed using PFGE (SfiI) images from a soft database, including those of pandemic and nonpandemic strains of diverse geographic origin, however, showed that local strains formed a cluster, i.e., "clonal cluster," as did pandemic strains of diverse origin. The demonstrated prevalence of tdh-positive and diarrheagenic serogroup O8:K21 strains in coastal villages of Bangladesh indicates a significant human health risk for inhabitants.

Temperature effects on the depuration of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus from the American oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

This study investigated temperature effects on depuration for reducing Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in American oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Raw oysters were inoculated with 5-strain cocktail of V. parahaemolyticus or V. vulnificus to levels of 10(4) to 10(5) MPN (most probable number)/g and depurated in artificial seawater (ASW) at 22, 15, 10, and 5 degrees C. Depuration of oysters at 22 degrees C had limited effects on reducing V. parahaemolyticus or V. vulnificus in the oysters. Populations of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus were reduced by 1.2 and 2.0 log MPN/g, respectively, after 48 h of depuration at 22 degrees C. Decreasing water temperature to 15 degrees C increased the efficacy of depuration in reducing V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in oysters. Reductions of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in oysters increased to 2.1 and 2.9 log MPN/g, respectively, after 48 h of depuration at 15 degrees C. However, depurations at 10 and 5 degrees C were less effective than at 15 degrees C in reducing the Vibrio spp. in oysters. Extended depuration at 15 degrees C for 96 h increased reductions of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in oysters to 2.6 and 3.3 log MPN/g, respectively.

Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis for clonal identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates by using capillary electrophoresis

Epidemics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Chile have occurred since 1998. Direct genome restriction enzyme analysis (DGREA) using conventional gel electrophoresis permitted discrimination of different V. parahaemolyticus isolates obtained from these outbreaks and showed that this species consists of a highly diverse population. A multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) approach was developed and applied to 22 clinical and 91 environmental V. parahaemolyticus isolates from Chile to understand their clonal structures. To this end, an advanced molecular technique was developed by applying multiplex PCR, fluorescent primers, and capillary electrophoresis, resulting in a high-resolution and high-throughput (HRHT) genotyping method. The genomic basis of this HRHT method was eight VNTR loci described previously by Kimura et al. (J. Microbiol. Methods 72:313-320, 2008) and two new loci which were identified by a detailed molecular study of 24 potential VNTR loci on both chromosomes. The isolates of V. parahaemolyticus belonging to the same DGREA pattern were distinguishable by the size variations in the indicative 10 VNTRs. This assay showed that these 10 VNTR loci were useful for distinguishing isolates of V. parahaemolyticus that had different DGREA patterns and also isolates that belong to the same group. Isolates that differed in their DGREA patterns showed polymorphism in their VNTR profiles. A total of 81 isolates was associated with 59 MLVA groups, providing fine-scale differentiation, even among very closely related isolates. The developed approach enables rapid and high-resolution analysis of V. parahaemolyticus with pandemic potential and provides a new surveillance tool for food-borne pathogens.

Genetic relatedness among tdh+ and trh+ Vibrio parahaemolyticus cultured from Gulf of Mexico oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and surrounding water and sediment

Pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) (tdh(+)/trh(+)) represent a small percentage of environmental Vp populations, and very little is known about this subpopulation. Repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR and multilocus sequence analysis revealed heterogeneity among 41 Vp containing thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and tdh-related hemolysin (trh) that were isolated from Mississippi coastal environments from October 2006 to April 2007. There was no source-specific sequestering in oysters, water, or sediment.

Rapid and specific detection of the thermostable direct hemolysin gene in Vibrio parahaemolyticus by loop-mediated isothermal amplification

Several investigators have reported that thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and TDH-related hemolysin are important virulence factors of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, but it has been difficult to detect these factors rapidly in seafood and other environmental samples. A novel nucleic acid amplification method, termed the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), which amplifies DNA with high specificity and rapidity under isothermal conditions, was applied. In this study, we designed tdh gene-specific LAMP primers for detection of TDH-producing V. parahaemolyticus. The specificity of this assay was evaluated with 32 strains of TDH-producing V. parahaemolyticus, one strain of TDH-producing Grimontia hollisae, 10 strains of TDH-nonproducing V. parahaemolyticus, and 94 strains of TDH-nonproducing bacteria, and the sensitivity was high enough to detect one cell per test. Moreover, to investigate the detection of TDH-producing V. parahaemolyticus in oysters, the LAMP assay was performed with enrichment culture in alkaline peptone water of oyster samples inoculated with TDH-producing V. parahaemolyticus and TDH-nonproducing V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus after enrichment in alkaline peptone water. These results suggest that the LAMP assay targeting tdh gene has high sensitivity and specificity and is useful to detect TDH-producing V. parahaemolyticus in oyster after enrichment.

Osmoadaptation among Vibrio species and unique genomic features and physiological responses of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a moderately halophilic bacterium found in estuarine and marine coastal ecosystems worldwide. Although the ability of V. parahaemolyticus to grow and proliferate in fluctuating saline environments is well known, the underlying molecular mechanisms of osmoadaptation are unknown. We performed an in silico analysis of V. parahaemolyticus strain RIMD2210633 for genes homologous to osmotic stress response genes in other bacteria. We uncovered two putative compatible solute synthesis systems (encoded by ectABC and betABI) and six putative compatible solute transporters (encoded by four bcct loci and two proVWX loci). An ectoine synthesis system clustered with a betaine/carnitine/choline transporter and a ProU transporter (encoded by homologues of proVWX from Escherichia coli), and a betaine synthesis system clustered with a ProU transporter (encoded by homologues of proVXW from Pseudomonas syringae). This is at least double the number present in V. cholerae, V. fischeri, or V. vulnificus. Six additional Vibrio species contain both ectABC and betABI, i.e., V. alginolyticus 12G01, V. angustum, V. harveyi BAA-1116, V. splendidus LGP32, Vibrio sp. strain MED222, and Vibrio sp. strain Ex25. V. harveyi HY01 and V. splendidus 12B01 only encoded the betaine system. In addition, V. alginolyticus had a compendium of systems identical to that found in V. parahaemolyticus. Comparative physiological analysis of RIMD2210633 with V. vulnificus YJ016, V. cholerae N16961, and V. fischeri ES114 grown at different salinities and temperatures demonstrated that V. parahaemolyticus had a growth advantage under all of the conditions examined. We demonstrate, by one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, that V. parahaemolyticus is capable of de novo synthesis of ectoine at high salinity whereas a Delta ectB knockout strain is not. We constructed a single-knockout mutation in proU1, but no growth defect was noted, indicating transporter system redundancy. We complemented E. coli MKH13, a compatible solute transporter-negative strain, with bcct2 and demonstrated uptake of betaine at high salt concentrations.

Enhancement of UV light sensitivity of a Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3:K6 pandemic strain due to natural lysogenization by a telomeric phage

The Vibrio parahaemolyticus O3:K6 pandemic clonal strain was first observed in southern Chile in 2004 and has since caused approximately 8,000 seafood-related diarrhea cases in this region. The massive proliferation of the original clonal population offers a unique opportunity to study the evolution of a bacterial pathogen in its natural environment by detection and characterization of emerging bacterial variants. Here, we describe a group of pandemic variants characterized by the presence of a 42-kb extrachromosomal DNA that can be recovered by alkaline extraction. Upon treatment with mitomycin C, these variants lyse with production of a myovirus containing DNA of equal size to the plasmid but which cannot be recovered by alkaline extraction. Plasmid and phage DNAs show similar restriction patterns corresponding to enzyme sites in a circular permutation. Sequenced regions showed 81 to 99% nucleotide similarity to bacteriophage VHML of Vibrio harveyi. Altogether these observations indicate that the 42-kb plasmid corresponds to a prophage, consisting of a linear DNA with terminal hairpins of a telomeric temperate phage with a linear genome. Bacteria containing the prophage were 7 to 15 times more sensitive to UV radiation, likely due to phage induction by UV irradiation as plasmid curing restored the original sensitivity. The enhanced UV sensitivity could have a significant role in reducing the survival and propagation capability of the V. parahaemolyticus pandemic strain in the ocean.

Antibiotic resistance in the shellfish pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from the coastal water and sediment of Georgia and South Carolina, USA

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative pathogen commonly encountered in estuarine and marine environments, and a common cause of seafood-related gastrointestinal infections. We isolated 350 V. parahaemolyticus strains from water and sediment at three locations along the Atlantic coast of Georgia and South Carolina during various seasons. These isolates were tested for susceptibility to 24 antibiotics. Isolate virulence was determined through PCR of tdh and trh genes. The breadth of resistance to antibiotics was unexpectedly high, with 24% isolates demonstrating resistance to 10 or more agents. A significant fraction of isolates were resistant to diverse beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and other classes of antibiotics. Fifteen of the 350 strains possessed virulence genes, with no apparent correlation between virulence and site, sample type, or season of isolation. Antibiotic resistance was slightly reduced among the virulent strains. This study represents one of the largest surveys to date of the virulence and antibiotic resistance in environmental V. parahaemolyticus strains. The observed antibiotic susceptibility patterns suggest that current guidelines for the antibiotic treatment of non-cholerae Vibrio should be reevaluated and extended.

Immunomagnetic separation and coagglutination of Vibrio parahaemolyticus with anti-flagellar protein monoclonal antibody

Mice were immunized by injection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 polar flagellin in order to produce monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). mAbs were analyzed by anti-H enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using V. parahaemolyticus polar flagellar cores. The mAb exhibiting the highest anti-H titer was coated onto Cowan I Staphylococcus aureus cells at a concentration of 75 microg/ml cell suspension and used for slide coagglutination. Of 41 isolates identified genetically as V. parahaemolyticus, 100% coagglutinated with the anti-H mAb within 30 s, and the mAb did not react with 30 isolates identified as Vibrio vulnificus. A strong coagglutination reaction with V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 was still observed when the S. aureus cells were armed with as little as 15 microg of mAb/ml S. aureus cell suspension. At this concentration, the mAb cross-reacted with three other Vibrio species, suggesting that they share an identical H antigen or antigens. The anti-H mAb was then used to optimize an immunomagnetic separation protocol which exhibited from 35% to about 45% binding of 10(2) to 10(3) V. parahaemolyticus cells in phosphate-buffered saline. The mAb would be useful for the rapid and selective isolation, concentration, and detection of V. parahaemolyticus cells from environmental sources.

Comparison of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from seafoods and cases of gastrointestinal disease in the UK

In this study the prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shellfish and estuarine waters from the UK was examined using cultural and nucleic acid hybridisation approaches. Forty-nine isolates derived from environmental sources were characterised using serotyping, PCR, nucleic acid hybridisation and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The serotypic and molecular profiles of these isolates were compared to 20 clinical isolates, including representatives of the pandemic O3:K6 clone. Thirty percent of environmental samples were positive for V. parahaemolyticus. The tdh gene was identified in 12% of samples tested. Environmentally derived tdh+ strains were highly heterogeneous with neither association between isolates from similar origins nor seafood type. Previously uncharacterised clinical strains from UK patients with travel related V. parahaemolyticus associated gastroenteritis, were unrelated to tdh+ or tdh- environmental isolates but 2 were clonally indistinguishable from the pandemic O3:K6 strain responsible for outbreaks in Spain, Korea, Japan and Laos.

Molecular analysis of the emergence of pandemic Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Background

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is abundant in the aquatic environment particularly in warmer waters and is the leading cause of seafood borne gastroenteritis worldwide. Prior to 1995, numerous V. parahaemolyticus serogroups were associated with disease, however, in that year an O3:K6 serogroup emerged in Southeast Asia causing large outbreaks and rapid hospitalizations. This new highly virulent strain is now globally disseminated.

Results

We performed a four-way BLAST analysis on the genome sequence of V. parahaemolyticus RIMD2210633, an O3:K6 isolate from Japan recovered in 1996, versus the genomes of four published Vibrio species and constructed genome BLAST atlases. We identified 24 regions, gaps in the genome atlas, of greater than 10 kb that were unique to RIMD2210633. These 24 regions included an integron, f237 phage, 2 type III secretion systems (T3SS), a type VI secretion system (T6SS) and 7 Vibrio parahaemolyticus genomic islands (VPaI-1 to VPaI-7). Comparative genomic analysis of our fifth genome, V. parahaemolyticus AQ3810, an O3:K6 isolate recovered in 1983, identified four regions unique to each V. parahaemolyticus strain. Interestingly, AQ3810 did not encode 8 of the 24 regions unique to RMID, including a T6SS, which suggests an additional virulence mechanism in RIMD2210633. The distribution of only the VPaI regions was highly variable among a collection of 42 isolates and phylogenetic analysis of these isolates show that these regions are confined to a pathogenic clade.

Conclusion

Our data show that there is considerable genomic flux in this species and that the new highly virulent clone arose from an O3:K6 isolate that acquired at least seven novel regions, which included both a T3SS and a T6SS.

Application of photostable quantum dots for indirect immunofluorescent detection of specific bacterial serotypes on small marine animals

An indirect immunofluorescence approach was developed using semiconductor quantum dot nanocrystals to label and detect a specific bacterial serotype of the bacterial human pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus, attached to small marine animals (i.e. benthic harpacticoid copepods), which are suspected pathogen carriers. This photostable labeling method using nanotechnology will potentially allow specific serotypes of other bacterial pathogens to be detected with high sensitivity in a range of systems, and can be easily applied for sensitive detection to other Vibrio species such as Vibrio cholerae.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus inhibition of Rho family GTPase activation requires a functional chromosome I type III secretion system

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis; however, its virulence mechanisms are not well understood. The identification of type III secreted proteins has provided candidate virulence factors whose functions are still being elucidated. Genotypic strain variability contributes a level of complexity to understanding the role of different virulence factors. The ability of V. parahaemolyticus to inhibit Rho family GTPases and cause cytoskeletal disruption was examined with HeLa cells. After HeLa cells were infected, intracellular Rho activation was inhibited in response to external stimuli. In vitro activation of Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 isolated from infected HeLa cell lysates was also inhibited, indicating that the bacteria were specifically targeting GTPase activation. The inhibition of Rho family GTPase activation was retained for clinical and environmental isolates of V. parahaemolyticus and was dependent on a functional chromosome I type III secretion system (CI-T3SS). GTPase inhibition was independent of hemolytic toxin genotype and the chromasome II (CII)-T3SS. Rho inhibition was accompanied by a shift in the total actin pool to its monomeric form. These phenotypes were abrogated in a mutant strain lacking the CI-T3S effector Vp1686, suggesting that the inhibiting actin polymerization may be a downstream effect of Vp1686-dependent GTPase inhibition. Although Vp1686 has been previously characterized as a potential virulence factor in macrophages, our findings reveal an effect on cultured HeLa cells. The ability to inhibit Rho family GTPases independently of the CII-T3SS and the hemolytic toxins may provide insight into the mechanisms of virulence used by strains lacking these virulence factors.

Determination of molecular phylogenetics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains by multilocus sequence typing

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important human pathogen whose transmission is associated with the consumption of contaminated seafood. There is a growing public health concern due to the emergence of a pandemic strain causing severe outbreaks worldwide. Many questions remain unanswered regarding the evolution and population structure of V. parahaemolyticus. In this work, we describe a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for V. parahaemolyticus based on the internal fragment sequences of seven housekeeping genes. This MLST scheme was applied to 100 V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from geographically diverse clinical (n = 37) and environmental (n = 63) sources. The sequences obtained from this work were deposited and are available in a public database (http://pubmlst.org/vparahaemolyticus). Sixty-two unique sequence types were identified, and most (50) were represented by a single isolate, suggesting a high level of genetic diversity. Three major clonal complexes were identified by eBURST analysis. Separate clonal complexes were observed for V. parahaemolyticus isolates originating from the Pacific and Gulf coasts of the United States, while a third clonal complex consisted of strains belonging to the pandemic clonal complex with worldwide distribution. The data reported in this study indicate that V. parahaemolyticus is genetically diverse with a semiclonal population structure and an epidemic structure similar to that of Vibrio cholerae. Genetic diversity in V. parahaemolyticus appears to be driven primarily by frequent recombination rather than mutation, with recombination ratios estimated at 2.5:1 and 8.8:1 by allele and site, respectively. Application of this MLST scheme to more V. parahaemolyticus strains and by different laboratories will facilitate production of a global picture of the epidemiology and evolution of this pathogen.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus elevates interferon alpha production in intestinal-like epithelial Caco-2 cells

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis from seafood consumption. We tried to determine how the gene expression levels of intestinal-like epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells) and mouse intestinal loop mucosal cells change upon infection with this bacterium. Since we found the robust production of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) by the V. parahaemolyticus infection, we also assessed the upregulation of a number of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). The expressions of IFN protein were determined by Western blotting, and the gene expressions of Caco-2 cells after V. parahaemolyticus infection were determined by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Three ISGs (i.e., IFN-alpha-inducible protein 15, IFN-alpha-inducible protein 6-16, and IFN-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1) were upregulated by V. parahaemolyticus infection. Infection induced the production of IFN-alpha, but not IFN-beta or IFN-gamma. The upregulation of the 3 ISGs was suppressed by treatment with a neutralizing IFN-alpha antibody. Moreover, the production of infection-induced IFN-alpha was found in the mouse intestinal loop mucosal cells. V. parahaemolyticus infection of Caco-2 cells results in IFN-alpha production and the expression of IFN-regulated genes.

Environmental determinants of the occurrence and distribution of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the rias of Galicia, Spain

Infections associated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus on the coast of Galicia (in northwestern Spain) were reported to be linked to large outbreaks of illness during 1999 and 2000. Little information is available about the ecological factors that influence the emergence of V. parahaemolyticus infections in this temperate region. We carried out a 3-year study to investigate the occurrence and distribution of V. parahaemolyticus at 26 sites located in the four main rias of Galicia in association with environmental and oceanographic variables. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in all the areas investigated and throughout the complete period of study with an overall incidence of 12.5%. Salinity was the primary factor governing the temporal and spatial distribution of V. parahaemolyticus, whereas seawater temperature had a secondary effect and only modulated the abundance in periods and areas of reduced salinities. Higher occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus was observed during periods of lower salinity in autumn, with a total of 61 positive samples (18%) and a mean density of 1,234 most probable number/100 g. V. parahaemolyticus was primarily detected in areas of reduced salinity close to freshwater discharge points, where it was found in up to 45% of the samples. Characterization of the isolates obtained from the study resulted in the first identification of two pathogenic tdh-positive strains of V. parahaemolyticus recovered from the marine environment in Galicia. These isolates showed serotypes identical to and DNA profiles indistinguishable from those of the clinical clone of V. parahaemolyticus dominant in infections in Spain in the last 10 years.

Variability of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus densities in northern Gulf of Mexico water and oysters

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is indigenous to coastal environments and a frequent cause of seafood-borne gastroenteritis in the United States, primarily due to raw-oyster consumption. Previous seasonal-cycle studies of V. parahaemolyticus have identified water temperature as the strongest environmental predictor. Salinity has also been identified, although it is evident that its effect on annual variation is not as pronounced. The effects of other environmental factors, both with respect to the seasonal cycle and intraseasonal variation, are uncertain. This study investigated intraseasonal variations of densities of total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus organisms in oysters and overlying waters during the summer of 2004 at two sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Regression analyses indicated significant associations (P < 0.001) between total V. parahaemolyticus densities and salinity, as well as turbidity in water and in oysters at the Mississippi site but not at the Alabama site. Pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus organisms in Mississippi oyster and water samples were detected in 56% (9 out of 16) and 78% (43 out of 55) of samples, respectively. In contrast, 44% (7 out of 16) of oyster samples and 30% (14 out of 47) of water samples from Alabama were positive. At both sites, there was greater sample-to-sample variability in pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus densities than in total V. parahaemolyticus densities. These data suggest that, although total V. parahaemolyticus densities may be very informative, there is greater uncertainty when total V. parahaemolyticus densities are used to predict the risk of infection by pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus than previously recognized.

A novel multiplex PCR for the identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus

AIM

To establish a simple multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that will identify Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 429 Vibrio spp. from various origins were tested with the novel primers targeting toxR. The reverse primers were all designed to be species specific, while the forward primer was universal. The primers correctly identified all the V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae and V. vulnificus isolates tested.

CONCLUSIONS

The toxR multiplex PCR works well when the initial colony morphology is known. If not, Vibrio alginolyticus might represent a diagnostic obstacle.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The method provides a fast and reliable way of identifying the main Vibrio spp. involved in food-borne disease. The method could prove very useful for laboratories working with identification of these Vibrio spp.

Development of a multiplex real-time PCR assay with an internal amplification control for the detection of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria in oysters

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an estuarine bacterium that is the leading cause of shellfish-associated cases of bacterial gastroenteritis in the United States. Our laboratory developed a real-time multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of the thermolabile hemolysin (tlh), thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), and thermostable-related hemolysin (trh) genes of V. parahaemolyticus. The tlh gene is a species-specific marker, while the tdh and trh genes are pathogenicity markers. An internal amplification control (IAC) was incorporated to ensure PCR integrity and eliminate false-negative reporting. The assay was tested for specificity against >150 strains representing eight bacterial species. Only V. parahaemolyticus strains possessing the appropriate target genes generated a fluorescent signal, except for a late tdh signal generated by three strains of V. hollisae. The multiplex assay detected <10 CFU/reaction of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in the presence of >10(4) CFU/reaction of total V. parahaemolyticus bacteria. The real-time PCR assay was utilized with a most-probable-number format, and its results were compared to standard V. parahaemolyticus isolation methodology during an environmental survey of Alaskan oysters. The IAC was occasionally inhibited by the oyster matrix, and this usually corresponded to negative results for V. parahaemolyticus targets. V. parahaemolyticus tlh, tdh, and trh were detected in 44, 44, and 52% of the oyster samples, respectively. V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from 33% of the samples, and tdh(+) and trh(+) strains were isolated from 19 and 26%, respectively. These results demonstrate the utility of the real-time PCR assay in environmental surveys and its possible application to outbreak investigations for the detection of total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus.

Variation in the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions in Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains are due to indels nearby their tRNAGlu

Vibrio parahaemolyticus contains 11 rRNA operons each including one of six 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer classes differing in size and nucleotide sequence. Some of the spacer classes may differ between isolates. We observed that the differences in the spacers between isolates are generally in two spacer classes present in single copies in the genome, one class containing tRNA(Ala) and tRNA(Glu) and the other tRNA(Glu) exclusively. Moreover, these differences are due to indels located nearby their tRNA(Glu). Comparison of the nucleotide sequence between spacer classes suggests that intragenomic nonreciprocal recombination causes the size variations observed in the spacer regions of V. parahaemolyticus strains.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated during investigation of the summer 2006 seafood related diarrhea outbreaks in two regions of Chile

Nine hundred cases of seafood related diarrhea were reported in the region of Puerto Montt, Chile during the austral summer of 2006. This is the continuation of the large outbreaks associated with the consumption of seafood containing the Vibrio parahaemolyticus serovar O3:K6 pandemic clonal group that arose last decade in Chile. The initial outbreaks occurred during the summer of 1998 in Antofagasta (23 degrees 39'S 70 degrees 24'W). Subsequently, outbreaks there were rare, but since 2004 outbreaks have been frequent farther south in Puerto Montt (41 degrees 29'S 72 degrees 24'W). The large outbreaks in Puerto Montt and their rarity in Antofagasta is atypical because the seawater temperature at Puerto Montt is 5 degrees C lower than at Antofagasta and the presence of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood has been associated with higher water temperatures. To better understand the role of seafood in outbreak occurrences in these regions, we analyzed the V. parahaemolyticus populations in clinical cases and shellfish from Puerto Montt during diarrhea outbreaks in 2006 and in shellfish from Antofagasta, where no cases were observed. Enrichment culture from shellfish yielded no V. parahaemolyticus from samples from the north, but its presence was detected in 80% of the samples from the south. Grouping of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates by the fragment restriction pattern of their DNA showed that all pathogenic (tdh+) isolates obtained from Puerto Montt shellfish corresponded to the serovar O3:K6 South East Asian pandemic clone, while the non-pathogenic (tdh-) isolates corresponded to at least six discrete groups. The possible causes for the disappearance of the pandemic strain from the north and its persistence in the south are discussed.

An evaluation of the use of remotely sensed parameters for prediction of incidence and risk associated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Gulf Coast oysters (Crassostrea virginica)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently published a Vibrio parahaemolyticus risk assessment for consumption of raw oysters that predicts V. parahaemolyticus densities at harvest based on water temperature. We retrospectively compared archived remotely sensed measurements (sea surface temperature, chlorophyll, and turbidity) with previously published data from an environmental study of V. parahaemolyticus in Alabama oysters to assess the utility of the former data for predicting V. parahaemolyticus densities in oysters. Remotely sensed sea surface temperature correlated well with previous in situ measurements (R(2) = 0.86) of bottom water temperature, supporting the notion that remotely sensed sea surface temperature data are a sufficiently accurate substitute for direct measurement. Turbidity and chlorophyll levels were not determined in the previous study, but in comparison with the V. parahaemolyticus data, remotely sensed values for these parameters may explain some of the variation in V. parahaemolyticus levels. More accurate determination of these effects and the temporal and spatial variability of these parameters may further improve the accuracy of prediction models. To illustrate the utility of remotely sensed data as a basis for risk management, predictions based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration V. parahaemolyticus risk assessment model were integrated with remotely sensed sea surface temperature data to display graphically variations in V. parahaemolyticus density in oysters associated with spatial variations in water temperature. We believe images such as these could be posted in near real time, and that the availability of such information in a user-friendly format could be the basis for timely and informed risk management decisions.

Characteristics of virulent vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from Oregon and Washington

Thirty-four virulent strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus containing tdh and/or trh genes isolated from Oregon and Washington coastal water were analyzed for O-group antigens and urease activity, and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Six O serotypes (O1, O3, O4, O5, O10, and O11) were identified among the isolates, with the O5 group (19 isolates) being the most prevalent, followed by the 01 group (9 isolates). Nearly all (33 of 34) isolates were capable of producing urease, which reaffirmed the correlation between urease production and virulence factors of V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from the Pacific Northwest. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis with NotI and SfiI digestions of the 34 V. parahaemolyticus isolates plus five clinical strains revealed 22 patterns (NlS1 to N20S22), with NIS1 (25.6%) being the most common, followed by N2S2 (10.3%). Nine Oregon isolates were grouped with a 1997 Oregon outbreak strain (027-1C1) with the same serotype (O5), virulence factors (tdh+ and trh+), and genotype (N S 1). Three Washington isolates were found to share the same serotype (O1), virulence factors (tdh' and trh'), and genotype (N2S2) with a 1997 Washington outbreak strain (10293). The repetitive isolation of virulent strains of V. parahaemolyticus identical to clinical strains involved in previous outbreaks indicates potential hazards associated with oyster consumption. These data may be useful in risk assessment of V. parahaemolyticus infections associated with raw oyster consumption in Oregon and Washington.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus: a concern of seafood safety

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a human pathogen that is widely distributed in the marine environments. This organism is frequently isolated from a variety of raw seafoods, particularly shellfish. Consumption of raw or undercooked seafood contaminated with V. parahaemolyticus may lead to development of acute gastroenteritis characterized by diarrhea, headache, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps. This pathogen is a common cause of foodborne illnesses in many Asian countries, including China, Japan and Taiwan, and is recognized as the leading cause of human gastroenteritis associated with seafood consumption in the United States. This review gives an overview of V. parahaemolyticus food poisoning and provides information on recent development in methods for detecting V. parahaemolyticus and strategies for reducing risk of V. parahaemolyticus infections associated with seafood consumption.