Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Notably Lethal Human Pathogen Derived From Seafood: A Review of its Pathogenicity, Characteristics, Subspecies Characterization, and Molecular Methods of Detection

Research progress on the detection of foodborne pathogens based on aptamer recognition

Foodborne diseases caused by bacterial contamination are a serious threat to food safety and human health. The classical plate culture method has the problems of long detection cycle, low sensitivity and specificity, and complicated operation, which cannot meet the growing demand for rapid quantitative detection of pathogenic bacteria. The frequent outbreak of foodborne diseases has put forward higher requirements for rapid and simple detection technology of foodborne pathogens. Aptamer is a kind of oligonucleotide fragment that can recognize targets with the advantages of high affinity and good specificity. The target can be range from proteins, small molecules, cells bacteria, and even viruses. Herein, the latest advances in sensitive and rapid detection of foodborne pathogens based on aptamer recognition was reviewed. Special attention has been paid to the obtained sequences of aptamers to various foodborne pathogens, the optimization of sequences, and the mechanism of aptamer recognition. Then, the research progress of biosensors for the detection of pathogenic bacteria based on aptamer recognition were summarized. Some challenges and prospects for the detection of foodborne pathogens based on aptamer recognition were prospected. In summary, with the further deepening of aptamer research and improvement of detection technology, aptamer-based recognition can meet the needs of rapid, sensitive, and accurate detection in practical applications.

Unveiling potential virulence determinants in Vibrio isolates from Anadara tuberculosa through whole genome analyses

The genus Vibrio includes pathogenic bacteria able to cause disease in humans and aquatic organisms, leading to disease outbreaks and significant economic losses in the fishery industry. Despite much work on Vibrio in several marine organisms, no specific studies have been conducted on Anadara tuberculosa. This is a commercially important bivalve species, known as "piangua hembra," along Colombia's Pacific coast. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and characterize the genomes of Vibrio isolates obtained from A. tuberculosa. Bacterial isolates were obtained from 14 A. tuberculosa specimens collected from two locations along the Colombian Pacific coast, of which 17 strains were identified as Vibrio: V. parahaemolyticus (n = 12), V. alginolyticus (n = 3), V. fluvialis (n = 1), and V. natriegens (n = 1). Whole genome sequence of these isolates was done using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). The analysis revealed the presence of genes conferring resistance to β-lactams, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and macrolides, indicating potential resistance to these antimicrobial agents. Genes associated with virulence were also found, suggesting the potential pathogenicity of these Vibrio isolates, as well as genes for Type III Secretion Systems (T3SS) and Type VI Secretion Systems (T6SS), which play crucial roles in delivering virulence factors and in interbacterial competition. This study represents the first genomic analysis of bacteria within A. tuberculosa, shedding light on Vibrio genetic factors and contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the pathogenic potential of these Vibrio isolates.IMPORTANCEThis study presents the first comprehensive report on the whole genome analysis of Vibrio isolates obtained from Anadara tuberculosa, a bivalve species of great significance for social and economic matters on the Pacific coast of Colombia. Research findings have significant implications for the field, as they provide crucial information on the genetic factors and possible pathogenicity of Vibrio isolates associated with A. tuberculosa. The identification of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors within these isolates emphasizes the potential risks they pose to both human and animal health. Furthermore, the presence of genes associated with Type III and Type VI Secretion Systems suggests their critical role in virulence and interbacterial competition. Understanding the genetic factors that contribute to Vibrio bacterial virulence and survival strategies within their ecological niche is of utmost importance for the effective prevention and management of diseases in aquaculture practices.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus Epidemiology and Pathogenesis: Novel Insights on an Emerging Foodborne Pathogen

The epidemiological dynamics of V. parahaemolyticus´ infections have been characterized by the abrupt appearance of outbreaks in remote areas where these diseases had not been previously detected, without knowing the routes of entry of the pathogens in the new area. However, there are recent studies that show the link between the appearance of epidemic outbreaks of Vibrio and environmental factors such as oceanic transport of warm waters, which has provided a possible mechanism for the dispersion of Vibrio diseases globally. Despite this evidence, there is little information on the possible routes of entry and transport of infectious agents from endemic countries to the entire world. In this sense, the recent advances in genomic sequencing tools are making it possible to infer possible biogeographical patterns of diverse pathogens with relevance in public health like V. parahaemolyticus. In this chapter, we will address several general aspects about V. parahaemolyticus, including their microbiological and genetic detection, main virulence factors, and the epidemiology of genotypes involved in foodborne outbreaks globally.

Multiple Cross Displacement Amplification Combined with Gold Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Flow Biosensor for Detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a marine seafood-borne pathogen causing severe illnesses in humans and aquatic animals. In the present study, multiple cross displacement amplification was combined with a lateral flow biosensor (MCDA-LFB) to detect the toxR gene of V. parahaemolyticus in DNA extracts from pure cultures and spiked oyster homogenates. Amplification was carried out at a constant temperature (62°C) for only 30 min, and amplification products were directly applied to the biosensor. The entire process, including oyster homogenate processing (30 min), isothermal amplification (30 min) and results indicating (∼2 min), could be completed within 65 min. Amplification product was detectable from as little as 10 fg of pure V. parahaemolyticus DNA and from approximately 4.2 × 10² CFU in 1 mL of oyster homogenate. No cross-reaction with other Vibrio species and with non-Vibrio species was observed. Therefore, the MCDA-LFB method established in the current report is suitable for the rapid screening of V. parahaemolyticus in clinical, food, and environmental samples.

Virulence of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease PirAB-like relies on secreted proteins not on gene copy number

AIMS

To investigate the virulence of the Vp_PirAB-like genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus- acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND)-causing strain and the factors that are associated with the virulence level.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The virulence of Vp_PirAB-like was examined using a non-virulent strain FP11 of V. parahaemolyticus transformed with a plasmid harbouring Vp_PirAB-like genes and then it was used to challenge shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and Marsupenaeus japonicus. Both species experienced 100% mortality at 10 days post infection. Analysis of a mutant strain (E1M), that was originally identified as virulent strain (E1) but lost its virulence to L. vannamei, revealed that it lacked a part of the Vp_PirA-like gene and all of the Vp_PirB-like gene. The copy numbers of Vp_PirA-like and Vp_PirB-like genes varied among virulent strains and were not correlated with their virulence. In Western blotting, Vp_PirA-like and Vp_PirB-like proteins were detected in both the cell lysate and the culture supernatant. The strongest intensity of detecting band in the culture supernatant was observed in the strain that caused the highest mortality. The V. parahaemolyticus AHPND-causing strain, unlike the human tdh-positive strain, did not show any enterotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Vibrio parahaemolyticus AHPND-causing strains secrete the Vp_PirA-like and Vp_PirB-like proteins during the growing phase. The amount of secreted proteins affects the shrimp mortality.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The secreted proteins of Vp_PirAB-like are key factors of virulence in the V. parahaemolyticus AHPND-causing strain, but not gene copy.

Incidence and prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important seafood borne human pathogen worldwide due to it occurrence, prevalence and ability to cause gastrointestinal infections. This current study aim at investigating the incidence and prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood using systematic review-meta-analysis by exploring heterogeneity among primary studies. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of peer reviewed primary studies reported between 2003 and 2015 for the occurrence and prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood was conducted using “isolation”, “detection”, “prevalence”, “incidence”, “occurrence” or “enumeration” and V. parahaemolyticus as search algorithms in Web of Science (Science Direct) and ProQuest of electronic bibliographic databases. Data extracted from the primary studies were then analyzed with fixed effect meta-analysis model for effect rate to explore heterogeneity between the primary studies. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plot. A total of 10,819 articles were retrieved from the data bases of which 48 studies met inclusion criteria. V. parahaemolyticus could only be isolated from 2761 (47.5 %) samples of 5811 seafood investigated. The result of this study shows that incidence of V. parahaemolyticus was more prevalent in oysters with overall prevalence rate of 63.4 % (95 % CI 0.592–0.674) than other seafood. Overall prevalence rate of clams was 52.9 % (95 % CI 0.490–0.568); fish 51.0 % (95 % CI 0.476–0.544); shrimps 48.3 % (95 % CI 0.454–0.512) and mussels, scallop and periwinkle: 28.0 % (95 % CI 0.255–0.307). High heterogeneity (p value <0.001; I² = 95.291) was observed mussel compared to oysters (I² = 91.024). It could be observed from this study that oysters harbor V. parahaemolyticus based on the prevalence rate than other seafood investigated. The occurrence and prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus is of public health importance, hence, more studies involving seafood such as mussels need to be investigated.

The pathogenesis, detection, and prevention of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Gram-negative motile bacterium that inhabits marine and estuarine environments throughout the world, is a major food-borne pathogen that causes life-threatening diseases in humans after the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood. The global occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus accentuates the importance of investigating its virulence factors and their effects on the human host. This review describes the virulence factors of V. parahaemolyticus reported to date, including hemolysin, urease, two type III secretion systems and two type VI secretion systems, which both cause both cytotoxicity in cultured cells and enterotoxicity in animal models. We describe various types of detection methods, based on virulence factors, that are used for quantitative detection of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood. We also discuss some useful preventive measures and therapeutic strategies for the diseases mediated by V. parahaemolyticus, which can reduce, to some extent, the damage to humans and aquatic animals attributable to V. parahaemolyticus. This review extends our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of V. parahaemolyticus mediated by virulence factors and the diseases it causes in its human host. It should provide new insights for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of V. parahaemolyticus infection.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Rhode Island coastal ponds and the estuarine environment of narragansett bay

Quantification of the abundance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in water and oysters from Rhode Island showed the presence of environmental strains and low levels of potentially pathogenic strains when water temperatures were ≥18°C, with peak levels in late July to early August. A higher abundance of the trh gene than of the tdh gene was observed.

Long-term effects of ocean warming on the prokaryotic community: evidence from the vibrios

The long-term effects of ocean warming on prokaryotic communities are unknown because of lack of historical data. We overcame this gap by applying a retrospective molecular analysis to the bacterial community on formalin-fixed samples from the historical Continuous Plankton Recorder archive, which is one of the longest and most geographically extensive collections of marine biological samples in the world. We showed that during the last half century, ubiquitous marine bacteria of the Vibrio genus, including Vibrio cholerae, increased in dominance within the plankton-associated bacterial community of the North Sea, where an unprecedented increase in bathing infections related to these bacteria was recently reported. Among environmental variables, increased sea surface temperature explained 45% of the variance in Vibrio data, supporting the view that ocean warming is favouring the spread of vibrios and may be the cause of the globally increasing trend in their associated diseases.

Molecules derived from the extremes of life

In order to survive extremes of pH, temperature, salinity and pressure, organisms have been found to develop unique defences against their environment, leading to the biosynthesis of novel molecules ranging from simple osmolytes and lipids to complex secondary metabolites. This review highlights novel molecules isolated from microorganisms that either tolerate or favour extreme growth conditions.