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Vibrio
I. Organism Information
A. Taxonomy Information
1. Species
a. V. cholerae
i. Taxonomy ID: 666
ii. Description:
Vibrio cholerae is a Gram negative, motile, curved rod. Its main portal of entry is via oral ingestion of contaminated food or water. More than 138 serogroups are known. Serogroup O1 is responsible for pandemic cholera and is divided into two biotypes, Classical and El Tor. The El Tor biotype is responsible for the current cholera pandemic.
To contribute a blurb on serotypes, biotypes, or handling the organism in healthcare or laboratory facilities, please contact help@nmpdr.org Your contribution will be credited with a byline.
iii. Variants
Vibrio cholerae serotype O1
Taxonomy ID: 127906
Vibrio cholerae serotype O139
Taxonomy ID: 45888
Vibrio cholerae serotype non-O1/non-O139
Taxonomy ID: 156539
b. V. parahaemolyticus
c. V. vulnificus
B. Lifecycle and Morphology
1. V. cholerae
a. Free-swimming
The vibrio life cycle consists of a free-swimming phase in marine and estuarine environments in association with zooplankton, crustaceans, insects, and water plants. Vibrios interact with various surfaces found in the environment to generate biofilms, which may promote survival.
i. Shape: Flagellated cell is 0.5-0.8 µm in width and 1.4-2.6 µm in length. Monotrichous or multitrichous flagella are enclosed in a sheath continuous with the outer membrane of the cell wall. On solid media, cells may produce numerous lateral flagella with a wavelength shorter than that of the sheathed polar flagellum.
b. Host phase
The host phase of the vibrio life cycle is only possible through the action of a group of virulence genes in the ToxR regulon controlled by a complex and incompletely understood regulatory cascade. The ToxR regulon colonization and toxin genes are coordinately expressed in response to specific host signals that have yet to be completely defined.
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