vibrio

Vibrio
Flagellar stain of V. cholerae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Proteobacteria
Class:	Gamma Proteobacteria
Order:	Vibrionales
Family:	Vibrionaceae
Genus:	Vibrio Pacini 1854
Type species
Vibrio cholerae
Species
V. adaptatus V. aerogenes V. aestuarianus V. agarivorans V. albensis V. alginolyticus V. brasiliensis V. bubulus V. calviensis V. campbellii V. chagasii V. cholerae V. cincinnatiensis V. coralliilyticus V. crassostreae V. cyclitrophicus V. diabolicus V. diazotrophicus V. ezurae V. fischeri V. fluvialis V. fortis V. furnissii V. gallicus V. gazogenes V. gigantis V. halioticoli V. harveyi V. hepatarius V. hispanicus V. ichthyoenteri V. indicus V. kanaloae V. lentus V. litoralis V. logei V. mediterranei V. metschnikovii V. mimicus V. mytili V. natriegens V. navarrensis V. neonatus V. neptunius V. nereis V. nigripulchritudo V. ordalii V. orientalis V. pacinii V. parahaemolyticus V. pectenicida V. penaeicida V. pomeroyi V. ponticus V. proteolyticus V. rotiferianus V. ruber V. rumoiensis V. salmonicida V. scophthalmi V. splendidus V. superstes V. tapetis V. tasmaniensis V. tubiashii V. vulnificus V. wodanis V. xuii

Vibrio is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria possessing a curved rod shape.^{[1] [2][3]} Typically found in saltwater, Vibrio are facultative anaerobes that test positive for oxidase and do not form spores.^[4] All members of the genus are motile and have polar flagella with sheaths. Recent phylogenies have been constructed based on a suite of genes (multi-locus sequence analysis).^[5]

Pathogenic strains

Several species of Vibrio include clinically important human pathogens. Most disease causing strains are associated with gastroenteritis but can also infect open wounds and cause septicemia. It can be carried by numerous sea living animals, such as crabs or prawns, and has been known to cause fatal infections in humans during exposure. Pathogenic Vibrio include V. cholerae (the causative agent of cholera), V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus. Vibrio cholerae is generally transmitted via contaminated water.^[3] Pathogenic Vibrio can cause foodborne infection, usually associated with eating undercooked seafood.

Vibrio vulnificus outbreaks commonly occur in warm climates and small, generally lethal, outbreaks occur regularly. An outbreak occurred in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina ^[6]and several lethal cases occur most years in Florida.^[7]

V. parahaemolyticus is also associated with the Kanagawa phenomenon, in which strains isolated from human hosts (clinical isolates) are hemolytic on blood agar plates, while those isolated from non-human sources are non-hemolytic.^[8]

Many Vibrio are also zoonotic. They cause disease in fish and shellfish, and are common causes of mortality among domestic marine life.

Other strains

Vibrio fischeri, Photobacterium phosphoreum, and V. harveyi are notable for their ability to communicate. Both V. fischeri and Ph. phosphoreum are symbiotes of other marine organisms (typically jellyfish, fish, or squid), and produce light via bioluminescence through the mechanism of quorum sensing. Vibrio harveyi is a pathogen of several aquatic animals and notable as a cause of luminous vibriosis in shrimps (prawns)^[9] .

Flagella

The "typical", early-discovered vibrio such as V. cholerae have a single polar flagellum (monotrichous) with sheath. Some species such as V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus have both a single polar flagellum with sheath and thin flagella projecting in all directions (peritrichous), and the other species such as V. fischeri have tufts of polar flagella with sheath (lophotrichous).^[10]

See also

• Vibrio cholerae
• Cholera
• Cholera toxin
• Flagella

References

External links

• Bacteriological Analytical Manual Online