Vibrio cholerae

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Vibrio cholerae

Vibrio cholerae with its single polar flagellum. Electron Micrograph of Vibrio cholerae by Leodotia Pope, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin.

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Vibrionales; Vibrionaceae; Vibrio

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Vibrio cholerae

Description and significance

Gram-stain of Vibrio comma bacteria, a strain of V. cholerae. CDC Public Health Image Library (PHIL). 1979.

Vibrio cholerae is a pathogenic gram negative bacteria¹ that causes cholera.² The bacteria infects the intestine and increases mucous production causing diarrhea and vomiting which result in extreme dehydration and, if not treated, death. It is usually transmitted through the feces of an infected person, often by way of unclean drinking water or contaminated food.² Since water treatment and sanitation is more advanced in the United States, cholera is not nearly as high of a public health threat in the US as it is in densely populated, economically reduced areas like India or sub-Saharan Africa.²

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.

Genome structure

The entire genome of the virulent strain V. cholerae El Tor N16961 has been sequenced,¹ and contains two circular chromosomes.³ Chromosome 1 has 2,961,149 base pairs with 2,770 open reading frames (ORF’s) and chromosome 2 has 1,072,315 base pairs, 1,115 ORF’s. It is the larger first chromosome that contains the crucial genes for toxicity, regulation of toxicity and important cellular functions, such as transcription and translation.¹

Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

Cell structure and metabolism

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Ecology

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Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

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References

1. JF Heidelberg, JA Eisen, WC Nelson, et al. DNA sequence of both chromosomes of the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae, Nature 406 (6795), 477-483 (2000)

2. Center for Disease Control, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases / Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, October 6, 20005. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/cholera_g.htm

3. M Trucksis, J Michalski, YK Deng, & JB Kaper. The Vibrio cholerae genome contains two unique circular chromosomes. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 95, 14464-14469 (1998).

Edited by Sasha Gardner, student of Rachel Larsen