Transcriptome sequencing reveals the virulence and environmental genetic programs of Vibrio vulnificus exposed to host and estuarine conditions.

ABSTRACT: Vibrio vulnificus is a natural inhabitant of estuarine waters worldwide and is of medical relevance due to its ability to cause grievous wound infections and/or fatal septicemia. Genetic polymorphisms within the virulence-correlated gene (vcg) serve as a primary feature to distinguish clinical (C-) genotypes from environmental (E-) genotypes. C-genotypes demonstrate superior survival in human serum relative to E-genotypes, and genome comparisons have allowed for the identification of several putative virulence factors that could potentially aid C-genotypes in disease progression. We used RNA sequencing to analyze the transcriptome of C-genotypes exposed to human serum relative to seawater, which revealed two divergent genetic programs under these two conditions. In human serum, cells displ

SUBMITTER: Williams TC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4260858 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature