Open AccessCloning and molecular characterization of a unique hemolysin gene of Vibrio pommerensis sp. nov.: development of a DNA probe for the detection of the hemolysin gene and its use in identification of related Vibrio spp. from the Baltic Sea
Author(s) -
Jores Joerg,
Appel Bernd,
Lewin Astrid
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00843-7
Subject(s) - hemolysin , biology , gene , molecular cloning , genomic library , microbiology and biotechnology , hemolysis , genomic dna , hybridization probe , escherichia coli , dna , sequence analysis , vibrionaceae , cloning (programming) , vibrio , genetics , virulence , peptide sequence , bacteria , computer science , immunology , programming language
A group of hemolytic Vibrio strains was isolated from surface water of the Baltic Sea in 1995. A typical representative strain, CH‐291, was found to lyse washed human and animal erythrocytes. Hemolysis was found to be calcium‐dependent and occurred over a temperature range from 25 to 37°C. The hemolysin‐encoding genes were identified by screening a genomic library of total DNA from strain CH‐291. A cloned chromosomal DNA fragment of 15.6 kb conferred to Escherichia coli DH5α a hemolytic phenotype. Hybridization and sequence analysis showed the cloned sequence to be unique to these Baltic Sea Vibrio isolates and therefore provides a useful marker for their identification. Moreover, the cloned 15.6‐kb DNA fragment possessed structural features typical for genetic islands, including a decreased GC content and a flanking cryptic insertion sequence element.