Open AccessIdentification of a DNA Methyltransferase Gene Carried on a Pathogenicity Island-Like Element (VPAI) in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Its Prevalence among Clinical and Environmental Isolates
Author(s) -
Huizhen Wang,
Minnie Man Lai Wong,
Desmond K. O’Toole,
Mandy M. H. Mak,
Rudolf S.S. Wu,
Richard Yuen Chong Kong
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
applied and environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 324
eISSN - 1070-6291
pISSN - 0099-2240
DOI - 10.1128/aem.02095-05
Subject(s) - vibrio parahaemolyticus , virulence , biology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , hemolysin , genetics , pathogenicity , methyltransferase , dna , bacteria , methylation
In this study we identified a putative virulence-associated DNA methyltransferase (MTase) gene carried on a novel 22.79-kb pathogenicity island-like element (VPAI) in V. parahaemolyticus. The V. parahaemolyticus MTase gene was shown by PCR to be prevalent (>98%) in pandemic thermostable direct hemolysin gene-positive isolates, which suggests that VPAI may confer unique virulence traits to pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticus.