Sequence polymorphism of the 16S rRNA gene of Vibrio vulnificus is a possible indicator of strain virulence.
Vibrio vulnificus exhibits considerable strain-to-strain variation in virulence. Attempts to associate phenotypic or genotypic characteristics with strain virulence have been largely unsuccessful. Based on a 17-nucleotide difference throughout the sequence of the small subunit 16S rRNA gene, there are two major groups of V. vulnificus designated types A and B. In a survey of the 16S rRNA genotype in 67 V. vulnificus human clinical and nonclinical strains, we determined that the majority of nonclinical isolates are type A (31 of 33) and that there is a statistically significant association between the type B genotype and human clinical strains (26 of 34).
Nilsson
William B
WB
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Seattle, Washington 98112, USA.
Paranjype
Rohinee N
RN
DePaola
Angelo
A
Strom
Mark S
MS
D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014735:Vibrio Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S