title: Vibrio vulnificus load reduction in oysters after combined exposure to Vibrio vulnificus--specific bacteriophage and to an oyster extract component.
abstract: Oysters infected with Vibrio vulnificus can present a serious health risk to diabetic, immunocompromised, and iron-deficient individuals. Numerous studies have been conducted with the goal of eliminating this organism from raw oysters. We utilized two natural oyster-associated components: pooled Vibrio vulnificus-specific bacteriophage and an extract of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) that contains an antimicrobial component we named anti-Vibrio vulnificus factor, which is bactericidal for V. vulnificus. Although each component alone can reduce V. vulnificus numbers independently, the simultaneous use of both components in an in vitro system successfully more effectively reduced V. vulnificus bacterial loads.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1901 Perdido Street, Box P6-1, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pelon
authors.forename: Ronald B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Luftig
authors.forename: Kenneth H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000502:physiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D005516:Food Microbiology; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000254:growth & development*