title: In situ and in vitro impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
abstract: Most established virulence genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp), e.g., thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), tdh-related hemolysin (trh), and type three secretion system 2 (TTSS2), are on the chromosome 2 pathogenicity island, which also possesses numerous uncharacterized genes. We hypothesized the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DH) oil spill would cause an increase in populations of Vibrio parahaemolyticus carrying environmental adaptation genes. Vp isolated pre- and post-spill were analyzed for TTSS2 genes, and impacts of DH oil on Vp were examined in vitro. There was no change in TTSS2 in situ, but tdh and V. vulnificus levels were higher post-spill. In vitro exposure of water samples to DH oil produced no changes in Vp densities. Two years post-spill, total Vp remained low; tdh and trh increased. These results indicate the effects of the DH oil spill on potentially pathogenic Vp subpopulations were complex and difficult to discern from other concurrent anthropogenic and natural events.
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States.
authors.forename: Erica L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.
authors.forename: Krystal M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laws
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States. Electronic address: cnjohnson@lsu.edu.
authors.forename: Crystal N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044404:Genomic Islands / Q000187:drug effects; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014736:Vibrio parahaemolyticus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C068489:thermostable direct hemolysin
keywords: Deepwater Horizon; Louisiana; Oil spill; Pathogenic; Type III secretion system; Vibrio parahaemolyticus