High-frequency rugose exopolysaccharide production by Vibrio cholerae strains isolated in Haiti.
In October, 2010, epidemic cholera was reported for the first time in Haiti in over 100 years. Establishment of cholera endemicity in Haiti will be dependent in large part on the continued presence of toxigenic V. cholerae O1 in aquatic reservoirs. The rugose phenotype of V. cholerae, characterized by exopolysaccharide production that confers resistance to environmental stress, is a potential contributor to environmental persistence. Using a microbiologic medium promoting high-frequency conversion of smooth to rugose (S-R) phenotype, 80 (46.5%) of 172 V. cholerae strains isolated from clinical and environmental sources in Haiti were able to convert to a rugose phenotype. Toxigenic V. cholerae O1 strains isolated at the beginning of the epidemic (2010) were significantly less likely to shift to a rugose phenotype than clinical strains isolated in 2012/2013, or environmental strains. Frequency of rugose conversion was influenced by incubation temperature and time. Appearance of the biofilm produced by a Haitian clinical rugose strain (altered biotype El Tor HC16R) differed from that of a typical El Tor rugose strain (N16961R) by confocal microscopy. On whole-genome SNP analysis, there was no phylogenetic clustering of strains showing an ability to shift to a rugose phenotype. Our data confirm the ability of Haitian clinical (and environmental) strains to shift to a protective rugose phenotype, and suggest that factors such as temperature influence the frequency of transition to this phenotype.
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Mustafizur
M
Rahman
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Mohammad
M
Jubair
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Meer T
MT
Alam
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Thomas A
TA
Weppelmann
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Taj
T
Azarian
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America; Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Marco
M
Salemi
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Ilya A
IA
Sakharuk
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Mohammed H
MH
Rashid
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America; Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Judith A
JA
Johnson
Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Mahmuda
M
Yasmin
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
J Glenn
JG
Morris
Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America.
Afsar
A
Ali
D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D002771:Cholera / Q000382:microbiology; D004777:Environment; D006205:Haiti; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism*; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial