Enzyme-labeled oligonucleotide probes for detection of the genes for thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and TDH-related hemolysin (TRH) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Alkaline phosphatase conjugated oligonucleotide probes were developed to detect the genes (tdh and trh) coding for the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and TDH-related hemolysin (TRH) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Using dot blot hybridization, probes were tested with 94 clinical isolates of V. parahaemolyticus. Results agreed well with those obtained using radio-labeled recombinant DNA probes for the genes tdh and trh. Specificity and sensitivity of enzyme tdh probes for detection of the trh gene were 100 and 93%, respectively, and those of the trh probes for trh gene detection were 93 and 86%, respectively. The tdh probes also hybridized with tdh-like genes processed by all strains of V. hollisae, and some strains of V. mimicus and V. cholerae non-O1, but neither tdh nor trh probes reacted with other bacterial species isolated from diarrheal stools. However, some V. parahaemolyticus strains that were negative with the enzyme trh probe hybridized weakly with a radio-labeled trh DNA fragment probe at medium stringency, and a few strains that were negative in high stringency conditions with a radio-labeled trh DNA fragment probe hybridized with the enzyme trh probe. This suggests that some strains of V. parahaemolyticus may carry another gene resembling trh.     

Soft-agar-coated filter method for early detection of viable and thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH)- or TDH-related hemolysin-producing Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood

A novel method for detecting viable and thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH)-producing or TDH-related hemolysin (TRH)-producing Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood was developed. The method involved (i) enrichment culture, selective for viable, motile cells penetrating a soft-agar-coated filter paper, and (ii) a multiplex PCR assay targeting both the TDH gene (tdh) and TRH gene (trh) following DNase pretreatment on the test culture to eradicate any incidental DNAs that might have been released from dead cells of tdh- or trh-positive (tdh+ trh+) strains and penetrated the agar-coated filter. A set of preliminary laboratory tests performed on 190 ml of enrichment culture that had been inoculated simultaneously with ca. 100 viable cells of a strain of tdh+ trh+ V. parahaemolyticus and dense populations of a viable strain of tdh- and trh-negative V. parahaemolyticus or Vibrio alginolyticus indicated that the method detected the presence of viable tdh+ trh+ strains. Another set of preliminary tests on 190 ml of enrichment culture that had been initially inoculated with a large number of dead cells of the tdh+ trh+ strain together with dense populations of the tdh- and trh-negative strains confirmed that the method did not yield any false-positive results. Subsequent quasi-field tests using various seafood samples (ca. 20 g), each of which was experimentally contaminated with either or both hemolysin-producing strains at an initial density of ca. 5 to 10 viable cells per gram, demonstrated that contamination could be detected within 2 working days.     

Detection of total and hemolysin-producing Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shellfish using multiplex PCR amplification of tl, tdh and trh.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important human pathogen which can cause gastroenteritis when consumed in raw or partially-cooked seafood. A multiplex PCR amplification-based detection of total and virulent strains of V. parahaemolyticus was developed by targeting thermolabile hemolysin encoded by tl, thermostable direct hemolysin encoded by tdh, and thermostable direct hemolysin-related trh genes. Following optimization using oligonucleotide primers targeting tl, tdh and trh genes, the multiplex PCR was applied to V. parahaemolyticus from 27 clinical, 43 seafood, 15 environmental, 7 strains obtained from various laboratories and 19 from oyster plants. All 111 V. parahaemolyticus isolates showed PCR amplification of the tl gene; however, only 60 isolates showed amplification of tdh, and 43 isolates showed amplification of the trh gene. Also, 18 strains showed amplification of the tdh gene, but these strains did not show amplification of the trh gene. However, one strain exhibited amplification for the trh but not the tdh gene, suggesting both genes need to be targeted in a PCR amplification reaction to detect all hemolysin-producing strains of this pathogen. The multiplex PCR approach was successfully used to detect various strains of V parahaemolyticus in seeded oyster tissue homogenate. Sensitivity of detection for all three target gene segments was at least between 10(1)-10(2) cfu per 10 g of alkaline peptone water enriched seeded oyster tissue homogenate. This high level of sensitivity of detection of this pathogen within 8 h of pre-enrichment is well within the action level (10(4) cfu per 1 g of shell stock) suggested by the National Seafood Sanitation Program guideline. Compared to conventional microbiological culture methods, this multiplex PCR approach is rapid and reliable for accomplishing a comprehensive detection of V. parahaemolyticus in shellfish.     

Sequence variation in the thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin (trh) gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Our previous molecular epidemiologic study with gene probes (H. Shirai, H. Ito, T. Hirayama, Y. Nakamoto, N. Nakabayashi, K. Kumagai, Y. Takeda, and M. Nishibuchi, Infect. Immun. 58:3568-3573, 1990) demonstrated that the gene (trh) encoding a thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin was strongly associated with clinical strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Strain-to-strain variation in the intensities of the hybridization signals observed in the above study also suggested that the trh genes in different strains may have significantly divergent nucleotide sequences. To assess the public health significance of the rare environmental strains which exhibited very weak hybridization signals with the trh gene-specific DNA probe, the trh-like sequence was cloned from one of the environmental strains and the nucleotide sequence was determined in this study. A hemolysin gene (trh2) which was 84% homologous to the trh gene (newly named trh1) and 54.8 to 68.8% homologous to the genes (tdh) encoding thermostable direct hemolysins was detected in the cloned sequence. The trh2 gene product showed a profile of hemolytic activities against various animal erythrocytes different from that of the trh1 gene product. The trh2 gene product was antigenically related (partially identical) to the trh1 and tdh gene products. DNA colony blot and Southern blot hybridization analyses with trh1- and trh2-specific DNA probes showed that the trh1 probe-positive strains exhibiting hybridization signals with varying intensities could be clustered into trh1 and trh2 subgroups. In addition, hybridization analysis with oligonucleotide probes demonstrated significant strain-to-strain variation in the trh1 and trh2 gene sequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Sequence variation in the thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin (trh) gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Our previous molecular epidemiologic study with gene probes (H. Shirai, H. Ito, T. Hirayama, Y. Nakamoto, N. Nakabayashi, K. Kumagai, Y. Takeda, and M. Nishibuchi, Infect. Immun. 58:3568-3573, 1990) demonstrated that the gene (trh) encoding a thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin was strongly associated with clinical strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Strain-to-strain variation in the intensities of the hybridization signals observed in the above study also suggested that the trh genes in different strains may have significantly divergent nucleotide sequences. To assess the public health significance of the rare environmental strains which exhibited very weak hybridization signals with the trh gene-specific DNA probe, the trh-like sequence was cloned from one of the environmental strains and the nucleotide sequence was determined in this study. A hemolysin gene (trh2) which was 84% homologous to the trh gene (newly named trh1) and 54.8 to 68.8% homologous to the genes (tdh) encoding thermostable direct hemolysins was detected in the cloned sequence. The trh2 gene product showed a profile of hemolytic activities against various animal erythrocytes different from that of the trh1 gene product. The trh2 gene product was antigenically related (partially identical) to the trh1 and tdh gene products. DNA colony blot and Southern blot hybridization analyses with trh1- and trh2-specific DNA probes showed that the trh1 probe-positive strains exhibiting hybridization signals with varying intensities could be clustered into trh1 and trh2 subgroups. In addition, hybridization analysis with oligonucleotide probes demonstrated significant strain-to-strain variation in the trh1 and trh2 gene sequences.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

副溶血弧菌海产品和临床分离株的表型及溶血素相关基因分析

副溶血弧菌是(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)常见的食源性病原菌,可污染多种水产品,并引起人的食物中毒,其致病性与溶血素密切相关,如直接耐热溶血素(TDH)、TDH-相关溶血素(TRH)、不耐热溶血素(TLH)。用PCR方法对分离自浙江省部分地区的副溶血弧菌临床和海产品分离株的3种溶血素基因进行检测。结果表明,所有副溶血弧菌菌株均可检测到tlh基因;11株临床分离株均检测到tdh基因,而42株水产品分离株中只有1株检出tdh基因,携带tdh的分离株神奈川试验(KP)均为阳性。所有分离菌株中均未检测到trh基因以及其尿素酶试验呈阴性,由此可知trh基因可能与尿素酶基因连锁。副溶血弧菌分离株中致病性相关毒力因子TDH的阳性率极低,然而副溶血弧菌性食物中毒发生率较高,它们之间的关系及其发病机制还有待深入研究。     

Comparative analysis of the hemolysin genes of Vibrio cholerae non-01, V. mimicus, and V. hollisae that are similar to the tdh gene of V. parahaemolyticus

The genes encoding the hemolysins similar to the thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh gene) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were cloned from chromosomes of V. mimicus and V. hollisae. These cloned hemolysin genes and previously cloned tdh genes of V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae non-01 were compared by physical mapping and by hybridization with oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes. The nucleotide sequences in the coding regions of all the cloned hemolysin genes were very homologous and had only minor variations but the sequences flanking the homolysin genes were dissimilar, indicating that the hemolysin genes have a common ancestor and suggesting that they may have been transferred between Vibrio species as a descrete genetic unit.     

Seasonal variation in abundance of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria in oysters along the southwest coast of India

The seasonal abundance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters from two estuaries along the southwest coast of India was studied by colony hybridization using nonradioactive labeled oligonucleotide probes. The density of total V. parahaemolyticus bacteria was determined using a probe binding to the tlh (thermolabile hemolysin) gene, and the density of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus bacteria was determined by using a probe binding to the tdh (thermostable direct hemolysin) gene. Furthermore, the prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus was studied by PCR amplification of the toxR, tdh, and trh genes. PCR was performed directly with oyster homogenates and also following enrichment in alkaline peptone water for 6 and 18 h. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in 93.87% of the samples, and the densities ranged from <10 to 10(4) organisms per g. Pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus could be detected in 5 of 49 samples (10.2%) by colony hybridization using the tdh probe and in 3 of 49 samples (6.1%) by PCR. Isolates from one of the samples belonged to the pandemic serotype O3:K6. Twenty-nine of the 49 samples analyzed (59.3%) were positive as determined by PCR for the presence of the trh gene in the enrichment broth media. trh-positive V. parahaemolyticus was frequently found in oysters from India.     

Molecular characterization of thermostable direct haemolysin-related haemolysin (TRH)-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus from oysters in Mangalore, India

Pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains producing either or both of a thermostable direct haemolysin (TDH) and a TDH-related haemolysin (TRH) encoded by tdh and trh genes, respectively, are isolated at a low rate from the environment. However, recently we observed that a considerable percentage of APW (alkaline peptone water) enrichment broths of oysters collected off Mangalore India, were trh(+), rather than tdh(+) by PCR. In order to further investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of trh bearing V. parahaemolyticus in our coast, we attempted to isolate and characterize trh(+)V. parahaemolyticus from oysters. A total of 27 trh(+) strains were isolated during the period between March 2002 and February 2004, of which nine were also tdh(+). All the trh(+) isolates were positive for urease phenotype. The isolates belonged to diverse phenotypes. In order to explore the possible presence of heterogeneity in the trh gene region among trh(+)V. parahaemolyticus, a 1.5 kb region around trh gene was PCR amplified and restriction digested using selected restriction enzymes. The whole genome comparison of strains was performed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR (RAPD PCR). The PCR-RFLP results revealed fairly well conserved nature of the trh gene region studied in different serotypes. Though 11 strains were positive by PCR for a genomic fragment that has been reported to be amplified in pandemic strains, all strains were negative by group-specific PCR (GS-PCR), orf8 PCR and showed a different RAPD pattern compared with pandemic strains. The results suggest that genetically diverse V. parahaemolyticus carrying virulence genes are associated with the aquatic environment in this region.     

Serologic and molecular characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from seawater and fish products of the Gulf of Mexico

The thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and TDH-related hemolysin (TRH) are the main virulence factors of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. We isolated V. parahaemolyticus from seawater, fish, and oysters obtained from the Pueblo Viejo Lagoon in Veracruz, determined the serogroups, phenotypically and genotypically characterized TDH and TRH, and investigated the presence of the toxR gene. A total of 46 V. parahaemolyticus strains were isolated, and all of them amplified the 368-bp toxR gene fragment. The trh gene was not identified in any of the strains; 4 of the 46 strains were Kanagawa phenomenon (KP) positive and amplified the 251-bp tdh gene fragment. The most frequent serogroup was serogroup O3. This is the first report of the presence of KP-positive tdh-positive environmental V. parahaemolyticus strains in Mexico.     

Analysis of the gene of Vibrio hollisae encoding the hemolysin similar to the thermostable direct hemolysin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The gene (designated as Vh-tdh) of Vibrio hollisae 9041 encoding a hemolysin similar to the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) of V. parahaemolyticus contained a 567-base-pair open reading frame (ORF), which was 93.3-93.5% homologous to those of the tdh genes of V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae non-01, and V. mimicus encoding TDH or similar hemolysins. Comparative analysis of the nucleotide sequence containing the Vh-tdh ORF with published nucleotide and amino acid sequences suggested that the Vh-tdh gene and other tdh genes diverged from a common ancestral gene, that the divergence was closely associated with the evolutionary divergence of V. hollisae from other species of genus Vibrio, and that strain-to-strain variation of the Vh-tdh gene exists in V. hollisae.     

Development of a multiplex real-time PCR assay with an internal amplification control for the detection of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria in oysters

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an estuarine bacterium that is the leading cause of shellfish-associated cases of bacterial gastroenteritis in the United States. Our laboratory developed a real-time multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of the thermolabile hemolysin (tlh), thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), and thermostable-related hemolysin (trh) genes of V. parahaemolyticus. The tlh gene is a species-specific marker, while the tdh and trh genes are pathogenicity markers. An internal amplification control (IAC) was incorporated to ensure PCR integrity and eliminate false-negative reporting. The assay was tested for specificity against >150 strains representing eight bacterial species. Only V. parahaemolyticus strains possessing the appropriate target genes generated a fluorescent signal, except for a late tdh signal generated by three strains of V. hollisae. The multiplex assay detected <10 CFU/reaction of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in the presence of >10(4) CFU/reaction of total V. parahaemolyticus bacteria. The real-time PCR assay was utilized with a most-probable-number format, and its results were compared to standard V. parahaemolyticus isolation methodology during an environmental survey of Alaskan oysters. The IAC was occasionally inhibited by the oyster matrix, and this usually corresponded to negative results for V. parahaemolyticus targets. V. parahaemolyticus tlh, tdh, and trh were detected in 44, 44, and 52% of the oyster samples, respectively. V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from 33% of the samples, and tdh(+) and trh(+) strains were isolated from 19 and 26%, respectively. These results demonstrate the utility of the real-time PCR assay in environmental surveys and its possible application to outbreak investigations for the detection of total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus.     

Detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in cockle (Anadara granosa) by PCR

This study aimed to determine the occurrence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in cockles (Anadara granosa) at a harvesting area and to detect the presence of virulent strains carrying the thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and TDH-related hemolysin genes (trh) using PCR. Of 100 samples, 62 were positive for the presence of V. parahaemolyticus with an MPN (most probable number) value greater than 3.0 (>1100 MPN per g). The PCR analysis revealed 2 samples to be positive for the tdh gene and 11 to be positive for the trh gene. Hence, these results demonstrate the presence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus in cockles harvested in the study area and reveal the potential risk of illness associated with their consumption.     

Vibrio parahaemolyticus thermostable direct hemolysin can induce an apoptotic cell death in Rat-1 cells from inside and outside of the cells

Rat-1 cells exposed to Vibrio parahaemolyticus thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) developed morphological changes including shrinkage of the cells and reduction in the size of nuclei. Cells either microinjected with TDH or transfected with the tdh gene also showed morphological changes similar to those induced by externally added toxin. Furthermore, TDH-exposed or tdh-transfected cells both showed chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation which suggest cells undergoing apoptosis. In contrast, expression of a TDH mutant (R7) did not reveal any cytotoxic effects. We demonstrate that expressed TDH was distributed in the cytoplasm. The interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme-related protease inhibitor ZVAD-FMK did not inhibit TDH cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that TDH can induce its cytotoxicity both from outside and from inside the cells and killed the cells through apoptosis.     

Detection of a functional insertion sequence responsible for deletion of the thermostable direct hemolysin gene (tdh) in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The thermostable direct hemolysin coded by the tdh gene is a marker of virulent strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The tdh genes are flanked by insertion sequences collectively named as ISVs or their remnants; but the ISVs so far examined have accumulated mutations in the transposase genes and underwent structural arrangements and their transposition activity could not be expected; the tdh gene was thus considered to have been acquired by V. parahaemolyticus through horizontal transfer in the past during evolution. We recently isolated from the same patient tdh(+) strains and a tdh(-) strain (PCR examination) that were otherwise indistinguishable. The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that the tdh(-) strain was derived from the tdh(+) strain by a deletion of the tdh gene mediated by a functional ISV. Southern blot hybridization showed tdh(+) sequences in the tdh(-) strain (PSU-1466). Nucleotide sequence analysis of the tdh and its flanking sequences revealed the tdh gene was split into two parts and they were located 3182-bp apart in PSU-1466. The two tdh sequences were flanked by one of the ISVs, named as ISVpa3, in PSU-1466. This genetic structure could be explained by an ISVpa3-mediated partial tdh deletion from a tdh(+) strain followed by transposition of the duplicated ISVpa3 and the deleted tdh sequence into a neighboring location. The ISVpa3 of PSU-1466 coded for a full-length transposase and a DDE motif. We were able to demonstrate transposition activity of the ISVpa3 cloned from PSU-1466 using the replicon fusion assay with the conjugal transfer of a cointegrate from Escherichia coli to V. parahaemolyticus. Our data support ISVpa3-mediated partial tdh deletion resulted in the emergence of the tdh(-) strain.     

副溶血弧菌海产品分离株tdh基因及其临近区域结构分析

摘要：【目的】初步探索副溶血弧菌海产品分离株tdh基因区域的结构特征。【方法】采用长距离PCR和基因步移技术进行tdh基因侧翼序列扩增,测序验证后拼接成疑似毒力基因片段,将所获序列与NCBI数据库进行比较,初步明确tdh基因侧翼序列的结构与功能。【结果】海产品分离株ZS34与参考菌株 RIMD2210633的tdh基因区域（VPA1310-VPA1327）结构基本一致,核苷酸同源性达98.3%;而FJ14与WZ64株基因组中的tdh基因均与tdh3的同源性最高,在基因组中的位置也不同于ZS34株和参考菌株     

Cloning and expression of two genes encoding highly homologous hemolysins from a Kanagawa phenomenon-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus T4750 strain

We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH), a possible virulence factor in Vibrio parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis, from a Kanagawa-phenomenon-positive strain, T4750. This strain was found to contain two sequences (tdhA and tdhS) homologous to the tdh gene previously reported by Nishibuchi and Kaper [J. Bacteriol 162 (1985) 558-564] and Taniguchi et al. [Microb. Pathog. 1 (1986) 425-432]. Sequence homology of the coding regior between tdhA and tdhS was 97.2%. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of TdhA, excluding the putative signal peptide was identical to that of TDH protein purified from V. parahaemolyticus [Tsunasawa et al., J. Biochem. 101 (1987) 111-121] except for Glu118 instead of Gln118. Although the aa sequence deduced from the second gene, tdhS, differed in eight residues from the TDH protein, it agreed with the sequence of Tdh deduced from the previously cloned tdh gene. Both tdhA and tdhS expressed biologically active hemolysins in Escherichia coli. While the apparent molecular size of TDH purified from a culture supernatant of V. parahaemolyticus T4750 was identical to TdhA protein synthesized in E. coli, it was larger than TdhS. Only one band was detected in the culture supernatant of V. parahaemolyticus T4750 by Western blotting; its mobility was indistinguishable from that of purified TDH. These data suggest that tdhA is the structural gene for TDH found in the culture supernatant of V. parahaemolyticus T4750, and that there was only partial, if any, tdhS expression in the strain T4750 under the test conditions employed.     

Seasonal abundance of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Alabama oysters

Recent Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreaks associated with consumption of raw shellfish in the United States focused attention on the occurrence of this organism in shellfish. From March 1999 through September 2000, paired oyster samples were collected biweekly from two shellfish-growing areas in Mobile Bay, Ala. The presence and densities of V. parahaemolyticus were determined by using DNA probes targeting the thermolabile hemolysin (tlh) and thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) genes for confirmation of total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus, respectively. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in all samples with densities ranging from <10 to 12,000 g(-1). Higher V. parahaemolyticus densities were associated with higher water temperatures. Pathogenic strains were detected in 34 (21.8%) of 156 samples by direct plating or enrichment. Forty-six of 6,018 and 31 of 6,992 V. parahaemolyticus isolates from enrichments and direct plates, respectively, hybridized with the tdh probe. There was an apparent inverse relationship between water temperature and the prevalence of pathogenic strains. Pathogenic strains were of diverse serotypes, and 97% produced urease and possessed a tdh-related hemolysin (trh) gene. The O3:K6 serotype associated with pandemic spread and recent outbreaks in the United States was not detected. The efficient screening of numerous isolates by colony lift and DNA probe procedures may account for the higher prevalence of samples with tdh(+) V. parahaemolyticus than previously reported.     

Detection of the tdh and trh genes in Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates in fish and mussels from Middle Black Sea Coast of Turkey

Aim:  The aim of this study was to demonstrate the occurrence of potential pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafoods using DNA-based techniques in comparison with bacteriological methods.
Methods and Results:  From 120 fresh and processed fish and mussel samples collected from Middle Black Sea, 32 isolates were identified as V. parahaemolyticus by bacteriological methods and confirmed by tl gene-based conventional PCR. Of them, 13 isolates were found positive for only tdh gene, six isolates for only trh gene and 13 isolates for both genes by multiplex PCR.
Conclusions:  It is the first report demonstrating the presence of potential pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates from the Black Sea seafoods by PCR detection of tl , trh and tdh genes that was found more rapid than bacteriological methods.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study confirmed the previous reports that characterization of potential pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates based on the PCR techniques was reliable and cost-effective. These results suggest that molecular detection methods should be included in Turkish Standards of seafood control in addition to bacteriological methods.