Molecular mechanisms of virulence genes expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Abstract:

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a Gram-negative halophilic bacterium, is the main pathogen in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, and can cause acute gastroenteritis, sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis via consumption of raw or poorly cooked, contaminated seafood by human beings. As a globally transmitted pathogen, the pathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus is closely related to a variety of virulence factors, including the adhesion factors, lipopolysaccharide, hemolysin, type III secretion system (T3SS), type VI secretion system (T6SS), iron uptake system, protease and some other virulence factors. All these virulence factors are only expressed under specific circumstance, indicating that the expression of these virulence factors is tightly regulated by the environmental factors as well as those signals from the host. In this review, we discuss the regulatory mechanisms used by V. parahaemolyticus to control its virulence gene expression, summarize the regulatory pathways that play important roles in V. parahaemolyticus pathogenesis, and highlight key regulatory factors in these regulatory networks. To better understand the pathogenic mechanism of V. parahaemolyticus will definitely help us to develop new strategies to treat and prevent diseases caused by V. parahaemolyticus infections.