• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1070-1078
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• 2018

Vibrio vulnificus is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious, potentially fatal infections. V. vulnificus causes three distinct syndromes: an overwhelming primary septicemia caused by consuming contaminated seafood, wound infections acquired when an open wound is exposed to contaminated warm seawater, and gastrointestinal tract-limited infections. Case-fatality rates are higher than 50% for primary septicemia, and death typically occurs within 72 hours of hospitalization. Risk factors for V. vulnificus infection include chronic liver disease, alcoholism, and hematological disorders. When V. vulnificus infection is suspected, appropriate antibiotic treatment and surgical interventions should be performed immediately. Third-generation cephalosporin with doxycycline, or quinolone with or without third-generation cephalosporin, may be potential treatment options for patients with V. vulnificus infection.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 2006

The halophilic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus is known to be a foodborne pathogen that causes septicemia in human. V. vulnificus infection is characterized by the high fatality rates and the primary attack against a person who have underlying diseases such as liver cirrhosis. However, there is no effective treatment for V. vulnificus septicemia except for classical treatments such as antibiotics. Recently, it has been known that lipoprotein (LDL) plays a major role in the protection against infection and inflammation. Consequently in this paper we analyzed the effects of LDL on V. vulnificus septicemia. We purified V. vulnificus cytolysin, a major virulent factor of V. vulnificus infection and measured inhibitory effects of mouse serum, cholesterol, and LDL on its hemolytic activity. Next experiments were performed to investigate whether LDL has a protective role against septicemia induced by V. vulnificus in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of LDL (1mg as protein) into mice 3hr before V. vulnificus $(1\times10^6\;CFU)$ injection, and V. vulnificus -induced lethality was determined. For the determination the relationship between LDL or cholesterol and prognosis, we determined serum levels of cholesterol and lipoprotein from V. vulnificus septicemia patients (n=15) who had visited the Chonbuk National University Hospital in Chonju. V. vulnificus cytolysin -induced hemolysis of mice erythrocytes was completely inhibited by serum, cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein. V. vulnificus- induced lethality of mice injected with LDL showed only 40% compared to 100% of control. In survival groups (n=4) of V. vulnificus septicemia patients (n=15), their serum LDL and cholesterol revealed normal levels ($153.3{\pm}40.7,\;LDL;\;190.8{\pm}16.3$, Total cholesterol). However, in death groups (n=11) showed very low levels ($35.6{\pm}13.9,\;LDL;\;59.2{\pm}15.1$, Total cholesterol). Our study indicates that cholesterol and LDL are a prognosis indicator of V. vulnificus septicemia as well as an inhibitor of virulent action of V. vulnificus cytolysin. We suggested that the serum levels of cholesterol or LDL would be major index in the treatment and prevention of V. vulnificus septicemia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.6 s.67
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• pp.986-990
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• 2004

Five strains of Vibrio vulnificus, which cause serious septicemia in human worldwidely, was isolated from marine environments of Korea costal area from May to July of 2002. The isolated strains were identified by API 20E kit and partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis. 16S rDNA sequence of the isolates showed $99\%$ similarity with V. vulnificus ATCC 27562. The proteins of V. vulnificus isolates were examined by analyzing patterns of the cell lysates and outer membrane proteins (OMP). The OMP separated from cell lysates showed the common protein band. Therefore OMP profiles might be useful for the identification of V. vulnificus sp.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1841-1847
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• 2008

Vibrio vulnificus is a causative agent of serious diseases in humans, resulting from the contact of wound with seawater or consumption of raw seafood. Several studies aimed at detecting V. vulnificus have targeted vvh as a representative virulence toxin gene belonging to the bacterium. In this study, we targeted the rpoS gene, a general stress regulator, to detect V. vulnificus. PCR specificity was identified by amplification of 8 V. vulnificus templates and by the loss of a PCR product with 36 non-V. vulnificus strains. The PCR assay had the 273-bp fragment and the sensitivity of 10 pg DNA from V. vulnificus. SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR assay targeting the rpoS gene showed a melting temperature of approximately $84^{\circ}C$ for the V. vulnificus strains. The minimum level of detection by real-time PCR was 2 pg of purified genomic DNA, or $10^3$ V. vulnificus cells from pure cultured broth and $10^3$ cells in 1 g of oyster tissue homogenates. These data indicate that real-time PCR is a sensitive, species-specific, and rapid method for detecting this bacterium, using the rpoS gene in pure cultures and in infected oyster tissues.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1423-1431
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• 2012

The inhibitory effect of IgY against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus responsible for seafood-borne diseases was investigated in this study. Water-soluble fractions (WSF) of protein containing IgYs were isolated from the egg yolk of hens initially immunized with formalin-inactivated V. parahaemolyticus or V. vulnificus. Protein, total and specific IgY contents of the WSF were determined. The inhibitory and protective effects of IgYs on the growth of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus were assayed in liquid medium and in mice. IgYs showed high affinity to their corresponding antigens with high titer from day 28 onwards. Protein contents and total IgY concentrations remained stable throughout the immunization period, whereas specific IgY concentrations increased steadily and reached a plateau at day 49. Specific IgY powder (150 mg/ml) significantly inhibited further multiplication of both V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in liquid medium as compared with the control IgY. The bacteria count in mice feces was lower in mice pretreated with specific IgYs than in those pretreated with PBS or control IgY. Higher survival of mice was observed in the experimental groups pretreated with either anti-V. parahaemolyticus (75% survival) or anti-V. vulnificus (87% survival) IgYs, compared with those in the control groups pretreated with PBS or nonspecific IgY. All mice in the control groups died within three days after bacteria inoculation; hence, the protective effect of specific IgYs against infection caused by V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus was demonstrated.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.688-693
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• 2020

Vibrio vulnificus is a Gram-negative marine bacterium known to cause septicemia. This study was conducted to investigate the distribution of V. vulnificus along the coast of Gadeok Island in Korea and to determine the molecular characteristics of isolated strains sampled between March and November 2019 from seawater. The strains were mostly detected between July and September, when the average water temperature and average salinity were 22.2-26.2℃ and 14.2-29.9 psu, respectively. V. vulnificus was not detected in seawater below 15℃. In September, the highest population of V. vulnificus was observed at 2,100 MPN (most probable number)/100 mL, attributable to decreased salinity from heavy rains. In addition, the detection rate of V. vulnificus was higher at the sampling station near the Nakdong River. Virulence-related genes were also identified among the isolates, such as vvhA (97.1%), viuB (44.1%), and vcgC (57.4%). In particular, viuB and vcgC were only observed in V. vulnificus isolated from June to September, when the detection rate was high and water temperature was above 20℃, suggesting the role of seasonal characteristics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 1997

To determine the cause of Vibrio septicemia by understanding the characteristics endotoxin from Vibrio vulnificus, lethal dose, heat resistance and vascular permeability enhancing activity were svaluated using vegestative cell and cell homogenate and the result is as follows: 1. Vibrio vulnificus CDC B3547 of patient origin did not exihibit any significant difference in toxicity compared to Vibrio vulnificus B57 of enviroment origin. 2. Strong toxicity was observed when viable cell count of Vibrio vulnificus CDC B3547 was more than 10$^{7}$/ml. 3. Toxicity of cell homogenate was completely inactivited upon geating at 80$^{\circ}$C for 20min. 4. Cell homogenate did not show hemolyic activity but was acknowleged to have cytotoxicity. 5. Major lethal toxin against mouse was existed in Vibrio vulnificus CDC B3547; however, separation of LPS and LPS-protein complex was not successful using the current technique.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.106-110
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• 1999

Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) from Vibrio vulnificus was purified, the fatty acid composition was analyzed, and Limulus gelation activity and lethal toxic activity were tested in order to investigate the cause of cytotoxicity by V. vutnificus. These results were compared to those of Escherichia coli LPS and Salmonella typhimurium LPS. LPS from V. vulnificus had a different fatty acid composition from those of E coli and S. typhimurium. The major fatty arid from each LPS was lauric acid for E. coli, rapric acid for S. typhimurium, and myristic acid for V. vulnificus. The Limulus gelation activities of three LPSs were the same(0.1ng/ml) and the lethal toxicity in BALB/c mouse of V vulnificus LPS was similar to those of E. coli LPS and S. typhimurium LPS. Such factor as exotoxin need to be considered to be the cause of cytotoxicity by V. vulnificus LPS.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.345-353
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• 1986

Authors studies on the isolation of non-sucrose fermentation Vibrio species such as V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus and V. damsela from sea water, shellfishes and various algae at Ulleung island in the east of Korea on summer in 1985. Authors carried out test for isolated strains to biochemical characteristics, halophilism, hemolysis and serological reaction. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Strains isolated from total specimens were 25 strains of V. parahaemolyticus, 2 strains of V. vulnificus and 1 strain of V. damsela, respectively. 2. Isolated frequency of Vibrio species from sea water and marine products was lower than on specimens in the southern sea of Korea from 1980 to 1985. 3. On hemolysis reaction on blood agar media using human and rabbit erythrocytes, 14 strains among 25 strains of V. parahaemolyticus isolated were positive, and V. vulnificus and V. damsela were positive, respectively. 4. The distributions of serotypes of V. parahaemolyticus isolated were from O1 group to O10 group, and from K 10 to K 69. The results of K serotypes were as follows ; serotype K 10 and K 33 were 2 strains, serotype K 59 and K 69 were 1 strain, respectively. And 2 strains of V. vulnificus isolated were not agglutinated by antiserum of V. vulnificus. Therefore, the probability is that 2 strains of V. vulnificus isolated were other serotypes distributed on sea weater and marine products of Ulleung island of Korea.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 1999

New sixteen heat shock proteins (Hsps) and ten ethanol shock proteins were appeared on the analysis with SDS-PAGE when cultivation temperature for the Vibrio vulnifrcus ATCC 27562 strain was shifted-up to $42^{\circ}C$ from $30^{\circ}C$ for 20 mins and treated with of 6% ethanol for 10 mins, respectively. Even the induction of thermotolerance in V. vulnificus was coincided with the induction of Hsps if the pre-shock was adjusted to thermal temperature. Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) that were purified from the membrane of cells after heat shock showed more immunodominant pattern to the immunized rabbit anti-V. vulnificus O serum in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). On the western immunoblot analysis it was confirmed that both 62 kDa IMP and 69 kDa OMP in the Hsps and 48 kDa IMP a major OMP in the ethanol shock proteins were reacted with rabbit anti-V. vulnificus O sera. Agglutination titer of the heat shocked V. vulnificus with rabbit anti-V. vulnificus O serum was higher than that of the untreated bacteria.