Identification of a DNA methyltransferase gene carried on a pathogenicity island-like element (VPAI) in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and its prevalence among clinical and environmental isolates

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2006 Jun;72(6):4455-60. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02095-05.

Abstract

In this study we identified a putative virulence-associated DNA methyltransferase (MTase) gene carried on a novel 22.79-kb pathogenicity island-like element (VPAI) in V. parahaemolyticus. The V. parahaemolyticus MTase gene was shown by PCR to be prevalent (>98%) in pandemic thermostable direct hemolysin gene-positive isolates, which suggests that VPAI may confer unique virulence traits to pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Conserved Sequence
  • DNA Modification Methylases / genetics*
  • DNA Primers
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Genome, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Methyltransferases / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Seawater / microbiology
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / enzymology*
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / genetics
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / isolation & purification
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / pathogenicity*
  • Water Microbiology

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA Modification Methylases
  • Methyltransferases