Association of ompU gene in Vibrio cholerae from patients and environment with bile resistance.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to determine whether Vibrio cholerae, possessing ompU isolated from patients and the environment, conferred bile resistance and whether other virulence genes were also related to bile resistance. Fifty-two V cholerae O1 and non-O1 isolates were examined by PCR for the presence of the virulence-associated and regulatory genes, ctxA, tcpA, zot, ace, ompU, toxR, hlyA and stn/sto. V. cholerae possessing ompU resistant to equal or greater than 10% sodium deoxycholate were found in 93% of isolates but only in 9% of V. cholerae isolates not possessing ompU. The effects of other virulence genes on bile resistance could not be ascertained in this study. Thus V cholerae non-O1 with ompU and possibly other virulence genes isolated from the environment have the potential of affecting public health.