Characterization of a Vibrio alginolyticus Strain, Isolated from Alaskan Oysters, Carrying a Hemolysin Gene Similar to the Thermostable Direct Hemolysin-Related Hemolysin Gene ( trh ) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Abstract

A Vibrio strain isolated from Alaskan oysters and classified by its biochemical characteristics as Vibrio alginolyticus possessed a thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin ( trh ) gene previously reported only in Vibrio parahaemolyticus . This trh -like gene was cloned and sequenced and was 98% identical to the trh2 gene of V. parahaemolyticus . This gene seems to be functional since it was transcriptionally active in early-stationary-phase growing cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of V. alginolyticus possessing a trh gene.