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Infection and Immunity, November 2001, p. 6893-6901, Vol. 69, No. 11
0019-9567/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/IAI.69.11.6893-6901.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Identification of a Group 1-Like Capsular Polysaccharide Operon for Vibrio vulnificus

Anita C. Wright,1,2,3,* Jan L. Powell,3 James B. Kaper,1 and J. Glenn Morris Jr.3

Department of Microbiology and Immunology1 and Department of Medicine,3 University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, and Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 326112

Received 23 March 2001/Returned for modification 22 May 2001/Accepted 14 August 2001

Virulence of Vibrio vulnificus correlates with changes in colony morphology that are indicative of a reversible phase variation for expression of capsular polysaccharide (CPS). Encapsulated variants are virulent with opaque colonies, whereas phase variants with reduced CPS expression are attenuated and are translucent. Using TnphoA mutagenesis, we identified a V. vulnificus CPS locus, which included an upstream ops element, a wza gene (wzaVv), and several open reading frames with homology to CPS biosynthetic genes. This genetic organization is characteristic of group 1 CPS operons. The wza gene product is required for transport of CPS to the cell surface in Escherichia coli. Polar transposon mutations in wzaVv eliminated expression of downstream biosynthetic genes, confirming operon structure. On the other hand, nonpolar inactivation of wzaVv was specific for CPS transport, did not alter CPS biosynthesis, and could be complemented in trans. Southern analysis of CPS phase variants revealed deletions or rearrangements at this locus. A survey of environmental isolates indicated a correlation between deletions in wzaVv and loss of virulent phenotype, suggesting a genetic mechanism for CPS phase variation. Full virulence in mice required surface expression of CPS and supported the essential role of capsule in the pathogenesis of V. vulnificus.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, P.O. Box 10370, Gainesville, FL 32611-0370. Phone: (352) 392-1991 ext. 311. Fax: (352) 392-9467. E-mail: awright{at}gnv.ifas.ufl.edu.

Infection and Immunity, November 2001, p. 6893-6901, Vol. 69, No. 11
0019-9567/01/$04.00+0   DOI: 10.1128/IAI.69.11.6893-6901.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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