Investigations of hemolytic activity and iron utilization sources of Vibrio alginolyticus ATCC 17749

Abstract

As iron plays an indispensable role in the various physiological process with the exception of Borrelia burgdorferi, it is a vital but constrained micronutrient. It is anticipated that the capability of this possible human pathogenic organism to use iron will be crucial for both the establishment of an infection in its hosts and for survival in the habitat. The current study aimed to determine the iron utilization spectrum and hemolytic activity of Vibrio alginolyticus ATCC 17749. The ability of V. alginolyticus ATCC 17749 to utilize iron-containing compounds was tested by agar plate growth promotion assay. It was also confirmed by liquid growth promotion assay where iron was restricted by 400 μM 2,2’-Bipyridyl. After that various iron sources of concentrations ranging from 0.1 μM to 10 μM were added for growth promotion of V. alginolyticus. Ferrous sulfate, ferrioxamine and hemin stimulated the growth of V. alginolyticus as a sole iron source while catechol and ferric dicitrate did not stimulate growth. Vibrio alginolyticus supernatant was found to be hemolytic and on the blood agar plate, V. alginolyticus ATCC 17749 showed a hemolytic zone. According to our research, hemolysin synthesis is strongly influenced by the iron concentration of the growth medium. Hemin is used as the only source of iron and hemolysis might represent virulence traits of Vibrio alginolyticus. Iron utilization systems might be a potential target for antibiotics or a controlling point for hemolysin expression.