African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5235

Effect of Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation on the virulence genes expression in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus

Rihab Lagha1#, Fethi Ben Abdallah1, 2*#, Ali Ellafi1, Héla Kallel2 and Amina Bakhrouf1        
1Laboratoire  d’Analyse, Traitement et Valorisation des Polluants de l’Environnement et des Produits, Faculté de Pharmacie Rue Avicenne. Monastir 5000, Tunisie. 2Unité de Fermentation et de Développement de Vaccins Virologiques, Institut Pasteur de Tunis.13 place Pasteur, 1002, Tunisie.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 29 December 2011
  •  Published: 30 May 2012

Abstract

In this study, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus, marine foodborne pathogens, were treated with Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation (240 J.m-2) to evaluate alterations in their virulence genes expression levels. Firstly, we searched for the presence of eight Vibrio cholerae virulence genes, toxRtoxStoxRSctxAzotacetoxT, and virulence pathogenicity island (VPI), in the genome of investigated strains. The expression of toxR and toxS genes in UVC-irradiated bacteria, studied by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, was found to be altered. These variations were manifested by an increase or a decrease in the expression level of tested virulence genes. Further, the mRNA quantities of VPI and ace genes remained stable after treatment.

 

Key words: Vibrio, Ultraviolet-C (UV-C), alteration, virulence genes expression, RT-PCR.