Mechanisms of the evolutionary arms race between Vibrio cholerae and Vibriophage clinical isolates

Authors

  • Minmin Yen
  • Andrew Camilli

Keywords:

Vibrio cholerae, Vibriophage, evolution, cholera

Abstract

This review highlights recent findings on the evolutionary arms race between the causative agent of cholera Vibrio
cholerae and virulent bacteriophages (phages) ICP1, ICP2, and ICP3 isolated from cholera patient stool samples. We discuss
mechanisms of phage resistance such as a unique phage-inhibitory chromosomal island and mutations that affect phage receptor
expression. We also discuss the molecular characterization of ICP1 and its unique CRISPR-Cas system, which it uses to combat
the phage-inhibitory chromosomal island. The role of phages in the life cycle of V. cholerae has been increasingly recognized and
investigated in the past decade. This article will review hypotheses as to how the predator-prey relationship may have an impact
on infections within individuals and on the self-limiting nature of cholera epidemics. In addition, we put forth a strategy of using
phages as an intervention to reduce household transmission of cholera within a community.

Author Biographies

Minmin Yen

Department of Molecular Biology & Microbiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Tufts University School of
Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA

Andrew Camilli

Department of Molecular Biology & Microbiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Tufts University School of
Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA

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Published

2018-02-27

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Research Reviews

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