In humans, cholera is one of the deadly diseases and is found in densely-populated areas with limited sanitation and clean water. In aquatic environments, the same bacterium attacks neighboring microbes with a toxic spear – often stealing DNA from other microorganisms to expand its own capabilities.
A new study conducted by Moore Foundation grantees at the Georgia Institute of Technology examined more than 50 samples of vibrio cholera isolated from both patients and the environment.
In the environment, the cholera bacterium is commonly found attached to chitin, a complex sugar used by animals such as crabs and zooplankton to form protective shells. In the wild, most strains of cholera can degrade the shells for use as food.
This new study indicates how the presence of chitin can signal the bacteria – which have receptors for the material – to produce behaviors different from those seen in human disease. These results demonstrate the resourcefulness of the organism, and provide information that could lead to development of better therapeutic agents against cholera.
Find more information about this study at Phys.org.
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