Characterization of a <i>Vibrio alginolyticus</i> Strain, Isolated from Alaskan Oysters, Carrying a Hemolysin Gene Similar to the Thermostable Direct Hemolysin-Related Hemolysin Gene ( <i>trh</i> ) of <i>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</i>

Abstract

A Vibrio strain isolated from Alaskan oysters and classified by its biochemical characteristics as Vibrio alginolyticus possessed a thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin (trh) gene previously reported only in Vibrio parahaemolyticus. This trh-like gene was cloned and sequenced and was 98% identical to the trh2 gene of V. parahaemolyticus. This gene seems to be functional since it was transcriptionally active in early-stationary-phase growing cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of V. alginolyticus possessing a trh gene.