Identification of a DNA Methyltransferase Gene Carried on a Pathogenicity Island-Like Element (VPAI) in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Its Prevalence among Clinical and Environmental Isolates

摘要

In this study we identified a putative virulence-associated DNA methyltransferase (MTase) gene carried on a novel 22.79-kb pathogenicity island-like element (VPAI) in V. parahaemolyticus. The V. parahaemolyticus MTase gene was shown by PCR to be prevalent (>98%) in pandemic thermostable direct hemolysin gene-positive isolates, which suggests that VPAI may confer unique virulence traits to pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticus.