Vibrio vulnificus strain 101/4

Vibrio vulnificus strain 101/4 is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that thrives in aquatic environments as a heterotrophic organism. This strain is characterized by its facultative anaerobic metabolism, allowing it to survive in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor conditions. It is motile, possessing flagella that facilitate movement, and typically exists as single cells. This strain is mesophilic, with an optimal growth temperature of 20°C, which supports its proliferation in warm marine and estuarine environments. The organism has a single replicon and is surrounded by two membranes, indicative of its classification within the Proteobacteria phylum. Vibrio vulnificus strain 101/4 exhibits a free-living biotic relationship, primarily interacting with various hosts, including Homo sapiens, Penaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp), Ostreidae (oysters), Tegillarca granosa (a species of clam), and Anguilla japonica (Japanese eel). Notably, this strain is pathogenic to humans, capable of causing severe health effects such as pneumonia, peritonitis, wound infections, septicaemia, necrotizing fasciitis, sepsis, vibriosis, gastroenteritis, septic shock, and myositis, among others. The severity of these infections can lead to life-threatening conditions, including necrotizing soft tissue infections and death. Ecologically, the presence of Vibrio vulnificus in aquatic habitats underscores the importance of monitoring environmental conditions, especially concerning public health risks associated with seafood consumption and exposure to contaminated water, particularly in warmer climates where the bacterium flourishes.