ROLE OF A PROTEASE IN THE ADHERENCE AND ENTEROTOXICITY OF VIBRIO-MIMICUS

The role of protease in the intestinal adherence and enterotoxicity of Vibrio mimicus strain E-33 was investigated by using in vivo ligated rabbit ileal loop model, V. mimicus protease (VMP) was negative in flu id accumulation in the rabbit ileal loop. However, pre-treatment of th e loop with purified VMP induced the elevation of fluid accumulation c aused by the vibrios with the enhancement of bacterial adherence to th e corresponding intestinal mucosa. The augmentation in the fluid accum ulation could also be observed in the loop upon supplementation with V MP. In contrast, adherence to the mucosa was reduced by the simultaneo us inoculation of VMP. The elevation in the fluid accumulation could a lso be observed in the loop supplemented or pre-treated with protease from V. cholerae or V. vulnificus. Furthermore, when the vibrios in th e loops were accompanied by anti-VMP IgG antibody or inhibitors for VM P, such as ethyleneglycol-bis (beta-aminoethylether)-N, N, N', N',-tet raacetic acid or tetraethylenepentamine, reductions in the adherence i ndices with consequent reductions in the fluid accumulations were obse rved. It is therefore, suggested that the protease produced by the pat hogen contributes significantly toward the pathogenicity of V. mimicus .