Cytotoxic cell vacuolating activity from Vibrio cholerae hemolysin

A Vibro cholerae cytotoxin, designated VcVac, was found to cause vacuolatio n in Vero cells. It was originally detected in the pathogenic O1 Amazonia v ariant of V cholerae and later shown to be produced in environmental strain s and some El Tor strains. Comparison of VcVac production in various strain s suggested that hemolysin was responsible for the vacuolating phenotype. G enetic experiments established a firm correlation between vacuolation and h emolysin production. The mammalian cell vacuolating activity of the V. chol erae hemolysin is a new property of this protein and points to a previously unknown type of interaction between V. cholerae and its host.