The role of filamentous CTXphi bacteriophage in Vibrio cholerae genetics and diversity

Cholera toxin is the most important virulence factor of epidemic Vibrio cholerae strains. It is encoded by ctxAB operon that is a part of the genome of a filamentous bacteriophage (CTXphi). This bacteriophage plays an important role in the evolution and pathogenesis of V. cholerae and genetic variations that occur within the genome of this bacteriophage affect V. cholerae toxicity and potential to cause epidemics and can be used as a powerful tool in epidemiological investigations.
Source: Reviews in Medical Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Tags: Bacteriology Source Type: research