# PATHOGENESIS OF NONENTERIC DISEASES BY MARINE VIBRIOS

> **NIH NIH R01** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $99,673

## Abstract

The halophilic bacteria Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio damsela are found in
marine and estuarine environments and are increasingly recognized
etiological agents of severe wound infections and life-threatening
septicemia in humans.  The long-term objective of the research described in
this application is to identify and characterize the potential
extracellular virulence factors of the bacteria in order to aid the
diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of the diseases they cause.  Previous
studies by the PI have focused on the purification and characterization of
lethal, tissue-damaging cytolytic toxins (membrane-damaging toxins)
produced by V. vulnificus and V. damsela, and a lethal, tissue-damaging
elastolytic protease produced by V. vulnificus.  The specific aim of the
research described in the application is to evaluate the importance of the
previously isolated cytolysins and the elastase in the pathogenesis of
experimental diseases caused by the bacteria.  Studies to determine whether
in vivo production and action of the three tissue-damaging substances are
important virulence factors of the bacteria will include:  (i) determining
whether active and passive immunization against the isolated cytolysins
and/or elastase protects mice against tissue damage or death after
challenge with the bacteria, (ii) determining whether isogenic mutants
specifically lacking the ability to express the putative virulence factors
are less virulent for mice than are the parental, wild-type strains, (iii)
determining whether parenteral administration of the isolated products
enhances the virulence of the isogenic mutants for mice, (iv) using light
and electron microscopy to determine whether the tissue damage elicited by
the isolated products mimics that produced in mice by the replicating
bacteria, and (v) determining whether the products are synthesized in vivo
during the development of the infectious diseases in mice.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127738
- **Project number:** 5R01AI018184-06
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MBU6HCLNZ431
- **Principal Investigator:** ARNOLD S KREGER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $99,673
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-09-30 → 1989-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127738

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127738, PATHOGENESIS OF NONENTERIC DISEASES BY MARINE VIBRIOS (5R01AI018184-06). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127738. Licensed CC0.

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