Identification of pandemic clade-specific genetic marker with genomic insight into Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Issued Date
2026-01-01
Resource Type
eISSN
25168290
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105040527433
Journal Title
Access Microbiology
Volume
8
Issue
2
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Access Microbiology Vol.8 No.2 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Morita M., Okada K., Tandhavanant S., Hiyoshi H., Arakawa E., Izumiya H., Roobthaisong A., Wongboot W., Akyeh M.L., Iida T., Akeda Y., Kodama T. Identification of pandemic clade-specific genetic marker with genomic insight into Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Access Microbiology Vol.8 No.2 (2026). doi:10.1099/acmi.0.001067.v4 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/117132
Title
Identification of pandemic clade-specific genetic marker with genomic insight into Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a foodborne pathogen commonly present in seafood. Of the various V. parahaemolyticus serotypes reported, O3:K6, O1:K25, O1:KUT and O4:K68 represent the major serotypes among pandemic clones that emerged from 1995 onward. However, new molecular markers of pandemic clones remain unidentified, and limited genomic sequence data are available for non-pandemic strains. Therefore, we aimed to identify novel genetic markers specific to pandemic V. parahaemolyticus strains by comparing non-pandemic and pandemic strains using whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of 163 V. parahaemolyticus strains revealed high genomic diversity within the species. The analysis also revealed a pandemic clade consisting of serotypes O3:K6, O1:K25, O1:KUT and O4:K68 strains isolated after 1995. We identified the genomic island GI-110 (VPaI-5) as a potential marker exclusive to the pandemic clade. Multiplex PCR detection of VPaI-5 demonstrated high specificity for pandemic strains, outperforming the detection of existing markers. The capacity of multiplex PCR for VPaI5 in distinguishing between pandemic and non-pandemic strains was confirmed using clinical isolates from Thailand. Our findings provide valuable insights into the genetic diversity of V. parahaemolyticus and establish a reliable method for monitoring pandemic strains.