Vibrio cholerae O1 biovar El Tor (V. cholerae O1 El Tor) (V. cholerae O1 El Tor)

Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor biotype is a Gram-negative bacterium and the predominant cause of cholera globally, responsible for the ongoing seventh pandemic (WHO, 2023). This biotype is distinguished from the classical biotype by its resistance to polymyxin B, hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes, and a tendency to cause more asymptomatic or mild infections (CDC, 2022). The organism's pathogenicity is primarily driven by the secretion of cholera toxin, which triggers massive fluid secretion into the intestinal lumen by increasing intracellular cAMP (StatPearls, 2023). Therapeutic strategies targeting this pathogen include the use of oral rehydration salts and antibiotics like doxycycline or azithromycin, which inhibit bacterial protein synthesis (PubMed, 2021). Additionally, oral cholera vaccines provide protection by inducing mucosal antibodies against the O1 surface antigens and the toxin's B-subunit (NIH, 2022). Rapid identification of this biotype is crucial for pandemic surveillance and directing public health responses, especially as the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in El Tor strains remains a significant global health challenge (Nature, 2022).

Other names

Vibrio cholerae biotype El TorVibrio cholerae serogroup O1 biotype El TorV. cholerae El TorEl Tor vibrio

Antibiotics inhibit bacterial protein synthesis or DNA replication, while vaccines stimulate mucosal immunity against O1 antigens and the cholera toxin B-subunit.