AUTHOR=Yuan Yuan , Feng Zihan , Wang Jinglin 

TITLE=Vibrio vulnificus Hemolysin: Biological Activity, Regulation of vvhA Expression, and Role in Pathogenesis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.599439

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.599439

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>The <italic>Vibrio vulnificus</italic> (<italic>V. vulnificus</italic>) hemolysin (VVH) is a pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC). Although there has been some debate surrounding the <italic>in vivo</italic> virulence effects of the VVH, it is becoming increasingly clear that it drives different cellular outcomes and is involved in the pathogenesis of <italic>V. vulnificus</italic>. This minireview outlines recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of <italic>vvhA</italic> gene expression, the biological activity of the VVH and its role in pathogenesis. An in-depth examination of the role of the VVH in <italic>V. vulnificus</italic> pathogenesis will help reveal the potential targets for therapeutic and preventive interventions to treat fatal <italic>V. vulnificus</italic> septicemia in humans. Future directions in VVH research will also be discussed.</p>