Iron shortage and bile salts play a major role in the expression of ompK gene in Vibrio anguillarum.

The outer membrane protein K, OmpK first identified in Vibrio parahaemolyticus has been shown to be a receptor for a broad host range vibriophage KVP40 infecting members of the Vibrionaceae. In the study, the effect of culture conditions on the expression of ompK in V. anguillarum was studied using real-time PCR. The expression increased significantly in the presence of bile salts and iron chelating agent 2, 2' bipyridine, suggesting a role for this protein in bile resistance and also in iron acquisition by V. anguillarum. OmpK induction by iron limitation and the presence of bile salts was reconfirmed by western blot technique after growing the cells in trypticase soy broth supplemented with bile salts, blood and 2, 2' bipyridine. We surmise that the expression of OmpK protein of V. anguillarum is bile salt and iron chelating agent-dependent.