Detection of Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin in V. vulnificus-infected mice.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for V. vulnificus cytolysin detected the toxin in an extract of skin lesions and in serum from mice showing local and systemic V. vulnificus disease after subcutaneous injection of the bacterium. The cytolysin also was detected in skin lesions by an indirect immunofluorescence procedure using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Our findings provide direct evidence that the cytolysin is produced in vivo during the development of the disease process, and this observation is consistent with the hypothesis that the toxin is involved in the pathogenesis of V. vulnificus disease.