Comparison of outer membrane protein profiles of Vibrio vulnificus biotypes 1 and 2.

The outer membrane proteins of 17 Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 strains from Japanese and European eels, and 12 biotype 1 strains from clinical and environmental sources have been compared. The overall profile in both biotypes was similar, and a major protein band of molecular mass 36 kDa was detected in the majority of the strains. Differences in the minor bands allowed differentiation of strains from different origins, suggesting that outer membrane protein profiles could be useful as epidemiological markers in the species V. vulnificus. Immunoblotting with antisera to whole cells of selected strains of biotypes 1 and 2 showed a strong antigenic response to outer membrane proteins 66, 60, 48, 46 and 44 kDa; these were common to all strains examined, independent of their biotypes and origins. These results demonstrate the presence of antigenically related outer membrane proteins in both biotypes of V. vulnificus.