Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Vol.104, No.19, 8187-8208, 2020
Motility of Vibrio spp.: regulation and controlling strategies
Flagellar motility in bacteria is a highly regulated and complex cellular process that requires high energy investment for movement and host colonization. Motility plays an important role in the lifestyle ofVibriospp. in the aquatic environment and during host colonization. Flagellar motility in vibrios is associated with several cellular processes, such as movement, colonization, adhesion, biofilm formation, and virulence. The transcription of all flagella-related genes occurs hierarchically and is regulated positively or negatively by several transcription factors and regulatory proteins. The flagellar regulatory hierarchy is well studied inVibrio choleraeandVibrio parahaemolyticus. Here, we compared the regulatory cascade and molecules involved in the flagellar motility ofV. choleraeandV. parahaemolyticusin detail. The evolutionary relatedness of the master regulator of the polar and lateral flagella in differentVibriospecies is also discussed. Although they can form symbiotic associations of someVibriospecies with humans and aquatic organisms can be harmed by several species ofVibrioas a result of surface contact, characterized by flagellar movement. Thus, targeting flagellar motility in pathogenicVibriospecies is considered a promising approach to control Vibrio infections. This approach, along with the strategies for controlling flagellar motility in different species ofVibriousing naturally derived and chemically synthesized compounds, is discussed in this review.