Bile Salts Promote ToxR Regulon Activation during Growth under Virulence-Inducing Conditions

Abstract

Cholera is an epidemic disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae . V. cholerae is found in aquatic ecosystems and infects people through the consumption of V. cholerae -contaminated food or water. Following ingestion, V. cholerae responds to host cues to activate the expression of critical virulence genes that are under the control of a hierarchical regulatory system called the ToxR regulon.