Can Non‐Toxigenic <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> Reduce a Cholera Infection?

Vibrio cholerae, is the causative agent of cholera, that infects millions, annually. Chironomids are aquatic insects host V. cholerae. Toxigenic strains produce cholera toxin (CT) which main virulence factor causes symptoms. In contrast to other bacterial pathogens, cholerae produces CT when at low cell densities while hemagglutinin/protease (HAP) a high density-controlled gene. When behavior was examined on chironomids, we showed non-toxigenic strains, increased HAP production in toxigenic strain, conditions could also potentially reduce production. Here propose value studies support potential repress gene expression cholera-infected humans. High strain present an infected individual, may down-regulate expression, reducing To further test hypothesis supported by chironomid model, additional experiments animal models first needed.