1.) Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative, curved-shaped bacterialpathogen which causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle crampsafter consuming fecal contaminated water. Cholera killed thousandsof people during the 1800’s as people traveled West to colonize theUnited States and more recently in Haiti after a devastatingearthquake in 2010. Vibrio’s ability to cause potentially deadlydiarrhea is due to a toxin it secretes called Cholera Toxin (CT).Vibrio is thought to have gained the gene which codes for CT from abacteriophage.
A.) Which form of horizontal gene transfer (conjugation,transduction OR transformation) allowed Vibrio to produce thecholera toxin? (1p)
B.) Briefly describe the steps involved during this particularform of horizontal gene transfer. (2pts)
C.) Research and briefly explain how the rapiddipstick test works for identification of V. cholerae. Is itbiochemical, immunological or genetic identification? (2pts)
