Cholera is a life-threatening infection spread primarily through water contaminated with the gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae.  In Drs. Jeffrey Withey and Ryan Thummel’s (et. al.) recent 2022 paper, “Neutophil-Associated Responses to V. cholerae Infection in a Natural Host Model,” published in the American Society for Microbiology's journal, Infection and Immunity, they demonstrate the unique inflammatory response to cholera infection in a zebrafish model. Specifically, the zebrafish produced a significant neutrophil and interleukin 8 response following V. cholerae infection. This further establishes the importance of zebrafish as a model of V. cholerae infection immunology. Of additional significance, is the relationship between the neutrophil-associated protein calprotectin and V. cholerae. This has never before been demonstrated in zebrafish and has significant implications for both future diagnostic and therapeutic research.

“This was our first opportunity to collaborate with the Withey lab and it was great to work with his team,” Thummel said.  “We were grateful to be a part of this manuscript and look forward to exciting collaborations in the future!” 

For more information and a link to the full article, click below:

Neutrophil-Associated Responses to Vibrio cholerae Infection in a Natural Host Model | Infection and Immunity (asm.org)