Which statement about virulent strains of Vibrio cholerae is not true?

Which statement about virulent strains of Vibrio cholerae is not true?

• A. Nonmotile
• B. Adherent to enterocytes
• C. Mucinase production
• D. Toxigenic

Answer: (A)

Vibrio cholerae virulence hinges on motility, adhesion, mucus penetration, and toxin production. Virulent strains are motile because they possess a single polar flagellum that lets the bacteria swim through the intestinal mucus toward the epithelium. Saying they are nonmotile contradicts this key feature, so that statement is not true. In addition, these bacteria adhere to enterocytes via structures like the toxin-coregulated pilus to establish colonization, produce enzymes such as mucinase to help penetrate the mucus layer, and are toxigenic, producing cholera toxin that drives the large-volume watery diarrhea characteristic of infection.

Vibrio cholerae virulence hinges on motility, adhesion, mucus penetration, and toxin production. Virulent strains are motile because they possess a single polar flagellum that lets the bacteria swim through the intestinal mucus toward the epithelium. Saying they are nonmotile contradicts this key feature, so that statement is not true. In addition, these bacteria adhere to enterocytes via structures like the toxin-coregulated pilus to establish colonization, produce enzymes such as mucinase to help penetrate the mucus layer, and are toxigenic, producing cholera toxin that drives the large-volume watery diarrhea characteristic of infection.