Bacterium that causes cholera, the life threatening aspects of which are caused by the exotoxin (see cholera toxin).
Short, slightly curved rods, highly motile (single polar flagellum), gram-negative. Adhere to intestinal epithelium (adhesion mechanism unknown) and produce enzymes (neuraminidase, proteases) that facilitate access of the bacterium to the epithelial surface.
(18 Nov 1997)