It’s time to act: Understanding and combating Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio vulnificus is a highly pathogenic marine bacterium that can cause life-threatening conditions such as septicemia and necrotizing fasciitis; in medically fragile individuals, mortality rates can exceed 50%. Its virulence factors, including the MARTX toxin and hemolysin VvhA, function to disrupt host cells, evade immune responses, and facilitate bacterial dissemination. Climate warming has dramatically expanded the geographic range of V. vulnificus, doubling infection risks in high-latitude northern waters, while microplastic pollution and extreme weather events further enhance its ecological adaptability. High-risk populations, such as patients with liver disease, immunocompromised individuals, and coastal workers, face elevated mortality due to iron metabolism disorders or frequent exposure. Traditional diagnostic pathogen culture methods are time-consuming and lack sensitivity, whereas technologies such as CRISPR-Cas12a enable quick detection with a sensitivity of 1-10 CFU/mL, facilitating timely intervention. The standard treatment for V. vulnificus infections relies on doxycycline combined with cefotaxime; however, rising antibiotic resistance, poses a significant challenge. This challenge underscores the need to develop alternative strategies, such as virulence-targeted therapies and immunomodulatory approaches .Multivalent vaccines such as RtxA1/VvhA fusion antigens offer broad-spectrum protection, while nanoparticle delivery systems and mucosal vaccines like Lactobacillus-based oral vaccines may enhance immune responses. Future efforts must integrate a "monitoring-blocking-treatment" framework, combining satellite-based early-warning systems, CRISPR rapid detection, and climate-medicine modeling. International collaboration is essential to implement vaccination programs for high-risk groups and enforce seafood safety protocols. Addressing the public health threat of V. vulnificus in the era of climate change demands interdisciplinary innovation and global governance.