Predicting virulence ofAeromonasisolates based on changes in transcription of c-jun and c-fos in human tissue culture cells

To screen for the virulence potential of Aeromonas isolates based on the change in regulation of c-jun and c-fos in the human intestinal tissue culture cell line Caco-2.Aeromonas cells were added to Caco-2 cells at a ratio of approx. 1 : 1. After 1-, 2- and 3-h incubation at 37 degrees C, mRNA was extracted from the cells and gene expression of two host genes, c-jun and c-fos, quantified. Aeromonas isolates which were pathogenic in the neonatal mouse model demonstrated up-regulation of c-jun and c-fos compared to avirulent isolates.Human cell culture results showed that c-jun and c-fos were predictive of Aeromonas virulence.An Aeromonas relative virulence scale is proposed for use in the testing of Aeromonas drinking water isolates.