High Proteolytic and Collagenolytic Activity in an Environmental Vibrio Isolate: Insights into Tissue-Degrading Virulence Factors

Abstract

Vibrio is a genus of ubiquitous aquatic bacteria that includes numerous pathogenic species. Their remarkable genomic plasticity and rapid evolution make them of particular interest from both clinical and ecological perspectives. Successful infection by Vibrio species often relies on multiple virulence factors, including secreted enzymes. Here, we report the characterization of a novel environmental Vibrio strain isolated from a wild octopus that developed fulminant septicaemia accompanied by widespread soft tissue lysis. These severe symptoms prompted a detailed investigation into the bacterium’s identity and enzymatic profile, focused on proteases as potential virulence factors. Multi-locus sequence analysis placed the isolate within the Harveyi clade but revealed no perfect match to known strains, supporting its designation as a novel strain. Biochemical assays demonstrated strong proteolytic—including collagenolytic—activity, which makes this strain a promising source of enzymes for biotechnological applications.