Vibrio cholerae lives in water and gets toxin genes from a virus by phage conversion.The toxin kills the intestinal epithelial cells in the human host,resulting in massive diarrhea.Untreated cholera has about a 50% mortality rate.How do the bacteria benefit?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Vibrio cholerae benefits by causing massive diarrhea in the human host because this helps the bacteria to spread from person to person. The bacteria are shed in the feces and can contaminate water supplies, leading to further infections. Therefore, the bacteria rely on the human host to spread and survive.

Vibrio Cholerae Lives in Water and Gets Toxin Genes from a Virus