FIGURE 1.

Iron sources available in the environmental niches of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. V. parahaemolyticus is an obligate halophilic organism, meaning that it requires salt to live. This organism is naturally occurring and found worldwide. It can commonly be found free swimming or attached to underwater surfaces and is found at high concentrations in areas of significant seafood consumption. Humans can acquire V. parahaemolyticus infection from infected seafood; once infected, established V. parahaemolyticus can acquire iron from different iron-containing proteins, such as hemoglobin (Hb) and transferrin (Tf).