Final answer:
Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative bacterium with a curved rod shape, known to cause cholera. It is identified by culturing samples on TCBS agar, which differentiates it from other pathogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The shape of Vibrio cholerae, which is a gram-negative bacterium, is described as a curved rod or comma-shaped. This microorganism is responsible for the infectious disease cholera, characterized by profuse watery diarrhea and dehydration due to the production of cholera toxin (CT). The CT gene is introduced into the V. cholerae chromosome by specialized transduction via the CTX phage, a process known as horizontal gene transfer.
Vibrio cholerae thrives in alkaline aquatic environments and can cause serious outbreaks, especially where sanitation is poor. It is a member of the order Vibrionales, which includes other vibrio species that can also lead to gastrointestinal diseases through the consumption of contaminated water or seafood.
The identification of V. cholerae is carried out by culturing stool samples on selective media such as thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS) agar, which assists in isolating this pathogen from others due to distinct colony coloration and characteristics.