Polymorphism and mutational diversity of virulence (vcgCPI/vcgCPE) and resistance determinants (aac(3)-IIa, (aacC2, strA, Sul 1, and 11) among human pathogenic Vibrio species recovered from surface waters in South-Western districts of Uganda

BACKGROUND: Vibrio species are among the autochthonous bacterial populations found in surface waters and associated with various life-threatening extraintestinal diseases, especially in human populations with underlying illnesses and wound infections. Presently, very diminutive information exists regarding these species’ mutational diversity of virulence and resistance genes. This study evaluated variations in endonucleases and mutational diversity of the virulence and resistance genes of Vibrio isolates, harboring virulence-correlated gene (vcgCPI), dihydropteroate synthase type 1 and type II genes (Sul 1 and 11), (aadA) aminoglycoside (3′′) (9) adenylyltransferase gene, (aac(3)-IIa, (aacC2)a, aminoglycoside N(3)-acetyltransferase III, and (strA) aminoglycoside 3′-phosphotransferase resistance genes. METHODS: Using combinations of molecular biology techniques, bioinformatics tools, and sequence analysis. RESULTS: Our result revealed various nucleotide variations in virulence determinants of V. vulnificus (vcgCPI) at nucleotide positions (codon) 73–75 (A → G) and 300–302 (N → S). The aminoglycosides resistance gene (aadA) of Vibrio species depicts a nucleotide difference at position 482 (A → G), while the aminoglycosides resistance gene (sul 1 and 11) showed two variable regions of nucleotide polymorphism (102 and 140). The amino acid differences exist with the nucleotide polymorphism at position 140 (A → E). The banding patterns produced by the restriction enzymes HinP1I, MwoI, and StyD4I showed significant variations. Also, the restriction enzyme digestion of protein dihydropteroate synthase type 1 and type II genes (Sul 1 and 11) differed significantly, while enzymes DpnI and Hinf1 indicate no significant differences. The restriction enzyme NlaIV showed no band compared to reference isolates from the GenBank. However, the resistant determinants show significant point nucleotide mutation, which does not produce any amino acid change with diverse polymorphic regions, as revealed in the restriction digest profile. CONCLUSION: The described virulence and resistance determinants possess specific polymorphic locus relevant to pathogenomics studies, pharmacogenomic, and control of such water-associated strains. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43141-023-00554-1.