Original data: :A Novel Membrane Virulence Factor of Vibrio fluvialis Triggering Pyroptosis

Vibrio fluvialis is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that has been increasingly linked to a wide range of infections in both humans and animals, posing a growing and critical threat to public health. This study identified V. fluvialis cytotoxic membrane protein (Vcmp) as a novel membrane virulence factor that plays a pivotal role in the cytotoxicity and bacterial pathogenicity of V. fluvialis and can induce pyroptosis in host cells. Mechanistically, VcmP activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, a critical mediator of the inflammatory response, resulting in pyroptosis characterized by the secretion of interleukin-1β, activation of caspase-1, and cleavage of gasdermin D. The extracellular segment of VcmP (c-VcmP) is its crucial active site, which activates the JNK-NLRP3 signaling pathway by binding to the host cell membranes. Chelation of Ca²⁺/ROS abrogated c-VcmP-induced pyroptosis, confirming their essential roles in the JNK-NLRP3 pathway.