Are Noncoding Sequences of Rickettsia prowazekii Remnants of ``Neutralized' Genes?

It has been hypothesized that a large fraction of 24% noncoding DNA in R. prowazekii consists of degraded genes. This hypothesis has been based on the relatively high G+C content of noncoding DNA. However, a comparison with other genomes also having a low overall G+C content shows that this argument would also apply to other bacteria. To test this hypothesis, we study the coding potential in sets of genes, pseudogenes, and intergenic regions. We find that the correlation function and the χ²-measure are clearly indicative of the coding function of genes and pseudogenes. However, both coding potentials make almost no indication of a preexisting reading frame in the remaining 23% of noncoding DNA. We simulate the degradation of genes due to single-nucleotide substitutions and insertions/deletions and quantify the number of mutations required to remove indications of the reading frame. We discuss a reduced selection pressure as another possible origin of this comparatively large fraction of noncoding sequences. Received: 27 December 1999 / Accepted: 5 July 2000     

Rickettsia infection in five areas of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

This study investigated rickettsial infection in animals, humans, ticks, and fleas collected in five areas of the state of S?o Paulo. Eight flea species (Adoratopsylla antiquorum antiquorum, Ctenocephalides felis felis, Polygenis atopus, Polygenis rimatus, Polygenis roberti roberti, Polygenis tripus, Rhopalopsyllus lugubris, and Rhopalopsyllus lutzi lutzi), and five tick species (Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma dubitatum, Ixodes loricatus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) were collected from dogs, cats, and opossums. Rickettsia felis was the only rickettsia found infecting fleas, whereas Rickettsia bellii was the only agent infecting ticks, but no animal or human blood was shown to contain rickettsial DNA. Testing animal and human sera by indirect immunofluorescence assay against four rickettsia antigens (R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. felis, and R. bellii), some opossum, dog, horse, and human sera reacted to R. rickettsii with titers at least four-fold higher than to the other three rickettsial antigens. These sera were considered to have a predominant antibody response to R. rickettsii. Using the same criteria, opossum, dog, and horse sera showed predominant antibody response to R. parkeri or a very closely related genotype. Our serological results suggest that both R. rickettsii and R. parkeri infected animals and/or humans in the studied areas.     

On the nature of obligate intracellular symbiosis of rickettsiae — Rickettsia prowazekii cells import mitochondrial porin

Mitochondrial porin was identified in Rickettsia prowazekii by Western blot analysis of whole cells and membrane fractions with monoclonal antibody against porin VDAC 1 of animal mitochondria. Using the BLAST server, no protein sequences homologous to mitochondrial porin were found among the rickettsial genomes. Rickettsiae also do not contain their own porin. The protein imported by rickettsiae is weakly extracted by nonionic detergents and, like porin in mitochondria, is insensitive to proteinase K in whole cells. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that it localizes to the outer membrane of the bacterial cells. These data support an earlier suggestion about import by rickettsiae of indispensable proteins from cytoplasm of the host cell as a molecular basis of obligate intracellular parasitism. They are also consistent with the hypothesis invoking a transfer of genes specifying surface proteins from the last common ancestor of rickettsiae and mitochondria to the host genome, and preservation by rickettsiae of the primitive ability to import these proteins.     

昆虫次生内共生菌Rickettsia研究进展

Rickettsia隶属于变形菌纲Proteobacteria的α亚群立克次体科Rickettsiaceae革兰氏阴性菌,是形态多样的次生真核细胞内共生菌。Rickettsia的功能是多样的,在一些宿主中为营养共生菌,在另一些宿主中为生殖调控因子,或以昆虫为载体的植物病原菌,此外,Rickettsia还能增强宿主抗药性,提高宿主抵御天敌、高温或者其它致死因素的能力。本综述主要从Rickettsia的起源、分类、在昆虫体内的分布、传播方式、与昆虫生殖调控的关系以及基因组进化等方面,简述Rickettsia的研究进展,重点提出了Rickettsia研究中一些尚未解决的问题,期望通过这些研究进一步明确Rickettsia与昆虫之间的互作关系。     

昆虫共生细菌Rickettsia的研究进展

Rickettsia是传播和引起人类与其他脊椎动物疾病的胞内共生菌。引起脊椎动物疾病的这些Rickettsia, 其部分生活史是在节肢动物体内完成的;而另外许多Rickettsia, 其整个生活史都是在宿主节肢动物体内完成。为了叙述方便, 把前者称为脊椎动物Rickettsia, 后者称为节肢动物Rickettsia。过去的研究主要集中在医学上具有重大意义的脊椎动物Rickettsia, 而关于节肢动物Rickettsia的生物学特性等研究则相对较少。近年来, 研究者们加大了对昆虫Rickettsia的研究, 发现昆虫Rickettsia广泛分布于昆虫中, 且有两种存在形式。其可以通过垂直卵传的方式在世代间传递, 也可以通过寄生蜂和寄主植物达到在昆虫之间传播的目的。昆虫Rickettsia可通过诱导孤雌生殖、 诱导杀雄等方式影响宿主的生殖行为。其对不同宿主昆虫可产生对宿主有利或有害的作用;可增强宿主昆虫抵御高温和寄生蜂的能力, 与宿主昆虫对药剂的敏感性相关。最后, 昆虫Rickettsia具有一个简化的基因组, 且存在进一步减小的可能性。     

内共生菌Rickettsia对烟粉虱生物学特性的影响

【目的】阐明次生共生菌Rickettsia对烟粉虱生物学特性的影响。【方法】Rickettsia阳性(B~+)和阴性(B~–)的烟粉虱在Rickettsia阳性棉花(C~+)和阴性棉花(C~–)上取食15 d,调查不同处理组烟粉虱的单雌产卵量、发育历期、存活率、成虫寿命以及F_1代雌雄比。【结果】(1)Rickettsia与烟粉虱共生可显著缩短烟粉虱的发育历期,B~+C~+及B~+C~–两处理组烟粉虱卵-成虫的世代发育历期均短于B~–C~+及B~–C~–两处理组。(2)Rickettsia可以提高烟粉虱各龄期的存活率,B~+C~+、B~+C~–、B~–C~+、B~–C~–各处理组烟粉虱世代存活率依次呈下降趋势。(3)Rickettsia对烟粉虱种群的雌雄比也有重要的影响,B~–C~+和B~–C~–处理组中烟粉虱种群雌性比显著小于B~+C~+和B~+C~–烟粉虱处理组。(4)Rickettsia可以影响烟粉虱成虫的寿命及繁殖力,Rickettsia阳性烟粉虱处理组成虫寿命及平均单雌产卵量显著高于阴性处理组。【结论】Rickettsia与烟粉虱共生以及Rickettsia在棉花植株中的存留对烟粉虱的发育、存活以及成虫雌性比、寿命和繁殖力都有有利影响,且Rickettsia与烟粉虱共生时对烟粉虱的影响力度要明显强于Rickettsia存留于棉花植株中时对烟粉虱产生的影响。     

烟粉虱内共生菌Rickettsia在植物体内的形态及动态变化

[目的]通过研究烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci取食传入植物体内的昆虫内共生菌种类,探明其在不同植物中的分布形态及时空动态.[方法]以B型烟粉虱、棉花、番茄、豇豆为实验材料,利用常规PCR检测烟粉虱取食后传入植物体内的共生菌种类;利用透射电镜(Transmission electron microscope,TEM)检测Rickettsia传入植物后的分布及形态;利用q-PCR技术检测豇豆叶片中Rickettsia含量的动态变化.[结果]B型烟粉虱体内含有原生共生菌P0rtiera、次生共生菌Ricfettsia,Hamiltonella和Hemipteriphilus,但只检测到Rickettsia可经烟粉虱传入棉花、番茄、豇豆植物体内,并可在植物体内存活、转移.在3种植物体内Rickettsia均分布于叶片韧皮部的筛管细胞中.烟粉虱、棉花、番茄组织内的Rickettsia形态基本一致,但豇豆中Rickettsia在形态上较小而钝圆.相同数量的烟粉虱取食,在豇豆体内最先检测到Rickettsia.随着烟粉虱取食时间的增加,豇豆体内的Rickettsia含量先增加后下降;而当无烟粉虱持续取食时,一定时间段内豇豆体内的Rickettsia先下降再小幅度上升,并可以在一定时间内保持不变.基于16S rDNA序列的系统发育分析表明,传入棉花、番茄、豇豆叶片中的Rickettsia与B型烟粉虱体内的Rickettsia高度同源.[结论]Rickettsia可经烟粉虱取食传入植物体内,分布并存活于韧皮部的筛管细胞中,并可在植物不同叶片之间转移;在不同植物宿主中,Rickettsia的形态会发生轻微变化;烟粉虱对Rickettsia的传播效率受到植物种类的影响.     

Which Way In? The RalF Arf-GEF Orchestrates Rickettsia Host Cell Invasion

Bacterial Sec7-domain-containing proteins (RalF) are known only from species of Legionella and Rickettsia, which have facultative and obligate intracellular lifestyles, respectively. L. pneumophila RalF, a type IV secretion system (T4SS) effector, is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) of ADP-ribosylation factors (Arfs), activating and recruiting host Arf1 to the Legionella-containing vacuole. In contrast, previous in vitro studies showed R. prowazekii (Typhus Group) RalF is a functional Arf-GEF that localizes to the host plasma membrane and interacts with the actin cytoskeleton via a unique C-terminal domain. As RalF is differentially encoded across Rickettsia species (e.g., pseudogenized in all Spotted Fever Group species), it may function in lineage-specific biology and pathogenicity. Herein, we demonstrate RalF of R. typhi (Typhus Group) interacts with the Rickettsia T4SS coupling protein (RvhD4) via its proximal C-terminal sequence. RalF is expressed early during infection, with its inactivation via antibody blocking significantly reducing R. typhi host cell invasion. For R. typhi and R. felis (Transitional Group), RalF ectopic expression revealed subcellular localization with the host plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton. Remarkably, R. bellii (Ancestral Group) RalF showed perinuclear localization reminiscent of ectopically expressed Legionella RalF, for which it shares several structural features. For R. typhi, RalF co-localization with Arf6 and PI(4,5)P₂ at entry foci on the host plasma membrane was determined to be critical for invasion. Thus, we propose recruitment of PI(4,5)P₂ at entry foci, mediated by RalF activation of Arf6, initiates actin remodeling and ultimately facilitates bacterial invasion. Collectively, our characterization of RalF as an invasin suggests that, despite carrying a similar Arf-GEF unknown from other bacteria, different intracellular lifestyles across Rickettsia and Legionella species have driven divergent roles for RalF during infection. Furthermore, our identification of lineage-specific Arf-GEF utilization across some rickettsial species illustrates different pathogenicity factors that define diverse agents of rickettsial diseases.     

烟粉虱内共生菌Rickettsia在植物体内的分布及转移效率初探

【目的】检测Q型烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius)体内Rickettsia的感染情况,研究分析Rickettsia共生菌经烟粉虱传入豇豆植物后的分布、转移效率等。【方法】以Q型烟粉虱为实验材料,利用常规PCR及荧光原位杂交技术(FISH),检测了烟粉虱体内Rickettsia的感染率,以及Rickettsia传入豇豆植物体内后的存留情况。【结果】Q型烟粉虱可以通过取食将Rickettsia传至豇豆植株内;接虫数量与Rickettsia传入效率及其在取食部位相邻的下部叶片中检测到的起始时间呈负相关;Rickettsia经烟粉虱取食传入豇豆叶片后,集中分布在叶片的韧皮部筛管中;基于16S r RNA的系统发育分析结果表明,Q型烟粉虱体内的Rickettsia与经取食传入豇豆叶片的Rickettsia高度同源。【结论】Rickettsia可以通过烟粉虱的取食传入植物体内,并且可以在相邻叶片之间转移传播,Rickettsia在由寄主昆虫向植株传播过程中高度保守。     

烟粉虱内共生菌 Rickettsia 在植物体内的分布及转移效率初探

【目的】检测 Q 型烟粉虱 Bemisia tabaci （Gennadius）体内 Rickettsia 的感染情况,研究分析Rickettsia 共生菌经烟粉虱传入豇豆植物后的分布、转移效率等。【方法】以 Q 型烟粉虱为实验材料,利用常规 PCR 及荧光原位杂交技术(FISH),检测了烟粉虱体内 Rickettsia 的感染率,以及 Rickettsia 传入豇豆植物体内后的存留情况。【结果】 Q 型烟粉虱可以通过取食将 Rickettsia 传至豇豆植株内;接虫数量与 Rickettsia传入效率及其在取食部位相邻的下部叶片中检测到的起始时间呈负相关;Rickettsia 经烟粉虱取食传入豇豆叶片后,集中分布在叶片的韧皮部筛管中;基于16S rRNA 的系统发育分析结果表明,Q 型烟粉虱体内的Rickettsia 与经取食传入豇豆叶片的 Rickettsia 高度同源。【结论】 Rickettsia 可以通过烟粉虱的取食传入植物体内,并且可以在相邻叶片之间转移传播,Rickettsia 在由寄主昆虫向植株传播过程中高度保守。     

烟粉虱卵黄原蛋白通过影响自噬反应调控共生细菌Rickettsia的丰度

【目的】探明烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci卵黄原蛋白(vitellogenin, BtVg)调控共生细菌Rickettsia丰度的分子机制。【方法】通过显微注射烟粉虱MEAM1隐种雌成虫dsRNA对BtVg进行RNAi,采用qRT-PCR检测烟粉虱MEAM1隐种雌成虫BtVg和自噬基因BtAtg8的表达量,统计雌成虫死亡率,采用qPCR检测雌成虫中Rickettsia的丰度,采用免疫荧光标记显微镜技术检测BtVg和BtAtg8在雌成虫卵巢管中的定位和表达以及Rickettsia在卵巢管和中肠中的丰度。饲喂烟粉虱MEAM1隐种雌成虫含雷帕霉素(10μmol/L)的人工饲料诱导自噬后,采用免疫荧光标记显微镜技术检测BtAtg8在卵巢管中的表达和定位,采用qPCR检测卵巢中Rickettsia丰度。【结果】与显微注射dsGFP的对照相比,显微注射dsBtVg后3 d时烟粉虱MEAM1隐种雌成虫BtVg的表达量显著降低,BtAtg8的表达量显著升高,死亡率显著升高,Rickettsia丰度显著降低,卵巢管中BtVg表达量明显降低,BtAtg8表达量明显升高,Rickettsia在卵巢管和中...     

A Complex Interaction between Rickettsia conorii and Dickkopf-1 – Potential Role in Immune Evasion Mechanisms in Endothelial Cells

The pathophysiological hallmark of spotted fever group rickettsioses comprises vascular inflammation. Based on the emerging importance of the wingless (Wnt) pathways in inflammation and vascular biology, we hypothesized that Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1), as a major modulator of Wnt signaling, could be involved in the pathogenesis in rickettsial infections. Our major findings were: (i) While baseline concentration of DKK-1 in patients with R. conorii infection (n = 32) were not different from levels in controls (n = 24), DKK-1 rose significantly from presentation to first follow-up sample (median 7 days after baseline). (ii) In vitro experiments in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) showed that while heat-inactivated R. conorii enhanced the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8, it down-regulated the release of endothelial-derived DKK-1 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. (iii) Silencing of DKK-1 attenuated the release of IL-6, IL-8 and growth-related oncogene (GRO)α in R. conorii-exposed HUVECs, suggesting inflammatory effects of DKK-1. (iv) Silencing of DKK-1 attenuated the expression of tissue factor and enhanced the expression of thrombomodulin in R. conorii-exposed HUVECs suggesting pro-thrombotic effects of DKK-1. The capacity of R. conorii to down-regulate endothelial-derived DKK-1 and the ability of silencing DKK-1 to attenuate R. conorii-induced inflammation in endothelial cells could potentially reflect a novel mechanism by which R. conorii escapes the immune response at the site of infection.     

中国新发现芙新姬小蜂孤雌产雌品系的分子鉴定及其内共生菌Rickettsia的检测

【目的】芙新姬小蜂Neochrysocharis formosa(Westwood)是世界上蔬菜潜叶蝇的优势寄生蜂。2015年6月,我们在北京发现该寄生蜂存在孤雌产雌品系(thelytokous strain),为在中国首次发现。由于芙新姬小蜂孤雌产雌品系和两性品系(arrhenotokous strain)难于从形态上进行区分,本研究旨在从分子水平对这两种品系进行鉴定,为孤雌产雌品系的后续研究和应用奠定基础。【方法】以芙新姬小蜂孤雌产雌品系TH-China和两性品系AR-China的室内饲养种群为研究对象,分别扩增芙新姬小蜂两种品系的核糖体基因(28S rDNA和ITS-1基因)和线粒体COⅠ基因序列,比较两种品系的遗传分化;采用Rickettsia特异性引物NforRick1/NforRick2扩增其16S rDNA,克隆测序并进行BLAST比对;检测在TH-China卵巢管、幼虫、蛹和成虫,以及AR-China成虫中是否含有诱导形成孤雌产雌特性的内共生菌Rickettsia。【结果】分别以引物LCO1490/HCO2198和COⅠ1/COⅠ2扩增的两段COⅠ基因序列为分子标记建立的系统发育树表明,芙新姬小蜂两种品系分别聚为2个分支,品系间的遗传距离分别为0.039和0.023;以ITS-1基因为分子标记时,两种品系间有21个差异位点,遗传距离为0.008;以28S rDNA为分子标记时,两种品系间无差异位点。从TH-China的Rickettsia中扩增的16S rDNA序列与日本报道的芙新姬小蜂孤雌产雌品系内共生菌Rickettsia sp.的16S rDNA序列(Gen Bank登录号:AB185963)100%一致。芙新姬小蜂TH-China卵巢管、幼虫、蛹和成虫中均含有Rickettsia,而AR-China成虫不含Rickettsia,推测Rickettsia是孤雌产雌特性的形成原因。【结论】线粒体COⅠ基因可将芙新姬小蜂孤雌产雌品系和两性品系分为2个明显的遗传支系,而核糖体基因28S rDNA和ITS-1基因在两种品系间没有遗传分化或不能形成2个遗传分化支系。     

Detection of “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> Rickettsia sp. strain Argentina”and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rickettsia bellii</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amblyomma</Emphasis> ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Northern Argentina

Ixodid ticks were collected from vegetation and from humans, wild and domestic mammals in a rural area in the semi-arid Argentine Chaco in late spring 2006 to evaluate their potential role as vectors of Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiae. A total of 233 adult ticks, identified as Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma tigrinum and Amblyomma pseudoconcolor, was examined for Rickettsia spp. We identified an SFG rickettsia of unknown pathogenicity, “Candidatus Rickettsia sp. strain Argentina”, in A. parvum and A. pseudoconcolor by PCR assays targeting gltA, ompA, ompB and 17-kDa outer membrane antigen rickettsial genes. Rickettsia bellii was detected in a host-seeking male of A. tigrinum. Amblyomma parvum is widespread in the study area and is a potential threat to human health.