金黄色葡萄球菌核酸酶基因缺失突变株RN4220△nuc1的构建

金黄色葡萄球菌存在两个核酸酶编码基因,一个是葡萄球菌核酸酶(Staphylococcal nuclease,SNase),命名为nuc1,另一个是耐热核酸酶(Thermonuclease,TNase),命名为nuc2,nuc2是一个新的候选基因,以往认为金黄色葡萄球菌中的核酸酶只源于一个编码基因nuc1,为了进一步研究nuc2基因的功能,首先要将金黄色葡萄球菌nuc1基因缺失.研究目的就是通过构建同源重组质粒pBT2莫玭uc1,将其电转入金黄色葡萄球菌菌株RN4220中,获得nuc1基因缺失突变株.经过了7轮培养和筛选,同源重组几率为2%(7/345),筛选出的nuc1突变株用PCR方法和RT-PCR进行了验证,从而获得了nuc1基因缺失突变株RN4220△nuc1.     

金黄色葡萄球菌一氧化氮合酶基因(nos)缺失突变株的构建

目的：构建金黄色葡萄球菌一氧化氮合酶基因（nos）缺失突变株。方法从金黄色葡萄球菌RN6390的基因组DNA中扩增了nos基因的上、下游片段;以大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌穿梭质粒pMAD（含有温度敏感性的复制起点,红霉素抗性基因（erm）和B．半乳糖苷酶基因（bgaB）为筛选标记）为骨架,构建基于nos基因位点的同源重组载体pMADAnos,该载体经金黄色葡萄球菌RN4220修饰后再转入金黄色葡萄球菌RN6390。经过在30℃和42℃交替培养,通过抗生素抗性和β-半乳糖苷酶活性筛选nos基因缺失突变株。结果筛选得到的突变菌株,经基因组PCR、定量PCR及序列分析表明,金黄色葡萄球菌RN6390基因组中的nos基因被成功地敲除。结论利用同源重组的方法构建了金黄色葡萄球菌RN6390nos缺失突变株,为金黄色葡萄球菌nos基因功能的研究奠定了基础,     

产SEB金黄色葡萄球菌α-溶血毒素基因缺失菌株的构建

构建产肠毒素B(Staphylococcal enterotoxin B ,SEB)的金黄色葡萄球菌α-溶血毒素（α-hemolysin, α-HL)缺失菌株。首先构建用于α-HL基因敲除的同源重组质粒pMHL-α,经金黄色葡萄球菌RN4220修饰后再通过原生质体转入金黄色葡萄球菌SM-01。含重组质粒pMHL-α的金黄色葡萄球菌SM-01在42℃诱导条件下培养多代,最终筛选出α-溶血毒素基因缺失菌株。经序列分析和血平板溶血实验结果证明最终获得产SEB金黄色葡萄球菌α-HL缺失菌株。为野生型金黄色葡萄球菌的体内遗传操作及构建产超抗原药物金黄色葡萄球菌基因工程菌株提供了一定的理论基础和方法。     

金黄色葡萄球菌hmp基因缺失突变株的构建及抗一氧化氮能力分析

摘要：【目的】:构建金黄色葡萄球菌RN6390黄素血红蛋白(flavohaemoglobin, HMP)基因缺失突变株,研究其抗一氧化氮(Nitric Oxide, NO) 能力及其在细菌生物被膜形成中的作用。【方法】：根据同源重组技术的原理,利用PCR扩增RN6390的hmp基因上下游同源臂,经过抗生素和温度交替培养筛选hmp基因缺失突变株,利用基因组PCR、定量PCR对突变菌株进行鉴定。以硝普钠（SNP）为NO供体,检测了hmp基因缺失菌株的抗NO能力,并初步研究了hmp基因在生物被膜形成中的作用。【结果】：成功构建了RN6390的hmp基因缺失突变株,外源NO能够诱导菌株hmp基因的表达,hmp基因缺失菌株抗NO能力明显下降,但其生物被膜形成能力有明显提高。【结论】：获得了RN6390的hmp基因缺失突变株,该突变株的获得为进一步研究hmp基因的生物功能,以及细菌内源性NO的作用奠定了良好的技术平台。     

表皮葡萄球菌基因删除突变株构建方法的研究

目的 探讨高效的表皮葡萄球菌基因删除突变株构建方法。方法 分别应用2种不同的穿梭质粒pMAD和pBT2,连接目的基因表皮葡萄球菌双组分信号转导系统arlS、saeRS和lytS的上下游片段,构建重组质粒,电转入金黄色葡萄球菌RN4220后转入表皮葡萄球菌1457,利用抗性和生物标志筛选出针对特定目的基因的突变株SE1457-ΔarlS、SE1457-ΔsaeRS和SE1457-ΔlytS,比较2种方法的优、缺点。结果 利用pMAD和pBT2分别构建基因删除同源重组质粒pMAD-ΔsaeRS、pBT2-ΔarlS和pBT2-ΔlytS,并均获得相应的表皮葡萄球菌基因删除突变株。在筛选过程中,以pMAD为载体构建基因删除突变株,仅需1轮抗性/蓝白斑筛选过程即获突变株;而以pBT2为载体构建基因删除突变株筛选方法,需经过5~10轮的筛选才可获得突变株。基因删除突变株经聚合酶链反应(PCR)和测序等鉴定确认。与野生株相比,SE1457-ΔarlS突变株的生物膜形成能力降低90.96%,而SE1457-ΔsaeRS和SE1457-ΔlytS株的生物膜形成能力略有增加。结论 以pMAD载体构建表皮葡萄球菌突变株比较快速和简便。     

葡萄球菌核酸酶对金黄色葡萄球菌和其他细菌生物被膜形成的抑制作用

葡萄球菌核酸酶是金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphylococcusaureus）的一个重要毒力因子,它的生物学作用仍没有完全阐述清楚．本研究观察到金黄色葡萄球菌核酸酶产生菌株的生物被膜形成受到明显抑制．葡萄球菌核酸酶是由nucl基因编码,当nucl基因被敲除后,突变菌株生物被膜形成能力大大增加．扫描电子显微镜和激光共聚焦显微镜用于评价nucl基因在生物被膜形成中的作用．另外,nucl基因编码的产物——葡萄球菌核酸酶和NUCl重组蛋白对其他生物被膜形成细菌（铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa）、猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌（Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae）和副猪嗜血杆菌（Haemophilus parasuis））同样有明显抑制作用．本研究表明,葡萄球菌核酸酶和生物被膜的形成之间有直接联系,并且葡萄球菌核酸酶起着抑制生物被膜形成的重要作用,为研究葡萄球菌核酸酶的生物学作用和理解葡萄球菌核酸酶抑制生物被膜形成提供理论依据．     

金黄色葡萄球菌OatA基因敲除菌株及其回补菌株的构建

目的:构建金黄色葡萄球菌(金葡菌)Oat A基因敲除菌株及其回补菌株。方法:以p BT2为载体,构建金葡菌Oat A基因敲除质粒p BT2-△Oat A,经金葡菌RN4220修饰后电转入金葡菌USA300,利用p BT2载体对温度敏感的特点,在42℃多次传代,筛选出金葡菌Oat A基因敲除菌株。以p LI50为载体,构建p LI50-Oat A全基因回补质粒,电转入金葡菌RN4220,再次抽提后电转入敲除菌株△Oat A,获得基因回补菌株p Oat A。结果:成功构建基因敲除质粒p BT2-△Oat A,经RN4220修饰电转入USA300,经PCR及测序鉴定,获得了金葡菌Oat A敲除菌株△Oat A。经PCR及酶切鉴定,确认p LI50-Oat A回补质粒构建成功,通过金葡菌RN4220修饰后电转入敲除菌株△Oat A,获得基因敲除回补菌株p Oat A。结论:成功构建金黄色葡萄球菌Oat A基因敲除菌株及其回补菌株,为进一步研究金葡菌Oat A的功能及其作用机制奠定基础。     

炭疽芽孢杆菌A16R株eag基因缺失突变株构建

【目的】构建炭疽芽孢杆菌A16R株eag基因缺失突变株, 为研究eag基因的功能奠定了基础。【方法】本研究以我国人用炭疽杆菌活疫苗A16R株中eag基因为目的缺失基因,根据炭疽芽孢杆菌Ames株基因组序列,利用软件设计了扩增上下游同源臂以及抗性基因引物,构建了重组质粒,将该重组质粒电击转入炭疽杆菌A16R感受态细胞中,利用同源重组原理筛选到炭疽杆菌A16R株eag基因缺失突变株。在分子水平及蛋白质组学方面对基因缺失突变株进行验证。【结果】成功构建了重组质粒,经同源重组后获得eag基因缺失突变株。PCR鉴定表明目的基因已经丢失;SDS PAGE表明野生株与突变株在93 KDa处有差异蛋白条带,经质谱鉴定分析该条带为目的基因所表达的EA1蛋白;双向电泳结果显示突变株与野生株比较明显缺失3个蛋白点,经质谱分析后确定这3个点都是EA1蛋白。【结论】成功获得炭疽芽孢杆菌A16R株eag基因缺失突变株,为深入研究eag基因的功能奠定了基础,同时也为炭疽芽孢杆菌重要基因功能的研究建立了一个良好的技术平台。     

酿酒酵母HOR2基因缺失突变株的构建

目的:构建酿酒酵母HOR2基因缺失的突变株并研究其对甘油和乙醇产量的影响。方法:以PCR为基础,通过同源重组的方式使目的基因缺失。结果:通过设计含有与HOR2(GPP2)基因两侧序列同源的长引物,以质粒PUG6为模板进行PCR构建含有Cre/loxP系统的酿酒酵母HOR2基因敲除组件,转化酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)YS2,获得为loxP-kan-loxP序列组件所替换而产生kanr的阳性克隆子。然后再将质粒PSH65转入阳性克隆子诱导表达Cre酶切除筛选标记,在原ORF基因处保留一个loxP位点,丢失质粒后获得HOR2单倍体缺陷型菌株。重复转化敲除组件实现另一条等位基因的敲除。发酵实验表明,突变株甘油产量降低3.34%,乙醇产量提高1.96%。结论:成功获得了酿酒酵母HOR2基因缺失的突变株,并命名为YS2-HOR2。     

染色体整合系统在多价疫苗构建中的应用研究

通过同源重组将编码异源抗原的DNA整合到减毒的鼠伤寒沙门氏菌的染色体上,获得了表达霍乱毒素B亚单位（CTB）的双价活疫苗候选株。该系统包括两个步骤：首先将GisOG缺失突变的DNA片段整合进鼠伤寒沙门氏菌疫苗候选株SL3261的染色体上,得到His营养缺陷型。然后,用带有CTB抗原基因的完整HisOGDNA片段置换HisOG缺失的DNA片段,获得表达CTB的His回复的SL3261菌株（命名为TT201）。Southern杂交证明,TT201菌株的染色体带有CTB抗原基因。Westernblot分析表明,TT201菌株能表达CTB,且具有很好的稳定性。用重组菌株口服免疫接种小鼠,能够激发抗CTB抗体的产生。TT201菌株是一种潜在的双价疫苗候选株。     

Two thermostable nucleases coexisted in Staphylococcus aureus: evidence from mutagenesis and in vitro expression

Thermostable nuclease is known to be an important pathogenic factor unique to Staphylococcus aureus and it is commonly presumed to have had the same genetic origin. However, two ORFs in S. aureus genomes were predicted to encode nucleases. One encoded an unnamed nuclease A (SNase) (termed nuc1 ), and the other encoded a thermonuclease (TNase) named nuc (termed nuc2 ). In order to verify whether the two thermostable nuclease proteins are coexpressed in S. aureus , the nuc1 and nuc2 genes were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli , and both of the recombinant proteins showed thermostable nuclease activity in a toluidine blue-DNA assay. Furthermore, a nuc1 -deleted mutant of S. aureus strain RN4220 (termed RNΔ nuc1 ) was successfully constructed by homologous recombination. Selection and characterization of this mutant strain revealed that it still exhibited thermostable nuclease activity, but at a relative lower level than that of the parent strain. The nucleases secreted by the parent strain and nuc1 -deleted strain still showed functional activity after 30 min at 121 °C. The findings indicated that two types of thermostable nucleases, encoded by two different genes, coexisted in S. aureus .     

Transformation and expression of a staphylococcal plasmid in Escherichia coli

Abstract A multiple antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , was found to possess three plasmid bands in agarose gel electrophoresis. A plasmid of approximately 4.3 kb (pMC790/2) was found to code for ampicillin and tetracycline resistance and to have one Eco RI site when transformed into S. aureus RN 4220. pMC790/2 in unmodified form was transformed into a recA⁻ E. coli at a frequency of 1.2×10⁴ transformants/μg of plasmid DNA. Plasmid (pMC790/2) replicated, maintained itself stably and expressed far better in the E. coli host than in S. aureus .     

Sau1: a novel lineage-specific type I restriction-modification system that blocks horizontal gene transfer into Staphylococcus aureus and between S. aureus isolates of different lineages

The Sau1 type I restriction-modification system is found on the chromosome of all nine sequenced strains of Staphylococcus aureus and includes a single hsdR (restriction) gene and two copies of hsdM (modification) and hsdS (sequence specificity) genes. The strain S. aureus RN4220 is a vital intermediate for laboratory S. aureus manipulation, as it can accept plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli. We show that it carries a mutation in the sau1hsdR gene and that complementation restored a nontransformable phenotype. Sau1 was also responsible for reduced conjugative transfer from enterococci, a model of vancomycin resistance transfer. This may explain why only four vancomycin-resistant S. aureus strains have been identified despite substantial selective pressure in the clinical setting. Using a multistrain S. aureus microarray, we show that the two copies of sequence specificity genes (sau1hsdS1 and sau1hsdS2) vary substantially between isolates and that the variation corresponds to the 10 dominant S. aureus lineages. Thus, RN4220 complemented with sau1hsdR was resistant to bacteriophage lysis but only if the phage was grown on S. aureus of a different lineage. Similarly, it could be transduced with DNA from its own lineage but not with the phage grown on different S. aureus lineages. Therefore, we propose that Sau1 is the major mechanism for blocking transfer of resistance genes and other mobile genetic elements into S. aureus isolates from other species, as well as for controlling the spread of resistance genes between isolates of different S. aureus lineages. Blocking Sau1 should also allow genetic manipulation of clinical strains of S. aureus.     

A method for demonstrating gene essentiality in Staphylococcus aureus

A method for demonstrating whether a gene of Staphylococcus aureus is essential for growth in a rich medium is described. We have used this method to determine whether the murE gene, which encodes the UDP-N-acetylmuramyl tripeptide synthetase required for peptidoglycan synthesis, is essential for growth in S. aureus. In this study, strain CYL368 was constructed from S. aureus RN4220 by placing the murE gene in the chromosome under the control of the spac promoter (a hybrid promoter of the Escherichia coli lac operator and the Bacillus subtilis SPO1 phage promoter). To regulate the murE gene in CYL368, the E. coli lacI gene was expressed from the B. licheniformis penicillinase gene (pcn) promoter in plasmid pMJ8426. Strain CYL368(pMJ8426) grew normally in the presence of isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside but could not grow in the absence of the inducer. These results indicate that the murE gene expressed from the spac promoter in CYL368(pMJ8426) is needed for bacterial growth. We concluded that murE is an essential gene of S. aureus.     

Recombinant luminescent bacteria for measuring bioavailable arsenite and antimonite.

Luminescent bacterial strains for the measurement of bioavailable arsenite and antimony were constructed. The expression of firefly luciferase was controlled by the regulatory unit of the ars operon of Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pI258 in recombinant plasmid pTOO21, with S. aureus RN4220, Bacillus subtilis BR151, and Escherichia coli MC1061 as host strains. Strain RN4220(pTOO21) was found to be the most sensitive for metal detection responding to arsenite, antimonite, and cadmium, the lowest detectable concentrations being 100, 33, and 330 nM, respectively. Strains BR151(pTOO21) and MC1061(pTOO21) responded to arsenite, arsenate, antimonite, and cadmium, the lowest detectable concentrations being 3.3 and 330 microM and 330 and 330 nM with BR151(pTOO21), respectively, and 3.3, 33, 3.3, and 33 microM with MC1061(pTOO21), respectively. In the absence of the mentioned ions, the expression of luciferase was repressed and only a small amount of background light was emitted. Other ions did not notably interfere with the measurement in any of the strains tested. Freeze-drying of the cells did not decrease the sensitivity of the detection of arsenite; however, the induction coefficients were somewhat lower.     

Characterization of a holin (HolNU3-1) in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus host

The gene encoding holin protein HolNU3-1 from a clinical isolate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) NU3-1 was cloned and expressed in S. aureus RN4220. HolNU3-1 encoded by the holNU3-1 gene, which is located upstream of the deleted endolysin gene, was functional. Expression of the holNU3-1 gene induced a decrease in culture turbidity and formation of translucent (empty ghost) cells in S. aureus. We found heterogeneity of the holin genes and diversity of the two-component lysis system, which consists of holin and endolysin, in MRSA hosts. We suggest that this diversity is important in the identification of the evolution of clinical isolates of S. aureus.     

Structural evidence of α-aminoacylated lipoproteins of Staphylococcus aureus

Bacterial lipoproteins are known to be diacylated or triacylated and activate mammalian immune cells via Toll-like receptor 2/6 or 2/1 heterodimer. Because the genomes of low G+C content gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, do not contain Escherichia coli-type apolipoprotein N-acyltransferase, an enzyme converting diacylated lipoproteins into triacylated forms, it has been widely believed that native lipoproteins of S. aureus are diacylated. However, we recently demonstrated that one lipoprotein SitC purified from S. aureus RN4220 strain was triacylated. Almost simultaneously, another group reported that another lipoprotein SA2202 purified from S. aureus SA113 strain was diacylated. The determination of exact lipidated structures of S. aureus lipoproteins is thus crucial for elucidating the molecular basis of host-microorganism interactions. Toward this purpose, we intensively used MS-based analyses. Here, we demonstrate that SitC lipoprotein of S. aureus RN4220 strain has two lipoprotein lipase-labile O-esterified fatty acids and one lipoprotein lipase-resistant fatty acid. Further MS/MS analysis of the lipoprotein lipase digest revealed that the lipoprotein lipase-resistant fatty acid was acylated to α-amino group of the N-terminal cysteine residue of SitC. Triacylated forms of SitC with various length fatty acids were also confirmed in cell lysate of the RN4220 and Triton X-114 phase in three other S. aureus strains, including SA113 strain and one Staphylococcus epidermidis strain. Moreover, four other major lipoproteins including SA2202 in S. aureus strains were identified as N-acylated. These results strongly suggest that lipoproteins of S. aureus are mainly in the N-acylated triacyl form.     

Improved method for electroporation of Staphylococcus aureus

We have developed a significantly improved method for the electroporation of plasmid DNA into Staphylococcus aureus. The highest transformation efficiency achieved with this procedure was 4.0 x 10(8) transformants per microgram of plasmid pSK265 DNA. This represents a 530-fold improvement over the previously reported optimum efficiency of 7.5 x 10(5) transformants per microgram of plasmid DNA after electroporation of S. aureus cells [9]. Identical results were obtained when electrocompetent cells, which had been stored frozen at -80 degrees C, were used. The improved efficiency is due primarily to the use of a modified medium (designated as B2 medium) and secondarily to the use of 0.1-cm cuvettes. Several other plasmids (pI258, pMH109, and pSK270) were also electrotransformed into competent cells using our procedure, and for each plasmid, the transformation efficiency was significantly reduced compared to that observed when pSK265 DNA was used. With respect to plasmid pI258, the transformation efficiency was 3500-fold higher than that reported previously for transformation of this plasmid into S. aureus RN4220 [9]. The optimized electroporation procedure was less successful in transforming other staphylococci. Electrocompetent cells of S. aureus ATCC 29213 and S. epidermidis ATCC 12228 produced 5.5 x 10(5) and 5 x 10(3) transformants per microgram of pSK265 DNA, respectively.