用线性梯度平板准确测定药物敏感性和分离抗药性菌株

菌群在药物的最低抑菌浓度附近的动力学过程是抗生素药理学研究的核心问题.建立一种能确定精确的MIC且又能准确分离抗药性菌株的方法,是目前临床对药敏实验新的要求.根据Fick扩散定律制备了线性梯度平板：将15mL含适当浓度恩诺沙星的琼脂培养基在9cm培养皿中倾斜凝固,刚好覆盖整个平板底面,然后水平放置,再在其上层加入同样体积的无药琼脂培养基,凝固12h后,药物浓度达到扩散平衡而呈均匀连续线性梯度.通过实测验证药物浓度在平板表面呈线性梯度分布.将待检E.coli菌群均匀涂布在梯度平板上,培养12h后,随恩诺沙星浓度提高依次形成连续密集小菌落区和离散大菌落区,根据两区域的分界线可以确定菌群自然形成的真实的MIC,与常规药敏实验方法测定结果一致.大菌落重新涂布高梯度平板,分界线显著上升,并检测出抗药性基因突变,表明该方法很容易筛选出菌群中的抗药性菌株.梯度平板可以方便地呈现整个菌群在MIC附近的动力学过程和遗传生理变化,并预警该抗生素使用后可能出现的抗药性,从而指导临床抗菌药物的选择和使用.     

动态分析抗菌作用的新方法

最低抑菌浓度(MIC)是表征抗菌药物对细菌生长抑制最终效应的常规方法,不能描述抑菌作用的时间过程,药敏试验也不适用于高抗药性水平菌株的治疗方案确定.因此本文提出了一个普适性的新药敏试验方法.不同接种量的质控菌株Escherichia coli ATCC 25922和临床高抗药性水平菌株E.coli BBZ在不同系列浓度的6种抗菌药物(环丙沙星、氨苄西林、头孢噻呋、阿米卡星、硫酸黏菌素和多西环素)作用下,37℃下培养1200 min,连续检测时间序列点的光密度值A600作为反应变量,以相对抑菌效应(RIE=((a.b)/a)×100%)表征抑制效应,进而用等效线图表征药物浓度和时间协同抑制效应的动态过程,量化了浓度依赖型和时间依赖型,细化不同菌株对药物敏感性的差别.由此得到,达到最大抑制效应时,需要的最低药物浓度和时间,以及增大药物浓度或延长反应时间对抑制效应的影响,这正是临床用药最需要的信息.此外,大接种量下最大抑菌效应很低,表明不适合治疗.本方法为防治高抗药性菌株感染提供了药敏试验方法,也有益于促进新药研发药敏检测方法的改进.最后提出适于临床应用的、快速定性显示药物敏感性的方法的建议.     

拟南芥AtMPK3启动子应答逆境信号的表达模式和必需区域分析

蛋白激酶AtMPK3参与MAPK级联途径, 在植物逆境信号转导中起重要作用. 为深入研究AtMPK3基因在转录水平上应答各种环境胁迫的分子机制, 本研究从拟南芥基因组中分离了AtMPK3基因转录起始位点上游1016 bp的启动子序列, 对其进行了生物信息学分析. 对该启动子进行了系列缺失突变, 并将完整启动子和缺失启动子片段与GUS报告基因融合, 转基因导入到拟南芥中. 携带AtMPK3启动子及其各种缺失突变体的转基因植株在干旱、高盐、低温、机械损伤等胁迫条件的GUS组织化学染色和荧光定量分析表明, AtMPK3启动子应答干旱、高盐、低温、机械损伤逆境信号的必需元件位于启动子序列中转录起始位点上游−188 ~ −62区域内, 揭示了AtMPK3启动子在不同环境胁迫条件下的表达模式的差异. 本研究结果有助于阐述AtMPK3基因在转录水平上应答不同胁迫信号分子机制.     

大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)膜组分相关基因的敲除对重组蛋白胞外分泌的影响

摘要:【目的】探究Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)中膜组分相关的脂多糖合成基因waaF或msbB的敲除对重组蛋白胞外分泌的影响。【方法】运用Red重组技术将E.coli BL21 (DE3)染色体上的基因waaF或msbB敲除,构建敲除菌株E.coli BL21(ΔwaaF)、E.coli BL21(ΔmsbB)。将本实验室保存的带有β-呋喃果糖苷酶(β-fructofuranosidase,β-FFase)、青霉素G 酰化酶(penicillin G acylase,PGA)基因的重组质粒pET-ffase、pET-pga分别转入敲除菌株及出发菌株中,构建工程菌株E.coli BL21(ΔmsbB)/pET-ffase、E.coli BL21(ΔwaaF)/pET-ffase、E.coli BL21(DE3)/pET-ffase、E.coli BL21(ΔmsbB)/pET-pga、E.coli BL21(ΔwaaF)/pET-pga、E.coli BL21(DE3)/pET-pga。最后通过摇瓶发酵研究敲除菌株对β-FFase、PGA胞外分泌的影响。【结果】当诱导表达4 h,以出发菌株E.coli BL21(DE3)为宿主时,β-呋喃果糖苷酶β-FFase的胞外分泌量占总表达量的2.6%,以敲除菌株ΔmsbB为宿主时,胞外分泌量达到19.7%,而以敲除菌株ΔwaaF为宿主时,胞外分泌量达到50.9%。另外,当诱导表达24 h,以敲除菌株ΔwaaF为宿主时,青霉素G酰化酶PGA的胞外酶活是出发菌株中的4.1倍,达到1708 U/L。【结论】本研究成功构建了敲除菌株ΔmsbB和ΔwaaF,ΔmsbB能明显增强β-FFase的胞外分泌,而ΔwaaF对β-FFase和PGA的胞外分泌均有显著的强化作用。     

抗菌肽CM Ⅳ突变体基因在E.coli中融合表达的研究

根据家蚕抗菌肽CMⅣ的氨基酸序列,利用E.coli偏爱的密码子设计并合成其突变体DNA,克隆到融合表达载体pEZZ318中,在E.coli中进行融合表达,经亲和层析得到26mg/L的融合表达产物.用化学方法裂解该融合表达产物,得到了具有抗菌活性的突变体抗菌肽CMⅣ.     

大肠杆菌MetD运输系统缺失对蛋氨酸积累的影响

【目的】构建MetD运输系统缺失突变株,研究该运输系统功能缺失对Escherichia coli W3110蛋氨酸吸收和积累的影响。【方法】通过RT-qPCR比较MetJ阻遏调控解除菌株和野生株E.coli metNIQ表达量的变化,并分析蛋氨酸吸收速度的变化;利用Red同源重组系统分别敲除metNIQ基因簇、metN、metI和metQ,构建MetD运输功能缺失的突变株,研究蛋氨酸吸收速度的变化及对蛋氨酸积累的影响。【结果】MetJ阻遏调控解除后,metNIQ的表达量和蛋氨酸吸收速度显著增加。通过敲除E.coli W3110和Me05的metNIQ,MetD运输系统缺失导致蛋氨酸吸收速度下降。另外,分别敲除用于产蛋氨酸基座菌株Me06的metNIQ基因簇、metN、metI和metQ。生长曲线和摇瓶发酵结果表明,metI的敲除促进菌体的生长和蛋氨酸的合成,蛋氨酸的产量从0.39 g/L提高到0.45 g/L,提高了15.4%,蛋氨酸产率从0.14 g/g DCW提高到0.15 g/g DCW。【结论】E.coli MetD功能的缺失能够降低蛋氨酸的吸收速度,敲除metNIQ基因簇上的metI能够提高蛋氨酸产量。     

甘露醇磷酸化酶基因的敲除对D-甘露醇合成的影响

为了探究甘露醇分解利用途径对甘露醇合成的影响,在重组菌株R_1(K-12/pTrc99a-mdh)的基础上,通过CRISPR/Cas9敲除E.coli PTS系统中的cmtA、cmtB、mtlA基因,阻断了E. coli K-12中甘露醇的分解途径,获得了重组菌株R_3(K-12/?cmtA?cmtBmdh~+)和R_5(K-12/?cmtA?cmtB?mtlAmdh~+)。与出发菌株R_1相比,R_3的生长速率没有降低,而R_5的生长速率明显下降。并且R_5在以甘露醇为唯一碳源的培养基上已无法生长,说明cmtA、cmtB、mtlA三个基因全部敲除后,菌株已无法再利用甘露醇作为碳源进行生长。最后,构建的重组菌株R_5,测得MDH酶活力为258 U/mL,用高效液相色谱对胞外产物进行检测,可检测到少量的甘露醇,为进一步探究大肠杆菌合成甘露醇的调控机制奠定基础。     

谷氨酸棒杆菌1dh基因的敲除

谷氨酸棒杆菌中ldh基因编码乳酸脱氢酶,可催化丙酮酸转化生成乳酸.利用重叠延伸PCR的方法,获得中间缺失部分序列的dldh基因片段,将其与载体pk 18mobsacB连接,转化大肠杆菌感受态,筛选出阳性转化子后,转化谷氨酸棒杆菌ATCC 13032感受态细胞.分别在卡那霉素抗性平板及10％蔗糖平板上进行两次筛选,利用PCR方法鉴定,成功获得ldh基因缺失的谷氨酸棒杆菌突变株ATCC 13032-(4)ldh.应用荧光定量PCR检测,ATCC 13032-(z)ldh中的ldh基因在转录水平与野生型菌株ATCC 13032相比,相对表达量为O.ldh基因的敲除对菌株的生长造成了一定的影响.     

4株羊瘤胃功能性细菌的筛选

通过DNS法测定羊瘤胃源功能性细菌产生的纤维素酶和淀粉酶的活力,福林酚法测定产生的蛋白酶的活力,检测细菌产生酶的特性。同时检测菌株的发酵液对大肠埃希菌(ATCC25922)、副溶血弧菌(ATCC17802)、藤黄八叠球菌(HY78)和产气杆菌(AS1489)等指示菌的抑制能力,分析它们的抑菌活性。结果表明,羊瘤胃源细菌C13产生的纤维素酶活力最高,产酶量也最高;而细菌C5产淀粉酶活力和蛋白酶活力最高,产生淀粉酶和蛋白酶的能力也最高。抑菌活性检测发现,细菌C9对副溶血弧菌(ATCC17802)有很高的抑制作用,而细菌C12对大肠埃希菌(ATCC25922)的抑制能力最明显。     

基于膜压力应答途径的大肠杆菌丁醇耐受性

【目的】筛选丁醇压力下Escherichia coli中参与溶剂压力应答的细胞信号传导途径,并从应答途径出发,提高E.coli丁醇耐受性。【方法】在丁醇压力下,利用RT-PCR分析大肠杆菌内膜压力应答途径中反应调节因子(response regulator,RR)的表达水平,通过Red同源重组以及一步克隆的方法分别构建外膜脂蛋白Nlp E和分子伴侣蛋白Spy的敲除菌株E.coli JM109(Δnlp E)和E.coli JM109(Δspy)及重组菌株E.coli JM109/p QE80L-nlp E和E.coli JM109/p QE80L-spy,并测定其溶剂耐受性和细胞膜疏水性。【结果】0.8%(V/V)丁醇处理10 h后,Cpx和Bae双组分压力应答途径中的cpx R和bae R基因的表达水平分别提高了8.3和3.3倍;分别在含0.6%(V/V)四氢呋喃、0.1%(V/V)甲苯和0.6%(V/V)环己烷的培养基中培养10 h后,重组菌株E.coli JM109/p QE80L-spy和E.coli JM109/p QE80L-nlp E的OD600相比对照组(OD600增长0.02-0.04)分别增长了0.13-0.17和0.05-0.13,重组菌的溶剂耐受性得到了显著提高。【结论】Cpx和Bae系统参与大肠杆菌丁醇压力应答,分子伴侣蛋白Spy的过表达能够有效提高大肠杆菌对有机溶剂的耐受性,本研究为阐明微生物有机溶剂耐受性机制提供了理论依据。     

Sequence analysis of the Gluconobacter oxydans RecA protein and construction of a recA-deficient mutant.

The deduced amino acid sequence of Gluconobacter oxydans RecA protein shows 75.2, 69.4, and 66.2% homology with those from Aquaspirillum magnetotacticum, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. The amino acid residues essential for function of the recombinase, protease, and ATPase in E. coli recA protein are conserved in G. oxydans. Of 24 amino acid residues believed to be the ATP binding domain of E. coli RecA, 17 are found to be identical in G. oxydans RecA. Interestingly, nucleotide sequence alignment between the SOS box of G. orphans recA gene and those from different microorganisms revealed that all the DNA sequences examined have dyad symmetry that can form a stem-loop structure. A G. oxydans recA-deficient mutant (LCC96) was created by allelic exchange using the cloned recA gene that had been insertionally inactivated by a kanamycin-resistance cassette. Such replacement of the wild-type recA with a kanamycin resistance gene in the chromosome was further verified by Southern hybridization. Phenotypically, the recA-deficient mutant is significantly more sensitive to UV irradiation than the wild-type strain, suggesting that the recA gene of G. oxydans ATCC9324 plays a role in repairing DNA damage caused by UV irradiation. Moreover, the mutant strain is much more plasmid transformable than its parent strain, illustrating that G. oxydans LCC96 could be used as a host to take up the recombinant plasmid for gene manipulation.     

Regulation of the SOS response in Bacillus subtilis: evidence for a LexA repressor homolog.

The inducible SOS response for DNA repair and mutagenesis in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis resembles the extensively characterized SOS system of Escherichia coli. In this report, we demonstrate that the cellular repressor of the E. coli SOS system, the LexA protein, is specifically cleaved in B. subtilis following exposure of the cells to DNA-damaging treatments that induce the SOS response. The in vivo cleavage of LexA is dependent upon the functions of the E. coli RecA protein homolog in B. subtilis (B. subtilis RecA) and results in the same two cleavage fragments as produced in E. coli cells following the induction of the SOS response. We also show that a mutant form of the E. coli RecA protein (RecA430) can partially substitute for the nonfunctional cellular RecA protein in the B. subtilis recA4 mutant, in a manner consistent with its known activities and deficiencies in E. coli. RecA430 protein, which has impaired repressor cleaving (LexA, UmuD, and bacteriophage lambda cI) functions in E.coli, partially restores genetic exchange to B. subtilis recA4 strains but, unlike wild-type E. coli RecA protein, is not capable of inducing SOS functions (expression of DNA damage-inducible [din::Tn917-lacZ] operons or RecA synthesis) in B. subtilis in response to DNA-damaging agents or those functions that normally accompany the development of physiological competence. Our results provide support for the existence of a cellular repressor in B. subtilis that is functionally homologous to the E. coli LexA repressor and suggest that the mechanism by which B. subtilis RecA protein (like RecA of E. coli) becomes activated to promote the induction of the SOS response is also conserved.     

Purification of an SOS repressor from Bacillus subtilis.

We have identified in Bacillus subtilis a DNA-binding protein that is functionally analogous to the Escherichia coli LexA protein. We show that the 23-kDa B. subtilis protein binds specifically to the consensus sequence 5'-GAACN4GTTC-3' located within the putative promoter regions of four distinct B. subtilis DNA damage-inducible genes: dinA, dinB, dinC, and recA. In RecA+ strains, the protein's specific DNA binding activity was abolished following treatment with mitomycin C; the decrease in DNA binding activity after DNA damage had a half-life of about 5 min and was followed by an increase in SOS gene expression. There was no detectable decrease in DNA binding activity in B. subtilis strains deficient in RecA (recA1, recA4) or otherwise deficient in SOS induction (recM13) following mitomycin C treatment. The addition of purified B. subtilis RecA protein, activated by single-stranded DNA and dATP, abolished the specific DNA binding activity in crude extracts of RecA+ strains and strains deficient in SOS induction. We purified the B. subtilis DNA-binding protein more than 4,000-fold, using an affinity resin in which a 199-bp DNA fragment containing the dinC promoter region was coupled to cellulose. We show that B. subtilis RecA inactivates the DNA binding activity of the purified B. subtilis protein in a reaction that requires single-stranded DNA and nucleoside triphosphate. By analogy with E. coli, our results indicate that the DNA-binding protein is the repressor of the B. subtilis SOS DNA repair system.     

Suppression of constitutive SOS expression by recA4162 (I298V) and recA4164 (L126V) requires UvrD and RecX in Escherichia coli K-12

Sensing DNA damage and initiation of genetic responses to repair DNA damage are critical to cell survival. In Escherichia coli , RecA polymerizes on ssDNA produced by DNA damage creating a RecA–DNA filament that interacts with the LexA repressor inducing the SOS response. RecA filament stability is negatively modulated by RecX and UvrD. recA730 (E38K) and recA4142 (F217Y) constitutively express the SOS response. recA4162 (I298V) and recA4164 (L126V) are intragenic suppressors of the constitutive SOS phenotype of recA730 . Herein, it is shown that these suppressors are not allele specific and can suppress SOS^C expression of recA730 and recA4142 in cis and in trans . recA4162 and recA4164 single mutants (and the recA730 and recA4142 derivatives) are Rec⁺, UV^R and are able to induce the SOS response after UV treatment like wild-type. UvrD and RecX are required for the suppression in two ( recA730,4164 and recA4142,4162 ) of the four double mutants tested. To explain the data, one model suggests that recA ^C alleles promote SOS^C expression by mimicking RecA filament structures that induce SOS and the suppressor alleles mimic RecA filament at end of SOS. UvrD and RecX are attracted to these latter structures to help dismantle or destabilize the RecA filament.     

RecA-mediated SOS induction requires an extended filament conformation but no ATP hydrolysis

The Escherichia coli SOS response to DNA damage is modulated by the RecA protein, a recombinase that forms an extended filament on single-stranded DNA and hydrolyzes ATP. The RecA K72R ( recA2201 ) mutation eliminates the ATPase activity of RecA protein. The mutation also limits the capacity of RecA to form long filaments in the presence of ATP. Strains with this mutation do not undergo SOS induction in vivo . We have combined the K72R variant of RecA with another mutation, RecA E38K ( recA730 ). In vitro , the double mutant RecA E38K/K72R ( recA730,2201 ) mimics the K72R mutant protein in that it has no ATPase activity. The double mutant protein will form long extended filaments on ssDNA and facilitate LexA cleavage almost as well as wild-type, and do so in the presence of ATP. Unlike recA K72R, the recA E38K/K72R double mutant promotes SOS induction in vivo after UV treatment. Thus, SOS induction does not require ATP hydrolysis by the RecA protein, but does require formation of extended RecA filaments. The RecA E38K/K72R protein represents an improved reagent for studies of the function of ATP hydrolysis by RecA in vivo and in vitro .     

The epsilon subunit of DNA polymerase III Is involved in the nalidixic acid-induced SOS response in Escherichia coli

Quinolone antibacterial drugs such as nalidixic acid target DNA gyrase in Escherichia coli. These inhibitors bind to and stabilize a normally transient covalent protein-DNA intermediate in the gyrase reaction cycle, referred to as the cleavage complex. Stabilization of the cleavage complex is necessary but not sufficient for cell killing--cytotoxicity apparently results from the conversion of cleavage complexes into overt DNA breaks by an as-yet-unknown mechanism(s). Quinolone treatment induces the bacterial SOS response in a RecBC-dependent manner, arguing that cleavage complexes are somehow converted into double-stranded breaks. However, the only proteins known to be required for SOS induction by nalidixic acid are RecA and RecBC. In hopes of identifying additional proteins involved in the cytotoxic response to nalidixic acid, we screened for E. coli mutants specifically deficient in SOS induction upon nalidixic acid treatment by using a dinD::lacZ reporter construct. From a collection of SOS partially constitutive mutants with disruptions of 47 different genes, we found that dnaQ insertion mutants are specifically deficient in the SOS response to nalidixic acid. dnaQ encodes DNA polymerase III epsilon subunit, the proofreading subunit of the replicative polymerase. The deficient response to nalidixic acid was rescued by the presence of the wild-type dnaQ gene, confirming involvement of the epsilon subunit. To further characterize the SOS deficiency of dnaQ mutants, we analyzed the expression of several additional SOS genes in response to nalidixic acid using real-time PCR. A subset of SOS genes lost their response to nalidixic acid in the dnaQ mutant strain, while two tested SOS genes (recA and recN) continued to exhibit induction. These results argue that the replication complex plays a role in modulating the SOS response to nalidixic acid and that the response is more complex than a simple on/off switch.     

Antibacterial activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Acacia aroma Gill. ex Hook et Arn

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of seven ethanolic extracts and three aqueous extracts from various parts (leaves, stems and flowers) of A. aroma against 163 strains of antibiotic multi-resistant bacteria. The disc diffusion assay was performed to evaluate antibacterial activity of the A. aroma crude extracts, against several Gram-positive bacteria (E. faecalis, S. aureus, coagulase-negative stahylococci, S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, S. aureus ATCC 29213, E. faecalis ATCC 29212) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli., K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, E. cloacae, S. marcescens, M morganii, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, S. maltophilia, E. coli ATCC 35218, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, E. coli ATCC 25922). All ethanolic extracts showed activity against gram-positive bacteria. Among all obtained extracts, only leaf and flower fluid extracts showed activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Based on this bioassay, leaf fluid extracts tended to be the most potent, followed by flower fluid extracts. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of extracts and antibiotics were comparatively determined by agar and broth dilution methods. Both extracts were active against S. aureus, coagulase-negative stahylococci, E. faecalis and E. faecium and all tested Gram-negative bacteria with MIC values from 0.067 to 0.308 mg/ml. In this study the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were identical or twice as high than the corresponding MIC for leaf extracts and four or eight times higher than MIC values for flower extracts. This may indicate a bactericidal effect. Stored extracts have similar antibacterial activity as recently obtained extracts. The A. aroma extracts of leaves and flowers may be useful as antibacterial agents against Gram- negative and Gram-positive antibiotic multi-resistant microorganisms.     

Influence of recA mutations on gyrA dependent quinolone resistance.

We examined, in Escherichia coli, the influence of recA mutant alleles on the level of quinolone resistance promoted by mutations in the gyrA gene. We found that the recA142 mutation, abolishing all the activities of RecA protein, greatly reduced the level of resistance to the quinolone ciprofloxacin, whereas the recA430 allele affecting the SOS inducing ability of RecA, reduced ciprofloxacin resistance to a lesser extent. The recA142 mutation did not cause enhancement of ciprofloxacin induced DNA breakage in gyrA mutants, indicating that the stabilization of DNA-gyrase complexes by the quinolone is not influenced by a RecA mutant protein. We suggest that RecA protein plays a role in the repair of quinolone damage, principally through a recombinational mechanism and, to a lesser degree, through the induction of the SOS response.     

The recA gene of Chlamydia trachomatis: Cloning, sequence, and characterization in Escherichia coli

Abstract The recA gene of Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated by complementation of an Escherichia coli recA mutant. The cloned gene restored resistance to methyl methanesulfonate in E. coli recA mutants. The DNA sequence of the chlamydial gene was determined and the deduced protein sequence compared with other RecA proteins. In E. coli recA deletion mutants, the cloned gene conferred moderate recombinational activity as assayed by Hfr matings. The chlamydial recA gene was efficient in repairing alkylated DNA but less so in repairing of UV damage when compared with the E. coli homologue. As detected by an SOS gene fusion, a small but measurable amount of LexA co-cleavage was indicated.