Identification and molecular characterization of class 1 integrons in multiresistant Escherichia coli isolates from poultry litter

This study describes the prevalence of arrays of class 1 integron cassettes and Qnr determinants (A, B, and S) in 19 fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from chicken litter. qnrS and qnrA were the predominant genes in these fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates, and an uncommon array of aacA4-catB3-dfrA1 gene cassettes from a class1 integron was found. Additionally, aadA1 and dfrA1 gene cassettes, encoding resistance to streptomycin and trimethoprim, constituted the most common genes identified and was located on megaplasmids as well on the chromosome. Antibiotic resistance, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and plasmid data suggest a genetically diverse origin of poultry E. coli isolates.     

The chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene of Tn2424: a new breed of cat.

We have sequenced the gene coding for the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase of Tn2424 of plasmid NR79. This gene codes for a protein of 23,500 Da, and the derived protein sequence is similar to those of the chromosomal chloramphenicol acetyltransferases of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and of unidentified open reading frames, which may encode chloramphenicol acetyltransferases, adjacent to the ermG macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin resistance gene of Bacillus sphaericus and the vgb virginiamycin resistance gene of Staphylococcus aureus. Weaker similarity to the LacA (thiogalactoside acetyltransferase) and CysE (serine acetyltransferase) proteins of Escherichia coli and the NodL protein of Rhizobium leguminosarum is also observed. There is no significant similarity to any other chloramphenicol acetyltransferase genes, such as that of Tn9. The Tn2424 cat gene is part of a 4.5-kb region which also contains the aacA1a aminoglycoside-6'-N-acetyltransferase gene; Tn2424 is similar to Tn21 except for the presence of this region. Sequences flanking the cat gene are typical of those flanking other genes inserted into pVS1-derived "integrons" by a site-specific recombinational mechanism.     

Plasmid pRARE as a Vector for Cloning to Construct a Superproducer of the Site-Specific Nickase N.BspD6I

The gene of methylase M.SccL1I that protects DNA against hydrolysis with the nickase N.BspD6I was inserted into plasmid pRARE carrying genes of tRNA, which are rare in E. coli. The insertion of the gene sscML1I into pRARE was reasoned by incompatibility of pRARE and the plasmid carrying the gene sscML1I, because both plasmids contained the same ori-site. Upon transformation of E. coli TOP10F cells with both the recombinant plasmid pRARE/MSsc and the expression vector pET28b containing the nickase gene bspD6IN under the phage T7 promoter, a strain of E. coli was obtained which produced 7 x 10(5) units of the nickase N.BspD6I per 1 g wet biomass, and this yield was two orders of magnitude higher than the yield of the enzyme from the strain free of pRARE/MSsc.     

HPV 6b L1基因原核表达系统的构建及鉴定

克隆、构建人乳头瘤病毒6b型(HPV6b)L1基因重组质粒,并进行表达和鉴定。用PCR方法,从尖锐湿疣标本中扩增出HPV6b型L1基因,构建重组克隆质粒pblue-HPV6bL1,测序分析其基因变异。将本地株HPV6b型L1基因酶切后连接到原核表达质粒pBAD,构建原核表达系统pBAD-HPV6bL1/Top10,酶切鉴定证明重组质粒的正确性。经L-Arobinose诱导后表达HPV6b型L1蛋白,利用SDS-PAGE对表达产物进行鉴定。经酶切及序列分析鉴定,重组质粒pBAD-HPV6bL1构建成功,诱导后能够表达L1融合蛋白。HPV6bL1重组质粒构建成功,并获得HPV6bL1蛋白,为该蛋白的功能及HPV的基因工程疫苗研究提供了物质基础。     

Construction of an Escherichia coli-Clostridium perfringens shuttle vector and plasmid transformation of Clostridium perfringens

A stable shuttle vector which replicates in Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens was constructed by ligating a 3.6-kilobase (kb) fragment of plasmid pBR322 with C. perfringens plasmid pHB101 (3.1 kb). The marker for this shuttle plasmid originated from the 1.3-kb chloramphenicol resistance gene of plasmid pHR106. The resulting shuttle vector, designated pAK201, is 8 kb in size and codes for resistance to 20 micrograms of chloramphenicol per ml in both E. coli and C. perfringens. Following shuttle vector construction in E. coli, plasmid pAK201 was transformed into E. coli HB101 and C. perfringens ATCC 3624A, using intact cell electroporation. The transformation frequencies were 10(6) and 10(4) transformants per microgram of DNA in E. coli and C. perfringens, respectively. Restriction enzyme analysis of the chimera isolated from transformants of both microorganisms suggested that the plasmids were identical. Reciprocal transformation experiments in E. coli and C. perfringens indicated no difference in transformation frequency. Plasmid pAK201 was stable in C. perfringens following repeated transfer in the absence of chloramphenicol pressure. The restriction map of plasmid pAK201 shows six unique cut sites which should be useful for future genetic analysis and C. perfringens gene library construction.     

Construction of an excretion vector and extracellular production of human growth hormone from Escherichia coli

A new excretion vector, pEAP8, was constructed to develop an excretion system for Escherichia coli. This plasmid, derived from pEAP37, carried the weakly activated kil gene of plasmid pMB9 [Kobayashi et al., J. Bacteriol. 166 (1986) 728-732] and the penicillinase promoter and signal region of an alkalophilic Bacillus sp. to excrete foreign gene products. A gene for human growth hormone (hGH) was joined to this signal sequence through the HindIII site. The recombinant plasmid p8hGH1 thus constructed, was introduced into E. coli. The hybrid protein which was produced in E. coli carrying p8hGH1 was processed during transport through the inner membrane, with the mature hGH being excreted into the medium through the outer membrane which was made permeable by the action of the kil gene. The N-terminal amino acid sequence and the biological activity of the extracellular hGH were consistent with those of the authentic hGH.     

Construction of an Escherichia coli-Clostridium perfringens shuttle vector and plasmid transformation of Clostridium perfringens.

A stable shuttle vector which replicates in Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens was constructed by ligating a 3.6-kilobase (kb) fragment of plasmid pBR322 with C. perfringens plasmid pHB101 (3.1 kb). The marker for this shuttle plasmid originated from the 1.3-kb chloramphenicol resistance gene of plasmid pHR106. The resulting shuttle vector, designated pAK201, is 8 kb in size and codes for resistance to 20 micrograms of chloramphenicol per ml in both E. coli and C. perfringens. Following shuttle vector construction in E. coli, plasmid pAK201 was transformed into E. coli HB101 and C. perfringens ATCC 3624A, using intact cell electroporation. The transformation frequencies were 10(6) and 10(4) transformants per microgram of DNA in E. coli and C. perfringens, respectively. Restriction enzyme analysis of the chimera isolated from transformants of both microorganisms suggested that the plasmids were identical. Reciprocal transformation experiments in E. coli and C. perfringens indicated no difference in transformation frequency. Plasmid pAK201 was stable in C. perfringens following repeated transfer in the absence of chloramphenicol pressure. The restriction map of plasmid pAK201 shows six unique cut sites which should be useful for future genetic analysis and C. perfringens gene library construction.     

Primary structure of an aminoglycoside 6''-N-acetyltransferase AAC(6'')-4, fused in vivo with the signal peptide of the Tn3-encoded beta-lactamase.

The gene aacA4 encoding an aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase, AAC(6')-4, was cloned from a natural multiresistance plasmid, and its nucleotide sequence was determined. The gene was 600 base pairs (bp) long, and the AAC(6')-4 had a calculated molecular size of 22.4 kilodaltons and an isoelectric point of 5.35. The sequence of the 17 N-terminal amino acids was determined from the purified enzyme. The AAC(6')-4 gene was part of a resistance gene cluster, and its expression was under the control of the regulatory sequences of the beta-lactamase encoded by Tn3. The five N-terminal amino acids were identical to those of the signal peptide of the Tn3-encoded beta-lactamase, and the entire 5' region of aacA4, as far as it was sequenced (354 bp, including the promoter and the ribosome-binding site sequences), was identical to that of the beta-lactamase gene. This led us to presume an in vivo fusion between the beta-lactamase and the acetyltransferase genes. The latter was followed, in a polycistronic arrangement, by an aminoglycoside 3",9-adenylyltransferase gene, aadA, with an intergenic region of 68 bp. At a distance of ca. 1.3 kilobases in the 3' direction, we found remnants of a second Tn3-like element specifying an active beta-lactamase. At their 5' extremities, the two incomplete copies of Tn3, which were in tandem orientation, were interrupted within the resolvase gene. We speculate that Tn3-related sequences have played a role in the process of selection and dissemination of the AAC(6')-4 gene, which specifies resistance to amikacin and related aminoglycosides.     

SDH全基因的拼接及原核表达

目的:构建闭联异松树脂醇二脂脱氢酶(SDH)全基因片段与原核表达质粒载体,在大肠杆菌中进行表达.方法:将SDH3'端和5'端序列通过PCR方法拼接获得全基因后,然后将其插入到相应的原核表达质粒载体PGEX-6p-1中,形成了重组载体,并使其在大肠杆菌BL21中经IFFG诱导其表达蛋白,再用SDS-PAGE电泳检测表达结果.结果:成功的将SDH基因片段拼接成全基因,并将其构建入原核表达载体PGEX-6p-1中.测序结果表明载体构建成功,无插入和移码突变.经1.5mmol/LIPTC诱导后获得与预测大小(29.253kDa)完全一致的目的蛋白即闭联异松树脂醇二脂脱氢酶蛋白,并测得在37℃、250r/min的实验条件下的最佳诱导时间为4h.结论:成功获得了重组质粒并在大肠杆菌中较好的诱导表达得到了闭联异松树脂醇二脂脱氢酶的蛋白.     

大肠杆菌磷酸果糖激酶基因在极端嗜酸性氧化硫硫杆菌中的表达

构建了含大肠杆菌磷酸果糖激酶(EC 2.7.1.11)基因pfkA的重组质粒pSDK1,利用大肠杆菌pfk缺陷株筛选含目的基因的重组质粒,通过接合转移的方式将其导入氧化硫硫杆菌TtZ2中,接合转移频率达2.6×10-6。重组质粒在TtZ2中有较好的稳定性,在无选择压力条件下传代50次基本保持稳定(重组质粒保留68%以上)。酶活性测定、SDSPAGE及RTPCR结果表明,pfkA基因在氧化硫硫杆菌中得到表达,但其表达水平低于大肠杆菌。葡萄糖可促进含pSDK1的氧化硫硫杆菌TtZ2的生长,而对照菌株的生长则未受明显影响,说明重组菌可部分利用葡萄糖作为碳源生长。     

Study of mycoloyl transferase transport across the cell envelope of Corynebacterium glutamicum

A bla(VIM-2) metallo-beta-lactamase determinant, identical to that previously identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa COL-1 isolate from a French hospital, was detected on a 28-kb plasmid carried by a nosocomial isolate of P. aeruginosa from Verona, Italy. In this plasmid the bla(VIM-2) determinant was inserted into a class 1 integron of original structure, named In72, that contains a partially deleted intI1 integrase gene and two gene cassettes. The first cassette carries an aacA4 aminoglycoside acetyl transferase determinant. The second cassette carries a bla(VIM-2) determinant followed by a partially deleted attC site. The structure of In72 was notably different from that of In56, the bla(VIM-2)-containing integron found in the COL-1 isolate, revealing the existence of molecular heterogeneity among bla(VIM-2)-containing integrons in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from Europe.     

Cloning and expression of the yeast galactokinase gene in an Escherichia coli plasmid.

This report describes the construction and isolation of a plasmid, derived from pBR322, which carries a BglII restriction fragment of DNA containing the galactokinase gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This was accomplished by the following procedure: (1) Purified galactokinase mRNA, labelled with 125I, was hybridized to BglII digests of yeast DNA employing Southern's filter transfer technique to identify a restriction fragment containing the galactokinase gene. (2) This fragment was partially purified by agarose gel electrophoresis, ligated into the BamHI site of pBR322 and transformed into Escherichia coli to generate a clone bank containing the galactokinase gene. (3) This bank was screened by in situ colony hybridization with galactokinase mRNA resulting in the identification of a plasmid carrying this gene. This plasmid DNA hybridized with the galactokinase mRNA to the same extent in the presence of absence of a large excess of unlabelled mRNA from cells that were not induced for galactokinase synthesis, while the same amount of unlabelled galactose-induced mRNA reduced the hybridization by 95%. When this plasmid was introduced into an E. coli strain deleted for the galactose operon it caused the synthesis of low levels of yeast galactokinase activity.     

大肠杆菌嘌呤核苷磷酸化酶基因的克隆与真核表达载体的构建

根据Ｇｅｎｂａｎｋ中大肠杆菌嘌呤核苷磷酸化酶（ＰＮＰ）基因的核苷酸序列,设计并合成了一对引物,以大肠杆菌基因组ＤＮＡ为模板,进行ＰＣＲ扩增,并将扩增产物定向连接到克隆、测序及真核表达载体ＰＣＤＮＡ３中,进行酶切鉴定、测序及序列分析。结果表明ＰＣＲ扩增出７４１ｂｐ大小的片段,通过酶切和序列分析证明含完整的ＰＮＰ基因序列且基因插入方向正确,此序列与文献报道的ＰＮＰ基因的同源性为９９．７％。说明克隆的ＰＮＰ基因与文献报道的基本一致,ｐｃＤＮＡ３－ＰＮＰ的构建成功为今后用其进行基因转染来研究ＰＮＰ／Ｍｅｐ－ｄＲ自杀基因系统在肿瘤基因治疗中的应用打下了基础。     

肠产毒性大肠埃希菌F4ac菌毛蛋白FaeG亚单位的原核表达及免疫学鉴定

目的克隆并表达肠产毒性大肠埃希菌（ETEC）F4ac菌毛蛋白亚单位FaeG,为制备预防幼畜ETEC感染的疫苗奠定基础。方法以ETEC（C83902）基因组DNA为模板,PCR扩增faeG基因,插入原核表达质粒pGEX-6P-1,构建重组质粒pGEX-faeG。将pGEX-faeG转化大肠埃希菌BL-21I,PTG诱导表达。SDS-PAGE分析表达蛋白的相对分子质量和表达形式,Western blot鉴定其抗原性。将表达菌超声破碎后离心提取包涵体制备抗原,经口灌喂免疫小鼠,检测小鼠血清中抗FaeG的IgGI、gA,鉴定其免疫原性。结果扩增的faeG基因全长786 bp,与基因文库中的faeG基因同源性达96%。重组质粒pGEX-faeG经PCR及双酶切鉴定确有插入片段,且序列完整。表达产物FaeG相对分子质量约53 kD,主要存在于碎菌后的沉淀中,以包涵体形式表达。Western blot显示该蛋白可与ETEC F4ac阳性血清特异性结合,免疫后小鼠血清抗FaeG IgGI、gA明显高于PBS和GST对照组。结论成功构建了ETEC F4ac菌毛蛋白亚单位FaeG的重组质粒pGEX-faeC,表达了重组蛋白FaeG,该蛋白具有良好的抗原表达了重组蛋白FaeG,该蛋白具有良好的抗原性和免疫原性,可用于研制预防幼畜ETEC感染的疫苗。     

一株高效抗砷喜温硫杆菌工程菌的构建

利用DNA体外重组技术,将大肠杆菌质粒载体pUM3上的抗砷基因簇片段亚克隆到含有强启动子（tac启动子）并具有广泛寄主范围特性的IncQ族质粒pMMB24上,删除调节基因片段,构建了含有强启动子、可在tra基因诱动下转移的组成型表达的抗砷质粒pSDRA4。通过接合转移的方式将其导入专性自养极端嗜酸性喜温硫杆菌Acidithiobacillus caldus中,构建了冶金工程菌Acidithiobacillus caldus (pSDRA4),接合转移频率为（1.444±0.797）×10-4。表明在大肠杆菌和喜温硫杆菌之间成功地建立了一个遗传转移系统。经检测,重组质粒在喜温硫杆菌中具有较好的稳定性,在无选择压力条件下传代50次基本保持稳定（重组质粒保留76% 以上）。经抗砷性能检测,与野生菌相比,构建的喜温硫杆菌工程菌抗砷能力明显提高,从10mmol/L提高到45mmol/L。     

Increased stability of maintenance of pAT153 in Escherichia coli HB101 due to transposition of IS1 from the chromosome into the tetracycline resistance region of pAT153

Abstract The plasmid vector pAT153 was rapidly lost from carbon-limited continuous cultures of Escherichia coli HB101 (pAT153) at a dilution rate of 0.15 h⁻¹. In one experiment, the plasmid was maintained by 80% of the host bacteria for up to 35 generations. The tetracycline-resistance gene was not expressed from the majority of the plasmid DNA in this population of E. coli HB101 due to transposition of IS1 from the bacterial chromosome into the aminoterminal region of the tet gene of pAT153. This plasmid, pLCX1, when isolated and retransformed into E. coli HB101, was more stably maintained than pAT153. Similar plasmids have been isolated from other glucose, phosphate, ammonium and sulphate-limited chemostats.     

青岛文昌鱼S-腺苷高半胱氨酸水解酶基因表达载体的构建及表达纯化

为了在原核细胞中表达青岛文昌鱼Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaunese S-腺苷高半胱氨酸水解酶(S-adeno-sylhomocysteine hydrolase,SAHH),采取构建文昌鱼SAHH基因的原核表达重组质粒pGEX-6P-1-SAHH的方法,转化入大肠杆菌JMl09感受态细胞中,IPTG诱导蛋白表达,并进行分离纯化.结果经SDS-PAGE分析,重组质粒在JM109中表达并纯化得到的融合蛋白大约为70 kDa,成功构建了文昌鱼SAHH基因原核表达载体,且重组载体表达出融合蛋白,分离纯化得到目的蛋白.