禽分枝杆菌对豚鼠的致病性分析

【背景】我国禽型结核菌素(avian tuberculin)的制造用菌株为CVCC 68201、CVCC 68202和CVCC 68203株,但目前仍未明确这3株菌的生物学特性及对豚鼠致病性的情况。【目的】探究禽分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium avium)的生物学特性及对动物机体的致病性,为禽结核病和牛结核病的防控工作提供技术支撑。【方法】对3株禽分枝杆菌基因组进行鉴定分析及核酸相似度分析;用3株禽分枝杆菌分别感染豚鼠,观察感染后的临床症状、病理学变化、体重增重情况分析、皮内变态反应结果、脏器系数变化等,进而分析3株禽分枝杆菌对豚鼠的致病力。【结果】种型鉴定和进化分析结果表明,CVCC 68201、CVCC 68202和CVCC 68203均为禽分枝杆菌,基因组与Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium FDAARGOS_1608最为相近;在感染前期、中期、后期对3株禽分枝杆菌感染豚鼠的体重增重情况分析发现,感染禽分枝杆菌影响豚鼠增重,主要表现为生长迟缓,感染第5周时,CVCC 68201、CVCC 68202组豚鼠的平均体重明显轻于未感染组;皮内变态反应试验结果显示,感染CVCC 68201组豚鼠的皮肤红肿面积明显大于其他2个感染组,CVCC 68201可引起机体更为强烈的迟发型变态反应;3株禽分枝杆菌感染后,豚鼠脾脏和肺脏存在不同程度的肿大与出血,其中感染CVCC 68201豚鼠的肺脏系数与未感染组相比差异显著(P<0.01);病理学观察结果显示,豚鼠肺脏可见不同程度病变,其中CVCC 68201组更为严重,表现为肿大和轻微出血。各感染组豚鼠肺脏和脾脏组织切片抗酸染色均可见红色的分枝杆菌散在浸润。【结论】3株禽分枝杆菌对豚鼠均有一定程度的致病性,可引发局部病变。本研究为禽分枝杆菌的制备和鉴定提供依据,也为牛结核病的鉴别诊断方法研究提供参考。     

甲烷氧化混合菌的保藏方法研究

【目的】甲烷氧化混合菌是自然界中吸收甲烷的关键微生物,在甲烷氧化混合菌的研究和应用中,首先要解决其长期稳定保藏的问题,保藏方法应能有效保持菌群结构和功能的完整性、稳定性。【方法】以从煤矿土壤富集得到的两种结构稳定的甲烷氧化混合菌为实验体系,研究对比了冷藏法、低温冷冻法、石蜡油冷冻法、甘油冷冻法4种保藏方法,考察保藏前后混合菌的生长状况、MMO活性、菌群结构等。【结果】保藏6个月后,除甘油冷冻法以外,经其它3种方法保藏的混合菌,都具有与保藏前相当的细胞密度、甲烷氧化能力、MMO酶活以及传代稳定性,且DGGE图谱显示保藏前后的菌群结构变化不大。【结论】这3种保藏方法都可以有效的保持甲烷氧化混合菌功能和菌群结构的稳定性。     

直肠接种卡介苗可诱导出与注射接种相似的免疫应答和保护作用

本文通过直肠途径接种卡介苗(BCG),并与肠胃外途径接种进行比较对结核分枝杆菌(结核杆菌)的免疫应答及保护作用.实验选用动物为BALB/c小鼠、远交系Hartley豚鼠和恒河猴;BCG为Pasteur株1173P2;攻击用菌种为结核杆菌H37Rv.直肠免疫小鼠、豚鼠及恒河猴时分别接种2×109、2×1010和6×1010活菌单位的BCG;皮下注射免疫小鼠时接种100 μl BCG(含108活菌单位);皮内注射免疫豚鼠和恒河猴时分别接种5×106和1×109活菌单位的BCG.在两条途径免疫后不同时间,取豚鼠和恒河猴脾细胞在96孔微孔板培养,用3H TdR掺入法测定对PPD刺激的增殖反应.     

类鼻疽杆菌豚鼠感染模型的实验研究

[目的]建立类鼻疽杆菌感染豚鼠模型,分析白化豚鼠和花色豚鼠在类鼻疽杆菌感染动物模型建立中的异同点。[方法]菌液腹腔接种豚鼠,96h之内每隔12h平皿培养法测定菌血症血液含菌量,同时测定动物死亡率,HE染色观察主要脏器病变,体外菌血症法进行多形核白细胞杀灭类鼻疽杆菌的超微结构观察。[结果]造模后72h之内,白化豚鼠血液含菌量就迅速达到约14000CFU/ml,而花色豚鼠血液里几乎检测不到细菌。造模后96h白化豚鼠死亡率100%,花色豚鼠没有死亡。镜下观察发现主要脏器有大量的炎性细胞浸润,实质大多伴有大小不等的脓肿形成,脾脏淋巴小结增生,肺实…     

迟钝爱德华菌感染大鲵的研究

目的 研究迟钝爱德华菌对大鲵的致病性,为防治提供实验依据.方法 用不同浓度(102～108 cfu/ml)迟钝爱德华菌,通过不同的感染途径(喂养的水环境、灌喂及注射)感染大鲵,观察病原菌的致病条件及大鲵各组织器官的细菌分布(皮肤、消化道、肝、脾、血液)和病理变化及敏感抗生素的治疗作用.结果 喂养的水环境不能感染,大量灌喂(106～108 cfu/ml)出现轻微感染症状,注射感染(104～107 cfu/ml)出现明显感染症状,且部分死亡.感染后细菌分布于皮下、血液、肝、脾、胃等器官.用敏感抗生素处理后病鲵好转.结论 迟钝爱德华菌对大鲵可能是一种机会致病菌,病菌感染大鲵需要合适的入侵途径和数量,感染后用敏感抗生素进行治疗有较好效果.     

去甲基万古霉素菌种低温冷冻、冷干保藏条件优化及10 年菌种保藏效果

【目的】针对去甲基万古霉素产生菌不耐保藏的问题,改进菌种保藏方法,对超低温液氮保藏、-80°C低温冷冻保藏、冷干保藏方法跟踪考察10年保藏稳定性,评价不同保藏方法对去甲基万古霉素产生菌的保藏适用性。【方法】采用甘油作基础保护剂进行超低温液氮保藏和-80°C低温冷冻保藏,采用脱脂牛奶作基础保护剂进行冷干保藏,针对超低温液氮保藏进行降温速率考察,研究非渗透性冷冻保护剂海藻糖、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)等对3种保藏方法的冻存影响,对优选出的保藏方法进行10年跟踪考察。【结果】3种保藏方法冻后菌种存活率依次为:-80°C低温冷冻保藏超低温液氮保藏冷干保藏。液氮保藏最适降温速率为快速冷冻。优选出最佳保护剂配方:超低温液氮保藏为甘油8.0%,海藻糖3.5%;-80°C低温冷冻保藏为甘油6.0%,PVP 5.0%;冷干保藏为脱脂牛奶,6.0%海藻糖。采用优化保藏条件,液氮保藏10年存活率稳定在70.6%,菌种发酵水平为入藏水平的92.9%。【结论】在优化条件下,尤以超低温液氮保藏适合于去甲基万古霉素产生菌长期保藏。     

小鼠结核分枝杆菌耐药模型的建立与评价

目的 建立小鼠结核分枝杆菌耐利福平株静脉感染小鼠模型.方法 30只BALB/c雌性小鼠经尾静脉感染结核分枝杆菌耐利福平株每只106 CFU,观察小鼠一般状况,并分别在感染后6周、10周、14周处死小鼠,进行脾、肺组织病理切片、抗酸染色、计脏器荷菌数.结果 感染后小鼠体重呈逐渐上升趋势,脏器病理变化随时间推移由急性炎症逐...     

结核分枝杆菌Rv1057基因对巨噬细胞感染早期细胞因子表达的影响分析

Rv1057是结核分枝杆菌中唯一的7-折叠片β-螺旋蛋白,其生物学功能尚不清楚。为探讨Rv1057基因在结核分枝杆菌感染初期对巨噬细胞免疫应答的影响,利用Rv1057基因缺失菌株D1057和野生型H37Rv菌株感染巨噬细胞,检测结核分枝杆菌在巨噬细胞内的增殖速度,分析巨噬细胞在感染初期的细胞因子表达量变化。研究结果表明:D1057菌株在巨噬细胞内的活菌数量和增殖速度都显著低于H37Rv,被D1057感染的巨噬细胞中IL-1β、IL-10、TNF-α和IFN-γ表达量显著降低,但IL-8大量表达且无显著差异。上述研究结果证实,缺失Rv1057会降低结核分枝杆菌刺激巨噬细胞产生某些细胞因子的能力,明确了Rv1057基因参与结核分枝杆菌与巨噬细胞之间的免疫应答,为进一步解析Rv1057基因的生物学功能、结核分枝杆菌的致病机制奠定了基础。     

沙土管保藏抗生素产生菌36年或38年的存活性试验

采用沙土管保藏方法对部分抗生素产生菌进行保藏 ,36～ 38年后检查保藏效果 ,结果表明 36年总存活率高达 83%以上 ,对其中部分真菌测活 ,存活菌株都保持原活性。     

悉生豚鼠体内复方双歧杆菌制剂对福氏志贺氏菌的作用

复方双歧杆菌制剂中,双歧杆菌(Bif.bifidum),乳酸杆菌(L.acidophilus),粪链球菌(Str.faecalis)三种菌都是人和动物肠道正常菌群之一,要研究它们和肠道致病菌之间的关系,在普通动物体内是无法观察到.在国内我们首次应用悉生豚鼠进行复方双歧杆菌制剂对福氏志贺氏菌作用的研究,发现在悉生豚鼠体内复方双歧杆菌制剂对感染后的豚鼠有较明显的保护作用,保护率为75%,实验组未获得保护的豚鼠死亡时间较对照组延长6～10天,而对照组豚鼠在感染后24～48小时全部死亡,解剖后在肠道分泌物中分离出福氏志贺氏菌.本实验证明:复方双歧杆菌制剂是治疗腹泻较好的生物制剂,尤其对因菌群失调而引起的腹泻更是理想的治疗方法。     

Disruption of response regulator gene, devR, leads to attenuation in virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The devR-devS two-component system of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified earlier and partially characterized in our laboratory. A devR::kan mutant of M. tuberculosis was constructed by allelic exchange. The devR mutant strain showed reduced cell-to-cell adherence in comparison to the parental strain in laboratory culture media. This phenotype was reversed on complementation with a wild-type copy of devR. The devR mutant and parental strains grew at equivalent rates within human monocytes either in the absence or in the presence of lymphocytic cells. The expression of DevR was not modulated upon entry of M. tuberculosis into human monocytes. However, guinea pigs infected with the mutant strain showed a significant decrease in gross lesions in lung, liver and spleen; only mild pathological changes in liver and lung; and a nearly 3 log lower bacterial burden in spleen compared to guinea pigs infected with the parental strain. Our results suggest that DevR is required for virulence in guinea pigs but is not essential for entry, survival and multiplication of M. tuberculosis within human monocytes in vitro. The attenuation in virulence of the devR mutant in guinea pigs together with DevR-DevS being a bona fide signal transduction system indicates that DevR plays a critical and regulatory role in the adaptation and survival of M. tuberculosis within tissues.     

结核分枝杆菌感染小鼠的脾脏和肺脏组织荷菌量与病理变化

目的分析结核急性感染小鼠脾脏和肺脏的组织荷菌量以及病理的动态变化。方法以3×105CFU结核分枝杆菌标准株H37Rv尾静脉途径感染雌性C57BL/6J小鼠,测定感染后1 d、1周、2周、3周、4周、6周和8周肺脏及脾脏组织的荷菌量,脾脏和肺脏组织经HE染色分析病理变化。结果感染动物的脾脏荷菌量在前3周逐步提高,在4～8周脾脏荷菌量维持稳定,肺脏组织在2～8周组织荷菌量逐步升高。病理分析显示动物感染3周后肺脏和脾脏出现肉芽肿,在6～8周病理损伤加重。结论小鼠经尾静脉感染高剂量结核分枝杆菌在8周前表现为急性感染状态,适用于抗结核药物的体内药效学评价。     

Non-Diabetic Hyperglycemia Exacerbates Disease Severity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infected Guinea Pigs

Hyperglycemia, the diagnostic feature of diabetes also occurs in non-diabetics associated with chronic inflammation and systemic insulin resistance. Since the increased risk of active TB in diabetics has been linked to the severity and duration of hyperglycemia, we investigated what effect diet-induced hyperglycemia had on the severity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in non-diabetic guinea pigs. Post-prandial hyperglycemia was induced in guinea pigs on normal chow by feeding a 40% sucrose solution daily or water as a carrier control. Sucrose feeding was initiated on the day of aerosol exposure to the H37Rv strain of Mtb and continued for 30 or 60 days of infection. Despite more severe hyperglycemia in sucrose-fed animals on day 30, there was no significant difference in lung bacterial or lesion burden until day 60. However the higher spleen and lymph node bacterial and lesion burden at day 30 indicated earlier and more severe extrapulmonary TB in sucrose-fed animals. In both sucrose- and water-fed animals, serum free fatty acids, important mediators of insulin resistance, were increased by day 30 and remained elevated until day 60 of infection. Hyperglycemia mediated by Mtb infection resulted in accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in lung granulomas, which was exacerbated by sucrose feeding. However, tissue and serum AGEs were elevated in both sucrose and water-fed guinea pigs by day 60. These data indicate that Mtb infection alone induces insulin resistance and chronic hyperglycemia, which is exacerbated by sucrose feeding. Moreover, Mtb infection alone resulted in the accumulation tissue and serum AGEs, which are also central to the pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic complications. The exacerbation of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia by Mtb infection alone may explain why TB is more severe in diabetics with poorly controlled hyperglycemia compared to non-diabetics and patients with properly controlled blood glucose levels.     

Location of intra- and extracellular M. tuberculosis populations in lungs of mice and guinea pigs during disease progression and after drug treatment

The lengthy treatment regimen for tuberculosis is necessary to eradicate a small sub-population of M. tuberculosis that persists in certain host locations under drug pressure. Limited information is available on persisting bacilli and their location within the lung during disease progression and after drug treatment. Here we provide a comprehensive histopathological and microscopic evaluation to elucidate the location of bacterial populations in animal models for TB drug development.To detect bacilli in tissues, a new combination staining method was optimized using auramine O and rhodamine B for staining acid-fast bacilli, hematoxylin QS for staining tissue and DAPI for staining nuclei. Bacillary location was studied in three animal models used in-house for TB drug evaluations: C57BL/6 mice, immunocompromised GKO mice and guinea pigs. In both mouse models, the bacilli were found primarily intracellularly in inflammatory lesions at most stages of disease, except for late stage GKO mice, which showed significant necrosis and extracellular bacilli after 25 days of infection. This is also the time when hypoxia was initially visualized in GKO mice by 2-piminidazole. In guinea pigs, the majority of bacteria in lungs are extracellular organisms in necrotic lesions and only few, if any, were ever visualized in inflammatory lesions. Following drug treatment in mice a homogenous bacillary reduction across lung granulomas was observed, whereas in guinea pigs the remaining extracellular bacilli persisted in lesions with residual necrosis. In summary, differences in pathogenesis between animal models infected with M. tuberculosis result in various granulomatous lesion types, which affect the location, environment and state of bacilli. The majority of M. tuberculosis bacilli in an advanced disease state were found to be extracellular in necrotic lesions with an acellular rim of residual necrosis. Drug development should be designed to target this bacillary population and should evaluate drug regimens in the appropriate animal models.     

New beta-lactamase-resistant cephem treatment of guinea pigs infected with Legionella pneumophila

The in vivo antimicrobial effect of seven new beta-lactamase-resistant cephems (cefotaxime, latamoxef, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotiam, cefbuperazone, and MT-141) on Legionella pneumophila (strain 81-066, serogroup IV) in guinea pigs was compared with that of erythromycin. As the minimal LD100 within one week was about 4.0 X 10(9) CFU/ml by intraperitoneal injection of the strain, the animals were inoculated with 2.0 ml of twofold dilutions of a suspension of this bacterium. The animals developed purulent peritonitis and systemic involvement demonstrated by the development of periangitis, pneumonia and pleuritis in the lungs. Three different doses of antibiotics were administered intraperitoneally immediately after the rectal temperature reached more than 40 C. Erythromycin had a significant therapeutic effect but none of the new cephems tested death of the infected guinea pigs.     

Influence of immunomodulation on the development of Listeria monocytogenes infection in aged guinea pigs

We investigated the impact of immunomodulation on the development of listeriosis within an aged population of guinea pigs after an intragastric challenge with Listeria monocytogenes. Supplementation with vitamin E for 35 days significantly increased the level of cytotoxic T cells (CD8(+)), while treatment with cyclosporin A resulted in a 25% decrease of CD8(+) T cells. In the animals receiving the low dose (10(2) CFU) of L. monocytogenes, 50% of the control-group animals became infected. Only 22% of animals receiving the orthomolecular dose of vitamin E became infected, whereas animals that were immunosuppressed had an infection rate of 89%. In the immunosuppressed group three animals (16%) developed listerial infection with a quantifiable bacterial level of 0.3-3 log CFU g(-1) of organ in the spleen and liver. In the high-dose study, the population of L. monocytogenes was consistently 1 log CFU g(-1) lower in the spleen or liver of the vitamin E-supplemented group, compared with the control and cyclosporin A-treated animals. At day 4, a significant increase in the levels of CD8(+) during listerial infection occurred in vitamin E-supplemented animals, suggesting an increased ability to produce CD8(+) T cells. The results suggest that immunomodulation of the host can influence listerial infection within an aged population of guinea pigs.     

Uptake and accumulation of oxidized low-density lipoprotein during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in guinea pigs

The typical host response to infection of humans and some animals by M. tuberculosis is the accumulation of reactive oxygen species generating inflammatory cells into discrete granulomas, which frequently develop central caseous necrosis. In previous studies we showed that infection of immunologically naïve guinea pigs with M. tuberculosis leads to localized and systemic oxidative stress that results in a significant depletion of serum total antioxidant capacity and the accumulation of malondialdehyde, a bi-product of lipid peroxidation. Here we show that in addition, the generation of excessive reactive oxygen species in vivo resulted in the accumulation of oxidized low density lipoproteins (OxLDL) in pulmonary and extrapulmonary granulomas, serum and lung macrophages collected by bronchoalveolar lavage. Macrophages from immunologically naïve guinea pigs infected with M. tuberculosis also had increased surface expression of the type 1 scavenger receptors CD36 and LOX1, which facilitate the uptake of oxidized host macromolecules including OxLDL. Vaccination of guinea pigs with Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) prior to aerosol challenge reduced the bacterial burden as well as the intracellular accumulation of OxLDL and the expression of macrophage CD36 and LOX1. In vitro loading of guinea pig lung macrophages with OxLDL resulted in enhanced replication of bacilli compared to macrophages loaded with non-oxidized LDL. Overall, this study provides additional evidence of oxidative stress in M. tuberculosis infected guinea pigs and the potential role OxLDL laden macrophages have in supporting intracellular bacilli survival and persistence.     

Serum amyloid P-component in murine tuberculosis: induction kinetics and intramacrophage Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth inhibition in vitro

Serum amyloid P-component (SAP), a pentraxin, is known to play an important role in innate immunity to microbial infections; however, nothing is known about it during tuberculosis (TB). Mice intratracheally infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Erdman, showed peak SAP levels (442+/-58.2 microg/ml) on day 21, which declined to background levels by day 60. Their serum interleukin-6 levels paralleled SAP levels, whereas, their serum transforming growth factor-beta levels were paradoxical. During the acute phase of infection, the SAP levels positively correlated with the lung mycobacterial load. Purified mouse SAP (1-50 microg/ml) treatment of M. tuberculosis-infected alveolar macrophages (AMs), in vitro, inhibited their intracellular mycobacterial growth; maximum inhibition (1.1 log10 CFU reduction) occurred at 10 microg/ml, and a 4-day treatment appeared optimal. Treatment of AMs with both rabbit anti-mouse SAP polyclonal antibody and mannose-derived simple sugars, separately, blocked the SAP-induced inhibition of mycobacterial growth. The mycobacterial growth inhibition appeared to be nitric oxide (NO)-dependent as NO synthase inhibitors, both aminoguanidine and N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, annulled it. Further, SAP treatment of infected AMs induced significant (P<0.05) elaboration of nitrite (72.1+/-8.3 nM/ml), compared to the controls, and these AMs showed augmented expression of inducible NO synthase. This first study demonstrates that during murine TB the SAP levels were increased, and purified mouse SAP inhibited the intra-AM M. tuberculosis growth, in vitro, apparently via NO-dependent mechanism(s). SAP may thus contribute both to the pathogenesis and pulmonary innate immunity in TB.     

Intranasal Mucosal Boosting with an Adenovirus-Vectored Vaccine Markedly Enhances the Protection of BCG-Primed Guinea Pigs against Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background

Recombinant adenovirus-vectored (Ad) tuberculosis (TB) vaccine platform has demonstrated great potential to be used either as a stand-alone or a boost vaccine in murine models. However, Ad TB vaccine remains to be evaluated in a more relevant and sensitive guinea pig model of pulmonary TB. Many vaccine candidates shown to be effective in murine models have subsequently failed to pass the test in guinea pig models.

Methods and Findings

Specific pathogen-free guinea pigs were immunized with BCG, AdAg85A intranasally (i.n), AdAg85A intramuscularly (i.m), BCG boosted with AdAg85A i.n, BCG boosted with AdAg85A i.m, or treated only with saline. The animals were then infected by a low-dose aerosol of M. tuberculosis (M.tb). At the specified times, the animals were sacrificed and the levels of infection in the lung and spleen were assessed. In separate studies, the long-term disease outcome of infected animals was monitored until the termination of this study. Immunization with Ad vaccine alone had minimal beneficial effects. Immunization with BCG alone and BCG prime-Ad vaccine boost regimens significantly reduced the level of M.tb infection in the tissues to a similar extent. However, while BCG alone prolonged the survival of infected guinea pigs, the majority of BCG-immunized animals succumbed by 53 weeks post-M.tb challenge. In contrast, intranasal or intramuscular Ad vaccine boosting of BCG-primed animals markedly improved the survival rate with 60% of BCG/Ad i.n- and 40% of BCG/Ad i.m-immunized guinea pigs still surviving by 74 weeks post-aerosol challenge.

Conclusions

Boosting, particularly via the intranasal mucosal route, with AdAg85A vaccine is able to significantly enhance the long-term survival of BCG-primed guinea pigs following pulmonary M.tb challenge. Our results thus support further evaluation of this viral-vectored TB vaccine in clinical trials.