极端酸性矿山环境微生物基于CRISPR系统的适应性免疫机制

【目的】通过对酸性矿山环境中嗜酸硫杆菌属(Acidithiobacillus)、脱硫弧菌属(Desulfovibrio)、钩端螺旋菌属(Leptospirillum)、硫化杆菌属(Sulfobacillus)、酸原体属(Acidiplasma)和铁质菌属(Ferroplasma)的100株冶金微生物基因组中CRISPR-Cas系统的结构特征和同源关系进行生物信息学分析,在基因组水平上解析冶金微生物基于CRISPR系统对极端环境的适应性免疫机制。【方法】从NCBI网站下载基因组序列,采用CRISPR Finder定位基因组中潜在的CRISPR簇。分析CRISPR系统的组成结构与功能:利用Clustal Omega对重复序列(repeat)分类;将间隔序列(spacer)分别与nr数据库、质粒数据库和病毒数据库比对,获得注释信息;根据Cas蛋白的种类和同源性对酸性矿山环境微生物的CRISPR-Cas系统分型。【结果】在100株冶金微生物基因组中共鉴定出415个CRISPR簇,在176个c CRISPR簇中共有80种不同的重复序列和4147条间隔序列。对重复序列分类,发现12类重复序列均能形成典型的RNA二级结构,Cluster10中的重复序列在冶金微生物中最具有代表性。间隔序列注释结果表明,这些微生物曾遭受来自细菌质粒与病毒的攻击,并通过不同的防御机制抵抗外源核酸序列的入侵。冶金微生物细菌的大部分CRISPR-Cas系统属于I-C和I-E亚类型,而古菌的CRISPR-Cas系统多为I-D亚类型,两者基于CRISPR-Cas系统的进化过程中存在显著差异。【结论】酸性矿山环境微生物的CRISPR结构可能采用不同免疫机制介导外源核酸序列与Cas蛋白的相互作用,为进一步揭示极端环境微生物的适应性进化机理奠定了基础。     

沙门氏菌CRISPR位点的结构特征比较

成簇规律间隔的短回文重复序列(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR),是存在于多数细菌和古菌中的遗传结构,能够有效防御外源DNA的入侵(质粒、噬菌体等),进而防御外源基因的水平转移。【目的】本研究以沙门氏菌属中常见的鸡伤寒沙门氏菌(Salmonella gallinarum)、鼠伤寒沙门氏菌(Salmonella typhimurium)、猪霍乱沙门氏菌(Salmonella choleraesuis)以及肠炎沙门氏菌(salmonella enteritidis)等30个菌株为研究对象。探索CRISPR位点在不同沙门氏菌种中的结构差异。【方法】通过生物信息学的方法比较间隔序列与插入序列的同源性以及CRISPR位点与质粒数量关系。【结果】30株沙门氏菌中均存在CRISPR结构,包括CRISPR位点61个以及可疑位点12个。重复序列和cas1基因均不能作为这4类细菌的分类依据。【结论】虽然我们发现CRISPR位点数量与间隔区数量和质粒数量之间均不存在统计学关系,但间隔序列整合子、耐药基因等移动遗传原件具有一定的同源性,说明沙门氏菌在进化过程中不断受外源基因的侵袭。     

副溶血性弧菌群中规律成簇间隔短回文重复序列的比较分析

规律成簇间隔短回文重复序列(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR)是大多数细菌和古细菌在生存压力下进化出的一套抵抗噬菌体干扰的防御系统。本研究主要采用生物信息学的方法,对24株分离自人体且已完成全基因组测序的副溶血性弧菌内CRISPR结构进行了分析,结果发现:只有16株细菌包含1个及以上的CRISPR结构,共计29个CRISPR;仅11个具有真座位特征的CRISPR结构含有前导序列;CRISPR结构中的重复序列所形成的RNA二级结构具有一大一小共两环或一大二小共三环的特征;目前未找到与区间序列高度同源的外源遗传物质;仅含前导序列的CRISPR结构侧翼区才存在cas基因。副溶血性弧菌的CRISPR结构可能以水平基因转移的方式整合到细菌的染色体中,CRISPR结构不适合作为细菌分类的一项指标。     

寡氧单胞菌中CRISPR位点的分析

对寡氧单胞菌基因组中的CRISPR位点进行生物信息学分析。CRISPRdb数据库中公布的和NCBI上下载的共26株寡氧单胞菌的基因组序列,分析其CRISPR位点的分布情况、重复序列、间隔序列以及间隔序列和噬菌体序列数量之间的关系。共发现15个确定的CRISPR结构和132个可疑的CRISPR,不同菌株CRISPR结构中的重复序列具有较强的保守性。间隔序列的靶向基因主要来自细菌的基因组,说明寡氧单胞菌CRISPR的的进化与其他细菌基因有关。此外,间隔序列与前噬菌体数量之间的负相关关系,说明CRISPR能阻止噬菌体的入侵。寡氧单胞菌CRISPR位点的分析为进一步研究耐药性及基因组稳定性奠定了基础。     

蜡状芽孢杆菌群中规律成簇间隔短回文重复序列的生物信息学分析

规律成簇间隔短回文重复序列(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR)是最近发现针对噬菌体等外源遗传物质的获得性和可遗传性的新型原核生物防御系统。通过BLAST、多序列比对、RNA二级结构预测等生物信息学方法对已经完成全基因组测序的蜡状芽孢杆菌群24个菌株进行CRISPR的系统分析,结果表明:42%的菌株含有该结构;8个CRISPR座位的正向重复序列可以形成RNA二级结构,提示正向重复序列可能介导外源DNA或RNA与CAS编码蛋白的相互作用;31%的间区序列与噬菌体、质粒、蜡状芽孢杆菌群基因组序列具有同源性,进一步验证间区序列很可能来源于外源可移动遗传因子。由于大部分蜡状芽孢杆菌群菌株含有多个前噬菌体和质粒,通过对蜡状芽孢杆菌群CRISPR的分析,为揭示其对宿主菌与噬菌体,以及宿主菌与质粒间的关系奠定基础。     

福建红曲醋中产酸菌株的分离及鉴定

添加含有高浓度乙醇的红曲酒至福建传统红曲醋醋母中富集产酸菌株,采用高浓度乙醇平板,依据溶解圈指标从福建传统红曲醋液体循环工艺样品中分离出7株产酸菌株。综合菌株形态、生理生化实验以及16S r DNA序列测定等信息,确定这7株菌株分类地位为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)α-变形菌纲(Alphaproteobacteria)红螺菌目(Rhodospirillales)醋酸菌科(Acetobacteraceae)葡糖酸醋杆菌属(Gluconacetobacter),其中菌株Y5052、Y5054、Y5072、Y5092鉴定为斯氏葡糖酸醋杆菌(Gluconacetobacter swingsii);菌株Y5032、Y5033、Y5071鉴定为欧洲葡糖酸醋杆菌(Gluconacetobacter europaeus)。测定这些菌株的产酸能力,菌株Y5052产酸量最低,7 d达15 g/L;菌株Y5054产酸能力最强,7 d产酸量达57.0 g/L。     

规律成簇的间隔短回文重复：结构，功能与应用

规律成簇的间隔短回文重复(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPRs)是一类广泛分布于细菌和古菌基因组中的重复结构.最近研究表明,CRISPR与一系列相关蛋白、前导序列一起,为原核生物提供对噬菌体等外源基因的获得性免疫能力,其作用机制可能与真核生物的RNA干扰过程类似.作为基因组中高度可变的区域,CRISPR非常适合成为研究细菌种内分型和微进化的分子靶标.本文综述了CRISPR系统的结构、功能及其应用概况,并对CRISPR研究的前景进行了展望.     

保加利亚乳杆菌CRISPR位点的序列分析

乳酸菌基因组的CRISPR序列是乳酸菌识别并抵御噬菌体侵染的重要元件,其与cas蛋白共同构成了乳酸菌的获得性免疫系统。而目前对乳酸菌CRISPR序列信息研究较少。因此本文对8株不同来源的保加利亚乳杆菌的CRISPR序列进行了克隆测序,对其重复序列进行了遗传进化分析并预测了二级结构,同时进行了间隔序列的同源性分析。结果显示:8株保加利亚乳杆菌均含有长度不一的CRISPR区,最长的CRISPR序列片段长度为1 820 bp,含有30条间隔序列,最小的CRISPR片段仅有408 bp,含5个间隔序列。经分析发现CRISPR重复序列的二级结构预测有两类不同的结构,一类以"环"为主的典型RNA二级结构,一类以"茎"为主,前者剪切后具有典型crRNA结构,而后者的功能还有待进一步研究。通过分析保加利亚乳杆菌的CRISPR序列结构,可为保加利亚乳杆菌抗噬菌体的分子机制奠定基础,也对乳品工业筛选抗噬菌体的发酵剂菌株具有指导意义。     

CRISPR-Cas系统在细菌生理中的作用

规律成簇的间隔短回文重复(CRISPR)及相关基因(cas)组成了CRISPR-Cas系统,该系统存在于约90%的古细菌和40%的细菌基因组内,使细菌对外源基因的入侵具有获得性免疫作用。我们简要介绍细菌CRISPR-Cas系统的结构和作用机制,并对其在细菌毒力、耐药性传递、生物膜形成等生理中的作用进行综述。     

Anti-CRISPR蛋白AcrVA2的结构生物学研究

大多数古生菌及半数细菌都含有成簇有规律间隔的短回文重复序列(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR)和CRISPR相关(CRISPR-associated,Cas)蛋白质构成的适应性免疫系统,来抵御外界噬菌体的入侵.而噬菌体为了对抗这种免疫系统,也进化出许多抗CRISPR(anti-CRISPR,Acr)的蛋白质,使得CRISPR-Cas系统受到抑制.来自牛眼莫拉氏菌(Moraxella bovoculi)的AcrVA2是目前发现的可抑制V-A型CRISPR-Cas系统效应蛋白Cas12a发挥切割活性的Acr蛋白之一,其作用机理尚不清楚.本文解析了自由状态的AcrVA2和MbCas12a^620-636-AcrVA2复合物的晶体结构,发现AcrVA2蛋白采用了一种新的α-β折叠结构,且只与自由状态的Cas12a结合.此外,AcrVA2与MbCas12a^620-636的结合主要依靠氢键和盐桥的相互作用力,并通过疏水界面得到进一步稳定.这些结果提示,AcrVA2是通过与自由状态的MbCas12a结合来发挥抑制活性的,这对进一步理解Acr蛋白抑制V-A型CRISPR-Cas系统的多样化机制有重要意义.     

Genome-wide phylogenetic analysis of Gluconobacter, Acetobacter, and Gluconacetobacter

Phylogenetic relationships among three genera, Gluconobacter, Acetobacter, and Gluconacetobacter, of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) are still unclear, although phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence has shown that Gluconacetobacter diverged first from the ancestor of these three genera. Therefore, the relationships among these three genera were investigated by genome-wide phylogenetic analysis of AAB. Contrary to the results of 16S rRNA gene analysis, phylogenetic analysis of 293 enzymes involved in metabolism clearly showed that Gluconobacter separated first from its common ancestor with Acetobacter and Gluconacetobacter. In addition, we defined 753 unique orthologous proteins among five known complete genomes of AAB, and phylogenetic analysis was carried out using concatenated gene sequences of these 753 proteins. The result also showed that Gluconobacter separated first from its common ancestor with Acetobacter and Gluconacetobacter. Our results strongly suggest that Gluconobacter was the first to diverge from the common ancestor of Gluconobacter, Acetobacter, and Gluconacetobacter, a relationship that is in good agreement with the physiologies and habitats of these genera.     

CRISPR Content Correlates with the Pathogenic Potential of Escherichia coli

Guide RNA molecules (crRNA) produced from clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) arrays, altogether with effector proteins (Cas) encoded by cognate cas (CRISPR associated) genes, mount an interference mechanism (CRISPR-Cas) that limits acquisition of foreign DNA in Bacteria and Archaea. The specificity of this action is provided by the repeat intervening spacer carried in the crRNA, which upon hybridization with complementary sequences enables their degradation by a Cas endonuclease. Moreover, CRISPR arrays are dynamic landscapes that may gain new spacers from infecting elements or lose them for example during genome replication. Thus, the spacer content of a strain determines the diversity of sequences that can be targeted by the corresponding CRISPR-Cas system reflecting its functionality. Most Escherichia coli strains possess either type I-E or I-F CRISPR-Cas systems. To evaluate their impact on the pathogenicity of the species, we inferred the pathotype and pathogenic potential of 126 strains of this and other closely related species and analyzed their repeat content. Our results revealed a negative correlation between the number of I-E CRISPR units in this system and the presence of pathogenicity traits: the median number of repeats was 2.5-fold higher for commensal isolates (with 29.5 units, range 0–53) than for pathogenic ones (12.0, range 0–42). Moreover, the higher the number of virulence factors within a strain, the lower the repeat content. Additionally, pathogenic strains of distinct ecological niches (i.e., intestinal or extraintestinal) differ in repeat counts. Altogether, these findings support an evolutionary connection between CRISPR and pathogenicity in E. coli.     

Comparative genomic structures of Mycobacterium CRISPR-Cas

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are inheritable genetic elements of many archaea and bacteria, conferring acquired immunity against invading nucleic acids. CRISPR might be indicative of the bacterial niche adaptation and evolutionary. Mycobacterium is an important genus occupying diverse niches with profound medical and environmental significance. To present a comparative genomic landscape of the Mycobacterium CRISPR, the feature of mycobacterium CRISPR structures with sequenced complete genomes were bioinformatically analyzed. The results show that CRISPR structures can be found among 14 mycobacteria, and all loci are chromosomally located. Long CRISPRs present in three species, namely M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, and M. avium. Integrated CRISPR-Cas system can only be found in M. tuberculosis and M. bovis, with highly conserved repeat sequences, very short leaders, and promoterless. M. tuberculosis and M. bovis repeat sequences cannot form stable RNA secondary structure, consistent with a Cas6-binding sequence. M. avium repeat sequences can form classical stem-loop structure. A three-step model of M. tuberculosis CRISPR-Cas system action was put forward based on the composition and function of cas genes cluster. M. tuberculosis and M. bovis CRISPRs might interfere with the invading nucleic acids, but have somehow lost the capacity to incorporate new spacers and co-evolve with corresponding mycobacteriophages.     

Quantification of the expression of reference and alcohol dehydrogenase genes of some acetic acid bacteria in different growth conditions

Aims:  The aim of this study was to develop a reliable system to analyse the expression of the pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)–alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and test its ability to predict the growth and oxidative activity of some acetic acid bacteria (AAB).
Methods and Results:  Specific primers were designed for use in RT-PCR to quantify ADH expression and several housekeeping genes in four species of AAB. 16S rRNA gene was selected as an internal control. The relative expression of adh A was measured in Acetobacter aceti , Acetobacter pasteurianus , Gluconacetobacter hansenii and Gluconobacter oxydans grown in two media that had glucose or ethanol as the carbon source. AAB adh A expression was shown to be related to the two Acetobacter species' ability to oxidise and grow on ethanol, whereas G. oxydans were unable to grow on ethanol and the growth of Ga. hansenii was not related to adh A expression.
Conclusions:  The differential expression of ADH could be a marker to analyse both growth and oxidation ability in some AAB, especially those of the genus Acetobacter .
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Several housekeeping genes were tested in AAB and after growth in different media and it was evident that only the ribosomal coding genes were adequate as reference genes for RT-PCR.     

海南海口温泉真菌、细菌多样性及其环境影响因素分析

【目的】海南海口含有丰富的温泉资源,对温泉微生物多样性进行研究,有助于进一步开发和利用海南温泉微生物资源。【方法】本文采用Illumina Hi Seq高通量测序技术对海口3个温泉[海甸岛荣域温泉(S1)、火山口开心农场温泉(S2)和西海岸海长流温泉(S3)]水样中微生物ITS序列和16Sr RNA基因V3-V4区进行测序及生物信息学分析,探究海口市3个不同区域的温泉真菌多样性与细菌多样性。【结果】(1)α多样性分析表明,真菌群落中,S3(29)S1(29)S2,而在细菌群落中,S2(29)S1(29)S3。β多样性分析表明,3个温泉真菌群落和细菌群落组成差异皆显著。(2)分类分析表明,温泉真菌群落优势菌门为子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和担子菌门(Basidiomycota),细菌群落优势菌门为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、Thermi、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)、绿菌门(Chlorobi)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)。(3) CCA (Canonical correspondence analysis)分析表明,3个温泉的真菌群落主要影响因子是温度,细菌群落主要影响因子是总磷。【结论】海南省海口市温泉中含有丰富的微生物资源,其微生物群落组成受多种环境因子影响,且影响真菌和细菌的主要环境因子不同。     

Biotechnological applications of acetic acid bacteria

The acetic acid bacteria (AAB) have important roles in food and beverage production, as well as in the bioproduction of industrial chemicals. In recent years, there have been major advances in understanding their taxonomy, molecular biology, and physiology, and in methods for their isolation and identification. AAB are obligate aerobes that oxidize sugars, sugar alcohols, and ethanol with the production of acetic acid as the major end product. This special type of metabolism differentiates them from all other bacteria. Recently, the AAB taxonomy has been strongly rearranged as new techniques using 16S rRNA sequence analysis have been introduced. Currently, the AAB are classified in ten genera in the family Acetobacteriaceae. AAB can not only play a positive role in the production of selected foods and beverages, but they can also spoil other foods and beverages. AAB occur in sugar- and alcohol-enriched environments. The difficulty of cultivation of AAB on semisolid media in the past resulted in poor knowledge of the species present in industrial processes. The first step of acetic acid production is the conversion of ethanol from a carbohydrate carried out by yeasts, and the second step is the oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid carried out by AAB. Vinegar is traditionally the product of acetous fermentation of natural alcoholic substrates. Depending on the substrate, vinegars can be classified as fruit, starch, or spirit substrate vinegars. Although a variety of bacteria can produce acetic acid, mostly members of Acetobacter, Gluconacetobacter, and Gluconobacter are used commercially. Industrial vinegar manufacturing processes fall into three main categories: slow processes, quick processes, and submerged processes. AAB also play an important role in cocoa production, which represents a significant means of income for some countries. Microbial cellulose, produced by AAB, possesses some excellent physical properties and has potential for many applications. Other products of biotransformations by AAB or their enzymes include 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, which is used for the production of vitamin C; D-tagatose, which is used as a bulking agent in food and a noncalorific sweetener; and shikimate, which is a key intermediate for a large number of antibiotics. Recently, for the first time, a pathogenic acetic acid bacterium was described, representing the newest and tenth genus of AAB.     

Analysis of acetic acid bacteria by different culture-independent techniques in a controlled superficial acetification

Three molecular techniques [denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE-PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism of the 16S rRNA gene amplicon (RFLP-PCR 16S rRNA) and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) with SybrGreen and with specific TaqMan-Minor Groove Binder (MGB) probes] were used to identify and monitor acetic acid bacteria (AAB) species during a controlled acetification. This process was initiated by seeding a starter culture comprising a mixture of one strain each of Acetobacter pasteurianus, Gluconacetobacter europaeus and Gluconacetobacter hansenii. Analysis at the species level indicated that the population of A. pasteurianus increased quickly, subsequently acquiring a dominant position, whereas the other two species gradually disappeared. All three methods confirmed this result. When the total AAB population was estimated, the results obtained based on summing the three species by TaqMan-MGB RT-PCR, total AAB RT-PCR and the direct microscopic count method were similar. Using TaqMan-MGB RT-PCR we were able to detect species with populations 3 log units lower than that of the major species and which could not be detected by other methods.     

Characterization of CRISPR-Cas systems in the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) are composed of an array of short DNA repeat sequences separated by unique spacer sequences that are flanked by associated (Cas) genes. CRISPR-Cas systems are found in the genomes of several microbes and can act as an adaptive immune mechanism against invading foreign nucleic acids, such as phage genomes. Here, we studied the CRISPR-Cas systems in plant-pathogenic bacteria of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex (RSSC). A CRISPR-Cas system was found in 31% of RSSC genomes present in public databases. Specifically, CRISPR-Cas types I-E and II-C were found, with I-E being the most common. The presence of the same CRISPR-Cas types in distinct Ralstonia phylotypes and species suggests the acquisition of the system by a common ancestor before Ralstonia species segregation. In addition, a Cas1 phylogeny (I-E type) showed a perfect geographical segregation of phylotypes, supporting an ancient acquisition. Ralstoniasolanacearum strains CFBP2957 and K60^T were challenged with a virulent phage, and the CRISPR arrays of bacteriophage-insensitive mutants (BIMs) were analysed. No new spacer acquisition was detected in the analysed BIMs. The functionality of the CRISPR-Cas interference step was also tested in R. solanacearum CFBP2957 using a spacer-protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) delivery system, and no resistance was observed against phage phiAP1. Our results show that the CRISPR-Cas system in R. solanacearum CFBP2957 is not its primary antiviral strategy.     

Diverse CRISPRs evolving in human microbiomes

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) loci, together with cas (CRISPR-associated) genes, form the CRISPR/Cas adaptive immune system, a primary defense strategy that eubacteria and archaea mobilize against foreign nucleic acids, including phages and conjugative plasmids. Short spacer sequences separated by the repeats are derived from foreign DNA and direct interference to future infections. The availability of hundreds of shotgun metagenomic datasets from the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) enables us to explore the distribution and diversity of known CRISPRs in human-associated microbial communities and to discover new CRISPRs. We propose a targeted assembly strategy to reconstruct CRISPR arrays, which whole-metagenome assemblies fail to identify. For each known CRISPR type (identified from reference genomes), we use its direct repeat consensus sequence to recruit reads from each HMP dataset and then assemble the recruited reads into CRISPR loci; the unique spacer sequences can then be extracted for analysis. We also identified novel CRISPRs or new CRISPR variants in contigs from whole-metagenome assemblies and used targeted assembly to more comprehensively identify these CRISPRs across samples. We observed that the distributions of CRISPRs (including 64 known and 86 novel ones) are largely body-site specific. We provide detailed analysis of several CRISPR loci, including novel CRISPRs. For example, known streptococcal CRISPRs were identified in most oral microbiomes, totaling ～8,000 unique spacers: samples resampled from the same individual and oral site shared the most spacers; different oral sites from the same individual shared significantly fewer, while different individuals had almost no common spacers, indicating the impact of subtle niche differences on the evolution of CRISPR defenses. We further demonstrate potential applications of CRISPRs to the tracing of rare species and the virus exposure of individuals. This work indicates the importance of effective identification and characterization of CRISPR loci to the study of the dynamic ecology of microbiomes.