猪链球菌2型毒力因子研究新进展

猪链球菌是一种传染性革兰氏阳性菌,是严重影响养猪业发展的重要人畜共患病原体,造成人类死亡率在5%~20%。其毒力因子在致病过程中发挥着重要作用。近年来对猪链球菌2型的毒力因子研究有诸多新的进展,对其致病机制的了解和对该病有效防控都有新的认识。对近些年研究2型猪链球菌毒力相关因子,对蛋白质类、酶类研究的新进展,同时对毒力因子基因表达双组分系统、与宿主免疫系统相互作用的Ⅳ型分泌系统的进展进行总结和分析,以期为猪链球菌病的治疗和疫苗的研制提供新参考。     

猪链球菌2型感染实验动物模型的研究进展

猪链球菌为革兰阳性兼性厌氧性球菌,感染后可引起猪的关节炎、脑膜炎、肺炎、败血症甚至死亡,严重影响着世界各国的生猪养殖业,导致极大的经济损失。近年来,人感染猪链球菌的病例时有报道,并于1998年和2005年在我国引起两次大规模流行,危害人类健康。建立和选择理想的动物模型,对于研究猪链球菌的致病机理、与宿主间的相互作用及研发防治猪链球菌感染的新药、疫苗及诊断试剂都有着十分重要的意义。本文就已建立的各种猪链球菌感染动物模型展开综述,希望能帮助人们根据不同的试验目的与研究方向选择合适的动物模型。     

猪链球菌生物被膜形成的耐药机制

猪链球菌病(Streptococcus suis)是一种严重影响各国养猪业发展和人类健康的人兽共患传染病,可以引起败血症、关节炎、脑膜炎等多种疾病,造成巨大的经济损失。猪链球菌生物被膜的形成是导致其致病性和耐药性增加的主要原因。为了预防和治疗猪链球菌病以及解析其耐药的可能机制,深入了解和掌握猪链球菌生物被膜的形成和耐药机制具有重要意义。本文综述了猪链球菌生物被膜形成和耐药机制的最新科学知识,着重从生化因素、生理因素、分子机制和环境改变等方面总结讨论猪链球菌生物被膜的耐药机制,进一步为该病的防治提供科学的理论依据。     

猪链球菌2型毒力因子研究进展

猪链球菌病是由猪链球菌引起的一种重要的人善共患病.其中,猪链球菌2型不仅能够引起猪发病,使病猪主要表现为败血症、脑膜炎和关节炎;还可感染人,从而导致人脑膜炎和败血症,甚至死亡.该病严重威胁着人类的公共卫生安全,引起人们的高度重视.一般研究认为猪链球菌的致病性与其毒力因子有密切关系,本文着重对猪链球菌2型毒力因子进行阐述.     

猪链球菌的烈性噬菌体和前噬菌体

猪链球菌(Streptococcus suis,S.suis)是一种重要的人畜共患病病原,携带有前噬菌体。本文对猪链球菌的烈性噬菌体和前噬菌体的研究现状做了综述,主要包括猪链球菌烈性噬菌体的形态及功能;烈性噬菌体裂解酶的结构及功能;烈性噬菌体末端酶大亚基的活性;前噬菌体的比较基因组学、前噬菌体的裂解酶以及烈性噬菌体和溶原性噬菌体之间的相互转化,并对猪链球菌噬菌体与宿主的相互关系作了展望。     

猪链球菌IgG结合蛋白的原核表达及其与不同动物IgG的结合性

猪链球菌IgG结合蛋白(SPG)是一种可与多种动物IgG结合的细胞壁蛋白,广泛地存在于猪链球菌的各个血清型中,被认为是共同抗原。然而其在猪链球菌中的生物学意义并不清楚。本实验用PCR方法从猪链球菌1/2、1、2和9型菌株基因组中扩增SPG基因,构建pET28a-SPG重组表达载体,将其转入大肠杆菌BL21菌株。IPTG诱导表达后,重组蛋白经SDS-PAGE及Western blotting鉴定为可高效表达。镍亲和层析及分子筛两步纯化后获得纯度较高的目的蛋白。Western blotting及ELISA试验结果表明,所有纯化的目的蛋白均可与不同动物IgG结合,其中与人和猪IgG的结合能力相对较高,但不同血清型猪链球菌SPG与同种动物IgG的结合活性没有明显差异。     

猪链球菌2型基因工程疫苗研究进展

猪链球菌2型引起的链球菌病是一种重要的人兽共患传染病。目前对于猪链球菌病的预防主要依靠灭活疫苗,而灭活疫苗对于同源菌的攻击保护率仅在70%左右,对异源菌的攻击保护率更低。目前对于猪链球菌2型基因工程疫苗的研究主要有两个方面,一是对某些毒力因子缺失的基因缺失疫苗的研究,由于尚未发现猪链球菌2型的标志性毒力因子,因此这方面的研究尚不太多;二是对基因重组亚单位疫苗的研究。随着分子生物学技术的发展,许多学者对猪链球菌2型的具有免疫原性的一些蛋白片段进行分析、重组、表达,以期制造出可以对猪链球2型进行有效预防的基因工程疫苗。由于猪链球菌2型的毒力因子复杂,对其毒力因子及其基因组成的研究尚不彻底,随着研究的深入,如在基因工程疫苗方面取得突破性进展,对于猪链球菌2型引起的链球菌病的预防与控制必将有着重要意义。     

浙江省某猪场暴发Ⅱ型猪链球菌感染及病原诊断和药敏试验

报告2003年秋季浙江省某猪场Ⅱ型猪链球菌感染猪群的微生物学检查和药物敏感试验结果,以及采取的控制疫情措施及其效果.从112头病、死猪中分离出71株猪链球菌疑似菌株,经革兰染色镜检、生化反应和特异性诊断血清的玻片凝集,均鉴定为Ⅱ型猪链球菌.上述Ⅱ型猪链球菌分离株对阿莫西林等5种抗生素敏感,但对庆大霉素等7种抗生素耐药.采取饲养环境和饲料消毒、发病猪隔离、阿莫西林和环丙沙星治疗、未发病猪疫苗接种等措施,有效地控制了疫情,未发生人的感染.     

猪链球菌2型荚膜基因PCR快速检测方法的建立及试剂盒的研制

根据猪链球菌2型的荚膜基因2H序列设计一对引物,成功地扩增了荚膜基因,并建立了检测猪链球菌2型的PCR方法。用ScaI进行确认,获得了与预期大小一致的389bp和300bp的两个片段。然后对该方法的敏感性、特异性进行了研究。结果表明,敏感程度可达10个细菌;对其他细菌PCR检测结果均呈阴性,表明建立的猪链球菌2型荚膜基因的PCR检测方法,其特异性和敏感性均很高,可作为猪链球菌病快速诊断的方法。在建立PCR方法的基础上,研制成试剂盒,并对试剂盒的特异性、敏感性和稳定性进行了研究。     

浙江省某猪场暴发II型猪链球菌感染及病原诊断和药敏试验

报告 2 0 0 3年秋季浙江省某猪场II型猪链球菌感染猪群的微生物学检查和药物敏感试验结果 ,以及采取的控制疫情措施及其效果。从 112头病、死猪中分离出 71株猪链球菌疑似菌株 ,经革兰染色镜检、生化反应和特异性诊断血清的玻片凝集 ,均鉴定为II型猪链球菌。上述II型猪链球菌分离株对阿莫西林等 5种抗生素敏感 ,但对庆大霉素等 7种抗生素耐药。采取饲养环境和饲料消毒、发病猪隔离、阿莫西林和环丙沙星治疗、未发病猪疫苗接种等措施 ,有效地控制了疫情 ,未发生人的感染。     

Amoeba host model for evaluation of Streptococcus suis virulence

The Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus suis is a major swine pathogen worldwide that causes meningitis, septicemia, and endocarditis. In this study, we demonstrate that the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum can be a relevant alternative system to study the virulence of S. suis.     

Pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine release by human brain microvascular endothelial cells stimulated by Streptococcus suis serotype 2

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is a world-wide agent of diseases among pigs including meningitis, septicemia and arthritis. This microorganism is also recognized as an important zoonotic agent. The pathogenesis of the meningitis caused by S. suis is poorly understood. We have previously shown that S. suis is able to adhere to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC), but not to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The objective of this work was to study the ability of S. suis serotype 2 to induce the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 (IL-1); IL-6 and the chemokines IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) by human BMEC and HUVEC, using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. S. suis was able to stimulate the production of IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 by BMEC but not HUVEC, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Bacterial cell wall components were largely responsible for such stimulation. The human and pig origin of strains does not seem to affect the intensity of the response; indeed, a very heterogeneous pattern of cytokine and chemokine production was observed for the different strains tested in this study. In situ production of cytokines and chemokines by BMEC may be the result of specific adhesion of S. suis to this cell type, with several consequences such as increased recruitment of leukocytes and an increase in the blood-brain barrier permeability.     

Immunization with SsEno fails to protect mice against challenge with Streptococcus suis serotype 2

In our ongoing efforts to develop a vaccine against Streptococcus suis infection, we tested the potential of S. suis enolase (SsEno), a recently described S. suis adhesin with fibronectin-binding activity, as a vaccine candidate in a mouse model of S. suis -induced septicemia and meningitis. Here, we show that SsEno is highly recognized by sera from convalescent pigs and is highly immunogenic in mice. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with SsEno elicited strong immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses. All four IgG subclasses were induced, with IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b representing the highest titers followed by IgG3. However, SsEno-vaccinated and nonvaccinated control groups showed similar mortality rates after challenge infection with the highly virulent S. suis strain 166'. Similar results were obtained upon passive immunization of mice with hyperimmunized rabbit IgG anti-SsEno. We also showed that anti-SsEno antibodies did not increase the ability of mouse phagocytes to kill S. suis in vitro . In conclusion, these data demonstrate that although recombinant SsEno formulated with Quil A triggers a strong antibody response, it does not confer effective protection against infection with S. suis serotype 2 in mice.     

Strain-dependent disruption of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier by Streptoccocus suis in vitro

Streptococcus suis capsular type 2 is an important agent of diseases including meningitis among pigs worldwide, and is also a zoonotic agent. The barrier function of the choroid plexus epithelium that constitutes the structural basis for the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier has not been elucidated yet in bacterial meningitis. We investigated the influence of various S. suis isolates on the barrier function of cultured porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells with respect to the transepithelial resistance and paracellular [(3)H]-mannitol flux. Preferentially apical application of S. suis isolates significantly decreased transepithelial resistance and significantly increased paracellular [(3)H]-mannitol flux in a time-, dose- and strain-dependent manner. Viable S. suis isolates caused cytotoxicity determined by lactate dehydrogenase assay and electron microscopy, whereas S. suis sonicates and UV-inactivated S. suis did not cause cytotoxicity. The observed effects on porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells barrier function could not exclusively be ascribed to known virulence factors of S. suis such as suilysin. In conclusion, S. suis isolates induce loss of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier function in an in vitro model. Thus, S. suis may facilitate trafficking of bacteria and leucocytes across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. The underlying mechanisms for the barrier breakdown have yet to be determined.     

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 binding to extracellular matrix proteins

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is a major swine and human pathogen that causes septicemia and meningitis. The ability of S. suis serotype 2 to bind to different extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins was evaluated by ELISA. All 23 strains tested bound to plasma and cellular fibronectin and collagen types I, III, and V, some to fibrin, vitronectin, and laminin, and none to the other ECM proteins tested. An unencapsulated isogenic mutant bound to ECM proteins better than its parental encapsulated strain, suggesting that the polysaccharide capsule interfered with binding. Cross-inhibition was observed between soluble plasma fibronectin and collagens in the ECM adherence assay, indicating that binding domains for both proteins exist on the same or nearby bacterial surface molecules. On the other hand, pre-incubation with plasma fibronectin increased binding to collagen IV, suggesting that S. suis might use fibronectin as a bridging molecule. The results of heat treatment and proteolytic digestion suggest that adhesins for these ECM proteins are proteinaceous in nature.     

Infection with Streptococcus Suis Serotypes 1 and 2 in the Same Diseased Pig

Streptococcus suis is an important pig pathogen which is associated with respiratory problems, meningitis and less fre-quently with a variety of other conditions(Hommez et al. 1986). S. suis type 1 causes disease mainly in 1–2 week old pigs while serotype 2 is found commoaily in 2–22 week old pigs, S. suis type 2 is a zoonosis. It can cause meningitis and septicaemia in man (Christensen & Kronvall 1985). Several other serotypes of S. suis have also been identified on the basis of the capsular poly-saccharide (Perch et al. 1983, Hommez et al. 1986). We present a case where we isolated S. suis types 1 and 2 from the brain and lungs respectively of the same diseased suckling piglet. This i/s the first reported case of S. suis types 1 and 2 in Finland.     

Streptococcus suis stimulates ICAM-1 shedding from microvascular endothelial cells

In this study, we hypothesized that Streptococcus suis induces the shedding of adhesion molecules from the surface of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), which may contribute to the ongoing pathophysiological processes of meningitis. When HBMEC were stimulated with whole cells of S. suis S735, significantly larger amounts of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were shed into conditioned medium while basal levels of soluble E-cadherin and P-selectin were unaffected. At a multiplicity of infection of 1 and 10, S. suis increased the concentration of sICAM-1 3.5- and 5-fold, respectively. A capsule-deficient mutant of S. suis induced more shedding than the parental strain. In addition, an S. suis cell wall preparation dose-dependently stimulated ICAM-1 shedding. Specific inhibitors of tyrosine kinase, mitogen-activated extracellular kinase 1, 2, and c-JUN N-terminal kinase significantly reduced S. suis-mediated ICAM-1 release. ICAM-1 shedding was also inhibited by a specific inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases. The capacity of S. suis to induce ICAM-1 shedding has many functional implications that may contribute to the pathophysiological process of meningitis.     

Characterization and functional analysis of atl, a novel gene encoding autolysin in Streptococcus suis

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2) is an important swine and human pathogen responsible for septicemia and meningitis. A novel gene, designated atl and encoding a major autolysin of S. suis 2 virulent strain HA9801, was identified and characterized in this study. The Atl protein contains 1,025 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 113 kDa and has a conserved N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase domain. Recombinant Atl was expressed in Escherichia coli, and its bacteriolytic and fibronectin-binding activities were confirmed by zymography and Western affinity blotting. Two bacteriolytic bands were shown in the sodium dodecyl sulfate extracts of HA9801, while both were absent from the atl inactivated mutant. Cell chains of the mutant strain became longer than that of the parental strain. In the autolysis assay, HA9801 decreased to 20% of the initial optical density (OD) value, while the mutant strain had almost no autolytic activity. The biofilm capacity of the atl mutant was reduced ～30% compared to the parental strain. In the zebrafish infection model, the 50% lethal dose of the mutant strain was increased up to 5-fold. Furthermore, the adherence to HEp-2 cells of the atl mutant was 50% less than that of the parental strain. Based on the functional analysis of the recombinant Atl and observed effects of atl inactivation on HA9801, we conclude that Atl is a major autolysin of HA9801. It takes part in cell autolysis, separation of daughter cells, biofilm formation, fibronectin-binding activity, cell adhesion, and pathogenesis of HA9801.     

Prevalence of Streptococcus suis genotypes in wild boars of Northwestern Germany

Invasive serotype 2 (cps2+) strains of Streptococcus suis cause meningitis in pigs and humans. Four case reports of S. suis meningitis in hunters suggest transmission of S. suis through the butchering of wild boars. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of potentially human-pathogenic S. suis strains in wild boars. S. suis was isolated from 92% of all tested tonsils (n=200) from wild boars. A total of 244 S. suis isolates were genotyped using PCR assays for the detection of serotype-specific genes, the hemolysin gene sly, and the virulence-associated genes mrp and epf. The prevalence of the cps2+ genotype among strains from wild boars was comparable to that of control strains from domestic pig carriers. Ninety-five percent of the cps2+ wild boar strains were positive for mrp, sly, and epf*, the large variant of epf. Interestingly, epf* was significantly more frequently detected in cps2+ strains from wild boars than in those from domestic pigs; epf* is also typically found in European S. suis isolates from humans, including a meningitis isolate from a German hunter. These results suggest that at least 10% of wild boars in Northwestern Germany carry S. suis strains that are potentially virulent in humans. Additional amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis supported this hypothesis, since homogeneous clustering of the epf* mrp+ sly+ cps2+ strains from wild boars with invasive human and porcine strains was observed.