沿微山湖地区神经毒素源性酪酸酸菌的土壤分布调查

为了解神经毒素原性酷酸酸菌在微山湖区土壤的分布情况,我们采集了该地区的土壤样品进行调查。５０份士样培养上清中,有１８份检出了肉毒素素,经中和试验证实均为Ｅ型。从其中的７份阳性样品中分离到产毒菌株,对分离菌株进行毒性测定,生化特性检查及其神经毒素基因的ＰＣＲ检测,所有菌株均有型肉毒神经毒不基因并产生相应素,     

首次自肉毒中毒食品中分离的一株产生E型肉毒毒素的酪酸梭菌

对某卫生防疫站委托本研究室分离病原菌的一份引起肉毒中毒的食品一＂黄豆冬瓜酱＂进行检测和病原菌的分离,从中再次检出了Ｅ型肉毒毒素并分离到一产毒菌种,对该菌种的生物学及生化学特性进行检查,并检测其毒素基因（ＰＣＲ试验）。结果：该分离菌能产生Ｅ型肉毒毒素,ＰＣＲ检测结果也证明其具有Ｅ型肉毒神经毒素基因,但其多项生化特性与Ｅ型肉毒梭菌有明显差异,而与酪酸梭菌完全一致。结果说明该分离菌系产生Ｅ型肉毒毒素的酪酸梭菌,而非Ｅ型肉毒梭菌。由酪酸梭菌引起的食物中毒型肉毒中毒并从中毒食品中分离到该病原菌,这在国际上尚属首次报告。     

神经毒素原性酪酸梭菌与E型肉毒梭菌毒素的精制及特性比较

对首次自Ｅ型肉毒中毒食品中分离到的一株神经毒素原性酪酸梭菌（ＬＣＬ１５５）所产生的神经毒素,同Ｅ型肉毒梭菌（Ｅ１５３）所产生的神经毒素进行了精制及特性比较,发现（１）两菌神经毒素的分子量,Ｎａｔｉｖｅ－ＰＡＧＥ测试均为３２０ｋＤａ;ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ测试则均为１４７ｋＤａ,非毒性非血凝素部分均为１２８ｋＤａ;用胰蛋白酶激活神经毒素后发现两菌神经毒素均由分子量为１０３ｋＤａ的Ｈ链和４８ｋＤａ的Ｌ链组成。（２）两菌神经毒素柱层析图像基本一致,但在菌体毒素提取效果及精制效果诸方面,分离的酪酸梭菌却都较差。（３）胰蛋白酶激活试验表明：两菌神经毒素达到最大毒力所需激活时间不等。在相同温度下,分离的酪酸梭菌毒素只需５ｍｉｎ,而Ｅ型肉毒梭菌毒素却需３０ｍｉｎ,提示两菌神经毒素激活动力学上存在差异。（４）琼脂双扩散试验结果表明两菌神经毒素的抗原性是一致的,没有发现沉淀线呈交叉或部分交叉现象。     

中国的E型肉毒中毒及其病原菌的特点

本世纪３０年代中期,几乎同时在原苏联与美国分别发现海鱼引起的肉毒中毒并认定其病原菌为一新型即Ｅ型的肉毒梭菌之后,世界各地也相继发现Ｅ型肉毒中毒发生,且多为沿海地区居民因食用处理不当的鱼,鱼子及各种海栖动物肉所导致。而我国的Ｅ型肉毒中毒及其病原菌的地理分布状态以及中毒诱因等方面在国际间具有某些独特之处。在我国,除大连新金县罐头鱼引起的一起Ｅ型肉毒中毒之外,Ｅ型中毒主要发生在海拔４～５千米的青藏高原或远隔海域的东北平原和华北平原;中毒均为食物中毒型,原因食品及发病因素基本上都是生吃冬藏肉或豆谷类发酵食品。我国的Ｅ型肉毒梭菌也多分布于黄土高原或内陆平原,而在沿海的泥沙和鱼类中则很少能检出该菌。华北平原微山湖周边几个县发生的３起食物中毒型Ｅ型肉毒中毒已经证实均系酪酸梭菌产生的Ｅ型神经毒素所引起,并又查明该湖周围土壤中确有Ｅ型神经毒素原性酪酸梭菌存在,此乃世界上最早的发现     

一株D型肉毒梭菌的分离和鉴定

从我国东海地区的海泥培养物中,分离出一株厌氧性芽孢杆菌。经细菌学、毒素血清学．细菌代谢产物的气相色谱分析及DNA中G+ct001％测定,鉴定为D型肉毒梭菌,编号为D85501。与国际参考菌株D359对照,D85 501菌株具有D型肉毒梭菌的总特性,还有自身的特点,是D型肉毒梭菌中的一新株,是我国分离的首株D型肉毒梭菌。     

E型内毒毒素的分子生物学研究进展

Ｅ型肉毒毒素不同于Ａ型肉毒毒素及具有蛋白分解性的Ｂ,Ｆ型肉毒毒素,具有自身的特点。本文就Ｅ型肉毒毒素的结构,激活及作用机制,Ｅ型肉毒毒素的精制特点,基因结构及酪酸梭菌产生Ｅ型肉毒毒素的机制探讨等四个方面予以介绍。     

E型肉毒毒素的分子生物学研究进展

Ｅ型肉毒毒素不同于Ａ型肉毒毒素及具有蛋白分解性的Ｂ、Ｆ型肉毒毒素,具有自身的特点。本文就Ｅ型肉毒毒素的结构、激活及作用机制、Ｅ型肉毒毒素的精制特点、基因结构及酪酸梭菌产生Ｅ型肉毒毒素的机制探讨等四个方面予以了介绍。     

24株鸡源丁酸梭菌的分离鉴定及耐药基因与毒力基因携带情况

【目的】旨在对鸡源丁酸梭菌进行分离鉴定与安全性评估。【方法】利用厌氧培养方法对源自汶上芦花鸡与SPF鸡粪便样品进行丁酸梭菌的分离与纯化,挑选可疑菌落进行微生物质谱鉴定,进一步通过16S rRNA基因测序进行鉴定,16S rRNA测序结果与NCBI核苷酸数据库中丁酸梭菌的16S rRNA序列进行同源性分析;同时,进行所有分离株对氧氟沙星、头孢吡肟等9种药物的药敏试验,利用PCR方法进行mefA等23种耐药基因扩增,基于益生菌安全要求对样品进行alpha等4种梭菌毒素基因以及typeA等4种肉毒毒素基因的测定。【结果】共分离鉴定了24株丁酸梭菌。24株均对氧氟沙星等7种抗生素表现为敏感,L-1、L-6、L-12仅对新霉素表现为中介,L-19仅对头孢吡肟表现为中介。全部菌株的mefA等16种耐药基因结果全部为阴性,sul2、flor、blaTEM 3种耐药基因全部呈阳性,tetC携带率为79.2%,cmlA携带率为45.8%,blaOXA携带率为37.5%,aadB携带率为12.5%,qnrA携带率为4.2%。PCR结果显示所有分离菌株的alpha、beta、epsilon、iota等4种梭菌毒素基因携带率0%。全部分离菌株均未携带typeA、typeB、typeE、typeF 4种肉毒毒素基因。【结论】结果表明,从未饲喂抗生素和丁酸梭菌的汶上芦花鸡与SPF鸡群中获得的24株丁酸梭菌分离株达到预期的安全性要求,可作为益生添加菌的筛选参考株。     

杭州湾、钱塘江流域肉毒梭菌分布调查及其生物学特性的研究

杭州湾、钱塘江流域沿岸外环境的肉毒梭菌分布很广。调查22个点检出阳性21个点。外环境各种样品的总检出率为75.95％,上海地区的检出率最低(29.41％),其它地区间的检出率无显著差异。绍兴市区生产的酱豆面制品肉毒梭菌的检出率为20％。检出的所有菌株几乎均为无毒株,其中2株弱毒株其毒力弱到无法定型。生化试验结果显示,被试大多数菌株的生化特性与A、B、F型的PL株相似,但有13株菌株的个别生化反应与试验菌株的总体不同。     

梭菌神经毒素的研究进展

梭状芽孢杆菌属包括许多可以形成芽孢的革兰阳性棒状杆菌,它们广泛分布于自然界中,包括土壤、海洋和淡水沉积物中。在家畜、鸡,以及人等哺乳动物的肠道中也经常能发现肉毒梭菌。许多梭状芽胞杆菌可以产生神经毒素,如肉毒毒素、破伤风毒素和产气荚膜梭菌ε毒素,分别由肉毒梭菌、破伤风梭菌和产气荚膜梭菌产生。这些梭菌神经毒素毒性非常强,可以引起人类或动物发病,如肉毒中毒、破伤风、羊肠毒血症等,给人类的健康和养殖业带来许多危害,一直是重要的研究对象。近年来,梭菌神经毒素在结构与受体以及检测、防控方面取得了较大的进展,现从以上方面综述这3种毒素的研究进展。     

Identification of type A, B, E, and F botulinum neurotoxin genes and of botulinum neurotoxigenic clostridia by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) is a recently developed technique for rapid screening of nucleotide polymorphisms in PCR products. We used this technique for the identification of type A, B, E, and F botulinum neurotoxin genes. PCR products amplified from a conserved region of the type A, B, E, and F botulinum toxin genes from Clostridium botulinum, neurotoxigenic C. butyricum type E, and C. baratii type F strains were subjected to both DHPLC analysis and sequencing. Unique DHPLC peak profiles were obtained with each different type of botulinum toxin gene fragment, consistent with nucleotide differences observed in the related sequences. We then evaluated the ability of this technique to identify botulinal neurotoxigenic organisms at the genus and species level. A specific short region of the 16S rRNA gene which contains genus-specific and in some cases species-specific heterogeneity was amplified from botulinum neurotoxigenic clostridia and from different food-borne pathogens and subjected to DHPLC analysis. Different peak profiles were obtained for each genus and species, demonstrating that the technique could be a reliable alternative to sequencing for the rapid identification of food-borne pathogens, specifically of botulinal neurotoxigenic clostridia most frequently implicated in human botulism.     

Plasmid localization of a type E botulinal neurotoxin gene homologue in toxigenic Clostridium butyricum strains, and absence of this gene in non-toxigenic C. butyricum strains

It has been shown recently that two Clostridium butyricum strains (ATCC 43181 and ATCC 43755) contain a botulinal neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E) gene closely related to that of C. botulinum type E. In this study, we show that this gene is located on a large plasmid in the two toxigenic C. butyricum strains and is absent in 18 non-toxigenic C. butyricum and C. beijerinckii strains. Interestingly, the 230 bp upstream and the 1260 bp downstream of the neurotoxin coding sequence are not present in either the non-toxigenic C. butyricum or C. beijerinckii strains. Our data suggest a BoNT/E gene transfer from C. botulinum E to originally non-toxigenic C. butyricum strains.     

Identification of Type A, B, E, and F Botulinum Neurotoxin Genes and of Botulinum Neurotoxigenic Clostridia by Denaturing High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) is a recently developed technique for rapid screening of nucleotide polymorphisms in PCR products. We used this technique for the identification of type A, B, E, and F botulinum neurotoxin genes. PCR products amplified from a conserved region of the type A, B, E, and F botulinum toxin genes from Clostridium botulinum, neurotoxigenic C. butyricum type E, and C. baratii type F strains were subjected to both DHPLC analysis and sequencing. Unique DHPLC peak profiles were obtained with each different type of botulinum toxin gene fragment, consistent with nucleotide differences observed in the related sequences. We then evaluated the ability of this technique to identify botulinal neurotoxigenic organisms at the genus and species level. A specific short region of the 16S rRNA gene which contains genus-specific and in some cases species-specific heterogeneity was amplified from botulinum neurotoxigenic clostridia and from different food-borne pathogens and subjected to DHPLC analysis. Different peak profiles were obtained for each genus and species, demonstrating that the technique could be a reliable alternative to sequencing for the rapid identification of food-borne pathogens, specifically of botulinal neurotoxigenic clostridia most frequently implicated in human botulism.     

Presumptive identification of common adenovirus serotypes by the development of differential cytopathic effects in the human lung carcinoma (A549) cell culture

Abstract The neurotoxin gene from Clostridium barati ATCC43756 was cloned as a series of overlapping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) generated fragments using primers designed to conserve toxin sequences previously published. The toxin gene has an open reading frame (ORF) of 1268 amino acids giving a calculated molecular mass of 141049 Da. The sequence identity between the C. barati ATCC43756 and non-proteolytic C. botulinum 202F neurotoxins is 64.2% for the light chain and 73.6% for the heavy chain. This is much lower than reported identities for the type E neurotoxins from C. botulinum and C. butyricum (96% identity between light chains and 98.8% between the heavy chains). Previously identified conserved regions in other botulinal neurotoxins were also conserved in that of C. barati . An ORF upstream of the toxin coding region was revealed. This shows strong homology to the 3' end of the gene coding for the nontoxic-nonhemagglutinin (NTNH) component of the progenitor toxin from C. botulinum type C neurotoxin.     

Psychrotrophic clostridia mediated gas and botulinal toxin production in vacuum-packed chilled meat

A cocktail of washed spores from six psychrotrophic Clostridium strains isolated from blown vacuum-packed meats was inoculated onto lamb chumps. A second washed spore cocktail of four toxigenic reference Cl. botulinum strains, types A, B (two strains) and E, and a Cl. butyricum type E strain, was similarly inoculated onto lamb chumps. All inoculated lamb chumps were individually vacuum-packed and placed into storage at various temperatures typical of good to grossly abusive chilled storage (-1 degree C to 15 degrees C). All packs were observed for gas production (pack-'blowing') over a 12 week storage period. On gas production, or after 12 weeks of storage, packs were examined by mouse bioassay for botulinum toxin production. The packs inoculated with the meat isolate cocktail showed evidence of gas production earlier than packs inoculated with reference strains. No botulinum toxin was recovered from the meat isolate inoculated packs, while botulinal toxin was detected in reference strain inoculated packs down to a nominal storage temperature of 2 degrees C.     

Genetic analysis of type E botulinum toxin-producing Clostridium butyricum strains

Type E botulinum toxin (BoNT/E)-producing Clostridium butyricum strains isolated from botulism cases or soil specimens in Italy and China were analyzed by using nucleotide sequencing of the bont/E gene, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and Southern blot hybridization for the bont/E gene. Nucleotide sequences of the bont/E genes of 11 Chinese isolates and of the Italian strain BL 6340 were determined. The nucleotide sequences of the bont/E genes of 11 C. butyricum isolates from China were identical. The deduced amino acid sequence of BoNT/E from the Chinese isolates showed 95.0 and 96.9% identity with those of BoNT/E from C. butyricum BL 6340 and Clostridium botulinum type E, respectively. The BoNT/E-producing C. butyricum strains were divided into the following three clusters based on the results of RAPD assay, PFGE profiles of genomic DNA digested with SmaI or XhoI, and Southern blot hybridization: strains associated with infant botulism in Italy, strains associated with food-borne botulism in China, and isolates from soil specimens of the Weishan lake area in China. A DNA probe for the bont/E gene hybridized with the nondigested chromosomal DNA of all toxigenic strains tested, indicating chromosomal localization of the bont/E gene in C. butyricum. The present results suggest that BoNT/E-producing C. butyricum is clonally distributed over a vast area.     

Genetic interrelationships of saccharolytic Clostridium botulinum types B, E and F and related clostridia as revealed by small-subunit rRNA gene sequences

Abstract The phylogenetic interrelationships of saccharolytic C. botulinum types B, E and F together with eleven other saccharolytic clostridia were examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Comparative analysis of the sequence data revealed that the saccharolytic C. botulinum types B, E and F were highly related and represents a single genetic group. Strains of C. barati and C. butyricum that produce botulinal neurotoxin revealed almost 100% 16S rRNA sequence identity with their respective non-toxigenic counterparts and were phylogenetically distinct from saccharolytic C. botulinum (types B, E and F). Proteolytic C. botulinum type F was shown to be phylogenetically remote from the saccharolytic C. botulinum group. The implications of the sequence data for the taxonomy of the C. botulinum complex are discussed.     

Identification of novel linear megaplasmids carrying a ß-lactamase gene in neurotoxigenic Clostridium butyricum type E strains

Since the first isolation of type E botulinum toxin-producing Clostridium butyricum from two infant botulism cases in Italy in 1984, this peculiar microorganism has been implicated in different forms of botulism worldwide. By applying particular pulsed-field gel electrophoresis run conditions, we were able to show for the first time that ten neurotoxigenic C. butyricum type E strains originated from Italy and China have linear megaplasmids in their genomes. At least four different megaplasmid sizes were identified among the ten neurotoxigenic C. butyricum type E strains. Each isolate displayed a single sized megaplasmid that was shown to possess a linear structure by ATP-dependent exonuclease digestion. Some of the neurotoxigenic C. butyricum type E strains possessed additional smaller circular plasmids. In order to investigate the genetic content of the newly identified megaplasmids, selected gene probes were designed and used in Southern hybridization experiments. Our results revealed that the type E botulinum neurotoxin gene was chromosome-located in all neurotoxigenic C. butyricum type E strains. Similar results were obtained with the 16S rRNA, the tetracycline tet(P) and the lincomycin resistance protein lmrB gene probes. A specific mobA gene probe only hybridized to the smaller plasmids of the Italian C. butyricum type E strains. Of note, a ?-lactamase gene probe hybridized to the megaplasmids of eight neurotoxigenic C. butyricum type E strains, of which seven from clinical sources and the remaining one from a food implicated in foodborne botulism, whereas this ?-lactam antibiotic resistance gene was absent form the megaplasmids of the two soil strains examined. The widespread occurrence among C. butyricum type E strains associated to human disease of linear megaplasmids harboring an antibiotic resistance gene strongly suggests that the megaplasmids could have played an important role in the emergence of C. butyricum type E as a human pathogen.