生物信息学法筛选志贺氏菌疫苗候选抗原

从GOLD基因组在线数据库中下载志贺氏菌S.flexneri2a301、S.flexneri5b8401和S.sonneiSs046株的全基因组序列,通过SignalP、PSORT-B、Cell-Ploc、TMHMM、Phobius、LipoP和PRED-TMBB等生物信息学工具,筛选可能成为疫苗组份的表面抗原。结果分别从3株志贺氏菌的全基因组中得到了96、158和107个ORF,它们分别编码一系列的脂蛋白、β-桶型跨膜蛋白或分泌性蛋白,组成了一个疫苗候选抗原的信息库。上述ORF编码的蛋白在3株志贺氏菌中呈现良好的同源性,有63种候选抗原在同源性分析中被发现同时存在于3株志贺氏菌中。说明生物信息学方法可以作为高通量筛选志贺氏菌疫苗候选抗原的辅助工具,且为志贺氏菌新疫苗研制提供了大量有用的数据信息。     

基因组学、蛋白质组学、抗原组学与疫苗的发展

疫苗免疫是机体抵御微生物和寄生虫感染的有效措施,然而还有许多病原体缺乏有效的疫苗,疫苗研究任重而道远。随着许多病原体基因组测序的完成,利用基因组字筛选疫苗抗原显示了强大的优势。同时由于近年来比较基因组学、蛋白质组学、抗原组学等的发展,病原体毒力相关蛋白、分泌性蛋白和膜表面结合蛋白基因可以被分离出来,从而可以更加准确地分析候选抗原,极大地提高了疫苗抗原分析的效率。总之,利用基因组和蛋白质组进行疫苗抗原筛选是疫苗研究的革命,将极大地推动疫苗的研究和开发。     

NCTC11637外膜蛋白36ku基因的克隆及序列分析

目的:对人幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori,H.pylori)36ku(OMP36)外膜蛋白进行基因克隆表达,探索研制H.pylori疫苗的新途径。方法:培养H.pylori菌株NCTC11637,采用酚:氯仿抽提和纯化基因组DNA。设计上下游引物,并以该基因组为模板,采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增目的基因片断。将目的基因和PET32a( )同时经HindⅢ和KpnⅠ双酶切,纯化,连接后,转化含有目的基因的重组载体,酶切鉴定后进行序列分析。结果:经酶切,测序分析表明,插入的基因片断为987bp,与GenBank公布的H.pylori 26695、ATCC43504及J99序列相比较,同源性高达94%-96%,推测的氨基酸序列同源性为97%-99%,GenBank登录号059968。结论:成功克隆了H.pylori 36ku的外膜蛋白的编码基因,其表达产物OMP36有望成为新的Hp疫苗候选分子,为H.pylori疫苗的研制和试剂盒的开发奠定了基础。     

幽门螺杆菌UreB和HspA DNA疫苗的构建及免疫评价

本研究选择幽门螺杆菌尿素酶B和热休克蛋白A为候选抗原,通过PCR扩增基因,克隆至真核表达质粒pCD-NA3.1(-)His-Myc上,构建成DNA疫苗,通过小鼠免疫效果的评价,获得两株具有免疫源性DNA疫苗。     

微生物结构与功能基因组研究进展

已有20余种病原性细菌完成了全基因测序.目前正在进行大量的功能基因组研究.已发现结核分枝杆菌(结核杆菌)持续感染的相关基因.通过对幽门螺杆菌菌株间基因组的比较,提出菌株基因表达的不同可影响菌株的致病作用.此外,还发现了新的奈氏脑膜炎球菌候选疫苗株和抗原.对细菌耐药性机制的了解也有所进展.希望我国医学微生氏物学工作者重视这一迅速发展的领域.     

幽门螺杆菌Lpp20蛋白的生物信息学分析

目的：分析幽门螺杆菌Lpp20蛋白的主要化学和免疫学分子特征,为基因工程疫苗和诊断抗原的研究奠定基础。方法：根据Lpp20蛋白的氨基酸序列,应用生物信息学工具分析其蛋白序列,预测其信号肽、跨膜区、疏水性、二级结构、三级结构等性质。结果：Lpp20蛋白具有一段信号肽、脂蛋白信号肽酶切位点及脂盒模体,没有跨膜区,可能是一个外周膜蛋白;Lpp20蛋白的二级结构以α螺旋为主,其三级结构为一个致密的球状。结论：为基于幽门螺杆菌Lpp20蛋白的疫苗开发打下了基础。     

幽门螺杆菌保护性抗原研究进展

幽门螺杆菌是一种与慢性胃炎、胃溃疡及胃癌的发生密切相关的致病菌。疫苗是预防和控制传染病的有效途径,筛选出幽门螺杆菌保护性抗原是设计和构建幽门螺杆菌疫苗的关键。本对与幽门螺杆菌粘附、定植及与其毒素相关的保护性抗原做一概述。     

重组酿酒酵母表达幽门螺杆菌VacA蛋白及其免疫原性分析*

目的:利用酿酒酵母表面展示技术筛选幽门螺杆菌候选疫苗,并分析其免疫原性。方法:以幽门螺杆菌的空泡型细胞毒素A(vacA)基因作为研究对象,构建重组S.cerevisiae EBY100/pYD1-VacA,通过Western blot、免疫荧光标记和流式细胞仪对S.cerevisiae EBY100/pYD1-VacA进行体外表达分析。以PBS和S.cerevisiae EBY100/pYD1为对照组,S.cerevisiae EBY100/pYD1-VacA为实验组,口服免疫SPF级BALB/c小鼠。通过ELISA分析检测口服免疫后小鼠抗VacA特异性IgG及分泌型IgA效价。结果:VacA抗原蛋白被成功地展示在S.cerevisiae EBY100表面。小鼠经口服免疫S.cerevisiae EBY100/pYD1-VacA后可诱导产生较高的VacA特异性抗体。结论:表面展示型酿酒酵母可以作为幽门螺杆菌候选疫苗的递送载体,与此同时,这也为开发其他细菌或病毒疫苗提供新思路。     

Helicobacter pylori 26695 基因组尺度代谢研究进展

代谢网络在代谢功能研究、生物代谢过程控制、疾病诊断分析和药物靶标设计等方面具有重要理论和实践意义。生物信息学研究利用序列同源、结构模拟、对接等手段与生化实验有效结合促进了生物体代谢网络的进一步完善。本文作者在构建幽门螺杆菌（Helicobacter pylori 26695,H.pylori 26695）代谢网络的工作基础上综合了近年来研究者对H.pylori 26695代谢通路关键酶的研究成果,并结合基因组信息,综述了H.pylori 26695特异性的重要代谢通路。本文从基因组水平阐明代谢通路与基因的关系,并详细分析了关键酶对H.pylori 26695生理的重要作用,最后探讨了重构一个连续、完整的代谢网络面临的困难及其在药物靶标设计方面的研究前景。     

口服幽门螺杆菌疫苗候选株对小鼠肠道菌群的影响

目的:考察口服幽门螺杆菌疫苗候选株SH02对小鼠肠道菌群的影响。方法:采用PCR扩增的方法检测疫苗用载体菌侵袭性相关基因缺失状况,用豚鼠角结膜侵袭试验进一步确证其是否具有上皮细胞侵袭能力;用小鼠口服灌胃的方式检测SH02在小鼠体内的组织分布,在肠道的存留时间与活菌数;取小鼠灌胃前(0 d)和灌胃后(2、8 d)的粪便样本,提取基因组DNA,用细菌16S r RNA基因高通量测序的方式,分析评价口服幽门螺杆菌疫苗候选株SH02对小鼠肠道正常菌群的影响。结果:载体菌FWL01侵袭性相关基因缺失,不具有对上皮细胞的侵袭能力;SH02经口服灌胃小鼠后不能侵入机体组织内部,仅在小鼠肠道可以检测到疫苗株活菌,灌胃后24、48 h肠道粪便中活菌数分别为1.19×10~5和2.42×10~3CFU/g,72和96 h在小鼠肠道粪便中没有检测到SH02活菌存在;细菌16S r RNA基因高通量测序与分析结果表明,口服幽门螺杆菌疫苗候选株SH02对小鼠肠道菌群不会产生明显的影响。结论:口服幽门螺杆菌疫苗候选株SH02对小鼠肠道正常菌群没有明显影响。     

Comparative proteome analysis of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori, the causative agent of gastritis, ulcer and stomach carcinoma, infects approximately half of the worlds population. After sequencing the complete genome of two strains, 26695 and J99, we have approached the demanding task of investigating the functional part of the genetic information containing macromolecules, the proteome. The proteins of three strains of H. pylori, 26695 and J99, and a prominent strain used in animal models SS1, were separated by a high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis technique with a resolution power of 5000 protein spots. Up to 1800 protein species were separated from H. pylori which had been cultivated for 5 days on agar plates. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) peptide mass fingerprinting we have identified 152 proteins, including nine known virulence factors and 28 antigens. The three strains investigated had only a few protein spots in common. We observe that proteins with an amino acid exchange resulting in a net change of only one charge are shifted in the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) pattern. The expression of 27 predicted conserved hypothetical open reading frames (ORFs) and six unknown ORFs were confirmed. The growth conditions of the bacteria were shown to have an effect on the presence of certain proteins. A preliminary immunoblotting study using human sera revealed that this approach is ideal for identifying proteins of diagnostic or therapeutic value. H. pylori 2-DE patterns with their identified protein species were added to the dynamic 2D-PAGE database (http://www.mpiib-berlin.mpg.de/2D-PAGE/). This basic knowledge of the proteome in the public domain will be an effective instrument for the identification of new virulence or pathogenic factors, and antigens of potentially diagnostic or curative value against H. pylori.     

Lipopolysaccharide structures of Helicobacter pylori genomic strains 26695 and J99, mouse model H. pylori Sydney strain, H. pylori P466 carrying sialyl Lewis X, and H. pylori UA915 expressing Lewis B classification of H. pylori lipopolysaccharides into glycotype families.

This study describes the molecular makeup of the cell-wall lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) (O-chain polysaccharide-->core oligosaccharide-->lipid A) from five Helicobacter pylori strains: H. pylori 26695 and J99, the complete genome sequences of which have been published, the established mouse model Sydney strain (SS1), and the symptomatic strains P466 and UA915. All chemical and serological experiments were performed on the intact LPSs. H. pylori 26695 and SS1 possessed either a low-Mr semi-rough-form LPS carrying mostly a single Ley type-2 blood-group determinant in the O-chain region covalently attached to the core oligosaccharide or a high-Mr smooth-form LPS, as did strain J99, with an elongated partially fucosylated type-2 N-acetyllactosamine (polyLacNAc) O-chain polymer, terminated mainly by a Lex blood-group determinant, connected to the core oligosaccharide. In the midst of semi-rough-form LPS glycoforms, H. pylori 26695 and SS1 also expressed in the O-chain region a difucosylated antigen, alpha-L-Fucp(1-3)-alpha-L-Fucp(1-4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc, and the cancer-cell-related type-1 or type-2 linear B-blood-group antigen, alpha-D-Galp(1-3)-beta-D-Galp(1-3 or 4)-beta-D-GlcpNAc. The LPS of H. pylori strain P466 carried the cancer-associated type-2 sialyl Lex blood-group antigen, and the LPS from strain UA915 expressed a type-1 Leb blood-group unit. These findings should aid investigations that focus on identifying and characterizing genes responsible for LPS biosynthesis in genomic strains 26695 and J99, and in understanding the role of H. pylori LPS in animal model studies. The LPSs from the H. pylori strains studied to date were grouped into specific glycotype families.     

Immunoproteomics of Helicobacter pylori infection and relation to gastric disease

The Gram negative bacterium Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen which infects the gastric mucosa and causes an inflammatory process leading to gastritis, ulceration and cancer. A systematic, proteome based approach was chosen to detect candidate antigens of H. pylori for diagnosis, therapy and vaccine development and to investigate potential associations between specific immune responses and manifestations of disease. Sera from patients with active H. pylori infection (n = 24), a control group with unrelated gastric disorders (n = 12) and from patients with gastric cancer (n = 6) were collected and analyzed for the reactivity against proteins of the strain HP 26695 separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Overall, 310 antigenic protein species were recognized by H. pylori positive sera representing about 17% of all spots separated. Out of the 32 antigens most frequently recognized by H. pylori positive sera, nine were newly identified and 23 were confirmed from other studies. Three newly identified antigens which belong to the 150 most abundant protein species of H. pylori, were specifically recognized by H. pylori positive sera: the predicted coding region HP0231, serine protease HtrA (HP1019) and Cag3 (HP0522). Other antigens were recognized differently by sera from gastritis and ulcer patients, which may identify them as candidate indicators for clinical manifestations. The data from these immunoproteomic analyses are added to our public database (http://www.mpiib-berlin.mpg.de/2D-PAGE). This platform enables one to compile many protein profiles and to integrate data from other studies, an approach which will greatly assist the search for more immunogenic proteins for diagnostic assays and vaccine design.     

Cloning and Characterization of a 22 kDa Outer-Membrane Protein (Omp22) from Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a causative agent of gastritis and peptic ulceration in humans. As the first step towards development of a vaccine against H. pylori infection, we have attempted to identify protective antigens. A potential target of vaccine development would be a H. pylori specific protein, which is surface-exposed and highly antigenic. We identified a 22 kDa outer-membrane protein (Omp22) from H. pylori, which was highly immunoreactive. By screening a H. pylori genomic DNA library with rabbit anti-H. pylori outer-membrane protein antibodies, the omp22 gene was cloned and 1.4 kb of the nucleotide sequence was determined. One open reading frame, encoding a 179-residue polypeptide, was identified and the amino acid sequence deduced showed homology with peptidoglycan-associated lipoproteins. The sequence was conserved among other H. pylori strains. Omp22 protein is expressed as a precursor polypeptide of 179 residues and undergoes lipid modification and cleavage of an 18 amino acid signal peptide to yield a mature protein. Omp22 protein in H. pylori as well as recombinant Omp22 protein expressed in E. coli was localized into the outer membrane and exposed on the cell surface. Omp22 may have the potential as a target antigen for the development of a H. pylori vaccine.     

Nucleotide correspondence between protein-coding sequences of Helicobacter pylori 26695 and J99 strains

Comparison of open-reading frames (ORFs) H. pylori 26695 and J99 strains has been revealed prevalence of nucleotide replacements as transitions (more than 3%) above transversions (less than 1%). Prevalence of nucleotide transitions is caused by high speed of C : G to T : A transitions in a coding strand of DNA (3.5-5.3%) and not coding strand (2.9-3.9%). The correspondence rate of transversion (A --> C, A --> T, C --> A, C --> G, G --> C, G --> T, T --> A and T --> G) did not exceed 0.84%. The highest correspondence frequency between C and T was detected in ACGT-ATGT (28.3%) - the site of methylation by active methyltransferase M.Hpy99XI in H. pylori 26695 and J99. Thus one can speculate that predominant transition taking place in H. pylori is mutation of C into T, which is realized through cytosine methylation-deamination mechanism.     

Systematic identification of selective essential genes in Helicobacter pylori by genome prioritization and allelic replacement mutagenesis

A comparative genomic approach was used to identify Helicobacter pylori 26695 open reading frames (ORFs) which are conserved in H. pylori J99 but highly diverged in other eubacteria. A survey of selected pathways of central intermediary metabolism was also carried out, and genes with a potentially selective role in H. pylori were identified. Forty-five ORFs identified in these two analyses were screened using a rapid vector-free allelic replacement mutagenesis technique, and 33 were shown to be essential in vitro. Notably, 13 ORFs gave essentiality results which are unexpected in view of their known or proposed functions, and phylogenetic analysis was used to investigate the annotation of 7 such ORFs which are highly diverged. We propose that the products of a number of these H. pylori-specific essential genes may be suitable targets for novel anti-H. pylori therapies.     

Protection against Helicobacter pylori infection by intestinal immunisation with a 50/52-kDa subunit protein

A mouse model of Helicobacter pylori infection was used to evaluate the vaccine antigen potential of the citrate synthase homologue protein purified from the H. pylori NCTC 11637 strain. Mice were immunised with the protein by intra-Peyer's patch immunisation. This route gives maximal intestinal immunisation and was used to screen oral vaccine candidate antigens without the added complication of simultaneously testing oral delivery systems. Two weeks post-immunisation mice were infected with Sydney strain H. pylori and 4 weeks after infection the mice were killed and the level of H. pylori infection in the stomach determined. Pre-immunisation with the 50/52-kDa protein led to a 84-91% reduction in H. pylori infection compared to unimmunised controls.