单细胞拉曼技术在病原微生物检测中的研究进展

单细胞拉曼技术是基于拉曼光谱分析原理实现非培养、无标签、快速、高效、低成本揭示物质本质的新方法。近年来,单细胞拉曼技术也开始在病原微生物检测领域崭露头角。本文结合单细胞拉曼技术基本原理这一理论基础,阐述该技术在病原微生物鉴定、药物敏感性检测中的研究进展及最新技术方向,并探讨其在临床实验室应用的可行性,为未来病原微生物检测技术提供新的方向。     

稳定表达禽β防御素6的DF-1细胞系的建立及其抑菌活性

【背景】禽β防御素6是禽体内分泌的一类抗菌肽,在抵抗病原入侵和免疫调节中发挥着重要作用,但其常规表达方式效率较低,难以在产业化生产中加以应用。【目的】建立稳定表达AvBD6的细胞系,并检测其表达产物对耐药大肠杆菌的抗菌活性,为其他防御素表达提供参考。【方法】利用显微镜观察构建真核重组表达载体pLOV-eGFP-AvBD6转染至293T细胞后的转染效率;收集293T细胞上清液并感染DF-1细胞,通过嘌呤霉素加压筛选稳定表达株;利用RT-PCR和Western Blot分别检测目的基因在转录水平和蛋白水平的表达情况;利用扫描电镜观察细胞培养上清液对耐药大肠杆菌的抗菌效果及其对菌体的损伤。【结果】成功构建重组表达载体pLOV-eGFP-AvBD6,筛选出稳定表达AvBD6的DF-1细胞系,而且目的基因在转录水平和蛋白水平均有表达;细胞培养上清显著降低大肠杆菌和副伤寒沙门菌存活率,对金黄色葡萄球菌的抗菌活性较低。【结论】建立了稳定表达AvBD6的DF-1细胞系,其表达产物对耐药大肠杆菌具有良好的抗菌效果,对推动防御素的应用提供技术支持。     

溶藻弧菌群体基因组学研究

溶藻弧菌(Vibrio alginolyticus)是一种能够对人类以及鱼、虾、贝类等水产品致病的弧菌,给人类健康带来威胁,也给水产养殖业造成巨大的经济损失。目前该物种基于全基因组的遗传多样性和重要遗传元件研究报道较少。本研究对采集自全国4个省份的68株溶藻弧菌进行高通量测序,获得全基因组序列,并结合113株公开发表的全球序列数据,利用fineSTRUCTURE软件、VFDB毒力因子库和CARD、ResFinder耐药数据库,对溶藻弧菌的种群结构和毒力、耐药因子分别进行解析。结果表明:溶藻弧菌可分为谱系1和谱系2。两个谱系在美洲和亚洲均有分布,但欧洲仅分离到谱系1菌株;共鉴定发现12个克隆群,其中一个克隆群内菌株存在跨洋传播现象。该物种携带tlh、OmpU、IlpA等多种不同功能的毒力因子;毒力因子在两个谱系间的分布无特异性,但存在地域间差异:其中欧洲菌株携带VP1611、vcrD、vopD和fleR/flrC的比率低于其他地区,而基因IlpA的携带率则明显高于其他地区,我国广西菌株中fleR/flrC基因携带率低于其他省份,且不携带IlpA。多个基因组携带blaCARB-42、tet(34)、tet(35)、parE、CRP、rsmA、TxR和fos等与多种抗生素耐受相关的基因,其中TxR和fos基因在谱系2中的出现频率远高于谱系1;此外,TxR基因在亚洲菌株中的携带率高于美洲和欧洲地区,而在我国四川菌株中的携带率则低于其他省份。在5个基因组中(VA24、VA28、2014V-1011、ZJ-T和Vb1833)观察到质粒或ICE等携带多种耐药基因的大片段。本研究通过群体基因组学的研究方法,揭示了溶藻弧菌的种群结构组成和毒力、耐药相关元件的分布,为进一步了解溶藻弧菌的遗传特征和致病机制提供必要基础,为该病原的监测、预防和控制工作提供科学支撑。     

超分子多肽自组装在生物医学中的应用

近年来,自组装多肽纳米技术因其可形成规则有序的结构、具有多样的功能而备受关注。研究发现自组装多肽能在特定的条件下形成具有确定结构的聚集体,这种聚集体具备生物相容性好、稳定性高等优点,表现出不同于单体多肽分子的特性和优势,因此其在药物传递、组织工程、抗菌等领域具有良好的应用前景。文中介绍了自组装多肽形成的分子机理、类型、影响因素,综述了自组装多肽形成的纤维肽基水凝胶与自组装抗菌肽的最新进展,并提出目前多肽自组装技术所存在的问题及展望。     

Sequence determinants in the cathelicidin LL-37 that promote inflammation via presentation of RNA to scavenger receptors

Cathelicidins such as the human 37-amino acid peptide (LL-37) are peptides that not only potently kill microbes but also trigger inflammation by enabling immune recognition of endogenous nucleic acids. Here, a detailed structure–function analysis of LL-37 was performed to understand the details of this process. Alanine scanning of 34-amino acid peptide (LL-34) showed that some variants displayed increased antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and group A Streptococcus. In contrast, different substitutions clustered on the hydrophobic face of the LL-34 alpha helix inhibited the ability of those variants to promote type 1 interferon expression in response to U1 RNA or to present U1 to the scavenger receptor (SR) B1 on the keratinocyte cell surface. Small-angle X-ray scattering experiments of the LL-34 variants LL-34, F5A, I24A, and L31A demonstrated that these peptides form cognate supramolecular structures with U1 characterized by inter-dsRNA spacings of approximately 3.5 nm, a range that has been previously shown to activate toll-like receptor 3 by the parent peptide LL-37. Therefore, while alanine substitutions on the hydrophobic face of LL-34 led to loss of binding to SRs and the complete loss of autoinflammatory responses in epithelial and endothelial cells, they did not inhibit the ability to organize with U1 RNA in solution to associate with toll-like receptor 3. These observations advance our understanding of how cathelicidin mediates the process of innate immune self-recognition to enable inert nucleic acids to trigger inflammation. We introduce the term “innate immune vetting” to describe the capacity of peptides such as LL-37 to enable certain nucleic acids to become an inflammatory stimulus through SR binding prior to cell internalization.     

Therapeutic applications of lysostaphin against Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus, an opportunistic pathogen, causes diverse community and nosocomial-acquired human infections, including folliculitis, impetigo, sepsis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, implant-associated biofilm infections and contagious mastitis in cattle. In recent days, both methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections have increased. Highly effective anti-staphylococcal agents are urgently required. Lysostaphin is a 27 kDa zinc metallo antimicrobial lytic enzyme that is produced by Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus and was first discovered in the 1960s. Lysostaphin is highly active against S. aureus strains irrespective of their drug-resistant patterns with a minimum inhibitory concentration of ranges between 0·001 and 0·064 μg ml⁻¹. Lysostaphin has activity against both dividing and non-dividing S. aureus cells; and can seep through the extracellular matrix to kill the biofilm embedded S. aureus. In spite of having excellent anti-staphylococcal activity, its clinical application is hindered because of its immunogenicity and reduced bio-availability. Extensive research with lysostaphin lead to the development of several engineered lysostaphin derivatives with reduced immunogenicity and increased serum half-life. Therapeutic efficacy of both native and engineered lysostaphin derivatives was studied by several research groups. This review provides an overview of the therapeutic applications of native and engineered lysostaphin derivatives developed to eradicate S. aureus infections.     

Changes in haemolymph parameters and insect ability to respond to immune challenge during overwintering

Overwintering is a challenging period in the life of temperate insects. A limited energy budget characteristic of this period can result in reduced investment in immune system. Here, we investigated selected physiological and immunological parameters in laboratory‐reared and field‐collected harlequin ladybirds (Harmonia axyridis). For laboratory‐reared beetles, we focused on the effects of winter temperature regime (cold, average, or warm winter) on total haemocyte concentration aiming to investigate potential effects of ongoing climate change on immune system in overwintering insects. We recorded strong reduction in haemocyte concentration during winter; however, there were only limited effects of winter temperature regime on changes in haemocyte concentration in the course of overwintering. For field‐collected beetles, we measured additional parameters, specifically: total protein concentration, antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, and haemocyte concentration before and after overwintering. The field experiment did not investigate effects of winter temperature, but focused on changes in inducibility of insect immune system during overwintering, that is, measured parameters were compared between naïve beetles and those challenged by Escherichia coli. Haemocyte concentration decreased during overwintering, but only in individuals challenged by Escherichia coli. Prior to overwintering, the challenged beetles had a significantly higher haemocyte concentration compared to naïve beetles, whereas no difference was observed after overwintering. A similar pattern was observed also for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli as challenged beetles outperformed naïve beetles before overwintering, but not after winter. In both sexes, total protein concentration increased in the course of overwintering, but females had a significantly higher total protein concentration in their hemolymph compared to males. In general, our results revealed that insect’s ability to respond to an immune challenge is significantly reduced in the course of overwintering.     

The use of dyes in modern biomedicine

The discovery of the aniline dyes in the 19th century and contemporary investigation of their use as biological stains by scientists such as Koch and Ehrlich led to the idea of selectivity and formed the basis of modern chemotherapy; several of these dyes remain in pharmacopoeias. While the development of therapeutics has tended to avoid colored compounds due to unwanted coloration, the modern application of photosensitizing dyes, both in the fields of cancer therapy and anti-infection, depends on this phenomenon. In addition, the fluorescence of some anticancer photosensitizers allows their use as tumor localizing agents, which is particularly useful in precancerous conditions. It is also fitting that dyes employed in Ehrlich's original studies, such as the phenothiazinium dye, methylene blue, are now in clinical use for disinfecting donated blood products.     

Peptide inhibitors against herpes simplex virus infections

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a significant human pathogen causing mucocutaneous lesions primarily in the oral or genital mucosa. Although acyclovir (ACV) and related nucleoside analogs provide successful treatment, HSV remains highly prevalent worldwide and is a major cofactor for the spread of human immunodeficiency virus. Encephalitis, meningitis, and blinding keratitis are among the most severe diseases caused by HSV. ACV resistance poses an important problem for immunocompromised patients and highlights the need for new safe and effective agents; therefore, the development of novel strategies to eradicate HSV is a global public health priority. Despite the continued global epidemic of HSV and extensive research, there have been few major breakthroughs in the treatment or prevention of the virus since the introduction of ACV in the 1980s. A therapeutic strategy at the moment not fully addressed is the use of small peptide molecules. These can be either modeled on viral proteins or derived from antimicrobial peptides. Any peptide that interrupts protein–protein or viral protein–host cell membrane interactions is potentially a novel antiviral drug and may be a useful tool for elucidating the mechanisms of viral entry. This review summarizes current knowledge and strategies in the development of synthetic and natural peptides to inhibit HSV infectivity. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and functional characterization of peptides derived from the carboxy‐terminal region of a defensin from the tick Ornithodoros savignyi

Tick defensins may serve as templates for the development of multifunctional peptides. The purpose of this study was to evaluate shorter peptides derived from tick defensin isoform 2 (OsDef2) in terms of their antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. We compared the structural and functional properties of a synthetic peptide derived from the carboxy‐terminal of the parent peptide (Os) to that of an analogue in which the three cysteine residues were omitted (Os–C). Here, we report that both peptides were bactericidal (MBC values ranging from 0.94–15 µg/ml) to both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, whereas the parent peptide only exhibited Gram‐positive antibacterial activity. The Os peptide was found to be two‐fold more active than Os–C against three of the four tested bacteria but equally active against Staphylococcus aureus. Os showed rapid killing kinetics against both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, whereas Os–C took longer, suggesting different modes of action. Scanning electron microscopy showed that in contrast to melittin for which blebbing of bacterial surfaces was observed, cells exposed to either peptide appeared flattened and empty. Circular dichroism data indicated that in a membrane‐mimicking environment, the cysteine‐containing peptide has a higher α‐helical content. Both peptides were found to be non‐toxic to mammalian cells. Moreover, the peptides displayed potent antioxidant activity and were 12 times more active than melittin. Multifunctional peptides hold potential for a wide range of clinical applications and further investigation into their mode of antibacterial and antioxidant properties is therefore warranted. Copyright © 2013 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.