工业分枝杆菌植物甾醇转化途径及菌种改造研究进展

相比于传统的化学转化法,微生物转化法在甾体药物的生产中显示出了明显的优势。利用分枝杆菌降解植物甾醇可以生成一系列甾体药物的中间体,这极大地方便了甾体药物的生产。通过基因工程、分子生物学和结构生物学等学科的技术手段,人们对甾醇转化菌株进行了深入的探索和改造。本文对工业分枝杆菌植物甾醇转化途径及菌种改造的研究进展进行了综述。     

1例原发性脾脏结核病例的临床与实验室检验分析

本文报道1例罕见的原发于脾脏的结核病例,该病例以发热起病,免疫功能正常,无明确肺部病灶,最终根据脾脏切除术后病理学结果及腹腔脓液分枝杆菌培养阳性确诊。分析临床表现及诊断方法,有助于提高临床医生对此类病例的认识与重视。     

27例外科治疗脊柱结核病例的长期随访与分析

目的:通过长期随访27例外科治疗脊柱结核病例,探讨外科方法对于脊柱结核的治疗效果。方法:回顾性分析本单位近10年来收治的采用病灶清除植骨内固定术治疗的27例脊柱结核病例,通过分析平均44个月的随访结果,评价外科手术和药物干预的治疗效果。结果:本组所有患者早期随访结果显示:伤口一期愈合,内固定稳定,脊髓压迫症状缓解或消失。长期随访结果显示:能够贯彻全程化疗方案的病例,植骨完全融合,脊髓症状无反复,结核病灶无复发;未能完成化疗方案的4例患者在切口部位出现窦道,并在植骨床周围形成死骨,感染复发。4例复发患者经全身使用抗结核药物和二次手术翻修,在完成12月术后化疗后治愈。结论:对于脊柱结核必需坚持外科手术与术后全程化疗并重的的治疗方法。     

Unexpected link between lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis and surface protein release in Mycobacterium marinum

The mycobacterial cell envelope is characterized by the presence of a highly impermeable second membrane, which is composed of mycolic acids intercalated with different unusual free lipids, such as lipooligosaccharides (LOS). Transport across this cell envelope requires a dedicated secretion system for extracellular proteins, such as PE_PGRS proteins, which are specific mycobacterial proteins with polymorphic GC-rich sequence (PGRS). In this study, we set out to identify novel components involved in the secretion of PE_PGRS proteins by screening Mycobacterium marinum transposon mutants for secretion defects. Interestingly, most mutants were not affected in secretion but in the release of PE_PGRS proteins from the cell surface. These mutants had insertions in a gene cluster associated with LOS biosynthesis. Lipid analysis of these mutants revealed a role at different stages of LOS biosynthesis for 10 novel genes. Furthermore, we show that regulatory protein WhiB4 is involved in LOS biosynthesis. The absence of the most extended LOS molecule, i.e. LOS-IV, and a concomitant accumulation of LOS-III was already sufficient to reduce the release of PE_PGRS proteins from the mycobacterial cell surface. A similar effect was observed for major surface protein EspE. These results show that the attachment of surface proteins is strongly influenced by the glycolipid composition of the mycobacterial cell envelope. Finally, we tested the virulence of a LOS-IV-deficient mutant in our zebrafish embryo infection model. This mutant showed a marked increase in virulence as compared with the wild-type strain, suggesting that LOS-IV plays a role in the modulation of mycobacterial virulence.     

Novel mycobacteria antigen 85 complex binding motif on fibronectin

The members of the antigen 85 protein family (Ag85), consisting of members Ag85A, Ag85B, and Ag85C, are the predominantly secreted proteins of mycobacteria and possess the ability to specifically interact with fibronectin (Fn). Because Fn-binding proteins are likely to be important virulence factors of Mycobacterium spp., Ag85 may contribute to the adherence, invasion, and dissemination of organisms in host tissue. In this study, we reported the Fn binding affinity of Ag85A, Ag85B, and Ag85C from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) (K(D) values were determined from 33.6 to 68.4 nm) and mapped the Ag85-binding motifs of Fn. Fn14, a type III module located on the heparin-binding domain II (Hep-2) of Fn, was discovered to interact with Ag85 from MAP. The peptide inhibition assay subsequently demonstrated that a peptide consisting of residues 17-26 from Fn14 ((17)SLLVSWQPPR(26), termed P17-26) could interfere with Ag85B binding to Fn (73.3% reduction). In addition, single alanine substitutions along the sequence of P17-26 revealed that the key residues involved in Ag85-Fn binding likely contribute through hydrophobic and charge interactions. Moreover, binding of Ag85 on Fn siRNA-transfected Caco2 cells was dramatically reduced (44.6%), implying the physiological significance of the Ag85-Fn interaction between mycobacteria and host cells during infection. Our results indicate that Ag85 binds to Fn at a novel motif and plays a critical role in mycobacteria adherence to host cells by initiating infection. Ag85 might serve as an important colonization factor potentially contributing to mycobacterial virulence.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Directs T Helper 2 Cell Differentiation by Inducing Interleukin-1�� Production in Dendritic Cells

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), resides and replicates within phagocytes and persists in susceptible hosts by modulating protective innate immune responses. Furthermore, M. tuberculosis promotes T helper 2 (Th2) immune responses by altering the balance of T cell polarizing cytokines in infected cells. However, cytokines that regulate Th2 cell differentiation during TB infection remain unknown. Here we show that IL-1β, produced by phagocytes infected by virulent M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv, directs Th2 cell differentiation. In sharp contrast, the vaccine strain bacille Calmette-Guérin as well as RD-1 and ESAT-6 mutants of H37Rv failed to induce IL-1β and promote Th2 cell differentiation. Furthermore, ESAT-6 induced IL-1β production in dendritic cells (DCs), and CD4⁺ T cells co-cultured with infected DCs differentiated into Th2 cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that IL-1β induced by RD-1/ESAT-6 plays an important role in the differentiation of Th2 cells, which in turn facilitates progression of TB by inhibiting host protective Th1 responses.     

Evaluation of nitrate reduction assay, resazurin microtiter assay and microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay for first line antitubercular drug susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis

Background

Drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a growing concern worldwide. Early detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is of primary importance for both patient management and infection control. Optimal method for identifying drug-resistant M. tuberculosis in a timely and affordable way in resource-limited settings is not yet available.

Aim

This study evaluated; nitrate reductase assay (NRA), resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) and microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay (MODS) against the conventional 1% proportion method (PM) for the detection of resistance to first line antitubercular drugs, in M. tuberculosis clinical isolates.

Methods

A total of one hundred and five clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis; 50 pan sensitive and 55 pan resistant were tested with NRA, REMA and MODS. The 1% proportion method on Lowenstein-Jensen medium was used as reference test.

Results

Of all three methods which were tested NRA was found to be most sensitive and specific. Sensitivity for rifampicin resistance detection was 100%, 94.55% and 92.73% by NRA, REMA and MODS respectively. NRA and REMA were found to be 100% specific, while the MODS was 98% specific for detection of rifampicin resistance. Test results with all these methods were obtained within 8-14 days.

Conclusion

Rapid non-conventional and inexpensive methods may serve as a replacement for 1% proportion method in resource limited settings.