炭疽芽胞杆菌mntA基因缺失突变株的构建及鉴定

目的:通过同源重组的方法敲除炭疽芽胞杆菌减毒AP422株的mntA基因,使菌株进一步减毒,用于构建新的疫苗候选株。方法:利用PCR方法扩增mntA基因上下游同源臂后与温敏质粒连接,构建打靶载体,并转化炭疽芽胞杆菌减毒AP422株;利用抗生素和温度2种选择压力实现同源重组,敲除目标基因mntA,然后利用Cre-LoxP系统去除抗性筛选标记,得到无抗性标记的缺失突变株,并利用PCR和Western印迹等方法对重组菌进行系统鉴定,最后分析突变株的生物学性状。结果:敲除了AP422株的mntA基因,获得了无抗性标记的缺失突变株,突变株的生存竞争能力比原始菌株明显减弱。结论:突变株获得了进一步减毒,可用于构建新的疫苗候选株。     

PlcR在炭疽芽胞杆菌A16R中的功能研究

炭疽芽胞杆菌(Bacillus anthracis)、蜡样芽胞杆菌(B. cereus)和苏云金芽胞杆菌(B. thuringiensis)均属于蜡样芽胞杆菌群,在遗传学上有很高的相似性。PlcR (Phospholipase C regulator)在蜡样芽胞杆菌中是十分重要的调控因子,但plcR基因在炭疽芽胞杆菌中发生一个无义突变导致在炭疽芽胞杆菌中产生一个截短PlcR蛋白。为了研究plcR基因对炭疽芽胞杆菌功能的影响,文章以蜡样芽胞杆菌CMCC6330基因组为模板,构建重组表达质粒pBE2A-plcR后导入炭疽芽胞杆菌疫苗株A16R中获得重组菌株,对其进行表型分析。结果显示,炭疽芽胞杆菌重组菌株的溶血活性基本没有恢复,但恢复了部分神经鞘磷脂酶活性,表明将蜡样芽胞杆菌的plcR基因导入炭疽芽胞杆菌后,可以直接激活神经鞘磷脂酶活性。     

炭疽芽胞杆菌A16D2株BA2380基因缺失突变株的构建

本课题组早期研究结果表明,炭疽芽胞杆菌BA2380蛋白可能与炭疽芽胞杆菌毒力有关,因而有必要对其功能进行深入研究。选取炭疽芽胞杆菌A16D2株为出发菌株,以其BA2380基因为目的缺失基因,参照A16D2株基因组序列及质粒pSET4s序列,利用软件设计上下游同源臂及抗性基因引物,用本实验室改造的“Golden Gate”克隆方法将3个片段同时连入温敏型穿梭载体pKMBK中(本实验室构建的受体质粒),从而构建基因打靶质粒。将该基因打靶质粒导入炭疽芽胞杆菌A16D2感受态细胞中,利用同源重组原理,筛选获得炭疽芽胞杆菌A16D2 BA2380基因缺失突变株,并对其进行验证。结果验证了本课题组构建的“Golden Gate”克隆体系进行多片段克隆的高效性,也为后续探索其基因功能奠定了基础。     

4种细菌芽胞中α/β-SASP分子结构对比分析

认识和描述不同细菌芽胞α/β-SASP的分子结构特征,为深入开展以α/β-SASP为靶向修饰的应用技术提供科学依据.运用生物信息学方法和技术,比对分析4种菌株,炭疽芽胞杆菌Ames 株、苏云金芽胞杆菌serovar konkukian 97-27 株、腊样芽胞杆菌ATCC 10987株、枯草芽胞杆菌168 株的α/β-SASP基因及蛋白质一、二、三级结构的异同.基因-ClustalW2;一级结构-ClustalW2和ProtParam tool;二级结构-SOPMA;三级结构-SWISS-MODEL和Swiss-Pdbviewer4.0.1.4种菌株的α/β-SASP基因及蛋白质一、二、三级结构有明显的同源性,炭疽芽胞、苏云金芽胞和腊样芽胞的生物学特征非常相似.在开展细菌芽胞的α/β-SASP基因及生物效应研究时,可以首选苏云金杆菌芽胞或腊样杆菌芽胞作为炭疽杆菌芽胞的试验菌,其次可以选择枯草杆菌芽胞.     

制备炭疽芽胞杆菌检测基因芯片的初步研究

建立制备炭疽芽胞杆菌检测基因芯片的技术,并探讨研制检测炭疽芽胞杆菌基因芯片的方法。酶切炭疽芽胞杆菌的毒素质粒和荚膜质粒,通过建立质粒DNA文库的方法获取探针,并打印在经过氨基化修饰的玻片上,制成用于炭疽芽胞杆菌检测的基因芯片。收集了290个阳性克隆探针,制备了检测炭疽芽胞杆菌的基因芯片。提取炭疽芽胞杆菌质粒DNA与基因芯片杂交,经ScanArray Lite芯片阅读仪扫描得到初步的杂交荧光图像。通过分析探针的杂交信号初步筛选出273个基因片段作为芯片下一步研究的探针。     

炭疽芽胞杆菌(Bacillus anthracis)检测质粒的构建及其应用

根据炭疽芽胞杆菌(Bacillus anthracis)毒性质粒pX01和pX02上的2个毒力相关基因cya和capA的序列特点,以pIJ2925为出发载体,采用一步重叠延伸PCR技术(One-step Overlap Extension PCR,简称OOE-PCR)构建了包含cya基因和capA基因保守区DNA片段的炭疽检测质粒pBIB2006。采用复合PCR对模拟炭疽危险品进行分析,结果表明pBIB2006可以为炭疽芽胞杆菌的检测提供准确、安全和方便的阳性参照品,从而为检测炭疽芽胞杆菌和炭疽芽胞杆菌灭活疫苗提供了便利。     

以CotX为分子载体在枯草芽胞杆菌芽胞表面展示绿色荧光蛋白

芽胞衣壳蛋白CotB、CotC、CotG等可作为芽胞表面展示外源蛋白的分子载体,制备口服重组疫苗或具有催化活性的重组酶。CotX为枯草芽胞杆菌Bacillussubtilis芽胞衣壳中的另一种结构蛋白。为证明CotX能否作为分子载体将外源蛋白展示在芽胞表面,本研究将cotX基因与绿色荧光蛋白基因gfp的编码序列进行基因重组,构建融合表达CotX-GFP的整合型重组质粒,将该质粒转化枯草芽胞杆菌,筛选重组菌株并诱导产生芽胞,观察到重组芽胞表面具有GFP绿色荧光。结果表明枯草芽胞杆菌的芽胞衣壳蛋白CotX位于芽胞衣壳外层,可作为芽胞表面展示外源蛋白的载体分子。     

炭疽芽胞杆菌假想S-层蛋白SLP缺失突变体的构建

目的：构建炭疽芽胞杆菌假想S-层蛋白SLP缺失突变体,以进行后续SLP的功能研究,为炭疽芽孢杆菌重要基因功能的研究建立技术平台。方法：利用PCR技术,分别扩增得到目的基因的上游同源臂（slp-F）和下游同源臂（slp-R）,将抗性基因（S）和上、下游同源臂先后连入穿梭质粒pKSV7,构建打靶载体pKSV7-FSR,经去甲基化后,电转化入炭疽芽胞杆菌A16R,通过同源重组敲除slp基因,并通过DNA测序和Western blot实验验证;对野生株和突变株37℃时的生长曲线及生化反应进行比较研究。结果：分别从DNA水平和蛋白质水平证实slp基因被成功敲除;突变株对数期生长较快,衰退较慢,与野生株的生化反应差异不明显。结论：获得了炭疽芽胞杆菌假想S-层蛋白SLP缺失突变体。     

蜡状芽胞杆菌群代谢途径的分析和比较

微生物基因组测序和高通量分析方法获得了大量的数据和信息,利用这些信息研究代谢网络成为当前的一个新热点。文章在比较和分析重构代谢网络不同方法的基础上,利用蜡状芽胞杆菌群中已测序的9株蜡状芽胞杆菌、6株炭疽芽胞杆菌、6株苏云金芽胞杆菌基因组,对它们的碳水化合物代谢途径、氨基酸代谢途径和能量代谢途径进行比较与分析,找出它们的共性和特性。这3种菌都存在必需的糖酵解、三羧酸循环、丙氨酸代谢、组氨酸代谢及能量代谢等途径;同时它们还存在特殊的代谢途径,蜡状芽胞杆菌对单糖的利用率较高;炭疽芽胞杆菌的氨基酸降解和转运途径较丰富;苏云金芽胞杆菌中存在催化谷氨酸转化的代谢旁路等。代谢途径的分析为深入研究它们的食物毒素、炭疽毒素和杀虫毒素提供了新思路。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌营养期杀虫蛋白基因vip3A在枯草芽胞杆菌中的表达

枯草芽胞杆菌Bacillus subtilis常被用于表达杀虫和抗菌蛋白.为了探讨苏云金芽胞杆菌B. thuringiensis营养期杀虫蛋白基因（vip3A）在枯草芽胞杆菌中的表达情况,促进杀虫防病工程菌构建,将枯草芽胞杆菌168菌株核糖体小亚基S4蛋白基因的启动子与苏云金芽胞杆菌WB7菌株vip3A基因的编码序列连接,插入大肠杆菌Escherichia coli与枯草芽胞杆菌穿梭载体pAD123,得到重组原核表达质粒pADpvip,将重组质粒转化枯草芽胞杆菌标准菌株168和分离自辣椒体内的生防内生枯草芽胞杆菌BS-2菌株中,获得工程菌株.SDS-PAGE分析表明在枯草芽胞杆菌168菌株的部分工程菌株中有约88 kDa大小的VIP条带,而BS-2的工程菌株中未见相应的条带,表明Vip3A蛋白仅在168菌株中表达.生物测定表明有5株168的工程菌株（168vip1-4,6）表现较高的杀虫活性,工程菌株发酵稀释液（约10⁷CFU/mL）处理的小白菜叶片饲喂斜纹夜蛾2龄幼虫72 h的杀虫效果可达87.64%~92.13%,但vip3A基因转入内生枯草芽胞杆菌BS-2中不表现杀虫作用.毒力测定表明168vip2菌株对斜纹夜蛾2龄幼虫72 h的LC₅₀为0.0194 mL/mL.这些结果为进一步研究基因在枯草芽胞杆菌中的表达构建杀虫防病工程菌打下了基础.     

Rapid genotypic detection of Bacillus anthracis and the Bacillus cereus group by multiplex real-time PCR melting curve analysis

Bacillus anthracis has four plasmid possible virulence genotypes: pXO1+/pXO2+, pXO1+/pXO2-, pXO1-/pXO2+ or pXO1-/pXO2-. Due to the lack of a specific chromosomal marker for B. anthracis, differentiation of the pXO1-/pXO2- form of B. anthracis from closely related Bacillus cereus group species is difficult. In this study, we evaluate the ability of sspE, pXO1 and pXO2 primers to discriminate individual B. anthracis and the B. cereus group genotypes using multiplex real-time PCR and melting curve analysis. Optimal conditions for successful multiplex assays have been established. Purified DNAs from 38 bacterial strains including 11 strains of B. anthracis and 18 B. cereus group strains were analyzed. Nine of the B. cereus group near-neighbor strains were shown by multilocus sequence typing to be phylogenetically proximate to the B. anthracis clade. We have demonstrated that the four plasmid genotypes of B. anthracis and B. cereus group near-neighbors were differentially and simultaneously discriminated by this assay.     

Identification and characterization of Bacillus anthracis by multiplex PCR on DNA chip

Bacillus anthracis can be identified by detecting virulence factor genes located on two plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2. Combining multiplex PCR with arrayed anchored primer PCR and biotin-avidin alkaline phosphatase indicator system, we developed a qualitative DNA chip method for characterization of B. anthracis, and simultaneous confirmation of the species identity independent of plasmid contents. The assay amplifies pag gene (in pXO1), cap gene (in pXO2) and Ba813 gene (a B. anthracis specific chromosomal marker), and the results were indicated by an easy-to-read profile based on the color reaction of alkaline phosphatase. About 1 pg of specific DNA fragments on the chip wells could be detected after PCR. With the proposed method, the avirulent (pXO1+/2-, pXO1-/2+ and pXO1-/2-) strains of B. anthracis and distinguished 'anthrax-like' strains from other B. cereus group bacteria were unambiguously identified, while the genera other than Bacillus gave no positive signal.     

Mating system for transfer of plasmids among Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus thuringiensis.

To facilitate the analysis of genetic determinants carried by large resident plasmids of Bacillus anthracis, a mating system was developed which promotes plasmid transfer among strains of B. anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis. Transfer of the selectable tetracycline resistance plasmid pBC16 and other plasmids from B. thuringiensis to B. anthracis and B. cereus recipients occurred during mixed incubation in broth. Two plasmids, pXO11 and pXO12, found in B. thuringiensis were responsible for plasmid mobilization. B. anthracis and B. cereus transcipients inheriting either pXO11 or pXO12 were, in turn, effective donors. Transcipients harboring pXO12 were more efficient donors than those harboring pXO11; transfer frequencies ranged from 10(-4) to 10(-1) and from 10(-8) to 10(-5), respectively. Cell-to-cell contact was necessary for plasmid transfer, and the addition of DNase had no effect. The high frequencies of transfer, along with the fact that cell-free filtrates of donor cultures were ineffective, suggested that transfer was not phage mediated. B. anthracis and B. cereus transcipients which inherited pXO12 also acquired the ability to produce parasporal crystals (Cry+) resembling those produced by B. thuringiensis, indicating that pXO12 carries a gene(s) involved in crystal formation. Transcipients which inherited pXO11 were Cry-. This mating system provides an efficient method for interspecies transfer of a large range of Bacillus plasmids by a conjugation-like process.     

Transduction and conjugation transfer of the pXO2 plasmid in Bacillus anthracis

The plasmid pXO2 determining the capsule synthesis has been shown to be transfered into the cells of different strains of Bacillus anthracis (STI-1, Sterne, KM33, KM35) by the transducing bacteriophage CP54ant and by mobilization by pAM beta 1 replicon with the frequencies, consequently, n.10(-8) and n.10(-7). The optimal parameters for the selection of clones having acquired the pXO2 plasmid have been defined. Mobilization for conjugational transfer has been demonstrated for the plasmid pXO1 coding for the production of Bacillus anthracis toxin. The dramatic increase of virulence for white mice has been registered for Bacillus anthracis strains having acquired the pXO2 plasmid replicon.     

Markers for species-specific detection of bacteria from Bacillus cereus group

rpoB and gyr genes (and their fragments) of chromosomal DNA of bacteria from Bacillus cereus group - B. anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis - which are the potential markers for their genotyping were sequenced and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Sets of primers for species-specific detection of B. anthracis, B. cereus, and B. thuringiensis by multiplex polymerase chain reaction were designed. Also primers sets, which allow to differentiate strains of B. anthracis with various plasmid profiles (containing both plasmids (pXO1+, pXO2+), and without one (pXO1+, pXO2- or pXO1-, pXO2+) or both plasmids (pXO1-, pXO2-), determining pathogenic characteristics of the strains, were developed. For multiplex PCR primer sets were optimized on the annealing temperature of primers and amplicon length. Itwas shown that phylogenetic tree can be applied as an indicator of reliability and accuracy of taxonomical classification of microorganisms' species and subspecies. Comparison of pXO1 and pXO2 plasmid sequences of B. anthracis showed that these plasmids contain 18 and 4 palindrome sequences respectively which can potentially form thermodynamically stable hairpin-loop structures.     

Characterization of Bacillus anthracis strains used for vaccination

Three Bacillus anthracis strains, formerly used as anti-anthrax vaccine strains in Argentina, were characterized from genetic and pathogenic perspectives. Southern blotting and PCR with pXO1 and pXO2 probes and primers, as well as pathogenicity and protection tests in guinea pigs and mice, were performed. Two of the B. anthracis strains contained both pXO1 and pXO2 plasmids, as did the fully virulent strains, while the third was a Sterne-type strain (pXO1+, pXO2-). The three strains were, however, markedly less pathogenic than a wild-type virulent strain. The methodology applied here may be used to characterize other B. anthracis strains.     

Identification of self-transmissible plasmids in four Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies.

The transfer of plasmids by mating from four Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies to Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus recipients was monitored by selecting transcipients which acquired plasmid pBC16 (Tcr). Transcipients also inherited a specific large plasmid from each B. thuringiensis donor at a high frequency along with a random array of smaller plasmids. The large plasmids (ca. 50 to 120 megadaltons), pXO13, pXO14, pXO15, and pXO16, originating from B. thuringiensis subsp. morrisoni, B. thuringiensis subsp. toumanoffi, B. thuringiensis subsp. alesti, and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, respectively, were demonstrated to be responsible for plasmid mobilization. Transcipients containing any of the above plasmids had donor capability, while B. thuringiensis strains cured of each of them were not fertile, indicating that the plasmids confer conjugation functions. Confirmation that pXO13, pXO14, and pXO16 were self-transmissible was obtained by the isolation of fertile B. anthracis and B. cereus transcipients that contained only pBC16 and one of these plasmids. pXO14 was efficient in mobilizing the toxin and capsule plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2, respectively, from B. anthracis transcipients to plasmid-cured B. anthracis or B. cereus recipients. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments suggested that DNA homology exists among pXO13, pXO14, and the B. thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis conjugative plasmids pXO11 and pXO12. Matings performed between strains which each contained the same conjugative plasmid demonstrated reduced efficiency of pBC16 transfer. However, in many instances when donor and recipient strains contained different conjugative plasmids, the efficiency of pBC16 transfer appeared to be enhanced.     

Involvement of Tn4430 in transfer of Bacillus anthracis plasmids mediated by Bacillus thuringiensis plasmid pXO12.

The self-transmissible plasmid pXO12 (112.5 kilobases [kb]), originally isolated from strain 4042A of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. thuringiensis, codes for production of the insecticidal crystal protein (Cry+). The mechanism of pXO12-mediated plasmid transfer was investigated by monitoring the cotransfer of the tetracycline resistance plasmid pBC16 (4.2 kb) and the Bacillus anthracis toxin and capsule plasmids, pXO1 (168 kb) and pXO2 (85.6 kb), respectively. In matings of B. anthracis donors with B. anthracis and Bacillus cereus recipients, the number of Tcr transcipients ranged from 4.8 x 10(4) to 3.9 x 10(6)/ml (frequencies ranged from 1.6 x 10(-4) to 7.1 x 10(-2), and 0.3 to 0.4% of them simultaneously inherited pXO1 or pXO2. Physical analysis of the transferred plasmids suggested that pBC16 was transferred by the process of donation and that the large B. anthracis plasmids were transferred by the process of conduction. The transfer of pXO1 and pXO2 involved the transposition of Tn4430 from pXO12 onto these plasmids. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments demonstrated that Tn4430 was located on a 16.0-kb AvaI fragment of pXO12. Examination of Tra- and Cry- derivatives of pXO12 showed that this fragment also harbored information involved in crystal formation and was adjacent to a restriction fragment containing DNA sequences carrying information required for conjugal transfer.     

BslA, a pXO1-encoded adhesin of Bacillus anthracis

The Gram-positive pathogen Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax, a fulminant and lethal infection of mammals. Two large virulence plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2, harbour genes required for anthrax pathogenesis and encode secreted toxins or provide for the poly γ- d -glutamic acid capsule. In addition to capsule, B. anthracis harbours additional cell wall envelope structures, including the surface layer (S-layer), which is composed of crystalline protein arrays. We sought to identify the B. anthracis envelope factor that mediates adherence of vegetative forms to human cells and isolated BslA ( B . anthracis S - l ayer protein A ). Its structural gene, bslA , is located on the pXO1 pathogenicity island (pXO1-90) and bslA expression is both necessary and sufficient for adherence of vegetative forms to host cells. BslA assembly into S-layers and surface exposure is presumably mediated by three N-terminal SLH domains. Twenty-three B. anthracis genes, whose products harbour similar SLH domains, may provide additional surface molecules that allow bacilli to engage cells or tissues of specific hosts during anthrax pathogenesis.