藏绵羊子宫内膜炎主要致病菌多重PCR检测方法的建立与评价

本研究旨在建立一种多重PCR方法检测青海藏绵羊子宫内膜炎主要的病原菌。首先,提取5种标准菌株基因组,筛选出特异性引物;然后以标准菌株的基因组为模板,建立多重PCR方法。用无菌棉拭子涂抹藏绵羊子宫,置于LB培养液中培养并编号,48 h后提取样品基因组。运用单一PCR法对600份样品基因组进行检测,记录阳性样品;再挑取单一PCR法检测的阳性样品进行多重PCR检测,再次记录阳性样品,通过计算两种检测方法的符合率验证多重PCR方法;随机挑出30份阳性样品,进行病原菌分离鉴定菌种种类。单一PCR检测的样品中,无乳链球菌感染比例占47.33%,大肠杆菌占34.83%,金黄色葡萄球菌占6.5%,未检出沙门氏菌和化脓隐秘杆菌;多重PCR检测的阳性样品中,无乳链球菌感染比例占45.50%,大肠杆菌占33.50%,金黄色葡萄球菌占6.5%;两种检测结果相比较,多重PCR检测出的符合率均高于95%;分离鉴定的病原菌与两种PCR方法检测出的菌种结果基本一致。成功建立了多重PCR方法并检测出引起青海藏绵羊子宫内膜炎的主要病原菌为无乳链球菌、大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌。     

Procaterol-stimulated increases in ciliary bend amplitude and ciliary beat frequency in mouse bronchioles

The beating cilia play a key role in lung mucociliary transport. The ciliary beating frequency (CBF) and ciliary bend amplitude (CBA) of isolated mouse bronchiolar ciliary cells were measured using a light microscope equipped with a high-speed camera (500 Hz). Procaterol (aβ(2)-agonist) increased CBA and CBF in a dose dependent manner via cAMP. The time course of CBA increase is distinct from that of CBF increase: procaterol at 10 nM first increased CBA and then CBF. Moreover, 10 pM procaterol increased CBA, not CBF, whereas 10 nM procaterol increased both CBA and CBF. Concentration-response studies of procaterol demonstrated that the CBA curve was shifted to a lower concentration than the CBF curve, which suggests that CBA regulation is different from CBF regulation. Measurements of microbead movements on the bronchiole of lung slices revealed that 10 pM procaterol increased the rate of ciliary transport by 37% and 10 nM procaterol increased it by 70%. In conclusion, we have shown that increased CBA is of particular importance for increasing the bronchiolar ciliary transport rate, although CBF also plays a role in increasing it.     

Genetic Variation within Clonal Lineages of Phytophthora infestans Revealed through Genotyping-By-Sequencing,and Implications for Late Blight Epidemiology

Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was performed on 257 Phytophthora infestans isolates belonging to four clonal lineages to study within-lineage diversity. The four lineages used in the study were US-8 (n = 28), US-11 (n = 27), US-23 (n = 166), and US-24 (n = 36), with isolates originating from 23 of the United States and Ontario, Canada. The majority of isolates were collected between 2010 and 2014 (94%), with the remaining isolates collected from 1994 to 2009, and 2015. Between 3,774 and 5,070 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified within each lineage and were used to investigate relationships among individuals. K-means hierarchical clustering revealed three clusters within lineage US-23, with US-23 isolates clustering more by collection year than by geographic origin. K-means hierarchical clustering did not reveal significant clustering within the smaller US-8, US-11, and US-24 data sets. Neighbor-joining (NJ) trees were also constructed for each lineage. All four NJ trees revealed evidence for pathogen dispersal and overwintering within regions, as well as long-distance pathogen transport across regions. In the US-23 NJ tree, grouping by year was more prominent than grouping by region, which indicates the importance of long-distance pathogen transport as a source of initial late blight inoculum. Our results support previous studies that found significant genetic diversity within clonal lineages of P. infestans and show that GBS offers sufficiently high resolution to detect sub-structuring within clonal populations.     

Pristine soils mineralize 3-chlorobenzoate and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate via different microbial populations.

Biodegradation of two chlorinated aromatic compounds was found to be a common capability of the microorganisms found in the soils of undisturbed, pristine ecosystems. We used 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) and 3-chlorobenzoate (3CBA) as enrichment substrates to compare populations of degrading bacteria from six different regions making up two ecosystems. We collected soil samples from four Mediterranean (California, central Chile, the Cape region of South Africa, and southwestern Australia) and two boreal (northern Saskatchewan and northwestern Russia) ecosystems that had no direct exposure to pesticides or to human disturbance. Between 96 and 120 samples from each of the six regions were incubated with 50 ppm of [U-14C]2,4-D or [U-14C]3CBA. Soils from all regions samples mineralized both 2,4-D and 3CBA, but 3CBA was mineralized without a lag period, while 2,4-D was generally not mineralized until the second week. 3CBA degradative capabilities were more evenly distributed spatially than those for 2,4-D. The degradative capabilities of the soils were readily transferred to fresh liquid medium. 3CBA degraders were easily isolated from most soils. We recovered 610 strains that could release carbon dioxide from ring-labeled 3CBA. Of these, 144 strains released chloride and degraded over 80% of 1 mM 3CBA in 3 weeks or less. In contrast, only five 2,4-D degraders could be isolated, although a variety of methods were used in an attempt to culture the degraders. The differences in the distribution and culturability of the bacteria responsible for 3CBA and 2,4-D degradation in these ecosystems suggest that the two substrates are degraded by different populations. We also describe a 14C-based microtiter plate method that allows efficient screening of a large number of samples for biodegradation activity.     

2002～2004年浙江省无菌性脑膜炎暴发疫情的病原学研究

2002～2004年浙江省发生了无菌性脑膜炎暴发疫情,为了及时查明病因,分析病原的分子特征并进行病原溯源,我们采集患者脑脊液和粪便样本271份,用RD和Hep-2细胞同时分离病毒,对分离株VP1和VP4/VP2基因测序,进行同源性与进化分析。结果从271份样本中分离到埃柯病毒30型(E30)78株;对31株分离株VP1区核苷酸(nt)序列测定,其长度均为876nt,推导编码292个氨基酸(aa)。浙江E30株与原型株Bastianni在VP1区的nt和aa同源性分别为84.7%～86.3%和92.1%～94.2%;浙江E30株之间nt和aa的同源性分别为87.1%～99.4%和96.2%～100%。在VP1基因进化树上浙江E30株分别位于G和H基因亚型分支上,与浙江E30G亚型株亲缘关系最近的国内外毒株分别为2003年江苏、山东株和1999年乌克兰株;与浙江E30H亚型株亲缘关系最近的毒株为2008年韩国株。VP4/VP2区同源性与进化分析结果与VP1相似。结果表明2002～2004年浙江省无菌性脑膜炎暴发疫情由E30G和H二类不同基因亚型流行株引起;H基因亚型株推测为新的E30变异株,首先分离于2002年浙江省。     

High Levels of Endemicity of 3-Chlorobenzoate-Degrading Soil Bacteria

Soils samples were obtained from pristine ecosystems in six regions on five continents. Two of the regions were boreal forests, and the other four were Mediterranean ecosystems. Twenty-four soil samples from each of four or five sites in each of the regions were enriched by using 3-chlorobenzoate (3CBA), and 3CBA mineralizers were isolated from most samples. These isolates were analyzed for the ability to mineralize 3CBA, and genotypes were determined with repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR genomic fingerprints and restriction digests of the 16S rRNA genes (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis [ARDRA]). We found that our collection of 150 stable 3CBA-mineralizing isolates included 48 genotypes and 44 ARDRA types, which formed seven distinct clusters. The majority (91%) of the genotypes were unique to the sites from which they were isolated, and each genotype was found only in the region from which it was isolated. A total of 43 of the 44 ARDRA types were found in only one region. A few genotypes were repeatedly found in one region but not in any other continental region, suggesting that they are regionally endemic. A correlation between bacterial genotype and vegetative community was found for the South African samples. These results suggest that the ability to mineralize 3CBA is distributed among very diverse genotypes and that the genotypes are not globally dispersed.     

Validation of Genotyping-By-Sequencing Analysis in Populations of Tetraploid Alfalfa by 454 Sequencing

Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) is a relatively low-cost high throughput genotyping technology based on next generation sequencing and is applicable to orphan species with no reference genome. A combination of genome complexity reduction and multiplexing with DNA barcoding provides a simple and affordable way to resolve allelic variation between plant samples or populations. GBS was performed on ApeKI libraries using DNA from 48 genotypes each of two heterogeneous populations of tetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa spp. sativa): the synthetic cultivar Apica (ATF0) and a derived population (ATF5) obtained after five cycles of recurrent selection for superior tolerance to freezing (TF). Nearly 400 million reads were obtained from two lanes of an Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencer and analyzed with the Universal Network-Enabled Analysis Kit (UNEAK) pipeline designed for species with no reference genome. Following the application of whole dataset-level filters, 11,694 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci were obtained. About 60% had a significant match on the Medicago truncatula syntenic genome. The accuracy of allelic ratios and genotype calls based on GBS data was directly assessed using 454 sequencing on a subset of SNP loci scored in eight plant samples. Sequencing depth in this study was not sufficient for accurate tetraploid allelic dosage, but reliable genotype calls based on diploid allelic dosage were obtained when using additional quality filtering. Principal Component Analysis of SNP loci in plant samples revealed that a small proportion (<5%) of the genetic variability assessed by GBS is able to differentiate ATF0 and ATF5. Our results confirm that analysis of GBS data using UNEAK is a reliable approach for genome-wide discovery of SNP loci in outcrossed polyploids.     

Serologic and genetic analysis of group B streptococci isolated from adult patients

Serologic and genetic typing with RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) method was used for epidemiologic analysis of GBS. 125 strains isolated from various clinical samples from adult patients were tested. In serologic typing seven serotypes have been found. Serotypes III and R were the most often encountered, containing 37,6% and 20,8% of samples. There was no dependence between serologic type and disease process. Optimalisation of RAPD reaction parameters was based on the standard strains of GBS. In the group of strains tested with the use of RAPD method, eleven genetic profiles were found, with prevalence of profile B (25,8%). Five other profiles occured with similar frequency (8,8% - 12,8%). Among streptococci isolated from patients with the infection of genitourinary tract, great differentiation in the genetic profiles of the strains has been found. Each serologic type contained various genetic profiles. Genetic variety showed by RAPD method indicates the raised ability of this technique to find differences among isolates of GBS.     

Evaluation of CHROMagar™ StrepB: A new chromogenic agar medium for aerobic detection of Group B Streptococci in perinatal samples

A selective and chromogenic medium, the CHROMagar™ StrepB agar (CHROM-B) designed for aerobic isolation of Group B Streptococci (GBS) in pregnancy-related specimens, was evaluated in a two-Phase study. CHROM-B was evaluated against CPS3 during the first Phase and against Granada afterwards. It was compared to blood agar plates (COH) and to colimycin nalidixic agar plates (CNA) over both Phases. The study which included 1356 samples, yielded 124 GBS. CHROM-B was significantly more sensitive than COH (76.6% vs 53.2% on d1 and 92.7% vs 64.5% on d2; p < 0.001 for both). CHROM-B yielded positive results sooner than CNA. CPS3 under-performed, partly because of microbiota overgrowth and partly because it did not produce a single and unique colour from the GBS colonies. CHROM-B produced its unique GBS-expected colour sooner than Granada yielding a significantly sooner result for 10% (6/60; p < 0.025). Every 124 GBS could grow typical colonies on CHROM-B and False Negatives were only due to paucimicrobial samples. Granada failed to produce the expected colour from one non-haemolytic GBS. We conclude that CHROMagar™ StrepB performed significantly better, irrespective of the haemolytic properties of GBS strains, and significantly sooner than COH, CNA, CPS3 and Granada.     

Complete Genome Sequence of Streptococcus agalactiae ZQ0910, a Pathogen Causing Meningoencephalitis in the GIFT Strain of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus [GBS]) is a pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Here, we reported the complete genome sequence of S. agalactiae strain ZQ0910, which was isolated from the GIFT strain of Nile tilapia in Guangdong, China.     

Occurrence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas axonopodis</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">phaseoli</Emphasis>, the causal agent of common bacterial blight disease,on seeds of common bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> L.) in upper Egypt

Common bean seed lots collected from different seed dealers and Malawii agriculture station were screened for the presence of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli. In the laboratory the pathogen was isolated following the routine laboratory assay method, i.e. direct plating method using yeast extract-dextrose-calcium carbonate agar medium (YDC). Yellow, convex, mucoid colonies of Xanthomonas were consistently isolated on YDC from seed samples. The presumptive pathogen was confirmed by isolation on semiselective medium, such as mTBM and MD5A. Further, the pathogen was confirmed by biochemical, physiological and, finally, the pathogenicity tests. Five samples out of seven were positive for Xanthomonas. The isolates were found to cause common blight of 3-week-old common bean plants by 7 d after inoculation. Bacteria with the same characteristics as those inoculated were re-isolated from the infected plants.     

A Safe and Stable Neonatal Vaccine Targeting GAPDH Confers Protection against Group B Streptococcus Infections in Adult Susceptible Mice

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a commensal organism, can turn into a life-threatening pathogen in neonates and elderly, or in adults with severe underlying diseases such as diabetes. We developed a vaccine targeting the GBS glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a glycolytic enzyme detected at the bacterial surface, which was proven to be effective in a neonatal mouse model of infection. Since this bacterium has emerged as an important pathogen in non-pregnant adults, here we investigated whether this vaccine also confers protection in an adult susceptible and in a diabetic mouse model of infection. For immunoprotection studies, sham or immunized adult mice were infected with GBS serotype Ia and V strains, the two most prevalent serotypes isolated in adults. Sham and vaccinated mice were also rendered diabetic and infected with a serotype V GBS strain. For toxicological (pre-clinical) studies, adult mice were vaccinated three times, with three concentrations of recombinant GAPDH adjuvanted with Allydrogel, and the toxicity parameters were evaluated twenty-four hours after the last immunization. For the stability tests, the vaccine formulations were maintained at 4°C for 6 and 12 months prior immunization. The results showed that all tested doses of the vaccine, including the stability study formulations, were immunogenic and that the vaccine was innocuous. The organs (brain, blood, heart, and liver) of vaccinated susceptible or diabetic adult mice were significantly less colonized compared to those of control mice. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the GAPDH-based vaccine is safe and stable and protects susceptible and diabetic adult mice against GBS infections. It is therefore a promising candidate as a global vaccine to prevent GBS-induced neonatal and adult diseases.     

Transport Media for Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2

An evaluation was made of the recovery rate of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or 2 from 197 clinical specimens obtained in two or three charcoal transport media: Leibovitz viral transport medium, a modified Leibovitz-Emory medium (LEM), in which agarose was used instead of agar, and Amies bacterial transport medium. The specimens were stored and shipped for 1 to 19 days in these media at ambient temperature or in Hanks buffered-salt solution in dry ice. The results indicate that the LEM was most effective, particularly in the recovery of HSV type 2 from clinical specimens held at ambient temperature. In vitro and in vivo studies in genitally infected mice corroborated the observations obtained with human clinical specimens. The availability of transport media which can be used for shipment at ambient temperature offers clinicians easier accessibility to laboratory confirmation and antigenic typing of HSV from suspect herpetic infections.     

Evaluation of genotoxicity using the micronucleus assay and nuclear abnormalities in the tropical sea fish Bathygobius soporator (Valenciennes, 1837) (Teleostei, Gobiidae)

The micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities assays have been used increasingly to evaluate genotoxicity of many compounds in polluted aquatic ecossystems. The aim of this study is to verify the efficiency of the micronucleus assay and nuclear abnormality assay in field and laboratory work, when using erythrocytes of the tropical marine fish Bathygobius soporator as genotoxicity biomarkers. Gill peripheral blood samples were obtained from specimens of Bathygobius soporator. In order to investigate the frequencies of micronuclei and to assess the sensitivity of species, the results were compared with samples taken at the reference site and maintained in the laboratory, and fish treated with cyclophosphamide. The micronucleus assay was efficient in demonstrating field pollution and reproducing results in the labotatory. There were significant higher frequencies of micronuclei in two sites subject to discharge of urban and industrial effluents. The nuclear abnormality assay did not appear to be an efficient tool for genotoxicity evaluation when compared with field samples taken at a reference site in laboratory, with a positive control.     

Genetic analysis of Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated from neonates and their mothers

Streptococcus agalactiae or group B streptococcus (GBS) is the most common cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis in neonates. One of the major questions is whether the GBS strains able to cause neonatal invasive disease have peculiar genetic features. A collection of S. agalactiae strains, isolated from cervix, vagina and rectum of 10 mothers and from throat, ear and umbilicus of their newborns was genetically characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). This study demonstrated that the strains isolated from each mother and her child were all genetically identical but that the strains from the 10 mother/child pairs mutually were genetically heterogeneous and 10 different PFGE patterns were found. Although it has been suggested that PFGE would be able to identify virulence traits to direct decisions in antibiotic management, the heterogeneous feature of GBS strains does not support broad application.     

Isolation of respiratory syncytial virus from nasopharyngeal aspirates stored at 20 degrees C from one to fifteen months after collection

Cell culture isolation is used for recovering respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from respiratory specimens. As RSV is a thermolabile virus, specimens destined for inoculation into cell culture require special transport, handling, and storage. The isolation rate of RSV from nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) stored at 20 20 degrees C for one to 15 months after collection was investigated. A total of 126 samples considered positive for RSV by indirect fluorescence-antibody were tested by virus isolation in HEp-2 cell culture. RSV was isolated from 47/126 specimens (37.3%). These results show that RSV may be recovered from NPA stored at 20 20 degrees C by cell culture.     

Membrane Vesicles of Group B Streptococcus Disrupt Feto-Maternal Barrier Leading to Preterm Birth

Infection of the genitourinary tract with Group B Streptococcus (GBS), an opportunistic gram positive pathogen, is associated with premature rupture of amniotic membrane and preterm birth. In this work, we demonstrate that GBS produces membrane vesicles (MVs) in a serotype independent manner. These MVs are loaded with virulence factors including extracellular matrix degrading proteases and pore forming toxins. Mice chorio-decidual membranes challenged with MVs ex vivo resulted in extensive collagen degradation leading to loss of stiffness and mechanical weakening. MVs when instilled vaginally are capable of anterograde transport in mouse reproductive tract. Intra-amniotic injections of GBS MVs in mice led to upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation mimicking features of chorio-amnionitis; it also led to apoptosis in the chorio-decidual tissue. Instillation of MVs in the amniotic sac also resulted in intrauterine fetal death and preterm delivery. Our findings suggest that GBS MVs can independently orchestrate events at the feto-maternal interface causing chorio-amnionitis and membrane damage leading to preterm birth or fetal death.