炭疽芽胞杆菌基因芯片探针文库的构建

为制备炭疽芽胞杆菌的基因芯片探针文库,以炭疽芽胞杆菌毒素质粒pX01和荚膜质粒pX02为原材料,用Sau3A I酶切pX01和pX02质粒DNA,Taq DNA聚合酶72℃补平加A,经AT克隆,PCR初步鉴定筛选出炭疽质粒片段的阳性克隆．DNA自动分析仪对克隆片段进行序列测定;用生物信息学方法对其片段进行同源性分析;并将克隆的探针打印于玻片上,制备成炭疽芽胞杆茵基因芯片,与炭疽杆茵质粒DNA样品进行初步芯片杂交的实验,杂交实验的阳性率达到了90％以上,证明大部分克隆探针属于炭疽芽胞杆菌．炭疽芽胞杆菌基因芯片探针文库的构建为基因芯片探针的制备摸索出一条简便、高效、可行的方法．     

Generation of Mini-Tn10 transposon insertion mutant library of Bacillus thuringiensis for the investigation of genes required for its bacteriocin production

Bacillus thuringiensis strain BUPM4 is known for its ability to produce a bacteriocin, called Bacthuricin F4 (BF4), which inhibits the growth of several Gram-positive bacteria and particularly Bacillaceae . This study aimed to use the insertional transposon mutagenesis approach for disrupting and thus identifying genes associated with BF4 synthesis. Here, the mini-Tn 10 transposon was used to generate a library of B. thuringiensis mutants. Twenty thousand clones were screened for the search of mutants with affected bacteriocin synthesis. By molecular hybridization, it was demonstrated that the mini-Tn 10 transposition occurred in different sites. Clone MB1, containing a mini-Tn 10 single-copy insertion, lost the BF4 synthesis, but maintained its immunity to BF4. The flanking sequences surrounding the mini-Tn 10 insertion were cloned and sequenced. Homology searches of the surrounding ORFs revealed a strong similarity to a phage tail component, which allowed us to postulate that BUPM4 bacteriocin could be a phage tail-like one.     

New transposon delivery plasmids for insertional mutagenesis in Bacillus anthracis

Two new transposon delivery vector systems utilizing Mariner and mini-Tn10 transposons have been developed for in vivo insertional mutagenesis in Bacillus anthracis and other compatible Gram-positive species. The utility of both systems was directly demonstrated through the mutagenesis of a widely used B. anthracis strain.     

clpC operon regulates cell architecture and sporulation in Bacillus anthracis

The clpC operon is known to regulate several processes such as genetic competence, protein degradation and stress survival in bacteria. Here, we describe the role of clpC operon in Bacillus anthracis. We generated knockout strains of the clpC operon genes to investigate the impact of CtsR, McsA, McsB and ClpC deletion on essential processes of B. anthracis. We observed that growth, cell division, sporulation and germination were severely affected in mcsB and clpC deleted strains, while none of deletions affected toxin secretion. Growth defect in these strains was pronounced at elevated temperature. The growth pattern gets restored on complementation of mcsB and clpC in respective mutants. Electron microscopic examination revealed that mcsB and clpC deletion also causes defect in septum formation leading to cell elongation. These vegetative cell deformities were accompanied by inability of mutant strains to generate morphologically intact spores. Higher levels of polyhydroxybutyrate granules accumulation were also observed in these deletion strains, indicating a defect in sporulation process. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the vital role played by McsB and ClpC in physiology of B. anthracis and open up further interest on this operon, which might be of importance to success of B. anthracis as pathogen.     

Microarray analysis for identification of Plasmodium-refractoriness candidate genes in mosquitoes.

The identification and cloning of genes conferring mosquito refractoriness to the malaria parasite is critical for understanding malaria transmission mechanisms and holds great promise for developing novel approaches to malaria control. The mosquito midgut is the first major site of interaction between the parasite and the mosquito. Failure of the parasite to negotiate this environment can be a barrier for development and is likely the main cause of mosquito refractoriness. This paper reports a study on Aedes aegypti midgut expressed sequence tag (EST) identification and the determination of genes differentially expressed in mosquito populations susceptible and refractory to the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum. We sequenced a total of 1200 cDNA clones and obtained 1183 high-quality mosquito midgut ESTs that were computationally collapsed into 105 contigs and 251 singlets. All 1200 midgut cDNA clones, together with an additional 102 genetically or physically mapped Ae. aegypti clones, were spotted on single arrays with 12 replicates. Of those interrogated microarray elements, 28 (2.3%) were differentially expressed between the susceptible and refractory mosquito populations. Twenty-seven elements showed at least a two-fold increase in expression in the susceptible population level relative to the refractory population and one clone showed reduced expression. Sequence analysis of these differentially expressed genes revealed that 10 showed no significant similarity to any known genes, 6 clones had matches with unannotated genes of Anopheles gambiae, and 12 clones exhibited significant similarity to known genes. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR of selected clones confirmed the mRNA expression profiles from the microarray analysis.     

Differential identification of Bacillus anthracis from environmental Bacillus species using microarray analysis

AIMS: To determine whether microarray analysis could be employed for the differential identification of a range of environmental Bacillus sp. from four strains of Bacillus anthracis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Oligonucleotide probes were designed that were specific to virulence factor genes of B. anthracis (pag, lef and cap), the variable number tandem repeat region of the B. anthracis vrrA gene and to the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region (ITS) and pleiotropic regulator (plcR) regions of the Bacillus cereus subgroup species. Generic probes were also designed to hybridize with conserved regions of the 16S rRNA genes of Bacillus (as a positive control), Neisseria sp., Pseudomonas sp., Streptococcus sp., Mycobacterium sp. and to all members of the Enterobacteriaceae to allow simultaneous detection of these bacteria. Identification of B. anthracis was found to rely entirely on hybridization of DNA specific to regions of the pag, lef and cap genes. Cross-reaction was observed between B. anthracis and other Bacillus species with all the other Bacillus probes tested. Results obtained using microarray hybridizations were confirmed using conventional microbiological techniques and found to have very high comparability. CONCLUSIONS: Microarray-based assays are an effective method for the identification of B. anthracis from mixed-culture environmental samples without problems of false-positivity that have been observed with conventional PCR assays. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Identification of environmental Bacillus sp. by conventional PCR is prone to potential for reporting false-positives. This study provides a method for the exclusion of such isolates.     

Cooperativity and interference of germination pathways in Bacillus anthracis spores

Spore germination is the first step to Bacillus anthracis pathogenicity. Previous work has shown that B. anthracis spores use germination (Ger) receptors to recognize amino acids and nucleosides as germinants. Genetic analysis has putatively paired each individual Ger receptor with a specific germinant. However, Ger receptors seem to be able to partially compensate for each other and recognize alternative germinants. Using kinetic analysis of B. anthracis spores germinated with inosine and L-alanine, we previously determined kinetic parameters for this germination process and showed binding synergy between the cogerminants. In this work, we expanded our kinetic analysis to determine kinetic parameters and binding order for every B. anthracis spore germinant pair. Our results show that germinant binding can exhibit positive, neutral, or negative cooperativity. Furthermore, different germinants can bind spores by either a random or an ordered mechanism. Finally, simultaneous triggering of multiple germination pathways shows that germinants can either cooperate or interfere with each other during the spore germination process. We postulate that the complexity of germination responses may allow B. anthracis spores to respond to different environments by activating different germination pathways.     

Differential media for the identification of Bacillus anthracis

Knisely, Ralph F. (U.S. Army Biological Laboratories, Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.). Differential media for the identification of Bacillus anthracis. J. Bacteriol. 90:1778-1783. 1965.-Two new differential media for the identification of Bacillus anthracis are described. Phenethyl alcohol and chloral hydrate were used as selective ingredients. These media should aid in the differentiation of B. anthracis from B. cereus and, if used in conjunction with other differential tests, they should also differentiate B. anthracis from the majority of other aerobic sporeforming bacilli. These media might also be useful in the classification of Bacillus species.     

Mutational analysis of the sbo-alb locus of Bacillus subtilis: identification of genes required for subtilosin production and immunity

The Bacillus subtilis 168 derivative JH642 produces a bacteriocin, subtilosin, which possesses activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Inspection of the amino acid sequence of the presubtilosin polypeptide encoded by the gene sboA and sequence data from analysis of mature subtilosin indicate that the precursor subtilosin peptide undergoes several unique and unusual chemical modifications during its maturation process. The genes of the sbo-alb operon are believed to function in the synthesis and maturation of subtilosin. Nonpolar mutations introduced into each of the alb genes resulted in loss or reduction of subtilosin production. sboA, albA, and albF mutants showed no antilisterial activity, indicating that the products of these genes are critical for the production of active subtilosin. Mutations in albB, -C, and -D resulted in reduction of antilisterial activity and decreased immunity to subtilosin, particularly under anaerobic conditions. A new gene, sboX, encoding another bacteriocin-like product was discovered residing in a sequence overlapping the coding region of sboA. Construction of an sboX-lacZ translational fusion and analysis of its expression indicate that sboX is induced in stationary phase of anaerobic cultures of JH642. An in-frame deletion of the sboX coding sequence did not affect the antilisterial activity or production of or immunity to subtilosin. The results of this investigation show that the sbo-alb genes are required for the mechanisms of subtilosin synthesis and immunity.     

Strategy for identification of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis strains closely related to Bacillus anthracis

Bacillus cereus strains that are genetically closely related to B. anthracis can display anthrax-like virulence traits (A. R. Hoffmaster et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:8449-8454, 2004). Hence, approaches that rapidly identify these near neighbors are of great interest for the study of B. anthracis virulence mechanisms, as well as to prevent the use of such strains for B. anthracis-based bioweapon development. Here, a strategy is proposed for the identification of near neighbors of B. anthracis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (ITS) containing tRNA genes, characteristic of B. anthracis. By using restriction site insertion-PCR (RSI-PCR) the presence of two SNP typical of B. anthracis was screened in 126 B. cereus group strains of different origin. Two B. cereus strains and one B. thuringiensis strain showed RSI-PCR profiles identical to that of B. anthracis. The sequencing of the entire ITS containing tRNA genes revealed two of the strains to be identical to B. anthracis. The strict relationship with B. anthracis was confirmed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of four other independent loci: cerA, plcR, AC-390, and SG-749. The relationship to B. anthracis of the three strains described by MLST was comparable and even higher to that of four B. cereus strains associated with periodontitis in humans and previously reported as the closest known strains to B. anthracis. SNP in ITS containing tRNA genes combined with RSI-PCR provide a very efficient tool for the identification of strains closely related to B. anthracis.     

Identification of an in vivo inhibitor of Bacillus anthracis spore germination

Germination of Bacillus anthracis spores into the vegetative form is an essential step in anthrax pathogenicity. This process can be triggered in vitro by the common germinants inosine and alanine. Kinetic analysis of B. anthracis spore germination revealed synergy and a sequential mechanism between inosine and alanine binding to their cognate receptors. Because inosine is a critical germinant in vitro, we screened inosine analogs for the ability to block in vitro germination of B. anthracis spores. Seven analogs efficiently blocked this process in vitro. This led to the identification of 6-thioguanosine, which also efficiently blocked spore germination in macrophages and prevented killing of these cells mediated by B. anthracis spores. 6-Thioguanosine shows potential as an anti-anthrax therapeutic agent.