The two-component system sivS/R regulates virulence in Streptococcus iniae

Streptococcus iniae causes invasive disease and death in fish, and to a lesser extent, sporadic cases of soft-tissue infections in humans. A two-component system termed sivS/R, which regulates capsule expression, was previously identified and characterized. In this study, it is shown that a sivS/R deletion-insertion mutant, termed 9117Deltasiv, causes transient bacteremia and reduced virulence compared with the parent strain when tested in a murine model of bacteremic infection. Furthermore, real-time PCR studies indicated that SivS/R regulates the expression levels of the streptolysin S structural gene, sagA, as well as the CAMP factor gene, cfi. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of S. iniae spheroplasts revealed downregulation of three surface proteins in the mutant strain compared with the parent strain. These proteins were identified by MS to be a putative lipoprotein, a hyaluronate-associated protein and a pyruvate kinase. This study demonstrates that SivS/R regulates virulence in vivo, and controls the expression of a number of genes in S. iniae.     

Streptococcus iniae capsule impairs phagocytic clearance and contributes to virulence in fish

Surface capsular polysaccharides play a critical role in protecting several pathogenic microbes against innate host defenses during infection. Little is known about virulence mechanisms of the fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae, though indirect evidence suggests that capsule could represent an important factor. The putative S. iniae capsule operon contains a homologue of the cpsD gene, which is required for capsule polymerization and export in group B Streptococcus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. To elucidate the role of capsule in the S. iniae infectious process, we deleted cpsD from the genomes of two virulent S. iniae strains by allelic exchange mutagenesis to generate the isogenic capsule-deficient DeltacpsD strains. Compared to wild-type S. iniae, the DeltacpsD mutants had a predicted reduction in buoyancy and cell surface negative charge. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed a decrease in the abundance of extracellular capsular polysaccharide. Gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the S. iniae extracellular polysaccharides showed the presence of l-fucose, d-mannose, d-galactose, d-glucose, d-glucuronic acid, N-acetyl-d-galactosamine, and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine, and all except mannose were reduced in concentration in the isogenic mutant. The DeltacpsD mutants were highly attenuated in vivo in a hybrid striped bass infection challenge despite being more adherent and invasive to fish epithelial cells and more resistant to cationic antimicrobial peptides than wild-type S. iniae. Increased susceptibility of the S. iniae DeltacpsD mutants to phagocytic killing in whole fish blood and by a fish macrophage cell line confirmed the role of capsule in virulence and highlighted its antiphagocytic function. In summary, we report a genetically defined study on the role of capsule in S. iniae virulence and provide preliminary analysis of S. iniae capsular polysaccharide sugar components.     

假想的脂蛋白连接酶对肺炎链球菌毒力的影响

【目的】探索假想脂蛋白连接酶(putative lipoate-protein ligase,LPL)对肺炎链球菌毒力的影响。【方法】采用长臂同源多聚酶链式反应(LFH-PCR)的方法失活lpl基因,通过PCR、测序鉴定缺陷菌株,采用细胞实验比较缺陷菌和野生菌对宿主细胞的粘附能力,并通过动物实验观察lpl基因缺陷后菌株毒力的变化。【结果】小鼠毒力实验表明野生菌株和缺陷株半数致死时间均为12h,两者比较无统计学差异;缺陷菌在对宿主细胞的粘附能力明显高于野生菌株(P0.01);体外荚膜染色实验表明,野生菌和缺陷菌均有荚膜。【结论】实验结果提示lpl基因对细菌粘附宿主细胞有抑制作用,但不影响其腹腔感染小鼠的能力。     

The Streptococcus mutans vicX gene product modulates gtfB/C expression, biofilm formation, genetic competence, and oxidative stress tolerance

Streptococcus mutans is considered one of the primary etiologic agents of dental caries. Previously, we characterized the VicRK two-component signal transduction system, which regulates multiple virulence factors of S. mutans. In this study, we focused on the vicX gene of the vicRKX tricistronic operon. To characterize vicX, we constructed a nonpolar deletion mutation in the vicX coding region in S. mutans UA159. The growth kinetics of the mutant (designated SmuvicX) showed that the doubling time was longer and that there was considerable sensitivity to paraquat-induced oxidative stress. Supplementing a culture of the wild-type UA159 strain with paraquat significantly increased the expression of vicX (P < 0.05, as determined by analysis of variance [ANOVA]), confirming the role of this gene in oxidative stress tolerance in S. mutans. Examination of mutant biofilms revealed architecturally altered cell clusters that were seemingly denser than the wild-type cell clusters. Interestingly, vicX-deficient cells grown in a glucose-supplemented medium exhibited significantly increased glucosyltransferase B/C (gtfB/C) expression compared with the expression in the wild type (P < 0.05, as determined by ANOVA). Moreover, a sucrose-dependent adhesion assay performed using an S. mutans GS5-derived vicX null mutant demonstrated that the adhesiveness of this mutant was enhanced compared with that of the parent strain and isogenic mutants of the parent strain lacking gtfB and/or gtfC. Also, disruption of vicX reduced the genetic transformability of the mutant approximately 10-fold compared with that of the parent strain (P < 0.05, as determined by ANOVA). Collectively, these findings provide insight into important phenotypes controlled by the vicX gene product that can impact S. mutans pathogenicity.     

BIRC7 gene in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus): identification and expression analysis in response to Edwardsiella tarda, Streptococcus iniae and Channel catfish Hemorrhage Reovirus

A family member of inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) termed baculoviral IAP repeat-containing 7 (BIRC7) from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was identified, the full length cDNA sequence of channel catfish BIRC7 (CcBIRC7) was 1686?bp, containing a 5'UTR of 93?bp, a 3'UTR of 399?bp with a poly (A) tail and an ORF of 1194?bp encoding a putative protein of 398 amino acids. The putative CcBIRC7 protein contains two BIR super-family conservative domains and a C-terminal RING finger motif. Phylogenetic analysis showed that catfish CcBIRC7 was moderately conserved with other BIRC7. Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to examine the expression profiles of CcBIRC7 in healthy tissues and responding to different pathogens (Edwardsiella tarda, Streptococcus iniae and Channel catfish Hemorrhage Reovirus (CCRV)). CcBIRC7 was widely expressed in healthy tissues of channel catfish and with the highest 37.28-fold expression in blood. E.?tarda and S.?iniae could induce CcBIRC7 gene expression drastically in head kidney, liver and spleen, which the peak value reached 31.6-fold, 613.9-fold and 34.4-fold increase by E.?tarda infection, and 248.3-fold, 1540.3-fold and 120.4-fold increase post S.?iniae challenge, respectively. While, CCRV virus could slightly induce CcBIRC7 expression in head kidney and liver but reduce it in spleen. The result suggested BIRC7 may play a potential role in channel catfish innate immune system against bacterial and virus infections, especially as the anti-bacteria immune gene. This is the first report of BIRC7 gene identification and its expression in fish.     

Identification of Streptococcus iniae by commercial bacterial identification systems

The fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae cannot be identified by most commercial bacterial identification systems. The results presented here indicate that over 70% of our S. iniae isolates have been identified using the Biolog(R) GP microplate panels and Microlog(R) database. The isolates were confirmed as S. iniae by specific PCR methods and have been found to conform to the result obtained with the type strain S. iniae ATCC 29178.     

Ctr2 Links Copper Homeostasis to Polysaccharide Capsule Formation and Phagocytosis Inhibition in the Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans

Cryptococcus neoformans is a human opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for ∼1/3 of HIV/AIDS deaths worldwide. This budding yeast expresses a polysaccharide capsule necessary for virulence. Capsule production inhibits phagocytosis by macrophages. Here we describe results that link copper homeostasis to capsule production and the inhibition of phagocytosis. Specifically, using Agrobacterium-mediated insertional mutagenesis, we identified an insertion in the promoter region of the putative copper transporter-encoding gene CTR2 that results in reduced expression of CTR2 and increased phagocytosis by murine RAW264.7 macrophages. The mutant also displayed sensitivity to copper starvation and defects in polysaccharide capsule production and melanization. These defects were all reversed by genetic correction of the promoter insertion by homologous targeting. Several melanization-defective mutants identified previously, those in the RIM20, RIM101, and VPS25 genes, also display sensitivity to copper starvation, reduced capsule production and increased phagocytosis. Together these results indicate a previously undescribed link between copper homeostasis to polysaccharide capsule production and phagocytosis inhibition in Cryptococcus neoformans.     

胸膜肺炎放线杆菌apxIC基因插入失活突变株构建及免疫原性分析

胸膜肺炎放线杆菌是引起猪传染性胸膜肺炎(APP)的呼吸道病原菌,其分泌的Apx毒素是最重要的毒力因子之一。为构建APP突变弱毒菌株,在apxIC基因下游XhoI酶切位点处插入氯霉素抗性基因(Chlr)制备转移载体,通过电转化导入APP血清10型参考菌株(D13039)进行同源重组,筛选获得apxIC基因插入突变菌株D13039C-Chlr。该突变菌株特性鉴定结果表明其溶血活性完全丧失,可正常增殖和分泌ApxI毒素,连续10次传代后基因组中插入的Chlr基因可稳定遗传,利用5个剂量(2×108CFU~2×106CFU)对每组3只小鼠腹腔攻毒结果显示突变菌株毒力较母源菌株降低至少100倍以上,将突变菌株作为弱毒活疫苗经滴鼻途径免疫仔猪后利用APP血清1型(4074)和血清10型(D13039)菌株攻毒进行免疫原性鉴定,结果显示血清1型攻毒后非免疫组4头仔猪全部死亡而免疫组4头中死亡2头,非免疫组肺损伤指数(34.4)显著高于免疫组(17.5),血清10型攻毒后非免疫组肺损伤指数(17.5)也高于免疫组(10.5),同时鼻拭子和肺组织样品的细菌重分离数及PCR检测阳性数非免疫组也明显高于免疫组,表明突变菌株作为弱毒活疫苗对仔猪具有一定的交叉免疫保护力。该突变菌株的构建为鉴定ApxI毒素活性及研制具有交叉保护活性的APP弱毒活疫苗奠定了基础。     

Capsule synthesis by Bacillus anthracis is required for dissemination in murine inhalation anthrax

Bacillus anthracis, the agent of anthrax, produces a poly-D-glutamic acid capsule that has been implicated in virulence. Many strains missing pXO2 (96 kb), which harbors the capsule biosynthetic operon capBCAD, but carrying pXO1 (182 kb) that harbors the anthrax toxin genes, are attenuated in animal models. Also, noncapsulated strains are readily phagocytosed by macrophage cell lines, whereas capsulated strains are resistant to phagocytosis. We show that a strain carrying both virulence plasmids but deleted specifically for capBCAD is highly attenuated in a mouse model for inhalation anthrax. The parent strain and capsule mutant initiated germination in the lungs, but the capsule mutant did not disseminate to the spleen. A mutant harboring capBCAD but deleted for the cap regulators acpA and acpB was also significantly attenuated, in agreement with the capsule-negative phenotype during in vitro growth. Surprisingly, an acpB mutant, but not an acpA mutant, displayed an elevated LD(50) and reduced ability to disseminate, indicating that acpA and acpB are not true functional homologs and that acpB may play a larger role in virulence than originally suspected.     

伪狂犬病病毒鄂A株TK－／gG－／LacZ＋突变株的构建

为了以国内地方分离株鄂A株为亲本构建伪狂犬病病毒双基因缺失株,采用外切酶Ⅲ和绿豆核酸酶酶切,构建了缺失主要毒力基因TK基因部分编码区的重组质粒pSTK1-4,进一步改造成为转移质粒pUCPB4。用HindⅢ将质粒pUCPB4线性化,然后与用EcoRI消化的伪狂犬病病毒鄂A株TK^-/LacZ^ 突变株基因组DNA共转染PK－15细胞,等完全病变后,收毒作空斑试验,PCR筛选TK缺失的重组病毒。重组病毒空斑纯化3次,随机挑取空斑进行PCR扩增,证实所获得的病毒为均一的无TK^-/LacZ^ 突变株污染的TK缺失的重组病毒,分别以TK缺失株病毒与鄂A野毒株为模板对TK基因进行PCR扩增,扩增产物经酶切分析和测序后发现：TK缺失重组病毒的TK基因缺失了205个碱基,XhoⅠ和SalⅠ位点消失,SmaⅠ酶切片段发生变化,两种病毒在PK－15细胞上形成空斑的大小和增殖 滴度无明显的差别。进一步提取TK缺失突变株基因组DNA,与含gG-LacZ的转移质粒pUSKZ通过磷酸钙法共转染PK－15细胞,待完全病变后,在X-gal存在下筛选蓝斑,将桃取的蓝斑纯化3次后,对纯化的重组病毒进行TK、LacZ扩增,结果既能扩增出较以鄂A野毒株为模板扩增的要小的TK基因片段,同时又能扩增出LacZ基因,证实所得到的重组病毒为TK^-/gG^-/LacZ^ 突变株。此双缺失突变株的构建成功,为在我国最终根除伪狂犬病提供了有用的工具。     

假单胞菌株M18 psrA突变株的构建及其对吩嗪-1-羧酸和藤黄绿菌素合成的调控

【目的】假单胞菌M18是一株能同时合成吩嗪-1-羧酸(PCA)和藤黄绿菌素(Plt)两种抗生素的植物根际促生细菌。PsrA为细菌TetR家族转录调控因子。为了研究PsrA对PCA与Plt生物合成的影响,从M18菌株基因组中扩增psrA基因。【方法】通过同源重组技术,构建庆大霉素抗性片段置换psrA的突变菌株M18psrA。利用基因互补、lacZ报告基因融合分析实验,验证PsrA对抗生素合成基因的调控作用。【结果】在PPM和KMB培养基中,分别比较野生型菌株M18和突变菌株M18psrA的PCA与Plt产量,突变菌株M18psrA的PCA产量显著下降;Plt产量显著升高,为野生型菌株的10-15倍。基因互补、lacZ报告基因融合分析,进一步证明了psrA正调控PCA的phz2合成基因簇,负调控Plt的合成基因簇。【结论】PsrA区别性调控抗生素PCA与Plt的生物合成。     

炭疽芽孢杆菌A16R株eag基因缺失突变株构建

【目的】构建炭疽芽孢杆菌A16R株eag基因缺失突变株, 为研究eag基因的功能奠定了基础。【方法】本研究以我国人用炭疽杆菌活疫苗A16R株中eag基因为目的缺失基因,根据炭疽芽孢杆菌Ames株基因组序列,利用软件设计了扩增上下游同源臂以及抗性基因引物,构建了重组质粒,将该重组质粒电击转入炭疽杆菌A16R感受态细胞中,利用同源重组原理筛选到炭疽杆菌A16R株eag基因缺失突变株。在分子水平及蛋白质组学方面对基因缺失突变株进行验证。【结果】成功构建了重组质粒,经同源重组后获得eag基因缺失突变株。PCR鉴定表明目的基因已经丢失;SDS PAGE表明野生株与突变株在93 KDa处有差异蛋白条带,经质谱鉴定分析该条带为目的基因所表达的EA1蛋白;双向电泳结果显示突变株与野生株比较明显缺失3个蛋白点,经质谱分析后确定这3个点都是EA1蛋白。【结论】成功获得炭疽芽孢杆菌A16R株eag基因缺失突变株,为深入研究eag基因的功能奠定了基础,同时也为炭疽芽孢杆菌重要基因功能的研究建立了一个良好的技术平台。