Inhibition of Orientia tsutsugamushi infection by a truncated recombinant 56‐kDa outer membrane protein

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate recombinant 56‐kDa outer membrane protein as a potential inhibitor to infection from Orientia tsutsugamushi. Methods and Results: The 56‐kDa protein was cloned and expressed in an Escherichia coli system, and the degree of target cell attachment to immobilized 56‐kDa protein was measured in a cell adhesion assay. The results showed that the 56‐kDa protein has an ability to attach HeLa cells. Furthermore, treatment of target cells with a truncated 56‐kDa 1–418 (amino acid residues) protein inhibited target cell infection by O. tsutsugamushi, demonstrated with an indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay. Conclusions: The truncated 56‐kDa protein (a.a. 1–418) plays an important role in O. tsutsugamushi infection, and the 56‐kDa protein could be useful and effective in the inhibition of O. tsutsugamushi attachment and infection. Significance and Impact of the Study: The attachment of the 56‐kDa protein to target cells was directly determined by in vitro adherence test, and the invasion of target cells by O. tsutsugamushi was inhibited by treating the target cells with a truncated 56‐kDa protein.     

Isolation of a New Orientia tsutsugamushi Serotype

Orientia tsutsugamushi, the etiological agent of scrub typhus, is an antigenically diverse organism and many serologically distinct strains have been identified. The 56 kDa protein of O. tsutsugamushi, a major protein in the outer membrane, has been thought to be responsible for this antigenic variability. A strain of O. tsutsugamushi isolated in Korea cross-reacted with both Gilliam strain-specific and Karp strain-specific monoclonal antibodies. When its 56 kDa protein gene was cloned and analyzed, its sequence showed variation especially between 1,200 and 1,250 bp, showing that this isolate is a new O. tsutsugamushi strain.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Orientia tsutsugamushi strains based on the sequence homologies of 56-kDa type-specific antigen genes

Close and distant relationship among 31 strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi (20, two, one and eight strains were isolated in Japan, Korea, China and southeast Asia, respectively) were clarified using phylogenetic analyses based on homologies of 56-kDa type-specific antigen genes. Isolates in Japan, Korea and China were located in eight separate clusters in the phylogenetic tree, and each was designated as JG (Japanese Gilliam type), JP-1 and JP-2 (Japanese Karp 1 and 2 types), Kato, Kawasaki, Kuroki, Shimokoshi and LX-1 types. All isolates originated in southeast Asia, including the prototype Gilliam and Karp strains isolated in Burma and New Guinea, respectively, were distantly located in the phylogenetic tree from those isolates in Japan, Korea and China, indicating that strains of O. tsutsugamushi distributed in northeastern and southeastern Asia are different types.     

Genetic typing of the 56-kDa type-specific antigen gene of contemporary Orientia tsutsugamushi isolates causing human scrub typhus at two sites in north-eastern and western Thailand

Orientia tsutsugamushi is the causative agent of scrub typhus, a major cause of febrile illness in the rural areas of Southeast Asia. Twenty-three strains of O. tsutsugamushi were isolated from patients with scrub typhus in north-east (Udorn Thani province) and western Thailand (Tak province) between 2003 and 2005. The isolates were characterized by sequencing the entire ORF of the 56-kDa-type-specific antigen gene, followed by phylogenetic analysis. The majority (15/23) of isolates clustered with the Karp-type strain, six with a Gilliam-type strain and one each with the TA716- and TA763-type strains. Overall, there was considerable diversity in sequence, comparable to that seen in strains from across the rest of the scrub typhus-endemic world. There was no significant difference in the distributions of strains between the two provinces (P=0.08, Fisher's exact) nor a temporal change in distribution with year of isolation (P=0.80, Fisher's exact). Within this diversity there were also examples of isolates with identical 56-kDa genotypes that were cultured from patients from the same geographical areas.     

Phylogenetic characterization of Orientia tsutsugamushi isolated in Taiwan according to the sequence homologies of 56-kDa type-specific antigen genes

Fourteen strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi isolated in Taiwan were characterized by sequencing 56-kDa type-specific antigen genes and patterns of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) predicted by a computer program. The strains showed high varieties in sequence homologies and were classified to 10 types by predicted patterns of RFLP. Furthermore, all Taiwan strains were not identical in typing with strains analyzed previously. These results suggest that there are various types of O. tsutsugamushi in Taiwan that are different from those distributed in other countries.     

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases is involved in the induction of interferon β gene in macrophages infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi

We investigated the role of MAPK in IFN-β gene expression in macrophages after infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi . ERK1/2 became phosphorylated in Orientia -stimulated macrophages. Selective inhibition of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK could all significantly reduce Orientia- stimulated IFN-β mRNA expression. Orientia inactivation by heat abolished IFN-β mRNA induction only, whereas cytochalasin D treatment completely blocked both IFN-β and chemokine expression, suggesting requirement of cellular internalization by viable bacteria for IFN-β gene induction. In conclusion, our data indicate that MAPK pathways are required to induce maximal IFN-β gene expression in macrophages during Orientia infection.     

我国辽宁，吉林地区恙虫病东方体分离株的PCR分型

为鉴定我国东北地区恙虫病东方体(Ot)型别,本文应用Ot外膜主要蛋白型特异抗原56ku构建的群、型引物,采用PCR技术对分离自辽宁、吉林地区的6株恙虫病东方体目的基因进行分析研究,并与Gilliam,Karp,Kato国际参考株进行比较.结果表明,辽宁、吉林恙虫病东方体分离株至少存在Gilliam和Karp2种型别.     

Epidemiological characteristics of tsutsugamushi disease in Oita Prefecture, Japan: Yearly and monthly occurrences of its infections and serotypes of its causative agent, Orientia tsutsugamushi, during 1984–2005

Using indirect immunofluorescence assay, we examined the sera of 561 patients from November 1984 to February 2005 to determine the incidence of tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus) in Oita Prefecture, Japan. The results obtained were positive in 384 individuals (68.4%). Municipalities where patients were presumed to have been infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi were Taketa City (41.7%), Oyama Town (13.5%), and Ogi Town (8.3%). Infections occurred most often in October, November, and December. A small number of cases occurred from January to May. The serotypes Kuroki (47.5%), Kawasaki (42.5%), and Karp (10.0%) were detected by genetic analysis of O. tsutsugamushi DNA extracted from the blood of 120 patients. The gene sequences of the Kuroki type were highly homologous to that of the Nishino strain. The gene sequences of the Kawasaki type were identical to that of the Kawasaki strain. The gene sequence of the Karp type was highly homologous to that of the JP-2 type. To determine the distribution of vector mites, 558 wild rodents were captured and 72 010 mites attached to these rodents were collected from 1982 to 1998. Six genera and 16 species of trombiculid mites were collected. Leptotrombidium pallidum and L. scutellare , which are known to be mite vectors for tsutsugamushi disease, accounted for 20.5% and 5.9%, respectively, of all trombiculid mites collected. The geographical distribution of cases roughly coincided with the distribution of L. scutellare . In Oita Prefecture, L. scutellare is presumed to primarily transmit tsutsugamushi disease. In addition, our results also suggest that L. pallidum transmits the Karp type of the causative rickettsia in some municipalities.     

小鼠cofilin2蛋白的原核表达及纯化

[目的]构建小鼠cofilin2原核表达载体并纯化表达产物。[方法]以胚胎期小鼠心脏组织的c DNA为模板PCR扩增cofilin2基因,经酶切连接表达载体PGEX-4T-1后转化入大肠杆菌E. coli BL21感受态细胞中,利用异丙基-β-D-硫代吡喃半乳糖苷(IPTG)进行诱导表达及优化,利用SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳,考马斯亮蓝R-250进行染色,检测GST-cofilin2的表达情况。通过谷胱甘肽树脂(Glutathione Resin)亲和层析进行纯化,最后通过Western Blot进行验证。[结果]PCR成功扩增cofilin2基因,双酶切及测序结果表明p GEX-4T-1-cofilin2原核表达载体构建成功,SDS-PAGE鉴定表明,在22℃、200μmol/L的IPTG能诱导出大量可溶性的GST-cofilin2蛋白,分子量为43 k Da。Western Blot验证得到纯化的GST-cofilin2。[结论]成功构建小鼠cofilin2原核表达载体,纯化得到的重组小鼠cofilin2蛋白可用于后续的生物学研究。     

人热休克蛋白70的原核高效表达

将人热休克蛋白基因hsp70片段克隆到高效原核表达载体pMAL-c2X中,酶切鉴定并进行DNA测序。将该重组表达载体转化大肠杆菌DH50α,用IPTG在不同温度及时间下进行诱导表达。收集细菌,菌体裂解后进行SDS-PAGE及Western blot检测,并以凝胶薄层扫描分析表达水平。结果表明,成功地构建了含人hsp70基因的表达载体pMAL-c2X／hsp70,该载体能在大肠杆菌中表达相对分子质量为110000并具有抗原活性的融合蛋白;改变诱导温度和时间,目的蛋白表达总量及可溶性部分所占比例不同。对人hsp70基因的克隆、表达,并对其进行表达条件的优化,为研究HSP70的结构、功能与临床应用提供了必要条件。     

重组人肝刺激物在原核细胞中的表达与纯化

利用基因重组技术 ,构建成人肝刺激因子 (hHSS)和谷胱甘肽转移酶 (GST)融合表达载体 ,转化大肠杆菌BL 2 1(DE3 ) ,以His·Tag亲和层析纯化表达产物 ,FactorXa切割分离hHSS单体 ,并检测其生物学活性。结果显示 ,在pET 4 2a表达体系中hHSS以可溶性蛋白和包涵体两种形式存在 ,GST hHSS表达量占菌体可溶性蛋白的3 0 % ;FactorXa切割GST与hHSS之间肽腱 ,得到 3 3和 15kD两条蛋白带 ,经Western杂交证实 3 3kD条带为GST ,而 15kD条带的分子量与hHSS基因序列推测蛋白结果相符。经His·Tag再次纯化可获得hHSS单体 ,初步证实重组hHSS具有促进肝癌细胞增殖活性     

重组GST-HBx蛋白在表达过程中断裂状况的研究

目的 在对乙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白HBx研究的过程中,发现体外表达HBx蛋白产物的稳定性存在差异.为了了解其中的原因,拟通过原核表达方式进行分析.方法 以包含全长HBV DNA的质粒pEco63为模板,通过PCR反应,扩增HBV X基因全长序列（1～154氨基酸）和截短序列（48～104氨基酸,48～146氨基酸,98～146氨基酸）,将这几种不同长度和位置的HBX DNA序列克隆到pGEX4T-2原核表达载体中,并通过下游引物设计中引入6×组氨酸标签序列.结果 最终成功构建N端融合GST蛋白标签序列和C端融合6×组氨酸标签序列的4种HBx重组表达载体.将4种包含不同长度HBx的重组质粒转化大肠埃希菌Rosetta,培养至菌液浓度A值大约0.6左右,加入终浓度0.1 mmol/L的IPTG进行诱导表达.提取全菌蛋白通过Western印迹对HBx各重组蛋白产物的N端和C端进行检测.结论 在分段表达的HBx重组蛋白中发生了多处局部的断裂,而断裂部位主要集中于GST蛋白上.而造成这一结果的原因可能与HBx蛋白功能区域暴露后与GST相互作用有关.     

Expression and immunogenicity analysis of two iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Genes of two iron-regulated outer membrane proteins of Vibrio parahaemolyticus zj2003, a pathogenic strain isolated from large yellow croaker （Pseudosciaena crocea）, psuA and pvuA, were cloned and expressed as N-terminal His6-tagged proteins in Escherichia coli BL21（DE3）. The recombinant fusion proteins were purified with nickel chelate affinity chromatography. To analyze the immunogenicity of the proteins, groups of large yellow croaker were immunized with the purified recombinant psuA, pvuA or both, by intraperitoneal injection. Antibody response was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Titers to the recombinant proteins increased from log2 3.25 to log29.80, 4-8 weeks following immunization. The relative percent survival of the groups vaccinated with psuA, pvuA, or a combination of the two, reached 50%, 62.5% and 75%, respectively. Western blot analysis was carried out with the serum from unvaccinated survival fish after infection. Both recombinant proteins were detected, indicating that these two proteins of V. parahaemolyticus zj2003 were immunogenic and could produce synergistic effects during in vivo infection, and they might be considered as important components for developing an aquaculture vaccine against this pathogen.     

小鼠精胺氧化酶的原核表达与鉴定

目的:原核表达和分离纯化小鼠精胺氧化酶(SMO)。方法:采用RT-PCR法从小鼠胚胎干细胞(ES细胞)RNA中克隆小鼠SMOcDNA,构建SMO原核表达质粒并转染大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)菌株,经IPTG诱导,将表达的小鼠SMO重组蛋白在变性条件下经Ni-NTA树脂亲和层析纯化和透析复性。结果:在大肠杆菌中高表达出小鼠SMO重组蛋白;纯化并透析复性后的重组SMO具备快速氧化特异性底物精胺的酶活性。结论:建立了原核表达和纯化有活性小鼠SMO的实验方法。     

H1N1型流感病毒神经氨酸酶的原核表达、纯化及免疫原性分析

目的：研究H1N1型流感病毒神经氨酸酶（NA）在原核系统中的表达、纯化方法及其免疫原性。方法：构建了大肠杆菌表达载体pET22b-NA,并转化了大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）;通过SP-Sepharose Fast Flow柱对重组NA进行分离纯化,并用Sephadex G-25柱对SP柱后获得的NA进行柱上复性;用不同剂量的重组NA免疫BALB/c小鼠,并检测其诱导产生的抗体滴度。结果：大肠杆菌表达的NA以包涵体形式存在,通过分离及柱上复性,纯化得到重组NA;NA抗原的免疫原性是剂量依赖的,随着剂量的增加,其免疫原性相应增强,3次免疫后,3μg NA诱导小鼠产生的抗体滴度最高,为1∶7000。结论：大肠杆菌表达的NA具有一定的诱导小鼠产生针对天然NA的抗体的能力,为流感病毒基因工程疫苗研究提供了初步线索。     

A 56-kDa protein is a novel granule-bound starch synthase existing in the pericarps, aleurone layers, and embryos of immature seed in diploid wheat (Triticum monococcum L.)

A novel 56-kDa granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS; NDPglucose-starch glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.21) responsible for amylose synthesis was found in the pericarps, aleurone layers and embryos of immature diploid wheat (Triticum monococcum L.). The GBSS and other proteins bound to starch granules of various tissues of immature normal and waxy diploid wheat seeds were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and their activities were examined. In the waxy mutant, the waxy protein (59.5 kDa, GBSSI) was absent, but amylose and GBSS activity were evident in all tissues except the endosperm. Of the proteins bound to starch granules, only the 56-kDa protein was associated with the presence of amylose and GBSS activities in the pericarps, aleurone layers and embryos. Mutations at the waxy locus did not affect the 56-kDa protein in these tissues. Changes in the amount of 56-kDa protein during the course of seed development, and the distribution of the 56-kDa protein in each tissue of immature seeds were quite different from those of the waxy protein. On the other hand, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 56-kDa protein had a 40–50% similarity to GBSSI of some other plant species and was antigenically related to the waxy protein. These results strongly suggest that the 56-kDa protein in diploid wheat is a GBSSI class enzyme and, hence, an isoform of the waxy protein. The waxy protein and 56-kDa protein, however, are expressed in different seed tissues and at different stages of seed development. Received: 15 May 1998 / Accepted: 18 June 1998     

炭疽芽孢杆菌EA1蛋白的融合表达和纯化

目的：原核表达重组炭疽芽孢杆菌EA1蛋白。方法：用PCR方法从炭疽芽孢杆菌A16R疫苗株染色体中扩增编码EA1蛋白的eag基因序列,经过纯化、酶切后克隆到含有GST标签的原核表达载体pGEX-6P-2中,构建重组载体pGEX-EA1;将空载体（作为对照）、重组载体转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）菌株获得表达工程菌株,对其表达和纯化条件进行优化;利用Western印迹检测融合蛋白的表达。结果：构建了EA1蛋白的融合表达载体,并在大肠杆菌中获得高效表达;经Glutathione Sepharose 4B纯化获得了EA1蛋白;Western印迹表明,此蛋白可与GST标签抗体反应。结论：在原核表达系统中表达并纯化得到EA1融合蛋白,为进一步对其进行功能研究奠定了基础。     

重组斑马鱼CD36蛋白的原核表达及纯化

目的：在大肠杆菌中重组表达斑马鱼CD36蛋白胞外区38～432氨基酸残基段并纯化。方法：PCR扩增斑马鱼CD36蛋白的基因编码区,连接到带有6~His标签的原核表达载体pET-28a中,构建重组表达质粒pET28a-CD36,并转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,用IPTG诱导表达,优化表达条件后用Ni^2＋柱进行纯化。结果：构建了pET28a-CD36重组质粒;目的蛋白在大肠杆菌中获得表达,亲和纯化后,SDS-PAGE显示相对分子质量为预期的46．8×10^3。结论：获得了斑马鱼CD36融合蛋白,为其生物学功能研究奠定了基础。     

重组斑马鱼 p8蛋白的原核表达及纯化

目的：在大肠杆菌中重组表达斑马鱼p8蛋白并纯化。方法：PCR扩增斑马鱼p8蛋白基因编码区,连接到带有6×His标签的原核表达载体pET-28a中,构建重组表达质粒pET-28a-p8并转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,用IPTG诱导表达;优化表达条件后用Ni^2＋柱纯化重组蛋白。结果：构建了pET-28a-p8重组质粒;目的蛋白在大肠杆菌中获得表达,亲和纯化后,SDS-PAGE显示相对分子质量为预期的12．8×10^3。结论：获得了斑马鱼p8融合蛋白,为其生物学功能研究奠定了基础。     

人Pokemon蛋白锌指结构域的表达与纯化

旨在原核表达Pokemon基因的锌指结构域,纯化获得GST-Zinc finger的融合蛋白。以人胶质瘤T98G细胞的c DNA为模板,利用PCR扩增带有Bam H I和Sal I酶切位点的人Pokemon基因的锌指结构域,然后将其克隆到p GEX-4T-1原核表达载体中。将正确的重组载体转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),用IPTG诱导表达,再利用Magne GST particles亲和纯化Zinc finger融合蛋白,最后通过Western blot鉴定此融合蛋白。结果显示,成功构建p GEX-4T-1-Zinc finger原核表达载体;30℃条件下,0.2 mmol/L的IPTG能诱导出大量的可溶性GST-Zinc finger蛋白;经Magne GST particles纯化的GST-Zinc finger蛋白可被识别Pokemon锌指结构域的抗体特异识别。纯化的GST-Zinc finger蛋白可用于后续的生物学研究。