C3b generation is affected by the structure of the O-antigen polysaccharide in lipopolysaccharide from salmonellae

Salmonellae differing in the O-antigen side chain of their lipopolysaccharide were previously shown to activate the alternative pathway of complement to different extents. We now examine the generation of the major cleavage fragment of the complement component C3 (C3b) on these bacteria in a system that contains the purified components C3, B, D, and P but lacks the regulatory proteins H and I. The deposition of C3b in this system reproduces the same pattern obtained earlier with the use of whole serum, with the expected differences among the strains bearing different O-antigen. However, two distinct mechanisms for these differences in C3b generation became apparent. The intermediate activating strain showed 3 to 4 times less initial deposition of C3b than the other two strains. In contrast, the least activating strain showed adequate initial deposition but poor amplification, as shown by 2 to 3.4 lower amplification indexes as compared with those on the other two strains. Binding studies with factor B showed that decreased C3 convertase formation was responsible for the low amplification on this strain. Only 25% of the C3b bound to its surface was able to bind factor B with a high affinity, in comparison with 90% on the other two strains. No differences were found for the binding of factor H among the strains. These studies identify the molecular mechanisms by which these bacteria avoid complement activation.     

Studies on the cellular defense reactions of the madeira cockroach, Leucophaea maderae: in vitro phagocytosis of different strains of Bacillus cereus and their effect on hemocyte viability

Monolayers of Leucophaea maderae hemocytes, consisting of mainly plasmatocytes and coagulocytes, were incubated with three strains of Bacillus cereus of differing pathogenicities, and the levels of phagocytosis and hemocyte viability were determined. Incubation with viable B. cereus strains NCTC 2599, NCIB 3329, and B1 resulted in a significant drop in hemocyte viability after 60 min of incubation compared with the saline-only controls. The greatest effect, however, resulted from incubation with B. cereus B1 which is the most pathogenic of the three strains studied. The killing effect of the three B. cereus strains was abolished following their UV irradiation. Incubation of monolayers with viable B. cereus B1 resulted in a level of phagocytic activity at all time periods lower than that with the other two strains. The highest levels of phagocytosis were achieved with UV-killed B. cereus, although no significant differences were found in these values between the three strains at any of the incubation times. Phospholipase C, a lytic enzyme shown to be released by all three strains of B. cereus, although in varying amounts, also caused hemocyte death following its incubation with the monolayers. These data suggest that the hemocyte killing and resistance to phagocytosis by B. cereus are caused by the release of phospholipase C, or some other related toxin(s) by the bacteria.     

cagA gene variants in Malaysian Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients of different ethnic groups

Helicobacter pylori infection of a distinct subtype of cagA may lead to different pathological manifestation. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of cagA gene and its variants in H. pylori infection among different ethnic groups and its effect on gastroduodenal diseases. Overall detection of cagA among the 205 clinical isolates of H. pylori was 94%. Variations in size of the 3' region of cagA gene were examined among 192 Malaysian H. pylori cagA-positive strains. Results showed that three cagA variants differing in fragment length of PCR products were detected and designated as type A (621-651bp), type B (732-735bp) and type C (525 bp). Although there was no association between any of the cagA subtypes with peptic ulcer disease (p>0.05), an association between cagA subtypes with a specific ethnic group was observed. Specific-cagA subtype A strains were predominantly isolated from Chinese compared to Malays and Indians (p<0.0005), and cagA subtype B strains were predominantly isolated from Malays and Indians compared to Chinese (p<0.05). The cagA type A strains of H. pylori is commonly found in the Chinese patients who have a higher risk of peptic ulcer disease, thus indicating that it could be used as an important clinical biomarker for a more severe infection.     

Homology between genes for aromatic hydrocarbon degradation in surface and deep-subsurface Sphingomonas strains.

The cloned genes for aromatic hydrocarbon degradation from Sphingomonas yanoikuyae B1 were utilized in Southern hybridization experiments with Sphingomonas strains from the surface and deep-subsurface environments. One hybridization pattern was obtained with BamHI-digested genomic DNAs for two surface strains, while a differing pattern was seen for five deep-subsurface strains. The cross-hybridizing genes were located in the chromosomes of the surface strains and on plasmids in the deep-subsurface strains.     

Increased synthesis of L-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase during in vitro differentiation of reaggregating cerebellar cells

Reaggregating cell cultures of neonatal mouse cerebellar cells express many of the differentiated properties of normal developing cerebellum, including the transition for the embryonic and adult isozymes of l-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8). In order to determine the mechanism leading to increased levels of adult isozyme, aggregates in culture from 2 to 17 days were labeled with radioactive leucine and the relative rate of enzyme synthesis was measured after purification of the enzyme by affinity chromatography on Blue Sepharose 6B. During the course of in vitro differentiation, the relative rate of synthesis increased 100-fold, such that it represented 0.5% of the total protein synthesized in the cytoplasmic fraction of the cell. In vivo, $\text{BALB}\text{cBy}$ mice have twice the level of enzyme activity in the cerebellum as do $\text{C57BL}\text{6J}$ mice. Reaggregating cell cultures of cerebellar cells from these strains of mice also express a difference in the activity level, but only when the cerebellar cells are taken from mice 4 days of age or less. When the relative rates of synthesis of l-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase were measured in cultures expressing the strain-dependent difference in activity, these rates were found to be approximately twofold greater in cultures of $\text{BALB}\text{cBy}$ cells. In contrast, estimates of the relative rate of enzyme degradation by the double-isotope labeling technique indicate that neither specific enzyme degradation nor degradation of total protein is different in aggregates from the two strains of mice. The results suggest that the genetic mechanisms controlling the levels of l-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in the cerebellum during development are intrinsic to the cells and, with the exception of serum factors, are independent of systemic influences.     

Comparative analysis of degradation of native avermectins and spinosyns by UV-HPLC]

Degradation rates and compositional changes in active ingredients of the two crop protection insecticides, Fitoverm and Spinosad, have been compared by using a reverse-phase HPLC with UV detection (250 nm). Decay of the major components of active ingredients: spinosyns A and D (Spinosad) and avermectins A1a, A2a, B1a and B2a (Fitoverm) was studied in the thin dry layer on the glass at sunlight at regular day/night changes of temperature. The following results were obtained: 1) 50% degradation time for spinosyns was about two times shorter than that for avermectins: at 40 degrees C day-time temperature it was 6 hours and 10 hours, respectively, while at 23 degrees C these times increased approx. ten-fold; 2) the initial composition of spinosyns was changed during degradation: ratio of spinosyns A/D was increased (i.e. D component degraded faster than the A one) and additionally 4-5 new spinosyns and/or their derivatives were formed; 3) rate of degradation of each avermectin was practically the same, i.e. percent composition of avermectins did not significantly alter; 4) retention times of avermectins B2a, A2a and A1a were similar to those of either initial spinosyns (A) or products of their decay. It is concluded that determination of spinosysn residues with the aid of UV-HPLC is a complex task since both initial spinosyns (A and D) and their conversion/decay products must be measured. The latter can be dominant residues and not always easy to identify. Analysis consider to be complicated when a sample contains residues of both spinosyns and avermectins.     

Occurrence of Clostridium difficile in fecal samples of HIV-infected children in Poland

The prevalence of Clostridium difficile and its toxins (A and B) in HIV-positive children in Poland was investigated in a group of 18 children, aged 6 months to 8 1/2 years. Stool samples were tested using an antigen detection method for toxin A/B, cytotoxicity-neutralization and culture. In 3 cases (17%) C. difficile toxins were detected in both stool samples and strains recovered from culture. The three strains isolated were shown by PCR methods to contain toxins A and B genes. All children had been treated previously with antimicrobial and antiviral agents. All three C. difficile-positive children had mild diarrhea that resolved without specific therapy. Further studies involving a large number of children and molecular analyses of isolated C. difficile strains are necessary to determine the frequency and rate of carriage of C. difficile strains among HIV-positive children in Poland.     

高分子量多环芳烃降解菌筛选及在土壤电动-生物修复中应用

采用富集培养和多环芳烃双加氧酶基因检测方法,从焦化场地多环芳烃污染土壤分离筛选出9株PAHs降解菌。以高分子量多环芳烃芘为唯一碳源进行摇瓶降解实验,结果表明,J6、S5、S4、S2和B4对芘具有较好的降解能力,21 d时芘降解率均达55%以上,其中B4处理芘的降解率最高,达到70.2%。进一步研究了该5株菌及其混合菌对土壤中芘的降解效果,发现混合菌的降解效果高于单菌的降解效果,其中混合菌H4和单菌B4的降解效果较好,49 d时混合菌H4和单菌B4处理土壤中芘的降解率达29.3%和18.3%。经过16S rRNA基因序列比对,鉴定J6菌株为赤红球菌(Rhodococcus ruber),S5为芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus sp.),S4和S2是鞘脂单胞菌属(Sphingopyxis sp.),B4为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.)。在电场条件下,混合菌H4和单菌B4处理微生物数量及活性均显著提高,芘的降解率较单独H4和B4处理提高33.0%和20.1%,说明筛选出的5株高分子量多环芳烃降解菌具有较强的电场适应能力,可在高分子量多环芳烃污染土壤电动-微生物修复中应用。     

The role played the lipid fractions of Mycobacterium bovis BCG in the development of antituberculosis immunity in an animal experiment.

The authors investigated the antituberculosis and antitumour immunogenicity as well as tuberculin allergenicity of the lipid fractions from Mycobacterium bovis BCG strains of Danish, French, Japanese origin and of Czechoslovak 725. The fractions explored included phospholipids, Cord factor, ethanol-extractable lipids, waxes A, B, C + D and fats. The fractions were divided into three groups according to their effectiveness. 1. The Cord factor and phospholipids from all the studied strains were effective in the antituberculosis and antitumour models with the only exception of strain 725 phospholipids. Phospholipids from all strains were capable of inducing tuberculin allergy. 2. In the second group (waxes A, C + D and lipids extractable by ethanol) a variance was observed in the antigenic properties of identical fractions from different strains suggesting differing metabolism in the strains producing these fractions. A mixture of waxes C + D from the French and Danish strains showed a degree of suppression in its antituberculosis effectiveness. 3. Waxes B and fats were entirely ineffective in the antitumour model and, with the exception of waxes B from strain 725 and fats from the Japanese strain, in the antituberculosis model. The antituberculosis and antitumour effectiveness directly depended on the content of a mycolic acid complex in fractions. Tuberculin allergenicity was associated with the intensity of phospholipid production by mycobacteria.     

Characterization of Bacillus anthracis-like bacteria isolated from wild great apes from Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon

We present the microbiological and molecular characterization of bacteria isolated from four chimpanzees and one gorilla thought to have died of an anthrax-like disease in C?te d'Ivoire and Cameroon. These isolates differed significantly from classic Bacillus anthracis by the following criteria: motility, resistance to the gamma phage, and, for isolates from Cameroon, resistance to penicillin G. A capsule was expressed not only after induction by CO(2) and bicarbonate but also under normal growth conditions. Subcultivation resulted in beta-hemolytic activity and gamma phage susceptibility in some subclones, suggesting differences in gene regulation compared to classic B. anthracis. The isolates from C?te d'Ivoire and Cameroon showed slight differences in their biochemical characteristics and MICs of different antibiotics but were identical in all molecular features and sequences analyzed. PCR and Southern blot analyses confirmed the presence of both the toxin and the capsule plasmid, with sizes corresponding to the B. anthracis virulence plasmids pXO1 and pXO2. Protective antigen was expressed and secreted into the culture supernatant. The isolates possessed variants of the Ba813 marker and the SG-749 fragment differing from that of classic B. anthracis strains. Multilocus sequence typing revealed a close relationship of our atypical isolates with both classic B. anthracis strains and two uncommonly virulent Bacillus cereus and Bacillus thuringiensis isolates. We propose that the newly discovered atypical B. anthracis strains share a common ancestor with classic B. anthracis or that they emerged recently by transfer of the B. anthracis plasmids to a strain of the B. cereus group.     

杨柳田头菇交配型因子与菌丝生长速度关系

以杨柳田头菇（Agrocybe salicacola）菌株711子实体为材料,经担孢子弹射,用稀释分离法获得224个单孢菌株,其中单核菌株210个,交配试验及单孢出菇证明其性遗传模式为四极异宗结合,4种交配型的比例为AxBx∶AxBy∶AyBx∶AyBy为47∶59∶53∶51。研究结果还表明,杨柳田头菇4种交配型的数量、比例与单孢萌发速度、生长速度相关,生长速度较慢的菌株基本上属于一种交配型,只有少数生长慢的菌株属于另外两种交配型。值得注意的是,尽管快（F）-慢（S）配对的异核体与快（F）-快（F）配对的异核体在YPD平板上生长速度无明显差别,但在聚丙烯栽培袋上F-S异核体的生长速度明显快于F-F异核体,这说明交配因子A和B与生长速度基因可能连锁,且存在重组现象,F-S交配的异核体在生长上有优势,可能是人工选择后交配因子亚基减少导致偏分离发生的原因。     

The rate of removal of pyrimidine dimers in quiescent cultures of normal human and xeroderma pigmentosum cells

The rate of removal of pyrimidine dimers from DNA of UV (254 nm)-irradiated (1 J/m2) normal and xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cells maintained in culture as nondividing populations was determined. Several normal and XP strains from complementation groups A, C and D were studied. The excision rates and survival ability of nondividing cells were examined to determine if an abnormal sensitivity was associated with a decreased rate of dimer excision. The results show that all normal strains studied excise pyrimidine dimers at the same rate, with the rate curve characterized by two components. All 'excision-deficient' XP strains excise dimers at a slower-than-normal rate, with the rate curves also characterized by two components. The rate constants for the first components of all of the XP strains (group A, C and D) are the same, one tenth of the normal rate constant, except for XP8LO (group A). XP8LO has a first-component rate constant similar to that of normal strains and a second component rate constant similar to that of other group A strains (XP12BE, XP25RO). Thus, the slower rate of dimer excision in XP8LO is due to a defect in the mechanism responsible for the second component of the excision-rate curve. In general, an abnormal sensitivity of nondividing cells to UV is associated with a reduced dimer-excision rate. A notable exception to this is the group C strain XP1BE which has an initial repair rate similar to that of group A XP12BE but is considerably more resistant when survival is measured.     

几种耐热戴氏霉对秸秆的降解效果

【目的】测定6株戴氏霉(Taifanglania)的生长温度特性及其对秸秆的降解效果。【方法】通过定时测定不同培养温度下的菌落直径绘制6株戴氏霉菌株的生长曲线;采用苯胺蓝法、愈创木酚法和木质素磺酸钙降解试验测定其木质素降解能力;用羧甲基纤维素钠水解圈测定法和胞外酶活测定法判定其对纤维素的降解能力;以失重法和范氏洗涤剂法检测其对水稻秸秆的降解效果。【结果】所试的耐热戴氏霉菌株均能耐受50 °C的高温,并能产生纤维素酶,但不同菌株产生的木质素降解酶有所差异;均具有降解秸秆的能力,其中合川戴氏霉(T. hechuanensis) H08.1菌株降解能力最强,其次是灰戴氏霉(T. cinerea) H57.1菌株,其秸秆降解率分别为50.2%和42.2%。【结论】合川戴氏霉H08.1菌株和灰戴氏霉H57.1菌株在秸秆的降解利用上具有潜在开发价值。     

Bacteriophages of Bacillus polymyxa

Virulent bacteriophages of colistin--producing Bacillus polymyxa strains were studied. The phages were found to differ in lytic spectrum and were active only against strains of B. polymyxa. They did not attack other strains of the genus Bacillus. The virulent bacteriophages belong to two morphological groups differing in size. The size of the DNA of the bacteriophages of both groups is similar and ranges from 74.9 X 10(6) to 87.8 X 10(6) daltons. The cells of different B. polymyxa strains were also found to carry various defective phages which could be shown after mitomycin C induction of cell cultures. The antibacterial activity of mitomycin C induced cell lysates was not detected. Strains of B. polymyxa most probably devoid of defective bacteriophages (delysogenized) were isolated.     

A fusant of Sphingomonas sp. GY2B and Pseudomonas sp. GP3A with high capacity of degrading phenanthrene

A fusant strain F14 with high biodegradation capability of phenanthrene was obtained by protoplast fusion between Sphingomonas sp. GY2B (GenBank DQ139343) and Pseudomonas sp. GP3A (GenBank EU233280). F14 was screened and identified from 39 random fusants by antibiotic tests, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The result of SEM analysis demonstrated that the cell shape of fusant F14 different from parental strains. RAPD analysis of 5 primers generated a total of 70 bands. The genetic similarity indices between F14 and parental strains GY2B and GP3A were 27.9 and 34.6 %, respectively. F14 could rapidly degrade phenanthrene within 24 h, and the degradation efficiency was much better than GY2B and GP3A. GC–MS analysis of metabolites of phenanthrene degradation indicated F14 had a different degradation pathway from GY2B. Furthermore, the fusant strain F14 had a wider adaptation of temperatures (25–36 °C) and pH values (6.5–9.0) than GY2B. The present study indicated that fusant strain F14 could be an effective and environment-friendly bacterial strain for PAHs bioremediation.     

降解尿酸乳酸菌复合菌系的筛选与菌株组合提升降解效果

【背景】高尿酸症由血液中尿酸含量明显升高而导致,利用乳酸菌对人体的益生作用缓解高尿酸血症越来越受到关注。【目的】获得具有降解尿酸能力的乳酸菌复合菌系与纯培养菌株。【方法】以泡菜为样品来源,以尿酸为底物,采用MRS培养基筛选降解尿酸的乳酸菌复合菌系,通过高效液相色谱法测定复合菌系对尿酸的降解能力。【结果】得到一组乳酸菌复合菌系,当培养温度为37 °C、pH值为6.20、静置培养72 h后复合菌系对尿酸的降解率为12.08%;通过优化培养条件,当该菌系在以牛肉膏为单一氮源、初始pH值为5.00、温度为35 °C的条件下培养72 h,尿酸降解率上升至17.19%,降解率比优化前提高了42.3%;从该菌系中分离出两株具有尿酸降解能力的菌株UA-1与UA-2,它们的尿酸降解率分别为10.85%和8.65%;通过形态学观察和16S rRNA基因序列分析,经鉴定两株菌均为布氏乳杆菌(Lactobacillus buchneri)。将两株单菌组合降解尿酸试验发现,UA-1与UA-2比例为2:1的尿酸降解率为20.2%,比原复合菌系的降解能力提高了67.22%。【结论】研究证明了乳酸菌复合菌系对尿酸的降解能力优于单个菌株,为后续利用乳酸菌复合菌系应用提供了数据支持。     

Degradation of aniline and monochlorinated anilines by soil-born Pseudomonas acidovorans strains

Four bacterial strains (CA26, CA28, CA37, and CA45), which all were able to use aniline, 3-chloroaniline (3-CA), and 4-chloroaniline (4-CA) as sole sources of carbon, nitrogen and energy, were isolated after enrichment in aerated soil columns and identified as Pseudomonas acidovorans strains. In addition strains CA26 and CA45 were able to degrade 2-chloroaniline (2-CA) at very low rates. At 25°C strain CA28 was grown on aniline and 3-CA with generation times of 3.0 and 7.7 h, respectively, and exhibited complete mineralization of these substrates in degradation rates of 2.25 mmol aniline and 1.63 mmol 3-CA g^-1 of biomass per hour, respectively. Degradation of 4-CA occurred at 1.54 mmol 4-CA g^-1 of biomass per hour and a generation time of 18.7 h but, in contrast, was not complete due to formation of minor amounts of chlorohydroxymuconic semialdehyde, a meta-cleavage product of 4-chlorocatechol. The initial attack on the substrate, the formation of corresponding chlorocatechols from 3-CA and 4-CA, was found to be the rate-limiting degradation step. Evidence for two different aniline-oxygenase systems in strain CA28 with distinct activity pattern on chlorinated and nonsubstituted anilines was demonstrated by oxygen uptake rate experiments with aniline and chloroaniline pregrown cells. Further degradation was shown to be initialized by catechol dioxygenases.Non-standard abbreviations CA chloroaniline - DCA dichloroaniline - ECM enrichment and cultivation medium - CFU colony forming unit     

一株3-苯氧基苯甲酸降解菌的筛选及其协同Bacillus licheniformis G-04降解高效氯氰菊酯的研究

【目的】从长期受拟除虫菊酯类农药污染的白菜根系土壤分离1株3-苯氧基苯甲酸(3-phenoxybenzoic acid, 3-PBA)降解菌,并探究其与Bacillus licheniformis G-04协同作用对高效氯氰菊酯(beta-cypermethrin,Beta-CP)的降解及污染土壤的生物修复,为土壤农药残留危害处理提供优良菌种。【方法】采用富集驯化、筛选纯化方法,筛选3-PBA降解菌,并通过形态和生理生化特征以及16S rRNA序列分析进行鉴定。利用Origin 8.0分析3-PBA降解菌与B. licheniformis G-04的生长降解动力学过程。同时,采用高效液相色谱法评估两菌株协同降解Beta-CP的能力及其对受Beta-CP污染土壤的修复作用。【结果】筛选得到1株3-PBA高效降解菌HA516,48 h对3-PBA (100 mg/L)的降解率达到87.73%,经鉴定为皮特不动杆菌(Acinetobacter pittii);构建了该菌株和B. licheniformis G-04的生长降解动力学方程,结果表明模型与实验数据能较好拟合;以6.7∶3.3的接种比例先接种B. licheniformis G-04,24 h后再接入A. pittii HA516协同作用,在48 h,Beta-CP (50 mg/L)的降解率达78.37%,较单菌株(B. licheniformisG-04)的降解率(40.47%)提高了37.90%,半衰期从58.39h缩短为24.51h。土壤修复实验表明,第7天协同组对Beta-CP(30mg/kg)的降解率较单菌株提高了33.26%,达到79.27%。【结论】A.pittiiHA516是1株3-PBA高效降解菌,能与B. licheniformis G-04协同增效降解Beta-CP,可作为修复3-PBA或拟除虫菊酯类农药污染的优良微生物资源。     

Effect of rhamnolipids on degradation of anthracene by two newly isolated strains, Sphingomonas sp. 12A and Pseudomonas sp. 12B

Anthracene is a PAH that is not readily degraded, plus its degradation mechanism is still not clear. Thus, two strains of bacteria-degrading bacteria were isolated from longterm petroleum-polluted soil and identified as Sphingomonas sp. 12A and Pseudomonas sp. 12B by a 16S rRNA sequence analysis. To further enhance the anthracene-degrading ability of the two strains, the biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa W3 were used, which were characterized as rhamnolipids. It was found that these rhamnolipids dramatically increased the solubility of anthracene, and a reverse-phase HPLC assay showed that the anthracene degradation percentage after 18 days with Pseudomonas sp. 12B was significantly enhanced from 34% to 52%. Interestingly, their effect on the degradation by Sphingomonas sp. 12A was much less, from 35% to 39%. Further study revealed that Sphingomonas sp. 12A also degraded the rhamnolipids, which may have hampered the effect of the rhamnolipids on the anthracene degradation.     

不同品系小鼠的体外受精、胚胎冷冻及移植的比较研究

目的　探讨不同品系小鼠的体外受精、胚胎和精子的低温保存效果。方法　本实验分别在中国科学院上海实验动物中心 (SLAC)和日本熊本大学动物资源开发中心 (CARD)对 13个品系小鼠 (C57BL 6J、BALB c、C3H HeJ、ICR、KM、FVB、MRL、NOD、CBA、DBA 2、CD 1、BDF1、B6C3F1)的体外受精 (IVF)率、胚胎培养及移植成绩进行了比较研究。结果　各品系小鼠新鲜精子的IVF率 15 1%～ 87 9% ,冻融精子的IVF率 8%～ 80 % ;冷冻胚胎的复苏率4 2 6 %～ 83 9% ;冻融胚胎移植后的产仔率在 17 8%～ 5 1 8%。结论　遗传背景不同的小鼠体外受精率、冷冻胚胎复苏率和胚胎移植的产仔率差异有显著性。但同一品系两个实验室间的新鲜精子的IVF率、冷冻胚胎的复苏率及移植产仔率差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;冻融精子的体外受精率CARD明显高于SLAC(P <0 0 1)。