脂多糖与细胞外膜渗透性

革兰氏阴性细菌细胞外膜具有多种重要的生理功能,不仅能维持细胞的形状和强度,而且形成一个筛选物质进出细胞的半透膜[1-2],降低细胞外膜的通透性,可提高全细胞催化反应的效率和工业微生物的产量[3].     

大肠杆菌脂多糖核心型及其检测方法

大肠杆菌脂多糖核心型根据其化学结构的不同分为５种,即Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ Ｒ１、Ｒ２、Ｒ３、Ｒ４和Ｋ１２。用传统化学分析法检测大肠杆菌脂多糖核心型,极为复杂,此法只适用于实验室研究。为此,我们建立了Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ脂多糖核心型血清学检测法,并对致病性大肠杆菌和正常人类粪便中分离的大肠杆菌脂多糖核心型进行了检测。     

细菌类脂A的结构修饰及其应用前景

类脂A是革兰氏阴性细菌细胞外膜外侧脂多糖的主要组成成分,也是内毒素的活性成分,可以被宿主免疫细胞识别并引发疾病。类脂A的生物合成途径相对保守,但在转运到外膜外侧的过程中它的结构被修饰以适应不同的外界环境。类脂A的结构修饰在细菌体内受到严格调控,与细菌的毒性密切相关,却不影响细菌的生长繁殖。主要介绍近几年类脂A结构修饰方面的研究进展,在此基础上分析了类脂A结构修饰在病原菌防治、疫苗开发、工业发酵和食品安全等相关领域的应用前景。     

禽致病性大肠杆菌脂多糖核心型分布与毒力基因的相关性分析

【目的】大肠杆菌脂多糖(LPS)核心型根据其化学结构的不同分为5种,即R1、R2、R3、R4和K12。通过对禽致病性大肠杆菌(Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)安徽、江苏、上海和河南等省市分离株的脂多糖核心型分布情况的研究,分析其与大肠杆菌主要毒力基因之间的潜在联系,以期为APEC的研究和防治提供参考。【方法】对分离到的76株APEC,利用PCR方法开展对LPS核心型分型鉴定和毒力基因检测;分析LPS核心型的分布和毒力基因、致病性之间的相关性。【结果】在76株APEC分离株中,68.4% (52株)为R1核心型,15.8% (12株)为R3型,11.8% (9株)为R4型,3.9% (3株)为R2型,未检测到K12核心型。毒力基因鉴定结果中yijp、mat、fimC、ibeB和ompA的检验阳性率均达到90%以上,可作为APEC的保守基因。其中LPS核心型R1与neuC、cva/cvi、irp2均具有显著正相关性(P<0.05),R3与iroN、irp2均具有显著负相关性(P<0.05),R4核心型与aatA显著正相关(P<0.05)。【结论】APEC的LPS核心型主要为R1。LPS核心型对部分毒力基因分布具有显著影响。     

lpxL和lpxM基因对O1、O78血清型禽致病性大肠杆菌毒力的影响

【目的】为探究脂多糖对O1、O78血清型禽致病性大肠杆菌(Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)致病作用的影响。【方法】选取负责脂质A生物合成相关基因lpx L和lpx M,利用λ噬菌体的Red同源重组系统分别构建APECE516(O1血清型)和APECE522(O78血清型)缺失株E516Δlpx L、E516Δlpx M、E516Δlpx LΔlpx M、E522Δlpx L、E522Δlpx M和E522Δlpx LΔlpx M,并通过体内外试验对其生物学特性及致病性进行研究。【结果】各菌株生长速度基本一致。E516Δlpx L、E516Δlpx LΔlpx M、E522Δlpx M和E522Δlpx LΔlpx M的抗血清补体杀菌能力和抗鸡巨噬细胞HD-11吞噬能力较野生株显著下降,而缺失株E516Δlpx M、E522Δlpx L与野生株相比无明显差异;半数致死剂量测定结果显示,除E516Δlpx M、E522Δlpx L外,各缺失株毒力降低1000倍左右;SPF鸡体内动态分布试验结果显示,各缺失株在鸡体内定殖能力较野生株显著下降,但回补株的毒力未能恢复至野生株水平。【结论】lpx L和lpx M基因与O1血清型APECE516株和O78血清型APECE522株的毒力有关,但是lpx L和lpx M基因对E516和E522菌株毒力的影响存在差异。     

植物角质膜及其渗透性与抗旱性研究进展

角质膜覆盖于陆生植物的地上部分,是植物与外部环境之间的第一道屏障,保护植物免遭各种生物和非生物胁迫。本文就植物角质膜的结构、成分、生物合成的途径及机理、渗透性及温度、湿度、活性剂对角质膜渗透性的影响,角质膜与植物抗旱性关系的研究进展做系统综述,并对植物角质膜研究中存在的问题进行了探讨。     

糖基转移酶WekM参与禽致病性大肠杆菌脂多糖合成和环境适应

【目的】研究O₁血清型禽致病性大肠杆菌（avian pathogenic Escherichia coli, APEC）的O-抗原糖基转移酶WekM在脂多糖合成和环境适应中的作用。【方法】采用Red同源重组方法,构建APEC O₁菌株的wekM基因缺失株,并构建wekM回补株。随后分析wekM基因对APEC O₁菌株生长和运动能力的影响,通过银染和Westernblotting鉴定细菌脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）图谱以及与兔抗O₁血清的反应能力,通过实时荧光定量PCR测定细菌鞭毛相关基因转录水平,使用溴化乙锭测定细菌细胞膜通透性。最后,通过药敏试验检测细菌对环丙沙星等抗生素敏感性。【结果】PCR验证及DNA测序结果表明ΔwekM缺失株和回补株构建成功。银染鉴定ΔwekM缺失株较野生株LPS图谱不完整,部分O-抗原条带缺失;同时,Western blotting检测未见到ΔwekM与O因子血清的反应条带,这说明O-抗原糖基转移酶wekM基因缺失后影响LPS合成。生长运动能力分析显示,ΔwekM缺失株的运动能力较野生株显著减弱,生长速率与野生株一致。实时荧光定量PCR检测发现,ΔwekM缺失株的flgC等鞭毛相关基因转录水平降低,表明wekM基因影响细菌鞭毛的合成。此外,ΔwekM的细胞膜通透性较野生株显著增加（P<0.01）,药敏结果也显示,ΔwekM缺失株较野生株对多黏菌素等7种抗生素敏感性增加,这说明wekM缺失后细菌细胞膜理化性质改变,适应环境的能力降低。【结论】本研究揭示了禽致病性大肠杆菌糖基转移酶wekM基因缺失导致细菌LPS完整性受损,运动能力降低,鞭毛合成受阻,鞭毛形成基因转录水平下降,细胞膜通透性增强,对抗生素敏感性增加。这些结果为解析wekM基因的功能奠定了研究基础,有助于深入了解禽致病性大肠杆菌O₁的环境适应机制。     

外膜蛋白CsgG影响禽致病性大肠杆菌生物被膜形成

【背景】禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia coli, APEC)能够引起禽类气囊炎、心包炎等症状,严重制约养禽业的健康发展。同时,APEC与人类肠道外致病性大肠杆菌(extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli, ExPEC)具有相似的毒力因子,严重威胁公共卫生。APEC形成生物被膜可抵抗抗生素杀伤及逃避宿主免疫。因此,探究APEC生物被膜形成的关键基因和调控机制,对于防控APEC具有重要的理论和实践意义。【目的】探讨外膜蛋白CsgG在APEC生物被膜形成中的作用,揭示APEC生物被膜形成的分子机制,为禽大肠杆菌病的防治提供理论基础。【方法】利用Red同源重组技术构建的csgG基因缺失株ΔcsgG及其互补株CΔcsgG,分析了csgG对APEC生长、运动能力、膜通透性、胞外多糖(extracellular polysaccharides, EPS)产量及生物被膜形成能力的影响。【结果】csgG的缺失并不影响APEC的生长和细胞膜的通透性,但增强了APEC的运动性。csgG的缺失显著降低了APEC生物被膜形成能力,扫描电子显微镜观察发现缺失株生物被膜细菌组成由多层变为单层,细菌间黏附减少。激光扫描共聚焦显微镜观察发现csgG的缺失导致生物被膜结构松散,黏附的细菌数量减少,同时发现csgG缺失显著降低APEC的EPS产量。实时荧光定量PCR分析显示,csgG的缺失导致与生物被膜形成相关基因的转录水平显著降低。【结论】CsgG在APEC生物被膜形成过程中起着关键作用,严重影响生物被膜结构的完整性。     

An antimicrobial helix A-derived peptide of heparin cofactor II blocks endotoxin responses in vivo

Host defense peptides are key components of the innate immune system, providing multi-facetted responses to invading pathogens. Here, we describe that the peptide GKS26 (GKSRIQRLNILNAKFAFNLYRVLKDQ), corresponding to the A domain of heparin cofactor II (HCII), ameliorates experimental septic shock. The peptide displays antimicrobial effects through direct membrane disruption, also at physiological salt concentration and in the presence of plasma and serum. Biophysical investigations of model lipid membranes showed the antimicrobial action of GKS26 to be mirrored by peptide incorporation into, and disordering of, bacterial lipid membranes. GKS26 furthermore binds extensively to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as well as its endotoxic lipid A moiety, and displays potent anti-inflammatory effects, both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, for mice challenged with ip injection of LPS, GKS26 suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduces vascular leakage and infiltration in lung tissue, and normalizes coagulation. Together, these findings suggest that GKS26 may be of interest for further investigations as therapeutic against severe infections and septic shock.     

Comparison of the phenotypes of the lpxA and lpxD mutants of Escherichia coli

Abstract We compared the phenotype of two thermosensitive Escherichia coli mutants defective in lipid A biosynthesis i.e. SM101 ( lpxA ) and CDH23-213 ( lpxD ). More than 40% of the periplasmic 27-kDa marker enzyme β-lactamase was released from SM101 at 28°C. At this temperature, the mutant still grew with a generation time (67 min), not much longer than that of the parent control strain (57 min). CDH23-213 released β-lactamase only at higher temperatures. SM101 and CDH23-213 were both unable to grow in hypo-osmotic conditions. Derivatives of SM101 and CDH23-213 with mdoA ::Tn 10 had identical phenotypes (including thermosensitivity and defective outer membrane permeability barrier to hydrophobic probes) to those of SM101 and CDH23-213, indicating that the potential loss of membrane-derived oligosaccharides (MDO) did not explain these phenotypic properties. A method for the estimation of lipid A synthesis rate was developed.     

Characterization of unique modification of flagellar rod protein FlgG by Campylobacter jejuni lipid A phosphoethanolamine transferase, linking bacterial locomotion and antimicrobial peptide resistance

Gram-negative bacteria assemble complex surface structures that interface with the surrounding environment and are involved in pathogenesis. Recent work in Campylobacter jejuni identified a gene encoding a novel phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) transferase Cj0256, renamed EptC, that serves a dual role in modifying the flagellar rod protein, FlgG, and the lipid A domain of C. jejuni lipooligosaccharide with a pEtN residue. In this work, we characterize the unique post-translational pEtN modification of FlgG using collision-induced and electron transfer dissociation mass spectrometry, as well as a genetic approach using site-directed mutagenesis to determine the site of modification. Specifically, we show that FlgG is modified with pEtN at a single site (Thr(75)) by EptC and demonstrate enzyme specificity by showing that EptC is unable to modify other amino acids (e.g. serine and tyrosine). Using Campylobacter strains expressing site-directed FlgG mutants, we also show that defects in motility arise directly from the loss of pEtN modification of FlgG. Interestingly, alignments of FlgG from most epsilon proteobacteria reveal a conserved site of modification. Characterization of EptC and its enzymatic targets expands on the increasingly important field of prokaryotic post-translational modification of bacterial surface structures and the unidentified role they may play in pathogenesis.     

The lipopolysaccharide core type of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other non-O157 verotoxin-producing E. coli

A mouse monoclonal antibody specific for the R3 lipopolysaccharide core type of Escherichia coli was used to determine the core type of E. coli O157:H7 and other non-O157 verotoxin-producing E. coli strains. Lipopolysaccharide extracts from 28 clinical isolates were examined by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting and all were found to have the R3 core. None of the core lipopolysaccharide from the strains tested reacted with the control R1 and R2 specific monoclonal antibodies. A common core type between all the verotoxin-producing E. coli strains tested may be significant when considering the immune response to these bacteria, and to the receptor for the VT bacteriophage.     

Structure of the Escherichia coli 0104 polysaccharide and its identity with the capsular K9 polysaccharide

Spontaneous mutants of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae strain C1204b were selected for their ability to tolerate 0.2 M NaCl, a growth-inhibiting level of salt for the parental strain. Transposon-mediated salt-sensitive mutants of strain C1204b were screened for their inability to grow in 0.08 M NaCl. Quantitation of the free-amino acid pools in the mutants grown in NaCl revealed a dramatic increase in glutamine, serine, glutamate and proline, and to a lesser extent alanine and glycine in the salt-tolerant mutants in comparison with the parental strain exposed to NaCl; but only glutamate and proline increased in the salt-sensitive mutants under NaCl stress. Extracellular polysaccharide levels were quantitated for the salt-tolerant mutants and determined to be approximately two-fold higher than for the parental strain. Although the mutations that occurred in the NaCl-tolerant and NaCl-sensitive strains did not interfere with nodule formation, no nitrogenase activity could be observed in the NaCl tolerant mutants as evaluated by acetylene reduction.     

Inhibitors of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis impair the virulence potential of Escherichia coli

Inhibition of 3-deoxy-manno-octulosonate cytidylytransferase (CMP-KDO transferase; EC 2.7.7.38) by 8-amino-2,6-anhydro-3,8-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-talo-octonic acid (NH2dKDO) halts the growth of Gram-negative bacteria by depriving the cells of the 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonate required for the biosynthesis of the core region of the lipopolysaccharide components of the outer membrane. Low levels of this inhibitor increase the vulnerability of Escherichia coli to hydrophobic antibiotics, detergents, the complement-mediated antibacterial activity of serum, phagocytosis, and enhance the rate at which bacteria are cleared from the mouse bloodstream.     

Determination of specificities of rabbit antisera against the O-antigenic polysaccharide from Escherichia coli O126

Abstract Rabbit polyclonal antibodies against the lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli O126 were serologically characterized by ELISA. The antibody specificities were determined by studying the inhibitory effects of the methyl glycosides of both anomeric configurations of the constituent monosaccharides and the oligosaccharides derived from the O-antigenic polysaccharides of E. coli O126. It was found that, amongst the monosaccharides, β- d -N-acetyl glucosamine was the most effective inhibitory sugar in the O126 polysaccharide and the major specificity of the polyclonal antibodies was found to be directed against the trisaccharide having the structure α- D -Gal p (1 → 3)-β- D -Glc pNAc(1→2)- D -Man p.     

Isolation of 9-hydroxy-δ-tetradecalactone from lipid A of Pseudomonas diminuta and Pseudomonas vesicularis

Abstract A lipid component was isolated from the fatty acid fraction of acid hydrolysates of lipid A derived from Pseudomonas diminuta JCM 2788 and Pseudomonas vesicularis JCM 1477 lipopolysaccharide. By structural analysis of the lipid and its trimethylsilyl and acetyl derivatives by thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry, infrared spectrometry and ¹³C-NMR, it was identified as 9-hydroxy-δ-tetradecalactone.