大肠杆菌O157噬菌体中vt2基因A、B亚单位的克隆与序列分析

根据GenBank中毒素基因vt1、vt2序列设计合成4对引物,以大肠杆菌O157菌株DNA为模板,扩增vt1、vt2,从只含有vt2的菌株中诱导释放噬菌体,以噬菌体DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,获得vt2、vt2-A、vt2-B 3条特异性DNA带;将vt2-A、vt2-B扩增产物纯化后,分别插入pMD18-T载体,测序结果与相应序列比较,vt2-A和vt2-B亚单位的基因序列与GenBank中编码VT2毒素的A、B亚单位的核苷酸序列(X07865,NC_002655,BA000007,AF291819)的同源性分别为98%～99%、96%～100%,确定vt2位于噬菌体,并为进一步研究大肠杆菌O157中VT噬菌体的毒力转导、VT2毒素的表达和应用奠定基础.     

大肠杆菌0157噬菌体中vt2基因A、B亚单位的克隆与序列分析

根据GenBank中毒素基因vt1、vt2序列设计合成4对引物,以大肠杆菌O157菌株DNA为模板,扩增vt1、vt2,从只含有vt2的菌株中诱导释放噬菌体,以噬菌体DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,获得vt2、vt2-A、vt2-B3条特异性DNA带;将vt2-A、vt2-B扩增产物纯化后,分别插入pMD18-T载体,测序结果与相应序列比较,vt2-A和vt2-B亚单位的基因序列与GenBank中编码VT2毒素的A、B亚单位的核苷酸序列(X07865,NC_002655,：BA000007,AF291819)的同源性分别为98％～99％、96％～100％,确定vt2位于噬菌体,并为进一步研究大肠杆菌O157中VT噬菌体的毒力转导、VT2毒素的表达和应用奠定基础。     

大肠杆菌O157:H7中编码vt2基因的噬菌体的分离与鉴定

根据GenBank中VT1、VT2毒素的基因序列设计合成2对引物,以大肠杆菌O157H7菌株DNA为模板,扩增vt1、vt2.诱导只扩增出vt2的菌株释放噬菌体,利用多种指示菌经双层琼脂平板法来分离纯化VT2噬菌体,观察噬菌斑的特征,提纯病毒粒子进行电镜观察,并对噬菌体中vt2基因检测、克隆和序列分析.结果显示VT2噬菌体感染MC1061在双层琼脂平板上形成的噬菌斑小而混浊,多呈磨玻璃样;而首次感染大肠杆菌CC118(λpir),此后用MC1061分离的噬菌体,再以MC1061为指示菌,在双层琼脂平板上形成小而清晰透明的噬菌斑.电镜下噬菌体头部呈六边形外廓,尾部细长无尾鞘结构.以噬菌体DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,检测到vt2特异性DNA带,克隆的vt2基因序列与GenBank中编码VT2毒素的核苷酸序列(X07865,NC_002655,BA000007,AF291819)的同源性分别达到99%,确定编码VT2毒素的基因位于噬菌体上,并获得VT2噬菌体()HY.     

大肠杆菌O157：H7中编码vt2基因的噬菌体的分离与鉴定

根据GenBank中VT1、VT2毒素的基因序列设计合成2对引物,以大肠杆菌O157:H7菌株DNA为模板,扩 增vt1、vt2。诱导只扩增出vt2的菌株释放噬菌体,利用多种指示菌经双层琼脂平板法来分离纯化VT2噬菌体,观 察噬菌斑的特征,提纯病毒粒子进行电镜观察,并对噬菌体中vt2基因检测、克隆和序列分析。结果显示VT2噬菌 体感染MC1061在双层琼脂平板上形成的噬菌斑小而混浊,多呈磨玻璃样;而首次感染大肠杆菌CC118(λpir),此 后用MC1061分离的噬菌体,再以MC1061为指示菌,在双层琼脂平板上形成小而清晰透明的噬菌斑。电镜下噬 菌体头部呈六边形外廓,尾部细长无尾鞘结构。以噬菌体DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,检测到vt2特异性DNA 带,克隆的vt2基因序列与GenBank中编码VT2毒素的核苷酸序列(X07865,NC_002655,BA000007,AF291819) 的同源性分别达到99％,确定编码VT2毒素的基因位于噬菌体上,并获得VT2噬菌体(?)HY。     

大肠杆菌VT2噬菌体的分离与溶源转染

本试验利用指示菌MC1061,经双层琼脂法纯化和PCR扩增vt2基因,分别从大肠杆菌O157菌株、牛粪、鸡粪和污水中分离获得5株含vt2基因的噬菌体.这些噬菌斑透明,直径为0.5-2 mm,对指示菌的感染效价均在109PFU/mL以上,抵抗氯仿和56℃C30min的作用.将噬菌体分离株SHφW1感染MC1061后,经PCR鉴定获得一株溶源菌株(MC1061/SHφW1).溶源株的LB培养滤液对Vero细胞产生了显著的病变效应,而MC1061在同等条件下培养的滤液无细胞病变,表明VT2噬菌体通过溶源将vt2毒力基因水平转移,证实了VT2噬菌体的转染与细菌毒力相关.     

志贺毒素保护性抗原的基因克隆与序列分析

根据GenBank报道的志贺毒素A、B亚单位基因序列设计合成两对引物,以I型痢疾志贺茵的基因组为模板经PCR扩增获得3条DNA序列,将其分别插入pMD18—T载体,测序证明所获得的3条序列为志贺毒素A、B亚单位基因及其串联片段,与GenBank中相应序列比较,同源性分别为99．5％、100％和99．8％。通过计算机软件对所推测的氨基酸序列进行了蛋白质参数分析。志贺毒素保护性抗原基因的获得为志贺毒素的免疫学研究准备了必要的材料。     

VT2-B亚单位的重组表达及单克隆抗体的制备

以大肠杆菌O157DNA为模板扩增VT2-B亚单位,纯化后经EcoRⅠ和XhoⅠ酶切,连入表达载体pGEX4T-2,构建重组表达质粒pGEX4T-2-VT2-B。转化到大肠杆菌BL21中,经IPTG诱导,实现了VT2-B-GST融合蛋白的可溶性表达,表达量约占菌体总蛋白的35%。重组蛋白纯化后,免疫BALB/C小鼠制备单克隆抗体,得到2株融合细胞,制备了腹水单抗,测得单抗的ELISA效价为104。Western blot表明,该单抗能与重组蛋白特异性的结合。特异性单抗的获得为VT2毒素检测方法的建立奠定了基础。     

噬菌体随机肽库筛选抗志贺样毒素Ⅱ结合亚单位Stx2B的单抗的识别表位

目的利用噬菌体随机肽库技术筛选志贺样毒素Ⅱ结合亚单位Stx2B的单抗的识别表位。方法以抗志贺样毒素Ⅱ结合亚单位Stx2B的单克隆抗体筛选噬菌体随机12肽库,挑取阳性克隆测定DNA序列,推导其氨基酸序列并进行同源性分析。通过ELISA鉴定获得的噬菌体短肽与单抗之间的结合特性。结果从噬菌体随机12肽库中筛选出20株可与抗志贺样毒素Ⅱ结合亚单位Stx2B的单抗特异结合的噬菌体克隆,其中多数克隆呈现核心序列WTSRW（Q）,该序列与志贺样毒素Ⅱ结合亚单位Stx2B的一级序列具有一定的同源性。结论WTSRW（Q）序列是志贺样毒素Ⅱ结合亚单位Stx2B单抗的识别表位。     

大肠杆菌VT2噬菌体的分离与溶源转染

本试验利用指示菌MC1061。经双层琼脂法纯化和PCR扩增vt2基因,分别从大肠杆菌0157菌株、牛粪、鸡粪和污水中分离获得5株含vt2基因的噬菌体。这些噬菌斑透明,直径为0．5-2min,对指示菌的感染效价均在10^9PFU／mL以上,抵抗氯仿和56℃30min的作用。将噬菌体分离株SHφWl感染MC1061后。经PCR鉴定获得一株溶源菌株(MC1061／SHφW1)。溶源株的LB培养滤液对Vero细胞产生了显著的病变效应,而MC1061在同等条件下培养的滤液无细胞病变,表明VT2噬菌体通过溶源将vt2毒力基因水平转移,证实了VT2噬菌体的转染与细菌毒力相关。     

噬菌体φ297切除酶(xis)基因的克隆和序列分析

目的:克隆噬菌体φ297 切除酶(xis)基因,并对其进行遗传与变异研究。方法:提取埃希氏大肠杆菌O157:H7 菌株EH297染色体DNA,采用步移PCR方法寻找目的基因,并通过克隆、亚克隆、DNA测序等分子生物学方法获得切除酶基因,通过序列分析软件对此基因进行分析。结果:克隆获得噬菌体φ297编码的切除酶基因(xis)的完整序列,它的长度是255 bp,编码了一个84个氨基酸组成的蛋白质(Xis),将它们的序列与λ噬菌体的切除酶家族的其它成员进行了比较。其结果是噬菌体φ297的切除酶基因(xis)与噬菌体VT1-Sakai的切除酶基因(xis)只有4个核苷酸的不同,而Xis蛋白与噬菌体VT1-Sakai的Xis蛋白是一样的,与噬菌体933W的Xis蛋白只有47.2%的相似性。结论:噬菌体φ297编码的切除酶基因(xis)与λ噬菌体的切除酶基因同源。     

Preparation of VT1 and VT2 hybrid toxins from their purified dissociated subunits. Evidence for B subunit modulation of a subunit function.

Verocytotoxins comprise a family of closely related subunit proteins. Two members of this group, VT1 and the immunologically distinct VT2, have been found to share similar physical properties, and yet several differences in their biological activities have been noted. The subunits of these toxins were separated using urea and isolated by high performance liquid chromatography gel filtration. Reconstituted VT1 and VT2 as well as VT1-A:VT2-B and VT2-A:VT1-B hybrid toxins were then prepared. The B subunit was found to determine cell culture specificity, cytotoxic titer, and antibody neutralizability as determined on Vero and MRC-5 cells. Cross-linking isolated B chains revealed 5 species upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for both VT1-B and VT2-B. Using an in vitro translation system, both toxin A subunits inhibited protein synthesis at concentrations as low as 4 pM. In glycolipid binding assays, VT1 and VT1-B subunits competed equally on a molar basis with 125I-VT1 for the receptor, globotriaosylceramide, however, a 1000-fold excess of VT2 was required. Ligand analysis of direct VT1 and VT2 receptor binding assays revealed a difference in binding affinity constants (Kd of VT1 = 4.6 x 10(-8) M; VT2 = 3.7 x 10(-7) M).     

小麦tae-MIR156前体基因的克隆及其靶基因TaSPL17多态性分析

Squamosa-promoter binding protein (SBP)-box基因是植物特有的一类转录因子, 广泛参与植物生长发育, 其部分成员受miR156调控。文章克隆了小麦(Triticum aestivum) tae-MIR156前体基因, 转录后能够形成茎环结构。小麦10个SBP-box基因中, 仅TaSPL3和TaSPL17在编码区存在tae-miR156识别位点。SPL17在普通小麦的A基因组供体种乌拉尔图小麦(Triticum urartu, AA) UR209和B基因组供体种拟斯卑尔脱山羊草(Aegilops speltoides, BB) Y2001中均为多拷贝(SPL17-A1、SPL17-A2和SPL17-A3; SPL17-B1、SPL17-B2和SPL17-B3), 在D基因组供体种粗山羊草(Aegilops tauschii, DD) Ae38中仅检测到一种序列(SPL17-D); SPL17-A2与SPL17-B2, SPL17-A3与SPL17-B3、SPL17-D两两之间序列的一致性程度均大于99%, 且与普通小麦(中国春、衡观35和双丰收)的TaSPL17序列具有较高的一致性, 提示它们可能来源于共同的祖先基因, 并且在进化过程中高度保守。靶基因TaSPL17中的tae-miR156识别位点非常保守, 在根据单株穗数和基因型多样性挑选的SubP1和SubP2群体中均未检测到tae-miR156识别位点存在变异碱基。     

A newly discovered verotoxin variant, VT2g, produced by bovine verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli

A new verotoxin (VT) variant, designated vt2g, was identified from a bovine strain of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) serotype O2:H25. When vt2g was aligned with published sequences of vt2 and vt variants, it exhibited the highest DNA sequence homology with vt2 and vt2c. However, vt2g was not detected by vt2-specific primers and probes, although it was partially neutralized by an antiserum to the VT2A subunit. VT2g was cytotoxic for Vero and HeLa cells and was not activated by mouse intestinal mucus. The vt2g gene was detected in 3 of 409 (0.7%) bovine VTEC strains, including serotypes O2:H25, O2:H45 and Ont:H-.     

Structure, chromosomal localization and evolutionary conservation of the gene encoding human U1 snRNP-specific A protein.

Three specific proteins, called A, 70K and C, are present in the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) particle, in addition to the common proteins. The human U1 snRNP-specific A protein is, apart from a proline-rich region, highly similar to the U2 snRNP-specific protein B". To examine the homologous regions at the genomic level, we isolated and characterized the human U1-A gene. The human U1-A protein appears to be encoded by a single-copy gene and its locus has been mapped to the q arm of chromosome 19. The gene, about 14-16 kb in length, consists of six exons. The regions homologous to the U2-B" gene are not limited to single exons and are mostly not confined by exon-exon junctions in the corresponding U1-A mRNA. However, the proline-rich region of U1-A, absent in U2-B", is encoded by a single exon, suggesting a specific function for this domain of U1-A. The region of the cap site and upstream sequences contain interesting similarities to the promoter region of other snRNP protein-encoding genes and several housekeeping genes, in particular the vertebrate ribosomal protein-encoding genes. Hybridization experiments with various vertebrate genomic DNAs revealed that U1-A sequences are evolutionarily conserved in all tested vertebrate genomes, except for chicken, duck and pigeon. The divergence of these avian genomes is probably typical for the class of birds.     

Cloning and Sequencing of Two New Verotoxin 2 Variant Genes of Escherichia coli Isolated from Cases of Human and Bovine Diarrhea

We cloned and sequenced two new Verotoxin 2 (VT2) variant genes: one from an Escherichia coli strain from a case of bovine diarrhea and the other from an E. coli strain from a patient with diarrhea. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of these two genes were highly homologous with, but distinct from those of the VT2, VT2vha, VT2vhb, SLT-IIv (VT2vp1) and SLT-IIva (VT2vp2) genes. Their nucleotide sequences were much more closely homologous to that of VT2vh than to that of VT2vp. Search for these two new genes in other Verocytotoxin-producing E. coli strains resulted in the isolation of 2 strains carrying one of the new VT2 variant genes, one strain from Tokyo and the other from Canada.     

Verotoxins in bovine and meat verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates: type, number of variants, and relationship to cytotoxicity

In this study, we determined vt subtypes and evaluated verotoxicity in basal as well as induced conditions of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) strains isolated from cattle and meat products. Most (87%) of the 186 isolates carried a vt(2) gene. Moreover, the vt(2) subtype, which is associated with serious disease, was present in 42% of our VTEC collection. The other vt subtypes detected were vt(1), vt(1d), vt(2vha), vt(2vhb), vt(2O118), vt(2d) (mucus activatable), and vt(2g). A total of 41 (22%) of the isolates possessed more than one vt subtype in its genome, and among them the most frequent combination was vt(1)/vt(2), but we also observed multiple combinations among vt(2) subtypes. Differences in verotoxicity titers were found among a selection of 54 isolates. Among isolates with a single vt(2) variant, those carrying the vt(2) subtype had high titers under both uninduced and induced conditions. However, the highest increase in cytotoxicity under mitomycin C treatment was detected among the strains carrying vt(2vha) or vt(2hb) variants. Notably, the isolates carrying the vt(1) subtype showed a lesser increase than that of most of the vt(2)-positive VTEC strains. Furthermore, the presence of more than one vt gene variant in the same isolate was not reflected in higher titers, and generally the titers were lower than those for strains with only one gene variant. The main observation was that both basal and induced cytotoxic effects seemed to be associated with the type and number of vt variants more than with the serotype or origin of the isolate.     

Genetics of subpeptin JM4-A and subpeptin JM4-B production by Bacillus subtilis JM4

Subpeptin JM4-A and subpeptin JM4-B are two novel antimicrobial peptides produced by Bacillus subtilis JM4. To identify putative genes involved in their production, degenerate PCR primers targeted to conserved motifs of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) were used. A resulting 1.2 kb PCR product had high sequence similarity to genes of NRPSs, and then a 2.8 kb DNA fragment flanking it was cloned subsequently. Gene disruption of the resulting 4 kb DNA fragment produced subpeptin-deficient mutant, suggesting that subpeptin JM4-A and subpeptin JM4-B were biosynthesized by NRPSs. Based on this result, a 48 kb gene cluster was cloned, which consisted of nine coding sequences (CDSs) involved in antimicrobial peptide biosynthesis, regulation, and resistance. Disruption of two relatively large CDSs subA and subC led to subpeptin-deficient mutants, which supported the involvement of the cloned gene cluster in subpeptin biosynthesis.     

A Newly Discovered Verotoxin Variant, VT2g, Produced by Bovine Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli

A new verotoxin (VT) variant, designated vt2g, was identified from a bovine strain of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) serotype O2:H25. When vt2g was aligned with published sequences of vt2 and vt variants, it exhibited the highest DNA sequence homology with vt2 and vt2c. However, vt2g was not detected by vt2-specific primers and probes, although it was partially neutralized by an antiserum to the VT2A subunit. VT2g was cytotoxic for Vero and HeLa cells and was not activated by mouse intestinal mucus. The vt2g gene was detected in 3 of 409 (0.7%) bovine VTEC strains, including serotypes O2:H25, O2:H45 and Ont:H⁻.     

Functional characterization of visual opsin repertoire in Medaka (Oryzias latipes)

A variety of visual pigment repertoires present in fish species is believed due to the great variation under the water of light environment. A complete set of visual opsin genes has been isolated and characterized for absorption spectra and expression in the retina only in zebrafish. Medaka (Oryzias latipes) is a fish species phylogenetically distant from zebrafish and has served as an important vertebrate model system in molecular and developmental genetics. We previously isolated a medaka rod opsin gene (RH1). In the present study we isolated all the cone opsin genes of medaka by genome screening of a lambda-phage and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries. The medaka genome contains two red, LWS-A and LWS-B, three green, RH2-A, RH2-B and RH2-C, and two blue, SWS2-A and SWS2-B, subtype opsin genes as well as a single-copy of the ultraviolet, SWS1, opsin gene. Previously only one gene was believed present for each opsin type as reported in a cDNA-based study. These subtype opsin genes are closely linked and must be the products of local gene duplications but not of a genome-wide duplication. Peak absorption spectra (lambda(max)) of the reconstituted photopigments with 11-cis retinal varied greatly among the three green opsins, 452 nm for RH2-A, 516 nm for RH2-B and 492 nm for RH2-C, and between the two blue opsins, 439 nm for SWS2-A and 405 nm for SWS2-B. Zebrafish also has multiple opsin subtypes, but phylogenetic analysis revealed that medaka and zebrafish gained the subtype opsins independently. The lambda and BAC DNA clones isolated in this study could be useful for investigating the regulatory mechanisms and evolutionary diversity of fish opsin genes.