Determination of epidemiological relationships of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from bovine mastitis

In the present study 79 streptococcal cultures isolated from subclinical mastitis of 54 cows from seven dairy farms (A-G) in Hesse, Germany, were comparatively investigated using conventional and molecular methods. The isolates could be identified as Streptococcus agalactiae, belonging to Lancefield's serological group B by determination of cultural, biochemical and serological properties and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated amplification of species-specific parts of the 16S ribosomal DNA, the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region and the CAMP factor gene cfb. The investigated group B streptococci were further characterized serologically for specific polysaccharide and protein antigens. Serotyping the isolates revealed a predominance of surface protein antigen X, either alone or in combination with polysaccharide antigen Ia. This could be observed for 39 isolates of farms A, B and C. Six group B streptococci from farm E displayed the serotype pattern III/Rib, two isolates from farm G showed the serotype pattern Ib/calpha. The remaining cultures from farms D and F (n=32) were non-typable. The occurrence of protein Rib could be confirmed by PCR amplification of the gene rib. The two isolates with serotype pattern Ib/calpha also reacted positively for the cbeta-encoding gene bag. Additional properties which allowed a phenotypic characterization of the S. agalactiae were the degree of pigmentation, growth properties in fluid media and soft agar, the surface hydrophobicity, the ability to hemagglutinate rabbit erythrocytes and their resistance reactions to tetracycline and minocycline. The isolates of the seven farms showed identical or almost identical characteristics. The 79 group B streptococci were additionally investigated by macrorestriction analysis of their chromosomal DNA using the restriction endonucleases SmaI, ApaI and SalI. The restriction patterns obtained by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis displayed identical or closely related patterns for the cultures of the various farms. The pheno- and genotypic characteristics of the 79 group B streptococci of the present study revealed that a single S. agalactiae strain or at least closely related subtypes of this strain were responsible for the mastitis situation of the seven farms.     

Identification of lactoferrin-binding proteins in Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae and Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from cows with mastitis

Three strains of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae (S. dysgalactiae) and five strains of Streptococcus agalactiae were used to identify lactoferrin-binding proteins (LBPs). LBPs from extracted surface proteins were detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting. All strains of S. dysgalactiae evaluated had 52- and 74-kDa protein bands. All strains of S. agalactiae evaluated had 52-, 70- and 110-kDa protein bands. In addition, a 45-kDa band was detected in two of five S. agalactiae strains evaluated. This study demonstrated that S. dysgalactiae and S. agalactiae of bovine origin contain two and three major LBPs, respectively.     

Molecular characterization of Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated from fishes in Malaysia

Aims

The aim of this study was to characterize Streptococcus agalactiae strains that were isolated from fishes in Malaysia using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP‐PCR) techniques.

Methods and Results

A total of 181 strains of Strep. agalactiae isolated from red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) and golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii) were characterized using RAPD and REP‐PCR techniques. Both the fingerprinting techniques generated reproducible band patterns, differing in the number and molecular mass amplicons. The RAPD technique displayed greater discriminatory power by its production of more complex binding pattern and divided all the strains into 13 groups, compared to 9 by REP‐PCR technique. Both techniques showed the availability to differentiate the genetic profiles of the strains according to their geographical location of origin. Three strains of Strep. agalactiae that were recovered from golden pompano showed a genetic dissimilarity from the strains isolated from red hybrid tilapia, while the strain of ATCC 27956 that recovered from bovine displayed a unique profile for both methods.

Conclusions

Both techniques possess excellent discriminative capabilities and can be used as a rapid means of comparing Strep. agalactiae strains for future epidemiological investigation.

Significance and Impact of the Study

Framework as the guideline in traceability of this disease and in the search for potential local vaccine candidates for streptococcosis in this country.     

Molecular modeling and dynamics simulations of PNP from Streptococcus agalactiae

This work describes for the first time a structural model of purine nucleoside phosphorylase from Streptococcus agalactiae (SaPNP). PNP catalyzes the cleavage of N-ribosidic bonds of the purine ribonucleosides and 2-deoxyribonucleosides in the presence of inorganic orthophosphate as a second substrate. This enzyme is a potential target for the development of antibacterial drugs. We modeled the complexes of SaPNP with 15 different ligands in order to determine the structural basis for the specificity of these ligands against SaPNP. The application of a novel empirical scoring function to estimate the affinity of a ligand for a protein was able to identify the ligands with high affinity for PNPs. The analysis of molecular dynamics trajectory for SaPNP indicates that the functionally important motifs have a very stable structure. This new structural model together with a novel empirical scoring function opens the possibility to explorer larger library of compounds in order to identify the new inhibitors for PNPs in virtual screening projects.     

Electrotransformation of Streptococcus agalactiae with plasmid DNA

Abstract A protocol for efficient electrotransformation of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus) Lancefield's strain O90R (NTCT 9993) (an unencapsulated derivative of type Ia strain O90) was developed. The Escherichia coli - Streptococcus shuttle vector pDP28 (7.8 kb) carrying the ermB gene for resistance to erythromycin was used as donor DNA. Frozen 'electrocompetent' cells were prepared by repeated washes in 10% glycerol. A 50-μl aliquot containing about 5×10⁹ colony forming units of bacteria was subjected to the electric pulse. Optimal conditions for electrotransformation were determined using different media, harvesting cells at different points of the growth curve, and using different field strengths. The dose-response curve for transformation of S. agalactiae with pDP28 showed one-hit kinetics as donor DNA varied between 0.01 and 3 μg. The efficiency of electrotransformation for this range of amounts of donor DNA was 1.2×10⁴ cfu μg⁻¹. The transformation frequencies obtained with this electroporation protocol are high enough to allow both subcloning and shotgun cloning of streptococcal DNA in S. agalactiae .     

Binding of bovine lactoferrin to Streptococcus agalactiae

Bovine lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein present in mammary gland secretions. The exposure of Streptococcus agalactiae to bovine lactoferrin resulted in the binding of this protein to all the 12 strains of bovine origin tested, and also, although to a lesser degree, to the five tested strains of human origin. The interaction of lactoferrin with one high-binding bovine strain (24/60, the prototype NT/X strain) was studied. Binding was time-dependent, dose-dependent, and saturable. The binding of lactoferrin was slightly affected by cultivation conditions, and appeared to be heat-stable. The binding of biotinylated lactoferrin was inhibited by unlabelled lactoferrin but not by bovine serum albumin.     

2006-2011年无乳链球菌的临床分布及药敏监测

目的 调查分析无乳链球菌(GBS)的耐药情况及其临床分布,为临床合理用药提供依据.方法 对临床各科室送检各类标本进行无乳链球菌的培养,经ATB-Expression细菌分析系统进行鉴定和药敏试验;所有资料采用WHONET 5.6软件进行回顾性分析.结果 共分离448株GBS,临床标本分离率最高的是泌尿生殖道分泌物(86.8％),科室检出最多的是妇产科(85.0％);药敏结果显示:耐药率最高的是四环素94.9％,其次是红霉素80.1％和克林霉素62.7％,其他耐药率分别为左旋氧氟沙星36.4％,奎奴普丁/达福普汀20.3％,氯霉素16.3％,头孢噻肟1.1％,青霉素0.2％;呋喃妥因、万古霉素和利奈唑胺耐药率均为0％;克林霉素耐药率表现出下降趋势,左旋氧氟沙星呈现上升趋势.结论 加强无乳链球菌的培养检测,关注无乳链球菌的耐药趋势;提高临床重视并指导临床合理用药和治疗.     

围产期无乳链球菌携带状况及耐药性分析

目的 探讨新疆乌鲁木齐市围产期无乳链球菌携带状况及耐药性,为临床合理使用抗菌药物提供依据。方法 回顾性分析2014年1月—2016年11月围产期6 003例泌尿生殖道分泌物标本,采用法国梅里埃Vitek 2 Compact全自动细菌鉴定和药敏系统检测,从中检出151株无乳链球菌,分析药敏、查阅其病历基本信息、新生儿出生状况等。结果 6 003例围产期泌尿生殖道标本中检出151株无乳链球菌,检出率为2.52%,其中≤35岁、>35岁孕产妇中无乳链球菌感染率分别为2.55%、2.26%,两者相比差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;民族中,汉族、维吾尔族、回族、哈萨克族中无乳链球菌感染率分别为2.70%、2.63%、2.18%、1.73%,相比差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;>37周感染无乳链球菌101例且诊断胎膜早破有76例;孕1次感染无乳链球菌有90例,孕3次感染无乳链球菌有33例,且有20例曾有流产史;新生儿宫内感染中有1例感染无乳链球菌属于早发型。药敏结果中,无乳链球菌对氨苄西林、青霉素G敏感率分别为97.97%、98.63%;对红霉素、四环素、克林霉素和左氧氟沙星耐药率较高,分别为77.46%、72.85%、58.94%和54.30%。结论 临床应重视在围产期对无乳链球菌的检测和耐药情况,合理使用抗生素,可有效地预防和治疗该菌的感染。     

具有拮抗无乳链球菌能力乳杆菌的筛选及抑菌特性

目的 从罗非鱼(Nile tilapia)肠道中筛选出具有抑菌作用的乳杆菌,测定其对无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)的抑菌效果,分析乳杆菌抑制无乳链球菌的有效成分,并利用分子生物学手段对筛选的乳杆菌菌种进行鉴定。 方法 采用双层平板法对具有抑制无乳链球菌的乳杆菌进行筛选,牛津杯法对抑菌效果进行测定,酶蛋白敏感性测定、热处理、有机酸处理等方法分析抑菌活性物质有效成分,16S rDNA分子标记对乳杆菌进行鉴定。 结果 从罗非鱼肠道中筛选出14株乳杆菌,其中菌株RS2对无乳链球菌具有明显的抑菌效果;不同蛋白酶种类、pH处理对乳杆菌无细胞培养液均有不同的影响,经80 ℃处理的乳杆菌无细胞培养液,其抑菌效果未显著改变(t=0.169 2,P=0.873 8)。此外,此株乳杆菌对猪霍乱沙门菌(Salmonella choleraesuis)、大肠埃希菌(Escherichia coli)、金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)和志贺菌(Shigella sp.)等病原菌具有良好的抑制作用。经鉴定,该乳杆菌为植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)。 结论 从罗非鱼肠道中分离得到的植物乳杆菌菌株RS2对无乳链球菌等致病菌具有一定的抑制作用,推断其抑菌有效成分为细菌素类物质。此项研究对开发抗生素替代产品,提高食品的品质具有一定价值。     

海南罗非鱼无乳链球菌分离鉴定及其特性研究

从海南省患暴发性疾病的罗非鱼(Tilapia)上分离出1株细菌HNLFYL4,对分离菌株进行了鉴定及致病性和药物敏感性研究.通过形态学观察和生理生化鉴定,结果显示,分离菌株为无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae).对分离菌株的16S rRNA基因进行PCR扩增和测序,所得序列已登录到GenBank,登录号为HQ645983,与GenBank中收录的链球菌16S rRNA 基因进行比对并构建系统进化树,结果表明,分离菌株的16S rRNA基因序列与无乳链球菌同源性高达100%,进一步确定分离菌株为无乳链球菌.人工感染显示分离菌株对小白鼠和罗非鱼均具有致病性,对小白鼠的LD50为1.0×104 CFU/mL,对体重为500g±20g的罗非鱼的LD50为1.729×109CFU/mL.分离菌株对氯霉素、青霉素G、呋喃妥因等敏感,对丁胺卡那、链霉素、卡那霉素等不敏感.     

无乳链球菌临床株对四环素类的敏感性研究

为探讨无乳链球菌对四环素类的敏感性及其与耐药基因、多位点序列分型(multilocus sequence typing,MLST)之间的关系,本研究收集2014—2017年深圳市南山区人民医院分离自患者的136株无乳链球菌临床分离株,采用琼脂平板稀释法分析四环素类最低抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory co...     

Genetic diversity and technological properties of Streptococcus thermophilus strains isolated from dairy products

AIMS: To evaluate the genetic diversity and the technological properties of 44 strains of Streptococcus thermophilus isolated from dairy products. Methods METHODS AND RESULTS: Strains were analysed for some relevant technological properties, i.e. exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, growth kinetic in skim milk medium, urease activity and galactose fermentation. The EPS production, determined by evaluating the colour of the colonies grown in ruthenium red milk agar, was observed in 50% of the analysed strains. Urease activity, determined by colorimetric and conductimetric methods, showed that 91% of the isolates, all except four, could hydrolyse urea. A conductimetric approach was also used for the evaluation of the overall metabolic behaviour in milk of Strep. thermophilus strains and the differences observed allowed grouping of the strains in seven different clusters. A total of 11 strains were able to produce acid in presence of galactose. Genetic diversity of Streptococcus thermophilus strains, evaluated by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA fingerprinting (RAPD) and amplified epsC-D restriction analysis, allowed the identification of 21 different genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison between the genotypic and phenotypic data highlights an interesting correlation between some important technological properties and well-defined genotypes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The genetic and technological characterization carried out on several Strep. thermophilus strains of dairy origin should expand the knowledge on this important lactic acid bacteria species and lead to a simple, rapid, and reliable identification of strains on the basis of well-defined biotechnological properties.     

广东与海南养殖罗非鱼无乳链球菌的分离、鉴定与特性分析

从中国广东、海南罗非鱼主养区发生爆发性疾病的多个养殖场的罗非鱼病鱼体上,分离到多株致病菌株。人工感染试验显示分离菌株具有较强的致病力,有多株经腹部注射分离细菌浓度为1×106CFU/mL时可使100%的受感染鱼死亡,选择其中7株强毒株进行药物敏感性实验与鉴定。不同菌株对药物敏感性存在一定的差异但与菌株来源无相关性,29种抗生素中对13种敏感、7种不敏感、9种存在菌株的差异。各分离菌株均为革兰氏阳性菌,呈β溶血。采用链球菌快速鉴定系统ID32STREP、Lancefield分析及多项补充生理生化鉴定结果,初步判断为无乳链球菌Streptococcus agalactiae。PCR扩增16S rRNA基因和GBS-specific gene cfb(CAMP factor)基因的全长序列,BLAST分析显示所有菌株的16S rRNA基因与GenBank上登录的无乳链球菌的相应序列高度同源(99.8%),各分离菌株间的16S rRNA基因序列也高度同源(≥99.9%?100%)。各菌株cfb基因序列高度同源(100%),BLAST显示与已知无乳链球菌的相应序列也具有高度同源性(≥99.0%)。综合上述实验结果,可判定广东与海南罗非鱼主养区2009年夏季发生的罗非鱼爆发性疾病的病原菌为无乳链球菌。     

儿科病房无乳链球菌感染的临床特点和病原菌基因多态性

目的 研究儿科病房无乳链球菌感染的临床表现,并对分离的无乳链球菌进行基因多态性分析。方法 收集台州市中心医院新生儿室和儿科病房2017年1月至2017年12月无乳链球菌侵袭性感染病例,分析临床表现特点。采用多位点序列分型技术,对分离的无乳链球菌7个管家基因进行PCR扩增及测序,并与BLAST数据库中的序列进行比对分析,明确菌株序列性（ST）。结果 本次研究共纳入7例患儿,分离到7株无乳链球菌。7株无乳链球菌基因型中2株病原菌基因型为ST12,2株ST249,1株ST23,1株ST1076及未知型1株。小儿无乳链球菌感染临床表现为败血症的有4例,其中2例病原菌基因型为ST12,2例为ST249。临床表现为脑膜炎的1例,基因型为ST249。结论 该院小儿无乳链球菌感染的基因型以ST12和ST249为主;临床表现以败血症和化脓性脑膜炎为主,预后不佳。     

岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖在新生儿无乳链球菌肺炎治疗中的作用

目的探讨岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖在新生儿无乳链球菌肺炎中的治疗作用。方法收集本院2015年7月至2017年2月痰培养阳性新生儿无乳链球菌、大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌感染性肺炎病例,分析不同喂养方式、不同病原类别肺炎在住院时间、炎症、并发症等指标差异,探讨岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖对无乳链球菌感染的独特治疗作用;使用含有不同浓度岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖的培养基对无乳链球菌进行培养,研究岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖抑制无乳链球菌的最佳浓度;分别使用岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖或酸性人乳低聚糖加入培养基中对无乳链球菌、大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌进行培养,进一步探讨岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖对无乳链球菌的独特抑制作用。结果无乳链球菌肺炎患儿,母乳喂养组的住院时间较人工喂养组住院时间减少[(8.35±0.77)d vs(10.91±0.54)d,t=1.557 676,P<0.05)],PCT值较人工喂养组低[(2.38±0.63)ng/mL vs(8.69±2.23)ng/mL,t=1.419 964,P<0.05],白细胞计数较人工喂养组低[(13.28±1.08)×10^9/L vs(16.16±0.98)×10^9/L,t=1.878 447,P<0.05],脑膜炎发生率较人工喂养组低(5%vs 35%,χ^2=5.601 353,P<0.05),呼吸机使用率较人工喂养组低(10.0%vs 36.4%,χ^2=4.005 042,P<0.05);大肠埃希菌肺炎患儿、肺炎克雷伯菌肺炎患儿,母乳喂养组与人工喂养组比较,住院时间稍减少,PCT值、白细胞计数、脑膜炎发生率和呼吸机使用率均有所降低,差异无统计学意义;细菌培养实验发现岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖在2.5 mg/L浓度的时候可以明显抑制无乳链球菌的生长,对大肠埃希菌和肺炎克雷伯菌无明显抑制作用,酸性人乳低聚糖对3种细菌均无抑制作用。结论岩藻糖基化人乳低聚糖可以明显抑制无乳链球菌的生长,可能成为未来无乳链球菌感染性肺炎治疗中新的靶点,值得深入研究。     

Insights into Streptococcus agalactiae PI-2b pilus biosynthesis and role in adherence to host cells

The core PI-2b pilus present in “hypervirulent” ST-17 Streptococcus agalactiae strains consists of three pilin subunits (Spb1, Ap1 and Ap2) assembled by sortase SrtC1 and cell-wall anchored by Srt2. Spb1 was shown to be the major pilin and Ap2 the anchor pilin. Ap1 is a putative adhesin. Two additional genes, orf and lep, are part of this operon. The contribution of Lep and Ap1 to the biogenesis of the PI-2b pilus was investigated. Concerning the role of PI-2b, we found that higher PI-2b expression resulted in higher adherence to human brain endothelial cells and higher phagocytosis by human THP1 macrophages.     

华北地区牛源无乳链球菌的分离鉴定及生物学特性

【目的】了解华北地区牛源无乳链球菌的生物学特性。【方法】在2012到2015年间从内蒙古自治区、河北、北京等地隐性乳房炎557份奶牛乳样中分离、收集无乳链球菌。采用纸片扩散法和PCR的方法对这些菌株分别进行耐药谱测定、荚膜分子分型、表面蛋白基因及毒力因子的检测。【结果】无乳链球菌的分离率为5.03%,其药物敏感性与其他地区无明显差别。分离到的28株无乳链球菌均属于荚膜Ia型,且毒力基因基本相同并且其表面蛋白均属于未定型。【结论】华北不同地区的无乳链球菌有相似的药物敏感性和毒力基因。为奶牛乳房炎无乳链球菌疫苗的研制及药物防治提供理论依据。     

育龄妇女泌尿生殖道无乳链球菌感染情况与耐药性分析

目的探讨育龄妇女泌尿生殖道无乳链球菌感染情况与耐药性。方法选择3 000例在我院就诊的育龄期妇女,所有患者送检泌尿道或生殖道标本,进行无乳链球菌培养及药物敏感性试验,探讨育龄妇女泌尿生殖道无乳链球菌感染情况及耐药性。结果 3 000例育龄妇女中177例感染无乳链球菌,感染率5.90%,其中肾内科患者感染率最高,达到8.97%。2012至2015年育龄期妇女无乳链球菌感染率逐年增加。无乳链球菌对四环素、克林霉素、红霉素、左氧氟沙星耐药性较高,分别达到80.80%、60.45%、56.50%、45.20%。无乳链球菌对头孢曲松、头孢他啶、亚胺培南、万古霉素未产生耐药性。结论育龄妇女无乳链球菌感染率较高,呈逐年上升趋势,防治形势严峻,无乳链球菌对多种常用抗生素耐药率较高,应根据药敏结果合理使用抗生素。     

Molecular analysis of lipoteichoic acid from Streptococcus agalactiae.

A method for the analysis of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) is described. Purified LTA from Streptococcus agalactiae tended to smear in the upper two-thirds of a 30 to 40% linear polyacrylamide gel, while the chemically deacylated form (cdLTA) migrated as a ladder of discrete bands, reminiscent of lipopolysaccharides. The deacylated polymer appeared to separate in this system on the basis of size, as evident from results obtained from PAGE analysis of cdLTA subjected to limited acid hydrolysis and LTA that had been fractionated by gel filtration. A survey of cdLTA from other streptococci revealed similarities in molecular weight ranges. The polymer from Enterococcus hirae was of a higher molecular weight. This procedure was used to examine the effect of penicillin and chloramphenicol on the synthesis, turnover, and heterogeneity of LTA in S. agalactiae. Penicillin appeared to enhance LTA synthesis while causing the release of this polymer into the supernatant fluid. In contrast, chloramphenicol inhibited the synthesis of this molecule and resulted in its depletion from the cell surface. Penicillin did not alter the heterogeneity of this polymer, but chloramphenicol caused an apparent shift to a lower-molecular-weight from of the LTA, as determined by PAGE. This shift in the heterogeneity of LTA did not appear to be due to increased carbohydrate substitution, since chloramphenicol did not alter the electrophoretic migration profile of LTA from E. hirae. From a pulse-chase study, it was determined that LTA was released as a consequence of deacylation.