Genetic analysis of the effects of re-transformation of transgenic lines of the mossPhyscomitrella patens

Genetic analysis of the progeny of crosses involving strains of the mossPhyscomitrella patens obtained by re-transforming a stable transgenic line, indicates that the plasmid used for re-transformation inserts at or near the chromosomal location of the related plasmid used to obtain the original transgenic line. The resulting structure may be subject to gene silencing.     

Stable transfection of Eimeria tenella: constitutive expression of the YFP-YFP molecule throughout the life cycle

The obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite Eimeria tenella, one of seven species of Eimeria that infect chickens, elicits protective cell-mediated immunity against challenge infection. For this reason, recombinant E. tenella parasites could be utilised as an effective vaccine vehicle for expressing foreign antigens and inducing immunity against heterologous intracellular microbes. A stable line of E. tenella expressing foreign genes is a prerequisite, and in this work an in vivo stable transfection system has been developed for this parasite using restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI). Two transgenic populations of E. tenella have been obtained that express YFP-YFP constitutively throughout the parasite life cycle. Southern blotting and plasmid rescue analyses show that the introduced exogenous DNA was integrated at random into the parasite genome. Although the life cycle of the transgenic populations was delayed by at least 12 h and the output of oocysts was reduced 4-fold relative to the parental BJ strain of E. tenella, the transgenic parasites were sufficiently immunogenic to protect chickens against challenge with either transgenic or parental parasites. These results are encouraging for the development of transgenic E. tenella as a vaccine vector and for more detailed investigation of the biology of the genus Eimeria.     

Germ line transformation of the silkworm, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombyx mori</Emphasis>, using the transposable element <Emphasis Type="Italic">Minos</Emphasis>

We investigated the use of Minos as a vector for transgenesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We first constructed a vector plasmid with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene fused with the silkworm cytoplasmic actin gene (A3) promoter, and a helper plasmid with the Minos transposase gene controlled by the same A3 promoter. Injection of the vector and helper plasmid DNA into silkworm eggs produced transgenic animals in the following generation. The efficiency of transgenic silkworm production using this method was much lower than that obtained using piggyBac-mediated germ line transformation. However, >40-fold increase in the efficiency of producing transgenic silkworms was obtained using an in vitro synthesized source of Minos transposase mRNA. We conclude that the Minos transposon is a useful vector for construction of transgenic silkworms, particularly when in vitro synthesized mRNA is used. This is the first report showing that Minos can be used as a vector for germ-line transformation in lepidopteran insects.     

A non-autonomous insect piggyBac transposable element is mobile in tobacco

The piggyBac transposable element, originally isolated from a virus in an insect cell line, is a valuable molecular tool for transgenesis and mutagenesis of invertebrates. For heterologous transgenesis in a variety of mammals, transfer of the piggyBac transposable element from an ectopic plasmid only requires expression of piggyBac transposase. To determine if piggyBac could function in dicotyledonous plants, a two-element system was developed in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) to test for transposable element excision and insertion. The first transgenic line constitutively expressed piggyBac transposase, while the second transgenic line contained at least two non-autonomous piggyBac transposable elements. Progeny from crosses of the two transgenic lines was analyzed for piggyBac excision and transposition. Several progeny displayed excision events, and all the sequenced excision sites exhibited evidence of the precise excision mechanism characteristic of piggyBac transposase. Two unique transposition insertion events were identified that each included diagnostic duplication of the target site. These data indicate that piggyBac transposase is active in a dicotyledonous plant, although at a low frequency.     

Construction of shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-α) gene and its expression in a cyanobacterium,Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

The construction of the shuttle, expression vector of human tumor necrosis factor alpha (hTNF-α) gene and its expression in a cyanobacteriumAnabaena sp. PCC 7120 was reported. The 700-bp hTNF cDNA fragments have been recovered from plasmid pRL-rhTNF, then inserted downstream of the promoter PpsbA in the plasmid pRL439. The resultant intermediary plasmid pRL-TC has further been combined with the shuttle vector pDC-8 to get the shuttle, expression vector pDGTNF. The expression of the rhTNF gene inEscherichia coli has been analyzed by SDS-PAGE and thin-layer scanning, and the results show that the expressed TNF protein with these two vectors is 16.9 percent (pRL-TC) and 15.0 percent (pDC-TNF) of the total proteins in the cells, respectively, while the expression level of TNF gene in plasmid pRL-rhTNF is only 11.8 percent. Combined with the participation of the conjugal and helper plasmids, pDC-TNF has been introduced intoAnabaena sp PCC 7120 by triparental conjugative transfer, and the stable transgenic strains have been obtained. The existence of the introduced plasmid pDC-TNF in recombinant cyanobacterial cells has been demonstrated by the results of the agarose electrophoresis with the extracted plasmid samples and Southern blotting with α-³²P labeled hTNF cDNA probes, while the expression of the hTNF gene inAnabaena sp. PCC 7120 has been confirmed by the results of Western blotting with extracted protein samples and human TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies. The cytotoxicity assays using the mouse cancer cell line L929 proved the cytotoxicity of the TNF in the crude extracts from the transgenic c~anobacteriumAnabaena sp. PCC 7120.     

A one-plasmid conditional color-switching transgenic system for multimodal bioimaging

We have developed a new construct to generate transgenic mice with one plasmid that offers: (1) Cre/loxP-mediated spatial and temporally-controlled tissue-specific transgene expression; (2) A color-switching mechanism that uses spectrum-complementary genetically-encoded red (mRFP) and green (eGFP) fluorescent markers to label the transgene-expressing cells; (3) A bioluminescent marker that turns-on in the transgene-expressing cells; (4) eGFP as a cell surface marker in the transgene-expressing cells that facilitates the isolation and targeting of these cells. This vector was tested in vitro by co-transfection of the transgenic plasmid and a plasmid containing Cre recombinase into cultured cells and by establishing a transgenic mouse line. We show that this method allows versatile transgene expression targeting and color-switching to facilitate fluorescent and bioluminescent imaging both in cultured cells and in vivo. Our strategy provides time-saving features in tissue-specific transgene expression, bioimaging and primary cell isolation and can be used for generation of gene-specific transgenic mice.     

Transgenic zebrafish eggs containing bactericidal peptide is a novel food supplement enhancing resistance to pathogenic infection of fish

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) was used as a bioreactor to produce bovine lactoferricin (LFB), which has wide-ranging antimicrobial activity. We constructed an expression plasmid in which LFB was fused with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and driven by zebrafish β-actin promoter. After microinjection, six transgenic founders were screened on the basis of GFP appearance. Among them, a stable ZBL-5 line was selected by the ubiquitous and strong expression of GFP. Using PCR and Western blot analysis, we confirmed that the recombinant LFB-GFP protein was produced by the F2 progeny derived from the ZBL-5 line. The bactericidal agar plate assay proved that the functional domain of LFB was released from the LFB-GFP fusion protein, resulting in strong bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli, Edwardsiella tarda and Aeromonas hydrophila. Furthermore, adult zebrafish were given one feeding of fifty 72-hpf transgenic embryos. The treated fish were then immersed in freshwater containing 1 × 10⁵ CFU ml^?1 E. tarda for 7 days. The survival rate of the treated zebrafish was significantly higher than that of fish fed with fifty wild-type embryos (75 ± 12.5% versus 4 ± 7.2%). This line of evidence suggested that pathogen resistance can be enhanced by using transgenic embryos containing LFB-GFP as a food supplement for fish, while, at the same time, reducing the demand of chemical antibiotics.     

CRISPR/Cas9 system in Plasmodium falciparum using the centromere plasmid

The CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease system is a powerful method to genetically modify the human malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Currently, this method is carried out by co-transfection with two plasmids, one containing the Cas9 nuclease gene, and another encoding the sgRNA and the donor template DNA. However, the efficiency of modification is currently low owing to the low frequency of these plasmids in the parasites. To improve the CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease system for P. falciparum, we developed a novel method using the transgenic parasite, PfCAS9, which stably expresses the Cas9 nuclease using the centromere plasmid. To examine the efficiency of genetic modification using the PfCAS9 parasite, we performed site-directed mutagenesis of kelch13 gene, which is considered to be involved in artemisinin resistance. Our results demonstrated that the targeted mutation could be introduced with almost 100% efficiency when the transfected PfCAS9 parasites were treated with two drugs to maintain both the centromere plasmid containing the Cas9 nuclease and the plasmid having the sgRNA. Therefore, the PfCAS9 parasite is a useful parasite line for the genetic modification of P. falciparum.     

Genetic transformation of flax (Linum usaitatissimum L.) with the chimeric GFP-TUA6 gene for the visualization of microtubules

The data of Agrobacterium-mediated transformations of some Linum usitatissimum cultivars located in the territories of Belarus and Ukraine with the plasmid carrying of the chimeric GFP-TUA6 gene and the nptII gene as selectable markers conferring resistance to kanamycin are presented in this study. The transformations were affected by a number of factors, including optical density (OD₆₀₀), inoculation time of explants with Agrobacterium, and coculture conditions. The transgenic nature of the obtained lines was confirmed by PCR analysis. Expression of the GFP-TUA6 gene was detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The obtained transgenic lines can be used for further functional studies into the role of microtubules in the processes of building flax fibers and resistance to wind.     

转基因抗虫作物鉴定质粒标准分子的构建与应用

苏云金芽胞杆菌基因是转基因抗虫作物中通用的外源功能基因,在绝大多数抗虫转基因作物中均有存在,然而Bt基因检测标准样品的缺乏却限制了我国转Bt基因抗虫作物检测工作的发展。为了弥补传统基体标准样品的缺失,首先将Cry1Ab、Cry1Ac、Cry3A 3种常用Bt外源基因克隆到pUC57质粒上,通过测序、酶切和qPCR等技术对质粒的序列和扩增功能进行了验证,然后对扩增效率和实际应用情况加以测试,评价其转基因检测的适用性,构建了质粒标准分子。结果显示,制备的质粒标准分子测序结果与靶标序列完全符合,酶切结果、qPCR扩增结果和扩增效率等均符合预期,在Cry1Ab、Cry1Ac、Cry3A基因特异性检测中的应用符合阳性对照要求,表明制备的阳性质粒标准分子能够作为转Cry1Ab、Cry1Ac、Cry3A基因qPCR基因特异性检测的阳性标准样品。     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens — mediated Transformation of Rice Using Coleoptile and Mature Seed-derived Callus

Morphologically normal, fertile transgenic rice plants (Oryza sativa L cv Taipei 309) were obtained using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harbouring the plasmid pTOK233. Two transgenic systems were developed. The first involved callus derived from mature seeds (scutellum) and, the second, used callus derived from 4-d-old coleoptiles. This is the first time that a coleoptile-based system has been used for producing transgenic rice plants. In the development of coleoptile based system, we have evaluated the effect of the length of callus induction period of the coleoptiles on transformation efficiency. The proportion of GUS positive plants was 23% in coleoptile experiment while in mature seed experiments it was 21%. Southern analyses were done to confirm the presence of the transgene. It was found that one to three copies of the transgene integrated in the transgenic plants.     

Engineering of a Single-Chain Variable-Fragment (scFv) Antibody Specific for the Stolbur Phytoplasma (Mollicute) and Its Expression in Escherichia coli and Tobacco Plants

From a hybridoma cell line (2A10) producing an immunoglobulin G1 directed against the major membrane protein of the stolbur phytoplasma, we have engineered scFv (single-chain variable-fragment) antibodies from the variable heavy (VH) and light (VL) domains of the immunoglobulin. The scFv gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein of 30 kDa could be recovered from the periplasmic fraction of the bacterial cells and was shown to be fully functional toward its phytoplasmal antigen, since enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or immunofluorescence (IF) detection of the stolbur phytoplasma antigen by the scFv was identical to that of the native immunoglobulin. The scFv gene was then cloned in plasmid pBG-dAb-BIN of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform tobacco plants. The transformed plants were screened by PCR and Northern blotting for the presence and expression of the transgene, respectively, and by IF for expression of the scFv. One transgenic tobacco line, 1A6, was selected for challenge inoculation with the stolbur phytoplasma. When grafted on a stolbur phytoplasma-infected tobacco rootstock, the transgenic tobacco shoots grew free of symptoms and flowered after 2 months, while normal tobacco shoots showed severe stolbur symptoms during the same period and eventually died.     

Transgenic indica Rice cv IR-50 Over-expressing Vigna aconitifolia Δ1-Pyrroline -5- Carboxylate Synthetase cDNA Shows Tolerance to High Salt

Oryza sativa subspecies indica cultivar IR-50 was transformed with Vigna aconitifolia P5CS cDNA under the control of Ubiquitin (Ub) promoter and nos terminator using PDS 1000 He particle bombardment system. Integration of transgene was confirmed by Southern analysis. Transgene expressed itself making mRNA and protein as evidenced by Northern and Western analysis of T₂ plants. Active nature of protein made was substantiated by over-accumulation of proline in transgenic plants as compared to control. Transgene followed a 3:1 Mendelian ratio of inheritance. Marker free plants could be obtained due to segregation between marker gene and gene of interest in T₂ generation. The transgenic plants showed better root growth and biomass development when grown in 200 mM NaCl, while control plants died within 20 days of salt stress. In one of the transgenic line with single copy transgene, plasmid rescue and the sequence analysis of the genomic region suggests that the P5CS transgene has got integrated into a region of chromosome 3.     

Marker Rescue Studies of the Transfer of Recombinant DNA to Streptococcus gordonii In Vitro, in Foods and Gnotobiotic Rats

A plasmid marker rescue system based on restoration of the nptII gene was established in Streptococcus gordonii to study the transfer of bacterial and transgenic plant DNA by transformation. In vitro studies revealed that the marker rescue efficiency depends on the type of donor DNA. Plasmid and chromosomal DNA of bacteria as well as DNA of transgenic potatoes were transferred with efficiencies ranging from 8.1 × 10⁻⁶ to 5.8 × 10⁻⁷ transformants per nptII gene. Using a 792-bp amplification product of nptII the efficiency was strongly decreased (9.8 × 10⁻⁹). In blood sausage, marker rescue using plasmid DNA was detectable (7.9 × 10⁻¹⁰), whereas in milk heat-inactivated horse serum (HHS) had to be added to obtain an efficiency of 2.7 × 10⁻¹¹. No marker rescue was detected in extracts of transgenic potatoes despite addition of HHS. In vivo transformation of S. gordonii LTH 5597 was studied in monoassociated rats by using plasmid DNA. No marker rescue could be detected in vivo, although transformation was detected in the presence of saliva and fecal samples supplemented with HHS. It was also shown that plasmid DNA persists in rat saliva permitting transformation for up to 6 h of incubation. It is suggested that the lack of marker rescue is due to the absence of competence-stimulating factors such as serum proteins in rat saliva.     

含四个串联核酶和GFP基因的转基因质粒的构建

以含绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）基因的质粒pSK100-DS、含切割对虾杆状病毒基因的核酶Rz1的质粒pRGRzl、含核酶Rz2的质粒pRGRz2和转基因空质粒pcDNA3为基础,把绿色荧光蛋白GFP基因克隆于pcDNA3的SV40启动了下面,由SV40启动子控制,含四个两种核酸基因的四联体克隆于pcDNA3的多克隆位点区,由T7启动子控制,构建成含两个Rz1、两个Rz2和GFP基因的转基因质粒pGTR,以用于转基因抗病毒对虾的研究。     

A simple and highly efficient transgenesis method in mice with the Tol2 transposon system and cytoplasmic microinjection

Creating transgenic mice is an important technology for genetic studies and is currently performed by pronuclear microinjection of plasmid DNA into fertilized eggs. Since survival of injected embryos and integration of plasmid DNA are not efficient, total efficiency is only around 3% with a standard protocol. To circumvent this problem, here we describe a novel transgenesis method, the Tol2-mediated cytoplasmic injection method (Tol2:CI). We injected a foreign DNA cloned in a Tol2-transposon vector together with the transposase mRNA into the cytoplasm of fertilized eggs. As expected, the survival rate of the injected embryos was increased drastically. Also, the foreign DNA was transposed from the plasmid to the genome and transmitted to the next generation very efficiently. Together, the overall transgenic efficiency became more than 20%. Considering its simplicity and perfect compatibility with existing pronuclear microinjection facilities, we propose that the Tol2:CI method is applicable to high throughput functional genomics studies.     

Construction of banana bunchy top nanovirus-DNA-3 encoding the coat protein gene and its introducing into banana plants cv. Williams

Banana (Musa sp.) is considered as one of the most important fruit crops worldwide as well as in Egypt. The main goal of this study was to construct the open reading frame (ORF) of banana bunchy top nanovirus (BBTV)-DNA-3 that encodes the viral coat protein (cp) gene for banana transformation. The previously sequenced BBTV-G-DNA-3-ORF that cloned into plasmid pH1 was used as a template for PCR amplification using two specific primers containing Bam H1 site. A new plasmid called pRHA1 containing the amplified ORF under the control of maize polyubiquitin (ubi) promoter was created. The bar gene (herbicide-resistance gene as a selectable marker) cassette (bar gene, Cauliflower mosaic caulimovirus (CaMV) 35S promoter and nos terminator) was released from plasmid pAB6 using Hind III-digestion and subcloned into the Hind III-digested plasmid pRHA1 to create the plasmid pRHA2 via the microprojectile bombardment transformation system. The plasmid pRHA2 was successfully introduced in the applied banana cultivar. Leaf painting test was conducted to confirm the expression of the bar gene in the putative transformed banana lines. The presence and expression of BBTV-G-cp gene were also detected using some molecular (polymerase chain reaction and dot blot using a cold DNA probe) and serological (ELISA and western blot) techniques, respectively, in the obtained transgenic banana lines.