Biochemical conditions for the production of polysialic acid by Pasteurella haemolytica A2

The capsular polysaccharide of Pasteurella haemolytica A2 consists of a linear polymer of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) with (2–8) linkages. When the bacterium was grown at 37°C for 90 h in 250 ml shake flasks at 200 rpm in Brain heart infusion broth (BHIB), it accumulated, attaining a level of 60 g/ml. Release of this polymer was strictly regulated by the growth temperature, and above 40° no production was detected. The pathway for the biosynthesis of this sialic acid capsular polymer was also examined in P. haemolytica A2 and was seen to involve the sequential presence of three enzymatic activities: Neu5Ac lyase activity, which synthesizes Neu5Ac by condensation of N-acetyl-D-mannosamine and pyruvate with apparent Km values of 91 mM and 73 mM, respectively; a CMP-Neu5Ac synthetase, which catalyzes the production of CMP-Neu5Ac from Neu5Ac and CTP with apparent Km values of 2 mM and 0.5 mM, respectively, and finally a membrane-associated polysialyltransferase, which catalyzes the incorporation of sialic acid from CMP-Neu5Ac into polymeric products with an apparent CMP-Neu5Ac Km of 250 M.     

Production of colominic acid by Pasteurella haemolytica serotype A2 organisms

Using chemical analysis and ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, capsular polysaccharide purified from culture supernatants of a strain of Pasteurella haemolytica serotype A2 was shown to consist of a (2 → 8)-α-linked polymer of N-acetylneuraminic acid. This is identical to the capsular polysaccharides of Neisseria meningitidis group B and Escherichia coli K1, and is known as colominic acid. Polymer isolated from a second strain was contaminated with α-1,4-linked dextran. The known poor immunogenicity of these two polymers explains the failure by others to produce effective extract vaccines for this important ovine pathogen.     

An analysis of the codon usage of Pasteurella haemolytica A1

Analysis of approximately 17 kbp of nucleotide sequences from three different regions of the genome of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 showed that the mol% G+C of P. haemolytica A1 DNA is 38.5%. When only the coding sequences (approx. 10 kbp) were analysed, a similar value of 38.8% was obtained. A comparison of the relative synonymous codon usage values of the cloned genes showed that P. haemolytica A1 has a very different codon usage pattern from that of Escherichia coli.     

The susceptibility of in vivo-grown Pasteurella haemolytica to ovine defence mechanisms in vitro

Abstract Pasteurella haemolytica organisms grown in vivo were examined for their susceptibility to ovine immune mechanisms in vitro. Compared with in vitro grown organisms they were less susceptible to opsonophagocytosis and, in contrast, susceptible to complement-dependent killing in the absence of exogenous antibody. These differences were not associated with phenotypic changes in the surface of the bacterial cell. However, overproduction and de novo synthesis of proteins was observed in in vivo grown organisms. Also, bound host-immunoglobulin was observed on in vivo grown organisms and a role for this in modifying the interaction with immune mechanisms is discussed.     

The detection of the sialoglycoprotease gene and assay for sialoglycoprotease activity among isolates of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 strains, serotypes A13, A14, T15 and A16

Abstract Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers to the sialoglycoprotease gene ( gcp ) of Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A, serotype 1 amplified a 1-kb fragment from each of P. haemolytica serotypes A7, A13, A14 and A16, but not T15; which was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization analysis. Using a sialoglycoprotease (Gcp) activity assay, Gcp activity was found in serotypes A13, A14 and A16. Inclusion of these three serotypes confirms that all recognized A biotypes are positive for both gcp gene and activity, with the exception of serotype A11 (which has a different genetic organization and exhibits no Gcp activity). Furthermore, all recognized T biotypes are negative for both the gene and Gcp activity.     

Preparation of recombinant glycoprotease of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 utilizing the Escherichia coliα-hemolysin secretion system

Abstract Three murine monoclonal antibodies were prepared against the recombinant glycoprotease of Pasteurella haemolytica A1 expressed in Escherichia coli . These monoclonal antibodies were able to recognize the authentic glycoprotease from P. haemolytica A1 culture supernatant. A recombinant plasmid which contained most of the glycoprotease gene of P. haemolytica A1 fused with the secretion signal sequence from hlyA of the E. coli α-hemolysin determinant was constructed. This recombinant plasmid expressed a fusion protein (Gcp-F) which was secreted into the culture supernantant by E. coli cells when the α-hemolysin secretion functions HlyB and HlyD are supplied in trans. Gcp-F could be readily recovered from the supernatant free from other cellular materials and is suitable for use in vaccine trials and challenge experiments in animals.     

Role of intracellular calcium in Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin-induced bovine neutrophil leukotriene B4 production and plasma membrane damage

Isolated neutrophils were used to study the intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) dependency of Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin-induced production of leukotriene B4 and plasma membrane damage. Exposure of neutrophils to leukotoxin caused a rapid and concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, followed by simultaneous plasma membrane damage and production of leukotriene B4. Removal of extracellular Ca2+, replacement of Ca2+ with other divalent cations, or exposure to high concentration of verapamil, an inhibitor of voltage-dependent calcium channels, inhibited leukotoxin-induced increases in [Ca2+]i, leukotriene B4 production, and membrane damage, thus indicating that influx of extracellular Ca2+ is necessary to produce these leukotoxin-induced neutrophil responses.     

Molecular characterization of a gene region involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in Bradyrhizobium japonicum: cloning, sequencing and expression of rfaf gene

A 3.0-kb region involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in Bradyrhizobium japonicum was sequenced. One complete open reading frame was identified which encodes a polypeptide of 354 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 38 209 Da. Expression of the protein using a T7 gene expression system revealed a band of similar molecular mass after sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A database search against known gene sequences revealed a significant sequence similarity to the rfaF gene cloned from several Gram-negative bacteria. The rfaF gene is known to encode heptosyltransferase II that transfers a second heptose to the inner core of lipopolysaccharide. The cloned B. japonicum open reading frame was able to functionally complement a rfaF mutant of Salmonella typhimurium SL3789. Transformation of this mutant with the B. japonicum gene restored production of an intact lipopolysaccharide and resistance to the hydrophobic antibiotic, novobiocin. An additional open reading frame having a significant sequence similarity to the rfaD gene was found to be divergently oriented to the rfaF gene.     

Cloning and characterization of a potato StAN11 gene involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis regulation

Anthocyanins are a class of products of plant secondary metabolism and are responsible for tubers color in potato.The biosynthesis of anthocyanins is a complex Researchbiological process,in which multiple genes are involved including structural genes and regulatory genes.In this study,StAN11,a WD40-repeat gene,was cloned from potato cultivar Chieftain(Solanum tuberosum L.).StAN11(HQ599506)contained no intron and its open reading frame(ORF)was 1,029 bp long,encoding a putative protein of 342 amino acids.In order to verify its role in anthocyanin biosynthesis,StAN11 was inserted behind the CaMV-35S promoter of pCMBIA1304 and the recombination vector was introduced into the potato cultivar Désirée plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.The color of transgenic tuber skin was significantly deepened,compared to the wild-type control,which was highly consistent with the accumulation of anthocyanin and expression of StAN11 in transgenic lines tuber skin.Further analysis on the expression of Flavonone-3-hydroxylase(F3H),Dihydroflavonol reductase(DFR),Anthocyanidin synthase(ANS),and Flavonoid 3-O-glucosyl transferase(3GT)in transgenic plants revealed that only DFR was upregulated.This result suggested that StAN11 regulated anthocyanin biosynthesis in potato by controlling DFR expression and accumulation of anthocyanin could be increased through overexpression of StAN11 in the tubers with the genetic background of anthocyanin biosynthesis.     

An experimental anti-idiotype vaccine mimicking lipopolysaccharide gives protection against Pasteurella multocida type A infection in mice

Abstract An anti-idiotype strategy was employed which showed that polyclonal anti-idiotype antibodies could be produced which could mimic a linear Pasteurella multocida lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule. These antibodies when used as vaccine antigens, induced antibodies which recognised LPS and imparted acquired protection upon syngeneic vaccinates challenged with homologous organisms.     

Serotypes A1 and A2 of Mannheimia haemolytica are susceptible to genotypic, capsular and phenotypic variations in contrast to T3 and T4 serotypes of Bibersteinia (Pasteurella) trehalosi

Mannheimia haemolytica and Bibersteinia (Pasteurella) trehalosi are the most common bacterial isolates that cause pulmonary diseases in ruminants worldwide. The disease is determined by specific serotypes found in cattle and small ruminants. The molecular epidemiology of strains involved in disease is important in the control of outbreaks as well as in the preparation of vaccines. This study aimed to detect the instability and variations of bacterial strains that may affect the analysis of epidemic strains, or the stability of vaccinal strains. Eight strains of M. haemolytica belonging to serotypes A1 and A2 and three B. trehalosi strains of the T3 and T4 serotypes were used. Strains were subjected to pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and capsular and phenotypic typing at each round of a total of 50 successive subcultures. Remarkable stability was found in all selected strains of B. trehalosi in contrast to M. haemoltyica, in which strains of both serotypes showed pattern variations produced by PFGE and capsular and phenotypic analysis. Objective criteria for M. haemolytica and B. trehalosi typing are consequently addressed.     

Identification,cloning and characterization of rfaE of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1, a gene involved in lipopolysaccharide inner-core biosynthesis

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia and its lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been identified as important adhesins involved in adherence to host cells. To better understand the role of LPS core in the virulence of this organism, the aim of the present study was to identify and clone genes involved in LPS core biosynthesis by complementation with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium mutants (rfaC, rfaD, rfaE and rfaF). Complementation with an A. pleuropneumoniae 4074 genomic library was successful with Salmonella mutant SL1102. This Salmonella deep-rough LPS mutant is defective for the rfaE gene, which is an ADP-heptose synthase. Novobiocin was used to select transformants that had the smooth-LPS type, since Salmonella strains with wild-type smooth-LPS are less permeable, therefore more resistant to hydrophobic antibiotics like novobiocin. We obtained a clone that was able to restore the wild-type smooth-LPS Salmonella phenotype after complementation. The wild-type phenotype was confirmed using phage (Felix-O, P22c.2 and Ffm) susceptibility and SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). One of the open reading frames contained in the 3.3-kb insert in the plasmid encoded a 475-amino-acid protein with 71% identity and 85% similarity to the RfaE protein of S. enterica. We then attempted to generate an A. pleuropneumoniae rfaE mutant by gene replacement. The rfaE gene seems essential in A. pleuropneumoniae viability as we were unable to isolate a heptose-less knockout mutant.     

Cloning and characterization of the exbB-exbD-tonB locus of Pasteurella haemolytica A1

A recombinant plasmid (pMG1) carrying Pasteurella haemolytica A1 DNA which complements a tonB mutation of Escherichia coli has been isolated. E. coli tonB metE which carries pMG1 exhibits growth kinetics in the presence of vitamin B₁₂ similar to that of the wild-type host. In addition, the complemented E. coli is susceptible to killing by bacteriophage φ80 and colicin B. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence in the complementing DNA showed that it codes for three genes in the order of exbB-exbD-tonB. This genetic organization has been reported in Haemophilus influenzae, H. ducreyi, Pseudomonas putida and Vibrio cholerae, and may represent a separate lineage of evolution from that of the Enterobacteriaceae in which tonB is unlinked with the accessory genes exbB and exbD. A comparison of the DNA flanking the exbB-exbD-tonB locus in P. haemolytica A1 and H. influenzae showed that the flanking regions are completely different between the two organisms.     

The leukotoxin of Pasteurella haemolytica binds to β2 integrins on bovine leukocytes

The putative receptor proteins of Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin were isolated from bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophil lysate by affinity chromatography on a leukotoxin-specific monoclonal antibody column to which the leukotoxin was pre-bound. SDS-PAGE of the purified proteins showed four bands at 180 kDa, 170 kDa, 150 kDa and 95 kDa, in addition to the expected 102-kDa leukotoxin band and a series of bands with molecular masses lower than 102 kDa representing the disintegrated leukotoxin. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the 170-kDa band showed homology with human and murine CD11b. The purified proteins reacted specifically with monoclonal antibodies specific for CD11a, CD11b, CD11c (the alpha chains of beta(2) integrins), and CD18 (the beta chain of beta(2) integrins). Pre-incubation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils with a monoclonal antibody specific for CD18 reduced the cytotoxicity of the leukotoxin to the cells. These results indicate that the leukotoxin binds to the beta(2) integrins on bovine leukocytes, very likely via CD18.     

Structure prediction and functional analysis of KdsD, an enzyme involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis

Lipopolysaccharide is an essential component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and consists of three elements: lipid A, the core oligosaccharide and the O-antigen. The inner core region is highly conserved and contains at least one residue of 3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonate (Kdo). The first committed step of Kdo biosynthesis is the aldol-keto isomerisation of d-ribulose 5-phosphate to d-arabinose 5-phosphate catalyzed by arabinose 5-phosphate isomerase encoded in Escherichia coli by the kdsD gene.KdsD contains an N-terminal sugar isomerase (SIS) domain commonly found in phosphosugar isomerases but its three-dimensional structure is unknown.The structure of the KdsD SIS domain has been predicted by homology modeling using the hypothetical 3etn protein as a template. Moreover by sequence alignments, comparison with other sugar isomerases structurally related to KdsD, and site-directed mutagenesis we implicated four residues in KdsD activity or substrate recognition. A possible role of these residues in the catalysis is discussed.     

Cloning, expression and characterization of gene sgcD involved in the biosynthesis of novel antitumor lidamycin

Lidamycin, an antitumor antibiotic composed of a macro-molecule peptide and enediyne chromophore[1] and originally named C1027, is produced by Streptomyces globisporus C1027 isolated from the soil in Qianjiang County, Hubei Province, China. It has extremely high antitu- mor activity, which has been proved to be the highest among antitumor compounds[2], being 1000- fold higher than that of adriamycin commonly used in clinic. The structure of lidamycin consists of an acid apoprotein and a chr…     

Cloning, expression and characterization of gene sgcD involved in the biosynthesis of novel antitumor lidamycin

Lidamycin with high antitumor activity is a novel enediyne antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces globisporus C1027. The 75 kb biosynthesis gene cluster of lidamycin containing 33 open reading frames has been cloned from S. globisporus C1027. In this paper, the function of sgcD (ORF24) is investigated. Gene disruption experiment proved that sgcD is involved in lidamycin biosynthesis. With homologous comparing analysis, we deduce that sgcD codes aminomutase catalyzing a-tyrosine to β-tyrosine which is one motif for lidamycin. To identify the function of enzyme coded by sgcD, sgcD is cloned into vector pET30a for inducing expression and the activity of expression product is analyzed. The result showed that the expression product of sgcD has the activity of aminomutase. Aminomutase coded by sgcD is the first characterized enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of enediyne antitumor antibiotics. Our research will be helpful to clarifying the biosynthesis mechanism of such kind of antibiotic and to producing new antitumor compounds.     

Cloning, sequencing and function ofsanA, a gene involved in nikkomycin biosynthesis ofStreptomyces ansochromogenes

Several genetically stable mutants blocked in nikkomycin biosynthesis were obtained after the slightly germinated spores of Streptomyces ansochromogenes, a nikkomycin producer, were treated with ultra violet radiation. One of the mutants is the same in morpholotical differentiation as the wild type strain and is designated as NBB19. A DMA library was constructed using plasmid plJ702 as cloning vector, NBB19 as cloning recipient. A 6 kb DNA fragment which can genetically complement NBB19 was cloned when screening the library for antifungal activity. Sequence analysis showed that the 3 kb Bgl II-Sal I fragment contains one complete ORF (ORF1) and one partial ORF (ORF2). ORF1 is designated as sanA. sanA is 1 365 bp, encoding a protein consisting of 454 amino acid residues. Database searching indicated that sanA is homologous to the hypothetical methyltransferase in Pyrococcus horikoshli with 25% identities and 41% positives. Disruptant of sanA lost the ability to synthesize nikkomycin. It indicated that sa