IdeE, an IgG-endopeptidase of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi

Streptococcus equi ssp. equi is the causative agent of strangles, a highly contagious and serious disease in the upper respiratory tract of horses. The present study describes the characterization of IdeE, a homolog of the secreted IgG-specific protease IdeS/Mac of Streptococcus pyogenes. The activity of IdeE is compared with the activity of IdeZ, the corresponding enzyme of the closely related S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus. A study of the proteolytic activity of recombinant IdeE and IdeZ on IgG from a selection of mammals shows that only antibodies containing the substrate site of IdeS/Mac are cleaved, indicating that the specificities of these enzymes are similar. Interestingly, IgG from horse is less effectively cleaved than IgG from e.g. dog or humans, as the dominating IgG isotype in horse sera (IgG4) lacks a distinct substrate site for IdeE/IdeZ. IgG-degradation is observed when S. equi ssp. equi is grown in the presence of horse serum, but not when grown with purified IgG. As the fraction of degraded IgG contains IgG4, the observed activity might be due to the expression of an unknown enzyme rather than IdeE. In a similar assay, no proteolysis of IgG was detected in the growth media of S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus.     

马链球菌马亚种IgG结合蛋白的原核表达和免疫原性

为研究马链球菌马亚种IgG结合蛋白(EAG)免疫原性和保护力,评价其作为马链球菌疫苗抗原的价值。采用PCR法扩增马链球菌马亚种EAG基因,将测序正确的EAG扩增产物与原核表达载体pET-28a(+)连接构建重组质粒,对转化后的大肠杆菌进行诱导表达,用诱导纯化后的重组蛋白作免疫原免疫小鼠,分析重组蛋白免疫小鼠后的抗体水平及对小鼠的免疫保护力。结果表明,诱导后可得到26 kDa的EAG重组蛋白,且该蛋白可与该菌阳性血清发生特异性反应。间接ELISA检测免疫小鼠的抗体效价可达1∶8 100,重组蛋白免疫后对小鼠保护力可达90%。该结果表明,表达的EAG蛋白具有良好的抗原性,可有效提高小鼠的体液免疫水平及免疫保护力。     

马疫链球菌SH-5生产透明质酸营养条件的研究

对Streptococcus equiSH-5生产透明质酸的营养条件进行了研究,摇瓶发酵实验表明该菌株的适宜氮源为酵母膏和牛肉膏以2∶1组成的混合氮源,在碳氮比为2∶1时有利于透明质酸的合成和菌体的生长;通过正交实验摸索出营养培养基的最佳配比为葡萄糖5%,酵母粉6.67%,牛肉膏3.33%,MgSO4.7H2O 0.1%,MnSO4.4H2O 0.02%,NaHCO30.3%,Na2HPO40.5‰,尿嘧啶0.08‰;添加0.05‰异甘草素对产酸有利。     

高产透明质酸菌种FJ-23的诱变选育

目的:高产透明质酸菌种的选育是提高透明质酸产量和质量的关键。方法:以马疫链球菌SH-0为出发菌,对其进行紫外诱变和NTG诱变选育。结果:筛选出溶血素和透明质酸酶双缺陷型突变菌株FJ-23,其透明质酸产量提高了7倍;突变株经6次传代,其产酸量及HA的相对分子量保持稳定,为今后进一步研究发酵法生产透明质酸打下基础。     

Neither the A- nor B-repeat regions of the fibrinogen-binding protein of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi are essential for fibrinogen binding

The major cell wall-associated protein (FgBP) of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi possesses two internal blocks of repeated sequence (A and B) and binds horse fibrinogen (Fg) avidly through residues located in the N-terminal half of the molecule. In the present study, we investigated the roles of the two repeats blocks in Fg binding through construction of recombinant FgBP proteins containing defined internal deletions of sequence. Ligand binding experiments clearly showed that neither repeat is essential for Fg binding. However, residues within the B repeats seem to play a major role in the aberrant mobility observed for FgBP following sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Molecular detection of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in face flies (Musca autumnalis) collected during a strangles outbreak on a Thoroughbred farm

The objective of this study was to detect Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) (Lactobacillales: Streptococcaceae) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in flies collected from a farm with a documented outbreak of strangles. A total of 1856 face flies [Musca autumnalis (Diptera: Muscidae)] were collected using conventional fly traps. The flies were processed for nucleic acid purification and tested for the presence of S. equi by qPCR. A total of 10/1856 flies (0.54%) tested qPCR-positive for S. equi. The results may implicate the presence of face flies as a risk factor for the transmission of S. equi and highlight the need to institute proper husbandry measures, biosecurity protocols and fly control in order to reduce the potential for infection in at-risk horses.     

透明质酸产生菌SH-2发酵条件的优化

对经紫外诱变,筛选出的突变菌株马疫链球菌SH-2,进行发酵条件的优化实验,通过单因素实验确定最佳摇瓶条件是种龄14-16h,初始pH7.6,发酵温度37℃,发酵时间44h;通过多因素正交实验摸索出营养培养基的最佳配比为:葡萄糖5%,酵母粉6.67%,牛肉膏3.33%,MgSO4·7H2O0.1%,MnSO4·4H2O0.02%,NaHCO30.3%,Na2HPO40.15%,NaCl0.3%,UTP0.05%,异甘草素0.08‰。     

Identification and characterization of a novel fibronectin-binding protein gene from Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus strain VTU211

This work describes the cloning and sequencing of genes encoding fibronectin-binding proteins from Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus strain VTU211. A gene encoding a cell-wall protein FNZ was amplified and sequenced. In the same bacterial strain, a second gene termed fnz2 was now discovered, encoding another fibronectin-binding protein (FNZ2). The complete amino acid sequence encoded by fnz2 was deduced and compared to that deduced from fnz. The sequence comparison of the fnz and fnz2 predicted that fibronectin-binding activity is localizing a domain in the C terminal part of FNZ2, since this domain is composed of three repeats, which contain a motif similar to what has earlier been found in other fibronectin-binding proteins in streptococci. Three parts of fnz2 [fnz2(1-8), fnz2(2-4), and fnz2(4-3)] were amplified using polymerase chain reaction and ligated into an expression vector, and recombinant FNZ2 proteins were produced in Escherichia coli. Fibronectin bound to the FNZ2(1-8) [amino acids 212-396] and FNZ2(2-4) (amino acids 36-448) but not to the FNZ2(4-3) (amino acids 36-191) in a Western ligand blot, showing that repeat domain of FNZ2 protein was sufficient for binding of fibronectin. Purified FNZ2(2-4) protein was also shown to display collagen-binding activity to collagen-coated microtiter wells. These results show that recombinant FNZ2 has fibronectin- and collagen-binding activities.     

Development of an in vivo Himar1 transposon mutagenesis system for use in Streptococcus equi subsp. equi

Streptococcus equi subsp. equi is the causative agent of the equine disease strangles. In this study we describe the development of an in vivo Himar1 transposon system for the random mutagenesis of S. equi and, potentially, other Gram-positive bacteria. We demonstrate efficient and random transposition of a modified mini-transposon onto the chromosome by Southern blot analysis and insertion site sequencing. Non-haemolytic mutants were isolated at a frequency of 0.2%, and acapsular mutants at a frequency of 0.04%. Taken together, these data demonstrate that in vivo Himar1 mutagenesis can be used for genomic-scale mutational analysis of S. equi, and is likely to be applicable to the study of other streptococci.     

Outbreak of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus infection in a group of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Background  A severe upper respiratory tract infection occurred in a breeding group of rhesus monkeys housed together in one of six indoor/outdoor corals of the German Primate Center. The clinical signs of the disease included severe purulent conjunctivitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis, respiratory distress and lethargy. Six of 45 animals died within a few days after developing signs of infection.
Methods and results  Histopathologic and microbiologic examinations of the dead animals were consistent with a severe fibrinopurulent bronchopneumonia. Microbiology revealed a Lancefield group C streptococcus identified as Streptococcus equi subsp . zooepidemicus as the causative agent of infection.
Conclusions  The infection was passed on from animal to animal but did not spread to the other five breeding groups nearby. Extensive diagnostic testing failed to reveal the consisting presence of copathogens in individual cases. A visitor with upper respiratory disease was suspected as source of infection.     

Immunoproteomic assay of extracellular proteins in Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus

A proteomic approach combining two-dimensional electrophoresis, Western blot and matrix-assisted laser desorption tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been used to map the extracellular proteins of Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus ( S . zooepidemicus ) strain ATCC 35246. These bioinformatic technologies facilitated the identification of novel S . zooepidemicus vaccine candidate antigens and therapeutic agents. Despite the limitations posed by the unavailability of complete genome and proteome data for S . zooepidemicus , seven of 15 chosen immunogenic spots were successfully identified as streptococcal proteins (AE1 and AE4 c . 10) from homologous Streptococcus species. Among these, AE6 and AE7 were identified as S . zooepidemicus UDP- N -acetyl-glucosamine pyrophosphorylase and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase proteins. In addition, AE4 was determined to be glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Enterococcus faecalis . Following signalip 3.0 ( http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/servicess/SignalIP ) prediction, data suggested that AE5, AE7 and AE9 contained signal peptides. blast ( http://www.sanger.ac.uk ) results found that nucleotide sequences of all identified proteins shared high homology (≥65%) with S. zooepidemicus . The majority of proteins identified in our study remain formally unreported in S. zooepidemicus . However, these proteins serve a vital role in the immune system and reproduction of host species. Therefore, we further evaluated the proteins as vaccine candidates in this study.     

马链球菌兽疫亚种类M蛋白的基因克隆、序列分析及其在猪源链球菌的检测

根据已发表的马链球菌兽疫亚种 (Streptococcusequisubsp .zooepidemicus)马源株的类M蛋白基因序列 ,设计和合成一对引物 ,以兽疫亚种猪源ATCC35 2 4 6株的基因组DNA为模板 ,通过PCR技术 ,扩增出类M蛋白基因并定向克隆至表达载体pET_32a( )中 ,测定其序列 ,GenBank接收号为AY2 6 3781。类M蛋白基因含一个完整的开放阅读框 ,全长为 1137bp ,编码 379个氨基酸残基。经DNAStar软件分析 ,ATCC35 2 4 6株类M蛋白基因与兽疫亚种马源W6 0株、马亚种的类M蛋白基因及A群化脓链球菌的M蛋白基因的同源性分别为 86 9%、30 8%、2 9 4 % ;推导的氨基酸序列的同源性分别为 84 3%、2 1 9%、2 3 4 %。但ATCC35 2 4 6株类M蛋白的C末端细胞膜锚定区与M蛋白、马亚种类M蛋白高度同源。用上述设计的引物进行PCR试验 ,检测 34株猪源链球菌类M蛋白基因 ,发现所有 16株C群猪源链球菌均能检测出类M蛋白基因 ,而所有猪链球菌 (Streptococcussuis) 1型和 2型菌株及S群、B群、D群链球菌共 13株均不能检出类M蛋白基因 ,而 5株未鉴定的猪源链球菌中 3株能检测出类M基因。     

Production of Monoclonal Anti-Idiotype Antibodies Which Mimic an M-Like Protein of Streptococcus equi

Rat monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies (mAb2) were raised against two mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb1), 1D10 and 2A6, with specificity for the M-like protein of Streptococcus equi. The capacity of the mAb2 to inhibit the binding between the corresponding mouse mAbl against which the mAb2 were raised and the M-like protein was investigated in an inhibition EIA. One of the ten mAb2 examined, namely 5D1 (anti-mAb1 1D10), was able to inhibit this binding. The mAb2 5D1 bound to the mAb1 1D10 in such a way as to completely inhibit the subsequent binding of the M-like protein antigen to the paratope of the mAb1 1D10. The mAb2 5D1 is likely to represent a true image of the M-like protein antigen and may thus be described as an Ab2β anti-idiotype antibody.     

Two new cysteine endopeptidases obtained from the latex of Araujia hortorum fruits

Two new endopeptidases were purified to homogeneity from the latex of Araujia hortorum fruits by a simple purification procedure involving ultracentrifugation and ion exchange chromatography. Molecular weights of araujiain h II and araujiain h III were 23,718 and 23546 (mass spectrometry), respectively. The isoelectric point of araujiain h II was 8.9, whereas araujiain h III had a pI higher than 9.3. Maximum proteolytic activity on caseine was reached at pH 8.0-9.0 for both endopeptidases, which were irreversibly inhibited by iodoacetate and E-64, suggesting they belong to the cysteine protease family. Esterolytic activity was determined on N--CBZ-amino acid-p-nitrophenyl esters, and the highest k _cat/K _m values for the both enzymes were obtained with the glutamine derivative. The N-terminal sequences of araujiain h II and araujiain h III showed a high degree of homology with other plant cysteine endopeptidases.     

Bivalent Ligation of the Collagen-binding Modules of Fibronectin by SFS,a Non-anchored Bacterial Protein of Streptococcus equi

SFS is a non-anchored protein of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi that causes upper respiratory infection in horses. SFS has been shown to bind to fibronectin (FN) and block interaction of FN with type I collagen. We have characterized interactions of a recombinant 60-mer polypeptide, R1R2, with FN. R1R2 contains two copies of collagen-like 19-residue repeats. Experiments utilizing various FN fragments and epitope-mapped anti-FN monoclonal antibodies located the binding site to ^8-9FNI modules of the gelatin-binding domain. Fluorescence polarization and competitive enzyme-linked assays demonstrated that R1R2 binds preferentially to compact dimeric FN rather than monomeric constructs containing ^8-9FNI or a large dimeric FN construct that is constitutively in an extended conformation. In contrast to bacterial peptides that bind ^2–5FNI in addition to ^8-9FNI, R1R2 did not cause conformational extension of FN as assessed by a conformationally sensitive antibody. Equilibrium and stopped-flow binding assays and size exclusion chromatography were compatible with a two-step binding reaction in which each of the repeats of R1R2 interacts with one of the subunits of dimeric FN, resulting in a stable complex with a slow k_off. In addition to not binding to type I collagen, the R1R2·FN complex incorporated less efficiently into extracellular matrix than free FN. Thus, R1R2 binds to FN utilizing features of compact soluble FN and in doing so interferes with the organization of the extracellular matrix. A similar bivalent binding strategy may underlie the collagen-FN interaction.     

检测人血清中肺炎球菌10A型荚膜多糖IgG抗体的包被抗原适用性研究

目的 确定用于23价肺炎多糖疫苗免疫后临床血清样本检测的包被用10A型肺炎球菌荚膜多糖(Pn10A)。方法 根据WHO推荐的检测人血清中肺炎球菌荚膜多糖IgG抗体含量的ELISA(PnPSELISA),包被不同来源(ATCC、A公司、B公司、5个公司混合)的10A多糖[Pn10A(ATCC)、Pn10A(A)、Pn10A(B)、Pn10A(mix)],检测38份血清中Pn10AIgG抗体的几何平均浓度(GMC)和相同样本免疫前、后的阳转率(免疫后/免疫前≥2为阳转),确定用于临床血清检测的包被Pn10A。结果 用Pn10A(ATCC)、Pn10A(A)、Pn10A(B)包被检测38份相同样本免疫前、后血清中Pn10AIgG抗体的GMC和阳转率,Pn10A(A)与Pn10A(ATCC)包被的检测结果差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),数据一致性好(r>0.9);Pn10A(B)与Pn10A(ATCC)包被的检测结果差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),数据一致性差(r<0.8);再以Pn10A(A)、Pn10A(ATCC)、Pn10A(mix)包被检测另46份相同样本免疫前、后血清中Pn10AIgG抗体的GMC和阳转率,Pn10A(A)、Pn10A(mix)与Pn10A(ATCC)包被的检测结果差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),数据一致性好(r>0.9),免疫前、后GMC值相近,阳转率相近,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 Pn10A(A)、Pn10A(mix)与Pn10A(ATCC)均可以作为包被多糖用于检测人血清中肺炎球菌Pn10AIgG抗体;但从长久使用相同抗原检测大批量临床样本的需求考虑,Pn10A(mix)更具有足量、经济的优势。     

Identification and Characterization of IgdE,a Novel IgG-degrading Protease of Streptococcus suis with Unique Specificity for Porcine IgG

Streptococcus suis is a major endemic pathogen of pigs causing meningitis, arthritis, and other diseases. Zoonotic S. suis infections are emerging in humans causing similar pathologies as well as severe conditions such as toxic shock-like syndrome. Recently, we discovered an IdeS family protease of S. suis that exclusively cleaves porcine IgM and represents the first virulence factor described, linking S. suis to pigs as their natural host. Here we report the identification and characterization of a novel, unrelated protease of S. suis that exclusively targets porcine IgG. This enzyme, designated IgdE for immunoglobulin G-degrading enzyme of S. suis, is a cysteine protease distinct from previous characterized streptococcal immunoglobulin degrading proteases of the IdeS family and mediates efficient cleavage of the hinge region of porcine IgG with a high degree of specificity. The findings that all S. suis strains investigated possess the IgG proteolytic activity and that piglet serum samples contain specific antibodies against IgdE strongly indicate that the protease is expressed in vivo during infection and represents a novel and putative important bacterial virulence/colonization determinant, and a thus potential therapeutic target.     

Development of a New Selective Plating Medium for Rhodococcus equi

A new selective plating medium for Rhodococcus equi containing ceftazidime (20 mg/l) and novobiocin (25 mg/l) on a Mueller-Hinton agar basis is described. It proved to be less inhibitory for R. equi than selective plating media devised earlier and grew only very few other nocardioform bacteria.     

Experimental infection of rhesus macaques with Streptococcus pneumoniae: a possible model for vaccine assessment

BACKGROUND: We explored the possibility of using normal adult rhesus macaques for the preclinical assessment of safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of newly developed vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection of the lung. METHODS: Our primary objective was to determine whether an intra-bronchial inoculum of at least 10(6)S. pneumoniae colony-forming units, or one as high as 10(8)-10(9) organisms, could detectably survive in rhesus macaques for a period longer than 1-2 weeks. If so, we hypothesized, it would be possible to observe signs of pneumonia commonly observed in humans, and discriminate between vaccinated/protected animals and controls. Infection was detectable in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids 3-5 weeks post-inoculation. RESULTS: The clinical course of disease mimicked aspects of that of human pneumococcal pneumonia. Signs of inflammation typical of the disease in humans, such as elevated concentrations of neutrophils and of pro-inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the utility of this model to assess the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of newly developed S. pneumoniae vaccines.     

猪链球菌IgG结合蛋白的原核表达及其与不同动物IgG的结合性

猪链球菌IgG结合蛋白(SPG)是一种可与多种动物IgG结合的细胞壁蛋白,广泛地存在于猪链球菌的各个血清型中,被认为是共同抗原。然而其在猪链球菌中的生物学意义并不清楚。本实验用PCR方法从猪链球菌1/2、1、2和9型菌株基因组中扩增SPG基因,构建pET28a-SPG重组表达载体,将其转入大肠杆菌BL21菌株。IPTG诱导表达后,重组蛋白经SDS-PAGE及Western blotting鉴定为可高效表达。镍亲和层析及分子筛两步纯化后获得纯度较高的目的蛋白。Western blotting及ELISA试验结果表明,所有纯化的目的蛋白均可与不同动物IgG结合,其中与人和猪IgG的结合能力相对较高,但不同血清型猪链球菌SPG与同种动物IgG的结合活性没有明显差异。