Glucose Catabolism of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

The pathways of glucose catabolism in Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae have been identified by the radiorespirometric technique. The radiorespirometric data showed that 96% of the glucose catabolism was via the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway with the remaining 4% dissimilated by the hexose monophosphate pathway. The products of the anaerobic dissimilation of glucose were determined. Lactic acid was the major product; ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, formic acid, and carbon dioxide were formed in smaller amounts.     

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae neuraminidase and its role in pathogenicity

The role of the enzyme neuraminidase in pathogenicity of the bacillus Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was studied. Different substances with low and high molecular weight were tested as inducers of E. rhusiopathiae neuraminidase biosynthesis. It was found that macromolecular complexes induce the secretion of the enzyme. K(M) values for different substrates showed that the affinity of the E. rhusiopathiae neuraminidase increases in parallel with the enlargement of the molecular weight of glycoproteins. Results from the rabbits skin test confirmed the role of E. rhusiopathiae neuraminidase as a factor of pathogenicity with spreading functions.     

Structural investigations on the cell surface of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

The cell wall of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was investigated. The corrected structure of the murein, which was published earlier, is reported here. The murein belongs to the B1delta type. It has L-alanine in position three of the peptide subunit and is crosslinked via a glycine-L-lysine-L-lysine interpeptide bridge. As expected by the complex serological situation in E. rhusiopathiae the carbohydrate moiety of the cell wall proofed to be very intricate. As accessory polymers polysaccharide(s) and teichoic acid(s) were identified. The teichoic acid(s) possess two novel polyols of which one could not be identified, the other one behaved like 6-O-methylgalactitol in gas liquid chromatography. Glucose and N-acetylgalactosamine were determined as substituents. The polysaccharide(s) is composed of mainly N-acetylfucosamine and smaller amounts of galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and a further unidentified sugar appearing later than hexaacetylsorbitol in GLC.     

DNA relatedness among Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains representing all twenty-three serovars and Erysipelothrix tonsillarum.

The levels of relatedness among strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (serovars 1 through 23 and type N) were estimated by performing DNA-DNA hybridization experiments with the type strains of E. rhusiopathiae and Erysipelothrix tonsillarum, which are the two Erysipelothrix species that have been described. Two distinct DNA relatedness groups were identified. The group 1 strains, representing serovars 1, 2, 4 through 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15 through 17, 19, and 21 and type N, exhibited more than 73% hybridization with the type strain of E. rhusiopathiae but less than 24% hybridization with the type strain of E. tonsillarum. Group 2 included serovar 3, 7, 10, 14, 20, 22, and 23 strains, and these strains exhibited more than 66% hybridization with the type strain of E. tonsillarum but less than 27% hybridization with the type strain of E. rhusiopathiae. Strains representing serovars 13 and 18 exhibited low levels of hybridization (16 to 47%) with both of the type strains, indicating that these serovars may be members of a new genomic species. The members of the E. rhusiopathiae and E. tonsillarum groups resembled each other in many phenotypic characteristics, but differed in their ability to produce acid from saccharose and in their pathogenicity for swine. Our results confirm that the genus Erysipelothrix contains two main genomic species, E. rhusiopathiae and E. tonsillarum, which can be differentiated into serovars.     

红斑丹毒丝菌SpaA蛋白保护区域的免疫学检测

为了确定菌体表面保护性抗原A（SpaA）的免疫保护区域,通过PCR从红斑丹毒丝菌C43065株基因组DNA中分别扩增出编码成熟SpaA及其N端342个氨基酸序列（SpaA-N）和C端160个氨基酸序列（SpaA—C）的基因片段,将它们分别克隆到表达载体pET32a上,转化入大肠埃希菌BL21,IPTG诱导,亲和层析法纯化重组蛋白,并检测它们对小鼠的保护作用。SDS—PAGE结果显示重组SpaA、SpaA-N和SpaA—C以可溶性形式表达在大肠埃希菌BL21细胞质中并具有良好的免疫原性。保护试验结果表明重组SpaA、SpaA—N和NaOH提取抗原完全保护小鼠受强毒株C43065的致死性感染,但重组SpaA—C没有保护作用。结果表明SpaA-N可以作为预防猪丹毒的亚单位疫苗。     

Pathogenicity of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae: virulence factors and protective immunity

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is the causative agent of erysipelas in animals and erysipeloid in humans. In the absence of specific antibodies, the organism evades phagocytosis by phagocytic cells, but even if phagocytized, it is able to replicate intracellulary in these cells. In this review, recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenicity of E. rhusiopathiae and its protective immunity are described.     

安徽部分地区猪丹毒杆菌的分离鉴定及生物学特性研究

【目的】对安徽省8个不同地区猪场临床疑似猪丹毒病/死猪进行细菌分离鉴定,并研究其生物学特性。【方法】通过形态学及培养特性观察、生化试验、PCR方法对菌株进行鉴定,并进行药物感受性实验及免疫保护实验。【结果】共分离到29株猪丹毒杆菌,源自8个地区的猪丹毒杆菌分离菌具有较一致的形态特征和相似的生化特性。对29株猪丹毒杆菌进行18种常用抗菌药物的药敏试验,结果显示分离菌对氨苄西林、头孢曲松敏感率均达100%,其次是青霉素93%、红霉素89.7%和头孢噻肟75.9%,对其他13种药物则表现不同程度的耐药性。8株不同地区猪丹毒杆菌分离菌的LD50在(14.30?2.36)×102 CFU/mL之间,显示分离菌对小鼠均具有较强的致病力。商品化猪丹毒G4T10株弱毒疫苗2次颈部皮下免疫小鼠后,分别用剂量为100 LD50的8株猪丹毒杆菌分离菌腹腔攻毒小鼠,免疫保护率为100%。【结论】安徽地区猪丹毒发生有上升趋势,不同地区的猪丹毒杆菌分离菌具有较为一致的生物学特性,青霉素类和头孢类抗菌药物有显著疗效,使用猪丹毒G4T10株弱毒疫苗可产生有效的免疫保护力。     

Protective immunity of SpaA-antigen producing Lactococcus lactis against Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae infection

AIMS: To develop an economical, safe and simple vaccination system against swine erysipelas using SpaA-antigen producing Lactococcus lactis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The spaA gene of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was inserted into a shuttle plasmid pSECE1 to construct pSECE1.3. The SpaA produced in L. lactis maintained a stable antigenicity without degrading in growth. After mice were inoculated intranasally and orally with pSECE1.3-carrying L. lactis cells, IgG and IgA specific to SpaA were detected, and all the mice survived a challenge with 100 LD(50) of E. rhusiopathiae Tama-96 in the inner thigh. CONCLUSIONS: SpaA-producing L. lactis appears useful as an effective subunit vaccine against swine erysipelas. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this vaccination system, purification of the antigen and injection are unnecessary, leading to a reduced production cost, reduced labour and less stress to the animals. This vaccination system of the lactic acid bacteria should be a safe and suitable vehicle for a polyvalent vaccine.