Detection of a specifically amplified DNAfragment in Brucella abortus by arbitrarilyprimed polymerase chain reaction

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of Brucella and non-Brucella DNA were established after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Five arbitrary oligonucleotide primers were screened to generate Brucella-specific DNA fingerprints. The arbitrary primer OPB-01 (5-GTTTCGCTCC-3) produced DNA bands specific to Brucella. Amplification conditions must be optimized for reproductibility. Accordingly, we optimized and established the conditions, which included Mg²⁺, enzyme (DNA polymerase), primer, template and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) concentrations as well as the optimum number of thermal cycles to produce OPB-01 directed Brucella DNA fingerprints.The optimized RAPD method can produce a 1.3 kb DNA fragment specific to Brucella. This DNA fragment was common to eight biovars of B. abortus and one biovar of B. melitensis. The fragment was not detected in genetically related species such as Ochrobactrum anthropi and other non-Brucella organisms associated with farm animals. We anticipate the use of this fragment as a possible probe for the detection of Brucella organisms.     

The use of an arbitrarily primed PCR product for the specific detection of Brucella

A 1.3 kb Brucella-specific DNA fragment produced through the use of arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR) was tested for its specificity by DNA–DNA hybridization to Brucella and non-Brucella bacteria. The digoxigenin (DIG)-labelled 1.3 kb DNA fragment hybridized with Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis but did not hybridize with other non-Brucella bacteria tested. The sensitivity of the reaction was determined; as little as 150 fg DNA or 30 Brucella cells could be detected. The specificity and sensitivity of the 1.3 kb DNA fragment combined with the simplicity and speed of the technique suggest the potential of this fragment as a DNA probe for the quick and reliable detection of Brucella organisms.     

用PCR检测临床血标本中人类细小病毒B19 DNA

用ＰＣＲ检测临床血标本中人类细小病毒Ｂ１９　ＤＮＡ杨洪江,张桦,林书祥,牛艾茹（天津市儿童医院儿研所,天津３０００７４）关键词聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）,人类细小病毒Ｂ１９几种人类细小病毒中,只有Ｂ１９病毒是人类的病原体。由于该病毒不能在体外繁殖,获得该...     

人细小病毒B19与自然流产关系的研究

无菌留取 5 4例自然流产妇女和 43例妊娠无异常孕妇血清 ,用聚合酶链反应 (PolymeraseChainReaction ,PCR)检测的人细小病毒B19(HumanParvovirusB19,B19)DNA ,在自然流产组中人细小病毒B19DNA有 15例阳性 ,阳性率为 2 7.78%。正常对照组中 ,人细小病毒B19DNA有 2例为阳性 ,阳性率为 4.65 % ,用x2 检验 ,x2 =8.86,P <0 .0 1,两组有非常显著性差异。由此总结 ,人细小病毒B19感染可能是导致自然流产的原因之一     

Environmental persistence of Brucella abortus in the Greater Yellowstone Area

Bison (Bison bison) and elk (Cervus elaphus) of the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) are the last remaining reservoirs of bovine brucellosis (Brucella abortus) in the United States. An important factor in evaluating the risk of transmission to cattle is the persistence of bacteria and infectious birth materials shed on pastures where cattle graze. We selected 2 study areas near the northern and western boundaries of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) to determine the persistence of bacteria on fetal tissue, soil, and vegetation, and scavenging on infectious materials from birth and abortion sites. We performed 3 independent field experiments to determine: 1) persistence of Brucella abortus (RB51) purposely applied to fetal tissues, 2) scavenging of fetuses by native scavengers, and 3) natural contamination of birth or abortion sites in the GYA. Results from these field experiments established that Brucella bacteria can persist on fetal tissues and soil or vegetation for 21–81 days depending on month, temperature, and exposure to sunlight. Bacteria purposely applied to fetal tissues persisted longer in February than May and did not survive on tissues beyond 10 June regardless of when they were set out. Brucella abortus field strain persisted up to 43 days on soil and vegetation at naturally contaminated bison birth or abortion sites. Fetuses were scavenged by a variety of birds and mammals in areas near YNP and more rapidly inside YNP than outside the Park boundary. Models derived from our data determined a 0.05% chance of bacterial survival beyond 26 days (95% Credible Interval of 18–30 days) for a contamination event in May. May 15 is the final date for hazing all bison into Yellowstone National Park under the current interagency bison management plan. With these data managers can predict when it is safe to graze cattle onto pastures previously occupied by bison. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and expression of the Brucella melitensis bp26 gene coding for a protein immunogenic in infected sheep

Abstract We have previously identified a Brucella melitensis 28 kDa cytosoluble protein (CP28) which was highly immunogenic in infected sheep and which in addition made possible the serological differentiation between infected and B. melitensis Rev.l vaccinated sheep. Monoclonal antibodies against CP28 were used to screen a B. melitensis 16M genomic library and to clone the corresponding gene. DNA sequencing of the gene encoding CP28 of B. melitensis 16M revealed that it was nearly identical to that of the recently published bp26 gene of Brucella abortus vaccine strain S19 coding for a periplasmic protein. The differences between the B. melitensis 16M gene and that of B. abortus S19 consisted of single nucleotide substitutions, one or two codon deletions, one codon addition, and most importantly a 21-bp deletion. The corresponding region of B. abortus S19 contains two 10-bp direct repeats which could have been involved in the genesis of the deletion. Expression of the B. melitensis 16M bp26 gene in Escherichia coli studied by the use of the monoclonal antibodies showed the same characteristics as reported for the B. abortus S19 bp26 gene, i.e. the presence of a higher molecular mass preprotein and a lower molecular mass band which probably corresponds to the mature protein exported to the periplasm. Immunoblotting performed with sera from either naturally infected or B. melitensis H38 experimentally infected sheep confirmed the importance of the B. melitensis CP28/BP26 protein as diagnostic antigen.     

Identification of active site residues of the inverting glycosyltransferase Cgs required for the synthesis of cyclic beta-1,2-glucan, a Brucella abortus virulence factor

Brucella abortus cyclic glucan synthase (Cgs) is a 320-kDa (2868-amino acid) polytopic integral inner membrane protein responsible for the synthesis of the virulence factor cyclic beta-1,2-glucan by a novel mechanism in which the enzyme itself acts as a protein intermediate. Cgs functions as an inverting processive beta-1,2-autoglucosyltransferase and has the three enzymatic activities required for the synthesis of the cyclic glucan: initiation, elongation, and cyclization. To gain further insight into the protein domains that are essential for the enzymatic activity, we have compared the Cgs sequence with other glycosyltransferases (GTs). This procedure allowed us to identify in the Cgs region (475-818) the widely spaced D, DxD, E/D, (Q/R)xxRW motif that is highly conserved in the active site of numerous GTs. By site-directed mutagenesis and in vitro and in vivo activity assays, we have demonstrated that most of the amino acid residues of this motif are essential for Cgs activity. These sequence and site-directed mutagenesis analyses also indicate that Cgs should be considered a bi-functional modular GT, with an N-terminal GT domain belonging to a new GT family related to GT-2 (GT-84) followed by a GH-94 glycoside hydrolase C-terminal domain. Furthermore, over-expression of inactive mutants results in wild-type (WT) production of cyclic glucan when bacteria co-express the mutant and the WT form, indicating that Cgs may function in the membrane as a monomeric enzyme. Together, these results are compatible with a single addition model by which Cgs acts in the membrane as a monomer and uses the identified motif to form a single center for substrate binding and glycosyl-transfer reaction.     

柯萨奇B组病毒在Hep—2细胞内增殖特性的研究

采用ＩＦＡ、ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ法观察了柯萨奇Ｂ组病毒（ＣＢＶ）５型在Ｈｅｐ－２细胞内的增殖动态。ＣＢＶ感染细胞后４ｈ可检出病毒ＲＮＡ,８ｈ可检出病毒抗原,１２ｈ可观察到细胞病变,２０ｈ可检出病毒颗粒。结果为ＣＢＶ增殖特性的研究提供了新的资料,并指出ＰＣＲ是监测ＣＢＶ增殖的敏感方法。     

Characterization of Brucella abortus S19 as a challenge strain for use in a mouse model of brucellosis

The objective of this project was to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether the Brucella abortus S19 vaccine infects and persists in mice and determine whether S19 can be used as a challenge strain for vaccine trial studies. Groups of BALB/c mice were inoculated (intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intranasally) and euthanized to determine colonization titers in the spleens and lungs. This study showed that S19 does infect and persist in the tissues of mice for 8 weeks and demonstrates that S19 can be used, safely and economically under BSL2 containment, as the challenge strain for future trials to evaluate vaccine efficacy.     

高灵敏可视化核酸试纸条法快速检测HBV DNA

目的：本研究旨在建立一种基于试纸条的快速、灵敏及可视化检测乙型肝炎病毒核酸的方法。方法：利用聚合酶链反应扩增乙肝病毒的保守区,其中上、下游引物的5＇端分别修饰异硫氰酸荧光素和生物素。核酸试纸条上的胶体金以及检测线处分别标记有链霉亲和素以及抗荧光素抗体。将扩增产物与展开液混合后点样,10 min后即可用肉眼判读结果。在优化了展开液成分、上样体积以及上样浓度之后,对该方法的灵敏度进行了评价。最后收集15例阴性样本及33例HBsAg阳性样本,按血清标志物结果进行分类后使用核酸试纸条进行检测,并与实时荧光PCR的结果进行了比较。结果：试纸条检测乙肝病毒核酸的灵敏度为250copies/mL。在临床样本的测定中,该方法与实时荧光定量PCR的特异性均为100%。且两种方法检测不同血清标志物类型的阳性检出率无差异。结论：核酸试纸条技术能够用于乙肝病毒核酸的可视化检测,与实时荧光PCR相比检测速度快,具有较好的灵敏度和特异性,适合流行病学调查以及在基层医院体检使用。     

Detection of hepatitis B virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction in HBsAG negative Senegalese patients suffering from cirrhosis or primary liver cancer

The polymerase chain reaction was used to search for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA sequences in the sera of HBsAg-negative Senegalese patients suffering from liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Amplified HBV-DNA sequences were detected by hybridization with a digoxigenin-labelled HBV-DNA probe. HBV-DNA was detected in 17% of HBsAg negative Senegalese subjects from the general population and in 44% and 58% of the patients suffering from cirrhosis or primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHCC) respectively. In the control group, amplified HBV-DNA was detected in 25% of the subjects without HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies, and in 6% of subjects positive for anti-HBs antibodies. This study confirmed the hypothesis that there is an etiologic link between HBV and PHCC in HBsAg-negative patients.     

Large deletion of androsterone UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene in the inherited deficient strain of Wistar rats

LA Wistar rats have a deficiency of androsterone UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) and are present in Wistar rat colonies around the world. In order to clarify the molecular mechanism of the deficiency, androsterone UDPGT cDNA clone, pGT2 was isolated from rat liver cDNA library and was digested with restriction enzymes to afford three probes for Northern and Southern blot analyses in HA (normal), heterozygous LA and LA Wistar rats. In Northern blot analysis, androsterone UDPGT mRNA was totally absent in LA Wistar rat liver. Southern blot analysis suggested a large deletion of androsterone UDPGT gene in the rats. Genomic DNA amplifications with synthetic primers which have nucleotide sequences corresponding to the 5′-region of androsterone UDPGT cDNA, suggested that androsterone UDPGT gene has exon 1 with a length of some 700 bp and that this exon is deleted in LA Wistar rats. Based on these lines of evidence, it is concluded that the large portion of androsterone UDPGT gene is deleted in LA Wistar rats, which results in the absence of androsterone UDPGT mRNA and consequently the corresponding enzyme protein.     

拉米夫定联合阿德福韦酯治疗乙型肝炎的疗效及对HBV耐药基因突变的影响

目的探讨拉米夫定联合阿德福韦酯治疗慢性乙型肝炎的疗效,并利用反向点杂交技术检测其对HBV基因耐药突变的影响。方法156例慢性乙型肝炎患者随机分为2组：对照组70例采用拉米夫定治疗,治疗组86例采用拉米夫定联合阿德福韦酯治疗。采用实时荧光定量PCR和ELISA检测2组治疗前和治疗后48周的HBV-DNA载量和HBeAg并采用PCR-反向点杂交技术（PCR-RDB）检测2组治疗48周后的HBV耐药基因突变情况。结果对照组及治疗组在经过48周治疗后HBV-DNA载量较治疗前都明显下降（P 〈0. 05）,治疗组HBV-DNA载量明显低于对照组（P〈0.05）。治疗组经过48周治疗后HBeAg的阴转率为54.9%,明显高于对照组15.0% （P 〈0.05）。对照组44例未出现耐药突变,25例拉米夫定耐药突变中rtL180M突变6例,rtM204V/I突变11例,rtL180M ＋ rtM204V/I混合突变8例;阿德福韦酯HN236T耐药突变1例。治疗组77例未出现耐药突变;5例拉米夫定耐药突变中rtL180M突变1例,rtM204V/I突变2例,rtL180M ＋ rtM204V/I混合突变2例;阿德福韦酯耐药突变中rtN236T突变1例;拉米夫定和阿德福韦酯交叉耐药rtN236T ＋ rtM204V/I混合突变3例。对照组耐药突变率为37. 1%（26/70）明显髙于治疗组的10.5%（9/86）（P〈0.05）。结论拉米夫定联合阿德福韦酯对治疗慢性乙型肝炎方面有效并在减少HBV耐药基因突变方面具有一定的作用。     

Conservation of cholera toxin gene in a strain of cholera toxin non-producing Vibrio cholerae O1

BT23, a Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor isolate, possesses the cholera toxin (CT) gene as determined by PCR. However, CT was not detected in the culture medium by the reversed passive latex agglutination test, nor in the whole cell lysate as examined by Western blotting. The toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) was not detected by Western blotting. This suggests the presence of defects in the regulatory cascade. toxR, toxS and toxT, members of the regulatory cascade, were examined by PCR. toxR and toxS were conserved but toxT was not. CT and TCP production was complemented by transformation of toxT. The lack of toxT was suspected to be the cause of the undetectable production of CT in strain BT23.     

人微小病毒B19感染的研究进展

近年来人微小病毒B19(human parvovirus B19)作为人类疾病的重要病原已愈来愈广泛受到重视。大量研究成果不但揭示了B19病毒的致病机理,Th-1介导的细胞免疫应答,而且发展了B19感染的诊断和B19污染血制品的筛查技术,并且为疫苗的研制奠定了基础。这里对人类B19病毒的病原学特征、致病机理、临床症状及实验室诊断方法和技术进行了较全面的综述。     

细小病毒B19诊断芯片的初步研究

初步探讨并制备细小病毒B19诊断芯片,进行实验室验证．用基因芯片点样仪将细小病毒B19诊断探针固定在特殊处理的玻片上,以细小病毒B19质粒重复检测．运用限制性显示(RD)技术,用Cy5标记的通用引物进行荧光标记,通过与基因芯片杂交,严谨洗涤,将非特异性的标记片段洗脱后,经扫描仪扫描,计算机解读．杂交结果显示,Cy5标记的探针均出现杂交信号,而阴性对照和空白对照的杂交信号均很弱：芯片检测具有高特异性、敏感性和可重复性．初步建立了较可靠的制备与检测细小病毒B19诊断芯片的方法,经验证诊断准确率高,假阳性率低．     

The molecular evolution of ZFY-related genes in birds and mammals

Summary We report the isolation and nucleotide sequence determination of clones derived from five ZFY-related zinc-finger genes from birds and mammals. These sequences are analyzed with reference to the previously published human genes, ZFX and ZFY, and mouse genes, Zfx, Zfa, Zfy-1, and Zfy-2. The analysis indicates that ZFY-related genes are highly conserved in birds and mammals, and that the rate of nucleotide substitution in the Y-linked genes is not as high as predicted. However, the mouse Zfy-1 and Zfy-2 genes are markedly divergent members of the ZFY gene family; we suggest this relates to X-inactivation of the mouse gene Zfx.