福氏2a志贺氏菌2457T HtpG蛋白诱导小鼠炎性反应

[目的]构建福氏2a志贺氏菌2457T株的htpG缺失突变株和回复株,对HtpG蛋白的功能进行初步研究.[方法]采用X-Red重组系统对htpG基因进行缺失突变,构建了福氏2a志贺氏菌2457T株的htpG缺失突变株,并利用低拷贝质粒构建了htpG突变株的回复株.在此基础上,对野生株、突变株和回复株的生长曲线、生化反应、豚鼠角膜试验进行了比较分析,并考察了野生株、突变株和回复株腹腔注射引起小鼠炎症反应的强弱.[结果]HtpG蛋白功能与福氏志贺氏菌的基本生化代谢无关,也不影响细菌穿透上皮细胞的能力,但腹腔注射后能够引起小鼠强烈的炎症反应.[结论]HtpG蛋白功能可能与细菌的免疫致病性相关.     

鸭疫里默氏杆菌外膜蛋白生物学特性研究

血清2型鸭疫里默氏杆菌强毒菌株体外传200代获得了无毒力无免疫原性菌株,采用超声波裂解和超速离心法提取二株菌的外膜蛋白, 以比较分析鸭疫里默氏杆菌外膜蛋白的生物学特性。电镜观察细菌超微结构显示传代菌株外膜膜密度降低, 外膜泡的数量明显减少, 细胞质不均匀、内有空泡产生;免疫印迹结果表明二株菌的外膜蛋白免疫原性多肽存在明显区别;原代菌株的外膜蛋白仅与2型RA抗体出现特异性凝集, 而传代菌株的外膜蛋白与 1、2、10与11型RA抗体均出现凝集;二株菌的外膜蛋白均可诱导雏鸭产生抗体, 但原代菌株外膜蛋白诱导雏鸭产生抗体滴度显著高于200代次菌株;原代菌株外膜蛋白免疫鸭对同源RA菌株的攻击可产生100%的免疫保护, 而传代菌株外膜蛋白免疫鸭对同源RA菌株的攻击不产生免疫保护。序列分析显示两者的外膜蛋白A同源性达到99.9%。结果表明强毒菌株的外膜蛋白为良好的亚单位疫苗候选, 体外连续传代对RA外膜蛋白生物学特性影响显著。     

嗜水气单胞菌bamA、bamB、bamD突变株的构建及其对外膜蛋白转运的影响

革兰氏阴性细菌的BAM(β-barrel assembly machinery)系统一般由BamA-E等5个亚基组成,以β-桶状外膜蛋白的结构对细菌的转运和正确折叠中起重要作用。目前对于BAM系统的研究大多集中在大肠杆菌、脑膜炎双球菌等细菌中,而在其他细菌中的相关功能还有待进一步研究。以嗜水气单胞菌为研究对象,首先利用同源重组技术,分别构建完成bamA、bamB、bamD的缺失突变株。尔后,利用SDS-PAGE检测技术对相应突变株差异外膜蛋白进行比较,并对这些差异蛋白进行质谱分析,共鉴定到7个差异蛋白,其中5个为外膜蛋白,2个为位于内膜上的蛋白酶。此外,还通过Western blotting对部分突变株外膜蛋白的表达进行验证。研究结果发现,嗜水气单胞菌BAM系统的突变不仅改变了其外膜蛋白表达,还影响了微生物的蛋白转运进程;且在系统中不同亚基对不同外膜蛋白的转运和表达效果也有所不同,结果提示了嗜水气单胞菌BAM转运系统的不同亚基存在特定外膜蛋白转运的特性。     

鸭疫里默氏杆菌外膜蛋白生物学特性研究

血清2型鸭疫里默氏杆菌强毒菌株体外传200代获得了无毒力无免疫原性菌株,采用超声波裂解和超速离心法提取二株菌的外膜蛋白, 以比较分析鸭疫里默氏杆菌外膜蛋白的生物学特性。电镜观察细菌超微结构显示传代菌株外膜膜密度降低, 外膜泡的数量明显减少, 细胞质不均匀、内有空泡产生;免疫印迹结果表明二株菌的外膜蛋白免疫原性多肽存在明显区别;原代菌株的外膜蛋白仅与2型RA抗体出现特异性凝集, 而传代菌株的外膜蛋白与 1、2、10与11型RA抗体均出现凝集;二株菌的外膜蛋白均可诱导雏鸭产生抗体, 但原代菌株外膜蛋白诱导雏鸭产生抗体滴度显著高于200代次菌株;原代菌株外膜蛋白免疫鸭对同源RA菌株的攻击可产生100%的免疫保护, 而传代菌株外膜蛋白免疫鸭对同源RA菌株的攻击不产生免疫保护。序列分析显示两者的外膜蛋白A同源性达到99.9%。结果表明强毒菌株的外膜蛋白为良好的亚单位疫苗候选, 体外连续传代对RA外膜蛋白生物学特性影响显著。     

弗氏2a志贺氏菌2457T株yciD基因缺失突变株的构建

目的:构建弗氏2a志贺氏菌2457T株yciD基因缺失突变体,以研究yciD基因的功能。方法:根据弗氏2a志贺氏菌2457T株基因组全序列,采用Red重组系统对yciD基因进行缺失,并经PCR和SDS-PAGE证实;对野生株和突变株的生长状态及生化反应进行比较研究。结果:构建了弗氏2a志贺氏菌2457T株的yciD基因缺失突变株2457TΔyciD,该突变株外膜蛋白样品中缺失了一条相对分子质量与从yciD基因推导的蛋白相当(约22000)的蛋白带。该突变株比野生株生长快,利用葡萄糖和甘露醇的能力也比野生株大为增强。结论:获得了弗氏2a志贺氏菌2457T株的yciD基因缺失突变株。     

集胞藻PCC6803中S2P同源蛋白基因sll0862缺失突变株对热胁迫与氧化胁迫的响应

原核生物中S2P参与应答外界环境刺激,然而行光合作用的蓝细菌-集胞藻PCC6803的S2P同源蛋白功能未知。【目的】考察集胞藻PCC6803中S2P同源蛋白sll0862是否参与外界环境刺激的应答。【方法】监测在高温和氧化胁迫的条件下sll0862基因缺失突变株与野生株在生长速率或存活率上的差异,利用水样调制叶绿素荧光仪(water-PAM,脉冲-振幅-调制叶绿素荧光仪)测量在高温和氧化胁迫的条件下突变株与野生株叶绿素荧光参数的差异,来考察其光合作用差异。【结果】sll0862突变株与野生株在正常的培养环境中生长速率并无差异,但是将sll0862突变株与野生株在48℃加热处理半小时后,sll0862突变株的存活率明显低于野生株。当初始OD730值为0.1的藻液中添加终浓度为1 mmol/L双氧水的时候,sll0862突变株的生长速率比野生株明显低,而且氧化胁迫条件下突变株与野生株的调制叶绿素荧光有差异。【结论】集胞藻PCC6803中sll0862基因的缺失导致突变体对高温与氧化胁迫响应出现缺陷,提示有功能的sll0862参与响应热和氧化胁迫。研究结果为进一步阐述S2P同源蛋白sll0862在集胞藻PCC6803中的功能奠定基础。     

禽多杀性巴氏杆菌C48-3株外膜蛋白H的致病作用

目的:探讨禽多杀性巴氏杆菌外膜蛋白H(OmpH)的致病作用。方法:用大肠杆菌表达系统表达强毒株C48-3的重组蛋白OmpH,亲和层析法纯化N端带有6个组氨酸标签的重组OmpH,通过皮下注射兔制备抗OmpH抗血清,用生物学功能实验比较野生株C48-3、突变株ΔompH和互补株C48-3C的粘附能力、血清抵抗性和抗吞噬作用。结果:与野生株和互补株相比,突变株对CEF细胞的粘附能力显著降低,而抗OmpH抗体显著抑制野生株和互补株对CEF细胞的粘附,但该抗血清不影响突变株的粘附能力。野生株和互补株在鸡血清中的存活率显著高于突变株,但灭活鸡血清处理不影响它们的存活率。小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞对突变株的吞噬能力显著高于野生株和互补株,而抗OmpH抗体增强巨噬细胞对野生株和互补株的吞噬能力,但该抗体不影响巨噬细胞对突变株的吞噬能力。结论:OmpH是禽巴氏杆菌的致病因子,它在该菌对宿主的感染与致病过程中发挥重要的作用。     

假单胞菌M18调控基因ppbR的克隆及功能研究

假单胞菌 (Pseudomonas sp.) M18 是促进植物生长的根际细菌, 能产生吩嗪-1-羧酸 (PCA) 和藤黄绿菌素 (Plt) 两种不同的抗生素。根据生物信息学分析, 铜绿假单胞菌PA2572基因编码蛋白可能是一个双元调控系统的应答调节子。本研究从假单胞菌M18基因组中扩增出PA2572同源基因片段ppbR, 利用体外定点插入突变和同源重组技术构建了M18 的ppbR突变株M18P。研究结果表明, 突变株M18P在泳动能力和群集运动能力上有显著的下降。突变株合成PCA 的能力比野生型有显著的下降, 在发酵液中PCA积累量仅为野生型的50%。在KMB培养基中, 突变株Plt的积累量和野生型没有显著的差异。     

嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白W 基因的表达及其免疫原性分析

从患暴发性败血病的草鱼病灶处分离鉴定了嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)Wp3菌株。以其基因组DNA为模板扩增外膜蛋白W基因(OmpW),该基因全长为865 bp,开放式阅读框(ORF)为615 bp,与标准株ATCC7966的OmpW基因的同源性为99.8%。根据ORF序列设计引物扩增OmpW成熟肽编码序列并将其插入到表达载体pQE30中,转化大肠杆菌,经诱导可表达分子量为24.7 kD的带His标签的融合外膜蛋白His-W。用此融合蛋白免疫草鱼,所得草鱼血清经ELISA分析显示呈现阳性反应,说明重组蛋白能诱导产生抗体。采用实时荧光定量PCR分析草鱼头肾组织IgM基因表达水平的变化,结果显示免疫组IgM的表达量均明显高于空白组,其中低浓度免疫组(2μg/g)与空白对照组的差异显著(P<0.05),说明融合蛋白可使草鱼产生良好的免疫应答并上调抗体基因表达、产生高效抗体。保护性实验显示,不同免疫剂量均可使免疫组获得较高保护率(57%?86%)。结果显示,重组嗜水气单胞菌外膜蛋白W可作为草鱼嗜水气单胞菌基因工程亚单位疫苗。     

假单胞菌M18调控基因ppbR的克隆及功能研究

假单胞菌(Pseudomonas sp.)M18是促进植物生长的根际细菌,能产生吩嗪-1-羧酸(PCA)和藤黄绿菌素(Plt)两种不同的抗生素.根据生物信息学分析,铜绿假单胞菌PA2572基因编码蛋白可能是一个双元调控系统的应答调节子.本研究从假单胞菌M18基因组中扩增出PA2572同源基因片段ppbR,利用体外定点插入突变和同源重组技术构建了M18的ppbR突变株M18P.研究结果表明,突变株M18P在泳动能力和群集运动能力上有显著的下降.突变株合成PCA的能力比野生型有显著的下降,在发酵液中PCA积累量仅为野生型的50%.在KMB培养基中,突变株Plt的积累量和野生型没有显著的差异.     

Inhibition of vibrio anguillarum by Pseudomonas fluorescens AH2, a possible probiotic treatment of fish

To study the possible use of probiotics in fish farming, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antagonism of antibacterial strain Pseudomonas fluorescens strain AH2 against the fish-pathogenic bacterium Vibrio anguillarum. As iron is important in virulence and bacterial interactions, the effect of P. fluorescens AH2 was studied under iron-rich and iron-limited conditions. Sterile-filtered culture supernatants from iron-limited P. fluorescens AH2 inhibited the growth of V. anguillarum, whereas sterile-filtered supernatants from iron-replete cultures of P. fluorescens AH2 did not. P. fluorescens AH2 inhibited the growth of V. anguillarum during coculture, independently of the iron concentration, when the initial count of the antagonist was 100 to 1, 000 times greater that of the fish pathogen. These in vitro results were successfully repeated in vivo. A probiotic effect in vivo was tested by exposing rainbow trout (Oncorynchus mykiss Walbaum) to P. fluorescens AH2 at a density of 10(5) CFU/ml for 5 days before a challenge with V. anguillarum at 10(4) to 10(5) CFU/ml for 1 h. Some fish were also exposed to P. fluorescens AH2 at 10(7) CFU/ml during the 1-h infection. The combined probiotic treatment resulted in a 46% reduction of calculated accumulated mortality; accumulated mortality was 25% after 7 days at 12 degrees C in the probiotic-treated fish, whereas mortality was 47% in fish not treated with the probiont.     

Improving vaccines against tuberculosis

Tuberculosis remains a major cause of mortality and physical and economic deprivation worldwide. There have been significant recent advances in our understanding of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome, mycobacterial genetics and the host determinants of protective immunity. Nevertheless, the challenge is to harness this information to develop a more effective vaccine than BCG, the attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis derived by Calmette and Guérin nearly 90 years ago. Some of the limitations of BCG include the waning of the protective immunity with time, reduced effectiveness against pulmonary tuberculosis compared to disseminated disease, and the problems of a live vaccine in immuno-compromised subjects. Two broad approaches to vaccine development are being pursued. New live vaccines include either attenuated strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis produced by random mutagenesis or targeted deletion of putative virulence factors, or by genetic manipulation of BCG to express new antigens or cytokines. The second approach utilizes non-viable subunit vaccines to deliver immunodominant mycobacterial antigens. Both protein and DNA vaccines induce partial protection against experimental tuberculosis infection in mice, however, their efficacy has generally been equivalent to or less than that of BCG. The comparative effects of cytokine adjuvants and vaccines targeting antigen presenting cells on enhancing protection will be discussed. Coimmunization with plasmid interleukin-12 and a DNA vaccine expressing Antigen 85B, a major secreted protein, was as protective as BCG. The combination of priming with DNA-85B and boosting with BCG was superior to BCG alone. Therefore it is possible to achieve a greater level of protection against tuberculosis than with BCG, and this highlights the potential for new tuberculosis vaccines in humans.     

Involvement of the virulence gene products of Yersinia enterocolitica in the immune response of infected mice

The virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica is known to be highly dependent on its virulence plasmid. However, it remains unclear whether the virulence plasmid is engaged also in the induction of cell-mediated immunity that is essential for protective immunity in the host. In this study, we have compared the induction of type 1 helper T cell immunity against Y. enterocolitica using a virulent strain (P+) harboring the pYV plasmid and an avirulent strain (P-) harboring no pYV. Spleen cells from both groups of mice immunized with 1/10 LD50 of P+ strain and those with 1/10 LD50 of P- strain produced a high level of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) upon stimulation with heat-killed bacteria, and CD4+ T cells were exclusively responsible for IFN-gamma production. When crude Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) were used for antigenic stimulation, IFN-gamma response of immune spleen cells against crude Yops was observed only in mice immunized with P+ strain. Flowcytometric analysis revealed a significant level of increase in IFN-gamma-producing CD8+ T cells as well as the increase in IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells against crude Yops. These results suggest that the virulence plasmid of Y. enterocolitica is involved in the induction of Th1-type of possibly protective T cells in infected mice.     

Phenotypic characterization, virulence, and immunogenicity of Edwardsiella tarda LSE40 aroA mutant

Bacterial aro mutants are frequently used as live attenuated vaccines for domestic animals. In this study, we characterized Edwardsiella tarda strain LSE40 with a deletion in the aroA gene. In addition to autotrophy, the aroA mutant appeared to have delayed cell division and reductions in its swarming motility, biofilm formation, and production of translocator proteins in the type III secretory system. The mutant exhibited high virulence attenuation in turbot fish, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), where the 50 % lethal dose increased by more than 3 log₁₀ via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection and by >2 log₁₀ via immersion exposure compared with the wild-type parent strain. A tissue persistence study showed that the mutant retained the ability to invade and spread in turbot and viable cells could be detected up to 28 days after i.p. infection and 21 days after immersion exposure. These results suggested a pleiotropic role for aroA in the physiological behavior of E. tarda. Turbot exhibited a good humoral response and the enhanced expression of innate immune factors, interleukin 1β and lysozyme, when vaccinated with aroA mutant at 10⁵?CFU via i.p. injection and at 10⁸?CFU via immersion exposure. However, the aroA mutant did not provide effective protection for turbot against edwardsiellosis following i.p. vaccination at doses of 10⁴–10⁶?CFU or immersion vaccination at doses of 10⁶–10⁸?CFU?ml^?1. We hypothesized that the aroA mutant did not trigger an appropriate T cell-immune response in turbot against infection of E. tarda.     

Gene disruption of Plasmodium falciparum p52 results in attenuation of malaria liver stage development in cultured primary human hepatocytes

Difficulties with inducing sterile and long lasting protective immunity against malaria with subunit vaccines has renewed interest in vaccinations with attenuated Plasmodium parasites. Immunizations with sporozoites that are attenuated by radiation (RAS) can induce strong protective immunity both in humans and rodent models of malaria. Recently, in rodent parasites it has been shown that through the deletion of a single gene, sporozoites can also become attenuated in liver stage development and, importantly, immunization with these sporozoites results in immune responses identical to RAS. The promise of vaccination using these genetically attenuated sporozoites (GAS) depends on translating the results in rodent malaria models to human malaria. In this study, we perform the first essential step in this transition by disrupting, p52, in P. falciparum an ortholog of the rodent parasite gene, p36p, which we had previously shown can confer long lasting protective immunity in mice. These P. falciparum P52 deficient sporozoites demonstrate gliding motility, cell traversal and an invasion rate into primary human hepatocytes in vitro that is comparable to wild type sporozoites. However, inside the host hepatocyte development is arrested very soon after invasion. This study reveals, for the first time, that disrupting the equivalent gene in both P. falciparum and rodent malaria Plasmodium species generates parasites that become similarly arrested during liver stage development and these results pave the way for further development of GAS for human use.