猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌毒素apxH基因无药物抗性标记突变株HBC-/GFP+的构建及其生物学特性研究

通过使用枯草芽胞杆菌一个蔗糖敏感sacB基因发展了一种依靠蔗糖的负向筛选系统,这种方法允许没有标记突变的基因进入胸膜肺炎放线杆菌染色体。首先,构建了猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌毒素apxⅡ基因GFP插入失活型的重组质粒pOSAKCG,其中一个表达盒含有氨苄青霉素基因和以外膜蛋白omlA作为启动子表达sacB基因。重组质粒pOSAKCG通过电穿孔转化,它的突变apxⅡCA基因与野生型亲本菌株胸膜肺炎放线杆菌HB03染色体上野生型apxⅡCA基因发生同源交换,两步法筛选获得了apxⅡ基因突变株HBC^-／GFP^ ,PCR和Southern blot对突变株进行初步鉴定,进一步对突变株的一些生物学特性,包括它的溶血活性、免疫原性、生长特性及其对小鼠的安全性进行了研究。结果表明,无药物抗性标记突变株的构建是成功的。该突变株的构建为进一步研究突变株作为载体和疫苗奠定了坚实的基础。     

Conditional suicide system of Escherichia coli released into soil that uses the Bacillus subtilis sacB gene.

The sacB gene from Bacillus subtilis confers sucrose sensitivity upon gram-negative bacteria. The gene was investigated for use as a potential conditional suicide system for Escherichia coli released into soil. To ensure against the loss of the cell death function encoded under nonselective conditions, the nptI-sacR-B suicide cassette was inserted into the E. coli chromosome by using a circular nonreplicative integration vector. Stability studies yielded no loss of the suicide cassette in the integrated E. coli EL1026 strain. sacB induction in the absence of a selective pressure resulted in a lysis efficiency of up to 99.9%. The microcosm experiments confirmed the ability of the suicide cassette to limit the growth and reduce the survival of E. coli strains released into soil. Sucrose addition to sterile soil resulted in a 10(-3)-fold reduction of the final E. coli population density. sacB induction prevented the proliferation and triggered the rapid disappearance of E. coli from natural soil. Mutation to sucrose tolerance occurred at a frequency of 10(-5), making E. coli EL1026 a potential counterselectable donor strain for gene transfer studies. Specificity and potential adaptability to a wide range of gram-negative bacteria are additional conveniences of this conditional suicide system for the containment and counterselection of engineered microorganisms.     

Targeted modification of a human beta-globin locus BAC clone using GET Recombination and an I-Scei counterselection cassette

There is a need for better approaches to allow precise engineering of large genomic BAC DNA fragments, to facilitate the use of intact genomic loci for therapeutic and biotechnology applications. We report an efficient method to insert any modification in any genomic locus, using a human beta-globin locus BAC clone as a model system. The modifications can range from single base changes to large insertions or deletions and leave no operational sequences. A counterselection cassette, consisting of an inducible I-SceI gene, its recognition site, and an antibiotic resistance gene, is inserted into the targeted region using GET Recombination. A PCR fragment carrying the modification but no selectable marker replaces the counterselection cassette in a second round of GET Recombination. The unique I-SceI site in the counterselection cassette is cut by I-SceI endonuclease, strongly selecting against nonrecombinant clones and yielding up to 30% correct recombinants.     

Insertion of common mutations into the human beta-globin locus using GET Recombination and an EcoRI endonuclease counterselection cassette

A large number of mutations have been described in the human beta-globin locus causing thalassemia or various hemoglobinopathies. However, only a very limited number of these mutations have been studied in animal model systems in the context of the human beta-globin locus. We report here the use of the GET Recombination system with an EcoRI/Kan(R) counterselection cassette to facilitate the introduction of the HbE (codon 26, GAG-->AAG mutation and the codon 41-42 (-TTCT) deletion, two mutations found in high frequency in South-East Asia, into the human beta-globin locus. The counterselection cassette was first inserted into the target sequence in the beta-globin gene, and then a PCR fragment carrying the required modification was used to replace it. Efficient counterselection depends upon the tight regulation of the highly toxic EcoRI endonuclease gene by expression of lacI(q). Induction by IPTG during counterselection efficiently eliminates non-recombinant bacterial clones. The technique can be performed on any known gene sequence using current BAC technology, allowing identification and comparative functional analysis of key regulatory elements, and the development of accurate animal models for human genetic disorders.     

Construction of mutant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae lacking new antibiotic resistance markers using a two gene cassette with positive and negative selection.

The pathogenesis of infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea, can be studied using experimental infection of human male volunteers. The desire to avoid introducing new antibiotic resistance markers into strains to be used in human experimental infection has complicated the construction of genetically defined mutants in which expression of potential virulence factors is inactivated. To facilitate construction of such mutants, we have used a two-step mutagenesis strategy that allows for gene replacements without introducing new selectable markers into the final strain. The method uses a two-gene cassette containing both a selectable marker (ermC') and a counterselectable marker (rpsL). The cassette is cloned into the gene of interest and used to replace the wild-type gene on the chromosome by allelic exchange. A second transformation replaces the cassette-containing version of the gene with an engineered version with an unmarked deletion or other mutation. The rpsL gene of Escherichia coli functioned for the counterselection in the gonococcus, albeit with low efficiency. To improve the efficiency of the counterselection, we cloned the gonococcal rpsL gene and incorporated it into the cassette. This technique has been successful in creating defined mutants for human challenge, and also circumvents the limitation in the number of different selectable markers that are useful in Neisseria species.     

构建胸膜肺炎放线杆菌apxIC基因插入突变株

目的：构建胸膜肺炎放线杆菌（APP）apxIC基因插入突变菌株,以鉴定ApxⅠ毒素的生物学特性。方法：根据apxⅠ核酸序列（U05042）设计1对引物,用于自APP血清10型参考菌株（D13039）基因组DNA中扩增apxIC基因及其上下游约2．8kb的基因片段,经克隆测序后在apxIC基因下游xbI酶切位点处插入约0．9kb的氯霉素（Chl）抗性基因表达盒,构建用于转化的转移载体pUIC-Chl^r,将转移载体DNA经电转化导入APP血清10型参考菌株中进行同源重组,以获得突变菌株。结果：在含有氯霉素的培养基中经筛选获得2株丧失溶血活性的突变菌株（D13039C-Chl^r）;利用PCR和Southern blot对突变菌株鉴定,显示氯霉素抗性基因已被插入细菌基因组中。结论：利用电转化和同源重组技术构建成功APP apxIC基因插入突变菌株,为分析ApxⅠ毒素的生物学特性,进而研制APP基因工程减毒活疫苗奠定了基础。     

Construction and characterization of a live, attenuated apxIICA inactivation mutant of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae lacking a drug resistance marker

The apxIIC gene of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 was inactivated by homologous recombination using a sucrose counter-selectable marker system, resulting in a mutant strain that had no antibiotic resistance marker and expressed an inactivated ApxII toxin. The safety and immunogenicity of the mutant were evaluated in mice. The mutant strain caused no adverse effects in mice at doses up to 2 x 10(9) CFU via the intraperitoneal route while the parental strain induced total mortality at a dose of 2 x 10(7) CFU. Mice vaccinated intraperitoneally with the mutant strain had 100% and 70% protection against homologous (serotype 7) or heterologous (serotype 1, 3) challenge with A. pleuropneumoniae, respectively. The A. pleuropneumoniae mutant strain HB04C- and the counterselection method used in the study show promise in developing effective live vaccines for porcine pleuropneumonia and for other infections diseases of the respiratory system.     

用基于"Neo/E"的技术构建重组质粒

根据重组工程原理,建立了一种用于构建重组质粒的“neo／E”(抗生素／单酶切位点)选择与反选择新方法。首先采用PCR方法扩增出线性打靶分子：然后进行两步体内同源重组,(1)neo／E基因敲入,重组子呈现neo抗性表型;(2)目的基因替换M／E基因。用限制酶E消化时,发生第二步重组的DNA分子不能被消化,能够转化大肠杆菌受体菌DH5α。应用该方法构建了重组质粒pGL3-Basic PC1900T。PCR及测序鉴定证明：外源片段重组率为20％,所建立的重组工程选择与反选择新技术为质粒构建提供了新的解决方案。     

胸膜肺炎放线杆菌apxIC基因插入失活突变株构建及免疫原性分析

胸膜肺炎放线杆菌是引起猪传染性胸膜肺炎(APP)的呼吸道病原菌,其分泌的Apx毒素是最重要的毒力因子之一。为构建APP突变弱毒菌株,在apxIC基因下游XhoI酶切位点处插入氯霉素抗性基因(Chlr)制备转移载体,通过电转化导入APP血清10型参考菌株(D13039)进行同源重组,筛选获得apxIC基因插入突变菌株D13039C-Chlr。该突变菌株特性鉴定结果表明其溶血活性完全丧失,可正常增殖和分泌ApxI毒素,连续10次传代后基因组中插入的Chlr基因可稳定遗传,利用5个剂量(2×108CFU~2×106CFU)对每组3只小鼠腹腔攻毒结果显示突变菌株毒力较母源菌株降低至少100倍以上,将突变菌株作为弱毒活疫苗经滴鼻途径免疫仔猪后利用APP血清1型(4074)和血清10型(D13039)菌株攻毒进行免疫原性鉴定,结果显示血清1型攻毒后非免疫组4头仔猪全部死亡而免疫组4头中死亡2头,非免疫组肺损伤指数(34.4)显著高于免疫组(17.5),血清10型攻毒后非免疫组肺损伤指数(17.5)也高于免疫组(10.5),同时鼻拭子和肺组织样品的细菌重分离数及PCR检测阳性数非免疫组也明显高于免疫组,表明突变菌株作为弱毒活疫苗对仔猪具有一定的交叉免疫保护力。该突变菌株的构建为鉴定ApxI毒素活性及研制具有交叉保护活性的APP弱毒活疫苗奠定了基础。     

glnE is an essential gene in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis possesses a homologue of glnE, potentially encoding a regulator of glutamine synthetase activity. We attempted to construct glnE-disrupted mutants using a two-step strategy, whereby a single-crossover strain was first isolated, followed by sacB counterselection to isolate the double-crossover strain. Of 192 sucrose-resistant colonies tested, none were mutants, although the wild-type double crossover could be easily isolated. When a second copy of the wild-type glnE was integrated into the chromosome, we could isolate both wild-type and mutant double-crossover strains. Thus, the chromosomal gene could only be replaced with a disrupted copy when another functional copy of the gene was provided, demonstrating that this gene is essential under the conditions tested.     

血清7型胸膜肺炎放线杆菌apxⅡC-/apxⅠA+基因缺失重组菌株的构建与鉴定

通过接合转移和SacB负向筛选方法,成功构建了一株apxⅡC缺失的血清7型胸膜肺炎放线杆菌重组菌株。首先构建重组转移质粒pEHA1。将pEHA1转化供体菌大肠杆菌(E.coliβ2155),并将其与野生型APP血清7型亲本菌混合培养约5h,然后涂到含氯霉素抗性的培养基培养,挑取阳性克隆,接种到无抗性液体培养基,培养后涂于含有蔗糖的的固体培养基,培养一定时间后挑取蔗糖抗性的克隆,即可得到目的突变株。通过PCR、遗传稳定性、外毒素分泌、重组位点序列分析证明重组菌构建成功。通过对重组菌生物学特性进行初步研究,表明突变株生长能力未受影响,对小鼠毒力显著降低。该突变株构建体系的建立为猪传染性胸膜肺炎减毒活疫苗的开发及对胸膜肺炎放线杆菌新基因的功能研究奠定了良好基础。     

A simple method for multiple modification of the Escherichia coli K-12 chromosome

We developed a simple method of generating markerless deletions in the Escherichia coli chromosome. The method consists of two recombination events stimulated by lambda Red recombinase. The first recombination replaced a target region with a marker cassette and the second then eliminated the marker cassette. The marker cassette included an antibiotic resistant gene and a negative selection marker (Bacillus subtilis sacB). Since sacB makes E. coli sensitive to sucrose, a markerless deletion strain was successfully selected using its sucrose-resistant phenotype. To stimulate these recombination events, 1-kbp homologous sequences adjacent to the target region were connected to both ends of the marker cassette or connected to each other by PCR. The average efficiency of the recombinations was 24% and 93% respectively. Eliminating the marker cassette with a fragment including an additional sequence, insertion was also possible. This markerless deletion method should be useful in creating a highly modified E. coli chromosome.     

Markerless deletions of pil genes in Myxococcus xanthus generated by counterselection with the Bacillus subtilis sacB gene.

In-frame deletions of pilA and pilS were constructed in Myxococcus xanthus with a plasmid integration-excision strategy facilitated by sacB. sacB conferred sucrose sensitivity upon its M. xanthus host only when it lay in the same orientation as adjacent M. xanthus genes. Gene orientation also affected the efficiency of sucrose counterselection in the sucrose-sensitive strains. The deltapilA mutant lacked pili and social motility, while the deltapilS mutant showed no defect in either phenotype.     

Two systems for targeted gene deletion in Coxiella burnetii

Coxiella burnetii is a ubiquitous zoonotic bacterial pathogen and the cause of human acute Q fever, a disabling influenza-like illness. C. burnetii's former obligate intracellular nature significantly impeded the genetic characterization of putative virulence factors. However, recent host cell-free (axenic) growth of the organism has enabled development of shuttle vector, transposon, and inducible gene expression technologies, with targeted gene inactivation remaining an important challenge. In the present study, we describe two methods for generating targeted gene deletions in C. burnetii that exploit pUC/ColE1 ori-based suicide plasmids encoding sacB for positive selection of mutants. As proof of concept, C. burnetii dotA and dotB, encoding structural components of the type IVB secretion system (T4BSS), were selected for deletion. The first method exploited Cre-lox-mediated recombination. Two suicide plasmids carrying different antibiotic resistance markers and a loxP site were integrated into 5' and 3' flanking regions of dotA. Transformation of this strain with a third suicide plasmid encoding Cre recombinase resulted in the deletion of dotA under sucrose counterselection. The second method utilized a loop-in/loop-out strategy to delete dotA and dotB. A single suicide plasmid was first integrated into 5' or 3' target gene flanking regions. Resolution of the plasmid cointegrant by a second crossover event under sucrose counterselection resulted in gene deletion that was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot. ΔdotA and ΔdotB mutants failed to secrete T4BSS substrates and to productively infect host cells. The repertoire of C. burnetii genetic tools now allows ready fulfillment of molecular Koch's postulates for suspected virulence genes.     

MudSacI, a transposon with strong selectable and counterselectable markers: use for rapid mapping of chromosomal mutations in Salmonella typhimurium.

The transposable bacteriophage Mu and its mini-Mu derivatives are useful tools for the genetic analysis of many bacteria. A variety of antibiotic-resistant Mu derivatives have been constructed, allowing direct selection for cells which contain the transposon. However, in many cases a counterselection against the transposon would greatly facilitate further genetic analysis. In this paper we report the construction of MudSacI, a mini-Mu derived transposon containing the sacB (secretory levansucrase) gene of Bacillus subtilis, which confers sucrose sensitivity upon gram-negative bacteria. We describe the use of this transposon as a tool for rapid genetic mapping of chromosomal genes in Salmonella typhimurium. Simple modifications of this approach should facilitate rapid mapping in many other bacteria as well.     

少根根霉脂肪酶基因在枯草芽孢杆菌中的诱导表达

利用PCR技术从少根根霉基因组中扩增出脂肪酶成熟肽基因ral,并从枯草芽孢杆菌基因组中扩增出sacB基因的启动子-信号序列(SacB);通过搭桥PCR将SacB序列与ral基因融合,并将该基因表达盒连接到枯草杆菌分泌表达载体pGJ103中构建了脂肪酶基因的诱导表达载体pGJ103-SacB-ral。将重组载体转化至枯草芽孢杆菌后,少根根霉脂肪酶成熟肽基因在SacB启动子-信号序列的调控和蔗糖的诱导下获得表达,产物分泌至胞外。     

A double kill gene cassette for the positive selection of transforming non-selective DNA segments in Acinetobacter baylyi BD413

Natural transformation has been widely used for the monitoring of DNA in biological and environmental samples. These assays depended on selectable traits on the tested DNA. We have now developed a transformation assay system in which recombinational removal of a cassette with two conditional kill genes (hok and sacB) from the recipient genome provides positive selection for non-selective DNA. The cassette was integrated into the Acinetobacter baylyi BD413 chromosome within trpE and was flanked by two segments of non-selective test DNA, which in this study were from a T-DNA construct previously used to generate a transgenic potato. Genes for tetracycline and spectinomycin/streptomycin resistance located at the sides of the cassette allowed to maintain selection pressure against spontaneous loss of the cassette. Plasmid DNA containing the T-DNA gave transformation frequencies ranging linearly from 10(-4) per recipient (at 1 mug DNA ml(-1)) down to 10(-7) (1 ng DNA ml(-1)) by selecting for survivors after activation of both kill functions. Transformation depended on the two flanking homologous segments for recombinational exchange. DNA of the transgenic potato also gave positive scores in spite of the about 10(5)-fold dilution of T-DNA by potato DNA. False positives having a spontaneous deletion of hok and sacB occurred at a frequency of 1.8x10(-9) per cell but could be distinguished by PCR from real transformants. Thus, the system is suitable for detection of transformation frequencies down to about 10(-9). Hok and sacB as well as the regulatory system used (LacI-lac operator and T5 promoter) are known to function in many organisms suggesting wide applicability of the cassette for positive selection.     

Characterization of bdhA, encoding the enzyme D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, from Sinorhizobium sp. strain NGR234

A genomic library of Sinorhizobium sp. strain NGR234 was introduced into Escherichia coli LS5218, a strain with a constitutively active pathway for acetoacetate degradation, and clones that confer the ability to utilize D-3-hydroxybutyrate as a sole carbon source were isolated. Subcloning experiments identified a 2.3 kb EcoRI fragment that retained complementing ability, and an ORF that appeared orthologous with known bdhA genes was located within this fragment. The deduced NGR234 BdhA amino acid sequence revealed 91% identity to the Sinorhizobium meliloti BdhA. Site-directed insertion mutagenesis was performed by introduction of a OmegaSmSp cassette at a unique EcoRV site within the bdhA coding region. A NGR234 bdhA mutant, NGRPA2, was generated by homogenotization, utilizing the sacB gene-based lethal selection procedure. This mutant was devoid of D-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity, and was unable to grow on D-3-hydroxybutyrate as sole carbon source. NGRPA2 exhibited symbiotic defects on Leucaena but not on Vigna, Macroptilium or Tephrosia host plants. Furthermore, the D-3-hydroxybutyrate utilization phenotype of NGRPA2 was suppressed by presence of plasmid-encoded multiple copies of the S. meliloti acsA2 gene. The glpK-bdhA-xdhA gene organization and the bdhA-xdhA operon arrangement observed in S. meliloti are also conserved in NGR234.     

产生无标记农杆菌突变体方法的建立及优化

农杆菌已经用作许多生物过程研究的模型细菌,为了解析这些生物过程的分子机理,对农杆菌的某些基因进行突变就显得非常重要．以自杀性基因sacB作为反向可选择性标记基因,利用同源重组的原理,建立了一种可对农杆菌基因进行准确插入、删除和位点置换的突变方法,所获突变体不带任何不需要的外源DNA序列．通过详细研究同源序列的长度对农杆菌同源重组效率和突变体产生概率的影响,以及对农杆菌中的同源重组机理的分析,提出了优化该突变体产生方法的方案,即通过设计不等长的上下游同源序列和选择其中一种类型的单交换重组体来筛选二次交换重组体的方法,可以显著地提高理想突变体的产生概率．研究结果对如何提高突变体的产生概率和减少突变体筛选的工作量具重要的参考价值．利用该方法成功地获得了两个基因被同时删除而且不含抗性标记的农杆菌突变株．