Identification and characterization of bacteriophages specific to the catfish pathogen,Edwardsiella ictaluri

Aims: To identify and characterize bacteriophages specific for Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent for enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC). Methods and Results: Two bacteriophages were isolated that infect Edw. ictaluri. They both produce clear plaques, have icosahedral heads with a non‐rigid tail, and are tentatively classified as Siphoviridae. Phages ΦeiDWF and ΦeiAU are dsDNA viruses with approximate genome sizes of 40 and 45 kb, respectively. The addition of 500 μmol l^?1 CaCl₂ enhanced phage titres. Both phages have a latent period of 40 min and an estimated burst size of 270. Every Edw. ictaluri strain tested was susceptible to phage infection with variable plaquing efficiencies and with no evidence of lysogeny, with no plaques detected on other bacterial species. Conclusions: Two unique bacteriophages were isolated that show host‐specificity for Edw. ictaluri, have temperature and metal cation‐dependent infectivity, and are tentatively placed within the family Siphoviridae. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report of bacteriophages specific to Edw. ictaluri, an important fish pathogen affecting farm‐raised channel catfish. Initial characterization of these bacteriophages has demonstrated their potential use as biotherapeutic and diagnostic agents associated with ESC.     

Verification of an Edwardsiella ictaluri‐specific diagnostic PCR

Aims: To verify the specificity of a PCR assay for the identification and diagnosis of Edwardsiella ictaluri. Methods and Results: An Edwardsiella ictaluri‐specific PCR assay was developed utilizing two features of the ribosomal DNA gene clusters. The first feature is the presence of two ribosomal gene clusters located in tandem to one another (the inter‐ribosomal spacer, IRS). This characteristic is present in the Edwardsiella genus but absent in the other sequenced members of the Enterobacteriaceae. The second feature is the presence of an intervening sequence (IVS) in the 23S rRNA gene of Edw. ictaluri. To verify the specificity of this assay, we tested genomic DNA from a variety of bacterial species. The IVS/IRS PCR assay results in an c. 2000‐bp product from all Edw. ictaluri isolates tested, but not from any other species including Edwardsiella tarda. Conclusions: The IVS/IRS PCR assay is highly specific for Edw. ictaluri and useful as a tool for identifying this pathogen. Significance and Impact of the Study: This research verifies the specificity of PCR‐based assay for Edw. Ictaluri, and we describe this assay as a highly versatile diagnostic tool for its identification.     

Characterization of the rrn operons in the channel catfish pathogen Edwardsiella ictaluri

Aims:  To advance diagnostics and phylogenetics of Edwardsiella ictaluri by sequencing and characterizing its rrn operons.
Methods and results:  The Edw. ictaluri rrn operons were identified from a 5–7 kbp insert lambda library and from Edw. ictaluri fosmid clones. We present the complete sequences and analysis of all eight Edw. ictaluri rrn operons and unique regions located upstream and downstream. Two rrn operons were located in tandem with 169 bp separating them, which is apparently a conserved feature between Edw. ictaluri and Edwardsiella tarda. I- Ceu I enzyme digestion of Edw. ictaluri genomic DNA and analysis by pulsed field gel electrophoresis indicated that rrn operon number and chromosomal locations are conserved within the species Edw. ictaluri .
Conclusions:  The rrn operons of Edw. ictaluri have similar structure and flanking regions compared with other members of the family Enterobacteriaceae ; however, the presence of eight copies of the rrn operon makes Edw. ictaluri unique within the family .
Significance and impact of the study:  This research clarifies previous phylogenetic analyses of Edw. ictaluri and provides support for the Edw. ictaluri genome sequencing project. In addition, we identified a unique feature of two rrn operons that shows potential for the development of a diagnostic PCR method.     

Analysis of 16S-23S intergenic spacer regions of the rRNA operons in Edwardsiella ictaluri and Edwardsiella tarda isolates from fish

AIMS: To analyse interspecies and intraspecies differences based on the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (ISR) sequences of the fish pathogens Edwardsiella ictaluri and Edwardsiella tarda. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 16S-23S rRNA spacer regions of 19 Edw. ictaluri and four Edw. tarda isolates from four geographical regions were amplified by PCR with primers complementary to conserved sequences within the flanking 16S-23S rRNA coding sequences. Two products were generated from all isolates, without interspecies or intraspecific size polymorphisms. Sequence analysis of the amplified fragments revealed a smaller ISR of 350 bp, which contained a gene for tRNA(Glu), and a larger ISR of 441 bp, which contained genes for tRNA(Ile) and tRNA(Ala). The sequences of the smaller ISR of different Edw. ictaluri isolates were essentially identical to each other. Partial sequences of larger ISR from several Edw. ictaluri isolates also revealed no differences from the one complete Edw. ictaluri large ISR sequence obtained. The sequences of the smaller ISR of Edw. tarda were 97% identical to the Edw. ictaluri smaller ISR and the larger ISR were 96-98% identical to the Edw. ictaluri larger ISR sequence. The Edw. tarda isolates displayed limited ISR sequence heterogeneity, with > or =97% sequence identity among isolates for both small and large ISR. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high degree of size and sequence similarity of 16S-23S ISR both among isolates within Edw. ictaluri and Edw. tarda species and between the two species. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our results confirm a close genetic relationship between Edw. ictaluri and Edw. tarda and the relative homogeneity of Edw. ictaluri isolates compared with Edw. tarda isolates. Because no differences were found in ISR sequences among Edw. ictaluri isolates, sequence analysis of the ISR will not be useful to distinguish isolates of Edw. ictaluri. However, we identified restriction sites that differ between ISR sequences of Edw. ictaluri and Edw. tarda, which will be useful in distinguishing the two species.     

黄颡鱼PGRP-L基因克隆及其对爱德华氏菌的反应

为了研究肽聚糖识别蛋白家族(Peptidoglycan recognition proteins, PGRPs)在黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrusfulvidraco)先天免疫应答中发挥的作用, 根据NCBI中斑马鱼(Danio rerio) 和虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss) PGRP-L的基因信息, 采用简并引物和RACE方法从黄颡鱼肝脏中克隆得到了一个长型PGRP (PfPGRP-L)基因. PfPGRP-L基因的全长cDNA序列大小为1617 bp, 其中5'和3'非翻译区的长度分别为135和72 bp, 开放阅读框为1410 bp, 编码469个氨基酸. 同源性和系统进化分析表明, 黄颡鱼PGRP-L与虹鳟的同源性为60%, 与脊椎动物的PGLYRP2 或PGRP-L聚在一起. 半定量RT-PCR分析发现PfPGRP-L基因在黄颡鱼鳃、胸腺、肝脏、脾脏、肠道、肾脏、头肾、心脏、血液和肌肉组织中均有分布, 但在肠道和脾脏中的表达量较为丰富, 而在肌肉和血液中表达则很少. 用爱德华氏菌刺激后, PfPGRP-L在肝脏、脾脏、肠道及头肾中的表达明显上调. 结果表明, PfPGRP-L在黄颡鱼抵抗病原菌中具有重要作用.     

In vitro inhibitory effect of gossypol from gossypol-acetic acid, and (+)- and (-)-isomers of gossypol on the growth of Edwardsiella ictaluri

AIM: This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic effect of gossypol from gossypol-acetic acid, and (+)- and (-)-isomers of gossypol on the growth of Edwardsiella ictaluri. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inhibitory effect of various concentrations of gossypol on the growth of E. ictaluri was determined. Bacterial recovery was performed by preincubation of bacteria in medium containing various concentrations of gossypol and subsequent activation of bacteria by inoculating on gossypol-free plates. Concentrations of racemic gossypol, (+)-gossypol and (-)-gossypol of 1.5 microg ml(-1) or higher significantly reduced the number of bacterial colonies compared with that of the control. The growth of E. ictaluri was completely inhibited on agar plates supplemented with 3 microg ml(-1), regardless of the forms of gossypol. The inhibitory effect of (+)-gossypol was higher than that of (-)-gossypol or gossypol-acetic acid. Recovery of E. ictaluri was <50% for all three forms of gossypol at concentrations of 5 microg ml(-1). Bacterial recovery remained relatively constant (6.5%) at gossypol concentrations from 10 to 100 microg ml(-1). Complete killing of E. ictaluri was not reached at gossypol levels up to 100 microg ml(-1). CONCLUSION: Gossypol-acetic acid, and (+)- and (-)-optical isomers have anti-bacterial effect against E. ictaluri. The results suggest the action is bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The therapeutic effect of gossypol against E. ictaluri may be useful in controlling enteric septicaemia of catfish.     

Detection of type III secretion gene as an indicator for pathogenic Edwardsiella tarda

Aims: To differentiate pathogenic and nonpathogenic Edwardsiella tarda strains based on the detection of type III secretion system (T3SS) gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods and Results: Primers were designed to amplify Edw. tarda T3SS component gene esaV, catalase gene katB, haemolysin gene hlyA and 16S rRNA gene as an internal positive control. Genomic DNAs were extracted using a commercial isolation kit from 36 Edw. tarda strains consisting of 18 pathogenic and 18 nonpathogenic strains, and 50 ng of each DNA was used as the template for PCR amplification. PCR was performed with a thermocycler (TaKaRa TP600) in a 25‐μl volume. Products of esaV were detected in all pathogenic strains, but not in nonpathogenic strains; katB was detected in all pathogenic strains and one of nonpathogenic strains; hlyA was not detected in any strains. Conclusions: The detection of esaV gene can be used for the assessment of pathogenic Edw. tarda strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: The strategy using T3SS gene as the virulence indicator provides a useful tool for the clinical assessment of pathogenic Edw. tarda strains and prediction of edwardsiellosis risk in fish culture environments.     

鮰爱德华氏菌外膜微孔蛋白N基因PCR快速检测方法的建立

根据GenBank中鮰爱德华氏菌Edwardsiella ictaluri外膜微孔蛋白N(porin N)基因序列(GenBank No: NC_012779.2)设计了1对引物,预计目的片段大小为381 bp。通过对反应体系和条件的优化,并进行特异性试验、敏感性试验及人工感染组织样品检测,建立了一种快速检测鮰爱德华氏菌的PCR方法。结果表明,在所检测的鮰爱德华氏菌、迟缓爱德华氏菌、嗜水气单胞菌、温和气单胞菌、杀鲑气单胞菌、豚鼠气单胞菌、嗜麦芽寡养单胞菌、鲁氏耶尔森氏菌、海豚链球菌、不动杆菌、产气肠杆菌、大肠杆菌、拟态弧菌、荧光假单胞菌、弗氏柠檬酸杆菌15种细菌中仅鮰爱德华氏菌扩增出特异性条带;敏感性试验结果显示,该方法最小核酸检出量为9.35×10-3 ng·μL-1;同时对人工感染的病料肝脏、细菌基因组DNA、细菌菌液及菌落进行扩增,结果显示4种材料均能检测出大小为381 bp的基因片段。本研究所建立的方法特异强、灵敏度高,适用于鮰爱德华氏菌感染病例的高效、快速检测。     

Edwardsiella tarda - virulence mechanisms of an emerging gastroenteritis pathogen

Human Edwardsiella tarda infections often manifest as gastroenteritis, but can become systemic and potentially lethal. E. tarda uses virulence factors that include type III and type VI secretion systems, quorum sensing, two-component systems, and exoenzymes to gain entry into and survive within the host. Better understanding of interactions between these factors will lead to the development of novel antimicrobials against E. tarda and other enterics.     

■爱德华氏菌变异株C9605及对鳖的致病性研究

从患白板综合症的病鳖分离到一株细菌（C9605）,该菌为革兰氏阴性,直杆状,周生鞭毛。接触酶阳性,氧化酶阴性,还原硝酸盐,对多粘菌素不敏感,不利用柠檬酸盐和丙二酸盐作唯一碳源,不从甘露醇、蔗糖、海藻糖、L-阿拉伯糖产酸。根据这些特性,菌株可归于爱德华氏菌。但是该菌发酵木糖产酸,产生H2S,耐青霉素,故鉴定为爱德华氏菌变异株（Edwardsiellaictalurivariationstrain）。人工感染实验证实,该菌株是鳖白板综合症的病原菌。     

鮰爱德华菌外膜蛋白OmpLC基因的生物信息学分析

采用PCR方法从鮰爱德华菌基因组中扩增出外膜蛋白OmpLC基因,利用生物信息学相关软件和网络数据库,预测该基因编码产物的基本理化性质、亲疏水性、信号肽、跨膜性、二级结构、结构域及基序、以及三级结构,同时构建OmpLC同源基因的系统发育进化树。结果表明:该蛋白由360个氨基酸组成,分子量为39.407 k D,理论等电点为4.98,不稳定系数为18.26,是一种稳定的强亲水性蛋白,有信号肽,成熟蛋白无跨膜螺区。其二级结构中α螺旋、β折叠和无规则卷曲分别占6.67%、45.28%和48.06%,其空间结构为β桶状,属于OM_channels superfamily的gram_neg_porins成员。蛋白质多重序列比对和聚类分析显示,该蛋白序列与OmpLC蛋白(AEQ59632、AEQ59639)具有高度同源性,且在系统发育树上与二者聚为一簇。鮰爱德华菌OmpLC的生物信息学分析不仅为进一步探索该蛋白的功能提供参考资料,也为研究鮰爱德华菌的感染和致病机理,研制相关疫苗提供理论依据。     

维生素E对斑点叉尾胃肠道生长抑素表达的影响

生长抑素(Som atostatin,缩写为SS或SRIF)由生长抑素细胞分泌,是一类抑制动物生长的多肽类激素。1973年Brazeau,etal.[1]首先从绵羊下丘脑中分离到生长抑素,并发现其具有抑制垂体生长激素释放的功能。随后的研究发现在圆口动物、软骨鱼类、硬骨鱼类、两栖类、爬行类、鸟类、哺乳类等均有生长抑素SS的分布。