Protective properties of certain external proteins of group B streptococci

On the basis of genes, which control synthesis of externally localized proteins of group B streptococci (bac and scaAB), recombinant polypeptides P6 and ScaAB were obtained. Data on protective activity of these polypeptides during experimental infection of immunized mice as well as in opsonophagocytic test on cultivated peritoneal macrophages are presented. It has been shown that protective effect of specific antibodies to P6 was dependent from intensity of immune response. Titer of specific IgG to P6 equal 1:25000 was protective for mice during challenge with LD50. During sublethal challenge level of humoral immunity determined both rate of microorganism elimination and degree of decrease of concentration of streptococci in the spleen. Recombinant polypeptide ScaAB also had marked protective activity and protective titer ScaAB-specific IgG was significantly lower compared with the first polypeptide (1:1600). It has been established that both types of antibodies have opsonizing activity against different strains of group B streptococci. Opsonizing properties of antibodies to P6 were restricted to Bac protein-producing streptococci whereas specificity of antibodies to ScaAB was not restricted by type and group borders. Opsonization of both group B and group A streptococci was revealed. It has been established that protective efficacy mediated by antibodies was dependent not only from their opsonizing characteristics but also from availability of protein antigens, which under certain conditions can be shielded by capsular polysaccharide. It has been assumed that vaccine preparation developed on the basis of polypeptides P6 and ScaAB is promising for further research.     

Amino acid sequences of two proline-rich bactenecins. Antimicrobial peptides of bovine neutrophils

Bactenecins are highly cationic polypeptides of the large granules of bovine neutrophils, exerting in vitro a potent antimicrobial activity. Two bactenecins, with an approximate molecular weight of 7000 and 5000, called Bac7 and Bac5, are characterized by a high content of proline (greater than 45%) and arginine (greater than 23%) residues. Their complete amino acid sequences were determined by automated Edman degradation combined, in the case of Bac5, with plasma desorption mass spectrometry. Bac7 comprises 59 residues and includes three tandem repeats of a tetradecamer characterized by several Pro-Arg-Pro triplets spaced by single hydrophobic amino acids. Resolution of the primary structure of Bac5 required fragmentation with N-bromosuccinimide as well as digestion of the obtained C-terminal fragment with carboxypeptidases P and Y directly in the mass spectrometer. Bac5 comprises 42 amino acid residues with a repeated motif of Arg-Pro-Pro triplets also alternating with single apolar residues.     

Amplification of the riboflavin operon genes of Bacillus subtilis in Escherichia coli cells]

Amplification of Bacillus subtilis DNA fragments was performed in Escherichia coli using plasmid RSF2124. The main principle of isolation and cloning hybrid plasmids was described using genes of riboflavin operon as a model. Bac. subtilis DNA was treated with restriction endonuclease EcoR; followed by the agarose gel electrophoretic separation of the resulting fragments. Gels were sliced, DNA was eluted from the corresponding slices and used to transform Bac. subtilis auxotrophs rib A72, rib S110 and rib D107. DNA fraction with the molecular weight 7 . 10(6) daltons restored prototrophy of these mutants. DNA of this fraction was ligated with EcoRI treated plasmid RSF2124 DNA and used for transformation of E. coli rk-mk+. Ampicillin resistant transformants which had lost the colicin production ability, were selected. The presence of riboflavin genes within the hybrid plasmids was detected by transformation of B. subtilis auxotrophs. Three hybrid plasmids (pPR1, pPR2 and pPR3), containing a fragment of Bac. subtilis DNA with the molecular weight 6.8 . 10(-6) daltons including riboflavin operon, were selected. The analysis of the transformation activity of Bac. subtilis DNA and plasmid pPR1 DNA revealed, that there was no restriction activity of Bac. subtilis cells against plasmid DNA amplified in E. coli. Heteroduplex analysis has shown that plasmids pPR1 and pPR2 differ in the orientation of Bac. subtilis DNA fragment. DNA of these plasmids restored prototrophy of the several studied E. coli riboflavin auxotrophs.     

Bactenecins, defense polypeptides of bovine neutrophils, are generated from precursor molecules stored in the large granules

Bactenecins are highly cationic polypeptides of bovine neutrophil granules and exert in vitro a potent antimicrobial activity. We have previously purified two bactenecins, designated in an abbreviated form Bac7 and Bac5 from their approximate molecular masses of 7 and 5 kD (Gennaro, R., B. Skerlavaj, and D. Romeo. 1989. Infect. Immun. 57:3142-3146). Here we have studied the biosynthesis, processing, and localization of precursors of Bac7 and Bac5 in bovine bone marrow cells of the myeloid lineage. In vitro translation directed by mRNA isolated from these cells has shown that the primary translation products are preprobactenecins of 23.5 and 21 kD, and are processed to polypeptides of 20 and 15.8 kD, respectively. The 20-kD polypeptide is the granule storage form of Bac7, or proBac7, as also demonstrated by Western blot analysis of lysates of peripheral neutrophils. Between 15 and 50 min from the beginning of its biosynthesis the 15.8-kD polypeptide is converted into the 15-kD granule storage form of Bac5, or proBac5. As shown by immunogold EM, proBac7 and proBac5 are sorted and targeted to the matrix of the so called large granules, which are the predominant organelles in the cytoplasm of bovine neutrophils and are the exclusive store of the nonoxidative antimicrobial system of these cells. Solubilization of granules with Triton X-100 with concomitant unmasking of proteases leads to cleavage of the proforms to Bac7 and Bac5. Experiments performed with protease inhibitors suggest that the proteolytic cleavage is catalyzed in detergent-solubilized neutrophils by neutral serine protease(s), very likely derived from the azurophil granules.     

An Escherichia coli-Enterococcus faecalis shuttle vector as a tool for the construction of a group B Streptococcus heterologous mutant expressing the β antigen (Bac) of the C protein complex

Group B streptococci (GBS) represent a very important group of human pathogens. So far little is known about the mechanisms by which these bacteria can cause disease and the bacterial factors involved. One putative virulence factor is the beta antigen of the C protein complex (Bac), which can bind to the Fc region of human IgA. Its binding function might represent an important virulence mechanism. However, the genetic manipulation of this group of bacteria, necessary to prove involvement of bacterial factors in pathogenesis, is still in its infancy. We therefore tested the pAM401 vector system for its suitability in the construction of a heterologous expression mutant using the Bac protein as a model antigen. The bac gene, including its own promoter, was cloned into the Escherichia coli-Enterococcus faecalis shuttle vector pAM401 and was stably maintained extrachromosomally in the bac-deficient GBS strain 335. Expression of Bac was assessed by extracting the protein from transformed 335(pPJTU1) cells, negative controls (335 wild-type, 335(pAM401)) and other Bac-expressing GBS strains (A909, LA239). Blots of the extracted proteins probed with IgA, polyclonal sera and a monoclonal antibody raised against Bac clearly revealed expression of the 130-kDa protein in the transformed GBS 335(pPJTU1) cells. The correct processing and surface anchoring of the expressed Bac was demonstrated by binding of (125)I-labelled IgA to whole cells. Strain 335(pPJTU1) bound 12 times as much IgA compared to the parental strain LA239 and the GBS 335 negative controls, and a total of 25% compared to the high-level-expressing strain A909. Our studies show that the pAM401 shuttle vector can be used for stable heterologous expression of surface proteins in GBS. Our strategy is also of major importance for the complementation of deletion mutants in GBS and other Gram-positive human pathogens to fulfill Koch's postulates. The Bac mutant constructed in this study, 335(pPJTU1), can be used in animal models to assess the importance of Bac in GBS pathogenesis.     

膜蛋白LASS2的表达研究

利用多种原核表达系统、真核体外翻译系统和细菌/杆状病毒(Bac to Bac)的昆虫表达系统对一个具有重要生理功能的人的膜蛋白LASS2(Homo sapienslongevity assurance homologue 2 of yeastLAG1)进行表达研究。在原核表达系统中仅能够表达其羧基端胞外区片段却不能表达完整的LASS2蛋白,并制备了该片段的抗体。完整的LASS2蛋白能够在两种真核表达系统中进行表达,SDS-PAGE分析结果表明,表达产物分子量为约28kD的LASS蛋白, Western印迹分析也证实了这一结果, 并利用Ni-NTA树脂亲和层析将该蛋白纯化,纯度达到90%以上。     

Mannose-sensitive haemagglutination in the absence of piliation in Escherichia coli

The relationship between type 1 pilus structure and the mannose-sensitive adhesin was investigated by analysing the properties of an 11.2 kb fragment of DNA derived from the chromosomal pil region of a type 1 piliated uropathogenic strain of Escherichia coli. The recombinant plasmids pHA9 and pSJH9, containing the cloned fragment, conferred a mannose-sensitive haemagglutination (MSHA)-positive but non-piliated phenotype on recipient cells of ORN104. Most of the DNA sequences homologous to the pilA and hyp genes were not present in the 11.2 kb insert, and the genetic information necessary for MSHA in the absence of piliation spanned a 6.5 kb region of the cloned fragment. The polypeptides expressed by pSJH9 were examined in minicells and Tn1000 insertions in three genes encoding proteins of molecular weights 90 kD, 29 kD and 17 kD abolished the MSHA phenotype.     

Molecular genetics of herpes simplex virus. VII. Characterization of a temperature-sensitive mutant produced by in vitro mutagenesis and defective in DNA synthesis and accumulation of gamma polypeptides.

We report on the properties of a temperature-sensitive mutant produced by transfection of cells with intact DNA and a specific DNA fragment mutagenized with low levels of hydroxylamine. The plating efficiency of the mutant at 39 degrees C relative to that at 33.5 degrees C was 5 X 10(-6). The pattern of polypeptides produced at the nonpermissive temperature was similar to that seen with wild-type virus in infected cells treated with inhibitory concentrations of phosphonoacetic acid in that alpha and beta polypeptides were produced, whereas most gamma polypeptides were either reduced or absent. Consistently, the mutant did not make viral DNA, although temperature sensitivity of the viral DNA polymerase could not be demonstrated. Marker rescue studies with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) DNA mapped the mutant in the L component within map positions 0.385 and 0.402 in the prototype (P) arrangement of the HSV-1 genome. Analysis of the recombinants permitted the mapping of the genes specifying infected cell polypeptides 36, 35, 37, 19.5, 11, 8, 2, 43, and 44, but only the infected cell polypeptide 8 of HSV-2 was consistently made by all recombinants containing demonstrable HSV-2 sequences. Marker rescue studies with cloned HSV-1 DNA fragments mapped the temperature-sensitive lesion within less than 10(3) base pairs between 0.383 and 0.388 map units. Translation of the RNA hybridizing to cloned HSV-1 DNA, encompassing the smallest region containing the mutation, revealed polypeptide 8 (128,000 molecular weight), which was previously identified as a beta polypeptide with high affinity for viral DNA, and a polypeptide (25,000 molecular weight) not previously identified in lysates of labeled cells.     

牛抗菌肽Bac7-Bac5融合基因在大肠杆菌中的过表达，纯化及抑菌活性

牛抗菌肽Bac7和Bac5是一种线性阳离子小分子多肽,在机体天然免疫和获得性免疫中都发挥着重要作用。本研究根据Gen bank中公布的牛抗菌肽bac7和bac5成熟肽基因序列,人工合成了融合基因Bac7-Bac5片段,克隆于原核表达载体pET32(a+)中构建了重组表达载体（pET-B7-B5）,将其转化于E coli BL21(DE3) 中实现了重组蛋白B7-B5（rB7-B5）的过表达,表达的rB7-B5以包涵体形式存在,rB7-B5表达量约占细菌总蛋白的36.6％,分子量大小为33kD,与预测大小相符。以经Ni亲和层析柱纯化和多步透析法复性的rB7-B5,对猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌和耐药性大肠杆菌具有很好的抑菌活性,本研究为新型抗菌制剂的研制和开发奠定了基础。     

Complementation of an Escherichia coli proC mutation by a gene cloned from Treponema pallidum.

Little is known concerning the biosynthetic and metabolic capabilities of the syphilis agent, Treponema pallidum, because of the inability to cultivate continuously the organism in vitro. To circumvent the problem of cultivation, researchers have used recombinant DNA technology to express treponemal protein antigens in Escherichia coli. However, with a few notable exceptions, the specific cellular roles of these cloned treponemal proteins have not been determined. In this study, a cosmid library of T. pallidum genomic DNA was constructed and amplified by repackaging infective lambda bacteriophage particles in vivo. Recombinant clones capable of complementing a null mutation in the E. coli proC gene encoding 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) reductase (EC 1.5.1.2) were subsequently identified. The complementing activity was eventually localized to a 2.3-kilobase BglII-HindIII fragment that hybridized to the same-size fragment of a BglII-HindIII digest of T. pallidum DNA. Two proteins of 41 and 27 kilodaltons (kDa) were encoded by this fragment, as determined by maxicell analysis. Although only the 41-kDa protein could be specifically precipitated by experimental syphilitic rabbit antisera, it was the 27-kDa protein that was responsible for the proC-complementing activity. The recombinant P5C reductase differed from the native E. coli enzyme by a number of biochemical properties. The cloning of a T. pallidum gene encoding P5C reductase strongly suggests that this pathogen has the ability to synthesize proline and possibly other amino acids.     

人R_O蛋白(60kD)编码序列的PCR产物在E.coli中的克隆与表达

通过聚合酶链反应 ( PCR)自人脾 c DNA扩增 RO 蛋白 ( 60 k D)编码 DNA片段 .将该片段定向插入麦芽糖结合蛋白 ( MBP)融合系统的 p MALTM- c载体中并转化 E.coli ( DH5α) ,通过酶联免疫印迹 ( IBT)筛选出具有 RO 抗原性的阳性克隆 .绝大部分阳性克隆表达完整的 RO 融合蛋白 ( 1 0 0k D) .但在传代过程中表达水平很快降低 ;少数阳性克隆虽然表达非完整 RO 融合蛋白 (分子量 <80k D) ,但表达水平却高而且稳定 .同时保留了很强的 RO 抗原性 .产生非完整融合蛋白的一个原因是 ,PCR碱基错配引起 RO 编码 DNA的序列缺失 ;另一原因是融合蛋白在表达过程中被降解     

津田芜菁MYB77蛋白的原核表达及纯化

目的:建立津田芜菁转录因子MYB77的原核表达系统,并在大肠杆菌中获得表达。方法:RT-PCR获得MYB77的编码序列,将其克隆至pGEM-T载体中,在上下游引物中分别引入HindⅢ和EcoRⅠ酶切位点,PCR获得带酶切位点的目的片段并将其连接到重组表达载体pGEX-KG中,转化大肠杆菌DE3工程菌株,IPTG诱导重组质粒pGEX-KG-MYB77在大肠杆菌DE3中表达带有GST标签的融合蛋白,超声裂解大肠杆菌,用MagneGST ProteinPurification System纯化目的蛋白,通过SDS-PAGE和Western印迹验证GST-MYB77融合蛋白的表达。结果:重组菌株可以表达GST-MYB77融合蛋白,用Western印迹鉴定纯化的融合蛋白,在相对分子质量为55.56×103处检测到目的条带。结论:利用大肠杆菌表达系统获得了较高纯度的GST-MYB77融合蛋白,为进一步研究津田芜菁MYB77蛋白的功能奠定了基础。     

伪狂犬病病毒鄂A株包膜糖蛋白gD基因的克隆与表达

克隆了伪狂犬病病毒鄂A株编码包膜糖蛋白gD的基因并进行了序列测定 ,与国外报道的Rice株相比 ,其核苷酸序列具有 98%的同源性 ,推导氨基酸序列同源性为 97%。将此基因克隆于具有全期启动子盒的杆状病毒转移载体pSX35A中 ,构建成重组转移质粒pSX35A gD ,与致死缺失型线性化苜蓿丫纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒 (AcMNPV OCC- )基因组DNA一起共转染粉纹夜蛾Hi5细胞 ,经同源重组 ,获得含gD基因的重组病毒AcMNPV OCC+ gD。重组病毒经空斑纯化后感染Hi5细胞进行表达分析 ,细胞裂解物的SDS PAGE及Western Blot ting均显示分子量约 47kD的gD蛋白得到了特异性表达 ,其表达量占细胞总蛋白的 6 2 % ,表达的gD蛋白具有免疫原性。     

Two distinct, sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins interact independently with the major replication pause region of sea urchin mtDNA.

We have identified a second DNA-binding protein in sea urchin embryo mitochondria, which interacts with a binding site in the major replication pause region, at the junction of the genes for ATP synthase subunit 6 and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (COIII). We provisionally designate this protein mtPBP2, to distinguish it from the previously characterized mitochondrial pause-region binding protein mtPBP1, whose properties and binding site are quite distinct. The high-affinity binding site for mtPBP2 lies at the 5' end of the COIII gene, and exhibits partial dyad symmetry, although modification interference analysis indicates that recognition is complex. Binding of mtPBP2 to this site induces a bend of approximately 45 degrees in the DNA. Southwestern blots show that mtPBP1 and 2 are both single polypeptides, of apparent molecular weights 25 kD and 18 kD respectively. In vitro, mtPBP1 and mtPBP2 bind independently to their high-affinity sites, which are separated by about 50 bp.     

汉滩病毒M、S基因不同拼接方式在昆虫细胞中融合表达效果比较

将汉滩病毒囊膜糖蛋白G1与核蛋白 (NP)部分片段以不同方式拼接 ,构建G1S0 .7或S0 .7G1嵌合基因 ,分别插入杆状病毒表达载体 pFBD ,转化DH10Bac致敏菌 ,获得含有嵌合基因的重组穿梭质粒Bacmid ,用其转染Sf9细胞 ,快速筛选出含有G1S0 .7或S0 .7G1嵌合基因的重组杆状病毒 ,在昆虫细胞中表达外源融合蛋白。利用间接免疫荧光、ELISA和免疫印迹对表达产物进行检测。结果表明 ,含G1S0 .7嵌合基因之重组杆状病毒可在昆虫细胞中表达出融合蛋白 ,该蛋白可被抗汉滩病毒核蛋白及糖蛋白G1特异性单抗所识别 ,其分子量约 97kD ;含S0 .7G1嵌合基因之重组杆状病毒在昆虫细胞中表达的融合蛋白 ,只能被抗汉滩病毒核蛋白特异性单抗所识别 ,其分子量约 4 3kD。上述结果提示 ,G1S0 .7嵌合基因可能在昆虫细胞中表达出完整的具有生物学活性的融合蛋白 ,S0 .7G1嵌和基因的昆虫细胞表达产物不完整 ,且生物学活性不如G1S0 .7嵌合基因的表达产物     

点状产气单胞菌脯氨酰内肽酶基因的克隆与表达

用活性筛选法从产气单胞菌点状亚种ST7833 (Aeromonas puctata subsp.puctata ST7833)的基因组中克隆了脯氨酰内肽酶 (Prolyl Endopeptidase,简称apPEP)的基因,测定了含有PEP基因的33kb DNA片段的序列,第202092bp编码了690个氨基酸组成的脯氨酰内肽酶,经检索是一种新的PEP基因。并构建了一株组成性高效表达PEP的基因工程菌BL21/pGEMPEP。BL21/pGEMPEP在 YH培养基中apPEP的表达量占菌体总蛋白的30%左右,活力是野生菌的112倍,表达产物主要为可溶性的胞内蛋白,约5%分泌到胞外。非还原SDSPAGE显示为单体,分子量为76kD,与基因序列预测的分子量一致。试管培养后纯化得到了纯度大于90%的重组脯氨酰内肽酶,比活力为67U/mg。     

Plasmodium berghei: characterization of antigens and their role in inducing immunity to infection

In vitro, Plasmodium berghei infected erythrocytes incorporated 35S-methionine into 31 polypeptides with molecular weights from 21 kd to 300 kd. Hemoglobin and additional smaller molecular weight polypeptides were labelled with 35S-methionine by a population of uninfected, reticulocyte-rich rat erythrocytes. 3H-glucosamine was incorporated into at least 3 components by Plasmodium berghei infected erythrocytes. Uninfected, reticulocyte-rich rat erythrocytes did not incorporate 3H-glucosamine. Rabbit antisera against small, free plasmodia formed complexes which contained between 12 and 22 of the 31 labelled polypeptides in the 35S-methionine labelled antigen preparation. Rabbit antisera against soluble antigens washed from small, free plasmodia formed complexes containing many of the same labelled plasmodial polypeptides, however the reactions were particularly strong with those components which yielded polypeptides with molecular weights of 25 kd and 31 kd. Rabbit origin antisera against the 2 preparations did not form detectable complexes with the 3H-glucosamine labelled plasmodial components. Sera from rats undergoing progressive P. berghei infection formed complexes containing an increasing number of 35S-methionine labelled plasmodial polypeptides. Hyperimmune rat serum, the only serum protective upon passive transfer into mice, formed complexes containing 7 polypeptides with molecular weights of 35 kd, 75 kd, 80 kd, 92 kd, 100 kd, 150 kd and 190 kd. Antigens containing 1 or more of these polypeptides may be important in the induction of a protective antibody response against the parasite.     

Klebsiella pneumoniae secreted protein-containing antigens in the system of adaptive immunity

The study was aimed at the evaluation of the antigenic properties of K. pneumoniae secreted protein-containing antigens with a molecular weightt of 21 and 34-35 kD, obtained from supernatant culture fluid. As confirmed by the method of flow cytofluorimetry, the protein-containing fractions belonged to the secreted components of the microbial cell. The fraction with a molecular weight of 34-35 kD possessed high antigenic activity and contributed to the formation of specific antibodies after the immunization of mice. At the same time none of the protein fractions lead to an increase in the level of autoantibodies in mouse blood sera to organ-unspecific and organ-specific antigens. As revealed by the method of solid-phase, in 6 (27.3%) from 22 patients of patients with rhizomelic spondylitis had an increased level of IgG to K. pneumoniae cell-wall antigens with a molecular weight of 34-35 kD. An increase in the level of IgG to the secreted protein-containing fraction with a molecular weight of 34-35 kD was detected only in one patient (4.5%) (p<0.05).     

大黄鱼虹彩病毒腺苷三磷酸酶(ATPase)基因的克隆与表达

虹彩病毒(iridovirus)是一类对鱼类、两栖类和爬行类水生动物具有广泛感染性的致病病原,由虹彩病毒所致疾病给世界水产养殖业造成了巨大的经济损失.近年来,许多国家相继报道了在患病鱼、蛙和龟等水生经济动物中分离到虹彩病毒[1-4].