A Salmonella Typhi homologue of bacteriophage muramidases controls typhoid toxin secretion

Unlike other Salmonella , which can infect a broad range of hosts causing self‐limiting infection , Salmonella Typhi is an exclusively human pathogen that causes typhoid fever, a life‐threatening systemic disease. Typhoid toxin is a unique virulence factor of Salmonella Typhi, which is expressed when the bacteria are within mammalian cells. Here, we report that an N ‐acetyl‐β‐D ‐muramidase similar to phage endolysins encoded within the same pathogenicity islet as the toxin is required for typhoid toxin secretion. Genetic and functional analysis of TtsA revealed unique amino acids at its predicted peptidoglycan‐binding domain that are essential for protein secretion and that distinguishes this protein from other homologues. We propose that TtsA defines a new protein secretion mechanism recently evolved from the machine that mediates phage release.     

Butyrate Production Pathway Abundances Are Similar in Human and Nonhuman Primate Gut Microbiomes

Over the course of human evolution, shifts in dietary practices such as meat-eating and cooking, have resulted in reduced fiber intake, a trend that has been exaggerated more recently in industrialized populations. Reduced fiber consumption is associated with a loss of gut microbial taxa that degrade fiber, particularly butyrate. Therefore, this dietary shift in humans may have altered the abundance of microbial genes involved in butyrate production. This study uses a gene-targeted alignment approach to quantify the abundance of butyrate production pathway genes from published wild nonhuman primate and human gut metagenomes. Surprisingly, humans have higher diversity and relative abundances of butyrate production pathways compared with all groups of nonhuman primates except cercopithecoids. Industrialized populations of humans also differ only slightly in butyrate pathway abundance from nonindustrialized populations. This apparent resilience of butyrate production pathways to shifts in human diet across both evolutionary and modern populations may signal an evolutionary shift in host–microbe interactions in humans that increased SCFA production. Such a shift could have contributed to meeting the increased energy requirements of humans relative to nonhuman primates.     

Salmonella Typhoid Toxin PltB Subunit and Its Non-typhoidal Salmonella Ortholog Confer Differential Host Adaptation and Virulence

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Mechanisms to Evade the Phagocyte Respiratory Burst Arose by Convergent Evolution in Typhoidal Salmonella Serovars

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Optimization of Salmonella Typhi biofilm assay on polypropylene microtiter plates using response surface methodology

The objective of this study was to develop an optimized assay for Salmonella Typhi biofilm that mimics the environment of the gallbladder as an experimental model for chronic typhoid fever. Multi-factorial assays are difficult to optimize using traditional one-factor-at-a-time optimization methods. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize six key variables involved in S. Typhi biofilm formation on cholesterol-coated polypropylene 96-well microtiter plates. The results showed that bile (1.22%), glucose (2%), cholesterol (0.05%) and potassium chloride (0.25%) were critical factors affecting the amount of biofilm produced, but agitation (275 rpm) and sodium chloride (0.5%) had antagonistic effects on each other. Under these optimum conditions the maximum OD reading for biofilm formation was 3.4 (λ_600 nm), and the coefficients of variation for intra-plate and inter-plate assays were 3% (n?=?20) and 5% (n?=?8), respectively. These results showed that RSM is an effective approach for biofilm assay optimization.     

丁酸调控幼龄反刍动物瘤胃上皮发育研究进展

瘤胃是反刍动物营养物质消化吸收和代谢的重要器官,其发育状态直接影响反刍动物生产性能和健康。初生犊牛和羔羊,瘤胃功能尚未发育完全,不能够充分消化和吸收固体饲料。因此,在幼龄时期,通过营养调控手段促进反刍动物的瘤胃发育对维持动物健康及提高生产性能具有重要意义。丁酸是瘤胃微生物降解植物性饲料的主要产物,也是瘤胃上皮及宿主的重要能量来源。丁酸调控幼龄反刍动物瘤胃上皮发育是一个历久弥新的话题。主要介绍了幼龄反刍动物瘤胃上皮形态及功能的发育以及丁酸调控幼龄反刍动物瘤胃上皮发育的研究进展。     

Production of Ethyl Butyrate by Candida rugosa Lipase Immobilized in Polyurethane

The enzymatic production of ethyl butyrate was studied: the lipase of Candida rugosa (E.C. 3.1.1.3.) was immobilized in a polyurethane matrix and subsequently introduced in an organic medium containing the substrates in appropriate concentrations. The large majority of experiments was carried out in n-hexane. Two further solvents were tested, namely n-heptane and n-dodecane. The partition coefficients matrix/solvent were estimated for the various solvent systems. The initial esterification rate, the molar yield ester/acid and the degree of conversion were found to be solvent independent when the reaction media were designed so that similar concentrations were created in the microenvironment. Initial rate experiments indicated that in n-hexane the threshold of inhibitory substrate concentrations lies (i) between 0.40 M and 0.50 M for butyric acid, according to the purity of the enzyme preparation and (ii) at 0.30 M for ethanol. Batch operational stability tests indicate that no enzyme deactivation occurs after 20 consecutive batches.     

Optimization of Lipase-catalysed Synthesis of Butyl Butyrate Using a Factorial Design

Summary A lipase from Candida rugosa immobilized on styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer was used to catalyse the direct esterification of butanol and butyric acid. A factorial design was employed to evaluate the effects of temperature (37–50 °C), substrate molar ratio of butyric acid to butanol (0.6 to 2.0) and enzyme amount (0.2–0.4 g) on the ester yield. The main effects were fitted by multiple regression analysis to a linear model and maximum ester yield could be obtained working at 41 °C with 0.4 g of lipase. The mathematical model obtained, representing the ester yield has been found to describe adequately the experimental results. Under optimal conditions, concentration of 32.4 g butyl butyrate/l that corresponds to a yield of 75% was obtained.     

响应面法优化丁酸缩水甘油酯的酶法拆分工艺

在已有的酶法拆分丁酸缩水甘油酯单因素试验最适条件的基础上, 采用Plackett-Burrman设计在影响酶法拆分的6个因素中, 有效筛选出主效因素: 底物浓度、酶用量和温度。在此基础上, 再利用响应面分析法(RSM)对以上三个显著因子的最佳水平范围进行研究, 通过对二次多项回归方程求解得知, 酶法拆分最适条件为: 底物浓度0.499 mol/L、酶用量30.23 mg/(g底物)和温度29.68oC; 并结合单因素最适条件: pH 7.6; 时间4 h; 转速150 r/min进行酶促拆分实验, 得到R-酯的对映体过量值为93.28%。对比优化之前的单因素试验最适条件的结果, 最大对映体过量值84.65%, 有了显著的提高, 证明RSM法优化酶法拆分丁酸缩水甘油酯工艺是可行的。     

Protective efficacy and immunogenicity of Vi-porin conjugate against Salmonella typhi.

A conjugate vaccine against Salmonella typhi was prepared by covalently binding capsular polysaccharide (Vi) with porin, both isolated from S. typhi. First, Vi and porins were extracted. The Vi was purified from S. typhi Ty2. The purified Vi conformed to the requirements of the World Health Organization. Porins were purified from S. typhi 0901. The Vi was bound to the porins by a heterobifunctional cross-linking reagent, N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyl dithio)-propionate (SPDP). After preparing the Vi-porin conjugate, its protective ability and immunogenicity were studied in mice following systemic immunization. The results showed that the conjugate is 6.5-fold more protective than Vi alone against S. typhi. The mice immunized with conjugate elicited higher anti-Vi antibody (IgG) levels (P < 0.01) than the mice immunized with Vi alone. Anti-porin antibodies were also induced by the conjugate. To study the mucosal immune responses, secretory IgA (sIgA) in the intestinal fluid was measured. Conjugate-immunized mice showed the induction of sIgA as compared to Vi alone. The results showed that when Vi is bound to porins, both isolated from same organism, the resultant conjugate induced both systemic and mucosal immune responses and provided better protection against S. typhi than Vi alone.     

丁酸通过增强肝线粒体功能缓解高脂诱导的小鼠肥胖

丁酸可以预防高脂日粮诱导的小鼠肥胖和胰岛素抵抗,但是否有治疗作用尚不清楚。本研究证明,高脂日粮诱导小鼠肥胖模型后,用80 mg/mL丁酸钠水溶液灌胃能够缓解肥胖。表观指标检测发现,丁酸钠显著降低肥胖小鼠的肝重（1.24 g ± 0.03 g 至1.08 g ± 0.04 g）、体重（32.46 g ± 0.50 g至28.35 g ± 0.58 g）和附睾脂重（1.33 g ± 0.13 g至0.81 g ± 0.08 g）及其与体重的比（4.06% ± 0.37%至2.83% ± 0.22%）。葡萄糖耐受实验和血液激素含量检测表明,丁酸钠部分缓解由高脂引起的葡萄糖不耐受,并显著降低血液中瘦素（3.71 ng/mL ± 0.62 ng/mL至1.50 ng/mL ± 0.26 ng/mL）和胰岛素（2.39 ng/mL ± 0.30 ng/mL至1.25 ng/mL ± 0.09 ng/mL）的水平。肝中脂质和糖原的生化检测表明,丁酸钠对肝中的甘油三酯、胆固醇和糖原的含量没有显著影响。通过RT-PCR实验发现,丁酸钠显著上调线粒体β氧化和解耦联相关的关键基因以及线粒体自身编码的8个基因的mRNA水平的表达,Western印迹检测表明,丁酸钠显著升高肝葡萄糖转运蛋白GLUT2和调控线粒体功能的关键蛋白PGC-1α的表达。上述结果提示,丁酸钠可能通过增强肝线粒体功能缓解食源性小鼠肥胖。     

响应面法优化丁酸缩水甘油酯的酶法拆分工艺

在已有的酶法拆分丁酸缩水甘油酯单因素试验最适条件的基础上, 采用Plackett-Burrman设计在影响酶法拆分的6个因素中, 有效筛选出主效因素: 底物浓度、酶用量和温度。在此基础上, 再利用响应面分析法(RSM)对以上三个显著因子的最佳水平范围进行研究, 通过对二次多项回归方程求解得知, 酶法拆分最适条件为: 底物浓度0.499 mol/L、酶用量30.23 mg/(g底物)和温度29.68oC; 并结合单因素最适条件: pH 7.6; 时间4 h; 转速150 r/min进行酶促拆分实验, 得到R-酯的对映体过量值为93.28%。对比优化之前的单因素试验最适条件的结果, 最大对映体过量值84.65%, 有了显著的提高, 证明RSM法优化酶法拆分丁酸缩水甘油酯工艺是可行的。     

A New Spectrophotometric Method for the Detection of Lipase Activity Using 2,4-Dinitrophenyl Butyrate as a Substrate

A rapid and sensitive assay for the detection of lipase activity is described. The method is based upon the increase in absorbance at 360 nm due to the formation of the 2,4-dinitrophenolate anion during the enzymatic hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl butyrate. The substrate is used in an emulsified form. Using a diode array spectrophotometer with internal referencing a correction can be made for absorbance changes due to clearance of the emulsion during hydrolysis. The small reaction volume and the high extinction coefficient of the product makes the method applicable for detection of both low substrate and low enzyme concentration.

Four lipases were tested: lipase from porcine pancreas, Candida cylindracea, Pseudomonas sp. and Aspergillus niger. All enzymes are readily able to catalyse the hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl butyrate.     

Positive Modulation of the Adipoconversion of Adipoblasts Derived from Genetically Obese Rats by Sodium Butyrate

Using a new serum-free primary culture system, we have previously reported genotypic differences between adipoblasts derived from the epididymal adipose deposit of lean and obese 8-week-old Zucker and Wistar Diabetic Fatty (WDF) rats (15). In these strictly controlled culture conditions, obese-derived adipoblasts expressed low levels of the late markers of differentiation (lipid accumulation, GPDH). In order to further characterize obese-derived adipoblasts and analyze the critical relationship between growth and differentiation, growth arrest was induced in leanand obese-derived cultures using sodium butyrate treatment. Addition of 2.5 mM sodium butyrate to the serum-free medium from day 1 reduced markedly the growth of lean as well as obese-derived cells. Adipoconversion of lean-derived adipoblasts was not altered, similar levels of LPL and GPDH activities being obtained in control and butyrate-treated groups. By contrast, a marked increase in both activities was observed in obese-derived cultures, restoring the level of both markers of differentiation to the lean level. Similar results were obtained with adipoblasts derived from subcutaneous inguinal (ING) fat pad of obese Zucker as well as adipoblasts derived from ING and EPI fat deposits from obese WDF rats. Taken together, these results suggest that adipose deposits of these genetically obese rats contain a specific adipoblast population which differs from lean-derived adipoblasts in respect to its adipoconversion capacity andlor its stage of commitment to differentiation.     

引起一起暴发性急性胃肠炎疫情的埃可病毒18型VP1基因特征分析

埃可病毒18型(Echovirus 18,E18)属于B组肠道病毒(Enterovirus B,EV-B),是引起病毒性脑膜炎的重要病原体。对2019年4月广东省深圳市龙岗区一起急性胃肠炎疫情进行病原学鉴定及病原基因特征分析。此次疫情共有26名患者,均以发热、呕吐、腹泻、腹痛为主要症状。从其中18名病例采集了18份肛拭子标本,采用实时荧光RT-PCR、病毒分离(RD细胞)和半巢式聚合酶链反应法以鉴定病原,扩增病毒全长VP1区,测序并进行系统进化分析。结果显示,18份标本中11份肠道病毒核酸阳性,其中8份为E18。病毒分离得到2株病毒,从肛拭子标本直接扩增得到的7条E18全长VP1核苷酸序列,核苷酸相似性为100%,与GenBank中E18参考株的核苷酸及氨基酸同源性分别为79.2%~96.4%和93.3%~99.3%;进化树显示,深圳龙岗E18分离株(GDSZ1902)归属由中国分离株组成的C2a进化分支,在其VP1蛋白中的底部环处发现一处特异的氨基酸变异(D200N)。从流行病学和病原学结果分析,E18是引起本次深圳市龙岗区急性胃肠炎疫情的主要病原,属于中国E18主要流行株的进化分支,这是我国首次发现E18引起急性胃肠炎疫情的报道。     

丁酸钠对CHO-EPO工程细胞株rhEPO表达量的影响

以稳定整合有ｐＥＤＥＰＯ的ＣＨＯＥＰＯ工程细胞株为研究对象,在无血清条件下,系统观察了０５、１０、２５和５０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ４个浓度的丁酸钠作用于该细胞株的情况,结果表明：丁酸钠对ＣＨＯＥＰＯ工程细胞的生长有明显的抑制作用;影响ＣＨＯＥＰＯ工程细胞ＥＰＯ表达,浓度１０ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ可提高ＥＰＯ表达量２５倍左右,并可持续较长的一段时间;延缓ＣＨＯＥＰＯ工程细胞在无血清培养时的细胞脱落;提高ＣＨＯＥＰＯ工程细胞ＥＰＯｍＲＮＡ水平