The role of the vacB gene in the pathogenesis of Brucella abortus

Brucella species are important zoonotic pathogens affecting a wide variety of mammals. Therefore, the identification of new Brucella virulence factors is of great interest in understanding bacterial pathogenesis and immune evasion. In this study, we have identified Brucella abortus vacB gene that presents 2343 nucleotides and 781 amino acids and it shows 39% identity with Shigella flexneri vacB gene that encodes an exoribonuclease RNase R involved in bacterial virulence. Further, we have inactivated Brucella vacB by gene replacement strategy generating a deletion mutant strain. In order to test the role of Brucella vacB in pathogenesis, BALB/c and interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) knockout (KO) mice received Brucella vacB mutant, the virulent parental strain 2308 or the vaccine strain RB51 and the bacterial CFU numbers in spleens and mous survival were monitored. Our results demonstrated that the B. abortus DeltavacB mutant and the wild type strain 2308 showed similar CFU numbers in BALB/c mice. Additionally, IRF-1 KO mice that received either the vacB mutant or S2308 strain died in 12-14 days postinfection; in contrast, all animals that received the RB51 vaccine strain survived for 30 days postinoculation. In summary, this study reports that the vacB gene in B. abortus has no impact on bacterial pathogenesis.     

Antigenic, immunologic and genetic characterization of rough strains B. abortus RB51, B. melitensis B115 and B. melitensis B18

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is considered the major virulent factor in Brucella spp. Several genes have been identified involved in the synthesis of the three LPS components: lipid A, core and O-PS. Usually, Brucella strains devoid of O-PS (rough mutants) are less virulent than the wild type and do not induce undesirable interfering antibodies. Such of them proved to be protective against brucellosis in mice. Because of these favorable features, rough strains have been considered potential brucellosis vaccines. In this study, we evaluated the antigenic, immunologic and genetic characteristics of rough strains B. abortus RB51, B. melitensis B115 and B. melitensis B18. RB51 derived from B. abortus 2308 virulent strain and B115 is a natural rough strain in which the O-PS is present in the cytoplasm. B18 is a rough rifampin-resistan mutant isolated in our laboratory. The surface antigenicity of RB51, B115 and B18 was evaluated by testing their ability to bind antibodies induced by rough or smooth Brucella strains. The antibody response induced by each strain was evaluated in rabbits. Twenty-one genes, involved in the LPS-synthesis, were sequenced and compared with the B. melitensis 16M strain. The results indicated that RB51, B115 and B18 have differences in antigenicity, immunologic and genetic properties. Particularly, in B115 a nonsense mutation was detected in wzm gene, which could explain the intracellular localization of O-PS in this strain. Complementation studies to evaluate the precise role of each mutation in affecting Brucella morphology and its virulence, could provide useful information for the assessment of new, attenuated vaccines for brucellosis.     

Caspase-2-Dependent Dendritic Cell Death, Maturation, and Priming of T Cells in Response to Brucella abortus Infection

Smooth virulent Brucella abortus strain 2308 (S2308) causes zoonotic brucellosis in cattle and humans. Rough B. abortus strain RB51, derived from S2308, is a live attenuated cattle vaccine strain licensed in the USA and many other countries. Our previous report indicated that RB51, but not S2308, induces a caspase-2-dependent apoptotic and necrotic macrophage cell death. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells critical for bridging innate and adaptive immune responses. In contrast to Brucella-infected macrophages, here we report that S2308 induced higher levels of apoptotic and necrotic cell death in wild type bone marrow-derived DCs (WT BMDCs) than RB51. The RB51 and S2308-induced BMDC cell death was regulated by caspase-2, indicated by the minimal cell death in RB51 and S2308-infected BMDCs isolated from caspase-2 knockout mice (Casp2KO BMDCs). More S2308 bacteria were taken up by Casp2KO BMDCs than wild type BMDCs. Higher levels of S2308 and RB51 cells were found in infected Casp2KO BMDCs compared to infected WT BMDCs at different time points. RB51-infected wild type BMDCs were mature and activated as shown by significantly up-regulated expression of CD40, CD80, CD86, MHC-I, and MHC-II. RB51 induced the production of cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL12/IL23p40 in infected BMDCs. RB51-infected WT BMDCs also stimulated the proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells compared to uninfected WT BMDCs. However, the maturation, activation, and cytokine secretion are significantly impaired in Casp2KO BMDCs infected with RB51 or Salmonella (control). S2308-infected WT and Casp2KO BMDCs were not activated and could not induce cytokine production. These results demonstrated that virulent smooth strain S2308 induced more apoptotic and necrotic dendritic cell death than live attenuated rough vaccine strain RB51; however, RB51, but not its parent strain S2308, induced caspase-2-mediated DC maturation, cytokine production, antigen presentation, and T cell priming.     

布鲁氏菌2308ery基因启动子缺失株的构建及鉴定

目的:构建布鲁氏菌2308株ery基因启动子缺失株。方法:用PCR方法从亲本株2308上扩增ery基因启动子侧翼序列,将该片段与pMD19-T连接,亚克隆为自杀载体pGEM-7zf-Δery-sacB。将自杀载体电转化布鲁氏菌感受态细胞中经同源重组后,分别用100 mg/L氨苄和7%蔗糖筛选。对获得的基因缺失株进行RT-PCR鉴定和遗传稳定性检测。结果:成功获得ery基因启动子缺失株,2308Δery基因启动子缺失株未扩增出eryA基因。并且该缺失株在10代以内未发生回复突变。结论:成功构建2308Δery基因启动子缺失株,为研究布鲁氏菌的毒力基因及其流产机制奠定基础。     

The Brucella abortus host factor I (HF-I) protein contributes to stress resistance during stationary phase and is a major determinant of virulence in mice

Brucella abortus is a facultative intracellular pathogen that causes abortion and infertility in domestic animals and a severe debilitating febrile illness in humans. The mechanisms that this highly successful intracellular pathogen uses to adapt to, and survive within, the harsh intracellular environment of the host macrophage are presently unknown. Maintenance of the stationary phase growth state has been proposed to be critical for the virulence of several mammalian pathogens, but analysis of this relationship for the brucellae has not been undertaken. In order to evaluate this relationship, we examined the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of an isogenic hfq mutant constructed from virulent Brucella abortus 2308. In Escherichia coli, the hfq gene product is an RNA-binding protein that participates in the regulation of stationary phase stress resistance, at least partly by enhancing translation of the stationary phase-specific sigma factor RpoS. As expected, the Brucella abortus hfq mutant, designated Hfq3, showed increased sensitivity to H2O2, and decreased survival under acidic conditions (pH 4.0), during stationary phase growth compared with 2308. Hfq3 was also less able to withstand prolonged starvation than 2308. The Brucella abortus hfq mutant, unlike its parental strain 2308, fails to replicate in cultured murine macrophages, and is rapidly cleared from the spleens and livers of experimentally infected BALB/c mice. These findings suggest that the Brucella abortus hfq gene product makes an essential contribution to pathogenesis in mice, probably by allowing the brucellae to adapt appropriately to the harsh environmental conditions encountered within the host macrophage.     

Safety and efficacy of Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccine in captive pregnant elk

Brucella abortus strain RB51 is a laboratory-derived rough mutant of virulent B. abortus strain 2308 used as a vaccine because it induces antibodies that do not react on standard brucellosis serologic tests. Strain RB51 vaccine was evaluated in pregnant captive elk (Cervus elaphus) to determine (1) if it induced abortion and (2) if it protected against abortion following subsequent challenge. The time period of this study (February-June, 1998) was similar to field conditions where elk are vaccinated and possibly exposed to B. abortus. Fourteen elk were randomly and equally divided into vaccinated and control groups. The vaccinated group was vaccinated intramuscularly with 1.03 x 10(10) colony-forming units (CFU) of strain RB51 and seroconverted postvaccination. Antibodies to strain RB51 were detected by a modification of an existing dot-blot assay. Both groups were challenged 40 days postvaccination with 9.8 x 10(6) CFU of B. abortus strain 2308 administered intraconjunctivally. The first abortion occurred 38 days postchallenge. Abortion occurred in all control elk and in five of seven vaccinated elk 5 to 12 wk postchallenge (P = 0.23). Mixed strain RB51 and 2308 infections were present in fetuses and vaginas from the vaccinated group whereas only strain 2308 was cultured from control group fetuses and vaginal swabs. Further evaluation of strain RB51 will be necessary to determine if it will be safe and efficacious in free-ranging pregnant elk.     

The Brucella abortus xthA-1 gene product participates in base excision repair and resistance to oxidative killing but is not required for wild-type virulence in the mouse model

Exonuclease III, encoded by the xthA gene, plays a central role in the base excision pathway of DNA repair in bacteria. Studies with Escherichia coli xthA mutants have also shown that exonuclease III participates in the repair of oxidative damage to DNA. An isogenic xthA-1 mutant (designated CAM220) derived from virulent Brucella abortus 2308 exhibited increased sensitivity to the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) compared to the parent strain. In contrast, 2308 and the isogenic xthA-1 mutant displayed similar levels of resistance to the DNA cross-linker mitomycin C. These phenotypic properties are those that would be predicted for a strain defective in base excision repair. The B. abortus xthA-1 mutant also displayed reduced resistance to killing by H2O2 and the ONOO(-)-generating compound 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) compared to strain 2308, indicating that the xthA-1 gene product participates in protecting B. abortus 2308 from oxidative damage. Introducing a plasmid-borne copy of the parental xthA-1 gene into CAM220 restored wild-type resistance of this mutant to MMS, H2O2, and SIN-1. Although the B. abortus xthA-1 mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to oxidative killing compared to the parental strain in laboratory assays, CAM220 and 2308 displayed equivalent spleen colonization profiles in C57BL/6 [corrected] mice through 8 weeks postinfection and equivalent intracellular survival and replication profiles in cultured murine macrophages. Thus, although the xthA-1 gene product participates in base excision repair and resistance to oxidative killing in B. abortus 2308, XthA-1 is not required for wild-type virulence of this strain in the mouse model.     

Brucella-Salmonella lipopolysaccharide chimeras are less permeable to hydrophobic probes and more sensitive to cationic peptides and EDTA than are their native Brucella sp. counterparts.

A rough (R) Brucella abortus 45/20 mutant was more sensitive to the bactericidal activity of polymyxin B and lactoferricin B than was its smooth (S) counterpart but considerably more resistant than Salmonella montevideo. The outer membrane (OM) and isolated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of S. montevideo showed a higher affinity for these cationic peptides than did the corresponding B. abortus OM and LPS. We took advantage of the moderate sensitivity of R B. abortus to cationic peptides to construct live R B. abortus-S-LPS chimeras to test the activities of polymyxin B, lactoferricin B, and EDTA. Homogeneous and abundant peripheral distribution of the heterologous S-LPS was observed on the surface of the chimeras, and this coating had no effect on the viability or morphology of the cells. When the heterologous LPS corresponded to the less sensitive bacterium S B. abortus S19, the chimeras were more resistant to cationic peptides; in contrast, when the S-LPS was from the more sensitive bacterium S. montevideo, the chimeras were more susceptible to the action of peptides and EDTA. A direct correlation between the amount of heterologous S-LPS on the surface of chimeric Brucella cells and peptide sensitivity was observed. Whereas the damage produced by polymyxin B in S. montevideo and B. abortus-S. montevideo S-LPS chimeras was manifested mainly as OM blebbing and inner membrane rolling, lactoferricin B caused inner membrane detachment, vacuolization, and the formation of internal electron-dense granules in these cells. Native S and R B. abortus strains were permeable to the hydrophobic probe N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN). In contrast, only reduced amounts of NPN partitioned into the OMs of the S. montevideo and B. abortus-S. montevideo S-LPS chimeras. Following peptide exposure, accelerated NPN uptake similar to that observed for S. montevideo was detected for the B. abortus-S. montevideo LPS chimeras. The partition of NPN into native or EDTA-, polymyxin B-, or lactoferricin B-treated LPS micelles of S. montevideo or B. abortus mimicked the effects observed with intact cells, and this was confirmed by using micelle hybrids of B. abortus and S. montevideo LPSs. The results showed that LPS is the main cause of B. abortus' resistance to bactericidal cationic peptides, the OM-disturbing action of divalent cationic chelants, and OM permeability to hydrophobic substances. It is proposed that these three features are related to the ability of Brucella bacteria to multiply within phagocytes.     

Comparative proteome analysis of laboratory grown Brucella abortus 2308 and Brucella melitensis 16M

Brucella species are pathogenic agents that cause brucellosis, a debilitating zoonotic disease that affects a large variety of domesticated animals and humans. Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus are considered major health threats because of their highly infectious nature and worldwide occurrence. The availability of the annotated genomes for these two species has allowed a comparative proteomics study of laboratory grown B. melitensis 16M and B. abortus 2308 by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting. Computer-assisted analysis of the different 2-D gel images of strains 16M and 2308 revealed significant quantitative and qualitative differences in their protein expression patterns. Proteins involved in membrane transport, particularly the high affinity amino acids binding proteins, and those involved in Sec-dependent secretion systems related to type IV and type V secretion systems, were differentially expressed. Differential expression of these proteins may be responsible for conferring specific host preference in the two strains 2308 and 16M.     

Combined S99/RB51 antigen for complement fixation test for serological diagnosis of brucellosis in cattle and sheep

AIMS: To assess the efficiency of a single antigen for the complement fixation (CF) test, prepared by combining Brucella abortus smooth strain 99 (S99) with Brucella abortus rough strain RB51(RB51), in detecting cattle and sheep infected or vaccinated with Brucella spp. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum samples from B. abortus-infected and RB51-vaccinated cattle were tested by the CF test using S99, RB51 and the combined S99/RB51 as antigens. Likewise, serum samples from Brucella melitensis-infected, RB51-vaccinated and Brucella ovis-infected sheep were tested by the CF test using S99, RB51, hot saline (HS) and combined S99/RB51 as antigens. Comparative analysis of the CF results showed that no reduction of sensitivity or specificity occurs when S99/RB51 antigen is used instead of specific antigens used separately. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that combined S99/RB51 antigen used in the CF test, because of its specificity and sensitivity, could be used in animal brucellosis surveillance systems to improve the efficiency of the preliminary screening of herds. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study proposes an improved antigen for the CF test for the epidemiological survey of animal brucellosis. It could represent advantages over standard protocols because of its ability to detect antibody responses following infection or vaccination withBrucella strains of rough and smooth phenotype.     

Antitumor activity of living or killed Brucella: Modification of the non-specific cytotoxic effector cells

At various times after injection of living or killed smooth (S) or rough (R) Brucella abortus mice received a graft of the semi-allogenic EL4 lymphoma and their survival was studied. In parallel, the NK activity of spleen and peritoneal cells, the level of serum interferon (IFN), and the cytotoxic activity of peritoneal macrophages were investigated. Protection against the lymphoma lasted longer after injection of R organisms than after S. The parallelism between the in vivo resistance to El4 lymphoma and the augmentation of NK and macrophage activity was satisfactory with R but not with S. IFN production did not seem to be correlated with R antitumor activity. The antitumor effect of Brucella cannot therefore be simply explained on the basis of modification of the non-specific cytotoxic effector mechanisms.     

Effect of Brucella abortus transfer factor in preventing murine brucellosis

Abstract Mice vaccinated with a protein extract of attenuated Brucella abortus strain 19 had increased resistance to infection with virulent B. abortus strain 2308 and had increased antibody responses to strain 2308. However, resistance to infection and antibody responses were not increased when nonvaccinated recipient mice were given transfer factor preparations that were obtained from either vaccinated donor mice or strain 2308-infected donor mice. Vaccination of mice with the strain 19 extract plus treatment with each transfer factor preparation also did not further increase resistance to infection or antibody responses when compared with mice that received the vaccine alone. These results suggest that transfer factor from mice that have either vaccine-induced protective immunity to B. abortus or active B. abortus infections does not enhance antibody responses and resistance to infection with B. abortus .     

Genomic island 2 is an unstable genetic element contributing to Brucella lipopolysaccharide spontaneous smooth-to-rough dissociation

Brucella is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes a worldwide-distributed zoonosis. The genus includes smooth (S) and rough (R) species that differ in the presence or absence, respectively, of the O-polysaccharide of lipopolysaccharide. In S brucellae, the O-polysaccharide is a critical diagnostic antigen and a virulence determinant. However, S brucellae spontaneously dissociate into R forms, a problem in antigen and S vaccine production. Spontaneous R mutants of Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, and Brucella suis carried the chromosomal scar corresponding to genomic island 2 (GI-2) excision, an event causing the loss of the wboA and wboB O-polysaccharide genes, and the predicted excised circular intermediate was identified in B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis cultures. Moreover, disruption of a putative phage integrase gene in B. abortus GI-2 caused a reduction in O-polysaccharide loss rates under conditions promoting S-R dissociation. However, spontaneous R mutants not carrying the GI-2 scar were also detected. These results demonstrate that the phage integrase-related GI-2 excision is a cause of S-R brucella dissociation and that other undescribed mechanisms must also be involved. In the R Brucella species, previous works have shown that Brucella ovis but not Brucella canis lacks GI-2, and a chromosomal scar identical to those in R mutants was observed. These results suggest that the phage integrase-promoted GI-2 excision played a role in B. ovis speciation and are consistent with other evidence, suggesting that this species and B. canis have emerged as two independent lineages.     

Antitumor activity of living or killed Brucella: Modification of the non-specific cytotoxic effector cells

Summary At various times after injection of living or killed smooth (S) or rough (R) Brucella abortus mice received a graft of the semi-allogenic EL₄ lymphoma and their survival was studied. In parallel, the NK activity of spleen and peritoneal cells, the level of serum interferon (IFN), and the cytotoxic activity of peritoneal macrophages were investigated. Protection against the lymphoma lasted longer after injection of R organisms than after S. The parallelism between the in vivo resistance to EL₄ lymphoma and the augmentation of NK and macrophage activity was satisfactory with R but not with S. IFN production did not seem to be correlated with R antitumor activity. The antitumor effect of Brucella cannot therefore be simply explained on the basis of modification of the non-specific cytotoxic effector mechanisms.     

检测OMP28抗体不能有效诊断羊布鲁氏菌病

【目的】探索布鲁氏菌外膜蛋白OMP28作为羊布鲁氏菌病特异性检测方法的可行性。【方法】体外表达和纯化OMP28蛋白,建立并优化以OMP28重组蛋白为包被抗原的布鲁氏菌病ELISA诊断方法。以3个不同种属的4株布鲁氏菌(羊种布鲁氏菌16M和M28,猪种布鲁氏菌S1330,牛种布鲁氏菌2308)分别感染山羊和绵羊至42周,期间每隔2周收集血清,分别用布鲁氏菌LPS包被的ELISA和OMP28 ELISA方法对不同阶段的分离血清进行检测,比较2种不同ELISA对4株布鲁氏菌感染的山羊和绵羊的检测敏感性。【结果】4株布鲁氏菌感染的山羊和绵羊均产生高水平针对LPS的抗体,但是仅有B. melitensis 16M和B. melitensis M28感染的绵羊与B. melitensis 16M和B. abortus 2308感染的山羊可产生针对OMP28的抗体。【结论】基于OMP28的间接ELISA具有细菌属特异性和宿主动物品种特异性,通过检测OMP28抗体不能有效诊断羊布鲁氏菌病。     

2308、M28、S1330、16M四株布鲁氏菌灭活参数研究

【目的】比较不同灭活方法对布鲁氏菌灭活的效果,确定灭活参数,为制备布鲁氏菌灭活抗原提供参考。【方法】将4株布鲁氏菌参考强毒株2308(牛种)、M28(羊种)、S1330(猪种)以及16M(羊种)分别经大豆酶消化蛋白胨(TSA)培养基培养繁殖后,用生理盐水制成(4-8)×1010 CFU/m L的菌悬液,分成等份于80 oC灭活不同时间,另将同样浓度的菌悬液分别用不同浓度甲醛于37 oC灭活不同时间,通过灭活检验,确定灭活效果。取经甲醛和热灭活的16M抗原,分别以1×1010 CFU/只剂量皮下注射1.5-2.0 kg家兔2只,免疫6周内,每周采血用虎红平板凝集试验(RBT)和试管凝集试验(SAT)测定抗体效价。【结果】80 oC、5 min可灭活2308、S1330和16M三种菌株,80 oC、10 min可灭活全部4种菌株。0.2%甲醛灭活7 d,4种试验菌株均不能被彻底灭活;0.4%甲醛在12 h内只能灭活16M,72 h可灭活M28;0.4%甲醛灭活2308和S1330两次试验结果差异较大。0.6%甲醛可在72 h内灭活4种试验菌。不同方法灭活的16M抗原免疫家兔后,其血清抗体虎红平板凝集和试管凝集效价消长趋势基本一致,甲醛灭活的抗原免疫原性略高于热灭活抗原。【结论】80 oC热灭活和0.6%甲醛灭活均可用于对布鲁氏菌的灭活,且不影响布鲁氏菌的免疫原性。