本期重点推介

正肽聚糖识别蛋白(peptidoglycan recognition proteins,PGRPs)是昆虫免疫系统中一类重要的模式识别蛋白。苏云金芽胞杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis是广泛应用的微生物杀虫剂,其晶体毒素杀虫机理得到较多研究,但与宿主的免疫互作机制研究较少。为了阐明苏云金芽胞杆菌侵染后小菜蛾Plutella xylostella PGRP-SA基因(Px PGRP-SA)的免疫响应机制,华南农业大学农学院郑志华和金丰良等利用qRT-PCR技术测定了B.thuringiensis侵染小菜蛾幼虫后Px PGRP-SA的转录模式,通过RNAi技术结合抗血清封闭实验检测和分析     

家蚕氨肽酶和类钙粘蛋白与苏云金芽孢杆菌Cry1Ac毒素相互作用

苏云金芽孢杆菌Bacillus thuringiensis生产的晶体毒素被广泛用作农林害虫的杀虫剂。鳞翅目昆虫受体蛋白是阐明其与晶体毒素相互作用的重要模式。文中纯化了苏云金芽孢杆菌的晶体毒素蛋白,质谱鉴定为Cry1Ac毒素,然后重组表达家蚕氨肽酶N (BmAPN6) 和类钙粘蛋白 (CaLP) 结合结构域。利用免疫共沉淀、Far-Western印迹和酶联免疫吸附试验,证明Cry1Ac毒素蛋白和BmAPN6之间的相互作用。在Sf9细胞中,对Cry1Ac毒素的细胞毒活性分析,表明BmAPN6参与Cry1Ac毒素诱导的细胞形态异常和裂解死亡。文中也利用相同的方法,对钙粘蛋白的3个结合位点CR7、CR11和CR12进行相互作用分析,结果表明3个重复结构域是CaLP的Cry1Ac结合位点。上述结果表明,BmAPN6和CaLP可作为Cry1Ac毒素致病的功能性受体,为进一步揭示晶体毒素的致病机制和基因编辑增强家蚕抗病性提供了研究靶标。     

家蚕氨肽酶和类钙粘蛋白与苏云金芽孢杆菌Cry1Ac毒素相互作用（英文）

苏云金芽孢杆菌Bacillusthuringiensis生产的晶体毒素被广泛用作农林害虫的杀虫剂。鳞翅目昆虫受体蛋白是阐明其与晶体毒素相互作用的重要模式。文中纯化了苏云金芽孢杆菌的晶体毒素蛋白,质谱鉴定为Cry1Ac毒素,然后重组表达家蚕氨肽酶N (BmAPN6)和类钙粘蛋白(CaLP)结合结构域。利用免疫共沉淀、Far-Western印迹和酶联免疫吸附试验,证明Cry1Ac毒素蛋白和BmAPN6之间的相互作用。在Sf9细胞中,对Cry1Ac毒素的细胞毒活性分析,表明BmAPN6参与Cry1Ac毒素诱导的细胞形态异常和裂解死亡。文中也利用相同的方法,对钙粘蛋白的3个结合位点CR7、CR11和CR12进行相互作用分析,结果表明3个重复结构域是CaLP的Cry1Ac结合位点。上述结果表明,BmAPN6和CaLP可作为Cry1Ac毒素致病的功能性受体,为进一步揭示晶体毒素的致病机制和基因编辑增强家蚕抗病性提供了研究靶标。     

类似S-层蛋白的苏云金芽胞杆菌伴胞晶体蛋白基因的克隆

芽胞杆菌CTC菌株被鉴定为苏云金芽胞杆菌 ,鞭毛血清型H2 ,幕虫亚种 ;产生卵圆形伴胞晶体 ,伴胞晶体蛋白为 1 0 0kD ;测定了该蛋白的N 末端序列 ,该序列与炭疽芽胞杆菌的细胞表面S 层蛋白具 92 %～ 93%相似性 ;根据Southern杂交制作了该晶体蛋白基因ctc所在位置的限制性酶切图谱 ,分别克隆了该基因 5′和 3′端所在的 2 9kbXbaI片段和 3 1kbClaIDNA片段 ,彼此间具 0 6kb重叠 ,通过拼接获得含完整ctc基因的克隆。含该基因的大肠杆菌与表达S 层蛋白的大肠杆菌具相似生长特征。初步表明CTC菌株的伴胞晶体由细胞表面S 层蛋白组成。苏云金芽胞杆菌区别于蜡状芽胞杆菌和炭疽芽胞杆菌的唯一标准是能形成伴胞晶体 ,由于S 层是细胞表面的结构成分 ,本文对CTC菌株鉴定为苏云金芽胞杆菌以及伴胞晶体作为苏云金芽胞杆菌鉴别的唯一标准提出了质疑     

类似S-层蛋白的苏云金芽胞杆菌伴胞晶体蛋白基因的克隆

芽胞杆菌CTC菌被鉴定为苏云金芽胞杆菌,鞭毛血清型H2,幕虫亚种;产生卵圆形伴胞晶体,伴胞晶体蛋白为100kD;测定了该蛋白 N－末端序列,该序列与炭疽芽胞杆菌的细胞表面S－层蛋白具92－93％相似性,根据Southern杂交制作了该晶体蛋白基因ctc所在位置的限制性酶切图谱,分别克隆了该基因5’和3’端所在2．9kb XbaI片段和3．1kb Cla I DNA片段,彼此间具0．6kb重叠,通过拼接获得含完整ctc基因的克隆,含该基因的大肠杆菌与表达S－层蛋白的大肠杆菌具相似生长特征,初步表明CTC菌株的伴胞晶体由细胞表面S－层蛋白组成,苏云金芽胞杆菌区别于蜡状芽胞杆菌和炭疽芽胞杆菌的唯一标准是能形成伴胞晶体,由于S－层是细胞表面的结构成分,本文对CTC菌株鉴定为苏云金芽胞杆菌以及伴胞晶体作为苏云金芽胞杆菌鉴别的唯一标准提出了质疑。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌cry26Aa和cry28Aa基因共表达可在芽胞外壁内侧形成伴胞晶体

苏云金芽胞杆菌幕虫亚种的伴胞晶体在预芽胞外壁内侧形成,呈现晶体芽胞粘连的现象。根据已发表的cry26Aa1和cry28Aa1基因序列设计引物,从苏云金芽胞杆菌幕虫亚种T02中扩增得到cry26Aa和cry28Aa基因,通过穿梭载体将这两个基因分别和同时转化到苏云金芽胞杆菌无晶体突变株BMB171后,透射电镜下可在芽胞外壁内侧和外侧同时观察到伴胞晶体,而单独表达时可在芽胞外壁外侧观察到伴胞晶体。结果表明,伴胞晶体在芽胞外壁内侧表达不单独依赖于启动子的时空调控,可能还受到晶体蛋白相互作用的影响。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌cry26Aa和cry28Aa基因共表达可在芽胞外壁内侧形成伴胞晶体

苏云金芽胞杆菌幕虫亚种的伴胞晶体在预芽胞外壁内侧形成,呈现晶体芽胞粘连的现象。根据已发表的cry26Aa1和cry28Aa1基因序列设计引物,从苏云金芽胞杆菌幕虫亚种T02中扩增得到cry26Aa和cry28Aa基因,通过穿梭载体将这两个基因分别和同时转化到苏云金芽胞杆菌无晶体突变株BMB171后,透射电镜下可在芽胞外壁内侧和外侧同时观察到伴胞晶体,而单独表达时可在芽胞外壁外侧观察到伴胞晶体。结果表明,伴胞晶体在芽胞外壁内侧表达不单独依赖于启动子的时空调控,可能还受到晶体蛋白相互作用的影响。     

生物防治

苏云金芽抱杆菌贴泽毒素(55kDa)对鳞翅目昆虫的毒性到对双翅目昆虫的毒性的变化至今还没有在其它苏云金芽抱杆菌田(Bt)毒素上观察到.这种变化是由于     

携带苏云金芽胞杆菌cry1Ac10基因重组杆状病毒的构建及其杀虫活性

用Bac-to-Bac系统,构建了包含极晚期基因ph启动子驱动的带有全长苏云金芽胞杆菌cryIAc10基因和完整多角体基因的重组质粒pFCP, 用该重组质粒感染昆虫Sf9细胞,得到了带有多角体和能够表达cry1Ac10基因的重组杆状病毒vFcph,并在昆虫细胞中表达了Cry1Ac10蛋白.同时构建了含cry1Ac10的穿梭载体pHTC,并分别转化大肠杆菌、枯草杆菌和苏云金杆菌晶体缺陷型菌株,结果表明此三种工程菌均表达了分子量为133.3kDa的原毒素蛋白,其中在苏云金芽胞杆菌中的表达量最高.生物测定表明重组杆状病毒vFcph的表达产物具有杀虫活性,能增加杆状病毒力,加快杆状病毒杀虫速度,说明利用杆状病毒极晚期基因启动子驱动苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白表达,从而改善杆状病毒的杀虫特性是可行的.     

携带苏云金芽胞杆菌cry1Ac10基因重组杆状病毒的构建及其杀虫活性

用Bac-to-Bac系统,构建了包含极晚期基因ph启动子驱动的带有全长苏云金芽胞杆菌cry1Ac10基因和完整多角体基因的重组质粒pFCP,用该重组质粒感染昆虫Sf9细胞,得到了带有多角体和能够表达cry1Ac10基因的重组杆状病毒vFcph,并在昆虫细胞中表达了Cry1Ac10蛋白。同时构建了含cry1Ac10的穿梭载体．pHTC,并分别转化大肠杆菌、枯草杆菌和苏云金杆菌晶体缺陷型菌株,结果表明此三种工程菌均表达了分子量为133．3kDa的原毒素蛋白,其中在苏云金芽胞杆菌中的表达量最高。生物测定表明重组杆状病毒vFcph的表达产物具有杀虫活性,能增加杆状病毒力,加快杆状病毒杀虫速度,说明利用杆状病毒极晚期基因启动子驱动苏云金芽胞杆菌杀虫晶体蛋白表达,从而改善杆状病毒的杀虫特性是可行的。     

Fate of Bacillus thuringiensis strains in different insect larvae

In favorable conditions Bacillus thuringiensis spores germinate and vegetative cells multiply, whereas in unfavorable conditions Bacillus thuringiensis sporulates and produces insecticidal crystal proteins. The development of B. thuringiensis strains was investigated in the larvae of insects belonging to the orders Lepidoptera and Diptera. Bacillus thuringiensis strains able to kill the insects did not always multiply in cadavers. Strains with no specificity to kill the insect sometimes multiplied when the insects were killed mechanically. These results indicate that some insect larvae represent an environment that favors the germination of B. thuringiensis spores and the multiplication of vegetative cells; however, there was no correlation between the toxin specificity and the specificity of the host.     

Cry1A toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis bind specifically to a region adjacent to the membrane-proximal extracellular domain of BT-R(1) in Manduca sexta: involvement of a cadherin in the entomopathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis

Many subspecies of the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produce various parasporal crystal proteins, also known as Cry toxins, that exhibit insecticidal activity upon binding to specific receptors in the midgut of susceptible insects. One such receptor, BT-R(1) (210 kDa), is a cadherin located in the midgut epithelium of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. It has a high binding affinity (K(d) approximately 1nM) for the Cry1A toxins of B. thuringiensis. Truncation analysis of BT-R(1) revealed that the only fragment capable of binding the Cry1A toxins of B. thuringiensis was a contiguous 169-amino acid sequence adjacent to the membrane-proximal extracellular domain. The purified toxin-binding fragment acted as an antagonist to Cry1Ab toxin by blocking the binding of toxin to the tobacco hornworm midgut and inhibiting insecticidal action. Exogenous Cry1Ab toxin bound to intact COS-7 cells expressing BT-R(1) cDNA, subsequently killing the cells. Recruitment of BT-R(1) by B. thuringiensis indicates that the bacterium interacts with a specific cell adhesion molecule during its pathogenesis. Apparently, Cry toxins, like other bacterial toxins, attack epithelial barriers by targeting cell adhesion molecules within susceptible insect hosts.     

Employing phage display to study the mode of action of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins

Phage display is an in vitro method for selecting polypeptides with desired properties from a large collection of variants. The insecticidal Cry toxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis are highly specific to different insects. Various proteins such as cadherin, aminopeptidase-N (APN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) have been characterized as potential Cry-receptors. We used phage display to characterize the Cry toxin-receptor interaction(s). By employing phage-libraries that display single-chain antibodies (scFv) from humans or from immunized rabbits with Cry1Ab toxin or random 12-residues peptides, we have identified the epitopes that mediate binding of lepidopteran Cry1Ab toxin with cadherin and APN receptors from Manduca sexta and the interaction of dipteran Cry11Aa toxin with the ALP receptor from Aedes aegypti. Finally we displayed in phages the Cry1Ac toxin and discuss the potential for selecting Cry variants with improved toxicity or different specificity.     

Univalent binding of the Cry1Ab toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis to a conserved structural motif in the cadherin receptor BT-R1

The Cry1Ab toxin produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) exerts insecticidal action upon binding to BT-R1, a cadherin receptor localized in the midgut epithelium of the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta [Dorsch, J. A., Candas, M., Griko, N. B., Maaty, W. S., Midboe, E. G., Vadlamudi, R. K., and Bulla, L. A., Jr. (2002) Cry1A toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis bind specifically to a region adjacent to the membrane-proximal extracellular domain of BT-R1 in Manduca sexta: involvement of a cadherin in the entomopathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis, Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol. 32, 1025-1036]. BT-R1 represents a family of invertebrate cadherins whose ectodomains (ECs) are composed of multiple cadherin repeats (EC1 through EC12). In the present work, we determined the Cry1Ab toxin binding site in BT-R1 in the context of cadherin structural determinants. Our studies revealed a conserved structural motif for toxin binding that includes two distinct regions within the N- and C-termini of EC12. These regions are characterized by unique sequence signatures that mark the toxin-binding function in BT-R1 as well as in homologous lepidopteran cadherins. Structure modeling of EC12 discloses the conserved motif as a single broad interface that holds the N- and C-termini in close proximity. Binding of toxin to BT-R1, which is univalent, and the subsequent downstream molecular events responsible for cell death depend on the conserved motif in EC12.     

利用噬菌体展示技术筛选Cry2Ab毒素受体表位的方法

苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)产生的内毒素具有杀虫活性,Cry2Ab毒素作为Bt棉花的杀虫活性蛋白,其在靶标昆虫体内的结合受体及作用位点尚不清楚,本研究采用噬菌体展示(phage display)的方法,经4轮的"吸附—洗脱—扩繁"筛选,并对阳性克隆所携带的外源DNA片段进行序列测定后,得到2段能够与活化Cry2Ab毒素相互作用的多肽序列,通过酶联免疫结合试验(ELISA)进一步证明,这2段多肽序列与活化Cry2Ab毒素具有较高的亲和力和特异性,结果表明,利用该方法能够由噬菌体随机肽库中高效捕获亲和序列,筛选到与活化Cry2Ab毒素具有高亲和力的多肽,该序列可以模拟Cry2Ab毒素的受体表位,为进一步研究Cry2Ab毒素作用机制奠定了基础,并为今后田间抗性基因频率检测,以及毒素—受体作用机制研究工作提供更有力的技术支持。     

A novel strain of Bacillus thuringiensis (NCIMB 40152) active against coleopteran insects

Abstract: A novel Bacillus thuringiensis strain, NCIMB 40152, was isolated from dead Tenebrio molitor L. larvae. The isolate is endowed with specific insecticide activity against the Colorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), Coleoptera, Crysomelidae), but has no effect against lepidopteran or dipteran insects.
During the sporulation process it produces diamond-shaped crystals and small inclusions. Rare flat, square crystals are alsò produced. The strain can be differentiated from the other reported B. thuringiensis strains active against Coleoptera on the basis of physiological and biochemical tests, flagellar serotype and toxin electrophoretic patterns.
NCIMB 40152 toxin is easily extractable from spore/crystal preparations in neutral distilled water without detergents or reducing agents.     

A Bacillus thuringiensis crystal protein with selective cytocidal action to human cells

Bacillus thuringiensis crystal proteins, well known to be toxic to certain insects but not pathogenic to mammals, are used as insecticidal proteins in agriculture and forest management. We here identified a crystal protein that is non-insecticidal and non-hemolytic but has strong cytocidal activity against various human cells with a markedly divergent target specificity, e.g. highly cytotoxic to HepG2 and Jurkat and less cytotoxic to the normal hepatocyte (HC) and HeLa. In slices of liver and colon cancer tissues, the toxin protein preferentially killed the cancer cells, leaving other cells unaffected. The cytocidal effect of the protein is non-apoptotic with swelling and fragmentation of the susceptible cells, although the apoptotic process does occur when the cell damage proceeded slowly. The amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene of the protein has little sequence homology with the insecticidal crystal proteins of B. thuringiensis. These observations raise the presence of a new group of the B. thuringiensis toxin and the possibility of new applications for the protein in the medical field.     

Lectin-like binding of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki lepidopteran-specific toxin is an initial step in insecticidal action

The two delta-endotoxins comprising the Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki HD1 insecticidal protein crystal were separated. The lepidopteran-specific protoxin was activated in vitro and its mechanism of action investigated. Toxicity towards Choristoneura fumiferana CF1 cells was specifically inhibited by preincubation of the toxin with N-acetylgalactosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid. The lectins soybean agglutinin and wheat germ agglutinin, which bind N-acetylgalactosamine, also inhibited toxicity. Since N-acetylneuraminic acid is not known to occur in insects, these results suggest that the toxin may recognise a specific plasma membrane glycoconjugate receptor with a terminal N-acetylgalactosamine residue.     

Insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kenyae: gene cloning and characterization and comparison with B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki CryIA(c) toxins

Genes encoding insecticidal crystal proteins were cloned from three strains of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kenyae and two strains of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. Characterization of the B. thuringiensis subsp. kenyae toxin genes showed that they are most closely related to cryIA(c) from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. The cloned genes were introduced into Bacillus host strains, and the spectra of insecticidal activities of each Cry protein were determined for six pest lepidopteran insects. CryIA(c) proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kenyae are as active as CryIA(c) proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki against Trichoplusia ni, Lymantria dispar, Heliothis zea, and H. virescens but are significantly less active against Plutella xylostella and, in some cases, Ostrinia nubilalis. The sequence of a cryIA(c) gene from B. thuringiensis subsp. kenyae was determined (GenBank M35524) and compared with that of cryIA(c) from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki. The two genes are more than 99% identical and show seven amino acid differences among the predicted sequences of 1,177 amino acids.     

Micro-lipid-droplet encapsulation of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis delta-endotoxin for control of mosquito larvae

The crystal delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis is less toxic to larvae of Anopheles freeborni than to larvae of Aedes aegypti. However, when solubilized crystal was used, larvae from both species showed similar sensitivities. This effect presumably was due to the differences in feeding behavior between the two mosquito larvae when crystal preparations are used. A procedure is described whereby both crystal and solubilized B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis toxin were emulsified with Freund incomplete adjuvant, with retention of toxicity. The use of Freund incomplete adjuvant also allowed one to assay the solubilized toxin at a low nanogram level. Furthermore, coating the toxin with lipophilic material altered the buoyancy of the toxin and reversed the sensitivities of the two mosquito larvae toward the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis toxin. This difference in buoyancy was determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that was specific for the toxic peptides. These data indicate that economically feasible buoyant formulations for the B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis crystal can be developed.