Identification and characterization of autotransporter proteins of Yersinia pestis KIM

Yersinia pestis is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes plague. Currently, plague is considered a re-emerging infectious disease and Y. pestis a potential bioterrorism agent. Autotransporters (ATs) are virulence proteins translocated by a variety of pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria across the cell envelope to the cell surface or extracellular environment. In this study, we screened the genome of Yersinia pestis KIM for AT genes whose expression might be relevant for the pathogenicity of this plague-causing organism. By in silico analyses, we identified ten putative AT genes in the genomic sequence of Y. pestis KIM; two of these genes are located within known pathogenicity islands. The expression of all ten putative AT genes in Y. pestis KIM was confirmed by RT-PCR. Five genes, designated yapA, yapC, yapG, yapK and yapN, were subsequently cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli K12 for protein secretion studies. Two forms of the YapA protein (130 kDa and 115 kDa) were found secreted into the culture medium. Protease cleavage at the C terminus of YapA released the protein from the cell surface. Outer membrane localization of YapC (65 kDa), YapG (100 kDa), YapK (130 kDa), and YapN (60 kDa) was established by cell fractionation, and cell surface localization of YapC and YapN was demonstrated by protease accessibility experiments. In functional studies, YapN and YapK showed hemagglutination activity and YapC exhibited autoagglutination activity. Data reported here represent the first study on Y. pestis ATs.     

鼠疫菌毒力调控研究

鼠疫菌通过一系列转录调控子(如CRP、PhoP、RovA和Fur)控制着一些关键毒力因子(如Pla、强毒力岛、III型分泌系统等)的基因表达。鼠疫菌可感应宿主体内信号刺激,紧密调控毒力因子的表达。在这个紧密调控过程中,调控子、毒力相关基因构成了一个动态网络。鼠疫菌在从假结核菌祖先演化的进程中,基因表达调控网络的重塑在鼠疫菌毒力进化过程中发挥着不可取代的作用。     

鼠疫耶尔森氏菌基因转录调控的研究进展

细菌基因转录调控是多种调控机制中研究最为广泛的一种模式。复杂而精细的基因转录调控网络有助于细菌应答外界环境压力,在病原菌致病与传播中均发挥着关键作用。本文以鼠疫耶尔森氏菌基因转录调控的相关研究进展为基础展开论述,重点阐述细菌的转录调控机制、转录调控的研究策略及鼠疫菌致病与传播中转录调控的作用,以期为深入研究鼠疫菌致病与传播中的基因转录调控分子机制提供新思路。     

鼠疫耶尔森氏菌LcrV基因的克隆及序列分析

为了研究鼠疫耶尔森氏菌（Y.pestis）保护性抗原V蛋白,从基因库中查得Y.pestis LcrV基因DNA序列,针对序列设计合成了一对PCR扩增引物,以本所保存的Y.pestis菌种为模板进行基因扩增,结果获得长约980bp的DNA片段。将扩增产物回收纯化,克隆至pGEM-T载体,构建重组载体pGEN-T/ypV,经过PCR,酶切鉴定,并对pGEM-T/ypV中的V基因片段进行测序,分析测序结果与己知序列相同,表明获得了LcrV基因。     

Plasmid content in Yersinia pestis strains of different origin

Plasmid content in 242 Yersinia pestis strains from various natural plague foci of the U.S.S.R. and other countries was studied. Of these strains, 172 (71%) were shown to carry three plasmids described previously of about 6, 45-50 and 60 MDa, respectively. Twenty strains (8%) from different foci harboured additional cryptic plasmids, most often of about 20 mDa in size. Plasmid pPst displayed considerable constancy of its molecular mass. On the contrary, size variations of pCad (45-49 MDa) and, especially, pFra (60-190 MDa) were found. Molecular mass of these plasmids correlated with the host strain origin.     

Cellular fatty acids as chemical markers for differentiation of Yersinia pestis and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Aims:  Gas chromatography (GC) was utilized to investigate the cellular fatty acids (CFAs) composition of 141 Yersinia pestis isolates from different plague foci of China, and 20 Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains as well.
Methods and Results:  The whole cell fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were obtained by saponification, methylation and extraction followed with analysis using a standardized Microbial Identification System (MIS). Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis strains are quite similar in major CFA profiles, which include 16:0, 17:0 cyclo, 3-OH-14:0, 16:1ω7c and 18:1ω7c, accounting for more than 80% of the total CFAs.
Conclusions:  Yersinia pestis could be easily differentiated from Y. pseudotuberculosis by plotting the ratios of some CFA pairs, i.e.,14:0/18:0 vs 18:1ω7c/18:0, 3-OH-14:0/18:0 vs 18:1ω7c/18:0, 16:1ω7c/18:0 vs 18:1ω7c/18:0, 12:0/18:0 vs 18:1ω7c/18:0 and 12:0 ALDE/18:0 vs 16:1ω7c/18:0 fatty acids.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  In the present study, the normalized Sherlock MIS and Sherlock standard libraries were used to analyse the fatty acid composition of different strains of Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis . Meanwhile, ratios of certain CFA components were found to serve as chemical markers for differentiating the two closely related bacteria that are difficult to be differentiated by simply comparing CFA profiles based on other researches.     

鼠疫菌H-NS蛋白的表达与纯化及其DNA结合活性

摘要：【目的】利用大肠杆菌BL21λDE3的表达系统,表达出有活性的鼠疫耶尔森氏菌（以下简称鼠疫菌）调控子蛋白H-NS,为进一步研究H-NS的转录调控奠定基础。【方法】 PCR扩增鼠疫菌201株hns基因的编码区,将其直接克隆入pET28a质粒中,再将pET28a-hns重组质粒转入大肠杆菌BL21λDE3菌株中,所得菌株经IPTG诱导后能表达出鼠疫菌His-H-NS蛋白;通过体外的凝胶迁移实验（EMSA）和DNaseⅠ足迹实验对His-H-NS蛋白与DNA的结合活性进行分析。【结果】成功表达出有活性的鼠疫菌His-H-NS蛋白,该蛋白对鼠疫菌pH6抗原基因（psaA、psaE）及rovA基因均有结合活性。【结论】鼠疫菌His-H-NS具有DNA结合活性,说明H-NS能调控鼠疫菌基因的转录。     

Identification of Yersinia pestis with varied plasmid composition using monoclonal and polyclonal fluorescent immunoglobulins

Abstract The efficiency of serological identification of Yersinia pestis strains which contain different plasmids was assessed with polyclonal and monoclonal immunoglobulin preparations in the direct fluorescent antibody method. Plague polyclonal luminescent immunoglobulins recognize only those Y. pestis strains which contain pPst, pFra plasmids or both. Anticapsular plague monoclonal antibodies interact only with capsule-forming plague agent strains (pFra+) grown at 37°C. With plague monoclonal lipopolysaccharide antibodies one can identify all Y. pestis strains irrespective of their plasmid content and cultivation temperature. However, these antibodies cross-react with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis bacteria in 60% of cases. The problem of laboratory diagnosis of the plague organism, whatever its plasmid profile, can be solved through the development of a test kit involving two preparations such as plague lipopolysaccharide monoclonal luminescent antibodies and pseudotuberculosisspecific luminescent adsorbed immunoglobulins.     

鼠疫耶尔森氏菌基因表达的环境调节

鼠疫耶尔森氏菌是烈性传染病鼠疫的病原菌,该菌在媒介(跳蚤)和宿主(哺乳动物)之间的循环过程中,基因表达适应环境谱的变化。本介绍鼠疫耶尔森氏菌适应环境信号如不同温度、离子浓度、pH等条件下的基因表达调控研究现状。     

鼠疫菌重要调控子蛋白的表达纯化及DNA结合活性分析

目的:利用大肠杆菌BL21(λDE3)的表达系统,表达7个有活性的、与鼠疫耶尔森菌(鼠疫菌)传播及致病密切相关的调控子蛋白,并对这些蛋白与DNA的结合活性进行分析,为构建鼠疫菌毒力基因转录调控网络建立分子生化实验平台。方法:通过分子克隆技术构建鼠疫菌调控子蛋白的表达菌株,所得菌株经IPTG诱导后能分别表达鼠疫菌CRP、Fur、PhoP、OxyR、OmpR、RcsB和RovA带His标签的融合蛋白;对这些蛋白与DNA的结合基序进行生物信息学预测;通过体外凝胶迁移实验验证上述蛋白与靶DNA的结合活性。结果:表达了7种有活性的鼠疫菌调控子蛋白,这些蛋白与靶基因启动子区具有体外结合活性。结论:表达的7种调控子蛋白在鼠疫菌的传播致病中有重要作用,这些调控子蛋白与DNA体外结合实验平台的建立,是构建鼠疫菌毒力基因转录调控网络的基础。     

建立基于RNA免疫共沉淀技术的鼠疫耶尔森菌Hfq蛋白相关sRNA的体内验证方法

目的：建立RNA免疫共沉淀方法,为鼠疫耶尔森菌Hfq蛋白相关非编码小RNA（sRNA）提供体内验证方法。方法：首先在RNA结合蛋白Hfq下游加入Flag标签,用Flag标签抗体进行免疫共沉淀,获得蛋白-RNA复合物,然后从沉淀的蛋白-RNA复合物中分离得到纯化的RNA;通过Western印迹检测各步骤Hfq蛋白的表达,再利用Northern印迹检测目的sRNA--RyhB1和RyhB2。结果：构建了带有Flag标签的RNA结合蛋白Hfq的载体,此载体转导入hfq缺失株后与鼠疫菌野生株的生长曲线无明显差异;通过RNA-蛋白免疫共沉淀技术鉴定出已知与鼠疫菌Hfq蛋白结合的2个sRNA--RyhB1和RyhB2。结论：建立了利用RNA-蛋白免疫共沉淀鉴定与鼠疫菌Hfq蛋白结合的sRNA的技术,为细菌sRNA的验证、功能研究和体内蛋白质与RNA相互作用研究提供了有利工具。     

中试规模纯化重组鼠疫rF1-V融合蛋白及其免疫原性分析

重组F1-V融合蛋白(rF1-V)是目前在进行临床研究的鼠疫亚单位疫苗的主要成分。本研究摸索了rF1-V的可溶表达条件,并对条件进行了优化和放大,确定的中试发酵工艺为:在重组菌对数生长期中期加入50μmol/LIPTG,25℃诱导表达5h。通过硫酸铵分级沉淀、离子交换、疏水相互作用层析和凝胶过滤四步纯化,最终得到纯度为99%、回收率大于20%且各项检测指标合格的蛋白。在此基础上,将蛋白使用氢氧化铝佐剂进行吸附,在小鼠体内进行了免疫原性研究。ELISA测定两次皮下免疫后血清的抗体滴度。比较融合蛋白免疫组(rF1-V)与单一抗原免疫组(rF1、rV)以及联合抗原免疫组(rF1+rV)之间体液免疫反应的差异。结果显示:20μgrF1-V免疫剂量组诱导的抗F1抗体滴度明显高于其他组,抗V抗体滴度与其他组相比没有显著差异。表明本工艺制备的rF1-V抗原有望作为鼠疫亚单位疫苗的主要组分。     

鼠疫菌噬菌体效价噬菌斑测定法的建立

目的建立鼠疫菌噬菌体噬菌斑效价测定方法。方法通过分析细菌接种浓度、孵育吸附时间及培养温度等参数,建立鼠疫菌噬菌体效价测定方法,并分析其精密性;建立鼠疫活疫苗鉴别及纯菌检查用噬菌体效价质量标准。结果经优化后确定细菌接种浓度为7×108/mL,不需孵育吸附,培养温度为29℃,所建立的检测方法精密性较好,用于鼠疫活疫苗鉴别及纯菌检查用噬菌体效价质量标准应不低于1×106PFU/mL。结论建立了鼠疫菌噬菌体噬菌斑效价测定方法,为鼠疫菌噬菌体及疫苗质量控制奠定了基础。     

Identification of signature genes for rapid and specific characterization of Yersinia pestis

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA-based unique markers, the signature sequences, is ideal for rapid detection and identification of pathogens. We described the discovery of twenty-eight signature genes of Yersinia pestis by DNA microarray-based comparative genome hybridization in conjunction with PCR validation. Three pairs of Y. pestis-specific primers designed from signature genes were demonstrated to have the expected specificity to this target bacterium, without cross-reaction with the closely related Y. pseudotuberculosis or a large collection of genomic DNAs from other organisms.     

Adhesive properties of the purified plasminogen activator Pla of Yersinia pestis

The beta-barrel outer membrane protease Pla from Yersinia pestis is an important virulence factor in plague and enables initiation of the bubonic plague. Pla is a multifunctional protease whose expression also enhances bacterial adherence to extracellular matrix. It has remained uncertain whether the increase in cellular adhesiveness results from modification of the bacterial surface by Pla, or whether the Pla molecule is an adhesin. Pla was purified as a His6-fusion protein from Escherichia coli and reconstituted with lipopolysaccharide to an enzymatically active form. Purified His6-Pla was coated onto fluorescent micro-particles (FMPs) that expressed plasminogen activity. Pla-coated FMPs also bound to laminin and to reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel) immobilized on permanox slides, whereas only poor activity was seen with lipopolysaccharide-coated FMPs or bovine serum albumin-coated FMPs. The results show that the Pla molecule has intrinsic adhesive properties and that purified transmembrane proteins coated onto FMPs can be used for functional assays.     

Identification of immunodominant epitope of F1 antigen of Yersinia pestis

The F1 antigen of Yersinia pestis has been identified as one of the major protective antigens of this bacterium. The present study aims to delineate major and minor antigenic sites of F1 antigen. Using algorithmic predictions, five peptide sequences (P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5) spanning the C-terminal region were identified and synthesized. Antibodies were generated in mice against the peptides, native F1 protein and polymerized F1 antigen using liposomes as mode of immunization. Cross-reactivity between F1 antigen and peptides was tested using both solid and solution phase assays. Similar assays were done with rabbit anti-F1 sera. Competitive inhibition assays using a different combination of antisera and competing antigen identified P2 peptide FFVRSIGSKGGKLAAGKYTDAVTV (142-165) as the immunodominant sequence. The results indicate that this sequence appears to be exposed on the surface of F1 molecule. In a solid phase binding assay, P2 peptide was recognized even at high F1 antisera dilution. However, when antisera raised to different peptides were tested for binding to F1 antigen, antisera to P4 peptide showed maximal immunoreactivity. This implies more accessibility of this region during immobilization on solid surface. There was consistency in the results obtained for different strains of mice as well as for the rabbit antisera. Such a sequence of F1 antigen, which is recognized widely in animals of different genetic background, would be useful for diagnosis and subunit vaccine.     

重组鼠疫耶尔森菌LcrV抗原原液性质研究

目的进行重组鼠疫耶尔森菌LcrV抗原原液二聚体含量及性质研究,确定LcrV原液的相关质控标准。方法在不同缓冲体系(0.85%NaCl(NS)、20 mmol/L PBS),不同蛋白浓度(2.0、1.5、1.0、0.5、0.1 mg/mL)及不同保存温度(4℃、-20℃、-70℃)条件下保存LcrV抗原,采用SDS-PAGE和HPSEC方法定期检测LcrV二聚体含量及纯度。将连续三批检定合格的LcrV抗原原液进行质谱相对分子质量测定、等电点测定、N末端氨基酸序列测定、圆二色(CD)谱、HPLC肽谱及氨基酸组成分析,研究LcrV抗原的相关性质。结果随着保存时间的延长LcrV抗原二聚体含量增加,低温保存时二聚体不易大量形成。在-20℃和-70℃条件下,NS保存的LcrV抗原比PBS体系保存稳定,而在4℃条件下NS保存的LcrV抗原容易降解。LcrV抗原高浓度保存容易发生聚合。LcrV抗原在低质量浓度(0.1 mg/mL)保存时免疫学活性明显下降。质谱检测到LcrV单体和二聚体共同存在,且与理论相对分子质量一致。LcrV原液检测等电点范围为4.6～6.3。N末端测序、CD谱、HPLC肽谱图及氨基酸组成分析与理论结果一致。结论 LcrV抗原原液保存条件确定为:NS体系,蛋白质量浓度1.0～2.0 mg/mL,-20℃以下冻存。制备的LcrV抗原各项检测结果与理论结果一致,抗原性质稳定。     

鼠疫菌OxyR调控子蛋白对dps的转录调控机制

[目的]利用分子生物学实验研究鼠疫菌调控子OxyR对dps的转录调控机制.[方法]提取鼠疫菌野生株(WT)和oxyR突变株(ΔoxyR)的总RNA,采用引物延伸实验研究dps的转录起始位点,并根据产物的丰度判断OxyR对dps的调控关系.进一步采用实时定量RT-PCR的方法验证OxyR对dps的调控关系.PCR扩增dps的整个启动子区DNA序列,并纯化His-OxyR蛋白,通过凝胶阻滞实验(EMSA)验证OxyR对dps启动子区是否具有直接的相互作用.利用大肠杆菌OxyR识别基序,预测鼠疫菌OxyR对dps启动子区的结合位点,从而得出鼠疫菌OxyR对dps的转录调控机制.[结果]鼠疫菌dps有一个转录起始位点G(-40)(翻译起始位点为+1),其转录表达受OxyR的激活;体外实验及生物信息学预测结果表明OxyR能结合到dps启动子区-111到-78之间的碱基上.[结论]OxyR能直接结合到dps启动子区而激活其转录表达.     

Interactions between type III secretion apparatus components from Yersinia pestis detected using the yeast two-hybrid system

Interactions among the Yersinia secretion (Ysc) proteins of Yersinia pestis were explored using the yeast two-hybrid system. Various pairwise combinations of the yscEFGHIKLN and Q genes fused to the DNA-binding or activation domain of the yeast GAL4 gene were introduced into yeast, and expression of a reporter gene encoding beta-galactosidase was detected. Combinations of yscN and yscL, yscL and yscQ, and yscQ and yscK resulted in high levels of reporter gene activation. These results suggest that YscL interacts with both YscN and YscQ, and that YscQ interacts with both YscL and YscK. Three-hybrid analyses using plasmid pDELA to target a third hybrid protein to the yeast nucleus was used to detect the formation of ternary protein complexes. Using the three-hybrid system, YscQ expressed from plasmid pDELA was able to bring together the YscK and YscL fusion proteins. In a similar manner, YscL expressed from plasmid pDELA was able to bring together the YscN and YscQ fusion proteins. Together, these results suggest that a complex composed of YscN, YscQ, YscK and YscL is involved in the assembly and/or function of the Y. pestis type III secretion apparatus.