2型猪链球菌SSU0448基因敲除突变株的构建及其毒力分析

【目的】 通过构建2型猪链球菌(SS2)强毒株05ZYH33的SSU0448基因缺失突变株Δ0448和互补株CΔ0448,探索SSU0448基因缺失对细菌基本生物学特性和细菌毒力的影响。【方法】用同源重组基因敲除方法构建筛选强毒株05ZYH33中N-乙酰半乳糖胺和半乳糖胺代谢途径相关转录调节因子SSU0448基因的缺失突变株,比较分析突变株Δ0448与野生株05ZYH33、互补株CΔ0448的基本生物学特性,小鼠毒力实验分析SSU0448基因缺失对细菌毒力的影响。【结果】PCR检测分析显示,SSU0448基因在转化重组体中被壮观霉素抗性基因所替代,表明基因敲除突变株构建成功;同时构建了基因功能互补株CΔ0448。生物学特性实验表明突变株Δ0448在成链能力上较野生株明显减弱,对数生长期稍短,快速到达平台期;而菌落形态、革兰氏染色和溶血活性方面无明显差异;小鼠毒力实验发现,突变株毒力并无显著改变。【结论】SSU0448基因的敲除能够改变2型猪链球菌的成链能力;不影响其侵袭致病能力,可能延缓2型猪链球菌的发病过程,此研究为2型猪链球菌致病感染奠定了基础。     

2型猪链球菌MocR家族转录调控因子SSU0562基因敲除突变体的构建及毒力分析

目的:构建2型猪链球菌强毒株05ZYH33中MocR家族转录调控因子SSU0562基因敲除的突变株,探索SSU0562基因缺失对细菌基本生物学特性和毒力的影响。方法:构建左右两侧为SSU0562基因上下游的同源序列,中间部分为壮观霉素抗性基因(Spcr)的基因敲除质粒,通过同源重组的方法筛选SSU0562基因敲除突变株Δ0562。对突变株与野生株的基本生物学特性进行系统的比较分析,并且将小鼠作为动物感染的模型来研究突变株的毒力。结果:组合PCR的分析及基因测序结果均表明Spcr完全取代了S.suis2中SSU0562基因位点,表明基因敲除突变体Δ0562构建成功,反转录PCR(RT-PCR)证实了突变株Δ0562中SSU0562基因在转录水平的缺失;在溶血活性、生长速率及对小鼠的致病力方面,突变株Δ0562与野生株05ZYH33相比均无显著差别,然而革兰染色实验显示突变株Δ0562的成链能力明显减弱。结论:猪链球菌强毒株05ZYH33的毒力并未因SSU0562基因的缺失而发生显著性改变,表明SSU0562基因并非猪链球菌的毒力决定因子,但很有可能参与猪链球菌成链能力的调控。     

T3SS1和T3SS2影响副溶血弧菌生物学特性及细胞致病性的比较

【目的】探究两套Ⅲ型分泌系统T3SS1和T3SS2影响副溶血弧菌生物学特性及细胞致病性的差异和相关性。【方法】以T3SS1和T3SS2主要结构基因vcrD1和vcrD2为研究对象,利用同源重组技术分别构建单基因和双基因缺失株ΔvcrD1、ΔvcrD2、ΔvcrD1-vcrD2,以及互补株CΔvcrD1和CΔvcrD2;分析各菌株的生长特性、生物被膜形成能力、运动性的差异;比较各菌株对细胞毒性以及对细胞炎性因子转录水平的影响。【结果】与野生株相比,各缺失株的生长速度无显著差异。缺失株ΔvcrD1生物被膜形成能力、运动性和细胞毒性均极显著下降;缺失株ΔvcrD2主要表现为细胞炎性因子IL-1β和IL-6转录水平的显著上调,同时对细胞毒性作用下降。双基因缺失株ΔvcrD1-vcrD2在缺失株ΔvcrD1的基础上,生物被膜形成能力、运动性、细胞毒性均进一步显著下降,但在细胞炎性因子的转录水平上,则与ΔvcrD1一致,与野生株相比均无显著差异。【结论】T3SS1和T3SS2对副溶血弧菌生物学特性和细胞致病性的影响存在差异。T3SS1主要影响细菌的生物被膜形成、运动性及细胞毒性作用;T3SS2不影响生物被膜形成、运动性等生物学特性,参与细菌对细胞炎性反应中的负调控作用,同时具有一定的细胞毒性作用。T3SS1有助于副溶血弧菌在环境中的生存,而T3SS2可有利于细菌在宿主体内免疫逃避的过程。T3SS1和T3SS2对副溶血弧菌生物学特性和细胞致病性的影响可能存在一定的相关作用,具体机制有待进一步研究。     

猪链球菌2型分选酶srtBCD 基因敲除株的构建及其生物学特性分析

【目的】阐明分选酶srtBCD基因在猪链球菌2型致病过程中的作用。【方法】利用同源重组原理构建中间为壮观霉素、两侧为srtBCD基因上下游片段的重组质粒,将构建好的质粒电转化入猪链球菌感受态,筛选srtBCD缺失的突变株,并通过组合PCR和逆转录PCR对其进行验证。生物学功能实验研究srtBCD突变株和野毒株05Z33在生长速率、粘附、毒力等方面的差异。【结果】组合PCR和逆转录PCR结果均证实srtBCD突变株构建成功,体外实验结果显示srtBCD缺失后细菌的生长速率减慢,与Hep-2上皮细胞的粘附率明显降低,小鼠毒力实验数据表明突变株毒力无明显变化。【结论】猪链球菌2型srtBCD基因与细菌的粘附能力有关,为进一步研究猪链球菌2型的致病机理奠定基础。     

猪链球菌cAMP结合蛋白基因敲除株的构建及生物学特性

目的:构建猪链球菌2型强毒株05ZYH33 c AMP结合蛋白(CRP)编码基因敲除突变株及基因回复互补株,并探究CRP基因的缺失对细菌生物学特性及毒力的影响。方法:构建中间为壮观霉素抗性基因(Spcr)、两侧为CRP编码基因上下游同源序列的基因敲除质粒,通过同源重组筛选CRP编码基因敲除突变株ΔCRP;构建CRP编码基因的互补质粒,通过电转化敲除株ΔCRP,筛选CRP的基因回复互补株CΔCRP;比较分析突变株、野生株和回复互补株的基本生物学特征的差异,并以小鼠作为动物感染模型对突变株、互补株及野生株的毒力进行评估分析。结果:应用组合PCR和基因测序分析,证实构建了CRP的突变株ΔCRP,并筛选出CRP的回复互补株CΔCRP;逆转录PCR证实在突变株ΔCRP中CRP在转录水平缺失,而在回复互补株CΔCRP中其转录回复;在丰富营养情况下,突变株ΔCRP与野生株的溶血活性、生长速率及对小鼠的致病力均无显著性差异,但突变株的成链能力减弱。结论:CRP编码基因的缺失并未显著改变野毒株05ZYH33的基本生物学特性和毒力,提示CRP可能不是猪链球菌的关键毒力决定因子,其参与碳源代谢等功能有待进一步研究。     

kpsE和kpsD双基因缺失显著降低肠道外致病性大肠杆菌的毒力

【目的】探究荚膜对肠道外致病性大肠杆菌致病作用的影响。【方法】选取负责荚膜多糖转运的基因kpsE和kpsD,利用λRed重组系统构建APEC E058和UPEC U17荚膜缺失株E058ΔkpsED和U17ΔkpsED,并通过一系列的体内及体外试验对其生物学特性及致病性进行研究。【结果】双基因缺失株的生长速度较野生株没有明显差异,但缺失株抗血清补体杀菌能力和抗鸡巨噬细胞HD-11细胞吞噬能力显著下降。1日龄雏鸡LD50致病性试验结果显示,缺失株E058ΔkpsED和U17ΔkpsED对鸡失去致病力,而回复株毒力恢复至野生株水平;35日龄SPF鸡体内动态分布和竞争试验显示ΔkpsED缺失株在鸡体内定殖能力和竞争性生长能力显著下降,表明kpsED双基因的缺失能显著降低APEC E058和UPEC U17的致病力。【结论】荚膜与肠道外致病性大肠杆菌的致病性相关,是其重要的毒力因子。     

鼠伤寒沙门氏菌Ⅵ型分泌系统相关基因敲除及其功能特性

Ⅵ型分泌系统(T6SS)是大多数革兰氏阴性细菌中都存在的一种重要的分泌系统,能介导细菌与细菌之间以及细菌和宿主细胞之间的相互作用,溶血素共调节蛋白(Hcp)和缬氨酸甘氨酸重复蛋白G(VgrG)是组成T6SS穿刺装置的重要组分。但鼠伤寒沙门氏菌Ⅵ型分泌系统的Hcp与VgrG在该菌入侵宿主细胞及抗吞噬过程中发挥的作用尚不十分清楚。【目的】本研究旨在利用基因敲除技术构建的鼠伤寒沙门氏菌hcp及vgrg基因缺失株体外接种真核上皮细胞和巨噬细胞,并以其亲本株作为对照,以研究Hcp及VgrG在该菌粘附、侵入上皮细胞及抗吞噬过程中所发挥的作用。【方法】通过优化Red同源重组系统操作过程中各个条件,建立一套快速敲除鼠伤寒沙门氏菌Ⅵ型分泌系统相关基因的操作系统,成功构建鼠伤寒沙门氏菌CVCC541的hcp及vgrg单基因缺失株、双基因缺失株及三基因缺失株,并用Hela细胞接种试验和菌落计数试验,评估不同菌株的粘附和侵袭能力;用小鼠巨噬细胞RAW 264.7接种试验,评估不同菌株的抗吞噬能力。【结果】与亲本株CVCC541粘附侵袭Hela细胞相比,基因缺失株CVCC541Δvgrg、CVCC541Δhcp2Δvgrg和CVCC541Δhcp1Δhcp2Δhcp3的粘附率分别为17.17%±2.1%、14.73%±2.5%和82%±3.7%;CVCC541Δvgrg、CVCC541Δhcp2Δvgrg和CVCC541Δhcp1Δhcp2Δhcp3的侵袭率分别为7.05%±1.05%、6.21%±1.35%和87%±3.25%;与亲本株CVCC541在小鼠巨噬细胞RAW 264.7中的存活相比,基因缺失株CVCC541Δvgrg、CVCC541Δhcp2Δvgrg和CVCC541Δhcp1Δhcp2Δhcp3的存活率分别为15.67%±2.9%、14.47%±1.87%和56.12%±3.48%。【结论】鼠伤寒沙门氏菌Ⅵ型分泌系统VgrG和Hcp对该菌入侵细胞和抗吞噬方面具有重要作用,该研究为鼠伤寒沙门氏菌通过六型分泌系统与宿主细胞相互作用的机制研究奠定了基础。     

高致病性2型猪链球菌plcR基因敲除株的构建及其相关生物学特性的研究

【目的】构建高致病性2型猪链球菌05ZYH33菌株plcR基因敲除株,通过比较突变株与野生株生物学特性的差异,研究plcR基因在2型猪链球菌致病过程中的作用。【方法】利用同源重组技术敲除plcR基因,多重交叉PCR及RT-PCR鉴定并测序验证。比较野生株与突变株基本生物学特性的差异,小鼠攻毒实验分析plcR基因缺失对细菌毒力的影响。【结果】经RT-PCR证实05SSU0241与05SSU0242共转录,通过多重交叉PCR及RT-PCR证实成功构建plcR基因缺失突变株,基本生物学特性显示突变株的生长速率、菌落形态、溶血活性均无显著改变,小鼠致病性试验结果显示,野生株攻毒的小鼠死亡率为70%,突变株攻毒的小鼠死亡率为40%,毒力较野生株显著降低。【结论】plcR基因作为2型猪链球菌有毒株基因组中特有的外源基因,在细菌致病过程中具有重要作用。     

猪链球菌2型荚膜唾液酸对细菌毒力和宿主炎症反应的影响

【目的】阐明猪链球菌2型荚膜唾液酸是否影响细菌毒力以及宿主对其炎症反应应答,为研究猪链球菌2型的致病机制奠定基础。【方法】比较实验菌株对BLAB/c小鼠模型的致病性;通过涂板计数的方法检测实验菌株在小鼠体内的分布;观察小鼠脑组织病理改变,分析实验菌株感染小鼠后中枢神经系统的病变差异;从小鼠体外全血细胞水平,运用ELISA法检测实验菌株感染后细胞炎性因子的分泌水平。【结果】荚膜唾液酸合成基因neuB缺失突变株ΔneuB相比野生株05ZYH33株,对小鼠毒力显著降低,回复突变株cΔneuB毒力回复至野生株水平;野生株和突变株在血液及脑组织中分布具有显著差异,均可致BLAB/c小鼠脑组织不同程度的损伤;与野生株组相比较,细菌/细胞相互作用不同时间点后,突变株组体外刺激小鼠全血细胞分泌MCP-1、IL-6的水平显著提高;【结论】荚膜唾液酸影响细菌的毒力及宿主细胞对其的炎症反应应答,它是猪链球菌2型穿透血脑屏障导致脑膜炎的重要毒力因子。     

高致病性2型猪链球菌Ⅳ型样分泌系统virB1-89K基因的敲除及其对毒力的影响

[目的]构建高致病性2型猪链球菌Ⅳ型样分泌系统vir B1-89K基因的敲除株和互补株,研究vir B1-89K基因缺失对细菌毒力的影响.[方法]通过同源重组技术敲除vir B1-89K基因,多重PCR筛选敲除株并测序鉴定.再将virB1-89K基因克隆到穿梭质粒pSET1后转入vir B1-89K敲除株中,构建互补株.比较野生株05ZYH33、突变株△virB1-89K和互补株CvirB1-89K三者基本生物学特性的差异,小鼠实验分析virB1-89K基因敲除后对细菌毒力的影响.[结果]成功构建突变株△vir B1-89K和互补株CvirB1-89K,在基本生物学性状无明显改变的情况下,敲除株的毒性降低到野生株的30％,互补株可恢复其毒性.[结论]virB1-89K基因作为2型猪链球菌高致病性菌株05ZYH33的Ⅳ样分泌系统的重要组分,与其高致病性密切相关.     

Sialylation of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is essential for capsule expression but is not responsible for the main capsular epitope

The capsular polysaccharide is a critical virulence factor of the swine and zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis serotype 2. The capsule of this bacterium is composed of five different sugars, including terminal sialic acid. To evaluate the role of sialic acid in the pathogenesis of the infection, the neuC gene, encoding for an enzyme essential for sialic acid biosynthesis, was inactivated in a highly virulent S. suis serotype 2 strain. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was shown that inactivation of neuC resulted in loss of expression of the whole capsule. Compared to the parent strain, the ΔneuC mutant strain was more phagocytosed by macrophages and was also severely impaired in virulence in a mouse infection model. Both native and desialylated S. suis serotype 2 purified capsular polysaccharides were recognized by a polyclonal anti-whole cell S. suis serotype 2 serum and a monospecific polyclonal anti-capsule serotype 2 serum. In contrast, only the native capsular polysaccharide was recognized by a monoclonal antibody specific for the sialic acid moiety of the serotype 2 capsule. Together, our results infer that sialylation of S. suis serotype 2 may be essential for capsule expression, but that this sugar is not the main epitope of this serotype.     

Prevalence of Streptococcus suis genotypes in wild boars of Northwestern Germany

Invasive serotype 2 (cps2+) strains of Streptococcus suis cause meningitis in pigs and humans. Four case reports of S. suis meningitis in hunters suggest transmission of S. suis through the butchering of wild boars. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of potentially human-pathogenic S. suis strains in wild boars. S. suis was isolated from 92% of all tested tonsils (n=200) from wild boars. A total of 244 S. suis isolates were genotyped using PCR assays for the detection of serotype-specific genes, the hemolysin gene sly, and the virulence-associated genes mrp and epf. The prevalence of the cps2+ genotype among strains from wild boars was comparable to that of control strains from domestic pig carriers. Ninety-five percent of the cps2+ wild boar strains were positive for mrp, sly, and epf*, the large variant of epf. Interestingly, epf* was significantly more frequently detected in cps2+ strains from wild boars than in those from domestic pigs; epf* is also typically found in European S. suis isolates from humans, including a meningitis isolate from a German hunter. These results suggest that at least 10% of wild boars in Northwestern Germany carry S. suis strains that are potentially virulent in humans. Additional amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis supported this hypothesis, since homogeneous clustering of the epf* mrp+ sly+ cps2+ strains from wild boars with invasive human and porcine strains was observed.     

CpsB is a modulator of capsule-associated tyrosine kinase activity in Streptococcus pneumoniae

Tyrosine phosphorylation is associated with polysaccharide synthesis in a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In Streptococcus pneumoniae, CpsB, CpsC, and CpsD affect tyrosine phosphorylation and are critical for the production of a mature capsule in vitro. To characterize the interactions between these proteins and the phosphorylation event they modulate, cps2B, cps2C, and cps2D from the capsule type 2 S. pneumoniae D39 were cloned and expressed both individually and in combination in Escherichia coli. Cps2D purified from E. coli was not phosphorylated unless it was co-expressed with its cognate transmembrane domain, Cps2C. Purified phosphorylated Cps2D had tyrosine kinase activity and could phosphorylate both dephosphorylated Cps2D and an exogenous substrate (poly-Glu-Tyr) in the absence of ATP. Cps2B exhibited phosphatase activity against both purified phosphorylated Cps2D and p-nitrophenyl phosphate. An additional role for Cps2B as an inhibitor of Cps2D phosphorylation was demonstrated in both co-expression experiments in E. coli and in vitro experiments where it blocked the transphosphorylation of Cps2D even in the presence of the phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate. cps2C and cps2D deletion mutants in S. pneumoniae produced no detectable mature capsule during laboratory culture. Both were avirulent in systemic mouse infections and were unable to colonize the nasopharynx, suggesting that the failure to produce capsule was not dependent on the environment. Based on these results, we propose a model for capsule regulation where CpsB, CpsC, CpsD, and ATP form a stable complex that enhances capsule synthesis.     

猪链球菌2型强毒株S.suis 05ZY和弱毒株S.suis 1940的比较转录谱分析

目的:比较猪链球菌2型强毒株S.suis 05ZY和弱毒株S.suis 1940毒力相关基因转录水平的差异,为进一步研究强毒株S.suis 05ZY毒力增强的原因提供实验基础。方法:分别提取S.suis 05ZY和S.suis 1940的RNA,反转录成cDNA并纯化,用Cy5或Cy3标记,与猪链球菌全基因组DNA芯片进行杂交,扫描芯片进行数据分析,比较二者在转录水平上的差异基因。结果:编码溶血素、精氨酸氨基肽酶的基因分别上调4.4和6.0倍,参与荚膜多糖合成的相关基因cps2H、cps2I、cps2J和一些可能的毒力相关基因ofs、dpr、SSU05₀196、SSU05₀272、SSU05₁408-1409均发生转录水平的上调。结论:溶血素、荚膜多糖、精氨酸氨基肽酶及一些可能的毒力因子在转录水平的上调很可能与S.suis 05ZY的毒力增强有关。     

Positive correlation between tyrosine phosphorylation of CpsD and capsular polysaccharide production in Streptococcus pneumoniae

CpsA, CpsB, CpsC, and CpsD are part of a tyrosine phosphorylation regulatory system involved in modulation of capsule synthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae and many other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Using an immunoblotting technique, we observed distinct laddering patterns of S. pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides of various serotypes and found that transfer of the polymer from the membrane to the cell wall was independent of size. Deletion of cps2A, cps2B, cps2C, or cps2D in the serotype 2 strain D39 did not affect the ability to transfer capsule to the cell wall. Deletion of cps2C or cps2D, which encode two domains of an autophosphorylating tyrosine kinase, resulted in the production of only short-chain polymers. The function of Cps2A is unknown, and the polymer laddering pattern of the cps2A deletion mutants appeared similar to that of the parent, although the total amount of capsule was decreased. Loss of Cps2B, a tyrosine phosphatase and a kinase inhibitor, resulted in an increase in capsule amount and a normal ladder pattern. However, Cps2B mutants exhibited reduced virulence following intravenous inoculation of mice and were unable to colonize the nasopharynx, suggesting a diminished capacity to sense or respond to these environments. In D39 and its isogenic mutants, the amounts of capsule and tyrosine-phosphorylated Cps2D (Cps2D approximately P) correlated directly. In contrast, restoration of type 2 capsule production followed by deletion of cps2B in Rx1, a laboratory passaged D39 derivative containing multiple uncharacterized mutations, resulted in decreased capsule amounts but no alteration in Cps2D approximately P levels. Thus, a factor outside the capsule locus, which is either missing or defective in the Rx1 background, is important in the control of capsule synthesis.     

Immunomodulatory effects of Streptococcus suis capsule type on human dendritic cell responses, phagocytosis and intracellular survival

Streptococcus suis is a major porcine pathogen of significant commercial importance worldwide and an emerging zoonotic pathogen of humans. Given the important sentinel role of mucosal dendritic cells and their importance in induction of T cell responses we investigated the effect of different S. suis serotype strains and an isogenic capsule mutant of serotype 2 on the maturation, activation and expression of IL-10, IL-12p70 and TNF-α in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Additionally, we compared phagocytosis levels and bacterial survival after internalization. The capsule of serotype 2, the most common serotype associated with infection in humans and pigs, was highly anti-phagocytic and modulated the IL-10/IL-12 and IL-10/TNF-α cytokine production in favor of a more anti-inflammatory profile compared to other serotypes. This may have consequences for the induction of effective immunity to S. suis serotype 2 in humans. A shielding effect of the capsule on innate Toll-like receptor signaling was also demonstrated. Furthermore, we showed that 24 h after phagocytosis, significant numbers of viable intracellular S. suis were still present intracellularly. This may contribute to the dissemination of S. suis in the body.     

Differences in the population structure of invasive Streptococcus suis strains isolated from pigs and from humans in The Netherlands

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is the main cause of zoonotic S. suis infection despite the fact that other serotypes are frequently isolated from diseased pigs. Studies comparing concurrent invasive human and pig isolates from a single geographical location are lacking. We compared the population structures of invasive S. suis strains isolated between 1986 and 2008 from human patients (N?=?24) and from pigs with invasive disease (N?=?124) in The Netherlands by serotyping and multi locus sequence typing (MLST). Fifty-six percent of pig isolates were of serotype 9 belonging to 15 clonal complexes (CCs) or singleton sequence types (ST). In contrast, all human isolates were of serotype 2 and belonged to two non-overlapping clonal complexes CC1 (58%) and CC20 (42%). The proportion of serotype 2 isolates among S. suis strains isolated from humans was significantly higher than among strains isolated from pigs (24/24 vs. 29/124; P<0.0001). This difference remained significant when only strains within CC1 and CC20 were considered (24/24 vs. 27/37,P?=?0.004). The Simpson diversity index of the S. suis population isolated from humans (0.598) was smaller than of the population isolated from pigs (0.765, P?=?0.05) indicating that the S. suis population isolated from infected pigs was more diverse than the S. suis population isolated from human patients. S. suis serotype 2 strains of CC20 were all negative in a PCR for detection of genes encoding extracellular protein factor (EF) variants. These data indicate that the polysaccharide capsule is an important correlate of human S. suis infection, irrespective of the ST and EF encoding gene type of S. suis strains.     

Rapid PCR test for Streptococcus suis serotype 7

Recent epidemiological studies on Streptococcus suis infections in pigs indicated that, besides serotypes 1, 2 and 9, serotype 7 is also frequently associated with diseased animals. For the latter serotype, however, no rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods are available. This hampers prevention and control programs. Here, we describe the development of a type-specific PCR test for the rapid and sensitive detection of S. suis serotype 7. The test is based on DNA sequences of capsular (cps) genes specific for serotype 7. These sequences were identified by cross-hybridization of several individual cps genes with the chromosomal DNAs of 35 different S. suis serotypes.     

Molecular and genetic characterization of the capsule biosynthesis locus of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19B.

We have previously reported the nucleotide sequence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19F capsular polysaccharide synthesis locus (cps19f), which consists of 15 open reading frames (ORFs) designated cps19fA to -O. Hybridization analysis indicated that close homologs for cps19fA to -H and cps19fK to -O were found in type 19B, but there were no homologs for cps19fI and -J. In this study we used long-range PCR to amplify and clone a 10.5-kb section of the S. pneumoniae type 19B capsule locus (cps19b) between cps19bH and cps19bK. This region of the cps19b locus is 4 kb larger than that in the cps19f locus and replaces cps19fI and cps19fJ with five new ORFs, designated cps19bP, -I, -Q, -R, and -J. We have proposed functions for four of the protein products, including functional homologs of Cps19fI and Cps19fJ. Transformation of a S. pneumoniae mutant containing an interrupted type 19F capsule locus with the 10.5-kb cps19b PCR product converted the recipient strain to type 19B. Southern hybridization analysis indicated that cps19bP, -I, -Q, -R, and -J are unique to type 19B and the closely related type 19C.