假定蛋白CT440在沙眼衣原体感染细胞中的定位研究

包涵体膜蛋白在沙眼衣原体致病过程中发挥重要的作用.为确定假定蛋白CT440在沙眼衣原体感染细胞中的定位及特征,本研究采用PCR方法从D型沙眼衣原体的基因组中扩增Ct440基因,克隆入pGEX-6p原核表达载体构建pGEX-6p/Ct440原核表达重组体,重组体转化到XL1-blue大肠杆菌,IPTG诱导表达融合蛋白GST-CT440.纯化后的CT440融合蛋白免疫小鼠制备抗体,间接免疫荧光(IFA)和Western blot测定抗体的特异性.特异性抗体用于分析CT440蛋白在衣原体感染细胞内的定位、表达时相特征及其对衣原体感染的影响.结果表明,CT440蛋白定位于沙眼衣原体包涵体膜上,为沙眼衣原体包涵体膜蛋白;该蛋白在衣原体感染12h后开始表达,直至持续到整个感染周期;转基因在胞浆表达的CT440融合蛋白不影响其后的衣原体感染.本实验为深入研究衣原体与宿主细胞间的相互作用,阐明衣原体致病机制提供了重要的实验依据.     

沙眼衣原体CT-249基因编码蛋白为一包涵体膜蛋白

使用融合蛋白GST-CT249的抗体对假想蛋白CT249的特性进行研究。使用PCR方法从L2型沙眼衣原体的基因组中扩增编码CT249蛋白的开放读码区基因,限制性内切酶BamHⅠ和NotⅠ消化、T4连接酶连接导入pGEX-6p2载体,进一步把重组质粒pGEX-6p2-CT249转化到XL1-blue细菌,并诱导表达融合蛋白GST-CT249。在融合蛋白GST-CT249免疫小鼠制备抗体后,应用直接免疫荧光技术对衣原体感染细胞内的CT249基因表达的内源性蛋白进行初步定位。成功克隆出沙眼衣原体基因CT249,全长为351bp,并表达了融合蛋白GST-CT249,分子量为38.2kDa。制备了融合蛋白GST-CT249的抗体并初步定位假想蛋白CT249于沙眼衣原体包涵体膜蛋白上。总之,使用融合蛋白GST-CT249的抗体,鉴定假想蛋白CT249为一种新的沙眼衣原体包涵体膜蛋白。该发现将为进一步深入研究衣原体与宿主细胞间某些机制提供了有用的途径。     

沙眼衣原体CT058蛋白在感染细胞中的定位分析

分析沙眼衣原体CT058蛋白在感染细胞中的定位.克隆表达CT058蛋白;纯化的CT058融合蛋白免疫小鼠制备多克隆抗体;间接免疫荧光法对CT058蛋白在沙眼衣原体感染细胞中的定位进行分析;Western blot检测CT058蛋白在原体和网状体中的表达情况.间接免疫荧光染色实验显示CT058蛋白位于包涵体内;鼠抗GST-CT058抗体与GST-CT058融合蛋白吸附后特异性染色消失,而与GST-CT232融合蛋白吸附后仍然可见GST-CT058抗体的包涵体染色特征;Western blot证实CT058蛋白在纯化的原体和网状体上均有表达.CT058蛋白定位于沙眼衣原体感染细胞的包涵体内.     

衣原体蛋白的亚细胞定位

沙眼衣原体(Chlamydia trachomatis,CT)是一种严格细胞内寄生、有独特发育周期的原核细胞型微生物.CT在宿主细胞浆内增殖,形成光镜可见的典型细胞内包涵体,包涵体为CT在宿主细胞内的生长繁殖提供屏障保护,同时也是CT与宿主细胞进行物质交换和信息传递的门户,CT不仅可从宿主细胞摄取营养物质,还可分泌效应蛋白进入宿主细胞质调节宿主细胞功能.CT基因组DNA序列和功能注释完成后,衣原体蛋白的亚细胞定位、结构和功能的研究已成为衣原体研究领域的热点之一[1-3].在CT与宿主细胞相互作用过程中,Inc蛋白、分泌蛋白等衣原体蛋白可能发挥着重要作用,鉴于蛋白质的亚细胞定位情况往往与其功能密切相关,衣原体蛋白在感染细胞中的定位认识成为其功能研究中的重要环节.     

鹦鹉热衣原体的B598_0590基因编码包涵体膜蛋白

目的:鹦鹉热衣原体的B598_0590基因与沙眼衣原体的毒力基因CT135同源,本研究旨在分析该基因的表达和定位。方法:生物信息学方法分析B598_0590基因的进化地位,比较B598_0590蛋白和沙眼衣原体毒力蛋白CT135的氨基酸疏水特征;重组表达、纯化鹦鹉热衣原体的B598_0590蛋白,免疫小鼠制备抗血清;共聚焦免疫荧光观察鹦鹉衣原体在正常培养条件和使用Lpx C抑制剂时B598_0590基因的表达和定位。结果:衣原体属内12个种的基因组均含有CT135同源基因,它们编码的蛋白质有相似的疏水特征;B598_0590与CT135的氨基酸同源性为21%;B598_0590的免疫荧光染色特征与包涵体膜蛋白Inc A相似,浓染包涵体膜;Lpx C抑制剂可抑制网状体的分裂、包涵体的生长及网状体向原体转化,包涵体膜蛋白的染色呈现典型的空泡结构。结论:Lpx C抑制剂可用于鉴定未知的鹦鹉热衣原体包涵体膜蛋白;鹦鹉热衣原体的B598_0590基因编码此前尚未鉴定的包涵体膜蛋白。     

沙眼衣原体CT135蛋白的表达与抗体制备

目的:在原核表达系统中表达沙眼衣原体CT135蛋白,并制备抗体,建立CT135蛋白免疫检测方法。方法:将沙眼衣原体CT135基因(1083 bp)克隆入带有His标签的pET-32a(+)载体中,通过NdeⅠ/XhoⅠ双酶切构建CT135全长的重组质粒WT,CT135基因N端逐渐缩短的重组质粒MT1、MT2、MT3,以及CT135基因C端逐渐缩短的重组质粒MT4、MT5、MT6,在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中重组表达;用Ni2+-NTA亲和层析柱纯化重组蛋白,然后腹腔注射5周龄BALB/c雌鼠制备抗血清。结果:Western印迹使用高灵敏的二抗通过红外扫描系统检测到所有质粒可表达重组蛋白,但考马斯亮蓝染色结果显示只有MT6可高表达重组蛋白。制备纯化了MT6重组蛋白,通过腹腔注射免疫法制备了小鼠抗MT6血清。结论:大肠杆菌表达系统中,沙眼衣原体CT135蛋白的N端片段(1～374 bp)可以获得高表达。小鼠抗MT6血清的制备为后期检测沙眼衣原体CT135蛋白的表达奠定了基础。     

沙眼衣原体包涵体膜蛋白的研究进展

沙眼衣原体(Chlamydia trachomatis,Ct)是一种专性细胞内寄生的革兰阴性病原体,在宿主细胞内增殖形成包涵体,通过包涵体与宿主细胞发生相互作用。包涵体膜蛋白(inclusion membrane proteins,Inc蛋白)是一类定位于衣原体包涵体膜上的含独特双叶片状疏水性基序结构的衣原体蛋白。Inc蛋白广泛存在于衣原体属各个种内,每种衣原体既有各自独特的Inc蛋白,又有其关键Inc蛋白同系物,基于生物信息学方法,预测Ct有59个Inc蛋白。Inc蛋白在衣原体与宿主细胞相互作用过程中发挥重要作用。在过去的十年内,鉴定Inc蛋白并对其功能进行研究受到了重视,但对于Inc蛋白的功能仍知之甚少。衣原体基因操控技术的应用,推动了Inc蛋白等衣原体单个蛋白的功能研究。现就Ct Inc蛋白的鉴定及其功能研究进展作一概述。     

沙眼衣原体真核表达质粒pcDNA4/CT703的构建及其表达

目的：构建含沙眼衣原体（Chlamydia trachomatis, Ct）基因CT703的真核重组表达质粒pcDNA4/CT703,并检测其在HeLa细胞中的表达.方法：利用RT-PCR扩增CT703基因,然后将其亚克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA4,PCR、双酶切和测序检测重组质粒.将正确的重组质粒瞬时转染HeLa细胞,免疫荧光和Western Blot实验检测重组质粒目的蛋白表达. 结果：经PCR、双酶切和测序鉴定后,成功构建了真核重组表达质粒pcDNA4/CT703,将其转染HeLa细胞后,免疫荧光和Western Blot实验能检测到目的蛋白的表达.结论：成功构建了重组质粒pcDNA4/CT703,并能在HeLa细胞中表达,为进一步研究CT703的功能奠定了基础.     

冰片提取物对沙眼衣原体感染HeLa细胞CT703及CT259表达的影响

目的:探究冰片提取物对沙眼衣原体感染后的He La细胞模型CT703和CT259表达的影响。方法:将成功建立的40例感染L2血清型沙眼衣原体的人宫颈癌上皮(He La)细胞模型随机分成A、B两组,分别添加冰片提取物和等剂量生理盐水。观察感染后He La细胞模型的包涵体数目及大小、RNA抽提结果完整性以及CT70与CT259的表达变化。结果:染色后的40例受沙眼衣原体感染的He La细胞模型体内均发现包涵体,在同一时间点B组细胞内包涵体比A组大,且数目比A组多(P0.05);两组提取的总RNA的OD值均在1.8~2.0之间,通过RNA凝胶电泳结果可清楚发现28S、18S及5S条带;同一时间点CT259和CT703扩增产物的平均灰度值比较,A组感染后He La细胞模型样本基因表达量低于B组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:冰片提取物能够有效降低经沙眼衣原体感染的He La细胞模型中CT703与CT259基因表达量。     

O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因与大肠杆菌不耐热肠毒素LTB 基因的融合表达及表达产物的免疫原性分析

以质粒pMDTLT为模板、用PCR的方法扩增出LTB基因,然后将其插入到pETVP1质粒中VP1基因的上游,构建了含有融合基因LTBVP1的表达质粒pETLTBVP1。转化宿主菌BL21(DE3)LysS后进行诱导表达,诱导菌经SDS-PAGE显示重组蛋白以包涵体的形式表达,分子量约为39kD;Western blotting分析表明,重组蛋白能与FMDV阳性血清及兔抗霍乱毒素(CT)血清反应,说明融合蛋白保持了LTB和VP1各自的免疫学活性。小鼠免疫实验表明:该融合蛋白通过腹腔接种小鼠能诱导产生较强的免疫应答反应,免疫鼠产生的血清抗体水平高于试验中商品口蹄疫疫苗免疫组。     

Localization and characterization of the hypothetical protein CT440 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydia trachomatis</Emphasis>-infected cells

The inclusion membrane proteins play potentially important roles in chlamydial biology and pathogenesis. Here we localized and characterized the hypothetical protein CT440 in Chlamydia trachomatis-infected cells. The open reading frame (ORF) encoding the CT440 protein from the C. trachomatis serovar D genome was cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-6p and expressed as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein in E. coli XL1-Blue. The CT440 fusion protein was used to immunize mice to raise antigen-specific antibody. After verification by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay (IFA), the specific antibody was used to localize the endogenous CT440 protein and to detect its expression pattern in Chlamydia-infected cells. Cytosolic expression of CT440 in HeLa cells was also carried out to evaluate the effect of the CT440 protein on the subsequent chlamydial infection. The results showed that the hypothetical protein CT440 was localized in the C. trachomatis inclusion membrane, and was detectable 12 h after chlamydial infection. Expression of CT440 in the cytoplasm did not inhibit the subsequent chlamydial infection. In summary, we have identified a new inclusion membrane protein that may be an important candidate for understanding C. trachomatis pathogenesis.     

Localization and Characterization of GTP-Binding Protein CT703 in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlamydia trachomatis</Emphasis>-Infected Cells

To localize and characterize the GTP-binding protein encoded by the chlamydial ORF CT703 in the Chlamydia trachomatis-infected cells, the gene coding for CT703 in the Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2 genome was cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pGEX and expressed as GST fusion protein in the E. coli BL21 strain. The GST-CT703 fusion protein was purified and used to raise antigen-specific antibodies. Using the anti-fusion protein antibodies, we localized the endogenous CT703 protein inside the chlamydial inclusion using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). We also detected a significantly decreased level of CT703 in cultures that were induced to undergo persistent infection. These observations suggest that CT703 may be an important regulator for promoting chlamydial productive infection.     

Effector proteins of chlamydiae

This review summarizes the recently published data on the molecular mechanisms of Chlamydiae-host cell interaction, first of all, on chlamydial effector proteins. Such proteins, along with type III transport system proteins, which transfer many effector proteins into the host cytoplasm, are attractive targets for drug therapy of chlamydial infections. The majority of the data concerns two species, Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. The C. trachomatis protein TARP, which is presynthesized in elementary bodies, plays an essential role in the initial stages of infection. The pathogen proteins that are involved in the next stage, which is the intracellular inclusion traffic to the centrosome, are C. trachomatis CT229 and C. pneumoniae Cpn0585, which interact with cell Rab GTPases. In C. trachomatis, IncA plays a key role in the fusion of chlamydial inclusions, CT847 modulates the life cycle of the host cell, and LDA3 is essential for the acquisition of nutrients. The protease CPAF and the inclusion membrane proteins IncG and CADD are involved in suppressing apoptosis of infected cells. The proteases CPAF and CT441 and the deubiquitinating protein ChlaDub1 help the pathogen to evade the immune response.     

Temporal proteomic profiling of Chlamydia trachomatis–infected HeLa‐229 human cervical epithelial cells

Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading causative agent of bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide which can lead to female pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. A greater understanding of host response during chlamydial infection is essential to design intervention technique to reduce the increasing incidence rate of genital chlamydial infection. In this study, we investigated proteome changes in epithelial cells during C. trachomatis infection by using an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) labeling technique coupled with a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS³) analysis. C. trachomatis (serovar D, MOI 1)–infected HeLa‐229 human cervical carcinoma epithelial cells (at 2, 4 and 8 h) showed profound modifications of proteome profile which involved 606 host proteins. MGST1, SUGP2 and ATXN10 were among the top in the list of the differentially upregulated protein. Through pathway analysis, we suggested the involvement of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in host cells upon C. trachomatis infection. Network analysis underscored the participation of DNA repair mechanism during C. trachomatis infection. In summary, intense modifications of proteome profile in C. trachomatis–infected HeLa‐229 cells indicate complex host‐pathogen interactions at early phase of chlamydial infection.     

Inclusion Biogenesis and Reactivation of Persistent Chlamydia trachomatis Requires Host Cell Sphingolipid Biosynthesis

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular pathogens that must coordinate the acquisition of host cell-derived biosynthetic constituents essential for bacterial survival. Purified chlamydiae contain several lipids that are typically found in eukaryotes, implying the translocation of host cell lipids to the chlamydial vacuole. Acquisition and incorporation of sphingomyelin occurs subsequent to transport from Golgi-derived exocytic vesicles, with possible intermediate transport through endosomal multivesicular bodies. Eukaryotic host cell-derived sphingomyelin is essential for intracellular growth of Chlamydia trachomatis, but the precise role of this lipid in development has not been delineated. The present study identifies specific phenotypic effects on inclusion membrane biogenesis and stability consequent to conditions of sphingomyelin deficiency. Culturing infected cells in the presence of inhibitors of serine palmitoyltransferase, the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of host cell sphingomyelin, resulted in loss of inclusion membrane integrity with subsequent disruption in normal chlamydial inclusion development. Surprisingly, this was accompanied by premature redifferentiation to and release of infectious elementary bodies. Homotypic fusion of inclusions was also disrupted under conditions of sphingolipid deficiency. In addition, host cell sphingomyelin synthesis was essential for inclusion membrane stability and expansion that is vital to reactivation of persistent chlamydial infection. The present study implicates both the Golgi apparatus and multivesicular bodies as key sources of host-derived lipids, with multivesicular bodies being essential for normal inclusion development and reactivation of persistent C. trachomatis infection.     

Cloning and characterization of a Chlamydia psittaci gene coding for a protein localized in the inclusion membrane of infected cells

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria which occupy a non-acidified vacuole (the inclusion) throughout their developmental cycle. Little is known about events leading to the establishment and maintenance of the chlamydial inclusion membrane. To identify chlamydial proteins which are unique to the intracellular phase of the life cycle, an expression library of Chlamydia psittaci DNA was screened with convalescent antisera from infected animals and hyperimmune antisera generated against formalin-killed purified chlamydiae. Overlapping genomic clones were identified which expressed a 39 kDa protein only recognized by the convalescent sera. Sequence analysis of the clones identified two open reading frames (ORFs), one of which (ORF1) coded for a predicted 39 kDa gene product. The ORF1 sequence was amplified and fused to the malE gene of Escherichia coli and antisera were raised against the resulting fusion protein. Immunoblotting with these antisera demonstrated that the 39 kDa protein was present in lysates of infected cells and in reticulate bodies (RBs), but was at the limit of detection in lysates of purified C. psittaci elementary bodies. Fluorescence microscopy experiments demonstrated that this protein was localized in the inclusion membrane of infected HeLa cells, but was not detected on the developmental forms within the inclusion. Because the protein produced by ORF1 is deposited on the inclusion membrane of infected cells, this gene has been designated incA, (inc lusion membrane protein A ) and its gene product, IncA. In addition to the inclusion membrane, these antisera labelled structures that extended from the inclusion over the nucleus or into the cytoplasm of infected cells. Immunoblotting also demonstrated that IncA, in lysates of infected cells, had a migration pattern that seemed indicative of post-translational modification. This pattern was not observed in immunoblots of RBs or in the E. coli expressing IncA. Collectively, these data identify a chlamydial gene which codes for a protein that is released from RB and is localized in the inclusion membrane of infected cells.     

Specific chlamydial inclusion membrane proteins associate with active Src family kinases in microdomains that interact with the host microtubule network

Chlamydiae are Gram‐negative obligate intracellular bacteria that cause diseases with significant medical and economic impact. Chlamydia trachomatis replicates within a vacuole termed an inclusion, which is extensively modified by the insertion of a number of bacterial effector proteins known as inclusion membrane proteins (Incs). Once modified, the inclusion is trafficked in a dynein‐dependent manner to the microtubule‐organizing centre (MTOC), where it associates with host centrosomes. Here we describe a novel structure on the inclusion membrane comprised of both host and bacterial proteins. Members of the Src family of kinases are recruited to the chlamydial inclusion in an active form. These kinases display a distinct, localized punctate microdomain‐like staining pattern on the inclusion membrane that colocalizes with four chlamydial inclusion membrane proteins (Incs) and is enriched in cholesterol. Biochemical studies show that at least two of these Incs stably interact with one another. Furthermore, host centrosomes associate with these microdomain proteins in C. trachomatis‐infected cells and in uninfected cells exogenously expressing one of the chlamydial effectors. Together, the data suggest that a specific structure on the C. trachomatis inclusion membrane may be responsible for the known interactions of chlamydiae with the microtubule network and resultant effects on centrosome stability.     

Diagnostic value of an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using the recombinant CT694 species‐specific protein of Chlamydia trachomatis

Aim: To study the performance of the CT694 protein in relation to the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) and the pELISA tests for the serodiagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Methods and Results: The CT694 protein was produced as recombinant protein and was used as antigen in ELISA test for the detection of C. trachomatis IgG antibodies. The performance of the developed ELISA test was compared to the MIF test at two cut‐off values of 16 and 64, and to the specific pELISA test using a panel of 342 sera. These sera were from children MIF C. trachomatis and Chlamydophila pneumoniae negative, patients MIF C. pneumoniae positive, patients MIF C. trachomatis positive, patients suspected to have chlamydial infections diagnosed by the Cobas Amplicor test, healthy blood donors and prostitutes. Our results indicate that the developed ELISA test has performed better compared with the MIF and the pELISA tests. The highest performance was obtained when comparing the developed ELISA test in relation to the pELISA, yielding an overall sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 87% respectively. Conclusions: The CT694 ELISA showed the best performance when compared to the species‐specific pELISA test and may be used for the serodiagnosis of C. trachomatis infections. Significance and Impact of the Study: The CT694 ELISA test responds to the criteria of both sensitivity and specificity according to the MIF and pELISA tests and may be used for serodiagnosis of C. trachomatis infections.