Inhibition of virulence factor expression in Staphylococcus aureus by the Staphylococcus epidermidis agr pheromone and derivatives

The agr quorum-sensing system in Staphylococci controls the production of surface proteins and exoproteins. In the pathogenic species Staphylococcus aureus, these proteins include many virulence factors. The extracellular signal of the quorum-sensing system is a thiolactone-containing peptide pheromone, whose sequence varies among the different staphylococcal strains. We demonstrate that a synthetic Staphylococcus epidermidis pheromone is a competent inhibitor of the Staphylococcus aureus agr system. Derivatives of the pheromone, in which the N-terminus or the cyclic bond structure was changed, were synthesized and their biological activity was determined. The presence of a correct N-terminus and a thiolactone were absolute prerequisites for an agr-activating effect in S. epidermidis, whereas inhibition of the S. aureus agr system was less dependent on the original structure. Our results show that effective quorum-sensing blockers that suppress the expression of virulence factors in S. aureus can be designed based on the S. epidermidis pheromone.     

PCR fingerprinting for epidemiological studies of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus isolates (n = 126), collected during two different periods from patients hospitalised in pediatric wards, were analysed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mediated genotyping. These isolates were compared with 29 isolates from individuals attending the out-patient clinic of the same hospital and 13 isolates from pediatric hospital personnel. Within a group of 99 isolates gathered from 48 individuals during surveillance period I, 22 distinct genotypes were identified by application of two PCR assays. Among the 58 isolates collected in surveillance period II from pediatric and out-clinic patients, 25 genotypes were detected by a single PCR assay only. Based on these results it was demonstrated that patients can be colonised with multiple strains that may persist in a certain anatomical location for prolonged periods of time. It is shown that persistence of a S. aureus strain in a pediatric ward can be deduced from the PCR genotyping studies. As such PCR can be used for longitudinal monitoring of bacterial infections in hospital departments, analysis of patient-to-patient and personnel-to-patient transmission and for detection of genetic variation in general in S. aureus. Also, isolate-specific DNA probes can be generated for S. aureus by PCR genotyping. The probes can be used for the recognition of re-emerging S. aureus epidemics.     

金黄色葡萄球菌arl双组分信号转导系统受体蛋白ArlS_(CA)的表达、纯化及活性研究

金黄色葡萄球菌是一类重要的病原菌,其毒力因子的表达及分泌过程由多种双组分信号转导系统(two component signal transduction system,TCSTS)共同调控,其中ArlRS双组分信号转导系统与细菌的生长和分裂密切相关。ArlRS双组份系统的信号传递通过组氨酸激酶ArlS磷酸化实现,ArlS的胞内域被认为是调控毒力因子表达的重要功能域,以ArlS蛋白的胞内域部分即ArlS_(CA)为目标蛋白进行相关的活性研究。首先,构建pProEX-HTa-arls和pProEX-HTa-arlr重组质粒,对目的蛋白进行诱导表达。其次,利用金属离子螯合层析、离子交换层析以及凝胶过滤层析方法对目的蛋白进行分离纯化,纯化后的ArlR蛋白纯度可达98%,产量约为25mg/L;纯化后的ArlS蛋白纯度可达90%,产量约为15mg/L。圆二色谱检测结果显示纯化后的目的蛋白有完整的二级结构,体外磷酸化结果显示,ArlS蛋白具有激酶活性,自磷酸化后可以将磷酸基团转移给反应调控蛋白ArlR。最后,利用定点突变的方法,构建了418位和420位氨基酸残基突变的表达载体pProEX-HTa-ArlS_(CAG418A)和pProEX-HTa-ArlS_(CAG420A)。ArlS_(CAG418A)和ArlS_(CAG420A)蛋白不具有激酶活性,说明418位和420位氨基酸残基在ArlS蛋白的自磷酸过程中起着关键作用。     

金黄色葡萄球菌tst-1基因敲除菌株的构建

抽提金黄色葡萄球菌834菌株的基因组DNA,PCR克隆扩增tst-1及tst-1的上、下游基因,通过将tst-1上、下游基因分别重组到载体质粒pAULA中,形成同源重组质粒pAULA Δtst-1,将pAULA-Δtst-1电转入细菌内,进行同源重组,以PCR、Western blot鉴定tst-1基因敲除菌株无tst-1基因片段,且无TSST-1蛋白表达,表明已成功构建金黄色葡萄球菌tst-1基因的敲除菌株。     

Iron depletion and virulence in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract Staphylococcus aureus is able to grow in the presence of extremely low iron concentrations (0.04 μM). In iron-limiting conditions, this species develops alternative metabolic strategies such as highly efficient iron-uptake mechanisms which are only partially shared with S. epidermidis . Here we summarize the mechanisms induced by iron starvation in S. aureus in order to elucidate the virulence characteristics of this bacterium.     

FemA, a host-mediated factor essential for methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: Molecular cloning and characterization

Summary The methicillin resistance determinant (mec) in Staphylococcus aureus resides on additional DNA not present in isogenic sensitive cells. However, besides mec, other chromosomally determined factors are essential for expression of methicillin resistance. We cloned and characterized a chromosomally determined gene which encodes a factor essential for the expression of methicillin resistance (femA) in S. aureus. femA mapped in chromosomal segment number 18, genetically very distant from the methicillin resistance determinant (mec). The product of femA was a protein of an apparent size of 48 kDa. FemA restored methicillin resistance in S. aureus that had become sensitive to methicillin by insertion of 22003 (femA::Tn551). Although FemA was needed for cell growth in the presence of -lactam antibiotics, it had no influence on the synthesis of the low affinity, additional penicillin-binding protein (PBP2) encoded by mec and known to be essential for cell wall synthesis in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of methicillin. Nucleotide sequence analysis, Northern RNA blotting and S1 nuclease RNA mapping suggested that femA was transcribed on a polycistronic mRNA. This mRNA contained the coding region for FemA (ORF433) and a second coding region (ORF419) producing a protein of 47 kDa. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence of FemA showed homologies with ORF419, suggesting that these genes arose by gene duplication. In addition we present evidence for a second chromosomal factor, femB, involved in expression of methicillin resistance which maps close to femA.     

万古霉素敏感性下降金黄色葡萄球菌(VISA/hVISA)的研究进展

万古霉素敏感性下降的金黄色葡萄球菌(VISA/hV ISA)日益增多,已经成为公共健康的重要威胁。来自临床或实验室的VISA/hV ISA菌株表现出一些共同特征,如细胞壁增厚,自溶活性降低,毒力减弱,醋酸盐代谢异常。金葡菌从VSSA到VISA/hV ISA的转化是一个逐步演变的过程,VISA中一些调控基因的变异,特别是如wal KR、graRS、vra SR、rpo B、rpo C、rpo D、agr、msrR、fdh2、sle1等基因连续的变异与金葡菌对万古霉素的耐药性相关。VISA/hV ISA中相应基因的变异也是VISA/hV ISA对宿主毒力减弱,持续定殖及对宿主适应性改变的遗传基础。为了预防和控制VISA/hI VSA感染,应全面了解其生物学特性,开发简便有效的检验方法,探索制定灵活的治疗策略,达到有效防治的目的。     

以agr基因为靶点快速检测金黄色葡萄球菌方法的建立

旨在建立一种以agr基因为靶点,快速检测金黄色葡萄球菌的环介导等温扩增（LAMP)方法。针对金黄色葡萄球菌附属基因调控基因agr序列,设计了4条特异性引物;优化了LAMP体系中甜菜碱、dNTP浓度、长短引物比等因素;通过对14株不同金黄色葡萄球菌菌株和4株其他常见食品致病菌株进行检测,评估引物特异性。结果表明,在Mg²⁺浓度为2.4 mmol/L,dNTP浓度为0.8 mmol/L,甜菜碱浓度为0.1 mol/L,长短引物比为1:8,65 ℃反应50 min条件下扩增可达最佳效果。优化后的LAMP对14株金黄色葡萄球菌均表现为阳性,对4株非金黄色葡萄球菌菌株表现为阴性,证明引物具有特异性。本文首次利用agr基因作为靶基因片段,建立了一个简单、快速、特异性强的检测金黄色葡萄球菌的方法,在食品安全检测方面极具意义。     

抗金黄色葡萄球菌感染的新药研究进展

金黄色葡萄球菌因抗菌药耐药性而引起广泛关注,其耐药株感染所引起的皮肤和软组织感染、肺炎、菌血症以及骨髓炎等增加了患者的发病率和死亡率。金黄色葡萄球菌通常通过携带多种耐药基因、毒力基因或形成生物被膜等方式快速适应生存环境而产生耐药性,使得常规抗菌药物难以达到理想的治疗效果,因此,金黄色葡萄球菌感染的治疗一直是一个难题。从抗菌肽、植物次生代谢物及其他独特作用机制的新药等三方面进行阐述,以期为抗金黄色葡萄球菌感染的新药研发提供新的思路。     

金黄色葡萄球菌病防治研究进展

金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus, SA)被认为是最常见的食源性致病菌之一,引起人畜的感染性疾病,导致皮肤、软组织和血液感染,引发脓毒症和中毒性休克综合征。随着抗生素的滥用,金黄色葡萄球菌的耐药性逐渐增强,导致耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA)的出现,并且在全球范围内散播,严重危害公共卫生安全。目前亟需有效控制SA感染的新疗法,因此本文对金黄色葡萄球菌防治技术的研究进展进行综述,并对其防治前景进行了分析,以期对金黄色葡萄球菌尤其是MRSA的控制提供理论指导。     

金黄色葡萄球菌壁磷壁酸致病与免疫的分子机制研究进展

金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)壁磷壁酸(wall teichoic acids, WTAs)是多元醇经由磷酸二酯键共价连接组成的细胞壁表面阴离子糖类聚合物,参与调节细胞壁的稳态并介导细菌毒力。金黄色葡萄球菌WTAs与宿主细胞表面特定的受体结合,可诱导天然免疫和获得性免疫应答。此外,金黄色葡萄球菌WTAs还参与调控毒力基因的表达,有助于细菌的定殖感染,在基因工程靶标治疗和噬菌体药物治疗方面具有广泛的应用前景。本文对金黄色葡萄球菌WTAs的合成进行了概述,综述了WTAs对宿主免疫应答的调控作用,以及在细菌对宿主侵袭与定殖中的致病机制,并归纳WTAs的耐药分子机制和作为药物治疗靶标的研究现状。这些研究为揭示WTAs的致病与免疫分子机制提供研究思路,为预防和治疗金黄色葡萄球菌的感染提供新的策略。     

抑制铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌生物膜形成的乳杆菌筛选及机制初探

筛选得到对慢性创面中铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa）和金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)生物膜形成具有抑制作用的乳杆菌(Loctobacillus)。测定不同种乳杆菌对铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌双菌生物膜量、生长及群体感应信号分子AI-2的影响，并采用主成分分析和菌株特性综合分析确定效果最佳的菌株，最后通过荧光定量PCR的方式探究该菌株对生物膜和群体感应相关基因表达的影响。结果表明，植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)、卷曲乳杆菌(Loctobacillus crispatus)、嗜酸乳杆菌(Loctobacillus acidophilus)、鼠李糖乳杆菌(Loctobacillus rhamnosus)、瑞士乳杆菌(Loctobacillus helveticus)、短乳杆菌(Loctobacilkus brevis)具有不同程度的抑菌、抑制生物膜形成的能力，且同种不同株的乳杆菌抑制生物膜形成的能力也有所差异。其中，植物乳杆菌CCFM233产生的AI-2信号分子较多，具有良好的抑菌能力，可使致病菌生物膜形成量降低，铜绿假单胞菌的LasR和rhlI基因表达水平和金黄色葡萄球菌的SarA基因表达水平显著下调。本研究旨在揭示植物乳杆菌CCFM233具有抗铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌感染的潜力，为其应用于慢性创面敷料提供参考。     

微波杀菌过程中大肠杆菌与金黄色葡萄球菌细胞膜通透性的改变

对细胞膜通透性变化的研究是认识微波杀菌机理的途径之一。用荧光探针检测微波处理后细胞内Ca2 浓度的变化,可以精确地表征细胞膜通透性的改变。选用二乙酸荧光素(FDA)和Fluo-3/AM两种荧光染料,对大肠杆菌(Escherichiacoli)和金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)经微波处理后的酯酶活性及细胞膜通透性进行研究,结果表明大肠杆菌与金黄色葡萄球菌的胞内非特异性酯酶(NSE)活性及细胞膜通透性的变化情形有所不同。在50℃、55℃、60℃和65℃微波处理条件下,大肠杆菌细胞膜通透性分别增加了20.7%、28.1%、74.8%、89.8%,而金黄色葡萄球的增加不显著,分别比对照组提高了4.1%、6.0%、21.9%和19.7%。细胞膜通透性的改变与微生物致死率有一定的相关性,也可能是微波杀菌非热效应的表现之一。     

馒头中金黄色葡萄球菌生长预测模型的建立

以传统面制品馒头作为研究对象,采用修正的Gompertz（SGompertz）和修正的Logistic（SLogistic）作为一级生长模型,应用Origin 9.0软件分别拟合馒头中金黄色葡萄球菌在10、15、25、30和37 ℃的生长情况,获得其最大比生长速率（μ_max）和迟滞期(λ)。采用平方根模型和二次多项式模型建立馒头中金黄色葡萄球菌的二级生长模型,并对该模型进行验证。结果表明,SGompertz模型能较好地拟合馒头中金黄色葡萄球菌的生长。以μ_max建立的平方根和二次多项式模型,R²分别为0.931 5和0.932 0,偏差因子（B_f）分别为1.123 2和1.050 1,准确因子（A_f）分别为1.221 0和1.190 2,表明采用μ_max进行拟合时,二次多项式模型的拟合效果较好;以迟滞期λ建立的平方根和二次多项式模型,R²分别为0.948 4和0.969 6,B_f分别为0.890 1和0.912 2,A_f分别为1.541 1和1.180 3,表明采用迟滞期λ进行拟合时,二次多项式模型的拟合效果较好。本研究可为馒头等传统面制品的定量风险评估提供参考。     

紫草素与依布硒啉对金黄色葡萄球菌的协同作用

[目的]探讨紫草素(shikonin,SKN)协同依布硒啉(ebselen,EbSe)抗金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus,S.aureus)的作用及机制.[方法]分光光度法测定紫草素-依布硒啉抗金黄色葡萄球菌活性;碘化丙啶(propidium iodide,PI)染色检测紫草素-依布硒啉杀菌效...     

2016-2017年宁夏地区牛源金黄色葡萄球菌的全基因组分析

[目的]了解宁夏地区奶牛乳腺炎金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus,SA)代表菌株的基因组序列基本特征,进一步探究其耐药基因型、毒力及进化关系,为兽医临床防治提供理论依据.[方法]采用纸片法对97株金黄色葡萄球菌临床分离株进行抗菌药物敏感性试验,同时进行葡萄球菌蛋白A(Staphylococcus...     

Sodium-dependent uptake of taurine in encapsulated Staphylococcus aureus strain M

A novel uptake system for the unusual sulfonated amino acid taurine was discovered in the prokaryote, encapsulated Staphylococcus aureus strain M. This strain has been shown previously to contain taurine in its capsular polysaccharide. Taurine uptake by whole cells incubated in buffer showed a saturable dependency upon Na⁺ and taurine uptake was itself a saturable process, stimulated by glucose, and markedly affected by temperature. No evidence was found for the inducibility of taurine uptake. In the presence of 10 mM NaCl Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed a K_m of 42 μM and V_max of 4.6 nmol/min per mg dry weight for taurine uptake at 37°C. Increasing concentrations of Na⁺ decreased the K_m of the system and appeared to increase the V_max. Of various other cations tested only Li⁺ supported marked taurine uptake. Excess unlabelled taurine did not cause efflux of radioactivity taken up. Taurine was taken up into cold trichloroacetic acid-soluble material and did not chromatograph as taurine, indicating rapid metabolism during or closely following uptake. Taurine uptake appeared to occur via a highly specific system because amino acids representing the major known groups of amino acid transport systems in S. aureus did not inhibit taurine uptake, and uptake was only slightly diminished by the structurally closely related compounds hypotaurine and 3-amino-1-propane sulfonic acid. Sulfhydryl group reagents, electron transport inhibitors, an uncoupler and inhibitors of Na⁺-linked transport processes inhibited taurine uptake. A variety of other metabolic inhibitors had little effect on taurine uptake.