Design of a species-specific DNA probe based on the pFra plasmid of the plague pathogen]

The recombinant plasmid pBS1 carrying a 2 kb SalGI fragment of Yersinia pestis pFra plasmid was constructed by insertion of the fragment into a vector plasmid pBR327. SalGI-BspRI 400 bp subfragment was recloned into a pBR322 vector plasmid. Open reading frame was found in the fragment by DNA sequencing technique. The subfragment designated F1-probe permits one to identify specifically the Yersinia pestis strains harbouring pFra plasmid, thus, differing them from closely related Yersiniea and other representatives of Enterobacteriaceae family.     

Cloning of the locus encoding synthesis of an outer membrane protein (Omp2) of the calcium dependence plasmid of Yersinia pestis (Lehmann, Neumann)

The genetic locus of Yersinia pestis encoding synthesis of a 46-kDa heat-inducible outer membrane protein (Omp2) was cloned into pBR322 plasmid. The Omp2 was shown to be analogous to previously described YopH and Yop2b proteins. The fifth HindIII fragment of 48-MDa calcium dependence plasmid pCad358 mediates production of 31- and 28-kDa proteins, irrespective of orientation of the insertion. A 31-kDa polypeptide seems to correspond to the YopJ described elsewhere. The maps of BamHI and HindIII of pCad358 region studied differed from those described for pCD1 plasmid of Y. pestis KIM. The products encoded by genes from the fragment cloned in the Pgm+ background give rise to considerable growth of Y. pestis within mouse peritoneal macrophages but were not sufficient to cause lethal infectious process.     

DNA probe for detecting Yersinia pestis and serovariant I of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis by detecting specific DNA repeating sequences]

In order to construct a DNA probe for the plague pathogen detection, we have obtained the recombinant plasmid pRD100 carrying an EcoRI-flanked 140 bp fragment from the genetically silent region of Yersinia pestis species-specific plasmid pYP1. When used as a DNA probe for hybridization of DNA from various strains of 25 bacterial species, this DNA fragment was shown to have the complementary sequences in all investigated Yersinia pestis strains (200), including the plasmid pYP1 lacking ones, and in all the studied Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype I strains (80). The search for the probe target in these species has led us to conclusion that it is a specific repeated DNA sequence present in more copies in Yersinia pestis than in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype I. The hybridization of these sequences with the radioactive probe and 24 hours autography makes possible the detection of 1.3 x 10(5) cells of Yersinia pestis and 3 x 10(6) cells of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype I immobilized on the nitrocellulose membranes. Use of the probe for analysis of the nitrocellulose membrane fixed spleen smears from animals that died of experimental plague made possible the detection of Yersinia pestis cells within 48 h.     

低温菌启动子探针质粒的构建

为了在宿主菌Acinetobacter sp.DWC6中构建低温菌蛋白表达载体,以pBR322质粒为基础,去除质粒上β-内酰胺酶基因的启动子片段,取而代之为来源于质粒pJRD215的卡那霉素抗性基因片段,并在pBR322中插入Acinetobacter菌属特异性ori的DNA片段,构建了能在Acinetobacter sp.DWC6和E.coli中正常复制的启动子探针质粒pBAP1。通过在质粒pBAP1中的β-内酰胺酶基因上游随机导入Acinetobacter sp.DWC6基因组片段,通过检测宿主细胞的氨苄青霉素抗性和β-内酰胺酶活性,来筛选强启动子片段,并分析了启动子探针质粒载体的功能及启动子的强度。     

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。     

Gene for spiralin, the major membrane protein of the helical mollicute Spiroplasma citri: cloning and expression in Escherichia coli.

A library of cloned Spiroplasma citri genomic sequences was constructed by incorporating HindIII digestion fragments into the plasmid vector pBR328. Immunological screening allowed the identification of a recombinant plasmid containing the gene for spiralin, the major membrane protein of S. citri. The spiralin produced by the Escherichia coli transformant was characterized by immunological detection with monoclonal antibody after Western blotting of two-dimensional (isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide) electrophoresis gels and by partial proteolytic mapping. The gene for spiralin occurred within a 6.5-kilobase-pair cloned DNA fragment. Spiralin in E. coli was produced regardless of the orientation of the insert within the pBR328 vector. A spiroplasmal DNA sequence which acted as a promoter in E. coli was cloned along with the structural spiralin gene which is expressed in E. coli from that sequence.     

Genetic analysis and simulation of the virulence of Yersinia pestis

The genetic analysis of Y. pestis virulence factors accomplished in the 358 strain isogenic system allowed us to determine a minimal set of known factors providing pathogenicity. The combination of chromosomal marker Pgm+ and calcium dependence plasmid (pCad) is shown to be sufficient for preserving the virulence of Y. pestis. Experimental modelling of virulence in this microorganism by the genetic exchange methods was carried out. The reduced virulence of the strains Pgm+ and pCad+ for guinea pigs was detected.     

Restriction map of pesticinogenicity plasmid pYP1 of Yersinia pestis

The restriction map of Yersinia pestis pesticinogenicity plasmid pYP1 has been constructed with the use of 18 restriction endonucleases. Plasmid dimensions (6.3 Md) have been specified, the genes for pesticin synthesis, for pesticin immunity protein, fibrinolysin and plasmocoagulase have been localized by molecular cloning of single plasmid DNA fragments in vector plasmid pBR322.     

Development of a diagnostic test for Yersinia pestis by the polymerase chain reaction

A 501 bp caf1 gene fragment and a 443 bp of pla gene fragment carried by 100 kb (pFra) and 10 kb (pPst) species-specific extrachromosomal replicons, respectively, were used as targets to study the conditions under which DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be applied to detect and identify Yersinia pestis DNA in cell lysates of pure cultures and biological samples. The sensitivity limit of PCR with the crude cell lysates of Y. pestis EV was estimated as 10–50 cfu in reaction mixture. When target Y. pestis EV cells were mixed with fresh blood of white mice, which contained 0.4% potassium citrate, the PCR detection level varied from 400 to 100 cfu ml^-1 of blood depending on the method used for preparing the sample. In our tests PCR was effective for the detection of yersinia in the blood of white laboratory mice experimentally infected with virulent Y. pestis KM638 strain. This method can be considered convenient for routine detection and identification of Y. pestis.     

A specific DNA probe for the identification of Campylobacter jejuni

A 6.1 kb DNA probe for the human enteric pathogen Campylobacter jejuni has been isolated from a genomic library constructed in the plasmid vector pBR322 in Escherichia coli. The DNA sequence used as a probe was identified from recombinant plasmids following immunological screening of transformants using polyclonal antisera to whole cells and to membrane antigens of C. jejuni. Restriction endonuclease fragment mapping of C. jejuni DNA inserts from three of the recombinant plasmids showed an overlapping DNA fragment. One of these recombinant plasmids, when used as a DNA probe in Southern hybridization, specifically hybridized with chromosomal DNA from all of the C. jejuni strains tested. Hybridization was not detected at high stringency between the DNA probe and chromosomal DNA from any other Campylobacter species tested except weakly with the chromosomal DNA of strains of Campylobacter coli. Hybridization was also not detected with chromosomal DNA from a range of other enteric bacteria likely to be encountered in faecal material. The intensity of hybridization with C. coli could be increased by reducing the stringency of hybridization.     

Cloning of the Streptococcus thermophilus beta-galactosidase gene and its expression in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis cells

The beta-galactosidase gene from the chromosome of Streptococcus thermophilus, strain 6 kb, has been cloned on a vector plasmid pBR322. The corresponding gene has been found to be located on the Pst1 DNA fragment. The restriction map of this 6 kb fragment has been constructed. The shortening of the DNA fragment carrying the beta-galactosidase gene has been achieved by digestion of the recombinant derivative of pBR322 by the restriction endonuclease Sau3A under the conditions of incomplete hydrolysis. The obtained fragments have been cloned into the BamHI site in the berepliconed shuttle vector pCB20 for grampositive and gramnegative bacteria. The obtained recombinant plasmids contained the beta-galactosidase gene in the inserted fragments of different length. Expression of the cloned beta-galactosidase gene in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis cells has been studied.     

兽疫链球菌透明质酸分解酶基因的敲除

以透明质酸分解酶基因（Hyl）为改造目标, 利用同源重组技术获得 Hyl基因敲除的重组菌。首先以兽疫链球菌的基因组DNA为模板扩增出部分透明质酸分解酶基因（Hyl-1）,然后将其克隆到载体pMD19-T上,再以质粒pUC19为模板, PCR扩增得到氨苄青霉素抗性基因,通过反向PCR将其插入Hyl-1基因的中部,得到基因敲除载体pMD19T-SA。该载体与质粒pBR322分别用EcoRⅠ、PstⅠ双酶切后进行连接,得到基因敲除的重组载体pBR322 SA,PCR 及限制性酶切分析,构建的敲除载体与设计结果相符。最后,利用这两种敲除载体通过同源重组技术得到一株重组菌,经PCR 及酶活鉴定,这株菌的Hyl 基因已缺失。     

人tPA信号肽和Yersinia Pestis保护性抗原F1-V融合基因的构建及其免疫效果观察

为获得含有鼠疫F1和V抗原编码基因以及人tPA信号肽基因的重组质粒tPA-pVAX1/F1-V,并测定其诱导特异性免疫应答的能力, 用PCR扩增鼠疫菌F1和V编码基因,分别与pGEM-T连接测序,构建pVAX1/F1-V融合重组质粒.PCR扩增tPA信号肽片段并将其插入到F1-V的上游,构建tPA-pVAX1/F1-V融合重组质粒;转染COS-7细胞,Western blot法鉴定目的蛋白的表达.重组质粒tPA-pVAX1/F1-V加GM-CSF佐剂免疫BALB/c小鼠,观察免疫效果.400个LD50强毒鼠疫菌皮下攻毒观察保护率.结果表明,tPA-pVAX1/F1-V在COS-7细胞中表达;免疫鼠体内产生特异性抗体;抗体亚型分析、细胞因子等指标的测定表明,所构建DNA疫苗以诱发Th1型免疫为主;攻毒保护率达90%.结果提示,已成功构建F1-V融合蛋白真核表达载体tPA-pVAX1/F1-V,且具有诱导特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫应答的能力, 对强毒鼠疫菌皮下攻毒有一定的保护效力,为鼠疫菌新型疫苗研制奠定了基础.     

Detection and identification of Mycoplasma infections by DNA hybridization

Infection of cell cultures by mycoplasmas can be detected by hybridization of the DNA of suspected cell cultures with recombinant plasmids containing fragments of the mycoplasma DNA. The test is very sensitive and allows detection of as little as 1 ng of mycoplasmal DNA, roughly equivalent to the DNA amount of 10(6) mycoplasmas. This approach turns out to be effective for detection and identification of mycoplasmas in clinical material, plant and insect tissues. A set of DNA probes for detection of mycoplasmas infecting cell cultures by dot hybridization has been constructed. This set consists of specific DNA probes and universal DNA probe. Recombinant plasmids, pAl32, pMa13, pMh9, containing specific DNA fragments of Acholeplasma-laidlawii, Mycoplasma arginini, Mycoplasma hominis (the prevalent mycoplasma contaminants of home cell cultures) are species-specific DNA probes. Recombinant plasmid pMg16 containing rRNA genes of Mycoplasma gallisepticum is the universal DNA probe for detection of any mycoplasma (or any prokaryote) contaminations. These two classes of DNA probes may be considered as complementing each other. These 32P labeled probes do not hybridize with eukaryotic DNA. The set of DNA probes allows not only to detect infection of cell cultures by mycoplasmas but also to identify the species of mycoplasmas and to evaluate the multiplicity of mycoplasma infection.     

一种含双歧杆菌种属特异性复制子的新型大肠杆菌-双歧杆菌穿梭质粒的构建

目前,双歧杆菌的转化是一个技术难题,与大肠杆菌等宿主菌的高转化效率不同,采用普通的原核质粒无法转化双歧杆菌.为此,本文提出双歧杆菌转化对质粒复制子具有"种属特异性"要求,并通过构建含有双歧杆菌特异复制子的新型穿梭质粒,以求解决这一难题.首先从GenBank获取长双歧杆菌隐性质粒pMB1的序列信息,采用Overlap-PCR方法获得其全长DNA,作为拟构建质粒的复制子;继而采用重组技术,将其与pMK4质粒片段(含大肠杆菌复制子pUC和抗氯霉素基因Cat)重组,构建大肠杆菌-双歧杆菌穿梭质粒;用电穿孔法将重组质粒转化双歧杆菌,通过观察不同电转参数下的转化效率,选择双歧杆菌转化的最佳条件.结果,成功获得全长1899bp的pMB1复制子并构建成功含有pMB1和pUC双复制子的原核重组质粒,经酶切和测序鉴定正确,命名为pCMB1.以重组质粒成功转化了长双歧杆菌NCC2705和NQ1501,而其它3种野生型双歧杆菌(包括1株长双歧杆菌)未能转化成功.结论:质粒中含有双歧杆菌种属特异的复制子是实现双歧杆菌转化的必要条件;即使是含有特异复制子的质粒也只能转化有限数量种型甚至有限数量种株的双歧杆菌;选择最佳电转化条件能显著提高转化效率.     

Construction and characterization of new cloning vehicles. VII. Construction of plasmid pBR327par, a completely sequenced, stable derivative of pBR327 containing the par locus of pSC101

In vitro recombinant DNA experiments, using plasmid pBR327 and a DNA fragment derived from plasmid pSC101 containing the par region, resulted in the construction of plasmid pBR327par. This new cloning vehicle has all the cloning properties of the parental plasmid, and is more stable than pBR327. Since the nucleotide sequence of the par region has been determined, this new vector is completely characterized. Some features of the sequence with possible functional significance are discussed.     

Identification of the sporulation gene spoOA product of Bacillus subtilis

A 2.4-kilobase fragment of the Bacillus subtilis chromosome containing the wild-type spoOA gene derived from the phi 105dspoOA+-Bc-1 transducing phage was cloned onto plasmid pBR322 in Escherichia coli. A recombinant plasmid harboring the mutant spoOA12 allele on the 2.4-kilobase insert was also constructed from the phi 105dspoOA12-1 phage DNA and pBR322. Protein products synthesized in response to plasmid DNA in a DNA-directed cell-free system derived from E. coli were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryl-amide gel electrophoresis. A protein of approximately 27,500 daltons synthesized with the recombinant plasmid DNA harboring the wild-type spoOA gene as template was not formed with the recombinant plasmid DNA harboring the spoOA12 allele. Since the spoOA12 mutation is a nonsense mutation, we conclude that the 27.5-kilodalton protein is the product of the spoOA gene.