The lytic activity of Yersinia pestis phage P 3d serovar

The lytic activity of plague phage II, serovar 3, with respect to 1,800 bacterial strains has been studied: 760 Yersinia pestis strains, 262 Y. pseudotuberculosis strains, 252 Y. enterocolitica strains, 166 Escherichia coli strains, 90 Shigella strains and 270 strains of other species. The phage has been found to lyse 81.8% of Y. pestis strains, 1 Y. pseudotuberculosis strain and 1 Y. enterocolitica strain. The representatives of other 19 bacterial species have proved to be resistant to the phage. Though having a wide range of action within Y. pestis, the phage does not lyse most of the strains of the causative agent of plague, isolated in certain natural foci. This fact offers promise for using the phage for the differentiation of Y. pestis.     

A new gene of the f1 operon of Y. pestis involved in the capsule biogenesis.

The DNA sequence determination of the f1 operon between the genes encoding the F1 subunit (caf1) and chaperone-like protein (caf1M) revealed a large open reading frame that codes for a polypeptide similar to some E. coli proteins involved in the biogenesis of fimbria. The deletion and in trans complementation analyses showed that this gene is not necessary for extracellular transport of the F1 subunit but plays a role in the capsule assembly.     

Yersiniae other than Y. enterocolitica, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. pestis: the ignored species

The genus Yersinia is composed of 11 species, of which three (Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica) have been exhaustively characterized. The remaining eight species (Y. frederiksenii, Y. intermedia, Y. kristensenii, Y. bercovieri, Y. mollaretii, Y. rohdei, Y. ruckeri, and Y. aldovae) have not been studied extensively and, because of the absence of classical Yersinia virulence markers, are generally considered to be nonpathogenic. However, recent data suggest that some of these eight species may cause disease by virtue of their having virulence factors distinct from those of Y. enterocolitica. These data raise intriguing questions about the mechanisms by which these species interact with their host cells and elicit human disease.     

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。     

Effects of Y. pestis mouse toxin on carbohydrate metabolism in rats

Effects of intravenous Y. pestis mouse toxin (LD50) injection on glucose, lactate glucagon, insulin blood levels and cAMP liver content in dynamics of intoxication development were studied. Hypoglycemia, observed 2 hours after toxin administration seems not to be due to the enhanced glucose utilization in peripheral tissues because insulin blood level during this period was decreased and lactate concentration has not been changed. Glucagon content by 2-5 hour of shock was strong elevated. Proposal is made that Y. pestis mouse toxin might induce carbohydrate metabolism alterations via direct liver glucose synthesising enzymes inhibition rather than cAMP-dependent glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis regulation disturbances in this organ.     

Development of a multiplex PCR for detection of the Yersinia genus with identification of pathogenic species (Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, Y. enterocolitica)

To identify the Yersinia genus and pathogenic species (Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, Y. enterocolitica) in a single reaction a multiplex PCR technique was developed. It was optimized by five compounds of PCR buffer and temperature of primers annealing. The multiplex PCR provides an improved and rapid method for detection of the Yersinia genus and identification of pathogenic species.     

鼠疫耶尔森氏菌rV270抗原的克隆、表达及其免疫保护作用评价

目的：为研制鼠疫亚单位疫苗,克隆、表达并纯化去除产生免疫抑制作用序列后的鼠疫耶尔森氏菌LcrV抗原（rV270）。方法：依据已知的LcrV的核苷酸序列,避开其产生免疫抑制作用的区段设计引物,扩增rV270基因并克隆到pET24a载体中,在大肠杆菌BL21中表达His-rV270融合蛋白：表达产物先后经Co^2＋亲和层析和Sephacryl S-200HR凝胶柱纯化,并在纯化过程中应用凝血酶切除His标塔;氢氧化铝佐剂吸附重组抗原后免疫BALB／c小鼠,初次免疫后第21天加强免疫1次,第5周使用104CFU鼠疫菌141强毒株攻毒,测定其免疫保护作用。结果：rV270以可溶性方式表达;应用Co^2＋亲和层析柱和Sephacryl S-200HR凝胶柱结合凝血蛋白酶切除His标签的方法可得到不含标签的较高纯度的重组蛋白;攻毒实验中实验组小鼠全部存活,而对照组全部死亡。结论：获得了具有良好免疫保护作用的rV270蛋白,可用于鼠疫亚单位疫苗的研究。     

Differentiation of Yersinia pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis by SDS-PAGE analysis of lipopolysaccharide

A method is described for the differentiation of Yersinia pestis from Y. pseudotuberculosis , based on the examination of lipopolysaccharide by SDS-PAGE and silver staining.     

鼠疫菌PsaA抗原的表达及抗体制备和应用

目的：制备鼠疫菌PsaA抗原及抗体,建立针对PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,并检测鼠疫感染猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体的阳性率。方法：利用PCR方法扩增出PsaA蛋白基因片段,在大肠杆菌原核表达系统中表达出重组PsaA抗原,以镍柱亲和层析纯化包涵体形式的表达蛋白,以尿素梯度透析复性成可溶蛋白。再以表达蛋白为免疫原,常规免疫家兔,收集兔血清制备多抗,并以正辛酸-硫酸铵法提纯获得PsaA抗体IgG。利用得到的PsaA抗原和抗体为材料,建立两种检测PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,即间接ELISA法和上转换发光（Up-converting Phospher Technology,UPT）免疫层析试纸条法。最后利用这两种方法检测18份猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体。结果：鼠疫菌感染猴血清标本中PsaA抗体的阳性率为62%（8/13）。结论：成功建立了针对鼠疫菌PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,并检测到13份鼠疫感染猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体的阳性率为62%。     

鼠疫菌PsaA 抗原的表达及抗体制备和应用

目的:制备鼠疫菌PsaA抗原及抗体,建立针对PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,并检测鼠疫感染猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体的阳性率。方法:利用PCR方法扩增出PsaA蛋白基因片段,在大肠杆菌原核表达系统中表达出重组PsaA抗原,以镍柱亲和层析纯化包涵体形式的表达蛋白,以尿素梯度透析复性成可溶蛋白。再以表达蛋白为免疫原,常规免疫家兔,收集兔血清制备多抗,并以正辛酸-硫酸铵法提纯获得PsaA抗体IgG。利用得到的PsaA抗原和抗体为材料,建立两种检测PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,即间接ELISA法和上转换发光(Up-converting Phospher Technology,UPT)免疫层析试纸条法。最后利用这两种方法检测18份猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体。结果:鼠疫菌感染猴血清标本中PsaA抗体的阳性率为62%(8/13)。结论:成功建立了针对鼠疫菌PsaA抗体的快速检测方法,并检测到13份鼠疫感染猴血清标本中的PsaA抗体的阳性率为62%。     

Complete genomic sequence of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis phage SE2

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis has remained a major food-borne pathogen in humans. We isolated a virulent S. enterica serovar Enteritidis bacteriophage, SE2, which belongs to the family Siphoviridae. Phage SE2 could lyse S. enterica serovar Enteritidis PT-4, and its virulence was maintained even at ambient temperature. The genomic sequence of phage SE2 was composed of 43,221 bp with close similarity to those of Salmonella phage SETP3 and Salmonella phage SS3e. The strong and stable lytic activity of this phage might enable its use as a therapeutic or biocontrol agent against S. enterica serovar Enteritidis.     

Correlating the Structure and Activity of Y. pestis Ail in a Bacterial Cell Envelope

Understanding microbe-host interactions at the molecular level is a major goal of fundamental biology and therapeutic drug development. Structural biology strives to capture biomolecular structures in action, but the samples are often highly simplified versions of the complex native environment. Here, we present an Escherichia coli model system that allows us to probe the structure and function of Ail, the major surface protein of the deadly pathogen Yersinia pestis. We show that cell surface expression of Ail produces Y. pestis virulence phenotypes in E. coli, including resistance to human serum, cosedimentation of human vitronectin, and pellicle formation. Moreover, isolated bacterial cell envelopes, encompassing inner and outer membranes, yield high-resolution solid-state NMR spectra that reflect the structure of Ail and reveal Ail sites that are sensitive to the bacterial membrane environment and involved in the interactions with human serum components. The data capture the structure and function of Ail in a bacterial outer membrane and set the stage for probing its interactions with the complex milieu of immune response proteins present in human serum.     

The isolation and characterization of a temperate phage, Y46/(E2), from Erwinia herbicola Y40.

A temperate phage was induced from exponential phase cells of Erwinia herbicola Y46 by treatment with mitomycin C. The phage was purified by single plaque isolation, and produced in bulk by successive cultivation in young cultures of E. herbicola Y 178. Phages were concentrated from culture filtrates by rate zonal centrifugation and resuspension in 0.02 M Tris buffer, pH 7.2, twice, yielding suspensions of about 5 times 10(11) PFU/ml. Purification was achieved by centrifugation in buffered sucrose solutions. The band at the 30/40% sucrose interface yielded intact particles having regular hexagonal heads and lonb contractile tails, with base plates. Fibers were not seen. The mean dimensions were head, 51 nm; neck length, 11 nm; overall tail length, extended, 98 nm and contracted, 75 nm; diameter of tail sheath, 24 nm. The phage was stable from pH 4.0 to 11.0, but unstable at pH 3.0, the response being independent of the suspending medium used. At pH 3.0, a survival curve having biphasic appearance was observed, which was not due to a mixed population of phages. Stability to heat was good up to 45 degrees C, above which a logarithmic decline with temperature increase occurred. The average inactivation rate constant at 50 degrees C and pH 6.8 was 0.15 min-1. Adsorption to E. herbicola Y 178 cells exhibited first-order kinetics, the adsorption rate constant being 2.5 times 10(-10) ml/min. One-step growth-curve experiments indicated a burst size of 35-40, and a minimum latent period of 80 min. Probit analysis gave a mean latent period of 140 min (SD 25). The phage caused lysis of only E. herbicola strains Y178 and Y186.     

Yersinia pestis pFra shows biovar-specific differences and recent common ancestry with a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi plasmid

Population genetic studies suggest that Yersinia pestis, the cause of plague, is a clonal pathogen that has recently emerged from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Plasmid acquisition is likely to have been a key element in this evolutionary leap from an enteric to a flea-transmitted systemic pathogen. However, the origin of Y. pestis-specific plasmids remains obscure. We demonstrate specific plasmid rearrangements in different Y. pestis strains which distinguish Y. pestis bv. Orientalis strains from other biovars. We also present evidence for plasmid-associated DNA exchange between Y. pestis and the exclusively human pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.