Characterization of the antiseptic-resistance gene qacEΔ1 isolated from clinical and environmental isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae non-O1

The nucleotide sequence and mechanism of action were examined on the antiseptic-resistance gene qacE delta 1 that had been isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae non-O1. The nucleotide sequences of qacE delta 1 genes isolated from environmental isolates of V. cholerae non-O1 and V. parahaemolyticus differed by one base from that of the gene from P. aeruginosa. Escherichia coli C600 that harbored qacE delta 1 genes from several strains of Vibrio spp. exhibited low-level resistance to intercalating dyes. The resistance of E. coli cells with these genes to intercalating dyes, such as ethidium bromide, was mediated by an efflux system. Moreover, the activity of QacE delta 1 was inhibited in the presence of calcium channel blockers but not of calmodulin inhibitors. These results indicate that the qacE delta 1 gene can be function in E. coli and that the gene mediates resistance in a similar manner to the antiseptic-resistance gene smr.     

Cloning and characterization of a gene encoding a new thermostable hemolysin from Vibrio parahaemolyticus

A new thermostable hemolysin (delta-VPH) gene was cloned from a Kanagawa-negative Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain into vector pBR322 in Escherichia coli K12. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences had no homology with those of the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) which causes the Kanagawa phenomenon, and of the thermolabile hemolysin (TLH) of V. parahaemolyticus. The gene was present in all V. parahaemolyticus strains tested and also in one strain of V. damsela.     

Identification and characterization of the sodA genes encoding manganese superoxide dismutases in Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio mimicus, and Vibrio vulnificus

Sequencing of Fur titration assay-positive clones obtained from genomic DNA libraries of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. mimicus and V. vulnificus revealed open reading frames encoding proteins of 202, 205 and 202 amino acid residues, respectively. Each open reading frame was preceded by a predicted Fur box which overlaps a likely promoter with similarity to the -10 and -35 consensus sequence of Escherichia coli. The deduced amino acid sequences shared considerable homology with bacterial Mn-containing superoxide dismutases (MnSODs). Consistent with this, these Vibrio strains produced proteins with SOD activity resistant to inhibition by H2O2 and KCN only when grown under iron-limiting conditions. Primer extension analysis of the total RNA from these vibrios revealed iron-repressible expression of the genes. Furthermore, when grown under iron-limiting conditions, E. coli carrying a plasmid with each cloned gene overexpressed protein with the same electrophoretic mobility and insensitivity of SOD activity to H2O2 and KCN. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by N-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed that proteins (MnSODs) having N-terminal amino acid sequences consistent with those deduced from the corresponding genes were present in cell lysates of the vibrios grown under these iron-limited conditions. These results demonstrate that the genes cloned in this study are sodA homologs encoding MnSODs, whose expression is regulated by the iron status of the growth medium. PCR using a primer set based on the V. parahaemolyticus sodA sequence revealed the presence of homologous genes in certain other Vibrio species.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of a novel metalloprotease gene from Vibrio parahaemolyticus 04

The metalloprotease gene (vppC) from Vibrio parahaemolyticus 04 has been cloned and sequenced. The vppC gene contains an open reading frame of 2442 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 814 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 89,833 Da. The predicted amino acid sequence of VppC containing a zinc metalloprotease HEXXH consensus motif displays extensive homology to the collagenase from Vibrio alginolyticus. The activity of the recombinant protease produced in Escherichia coli was examined by gelatin zymography and proteolytic activity assays. The substrate specificity study showed that the type I collagen and synthetic collagenase substrate carbobenzoxy-glycyl-L-prolyl-glycyl-glycyl-L-prolyl-L-alanine were the best substrates, indicating that the cloned metalloprotease is indeed a collagenase. Multiple alignment analysis of the amino acid sequences and the enzymatic properties such as molecular mass and substrate specificity revealed three distinct classes of Vibrio metalloproteases. The identification of a new metalloprotease gene expands the role of Vibrio metalloproteases as a virulence factor for host infection.     

Nucleotide sequence of the thermostable direct hemolysin gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The gene encoding the thermostable direct hemolysin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was characterized. This gene (designated tdh) was subcloned into pBR322 in Escherichia coli, and the functional tdh gene was localized to a 1.3-kilobase HindIII fragment. This fragment was sequenced, and the structural gene was found to encode a mature protein of 165 amino acid residues. The mature protein sequence was preceded by a putative signal peptide sequence of 24 amino acids. A putative tdh promoter, determined by its similarity to concensus sequences, was not functional in E. coli. However, a promoter that was functional in E. coli was shown to exist further upstream by use of a promoter probe plasmid. A 5.7-kilobase SalI fragment containing the structural gene and both potential promoters was cloned into a broad-host-range plasmid and mobilized into a Kanagawa phenomenon-negative V. parahaemolyticus strain. In contrast to E. coli, where the hemolysin was detected only in cell lysates, introduction of the cloned gene into V. parahaemolyticus resulted in the production of extracellular hemolysin.     

Isolation and Characterization of Vibrio Alginolyticus and Vibrio Parahemolyticus from the Norwegian Coastal Environment

Strains of Vibrio alginolyticus were regularly isolated from mussels, fish, bottom sediment and seawater from April to October. Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated occasionally in samples from mussels and bottom sediment in July and August. None of the species were detected in the cold season. Isolated strains were characterized by growth requirement, morphological characteristics and biochemical tests. In addition the cellular fatty acid composition was determined and compared with standard strains from the family Vibrionaceae. With the exception of some biochemical reactions which distinguish Vibrio alginolyticus from Vibrio parahaemolyticus, growth requirement, morphological characteristics and biochemical reactions are similar for these strains. The close relation between Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus was also revealed by cluster analyses of fatty acid patterns which combined these two species into one cluster which, however, was clearly separated from the standard strains of Vibrio anguillarum.     

弧菌三联融合毒素基因表达及ELISA检测方法建立

采用柔性Linker(GGGGS)和重叠延伸PCR方法将三个毒素基因, 即副溶血性弧菌的耐热型直接溶血素基因tdh、创伤弧菌的溶细胞毒素基因vvhA和拟态弧菌的热不稳定型溶血素基因vmhA的成熟蛋白基因片段进行串联, 得到三联融合毒素基因tdh-vvhA-vmhA(命名为FT)。一致性比对分析与预计融合的基因序列一致性为99.6%。FT的开放阅读框架全长3225 bp, 编码1074个氨基酸残基, 预测分子量为120.4 kDa。将FT亚克隆至表达载体pET-22b(+)中, 再转化至E. coli BL21 (DE3)中进行表达, 经SDS-PAEG分析, 融合蛋白分子量与预测的相符。终浓度为1mmol/L的IPTG, 37 ℃诱导4 h, 融合毒素蛋白表达量最高, 经薄层扫描分析, 此时融合毒素蛋白占全菌体蛋白的11.49%。融合毒素蛋白包涵体经纯化, 免疫豚鼠制备血清抗体, 确定间接ELISA的最佳工作条件, 并进行敏感性、特异性、重复性及模拟样品检测试验, 建立了食物中毒性弧菌广谱、快速、特异的同步免疫学检测方法。     

Expression and characterization of a metalloprotease from a Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolate

The extracellular zinc metalloprotease from Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VPM) is a putative virulence factor for host infection. It is synthesized from the vpm gene of V. parahaemolyticus as a polypeptide of 814 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 89,833 Da, containing a zinc metalloprotease HEXXH consensus motif. To investigate the enzymatic properties of V. parahaemolyticus metalloprotease, the mature vpm gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant protein (rVPM) was purified by a His-binding metal affinity column (>95% purity). The activity of the recombinant protease produced in E. coli was examined by gelatin activity staining and proteolytic activity assays using gelatin and azocasein as substrates. rVPM showed maximum activity at about 37 degrees C and pH 8. The cytotoxicity against flounder gill cells and fish pathogenicity indicated a potential role in pathogenesis.     

Note: Molecular cloning of chitinase genes from Vibrio anguillarum and V. parahaemolyticus

Chitinase genes from Vibrio anguillarum KV9001 and V. parahaemolyticus ATCC17802 were cloned into Escherichia coli. Open reading frames of chitinase genes from V. anguillarum (vac) and V. parahaemolyticus (vpc) are 1755 bp and 1890 bp, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of these genes have 71·6% identity. There are two consensus sequence regions in the VAC and VPC proteins. The vac gene was highly prevalent in V. anguillarum , and the DNA probe of the vac gene hybridized to V. alginolyticus and Beneckea proteolytica DNA. The DNA probe of the vpc gene hybridized to V. alginolyticus, V. harveyi and V. ordalii DNA.     

Expression, characterization and immunogenicity of a major outer membrane protein from Vibrio alginolyticus

Vibrio alginolyticus is one of the Vibrio pathogens common to humans and marine animals.During infection and induction of the host immune response,outer membrane proteins of bacteria play animportant role.In this study,an outer membrane protein gene(ompW)was cloned from V.alginolyticus andexpressed in Escherichia coli.The 645 bp open reading frame(ORF)encodes a protein of 214 amino acidresidues with a predicted molecular weight of 23.3 kDa.The amino acid sequence showed a high identitywith that of Photobacterium damselae(96.2%)and Vibrio parahaemolyticus(94.4%).The alignment analy-sis indicated that OmpW was highly conserved.Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresisshowed that the gene was over-expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3).Western blot analysis revealed that theexpressed protein had immunoreactivity.The recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatographyon Ni-NTA Superflow resin.Large yellow croaker vaccinated with the purified OmpW showed significantlyincreased antibody to OmpW,which could resist the infection by V.alginolyticus.A specific antibody wasdetected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.This study suggested that the conserved OmpW could bean effective vaccine candidate against infection by V.alginolyticus.     

副溶血性弧菌群体感应蛋白CqsA的原核表达

副溶血性孤菌CqsA是一种推测的信号分子合成酶,其合成的信号分子在群体感应系统中可能具有重要的调控作用.从副溶血性弧菌ATCC 17802中克隆cqsA基因,构建重组质粒pET22b-cqsA.测序后转化大肠杆菌B1L21进行IPTG诱导表达,使用SDS-PAGE分析融合蛋白的表达状况,并通过6× His-Tag进行Western blotting检测.结果显示,经0.6 mmol/L IPTG诱导4h,目的基因以包涵体形式高效表达,表达的融合蛋白大小约为49 kD,与理论值相符(437 aa).表明副溶血性弧菌群体感应蛋白CqsA在大肠杆菌中成功表达,为后续寻找副溶血性孤菌群体感应信号分子,进一步探索副溶血性弧菌群体感应系统提供参考.     

Cloning and expression of the 5'-nucleotidase gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Escherichia coli and overproduction of the enzyme

The gene encoding the membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Cells of E. coli harboring a plasmid, pNUT5, which carries the 5'-nucleotidase gene were able to grow on ATP as the sole source of carbon, although the original cells were not. The 5'-nucleotidase activity was detected in whole cells of E. coli harboring pNUT5 and in membrane vesicles prepared from these cells. Most properties of the 5'-nucleotidase produced in E. coli, that is, its requirements for Cl- and Mg2+, substrate specificity, and inhibition by Zn2+, were similar to those observed in V. parahaemolyticus, but some alterations in properties were observed: The 5'-nucleotidase was partially inducible in V. parahaemolyticus, but its expression in E. coli was completely constitutive. The specific activity of the 5'-nucleotidase in membrane vesicles of E. coli harboring the plasmid was 30 times that observed in whole cells, whereas the specific activities in membrane vesicles and in whole cells of V. parahaemolyticus were almost the same. A new, dense band of protein with an apparent molecular mass of 63 kDa was detected when membrane proteins of E. coli harboring the plasmid were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

副溶血性弧菌基因敲除方法的建立及应用

目的摸索出一套副溶血性弧菌基因敲除的可靠方案,副溶血性弧菌致病相关基因的敲除对深入研究其致病机制有重要意义。方法通过融合PCR技术将目的基因上下游同源臂融合并克隆到自杀载体pDS132上,将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌S17λpir中,再接合转移到副溶血性弧菌菌株内,经pDS132质粒上sacB基因的反向筛选得到突变株。结果成功构建了副溶血性弧菌RIMD2210633菌株ΔopaR,ΔtoxR和ΔaphA三个基因突变株。结论通过自杀载体同源重组成功获得精确敲除的无痕突变株更有利于基因功能的研究,使后续副溶血性弧菌突变株与野生株的对比研究成为可能。     

Effects of depuration of molluscs experimentally contaminated with Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae 01 and Vibrio parahaemolyticus

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the behaviour of two pathogenic vibrios (Vibrio cholerae O1 and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) during depuration and to compare it with that of Escherichia coli, used as an indicator of suitability for consumption. METHODS AND RESULTS: Samples of Mytilus galloprovincialis were experimentally contaminated with E. coli, V. cholerae O1 and V. parahaemolyticus, depurated in a pilot plant using ozone and analysed at selected intervals. Numbers of E. coli and vibrios were estimated using an MPN method. The presence of vibrios was confirmed by the use of PCR. The target genes used were ctx for V. cholerae O1 and the restriction fragment pR72H for V. parahaemolyticus. There was a substantially smaller reduction in the numbers of both vibrios (approximately 1 log) during the depuration process than of E. coli (approximately 3 log). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the inadequacy of E. coli as an indicator that molluscs have been cleansed of other microbiological agents. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study confirms the risk associated with the consumption of mussels and the need to correctly conserve and cook them prior to consumption.     

Analysis of the gene of Vibrio hollisae encoding the hemolysin similar to the thermostable direct hemolysin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The gene (designated as Vh-tdh) of Vibrio hollisae 9041 encoding a hemolysin similar to the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) of V. parahaemolyticus contained a 567-base-pair open reading frame (ORF), which was 93.3-93.5% homologous to those of the tdh genes of V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae non-01, and V. mimicus encoding TDH or similar hemolysins. Comparative analysis of the nucleotide sequence containing the Vh-tdh ORF with published nucleotide and amino acid sequences suggested that the Vh-tdh gene and other tdh genes diverged from a common ancestral gene, that the divergence was closely associated with the evolutionary divergence of V. hollisae from other species of genus Vibrio, and that strain-to-strain variation of the Vh-tdh gene exists in V. hollisae.     

Cloning and expression of two genes encoding highly homologous hemolysins from a Kanagawa phenomenon-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus T4750 strain

We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH), a possible virulence factor in Vibrio parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis, from a Kanagawa-phenomenon-positive strain, T4750. This strain was found to contain two sequences (tdhA and tdhS) homologous to the tdh gene previously reported by Nishibuchi and Kaper [J. Bacteriol 162 (1985) 558-564] and Taniguchi et al. [Microb. Pathog. 1 (1986) 425-432]. Sequence homology of the coding regior between tdhA and tdhS was 97.2%. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of TdhA, excluding the putative signal peptide was identical to that of TDH protein purified from V. parahaemolyticus [Tsunasawa et al., J. Biochem. 101 (1987) 111-121] except for Glu118 instead of Gln118. Although the aa sequence deduced from the second gene, tdhS, differed in eight residues from the TDH protein, it agreed with the sequence of Tdh deduced from the previously cloned tdh gene. Both tdhA and tdhS expressed biologically active hemolysins in Escherichia coli. While the apparent molecular size of TDH purified from a culture supernatant of V. parahaemolyticus T4750 was identical to TdhA protein synthesized in E. coli, it was larger than TdhS. Only one band was detected in the culture supernatant of V. parahaemolyticus T4750 by Western blotting; its mobility was indistinguishable from that of purified TDH. These data suggest that tdhA is the structural gene for TDH found in the culture supernatant of V. parahaemolyticus T4750, and that there was only partial, if any, tdhS expression in the strain T4750 under the test conditions employed.     

Amino acid sequence of thermostable direct hemolysin produced by Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The complete amino acid sequence of the subunit of thermostable direct hemolysin, a dimeric protein composed of identical subunits isolated from Vibrio parahaemolyticus, was determined by sequencing BrCN-peptides, their tryptic peptides, and overlaps obtained by Achromobacter protease I digestion. The subunit consists of 165 amino acid residues with the sole disulfide bond between Cys 151 and Cys 161. It is deduced that the biologically active hemolysin is formed by noncovalent association of subunits which are not linked together by disulfide bonds. The primary structure of hemolysin elucidated in the present study is essentially the same as that deduced from the nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding the protein but differs in 9 amino acid residues, suggesting the possibility of the presence of multiple genes for the thermostable direct hemolysin in Vibrio parahaemolyticus.     

Production of pili on Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Electron microscopic examination showed that all strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus examined had pili on their surface when the organism was grown on marine agar at 28 degrees C for 6-12 h. The pili were morphologically stable on heat treatment at 60 degrees C for 10 min, but both the lateral and polar flagella possessed by this organism were labile. No immunological cross-reactivity between pili of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae non-01 and those of V. parahaemolyticus was observed.