肺炎链球菌致脑膜炎的分子生物学研究进展

肺炎链球菌是引起细菌性脑膜炎的主要病原菌之一,常导致严重的神经系统后遗症和较高的病死率。本文总结了肺炎链球菌引起脑膜炎的主要毒力因子及其作用,肺炎链球菌通过血脑屏障的机制及其引起的病理生理效应等方面的最新进展。随着对链球菌性脑膜炎认识的深入．可望为,临床治疗提供帮助,降低其发病率,减轻脑损伤。     

短头熊蜂肠道拮抗菌株的分离筛选鉴定及其生物特性评价

【背景】近年来,由于栖息地减少、农药的大量使用及病原菌侵染等综合因素,导致全世界的熊蜂种类与数量逐年减少,病原菌的侵染可通过微生物在自身生长过程中会产生的抑菌物质进行有效抑制或杀灭。【目的】短头熊蜂(Bombus breviceps)长期生存在野外环境中,其肠道内存在着大量微生物资源。从短头熊蜂肠道内筛选拮抗菌株,并对其抑菌特性进行研究。【方法】采用牛津杯双层法筛选拮抗菌株,测定抑菌活性最佳菌株发酵液的抑菌物质稳定性与抑菌广谱性等抑菌特性,并借助细胞膜通透性、流式细胞仪检测等试验探究其抑菌机制。【结果】得到了5株具有明显抑菌作用的拮抗菌株,其中果杆菌(Fructobacillus tropaeoli)CZ01对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)、沙门氏菌(Salmonella choleraesuis)、大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)、福氏志贺氏菌(Shigella flexneri)和无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)这5种病原指示菌都具有高度抑菌效果。菌株CZ01对金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌效果最佳,抑菌圈直径可达到(21.21±0.25) mm,在121 ℃处理后仍具有67.36%以上的抑菌活性,调整pH值为10.0时仍具有78.16%的抑菌活性。【结论】短头熊蜂肠道微生物资源较丰富,尤其是果杆菌(F.tropaeoli)CZ01具有抑菌活性高、稳定性好、抑菌谱广等特性,对金黄色葡萄球菌具有良好的杀灭效果,显示出良好的应用潜能。     

石鲽病原琼氏不动杆菌形态型Ⅰ的鉴定*

从由杀鲑气单胞菌(Aerom onas salmonicida)所引起的石鲽(Stone flounder,Kareiusbicoloratus L.)细菌性败血感染症病(死)鱼肝、脾、肾及肠内容物中,同时检出了作为继发感染的病原菌。经对6株纯培养菌在形态特征、理化特性等方面较系统的表观分类学指征鉴定及代表菌株DNA中G+C mol%的测定,表明为琼氏不动杆菌的一个新形态型并定名为琼氏不动杆菌形态型Ⅰ(Acinetobacter juniimorphovarⅠ);     

嗜肺军团菌II型分泌系统及其底物的研究进展

嗜肺军团菌(Legionella pneumophila,L. pneumophila)是研究病原菌-宿主相互作用的重要模式菌株之一,其独特的分泌系统及底物效应蛋白的结构与功能是病原微生物领域的研究热点。II型分泌系统(type II secretion system,T2SS)对促进细菌在环境和人类宿主中的生存至关重要。嗜肺军团菌Legionella secretion pathway (Lsp)系统是革兰氏阴性病原菌中一个典型的T2SS。本文综述了L. pneumophila的T2SS及其底物效应蛋白的研究进展,重点介绍其结构与功能,为深入了解革兰氏阴性病原菌的T2SS功能和作用机制提供参考。     

珠子参叶皂苷对脂肪酶抑制机制及降血脂研究

珠子参叶是五加科(Araliaca)植物珠子参(Panax japonicas var. major)的干燥带梗叶,为秦巴地区特色中药材。为合理开发利用珠子参叶并阐明其化学成分,该研究利用HPLC方法分析珠子参叶皂苷部位的主要化学成分,测定珠子参叶皂苷部位的脂肪酶抑制活性及抑制类型,通过分子对接及动物实验验证脂肪酶抑制机制及降血脂作用。结果表明:(1)珠子参叶皂苷部位主要成分为20(S)-人参皂苷Rg₂、20(R)-人参皂苷Rg₂、人参皂苷Rb₂、人参皂苷Rb₃、人参皂苷Rd、人参皂苷Rh₂。(2)珠子参叶皂苷部位、20(R)-人参皂苷 Rg₂对脂肪酶具有较强的抑制作用,其IC₅₀分别为0.14、2.30 μmol·L^-1。(3)珠子参叶皂苷部位、20(R)-人参皂苷Rg₂、人参皂苷Rb₃对脂肪酶的抑制为可逆性抑制,抑制类型为非竞争型抑制。(4)配体与ARG337B、ASP331B、ILE248B残基结合可能有助于提高配体的脂肪酶抑制活性。(5)珠子参叶总皂苷可以显著降低高脂血症小鼠血清中胆固醇和甘油三酯的含量。该研究为珠子参叶在降血脂方面的深入开发和利用提供了理论参考。     

广藿香内生真菌Ogataea sp. RW-S10次级代谢产物研究

为挖掘广藿香(Pogostemon cablin)内生真菌活性代谢产物,采用多种柱色谱分离方法从广藿香内生真菌Ogataea sp.RW-S10的次级代谢产物中分离得到7个化合物,根据波谱数据分别鉴定为ogataearin (1)、phenylalaninol (2)、对羟基苯乙酮(3)、bis(dethio)bis(methylsulfanyl) gliotoxin (4)、N-苯乙基乙酰胺(5)、lumichrome (6)和dehydroxypaxilline (7),其中化合物1为新化合物。化合物1具有α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性,其IC₅₀值为39.38 μmol/L。     

滇重楼内生真菌Aspergillus fumigatus代谢产物的研究

为研究滇重楼内生真菌Aspergillus fumigatus的代谢产物,采用多种色谱分离技术对其菌丝体和发酵液进行分离纯化,得到31个化合物。根据理化性质及波谱数据,结构分别鉴定为tryprostatin B (1)、tryprostatin A (2)、12,13-dihydroxyfumitre- morgin C (3)、cyclotryprostatin B (4)、14-norpseurotin A (5)、pseurotine F1 (6)、pseurotine F2 (7)、azaspirofuran A (8)、pseurotin D (9)、spirotryprostatin K (10)、6-methoxyspirotryprostatin B (11)、deacetylpyripyropene A (12)、烟曲霉素 (13)、fuma- gillene A (14)、5,9-dihydroxy-β-trans-bergamotene (15)、对羟基苯乙酸 (16)、demethoxyfumitremorgin C (17)、fumiquinazoline J (18)、烟曲霉酸 (19)、麦角甾醇 (20)、过氧麦角甾醇 (21)、4,4-dimethyl-5α-ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-3β-ol (22)、羊毛甾醇 (23)、亚油酸 (24)、油酸 (25) 、烟曲霉毒素C (26)、烟曲霉毒素B (27)、震颤真菌毒素 (28)、pseurotin A (29)、fumiquinazoline C (30)和questin (31)。其中,化合物1~16仅从发酵液中分离得到;化合物17~25仅从菌丝体中分离得到;其余化合物在发酵液和菌丝体中均分离得到。化合物15和23为首次从烟曲霉属真菌中分离得到。此外,化合物26~29的乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制活性和烟草黑胫病菌抑制活性评价表明,化合物26和27对烟草黑胫病菌具有微弱的抑制作用,抑菌率分别为19.64%和17.86%。     

紫茎泽兰的化学成分研究

为了解紫茎泽兰(Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng.)的化学成分,从其乙醇提取物中分离得到7 个化合物。通过波谱分析,分别鉴定为万寿菊苷(1)、7-O-(6-methoxykaempferol)-β-D-glucopranoside (2)、4'-甲基醚万寿菊苷(3)、3-O-(6-methoxykaempferol)-β-D-glucopranoside (4)、邻苯二甲酸二丁酯 (5)、邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基)己酯 (6)、1,4-bis(2-benzoxazolyl)naphthalene (7)。其中化合物1~4 为首次从紫茎泽兰中分离得到。     

1-辛烯-3-醇防治采后桃果实软腐病的作用

【目的】桃果实易受匍枝根霉(Rhizopus stolonifer)侵染引起软腐病,导致果实采后腐烂损失严重。目前人工合成的化学杀菌剂是控制桃果实采后病害的主要方法,但长期使用容易带来食品安全隐患、病原菌抗药性和环境污染等问题。通过研究生物源抑菌成分1-辛烯-3-醇对桃果实软腐病的控制作用,为减少化学农药使用和控制采后桃果实软腐病提供理论基础。【方法】使用1-辛烯-3-醇熏蒸接种匍枝根霉(R.stolonifer)后的桃果实,对果实抗病相关基因表达和酶活性进行测定。通过离体试验,研究1-辛烯-3-醇熏蒸对匍枝根霉(R.stolonifer)菌丝和孢子的影响。【结果】55.80μg/mL 1-辛烯-3-醇熏蒸处理可以显著降低桃果实的发病率和病斑直径(P<0.05),提高几丁质酶(chitinase,CHI)和β-1,3葡聚糖酶(β-1,3-glucanase,GLU)的活性以及病程相关基因非表达子1(nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related protein 1,NPR1)、病程相关蛋白1(pathogenesis-related protein 1,PR1)、CHI和GLU的基因表达量。离体试验结果显示,1-辛烯-3-醇可抑制平板上匍枝根霉(R.stolonifer)菌丝的生长,使菌丝体细胞结构遭到破坏,同时显著降低麦角固醇含量(P<0.05),抑制孢囊孢子的萌发和芽管伸长,并通过破坏孢子的膜结构,引起活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)暴发与线粒体损伤。【结论】以上结果证实,1-辛烯-3-醇熏蒸处理不仅能直接破坏匍枝根霉(R.stolonifer)的菌丝与孢子,还可通过诱导桃果实的系统获得性抗性(systemic acquired resistance,SAR)抑制采后软腐病的蔓延。     

从观赏动物五爪龙的粪便中分离出三种肠道病原菌

本文报道从稀有爬行动物五爪龙(Varanus salvator)的体内同时分离出三种肠道病原菌,伦敦沙门氏菌(Salmonella london)、德比沙门氏菌(S.derby)和一株类志贺邻单胞菌(Plesiomomas shigelloides)。并提出应注意经常监测各类动物的带菌状况,加强对带菌动物的管理。     

Strategies used by bacterial pathogens to cross the blood–brain barrier

The skull, spine, meninges, and cellular barriers at the blood–brain and the blood–cerebrospinal fluid interfaces well protect the brain and meningeal spaces against microbial invasion. However, once in the bloodstream, a range of pathogenic bacteria is able to reach the brain and cause meningitis. Despite advances in antibacterial therapy, bacterial meningitis remains one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide. The most common causative bacteria in children and adults are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis associated with high morbidity and mortality, while among neonates, most cases of bacterial meningitis are due to group B Streptococcus and Escherichia coli. Here we summarise our current knowledge on the strategies used by these bacterial pathogens to survive in the bloodstream, to colonise the brain vasculature and to cross the blood–brain barrier.     

Identification of CiaR Regulated Genes That Promote Group B Streptococcal Virulence and Interaction with Brain Endothelial Cells

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major causative agent of neonatal meningitis due to its ability to efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and enter the central nervous system (CNS). It has been demonstrated that GBS can invade human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMEC), a primary component of the BBB; however, the mechanism of intracellular survival and trafficking is unclear. We previously identified a two component regulatory system, CiaR/H, which promotes GBS intracellular survival in hBMEC. Here we show that a GBS strain deficient in the response regulator, CiaR, localized more frequently with Rab5, Rab7 and LAMP1 positive vesicles. Further, lysosomes isolated from hBMEC contained fewer viable bacteria following initial infection with the ΔciaR mutant compared to the WT strain. To characterize the contribution of CiaR-regulated genes, we constructed isogenic mutant strains lacking the two most down-regulated genes in the CiaR-deficient mutant, SAN_2180 and SAN_0039. These genes contributed to bacterial uptake and intracellular survival. Furthermore, competition experiments in mice showed that WT GBS had a significant survival advantage over the Δ2180 and Δ0039 mutants in the bloodstream and brain.     

Interactions between Blood-Borne Streptococcus pneumoniae and the Blood-Brain Barrier Preceding Meningitis

Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a Gram-positive bacterium and the predominant cause of bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is thought to occur as the result of pneumococci crossing the blood-brain barrier to invade the Central Nervous System (CNS); yet little is known about the steps preceding immediate disease development. To study the interactions between pneumococci and the vascular endothelium of the blood-brain barrier prior to meningitis we used an established bacteremia-derived meningitis model in combination with immunofluorescent imaging. Brain tissue of mice infected with S. pneumoniae strain TIGR4, a clinical meningitis isolate, was investigated for the location of the bacteria in relation to the brain vasculature in various compartments. We observed that S. pneumoniae adhered preferentially to the subarachnoid vessels, and subsequently, over time, reached the more internal cerebral areas including the cerebral cortex, septum, and choroid plexus. Interestingly, pneumococci were not detected in the choroid plexus till 8 hours-post infection. In contrast to the lungs, little to no leukocyte recruitment to the brain was observed over time, though Iba-1 and GFAP staining showed that microglia and astrocytes were activated as soon as 1 hour post-infection. Our results imply that i) the local immune system of the brain is activated immediately upon entry of bacteria into the bloodstream and that ii) adhesion to the blood brain barrier is spatiotemporally controlled at different sites throughout the brain. These results provide new information on these two important steps towards the development of pneumococcal meningitis.     

Development of hematogenous pneumococcal meningitis in adult mice: the role of TNF-alpha

Bacterial penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the central nervous system is the first step in development of meningitis. The role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the penetration process was examined with peripheral infection of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 6. After intraperitoneal infection of S. pneumoniae type 6, the BBB opening was increased continuously from 6 h and the mice died of septic shock within 36 h due to bacterial overgrowth. The bacteria crossed the BBB and began to deposit in brain at 6 h post infection. There was strong staining of TNF-alpha on blood vessels of brain from 6 h to 24 h post infection. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody blocked both the BBB opening and the entrance of circulatory S. pneumoniae type 6 into brain, indicating that TNF-alpha played an important role in controlling the opening of BBB. Furthermore, an adult murine model of hematogenous pneumococcal meningitis was developed that is based on opening of the BBB by TNF-alpha and controlling the degree of bacteremia by cefazolin antibiotic. In conclusion, hematogenous meningitis developed as TNF-alpha initiated BBB opening, peripheral bacteria entered into the brain and formed bacterial emboli, and then progressed to meningitis.     

The Role of Autophagy during Group B Streptococcus Infection of Blood-Brain Barrier Endothelium

Bacterial meningitis occurs when bloodborne pathogens invade and penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), provoking inflammation and disease. Group B Streptococcus (GBS), the leading cause of neonatal meningitis, can enter human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs), but the host response to intracellular GBS has not been characterized. Here we sought to determine whether antibacterial autophagy, which involves selective recognition of intracellular organisms and their targeting to autophagosomes for degradation, is activated in BBB endothelium during bacterial infection. GBS infection resulted in increased punctate distribution of GFP-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and increased levels of endogenous LC3-II and p62 turnover, two hallmark indicators of active autophagic flux. Infection with GBS mutants revealed that bacterial invasion and the GBS pore-forming β-hemolysin/cytolysin (β-h/c) trigger autophagic activation. Cell-free bacterial extracts containing β-h/c activity induced LC3-II conversion, identifying this toxin as a principal provocative factor for autophagy activation. These results were confirmed in vivo using a mouse model of GBS meningitis as infection with WT GBS induced autophagy in brain tissue more frequently than a β-h/c-deficient mutant. Elimination of autophagy using Atg5-deficient fibroblasts or siRNA-mediated impairment of autophagy in hBMECs led to increased recovery of intracellular GBS. However, electron microscopy revealed that GBS was rarely found within double membrane autophagic structures even though we observed GBS-LC3 co-localization. These results suggest that although autophagy may act as a BBB cellular defense mechanism in response to invading and toxin-producing bacteria, GBS may actively thwart the autophagic pathway.     

Bacterial penetration across the blood-brain barrier during the development of neonatal meningitis

Bacterial pathogens may breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and invade the central nervous system through paracellular and/or transcellular mechanisms. Transcellular penetration, e.g., transcytosis across the BBB has been demonstrated for Escherichia coli K1, group B streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Citrobacter freundii and Streptococcus pneumonia strains. Genes contributing to invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells include E. coli K1 genes ompA, ibeA, ibeB, and yijP. Understanding the mechanisms of bacterial penetration across the BBB may help develop novel approaches to preventing bacterial meningitis.     

In vitro transcriptome analysis of porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells in response to Streptococcus suis: release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines

The Gram-positive zoonotic bacterium Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is responsible for a wide range of diseases including meningitis in pigs and humans. The blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier is constituted by the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus, which execute barrier function also after bacteria have entered the central nervous system (CNS). We show that the bacterial capsule, a major virulence factor, strongly attenuates adhesion of S. suis to the apical side of porcine choroid plexus epithelial cells (PCPEC). Oligonucleotide microarray analysis and quantitative PCR surprisingly demonstrated that adherent wild-type and capsule-deficient S. suis influenced expression of a pronounced similar pattern of genes in PCPEC. Investigation of purified capsular material provided no evidence for a significant role of the capsule. Enriched among the regulated genes were those involved in “inflammatory response”, “defense response” and “cytokine activity”. These comprised several cytokines and chemokines including the interleukins 6 and 8, which could be detected on protein level. We show that after infection with S. suis the choroid plexus contributes to the immune response by actively producing cytokines and chemokines. Other virulence factors than the bacterial capsule may be relevant in inducing a strong inflammatory response in the CNS during S. suis meningitis.     

A Multi-Target Real-Time PCR Assay for Rapid Identification of Meningitis-Associated Microorganisms

A central nervous system (CNS) infection, such as meningitis, is a serious and life-threatening condition. Bacterial meningitis can be severe and may result in brain damage, disability or even death. Rapid diagnosis of CNS infections and identification of the pathogenic microorganisms are needed to improve the patient outcome. Bacterial culture of a patient??s cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is currently considered the ??gold standard?? for diagnosing bacterial meningitis. From the CSF cultures researchers can assess the in vitro susceptibility of the causative microorganism to determine the best antibiotic treatment. However, many of the culture assays, such as microscopy and the latex agglutination test are not sensitive. To enhance pathogen detection in CSF samples we developed a multi-target real-time PCR assay that can rapidly identify six different microorganisms: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Listeria monocytogenes and Cryptococcus neoformans. In this study we applied this PCR analysis to 296 CSF samples from patients who were suspected of having meningitis. Of the 296 samples that were examined, 59 samples were positive according to the CSF culture and/or molecular assays. Forty-six CSF samples were positive for both the CSF culture and our real-time PCR assay, while 13 samples were positive for the real-time PCR but negative for the traditional assays. This discrepancy may have been caused by the fact that these samples were collected from 23 patients who were treated with antimicrobials before CSF sampling.     

The impact of the ancillary pilus-1 protein RrgA of Streptococcus pneumoniae on colonization and disease

The Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pneumococcus, is an important commensal resident of the human nasopharynx. Carriage is usually asymptomatic, however, S. pneumoniae can become invasive and spread from the upper respiratory tract to the lungs causing pneumonia, and to other organs to cause severe diseases such as bacteremia and meningitis. Several pneumococcal proteins important for its disease-causing capability have been described and many are expressed on the bacterial surface. The surface located pneumococcal type-1 pilus has been associated with virulence and the inflammatory response, and it is present in 20%–30% of clinical isolates. Its tip protein RrgA has been shown to be a major adhesin to human cells and to promote invasion through the blood-brain barrier. In this review we discuss recent findings of the impact of RrgA on bacterial colonization of the upper respiratory tract and on pneumococcal virulence, and use epidemiological data and genome-mining to suggest trade-off mechanisms potentially explaining the rather low prevalence of pilus-1 expressing pneumococci in humans.