Comparison of outer membrane protein profiles of Vibrio vulnificus biotypes 1 and 2

Abstract The outer membrane proteins of 17 Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 strains from Japanese and European cels, and 12 biotype 1 strains from clinical and environmental sources have been compared. The overall profile in both biotypes was similar, and a major protein band of molecular mass 36 kDa was detected in the majority of the strain. Differences in the minor bands allowed differentiation of strains from different origins, suggesting that outer membrane protein profiles could be useful as epidemiological markers in the species V. vulnificus . Immunoblotting with antisera to whole cells of selected strains of biotypes 1 and 2 showed a strong antigenic response to outer membrane proteins 66, 60, 48, 46 and 44 kDa; these were common to all strains examined, independent of their biotypes and origins. These results demonstrate the presence of antigenically related outer membrane proteins in both biotypes of V. vulnificus .     

Vibrio vulnificus produces quorum sensing signals of the AHL-class

Vibrio vulnificus is an aquatic pathogenic bacterium that can cause vibriosis in humans and fish. The species is subdivided into three biotypes with the fish-virulent strains belonging to biotype 2. The quorum sensing (QS) phenomenon mediated by furanosyl borate diester or autoinducer 2 (AI-2) has been described in human strains of biotype 1, and here we show that the luxS gene which encodes AI-2 is present in all strains of V. vulnificus regardless of origin, biotype or serovar. In this study, we also demonstrate that V. vulnificus produces QS signals of the acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) class (AI-1). AHLs were detected in strains of biotype 1 and 2 from water, fish and human wound infections but not in strains isolated from human septicaemic cases. The AHL compound was identified as N -butanoyl-homoserine-lactone (C₄-HL) by both reporter strains and by HPLC-high-resolution MS. C₄-HL was detected when AHL-positive strains were grown in low-nutrient medium [modified sea water yeast extract (MSWYE)] but not in rich media (tryptic soy broth or brain–heart infusion) and its production was enhanced when blood factors were added to MSWYE. C₄-HL was detected in vivo , in eels infected with AHL-positive biotype 2 strains. No known AHL-related gene was detected by PCR or Southern blot suggesting that AHL-related genes in V. vulnificus are different from those found in other Gram-negative bacteria.     

海洋创伤弧菌反式翻译系统关键因子SmpB基因的克隆及原核表达

创伤弧菌(Vibrio vulnificus)是一种重要的"人鱼共患病"病原菌。通过克隆创伤弧菌反式翻译系统核心因子小蛋白B(Small molecular protein B,SmpB)基因,构建携带目的基因的原核表达质粒,为后续研究SmpB蛋白的互作网络、SmpB蛋白与创伤弧菌致病性之间的关系并以此开发新型的抑菌靶标奠定基础。使用LiCl沉淀法提取创伤弧菌基因组DNA,以它为模板,PCR扩增目的基因,并构建到pET-28a原核表达载体上测序鉴定后对SmpB序列进行生物信息学分析,将正确的重组质粒转化E.coli BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导表达,SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳鉴定。结果表明使用LiCl沉淀法成功提取到高质量创伤弧菌基因组DNA,以其为模板,扩增到smpB基因,并成功构建pET-28a原核表达重组质粒,测序鉴定正确;smpB基因全长为486 bp,编码161个氨基酸,分子量为18.41 kD,理论等电点为10.28,不稳定系数为35.02,总平均亲水性为-0.635,SmpB蛋白整体表现为稳定亲水性蛋白。生物信息学分析显示其高级结构核心部分为5个β折叠组成的桶状结构,外围由3个α螺旋组成,SmpB C-端亦为α螺旋。诱导表达的重组融合蛋白相对分子质量大小在25.0 kD附近,显示在E.coli中成功表达了SmpB蛋白。