Regions of the Streptococcus sobrinus spaA gene encoding major determinants of antigen I.

Surface protein antigen A (SpaA), also called antigen B, antigen I/II, or antigen P1, is an abundant cell envelope protein that is the major antigenic determinant of Streptococcus sobrinus and other members of the Streptococcus mutans group of cariogenic bacteria. This laboratory has previously reported the cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of a BamHI restriction fragment of S. sobrinus DNA containing most of the spaA gene (pYA726) and encoding antigen I. Regions of spaA encoding immunodeterminants of antigen I were analyzed by either deletion mapping or expressing selected restriction fragments from the trc promoter. SpaA proteins produced by mutants harboring nested deletions, constructed by BAL 31 exonuclease treatment at a unique SstI site located towards the 3' end of the gene, were examined by Western immunoblot with rabbit serum against SpaA from S. sobrinus. Only SpaA polypeptides larger than 56 kilodaltons reacted with anti-SpaA serum. Various restriction fragments of the region of spaA encoding the antigenic determinants were cloned into an expression vector. The immunoreactive properties of the polypeptides encoded by those fragments indicated that expression of the immunodominant determinant required topographically assembled residues specified by noncontiguous regions located within 0.48-kilobase PvuII-to-SstI and 1.2-kilobase SstI-to-HindIII fragments which were adjacent on the spaA map.     

Localization on the cell surface of streptococcal protein antigen A

Abstract The cellular localization of the major surface protein SpaA of Streptococcus sobrinus 6175 was examined by immunoelectron microscopy with rabbit polyclonal antibodies directed against purified SpaA protein. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis of thin sections of S. sobrinus cells revealed that the SpaA protein is associated with the fibrillar fuzzy coat of S. sobrinus cells and appears to be distributed over the entire surface of S. sobrinus cells.     

Cloning, Auto-induction Expression, and Purification of rSpaA Swine Erysipelas Antigen

This work reports the cloning, expression, and purification of a 42-kDa fragment of the SpaA protein from Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, the main antigenic candidate for a subunit vaccine against swine erysipelas. The use of an auto-induction protocol to improve heterologous protein expression in recombinant Escherichia coli cultures was also investigated. The cellular growth pattern and metabolite formation were evaluated under different induction conditions. The His-tagged protein was over-expressed as inclusion bodies, and was purified by a single chromatography step under denaturing conditions. Auto-induction conditions were shown to be an excellent process strategy, leading to a high level of rSpaA expression (about 25?% of total cellular protein content) in a short period of time.     

Cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of the Streptococcus sobrinus gtfU gene that produces a highly branched water-soluble glucan

Streptococcus sobrinus has four gtf genes, gtfI, gtfS, gtfT, and gtfU, on the chromosome. These genes correspond respectively to the enzymes GTF-I, GTF-S1, GTF-S2, and GTF-S3. An Escherichia coli MD66 clone that contained the S. sobrinus gtfU gene was characterized. Immunological properties showed that the protein produced by the E. coli MD66 clone was similar to S. sobrinus GTF-S1. Biological properties and a linkage analysis of the glucans by 13C NMR spectrometry revealed that the protein produced by the E. coli MD66 clone was GTF-S1.     

Molecular characterization of dextranase from Streptococcus rattus

The complete nucleotide sequence of the dextranase gene of Streptococcus rattus ATCC19645 was determined. An open reading frame of the dextranase gene was 2,760 bp long and encoded a dextranase protein consisting of 920 amino acids with a molecular weight of 100,163 Da and an isoelectric point of 4.67. The S. rattus dextranase purified from recombinant Escherichia coli cells showed dextran-hydrolyzing activity with optimal pH (5.0) and temperature (40 C) similar to those of dextranases from Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. The deduced amino acid sequence of the S. rattus dextranase revealed that the dextranase molecule consists of two variable regions and a conserved region. The variable regions contained an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal cell wall sorting signal; the conserved region contained two functional domains, catalytic and dextran-binding sites. This structural feature of the S. rattus dextranase is quite similar to that of other cariogenic species such as S. mutans, S. sobrinus, and Streptococcus downei.     

Two new loci affecting cell division identified as suppressors of an ftsQ-null mutation in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the surface protein antigen PAa (antigen I/II family) from Streptococcus cricetus E49 (serotype a) using degenerate PCR. The deduced amino acid sequence of PAa reveals two repeating regions (A region; alanine-rich region, P region; proline-rich region). Two additional tandem repeats were found in the A region and part of the P region was deleted compared to antigen I/II. Homology and phylogenetic analyses reveal that PAa is homologous to Streptococcus sobrinus PAg rather than Streptococcus mutans PAc. Using degenerate PCR a gene homologous to PAc was identified in Streptococcus intermedius, but not found in Streptococcus rattus or Streptococcus anginosus.     

Comparison of extracellular protein profiles of seven serotypes of mutans streptococci grown under controlled conditions

Extracellular proteins produced by the four human commensal species of mutans streptococci were analysed. The organisms used were Streptococcus mutans, serotypes c, e and f, Streptococcus cricetus, serotype a, Streptococcus rattus, serotype b, and Streptococcus sobrinus, serotypes d and g. They were grown in continuous culture at different generation times and pH values in media containing either glucose or fructose to determine the extent of variation in extracellular protein production that could occur for an individual strain. The results for different organisms grown under the same conditions were then compared. The total amount of protein of molecular mass greater than or equal to 60 kDa varied considerably with the growth conditions and with the strain. Generally more protein was present at a higher pH, conditions under which the organisms also form more lipoteichoic acid. With respect to individual protein components SDS-PAGE proved better than isoelectric focusing for detecting phenotypic responses by a particular strain to environmental changes and differences between the different strains. Differences in the molecular masses of protein components were particularly pronounced in the regions designated P1 (185-200 kDa), P2 (130-155 kDa) and P3 (60-95 kDa). Every strain produced at least one component in the P1 region that cross-reacted with antiserum to the purified protein from S. mutans serotype c, a protein which is indistinguishable from antigens B and I/II. Two components in the P2 region were dominant in the case of S. cricetus and S. sobrinus strains and showed glucosyltransferase (GTF) activity. GTF activity was also detected in the P3 region, particularly with S. mutans strains.     

Characterization of the product of the gtfS gene of Streptococcus downei, a primer-independent enzyme synthesizing oligo-isomaltosaccharides

The gtfS gene, coding for a glucosyltransferase which synthesizes water-soluble glucan and previously cloned from Streptococcus downei strain MFe28 (mutans serotype h) into a bacteriophage vector, was subcloned into a plasmid vector. The gtfS gene products expressed in Escherichia coli were compared to the primer-independent, oligo-isomaltosaccharide synthase in Streptococcus sobrinus strain AHT (mutans serotype g) and shown to resemble it closely in molecular mass, isoelectric point, immunological properties, optimum pH and Km values. The glucans produced from sucrose by the gtfS gene products are alpha-1,6-linked linear oligo-isomaltosaccharides without any branching sites. A similar gtfS gene was also detected on chromosomal DNA from S. sobrinus strain AHT.     

Characterization of glucosyltransferase expressed from a Streptococcus sobrinus gene cloned in Escherichia coli

The gene encoding a glucosyltransferase which synthesized water-insoluble glucan, gtfI, previously cloned from Streptococcus sobrinus strain MFe28 (mutans serotype h) into a bacteriophage lambda vector, was subcloned into the plasmid pBR322. The recombinant plasmid was stable in Escherichia coli and gtfI was efficiently expressed. The GTF-I expressed in E. coli was compared to the corresponding enzymes in S. sobrinus strains MFe28 (serotype h), B13 (serotype d) and 6715 (serotype g) and shown to resemble them closely in molecular mass and isoelectric point. The insoluble glucan produced by GTF-I from recombinant E. coli consisted of 1,3-alpha-D-glycosyl residues (approximately 90%). An internal fragment of the gtfI gene was used as a probe in hybridization experiments to demonstrate the presence of homologous sequences in chromosomal DNA of other streptococci of the mutans group.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the spaB gene of Streptococcus sobrinus

A gene of Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 (serotype g) designated spaB and encoding a surface protein antigen was isolated from a cosmid gene bank. A 5.4 kb HindIII/AvaI DNA fragment containing the gene was inserted into plasmid pBR322 to yield plasmid pXI404. Analysis of plasmid-encoded gene products showed that the 5.4 kb fragment of pXI404 encoded a 195 kDa protein. Southern blot experiments revealed that the 5.4 kb chromosomal insert DNA had sequence similarity with genomic DNA of S. sobrinus 6715, S. sobrinus B13 (serotype d) and Streptococcus cricetus HS6 (serotype a). The recombinant SpaB protein (rSpaB) was purified and monospecific antiserum was prepared. With immunological techniques and the anti-rSpaB serum, we have shown: (1) that the rSpaB protein has physico-chemical and antigenic identity with the S. sobrinus SpaB protein, (2) the presence of cross-reactive proteins in the extracellular protein of serotypes a and d of the mutans group of streptococci and (3) that the SpaB protein is expressed on the surface of mutans streptococcal serotypes a, d and g.     

猪丹毒丝菌天然SpaA和重组SpaA-N免疫保护效果的评价

【目的】本试验以小鼠为动物模型,评估了猪丹毒丝菌重组表面保护性抗原A的N端保护区域(rSpaA-N)和天然SpaA的免疫保护效果。【方法】将猪丹毒丝菌C43311株SpaA-N以可溶形式表达在大肠杆菌BL21中,用GST Bind Resin纯化试剂盒纯化rSpaA-N,采用电洗脱法从猪丹毒丝菌C43311株NaOH提取抗原中纯化天然SpaA,将rSpaA-N、天然SpaA和NaOH提取抗原制成亚单位疫苗,同时设GST及生理盐水对照组,间隔2周分3次皮下免疫小鼠,第3次免疫后2周用100LD50猪丹毒丝菌C43065株进行腹腔攻毒,采用间接ELISA方法检测免疫组小鼠血清的抗体动态变化。【结果】SDS-PAGE结果显示,采用GST Bind Resin纯化试剂盒和电洗脱法纯化得到了66kDa的rSpaA-N和64kDa的天然SpaA,蛋白含量分别为1.34mg/mL和1.26mg/mL,而Western印迹结果表明rSpaA-N和纯化前后的SpaA具有良好的免疫反应性。保护试验结果表明,不同免疫剂量的rSpaA-N组、天然SpaA组和NaOH提取抗原组均能完全保护小鼠受强毒株C43065的致死性攻击,而GST组和生理盐水组小鼠攻毒后全部死亡。ELISA检测结果表明,在不同免疫剂量的rSpaA-N组、天然SpaA组和NaOH提取抗原组小鼠血清中的抗体效价之间无显著差异(P0.05)。【结论】本研究结果表明rSpaA-N具有良好的免疫保护作用,可以作为猪丹毒亚单位疫苗。     

Purification and characterization of an oligo-isomaltosaccharide synthase from a Streptococcus sobrinus glucosyltransferase-I deficient mutant

One glucosyltransferase (GTF) -I deficient mutant of Streptococcus sobrinus strain B13N was isolated through chemical mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate, and characterized. This mutant, designated as B13N-Id, readily allowed us to purify a homogeneous oligo-isomaltosaccharide synthase (GTF-S) from its culture fluid. The purified GTF-S was only recognized with rabbit polyclonal antibody against recombinant GTF-S from an Ecsherichia coli MD124 clone expressing the B13N gtfS gene, and showed the almost same enzymatic properties as the recombinant enzyme. A double reciprocal plot of the B13N GTF-S for sucrose was biphasic, and the affinity for this substrate was high compared to that of GTF-S enzymes from other strains.     

Enolase from Streptococcus sobrinus is an immunosuppressive protein

A strategy of Streptococcus sobrinus, a major agent of dental caries, to survive and colonize the host consists of the production of a protein that suppresses the specific antibody responses. We have cloned the gene coding for a protein with immunosuppressive activity. It contains an open reading frame of 1302 base pairs encoding a polypeptide with 434 amino acid residues and a molecular mass of 46910 Da. The gene product is homologous to enolases from several organisms. The polypeptide was expressed in Escherichia coli as a hexahistidine-tagged protein and purified in a fluoride-sensitive enzymatically active form. Pretreatment of mice with the S. sobrinus recombinant enolase suppresses a primary immune response against T-cell dependent antigens. This immunosuppressive effect is specific to the antigen used in the immunization, as it is not observed when the immune response against other antigens is analysed. Furthermore, the S. sobrinus recombinant enolase stimulates an early production of interleukin-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, and not the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-gamma. These observations indicate that enolase acts in the suppression of the specific host immune response against S. sobrinus infection.     

Nucleotide sequence and molecular characterization of a dextranase gene from Streptococcus downei

DNA fragments encoding the Streptococcus downei dextranase were amplified by PCR and inverse PCR based on a comparison of the dextranase gene (dex) sequences from S. sobrinus, S. mutans, and S. salivarius, and the complete nucleotide sequence of the S. downei dex was determined. An open reading frame (ORF) of dex was 3,891 bp long. It encoded a dextranase protein (Dex) consisting of 1,297 amino acids with a molecular mass of 139,743 Da and an isoelectric point of 4.49. The deduced amino acid sequence of S. downei Dex had homology to those of S. sobrinus, S. mutans and S. salivanus Dex in the conserved region (made of about 540 amino acid residues). DNA hybridization analysis showed that a dex DNA probe of S. downei hybridized to the chromosomal DNA of S. sobrinus as well as that of S. downei, but did not to other species of mutans streptococci. The C terminus of the S. downei Dex had a membrane-anchor region which has been reported as a common structure of C termini of both the S. mutans and S. sobrinus Dex. The recombinant plasmid which harbored the dex ORF of S. downei produced a recombinant Dex enzyme in Escherichia coli cells. The analysis of the recombinant enzyme on SDS-PAGE containing blue dextran showed multiple active forms as well as dextranases of S. mutans, S. sobrinus and S. salivarius.     

Purification and characterization of Streptococcus sobrinus dextranase produced in recombinant Escherichia coli and sequence analysis of the dextranase gene.

The plasmid (pYA902) with the dextranase (dex) gene of Streptococcus sobrinus UAB66 (serotype g) produces a C-terminal truncated dextranase enzyme (Dex) with a multicomplex mass form which ranges from 80 to 130 kDa. The Escherichia coli-produced enzyme was purified and characterized, and antibodies were raised in rabbits. Purified dextranase has a native-form molecular mass of 160 to 260 kDa and specific activity of 4,000 U/mg of protein. Potential immunological cross-reactivity between dextranase and the SpaA protein specified by various recombinant clones was studied by using various antisera and Western blot (immunoblot) analysis. No cross-reactivity was observed. Optimal pH (5.3) and temperature (39 degrees C) and the isoelectric points (3.56, 3.6, and 3.7) were determined and found to be similar to those for dextranase purified from S. sobrinus. The dex DNA restriction map was determined, and several subclones were obtained. The nucleotide sequence of the dex gene was determined by using subclones pYA993 and pYA3009 and UAB66 chromosomal DNA. The open reading frame for dex was 4,011 bp, ending with a stop codon TAA. A ribosome-binding site and putative promoter preceding the start codon were identified. The deduced amino acid sequence of Dex revealed the presence of a signal peptide of 30 amino acids. The cleavage site for the signal sequence was determined by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis for Dex produced in E. coli chi 2831(pYA902). The C terminus consists of a serine- and threonine-rich region followed by the peptide LPKTGD, 3 charged amino acids, 19 amino acids with a strongly hydrophobic character, and a charged pentapeptide tail, which are proposed to correspond to the cell wall-spanning region, the LPXTGX consensus sequence, and the membrane-anchoring domains of surface-associated proteins of gram-positive cocci.     

猪丹毒丝菌C43065株表面保护性抗原AN端保护区在大肠杆菌中的表达

目的：在大肠杆菌中表达猪丹毒丝菌C43065株表面保护性抗原A（SpaA）N端保护区（SpaA-N）,并检测其抗原性。方法：利用PCR方法从猪丹毒丝菌C43065株基因组中扩增出spaA基因片段,构建pMD18-spaA重组质粒并对插入片段进行测序;以pMD18-spaA重组质粒为模板,PCR扩增得到spaA-N基因片段,构建重组表达质粒pGEX-spaA-N,经序列测定证实正确后转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,再经IPTG诱导表达GST-SpaA-N融合蛋白并纯化。结果：扩增得到的spaA基因长1881bp,编码由626个氨基酸残基构成的多肽;SDS-PAGE和Western印迹检测结果表明,诱导表达获得相对分子质量约64000的GST-SpaA-N融合蛋白,该融合蛋白能与相应抗体发生特异性反应。结论：获得了在大肠杆菌中可溶性表达的GST-SpaA-N融合蛋白,为进一步研究猪丹毒丝菌免疫保护性抗原奠定了基础。     

Partial purification and characterization of two non K99 mannose-resistant haemagglutinins of Escherichia coli B41

A K99-variant of Escherichia coli B41 was produced by growing the parent strain in the presence of antiserum to E. coli K12K99. Two mannose-resistant and eluting (MRE) haemagglutinins with molecular weights greater than 20 x 10(6) were extracted from the cell surface of the variant. One was an anionic antigen, partially purified by ammonium sulphate and isoelectric point precipitation, which adhered to calf intestinal brush borders; it was a protein composed of subunits with mol. wt 34000. Electron microscopy showed that this material did not have a regular fimbrial appearance, but contained some fine fibrillar structures. A second MRE haemagglutinin which was also partially purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, had a definite fimbrial structure, being a protein composed of two subunits of mol. wt 49500 and 48000. This antigen was probably responsible for the fimbrial appearance of the K99-variant, but it was antigenically distinct from the anionic adhesin and did not adhere to calf intestinal brush borders.     

Genome-based identification and characterization of a putative mucin-binding protein from the surface of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae open reading frame SP1492 encodes a surface protein that contains a novel conserved domain similar to the repeated fragments of mucin-binding proteins from lactobacilli and lactococci. To investigate the functional role(s) of this protein and its potential adhesive properties, the surface-exposed region of SP1492 was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, and partially characterized by biophysical and immunological methods. Circular dichroism and sedimentation measurements confirmed that SP1492 is an all-beta protein that exists in solution as a monomer. The SP1492 protein has been shown to be expressed by S. pneumoniae and was experimentally localized to its surface. The protein functional domain binds to mucins II and III from porcine stomach and to purified submaxillary bovine gland mucin. It appears to be one of the very few unambiguous pneumococcal adhesin molecules known to date. A hypothetical model constructed by ab initio techniques predicts a novel beta-sandwich protein structure.     

Crotonobetaine reductase from Escherichia coli consists of two proteins

Crotonobetaine reductase from Escherichia coli is composed of two proteins (component I (CI) and component II (CII)). CI has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from a cell-free extract of E. coli O44 K74. The purified protein shows l(-)-carnitine dehydratase activity and its N-terminal amino acid sequence is identical to the caiB gene product from E. coli O44 K74. The relative molecular mass of CI has been determined to be 86100. It is composed of two identical subunits with a molecular mass of 42600. The isoelectric point of CI was found to be 4.3. CII was purified from an overexpression strain in one step by ion exchange chromatography on Fractogel EMD TMAE 650(S). The N-terminal amino acid sequence of CII shows absolute identity with the N-terminal sequence of the caiA gene product, i.e. of the postulated crotonobetaine reductase. The relative molecular mass of the protein is 164400 and it is composed of four identical subunits of molecular mass 41500. The isoelectric point of CII is 5.6. CII contains non-covalently bound FAD in a molar ratio of 1:1. In the crotonobetaine reductase reaction one dimer of CI associates with one tetramer of CII. A still unknown low-molecular-mass effector described for the l(-)-carnitine dehydratase is also necessary for crotonobetaine reductase activity. Monoclonal antibodies were raised against the two components of crotonobetaine reductase.