A New Zebrafish Model of Oro-Intestinal Pathogen Colonization Reveals a Key Role for Adhesion in Protection by Probiotic Bacteria

The beneficial contribution of commensal bacteria to host health and homeostasis led to the concept that exogenous non-pathogenic bacteria called probiotics could be used to limit disease caused by pathogens. However, despite recent progress using gnotobiotic mammal and invertebrate models, mechanisms underlying protection afforded by commensal and probiotic bacteria against pathogens remain poorly understood. Here we developed a zebrafish model of controlled co-infection in which germ-free zebrafish raised on axenic living protozoa enabled the study of interactions between host and commensal and pathogenic bacteria. We screened enteric fish pathogens and identified Edwardsiella ictaluri as a virulent strain inducing a strong inflammatory response and rapid mortality in zebrafish larvae infected by the natural oro-intestinal route. Using mortality induced by infection as a phenotypic read-out, we pre-colonized zebrafish larvae with 37 potential probiotic bacterial strains and screened for survival upon E. ictaluri infection. We identified 3 robustly protective strains, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus and 2 Escherichia coli strains. We showed that the observed protective effect of E. coli was not correlated with a reduced host inflammatory response, nor with the release of biocidal molecules by protective bacteria, but rather with the presence of specific adhesion factors such as F pili that promote the emergence of probiotic bacteria in zebrafish larvae. Our study therefore provides new insights into the molecular events underlying the probiotic effect and constitutes a potentially high-throughput in vivo approach to the study of the molecular basis of pathogen exclusion in a relevant model of vertebrate oro-intestinal infection.     

Detection of quorum sensing signal molecules in the family Vibrionaceae

Aims: The aim of this study was to detect the production of three kinds of quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules, i.e. the N‐acyl‐homoserine lactone (AHL), the autoinducer‐2 (AI‐2) and the cholerae autoinducer‐1‐like (CAI‐1‐like) molecules in 25 Vibrionaceae strains. Methods and Results: The QS signal molecules in 25 Vibrionaceae strains were detected with different biosensors. Except Salinivibrio costicola VIB288 and Vibrio natriegens VIB299, all the other 23 Vibrionaceae strains could produce one or more kinds of detectable QS signal molecules. Twenty‐one of the 25 strains were found to produce AHL signal molecules by using Vibrio harveyi JMH612 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens KYC55 (pJZ372; pJZ384; pJZ410) as biosensors. The AHL fingerprints of eight strains were detected by thin‐layer chromatography with Ag. tumefaciens KYC55, and two of them, i.e. V. mediterranei VIB296 and Aliivibrio logei VIB414 had a high diversity of AHLs. Twenty of the 25 strains were found to have the AI‐2 activity, and the luxS gene sequences in 18 strains were proved to be conserved by PCR amplification and sequencing. Only six (five Vibrio strains and A. logei VIB414) of the 25 strains possessed the CAI‐1‐like activity. A. logei VIB414, V. campbellii VIB285, V. furnissii VIB293, V. pomeroyi LMG20537 and two V. harveyi strains VIB571 and VIB645 were found to produce all the three kinds of QS signal molecules. Conclusions: The results indicated that the QS signal molecules, especially AHL and AI‐2 molecules, were widespread in the family Vibrionaceae. Significance and Impact of the Study: In response to a variety of environmental conditions and selection forces, the family Vibrionaceae produced QS signal molecules with great diversity and complexity. The knowledge we obtained from this study will be useful for further research on the roles of different QS signal molecules in this family.     

Inhibitory activity of antibiotic-producing marine bacteria against fish pathogens

The activity of antibiotic-producing marine bacteria was assayed against bacterial fish pathogens belonging to the genera Vibrio, Aeromonas, Pasteurella, Edwardsiella, Yersinia and Pseudomonas with the aim of evaluating the possible use of these marine strains for controlling epizootics in aquaculture. Inhibition tests on solid medium showed that, in general, the majority of fish bacteria were strongly sensitive to the marine bacteria. Only two strains (Edwardsiella tarda and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), were resistant to all the antibiotic-producing strains. The results of antagonism assays in sea water, however, varied according to the fish pathogens examined. Experiments conducted using cell-free supernatant fluids of marine bacteria demonstrated the involvement of antibiotic substances in the inhibition of fish pathogens.     

Inhibitory activity of antibiotic-producing marine bacteria against fish pathogens

The activity of antibiotic-producing marine bacteria was assayed against bacterial fish pathogens belonging to the genera Vibrio, Aeromonas, Pasteurella, Edwardsiella, Yersinia and Pseudomonas with the aim of evaluating the possible use of these marine strains for controlling epizootics in aquaculture. Inhibition tests on solid medium showed that, in general, the majority of fish bacteria were strongly sensitive to the marine bacteria. Only two strains ( Edwardsiella tarda and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ), were resistant to all the antibiotic-producing strains. The results of antagonism assays in sea water, however, varied according to the fish pathogens examined. Experiments conducted using cell-free supernatant fluids of marine bacteria demonstrated the involvement of antibiotic substances in the inhibition of fish pathogens.     

Isolation of lytic bacteriophage against Vibrio harveyi

Aims: The isolation of lytic bacteriophage of Vibrio harveyi with potential for phage therapy of bacterial pathogens of phyllosoma larvae from the tropical rock lobster Panulirus ornatus. Methods and Results: Water samples from discharge channels and grow‐out ponds of a prawn farm in northeastern Australia were enriched for 24 h in a broth containing four V. harveyi strains. The bacteriophage‐enriched filtrates were spotted onto bacterial lawns demonstrating that the bacteriophage host range for the samples included strains of V. harveyi, Vibrio campbellii, Vibrio rotiferianus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio proteolyticus. Bacteriophage were isolated from eight enriched samples through triple plaque purification. The host range of purified phage included V. harveyi, V. campbellii, V. rotiferianus and V. parahaemolyticus. Transmission electron microscope examination revealed that six purified phage belonged to the family Siphoviridae, whilst two belonged to the family Myoviridae. The Myoviridae appeared to induce bacteriocin production in a limited number of host bacterial strains, suggesting that they were lysogenic rather than lytic. A purified Siphoviridae phage could delay the entry of a broth culture of V. harveyi strain 12 into exponential growth, but could not prevent the overall growth of the bacterial strain. Conclusions: Bacteriophage with lytic activity against V. harveyi were isolated from prawn farm samples. Purified phage of the family Siphoviridae had a clear lytic ability and no apparent transducing properties, indicating they are appropriate for phage therapy. Phage resistance is potentially a major constraint to the use of phage therapy in aquaculture as bacteria are not completely eliminated. Significance and Impact of the Study: Phage therapy is emerging as a potential antibacterial agent that can be used to control pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture systems. The development of phage therapy for aquaculture requires initial isolation and determination of the bacteriophage host range, with subsequent creation of suitable phage cocktails.     

研究报告: 基于核酸适配体的胶体金比色法检测鳗弧菌

目的 鳗弧菌（Vibrio anguillarum）可引起鲑鱼、鳗鲡、鲈鱼和牙鲆等多种水产养殖动物的疾病，是水产养殖中的一种重要病原菌，对其进行快速检测是确保水产养殖安全和食品安全所必需的。方法 本文利用鳗弧菌与其核酸适配体之间较强的亲和力，通过鳗弧菌夺取胶体金颗粒表面的核酸适配体，使胶体金溶液的吸光度发生变化，从而建立一种可定量检测鳗弧菌的方法。结果 该方法对鳗弧菌的吸光度值显著高于对溶藻弧菌、铜绿假单胞菌、变形假单胞菌、嗜水气单胞菌和迟钝爱德华氏菌等非目标菌的吸光度值（P<0.01），并在1~10⁵ CFU/ml的检测范围内呈现较好的线性关系。用该方法对不同盐度和鱼体组织样品进行加标回收检测，结果显示回收率和相对标准偏差等指标都符合相应检测标准。结论 该检测方法对鳗弧菌有较好的特异性，可用于水产品或食品中鳗弧菌的定量检测。     

New Antibacterial Thiodiketopiperazines from the Deep Sea Sediment‐Derived Fungus Epicoccum nigrum SD‐388

Two new antibacterial thiodiketopiperazine derivatives (TDKPs), 7‐dehydroxyepicoccin H and 7‐hydroxyeutypellazine F, along with seven known TDKP analogs, were isolated and identified from Epicoccum nigrum SD‐388, a deep‐sea‐sediment‐derived fungus. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of 7‐dehydroxyepicoccin H was established by X‐ray crystallographic analysis, while 7‐hydroxyeutypellazine F was determined by ECD experiment and TDDFT‐ECD calculation. The antibacterial activities against human and aquatic pathogens were evaluated. 7‐Dehydroxyepicoccin H and 7‐hydroxyeutypellazine F displayed inhibitory activities against aquatic pathogens Vibrio vulnificus, V. alginolyticus, and Edwardsiella tarda, with MIC values ranging from 4.0 to 8.0 μg/mL.     

水产动物副溶血性弧菌的拮抗菌研究进展

细菌性疾病的爆发常造成水产养殖业的巨大经济损失,其中副溶血性弧菌(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)引起的细菌性疾病更是引起了人们的关注.拮抗菌在代谢活动中通过分泌抗菌物质直接对病原菌产生抑制或竞争作用来抑制或杀死病原菌,在病害防治中发挥着重大作用.对副溶血性弧菌拮抗菌的种类、产生拮抗物质的种类、筛选拮抗...     

A novel high-copy plasmid, pEC, compatible with commonly used Escherichia coli cloning and expression vectors

A 66164-bp cryptic plasmid, pEIB1, was isolated from strain Vibrio anguillarum MVM425 and sequenced. A plasmid carrying a 1089-bp fragment, containing the minimal replication region of pEIB1, a kanamycin-resistance marker and an l-arabinose promoter, designated pEC, was maintained as a high copy plasmid in E. coli and stably inherited in the absence of antibiotic selection. Significantly, pEC was compatible with the widely used ColE1, pSC101 and p15A replicons making it a useful tool for a dual-plasmid expression system.     

利用饵料微藻表达抗菌肽及其初步应用

为了解抗菌肽在饵料微藻中表达后的抗菌特性,构建海洋微拟球藻(Nannochloropsis oceanica)、湖泊微拟球藻(N.limnetica)和三角褐指藻(Phaeodactylum tricornutum)的抗菌肽(源自虹鳟,Cath-1a)表达质粒,分别转化相应的微藻,检测转化子中抗菌肽的表达量和体外抑菌效果,将藻株作为鱼饲料添加剂喂食斑马鱼,初步分析了抗菌肽及藻体自身的岩藻黄素和多不饱和脂肪酸对鱼免疫系统的影响。结果表明,外源抗菌肽在3种微藻中均可以成功表达,体外抑菌试验表明,仅三角褐指藻对水产领域常见致病菌爱德华氏菌(Edwardsiella tarda)有一定的抑菌效果,然而抗菌肽的表达并未使3种藻株的体外抑菌性增加。添加藻粉对斑马鱼的生长无明显影响,通过检测鱼体肝脏中与抗氧化和免疫相关基因的表达水平及丙二醛的含量,表明添加藻粉可增强斑马鱼的抗氧化和抗炎症能力,表达抗菌肽(PtC组)能进一步提高斑马鱼的免疫力。另外,添加Pt6(富含岩藻黄素)藻粉组比添加PtC的抗炎效果更显著,表明三角褐指藻中的岩藻黄素和二十碳五烯酸对增强鱼的抗病能力具有潜在作用。     

Bacterial vaccines for fish

Vaccination of fish for the prevention of specific bacterial diseases afffecting commercially reared fish species has had a significant impact on this industry. Almost all of the vaccines available at this time are bacterins or formalin-inactivated whole cell suspensions, some with adjuvants. The first vaccines to be successfully commercialized were those against Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio ordalii, and Yersinia ruckeri in the late 1970s. Developed initially for the salmonid industry, these bacterins are now routinely used worldwide on many species of fish. Though in some areas salmon farming has flourished without the use of these vaccines, in most areas they have been essential to the economic viability of aquaculture operations. Vaccines against Vibrio salmonicida, a pathogen of salmonids, Aeromonas salmonicida, a pathogen of salmonids and carp, and Edwardsiella ictaluri, a pathogen of channel catfish have also been commercialized and are in widespread use. A number of other bacterins have been the subject of research and some of them may eventually be available. Though a bacterin against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a pathogen affecting species of fish reared in warmwater has been successfully tested, as have bacterins against Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella tarda, the serologic heterogeneity of these groups of organisms make it unlikely that widely utilizable vaccines will be available in the near future. Those pathogens that appear to be serologically more homogeneous, including Flexibacter columnaris, Pasteurella piscicida and Streptococcus species affecting fish, will likely end up in commercially available bacterins in the not too distant future. The use of a new generation of adjuvants in conjunction with automated injection methods could result in vaccines that will protect against diseases that conventional methods may not be successful against, such as bacterial kidney disease (BKD) caused by Renibacterium salmoninarum.     

Rag1(-/-) Mutant Zebrafish Demonstrate Specific Protection following Bacterial Re-Exposure

Background

Recombination activation gene 1 deficient (rag1^−/−) mutant zebrafish have a reduced lymphocyte-like cell population that lacks functional B and T lymphocytes of the acquired immune system, but includes Natural Killer (NK)-like cells and Non-specific cytotoxic cells (NCC) of the innate immune system. The innate immune system is thought to lack the adaptive characteristics of an acquired immune system that provide enhanced protection to a second exposure of the same pathogen. It has been shown that NK cells have the ability to mediate adaptive immunity to chemical haptens and cytomegalovirus in murine models. In this study we evaluated the ability of rag1^−/− mutant zebrafish to mount a protective response to the facultative intracellular fish bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Following secondary challenge with a lethal dose of homologous bacteria 4 and 8 weeks after a primary vaccination, rag1^−/− mutant zebrafish demonstrated protective immunity. Heterologous bacterial exposures did not provide protection. Adoptive leukocyte transfers from previously exposed mutants conferred protective immunity to naïve mutants when exposed to homologous bacteria.

Conclusions/Significance

Our findings show that a component of the innate immune system mounted a response that provided significantly increased survival when rag1^−/− mutant zebrafish were re-exposed to the same bacteria. Further, adoptive cell transfers demonstrated that kidney interstitial leukocytes from previously exposed rag1^−/− mutant zebrafish transferred this protective immunity. This is the first report of any rag1^−/− mutant vertebrate mounting a protective secondary immune response to a bacterial pathogen, and demonstrates that a type of zebrafish innate immune cell can mediate adaptive immunity in the absence of T and B cells.     

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Edwardsiella tarda has protective antigenicity against Vibrio anguillarum in Japanese flounder

Edwardsiella tarda glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) may be an effective vaccine candidate against infection by E. tarda in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. The GAPDH of E. tarda is highly homologous to that of Vibrio cholerae (91%), and therefore E. tarda GAPDH may have protective antigenicity against Vibrio species. In this study, we immunized Japanese flounder with GAPDH of E. tarda and infected the fish with V anguillarum. The result showed that GAPDH prepared from E. tarda protected Japanese flounder effectively in a challenge of V anguillarum. Therefore, E. tarda GAPDH should be considered as a multi-purpose vaccine candidate against several kinds of pathogenic bacteria.     

Protection of red sea bream Pagrus major against red sea bream iridovirus infection by vaccination with a recombinant viral protein

Megalocytivirus infections cause serious mass mortality in marine fish in East and Southeast Asian countries. In this study the immunogenicity of crude subunit vaccines against infection by the Megalocytivirus RSIV was investigated. Three capsid proteins, 18R, 351R and a major capsid protein, were selected for use as crude subunit vaccines. High homology among Megalocytivirus types was found in the initial sequence examined, the 351R region. Red sea bream (Pagrus major) juveniles were vaccinated by intraperitoneal injection of recombinant formalin‐killed Escherichia coli cells expressing these three capsid proteins. After challenge infection with RSIV, fish vaccinated with the 351R‐recombinant bacteria showed significantly greater survival than those vaccinated with control bacteria. The 351R protein was co‐expressed with GAPDH from the bacterium Edwardsiella tarda in E. coli; this also protected against viral challenge. A remarkable accumulation of RSIV was observed in the blood of vaccinated fish, with less accumulation in the gills and spleen tissues. Thus, the 351R‐GAPDH fusion protein is a potential vaccine against Megalocytivirus infection in red sea bream.     

Antibacterial activity of marine macroalgae against fish pathogenic Vibrio species

In mariculture, diseases of microbial origin can cause significant economic losses worldwide; the evolution of microorganism resistance to antibiotics has resulted in a growing need for new antibacterial compounds that are effective in veterinary medicine and characterized by limited undesirable side effects. Increased attention has recently been turned to seaweeds as a promising source for metabolites with antimicrobial activity. Vibriosis is a common disease, caused by bacteria of the genus Vibrio, that can result in high mortality in aquaculture. The aim of this study was to identify seaweeds with antibacterial activity against some pathogenic Vibrio species, in order to identify a possible alternative to the commonly used antibiotics in aquaculture. Chloroform/methanol lipidic extracts of six seaweed species (Chaetomorpha linum, Cladophora rupestris, Gracilaria dura, Gracilaria gracilis, Gracilariopsis longissima, Ulva prolifera) were tested for their antibacterial activities against six fish pathogenic Vibrio species using the disc diffusion method. Different susceptibilities to lipidic algal extracts were observed. All six of the seaweed extracts tested demonstrated inhibition of Vibrio ordalii. The best was that from Gracilariopsis longissima, showing activity against Vibrio ordalii, Vibrio salmonicida, Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus. The results confirmed the potential use of seaweed extracts as a source of antibacterial compounds or as a health-promoting feed for aquaculture.     

乌鳢源杀鱼爱德华菌的分离鉴定及药敏特性研究

【背景】江苏省扬州市某乌鳢养殖场发生疾病,给养殖户造成了严重的经济损失。【目的】确定病因并筛选出敏感药物,为乌鳢相关疾病的防治提供参考。【方法】从患病乌鳢体内分离致病菌,并从形态、生理生化特征、16S rRNA和gyrB基因序列及特异性PCR检测等方面对分离菌株进行鉴定,同时开展人工感染试验分析其致病性,通过纸片扩散法进行药敏特性分析。【结果】从患病乌鳢体内分离获得优势菌株SHL,经形态特征、理化特性、16SrRNA和gyrB基因序列及特异性PCR检测鉴定为杀鱼爱德华菌。进一步人工感染试验证实其对乌鳢有较强的致病性,LD50为1.6×105 CFU/g,发病症状与自然发病症状相似。药敏试验结果显示,该菌株对青霉素、氯霉素、四环素等28种抗菌药物高度敏感,对红霉素中度敏感,对苯唑西啉、克拉霉素、万古霉素等6种药物耐药。【结论】引起江苏省扬州市某养殖场的乌鳢体表溃烂及死亡的病原菌为杀鱼爱德华菌,这是我国首次从淡水鱼类中检出致病性杀鱼爱德华菌,表明该菌的感染谱在扩大,需引起水产养殖领域的重视,在养殖过程中可根据药敏实验结果选用合适的国标渔药进行防治。     

Neutrophil activity affects Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852) antibody production against heat‐killed Aeromonas hydrophila vaccine

Aeromonas hydrophila is one of the important and most common pathogens of warm water fish. Prophylactic and therapeutic measures against A. hydrophila infection are essential to prevent loss of fish production in aquaculture. A heat‐killed vaccine was developed against three strains of A. hydrophila, namely O21, O26 and O28, and analysed for their comparative immunogenicity in Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters, 1852). Studied were the neutrophil activity and specific antibody response of the host against the vaccines, which showed that neutrophil activity was highest for the heat‐killed O21, but that the heat‐killed O28 produced the highest antibody titres. The antibody cross‐reactivity tests indicated that the antibody raised against O28 was pan‐reactive whereas it was less cross‐reactive in O21. Thus strain O28 may be used as a vaccine candidate for a pan‐protection of fish from various strains of A. hydrophila infections. However, further rigorous studies with different fish species and bacterial strains are needed to confirm these results.     

Dynamics of total surface bacteria and bacterial species counts during desiccation in the Malaysian sea lettuce, Ulva reticulata (Ulvales, Chlorophyta)

The present study illustrates the dynamics of surface bacteria during post‐harvest desiccation of Ulva reticulata Forsskal. Algal fronds were subjected to desiccation for 31 days. The total surface bacteria and bacterial species counts were monitored for moisture content and water activity index (a_w). There was an 86% decrease in total algal moisture content. However, a_w showed a more gradual decrease. The total bacterial count increased in the first week, reaching a maximum on day 7. After this, there was a drastic drop in the total bacterial count until day 14, and then a more gradual decline towards the end of the process. Six species of bacteria were isolated throughout this process: Azomonas sp., Aeromonas hydrophila, Vibrio alginolyti‐cus, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Vibrio para‐haemolyticus. The dynamics of each of these bacterial species exhibited trends similar to the total bacterial count. Based on these findings, the drastic decrease in the total bacterial count after seventh day of desiccation could not be attributed to the a_w or salinity. Therefore, the possible exposure of these bacteria to the algal internal fluid upon the rupture of the thallus cells was seen as the most likely reason for the drop in the bacterial population. Scanning electron microscope micrographs taken after the tenth day of desiccation showed the presence of cracks and areas where the bacteria were exposed to the algal internal fluid. In vitro antibacterial tests of three different solvent extracts of Ulva reticulata were also carried out against these surface bacteria to verify the antibacterial potential of its internal fluid. It was apparent that all these surface bacteria were inhibited by at least one of the three extracts, and there were indications of the possible presence of multicompound antibacterial potential, since extracts of different polarity showed bacteria‐specific activity. Hence, it is possible that Ulva reticulata has the potential to protect itself against the opportunistic bacteria present on its surface and in its environment.     

An in vitro and in vivo assessment of the potential of Vibrio spp. as probiotics for the Pacific White shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Aims: The objective of the work was to determine whether known strains of nonpathogenic vibrios can act as probiotics for the control of Vibrio infections in the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Methods and Results: Of the ten species tested, only Vibrio alginolyticus (NCIMB 1339) and Vibrio gazogenes (NCIMB 2250) showed antagonistic activity towards a panel of shrimp pathogenic vibrios. In the case of V. alginolyticus, this activity depended on the presence of live bacteria while in V. gazogenes both live and dead bacteria showed anti‐Vibrio activity. Injection of shrimp with either V. alginolyticus or V. gazogenes at 3 × 10⁷ or 3 × 10⁵ total bacteria per shrimp resulted in mortality with higher levels in the case of V. alginolyticus (100% mortality 18 h postinjection of 3 × 10⁷ bacteria). Juvenile shrimp were fed commercial diets top‐coated with either chitin (an immune stimulant) or chitin + V. gazogenes. Both chitin and V. gazogenes caused a significant decline in the number of Vibrio‐like bacteria in the fore and hind gut, and changes were also seen in the hepatosomatic index (a measure of digestive health) and the total number of blood cells in circulation. Analysis of mid/hindgut and faecal samples obtained using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism showed that the gut microbiota of shrimp has limited bacterial diversity and that after 8 weeks exposure to the experimental diets there were significant changes in the microbial flora of the GI tract of shrimp as a result of the presence of V. gazogenes. Conclusions: Of the vibrios tested, V. gazogenes has potential as a probiotic for the control of bacterial diseases in shrimp. Significance and Impact of the Study: Overall, this study shows the promise of V. gazogenes together with chitin to improve the health and welfare of shrimp under aquaculture conditions.