嗜热链球菌IMAU20246胞外多糖基因簇及其表达分析北大核心

【目的】嗜热链球菌IMAU20246是一株具有良好发酵特性且高产胞外多糖(exopolysaccharides,EPS)的菌株,但其EPS基因簇及合成途径尚不清晰。因此可通过全基因组测序及生物信息学分析菌株基因组序列,探究EPS合成及调控机制。【方法】本实验对嗜热链球菌IMAU20246进行全基因组测序并进行生物信息学分析,解析EPS生物合成相关基因簇及EPS合成途径,同时采用实时荧光定量PCR技术(quantitative real-time PCR,qRT-PCR)对其不同时间点EPS基因簇的表达进行定量分析。【结果】嗜热链球菌IMAU20246基因组中有一个18.1 kb的EPS生物合成基因簇,编码15个与EPS生物合成相关的基因。嗜热链球菌IMAU20246通过转运葡萄糖、甘露糖、果糖、半乳糖、乳糖、海藻糖、纤维二糖及蔗糖合成UDP-葡萄糖、dTDP-葡萄糖、dTDP-鼠李糖、UDP-半乳糖、UDP-呋喃半乳糖、UDP-N-乙酰葡萄糖胺和UDP-N-乙酰半乳糖胺等7种糖核苷酸。qRT-PCR的结果表明,EPS基因簇中的基因在细胞生长阶段均能表达,特别是糖基转移酶基因epsE、epsF、epsH和epsJ在培养6 h时表达量最高,此时EPS产量达到最高。【结论】本研究从基因组解析了嗜热链球菌IMAU20246 EPS基因簇及其合成途径,为菌株的进一步开发提供了理论依据。     

钩端螺旋体赖型017鞭毛钩相关蛋白K基因的克隆及序列分析

在以抑制消减杂交比较强毒株赖型钩端螺旋体017株和无毒株双曲钩体Patoc　I株　的基因组差异时,获得了一系列仅存在于强毒株而无毒株缺如的差异片段.选取差异片段AF325810设计特异性引物,以赖型钩端螺旋体017株基因组DNA为模板,进行巢式PCR扩增,PCR纯化产物T载体克隆,选取阳性克隆测序,进一步进行生物信息学分析,以获得强毒株赖型钩端螺旋体017株特有的毒力相关基因,DOT BLOT显示其在钩端螺旋体各株间有不同分布PCR扩增得到了产物为2kb大小的DNA片段,序列分析结果显示得到了问号钩端螺旋体赖型017株的鞭毛钩相关蛋白K基因的上游序列,为进一步探索钩端螺旋体的致病机制奠定了基础.     

基于全基因组数据华根霉产真菌毒素分析

【目的】在对中国传统优势浓香型白酒产业中重要功能微生物华根霉菌株CCTCCM201021全基因组测序的基础上,以生物信息学的方法和手段主要针对真菌毒素的合成代谢途径及关键基因进行分析,考察微生物在食品工业应用中的安全性。【方法】应用Illumina平台Solexa测序技术对华根霉进行基因组测序,运用SOAPdenovo组装软件进行拼接,并进行一系列生物信息分析,考察根霉素、小孢根霉素及典型丝状真菌毒素代谢的主要途径及相关基因,包括PKS、NRPS与PKS-NRPS混合代谢途径;萜类化合物代谢和其他代谢途径等,判断华根霉是否具有产真菌毒素的潜在危害性。【结果】测序结果表明华根霉全基因组大小为45.70 Mb左右,GC含量为36.99%。通过基因预测软件分析得到基因17 676个,共注释基因13 243个。通过进化树与同源基因比较分析,与目前基因组测序完成的仅有的3株接合菌基因组相比,序列相似性普遍偏低,与华根霉存在较为显著的差异,但同源基因的相似性在60%左右。代谢分析表明,华根霉中仅存在较少聚酮合成、萜类化合物合成途径代谢基因,存在大量异源物质降解途径基因。【结论】华根霉基本不具备产目前已知的真菌毒素的关键基因或合成能力,可以认为其发酵产品是相对安全的。在酿造过程中,不仅可作为糖化菌,在混菌发酵时,对部分具有抑菌能力的抗生物质具有降解功能,是发酵工业中应用的相对安全的重要生产菌。     

全基因组测序揭示两株泡菜源植物乳杆菌基因型差异和潜在益生特性北大核心

【目的】为了探究植物乳杆菌(Lactiplantibacillus plantarum)基因型差异和潜在益生特性,采用全基因组测序技术对其进行测序并解析基因组序列及生物特性。【方法】本研究基于HiSeq和PacBio测序平台,对团队前期从四川多代泡菜中分离获得、体外益生特性评价良好的潜在益生菌菌株L.plantarum Eden-Star PC06和L.plantarum Eden-Star PC108的全基因组进行测序。利用相关生物信息学软件对原始数据进行组装及其后续的功能注释、分子进化、菌株安全性、次级代谢产物合成基因簇以及益生特性相关基因进行分析。【结果】通过基因组装得到了2株植物乳杆菌的全基因组信息,L.plantarum Eden-Star PC06和Eden-Star PC108基因组大小分别为3163902 bp和3205054 bp;GC含量分别为44.68%和44.67%;分别包含3161个和3197个DNA编码序列;功能基因数据库比对结果显示2株菌在碳水化合物利用、氨基酸利用和糖基转移酶等基因上得到大量注释;通过比对数据库,在2株植物乳杆菌全基因组上发现了4个与肠液耐受相关的胆盐水解酶基因、完整的植物乳杆菌细菌素合成相关基因簇和抵御多种胁迫的益生相关基因。【结论】本研究通过全基因组测序在基因水平上探究了L.plantarum Eden-Star PC06和Eden-Star PC108基因型差异和益生特性基因,证明L.plantarum Eden-Star PC06和Eden-Star PC108是2株有应用前景的益生菌菌株,以期为筛选优良益生菌菌株和评价其益生特性提供遗传学基础。     

东乡野生稻内生放线菌Streptomyces sp. PRh5的全基因组测序及序列分析

【目的】Streptomyces sp. PRh5是从东乡野生稻(Oryza rufipogon Griff.)中分离获得的一株对细菌和真菌都具有较强抗菌活性的内生放线菌。为深入研究PRh5菌株抗菌机制及挖掘次级代谢产物基因资源,有必要解析PRh5菌株的基因组序列信息。【方法】采用高通量测序技术对PRh5菌株进行全基因组测序,然后使用相关软件对测序数据进行基因组组装、基因预测与功能注释、直系同源簇(COG)聚类分析、共线性分析及次级代谢产物合成基因簇预测等。【结果】基因组组装获得290 contigs,整个基因组大小约11.1 Mb,GC含量为71.1%,序列已提交至GenBank数据库,登录号为JABQ00000000。同时,预测得到50个次级代谢产物合成基因簇。【结论】将为Streptomyces sp. PRh5的功能基因组学研究及相关次级代谢产物的生物合成途径与异源表达研究提供基础。     

出芽短梗霉菌株PA-2全基因组测序及分析

【背景】出芽短梗霉菌株PA-2是一株分离自青海省海东市平安区患病杨树叶片上的真菌,前期研究表明该菌株具有除草和抑菌能力,说明其在生物农药方面具有潜在的应用前景。【目的】了解菌株PA-2的基因组序列信息,挖掘其生防相关功能基因簇,为进一步研究解析该菌株生防机理及生防功能改造提供遗传背景信息。【方法】利用IlluminaHiSeq高通量测序平台对生防菌株PA-2进行全基因组测序,用生物信息学的方法对测序数据进行基因组组装、基因预测及功能注释、碳水化合物活性酶预测、次级代谢产物合成基因簇预测,利用刚果红染色等方法对水解酶活性进行衡量。【结果】菌株PA-2基因组序列全长28 932 793 bp,平均GC含量为50%,共编码10 839个基因,预测到该菌株具有4个已知的次级代谢产物合成基因簇,编码Melanin、Burnettramic Acid A、ACR-Toxin I、Abscisic Acid,该菌株能水解纤维素和果胶。【结论】有助于在基因组层面上解析菌株PA-2生防机制的内在原因,为深入了解出芽短梗霉菌次级代谢物合成途径提供参考,对菌株PA-2的下一步相关研究具有重要意义。     

雄烯二酮高产菌新金分枝杆菌MN4的全基因组测序及序列分析北大核心CSCD

【目的】新金分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium neoaurum)MN4是1株经诱变育种获得的高产雄烯二酮,并且能够耐受高浓度底物植物甾醇的突变菌株。为深入研究MN4菌株耐底物的机制及雄烯二酮的生物合成途径,有必要解析MN4菌株的全基因组序列信息。【方法】本研究采用高通量测序技术对MN4进行全基因组测序,然后使用相关软件对测序数据进行基因组装、基因预测与功能注释、COG聚类分析以及次级代谢产物合成基因簇预测等。【结果】新金分枝杆菌MN4基因组装获得33个Contigs,整个基因组大小为5.39 Mb,GC含量为66.9%,编码4920个蛋白基因,序列提交至Gen Bank数据库,登录号为JXYZ00000000。【结论】本研究首次报道了1株高产雄烯二酮菌株MN4的全基因组序列,分析了基因组的基本特征,初步解析了该菌株降解植物甾醇生产雄烯二酮的关键基因,将为MN4的功能基因组学研究及相关次级代谢产物的生物合成途径与异源表达研究提供基础。     

基于金针菇全基因组的赖氨酸合成途径关键酶分析

【目的】以金针菇全基因组测序数据为基础研究其L-赖氨酸的从头合成途径及其关键基因。【方法】采用Illumina Hiseq2000和Roche454 FLX+两种方法完成金针菇单孢菌株Dan3的基因组测序,基于全基因组序列筛选金针菇中赖氨酸生物合成的关键基因,并分析这些基因编码的蛋白质基本理化性质;预测其亚细胞定位情况及蛋白的二级结构。【结果】金针菇Dan3全基因组序列长度为34.17 Mb,预测到8个参与α-氨基己二酸途径的关键基因,这些基因都含有多个内含子和外显子,二级结构主要由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲组成,有3个蛋白定位于线粒体。【结论】金针菇是通过α-氨基己二酸途径合成赖氨酸,基因组中预测到与该途径相关的几乎所有的酶。     

植物根际促生菌Bacillus mycoides Gnyt1铁载体分泌相关功能基因的挖掘

【目的】为挖掘优良促生菌(PGPR)菌株,分析和定位功能基因,发现其科学价值和工业化开发,为农业生产服务。【方法】以Bacillus mycoides Gnyt1菌株为材料,采用二代和三代测序技术相结合的研究体系,对菌株进行全基因组测序研究,分析菌株核基因组可能存在的功能基因和菌株分泌铁载体相关的基因。【结果】本研究基因组序列拼接后总长度为5597907 bp,GC百分含量为35.57%,该菌株中与铁载体分泌相关的基因共9条,其中2条基因主要存在于Porphyrin metabolism途径,与细胞内铁的运输代谢有关。【结论】通过全基因组测序,最终确定了与铁载体分泌相关的功能基因为GYT1和GYT2,为下一步基因功能验证奠定了基础。     

基因组分析揭示拟茎点霉XP-8产松脂醇及其糖苷等多种次级代谢产物的合成途径

【目的】通过解析拟茎点霉属XP-8的基因组序列信息,揭示该菌株潜在的代谢途径,并分析松脂醇及其糖苷化合物等次级代谢产物生物合成相关的关键基因。【方法】使用Illumina Hi Seq 2500高通量测序平台对拟茎点霉XP-8菌株进行全基因组测序,并通过不同软件对测序数据进行序列拼接,基因预测与功能注释。【结果】组装后的拟茎点霉XP-8基因组大小为55.2 Mb,GC含量53.5%,含有17094个蛋白编码基因和310个非编码基因。获得了松脂醇及其糖苷化合物等次级代谢产物生物合成相关的基因。系统发育分析揭示出拟茎点霉XP-8与5种子囊菌共有12635个同源基因和5626个基因家族。【结论】拟茎点霉XP-8具有用于合成松脂醇及其糖苷化合物等多种次级代谢物的基因组基础,为下一步的代谢工程改造提供依据。     

Comparative and functional genomic analyses of iron transport and regulation in Leptospira spp

The spirochetes of the Leptospira genus contain saprophytic and pathogenic members, the latter being responsible for leptospirosis. Despite the recent sequencing of the genome of the pathogen L. interrogans, the slow growth of these bacteria, their virulence in humans, and a lack of genetic tools make it difficult to work with these pathogens. In contrast, the development of numerous genetic tools for the saprophyte L. biflexa enables its use as a model bacterium. Leptospira spp. require iron for growth. In this work, we show that Leptospira spp. can acquire iron from different sources, including siderophores. A comparative genome analysis of iron uptake systems and their regulation in the saprophyte L. biflexa and the pathogen L. interrogans is presented in this study. Our data indicated that, for instance, L. biflexa and L. interrogans contain 8 and 12 genes, respectively, whose products share homology with proteins that have been shown to be TonB-dependent receptors. We show that some genes involved in iron uptake were differentially expressed in response to iron. In addition, we were able to disrupt several putative genes involved in iron acquisition systems or iron regulation in L. biflexa. Comparative genomics, in combination with gene inactivation, gives us significant functional information on iron homeostasis in Leptospira spp.     

Molecular typing of Leptospira spp. based on putative O-antigen polymerase gene (wzy), the benefit over 16S rRNA gene sequence

Molecular typing of leptospiral strains based on variation within putative O-antigen polymerase gene (wzy) was determined among reference strains and those isolated from patients. Using the PCR primers designed from the flanking gene of wzy derived from Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni, all L. interrogans serovars as well as human and rodent leptospiral isolates from Thailand could be amplified. The size of PCR product ranged from 1 to 1.5 kb. The limitation of these primer pairs was the inability to amplify those strains whose sequences differ in the region of the primers, these included Leptospira biflexa (serovar Patoc), Leptospira borgpetersenii (serovar Tarassovi) and Leptospira kirschneri (serovar Bim, Bulgarica, Butembo). Notably, amplification was not limited to L. interrogans as demonstrated by the amplification of some strains from L. kirschneri, Leptospira meyeri, Leptospira noguchii, Leptospira santarosai, L. borgpetersenii and Leptospira weilii. The phylogenetic tree of wzy sequence, inferred by posterior probability of the Bayesian, enabled the categorization of leptospiral serovars into seven genetically related group, of which its differentiation power was better than that of the more highly conserved 16S rRNA gene, which is used extensively for genotyping.     

Genome sequence of the saprophyte Leptospira biflexa provides insights into the evolution of Leptospira and the pathogenesis of leptospirosis

Leptospira biflexa is a free-living saprophytic spirochete present in aquatic environments. We determined the genome sequence of L. biflexa, making it the first saprophytic Leptospira to be sequenced. The L. biflexa genome has 3,590 protein-coding genes distributed across three circular replicons: the major 3,604 chromosome, a smaller 278-kb replicon that also carries essential genes, and a third 74-kb replicon. Comparative sequence analysis provides evidence that L. biflexa is an excellent model for the study of Leptospira evolution; we conclude that 2052 genes (61%) represent a progenitor genome that existed before divergence of pathogenic and saprophytic Leptospira species. Comparisons of the L. biflexa genome with two pathogenic Leptospira species reveal several major findings. Nearly one-third of the L. biflexa genes are absent in pathogenic Leptospira. We suggest that once incorporated into the L. biflexa genome, laterally transferred DNA undergoes minimal rearrangement due to physical restrictions imposed by high gene density and limited presence of transposable elements. In contrast, the genomes of pathogenic Leptospira species undergo frequent rearrangements, often involving recombination between insertion sequences. Identification of genes common to the two pathogenic species, L. borgpetersenii and L. interrogans, but absent in L. biflexa, is consistent with a role for these genes in pathogenesis. Differences in environmental sensing capacities of L. biflexa, L. borgpetersenii, and L. interrogans suggest a model which postulates that loss of signal transduction functions in L. borgpetersenii has impaired its survival outside a mammalian host, whereas L. interrogans has retained environmental sensory functions that facilitate disease transmission through water.     

Experimental lethal infection of Leptospira interrogans in mice treated with cyclophosphamide

After preadministration of cyclophosphamide (300 mg/kg), BALB/c mice were lethally infected with Leptospira interrogans serovar lai and a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans serovar copenhageni, and leptospiral cells were detected in both kidneys of infected mice by indirect immunofluorescent assay. Nonpathogenic leptospirae, Leptospira biflexa serovar patoc, Leptonema illini, and an avirulent strain of L. interrogans serovar copenhageni, were not parasitic to the mice treated with cyclophosphamide. The cyclophosphamide-treated mice were protected from the homologous leptospiral infection by passive immunization with anti-leptospiral monoclonal antibody or with rabbit antiserum and by active immunization with lyophilized organisms or with protective antigen. The results of active immunization in mice treated with cyclophosphamide agreed well with those in nontreated hamsters, which were sensitive to the organisms. Furthermore, these experiments were reproducible with any lot of cyclophosphamide used. These results indicated that cyclophosphamide-treated mice can be used in the experimental infection of Leptospira in place of hamsters or guinea pigs.     

A comprehensive survey on isoleucine biosynthesis pathways in seven epidemic Leptospira interrogans reference strains of China

Previous studies have indicated that different species of Leptospira synthesize isoleucine via either pyruvate and/or threonine pathways. Seven epidemic Leptospira interrogans reference strains from China belonging to different serovars, together with three saprophytic strains of Leptospira biflexa and Leptospira meyeri, were analysed. The isoleucine biosynthesis properties were studied firstly by measuring the key enzymes of the two pathways, citramalate synthase (CimA, CE4.1.3.-) and threonine deaminase (IlvA, CE4.2.1.16), from cell extracts of the bacteria. Meanwhile, alpha-isopropylmalate synthase (LeuA, CE4.2.1.12), the key enzyme of leucine biosynthesis, was also measured as a control. It was found that all L. interrogans strains synthesized isoleucine via the pyruvate pathway exclusively, but L. biflexa and L. meyeri used both pathways. Dot-Blot and PCR amplification of both cimA and ilvA genes in the corresponding strains provided additional evidence consistent with the data of enzymatic assays. Although it is evident that leptospires' isoleucine biosynthesis may preferentially adapt either to the pyruvate pathway exclusively for pathogens or to the combination of both pyruvate and threonine pathways for saprophytes, broader sampling with careful genomospecies identification is needed for a solid conclusion.     

Sensitivity of pathogenic and free-living Leptospira spp. to UV radiation and mitomycin C.

The habitats for the two major Leptospira spp. differ. The main habitat of L. biflexa is soil and water, whereas L. interrogans primarily resides in the renal tubules of animals. We investigated whether these two species, along with L. illini (species incertae sedis), differ with respect to their sensitivity to UV radiation. The doses of UV resulting in 37, 10, and 1% survival were determined for representative serovars from each species. L. interrogans serovar pomona was 3.0 to 4.8 times more sensitive to UV than the other Leptospira species under the 37, 10, and 1% survival parameters. In comparison to other bacteria, L. interrogans serovar pomona is among the most sensitive to UV. In a qualitative UV sensitivity assay, L. interrogans serovars were found to be in general more sensitive than L. biflexa serovars. All three species were found to have a photoreactivation DNA repair mechanism. Since organisms that are resistant to UV are often resistant to the DNA cross-linking agent mitomycin C, we tested the relative sensitivity of several Leptospira serovars to this compound. With few exceptions, L. biflexa and L. illini serovars were considerably more resistant to mitomycin C than the L. interrogans serovars. The mitomycin C sensitivity assay could be a useful addition to current characterization tests used to differentiate the Leptospira species.     

Sensitivity of pathogenic and free-living Leptospira spp. to UV radiation and mitomycin C

The habitats for the two major Leptospira spp. differ. The main habitat of L. biflexa is soil and water, whereas L. interrogans primarily resides in the renal tubules of animals. We investigated whether these two species, along with L. illini (species incertae sedis), differ with respect to their sensitivity to UV radiation. The doses of UV resulting in 37, 10, and 1% survival were determined for representative serovars from each species. L. interrogans serovar pomona was 3.0 to 4.8 times more sensitive to UV than the other Leptospira species under the 37, 10, and 1% survival parameters. In comparison to other bacteria, L. interrogans serovar pomona is among the most sensitive to UV. In a qualitative UV sensitivity assay, L. interrogans serovars were found to be in general more sensitive than L. biflexa serovars. All three species were found to have a photoreactivation DNA repair mechanism. Since organisms that are resistant to UV are often resistant to the DNA cross-linking agent mitomycin C, we tested the relative sensitivity of several Leptospira serovars to this compound. With few exceptions, L. biflexa and L. illini serovars were considerably more resistant to mitomycin C than the L. interrogans serovars. The mitomycin C sensitivity assay could be a useful addition to current characterization tests used to differentiate the Leptospira species.     

Whole-genome analysis of Leptospira interrogans to identify potential vaccine candidates against leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an important global human and veterinary health problem. Humans can be infected by exposure to chronically infected animals and their environment. An important focus of the current leptospiral research is the identification of outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Due to their location, leptospiral OMPs are likely to be relevant in host-pathogen interactions, hence their potential ability to stimulate heterologous immunity. The existing whole-genome sequence of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni offers a unique opportunity to search for cell surface proteins. Predicted genes encoding potential surface proteins were amplified from genomic DNA by PCR methodology and cloned into an Escherichia coli expression system. The partially purified recombinant proteins were probed by Western blotting with sera from human patients diagnosed with leptospirosis. Sixteen proteins, out of a hundred tested, were recognized by antibodies present in human sera. Four of these proteins were conserved among eight serovars of L. interrogans and absent in the non-pathogenic Leptospira biflexa. These proteins might be useful for the diagnosis of the disease as well as potential vaccine candidates.     

Expanding the genetic toolbox for Leptospira species by generation of fluorescent bacteria

Our knowledge of the genetics and molecular basis of the pathogenesis associated with Leptospira, in comparison to those of other bacterial species, is very limited. An improved understanding of pathogenic mechanisms requires reliable genetic tools for functional genetic analysis. Here, we report the expression of gfp and mRFP1 genes under the control of constitutive spirochetal promoters in both saprophytic and pathogenic Leptospira strains. We were able to reliably measure the fluorescence of Leptospira by fluorescence microscopy and a fluorometric microplate reader-based assay. We showed that the expression of the gfp gene had no significant effects on growth in vivo and pathogenicity in L. interrogans. We constructed an expression vector for L. biflexa that contains the lacI repressor, an inducible lac promoter, and gfp as the reporter, demonstrating that the lac system is functional in Leptospira. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression was induced by the addition of isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) in L. biflexa transformants harboring the expression vector. Finally, we showed that GFP can be used as a reporter to assess promoter activity in different environmental conditions. These results may facilitate further advances for studying the genetics of Leptospira spp.