新生隐球菌Cap59缺陷株ura5突变株的筛选方法*

改进筛选新生隐球菌Cap59荚膜缺陷株ura5突变株的方法。采用硫酸二乙酯化学诱导新生隐球菌Cap59荚膜缺陷株 ,利用 5 氟乳清酸 (5 FOA)反筛选法筛选ura5尿嘧啶合成基因突变株。用新方法筛选到 2株Cap59荚膜缺陷株ura5突变株。建立了一种筛选新生隐球菌荚膜缺陷株ura5突变株的简易方法。     

新生隐球菌SER5基因的敲除与功能验证研究

目的构建新生隐球菌SER5基因缺陷株,并初步探究其功能。方法敲除SER5基因,通过体外应激应答、黑色素诱导、荚膜诱导、尿素酶测定、生长曲线测定、酵母双杂交实验考察SER5在新生隐球菌中的功能。结果成功构建SER5基因缺陷株,SER5基因缺失后对新生隐球菌的体外应激、荚膜、分解尿素及生长没有显著的影响,但新生隐球菌黑色素合成有显著的降低,通过酵母双杂交实验筛选出可能与Ser5相互作用的19种不同的蛋白编码基因。结论新生隐球菌Ser5影响新生隐球菌黑色素生成,可能与内质网蛋白、内质网稳定蛋白、VAMP7、磷脂转运蛋白、Gmt1、Vti1a等存在相关作用,提示Ser5参与新生隐球菌黑色素的合成或转运过程。     

隐球菌感染体外血脑屏障模型的构建与应用

目的构建体外血脑屏障模型,并检测隐球菌不同菌株穿越血脑屏障的能力。方法本研究应用商品化的小鼠脑微血管内皮细胞系b END.3构建体外血脑屏障模型,并验证该模型应用于隐球菌穿越血脑屏障机制研究的可行性。通过构建模型,以非致病性的酿酒酵母作为阴性对照,比较新生隐球菌不同血清型标准株及基因缺陷株穿越体外血脑屏障能力的差异。结果跨膜电阻值(TEER)检测提示体外血脑屏障模型构建成功。检测结果显示酿酒酵母作为阴性对照穿越血脑屏障效率最低,新生隐球菌血清A型标准株H99穿越细胞屏障效率最强,血清D型标准株JEC21穿越细胞屏障效率显著低于H99。较之H99,黑色素酶缺陷株lac1裣穿越体外血脑屏障模型的效率没有显著差异;尿素酶缺陷株ure1裣效率显著下降(P0.05),约为标准株H99通过率的59.9%;荚膜缺陷株cap59裣突破体外血脑屏障模型效率最低,约为标准株H99的18%(P0.001)。结论隐球菌中枢系统感染体外模型成功构建。新生隐球菌突破血脑屏障的能力与其血清型以及荚膜、尿素酶等毒力因子的表达密切相关。     

隐球菌感染体外血脑屏障模型的构建与应用CSCD

目的构建体外血脑屏障模型,并检测隐球菌不同菌株穿越血脑屏障的能力。方法本研究应用商品化的小鼠脑微血管内皮细胞系b END.3构建体外血脑屏障模型,并验证该模型应用于隐球菌穿越血脑屏障机制研究的可行性。通过构建模型,以非致病性的酿酒酵母作为阴性对照,比较新生隐球菌不同血清型标准株及基因缺陷株穿越体外血脑屏障能力的差异。结果跨膜电阻值(TEER)检测提示体外血脑屏障模型构建成功。检测结果显示酿酒酵母作为阴性对照穿越血脑屏障效率最低,新生隐球菌血清A型标准株H99穿越细胞屏障效率最强,血清D型标准株JEC21穿越细胞屏障效率显著低于H99。较之H99,黑色素酶缺陷株lac1裣穿越体外血脑屏障模型的效率没有显著差异;尿素酶缺陷株ure1裣效率显著下降(P<0.05),约为标准株H99通过率的59.9%;荚膜缺陷株cap59裣突破体外血脑屏障模型效率最低,约为标准株H99的18%(P<0.001)。结论隐球菌中枢系统感染体外模型成功构建。新生隐球菌突破血脑屏障的能力与其血清型以及荚膜、尿素酶等毒力因子的表达密切相关。     

巨噬细胞对新生隐球菌白化株的吞噬作用

目的 检测巨噬细胞对新生隐球菌白化株活力的影响,探讨黑素在抗吞噬中的作用。方法 通过新生隐球菌白化株Mel~-与小鼠巨噬细胞系J774细胞共孵育,检测其出芽率,并通过电镜观察Mel~-在J774细胞内的超微结构。结果 1个巨噬细胞可吞噬多个Mel~-,J774细胞对Mel~-菌株的吞噬指数为0．36±0．05～1．24±0．21,而Mel~-菌在J774细胞内的出芽率仅达8．44±1．28％,出芽率随共孵育时间延长而下降(P＜0．05)。结论 巨噬细胞可较快抑制荚膜缺陷株的繁殖,巨噬细胞有对白化株新生隐球菌Mel~-的抗菌作用。     

STE12α基因对新生隐球菌形态学影响的初步研究

目的研究STE12α基因对新生隐球菌形态学的影响。方法分别敲除血清A型和血清B型新生隐球菌菌株的STE12α基因,建立缺陷株,再将STE12α基因重新导入建立重建株。观察并比较野生株、STE12α基因缺陷株及重建株在体内、外孵育后菌落和菌落的形态学差异。结果 STE12α基因缺陷株组形成的菌落明显偏少,菌株直径偏小,荚膜发育不良,而重构株组这些方面的改变都得到了恢复。结论 STE12α基因对新生隐球菌的形态学改变有着重要的影响,可能直接影响其毒力。     

新生隐球菌对角质形成细胞活力的作用研究

目的研究新生隐球菌体外对角质形成细胞活力的影响。方法将新生隐球菌父代标准株与子代荚膜缺陷株于体外分别与角质形成细胞分别共培养,同时设立热灭活的菌体、空白对照,再分别设立菌体与细胞直接接触与不接触共培养相互对照,分别作用0.5 h、1 h和2 h后,采用流式细胞仪检测隐球菌角质形成细胞的调亡率。结果随着时间延长,与空白对照组及热灭活组比较,实验组角质形成细胞的凋亡率逐渐增加。无荚膜株与父代有荚膜株比较,无荚膜株对细胞活力的影响在作用后1 h、2 h明显低于有荚膜株。2种菌株不直接接触培养使细胞的凋亡率明显下降;不直接接触的有荚膜株与热灭活的菌体之间比较差异不显著。结论虽然有荚膜株与无荚膜株隐球菌均可以使角质形成细胞活性明显降低,但荚膜可以显著增强菌体对细胞活力的影响;角质形成细胞活力的降低主要是通过与菌体接触培养后产生的,诱导细胞调亡需要菌体与细胞的直接接触。     

新生隐球菌转录共激活因子MBF1基因的鉴定与敲除

目的构建新生隐球菌转录共激活因子MBF1基因缺陷菌株。方法采用套叠PCR方法 ,构建含有抗性基因NEO以及靶基因上下游同源DNA片段的基因敲除框,通过基因枪将重组片段转化入新生隐球菌,应用PCR筛选和DNA序列测序方法对基因突变株进行鉴定与验证。结果成功构建了新生隐球菌基因突变株mbf1裣。结论通过基因突变株mbf1裣的构建,为深入研究新生隐球菌转录辅助因子Mbf1的功能机制奠定基础。     

新生隐球菌的荚膜多糖合成研究进展

新生隐球菌是一重要的致病真菌,其细胞壁外层的多糖荚膜是第1个被公认的新生隐球菌毒性因子。本文总结了在荚膜生理和生化合成方面的研究进展,介绍了研究新生隐球菌荚膜合成的常用方法以及在新生隐球菌的荚膜代谢途径、生化合成酶、分泌、组装和调节这些广泛的研究领域存在的许多未解决的问题。     

新生隐球菌总RNA抽提方法的实验研究

目的探讨快速获取高质量的新生隐球菌总RNA的实验方法。方法选取新生隐球菌的荚膜株、荚膜缺陷株,分别设计采用4种方法提取总RNA:酸洗玻璃珠法、液氮研磨法、异硫氰酸胍一步法、冷酸洗玻璃珠联合Yeast RNA kit法。用紫外线分光光度计测量其OD260、OD280的值,并且进行琼脂糖凝胶电泳,同时应用定量PCR法鉴定RNA质量。结果酸洗玻璃珠法、液氮研磨法、异硫氰酸胍一步法、冷酸洗玻璃珠联合Yeast RNA kit法的RNA产量分别为0.2μg/105细胞、0.4μg/105细胞、0.1μg/105细胞、0.6μg/105细胞。结论冷酸洗玻璃珠联合Yeast RNA kit法提取的RNA均一性和完整性最好,是简便、快捷地提取具有荚膜和细胞壁双重屏障的新生隐球菌RNA的理想方法。     

Isolation of the URA5 gene from Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans and its use as a selective marker for transformation.

A cDNA encoding Cryptococcus neoformans orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (OMPPase) has been isolated by complementation of the cognate Escherichia coli pyrE mutant. The cDNA was used as a probe to isolate a genomic DNA fragment encoding the OMPPase gene (URA5). By using electroporation for the introduction of plasmid DNA containing the URA5 gene, C. neoformans ura5 mutants could be transformed at low efficiency. Ura+ transformants obtained with supercoiled plasmids containing the URA5 gene showed marked mitotic instability and contained extrachromosomal URA5 sequences, suggesting limited ability to replicate within C. neoformans. Transformants obtained with linear DNA were of two classes: stable transformants with integrated URA5 sequences, and unstable transformants with extrachromosomal URA5 sequences.     

Isolation of telomerelike sequences from Cryptococcus neoformans and their use in high-efficiency transformation.

Development of a transformation system for the fungal human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans is an important prerequisite for the identification of genes involved in virulence. It has previously been reported that low-efficiency transformation can be achieved by using the cloned C. neoformans URA5 gene and ura5 mutants. The introduction of linearized URA5 vectors into C. neoformans resulted in unstable transformants which apparently harbored linear extrachromosomal DNA molecules. In this paper, the nature of these molecules is confirmed to be linear by exonuclease digestion. Recovery of the extrachromosomal DNA in Escherichia coli and sequence analysis demonstrates that repeats characteristic of telomeric DNA have been added to the ends of the introduced DNA. The recovered plasmids are capable of transforming at much higher efficiencies either in the supercoiled state (up to 200 transformants per microgram) or the linear state (up to 90,000 transformants per microgram).     

Cryptococcus neoformans inhibits nitric oxide synthesis caused by CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide-stimulated macrophages in a fashion independent of capsular polysaccharides

Cryptococcus neoformans is eradicated by macrophages via production of NO. Unmethylated CpG-ODN protect mice from infection with this fungal pathogen by inducing IFN-gamma. The present study was designed to elucidate the effect of C. neoformans on the synthesis of NO by alveolar macrophages. For this purpose, MH-S, an alveolar macrophage cell line, was stimulated with CpG-ODN in the presence of IFN-gamma. A highly virulent strain of C. neoformans with thick capsule suppressed the production of NO. Capsular polysaccharides were not essential for this suppression, because there was no difference between acapsular mutant (Cap67) and its parent strain. Physical or close interaction of Cap67 with MH-S was necessary, as shown by the loss of such effect when direct contact was interfered by nitrocellulose membrane. Similar effects were observed by disrupted as well as intact Cap67. Whereas the inhibitory effect of intact Cap67 was completely abrogated by heat treatment, disrupted Cap67 did not receive such influence. Finally, disrupted Cap67 did not show any inhibitory effect on the TLR9-mediated activation of NF-kappaB in a luciferase reporter assay with HEK293T cells, although the TLR4-mediated activation was suppressed. These results revealed that C. neoformans suppressed the synthesis of NO by CpG-ODN and IFN-gamma-stimulated macrophages in a fashion independent of capsular polysaccharides, although the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated.     

Pulmonary cryptococcosis due to a capsule-deficient strain confused with metastatic lung cancer

A patient with hepatocellular cancer developed pulmonary cryptococcosis due to infection with a capsule-deficient Cryptococcus neoformans. Pulmonary lesions initially diagnosed as metastatic cancer by chest x-ray film and CT scan were subsequently found to be fungal granulomas by autopsy. Although morphologic studies of the fungi were insufficient to render a specific mycologic diagnosis because of the absence of encapsulated yeasts, fluorescent antibody studies confirmed the diagnosis of cryptococcosis. The use of various stains and electron microscopy for the pathological differential diagnosis of cryptococcosis caused by capsule-deficient yeasts is discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in a free-living toad (Bufo bufo)

Pulmonary cryptococcosis was observed in a free-living adult female common toad (Bufo bufo) that was killed by a vehicle. Both lungs had various eosinophilic, monomorphic, and spherical to elliptical organisms identified as Cryptoccocus spp. The yeasts were demonstrated by Grocott's silver method and the periodic acid-Schiff reaction and the capsule was positive for mucin with a mucicarmine stain. The agent was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, using the monoclonal antibody anti-Cryptococcus neoformans, and by a polymerase chain reaction-based method using a C. neoformans-specific primer. This report, to the best of our knowledge, represents the first case of cryptococcosis in a common toad.     

Cloning and sequencing of the ura3 and ura5 genes, and isolation and characterization of uracil auxotrophs of the fungus Mortierella alpina 1S-4

The oil-producing fungus Mortierella alpina 1S-4 is an industrial strain. In order to prepare host strains for a transformation system for this fungus, six uracil auxotrophs were obtained by means of random mutation with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). When the activities of orotate phosphoribosyl transferase (OPRTase, EC 2.4.2.10) and orotidine-5'-phosphate decarboxylase (OMPdecase, EC 4.1.1.23) were examined in the mutants and wild strain, OPRTase activity was found to be completely absent in all mutants, on the other hand, OMPdecase activity was intact. The genomic DNA and cDNA of the ura5 gene encoding OPRTase and the ura3 gene encoding OMPdecase were cloned and sequenced. The Ura5p deduced amino acid sequence of this fungus showed highest similarity to that of Vibrio cholerae classed among prokaryote. Furthermore, the mutational points in the ura5 genes of two selected mutants were identified; a base-replacement and a base-insertion.     

Transformation of the yeast Saccharomyces kluyveri by Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based plasmids

For the transformation of the yeast Saccharomyces kluyveri, ura3 mutants were obtained by 5-fluoro-orotic acid selection. By utilizing the method based on treatment of intact cells with alkali cations, the ura3 strains of S. kluyveri were transformed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based plasmids. In the transformed cells, a S. cerevisiae centromere-based plasmid was stably replicated autonomously. Thus, this system will permit the study of gene expression and its regulation in S. kluyveri in relationship to that in S. cerevisiae.