青海藏区B型沙眼衣原体的分离培养与鉴定

【目的】对青海藏区沙眼患者标本进行沙眼衣原体分离培养与鉴定。【方法】分别采集患者的单眼结膜和结膜囊拭子标本至1 mL样本保护培养基中。取50μL样本采用离心法感染BGM细胞,37°C培养72 h,连续传代3次,相差显微镜观察衣原体包涵体。对临床样本和分离株分别进行主要外膜蛋白基因ompA序列分析。【结果】共采集了45例活动性沙眼患者的115份临床样本,其中54份样本为ompA PCR阳性,15份样本为沙眼衣原体培养阳性。ompA分析发现,青海藏区沙眼衣原体有3个不同的同源ompA变异株,均为基因B型,都包含有一个泌尿生殖道型沙眼衣原体特有密码子。分离株QH111L和QH111R分别来自编号111患者的左眼和右眼样本,它们ompA基因的可变区有一个非同义碱基差异。该碱基变异仅存在于111号患者的左眼样本中,说明QH111L可能是新出现的ompA突变体。【结论】青海藏区的眼型沙眼衣原体流行株为基因B型,至少存在3个不同的ompA变异株。从青海藏区分离培养了15株眼型沙眼衣原体,发现同一患者的左右眼样本中的沙眼衣原体有不同ompA。本研究为研制沙眼疫苗和诊断试剂奠定了基础,也将有助于理解沙眼的进化和传播。     

基于沙眼衣原体ompl基因限制性片段长度多态性和测序法用于女性生殖道感染沙眼衣原体基因分型

沙眼衣原体D-K型见于女性生殖道感染,尤其是宫颈感染的主要病原体,基因分型针对编码主外膜蛋白(MOMP)编码基因(ompl)多态性,CT各型ompl基因长度略有差异,总长度均在1.1 kb左右,使用ompl基因限制性片段长度多态性(restriction fragment length polymorphism,RFLP)进行分型,但是不同的引物设计和实验条件,结果的判读不同,结合ompl基因测序法,能构建出不同实验条件下PCR-RFLP酶切图谱,便于临床判读,并且通过BLASTA及多序列比对发现ompl基因序列碱基变异。收集2010年1月至2014年5月在柳州市人民医院就诊的宫颈脱落细胞沙眼衣原体阳性女性,结合omp1基因测序法进行分型,建立反应体系,通过ompl基因测序结果比对,确定本实验条件的参考酶切图谱,用于临床标本的CT分型检测。基于ompl基因的PCR-RFLP技术是目前沙眼衣原体基因分型临床可运用的方法。     

假定蛋白CT440在沙眼衣原体感染细胞中的定位研究

包涵体膜蛋白在沙眼衣原体致病过程中发挥重要的作用.为确定假定蛋白CT440在沙眼衣原体感染细胞中的定位及特征,本研究采用PCR方法从D型沙眼衣原体的基因组中扩增Ct440基因,克隆入pGEX-6p原核表达载体构建pGEX-6p/Ct440原核表达重组体,重组体转化到XL1-blue大肠杆菌,IPTG诱导表达融合蛋白GST-CT440.纯化后的CT440融合蛋白免疫小鼠制备抗体,间接免疫荧光(IFA)和Western blot测定抗体的特异性.特异性抗体用于分析CT440蛋白在衣原体感染细胞内的定位、表达时相特征及其对衣原体感染的影响.结果表明,CT440蛋白定位于沙眼衣原体包涵体膜上,为沙眼衣原体包涵体膜蛋白;该蛋白在衣原体感染12h后开始表达,直至持续到整个感染周期;转基因在胞浆表达的CT440融合蛋白不影响其后的衣原体感染.本实验为深入研究衣原体与宿主细胞间的相互作用,阐明衣原体致病机制提供了重要的实验依据.     

肺炎嗜衣原体蛋白酶样活性因子免疫优势区基因 重组蛋白在早期诊断中的应用

[目的]克隆和表达肺炎嗜衣原体(Chlamydophila pneumoniae,Cpn)蛋白酶样活性因子(CPAF)免疫优势区基因,评价重组蛋白在早期感染诊断中的应用价值.[方法]挑选并克隆出Cpn CPAF免疫优势区基因,构建原核表达载体,诱导表达并纯化重组蛋白,分析其抗原特异性;间接ELISA法检测Cpn参考血清、临床血清标本中的特异性IgM抗体,以及呼吸道感染患者痰咽拭子中的Cpn抗原;检测沙眼衣原体(Chlamydia trachomatis,Ct)临床阳性血清和泌尿生殖道分泌物.[结果]高效表达和纯化出一相对分子量约51.3kDa的重组蛋白;Western blot证明其只与人抗Cpn抗血清发生特异性反应;间接ELISA法检测40份Cpn IgM参考血清,阴性和阳性结果的一致率均为100%(40/40);与"金标准"方法MIF对照,检测300例临床血清标本中的IgM抗体,符合率为98.3%;与PCR试剂对照,检测120份呼吸道感染患者痰咽拭子中的Cpn抗原,符合率为88.3%;检测Ct阳性血清和泌尿生殖道分泌物,与Ct没有交叉反应.[结论]制备的CPAF免疫优势区基因重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性,在Cpn感染早期诊断中具有较高的利用价值.     

慢性阴道炎患者生殖道解脲脲原体和沙眼衣原体感染分析

目的通过荧光定量聚合酶链反应(PCR)技术检测慢性阴道炎患者阴道内解脲脲原体(Uu)和沙眼衣原体(Ct)感染状况,用以指导临床正确治疗。方法应用荧光定量聚合酶链反应对380例慢性阴道炎患者的阴道分泌物进行解脲脲原体和沙眼衣原体PCR检测。结果解脲脲原体阳性率为42.9%,其阳性标本的平均拷贝数为3.4×105copies/ml,沙眼衣原体阳性率为16.6%,其阳性标本的平均拷贝数为5.8×104copies/ml,解脲脲原体和沙眼衣原体合并感染的阳性率为12.6%。结论PCR技术具有简便、快捷、准确的优点,是目前快速诊断慢性阴道炎患者Uu、Ct感染状况的可靠诊断方法之一。     

MICA*A5.1与沙眼衣原体感染的相关性

目的 研究MICA*A5.1基因与沙眼衣原体(Chlamydia trachomatis,Ct)感染的关系。方法 聚合酶链反应(PCR)- SSP检测样本中的MICA*A5.1基因,荧光定量-聚合酶链反应(FQ-PCR)检测Ct-DNA。结果 在122例不孕患者组中有33例Ct感染阳性,140例对照组中有16例Ct感染阳性,2组Ct感染率分别为27.1%和11.4%。经PCR-SSP方法检测,不孕患者组中MICA*A5.1基因阳性个体有35例,Ct感染阳性且同时MICA*A5.1基因阳性的个体有5例;对照组中MICA*A5.1基因阳性个体有43例,Ct感染阳性且同时MICA*A5.1基因阳性的个体有1例。MICA*A5.1基因阳性个体和MICA*A5.1基因阴性个体之间Ct感染率的差异具有统计学意义(不孕患者组P=0.046;对照组P=0.022;两组合并P=0.01)。结论 不孕患者组Ct感染率要高于对照组;与MICA*A5.1基因阴性个体相比,MICA*A5.1基因阳性个体的Ct感染率较低。     

沙眼衣原体GlgA蛋白表达和分泌的调控机制

【背景】沙眼衣原体(Chlamydia trachomatis,Ct)的分泌蛋白在Ct与宿主细胞的相互作用、感染发育周期及致病过程中发挥着至关重要的作用。GlgA蛋白是课题组前期研究发现的一种新的Ct分泌蛋白,其表达和分泌的具体机制及作用还不清楚。【目的】寻找调控CtGlgA蛋白表达和分泌的分子机制,为后续Ct致病机制研究提供实验基础和新思路。【方法】采用Signal P 4.1软件对GlgA蛋白N端进行信号肽预测分析,并用细菌分泌蛋白特异性阻断剂C16和C1化合物分别或同时处理Ct感染的He La细胞,观察阻断Ⅱ型、Ⅲ型分泌途径对GlgA蛋白分泌的影响;经新生霉素处理、噬斑筛选及穿梭质粒转染技术,构建Ct质粒缺失株和缺失互补株,并鉴定质粒编码基因在两种菌株的缺失及表达情况;间接免疫荧光法观察质粒缺失对GlgA表达和分泌的影响。【结果】GlgA蛋白N端无信号肽序列,细菌Ⅱ型、Ⅲ型分泌途径特异性阻断剂C16和C1化合物不能阻断GlgA的胞浆分泌;Ct质粒缺失株CTD1的质粒编码基因pgp7丢失,且质粒编码蛋白Pgp3及基因组编码蛋白GlgA的表达和分泌现象均消失;Ct缺失互补株CTD1-pGFP::SW2重新获得pgp7基因,并恢复Pgp3蛋白和GlgA的表达和分泌。【结论】初步证实Ct糖原合酶GlgA蛋白的表达和分泌不依赖细菌Ⅱ型和Ⅲ型分泌途径,而且与衣原体质粒密切相关。     

IFA筛选经EMS诱导的沙眼衣原体突变株

目的:用甲基磺酸乙酯(Ethylmethylsulfone,EMS)诱导D型沙眼衣原体突变,利用间接免疫荧光法筛选出突变菌株,为研究不同衣原体基因的功能提供实验依据。方法:将D型沙眼衣原体标准株接种Mc Coy细胞,加入EMS诱导突变,收集存活菌株,利用空斑实验进行衣原体的分离和纯化,并用不同衣原体蛋白单克隆抗体做间接免疫荧光实验筛选突变株。结果:用间接免疫荧光筛选经EMS作用的沙眼衣原体,筛选出三株包涵体形态偏小的菌株(56#、58#、95#),一株圆形包涵体的突变株(61#)和一株D413N表达阴性的突变菌株(83#)。结论:用EMS作为诱导剂诱导D型沙眼衣原体突变,并成功筛选出三种突变株。为寻找衣原体功能基因与衣原体表型之间的联系奠定了实验基础。     

血清E型沙眼衣原体的Real-time PCR定量分析

目的沙眼衣原体感染是最常见的性传播疾病,本文拟建立一种准确快速、标准化的感染动物组织衣原体载量检测体系。方法体外扩增感染用沙眼衣原体血清E型,克隆衣原体特异基因OMP1基因片段作为标准品,用Real time PCR法测定衣原体基因组拷贝数进行衣原体定量。结果 Real time PCR在OMP1基因片段200至2×108拷贝检测结果成线性,在模板中加入小鼠基因组未出现非特异扩增,同时未影响扩增效率。结论针对衣原体特异基因OMP1的实时定量PCR方法可以较为灵敏的特异的定量检测感染动物样本中的衣原体。     

引起一起暴发性急性胃肠炎疫情的埃可病毒18型VP1基因特征分析

埃可病毒18型(Echovirus 18,E18)属于B组肠道病毒(Enterovirus B,EV-B),是引起病毒性脑膜炎的重要病原体。对2019年4月广东省深圳市龙岗区一起急性胃肠炎疫情进行病原学鉴定及病原基因特征分析。此次疫情共有26名患者,均以发热、呕吐、腹泻、腹痛为主要症状。从其中18名病例采集了18份肛拭子标本,采用实时荧光RT-PCR、病毒分离(RD细胞)和半巢式聚合酶链反应法以鉴定病原,扩增病毒全长VP1区,测序并进行系统进化分析。结果显示,18份标本中11份肠道病毒核酸阳性,其中8份为E18。病毒分离得到2株病毒,从肛拭子标本直接扩增得到的7条E18全长VP1核苷酸序列,核苷酸相似性为100%,与GenBank中E18参考株的核苷酸及氨基酸同源性分别为79.2%~96.4%和93.3%~99.3%;进化树显示,深圳龙岗E18分离株(GDSZ1902)归属由中国分离株组成的C2a进化分支,在其VP1蛋白中的底部环处发现一处特异的氨基酸变异(D200N)。从流行病学和病原学结果分析,E18是引起本次深圳市龙岗区急性胃肠炎疫情的主要病原,属于中国E18主要流行株的进化分支,这是我国首次发现E18引起急性胃肠炎疫情的报道。     

Typing Chlamydia trachomatis: from egg yolk to nanotechnology

A historical review is provided of the various methods used for half a century to differentiate and type Chlamydia trachomatis strains. Typing of C. trachomatis is an important tool for revealing transmission patterns in sexual networks, and enabling association with clinical manifestations and pathogenicity. Serotyping using the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) has been the mainstay of epidemiological work for several decades. However, the development of nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAAT) and easy access to sequencing have shifted the focus from MOMP serotypes to omp1 genotypes. However, insufficient epidemiological resolution is achieved by characterization of both MOMP and omp1 . This calls for new high-resolution genotyping methods applying for example a multilocus variable number tandem repeat assay (MLVA) or multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The futuristic nanotechnology already seems at hand to further simplify and automate the high-resolution genotyping method based on NAAT and sequencing of various targets in the C. trachomatis genome. Thereby, a high throughput can be achieved and more epidemiological information can be obtained. However, it is important to realize that culture of C. trachomatis may still be needed to detect and characterize new variants of C. trachomatis .     

Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis directly from urogenital and conjunctiva samples using an ompA gene pyrosequencing-based assay

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a multitarget pyrosequencing-based protocol for basic Chlamydia trachomatis genotyping directly from clinical samples and to characterize the distribution of genotypes among Slovenian sexually active population. The newly developed combination of assays that targets the variable domains VD-I and VD-IV of the C. trachomatis ompA gene, was optimized and validated with 11 reference C. trachomatis strains and by comparison to complete ompA conventional sequencing. In addition, 183 clinical specimens which were previously diagnosed as C. trachomatis positive were evaluated by pyrosequencing. The pyrosequencing products showed a 100% match to corresponding sections of the respective conventional ompA sequences. Based on our results the most frequent genotype in urogenital samples was E (51.1%) followed by F (21.4%), G and K (6.9%), D (6.1%), H (3.8%), J (2.3%) and Ia and Ja (0.8%). In conjunctiva samples the genotype distribution was E (63.3%), D and F (13.3%), K (6.7%) and G (3.3%). Pyrosequencing thus proved itself to be a rapid method for C. trachomatis typing, which is important for better understanding the pathogenesis and epidemiology of this pathogen.     

Physiological studies on the utilization of oleic acid by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in relation to microbody development

Twenty one Chlamydia trachomatis reference strains and 40 clinical isolates belonging to the lymphogranuloma venerum (LGV) and trachoma biovars were genotyped by differential restriction mapping of the major-outer-membrane-protein gene (MOMP) obtained by the polymerase-chain reaction (PCR). AluI digestion of the PCR product distinguishes eight MOMP-genotypes corresponding to 8 serovars. Six additional enzymes (NlaIII, CfoI, EcoRI, HinfI, DdeI and FokI) further permit the discrimination of 10 MOMP-genotypes corresponding to the 10 remaining serovars of the species. AluI alone allows direct typing of 78% of the clinical isolates. AluI digestion patterns of mouse C. trachomatis biovar, a C. pneumoniae and two C. psittaci strains, studied for comparison, were clearly distinguishable from one another and from the C. trachomatis LGV and trachoma strains. These results indicate that MOMP genotyping by PCR is a valuable molecular tool for studying C. trachomatis epidemiology.     

Diversity of Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein genes.

Genomic DNA libraries were constructed for Chlamydia trachomatis serovars B and C by using BamHI fragments, and recombinants that contained the major outer membrane protein (omp1) gene for each serovar were identified and sequenced. Comparisons between these gene sequences and the gene from serovar L2 demonstrated fewer base pair differences between serovars L2 and B than between L2 and C; this finding is consistent with the serologic and antigenic relationships among these serovars. The translated amino acid sequence for the major outer membrane proteins (MOMPs) contained the same number of amino acids for serovars L2 and B, whereas the serovar C MOMP contained three additional amino acids. The antigenic diversity of the chlamydial MOMP was reflected in four sequence-variable domains, and two of these domains were candidates for the putative type-specific antigenic determinant. The molecular basis of omp1 gene diversity among C. trachomatis serovars was observed to be clustered nucleotide substitutions for closely related serovars and insertions or deletions for distantly related serovars.     

Expression of the Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein-encoding gene in Escherichia coli: role of the 3' end in mRNA stability

The major outer membrane protein (MOMP)-encoding gene (omp1) of Chlamydia trachomatis has been cloned into Escherichia coli and partially sequenced. This recombinant gene expresses a full-length 40-kDa product, which is recognized by a monoclonal antibody directed against the species-specific epitope of MOMP. The recombinant omp1 is expressed in either insertion orientation, indicating that it utilizes its own promoter system. The endogenous omp1 promoter possesses a relatively low activity despite the high level of MOMP expression. Deletion of a 520-bp fragment at the 3' end encoding 39 amino acids (aa) at the C terminus and the remainder of the noncoding region leads to a significant decrease in mRNA stability and loss of protein synthesis. When the MOMP-encoding plasmid was introduced into E. coli minicells, it expressed 40- and 43-kDa proteins; however, inhibition of post-translational processing by ethanol revealed only a 43-kDa protein. These data indicate that the unprocessed omp1 gene product contains a 22-aa leader sequence which is cleaved during translocation to the outer membrane, to yield a processed 40-kDa protein. The recombinant MOMP was localized to the outer membrane E. coli fraction, comparable to the location of the native C. trachomatis protein.     

Complete sequence of the major outer membrane protein-encoding gene of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar Da.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene omp1 encoding the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis serovar Da was determined following amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. The most closely related complete sequence published to date is that encoding the C. trachomatis L1 MOMP. When the L1 and Da MOMP deduced amino acid (aa) sequences were compared, 16 single-aa differences located mostly in the variable domains I, II, and IV were detected. These regions contain the B-cell epitopes. Additional differences were found in the constant domains I and II, thought to participate in the T-cell response.     

Genomic Relatedness of Chlamydia Isolates Determined by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis

The genomic relatedness of 19 Chlamydia pneumoniae isolates (17 from respiratory origin and 2 from atherosclerotic origin), 21 Chlamydia trachomatis isolates (all serovars from the human biovar, an isolate from the mouse biovar, and a porcine isolate), 6 Chlamydia psittaci isolates (5 avian isolates and 1 feline isolate), and 1 Chlamydia pecorum isolate was studied by analyzing genomic amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprints. The AFLP procedure was adapted from a previously developed method for characterization of clinical C. trachomatis isolates. The fingerprints of all C. pneumoniae isolates were nearly identical, clustering together at a Dice similarity of 92.6% (+/- 1.6% standard deviation). The fingerprints of the C. trachomatis isolates of human, mouse, and swine origin were clearly distinct from each other. The fingerprints of the isolates from the human biovar could be divided into at least 12 different types when the presence or absence of specific bands was taken into account. The C. psittaci fingerprints could be divided into a parakeet, a pigeon, and a feline type. The fingerprint of C. pecorum was clearly distinct from all others. Cluster analysis of selected isolates from all species revealed groups other than those based on sequence data from single genes (in particular, omp1 and rRNA genes) but was in agreement with available DNA-DNA hybridization data. In conclusion, cluster analysis of AFLP fingerprints of representatives of all species provided suggestions for a grouping of chlamydiae based on the analysis of the whole genome. Furthermore, genomic AFLP analysis showed that the genome of C. pneumoniae is highly conserved and that no differences exist between isolates of respiratory and atherosclerotic origins.     

Detection and frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA in synovial samples from Tunisian patients with reactive arthritis and undifferentiated oligoarthritis

We aimed to determine the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA in the synovial compartment of 34 arthritic patients. Chlamydia trachomatis DNA was detected using a nested PCR targeting the cryptic plasmid, the 16S rRNA gene and the outer membrane protein 1 gene. The presence of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA antibodies against C. trachomatis was studied by a microimmunofluorescence assay and by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Synovial samples from 20 of 34 (59%) patients [nine with reactive arthritis (ReA), seven with undifferentiated oligoarthritis (UOA), two with rheumatoid arthritis and two with osteoarthritis] were positive for at least one C. trachomatis DNA sequence by nested PCR. The high sensitivity results most likely from the combination of a standardized automated MagNA Pure extraction method, PCR targeting three different C. trachomatis genes and the screening for C. trachomatis in synovial tissue and fluid samples. There was no correlation between the presence of C. trachomatis DNA in the joint and a Chlamydia -specific serologic response. Our data support that PCR is the method of choice to establish the diagnosis of Chlamydia -induced arthritis in patients with ReA. We suggest that this diagnosis might also be considered in C. trachomatis -positive patients previously classified as UOA.