Evaluation of housekeeping genes as references for quantitative real-time PCR analysis of European eel,Anguilla anguilla

Eels are important aquaculture species for which an increasing number of reference genes are being identified and applied. In this study, five housekeeping genes [RPL7 (ribosomal protein L7), 18 S (18 S ribosomal RNA), EF1A (elongation factor 1α), ACTB (β-actin) and GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase)] were chosen to evaluate their reliability as reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for the study of Anguilla anguilla. The expression of the selected genes in different eel tissues was determined using qPCR at different growth stages or upon challenge by Anguillid herpesvirus (AngHV), and the expression levels of these genes were then compared and evaluated using the geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. Then, RefFinder was used to comprehensively rank the examined housekeeping genes. Interestingly, the expression of the evaluated housekeeping genes exhibited tissue-dependent and treatment-dependent variations. In different growth periods A. anguilla tissues, the most stable genes were the following: ACTB in mucus; 18 S in skin and kidney; RPL7 in muscle, gill, intestine and brain; EF1A in heart and liver; and GAPDH in spleen. In contrast, in AngHV-challenged A. anguilla tissues, the most stable genes were the following: 18 S in mucus; RPL7 in skin, gill, heart, spleen, kidney and intestine; EF1A in muscle and liver; and ACTB in brain. Further comparison analysis indicated that the expression of RPL7 and EF1A was stable in multiple A. anguilla tissues in different growth periods and in eels challenged by AngHV. Nonetheless, the expression level of GAPDH in eel tissues was lower, and it was unstable in several tissues. These results indicated that the selection of reference genes for qPCR analysis in A. anguilla should be made in accordance with experimental parameters, and both RPL7 and EF1A could be used as reference genes for qPCR study of A. anguilla at different growth stages or upon challenge by AngHV. The reference genes identified in this study could improve the accuracy of qPCR data and facilitate further studies aimed at understanding the biology of eels.     

单增李斯特菌lmo2192基因克隆与表达

[目的]对单增李斯特菌新疆绵羊脑炎临床分离株LM90SB2的lmo2192基因进行克隆及原核表达。[方法]利用PCR方法扩增lmo2192基因,连接p MD19-T载体进行克隆,筛选阳性菌进行测序比对。构建重组表达质粒p ET32a-2192,将其转入大肠杆菌感受态细胞,经诱导表达,利用SDS-PAGE与Western Blotting鉴定重组蛋白。[结果]扩增lmo2192基因序列长度为969 bp,与预期一致。该基因在大肠杆菌中大量表达,经SDS-PAGE和Western Blotting鉴定分析该产物为56 k Da左右的融合重组蛋白,与预期大小一致。[结论]成功克隆lmo2192基因,并获得大量表达,为进一步研究该基因功能奠定理论基础。     

A novel real-time PCR-based method for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food

AIMS: A new real-time PCR-based method was developed for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food. METHODS AND RESULTS: A two-step enrichment involving a 24-h incubation in half-Fraser broth followed by a 6-h subculture in Fraser broth was used, followed by cell lysis and real-time PCR with primers and a TaqMan probe previously developed in our laboratory. When the method was evaluated with 144 naturally contaminated food samples, 44 were detected as positive by the PCR-based method and 42 by the standard method EN ISO 11290-1. With 61 food samples artificially contaminated at a level of 10(0) CFU per 25 g, 61 and 58 positive samples were detected by the respective methods. CONCLUSIONS: The developed real-time PCR-based method facilitated the detection of L. monocytogenes in food on the next day after the sample reception, with a reduction of false-positive results because of dead bacterial cells and false-negative results because of PCR inhibitors. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The method can be used for L. monocytogenes detection in food as a faster alternative to current methods.     

Validation of housekeeping genes as internal control for studying gene expression in rice by quantitative real-time PCR

For accurate and reliable gene expression results, normalization of real-time PCR data is required against a control gene, which displays highly uniform expression in living organisms during various phases of development and under different environmental conditions. We assessed the gene expression of 10 frequently used housekeeping genes, including 18S rRNA, 25S rRNA, UBC, UBQ5, UBQ10, ACT11, GAPDH, eEF-1alpha, eIF-4a, and beta-TUB, in a diverse set of 25 rice samples. Their expression varied considerably in different tissue samples analyzed. The expression of UBQ5 and eEF-1alpha was most stable across all the tissue samples examined. However, 18S and 25S rRNA exhibited most stable expression in plants grown under various environmental conditions. Also, a set of two genes was found to be better as control for normalization of the data. The expression of these genes (with more uniform expression) can be used for normalization of real-time PCR results for gene expression studies in a wide variety of samples in rice.     

Survival of Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecium in sludge evaluated by real-time PCR and culture methods

AIMS: This study evaluates the behaviour in spiked sludge of a pathogenic bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, by cultural and molecular techniques, and compares its survival with the one of a faecal indicator, Enterococcus faecium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Listeria monocytogenes strain Scott A and E. faecium(T) were followed for 17 days after inoculation in sludge. Kinetics of survival depended on the bacteria and on the technique used [most probable number method, direct plate count or real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR)]. The concentration of L. monocytogenes decreased rapidly regardless of the technique, but the decrease was much more dramatic with culture techniques than with qPCR. On the contrary, the concentrations of culturable E. faecium(T) were stable. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the cells of L. monocytogenes strain Scott A might have entered a viable, but nonculturable (VBNC) status, whereas cells of the indicator bacteria, E. faecium(T), maintained themselves better and stayed culturable. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The difference of survival kinetics in the sludge of a faecal indicator (E. faecium) and a pathogenic bacterium (L. monocytogenes) may be linked to the fact that they either enter or do not enter into a VBNC status.     

Differential expression of InlB and ActA in Listeria monocytogenes in selective and nonselective enrichment broths

Aim: To investigate the effect of selective and nonselective media on the expression of ActA and InlB proteins in Listeria monocytogenes. Methods and Results: Polyclonal antibodies to InlB and ActA were used in western blotting to determine the effect of selective (BLEB, UVM, and FB) or nonselective (BHI and LB) enrichment broths or hotdog exudates. Of the 13 L. monocytogenes serotypes tested, 11 and 12 serotypes showed a strong InlB expression in brain heart infusion (BHI) and Luria‐Bertani (LB), respectively, while only seven and one serotypes showed a strong ActA expression in these two respective broths, and others showed a weaker or no expression. On the contrary, in selective broths, expression of InlB was either very weak or undetectable. However, ActA expression was stronger in 12 serotypes when grown in buffered Listeria enrichment broth (BLEB), 11 in University of Vermont medium (UVM), and 10 in Fraser broth (FB). When tested in hotdog exudates, InlB and ActA were detected in serotypes grown at 37°C but not at 4°C. Transmission electron microscopy, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and mRNA analysis further supported these observations. Conclusion: Overall, selective enrichment broths promote ActA while nonselective broths promote InlB expression. Significance and Impact of the study: As commonly recommended enrichment broths show differential InlB and ActA expression, proper media must be selected to avoid false results during antibody‐based detection of L. monocytogenes.     

原核表达MurA蛋白并制备其多克隆抗体用于免疫磁珠快速检测单增李斯特菌

【目的】制备MurA多抗,结合免疫磁珠与选择平板进行单增李斯特菌的快速检测,建立单增李斯特菌的免疫磁珠快速检测方法。【方法】构建MurA的原核表达载体,转化大肠杆菌进行优化表达。镍柱纯化表达产物,质谱鉴定重组蛋白,再免疫小鼠,制备其多克隆抗体。用所获多抗制备免疫磁珠,建立单增李斯特菌免疫磁珠-选择性培养基检测方法,并对人工污染牛奶样品进行检测。【结果】在大肠杆菌中高效表达了分子量约为72 kD的可溶性融合蛋白,质谱鉴定其为MurA蛋白;免疫小鼠获得的抗血清效价达1:10 000,与伤寒沙门氏菌、副溶血弧菌、大肠杆菌及属内其它病原菌均无交叉;所建立的免疫磁珠-选择性培养基检测法可检出浓度为103 CFU/mL及以上的单增李斯特菌,仅与英诺克李斯特菌存在一定交叉反应;牛奶样品单次仅需9 h增菌就能被检出,较常规增菌时间缩短39 h;检测限为0.4 CFU/mL。【结论】表达并纯化得到高纯度的单增李斯特菌MurA蛋白,制备的鼠源多克隆抗体亲和力高,特异性好;建立了快速检测单增李斯特菌的免疫磁珠联合选择性培养基法,在灵敏度不变的情况下,实现24 h内成功对牛奶样品的检测,较国标法减少42 h以上。     

Identification and disruption of btlA,a locus involved in bile tolerance and general stress resistance in Listeria monocytogenes

A transposon Tn917 mutant of Listeria monocytogenes L028 was isolated on the basis of reduced growth on agar adjusted to pH 5.5. The disrupted gene, designated btlA (bile tolerance locus), encodes a putative secondary transporter of the major facilitator superfamily, which has significant homology to yxiO in Bacillus subtilis (lmo1417 in L. monocytogenes EGDe). The mutant demonstrated decreased growth rates relative to the wild-type when grown in sub-lethal levels of various stressors (acid, salt, ethanol, bile, SDS, ampicillin and phosphomycin). The mutant was also more sensitive to lethal levels of bile. A pORI19 insertion mutant demonstrated similar phenotypes. Murine virulence studies indicated that disruption of btlA does not influence virulence potential. BtlA therefore represents a membrane protein essential for the maintenance of homeostasis under stress conditions, but is not involved in pathogenicity.     

凉拌豆制品中单核细胞增生李斯特菌生长模型建立的研究

单核细胞增生李斯特菌是凉拌豆制品中检出率较高的一种致病菌。本研究考察了温度(4℃、15℃、25℃、30℃和37℃)对凉拌豆制品中单核细胞增生李斯特菌生长的影响,并采用SGompertz和SLogistic模型对不同温度下单核细胞增生李斯特菌的生长数据进行拟合;在此基础上,以拟合度(R2)、准确因子(A_f)和偏差因子(B_f)为指标,比较并建立了凉拌豆制品中单核细胞增生李斯特菌的二级生长模型。结果表明,SGompertz模型能更好的拟合凉拌豆制品中单核细胞增生李斯特菌在不同温度下的生长数据,平方根模型能够较准确地预测凉拌豆制品中单核细胞增生李斯特菌的生长状况,因此依次选择此两种模型作为单核细胞增生李斯特菌在凉拌豆制品中的一级和二级生长模型,且模型具有可靠性。研究结果可为凉拌豆制品中单核细胞增生李斯特菌的定量风险评估提供依据。     

Expression of cellular antigens of Listeria monocytogenes that react with monoclonal antibodies C11E9 and EM-7G1 under acid-, salt- or temperature-induced stress environments

AIMS: To study the expression of cellular antigens of Listeria monocytogenes that react with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) C11E9 and EM-7G1 under acid-, salt- or temperature-induced stress environments. METHODS AND RESULTS: The reaction patterns of antibodies to L. monocytogenes held in stressful environments for a short duration (3 h) or grown for extended periods (16-72 h) were investigated. During both short or prolonged exposure to stress environments of high temperature (45 degrees C) and NaCl (>1.5%, w/v), reactions of whole cells of L. monocytogenes to antibodies were severely affected as determined by ELISA and by the reduced expression of the antibody-reactive 66 kDa antigen in the Western blot assay. Conversely, cold (4-15 degrees C) or acid (pH 2-3) stress environments had very little effect on antigen expression or antibody reaction. Additionally, heat-killed cells showed reduced reactions to these antibodies when compared with unheated cells. Artificially created stress environments in hotdog slurry also affected the antigen expression in L. monocytogenes. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the antibody-reactive antigens were uniformly present on the surface of the cells. Morphological characteristics following growth in stressed environments revealed that heat stress at 45 degrees C caused L. monocytogenes cells to be elongated and to form clumps; whereas, osmotic stress (5.5% NaCl, w/v) caused filamentous appearance with multiple septa along the length of the cell. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that MAb C11E9 or EM-7G1 could detect L. monocytogenes from cold or acid-stress environments; however, they may show weaker reactions with heat or osmotically stressed cells or cells grown at 4 degrees C. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Bacteria in food are routinely subjected to various stresses, induced by cold, heat, salt or acid during processing and storage. Whether stresses would modify the expression of cellular antigens of L. monocytogenes is of a great concern for immunodetections in food products.     

荧光定量PCR检测干旱胁迫下长春花Crlea基因的相对表达

首次从长春花中克隆了Crlea（Crlea for Catharanthus roseus late embryogenesis abundant）的全长基因,采用荧光定量PCR方法对干旱胁迫下长春花叶片和根部Crlea基因的表达模式进行监测,结果表明,在0.5～8 h的胁迫时间中,叶片和根部的Crlea基因表现出相似的积累模式。长春花Crlea基因的表达随着胁迫时间的延长而表达增强。在叶片中,在6 h和8 h的干旱处理后,Crlea基因表达显著提高,分别是未处理材料的9.984和20.431倍。在根部, 在8 h的处理后,Crlea基因的表达量显著提高（2.831倍于对照)。初步结果表明Crlea基因的表达没有组织特异性,并且为干旱胁迫正调控。     

Listeria monocytogenes Mutants Carrying Newcastle Disease Virus F Gene Fused to its actA and plcB： In vitro Expression and Immunogenicity in Chickens

Recombinant Listeria monocytogenes mutants carrying Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusionprotein gene F were constructed by homologous recombination.NDV F or its truncated fragment Fa wasused as the model heterologous gene to be integrated into actA or plcB downstream of their signal sequences.Correct orientation of the inserted genes was verified by polymerase chain reaction amplification of F or Fa.The inserted F and Fa were expressed in the two recombinants Lm-AactA-F and Lm-AplcB-Fa as shown bysodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot.Both recombinantsexhibited reduced virulence to embryonated eggs and mice by about 1.5-2.5 logs as compared with theparent wild strain 10403S. They were also less invasive than strain 10403S (P<0.05). Chickens receiving therecombinant strains orally or intraperitoneally were partially protected from virulent NDV challenge possiblydue to enhancement of non-specific immunity because the antibody titers against the homologous virus strainor the recombinant truncated fusion protein were marginal. Further research is needed in other animal modelsto see if the low antibody response results from insufficient expression of the heterologous genes as a resultof failure of L. monocytogenes or its recombinants to persist or replicate in chickens.     

Selection of housekeeping genes for gene expression studies in human reticulocytes using real-time PCR

Background  

Control genes, which are often referred to as housekeeping genes, are frequently used to normalise mRNA levels between different samples. However, the expression level of these genes may vary among tissues or cells and may change under certain circumstances. Thus, the selection of housekeeping genes is critical for gene expression studies. To address this issue, 7 candidate housekeeping genes including several commonly used ones were investigated in isolated human reticulocytes. For this, a simple ΔCt approach was employed by comparing relative expression of 'pairs of genes' within each sample. On this basis, stability of the candidate housekeeping genes was ranked according to repeatability of the gene expression differences among 31 samples.     

应用乳酸菌生物保护剂控制肉制品中单增李斯特菌的研究进展

肉制品营养丰富,极易被微生物污染,单增李斯特菌是污染肉制品主要病原菌之一。乳酸菌做为生物保护剂已经被广泛应用于食品中控制单增李斯特菌。本文首先分析了我国肉制品中单增李斯特菌的污染状况,总结了乳酸菌应用于肉制品安全控制的概况;然后进一步详细介绍了乳酸菌对单增李斯特菌的抑菌机理,着重探讨了乳酸菌对单增李斯特菌致病能力(生长、抗性和毒性)的影响;文章最后指出了乳酸菌在食品应用中存在的问题,并对未来的研究方向提供了建议,以期为乳酸菌在食品安全控制中的应用提供参考。