THE EFFECT OF PHOSPHATE STATUS ON THE KINETICS OF CYANOPHAGE INFECTION IN THE OCEANIC CYANOBACTERIUM SYNECHOCOCCUS SP. WH78031

Phycoerythrin-containing Synechococcus species are considered to be major primary producers in nutrient-limited gyres of subtropical and tropical oceanic provinces, and the cyanophages that infect them are thought to influence marine biogeochemical cycles. This study begins an examination of the effects of nutrient limitation on the dynamics of cyanophage/Synechococcus interactions in oligotrophic environments by analyzing the infection kinetics of cyanophage strain S-PM2 (Cyanomyoviridae isolated from coastal water off Plymouth, UK) propagated on Synechococcus sp. WH7803 grown in either phosphate-deplete or phosphate-replete conditions. When the growth of Synechococcus sp. WH7803 in phosphate-deplete medium was followed after infection with cyanophage, an 18-h delay in cell lysis was observed when compared to a phosphate-replete control. Synechococcus sp. WH7803 cultures grown at two different rates (in the same nutritional conditions) both lysed 24 h postinfection, ruling out growth rate itself as a factor in the delay of cell lysis. One-step growth kinetics of S-PM2 propagated on host Synechococcus sp. WH7803, grown in phosphate-deplete and-replete media, revealed an apparent 80% decrease in burst size in phosphate-deplete growth conditions, but phage adsorption kinetics ofS-PM2 under these conditions showed no differences. These results suggested that the cyanophages established lysogeny in response to phosphate-deplete growth of host cells. This suggestion was supported by comparison of the proportion of infected cells that lysed under phosphate-replete and-deplete conditions, which revealed that only 9.3% of phosphate-deplete infected cells lysed in contrast to 100% of infected phosphate-replete cells. Further studies with two independent cyanophage strains also revealed that only approximately 10% of infected phosphate-deplete host cells released progeny cyanophages. These data strongly support the concept that the phosphate status of the Synechococcus cell will have a profound effect on the eventual outcome of phage-host interactions and will therefore exert a similarly extensive effect on the dynamics of carbon flow in the marine environment.     

Statistical optimization of the lysis agents for Gram-negative bacterial cells in a microfluidic device

Through statistically designed experiments, lysis agents were optimized to effectively disrupt bacterial cells in a microfluidic device. Most surfactants caused the efficient lysis of Gram-positive microbes, but not of Gram-negative bacteria. A Plackett-Burman design was used to select the components that increase the efficiency of the lysis of the Gram-negative bacteriaEscherichia coli. Using this experimental design, both lysozyme and benzalkonium chloride were shown to significantly increase the cell lysis efficiency, and ATP was extracted in proportion to the lysis efficiency. Benzalkonium chloride affected the cell membrane physically, while lysozyme destroyed the cell wall, and the amount of ATP extracted increased through the synergistic interaction of these two components. The two-factor response-surface design method was used to determine the optimum concentrations of lysozyme and benzalkonium chloride, which were found to be 202 and 99 ppm, respectively. The lysis effect was further verified by microscopic observations in the microchannels. These results indicate that Gram-negative cells can be lysed efficiently in a microfluidic device, thereby allowing the rapid detection of bacterial cells using a bioluminescence-based assay of the released ATP.     

Investigation of the Structure of Rhizopus Cell Wall with Lytic Enzymes

The components and structure of the cell wall of Rhizopus delemar were investigated using purified lytic enzymes, protease and chitosanase from Bacillus R-4 and chitinase II from Streptomyces orientalis. When these enzymes were used individually they only partially lysed the cell wall, but when allowed to react on the cell wall together, a complete lysis was achieved by cooperative action. These modes of action on the cell wall and the chemical and morphological data suggested that the cell wall structure was different in Rhizopus delemar of Zygomycetes from filamentous fungi of Euascomycetes and that its wall structure might be composed mainly of chitin fibers cemented by chitosan and protein or peptides scattered in a mosaic manner.     

Lysis of growing fissin-yeast cells induced by aculeacin A,a new antifungal antibiotic

Cells of Schizosaccharomyces pombe grown in the presence of aculeacin A, a peptide antibiotic, were lysed resulting the death of cells. Under high osmolarity, the cellular lysis induced by aculeacin A was considerably reduced. The use of synchronous-culture systems distinguished cell elongation from cell division revealed that the sites of aculeacin A-induced lysis on the fission yeast were the end(s) and the cell plate region, corresponded to the regions of the cell wall synthesis. Aculeacin A-resistant survivors exhibited morphological alterations which were swollen at one or both ends of the cell and appeared drumstick or dumbbel like; the wall of the bulge region was observed to be stained with a fluorescent brightener, as well as that of the cell plate region. These effects of aculeacin A are discussed as compared with effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose.     

Evidence for the occurrence of autolytic enzymes in Methanobacterium wolfei

Cultures of the pseudomurein-containing archaebacterium Methanobacterium wolfei regularly lysed a short while after the energy source H₂ was exhausted, or when H₂ in growing cultures was replaced by N₂. During lysis of cells, the DNA was released into the culture medium.No intact cell wall sacculi of lysed cells could be detected, but a soluble fragment of the pseudomurein was isolated and characterized.The lysate of Methanobacterium wolfei was used to lyse other species of the genus Methanobacterium. Since no phages were detected, autolytic enzymes probably are responsible for cell lysis.     

Lysis of Yeast Cells Showing Low Susceptibility to Zymolyase

Lysis of commercial baker’s yeast cells was examined using Zymolyase. The lysis was stimulated by the addition of sodium sulfite or potassium chloride or both. The effect of potassium chloride was less than that of sodium sulfite, but the two compounds acted synergistically. The cells were effectively lysed by Zymolyase in the presence of 0.1 M sodium sulfite and 0.8 M potassium chloride. The extent of lysis was similar to that of brewery yeast cells obtained from a brewhouse. Cells pretreated with sodium sulfite did not show much of an increase in susceptibility to Zymolyase, but were effectively lysed by the enzyme in the presence of potassium chloride. Potassium chloride stimulated lysis only in the presence of Zymolyase. Yeast cells treated with cupric ions in the presence of sodium sulfite became highly susceptible to Zymolyase, suggesting irreversible destruction of the sodium sulfite-sensitive and potassium chloride-sensitive structure of the cell wall.

Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae prepared under various culture conditions were completely lysed by Zymolyase in the presence of sodium sulfite or potassium chloride or both.     

Interactions between a genetically markedPseudomonas fluorescens strain and bacteriophage ΦR2f in soil: Effects of nutrients, alginate encapsulation, and the wheat rhizosphere

The introduction of bacteriophages could potentially be used as a control method to limit the population size of engineered bacteria that have been introduced into soil. Hence, the ability of a species-specific phage, R2f, to infect and lyse its host, a Pseudomonas fluorescens R2f transposon Tn5 derivative, in soil, was studied. Control experiments in liquid media revealed that productive lysis of host cells by phage R2f occurred when cells were freely suspended, whereas cells present in alginate beads resisted lysis. The presence of nutrients enhanced the degree of lysis as well as the production of phage progeny, both with the suspended cells and with cells escaped from the alginate beads. Experiments in which host cells and phage R2f were introduced into two soils of different texture revealed that host cells were primarily lysed in the presence of added nutrients, and phage reached highest titres in these nutrient-amended soils. Encapsulation of the host cells in alginate beads inhibited lysis by the phage in soil. Populations of free host cells introduced into soil that colonized the rhizosphere of wheat were not substantially lysed by phage R2f. However, P. fluorescens R2f populations colonizing the rhizosphere after introduction in alginate beads were reduced in size by a factor of 1,000. Cells migrating from the alginate beads towards the roots may have been in a state of enhanced metabolic activity, allowing for phage R2f infection and cell lysis. Correspondence to: J.D. van Elsas     

Antibacterial activity of cyclodextrins against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus</Emphasis> strains

Growth of alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans C-125 both on agar plates and in liquid culture was inhibited by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD). Furthermore, resting cells of the strain were lysed by contact with methyl-β-CD higher than 10 mM. α-CD also showed lysis activity against Bacillus and related strains. The activity was not observed with Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria except for Bacillus strains. Fluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy of cells revealed that methyl-β-CD disrupted cell membranes, and consequently, the cells were lysed. This is a novel physiological property of CDs.     

Histological and Ultrastructural Studies of the Interaction of Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites with Mouse Omentum in Experimental Infection1

Mouse omentum was studied after intraperitoneal challenge with tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasites inhabit omental histiocytes, fibroblasts, mesothelial cells, and free peritoneal macrophages. Recently infected cells showed enhanced metabolic and functional activity. Villous projections of the parasitophorous vacuole wall appeared, usually opposite the anterior pole of the parasite. In mesothelial cells, projections formed terminal swellings not observed in other infected cells. Activation of host cells was followed by reduction of the density of the cytoplasmic matrix, autophagosome formation, and intracellular edema, indicating the damage. The wall of the parasitophorous vacuole loses the supporting host cell endoplasmic reticulum that was attached to the vacuole just after entrance of the parasite into the cell. Then lysis of the parasitophorous vacuole and complete cell destruction occurs. The growth of parasites in undamaged cells does not coincide with the inflammatory response. Inflammation of the peritoneum develops only after the start of mass destruction of infected cells. Thus tachyzoites of Toxoplasma exert significant pathogenic effects by their ability to activate the host cell, causing lysis of the parasitophorous vacuole and subsequent destruction of the entire cell.     

沙门菌噬菌体抗性菌的筛选鉴定及致病力研究

【目的】筛选鉴定沙门菌噬菌体侵染裂解过程中的抗性菌株,研究抗性菌株的生物学特性及致病力的差异,为解决噬菌体治疗应用中的抗性菌问题提供理论依据。【方法】本研究通过次级感染法和双层平板法筛选沙门菌噬菌体抗性菌,通过生物学特性和毒力基因检测比较宿主菌ATCC 13076及其噬菌体抗性菌株R3之间的差异,并通过小鼠攻毒实验和细胞粘附实验比较致病力强弱。【结果】噬菌体抗性菌株R3的生长速度较宿主菌略慢;生化及毒力基因检测均表明抗性菌株与宿主菌无差异;与宿主菌相比,抗性菌R3的LD50增加了74.8%(P0.05);对MODE-K细胞粘附能力稍弱,但是差异不显著。【结论】该研究表明,与噬菌体宿主菌相比,噬菌体抗性菌株的生物学特性和毒力基因并没有改变,对小鼠致病力减弱,但是对MODE-K细胞粘附能力差异不显著。     

蛭弧菌的分离及其生长条件和裂解能力的研究

噬菌蛭弧菌具有裂解病原菌、净化水体的功效,从海洋环境中分离到4株Bh04系列蛭弧菌,对其生长条件进行了测定,同时研究了它们对61株菌株的裂解能力。结果表明,在1%～3%的盐度范围内,蛭弧菌均可生长,最适盐度为3%;在15～30℃温度条件下蛭弧菌也可生长,但最适培养温度为20-25℃;只有在使用活的宿主菌的培养条件下,蛭弧菌才能生长。4株蛭弧菌分别可裂解21、24、40、43株菌,各占总试验菌数(61)的34.4%、39.3%、65.6%和70.5%。4株蛭弧菌一起,则可裂解55菌株,占总试验菌株的90.2%。研究结果揭示了蛭弧菌在消除海洋环境中有害细菌方面的潜在应用价值。     

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus gen. et sp. n., a predatory,ectoparasitic, and bacteriolytic microorganism

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, gen. et sp. n., a predatory and ectoparasitic microorganism with lytic activity against susceptible bacteria, is described, as are techniques for isolation and cultivation. These unusual bacteria cause reactions that are similar in their outward manifestations to bacteriophage-induced lysis. Upon plating a mixture of host bacteria and parasites, confluent lysis or single plaque formation occurs, just as in titration experiments with bacteriophage. However, the parasite plaques develop more slowly than phage plaques. Lysis of host bacteria in liquid culture is accompanied by a decrease in optical density; actually, a population of infected host bacteria is replaced by a population of the tiny parasite.Individual cells of the presently known strains ofBdellovibrio bacteriovorus are typically about 0.3 µ in width and, thus, are considerably narrower than ordinary bacteria. Therefore, they can pass Millipore filters of 0.45 µ pore size diameter. Their shape is often vibrio-like. They possess one unusually thick polar flagellum of about 50 mµ diameter, and they show a distinctive type of motility.The interaction betweenBdellovibrio and the attacked host bacterium can be followed in the phase-contrast microscope; it is characterized by a physical attack of the highly motile parasite, attachment to the bacterial cell surface, and lysis of the host cell.It has not yet been possible to cultivateBdellovibrio in its parasitic form on any artificial substrate. All parasitic strains require living host cells for their propagation. However, saprophytic mutants can be selected from a population of the parasite. These saprophytic derivatives are unable to lyse living bacteria as does the wild-type parasite. On the basis of morphological and physiological properties, a saprophyte strain which has been examined in some detail shows no close relationship to any of the already known categories of bacteria.A study of the kinetics of growth ofBdellovibrio in mixed culture with a susceptible host has disclosed that the number of parasites produced is not proportional to the number of host bacteria killed during the same period. After the majority of the host cells has been destroyed, there is still a considerable increase in parasites, indicating that they grow at the expense of material released from the lysed bacteria. Under the conditions of this trial, the generation time is about 100 minutes.All presently known isolates ofBdellovibrio possess lytic activity only against gram-negative bacteria. The individual strains, however, show certain differences in their host activity spectra; some have a restricted host range, while others are able to attack a broad spectrum of host bacteria.     

Lysis of halophilic Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio costicolus induced by chaotropic anions

High concentration (1.0 M) of KSCN, but not of NaSCN, induced lysis of slightly halophilic Vibrio alginolyticus and moderately halophilic Vibrio costicolus, and the decrease in absorbance of the cell suspension was complete after 30 min at 25°C. Replacement of K⁺ with Na⁺ effectively prevented the lysis by SCN⁻. K⁺ salts of NO₃⁻, Br⁻, however, induced no significant lysis. In electron micrographs, a prolonged exposure of the cells of V. alginolyticus to 1.0 M KSCN displaced the nucleoplasm to maintain close contact with the cell membranes. After 40 min of interaction, 50% of the cellular protein, 96% of RNA and 94% of DNA were recovered in the lysed cells. In contrast to lysis in hypotonic conditions, the lysis induced by KSCN is due mainly to a partial release of protein from the cells. V. costicolus was more susceptible to SCN⁻ than V. alginolyticus, whereas nonhalophilic Escherichia coli was resistant to 1.0 M KSCN. Thus, lysis by SCN⁻ is characteristic of halophilic bacteria and cell membranes of more halophilic bacteria are more susceptible to chaotropic anions. The protective effect of Na⁺ observed here was considered to be manifested by specific interactions of Na⁺ with components of cell membranes, thereby rendering their structures resistant to the action of chaotropic anions.     

Distribution and identification of actinomycetes lysing cyanobacteria in a eutrophic lake

Among 83 actinomycete strains isolated from lake sediments, about half were found to lyse cyanobacteria. One (S-9 strain), identified as Streptomyces phaeofaciens, grew well on lawns of living cyanobacteria and rapidly lysed the cyanobacterial cells. The amino acid, L-lysine, secreted by this isolate, was found to be one cause of lysis. Scanning electron microscopy of cyanobacterial cells incubated in the presence of L-lysine revealed that L-lysine caused severe damage to the cell wall. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Iron Acquisition and Transport in Staphylococcus aureus

Pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria encounter many obstacles in route to successful invasion and subversion of a mammalian host. As such, bacterial species have evolved clever ways to prevent the host from clearing an infection, including the production of specialized virulence systems aimed at counteracting host defenses or providing protection from host immune mechanisms. Positioned at the interface of bacteria/host interactions is the bacterial cell wall, a dynamic surface organelle that serves a multitude of functions, ranging from physiologic processes such as structural scaffold and barrier to osmotic lysis to pathogenic properties, for example the deposition of surface molecules and the secretion of cytotoxins. In order to succeed in a battle with host defenses, invading bacteria need to acquire the nutrient iron, which is sequestered within host tissues. A cell-wall based iron acquisition and import pathway was uncovered in Staphylococcus aureus. This pathway, termed the isd or iron-responsive surface determinant locus, consists of a membrane transporter, cell wall anchored heme-binding proteins, heme/haptoglobin receptors, two heme oxygenases, and sortase B, a transpeptidase that anchors substrate proteins to the cell wall. Identification of the isd pathway provides an additional function to the already bountiful roles the cell wall plays in bacterial pathogenesis and provides new avenues for therapeutics to combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus. This review focuses on the molecular attributes of this locus, with emphasis placed on the mechanism of iron transport and the role of such a system during infection.     

SODIUM DEPRIVATION UNDER ALKALINE CONDITIONS CAUSES RAPID DEATH OF THE FILAMENTOUS CYANOBACTERIUM SPIRULINA PLATENSIS1

Like other alkaliphiles, the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis (Norst.) Geitler requires sodium to function properly at elevated pH values. At pH 10.0, 150–250 mM Na⁺ were required for optimal growth, whereas 2.5 mM were sufficient for short-term photosynthetic oxygen evolution. The complete absence of sodium, however, caused S. platensis to deteriorate. O₂ evolution stopped, the absorbance at 620 nm corresponding to phycocyanin decreased, and the cells lysed within 1 h, a process accelerated by light. The activity of photosystem II, but not that of photosystem I, was affected in the process, which was irreversible unless sodium was readded within 15 minfrom the onset of the deprivation. The effect was mimicked, even in the presence of sodium, by the ionophore nigericin. We suggest that the cascade of events leading to cell lysis is primarily due to the inability of S. platensis to maintain a proton gradient (acid inside), possibly due to inactivity of a sodium/proton antiporter, as demonstrated for other alkaliphiles.     

Bacteriolytic activities of the free-living soil amoebae,Acanthamoeba castellanii,Acanthamoeba polyphaga andHartmannella vermiformis

Bacteriolytic activities of axenically grown free-living soil amoebaeAcanthamoeba castellanii, Acanthamoeba polyphaga andHartmannella vermiformis towards various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were determined. A spectrophotometric assay revealed that the specific bacteriolytic activities of bothAcanthamoeba species were higher as those of the threeHartmannella strains.Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Chromatium vinosum, Micrococcus luteus andPseudomonas fluorescens were more easily lysed than the other bacteria tested.Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Klebsiella aerogenes andSerratia marcescens were hardly affected at all by the amoebal bacteriolytic activities. Among the Gram-negative bacteria we observed differences in lysis sensitivity while the Gram-positive bacteria tested were sensitive to lysis. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel-electrophoresis in the pH range 3–10 was performed to separate the bacteriolytic isoenzymes of amoebae. Bacteriolytic patterns were shown by using an activity assay in which lysis bands were formed in the agar/bacteria gel-overlay. The activity assay revealed remarkable differences in typical banding patterns for bacteriolytic activities among amoebae. Distinct differences between typical pI points of bacteriolytic activities inAcanthamoeba andHartmannella were shown. Bacteriolytic activities ofHartmannella were more pronounced and observed in the isoelectric points (pI) range of 4.0–9.3 while forAcanthamoeba the range was pI 4.5–8.9.Abbreviations IEF isoelectric focusing - PAA-IEF polyacrylamide-isoelectric focusing - CCAP culture collection of algae and protozoa - AS amoeba saline medium - pI isoelectric points     

Sucrose-induced Autolysis and Development of Protoplast-like Cells of Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum

A growing culture of Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum partially lost its turbidity in the presence of 0.3 to 0.6 m sucrose without any extraneous supplements for cell wall degradation. The maximum effect was shown at 0.35 m of sucrose and the culture lost 40 to 50% of initial turbidity. The rate of lysis depended on the age of culture. The most rapid lysis occurred in the organisms of early exponential growing cultures, but no lysis was observed on those of late exponential and stationary phase cultures. The optimal pH was 5.5 to 6.0, and the optimal temperature 30 to 35°C. The sucrose-induced lysis was inhibited by bivalent cations (such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), heavy metal cations (such as Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺), enzymic inhibitors (such as PCMB) and fixative agents (such as formalin, glutaraldehyde), while organisms whose growth had been inhibited by antibiotics (such as chloramphenicol, tetracycline) were also resistant to sucrose-induced lysis. The sucrose-induced lysis was accompanied by striking morphological conversion from original rod cells (3.0~6.0}0.4~0.6 μ) to spherical cells (1.0~ 1.2 μ diameter). The sucrose-induced lysis was also observed on the relative strains of C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum and C. sporogenes, but not observed on many other species of Clostridium and aerobic bacteria tested. It was suggested that sucrose-induced lysis was a kind of bacterial autolysis which was induced by sucrose treatment. The bacterial spheres developed during the lysis may be the protoplasts.     

Settlement inhibition of fouling invertebrate larvae by metabolites of the marine bacterium halomonas marina within a polyurethane coating

The marine bacterium, Halomonas marina (ATCC 27129), was shown to inhibit settlement and development of the sessile invertebrates Balanus amphitrite and Bugula neritina. Different bacterial treatments were employed to investigate this interaction. Filmed bacteria and liquid suspensions of whole cells, lysed cells and culture filtrate all reduced settlement of B. amphitrite. Polyurethane coatings containing whole cells were partially inhibitory while lysed cells caused complete inhibition of B. amphitrite larval settlement. In contrast, culture filtrate in a polyurethane matrix stimulated settlement of B. amphitrite larvae. Whole cells, culture filtrate, and lysed cells embedded in a polyurethane coating also controlled B. neritina settlement and maturation.     

基于MS2噬菌体lys基因的质粒型条件自溶菌的构建与应用

【背景】传统外源蛋白的原核表达通常需要以超声破碎或者酶解的方式破碎菌体,过程比较烦琐。【目的】构建基于MS2噬菌体lys基因的质粒型条件自溶菌,以简化外源蛋白的获取流程。【方法】从MS2噬菌体中克隆lys基因,构建重组表达质粒,并在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中异源表达,以此构建质粒型条件自溶菌,通过生长曲线和菌落形成单位反映自溶菌裂解效率,利用SDS-PAGE检测外源蛋白释放情况。【结果】构建了pBAD-lys BL21(DE3)、pBAD-Opti-lys BL21(DE3)及pCDF-BAD-Opti-lys BL21(DE3)这3种质粒型条件自溶菌。以上自溶菌在阿拉伯糖诱导后其宿主裂解效率均为99.99%以上,CFU结果显示含pCDF-BAD-Opti-lys质粒的宿主裂解效果更优,在此自溶菌BL21(DE3)中表达含His标签的重组绿色荧光蛋白(enhanced green fluorescent protein,eGFP),经阿拉伯糖诱导后菌体中约63.00%以上的eGFP释放至胞外,利用Ni-NTA可以直接从培养基中纯化得到约30 kDa的单一目的蛋白。【结论】基于MS2噬菌体lys基因成功构建了阿拉伯糖诱导的质粒型条件自溶菌,此自溶菌能够以自我裂解的方式释放大部分胞内外源蛋白,简化传统外源蛋白获取流程。