Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of dextranase genes from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron

A genomic bank was constructed in Escherichia coli HB101, consisting of DNA fragments from Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron strain 489 inserted within the vector pBR322. By screening on complex medium containing blue dextran, 10 stable dextranase-positive (Dex+) clones were isolated. Seven groups of Dex+ inserts were identified on the basis of their restriction maps and hybridization responses. Dextanase activity of the recombinant clones was weak, and was revealed on the selection medium after 15 days. Subcloning of a Sau3AI partially digested 3.2-kb insert in the expression vector pDR720 greatly enhanced dextranse activity on blue dextran plates in one clone, but the delay remained unaltered. This suggested that the enzyme was released by cell lysis. Expression of this 0.7-kb subcloned insert was dependent on the promoter region of tryptophan operon carried by pDR720.     

Teichoic acid choline esterase, a novel hydrolytic activity in Streptococcus oralis

Streptococcus oralis contains an enzyme that can remove a limited amount of choline residues when tested on purified cell walls. This activity has been identified as an esterase that exhibits some biochemical properties similar to those previously found for several lytic enzymes of S. pneumoniae and its bacteriophages.     

新疆维吾尔族、哈萨克族2型糖尿患者群肠道菌群中直肠真杆菌与多形拟杆菌的定量研究

目的分析新疆维吾尔族、哈萨克族正常糖耐量人群和2型糖尿患者群肠道菌群中直肠真杆菌与多形拟杆菌的量变差异,探讨肠道菌群与2型糖尿病（T2DM）的相关性。方法采用16S rDNA实时荧光定量RT-PCR技术相对定量法。结果分别比较4组人群肠道菌群中直肠真杆菌与多形拟杆菌数量的对数值,与维吾尔族正常组比较,该民族T2DM组中直肠真杆菌的量差异有统计学意义（P=0.0125）,与哈萨克族正常组比较,该民族T2DM组中直肠真杆菌的量差异有统计学意义（P=0.0261）,两民族正常组、T2DM组之间直肠真杆菌的量差异均未见统计学意义;与维吾尔族正常组比较,该民族T2DM组中多形拟杆菌的量差异有统计学意义（P=0.0003）,哈萨克族T2DM组与正常组中多形拟杆菌的量差异有统计学意义（P=0.0055）,两民族正常组之间多形拟杆菌的量差异有统计学意义（P=0.0154）,两民族T2DM组之间多形拟杆菌的量差异未见统计学意义。结论直肠真杆菌与多形拟杆菌数量的变化,与新疆维吾尔族、哈萨克族2型糖尿病的发生（可能）相关,需要进一步深入探讨。     

多形拟杆菌对糖尿病模型小鼠的影响

目的研究多形拟杆菌(BT)干预糖尿病模型小鼠后对血糖、体重和C肽的影响。方法 (1)用四氧嘧啶(200 mg/kg腹腔注射)制备糖尿病模型小鼠,并分成四组:空白组(n=10)、空白给菌组(n=10)、四氧嘧啶糖尿病模型组(n=11)和模型给菌组(n=11),15 d。(2)BHI血琼脂培养基培养ATCC 29148标准菌株,比浊法测定混悬菌液数量。(3)用多形拟杆菌菌液干预空白给菌组和模型给菌组小鼠,观察15 d中四组小鼠的体重、空腹血糖水平的变化;实时荧光定量PCR测定小鼠肠道内多形拟杆菌的数量;运用酶联免疫法(ELISA)测定血清中C肽的水平。结果 (1)给予菌悬液后,空白给菌组与空白组相比,BT在第3天就可以定植并维持到第15天。与模型组相比,模型给菌组在第15天时可以定植;(2)线性回归相关性分析显示,肠道内多形拟杆菌与体重呈负性相关(r=-0.70,P0.05);与空腹血糖(FPG)呈正性相关(r=0.71,P0.05);与C肽呈负性相关(r=-0.62,P0.05);与胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)呈正性相关(r=0.55,P0.05);与胰岛素分泌指数(HOMA-IS)呈负性相关(r=-0.43,P0.05)。结论 (1)外源性灌胃给予多形拟杆菌可以在肠道内定植。(2)肠道内多形拟杆菌的数量变化与糖尿病有相关性。     

Probing 3'-ssDNA loop formation in E. coli RecBCD/RecBC-DNA complexes using non-natural DNA: a model for "Chi" recognition complexes

The equilibrium binding of Escherichia coli RecBC and RecBCD helicases to duplex DNA ends containing varying lengths of polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacers within pre-formed 3'-single-stranded (ss) DNA ((dT)n) tails was studied. These studies were designed to test a previous proposal that the 3'-(dT)n tail can be looped out upon binding RecBC and RecBCD for 3'-ssDNA tails with n>or=6 nucleotides. Equilibrium binding of protein to unlabeled DNA substrates with ends containing PEG-substituted 3'-ssDNA tails was examined by competition with a Cy3-labeled reference DNA which undergoes a Cy3 fluorescence enhancement upon protein binding. We find that the binding affinities of both RecBC and RecBCD for a DNA end are unaffected upon substituting PEG for the ssDNA between the sixth and the final two nucleotides of the 3'-(dT)n tail. However, placing PEG at the end of the 3'-(dT)n tail increases the binding affinities to their maximum values (i.e. the same as binding constants for RecBC or RecBCD to a DNA end with only a 3'-(dT)6 tail). Equilibrium binding studies of a RecBC mutant containing a nuclease domain deletion, RecB(Deltanuc)C, suggest that looping of the 3'-tail (when n>or=6 nucleotides) occurs even in the absence of the RecB nuclease domain, although the nuclease domain stabilizes such loop formation. Computer modeling of the RecBCD-DNA complexes suggests that the loop in the 3'-ssDNA tail may form at the RecB/RecC interface. Based on these results we suggest a model for how a loop in the 3'-ssDNA tail might form upon encounter of a "Chi" recognition sequence during unwinding of DNA by the RecBCD helicase.     

Histidine triad-like motif of the rotavirus NSP2 octamer mediates both RTPase and NTPase activities

Rotavirus NSP2 is an abundant non-structural RNA-binding protein essential for forming the viral factories that support replication of the double-stranded RNA genome. NSP2 exists as stable doughnut-shaped octamers within the infected cell, representing the tail-to-tail interaction of two tetramers. Extending diagonally across the surface of each octamer are four highly basic grooves that function as binding sites for single-stranded RNA. Between the N and C-terminal domains of each monomer is a deep electropositive cleft containing a catalytic site that hydrolyzes the gamma-beta phosphoanhydride bond of any NTP. The catalytic site has similarity to those of the histidine triad (HIT) family of nucleotide-binding proteins. Due to the close proximity of the grooves and clefts, we investigated the possibility that the RNA-binding activity of the groove promoted the insertion of the 5'-triphosphate moiety of the RNA into the cleft, and the subsequent hydrolysis of its gamma-beta phosphoanhydride bond. Our results show that NSP2 hydrolyzes the gammaP from RNAs and NTPs through Mg(2+)-dependent activities that proceed with similar reaction velocities, that require the catalytic His225 residue, and that produce a phosphorylated intermediate. Competition assays indicate that although both substrates enter the active site, RNA is the preferred substrate due to its higher affinity for the octamer. The RNA triphosphatase (RTPase) activity of NSP2 may account for the absence of the 5'-terminal gammaP on the (-) strands of the double-stranded RNA genome segments. This is the first report of a HIT-like protein with a multifunctional catalytic site, capable of accommodating both NTPs and RNAs during gammaP hydrolysis.     

Restored fitness leads to long-term persistence of resistant Bacteroides strains in the human intestine

Acquired antibiotic resistance typically confers a cost to the bacteria, but these costs can be reduced by genetic compensation over time. The fitness of two Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron clones consecutively isolated in vivo was studied using an in vitro pair-wise competition method. The isolates derived from faecal samples of two clindamycin-exposed healthy volunteers and the two B. thetaiotaomicron clone types could be followed up to 18 months in these two subjects. The two clones were originally susceptible to clindamycin and lacked erm genes; however, after 7 days of clindamycin administration they carried the erm (erythromycin methylase)(G) or (F) gene, respectively, and expressed phenotypic clindamycin resistance. The initial cost of acquired resistance was high as seen in the in vitro pair-wise competition experiments. At 2 weeks post-administration, no growth disadvantage was detected for isolates of either of the two clones in the in vitro experiments and this regained fitness remained for isolates collected up to 18 months. Competition analysis of an in vitro isolated erm(G) positive transconjugant also demonstrated an initial reduction of fitness that was restored over time. The results indicate that the biological cost associated with a resistance gene can rapidly be compensated during in vivo growth. Thus, once the resistant clone has gained its resistance determinant it will be difficult to eliminate.