The cellular location and effect on nisin immunity of the NisI protein from Lactococcus lactis N8 expressed in Escherichia coli and L. lactis

Abstract Vibrio anguillarum and Pasteurella piscicida are Gram-negative bacteria which are pathogenic for marine fish and we report here the first successful transformation of these two bacteria by electroporation. The optimal conditions for electroporation included a field strength of 12.5 kV cm^t-1 and a time constant of 5 ms using 0.2-cm cuvettes. With these parameters, three plasmids (pSU2718, pCML, pEV3) with molecular sizes of 2.6, 5 and 13.7 kb, respectively were successfully transformed into both pathogens. V. anguillarum isolates belonging to serotypes O1 and O2 were transformed with greatest efficiency, 2.5 × 10³ transformants per μg DNA, being achieved in the serotype O2 strains using plasmid pCML. Strains of serotype O3 were not transformed. In the case of P. piscicida the maximum efficiency achieved was 9.8 × 10² transformants per μg pCML plasmid DNA. This optimized system will allow development of procedures for the genetic manipulation of these pathogens.     

AN IMPROVED STRIPPING TECHNIQUE FOR LIGHTLY ARMORED DINOFLAGELLATES1

Identification of armored heterotrophic dinoflagellates relies, in part, on plate tabulations obtained by SEM. Currently, two methods are used to visualize plate morphology and develop plate tabulations: swelling the sutures between the cellulose plates of intact organisms or stripping off the outer membranes with ethanol to expose the underlying cellulose plates. Both approaches are problematic with lightly armored dinoflagellates because sutures do not consistently swell to enable visualization, and the outer membranes are not consistently stripped. Further, generic and species differences necessitate frequent modification of these protocols to obtain reliable results. We describe an improved membrane stripping technique using the detergent Triton X‐100. Our method provides a more consistent standardized approach to removing the outer membranes of lightly armored dinoflagellates, including Pfiesteria shumwayae Glasgow & Burkholder, a taxon that has, until now, proven very difficult to strip with currently published methods. This method allows visualization of the sulcus, a region previously difficult to observe, and will greatly facilitate taxonomic studies of the lightly armored forms.     

Search for live attenuated vaccine candidate against edwardsiellosis by mutating virulence-related genes of fish pathogen Edwardsiella tarda

Aims: The aims of this study were to construct and evaluate the live attenuated vaccine against edwardsiellosis on zebra fish model. Methods and Results: In this study, the deletion mutant of aroC gene for the biosynthesis of chorismic acid in Edwardsiella tarda EIB202 was firstly constructed by allelic exchange strategy. According to the genome information, 19 double mutants and one multiple mutant were successively constructed by deleting virulence‐associated genes based on the ΔaroC mutant. Zebra fish model was used to assay the virulence of the mutants by intramuscular (i.m.) injection. Fourteen mutants were significantly attenuated with accumulated mortality ranged from 0 to 63% (P < 0·05). The zebra fish vaccinated with ΔaroC, ΔaroCΔesrC, ΔaroCΔslyA and ΔaroCΔeseBCDΔesaC via i.m. injection showed ideal protection, resulting in relative per cent survival (RPS) of 68·3, 71·3, 80·1 and 81% against subsequent challenge with the wild‐type Edw. tarda EIB202. Conclusions: ΔaroCΔeseBCDΔesaC behaved a low virulence and the highest RPS on zebra fish model. When the zebra fish were vaccinated with ΔaroCΔeseBCDΔesaC via injection, the expression of immune‐related factors including IgM and MHC II was up‐regulated. Significance and Impact: The mutant ΔaroCΔeseBCDΔesaC might serve as an effective live attenuated vaccine against edwardsiellosis.     

应用绿色荧光蛋白标记迟缓爱德华菌感染斑马鱼

目的建立斑马鱼模型研究迟缓爱德华菌的致病性及感染途径。方法应用绿色荧光蛋白标记迟缓爱德华菌,追踪观察其感染斑马鱼的动力学过程及病理组织学变化。结果病理组织学检查以肝脏水肿变性,肝细胞萎缩、坏死、脱落,脾脏散在增生性结节、充血、水肿、淋巴细胞大量缺失等病变为主;感染后,该菌先后在斑马鱼肠道、鳃和皮肤中定植。结论斑马鱼可作为研究迟缓爱德华菌致病性的动物模型。肠道、鳃和皮肤可能是迟缓爱德华菌先后感染斑马鱼的主要途径。     

Evaluation of an in vitro cell assay to select attenuated bacterial mutants of Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella tarda to channel catfish

Aims: To evaluate the feasibility of using an in vitro cell assay to select attenuated bacterial mutants. Methods and Results: Using catfish gill cells G1B, the feasibility of using an in vitro assay instead of in vivo virulence assay using live fish to select attenuated bacterial mutants was evaluated in this study. Pearson correlation analysis between in vitro virulence to G1B cells and in vivo virulence of Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella tarda revealed that there was a significant correlation between the two (r = ?0·768, P value = 3·7 × 10^?16). Conclusions: The in vitro cell assay might be initially used to screen large quantities of bacteria to select attenuated mutants of catfish pathogens. Significance and Impact of the Study: The in vitro cell assay using catfish gill cells to identify attenuated mutants of catfish pathogens will reduce cost involved in the in vivo virulence assay that requires many fish and aquariums.     

迟钝爱德华氏菌菌蜕系统的构建

菌蜕系统（Bacterial Ghost,BG）的形成是利用噬菌体PhiX174的裂解蛋白E在革兰阴性菌细胞膜形成一个跨膜孔道结构,使细菌胞内物质由孔道排出而引起死亡。这种基因灭活的过程不引起细菌表面结构的任何理化变性,因此生成的细菌空壳具有与活菌相同功能的膜抗原结构,可诱导机体的体液免疫和细胞免疫应答。检测和比较了在铁调控启动子PyncE和温度调控启动子PR/cI控制下的E基因对迟钝爱德华氏菌菌蜕系统（EBG）的生成效率。结果显示,2种启动子均能成功生成EBG,电镜下可观察到细菌两端有直径约为80～400 nm的孔洞。传统菌蜕系统所用的热启动子在诱导后3 h开始裂解,8 h后细菌停止死亡;而新型铁诱导启动子在诱导后2 h细菌即完全停止生长。本研究为将来开发菌蜕载体疫苗防治爱德华氏菌症奠定了基础。     

Inv1: an Edwardsiella tarda invasin and a protective immunogen that is required for host infection

Invasin is an outer membrane protein that is known to mediate entry of enteric bacteria into mammalian cells. In this study, we analyzed the function and immunoprotective potential of the invasin Inv1 from Edwardsiella tarda, a serious fish pathogen that can also infect humans. In silico analysis indicated that Inv1 possesses a conserved N-terminal DUF3442 domain and a C-terminal group 1 bacterial Ig-like domain. Subcellular localization analysis showed that Inv1 is exposed on cell surface and could be recognized by specific antibodies. Mutation of inv1 had no effect on bacterial growth but attenuates overall bacterial virulence and impaired the ability of E. tarda to attach and invade into host cells. Consistent with these observations, antibody blocking of Inv1 inhibited E. tarda infection of host cells. To examine the immunoprotective potential of Inv1, recombinant Inv1 (rInv1) corresponding to the DUF3442 domain was purified and used to vaccinate Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). The results showed that rInv1 induced strong protection against lethal-dose challenge of E. tarda. ELISA analysis showed that rInv1-vaccinated fish produced specific serum antibodies that could enhance the serum bactericidal activity against E. tarda. Taken together, these results indicate that Inv1 is a surface-localized virulence factor that is involved in host infection and can induce effective immunoprotection when used as a subunit vaccine.