Molecular typing of epidemic and nonepidemic Vibrio cholerae isolates and differentiation of V. cholerae and V. mimicus isolates by PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis

AIMS: To examine the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis to differentiate epidemic and nonepidemic Vibrio cholerae isolates as well as to differentiate V. cholerae and Vibrio mimicus isolates. METHODS AND RESULTS: By both PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and PCR-SSCP analysis of groEL-I on chromosome 1 and groEL-II on chromosome 2, V. cholerae isolates gave distinct profiles compared with V. mimicus isolates. In addition, PCR-SSCP analysis of groEL-I and groEL-II could differentiate between V. cholerae epidemic and nonepidemic isolates. Interestingly, the relationships among strains based on groEL-I from chromosome 1 and groEL-II from chromosome 2 were congruent with each other, highlighting the conserved evolutionary history of both chromosomes in this species. CONCLUSIONS: PCR-SSCP is a powerful typing technique, which has the ability to differentiate V. cholerae and V. mimicus isolates. The epidemic V. cholerae O1/O139 serogroup isolates represent a clonal complex distinct from non-O1/non-O139 isolates that can be identified by PCR-SSCP analysis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study highlights the effectiveness of using reliable molecular typing methods and in particular PCR-SSCP, to identify genetic variation among V. cholerae and V. mimicus isolates.     

创伤弧菌vvhA基因的克隆、原核表达系统的构建及鉴定

目的 克隆创伤弧菌（Vibrio vulnificus,Vv）溶细胞素基因（υυhA）,构建原核表达系统并鉴定其表达产物的免疫性.方法 采用PCR技术从Vv GTC333和WZ01株DNA中扩增全长υυhA基因,T-A克隆后测定其核苷酸序列.采用pET32a质粒构建vvhA基因原核表达载体,在E coli BL21（DE3）宿主菌中用不同浓度的IPTG诱导目的重组蛋白rVvhA表达,采用Ni-NTA亲和层析法提纯rVvhA,SDS-PAGE检测表达和提纯效果.采用兔抗Vv全菌抗体的Western Blot和兔抗rVvhA血清的免疫扩散试验鉴定其免疫反应性和免疫原性.结果 所克隆的vvhA基因核苷酸序列与GeneBank公布的同源性分别为96.09%和98.26%.在0.5 mmol/L IPTG诱导下,rVvhA产量可占细菌总蛋白的18%.提纯的rVvhA经SDS-PAGE后仅显示单一的蛋白条带.重组蛋白rVvhA能与兔抗Vv全菌抗体发生特异性结合,免疫家兔可获得高效价抗体.结论 该研究成功地构建了创伤弧菌υυhA基因高效原核表达系统,所表达的rVvhA具有良好的免疫原性和免疫反应性,可作为Vv免疫检测试剂盒及疫苗的抗原.     

副溶血性弧菌-霍乱弧菌混合生物被膜形成过程研究

【目的】研究副溶血性弧菌(Vibrioparahaemolyticus,VP)和霍乱弧菌(Vibriocholera,VC)混合生物被膜的形成过程。【方法】在4、8、12、24、36、48、60、72 h测定单独条件下VP、VC及其混合后生物被膜的形成情况,通过结晶紫染色法、平板菌落计数法、测定胞外多糖、胞外蛋白,通过荧光原位杂交(FISH)观察混合生物被膜形成。【结果】虽然形成的混合生物被膜量介于VC和VP之间,但混合生物被膜在形成过程中,成熟期后生物被膜量的变化较小,对环境的抗性增强。混合生物被膜中拥有更多的活菌,混合生物被膜形成过程中胞外蛋白和胞外多糖的变化体现出其可能在对抵御不适应环境中起重要作用,通过FISH可观察到不同时期生物被膜的变化过程。【结论】VC与VP共同形成生物被膜的过程中,混合生物被膜总量虽然减少,但混合生物被膜中拥有更多的活菌,这可能引起更大的危害。研究混合生物被膜形成过程中被膜的变化,可为有害生物被膜的控制提供基础。     

eIF3k inhibits NF-κB signaling by targeting MyD88 for ATG5-mediated autophagic degradation in teleost fish

Optimal activation of NF-κB signaling is crucial for the initiation of inflammatory responses and eliminating invading bacteria. Bacteria have likewise evolved the ability to evade immunity; however, mechanisms by which bacteria dysregulate host NF-κB signaling are unclear. In this study, we identify eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF3k, a nonessential member of the eIF3 translation initiation complex, as a suppressor of the NF-κB pathway. Mechanistically, we show that eIF3k expression induced by Vibrio harveyi enhances E3 ligase Nrdp1-mediated K27-linked ubiquitination of MyD88, an upstream regulator of NF-κB pathway activation. Furthermore, we show that eIF3k acts as a bridge linking ubiquitin-tagged MyD88 and ATG5, an important mediator of autophagy. We demonstrate that the MyD88-eIF3k-ATG5 complex is transported to the autophagosome for degradation, and that innate immune signaling is subsequently terminated and does not attack invading V. harveyi. Therefore, our study identifies eIF3k as a specific inhibitor of the MyD88-dependent NF-κB pathway and suggests that eIF3k may act as a selective autophagic receptor that synergizes with ATG5 to promote the autophagic degradation of MyD88, which helps V. harveyi to evade innate immunity. We conclude that V. harveyi can manipulate a host''s autophagy process to evade immunity in fish and also provide a new perspective on mammalian resistance to bacterial invasion.     

VPA1500基因缺失对副溶血弧菌生物学特性和致病性的影响

Ⅵ型分泌系统（T6SS）是细菌的一种毒力因子分泌系统,通过分泌蛋白参与调控细菌的环境适应性和毒力。副溶血弧菌具有两个T6SS系统（T6SS1和T6SS2）。[目的] 前期通过差异蛋白质组学技术筛选到副溶血弧菌T6SS1相关的分泌蛋白,本文选择其中的VPA1500为研究对象,研究其基因缺失对副溶血弧菌的生物学特性及致病性的影响。[方法] 利用同源重组技术构建缺失株ΔVPA1500和互补株CΔVPA1500;分析各菌株生长特性、在体外的细菌竞争能力、运动性、细菌鞭毛相关基因的转录水平及生物被膜形成能力的差异,比较各菌株对细胞毒性、小鼠毒力、动物组织载菌量以及组织病理学变化的影响。[结果] 与野生株相比,VPA1500基因缺失后不影响细菌的生长能力、生物被膜形成能力和群集运动,然而ΔVPA1500的浮泳运动能力显著下降;进一步通过透射电镜观察和实时定量PCR检测发现,VPA1500缺失影响副溶血弧菌鞭毛的形成;细菌竞争实验显示缺失VPA1500基因降低了副溶血弧菌野生株体外对大肠杆菌的杀伤能力;ΔVPA1500对细胞毒性、小鼠毒力以及在动物组织的定殖能力均显著低于野生株,互补株毒力基本恢复至野生株水平;组织病理学结果进一步表明,缺失VPA1500基因能够降低副溶血弧菌对小鼠组织的损伤。[结论] VPA1500参与副溶血弧菌的体外细菌竞争能力、浮游运动能力和致病性。     

致病性副溶血性弧菌菌落杂交检测体系的优化

对常见食源性致病菌副溶血性弧菌的杂交条件进行了优化。基于副溶血性弧菌的tdh,trh,toxR基因选用了3种探针序列,从菌落杂交样品的预处理方法、杂交时间和显色检测等方面对基于副溶血性弧菌毒力基因的原位杂交实验进行了条件优化。结果表明,采用80℃热固定2 h,37℃预杂交10 min后杂交8 h以及封闭1 h的改良方法可获得高特异性、低背景且着色清晰的实验结果。优化的菌落杂交技术检测副溶血性弧菌与传统检测方法相比,具有高效、准确、可区分致病性菌株的优点,为水产品中副溶血性弧菌致病菌株和非致病菌株的同步检测和筛选提供参考。     

Induction of peroxide and superoxide protective enzymes and physiological cross-protection against peroxide killing by a superoxide generator in Vibrio harveyi

Vibrio harveyi is a causative agent of destructive luminous vibriosis in farmed black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon). V. harveyi peroxide and superoxide stress responses toward elevated levels of a superoxide generated by menadione were investigated. Exposure of V. harveyi to sub-lethal concentrations of menadione induced high expression of genes in both the OxyR regulon (e.g., a monofunctional catalase or KatA and an alkyl hydroperoxide reductase subunit C or AhpC), and the SoxRS regulon (e.g., a superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). V. harveyi expressed two detectable, differentially regulated SOD isozymes, [Mn]-SOD and [Fe]-SOD. [Fe]-SOD was expressed constitutively throughout the growth phase while [Mn]-SOD was expressed at the stationary phase and could be induced by a superoxide generator. Physiologically, pre-treatment of V. harveyi with menadione induced cross-protection against subsequent exposure to killing concentrations of H(2)O(2). This induced cross-protection required newly synthesized proteins. However, the treatment did not induce significant protection against exposures to killing concentrations of menadione itself or cross-protect against an organic hydroperoxide (tert-butyl hydroperoxide). Unexpectedly, growing V. harveyi in high-salinity media induced protection against menadione killing. This protection was independent of SOD induction. Stationary-phase cells were more resistant to menadione killing than exponential-phase cells. The induction of oxidative stress protective enzymes and stress-altered physiological responses could play a role in the survival of this bacterium in the host marine crustaceans.     

Phenotypic and genetic differences between opaque and translucent colonies of Vibrio alginolyticus

Many pathogens undergo phase variation between rugose and smooth colony morphology or between opaque and translucent colony morphology, which is mainly due to the variation in the surface polysaccharides. In this study, Vibrio alginolyticus ZJ-51 displayed phase variation between opaque, rugose colonies (Op) and translucent, smooth colonies (Tr). Unlike the vibrios reported previously, Tr cells of ZJ-51 enhanced biofilm formation and motility, but they did not differ from Op cells in the quantity of surface polysaccharides produced. Real time PCR was used to analyze the expression of the genes involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis, flagellar synthesis, and the AI-2 quorum-sensing system. The results revealed that the K-antigen capsule gene cluster (which consists of homologs to the cpsA-K in Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and O-antigen polysaccharide gene cluster (which contains homologs to the wza-wzb-wzc) were significantly more transcribed in Tr cells. The AI-2 quorum-sensing genes showed enhanced expression in the Tr variant which also exhibited greater expression of genes associated with polar flagellar biosynthesis. These results suggest that colony phase variation might affect the virulence and survival ability in the stressful environment inhabited by V. alginolyticus.     

Survival of Vibrio fluvialis in seawater under starvation conditions

The viability of Vibrio fluvialis in seawater microcosms, with and without sediment was investigated. The strain survived as culturable bacteria for at least 1 year and the expression of its virulence factors was maintained. In microcosms containing sediment Vibrio fluvialis was more stable. Viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells of Vibrio fluvialis were able to resuscitate to the culturable state up to 6 years of incubation in marine sediment. These cells recuperate their initial biochemical characteristics after 3 months of incubation in marine broth. Amplified 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) restriction analysis (ARDRA) was used to confirm that it is the same strain of Vibrio fluvialis which resists in all microcosms during a long period of time.     

Assessment of the potential bactericide effect of self‐cleaning floors: a proposed protocol

The antibacterial properties of self‐cleaning coatings are based on bactericide nanoparticles (NPs). Ecotoxicity of these NPs have been assessed mostly in suspension, using standard bioassays. Here a protocol is proposed to test actual coating samples, using the Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition bioassay. The protocol was designed to test bactericide properties of specially coated PVC floors being used in hospital environments under quasinatural conditions, such as prolonged exposure or room temperature. To take into consideration that the light output of the bacteria under prolonged exposure naturally changes, a correction factor is proposed.