Influence of fluoride on the bacterial composition of a dual-species biofilm composed of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus oralis

Despite the widespread use of fluoride for the prevention of dental caries, few studies have demonstrated the effects of fluoride on the bacterial composition of dental biofilms. This study investigated whether fluoride affects the proportion of Streptococcus mutans and S. oralis in mono- and dual-species biofilm models, via microbiological, biochemical, and confocal fluorescence microscope studies. Fluoride did not affect the bacterial count and bio-volume of S. mutans and S. oralis in mono-species biofilms, except for the 24-h-old S. mutans biofilms. However, fluoride reduced the proportion and bio-volume of S. mutans but did not decrease those of S. oralis during both S. oralis and S. mutans dual-species biofilm formation, which may be related to the decrease in extracellular polysaccharide formation by fluoride. These results suggest that fluoride may prevent the shift in the microbial proportion to cariogenic bacteria in dental biofilms, subsequently inhibiting the cariogenic bacteria dominant biofilm formation.     

Phaseolus lunatus,a New Host of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli in Iran

Common bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) is one of the most destructive diseases limiting the production of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Iran. The disease has previously been described on common bean and mung bean from several regions of Iran, including the central plain and south‐western provinces. In this study, lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus cv. Christmas) plants are being reported as a new natural host of Xap in East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, northwestern Iran. Disease symptoms consisted initially of water‐soaked spots that progressed to irregular necrotic lesions with chlorotic margins. Infection was observed to affect up to 40% of plants in the field. Identification of the pathogen was based on the biochemical and molecular characteristics, as well as the pathogenicity tests. To our knowledge, this is the first report of X. axonopodis pv. phaseoli causing common bacterial blight on lima bean plants in Iran.     

A model for the interaction of the G3‐subdomain of Geobacillus stearothermophilus IF2 with the 30S ribosomal subunit

Bacterial translation initiation factor IF2 complexed with GTP binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit, promotes ribosomal binding of fMet‐tRNA, and favors the joining of the small and large ribosomal subunits yielding a 70S initiation complex ready to enter the translation elongation phase. Within the IF2 molecule subdomain G3, which is believed to play an important role in the IF2‐30S interaction, is positioned between the GTP‐binding G2 and the fMet‐tRNA binding C‐terminal subdomains. In this study the solution structure of subdomain G3 of Geobacillus stearothermophilus IF2 has been elucidated. G3 forms a core structure consisting of two β‐sheets with each four anti‐parallel strands, followed by a C‐terminal α‐helix. In line with its role as linker between G3 and subdomain C1, this helix has no well‐defined orientation but is endowed with a dynamic nature. The structure of the G3 core is that of a typical OB‐fold module, similar to that of the corresponding subdomain of Thermus thermophilus IF2, and to that of other known RNA‐binding modules such as IF2‐C2, IF1 and subdomains II of elongation factors EF‐Tu and EF‐G. Structural comparisons have resulted in a model that describes the interaction between IF2‐G3 and the 30S ribosomal subunit.     

Microbiome changes through ontogeny of a tick pathogen vector

Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are one of the most important pathogen vectors in the United States, responsible for transmitting Lyme disease and other tick‐borne diseases. The structure of a host's microbial community has the potential to affect the ecology and evolution of the host. We employed high‐throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V3‐V4 hypervariable regions in the first study to investigate the tick microbiome across all developmental stages (larvae, nymphs, adults). In addition to field‐collected life stages, newly hatched laboratory‐reared larvae were studied to determine the baseline microbial community structure and to assess transovarial transmission. We also targeted midguts and salivary glands due to their importance in pathogen maintenance and transmission. Over 100 000 sequences were produced per life stage replicate. Rickettsia was the most abundant bacterial genus across all sample types matching mostly the Ixodes rickettsial endosymbionts, and its proportion decreased as developmental stage progressed, with the exception of adult females that harboured a mean relative abundance of 97.9%. Laboratory‐reared larvae displayed the lowest bacterial diversity, containing almost exclusively Rickettsia. Many of the remaining bacteria included genera associated with soil, water and plants, suggesting environmental acquisition while off‐host. Female organs exhibited significantly different β‐diversity than the whole tick from which they were derived. Our results demonstrate clear differences in both α‐ and β‐diversity among tick developmental stages and between tick organs and the tick as a whole. Furthermore, field‐acquired bacteria appear to be very important to the overall internal bacterial community of this tick species, with influence from the host bloodmeal appearing limited.     

克拉玛依油田石油污染土壤细菌群落结构与环境因子的关系

【目的】以16S rRNA为分子标记,探讨克拉玛依油田石油污染土壤中细菌群落多样性和系统发育,并分析环境因子对群落分布的影响,为生物降解石油污染物提供理论基础。【方法】在克拉玛依油田分别采集深度为5、20、50 cm的石油污染土壤样品,测定环境参数;提取石油污染土壤细菌群落基因组DNA,分别构建3个土层细菌16S rRNA基因文库,利用限制性片段长度多态性分析(Restriction fragment length polymorphisms RFLP)技术初步分群,确定各文库中的代表菌株并测定16S rRNA基因序列;利用软件Biodap计算各群落多样性和丰富度指数,以Neighbor-Joining法构建3个土层细菌的系统发育树;运用软件CANOCO 4.5结合不同样品环境因子的差异进行典型对应分析(CCA),并探讨了环境因子对细菌多样性的影响。【结果】环境参数结果表明20 cm土层总磷(TP)、总氮(TN)含量最低,50 cm含量最高;5 cm土层中有机碳(TOC)含量最高,50 cm含量最低。基于16S rRNA序列的生物多样性和物种丰富度指数表明20 cm土层生物多样性和丰富度指数较高,而50 cm土层各项指数均较低。各土层供试序列RFLP聚类分析表明,克拉玛依油田石油污染土壤细菌种群具有丰富的多样性。Neighbor-Joining构建的系统发育分析表明,石油污染土壤被分为5个类群(I–V),分别为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicute)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、浮霉状菌门(Planctomycetes),其中群Ⅰ占78.57%,广泛分布于不同的生态环境;其中来自5 cm土层代表菌的69.23%分布于群Ⅰ。CCA分析结果显示TN、TP和TOC对大部分细菌影响较大;TOC含量对Pseudomonas影响明显。【结论】克拉玛依油田石油污染土壤细菌群落具有丰富的多样性;环境因子是影响石油污染土壤细菌群落空间分布的重要因素。     

东太平洋多金属结核区两个站位深海沉积物细菌多样性北大核心CSCD

【目的】为了解东太平洋中国多金属结核勘探合同区西区2个站位(WBC1305和WBC1316A)深海沉积物细菌群多样性。【方法】直接提取环境样品总基因组,通过PCR和TA克隆策略构建了2个站位6个层次16S r RNA基因文库,对2个站位沉积物表层泥样中细菌多样性和群落结构特征进行分析,并通过构建系统发育树,进行系统发育学分析。【结果】2个站位6个文库共获得有效克隆533个,其中472个克隆包括α-变形菌纲、β-变形菌纲、γ-变形菌纲、δ-变形菌纲、浮霉菌门、酸杆菌门、硝化螺旋菌门、放线菌门、绿弯菌门、厚壁菌门、拟杆菌门、迷踪菌门、芽单胞菌门、Hydrogenedentes、Chlorobi和Nitrospinae16个细菌类群,而另外61个克隆为不可分类细菌类群。【结论】结果表明γ-变形菌纲和厚壁菌门分别是WBC1305和WBC1316A站位的优势种群;WBC1316A站位细菌群落结构更加丰富和复杂。     

质粒介导的喹诺酮耐药基因qnr的分类、耐药机制及其在国内的流行状况北大核心CSCD

喹诺酮类抗菌药物从早期主要用于治疗尿道感染发展到后来治疗肠道感染和呼吸道感染,目前已在临床、畜牧业和水产业中广泛使用,细菌对其耐药性也逐渐呈蔓延趋势,耐药机制日趋复杂。喹诺酮类耐药机制主要分为染色体介导的耐药和质粒介导的耐药,后者对细菌耐药性的广泛传播起着重要作用。1998年首次报道了质粒介导的喹诺酮类耐药机制,即质粒上qnr基因介导的细菌对氟喹诺酮耐药机制,qnr基因可在不同细菌中迅速水平传播,引发的感染不易控制,使得院内感染大范围的流行。此外,qnr基因通常与β-内酰胺类耐药基因相关或存在于复杂整合子中与其它多重耐药基因共同整合,缩小了临床医生治疗相关细菌感染时选药或联合用药的空间,给我们带来了严峻的挑战。本文就qnr基因的发现历史、耐药机理及在国内的流行状况做了详细概述。     

Suppression of bacterial infection in rice by treatment with a sulfated peptide

The rice XA21 receptor kinase confers robust resistance to bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). A tyrosine‐sulfated peptide from Xoo, called RaxX, triggers XA21‐mediated immune responses, including the production of ethylene and reactive oxygen species and the induction of defence gene expression. It has not been tested previously whether these responses confer effective resistance to Xoo. Here, we describe a newly established post‐inoculation treatment assay that facilitates investigations into the effect of the sulfated RaxX peptide in planta. In this assay, rice plants were inoculated with a virulent strain of Xoo and then treated with the RaxX peptide 2 days after inoculation. We found that post‐inoculation treatment of XA21 plants with the sulfated RaxX peptide suppresses the development of Xoo infection in XA21 rice plants. The treated plants display restricted lesion development and reduced bacterial growth. Our findings demonstrate that exogenous application of sulfated RaxX activates XA21‐mediated immunity in planta, and provides a potential strategy for the control of bacterial disease in the field.     

斜纹夜蛾酵母双杂交文库的构建及其在蜕皮激素受体互作蛋白筛选中的应用

【目的】蜕皮激素在昆虫变态发育中起着关键的调控作用。蜕皮激素活化为20-羟基蜕皮酮(20-hydroxyecdysone,20E)后与蜕皮激素受体二聚体〔蜕皮激素受体(ecdysone receptor,EcR)和超气门蛋白(ultraspiracle protein,USP)〕结合,启动20E诱导的级联反应。本研究旨在从互作蛋白角度探究EcR/USP自身调控的分子机理。【方法】以重要农业害虫斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura为研究对象,通过构建酵母双杂交筛选系统分别筛选了与EcR和USP相互作用的蛋白。【结果】文库转化效率达到3.0×106cfu/μg,文库滴度达到1.3×108cfu/m L,文库插入片段大小在500~2 000 bp之间。4种诱饵质粒(EcRA/p GBKT7,EcRB1/p GBKT7,USP1/p GBKT7和USP2/p GBKT7)对酵母细胞无毒性,并且无自激活性,说明构建的酵母双杂交文库质量可靠。用以上4种诱饵质粒筛选酵母双杂交文库,共得到110个互作蛋白,其中与EcRB1,USP1和USP2互作的蛋白分别有26,52和32个,未筛选到与EcRA互作的蛋白。随后,从中挑选了Dna J-5(Hsp40 homolog 5,一种热激蛋白分子伴侣),MBF2(mediator of Bm FTZ-F1 type 2,一种转录共激活子),polyubiquitin(多聚泛素类蛋白),esr16(ecdysteroid regulated 16k Da protein,一种蜕皮激素调控蛋白)和NEDD8-like(neural precursor cell expressed,developmentally down-regulated protein 8,一种泛素调节相关蛋白)5种蛋白,利用酵母双杂交和Far-Western印迹法进一步验证了蛋白间的互作关系。【结论】分子伴侣和泛素化修饰等在蜕皮激素受体调控中可能起着重要作用。本研究对深入理解昆虫变态发育的分子机理具有重要意义。