用PCR法直接快速筛查重组阳性克隆

本研究目的是应用PCR法快速筛查插入有苯丙氨酸脱氨酶（PAL）cDNA重组阳性克隆,用于PCR扩增的引物是位于载体pET23b启动子处的T7启动子引物和位于目的基因PALc DNA3’端终止密码TAA处的引物,以灭菌吸头挑一单菌落加PCR体系扩增。结果：在筛查的3个克隆中,有2个阳性克隆,并且插入方向正确,经DNA序列测定得到进一步证实,结果表明,以PCR方法筛查重组阳性克隆,可以简便快速鉴定插入片段的大小和方向,不需提取质粒。     

Development of a SYBR Green I real-time PCR for quantitative detection of Vibrio alginolyticus in seawater and seafood

AIM: Vibrio alginolyticus is an economically important micro-organism. The main aim of the present study was to develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for rapid, sensitive and effective quantification of V. alginolyticus in seawater and seafood. METHODS AND RESULTS: Purified DNA of V. alginolyticus, artificially inoculated seawater and seafood tissue homogenates were subjected to the gyrB-targeted real-time PCR assay. Natural seawater and seafood samples were analysed by this real-time PCR protocol. Specificity tests showed that positive result was obtained only with V. alginolyticus strains. The detection sensitivity was determined to be 0.4 pg of genomic DNA equivalent to 72 cells per PCR in pure culture and 100 cells in 1 ml of seawater or seafood tissue homogenates. Single cell detection is achieved after 3 h of sample enrichment. CONCLUSIONS: A sensitive and specific SYBR Green I-based real-time PCR assay targeting gyrB gene was successfully developed to quantify V. alginolyticus within 6 h in seawater and seafood samples. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: No report on the molecular-based method was available for quantitative detection of V. alginolyticus. This work will provide a novel method for evaluation of the risk of V. alginolyticus to marine environmental health and seafood safety.     

A small and compact genome in the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus marinus CCMP 1375: lack of an intron in the gene for tRNA(Leu)(UAA) and a single copy of the rRNA operon

PCR-ribotying, a typing method based on polymorphism in the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region, has been recently used to investigate outbreaks due to Clostridium difficile. However, this method generates bands of high and close molecular masses which are difficult to separate on agarose gel electrophoresis. To improve reading of banding patterns of PCR-ribotyping applied to C. difficile, a partial sequencing of the rRNA genes (16S and 23S) and intergenic spacer region has been performed, then a new set of primers located closer to the intergenic spacer region has been defined. The new PCR gave reproducible patterns of bands easy to separate on agarose gel electrophoresis. Each of the 10 serogroups and 11 subgroups of serogroup A produced a different pattern. This typing method has evidenced major qualities such as easiness, rapidity and reproducibility. However, its discriminatory power has to be evaluated to validate its importance as a typing tool for C. difficile.     

家蚕微孢子虫感染对家蚕BmN细胞凋亡以及凋亡蛋白抑制因子IAPs表达的影响

【目的】在无任何外界凋亡因素诱导条件下,探究家蚕微孢子虫感染对家蚕卵巢细胞-BmN凋亡的影响,以及凋亡蛋白抑制因子IAPs实相表达的变化情况。【方法】显微镜下观察家蚕微孢子虫感染BmN细胞后不同时间段宿主细胞的变化情况,以及利用荧光定量PCR方法检测家蚕促凋亡基因——细胞色素C(BmCyt c)表达水平的变化,随后检索家蚕基因组与蛋白质家族数据库搜寻家蚕凋亡蛋白抑制因子IAPs基因信息,并通过荧光定量PCR方法对这些基因的实相表达情况进行定量分析。【结果】家蚕微孢子虫感染BmN细胞的前5 d,细胞状态未见明显变化。感染后7 d,BmN细胞的生长受到了一定程度的影响。第12天时,对照组中几乎所有细胞出现空泡化或细胞死亡的现象,而感染家蚕微孢子虫的BmN细胞未见空泡的出现,并且大量细胞形态完整,细胞核清晰可见。同时,BmCyt c基因的表达几乎一直处于被抑制状态,特别是感染后的第10天与第12天,该基因的表达量显著性降低(P0.01)。通过数据库检索共得到4个家蚕凋亡蛋白抑制因子:BmIAP-1、BmIAP-2、BmSurvivin-1与BmSurvivin-2。荧光定量PCR结果表明:BmIAP-1和BmSurvivin-1基因在感染后期(10 d与12 d)表达量有上升趋势,尤其是感染后的12 d,表达量显著上升(P0.01)。然而,BmIAP-2与BmSurvivin-2基因的表达在大多数时间段均处于下调状态。【结论】当无任何外界凋亡因素诱导条件下,家蚕微孢子虫感染BmN细胞后可影响宿主细胞的生长,并可抑制细胞的正常生理凋亡。依据荧光定量PCR结果,我们推测在家蚕微孢子虫感染BmN细胞时,BmIAP-1和BmSurvivin-1蛋白可能在调节细胞凋亡的过程中起一定作用。     

Real-time RT-PCR expression analysis of chitinase and endoglucanase genes in the three-way interaction between the biocontrol strain Clonostachys rosea IK726, Botrytis cinerea and strawberry

Clonostachys rosea is a well-known biocontrol agent against Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold in strawberry. The activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes might play a significant role for successful biocontrol by C. rosea. The expression pattern of four chitinases, and two endoglucanase genes from C. rosea strain IK726 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR in vitro and in strawberry leaves during interaction with B. cinerea. Specific primers were designed for beta-tubulin genes from C. rosea and B. cinerea, respectively, and a gene encoding a DNA-binding protein (DBP) from strawberry, allowing in situ activity assessment of each fungus in vitro and during their interaction on strawberry leaves. Growth of B. cinerea was inhibited in all pathogen-antagonist interactions while the activity of IK726 was slightly increased. In all in vitro interactions, four of the six genes were upregulated while no change in expression of two endochitinases was measured. In strawberry leaves, the chitinase genes were upregulated 2-12-fold, except one of the endochitinases, whereas no change in expression of the two endoglucanases was measured. The results suggest that three out of four chitinase genes of IK726 are involved in biocontrol on leaves. This is the first example of monitoring of expression of chitinolytic genes in interactions between biocontrol agents and pathogens in plant material.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae</Emphasis> in seeds using a specific TaqMan probe

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is the pathogen that causes bacterial leaf blight in rice. Bacterial leaf blight is the main cause for severe rice underproduction in many countries. However, with conventional methods it is difficult to quickly and reliably distinguish this pathogen from other closely related pathogenic bacteria, especially X. oryzae pv. oryzicola, the causal organism of bacterial leaf streak in rice. We have developed a novel and highly sensitive real-time method for the identification of this specific bacteria based on a TaqMan probe. This probe is designed to recognize the sequence of a putative siderophore receptor gene cds specific to X. oryzae pv. oryzae, and can be identified from either a bacterial culture or naturally infected rice seeds and leaves in only 2 h. The sensitivity of the method is 100 times higher than that of the current polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gel electrophoresis method for diagnosis.     

Alterations in protein and gene expression within the barrel cortices of ZnT3 knockout mice: experience-independent and dependent changes

Much evidence exists for the involvement of vesicular zinc in neurotransmission and cortical plasticity. Recent studies have reported that mice deficient in zinc transporter-3 protein (ZnT3) and thus, vesicular zinc, have significant behavioural and biochemical deficits. Here, we examined whether phenotypic differences existed in the barrel cortices of ZnT3 KO mice using functional proteomics and quantitative PCR. Additionally, by manipulating whisker input, we also investigated experience-dependent changes in protein and gene expression, thereby assaying how cortical plasticity is different in the absence of vesicular zinc. The GABA metabolizing protein ABAT was observed in lower abundances consistently in KO mice. Several presynaptic proteins were identified that were abundant in differing amounts between the WT and KO groups in an experience-dependent manner. At baseline, we observed a decrease in the relative expression of Dlg4, Grin2a, Mt3, and Ntrkb genes in KO mice. The reduced expression of Nrtkb persisted with whisker plucking. These data demonstrate that fundamental changes in the expression of proteins and genes important in neurotransmission occur in the absence of vesicular zinc. Furthermore, the complement of experience-dependent changes were different between WT and KO mice, indicating that the lack of vesicular zinc affects the process of cortical plasticity.     

The reaction mechanism of the Ga(III)Zn(II) derivative of uteroferrin and corresponding biomimetics

Purple acid phosphatase from pig uterine fluid (uteroferrin), a representative of the diverse family of binuclear metallohydrolases, requires a heterovalent Fe(III)Fe(II) center for catalytic activity. The active-site structure and reaction mechanism of this enzyme were probed with a combination of methods including metal ion replacement and biomimetic studies. Specifically, the asymmetric ligand 2-bis{[(2-pyridylmethyl)-aminomethyl]-6-[(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)]aminomethyl}-4-methylphenol and two symmetric analogues that contain the softer and harder sites of the asymmetric unit were employed to assess the site selectivity of the trivalent and divalent metal ions using (71)Ga NMR, mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography. An exclusive preference of the harder site of the asymmetric ligand for the trivalent metal ion was observed. Comparison of the reactivities of the biomimetics with Ga(III)Zn(II) and Fe(III)Zn(II) centers indicates a higher turnover for the former, suggesting that the M(III)-bound hydroxide acts as the reaction-initiating nucleophile. Catalytically active Ga(III)Zn(II) and Fe(III)Zn(II) derivatives were also generated in the active site of uteroferrin. As in the case of the biomimetics, the Ga(III) derivative has increased reactivity, and a comparison of the pH dependence of the catalytic parameters of native uteroferrin and its metal ion derivatives supports a flexible mechanistic strategy whereby both the mu-(hydr)oxide and the terminal M(III)-bound hydroxide can act as nucleophiles, depending on the metal ion composition, the geometry of the second coordination sphere and the substrate.     

A novel real-time PCR-based method for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food

AIMS: A new real-time PCR-based method was developed for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in food. METHODS AND RESULTS: A two-step enrichment involving a 24-h incubation in half-Fraser broth followed by a 6-h subculture in Fraser broth was used, followed by cell lysis and real-time PCR with primers and a TaqMan probe previously developed in our laboratory. When the method was evaluated with 144 naturally contaminated food samples, 44 were detected as positive by the PCR-based method and 42 by the standard method EN ISO 11290-1. With 61 food samples artificially contaminated at a level of 10(0) CFU per 25 g, 61 and 58 positive samples were detected by the respective methods. CONCLUSIONS: The developed real-time PCR-based method facilitated the detection of L. monocytogenes in food on the next day after the sample reception, with a reduction of false-positive results because of dead bacterial cells and false-negative results because of PCR inhibitors. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The method can be used for L. monocytogenes detection in food as a faster alternative to current methods.