Lack of relationship between virulence of Aeromonas salmonicida and the putative virulence factors: A-layer, extracellular proteases and extracellular haemolysins

Abstract The role of A-layer (A), protease (P) and haemolysin (H) as virulence factors of Aeromonas salmonicida, the aetiological agent of fish furunculosis, was a investigated using three strains of the bacterium. Strain MT004 lacked the A-Iayer (A⁻) and produced extracellular caseinase and gelatinase (P⁺) and haemolysin (T-lysin; H⁺). Strain MT028 was A⁻, P⁻ and H⁻, and strain MT048 was A⁺, P⁺ and H⁻. The pathology and LD50 produced in rainbow trout by cells or extracellular products (ECP) of each strain were determined. The ECP was produced by two different methods where the protease and haemolytic activities differed in relative levels, or when the protease of MT004 ECP was inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor PMSF. The results indicate that the presence of A-layer is not essential, at least for a moderate degree of virulence; that in vitro production of extracellular proteases is not a requisite of virulent strains; that presence of protease and haemolysin in ECP can be correlated with the development of certain lesions and a rapid time to death but cannot be correlated with the lethal toxicity of the ECP. The authors conclude that an as-yet unrecognized component of ECP is responsible for killing fish.     

Presence of a lethal protease in the extracellular products of Vibrio splendidus-Vibrio lentus related strains

The presence of a lethal extracellular 39-kDa protease, a virulence determinant of a Listonella pelagia strain which produces vibriosis in turbot, was determined in the extracellular products (ECP) of 33 Vibrionaceae strains. Both immunological and enzymatic techniques distinguished this specific protease from other Vibrionaceae proteins. It was detected in 15% (5/33) of the ECPs assayed belonging to strains of the Vibrio splendidus-V. lentus related group isolated in Galician aquaculture systems (NW Spain). As these strains were associated with diseased octopus and cultured turbot, were able to colonize the internal organs of fish and produced a lethal ECP for fish, they are a potential risk for the health of reared aquatic organisms.     

The humoral immune response of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, and rabbits to Aeromonas salmonicida extracellular products

Abstract. Controversy exists concerning the efficacy of vaccinating fish against furunculosis. Where success is claimed, there has been little attempt to characterize the protective antigens or confirm their immunogenicity. In this report, the immunogenicity of native extracellular products (ECP) of Aeromonas salmonicida and a formalin-inactivated toxoid of ECP (f-ECP) was studied in rainbow trout and rabbits, with particular attention to the putative bacterial virulence factors protease and haemolysin. Using crossed immunoelectrophoresis and Protein-A absorption, antibodies to seven ECP components were detected in the rabbit following immunization with native ECP; antihaemolysin antibodies were found but antibodies to the protease could not be detected. Antibodies to at least 14 components of ECP, including haemotysin and protease, were detected in the rabbit following immunization with f-ECP. In trout immunized either with native ECP or f-ECP, antibodies to only four ECP antigens were detected and no antibodies to haemolysin or protease were found. The results may explain previous reports that passive immunization with rabbit antisera gave superior protection against furunculosis compared with antisera raised in fish, and indicate that many extracellular antigens of A. salmonicida may require modification in order to improve their immunogenicity in fish.     

The role of the lethal extracellular cytolysin of Aeromonas salmonicida in the pathology of furunculosis

Abstract. The histopathological effects of intramuscular (i.m.) and intraperitoneal injections of the purified lethal cytolytic toxin of A. salmonicida in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were restricted to extensive degranulation of eosinophilic granular cells (EGCs) in the gills (both routes) and a limited coagulative necrosis of muscle fibres at the site of i.m. injection. The severity of these lesions did not apparently differ amongst fish that were moribund within 48 h and the surviving fish at 90 h. Previous studies indicate a maximum time to death caused by this toxin of 48 h. Thus, it is difficult to account for death of the fish from the toxin solely on the grounds of the histopathological features. It is suggested that a complex metabolic dysfunction results in death. The mechanism of 'furuncle' formation was demonstrated to result from a combined effect of the cytolysin and the purified 70-kDa protease present in the ECP. When i.m.-injected singly, the purified cytolysin produced a limited coagulative necrosis and the purified protease produced a limited liquefaction and haemorrhaging. In combination, they induced the extensive liquefactive haemorrhagic 'furuncle' characteristic of the whole ECP.     

The non-specific activation of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, complement by Aeromonas salmonicida extracellular products and the correlation of complement activity with the inactivation of lethal toxicity products

Abstract The possible mechanism of inactivation of the toxicity of Aeromonas salmonicida extracellular products (ECP) by normal rainbow trout serum was investigated using juvenile rainbow trout. ECP was prepared from culture supernatant by an acetone precipitation method. The ECP was incubated with normal rainbow trout serum at 20°C for 2 h, and the interrelationship between ECP proteolytic activity and immune complex-initiating, haemolytic complement activity (CH₅₀) of normal serum against antibody-sensitized goldfish red blood cells was evaluated. When normal serum was incubated with increasing concentrations of ECP, the CH₅₀ activity of serum decreased. The CH₅₀ activity was completely abolished in serum treated with undiluted ECP. ECP treated with serum was administered to trout intraperitoneally to determine mortality. All the fish receiving untreated ECP (0.05 ml = 0.5 mg protein) alone died within 24 h. When ECP was treated with serum at 1:1 to 4:1 (serum: ECP) in volume a similar high mortality was produced. These inocula possessed high protease activity and no or low CH₅₀ activity. However, mortality decreased and finally no mortality was recorded as ECP was treated with large volumes of serum (9:1 to 19:1). These inocula had lower protease activity and considerably higher CH₅₀ activity. Fish receiving ECP treated with heat-inactivated serum at 19:1 showed 100% mortality. A serum: ECP inoculum derived from fish which had been administered lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella enteritidis and which possessed a low CH₅₀ activity also gave a high mortality when used at 19:1. These results suggest that rainbow trout complement is implicated in the inactivation of toxicity of A. salmonicida ECP.     

高致病性维氏气单胞菌胞外产物对斑点鲖的致病性

为了研究维氏气单胞菌及其胞外产物的致病机制对预防和治疗斑点鲖维氏气单胞菌病的作用。通过对一株高致病性斑点鲖源维氏气单胞菌胞外产物(extracellular product,ECP)的提取并结合体内外实验研究其酶活性与致病性,以期为维氏气单胞菌的致病机制研究提供新思路。采用饱和硫酸铵沉淀法,对一株高致病性的斑点鲖源维氏气单胞菌的ECP进行了提取,将其进行浓度检测、SDS-PAGE分析和酶活测定;并将提取的ECP攻毒斑点鲖,通过病理学分析研究其致病机制。提取的ECP经考马斯亮蓝试剂盒确定其浓度为0.743 mg/m L;SDS-PAGE分析发现该ECP类型丰富,分子大小主要集中在20.0~33.0 ku。运用琼脂平板扩散法对ECP中主要毒力和代谢相关酶活性进行体外测定,发现ECP具有脂酶、蛋白酶、卵磷脂酶、DNA酶和溶血活性,不具有淀粉酶、明胶酶、脲酶活性;并对与毒力密切相关的溶血活性进行了进一步的溶血谱绘制,发现ECP对其他多种动物红细胞都有溶血活性,对鱼类红细胞溶血性较强,但对鸡、鸭红细胞无溶血活性。ECP攻毒健康斑点鲖后,发现其具有明显致病性,死亡率高达100%。病鱼大体病理变化为体表黏液增多,出现褪色斑以及不同程度的出血斑;眼球充血;肛门红肿外凸;剖检病变表现:鳃丝充血肿胀、肝脏肿大、散在少量出血点,脾脏肿大暗红,肠道扩张、肠壁变薄、肠腔内有大量黄色黏液。组织学病变主要表现为肝细胞变性、坏死;脾脏淋巴细胞减少,大量结缔组织增生;胃、肠道黏膜上皮坏死脱落。该株维氏气单胞菌的胞外产物具有多种酶活性,且对斑点鲖具有明显的致病性,推测该胞外产物在维氏气单胞菌入侵、感染甚至致死斑点鲖过程中都发挥了重要作用。     

The macrophage chemotactic activity of Edwardsiella tarda extracellular products

The chemoattractant capabilities of Edwardsiella tarda extracellular products (ECP) were investigated from two isolates, the virulent FL6-60 parent and less virulent RET-04 mutant. Chemotaxis and chemokinesis were assayed in vitro using blind well chambers with peritoneal macrophages obtained from Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, 5 days following squalene injection. Non-purified ECP derived from both isolates stimulated predominantly chemokinetic migration of macrophages. Additionally, the ECP were semi-purified by high pressure liquid chromatography. The FL6-60 parent ECP yielded higher molecular weight components than did the ECP from the RET-04 mutant. The chemotactic activity of the macrophages for both the FL6-60 parent and RET-04 mutant semi-purified ECP was increased over the non-purified ECP and overall migration was primarily chemotactic. Exposure to ECP derived from virulent and less virulent E. tarda isolates promoted chemokinetic movement of macrophages that may be involved in inflammatory responses of Nile tilapia to E. tarda infection.     

The role of Aeromonas salmonicida extracellular products in the pathology of furunculosis

Abstract. The extracellular products (ECP) of Aeromonas salmonicida , prepared by the cellophane overlay method, are lethal to rainbow trout when administered parenterally. Sublethal doses when injected i.p. or i.m. are shown to reproduce all the lesions that have been described in the literature as being associated with furunculosis. In addition, meningitis may be an important feature of furunculosi s and is reproduced by injection of ECP. A serum factor, probably an α-globulin, present in normal serum of rainbow trout, is capable of neutralizing the toxic effects of ECP. The pathology is discussed with reference to the proteolytic and leucocidal properties of the ECP and its effects upon the eosinophilic granular cells which are caused to disperse and degranulate with the possible release of histamine.     

Instability of the major soluble antigen produced by Renibacterium salmoninarum

Abstract. Using Western blot to examine the nature of soluble antigens produced by Renibacterium salmoninarum , it was found that the major 57-kilodalton (kDa) antigen was unstable, SDS-PAGE of extracellular product (ECP) fractions showed that degradation of the 57-kDa protein increased with time and increased temperature. Several lower molecular mass pcptides accumulated temporarily from this degradation. Phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride prevented breakdown of the 57-kDa protein suggesting a scrine protease present in the ECPs was responsible. The results indicated that most, if not all, immunoreactive bands in ECP fractions, other than the 57-kDa protein, arose as a result of degradation of this protein. Western blot analysis of two dimensional gels revealed that the presumptive proteolytic activity was associated with the 57-kDa antigen and several of the apparent degradation products. Many common peptide fragments appeared to be generated from heat-induced proteolysis of these protein moieties, confirming the familial relationship between much of the immunoreactive material in ECP fractions. The results suggested that the 57-kDa antigen is autolytic. Western blot analysis of tissue samples from Atlantic salmon, Satmo solar L., infected with R. salmoninarum suggested that this lability of the 57-kDa antigen also occurred in situ .     

南方鲇源豚鼠气单胞菌胞外产物活性与致病性研究

采用琼脂扩散法测定了南方鲇源豚鼠气单胞菌胞外产物酶活性和溶血活性,同时对胞外产物的细胞毒性和其致病性进行了研究。结果显示:南方鲇源豚鼠气单胞菌胞外产物具有蛋白酶、脂酶、明胶酶和脲酶活性,但不具有淀粉酶和卵磷脂酶活性,具有很强的溶血活性和细胞毒性。肌肉注射感染发现,其对南方鲇有强致病性,其LD50为每千克鱼体重0.802 mg;注射后的南方鲇肌肉、心、肝、肾、脾、肠和胃等组织发生了严重组织病理变化,骨骼肌和心肌坏死断裂,炎症细胞浸润;肝脏严重空泡变性;肾小管上皮细胞变性、坏死、间质内大量炎症细胞浸润;脾充血、出血,淋巴细胞减少,胃肠黏膜上皮细胞变性、坏死、脱落。     

Therapeutic and prophylactic immunization against Streptococcus iniae infection in hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops×Morone saxatilis)

Vaccination strategies have traditionally been used as preventative or prophylactic measures against disease (prophylactic immunization) in uninfected fish. Alternatively, therapeutic or remedial measures, such as antibiotic administration, are commonly employed to treat disease in infected fish. Vaccination as a therapeutic measure (therapeutic immunization), however, has not been adequately explored in sub‐clinically infected fish. Therapeutic and prophylactic immunization with three Streptococcus iniae vaccines, formalin‐killed whole S. iniae cells (FKC vaccine), concentrated S. iniae extracellular products (greater than 2 kDa) (ECP vaccine) and a combination of killed cells and extracellular products (FKC+ECP vaccine), were tested in hybrid striped bass, Morone chrysops×Morone saxatilis, previously naturally infected with S. iniae. Fish (mean weight 10.0 g) were injected intraperitoneally (IP) or intramuscularly (IM) with one of each of the vaccines, tryptic soy broth (TSB‐control) or non‐injected (non‐injected control) to evaluate therapeutic effects (Trial 1). Survivors of the natural infection and ECP and FKC+ECP vaccine immunization and another lot of non‐injected control fish were immersion challenged with 1.47 × 10⁶ CFU of S. iniae mL^?1 at 44 days post‐immunization to evaluate vaccine efficacy (Trial 2). Hybrid striped bass (1.0 g) were also IM injected with S. iniae ECP vaccine at an aquaculture facility and immersion challenged with 1.47 × 10⁶ CFU of S. iniae mL^?1 12 weeks post‐immunization (Trial 3). The ECP and FKC+ECP vaccines, regardless of injection route, significantly (P<0.001) increased survival in asymptomatic, sub‐clinically infected fish thereby providing therapeutic merit. Hybrid bass immunized IP or IM had mean per cent survival values ranging from 78 to 96 at 44 days post‐immunization (Trial 1) and 69–97 post challenge (Trial 2). Survival of fish injected with TSB or immunized with FKC vaccine was significantly lowered and ranged from 12 to 13 by IP injection and 40 to 50 by IM injection and thus, the FKC vaccine had no therapeutic effect. The survival of hybrid striped bass IM immunized with S. iniae ECP vaccine in field Trial 3 was 91 and the RPS was 83. These results demonstrate that therapeutic immunization using S. iniae ECP and FKC+ECP vaccines can control a natural S. iniae infection. Furthermore, S. iniae ECP or FKC+ECP vaccines can also be used prophylacticly to protect hybrid striped bass against subsequent pathogen challenge.     

南方鲇源豚鼠气单胞茵胞外产物活性与致病性研究

采用琼脂扩散法测定了南方鲇源豚鼠气单胞菌胞外产物酶活性和溶血活性,同时对胞外产物的细胞毒性和其致病性进行了研究。结果显示:南方鲇源豚鼠气单胞菌胞外产物具有蛋白酶、脂酶、明胶酶和脲酶活性,但不具有淀粉酶和卵磷脂酶活性,具有很强的溶血活性和细胞毒性。肌肉注射感染发现,其对南方鲇有强致病性,其LD50为每千克鱼体重0.802 mg;注射后的南方鲇肌肉、心、肝、肾、脾、肠和胃等组织发生了严重组织病理变化,骨骼肌和心肌坏死断裂,炎症细胞浸润;肝脏严重空泡变性;肾小管上皮细胞变性、坏死、间质内大量炎症细胞浸润;脾充血、出血,淋巴细胞减少,胃肠黏膜上皮细胞变性、坏死、脱落。     

Toxicity and immunogenicity of Aeromonas salmonicida extracellular products to salmonids

Abstract. Aeromonas salmonicida extracellular products (ECP) were fractionated by gel filtration chromatography. Three protein fractions were found. The first and second fractions showed low and high haemolytic activity, respectively, whereas the third fraction showed protcolytic activity. By intramuscular injection into juvenile rainbow trout, the median lethal doses of the first, second and third fractions were calculated at >669, 152 and <1514μg/g body weight, respectively. Cytopathic effects of the fractionated ECP to coho salmon lymphocytes were observed in vitro. The first and second fractions caused cell deformation, nuclear granulation and cytoplasmic streaming after 3h. No cytologic effects with the third fraction were observed. A mixture of the first and third fractions, a mixture of the second and third fractions, and non-fractionated ECP caused nuclear granulation and cytoplasmic streaming after 3Qmin. Using immunodiffusion analysis, the first and second fractions formed a single precipitating line each against white-spotted char anti-ECP sera, but the third fraction did not formed a precipitating line against the antisera.     

产胞外蛋白酶菌株的筛选及环境因素对其产酶活性的影响

采集渔-稻复合系统中的水稻根际淤泥,筛选出有较强产胞外蛋白酶能力的菌株并研究环境因素对其产酶活性的影响。结果显示,通过初筛、蛋白酶复筛等筛选得到一株菌株(编号PRO9);此菌株所产产胞外蛋白酶能够促进水体中有机物质发生氨化反应,减少有机氮含量。此菌还具有产胞外碱性磷酸酶的能力。菌株鉴定结果显示此菌为芽孢杆菌。PRO9菌株所产的胞外蛋白酶在67℃下酶活性最为活跃,最适pH为7,属于中性蛋白酶。     

Characterization of extracellular products from an isolate of Vibrio harveyi recovered from diseased post-larval Penaeus vannamei (Bonne)

Vibrio harveyi recovered from diseased post-larval Penaeus vannamei produced a thermostable exotoxin, which was lethal to Dublin Bay prawns, Nephrops norvegicus L., when injected intramuscularly. The extracellular products (ECPs) concentrated from tryptone soya broth supplemented with 1% (w/v) sodium chloride or from cellophane overlays on marine 2216E agar with incubation at 15, 22 and 27 °C were toxic, with the lethal dose 50% of the crude ECPs estimated to be 4.4 μgprotein prawn^−1. Proteolytic, haemolytic and cytotoxic activities were detected, although the occurrence and quantity of these activities were influenced by cultural conditions. The ECPs which had been heated (100 °C for 10 min) or digested with protease K produced the same pathology as crude, untreated ECPs. Western blotting demonstrated that all the ECP preparations contained low molecular weight lipopolysaccharides, which may constitute the lethal toxin of V. harveyi.     

Do extracellular products of Aeromonas salmonicida induce thrombosis by entering the fish coagulation system at factor X?

Abstract. Thrombosis of minute vessels is a common feature of acute furunculosis in Atlantic salmon. Crude extracellular products (F.CP) of Aeromans, salmonicida injected into the dorsal aorta of cannulated fish elicited an activation of the coagulations systems of the fish When screened with a number of chromogenic substrates, the ECP protease revealed a factor-X like activity. Thus, it may he hypothesized that the ECP induces thrombosis by entering the fish coagulation systems at factor X. and that thrombus formation is a way of creating a site of infection.     

Pathogenicity comparison of high- and low-virulence strains of Vibrio scophthalmi in olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Vibrio scophthalmi, a bacterial pathogen of olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, exhibits strain-dependent virulence. No information is available on the comparative pathogenicity of different strains of V. scophthalmi toward olive flounder. In this study, high- and low-virulence strains (HVS and LVS, respectively) were compared in terms of their pathogenic characteristics, including adhesion and survival, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and extracellular products (ECP) of bacterial cells. The cell-mediated defense of macrophages from olive flounder against V. scophthalmi infection in vitro was also investigated. The results demonstrated that the SOD activity of the HVS was higher than that of the LVS. The number of viable cells of the HVS in serum increased by two log units after 18 h, whereas that of the LVS decreased. The number of cells of the HVS in skin mucus increased significantly while that of the LVS remained constant. The LD₅₀ values of the HVS and LVS ECP toward olive flounder were 10.14 and 15.99 μg protein/g fish, respectively. The ECP were positive for naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase, lipase, gelatinase, and leucine arylamidase. The extracellular O₂ ^? overflow and intracellular O₂ ^? concentration of macrophages induced by the HVS were lower than those induced by the LVS. Significantly more nitric oxide was produced by the HVS than by the LVS.     

Antigenicity of Streptococcus agalactiae extracellular products and vaccine efficacy

Streptococcus agalactiae is a major bacterial pathogen that is the cause of serious economic losses in many species of freshwater, marine and estuarine fish worldwide. A highly efficacious S. agalactiae vaccine was developed using extracellular products (ECP) and formalin-killed whole cells of S. agalactiae. The vaccine efficacy following storage of S. agalactiae ECP and formalin-killed S. agalactiae cells at 4 degrees C for 1 year was determined. The stored ECP containing S. agalactiae formalin-killed cells failed to prevent morbidity and mortality among the vaccinated fish, and the relative percentage survival was 29. Serum antibody responses of the stored ECP and freshly prepared ECP against soluble whole cell extract of S. agalactiae indicated that significantly less antibody was produced in fish immunized with stored ECP and S. agalactiae cells than in those fish immunized with freshly prepared ECP and S. agalactiae cells at day 31 post-vaccination. Silver staining of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels and immunostaining of Western blots with tilapia antiserum to S. agalactiae revealed that predominant 54 and 55 kDa bands were present in the freshly prepared ECP fraction. The 55 kDa band was absent from the stored ECP and new bands below 54 kDa appeared on the Western blot. The results of this study on S. agalactiae ECP provide evidence for a correlation between protection and antibody production to ECP and for the importance of the 55 kDa ECP antigen for vaccine efficacy.     

Virulence properties of Moritella viscosa extracellular products

Moritella viscosa is the causative agent of winter ulcer disease of marine fish. Knowledge of its pathogenicity is limited and there are no reports comparing the virulence properties of a collection of bacterial isolates. The in vivo and in vitro virulence of the extracellular products (ECP) of 22 M. viscosa isolates was screened. Two non-virulent Canadian isolates and a Norwegian isolate with reduced virulence produced non-lethal ECP. Correlation was obtained between cytotoxin and haemolysin production of M. viscosa. Isolates from salmon produced ECP with lower cytotoxic and haemolytic activities than ECP of isolates originating from other hosts. Correlation was not found between lethality of ECPs in salmon and cytotoxic or haemolytic activities. All isolates secreted esterases and a metallopeptidase (MvP1), degraded starch and produced siderophores. Variable levels of ECP protein concentration, different enzymatic activities and siderophore production could not explain differences in virulence. The results show that virulent M. viscosa isolates secrete a lethal toxic factor of unknown nature and that cytotoxin production may reflect host adaptation. Cell-culture models may not be optimal for determining the virulence of M. viscosa, as no association between cytotoxicity and bacterial virulence was obtained. Non-virulent strains may be useful in future research on M. viscosa virulence, as construction of mutants has not been successful.     

Humoral immune response in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., to cellular and extracellular antigens of Aeromonas salmonicida

Abstract. The putative virulence factors of Aeromonas salmonicida , the aetiological agent of furunculosis in salmonids, are candidates for protective antigens in effective vaeeines against furunculosis. In this report, the authors have compared the immunogenieily of eell-associated and extracellular antigens of A. salmonicida in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., to that in rabbit. The animals were immunized with formalin-killed whole cells and formalin-inactivated extracellular products (ECP), either separately or in combination. The ability of the antigens to induce antibody production was studied by elisa and Western blotting techniques. These results confirm previous reports that far more structures are immunogenie in rabbit compared to the antibody responses elicited in salmon. However, in both species, some antigens were dominant, including a caseinolytic protease in addition to the A-protein and high and low MW LPS.