中国七种水生动物源无乳链球菌的分子特征及其对斑马鱼的致病性

为了解中国水生动物源无乳链球菌的分子流行特征,揭示其传播和流行规律,本实验对分离得到并鉴定的10株7种水生动物源无乳链球菌通过分子血清型、多位点序列分型(MLST)分型、毒力基因型和前噬菌体分型等方法进行分子分型;其次,通过斑马鱼评价7种水生动物源无乳链球菌的致病性。分子血清型分析结果表明,10株无乳链球菌可分为3种血清型,即Ⅰa、Ⅰb和Ⅲ型;MLST分型结果表明,Ⅰa型无乳链球菌均为ST7型,Ⅰb无乳链球菌均是ST261型,只有Ⅲ型无乳链球菌是ST739型。进一步分型结果表明,10株无乳链球菌可分为3种毒力基因型和4种前噬菌体基因型。根据4种分型结果可知,10株水生动物源无乳链球菌可分为4种类型,其中虎纹蛙源无乳链球菌具有独立的分子血清型、MLST型、毒力基因型和前噬菌体基因型,即Ⅲ-ST739-V1-P3;罗非鱼源无乳链球菌的基因型有3种,即Ⅰa-ST7-V2-P1、Ⅰa-ST7-V2-P2和Ⅰa-ST7-V3-P4;红尾皇冠鱼、鳙和罗非鱼源无乳链球菌的基因型相同:Ⅰa-ST7-V2-P2;卵形鲳鲹、宝石鲈和罗非鱼源无乳链球菌具有相同的基因型:Ⅰa-ST7-V2-P1;鲮和罗非鱼源无乳链球菌的基因型相同,即Ⅰb-ST261-V3-P4。致病性研究表明,7种水生动物源无乳链球菌对斑马鱼均有强致病性。研究表明,两栖类虎纹蛙源无乳链球菌和鱼源无乳链球菌的基因型明显不同,它们之间遗传变异较大,因此,无乳链球菌在两栖类和鱼类之间相互传播的可能性较小。鱼源无乳链球菌有3种基因型,且这3种基因型均在罗非鱼中流行,这表明无乳链球菌在鱼类中相互传播的可能性较大,尤其是在罗非鱼与其他鱼类之间。     

中国罗非鱼主养区无乳链球菌的分子流行特征及其传播方式

为分析2007—2015年中国罗非鱼主养区无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)的分子特征和流行情况,分离并收集了248株罗非鱼源无乳链球菌。通过分子血清型、MLST、毒力基因和前噬菌体等分型方法对248株无乳链球菌进行了分子遗传特征分析。结果表明,229株无乳链球菌(92.3%)的分子血清型是Ⅰa型,其余19株均是Ⅰb型(7.7%)。MLST分析结果表明,所有Ⅰa型无乳链球菌都是ST7型,所有Ⅰb型无乳链球菌都是ST261型。毒力基因检测结果发现,229株Ⅰa-ST7型无乳链球菌的毒力基因型相同,即V1型;19株Ⅰb-ST261型无乳链球菌的毒力基因型相同,即V2型。前噬菌体检测结果表明,Ⅰa-ST7型无乳链球菌可分为两种前噬菌体基因型,分别是P1型(36株)和P2型(193株);Ⅰb-ST261型无乳链球菌的10个前噬菌体基因都是阴性,即P3型。根据以上4种分子分型方法可将248株无乳链球菌分为3种基因型,即Ⅰa-ST7-V1-P1型、Ⅰa-ST7-V1-P2型和Ⅰb-ST261-V2-P3型。2010—2011年主要流行菌株由Ⅰa-ST7-V1-P1型转变为Ⅰa-ST7-V1-P2型,其中Ⅰa-ST7-V1-P1型是2011年之前的主要流行菌株,Ⅰa-ST7-V1-P2型在2011年及之后成为主要流行菌株。研究表明,近年来我国罗非鱼源无乳链球菌发生了明显的遗传变异,同时,根据我国罗非鱼主养区无乳链球菌的流行特点,推测我国罗非鱼源无乳链球菌是通过苗种或水体等介质进行传播的,属于输入性传播方式。     

罗非鱼源无乳链球菌兼职蛋白EF-Tu的克隆、表达及其抗原性检测

为检测罗非鱼源无乳链球菌兼职蛋白EF-Tu(延伸因子Tu,Elongation Factor Tu)的抗原性,本实验克隆了罗非鱼源无乳链球菌HN0303的EF-Tu基因序列,并进行了蛋白相关性质的预测和系统发育树的构建。通过原核表达得到EF-Tu重组蛋白,同时利用纯化的蛋白免疫家兔获得多克隆兔抗EF-Tu重组蛋白血清以用于EF-Tu蛋白抗原性检测。结果显示,罗非鱼源无乳链球菌HN0303 EF-Tu基因有1个由1197个碱基组成的ORF,编码398个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示其分子式为C_(1933)H_(3096)N_(532)O_(615)S_(11),分子质量为43.981 ku,理论等电点为4.749;具有多个磷酸化位点,不具有信号肽和跨膜区域;具有保守的EFTu结构域、EF-Tu-II结构域和EF-Tu-Ⅲ结构域,且与其他来源无乳链球菌的EF-Tu蛋白具有很高的同源性;具有较高的抗原指数,表明其可形成多个抗原表位。SDS-PAGE检测发现,诱导表达的重组蛋白以包涵体的形式出现在沉淀中,大小约为66.4 ku。Western Blot分析表明,兔抗EF-Tu重组蛋白血清能分别特异性结合菌体蛋白和EF-Tu重组蛋白。同时使用兔抗EF-Tu重组蛋白血清封闭罗非鱼源无乳链球菌HN0303表面的EF-Tu蛋白后,无乳链球菌HN0303粘附EPC(Epithelioma papulosum cyprini,鲤鱼上皮细胞)的能力下降了79.99%±2.43%。本研究表明,原核表达的罗非鱼源无乳链球菌EF-Tu重组蛋白具备较好的抗原性,用其制备的兔抗血清能够较好地抑制罗非鱼源无乳链球菌的粘附,推测其可能为罗非鱼源无乳链球菌亚单位疫苗的候选蛋白。     

我国罗非鱼源新型无乳链球菌的分离、鉴定及其分子特征

2014年海南省文昌市多个养殖场的罗非鱼出现暴发性疾病,患病罗非鱼表现出体色发黑、打转游动、眼球突出或混浊等典型的链球菌病症状。从患病罗非鱼的肝、肾、脾、眼球和脑等组织中分离到19株病原菌,即TC-1、TC-2、BL1441~BL1448和WT1451~WT1459。通过形态观察、生理生化特征和16S r RNA基因序列分析等方法对病原菌进行鉴定,结果表明,这些病原菌均为无乳链球菌。溶血试验结果表明,TC-1、TC-2和BL1441~BL1448菌株为β-溶血性无乳链球菌,而WT1451~WT1459菌株为不溶血无乳链球菌。进一步通过MLST、分子血清型和毒力相关基因检测等技术对这些分离菌株进行遗传特征分析,结果表明TC-1、TC-2和BL1441~BL1448菌株是常见的Ia-ST7型,其毒力基因型为bac+-bca+-bib A+-cfb+-hyl B+-iag A+-fbs B+-lmb–-scp B–-cyl E+-gbs20186–。而WT1451~WT1459菌株则是Ib-ST261型,其毒力基因型为bac–-bca–-bib A+-cfb+-hyl B+-iag A+-fbs B+-lmb–-scp B–-cyl E–-gbs20186+。将分离菌株BL1441和WT1451分别对罗非鱼进行攻毒试验,结果表明,WT1451菌株是强毒株,当其攻毒剂量为4.5×103CFU/m L时,罗非鱼累积死亡率可达85%。本研究将为我国罗非鱼无乳链球菌的流行病学、疫苗研制以及疾病防控等研究奠定基础。     

12种药物对罗非鱼无乳链球菌的抑菌试验

无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)普遍存在于养殖水体中,可产生外毒素,对动物具有致死性,由无乳链球菌和海豚链球菌(Streptococcus inia)引起的罗非鱼链球菌病被认为是对罗非鱼危害最严重的细菌性疾病,而且链球菌还可随伤口感染人类.近几年来,因罗非鱼链球菌病的暴发流行,给罗非鱼养殖业造成极大的危害,甚至威胁到罗非鱼养殖产业的稳定发展.2011年5月～10月,广西多地暴发罗非鱼链球菌病,危害各种规格的养殖罗非鱼,共造成7127吨鱼死亡,经济损失8610.8万元,已严重制约了广西罗非鱼养殖业的健康发展.研究结果表明,近两年广西养殖罗非鱼链球菌病的病原菌为无乳链球菌,且大多表现为多重耐药菌株.而生产实际中,药物防治仍是目前养殖户针对罗非鱼链球菌病普遍采用的主要控制措施.本试验选取12种常用国标渔药,研究其对无乳链球菌的抑菌作用,旨在为罗非鱼无乳链球菌病的药物防治提供参考.     

无乳链球菌LIP蛋白的截短表达及免疫保护性研究

为评价罗非鱼源无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)BX2012株脂蛋白(lipoprotein)的免疫原性及其对奥利亚罗非鱼(Oreochromis aureus)和大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)的保护效果,以无乳链球菌脂蛋白基因序列(GenBank序列号:CP000114.1,SAK_0321)的B细胞线性抗原表位区设计特异性引物进行扩增,构建重组表达载体,将截短表达的脂蛋白制备成亚单位疫苗,同时制备灭活疫苗进行免疫比对。结果显示:重组表达载体p ET-32a-LIP342在BL21(DE3)中获得了良好的可溶性表达,分子质量约为30 kDa,纯化使LIP342纯度由41.75%提至87.23%;Western blotting分析显示,LIP342可被兔抗无乳链球菌高免血清特异性识别;LIP342在目前已知不同种属来源或不同血清型的无乳链球菌分离株中同源性为90.35%~100%,在罗非鱼源分离株中同源性为100%;无乳链球菌LIP342蛋白和灭活疫苗均可显著提升奥利亚罗非鱼和大菱鲆血清抗体水平,而LIP342诱导的血清抗体水平均显著高于灭活疫苗;经0.1 mL 1×10~9cfu/mL的无乳链球菌攻毒后,LIP342蛋白和灭活疫苗对供试鱼的累积存活率均显著高于PBS对照组。结果表明,高度保守的LIP342具有较好的免疫原性,可作为无乳链球菌亚单位疫苗候选因子。     

罗非鱼无乳链球菌的分子鉴定

对罗非鱼致病菌株TL60829NA及其人工感染后分离菌株TL60829NA1、TL60829NA2应用原核生物16S rRNA基因通用引物进行分子分类学鉴定.对这些菌株进行16srRNA基因的克隆、序列分析,核酸序列同源性分析表明,TL60829NA及其人工感染后分离菌株TL60829NA1、TL60829NA2为同一种细菌.其中,TL60829NA2与GenBank登陆号为DQ303183的无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalaciate)菌株ATCC13813序列同源性最高(99.8%).同时,通过与常引起罗非鱼链球菌病的S.agalaciate、S.iniae代表菌株16srRNA基因构建的发育进化树表明,该菌株及其人工感染后分离菌株与S.agalaciate代表菌株构成一个进化分枝,而4株S.iniae代表菌株的16srRNA基因则构成另一个分枝.本研究证实了从发病罗非鱼肝脏组织中分离到的致病性链球菌为无乳链球菌.     

吉富罗非鱼感染无乳链球菌后肝脏组织在不同时期蛋白质组的表达差异

为研究罗非鱼感染无乳链球菌前后肝脏组织蛋白质的表达变化。本研究以吉富罗非鱼为材料,采用双向电泳技术分析其在无乳链球菌感染胁迫下24 h、48-144 h、12 d与对照组（未感染）肝脏组织蛋白质组的变化,对差异表达蛋白进行质谱分析鉴定。结果显示：吉富罗非鱼在无乳链球菌胁迫下,3个实验组的蛋白质图谱与对照组相比存在显著差异,共有30个蛋白点发生显著改变,其中13个表达上调,17个下调,2个下调蛋白点在感染12 d组消失。通过MALDI-TOF-MS MS/MS质谱分析和数据库检索对这些蛋白质进行了功能分类,发现它们涉及到能量代谢、细胞防御与应激、消化免疫、抗氧化与排毒等许多方面。推测这些蛋白可能在吉富罗非鱼对无乳链球菌胁迫的抗性反应中发挥了重要作用。研究结果为无乳链球菌疫苗的研制及吉富罗非鱼抗病品种选育奠定了基础。     

广东地区吉富罗非鱼无乳链球菌病的流行情况与耐药性

为了调查广东省惠州、肇庆、珠海、湛江4个吉富罗非鱼主养区链球菌病的流行情况和耐药性,并进一步分析β-内酰胺酶基因与青霉素类药物的耐药性关系。本实验通过传统的方法对菌株进行分离纯化,扩增特异性基因cfb以及16s r DNA对各菌株进行鉴定;采用k-b法测定分离菌株的药物敏感性;通过PCR检测β-内酰胺酶类基因在分离菌株中的分布情况,并用Statistic6.0统计分析各β-内酰胺酶基因与青霉素类药物的耐药关系。实验结果表明,吉富罗非鱼无乳链球菌的阳性率从高到低的顺序为惠州(46.46%)湛江(43.24%)肇庆(17.30%)珠海(4.17%);药敏结果显示各地区无乳链球菌分离株对青霉素(耐药率为94.29%)和磺胺二甲基嘧啶(耐药率为86.40%)普遍耐药,对恩诺沙星最为敏感(耐药率为3.99%);β-内酰胺酶基因分布与细菌耐药性统计结果显示,无乳链球菌基因组中的9个β-内酰胺酶基因在各分离菌株中的分布呈高度多态性,其中SAG0658基因与氨苄青霉素抗性显著相关,提示SAG0658基因在无乳链球菌耐氨苄青霉素过程中发挥主要作用;此外,9个β-内酰胺酶基因与青霉素抗性无相关性,说明其在菌株对青霉素耐药过程中并未发挥明显作用,提示分离菌株对青霉素的耐药性可能依赖其他途径。     

罗非鱼无乳链球菌LrrG蛋白的原核表达及免疫原性分析

LrrG蛋白是无乳链球菌较保守的表面蛋白之一。为获得罗非鱼源无乳链球菌LrrG蛋白并探讨其在罗非鱼体内的免疫原性,本实验根据GenBank中已报道的人源无乳链球菌LrrG基因序列,设计特异性引物,扩增获得罗非鱼源无乳链球菌的LrrG基因。分析表明,其ORF为2 361 bp,编码786个氨基酸,与人源无乳链球菌LrrG基因核苷酸序列的相似性高达98.48%。LrrG蛋白含有3个保守的LRR结构域,并可形成多个抗原表位。将LrrG基因片段克隆转入原核表达载体pET-32a(+),构建重组质粒pET-32a(+)/LrrG,E.coli BL21(DE3)22℃诱导表达6 h。SDS-PAGE显示,诱导表达蛋白的分子量为108.9 ku,并且该重组蛋白以可溶和包涵体2种形式存在。经His Bind亲和柱纯化及超滤管浓缩后,LrrG可溶蛋白浓度达3.40 mg/mL。鱼体注射免疫实验表明,LrrG可溶蛋白对罗非鱼的相对免疫保护率达69.28%,且免疫后4周的血清抗体滴度为1∶800。该研究为深入探讨无乳链球菌LrrG蛋白作为罗非鱼基因工程疫苗的潜在应用价值奠定了基础。     

Identification and molecular typing of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus agalactiae</Emphasis> isolated from pond-cultured tilapia in China

Bacteria strains with strong virulence were isolated from pond-cultured tilapia in China. They were identified as Streptococcus agalactiae by biochemical assays, and confirmed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and group B Streptococcus (GBS)-specific gene cfb analyses. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay of the alpha C protein (ACP) gene and capsular polysaccharide antigen (cps) gene was employed to identify their molecular serotype (MS). Amplification of the ACP gene produced a 400-bp C alpha protein gene (bca) fragment, suggesting that these isolates belong to MS Ia, Ib or II; amplification of cps produced a 790-bp amplicon, indicating that they belong to MS Ia/III-3. An additional PCR based on nucleotide difference in the cps H–I region of MS Ia and III further suggested that the isolates belong to serotype MS Ia. Moreover, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) indicated that these strains were of sequence type 7 (ST-7). These results showed that isolates from different regions of China shared the same MS and ST. However, none of the isolated ST-7 GBS corresponded to the capsular serotype, suggesting that these fish GBS possessed specific molecular characteristics not present in human or other animals. Data from this study will facilitate the understanding of epidemiology and nosogenesis of tilapia GBS and the establishment of effective disease prevention methods.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of streptococcal species recovered from clinical infections in farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the Philippines

Streptococcosis cause severe losses for global tilapia farming, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize streptococci recovered from Nile tilapia farmed in the Philippines. Moribund and apparently healthy fish were sampled from grow-out cages, ponds and hatcheries. Clinical signs observed included exophthalmia, eye opacity, ascites, lethargy, erratic swimming and haemorrhages. Results showed that both Streptococcus iniae and Streptococcus agalactiae were associated with disease in these sites. Consistent with global reports, including those from South-East Asia, S. agalactiae was more widespread than S. iniae. Molecular serotyping of the S. agalactiae isolates identified the serotype Ia and serotype Ib. Histopathological findings were meningitis, meningoencephalitis and septicaemia. Identical virulence profiles were found for all strains of S. iniae, while S. agalactiae strains were separated into virulence profile I and profile II. All strains were susceptible to the tested antibiotics and resistant to oxolinic acid. Only S. agalactiae serotype Ib showed resistance to sulphamethoxazole–trimethoprim. This is the first study from the Philippines to characterize the streptococci involved in disease outbreaks in tilapia aquaculture. Outputs from this study will promote the development of efficacious disease control strategies in tilapia farming for the Philippines and South-East Asia.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus agalactiae</Emphasis> from tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis</Emphasis> sp.) transmitted to a new host,bighead carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aristichthys nobilis</Emphasis>), in China

Several outbreaks of Streptococcus agalactiae infection of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) were observed in China. The molecular epidemiology and pathogenicity of S. agalactiae in bighead carp and tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) is poorly understood. In the present study, we identified S. agalactiae strains isolated from diseased bighead carp using the API 20 Strep kit and 16S rDNA sequencing and determined whether these strains came from tilapia. Of the 46 identified S. agalactiae strains, 24 strains were successfully isolated from diseased bighead carps, 20 S. agalactiae strains were isolated from tilapia, and two S. agalactiae strains were isolated from tiger frog (Hoplobatrachus chinensis). The results of molecular typing, including multilocus sequence typing, molecular serotyping, surface protein gene detection, and virulence-related gene detection showed that the 44 strains from bighead carp and tilapia were highly similar, whereas different from tiger frog GBS strains. Remarkably, the bighead carp strain Hn1404 showed high virulence in bighead carp and zebrafish. Moreover, this strain was pathogenic to Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In addition, comparative genomic analysis showed that isolate Hn1404 had a close relationship with the bighead carp and tilapia S. agalactiae strains. All the analyses of the genetic characteristics of bighead carp and tilapia strains showed that tilapia S. agalactiae strains could be transmitted to other fish species such as bighead carp.     

Molecular typing of Streptococcus agalactiae isolates from fish

The genetic variability among Streptococcus agalactiae isolates recovered from fish was characterized using single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the intergenic spacer region (ISR), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting. A total of 46 S. agalactiae cultures isolated from different fish species and geographic origins as well as related reference strains were included in the study. ISR-SSCP divided the S. agalactiae isolates analysed into five distinct genotypes. Genotype 1 grouped all Kuwait isolates while genotype 4 clustered the majority of non-Kuwait isolates (USA, Brazil and Honduras). AFLP analysis offered a higher resolution level by dividing the isolates into 13 different genotypes. Two different AFLP profiles were identified within the Kuwait isolates. When data from both ISR-SSCP and AFLP were combined through a multidimensional analysis (MDS), a good correlation between geographical origin and genotypes was observed. Both AFLP and ISR-SSCP revealed genetic differences between S. agalactiae isolates from fish. While AFLP offered a higher resolution, ISR-SSCP also provided valid information being a simpler and faster method.     

杂交鳢(斑鳢♀×乌鳢♂)内脏类结节病病原菌的分离、鉴定与特性分析

从广东佛山、广州两地养殖场患内脏类结节病杂交鳢(Channa maculata♀×C.argus♂)内脏器官分离到2株细菌,纯化培养后获得2个分离株,编号为WL-1和WL-2,对分离菌株进行了细菌鉴定、致病性分析及药敏实验。应用常规生理生化鉴定和ATB系统细菌自动鉴定仪对分离菌株进行细胞形态学、理化特性分析,初步判定所分离菌为舒伯特气单胞菌。采用16S rRNA基因、DNA促旋酶的B亚单位蛋白(gyrB)基因对分离菌株进行DNA分子鉴定,结果显示,两个菌株间的16S rRNA基因序列相同,gyrB基因序列同源性为99.7%;分离菌株与GenBank上登录的舒伯特气单胞菌16S rRNA基因序列和gyrB基因序列同源性均最高,达99%以上;分离菌株在系统进化树上与舒伯特气单胞菌聚为一族,进一步确认分离株为舒伯特气单胞菌。人工感染健康鱼后出现与自然发病相似的内脏类结节病症状,从发病鱼内脏组织再分离的细菌特性与原感染菌相同。综合理化特性分析、基因鉴定和人工感染实验确认舒伯特气单胞菌是杂交鳢内脏类结节病的致病菌。药敏实验发现分离菌株对头孢唑啉、庆大霉素等14种药物敏感;对青霉素G、苯唑西林2种药物耐受。     

无乳链球菌不同途径感染吉富罗非鱼后病原菌在体内的分布规律研究

为探讨无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)感染罗非鱼(Oreochromis spp)的致病途径。采用腹腔注射、灌胃和浸泡三种方式对吉富罗非鱼进行无乳链球菌(HN016菌株)胁迫感染,利用平板活菌计数法统计三种方式感染后病原菌在体内组织的分布。注射和灌胃两种方式感染后均出现典型的链球菌感染发病症状,其中注射组在感染24 h后出现死亡高峰,死亡率为92.5%;灌胃组感染48 h后出现死亡高峰,死亡率为90%;而浸泡组,感染后均没有出现明显的发病症状,也没有出现死鱼。注射组和灌胃组在感染后2 h,其脾脏、肝脏、前肾、胃、腮、皮肤和肌肉组织中均可分离出病原菌,5 h后在脑组织中均可分离出病原菌,8 h后各组织分离出的病原菌数达到峰值;而浸泡组在感染8 h后才从各组织中分离出病原菌,且它们的数量均低于同时期的注射组和灌胃组。注射和灌胃两种方式可使吉富罗非鱼快速感染无乳链球菌而发病,而浸泡方式感染后病原菌虽可以侵入机体,但不表现出症状。由此,我们推测在自然条件下养殖的罗非鱼是通过口腔采食携带无乳,链球菌的食物而被感染。