Serological and molecular detection of infection with Mycobacterium leprae in Brazilian six banded armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus)

Leprosy was recognized as a zoonotic disease, associated with nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the Southern United States of America in 2011. In addition, there is growing evidence to support a role for armadillos in zoonotic leprosy in South America. The current study evaluated twenty specimens of the six-banded armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus), collected from rural locations in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil for evidence of infection with Mycobacterium leprae. Serum was examined using two "in-house" enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and via two commercially available (ML flow and NDO-LID®) immunochromatographic lateral flow (LF) tests, for detection of the PGL-I and/or LID-1 antigens of the bacterium. The presence of M. leprae DNA in liver tissue was examined using the multi-copy, M. leprae-specific repetitive element (RLEP), as target in conventional and nested PCR assays. Molecular and anti-PGL-I-ELISA data indicated that 20/20 (100 %) of the armadillos were infected with M. leprae. The corresponding detection levels recorded with the LF tests were 17/20 (85 %) and 16/20 (85 %), for the NDO-LID® and ML flow tests, respectively. Our results indicate that, in common with D. novemcinctus, six banded armadillos (a species hunted and reared as a food-source in some regions of Brazil, including RN), represent a potential reservoir of M. leprae and as such, their role in a possible zoonotic cycle of leprosy within Brazil warrants further investigation.     

Molecular survey of Dirofilaria species in stray dogs,red foxes and golden jackals from Vojvodina,Serbia

Cardiopulmonary dirofilariosis in dogs and other carnivores is caused by Dirofilaria immitis, while Dirofilaria repens usually causes a subcutaneous infection. The importance of red foxes and golden jackals in the epidemiology of dirofilariosis remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional molecular survey of Dirofilaria species in stray dogs, red foxes and golden jackals from the endemic region of Vojvodina, Serbia, in order to determine and update data on their prevalence and provide insight into the epidemiological importance of wild canids.A total of 59 blood samples from stray dogs, 94 from red foxes and 32 from golden jackals were collected and screened by real-time PCR targeting a 115-bp fragment of the mitochondrial 12S gene of filarioids and by conventional PCR assay targeting a 484–524-bp fragment of 5.8S-ITS2-28S locus of filarioids.The cross-sectional molecular survey detected the filarioid mitochondrial 12S gene fragment in stray dogs (27.1 %), red foxes (8.5 %) and golden jackals (6.3 %) in the same endemic region of Vojvodina, Serbia. Only D. immitis was detected in stray dogs, while both D. immitis and D. repens were detected in populations of red foxes and golden jackals. These results outline a possible interaction of D. immitis infection between the dog population and the wild canid populations, while D. repens was found to circulate mostly in golden jackals and red foxes populations.     

Molecular and serological detection of animal and human vector-borne pathogens in the blood of dogs from Côte d’Ivoire

In Côte d’Ivoire, limited information are available on vector-borne pathogens, their prevalence and distribution. Here, we assess the occurrence and diversity of canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) in Abidjan and Yamoussoukro cities. Blood from a total of 123 dogs were tested for Leishmania infantum and Ehrlichia canis antibodies and screened for Leishmania and Trypanosoma spp., Piroplasmida, Filariidae and Anaplasmataceae by PCR and sequencing. Among dogs, 39 % were positive for at least one pathogen. Seroprevalences were: 15.4 % and 12.2 % for L. infantum and E. canis, respectively. DNA of L. infantum and T. congolense (4.1 %), Baabesia vogeli (1.6 %), Filariidae (Dirofilaria immitis, D. repens and Acanthocheilonema reconditum) (10.6 %) has been detected. Anaplasmataceae were detected in (17.1 %) and E. canis was the only identified specie. Co-infections were observed in 13.8 % of dogs: E. canis-L. infantum co-infection was the most prevalent (4.9 %). Age, breed and sex of dogs do not seem to influence infections. Village dogs were more susceptible to CVBDs than kennel dogs (PV = 0.0000008). This study reports for the first time the presence of L. infantum, B. vogeli, A. reconditum, D. immitis and D. repens in dogs from Côte d’Ivoire and determines the prevalence and diversity of CVBD pathogens. The results indicate that human and animal pathogens are abundant in Ivoirian dogs which requires attention of veterinarians, physicians and authorities against these diseases, especially against major zoonosis such as visceral leishmaniasis (L. infantum).     

Serum amyloid A (SAA) mRNA expression in chicken and quails in response to bacterial stress

Monitoring of acute phase proteins such as serum amyloid A at gene expression level may provide quick information about immune status of the host and its susceptibility towards common infections. Present study was carried out to evaluate and compare the mRNA expression of SAA gene in Rhode Island Red chicken (RIR) and Japanese quails using real time PCR analysis in response to inactivated Salmonella gallinarum culture. The results showed that expression of SAA gene was approximately 17–33 folds higher in case of birds administered with bacterial culture when compared to un-inoculated controls and expression was higher and quicker in case of quails than RIR chicken. The SAA genes from chicken and quail were cloned and upon sequence analysis it was observed that deduced amino acid sequence of SAA from chicken and quails were having approximately seven percent variation which might have significance in function of this protein in these species.     

Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA by real-time PCR in saliva of dogs

This study developed a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to detect L. infantum kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) in canine saliva. The qPCR showed an efficiency of 93.8%, a coefficient of correlation of 0.996 and a detection limit of 0.5 fg/reaction (0.005 parasites), although it detected until 0.25 fg/reaction (0.0025 parasites). When samples from 12 dogs experimentally infected with L. infantum were collected, L. infantum kDNA was detected at 16-weeks post-infection (wpi) in 41.7% and 91.7% of saliva and bone marrow samples, respectively, and at 47-wpi in 75% of both samples. L. infantum kDNA can be detected by qPCR in canine saliva, with lower sensitivity in the early stages of infection and a lower parasite load estimation compared to bone marrow. However, saliva had similar sensitivities to bone marrow in the later stages of the infection and could be used to detect L. infantum kDNA being aware of its limitations.     

人溶菌酶密码子优化及其在牛乳腺细胞中高效表达

【目的】分析牛乳腺中7种主要乳蛋白基因密码子使用偏好性,筛选高频密码子和低频密码子,依据其对人溶菌酶基因进行密码子局部优化和全局优化,通过牛乳腺上皮细胞等多种细胞对优化效果进行分析评价,为提高重组人溶菌酶表达量,开发新型、高效、安全的重组人溶菌酶提供理论依据。【方法】利用CodonW和EMBOSS等软件对7种主要牛乳蛋白和人溶菌酶基因密码子偏好进行生物信息学分析,筛选牛乳蛋白基因高频、低频密码子并根据牛乳蛋白基因密码子使用偏好对人溶菌酶基因翻译起始区前22位密码子（LYZop22）和全局密码子(LYZop)分别进行优化。构建人溶菌酶-荧光素酶融合表达载体（pGL3-LYZcw/op22/op）和人溶菌酶过表达载体（pcDNA-LYZcw/op22/op）,将上述载体分别转染牛乳腺上皮细胞(BMEC)、牛成纤维细胞（BFFC）和C127小鼠乳腺上皮细胞等3种细胞,通过荧光素酶、实时荧光定量PCR及Western-blot等方法检测密码子优化对溶菌酶表达的影响。【结果】牛乳蛋白基因密码子偏好以GC结尾,GC3s平均含量为0.537±0.062,而人溶菌酶GC3s含量为0.407,偏好以AT结尾;聚类结果表明,牛乳中酪蛋白与乳清蛋白类基因在密码子使用偏好性上也存在一定差异。依据筛选获得的牛主要乳蛋白基因5个高频密码子（RSCU>1.5）和7个低频密码子（RSCU<0.5）对人溶菌酶基因密码子进行优化并转染多种细胞进行表达效果分析。荧光素酶分析发现,相比野生型溶菌酶密码子（LYZcw）,翻译起始区密码子优化类型LYZop22分别在BMEC、BFFC细胞中提高1.48倍（P<0.01）和1.30倍（P>0.05）;而全局密码子优化类型LYZop分别在BMEC、BFFC中提高2.2倍（P<0.01）和2.44倍（P<0.01）,说明密码子优化能明显提高人溶菌酶在多种细胞中表达量。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,LYZop22相比LYZcw在BMEC和BFFC细胞中分别提高了2.08倍（P<0.05）和1.5倍（P>0.05）,而LYZop则分别提高了22倍（P<0.01）和17.8倍（P<0.01）,mRNA表达水平与密码子优化后的mRNA二级结构稳定性呈正相关。Western-blot结果也进一步表明,密码子优化后的LYZop22和LYZop能明显提高重组人溶菌酶在牛乳腺上皮细胞中的表达量。上述结果表明,根据牛乳腺中主要乳蛋白基因密码子使用偏好进行密码子优化,能显著提高人溶菌酶在牛乳腺上皮细胞及成纤维细胞中的表达量,且溶菌酶基因全局密码子优化效果优于翻译起始区密码子优化效果。【结论】通过生物信息学分析获得了牛乳蛋白基因使密码子使用偏好及高低频密码子;依据牛乳蛋白密码子使用偏好性对人溶菌酶密码子优化能显著提高重组人溶菌酶mRNA水平和蛋白水平的表达量,为今后利用生物反应器高效生产重组人溶菌酶奠定基础。     

甜瓜黄斑病毒SYBR Green Ⅰ实时荧光定量PCR方法

为建立检测甜瓜黄斑病毒(melon yellow spot virus, MYSV)的SYBR Green Ⅰ实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)方法。基于MYSV核衣壳蛋白基因保守序列设计qPCR特异性引物对,针对引物退火温度、引物浓度、特异性和敏感性进行系列优化。结果显示,优化后的qPCR方法最适退火温度为61.3℃,最适引物浓度为0.65μmol·L^-1,特异性强,灵敏度高,比PCR高100倍。以携带目的基因片段的重组质粒为标准品,构建的qPCR标准曲线循环阈值与模板浓度呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.999 7。实验样品验证表明建立的qPCR方法可用于MYSV的定量检测。     

薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌TaqMan荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

疮痂病是薄壳山核桃上最具毁灭性的病害,带菌植物材料是传播疮痂病的重要来源。准确、灵敏、快速的检测方法可为该病害流行规律调查和防控提供有力的依据。本文通过比较薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌Venturia effusa及其近似种之间的ITS序列差异,设计了特异性引物和TaqMan探针,建立了薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌的荧光定量PCR检测方法。特异性检测结果表明,该方法可以检测不同地区的薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌菌株,而对其近似种以及薄壳山核桃上的其他真菌均没有信号。本研究建立的检测方法对薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌DNA的最低检测限可达0.5 pg/μL。该方法用于田间样品检测时,检测时间仅需1 h,远快于常规的分离培养法。本研究建立的基于TaqMan探针的荧光定量PCR检测方法为薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌的快速检测和监测提供了有力工具。     

Investigation of biofilm production and icaA and icaD genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from heifers and cows with mastitis

Biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus are important virulence factors in cases of mastitis in dairy cows. However, few studies have investigated mastitis strains isolated from heifers. Within this context, the objective of the present study was to investigate biofilm formation on Congo red agar, the presence of the icaA and icaD genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the percentage of in vitro antimicrobial resistance of 110 S. aureus isolates from mammary gland secretions of heifers and cows with mastitis. PCR detected the icaA and icaD genes in 98% and 100% of isolates, respectively. However, only 55.5% of all isolates produced a biofilm on Congo red agar. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that 47.0% of isolates from heifers and 70.4% of isolates from cows were resistant to at least one of the antimicrobial agents tested. Resistance to penicillin and/or ampicillin was the most frequent (44.5%). These results indicate the need to implement prophylactic and control measures of mastitis for heifers. Heifers and cows can carry resistant strains with the capacity of biofilm production, a fact representing a threat to public health and animal well‐being and generating losses to dairy farmers.