Expression of Anti-Lipopolysaccharide Factor Isoform 3 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Showing High Antimicrobial Activity

Antimicrobial peptides are a class of proteins with antibacterial functions. In this study, the anti-lipopolysaccharide factor isoform 3 gene (ALFPm3), encoding an antimicrobial peptide from Penaeus monodon with a super activity was expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which would develop a microalga strain that can be used for the antimicrobial peptide production. To construct the expression cluster, namely pH2A-Pm3, the codon optimized ALFPm3 gene was fused with the ble reporter by 2A peptide and inserted into pH124 vector. The glass-bead method was performed to transform pH2A-Pm3 into C. reinhardtii CC-849. In addition to 8 μg/mL zeocin resistance selection, the C. reinhardtii transformants were further confirmed by genomic PCR and RT-PCR. Western blot analysis showed that the C. reinhardtii-derived ALFPm3 (cALFPm3) was successfully expressed in C. reinhardtii transformants and accounted for 0.35% of the total soluble protein (TSP). Furthermore, the results of antibacterial assay revealed that the cALFPm3 could significantly inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria, including both Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria at a concentration of 0.77 μM. Especially, the inhibition could last longer than 24 h, which performed better than ampicillin. Hence, this study successfully developed a transgenic C. reinhardtii strain, which can produce the active ALFPm3 driven from P. monodon, providing a potential strategy to use C. reinhardtii as the cell factory to produce antimicrobial peptides.     

Identifying and Characterizing a Novel Peritrophic Matrix Protein (MdPM-17) Associated With Antibacterial Response From the Housefly,Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

Peritrophic matrix/membrane (PM) critically prevents the midgut of insects from external invasion by microbes. The proteins in the peritrophic membrane are its major structural components. Additionally, they determine the formation and function of this membrane. However, the role of PM proteins in immune regulation is unclear. Herein, we isolated a novel PM protein (MdPM-17) from Musca domestica larvae. Further, the function of MdPM-17 in regulating host innate immunity was identified. Results showed that the cDNA of MdPM-17 full is 635 bp in length. Moreover, it consists of a 477-bp open reading frame encoding 158 amino acid residues. These amino acid residues are composed of two Chitin-binding type-2 domain (ChtBD2) and 19 amino acids as a signal peptide. Moreover, tissue distribution analysis indicates that MdPM-17 was enriched expressed in midgut, and moderate levels in the fat body, foregut, and malpighian tubule. Notably, MdPM-17 recombinant protein showed high chitin-binding capacity, thus belongs to the Class III PM protein group. MdPM-17 protein silencing via RNA interference resulted in the expression of antimicrobial peptide (defensin, cecropins, and diptericin) genes, and this occurred after oral inoculation with exogenous microbes Escherichia coli (Enterobacteriales:Enterobacteriaceae), Staphylococcus aureus (Bacillales:Staphylococcaceae), and Candida albicans (Endomycetales:Saccharomycetaceae)). Therefore, all the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) gene expression levels are high in MdPM-17-depleted larvae during microbial infection compared to controls. Consequently, these findings indicate that MdPM-17 protein is associated with the antibacterial response from the housefly.     

一种安全有效提高虹鳟苗种成活率的技术

为安全有效地提高虹鳟苗种成活率,应用1种生物制剂——抗菌肽对虹鳟苗种进行浸泡处理。通过比较苗种成活率,检测SOD、ALP、CAT、IL、IFN、TNF等6种免疫相关酶表达量,采用扫描电镜检测苗种体表细菌情况,确定抗菌肽浸泡对虹鳟成活率的影响。试验结果显示,自破膜期开始,用40%抗菌肽浸泡10次,试验组6种免疫相关酶表达量明显高于对照组,试验组苗种的成活率高达95%以上,对照组苗种的成活率则低于30%。电镜观察结果显示,试验组仔鱼体表细菌数量显著减少。试验结果表明,用抗菌肽浸泡法能显著提高虹鳟苗种成活率。     

Assessment of the Antibacterial Effect of Chitosan Coated with Heracleum persicum Oil on Rainbow Trout Quality

Today, due to the rapid spoilage of fish, the use of natural preservatives is a priority over those of synthetic varieties. Also, the natural antimicrobial effects of essential oils can help to increase shelf life. There are very few studies concerning the use of essential oils in this regard. In the present study, the antibacterial effect of chitosan coated with Heracleum persicum oil was investigated on the quality of rainbow trout. The control and the coated fish samples were analyzed periodically by generalized estimating equation (GEE) for total viable count (TVC), psychrophilic bacteria, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptance parameters. The results showed that by increasing the amount of chitosan, TVC, psychrophilic bacteria, and TVB-N decreased while PUFA, texture, taste, odor, and overall acceptance parameters increased.     

半滑舌鳎溃疡病原杀鲑气单胞菌的分离鉴定与药敏试验

半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis Günther)是广受我国消费者认可的名优鱼类,具有很高的营养价值和经济价值,然而,随着工厂化养殖模式的不断发展,疾病成为制约半滑舌鳎养殖业健康发展的关键因素,其中,体表溃疡病为其常见病症。从严重溃疡病半滑舌鳎体内分离到1株优势菌株HX0416,该菌可在TCBS培养基上生长,并可在绵羊血平板上形成清晰的β-溶血环;经过16S rRNA和rpo D基因序列同源性分析并结合生化特性鉴定为杀鲑气单胞菌(Aeromonas salmonicida)。健康半滑舌鳎幼鱼感染试验表明,该菌对半滑舌鳎具有较强致病性,感染72 h(1.04×106cfu·m L-1)对攻毒鱼的致死率达91.7%。药敏试验结果显示,该菌对环丙沙星、恩诺沙星、诺氟沙星等喹诺酮类和头孢曲松、头孢吡肟等头孢菌素类药物比较敏感,而对硫酸新霉素、土霉素等氨基糖苷类和四环素类药物多重耐药,尤其是对磺胺甲噁唑、氨苄西林等磺胺类和β-内酰胺类药物严重耐药。     

An understated danger: Antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture and pet fish in Switzerland,a retrospective study from 2000 to 2017

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing field of food production. However, morbidity and mortality are higher in aquaculture species than in domestic animals. Bacterial diseases are a leading cause of farmed fish morbidity and are often treated with antimicrobials. Since most Swiss fish farms release effluents directly into surface water without treatment and since aquaculture fish are consumed by humans, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multi-resistance in aquaculture fish are important for environmental and public health. In this study, AMR tests for 14 antimicrobials were performed on 1,448 isolates from 1,134 diagnostic laboratory submissions from farmed and ornamental fish submissions for the period from 2000 to 2017. Amoxicillin, gentamycin and norfloxacin had the lowest proportion of resistant samples. However, AMR was highly variable over time. Resistance proportions were higher in: (a) ornamental fish compared with farmed fish, (b) fish from recirculation systems compared with those from other farming systems and (c) isolates originating from skin compared with those originating from inner organs. Multiple resistances were common. The results of this study provide useful data for Swiss fish veterinarians and some interesting hypotheses about risk factors for AMR in aquaculture and pet fish in Switzerland. However, further research is needed to define risk factors.     

Effects of antimicrobial peptides on growth,morphology of foregut villi and related genes mRNA expression in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of different levels (0, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) of antimicrobial peptides on growth, protease activity of foregut, the morphology of foregut villi and related genes mRNA expression level in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The results showed that the feed of antimicrobial peptides promote common carp growth, and the optimal dosage of antimicrobial peptides is 200–333 mg/kg in the common carp feed. The protease activity of 200 and 400 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control and other groups (p < 0.05). The foregut villus height with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly higher than control group (p < 0.05). The crypt depth of 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly lower than control group (p < 0.05). The ratio of villus height and crypt depth of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg antimicrobial peptide groups were significantly higher than control group (p < 0.05). The ratio with 600 mg/kg group was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.05). The IGF‐I gene expression level of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control group and 600 mg/kg group (p < 0.05). The IL‐1β gene expression level of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups were significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). These results indicated up‐regulation of growth and immune related genes in antimicrobial peptides fed common carp. Correlation analysis showed that IGF‐I mRNA and IL‐1β mRNA were positively correlated with SGR. IL‐1β mRNA and FCR were significantly negative correlated. It indicated that growth and immune gene common regulated the growth of the carp under antimicrobial peptides intervention. In conclusion, antimicrobial peptides can improve growth and related genes mRNA expression in the common carp. Further studies using molecular biological technique or immunologic methods are required to conclude that antimicrobial peptides are beneficial in common carp.     

规模化蛋鸡场病原菌溯源与生物安全防控研究

细菌病严重威胁蛋鸡健康,以抗生素为主导的细菌病传统防控方式会导致病原菌耐药性严重、鸡蛋药物残留,影响蛋品安全。要保证蛋鸡产蛋期不用抗菌药物而又能生产出"无菌、无抗"的鸡蛋,是国内外技术难题。本团队以规模化蛋鸡场全封闭鸡舍为研究对象,基于PFGE、MLST、全基因组测序等技术,探明了蛋鸡病原菌的种类及基因组特征;对病原菌的耐药性研究表明,蛋鸡病原菌多重耐药严重,依靠药物防控的方式亟待转变;对规模化蛋鸡场细菌溯源研究结果表明,鸡舍生物媒介(鼠、苍蝇等)和非生物媒介(空气、饮水、饲料、鸡粪等)是蛋鸡病原菌的重要传染来源和传播途径;对规模化蛋鸡场生物安全量化评价结果表明,外部和内部生物安全权重高达92.2%。根据溯源和生物安全权重分析结果,提出了在规模化全封闭蛋鸡舍将蛋鸡细菌病从药物防控转变为生物安全防控的新策略;创新了规模化蛋鸡场细菌病防控的系统技术,实现蛋鸡规模养殖整个产蛋期不用抗生素,为生产"无菌、无抗"安全鸡蛋提供技术支撑。     

Susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates in equine ulcerative keratitis: Implications for empirical treatment at a university teaching hospital in Sydney

Corneal ulceration is a common ophthalmic condition in horses. It is frequently caused by trauma to the corneal surface, followed by secondary infection by commensal or pathogenic organisms including Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus spp. Emerging antimicrobial resistance amongst these organisms has raised the need for appropriate antimicrobial therapy selection, to optimise treatment efficacy while minimising further antimicrobial resistance. Medical records of 38 horses presented at the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Camden for ulcerative keratitis between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed to identify those with positive bacterial cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles (13/38). Common susceptibility patterns were identified and used to guide the empirical treatment of equine bacterial corneal ulcers. Pseudomonas spp. (64.3%), Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (14.3%) and Actinobacillus spp. (14.3%) were most commonly identified. Susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin was observed in 100%, 66.7% and 85.7% Pseudomonas spp. isolates respectively. Resistance to polymyxin B and neomycin occurred in 85.7% and 71.4% of Pseudomonas spp., respectively. All Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus organisms in this study were susceptible to ceftiofur, cephalexin, penicillin and ampicillin, while they were all resistant to gentamicin, neomycin, enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin. Predominating in this study, Pseudomonas spp. maintained overall aminoglycoside susceptibility despite some emerging resistance, and good fluoroquinolone susceptibility. High resistance to Polymyxin B could have arisen from its common use as first-line therapy for bacterial corneal ulcers. Although further research is required, these new findings about predominant bacteria in equine corneal ulceration in the Camden region and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns can be used to guide the empirical treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers in horses.