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。     

Effects of Inulin Chain Length on Fermentation by Equine Fecal Bacteria and Streptococcus bovis

Grass fructans can be fermented by Gram-positive bacteria (e.g., Streptococcus bovis) in the equine hindgut, increasing production of lactic acid and decreasing pH. The degree of polymerization (DP) of fructans has been suggested to influence fermentation rates. The objective of the present study was to determine how DP impacts fermentation by equine fecal bacteria and a model S. bovis. Fecal microbes from three mares were harvested by differential centrifugation, washed, and resuspended in anaerobic media containing short-chain (SC; DP ≤ 10) or long-chain (LC) inulin (DP ≥ 23) from 0% to 2% wt/vol. After 24 hours of incubation (37°C), samples were collected for pH determination. Data were analyzed using the general linear models (GLM) procedure testing for the effect of treatment, concentration, and treatment × concentration (SAS v. 9.3). At all concentrations, the pH was lower in SC fermentations than in LC (P < .0001, in all cases). To determine the effect of DP on S. bovis, cultures were grown (39°C, 9 hours) with 0.1%, 0.5%, or 1.3% SC or LC inulin. Optical density (600 nm) was determined by spectrophotometry. Maximum specific growth rates (μ) were determined by linear regression (2–5 hours). Data were analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance procedure (SAS v. 9.3). The final optical density (600 nm), μ, and yield were higher with SC than with LC fermentation (P < .05). These results indicate that SC inulin may be more available for fermentation than LC inulin by equine fecal bacteria and S. bovis, specifically.     

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Streptococcus spp. isolated from tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) cultured in river-based cage and earthen ponds in Northern Thailand

Streptococcus spp. are major pathogenic bacteria associated with massive mortality in tilapia. This study investigated the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) and Streptococcus iniae (S. iniae) isolated from tilapia in river-based floating cage and earthen pond farms in northern Thailand. Isolates were identified by biochemical and molecular analyses. Capsular typing, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction and multilocus sequence typing were performed to investigate the genetic relatedness. Six and one isolates were confirmed as GBS and S. iniae, respectively. All Streptococcus spp. isolates were obtained from 4 river-based cage farms (4/33), while samples collected from earthen pond farms (N = 28) were negative for streptococcosis. All GBS with serotype Ⅲ and sequence type (ST) 283 was observed. The β-haemolytic GBS isolates were resistant to five antimicrobials, while the S. iniae was susceptible to all antimicrobials. This study indicates both GBS and S. iniae are the major bacterial pathogens responsible for streptococcosis infection in farmed tilapia of northern Thailand with GBS as dominant species. This survey highlights that the river-based cage farms seriously impact on the healthy development of the tilapia industry.     

Outbreaks of severe myositis in cultured white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus L.) associated with Streptococcus iniae

Outbreaks of an infectious disease affecting cultured white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) were investigated. Clinical signs included erratic swimming, arching of the back and mortality. Necropsy findings included poorly demarcated yellow to dark-red and friable lesions in the epaxial muscle, ulcerative skin lesions and haemorrhages in the swim bladder and coelomic wall. Histological evaluation revealed areas of necrotizing and heterophilic myositis with aggregates of bacterial cocci. The lumen of blood vessels in the dermis, under ulcerated areas, and in the posterior kidney, was occluded by fibrin thrombi. Aggregates of Gram-positive cocci were observed in the muscle lesions and within the fibrin thrombi in the dermis and kidney. Genetically homogeneous Streptococcus iniae strains were recovered from affected fish from different outbreaks. The isolates shared high degree of similarity at gene locus (gyrB) with previously characterized S. iniae from cultured fish in California, confirming the emergence of this particular strain of S. iniae in US aquaculture.     

罗非鱼无乳链球菌LrrG-Sip融合蛋白免疫原性研究

为探究无乳链球菌LrrG(Leucine-rich repeat protein from GBS)和表面免疫原性蛋白Sip(surface immunogenic protein)串联表达的LrrG-Sip重组融合蛋白的免疫原性,该研究将原核表达的LrrG-Sip重组融合蛋白分别以0.5μg·g~(-1)(R1组)、1.0μg·g~(-1)(R2组)和1.5μg·g-1(R3组)每尾200μL腹腔注射免疫尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus),同时以Sip蛋白(S组)、LrrG蛋白(L组)以及PBS(P组)作为对照。2周后对所有免疫鱼体进行无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)人工攻毒,攻毒剂量为其半致死浓度(LD_(50):4.0×108CFU·mL~(-1))。结果显示LrrG-Sip重组融合蛋白R1组对尼罗罗非鱼的相对免疫保护率最高,达89.14%;且免疫后第14和第28天,该组鱼体血清抗体OD_(450nm)值分别达0.63和0.64,均显著高于单一蛋白对照组(S和L组)和PBS组(P0.05);R1组鱼体血清过氧化物酶(POD)和碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性在上述2个时间点也显著高于其他组(P0.05);但溶菌酶(LZM)和总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性与其他组之间差异不显著(P0.05)。初步表明LrrG-Sip重组融合蛋白具有良好的免疫原性,其免疫原性明显优于单个蛋白,且能有效减少免疫剂量。     

猪链球菌蛋白表面展示系统的构建及展示蛋白的初步观察

为构建猪链球菌(Streptococcus suis)蛋白表面展示系统,本研究通过序列分析,确定猪链球菌的LPxTG蛋白及其信号肽(SP)和胞壁锚定基序(CWA),通过PCR扩增Peno-SP、GFP、CWA的DNA片段并融合,构建强启动子Peno控制表达编码SP-GFP-CWA融合蛋白的DNA片段,将该重组DNA片段连接pSET2载体,获得蛋白表面展示质粒,转化猪链球菌,构建得到以GFP为报告蛋白的猪链球菌蛋白表面展示系统。结果显示,利用猪链球菌的10个LPxTG蛋白及其SP和CWA序列,构建了10个含有Peno-SP-GFP-CWA融合片段的重组pSET2表面蛋白展示质粒pSsPSD1至pSsPSD10,分别转化猪链球菌05ZYH33,PCR鉴定显示其中7个转化猪链球菌。采用western blot初步检测其展示蛋白,结果显示,7个转化阳性菌株均能有效表达GFP蛋白,以成熟GFP条带为指标,均表现出了一定的外源GFP表面展示水平,分别命名为SsPSD1、SsPSD2、SsPSD4、SsPSD7-SsPSD10,其中SsPSD1、SsPSD4、SsPSD8和SsPSD9表面展示水平相对较好,在猪链球菌表面展示外源蛋白方面具有很好的潜力。本研究首次尝试建立猪链球菌蛋白表面展示系统,为猪链球菌表面递呈外源蛋白或抗原提供了新的策略。     

猪链球菌2型灭活疫苗对小鼠的免疫效果评价

在前期筛选出2株毒力强、抗原性好、遗传稳定的猪链球菌2型(SS2)疫苗菌株(HF2、HF3株)并分别制成灭活疫苗(采用ISA 201 VG矿物油佐剂)的基础上,进一步与SS2商品化灭活疫苗(HA9801株,铝胶佐剂)同步免疫小鼠,利用间接ELISA、流式细胞术、免疫攻毒试验、细菌定植试验和病理组织学观察等方法测定小鼠血清中IgG抗体效价,细胞因子含量(IL-4、IL-10、IFN-γ、TNF-β、MCP-1),外周血中CD4⁺/CD3⁺、CD8⁺/CD3⁺ T细胞亚群含量,攻毒保护率,组织荷菌数和病理组织变化等指标。结果显示,二免7 d后,HF2、HF3灭活疫苗组和HA9801商品化灭活疫苗组的血清IgG抗体效价分别为1:25 600、1:12 800、1:25 600;HF2灭活疫苗组的IL-4、IL-10含量显著高于HF3灭活疫苗组和HA9801商品化灭活疫苗组,IFN-γ、TNF-β含量显著高于HF3灭活疫苗组,但MCP-1含量显著低于HF3灭活疫苗组;HF2和HF3灭活疫苗组的CD4⁺/CD3⁺ T细胞比率均显著低于HA9801商品化灭活疫苗组,但CD8⁺/CD3⁺ T细胞比率差异不显著;HF2、HF3灭活疫苗和HA9801商品化灭活疫苗对小鼠的攻毒保护率均为100%;HF2灭活疫苗组小鼠的肺、脾脏组织荷菌数显著低于HF3灭活疫苗组;HF2灭活疫苗组小鼠的肺、肾、脾脏病理变化较HF3灭活疫苗组和HA9801商品化灭活疫苗组轻微。综合结果表明,由SS2(HF2株)制备的ISA 201 VG佐剂灭活疫苗免疫小鼠后不仅可产生较强的免疫应答,还可完全抵抗强毒株的攻击。     

Evaluation of dietary chitosan effects on growth performance,immunity, body composition and histopathology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as well as the resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae infection

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary chitosan supplementation on growth performance, body composition, immune response and histopathology of Nile tilapia, and also the in vitro antibacterial activity of chitosan against Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae). About 180 fish (average body weight 39.3 ± 0.3 g) were randomly divided into three groups according to chitosan supplementation: control group (basal diet without chitosan), Ch3 group (3 g chitosan/kg diet) and Ch5 group (5 g chitosan/kg diet). Growth performance parameters and body proximate composition were measured before infection but biochemical parameters and lysozyme and antibacterial activities before and after experimental infection. Results of the present investigation showed dietary chitosan (5 g chitosan/kg diet) significantly (p < .05) improved growth performance parameters, body composition (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, and carbohydrate) and serum biochemistry (total protein, albumin, globulin, with no effect on AST, ALT, urea and creatinine) before infection in Ch5 group than the control. After infection, liver enzymes (serum AST and ALT) were maintained lower in fish fed Ch3 or Ch5 than the control. Serum lysozyme and bactericidal activities significantly increased (p < .05) in chitosan groups before and after the challenge. The mortality rate was markedly reduced in the Ch3 group and prohibited in the Ch5 group after the experimental infection. In conclusion, feeding 3 or 5 g chitosan/kg diet increased the growth rate and improved FCR of Nile tilapia. In addition, it reduced mortality by its antibacterial and immunostimulant effects.     

不同罗非鱼品系感染无乳链球菌后对血液和肝胰腺生化指标的影响

为探究无乳链球菌(Streptococcus agalactiae)感染后对罗非鱼的血液和肝胰腺生化指标的影响，本研究以吉富罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)抗病选育系F5代、奥尼罗非鱼(Oreochromis aureus × O. niloticus)、吉富罗非鱼“百桂”品系为对象，通过人工腹腔注射感染无乳链球菌，检测感染后不同时期肝胰腺和血液中的酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)和溶菌酶(LZM)活性的变化。结果显示，奥尼罗非鱼、吉富罗非鱼抗病选育系F5代和吉富罗非鱼“百桂”品系的平均死亡率分别为55.4%、60.5%和78.6%，表明奥尼罗非鱼抗感染能力最强；3个品系感染无乳链球菌后，肝胰腺组织中的ACP、AKP、SOD和T-AOC酶活力均呈先升高后下降的趋势，其中，在感染后24 h，奥尼罗非鱼的AKP和CAT酶活力显著高于吉富罗非鱼抗病选育系F5代和吉富罗非鱼“百桂”品系；而感染后24 h，血清中ACP、AKP、LZM、CAT和T-AOC酶均显著升高，而SOD酶则下降，其中，奥尼罗非鱼的ACP、AKP、CAT和T-AOC酶活性明显高于吉富罗非鱼抗病选育系F5代和吉富罗非鱼”百桂”品系。综合比较6种酶在感染后不同时期的活性变化及3个品系的感染存活率，筛选出AKP和CAT作为评估罗非鱼抗无乳链球菌感染能力强弱的指标。     

Isolation of Streptococcus cuniculi from corneal lesion in laboratory-raised mice

Corneal lesions appearing as white mass beneath intact epithelium, with ocular discharge in one mouse, was observed in a batch of laboratory-raised BALB/c mice (n=9 of 56). The affected mice remained active, well-groomed and had normal appetite. Isolates recovered from swab cultures of the external and internal contents of the eye had partial 16S rRNA gene sequence of 99.1% similarity to Streptococcus cuniculi. No previous report of S. cuniculi infection in laboratory rodents has been presented. The isolate was susceptible to all antibiotics tested. We suggest S. cuniculi is an opportunistic bacteria in laboratory mice but are uncertain of its source. Our findings revealed that S. cuniculi is able to colonize laboratory mice and should be considered when mice present with eye lesion or ocular discharge.