Serotype distribution and production of muramidase-released protein, extracellular factor and suilysin by field strains of Streptococcus suis isolated in the United States

Streptococcus suis is an important swine pathogen and a zoonotic agent. Differences in virulence have been noted among the 33 described serotypes, serotype 2 being considered the most virulent. In this study, we aimed at assessing the serotype distribution and the production of virulence-associated markers by strains recovered from diseased pigs in the United States (U.S.). Results showed that among the 100 strains evaluated, serotype 3 (20% of the isolates) and serotype 2 (17%) were the most prevalent. We then investigated the presence in these isolates of the genes sly, epf and mrp, encoding the virulence-associated markers suilysin (SLY), extracellular factor (EF) and muramidase-released (MRP) protein, respectively. The effective production of the markers by the strains was also verified. Results showed that the presence of the gene did not always correlate with actual expression of the respective protein. In the case of MRP, this was due, in most cases, to frameshift mutations at the 5′ end of the gene resulting in premature stop codons. The most prevalent phenotypes among U.S. strains were MRP⁺EF⁻SLY⁻ (40%) and MRP⁻EF⁻SLY⁺ (35%). Serotype distribution greatly differed from that reported in several European countries, as did the production of virulence markers, particularly for serotype 2. On the other hand, our results for the U.S. S. suis isolates are similar to those reported for Canadian strains, suggesting a common status in North America.     

猪链球菌ZJ株溶血素基因的克隆和序列分析

猪链球菌ZJ株溶血素（suilysin）基因（sly)用特异引物进行PCR扩增后，采用T-A克隆策略将其克隆至E.Coli DH5a。PCR产物和重组质粒酶切分析表明该基因与已报道的sly基因一致，核苷酸序列分析表明sly基因与P1/7株和1933株的同源性分别为99.6%和99.7%。     

猪链球菌2型江苏分离株溶血素基因检测及序列分析

根据猪链球菌2型（Streptococcus suis type 2）溶血素基因（sly）设计和合成了一对可扩增其完整阅读框的引物，对HA9801等6株猪链球菌2型江苏分离株，1株德国分离株SS2-D及猪链球菌C群参考株ATCC35246的核酸进行PCR扩增，结果显示HA9801等6株江苏分离株及德国株SS2呈阳性．ATCC35246呈阴性。HA9801株PCR产物纯化后测序．序列分析表明该DNA片段与猪链球菌2型1933株的sly基因同源性为99％。     

Presence of the Streptococcus suis suilysin gene and expression of MRP and EF correlates with high virulence in Streptococcus suis type 2 isolates

Nineteen Streptococcus suis type 2 isolates that had been analyzed previously for hemolysin production, ribotype, and virulence in pigs were examined for presence of the gene coding for suilysin by PCR amplification, and southern blot and hybridization techniques. Based on southern blot and hybridization analysis, all isolates tested contained at least a portion of the suilysin gene. PCR amplification of the entire gene resulted in gene fragments from five of the seven highly virulent isolates and none of the moderately virulent or avirulent isolates. Additional PCR analysis showed that mutation or deletions at the 5′ end of the suilysin gene in the less virulent isolates prevented amplification of the sly gene fragment from those isolates. The MRP+ (muramidase-released protein) EF+ (extracellular protein) phenotype was also expressed by the same five highly virulent/sly+ isolates.     

Presence of the Streptococcus suis suilysin gene and expression of MRP and EF correlates with high virulence in Streptococcus suis type 2 isolates

Nineteen Streptococcus suis type 2 isolates that had been analyzed previously for hemolysin production, ribotype, and virulence in pigs were examined for presence of the gene coding for suilysin by PCR amplification, and southern blot and hybridization techniques. Based on southern blot and hybridization analysis, all isolates tested contained at least a portion of the suilysin gene. PCR amplification of the entire gene resulted in gene fragments from five of the seven highly virulent isolates and none of the moderately virulent or avirulent isolates. Additional PCR analysis showed that mutation or deletions at the 5′ end of the suilysin gene in the less virulent isolates prevented amplification of the sly gene fragment from those isolates. The MRP+ (muramidase-released protein) EF+ (extracellular protein) phenotype was also expressed by the same five highly virulent/sly+ isolates.     

猪链球菌2型溶血素融合蛋白的制备及免疫活性测定

[目的]研究四川资阳脑膜炎病例猪链球菌2型分离株ZYH33溶血素（suliysin,sly）基因的克隆表达及融合蛋白生物活性分析。[方法]从sly中获取第230~593氨基酸残基区域的基因片段,克隆至pMD18-T载体并鉴定,以重组pMD18-T/sly为模板PCR扩增基因片段,与表达载体pQE-30连接,转化至大肠杆菌TG1,重组子经PCR、酶切、测序鉴定。IPTG诱导重组蛋白表达,Western blot法鉴定融合蛋白的抗原性。[结果]基因片段在大肠杆菌中得到了表达,表达的融合蛋白可被猪链球菌2型菌体ZY05719抗血清识别,具有抗原性。[结论]所克隆、表达的溶血素区域可作为猪链球菌的诊断抗原,为基因工程疫苗的研制奠定了基础。