鸡白痢沙门氏菌CVCC578标准株VBNC研究模型的建立及鉴定

为建立活的非可培养状态(VBNC)研究模型,本研究利用液体LB和4℃联合条件对鸡白痢沙门氏菌CVCC578参考株的进行VBNC诱导,构建VBNC研究模型。同时依靠胎牛血清和程序性升温对处于该状态的菌体进行复苏,并对复苏前后的细菌进行了16SrRNA验证。结果表明:实验菌株经液体LB和4℃联合诱导后,可培养菌数在55d后降至零,总菌数在整个观察期内基本不变,而活菌数在150d后开始下降,180d后下降显著,表明实验菌株可在55d进入VBNC,而且维持时间至180d。当进入该状态后,菌体形态可由杆状变为球杆或球形,并且菌体排列可由单在变为聚集。经复苏和16SrRNA鉴定后,"变态"的细菌被证实为沙门氏菌,而非杂污染菌。该实验为规范VBNC沙门氏菌的鉴定程序以及制订相应的国家检测标准提供了实验依据。     

三株沙门氏菌VBNC状态诱导条件的筛选

通过对3株沙门氏菌在不同条件下的诱导,确定沙门氏菌进入VBNC状态的条件,为进一步研究VBNC状态的发生机制奠定基础。以改变沙门氏菌培养环境为主,设计11种条件对3株沙门氏菌进行诱导培养,同时观察其可培养菌数的变化及荧光图像的变化。确定标准株S1在LB液体培养基4℃需氧培养到55d时可培养菌数降为零,同时菌体变为球杆菌,可认为其进入VBNC状态。     

低浓度冰醋酸诱导的鸡源大肠杆菌"活的非可培养状态"

利用LIVE/DEAD试剂盒染色法,流式细胞仪检测法,以及RT-PCR方法检测了经低浓度冰醋酸作用的鸡源大肠杆菌活细胞,并对其进行了复苏。结果表明,当可培养菌数降为零时,LIVE/DEAD试剂盒染色法及流式细胞仪检测法均能检测出较高数量的活菌数;RT-PCR法也能检测到活细胞信号分子-mRNA,并扩增出“活的非可培养状态”（VBNC）细菌的cDNA片段。这些均显示细菌已进入VBNC,且在吐温80作用下又恢复为可培养状态,从而证实大肠杆菌具有“VBNC”状态。     

三株沙门氏菌VBNG状态诱导条件的筛选

通过对3株沙门氏菌在不同条件下的诱导,确定沙门氏菌进入VBNC状态的条件,为进一步研究VBNC状态的发生机制奠定基础.以改变沙门氏菌培养环境为主,设计11种条件对3株沙门氏菌进行诱导培养,同时观察其可培养菌数的变化及荧光图像的变化.确定标准株S1在LB液体培养基4℃需氧培养到55 d时可培养菌数降为零,同时菌体变为球杆菌,可认为其进入VBNC状态.     

鸡白痢沙门氏菌活的非可培养状态相关基因ybbB和rh1B的鉴定

为鉴定细菌活的非可培养状态(VBNC)下的转录基因,本研究采用液体LB培养基在4℃条件下诱导鸡白痢沙门氏菌(S.pullorum) CVCC578株进入VBNC状态,并利用mRNA差异显示RT-PCR技术(DDRT-PCR)分析S.pullorum VBNC状态与正常状态所表达的差异基因.结果表明,在S.pullorum的VBNC状态下克隆得到两个转录基因片段,分别为422 bp和573 bp.序列分析表明:422bp的cDNA片段与不同沙门氏菌株的tRNA硒尿核苷合成酶(tRNA 2-selenouridine synthase)的ybbB基因的核苷酸和氨基酸同源性均为99％;573bp的cDNA片段则与不同菌株S.pullorum的ATP依赖性的RNA解旋酶基因(rh1B)的核苷酸同源性为95％～100％,氨基酸同源性为98％以上.在VBNC状态下这两个转录基因的发现,将为S.pullorum的VBNC机理研究奠定基础.     

抑制性消减杂交技术在细菌活的非可培养状态研究中的应用

在基因分离与克隆中,构建各种cDNA文库是近些年发现新基因及研究基因功能常用的基础工具之一。其中,抑制性消减杂交技术(SSH)是一种高效分离差异表达基因的方法,在分离筛选细菌活的非可培养状态(VBNC)与正常菌株差异基因中,应用这种研究方法是研究细菌VBNC状态菌株毒力、致病性和耐药性及菌株遗传分化关系的重要途径。文章旨在介绍SSH构建消减cDNA文库在原核生物中的应用及对其在细菌VBNC状态新基因筛选中的应用前景,并提出了展望。     

鸡大肠杆菌活的非可培养状态发生相关基因克隆与分析

本研究旨在从分子水平探究细菌活的非可培养状态(VBNC)的发生机制。应用冰乙酸和4℃联合诱导条件,使鸡大肠杆菌进入VBNC状态,并利用mRNA差异显示技术(DDRT-PCR)获得VBNC相关基因。结果表明,从VBNC大肠杆菌中筛选得到的3个差异片段与大肠杆菌23S核糖体RNA基因序列具有较高的核苷酸同源性,分别为98%、98%和99%,而氨基酸的同源性也均在97%以上,表明这3个序列是大肠杆菌23S核糖体rRNA基因的部分序列,同时也是与大肠杆菌VBNC状态发生密切相关的基因。由此推知,当正常大肠杆菌在未暴露任何压力下时,其转录水平较低,特别是23S rRNA的某一(些)基因不显示或受到强烈抑制。当进入VBNC状态后,面临生存压力时,这一(些)基因转录水平明显强于正常状态,而核糖体作为蛋白质合成的主要结构与场所,其某些基因也将积极参与新蛋白质的生物合成。     

VBNC状态乳酸杆菌的复苏

将活的非可培养状态(VBNC)的乳酸杆菌的菌悬液中加入6%的吐温20,并在37℃恒温振荡培养箱中振荡培养(200r/min,48h),可使非可培养状态的乳酸杆菌恢复到可培养状态。在复苏过程中加入吐温20可增加益生菌的数量。     

一株仔猪肠道益生菌抗TGEV作用初探

为了分离并筛选出1株抗传染性胃肠炎病毒(TGEV)的益生菌菌株,研究采用形态观察、生化反应和16S rRNA鉴定等试验,并运用TCID50和MTT比色方法,在PK-15细胞水平上分别检测益生菌活菌、灭活菌体、菌体碎片及培养上清液在不同作用时间上对TGEV感染力和抑制率的影响。结果表明:从健康仔猪肠道内容物分离、鉴定出1株益生菌,属于德氏乳杆菌德氏亚种(暂命名为L1菌株),此菌株的活菌、灭活菌体、菌体碎片及培养上清液均有降低TGEV感染力和活性的作用,其中活菌降低TGEV感染力及对TGEV的抑制效果最明显,灭活菌体和培养上清液次之,菌体碎片最差。     

"活的非可培养状态"细菌荧光显微镜检测技术

以细菌活的非可培养状态(VBNC)领域中常用的SYTO-9和PI替代吖啶橙和萘啶酮酸,以市售的黑色钢笔墨水替代伊拉克黑,自行建立了一套VBNC细菌荧光显微镜检测方法,以期简化现行技术的操作流程,克服现有技术的适用范围狭窄、取材困难、观察结果不准确等缺点,旨在解决细菌VBNC研究领域中的技术难题,提高同业者的实践操作水平。     

The ability to enter into an avirulent viable but non-culturable (VBNC) form is widespread among Listeria monocytogenes isolates from salmon, patients and environment

Media-based bacteriological testing will fail to detect non-culturable organisms and the risk of consuming viable but non-culturable (VBNC) Listeria monocytogenes is unknown. We have here studied whether L. monocytogenes obtained from seafoods, processing environment and clinical cases enter the VBNC state and assessed the virulence of the non-culturable forms of the bacteria. A number of 16 L. monocytogenes strains were starved in microcosm water at 4 °C until loss of culturability. Metabolic activity in the VBNC form was measured as ATP generation using a luciferase assay and membrane integrity was examined using the LIVE/DEAD BacLight assay. All tested L. monocytogenes strains entered the VBNC state after starvation in microcosm water. Ongoing mRNA synthesis of hly in VBNC L. monocytogenes cells re-incubated in culture medium indicated a potential virulence of these forms. Sodium pyruvate and replenishment of nutrient were used in attempts to resuscitate VBNC cells. However, VBNC L. monocytogenes were not resuscitated under these conditions. VBNC L. monocytogenes were tested for virulence in a cell plaque assay and by intraperitoneally inoculation in immunodeficient RAG1^−/− mice. Inoculation of VBNC L. monocytogenes in immunodeficient mice did not cause morbidity, and plaque assay on HT-29 cells in culture indicated that the VBNC cells were avirulent. The results indicate that the risk of non-culturable L. monocytogenes in foods, when the VBNC state is induced by starvation, is negligible.     

Inability of cecal microflora to promote reversion of viable nonculturable Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni cells are able to enter a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state when they are suspended in water. In the present experiments we inoculated day-of-hatch leghorn and broiler chicks with normal gut microflora and subsequently challenged these with high doses of VBNC C. jejuni. The objective was to determine if the pre-establishment of a normal gut flora would enable VBNC Campylobacter to recover, revert to the vibrionic form, and colonize the cecum. Day-of-hatch leghorn and broiler chicks were gavaged through the esophagus with 0.75 ml of a continuous-flow culture of normal cecal organisms. Two days after gavage, the same chicks were gavaged with 0.75 ml (greater than 10(9) colony-forming units) of a VBNC suspension of C. jejuni. Seven days later, cecal contents were collected, serially diluted, and examined for the presence of viable culturable C. jejuni. Our results demonstrated that the VBNC C. jejuni cells were unable to revert to a vibrionic culturable form capable of colonizing the cecum.     

Avirulence of viable but non-culturable Listeria monocytogenes cells demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo models

The virulence of Viable But Non-Culturable (VBNC) cells of 4 strains of Listeria monocytogenes was investigated in both a human adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29) and a mouse model. LO 28, ATCC 19115 and CNL 895807 strains of Listeria monocytogenes became VBNC when incubated in microcosm water at 20 degrees C and Scott A strain at 4 degrees C. No culturable bacteria were detected in the VBNC state, although 104 active cells/mL were found by the Direct Viable Count (DVC) and CTC-DAPI double staining methods. A comparison of virulence in both human adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 and the mouse model showed that culturable controls were more virulent than VBNC cells, which appeared to be avirulent regardless of the virulence methods applied. Pathogenicity was tested in each model and was lost concomitantly with culturability, whereas some cells were still metabolically active (determined by CTC and DVC). Moreover, amplification of a 388 bp fragment with Immunocapture-PCR revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes DNA in all mixed spleen samples after intravenous injection of VBNC cells. These results demonstrate that VBNC cells were present in the mouse spleens. The results of the study suggest that Listeria monocytogenes strains might remain in the aquatic environment for prolonged periods in the VBNC state but these cells were not pathogenic in the conditions tested. These findings demonstrate the value of VBNC studies and show the need to investigate the role of VBNC cells in environmental transmission of Listeria monocytogenes. Further studies are needed in order to investigate the virulence of VBNC cells of Listeria monocytogenes after recovery of a culturable state.     

Failure of viable nonculturable Campylobacter jejuni to colonize the cecum of newly hatched leghorn chicks

Campylobacter jejuni cells entered the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state upon suspension in sterile water. Cell viability was determined with tetrazolium violet. VBNC cells suspended in water for 7, 10, or 14 days were given, by gavage, to day-of-hatch leghorn chickens. The ceca of control and challenged birds were examined for the presence of campylobacteria by conventional microbiological methods at 1 wk and 2 wk after challenge inoculation and by polymerase chain reaction methods at 1 wk after challenge. We did not find culturable Campylobacter cells in the ceca. Neither was Campylobacter DNA found in cecal samples. Therefore, VBNC cells did not revert to the culturable colonizing form, nor did VBNC cells persist within the cecal environment.     

Flow cytometry for the detection of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 with latex beads sensitized with specific antibody

To detect low concentrations of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 rapidly, flow cytometry (FCM) was carried out with specific IgG-sensitized latex beads (IgG-Lx). It was found that test samples for FCM can be prepared for much shorter periods by culturing E. coli O157:H7 in trypto-soya broth at 42 degrees C and by treatment with 0.5% formalin at 37 degrees C. FCM with IgG-Lx performed with E. coli O157:H7 prepared by such a procedure revealed that the lowest number of E. coli O157:H7 prepared in pure culture detected by FCM was 10(3)/ml. Because similar findings have already been reported by FCM with immunomagnetic beads, FCM with IgG-Lx is also suggested to be a valuable technique to detect low numbers of E. coli O157:H7 rapidly in food stuffs.     

Complement resistance,as determined by viable count and flow cytometric methods,and its association with the presence of iss and the virulence of avian Escherichia coli

Previous work in our labs has shown that avian Escherichia coli virulence is correlated with resistance to complement. Also, our studies have revealed that the presence of the increased serum survival gene (iss), known to contribute to the complement resistance and virulence of mammalian E. coli, may predict the virulent nature of an avian E. coli isolate. This relationship warrants further research, but further clarification of the relationship among virulence, complement resistance, and iss sequences requires use of complement susceptibility assays. Such assays, unfortunately, are labor-intensive, expensive, and difficult to perform. In the present study, the results of two complement susceptibility assays for 20 E. coli isolates, 10 incriminated in avian colibacillosis and 10 from the intestinal tracts of apparently healthy birds, were compared in an attempt to determine if flow cytometric analysis was a reasonable alternative to a viable count assay. In addition, the virulence of these isolates for chick embryos was determined, and each isolate was examined for the presence of iss using amplification techniques. The flow cytometric method was found to be repeatable for most isolates, and its results showed moderate agreement with those obtained through viable counts. All intestinal isolates of healthy birds proved avirulent using the embryo lethality assay; however, not all isolates from sick birds were demonstrated to be virulent. Possible explanations of these results include that the methods originally used to isolate these organisms failed to detect the illness-inciting strains or that the virulence of these strains had declined following initial isolation. Additionally, we must consider the possibility that the embryo lethality assay of virulence used here might not be sensitive enough to detect differences between these two groups of isolates. Also, it should be noted that virulence assays, such as the one used here, fail to account for predisposing host or environmental conditions, enabling a less virulent isolate to cause disease under natural conditions. Interestingly, the complement resistance of a strain was significantly associated with its lethality in embryos, and iss-containing isolates were significantly more likely than those lacking iss to be classified as complement-resistant and virulent. Such results, at least for this group of avian E. coli, suggest that there is a compelling but imperfect relationship among complement resistance, virulence, and the presence of iss. These results also suggest that the flow cytometric assay may be a reasonable alternative to the viable count method of determining complement resistance.