Type IV secretion and Brucella virulence

The type IV secretion system, encoded by the virB region, is a key virulence factor for Brucella. The 12 genes of the region form an operon that is specifically induced by phagosome acidification in cells after phagocytosis. We speculate that the system serves to secrete unknown effector molecules, which allow Brucella to pervert the host cell endosomal pathways and to create a novel intracellular compartment in which it can replicate.     

Fundamentals of host immune response against Brucella abortus: what the mouse model has revealed about control of infection

The studies reviewed here evaluated the role cellular immune system components play in control of brucellosis by conducting comparative studies with brucella-resistant C57BL/10 or C57BL/6 mice and susceptible BALB/c mice. We have shown by both in vitro and in vivo studies that activation of macrophages with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) is an important factor for control of infection with B. abortus in the mouse model and that the mechanism of anti-brucella activity largely involved reactive oxygen intermediates. Differences in control of the organism by resistant and susceptible mice was not related to inherent differences in the ability of their macrophages to control infection either with or without IFN-γ activation nor was it attributable to NK cells since we found no role for them in control of brucellosis in either mouse strain. However, relative resistance to brucellosis did correlate with increased production of IFN-γ by CD4 T cells during the first weeks after infection while IL-10 contributed to susceptibility in BALB/c mice. Moreover, by 3 weeks post-infection splenocytes from the susceptible BALB/c mice failed to produce IFN-γ and relied on TNF- as well as CD8 T cells to control infection until the end of the plateau phase around 6 weeks post-infection when IFN-γ production resumed and clearance began. In contrast, IFN-γ was crucial for control throughout the infection in the more resistant C57BL/6 mice and the mice died in its absence by 6 weeks post-infection compared to 12 weeks for the more susceptible mice that relied on additional mechanisms of control. In contrast to the IFN-γ knock-out mice, both β2 microglobulin knock-out C57BL/6 mice, which do not express conventional MHC class I molecules and thus cannot present antigen to CD8 T cells, or perforin knock-out C57BL/6 mice, which have no T cell cytotoxic activity, controlled and cleared the infection as well as normal C57BL/6 mice. The hiatus of IFN-γ production in BALB/c mice correlated with very high levels of total IL-12 and it was postulated that the lack of IFN-γ was a consequence of p40 homodimer blocking activity. However, reduction of p40 IL-12 in vivo through administration of indomethacin reduced the infection without a concomitant measurable increase in IFN-γ. Current studies are aimed at elucidating the mechanism of the IFN-γ hiatus.     

布鲁菌外膜蛋白及毒力因子研究进展

布鲁菌细胞膜的基本结构包括脂多糖和外膜蛋白,与细菌的毒力及免疫原性相关。文章描述了布鲁菌外膜蛋白分子结构的最新进展。该菌的外膜蛋白由第一组、第二组和第三组外膜蛋白构成。第一组外膜蛋白对维持布鲁菌外膜蛋白的结构起重要作用;第二组包括36 ku~38 ku外膜蛋白,为膜孔蛋白,由Omp2a和Omp2b基因编码,其中38 ku蛋白基因可能是一个与毒力相关的基因;第三组外膜蛋白包括31 ku和25 ku两个相关的蛋白,具有重要的免疫功能。31 ku蛋白属膜孔蛋白,25 ku蛋白还与毒力有关。文章也介绍了布鲁菌毒力因子研究的最新进展。     

Brucella intracellular life: from invasion to intracellular replication

Brucella organisms are pathogens that ultimate goal is to propagate in their preferred niche, the cell. Upon cell contact the bacteria is internalized via receptor molecules by activating small GTPases of the Rho subfamily and by a moderate recruitment of actin filaments. Once inside cells, Brucella localizes in early phagosomes, where it avoids fusion with late endosomes and lysosomes. These early events require the control of Rab small GTPases, and cytokines such as the G-CSF. Then, the bacterium redirects its trafficking to autophagosomes and finally reaches the endoplasmic reticulum, where it extensively replicates. Some of the bacterial molecular determinants involved in the internalization and early events after ingestion are controlled by the BvrS/BvrR two component regulatory system, whereas the intracellular trafficking beyond this early compartments are controlled by the VirB type IV secretion system. Once inside the endoplasmic reticulum, Brucella extensively replicates without restricting basic cellular functions or inducing obvious damage to cells. The integrity of Brucella LPS on the bacterial surface is one of the required factors for Brucella intracellular survival, and therefore for virulence.     

The Brucella genome at the beginning of the post-genomic era

The year 2002 began with the publication of the first complete genome sequence for a Brucella species, that of the two replicons of B. melitensis 16M. Hopefully in 2002, the complete genome of B. suis 1330, and, perhaps, a B. abortus strain will be published. This is the culmination of over 30 years investigation of the composition, structure, organisation and evolution of the Brucella genome. Brucella research must now adapt to the new challenges of the post-genomic era.     

布鲁菌外膜蛋白OMP10表达及其抗原性的研究

设计1对特异性引物对羊布鲁菌16M总DNA进行外膜蛋白omp10的PCR扩增,得到了一个大小为330 bp的目的基因片段(去掉17个氨基酸编码的信号肽),测序证实它与国外报道的羊布鲁菌omp10基因完全一致.将其克隆到表达载体PET-30a中,经酶切、PCR扩增和测序分析,表明重组表达载体构建成功.将此重组质粒转化入大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)中,IPTG诱导表达,该基因以包涵体的形式在大肠埃希菌中表达,经过包涵体的变性、复性和亲和层析纯化,成功获得大小为14.2 ku的融合蛋白,与理论推测的蛋白分子质量一致;Western blot和间接ELISA试验证明,纯化之后的OMP10重组蛋白可以被布鲁菌阳性血清识别.     

布氏杆菌微滴数字PCR方法的建立

为建立一种布氏杆菌微滴数字PCR qPCR方法,对布氏杆菌病的定量诊断提供技术支持,在实时荧光PCR (qPCR)检测方法(T/CVMA 20-2020)的基础上,建立了布氏杆菌微滴数字PCR方法,并对方法的反应条件进行了优化,同时对其敏感性、特异性、重复性进行了评估.结果 显示:本方法的最低检测下限为2.6 copi...     

小肠结肠耶氏菌O:9血清型与布氏杆菌M_5株共同抗原的免疫印迹分析

应用SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和免疫印迹技术,对经超声波打碎的小肠结肠耶氏菌O:9血清型和布氏杆菌M5株全菌体蛋白成分进行了分子量测定及抗原分析。结果表明,小肠结肠耶氏菌O:9血清型Y15株与布氏杆菌M5株存在一条发生交叉反应的蛋白质共同抗原带,其分子量为11400。Y15株与M5株有多个分子量相同的条带,但不发生交叉反应。Y15株与M5株皆有多个各自特异的条带。     

3株非典型羊源布鲁菌的基因分型研究

[目的]探讨采用基因分型方法对非典型布鲁菌鉴定的实用性,为非典型菌株的鉴别提供参考。[方法]采用常规鉴定方法和VITEK 2.0全自动细菌鉴定分析系统对菌株进行初步鉴定,利用AMOS-PCR进行种型鉴定,应用多位点可变数目串联重复序列分析方法(MLVA)确定菌株的基因型。[结果]常规鉴定结果显示试验菌株为疑似布鲁菌;VITEK 2.0全自动细菌鉴定系统显示3株试验菌株均为布鲁菌;AMOS-PCR扩增表明试验菌株均为羊种菌,MLVA聚类分析表明试验菌株与羊种2型布鲁菌紧密地聚为一类,属东地中海基因型,并在Panel 2B中发现了新的基因型(4-4-3-7-5),命名为CN2B-45。[结论]MLVA基因分型方法对非典型布鲁菌具有极高的分辨力,是非典型布鲁菌分型鉴别的最佳策略。     

布鲁菌外膜蛋白Omp31原核表达及抗原性分析

克隆羊布鲁菌的外膜蛋白Omp31基因,在大肠埃希菌中表达、纯化,并对Omp31蛋白的抗原性进行分析。以羊布鲁菌的染色体DNA为模板,扩增Omp31基因,双酶切后克隆至pET32a上,在大肠埃希菌ER2566(DE3)中诱导表达,组氨酸结合树脂柱纯化,Western blot鉴定Omp31蛋白的抗原性。将Omp31克隆至载体pET32a,提取的重组质粒经PCR鉴定、双酶切鉴定和测序分析确定目的基因成功插入到了克隆载体中。将重组质粒转化于大肠埃希菌ER2566(DE3)中表达获得HIS融合蛋白,SDS-PAGE分析证明,表达产物为43 ku的融合蛋白。Western blot结果表明,表达的蛋白具有与布鲁菌外膜蛋白相同的抗原性。     

新疆绵羊种布鲁氏菌OMP25基因的分子克隆及核苷酸序列的测定

根据GeneBank库上国际标准菌株绵羊种布鲁氏菌（63／290）的OMP25的基因序列设计引物，用聚合酶链式反应（PcR）技术从新疆绵羊种布鲁氏菌（80／019）基因组DNA中扩增出OMP25基因片段，TtDNA连接酶将其连接于PBS-T克隆载体质粒上，将重组质粒转化到受体菌DH10B中，蓝白斑筛选阳性菌落，结果成功克隆OMP25基因片段，进行核苷酸序列测定，测序结果分析表明：新疆绵羊菌株与国际标准菌株有明显差异。     

Regulation of Brucella virulence by the two-component system BvrR/BvrS

The Brucella BvrR/BvrS two-component regulatory system is highly similar to the regulatory and sensory proteins of Sinorhizobium and Agrobacterium necessary for endosymbiosis and pathogenicity in plants, and very similar to a putative system present in the animal pathogen Bartonella. Mutations in the bvrR or bvrS genes hamper the penetration of B. abortus in non-phagocytic cells and impairs intracellular trafficking and virulence. In contrast to virulent Brucella, BvrR/BvrS mutants do not recruit small GTPases of the Rho subfamily required for actin polymerization and penetration to cells. Dysfunction of the BvrR/BvrS system alters the outer membrane permeability, the expression of several group 3 outer membrane proteins and the pattern of lipid A acylation. Constructs of virulent B. abortus chimeras containing heterologous LPS from the bvrS⁻ mutant demonstrated an altered permeability to cationic peptides similar to that of the BvrR/BvrS mutants. We hypothesize that the Brucella BvrR/BvrS is a system devoted to the homeostasis of the outer membrane and, therefore in the interface for cell invasion and mounting the required structures for intracellular parasitism.     

Brucella abortus RB51: enhancing vaccine efficacy and developing multivalent vaccines

Brucella abortus vaccine strain RB51 is an attenuated, stable rough mutant that is being used in many countries to control bovine brucellosis. Our earlier study demonstrated that the protective efficacy of strain RB51 can be significantly enhanced by overexpressing Cu–Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), a homologous protective antigen. We have also previously demonstrated that strain RB51 can be engineered to express heterologous proteins and mice vaccinated with such recombinant RB51 strains develop a strong Th1 type of immune response to the foreign proteins. The present study is aimed at combining these two characteristics to generate new recombinant RB51 vaccines with enhanced abilities to protect against brucellosis and simultaneously able to protect against infections by Mycobacterium spp. We constructed two recombinant RB51 strains, RB51SOD/85A which overexpresses SOD with simultaneous expression of the 85A, a protective protein of Mycobacterium spp., and RB51ESAT which expresses ESAT-6, another protective protein of M. bovis, as a fusion protein with the signal sequence and few additional amino terminal amino acids of SOD. Mice vaccinated with these recombinant strains developed specific immune responses to the mycobacterial proteins and significantly enhanced protection against Brucella challenge compared to the mice vaccinated with strain RB51 alone.     

深度测序技术分析小鼠巨噬细胞感染布鲁菌16M株的转录组学变化

布鲁菌病是由布鲁菌引起的一种人兽共患性传染病,曾被用作生物恐怖战剂。本研究利用深度测序技术对布鲁菌感染小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264．7的转录组学轮廓进行了描述。在感染后4h,筛选出差异表达基因3576个,其中58％的基因表现上调;在感染后24h,筛选出差异表达基因3962个,其中45％的基因表现上调。并且在感染后24h内,变化显著的基因都是与炎症、免疫、吞噬、凋亡紧密相关的。进而我们分析了在感染后24h内显著变化的代谢途径,这些代谢途径包括内质网代谢途径、溶酶体代谢途径、及与凋亡相关的代谢途径;及被显著富集的信号通路,这些信号通路包括凋亡通路、NOD受体信号通路、Fc γR介导的吞噬通路、溶酶体信号通路、p53信号通路、内质网相关蛋白的通路;并且发现B细胞受体和toll样受体信号通路在感染后24h与感染后4h相比被显著富集。本研究建立的巨噬细胞感染布鲁菌后差异表达基因数据库,将为布鲁菌致病机制的逐步阐述奠定基础。     

布鲁氏菌胞内存活机制与巨噬细胞极化关系研究进展

布鲁氏菌（Brucella）是一种兼性胞内寄生致病菌,虽无典型的毒力因子却有很强的致病力,且常导致慢性持续感染。布鲁氏菌病被列入世界上严重的人兽共患病之一,直接对畜牧业造成重大经济损失,严重威胁人类健康和公共卫生安全。布鲁氏菌感染的靶细胞主要是巨噬细胞,其发展了更高的策略逃逸宿主免疫细胞的杀伤,甚至在细胞内大量繁殖,削弱巨噬细胞的功能,使巨噬细胞的杀伤作用和抗原递呈功能部分丧失,从而能在宿主细胞内长期持续性感染。文章围绕布鲁氏菌胞内存活机制进行探讨,分析了不同极化类型的巨噬细胞在布鲁氏菌感染过程中的调控作用,以及相关炎症通路对机体炎症发展的作用;揭示了布鲁氏菌胞内生存不仅可适应持续感染期间不同的免疫微环境,也可适应感染期间靶细胞营养物质利用率的差异;证实了在慢性感染的过程中免疫逃避和与宿主细胞代谢的相互作用起关键作用;解释了NF-κB通路是调节M1/M2型巨噬细胞亚型平衡状态的关键因素。布鲁氏菌在宿主细胞中持续感染是国内外学者所面临的巨大难题,其免疫逃逸机制和致病机制仍需进一步研究。     

羊种布鲁氏菌wzt基因的原核表达及间接ELISA方法的建立

为建立检测血清中布鲁氏菌抗体的间接ELISA方法,本试验采用PCR技术从羊种布鲁氏菌QY1菌株中扩增得到wzt基因片段,连接到pET-30a载体上,构建质粒pET-30a-wzt,将鉴定正确的质粒转化E.coli BL21（DE3）感受态细胞,经原核表达系统对其进行表达,表达产物用SDS-PAGE和Western blotting进行分析后,用亲和层析镍柱纯化wzt重组蛋白备用。以wzt重组蛋白为检测抗原,逐步优化条件后建立布鲁氏菌间接ELISA检测方法。结果显示,试验成功构建了pET-30a-wzt原核表达载体,并在BL21（DE3）宿主菌中表达;SDS-PAGE和Western blotting结果表明,重组蛋白约为35 ku,表达形式为上清,条带单一、无杂带,有很好的反应原性和特异性。ELISA优化试验确定了最佳包被浓度为15 μg/mL,血清最佳稀释度为1：80,酶标抗体的最佳稀释度为1：5 000;通过检测24份阴性样品确定临界值,当样品D_{450 nm}值≥ 0.30为阳性,样品D_{450 nm}值<0.30时为阴性;特异性试验表明,该方法不与小肠耶尔森菌、大肠杆菌发生交叉反应;批内及批间变异系数均<10%;用该方法对120份血清样本进行检测,并与虎红凝集试验进行相符性验证,符合率为96%。本试验建立的间接ELISA方法为布鲁氏菌病的检测提供了可靠的技术手段。     

The first case of Brucella canis in Sweden: background,case report and recommendations from a northern European perspective

Infection with Brucella canis has been diagnosed in Sweden for the first time. It was diagnosed in a three-year-old breeding bitch with reproductive disturbances. Fifteen in-contact dogs were tested repeatedly and all of them were negative for B. canis. The source of infection could not be defined. The present article describes the case and the measures undertaken and gives a short review over B. canis. Recommendations on how to avoid the infection in non-endemic countries are given.     

Major outer membrane proteins of Brucella spp.: past,present and future

The major outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Brucella spp. were initially identified in the early 1980s and characterised as potential immunogenic and protective antigens. They were classified according to their apparent molecular mass as 36–38 kDa OMPs or group 2 porin proteins and 31–34 and 25–27 kDa OMPs which belong to the group 3 proteins. The genes encoding the group 2 porin proteins were identified in the late 1980s and consist of two genes, omp2a and omp2b, which are closely linked in the Brucella genome, and which share a great degree of identity (>85%). In the 1990s, two genes were identified coding for the group 3 proteins and were named omp25 and omp31. The predicted amino acid sequences of omp25 and omp31 share 34% identity. The recent release of the genome sequence of B. melitensis 16 M has revealed the presence of five additional gene products homologous to Omp25 and Omp31. The use of recombinant protein technology and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) has shown that the major OMPs appear to be of little relevance as antigens in smooth (S) B. abortus or B. melitensis infections i.e. low or no protective activity in the mouse model of infection and low or no immunogenicity during host infection. However, group 3 proteins, in particular Omp31, appear as immunodominant antigen in the course of rough (R) B. ovis infection in rams and as important protective antigen in the B. ovis mouse model of infection. The major OMP genes display diversity and specific markers have been identified for Brucella species, biovars, and strains, including the recent marine mammal Brucella isolates for which new species names have been proposed. Recently, Omp25 has been shown to be involved in virulence of B. melitensis, B. abortus and B. ovis. Mutants lacking Omp25 are indeed attenuated in animal models of infection, and moreover provide levels of protection similar or better than currently used attenuated vaccine strain B. melitensis Rev.1. Therefore, these mutant strains appear interesting vaccine candidates for the future. The other group 3 proteins identified in the genome merit also further investigation related to the development of new vaccines.     

泛素相关修饰蛋白SUMO-2对RAW264.7细胞内布鲁氏菌16M存活的影响

为探究泛素相关修饰蛋白SUMO-2对布鲁氏菌16M的影响,本试验构建了SUMO-2基因干扰和过表达小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7模型,并用布鲁氏菌16M进行侵染。参照GenBank中SUMO-2基因序列设计特异性干扰片段和过表达引物,克隆成功后连接至相应的慢病毒载体,转化大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞,选取阳性克隆菌提取质粒转染HEK-293FT细胞,将重组的慢病毒感染小鼠巨噬细胞RAW264.7,利用布鲁氏菌16M分别侵染构建成功的干扰和过表达细胞模型。通过实时荧光定量PCR检测SUMO-2 mRNA的转录水平,Western blotting检测SUMO-2蛋白的表达,ELISA检测IFN-γ和TNF-α水平,菌落计数来确定布鲁氏菌在细胞中的存活能力。结果显示,与对照组相比,干扰组SUMO-2 mRNA水平极显著降低（P<0.01）,过表达组SUMO-2 mRNA水平极显著升高（P<0.01）,成功构建了SUMO-2干扰和过表达细胞模型。Western blotting结果显示,布鲁氏菌16M感染能以时间依赖的方式下调SUMO-2蛋白的表达。经菌落计数后发现,SUMO-2过表达后布鲁氏菌的数量极显著减少（P<0.01）,抑制布鲁氏菌16M的细胞内繁殖。而SUMO-2干扰后布鲁氏菌的数量显著或极显著增加（P<0.05;P<0.01）,促进布鲁氏菌16M的细胞内繁殖。同时,经SUMO-2过表达后,IFN-γ和TNF-α水平极显著升高（P<0.01）。经SUMO-2干扰后,TNF-α水平显著降低（P<0.05）,IFN-γ水平极显著降低（P<0.01）,SUMO-2在RAW264.7细胞中的表达变化也影响IFN-γ和TNF-α的产生。综上所述,SUMO-2蛋白在布鲁氏菌胞内存活中起着重要作用,可能有助于阐明布鲁氏菌感染的致病机制。