Expression of rabbit IgA heavy chain genes in E. coli and in murine myeloma cells

Rabbit IgA-heavy chain cDNA and germline genes were cloned into prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors, respectively. The Fc alpha encoding portion of six C alpha cDNA clones were cloned into pUC8 and E. coli were transformed. Radioimmunoassay of the molecules synthesized by these clones showed that molecules with Fc alpha antigenic determinants were produced at the level of approximately 0.1 to 1.0 microgram per ml culture. Radiobinding analysis showed that each of the clones encoded heavy chains of the IgA-g subclass. Southern blot analysis of rabbit germline DNA revealed 10 germline C alpha genes. Five of these, isolated from recombinant cosmid libraries, were cloned into a eukaryotic expression vector containing a rearranged murine VDJ gene, the CH enhancer region and the Eco-gpt gene. Murine myeloma cells, J558L, were transfected with each of the heavy chain constructs and stable transfectants was selected with mycophenolic acid. The immunoglobulins produced by each transfectant were analyzed by radiobinding and by SDS-PAGE. Each transfectant were shown to synthesize IgA molecules and thus all five C alpha genes are expressible. The heavy chains from the transfectants ranged in size from 55,000 to 60,000 daltons. Radiobinding analyses indicated that four of the five genes encode molecules of the IgA-f subclass; the serological identity of the fifth gene is not yet established.     

The isolation of nucleic acid sequences specific for Cowdria ruminantium

Screening of a genomic library of Cowdria ruminantium has yielded twelve clones hybridizing to Cowdria DNA. These clones should be suitable for development into DNA probes specific for this organism.     

云南大额牛瘤胃宏基因组Fosmid文库的构建与分析

为研究云南大额牛瘤胃中丰富的降解纤维素类物质的基因,采用包埋法和脉冲场电泳技术直接从云南大额牛瘤胃内容物提取总DNA,经不完全酶切获得DNA片段,大小为23~48 kb,与pcc2 FOS vector连接,转化至E.coli EPI 300宿主细胞,构建瘤胃微生物宏基因组Fosmid文库。该文库共保存38400个克隆,平均插入片段大小约35.5 kb,空载率小于2%,库容达1363 Mb。通过对该文库进行部分纤维素酶活力筛选,获得具有羧甲基纤维素酶活性的克隆95个,木聚糖酶活性的克隆52个,同时具有这2种酶活性的克隆23个,这为进一步研究大额牛瘤胃内纤维素酶基因奠定了基础。     

Isolation of genes encoding bovine IgM, IgG, IgA and IgE chains

Bovine C mu, C gamma, C alpha and C epsilon genes were cloned in an EMBL4 recombinant phage library using rabbit immunoglobulin switch mu (Su) and human C gamma as probes. Restriction mapping and Southern blot analyses of these clones identified one clone which hybridized with rabbit C mu and JH probes. The HG and C mu regions were separated by 6 kb of DNA. One C alpha and one C epsilon gene were found on overlapping clones and were separated by approximately 15 kb of DNA. Southern blot analysis of germline DNA with a bovine C alpha associated probe (S alpha) indicated that the germline contains a single C alpha gene. Similar analyses with a bovine C epsilon probe indicated that the germline contains either one C epsilon gene with allelic restriction polymorphism or two C epsilon genes. Three C gamma genes were cloned and did not overlap with one another. Southern blot analyses of germline DNA with a bovine C gamma probe indicated that the germline contains a total of four C gamma genes. The genes cloned correspond to three of the four genes identified by Southern blot analysis. The orientation of each CH gene was assigned by hybridization with S mu or S gamma probes. The S gamma probe hybridized to DNA immediately adjacent to all three C genes; the S probe hybridized to DNA immediately adjacent to the C mu, C alpha and C epsilon genes. Unexpectedly, the S mu probe also hybridized with a segment of DNA approximately 7 kb downstream of the C mu gene. This may represent a switch region for C gamma.     

Development of genomic probes to Sarcocystis cruzi (Apicomplexa).

A genomic library of Sarcocystis cruzi sporozoite DNA was constructed in bacteriophage lambda gt10. Recombinant phages containing insert DNA were selected by growth on Escherichia coli strain C600 hflA150. Of 14 clones examined, 11 contained DNA inserts ranging in size from approximately 1.45 kilobase (kb) to 6.18 kb. Insert DNA from four of these clones specifically hybridized to 32P-labelled S. cruzi merozoite DNA. One of these insert DNA, clone SL41, was selected and labelled with 32P. This probe did not hybridize with the other ten DNA inserts nor with bovine cellular DNA, but it hybridized with sporozoite, merozoite and bradyzoite DNA preparations. The SL41 probe could detect merozoite DNA in as little as 17 ng total DNA. Genomic probes detecting developmental stages of Sarcocystis spp. could provide an improved means is diagnosis of acute bovine sarcocystosis.     

华支睾吸虫成虫cDNA表达文库的构建与筛选

为了获得华支睾吸虫成虫期强反应原性抗原基因,首先利用λZAP栽体构建华支睾吸虫成虫cDNA表达文库:即从我国东北疫区(镇赉县)家犬胆管内分离收集华支睾吸虫成虫,采用Trizol Reagent提取其总RNA,Oligo(dT)纤维素柱纯化mRNA,反转录合成第1链cDNA及第2链cDNA,用CHROMA SPIN-400柱离心层析纯化后,与栽体λZAP Express连接,体外包装后成功获得我国东北疫区华支睾吸虫成虫cDNA表达文库.文库容量为1.5×106pfu,重组率为99%,插入片段长度在0.4～2.0 kb之阀,扩增文库的滴度为1.5×1010pfu/mL.然后利用免疫学方法对该cDNA表达文库进行筛选:以自然感染华支睾吸虫的人血清为抗体探针,从2.0×105个重组噬菌体筛选强反应原性抗原基因,对筛选出的强反应原性克隆进行测序,利用相关分子生物学软件进行序列分析.共获得41个阳性克隆,测序结果分析表明,这些cDNAs根据其编码的蛋白可分为以下几种,即与来自华支睾吸虫的甘氨酸-2、脯氨酸-2及Cs44抗原高同源的基因及分别与来自Nematostella vectensis的未知蛋白、转录延伸因子及果蝇CG3446基因编码蛋白较低同源性的基因.本研究结果为进一步对华支睾吸虫抗原的生物学特性研究及应用奠定了理论基础和实验依据.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫裂殖子全长cDNA文库的构建及应用

为克隆柔嫩艾美耳球虫裂殖子阶段的功能基因的全长序列,利用SMART技术,采用Clontech公司的Creator TMSMARTTMcDNA Library Construction Kit构建了鸡球虫裂殖子的全长cDNA文库。用试剂盒提取mRNA后,以cDNA合成试剂盒合成cDNA。连接至pDNR-LIB载体,用电转化法将重组质粒转化到E.coli DH10B内得到原始文库,扩增后保存于-80℃冰箱内;最后以文库为模板,分别以研究室已成功克隆序列(EtSAG2、EtMIC-2、EtMCAT)及Sanger的部分EST序列(Contig1218)设计引物,进行PCR扩增并测序检验文库的实用性。经测定,构建的初级cDNA文库约含有8.72×107个重组子,插入的片段多在1kb～3kb之间,平均插入片段长度约1.8kb,扩增后文库保存的滴度为2.4×104 cfu/mL;通过文库的PCR扩增,不仅可以成功扩增出研究室已成功克隆的序列(EtSAG2、EtMIC-2),并成功获得EtMCAT和EST序列(Contig1218)的全长cDNA序列,经比对分析Contig1218所编码的蛋白为组织蛋白酶B样半胱氨酸蛋白酶(Cathepsin B)。结果表明,已成功构建了柔嫩艾美耳球虫裂殖子高质量的全长cDNA文库,从而为筛选鸡球虫的功能基因全长序列奠定了基础。     

Cowdria ruminantium infection in ticks in the Kruger National Park.

Adult Amblyomma hebraeum ticks, the principle vector of heartwater (cowdriosis) of domestic ruminants in southern Africa, were collected in pheromone traps placed in Kruger National Park, an exclusively wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. These ticks transmitted Cowdria ruminantium, the rickettsial agent causing heartwater, to a susceptible goat, resulting in acute, fatal disease. C ruminantium was isolated in bovine endothelial cell culture from the plasma of this animal during the febrile stage of the disease and transmitted to susceptible goats, causing fatal heartwater. The prevalence of C ruminantium infection in 292 ticks was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis to be 1.7 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 0.71 to 4.0 per cent). A DNA probe analysis, which is less sensitive than PCR, detected infection in three of the five PCR-positive ticks. The remaining infections were below the detection limit of the DNA probe, which is approximately 70,000 organisms. This is the first evidence that a vector-wildlife cycle of transmission of C ruminantium can be maintained independently of domestic ruminants.     

血清Ⅱ型鸭疫里默氏杆菌基因组文库的构建

为研究血清Ⅱ型鸭疫里默氏杆菌的抗原基因,筛选毒力较强的血清Ⅱ型鸭疫里默氏杆菌菌株,提取其基因组,分别用Sau3A I酶切法和shotgun法对基因组进行处理后,选取1.5～3 kb的DNA片段,与PUC118载体连接后电转化JM109大肠杆菌感受态细胞,构建血清Ⅱ型鸭疫里默氏杆菌基因组文库。两种方法得到的库容量分别为40 000和50 000左右,随机挑选阳性克隆鉴定表明有外源DNA片段的插入,说明建库成功。该文库的成功构建为Ⅱ型鸭疫里默氏杆菌新的抗原基因的筛选奠定了基础。     

Recombinant DNA probes for Mycoplasma synoviae

A genomic library was prepared from Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) strain WVU 1853 cloned in plasmid vector pUC8 and transformed in Escherichia coli host JM83. In dot blot assays, four transformed E. coli clones hybridized with 32P-labeled chromosomal DNA of MS but not with 32P-labeled chromosomal DNA of M. gallisepticum (MG) strain S6. In Southern hybridization, each of the CsCl-purified recombinant plasmid clones was shown to contain two MS DNA fragments between 1.0 to 2.3 kbp in length. 32P-Labeled probes prepared from each of the four recombinant plasmids hybridized in dot blot assays with MS strain WVU 1853 and nine MS field isolates but not with MG strains S6, K810, F2F10, four MG field isolates, and 15 other species of avian mycoplasmas.     

Cloning of Mycoplasma synoviae genes encoding specific antigens and their use as species-specific DNA probes.

A genomic library of Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) was generated by using bacteriophage lambda gt11 as a cloning and expression vector. Identification of recombinant clones highly specific to MS was achieved by screening the library for expression of MS proteins with polyclonal antiserum that had been preadsorbed with 6 heterologous avian mycoplasma species antigens. Expression of the recombinant clones in Escherichia coli followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the total cell lysates and immunoblot yielded a predominant reactive fusion protein of 165 kD. Two clones (MS2/28 and MS2/12) that yielded inserts of different size were selected. The 2 MS DNA inserts were subcloned in a plasmid vector, labeled with digoxigenin, and used as probes for the specific recognition of several MS strains. A high degree of conservation was demonstrated for the MS2/12 and MS2/28 genes in tested MS strains. In addition, neither DNA fragment recognized any other avian mycoplasma species (M. gallisepticum, M. meleagridis, M. gallinarum, M. iners, M. anatis, and M. iowae), thus indicating their high specificity to MS. The sensitivity of the slot blot hybridization method using digoxigenin-labeled MS2/12 and MS2/28 probes for direct detection of MS from broth cultures of field isolates was 10(5) colony-forming units/ml. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of adsorbed antisera for the isolation of species-specific mycoplasma DNA and the potential for its use as probes for the specific and direct detection of MS from broth cultures of field isolates.     

利用酵母双杂交系统筛选TRADD的互作牛分枝杆菌蛋白

为研究牛分枝杆菌抑制肿瘤坏死因子介导的细胞凋亡来逃避宿主免疫反应的机制,本试验采用酵母双杂交系统在牛分枝杆菌中筛选可与肿瘤坏死因子受体1相关死亡域蛋白（TRADD）相互作用的蛋白。通过限制性内切酶Sau3AⅠ部分消化牛分枝杆菌基因组,回收片段随机插入pGADT7载体中,转化大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞,构建牛分枝杆菌基因组文库。PCR扩增人tradd基因,将扩增产物克隆于pGBKT7载体上,构建重组诱饵质粒pGBKT7-tradd,转化酵母菌Y2HGold。用诱饵质粒pGBKT7-tradd对牛分枝杆菌基因组文库进行筛选,以获得与TRADD互作的阳性候选克隆;提取阳性候选克隆中的质粒,经测序和同源性比对分析,获得与TRADD互作的牛分枝杆菌蛋白的生物学信息。结果显示,构建的文库滴度为2×10⁶ CFU,平均插入片段在1.5 kb左右,文库重组率>95%。经Western blotting验证,诱饵质粒pGBKT7-tradd可在酵母菌中表达诱饵蛋白TRADD,且TRADD的表达对酵母菌无毒性,不会在酵母菌中自激活。应用酵母双杂交系统初步筛选出20个与TRADD互作的阳性克隆,经复筛、测序和BLAST对比,最终发现7个基因序列。本研究应用酵母双杂交技术成功筛选到7个与TRADD互作的牛分枝杆菌蛋白,为进一步研究牛分枝杆菌对细胞凋亡的抑制机制提供线索。     

The pCS20 PCR assay for Ehrlichia ruminantium does not cross-react with the novel deer ehrlichial agent found in white-tailed deer in the United States of America

White-tailed deer are susceptible to heartwater (Ehrlichia [Cowdria] ruminantium infection) and are likely to suffer high mortality if the disease spreads to the United States. It is vital, therefore, to validate a highly specific and sensitive detection method for E. ruminantium infection that can be reliably used in testing white-tailed deer, which are reservoirs of antigenically or genetically related agents such as Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum (HGE agent) and Ehrlichia ewingii. Recently, a novel but as yet unnamed ehrlichial species, the white-tailed deer ehrlichia (WTDE), has been discovered in deer populations in the United States. Although the significance of WTDE as a pathogen is unknown at present, it can be distinguished from other Ehrlichia spp. based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. In this study it was differentiated from E. ruminantium by the use of the pCS20 PCR assay which has high specificity and sensitivity for the detection of E. ruminantium. This assay did not amplify DNA from the WTDE DNA samples isolated from deer resident in Florida, Georgia and Missouri, but amplified the specific 279 bp fragment from E. ruminantium DNA. The specificity of the pCS20 PCR assay for E. ruminantium was confirmed by Southern hybridization. Similarly, the 16S PCR primers (nested) that amplify a specific 405-412 bp fragment from the WTDE DNA samples, did not amplify any product from E. ruminantium DNA. This result demonstrates that it would be possible to differentiate between E. ruminantium and the novel WTDE agent found in white tailed deer by applying the two respective PCR assays followed by Southern hybridizations. Since the pCS20 PCR assay also does not amplify any DNA products from E. chaffeensis or Ehrlichia canis DNA, it is therefore the method of choice for the detection of E. ruminantium in these deer and other animal hosts.     

空肠弯曲菌peb1A基因的克隆表达及免疫原性分析

根据空肠弯曲菌基因序列设计引物,以菌株ATCC 29428为模板扩增出peb1A基因片段,定向克隆至pMD18-T载体中,并对克隆片段测序,比较所测序列与不同来源弯曲菌的同源性;用软件改造并合成peb1A基因78 bp～780 bp区间片段,PCR扩增后,构建出表达载体pET-28a(+)-peb 1Ag,转化至E.c...     

抗乙肝病毒人源噬菌体单链抗体库的构建及筛选

为了构建抗乙肝病毒人源噬菌体特异性单链抗体库,从中筛选抗乙肝病毒人源噬菌体单链抗体库特异性单链抗体,试验提取患者外周淋巴细胞总RNA,以总RNA为模板,通过RT-PCR技术分别扩增出H链和L链可变区基因,采用SOE-PCR方法将VH和VL片段随机拼接成ScFv片段,然后将ScFv片段克隆至pCANTAB5E载体,电转E.coil TG1,构建抗乙肝病毒人源单链抗体库,并从中筛选阳性克隆抗体。结果表明:经过5轮筛选,获得2株能与乙肝病毒抗原特异性结合的阳性克隆。说明利用噬菌体抗体技术可不经免疫制备抗乙肝病毒人源噬菌体特异性单链抗体。     

Recovery of infectious virus from full-length cowpox virus (CPXV) DNA cloned as a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)

ABSTRACT: Transmission from pet rats and cats to humans as well as severe infection in felids and other animal species have recently drawn increasing attention to cowpox virus (CPXV). We report the cloning of the entire genome of cowpox virus strain Brighton Red (BR) as a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) in Escherichia coli and the recovery of infectious virus from cloned DNA. Generation of a full-length CPXV DNA clone was achieved by first introducing a mini-F vector, which allows maintenance of large circular DNA in E. coli, into the thymidine kinase locus of CPXV by homologous recombination. Circular replication intermediates were then electroporated into E. coli DH10B cells. Upon successful establishment of the infectious BR clone, we modified the full-length clone such that recombination-mediated excision of bacterial sequences can occur upon transfection in eukaryotic cells. This self-excision of the bacterial replicon is made possible by a sequence duplication within mini-F sequences and allows recovery of recombinant virus progeny without remaining marker or vector sequences. The in vitro growth properties of viruses derived from both BAC clones were determined and found to be virtually indistinguishable from those of parental, wild-type BR. Finally, the complete genomic sequence of the infectious clone was determined and the cloned viral genome was shown to be identical to that of the parental virus. In summary, the generated infectious clone will greatly facilitate studies on individual genes and pathogenesis of CPXV. Moreover, the vector potential of CPXV can now be more systematically explored using this newly generated tool.     

Resistance of leopard tortoises and helmeted guineafowl to Cowdria ruminantium infection (heartwater).

Experimental infection trials were conducted to investigate susceptibility of leopard tortoises (Geochelone pardalis) and helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris) to infection with Cowdria ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater, a tickborne disease of domestic and wild ruminants. Ten guineafowl were inoculated intravenously with a virulent dose of C. ruminantium derived from bovine endothelial cell cultures, and four leopard tortoises were exposed to C. ruminantium infection by the feeding of infected Amblyomma hebraeum ticks. Uninfected A. hebraeum ticks (on both tortoises and guineafowl) and Amblyomma marmoreum ticks (on tortoises only) were fed on the animals during weeks 2 and 3 post-exposure in an attempt to detect infection. These ticks were analyzed for C. ruminantium infection by xenodiagnosis and with the C. ruminantium-specific pCS20 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Attempts to detect infection in ticks fed on either species were negative by both tests. These results suggest that leopard tortoises and helmeted guineafowl are refractory to C. ruminantium infection and, therefore, are unlikely to be capable of introducing heartwater directly into new areas. However, leopard tortoises are efficient hosts of A. marmoreum and A. hebraeum and are likely to be important epidemiologically in the transport and maintenance of these tick vector species.     

用CODEHOP设计简并引物克隆反刍月形单胞菌K6乙酸激酶基因片段

利用CODEHOP设计细菌乙酸激酶的简并引物,选用1对引物ACKSe以高效丙酸生成菌反刍月形单胞菌K6基因组DNA进行PCR,得到749 bp PCR产物,产物经pMD18-T载体克隆转化至DH5α大肠杆菌中,测序后经Blastx比对,此DNA产物与其他菌属来源的乙酸激酶蛋白序列具有相似性,所克隆的序列即为K6的乙酸激酶基因片段。用CODEHOP程序化设计的简并引物可信性强,阳性率高。该基因的成功克隆为丙酸生成菌K6乙酸代谢工程研究提供了依据。