Influences of Aeromonas salmonicida lipopolysaccharide, prednisolone and water temperature on plasma protein composition in salmonids

To further characterize the putative role of constitutive and inducible plasma proteins in innate resistance to furunculosis, the present authors compared the alterations in profiles of plasma proteins in resistant and susceptible salmonids, i.e. rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), respectively. Rainbow trout were injected with prednisolone acetate and exposed to higher water temperature (18 °C versus 10 °C), or injected with purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from a virulent strain of Aeromonas salmonicida , and plasma components were examined by two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis . Two days after A. salmonicida LPS exposure, rainbow trout had a four- to five-fold increase in concentrations of plasma proteins composed of p48, p19 and p16 subunits, and a significant decrease in a 100-kDa protein group. Consistent elevation or depletion of proteins corresponding to previously reported rainbow trout A. salmonicida LPS-binding pentraxins and lectins in plasma were not observed. Brook trout exposed to A. salmonicida LPS did not have any consistent plasma protein changes. There were no significant alterations in major plasma proteins following temperature shock and prednisolone acetate administration in rainbow trout plasma. These studies demonstrate that rainbow trout with LPS-induced sterile inflammation have few alterations in major plasma proteins or LPS-binding proteins, and do not exhibit the spectrum of acute phase changes induced by inflammation in mammals.     

Evaluation of profiles of Aeromonas salmonicida as epidemiological markers of furunculosis infections in fish

Abstract. Strains of Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida , the agent of furunculosis disease of salmonid fish, have fairly uniform plasmid patterns. Of 35 strains examined by agarose gel electrophoresis, 28 had a pattern consisting of four small plasmids (4.2, 3.6, 3.5, 3.3 Mda) and a larger plasmid. The larger plasmid was most often 50–56 Mda, but it was larger in some strains. In the remaining seven strains, the same general profile was seen, but one of the small plasmids was missing. An additional plasmid was present in six strains. The pattern seen in 30 strains collected from Ontario fish over an 8-year period did not differ significantly from five reference isolates from other locations. Plasmid profiles of A. salmonicida strains appear too uniform to provide a useful epidemiological tool. The non-pigmented. atypical strains of A. salmonicida subsp. achromogenes and A. salmonicida subsp. masoucida, A. media , and brown-pigmented strains of A. hydrophila had different plasmid DNA profiles, which were distinct from those of typical isolates of A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida . Antibiotic susceptibility patterns, determined by the agar dilution method, were uniform for most typical strains. A non-transferable resistance to tetracyclmes was found in two Ontario isolates, but antibiotic resistance was relatively uncommon among the Ontario isolates.     

Identification and pathogenicity to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), of some aeromonads

Twelve strains of fish pathogenic aeromonads were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Aeromonas bestiarum , A. hydrophila , A. hydrophila subsp. dhakensis , A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida , A. sobria biovar sobria and A. veronii biovar sobria. Following intramuscular injection, A. hydrophila subsp. dhakensis caused dark liquefying, raised furuncle-like lesions in rainbow trout within 48 h. Extracellular products of all cultures contained gelatinase and lecithinase, and most revealed lipase. Congo red absorption and siderophore production was recorded, but not so the suicide phenomenon or slime production. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profile of the outer membrane proteins (OMP) revealed 10–25 bands, of which major bands were seen in the region of 32.5–47.5 and 62–83 kDa. Marked heterogenicity of the OMP and whole cell protein (WCP) profiles within and among the species was observed. Polypeptides of 83–173 kDa were detected in the WCP profile of the cultures, but they were not expressed in OMP fractions.     

Autoagglutination, growth on tryptone-soy-Coomassieagar, outer membrane protein patterns and virulence of Aeromonas salmonicida strains

Abstract. Twelve Aeromonas salmonicida isolates were examined for autoagglutination, colony colour on tryptone soy agar supplemented with Coomassie brilliant blue (TSA-C), and outer membrane protein pattern by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Autoagglutination did not correlate with colony colour on TSA-C, nor with the presence of the additional 49-kDa protein (A-protein) in all strains tested. However, there was a correlation between colour on TSA-C and A-protein. Two weakly autoagglutinating isolates with no A-protein detectable in SDS-PAGE and with negative staining behaviour on TSA-C shared another additional protein, designated X-protein. One of these isolates was virulent for juvenile rainbow trout, the other one avirulent. Thus, for the strains examined, neither autoagglutination nor X-protein were reliable indicators of virulence, and absence of A-protein did not necessarily mean avirulence.     

Electrophoretic and immunochemical analysis of surface antigens of the fish pathogens Vibrio salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum

Abstract. Outer membranes and lipopolysaccharides of the marine fish pathogens Vibrio salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum were isolated. SDS-PAGE profiles of purified LPS preparations from V. salmonicida revealed a broad low molecular weight band, whereas V. anguillarum LPS profiles demonstrated both a low-molecular band and several weaker high-molecular weight bands. Hydrolysis of V, salmonicida and V. anguillarum LPS separating the polysaccharide chain from the lipid A part and subsequent gel-chromatography suggests a polysaccharide molecular weight of ca. 1000 ('rough type' LPS) and ca. 6000 ('smooth type' LPS), respectively. Western blot of V. salmonicida outer membrane preparations and purified lipopolysaccharides and subsequent immunostaining with mouse monoclonal antibodies was performed. Eleven out of 15 monoclonal antibodies made against V. salmonicida cells reacted with one broad antigen-band in the low molecular weight region of both outer membrane and LPS profiles, corresponding to the LPS region. The previously reported outer surface antigen, VS-P1 from V. salmonicida , was observed to carry LPS epitopes as revealed by binding of monoclonal antibodies to VS-P1 as well as purified LPS preparations. These results strongly suggest that the VS-P1 antigen is a complex of both protein and LPS molecules.     

Partial purification and characterization of extracellular metalloproteases from Aeromonas salmonicida ssp. salmonicida

Abstract. Aeromonas salmonicida ssp, salmonicida is shown to produce several extracellular proteins having gelatinolytic activity. Among the six isolates tested, two (NCMB 1102 and 84–14–R) produced both high (89–100 kDa) and low molecular (37 kDa) weight gelatinases, while the other four demonstrated only the 89–100 kDa forms. The low molecular form (metalloprotease 1: MP 1, 37 kDa) was isolated by ammonium sulphate precipitation, hydrophobic, ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. The isolated enzyme was inhibited by the metal-chelating agents o-phenantroline and EDTA, and by excess Zn ions, and thus was defined as a metalloprotease. Its pH-optimum was 7–5, optimal activity was at 40°C and its pI 5.2. Specificity studies demonstrated cleavage of gelatin and azocoll, but not casein.     

副溶血弧菌的外膜蛋白及其抗原性研究↑（*）

本文对１３株不同来源的副溶血弧菌的外膜蛋白及其抗原性进行了比较研究。１３株副溶血弧菌的外膜蛋白有相似的ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ图谱。大多数菌株有五条主要的蛋白质，其大致分子量分别为：ａ、６９ｋＤａ；ｂ、６３ｋＤａ；ｃ、４０ｋＤａ；ｄ、３０ｋＤａ；ｅ、２８ｋＤａ。其中蛋白质ｂ是所有菌株共有的。与吸附后的兔抗副溶血弧菌血清Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹法结果显示抗血清与多数副溶血弧菌菌株的外膜蛋白有一条共同的免疫反应带，其大致分子量为４４ｋＤａ。     

Analysis of exotoxins produced by atypical isolates of Aeromonas salmonicida,by enzymatic and serological methods

In this study, exotoxins produced by 62 Aeromonas salmonicida strains and the bacterium Haemophilus piscium were analysed. Enzymatic assays, zymograms and serological detection were used to monitor secretion by bacterial strains of the previously described exotoxins P1, GCAT and AsaP1 and also the extracellular P2 metallo-gelatinase and a serine caseinase, which is different from the P1 protease and has not yet been characterized. Based on the results, the strains were divided into five groups. One comprised the type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. masoucida, H. piscium and 36% of the atypical isolates, and another, a type strain for A. salmonicida ssp. smithia together with 14% of the atypical isolates. A second type strain of A. salmonicida ssp. smithia was grouped with 8% of the atypical isolates. The largest group contained the type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. achromogenes and 38% of the atypical isolates. The type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. salmonicida were in the last group with all the four typical strains and 4% of the atypical isolates. The combination of zymogram and serological detection used is recommended as the most reliable method for characterizing A. salmonicida strains according to their exotoxin secretion.     

Extracellular glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acyltransferase from Aeromonas salmonicida: activation by serine protease

Abstract. Extracellular hacmolytic activities of Aeromonas salmonicida ssp. salmonicida to salmon red blood cells were shown to be due to different forms of the membrane-active enzyme glyccrophospholipidrcholcstcrol acyltransferase (GCAT). About 10% of the total haemolytic activity was due to a high molecular mass complex of LPS and GCAT (mol. mass >1000kDa), containing 35–50% neutral sugars and 1.5–2.0% protein. Some haemolytic activity (30–40% of total), corresponding to 50–70kDa by gel filtration, also contained GCAT-activity and may represent aggregated forms of GCAT. However, about 50% or more of the haemolytie activity was due to a protein of 26kDa free GCAT. Rabbit antibodies to GCAT neutralized the hacmolytic activity of both GCAT and GCAT-LPS. A transposon-produccd serinc protease negative mutant of the same A. salmonicida strain showed reduced haemolytic activity. The mutant produced a 38-kDa GCAT proform of low hacmolytic activity. The proform was processed by autogenous scrinc protease to a highly hacmolytic 26-kDa molecule with pl 6.3, similar to GCAT of the parent strain. The weakly haemolytic GCAT-LPS analogue of the mutant strain did not contain detectable amounts of the 26-kDa molecule and was not activated by proteases.     

Transmission of protease genes into a protease-deficient mutant of Aeromonas salmonicida in river sediments

Abstract. The transformation of Aeromonas salmonicida with DNA fragments from bacterial cell-free sonicates was investigated with intraspecific, interspecific band intergeneric fish pathogenic bacteria including Aeromonas salmonicida, Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseiidomonas fluorescens and Vibrio anguillarum strains as donor bacteria. A phenotypic marker for transformation was extracellular protease production since a protease-deficient mutant NTG-1 induced from pathogenic A. salmonicida strain A-7301 by mutagenesis was used as a recipient. This mutant was non-pathogenic to rainbow trout. The mutant was incubated with each sonicate at 20°C for 20 days with a nutrient-poor medium containing a trace (5 μg/ml each) of both humic acid and tryptone in the presence of clean river sand (100 g/100 ml medium) corresponding with an environment of rivers. During the incubation, the survival of mutant NTG-1 cells was observed and protease positive NTG-1 cells were isolated from each culture. The protease production of the isolates was due to the transmission of protease genes of the donor strains. The activity of proteases produced by the transformants extra-cellularly was determined. These transformants induced with the sonicates of the parent strain, intraspecific strain and with the sonicates of the interspecific A. hydrophila strain were pathogenic to rainbow trout, whereas the transformants derived with the sonicates of the intergeneric strains P. fluorescens and V. anguiUarum showed non-pathogenicity, although all the donor strains, with the exception of the P. fluorescens strain, were pathogenic. These findings are interesting since they demonstrate that trausformation in A. salmonicida occurs with considerable ease even intergenencally and interspecifically, as well as intraspecifically in river environments, and that there is a large difference in the lethal toxicity of extracellular protease produced by these bacteria.     

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for two different exoproteases of Aeromonas salmonicida

Monoclonal antibodies (mabs) against native epitopes of Aeromonas salmonicida strain F216.1/83-secreted proteases were isolated by means of a Protease-Capture-Assay. Ten antibodies reacted with the 70-kDa serine protease as judged from the molecular mass and enzymatic behaviour of the recognized antigen. Eight other mabs bound gelatinolytic antigens which lacked caseinolytic properties and possessed some characteristics of a zinc-dependent metalloprotease. The molecular mass of these mab-defined, immunologically cross-reactive antigens were estimated to be predominantly 108, 90 and 57 kDa. By comparing the antigen recognition and epitope mapping profiles among anti-serine protease- and anti-metalloprotease-mabs, at least six and five different epitope specificities were demonstrated, respectively. Both panels of mabs were shown to recognize the two types of exoproteases in culture filtrates of strain MT004 and of several other typical A. salmonicida strains.     

Carrier state in furunculosis: secondary infection of trout with different Aeromonas salmonicida strains results in advantage for the primarily harboured one

Abstract. On the basis of previous observations, in vivo experiments were conducted in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), to detect possible competition between strains of Aeromonas salmonicida differing in their pattern of resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Serial infections, or reinfection of naturally-infected trout, were induced by intramuscular injection. Surviving fish were artificially stressed, and all dying fish were examined using selective media to assess the type of latent infection. Secondary infections with virulent strains always resulted in mortality and reisolation of the secondary strain in pure culture. However, when trout having undergone the two successive infections were stressed, the primary strain was always reisolated. Primary strains seem to be able to survive in unknown locations within cells or tissues, regardless of their virulence or growth potency. Although a protective effect conferred by latent infection to secondary challenge could not be clearly proven, such mechanisms resemble what occurs in premunition and could be of epidemiological interest.     

Efficacy studies of passive immunization against Aeromonas salmonicida infection in brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill)

Abstract. Aeromonas salmonicida , the aetiologic agent of furunculosis, causes high mortality in cultured salmonids. Experiments were conducted to determine the therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of passive immunization against furunculosis in brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), infected by immersion. Rabbit hyperimmune serum was produced against a virulent strain of A. salmonicida and an aliquot of this serum was absorbed with cells of a non-virulent strain of A. salmonicida. Immunoglobulins from aliquots of the absorbed and non-absorbed serum were purified using affinity chromatography. Each serum or immunoglobulin preparation was tested in passive immunization experiments. Brook trout were infected by immersion in a suspension of virulent A. salmonicida , and passively immunized by intraperitoneal injection at the time of experimental infection, or at various periods after experimental infection. Passive immunization of brook trout against furunculosis was therapeutically efficacious when effected either at zero, 24 or 48h post-infection, but not at 72 or 96h. Purified rabbit immunoglobulins specific to virulent A. salmonicida were as protective as the initial rabbit hyperimmune serum in protecting brook trout against furunculosis. To determine the prophylactic efficacy of this treatment, the groups of fish passively immunized at the time of the experimental infection were challenged a second time at either 14, 35, 41 or 56 days after passive immunization. Brook trout were protected against a second experimental bath challenge with virulent A. salmonicida for a period of 35–41 days.     

Identification of cultured Aeromonas salmonicida by an indirect dot blot immunoassay

Abstract. A method is described which improves both the specificity and paracticability of immune identification of Aeromonas salmonicida. The modified assay employs antisera raised against outer membrane proteins (OMP) of A. salmonicida cells and is carried out as a dot blot test on nitrocellulose membranes. Performance of the test with 55 non- A. salmonicida bacterial isolates from fish and water revealed weak cross reactivity in five cases. However, these cross reactive only occur at very high antigen concentrations and can be overcome by adequate dilution.     

Non-pigment-producing isolates of Aeromonas salmonicida subspecies salmonicida: isolation, identification, transmission and pathogenicity in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.

Four non-pigment-producing isolates and two pigment-producing isolates of Aeromonas salmonicida sp. salmonicida were isolated from the head-kidney of diseased farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. The cultural, morphological and biochemical features of the isolates were compared with those of reference strains. Injection and cohabitation experiments were performed. The only difference between the non-pigment-producing isolates and the pigment producing reference strains of A. salmonicida ssp. salmonicida was the inability of the former to produce pigment. In the injection experiments, the investigated non-pigment-producing isolate produced a significantly higher mortality compared with the mortality caused by the reference strain, whereas no difference in mortality was detected in the cohabitation experiments.     

Clinical, microbiological and epidemiological findings in recent outbreaks of goldfish ulcer disease due to atypical Aeromonas salmonicida in south-eastern Australia

Abstract. The spread of goldfish ulcer disease (GUD) from Victoria to New South Wales, Australia, and the first isolation of Aeromonas salmonicida from wild goldfish are reported. Cultural, biochemical and protein SDS-PAGE characteristics of these recent isolates are compared with those of existing Australian isolates, with strains recovered from goldfish in Italy and the USA (atypical strains) and with strain ATCC 14174 (typical strain). The Australian isolates were identical and closely resembled the exotic atypical strains. Although there were several biochemical differences between the atypical isolates and the typical ATCC 14174 strain, the results of SDS-PAGE confirmed that these strains were closely related. The homology of the Australian and overseas strains recovered from goldfish supports the common view that A. salmonicida was introduced first into Australia with diseased goldfish in 1974. The three widely separated outbreaks of GUD reported here confirm that an atypical strain of A. salmonicida is now endemic in Australia.     

Antibiotic resistance of Aeromonas salmonicida isolated from Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland

Abstract. Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of 304 isolates of Aeromonas salmonicida from 229 outbreaks of furunculosis among salmon in Scotland between 1988 and 1990 were investigated. Fifty-five per cent were resistant to oxytetracycline and 37% resistant to oxolinic acid. Multiple resistance was common (52%) and 18 out of 19 antibiograms which were found in the first year recurred in the succeeding year. More than a quarter of the outbreaks were associated with two or more A. salmonicida variants distinguishable by their antibiotic sensitivity patterns. The implications of these findings in the control of furunculosis are considered.     

Differences in resistance of carp, Cyprinus carpio L., to atypical Aeromonas salmonicida

Abstract. The degree of resistance to an atypical strain of Aeromonas salmonicida , the causative bacterium of carp erythrodermatitis, was examined in two strains of carp, Cyprinus carpio L.: a Polish line. R3, sixth generation of conventional inbreeding (full-sib matings); and a Hungarian line. R8, fifth generation of conventional inbreeding. Comparisons were made between and within the two strains. Results showed a significant difference ( P < 0·001) in the degree of resistance, with the Hungarian carp showing greater resistance than the Polish carp. Differences within each strain were also observed indicating a maternal influence on resistance. Two transferrin genotypes in three genetic combinations were identified (DD, DG, GG) but were not found to influence resistance.     

The specificity of the major (70 kDa) protease secreted by Aeromonas salmonicida

Abstract. The specificity of the major protease secreted by Aeromonas salmonicida has been explored using a number of proteins and p-nitroanilides as substrates. The 70kDa protease was found to hydrolyse two p-nitroanilides which have been reported to be specific substrates for thrombin. Kinetic parameters (k_cat, and K_m) were compared for the 70kDa protease and for thrombin as were the effects of a number of inhibitors. The 70kDa protease is able to degrade proteins which have a relatively open structure, for example, caseins or denatured bovine scrum albumin, to small fragments mostly of M_r<2500. However, proteins with a more compact structure are more resistant to the protease. It was concluded that the 70kDa protease shows some of the specificity features of thrombin, although it is less discriminating in its choice of both low and high M_r substrates than thrombin. In preliminary experiments, the 70 kDa protease was found, like thrombin, to decrease the clotting time of rainbow trout blood. The possible physiological significance of these results is discussed.     

Cellular components of probiotics control Yersinia ruckeri infection in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

Subcellular components of the probiotics Aeromonas sobria GC2 and Bacillus subtilis JB-1, when administered to rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss , conferred protection against a new biogroup of Yersinia ruckeri . Thus, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection of rainbow trout with cell wall proteins (CWPs), outer membrane proteins (OMPs), lipopolysaccharides (LPS), whole cell proteins (WCPs) and live cells followed by challenge on day 8 with Y. ruckeri led to 80–100% survival compared with 10% survival in the controls. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) profiles of WCPs and OMPs from GC2 had 10 and 5 variable protein bands in comparison to 11 and 5 bands in the WCPs and CWPs from JB-1. Proteomic analyses were employed following SDS-PAGE to categorize one dominant protein of 104.7 kDa from the CWPs of JB-1 and equated it with ' Bacillus spp. endoglucanase' with a Mascot score >69. These results point to the potential of using cellular components of probiotics for protection of fish against bacterial diseases.