The genome of Brucella melitensis

The genome of Brucella melitensis strain 16M was sequenced and contained 3,294,931 bp distributed over two circular chromosomes. Chromosome I was composed of 2,117,144 bp and chromosome II has 1,177,787 bp. A total of 3198 ORFs were predicted. The origins of replication of the chromosomes are similar to each other and to those of other α-proteobacteria. Housekeeping genes such as those that encode for DNA replication, protein synthesis, core metabolism, and cell-wall biosynthesis were found on both chromosomes. Genes encoding adhesins, invasins, and hemolysins were also identified.     

布鲁菌疫苗株Rev.1全基因序列的测定与分析

为促进布鲁菌病Rev.1疫苗及相关疫苗的研发, 该研究提取Rev.1疫苗株核酸, 应用PacBio平台进行全基因序列测定与分析。结果表明, Rev.1疫苗株基因组大小约3 299 187 bp, G+C含量为57.2%, 组装为染色体1、染色体2两条环状基因组, 大小分别为2 121 370、1 177 817 bp, G+C含量分别为57.2%、57.3%。将其Ery、BLS和VirB10基因序列与9株GenBank上发表的布鲁菌参考菌株的Ery、BLS和VirB10基因序列进行比较分析, 存在不同程度的差异, 同源性为97.4%~100%。     

布鲁菌bp26基因的表达与bp26-间接ELISA抗体检测试剂盒的研制

为了研制布鲁菌bp26-间接ELISA抗体检测试剂盒,将布鲁菌bp26基因克隆至原核表达载体pET-32a(+),重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导表达,以纯化后的重组蛋白bp26包被酶标板,优化ELISA反应条件,组装试剂盒。SDS-PAGE和Western blotting分析结果表明,重组蛋白分子质量约为41 ku,经IPTG诱导后高效表达,且具有良好的免疫原性;优化试验确定重组抗原最佳包被浓度为3.6 μg/mL,血清样本的阳性临界值为0.370;特异性试验结果表明,重组蛋白与牛结核菌、副猪嗜血杆菌、链球菌等多种病原体的阳性血清均无交叉反应;敏感性试验结果表明,血清稀释至1:12800时,仍检测为阳性;该试剂盒的批内、批间变异系数均小于10%;用该试剂盒检测241份临床牛血清样本,并与试管凝集试验(SAT)检测结果比较,两者符合率为97.1%。原核表达的布鲁菌bp26具有良好的免疫原性,研制的布鲁菌bp26-间接ELISA抗体检测试剂盒敏感性、特异性和重复性较好,可为布鲁菌基因缺失标记疫苗的应用提供配套的血清学诊断方法。     

牛布氏杆菌PCR检测方法的建立

根据GenBank上公布的牛布氏杆菌外膜蛋白OMP31的基因序列设计特异性引物,对牛布氏杆菌样品进行PCR扩增并将产物克隆到pMD18-T载体后测序。结果表明,扩增的目的片段大小为602 bp,与预期扩增序列同源性为99.7％;该PCR检测体系的特异性强,不能在非布氏杆菌 DNA中扩增出条带;敏感性高,最低检测的DNA含量为0.9 pg/μL。该检测体系的成功构建为牛布氏杆菌病的检测、鉴定和流行病学调查提供了有力的技术支持。     

布鲁菌转录调节因子HFQ诱导机体免疫反应的分析

旨在分析布鲁菌（Brucella）转录调节因子HFQ诱导机体产生的免疫反应。以热灭活牛种布鲁菌S2308为模板,根据GenBank登录的S2308 hfq基因序列（BAB1_1134）设计引物,PCR扩增hfq基因片段后,将其克隆至原核表达载体pET-32a,转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）感受态细胞,诱导HFQ蛋白表达;利用SDS-PAGE电泳以及Western blot对重组HFQ蛋白（rHFQ）进行分析;pET-32a空载体、rHFQ和疫苗株M5-90刺激小鼠巨噬细胞RAW 264.7,利用ELISA试剂盒检测细胞因子IFN-γ和IL-4的表达水平;将pET-32a、rHFQ和M5-90免疫小鼠后,检测小鼠脾细胞中IFN-γ和IL-4的水平,以及小鼠血清中IgG抗体水平。结果显示,hfq基因大小为237 bp,编码79个氨基酸,rHFQ大约在25.8 ku处出现蛋白条带,纯化后为单一条带。Western blot结果显示,rHFQ具有较好的反应原性。rHFQ刺激RAW 264.7后,诱导IFN-γ和IL-4的水平与M5-90组相似,显著高于PBS组和pET-32a空载体组,且随着刺激时间的延长而升高。rHFQ免疫小鼠后,诱导脾细胞产生IFN-γ和IL-4的水平,小鼠血清中IgG的水平与M5-90组相似,显著高于PBS组和pET-32a空载体组。布鲁菌HFQ蛋白具有较好的反应原性,并能诱导机体产生较高的细胞免疫和体液免疫水平,是布鲁菌亚单位疫苗研制较理想的候选抗原。     

Validation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the indirect enzyme immunoassay (IELISA) and the competitive enzyme immunoassay (CELISA) for the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis in comparison to conventional serological tests routinely used in Argentina. Serum samples (n = 3500), from Brucella-free herds, from vaccinated cattle and from naturally infected cattle, were tested by the following tests: buffered antigen agglutination test (BPAT), rose bengal test (RBT), 2-mercaptoethanol test (2-ME), complement fixation test (CFT), IELISA and CELISA. Sensitivity and specificity of the BPAT, RBT, IELISA and CELISA were determined relative to the 2-ME and the CFT. The CELISA was considered suitable for eliminating most serological reactions of vaccinated animals and was more specific than the other tests. The results indicate the potential use of the CELISA as a complementary assay in the brucellosis control and eradication program in Argentina and other countries, where Brucella abortusstrain 19 vaccination is mandatory.     

布鲁氏菌vceA基因缺失株的构建及生物学特性研究

试验旨在构建布鲁氏菌Ⅳ型分泌系统vceA基因缺失株,分析其生长特征及其在人胚胎滋养层细胞(HPT-8)中的存活能力。以布鲁氏菌S2308为模板,PCR扩增vceA基因上、下游同源臂,以pUC19K质粒为模板扩增kan基因,然后利用融合PCR技术将3段基因进行融合,再将此片段与pMD19-T载体连接,电转至大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞中,构建ΔvceA基因缺失株(S2308ΔvceA),通过卡那抗性对缺失株进行连续筛选,并检测其遗传稳定性。在相同培养条件下,观察亲本株S2308和S2308ΔvceA的生长变化趋势,以侵染复数(MOI)100∶1侵染HPT-8细胞,通过CFU计数检测亲本株S2308和缺失株S2308ΔvceA在细胞内的生存能力。结果显示,试验成功获得片段大小为372、510、1 093 bp的vceA基因上、下游同源臂和kan基因;且成功构建pMD19-T-vceA-kan自杀载体,将其电转入大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞,构建基因缺失株,连续传代10次未发现基因回复突变;在体外相同培养条件下,缺失株S2308ΔvceA与亲本株S2308生长趋势相似,均在12 h达到对数生长期,30 h进入平台期;侵染HPT-8细胞12 h时,缺失株S2308ΔvceA在细胞中的数量显著低于亲本株S2308(P<0.05)。综上所述,本试验成功构建并获得了具有良好遗传稳定性的布鲁氏菌vceA基因缺失株,该缺失株在体外培养条件下与亲本株生长趋势相似;但该缺失株在HPT-8细胞内的存活能力显著变弱。     

多重PCR方法鉴别牛、羊、猪种布鲁氏菌株

用eri作为布鲁氏菌属特异性基因,以IS711基因拷贝数差异作为布鲁氏菌种间特异性标志,建立了鉴别牛、羊、猪种布鲁氏菌株的多重PCR方法。结果:牛种布鲁氏菌2308株扩增出大小为494 bp和178 bp的两条带,羊种布鲁氏菌M28株扩增出大小为733 bp和178 bp的两条带,猪种布鲁氏菌S1330株扩增出大小为285 bp和178 bp的两条带,均与预期吻合;而胸膜肺炎放线杆菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌、流产沙门菌、都柏林沙门菌、大肠杆菌均未扩增出任何条带。硫化氢和血清学试验结果也符合相应种布鲁氏菌的特点。结果表明,本研究的多重PCR方法可用于牛、羊、猪种布鲁氏菌株的快速鉴定。     

Brucella canis endophthalmitis in 3 dogs: clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment

Objective  To describe historical, clinical and diagnostic features of dogs with Brucella canis endophthalmitis and the response to medical therapy.
Animals studied  Three dogs with naturally acquired B. canis endophthalmitis.
Procedure  Dogs were treated symptomatically with topical ophthalmic anti-inflammatories and a novel antimicrobial protocol that included doxycycline, enrofloxacin, rifampin and streptomycin.
Results  All dogs presented with chronic or recurrent uveitis in the absence of overt systemic disease. Clinical ophthalmologic abnormalities were unilateral in each dog and included mild-to-moderate anterior uveitis, iris hyperpigmentation, marked vitreal infiltrates, and multifocal chorioretinitis. Dogs were diagnosed with canine brucellosis serologically and by blood culture ( n  = 2 dogs) or polymerase chain reaction of aqueous humor and blood ( n  = 1 dog). Active ocular inflammation resolved in all dogs during treatment, with preservation of vision in 2 dogs. Following treatment, B. canis could not be cultured from blood samples and serological values declined with seronegativity achieved in all dogs after a median of 96 weeks (range: 36–112 weeks) of therapy.
Conclusions  Brucella canis infection should be included in the differential diagnosis for dogs with intraocular inflammation, regardless of previous history or neuter status. This is the first report of apparently successful medical therapy of canine brucellosis with ocular involvement.     

微卫星DNA在北京荷斯坦奶牛中的多态性研究

选择与牛乳中体细胞数紧密连锁的4个微卫星标记BM1818、BM302、BM4505和CYP21,分析了其在北京荷斯坦奶牛中的多态性.检测结果表明,微卫星标记的等位基因数依次为4、6、6和7,在奶牛群体中的多态信息含量值分别为0.386 9、0.712 2、0.714 4和0.615 4.利用最小二乘法拟合线性模型对不同标记基因型间体细胞数差异显著性检验结果表明,微卫星BM1818座位基因型为284 bp/284 bp所对应的体细胞数最小二乘平均值显著低于286 bp/286bp所对应的体细胞数最小二乘平均值(P＜0.05),并且等位基因284 bp与体细胞数有显著正相关;微卫星BM302座位基因型为142 bp/140 bp所对应的体细胞数最小二乘平均值显著低于154 bp/145 bp、143 bp/143 bp所对应的体细胞数最小二乘平均值(P＜0.05),并且等位基因142 bp、140 bp与体细胞数有显著正相关;微卫星BM4505座位基因型为240 bp/236 bp所对应的体细胞数最小二乘平均值显著低于240 bp/238 bp、240 bp/239 bp、240 bp/219 bp、236bp/219 bp、235 bp/219 bp所对应的体细胞数最小二乘平均值(P＜0.05),并且等位基因240 bp、236 bp与体细胞数有显著正相关;微卫星CYP21座位基因型为215 bp/198 bp所对应的体细胞数最小二乘平均值显著低于除215 bp/194bp以外其他所对应的体细胞数最小二乘平均值(P＜0.05),并且等位基因215 bp与体细胞数有显著正相关.     

Early metaphase II oocytes treated with dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate provide suitable recipient cytoplasm for the production of miniature pig somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos

We investigated the effects of in vitro maturation duration and treatment with dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) on the blind enucleation efficiency and developmental competence of miniature pig somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. Oocytes were cultured for 22 h in NCSU-23 medium with or without 1 mM dbcAMP and then additionally cultured in dbcAMP-free NCSU-23 for 14, 18, or 22 h. Regardless of dbcAMP treatment, the rate of nuclear maturation reached a plateau at 36 and 40 h. However, mitochondrial distribution, a marker for cytoplasmic maturation, differed between the dbcAMP-untreated oocytes at 36 h and dbcAMP-treated oocytes at 40 h. The metaphase II chromosomes were adjacent to the first polar body in 68.8% and 63.5% of the dbcAMP-untreated oocytes at 36 h and dbcAMP-treated oocytes at 40 h, respectively. Furthermore, the blind enucleation efficiency by removing a small volume of cytoplasm was significantly higher in the dbcAMP-untreated oocytes at 36 h (82.9%) and dbcAMP-treated oocytes at 40 h (89.9%) than other groups. The rate of blastocyst formation was highest in the dbcAMP-treated oocytes at 40 h. Hence, this study demonstrated that dbcAMP-treated early metaphase II oocytes are suitable for the production of miniature pig SCNT embryos.     

Insertion and stable expression of Gaussia luciferase gene by the genome of bovine viral diarrhea virus

As a tool to address selected issues of virus biology, we constructed a recombinant cDNA clone of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) expressing Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) reporter gene. A full-length genomic cDNA clone of a non-cytopathic BVDV isolate was assembled by recombination in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Gluc gene was inserted between the N^pro and Core protein coding regions by recombination. The cDNA transcribed in vitro was infectious upon transfection of MDBK cells, resulting in reporter gene expression and productive virus replication. The rescued viruses were stable for 15 passages in cell culture, maintaining the replication kinetics, focus size and morphology similar to those of the parental virus. Expression and correct processing of the reporter protein were also maintained, as demonstrated by Gluc activity. These results demonstrate that genes up to 555 bp are simply assembled by a single step in yeast recombination and are stably expressed by this cDNA clone.     

Identification of a Splice Variant of gp100 Expressed in Canine Melanoma Tumours

Introduction:  The melanoma‐associated antigen (MAA) gp100 is a glycoprotein expressed by melanocytes and is considered to be an important target for anti‐tumour immunity in human melanoma. The aim of the current study was to characterise the canine gp100 gene with a view to its inclusion in a DNA vaccine for treatment of canine oral malignant melanoma.
Methods:  RNA was extracted from eight canine oral melanomas and seven control samples (pigmented oral mucocutaneous tissue) and cDNA synthesised. PCR was performed using human gp100 primers designed to generate a 421base pair (bp) fragment. In addition to the expected pcr product, a smaller amplicon (∼260 bp) was present in all tumours and control tissues. Both PCR amplicons were cloned and sequenced. The gp100 genomic DNA sequence was identified from the dog genome resource (NCBI).
Results:  The 421 bp fragment of canine gp100 shared 90.8% identity with human gp100. This partial sequence was located on dog chromosome 10 (CFA10_contig 2982). Further analysis, using the human gp100 gene as a reference, allowed the complete canine gp100 coding sequence to be identified from the dog genome. Sequence analysis of the small PCR product showed it to be a splice variant of gp100 with exon 5 deleted.
Conclusion:  The canine gp100 sequence has been identified and this will allow DNA vaccine constructs containing this MAA to be developed. The splice variant of gp100 with exon 5 deleted was not tumour‐specific and was expressed in both melanomas and normal pigmented tissue.     

羊种布鲁氏菌Wzt基因的克隆及原核表达

为进一步研究Wzt蛋白在光滑型脂多糖合成路径中的作用,本试验利用PCR技术,以羊种布鲁氏菌16 M株基因组为模板,扩增出大小为759 bp的Wzt基因片段,将其连入pMD20-T载体,测序正确后构建重组质粒pET-28a-Wzt,转化E.coli BL21(DE3)工程菌,IPTG诱导其表达,最后用Western blotting鉴定蛋白。结果显示,扩增出的Wzt基因片段大小为759 bp,与GenBank中登录的羊种布鲁氏菌16 M株Wzt基因序列(登录号:AF047478.1)同源性为99.87%,证明成功克隆了Wzt基因,同时成功构建了pET-28a-Wzt原核表达载体,并在E.coli BL21(DE3)工程菌中表达了Wzt蛋白,诱导得到的融合蛋白大小约为30 ku,位于25～35 ku之间,与目的蛋白大小一致,结果表明成功表达了目的基因。     

DNA polymorphism of 5' flanking region of prolactin gene and its association with litter size in sheep

A single nucleotide polymorphism of 5' flanking region of the prolactin gene was investigated in both high prolificacy breeds (Small Tail Han and Hu sheep) and low prolificacy breeds (Dorset and Suffolk sheep) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). The results indicated that two genotypes (AA and AB) were detected in Small Tail Han sheep (n   =   239), only one genotype (AA) was detected in Hu (n   =   40), Dorset (n   =   50) and Suffolk sheep (n   =   39). The mutant homozygous genotype (BB) was not detected in four sheep breeds. In Small Tail Han sheep (n   =   239), the frequency of genotypes AA and AB was 0.91 and 0.09, the frequency of the A and B alleles was 0.95 and 0.05, respectively. The fitness tests showed that the Small Tail Han sheep population was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Sequencing revealed a mutation (G→T) at the position 63 bp of the 5' flanking region of prolactin gene in AB genotype compared with AA genotype in Small Tail Han sheep. The Small Tail Han ewes with AB genotype had 0.83 (p < 0.05) lambs more than those with AA genotype. These results preliminarily showed that the prolactin locus is either a major gene that influences the high prolificacy in Small Tail Han sheep or is in close linkage with such a gene.     

布鲁氏菌和鹦鹉热衣原体双重PCR检测方法的建立与应用

为建立同时检测布鲁氏菌和鹦鹉热衣原体的双重PCR方法,本研究据GenBank上已发表的具有属间特异性的布鲁氏菌bp26基因和鹦鹉热衣原体23S rRNA基因,利用 Primer Premier 5.0软件各设计1对特异性引物,扩增的目的片段长度分别为219和356 bp。通过优化反应条件,建立了能同时检测布鲁氏菌和鹦鹉热衣原体的双重PCR方法。该方法具有较好的特异性和可重复性,对2种基因单重PCR检测敏感性均达到3.1×10²拷贝/反应,双重检测的灵敏度为3.1×10³拷贝/反应。利用该双重PCR方法对流产牛抗凝全血、血清、流产胎儿及奶液共172份临床疑似布鲁氏菌感染的样品进行检测,检测到布鲁氏菌阳性样品53份,鹦鹉热衣原体阳性样品2份,以上这2种病原的阳性检出率分别为30.8%和1.2%,且检测到2种病原混合感染的阳性样品2份,阳性检出率为1.2%。临床应用结果表明,该方法可用来对布鲁氏菌和鹦鹉热衣原体进行同步、快速、灵敏的检测。     

牛种布鲁杆菌PCR检测方法的研究

为了弥补血清学和微生物学方法检测和诊断布鲁菌病的种种不足,建立用布鲁菌BCSP31聚合酶链反应（PCR）快速检测布鲁菌病原的方法。根据编码牛种布鲁菌31 000外膜蛋白基因序列设计的一对特异性引物,扩增出预期350bp的基因片段。结果,此方法具有较高的特异性和敏感性,DNA最低检测量为0.42pg。结果表明,布鲁菌病原...     

PCR-based detection of Pythium and Lagendium DNA in frozen and ethanol-fixed animal tissues

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of previously described Pythium insidiosum‐ and Lagenidium‐specific nested PCR assays to the detection of oomycete DNA in animal tissues. DNA was extracted from 15 frozen and 10 ethanol‐fixed tissues obtained from six animals with pythiosis, five animals with lagenidiosis, one animal with nonoomycotic skin disease and two animals without skin disease. First‐round PCR, which utilized universal fungal primers ITS1 and ITS2P, amplified a single product of the expected size for each of the P. insidiosum‐ and Lagenidium‐infected tissues, but not for tissues obtained from animals without fungal disease. Second‐round PCR using the P. insidiosum‐specific primers PI1 and PI2 produced a single 105‐bp product for the P. insidiosum‐infected tissues, but not for any of the other tissues. Second‐round PCR using the Lagenidium‐specific primers LAG1 and LAG2 produced a single 76‐bp product for the Lagenidium‐infected tissues, but not for any of the other tissues.     

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.