Genome of the host-cell transforming parasite Theileria annulata compared with T. parva

Theileria annulata and T. parva are closely related protozoan parasites that cause lymphoproliferative diseases of cattle. We sequenced the genome of T. annulata and compared it with that of T. parva to understand the mechanisms underlying transformation and tropism. Despite high conservation of gene sequences and synteny, the analysis reveals unequally expanded gene families and species-specific genes. We also identify divergent families of putative secreted polypeptides that may reduce immune recognition, candidate regulators of host-cell transformation, and a Theileria-specific protein domain [frequently associated in Theileria (FAINT)] present in a large number of secreted proteins.     

Genome sequence of Aedes aegypti, a major arbovirus vector

We present a draft sequence of the genome of Aedes aegypti, the primary vector for yellow fever and dengue fever, which at approximately 1376 million base pairs is about 5 times the size of the genome of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae. Nearly 50% of the Ae. aegypti genome consists of transposable elements. These contribute to a factor of approximately 4 to 6 increase in average gene length and in sizes of intergenic regions relative to An. gambiae and Drosophila melanogaster. Nonetheless, chromosomal synteny is generally maintained among all three insects, although conservation of orthologous gene order is higher (by a factor of approximately 2) between the mosquito species than between either of them and the fruit fly. An increase in genes encoding odorant binding, cytochrome P450, and cuticle domains relative to An. gambiae suggests that members of these protein families underpin some of the biological differences between the two mosquito species.     

巴夫杜氏藻GAPDH基因部分序列的克隆

3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶(GAPDH)是糖酵解途径中的一个关键酶,由于其基因表达量相对恒定.因此在定量和半定量PCR试验中常被用作内源参照基因来确定目标基因的相对表达量.从巴夫杜氏藻(Dunaliella pmva)中克隆GA PDH基因,并对基因序列进行了分析.以巴夫杜氏藻cDNA为模板,根据GAPDH的保守序列设计引物...     

环形泰勒虫suAT1基因的克隆及序列分析

以环形泰勒虫兰州株基因组为模板,经PCR扩增获得了suATI的部分基因,将该基因克隆到pMD20-T载体,对重组质粒进行PCR和双酶切鉴定及序列测定.结果表明:该基因的长度为1 377bp,编码了459个氨基酸.同源性分析结果显示:克隆序列与CenBank收录的环形泰勒虫参考核苷酸序列同源性为98.35%,氨基酸同源性...     

牛瑟氏泰勒虫热休克蛋白基因的克隆与序列分析

从病牛血液中提取总RNA,根据GenBank上发表的牛瑟氏泰勒虫HSP70基因序列设计合成1对引物,通过RT—PCR技术扩增出牛瑟氏泰勒虫HSP70基因,并将该基因克隆到pMD18-TSimple载体上,经PCR鉴定和EcoR工、Sal工双酶切鉴定为阳性的重组质粒测定及分析结果表明,该片段长1966bp,编码620个氨基酸残基．同源性分析表明,该序列与牛瑟氏泰勒虫HSP70基因同源性为95．78％．     

Genome sequence of a polydnavirus: insights into symbiotic virus evolution

Little is known of the fate of viruses involved in long-term obligatory associations with eukaryotes. For example, many species of parasitoid wasps have symbiotic viruses to manipulate host defenses and to allow development of parasitoid larvae. The complete nucleotide sequence of the DNA enclosed in the virus particles injected by a parasitoid wasp revealed a complex organization, resembling a eukaryote genomic region more than a viral genome. Although endocellular symbiont genomes have undergone a dramatic loss of genes, the evolution of symbiotic viruses appears to be characterized by extensive duplication of virulence genes coding for truncated versions of cellular proteins.     

The Genome sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus

We sequenced the 29,751-base genome of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus known as the Tor2 isolate. The genome sequence reveals that this coronavirus is only moderately related to other known coronaviruses, including two human coronaviruses, HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E. Phylogenetic analysis of the predicted viral proteins indicates that the virus does not closely resemble any of the three previously known groups of coronaviruses. The genome sequence will aid in the diagnosis of SARS virus infection in humans and potential animal hosts (using polymerase chain reaction and immunological tests), in the development of antivirals (including neutralizing antibodies), and in the identification of putative epitopes for vaccine development.     

Nucleotide sequence of a bovine clone encoding the angiogenic protein, basic fibroblast growth factor

Basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGF's) are potent mitogens for capillary endothelial cells in vitro, stimulate angiogenesis in vivo, and may participate in tissue repair. An oligonucleotide probe for bovine basic FGF was designed from the nucleotide sequence of the amino-terminal exon of bovine acidic FGF, taking into account the 55 percent amino acid sequence homology between the two factors. With this oligonucleotide probe, a full length complementary DNA for basic FGF was isolated from bovine pituitary. Basic FGF in bovine hypothalamus was shown to be encoded by a single 5.0-kilobase messenger RNA; in a human hepatoma cell line, both 4.6- and 2.2-kilobase basic FGF messenger RNA's were present. Both growth factors seem to be synthesized with short amino-terminal extensions that are not found on the isolated forms for which the amino acid sequences have been determined. Neither basic nor acidic FGF has a classic signal peptide.     

The genomic sequence of the accidental pathogen Legionella pneumophila

We present the genomic sequence of Legionella pneumophila, the bacterial agent of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal pneumonia acquired from aerosolized contaminated fresh water. The genome includes a 45-kilobase pair element that can exist in chromosomal and episomal forms, selective expansions of important gene families, genes for unexpected metabolic pathways, and previously unknown candidate virulence determinants. We highlight the genes that may account for Legionella's ability to survive in protozoa, mammalian macrophages, and inhospitable environmental niches and that may define new therapeutic targets.     

生防蜡样芽胞杆菌Bacillus cereus 905基因组测序及分析

为深入研究蜡样芽胞杆菌905(Bacillus cereus 905)的促生防病机制以及为进一步优化该菌株提供遗传学信息,采用454焦磷酸测序技术对B.cereus 905基因组进行了测序,并使用相关软件对测序数据进行了基因组拼接、基因功能预测与注释、基因本体分析(GO)、直系同源基因簇(COG)聚类分析以及共线性分析。结果表明:B.cereus 905基因组草图序列大小约为5.39 Mb,GC含量35.05%,由127个片段重叠群组成;该序列已提交GenBank数据库,登录号为LSTW00000000;分析发现菌株905的基因组与其他蜡样芽胞杆菌的基因组有显著的共线性关系;菌株905基因组中存在相当数量的与促生防病功能相关的基因。本研究通过对B.cereus 905基因组的测序为该菌株的优化提供了序列信息。     

Draft genome sequence of the sexually transmitted pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis

We describe the genome sequence of the protist Trichomonas vaginalis, a sexually transmitted human pathogen. Repeats and transposable elements comprise about two-thirds of the approximately 160-megabase genome, reflecting a recent massive expansion of genetic material. This expansion, in conjunction with the shaping of metabolic pathways that likely transpired through lateral gene transfer from bacteria, and amplification of specific gene families implicated in pathogenesis and phagocytosis of host proteins may exemplify adaptations of the parasite during its transition to a urogenital environment. The genome sequence predicts previously unknown functions for the hydrogenosome, which support a common evolutionary origin of this unusual organelle with mitochondria.     

Genome sequence of the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans R1

The complete genome sequence of the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans R1 is composed of two chromosomes (2,648,638 and 412,348 base pairs), a megaplasmid (177,466 base pairs), and a small plasmid (45,704 base pairs), yielding a total genome of 3,284, 156 base pairs. Multiple components distributed on the chromosomes and megaplasmid that contribute to the ability of D. radiodurans to survive under conditions of starvation, oxidative stress, and high amounts of DNA damage were identified. Deinococcus radiodurans represents an organism in which all systems for DNA repair, DNA damage export, desiccation and starvation recovery, and genetic redundancy are present in one cell.     

Identification of a T helper cell-derived lymphokine that activates resting T lymphocytes

A novel lymphokine with apparent molecular size of 10 to 12 kilodaltons is secreted from helper T cell clones within hours after cross-linking their T cell antigen-MHC (major histocompatibility complex) receptors (T3-Ti). This lymphokine, termed interleukin-4A (IL-4A), stimulates resting lymphocytes by binding to a surface component (or components) of the alternative T11 pathway and subsequently by inducing interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors. The activation process is neither dependent on antigen specificities of the recruited population or the presence of macrophages. It appears, therefore, that IL-4A is a mediator involved in amplifying the T cell immune response.     

辣椒炭疽病3病原核糖体基因ITS区的序列测定及分析

辣椒炭疽病(pepper anthracnose)是辣椒生产中的主要病害之一。利用真菌核糖体内转录间隔区(internal transcribed spac-er,ITS)序列通用引物对辣椒炭疽病3病原进行扩增,分别获得其rDNA-ITS序列,序列分析结果表明,病菌的5.8S rDNA序列高度保守,而ITS区的可变性则相对较高,其中ITS1区的差异大于ITS2区的差异,说明ITS1区的变异较丰富,可考虑将该区域作为病原鉴定的PCR检测特异引物的靶序列,为今后各病菌的特异性分子鉴定提供可靠的靶标。     

芦笋枯萎病菌的鉴定及rDNA ITS序列分析

为准确鉴定芦笋枯萎病致病菌并确定其分类地位,通过形态学观察和核糖体DNA内转录间区(rDNA ITS)序列比对方法,对该病菌进行形态学和分子生物学鉴定,比较其与近缘真菌rDNA ITS序列的差异,并进行系统发育分析。鉴定结果表明,芦笋枯萎病的致病菌为尖孢镰刀菌天门冬专化型Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.asparagi。芦笋枯萎病菌F.oxysporumf.sp.asparagi及其同属近缘种木贼镰刀菌F.equiseti和变红镰刀菌F.incarnatum的rDNA ITS序列比对结果表明,其序列在76~80、104~115、129~138、151~158、175~178、382~402、438~445和473~479bp等rDNA ITS区段上存在差异性碱基。芦笋枯萎病菌及其近缘真菌系统发育分析结果表明,6属真菌大致聚为2个组群2个亚群,芦笋枯萎病菌F.oxysporum f.sp.asparagi与木贼镰刀菌F.equiseti和变红镰刀菌F.incarnatum亲缘关系最近。     

高羊茅炭疽病病菌的生物学特性及其ITS序列分析

通过2006—2008年6～8月份的观察发现,上海地区高羊茅的炭疽病症状为叶片上形成梭形病斑,中央灰白色．边缘黄褐色或者黑褐色,中后期在病斑中央形成黑色小点即分生孢子盘。分生孢子为单胞、香蕉形、无色、3～0μm×20～28μm。高羊茅炭疽病病菌在PSA上菌落灰褐色。病菌菌丝生长适宜温度24～28℃,单糖和双糖、硝态氮有利于病菌菌丝的生长。通过病菌核糖体DNAITS序列的测定及GenBank的BLAST比对．与禾生炭疽病菌（Colletotrichum graminicola）相似性最高,达98％。形态和分子鉴定表明：上海地区高羊茅炭疽病病原菌为禾生炭疽病菌。室内药剂筛选试验表明：咪鲜胺、苯醚甲环唑等5种药剂对高羊茅禾生刺盘孢菌菌丝生长有强烈的抑制作用。     

黄瓜霜霉病和白粉病病原菌的rDNA-ITS序列分析

为了应用分子特征确定黄瓜霜霉病和白粉病的病原菌种类,扩增、测定了上海地区黄瓜霜霉病菌和白粉病菌的核糖体DNA内转录间隔区(rDNA-ITS)序列,依据rDNA-ITS序列特征分析了两种病原菌种类,以及与近缘种的差异性。结果显示,黄瓜霜霉病菌的rDNA-ITS1和rDNA-ITS2长度分别为141和406 bp,rDNA-ITS1 GC含量为41.13%,rDNA-ITS2 GC含量为46.80%(闵行区株和金山区株)或46.55%(浦东新区株),rDNA-ITS序列在种内保守性很高,种间差异性与亲缘关系呈正相关,分子特征证实研究的黄瓜霜霉病病原菌为古巴拟霜霉菌;黄瓜白粉病菌的rDNA-ITS1和rDNA-ITS2长度分别为136和89 bp,GC含量分别为59.56%和66.29%,rDNA-ITS序列在研究材料中保守,与瓜类单囊壳(Sphaerotheca cucurbitae)完全相同,但与形态鉴别的结果Sphaerotheca fuliginea差异高达4.5%,提示黄瓜白粉病病原菌的种类需进一步澄清和确定。     

奶牛衣原体ompA基因的克隆及序列分析

以流产奶牛肝组织块内提取的基因组DNA为模板,根据GenBank数据库中的衣原体ompA基因序列设计2对引物,采用套式PCR进行扩增.PCR产物经纯化后连接到pMD18-T载体,转化至大肠杆菌DH5α后,进行序列测定和生物信息学分析.结果表明:ompA基因的开放阅读框架全长1 170 bp,编码由389个氨基酸组成的多肽,理论分子质量为41.9 ku,等电点为7.61;SMART分析表明,ompA基因编码的氨基酸中,1-22位氨基酸为信号肽序列,另外还有7个保守的半胱氨酸残基形成二硫键;BLAST同源性分析表明,ompA基因的核苷酸序列与已发表的衣原体ompA序列的同源性均达到了98%以上.     

大熊猫自然感染细小病毒的血清学调查

建立一种检测大熊猫血清中犬细小病毒 (canine parvovirus,CPV)抗体的间接酶联免疫吸附剂测定(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)方法。

以大熊猫源CPV DNA为模板,利用PCR扩增VP2基因,再用原核表达系统对VP2基因进行表达,经纯化后的蛋白作为ELISA包被抗原;制备并纯化兔抗大熊猫IgG,采用辣根过氧化物酶(horseradish peroxidase,HRP)标记作为间接ELISA酶标二抗,通过棋盘法确定抗原包被质量浓度及血清稀释度等条件,并评估建立方法与商业试剂盒检测样品结果的符合率。

原核表达成功获得约70 ku的VP2蛋白,将其作为间接ELISA包被抗原,抗原最佳包被质量浓度为2.0 μg/mL,血清最佳稀释度为1∶400,用该方法进行检测血清样品时OD₄₅₀≥0.258为阳性,反之为阴性。采用建立的ELISA方法检测大熊猫血清样本阳性率为60.0%,高于商业化检测试剂盒检测的阳性率(52.5%),两者总符合率达到87.5%。

本研究首次建立了基于大熊猫源CPV VP2蛋白为抗原、自制HRP标记兔抗大熊猫IgG为酶标二抗的间接ELISA方法,该方法特异性强、灵敏性较高、重复性好,为大熊猫血清中CPV抗体的检测提供了技术支持。