结核分枝杆菌PhoP-PhoR双组分系统研究进展

双组分信号转导系统广泛存在于各种原核生物中,其基本结构为1个组氨酸激酶(HK)和1个反应调节剂(RR),该系统能够感知外界刺激并作出反应,使细菌能适应各种不利环境且能增强细菌在宿主体内的生存能力,对细菌的毒力和生长至关重要。文章概述了结核分枝杆菌DosS/DosT-DosR、MprA-MprB、PrrA-PrrB、PhoPPhoR等12个双组分系统,重点介绍了PhoP-PhoR双组分系统的结构与功能。PhoP-PhoR是结核分枝杆菌最基本、最重要的双组分系统之一,由感受器PhoR和效应器PhoP组成,其中PhoR可以接受Mg2+、Cl-或H+等外界刺激,进而驱动PhoP对靶基因的转录表达进行调控。PhoP作为一种效应蛋白,经过晶体结构解析发现,其可通过与DNA结合来实现对靶基因的调控,具体包括对细胞壁组成的控制、对脂类代谢和pH的调节、对结核分枝杆菌毒力网络的调控。此外,文章还介绍了PhoP突变株作为疫苗候选株所具有的优势,包括PhoP突变株在小鼠模型中毒力减弱,并且免疫恒河猴及豚鼠后均有一定的免疫保护性等,表明PhoP突变株具有较好的疫苗开发潜力。作者通过对PhoP-PhoR双组分系统的结构与功能,以及PhoP突变株作为疫苗候选株的研究进行综述,旨在为结核分枝杆菌的毒力机制和人类结核病疫苗的研究提供理论依据。     

结核分枝杆菌fadD家族蛋白的研究进展

结核分枝杆菌复合群感染导致的结核病依然威胁着全球人类及动物的健康。结核分枝杆菌含有复杂的细胞壁结构,其脂质成分与细菌的毒力、致病性、耐药性密切相关,结核分枝杆菌有250个基因参与脂类物质的合成与代谢,其数量是大肠杆菌的4倍之多,fadD家族也是众多脂质代谢基因中的一类,在细菌的生命周期或者在其致病中扮演着重要的角色。本文对结核分枝杆菌fadD家族蛋白结构、作用机制、调控和应用前景进行了综述,希望能为结核疫苗、诊断方法等的研发提供理论基础。     

双组分系统CpxR影响禽致病性大肠杆菌的耐药性、抗血清杀菌能力及毒力

CpxR是细菌中Cpx双组分系统（two component system,TCS）的反应调控蛋白,通过调控靶基因的转录表达,在细菌细胞膜稳定及毒力方面发挥作用。本研究旨在探究TCS CpxR对禽致病性大肠杆菌（avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC）基本生物学特性、抗血清杀菌能力及致病性的影响。利用Red同源重组系统及互补质粒构建cpxR基因缺失株、互补株,然后比较分析野生株、基因缺失株与互补株的生长曲线、运动性、生物被膜形成能力、药物敏感性、抗血清杀菌能力、动物致病性的差异。结果显示：cpxR基因缺失株与野生株、互补株的生长速度和运动性能无明显差异,且缺失cpxR基因不影响APEC的生物被膜形成能力。然而,缺失CpxR导致APEC对阿米卡星和卡那霉素耐药性降低。血清杀菌试验结果显示,CpxR有助于APEC的抗血清杀菌能力。动物感染试验结果显示,野生株、cpxR基因缺失株和互补株对雏鸭的半数致死量（LD₅₀）分别为7.50×10⁵、7.50×10⁶、1.33×10⁶ CFU,表明CpxR缺失显著降低APEC的毒力。综上表明,TCS CpxR在APEC耐药性、抗血清杀菌能力及毒力方面发挥作用,为阐明APEC的环境适应性、生存能力及致病机制提供参考。     

猪链球菌3型疫苗候选菌株筛选及3＋9型二价灭活疫苗对小鼠免疫效果评估

【目的】 筛选猪链球菌血清3型疫苗候选菌株,制备猪链球菌3＋9型二价灭活疫苗并评估其在BALB/c小鼠上的免疫保护效果。【方法】 从发病猪病料中分离猪链球菌血清3型菌株,通过蜡螟幼虫和BALB/c小鼠模型筛选出强毒株作为疫苗候选菌株,并对候选菌株进行生物学特性研究。将筛选得到的3型疫苗候选菌株和前期筛选的9型疫苗候选菌株灭活浓缩,使其抗原浓度为2×10¹⁰ CFU/mL,无菌检测后将浓缩抗原液按1：1配比混合,再混合抗原与Summit Poly Solution佐剂按4：1比例混合,制备猪链球菌3＋9型二价灭活疫苗,疫苗中猪链球菌血清3和9型含菌量均为2×10⁹ CFU/mL。将制备的疫苗免疫6周龄BALB/c小鼠,首免后第14天进行二免,二免后第14天进行攻毒。同时设立商品化疫苗免疫组和阴性对照组,评估疫苗的安全性和免疫保护效果。【结果】 PCR鉴定结果显示,23株临床分离株均为血清3型猪链球菌,依次命名为KQ3-1~KQ3-23。分别通过蜡螟和小鼠进行初筛和复筛,筛选到强毒株KQ3-1。毒力基因检测显示,该菌株基因型为gapdh^＋/sly^＋/fbps^-/orf2^-/mrp^-/89K^-/gdh^＋/epf^-;生长曲线显示,该菌株在37 ℃培养8~10 h时生长达到对数生长后期;BALB/c小鼠致病性结果显示,腹腔接种12 h内可引起小鼠精神萎靡、扎堆、毛发耸立、运动迟缓、死亡等临床症状,该菌株的LD₅₀为5.2×10⁷ CFU/只。制备的疫苗免疫小鼠后,小鼠精神状况、采食等均正常,疫苗注射部位无肿胀、硬块等不良反应,无死亡发生,表明该疫苗具有良好的安全性。免疫后进行猪链球菌血清2型菌株ZYS、猪链球菌血清3型菌株KQ3-1和猪链球菌血清9型菌株YT攻毒,对照组死亡率分别为90%、100%和100%,猪链球菌3＋9型二价灭活疫苗免疫组保护率分别为30%、80%和70%,商品化疫苗组的保护效果分别为70%、0和10%。【结论】 本研究研制的疫苗能对猪链球菌血清3和9型强毒株提供良好的免疫保护,该疫苗具备疫苗市场开发的潜在价值。     

环介导等温扩增法检测牛奶中结核分枝杆菌条件的优化

为优化环介导等温扩增（loop-mediated isothermal amplification,LAMP）法检测牛奶中结核分枝杆菌的条件,以结核分枝杆菌高度保守的16S rRNA基因为靶基因设计3对特异性引物（F3-B3、FIP-BIP、FLP-BLP）进行试验。比较改良后的CATB/NaCl法、细菌基因组DNA提取试剂盒及热裂解法提取其DNA的效率,确定最佳的提取方法。用灭菌处理过的牛奶对结核分枝杆菌悬液进行倍比稀释以确定该检测方法的敏感度。以牛奶中常见的布鲁氏菌、大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、李斯特菌、巴氏杆菌、沙门氏菌为对照,对该方法进行特异性测试。结果表明,改良后的CTAB/NaCl法对牛奶中结核分枝杆菌DNA的提取效果要优于其他两种方法。LAMP法检测结核分枝杆菌的灵敏度为3×10⁰ CFU/mL,对人工阳性乳中结核分枝杆菌检测的灵敏度为3×10¹ CFU/mL。     

A/E大肠杆菌疫苗动物模型的建立

致病性和出血性大肠杆菌 (代表株 EPEC E2 34 8和 EHEC O15 7)是婴幼儿腹泻、出血性结肠炎和尿路感染综合征 (尿毒症 )的主要病原菌 ,它们同属于粘附脱落 (Attaching/ Effacing,A/ E)大肠杆菌群 ,具有许多共同的毒力基因 ,定位于致病岛 L EE(the locus of enterocyte effacement)上。本试验主要就 A/ E大肠杆菌致病岛 L EE的 2个主要调节基因 lux和 ler基因对细菌致病性和免疫原性的影响进行了研究。所使用的始发菌株为兔致病性大肠杆菌 RDEC- 1,根据同源重组的原理 ,利用自杀性载体 p CVD44 2技术 ,敲除了位于染色体上的 lux和 ler基因 ,构建了 lux和 ler基因缺失突变株 ,研究了这 2个基因对细菌生长、毒力因子表达的调控作用以及基因缺失突变株的致病性和免疫保护作用。家兔实验研究表明 ,lux基因缺失突变株仍然残存着部分致病作用 ,不足以成为理想的致弱疫苗 ;而 ler基因缺失突变株安全性好 ,具有良好的免疫保护作用 ,是理想的家兔致弱疫苗候选株。这些研究资料为人 A/ E大肠杆菌疫苗 ,尤其是 EHEC O15 7疫苗的研制指明了方向 ,并提供了技术路线。     

牛种布鲁氏菌ClpS基因突变株的构建及其对毒力的影响

试验旨在探究ClpS基因在布鲁氏菌中的作用,分析比较ClpS基因突变对布鲁氏菌毒力的影响。利用同源重组技术,构建布鲁氏菌ClpS基因突变株,通过检测细菌生长曲线、细菌LPS合成能力及其在巨噬细胞内的存活能力和小鼠模型中的毒力,比较亲本株2308和突变株ΔClpS两者之间的差异。结果显示,在相同的培养条件下,亲本株2308和突变株ΔClpS的细菌浓度无明显差异,且两者提取的LPS银染结果基本一致,表明ClpS基因突变不影响布鲁氏菌生长速度,不影响细菌LPS合成;在细胞感染模型中,突变株ΔClpS在感染后72 h的胞内存活能力极显著低于亲本株2308（P<0.01）;小鼠感染试验显示,在感染后1周,亲本株2308感染组和突变株ΔClpS感染组小鼠脾脏重量及细菌含量无显著差异,但在感染后4周,突变株ΔClpS感染组的小鼠脾脏细菌含量为10^3.93 CFU/g脾脏,显著低于亲本株2308（10^6.68 CFU/g脾脏,P<0.01）,且突变株ΔClpS感染组的小鼠脾脏肿胀程度极显著低于亲本株2308（P<0.01）。综上所述,布鲁氏菌ClpS基因突变不影响细菌生长速度及细菌LPS合成能力,但ClpS基因突变可降低布鲁氏菌在小鼠脾脏内的定殖能力。     

phoP/Q双组分系统对禽致病性大肠杆菌的毒力调控作用

phoP/Q作为一种外在环境感受器,参与调节细菌对外部环境的适应性。本研究拟探讨phoP/Q双组分系统对禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)的生长、定植、毒力等生物学特性的影响。利用Red重组系统构建APEC AE 17株的phoP/Q双组分调控系统缺失株,并构建phoP/Q双组分调控系统回复质粒,转化缺失株,构建回复株。通过生长运动性试验、黏附入侵CEF细胞试验、毒力基因转录水平检测以及半数致死量(LD50)等试验比较野生株、缺失株、回复株的生物特性。与野生株相比,phoP-phoQ缺失不改变其生长特性;运动性较野生株下降63%;黏附与入侵CEF细胞能力分别降低69.83%(P0.01)和62.17%(P0.05);LD50显示毒力减弱13.3倍;polA、tsh基因转录水平分别上调41%、54%;sodA、iss分别下调64%和98%。phoP/Q双组分系统参与对APEC致病性的调控,该系统的缺失会降低APEC的致病性。     

猫疱疹病毒Ⅰ型HB株的分离鉴定及其免疫原性初步评价

从疑似患猫鼻气管炎的幼猫鼻拭子样品分离到1株猫疱疹病毒(FHV-HB),对该分离株进行了形态学、血清学、免疫原性和动物回归试验分析。结果显示,分离毒株FHV-HB在电镜下具有疱疹病毒粒子的典型形态特点。第5代细胞培养物的病毒滴度为10^7.5 TCID₅₀/mL,灭活后免疫猫并进行攻毒试验,免疫组猫全部存活,对照组猫全部发病甚至死亡。结果表明本试验分离到的FHV-HB株免疫原性较好,并且具有较强的毒力,既可作为疫苗生产用候选毒株,也可作为疫苗评价用候选毒株,为猫鼻气管炎疫苗研发提供毒种和科学依据。     

一株1型非洲马瘟疫苗毒种的初步鉴定

为做好非洲马瘟疫苗的储备性研究,以更好应对我国周边地区非洲马瘟疫情传入风险,对中国兽医微生物菌种保藏管理中心的一株1型非洲马瘟病毒鼠脑组织毒进行了复壮和细胞适应性培养,并对其病毒含量、特异性、对小鼠毒力等进行测定。结果显示,该毒种在Vero细胞连续传代至F10代后病变产生明显,病毒含量可稳定在10^6.5 TCID₅₀/0.1mL以上;对小鼠毒力表现稳定,细胞适应毒也可达10^6.5 LD₅₀/0.1mL。根据OIE参考引物进行RT-PCR鉴定,序列比对证实该毒株为血清1型,与泰国毒株THA2020/01拥有99.7%的同源性。血清学试验结果表明,该毒株可被非洲马瘟1型特异性血清中和。本研究获得了一株Vero细胞适应毒,可作为良好的疫苗毒株候选株,适用于规模化生产,为疫苗储备奠定良好基础。     

Role of PhoPR in the response to stress of Mycobacterium bovis

PhoP is part of the two-component PhoPR system that regulates the expression of virulence genes of Mycobacteria. The goal of this work was to elucidate the role of PhoP in the mechanism that Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, displays upon stress. An analysis of gene expression and acidic growth curves indicated that M. bovis neutralized the external acidic environment by inducing and secreting ammonia. We found that PhoP is essential for ammonia production/secretion and its role in this process seems to be the induction of asparaginase and urease expression. We also demonstrated that the lack of PhoP negatively affected the synthesis of phthiocerol dimycocerosates. This finding is consistent with the role of the lipid anabolism in maintaining the redox environment upon stress in mycobacteria. Altogether the results of this study indicate that PhoP plays an important role in the response mechanisms to stress of M. bovis.     

Paradigm shifts in vaccine development: lessons learned about antigenicity,pathogenicity and virulence of Brucellae

As part of a program to support the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Bovine Brucellosis Eradication Program, the Brucellosis Research Unit of the National Animal Disease Center (NADC) sought to develop a bovine brucellosis vaccine that would allow vaccinated animals to be distinguished from virulent field infected animals. In order to meet that goal, several avenues of research were undertaken to construct and test candidate vaccines, including Brucella abortus RB51. In early vaccine development studies, a subunit preparation obtained by extracting B. abortus with salts was studied as a candidate subunit vaccine. Later, molecular biological techniques were used both to clone genes encoding products found in the salt extract (BCSP31 and Cu–Zn SOD) and genes encoding proteins of B. abortus that were antigenic (HtrA) or possibly essential (two-component systems) for full virulence of B. abortus. In vitro systems using mammalian cells lines such as HeLa and macrophage-related were used along with the mouse model and host animal models. Results obtained at NADC and in other Brucellosis research laboratories, using survival in mammalian cell lines and the mouse model to access pathogenicity and virulence of genetically engineered strains, do not necessarily identify loci that are essential for full virulence or pathogenicity in the natural host, the bovine. Studies at NADC and other brucellosis laboratories showed that antigenicity was not a predictor of the effectiveness of a protein as a subunit vaccine.     

Systematic mutation analysis of two-component signal transduction systems reveals EsrA-EsrB and PhoP-PhoQ as the major virulence regulators in Edwardsiella tarda

Edwardsiella tarda is a Gram-negative broad-host-range pathogen that causes hemorrhagic septicemia in many commercially important fish species. Its ability to adapt to and thrive in diverse environments outside and inside of its hosts prompts us to investigate the roles of the previously identified 33 putative two-component signal transduction systems (TCSs) in E. tarda. In this work, we successfully constructed deletion mutations in each of the response regulator genes, suggesting that none of the TCSs are essential for cell viability in E. tarda. The mutants were further examined for roles in biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, stress response, expression and secretion of proteins involved in either the type III secretion system (T3SS) or type VI secretion system (T6SS), as well as virulence. Through these assays, we identified four regulators of biofilm development, two regulators of antibiotic resistance, and four regulators involved in stress responses. We found that two regulators, EsrB and PhoP, are essential for the pathogenicity of E. tarda and further demonstrated that these two regulators have codependent and independent contributions to E. tarda virulence. Mutation of EsrB resulted in the complete loss of both the T3SS and T6SS proteins, while PhoP partially regulated the expression of T3SS and T6SS genes through EsrB, and was essential for resistance to antimicrobial peptides. This work suggested that these two response regulators are involved in the regulation of the complex virulence network of this bacterium and merit as candidate genes for live attenuated vaccine construction.     

牛结核病新型疫苗的研究现状

在过去的20年里,人们应用分子生物学技术来研制更为有效的结核病疫苗,新型候选疫苗大量涌现。这些新型疫苗主要包括减毒活疫苗、重组活疫苗、亚单位疫苗和核酸疫苗。对防制牛结核病的各种新型疫苗也进行了相应的研究,并取得了令人振奋的进展。各种新型疫苗各有优缺点。目前看来,重组卡介苗和DNA疫苗被认为是最有前途的候选疫苗。但是,所有候选疫苗共同的也是致命的缺点是免疫保护力低。因此,牛结核病疫苗研制的主要努力方向还是在研究分支杆菌免疫机制和免疫失败原因的基础上,进一步增强现有候选疫苗的免疫效力或研制更为有效的新型疫苗。     

A mycolyl transferase mutant of Rhodococcus equi lacking capsule integrity is fully virulent

Rhodococcus equi is a mucoid Gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen which can cause severe bronchopneumonia in foals and AIDS patients. A polysaccharide capsule which gives R. equi a mucoid appearance has long been suspected to be a virulence factor. Here, we describe a transposome mutant in the gene fbpA of strain R. equi 103 causing absence of a capsular structure. FbpA is a chromosomal gene homologous to antigen 85 (Ag85) mycolyl chain transferase gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The mutant multiplied normally in isolated macrophages, was able to establish the unusual R. equi-containing vacuole in macrophages, was cytotoxic for macrophages, and was virulent in a mouse model. Colonies had a dry appearance on nutrient agar and defective capsule structure. Surprisingly, fbpA mutants cured of the virulence-associated plasmid were found in a phagosome that was more alkaline than that of the corresponding wild-type bacteria, were more cytotoxic and even multiplied to some extent. This study suggests that the capsule is not an important virulence factor of R. equi and that it may even counteract virulence traits.     

A DNA vaccine encoding MPB83 from Mycobacterium bovis reduces M. bovis dissemination to the kidneys of mice and is expressed in primary cell cultures of the European badger (Meles meles)

Nucleic acid (DNA) vaccination against tuberculosis in the European badger (Meles meles) is one approach to addressing the escalating problem of bovine tuberculosis in Great Britain. The aim of vaccination is to reduce the burden of tuberculosis within the badger population and the shedding of Mycobacterium bovis to levels that would break the transmission of infection to cattle. To this end, the vaccine would be required to limit the amount of disseminated tuberculosis in the badger, especially dissemination to the kidney from where M. bovis can be shed in the urine. A promising candidate DNA vaccine encoding a 26 kDa major antigen (MPB83) of M. bovis was evaluated in a mouse model of disseminated M. bovis infection. Using the DNA vaccine, protection against infection of the kidney was found to be greater than that achieved with the current live vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Kidney tissue and skeletal muscle from the badger was used to derive primary cell cultures in which to examine the expression of MPB83 following transfection with the DNA vaccine. Kidney cortex gave rise to a monotypic culture of epithelial cells whilst the muscle gave rise to a mixed culture of fibroblasts and myoblasts. During culture the myoblasts differentiated into multinucleated myotubes, verified by immunofluorescent detection of mammalian desmin. Successful expression of MPB83 by transfected epithelial and myotube cells was confirmed by immunofluorescence using a monoclonal antibody specific to the protein. These observations fulfil the early requirements for the development of a DNA vaccine for badger tuberculosis.     

Study on Optimization of the Conditions of Detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Milk by Technique of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification

To optimize the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in milk,the highly conservative 16S rRNA gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was selected as a target to design specific primers.Compared the modified method of CATB/NaCl,bacterial genome DNA extraction kit and thermal cracking method to extract the DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis,the best approach was chosen.Mycobacterium tuberculosis suspension liquid was diluted with sterilization milk to confirm the susceptibility of this assay.And then Brucella,Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus,Listeria monocytogenes,Bacillus pasteurii and Salmonella were used for specificity detection.The results showed that the modified method of CATB/NaCl was better than the others.The sensitivity of LAMP was 3×10⁰ CFU/mL,and the specificity was 100%.The sensitivity of detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in milk by LAMP was 3×10¹ CFU/mL.     

New generation vaccines and delivery systems for control of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and wildlife

Advances in the understanding of protective immune responses to tuberculosis are providing opportunities for the rational development of improved vaccines for bovine tuberculosis. Protection requires activation of macrophages through stimulation of a Th 1 type immune response. Ideally, a vaccine for cattle should induce protection without causing animals to react in a tuberculin test when exposed to Mycobacterium bovis. A number of new tuberculosis vaccines including attenuated M. bovis strains, killed mycobacteria, protein and DNA vaccines have been developed and many of these are being assessed in cattle. The requirements for a tuberculosis vaccine for wildlife differ from those for cattle. The major goal of a wildlife vaccine is to prevent the transmission of M. bovis to cattle and other wildlife. Although there are a number of technical problems associated with the development of a vaccine delivery system for wildlife, attenuated M. bovis vaccines administered via oral baits or aerosol spray to possums have already been shown to reduce the severity of a subsequent M. bovis infection.     

结核分支杆菌HSP65 DNA疫苗的制备和重组蛋白的原核表达

结核分支杆菌分子量为65ku的热应激蛋白(HSP65)是一种非常重要的抗原，为了研制结核病核酸疫苗，构建编码HSP65DNA，并将其分别克隆到原核和真核载体中进行了表达。以标准结核分支杆菌H37Rv基因组DNA为模板，用PCR法扩增出HSP65基因，经限制性内切酶消化后，插入真核表达栽体pJW4303中，获得重组质粒pJW-HSP65。同时将HSP65基因插入原核表达栽体pET-22b( )，获得重组质粒pET22b-HSP65。将pET22b-HSP65重组质粒转化大肠杆菌蛋白酶缺陷型菌株BL21(DE3)／PolysS，用IPTG诱导，进行蛋白表达。结果表明，经酶切鉴定和序列测定证实插入片断为目的基因HSP65，构建成功了真核重组质粒pJW-HSP65即可作为结核病DNA疫苗。经SDS-PAGE检验证明可以在大肠杆菌细胞中高效表达，将表达蛋白进行纯化，作为保护性结核杆菌抗原以便检测HSP65DNA疫苗的免疫效果。