OtpR regulated the growth, cell morphology of B. melitensis and tolerance to β-lactam agents

The intracellular pathogen, Brucella melitensis, possesses an operon with two components: otpR (BMEI0066), which encodes a response regulator, and BMEI0067, which encodes a putative cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunit. Previous studies have shown that a polar mutation in the BMEI0066 gene significantly decreased virulence and stress tolerance in Brucella. In this study, we constructed non-polar mutant with deletion of otpR, as well as its complementary strain to further investigate the function of otpR. The ΔotpR mutant produced smaller colonies on TSA plates, and grew slower in tryptic soy broth compared to 16M or the otpR-complemented strain CotpR. Electron microscopy revealed that ΔotpR displayed an unusual, irregular deformation of the cell surface in contrast to the native coccobacillus shape of 16M. These results showed that OtpR played a key role in the maintenance of cell shape. To determine the effect of the otpR mutant on antibiotic susceptibility, compared the parent strain, the mutant was two- to eight-fold more susceptible to all the β-lactam antibiotics tested. Furthermore, comparative real-time qPCR of genes that related to penicillin binding proteins of cell wall synthesis and cell division showed that the otpR mutation resulted in reduced expression of pbp1C, pbp6B, pbp6C and ftsQ. Taken together, these data revealed that the OtpR activity is necessary for growth, and cell morphology and tolerance to β-lactam agents of B. melitensis.     

稳定分泌抗羊种布鲁菌脂多糖单克隆抗体细胞株的筛选与应用

研制抗羊种布鲁菌脂多糖抗原的单克隆抗体,并应用其建立检测布病的双夹心ELISA方法。本研究采用热酚水法提纯羊种布鲁菌(16M菌株)的脂多糖抗原,并经SDS-PAGE鉴定。用脂多糖和灭活的羊种布鲁菌16M作为免疫抗原,交替免疫6～8周龄BALB/c雌鼠,第1次免疫用羊种布鲁菌标准菌16M全菌加等量弗氏完全佐剂;第2次免疫用脂多糖加等量弗氏不完全佐剂。将脂多糖作为包被抗原建立间接ELISA方法,筛选针对抗羊种布鲁菌(16M菌株)脂多糖的单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞株。筛选出3株能稳定分泌抗羊种布鲁菌脂多糖单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株,分别命名为5H3、6B8和3H7,细胞培养上清的ELISA效价在1∶1 000～1∶5 000,小鼠腹水单克隆抗体ELISA效价在1∶10 000～1∶160 000;抗体亚类鉴定表明:5H3、6B8属于IgM亚类,3H7属于IgG3亚类;特异性试验结果显示:3株杂交瘤细胞分泌的抗体不与大肠杆菌O157裂解抗原、鸡白痢沙门氏菌裂解抗原、鸭源鸡杆菌脂多糖抗原以及福氏志贺菌裂解抗原反应,仅与灭活的羊种布鲁菌(16M)发生反应。布鲁菌虎红平板凝集试验和试管凝集试验检测结果显示,获得的单抗可与标准检测抗原形成明显的颗粒凝集物和伞状凝集物。利用所建立的单克隆抗体细胞株,建立了一种检测布鲁菌的双夹心间接ELISA方法,并进行了特异性和敏感性检测。对模拟样品和临床样品进行检测,准确性均很高。     

Brucella melitensis 16M: characterisation of the galE gene and mouse immunisation studies with a galE deficient mutant

The galE gene of Streptomyces lividans was used to probe a cosmid library harbouring Brucella melitensis 16M DNA and the nucleotide sequence of a 2.5 kb ClaI fragment which hybridised was determined. An open reading frame encoding a predicted polypeptide with significant homology to UDP-galactose-4-epimerases of Brucella arbortus strain 2308 and other bacterial species was identified. DNA sequences flanking the B. melitensis galE gene shared no identity with other gal genes and, as for B. abortus, were located adjacent to a mazG homologue. A plasmid which encoded the B. melitensis galE open reading frame complemented a galE mutation in Salmonella typhimurium LB5010, as shown by the restoration of smooth lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis, sensitivity to phage P22 infection and restoration of UDP-galactose-4-epimerase activity. The galE gene on the B. melitensis 16M chromosome was disrupted by insertional inactivation and these mutants lacked UDP-galactose-4-epimerase activity but no discernible differences in LPS structure between parent and the mutants were observed. One B. melitensis 16M galE mutant, Bm92, was assessed for virulence in CD-1 and BALB/c mice and displayed similar kinetics of invasion and persistence in tissues compared with the parent bacterial strain. CD-1 mice immunised with B. melitensis 16M galE were protected against B. melitensis 16M challenge.     

The characteristics of a variant strain of Brucella melitensis Rev 1

Circumstantial evidence is presented for the occurrence of a variant of a vaccine strain of B. melitensis Rev 1, designated "FSA" (foreign South African). FSA resembles Rev 1 in its reactions to penicillin and streptomycin but reacts closer to a field strain of B. melitensis as regards dye (thionine and basic fuchsin) sensitivity and colony size. Although colonies of Rev 1 were consistently smaller than other B. melitensis strains, their size was 0,75 mm as opposed to the 1-2 mm reported in the literature, while B. melitensis 16M colonies were 1,25-1,5 mm as opposed to the 3-4 mm previously reported. Rev 1 was found to be urease positive, unless a test of low sensitivity was applied.     

布鲁氏菌弱毒疫苗粘膜免疫及检测方法的研究

为研究布鲁氏菌弱毒疫苗粘膜免疫及其检测方法,本实验采用粘膜点眼途径对健康母羊接种布鲁氏杆菌猪2号疫苗(S2)、牛19号疫苗(A19)和羊强毒株(M16),筛选布鲁氏杆菌病鉴别检测方法。将12月龄～14月龄母羊60只随机分为3组,以常规疫苗推荐剂量进行半量粘膜点眼接种。采集血液、淋巴、脏器进行布鲁氏菌病血清学检测和细菌学分离以及PCR检测。结果表明:布鲁氏菌弱毒疫苗抗体水平持续6个月,其中血清学的试管凝集试验、半胱氨酸凝集试验与补体结合试验的阳性符合率达到100%。细菌分离期为6个月,乳腺、乳腺淋巴、髂淋巴分离率较高;而强毒株M16的抗体水平和细菌分离持续12个月以上。结果显示以常规血清学和细菌学检测方法在点眼免疫布鲁氏菌S2、A19苗6个月后可以进行野毒感染和疫苗免疫畜的鉴别诊断。     

Pathogenicity and protective activity in pregnant goats of a Brucella melitensis Deltaomp25 deletion mutant

The Brucella melitensis mutant BM 25, which lacks the major 25 kDa outer membrane protein Omp25, has previously been found to be attenuated in the murine brucellosis model. In the present study, the capacity of the Deltaomp25 mutant to colonise and cause abortions in the caprine host was evaluated. The vaccine potential of BM 25 was also investigated in goats. Inoculation of nine pregnant goats in late gestation with the B. melitensis mutant resulted in 0/9 abortions, while the virulent parental strain, B. melitensis 16M, induced 6/6 dams to abort (P<0.001, n=6). BM 25 also colonised fewer adults (P<0.05, n=6) and kids (P<0.01, n=6) than strain 16M. The Deltaomp25 mutant was found capable of transient in vivo colonisation of non-pregnant goats for two weeks post-infection. Owing to the ability of BM 25 to colonise both non-pregnant and pregnant adults without inducing abortions, a vaccine efficacy study was performed. Vaccination of goats prior to breeding with either BM 25 or the current caprine vaccine B. melitensis strain Rev. 1 resulted in 100 per cent protection against abortion following challenge in late gestation with virulent strain 16M (P<0.05, n=7). However, unlike strain Rev. 1, BM 25 does not appear to cause abortions in late gestation based on this study with a small number of animals. The B. melitensis Deltaomp25 mutant, BM 25, may be a safe and efficacious alternative to strain Rev. 1 when dealing with goat herds of mixed age and pregnancy status.     

Use of hydrophobic cloths as antibody adsorbents for enzyme immunoassay: detection of Brucella antigens

A cloth-ELISA (C-ELISA) antigen capture assay for the detection of Brucella melitensis and B. abortus was developed. Segments (6-mm squares) of hydrophobic polyester cloth coated with diluted serum from a B. abortus-infected cow were incubated with saline suspensions of heat-killed Brucella cells, or with cultures of bovine or sheep blood or bovine tissue homogenates that had been inoculated with B. abortus or B. melitensis added to trypticase soy broth (TSB) and incubated for 2-3 days. The captured antigen was detected by a bovine anti-Brucella antibody-horseradish peroxidase conjugate system. The enrichment culture technique detected as few as three Brucella colony-forming units (c.f.u.) in 0.5 ml of bovine blood and was positive in cultures in which the Brucella concentration had reached 3 X 10(6) c.f.u. ml-1 (after 2 or 3 days incubation). The combined enrichment-cloth-ELISA method gave complete correlation with cultural isolation and results were available 3 days before colonies appeared in conventional culture. Hydrophobic cloths have potential use in diagnostic procedures since they provide simple, rapid and economical assays.     

Bacteriologic and histologic features in mice after intranasal inoculation of Brucella melitensis

OBJECTIVE: To characterize effects of intranasal inoculation of virulent Brucella melitensis strain 16M in mice. ANIMALS: Female Balb/c mice, 6 to 8 weeks old. PROCEDURE: Studies were designed to elucidate gross morphologic lesions, bacterial burden in target organs, and histologic changes in tissues following experimental intranasal inoculation of mice with B melitensis 16M, which could be used to characterize a model for testing vaccine efficacy. RESULTS: Measurable splenomegaly was evident at 3 and 7 weeks after inoculation. A demonstrable increase in splenic colony-forming units (CFU) from infected mice increased over time with increasing dose when comparing inocula of 10(3), 10(4), and 10(5) CFU. Recovery of brucellae from the lungs was possible early in infection with 10(1), 10(3), and 10(5) CFU, but only the group inoculated with 10(5) CFU consistently yielded quantifiable bacteria. At a dose of 10 CFU, few organisms were located in the spleen. Bacteria were recovered up to 140 days after inoculation in mice given 10(3) CFU. At an inoculum of 10(5) CFU, bacterial counts were highest early in infection. Histologic examination of tissues revealed an increase in white pulp and marginal zone in the spleen and lymphohistiocytic hepatitis. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Changes in the spleen and liver increased with increases in dose and with increased time following intranasal inoculation with B melitensis 16M. Surprisingly, histologic changes were not observed in the lungs of inoculated mice.     

The bovine immune response to Brucella abortus IV. Studies with a double immunodiffusion test for antibody against A2.

A double immunodiffusion test for precipitins against Brucella antigen A2 was developed and applied to a variety of samples. The A2 precipitins were produced by a heifer infected with B. abortus strain 2308, cattle vaccinated with killed B. melitensis strain H38 or live B. abortus strain 19 and by a dog infected with B. canis. Precipitins were also detected in the second International Standard for anti-Brucella abortus serum, in several anti-B. canis sera and at low levels in one anti-B. ovis serum tested. Antisera produced in calves against Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 0:9 had no anti-A2 activity despite titers greater than or equal to 1/1024 and greater than or equal to 1/80 in standard Brucella agglutination and CF tests, respectively. The test for A2 precipitins lacked specificity as weak reactions were obtained with five of 295 sera from brucellosis-free herds. This test was relatively insensitive, detecting precipitins in only 16 of 24 sera from infected cattle and 27 of 54 sera positive by complement fixation and enzyme labelled antiglobulin tests performed with whole cell and smooth lipopolysaccharide antigens, respectively. The A2 precipitins were detected in nine sera from five cattle, in two infected herds, which were negative by agglutination and complement fixation tests.     

布鲁氏菌omp28基因的克隆、表达及反应原性分析

本研究克隆了羊种布鲁氏菌16M株、羊种布鲁氏菌M28株、犬种布鲁氏菌、绵羊附睾种布鲁氏菌、牛种布鲁氏菌A19株、猪种布鲁氏菌S2株的omp28基因并对以上不同种菌株的omp28基因序列及编码的氨基酸序列进行了比对,结果显示不同种布鲁氏菌omp28基因之间仅6个碱基不同,而且只有2个氨基酸不同,亲水性分析结果显示两处氨基酸的差异对蛋白亲水性不造成影响.将羊种布鲁氏菌16M的omp28基因亚克隆到pET32a中表达,OMP28在低温下诱导以可溶性形式高效表达.Westem-blot结果显示OMP28反应原性良好,是布鲁氏菌病诊断抗原的可能选择.     

Effect of culture media and incubation temperature on growth of selected strains of Francisella tularensis.

The rate and amount of growth of 4 field isolates and reference strain ATCC 6223 of Francisella tularensis were evaluated on isolation media with 2 different agar bases and with different supplements and incubated at 25 C, 35 C, and 42 C. Biochemical reactions on conventional differential media with and without cysteine were evaluated. Two of the field isolates and the reference strain were F. tularensis subspecies tularensis (formerly biovar tularensis or Type A), and 2 isolates were subspecies holarctica (formerly subspecies palaearctica or Type B). Bacto cystine heart blood agar supplemented with 1% hemoglobin, glucose cystine heart blood agar, and brain-heart infusion blood agar supported good growth of all 4 field strains, with the most luxuriant growth occurring on Bacto cystine heart blood agar with hemoglobin. Heart infusion blood agar and trypticase soy blood agar supported growth of the field isolates, although growth was diminished and delayed. Strain 6223 was distinctly fastidious and failed to grow on heart infusion or trypticase soy blood agars. Growth of strain 6223 was best on Bacto cystine heart blood agar with hemoglobin. The agar base did not affect growth unless the supplements became limiting, in which case Bacto agar base generally supported growth better than BiTek agar base. Incubation at 35 C was optimum for all 5 strains. Growth at 42 C was slow, with the greatest decrease in the rate and amount of growth occurring with field isolates of F. tularensis subspecies tularensis. Strain 6223 did not grow at 25 C, and the 4 field isolates grew slowly at the lower temperature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The 16MΔvjbR as an ideal live attenuated vaccine candidate for differentiation between Brucella vaccination and infection

Brucellosis brings great economic burdens for developing countries. Live attenuated vaccines are the most efficient means for prevention and control of animal Brucellosis. However, the difficulties of differentiating of infection from vaccine immunization, which is essential for eradication programs, limit their applications. Therefore, the development of a vaccine that could differentiate infection from immunization will overcome the limitations and get extensive application. VjbR is a quorum sensing regulator involving in Brucella's intracellular survival. The vjbR∷Tn5 mutants have been proven effective against wild type strain challenge, implying its possibility of use in vaccine candidate development. To further evaluate this candidate gene, in the present study, the antigenicity of purified recombinant VjbR protein was analyzed. Antibodies to Brucella melitensis VjbR could be detected in sera from patients and animals with brucellosis but not in control ones, implying the potential use of this protein as a diagnostic antigen. Then a vjbR mutant of B. melitensis 16M was constructed by replacing the vjbR with kanamycin gene. The mutant showed reduced survival in macrophage and mice. Vaccination of BALB/c mice with 16MΔvjbR conferred significant protective immunity against B. melitensis strain 16M challenges, being equivalent to which induced by the license vaccine Rev.1. The vjbR deletion mutant elicited an anti-Brucella-specific immunoglobulin G response and induced the secretion of gamma interferon and interleukin-10. The most importance is that, the use of vjbR mutants as vaccines in association with diagnostic tests based on the VjbR antigen would allow the serological differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. These results suggest that 16MΔvjbR is an ideal live attenuated vaccine candidate against B. melitensis and deserves further evaluation for vaccine development.     

Brucella species lacking the major outer membrane protein Omp25 are attenuated in mice and protect against Brucella melitensis and Brucella ovis

To aid in the development of novel efficacious vaccines against brucellosis, Omp25 was examined as a potential candidate. To determine the role of Omp25 in virulence, mutants were created with Brucella abortus (BA25), Brucella melitensis (BM25), and Brucella ovis (BO25) which contain disruptions in the omp25 gene (Deltaomp25 mutants). Western immunoblot analysis and PCR verified that the Omp25 protein was not expressed and that the omp25 gene was disrupted in each strain. BALB/c mice infected with B. abortus BA25 or B. melitensis BM25 showed a significant decrease in mean CFU/spleen at 18 and 4 weeks post-infection, respectively, when compared to the virulent parental strain (P<0.05, n=5). Mice infected with B. ovis BO25 had significantly lower mean CFU/spleen counts from 1 to 8 weeks post-infection, at which point the mutant was cleared from the spleens (P<0.01, n=5). Murine vaccination with either BM25 or the current caprine vaccine B. melitensis strain Rev. 1 resulted in more than a 2log(10) reduction in bacterial load following challenge with virulent B. melitensis (P<0.01, n=5). Vaccination of mice with the B. ovis mutant resulted in clearance of the challenge strain and provided 2.5log(10) greater protection against virulent B. ovis than vaccine strain Rev. 1. Based on these data, the B. melitensis and B. ovis Deltaomp25 mutants are interesting vaccine candidates that are currently under study in our laboratory for their safety and efficacy in small ruminants.     

Biological properties of RB51; a stable rough strain of Brucella abortus

A rifampin-resistant mutant of Brucella abortus, designated RB51, was derived by repeated passage of strain 2308 on Trypticase soy supplemented with 1.5% agar and varying concentrations rifampin or penicillin. The RB51 colonies absorbed crystal violet and RB51 cell suspensions autoagglutinated, indicating a rough type colonial morphology for this strain. No O-chain component was detected in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from RB51 on SDS-PAGE gels stained with silver. Western blot analysis with the monoclonal antibody BRU 38, which is specific for the perosamine homopolymer O-chain of smooth Brucella LPS, indicated that the LPS of RB51 is highly deficient in O-chain when compared with the parenteral smooth strain 2308 or rough strain 45/20. Biochemically, RB51 resembles parental strain 2308 in its ability to utilize erythritol. Intraperitoneal inoculation of RB51 into mice results in a splenic colonization which is cleared within four weeks post infection. RB51 does not revert to smooth colony morphology upon passage in vivo (mice) or in vitro. Mice infected with RB51 produce antibodies against B. abortus antigens including class 2 and 3 outer membrane proteins but not against the O-chain. Furthermore, rabbits, goats and cattle hyperimmunized with sonicates of RB51 develop antibodies to B. abortus cellular antigens but do not develop antibodies specific for the O-chain. Immunization of mice with 1 x 10(8) viable RB51 organisms confers significant protection against challenge with virulent B. abortus strain 2308.     

Antigenic variation among transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine respiratory coronavirus strains detected with monoclonal antibodies to the S protein of TGEV.

Five nonneutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAb) generated to the virulent Miller strain of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and specific for the S protein were characterized. Competition assays between purified and biotinylated MAb indicated that MAb 75B10 and 8G11 mapped near a new subsite, designated V and 2 MAb, 44C11 and 45A8, mapped to a previously designated subsite D. A fifth MAb mapped between subsites V and E. These MAb were tested with 3 previously characterized MAb to subsites A, E, and F in fixed-cell ELISA and cell culture immunofluorescent assays against 5 reference and 9 field strains of TGEV and 2 US strains (ISU-1 and ISU-3) of porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV). Subsites A, E, and F were conserved on all TGEV and PRCV strains examined. The 2 MAb to subsite V, 8G11 and 75B10, reacted only with the Miller TGEV strains (M5C, M6, and M60), except that 75B10 also recognized field strain U328. The MAb 11H8 did not react with 4 field strains or the Purdue strains of TGEV. The 2 MAb to subsite D reacted with all TGEV strains examined, but not with 2 US PRCV strains, 2 European PRCV strains, 1 feline infectious peritonitis virus strain, and 1 canine coronavirus strain. Because of this specificity for TGEV, but not PRCV, these latter 2 subsite D MAb may be useful for the development of competition ELISA to differentiate serologically between TGEV and PRCV infections in swine, similar to the currently used European subsite D MAb.     

Anti-chlamydial immunity in ewes conferred by vaccination with a combination of three live chlamydia, brucella and salmonella vaccines

Live attenuated vaccines against Chlamydia psittaci var ovis, Brucella melitensis and Salmonella abortus ovis have previously been shown to be compatible in mice by subcutaneous administration. Immunity against challenge with virulent chlamydia was, however, slightly decreased in associations including the B melitensis Rev 1 vaccine. The chlamydia strain 1B vaccine was administered to four- to five-month-old female lambs, either alone or in combination with the B melitensis Rev1 and the S abortus ovis Rv6 vaccines. Clinical, serological and bacteriological observations demonstrated the compatibility of the three vaccines. Control, singly and triply vaccinated ewes were challenged with a virulent strain of chlamydia during their second pregnancy, 15 months after vaccination. Five of the 12 control ewes lambed normally and 10 of them were infected, as shown by the excretion of the challenge chlamydia in genital secretions. Sixteen of the 17 ewes in the triple vaccine group lambed normally and none was infected. All 12 in the single vaccine group lambed normally and three of the 12 were infected. In spite of this unusually poor protection by the single vaccine, antichlamydial immunity was clearly not decreased by the association with the two other vaccines.     

Evaluation of a rough mutant of Brucella melitensis in pregnant goats

Brucella melitensis strain VTRM1, a rough derivative of B melitensis strain 16M, is able to colonise the lymph nodes of goats, does not induce abortion in pregnant goats when used at doses leading to abortions with virulent strain 16M, and does not induce anti-O chain antibodies. However, strain VTRM1 as a single dose vaccine induces only partial protection against both infection and abortion following challenge.     

IS711和omp2作为布氏杆菌种属及种株间分子鉴别诊断标记的研究

布氏杆菌为世界性具重要公共卫生意义的人兽共患疫病原，分6个种。建立种间及种株间安全敏感、经济有效的快速鉴别诊断方法对布病防制及分子流行病学研究具有重要意义。布氏杆菌IS711和omp2基因具有种属特异性，可用于布氏杆菌的PCR分子诊断。其中IS711为转座因子，在不同种布菌种存在插入位置的多态性，外膜蛋白OMP2编码基因则存在反向重复序列及种株间的多态性。为此，分别采用复式-PCR、PCR和限制性酶切片段长多态性（RFLP）分析，对分属于B．mclitcnsis、B．suis和B．abortus的不同种布氏杆菌的不同种株，M5、M16、S2、S6和S19进行分子鉴别诊断。结果显示，根据IS711基因特定PCR扩增片段长多态性，可进行布氏杆菌种间的快速鉴别；而omp2编码基因PCR扩增片段PsrⅠ、KpnⅠ、NcoⅠ和Eco47 Ⅲ等4种限制酶片段长多态性，则可成为布氏杆菌菌株间特异的分子鉴别诊断标记，甚至疫苗株M5和野毒株M16之间的分子诊断标记。     

E3泛素连接酶Nrdp1和SOCS-1对布鲁氏菌诱导细胞凋亡的影响

为了探讨E3泛素连接酶Nrdp1、SOCS-1基因在布鲁氏菌侵染巨噬细胞过程中对细胞凋亡的影响,构建Nrdp1、SOCS-1基因的干扰和过表达细胞模型(简称为pLL3.7-N1、pLL3.7-S1和pLEX-Nrdp1、pLEX-SOCS-1);羊种布鲁氏菌16M(简称16M) 侵染正常细胞RAW264.7及pLL3.7-N1、pLEX-Nrdp1、pLL3.7-S1、pLEX-SOCS-1组细胞,qRT-PCR检测Bax、Bcl-2、TNF-α的mRNA表达量,并通过流式细胞仪术检测细胞凋亡率。结果显示,试验成功构建并筛选出干扰和过表达Nrdp1、SOCS-1效果最好的pLL3.7-N1、pLEX-Nrdp1、pLL3.7-S1、pLEX-SOCS-1细胞模型;16M侵染各组细胞,与对照组相比,在不同的时间段pLL3.7-N1、pLL3.7-S1、pLEX-Nrdp1、pLEX-SOCS-1组细胞的Bcl-2和Bax的mRNA表达量差异显著(P < 0.05);pLL3.7-S1组细胞的TNF-α mRNA显著降低(P < 0.05),而pLEX-SOCS-1组显著升高(P < 0.05);pLEX-Nrdp1、pLEX-SOCS-1组细胞凋亡率显著升高(P < 0.05),而pLL3.7-S1组显著降低(P < 0.05)。研究结果表明,Nrdp1、SOCS-1基因与16M诱导的细胞凋亡密切相关,为16M胞内寄生机制的研究奠定了基础。     

布鲁菌Ⅳ型分泌系统效应蛋白DK63-887基因缺失株的构建及鉴定

为了构建羊布鲁菌16M(简称16M)的DK63-887基因缺失株(16MΔDK63-887),探讨该基因与16M介导自噬的关系。利用同源重组和抗性替换的方法,以卡那基因替换DK63-887基因,获得突变株16MΔDK63-887。将亲本株16M、疫苗株M5-90、突变株16MΔDK63-887在相同条件下振荡培养,观察其生长趋势变化;将各菌株置于不同外界环境中,观察其生存率;将各菌株侵染小鼠巨噬细胞,比较它们在宿主细胞内的生存能力及RT-qPCR检测自噬相关基因的表达。成功获得了布鲁菌DK63-887基因缺失株且在20代内未发生回复性突变现象。与亲本株相比,16MΔDK63-887在体外培养生长趋势与亲本株相似,只是细菌的浓度存在一定差异;突变株在外界应激条件下生存能力低于亲本株;侵染4h后缺失株胞内细菌数量明显下降;RT-qPCR检测到突变株的ULKI、Beclin1表达量均显著降低(P0.01),结果表明,布鲁菌Ⅳ型分泌系统效应蛋白与16M介导的细胞自噬密切相关,为16M胞内寄生机制的研究奠定了基础。