Escherichia coli type III secretion system 2: a new kind of T3SS?

Type III secretion systems (T3SSs) are employed by Gram-negative bacteria to deliver effector proteins into the cytoplasm of infected host cells. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli use a T3SS to deliver effector proteins that result in the creation of the attaching and effacing lesions. The genome sequence of the Escherichia coli pathotype O157:H7 revealed the existence of a gene cluster encoding components of a second type III secretion system, the E. coli type III secretion system 2 (ETT2). Researchers have revealed that, although ETT2 may not be a functional secretion system in most (or all) strains, it still plays an important role in bacterial virulence. This article summarizes current knowledge regarding the E. coli ETT2, including its genetic characteristics, prevalence, function, association with virulence, and prospects for future work.     

禽致病性大肠杆菌Hcp2b对雏鸡气管黏膜细胞因子-细胞因子受体相互作用通路的影响

T6SS(type Ⅵ secretion system)是革兰阴性菌中常见的一种分泌系统,其效应蛋白Hcp2b作用机制迄今仍未明晰.本研究以禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)Hcp2b蛋白为研究主体,旨在探究Hcp2b蛋白在APEC感染鸡气管黏膜过程中发挥...     

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.     

Salmonella pathogenicity islands in host specificity, host pathogen-interactions and antibiotics resistance of Salmonella enterica

Salmonella enterica is a pathogen highly successful in causing a variety of gastrointestinal and systemic diseases in animals and humans. While some serovars of S. enterica are able to infect a broad range of host organisms, other serovars are highly restricted to specific host species. The colonization of hosts by S. enterica depends on the function of a large number of virulence determinants. The molecular analyses of virulence genes demonstrated that most of these loci are clustered within Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands (SPI). SPI1 and SPI2 each encode type III secretion systems (T355) that confer main virulence traits of S. enterica, i.e. invasion, enteropathogenesis and intracellular survival and proliferation. Further SPI encode factors that contribute to intracellular survival, different types of adhesins, or effector proteins of the SPI1-T3SS or SPI2-T3SS. The availability of genome sequences of several serovars of S. enterica also revealed serovar-specific SPI. In this review, the main characteristics of the currently known SPI are summarized with focus on their roles in various animal hosts and putative functions in human infections.     

Moritella viscosa bypasses Atlantic salmon epidermal keratocyte clearing activity and might use skin surfaces as a port of infection

Moritella viscosa is considered the main causative agent of winter ulcer disease in salmonid fish. In order to obtain more details on route of infection, we challenged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) epidermal keratocytes with M. viscosa and performed an Atlantic salmon immersion challenge. Although keratocytes were able to remove M. viscosa from surfaces, their engulfment capability appeared inefficient with reduced ability to reepithelialise superficial wounds (scale less skin surfaces) challenged with the bacterium. The immersion challenge revealed a significant connection between exposure area and mortality. Enhanced invasion ability and mortality was observed by M. viscosa exposure of the head and gill region compared to exposure of: the right side of the body; the left side of the body; or the body from pectoral to caudal fin (p=0.04). Ulcer development corresponded to area exposed (p=0.002), suggesting skin ulcer formation to result primarily from direct skin surface colonization. Ulceration of surfaces exposed to M. viscosa in parallel with occurrence of septicaemia suggests that both skin and gills may act as possible initiation sites for M. viscosa infections.     

Only one of the two type VI secretion systems encoded in the Salmonella enterica serotype Dublin genome is involved in colonization of the avian and murine hosts

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a virulence factor for many Gram-negative bacteria. Salmonella genus harbors five phylogenetically distinct T6SS loci encoded in Salmonella Pathogenicity Islands (SPIs) SPI-6, SPI-19, SPI-20, SPI-21 and SPI-22, which are differentially distributed among serotypes. The T6SSs encoded in SPI-6 and SPI-19 contribute to pathogenesis of serotypes Typhimurium and Gallinarum in mice and chickens, respectively. Salmonella Dublin is a pathogen restricted to cattle where it causes a systemic disease. Also, it can colonize other hosts such as chickens and mice, which can act as reservoirs of this serotype. Salmonella Dublin harbors the genes for both T6SS_SPI-6 and T6SS_SPI-19. This study has determined the contribution of T6SS_SPI-6 and T6SS_SPI-19 to host-colonization by Salmonella Dublin using avian and murine models of infection. Competitive index experiments showed that, a mutant strain lacking both T6SSs (∆T6SS_SPI-6/∆T6SS_SPI-19) presents a strong colonization defect in cecum of chickens, similar to the defect observed for the ∆T6SS_SPI-6 mutant, suggesting that this serotype requires a functional T6SS_SPI-6 for efficient colonization of the avian gastrointestinal tract. Colonization of mice was also defective, although to a lesser extent than in chickens. In contrast, the T6SS_SPI-19 was not necessary for colonization of either chickens or mice. Transfer of T6SS_SPI-6, but not T6SS_SPI-19, restored the ability of the double mutant to colonize both animal hosts. Our data indicate that Salmonella Dublin requires only the T6SS_SPI-6 for efficient colonization of mice and chickens, and that the T6SS_SPI-6 and T6SS_SPI-19 are not functionally redundant.     

罗非鱼无乳链球菌EsxA基因克隆与原核表达

Ⅶ型分泌系统(T7SS)是近年来发现的分泌系统,分泌两种胞外蛋白,EsxA基因编码的ESAT6蛋白和EsxB基因编码的CFP-10蛋白。分泌蛋白具有良好的免疫原性,促进细菌从巨噬细胞吞噬体逃逸、影响巨噬细胞凋亡及裂解细胞等生物学功能,与致病性密切相关。以罗非鱼源无乳链球菌为模板,克隆到294bp的EsxA基因,将目的序列克隆到pMD18-T载体,经测序,目的序列与无乳链球菌EsxA基因同源率在99%以上。EsxA基因克隆到pET32a载体中,重组载体在28℃、0.5mmol/L IPTG诱导条件下表达量最大,可溶性表达。将纯化的ESAT6蛋白免疫Balb/c鼠,成功制备ESAT6蛋白鼠多克隆抗体,经Western blot,ESAT6蛋白具有良好的反应原性。研究结果为进一步进行无乳链球菌ESAT6蛋白的免疫学功能研究奠定了基础。     

Dissemination of the superantigen encoding genes seeL, seeM, szeL and szeM in Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus

Bacterial superantigens are one of the major virulence factors produced by Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The two novel superantigen encoding genes seeM and seeL were described for S. equi subsp. equi which is known as the causative agent of strangles in equids. In the present study previously characterized S. equi subsp. equi strains and strains of various other animal pathogenic streptococcal species and subspecies were investigated for the presence of the superantigen encoding genes seeM and seeL by polymerase chain reaction. According to these studies seeL and seeM appeared to be a constant characteristic of all investigated S. equi subsp. equi strains. Surprisingly, one S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strain (S.z. 122) was also positive for both genes. The species identity of this S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strain could additionally be confirmed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region. The superantigen encoding genes could not be found among additionally investigated S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strains or among strains of seven other streptococcal species. The seeL and seeM genes of the S. equi subsp. equi strain S.e. CF32 and the genes szeL and szeM of the S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus strain S.z. 122 were cloned and sequenced. A sequence comparison revealed a high degree of sequence homology between seeL, szeL, speL and seeM, szeM and speM, respectively. The superantigenic toxins L and M seemed to be widely distributed virulence factors of S. equi subsp. equi, rare among S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus but did not occur among a number of other animal pathogenic streptococcal species.     

天津地区猪链球菌3型菌株的致病性及耐药特性研究

试验旨在对分离自天津地区发病猪场的7株猪链球菌3型菌株（Streptococcus suis type 3,SS 3）进行致病性和耐药特性研究。应用剂量为1.0×10⁷、1.0×10⁸和1.0×10⁹ CFU/只的细菌对小鼠进行致病力研究,用PCR方法检测7株SS 3型菌株的毒力基因mrp、ef、sly、gdh、gapdh、fbps和orf2,并对这7株SS 3型菌株进行药物敏感试验。致病力试验结果显示,接种剂量为1.0×10⁹和1.0×10⁸ CFU/只时分别有6和3株SS 3型菌株可使小鼠100.0%（5/5）发病死亡,接种剂量1.0×10⁷ CFU时仍有1株SS 3型菌株可使80.0%（4/5）小鼠发病死亡,这7株SS 3型菌株对小鼠的致病力依次为R15056 > R15042=S15030 > Y12024=Y09011 > Y13125 > Y13164。毒力基因检测结果表明,共有3种毒力基因型,R12024、Y13164、R15042和S15030株为gdh、gapdh、fbps和orf2毒力基因阳性,Y13125和R15056株为sly、gdh、gapdh、fbps和orf2毒力基因阳性,Y09011株为gdh、fbps和orf2毒力基因阳性。药物敏感性试验结果显示,7株SS 3型对头孢喹肟相对最敏感,其次为阿莫西林、环丙沙星和磺胺间甲氧嘧啶钠,但对强力霉素100.0%耐药,且所有菌株均呈现3重以上的耐药性。本研究为进一步开展天津地区SS 3型流行特点及致病机理研究奠定了基础,可为天津地区SS 3型菌株的综合防控提供理论指导。     

Virulence of Streptococcus canis from canine streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis

The recent recognition of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) and necrotizing fasciitis (NF) in dogs caused by Streptococcus canis highlights our lack of knowledge regarding the mechanisms of virulence of this organism. Fifteen isolates of S. canis from cases of canine STSS and/or NF were examined for the presence of 10 Streptococcus pyogenes-associated virulence genes by Southern hybridizations using gene probes generated by PCR. The isolates lacked DNA with homology to eight of the 10 gene probes (speA, speB, speC, mf, ssa, scp, hasA, ska) under low stringency conditions. Thirteen and 15 of 15 isolates hybridized with streptolysin O and M protein gene probes, respectively. Twelve of 15 S. canis isolates were resistant to phagocytosis in canine blood. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of proteinaceous cell surface fibrillae. These results suggest that S. canis possesses M proteins and encodes streptolysin O, but lacks some of the other recognized virulence genes with significant homology to those in S. pyogenes.     

Identification and distribution of putative virulent genes in strains of Streptococcus suis serotype 2

In order to identify gene sequences unique to the virulent strains, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was conducted using virulent Streptococcus suis type 2 (SS2) strain HA9801 and avirulent S. suis type 2 strain T15. Thirty genomic regions were absent in T15, and the DNA sequences of these regions in HA9801 were determined. These DNA fragments, containing putative virulence genes, encoded 28 proteins that were homologous to proteins involved in various aspects of cellular surface structure, molecular synthesis, energy metabolism, regulation, transport systems and others of unknown function. According to the published SS2 genomic sequence of the Chinese strain 98HAH33, PCR primers for 14 significant DNA fragments were designed and used for detection of the distribution of these fragments in S. suis strains from different sources, serotypes, regions, groups and times. The results showed that these 14 DNA fragments were widely distributed in 37 detected SS2 strains, yet were absent among the avirulent strain T15. Moreover, these fragments could be detected in other serotypes of S. suis, but each serotype had a different distribution of the fragments.     

Prevalence of Type VI Secretion System in Spanish Campylobacter jejuni Isolates

Infections from Campylobacter jejuni pose a serious public health problem and are now considered the leading cause of foodborne bacterial gastroenteritis throughout the world. Sequencing of C. jejuni genomes has previously allowed a number of loci to be identified, which encode virulence factors that aid survival and pathogenicity. Recently, a Type VI secretion system (T6SS) consisting of 13 conserved genes was described in C. jejuni strains and recognised to promote pathogenicity and adaptation to the environment. In this study, we determined the presence of this T6SS in 63 Spanish C. jejuni isolates from the food chain and urban effluents using whole‐genome sequencing. Our findings demonstrated that nine (14%) strains harboured the 13 ORFs found in prototype strain C. jejuni 108. Further studies will be necessary to determine the prevalence and importance of T6SS‐positive C. jejuni strains.     

Association of avian reovirus M and S genes with viral behavior in vivo. II. Viral pathogenicity

A group of avian reoviruses comprising serially passaged S1133 strains and their vaccine derivatives was examined biochemically to study the temporal evolution of the viruses and biologically to assess their relative pathogenicities. The strains fell into three groups of differing virulence, the viruses becoming less pathogenic the longer they were passaged. Protein and RNA profiles of the strains showed no distinct patterns of evolution nor any trend that could be correlated with pathogenicity. Nucleic acid hybridization studies of the strains indicated that all the genes were altered to some extent during passage. The S1 and M3 genes appeared to change the most during the first half of passage history, but later, as the virus was cold-adapted or passaged extensively, the M2, S2, and S3 genes also appeared to vary. When viruses were grouped according to virulence, the greatest changes were seen in the S1, M2, and M3 genes, suggesting that these may be associated with the virulence of a given avian reovirus strain.     

猪链球菌1型临床分离株的鉴定和基因组学分析

从罹患肺炎型猪链球菌病的仔猪气管中分离出1株猪链球菌强毒株,命名为SS2011GZ,经PCR鉴定为血清1型.斑马鱼攻毒试验测得该菌株的半数致死量(LD50)为4.09×104CFU/mL,有较强毒力;全基因组测序分析显示,毒力基因型为mrp+gdh+epf+sly+fbps-sao-,存在19个基因岛,24种耐药基因,...     

猪源奇异变形杆菌的分离鉴定及特征分析

为探究广西地区猪源奇异变形杆菌的毒力和耐药情况,本研究从不同规模养殖场收集病死猪病料98份,通过分离培养、形态学观察、染色镜检、16S rRNA测序对分离菌进行鉴定;采用微量肉汤稀释法进行药敏试验;PCR检测毒力基因、耐药基因和整合子及其可变区;可变区扩增产物克隆至pMD^TM19-T载体进行测序。鉴定结果显示,22株细菌在TSA培养基上弥漫性生长,在SS培养基上形成中心黑色边缘白色的单菌落,镜检为革兰氏阴性短杆菌,变形杆菌属特异性基因（TUF）阳性。16S rRNA测序结果显示,21株分离菌与奇异变形杆菌同源性达99%,1株分离菌与彭氏变形杆菌同源性达99%。药敏结果显示,21株奇异变形杆菌对四环素、多西环素、氨苄西林、磺胺甲噁唑耐药率均为100%,对头孢氨苄、头孢呋辛、头孢噻肟、亚胺培南、卡那霉素耐药率在57.1%以上,所有分离株均为多重耐药菌。PCR结果显示,21株分离菌毒力基因atfA、hpmA、ireA、mrpA、pmfA、rsb、ureC、zapA、ptA检出率均为100%,ucaA检出率为95.2%;ESBLs菌株为bla_TEM型、bla_CTX型或bla_TEM型和bla_CTX型,AmpC菌株均为bla_DHA型,携带ESBLs或AmpC基因的菌株比例为57.1%、14.3%,同时携带ESBLs和AmpC基因的菌株比例为14.3%;qnrA、qnrB、qnrS和aac（6’）-Ⅰb-cr检出率分别为9.5%、0、4.8%和80.1%。21株分离菌Ⅰ类整合子（intⅠ1）阳性率61.9%,检测到9种基因盒阵列（aadA2-linF、estX、dfrA32-ereA-aadA2、drfA5、drfA12-orfF-aadA2、arr3-aac （6’）Ⅰb-cr5、aac （6’）Ⅰb-cr5-bla_OXA-1-catB3-aar3、drfA1-orfC和aadA2）;Ⅱ类整合子（intⅠ2）阳性率76.2%,检测到1种基因盒阵列（drfA1-sat1-aadA1）。本研究结果表明,广西地区猪源奇异变形杆菌毒力高且耐药严重,为后期针对奇异变形杆菌的防治和研究提供数据支持。     

猪链球菌4型分离株生物学特性研究

为分析猪链球菌4型(Streptococcus suis type 4,SS4)分离株的病原生物学特性,试验对来自中国不同地区的10株猪链球菌4型进行了多位点序列分型,通过PCR方法对猪链球菌7个保守管家基因aroA、gki、dpr、mutS、recA、thrA、cpn60进行扩增,测序后将结果上传至MLST数据库查找序列型,然后制作聚类分析图来阐明菌株之间的亲缘关系;采用PCR方法对7种主要的毒力基因gdh、mrp、epf、sly、fbps、gapdh与orf2进行鉴定,通过毒力因子谱来分析猪链球菌4型毒力因子的分布;以纯化的10株细菌对BALB/c小鼠进行动物致病性试验,根据小鼠致死数量筛选出最强毒株,并进行新西兰兔致病性试验。结果显示,10株猪链球菌4型经多位点序列分型,6株为ST850型,3株为ST1006型,1株为ST94型;结合菌株分离地区分析发现,广东和江苏地区菌株有较高的同源性,江沪地区菌株出现分化现象,表现为遗传多样性;10株菌株均检测到了gdh、gapdh和orf2毒力基因,7株检测到sly基因,4株检测到fbps基因,根据毒力因子谱发现共有3个毒力基因型,gdh+sly+gapdh+orf2+型有6株,gdh+fbps+gapdh+orf2+型有3株,gdh+sly+fbps+gapdh+orf2+型仅有1株。动物致病性试验表明,10株细菌均能使BALB/c小鼠死亡,其中SH1510的半数致死量低至1×108 CFU,对小鼠的致病性最强,将纯化的SH1510菌液接种新西兰兔,可使新西兰兔出现典型的神经症状并死亡。以上结果为猪链球菌的遗传进化、毒力研究提供了新的数据,丰富了猪链球菌病的研究。     

Analysis of the AIDA-I gene sequence and prevalence in Escherichia coli isolates from pigs with post-weaning diarrhoea and oedema disease

Three hundred and twenty-four strains of Escherichia coli isolated from weaned pigs with diarrhoea or oedema disease in Eastern China were screened by multiplex PCR for the presence of the gene encoding adhesin involved in diffuse adhesion I (AIDA-I). Two AIDA-I positive strains were subjected to analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the complete orfA and orfB of the AIDA gene. The AIDA-I positive E. coli isolates were also assessed for five fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41) by monoclonal antibodies and for toxin genes (STa, STb, LT, EAST1, Stx2e) by PCR. Twenty-one (6.5%) of the isolates possessed AIDA-I genes. Of these isolates, two carried AIDA-I genes as the only demonstrated virulence factors, and the remaining isolates carried other virulence factor genes. Comparing the AIDA-I sequence from porcine and human sources, a high homology of orfA both in porcine E. coli and human E. coli was observed. However, each orfB of the two porcine E. coli isolates was 3864 nucleotides long compared with 3861 for the E. coli 2787 orfB, and showed 96.5% homology to E. coli 2787. The data indicated (1) that AIDA-I may be an occasional virulence factor in post-weaning diarrhoea and oedema disease in pigs, (2) that it has the potential to transfer between porcine and human E. coli, and (3) that there is a genetic diversity in orfB between human and porcine E. coli.