Changes in blood and milk lymphocyte sub-populations during acute and chronic phases of Staphylococcus aureus induced bovine mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) often causes long-lasting chronic sub-clinical udder infections in dairy cows. To investigate if this can be due to a negative impact of S. aureus on lymphocytes important for the immune defence, alterations in proportions and expression intensity of CD4+, CD8+, WC1+, B and IL-2R+ lymphocytes was studied in blood and milk, as S. aureus mastitis developed from acute clinical to chronic sub-clinical form. Six healthy dairy cows were inoculated with S. aureus in one udder quarter per cow, and one quarter per cow acted as an uninfected control. Blood samples, and milk samples from infected and non-infected quarters were collected before infection and for five weeks after infection. All infected quarters developed acute clinical mastitis, of which five turned into chronic sub-clinical mastitis. In infected quarters, the proportions of all lymphocyte sub-sets, except WC1+ cells, differed in acute phase compared to pre-infection, while the dominant finding in the chronic phase was increased expression intensities per cell. An impact on blood lymphocytes and milk lymphocytes in non-infected quarters also occurred, mainly during the chronic phase. The most prominent finding was the increased proportion and expression of B-lymphocytes in blood, infected and non-infected quarters during chronic sub-clinical mastitis. As S. aureus can invade and survive intracellularly, a preferential stimulation of B-cells, suggesting development of a humoral response, may not be sufficient to eliminate intracellular bacteria, which could explain the persistence of the infection.     

Soil sterilisation and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria promote root respiration and growth of sweet cherry rootstocks

Soil microorganisms play important roles in the plant-soil ecosystem, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) promotes plant growth through several mechanisms. To investigate the benefits of PGPR for root functions such as respiration, we used the plant model Cerasus sachalinensis Kom., in which root respiration provides a sensitive functional indicator to demonstrate the effect of soil sterilisation (SS) and inoculation with the PGPR Staphylococcus sciuri ss sciuri after SS on seedling root respiration and growth. Root respiration increased in the presence of PGPR inoculation alone, whereas Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas pathway activity decreased due to reduced phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase activities. Although cytochrome c oxidase activity decreased and alternative oxidase activity increased, only slight changes were observed in growth indicators such as seedling height. However, SS and PGPR inoculation after sterilisation reduced soil microbial biomass carbon and reduced root respiration. Pyruvate kinase activity as well as plant height and leaf number increased, thus promoting plant growth. Thus, we conclude that SS and PGPR inoculation altered enzymes activities, root respiration and plant growth of cherry rootstocks. The effects of microbial inoculation were altered by SS.     

Differential responses of cells from human skin keratinocyte and bovine mammary epithelium to attack by pore-forming Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin

Human skin keratinocytes HaCat attacked by Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin showed a transient drop of cellular ATP levels whereas in toxin-perforated bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC), the ATP levels dropped more slowly. Morphologically, during the ATP level depletion, HaCat cell developed a spacious intracellular vacuole together with the transient influx of trypan blue. WST-1 signal, which tested the function of mitochondrial enzyme in viable cells, also decreased concomitantly. On the other hand, BMEC excluded trypan blue and vacuolation was not observed throughout the experiment. We conclude that mammary epithelial cells resist the toxin better than keratinocytes. This is the first report showing that α-toxin enhances transient membrane permeability to large molecules, temporary vacuole formation and the transient defect of mitochondrial enzyme in viable cells without cell lysis.     

中链脂肪酸及其酯对致病菌的抑菌作用

中链脂肪酸甘油酯已经成为抗生素替代物研究的新热点。文章旨在探究月桂酸、单辛酸甘油酯、单月桂酸甘油酯、辛葵酸甘油酯对大肠埃希菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、肠炎沙门氏菌和鸡白痢沙门氏菌的抑菌效果。结果显示:月桂酸、单月桂酸甘油酯、单辛酸甘油酯对大肠埃希菌有显著(P<0.05)抑制作用;月桂酸、单月桂酸甘油酯、单辛酸甘油酯、辛葵酸甘油酯对金黄色葡萄球菌有显著(P<0.05)抑制作用;月桂酸、单月桂酸甘油酯、单辛酸甘油酯、辛葵酸甘油酯对肠炎沙门氏菌有显著(P<0.05)抑制作用;月桂酸、单月桂酸甘油酯、单辛酸甘油酯对鸡白痢沙门氏菌有显著(P<0.05)抑制作用。其中,月桂酸、单月桂酸甘油酯、单辛酸甘油酯对4种致病菌的作用效果随时间延长而增强。     

Genetic basis of penicillin resistance of S. aureus isolated in bovine mastitis

Background

The blaZ gene encoding penicillin resistance can be located either chromosomally or on plasmids. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic relationships and to determine the location of the blaZ gene in S. aureus isolated in bovine mastitis in Finland and Sweden.

Methods

Seventy-eight β-lactamase positive S. aureus isolates from bovine mastitis (34 from Finland and 44 from Sweden) were included in the study. The localization of blaZ gene was determined by Southern blotting. The blaZ genes of the isolates were sequenced and the sequences were translated to beta-lactamase proteins and further grouped as different protein signatures. The isolates and, as control, 33 Swedish and 36 Finnish beta-lactamase negative isolates were typed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Results

In 26 out of 34 Finnish isolates (76.5%) and in 25 out of 44 Swedish isolates (56.8%) the blaZ gene was localized on a plasmid. Six different protein signatures were found. One signature was found only in four Swedish isolates, but all other signatures were found both in Finnish and Swedish isolates. The PFGE results revealed a diversity of S. aureus clones. The protein signatures were not clearly associated with certain pulsotypes.

Conclusions

The plasmid location of the blaZ gene was not statistically significantly more common in Finland than in Sweden, and hence does not explain the higher proportion of penicillin-resistant isolates of S. aureus causing bovine mastitis in Finland compared to Sweden.     

淡腌青鱼中木糖葡萄球菌碳源代谢能力研究

为探究淡腌青鱼的腐败与其微生物代谢能力的关系,利用Biolog GENⅢ微孔板对淡腌青鱼货架期终点的特定腐败菌(木糖葡萄球菌)在5、15、25、33℃4种温度下的碳源利用情况进行研究,采用修正的Gompertz模型对代谢曲线进行拟合,并以平均颜色变化率(AWCD)为指标研究其代谢速率,分析木糖葡萄球菌利用碳源能力的动力学特征。结果表明:木糖葡萄球菌能利用糖、氨基酸和羧酸类等碳源;相同温度下木糖葡萄球菌对碳源的代谢能力由大到小依次为糖、羧酸、氨基酸,其中单糖(葡萄糖、甘露糖)、双糖(蔗糖、海藻糖)、多糖及其糖类衍生物(N-乙酰-β-D-甘露糖胺、β-甲酰-D-葡糖)、氨基酸(谷氨酸、丝氨酸)和羧酸(L-乳酸)的代谢较强。木糖葡萄球菌在25℃下的延滞期最短,进入指数期最快。通过对木糖葡萄球菌在不同温度下各种碳源代谢能力的分析,为优化产品配方有效抑制微生物的活动、延长产品货架期提供理论依据。     

The detection of subclinical mastitis in the bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) by somatic cell count and California mastitis test

Milk samples (n=160) from 7 clinically healthy bactrian camels were cultured to detect subclinical udder infection. The samples were assessed by the Californian mastitis test (CMT) and somatic cell count (SCC). Bacteria were recovered from 36 (22.5%) of the milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the main organisms found.Infected quarters had significantly higher mean values for the SCC (p<0.01) and CMT (p<0.001) than non-infected quarters. All 7 camels were infected with CNS but only 4 with S. aureus. CMT values for S. aureus-infected camels were significantly higher than for those only infected with CNS. The values for SCC and CMT were significantly influenced by the stage of lactation (p<0.05). No significant difference was found from the effect of the quarters. Both SCC and CMT were of value in predicting the infection status of the udder.Abbreviations CMT California mastitis test - SCC somatic cell count - CNS coagulase-negative staphylococci     

Field trial of a staphylococcal mastitis vaccine in dairy herds: clinical, subclinical and microbiological assessments

Objective To assess the efficacy of a new staphylococcal mastitis vaccine under commercial dairying conditions.
Design A field trial involving 1819 cows and heifers conducted on seven dairy herds in Victoria. The trial was done 'blind'; approximately half the animals were vaccinated and the remainder were untreated controls.
Procedure The vaccine was given twice during the last 10 weeks of pregnancy. Effects of vaccination were assessed, during the ensuing lactation, on the basis of clinical and sub-clinical mastitis and microbiological investigations of the milk.
Results A total of 273 cases of clinical mastitis were recorded. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 112 of these, 45 cases in vaccinates and 67 cases in controls; the difference was not statistically significant. One herd was notable in having a high incidence of clinical staphylococcal mastitis. This herd accounted for 15.8% of the animals in the field trial but 54.5% of cases of clinical staphylococcal mastitis. For this herd, vaccinated animals had significantly lower incidence of clinical staphylococcal mastitis and prevalence of subclinical mastitis, relative to controls. An unexpected feature of the trial as a whole was the low incidence of clinical mastitis from which S aureus was isolated in pure culture (26.3% of cases) and the high incidence of clinical Streptococcus uberis mastitis (22.7% of cases).
Conclusions The trial showed that the vaccine was efficacious in reducing the incidence of clinical mastitis and prevalence of subclinical mastitis in a herd that had a serious staphylococcal mastitis problem.     

奶牛乳腺炎金黄色葡萄球菌临床分离株生化特性与菌体蛋白免疫原性分析

摘要：病原学调查发现金黄色葡萄球菌是奶牛乳腺炎的最主要致病菌之一。从53株金黄色葡萄球菌乳样分离株中挑选了培养和形态典型的六株进行生化试验和传代稳定性试验，进一步研究这六株菌的凝固酶、溶血素等致病性因子和耐药性。对菌体裂解产物进行蛋白电泳图谱分析发现菌体蛋白条带具有很高的相似性,TQ-1株电泳蛋白条带密度较其它几株高。用其中四株生化典型、传代稳定、致病因子较多的菌株免疫兔，制备高免血清，分析全菌抗原的蛋白转印图谱，发现XG-2株在52KD处有特殊保护性抗原条带。综合本文各试验结果，确定以TQ-1和XG-2株为疫苗候选株。     

金黄色葡萄球菌分离株的菌膜测定及其影响因素

采用96孔细胞培养板法,对10株不同来源的金黄色葡萄球菌分离株的菌膜形成能力进行调查,并研究外部环境因素对金黄色葡萄球菌菌膜形成的影响。首先以金黄色葡萄球菌标准菌株ATCC6538为模式菌株,确定了亲水性细胞培养板、培养48 h为适宜的菌膜体外培养条件。在此条件下测定了10株分离株的菌膜形成量,并研究了不同培养温度（25~46℃）和不同营养条件（葡萄糖和氯化钠）对菌膜形成的影响。结果显示,体外培养条件下,金黄色葡萄球菌普遍可以形成菌膜,10株菌中仅1株为菌膜阴性,不同菌株菌膜形成能力差异较大;较高的培养温度有利于菌膜的形成,有3株菌在46℃时菌膜形成量达到最大;0.5%葡萄糖和1%氯化钠的添加可显著改变各菌株的菌膜形成,葡萄糖倾向于促进临床分离株菌膜形成量的增加,而氯化钠倾向于促进食品分离株菌膜形成量的增加。这一结果,可以为实际环境中菌膜的预防及控制提供指导和方向,同时也说明金黄色葡萄球菌的菌膜形成存在着不同的调控模式。