Potato diseases caused by soft rot erwinias: an overview of pathogenesis

Three soft rot erwinias, Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora , E. carotovora ssp. atroseptica and E. chrysanthemi are associated with potatoes causing tuber soft rot and blackleg (stem rot). Latent infection of tubers and stems is widespread. As opportunistic pathogens, the bacteria tend to cause disease when potato resistance is impaired. Pathogenesis or disease development in potato tubers and stems is discussed in terms of the interaction between pathogen, host and environment, microbial competition and recent findings on the molecular basis of pathogenicity. Emphasis is placed on the role of free water and anaerobiosis in weakening tuber resistance and in providing nutrient for erwinias to multiply. Blackleg symptoms are expressed when erwinias predominate in rotting mother tubers, invade the stems and multiply in xylem vessels under favourable weather conditions. Soft rot erwinias tend to out-compete other bacteria in tuber rots because of their ability to produce larger quantities of a wider range of cell wall-degrading enzymes. However, despite extensive studies on their induction, regulation and secretion, little is known about the precise role of the different enzymes in pathogenesis. The putative role of quorum-sensing regulation of these enzymes in disease development is evaluated. The role certain pathogenicity-related characters, including motility, adhesion, siderophores, detoxifying systems and the hrp gene complex, common to most bacteria including symbionts and saprophytes, could play in latent and active infections is also discussed.     

群体感应信号物质对吡咯伯克霍尔德氏菌JK-SH007在杨树内定殖的影响

为了明确杨树溃疡病生防菌吡咯伯克霍尔德氏菌JK-SH007的群体感应系统是否与其内生定殖相关,本文通过群体感应指示菌紫色杆菌CV026和液相色谱串联四级杆飞行时间质谱技术(HPLC-Q-TOF-MS)确定其群体感应信号物质种类,并利用结晶紫染色、菌体回收、GFP标记等技术,研究其群体感应信号物质对该菌株生物膜及在杨树苗内的定殖能力的影响。结果表明,菌株JK-SH007产生的群体感应信号物质为含8个碳原子酰基侧链的辛酰基-L-高丝氨酸内酯(C8-HSL)。群体感应信号物质C8-HSL的添加对该菌株生物膜及在杨树苗内的定殖能力有影响,并且呈现低浓度促进,较高浓度抑制的规律。C8-HSL的添加与菌株JK-SH007生物膜的OD值和菌体量具有显著相关性,相关系数分别为0.923和0.756。当添加1.0%C8-HSL终浓度达到5×10^-8 g/L时,菌株JK-SH007生物膜的形成量达到峰值。荧光显微镜镜检发现,当添加100μL C8-HSL时,杨树组培苗根和茎中GFP荧光标记的菌株JK-SH007的定殖数量明显较CK多。菌株JK-SH007的群体感应与其在杨树内的内生定殖能力密切相关,群体感应信号物质C8-HSL具有增强菌株JK-SH007内生定殖的能力,同时也表明该物质有利于该菌株生防效果的发挥。     

Characterization of an Insoluble and Soluble Form of Melanin Produced by Streptomyces cavourensis SV 21, a Sea Cucumber Associated Bacterium

Melanin is a widely distributed and striking dark-colored pigment produced by countless living organisms. Although a wide range of bioactivities have been recognized, there are still major constraints in using melanin for biotechnological applications such as its fragmentary known chemical structure and its insolubility in inorganic and organic solvents. In this study, a bacterial culture of Streptomyces cavourensis SV 21 produced two distinct forms of melanin: (1) a particulate, insoluble form as well as (2) a rarely observed water-soluble form. The here presented novel, acid-free purification protocol of purified particulate melanin (PPM) and purified dissolved melanin (PDM) represents the basis for an in-depth comparison of their physicochemical and biological properties, which were compared to the traditional acid-based precipitation of melanin (AM) and to a synthetic melanin standard (SM). Our data show that the differences in solubility between PDM and PPM in aqueous solutions may be a result of different adjoining cation species, since the soluble PDM polymer is largely composed of Mg²⁺ ions and the insoluble PPM is dominated by Ca²⁺ ions. Furthermore, AM shared most properties with SM, which is likely attributed to a similar, acid-based production protocol. The here presented gentler approach of purifying melanin facilitates a new perspective of an intact form of soluble and insoluble melanin that is less chemical altered and thus closer to its original biological form.     

Ecological and Industrial Implications of Dynamic Seaweed-Associated Microbiota Interactions

Seaweeds are broadly distributed and represent an important source of secondary metabolites (e.g., halogenated compounds, polyphenols) eliciting various pharmacological activities and playing a relevant ecological role in the anti-epibiosis. Importantly, host (as known as basibiont such as algae)–microbe (as known as epibiont such as bacteria) interaction (as known as halobiont) is a driving force for coevolution in the marine environment. Nevertheless, halobionts may be fundamental (harmless) or detrimental (harmful) to the functioning of the host. In addition to biotic factors, abiotic factors (e.g., pH, salinity, temperature, nutrients) regulate halobionts. Spatiotemporal and functional exploration of such dynamic interactions appear crucial. Indeed, environmental stress in a constantly changing ocean may disturb complex mutualistic relations, through mechanisms involving host chemical defense strategies (e.g., secretion of secondary metabolites and antifouling chemicals by quorum sensing). It is worth mentioning that many of bioactive compounds, such as terpenoids, previously attributed to macroalgae are in fact produced or metabolized by their associated microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites). Eventually, recent metagenomics analyses suggest that microbes may have acquired seaweed associated genes because of increased seaweed in diets. This article retrospectively reviews pertinent studies on the spatiotemporal and functional seaweed-associated microbiota interactions which can lead to the production of bioactive compounds with high antifouling, theranostic, and biotechnological potential.     

溶藻弧菌生物被膜的特性与相关基因的研究

建立溶藻弧菌（gibrioaigino／yticus）的生物被膜（BF）体外形成模型,用银染法观察检测溶藻弧菌HY9901生物被膜的形成;同时研究温度和消毒剂对HY9901的游离（FC）细菌和具有生物被膜（BF）的细菌的影响。实验结果表明,溶藻弧菌HY9901株可以形成BF,而非致病株ZJ017不形成BF。HY9901株的BF细菌经85℃30min、-20℃80d、0．01％新洁尔灭处理后均有存活,而游离（FC）细菌则无存活细菌。根据已发表的哈氏弧菌Lux R基因核酸序列,设计并合成了一对引物,对溶藻弧菌HY9901株的基因组进行PCR扩增和测序分析,扩增出了520bp的核苷酸片段,该片段与已发表的哈氏弧菌Lux L基因的同源性达95％,而非致病性菌株ZJ017株则扩增不出该基因片段。     

Global and Phylogenetic Distribution of Quorum Sensing Signals,Acyl Homoserine Lactones,in the Family of Vibrionaceae

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) and the corresponding signals, acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), were first described for a luminescent Vibrio species. Since then, detailed knowledge has been gained on the functional level of QS; however, the abundance of AHLs in the family of Vibrionaceae in the environment has remained unclear. Three hundred and one Vibrionaceae strains were collected on a global research cruise and the prevalence and profile of AHL signals in this global collection were determined. AHLs were detected in 32 of the 301 strains using Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Chromobacterium violaceum reporter strains. Ethyl acetate extracts of the cultures were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) with automated tandem MS confirmation for AHLs. N-(3-hydroxy-hexanoyl) (OH-C6) and N-(3-hydroxy-decanoyl) (OH-C10) homoserine lactones were the most common AHLs found in 17 and 12 strains, respectively. Several strains produced a diversity of different AHLs, including N-heptanoyl (C7) HL. AHL-producing Vibrionaceae were found in polar, temperate and tropical waters. The AHL profiles correlated with strain phylogeny based on gene sequence homology, however not with geographical location. In conclusion, a wide range of AHL signals are produced by a number of clades in the Vibrionaceae family and these results will allow future investigations of inter- and intra-species interactions within this cosmopolitan family of marine bacteria.     

Haloperoxidase Mediated Quorum Quenching by Nitzschia cf pellucida: Study of the Metabolization of N-Acyl Homoserine Lactones by a Benthic Diatom

Diatoms are known to produce a variety of halogenated compounds, which were recently shown to have a role in allelopathic interactions between competing species. The production of these compounds is linked to haloperoxidase activity. This research, has shown that this system may also be involved in diatom-bacteria interactions via the H₂O₂ dependent inactivation of a type of quorum sensing (QS) molecule, i.e., N-β-ketoacylated homoserine lactones (AHLs), by a natural haloperoxidase system from the benthic diatom Nitzschia cf pellucida. The AHL degradation pathway towards corresponding halogenated derivatives was elucidated via HPLC-MS analysis and the synthesis of a broad series of novel halogenated AHL analogues as reference compounds. Furthermore, their biological activity as quorum sensing modulators was directly compared and evaluated against a series of naturally occurring β-keto-AHLs. It has been demonstrated that the loss of the QS activity results from the final cleavage of the halogenated N-acyl chain of the signal molecules.     

Quorum Quenching Agents: Resources for Antivirulence Therapy

The continuing emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is a concern to human health and highlights the urgent need for the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. Quorum sensing (QS) regulates virulence in many bacterial pathogens, and thus, is a promising target for antivirulence therapy which may inhibit virulence instead of cell growth and division. This means that there is little selective pressure for the evolution of resistance. Many natural quorum quenching (QQ) agents have been identified. Moreover, it has been shown that many microorganisms are capable of producing small molecular QS inhibitors and/or macromolecular QQ enzymes, which could be regarded as a strategy for bacteria to gain benefits in competitive environments. More than 30 species of marine QQ bacteria have been identified thus far, but only a few of them have been intensively studied. Recent studies indicate that an enormous number of QQ microorganisms are undiscovered in the highly diverse marine environments, and these marine microorganism-derived QQ agents may be valuable resources for antivirulence therapy.     

aiiA基因原核表达载体的构建与表达

【目的】构建aiiA基因的原核表达载体,并进行诱导表达,检测aiiA蛋白的抗病性,为进一步通过转基因技术培育转aiiA基因植株奠定基础。【方法】从pMDTM19-T Vector+aiiA质粒中酶切获得aiiA基因,将其与pGEX-4T-1表达载体连接构建重组原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1+aiiA,经双酶切及测序鉴定后,进行诱导表达,并对表达产物的功能进行鉴定。【结果】双酶切与PCR检测结果表明,重组原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1+aiiA构建成功。表达条件优化结果表明,在25℃下用0.2mmol/L IPTG诱导9h,aiiA蛋白的表达量最高。aiiA重组蛋白抑菌试验结果表明,其能够降解细菌的AHLs信号分子,猝灭细菌的群体感应,明显减弱病菌的致病力。转aiiA基因尾巨桉抗性检测结果表明,转基因植株抗性明显增强,表现为发病时间延迟,病情指数降低,评价为中等抗病水平。【结论】成功构建了aiiA基因原核表达载体,其诱导表达产物能猝灭细菌的群体感应,明显减弱病菌的致病力。     

细菌胞间的分子通讯与食品保藏新策略

细菌世界并不寂静，彼此间以信息分子为“语言”互相交流。当环境中群体数量达到一定密度后，细菌通过信息分子发出信号，调整和实施共同的行为，引发群体感应（quorum—sensing，简称QS）现象，从而展现出单个细菌无法实现的新的特征行为和生理功能。导致食品腐败的腐败菌之间也存在QS现象。文章概述了QS现象及其与食品腐败的关系，阐述了以食品腐败菌的QS现象为靶点的食品保藏新策略。