Tuberculosis vaccination sequence effect on protection in wild boar

The Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a reservoir for tuberculosis (TB) in which vaccination is a valuable tool for control. We evaluated the protection and immune response achieved by homologous and heterologous regimes administering BCG and heat-inactivated Mycobacterium bovis (IV). Twenty-one wild boar piglets were randomly allocated in five groups: Control, homologous BCG, homologous IV, heterologous IV-BCG, heterologous BCG-IV. Significant 67% and 66% total lesion score reductions were detected in homologous IV (IVx2) and heterologous IV-BCG groups when compared with Control group (F_4,16 = 6.393, p = 0.003; Bonferroni _{Control vs IVx2} p = 0.026, Tukey _{Control vs IV-BCG} p = 0.021). No significant differences were found for homologous BCG (although a 48% reduction in total lesion score was recorded) and BCG-IV (3% reduction). Heterologous regimes did not improve protection over homologous regimes in the wild boar model and showed variable results from no protection to similar protection as homologous regimes. Therefore, homologous regimes remain the best option to vaccinate wild boar against TB. Moreover, vaccine sequence dramatically influenced the outcome underlining the relevance of studying the effects of prior sensitization in the outcome of vaccination.     

结核分枝杆菌分泌蛋白ESAT-6、CFP10基因的克隆、鉴定及其原核表达

以人型结核分枝杆菌 H37RV株基因组 DNA为模板 ,应用 PCR法对 ESAT- 6和 CFP10基因进行扩增 ,产物经纯化后与载体 PMD18- T连接、转化及酶切鉴定 ,亚克隆到原核表达载体 PGEX- 6 P- 1,构建原核重组表达质粒 ,转化入大肠杆菌 BL2 1中 ,以 1mmol/L IPTG诱导 ,进行 SDS- PAGE电泳。结果表明 ,ESAT- 6和 CFP10基因表达的融合蛋白相对分子质量分别为 32 0 0 0和 36 0 0 0 ,与实测相符。重组结核杆菌分泌蛋白 ESAT- 6和 CFP10的成功表达为结核病诊断及重组疫苗的构建打下了基础     

Multisystemic bovine mycobacteriosis in a pony with neurological signs and weight loss

This report describes the clinical, biochemical and histopathological findings of a case of disseminated, primary mycobacterial infection with Mycobacterium bovis in a pony presenting with neurological signs and weight loss. This report revisits tuberculosis as a potential differential diagnosis in horses at a time of relatively strong tuberculosis control in the UK and iterates the importance of post‐mortem examination as a diagnostic tool for clinicians. Key public health questions following exposure to mycobacterial pathogens are also discussed.     

Expression,Purification and Activity Evaluation of Mb1230 Gene of Mycobacterium bovis

To explore the value of Mb1230 protein of Mycobacterium bovis in the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis,we obtained the Mb1230 gene by PCR and constructed recombinant plasmid pET-22b-Mb1230.Recombinant Mb1230 protein was obtained by IPTG induction and purified by affinity chromatography.The activity of the recombinant protein was evaluated by TST test,IGRA test and indirect ELISA.The size of the recombinant protein matched with the theoretical value proved by SDS-PAGE;Western blotting result showed that the recombinant protein could react with mouse anti-His antibody,and had specific band;The results of TST test,IGRA test and indirect ELISA test also showed the recombinant protein had antigenic activity.The results indicated the recombinant protein Mb1230 had good B cell and T cell activity,so,it had the potential application in the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis.     

Chronic tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a domestic donkey in Central Europe

Bovine tuberculosis is a contagious and zoonotic disease of animals and humans. In Europe, the number of reported cases of tuberculosis has decreased. Equidae are relatively rarely infected even in endemic areas. The presented report describes a case of chronic Mycobacterium bovis tuberculosis in a 30-year-old female donkey. The donkey initially presented with persistent lymphadenopathy; however, as the disease progressed, weight loss became apparent. To the authors' knowledge, this is the second confirmed case of tuberculosis in a donkey in Europe.     

Improved detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis in African wildlife samples using cationic peptide decontamination and mycobacterial culture supplementation

In South Africa, mycobacterial culture is regarded as the gold standard for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) infection in wildlife even though it is regarded as “imperfect.” We compared a novel decontamination and mycobacterial culture technique (TiKa) to the conventional mycobacterium growth indicator tube (MGIT) system using known amounts of bacilli and clinical samples from MTBC-infected African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), and African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Use of the TiKa-KiC decontamination agent on samples spiked with 10,000 to 10 colony forming units (cfu) of M. bovis (SB0121) and M. tuberculosis (H37Rv) had no effect on isolate recovery in culture. In contrast, decontamination with MGIT MycoPrep resulted in no growth of M. bovis samples at concentrations < 1,000 cfu and M. tuberculosis samples < 100 cfu. Subsequently, we used the TiKa system with stored clinical samples (various lymphatic tissues) collected from wildlife and paucibacillary bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, trunk washes, and endotracheal tube washes from 3 species with known MTBC infections. Overall, MTBC recovery by culture was improved significantly (p < 0.01) by using TiKa compared to conventional MGIT, with 54 of 57 positive specimens versus 25 of 57 positive specimens, respectively. The TiKa mycobacterial growth system appears to significantly enhance the recovery of MTBC members from tissue and paucibacillary respiratory samples collected from African buffaloes, African elephants, and white rhinoceros. Moreover, the TiKa system may improve success of MTBC culture from various sample types previously deemed unculturable from other species.     

Mycobacterium fortuitum abortion in a sow

Two aborted Chester White pig fetuses were presented to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Illinois. Postmortem examination identified no gross abnormalities. Histologic evaluation revealed multifocal necrosis of chorionic epithelial cells, coalescing areas of mineralization in the placenta, and focal accumulations of viable and degenerate neutrophils in the lung. Intra- and extracellular acid-fast bacilli were identified in the lesions in both the placenta and lungs. Bacterial culture of stomach contents yielded heavy growth of Mycobacterium fortuitum, a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM), which was further confirmed through whole-genome sequencing. NTM are opportunistic pathogens commonly found in the soil and in contaminated water supplies. In animals, M. fortuitum is typically introduced through cutaneous wounds leading to infections limited to the skin, with systemic infection being uncommon. To our knowledge, abortion caused by M. fortuitum has not been reported previously.     

Occurrence of Mycobacterium spp. in ornamental fish in Italy

The occurrence of Mycobacterium spp. in freshwater and marine ornamental fish was studied in Italy from June 2002 to May 2005. Two surveys were carried out, one of aquarium fish sent to the Laboratory for diagnosis, and the other of prevalence of infection by mycobacteria in ornamental fish imported into Italy. Bacterial isolation was carried out from the spleen, kidney and liver, and the isolates were subsequently identified by biochemical tests. In the first survey, 387 fish were examined and Mycobacterium spp. were isolated from 181 (46.8%) fish. In the second survey 127 batches of ornamental fish from different countries were examined. Mycobacterium spp. were isolated from 38 (29.9%) batches. The following species were found: M. fortuitum, M. peregrinum, M. chelonae, M. abscessus, M. marinum, M. gordonae, M. nonchromogenicum and M. interjectum. There was a high prevalence of infection independent of the presence of macroscopic lesions. Mycobacterium fortuitum and M. chelonae were more prevalent than M. marinum in the samples examined.     

28株牛源分枝杆菌的耐药基因突变分析

为明确分离自宁夏、甘肃和新疆地区的28株牛源分枝杆菌的耐药基因突变情况,通过采用16S rRNA、MPT64和多位点PCR方法进行基因分型鉴定,L-J比例法对其进行药敏试验,随后用DNA测序技术对10株耐药菌和4株敏感菌进行耐药基因检测及突变分析。分型鉴定结果表明,28株分离株均属于结核分枝杆菌复合群(MTBC),其中26株为牛分枝杆菌,2株为人型结核分枝杆菌。药敏试验结果表明,28株MTBC中18株对4种一线抗结核药物敏感,10株耐药。耐药菌株中,1株对利福平耐药;7株对异烟肼、利福平和链霉素三重耐药;2株对异烟肼、利福平、链霉素和乙胺丁醇四重耐药。耐药基因突变位点分析结果表明,rpoB 378位点的突变率为10.0%;katG 463位点的突变率为100.0%;rrs 311位点的突变率为11.1%;embB 378位点的突变率为100.0%;oxyR-ahpC和rpsL位点无突变。提示宁夏、甘肃和新疆地区奶牛场中MTBC主要以牛分枝杆菌为主,且存在耐多药情况,耐药突变位点以katG 463和embB 378为主。     

Study of the Structure–Activity Relationship of an Anti-Dormant Mycobacterial Substance 3-(Phenethylamino)Demethyl(oxy)aaptamine to Create a Probe Molecule for Detecting Its Target Protein

The current tuberculosis treatment regimen is long and complex, and its failure leads to relapse and emergence of drug resistance. One of the major reasons underlying the extended chemotherapeutic regimen is the ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to attain a dormant state. Therefore, the identification of new lead compounds with chemical structures different from those of conventional anti-tuberculosis drugs is essential. The compound 3-(phenethylamino)demethyl(oxy)aaptamine (PDOA, 1), isolated from marine sponge of Aaptos sp., is known as an anti-dormant mycobacterial substance, and has been reported to be effective against the drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. However, its target protein still remains unclear. This study aims to clarify the structure–activity relationship of 1 using 15 synthetic analogues, in order to prepare a probe molecule for detecting the target protein of 1. We succeeded in creating the compound 15 with a photoaffinity group that retained antimicrobial activity, which proved to be a suitable probe molecule for identifying the target protein of 1.