Unique physiological and pathogenic features of Leptospira interrogans revealed by whole-genome sequencing

Leptospirosis is a widely spread disease of global concern. Infection causes flu-like episodes with frequent severe renal and hepatic damage, such as haemorrhage and jaundice. In more severe cases, massive pulmonary haemorrhages, including fatal sudden haemoptysis, can occur. Here we report the complete genomic sequence of a representative virulent serovar type strain (Lai) of Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae consisting of a 4.33-megabase large chromosome and a 359-kilobase small chromosome, with a total of 4,768 predicted genes. In terms of the genetic determinants of physiological characteristics, the facultatively parasitic L. interrogans differs extensively from two other strictly parasitic pathogenic spirochaetes, Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi, although similarities exist in the genes that govern their unique morphological features. A comprehensive analysis of the L. interrogans genes for chemotaxis/motility and lipopolysaccharide synthesis provides a basis for in-depth studies of virulence and pathogenesis. The discovery of a series of genes possibly related to adhesion, invasion and the haematological changes that characterize leptospirosis has provided clues about how an environmental organism might evolve into an important human pathogen.     

Prediction and systematic study of protein-protein interaction networks of Leptospira interrogans

Leptospirosis, a serious and contagious zoonotic bacterial disease that havocs livers and kidneys in hu-mans and some animals, occurs in both urban and rural environments worldwide. It is caused by the genus lep- tospira, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium[1]. Though the genomes of Leptospira interrogans serovars Lai strain lai[2] and Leptospira interrogans serovars Copenhageni strain L1-130[3] were recently sequenced and many molecular and cellular studies on leptospires have been conducted, the …     

问号赖型钩端螺旋体的进化分析

 对问号赖型钩端螺旋体的复制基因进行了分析,引入以S为分歧时间的概念,通过对每个同义位点和非同义位点的核苷酸替代数目的比较,并利用最小二乘法进行了函数拟合,得出在早期复制基因受到相对松的净化选择,之后选择约束力不断增强并慢慢趋于稳定.     

西藏地区牦牛源沙门菌分离鉴定、血清分型及致病性研究

本研究旨在了解西藏地区牦牛源沙门菌流行情况、分布情况和血清型种类.通过采集西藏全区七地市牦牛腹泻粪便,利用细菌培养特性、生化特性和分子生物学方法对样品中细菌进行分离鉴定,再根据血清特异性凝集对分离菌株进行血清分型,最后利用动物感染试验和动物组织HE染色法了解菌株致病性强弱.结果表明：西藏全区共分离出50株沙门菌,检出率为25.13%（50/199）.其中,拉萨、昌都和山南三地分离率相较于其他四地较高,阿里地区分离率最低;血清型分型结果显示,共分离出B群、C1群、C2群、D群4种血清群,包含都柏林沙门菌、伤寒沙门菌、阿邦尼沙门菌等血清型共18种血清型.按血清群统计结果显示,4种血清群中,以D群所占血清菌株最多,为常见血清群;50株沙门菌种以都柏林沙门菌为优势血清型,占所有菌株的20.00%（10/50）;从各地区沙门菌分型结果显示,各地区所占血清群、血清型数量均不相同.致病性试验结果显示：牦牛源都柏林沙门菌感染KM小鼠的LD₅₀为0.368×10⁸CFU/mL,属强致死性菌株;组织HE染色观察结果显示牦牛源都柏林沙门菌可引起宿主全身性损坏,其中...     

鸡大肠杆菌病致病因素及其研究进展

对鸡大肠杆菌致病力或毒力因子等相关致病因素作了简要概述,讨论了相关领域的研究进展.1）大肠杆菌的菌毛抗原是一种特异蛋白质,可以被免疫系统所识别,因此在疾病的免疫预防和相关疫苗研制等方面有着重要意义.2）鸡大肠杆菌肠毒素中LTB和STn亚单位具有良好的免疫原性,认为在降低ST的生物毒性有所突破的前提下,借用基因重组融合技术以及优化重组基因表达,是利用该毒素因子免疫防治的发展趋势.3）诸多实验研究表明,提纯的大肠杆菌OMP或通过基因工程表达的OMP同样具有良好的免疫原性和保护作用.某些细菌的不同血清型间有相同的OMP免疫原,这为OMP亚单位疫苗以至于基因疫苗的研发都提供了理论基础.     

胞壁形式表达融合蛋白Der p2-PEB1重组BCG的构建和鉴定

利用重组BCG技术,构建能以胞壁形式表达屋尘螨Der p2和PEB1抗原的重组BCG口服哮喘疫苗pCW-Der p2-PEB1-rBCG,以pCW-Der p2质粒和pUC-PEB1质粒DNA为模板扩增基因,构建出重组质粒pCW-Der p2-PEB1.将重组质粒电穿导入BCG感受态细胞,潮霉素抗性筛选rBCG阳性克隆.阳性rBCG经PCR特异性扩增目的基因片段Der p2及PEB1,证实其中含有目的基因.用抗Der p2单克隆抗体和制备的小鼠PEB1抗血清对rBCG进行间接免疫荧光鉴定.结果成功扩增了Der p2及PEB1基因,构建出重组质粒pCW-Der p2-PEB1,并将质粒电穿入BCG中,免疫荧光法鉴定其成功.说明成功地构建了胞壁表达Der p2-PEB1融合蛋白重组BCG pCW-Der p2-PEB1-rBCG.为基因工程疫苗的研制奠定了基础.     

Insights on evolution of virulence and resistance from the whole-genome analysis of a predominant methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus clone sequence type 239 in China

Earlier, we reported that ST239 was the 15-year predominant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus （MRSA） clone in China. In this study, MRSA strain CN79 belonging to ST239 and isolated from blood was used to determine the whole tive genomics analysis was genome sequence. Compara- done between MRSA CN79 and 25 sequenced S. aureus in the NCBI GenBank data- base. A total of 2,734 protein-encoding genes were iden- tified in the MRSA CN79 genome, which carries 11 antibiotic resistance genes and 65 virulence genes. Two prophages phiCN79A and phiNM3-1ike were found on the MRSA CN79 genome. MRSA CN79 carries 30 specific genes that are absent from the 25 sequenced S. aureus genomes. Most of them were prophage-related genes. Several antibiotic resistance genes, such as [3-1actamase and ABC-type multidrug transport system gene, were located on the genomic island vSal3. The antibiotic resis- tance genes, such as tet （M）, ermA1, and blaZ, were also located on different transposons. The virulence genes sea,map, hlb, and sak are located on phiNM3-1ike prophage and the exotoxin genes are carried on the genomic island vSaa. These results suggest that ST239 MRSA strains are widespread owing to horizontal acquisition of the mobile genetic elements harbored antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes in response to environmental selective pressures, such as antibiotics and the human immune sys- tem during evolution.     

针对不同来源金黄色葡萄球菌分离菌株的agr Ⅰ-Ⅳ分型初探

目的:金黄色葡萄球菌附属基因调节子(agr)位点是一个全面的群集感应系统并且控制着毒力因子的产生,本研究旨在针对不同来源的金黄色葡萄球菌分离菌株进行agr Ⅰ-Ⅳ基因分型研究.方法:根据金黄色葡萄球菌agrⅠ-Ⅳ基因组别类型的引物,对五种不同来源的169株金黄色葡萄球菌DNA模板进行多重PCR扩增,获得目的基因,以判断agr基因型.结果:169株分离菌株中,agrⅡ型的检出率为19%(32/169),agrⅢ型检出率为12%(20/169),agrⅣ型检出率为8%(14/169),五种不同来源的金黄色葡萄球菌均有检出agrⅡ型,均未检出agrⅠ型,并且都含有未能分型的agr阴性菌株.研究结果表明不同来源金黄色葡萄球菌分离菌株中agr Ⅰ-Ⅳ基因型的流行情况.该方法对于金黄色葡萄球菌菌株分子分型有一定的借鉴意义,也为金黄色葡萄球菌菌株分子流行病学调查奠定一定的基础.