钩端螺旋体多抗原肽的构建及免疫性分析

目的 构建问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)主要外膜蛋白OmpL1、LipL21和LipL32优势抗原表位的串联基因及其表达系统,了解该重组蛋白的免疫活性.方法 采用噬菌体M13KE表面展示技术结合Western blot分析,鉴定了OmpLl、LipL21和LipL32的优势抗原表位,人工合成优势抗原表位串联基因并构建其原核表达系统.SDS-PAGE检测重组蛋白的表达情况;Western blot及ELISA鉴定重组蛋白的免疫活性.结果 该合成基因在原核表达系统中得到了有效表达,且表达产物主要以可溶性形式存在.Western blot和ELISA结果 显示该重组蛋白能与兔抗钩体全菌抗体及不同血清群的钩体病人血清中的抗体产生免疫反应.结论 本研究成功构建了钩体多表位串联基因及其表达系统,所表达目的 蛋白具有良好的免疫活性,且对不同血清群型抗体之间均有免疫原活性.     

问号钩端螺旋体血清群LipL41基因型分析及其表达产物的免疫学鉴定

目的 确定我国15群15株问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)参考标准株和2群2株双曲钩体国际标准株携带LipL41基因情况，构建该基因的原核表达系统，鉴定表达产物的免疫原性。方法 常规酚—氯仿法提取上述17株钩体基因组DNA，高保真PCR扩增全长LipL41基因片段，T—A克隆后测序分型。构建LipL41基因原核表达系统，SDS-PAGE检测重组目的蛋白(rLipL41)表达情况。分别用钩体属特异性TP/patoe Ⅰ抗原、rLipL41兔抗血清的Western blot鉴定其免疫反应性和抗原性。分别用显微镜凝集试验(MAT)、钩体黏附J774A．1细胞模型检测兔抗rLipL41血清的交叉凝集效价和黏附阻断作用。结果 15株问号钩体均有LipL41基因，并可分为LipL41／1和LipL41／2两种基因型，2株双曲钩体则否。11个LipL41／1基因和4个LipL41／2基因克隆之间的核苷酸和氨基酸序列相似性分别为88．61％—88．67％和93．24％—97．18％。所构建的原核表达系统rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2的表达量分别占钩体总蛋白的30％和40％。rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2均能与TP/patoe Ⅰ抗血清发生结合反应，免疫家兔能产生抗体。rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2兔抗血清对上述15株问号钩体MAT效价为1：8，1：128、1：16～1：2．S6稀释时均能有效地阻断钩体对细胞的黏附。结论 我国主要的15群问号钩体代表株均有LipL41／1或LipL41／2基因。所构建原核表达系统能高效表达rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2。rLipL41／1和rLipL41／2是具有良好抗原性和免疫反应性、广泛存在于不同血清群问号钩体表面的蛋白抗原。     

问号钩端螺旋体属特异性外膜蛋白OmpL1和LipL21抗原表位预测及鉴定

目的 筛选问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)属特异性外膜蛋白OmpL1和LipL21有效T和B细胞联合抗原表位,为研制多抗原肽(multiple antigenic peptide,MAP)疫苗提供基础.方法 采用生物信息学方法预测OmpL1和LipL21分子中T和B细胞联合抗原表位.采用PCR扩增候选联合抗原表位片段并分别构建其噬菌体展示系统.分别以rOmpL1或rLipL21、黄疸出血群赖株、钩体患者抗血清为一抗,采用Western blot检测各抗血清与目的表位的免疫反应性及其强度.结果 通过抗原表位预测,选择了高分值的4个OmpLl和2个LipL21联合表位.经扩增获得了预期的各抗原表位片段,各目的表位序列均准确插入噬菌体PⅢ蛋白N端并有效表达.各抗血清均能识别上述6个联合表位.其中LipL21的97～112和176-184表位对任一抗血清均显示相似强度的杂交条带.综合4个OmpL1表位对3种抗血清的不同Western blot结果及其实际意义,杂交信号从强到弱依次为173～191、87～98、297～320和59～78表位.结论 所研究的6个联合表位均分别为LipL21和OmpL1的有效抗原表位,其中LipL21的97～112、176～184和OmpL1的87～98、173～191表位可应用于钩体MAP疫苗研制.     

我国主要问号钩端螺旋体血清群lipL21基因序列及其产物免疫反应性分析

目的 分析我国15群15型问号钩端螺旋体（简称钩体）参考标准株外膜脂蛋白lipL21基因序列，构建该基因原核表达系统并鉴定表达产物的免疫原性，了解lipL21基因自然表达状况。方法 高保真PCR扩增上述问号钩体株及双曲钩体Paloc型PalocⅠ株基因组DNA中全长lipL21基因片段，T-A克隆后测序并构建其原核表达系统。分别用钩体TR/PatocⅠ和rLipL21兔抗血清为一抗的Western blot鉴定目的重组蛋白rLipL21的免疫原性，显微镜凝集试验（MAT）检测rLipL21兔抗血清的交叉凝集效价。以盐变-去垢剂处理法提取钩体外膜蛋白，用SDS-PAGE和免疫印迹法检测上述钩体株lipL21基因自然表达情况。结果 上述钩体株均存在序列高度保守的lipL21基因，其核苷酸和氨基酸序列相似性分别为98．75％～99．82％和99．46％～100％。rLipL21能与TR/PatocⅠ及rLipL21兔抗血清发生结合反应。rLipL21免疫家兔能产生抗体，该抗体对上述15株问号钩体MAT效价为1：16～1：128。问号钩体外膜标本中均可检出LipL21，双曲钩体则否。结论 我国钩体群参考标准株均含有序列保守的lipL21基因并自然表达于外膜，双曲钩体PatocⅠ株虽含有lipL21基因但未表达。rLipL21具有良好的抗原性和免疫反应性，有可能作为新型钩体疫苗或检测试剂盒的候选属特异性表面抗原之一。     

问号钩端螺旋体鞭毛蛋白相关蛋白FliH/Ⅰ/Y/N基因原核表达和膜定位

目的 克隆问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)鞭毛相关蛋白编码jliH、fliⅠfliH、和fliN并构建其原核表达系统,制备表达产物抗血清并了解其蛋白的定位.方法 以苯酚-氯仿法提取的问号钩体黄疸出血群赖型赖株基凶组DNA为模板,用PCR扩增全长fliH,fliⅠ,firY和flfliN基因片段,T-A克隆后测序,继而构建上述目的 基因克隆的原核表达系统.采用SDS-PAGE和BioRad凝胶图像分析系统检查重组蛋白rFliH、rFliI、rFliY和rHiN的表达情况,Ni-NTA亲和层析法提纯目的 表达产物.皮下免疫家兔获得4种目的 重组蛋白抗血清,用ELISA和Western blot分别检测抗血清效价并了解抗血清与相应抗原结合的能力.采用免疫电镜技术对FliH、FliⅠ、FliY和FliN进行定位.结果 PCR扩增获得大小分别为924、1365、1065和318 bp的全长fliH,fliⅠ,fliY和fliN基因片段,与报道的序列比较.其核苷酸和氨基酸序列相似性均为100%.所构建的原核表达系统均能有效地表达目的 重组蛋白,其产量均约为20%.rFliH、rFliⅠ、rFliY和rHiN蛋白免疫家兔后能产生抗体,其兔抗血清ELISA效价达到1:100 000以上,并分别识别钩体相应重组蛋白和膜蛋白提取物而出现明显的Westem杂交条带.FiH、FliⅠ、FliY和FliN蛋白分布于问号钩体内膜、外膜或内外膜之间.结论 本研究成功地构建了能高效表达问号钩体鞭毛相关蛋白FliH、FliⅠ、FIiY和HiN的原核表达系统,并获得了能有效识别上述蛋白抗原的高效价抗血清.鞭毛相关蛋白HiH、Flil、FliY和FIiN是问号钩体内膜或外膜蛋白成分.     

问号钩端螺旋体血清群LipL32基因型分析及其重组蛋白的免疫学鉴定

目的　探讨 15群 15型问号钩端螺旋体 (简称钩体 )中国参考标准株及 2群 2型双曲钩体国际参考标准株是否均存在主要外膜蛋白 (MOMP)基因 (LipL32 ) ,克隆并构建该基因的原核表达系统 ,鉴定表达产物的免疫性。方法　常规酚 氯仿法提取上述钩体株基因组DNA ,高保真PCR扩增全长LipL32基因片段 ,T A克隆后测定核苷酸序列并构建表达系统 ,不同浓度IPTG诱导后用SDS PAGE检测rMOMP表达情况。分别用兔抗TR patocⅠ钩体全菌抗血清、rMOMPs免疫兔血清的Westernblot鉴定其免疫反应性和免疫原性 ,显微镜凝集试验 (MAT)检测rMOMPs免疫兔血清的交叉凝集效价 ,钩体细胞黏附模型检测抗体阻断效果。结果　上述 17株钩体均有LipL32基因 ,但可分LipL32 1和LipL32 2两种基因型。 13个LipL32 1和 4个Li pL32 2基因型之间核苷酸和氨基酸序列同源性分别为 95 .12 %～ 96 .6 0 %和 97.79%～ 98.16 %。IPTG诱导后rMOMP1和rMOMP2表达量分别占细菌总蛋白的 4 0 %和 10 %。rMOMP1和rMOMP2均能与兔抗钩体TR patocⅠ血清发生结合反应 ,免疫家兔可对上述 17株钩体产生 1∶2～ 1∶6 4MAT效价的凝集抗体。 1∶2～ 1∶16稀释的兔抗rMOMP1和rMOMP2血清均能有效地阻断钩体的黏附。结论　所有检测的钩体具有LipL32 1或LipL32 2基因。所     

问号钩端螺旋体rLTB/rCTB-LipL32/1免疫保护作用及野生株LipL32基因表达和患者抗体检测

目的构建LTB—LipL32／1和CTB—LipL32／1融合基因原核表达系统并鉴定其表达产物的免疫和佐剂活性及保护作用，了解问号钩端螺旋体(简称钩体)野生株LipL32基因携带、表达及钩体病人血清LipL32基因产物抗体产生频率。方法采用常规分子生物学技术构建LTB—LipL32／1和CTB—LipL32／1融合基因及其原核表达系统。采用SDS-PAGE检测目的重组蛋白rLTB-LipL32／1及rCTB-LipL32／1表达情况。分别采用Western blot和GM1-ELISA检测rLTB-LipL32／1及rCTB—LipL32／1的免疫反应性和佐剂活性。采用PCR和MAT分别检测97株问号钩体野生株LipL32基因及其表达情况。采用ELISA检测228例钩体病人血清LipL32基因产物的抗体。采用豚鼠保护试验检测重组蛋白的免疫保护作用。结果与报道的相关序列比较，LTB—LipL32／1和CTB-LipL32／1融合基因核苷酸序列相似性分别为99．12％～99．71％和98．54％～99．42％，氨基酸序列相似性分别为97．58％-99．63％和96．77％～99．63％。rLTB-LipL32／1和rCTB—LipL32／1表达产量均约为细菌总蛋白的10％，并主要以包涵体形式存在。rLTB—LipL32／1和rCTB-LipL32／1均分别能与LipL32／1兔抗血清和牛GMI结合。97．9％(95／97)问号钩体野生株含有LipL32基因，95．9％(93／97)问号钩体野生株与rLipL32／1和rLipL32／2兔抗血清的MAT结果阳性。97．4％(222／228)和94．7％(216／228)的病人血清rLipL32／1和rLipL32／2抗体阳性。rLTB-LipL32／1、rCTB-LipL32／1和rLipL32／1豚鼠保护率分别为75．0％、75．0％～87．5％、50．O％～62．5％。结论成功构建了LTB—LipL32／1和CTB—LipL32／1融合基因及其原核表达系统。rLTB-LipL32／1和rCTB-LipL32／1融合蛋白有良好的抗原性和佐剂活性及一定的免疫保护作用，具有成为问号钩体属特异性疫苗的良好前景。LipL32／1是不同问号钩体血清群中广泛存在、序列保守、高频率表达的基因。     

问号钩端螺旋体ompA基因分析及其重组表达产物的免疫学鉴定

目的 了解我国15群15株问号钩端螺旋体(简称问号钩体)参考标准株携带ompA基因情况,重组表达OmpA(rOmpA)并鉴定rOmpA的免疫原性和免疫保护性.方法 采用酚-氯仿法提取问号钩体基因组DNA,PCR扩增全长ompA基因,T-A克隆后测序.构建问号钩体黄疸出血群赖型56601株ompA基因的原核表达系统,采用SDS-PAGE及Bio-Rad凝胶}冬{像分析系统检测rOmpA表达情况及其产鼍.rOmpA免疫家兔以获得抗血清,采用免疫扩散试验检测抗血清效价.采用Western blot检测rOmpA与其抗血清和问号钩体56601株全菌抗血清的免疫反应性,显微镜凝集试验(MAT)检测rOmpA抗血清对15株问号钩体的交叉凝集情况.分别采用问号钩体黏附J774A.1细胞模型和豚鼠感染模型,了解rOmpA兔抗血清黏附阻断及rOmpA免疫保护作用.结果 15株问号钩体均含有序列保守的ompA基因,双曲钩体Patocl株则否.rOmpA表达量约占细菌总蛋白的20%.rOmpA能诱导家兔产生抗体,其抗血清免疫扩散效价为1:4.兔抗血清及问号钩体56601株全菌抗血清均能与rOmpA产生阳性Western blot信号.rOmpA抗血清对15株问号钩体的MAT效价为1:20～1:320.1:10～1:160稀释的rOmpA抗血清均能阻断问号钩体黏附J774A.1细胞,100μg和200μg rOmpA对豚鼠的免疫保护率分别为50.0%和75.0%.结论 ompA基因仅存在于不同血清群致病性问号钩体基因组中.rOmpA具有较好的抗原性,多种免疫学方法 检测显示,有可能作为通用型问号钩体基因上程疫苗的候选抗原.     

钩端螺旋体抗原表位预测、重组、表达及免疫原性分析

目的应用生物信息学方法预测两种钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白的表位，结合基因工程手段进行表位重组、表达和免疫原性分析。方法用预测程序ProPred和ANTIGENIC预测LipL32和OmpL1的表位，应用PCR技术合成重组表位基因片段，克隆PCR产物构建重组质粒，测序验证。在BL21（DE3）中诱导表达融合蛋白。纯化该融合蛋白，免疫BALB／c小鼠，显微镜凝集试验（MAT法）测定抗体效价。结果在LipL32和OmpL1中各预测到2个既具有MHC结合肽特性又具有B细胞表位特征的肽段。PCR合成的重组表位基因序列中没有出现移码和碱基置换。纯化后融合蛋白纯度〉90％。融合蛋白产生的抗体效价为75．79，融合头（运载蛋白）抗体效价为10．62。结论重组表位具有一定免疫原性。为相关蛋白的表位重组和亚单位疫苗等方面的研究打下了良好的基础。     

问号钩端螺旋体铁离子调节蛋白A的免疫原性及保守性研究

目的克隆表达和鉴定问号钩端螺旋体（L．interrogans，简称钩体）黄疸出血群赖型赖株中铁离子调节蛋白A（IRPA），研究IRPA的免疫原性和在不同钩体菌种中的保守性，探讨其在致病和疫苗研究中的意义。方法生物信息学软件分析预测IRPA的特征。构建原核表达质粒pQE31-IRPA，经IPTC诱导后用SDS-PAGE及Western blot鉴定表达情况。用表达的重组蛋白免疫BALB／c小鼠，Western blot检测其免疫原性和在不同血清型钩体中的保守性。ELISA和Western blot检测钩体全菌兔抗血清中的IRPA抗体。结果生物信息学预测结果显示，IRPA是可能位于外膜的脂蛋白，在钩体内有多个蛋白可能与之相互作用。成功克隆表达了重组质粒pQE31-IRPA，重组蛋白能刺激BALB／c小鼠产生抗体（效价为1：32000），并能与相应抗体反应，具有良好的免疫原性。在15株不同血清型的问号钩体及1株双曲钩体（L．biflex）中均可检测到重组蛋白的表达，并在钩体全菌兔抗血清中检测到其抗体。结论IRPA具有良好的免疫原性和保守性，为进一步研究其在钩体病中的作用机制及其作为候选基因疫苗的研究奠定了基础。     

赖型钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白LipL32基因真核表达载体的构建及表达的初步研究

目的:构建赖型钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白LipL32基因真核表达载体并在COS-7细胞中表达,为钩端螺旋体DNA疫苗的研究和开发奠定基础.方法:从赖型钩端螺旋体017株全基因组中PCR扩增出目的基因,双酶切构建重组质粒pcDNA3.1-LipL32.脂质体转染法将重组质粒转染COS-7细胞,通过RT-PCR、Western blot检测目的基因的表达.结果:成功构建了LipL32基因的真核表达载体,并在COS-7细胞中获得瞬时和稳定表达.结论:赖型钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白LipL32基因真核表达载体能在哺乳动物细胞内表达,为钩端螺旋体DNA疫苗的应用提供了实验依据.     

BirA酶基因表达载体的构建、原核表达及表达产物的活性鉴定

目的:构建生物素-蛋白连接酶(BirA酶)基因的表达载体,并在大肠杆菌BL-21(DE3)中表达具有生物学活性的BirA酶。方法:用PCR法扩增BirA酶基因。将PCR产物克隆入pGEX-4T-2中构建BirA酶-GST融合蛋白基因的重组表达载体pGEX-BirA。经测序验证后,在大肠杆菌BL-21(DE3)中诱导表达,表达产物采用谷胱苷肽-琼脂糖层析柱进行纯化。以带有生物素酶底物肽(BirAsubstratepeptide,BSP)的HLA-A2-肽复合物为底物,用ELISA和Westernblot鉴定表达产物的生物素化活性。结果:构建了pGEX-BirA原核表达质粒,并在大肠杆菌BL-21(DE3)中诱导表达Mr为61300的BirA酶-GST融合蛋白,表达产物经谷胱苷肽-琼脂糖层析柱纯化后,得到N端带有GST标签的BirA酶蛋白。ELISA和Westernblot的结果显示,表达产物能使HLA-A2-肽复合物生物素化。结论:成功地制备了具有生物学活性的Bi-rA酶,为研究蛋白质分子的相互作用提供了有效的制剂。     

中国强毒力赖型钩端螺旋体外膜蛋白基因的克隆表达及对大肠杆菌活力的影响

目的:构建表达致病性赖型 017株钩端螺旋体OmpL1外膜蛋白的真核-原核穿梭表达载体,并在原核细胞中表达出目的蛋白。方法:用PCR方法从 017株钩体基因组中钓出OmpL1蛋白基因,酶切纯化后与质粒pBK-CMV连接,通过电泳、限制性内切酶分析及PCR鉴定筛选出正确重组质粒。重组质粒在大肠杆菌中诱导表达后提取总蛋白以SDS-PAGE检测表达情况,同时监测目的蛋白表达前后各时段宿主菌OD600值的变化。结果:筛选出 5株带重组质粒菌,其中有 4株能在大肠杆菌中表达 37kD的特异蛋白,而且随着该外源蛋白的表达,宿主菌生长各时段的OD600值下降。结论:成功地构建了钩体OmpL1蛋白的穿梭表达质粒,并在大肠杆菌中表达出OmpL1融合蛋白,该异源蛋白的表达导致宿主菌的活力降低。本工作为OmpL1蛋白用于钩体病诊断、疫苗研制和致病机制的研究奠定了基础.     

Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the gene encoding LipL41, a surface-exposed lipoprotein of pathogenic Leptospira species.

We report the cloning of the gene encoding a surface-exposed leptospiral lipoprotein, designated LipL41. In a previous study, a 41-kDa protein antigen was identified on the surface of Leptospira kirschneri (D. A. Haake, E. M. Walker, D. R. Blanco, C. A. Bolin, J. N. Miller, and M. A. Lovett, Infect. Immun. 59:1131-1140, 1991). We obtained the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a staphylococcal V8 proteolytic-digest fragment in order to design an oligonucleotide probe.A Lambda ZAP II library containing EcoRI fragments of L. kirschneri DNA was screened, and a 2.3-kb DNA fragment which contained the entire structural lipL41 gene was identified. The deduced amino acid sequence of LipL41 would encode a 355-amino-acid polypeptide with a 19-amino-acid signal peptide, followed by an L-X-Y-C lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site. A recombinant His6-LipL41 fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli in order to generate specific rabbit antiserum. LipL41 is solubilized by Triton X-114 extraction of L. kirschneri; phase separation results in partitioning of LipL41 exclusively into the detergent phase. At least eight proteins, including LipL41 and the other major Triton X-114 detergent phase proteins, are intrinsically labeled during incubation of L. kirschneri in media containing [3H] palmitate. Processing of LipL41 is inhibited by globomycin, a selective inhibitor of lipoprotein signal peptidase. Triton X-100 extracts of L. kirschneri contain immunoprecipitable OmpL1 (porin), LipL41, and another lipoprotein, LipL36. However, in contrast to LipL36, only LipL41 and OmpL1 were exposed on the surface of intact organisms. Immunoblot analysis of a panel of Leptospira species reveals that LipL41 expression is highly conserved among leptospiral pathogens.     

Leptospiral outer membrane proteins OmpL1 and LipL41 exhibit synergistic immunoprotection

New vaccine strategies are needed for prevention of leptospirosis, a widespread human and veterinary disease caused by invasive spirochetes belonging to the genus Leptospira. We have examined the immunoprotective capacity of the leptospiral porin OmpL1 and the leptospiral outer membrane lipoprotein LipL41 in the Golden Syrian hamster model of leptospirosis. Specialized expression plasmids were developed to facilitate expression of leptospiral proteins in Escherichia coli as the membrane-associated proteins OmpL1-M and LipL41-M. Although OmpL1-M expression is highly toxic in E. coli, this was accomplished by using plasmid pMMB66-OmpL1, which has undetectable background expression without induction. LipL41-M expression and processing were enhanced by altering its lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site to mimic that of the murein lipoprotein. Active immunization of hamsters with E. coli membrane fractions containing a combination of OmpL1-M and LipL41-M was found to provide significant protection against homologous challenge with Leptospira kirschneri serovar grippotyphosa. At 28 days after intraperitoneal inoculation, survival in animals vaccinated with both proteins was 71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53 to 89%), compared with only 25% (95% CI, 8 to 42%) in the control group (P < 0.001). On the basis of serological, histological, and microbiological assays, no evidence of infection was found in the vaccinated survivors. The protective effects of immunization with OmpL1-M and LipL41-M were synergistic, since significant levels of protection were not observed in animals immunized with either OmpL1-M or LipL41-M alone. In contrast to immunization with the membrane-associated forms of leptospiral proteins, hamsters immunized with His(6)-OmpL1 and His(6)-LipL41 fusion proteins, either alone or in combination, were not protected. These data indicate that the manner in which OmpL1 and LipL41 associates with membranes is an important determinant of immunoprotection.     

LipL21 is a novel surface-exposed lipoprotein of pathogenic Leptospira species

Leptospira is the etiologic agent of leptospirosis, a bacterial zoonosis distributed worldwide. Leptospiral lipopolysaccharide is a protective immunogen, but the extensive serological diversity of leptospires has inspired a search for conserved outer membrane proteins (OMPs) that may stimulate heterologous immunity. Previously, a global analysis of leptospiral OMPs (P. A. Cullen, S. J. Cordwell, D. M. Bulach, D. A. Haake, and B. Adler, Infect. Immun. 70:2311-2318, 2002) identified pL21, a novel 21-kDa protein that is the second most abundant constituent of the Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai outer membrane proteome. In this study, we identified the gene encoding pL21 and found it to encode a putative lipoprotein; accordingly, the protein was renamed LipL21. Southern hybridization analysis revealed the presence of lipL21 in all of the pathogenic species but in none of the saprophytic species examined. Alignment of the LipL21 sequence from six strains of Leptospira revealed 96 to 100% identity. When specific polyclonal antisera to recombinant LipL21 were used, LipL21 was isolated together with other known leptospiral OMPs by both Triton X-114 extraction and sucrose density gradient membrane fractionation. All nine strains of pathogenic leptospires investigated by Western blotting, whether culture attenuated or virulent, were found to express LipL21. In contrast, the expression of LipL21 or an antigenically related protein could not be detected in nonpathogenic L. biflexa. Infected hamster sera and two of eight human leptospirosis sera tested were found to react with recombinant LipL21. Native LipL21 was found to incorporate tritiated palmitic acid, consistent with the prediction of a lipoprotein signal peptidase cleavage site. Biotinylation of the leptospiral surface resulted in selective labeling of LipL21 and the previously known OMPs LipL32 and LipL41. These findings show that LipL21 is a surface-exposed, abundant outer membrane lipoprotein that is expressed during infection and conserved among pathogenic Leptospira species.     

Expression and characterization of an iron-regulated hemin-binding protein, HbpA, from Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai

In an earlier study, based on the ferric enterobactin receptor FepA of Escherichia coli, we identified and modeled a TonB-dependent outer membrane receptor protein (LB191) from the genome of Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai. Based on in silico analysis, we hypothesized that this protein was an iron-dependent hemin-binding protein. In this study, we provide experimental evidence to prove that this protein, termed HbpA (hemin-binding protein A), is indeed an iron-regulated hemin-binding protein. We cloned and expressed the full-length 81-kDa recombinant rHbpA protein and a truncated 55-kDa protein from L. interrogans serovar Lai, both of which bind hemin-agarose. Assay of hemin-associated peroxidase activity and spectrofluorimetric analysis provided confirmatory evidence of hemin binding by HbpA. Immunofluorescence studies by confocal microscopy and the microscopic agglutination test demonstrated the surface localization and the iron-regulated expression of HbpA in L. interrogans. Southern blot analysis confirmed our earlier observation that the hbpA gene was present only in some of the pathogenic serovars and was absent in Leptospira biflexa. Hemin-agarose affinity studies showed another hemin-binding protein with a molecular mass of approximately 44 kDa, whose expression was independent of iron levels. This protein was seen in several serovars, including nonpathogenic L. biflexa. Sequence analysis and immunoreactivity with specific antibodies showed this protein to be LipL41.     

赖型钩端螺旋体外膜脂蛋白LipL41基因真核表达质粒的构建及表达

目的：构建赖型钩端螺旋体LipL41基因的真核重组表达质粒、并对其表达进行检测。方法： 以赖型钩端螺旋体017株基因组DNA为模板PCR扩增目的基因，克隆至原核表达质粒pGEX-4T-1上。测序分析后酶切，并连接至真核表达质粒pcDNA3上，构建真核重组表达质粒LipL41-pCDNA3。利用脂质体介导转染COS7细胞，提取细胞总RNA，RT-PCR检测其表达。结果： PCR扩增出1 011 bp大小的目的片段，序列分析显示它与Leptospira kirschneri的LipL41基因成熟肽序列同源性高达98%。酶切鉴定证实真核重组表达质粒LipL41-pCDNA3构建成功，RT-PCR检测显示，LipL41-pCDNA3转染组在大约1kb处出现特异的扩增带，而空质粒组无此条带。结论：LipL41的真核重组表达质粒构建成功，并可在哺乳动物细胞中表达。