Inactivation of the Mycobacterium bovis homologue of the polymorphic RD1 gene Rv3879c (Mb3909c) does not affect virulence

The RD1 locus is deleted from all strains of Mycobacterium bovis BCG but present in virulent isolates of M. bovis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The RD1 gene Rv3879c encodes a proline- and alanine-rich protein that shows sequence polymorphism across members of the M. tuberculosis complex. The role of this protein in virulence was investigated by deleting the Rv3879c homologue from M. bovis (Mb3909c) and testing the virulence of the mutant in the guinea pig model. The M. bovis Delta Mb3909c mutant was not attenuated in the guinea pig model, showing that this gene does not encode a virulence factor and plays no role in the attenuation caused by loss of RD1.     

Deletion of the putative antioxidant noxR1 does not alter the virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.

SETTING: The cloned M. tuberculosis noxR1 gene has been shown to confer resistance to reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) upon Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of noxR1 in resistance to RNI and virulence of M. tuberculosis. DESIGN: The noxR1 gene was deleted from M. bovis BCG and M. tuberculosis H37Rv by allelic exchange. The mutants were compared to wild type strains with respect to resistance to chemically generated RNI. The virulence of the M. tuberculosis mutant was investigated in a murine model of infection. RESULTS: The NoxR1 mutants grew normally in Sautons and 7H9 broths. The BCG mutant demonstrated decreased resistance to in vitro generated RNI compared to the wild type. Resistance to RNI could be restored to the mutant by reintroduction of the noxR1 locus on a replicating plasmid. However, deletion of noxR1 from M. tuberculosis H37Rv did not result in decreased resistance to RNI nor a difference in growth and survival of the bacterium during murine infection. CONCLUSION: The noxR1 gene locus in M. bovis BCG bestows ability to resist RNI generated in vitro. In M. tuberculosis H37Rv, however, noxR1 is either not involved in RNI resistance and virulence or is better compensated for by other mechanisms.     

Selective identification of new therapeutic targets of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by IVIAT approach

The in vivo induced antigen technology (IVIAT)(1) has been used for the identification of open reading frames (ORFs) which could be possible therapeutic targets. A recombinant lambdagt11:: Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv expression library was screened with pooled TB patient sera preabsorbed with in vitro grown M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Preabsorption of pooled TB patient sera allowed identification of antigens specifically expressed or upregulated during infection and growth in vivo. Six ORFs were identified, of which four (rv0287, rv2402, rv3878 and rv1045) were of hypothetical functions. Rv0287 is a probable regulatory protein. Rv3878 is present uniquely in M. tuberculosis H37Rv and is a part of RDI deletion region of M. bovis BCG, which includes esat 6 region. This could be exploited as a tool for diagnosis. Two ORFs were assigned function solely on the basis of homology, dnaQ (rv3711c) and lpdA (rv3303c). dnaQ codes for the epsilon subunit of DNA polymerase III, which is responsible for the proofreading activity of the complex. lpdA codes for dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase, which is a part of many multienzyme complexes such as pyruvate dehydrogenase, keto-acid dehydrogenase and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. These two enzymes appear to be potential targets for drug development.     

重组结核分枝杆菌CFP10-ESAT-6融合蛋白的制备及应用研究

目的 制备重组培养滤液蛋白10和6000早期分泌性抗原靶的融合蛋白(rCFPlO-ESAT-6)，研究其免疫学特性，评价其在结核病血清学诊断中的价值。方法 用基因拼接(Gene SOEing)法扩增lhp-ESAT-6融合基因、并克隆人pQE30质粒，表达、纯化rCFPl0-ESAT-6蛋白，通过Western blot分析其抗原性。建立豚鼠BCG免疫模型和结核分枝杆菌强毒株(H37Rv)感染模型，建立以融合蛋白为抗原的酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)法，检测豚鼠血清中的抗结核分枝杆菌抗体，并与以纯化蛋白衍生物(PPD)为抗原的ELISA法比较。结果 重组质粒pQE30-CFPl0-ESAT-6靶基因的测序结果与预计序列(lhp-linker-ESAT-6)完全一致。融合蛋白在DH5α菌中以可溶性非包涵体形式存在，表达量占菌体总蛋白的40％，分子质量为26000，纯化后的蛋白纯度为98％，浓度为1.2g／L。Western blot分析表明，融合蛋白与活动性肺结核患血清、兔抗CFP10血清和兔抗ESAT-6血清都能发生特异性免疫反应。以10只生理盐水处理豚鼠血清的平均吸光度(A)值 2s为正常界限值，以融合蛋白为抗原，11份H37Rv感染豚鼠血清全部呈阳性反应，11份BCG免疫豚鼠血清仅1份呈阳性反应；以PPD为抗原，11份H37Rv感染豚鼠血清全部呈阳性反应，11份BCG免疫豚鼠血清也全部呈阳性反应。结论 pQE30-CFPl0-ESAT-6 DH5α菌能高效表达rCFPl0-ESAT-6融合蛋白，该蛋白兼具CFPl0和ESAT-6两种蛋白的抗原性，能特异性区分豚鼠因H37Rv感染和BCG免疫后产生的抗结核分枝杆菌抗体。本研究为rCFPl0-ESAT-6融合蛋白在结核病血清学诊断中的应用奠定了基础。     

Survival of mice infected with Mycobacterium smegmatis containing large DNA fragments from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium smegmatis is typically used as a bacterial host for cloning and expressing single genes or genomic libraries of the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To study virulence of M. tuberculosis, we set out to ask the question, whether a genomic library derived from M. tuberculosis H37Rv confers virulence to the non-virulent M. smegmatis. A representative library from the M. tuberculosis H37Rv genome was generated and transformed into wild-type M. smegmatis. Mice were challenged with recombinant clones by intravenous, aerogenic and intranasal infection. We were unable to detect either growth or persistence of recombinant clones in tissues of infected mice; instead, the infection was cleared. Since the concern that virulent traits might be transferred, bio-safety regulations often require the handling of these experiments at bio-safety Level 3. However, we failed to find any evidence that the M. tuberculosis library confers virulence when expressed in M. smegmatis. We suggest that the results, presented here, should fundamentally alter the containment requirements for similar experiments in the future.     

Expression, immunochemical characterization and localization of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein p27

Rv2108 is a gene of the PPE family of Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific for this bacterial complex and that may encode a putative protein p27. This gene was amplified, inserted into bacterial vectors, sequenced, and expressed as a recombinant protein. Specific antibodies to this protein were generated and used for immunochemical characterization and cellular localization. Mass spectrometric analysis of the expressed protein revealed a molecule that corresponded to the p27 putative protein. The expressed protein was immunologically active, and reacted with antibodies from tuberculosis patient sera. Specific immunoblot analysis confirmed the presence of the p27 antigen in Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain and in human clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis, but not in other mycobacteria tested. Western blot and immunoelectron microscopic analysis of BCG strain indicated that the p27 protein is localized in the membrane of the cell. The specific expression of the p27 protein in the M. tuberculosis complex could provide a novel specific complimentary diagnostic test for the presence of and infection with M. tuberculosis.     

结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因的克隆表达及其纯化

目的构建结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因的原核表达质粒,获得结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因的表达蛋白。方法制备结核分枝杆菌基因组DNA,采用聚合酶链反应(PCR)技术扩增目的基因片段;通过克隆载体pUC19构建质粒载体pUC19-Rv0867c,经序列测定证实正确,双酶切后连接于表达载体pPRO-EXHT,转化入大肠杆菌DH5α中,再经IPTG诱导表达带His标签的Rv0867c融合蛋白;用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)分析重组蛋白的相对分子质量大小及表达形式。结果成功扩增出了结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因,构建了具有正确基因序列的表达载体pPRO-EXHT-Rv0867c,转化入大肠杆菌DH5α中,经诱导产生高水平的表达产物。经SDS分析,在80 kD处出现新生蛋白带,凝胶薄层扫描检测表达量约占菌体蛋白的23.7%。该融合蛋白以包涵体的形式存在,用Ni²⁺-NTA纯化柱在变性条件下进行纯化。结论成功克隆了结核分枝杆菌Rv0867c基因并得到了其大肠杆菌表达产物,为进一步研究Rv0867c基因蛋白的活性及其功能,以及结核分枝杆菌快速促生长作用奠定了基础。     

Repetitive DNA sequence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: analysis of differential hybridization pattern with other mycobacteria

In order to generate specific DNA probes for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, restriction fragment length analysis was carried out with some of the mycobacterial species that fall within the tuberculosis complex. The presence of specific bands of 5.6 kb and 4.8 kb was revealed in the AluI DNA digest of M. tuberculosis. The hybridization profile of the 5.6-kb AluI DNA sequence, as judged by the Southern blot and dot blot hybridization experiments, revealed the presence of this sequence in M. tuberculosis H37Rv, M. tuberculosis H37Ra, M. bovis BCG as multiple copy and M. kansasii as single copy but this sequence was not present in M. avium, M. smegmatis, or M. vaccae genomes. Genomic clones corresponding to the 5.6-kb AluI fragment from M. tuberculosis H37Rv library made in the lambda gt11 expression vector were isolated.     

Molecular characterization of Mycobacterium bovis BCG: Romanian sub-strain.

The Romanian sub-strain used for BCG vaccine production was characterized by polymorphic GC-rich repetitive sequence (PGRS) restriction profile and IS6110 detection. For comparison, the Pasteur and Moscow Mycobacterium bovis BCG sub-strains, M. bovis AN5, and M. tuberculosis H37Rv were analyzed. The BCG sub-strains showed the same restriction profile for PGRS after Pvu II, BamH I and Sal I digestion. They could be distinguished from the strains M. bovis AN5 and M. tuberculosis H37Rv after Pvu II and Sal I digestion. Sal I can also distinguish between M. bovis AN5 and M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Digestion with Pvu II, Sal I, Sca I, Mlu I and BamH I gave identical profiles of IS6110 hybridization for the Romanian and Pasteur BCG substrains.     

重组分枝杆菌CFP10-ESAT6融合蛋白和CFP32的表达及其抗原性

目的 重组表达结核分枝杆菌CFP10和ESAT 6的融合蛋白及卡介苗（BCG）CFP32,分析其抗原性。 方法 用重组PCR从结核分枝杆菌标准株H37Rv基因组DNA中扩增获得融合基因cfp10-esat6;从BCG基因组DNA中扩增cfp32基因。经克隆和测序分析后,分别亚克隆至表达载体pQE-30和pET-23a(+),在大肠埃希菌BL21中表达重组蛋白,予以纯化、 鉴定,Western blot和间接ELISA分析重组蛋白的抗原性。 结果构建了重组表达质粒pQE30-cfp10-esat6和 pET-cfp32,表达了CFP10-ESAT6融合蛋白和CFP32。CFP10-ESAT6蛋白表达量约占菌体总蛋白的15.2%,纯化后蛋白纯度约为92%,浓度为0.456-g/L;CFP32蛋白表达量约占菌体总蛋白的10.6%,纯化后蛋白纯度约为90%,浓度为0.310-g/L。纯化CFP10-ESAT6融合蛋白和CFP32检测结核病的敏感性分别为85.7%和71.4%,特异性均为100%。 结论 重组表达获得具有良好抗原性的重组融合蛋白CFP10-ESAT6和重组蛋白CFP32。     

Evaluation of the Mycobacterium smegmatis and BCG models for the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibitors

The objective of this study was to measure the efficacy of Mycobacterium smegmatis as a surrogate in vitro model for the detection of compounds which are inhibitory to the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A chemical screen of the LOPAC library for anti-mycobacterial compounds was performed using M. smegmatis. Parallel screens were conducted with another tuberculosis model, Mycobacterium bovis BCG, and with M. tuberculosis under identical growth conditions and the inhibitors detected across the three species were compared. 50% of compounds that were detected as active against M.?tuberculosis were not detected using M. smegmatis compared to 21% of compounds using M. bovis BCG. To examine whether these findings were unique to LOPAC, screens were performed with the NIH Diversity Set and Spectrum Collection. An even higher proportion of M. tuberculosis inhibitors were not detected from the NIH Diversity Set and Spectrum Collection using M. smegmatis compared to M. bovis BCG. These data reveal that a significant proportion of M. tuberculosis inhibitors are missed in library screening with M.?smegmatis. The basis of the variation in the inhibitory profiles of M. smegmatis and M. tuberculosis has yet to be fully determined, however, our genomic comparisons indicate that approximately 30% of M.?tuberculosis proteins lack conserved orthologues in M. smegmatis compared to 3% being absent in M.?bovis BCG. In conclusion, although M. smegmatis offers some technical benefits such as a shorter generation time and negligible risk to laboratory workers, it is significantly less effective in the detection of anti-M. tuberculosis compounds relative to M. bovis BCG. This limitation needs to be taken into consideration when selecting an in vitro screening model for tuberculosis drug discovery.     

A stationary-phase stress-response sigma factor from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Alternative RNA polymerase sigma factors are a common means of coordinating gene regulation in bacteria. Using PCR amplification with degenerate primers, we identified and cloned a sigma factor gene, sigF, from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The deduced protein encoded by sigF shows significant similarity to SigF sporulation sigma factors from Streptomyces coelicolor and Bacillus subtilis and to SigB, a stress-response sigma factor, from B. subtilis. Southern blot surveys with a sigF-specific probe identified cross-hybridizing bands in other slow-growing mycobacteria, Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and Mycobacterium avium, but not in the rapid-growers Mycobacterium smegmatis or Mycobacterium abscessus. RNase protection assays revealed that M. tuberculosis sigF mRNA is not present during exponential-phase growth in M. bovis BCG cultures but is strongly induced during stationary phase, nitrogen depletion, and cold shock. Weak expression of M. tuberculosis sigF was also detected during late-exponential phase, oxidative stress, anaerobiasis, and alcohol shock. The specific expression of M. tuberculosis sigF during stress or stationary phase suggests that it may play a role in the ability of tubercle bacilli to adapt to host defenses and persist during human infection.     

结核分枝杆菌Rv3621c原核表达及免疫功能研究

目的 以结核分枝杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis,M.tb)H37Rv基因组为模板,构建、纯化及鉴定原核表达质粒pPROEX-Rv3621c,通过人群、小鼠试验进行免疫原性评价。方法 构建重组质粒pPROEX-Rv3621c,并以全血干扰素释放分析技术(Whole-blood IFN-γ release assay,WBIA)检测其能否被安徽省淮南市M.tb感染者T细胞特异性识别。rRv3621c混合佐剂MTM[母牛分枝杆菌(M.vaccae),人工合成海藻糖-6'6,二分枝菌酸(TDB),单磷酰脂质A(MPLA)]免疫小鼠后,检测血清中特异性抗体分泌水平、脾细胞中抗原特异性Th1型细胞因子分泌水平及肺脏细胞因子mRNA表达水平。结果 成功构建重组质粒pPROEX-Rv3621c,并使之诱导表达、纯化和鉴定。在rRv3621c蛋白诱导下,活动性结核(Active tuberculosis, ATB)患者外周血淋巴细胞释放的IFN-γ水平明显较高(t=4.813, P<0.01),且ATB患者产生的IFN-γ水平高于潜伏性结核(Latent tuberculosis infection, LTBI)人群(t=4.442, P<0.01)。BCG+Rv3621c/MTM组小鼠产生的特异性抗体滴度水平明显高于Rv3621c/MTM组(P<0.01)和BCG组(P<0.01),Rv3621c/MTM组和BCG+Rv3621c/MTM组小鼠的IgG2a/IgG1比值大于1,明显高于MTM组和BCG组。BCG+Rv3621c/MTM组小鼠均分泌高水平IFN-γ、TNF-α和IL-2。Rv3621c/MTM组小鼠肺脏组织中IFN-γ、TNF-α及iNOS表达水平较高。结论 M.tb感染者外周血T细胞可特异性识别rRv3621c蛋白,rRv3621c混合佐剂MTM可以诱导较强烈的抗原特异性Th1型免疫应答。     

结核分枝杆菌CFP-10与Rv2626c蛋白的表达及血清学诊断研究

目的　通过构建结核分枝杆菌（结核菌）CFP-10和Rv2626c蛋白表达载体,并在大肠杆菌表达,对其免疫反应性进行鉴定评价。方法　用PCR法从结核菌H37Rv基因组DNA分别扩增出CFP-10、Rv2626c基因,连接到表达载体PET30a上, 在大肠杆菌中表达;组氨酸标签(His - Tag) 镍柱层析纯化重组蛋白;用ELISA方法进行检测。结果　构建了含CFP10、Rv2626c重组质粒的大肠杆菌工程菌, 发现目的蛋白主要以可溶形式存在;用重组CFP10、Rv2626c蛋白组成联合抗原, ELISA方法检测214份血清, 阳性率达77.1%。结论　目的基因克隆入宿主菌中并表达成功, 重组的CFP-10、Rv2626c蛋白组成联合抗原可能成为结核病血清学诊断的组合抗原之一。     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv: Delta RD1 is more virulent than M. bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin in long-term murine infection

Region of difference (RD1) genes are present in virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis but not the vaccine strain M. bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The deletion of RD1 from M. tuberculosis produces an attenuation strikingly like that of BCG, which suggests the use of RD1 mutant strains for improvement of the tuberculosis (TB) vaccine. We performed long-term murine infection with M. tuberculosis H37Rv: Delta RD1 and BCG. Mice infected with H37Rv: Delta RD1 gained less weight than did BCG-infected control mice, and, after >1 year, their lungs harbored many more bacteria and displayed significant levels of inflammation. This difference in virulence has important implications for the pursuit of strains lacking RD1 in the development of the TB vaccine.     

结核分枝杆菌休眠期和活跃期差异表达基因分析

目的探讨结核分枝杆菌休眠的机制,寻找结核分枝杆菌休眠期高表达基因。方法分别取对数生长期结核分枝杆菌和已培养100 d的陈旧结核分枝杆菌(荧光染色证实为休眠菌),提取基因组RNA,DNA酶处理后用RNA回收试剂盒回收RNA,用mRNA纯化试剂盒纯化RNA,利用抑制性消减杂交(SSH)技术分析两时期结核分枝杆菌的基因组mRNA的表达差异;通过基因克隆、基因测序和序列分析,寻找差异表达基因;采用实时荧光定量PCR鉴定高表达基因。结果通过SSH杂交,以休眠结核分枝杆菌cDNA为检测子的正相杂交和以对数生长期结核分枝杆菌cDNA为检测子的反相杂交的各自检测子高表达或特异性表达的片段都得到了选择性扩增,杂交产物经基因克隆、转化、测序分析以及用BioEdit软件比对和Blast分析,正相得到14个休眠结核分枝杆菌特异性表达或高表达的功能基因,反相得到17个对数生长期结核分枝杆菌特异性表达或高表达的功能基因。结论利用SSH杂交技术筛选到休眠结核分枝杆菌和对数生长期结核分枝杆菌的差异表达基因,为休眠结核分枝杆菌休眠机制的研究奠定了基础。     

结核分枝杆菌异柠檬酸裂解酶基因的克隆表达及酶学性质研究

目的获得具有生物学活性的结核分枝杆菌重组异柠檬酸裂解酶蛋白。方法以结核分枝杆菌H37Rv基因组为模板,扩增该菌株的异柠檬酸裂解酶基因ic l,克隆入原核表达载体pET-28 a(+)中,通过在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中表达,获得以镍离子螯合型琼脂糖凝胶亲和层析柱纯化的重组蛋白,并对其酶学性质进行测定分析。结果纯化出具有生物学活性的重组结核分枝杆菌异柠檬酸裂解酶。酶学性质测定分析表明,重组异柠檬酸裂解酶ICL的比活力为7.657×102μmol.mg-1.m in-1,反应最适pH值约为7.4。重组蛋白经高效液相色谱及质谱鉴定,测得相对分子质量为50 603.347。在5 mmol/L Tris-C l缓冲液、pH值7.8、25℃条件下,重组ICL的二级结构中相对有43.8%的α螺旋、31.9%的β折叠、3.4%β转角、20.9%无规则卷曲。结论本研究成功克隆表达结核分枝杆菌H37Rv异柠檬酸裂解酶基因,酶学性质鉴定获得了具有生物学活性的重组蛋白,为该酶免疫学研究及新型抗结核药物的筛选奠定了基础。     

应用多重聚合酶链反应技术快速鉴定牛分支杆菌卡介苗株

目的 建立快速鉴定牛分支杆菌卡介苗(BCG)菌株的方法。方法 依据最近研究发现的牛分支杆菌BCG菌株不存在命名为缺失区1(deleted region 1，RD1)的基因区，而其他牛分支杆菌菌株和其他结核分支杆菌复合群(MTC)菌种(结核分支杆菌、非洲分支杆菌和田鼠分支杆菌)存在RD1基因区的遗传学信息，应用多重聚合酶链反应(PCR)检测RD1基因区存在与否，以鉴别BCG菌株与其他牛分支杆菌菌株及其他MTC菌种。结果 所试5株BCG疫苗生产用标准菌株和近期国内发生的1例小儿BCG接种后全身播散性感染致死病例的2株BCG分离菌株，均缺失RD1基因区；其他牛分支杆菌菌株，包括3株牛分支杆菌标准菌株、5株分别从结核病牛或鹿分离的牛分支杆菌菌株，1株从结核病患痰标本分离的牛分支杆菌菌株，以及其他MTC菌种，包括结核分支杆菌H37Rv和H37Ra标准菌株、48株从结核病患痰标本分离的结核分支杆菌菌株、3株非洲分支杆菌标准菌株，均存在RD1区。结论子多重PCR技术用于牛分支杆菌BCG菌株的鉴定简便、快速、特异，适于在临床实验室应用。     

Isolation of MPB63 in the culture fluid of Mycobacterium bovis BCG Tokyo: genetical and immunological characterization

MPT63 is a secretory protein first isolated from a culture fluid of M. tuberculosis H37Rv by Nagai et al. In this study, this protein was isolated from an 8-day-culture fluid (Sauton synthetic medium) of M. bovis BCG Tokyo 172 according to Nagai's method. It was shown that M. bovis BCG Tokyo 172 secreted this protein in the medium. The mpt63 gene was detected only in the species of M. tuberculosis complex by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) among 40 different mycobacterial species. Therefore, it is appropriate to designate this protein as MPB63 or MPB/T63 from M. bovis BCG, in similar way as other major secretory proteins of Mycobacteria, such as MPB59 and MPB64. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding MPB63 protein of M. bovis BCG and MPT63 protein of M. tuberculosis showed only single nucleotide difference at the position 474 where thymine (T) in the former was replaced by adenine (A) in the latter. Amino acid sequences of both proteins were completely identical. MPB63 didn't show delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin reaction in the sensitized guinea pigs with live or heat-killed M. bovis BCG or heat-killed M. tuberculosis. However, the measurements of serum IgG antibody titers of active tuberculosis patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed 74% sensitivity and 96% specificity compared to healthy subjects. Therefore, MPB63 seems to be a promising candidate as an antigen for serodiagnosis of active tuberculosis.