Ⅱ型B族链球菌表面免疫相关蛋白基因的克隆和原核表达

目的重组表达Ⅱ型B族链球菌表面免疫相关蛋白(Surfaceimmunogenicprotein,SIP)基因,为进一步免疫学研究提供目标蛋白。方法用PCR的方法从GBSⅡ型标准株的基因组DNA中扩增出SIP基因,用T/A克隆法将其插入pMD18T载体,构建原核表达载体pET32aSIP,用BL21(DE3)/pET系统表达TrixSIP融合蛋白,SDSPAGE和质谱分析鉴定表达产物,并对表达蛋白进行初步纯化。结果PCR扩增产物经测序,证实与GenBank中Ⅰa/c型GBS的SIP的基因序列同源性为99%。SDSPAGE显示,经IPTG诱导后BL21(DE3)/pET32aSIP总蛋白中出现一条相对分子质量为66000的新蛋白带。质谱分析和蛋白质库的比较证实其为B族链球菌表面免疫相关蛋白(SIP)的可能性分数为74。结论已成功表达并初步纯化SIP,为SIP在细菌致病中的作用研究以及相关疫苗的制备奠定了基础。     

改进的蒽酮法检测肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖结合物中多糖浓度

目的改进检测肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖结合物中多糖浓度的蒽酮法。方法分别对蒽酮法中蒽酮的浓度和处理温度进行优化,并对改进的方法进行验证和重复性检测。结果适宜的蒽酮浓度为0·3g/300ml,处理温度为40℃,在检测肺炎链球菌多糖结合物原液中的多糖浓度时,标准曲线回归系数高,方法稳定,重现性好。结论改进的蒽酮法可以有效、准确、稳定地检测肺炎链球菌结合物多糖原液中的多糖浓度。     

肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖-破伤风类毒素结合疫苗两种免疫途径对小鼠抗体应答的比较

目的比较肺炎链球菌荚膜多糖-破伤风类毒素结合疫苗两种免疫途径对小鼠的抗体应答。方法选NIH小鼠,分别经皮下和腹腔途径免疫3次同等剂量的结合疫苗,每次间隔2周,用ELISA方法检测两种途径免疫小鼠的血清抗体滴度。结果结合疫苗经腹腔免疫后的抗体滴度优于皮下免疫。小鼠经腹腔免疫3次后,血清抗体的几何平均滴度分别是第1次免疫的6·6倍和3·5倍。结论结合疫苗经腹腔免疫较皮下免疫获得的抗体应答水平高。     

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus和Streptococcus thermophilus接种比例对Bifidobacterium lactis益生菌发酵乳品质的影响

将Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.bulgaricus ND02(LB-ND02)和Streptococcus thermophilus ND03(ST-ND03)按1∶1、1∶10、1∶100、1∶1000接种于脱脂乳中,同时接入益生菌Bifidobacterium lactis V9(B.lactis V9,接种量为2.0×107g-1),于42℃进行发酵。通过对发酵及贮藏过程中发酵乳指标的测定,评价LB-ND02和ST-ND03的接种比例对发酵乳品质的影响。结果表明,随着LB-ND02接种比例减小,凝乳时间显著延长,B.lactis V9活菌数显著提高。4℃贮藏28 d后,随LB-ND02接种比例减小,B.lactis V9存活率差异显著,后酸化也显著减弱。研究发现,LB-ND02和ST-ND03的接种比例,显著影响发酵乳的发酵时间、B.lactis V9活菌数、后酸化及黏度。     

In-Situ Investigation on Nanoscopic Biomechanics of Streptococcus mutans at Low pH Citric Acid Environments Using an AFM Fluid Cell

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is widely regarded as the main cause of human dental caries via three main virulence factors: adhesion, acidogenicity, and aciduricity. Citric acid is one of the antibiotic agents that can inhibit the virulence capabilities of S. mutans. A full understanding of the acidic resistance mechanisms (ARMs) causing bacteria to thrive in citrate transport is still elusive. We propose atomic force microscopy (AFM) equipped with a fluid cell to study the S. mutans ARMs via surface nanomechanical properties at citric acid pH 3.3, 2.3, and 1.8. Among these treatments, at pH 1.8, the effect of the citric acid shock in cells is demonstrated through a significantly low number of high adhesion zones, and a noticeable reduction in adhesion forces. Consequently, this study paves the way to understand that S. mutans ARMs are associated with the variation of the number of adhesion zones on the cell surface, which is influenced by citrate and proton transport. The results are expected to be useful in developing antibiotics or drugs involving citric acid for dental plaque treatment.     

Potent Anticariogenic Activity of Aceriphyllum rossii and Its Components,Aceriphyllic Acid A and 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic Acid

ABSTRACT: Aceriphyllum rossii Engler (Saxifragaceae) have been used as a nutritious food in Korea. We found that the methanol extract of A. rossii root and its components, aceriphyllic acid A and 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid, potently inhibited the growth of the key cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, with MIC of 2 to 4 μg/mL. They also showed antibacterial activity against other cariogenic bacteria such as S. oralis, S. sobrinus, and S. salivarius with the similar potency . In the time-kill study, aceriphyllic acid A reduced the viable counts of S. mutans by 90% in 1 min at 8 μg/mL, indicating that aceriphyllic acid A had the fast bacteriostatic activity. Severe damages of the cell surface of S. mutans by aceriphyllic acid A were observed by transmission electron microscopy, suggesting with its fast antibacterial activity that its mechanism of action might be membrane disruption. These results suggest that the methanol extract of A. rossii root and its components, aceriphyllic acid A and 3-oxoolean-12-en-27-oic acid, could have the great potential as natural agents for preventing dental caries.     

Synthesis and utilisation of folate by yoghurt starter cultures and probiotic bacteria

Thirty-two bacterial isolates from species commonly used in yoghurts and fermented milks were examined for their ability to synthesise or utilise folate during fermentation of skim milk. The organisms examined included the traditional yoghurt starter cultures, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, and probiotic lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and Enterococcus faecium. Folate was synthesised by S. thermophilus, bifidobacteria, and E. faecium. S. thermophilus was the dominant producer, elevating folate levels in skim milk from 11.5 ng g⁻¹ to between 40 and 50 ng g⁻¹. Generally, lactobacilli depleted the available folate in the skim milk. Fermentations with mixed cultures showed that folate production and utilisation by the cultures was additive. Fermentations using a combination of Bifidobacterium animalis and S. thermophilus resulted in a six-fold increase in folate concentration. Although increased folate levels in yoghurts and fermented milks are possible through judicious selection of inoculum species, the folate levels remain relatively low in terms of recommended daily allowance.