Biosynthesis and Immunological Evaluation of a Dual-Antigen Nanoconjugate Vaccine Against Brucella melitensis

Brucellosis,caused by Brucella,is one of the most common zoonosis.However,there is still no vaccine for human use.Although some live attenuated vaccines have been approved for animals,the protection effect is not ideal.In this study,we developed a dual-antigen nanoconjugate vaccine containing both polysaccharide and protein antigens against Brucella.First,the antigenic polysaccharide was covalently coupled to the outer membrane protein Omp19 using protein glycan coupling technology,and then it was successfully loaded on a nano-carrier through the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system.After confirming the efficient immune activation and safety performance of the dual-antigen nanoconjugate vaccine,the potent serum antibody response against the two antigens and remarkable protective effect in non-lethal and lethal Brucella infection models were further demonstrated through different routes of administration.These results indicated that the dual-antigen nanoconjugate vaccine enhanced both T helper 1 cell(Th1)and Th2 immune responses and protected mice from Brucella infection.Furthermore,we found that this protective effect was maintained for at least 18 weeks.To our knowledge,this is the first Brucella vaccine bearing diverse antigens,including a protein and polysaccharide,on a single nanoparticle.Thus,we also present an attractive technology for co-delivery of different types of antigens using a strategy applicable to other vaccines against infectious diseases.

细菌全基因组关联研究的方法与应用

随着测序技术的发展和全基因组序列的不断积累,全基因组关联研究(genome-wide association study,GWAS)在人类复杂疾病研究中取得了丰硕成果,10余年间发现了数以万计的疾病风险因子。同样,GWAS也为探索细菌表型的遗传机制提供了新的工具。自2013年第一项细菌GWAS(bacterial GWAS,BGWAS)工作发表以来,目前已有10多项相关研究报道,分别揭示了细菌宿主适应性、耐药性及毒力等表型的遗传机制,极大加深了人们对细菌遗传、进化及传播等方面的认识。本文对目前BGWAS的研究方法、应用成果及存在的问题进行了总结,并对BGWAS的研究前景进行了展望,旨在为微生物学领域开展BGWAS研究提供参考。

Genetic and Functional Differences of Escherichia coli Strains from Colorectal Cancer Mucosal Tissues

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third leading cancer globally.Metagenomics has been widely used to analyze the association between the gut microbiota and CRC based on bacterial genus-or species-level comparisons,providing evidence of dysbiosis in CRC development.However,this kind of analysis is unable to provide strain-level information for understanding the individual role of a species in CRC.Here,we used culturomics to isolate CRC mucosal samples and selected 158 Escherichia coli strains to reveal their differences in both genomics and functions by means of phylogenetic analysis and inflammatory induction based on cell and animal experiments.Through genomic comparison,these strains were divided into five phylogroups.The representative strains of each phylogroup significantly induced different levels of cytokine secretion by human leukemic monocyte(THP-1 cell)-based Transwell and animal experiments.Further bioinformatic analysis revealed different profiles of single-nucleotide polymorphisms,genes,and metabolic pathways in the different phylogroups,which can improve the current understanding of the phenotypic differences between these strains.The strain differences revealed in both genomics and functions indicate that the microbiota’s function at the strain level should be investigated in order to understand the interacting mechanisms between hosts and gut bacteria.

Single-cell transcriptomics of immune cells in lymph nodes reveals their composition and alterations in functional dynamics during the early stages of bubonic plague

Bubonic plague caused by Yersinia pestis is highly infectious and often fatal.Characterization of the host immune response and its subsequent suppression by Y.pestis is critical to understanding the pathogenesis of Y.pestis.Here,we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to systematically profile the transcriptomes of immune cells in draining lymph nodes(d LNs)during the early stage of Y.pestis infection.Dendritic cells responded to Y.pestis within 2 h post-infection(hpi),followed by the activation of macrophages/monocytes(Mφs/Mons)and recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs)to d LNs at 24 hpi.Analysis of cell-to-cell communication suggests that PMNs may be recruited to lymph nodes following the secretion of CCL9 by Mφs/Mons stimulated through CCR1-CCL9 interaction.Significant functional suppression of all the three innate immune cell types occurred during the early stage of infection.In summary,we present a dynamic immune landscape,at single-cell resolution,of murine d LNs involved in the response to Y.pestis infection,which may facilitate the understanding of the plague pathogenesis of during the early stage of infection.

微生物组测序与分析专家共识

在过去的十几年,微生物组相关研究和应用持续升温。微生物组逐渐成为生命科学、环境科学和医学等领域的研究焦点。与此同时,全球多个国家和组织也都积极发起各自的微生物组计划,进行多方面的布局,力争在这一具有广阔前景的领域获得战略地位。此外,无论是科研还是产业应用已经迎来了研究高潮和投融资热潮,微生物组相关产品和服务也不断出现。然而,行业在快速发展的同时,也存在一些不足。由于微生物组测序和分析相关技术和方法发展迅速,各国研究和应用尚未在技术、方案和数据等标准上达成统一,国内行业参与者对微生物组也存在认识不足,对微生物组相关新方法、新技术、新理论等还未能充分掌握和使用。除此之外,已有的一些标准和指南,内容过于简单,实操性也不足,这不仅给科研数据的整合造成了困难和资源浪费,还给相关企业进行不良竞争、以次充好提供了机会。更重要的是,我国尚缺乏微生物组相关的国家标准,国家微生物组计划仍处于筹备过程。在此背景下,中国生物工程学会、中国科学院微生物研究所于2019年6月至2020年3月,共同设立了“微生物组测序与分析专家共识”专项研究课题。中国生物工程学会组织了微生物组相关领域的27位专家以及来自行业内的30多位专业人员,通过分成4个项目小组、召开4轮研讨会后,最终形成了涵盖从微生物采集与保存、DNA提取与建库、高通量基因测序和数据分析以及质控标准品等全流程的“微生物组测序与分析专家共识”。本专家共识具有较强可参考性和可操作性,不仅能指导国内科研和产业机构规范进行微生物组相关产、学、研,还能为国家相关职能部门提供可参考的技术依据,保障规模型和规范化的企业利益,加强行业自律,避免不规范的企业扰乱市场,最终促进微生物组相关产业的良性发展。

IL-17A-dependent gut microbiota is essential for regulating diet-induced disorders in mice

The gut microbiota plays a key role in obesity and related metabolic disorders, and multiple factors including diet, host genotype, and age regulate it. Many studies have examined the contribution of extrinsic factors to the regulation of the gut microbiota, but the importance of the host genetic constitution cannot be ignored. Interleukin 17A(IL-17A), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is important in the defense against infection and diseases. Here, we investigated the association among IL-17, a high-fat diet(HFD), and the gut microbiota. Mice deficient in IL-17A were resistant to diet-induced obesity and related diseases. Compared with the Ⅱ-17^(-/-)mice, wild-type(WT) mice challenged with HFD showed obvious weight fluctuations, such as those seen in type 2 diabetes, and hematological changes similar to those associated with metabolic syndrome. However, housing WT mice and Ⅱ-17a^(-/-)mice together significantly alleviated these symptoms in the WT mice. A metagenomic analysis of the mouse feces indicated that the microbial community compositions of these two groups differed before HFD feeding. The HFD mediated shifts in the gut microbial compositions, which were associated with the mouse phenotypes.We also identified potentially beneficial and harmful species present during this period, and drew networks of the most abundant species. A functional analysis indicated pathway changes in the WT and Ⅱ-17a^(-/-)mice when fed the HFD. Collectively, these data underscore the importance of the host factor IL-17 A in shaping and regulating the gut microbiota, which conversely, influences the host health.

Alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites associated with altitude-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats during hypobaric hypoxia challenge

The gut microbiota is involved in host responses to high altitude.However,the dynamics of intestinal microecology and their association with altitude-related illness are poorly understood.Here,we used a rat model of hypobaric hypoxia challenge to mimic plateau exposure and monitored the gut microbiome,short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs),and bile acids(BAs)over 28 d.We identified weight loss,polycythemia,and pathological cardiac hypertrophy in hypoxic rats,accompanied by a large compositional shift in the gut microbiota,which is mainly driven by the bacterial families of Prevotellaceae,Porphyromonadaceae,and Streptococcaceae.The aberrant gut microbiota was characterized by increased abundance of the Parabacteroides,Alistipes,and Lactococcus genera and a larger Bacteroides to Prevotella ratio.Trans-omics analyses showed that the gut microbiome was significantly correlated with the metabolic abnormalities of SCFAs and BAs in feces,suggesting an interaction network remodeling of the microbiome-metabolome after the hypobaric hypoxia challenge.Interestingly,the transplantation of fecal microbiota significantly increased the diversity of the gut microbiota,partially inhibited the increased abundance of the Bacteroides and Alistipes genera,restored the decrease of plasma propionate,and moderately ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy in hypoxic rats.Our results provide an insight into the longitudinal changes in intestinal microecology during the hypobaric hypoxia challenge.Abnormalities in the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites contribute to the development of high-altitude heart disease in rats.

Formation and regulation of Yersinia biofilms

Flea-borne transmission is a recent evolutionary adaptation that distinguishes the deadly Yersinia pestis from its progenitor Y.pseudotuberculosis,a mild pathogen transmitted via the food-borne route.Y.pestis synthesizes biofilms in the flea gut,which is important for fleaborne transmission.Yersinia biofilms are bacterial colonies surrounded by extracellular matrix primarily containing a homopolymer of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine that are synthesized by a set of specific enzymes.Yersinia biofilm production is tightly regulated at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.All the known structural genes responsible for biofilm production are harbored in both Y.pseudotuberculosis and Y.pestis,but Y.pestis has evolved changes in the regulation of biofilm development,thereby acquiring efficient arthropod-borne transmission.

利用培养组学技术分离鉴定体外降解胆固醇肠道细菌及其功能评价

高胆固醇是诱发心脑血管疾病的重要因素之一。目前国内外降低胆固醇的主要方式是药物治疗,但其存在费用高及副作用多的弊端。研究表明,肠道细菌对机体的胆固醇代谢有重要影响,但降胆固醇肠道细菌的筛选方式及功能评价却少有报道。本研究通过培养组学方法,使用牛胆汁酸或人工混合胆汁酸作为筛选条件,从健康人体肠道筛选出36种耐胆汁酸细菌。以鼠李糖乳杆菌GG株(Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG,LGG)作为阳性对照,设置0 g/L、0.3 g/L、3 g/L三种胆汁酸浓度组,对耐胆汁酸细菌进行体外降胆固醇能力评估,确定奇异变形菌、斯氏普罗威登斯菌、普通变形菌等10种细菌为降胆固醇优势菌。随后对其中6种降胆固醇优势菌——奇异变形菌、斯氏普罗威登斯菌、普通变形菌、潘氏变形菌、污蝇解克杆菌、雷氏普罗威登斯菌进行体外降甘油三酯能力评估以及人工胃液耐受能力评估。结果显示,上述6株细菌体外降甘油三酯能力均优于LGG。伴随人工胃液pH值的下降和作用时间的延长,6株细菌的生存率均下降。上述筛选实验及功能评价为进一步开发潜在的降胆固醇细菌制品提供研究基础。

Transcriptional regulation of the waaAE-coaD operon by PhoP and RcsAB in Yersinia pestis biovar Microtus

亲爱的编辑，

Seven facts and five initiatives for gut microbiome research

The gut microbiome has attracted increasing attention over the past 15 years.Along with the fast-growing body of research literature and media reports,the public's opinions on the gut microbiome have begun to appear polarized.Some believe that the gut microbiome is at the core of human health and is related to every single disease.To the opposite,some people question the scientific basis of gut microbiome studies and criticize that many of them are farfetched;there is even a joke spreading in the biomedical research field—"keeping gut microbiome in mind,no mechanism is hard to find".

Pandora of Ebola virus: are we ready?

在 2014 年 3 月 23 日，畿尼的健康的部通知了在东南的 forested 区域的 Ebola 病毒疾病(EVD ) 的很快传播的爆发，并且 4 ? 天以后，疾病被证实被传给 Conakry，畿尼的首都。疾病很快也传播了到利比里亚，尼日利亚和塞拉利昂。2014 年 7 月 27 日，累积数字证实(909 ) ，可能(276 ) 并且在上述四个国家的嫌疑犯(138 ) EVD 盒子到达了 1,323，包括 729 死亡(与 55.1 的死亡率 ?%)(http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_07_31_ebola/en/) 。这是 EVD 的最大的爆发直到现在并且第一次疾病在韦斯特检测了非洲。