Study on Outer Membrane Protein Patterns of Escherichia coli O38,O53 and O75 Isolated from Chickens

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the outer membrane protein （OMP） patterns of Escherichia coli 038, 053 and 075 isolates from chickens. [Method] Eight pathogenic E. coil isolates with various serotypes were used as experimental materials to extract OMP by using supersonic schizolysis method and Sarcosyl. After SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, OMP patterns of the extracted products were determined based on the OMP model diagram. [Result] OMP of eight E. coil isolates with three serotypes were divided into three patterns, to be specific, 2 075 isolates respectively belonged to OMP-I and OMP-II pattern, 1 053 isolate belonged to OMP-II pattern, and 5 038 isolates belonged to OMP-I and OMP-III pattern. [Conclusion] Experimental results showed that E. coli isolates with the same serotype may belong to completely different OMP patterns, while serologically unrelated isolates may belong to the same OMP pattern. OMP of E. coil isolates with the same serotype may generate genetic differentiation; in addition, OMP of E. coli isolates with different serotypes may have different genetic correlation.

Prokaryotic Expression and Identification of Outer Membrane Protein 2 of Chlamydia trachomatis

Objective: To construct a recombinant plasmid containing the outer membrane protein 2 (Omp2) gene of Chlamydia trachomatis and express Omp2 in E.coli. Methods: The omp2 gene of C. trachomatis serovar D was cloned into pQE30 vector following PCR amplification from genomic DNA. E. coli M15 transformants were induced to express the fusion protein by IPTG and the product was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Results: Confirmed by enzyme cleavage analysis and DNA sequencing, a correct recombinant plasmid pQE30/omp2 was constructed. The fusion protein from the transformants was approximately 60 kDa in size in SDS-PAGE analysis, which could specially react with anti-6 X His mouse monoclonal IgG antibodies. Conclusion: We successfully expressed Omp2 in E. coli M15, providing an efficient and simple system for assaying the immunological properties of Omp2.

Development and Evaluation of a MAb-Based ELISA for Detection of Chlamy- dophila pneumoniae Infection with Variable Domain 2 and 3 of the Major Outer Membrane protein

Objective This paper aims to develop a monoclonal antibodies （MAbs）- based ELISA for detecting Chlamydophila pneumoniae （C. pneumonioe） antigens in humans with the variable domains （VD） 2 and 3 of the major outer membrane protein （MOMPvD2-VD~） and to assess its sensitivity and specificity by comparing with a widely used MAb that is able to recognize the elementary bodies of C. pneumoniae. Methods MOMPvo2-vo3were overexpressed in Escherichia coil and purified by affinity chromatography. Mice were immunized with the recombinant antigen, and hybridomas secreting MAbs were screened. Three stable hybridomas clones were selected and named 5D6, 7G3, and 8C9. The MAbs-based ELISA was scrutinized for species-specific recognition with a number of human throat swab samples from Group I （156 patients with typical respiratory illness clinically confirmed before） and Group II （57 healthy donors）. Results In Group I, 55 positive cases were detected by anti-EB MAb-based ELISA, 51 cases were positive by MAbs 5D6-based ELISA, and 33 and 38 cases were positive by MAb 8C9 and 7G3-based ELISA respectively. Of the 57 samples from Group II ＂healthy donors＂, 5 were positive and 52 were negative with both anti-EB and 5D6-based tests, while 2 and 3 positive cases were identified by the other two MAb-based ELISAs respectively. Conclusion The novel MOMPvD2.VD3 MAb-based assay may have higher specificity than the anti-EB MAb, which may possibly be used as an alternative tool for the diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Characterization of Outer Membrane Proteins of Aeromonas hydrophila Isolated in China

Aeromonas hydrophila isolates from clinical cases （n=43） were tested against 8 antimicrobial agents and typed by outer membrane protein （OMP） pattern by using sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin （MICs, ≥16 μg mL-1） and sulfamonomethoxine （MICs≥64 μg mLl）, but susceptible to norfloxacin （MICs,≤0.5 μg mL-1）. There was a high incidence of resistance to erythromycin （90.70%） and tylosin （93.02%）, while a low incidences of resistance to ciprofloxacin （2.33%）, enrofloxacin （2.33%） and florfenicol （4.65%）. Six different outer membrane protein patterns were found among 34 isolates by analyzing proteins in the range of 22 to 50 kDa, other than 9 isolates with their respective profiles. The strains with the similar OMP profiles had similar resistances. Compared with the other strains from the same OMP patterns, NB-1, A.Pun and MR-1 had lacked the proteins in the range of 30 to 45 kDa and their resistance to florfenicol substantially increased. It is speculated that the outer membrane protein changes might correlate with decreased susceptibility to florfenicol in the three strains. Some strains which showed completely identical OMP types had a little difference in their resistance to fluoroquinolones, indicating that there might be other factors that were involved in the antimicrobial resistance of A. hydrophila.

Determination of the genus-specific antigens in outer membrane proteins from the strains of Leptospira interrogans and Leptospira biflexa with different virulence

Objective:To determine the existence of genus-specific antigens in outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of leptospira with different virulence. Methods: Microscope agglutination test (MAT) was applied to detect the agglutination between commercial rabbit antiserum against leptospiral genus-specific TR/Patoc I antigen and 17 strains of Leptospira interrongans belonging to 15 serogroups and 2 strains of Leptospira biflexa belonging to 2 serogroups.The outer envelopes (OEs) of L.interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar lai strain lai (56601) with strong virulence and serogroup Pomona serovar pomona strain Luo (56608) with low virulence,and L.biflexa serogroup Semaranga serovar patoc strain Patoc I without virulence were prepared by using the method reported in Auran et al.(1972).OMPs in the OEs were obtained by treatment with sodium deoxycholate. SDS-PAGE and western blot were used for analyzing the features of the OMPs on electrophoretic pattern and the immunoreactivity to the antiserum against TR/Patoc I antigen, respectively. Results:All the tested strains belonging to different leptospiral serogroups agglutinated to the antiserum against leptospiral genus-specific TR/Patoc I antigen with agglutination titers ranging from 1:256-1:512. A similar SDS-PAGE pattern of the OMPs from the three strains of leptospira with different virulence was shown and the molecular weight of a major protein fragment in the OMPs was found to be approximately 60 KDa.A positive protein fragment with approximately 32 KDa confirmed by Western blot,was able to react with the antiserum against leptospiral genus-specific TR/Patoc I antigen, and was found in each the OMPs of the three stains of leptospira.Conclusion: There are genus-specific antigens on the surface of L.interrogans and L.biflexa. The OMP with molecular weight of 32 KDa may be one of the genus-specific protein antigens of leptospira.

Immunogenicity and protective role of antigenic regions from five outer membrane proteins of Flavobacterium columnare in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella

Flavobacterium columnare causes columnaris disease in freshwater fi sh. In the present study, the antigenic regions of fi ve outer membrane proteins(OMPs), including zinc metalloprotease, prolyl oligopeptidase, thermolysin, collagenase and chondroitin AC lyase, were bioinformatically analyzed, fused together, and then expressed as a recombinant fusion protein in Escherichia coli. The expressed protein of 95.6 k Da, as estimated by 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was consistent with the molecular weight deduced from the amino acid sequence. The purifi ed recombinant protein was used to vaccinate the grass carp, C tenopharyngodon idella. Following vaccination of the fi sh their Ig M antibody levels were examined, as was the expression of I g M, Ig D and Ig Z immunoglobulin genes and other genes such as MHC Iα and MHC I I β, which are also involved in adaptive immunity. Interleukin genes( IL), including I L- 1β, IL- 8 and I L- 10, and type I and type II interferon(I FN) genes were also examined. At 3 and 4 weeks post-vaccination(wpv), signifi cant increases in Ig M antibody levels were observed in the fi sh vaccinated with the recombinant fusion protein, and an increase in the expression levels of I g M, Ig D and Ig Z genes was also detected following the vaccinations, thus indicating that an adaptive immune response was induced by the vaccinations. Early increases in the expression levels of IL and IFN genes were also observed in the vaccinated fi sh. At four wpv, the fi sh were challenged with F. column a re, and the vaccinated fi sh showed a good level of protection against this pathogen, with 39% relative percent survival(RPS) compared with the control group. It can be concluded, therefore, that the fi ve OMPs, in the form of a recombinant fusion protein vaccine, induced an immune response in fi sh and protection against F. columnare.

Gene cloning and prokaryotic expression of recombinant outer membrane protein from Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Gram-negative Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a common pathogen in humans and marine animals, The outer membrane protein of bacteria plays an important role in the infection and pathogenicity to the host. Thus, the outer membrane proteins are an ideal target for vaccines. We amplified a complete outer membrane protein gene （ompW） from E parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802. We then cloned and expressed the gene into Escherichia coli BL21 （DE3） cells. The gene coded for a protein that was 42.78 kDa. We purified the protein using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and Anti-His antibody Western blotting, respectively. Our results provide a basis for future application of the OmpW protein as a vaccine candidate against infection by E parahaemolyticus. In addition, the purified OmpW protein can be used for further functional and structural studies.

Research progress on Helicobacter pyloriouter membrane protein

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), one of the most common bacterial pathogens on human beings, colonizes the gastric mucosa. In its 95 paralogous gene families, there is a large outer membrane protein (OMP) family. It includes 32 members. These OMP are important for the diagnosis, protective immunity, pathogenicity of H pylori and so on. They are significantly associated with high H pylori density,the damage of gastric mucosa, high mucosal IL-8 levels and severe neutrophil infiltration. We introduce their research progress on pathogenicity.

Immunoproteomic Analysis of Bordetella bronchiseptica Outer Membrane Proteins and Identification of New Immunogenic Proteins

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes acute and chronic respiratory infection in a variety of animals. To identify useful antigen candidates for diagnosis and subunit vaccine of B. bronchiseptica, immunoproteomic analysis was adopted to analyse outer membrane proteins of it. The outer membrane proteins extracted from B. bronchiseptica were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and analyzed by Western blotting for their reactivity with the convalescent serum against two strains. Immunogenic proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry（MALDI-TOF-MS）, a total of 14 proteins are common immunoreactive proteins, of which 1 was known antigen and 13 were novel immunogenic proteins for B. bronchiseptica. Putative lipoprotein gene was cloned and recombinantly expressed. The recombinant protein induced high titer antibody, but showed low protective indices against challenges with HB（B. bronchiseptica strain isolated from a infected rabbit）. The mortality of mice was 80% compared to 100% of positive controls. The identification of these novel antigenic proteins is an important resource for further development of a new diagnostic test and vaccine for B. bronchiseptica.

30 and 32 kDa outer membrane proteins of Bordetella pertussis as a modulator on promoting degranulation of mast cells

The correlation between the activities of the outer menbrane proteins （OMPs） of Bordetella pertussis and the lgE-mediated asthma was investigated in the present study, in which the OMPs of B. pertussis and their components were prepared by detergent treatment and chromatography, and the molecular weights of the OMPs components were determined by SDS-PAGE. The amounts of total as well as the ovalbumin （OVA）-specific IgE induced by dead B. pertussis whole bacterial vaccine on guinea pigs were detected by ELISA. Meanwhile, the effect of the OMPs and their components to promote the degranulation of guinea pig mast cells was observed by using the mast cell degranulation test, and ELISA assay was used to measure the histatmine levels in the supematants from the mast cell cultures. Histamine sensitive test was used to demonstrate the effects of the OMPs and their components to increase the histamine lethal sensitivity in mice. It was found that four components with molecular weights of 30, 32, 38 and 69 kDa could be obtained from the OMPs of B. pertussts, and the dead whole bacteria vaccine of B. pertussis had the ability to increase the levels of the total as well as the OVA-specific IgE in sera of guinea pigs. The OMPs and their 30 and 32 kDa components demonstrated significantly enhancing effect on the degranulation of guinea pig mast cells, and the histamine levels in the supematants from the mast cell culture treated with OMPs and their 30 and 32 kDa components were also significantly increased. It is evident that the strong adjuvant activity and the enhancing effect to degranulation of mast cells and the release of histamine of certain outer membrane components of B. pertussis could be demonstrated as revealed by the results of the present study, suggesting the possibility of a close relationship between the infection of vaccination with B. pertussis and the IgE-mediated asthma.

Protective immunity against Rickettsia heilongjiangensis in a C3H/HeN mouse model mediated by outer membrane protein B-pulsed dendritic cells

Rickettsia heilongjiangensis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes Far-Eastern tick-borne spotted fever. Outer membrane protein B(Omp B) is an important surface protein antigen of rickettsiae. In the present study, the omp B gene of R. heilongjiangensis was divided into four fragments, resulting in four recombinant proteins(OmpB-p1, Omp B-p2, Omp B-p3, and Omp B-p4). Each Omp B was used in vitro to stimulate murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells(BMDCs) of C3H/He N mice, and the Omp B-pulsed BMDCs were transferred to naive C3H/He N mice. On day 14 post-transfer of BMDCs, the mice were challenged with R. heilongjiangensis and the rickettsial loads in the mice were quantitatively determined on day 7 post-challenge. Mice receiving BMDCs pulsed with Omp B-p2, Omp B-p3, or Omp B-p4 exhibited significantly lower bacterial load compared with mice receiving Omp B-p1-pulsed BMDCs. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells isolated from the spleen of C3H/He N mice receiving BMDCs pulsed with each OmpB were co-cultured with BMDCs pulsed with the respective cognate protein. In flow cytometric analysis, the expression level of CD69 on CD4+ or CD8+ T cells from mice receiving BMDCs pulsed with Omp B-p2, OmpB-p3, or Omp B-p4 was higher than that on cells from mice receiving Omp B-p1-pulsed BMDCs, while the expression level of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α on CD8+ T cells and interferon(IFN)-γ on the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from mice receiving Omp B-p2,-p3, or-p4 was significantly higher than on cells from mice receiving Omp B-p1-pulsed BMDCs. Our results suggest that the protective Omp Bs could activate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and drive their differentiation toward CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ Tcl cells, respectively, which produce greater amounts of TNF-α and, in particular, IFN-γ, to enhance rickettsicidal activity of host cells.

Immunogenic proteins and their vaccine development potential evaluation in outer membrane proteins(OMPs)of Flavobacterium columnare

Flavobacterium columnare is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes columnaris disease in freshwater fish worldwide.Many studies have focused on the identification of protective antigens to aid in the development of novel vaccines against the disease.In this study,an immunoblotting approach was employed to identify immunogenic outer membrane proteins(OMPs)from F.columnare in two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE)map gels using antibacterial sera obtained from grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella),and anti-grass carp-recombinant Ig(rIg)monoclonal antibodies.Five unique immunogenic proteins,including the gliding motility lipoprotein GldJ(GldJ),hypothetical protein FCOL_13420(Fco1),lipoprotein(Lip),F0F1 ATP synthase subunit beta(F0f1)and outer membrane efflux protein precursor(Omep),were characterized.Over-expression of these proteins in Escherichia coli DE3,and their immunogenicity and protective efficacy were evaluated in grass carp.The relative percent survival(RPS)of the groups immunized separately with recombinant GldJ,Lip and Omep was 72%,64%and 68%,respectively when compared to control fish.Up-regulation of immuno-related genes and specific antibodies were detected in immunized fish and sera of immunized fish inhibited the growth of F.columnare.The results suggest that GldJ,Lip and Omep are major protective antigens and may be considered as novel candidates in the development of vaccines against columnaris disease in fish.

Helicobacter pylori outer membrane protein Q genotypes and their susceptibility to antiadhesive phytotherapeutic agents

OBJECTIVE： Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative organism. Its outer membrane protein Q（Hop Q） mediates host-pathogen interactions; Hop Q genotypes 1 and 2 are found associating with gastroduodenal pathologies. The authors measured the anti-adhesion effects of the extracts of Abelmoschus esculentus, Zingiber officinale, Trachyspermum ammi, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa and Capsicum annum against Hop Q genotypes and H. pylori cytotoxin-associated gene A（Cag A）.METHODS： DNA was extracted by polymerase chain reaction of the Hop Q genotypes（i.e., type 1, type 2 and Cag A） from 115 H. pylori strains. The effect of the extracts from selected dietary ingredients was determined using a gastric adenocarcinoma cell line and a quantitative DNA fragmentation assay. The anti-adhesive effect of these extracts on H. pylori was tested using an anti-adhesion analysis.RESULTS： C. annum, C. longa and A. esculentus showed prominent anti-adhesion effects with resultant values of 17.3% ± 2.9%, 14.6% ± 3.7%, 13.8% ± 3.6%, respectively, against Hop Q type 1 and 13.1% ± 1.7%, 12.1% ± 2%, 11.1% ± 1.6%, respectively, against Hop Q type 2. C. longa（93%）, C. annum（89%） and A. esculentus（75%） had better anti-adhesive activity against H. pylori with Hop Q type 1 compared to Hop Q type 2 with respective values of 70%, 64% and 51%. Extracts of C. annum（14.7% ± 4.1%）, A. esculentus（12.3% ± 4.1%） and Z. officinale（8.4% ± 2.8%） had an anti-adhesion effect against Cag A-positive H. pylori strains compared to Cag A-negative strains.

Molecular mechanism of SurA’s chaperoning function to outer membrane proteins revealed by purification-after-crosslinking single-molecule FRET

SurA is the major chaperone of outer membrane proteins(OMPs)in the periplasm.The molecular mechanism when SurA performs its chaperoning function is still unclear.Here,a purification-after-crosslinking(PAC)procedure was combined with single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer(smFRET)to probe the conformations of SurA and OmpC in their complex.We found that SurA in the free state rearranges itself based on the crystal structure,except that the P2 domain moves towards the core domain with two major positions,forming a clamp-like conformation to accommodate OmpC.The obvious rearrangement of the P2 domain of SurA helps SurA to hold OmpC.OmpC attaches to SurA randomly and has the propensity to be near the middle part of the crevice.The noncollapsed and disordered conformations of OMPs provided by the OMPs?SurA complex are important to the subsequent delivery and folding process.

A Sensitive and Specific IgM-ELISA for the Serological Diagnosis of Human Leptospirosis Using a rLipL32/1-LipL21-OmpL1/2 Fusion Protein

Objective To construct a lipL32//1-1ipL21-OmpL1//2 fusion gene and its prokaryotic expression system, and to establish an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） using the rLipL32/1-LipL21-OmpL1/2 fusion antigen of Leptospira interrogans for sensitive and specific detection of IgM in the serum of patients with leptospirosis. Methods lipL32/1-1ipL21-OmpL1/2 fusion genes were constructed using a primer-linking PCFI. The target recombinant protein antigens, rLipL32/1, rLipL21, rOmpL1/2 and rLipL32/1-LipL21-OmpL1/2, were expressed and the purified antigens were then immobilized to the surface of microplate wells for ELISA-based detection of IgM in the sera of leptospirosis patients; Results Of 493 acute leptospirosis patients, 95.7% and 97.8% were positive by rLipL32/1-LipL21- OmpL1/2-1gM-ELISA using different serum dilutions, which was higher than the rLipL32/1-1gM-ELISA （93.1% and 90.3%）, rLipL21-1gM-ELISA （90.3% and 87.0%）, and rOmpLI-lgM-ELISA （85.6% and 81.1%） （P〈0.01）. All IgM-ELISAs tested negative against 56 non-leptospirosis patients with typhoid fever, hemorrhagic fever or dengue fever. Conclusion Trigeminal fusion antigen increases ELISA sensitivity and the rLipL32/1-LipL21-OmpL1/2- IgM-ELISA is a sensitive and specific serological diagnostic method for clinical leptospirosis.

Comparison of Lipopolysaccharide and Protein Immunogens from Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica Bio-serotype 1B/O:8 and 2/O:9 using SDS-PAGE

Objective Yersinia enterocolitica is an extracellular pathogen and its related antigens interact with the host immune system. We investigated the difference in immunological characteristics between a highly pathogenic and poorly pathogenic strain of Y. enterocolitico. Methods We used SDS-PAGE and western blotting to characterize lipopolysaccharide （LPS）, Yersinio outer membrane proteins （Yops）, membrane proteins, and whole-cell proteins from poorly pathogenic Y. enterocolitico bio-serotype 2/0：9, isolated from China, and highly pathogenic bio-serotype 1B/O：8, isolated from Japan. Results These two strains of Y. enterocolitica had different LPS immune response patterns. Comparison of their Yops also showed differences that could have accounted for their differences in pathogenicity. The membrane and whole-cell proteins of both strains were similar; immunoblottting showed that the 35 kD and perhaps the 10 kD proteins were immunogens in both strains. Conclusion The major antigens of the two strains e and membrane proteins, as shown by comparing preparations. citing the host immune protein samples with response were the LPS reference and purified

Genotypic Analysis, Construction of the Expression System and Immunological Identification of the Recombinant Proteins of the LipL32 Gene in the Dominant Serogroups of Leptospira interrogans in China

To investigate the existence of the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene LipL32 in 15 dominant Chinese strains of 15 serogroups of Leptospira interrogans and 2 international strains of 2 serogroups of Leptospira biflexa, and to clone and construct the expression system as well as to identify the recombinant proteins, genomic DNAs from strains of leptospira were prepared by routine phenol-chloroform method, and the fragments of the LipL32 gene with the whole length from the strains were amplified with high fidelity PCR. The target amplification products were sequenced after T-A cloning, and the expression system for the genes were thereby constructed. Expression of the recombinant proteins was identified by using SDS-PAGE after induction with IPTG at different dosages. Western blot assays with rabbit antiserum against the whole cell of TR/PatocⅠ of Leptospira and immunized serum with rMOMPs were used to determine the immunoreactivity and immunogenicity of the recombinant proteins. Microscopic agglutination test was used to determine the cross- agglutination titres in rabbit sera immunized with rMOMPs, and the cell adherence model of Leptospira was used to examine the blocking effects of rabbit antisera against these rMOMPs. It was found that the LipL32 gene could be found in all the 17 strains of Leptospira mentioned above with two different genotypes, i.e. LipL32/1 and LipL32/2. Amounts of expressions of rMOMP1 and rMOMP2 after IPTG accounted for 40% and 10% of the total bacterial proteins respectively. Both rMOMP1 and rMOMP2 could combine with the rabbit antiserum against leptospiral TR/PatocⅠ, and could induce the production of agglutination antibodies to these 17 strains of Leptospira with 1∶2 to 1∶64 MAT titres. The rabbit anti-rMOMP1 and anti-MOMP2 antibodies at 1∶2 to 1∶16 dilutions could efficiently block adherence of Leptospira. It concludes that all the Leptospira tested in the present study possess LipL32/1 or LipL32/2 genes, and the constructed expression system can express the rMOMP1 and rMOMP2. These recombinant proteins are showed to have good immunogenicity and satisfactory immunoreactivity.

Vaccine development for leptospirosis:A systematic review

Objective:To assess the efficacy of various types of vaccines developed for leptospirosis.Methods:A comprehensive search was conducted in three databases:PubMed,Scopus,and Cochrane Library.Two authors(YS and MN)selected the articles based on manual screening.The study eligibility criteria are all Leptospira species regardless of any cluster(pathogenic,intermediate and non-pathogenic).This study recorded articles with positive and negative results and showed a comparison among various membrane proteins as vaccine candidates.The studies on the effectiveness of outer membrane protein as vaccine candidates were also included.The articles obtained in the databases were imported into the WPS spreadsheet,and duplicate documents were removed manually.Results:A total of 24 studies were included in the review,which evaluated various types of leptospirosis vaccines.Multiple vaccines were developed and tested;however,the heterogeneity of Leptospira species pose a challenge.As an effective approach,an epitope based vaccine shows quite a promising result.However,sufficient validation,testing and clinical trials are required.Conclusions:Developing an effective vaccine for leptospirosis remains a global health priority.While significant progress has been made in recent years,there is a need for further research to optimize vaccine development and to ensure that vaccines are accessible and effective for high-risk populations.

Isolation and Identification of the Pathogen Causing Skin Ulcer Disease in Cynoglossus semilaevis Günther and Its Sensitivity to Chinese Herbal Medicine

In this study, the pathogen causing skin ulcer disease in Cynoglossus semilaevis Gunther was isolated for morphological observation, physiological and bio- chemical identification. According to the result, the isolated pathogen was identified as Vibrio harveyi. The results of recurrent infection of C. semilaevis Gonther showed that the pathogen was strongly pathogenic to C. semilaevis Gunther. In or- der to explore the pathogenesis, outer membrane protein （OMP） gene of C. semi- laevis Gunther was detected by PCR. The results showed that all the three repre- sentative strains harbored OMP gene. According to the results of sensitivity test of the pathogen to Chinese herbal medicine, Galla Chinensis, Fructus Mume, Fructus Hippophae and Lignum Sappan exerted strong antibacterial effects against V. harveyr, Pericarpium Granati exhibited slight antibacterial effect against V. harveyi; Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Rhizoma Acori GramineL Herba Houttuyniae, Herba Portulacae, Herba Andrographis, Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Herba Menthae Heplocalycis had little effect on V. harveyi. Galla Chinensis, Fructus Mume, Fructus Hippophae and Lignum Sappan were prepared into three prescriptions, among which prescription 1 （Galla Chinensis ＋ Fructus Mume） exhibited the strongest antibacterial effect.

Helicobacter pylori virulence genes

Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)is one of the most important human pathogens,infecting approximately half of the global population.Despite its high prevalence,only a subset of H.pylori infected individuals develop serious gastroduodenal pathology.The pathogenesis of H.pylori infection and disease outcome is thus thought to be mediated by an intricate interplay between host,environmental and bacterial virulence factors.H.pylori has adapted to the harsh milieu of the human stomach through possession of various virulence genes that enable survival of the bacteria in the acidic environment,movement towards the gastric epithelium,and attachment to gastric epithelial cells.These virulence factors enable successful colonization of the gastric mucosa and sustain persistent H.pylori infection,causing chronic inflammation and tissue damage,which may eventually lead to the development of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer.Numerous studies have focused on the prevalence and role of putative H.pylori virulence genes in disease pathogenesis.While several virulence factors with various functions have been identified,disease associations appear to be less evident,especially among different study populations.This review presents key findings on the most important H.pylori virulence genes,including several bacterial adhesins and toxins,in children and adults,and focuses on their prevalence,clinical significance and potential relationships.