The virulence regulator AbsR in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli has pleiotropic effects on bacterial physiology

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli(APEC)belonging to extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli(ExPEC)can cause severe infections in extraintestinal tissues in birds and humans,such as the lungs and blood.MprA(microcin production regulation,locus A,herein renamed AbsR,a blood survival regulator),a member of the MarR(multiple antibiotic resistance regulator)transcriptional regulator family,governs the expression of capsule biosynthetic genes in human ExPEC and represents a promising druggable target for antimicrobials.However,a deep understanding of the AbsR regulatory mechanism as well as its regulon is lacking.In this study,we present a systems-level analysis of the APEC AbsR regulon using ChIP-Seq(chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing)and RNA-Seq(RNA sequencing)methods.We found that AbsR directly regulates 99 genes and indirectly regulates 667 genes.Furthermore,we showed that:1)AbsR contributes to antiphagocytotic effects by macrophages and virulence in a mouse model for systemic infection by directly activating the capsular gene cluster;2)AbsR positively impacts biofilm formation via direct regulation of the T2SS(type II secretion system)but plays a marginal role in virulence;and 3)AbsR directly upregulates the acid tolerance signaling system EvgAS to withstand acid stress but is dispensable in ExPEC virulence.Finally,our data indicate that the role of AbsR in virulence gene regulation is relatively conserved in ExPEC strains.Altogether,this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the AbsR regulon and regulatory mechanism,and our data suggest that AbsR likely influences virulence primarily through the control of capsule production.Interestingly,we found that AbsR severely represses the expression of the type I-F CRISPR(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas(CRISPR associated)systems,which could have implications in CRISPR biology and application.

Distribution of Virulence-Associated Genes of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolates in China

216 avian pathogenic Escherichia coli （APEC） isolates were obtained from poultry with colibacillosis in different areas of China. Among them, 195 were serotyped as 078, 088, and 093. Thirteen virulence-associated genes, including fimC, iucD, iss, tsh, fyuA, irp2, eaeA, hlyE, colV, papC, stx2f, vat, and astA, were submitted to PCR amplification. The fimC gene was the most prevalent with a detection rate of 93.6%, followed by iucD （70.8%）, iss （58.8%）, and tsh （51.4%） in APEC isolates. The detection rate of high pathogenicity islands （HPI）-associatedfyuA and irp2 genes were both 44.9%, with no LEE （the locus of enterocyte effacement） island-associated gene eaeA detected. In terms of distribution patterns of the 13 virulence-associated genes, 5 isolates harborbed 10 genes, 19 isolates contained onlyfimC gene, and only 4 isolates had no virulence-associated gene detected. Different correlations of the virulence-associated genes with O serotypes were also investigated and 50% 078 isolates had a gene distribution patterns of fimC^＋iucD^＋irp2^＋fyuA^＋iss^＋colV^＋tsh^＋.

Differentiation of Avian Pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>Strains from Broiler Chickens by Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Random Amplified Polymorphic (RAPD) DNA

We examined 50 Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains isolated from broiler chickens between January 2013 to March 2014 in order to evaluate the epidemiological prevalence of avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) in Jordan by multiplex PCR and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) tests. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which was used as tentative criteria of APEC targets 8 virulence associated genes;enteroaggregative toxin (astA), Type 1 fimbria adhesion (fimH), iron-repressible protein (irp2), P fimbriae (papC), aerobactin (iucD), temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (tsh), vacuolating autotransporter toxin (vat), and colicin V plasmid operon (cva/cvi) genes. The number of detected genes could be used as a reliable index of their virulence. E. coli strains already typed as an APEC always harbor 5 to 8 genes, but non-APEC strains harbor less than 4 genes. Assuming the criteria of an APEC is possession of 5 or more virulence associated genes;we found that all 50 E. coli strains were classified as APEC strains. The RAPD analysis showed that the E. coli strains could be grouped into 35 of RAPD types by using these two different RAPD primer sets, RAPD analysis primer 4 5'AAGAGCCCGT5', and RAPD analysis primer 6 5'CCCGTCAGCA3'. The current study confirmed the endemic nature of APEC in broiler flocks in Jordan. It is essential that the biosecurity on poultry farms should be improved to prevent the introduction and dissemination of APEC and other agents. Furthermore, farmers need to be educated about the signs, lesions, and the importance of this agent.

Fosfomycin Resistance in Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolates

Fosfomycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, is very important in the clinic but many fosfomycin-resistant bacteria have been isolated from patients. In this study, the resistance mechanism of three fosfomycin-resistant avian pathogenic Escherichia coli （APEC） strains （JE1, IF7 and CD11） isolated from septicemic chickens were analyzed. The results showed that their fosfomycin-resistance mechanisms were different. An alteration in the glpT transport system was the main reason of the fosfomycin-resistance mechanisms of strain IF7. Compared with the control stain BL21, the capacity of fosfomycin-uptake was low in all these three stains （JE 1 〉IFT〉CD 11）. Sequence results of murA showed that there were more than 10 sites of nucleotide mutation, but only one amino acid mutation T116A showed in CD11. Real-time detection test showed that the expression level of the murA gene of the three stains was significantly increased （four times increase in strain CD11 and two times increase in strains JE1 and IFT）. The transformation and recombinant test showed that the recombinant bacteria with the murA of JE1 and CD11 showed high minimal inhibitory concentration （MIC） against fosfomycin. From the results of this research, it showed that most of the fosfomycin- resistance mechanisms once showed in patient bacteria have appeared in the APEC strains and the fosfomycin-resistance mechanism of the three APEC isolates was different.

The Pathogenicity of Chicken Pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>Is Associated with the Numbers and Combination Patterns of Virulence-Associated Genes

Various virulence-associated genes or pathogenicity island are responsible for determining the pathogenicity of Escherichia coli strains. However, the correlation of the number and combination patterns of virulence-associated genes in Escherichia coli strains with their pathogenicity remains largely unknown. In this work, 581 chicken Escherichia coli strains were isolated from 1045 liver samples of dead chickens from 50 chicken farms at four provinces in China during 2007-2012. Based on the pathogenic test of SPF chickens, 320 chickens pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates were identified as highly (n = 193), intermediate (n = 98) and low pathogenic (n = 29) strains, respectively. Furthermore, the number of virulence genes in the 320 chicken pathogenic and 50 non-pathogenic Escherichia coli strains was examined. Our results reveal that thirteen virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains were detected, and all strains carried at least two or more than two virulence-associated genes. This study also suggests that highly pathogenic E. coli strains simultaneously carried at least 8 to13 virulence genes while intermediate pathogenic strains carried at least 5 to 8 virulence genes. The number of virulence-associated genes detected in highly pathogenic strains showed there were more significant differences than that in low pathogenic strains (P irp2, fyuA, and colV in high pathogenic strains was significantly higher than that in low and non-pathogenic strains (P irp2, fyuA, iucA, iucD, iutA, papC, iss, tsh, and colV were more often detected in highly and intermediate pathogenic E. coli strains. Taken together, our results provide evidences demonstrating that the pathogenicity of Escherichia coli strains is closely associated with the number and combination patterns of virulence-associated genes.

Dietary coated essential oil and organic acid mixture supplementation improves health of broilers infected with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli

Colibacillosis caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli(APEC)is a very prevalent disease in poultry farms in China.The exploration of effective non-antibiotic substances is of great significance for the control of APEC infections.This experiment evaluated the efficacy of coated essential oil and organic acid(EOA)supplementation to prevent E.coli O78 infection in broiler chickens.A total of 288 one-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into 4 groups with 6 replicates per group.Chickens were fed a diet either supplemented with EOA(500 mg/kg feed)or not,and either uninfected or infected with E.coli O78 intratracheally.Results showed that E.coli O78 infection reduced body weight gain,increased mortality and the ratio of feed to gain along with cecal and liver E.coli load,damaged gut mucosa,induced local and systemic inflammation,and altered cecal microbial composition,diversity and function(P<0.05).Supplemental EOA improved feed conversion efficiency,lowered gross lesion scores and cecal E.coli population,enhanced intestinal goblet cells and serum IgG concentration,and tended to decrease serum IL-12 production(P<0.05).Essential oil and organic acid addition downregulated IFN-γmRNA,tended to decrease mucin-2 mRNA levels while upregulating IL-10 mRNA,and tended to increase ZO-1 gene expression in the jejuna of infected birds at 7 d after E.coli O78 challenge(P<0.05).The 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that both EOA addition and E.coli O78 challenge altered the diversity and composition of the cecal microbiota community.Furthermore,infected birds fed EOA showed decreased Bacteroidetes and genus Lactobacillus abundance compared with the infected control.LEfSe analysis showed that Firmicutes,Ruminococcaceae,Clostridiales,Clostridia,Lactobacillus,Lactobacilaceae,and cc-115 were enriched in the non-infected but EOA-treated group(P<0.05).Collectively,dietary EOA supplementation could mildly alleviate E.coli-induced gut injury and inflammation.

禽致病性大肠杆菌HlyE蛋白的免疫原性研究

为评估禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)溶血素HlyE蛋白的免疫原性,本研究对APEC溶血素HlyE蛋白进行原核表达和纯化,并对表达的重组蛋白进行SDS-PAGE和western blot分析,将纯化蛋白利用透析袋在4℃透析后,利用血琼脂平板对其溶血活性进行检测。SDS-PAGE和western blot结果显示,表达并纯化到分子量约为36 ku的重组HlyE蛋白(rHlyE),经ND-2000超微量核酸蛋白测定仪测定纯化后蛋白浓度为0.65 mg/mL;溶血活性检测结果显示,rHlyE具有溶血活性。以透析后的rHlyE作为抗原,按照50μg/只的剂量免疫小鼠,对照组于相同时间点注射等量PBS,共免疫3次间隔14 d,并于首免后不同时间采血,采用间接ELISA方法检测两组小鼠血清特异性抗体水平,并于三免后18 d以2 LD_(50)的APEC菌液攻毒小鼠,观察7 d内小鼠的死亡情况;于首免后28 d剖杀各组小鼠取其脾脏制备脾淋巴细胞,采用流式细胞术分别检测CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞亚型比率,对rHlyE的免疫原性进行评估。间接ELISA检测结果显示,该蛋白能够诱导机体产生体液免疫应答,分泌高表达量的IgG抗体,抗体水平于三免后15 d达到最高水平。rHlyE免疫攻毒保护试验结果显示,免疫组小鼠基本无明显临床症状,7 d内存活率达80%;而对照组小鼠表现明显临床症状,于攻毒后3 d内全部死亡。流式细胞术结果显示,与对照组相比,免疫组小鼠的CD3^(+)、CD4^(+)和CD8^(+)T淋巴细胞亚型比率均升高。上述结果表明,rHlyE在大肠杆菌BL21中为部分可溶性表达,将其免疫小鼠后可诱导小鼠产生较高水平的体液免疫应答,并且可对小鼠产生较好的免疫保护效果。本研究明确了APEC HlyE蛋白的免疫原性,为APEC免疫保护蛋白的筛选以及疫苗研发提供了借鉴与参考。

天蚕素对H_(9)N_(2)亚型禽流感病毒和禽致病性大肠杆菌共感染肉鸡的干预作用

试验旨在探讨天蚕素对H_(9)N_(2)亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)与禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)共感染致炎性渗出的干预效果,为临床H_(9)N_(2)亚型AIV与APEC共感染的有效防治提供参考。试验选取150只14日龄白羽肉鸡,随机分为5组,每组3个重复,每个重复10只鸡。对照组肉鸡使用无菌生理盐水0.2 mL滴鼻,APEC感染组肉鸡使用含2.09×109 CFU APEC O2菌株肉汤0.2 mL滴鼻,H_(9)N_(2)感染组肉鸡使用H_(9)N_(2)病毒尿囊液(约105 EID50 H_(9)N_(2)病毒)0.2 mL滴鼻,H_(9)N_(2)+APEC感染组肉鸡使用0.2 mL APEC O2菌株肉汤离心后的沉淀与0.2 mL H_(9)N_(2)病毒尿囊液混匀得到的病毒尿囊液滴鼻,H_(9)N_(2)+APEC干预组肉鸡采用与H_(9)N_(2)+APEC感染组相同处理后,使用天蚕素饮水(300 mg/kg)+基础饲粮饲喂,其余各组正常饮水+基础饲粮饲喂。正式试验期21 d。结果显示,H_(9)N_(2)+APEC感染组肉鸡临床症状极为明显,死亡率显著升高(P<0.05),气管和肺脏病变最为严重。与H_(9)N_(2)+APEC感染组相比,H_(9)N_(2)感染组和APEC感染组在感染后第3、7、14、21 d时的H_(9)N_(2)病毒拷贝数和APEC载量均显著降低(P<0.05);H_(9)N_(2)+APEC干预组在感染后第3、7、14、21 d时的H_(9)N_(2)病毒拷贝数均显著降低(P<0.05),H_(9)N_(2)+APEC干预组在感染后第7、14、21 d时的APEC载量均显著降低(P<0.05)。研究表明,天蚕素可以缓解H_(9)N_(2)亚型AIV、APEC以及两者共感染引起的肉鸡呼吸道症状,降低死亡率,其机制与天蚕素降低病原在组织内的载量及修复呼吸系统、改善呼吸机能有关。

生物膜、毒力基因和耐药基因对APEC的致病性作用

禽致病性大肠杆菌病(Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)是危害养禽业发展的主要细菌性病原之一,给养禽业的发展带来了严重危害。为研究APEC的致病性与耐药性之间的关系,从毒力基因的分布、生物膜的形成能力、耐药基因的分布等三个方面探讨了生物膜的形成能力与毒力基因、耐药基因在致病性中的作用,为后期研究禽大肠杆菌的致病机理及耐药机制等提供理论基础,并为开展禽大肠杆菌病的流行病学调查及监测、防控禽大肠杆菌病的流行提供理论数据。

禽致病性大肠埃希氏菌生物被膜形成的调控机制研究进展

禽致病性大肠埃希氏菌能够引起禽类感染性细菌病,给禽类养殖业造成了重大的经济损失,并严重限制了禽类养殖业的健康发展。为了了解禽致病性大肠埃希氏菌的感染机制,论文简述了生物被膜的形成过程及其危害。细菌生物被膜的形成不但增强细菌对抗菌药物的耐药性,而且导致宿主持续和反复性感染,同时还很难被预防、控制和清除。论文还分析了普遍存在于各类细菌中的重要调控系统——群体感应、双组份系统和第二信使的信号转导途径及其调控机制,并阐述了群体感应、双组份系统和第二信使以及两系统间的互作网络对细菌生物被膜的影响。因此,了解多系统共同调控生物被膜形成的分子机制或许可以作为破坏生物被膜形成的新策略,从而为控制由生物被膜引起的感染和抗菌药物耐药性提供研究方向。

禽大肠杆菌病的非抗生素物质防控研究进展

禽大肠杆菌病是危害养鸡业发展的主要细菌性传染病之一,给家禽产业带来了巨大的经济损失。抗生素在预防和治疗禽大肠杆菌病中有重要作用。然而,随着世界范围内在养鸡领域治疗性抗生素限用和饲用抗生素禁用措施的实施,禽大肠杆菌病的发病率在全球范围内呈上升趋势,对家禽生长与健康造成严重威胁。因此,迫切需要研发新的技术和产品代替抗生素来预防和控制禽大肠杆菌病。本文首先简介了禽大肠杆菌病的危害,然后重点综述了饲用抗生素替代物在预防和控制禽致病性大肠杆菌感染中的效果和作用机制,为应用非抗生素物质预防禽大肠杆菌病提供参考,为研发防控禽大肠杆菌病的新型非抗生素物质的提供借鉴。

MPAIV、NDV Lasota株分别与较低致病性禽源E.coli的联合感染试验

以 2× 1 0 5EID50 的低致病性禽流感病毒 ( mildly pathogenic avian influenza virus,MPAIV)、2× 1 0 6 EID50 新城疫病毒 L asota株( Newcastle disease virus Lasota strain,NDVL asota)气管内注射 1 0日龄 SPF鸡 ,2 4h后 ,同剂量、同法重复感染一次 ;48h后 ,分别气管内注射较低致病性禽病原性大肠杆菌 1 2 0( O1 8)和 1 73( O2 6 )株 ,2× 1 0 7CFU/羽 ,2 4h后同剂量、同法重复攻毒一次 ,连续观察 1 0d。结果 :MPAIV单独感染组死亡率为 53% ;NDV Lasota株单独攻毒组未见死亡 ;大肠杆菌 1 2 0株单独攻毒组死亡率为 40 % ,1 73株单独攻毒组死亡率为 7% ;MPAIV与大肠杆菌1 2 0株联合攻毒组的死亡率为 87% ,NDV L a-sota株与 1 2 0株联合攻毒组的死亡率为 40 % ;MPAIV与大肠杆菌 1 73株联合攻毒组的死亡率为 80 % ,NDV Lasota株与 1 73株联合攻毒组的死亡率为 2 0 %。

禽多病因气囊炎病原的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

为了解广东省四会地区某鸡场多病因气囊炎的主要致病菌及其耐药情况。采用形态学鉴定、16S rRNA基因测序等方法对分离株进行鉴定,选取3种常用抗生素进行药物敏感性试验,进行耐药性研究。结果表明:第1株分离株菌落呈典型的“荷包蛋”状,第2株分离株为革兰氏阴性杆菌,第3株分离株为革兰氏阳性球菌,经16S rRNA基因测序比对分析,3种病原的同源性均在99%以上,确定多病因气囊炎的主要致病菌为鸡毒支原体、大肠埃希氏杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌,分别命名为SH-MG株、SH-E株和SH-S株。药物敏感性结果表明,SH-E株对阿莫西林、氟苯尼考和泰妙菌素产生了耐药性,SH-S株对阿莫西林产生了耐药性,SH-MG株对泰妙菌素敏感。说明禽多病因气囊炎很可能是金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌和鸡毒支原体共同感染造成的,其中大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌对一些常用的抗生素表现出耐药性,泰妙菌素是防治鸡毒支原体感染的首选药物。

双组份系统调控禽致病性大肠杆菌生物被膜的研究进展

禽致病性大肠杆菌是一种典型的肠道外致病性大肠杆菌,能够引起各种肠道外疾病,给禽类养殖业造成重大的经济损失。生物被膜作为一种保护细菌的物理屏障用于抵御抗生素的损伤及逃避宿主的免疫系统,从而导致宿主持续和反复性感染。双组份系统是普遍存在于各类细菌中主要的信号传导系统,参与调控细菌抗生素耐药性和生物被膜的形成。为了解由生物被膜造成的禽致病性大肠杆菌感染机制,文章详述了生物被膜的形成过程,并综述了双组份系统调控生物被膜形成的分子机制,以期探寻阻断双组份系统信号转导的新方法以破坏生物被膜的形成作为控制禽致病性大肠杆菌感染的治疗策略,从而为防治由生物被膜引起的抗生素耐药性以及持续或反复性感染提供研究方向。

禽致病性大肠杆菌病疫苗研究进展

禽致病性大肠杆菌病是一类由禽致病性大肠杆菌(Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)引起的、严重危害家禽养殖业的禽类重要疾病。APEC血清型众多,容易产生耐药性并且还具备感染人的潜力,对公共卫生安全造成严重影响。疫苗接种能针对APEC产生较高保护效力,从而减少禽养殖业经济损失。禽致病性大肠杆菌病疫苗主要包括灭活疫苗、减毒活疫苗和亚单位疫苗等。文章综述了禽致病性大肠杆菌病及其疫苗的研究进展,旨在为禽致病性大肠杆菌病的防控和疫苗的研发应用提供一定的理论参考。

gltS基因缺失对禽致病性大肠杆菌生物学特性的影响

为研究谷氨酸转运蛋白GltS编码基因对禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)生物学特性的影响,本研究利用λ-Red同源重组方法构建APEC CE129(WT)株gltS基因缺失株CE129ΔgltS(KO)和基因回补株CE129ΔgltS/gltS (RS),并均经PCR及测序鉴定,结果显示,gltS基因缺失株及回补株均正确构建。通过连续10 h测定各菌株OD600nm值绘制WT、KO、RS菌株的生长曲线,利用梅里埃自动生化鉴定系统测定3株菌的生化特性;利用K-B纸片法检测3株菌对8类16种药物的敏感性;利用半固体培养基检测3株菌的运动能力。结果显示,3株菌的生长特性、生化特性、药敏特性和运动能力均无明显差异。利用细菌平板计数法计算检测WT与KO菌株的体外竞争指数(CI),分析KO菌株是否致弱。利用结晶紫染色法测定3株菌的生物被膜(BF)的形成能力,并利用刚果红琼脂板及含荧光增白剂的琼脂板分别检测菌株BF中curli菌毛及纤维素的形成情况。结果显示,WT与KO菌株的体外CI为0.32,表明KO菌株轻度致弱。BF形成能力检测结果显示,相对于WT、RS菌株,KO菌株BF的形成能力极显著降低(P<0.001),且KO菌株BF的主要组成成分curli菌毛有明显变化,表明gltS基因参与APEC BF中curli菌毛的形成,而3株菌在含荧光增白剂琼脂板的荧光强度均一致,表明gltS基因与APEC BF中纤维素的形成无关。采用细菌计数法统计WT、KO、RS菌株在6种应激条件下的生存率,结果显示,除氧化应激条件下3株菌的生存率无显著差异外,在酸、碱、热、铁饥饿应激环境中,与WT和RS菌株相比,KO菌株的生存率均极显著降低(P<0.001、P<0.0001)。在50 mg/L、100 mg/L NaNO2中,KO菌株的生存率显著降低(P<0.01);在150 mg/L NaNO2中,KO菌株的生存率极显著降低(P<0.001)。采用菌落计数法测定WT和KO菌株抗不同浓度血清的杀菌作用,结果显示,在高浓度的血清中(50%~100%),WT、KO菌的数量显著高于DH5α对照菌株(P<0.05);但在不同浓度血清中KO菌的数量与WT菌的数量差异不显著。本研究结果首次证实gltS基因参与APEC部分生物学特性的形成,为进一步阐释gltS基因功能及该菌的致病机制奠定了基础。

禽致病性大肠杆菌黏附素疫苗研究进展

禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia coli,APEC)是导致不同日龄禽类局部和全身感染的重要病原菌,也是人肠外致病性大肠杆菌(extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli,ExPEC)毒力基因的重要贮存库或来源。随着APEC耐药菌株的日益增多,迫切需要开辟防控APEC感染的有效途径,其中阻止细菌感染的初始阶段便是防控感染的最有效措施之一。黏附素除介导细菌与宿主组织结合外,也是成功建立初始感染的第一步。因此,利用黏附素作为靶标制备疫苗预防APEC感染将是一种极有前途的策略。笔者重点介绍了菌毛黏附素、非菌毛黏附素和非典型黏附素等的结构与功能,以及有望成为APEC候选疫苗的黏附素的应用潜力和最新研究进展,如1型菌毛、P菌毛、普通菌毛、Yqi菌毛、Stg菌毛、Curli菌毛、温度敏感血凝素(Tsh)、AatA、FdeC、YeeJ、鞭毛蛋白、脂多糖(LPS)和外膜蛋白A等。黏附素疫苗一旦开发成功,将有望成为一种防控APEC感染的有力手段。

禽致病性大肠杆菌fdtACB基因缺失株的生物学特性研究

为研究O抗原侧链岩藻糖合成酶基因fdtACB对禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)生物学特性的影响,本研究以O_(2)血清型APEC DE17为亲本株,通过Red同源重组构建fdtACB基因缺失株与回补株,经PCR及测序鉴定确认缺失株ΔfdtACB和回补株CΔfdtACB均正确构建。采用硝酸银染色法鉴定细菌脂多糖(LPS)图谱,采用western blot鉴定缺失株与O_(2)血清型O因子血清的反应性。硝酸银染色法结果显示,ΔfdtACB缺失株未产生与野生株一样完整的LPS图谱,表现为部分O抗原梯状条带缺失和移位;western blot结果显示,ΔfdtACB与大肠杆菌O_(2)血清型O因子血清无反应条带。各菌株培养16 h后每隔1 h测定OD600nm值,绘制生长曲线;于半固体培养基培养各菌株,通过测量细菌运动圈直径分析各菌株的运动能力,通过结晶紫染色法检测各菌株生物被膜(BF)形成能力,结果显示,ΔfdtACB缺失株、野生株和回补株间生长速率无明显差异(P>0.05);与野生株相比,ΔfdtACB缺失株的运动能力显著降低(P<0.01),BF形成能力显著升高(P<0.01)。以上结果表明fdtACB影响细菌O抗原完整性、运动及BF的形成。将各菌株分别感染DF-1细胞后通过细菌计数分析APEC对细胞的黏附及侵袭力,结果显示,ΔfdtACB对DF-1细胞的黏附及侵袭力均较野生株极显著降低(P<0.01)。以不同浓度各菌株腹腔注射感染大蜡螟后,根据5 d内各组大蜡螟死亡数量计算各菌株LD50,结果显示,除高剂量各菌株外,其它剂量各菌株注射后,ΔfdtACB组大蜡螟死亡数较其它组少,经计算野生株LD50为1.85×10^(2) cfu/mL,缺失株LD50为9.16×10^(2) cfu/mL,回补株LD50为8.0×10^(1) cfu/mL,缺失株致病力比野生株降低约5倍,表明fdtACB影响细菌感染性和致病力。综上所述,本研究首次证实大肠杆菌岩藻糖合成酶FdtACB参与O_(2)型APEC O的抗原合成,在细菌运动、BF形成和感染过程中发挥作用,该结果对掌握APEC O抗原侧链的生物学功能具有重要意义。

四味穿心莲散水煎剂防治禽致病性大肠杆菌病疗效研究

为考察四味穿心莲散水煎剂(DSCS)对禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)的抗菌活性,本试验用微孔-平板法测定最小抑菌浓度(MIC)和最小杀菌浓度(MBC);用10日龄雏鸡制备APEC感染模型,随机分为5组,每组20只,设DSCS高、中、低三个剂量组,氟苯尼考阳性对照组和感染组,另设一组健康对照组,口服给药,连用5 d,观察疗效。结果显示:DSCS对APEC的MIC为7.82 mg/mL,MBC为31.25 mg/mL;DSCS组对APEC病的治愈率为50%~82%,与氟苯尼考组相当,DSCS高剂量组有效率显著高于氟苯尼考组(P <0.05)。由此表明,四味穿心莲散水煎剂能够有效治疗APEC病。

桂皮醛对禽致病性大肠杆菌生物被膜形成影响的研究

为探究桂皮醛对禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)生物被膜(BF)的形成及其相关基因转录水平的影响,本研究利用牛津杯法分别检测桂皮醛对3株BF强阳性(E-39、E-40、E-41)和3株中等阳性(E-27、E-30、E-42)APEC的抑菌圈,分析桂皮醛对APEC的抑菌活性;采用二倍稀释法测定桂皮醛对上述6株APEC的最小抑菌浓度(MIC);根据该结果,进一步采用96孔板结晶紫染色法测定MIC、1/2 MIC和1/4 MIC桂皮醛对6株APEC BF形成能力的抑制作用;采用qPCR法分别检测1/2 MIC和1/4 MIC桂皮醛对6株APEC BF形成相关基因转录水平的影响。结果显示:桂皮醛对6株APEC的抑菌圈直径为16.12±0.13 mm~23.80±0.23 mm;桂皮醛对BF强阳性和中等阳性APEC菌株的MIC均为256μg/mL;BF形成能力的检测结果显示,与未用桂皮醛处理的APEC相比,MIC、1/2 MIC和1/4 MIC的桂皮醛均极显著抑制上述6株APEC BF的形成(P<0.01),且该抑制作用与桂皮醛的浓度呈正相关;经1/2 MIC和1/4 MIC桂皮醛处理3 d后,与未经桂皮醛处理的APEC阳性对照组相比,3株BF强阳性菌株组氨酸激基因qseC、鞭毛主调节器基因flhC和外膜外排蛋白基因tolC的转录水平均显著降低(P<0.05),代谢基因bdcR的转录水平均显著升高(P<0.05),3株BF中等阳性菌株反应调控蛋白基因qseB、qseC及flhD、flhC和tolC基因的转录水平均显著降低(P<0.05)。本研究首次证实桂皮醛在体外对APEC有较强的抑菌活性,并且可通过影响APEC qseB、qseC、flhD、flhC、tolC和bdcR基因的转录水平进而抑制其BF的形成。本研究为临床防治大肠杆菌病及清除其BF提供了参考依据。