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Ole e I: epitope mapping, cross-reactivity with other Oleaceae pollens and ultrastructural localization.

Ole e I is the major allergen derived from olive tree pollen (Olea europaea) and it is composed of two polypeptides with molecular weights (MWs) of 18 and 20 kD. A panel of six monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has been prepared and used to map antigenic determinants on this molecule. Four epitope determinants have been identified on Ole e I. Using the purified mAbs produced against Ole e I, we have analyzed the common epitope determinants in olive (O. europaea) and different Oleaceae pollens: ash (Fraxinus excelsior); privet (Ligustrum vulgare); lilac (Syringa vulgaris), and forsythia (Forsythia suspensa). ELISA showed three reactivity groups depending on the recognition of monoclonal antibodies: (1) olive and ash; (2) olive, ash, privet and lilac; and (3) olive, ash, privet, lilac and forsythia. Immunoblotting studies on Oleaceae pollen extracts with these mAbs showed a very similar cross-reactivity pattern. The 18- and 20-kD MW proteins were present in each pollen, except in the case of forsythia. In this case the reactivity pattern was associated with 50- to 55-kD protein bands. This band was recognized by a pool of sera from olive-allergic patients. Finally, ultrastructural localization of Ole e I antigen was performed on the mature olive pollen grain. Ole e I was located in association with dilated endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Pollen grain walls, nuclei and cytoplasmic organelles were totally devoid of the allergen.

Allergens↗

Oleaceae pollinosis: a review.

In the Oleaceae family, the most allergenic pollen is produced by Olea europaea, the olive tree, which in the Mediterranean area has been recognized as one of the most important cause of seasonal respiratory allergy. The olive pollination season lasts from May to the end of June and sometimes causes severe symptoms (oculorhinitis and/or bronchial asthma). Olive pollinosis is quite rare in the form of monosensitization. Although adults are affected the most, olive sensitization can be recognized in children, too. However, it is not easy to be sure about the clinical relevance of allergic sensitization to olive, even in patients with positivity to this pollen, as results from allergological tests in vivo and/or in vitro, because positivity to Olea pollen is not equivalent to clinical responsibility, above all in patients without seasonal respiratory symptomatology. Studies on the allergenic content of O. europaea pollen are currently in progress. In Northern and Central Europe, where there are no olive trees, there are two commonly occurring genera of the Oleaceae family, namely Fraxinus and Ligustrum, but these have a low frequency of allergic sensitization. A fourth anemophilous member of the Oleaceae, Phillyrea, has a more regional distribution in some parts of the Mediterranean. Other nonanemophilous and usually not allergenic Oleaceae genera are Forsythia, Jasminum and Syringa.

Air Pollutants↗

Subinhibitory bismuth-thiols reduce virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common pathogen in mechanically ventilated patients and produces a wide array of virulence factors. Bismuth-thiols (BTs) are active in vitro against all bacterial lung pathogens, including P. aeruginosa. The objective of these studies was to examine the biochemical and morphologic effects of sublethal BT concentrations on P. aeruginosa and to evaluate virulence in cell culture. Bismuth-dimercaprol, at a fraction of the minimal inhibitory concentration, reduced alginate expression by 67% in P. aeruginosa, whereas subinhibitory bismuth-ethanedithiol (BisEDT) reduced alginate by 92% in P. syringae. BisEDT effects on lipopolysaccharide content and type III secreted cytoxins were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Subinhibitory BisEDT reduced cell-associated lipopolysaccharide, and inhibited processing of the secreted cytotoxic protein ExoU. BisEDT-induced outer membrane blebbing and aggregation of cytoplasmic material was noted in electron microscopy. Virulence of P. aeruginosa was assessed by adherence to epithelial cells and sensitivity to serum killing. BisEDT inhibited adherence of P. aeruginosa to 16HBE14o- cells by 28% and to a collagen matrix by 53%. BisEDT-treated bacteria were also 100-fold more sensitive to serum bactericidal activity. In summary, low BT concentrations affect P. aeruginosa in a variety of ways, the combination of which may help prevent or resolve respiratory tract infection.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Immunogold probes for light and electron microscopic localization of Ole e I in several Oleaceae pollens.

We investigated the immunolocalization of the olive major allergen Ole e I and Ole e I-like proteins in pollen from several Oleaceae species [olive (Olea europaea), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), privet (Ligustrum vulgaris), lilac (Syringa vulgare), and forsythia (Forsythia suspensa)]. Crossreactions among different pollens were found in enzyme immunoassays. For immunolocalization with light microscopy we used the silver enhancement technique with three monoclonal antibodies (1D8, 10H1, and 16G2) that recognize three different epitopes of the allergen Ole e I. Our findings show that the silver enhancement technique is very useful when several antibodies are to be used for rapid screening of different materials. MAb 10H1 gave the most precise results and was selected for further immunolocalization studies with transmission electron microscopy. The epitope recognized by this MAb was localized exclusively in the endoplasmic reticulum in olive pollen. In lilac, privet, and ash pollen, most of the reactivity was also seen in the endoplasmic reticulum; however, the 10H1 epitope was not detected in forsythia pollen.

Allergens↗

Improving the specificity of high-throughput ortholog prediction.

BACKGROUND: Orthologs (genes that have diverged after a speciation event) tend to have similar function, and so their prediction has become an important component of comparative genomics and genome annotation. The gold standard phylogenetic analysis approach of comparing available organismal phylogeny to gene phylogeny is not easily automated for genome-wide analysis; therefore, ortholog prediction for large genome-scale datasets is typically performed using a reciprocal-best-BLAST-hits (RBH) approach. One problem with RBH is that it will incorrectly predict a paralog as an ortholog when incomplete genome sequences or gene loss is involved. In addition, there is an increasing interest in identifying orthologs most likely to have retained similar function. RESULTS: To address these issues, we present here a high-throughput computational method named Ortholuge that further evaluates previously predicted orthologs (including those predicted using an RBH-based approach) - identifying which orthologs most closely reflect species divergence and may more likely have similar function. Ortholuge analyzes phylogenetic distance ratios involving two comparison species and an outgroup species, noting cases where relative gene divergence is atypical. It also identifies some cases of gene duplication after species divergence. Through simulations of incomplete genome data/gene loss, we show that the vast majority of genes falsely predicted as orthologs by an RBH-based method can be identified. Ortholuge was then used to estimate the number of false-positives (predominantly paralogs) in selected RBH-predicted ortholog datasets, identifying approximately 10% paralogs in a eukaryotic data set (mouse-rat comparison) and 5% in a bacterial data set (Pseudomonas putida - Pseudomonas syringae species comparison). Higher quality (more precise) datasets of orthologs, which we term "ssd-orthologs" (supporting-species-divergence-orthologs), were also constructed. These datasets, as well as Ortholuge software that may be used to characterize other species' datasets, are available at http://www.pathogenomics.ca/ortholuge/ (software under GNU General Public License). CONCLUSION: The Ortholuge method reported here appears to significantly improve the specificity (precision) of high-throughput ortholog prediction for both bacterial and eukaryotic species. This method, and its associated software, will aid those performing various comparative genomics-based analyses, such as the prediction of conserved regulatory elements upstream of orthologous genes.

Algorithms↗

Variation suggestive of horizontal gene transfer at a lipopolysaccharide (lps) biosynthetic locus in Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the bacterial leaf blight pathogen of rice.

BACKGROUND: In animal pathogenic bacteria, horizontal gene transfer events (HGT) have been frequently observed in genomic regions that encode functions involved in biosynthesis of the outer membrane located lipopolysaccharide (LPS). As a result, different strains of the same pathogen can have substantially different lps biosynthetic gene clusters. Since LPS is highly antigenic, the variation at lps loci is attributed to be of advantage in evading the host immune system. Although LPS has been suggested as a potentiator of plant defense responses, interstrain variation at lps biosynthetic gene clusters has not been reported for any plant pathogenic bacterium. RESULTS: We report here the complete sequence of a 12.2 kb virulence locus of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) encoding six genes whose products are homologous to functions involved in LPS biosynthesis and transport. All six open reading frames (ORFs) have atypical G+C content and altered codon usage, which are the hallmarks of genomic islands that are acquired by horizontal gene transfer. The lps locus is flanked by highly conserved genes, metB and etfA, respectively encoding cystathionine gamma lyase and electron transport flavoprotein. Interestingly, two different sets of lps genes are present at this locus in the plant pathogens, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac). The genomic island is present in a number of Xoo strains from India and other Asian countries but is not present in two strains, one from India (BXO8) and another from Nepal (Nepal624) as well as the closely related rice pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoor). TAIL-PCR analysis indicates that sequences related to Xac are present at the lps locus in both BXO8 and Nepal624. The Xoor strain has a hybrid lps gene cluster, with sequences at the metB and etfA ends, being most closely related to sequences from Xac and the tomato pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of hypervariation at an lps locus between different strains of a plant pathogenic bacterium. Our results indicate that multiple HGT events have occurred at this locus in the xanthomonad group of plant pathogens.

Base Sequence↗

The PTI1-like kinase ZmPti1a from maize (Zea mays L.) co-localizes with callose at the plasma membrane of pollen and facilitates a competitive advantage to the male gametophyte.

BACKGROUND: The tomato kinase Pto confers resistance to bacterial speck disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato in a gene for gene manner. Upon recognition of specific avirulence factors the Pto kinase activates multiple signal transduction pathways culminating in induction of pathogen defense. The soluble cytoplasmic serine/threonine kinase Pti1 is one target of Pto phosphorylation and is involved in the hypersensitive response (HR) reaction. However, a clear role of Pti1 in plant pathogen resistance is uncertain. So far, no Pti1 homologues from monocotyledonous species have been studied. RESULTS: Here we report the identification and molecular analysis of four Pti1-like kinases from maize (ZmPti1a, -b, -c, -d). These kinase genes showed tissue-specific expression and their corresponding proteins were targeted to different cellular compartments. Sequence similarity, expression pattern and cellular localization of ZmPti1b suggested that this gene is a putative orthologue of Pti1 from tomato. In contrast, ZmPti1a was specifically expressed in pollen and sequestered to the plasma membrane, evidently owing to N-terminal modification by myristoylation and/or S-acylation. The ZmPti1a:GFP fusion protein was not evenly distributed at the pollen plasma membrane but accumulated as an annulus-like structure which co-localized with callose (1,3-beta-glucan) deposition. In addition, co-localization of ZmPti1a and callose was observed during stages of pollen mitosis I and pollen tube germination. Maize plants in which ZmPti1a expression was silenced by RNA interference (RNAi) produced pollen with decreased competitive ability. Hence, our data provide evidence that ZmPti1a plays an important part in a signalling pathway that accelerates pollen performance and male fitness. CONCLUSION: ZmPti1a from maize is involved in pollen-specific processes during the progamic phase of reproduction, probably in crucial signalling processes associated with regions of callose deposition. Pollen-sporophyte interactions and pathogen induced HR show certain similarities. For example, HR has been shown to be associated with cell wall reinforcement through callose deposition. Hence, it is hypothesized that Pti1 kinases from maize act as general components in evolutionary conserved signalling processes associated with callose, however during different developmental programs and in different tissue types.

Cell Membrane↗

Antimicrobial activity of some pentacyclic triterpenes and their synthesized 3-O-lipophilic chains.

The major metabolites of Diopsyros melanoxylon viz. amyrins and ursolic acid and their lipophilic 3-O-fatty acid ester chains (C12-C18), which are synthesized now under mild esterification conditions in excellent yields (80-95%), were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against a series of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Significantly these compounds were found to exhibit potent activity against Gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas syringae (ATCC #13457) and fairly good activity against Gram positive bacteria, Bacillus sphaericus (ATCC #14577) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC #6051).

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Biological activities of racemomycin-B, beta-lysine rich streptothricin antibiotic, the main component of Streptomyces lavendulae OP-2.

Racemomycin-B (RM-B), the main component of Streptomyces lavendulae OP-2 which is the basis of 50% of the antibiotics produced, is a streptothricin antibiotic which contains three beta-lysine moieties in the molecule. RM-B had antimicrobial activity against plant-pathogenic microorganisms and growth-inhibitory activity against the root of Brassica rapa L. at the concentration of 50 ppm. It strongly inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci IFO-3508 (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.4 microgram/ml), and also showed antifungal activity against six kinds of Fusarium oxysporum species (MIC: 0.1-2.0 micrograms/ml). The antimicrobial activity of RM-B was much stronger than those of RM-A and -C which contain, respectively, one and two beta-lysine moieties in their molecules. The above activities of RM-A, -C and -B were thus in the order of -B greater than -C greater than -A: namely, the biological activity of racemomycin compounds tended to be stronger with increase in the number of beta-lysine moieties in the molecule.

Fusarium↗

Cloning and sequencing of an ice nucleation active gene of Erwinia uredovora.

An ice nucleation activity gene, named inaU, of the bacterium Erwinia uredovora KUIN-3 has been sequenced. This gene encodes a protein of 1034 amino acid residues, and its expression product, inaU protein, has an 832-amino acid residue segment consisting of 52 repeats of closely related 16-amino acid motifs (R-domain), flanked by N- and C-terminal sequences (N- and C-domains, respectively). The primary structure of the inaU protein is similar to those of the inaA, inaW, and inaZ gene products of Erwinia ananas, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas syringae, respectively, but is smaller than any of these products in terms of the size of the R-domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Properties of a novel extracellular cell-free ice nuclei from ice-nucleating Pseudomonas antarctica IN-74.

Some ice-nucleating bacterial strains, including Pantoea ananatis (Erwinia uredovora), Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas syringae isolates, were examined for the ability to shed ice nuclei into the growth medium. A novel ice-nucleating bacterium, Pseudomonas antarctica IN-74, was isolated from Ross Island, Antarctica. Cell-free ice nuclei from P. antarctica IN-74 were different from the conventional cell-free ice nuclei and showed a unique characterization. Cell-free ice nuclei were purified by centrifugation, filtration (0.45 microm), ultrafiltration, and gel filtration. In an ice-nucleating medium in 1 liter of cell culture, maximum growth was obtained with the production of 1.9 mg of cell-free ice nuclei. Ice nucleation activity in these cell-free ice nuclei preparations was extremely sensitive to pH. It was demonstrated that the components of cell-free ice nuclei were protein (33%), saccharide (12%), and lipid (55%), indicating that cell-free ice nuclei were lipoglycoproteins. Also, carbohydrate and lipid stains showed that cell-free ice nuclei contained both carbohydrate and lipid moieties.

Antarctic Regions↗

N-cyanomethyl-2-chloroisonicotinamide induces systemic acquired resistance in arabidopsis without salicylic acid accumulation.

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a potent innate immunity system in plants that is induced through the salicylic acid-mediated pathway. N-cyanomethyl-2-chloroisonicotinamide (NCI) is able to induce a broad range of disease resistance in tobacco and rice and induces SAR marker gene expression without SA accumulation in tobacco. To clarify the detailed mode of action of NCI, we analyzed its ability to induce defense gene expression and resistance in Arabidopsis mutants that are defective in various defense signaling pathways. Wild-type Arabidopsis treated with NCI exhibited increased expression of several pathogenesis-related genes and enhanced resistance to the bacterial pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. NCI induced disease resistance and PR gene expression in NahG transgenic plants, but not in the npr1 mutant. NCI could induce PR gene expression in the etr1-1, ein2-1 and jar1-1 mutants. Thus, NCI activates SAR, independently from ethylene and jasmonic acid, by stimulating the site between SA and NPR1.

Arabidopsis↗

Cloning and expression of Pseudomonas taetrolens Y-30 gene encoding glutamine synthetase: an enzyme available for theanine production by coupled fermentation with energy transfer.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) of Pseudomonas taetrolens Y-30 can form theanine from glutamic acid and ethylamine in a mixture where yeast fermentation of sugar is coupled for ATP regeneration (coupled fermentation with energy transfer). From a genomic DNA library of P. taetrolens Y-30, a clone containing 6 kbp insertional DNA fragment was selected by the PCR screening technique with specific oligonucleotide primers for the GS gene. The fragment had an open reading frame of the GS gene encoding a protein of 468 amino acids (molecular mass, 52 kDa). The deduced amino acid sequence showed a significant homology with that of P. syringae pv. tomato GS (97%), and all the amino acid residues were fully conserved, which concern with catalytic activity in other bacterial GS. A tyrosine residue for adenylylation of GS was also found, and in vivo adenylylation was confirmed in P. taetrolens Y-30. The isolated GS gene was ligated into an expression vector (pET21a), and expressed in Escherichia coli AD494 (DE3). The enzyme productivity in the expression system was 30-fold higher than that in P. taetrolens Y-30. Recombinant GS had the same properties as those of unnadenylylated intrinsic GS, and formed theanine in the mixture of coupled fermentation with energy transfer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Newer systems for bacterial resistances to toxic heavy metals.

Bacterial plasmids contain specific genes for resistances to toxic heavy metal ions including Ag+, AsO2-, AsO4(3-), Cd2+, Co2+, CrO4(2-), Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Sb3+, and Zn2+. Recent progress with plasmid copper-resistance systems in Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas syringae show a system of four gene products, an inner membrane protein (PcoD), an outer membrane protein (PcoB), and two periplasmic Cu(2+)-binding proteins (PcoA and PcoC). Synthesis of this system is governed by two regulatory proteins (the membrane sensor PcoS and the soluble responder PcoR, probably a DNA-binding protein), homologous to other bacterial two-component regulatory systems. Chromosomally encoded Cu2+ P-type ATPases have recently been recognized in Enterococcus hirae and these are closely homologous to the bacterial cadmium efflux ATPase and the human copper-deficiency disease Menkes gene product. The Cd(2+)-efflux ATPase of gram-positive bacteria is a large P-type ATPase, homologous to the muscle Ca2+ ATPase and the Na+/K+ ATPases of animals. The arsenic-resistance system of gram-negative bacteria functions as an oxyanion efflux ATPase for arsenite and presumably antimonite. However, the structure of the arsenic ATPase is fundamentally different from that of P-type ATPases. The absence of the arsA gene (for the ATPase subunit) in gram-positive bacteria raises questions of energy-coupling for arsenite efflux. The ArsC protein product of the arsenic-resistance operons of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria is an intracellular enzyme that reduces arsenate [As(V)] to arsenite [As(III)], the substrate for the transport pump. Newly studied cation efflux systems for Cd2+, Zn2+, and Co2+ (Czc) or Co2+ and Ni2+ resistance (Cnr) lack ATPase motifs in their predicted polypeptide sequences. Therefore, not all plasmid-resistance systems that function through toxic ion efflux are ATPases. The first well-defined bacterial metallothionein was found in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus. Bacterial metallothionein is encoded by the smtA gene and contains 56 amino acids, including nine cysteine residues (fewer than animal metallothioneins). The synthesis of Synechococcus metallothionein is regulated by a repressor protein, the product of the adjacent but separately transcribed smtB gene. Regulation of metallothionein synthesis occurs at different levels; quickly by derepression of repressor activity, or over a longer time by deletion of the repressor gene at fixed positions and by amplification of the metallothionein DNA region leading to multiple copies of the gene.

Alcaligenes↗

Gene transfer and expression of recombinant proteins in moderately halophilic bacteria.

Moderately halophilic bacteria (MHB) of the genera Halomonas and Chromohalobacter have been used as hosts for the expression of heterologous proteins of biotechnological interest, thus expanding their potential to be used as cell factories for various applications. This chapter deals with the methodology for the construction of recombinant plasmids, their transfer to a number of MHB, and the assaying of the corresponding heterologous proteins activity. The transferred genes include (1) inaZ, encoding the ice nucleation protein of the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, (2) gfp, encoding a green fluorescent protein from the marine bioluminescent jellyfish Aequorea victoria, and (3) the alpha-amylase gene from the hyperthermophilic archeon Pyrococcus woesei. Vector pHS15, which was designed for expression of heterologous proteins in both E. coli and MHB, was used for the subcloning and transfer of the above genes. The recombinant constructs were introduced to MHB by assisted conjugal transfer from E. coli donors. The expression and function of the recombinant proteins in the MHB transconjugants is described.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Active oxygen species as mediators of plant immunity: three case studies.

A burst of active oxygen species (AOS) is known to be involved in local cell death as part of plant defence against pathogens. It is, however, under dispute to what extent AOS can induce pathogen resistance and immunity throughout the plant. Three experimental strategies that reveal a primary role for AOS and a surprisingly low chemical and spatial specificity are now described for tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Ozone is a gaseous AOS that was applied to non-transgenic plants. Hydrogen peroxide or singlet oxygen are AOS that were induced by high-light treatment of transgenic plants that contained antisense constructs inhibiting catalase activity or chlorophyll biosynthetic enzymes. In all cases, activated oxygen species, cellular lesions, ethylene and salicylic acid, and components of major plant defence systems (systemic acquired resistance, hypersensitive response) were induced, as was resistance towards pathogens (tobacco mosaic virus, Pseudomonas syringae or Peronospora parasitica). It is concluded that active oxygen species can act as mediators of plant immunity so that new non-pesticidal plant protection strategies could be developed.

Light↗

A new enzymatic method for the determination of free and conjugated glucuronic acid.

A new method is reported for the quantitative determination of glucuronic and galacturonic acid, which is based on spectrophotometric measurement of NADH. The NAD-linked oxidation of the uronic acids to the corresponding dicarboxylic acids is measured in the presence of uronic acid dehydrogenase. This enzyme was isolated from Pseudomonas syringae. The test is highly specific for glucuronic and galacturonic acid and permits the exact determination of free and conjugated glucuronic acid. This enzymatic determination of glucuronic is the most sensitive method available today.

Aldehyde Oxidoreductases↗

Elicitor-induced defence reactions in cell suspension cultures of soybean cultivars.

Suspension cultured soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cells of four cultivars (Wilis, Lumut, Kalmit, Doko RC) were compared for their response to different fungal and bacterial elicitors. Cells were treated either with crude cell wall extracts of the fungal pathogens Phytophthora sojae (Pmg-elicitor) and Rhizoctonia solani (Riso-elicitor) or with two isolates of the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea (Psg01/02) and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial defence reactions was measured. Cells of all four cultivars showed the same elicitor-induced rapid (H2O2 accumulation, alkalinization of the culture medium, peroxidative cross-linking of cell wall proteins) and slow (activation of phenylpropanoid metabolism, accumulation of phenolic compounds, induction of PR-proteins) defence responses. However, the reactivity of the cultivars was not identical in terms of time courses and intensities. Furthermore, the ability of the various elicitors to induce defence responses varied markedly. These differences indicate that (1) cells of the same species but of different cultivars are equipped with the same array of perception systems to recognise various stimuli but (2) the sensitivity of these perception systems or later steps in the signal transduction seem to be stimulated to a different extent in the analysed cultivars.

Bacterial Proteins↗