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Schönewolf-Greulich B, Bisgaard AM, Møller R, Dunø M, Brøndum-Nielsen K, Kaur S, Van Bergen N, Lunke S, Eggers S, Jespersgaard C, Christodoulou J, Tümer Z. Clinician’s guide to genes associated with Rett-like phenotypes-Investigation of a Danish cohort and review of the literature. Clin Genet 2018; 95:221-230. [DOI: 10.1111/cge.13153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Schönewolf-Greulich
- Center for Rett Syndrome, Kennedy Center, Department of Paediatrics; Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen Denmark
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics; Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - A-M. Bisgaard
- Center for Rett Syndrome, Kennedy Center, Department of Paediatrics; Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - R.S. Møller
- Danish Epilepsy Centre; Dianalund Denmark
- Institute for Regional Health Services; University of Southern Denmark; Odense Denmark
| | - M. Dunø
- Department of Clinical Genetics; Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - K. Brøndum-Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics; Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - S. Kaur
- Neurodevelopmental Genomics Research Group; Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Paediatrics; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - N.J. Van Bergen
- Neurodevelopmental Genomics Research Group; Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Paediatrics; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - S. Lunke
- Translational Genomics Unit; Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Melbourne Australia
| | - S. Eggers
- Translational Genomics Unit; Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Melbourne Australia
| | - C. Jespersgaard
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics; Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - J. Christodoulou
- Neurodevelopmental Genomics Research Group; Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Melbourne Australia
- Department of Paediatrics; Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - Z. Tümer
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics; Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen Denmark
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Boyle MI, Jespersgaard C, Nazaryan L, Bisgaard AM, Tümer Z. A novel RAD21 variant associated with intrafamilial phenotypic variation in Cornelia de Lange syndrome - review of the literature. Clin Genet 2016; 91:647-649. [PMID: 27882533 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In a patient with CdLS (IV.16) we identifed a novel single basepair deletion (c.704delG) in RAD21, which encodes a cohesin pathway protein. The variant is predicted to result in a premature stop codon [p.(Ser235Ilefs*19)] and hereby would have a deleterious effect. RAD21 variants have previously been described only in five cases with cohesinopathies (b). Notably, the deletion was found in the mother and the two aunts of the index patient, and none of them had been suspected of having CdLS or a cohesinopathy prior to this study (a). The index patient can be classified as mild CdLS, but the other family members do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of CdLS. This study together with previous reports suggests incomplete penetrance associated with RAD21 variants and these individuals may therefore be underdiagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Boyle
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C Jespersgaard
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - L Nazaryan
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A-M Bisgaard
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Z Tümer
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Boyle M, Jespersgaard C, Brøndum-Nielsen K, Bisgaard AM, Tümer Z. Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Clin Genet 2014; 88:1-12. [DOI: 10.1111/cge.12499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 09/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M.I. Boyle
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet; University of Copenhagen; Glostrup Denmark
| | - C. Jespersgaard
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet; University of Copenhagen; Glostrup Denmark
| | - K. Brøndum-Nielsen
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet; University of Copenhagen; Glostrup Denmark
| | - A.-M. Bisgaard
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet; University of Copenhagen; Glostrup Denmark
| | - Z. Tümer
- Applied Human Molecular Genetics, Kennedy Center, Department of Clinical Genetics, Rigshospitalet; University of Copenhagen; Glostrup Denmark
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Duus K, Larsen N, A.T. Tran T, Guven E, K. Skov L, Jespersgaard C, Gajhede M, Houen G. Chemical and Thermal Unfolding of Calreticulin. Protein Pept Lett 2013; 20:562-8. [DOI: 10.2174/0929866511320050009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2011] [Revised: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 09/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Steinmetz J, Jespersgaard C, Dalhoff K, Hedley P, Abildstrøm H, Christiansen M, Rasmussen LS. Cytochrome P450 polymorphism and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Minerva Anestesiol 2012; 78:303-309. [PMID: 21971440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The etiology of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) remains unclear but toxicity of anesthetic drugs and their metabolites could be important. We aimed to assess the possible association between POCD after propofol anesthesia and various phenotypes owing to polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 encoding genes. METHODS We included patients who underwent non-cardiac surgery under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol. POCD was identified using a neuropsychological test-battery administered preoperatively, one week, and three months after surgery. Genotyping of CYP2C19*2, *3, CYP2D6*3, *4, *5 and *6 was performed using pyrosequencing, and patients were characterized according to their phenotype as ultra, extensive, intermediate, or poor metabolizers. RESULTS In total, 337 patients with a median age of 67 years were included. 30 (9.4%) out of the 319 patients who underwent neuropsychological testing at one week had POCD, and 24 out of 307 (7.8%) had POCD at three months. None of the examined CYP2C19, 2D6 alleles, or various phenotypes were significantly associated with POCD. CONCLUSION Polymorphisms in CYP2C19, or 2D6 genes do not seem to be related to the occurrence of cognitive dysfunction after non-cardiac surgery in patients anesthetised with propofol.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Steinmetz
- Department of Anesthesia, Centre of Head and Orthopedics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Stensvold CR, Traub RJ, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G, Jespersgaard C, Nielsen HV, Thompson RCA. Blastocystis: subtyping isolates using pyrosequencing technology. Exp Parasitol 2006; 116:111-9. [PMID: 17266951 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2006.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2006] [Revised: 12/01/2006] [Accepted: 12/08/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Blastocystis is a prevalent single-celled enteric parasite of unresolved clinical significance. Efforts based on molecular methodologies to establish whether pathogenicity is linked to specific isolates of the genetically diverse genus of Blastocystis have been scarce and so far yielded ambiguous results which can be difficult to interpret. To alleviate some of the problems related to unravelling the molecular epidemiology of Blastocystis infections we developed and evaluated a simple and high-throughput sequence analysis (SQA) pyrosequencing technique based on the detection of genotype-specific nucleotide polymorphisms in the 18S small subunit rRNA gene for a rapid and cost-effective post-PCR screening of Blastocystis genotypes. The method was effectively capable of genotyping 48/48 isolates positive by nested PCR in approximately one hour, and in 94% of the cases the isolate detected by PCR and pyrosequencing was also detected by one of two different PCR assays with subsequent dideoxy sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Stensvold
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Bacteriology, Mycology and Parasitology, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.
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Jespersgaard C, Zhang P, Hajishengallis G, Russell MW, Michalek SM. Effect of attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing a Streptococcus mutans antigen on secondary responses to the cloned protein. Infect Immun 2001; 69:6604-11. [PMID: 11598028 PMCID: PMC100033 DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.11.6604-6611.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium has been used for targeted delivery of recombinant antigens to gut- and nose-associated lymphoid tissues. Contradictory reports have described the effect of preexisting immunity to the antigen delivery vehicle. We decided to examine this discrepancy by studying the effect of immunizing mice by the intranasal (i.n.) route with Salmonella expressing an insoluble protein and to study the ability to augment recall responses by boosting with either Salmonella-expressed protein or purified soluble protein alone. The glucan-binding domain (GLU) of the enzyme glucosyltransferase (GTF), which is an important virulence factor of Streptococcus mutans, was recombinantly expressed in the insoluble phase in S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, and the immunogenicity of this construct was studied in mice. We examined the induction of primary immune responses by insoluble GLU polypeptide delivered in Salmonella at week 1 (groups 1 and 2) and recall responses after a week 15 boost with either Salmonella expressing GLU (group 1) or purified GLU polypeptide (groups 2 and 3). Group 4 served as the control and received phosphate-buffered saline alone by the i.n. route. Significant anti-GLU serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were seen in groups 1, 2, and 3 at week 18 (P < 0.001), i.e., 3 weeks after the booster immunization. Mice in group 2, who received Salmonella followed by GLU, had the highest GLU-specific IgG levels among all groups. The serum IgG levels persisted in all responding groups for at least 7 weeks after the boost (week 22). The IgG2a/IgG1 subclass ratio of serum anti-GLU antibodies in group 1 significantly increased after the boost. These results support the induction of a type 1-like immune response to GLU after primary and booster immunizations with Salmonella expressing GLU. On the other hand, group 2 mice, which received Salmonella expressing GLU as the primary dose and soluble protein as the booster dose, exhibited a shift from a type 1-like to a more type 2-like immune response to GLU following the boost. These results indicate that S. enterica serovar Typhimurium is an excellent delivery vehicle for the insoluble and recombinantly expressed GLU of GTF and that this construct was especially effective in priming the host for a secondary response to soluble GLU polypeptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jespersgaard
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
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Ingerslev HJ, Hindkjaer J, Jespersgaard C, Lind MP, Kølvraa S. [Preimplantation genetic diagnosis. The first experiences in Denmark]. Ugeskr Laeger 2001; 163:5525-8. [PMID: 11601119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a possible alternative to prenatal diagnosis, whereby families with serious inherited diseases can avoid having children with the disease. The genetic diagnosis is performed on embryos before implantation and therefore implies IVF. Hence, PGD offers the possibility of transferring embryos without disease, thereby avoiding termination of pregnancy owing to an affected fetus. MATERIAL AND METHODS Activities at the Centre for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis at Aarhus University Hospital since its opening in February 1999 are described. The fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) technique was used for sex selection (hemophilia A and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy) and translocations. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for cystic fibrosis. RESULTS Of 20 PGD cycles started, 15 were successful in terms of transference of healthy or carrier embryos. A positive pregnancy test was found after six of 15 embryo transfers (40%) with two subsequent clinical pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS The present pregnancy rates with PGD are comparable to those following IVF; the clinical pregnancy rate may seem low, but the cycle numbers are small. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis seems to be a realistic alternative for selected genetic diseases, in cases where the couple find abortion unacceptable.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Ingerslev
- Center for Praeimplantationsdiagnostik ved Arhus Universitetshospital, Arhus Universitetshospital, Skejby Sygehus, Fertilitetsklinikken
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Ingerslev HJ, Jespersgaard C, Hindkjaer J. [Preimplantation diagnosis. The Danish Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology]. Ugeskr Laeger 2001; 163:1706. [PMID: 11284406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- H J Ingerslev
- Fertilitetsklinikken, gynaekologisk obstetrisk afdeling Y, Skejby Sygehus, DK-8200 Arhus N
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Corydon TJ, Wilsbech M, Jespersgaard C, Andresen BS, Borglum AD, Pedersen S, Bolund L, Gregersen N, Bross P. Human and mouse mitochondrial orthologs of bacterial ClpX. Mamm Genome 2000; 11:899-905. [PMID: 11003706 DOI: 10.1007/s003350010173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
We have determined the cDNA sequence and exon/intron structure of the human CLPX gene encoding a human ortholog of the E. coli ClpX chaperone and protease subunit. The CLPX gene comprises 14 exons and encodes a 633-amino acid-long precursor polypeptide. The polypeptide contains an N-terminal putative mitochondrial transit peptide, and expression of a full-length ClpX cDNA tagged at its C-terminus (Myc-His) shows that the polypeptide is transported into mitochondria. FISH analysis localized the CLPX gene to human Chromosome (Chr) 15q22.1-22.32. This localization was refined by radiation hybrid mapping placing the CLPX gene 4.6 cR distal to D15S159. Murine ClpX cDNA was sequenced, and the mouse Clpx locus was mapped to a position between 31 and 42 cM offset from the centromere on mouse Chr 9. Experimental observations indicate the presence of a pseudogene in the mouse genome and sequence variability between mouse ClpX cDNAs from different strains. Alignment of the human and mouse ClpX amino acid sequences with ClpX sequences from other organisms shows that they display the typical modular organization of domains with one AAA(+) domain common to a large group of ATPases and several other domains conserved in ClpX orthologs linked by non-conserved sequences. Notably, a C-4 zinc finger type motif is recognized in human and mouse ClpX. This motif of so far unknown function is present only in a subset of the known ClpX sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- T J Corydon
- Institute of Human Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Arhus C, Denmark
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Jespersgaard C, Hajishengallis G, Huang Y, Russell MW, Smith DJ, Michalek SM. Protective immunity against Streptococcus mutans infection in mice after intranasal immunization with the glucan-binding region of S. mutans glucosyltransferase. Infect Immun 1999; 67:6543-9. [PMID: 10569773 PMCID: PMC97065 DOI: 10.1128/iai.67.12.6543-6549.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we present the construction and characterization of a chimeric vaccine protein combining the glucan-binding domain (GLU) of the gtfB-encoded water-insoluble glucan-synthesizing glucosyltransferase enzyme (GTF-I) from Streptococcus mutans and thioredoxin from Escherichia coli, which increases the solubility of coexpressed recombinant proteins and stimulates proliferation of murine T cells. The protective potential of intranasal (i.n.) immunization with this chimeric immunogen was compared to that of the GLU polypeptide alone in a mouse infection model. Both immunogens were able to induce statistically significant mucosal (salivary and vaginal) and serum responses (P < 0.01) which were sustained to the end of the study (experimental day 100). Following infection with S. mutans, sham-immunized mice maintained high levels of this cariogenic organism ( approximately 60% of the total oral streptococci) for at least 5 weeks. In contrast, animals immunized with the thioredoxin-GLU chimeric protein (Thio-GLU) showed significant reduction (>85%) in S. mutans colonization after 3 weeks (P < 0.05). The animals immunized with GLU alone required 5 weeks to demonstrate significant reduction (>50%) of S. mutans infection (P < 0.05). Evaluation of dental caries activity at the end of the study showed that mice immunized with either Thio-GLU or GLU had significantly fewer carious lesions in the buccal enamel or dentinal surfaces than the sham-immunized animals (P < 0.01). The protective effects against S. mutans colonization and caries activity following i.n. immunization with GLU or Thio-GLU are attributed to the induced salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-GLU responses. Although in general Thio-GLU was not significantly better than GLU alone in stimulating salivary IgA responses and in protection against dental caries, the finding that the GLU polypeptide alone, in the absence of any immunoenhancing agents, is protective against disease offers a promising and safe strategy for the development of a vaccine against caries.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jespersgaard
- Departments of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
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Jespersgaard C, Hajishengallis G, Greenway TE, Smith DJ, Russell MW, Michalek SM. Functional and immunogenic characterization of two cloned regions of Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase I. Infect Immun 1999; 67:810-6. [PMID: 9916095 PMCID: PMC96391 DOI: 10.1128/iai.67.2.810-816.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucosyltransferase (GTF) enzymes of mutans streptococci are considered virulence factors due to their ability to synthesize adhesive glucans, which facilitate cell-to-cell adherence and accumulation. In this study we report the cloning, expression, and characterization of the catalytic (CAT) and glucan-binding (GLU) domains of S. mutans GTF-I encoded by gtfB. The CAT and GLU polypeptides represent amino acid residues 253 to 628 and 1183 to 1473, respectively, of S. mutans GTF-I. Antibodies to recombinant CAT and GLU were generated in rabbits and purified by affinity chromatography. Purified anti-CAT antibodies significantly inhibited water-insoluble glucan synthesis by S. mutans and S. sobrinus GTFs (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05, respectively). The purified anti-GLU antibodies significantly inhibited both water-insoluble and water-soluble glucan synthesis by S. mutans GTFs (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.05, respectively). These results demonstrate that anti-CAT and anti-GLU antibodies are capable of inhibiting a variety of GTF activities. Since antibodies to S. mutans in saliva are implicated in protection against disease, we next assessed the ability of CAT and GLU polypeptides to induce mucosal antibody responses in mice. Intranasal (i.n.) immunization of mice with CAT showed significantly (P < 0.005) elevated levels of specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody activity in serum and specific IgA antibody activity in serum, saliva, vaginal washes, and fecal samples. GLU immunized animals showed significantly (P < 0.005) elevated levels of specific IgA antibody activity in serum and vaginal secretions. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the recombinant CAT and GLU polypeptides are effective in inducing both mucosal and systemic immune responses. The ability of these polypeptides to induce a mucosal IgA immune response in mice after i.n. immunization supports their use as subunit vaccine candidates in the development of an anticaries vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jespersgaard
- Departments of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
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Poulsen K, Reinholdt J, Jespersgaard C, Boye K, Brown TA, Hauge M, Kilian M. A comprehensive genetic study of streptococcal immunoglobulin A1 proteases: evidence for recombination within and between species. Infect Immun 1998; 66:181-90. [PMID: 9423856 PMCID: PMC107875 DOI: 10.1128/iai.66.1.181-190.1998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
An analysis of 13 immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) protease genes (iga) of strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus sanguis was carried out to obtain information on the structure, polymorphism, and phylogeny of this specific protease, which enables bacteria to evade functions of the predominant Ig isotype on mucosal surfaces. The analysis included cloning and sequencing of iga genes from S. oralis and S. mitis biovar 1, sequencing of an additional seven iga genes from S. sanguis biovars 1 through 4, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses of iga genes of another 10 strains of S. mitis biovar 1 and 6 strains of S. oralis. All 13 genes sequenced had the potential of encoding proteins with molecular masses of approximately 200 kDa containing the sequence motif HEMTH and an E residue 20 amino acids downstream, which are characteristic of Zn metalloproteinases. In addition, all had a typical gram-positive cell wall anchor motif, LPNTG, which, in contrast to such motifs in other known streptococcal and staphylococcal proteins, was located in their N-terminal parts. Repeat structures showing variation in number and sequence were present in all strains and may be of relevance to the immunogenicities of the enzymes. Protease activities in cultures of the streptococcal strains were associated with species of different molecular masses ranging from 130 to 200 kDa, suggesting posttranslational processing possibly as a result of autoproteolysis at post-proline peptide bonds in the N-terminal parts of the molecules. Comparison of deduced amino acid sequences revealed a 94% similarity between S. oralis and S. mitis IgA1 proteases and a 75 to 79% similarity between IgA1 proteases of these species and those of S. pneumoniae and S. sanguis, respectively. Combined with the results of RFLP analyses using different iga gene fragments as probes, the results of nucleotide sequence comparisons provide evidence of horizontal transfer of iga gene sequences among individual strains of S. sanguis as well as among S. mitis and the two species S. pneumoniae and S. oralis. While iga genes of S. sanguis and S. oralis were highly homogeneous, the genes of S. pneumoniae and S. mitis showed extensive polymorphism reflected in different degrees of antigenic diversity.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Bacterial Proteins/genetics
- Base Sequence
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA, Bacterial/analysis
- DNA, Bacterial/genetics
- Gene Library
- Genome, Bacterial
- Immunity, Mucosal
- Metalloendopeptidases/genetics
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phylogeny
- Plasmids
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational
- Recombination, Genetic
- Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
- Restriction Mapping
- Sequence Alignment
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Serine Endopeptidases/genetics
- Serine Endopeptidases/metabolism
- Streptococcus/enzymology
- Streptococcus/genetics
- Streptococcus/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- K Poulsen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
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Hauge M, Jespersgaard C, Poulsen K, Kilian M. Population structure of Streptococcus agalactiae reveals an association between specific evolutionary lineages and putative virulence factors but not disease. Infect Immun 1996; 64:919-25. [PMID: 8641801 PMCID: PMC173857 DOI: 10.1128/iai.64.3.919-925.1996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
To evaluate the genetic diversity and relationships in a collection of 85 Danish strains of Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus) we have performed restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis on EcoRI- and MspI-digested whole-cell DNA using as probes rRNA, DNA fragments representing the genes encoding hyaluronidase, C5a-peptidase, alpha-antigen, and beta-antigen as well as two randomly selected genomic DNA fragments for which the coding potential is unknown. In addition, we have assayed for expression of hyaluronidase activity and beta-antigen. Combined analyses of our data and those previously obtained by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and serotyping revealed a population separating into six major lineages that correlate with individual serotypes. The significant linkage disequilibrium of alleles indicates that the S. agalactiae population examined is predominantly clonal. Notably, strains expressing the serotype III capsule divide into two distant evolutionary lineages, of which one lacks expression of hyaluronidase activity. Six North American isolates of serotype III clustered together with multiple Danish serotype III strains, showing that the combinations of characters on which the phylogenetic tree was based are conserved worldwide. Occurrence of beta-antigen correlated with a specific version of the alpha-antigen gene and was exclusively associated with a single major phylogenetic lineage. Comparisons with the clinical history of the strains revealed no evidence of differences in pathogenic potential among the six major genetic divisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hauge
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Aarhus, Denmark
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