Changes of predominant species/biovars and sequence types of Brucella isolates, Inner Mongolia, China.

BACKGROUND: Human brucellosis incidence in China was divided into 3 stages, high incidence (1950-1960s), decline (1970-1980s) and re-emergence (1990-2000s). Human brucellosis has been reported in all the 32 provinces, of which Inner Mongolia has the highest prevalence, accounting for over 40% of the cases in China. To investigate the etiology alteration of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia, the species, biovars and genotypes of 60 Brucella isolates from this province were analyzed. METHODS: Species and biovars of the Brucella strains isolated from outbreaks were determined based on classical identification procedures. Strains were genotyped by multi locus sequence typing (MLST). Sequences of 9 housekeeping genes were obtained and sequence types were defined. The distribution of species, biovars and sequence types (STs) among the three incidence stages were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: The three stages of high incidence, decline and re-emergence were predominated by B. melitensis biovar 2 and 3, B. abortus biovar 3, and B. melitensis biovar 1, respectively, implying changes in the predominant biovars. Genotyping by MLST revealed a total of 14 STs. Nine STs (from ST28 to ST36), accounting for 64.3% of all the STs, were newly defined and different from those observed in other countries. Different STs were distributed among the three stages. ST8 was the most common ST in 1950-1960s and 1990-2000s, while ST2 was the most common in 1970-1980s. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of biovars and sequence types of Brucella strains from Inner Mongolia has changed over time in the three stages. Compared with those from other countries, new sequence types of Brucella strains exist in China.

Genome sequences of Brucella melitensis 16M and its two derivatives 16M1w and 16M13w, which evolved in vivo.

Brucella melitensis is an intracellular pathogen that induces chronic infection in humans. Here, we report the genome sequences of 16M and its two derivatives, 16M1w and 16M13w, which were allowed to adapt in vivo for 1 and 13 weeks, respectively. Our findings contribute to the investigation of adaptive mutations and mechanisms of chronic infection by B. melitensis.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella melitensis 133, an isolate of biovar 1 of sequence type 32.

Brucellosis is highly epidemic in China. Of the six classical species, Brucella melitensis and biovar 1 are the most represented species and biovar that cause human brucellosis in China. Here, we report the genome sequence of Brucella melitensis strain 133, a strain of biovar 1 of sequence type 32.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella suis field strain BCB025 of sequence type ST22.

Brucella is a genus of relatively conservative pathogenic bacteria. Brucella suis is the most diversified Brucella species. Strains of B. suis belong to different sequence types. Here, we report the genome sequence of B. suis strain BCB025, one isolate of the sequence type 22 epidemic in China.

Genome sequence of Brucella melitensis strain 128, an isolate of biovar 3 of sequence type 8.

Brucella melitensis is the most common Brucella species causing human brucellosis. B. melitensis is divided into 3 biovars. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of B. melitensis strain 128, a strain of biovar 3 of sequence type 8, which is prevalent in China.

Genome sequence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia S028, an isolate harboring the AmpR-L2 resistance module.

Multidrug-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has emerged as an important cause of nosocomial infections, which is attributable mainly to the production of diverse ß-lactamases by S. maltophilia. The L2 ß-lactamase mediated by the AmpR-L2 module is the most represented lactamase. Here, we announce the genome sequence of S028, an isolate harboring the AmpR-L2 module.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella canis BCB018, a strain isolated from a human patient.

Brucella canis is considered a rare cause of human brucellosis because of difficulties in presumptive diagnosis and underestimation of the incidence. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a Brucella canis isolate, BCB018, isolated from a human patient, providing precious resources for comparative genomics analysis of Brucella field strains.

Genome sequences of three live attenuated vaccine strains of Brucella species and implications for pathogenesis and differential diagnosis.

Live attenuated vaccines play essential roles in the prevention of brucellosis. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of three vaccine strains, Brucella melitensis M5-10, B. suis S2-30, and B. abortus 104M. Primary genome sequence analysis identified mutations, deletions, and insertions which have implications for attenuation and signatures for differential diagnosis.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella abortus strain BCB034, a strain of biovar 2 isolated from human.

Brucella abortus is divided into eight biovars, of which biovars 1 to 3 are the most frequently represented biovars in strains isolated from humans. Here, we report the genome sequence of B. abortus strain BCB034, a strain isolated from a human patient and that belongs to biovar 2.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella abortus 134, a biovar 1 strain isolated from human.

Brucella abortus is one of the common pathogens causing brucellosis in China. Here, we report the genome sequence of B. abortus strain 134, a strain isolated from a human patient and belonging to biovar 1, the most highly represented biovar among B. abortus strains in China.

Complete genome sequence of Brucella canis strain 118, a strain isolated from canine.

Brucella canis infects several species of animals, and canine is the preferred host. Genome sequences of strains from different hosts are valuable for comparative analysis of host adaptation and microevolution. Here, we report the genome sequence of Brucella canis strain 118, a strain isolated from canine.

Genome sequence of Brucella melitensis S66, an isolate of sequence type 8, prevalent in China.

Brucella melitensis is the most-represented Brucella species causing human brucellosis in China. Here we report the complete genome sequence of B. melitensis strain S66, a representative strain of sequence type 8 (ST8), which is prevalent in China, making it possible to compare the genome sequences of isolates from different countries.

Genome sequence of an OXA23-producing, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strain of sequence type ST75.

The increase of Acinetobacter baumannii resistance to carbapenems is of great concern. OXA23 is one of the most prevalent carbapenemases of A. baumannii that causes outbreaks. Here, we announce the genome sequence of an OXA23-producing A. baumannii strain assigned ST75, a newly emerged sequence type harboring carbapenemase.

Altered Transcriptome of the B. melitensis Vaccine Candidate 16MΔvjbR, Implications for Development of Genetically Marked Live Vaccine.

The VjbR protein induced antibody responses in both human and animal brucellosis, and the vjbR mutant 16MΔvjbR is an ideal vaccine candidate because of the feasibility of using the VjbR as diagnostic antigen. To further characterize this vaccine candidate and provide information for vaccine development, in the present study, a whole genome DNA microarray of 16M were used to compare the transcriptome of the vjbR mutant to that of the wild type strains. A total of 126 genes were greatly differentially expressed in the vjbR mutant. A great proportion of virB and flagellar genes were differentially expressed in the vjbR mutant, implying that the vjbR regulate expression of virulence genes by sensing intracellular environments. Interestingly, the virB genes are regulated by the vjbR in independent manners as shown by their different fold changes and transcription abundances. A number of genes involved in translation, stress response, amino acid transport and metabolism, cell wall/membrane biogenesis, energy production and conversion, translation were differentially expressed. The vjbR mutant showed increased sensitivity to stresses of nutrition limitation, oxidative stress and acidification, and decreased survival in macrophage and mice, being consistent with its transcription profiles. These results indicated that the quorum sensing regulator vjbR could sense intracellular environments and response to them by regulate expression of virulence genes and other intracellular survival related genes, and therefore contribute to Brucella survival in host cells. This also provided direct evidence for the rational vaccine design by using antigenic global regulator for future development of genetically marked vaccine for brucellosis.

Loss of Hsp90 association up-regulates Src-dependent ErbB2 activity.

The receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2 plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. We showed previously that the molecular chaperone Hsp90 protects ErbB2 from proteasome-mediated degradation by binding to a short loop structure in the N-lobe of the kinase domain. Here we show that loss of Hsp90 binding correlates with enhanced ErbB2 kinase activity and its transactivating potential, concomitant with constitutively increased phosphorylation of Tyr877, located in the activation loop of the kinase domain. We show further that Tyr877 phosphorylation is mediated by Src and that it is necessary for the enhanced kinase activity of ErbB2. Finally, computer modeling of the kinase domain suggests a phosphorylation-dependent reorientation of the activation loop, denoting the importance of Tyr877 phosphorylation for ErbB2 activity. These findings suggest that Hsp90 binding to ErbB2 participates in regulation of kinase activity as well as kinase stability.

Surface charge and hydrophobicity determine ErbB2 binding to the Hsp90 chaperone complex.

The molecular chaperone Hsp90 modulates the function of specific cell signaling proteins. Although targeting Hsp90 with the antibiotic inhibitor geldanamycin (GA) may be a promising approach for cancer treatment, little is known about the determinants of Hsp90 interaction with its client proteins. Here we identify a loop within the N lobe of the kinase domain of ErbB2 that determines Hsp90 binding. The amino acid sequence of the loop determines the electrostatic and hydrophobic character of the protein's surface, which in turn govern interaction with Hsp90. A point mutation within the loop that alters ErbB2 surface properties disrupts Hsp90 association and confers GA resistance. Notably, the immature ErbB2 point mutant remains sensitive to GA, suggesting that mature and nascent client kinases may use distinct motifs to interact with the Hsp90 chaperone complex.