Role of type VI secretion system protein TssJ-3 in virulence and intracellular survival of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

TssJ-3 is an outer-membrane lipoprotein and is one of the key components of the type VI secretion system in Burkholderia pseudomallei. TssJ translocates effector proteins to target cells to induce innate immune response in the host. However, the tssJ gene has not been identified in B. pseudomallei and its function in this bacterium has not yet been characterized. tssJ-3 knockout and tssJ-3-complemented B. pseudomallei strains were constructed to determine the effects of tssJ-3 on bacterial growth, biofilm formation, flagellum synthesis, motility, host cell infection, and gene expression in B. pseudomallei. We found that the ΔtssJ-3 mutant strain of B. pseudomallei showed significantly suppressed biofilm formation, flagellum synthesis, bacterial growth, motility, and bacterial invasion into host cells (A549 cells). Furthermore, the ΔtssJ-3 mutation downregulated multiple key genes, including biofilm and flagellum-related genes in B. pseudomallei and induced interleukin-8 gene expression in host cells. These results suggest that tssJ-3, an important gene controlling TssJ-3 protein expression, has regulatory effects on biofilm formation and flagellum synthesis in B. pseudomallei. In addition, B. pseudomallei-derived tssJ-3 contributes to cell infiltration and intracellular replication. This study provides a molecular basis of tssJ-3 for developing therapeutic strategies against B. pseudomallei infections.

Prevalence and molecular characteristics of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Hainan, China: from 2014 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) has become the major concern in global tuberculosis control due to its limited therapy options and high mortality. However, the clinical and molecular characteristics of drug-resistant strains vary in different geographical areas. Hainan Island located in southern China, is a high drug-resistant tuberculosis burden area. This study aimed to determine the dynamic changes of drug-resistance patterns and drug-related gene mutation types of M. tuberculosis in Hainan from 2014 to 2019. RESULTS: A total of 1484 culture-confirmed M. tuberculosis were included in this study. It was found that the proportions of drug resistance to isoniazid and rifampin were 31.3 and 31.1% respectively. Overall the proportion of multidrug resistant M. tuberculosis was 24.9%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and the treatment history were independent influencing factors of drug resistant tuberculosis. The proportions of drug-resistant tuberculosis in retreatment patients were considerably higher than those in new patients. The most common mutation types of isoniazid were Ser315 → Thr (66.3%), and the most common mutation types of rifampin were Ser531 → Leu (41.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that the prevalence of drug resistant TB remains high in Hainan, and the risks for developing drug resistance with diversified mutation types increased significantly in retreatment patients. These results contribute to the knowledge of the prevalence of drug resistance in Hainan Province and expand the molecular characteristics of drug resistance in China simultaneously.

A novel truncation mutation in CRYBB1 associated with autosomal dominant congenital cataract with nystagmus.

PURPOSE: To identify the potential candidate genes for a large Chinese family with autosomal dominant congenital cataract (ADCC) and nystagmus, and investigate the possible molecular mechanism underlying the role of the candidate genes in cataractogenesis. METHODS: We combined the linkage analysis and direct sequencing for the candidate genes in the linkage regions to identify the causative mutation. The molecular and bio-functional properties of the proteins encoded by the candidate genes was further explored with biophysical and biochemical studies of the recombinant wild-type and mutant proteins. RESULTS: We identified a c. C749T (p.Q227X) transversion in exon 6 of CRYBB1, a cataract-causative gene. This nonsense mutation changes a phylogenetically conserved glutamine to a stop codon and is predicted to truncate the C-terminus of the wild-type protein by 26 amino acids. Comparison of the biophysical and biochemical properties of the recombinant full-length and truncated ßB1-crystallins revealed that the mutation led to the insolubility and the phase separation phenomenon of the truncated protein with a changed conformation. Meanwhile, the thermal stability of the truncated ßB1-crystallin was significantly decreased, and the mutation diminished the chaperoning ability of αA-crystallin with the mutant under heating stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of the C-terminus in ßB1-crystallin in maintaining the crystalline function and stability, and provide a novel insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of human autosomal dominant congenital cataract.

High plasma fatty acid concentrations were present in non-diabetic patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Free fatty acids (FFAs) are reported to be related to coronary heart disease (CHD); however, some case subjects in those reports suffered from CHD and diabetes mellitus. The aim of this research was to reveal the FFAs as the independent discriminators in non-diabetic CHD patients. The association between FFA concentrations and DNA methylation of carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) was also investigated, since ChREBP acted as an important regulatory factor in the FFA synthesis. METHODS: Blood samples were collected after an overnight fast from 60 controls and 68 non-diabetic patients with CHD. Plasma concentrations of glucose, cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured by standard techniques in an automatic biochemical analyzer. Plasma concentrations of nine types of FFAs were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The DNA methylation of ChREBP was detected by direct bisulfate sequencing. RESULTS: In the case group, the concentrations of glucose and HDL-C decreased, while the concentrations of TC, TG, and each FFA significantly increased compared with controls (p < 0.05). By logistic regression analysis, all FFAs except C14:0 were found to be independent risk factors for CHD in non-diabetic patients. No significant differences of clinical chemistry indicators were found between the methylated and unmethylated case groups. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma concentrations of FFAs are higher in non-diabetic patients with CHD and are emerging independent discriminators for CHD. High FFA concentrations are expected to play a role even in non-diabetic patients with CHD.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Burkholderia pseudomallei Strain HNBP001, Isolated from a Melioidosis Patient in Hainan, China.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Burkholderia pseudomallei HNBP001, an epidemic strain isolated from a melioidosis patient with pneumonia in Hainan, China.

Deletion of Pr72 causes cardiac developmental defects in Zebrafish.

The alpha regulator subunit B'' of protein phosphatase 2 (PPP2R3A), a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), was reported to present a special subcellular localization in cardiomyocytes and elevate in non-ischemia failing hearts. PPP2R3A has two transcriptions PR72 and PR130. PR72 acts as a negative regulator of the Wnt signaling cascade, while the Wnt signaling cascade plays a pivotal role in cardiac development. And PR130 was found to be involved in cardiac development of zebrafish in our previous study. Thus, to investigate the function of PR72 in heart, two stable pr72 knockout (KO) zebrafish lines were generated using Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nuclease (TALEN) technology. Homozygous pr72 KO fish struggled to survive to adulthood and exhibited cardiac developmental defects, including enlarged ventricular chambers, reduced cardiomyocytes and decreased cardiac function. And the defective sarcomere ultrastructure that affected mitochondria, I bands, Z lines, and intercalated disks was also observed. Furthermore, the abnormal heart looping was detected in mutants which could be rescued by injection with wild type pr72 mRNA. Additionally, it was found that Wnt effectors were elevated in mutants. Those indicated that deletion of pr72 in zebrafish interrupted cardiac development, probably through activation of the Wnt pathway.

The prevalence and distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei in rice paddy within Hainan, China.

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, mainly found in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. In Hainan, sporadic cases were first described in 1990; since then, more cases have been identified. No systematic study has yet been done to detect the environmental source of the organism and its true extent in Hainan. This study is aimed to confirm the prevalence of B. pseudomallei in soil samples in Hainan. 1080 soil samples from 18 different counties were collected from 3 sampling points of 360 sites. They were screened for the presence of B. pseudomallei by Ashdown selective media. Suspected colonies of B. pseudomallei were confirmed by biochemical test and a specific PCR assay. 48 of 360 sites (13.3%) were positive for B. pseudomallei, including all coastal counties in Hainan Island. This study revealed the prevalence and distribution of B. pseudomallei in the soil environment in Hainan Island of southern China and may be helpful to understand the distribution of B. pseudomallei and to access its epidemiological importance.

Evaluation of factor VIII polymorphic short tandem repeat markers in linkage analysis for carrier diagnosis of hemophilia A.

Hemophilia A (HA) is the most common inherited X-linked recessive bleeding disorder caused by heterogeneous mutations in the factor VIII gene (FVIII). Diagnosis of the carrier is critical for preventing the birth of children affected by this coagulation disorder, which ultimately facilitates its management. Due to the heterogeneous nature of mutations, the large inversions and the complexity of the FVIII gene, direct recognition of the disease-associated mutation in HA is complex. Indirect linkage analysis using highly informative heterozygous polymorphic markers is an alternative method for determining the co-segregation of the mutant gene within a family for carrier detection of HA. The aim of the present study was to perform carrier diagnosis in a family with HA. Rapid multifluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with six extragenic short tandem repeats (STRs), DXS1073, DXS15, DXS8091, DXS1227, DXS991, DXS993 and one intragenic marker, STR22 for linkage analysis in the HA family. All the STR markers employed in the present study were informative for linkages of pathogenic and healthy haplotypes among family members, particularly STR22, DXS1073 and DXS15. The STR marker, STR22, is within the FVIII gene while the DXS1073 and DXS15 markers are very close to the FVIII gene, where the chances of recombination are comparatively low, and provided the most accurate interpretation analysis, indicating that the proband's sister may have been the HA carrier. Rapid multifluorescent PCR using STR markers and linkage analysis was identified to be a simple method for performing HA carrier diagnosis.

Molecular tracking investigation of melioidosis cases reveals regional endemicity in Hainan, China.

Sporadic cases of melioidosis have been reported in Hainan, China for decades; however, to the best of our knowledge, there are no accurate source-identification investigations confirming that melioidosis is endemic. Four indigenous melioidosis cases were identified, which prompted the performance of contact microbiologic and molecular techniques to evaluate endemicity. Environmental samples were collected from various locations surrounding each patient's residence. The samples were screened for Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei) using Ashdown culture medium, and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. Clinical and environmental isolates of B. pseudomallei were evaluated by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and 4-locus multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA-4) for evidence of homology between them. Analysis by MLST indicated that one environmental sample and one clinical colony were sequence type-46, as well as type (8, 3, 11, 9) by MLVA-4. The evidence indicates a likely geographical and epidemiological association. Taken together, B. pseudomallei from the environmental samples in addition to the high molecular homology between the clinical and environmental isolates indicates, at least, regional endemicity of melioidosis in Hainan, China.

FoxO3a mediates glioma cell invasion by regulating MMP9 expression.

The role of FoxO3a in glioma progression is poorly defined. Herein, we show that silencing FoxO3a in U251 cells leads to decreased invasive migration and proliferation, while ectopic expression of FoxO3a in U87 cells with weak endogenous FoxO3a protein levels enhances invasion and proliferation. To further investigate the mechanism by which FoxO3a promotes invasion, we detected key members of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that are associated with invasion. Our findings showed that, among these MMP members, only FoxO3a induced MMP9 expression, and MMP9 overexpression reversed the effect that silencing FoxO3a had on the attenuation of cell invasion. Taken together, these data link FoxO3a to the promotion of metastasis in glioma cells.

Mutation screening in candidate genes in four Chinese brachydactyly families.

Autosomal dominant brachydactyly (BD) is a skeletal disorder with several subtypes, including brachydactyly type A1 (BDA1) and brachydactyly type B1 (BDB1). Mutations in Indian hedgehog (IHH) are usually associated with BDA1, whereas heterozygous mutations in receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2) are mainly responsible for BDB1. On the basis of the clinical phenotype identification, we screened IHH and ROR2 by the candidate gene approach using PCR direct sequencing. We found three known mutations of IHH (c.283_285delGAG, p.E95del; c.298 G>A, p.D100N; c.300C>G, p.D100E) in three Chinese families with BDA1, and a novel heterozygous nonsense mutation of ROR2 (c.2273C>A, p.S758X) in a BDB1 family. It was noted that c.300C>G mutation was a new nucleotide substitution compared to the reported c.300C>A, which led to the same amino acid change (p.D100E). The novel nonsense mutation p.S758X was verified by absence in the unaffected family members and the 100 randomly-selected controls. In this paper, we report three recurrent mutations with a new nucleotide substitution of IHH in three Chinese families with BDA1 and a novel nonsense mutation in BDB1 pedigree. We therefore recommend the approach of candidate gene screening as the first choice for genetic testing for BD.

Novel keratin 5 mutation in a family with epidermolysis bullosa simplex.

The aim of the present study was to identify the causative gene defects associated with epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) in a pedigree. The diagnosis of EBS was confirmed in two patients from that pedigree based on the clinical manifestations, histopathological examination of the skin and family history. Blood samples were collected from 6 family members and 100 heathy controls, and genomic DNA and RNA were extracted. Mutation analysis of the keratin 5 gene (KRT5) was conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) direct sequencing and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. In the pedigree, the results of PCR direct sequencing revealed a heterozygous missense mutation in codon 202 of exon 2 of KRT5 (c.605T>A), which led to an amino acid change (p.L202Q) in the patients with EBS but was absent from the unaffected family members and 100 population controls. In conclusion, a novel missense mutation in the KRT5 gene was identified that had a pathogenic role in EBS in the population studied, which enriches the germline mutation spectrum of the KRT5 gene.