Showing papers by "Lei Wang published in 2007"
TL;DR: The findings show that methanotrophy in the Bacteria is more taxonomically, ecologically and genetically diverse than previously thought, and that previous studies have failed to assess the full diversity of meethanotrophs in acidic environments.
Abstract: Bacteria that consume the greenhouse gas methane are potentially important players in the atmospheric budget, with the potential to sop up methane from the Earth's crust that would otherwise contribute to the atmospheric budget. Two new methane-utilizing bacteria have been isolated independently and both break new ground: unlike previous methanotrophic isolates, which are proteobacteria, they belong to the widely distributed Verrucomicrobia phylum. And both isolates display optimum growth and methane oxidation in remarkably acidic conditions, at pHs as low as 0.8 to 2.5. Acidimethylosilex fumarolicum SolV was isolated from a fuming vent on the Solfatara volcano near Naples, Italy, and Methylokorus infernorum from hot soil in the Hell's Gate (Tikitere) geothermal area of New Zealand. In spite of the fact that acidic environments support methane cycles, extreme acidophilic methanotrophs have so far resisted isolation. The isolation and initial genomic and physiological characterization of a bacterium belonging to the Verromicrobia displaying a growth and methane oxidation optimum of pH2—2.5 is described. Aerobic methanotrophic bacteria consume methane as it diffuses away from methanogenic zones of soil and sediment1. They act as a biofilter to reduce methane emissions to the atmosphere, and they are therefore targets in strategies to combat global climate change. No cultured methanotroph grows optimally below pH 5, but some environments with active methane cycles are very acidic2,3. Here we describe an extremely acidophilic methanotroph that grows optimally at pH 2.0–2.5. Unlike the known methanotrophs, it does not belong to the phylum Proteobacteria but rather to the Verrucomicrobia, a widespread and diverse bacterial phylum that primarily comprises uncultivated species with unknown genotypes. Analysis of its draft genome detected genes encoding particulate methane monooxygenase that were homologous to genes found in methanotrophic proteobacteria. However, known genetic modules for methanol and formaldehyde oxidation were incomplete or missing, suggesting that the bacterium uses some novel methylotrophic pathways. Phylogenetic analysis of its three pmoA genes (encoding a subunit of particulate methane monooxygenase) placed them into a distinct cluster from proteobacterial homologues. This indicates an ancient divergence of Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria methanotrophs rather than a recent horizontal gene transfer of methanotrophic ability. The findings show that methanotrophy in the Bacteria is more taxonomically, ecologically and genetically diverse than previously thought, and that previous studies have failed to assess the full diversity of methanotrophs in acidic environments.
527 citations
TL;DR: The genome reveals that NG80-2 is well equipped for adaptation into a wide variety of environmental niches, including oil reservoirs, by possessing genes for utilization of a broad range of energy sources, genes encoding various transporters for efficient nutrient uptake and detoxification, and genes for a flexible respiration system.
Abstract: The complete genome sequence of Geobacillus thermodenitrificans NG80-2, a thermophilic bacillus isolated from a deep oil reservoir in Northern China, consists of a 3,550,319-bp chromosome and a 57,693-bp plasmid. The genome reveals that NG80-2 is well equipped for adaptation into a wide variety of environmental niches, including oil reservoirs, by possessing genes for utilization of a broad range of energy sources, genes encoding various transporters for efficient nutrient uptake and detoxification, and genes for a flexible respiration system including an aerobic branch comprising five terminal oxidases and an anaerobic branch comprising a complete denitrification pathway for quick response to dissolved oxygen fluctuation. The identification of a nitrous oxide reductase gene has not been previously described in Gram-positive bacteria. The proteome further reveals the presence of a long-chain alkane degradation pathway; and the function of the key enzyme in the pathway, the long-chain alkane monooxygenase LadA, is confirmed by in vivo and in vitro experiments. The thermophilic soluble monomeric LadA is an ideal candidate for treatment of environmental oil pollutions and biosynthesis of complex molecules.
348 citations
TL;DR: A high-density sequence-tagged genetic map of papaya was constructed using microsatellite markers derived from BAC end sequences and whole-genome shot gun sequences that validates the suppression of recombination at the male-specific region of the Y chromosome mapped on LG 1 and at potential centromeric regions of other LGs.
Abstract: A high-density genetic map of papaya (Carica papaya L.) was constructed using microsatellite markers derived from BAC end sequences and whole-genome shot gun sequences. Fifty-four F2 plants derived from varieties AU9 and SunUp were used for linkage mapping. A total of 707 markers, including 706 microsatellite loci and the morphological marker fruit flesh color, were mapped into nine major and three minor linkage groups. The resulting map spanned 1069.9 cM with an average distance of 1.5 cM between adjacent markers. This sequence-based microsatellite map resolved the very large linkage group 2 (LG 2) of the previous high-density map using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. The nine major LGs of our map represent papaya's haploid nine chromosomes with LG 1 of the sex chromosome being the largest. This map validates the suppression of recombination at the male-specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY) mapped on LG 1 and at potential centromeric regions of other LGs. Segregation distortion was detected in a large region on LG 1 surrounding the MSY region due to the abortion of the YY genotype and in a region of LG6 due to an unknown cause. This high-density sequence-tagged genetic map is being used to integrate genetic and physical maps and to assign genome sequence scaffolds to papaya chromosomes. It provides a framework for comparative structural and evolutional genomic research in the order Brassicales.
79 citations
TL;DR: It is reported that a group of Escherichia coli O serogroups (O17, O44, O73, O77 and O106), and the Salmonella enterica serogroup O, share a common four-sugar backbone O-subunit structure, and possess almost identical O-antigen gene clusters.
Abstract: The O-antigen moiety of the LPS is one of the most variable cell surface components of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane. Variation is due to the presence of different sugars and sugar linkages. Here, it is reported that a group of Escherichia coli O serogroups (O17, O44, O73, O77 and O106), and the Salmonella enterica serogroup O : 6,14 (H), share a common four-sugar backbone O-subunit structure, and possess almost identical O-antigen gene clusters. Whereas the E. coli O77 antigen does not have any substitutions, the other O antigens in this group differ by the addition of one or two glucose side branches at various positions of the backbone. The O-antigen gene clusters for all members of the group encode only the proteins required for biosynthesis of the common four-sugar backbone. The identification of three genes within a putative prophage in the E. coli O44 genome is also reported; these genes are presumably involved in the glucosylation of the basic tetrasaccharide unit. This was confirmed by deletion of one of the genes, which encodes a putative glucosyltransferase. Structural analysis of the O antigen produced by the mutant strain demonstrated the absence of glucosylation. An O-antigen structure shared by five E. coli and one S. enterica serogroups, all of which have a long evolutionary history, suggests that the common backbone may be important for the survival of E. coli strains in the environment, or for their pathogenicity.
59 citations
TL;DR: A DNA microarray based on the O-antigen-specific genes of all 8 E. coli serogroups, as well as 11 genes encoding adhesion factors and exotoxins associated with PWD and ED, was developed and shown to be highly specific with reproducible results.
Abstract: Escherichia coli strains causing postweaning diarrhea (PWD) and edema disease (ED) in pigs are limited to a number of serogroups, with O8, O45, O138, O139, O141, O147, O149, and O157 being the most commonly reported worldwide. In this study, a DNA microarray based on the O-antigen-specific genes of all 8 E. coli serogroups, as well as 11 genes encoding adhesion factors and exotoxins associated with PWD and ED, was developed for the identification of related serogroups and virulence gene patterns. The microarray method was tested against 186 E. coli and Shigella O-serogroup reference strains, 13 E. coli reference strains for virulence markers, 43 E. coli clinical isolates, and 12 strains of other bacterial species and shown to be highly specific with reproducible results. The detection sensitivity was 0.1 ng of genomic DNA or 10(3) CFU per 0.3 g of porcine feces in mock samples. Seventeen porcine feces samples from local hoggeries were examined using the microarray, and the result for one sample was verified by the conventional serotyping methods. This microarray can be readily used to screen for the presence of PWD- and ED-associated E. coli in porcine feces samples.
43 citations
TL;DR: The DNA microarray method developed provides a sensitive means to rapidly identify the members of the most common S. pneumoniae serotypes in patients and to monitor their distribution in different patient groups and geographic locations, needed for disease surveillance and for vaccine efficacy.
43 citations
TL;DR: The S. Dysenteriae type 1 O antigen was reconstructed by replacing the E. coli O148 wbbG gene with the wbbP gene, and it had the LPS structure and antigenic properties of S. dysenteriaes type 1, indicating that the S. dysfunctione type 2 O antigen evolved from that of E.coli O148.
Abstract: Shigella dysenteriae type 1 is the most virulent serotype of Shigella. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O148 is pathogenic and can cause diarrhoea. The following structure was established for the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the E. coli O148 O antigen: →3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→2)-α-D-Glcp-(1→3)-α-D-GlcpNAc-(1→. This differs from the structure reported earlier for S. dysenteriae type 1 by having a glucose (Glc) residue in place of a galactose (Gal) residue. The two bacteria also have the same genes for O antigen synthesis, with the same organization and high level of DNA identity, except that in S. dysenteriae type 1 wbbG is interrupted by a deletion, and a galactosyltransferase gene wbbP located on a plasmid is responsible for the transfer of galactose to make a novel antigenic epitope of the O antigen. The S. dysenteriae type 1 O antigen was reconstructed by replacing the E. coli O148 wbbG gene with the wbbP gene, and it had the LPS structure and antigenic properties of S. dysenteriae type 1, indicating that the S. dysenteriae type 1 O antigen evolved from that of E. coli O148. It was also confirmed that wbbG of E. coli O148 is a glucosyltransferase gene, and two serotype-specific genes of E. coli O148 and S. dysenteriae type 1 were identified.
42 citations
TL;DR: This study provides valuable enzyme sources for the production of dTDP-d-Qui4N and dTTP- d- Qui4NAc, which are potentially useful in the pharmaceutical industry for drug development and the first time that functions of VioA and VioB have been biochemically characterized.
Abstract: O-antigen variation due to the presence of different types of sugars and sugar linkages is important for the survival of bacteria threatened by host immune systems. The O antigens of Shigella dysenteriae type 7 and Escherichia coli O7 contain 4-(N-acetylglycyl)amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (D-Qui4NGlyAc) and 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (D-Qui4NAc), respectively, which are sugars not often found in studied polysaccharides. In this study, we characterized the biosynthetic pathways for dTDP-D-Qui4N and dTDPD-Qui4NAc (the nucleotide-activated precursors of D-Qui4NGlyAc and D-Qui4NAc in O antigens). Predicted genes involved in the synthesis of the two sugars were cloned, and the gene products were overexpressed and purified as His-tagged fusion proteins. In vitro enzymatic reactions were carried out using the purified proteins, and the reaction products were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It is shown that in S. dysenteriae type 7 and E. coli O7, dTDP-D-Qui4N is synthesized from -D-glucose-1-phosphate in three reaction steps catalyzed by glucose-1-phosphate thymidyltransferase (RmlA), dTDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (RmlB), and dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-D-glucose aminotransferase (VioA). An additional acetyltransferase (VioB) catalyzes the conversion of dTDP-D-Qui4N into dTDP-D-Qui4NAc in E. coli O7. Kinetic parameters and some other properties of VioA and VioB are described and differences between VioA proteins from S. dysenteriae type 7 (VioAD7) and E. coli O7 (VioAO7) discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first time that functions of VioA and VioB have been biochemically characterized. This study provides valuable enzyme sources for the production of dTDP-D-Qui4N and dTDP-D-Qui4NAc, which are potentially useful in the pharmaceutical industry for drug development.
35 citations
TL;DR: A PCR assay based on O123 antigen-specific wzx and wzy genes was developed and found to be suitable for reliable detection of all subtypes of E. coli O123 strains, which bears an advantage over traditional serological detection.
Abstract: Escherichia coli O123 strains express a broad spectrum of phenotypes, H serotypes and virulence markers and are able to colonize and to cause disease in different hosts including humans. In this study, two subtypes of E. coli O123 antigen (group I and group II) have been identified based on their cross-reactions with other E. coli O antigens. Investigation of the relationship between O123 group I and group II strains by O serotyping and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of whole bacteria revealed surface structural differences between these two groups of E. coli O123 strains. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the O-antigen gene clusters of two E. coli O123 strains representing O123 group I and group II revealed no change at the amino acid level. These findings indicate that the differences in the surface structures of group I and group II strains are not related to genetic heterogeneity in their O-antigen gene clusters. A PCR assay based on O123 antigen-specific wzx and wzy genes was developed and found to be suitable for reliable detection of all subtypes of E. coli O123 strains, which bears an advantage over traditional serological detection.
30 citations
TL;DR: O-polysaccharides were isolated from the lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli O40 and Shigella dysenteriae type 9 and studied by chemical analyses along with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy.
19 citations
TL;DR: Reinvestigation of the O-polysaccharide of Shigella dysenteriae type 4 showed it to have the same structure except for that the lateral Fuc residue is nonstoichiometrically O-acetylated at each position.
TL;DR: The polysaccharide was found to contain a regioisomer of N-acetylisomuramic acid, 2-acetamido-4-O-[(S)-1-carboxyethyl]-2-deoxy-d-glucose [d-GlcNAc4(Slac]; the structure of its hexasaccharide repeating unit was established.
Patent•
05 Nov 2007
TL;DR: In this article, a gene chip for detecting common pathogen in dairy, which comprises a solid-phase vector and an oligonucleotide probe fixed on the solid phase vector, wherein the oligonuclotide probe includes DNA fragment or its complementary DNA or RNA sequence selected from E. sakazakii, streptococcus pyogenes, staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebiella oxytoca, Listeria monocytogeness, salmonella and 16S-23S rDNA inter
Abstract: The present invention provides a gene chip for detecting common pathogen in dairy, which comprises a solid-phase vector and an oligonucleotide probe fixed on the solid-phase vector, wherein the oligonucleotide probe includes DNA fragment or its complementary DNA or RNA sequence selected from E. sakazakii, streptococcus pyogenes, staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Listeria monocytogenes, salmonella and 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region of Bacillus cereus, as well as ipaH gene of Shigella or gyrB gene of citrobacter freundii. The invention further provides a reagent box which uses the gene chip to detect pathogen in dairy. The gene chip and the reagent box of the invention for detecting pathogen in dairy are easy to operate, highly precise and greatly repeatable.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The comparison of intergenic sequences located between galF and the O-antigen gene cluster in a range of E. coli and Shigella showed that this region may perform an important function in the homologous recombination of the O,specific polysaccharide repeats.
Abstract: Escherichia coli is a clonal species, and occurs as both commensal and pathogenic strains, which are normally classified on the basis of their O, H, and K antigens. The O-antigen (O-specific polysaccharide), which consists of a series of oligosaccharide (O-unit) repeats, contributes major antigenic variability to the cell surface. The O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O66 was sequenced in this study. The genes putatively responsible for the biosynthesis of dTDP-6-deoxy-L-talose and GDP-mannose, as well as those responsible for the transfer of sugars and for O-unit processing were identified based on their homology. The function of the wzy gene was confirmed by the results of a mutation test. Genes specific for E. coli O66 were identified via PCR screening against representatives of 186 E. coli and Shigella O type strains. The comparison of intergenic sequences located between galF and the O-antigen gene cluster in a range of E. coli and Shigella showed that this region may perform an important function in the homologous recombination of the O-antigen gene clusters.
TL;DR: A phosphorylated O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acidic degradation of the lipopolysaccharides from the enteric bacterium Escherichia coli O130 and characterized by the methods of chemical analysis, including dephosphorylation and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy.
Abstract: A phosphorylated O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acidic degradation of the lipopolysaccharide from the intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli 0130 and characterized by the methods of chemical analysis, including dephosphorylation, and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide was shown to be composed of branched tetrasaccharide repeating units containing two N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residues, D-galactose, D-glucose, and glycerophosphate residues (one of each). The polysaccharide has the following structure, which is unique among the known bacterial polysaccharides.