Klebsiella

Jpn J Surg, 1981 Mar, 11(2), 100 - 4
Successful management of iliac mycotic aneurysm secondary to Klebsiella endocarditis--report of a case; Fujinaga Y et al.; A case of common iliac mycotic aneurysm that presumably developed secondary to Klebsiella endocarditis was described . Recently, reports on gram negative septicemia and endocarditis have been on the increase . However, mycotic aneurysms secondary to bacterial endocarditis and particularly to Klebsiella endocarditis are rare . Inadequately treated serious gram negative septicemias have a high mortality rate . Early diagnosis and adequate combination chemotherapy with prompt surgical intervention were proven to be important factors in the successful management of such a complication.

J Hosp Infect, 1981 Mar, 2(1), 45 - 54
Discrimination between multiply-resistant klebsiella strains during a hospital outbreak: use of klebecin-typing and a screening test for plasmids; Hughes VM et al.; During an outbreak of hospital infection, 71 multiply-resistant klebsiella strains were classified by two extra tests in addition to biotyping, serotyping and sensitivity testing . These were klebecin sensitivity tests (Edmondson & Cooke, 1979) and screening for plasmid DNA molecules by agarose gel electrophoresis of single colony lysates (Eckhardt, 1978) . There were 56 examples of an epidemic strain of serotype K21; ten of these differed from 46 identical strains in some minor character . The other 15, although resembling the epidemic strain in biotype and antibiotic resistance differed from it sufficiently to be considered as unrelated.

Carbohydr Res, 1981 Feb 2, 88(2), 315 - 22
Substrate specificity of the glycanase activity associated with particles of Klebsiella bacteriophage no . 6; Elsasser-Beile U et al.; A glycanase activity associated with the particles of Klebsiella bacteriophage No . 6 catalyses cleavage of O-beta-D-glycopyranosyl-(1 leads to 3)-4,6-O-(1-carboxyethylidene)-beta-D-mannopyranose linkages in Klebsiella serotype-6 capsular polysaccharide . Of 74 heterologous Klebsiella polysaccharides and two derivatives of the type-6 glycan, only the type-1 and type-57 polymers were additionally degraded by the phage-6 enzyme . The repeating units in the three substrates have a 1ax leads to 3eq, 1eq leads to eq-linked chain D-gluco- or D-galacto-pyranosyl residue in common (which constitutes the reducing end after glycanase action), and a carboxyl group on the next hexopyranosyl residue . Of the 72 polysaccharides not affected by the viral enzyme, at least the type-11 and type-21 glycans also contain the same homology of primary structure . This indicates that the conformation at the glycanase recognition-site also constitutes an important feature of the substrates.

Am J Med, 1981 Feb, 70(2), 459 - 62
Aspects of the plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance and epidemiology of Klebsiella species; Casewell MW et al.; In an international collection of 108 epidemiologically distinct strains of gentamicin-resistant Klebsiellae, extensive plasmid-mediated multiple antibiotic resistance was found in 80.6 percent of strains . In vivo conjugation was recognized in eight patients within two years in one hospital, and identical plasmids were found in different serotypes from hospitals in West Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Australia . Of 45 patients who were infected or colonized with gentamicin-resistant Klebsiellae, 26 had positive skin sites and of these, six had negative clinical specimens and served as a "hidden" reservoir of strains which provide a source for the contamination of nurses' hands and sustain nosocomial outbreaks . It is suggested that the few agents effective against gentamicin-resistant Klebsiellae, such as amikacin and cefuroxime, should be reserved; that gentamicin-resistant strains are selectively favored by the use of agents other than gentamicin which are more widely prescribed; and that more careful identification of skin carriers and attention to staff handwashing will control the spread of such strains and their plasmids.

Br J Surg, 1981 Feb, 68(2), 137 - 8
Splenic abscess diagnosed with the aid of abdominal computerized tomography: report of 2 cases; Baruch Y et al.; Two patients with splenic abscess successfully diagnosed and treated are described . The first case, a diabetic, developed a pyogenic abscess caused by klebsiella, while the other suffered a splenic infarct complicated by splenic abscess . although relatively easy to treat, solitary abscess of the spleen is a potentially lethal condition due to diagnostic difficulties . In both present instances the final diagnosis was easily achieved before surgery by the aid of computerized tomography (CT) . This investigation seems to be more accurate than 99Tcm-sulphur colloid scan and ultrasound scan, which failed in both cases to diagnose splenic abscess clearly . The use of this investigation is suggested in every suspected case and will, no doubt, confirm the diagnosis at an early stage of the disease . Splenectomy with antibiotic cover will usually result in cure.

Am J Otolaryngol, 1981 Feb, 2(1), 30 - 5
The skin window test in rhinoscleroma; Toppozada HH et al.; The skin window test was applied to evaluate the state of immunity in patients with rhinoscleroma . The use of the patient's own Klebsiella micro-organisms as antigen led to a negligible change in the percentage of lymphoblasts, whereas the use of foreign Klebsiella micro-organisms as antigen resulted in a pronounced change . This finding indicates an impaired cellular immune response . Application of Klebsiella microorganisms as antigen to normal subjects led to a comparatively high percentage of lymphoblastic transformation . This finding suggests the possible use of a standard Klebsiella antigen as a vaccine . The possible use of the skin window test to identify people with deficient T lymphocyte function is discussed as well as its use in monitoring the efficacy of such a vaccine in influencing the cellular immune response.

J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 13(2), 313 - 9
Differentiation and characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains by pyrolysis-gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry; Abbey LE et al.; Nine coded duplicate strains of capsular nontypable Klebsiella pneumoniae were analyzed by pyrolysis-gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry . All duplicate strains were correctly matched, and individual strains, including seven nontypable strains, were clearly distinguishable from one another . The addition of mass spectrometry to the analysis has aided the process of identification and has provided chemical structural information on K . pneumoniae strains . Application of this technique to the identification of some disease outbreaks or nosocomial problems could be of epidemiological importance, especially when conventional methods do not identify the epidemic strain.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Feb, 145(2), 743 - 51
Molybdenum accumulation and storage in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Azotobacter vinelandii; Pienkos PT et al.; In Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mo accumulation appeared to be coregulated with nitrogenase synthesis . O2 and NH+4, which repressed nitrogenase synthesis, also prevented Mo accumulation . In Azotobacter vinelandii, Mo accumulation did not appear to be regulated Mo was accumulated to levels much higher than those seen in K . pneumoniae even when nitrogenase synthesis was repressed . Accumulated Mo was bound mainly to a Mo storage protein, and it could act as a supply for the Mo needed in component I synthesis when extracellular Mo had been exhausted . When A . vinelandii was grown in the presence of WO2-(4) rather than MoO2-(4), it synthesized a W-containing analog of the Mo storage protein . The Mo storage protein was purified from both NH+4 and N2-grown cells of A . vinelandii and found to be a tetramer of two pairs of different subunits binding a minimum of 15 atoms of Mo per tetramer.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Feb, 145(2), 1116 - 8
Temperature sensitivity of the regulation of nitrogenase synthesis by Klebsiella pneumoniae; Zhu J et al.; Temperature sensitivity of the regulatory protein coded by nifA prevents the organism from utilizing N2 at 37 degrees C . The purpling of 6-cyanopurine, a function of nifA expression, also is thermolabile.

Biochem J, 1981 Feb 1, 193(2), 631 - 7
Sequence of a secondary phage lambda attachment site located between the pentitol operons of Klebsiella aerogenes; Loviny T et al.; We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a secondary phage lambda attachment site (att) located between the structural genes of the ribitol and D-arabitol catabolic operons of Klebsiella aerogenes . The core region of this secondary attachment site (sequence: GGTTTTTTCGATTAT) shows considerable homology with the 15-base-pair core region common to both the phage att and the primary bacterial att of Escherichia coli K12 (sequence: GCTTTTTTACTAA); however, there is no such clear homology between the sequences flanking the cores of the primary att and this secondary att . Integration of phage lambda into the K . aerogenes secondary att occurred by recombination between the core region of the phage att and an oligo(T.A) stretch located within the K . aerogenes secondary att.

J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 122(Pt 2), 313 - 21
Characterization of 3': 5' -cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in Klebsiella aerogenes and its role in substrate-accelerated death; Calcott PH et al.; Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase in Klebsiella aerogenes is a soluble cytoplasmic enzyme with an apparent Km of 0.9 mM and a pH optimum of 7.0 . It was inhibited by EDTA, Mg2+ and other metal ions . The enzyme activity was inhibited or activated by some nucleotides but not by any metabolite except pyruvate . It was inhibited by the methylxanthines, caffeine, theophylline and methylisobutylxanthine . During starvation or substrate-accelerated death, the enzyme activity remained essentially constant . It is postulated that during substrate-accelerated death the enzyme acts as a drain on the cellular cyclic AMP levels . The cyclic nucleotide concentrations during substrate-accelerated death are proposed to be controlled directly by adenylate cyclase.

J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 122(Pt 2), 181 - 91
Structure of an experimentally evolved gene duplication encoding ribitol dehydrogenase in a mutant of Klebsiella aerogenes; Neuberger MS et al.; We have previously described a system of experimental evolution in which many of the mutants of Klebsiella aerogenes selected for faster growth on xylitol ('evolvants') synthesized elevated levels of ribitol dehydrogenase and have presented genetic evidence implicating gene duplication in the enzyme superproduction in some of the evolvants . Here we describe a physical approach to the screening for gene duplications and subsequent structure determination . Nick-translated, cloned ribitol operon (rbt) DNA was used as a hybridization probe to identify fragments containing rbt operon sequences in restriction digests of total bacterial DNA . Whilst several of the evolvants probably harbour duplications spanning the entire rbt operon, one of the spontaneously arising evolvants (strain A3) was shown to harbour a small (5.8 kilobase pairs) direct DNA repeat which encodes the dehydrogenase (but not the kinase) of the closely linked D-arabitol operon as well as the dehydrogenase (but not the kinase) of the rbt operon . The hybridization data suggest that there are 4 to 5 copies of the repeat arranged contiguously on the chromosome . The genetic instability of strain A3, the rbt fragment hybridization pattern of an A3 segregant and the activities of the pentitol catabolic enzymes in A3 are all consistent with the proposed gene duplication structure.

Biochem J, 1981 Feb 1, 193(2), 513 - 24
Purification and properties of D-ribulokinase and D-xylulokinase from Klebsiella aerogenes; Neuberger MS et al.; The D-ribulokinase and D-xylulokinase of Klebsiella aerogenes were purified to homogeneity from Escherichia coli K12 construct strains that synthesized these enzymes constitutively . The D-ribulokinase, which is encoded in the ribitol operon, is active as a dimer of 60 000 subunit mol.wt., whereas the D-xylulokinase, which is encoded in the D-arabitol operon, is active as a dimer of 54 000 subunit mol.wt . The amino acid compositions and N-terminal sequences of both pentulokinases are reported . The Kapp . values of the enzymes for their D-pentulose substrates were determined, and the D-ribulokinase was shown to have a low-affinity side-specificity for ribitol and D-arabitol . These results are discussed in the context of the evolution of the Klebsiella aerogenes pentitol operons.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Feb, 34(2), 231 - 9
Relevance of in vitro antibacterial activities of cefotiam and cefazolin to their therapeutic effects on experimental pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae DT-S in mice; Nishi T et al.; The MICs of cefotiam and cefazolin against K . pneumoniae DT-S were unaffected by the inoculum size and were 0.1 and 1.56 micrograms/ml, respectively . Bactericidal and bacteriolytic activities of the cephalosporins were more potent in bacterial concentrations of 10(7) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml than in concentrations of 10(8) CFU/ml . Both activities of cefotiam were more markedly influenced by bacterial concentrations than those of cefazolin . Therapeutic activity of cefotiam was about 9 approximately 15 times as potent as that of cefazolin in experimental pneumonia caused by K . pneumoniae DT-S in mice, and this finding was in accordance with the ratio of in vitro antibacterial activities of the two cephalosporins as judged by the MICs or the bactericidal and bacteriolytic activities in bacterial suspension of 10(7) CFU/ml . The range of concentrations of cefotiam which induced cell filamentation in vitro, was wider than that of cefazolin . This difference, however, was not reflected on the therapeutic activities of the two cephalosporins in the model infection . In the pneumonic lungs, definite therapeutic doses of both cephalosporins (80 mg of cefotiam per kg and 640 mg of cefazolin per kg) produced mainly bacteriolysis of the challenge organisms.

C R Seances Acad Sci III, 1981 Jan 19, 292(3), 281 - 4
{Antigenic similarity between polysaccharide and ribosomal vaccine extracts from Klebsiella pneumonia}; Robert D et al.; We describe in this report the vaccinating power of a polysaccharidic preparation from Klebsiella pneumoniae type I . The essential part played by this extract in the vaccinating capacities of the ribosomal preparations from the same bacterium is demonstrated.

J Pediatr, 1981 Jan, 98(1), 118 - 23
Polymorphonuclear leukocyte transfusion for the treatment of sepsis in the newborn infant; Laurenti F et al.; A therapeutic trial of transfusions with polymorphonuclear leukocyte concentrates was performed in newborn infants with bacterial sepsis proven by blood culture . With each transfusion, 20 ml/kg of a preparation obtained by continuous flow filtration leukapheresis, and containing 0.5 to 1 x 10(9) WBC, with less than 6% lymphocytes, was administered . Twenty newborn infants with sepsis received from 2 to 15 PMN transfusions . Results were compared with findings in 18 newborn infants with sepsis admitted during the trial period, and not treated because of unavailability of the PMN preparation (Group B) . Infants with fulminant illness were excluded from both groups . Groups A and B were similar with respect to clinical characteristics and to etiology (in the majority cases a highly antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella) . The mortality rate was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B in the whole series (10% vs 72%, P < 0.001), and also in the subgroups with birth weight equal or below 1,500 gm (10% vs 91%, P < 0.001) . Major complications and associated conditions (i.e., necrotizing enterocolitis, meningitis, pneumonia, peritonitis, osteoarthritis, disseminated intravascular coagulation) were observed in 12 patients of Group B, and in only three infants of Group A . Untoward effects attributable to PMN transfusions were never observed . PMN transfusion was a highly effective therapeutic tool in our population of infected newborn infants.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1981, 64(1), 80 - 3
Immunoelectgrophoretic pattern of Klebsiella O and K antigens; Kaijser B et al.; Klebsiella capsular antigens K1-K72 and O antigens O1-O9 were isolated and rabbits immunized with corresponding bacteria . The immunoelectrophoretic patterns of the O and K antigens were studied . All K antigens analyzed were highly electrophoretically mobile, giving a marked precipitate of different lengths towards the anode . All the O antigens analyzed with the exception of O4 were nonmobile and gave a precipitate next to the start basin . The O4 precipitated towards the anode . These data indicate a possibility for using counterimmunoelectrophoresis in the diagnosis of Klebsiella antigen in body fluids or for capsular typing of the bacteria using the same technique.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981, 250(1-2), 63 - 71
The significance of bacteriocin typing of Klebsiella strans; Israil AM; Out of three different methods used for bacteriocin sensitivity typing of Klebsiella strains, the "scarpe and streak" method was the most appropriate tool for its routine use in epidemiologic studies . The method is quite simple, reliable and does not imply any special requirements . Out of 533 Klebsiella strains tested by our set of seven bacteriocins 453 (85%) strains proved to be typable and 100 (15%) nontypable . The number of strains typable by bacteriocins was higher than of those typable by phages . In 14 of 19 outbreaks, the predominance of 1-2 distinct patterns of bacteriocin sensitivity was observed . Two large geographical areas have been delineated by two predominant distinct bacteriocin types of Klebsiella strains, each being observed in a high number of outbreaks as well as in sporadic cases belonging to the same area . Although it was not possible to establish any clear correlation between the pattern of bacteriocin sensitivity and the lysotype or serotype of the strains, The present findings offer strong reason to allow recommendation of the bacteriocin sensitivity pattern as a marker of high epidemiologic significance in monitoring Klebsiella cross-infections . Medical and auxiliary workers could play the role of reservoir to Klebsiella strains and for this reason the hospital personnel has to follow carefully strict procedures for ensuring a valid protection of patients especially when coming into direct contact with neonates, infants and debilitated patients.

Microbios, 1981, 31(125-126), 153 - 60
Microcalorimetry studies of energy changes during the growth of Klebsiella aerogenes in simple salts/glucose media . 3 . The effect of growth temperature on energy conversion; Nichols SC et al.; Calorimetric and growth data are reported for the growth of K . aerogenes in glucose-limited media over the temperature range 25 degrees to 42 degrees C . Rate constants for heat output, CO2 evolution and biomass production are maximal at 37 degrees C; the rate constant for heat output is greater than that for biomass production at growth temperatures less than 37 degrees C . Changes in the power-time profile indicate that different metabolic processes occur at the different temperatures even when aerobic conditions prevail . An energy budget has been established for each temperature, stored and waste energy are constant below 40 degrees C; at higher temperatures the stored energy decreases and the waste energy increases . The energy used for biosynthesis delta HB is maximal at 37 degrees C, and is probably dependent on the growth rate.

Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(9), 939 - 48
Further Studies of the polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae possessing strong adjuvanticity . I . Production of the adjuvant polysaccharide by noncapsulated mutant; Ohta M et al.; In culture fluid, Klebsiella pneumoniae type 1 Kasuya strain produces polysaccharide exhibiting a strong adjuvant effect . The active substance responsible for the strong adjuvant effect of the polysaccharide isn ot its acidic polysaccharide fraction (the type-specific capsular antigen) but the neutral polysaccharide fraction . In the present study, a mutant which did not produce the type-specific capsular polysaccharide was isolated from ultraviolet-irradiated cells of K . pneumoniae type 1 Kasuya strain which had been labeled with leucine-requiring marker by selecting unagglutinable cells with the antiserum to he type-specific capsular polysaccharide . Serological tests showed that the type-specific acidic capsular polysaccharide was present neither on the cells surface nor in the culture fluid of the mutant . Electron microscopically, the mutant did not possess any capsular material . On the other hand, nearly an equal amount of neutral polysaccharide antigen as produced in culture fluids of the noncapsulated mutant polysaccharide antigen was produced in culture fluids of te noncapsulated mutant and the parent strain . The neutral polysaccharide antigen produced by the noncapsulated mutant exhibited the same degree of strong adjuvant effect on antibody response to bovine gammaglobulin in mice as that produced by the parent strain . The relationship between the neutral polysaccharide antigen in culture fluid and the O antigen of K . pneumoniae was discussed.

Microbios, 1981, 30(121-122), 163 - 70
Microcalorimetric studies of Klebsiella aerogenes grown in chemostat culture . 2 C-limited and C-sufficient cultures; James AM et al.; The enthalpy changes for the production of 1 g of cells during a doubling period, delta Hg, for cells of K . aerogenes growing aerobically in carbon-limited or carbon-sufficient media in continuous culture have been measured . Delta Hg varies with the dilution rate, but at a fixed dilution rate delta Hg is the same for growth in glucose, glycerol, pyruvate or acetate as the sole carbon and energy source; the molar growth yields are markedly different . Delta Hg values of cells growing in glucose-sufficient media (i.e . N- or Mg-limitation) are much higher than in glucose-limited media . This suggests the presence of a regulating system for the degradation of the energy source . Anaerobic growth in glucose-limited media results in a reduction of the molar growth yield and an increase in the heat output . From a consideration of the yield and delta Hg values it is concluded that the amount of energy lost (as heat) per mol of glucose during glycolysis is the same under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(1), 31 - 9
Formation of mononuclear phagocyte (macrophage) colonies by mouse spleen cells in liquid culture . II . Its inhibition by the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Yokochi T et al.; The effect of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae type 1 Kasuya strain (CPS-K) on the formation of macrophage colonies in cultures of mouse spleen cells was investigated by the liquid culture technique during an incubation period of 7-8 days . CPS-K markedly inhibited further generation of macrophage colonies when added at any time after the beginning of culture, whereas it showed no destructive effect on macrophage colonies which were already formed before its addition . When CPS-K was present throughout the incubation period, such a low concentration as 0.05 micrograms/ml significantly inhibited colony formation, and the intensity of its inhibitory effect depended on its dose in the range of 0.005-50 micrograms/ml . The inhibitory effect persisted even if CPS-K was washed out after spleen cells were kept in contact with 20 micrograms of CPS-K per ml at 37 C for 6 hr . It was found that the inhibitory effect of CPS-K on colony formation was not mediated through its action on T cells, B cells or macrophages, and that it was not due to the generation of suppressor cells capable of inhibiting colony formation . It is concluded therefore that CPS-K directly inhibits the proliferation of macrophage colony-forming cells . The active substance responsible for the inhibitory effect of CPS-K on colony formation is the neutral polysaccharide fraction of CPS-K.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 71 - 7
Direct evidence for the involvement of capsular polysaccharide in the immunoprotective activity of Klebsiella pneumoniae ribosomal preparations; Riottot MM et al.; Previous work has demonstrated the capsular serotypic specificity of the protection conferred on mice by Klebsiella pneumoniae ribosomal preparations . The data in these studies support the hypothesis that capsular polysaccharide plays at least some role in the specificity of the protection conferred by ribosomal preparations . In this investigation, the presence of capsular polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide in K . pneumoniae ribosomal preparations was demonstrated by using immunodiffusion tests . Lipopolysaccharide content was determined for mice treated with actinomycin D . The serotype of O antigen did not play a role in the orientation of the specificity of the protection . The possibility that lipopolysaccharide might act as an adjuvant was not unlikely since the ribosomal preparations which contained the greatest amounts of lipopolysaccharide appeared to be the most immunoprotective preparations . Ribosomal preparations extracted from a noncapsulated mutant of K . pneumoniae did not protect mice . This finding suggested that capsular polysaccharide might play a role in the immunoprotective activity of ribosomes . This hypothesis was tested by using K . pneumoniae K2 bacteriophage-associated-glycanase, which specifically hydrolyzed K . pneumoniae K2 capsular polysaccharide and thereby suppressed the immunoprotective activity of K . pneumoniae K2 ribosomal preparations . In contrast, the K2 bacteriophage-associated glycanase did not interfere with the immunoprotective activity of K . pneumoniae K1 ribosomal preparations . These results clearly demonstrate that capsular polysaccharide, which is an extraribosomal antigen, is involved in the immunoprotective activity of K . pneumoniae ribosomal preparations.

Can J Microbiol, 1981 Jan, 27(1), 52 - 6
Nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) by Klebsiella pneumoniae in association with 'Park' Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.); Wood LV et al.; Turks of 'Park' Kentucky bluegrass reestablished in the greenhouse and inoculated with Klebsiella pneumoniae (W6) showed significantly increased nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) compared with control turfs . Mean ethylene production rates per pot were 368 nmol h-1 for K . pneumoniae treated turfs, 55 nmol h-1 for heat-killed K . pneumoniae treated turfs, and 44 nmol h-1 for untreated turfs . Calculated lag periods before activity was observed were generally very short (less than 1 h) . When 'Park' Kentucky bluegrass was grown from seed on soil-less medium of Turface, a fired aggregate clay, inoculation with K . pneumoniae (W6) resulted in 9 of 11 turfs showing nitrogenase activity (mean ethylene production rate per pot was 195 nmol h-1) . Only 3 of 11 turfs treated with heat-killed K . pneumoniae showed any activity and their mean rate of ethylene production (40 nmol h-1 per pot) was significantly lower than that for turfs treated with K . pneumoniae . Using the 'Park'--Turface soil-less model system it was shown that acetylene reducing activity was (i) root associated, (ii) generally highest at a depth of 1--4 cm below the surface, (iii) enhanced by washing excised roots, and (iv) inhibited by surface sterilization of excised roots . Klebsiella pneumoniae was recovered from Turface and roots showing acetylene reducing activity.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 348 - 57
Regulation of nitrogen fixation in Klebsiella pneumoniae: isolation and characterization of strains with nif-lac fusions; MacNeil D et al.; Strains with lac fused to each of the seven nif operons were isolated by two different methods . Repressing conditions prevented expression of all nif operons, whereas derepressing conditions led to the expression of all nif operons . No differences in Nif regulation were observed between Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae with the same nif-lac fusions . Most derivatives of nif-lac fusion strains selected on lactose and NH4+ contained nif operator mutations . Some derivative contained deletions, which establishes that the direction of transcription of all seven nif operons is toward his

J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 266 - 71
Purification and properties of aromatic amino acid aminotransferase from Klebsiella aerogenes; Paris CG et al.; We describe the complete purification of aromatic aminotransferase I, the enzyme responsible for the ability of Klebsiella aerogenes to use tryptophan and phenylalanine as sole sources of nitrogen, as well as the partial purification of aromatic aminotransferase IV . An examination of the properties of these enzymes revealed that aminotransferase I had much greater affinity for the aromatic amino acids than aminotransferase IV, explaining the essential role of aminotransferase I in the utilization of exogenously supplied aromatic amino acids . The properties of aminotransferase IV suggest that this enzyme is actually an aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), corresponding to the product of the aspC gene of Escherichia coli.

J Mol Appl Genet, 1981, 1(1), 71 - 81
Biological nitrogen fixation: primary structure of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifH and nifD genes; Scott KF et al.; A DNA fragment carrying the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifK, D, and H genes was isolated from the nif- strain UNF841 (Tn5::nifK) by molecular cloning into the Escherichia coli plasmid pBR325 . The nucleotide sequences of both the nifH gene, which encodes the Fe protein of the nitrogenase enzyme complex, and 622 nucleotides of the nifD gene, which encodes the alpha-subunit of the Mo-Fe protein, were determined by direct DNA sequencing by both the chemical and chain termination methods . A comparison of the primary structure of the Klebsiella nifH gene and its product with that recently determined for the blue-green alga Anabaena demonstrates that the gene sequences are more divergent than the protein sequence data would suggest . This implies that despite the strong, presumably functional, constraints that act at the protein structure level, the nucleotide sequence of the gene and its mRNA are only restrained by the coding requirements, allowing substantial drift in codon usage.

Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(12), 1317 - 25
Further studies of the polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae possessing strong adjuvanticity . II . Serological relationship between the adjuvant polysaccharide and O3 antigen of Klebsiella; Kato N et al.; The serological specificity of the neutral polysaccharide possessing extraordinarily strong adjuvanticity originally isolated from the culture supernatant of Klebsiella K1 strain Kasuya has been investigated . Among all of the reference strains (K1-K82) of Klebsiella obtained from the International Escherichia and Klebsiella Center, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, only 13 strains have been shown to produce the adjuvant polysaccharide by the passive hemagglutination inhibition test . All of these 13 strains belong to the O3 group, and the strains which belong to other O groups of which were not identifiable did not produce it . The gel precipitation test has demonstrated that the adjuvant polysaccharide is antigenically identical to O3 antigen isolated from the cells of the decapsulated mutant (strain LEN 1) of Klebsiella K1 strain Kasuya and to O9 antigen of Escherichia coli isolated from either the culture supernatant or the cells, which has already been shown to be antigenically and structurally identical to the O3 antigen of Klebsiella.

Drugs, 1981, 22 Suppl 1, 69 - 71
Cefoperazone in Klebsiella meningitis: a case report; Ellis-Pegler RB et al.; A 51-year-old man with meningitis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae was treated with cefoperazone 6 to 8 g/day intravenously and was cured . Simultaneous blood and cerebrospinal fluid levels were measured . Trough levels of cefoperazone in cerebrospinal fluid were 9 and 12 mg/L . Cefoperazone should be considered for meningitis due to susceptible organisms resistant to customarily used antibacterial drugs.

DNA, 1981, 1(1), 27 - 36
Plasmid vectors capable of transferring large DNA fragments to yeast; Morris DW et al.; We have constructed several cloning vectors which can be used in vitro packaging and yeast transformation . These plasmids have been designed for the convenient cloning of large segments of DNA and their transfer to yeast . They contain bacterial plasmid DNA sequences for replication and selection in Escherichia coli, yeast 2-microns plasmid DNA sequences or chromosomal replicators and yeast markers necessary for replication and selection in yeast, and the cohesive ends of bacteriophage lambda which allow packaging of recombinant molecules into lambda phage heads . Large fragments (22-38 kb) of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Zea mays DNA were ligated into plasmid vector pBTI-1 to make complete genome libraries . One clone from the K . pneumoniae library was amplified in E . coli and the purified DNA used to transform yeast cells . Transformation of yeast by large DNA fragments occurred at high frequencies . The recombinant plasmid was stably maintained in yeast, provided selective pressure for Leu+ transformants was maintained . The structurally complete recombinant plasmid can be recovered from yeast by transforming E . coli to ampicillin resistance . Fewer than 5% of the recovered plasmids had undergone recombination with endogenous yeast 2-microns plasmid.

Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 184(1), 102 - 6
The use of cloned nif (nitrogen fixation) DNA to investigate transcriptional regulation of nif expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Buchanan-Wollaston V et al.; Some restriction endonuclease fragments of nif DNA, when carried on small multicopy plasmids, inhibited nif expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae . A study of this inhibitory effect revealed, (1) that overproduction of the nifL gene product inhibited transcription of two nif operons examined, nifJ and nifHDKY and, (2) that when transcription was initiated from the promoter of the nifHDKY operon on multicopy plasmids there was a corresponding decrease in the transcription rates of the chromosomally located nifJ and nifHDKY but not the nifLA operon . Studies of transcription in vivo also showed that the nifA gene product was essential for transcription initiation from the nifHDKY and nifBQ promoters . These results, taken with earlier observations (see Discussion) provide evidence that the nifL and nifA gene products are respectively a repressor and activator of nif transcription initiation from all nif promoters except that of the nifLA operon.

Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 181(4), 476 - 83
Isolation and characterization of prototrophic relaxed mutants of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Riesenberg D et al.; A new selection procedure has been developed for isolating prototrophic relaxed mutants of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Two mutants were isolated . One of them showed a fully relaxed phenotype, while the other one behaved in a semi-relaxed way . The wild-type strain, as well as the rel mutants exerted similar patterns to their E . coli counterparts in RNA, protein, ppGpp and pppGpp accumulation during amino starvation, carbon source shift-down and nitrogen starvation . Both mutants became stringent after introducing an F'-factor carrying the relA+ allele from Escherichia coli . The relaxed phenotype could be recovered by curing the F'-factor . Some of the pleiotropic consequences of rel mutations found in E . coli are present in the Klebsiella mutants also while some of them are absent . The mutants are defective in dinitrogen fixation after the exhaustion of limiting ammonium from the culture medium . However, their merodiploid derivatives, carrying the E . coli relA+ allele, showed the wild-type level of nitrogenase activity under the same conditions.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 257 - 65
Tryptophan metabolism in Klebsiella aerogenes: regulation of the utilization of aromatic amino acids as sources of nitrogen; Paris CG et al.; Klebsiella aerogenes utilized aromatic amino acids as sole sources of nitrogen but not as sole sources of carbon . K . aerogenes abstracted the alpha-amino group of these compounds by transamination and excreted the arylpyruvate portions into the medium . When tryptophan was utilized as the sole source of nitrogen by K . aerogenes, indolepyruvate was excreted into the medium, where it polymerized non-enzymatically to form a brick red pigment . At least four separate aromatic aminotransferase activities were found in K . aerogenes . One activity (aromatic aminotransferase I) appeared to be solely responsible for the aminotransferase reaction necessary for the growth of K . aerogenes when tryptophan was the source of nitrogen; the loss of this activity by mutation (tut) prevented the growth of cells on media containing this and other aromatic amino acids . None of the other aminotransferase activities in the cells could substitute for aromatic aminotransferase in this regard . Tryptophan-dependent pigment formation in K . aerogenes was positively controlled by the intracellular level of glutamine synthetase . Nevertheless, the aromatic aminotransferase activity in cells varied less than 2-fold in response to 10-fold or greater changes in the levels of glutamine synthetase . Glutamine synthetase affected the ability of the cells to take up tryptophan from the medium.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Dec 1, 87(1), 129 - 39
The capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K60; a novel, structural pattern; Dutton GG et al.; Non-linear capsular polysaccharides of Klebsiella bacteria usually have a single side-chain per repeating unit, or, less commonly, two side-chains attached to the same unit . The capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype K60 is unique in having three side-chains in the heptasaccharide repeating-unit shown . The structure, including the configuration of the glycosidic linkages, was established mainly by characterization of the oligosaccharides obtained by partial hydrolysis of both the original, capsular polysaccharide and the polymer resulting from the removal, by Smith degradation, of the side chains (Formula, see text).

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Dec 1, 87(1), 119 - 27
Structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K74; Dutton GS et al.; The capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K74 belongs to a chemogroup consisting of seven strains, of which four contain 1-carboxyethylidene groups (pyruvic acid acetals) . The polysaccharide from K74 is demonstrated to be of the "3 + 2" type, and to be based on the repeating unit shown (Formula, see text) . The capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K74 is composed of D-glucuronic acid, D-galactose, and D-mannose, and this chemotype includes a total of seven strains, of which four have 1-carboxyethylidene groups (pyruvic acid acetals) . In this chemogroup, the structures of the capsular polysaccharides of the serotypes K20 (ref . 3) and K21 (ref . 4) have been published.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Dec 1, 87(1), 107 - 17
Structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K53; Dutton GG et al.; Klebsiella serotype K53 is one of three strains belonging to the chemotype whose capsular polysaccharides consist of D-glucuronic acid, D-galactose, D-mannose, and L-rhamnose residues, and the structure of its polysaccharide was found to be of the "5 + 1 type" shown, of the same structural pattern as the capsule from Klebsiella K52 (Formula, see text) . Nimmich has analyzed the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella K53 and has shown that it belongs to the chemotype that also comprises K40 and K80 . As part of our continuing investigation of these polysaccharides, we now report the structure of the capsular antigen of Klebsiella K53; the structures of those from K40 and K80 are, at present, unknown.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Dec, 18(6), 877 - 81
Klebsiella species: antimicrobial susceptibilities, bactericidal kinetics, and in vitro inactivation of beta-lactam agents; Panwalker AP et al.; In vitro properties of 19 antimicrobial agents were tested with 56 isolates of Klebsiella spp . The aminoglycosides and the new beta-lactam compounds cefotaxime and moxalactam were the most inhibitory drugs tested . Chloramphenicol, tetracycline, trimethoprim, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were moderately active, whereas piperacillin, mezlocillin, and furazlocillin were ineffective against 25% of the isolates . Gentamicin was the only agent tested that was uniformly bactericidal in time-kill experiments with drug concentrations of four times the minimal inhibitory concentration . In combination studies with gentamicin, moxalactam and furazlocillin each increased the rate of bacterial killing for three of five isolates as compared with gentamicin alone, whereas chloramphenicol significantly retarded the rate of bacterial killing for the same number of strains . Furazlocillin was completely inactivated after 24 h of incubation with each of five selected strains . The inactivation of moxalactam, cefoxitin, and cephalothin was 36, 56, and 72%, respectively . In all instances in which these four agents were inactivated to levels below the minimal bactericidal concentration, there was accelerated growth after initial inhibition . However, regrowth also occurred in three instances in which drug levels were higher than the minimal bactericidal concentration . Retesting after drug exposure revealed a 4- to 32-fold rise in the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration in two of these isolates.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Dec, 18(6), 926 - 9
R-factor responsible for an outbreak of multiply antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae; Courtney MA et al.; Seven serotypes of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from different patients demonstrated resistance to the same eight antibiotics . A plasmid carrying resistance determinants to these antibiotics and mercury salts could be transferred in toto to a plasmidless strain of Escherichia coli . All E . coli transconjugants showed the same antibiotic resistance pattern . Digestion with restriction endonucleases yielded patterns that were identical for each of the R-factor transferred from the multiply resistant serotypes . Moreover, deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization demonstrated identity between the probe, pMAC20 (an R-factor from one serotype), and all R-factors isolated from the multiply resistant strains of K . pneumoniae and the E . coli transconjugants tested.

Neurosurgery, 1980 Dec, 7(6), 593 - 7
Treatment of ischemic deficits from cerebral vasospasm with high dose barbiturate therapy; Kassell NF et al.; In 12 patients with life-threatening neurological deficits from vasospasm refractory to other measures, high dose barbiturate therapy was used in an attempt to prevent permanent changes in the brain . In each case angiography was performed and intracranial pressure was measured . Dexamethasone, a low molecular weight dextran, and mannitol were administered . If intracranial pressure (ICP) was elevated, drainage of cerebrospinal fluid and hyperventilation were used . Arterial pressure was maintained at not less than 140/90 preoperatively and 180/100 postoperatively . Barbiturate therapy was continued until vasospasm decreased angiographically and ICP was normal . Eleven of the 12 patients perished . One had a fatal rebleed . One died of an iatrogenic hemothorax . Four died from uncontrollable intracranial hypertension . One improved slightly and then died from a cardiac arrhythmia . One died of increased ICP when her ventriculostomy malfunctioned . One improved and was responding purposefully to pain, only to die suddenly with a low ICP . Two patients became awake and responsive to verbal commands; 1 of these died from Klebsiella meningitis and the other died from an intracerebral hematoma . In the 3 patients in whom hypothermia was also used, profound alterations in acid-base and fluid electrolyte balance occurred . These discouraging results are most likely a reflection of the severity of the patients' condition at the beginning of therapy . There may be some benefit of barbiturates in the management of vasospasm, and the potential effectiveness of barbiturates may be more obvious if therapy is started at an earlier stage . However, until further evidence of the usefulness of this modality becomes manifest, it should be limited to patients with life-threatening impairments unresponsive to all other measures.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Nov 15, 86(2), 259 - 71
Structural investigation of Klebsiella serotype K46 polysaccharide; Okutani K et al.; The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type K46 has been investigated by using the techniques of methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and partial hydrolysis . The anomeric linkages were determined by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r . spectroscopy of the polysaccharide and of derived poly- and oligo-saccharides obtained through degradative procedures . 1H-N.m.r . spectroscopy of the polysaccharide in D2O showed clearly a ratio of one (1-carboxyethylidene) group (CH3, delta 1.47) to six anomeric protons (delta 4.62--5.29) . The polysaccharide was shown to consist of the following hexasaccharide repeating unit, which is unique in this series in having a (1-carboxyethylidene) acetal group on a lateral, but nonterminal, sugar residue . (Formula: see text).

J Infect Dis, 1980 Nov, 142(5), 744 - 9
Ultrastructure of Calymmatobacterium granulomatis in Lesions of granuloma inguinale; Kuberski T et al.; Biopsy specimens from the lesions of 14 patients with granuloma inguinale were examined by electron microscopy . Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, the presumed causative agent, was observed within the phagosomes of many macrophages, but only rarely in polymorphonuclear leukocytes . The morphology of the organisms was that of a gram-negative bacteria having a large capsule and no flagella . These morphologic observations are consistent with published findings suggesting that this organism is related antigenically to organisms of the genus Klebsiella.

Invest Radiol, 1980 Nov-Dec, 15(6 Suppl), S6 - 12
Changes in complement and coagulation factors in a patient suffering a severe anaphylactoid reaction to injected contrast material: some considerations of pathogenesis; Lasser EC et al.; A patient, suffering a severe anaphylactoid reaction to contrast material injected for an intravenous pyelogram, developed a consumption coagulopathy and evidence of complement activation . Precontrast complement values suggested that the patient had been processing complement via the classical pathway, perhaps as a consequence of an earlier protracted Klebsiella infection . Following contrast injection, a precipitous fall in hemolytic complement (CH50) and in the concentration of the C1 esterase inhibitor (C1INH) developed, as well as a diminution in C4 and C3 with the evolution of C3 conversion products . The possible role that these changes might play in the pathogenesis of idiosyncratic reactions to contrast media is considered.

Biochem J, 1980 Nov 1, 191(2), 449 - 55
A Mössbauer spectroscopic investigation of the redox behaviour of the molybdenum-iron protein from Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase . Mechanistic and structural implications; Smith BE et al.; The redox properties of the nitrogenase Mo-Fe protein from Klebsiella pneumoniae have been monitored by 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy between -460 and -160mV (relative to the normal hydrogen electrode) . Two redox processes associated with the atoms of the protein were observed . One at -216mV (pH 8.7) was associated with the Fe-Mo cofactor centres in the protein and allowed identification of the Mossbauer parameters of the oxidized form of these centres . The other redox process at -340mV (pH 8.7) was associated with species M5 {Smith & Lang (1974) Biochem . J . 137, 169-180} . This latter redox process may be involved in enzyme turnover . The oxidized form of species M5 interacts magnetically with species M4 . The structural implications of the data have been considered in relation to other published data . It is concluded that an unequivocal assignment of the M4 and M5 atoms to Fe-S cluster types is not yet possible.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Nov, 144(2), 744 - 51
Mutations in nif genes that cause Klebsiella pneumoniae to be derepressed for nitrogenase synthesis in the presence of ammonium; MacNeil D et al.; Four Nif+ revertants from strains with polar insertions in nifL, were insensitive to ammonium and amino acid repression of nitrogenase synthesis . These strains have mutations located in or near the nifL region . The derepressed phenotype was dominant in a merodiploid containing a nif+ plasmid . These nif regulatory mutations also suppressed the Nif- phenotype of Gln- strains . Thus, regulation by fixed nitrogen (possible via glutamine synthetase) occurs on the nifLA operon but not on the other six nif operons.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Oct, 120(Pt 2), 465 - 73
Studies on the induction and turnover of citrate-oxidizing capacity in Klebsiella aerogenes using chemostat culture; Ashby RE et al.; Steady-state chemostat cultures of Klebsiella aerogenes growing on a carbon-limited medium were challenged with pulse of carbon sources, and the resultant changes in dissolved oxygen tension were shown to reflect changes in respiration rate . These changes were used to study the kinetics of induction of citrate-oxidizing capacity, which is most probably limited by citrate permease, and the return to the preinduced state . Previously unexposed cells showed a lag phase, the duration of which decreased with increasing growth rate, with a minimum of 10 min, followed by an induction phase of linear increase of citrate oxidation rate which continued as long as citrate was present . The rate of increase in activity, which can be equated to the rate of induction of citrate permease, was independent of citrate concentration but increased with growth rate . Previously exposed cells showed no lag and some residual activity before further induction . The kinetics of return to the preinduced state were unusual in that activity was short-lived with a half-life of 16 to 23 min while the lag took over 8 h to re-establish . The rate of decay of activity decreased with increasing growth rate.

Lab Anim, 1980 Oct, 14(4), 357 - 61
Naturally acquired infections of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Wistar rats; Jackson NN et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from lesions in 2 dead and 82 ill animals in a breeding colony of 2300 Wistar rats . The clinical signs were unilaterial and bilateral fluctuating masses in the cervical and inguinal areas, and focal cutaneous ulcers in the ventral neck . Cervical and inguinal lymphadenitis with abscess formation were found on microscopic examination . Lesions also occurred in visceral organs . Although characteristic of the natural infection in most species, no respiratory lesions were seen in this epizootic episode . A capsular serotype 5 K . pneumoniae which did not utilize malonate was the only bacterial strain cultured from the lesions, but other K . pneumoniae strains that utilized malonate and were untypable by capsular serology were cultured from throats and faeces . 30% (6/20) of asymptomatic animals tested had both types of K . pneumoniae in their faeces.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Oct, 18(4), 549 - 56
Therapeutic effects of cefotiam and cefazolin on experimental pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae DT-S in mice; Nishi T et al.; The efficacies of several dosage schedules, productive of plasma levels of cefotiam and cefazolin of short and long duration and starting at three levels of cefotiam and cefazolin of short and long duration and starting at three different times (3, 18, and 30h) after infection, were examined in experimental pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae DT-S in mice . With each of the multiday regimens there was a large segment of the day when plasma levels fell below assayable concentrations . In all cases, cefotiam proved about eight times as active as cefazolin, indicating that the potent in vitro antibacterial activity of cefotiam was well reflected in the therapeutic effect in this model infection . As judged by the total dose administered, the regimen of cefotiam producing a low but sustained plasma level gave better therapeutic effects than that exhibiting a high but transient plasma level . The cefotiam levels in the plasma of mice that received the regimen effective when initiated at 18 h after infection were less than the expected levels in humans after intravenous infusion of the usual clinical dose.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Oct, 18(4), 542 - 8
Klebsiella neonatal injections: mechanism of broadening aminoglycoside resistance; Hardy DJ et al.; Kanamycin resistance in eight strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated during an outbreak of infection in a neonatal intensive care unit was found to be transferable and mediated by neomycin phosphotransferase . After gentamicin was used to control infections caused by kanamycin-resistant organisms, a strain resistant to gentamicin emerged . Gentamicin resistance in this ninth strain was not transferable and was accompanied by resistance to tobramycin, amikacin, and streptomycin . Enzymatic modifications of aminoglycosides other than neomycin and kanamycin could not be demonstrated either by filter binding assays or by electrophoresis of a radioactive aminoglycoside substrate . The strain with broad aminoglycoside resistance contained six plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid bands, none of which appeared to be different in molecular weight from plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid bands in strains isolated before the institution of gentamicin therapy . The broadening of resistance was accompanied by reduced uptake of radioactively labeled streptomycin and gentamicin . The relationship between aminoglycoside resistance and reduced drug transport in the absence of any enzymatic modification is discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Oct, 144(1), 210 - 6
Gene-product relationships of the nif regulon of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Roberts GP et al.; Products of nifV, M, A, and F of Klebsiella pneumoniae have been identified, and suggestive evidence exists for the assignment of products for nifS, U, and L . These assignments confirm previous descriptions of transcriptional polarity and suggest that existence of several more nif genes whose products are apparently not essential for nitrogen fixation under standard laboratory conditions of growth . Although the nifA product is essential for expression of other nif transcripts, it is not involved in the regulation of its own transcript, nifRLA . The stability of nif-encoded proteins under anaerobic conditions was examined in a variety of mutants, confirming previously reported protein-protein interactions and suggesting several new ones . The stability of nif-encoded proteins in ammonia was found to be comparable to that in ammonia-free conditions, whereas all nif-gene products appeared to be labile in the presence of oxygen.

J Exp Med, 1980 Oct 1, 152(4), 979 - 95
Human monoclonal macroglobulins with specificity for Klebsiella K polysaccharides that contain 3,4-pyruvylated-D-galactose and 4,6-pyruvylated-D-galactose; Kabat EA et al.; Two human IgM myeloma proteins, IgMWEA and IgMMAY, were found to react with agar and Klebsiella polysaccharides that contain pyruvylated D-galactose (DGal) . Quantitative precipitin data and precipitin inhibition studies with methyl alpha- and beta-glycosides of 4,6-pyruvylated-D-galactose showed their combining sites to be different, although each was directed against the pyruvylated-D-Gal, one reacting most specifically with Klebsiella polysaccharides with terminal nonreducing beta-linked 2,4 pyruvylated-D-Gal, whereas the other reacted equally well with Klebsiella polysaccharides that contain 3,4 beta-linked and 4,6 alpha-linked terminal nonreducing pyruvylated-DGal . Inhibition studies showed that both sites are directed toward one of the two space isomers of 3,4- or 4,6-pyruvylated DGal, the form in which the methyl group of the pyruvate is equatorial, or endo, and its carboxyl group axial, or exo, to the plane of the acetal ring . Coprecipitation studies showed the combining site of IgMWEA to be located on an (Fab')2 fragment and not on the (Fc)5mu fragment . The monoclonal peak in the serum of IgMMAY was specifically precipitated by Klebsiella polysaccharide . Myeloma proteins with specificities of this type may occur with reasonable frequency in humans and may be a consequence of clonal expansion from inapparent infection, carrier states, or disease produced by various Klebsiella organisms.

Hum Immunol, 1980 Sep, 1(2), 151 - 60
Search for Klebsiella cell wall components cross-reactive with lymphocytes of B27+ AS+ individuals; Druery C et al.; It has been suggested that some Klebsiella sp may cross-react with a cell surface determinant on the lymphocytes of B27+AS+ individuals . Studies were undertaken to identify culture filtrates capable of rendering the lymphocytes of B27-positive healthy controls susceptible to lysis by the anti-Klebsiella antiserum . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cell wall material of Klebsiella K43 prepared by sonication, high-speed centrifugation, and nonidet solubilization, demonstrated the presence of four major protein bands . When antisera raised in rabbits to each of these were tested for their cytotoxic effect on the lymphocytes of B27+AS+ individuals, an antiserum to one component only, of 40-52 K daltons molecular weight, reproduced the activity of the whole serum . Studies on the K43 filtrate indicated that the 'modifying' factor appeared to reside in a 25-50 K dalton component . Immunoelectrophoresis against anti-K43 serum demonstrated overlapping bands in the culture filtrate and the 40-52 K dalton cell wall fraction and these appeared to be identical on immunodiffusion . Antibody to the cell wall component removed both the 'modifying' activity and the appropriate protein band from the filtrate . The results suggest that a 40-52 K dalton component of the Klebsiella K43 cell wall is cross-reactive with a determinant on the lymphocytes of B27+AS+ individuals and is similar to or identical with a modifying factor in K43 culture filtrate which renders the lymphocytes of B27-positive healthy controls susceptible to lysis by anti-Klebsiella antiserum.

Am J Vet Res, 1980 Sep, 41(9), 1492 - 4
Treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae respiratory tract infection of squirrel monkeys with aerosol administration of kanamycin; Berendt RF et al.; The therapeutic efficacy of IM-administered kanamycin was compared with the efficacy of aerosol-administered kanamycin in Klebsiella pneumoniae-infected squirrel monkeys . Differences in mortality or morbidity were not seen with equivalent dosages of antibiotic ranging from 15 to 6.9 mg/kg of body weight/day . Seemingly, the IM route of kanamycin administration was as effective as the aerosol route for therapy.

Eur J Biochem, 1980 Sep, 110(2), 507 - 19
A switch from translational control to transcriptional control of protein synthesis in mid-exponential growth phase of bacterial cultures . Specific radioimmune labelling of ribitol-dehydrogenase-synthesising polysomes from Klebsiella aerogenes in the presence of heparin; Bahramian MB et al.; 1 . We present evidence suggesting a sudden switch from translational control to transcriptional control of protein synthesis in mid-exponential growth of bacterial batch cultures . At a critical cell density a switch from large to small polysomes occurs during a short period of exponential growth . The profile of specific polysomes engaged in synthesis of a constitutive enzyme, ribitol dehydrogenase, changes at the same point but in an opposite way: a linear profile peaking at monosomes changes to a dome-shaped profile peaking at about 15 ribosomes/mRNA, which persists into late exponential phase despite a gradual reduction in the total polysome population . The switch in the pattern of protein synthesis is exhibited dramatically by changes in the specific activity or ribitol dehydrogenase in cell extracts at different stages of batch culture . In early exponential phase the specific activity of the enzyme is constant, but it begins to rise suddenly, at the same point at which the polysome profiles change, and continues to increase up to the end of exponential phase . This effect is exhibited by the strains of Klebsiella aerogenes that are inducible for (in the presence of the inducer), consitutive for, or superproducers of ribitol dehydrogenase, and it appears to be unrelated to catabolite repression . 2 . The above results depend on improved techniques for production of large amounts of bacterial polysomes and the ability to label nascent peptides attached to polysomes very specifically with radioactive antibody to ribitol dehydrogenase . Our success was due to the observation that sodium heparin completely abolishes non-specific interactions of the antibody with the polysomes.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Sep, 18(3), 377 - 81
New in vitro kinetic model for evaluating bactericidal efficacy of antibiotics; Murakawa T et al.; A new in vitro model was devised for evaluating the bactericidal activity of antibiotics under dynamic conditions . This model accurately reproduced the observed serum levels of antibiotics after intravenous dosing . The apparatus consists of two vessels which correspond to the central and peripheral compartments of a two-compartment open model . The volume of medium in each vessel and flow rates of media were determined from the pharmacokinetic parameters calculated from the observed serum levels selected for simulation . The bactericidal activity of cefazolin against strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae showing different minimal inhibitory concentrations was investigated with the apparatus simulating serum levels after intravenous injection, and the bactericidal activity was evaluated with respect to the relationship between the minimal inhibitory concentration and the serum levels.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Sep, 143(3), 1458 - 65
In situ reactivation of glycerol-inactivated coenzyme B12-dependent enzymes, glycerol dehydratase and diol dehydratase; Honda S et al.; The catalytic properties of coenzyme B12-dependent glycerol dehydratase and diol dehydratase were studied in situ with Klebsiella pneumoniae cells permeabilized by toluene treatment, since the in situ enzymes approximate the in vivo conditions of the enzymes more closely than enzymes in cell-free extracts or cell homogenates . Both dehydratases in situ underwent rapid "suicidal" inactivation by glycerol during catalysis, as they do in vitro . The inactivated dehydratases in situ, however, were rapidly and continually reactivated by adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and Mn2+ in the presence of free adenosylcobalamin, although in cell-free extracts or in cell homogenates they could not be reactivated at all under the same reaction conditions . ATP was partially replaced by cytidine 5'-triphosphate or guanosine 5'-triphosphate but not by the beta, gamma-methylene analog of ATP in the in situ reactivation . Mn2+ was fully replaced by Mg2+ but only partially by Co2+ . Hydroxocoblamin could not replace adenosylcobalamin in reactivation mixtures . The ability to reactivate the glycerol-inactivated dehydratases in situ was only seen in cells grown anaerobically in glycerol-containing media . This suggests that some factor(s) required for in situ reactivation is subject to induction by glycerol . Of the two possible mechanisms of in situ reactivation, i.e., the regeneration of adenosylcobalamin by Co-adenosylation of the bound inactivated coenzyme moiety (B12-adenosylation mechanism) and the displacement of the bound inactivated coenzyme moiety by free adenosyl-cobalamin (B12-exchange mechanism), the former seems very unlikely from the experimental results.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Aug 15, 83(2), 351 - 62
Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K12; Dutton GG et al.; Klebsiella K12 capsular polysaccharide has been investigated by the techniques of methylation, Smith degradation-periodate oxidation, uronic acid degradation, and partial hydrolysis, in conjunction with 1H-n.m.r . spectroscopy at 100 and 220 MHz, and 13C-n.m.r . spectroscopy at 20 MHz . The structure has been found to consist of the hexasaccharide repeating-unit shown, having a D-galactofuranosyl residue at the branch point . In this series, a D-galactofuranosyl residue has previously only been found in the polysaccharide from Klebsiella K41.

Mayo Clin Proc, 1980 Aug, 55(8), 489 - 91
Gram-negative bacteremia after transrectal needle biopsy of the prostate; Edson RS et al.; Seven cases of bacteremia following transrectal needle biopsy of the prostate were reviewed . Symptoms developed within 24 to 72 hours after the procedure and required hospitalization and treatment with parenteral antibiotics . Escherichia coli was the causative agent in five patients and Klebsiella pneumoniae in two . Although relatively rare, this complication is associated with significant morbidity.

J Exp Med, 1980 Aug 1, 152(2 Pt 2), 331s - 340s
Characterization of a factor(s) present in Klebsiella culture filtrates that specifically modifies an HLA-B27-associated cell-surface component; Geczy AF et al.; It has been shown that HLA-B27 lymphocytes from healthy individuals (B27+ ankylosing spondylitis {AS}-), which are not lysed by an antiserum against Klebsiella K43, can be rendered susceptible to lysis after incubation in the culture filtrate of Klebsiella K43 . This finding is compatible with a specific modification by a Klebsiella K43-derived soluble factor of a B27-associated lymphoid cell component . Preliminary characterization of the factor has indicated that it is nondialyzable, but it is heat labile at 56 degrees C for 30 min and has a 35,000-50,000 mol wt . The modifying factor activity of the filtrate is destroyed by neuraminidase but not by trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin . Furthermore, the ability of the factor to convert B27+AS- lymphocytes can be specifically absorbed by B27+AS- lymphocytes, but not by B27+AS+, B27-AS+, or by B27-AS- lymphocytes, which suggests that B27+AS- cells carry a hypothetical receptor which can specifically bind a Klebsiella K43 antigenic determinant . These results imply that the modification by environmental agents of specific major histocompatibility complex-associated gene products may be an important element in the pathogenesis of the HLA-B27-linked seronegative arthropathies.

Nature, 1980 Jul 10, 286(5769), 128 - 32
Analysis of regulation of Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogen fixation (nif) gene cluster with gene fusions; Dixon R et al.; Gene fusions in which the lac genes are under the control of each promoter in the Klebsiella pneumoniae, nitrogen fixation (nif) gene cluster have been constructed . These fusions have been used to examine positive control of the cluster and the response of individual genes to repression by ammonia and oxygen . De-repression of nif transcriptional units is coordinate and molybdate is required for maximal expression of the structural gene operon, which is autogenously regulated.

Nord Vet Med, 1980 Jul-Aug, 32(7-8), 325 - 31
Reliability of VRB agar and BGLB broth for enumeration of 44 degrees C coliforms in food; Tham W et al.; This study shows that colony diameter exceeding 0.5 mm and presence of a surrounding precipitation zone are not unconditional criteria for 44 degrees C coliforms (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species) grown on violet red bile agar . Confirmatory studies in brilliant green lactose bile broth will add to the numbers of coliforms which are missed if these criteria are adhered to.

Infect Control, 1980 Jul-Aug, 1(4), 239 - 46
Nosocomial klebsiella infection in a neonatal unit: identification of risk factors for gastrointestinal colonization; Mayhall CG et al.; Sequential outbreaks of infection due to gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (GRKP) types 30 and 19 occurred in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Medical College of Virginia in 1977 and 1978 . The extensive epidemiologic investigation carried out included a case-control study, careful review of aseptic technique, and cultures from nursery staff and environment . The gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of the patients were the reservoirs for GRKP, and the epidemic strain was transmitted by hands of personnel . The case-control study showed a significant relationship between acquisition of GRKP by patients and oropharyngeal and GI instrumentation, including use of bag resuscitation, oropharyngeal suctioning, and use of nasogastric feeding tubes . The findings of the case-control study were supported by observation of the patient care techniques practiced by NICU staff . Institution of control measures based on results of the epidemiologic investigation of the first outbreak rapidly brought the second outbreak under control, even though cohorting or use of routine isolation was not possible . Whereas GI colonization and hand transmission have been described previously in outbreaks of K . pneumoniae infections in NICUs, this study is the first to document the mode of inoculation of patients' GI tracts by contaminated hands of personnel.

Can J Biochem, 1980 Jul, 58(7), 542 - 8
Catalysis of exchange of terminal phosphate groups of ATP and ADP by purified nitrogenase proteins; Miller RW et al.; A crude Azotobacter nitrogenase complex contained a highly active adenylate kinase which caused rapid equilibration of AMP, ADP, and ATP . Purified molybdenum-iron protein preparations also contained measurable adenylate kinase activity which could be removed by adsorption and elution from hydroxylapatite . Independent of adenylate kinase, the highly purified molybdenum-iron protein from both Klebsiella pneumoniae and Azotobacter chroococcum catalyzed the exchange of {32P}orthophosphate with the terminal phosphate of ATP or ADP . The exchange labeling of ATP was stimulated by ferricyanide ion due to the inhibition of ATP hydrolysis linked to substrate reductions which cannot occur in the absence of reductant . This exchange reaction is responsible for reported ATP synthesis by crude nitrogenase preparations . Binding of ATP labeled with 32P in the terminal phosphate group was measured directly with concentrated solutions of the molybdenum-iron nitrogenase protein from K . pneumoniae by the column gel filtration method . The protein was saturated with ATP at a calculated ratio of 4.0 +/- 0.3 mol ATP/mol protein; half-saturation of 220 microM protein occurred at 600 +/- 100 microM . The interactions between adenine nucleotides and the molybdenum-iron protein suggest the involvement of the nucleotides in a role distinct from the established reactions with the iron protein of the nitrogenase complex . A dual role for ATP in the reduction of dinitrogen by isolated nitrogenase proteins would be consistent with the existence of binding sites for ATP on both the iron and molybdenum-iron proteins.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Jul, 18(1), 105 - 10
Cefroxadine (CGP-9000), an orally active cephalosporin; Yasuda K et al.; Cefroxadine (GCP-9000; CXD), 7 beta{D-2-amino-2-(1,4-cyclohexadienyl)-acetamido}-3-methoxy-ceph-3-em-carboxylic acid, is a new orally active cephalosporin derivative . The spectrum of antibacterial activity of CXD is identical with that of cephalexin (CEX), but CXD was twofold more effective than CEX against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, CXD was as stable to penicillinase as CEX, but it was hydrolyzed by cephalosporinase, with a relative rate of hydrolysis similar to that of CEX . The affinities of CXD and CEX to penicillin-binding proteins of E . coli were estimated; the affinity of CXD to penicillin-binding protein 1Bs was higher than that of CEX . Consistent with this, CXD had more intensive lytic activity than CEX . In vivo antibacterial activities of CXD and CEX were compared using systemic infections of mice with E . coli and K . pneumoniae; CXD was consistently more active than CEX.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Jul, 119(1), 225 - 9
Importance of antiserum and phagocytic cells in the protection of mice against infection by Klebsiella pneumoniae; Fukutome T et al.; Rabbit antiserum to Klebsiella pneumoniae showed a powerful protective effect against intramuscular infection in normal mice . No protective effect was observed in mice whose monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells were depleted by X-irradiation . The antiserum had approximately the same protective effect in mice whose macrophages were blocked selectively by carrageenan as in normal mice . It is concluded that antiserum exerted its effect by opsonic function and that opsonized K . pneumoniae were eliminated mainly by polymorphonuclear cells rather than macrophages, at least in an early phase of the infection . these findings were supported by histological examination and observation of intracellular killing in vitro.

Am J Epidemiol, 1980 Jul, 112(1), 113 - 23
Necrotizing enterocolitis: a prospective multicenter investigation; Ryder RW et al.; Several pre- and post-natal factors possibly important in determining which infants will develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and which of these infants will die with this disease were prospectively studied in 1976 in 11 infants with radiographic or pathologic evidence of the disease from 12 institutions in the United States and 111 weight-matched, institution-matched control infants . By multivariant discriminant analysis, the authors idenfitied 10 independent significant determinants of NEC and 10 determinants predictive of a fatal outcome among case infants . Determinants of NEC were: Apgar score deterioration; presence of a patent ductus arteriosus; maternal receipt of anesthesia during delivery; infant not treated with parenteral gentamicin before the onset of disease; infant receipt of 10% dextrose solution; treatment of mother with antibiotics during pregnancy; hyperalimentation or gavage feedings; premature rupture of membranes . Important morbid events among cases included red blood cell transfusions, gas in the portal system, premature rupture of membranes, abdominal distension, isolation of Klebsiella organisms from the blood, surgery, prolonged perinatal oxygen requirement, and lower Apgar 2 score . Attempts to modify preventable risk factors may decrease the incidence (2.4 cases per 1000 live births) and case fatality (41%) documented in this study.

J Pathol, 1980 Jul, 131(3), 193 - 208
An unusual case of supraclavicular and colonic malakoplakia--a light and ultrastructural study; Chaudhry AP et al.; A case of malakoplakia of the supraclavicular region and colon in a 41-year-old patient is presented . Clinical, histopathological, histochemical and ultrastructural features are described . The etiology and pathogenesis are discussed . Malakoplakia is a chronic inflammatory disorder probably due to an abnormal response to infection with Gram negative bacteria, most likely Escherichia coli or Klebsiella . The disease is characterised by the accumulation of macrophages intermixed with plasma cells and lymphocytes . The malakoplakic cells are laden with phagolysosomes which may provide a suitable biochemical environment for the deposition of calcium to form the pathognomonic Michaelis-Gutmann bodies . Ultrastructural examination enhances the accuracy of diagnosis since it highlights the presence of lysosomes, phagolysosomes, Michaelis-Gutmann bodies, and intact E . coli or their remnants.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Jul, 143(1), 321 - 7
Genetic control of tyramine oxidase, which is involved in derepressed synthesis of arylsulfatase in Klebsiella aerogenes; Oka M et al.; Mutants of Klebsiella aerogenes with three types of mutations affecting regulation of tyramine oxidase were isolated by a simple selection method . In the first type, the mutation (tynP) was closely linked to the structural gene for tyramine oxidase tynA) . The order of mutation sites was atsA-tynP-tynA . In the second type, the mutation that relieves catabolite repression of the syntheses of several catabolite repression-sensitive enzymes are not linked to the tyn gene by P1 transduction . These strains contained high levels of cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate when grown on glucose . The third type of mutation, in which tyramine oxidase was synthesized constitutively, was shown by genetic analysis to involve mutations of tynP and tynR . The tynR gene was not linked to tynA . Results using the constitutive mutants showed that the constitutive expression of the tynA gene resulted in depression of arylsulfatase synthesis in the absence of tyramine.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Jul, 77(7), 4244 - 6
Immunochemical determination of the configuration of a haptenic substituent; Heidelberger M et al.; Quantitative inhibition of specific immune precipitation, a rapid microanalytical technique requiring no expensive equipment, was used to determine the stereoconfiguration of pyruvyl groups attached as acetals to two hydroxyls of nonreducing lateral end groups of the capsular polysaccharides of Klebsiella serotypes K11 and K21 . The R and S isomers of 4,6-O-pyruvyl-D-alpha-methylgalactoside were used as inhibitors with appropriate polysaccharide antigens and antisera to the two serotypes . The R isomer was a potent inhibitor of precipitation in both antisera, showing that the pyruvylgalactosyl residues in the polysaccharides of both K11 and K21 are in the R form, in which the methyl group of pyruvyl is equatorial to the plane of the acetal ring.

Can Med Assoc J, 1980 May 10, 122(9), 1013 - 8
Kawasaki disease, or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome: report of seven cases in North America; Teixeira OH et al.; The clinical and laboratory findings in seven children with Kawasaki disease are reviewed . Four of the patients had the more complicated course that has characterized the cases diagnosed in North America . This suggests that the benign forms are often mistaken for other febrile illnesses . The patients were two girls and five boys ranging in age from 4 months to 7 years; six were Caucasian and one was a North American Indian . Fever, redness of the oral mucosa, an erythematous or scarlatiniform rash and cervical adenopathy were seen in all; six patients had the characteristic fingertip desquamation and nonexudative conjunctivitis . Cardiac involvement occurred in four patients, two of whom had coronary artery aneurysm or thrombosis . Arthritis or arthralgia was seen in six patients, and aseptic meningitis occurred in four . Of the three patients with jaundice two underwent laparotomy and excision of a hydropic gallbladder; one of them died from Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 May, 11(5), 474 - 8
Seroepidemiology of clinical isolates of Klebsiella in Connecticut; Blanchette EA et al.; The distribution of capsular serotypes of 200 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca from four Connecticut hospitals was determined . Serotyping was done by an indirect fluorescent-antibody technique . Hospitals included three community hospitals from the Hartford area and one university hospital in New Haven . During the test period, epidemiological surveillance did not detect any nosocomial epidemic involving Klebsiella species . Ninety-two percent of the isolates were typable . Of the 72 possible serotypes, 62 were represented among these strains . Forty-two percent of the typable strains were distributed among 10 serotypes . The predominant serotypes were types 31, 22, and 18 representing 19% of the typable strains (8, 6, and 5%, respectively) . No one particular serotype was associated exclusively with a specific site of infection.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 May 1, 81(1), 49 - 58
The molecular structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 27; Churms SC et al.; The capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K27 had been investigated by techniques involving methylation analysis, autohydrolysis, and graded hydrolysis with acid . The anomeric configurations of the sugar constituents were determined, where possible, on the basis of p.m.r . spectroscopy and optical rotation data . The results of these studies are consistent with a primary structure in which the repeating-unit is the doubly branched hexasaccharide.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 May, 118(Pt 1), 171 - 7
Minicircular ColE1-related DNA in strains of Klebsiella aerogenes selected for fast growth on xylitol; Neuberger MS et al.; We have previously described a large family of mutants of Klebsiella aerogene which were selected by continuous on xylitol and which superproduce ribitol dehydrogenase . One of these strains was found to harbour a high copy number 2.1 x 10(6) dalton plasmid . This plasmid is a deletion derivative of a low copy number 3.5 x 10(6) dalton plasmid present in the ancestral strain of K . aerogenes . However, since these plasmids do not contain the genes required for pentitol catabolism and some enzyme-superproducing strains have lost all DNA homologous to the plasmids, they are not implicated in the fast growth on xylitol . The plasmids contain regions of homology with the Escherichia coli plasmid ColE1.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 May, 77(5), 2555 - 8
Electron transport to nitrogenase in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Nieva-Gomez D et al.; Cell-free extracts of nifF and nifJ mutants of Klebsiella pneumoniae are unable to couple acetylene reduction (N2 fixation) by nitrogenase to the oxidation of organic metabolites . However, nifF and nifJ mutants can complement each other in vitro to establish the coupling . This indicates that the products of the nifF and nifJ genes constitute essential elements of the physiological electron pathway to nitrogenase . The electron-transfer-active product of the nifF gene, a flavoprotein, has been purified.

J Bacteriol, 1980 May, 142(2), 433 - 8
Properties of beta-galactosidase III: implications for entry of galactosides into Klebsiella; Hall BG; Klebsiella sp . strain CT-200 lacks both its plasmid-borne lac operon, which specifies beta-galactosidase I, and its chromosomal lac operon, which specifies beta-galactosidase II, but it expresses a gene for a third beta-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase III, constitutively . CT-200 was examined to determine whether there was a beta-galactoside permease associated with the beta-galactosidase III gene . The failure of CT-200 to transport thiomethyl-beta-galactoside, o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, phenyl-beta-galactoside, lactulose, or galactosyl-arabinose was taken as evidence that beta-galactoside permease is not part of a beta-galactosidase III operon . Optimal assay conditions for beta-galactosidase II, whose activity was used as a measure of beta-galactoside transport, are reported here, as are an improved purification method and some physical and catalytic properties of the enzyme not previously reported.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 May, 77(5), 2636 - 40
Regulation of the synthesis of glutamine synthetase by the PII protein in Klebsiella aerogenes; Foor F et al.; Certain mutations at the glaB locus result in the failure to fully derepress glutamine synthetase {L-glutamate:ammonia ligase (ADP-forming), EC 6.3.1.2} and to convert it to the active nonadenylylated form in response to nitrogen limitation . In these mutants the PII regulatory protein is altered such that it cannot be converted by uridylyltransferase to the form stimulating deadenylylation of glutamine synthetase by adenylyltransferase . Additional mutations as well as insertions of transposon Tn5 at the glnB site result in the loss of PII . The loss of PII does not prevent adenylylation and deadenylylation of glutamine synthetase but reduces the rates of these reactions . Cells lacking PII have a high level of glutamine synthetase even when they are grown with an excess of ammonia and the enzyme is highly adenylylated . The results suggest that the PII protein plays a role, independent of its effect on adenylylation, in the regulation of the level of glutamine synthetase.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Apr 1, 80(1), 147 - 61
Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K17; Dutton GG et al.; The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K17 is based on the pentasaccharide repeating-unit shown . The principal features of the structure were determined by standard methods, including 1H- and 13C-n.m.r . spectroscopy, which are shown to be complementary techniques . The position of the one beta-L-rhamnopyranosyl residue was established by selective periodate oxidation of the terminal, lateral substituent, despite the presence of in-chain sugar-units possessing alpha-glycol systems.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1980 Apr-Jun, 25(2), 89 - 95
{Evaluation of the effectiveness of serological typing in subdifferentiation of strains of Klebsiella of extraenteral origin}; Voicescu V et al.; The present study reports on the results of capsular serotyping of Klebsiella strains isolated between 1971 and 1972, carried out in view of the subdivision of the genus . Serologic typing was performed with K1--K80 sera on 156 Klebsiella strains, isolated from in-hospital cases of extraenteral klebsiella infections . The 140 (90%) strains typed were listed in 34 capsular serotypes . Another 16 strains (10%) could not be typed because of their insufficient capsular coating . The following 13 serotypes were predominant: K4 (13.57%), K2 (7.85%), K16 (6.42%), K18 (6.42%), K27 (5%), K20 (4.28%), K24 (4.28%), K55 (4.28%), K68 (4.28%), K48 (3.55%), K15 (2.85%), K17 (2.85%), representing 70.71% . In the feces samples from the healthy controls serotypes K7, K14, K30, K1, K2, K24, K27, K47 etc . may be considered omnipresent . It has been demonstrated that in periods of minimal epidemiological survey, these serotypes from healthy carriers may initiate nosocomial infections . The present findings emphasize the accessibility and value of serologic typing of klebsiellas according to clinical and epidemiologic indications . The serologic type is a marker that can be included on the programme of systematic typing of in-hospital strains.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Apr, 117(2), 509 - 20
The use of translocatable genetic elements to construct a fine-structure map of the Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogen fixation (nif) gene cluster; Merrick M et al.; The transposons Tn5, Tn7 and Tn10 and bacteriophage Mu have been used to derive insertion mutations in the Klebsiella pneumoniae nif gene cluster . A large number of deletion mutants have been derived by imprecise excision of insertion mutations and these deletions have been used to construct a fine-structure map of the nif cluster . Comparison of this genetic map with a physical map of the nif cluster derived by Reidel et al . (1979) showed a very good correlation between genetic and physical mapping methods . A new complementation group, designated nifU, has been identified and mapped between nifN and nifS . Polarity studies on the 14 nif cistrons now identified suggests that they are organized in at least seven transcriptional units and that all the multicistronic units are transcribed in the same direction.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Apr, 142(1), 43 - 51
Control of cell septation by lateral wall extension in a pH-conditional morphology mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Satta G et al.; The pH-conditional morphology mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae strain MirM7 grows as cocci at pH 7 and as rods at pH 5.8 . The mutant has a high-level mecillinam resistance (50% lethal dose greater than 200 micrograms/ml) in both forms . When broth cultures of the rod-shaped mutant were grown with 0.7 microgram of mecillinam per ml, cells assumed a round shape and continued to divided at a higher rate than the untreated control . A MirM7 rod-shaped revertant (MirA12), when treated with the same antibiotic concentration, changed to coccal shape and stopped dividing . The penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of strains MirA12 and MirM7 were analyzed . K . pneumoniae had six major PBPs quite similar to those of Escherichia coli . No differences were seen in the PBPs of MirM7 cocci and rods and MirA12 cells . In particular, PBP2 was found to be present and similar in MirM7 rods and cocci and MirA12 cells . We suggest that that in gram-negative rods, a control mechanism exists which prevents further septation in the absence of lateral cell wall elongation . The unique behavior of MirM7 is due to the fact that the control mechanism is not active in this strain . This model allows us to explain the preservation of shape in bacterial rods under various conditions of growth and the mechanism of bacterial killing by mecillinam.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Apr, 142(1), 99 - 110
Regulation of nitrogen metabolism in glutamine auxotrophs of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Leonardo JM et al.; We examined the regulation of nitrogen metabolism in four classes (glnA, glnB, glnF, and glnG) of Gln- auxotrophs of Klebsiella pneumoniae . These studies indicate that glutamine synthetase does not directly mediate the physiological response to NH4+ in this organism . We present evidence suggesting that the effect of NH4+ on the expression of genes involved in nitrogen metabolism involves the products of the glnF and glnG genes.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1980 Mar 31, 59(1), 35 - 45
{Evaluation of some inflammatory and immune parameters in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis during the acute phase and in remission}; Bardare M et al.; A serologic study was carried out in 27 children.-- 12 females and 15 males -- affected with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), systemic and polyarticular type, in active phase and in remission . Beside the routine assays (ESR and haemometry), a dosage of serum immunoglobulins (IgA, M, G) and complement components (C3 and C4) was carried out; antinuclear antibodies with immunofluorescence, rheumatoid factors with classical method (latex test and Waaler-Rose reaction) and antigamma factors (AGGF) according to modified Schur's method were looked for . Polymorphonuclear function was assayed employing NBT test, phagocytosis and killing with Klebsiella . The results confirmed that the most reliable activity index is the ESR, while the WBC count is move variable and that the rheumatoid factors according to the usual techniques are almost always absent . As a whole, in JRA the levels of IgM, IgG, IgM-AGGF, C4 assayed higher than in controls . In the different subgroups, the systemic disease is characterized by higher serum IgA and IgG-AGFF . The PMN function was globally normal.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1980 Mar, 13(1), 52 - 62
Report of a case of Nezelof syndrome; Lin CY et al.; In this report, we present a 5 months old male baby, who suffered from watery diarrhea since 4 days old . From then on, he had been admitted 3 times in 3 different hospitals but the symptoms still bothered him off and on . During the days of hospitalization, sepsis with positive blood culture of Klebsiella was noted . The patient expired at 5 months of age . The T cell count was 20% active T was 0 . Delayed hypersensitivity skin tests including Candida (10 X), PHA (10 micrograms), PHA (1 microgram), SK/SD (50 units) were negative . The granulocyte function study showed normal . Immunoglobulin analysis revealed IgG: 1320 mg%, IgA: 120 mg%, IgM: 100 mg% . Agenesis of thymus, failure of lymphoid differentiation and abnormal lymphoid architecture with absence of germinal centers were noted at autopsy . Combined immunodeficiency with normal immunoglobulins (Nezelof syndrome) is a disease of primary immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent infections, failure to thrive, lymphopenia, diminished lymphoid tissue, abnormal structure or agenesis of the thymus, and presence of normal or increased levels of one or more of the major immunoglobulin classes, but with impaired antibody synthesis . Since its original description by Nezelof and associates in 1964, it has been reported on the subsequent occasion . In this report, we present our one experience and review the clinical and laboratory data in 33 reported cases.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Mar, 17(3), 494 - 505
Experimental respiratory tract infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae DT-S in mice: chemotherapy with kanamycin; Nishi T et al.; Such factors as suspending medium, operating pressure, exposure time, inoculum size, and strain, sex, age, and weight of the animals were examined for their effects on the development of respiratory tract infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae DT-S in mice . The suspending medium was one of the most important factors . Aerosol challenge with a 10(9) colony-forming units per ml resulted in deposition of 10(4) colony-forming units of the organisms in the lung . The numbers of organisms in the lung increased rapidly, and by 30 h, a well-developed pneumonia was apparent . All the mice died within 4 days after infection . The therapeutic effectiveness of single-dose kanamycin regimens decreased markedly with a delay in administration . The effectiveness of multi-dose kanamycin regimens was influenced by the frequency of dosage . Thus a 12-h dosage schedule was superior to a 24-h regimen . Administration of 20 mg of kanamycin per kg at 12-h intervals for 10 days, initiated 30 h after infection, provided a complete cure . The infecting organisms in the lung, trachea, and blood were eradicated by the kanamycin therapy, but those in the nasal cavity were difficult to eliminate.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Mar, 117(1), 169 - 79
Regulation of nitrogenase biosynthesis in Klebsiella pneumoniae: effect of nitrate; Hom SS et al.; The rate of biosynthesis of nitrogenase polypeptides in Klebsiella pneumoniae was determined in a medium containing NaNO3 or NaNO2 . Nitrogenase biosynthesis was completely repressed by NO3- in a mutant strain, strain SK-25, that is derepressed for nitrogenase biosynthesis in the presence of NH4+ . Chlorate-resistant mutants, derived from strain SK-25, that are defective in NO3- respiration produced nitrogenase in the presence of NO3- . Strain SK-56), a chlorate-resistant derivative capable of NO3- respiration, produced no nitrogenase in the presence of NO3- or NO2- . Klebsiella pneumoniae respired under anaerobic conditions utilizing either NO3- or NO2- as terminal electron acceptor . A mechanism for the control of nitrogenase biosynthesis is discussed involving the redox control of anaerobic enzyme systems.

Arch Microbiol, 1980 Mar, 125(1-2), 175 - 9
Influence of growth environment on the phosphoenolpyruvate: glucose phosphotransferase activities of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella aerogenes: a comparative study; Neijssel OM et al.; A consistent difference was found between glucose-limited cultures of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella aerogenes strains in the manner which their apparent cellular content of glucose:phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase (glucose-PTS) varied with growth rate . With the former strains, activity increased as a function of growth rate; in the latter it decreased . However, under glucose-sufficient conditions (potassium- or ammonia-limitation) both species behaved similarly; the glucose-PTS activity was lower and bore no obvious relationship to the rate of glucose consumption expressed by the growing culture . These results are discussed in relation to the role of glucose as a regulator of glucose-PTS synthesis, and to the likely contribution which the glucose-PTS makes to the overall rate of glucose uptake, particularly by cells gorwing in glucose-sufficient environments.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Mar, 141(3), 1157 - 62
Biosynthesis and catabolism of 6-deoxy L-talitol by Klebsiella aerogenes mutants; St Martin EJ et al.; A mutant strain of Klebsiella aerogenes was constructed and, when incubated anaerobically with L-fucose and glycerol, synthesized and excreted a novel methyl pentitol, 6-deoxy L-talitol . The mutant was constitutive for the synthesis of L-fucose isomerase but unable to synthesize L-fuculokinase activity . Thus, it could convert the L-fucose to L-fuculose but was incapable of phosphorylating L-fuculose to L-fuculose 1-phosphate . The mutant was also constitutive for the synthesis of ribitol dehydrogenase, and in the presence of sufficient reducing power this latter enzyme catalyzed the reduction of the L-fuculose to 6-deoxy L-talitol . The reducing equivalents required for this reaction were generated by the oxidation of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone with an anaerobic glycerol dehydrogenase . The parent strain of K . aerogenes was unable to utilize the purified 6-deoxy L-talitol as a sole source of carbon and energy for growth; however, mutant could be isolated which had gained this ability . Such mutants were found to be constitutive for the synthesis of ribitol dehydrogenase and were thus capable of oxidizing 6-deoxy L-talitol to L-fuculose . Further metabolism of L-fuculose was shown by mutant analysis to be mediated by the enzymes of the L-fucose catabolic pathway.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Mar, 141(3), 1077 - 85
In vivo inactivation of glycerol dehydrogenase in Klebsiella aerogenes: properties of active and inactivated proteins; Ruch FE Jr et al.; Glycerol:oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) 2-oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.6), an inducible enzyme for anaerobic glycerol catabolism in Klebsiella aerogenes, was purified and found to have a molecular weight of 79,000 by gel electrophoresis . The protein seemed to be enzymatically active either as a dimer of a 40,000-dalton peptide at pH 8.6 or as a tetramer of 160,000 molecular weight at pH 7.0 . The enzyme activity was present at high levels in cells growing anaerobically on glycerol, but disappeared with a half-life of about 45 min if molecular oxygen was introduced to the culture . In contrast, no such phenomenon occurred with dihydroxyacetone kinase activity, the second enzyme in the pathway . Immunochemical analysis showed that the inactivation of the oxidoreductase did not involve degradation of the protein . Furthermore, subunits of the active and inactive forms of the enzyme were indistinguishable in size on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and had similar isoelectric points (pH 4.7) . Inactivation did, however, alter the gel filtration properties of the enzyme protein and, more importantly, reduced its affinity for the dye Cibacron F3GA and the coenzyme NAD+.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Mar, 141(3), 1264 - 71
Isolation and characterization of lambda specialized transducing bacteriophages carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae nif genes; MacNeil D et al.; Seve lambda dnif specialized transducing bacteriophages were isolated from Escherichia coli strains containing plasmids carrying the his-nif region of Klebsiella pneumoniae . These phages collectively carry deoxyribonucleic acid for all of the genes in the nif regulon and adjacent deoxyribonucleic acid of K . pneumoniae . The phages were isolated by using Mu insertions in the nif region to direct the integration of lambda pMu phages in nif via formation of lambda pMu-Mu dilysogens which, upon induction, yielded lambda dnif phages . This procedure should be generally applicable for isolating lambda specialized transducing phages carrying genes from E . coli or other bacteria.

Nature, 1980 Feb 21, 283(5749), 781 - 2
Vitamin B12 synthesis by human small intestinal bacteria; Albert MJ et al.; In man, physiological amounts of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) are absorbed by the intrinsic factor mediated mechanism exclusively in the ileum . Human faeces contain appreciable quantities of vitamin B12 or vitamin B12-like material presumably produced by bacteria in the colon, but this is unavailable to the non-coprophagic individual . However, the human small intestine also often harbours a considerable microflora and this is even more extensive in apparently healthy southern Indian subjects . We now show that at least two groups of organisms in the small bowel, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella sp., may synthesise significant amounts of the vitamin.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1980 Feb 9, 110(6), 223 - 5
{Massive lung necrosis in klebsiella pneumonia (so-called massive lung gangrene)}; Schamaun M et al.; In the literature only 13 cases of voluminous necrosis of lung tissue, generally referred to as massive pulmonary gangrene, could be found . This disease constitutes an unusual, very severe complication of lobar pneumonia, mostly due to Klebsiella . This type of pneumonia generally affects old or otherwise debilitated persons, quite often chronic alcoholics . It has a high lethality of 20% . Our own observation in a 48-year-old man is presented . He suffered from recurrent massive hemoptysis in relation with a huge cavity of the right lung, filled with necrotic lung tissue . Following right pneumonectomy empyema developed, also due to Klebsiella; it was successfully treated with thoracic fenestration according to Clagett . Knowledge of this severe infrequent complication of pneumonia is necessary since it requires early operative treatment: Out of the 14 patients four were treated medically only and died, while the remaining ten underwent surgery and were all cured.

Arch Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 124(2-3), 137 - 42
Molybdate and sulfide inhibit H2 and increase formate production from glucose by Ruminococcus albus; Wolin MJ et al.; H2 production from glucose by Ruminococcus albus was almost completely inhibited by 10(-5) M molybdate only when sulfide was present in the growth medium . Inhibition was accompanied by a significant increase in the production of formate . Extracts of molybdate-sulfide-grown cells did not contain hydrogenase activity . Active enzyme in extracts of uninhibited cells was not inhibited by the molybdate-sulfide-containing growth medium . The results indicate that a complex formed from molybdate and sulfide prevents the formation of active hydrogenase and electrons otherwise used to form H2 are used to reduce CO2 to formate . Growth was significantly inhibited when molybdate was increased to 10(-4) M . Reversal of growth inhibition but not inhibition of H2 production occurred between 10(-4) and 10(-3) M molybdate . H2 production by R . bromei but not by R . flavefaciens, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Veillonella alcalescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli was inhibited by molybdate and sulfide.

Am J Hosp Pharm, 1980 Feb, 37(2), 271 - 3
Seizures associated with high cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of cefazolin; Bechtel TP et al.; Three cases of generalized seizures in patients with high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of cefazolin are reported . Patient 1, a 60-year-old woman with impaired renal function and a Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, was treated with 70 mg every eight hours of i.v . gentamicin sulfate and 1.5 g every four hours of i.v . cefazolin sodium . Gentamicin was discontinued on day 11 . On day 12, the patient had a generalized tonic-clonic seizure . Serum and CSF concentrations of cefazolin one day later were 470 and 64 micrograms/ml, respectively . Patient 2, a 70-year-old man with impaired renal function, was given i.v . cefazolin, 1 g every 12 hours; the dosage interval was shortened later to every six hours . Two days later, the patient had two tonic-clonic seizures . Serum and CSF concentrations eight hours after the last dose of cefazolin were 360 and 34 micrograms/ml, respectively . Patient 3, a 67-year-old woman with renal vein thrombosis, received 55 mg every eight hours of i.v . gentamicin and 2 g every six hours of i.v . cefazolin . The antibiotics were discontinued after eight days when the patient had two tonic-clonic seizures . Serum and CSF concentrations of cefazolin measured 28 hours later were 1000 and 106 micrograms/ml, respectively . Previous reports of cefazolin-associated seizures are reviewed . In patients with renal failure, cefazolin may obtain high CSF concentrations . To avoid seizures, cefazolin doses should be adjusted in these patients.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1980 Feb, 61(1), 92 - 6
Ankylosing spondylitis, HLA-B27 and Klebsiella . II . Cross-reactivity studies with human tissue typing sera; Avakian H et al.; Human monospecific HLA B27 typing sera have been shown to have increased binding activity for klebsiella extracts by haemagglutination (P less than 0.001), radiobinding assay (P less than 0.025) and radiolabelled antigen competition assay (P less than 0.02) when compared to non-B27 tissue typing sera . These observations are in agreement with those of studies using rabbit sera, suggesting that HLA B27 lymphocytes may exhibit partial cross-reactivity with bacterial antigens found in some Gram-negative microorganisms such as klebsiella . It is suggested ankylosing spondylitis may occur as a result of immunological damage following infection by Gram-negative bacteria carrying antigens having stereochemical similarity to self antigens.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 116(2), 501 - 10
Genetic analysis of a pleiotropic mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae affected in nitrogen metabolism; Close TJ et al.; Genetic and reversion analyses of a thermosensitive pleiotropic mutant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae with defects in nitrogen fixation and nitrogen metabolism have shown that the pleiotropie behaviour of mutant is due to a single mutation in a gene designated nim . This gene is contransducible with trp at a frequency of about 30% (using bacteriophage P1) and with cys at a frequency of about 14% . The gene order is cys, trp, nim . The defect in the nim mutant is complemented by the E . coli F' element, F'148.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 116(2), 305 - 14
Glucose phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase activity and glucose uptake rate of Klebsiella aerogenes growing in chemostat culture; O'Brien RW et al.; Glucose-limited cultures of Klebsiella aerogenes NCTC 418 (and the supposedly identical strain NCIB 418) possessed a glucose phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) phosphotransferase activity that varied markedly and progressively with growth rate, from more than 250 nmol min-1 (mg dry wt cells)-1 at D = 0.1 h-1 to less than 100 nmol min-1 (mg dry wt cells)-1 at D = 0.8 h-1 . When relieved of the glucose limitation, substrate was used at a rate that bore no precise relationship to the cells' phosphotransferase activity . Similarly, glucose-sufficient (phosphate- or potassium-limited) cultures metabolized glucose at high rates, whereas the cells possessed only moderate glucose PEP phosphotransferase activities . These results are compared with those reported for glucose-limited cultures of Escherichia coli and for variously limited cultures of K . aerogenes . Glucose-sufficient cultures, as well as glucose-limited cultures that had been temporarily relieved of glucose limitation, excreted partially oxidized products of glucose catabolism in considerable amounts . The relevance of this 'overflow' metabolism to studies of glucose transport using {U-14C}glucose is emphasized.

Sci Sin, 1980 Feb, 23(2), 261 - 7
Mapping and characterization of the hisD-unlinked nif mutants in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Xue Z et al.; Two hisD-unlinked genes NifC5 and NifC7 are mapped in the chromosome of K . pneumoniae . The sequence of NifC5 and NifC7 is suggested as NifC5--gltB--NifC7--argG . The P1 infected E . coli lysate can transduce the mutant C-7 to be Nif+ transductant, yet fails to transduce the hisD-linked nif mutants to be Nif+ ones . This indicates that the gene encoding C-7 is not the structural gene of nitrogen fixation and is present in E . coli . It is actually a gene specifying the glutamate synthetase . SDS electrophoresis shows the marked low content of nitrogen reductase and immunoelectrophoretic test reveals the reduced amount of both nitrogenase and nitrogen reductase in the mutant cells.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Feb, 141(2), 470 - 5
Roles of nifF and nifJ gene products in electron transport to nitrogenase in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Hill S et al.; Crude extracts of the wild-type Klebsiella pneumoniae reduced C2H2 with either pyruvate or formate as reductant (specific activity, 3 nmol min-1 mg of protein-1), whereas crude extracts of nifF mutant were almost inactive (specific activity, 0.05) . However, activity in the latter extracts was stimulated by adding Azotobacter chroococcum flavodoxin (specific activity, 10) . Thus, nifF mutants may lack an electron transport factor . Crude extracts of nifJ mutants had about 20% of the wild-type level of active MoFe protein, and thus nifJ has a presumptive role in maintaining active MoFe protein . Studies on pyruvate or formate as reductants for nitrogenase in extracts of the nifJ mutants suggest in addition a role in electron input to nitrogenase for the following reasons . (i) Nitrogenase activity with these reductants was very low (specific activity, 0.06) and was not stimulated by extra MoFe protein or the flavodoxin . (ii) Activity was increased by adding a crude extract of a mutant lacking the structural nif genes (specific activity, 1) or a crude extract of the nifF mutant (specific activity, 4).

Antibiotiki, 1980 Feb, 25(2), 135 - 40
{Experimental meningoencephalitis in mice caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae as a chemotherapeutic model}; Padeiskaia EN et al.; The possibility of reproducing meningoencephalitis caused by Kl . Pneumoniae was studied on 1070 albino mice . The infection development was estimated by the clinical picture of the disease, survival of the animals, bacteriological and pathomorphological examination of the brain and internal organs . For reproduction of meningoencephalitis with the lethal outcome it is enough to use an infecting dose of 250 microbial cells . The pathomorphological changes in the brain tissue and the results of the pathogen isolation from the specimes of the brain and internal organs are described in dynamics . The role of vascular affection in the disease pathogenesis is indicated . Experimental meningoencephalitis of mice differs by its pathogenesis and pathomorphological picture from Klebsiella purulent leptomeningitis of rabbits and purulent meningoencephalitis of mice caused by Ps . aeruginosa . The model is recommended for use in the studies on the activity of chemotherapeutic drugs.

J Hyg (Lond), 1980 Feb, 84(1), 97 - 101
Klebsiella species in hospital food and kitchens: a source of organisms in the bowel of patients; Cooke EM et al.; Hospital food was examined for the presence of Klebsiella species . Salads and cold meat were most frequently contaminated, often containing more than 10(3) organisms per g . Klebsiella species were also widely distributed in the kitchen environment which was considered, at least in part, to be the source of the organisms in food . By the use of serological and bacteriocin typing, intestinal carriage of strains ingested in food could be demonstrated.

J Med Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 13(1), 31 - 6
The carbon dioxide requirement of Klebsiellae; Brookes G et al.; The growth of 95 strains of Klebsiella cultured in air with added CO2 is described . Twenty-two strains of K . ozaenae required CO2 for characteristic growth when cultured at 37 degrees C and growth was promoted by co-trimoxazole, tetracycline and sodium barbitone . Four strains of K . pneumoniae, two of K . edwardsii var . atlantae and one of K . edwardsii var . edwardsii gave increased viable counts after incubation in CO2 . None of the 40 strains of K . aerogenes tested required CO2 for growth.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Feb, 141(2), 745 - 50
Regulation of Klebsiella pneumoniae hut operons by oxygen; Goldberg RB et al.; We investigated the regulation of genes concerned with nitrogen metabolism by oxygen in the facultative anaerobe Klebsiella pneumoniae . We found oxygen to be required for the expression of the hut operons; the effect of O2 on the glutamine synthetase and urease was less pronounced than on the hut operons . Glutamine synthetase was transiently repressed during the transition from an aerobic to an anaerobic environment . Regulation of hut by O2 suppressed the effect of nitrogen limitation on the expression of these genes.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Feb, 141(2), 671 - 9
Isolation of Klebsiella aerogenes mutants cis-dominant for glutamine synthetase expression; Rothstein DM et al.; We have isolated three strains of Klebsiella aerogenes that failed to show repression of glutamine synthetase even when grown under the most repressing conditions for the wild-type strain . These mutant strains were selected as glutamine-independent derivatives of a strain that is merodiploid for the glnA region and contains a mutated glnF allele . The mutation responsible for the Gln+ phenotype in each strain was tightly linked to glnA, the structural gene for glutamine synthetase, and was dominant to the wild-type allele . These mutations are probably lesions in the control region of the glnA gene, since each mutation was cis-dominant for constitutive expression of the enzyme in hybrid merodiploid strains . Strains harboring this class of mutations were unable to produce a high level of glutamine synthetase unless they also contained an intact glnF gene, and unless cells were grown in derepressing medium . This study supports the idea that the glnA gene is regulated both positively and negatively, and that the deoxyribonucleic acid sites critical for positive control and negative control are functionally distinct.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Jan 15, 78(2), 305 - 15
Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K44; Dutton GG et al.; The capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K44 has been investigated by the techniques of methylation, base-catalyzed elimination, Smith degradation, and partial hydrolysis . The last-named yielded an oligosaccharide corresponding to one repeating unit . The anomeric configurations of the sugar residues were determined by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r . spectroscopy . The polysaccharide has a fractional acetyl content and is the first in this series to be based on a linear, pentasaccharide repeating unit . leads to 3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1 leads to 4)-beta-D-GlcpA-(1 leads to 2)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1 leads to 3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1 leads to.

Microbios, 1980, 27(108), 107 - 15
Isolation of a salt tolerant pleomorphic Klebsiella strain from a case of diabetic periodontitis; Linke HA et al.; An unusual Klebsiella strain was isolated from a deep periodontal pocket of a diabetic patient . According to its biochemical reactions the new strain differed from Klebsiella pneumoniae and other described biotypes . In addition, the new isolate was very salt tolerant; in the presence of 7.5% sodium chloride the bacterium changed into a spirillum-like form, with highly pleomorphic filaments, and reverted immediately to the short rod form at lower sodium chloride concentrations or in the absence of sodium chloride . Optimum growth was observed in the presence of 2% sodium chloride . A wide range of carbohydrates was fermented with a large amount of gas production . It appears that the adaptation of the isolated Klebsiella strain to sodium chloride allows it to enter the ecological niche of periodontal lesions.

Am J Med Sci, 1980 Jan-Feb, 279(1), 4 - 13
Intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole alone or combined with tobramycin for infections in cancer patients; Grose WE et al.; A total of 120 episodes of infection in 113 cancer patients were treated with intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) alone (92 episodes) or with TMP-SMX plus continuous infusion tobramycin (28 episodes) . The overall response rates were 47% and 75%, respectively . The majority of episodes had failed to respond to prior antibiotics . Pneumonia was the most common infection, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common pathogen . TMP-SMX plus tobramycin cured 86% of episodes of septicemia and 76% of episodes of pneumonia, whereas TMP-SMX alone cured 20% and 42%, respectively . The initial neutrophil count did not appear critical in determining the outcome of infection . It was the change in the neutrophil count during the infection that appeared important . The outcome of infection was less favorable where abnormal renal and/or hepatic functions were documented . The sensitivity of the organism in vitro to TMP-SMX and/or tobramycin correlated well with the in vivo response . Intravenous TMP-SMX was well tolerated with a 4% incidence of reversible toxicity . A 15% incidence of renal toxicity was attributable to tobramycin . Intravenous TMP-SMX appears to be useful antimicrobial regimen for the therapy of infections caused by susceptible organisms in cancer patients.

Microbios, 1980, 29(117-118), 171 - 83
Microcalorimetric studies of Klebsiella aerogenes grown in chemostat culture . 1 Glucose-limited cultures; James AM et al.; The heat evolved during the aerobic growth of cells of K . aerogenes in continuous culture in carbon-limiting medium has been measured with a flow-microcalorimeter . Problems associated with aeration, pump rates, temperature, etc, have been eliminated . The measured heat output depends on the time taken for the cells to reach the calorimeter from the chemostat, from such results the rate of heat production in the chemostat can be calculated . Although the measured power output is independent of the dilution rate, the specific power output increases with increasing dilution rate and attains a constant value at D greater than 0.65 h-1 . The variation of the specific power output with dilution rate is compared with variation of the yield value with dilution rate and values for growth-rate dependent and growth-rate independent maintenance energies calculated.

Microbios, 1980, 29(116), 95 - 104
Microcalorimetry studies of energy changes during the growth of Klebsiella aerogenes in simple salt/glucose media . 2 . Enthalpy of aerobic growth; Nichols SC et al.; Power-time traces for cells of K . aerogenes growing aerobically in batch culture with glucose limitation are reported and the results discussed with the corresponding mass balance data . Enthalpy values during the consumption of glucose and production of cellular material are calculated during growth in glucose (concentration range 0.56-5.4 mmol dm-3) . The efficiency of caloric conversion and energy requirements during growth are considered by two methods . The measured enthalpy (delta hgluc) is significantly lower than the theoretical value, (delta Hox) . The difference in the values is considered o be a measure of the enthalpy of growth (delta HB) and accounts for 5-15% of the initial substrate energy present.

Arch Inst Pasteur Madagascar, 1980, 47(1), 9 - 39
{Immunostimulant properties of an extract isolated and partially purified from Aloe vahombe}; Solar S et al.; When the mice are given a hypodermic infection of unrefined Vahombe extract, the Aloe called Vahombe is a liliaceous plant growing in the South of Madagascar, they are protected against the infection caused by the Klebsiella, a pneumonia vector to man, giving rise to an experimental septicaemia in the mouse . Neither bactericide nor bacteriostatic activity has been detected yet about Aloe extract . The anti-infectious activity is proportional to the dose of extract injected, the protecting power is the greatest when the mice have been treated with Aloe, two or three days previously to the infection due to Klebsiella pneumoniae . We have determined the LD50 (Lethal dose 50) for the check batches (non-treated mice) and for the batches of protected mice . We were able to show that the previous injection developed the resistance to infection, multiplied from thirtyfold to a hundrefold . We have tackled the purification of the substance--made soluble after lyophilisation of the crude extract--by means of filtration with Sephadex G50 . It would be the first time, for all we know, that a substance endowed with organism . At present we are proceeding with the purification of the active principle and contemplating trying the protective power upon virus infections as well as upon cancerous or parasitic ones.

Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980, 248(1), 91 - 8
Studies concerning the sensitivity of Klebsiella strains to a set of Klebsiella bacteriocins; Israil AM; Optimal crude preparations of Klebsiella bacteriocins were obtained bu U.V . irradiation of bacteriocin producer strains . Of 308 clinical isolates of Klebsiella 88.9% could be typed on the basis of their sensitivity to different Klebsiella bacteriocins . The method affords further development of bacteriocin typing as a suitable procedure for hospital epidemiological investigation.

Microbiol Immunol, 1980, 24(10), 945 - 56
Microbial adjuvant and autoimmunity . IV . Production of lesions in the exocrine pancreas of mice by repeated injection of syngeneic pancreatic extract together with the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Yamaki K et al.; Definite lesions in the exocrine pancreas were produced when SMA mice were immunized eight times at intervals of 30 days with a mixture of extract of pooled pancreas from syngeneic mice and the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae type I Kasuya strain (CPS-K), whereas no pancreatic lesions were produced in mice given CPS-K alone or pancreatic extract alone . The typical histological changes were characterized by infiltration with lymphocytes, plasma cells, and other mononuclear cells, degeneration and lysis of the acinar cells, destruction of the lobular architecture, and replacement of fatty tissue and fibrous connective tissue . The endocrine islets were well preserved . No specific histological changes were produced in the organs other than the pancreas in these mice . Most of mice immunized with pancreatic extract mixed with CPS-K produced serum precipitins to syngeneic pancreatic antigens . However, severe pancreatic lesions were also produced in mice showing no definite precipitin production.

Microbiol Immunol, 1980, 24(10), 933 - 44
Adjuvant action of capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae on antibody response . IX . Its effect on the histology of the regional lymph node and other lymphoid organs; Yokochi T et al.; The sequence of histological changes in the regional lymph node and other lymphoid organs of mice injected with the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPS-K) or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was followed . Injection of CPS-K, but not LPS, induced the following characteristic histological changes in the regional lymph node . In the early stage there was a marked decrease in the number of small lymphocytes, accompanied by the appearance of scattered fragmented nuclei and infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes, and in the late stage there was marked proliferation of macrophage-like cells and pyroninophilic cells . Histological changes in the thymus and spleen and changes in cell populations in the bone marrow and peripheral blood after CPS-K injection were essentially the same as after LPS injection . Since CPS-K has a much stronger adjuvant action on antibody response than does LPS, it is suggested that the characteristic histological changes in the regional lymph node after injection of CPS-K are closely related to its extraordinarily strong adjuvant action.

Tsitol Genet, 1980 Jan-Feb, 14(1), 19 - 22
{Change in the state of the nuclear structures of neutrophilic leukocytes in the process of their specific alteration}; Turianitsa AI et al.; Investigation of the character of the luminiscent spectrum of nuclear structures in periferal blood leucocytes stained with acridine orange showed that a specific alteration of leucocytes of an animal sensitized by Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis causes an increase in the values of the luminescence relative intensity Jrel=J640 divided by J530 . This indicates to DNA denaturation, occuring in the process of alteration.

Microbios, 1980, 27(109 110), 175 - 84
Cobalt and nickel sensitivity and tolerance in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Ainsworth MA et al.; In liquid medium the lag of K . pneumoniae NCIB 418 increased progressively as the Co2+ or Ni2+ concentration was increased, and Ni2+ was more inhibitory than Co2+ . Adding EDTA, citrate or aspartate, removed this action, and changing to conditions of K+-limitation reduced it significantly but Mg2+-limited organisms were more sensitive to both metal ions . Resistence to Co2+ and Ni2+ developed . It was graded to the concentration to which the organisms were previously exposed and reciprocal cross-resistance, albeit partial, occurred between the ions . On agar-media the concentrations of Co2+ and Ni2+, which reduced the survival to 50%, were not significantly different and in admixture the ions exerted an additive effect . On the other hand the combination of either of the metal ions with Cd2+ or Zeciprocal cross-resistance, albeit partial, occurred between the ions . On agar-media the concentrations of Co2+ and Ni2+, which reduced the survival to 50%, were not significantly different and in admixture the ions exerted an additive effect . On the other hand the combination of either of the metal ions with Cd2+ or Zeciprocal cross-resistance, albeit partial, occurred between the ions . On agar-media the concentrations of Co2+ and Ni2+, which reduced the survival to 50%, were not significantly different and in admixture the ions exerted an additive effect . On the other hand the combination of either of the metal ions with Cd2+ or Zn2+, especially with Cd2+, was synergistic . The results are discussed with reference to the work of others with Co2+ and Ni2+, and to our earlier work with Cd2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Tl+ and crO42-.

Czech Med, 1980, 3(2), 176 - 82
Reaction of mouse lung tissue on the experimental airborne Klebsiella pneumoniae infection; Mison P et al.; There are described the histological changes in the lung tissue of mice after airborne infection with the strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae CNCTC Klp 80/66 and CNCTC 82/67 whose clearance is significantly different . Using the strain Klp 82/67, which is fairly prompt eliminated from lungs, no morphological changes in the mucous membrane of bronchi were found . Using the strain Klp 80/66, which is characterised by a multiplication of organisms in the lungs already in the initial phase of infection without any remarkable adaptative phase, the accumulation of neutrophils in the walls and on the surface of bronchi was observed . The accumulation retarded during 48 hours when mostly the mononuclear cells were present . Uptake of 3H-thymidine in the lung tissue in vivo demonstrated that the proliferation response of bronchial lymphoid tissue is a relatively early reaction . Histological examination of spontaneously died animals revealed the changes characteristic for the purulent bronchopneumonia . The pathogenic activity of various Klebsiella pneumoniae strains is obviously conditioned by at least two factors, i . e . by surface structures determining the rate of bacterial elimination from the lungs and by the lipoprotein components of the cell walls inducing the leucocytes mobilization into bronchial tissue.

Chemotherapy, 1980, 26(6), 431 - 5
Antibiotic resistance of indole-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae; Kojo H et al.; Resistance patterns to antibiotics differed markedly between indole-positive and indole-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae strains . Multiple-drug-resistant strains were almost exclusively indole-negative . Ampicillin and kanamycin resistances in the indolepositive strains tested were not transmissible, whereas many of those resistances in the indole-negative strains were transmissible, together with other drug resistances to an Escherichia coli recipient . The substrate profile of the beta-lactamase from the indole-positive strains was fairly different from that of the beta-lactamase mediated by the ampicillin resistance plasmid.

Arch Invest Med (Mex), 1980, 11(1), 129 - 35
Usefulness of a microblood culture technique in neonatal septicemia; Jasso-Gutierrez L et al.; Macroblood (MaHC) and microblood (MiHC) cultures were made in 200 neonates with a suspected diagnosis of septicemia so as to compare the efficiency of MiHC to isolate bacterias taking MaHC as reference . Blood was obtained by heel punctures in sterile test tubes soaked with polyanetol sodium sulphonate and later cultured in trypticase soy broth with sacharose 15 per cent . Positive percentage was 14.5 for MiHC and 12.3 for MaHC . MiHC reliability, taking MaHC as reference was 59 per cent . Only 29.7 per cent isolations were obtained with MiHC that increased to 40.2 per cent with MaHC technique . Culture efficiency was higher for Klebsiella, P . Mirabilis and S . paratiphy B using MaHC while for Staph . aureus MiHC proved to be a better technique . The use of polyanetol sodium sulphate instead of heparin, sachorose addition to the culture medium, larger samples and typical features of infection in neonates studied, account for findings and differences observed in a previous work.

Immunology, 1980 Jan, 39(1), 47 - 52
Abolition of resistance to Klebsiella pneumoniae by anti-polymorphonuclear leucocyte IgG; Bullen JJ et al.; Antipolymorphonuclear leucocyte IgG (APS IgG) was prepared from crude horse antipolymorphonuclear leucocyte antiserum (APS) . The APS IgG was less toxic than the crude APS and had a powerful and specific effect on rabbit polymorphs in vivo and in vitro . In rabbits infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae it suppressed the normal polymorph response and greatly reduced resistance to infection . Anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae antibody greatly enhanced protection in normal rabbits, but had much less effect on APS/IgG-treated rabbits . It was concluded that the principal cellular defence against K . pneumoniae was the polymorph and that macrophages made only a relatively small contribution to resistance.

Biochem J, 1980 Jan 1, 185(1), 253 - 7
Labelling of the cyclitol permease in Klebsiella aerogenes; Reber G et al.; The protein component(s) of the cyclitol-transport system in Klebsiella aerogenes has been labelled by using three different procedures . One method is based on differential alkylation with N-ethylmaleimide, and another on incorporation of amino acids during the induction process . A protein of mol.wt . 34 000 was labelled by both procedures; by alkylation with N-ethylmaleimide two other proteins of mol.wts . 55 000 and 67 000 were also labelled . The third uses diazotized {35S}sulphanilic acid after protection by substrate and the comparison of labelling of induced cells with non-induced cells; the label was also concentrated in a mol.wt.-33 000 peak . The labelled protein is, from the evidence, the cyclitol carrier.

Am J Med Sci, 1980 Jan-Feb, 279(1), 61 - 5
Emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance during the therapy of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis; Barriere SL et al.; A patient is described in whom multiple antibiotic resistance developed during the course of therapy of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis . Sequential resistance developed to chloramphenicol, gentamicin and eventually amikacin . As previously reported, the use of the chloramphenicol alone in the therapy of gram-negative bacillary meningitis can result in rapid emergence of resistance and treatment failure . In this patient, the subsequent emergence of gentamicin and amikacin resistance may have been related to the omission of intrathecal aminoglycoside . A short review of the literature is presented and recommendations are made for the therapy of gram-negative bacillary meningitis.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jan, 27(1), 44 - 50
Exological relationships of bacteria involved in a simple, mixed anaerobic infection; Mayrand D et al.; Infectivity of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus (formerly B . melaninogenicus subsp . asaccharolyticus; see S . M . Finegold and E . M . Barnes, Int . J . Syst . Bacteriol . 27:388--391, 1977) was dependent on the presence of a second organism . An infective consortium consisting of B . asaccharolyticus and Klebsiella pneumoniae was defined . Neither organism was infective alone, but the Klebsiella could be replaced by organisms of a number of different genera . The nature of the infection appeared to be determined by the length of the lag period preceding the initiation of growth of B . asaccharolyticus . A rapid onset of growth led to the severe spreading form of the disease, whereas a slow initiation of growth resulted in the formation of a localized, self-limiting abscess . B . asaccharolyticus depends on the second or "helper" organism to produce a required growth factor which is not present at the inoculation site . The growth factor was shown to be succinate which was able to replace the hemin requirement . The dependency on succinate produced by K . pneumoniae was demonstrated in agar medium, in liquid culture, and in the infectivity assay . Any organism which produced succinate was able to stimulate growth of B . asaccharolyticus on agar medium and could replace K . pneumoniae as a member of the infectious consortium . The need for the second organism could be eliminated by inoculating B . asaccharolyticus together with agar-immobilized succinate or hemin.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1980 Jan, 29(1), 31 - 4
Pulmonary stronglyoidiasis complicating therapy with corticosteroids . Report of a case with secondary bacterial infections; Berger R et al.; We report a case of pulmonary strongloidiasis which occurred after high-dose corticosteroid therapy . Our patient responded very well to treatment with thiabendazole, despite the fact that the steroids were contined throughout his entire hospital course . Further complications included pseudomonas meningitis and Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia, both of which resolved with appropriate treatment.

Sci Sin, 1980 Jan, 23(1), 108 - 18
Complementation analysis and characterization of the nitrogen fixation genes, nifH, nifC and nifJ in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Runzhi J et al.; Complementation tests were performed with various nif mutations for delineating the nif genes . The nif-/nif- heterogenotes were constructed by transferring nif plasmid mutant PRD-nif- from E . coli Jc5466 to various Klebsiella pneumoniae nif- recipients . In addition to those nif genes previously reported elsewhere, a new essential gene for nitrogen fixation, nifC was identified . According to the P1-transduction and three factor reciprocal crosses, nifC was tentatively mapped between nifH and nifJ in the chromsome . The order of nif genes obtained was hisD, nifQ, nifB, nifA, nifL, nifF nifM, nifV, nifS, nifU, nifN, nifE, nifK, nifD, nifH, nifC and nifJ . The examination of the biochemical phenotypes of the nif genes suggests that nifC may be concerned with the synthesis or activation of the iron molybdenum cofactor nitrogenase, nifH, besides coding for the structure of nitrogen reductase may also exert a function on the synthesis of nitrogenase, and nifJ presumably is required to turn on the expression of nifK (D), nifH or nifF.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Jan 1, 78(1), 147 - 62
{Kinetic studies of the (1 linked to 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyltransferase reaction catalyzed by cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, particularly the cyclization with amylose, amylopectin and total starch as substrate}; Bender H; The time course of the (1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyltransfer reactions catalyzed by the cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase ((1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-glucan: {(1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl}transferase (cyclizing), EC 2.4.1.19, CGT) from Klebsiella pneumoniae was studied with several commercial amyloses, potato starch, and amylopectin, respectively . Amyloses were poor substrates for the cyclization reaction . In the initial phase of the transfer reactions, the CGT catalyzed a rapid shortening of the amylose chains . The rate of this shortening reaction was significantly accelerated by addition of maltooligosaccharides . Maximum rate of cyclohexaamylose formation was reached with amylose chains sufficiently short (less than Glc100) for the cyclization reaction . Cyclohexaamylose was formed with maximum rate from amyloses containing amylopectin impurities in the initial phase of the transfer reactions, suggesting that the non-reducing ends of the outer amylopectin chains serve as acceptors for the disproportionation of the amylose . Accordingly, water-soluble, high-molecular-weight products containing higher percentages of lengthened outer-chains were obtained from potato starch or amylopectin . In the course of the transfer reactions, only traces of smaller maltooligosaccharides were detected chromatographically.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Jan 1, 78(1), 133 - 45
{Kinetic studies of the (1 linked to 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyltransferase reaction catalyzed by cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, particularly the cyclization with (1 linked to 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl chains (average polymerization of 16) as substrate}; Bender H; The transfer reactions, particularly the cyclization reaction, catalyzed by the cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase ((1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-glucan:{(1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl}-transferase (cyclizing), EC 2.4.1.19; CGT) from Klebsiella pneumoniae M 5 al were studied with (1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl chains (d.p . 16) . The initial rate of the cyclization reaction with substrate concentrations from 1 up to 16 mM indicated a V of 6.2 kat . kg-1 of protein and a molar catalytical activity of 421.6 kat . mol-1 of enzyme . Km was found to be 1.03 mM . In addition to the cyclization, CGT simultaneously catalyzed a disproportionation of the substrate, yielding shorter maltooligosaccharides and (1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl chains which were significantly longer than the substrate itself . Cyclohepta- and cycloocta-amylose were accumulated in the course of longer incubation . They arose mainly from coupling reactions with the initially formed cyclohexaamylose and corresponding disproportionation of these transfer products . The extremely low formation rates of the higher cyclodextrins point to a "mistake" of the enzyme, when cyclizing to cyclohepta- and cyclooctaamylose.

Am J Ind Med, 1980, 1(1), 3 - 7
A brief report of gram-negative bacterial endotoxin levels in airborne and settled dusts in animal confinement buildings; Thedell TD et al.; Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins, implicated in adverse worker health responses, were found in settled and airborne dust samples obtained from poultry and swine confinement units . Results of the Limulus amebocyte lysate gel test found endotoxin levels in dust samples ranged from 4.5 to 47.7 micrograms of FDA Klebsiella endotoxin equivalents/gm . Differences in endotoxin levels between dust samples may have been due to variables in time, geographic locations, confined animals, confinement buildings and equipment, and methods of sample collection . Animal confinement workers are potentially exposed to large amounts of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins; however, the respiratory health effects of such exposures to animal confinement workers have yet to be determined.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1980, 20(6), 405 - 13
Nitrate respiration of Klebsiella pneumoniae on amino acids, especially on serine; Kikuchi S et al.; Anaerobic growth on an amino acids mixture in the presence of nitrate of a strain of K . pneumoniae isolated from soil depended on the presence of serine in the mixture . This organism grew on serine as sole carbon source under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate but not in its absence . Glycylglycine could replace serine . Serine was degraded to acetate, formate, pyruvate, acetone and acetoin with formation of nitrite under these conditions . These products were practically not different from those formed from glucose . Resting cells decomposed serine also in the absence of nitrate forming butanediol and a large amount of formate in place of decreased amounts of acetate and pyruvate . These cells also anaerobically decomposed alanine to products similar to those from serine and phenylalanine to phenylacetate and formate only in the presence of nitrate . Valine was not catabolized under the same conditions . Serine was decomposed to pyruvate and ammonia in the crude extract in the presence and absence of nitrate, indicating participation of serine dehydratase in its breakdown . Phenylalanine appears to be decomposed to phenylpyruvate by transamination coupled to glutamate oxidation and then to phenylacetate and formate . Little growth on serine under anaerobic conditions in the absence of nitrate may be accounted for by the small gain of ATP in the anaerobic breakdown of serine by this organism.

Acta Haematol, 1980, 63(2), 71 - 80
99mTc labelled human leukocytes . An in vitro functional study; Linhart N et al.; A new method of human leukocyte labelling is described . 20 ml of human blood are allowed to sediment in a dextran solution and the remaining red blood cells are removed using NH4C1 . The leukocyte-rich suspension is incubated with a Sn-pyrophosphate solution, and then labelled, using 20 mCi 99mTc pertechnetate . Labelling efficiency is about 30% . Functional activity was shown to be satisfactory: (1) appearance under electron microscopy was quite normal; (2) Klebsiella ingestion, zymosan-stimulated oxygen consumption and iodination were similar in labelled and unlabelled cells, and (3) chemotaxis revealed no alteration in cell migration.

Mol Gen Genet, 1980, 179(2), 349 - 54
Restriction mapping of deletions in the nif region of the Klebsiella pneumoniae chromosome; Appelbaum ER et al.; Chromosomal DNA restriction fragments carrying the nitrogen fixation (nif) and his genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified in hybridization experiments using a plasmid derived from pRD1 as a radioactive probe . Restriction mapping of 26 genetically characterized chromosomal nif deletions provided a map showing the physical location of nif genes along the chromosome.

Mol Gen Genet, 1980, 180(1), 165 - 75
Recombinant P4 bacteriophages propagate as viable lytic phages or as autonomous plasmids in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Ow DW et al.; We demonstrate the use of bacteriophage P4 as a molecular cloning vector in Klebsiella pneumoniae . A hybrid P4 phage, constructed in vitro, that contains a K . pneumoniae hisDG DNA fragment can be propagated either as a lytic viable specialized transducing phage or as an autonomous, self-replicating plasmid . Hybrid P4 genomes existing as plasmids can be readily converted into non-defective P4-hybrid phage particles by superinfection with helper phage P2 . Infection of a K . pneumoniae hisD non-P2 lysogen with P4-hisD hybrid phage results in approximately 90% of the infected cells becoming stably transduced to HisD+ . Because P4 interferes with P2 growth, high titre stocks of P4 hybrid phages are relatively free (less than or equal to 10(-6) of P2 contamination . The hisG gene product was detected in ultraviolet light irradiated host cells infected by the P4-hisDG hybrid phage . A mutant of P4 (P4sid1) that directs the packaging of P4 DNA into P2 sized capsids should permit the construction of hybrid phages carrying 26 kilobase inserts.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1980, 30(1a), 126 - 32
Ribosomal vaccines: preparation of subcellular fractions; Dussourd d'Hinterland L et al.; Methods for isolation and analysis of subcellular bacterial fractions intended to be used in the preparation of ribosomal vaccines are described . Cultivation conditions in fermentors for obtaining maximal growth curve slopes are studied; cultivation is stopped before the end of the exponential growth phase in order to collect biomasses having a high viability rate, which is essential for the quality of the subcellular fractions isolated thereafter . Extraction methods for ribosomes and ribosomal RNA, as well as two proceedings for preparing adjuvant proteoglycans from Klebsiella pneumoniae membranes, are described . The analytical methods used for the control of these preparations and the results obtained for the various fractions are given.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1979 Dec, 38(3), 615 - 20
Reticular dysgenesis: report of two brothers; Espanol T et al.; We describe two brothers with marked leucopenia, lymphopenia, no immunologicl response to infections (no Ig production, negative PHA response and very low number of T and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood) and hypocellular marrow . They died at 12 and 8 days of life with infection (E . coli and Klebsiella, respectively).

Carbohydr Res, 1979 Dec, 77, 183 - 90
Structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella K-type 63; Joseleau JP et al.; Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K type 63 by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and uronic acid degradation showed the repeating unit to consist of leads to 3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1 to 3)-alpha-D-GalpA-(1 TO 3)-ALpha-L-Fucp(1 to . This structure is identical to that of Escherichia coli serotype K-42 capsular polysaccharide . The 1H- and 13C-n.m.r . spectra of the original and modified polysaccharide are consistent with the foregoing structure.

Carbohydr Res, 1979 Dec, 77, 10 - 7
Determination of the absolute configuration of mono-saccharides in complex carbohydrates by capillary G.L.C; Gerwig GJ et al.; The absolute configuration of neutral monosaccharides, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy sugars, and uronic acids can be determined by capillary g.l.c . on SE-30 after glycosidation with (-)-2-butanol and protection of the remaining polar groups . The method is illustrated by application to mixtures of the constituent sugars of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 57, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, mucus glycoproteins, and the methylated, acidic polysaccharide from the coccoliths of Emiliania huxleyi (Lohmann) Kamptner.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Dec, 245(4), 485 - 9
Antigenic variation in Klebsiella; Edmondson AS et al.; The serological reactions of klebsiella strains repeatedly isolated from four patients were examined . Variations in capsular antigens of strains from the same patient were mainly restricted to slight changes in the titre of quellung reactions and occasionally differences in cross-reactions were noted . In one case a strain reacted more strongly with a heterologous antiserum than with homologous antiserum after it had been resident in the bowel of a patient for five weeks . No significant antigenic variation was observed when multiple colonies from the same klebsiella culture were tested.

C R Seances Acad Sci D, 1979 Nov 26, 289(14), 1045 - 8
{Effect of an acute inflammatory process on anti-infectious resistance in mice}; Giroud JP et al.; Acute Inflammatory reaction induced by intrapleural injection of calcium pyrophosphate increases the resistance of mice to Klebsiella pneumoniae infection . Transfer to mice of protection against Klebsiella pneumoniae is effected by injection of inflammation sera.

Biochem J, 1979 Nov 15, 184(2), 453 - 5
Benzene from bacterial cleavage of the carbon-phosphorus bond of phenylphosphonates; Cook AM et al.; An organism, identified as a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae, was proved by direct assay to utilize ionic methyl phenylphosphonate as sole phosphorus source . One product from C-P-bond cleavage was identified as benzene by combined g.l.c.-mass spectrometry . The molar yield of benzene from the phosphonate was 89%.

Carbohydr Res, 1979 Nov, 76, 215 - 24
Structure of Klebsiella type 61 capsular polysaccharide; Rao AS et al.; An aldotriouronic acid was isolated from the acid hydrolyzate of the polysaccharide from Klebsiella Type 61 (K-61), and its structure was established . Degradation of the permethylated polysaccharide with base established the identity of the sugar unit preceding the glucosyluronic acid residue . The modes of linkage and the sequence of different sugar residues were further confirmed by Smith degradation of K-61 . The anomeric configurations of the different sugar residues were determined by oxidation of peracetylated native, and carboxyl-reduced, polysaccharides with chromium trioxide . The anomeric configuration of nonreducing D-galactosyl side-chains was further confirmed by enzymic degradation of K-61 . Finally, gentiobiose was identified in the partial, acid hydrolyzate of K-61 . Based on these results, the structure assigned the repeating unit of K-61 was as follows.

Arch Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 123(2), 189 - 94
Influence of the glucose input concentration on the kinetics of metabolic production by Klebsiella aerogenes NCTC 418: growing in chemostat culture in potassium- or ammonia-limited environments; Hueting S et al.; With chemostat cultures of Klebsiella aerogenes growing at a fixed dilution rate, initially under conditions of glucose-limitation, transition to either potassium-limitation or ammonia-limitation was found not to be a steep step function . A wide range of intermediate steady states could be established in which neither substrate was present in excess of the growth requirement . As the molar ratio of glucose: K+ in the feed medium was progressively increased, the additional glucose carbon was first converted solely to CO2 . Thereafter, when the molar ratio exceeded 45, acetate, and then pyruvate and 2-ketogluconate were excreted at increasing rates . In contrast, transition to ammonia-limitation provoked an early excretion of 2-oxoglutarate and 2-ketogluconate, followed (at higher glucose input concentrations) by acetate and pyruvate . These patterns of product excretion are considered in relation to the specific nature of the growth-limitation, to probable changes in the energy charge and redox balance within the growing cells, and to the accompanying modulation of tricarboxylic acid-cycle activity.

Arch Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 123(2), 183 - 8
Energy requirement for maintenance of the transmembrane potassium gradient in Klebsiella aerogenes NCTC 418: a continuous culture study; Hueting S et al.; With a glucose-limited culture of Klebsiella aerogenes, growing at a fixed dilution rate (0.4 h-1), the specific respiration rate varied progressively as a function of the transmembrane K+ gradient . The latter was varied by changing the input K+ concentration and, under these conditions, the specific respiration rate was linearly related to the electrochemical potential of the K+ gradient . Increasing or decreasing the transmembrane K+ gradient in putatively potassium-limited cultures elicited marked changes in respiration rate consistent with the conclusion that the exceptionally high respiration rates expressed by fully glucose-sufficient potassium-limited cultures (i.e., values in excess of 25 mmol O2/g dry weight organisms . h, at D = 0.4 h-1) are necessary to scavenge traces of K+ from the environment and hence maintain an exceptionally high transmembrane K+ gradient.

Am J Vet Res, 1979 Nov, 40(11), 1523 - 30
A study of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in the uterus of the mare; Brown JE et al.; Two experiments incorporating 13 mares were conducted for the purpose of producing and monitoring intrauterine infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae . In the pilot study, the infection was produced with strains of K pneumoniae type 68 and type 10 isolated from the genital tract of stallions with a history of breeding problems . In the principal study, K pneumoniae type 68 was used to produce the infection . Tampons and guarded culture swabs were used to obtain uterine samples in the pilot study . In comparing the efficacies of isolation of K pneumoniae with the tampons and isolation with standard guarded culture swab, the tampon proved to be a more reliable means with which to isolate K pneumoniae and was used in the principal study . In both studies, inoculated mares became infected and remained infected at least until the postinoculation estrous cycle was initiated or was completed . Some of the inoculated mares remained infected through more than one estrous cycle . The numbers of K pneumoniae decreased in the uterus of mares after completing the estrous cycle after inoculation . Klebsiella pneumoniae was not demonstrable in frozen tissue sections of uterine biopsy specimens stained by fluorescent antibody technique . Postinoculation sera antibody titers to K pneumoniae, as determined, using the capsule swelling technique, were no higher than 1:8.

Infect Immun, 1979 Nov, 26(2), 515 - 9
Role of interferon in mice in protection against influenza A virus by bacterial ribosomes together with membranal glycoproteins of Klebsiella pneumoniae as adjuvant; Robert D et al.; Nonspecific protection against infectious aerosols of influenza A virus was obtained in Swiss mice after vaccination by aerosols of bacterial ribosomes together with membranal glycoproteins extracted from Klebsiella pneumoniae as the adjuvant . It was shown that repeated stimulant aerosols were necessary to obtain this protection . Routine estimation of serum interferon levels after administration of the association of ribosomes plus membranal glycoproteins to the animals by aerosol or intravenous route showed that there was no correlation between protection and the presence of serum interferon . It was shown that the serum interferon-inducer activity was due to ribosomes . No induction of serum interferon was obtained with membranal glycoproteins used separately . Local liberation of interferon in the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract was not investigated.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Nov, 140(2), 597 - 606
Glutamine synthetase mutations which affect expression of nitrogen fixation genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Ausubel FM et al.; Previous studies have implicated glutamine synthetase (L-glutamate:ammonia ligase {adenosine diphosphate for-ing}, EC 6.6.1.2) as a major controlling element of the nitrogen fixation (nif) genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae . We report here the isolation of a new class of K . pneumoniae mutants which exhibit altered patterns of nif and hut (histidine utlization) regulation . The expression of nif in these mutants, which were isolated as Gln+ (glutamine nonrequiring) revertants of a particular glnA mutation, is extremely sensitive to ammonia repression . These mutants have a Nif- Hut- phenotype at external ammonia concentrations at which wild-type strains are Nif+ Hut+ . On the other hand, these mutants can be fully derepressed for nif at very low ammonia concentrations . We adopted the nomenclature "GlnR- (Nif- Hut-)" to facilitate discussion of the phenotype of these mutant strains . The mutations in these strains which confer the GlnR- phenotype map at or near glnA, the structural gene for glutamine synthetase.

Biochem J, 1979 Oct 1, 183(1), 31 - 42
Purification and properties of Klebsiella aerogenes D-arabitol dehydrogenase; Neuberger MS et al.; An Escherichia coli K12 strain was constructed that synthesized elevated quantities of Klebsiella aerogenes D-arabitol dehydrogenase; the enzyme accounted for about 5% of the soluble protein in this strain . Some 280 mg of enzyme was purified from 180 g of cell paste . The purified enzyme was active as a monomer of 46,000 mol.wt . The amino acid composition and kinetic constants of the enzyme for D-arabitol and D-mannitol are reported . The apparent Km for D-mannitol was more than 3-fold that for D-arabitol, whereas the maximum velocities with both substrates were indistinguishable . The enzyme purified from the E . coli K12 construct was indistinguishable by the criteria of molecular weight, electrophoretic mobility in native polyacrylamide gel and D-mannitol/D-arabitol activity ratio from D-arabitol dehydrogenase synthesized in wild-type K . aerogenes . Purified D-arabitol dehydrogenase showed no immunological cross-reaction with K . aerogenes ribitol dehydrogenase . During electrophoresis in native polyacrylamide gels, oxidation by persulphate catalysed the formation of inactive polymeric forms of the enzyme . Dithiothreitol and pre-electrophoresis protected against this polymerization.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Oct, 140(4), 629 - 33
Comparison of techniques for measurement of in vitro antibiotic synergism; Norden CW et al.; The methods and criteria for testing for synergy were compared with use of 22 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and a combination of cephalothin and gentamicin . With the checkerboard technique, the frequency of synergy varied depending on the criterion employed . When the rate of killing of bacteria by antibiotics was measured, results varied depending on the size of inoculum . When the checkerboard and killing-curve techniques were compared, there was poor correlation in terms of the frequency of strains showing synergy . Because clinical observations suggest that treatment of serious infections with combinations of antibiotics found to be synergistic in vitro may enhance survival, standardization of the methods and criteria used to test for synergy should be undertaken.

Carbohydr Res, 1979 Sep, 74, 241 - 57
Structural studies on the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype K64; Merrifield EH et al.; Partial hydrolysis with acid, methylation analysis (including uronic acid degradation), Smith degradation, and p.m.r . spectroscopy have been used to determine the primary structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K64 . The hexasaccharide repeating-unit, which also contains one O-acetyl substituent, comprises a 4)-alpha-D-GlcpA-(1 leads to 3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to 3)-beta-D-Glcp-(1 leads to 4)-alpha-D-Manp-(1 leads to chain with a 4,6-O-(1-carboxyethylidene)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl and an L-rhamnosyl group attached to the 4-linked D-mannosyl residue at 0-2 and 0-3, respectively.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Sep, 244(4), 470 - 3
{Differentiation of Klebsiella pneumoniae variatio "oxytoca" (author's transl)}; Lutticken R et al.; Altogether 268 strains of Klebsiella were investigated with respect to their ability to ferment dulcitol and to produce indole, gelatinase, and brown pigment on a medium containing gluconate and ferric citrate . In addition the capacity of the strains to use m-hydroxybenzoic acid as sole source of carbon and energy was tested . Of the 83 indole-positive Klebsiella strains 72 (87%) were able to grow on the m-hydroxybenzoic acid medium, whereas only 2 (1%) of the indole-negative strains did so . Late liquefaction of gelatin occurred in 66 (80%) of the indole-positive strains . The ability of the indole-positive Klebsiella strains to use m-hydroxybenzoic acid as sole carbon source supports the view that these strains should be grouped in a separate taxon, which may be named Klebsiella oxytoca; it also provides a simple additional test for the identification of these strains.

Am J Vet Res, 1979 Sep, 40(9), 1231 - 5
Protection against Klebsiella pneumoniae respiratory tract infection of mice and squirrel monkeys given kanamycin by aerosol and injection; Berendt RF et al.; The methods of aerosol administration of kanamycin and IM injection of the antibiotic were compared for their protection of mice and squirrel monkeys against Klebsiella pneumoniae respiratory tract infection . Mice exposed to LD90 of K pneumoniae at 0.5, 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours after they were treated with aerosol of kanamycin (27 mg/kg of body weight) were significantly better protected at all exposure times than were mice given the antibiotic (450 mg/kg) by IM injection . Squirrel monkeys given the aerosol at dose level of 11.25 mg/kg were completely protected against K pneumoniae exposure at 6 and 24 hours, whereas only one of eight monkeys treated with the same dose given IM survived the exposure at 6 hours and none survived at 24 hours . Antibiotic clearance curves indicated that kanamycin remained in the lungs at higher concentrations and for longer periods after aerosol treatment than after IM treatment.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Sep, 139(3), 1028 - 38
Alterations in peptidoglycan chemical composition associated with rod-to-sphere transition in a conditional mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Fontana R et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae Mir M7 is a spontaneous parentless morphology mutant which grows as cocci at pH 7 and as rods at pH 5.8 . This strain has been characterized as defective in lateral wall formation (at pH7) . Data suggest that the cell wall is mainly made up of poles of the rods (G . Satta, R . Fontana, P . Canepari, and G . Botta, J . Bacteriol . 137:727--734, 1979) . In this work the isolation and the biochemical properties of the peptidoglycan of both Mir M7 rods and cocci and a nonconditional rod-shaped Mir M7 revertant (strain Mir A12) are described . The peptidoglycan of Mir M7 (both rods and cocci) and Mir A12 strains carried covalently bound proteins which could be easily removed by pronase treatment in Mir M7 rods and Mir A12 cells, but not in Mir M7 round cells . However, when the sodium dodecyl sulfate-insoluble residues of Mir M7 cocci were pretreated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), pronase digestion removed the covalently bound proteins, and pure peptidoglycan was obtained . EDTA treatment of the rigid layer of Mir M7 cocci removed amounts of Mg2+ and Ca2+, which were 10- and 50-fold higher, respectively, than the amount liberated from the rigid layer of Mir M7 rods and Mir A12 cells . Amino acid composition was qualitatively similar in both strains, but Mir M7 cocci contained a higher amount of alanine and glucosamine . Mir M7 cocci contained approximately 50% less peptidoglycan than rods . Under electron microscopy, the rigid layer of the Mir M7 rods and Mir A12 cells appeared to be rod-shaped and their shape remained unchanged after EDTA and pronase treatment . On the contrary, the Mir M7 cocci rigid layer appeared to be round, and after EDTA treatment it collapsed and lost any definite morphology . In spite of these alterations, the peptidoglycan of Mir M7 cocci still appeared able to determine the shape of the cell and protect it from osmotic shock and mechanical damages . The accumluation of divalent cations appeared necessary for the peptidoglycan to acquire sufficient rigidity for shape determination and cell protection . We concluded that the coccal shape in Mir M7 cells is not due to loss of cell wall rigidity but is a consequence of the formation of a round peptidoglycan molecule . The possibility that the alterations found in the Mir M7 cocci rigid layer may reflect natural differences in the biochemical composition of the septa and lateral wall of normally shaped bacteria is discussed.

Carbohydr Res, 1979 Aug, 73, 169 - 74
The structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella K-type 31; Cheng CC et al.; The structure of the Klebsiella K31 capsular polysaccharide has been elucidated by periodate oxidation, methylation analysis, characterization of oligosaccharides obtained by partial, acid hydrolysis, and proton magnetic resonance . The polymer consists of pentasaccharide repeating-units having the following structure (1).

South Med J, 1979 Aug, 72(8), 1009 - 12
Multifocal malignant melanoma of the esophagus; Assor D et al.; We have described a case of primary melanoma of the esophagus in an asymptomatic patient . The tumor presented as a multinodular filling defect on a routine barium swallow . The distal esophagus and a proximal portion of the stomach were resected . The patient died ten days postoperatively of Klebsiella sepsis . Grossly, the surgical specimen showed multiple polypoid tumors which arose from separate pigmented areas shown microscopically to be melanoma in situ . By electron microscopy, the tumor cells contained numerous melanosomes in various stages of melanization . Primitive hemidesmosomes were found where a basal lamina was present . Better developed desmosomes interconnected the melanocytes.

Biochem J, 1979 Aug 1, 181(2), 509 - 12
Purification and properties of nitrogenase in ethylene glycol at sub-zero temperatures; Tsopanakis AD et al.; Both the protein components Kp1 and Kp2 of nitrogenase from Klebsiella pneumoniae were found to be stable in aq . 50% (v/v) ethylene glycol at +30 degrees C or below . At -20 degrees C in this medium their sensitivities to O2 were diminished somewhat . Though purification could be carried out at -20 degrees C, the product had the same specific activity and was obtained in the same yield as when the purification was carried out by standard procedures . This suggests that such procedures yield enzyme undamaged in the course of the purification by O2, thermal denaturation or proteolytic digestion.

J Hyg (Lond), 1979 Aug, 83(1), 33 - 40
Enterotoxigenic enteric bacteria in foods and outbreaks of food-borne diseases in Sweden; Danielsson ML et al.; All of 86 food routinely examined for potentially pathogenic enteric bacteria were found to harbour one or more coliform species . None of the strains isolated produced heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) or showed invasive properties . The suckling mouse test indicated that one strain of Escherichia coli produced heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) . Twelve incidents of suspected food poisoning were also investigated . In two of them the foods examined contained LT-producing strains of E . coli and in two there were LT-producing strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae . The counts of viable enterotoxigenic micro-organisms in these foods were 3000-30,000 E . coli/g and 50,000 to 1 million K . pneumoniae/g . The dominant symptom in all the incidents was watery diarrhoea . These seem to be the first reported cases of foodborne enterotoxigenic enteric bacteria in Europe . Though enterotoxigenic E . coli and related gram-negative enterotoxin-producing species are rare in correctly handled food in Sweden, these micro-organisms should be searched for when outbreaks of food poisoning are investigated.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Aug, 139(2), 680 - 2
Introduction of bacteriophage lambda into cells of Klebsiella aerogenes; Bloom FR et al.; We have shown that a mutation in the cro gene of phage lambda greatly reduces zygotic induction . This observation has allowed us to move this phage on an episome into cells of Klebsiella aerogenes where it grows as well as in cells of Escherichia coli . This technique should allow the introduction of various derivatives of lambda into any organism which is able to receive deoxyribonucleic acid from E . coli.

Mol Gen Genet, 1979 Jul 2, 174(1), 59 - 66
Overlapping sequences of Klebsiella pneumoniae nifDNA cloned and characterized; Cannon FC et al.; A HindIII (17.0 kb) and an EcoR1 restriction fragment (6.9 kb) of Klebsiella pneumoniae nif DNA were cloned on two small amplifiable plasmids, pCM1 and pSA30 respectively . These plasmids between them carry 14 of the 15 known Klebsiella nif genes . The operon for the three structural genes for nitrogenase, nifpHDK, is carried on pSA30: four and five of the remaining six operons are on pCRA37 and pCM1 respectively . All of the nif genes were assigned to endonuclease restriction fragments of DNA using the Southern blotting technique (Southern, 1975) with total DNA of nif insertion mutants and radioactive plasmid DNA which contained cloned nif DNA sequences . Their locations were consistent with the genetic map of nif genes . The estimated size of the nif gene cluster was 24 kb.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jul, 25(1), 299 - 303
Animal model of neutropenia suitable for the study of dual-phagocyte systems; Rehm SR et al.; When two sets of phagocytic cells participate simultaneously in the inflammatory process and bacterial killing, the relative contribution of each cell type is difficult to ascertain . The use of cell-specific antibody will permit selective depletion of one phagocyte population . We describe an experimental model of granulocytopenia which utilizes the immunoglobulin G fraction of an antigranulocyte serum . This material markedly depleted circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN); within 2 h after injection of antigranulocyte globulin, PMN counts were at 19% of original levels and remained significantly depressed for 24 h . Granulocyte recruitment was also impaired, with only 5 x 10(3) PMN appearing in the lungs in response to an aerosol of Klebsiella, compared to 4.17 x 10(5) PMN in control animals (P less than 0.01) . Most importantly, alveolar macrophages retained normal viability (97% versus 94% for control value, P not significant) normal phagocytic function, and normal bactericidal capacity . Antigranulocyte globulin is thus a valuable tool for the study of bacterial defense mechanisms.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Jun, 112(2), 379 - 83
Influence of oxygen tension on nitrate reduction by a Klebsiella sp . growing in chemostat culture; Dunn GM et al.; At dissolved oxygen tensions of 15 mmHg (2 kPa) and below, nitrate-limited continuous cultures of Klebsiella K312 synthesized nitrate reductase (NR) and nitrite reductase (NiR) and excreted ammonia . Under anaerobic conditions over 60% of the nitrate-nitrogen utilized was excreted as ammonia . In contrast, carbon-limited cultures excreted nitrite at dissolved oxygen tensions of 15 mmHg or below and synthesized NR but not NiR . Ammonia repressed neither NR nor NiR synthesis . These observations indicate that below a critical oxygen tension of 15 mmHg Klebsiella K312 utilizes oxygen and nitrate as electron acceptors . This oxygen tension correlates well with the critical oxygen tension observed for a change from oxidative to fermentative metabolism in cultures of Klebsiella aerogenes . The product of dissimilatory nitrate reduction is ammonia in nitrate-limited cultures but principally nitrite in carbon-limited (nitrate excess) cultures.

Klin Wochenschr, 1979 Jun 1, 57(11), 575 - 9
{Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CEA-like activities in ascites and pleura-effusions (author's transl)}; Eimermacher H et al.; Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was assayed in 18 samples of non-malignant and 21 samples of malignant effusions . In 95% of benign effusion CEA activity was found within normal limits and increased only in one case of Klebsiella pneumonia . In 57% of the 21 malignant effusions CEA levels were elevated and in 4 cases elevated titers were first indications of the malignancy of the effusion . In some cases remarkable differences between serum titer and effusion titer were found . Combined measurement of CEA activity in plasma and effusion increases diagnostic value.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jun, 138(3), 1041 - 5
Order of genes near nif in Klebsiella pneumoniae; MacNeil D et al.; Analysis of strains with deletions of all or part of nif have ordered the Klebsiella pneumoniae genetic loci as thi rbt dal udk gnd rfb has nif shiA . The his-nif plasmids pRD1 and pTM4010 contain the genes gnd rfb his nif shiA.

J Hyg (Lond), 1979 Jun, 82(3), 473 - 80
An investigation into the incidence and sources of klebsiella infections in hospital patients; Cooke EM et al.; Coliforms isolated from infections over a period of 22 months were examined and 16% were shown to be klebsiellas . The biochemical reactions and serotypes of these klebsiellas were determined and the relationship between species, serotype and type of infection investigated . Although no obvious outbreaks of infection occurred during this period a number of clusters of isolations of the same serotype of klebsiella were found . Using an enrichment method for the isolation of klebsiellas from faeces, sero and bacteriocin typing, and the examination of ten colonies, it was demonstrated that half of the patients carried a klebsiella of the same type in the bowel as caused the infection.

Eur J Clin Invest, 1979 Jun, 9(3), 209 - 17
Metabolic activity of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes: relation to ingestion rate; Torres M et al.; The ingestion rate and oxygen-dependent metabolic activities of normal human polymorphonuclear leucocytes were measured with heat-killed Klebsiella as the particle . Since the experimental conditions were similar for each measurement, it was possible to make direct correlations between each oxygen-dependent reaction and (1) ingestion rate and (2) the other oxygen-dependent reactions . In the controls, oxygen-uptake was more reliably correlated (r = 0.960) with ingestion rates than with (in order of reliability) hydrogen peroxide produced (r = 0.860) and iodination (r = 0.858 and 0.813 for 100 and 20 micromol/l iodide respectively) . Hydrogen peroxide production (r = 0.988), nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (r = 0.969) and cytochrome c reduction (r = 0.862) were more reliably correlated to oxygen-uptake than to ingestion rate, and iodination was better related to hydrogen peroxide production (r = 0.90 and 0.819 for 100 and 20 micromol/l iodide respectively) than to ingestion rate . From these findings it was possible to locate primary defects in abnormal polymorphonuclear leucocytes from individual patients with pyogenic infections, idiopathic refractory anaemia or idiopathic oesteomyelofibrosis with splenomegaly, even when several deficiencies existed.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jun, 138(3), 691 - 8
Lactose metabolism involving phospho-beta-galactosidase in Klebsiella; Hall BG; Klebsiella strain RE1755A is a Lac- Gal- mutant which has lost both of its lac operons, but possesses a gene specifying beta-galactosidase III, an enzyme which hydrolyzes o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside but does not hydrolyze lactose . Selective pressure was applied to isolate mutants able to utilize lactose . The lactose-utilizing mutants obtained were shown to possess an unaltered beta-galactosidase III . Lactose utilization was shown to result from a pleiotropic mutation which also (i) permits galactose utilization and (ii) prevents induction of beta-galactosidase III synthesis by lactose . Evidence is presented suggesting that a phospho-beta-galactosidase enzyme is involved in lactose metabolism.

Can J Biochem, 1979 Jun, 57(6), 843 - 51
Distinctive properties of glutamine synthetase from the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans; Emond D et al.; The intracellular levels of glutamine synthetase (GS) in Anacystis nidulans grown under different conditions were determined using a whole-cell assay . Nitrate-grown cells have 64% more GS than cells grown in ammonium sulfate . Nitrogen starvation does not affect GS levels appreciably . Incubation of nitrate-grown cells with ammonium sulfate does not change the ratio of gamma-glutamyl transferase activities stimulated by Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions . An in vitro test of adenylylation indicates that algae do not have an endogenous adenylyl transferase (ATase) and that algal GS is not adenylylatable by the Klebsiella aerogenes ATase . Some characteristics of the GS-membrane complex were determined by centrifugation of the complex under varying conditions of pH and ionic strength . In this way, it was shown that acid pH (4.5) stabilizes the complex and high ionic strength tends to solubilize the enzyme . A simple partial purification of GS (89-fold) was developed based on the sedimentation properties of GS.

J Med Microbiol, 1979 May, 12(2), 201 - 5
Acquisition of Klebsiella aerogenes by neonates; Shinebaum R et al.; The acquisition of Klebsiella aerogenes by neonates born in hospital has been studied by sero- and klebecin typing . This organism was more commonly carried in the bowel of breast-fed babies than of bottle-fed babies . Only very rarely did babies acquire strains of K . aerogenes from their mothers . K . aerogenes was widely distributed in the ward environment and on the hands of nurses and mothers . Some strains were able to spread on the ward . These results are relevant to the control of K . aerogenes infection in maternity units.

Infect Immun, 1979 May, 24(2), 476 - 82
Capsular serotypic specificity of the protection conferred on mice by Klebsiella pneumoniae ribosomal preparations; Riottot M et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae ribosomal preparations protect mice immunized by the subcutaneous route against an intraperitoneal challenge of 100 50% lethal doses . The minimal protective doses are 5 and 0.4 micrograms of proteins for preparations extracted from strains of capsular serotypes 1 and 2, respectively . This difference in protective activity is also found in bacteria killed by Formalin . The protective activity of these preparations is not diminished by their purification on sucrose gradient, which eliminates most of the membrane vesicles which are visible by electron microscopy . The use of four strains of K . pneumoniae belonging to capsular serotypes 1 and 2 allowed us to show that the immunoprotective capacity of the ribosomal preparations was specific to the capsular serotype of the origin strain . This was confirmed by experiments in which the serum of immunized mice was transferred passively . The experimental data favor the presence in the ribosomal preparation of antigens belonging to the bacterial surface and resisting elimination by ultracentrifugation on sucrose gradient . Those surface antigens (possibly capsular polysaccharide) at least play a role in the orientation of the specificity of the protection induced by the ribosomal preparations.

Immun Infekt, 1979 Apr, 7(2), 46 - 51
{Phagocytic-activity in high risk patients of a surgical intensive care unit (author's transl)}; Beckers B et al.; The in vitro phagocytic activity from PMNL against eight different Klebsiella strains, isolated from clinical material, was investigated and the K-index calculated for fifteen patients from a surgical intensive care unit . The hemagglutinating antibody titers against the test strains, as well as the serum concentrations of IgM, IgG, C3 and C4 were also determined . At the time of the investigation all patients had symptoms of a severe general infection . There could be no decrease in the phagocytic activity demonstrated . However, large variations against certain bacterial strains were observed . This same strain dependency was also observed for five healthy persons . The hemagglutinating antibody titers of any one patient were either generally increased for all strains or uniformly decreased . The serum concentrations of IgM, IgG, C3 and C4 were found to be, in general, within the normal large.

J Hyg (Lond), 1979 Apr, 82(2), 195 - 205
Nosocomial klebsiellas . II . Transfer in a hospital ward; Haverkorn MJ et al.; During a 6-month period an epidemiological survey of the carriage of Klebsiella was conducted in a hospital ward where no outbreak of nosocomial infection occurred . In this endemic situation the regular sampling of several sites of patients, members of the nursing staff, and the environment, and the biotyping of Klebsiella made it possible to analyse the patterns of transmission between sites . There was abundant evidence for striking transmission of Klebsiella between the throat, hands, and faeces of patients . Transmission between patients seemed to be mainly through hands . The role of nurses' hands in transmission was not evident from this survey, probably due to the relatively long interval (a week) between samplings . Through the hands of patients, wash stands and the surrounding floor were contaminated with Klebsiella . The biotyping of Klebsiella facilitated the epidemiological analysis of the results.

Carbohydr Res, 1979 Apr, 70(1), 135 - 44
Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella type 33; Lindberg B et al.; The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 33 has been investigated . Methylation analysis, various specific degradations, graded hydrolysis with acid, and n.m.r . spectroscopy were the principal methods used . It is concluded that the polysaccharide is composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units having the following structure . (formula, see manual) . The D-galactopyranosyl group, with pyruvic acid linked as a ketal to O-3 AND O-4, was degraded on treatment of the fully methylated polysaccharide with strong base . It is proposed that methyl pyruvate is eliminated, in an E2 type of reaction.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Apr, 139(4), 377 - 88
Antimicrobial therapy of septicemia due to Klebsiella pneumoniae in neutropenic rats; Winston DJ et al.; Three different isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, highly sensitive to amikacin but varying in susceptibility to cefazolin, were injected intraperitoneally into neutropenic rats . Animals were treated every 8 hr for 72 hr with saline (controls), cefzolin (full dose, 40 mg/kg; one-fourth dose, 10 mg/kg), amikacin (full dose, 8 mg/kg; one-fourth dose, 2 mg/kg), or a combination of both drugs at either full dose or one-fourth dose . All drugs were given intramuscularly . Combination therapy with full doses produced higher mean bactericidal titers in serum and more rapid clearance of bacteria from blood and peritoneal washings . However, cumulative mortality at 72 hr in rats treated with amikacin plus cefazolin in full doses (24%, 23%, and 44%) was not significantly different from mortality in rats treated with amikacin alone (34%, 17%, and 62%) . Results with cefazolin alone were not significantly different from the mortality in control animals for two of the three challenge organisms . When the minimal inhibitory concentration of cefazolin was less than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml, in vivo synergy was suggested by the similar survival rate obtained with a combination of a one-fourth dose of each agent and with amikacin alone in a full dose . These results demonstrate the relative ineffectiveness of cefazolin for therapy of klebsiella septicemia and suggest that in vivo antimicrobial synergy occurs in combination therapy against strains of bacteria relatively sensitive to cephalosporins.

J Hyg (Lond), 1979 Apr, 82(2), 207 - 23
The development and assessment of a bacteriocin typing method for Klebsiella; Edmondson AS et al.; Klebsiellas are generally typed by the method of capsular serotyping but, although this is a reliable method, it is time consuming, requires the production of a large number of antisera and is not generally available . For this reason another method for typing klebsiellas was sought . A bacteriocin typing method involving mitomycin C induction was developed and the cultural conditions giving optimum klebecin production and the best methods of testing the sensitivity of the organisms to klebecins were determined . Of 190 klebsiella strains screened for bacteriocinogeny, only 68 (35.8%) produced klebecin and after calculation of similarity values by computer analysis, a typing set of 15 producers was selected . This typing set allowed over 96% of klebsiella strains to be typed and tests of the reproducibility of the method and the variability of typing patterns in natural populations of klebsiella indicated that results of acceptable accuracy could be obtained, while retaining good discrimination if two or more differences were required between patterns before they were regarded as distinct . A complete set of capsular antisera were prepared, enabling the results obtained from klebecin typing to be compared with those from serotyping . There was generally close agreement between the results from the two typing methods and greater discrimination was obtained between similar strains when the two methods were combined . Klebecin typing and serotyping revealed relationships between strains from five outbreaks of infection, and strains of the same serotype from different hospitals could frequently be distinguished by their klebecin typing patterns.

Gastroenterology, 1979 Apr, 76(4), 836 - 9
Dental infection in a cirrhotic patient . Source of recurrent sepsis; Borowsky SA et al.; A patient with alcoholic cirrhosis had multiple episodes of sepsis with Klebsiella pneumonia . Repeated searches for the source of infection finally revealed the organism in the root of a tooth . Evidence indicated that this site was the primary source of infection . The importance of dental infections in alcoholics and the difficulty in diagnosing those infections are emphasized by this case.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1979 Mar-Apr, 87(2), 212 - 21
Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis: a clinical and pathogenic enigma; Miller RH et al.; Rhinoscleroma is a chronic, slowly progressive, infectious disease of the respiratory tract that can produce disability and death, if untreated . Once considered an anomaly in the United States, the disease is now seen more frequently in this country, owing to increased travel from endemic areas . This report presents a comprehensive review of the several types of therapy that have been published in the literature . The results of a clinical experiment are also presented.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Mar, 137(3), 1282 - 9
Relation between the adenylylation state of glutamine synthetase and the expression of other genes involved in nitrogen metabolism; Goldberg RB et al.; We have partially characterized the biochemical parameters of glutamine synthetase from Klebsiella pneumoniae and have shown that the differential affinity of adenylylated and unadenylylated glutamine synthetase for adenosine diphosphate provides a convenient means of determining the adenylylation state . Using this assay procedure, we examined the relationship between the adenylylation state and the expression of other genes involved in nitrogen assimilation . We observed no correlation between the adenylylation state and the expression of histidase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and urease in aerobic cultures.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Mar, 137(3), 1127 - 33
Enzymes of agmatine degradation and the control of their synthesis in Klebsiella aerogenes; Friedrich B et al.; The degradation of agmatine to succinate by Klebsiella aerogenes occurs in five steps . The enzyme catalyzing the first step, agmatinase, is induced by agmatine . The enzymes catalyzing the second and third steps, putrescine aminotransferase and 4-aminobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase, are induced by putrescine and also by their product, 4-aminobutyrate . The enzymes catalyzing the fourth and fifth steps, 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase and succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, are induced by 4-aminobutyrate . This compound also serves as gratuitous inducer of the catabolic acetylornithine aminotransferase . The formation of the enzymes responsible for agmatine degradation is regulated not only by induction, but also by catabolite repression and activation by glutamine synthetase.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Feb 25, 254(4), 1000 - 2
The configuration and location of the ribosidic linkage in the prosthetic group of citrate lyase (Klebsiella aerogenes); Oppenheimer NJ et al.; The structure of the prosthetic group of citrate lyase (Klebsiella aerogenes) was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry . The spectra at 360 MHz of the nucleoside moiety (2'-ribosyladenosine) show the absence of 2'-hydroxyl proton, thus confirming the 2' position as the site of attachment of the second ribose moiety to the dephospho-CoA . This glycosidic linkage is found to be alpha(1" leads to 2') and is identical to that of poly(ADP-ribose) . Studies of permethylation products by mass spectrometry support the above conclusion regarding the location of the ribosidic linkage.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1979 Feb, 37(2), 274 - 8
Histamine production by Klebsiella pneumoniae and an incident of scombroid fish poisoning; Taylor SL et al.; A histamine-producing strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from a sample of tuna sashimi implicated in an outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning . None of the other nine gram-negative bacterial strains isolated from the tuna sashimi was capable of equivalent histamine production . Bacterial histamine production was monitored in a tuna fish infusion broth (TFIB), and the implicated K . pneumoniae was capable of producing 442 mg of histamine per 100 g of tuna in TFIB in 7 h under controlled incubation conditions . Only 12 of 50 other K . pneumoniae strains, representing 5 distinct biochemical types, which had been originally isolated from foods, were able to produce such levels of histamine in TFIB . No correlation was found between histamine production and other biochemical characteristics or antibiotic resistance . Of the 12 histamine-producing strains, 11 belonged to type 2, which is characterized as indole negative with positive reactions in the urea and Voges-Proskauer tests . However, only 50% of the type 2 strains examined produced high levels of histamine in TFIB . Additionally, the implicated K . pneumoniae strain and one other strain belonged to type 1, which is characterized by positive reactions in the indole, urea, and Voges-Proskauer tests.

Infect Immun, 1979 Feb, 23(2), 232 - 8
Transfer by bone marrow cells of increased natural resistance to Klebsiella pneumoniae induced by lipopolysaccharide in genetically deficient C3H/He mice; Galelli A et al.; In a previous study we demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide failed to elicit nonspecific resistance in C3H/He lipopolysaccharide low-responder mice against Klebsiella infection in contrast to its activity in a closely related histocompatible high-responder subline, C3HeB/Fe . Complete restoration of lipopolysaccharide-induced protection against 10(5) Klebsiella was obtained in the present study by transferring bone marrow from high-responder mice to the highly deficient C3H/He mice . The ability of C3H/He mice to clear and destroy bacteria in 5 h was also transferred by C3HeB/Fe marrow cells . In contrast, when high-responder C3HeB/Fe mice were reconstituted with low-responder bone marrow, the clearance and destruction of K . pneumoniae were similar to what is observed in the high-responder strain, but survival was only temporary . Collectively, our data show that the failure of C3H/He mice to respond to lipopolysaccharide with nonspecific immunity is due to a defect in two types of bone-marrow-derived cells--radioresistant and radiosensitive.

S Afr Med J, 1979 Jan 20, 55(3), 93 - 4
Asthma, high-dose corticosteroids and Klebsiella meningitis; Buchanan N et al.; A side-effect of high-dose corticosteroid therapy, namely the development of Kebsiella meningitis, in an asthmatic patient is reported . The possible mechanisms involved are discussed.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1979, 29(12a), 2014 - 7
{Experience with the combination mezlocillin/oxacillin in severe bacterial infections in a children's surgical ward (author's transl)}; Kurz R; Severe bacterial infections accompanying conditions during childhood which demand for surgical intervention mostly are caused by Staph . aureus, E . coli, Klebsiella/Aerobacter or Ps . aeruginosa . 20 patients, 10 of them suffering from a putrid peritonitis, showed a good efficacy of Optocillin (Bay 1-1330), a combination of 6-((R)-2-{3-methylsulfonyl-2-oxo-imidazolidine-1-carboxamido}-2-phenyl-acetamido)-penicillanic acid sodium salt (mezlocillin, Baypen) and 5-methyl-3-phenyl-4-isoxazolylpenicillin (oxacillin, Stapenor), in 85% . Bacteria were eliminated in 79%.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1979, 19(5), 343 - 7
{Occurrence of pyruvic acid in capsular polysaccharides (K antigens) of klebsiellas}; Nimmich W; The capsular polysaccharides of 77 Klebsiella K-types were analysed for the presence of pyruvic acid . One half of the polysaccharides investigated were found to contain between 1.3 and 12% of the keto acid . A comparison between the analyses performed and the calculated values from some pyruvic acid containing polysaccharides of known structure showed that there is only in 5 out of 10 cases a good correlation with a regular substitution of the oligosaccharide repeating units.

Prog Pediatr Surg, 1979, 13, 85 - 8
Causes of death in 31 newborn infants with myelomeningoceles; Spier J et al.; Eight of the ten premature infants died during the first ten days . Six of these were in poor general condition with cyanosis, respiratory distress or aspiration of amniotic fluid . One child died after a fit before he was operated upon for his myelomeningocele . Ventricular haemorrhages were found in two premature infants . Seven of the premature infants died of an infection . In 23 infants the myelomeningocele was not covered by a membrane . Approximately 75% of the infants, i.e . 15, died during the first week of life . A meningitis was found in five infants; in four cases it was due to E . coliand in one, due to klebsiella . It, therefore, appears from studying our case material that deaths in newborn infants with myelomeningocele depends on the following facts: 1) maturity, 2) associated malformations, 3) whether the myelomeningocele is covered by a membrane or not.

Biochem J, 1979 Jan 1, 177(1), 21 - 8
Accumulation of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase by axenically grown amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum; Hames BD et al.; Amoebae of the slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum AX2 possess only low UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase activity when grown on autoclaved Klebsiella aerogenes (approx . 30 units/mg of protein), but accumulate the enzyme to approx . 150-200 units/mg of protein during vegetative growth in axenic medium . The vegetative accumulation of UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase by axenically grown cells is prevented if autoclaved K . aerogenes are included in the axenic medium, suggesting the absence of a specific inducer . Affinity chromatography using anti-(UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase) antibody and sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicate that the enzyme accumulated during axenic growth and that normally accumulated during development are immunologically cross-reactive and that both are composed of two subunits with mol.wts . 55,600 and 57,500 present in approximately equal amounts in the active enzyme.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Jan-Feb, 1(1), 134 - 43
Penetration of cefoxitin into cerebrospinal fluid and treatment of meningitis caused by gram-negative bacteria; Nair SR et al.; Two patients with meningitis caused by antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were treated successfully with intravenous cefoxitin plus oral probenecid . A total of 25 patients with central nervous system disorders that required a diagnostic spinal tap were also given cefoxitin, with or without probenecid, for determination of the degree of penetration into cerebrospinal fluid . In patients with uninflamed meninges, little or no cefoxitin entered after a single dose of 4-6 g . After three doses of 4 g each over a 6-8-hr period, penetration was considerable (average, 7% of the simultaneous serum level) . In patients with inflamed meninges, a similar concentration was achieved rapidly after a single 2-g dose . After a day of therapy, cerebrospinal fluid levels equivalent to 30%-70% of the simultaneous serum levels were found; as the inflammation subsided, cerebrospinal fluid levels fell to around 15% of those in serum . Probenecid did not appear to influence greatly the degree of penetration.

Infection, 1979, 7 Suppl 6, 615 - 6
{Influence of cefaclor on experimental pyelonephritis (author's transl)}; Ritzerfeld W; A comparative study on the antibiotic activity of cefaclor and cephradine was performed in an infection and therapy model of acute pyelonephritis in the rat . Pathogens were Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae . The antibiotics, which were administered orally, both had a pronounced effect in comparison to the untreated control group . Cefaclor was superior to cephradine in infections caused by K . pneumoniae.

Infection, 1979, 7 Suppl 6, 543 - 6
{Subinhibitory activity of cefaclor and cephalexin (author's transl)}; Shah PM et al.; The determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), which is usually performed after 18 to 24 hours of incubation, results in the case of cefaclor in a false picture of the actual activity . Cefaclor is chemically so unstable that after 24 hours only 2-5% of the substance is microbiologically active . In order to compare the activity of cefaclor and cephalexin, the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of both antibiotics against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains was studied by means of turbidimetry . After eight hours the absolute inhibitory concentration of cefaclor was lower than that of cephalexin with both methods . At the same time the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of both antibiotics was equal . Automatic measurement over 20 hours showed at the end of the experiment a higher MIC, and also a higher subinhibitory range, for cefaclor than for cephalexin . In our opinion the absolute inhibitory concentration after eight hours should be the criterion used to evaluate the effectiveness of cefaclor and cephalexin, and not the MIC which is usually used . The eight-hour criterion should also be applied in clinical use.

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1979, 37(5), 281 - 5
{Bacteriocinotyping of Klebsiella . A new scheme (author's transl)}; Liebana Urena J et al.; A new typing scheme of the genus Klebsiella for studying the production and different sensitivities towards some standard strains is here proposed . Owing to it, 120 Klebsiellae could be classified . The most frequently bacteriocinotypes found were 778 and 768 . The overall amount obtained was of 57 different models of activity . As six clinical experiences have confirmed its efficacy, the practical use may now be faced.

Microbios, 1979, 25(101-102), 187 - 203
Microcalorimetry studies of energy changes during the growth of Klebsiella aerogenes in simple salts/glucose media . 1 Establishment of standard conditions; Nichols SC et al.; The shape of the thermogram and the total heat output of aerobically growing cultures of Klebsiella aerogenes depend on the nature and state of the inoculum, the composition of the growth medium, aeration in the fermentor and in the calorimeter, and the pump rate of the culture through the microcalorimeter cell . Standard conditions of growth and heat measurement have been established which give reproducible thermograms and total heat output . Experimental results using different glucose concentrations are reported and the enthalpy changes for the consumption of glucose and the production of cells have been calculated.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(3), 296 - 306
Taxonomic position of Klebsiella atlantae and Klebsiella edwardsii; Garcia Sabater JF et al.; The taxonomic position of two species of the genus Klebsiella (K . atlantae and K . edwardsii) is being introduced . 211 strains of different origin were studied: 80 strains of K . pneumoniae, 46 strains of K . oxytoca, 50 strains of K . atlantae and 35 strains of K . edwardsii . Sixty biochemical characteristics were determined 40 of these pertaining to carbohydrate metabolism . It was discussed whether both are to be considered species or biotypes of another Klebsiella species, however, by determining citrate as carbon source, by MR test and by tests on malonate, gluconate, methyl-xyloside, 1 (--) sorbose, inulin, amylose, methyl-d-mannoside, glycogen, melezitose, VP test, amygdalin, d-tartrate and gas from glucose, we arrived at the conclusion that both could be considered species of the genus . These conclusions were confirmed by the determination of biotypes of both (according to C . Richard) . Later, we expect to study their participation in human infective processes and their sensitivity by antibiotic therapy.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1979, 24(4), 352 - 63
Physiological characteristic and energy balance of Klebsiella aerogenes in a multistage tower fermentor; Paca J; Biomass growth, consumption of carbon and energy source, specific rates of formation of metabolic byproducts, biomass yield referred to the C-source and to oxygen, respiration rate and the value of RQ were studied in Klebsiella aerogenes CCM 2318 (on a synthetic glucose medium) at different specific growth rates . Maintenance coefficients and the total energy balance of the cultivation process were evaluated for a multistage tower fermentor with a defined interstage mixing . The results pointed to changes in both glucose metabolism and the physiological state of the population, brought about by changes in specific growth rate . As compared with a chemostat, the culture was found to exhibit a different physiological character is stages 1 and 4 despite a considerable interstage mixing.

Arch Microbiol, 1979, 123(3), 259 - 65
Temperature control of nitrogen fixation in Klebsiella pneumoniae; Hennecke H et al.; At growth temperatures above 37 degrees C, Klebsiella pneumoniae does not grow in a medium containing N2 or NO3- as nitrogen sources . However, both the growth in the presence of other nitrogen sources as well as the in vitro nitrogenase activity are not affected at this temperature . The inability to fix N2 at high temperature is due to the failure of the cells to synthesize nitrogenase and other nitrogen fixation (nif) gene encoded proteins . When cells grown under nitrogen fixing conditions at 30 degrees C were shifted to 39 degrees C, there was a rapid decrease of the rate of de novo biosynthesis of nitrogenase (component 1), nitrogenase reductase (component 2), and the nifJ gene product . There was no degradation of nitrogenase at the elevated temperature since preformed enzyme remained stable over a period of at least 3 h at 39 degrees C . Thus, temperature seems to represent a third control system, besides NH4+ and O2, governing the expression of nif genes of K . pneumoniae.

Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(5), 395 - 402
Interferon and cytotoxic factor (cytotoxin) released in the blood of mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis BCG . II . Influence of time after BCG inoculation on production of interferon and cytotoxin by capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae or by bacterial lipopolysaccharide and on hyperreactivity to their lethal effects; Kato N et al.; The time course of the occurrence of hyperreactivity in interferon and cytotoxin responses to the active substance (neutral fraction) of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae (neutral CPS-K) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and of the hyperreactivity to their lethal effects was followed after infection with BCG in SMA and ICR strains of mice . The duration of these hyperreactivities of BCG-infected mice depended on the inoculum doses of BCG . The time patterns of the hyperreactivity to the lethal effects of neutral CPS-K and LPS were similar in both strains of mice, although the maximum toxicity of LPS by the intraperitoneal route in BCG-infected mice on a weight basis was stronger than that of neutral CPS-K . Irrespective of inducer and mouse strain, the time pattern of the hyperreactivity to produce cytotoxin was similar to that of the hyperreactivity to produce interferon . The patterns for these phenomena when neutral CPS-K was used as an inducer were also similar to those when LPS was used . In ICR mice the hyperreactivity in interferon and cytotoxin responses to either neutral CPS-K or LPS decayed significantly earlier than the hyperreactivity to their lethal effects, whereas in SMA mice the occurrence of both types of hyperreactivities seemed to be associated . Therefore, it is suggested that the mechanism for the hyperreactivity in interferon and cytotoxin responses to neutral CPS-K or LPS in BCG-infected mice is not necessarily the same as that for the hyperreactivity to their lethal effects.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1979 Jan-Jun, 71(1-6), 34 - 40
{In vitro antibacterial activity of fosfomycin}; Giola L et al.; We have studied the "in vitro" antibacterial activity of phosphonomycin against 93 freshly isolated bacterial strains . Phosphonomycin posses a good activity mainly against Gram positive bacteria . A marked increase in the antibacterial activity "in vitro" is obtained when phosphonomycin is combined with other antibitoics having a similar mechanism of action (i.e . inhibition of cell-wall synthesis) . We have also determined the frequency of phosphonomycin-resistant mutants in some of the strains tested for antibacterial activity . High frequency of resistant strains have found in Klebsiella spp.

J Reprod Fertil Suppl, 1979, (27), 317 - 20
Isolation of Klebsiella pneumoniae from the urogenital tract of experimentally infected mares; Stratton LG et al.; K . pneumoniae capsule type 68 infused into the uterus of 4 mares was recovered up to 15 weeks after inoculation . The insertion of a tampon for 10 min was more effective than a swab technique in detecting the organism in the uterus . The clitoral fossa and the urethral orifice when sampled by the swab technique were also found to be infected for a comparable period . K . pneumoniae was isolated from the clitoral specimens more often and more consistently than from either urethral or uterine specimens.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss, 1979, 134(1), 100 - 7
A simple method for the separation of tissue-cultured plant cells from unbound bacteria: a demonstration of acquired affinity for bacteria by cells of soy bean; Wilcockson J et al.; Tissue-cultured cells of soy bean, grown in liquid medium and then transferred to an agar substratum in so-called tissue chambers, showed an affinity for the binding of applied bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae) . This binding, which became greater as the plant cells remained on the agar for up to 10 days, was manifested as an increasing resistance of the bacteria to be washed from the plant cells in a standard, gentle and reproducible procedure devised for this purpose . The number of bacteria firmly bound to the cells was determined by the use of 32P-labelled bacteria and was largely independent of the concentration of bacteria in the suspension applied to the tissue-cultured cells.

Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(5), 383 - 94
Interferon and cytotoxic factor (cytotoxin) released in the blood of mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis BCG . I . Enhanced production of interferon and appearance of cytotoxin stimulated by capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae or bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Kato N et al.; Interferon production stimulated by the active substance (neutral fraction) of the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae (neutral CPS-K) in BCG-infected mice was compared with that by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Prior infection with BCG increased the responsiveness of mice to the lethal effect of neutral CPS-K as well as to that of LPS . Associated with this, BCG-infected mice showed a markedly enhanced ability to produce interferon after stimulation not only by LPS but also by neutral CPS-K . In addition, a cytotoxic factor (cytotoxin) was found to be released in the serum of BCG-infected mice after injection of these inducers . The kinetics of production of interferon and cytotoxin stimulated by neutral CPS-K were very similar to those stimulated by LPS . The time pattern of cytotoxin production was not in parallel with that of interferon production . Interferon reached a peak 2 hr and cytotoxin 3 hr after injection with these inducers . Interferon and cytotoxin produced by neutral CPS-K showed essentially the same stabilities to heating at 56 C and to treatment at pH 2 respectively as those produced by LPS . Interferon was inactivated by heating at 56 C more rapidly than cytotoxin . Cytotoxin was inactivated by treatment at pH 2 for 24 hr, whereas interferon activity was well preserved after this treatment . These results suggest that both activities are the result of different substances.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Dec, 242(4), 537 - 46
{Investigations on the antibacterial activity of fosfomycin on DST-agar (author's transl)}; Hirschl A et al.; Since in some European countries the activity of antimicrobial substances are assessed on Disc-Sensitivity-Test (DST)-agar, routinely, it has been investigated whether and under which conditions Fosfomycin might be tested on DST-agar with the agar-dilution and -diffusion technique . A total of 320 strains representing 7 species were used as teststrains, and Mueller-Hinton (MH)-agar was employed as reference medium . On DST-agar the MIC-values were increased for some genera like Klebsiella by a factor of 128, a fact that was explained by the sixfold concentration of antagonistically acting Phosphate in DST-agar . Addition of glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) enhanced the sensitivity towards Fosfomycin only with some species . As the endpoint of growth is difficult to determine on DST-agar its use for agar-dilution tests with Fosfomycin can not be recommended . For agar-diffusion tests, however, this medium may be used provided that a thin film of growth or single colonies within the inhibition zones are being disregarded and that the disc content is increased from 50 microgram as being usual at present to 100 or 200 microgram . Diameters of inhibition zones that were obtained with such discs on DST-agar correlated very well (r = --0,89 und --0,93, respectively) with MIC-values derived from agar-dilution tests on MH-agar (+ G-6-P) . With discs containing only 50 microgram no inhibition zones are formed by strains that should still be classified as "sensitive" (MIC: 8--32 microgram/ml).

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 8(6), 638 - 42
Comparison of bacteriophage typing, serotyping, and biotyping as aids in epidemiological surveillance of Klebsiella infections; Rennie RP et al.; Bacteriophage typing was used to subdivide Klebsiella obtained from patients in a surgical intensive care unit during a 2-year period . The 15 phages employed to type the strains were propagated by a soft-agar layer technique . In all, 23 phage types were found among the 120 clinical strains . The phage types of repeat isolates were reproducible . Only 70% of the strains tested were phage typable, but when used in conjunction with capsular serotyping and biotyping, a much greater subdivision of the Klebsiella strains was achieved . The addition of phage typing to serobiotyping for epidemiological analysis suggested that the number of cross-infecting Klebsiella strains in the intensive care unit was few, but that these strains persisted in the unit for long periods of time and could infect different body sites.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 8(6), 769 - 71
Simultaneous nosocomial outbreaks caused by multiply resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae types 2 and 30; Thiemke WA et al.; Two simultaneous Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreaks resistant to multiple antibiotics are reported . The closely related strains were distinguished by comparing the zone diameters obtained by disk diffusion susceptibility testing but not by interpretations of susceptible, resistant, or intermediate . Similar conclusions were made when minimal inhibitory concentrations were considered . The separation was subsequently confirmed by capsular serotyping into types 2 and 30 . The data presented suggest that routine antimicrobial susceptibility patterns obtained from disk diffusion and/or minimal inhibitory concentrations may serve as an inexpensive and reliable typing system for epidemiological investigations.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 8(6), 704 - 7
Enzyme-linked immunospecific antibody test for detecting antibody to Klebsiella; Rissing JP et al.; The enzyme-linked immunospecific antibody test was performed in standard test tubes and microtiter plates to meausre high-titer antibody against Klebsiella capsular polysaccharide . Initial studies were conducted with rabbit sera; other studies were conducted with the serum of a patient infected with type 9 Klebsiella . Both immunized rabbits and an infected patient disclosed high titers of anticapsular antibody . Control sera from other immunized rabbits and other infected humans failed to show this substantial antibody titer against type 9 Klebsiella . Comparisons between counterimmunoelectrophoresis and indirect immunofluorescence disclosed that the sensitivity of the enzyme-linked immunospecific antibody test for anti-Klebsiella antibody ranged between 400 and 10,000 times that of these tests.

J Virol, 1978 Dec, 28(3), 786 - 94
Lysogenic conversion in Klebsiella pneumoniae: system which requires active immunity regulation for expression of the conversion phenomenon; Satta G et al.; We have previously described Klebsiella pneumoniae MirM7b, which, although stably lysogenic for the inducible and nondefective phages FR2 and AP3, is not immune to superinfection by these same viruses . MirA12b, a strain which is lysogenic for FR2 and AP3 and immune to superinfection, has been derived from MirM7b . The sensitivity of this strain and that of the nonimmune parent to several bacteriophages have been compared in this work . It has been found that, whereas MirM7b is sensitive to coliphages P1, T3, T7, and phiI, MirA12b is fully resistant to all of them . It is shown that phages FR2 and AP3 convert Klebsiella strains to resistance to coliphage P1 and coliphages T3, T7, and phiI, respectively, and cause loss of surface antigens in lysogenic cells . To determine such a conversion, both FR2 and AP3 require expression of immunity to superinfection . This explains the differences that exist between MirM7b and MirA12b in both phage sensitivity and surface antigens . Hypotheses are presented to explain the peculiar need for an active superinfection repressor to express lysogenic conversion.

J Virol, 1978 Dec, 28(3), 772 - 85
Close association between shape alteration and loss of immunity to superinfection in a wild-type Klebsiella pneumoniae stable lysogen which can be both immune and nonimmune to superinfection; Satta G et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae MirM7 is a wild-type strain which grows as cocci at pH 7 and above and as rods at pH 6.5 and below . Cultures of this strain and an auxotrophic derivative, MirM7b, have been found to undergo spontaneous lysis after purification from possible contaminating viruses . Lysates always contained two phages, FR2 and AP3, most often at high titers . FR2 and AP3 plated with the same efficiency on both MirM7b and K59 (another K . pneumoniae strain sensitive to FR2 and AP3) and lysogenized 45 and 54% of the K59-infected cells, respectively . These findings raise the possibility that MirM7b is lysogenic for FR2 and AP3, although nonimmune to their superinfection . The fact that mitomycin C and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine can induce phages FR2 and AP3 from MirM7b confirmed this possibility . When MirM7b was infected with FR2 several strains immune to FR2 and AP3, which were all rod shaped, were obtained . Furthermore, 19 derivatives, rod shaped at all pH's have been isolated from MirM7b . They were all immune to both FR2 and AP3 . From mating experiments between the MirM7b donor derivative, strain M720, and either K59 or MirCV5, a rod-shaped MirM7b derivative cured from the prophages, cysteine recombinants were obtained which were most often (80%) immune to FR2 and AP3 . Nonimmune and still lysogenic recombinants were obtained by mating M720 with a rod-shaped immune MirM7b derivative; the majority of the non-immune strains maintained the rod shape . Five coccus-shaped recombinants were also isolated; they were nonimmune to superinfection . Several physiological properties of strain MirM7b and the other nonimmune coccal recombinants have been studied in comparison with those of the rod-shaped immune derivatives . All of the coccal strains have shown several alterations with respect to the rods . The role of possible derepressed prophage genes in the various physiological alterations of MirM7 is discussed, and the analogies between this system and those of vertebrate cells transformed by proviruses are stressed.

Biotechnol Bioeng, 1978 Dec, 20(12), 1989 - 2005
Procedure for the simultaneous large-scale isolation of pullulanase and 1,4-alpha-glucan phosphorylase from Klebsiella pneumoniae involving liquid-liquid separations; Hustedt H et al.; A procedure for the simultaneous large-scale isolation of pullulanase and 1,4-alpha-glucan phosphorylase from Klebsiella pneumoniae is described . The pullulanase is solubilized from the cell wall by cholate treatment; cells and cell debris are removed by partition in a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-dextran two-phase system and from the upper (PEG) phase of this system the pullulanase is isolated by ultrafiltration and precipitation with N-cetyl,N-,N-,N-trimethyl ammonium bromide to a purity of about 80% with a yield of 70% . The preparations are free of alpha-amylase activity . The cell containing dextran-rich phase is passed through a Manton-Gaulin homogenizer . Then the phosphorylase is separated from the cell debris by partition in a second PEG-dextran system . From the top phase of this system the phosphorylase is isolated by distribution in a PEG-salt two-phase system followed by batch adsorption on carboxymethyl-Sephadex in a yield of 55%, a purity of around 90%, and nearly free of glycosyltransferase activity . All steps in the isolation of the two enzymes can be performed easily in a large scale.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1978 Dec, 86B(6), 313 - 20
More on cross-reactions of Pneumococci and Klebsiella; Heidelberger M et al.; Earlier studies are extended to the higher-numbered K-types of Klebsiella, several of which may now be fitted into the previously found groups . Additional correlations between chemical structure and serological specificity are given, not only among the higher K-types, but also for several which were previously uninterpretable because structures were not known at the time . K1, K5, K6, K7 and K56 are shown to form a related group, although the reasons for their cross-reactivities are not always the same.

Cesk Patol, 1978 Nov, 14(4), 177 - 85
{Morphogenesis of Mikulicz's cells (electron-optic study)}; Bednar B et al.; In a female aged 83 who had been living in Prague for years, a bioptic diagnosis of rhinoscleroma was made . The disease responded well to Septrin treatment . Electron microscopical examination confirmed the histiocytic origin of Mikulicz cells, but cast doubt upon the belief that the large phagocytic cysts in such cells developed by confluence of smaller vacuoles . The examination revealed that the large cystic formations only contained Klebsiellae and a dense finely granular material identical with that of the bacterial capsiles . The small vacuoles found in the vicinity of the large ones never contained bacteria and their contents was either coarsely granular of finely filamentous . Therefore it rather corresponded to degradation products of the original content of the larger phagocytic cysts . The final picture of the Mikulicz cell are macrophages with only small light rounded vacuoles containing mucoid but no Klebsiellae.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Nov, (11), 55 - 9
{Identification and biological characteristics of strains of psychrophilic bacteria isolated from the diarrhea of polar research workers and from the water of Antarctic lakes}; Dusmukhamedov NS et al.; Bacteria of Klebsiella genus and psychrophylic microbes affiliated by morphological and biochemical properties to Bac . psychrosaccharolyticus were isolated in bacteriological examination of diarrhea in 8 of 14 participants of the 12th Soviet Antarctic expedition . Psychrophylic bacteria isolated from the human intestinal contents possessed pathogenicity signs, i.e . these microbes liquefied gelatine, produced a cytotoxic action in the cells line Hep-2, and caused death of 50% chick embryos in infection with a dose of 5 X 10(8) bacteria.

J Med Microbiol, 1978 Nov, 11(4), 501 - 11
Variation in metabolism of biochemical test substrates by Klebsiella species: an epidemiological tool; Barr JG; The variation in metabolism of biochemical test substrates by klebsiella isolates has been demonstrated . It is suggested that this variation is likely to result in false-negative reactions in biochemical tests incubated for short periods . The observations made may explain the reported difficulties in obtaining reproducible results in biotyping Klebsiella strains . Preliminary work suggests that differences in substrate metabolism will provide a means of increasing the sensitivity of methods for the biochemical typing of Klebsiella spp.

South Med J, 1978 Nov, 71(11), 1452 - 3
Bulging (sagging) fissure sign in Hemophilus influenzae lobar pneumonia; Francis JB et al.; A bulging fissure sign was noticed on chest roentgenogram in a patient with H influenzae pneumonia . This sign is usually associated with Klebsiella pneumonia and has also been seen in pneumococcal and plague pneumonia, tuberculosis, mass lesions of the lung, and large lung abscesses . This is thought to be the first report of a bulging fissure sign associated with pneumonia due to H influenzae.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1978 Nov, 5(11), 4055 - 64
Recognition sequence of restriction endonuclease KpnI from Klebsiella pneumoniae; Tomassini J et al.; We have determined the recognition sequence of the restriction endonuclease KpnI, previously isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae . The enzyme cleaves the twofold rotationally symmetric sequence (see book for formula) at the positions indicated by the arrows, producing 3' protruding cohesive ends, four nucleotides in length . The specific cleavage site was unambiguously deduced using both 3' and 5' end analyses of KpnI generated restriction fragments of simian-virus 40 (SV40) DNA (1 site), adenovirus-2 (Ad-2) DNA (8 sites), and a plasmid (pCRI) DNA (2 sites).

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Nov, 84(5), 1133 - 8
A D-serine dehydratase acting also on L-serine from Klebsiella pneumoniae; Kikuchi S et al.; D-Serine dehydratase {EC 4.2.1.14} was purified from a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae 140-fold from crude extract with a yield of 5% . This enzyme catalyzed formation of pyruvate and ammonia not only from D-serine but also from L-serine, and also catalyzed the formation of alpha-ketobutyrate and ammonia from D-threonine . Km values for D-serine, L-serine, and D-threonine were 2.8 mM, 20 mM, and 3.6 mM, respectively . Km for pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was 2.5 micron . The molecular weight was estimated to be 46,000 by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration and 40,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . This enzyme was inducible by D-serine . Induction by casamino acids appeared to depend on the presence of D-serine.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1978 Oct 13, 103(41), 1593 - 7
{Nosocomial infection of hospitalised patients with chemotherapy-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (author's transl)}; Sander J et al.; In a 500-bed general hospital the incidence of highly resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumonia was examined . About 20% of examined patients in the surgical and medical departments were carriers . Spread of the organism was via the hands of personnel and patients as well as various objects . The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, especially ampicillin and cefalotin is thought to be the chief cause of the high incidence of Klebsiella emergence . About 90% of carriers had previously received antibiotics.

Mol Gen Genet, 1978 Oct 4, 165(2), 181 - 9
Genetic and biochemical analysis of mutants induced by bacteriophage Mu DNA integration into Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogen fixation genes; Elmerich C et al.; Polar mutations were obtained by integration of bacteriophage Mu c+ or Mu cts DNA into the Klebsiella pneumoniae nif genes located on plasmid pCE1, a derivative of pRD1 . In addition, nif deletions were isolated from nif::Mu cts plasmids . Complementation data allowed the characterization of twelve nif cistrons, nine corresponding to previously identified genes . Polar effect of Mu DNA insertions suggested the existence of at least six transcription units: 1) nif K, nif D and nif H--2)nif A and nif L--3) nif E and a new gene--4) nif B--5) nif F--6) nif J . Nif K, nif D and nif H, which are most probably the structural genes for nitrogenase, seem to belong to the same operon transcribed from nif H to nif K . This was confirmed by SDS gel autoradiography of pulse labelled proteins . Moreover it was possible to identify, on the autoradiograms, a polypeptide which likely is the product of nif J and whose biosynthesis is under the control of nif A.

Biokhimiia, 1978 Oct, 43(10), 1873 - 82
{Effect of the structure of the nucleoside ligand of cobalamines on their enzymatic properties in a glycerol dehydratase system}; Iakusheva MI et al.; The interaction between 8 adenosyl cobalamine (AdoCbl) analogs modified in adenine and deoxyribose of the nucleoside ligand and glycerol dehydratase from Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 25955 was studied . It was found that araadenosyl-, 3-isoadenosyl-, aristeromycyl- and nebularyl cobalamines possess coenzymic properties . The catalytic activities of these analogs complexes with glycerol dehydratase make up to 110, 36, 30 and 6% of the enzyme activity with the natural cofactor AdoCbl . Benzimidazolribosyl-, toyokamycil-, L-adenosyl- and adenosylethyl cobalamines are effective competitive inhibitors with respect to AdoCbl . All AdoCbl analogs have high affinity for the apoenzyme; their Km and Ki values are close to 10(-7)--10(-8) M . The inactivation kinetics of catalytically active glycerol dehydratase complexes in the absence of substrate were studied . The rate of this process was found to depend on the structure of the analogs . It was shown that inversion of the 2'-OH-group of deoxyribose in AdoCbl results in the increase of Km for the substrate (1,2-propanediol) . The main parameters of the CD spectra for AdoCbl analogs are described.

Arch Surg, 1978 Oct, 113(10), 1149 - 52
Acute cholecystitis in the elderly: a surgical emergency; Morrow DJ et al.; A retrospective review of 88 male patients older than 60 years of age with billiary tract disease showed a mortality of 6.8% . More than 40% of the patients (39 of 88) had acute cholecystitis . Medical therapy failed for almost all of the patients (38 of 39) with acute inflammatory disease and they then required an operation during their initial hospitalization . In this acute disease group, 21% had empyema of the gallbladder, 18% had gangrenous cholecystitis or free perforation of the gallbladder, and 15% had subphrenic or liver abscesses . Escherichia coli and Klebsiella were obtained from 78% of the bile cultures, and obligate anaerobes were present in 25% of them . A delay in diagnosis and operation occurred in 33% of the patients with acute disease . Factors responsible for this delay included a deceptively benign clinical presentation and the requirement for prolonged resuscitation . Since response to conservative measures is unlikely in the elderly patient with acute cholecystitis, optimal management consists of resuscitation and prompt operation for control of infection.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1978 Oct, 147(4), 525 - 8
Evaluation of carbenicillin and a comparison of clindamycin and gentamicin combined therapy in penetrating abdominal trauma; O'Donnell V et al.; Results of this study suggest that an antibiotic or antibiotics to be effective in abdominal trauma must cover both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . A single drug, such as carbenicillin, appears to serve this purpose . If one is allergic to penicillin, then clindamycin along with gentamicin can be used . The routine use of an aminoglycoside in abdominal trauma is unnecessary . Aminoglycoside should be added to carbenicillin therapy only in patients with Klebsiella infections . Furthermore, we also support the recommendation made by others that antimicrobial therapy of abdominal trauma should begin preoperatively.

J Hyg (Lond), 1978 Oct, 81(2), 219 - 25
Klebsiella serotyping by counter-current immunoelectrophoresis; Palfreyman JM; The development of a Klebsiella serotyping method by counter-current immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) is described . Antisera were prepared against the capsular antigens of 72 type strains and tested for the specificity and strength of their precipitin reactions with antigens from homologous and heterologous serotypes . All antisera produced strong reactions with their homologous antigen: when diluted to titre 63 were highly specific, 3 cross-reacted strongly and 6 weakly with one other antigen . Pools of antisera for screening purposes were constructed on the basis of common crossreactions: component serotypes of each pool could be detected strongly and specifically . The technique is simple to perform, fairly rapid, and economical in the use of antisera . Results can be read easily and quickly and the intensity of cross-reactions compared directly . The technique appears to be more specific and is less time consuming than the Quellung method, but further assessment of its efficacy in typing routine clinical cultures is necessary.

Infect Immun, 1978 Oct, 22(1), 5 - 9
Antibody-independent interaction of the first component of complement with Gram-negative bacteria; Loos M et al.; The interaction of the first component of complement with two serum-sensitive strains of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae was studied . It could be demonstrated that highly purified C1, free of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M, binds to E . coli or K . pneumoniae . C1 binding was also found with specifically absorbed human serum, after incubation of bacteria with normal serum in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate or agammaglobulinemic serum; the number of C1 molecules taken up by the bacteria was not influenced, indicating that C1 binding was independent of naturally occurring antibodies . C1 bound to bacteria was still able to cleave C4, the natural substrate of C1 . From these observations, it is concluded that C1 in an enzymatically active state can be bound directly to bacteria independently of antibody.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Oct, 136(1), 267 - 79
Regulation and characterization of protein products coded by the nif (nitrogen fixation) genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Roberts GP et al.; Two hundred and thirty-five Nif- strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were characterized by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Forty-two of these strains were tested further by in vitro acetylene reduction assays . By these techniques, nine nif-coded polypeptides were identified, and eight of these were assigned to specific nif genes . Nitrogenase component I required nifK and nifD, which coded for the beta and alpha subunits, and nifB, -E, and -N were required for the iron-molybdenum cofactor, which is a part of the active site of nitrogenase . nifH coded for the structural protein of component II, and nifM and nifS products seemed to be necessary for the synthesis of an active component II . There were two genes, nifF and nifJ, that were required for N2 fixation in vivo but not for N2 fixation in vitro . There were at least two cases (nifE and nifN, nifK and nifD) of two proteins that seemed to require each other for stability in vivo . Regulation of N2 fixation is apparently complex, and this is reflected by the assignment of regulatory functions to the gene products of nifA, nifL, nifK, nifD, nifH, and NIFJ.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Oct, 136(1), 253 - 66
Fine-structure mapping and complementation analysis of nif (nitrogen fixation) genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae; MacNeil T et al.; Four hundred and eighty-nine independent Nif- strains containing 260 point, 130 millimicron-induced, and 99 deletion mutations in nif in the Klebsiella pneumoniae chromosome were isolated . Three hundred and ninety insertion and point mutations were mapped with millimicron-induced deletions carried on 44 plasmids derived from pTM4010, a recombinant R factor containing the his-nif region of K . pneumoniae . The 99 chromosomal deletions in the nif region were mapped with 69 derivatives of pTM4010 carrying insertion and point mutations in nif . Complementation analysis between 84 derivatives of pTM4010 carrying nif mutations and Rec- derivatives of the 390 Nif- mutants identified 14 genes . The nif mutations were ordered into 49 deletion groups with a gene order of his...nifQBALFMVSNEKDHJ . Complementation analysis of millimicron-induced, amber, frameshift, and deletion mutations indicates there are five polycistronic and two monocistronic operons: nifQ nifB, nifA nifL, nifF, nifM nifV nifS, nifN nifE, nifK nifD nifH, and nifJ . Transcription is from right to left in all polycistronic operons.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Oct, 136(1), 247 - 52
6-cyanopurine, a color indicator useful for isolating mutations in the nif (nitrogen fixation) genes of Klebsiella pneumoniae; MacNeil D et al.; 6-Cyanopurine (6-CP) can be used as a color indicator for certain classes of nif (N2 fixation) mutations in Klebsiella pneumoniae . Under N2-fixing conditions, Nif+ colonies and most Nif- colonies are purple on media containing 6-CP . Twenty-two Nif- mutants with altered color on medium containing 6-CP were isolated . All white mutants contained mutations in the regulatory genes, nifAA-nifL . Mutants which were more darkly colored than the wild type had mutations distributed among six nif genes . Medium with 6-CP was used to isolate Nif- mutants with deletions internal to the nif genes, and 6-CP was used to identify strains depressed for nitrogenase synthesis in the presence of NH4+.

Infect Immun, 1978 Oct, 22(1), 275 - 81
Nonhuman primate model for the study of respiratory Klebsiella pneumoniae infection; Berendt RF et al.; Squirrel monkeys were inoculated by the intratracheal inoculation of 700 Klebsiella pneumoniae organisms and developed lobar pneumonia in about 24 h . Characteristic clinical findings were fever, anorexia, and coughing . Laboratory findings included leukocytosis or leukopenia (with the latter more prominent in ultimately fatal infections), bacteremia, and shedding of bacteria into the pharynx . Infected monkeys showed increased plasma lysozyme activity as well as increased plasma ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and alpha1-antitrypsin . The mortality rate was 60%, and the mean time of death was 50.5 h . Pathologically, the disease spread by means of Kohn's pores and other pathways that generally did not involve airways as a means of dissemination until about 30 h . Squirrel monkeys seem to be better models for human respiratory K . pneumoniae infection than rats or mice.

Mol Gen Genet, 1978 Sep 20, 165(1), 103 - 11
Polarity of mutations induced by insertion of transposons Tn5, Tn7 and Tn10 into the nif gene cluster of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Merrick M et al.; Three new genes nifM, nifI and nifN have been mapped in the nif gene cluster of Klebsiella pneumoniae and a fourth gene nifJ has been confirmed as being a separate cistron . Polar nif mutations were obtained by transposition of Tn7 to plasmid pRD1, and of Tn5 and Tn10 to plasmid pMF100, a derivative of pRD1 . Complementation analysis of the nif::Tn mutants led to the identification of at least six transcriptional units: nifB; nifA; nifJ; nifH, nifD and nifK; nifE and nifI; nifN, nifM and nifF . Biochemical and genetic evidence suggest that the three genes nifH, nifD and nifK, which are probably the structural genes for nitrogenase, belong to the same operon and are transcribed from nifH to nifK . A polypeptide with a molecular weight of approximately 120,000 is presumed to be the nifJ product.

Ann Sclavo, 1978 Sep-Oct, 20(5), 713 - 7
{"Klebsiellae" infections (author's transl)}; Menduni P et al.; Results are presented on the frequency of Klebsiellae recovery from biologic materials (urines, pleura or peritoneal exudates, cerebrospinal fluids, blood specimens) examined during one year . Tobramycin was the antibiotic with the highest in vitro activity against the isolates.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Sep, 36(3), 536 - 8
Primary Klebsiella identification with MacConkey-inositol-carbenicillin agar; Bagley ST et al.; MacConkey-inositol-carbenicillin agar has successfully been used as a primary selective medium for Klebsiella enumeration . With pure cultures, nearly 100% recovery of Klebsiella was observed by membrane filtration . With environmental samples using membrane filtration, 95% of typical pink- to red-colored colonies were verified as Klebsiella, as opposed to only 1% of yellow background colonies . Recovery of Klebsiella on MacConkey-inositol-carbenicillin agar was as good or better than on mEndo agar LES (Difco Laboratories) . Recovery and percent colony confirmation with MacConkey-inositol-carbenicillin agar were greater than for other proposed Klebsiella selective media.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Sep, 138(3), 293 - 8
Analysis of increasing antibiotic resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae relative to changes in chemotherapy; O'Callaghan RJ et al.; Three antibiotic-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae responsible for outbreaks of systemic infection in a hospital nursery were analyzed . Each organism emerged after prolonged use of a drug to which it was resistant . The first strain (RO16) produced neomycin phosphotransferase and contained three plasmids with molecular weights of 24, 25, and 30 X 10(6) daltons, respectively . Resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, neomycin, and kanamycin was transferred by conjugation at a frequency of 10(-6) . The second strain of K . pneumoniae (RO106) produced gentamicin adenyltransferase and maintained aminoglycoside resistance only when propagated in antibiotic-containing medium . DNA analyses revealed eight species of plasmid DNA: one species with a molecular weight of 70 X 10(6) daltons apparently accounted for conjugal transfer of resistance to ampicillin, carbenicillin, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin . The third strain (RO180) was resistant primarily to colistin and lacked plasmids . Control of the outbreak due to this strain was achieved by aminoglycoside therapy.

Immunology, 1978 Sep, 35(3), 511 - 8
Competition of the actions of antigen and polyclonal B-cell activator in the induction and amplification of B-memory cell function; Nakashima I et al.; Using the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPS-K) as a polyclonal B-cell activator (PBA) and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as a T-dependent antigen, the correlation of the actions of PBA and T-dependent antigen on B cells in induction and amplification of immunological memory was studied . B-memory cell function, as judged by anti-SRBC responsiveness in vitro of spleen cells of CPS-K, was amplified by the secondary injection of SRBC into SRBC-primed mice, whereas it was decreased markedly by injection of CPS-K . When CPS-K was injected simultaneously with, or 1 or 2 days before the secondary injection of SRBC, B-memory cell function was also decreased markedly . On the other hand, CPS-K did not inhibit induction of B-memory cell function when injected simultaneouly with the primary injection of SRBC . However, CPS-K inhibited induction of B-memory cell function when injected 3 days before the primary injection of SRBC . The inhibition by CPS-K of amplification of B-memory cell function in response to SRBC when CPS-K was injected simultaneously with the secondary injection of SRBC occurred markedly in mice primed with SRBC 8 days or longer before the secondary injection, whereas it was not detectable in mice primed 3 days before . It is concluded that the CPS-K-mediated signal and the SRBC-mediated signal act competitively on the same subpopulations of B cells in induction and amplification of memory, and that the susceptibility of B cells to the CPS-K-mediated negative signal changes correspondingly with their maturation stage.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Aug, 135(2), 726 - 9
Coenzyme B12-dependent diol dehydratase: regulation of apoenzyme synthesis in Klebsiella pneumoniae (Aerobacter aerogenes) ATCC 8724; Toraya T et al.; Immunochemical studies demonstrated that Klebsiella pneumoniae (Aerobacter aerogenes) ATCC 8724 produces only a single diol dehydratase whether grown on glycerol or on 1,2-propanediol . The enzyme was subject to induction by 1,2-diols and to catabolite repression reversed by cyclic AMP.

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1978 Jul-Aug, 35(4), 679 - 86
{Osteomyelitis in the newborn}; Vargas Origel A et al.; The study included 17 cases of osteomyelitis in the newborn period, admitted through a period of 10 years . Males showed a rate of 1.8:1 over females . The possible port of entry was established in 11 cases . The most important clinical signs were: edema, erythema, hypomotility and fluctuation . In one third of the cases, systemic infection signs were eident and in 4 cases, confirmation resulted from blood cultures positive to gram-negative germs . The germ most frequently isolated in the secretion was S . aureus, followed by Klebsiella . The analysis included the pathogenesis that explains the high percentage of articular participation (65%) and the presence of multiple foci which, together with other characteristics, make osteomyelitis at this age, different from that seen during other stages of life in terms of diagnosis, management and prognosis.

Klin Padiatr, 1978 Jul, 190(4), 372 - 6
{"Hepatoportal pneumatosis with pneumatosis intestinalis in the neonate" (author's transl)}; Hegenbarth R et al.; A fullterm newborn infant two weeks of age, suffering from congestive heart failure due to a large patent ductus arteriosus, deteriorated suddenly presenting with a paralytic ileus . Radiographically diffuse intestinal pneumatosis and gas in the portal vein system could be shown . A mechanical reason was excluded by laparotomy shortly after which the infang died . Out of blood Klebsiella pneumonia could be grown . A survey of the literature on the syndrome of pneumatosis intestinalis and gas embolization into the portal vein system in the neonatal age group disclosed 41 cases . Based on this material etiology radiological features, differential diagnosis, prognosis and treatment is discussed in detail.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Jul, 75(7), 3395 - 9
Enhancement of the neonate's nonspecific immunity to Klebsiella infection by muramyl dipeptide, a synthetic immunoadjuvant; Parant M et al.; N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (muramyl dipeptide) and certain derivatives that are structural analogs of part of the bacterial peptidoglycan monomer have been shown to be adjuvant active and to enhance the nonspecific immunity of adult mice infected by Klebsiella pneumoniae . In the present study muramyl dipeptide and two other synthetic analogs were found to be active in newborn mice . This activity could be demonstrated after administration by subcutaneous or even by oral route . In contrast to what was observed after treatment by lipopolysaccharide, 8-day-old mice were definitively protected against bacterial challenge by these glycopeptides . Therefore such molecules could have a great value in view of studying and correcting the neonate's unresponsiveness.

Biochem J, 1978 Jul 1, 173(1), 277 - 90
Electron-paramagnetic-resonance studies on nitrogenase of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Evidence for acetylene- and ethylene-nitrogenase transient complexes; Lowe DJ et al.; Klebsiella pneumoniae nitrogenase exhibited four new electron-paramagnetic-resonance signals during turnover at 10 degrees C, pH7.4, which were assigned to intermediates present in low concentrations in the steady state . 57Fe-substituted Mo--Fe protein showed that they arose from Fe--S clusters in the Mo--Fe protein of nitrogenase . The new signals are designated: Ic, g values at 4.67, 3.37 and approx . 2.0; VI, g values at 2.125, 2.000 and 2.000; VII, g values at 5.7 and 5.4; VIII, g values at 2.092, 1.974 and 1.933 . The sharp axial signal VI arises from a Fe4S4 cluster at the --1 oxidation level . This signal was only detected in the presence of ethylene and provides the first evidence of an enzyme--product complex for nitrogenase . {13C}Acetylene and {13C}ethylene provided no evidence for direct binding of this substrate and product to the Fe--S clusters giving rise to these signals . The dependence of signal intensities on acetylene concentration indicated two types of binding site, with apparent dissociation constants K less than 16 micron and K approximately 13mM . A single binding site for ethylene (K=1.5mM) was detected . A scheme is proposed for the mechanism of reduction of acetylene to ethylene and inhibition of this reaction by CO.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Jun, 240(4), 497 - 502
Electronmicroscopic finding of surface structure and capsular swelling reaction of a strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae; Takahashi M et al.; To investigate a capsular swelling reaction of the strain K-9 of Klebsiella pneumoniae, possessor of large capsule, ultra-thin sections of the organisms were stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and were treated with rabbit antiserum . The ultra-thin sections of above stained organisms showed spike-like structure in outmost layer of the cell wall . When they were treated with rabbit antiserum, the outmost layers of the organisms was surrounded by a zone of oval to round polymorphous vesicular structure which covered the spike-like appendages . These findings were assumed being capsular swelling reaction of these organisms . However, when they were treated with rabbit antiserum which was previously absorbed with the polysaccharide surface antigen, polymorphous vesicular structures did not appear and sharp spiked structures issuing from the cell wall were exposed.

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