Streptococcal

Arch Intern Med, 1988 Mar, 148(3), 727 - 9
Necrotizing fasciitis in adults due to group B streptococcus . Report of a case and review of the literature; Riefler J 3rd et al.; Necrotizing fasciitis is an uncommon severe infection involving subcutaneous tissues and advancing along fascial planes . Group B streptococcal infections occur disproportionately in diabetics and pregnant women . Although fasciitis secondary to group B streptococcus has been described in infants and adult women in the postpartum period, we report the first case, to our knowledge, of group B streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis in an adult diabetic unrelated to obstetric complications.

Arch Intern Med, 1988 Mar, 148(3), 641 - 5
Group B streptococcal sepsis in adults and infants . Contrasts and comparisons; Opal SM et al.; Group B streptococcal infection may result in significant morbidity and mortality in both infants and adults . The experience with group B streptococcal disease was analyzed at one medical center over a ten-year period from 1975 to 1984 . Streptococcus agalactiae bacteremia was observed in 29 adults and 26 infants, with an attack rate of 0.2 cases per 1000 adult admissions and 3.2 cases per 1000 live births, respectively . The majority of adult infections apparently occurred as a result of nosocomial acquisition and was associated with a high mortality rate of 38% . Risk factors for group B streptococcal sepsis in adults include diabetes mellitus, malignancy, and hepatic failure . The majority (73%) of neonatal cases occurred within seven days of birth and occurred in a setting of maternal fever, prolonged rupture of membranes, or prematurity . The mortality rate in infants was remarkably low at only 15% . Fatalities occurred in both adults and infants, despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy . Infection control strategies against group B streptococcus must address potential nosocomial dissemination in adults as well as vertical transmission in infants.

J Dent Res, 1988 Mar, 67(3), 588 - 91
Streptococcal adherence on various restorative materials; Satou J et al.; The adherence of Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10556, S . sanguis ATCC 10557, S . mutans Ingbritt, and S . mutans OMZ 176 to the surfaces of composite resins, amalgam alloys, and a Au-Ag-Pd alloy was measured . Adhesion was correlated with values for hydrophobicity and zeta-potential of the bacteria and the restorative materials . The hydrophobicity of the restoratives showed a positive correlation between the numbers of adherent S . sanguis cells, suggesting that hydrophobic interactions are important for the adherence of this bacterial species . In contrast, the numbers of adherent S . mutans cells showed a positive correlation with the zeta-potential of the restoratives, suggesting that electrostatic interactions are important in adherence of this bacterium.

J Rheumatol, 1988 Mar, 15(3), 517 - 9
Emphysematous septic arthritis in multiple joints due to Streptococcus milleri; Serushan M et al.; A 26-year-old man with acute leukemia, treated with chemotherapy, developed emphysematous septic arthritis, due to Streptococcus milleri, affecting the right knee and both shoulders . A review of the literature revealed that intraarticular gas formation is a rarely reported complication of septic arthritis . This could be the 2nd reported case of emphysematous septic arthritis due to S . milleri.

Biochimie, 1988 Mar, 70(3), 411 - 22
Phage resistance in lactic acid bacteria; Sanders ME; The interactions between lactic acid bacteria and their phages are commercially significant . Current research has focused on the elucidation of the mechanisms and genetics of phage resistance . Phage resistance genes have been linked to plasmid DNA for Streptococcus lactis and Streptococcus cremoris, and preliminary studies suggest the operation of mechanisms such as the prevention of phage adsorption, restriction/modification, and abortive infection . Some phage resistance plasmids can be conjugally transferred, providing a means of dissemination among phage-sensitive strains for the construction of phage-resistant starter cultures.

Biochimie, 1988 Mar, 70(3), 375 - 9
Role of malolactic fermentation in lactic acid bacteria; Renault P et al.; Although decarboxylation of malate to lactate by malolactic enzyme does not liberate biologically available energy (e.g., ATP, NADH), the growth rate of many malolactic bacteria is greatly enhanced by malolactic fermentation . The deacidification of the medium due to malate dissipation cannot fully account for this situation . The chemiosmotic theory postulates that another form of energy could generated by translocation of protons through the membrane coupled to end-product efflux . Konings et al . showed that this theory is indeed applicable to lactate efflux in Streptococcus cremoris at pH 7.0 . A similar mechanism could account for the observed increased activity in malolactic bacteria . The study in wild type and mutant strains of Streptococcus lactis unable to carry out malolactic fermentation led us to the following conclusions: (1) under glucose non-limiting conditions, malolactic fermentation helps to maintain pH of the medium at a certain level; (2) during glucose limited growth, malolactic fermentation could be coupled with an energetic process independent from that mentioned above.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1988 Mar, 64(3), 227 - 33
Microbial spoilage of pre-cooked potato-topped pies; Thomas CJ et al.; The ecological succession of bacteria which developed in pre-cooked potato-topped pies stored at two different temperatures was examined . Bacillus, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus-Micrococcus spp . were the predominant organisms isolated from freshly prepared pies and those stored at 4 degrees and 37 degrees C . None of these groups of bacteria caused significant biodeterioration of pies held at 4 degrees C, but all groups grew well in pies stored at 37 degrees C and achieved counts of ca 10(8)/g of sample . Bacillus spp . were the first group to grow, followed by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus-Micrococcus spp . Growth which occurred at 37 degrees C did so at the expense of glucose, lactate accumulated and the pH of pie components decreased . Amylase activity detected in all pie components during storage was associated with the growth of Bacillus spp . and probably supplemented glucose already present in pies, by hydrolytic cleavage of potato, flour or binder starches . Spoilage caused by growth and activity of the bacteria isolated was not associated with visual signs of biodeterioration, nor production of 'off' odour usually associated with spoilage of meats . These results suggest that pre-cooked potato-topped pies held at inappropriate temperatures represent a potential public health risk.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Mar, 33(3), 203 - 11
{Use of the method of protoplast fusion in the selection of a nisin producer}; Stoianova LG et al.; Experimental data on selection of Streptococcus lactis producing the polypeptide antibiotic nisin with the method of protoplast fusing, one of the modern methods of cell engineering are presented . Four strains of Streptococcus lactis differing in their nisin-producing levels and difficult for protoplasting were used in the study . It was shown possible to transfer them to the protoplast form when respective conditions for their preliminary cultivation and regeneration are provided . Distinctive features of these strains with respect to the antibiotic resistance, sugar fermentation and growth component requirements were revealed . The protoplast fusing yielded hybrids differing from the parent strains by a number of phenotypical features and nisin-synthesizing activity.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 6(2), 107 - 14
Effect of growth of a commercial starter culture on growth of Staphylococcus aureus and thermonuclease and enterotoxins (C1 and C2) production in broth cultures; Otero A et al.; Staphylococcus aureus strains FRI 137 (enterotoxin C1 producer) and FRI 361 and L 2 (enterotoxin C2 producers) were grown alone and in the presence of a mixed commercial starter culture (Streptococcus lactis, Streptococcus cremoris and Streptococcus lactis subsp . diacetylactis) . Lactic acid bacteria had a slight inhibitory effect on S . aureus population and only during the late stages of growth . In contrast, enterotoxin synthesis was strongly inhibited, inhibition at 18 h being 89% (FRI 137), 80% (FRI 361) and 69% (L 2) . Enterotoxin C1 was produced and accumulated during all phases of growth in pure and mixed culture, but associative growth resulted in reduction of enterotoxin C2 after 24-36 h . In mixed culture, high producers of thermonuclease (FRI 137 and L 2) showed an early decrease in enzyme activity followed by an increase, but it never reached levels attained in pure culture . Thermonuclease was detected whenever enterotoxin was detected, but production curves did not parallel each other.

Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1988 Mar, 2(1), 85 - 98
Vaccines for prevention of head and neck infections; Scheifele DW; Many current vaccines are directed against pathogens that infect the upper airway on their way to causing greater damage elsewhere in the body . This article focuses on vaccines against pathogens that contribute importantly to infections of the head and neck per se . The discussion includes vaccines for diphteria, mumps, measles, HIB infections, and infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1988 Mar, 2(1), 149 - 62
The sore throat . Pharyngitis and epiglottitis; Todd JK; Sore throat can be caused by different microorganisms and diseases . Most cases of acute pharyngitis are caused by group A streptococcus or viruses; however, uncommon organisms may be suggested by other clinical information or the persistence of symptoms . A thorough history and physical examination are essential for the appropriate selection of diagnostic tests for sore throat . Routine testing for the uncomplicated case should consist of a pharyngeal culture in most patients, with rapid streptococcal antigen testing only for the more severe cases . Those with positive streptococcal tests should be treated to prevent rheumatic fever and mitigate symptoms in severe cases . Sore throat caused by viruses usually resolves spontaneously . Cases that persist should be thoroughly re-evaluated, with alternative causes being considered . Acute epiglottitis is a medical emergency and requires treatment with appropriate antibiotics for Hemophilus influenzae type b and intubation.

Can J Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 34(3), 332 - 8
The use of bacterial interference to prevent infection; Sprunt K et al.; For decades, bacterial strains of low virulence were occasionally used in man to replace or to block colonization by the more virulent organisms and thereby prevent bacterial infection . This paper reviews the topic and presents recent information on the implantation of strain 215 alpha-hemolytic streptococcus (alpha-strep) in the nasopharynx of neonates in the intensive care unit . A single inoculation of strain 215 can change abnormal colonization of the pharynx to "normal" (alpha-strep predominant) in 48-72 h in most neonates . Following implantation, alpha-strep with strain 215 like characteristics fluctuate among naturally occurring strains of alpha-strep, sometimes persisting in dominance and sometimes decreasing rapidly as new strains appear . Strain 215 can survive in the pharynx during subsequent antibiotic therapy and can be recalled to dominance by such therapy . It seems remarkably stable in vivo . There is no evidence of its nosocomial spread in the nursery . Streptococcus with strain 215 like characteristics occurred naturally in 1-6% of neonates in our intensive care unit . No infection (disease) attributable to strain 215 occurred in implanted infants.

J Dent Res, 1988 Mar, 67(3), 543 - 7
Homology of glucosyltransferase gene and protein sequences from Streptococcus sobrinus and Streptococcus mutans; Russell RR et al.; The sequences of glucosyltransferase genes from Streptococcus sobrinus (gtfI) and Streptococcus mutans (gftB) were compared and show a high degree of homology . There is a 57.7% homology of nucleotides in the genes and a 56.7% homology of amino acids in the deduced protein sequences . The G + C content for the protein-coding region is 43.6% for S . sobrinus and 41.2% for S . mutans . Internal repeating sequences present in both proteins exhibit some difference in sequence pattern.

Z Ernahrungswiss, 1988 Mar, 27(1), 48 - 56
{Stepwise study procedure of sugar substitutes--preliminary study with enzymes . 4 . Glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans AHT}; Forsthuber F et al.; A continuous procedure for the simultaneous enzymatic measurement of the release of free fructose and glucose was adapted to the kinetic conditions of the synthesis of polysaccharides from sucrose by glucosyltransferases from Streptococcus mutans AHT . Initial velocities, Km of sucrose, and the efficiency of the formation of glucans from sucrose can be determined . Longtime incubations with the isolation of soluble and insoluble glucans as an established method were compared with the new procedure . As examples of the effect of sugar substitutes on glucosyltransferases, data on leucrose, nystose, Palatinit, xylitol, leucritol and polyglucose PL-3 are presented . The results provide a preliminary assessment of sugar substitutes such as non-cariogenic sweeteners.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Mar, 170(3), 1123 - 8
Localization and enumeration of fimbria-associated adhesins of Bacteroides loescheii; Weiss EI et al.; Monoclonal antibodies that specifically inhibit coaggregation between Bacteroides loescheii PK1295 and its two gram-positive partners Streptococcus sanguis 34 and Actinomyces israelii PK14 were used to enumerate and localize two distinct types of fimbria-associated adhesins on the surface of B . loescheii . Binding studies with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies indicated that a maximum (Bmax calculated from Scatchard plots) of approximately 400 adhesin molecules specific for S . sanguis and 310 adhesin molecules specific for A . israelii reside on the surface of the cell . Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the adhesins were not an integral part of the fimbrial subunit; rather, they were usually found on the distal portion of the structures arranged in a random fashion.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Mar, 21(3), 309 - 18
Conjugative acquisition and expression of antibiotic resistance determinants in Listeria spp; Vicente MF et al.; Elements encoding various antibiotic resistances were transferred to Listeria species by conjugation with Streptococcus donor strains . Transfer of a conjugative resistance plasmid, pIP501, and of a conjugative transposon, Tn916, occurred at a frequency of about 10(-6) . A previously described conjugative cryptic plasmid, pRYC16, could mobilize a non-conjugative resistance plasmid, pBD10, between Listeria strains . In all cases the resistance determinants were stably-inherited by Listeria and could be retransferred to other members of this genus and to Streptococcus or Erysipelothrix strains by conjugation . Listeria transconjugants expressed resistance to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, kanamycin, tobramycin and amikacin at similar levels to those observed in other plasmid containing Gram-positive organisms.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 54(3), 772 - 6
Amylolytic activity of selected species of ruminal bacteria; Cotta MA; A variety of species of ruminal bacteria were screened for the ability to grow in starch-containing medium and produce amylase . Of those tested, the highest levels of amylase were produced by Streptococcus bovis JB1 and Ruminobacter amylophilus H18 . Other strains that grew well on starch and produced amylase included Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens A38 and 49 and Bacteroides ruminicola 23 and B14 . Varying the carbohydrate source provided for growth resulted in changes in the growth rate and level of amylase produced by these strains . All strains grew rapidly in starch-containing medium, and the rates of growth were generally more rapid than those observed for maltose-grown cultures . For S . bovis JB1, B . ruminicola 23 and B14, and B . fibrisolvens 49 and A38, amylase was produced when growth was on maltose or starch, but this activity was greatly reduced in glucose-grown cultures . The distribution of amylolytic activity between cellular and extracellular fractions was sometimes affected by the carbohydrate provided for growth . If S . bovis JB1 and B . fibrisolvens 49 were grown on starch, amylase was largely associated with cell pellets; however, if grown on maltose these strains produced activities that were almost entirely present in the extracellular fluid fractions . Although not as dramatic, a similar shift in the location of amylase activities was noted for the two B . ruminicola strains when grown on the same substrates . Growth on maltose or starch had little influence on either the predominantly cell-associated activity of B . fibrisolvens A38 or the activity of R . amylophilus H18, which was equally divided between cell pellet and extracellular fluid fractions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biochemistry, 1988 Feb 9, 27(3), 865 - 72
Lipid requirement of the branched-chain amino acid transport system of Streptococcus cremoris; Driessen AJ et al.; The role of the membrane lipid composition on the transport protein of branched-chain amino acids of the homofermentative lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus cremoris has been investigated . The major membrane lipid species identified in S . cremoris were acidic phospholipids (phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin), glycolipids, and glycerophosphoglycolipids . Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was completely absent . Protonmotive force-driven and counterflow transport of leucine was assayed in fused membranes of S . cremoris membrane vesicles and liposomes composed of different lipids obtained by the freeze/thaw-sonication technique . High transport activities were observed with natural S . cremoris and Escherichia coli lipids, as well as with mixtures of phosphatidylcholine (PC) with PE or phosphatidylserine . High transport activities were also observed with mixtures of PC with monogalactosyl diglyceride, digalactosyl diglyceride, or a neutral glycolipid fraction isolated from S . cremoris . PC or mixtures of PC with phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, or cardiolipin showed low activities . In mixtures of PC and methylated derivatives of PE, both counterflow and protonmotive force-driven transport activities decreased with increasing degree of methylation of PE . The decreased transport activity in membranes containing PC could be restored by refusion with PE-containing liposomes . These results demonstrate that both aminophospholipids and glycolipids can be activators of the leucine transport system from S . cremoris . It is proposed that aminophospholipids in Gram-negative bacteria and glycolipids in Gram-positive bacteria have similar functions with respect to solute transport.

J Biol Chem, 1988 Feb 5, 263(4), 2064 - 9
N6-(1-carboxyethyl)lysine formation by Streptococcus lactis . Purification, synthesis, and stereochemical structure; Thompson J et al.; During growth in an arginine-deficient (chemically defined) medium, cells of Streptococcus lactis K1 formed significant amounts of a previously undetected ninhydrin-positive compound . This intracellular compound did not cochromatograph with any of a wide range of amino acids or amino acid analogs tested . However, by two-dimensional thin layer chromatography, the unknown compound migrated close to the recently discovered N5-(1-carboxyethyl)ornithine (Thompson, J., Curtis, M . A., and Miller, S . P . F . (1986) J . Bacteriol . 167, 522-529; Miller, S . P . F., and Thompson, J . (1987) J . Biol . Chem . 262, 16109-16115) . The purified compound behaved as a neutral amino acid and eluted between valine and methionine in the amino acid analyzer . The results of 1H NMR spectroscopy suggested the presence of a lysine backbone and a coupled methyl-methine unit in the molecule, and 13C NMR showed that there were nine carbon atoms, of which two (C-1 and C-7) were carboxyl carbons . The simplest structure compatible with the physicochemical data was that of an alkylated derivative of lysine . The identity of this new amino acid, N6-(1-carboxyethyl)lysine, was confirmed by chemical synthesis . In vivo labeling experiments conducted using L{U-14C}lysine and {epsilon-15N}lysine showed that exogenous lysine served as the precursor of intracellular N6-(1-carboxyethyl)lysine and that the epsilon-amino N atom was conserved during biosynthesis of the lysine derivative . Of the two possible diastereomers (2S,8S or 2S,8R) of N6-(1-carboxyethyl)lysine, comparative 13C NMR spectroscopy established that the amino acid produced by S . lactis K1 was exclusively of the 2S,8S configuration.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 Feb, 85(3), 914 - 8
Molecular evolution of lytic enzymes of Streptococcus pneumoniae and its bacteriophages; Garcia E et al.; A 2.9-kilobase Acc I fragment of the DNA of the pneumococcal bacteriophage Cp-1, containing the cpl gene, hybridizes with the lytA gene encoding the pneumococcal amidase . The nucleotide sequence of the cpl gene of Cp-1, encoding a muramidase (CPL), has been determined . The 3' regions of the cpl and lytA coding sequences show considerable nucleotide sequence homology and the carboxyl-terminal domains of the deduced amino acid sequences of these lysins are quite similar: 73 of the carboxyl-terminal 142 amino acid residues are identical, and of the 69 substitutions, 55 are conservative . Comparisons between CPL, the pneumococcal amidase, and the muramidase of the fungus Chalaropsis sp . (an enzyme that also degrades the pneumococcal cell wall) strongly suggest that the carboxyl-terminal domains of CPL and of the amidase might be responsible for the specific recognition of choline-containing cell walls, as well as for the noncompetitive inhibition of the catalytic activity of these enzymes by the pneumococcal lipoteichoic acid or by high concentrations of choline . In addition, the active center of these enzymes should be located in their amino-terminal domains . Our results suggest an evolutionary relationship between phage and host lysins.

J Dairy Res, 1988 Feb, 55(1), 25 - 32
Histochemical localization and possible antibacterial role of xanthine oxidase in the bovine mammary gland; Collins RA et al.; Xanthine oxidase (XO) was demonstrated to be present in the teat canal and secretory tissue of the bovine mammary gland by histochemical techniques . Homogenates of these tissues were able to replace XO in an antibacterial assay with Streptococcus uberis . The action of XO on its substrate hypoxanthine was shown to provide an essential component for anti-streptococcal activity mediated by lactoperoxidase . A mechanism is proposed whereby the interaction of XO, lactoperoxidase and thiocyanate may provide antibacterial activity in the teat canal.

Carbohydr Res, 1988 Feb 1, 172(2), 195 - 207
Synthesis of a trisaccharide component of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19F; Sugawara T et al.; 2-O-{4-O-(2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl}-alpha,beta-L-rhamnopyranose, a structural component of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19F, has been synthesized by sequential glycosylation reactions using the glycosyl acceptor 2,2,2-trichloroethyl 3,4-di-O-benzyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (prepared from the known 2-O-acetyl-3,4-di-O-benzyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl chloride), and the glycosyl donors 4-O-acetyl-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl chloride and 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-azido-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide (prepared in seven steps from the known methyl 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-alpha-D-altropyranoside) . The corresponding 8-(methoxycarbonyl)octyl glycoside has also been synthesized, by coupling of 8-(methoxycarbonyl)octyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and the sodium salt of 2-O-{4-O-(2-acetamido-4,6-di-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-beta-D- mannopyranosyl)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl}-3,4-di-O- benzyl-alpha,beta-L-rhamnopyranose.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 54(2), 596 - 9
Differentiation of ruminal bacterial species by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using egg yolk antibodies from immunized chicken hens; Ricke SC et al.; Cross-reactivity among four species of ruminal bacteria was examined by using egg yolk antibodies from immunized Leghorn laying hens and an enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay . The effects of the four species on the hens were compared on various days postimmunization . Hens injected with the same bacterial species had similar apparent antibody levels over the entire postimmunization period, but only Bacteroides ruminicola B1(4) and Selenomonas ruminantium D antigens elicited early increases in apparent antibody levels during weeks 2 and 3 . Antibody cross-reactivity was greatly reduced by week 2, except for antibodies against Streptococcus bovis JB1.

Infect Immun, 1988 Feb, 56(2), 518 - 22
Effect of nutritional constraints on the biosynthesis of the components of the phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system in a fresh isolate of Streptococcus mutans; Rodrigue L et al.; A procedure for the purification of enzyme I (EI) and the protein HPr, the general components of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, from Streptococcus mutans serotype c is presented . The method was also applied successfully to the purification of EI and HPr from Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Streptococcus sanguis . Using specific antibodies obtained against the proteins purified from S . mutans DR0001, we determined quantitatively by rocket electrophoresis the cellular levels of EI and HPr in a freshly isolated strain of S . mutans grown under various conditions in continuous culture . The activity of a few specific EIIs was also determined by an in vitro phosphorylation test . Results indicated that maximum EII activities for glucose, mannose, and 2-deoxyglucose were obtained under conditions of glucose limitation, at pH 7.0 and low dilution rate (D = 0.057/h) . Increasing the amount of glucose or the dilution rate (D = 0.40/h) or decreasing the pH from 7.0 to 5.5 resulted in a 1.4- to 24-fold decrease in these activities . The EII activity for fructose was not influenced by the growth conditions in the same way as the other EIIs . The fructose EII was highest at pH 5.5 and at high dilution rate under conditions of glucose or nitrogen limitation and was always repressed at pH 7.0 and at low dilution rates . The intracellular levels of EI were also dependent on the growth conditions . The highest concentration (0.65 nmol/mg of protein) was observed in cells grown under glucose limitation at pH 7.0 and high dilution rate, and the lowest concentration (0.12 nmol/mg of protein) was found in cells grown under glucose excess at pH 7.0 and high dilution rate . The other general component of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, the protein HPr, was not influenced significantly by varying growth conditions.

J Infect Dis, 1988 Feb, 157(2), 245 - 55
The contribution of pneumococcal cell wall to the pathogenesis of experimental otitis media; Ripley-Petzoldt ML et al.; We studied the contribution of pneumococcal cell wall to the pathogenesis of otitis media in chinchillas after middle ear inoculation of killed, encapsulated type 7F Streptococcus pneumoniae; killed, unencapsulated R6 S . pneumoniae; and isolated R6 pneumococcal cell wall . Ears inoculated with encapsulated and unencapsulated pneumococci had significantly higher concentrations of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes and lysozyme in middle ear fluid and developed more epithelial metaplasia and granulation tissue than did saline-inoculated ears . The mean concentration of lysozyme in middle ear fluid was higher in ears inoculated with killed, unencapsulated than encapsulated pneumococci . The middle ear mucoperiosteum of ears inoculated with pneumococcal cell wall showed significantly more polymorphonuclear leukocytes, epithelial metaplasia, subepithelial congestion, and granulation tissue than did control ears . Because nonviable, unencapsulated pneumococci and pneumococcal cell wall caused middle ear inflammation in the chinchilla model of otitis media, it is possible that cell envelope and cell wall components released during bacterial lysis may contribute to chronic otitis media with effusion in humans.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Feb, 71(2), 505 - 12
Effect of mastitis on proteolytic activity in bovine milk; Saeman AI et al.; Proteolytic activity of milk was studied before, during, and after experimental-induced mastitis . An inoculum of Streptococcus agalactiae was infused into one quarter of each udder of six cows to elicit an infection . Bacteriological cultures and SCC of milk were used to monitor infection status . Sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE was used to measure proteolytic activity of milk . Inhibitor 6-amino-n-hexanoic acid was used to determine the relative proportion of plasmin and nonplasmin proteolytic activity of milk . Somatic cell count, total milk proteolytic activity, and nonplasmin proteolytic activity were higher in infected quarters than in quarters preinfection . After elimination of infections, SCC and nonplasmin proteolytic activity decreased to preinfection amounts . Total proteolytic activity of milk decreased after infections were cured but remained significantly higher than preinfection activity . This postinfection proteolytic activity in milk may be due to an increase in milk plasmin activity . Our data suggest that detrimental effects of mastitis on milk quality can continue after infection has been eliminated and milk SCC have returned to low values.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1988 Feb, 41(2), 180 - 95
{Bacteriological, pharmacokinetic and clinical studies on the use of ceftriaxone in the perinatal period}; Cho N et al.; Laboratory studies and clinical evaluation of ceftriaxone (CTRX) were carried out with mothers and infants in perinatal period . The presence of synergistic effect between CTRX and amniotic fluid were studied using a broth dilution method . Stronger effects were recognized when both agents were present together compared to each agent alone by the fact that values of MIC and MBC became closer together for Escherichia coli as well as for Streptococcus agalactiae . Against the growth of E . coli, a synergism was observed, but for S . agalactiae, only an additive effect was found . The placental transmission of CTRX upon the administration was rapid, and the blood CTRX level reached its peak shortly after the intravenous administration of the drug . The transport of the drug into the fetus through placenta was excellent and one dose of 1 g of CTRX gave drug concentrations in the umbilical cord serum and amniotic fluid higher than MIC's against main pathogenic organisms . According to these results, it should be possible to treat or prevent perinatal infections by a dose of one gram per day of CTRX, once or twice daily . Cases of perinatal infections were treated with CTRX . An effective treatment without side effects was obtained . No physical abnormalities nor unusual laboratory test results were recognized in neonates delivered from mothers who received CTRX administration . The penetration of CTRX into mothers' milk was low, thus the drug transfer into neonates through the breast-feeding should not be a problem . It appears, from the above study, that CTRX is a clinically useful antibiotic for the prophylaxis and the treatment of perinatal infections.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1988 Feb, 41(2), 133 - 43
{Fundamental and clinical evaluations of ceftriaxone in neonates}; Sunakawa K et al.; The antibacterial efficacy of ceftriaxone (CTRX) against group B Streptococcus and its clinical efficacy in newborns were examined, and the results obtained are summarized as follows . 1 . MIC's of CTRX against 55 strains of B group Streptococcus from the pregnant vagina were 0.10 micrograms/ml or lower . 2 . Efficacies of CTRX were good to excellent in 8 cases administered for treatment, 3 cases for prophylaxis and 1 for observation of adverse reactions . Observed adverse reactions included diarrhea in 4 cases and vomiting in 2 cases . As abnormal laboratory parameters, eosinophilia and thrombocytosis were observed in 1 case each . 3 . An examination of intestinal bacteria in 9 cases revealed that CTRX gave as much influence to the flora as other third-generation cephems . 4 . An examination for the vitamin K deficiency in 11 cases found a prolongation of prothrombin time (PT) in 3 cases and protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA) II positive in 2 cases . 5 . Testing of platelet aggregation with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in 7 cases showed little influence of CTRX.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1988 Feb, 89(2), 238 - 42
Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae . Report of a case and results of a clinical laboratory proficiency survey in Minnesota; Brummitt CF et al.; An elderly woman with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis relatively resistant (minimum inhibitory concentration, {MIC} = 0.12 micrograms/mL) to penicillin is reported . The occurrence of penicillin-resistant pneumococcal infections is reviewed and management discussed . Because of the importance of recognition of resistant pneumococci, a state-wide clinical laboratory survey was conducted to determine the accuracy of susceptibility testing for this isolate . Of 111 laboratories completing the survey, only 26 performed the 1-microgram oxacillin disk test as recommended by the National Committee for Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) . When laboratories were analyzed according to hospital size, the proficiency in performing the proper susceptibility testing was 55% (6 of 11) for hospitals with more than 400 beds versus 3% (2 of 58) for hospitals with fewer than 100 beds (P less than 0.0001 by Fisher's exact test) . This contrasts with reported surveys by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and reasons for this are explored . Guidelines for laboratory testing of S . pneumoniae are reviewed, and additional study of clinical proficiency with attention to laboratory size is recommended.

J Immunol, 1988 Feb 1, 140(3), 954 - 61
Heart-reactive antibodies in rabbit anti-Streptococcus mutans sera fail to cross-react with Streptococcus mutans; Swartzwelder FJ et al.; Immunization of rabbits with Streptococcus mutans antigens results in the production of serum antibodies that bind in vitro to human, rabbit, and monkey cardiac muscle . Antibodies to heart, however, have also been reported to occur at lower titers in the sera of unimmunized rabbits . In this study, the specificities of heart-reactive antibodies (HRA) in sera of unimmunized and S . mutans-immunized rabbits were compared using indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot, and Bio-Dot immunoassays . Both groups of sera gave striational indirect immunofluorescence-staining patterns on thin sections of native human and monkey cardiac muscle . Western blot analyses revealed that antibodies in normal sera bound 9 to 20 components of human, rabbit, and monkey heart . The major bands had Mr of 205,000, 160,000, 135,000, and 70,000 . Several of the normal sera did not have antibody activity to S . mutans antigens, indicating that these HRA do not cross-react with these bacteria . Although immunization of rabbits with S . mutans caused increased titers of HRA (two to three doubling dilutions), Western blot assays using anti-S . mutans sera showed banding patterns qualitatively similar to those of normal sera on heart extracts . Antibodies to skeletal muscle myosin were detected in both serum groups . Of eighteen normal rabbit sera sixteen had antimyosin titers of 10 to 40, whereas all eighteen anti-S . mutans sera had titers of 10 to 160 . Affinity-purified antimyosin antibodies isolated from anti-S . mutans serum did not bind to S . mutans components . Conversely, affinity-purified antibodies to S . mutans antigens did not bind to myosin or to other cardiac muscle components . Among these were antibodies to the 185-kDa cell wall protein (also known as B, I/II, IF, Spa A, and P1) previously believed to possess antigenic mimicry . HRA were removed from anti-S . mutans sera by absorption with S . mutans but this effect was not specific, because a non-cross-reactive internal standard antibody was also absorbed to the same extent . Because previous evidence for antigenic mimicry between S . mutans and cardiac muscle was based on serum cross-absorption experiments, this immunologic relationship is not substantiated . These results indicated that naturally occurring antibodies to cardiac muscle components are present in the sera of unimmunized rabbits and that immunization with S . mutans does not stimulate production of new heart-reactive antibody, but rather serves to boost antibody production by preexisting clones of self-reactive B-lymphocytes.

Obstet Gynecol, 1988 Feb, 71(2), 198 - 202
Group B streptococcus and preterm rupture of membranes; Newton ER et al.; The effect of cervical group B streptococcus on the conservative management of preterm premature rupture of membranes was examined in 140 consecutive patients . Upon the patient's admission, we obtained cervical cultures for group B streptococcus, genital mycoplasmas, and chlamydia . Patients with and without group B streptococcus were compared . Group B streptococcus patients had earlier rupture of membranes (30.7 versus 31.6 weeks) and shorter latent periods (76.8 versus 138.5 hours) . Intra-amniotic infection (six of 16 versus 26 of 120) and endometritis (four of ten versus three of 94) were significantly more common in group B streptococcus patients . Neonates of mothers positive for group B streptococcus were smaller (1749 +/- 844 versus 2100 +/- 779 g) and more likely to have infectious complications (eight of 16 versus 29 of 120; P less than .01) . Control for the presence of mycoplasmas, chlamydia, listeria, or gonorrhea failed to change the significance of these results . The usual policy was to use intrapartum ampicillin prophylaxis in asymptomatic group B streptococcus patients . However, only four of 16 remained asymptomatic and had latent periods long enough for the results of cultures obtained on admission to be available . We conclude that group B streptococcus significantly complicates the conservative management of preterm premature rupture of membranes and that the effectiveness of intrapartum prophylactic ampicillin may be compromised by awaiting the results of conventional cultures to define colonized patients.

J Infect Dis, 1988 Feb, 157(2), 256 - 63
Nasopharyngeal carriage of antibiotic-resistant pneumococci by children in group day care; Henderson FW et al.; We compared rates of antibiotic resistance in strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae recovered from nasopharyngeal secretions of a group of children studied longitudinally in a research day care center between 1978 and 1985 and recovered from usually sterile body fluids of patients at a tertiary care hospital between 1981 and 1985 . The prevalence of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) resistance was 11.5% in isolates from the hospital, whereas 30.0% of episodes of nasopharyngeal carriage of S . pneumoniae studied in day care children included TMP-SMZ-resistant isolates . The proportion of episodes of colonization with TMP-SMZ-resistant isolates in the day care study increased from 5.4% before 1981 to 39% between 1981 and 1985 . Isolates of S . pneumoniae relatively resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 0.125 micrograms/mL) to penicillin G, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime accounted for 8% of isolates from the hospital and 11.9% of episodes of nasopharyngeal colonization in children in day care . Pneumococci with reduced susceptibility to either TMP-SMZ or a beta-lactam antibiotic were recovered from 68% of 72 children in the day care study.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Feb, 7(1), 69 - 71
Evaluation of roxithromycin (RU-965) versus cephradine in pneumococcal pneumonia; Zeluff BJ et al.; One hundred and sixty black South African gold miners with acute pneumococcal pneumonia were enrolled in a prospective randomized double-blind trial comparing roxithromycin (150 mg 2 X day) with cephradine (1.0 g 2 X day) . Ninety patients with pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae were treated for 5-10 days . Forty-three of 46 (93.4%) of the roxithromycin and all 44 (100%) of the cephradine treated groups had satisfactory clinical responses . In eight of the 46 (17%) roxithromycin treated patients and 10 of the 44 (23%) cephradine treated patients, Streptococcus pneumoniae was not eradicated from sputum cultures by the tenth day . Side effects in 18 patients (20%) were mild and were usually manifested by elevation of the transaminases; these were more common in the cephradine group (12) than in the roxithromycin group (5) . Roxithromycin appears to be a safe and effective oral antibiotic for treatment of patients with mild to moderate pneumococcal pneumonia.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Feb, 7(1), 56 - 7
Vaginitis caused by nutritionally variant Streptococcus pyogenes; Pulvirenti J et al.; A nutritionally variant Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from a vaginal specimen . The organism was isolated in essentially pure culture with a few colonies of normal vaginal flora . The bacterium was identified as Streptococcus pyogenes with the use of rapid test kits and the presence of group A antigen.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Feb, 21 Suppl B, 19 - 27
Enoxacin-induced modification of the susceptibility of bacteria to phagocytic killing; Pruul H et al.; The effect of enoxacin upon the interaction in vitro of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined . Synergistic killing of these two species of bacteria was observed in the presence of neutrophils and concentrations of enoxacin above the MIC . Enoxacin was able to kill intracellular Str . pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus . The activity of glucose-glucose oxidase, an oxygen-dependent bactericidal system which mimics part of the bactericidal system of human neutrophils, was enhanced by pretreatment with enoxacin and several other antibiotics . The effect of antibiotic pretreatment upon the bactericidal activity of an acid extract of neutrophil granules was variable.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Feb, 170(2), 700 - 7
Relation of growth of Streptococcus lactis and Streptococcus cremoris to amino acid transport; Poolman B et al.; The maximum specific growth rate of Streptococcus lactis and Streptococcus cremoris on synthetic medium containing glutamate but no glutamine decreases rapidly above pH 7 . Growth of these organisms is extended to pH values in excess of 8 in the presence of glutamine . These results can be explained by the kinetic properties of glutamate and glutamine transport (B . Poolman, E . J . Smid, and W . N . Konings, J . Bacteriol . 169:2755-2761, 1987) . At alkaline pH the rate of growth in the absence of glutamine is limited by the capacity to accumulate glutamate due to the decreased availability of glutamic acid, the transported species of the glutamate-glutamine transport system . Kinetic analysis of leucine and valine transport shows that the maximal rate of uptake of these amino acids by the branched-chain amino acid transport system is 10 times higher in S . lactis cells grown on synthetic medium containing amino acids than in cells grown in complex broth . For cells grown on synthetic medium, the maximal rate of transport exceeds by about 5 times the requirements at maximum specific growth rates for leucine, isoleucine, and valine (on the basis of the amino acid composition of the cell) . The maximal rate of phenylalanine uptake by the aromatic amino acid transport system is in small excess of the requirement for this amino acid at maximum specific growth rates . Analysis of the internal amino acid pools of chemostat-grown cells indicates that passive influx of (some) aromatic amino acids may contribute to the net uptake at high dilution rates.

Biotechniques, 1988 Feb, 6(2), 130 - 6
Selective colony blotting to expand bacterial surface receptors: applications to receptors for rat immunoglobulins; Reis KJ et al.; Many bacterial surface receptors demonstrate a heterogeneous expression pattern among individual colonies . Methods have been developed to select bacteria expressing high levels of a stable surface receptor . This process is illustrated using a Streptococcus zooepidemicus isolate demonstrating a high level of Fc receptors for rat immunoglobulins . This strain was selected and expanded to obtain a bacterial isolate demonstrating approximately 100 fold greater reactivity with rat immunoglobulins than protein A positive Staphylococcus aureus or 30-40 fold higher reactivity for rat IgG than type III Fc receptor positive streptococcal group G strains . The optimal pH for rat IgG binding and the reactivity with rat IgG subclasses and certain rat monoclonal antibodies is described . The potential application and limitations of the selected rat Fc receptor positive bacterial strain to immunoassays based on the specificity of rat monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies is discussed.

Ophthalmic Surg, 1988 Feb, 19(2), 119 - 23
The intraocular penetration and retinal toxicity of teicoplanin; Carney M et al.; We investigated the intraocular penetration and retinal toxicity of teicoplanin, a relatively new glycopeptide antibiotic with activity similar to vancomycin when used to inhibit staphylococci and other gram positive organisms, particularly Streptococcus faecalia . Topically administered teicoplanin penetrated poorly into the aqueous and vitreous in rabbit eyes . Subconjunctival injection of the drug yielded aqueous levels above the minimum inhibiting concentration (3.1 micrograms/ml) only at one hour after injection . In the vitreous, drug levels were above the mean inhibitory concentration at 30 minutes after the subconjunctival injection, but rapidly declined thereafter . The maximum nontoxic, single-dose, intravitreal injection was 750 micrograms/0.1 ml . Rabbits received 8 micrograms/ml of teicoplanin in an intravitreal infusion solution without demonstrable retinal toxicity.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Feb, 170(2), 810 - 6
Sequence analysis of the Streptococcus mutans fructosyltransferase gene and flanking regions; Shiroza T et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the ftf gene from Streptococcus mutants GS-5 was determined . The deduced amino acid sequence indicates that the unprocessed fructosyltransferase gene product has a molecular weight of 87,600 . A typical streptococcal signal sequence is present at the amino terminus of the protein . The processed enzyme is relatively hydrophilic and has a pI of 5.66 . An inverted repeat structure was detected upstream from the ftf gene and may function in the regulation of fructosyltransferase expression . Sequencing of the regions flanking the gene revealed the presence of four other putative open reading frames (ORFs) . Two of these, ORFs 2 and 3, appear to code for low-molecular-weight proteins containing amino acid sequences sharing homology with several gram-positive bacterial DNA-binding proteins . In addition, ORF 3 is transcribed from the ftf DNA coding strand . Partial sequencing of ORF 4 suggests that its gene product may be an extracellular protein.

J Bacteriol, 1988 Feb, 170(2), 630 - 7
Genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae: molecular cloning and characterization of recP, a gene required for genetic recombination; Rhee DK et al.; A 225-base-pair fragment of a recombination gene was identified by insertion-duplication mutagenesis and used as a radioactive probe to clone the corresponding rec locus from Streptococcus pneumoniae in Escherichia coli plasmid vectors . Attempts to clone large pieces of this locus were unsuccessful, but small pieces of DNA from this region were cloned in the E . coli transcriptional terminator vectors pKK232-8 and pJDC9 . The extent of the rec region, 2.1 to 2.2 kilobases, was defined by determining the competence phenotype of insertion mutations constructed in vitro . A deletion of the rec locus showed it to be necessary for chromosomal integration but not for plasmid establishment . A plasmid carrying the entire locus encoded a 72-kilodalton polypeptide in a cell-free E . coli transcription-translation system.

Infect Immun, 1988 Feb, 56(2), 505 - 12
Adherence of Streptococcus agalactiae to synchronously growing human cell monolayers without lipoteichoic acid involvement; Miyazaki S et al.; Freshly isolated virulent and nonvirulent strains of Streptococcus agalactiae type III were used to study differences in coccal adherence to synchronously dividing, subconfluent human embryonic amnion and fetal lung monolayers in vitro . The adherence frequency by virulent isolates of mid-logarithmically growing cocci to amnion cells varied markedly with host cell age, being highest shortly after eucaryotic cell division . This variation was not observed with lung cell monolayers, suggesting that cyclic production or exposure of coccal receptor sites on the eucaryotic cell surface with age is not a common property of all primary human cells in vitro . However, and regardless of age, not all cells within these synchronously dividing populations bound virulent cocci, indicating that a very small segment of a population may always be unresponsive to host cell interactions with a coccal pathogen . By comparison, adherence of nonvirulent coccal isolates to amnion and lung cells remained constant and of a very low order, regardless of host cell age . Maximal adherence of virulent S . agalactiae to young host cells occurred at early and mid-logarithmic phases of growth . However, at the late stationary growth phase, adherence was reduced to almost that of nonvirulent isolates . Pretreatment of virulent S . agalactiae with anti-lipoteichoic acid (LTA) serum failed to inhibit coccal adherence to these different host cells . Heat negated adherence . Group B coccal LTA was cytotoxic for these host cells . However, pretreatment of amnion and lung cells with nontoxic levels of this amphiphile did not prevent attachment of virulent cocci . Finally, coccal pretreatment with pronase abrogated adherence to either host cell even though surface-exposed LTA was uneffected, as observed by the indirect fluorescent-antibody procedure . Likewise, no observable difference in surface LTA was detected when fresh isolates of virulent and nonvirulent coccal strains were compared by this procedure . These studies suggest that protein involvement, rather than LTA, is primarily responsible for mediating virulent S . agalactiae type III attachment to these synchronously growing, subconfluent eucaryotic monolayers in vitro.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Jan 29, 150(2), 687 - 93
A novel glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans produces oligo-isomaltosaccharides; Yamashita Y et al.; Streptococcus mutans secretes a sucrose-independent branalphang enzyme that utilizes isomaltosaccharides as donors for branalphang formation on dextran . Although the branching enzyme is necessary for the formation of extracellular polysaccharide complexes, the source of the donor for the enzyme is unknown . In this study, we purified a novel glucosyltransferase from S . mutans and characterized its properties . The glucosyltransferase was primer independent 1,6-alpha-D-glucan synthase, which produced oligo-isomaltosaccharides . The enzyme was thought to be a source of donor for the branching enzyme in S . mutans.

J Immunol Methods, 1988 Jan 21, 106(1), 101 - 7
Measurement of the humoral immune response against Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 capsular polysaccharide and oligosaccharide containing antigens by ELISA and ELISPOT techniques; Zigterman GJ et al.; A sensitive ELISA has been developed to study immune responses in mice against Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 capsular polysaccharide (S3PS) and hexasaccharide (HS)-protein conjugates derived therefrom . An advantage of the described system is that the same microtiter plates can be used for both ELISA and ELISPOT tests with a standardized washing procedure and diluent composition . S3PS induced predominantly IgM antibodies and minute amounts of IgG as measured by ELISA in serum . This was accompanied by large numbers (greater than 14000) of IgM spot-forming cells in the spleen . A shift towards IgG production was achieved by addition of lipid A . HS-protein conjugates induced predominantly IgG antibodies after booster immunization(s) . Furthermore these conjugates induced large numbers (greater than 40000) of IgG spot-forming cells (SFC) in the spleen . ELISA and ELISPOT assays on microtiter plates are both reliable and highly reproducible assays for the evaluation of immune responses to S . pneumoniae antigens.

Eur J Biochem, 1988 Jan 15, 171(1-2), 219 - 24
Penicillin-degrading activities of peptides from pneumococcal penicillin-binding proteins; Ellerbrok H et al.; Trypsin treatment of native penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) 1a, 2b and 3 from Streptococcus pneumoniae resulted in the formation of stable peptides containing the beta-lactam-binding site with molecular masses ranging from 26 kDa to 36 kDa . Whereas the PBP 1a peptide (Ia) was enzymatically rather unstable, the PBP 2b peptide (IIb) and the PBP 3 peptide (III) were able to bind and release beta-lactams with similar rates compared to the intact PBP, the turnover rate of fragment II b was even twice as fast as that observed with PBP 2b . Analysis of the turnover products by thin-layer chromatography revealed that PBP 2b and 3 produced penicilloic acid as well as phenylacetylglycine . On the other hand, with the corresponding tryptic fragments only the hydrolysis product penicilloic acid was obtained.

J Periodontol, 1988 Jan, 59(1), 40 - 5
An in vitro model to study bacterial invasion of periodontal tissues; Winkler JR et al.; In periodontal disease, the abilities of bacteria to adhere to and degrade in vivo basement membranes should be considered as two of the rate-limiting steps for the potential active or passive invasion of gingival connective tissues . To study these mechanisms in greater detail, we used the PF HR-9 basement-membrane-like matrix to establish an in vitro model of bacterial invasion and degradation . Three gram-negative anaerobic periodontopathic organisms, Bacteroides gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, bound in considerably higher numbers to the HR-9 matrix than did 6 strains of gram-positive facultative organisms typically associated with periodontal health . In a further experiment with B . gingivalis, the organism rapidly degraded Type IV collagen, the major macromolecular component constituting the HR-9 matrix . Streptococcus mitis, the nonperiodontopathic bacterium tested, did not degrade this model matrix . This study provides evidence that B . gingivalis, a periodontopathic bacterium, is able to adhere to and degrade basement membranes, whereas nonperiodontopathic organisms appear not to share in these abilities.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1988, 20(3), 345 - 6
Clinical features and management of two cases of Streptococcus milleri chest infection; Brook MG et al.; We report 2 cases of Streptococcus milleri infection of the lung . One patient, a 58-year-old woman, presented with a large abscess in a previously normal lung, the other, a 53-year-old man, had a secondary infection of lung previously scarred by tuberculosis and surgery . Both patients had severe dental caries . Four weeks of therapy with high dose antibiotics and physiotherapy were required . Invasive techniques were needed to isolate the organism.

J Arthroplasty, 1988, 3(2), 97 - 102
Outcome of infected total hip arthroplasty . An inclusive, consecutive series; Goodman SB et al.; Twenty-one infected total hip arthroplasties in 19 patients performed between 1971 and 1982 were prospectively followed, using a computerized standard orthopaedic arthritis record . These cases represent an inclusive and unselected, consecutive series . The mean follow-up period from time of infection was 4.8 years (range, 1.2-11.7 years) . Infection was diagnosed by positive bacteriologic culture . Ten hips grew a staphylococcal species, 5 a single gram-negative organism, 1 a Streptococcus, and 5 multiple organisms . At final follow-up evaluation, only three hips (14%) had the previously infected prosthesis still in situ, and these had no evidence of ongoing deep infection . Five additional hips (24%) were successfully salvaged after one- or two-stage prosthetic exchange . Two hips (10%) have an infected prosthesis in situ . Eleven hips (52%) had resection arthroplasty, three after attempts at prosthetic reinsertion . Therefore, at final follow-up evaluation, only 8 of the 21 hips (38%) have an apparently infection-free salvaged or reinserted prosthesis in place . Good prognostic factors for prosthetic salvage/successful reinsertion include Staphylococcus epidermidis infection and a traumatic etiology necessitating later hip arthroplasty . Poor prognostic factors include infection with Staphylococcus aureus or multiple organisms and a preoperative diagnosis of avascular necrosis.

Pathology, 1988 Jan, 20(1), 45 - 7
Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by latex agglutination; Kaldor J et al.; A simple method is presented for serotyping Streptococcus pneumoniae which uses easily prepared sensitized polystyrene latex particles . The technique is simple, fast and reliable and can detect pneumococcal antigens in body fluids.

Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(1), 25 - 31
Effects of panose on glucan synthesis and cellular adherence by Streptococcus mutans; Koga T et al.; The effects of panose on glucan synthesis and sucrose-dependent cellular adherence by Streptococcus mutans were investigated . Panose effectively inhibited glucan synthesis from sucrose by glucosyltransferases from S . mutans strain 6715, but increasing amounts of panose increased the release of fructose from sucrose by the enzymes . On the other hand, production of a series of oligosaccharides of increasing size by the enzymes was markedly enhanced in the presence of panose . These results indicate that panose activates the enzymes and that the inhibition of glucan synthesis by panose is due to the transfer of the glucosyl group of sucrose to panose . Sucrose-dependent adherence of cells of various S . mutans strains to a glass surface was also inhibited by panose.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1988 Jan, 77(1), 125 - 31
Epidemiology of Schönlein-Henoch purpura; Nielsen HE; The purpose of this study was to determine if Schonlein-Henoch purpura represents an abnormal host response to microorganisms . Among 1,222 cases, representing all new Danish cases in children during the years 1977-84, there was no tendency for the cases to cluster; this means that the disease is not caused by a single, contagious agent . In a smaller sample of 281 children examined in detail, a higher number than expected attended day nursery or nursery school and 17% had received antibiotic treatment during the week prior to admission . The latter findings, together with the seasonal variation of the incidence and the activation of the immune apparatus in many cases, suggest that Schonlein-Henoch purpura may be triggered by infection with several different microorganisms, but there is no evidence that a single one such as the streptococcus is the major offender.

Ann Clin Lab Sci, 1988 Jan-Feb, 18(1), 39 - 45
Chorioamnionitis: a study of organisms isolated in perinatal autopsies; Madan E et al.; The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of postmortem cultures in perinatal autopsies; in particular, those cases where there is gross or histologic evidence of chorioamnionitis . Lung, liver, blood, and placental cultures were obtained from 159 neonatal autopsies with histologic evidence of chorioamnionitis at Magee-Women's Hospital between January 1980 and July 1985 . The criterion for chorioamnionitis was a polymorphonuclear leukocytic infiltrate in the placental membranes . The neonates studied were 63 percent white and 36 percent black; the male to female ratio was 83 to 76 . Intrauterine fetal death occurred in 43 percent of the cases . The mean gestational age was 24 weeks . Premature labor occurred in 64 percent of the cases, and 70 percent of the cases presented with premature rupture of fetal membranes . Congenital pneumonia (defined by the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the alveolar spaces) was present in 45 percent of cases . The lung was the most frequent site cultured; the four most frequently isolated organisms were: Staphylococcus epidermidis--18 percent; Beta Streptococcus Group B--13 percent; E . coli--nine percent; Ureaplasma urealyticum--nine percent . Negative cultures from multiple sites occurred in seven percent of cases . The results of this investigation indicate that multi-organ cultures help in defining the role of a particular bacteria as a pathogen, and that Staphylococcus epidermidis may be a true fetal pathogen under certain conditions . It is recommended that cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis not be done on fetal tissues.

Rev Infect Dis, 1988 Jan-Feb, 10(1), 131 - 7
Meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis in humans; Arends JP et al.; Between 1968 and 1984, 30 strains of Streptococcus suis causing meningitis were isolated in the Netherlands . Twenty-eight strains were type 2, one was type 4, and one was untypable . The average age of the patients infected with these strains was 49 years (range, 21-76 years); the male-to-female ratio was 6.5 . Twenty-five patients (83%) were employed in the pork industry . Two patients (7%) died . In seven cases (23%), predisposing factors were identified . The most frequent sequela was hearing loss (54% of surviving patients) . The data for these 30 patients were compared with those for 30 patients from outside the Netherlands whose cases of meningitis due to S . suis type 2 were described between 1968 and 1985 . No differences were found . The estimated annual risk of developing S . suis meningitis among Dutch abattoir workers and pig breeders was approximately 3.0/100,000--a rate 1,500 times higher than that among persons not working in the pork industry.

Br Heart J, 1988 Jan, 59(1), 62 - 8
Infective endocarditis: incidence and mortality in the North East Thames Region; Skehan JD et al.; A survey of infective endocarditis in the North East Thames Regional Health Authority was carried out over a period of 30 months from 1982 to 1984 . The incidence, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital mortality were studied . Important causes of endocarditis were dental treatment, the presence of dental disease, drug abuse, and cytoscopy . The omission or incorrect administration of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with valve disease was noted, but failure of correctly prescribed antibiotic prophylaxis was not recorded . Adverse prognostic features were increased age, prosthetic valve infection, Gram negative or staphylococcal infections, and aortic valve involvement . In contrast, mortality was lower in patients with mitral valve prolapse, ventricular septal defect, and streptococcus viridans infection . Deaths were usually attributable to irreversible complications present at the time of diagnosis . Vegetations were detected on the echocardiogram in half of those studied and mortality was higher in those with vegetations than without . Operation for native valve infection was associated with a low mortality and it is likely that the overall mortality for infective endocarditis has been improved by surgical intervention.

J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino), 1988 Jan-Feb, 29(1), 60 - 2
Massive atheromatous emboli to both kidneys: a fatal complication following aortic surgery; Mashiah A et al.; A patient with severe and diffuse ulcerative atherosclerotic arterial disease developed acute renal failure and anuria during insertion of an aortobifemoral graft . Postoperative septicemia, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus fecalis, led to a deterioration in his condition and death . At autopsy the Dacron bifurcation graft showed no sign of infection, but massive atheromatous emboli of recent origin were found in both kidneys . We suggest using an extra-anatomic approach in reconstructive surgery for occlusive disease of the abdominal aorta in patients with ulcerative atheroma.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1988 Jan, 137(1), 138 - 43
IgA-driven antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae by mouse lung lymphocytes; Sestini P et al.; To investigate the role of lung lymphocytes (LL) in the local defense mechanisms, we studied the natural antibacterial (NA) activity of mouse LL with an in vitro assay using S . pneumoniae type 3 as target . In parallel, natural killer (NK) activity against YAC-1 tumor cells was investigated . Lung cells obtained by enzymatic digestion were found to exert detectable NA and NK activities, which were further increased after purification of LL (greater than 90% lymphocytes) by carbonyl iron and magnet treatment . Depletion experiments with antibodies and complement indicated that the effector cell of NA activity was a Thy 1.2+, L3T4+, aGM1+ lymphocyte, whereas the effector of NK activity was found to have a Thy 1.2-, aGM1+ phenotype . Preincubation of LL with anti-IgA antibodies, but not with anti-IgG, completely inhibited NA activity, suggesting that it was mediated by preexisting IgA bound to the LL surface . Furthermore, purified IgA from S107 plasmacytoma with specificity for phosphorylcholine, a component of the outer wall of S . pneumoniae, was able to enhance the antibacterial activity of LL and to restore their activity after treatment with anti-IgA . In addition, S107 antibodies were found to specifically induce antibacterial activity against S . pneumoniae in resident alveolar macrophages (AM) and peritoneal exudate cells, which did not express NA activity . We conclude that mouse LL include a subset of IgA-bearing lymphocytes with the phenotype of helper-T cells, which are able to exert NA activity against pneumococcus through an IgA-driven mechanism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ann Emerg Med, 1988 Jan, 17(1), 66 - 8
Tracheitis: the 'other' cause of upper airway obstruction; Campbell TP et al.; A 22-year-old woman presented to an ear, nose, and throat clinic with an upper respiratory infection and sudden stridorous respirations . Aerosolized isoethrane therapy was beneficial and fiber-optic nasolaryngoscopy revealed a normal supraglottis and purulent intratracheal secretions . Secretions were cultured and grew Staphylococcus aureus and alpha hemolytic Streptococcus . IV cefazolin was initiated and the patient recovered without sequelae . This case illustrates a rare cause of upper airway obstruction, tracheitis . Tracheitis has been found in the pediatric literature . This is the first adult case reported in the literature.

Infect Immun, 1988 Jan, 56(1), 64 - 70
Streptococcus sanguis surface antigens and their interactions with saliva; Lamont RJ et al.; Saliva-binding molecules of Streptococcus sanguis and their receptors were investigated . Streptococcal cell surfaces were extracted with a barbital buffer and examined immunochemically . Strains G9B and Blackburn, which adhere specifically to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite via immunologically related adhesins, possess 80-, 62-, and 52-kilodalton (kDa), and 52-, 42-, and 29-kDa polypeptides, respectively, which correlate with adhesion to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite . Nonadherent strains Adh- and M-5 lack these antigens . In an immunoblot overlay, the putative adhesins bound to a 73-kDa receptor present in submandibular saliva but not in parotid saliva . G9B also contains a 160-kDa surface protein which bound to an unidentified receptor in both submandibular and parotid saliva samples . Blackburn barbital-extracted components bound to 78- and 70-kDa receptors in parotid saliva . These bacterial-salivary interactions may be important in the regulation of oral ecology.

Cancer Detect Prev, 1988, 11(3-6), 397 - 403
Histological changes caused by intralesional injection of a streptococcal preparation into bladder cancer; Fujita K; OK-432, a lyophilized preparation of Streptococcus pyogenes, was cystoscopically injected into bladder cancer to destroy cancer cells and to prevent recurrences . Marked reactions occurred such as stromal edema, vascular dilation, cancer cell exfoliation, and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, succeeded by monocyte and lymphocyte infiltration with occasional lymph follicle formation . Cancer cells were sometimes intermingled in microscopic necrotic foci . Foamy granuloma was another characteristic finding . The postoperative follow-up study showed a significantly low recurrence rate.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Jan, 267(3), 404 - 13
Investigations on the binding of erythrogenic toxin A of Streptococcus pyogenes on human peripheral blood lymphocytes . II . Identification of toxin-binding lymphocytes and characterization of the receptor; Wagner B et al.; Gold complexes of erythrogenic toxin A (ETA) of Streptococcus pyogenes (strain NY-5) were bound to human lymphocytes that could be characterized as T cells by rosetting or labelling with OKT 3 antibody and anti-mouse-IgG-gold . Using OKT 4 and OKT 8 antibodies, respectively, it was demonstrated that binding of ETA was confined to the T helper/inducer cell subpopulation . Treatment of lymphocytes with neuraminidase enhanced the binding of ETA-gold, whereas trypsin treatment resulted in its reduction . Gangliosides of type II or type III and D-galactose only slightly decreased the ETA-gold binding . Preincubation of living lymphocytes with the mitogens concanavalin A or the Lens culinaris-lectin enhanced the binding of ETA-gold.

J Dairy Sci, 1988 Jan, 71(1), 261 - 5
Determination of teat dip germicidal activity using the excised teat model; Watts JL et al.; Fifteen postmilking teat antiseptics were evaluated in seven trials using the excised teat model . All products were tested against Staphylococcus aureus Newbould 305 and Streptococcus agalactiae Cornell 48 . Eight of nine iodophor products provided log reductions greater than 3 against Staph . aureus and Strep . agalactiae . A .045% iodophor product was ineffective . A .5% chlorhexidine product yielded a log reduction of 3.22 against Staph . aureus but only 2.92 against Strep . agalactiae . Two products containing fermented milk emulsified in detergent were tested upon receipt and after 1 yr storage . Fresh product provided log reductions greater than 3 against both pathogens . Storage for 1 yr resulted in minimal loss of germicidal activity . Three products containing 1, .5, and .2% dodecylaminoalkyl glycine provided log reductions greater than 3.5 against Staph . aureus and greater than 4 log reduction against Strep . agalactiae.

Oncology, 1988, 45(3), 224 - 9
Effects of PSK on resistance to bacterial infection in splenectomized mice; Ando T et al.; Nontumor-bearing C3H/He mice were splenectomized and intravenously inoculated 7 days later with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Escherichia coli . The survival rate was reduced by splenectomy in the animals inoculated with S . pneumoniae, but did not change in those inoculated with P . aeruginosa or E . coli . When splenectomy was performed 2 days after transplantation of X5563, and bacteria were inoculated 7 days after the operation, the survival rate was reduced even in those inoculated with P . aeruginosa or E . coli, and elimination of the bacteria from the blood and liver was delayed . This reduction in resistance to infection was alleviated by oral administration of PSK after the splenectomy.

Br J Cancer, 1988 Jan, 57(1), 70 - 3
Antitumour effects of streptococcal lipoteichoic acids on Meth A fibrosarcoma; Usami H et al.; The antitumour effects of lipoteichoic acids (LTA) extracted from Streptococcus pyogenes were studied in comparison with other streptococcal cellular components . LTA suppressed the tumour growth of both solid- and ascites-type Meth A fibrosarcoma as did the whole cells of S . pyogenes (OK-432) . No other cellular components, such as cell wall peptidoglycan, group-specific C-carbohydrate or type-specific M protein, suppressed the growth of Meth A . LTA, but not the other cellular components, induced tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in Propionibacterium acnes-primed mice . LTA had no direct killing effects on Meth A cells . These results indicate that LTA may be an important antitumour component of OK-432 and that one of the antitumour mechanisms by this streptococcal preparation is the induction of TNF.

Rev Infect Dis, 1988 Jan-Feb, 10 Suppl 1, S212 - 7
Quinolones in the treatment of bronchopulmonary infections; Thys JP; The role of the new fluoroquinolones in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections is still difficult to assess . These compounds can be successfully used in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis but do not seem superior to older drugs; moreover, bacteriologic persistence and even treatment failures in infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae can be a problem . Because of the poor activity of fluoroquinolones against S . pneumoniae, these compounds do not appear to be the first choice in the empiric treatment of community-acquired pneumonia . Ciprofloxacin is apparently valuable for the treatment of pseudomonas infections in patients with cystic fibrosis: clinical results seem comparable to those obtained with conventional intravenous treatments . More clinical experience is needed to compare the role of fluoroquinolones with that of beta-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics in the treatment of nosocomial gram-negative pneumonia.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 54(1), 239 - 44
Deletion analysis of the proteinase gene of Streptococcus cremoris Wg2; Kok J et al.; The Streptococcus cremoris Wg2 proteinase gene, cloned in S . lactis, specified a proteinase which exhibited the same specificity toward casein as did the proteinase isolated from the original host . Although the cloned gene lacked the last 130 codons, the proteinase still specifically degraded beta-casein . Deletion of the C-terminal 343 amino acids from the proteinase did not influence this specificity . Cell-free transcription-translation studies of plasmids carrying deletion derivatives of the proteinase gene showed that the 100-kilodalton C-terminally truncated proteinase still exhibited proteolytic activity . Crossed immunoelectrophoresis revealed that proteins A and B identified in the proteolytic system of S . cremoris Wg2 are both encoded by the proteinase gene . A working model based on integration of available genetic, immunological, and biochemical data is presented to explain this result.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 54(1), 231 - 8
Nucleotide sequence of the cell wall proteinase gene of Streptococcus cremoris Wg2; Kok J et al.; A 6.5-kilobase HindIII fragment that specifies the proteolytic activity of Streptococcus cremoris Wg2 was sequenced entirely . The nucleotide sequence revealed two open reading frames (ORFs), a small ORF1 with 295 codons and a large ORF2 containing 1,772 codons . For both ORFs, there was no stop codon on the HindIII fragment . A partially overlapping PstI fragment was used to locate the translation stop of the large ORF2 . The entire ORF2 contained 1,902 coding triplets, followed by an apparently rho-independent terminator sequence . The inferred amino acid sequence would result in a protein of 200 kilodaltons . Both ORFs have their putative transcription and translation signals in a 345-base-pair ClaI fragment . ORF2 is preceded by a promoter region containing a 15-base-pair complementary direct repeat . Both the truncated 33- and the 200-kilodalton proteins have a signal peptide-like N-terminal amino acid sequence . The protein specified by ORF2 contained regions of extensive homology with serine proteases of the subtilisin family . Specifically, amino acid sequences involved in the formation of the active site (viz., Asp-32, His-64, and Ser-221 of the subtilisins) are well conserved in the S . cremoris Wg2 proteinase . The homologous sequences are separated by nonhomologous regions which contain several inserts, most notably a sequence of approximately 200 amino acids between the His and Ser residues of the active site.

JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1988 Jan-Feb, 12(1), 58 - 9
Management of catheter-related infections in pediatric patients; Nahata MC et al.; Broviac catheters are commonly used to provide parenteral nutrition and access for infusion of blood products and drugs to pediatric patients . Sepsis is the most common serious complication of continued catheter use . Although removal of the catheter is generally recommended when it becomes contaminated, it may not be feasible to do so without compromising patient care . We evaluated the management of catheter-related infections in pediatric patients with and without removal of catheter . Seventy-seven episodes of catheter sepsis were evaluated in 61 pediatric patients; 24 were neonates and 37 were older children . The catheters were used for multiple purposes in 75% of cases . The most common microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus epidermidis in 26%, Klebsiella pneumoniae in 9%, and Streptococcus viridans in 8% of cases; other pathogens included group D Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in four older children . Thirty-five patients were treated with antibiotics without catheter removal . Thirty patients received appropriate antibiotic therapy based on the susceptibility data . Twenty-six of these 30 patients responded within 5 days of therapy whereas the others required 15-39 days of treatment . Lack of response was mainly associated with the presence of abscess, immunocompromised status, and organisms P . aeruginosa and Candida albicans . Based on the sensitivity and minimum inhibitory concentration data, a combined regimen of gentamicin and vancomycin would be an effective initial therapy . These findings suggest that (1) catheter sepsis can be managed with appropriate antibiotics, and (2) when continued use of Broviac catheter is desired, a trial of antibiotic therapy should be attempted before catheter removal.

Pediatr Res, 1988 Jan, 23(1), 31 - 4
Functional activity of class-specific antibodies to type III, group B streptococcus; Campbell JR et al.; The functional activity of naturally acquired IgG and IgM with specificity for the capsular polysaccharide of type III, group B Streptococcus (III-GBS) was compared . Sera collected during convalescence from 14 infants who had developed specific antibodies following III-GBS infection were employed for separation of IgG from IgM by ion-exchange chromatography . Bactericidal killing of III-GBS was similar for IgG- and IgM-rich samples (37 and 42%, respectively) in reactions containing a mean of 1.0 or 1.9 micrograms/ml of III-GBS specific IgG or IgM antibody . Purified IgA lacked opsonophagocytic activity for III-GBS . These results indicate that III-GBS-specific IgG and IgM antibodies in infant sera promote opsonophagocytosis at low concentrations, and that their functional capacity is comparable.

Am J Med Sci, 1988 Jan, 295(1), 52 - 4
Bacteremia and ecthyma caused by Streptococcus pyogenes in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Hewitt WD et al.; Ecthyma is an ulcerated form of impetigo due to Streptococcus pyogenes, seen primarily in children with poor hygiene . The authors report a homosexual man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who developed severe ecthyma and bacteremia caused by S . pyogenes . Opsonizing antibody to the M protein of S . pyogenes is important in immunity to this organism . Patients with AIDS may have defective humoral immunity as well as defective cellular immunity, and such a defect may have rendered this patient abnormally susceptible to severe infection with S . pyogenes.

J Infect Dis, 1988 Jan, 157(1), 91 - 100
Lung antibacterial defense mechanisms in infant and adult rats: implications for the pathogenesis of group B streptococcal infections in the neonatal lung; Martin TR et al.; We investigated factors that may contribute to lung infections in infants by studying the intrapulmonary responses to aerosols of three different types of organisms--group B streptococcus with and without type-specific capsule, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus--in infant (12-h-old or 24-36-h-old) and adult (150 g, 6-w-old) rats . After aerosol exposure, the lung clearance rate of each organism varied inversely with the age of the animals, and the magnitude of the clearance defect was related more strongly to animal age than to the bacterial species . Fewer alveolar macrophages from infant animals phagocytosed each type of organism in vivo, and the rate of neutrophil accumulation in the lungs of infant animals was delayed . The neonatal lung functioned effectively, however, as an antibacterial barrier, as newborn animals survived an aerosolized inoculum that exceeded the LD50 by the subcutaneous route.

Clin Ther, 1988, 10(2), 178 - 82
Once-daily cefadroxil versus oral penicillin in the pediatric treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis; Goldfarb J et al.; Thirty-two patients with pharyngitis were randomly assigned to receive either 30 mg/kg of cefadroxil every 24 hours orally or 15 mg/kg of penicillin V potassium every eight hours orally for ten days . Sera for antistreptolysin-O, streptozyme, and anti-DNAase were compared before and after treatment . Twenty patients finished the study and had a confirmed throat culture for the group A streptococcus and at least one fourfold antibody rise . Of these 20 patients, seven of eight in the penicillin group and all 12 in the cefadroxil group were cured at the end of therapy . One patient in the penicillin group had a positive culture at the end of therapy; one patient in each group was recolonized at follow-up culture 10 to 20 days after ending therapy . Seven other patients who finished the study had a positive throat culture but no antibody response and were presumed carriers; these included five in the penicillin and two in the cefadroxil group . One of these presumed carriers had a persistent infection and relapsed two days after the end of therapy . Both therapies appeared to be equally successful and no serious side effects occurred.

Laryngoscope, 1988 Jan, 98(1), 93 - 8
The immunology of tonsils in children: the effect of bacterial load on the presence of B- and T-cell subsets; Brodsky L et al.; Tonsil core specimens of 54 children, (3 to 12 years) with clinical evidence of chronic tonsillitis and/or "idiopathic" tonsillar hypertrophy, were studied for the effect of the magnitude of aerobic bacterial load on tonsil size and the absolute numbers of B- and T-cell subsets . Tonsillar core specimens obtained from ten children with no history of ear, nose, or throat infections and normal appearing tonsils served as controls . The findings of this study indicate that tonsil size was directly proportional to the mean bacterial load in colony forming units/g tonsil (CFU/g) even in the absence of a clinical history of infection (p less than 0.01) . A mean bacterial load of 2.4 +/- 2.1 X 10(5) CFU/g tonsil was seen in diseased tonsils as compared to 1.6 +/- 2.4 X 10(4) CFU/g tonsil in normal controls (p less than 0.01) . Hemophilus influenzae (type B and non-B), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes were the most common pathogens recovered in the largest numbers from diseased tonsils; control tonsils harbored few bacteria in their cores . The absolute number of immunocompetent cells/g tonsil including T-helper, T-suppressor and B-cells (S-Ig+), were significantly greater in diseased tonsils than in controls (p less than 0.001) . Increasing microbial load (CFU/g tonsil) correlated with increased numbers of T-helper (p less than 0.01) and B-cells (p less than 0.01) . These data strongly support a bacterial etiology for chronic tonsillitis as well as "idiopathic" tonsillar hypertrophy . Bacterial induced proliferation of immunocompetent cells may be one underlying mechanism for chronic tonsillar disease in children.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1988, 82(6), 911 - 3
Nasal and hand carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae in children and mothers in the Tari Basin of Papua New Guinea; Pickering H et al.; Nasal and hand carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae was looked at in 55 families . Overall nasal carriage was 61% (83% in children and 33% in mothers) . Hand carriage was 14% . Just over half of the mothers who carried pneumococcus were concordant with their infants.

Arch Oral Biol, 1988, 33(6), 395 - 401
Interaction between wild-type, mutant and revertant forms of the bacterium Streptococcus sanguis and the bacterium Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans in vitro and in the gnotobiotic rat; Hillman JD et al.; In vitro, Streptococcus sanguis inhibits the growth of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, a presumed aetiological agent of localized juvenile periodontitis . When provided with glucose and good aeration, a growing culture of Strep . sanguis was found to produce hydrogen peroxide at concentrations in excess of the maximum LD50 reported for strains of A . actinomycetemcomitans . This concentration of hydrogen peroxide also inhibits the growth of the producer organism . A mutant of Strep . sanguis was isolated that lacked the ability to produce alpha-haemolysis on blood agar . This mutant had less than 3 per cent of its parent's level of pyruvate-oxidase activity, and made no detectable hydrogen peroxide . In vitro, the mutant had also lost the ability to inhibit the growth of A . actinomycetemcomitans . A spontaneous revertant, isolated by its ability to produce alpha-haemolysis, was found to have regained parental levels of pyruvate-oxidase activity and hydrogen-peroxide production and could inhibit the growth of A . actinomycetemcomitans in vitro . A gnotobiotic rat model was used to demonstrate that Strep . sanguis and A . actinomycetemcomitans interact in vivo and that this interaction depends on hydrogen-peroxide production by Strep . sanguis.

Acta Otolaryngol Suppl, 1988, 454, 163 - 6
Role of attachment for the virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Andersson B et al.; Adherence of microorganisms to mucosal surfaces is a general phenomenon among microorganisms infecting the human host . Its role for persistence and colonization as well as production of local inflammation is well established . This paper describes the adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human epithelial cells . Strains from various anatomical sites or diseases are compared for attaching capacity . Isolates from the same host but at different times are also compared . The molecular mechanisms, the so-called adhesin-receptor interactions, are partially described . The pneumococcus recognizes a sugar sequence; GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal; on the surface of the host epithelial cell . Glycoconjugates containing this disaccharide act as receptors for adhering pneumococci . The adhesin in pneumococcal attachment is less well characterized . It is a heat and trypsin sensitive component, most likely a peptide, which forms a bridge between the receptor and an anchoring site in the pneumococcal cell wall . Receptor active saccharides are part of the adhesion-inhibitory activity found in human milk.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(6), 342 - 7
Monobacterial and mixed bacterial plaques of Streptococcus mutans and Veillonella alcalescens in an artificial mouth: development, metabolism, and effect on human dental enamel; Noorda WD et al.; To gain greater understanding of the role of Streptococcus mutans and Veillonella in the caries process, studies of both aerobically and anaerobically grown plaques of S . mutans C67-1 and V . alcalescens V-1 on human enamel slabs were carried out in an artificial mouth . Plaque development, acid production, and demineralization were measured . Early plaque development of monobacterial and mixed bacterial plaques started from randomly adhering cells on day 1 to confluent multilayered microcolonies on day 4 . Differences were observed in viable cell counts, total cell mass, and in acid production . In most cases CFU, DNA and acid production were higher in the mixed bacterial plaque, especially in the anaerobic mixed plaque . Lactic acid was the predominant acid in all cases following the supply of sucrose to the plaque . No decisive role could be found for acetic, formic, and propionic acid . No inhibition of demineralization was observed in the enamel slabs inoculated with both aerobic and anaerobic mixed plaques . Demineralization ranged from the more classical picture of lesion development in the aerobic monobacterial plaque-treated samples to an aggressive etching of the enamel surface in the anaerobically mixed treated slabs.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(6), 327 - 36
Suitability of human, bovine, equine, and ovine tooth enamel for studies of artificial bacterial carious lesions; Edmunds DH et al.; The progress of artificial caries-like lesions created in human, bovine, equine, and ovine enamel has been studied . Lesions were produced by exposure to an acid gel system or by 5-day exposure to a sequential batch culture technique using Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10832 . Longitudinal ground sections were prepared . The lesions were of similar appearance in all species when examined in polarized light . The depth in human enamel was approximately half that in the animal species . Microradiography confirmed subsurface demineralization in all four species . Similar depth ratios were seen in the scanning electron microscope, but there were structural differences between lesions in human and animal teeth . Lesions in bovine teeth were more like those in human, but lesions in equine and ovine teeth were markedly different . Substitution of these animal enamels for human enamel in caries experiments demands that these differences be taken into account . Scanning electron microscopy is capable of resolving features in artificial caries lesions which cannot be differentiated by polarized light techniques . The latter will demonstrate generalized mineral loss, but scanning electron microscopy is required to characterize the sites of mineral loss.

Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(8), 785 - 94
Maternal transmission and dental caries induction in Sprague-Dawley rats infected with Streptococcus mutans; Ooshima T et al.; Thirty-four female rats (18 days old) were infected with Streptococcus mutans MT8148R (serotype c) or 6715 (g) . Diets containing different proportions of sucrose were used to prepare the dams which harbored various levels of S . mutans in their oral cavity . Around 66 days of age, the female rats were bred and 34 dams subsequently bore 322 offspring . The dams were killed upon weaning (20 days of age) of their respective litters . There were positive correlations between the recovery of inoculated S . mutans and the caries incidence in the dams . Transmission of S . mutans from a dam to her offspring was studied in 10-, 15-, 20-, 27-, 34-, 41-, 48-, and 55-day-old rats by evaluating the recover of S . mutans from the offspring . Positive correlation between the magnitudes of recovered S . mutans MT8148R from dams and their offspring was found in all ages of young rats examined . Furthermore, caries incidence in young rats was found to be positively correlated with the recovery of both strains of S . mutans as well as with incidence of caries in their respective dams.

Arch Oral Biol, 1988, 33(1), 33 - 9
Antibodies to the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans and the development of caries in children in relation to maternal dental treatment during pregnancy; Aaltonen AS et al.; These factors were studied in 50 children, aged 3.6 to 5.9 years . Children of mothers who had no dental treatment during pregnancy (NTP-group, n = 25) had significantly (p less than 0.02) more serum IgG antibodies reactive with Strep . mutans than those of mothers who received such treatment (TP-group, n = 25) . The children in the NTP-group had fewer Strep . mutans, a higher proportion of intact dentitions, lower dmfs/DS-index and lower caries incidence than those in the TP-group . Over one year of follow-up, a significantly greater proportion of children in the TP- than in the NTP-group developed new caries (p less than 0.05) . Thus, maternal dental treatment during pregnancy may affect caries development in the primary dentition of the child, possibly via transplacental immune mechanisms.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(5), 283 - 7
Ultrastructure, growth, and adherence of Streptococcus mutans after treatment with chlorhexidine and fluoride; Meurman JH; Ultrastructure, growth, and adherence to hydroxyapatite of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 27351 was studied after treating bacterial suspensions for 1 h with 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX), 0.1% sodium fluoride (F), or a combination of these two (CHX + F) . Cells treated with 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline were used as controls . Electron microscopy revealed that the treatment with CHX or CHX + F caused disruption of streptococcal cells with vacuolization and sloughing and leakage of cytoplasmic constituents . The F-treated specimens appeared the same as the controls, where the ultrastructure was mostly normal . In the adherence assay, radiolabelled bacteria attached themselves in 77.9% to hydroxyapatite in the control series . Treatment with F reduced the adsorption to 63.7%, and treatment with CHX and CHX + F to 57.4 and 43.4%, respectively . The reduction in CHX and CHX + F series when compared with the controls was statistically highly significant . The synergistic effect of CHX and F was further verified in minimum inhibitory concentration titrations where total inhibition was observed at 0.5% F and 0.1% CHX, respectively, while CHX + F inhibited growth at 0.05% . Thus, F does not interfere with the toxic effect of CHX on S . mutans cells, but, on the contrary, the two chemicals seem to exert a synergistic mode of action.

APMIS Suppl, 1988, 3, 104 - 6
The nature of ulcerative keratitis in Kuwait (clinical and microbiological study); Ammous MW et al.; A retrospective clinico-microbiological study of 83 patients with corneal ulcers due to bacterial infection was performed . Positive cultures of corneal ulcer samples were obtained from 57% of all patients . A high incidence of Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from ulcer patients; Pseudomonas, Streptococcus and Streptococcus pneumonia were the next most frequent pathogens . Of some help in identifying the causative organism were the locations of the ulcers, the presence or absence of hypopyon and the frequency of perforation . Gentamycin, cephaloridine and polymyxin were found to be the most effective therapies . Gram stains of ulcer samples were positive for organisms in only 11% of patients and accordingly were not considered useful in determining the appropriate initial therapy of ulcers . It was concluded that treatment should be started with a broad combination of antibiotics while awaiting the culture results.

Geogr Med, 1988, 18, 157 - 69
Antibiotic spectrum of isolated germs in the vaginal smear of Nigerian women; Ecker-Eckhofen C et al.; The bacteriological research of 534 vaginal smears of pregnant women and patients of the gynaecological ward in Abeokuta showed in 21.6% beta-hem . Streptococcus group D, in 10.9% Staphylococcus epidermidis, in 5.3% Escherichia coli, in 3.6% Staphylococcus aureus, in 1.3% beta-hem.Streptococcus group B and in 7.8% yeasts . 48% of all smears remained sterile . The antibiotics with the least effect were Tetracyclines and Penicillines . Trimethoprim and Sulfonamid, Ticarcillin and Netilmycin were able to prevent the bacterial growth by at least 89% . Isolated germs of private patients showed higher resistance against Tetracycline and Chloramphenicol than those of non-private patients.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(4), 232 - 6
Effect of fluoridated sucrose on rat caries; Mundorff SA et al.; The present study was designed to test the effect of frequent pulses of low fluoride levels on rat caries when supplied in a standardized cariogenic rat diet containing 67% sucrose (MIT-200) . The test diets were variants of Diet MIT-200 in which the sucrose component had been fluoridated with NaF solution resulting in total concentrations of 0 (control), 2, 3, 5, 10, or 20 ppm fluoride in the final diets . Rats received one of the test lots 17 times daily in a programmed feeding machine beginning at age 22 days, and were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans at age 23, 24, and 25 days . After 5 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and their mandibular molars scored for number and severity of sulcal, buccolingual, and proximal caries . Frequent daily pulses of as little as 2 ppm fluoride in dietary sucrose were effective in significantly (p less than 0.01) reducing buccolingual rat caries.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(4), 204 - 9
Demineralization potential of different concentrations of gelatinized wheat starch; Brudevold F et al.; Six subjects wore intraoral devices carrying bovine enamel blocks covered with a layer of Streptococcus mutans . They swished solutions of 5% glucose or maltose, or sols or gels of 3, 5, 10, 15, or 20% gelatinized wheat starch in the mouth for 3 X 1 min . Demineralization was measured after 45 min by determining the change in iodide permeability (delta Ip) of the enamel . Spittings of the administered materials and samples of saliva, taken at intervals during the test, were analyzed for maltose, and the time of clearance was calculated . Demineralization was greatest for glucose followed by maltose, the starch gels, and the sols . The latter gave close to zero scores . The salivary clearance time increased with increase in concentration of the starch . Although the starch was hydrolyzed rapidly in the mouth, its oral retentiveness was greater than that of the maltose rinse . Demineralization was closely correlated with the final pH of the S . mutans cell layer . The data indicate that the starch in baked or cooked foods may have a significant demineralization potential and that it enhances oral retentiveness.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(4), 193 - 8
Increased permeability of enamel to iodide ions following the ingestion of cookies varying in sucrose or fat content; Kashket S et al.; Experiments showed that the intraoral iodide permeability (Ip) method can be used in a reproducible and sensitive manner with solid foods . Ingestion of 5-gram portions of cookies made with defined concentrations of sucrose or fat led to an increased Ip (due to demineralization) of Streptococcus mutans-covered bovine enamel blocks in vivo . Demineralization increased with time to a maximum of 45 min, and the pH of the plaque dropped accordingly . Continued exposure in the mouth beyond 45 min led to an elevation of the pH and a decrease in delta Ip consistent with remineralization of the enamel . Control blocks worn without ingestion of cookies exhibited negative delta Ip values . Demineralization increased with increasing sucrose content of the cookies and reached a plateau when cookies containing 1.08 g sucrose per morsel were administered . Cookies prepared without added sucrose gave a high delta Ip . High fat content raised the delta Ip when sucrose was low . These findings are consistent with clinical and other observations, and emphasize the complex relation between foods and enamel demineralization.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(3), 187 - 92
Effect of professional flossing with chlorhexidine gel on approximal caries in 12- to 15-year-old schoolchildren; Gisselsson H et al.; The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the effect of chlorhexidine gel treatment on caries development of approximal tooth surfaces and on salivary counts of Streptococcus mutans . 220 12-year-old schoolchildren, divided into three groups, participated: (1) chlorhexidine gel group (n = 72), (2) placebo gel group (n = 77), and (3) control group (n = 71) . The study was carried out double blind with respect to the two gel groups . Group 1 was treated 4 times/year with 1% chlorhexidine gel and group 2 with a placebo gel . Approximately 1 ml of gel was applied interdentally by means of a flat dental floss . The control group did not receive any gel treatment or flossing . Number of S . mutans in the saliva was estimated on five occasions during the study with the spatula method . After 3 years, the mean approximal caries increment, expressed as new DFS, was 2.50 in the chlorhexidine gel group and 4.30 in the placebo gel group (p less than 0.05) . The corresponding figure in the control group was 5.25 (p less than 0.001 when compared to group 1) . 44% of the children in the chlorhexidine gel group and 32% in the placebo gel group did not develop any new approximal caries lesion during the 3-year observation period compared to 18% in the control group (group 1-3 p less than 0.001; group 2-3 p less than 0.05) . The number of new approximal fillings (FS) was 0.24 in the chlorhexidine gel group, 0.75 in the placebo gel group and 0.82 in the control group (group 1-3 p less than 0.01; group 2-3 p less than 0.05) . There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to numbers of S . mutans in saliva . However, there were more individuals with low numbers of S . mutans in the chlorhexidine gel group at the final examination compared to the baseline level (p less than 0.05).

Caries Res, 1988, 22(3), 177 - 80
Sulcal plaque pH and remineralization of sulcal caries in rats exposed to dietary and water fluoride; Firestone AR et al.; After being inoculated with Streptococcus (mutans) sobrinus 6715 and fed a mildly caries-promoting diet for 14 days, sulcal plaque pH response to topical application of a 10% sucrose solution was measured in two groups of rats . The first group (experimental) was then fed diet and drinking water to which 1 mmol (20 ppm) fluoride had been added (0.5 mmol for 7 days and 1 mmol for 14 days) and pH measurements were repeated . The second group was held as a control and a third group was sacrificed to provide baseline caries scores . There was no difference in the fall in pH after topical application of 10% sucrose solution between the control and experimental group, nor between the pre- and postfluoride measurements for the experimental group . Sulcal caries incidence in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group . The results of this experiment emphasize the importance of a cariostatic mechanism of action for fluoride based on remineralization of enamel lesions and do not support the in vivo adaptation to fluoride by oral microorganisms.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(3), 166 - 73
Influence of xylitol on growth, establishment, and cariogenicity of Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque of rats; Beckers HJ; The influence of xylitol on glucose metabolism of Streptococcus mutans C67-1S was studied in vitro and in rats in vivo . In vitro there was an inhibition by xylitol of the growth rate and acid production of S . mutans C67-1S, but in vivo no effect on the initial growth rate could be demonstrated . In vivo there was a delay in the start of growth of S . mutans which resulted in a 10-day delay of establishment . The isolated xylitol-resistant mutant of C67-1S, S . mutans C67-1S XR, showed no difference in glucose metabolism in batch cultures . S . mutans C67-1S and S . mutans C67-1S XR were both used to study caries development in SPF Osborne Mendel rats . The rats were housed under programmed feeding conditions and were fed a glucose or a glucose-xylitol diet . In the case of S . mutans C67-1S, there was a remarkable inhibition of fissure caries lesions in the presence of xylitol compared to the glucose group . But also in the S . mutans C67-1S XR groups there were fewer lesions in the presence of xylitol . These results indicated that the anticariogenic properties of xylitol do not only depend on an inhibition of bacterial metabolism, but in part on other mechanisms.

Nahrung, 1988, 32(6), 539 - 43
Proteolysis and electrophoretic pattern of casein of some fermented milks; Hegazi FZ; Proteolysis and electrophoretic pattern of casein were determined in Friesian cows' skim milk, buffaloes' skim milk and in these milks fermented spontaneously (leben rayeb) and by Streptococcus lactis subsp . diacetylactis DRC3 (nonfat buttermilk) or by zabadi starter (zabadi) . The highest proteolysis, as evidenced by the amount of released leucine, occurred in zabadi and the lowest in leben rayeb . The highest amount of tyrosine was liberated in the nonfat buttermilk . Proteolysis seems not to depend on the kind of milk used . A band of a relatively high density appeared to be released from alpha s-casein by the cell-wall proteinase of the microflora of raw milk and by heating at 90 degrees C for 1 min . Cows' skim milk, raw or heated, showed the presence of 2 probable proteose-peptone components; buffaloes' skim milk 3 and 2 . These components underwent slow or rapid degradation, depending on the type of fermented milk during skim milk coagulation.

Microb Pathog, 1988 Jan, 4(1), 33 - 43
Purification and immunological characterization of neuraminidase produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae; Lock RA et al.; Previous workers have suggested that Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pneumococcus, produces multiple forms of the enzyme neuraminidase . By serial chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Sephacryl S-200, Amicon Red-A gel and hydroxylapatite we have purified to electrophoretic homogeneity a pneumococcal neuraminidase with an apparent molecular weight of 86,000 (as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) . Mouse antiserum raised against the purified material reacted with a single species with molecular weight 107,000 (107K form) in crude pneumococcal cell lysate . During the purification procedure this species was progressively degraded to the molecular weight 86,000 (86K) form whilst retaining enzyme activity . Degradation of neuraminidase was inhibited by phenylmethylsulphonylfluoride (PMSF) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) . Purification of the enzyme in the presence of these protease inhibitors permitted the isolation of the 107K species substantially undegraded and greater than 98% pure . Our findings on the degradation of neuraminidase during its purification account for previous reports of multiple neuraminidase isoenzymes in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

J Basic Microbiol, 1988, 28(1-2), 55 - 61
Expression of the human interferon-alpha 1 gene under transcriptional and translational control of the speA gene; Laplace F et al.; The human gene for mature interferon-alpha 1 (IFN-alpha 1) was inserted in a new transcription-translation fusion vector system based on the expression and secretion signals of the gene for type A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin, speA . As deduced from the known nucleotide sequences of the component elements, the encoded IFN-alpha 1 was a fusion protein carrying an N-terminal extension of 17 amino acids . When inserted in appropriate vectors capable of replication in Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus sanguis, this expression configuration directed the synthesis of antiviral activity in all 3 organisms, as judged by the cythopathic effect inhibition assay of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus . In E . coli JM101, IFN activity was found mainly in the cytoplasmic protein fraction whereas in the gram-positive hosts, it was completely secreted into the culture medium.

Drugs, 1988, 35 Suppl 2, 163 - 8
Impact of cefotaxime and ceftriaxone on the bowel and vaginal flora after single-dose prophylaxis in vaginal hysterectomy; Brautigam HH et al.; The aim of this randomised controlled study was to investigate the effect of a preoperative, single dose, intravenous injection of ceftriaxone 2g and cefotaxime 2g in 2 groups of 30 patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy . The parameters were: efficacy and tolerance; impact on the aerobic bowel and vaginal flora; and serum concentrations . There were no significant differences in efficacy, haematology or clinical chemistry parameters . In the ceftriaxone group 2 patients had exanthemas, 2 had diarrhoea . In the cefotaxime group no such side effects occurred . Serum concentrations were 9.75 and 0.07 mg/L for ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, respectively, after 24 and 12 hours, respectively . Ceftriaxone had a pronounced and continuous effect on the bowel flora: Streptococcus faecium and Candida spp . increased, reaching counts of 10(8) and 10(7) organisms/g faeces, respectively, at day 10 . Under cefotaxime no dramatic alteration was determined and growth of Candida spp . was not influenced . Growth of Escherichia coli and other bacteria of the vaginal flora was not influenced by either drug . Overgrowth of Candida spp . under ceftriaxone was significant (p less than 0.05) compared with that under cefotaxime . The results of this study indicate that the high biliary excretion of ceftriaxone (45%) and its long acting properties are responsible for the high selection pressure and overgrowth of Candida . Cefotaxime, a drug with low biliary excretion (5%) and shorter action, had only a negligible effect on the microflora with quick normalisation . The observed overgrowth of Candida spp., even after a single injection of ceftriaxone, could cause problems when this drug is being used for surgical prophylaxis or treatment . This applies especially to immunocompromised patients.

Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 1988, 34(2), 201 - 5
N-acetylcysteine added to saliva does not affect IgA concentration or the agglutination of Streptococcus mutans in vitro; Ericson D et al.; N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or placebo were mixed with parotid or whole saliva to a final concentration of 0.004-10 mg/ml saliva . Placebo and NAC-containing parotid saliva had the same bacterial agglutinating capacity for 4 strains of Streptococcus mutans . Immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration in whole saliva, using ELISA and single radial immunodiffusion assays, did not reveal any differences between NAC and placebo-treated samples . NAC did not affect the immunoelectrophoretic pattern of IgA.

Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988, 11(1), 43 - 50
Efficacy of an immunomodulating drug in immunodeficient and immunocompetent mice; Mago S et al.; Bacillus subtilis culture filtrate (BSKR) was examined for its immunomodulating ability in the immunodeficient beige mouse and the immunocompetent Han:NMRI mouse strain . Following various application schemes the mice were challenged either subcutaneously with Escherichia coli or intranasally with Streptococcus pneumoniae . The mortality rates and the median of survival time were determined . Following subcutaneous application of BSKR Han:NMRI mice challenged with E . coli showed a decrease in mortality regardless of the application scheme . Using the beige mouse a protective effect was observed only after single applications of relatively low doses . Using Sc . pneumoniae as the challenge organism, a subcutaneous application of BSKR caused a decrease in mortality only if it was given on the day prior to infection . In both infection models the intranasal application of BSKR and/or of saline proved to be beneficial by either significantly decreasing the mortality or considerably increasing the survival time of beige and Han:NMRI mice.

Gene, 1988, 62(2), 249 - 61
Isolation and structural analysis of the phospho-beta-galactosidase gene from Streptococcus lactis Z268; Boizet B et al.; A 4.4-kb XhoI fragment of Streptococcus lactis L13 (Z268) lactose plasmid pUCL13, containing the beta-D-phosphogalactoside galactohydrolase (P-beta Gal; EC 3.2.1.85)-coding gene has been cloned in Escherichia coli . Further subcloning and deletion of this fragment allowed localization of the P-beta Gal-coding gene (pbg) on a minimal 1.8-kb segment . Expression of P-beta Gal activity was constitutive and was not regulated by glucose in E . coli . The presence of P-beta Gal activity was correlated with the production of a 56.5-kDa protein in E . coli minicells . The nucleotide sequence of the cloned gene was determined and potential promoter structural elements were identified.

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1988 Jan-Dec, 24(1-4), 185 - 8
{Hemolytic group B streptococcus in cervico-vaginal secretions}; Savarino A et al.; The group B streptococcus can be an etiological agent of newborn's infections and vaginitis . Therefore, we evaluated the statistical incidence of this microorganism in vaginal swabs of 1403 non-selected subjects . We isolated this streptococcus in 12.3% samples and it was present in 26.3% of positive cultures . Our study confirms the elevate incidence of this microorganism and suggests the opportunity of this research in pregnancy monitoring and in gynaecological flogosis.

Arch Oral Biol, 1988, 33(10), 727 - 33
The bacteria responsible for ureolysis in artificial dental plaque; Sissons CH et al.; The origin of ureolytic activity in artificial-mouth plaques was established by assessing the contribution to plaque ureolytic activity of the isolated bacteria . To overcome losses of ureolytic activity caused by the unstable presence of urease in oral bacteria, ureolytic bacteria were isolated from an exceptionally active plaque (1 mumol NH3/min per mg protein) in which 63 per cent of the flora was ureolytic . After their ability to metabolize urea was stabilized, 13 ureolytic bacteria remained: seven strains of Streptococcus salivarius, one Streptococcus bovis, two Staphylococcus epidermidis and three Staphylococcus haemolyticus . Their urease activity, measured after growth into stationary phase, was reproducible and strain specific with a 20-fold range within each genus . The mean ureolytic activity of each species, when weighted by its calculated incidence in the original plaque, accounted for 40 per cent of the total plaque ureolytic activity . However, these values for urease levels were only a small fraction of the bacterial ureolytic potential . Urease per mg cell protein measured during the growth cycle of a selected Strep . salivarius, and Staph . epidermidis, varied 10-fold, and reached much higher activities (i.e . 6-8 mumol NH3/min per mg of cell protein) than under the growth conditions that were used to assess the contribution of these species to total plaque ureolysis . Thus urea metabolism in artificial plaque was due mainly to Strep . salivarius, with a small contribution from Staph . epidermidis . The presence of further unidentified species of ureolytic oral bacteria need not be invoked.

Acta Otolaryngol Suppl, 1988, 454, 185 - 91
Experimental and clinical studies of causative bacteria in tonsillitis; Suzuki K et al.; To study the pathogenesis of upper respiratory tract infections, we focused on acute tonsillitis and performed three experimental and clinical studies . From these studies, we found out that there seemed to be an intimate relationship between anatomical structure and adherence of S . pyogenes, and we confirmed that the M protein of S . pyogenes played an important role in adherence to the epithelium and the normal bacterial flora was actively involved in the body's defense against infections . We also identified that nearly half of causative bacteria in tonsillitis in Japan were the genus streptococcus, especially S . pyogenes with 23.4% . The incidence of Methicillin (DMPPC)-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 27% in middle ear exudate and 14.3% in nasal discharge, but no MRSA was isolated from tonsillitis.

J Basic Microbiol, 1988, 28(7), 427 - 36
The role of iron in the growth and hemolysin (Streptolysin S) production in Streptococcus pyogenes; Griffiths BB et al.; Four strains of Streptococcus pyogenes were propagated at 37 degrees C in a reduced iron medium supplemented with Fe3+-citrate to give concentrations of 1 through 11 micrograms per milliliter, in order to observe the effects of iron on growth and on the vitro production of Streptolysin S . Both growth and hemolysin production were observed to be influenced by medium iron concentration of which 1.2 micrograms per ml of iron was critical . Hemolysin was produced during the exponential phase of the growth cycle with maximum yield as the organism entered the stationary phase . Hemolytic activity (which was accepted as the ability of the hemolysin to lyse sheep erythrocytes) fell below detectable levels as the organisms entered fully into the stationary phase (9-10 hours post incubation) . Serum (bovine, human, chicken) was observed to have a high stabilizing effect on the hemolysin.

Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac, 1988, 105(7), 525 - 30
{Cervical lymph node inflammation in children}; Pain F et al.; One hundred and twenty seven cases of cervical lymph node infection were seen between 1974 and 1986 in children aged between 1 month and 10 years . The point of origin of the infection wa identified in 30% of cases and was, in decreasing order: cutaneous, in the cervico-cephalic region; pharyngo-tonsillar via the lymphatic structures of the pharynx or by direct effraction of the buccopharyngeal mucosa; and, finally, dental . The site of the secondary lymph node infection was generally below and behind the angle of the jaw and in some cases submandibular . Two thirds of cases progressed to suppuration and were evaluated bacteriologically . Four organisms were identified: Staphylococcus, very much in the majority . The origin of the infection was almost always cutaneous . There was a predilection for the child aged under 5 with a majority under 2 . The streptococcus was in second place far behind the staphylococcus . The origin of the infection was pharyngo-tonsillar, with the beta-haemolytic streptococcus predominant, bucco-dental, with the alpha-haemolytic predominant, and a very small number of cases with a cutaneous origin . The age of these children was greater than in the staphylococcal infection group: the great majority were over 2 and all cases with a dental origin were aged over 5 . There were a small number of anaerobic infections . In 2 of the 3 bacteriologically confirmed cases, the origin was pharyngo-tonsillar and development was obviously favored by the initial antibiotics prescribed . Management took into account the predominance of the staphylococcus, the resistance of this organism to penicillin G and its usual sensitivity to methicillin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Microbios, 1988, 55(224-225), 161 - 71
Isolation and physiological characterization of Streptococcus milleri strains from human dental plaque; Yakushiji T et al.; Of 271 Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming cocci isolated from crevicular and supragingival plaques of 22 adults, 71 stains were clustered as Streptococcus milleri by testing 23 physiological characters . Most of the oral S . milleri strains were nonhaemolytic and formed minute smooth colonies on glucose and sucrose agar plates, while some of the clinical strains were alpha-haemolytic, forming rough colonies on Carlsson's MC agar plate as well as carrying the Lancefield group antigens C, F or G . The strains were divided into two biotypes, and further into six subtypes by their abilities to ferment maltose, salicin and/or lactose . Distribution of the varieties according to the haemolytic, colonial and serological properties among the oral isolates generally corresponded to the tentative biological types of S . milleri.

Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1988, 171(1), 67 - 74
{The appearance of specific IgG and IgA antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae in serum and in lung lavage fluid of mice after the administration of different antigens . 1 . Development of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of specific IgG and IgA antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae}; Schumann V et al.; Immunization against streptococcus pneumoniae is for the prophylaxis of pneumococcus diseases in an increased number of risk patients and because of an increasing presence of antibiotica resistance in present days necessary . In order to get better possibilities to test the immunization effect, improved methods for detection of antibodies are applied . In this publication a double sandwich-EIA and a protein-coupled EIA are presented and compared . The double sandwich-EIA has proved to be superior with regard to its day by day variability of 12.5% and its series variability of 3.5% and to be of the same value compared with international developments . The production of most of antigens and antisera is described and the application of gamma-irradiated micro-plates is proposed.

Ann Acad Med Singapore, 1988 Jan, 17(1), 48 - 54
Immunochemosurgery as a new approach to reasonable treatment of advanced cancer; Kim JP; To evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant immunochemotherapy in advanced adenocarcinoma of stomach, patients who had undergone radical subtotal gastrectomy for stage III gastric carcinoma were randomized to receive immunochemotherapy or not . For immunotherapy, streptococcus pyogenes preparation (picibanil) was given intramuscularly every week and for chemotherapy, either MFC (mitomycin-C, 5-fluorouracil and cytosine arabinoside) regimen or FME (5-fluorouracil and methyl-CCNU) regimen was given . Immunotherapy was started at the 4th or 5th postoperative day and chemotherapy was started at the 8th to 10th postoperative day . To evaluate the immune status of patients, various immune parameters such as 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) test, T-lymphocyte count, PHA- and concanavalin-A stimulated lymphoblastogenesis and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity were checked before operation and 3 to 4 months after operation . One hundred and thirty-eight patients were chosen for study during a 5-year period . Seventy-four patients received postoperative immunochemotherapy and 64 patients received no further anticancer therapy following operation . All patients had been followed at least for 5 years since they underwent operation . Survival rate and immune status were compared between two groups . Patient characteristics and preoperative values for immune status of two groups were similar to each other . Five-year survival rate of postoperative immunochemotherapy group was 44.6%, whereas that of surgery alone group was 23.4% . The difference is statistically significant (p less than 0.05) . All the postoperative values of immune parameters showed more favourable data in the postoperative immunochemotherapy group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1988, 139(4), 235 - 40
{Subacute infectious endocarditis in the elderly . Retrospective study of 33 cases}; Legrain S et al.; The authors reviewed 33 cases of infectious endocarditis in patients over 65 years of age and classified according to Von Reyn's diagnostic criteria . Twenty-four patients had organic valvular disease, 4 had a prosthetic valve, and in 4 cases the diagnosis of the murmur was uncertain . Positive blood cultures were obtained in 79 p . 100 of cases . The commonest infecting organism was the streptococcus (21 out of 26) . In 11 patients, it was a Group D streptococcus and a recto-sigmoid colonic tumour was found in 3 cases . A dental portal of entry was suspected in 55 p . 100 of patients and this should guide the choice of prophylactic antibiotic therapy . The initial choice of antibiotic had to be changed in 19 patients, usually because of poor tolerance . Eight patients died and one underwent valve replacement within two months of hospital admission.

Tierarztl Prax, 1988, 16(3), 243 - 9
{Clinical and bacteriologic studies of the frequency of mastitis during and after parturition in heifers lactating for the first time}; Sobiraj A et al.; The udders of 100 heifers were examined for clinical changes during parturition . Of each quarter colostral samples were taken and analyzed bacteriologically . 35 heifers (13.5% of the quarters) showed clinical changes of the quarters and/or of colostral samples . 14 of these animals (4.75% of the quarters) suffered from cellulitis-like mastitis . 13 (5.25% of the quarters) had acute catarrhalic mastitis and eight heifers (3.5% of the quarters) showed acute galactophoritis . In all milk samples of animals with pathological changes of the udder or of colostrum the causing bacteria could be identified . Besides the group of 35 heifers with clinical lesions udder-pathogenic bacteria were found in samples of 24 apparently healthy animals (20.5% of the quarters) during parturition . However, these animals failed to show clinical signs of inflammation at least until the end of this study (10 days post partum) . Isolated bacteria included facultative and obligate pathogenic species, 70% of which were gram-positive cocci (i.e . Streptococcus {Sc.} uberis, Sc . dysgalactiae, Sc . agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus and other staphylococci) versus 30% of gram-negative bacteria (i.e . Escherichia {E.} coli, Klebsiella and other coliform species . In-vitro-susceptibility tests showed best effectiveness of Penicillin against Sc., Cloxacillin against staphylococci and Gentamycin and Polymyxin B against coliform bacteria . Possible pathways, leading to bacterial infection of first lactating heifers during parturition, are discussed . Pathways of infection seem to be of lesser importance for the development of apparent, sometimes severe mastitis with coliform bacteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Int J Tissue React, 1988, 10(2), 59 - 65
Recent research into Behçet's disease in Japan; Mizushima Y; Recent studies on Behcet's disease supervised by a national research committee are reported under the headings of epidemiology, the role of streptococcus infection, PMN activity, immunological changes and treatment, concluded with a revised set of diagnostic criteria.

Pediatr Radiol, 1988, 18(5), 407 - 8
Multiple subdural abscesses following colonic perforation--a rare complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt; Sharma BS et al.; A case of colonic perforation by a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, its subsequent migration and protrusion from the anal orifice is reported . The shunt reservoir and ventricular catheter were removed percutaneously, and the disconnected peritoneal catheter was pulled out through the anus . Blood culture grew Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus fecalis . CT scan showed multiple subdural abscesses with evidence of ventriculitis . Removal of the shunt (as described), evacuation of subdural pus and systemic antibiotics resulted in complete recovery.

Med Cutan Ibero Lat Am, 1988, 16(2), 171 - 3
{Evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity of local fusidic aid versus oral dicloxacillin in infections of the skin}; Macotela-Ruiz E et al.; In a double-blind test it was shown the efficacy of topical fusidic acid in comparison with oral dicloxacillin, in patients with skin infection by Staphylococcus aureus or/and Streptococcus pyogenes . In the experimental group, 16 patients from 20 received 2% topical fusidic acid in cream and reacted well in a shorter period of time than 17 from a group of 20 that had 500 mg . of dicloxacillin orally twice a day.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1988, 86(4), 432 - 5
Proliferative response of human T lymphocytes to a vaccinal preparation of ribosomes from Streptococcus pyogenes; Millet I et al.; The in vitro lymphocyte-activating properties of a ribosomal preparation of Streptococcus pyogenes were investigated . The preparation was mitogenic for human lymphocytes with a peak of 3H-thymidine incorporation occurring after 3-5 days of culture . The response was abolished by removal of CD3-positive cells and by alteration of accessory cells by exposure to L-leucine methyl ester . Most of the cells synthesizing DNA at the end of the culture expressed CD4 or CD8 but not CD20 antigens . No immunoglobulin synthesis was demonstrable . Although the same preparation was shown to be a T-independent polyclonal B-cell activator of murine cells, it preferentially triggers T cells in humans.

Caries Res, 1988, 22(4), 226 - 9
Streptococcus mutans counts obtained by a dip-slide method in relation to caries frequency, sucrose intake and flow rate of saliva; Seppa L et al.; The level of Streptococcus mutans in saliva was determined by a dip-slide method in 841 13-year-old children in order to identify children with high caries risk . For each child, the flow rate of saliva was determined . Caries scores were obtained from Public Dental Health records . A sucrose intake score was calculated based on self-reported frequency of intake of six types of sugary products . As S . mutans counts increased, there was a significant trend of increased DMFS and DS scores . No linear correlation was observed between reported intake of sucrose and S . mutans counts, but the children with the highest counts (class 3) tended to have significantly higher sucrose intake than the rest of the children . The flow rate of saliva decreased significantly as S . mutans increased.

Int J Biochem, 1988, 20(11), 1327 - 32
A simple purification method for a glucosyltransferase complex from Streptococcus mutans OMZ 176 with a high yield; Furutani M et al.; 1 . Glucosyltransferase was purified from Streptococcus mutans OMZ 176 by ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel filtration . 2 . The overall purification was about 15,000-fold with a yield of 53% . 3 . The purified enzyme appeared to be a multienzyme complex consisting of three different components with molecular weights of 158,000, 153,000 and 149,000, respectively.

J Enzyme Inhib, 1988, 2(3), 173 - 81
Characteristics of M-GTFI, a new inhibitor of Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase; Uyeda M et al.; M-GTFI, originally screened as an inhibitor of Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase, strongly inhibited alpha-glucosidase, in a non-competitive manner especially when the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside was used . It also inhibited beta-glucosidase, beta-amylase and, to a lesser extent, beta-glucuronidase . The inhibitor was stable in neutral and alkaline pH ranges and dependency of the inhibition on pH and temperature was not observed . Some proteinases and polysaccharides-hydrolyzing enzymes as well as human saliva did not inactivate the inhibitor . There was a correlation between the release of sulfate anions from the inhibitor molecule on incubation with HCl (0.2 N) at 100 degrees C and loss of inhibitory properties of the molecule . It is suggested that the presence of sulfate ester linkages in the inhibitor molecule play an important role in the inhibition process.

Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1988, 171(1), 75 - 81
{The appearance of specific IgG and IgA antibodies to Streptococcus pneumoniae in serum and lung lavage fluid of mice after the administration of different antigens . 2 . IgG and IgA antibody detection after intraperitoneal, aerosol and oral immunization with Streptococcus pneumoniae}; Schumann V et al.; The stimulation of secretory and systemic IgG- and IgA-antibodies in the lung lavage fluid was examined in an animal test . It was also examined in the serum of mice after once to four times oral, aerosol or intraperitoneal immunization with total formalin destroyed bacteria of the species Streptococcus pneumoniae type I . Not only in the lung lavage fluid, but also in the sera specific antibodies could be found with the enzyme immunoassay . An intraperitoneal antigen application mainly resulted in increase of the specific IgG in the serum, whereas an oral and especially aerosol antigen application mainly developed a stimulation of IgA in the lung lavage fluid.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Jan, 21 Suppl A, 117 - 22
Teicoplanin in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections; Turpin PJ et al.; Twenty-five patients with cellulitis or other soft tissue infections were treated with once daily teicoplanin . One patient was withdrawn from the study because of a protocol violation but 27 of the 29 assessable infections in the other 24 patients were clinically cured or improved . Eighteen of the 20 original Gram-positive bacterial isolates (11 Staphylococcus aureus and nine beta-haemolytic streptococcus strains) were completely eradicated . No severe adverse reactions were seen but a rise in the plasma platelet count was noted in the majority of the patients during teicoplanin administration.

Int J Biochem, 1988, 20(10), 1117 - 24
The F1-ATPase from Streptococcus cremoris: isolation, purification and partial characterization; Rimpilainen MA et al.; 1 . The F1-ATPase from the plasma membrane of Streptococcus cremoris HA was released by low ionic shock wash and purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography . 2 . The specific activity of the purified F1-ATPase was 25.8 mumol Pi/mg protein/min . 3 . Km for ATP was 0.80 mM, and Ki for ADP as a competetive inhibitor 0.40 mM . 4 . The purified F1-ATPase consisted of five subunits, alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon, with molecular masses of 47.0, 45.0, 29.5, 22.0 and 13.0 kDa, respectively . 5 . The isoelectric point of the enzyme complex was found to be 4.4.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1988, 177(6), 317 - 21
Measurement of active constitutive L-pyrrolidonyl-peptidase from the genera Streptococcus and Enterococcus; Panosian KJ et al.; In the family Streptococceae the ability to measure L-pyrrolidonyl-peptidase is limited to Lancefield group D Enterococcus and group A Streptococcus pyogenes . A number of methods exist to assay this enzyme . All measure pyrrolidonyl-peptidase by the ability of the bacterium to cleave L-pyrrolidonyl-beta-naphthylamide to form free beta-naphthylamine and L-pyrrolidone-carboxylic acid . Free beta-naphthylamine is then reacted with N,N-dimethylamino-cinnamaldehyde to form a red color complex . These methods are generally expensive and require a 2-4 h incubation period before results are available . A method, which employs the substrate dried on paper discs and can be easily made, is described herein . It is simple to perform, inexpensive, rapid, and has a long storage life . The results of this constitutive method are equivalent to those obtained using a commercial system.

Drugs, 1988, 35 Suppl 2, 127 - 32
Cefotaxime lavage in children undergoing appendicectomy; McAllister TA et al.; In an attempt to reduce postoperative sepsis, a series of randomised, double-blind studies was begun in 1982, using cefotaxime as backbone therapy . Up to 1985 (stages I and II), the best results were obtained using a combination of cefotaxime (75 mg/kg intravenously in 3 doses at 12-hourly intervals) plus metronidazole (10 mg/kg intravenously in 3 doses), both drugs administered 1 hour before surgery (preoperatively) or at anaesthetic induction (peroperatively) . In 300 consecutive cases, the wound infection rates were 1% in uncomplicated acute appendicitis and 5% in perforated/gangrenous appendices . The present study (stage III) reports the findings in 401 consecutive patients: 215 treated with the above regimen, either pre- or perioperatively (group 1) and 186 who additionally had peritoneal lavage with cefotaxime 2 g/L during surgery (group 2) . There were 16 wound infections overall, 2 among patients administered prophylaxis preoperatively and 14 in those administered prophylaxis perioperatively . All produced mixed cultures, with Escherichia coli, Streptococcus milleri and Bacteroides fragilis predominating . The overall figures for postoperative sepsis are 12/215 (5.6%) in the non-lavage group and 8/186 (4.3%) in the lavage group . Among patients with a perforated and/or gangrenous appendix, the wound infection rate was 8/72 (11.1%) in the non-lavage group (group 1) and 4/66 (6.1%) in the lavage group (group 2) . Each group had 2 cases of pelvic abscess.

Infect Immun, 1988 Jan, 56(1), 219 - 24
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to fimbria-associated adhesins of Bacteroides loescheii PK1295; Weiss EI et al.; Bacteroides loescheii PK1295 fimbriae, which mediate the lactose-sensitive coaggregation with Streptococcus sanguis 34 and the lactose-insensitive coaggregation with Actinomyces israelii PK14, were injected into mice to raise adhesin-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) . Supernatants of hybridomas were screened for the capacity to inhibit coaggregation and agglutinate intact bacteria . Of the 10 MAbs that were isolated, 4 were specific and potent inhibitors of the coaggregation between B . loescheii and S . sanguis and two other MAbs specifically inhibited the B . loescheii-A . israelii interaction . None of the six MAbs which inhibited adherence were capable of agglutinating whole cells of B . loescheii, whereas the four remaining MAbs agglutinated whole cells but had no effect on coaggregation . Fab fragments of two MAbs, one that inhibited the coaggregation with S . sanguis and another that inhibited the interaction with A . israelii, also were shown to inhibit the respective coaggregation interactions, suggesting that each of the immunoglobulins recognized its adhesin molecule at or near the active sites . By immunoblotting or immunoprecipitation, the S . sanguis adhesin-specific MAbs reacted with a 75-kilodalton polypeptide present in fimbria-enriched preparations, whereas the A . israelii adhesin-specific MAbs recognized a 45-kilodalton polypeptide in the same preparations . By screening hybridoma supernatants directly for their capacity to block coaggregation, we isolated MAbs which were used to establish that the B . loescheii-S . sanguis and the B . loescheii-A . israelii interactions were mediated by different adhesins.

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1988, 10(4), 347 - 52
Immunoglobulin secretion of mononuclear cells induced by various mitogens; Shoenfeld Y et al.; Immunosufficiency can be evaluated by Ig secretion subsequent to mitogenic stimulation of human mononuclear cells (MNC) . It seems that there are significant differences in immunoglobulin class secreted by these cells when stimulated with various polyclonal activators . The aim of the current study was to analyse these differences . MNC cells was randomly obtained from nine healthy blood donors and were activated by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), group-A streptococcus (A-ScM), Staphylococcus aureus (SAC), Klebsiella pneumonia (Kleb-M) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) . Significantly increased levels of IgM were recorded after a 7 day incubation followed by stimulation with Kleb-M (6.2 +/- 2.9) and EBV (5.9 +/- 4.5) compared to inactivated MNC (1.6 +/- 1.4), and following 10 days incubation then stimulation by EBV (13.4 +/- 5.5) and Kleb-M (9.9 +/- 4.2) compared to unstimulated cells (2.9 +/- 1.8) . Significantly greater IgG levels were achieved following incubation with EBV (3.0 +/- 4.0) and PWM (2.4 +/- 1.3) after 7 days (vs 0.6 +/- 0.4 in unstimulated cells) and by PWM (11.7 +/- 5.3) and Kleb-M (8.8 +/- 3.9, vs 2.3 +/- 2.2) after 10 days . The present data emphasize the significance of merging both mitogen selection and culture duration for acquiring information and high fidelity results of immunoglobulin secretion by polyclonal activators.

Mol Microbiol, 1988 Jan, 2(1), 135 - 40
Molecular basis for the spontaneous generation of colonization-defective mutants of Streptococcus mutans; Ueda S et al.; Spontaneous mutants of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 defective in sucrose-dependent colonization of smooth surfaces are generated at frequencies above the spontaneous mutation rate . Southern blot analysis of such mutants suggested rearrangement of the genes coding for glucosyltransferase (GTF) activity . Two strain GS-5 homologous tandem genes, gtfB and gtfC, coding for GTF-I and GTF-S activities respectively, were demonstrated to undergo recombination when introduced into recombination-proficient Escherichia coli transformants . However, the two genes were quite stable when transformed on a single DNA fragment into a recA mutant of E . coli . The DNA fragment coding for GTF activity from one S . mutans colonization-defective mutant, SP2, was isolated and shown also to have undergone recombination between the gtfB and gtfC genes, resulting in reduced GTF activity . These results are discussed relative to the in vivo generation of colonization-defective mutants in cultures of S . mutans.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1988 Jan, 37(1), 59 - 65
Enhanced multiplication and transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae in guinea pigs by Sendai virus infection; Saito M et al.; It was demonstrated that the transmission S . pneumoniae in guinea pigs was remarkably promoted by the combined infection with Sendai virus in the following experiments . When guinea pigs infected with S . pneumoniae alone (infector) were cagemated with non-treated guinea pigs (contact) for 2 and 4 weeks, only 2 of 30 contacts were infected with the organism . On the contrary, when the contact guinea pigs were infected with Sendai virus and immediately cage-mated with the infectors, the pneumococcal infection occurred in 25 of 30 contacts during 2 to 4 weeks period . In the experiment in which 30 non-treated contacts were cage-mated with pneumococcal infectors for 4 weeks and then infected with Sendai virus, no pneumococcal infection was demonstrated in the contacts, suggesting no presence of latent infection of the organism in the contact guinea pigs . Twenty-five of 30 contacts suffered from pneumococcal infection when they were exposed to Sendai virus for 2 weeks and then cage-mated with infectors . The multiplication of S . pneumoniae in the respiratory tract of the guinea pigs was remarkably enhanced by combined infection with Sendai virus . Namely, a 1000-fold increase in the number of organism resulted in the guinea pigs suffered from combined infection as compared with that in the animals received pneumococcal single infection.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1988, 37(1), 61 - 4
Amine production by Streptococcus lactis under different growth conditions; Chander H et al.; The highest amount of histamine, tyramine and tryptamine were produced by S . lactis at 30 degrees C in 24 h at pH = 5.0 . Maximum amount of different amines was noted in a growth medium lacking NaCl . After addition of NaCl even at 0.5% concentration, slight inhibitory effect on the synthesis of these amines was obtained.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1988, 86(4), 426 - 31
Discrepancy between effects of in vivo and in vitro administration of gammaglobulin on phagocytic killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae in an antibody-deficient serum; Braconier JH et al.; Phagocytic killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 6A, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F was investigated in the dysgammaglobulinemic serum of a patient with recurrent pneumococcal infections . Previous studies with this serum had established combined IgG2, IgG4 and IgA deficiency, deficiency with regard to specific antipolysaccharide antibodies and essentially normal complement functions . Phagocytic killing of all serotypes was reduced in the patient's serum . Addition of immunoglobulin in vitro enhanced both classical and alternative complement pathway mediated opsonization . In constitution experiments neither purified Clq nor CRP influenced phagocytic killing . Surprisingly, intramuscular administration of a fairly small dose of gammaglobulin to the patient was associated with a rapid increase in the serum opsonic activity for serotype 23F . The increased opsonization occurred before specific anticapsular antibodies were detectable in serum . The findings suggest that the possible effects of gammaglobulin treatment may not exclusively be related to the acquisition of serotype-specific antibodies.

Vopr Onkol, 1988, 34(1), 23 - 9
{Production of monoclonal antibodies to tissue-specific antigens of human skin epithelium}; Drobyshevskaia EI et al.; Immunization of BALB/c mice with non-type-specific protein antigens of the cellular wall of group A streptococcus and formalin-treated streptococcal culture resulted in stimulating production of polyclonal autoantibodies to antigens of the epithelium of human and murine skin . As a result of hybridoma technique using splenic cells of immunized animals, monoclonal antibodies to different antigens of epidermal cell cytoplasm, i.e . antigen of basal cells, antigen of differentiated cell layers (spinous and granular) and antigen common to cells of all epidermal layers, were obtained . The immunofluorescence tests on monoclonal antibodies to epidermal basal cell antigen showed them to engage cells only of tumors histogenetically associated with the epidermal tegumental epithelium.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1987 Dec 15, 191(12), 1556 - 61
The economic benefit of treating subclinical Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis in lactating cows; Yamagata M et al.; The economic benefits of treating lactating cows for Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis were studied at a large (689 milking cows) central California dairy . Postcure milk production of case cows (infected, treated, and cured) was compared with production of paired control cows (uninfected) and was matched for yield, days in milk, days in gestation, and parity . A simulation was used to plot expected lactation curves for mastitic cows (infected, not treated) with characteristics similar to those of each control cow, and these curves were compared with actual case-cow lactation curves . The difference in actual and expected production was used to calculate net economic benefits of treatment . Comparison of expected with actual production indicated a net benefit from treatment of $396/cow for cows treated in early lactation and $237 for cows treated in midlactation, but a net loss of $55 for cows treated in late lactation . Lactation number did not have a significant impact on economic benefits of treatment . In contrast to other studies indicating no economic benefit from treating mastitis during lactation, this study's positive results may have been attributable to the high cure rate (98%) and the subclinical form of mastitis being treated . Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis treatment during early and midlactation would appear to be an economically justifiable option for dairy managers.

JAMA, 1987 Dec 4, 258(21), 3131 - 4
Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal skin infections in a US meat-packing plant; Fehrs LJ et al.; In 1985, the second reported outbreak of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) skin infections among US meat packers was recognized at an Oregon meat-packing plant . All 69 plant workers were interviewed and examined for the presence of pustular, draining, or inflamed lesions . During a three-month period, 44 episodes of skin infection occurred in 32 workers, all but four of whom worked in boning or killing areas . Acquiring infection was associated with job category (relative risk {RR}, 5.7; 95% confidence intervals {CI}, 2.9 to 11.3) and having at least two hand lacerations (RR adjusted for occupation, 6.2; 95% CI, 3.0 to 12.5) . Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (18), Staphylococcus aureus (12), or both (20) were isolated from 70 lesions cultured . Meat is suspected as a vehicle of transmission because cultures of two meat specimens contained the same GABHS strain as did 24 isolates from patients . Increasing reports of GABHS skin infections in meat packers suggest that this occupational risk may be more common than is realized.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1987 Dec 1, 191(11), 1446 - 8
Complications associated with Streptococcus equi infection on a horse farm; Sweeney CR et al.; Complications associated with Streptococcus equi infection developed in 15 (20.3%) of 74 horses on one farm included death, guttural pouch empyema, purpura hemorrhagica, upper respiratory tract obstruction, pneumonia, pleuropneumonia, agalactia, mesenteric lymph node abscessation, and periorbital abscessation . Death was attributed to pneumonia in 3 horses and to upper respiratory tract obstruction in 2 horses . One horse was euthanatized because of severe purpura hemorrhagica.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Dec, 169(12), 5686 - 91
Effect of growth conditions on levels of components of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system in Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus grown in continuous culture; Vadeboncoeur C et al.; The membrane-bound, sugar-specific enzyme II (EII) component of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) in Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt is repressed by growth on glucose under various conditions in continuous culture . Compared with optimal PTS conditions (i.e., glucose limitation, dilution rate {D} of 0.1 h-1, and pH 7.0), EII activity for glucose (EIIGlc) and mannose (EIIMan) in cells grown at a D of 0.4 h-1 and pH 5.5 with the same glucose concentration was reduced 24- to 27-fold . EII activity with methyl alpha-glucoside and 2-deoxyglucose was reduced 6- and 26-fold, respectively . Growth with excess glucose (i.e., nitrogen limitation) resulted in 26- to 88-fold repression of EII activity with these substrates . The above conditions of low pH, high dilution rate, and excess glucose also repressed EII activity for fructose (EIIFru), but to a lesser extent (two- to fivefold) . Conversely, growth of S . mutans DR0001 at a D of 0.2 h-1 and pH 5.5 resulted in increased EIIGlc and EIIMan activity . Unlike the EII component, the HPr concentration in S . mutans Ingbritt varied only twofold (5.5 to 11.4 nmol/mg of protein) despite growth at pH 5.5 with limiting and excess glucose . The HPr concentrations in S . mutans DR0001 and the glucose-PTS-defective mutant DR0001/6 were similar . In a companion study, the soluble components of the PTS (i.e., HPr, EI, and EIIILac) in Streptococcus sobrinus grown on limiting lactose in a chemostat were not influenced significantly by growth at various pHs (7.0 and 5.0) and growth rates (D of 0.1, 0.54, and 0.8 h-1) . However, growth on lactose resulted in repression of both EIIGlc and EIIFru, confirming earlier results with batch-grown cells . Thus, the glucose-PTS in some strains of S . mutans is regulated at the level of EII synthesis by certain environmental conditions.

Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1987 Dec, 17(1-4), 25 - 35
The application of hybridoma technology to the study of bovine immunoglobulins; Goldsby RA et al.; Studies are described in which hybridoma technology is used to produce a variety of reagents for the characterization and manipulation of the bovine humoral immune system . Selected members of a set of murine monoclonal antibodies (MAb) specific for each of four major isotypes of bovine Ig constant regions, one specific for anti-bovine Ig constant regions as well as one specific for anti-bovine light chains are discussed . Interspecific fusion of bovine lymphocytes with the established mouse cell line, SP2/0 was used to produce a collection of stable hybridomas among which were found secretors of bovine IgG1, IgG2, IgM, IgA and bovine light chain . Interspecific fusion of SP2/0 with lymphocytes from a multiparous Holstein four days post immunization with Streptococcus agalactiae yielded MAb with specificity for the immunizing antigen . One of these hybridomas, LHRB 19.17, which displayed a particularly stable secretory phenotype, was used as an immunogen for the production of a library of murine monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies . Competitive antigen binding analysis showed that 15 of the 24 anti-LHRB 19.17 idiotype antibodies isolated blocked the binding of the idiotype to its nominal antigen and so were candidates for evaluation as antigen mimics . Some of the ways in which monoclonal anti-idiotypes in particular, and monoclonal in general, might be of use in problems of animal disease are discussed.

Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi, 1987 Dec, 62(6), 947 - 62
{The analysis of the immune response to Streptococcus mutans cell wall antigen and allo-MHC antigens in the rat}; Niiyama T; RT1 is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the rat, which is equivalent to H-2 of mice and HLA of human . In the present study, the role of RT1, especially class II antigens (RT1-B/D antigens) in the immune response to Streptococcus mutans cell wall antigen (SMA) and allo-MHC antigens was investigated . The results are as follows . 1) Eleven strains of inbred rats were divided into high or low responders with respect to their immune responsiveness to SMA . 2) Having examined the immune responsiveness to SMA of RT1-congenic strains, it is shown that there is a correlation between the immune responsiveness and RT1 haplotypes . 3) The low responsiveness to SMA of LEW rats was mostly mediated by MRC-OX8+ suppressor T cells . 4) By the inhibition test of allo-MLR (mixed lymphocyte reaction) with monoclonal antibodies, HOK7 HOK12 and HOK33, it has been shown that RT1-B/D antigens are MLR-stimulatory molecules and that Ia+ antigen presenting cells (APC) of responder cells are necessary in the recognition of allo-MHC antigens . 5) It is suggested that there are two recognition pathways of allo-MLR . In one of them, allo-MHC antigens are directly recognized by responder T cells, in another, they are recognized by responder T cells with help of Ia+ APC.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Dec, 210(2), 369 - 72
Mismatch repair during pneumococcal transformation of small deletions produced by site-directed mutagenesis; Gasc AM et al.; The genetic behaviour of short non-homologous regions has been studied during transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Amethopterin-resistant mutants belonging to the amiA locus were used for these investigations . Five mutants deleted for 1-5 bp were obtained by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis . Their efficiency of transformation was measured using recipient strains either able to excise and repair mismatched bases (Hex+) or Hex- derivatives . Deletions or insertions of 1 and 2 bp are fully recognized by the Hex system, and are efficiently repaired whereas 3-bp deletions or insertions are only partially excised and repaired . The efficiency of repair is inversely related to the size of the non-homology . Markers with 5-bp deletions or insertions are poorly repaired and thus transform at very high frequency: similar results are obtained in reciprocal crosses . It is proposed that 1- or 2-bp deletions or insertions are included in the heteroduplex structure as transition mutations . The Hex system would detect only small deviations from the normal DNA structure.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Dec, 84(24), 9170 - 4
A model of high-affinity antibody binding to type III group B Streptococcus capsular polysaccharide; Wessels MR et al.; We recently reported that the single repeating-unit pentasaccharide of type III group B Streptococcus (GBS) capsular polysaccharide is only weakly reactive with type III GBS antiserum . To further elucidate the relationship between antigen-chain length and antigenicity, tritiated oligosaccharides derived from type III capsular polysaccharide were used to generate detailed saturation binding curves with a fixed concentration of rabbit antiserum in a radioactive antigen-binding assay . A graded increase in affinity of antigen-antibody binding was seen as oligosaccharide size increased from 2.6 repeating units to 92 repeating units . These differences in affinity of antibody binding to oligosaccharides of different molecular size were confirmed by immunoprecipitation and competitive ELISA, two independent assays of antigen-antibody binding . Analysis of the saturation binding experiment indicated a difference of 300-fold in antibody-binding affinity for the largest versus the smallest tested oligosaccharides . Unexpectedly, the saturation binding values approached by the individual curves were inversely related to oligosaccharide chain length on a molar basis but equivalent on a weight basis . This observation is compatible with a model in which binding of an immunoglobulin molecule to an antigenic site on the polysaccharide facilitates subsequent binding of antibody to that antigen.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Dec, 20(6), 883 - 5
Failure of post-bacteraemia delayed antibiotic prophylaxis of experimental rabbit endocarditis; James J et al.; Twenty-one rabbits had a cannula placed in the left ventricle and 48 h later 1 ml of a culture of Streptococcus sanguis NCTC 7864 was injected into an ear vein . Six hours later, 400 mg/kg of amoxycillin was administered intramuscularly to 17 animals, the others acting as non-antibiotic treated controls . Two of the 17 rabbits died during the experimental period, and the cannula was incorrectly placed in another two . Five of the remaining 13 animals developed endocarditis . All controls developed endocarditis . Amoxycillin administered 6 h after an induced bacteraemia failed to prevent endocarditis in five (38%) of 13 rabbits.

Int J Epidemiol, 1987 Dec, 16(4), 561 - 8
Children with acute rheumatic fever and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis and their families in a subtropical zone: a three-year prospective comparative epidemiological study; Majeed HA et al.; Over a period of three years (December 1980 through November 1983) the incidence and epidemiological features of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (AGN) were studied prospectively in two regional hospitals in Kuwait serving a childhood population of 225,000 . The study included 146 children with ARF and 256 family members and 125 children with AGN and 199 family members . The annual incidence of ARF and AGN were 19.6 and 17.8 respectively per 100,000 childhood population (7.3 and 6.7 respectively per 100,000 total population) . Both diseases occurred sporadically throughout the year with a similar peak in winter . The clinical profile of ARF was essentially similar to that reported from temperate climates, and AGN followed mainly throat infections . Microscopic haematuria was detected in ten ARF family members (4%) and in 20 AGN family members (10%) . Haematuria and low C3 were found in two (0.8%) and in seven (3.5%) ARF and AGN family members respectively . Of the nine family members with subclinical nephritis the group C streptococcus was isolated from three (33%) . The geometric mean titre (GMT) of antistreptolysin O (ASO) and of antihyaluronidase (AH) in ARF and AGN patients were markedly elevated . Although the median age of ARF and AGN family members were 13 and 15 years respectively, yet the GMT of ASO and AH in the family members were slightly higher than those of the normal childhood population.

Am Surg, 1987 Dec, 53(12), 702 - 5
Comparison of omental splenic autotransplant to partial splenectomy . Protective effect against septic death; Steely WM et al.; The possible benefit of either partial splenectomy or splenic autotransplantation as protection against post-splenectomy sepsis was investigated . Sprague-Dawley rats were challenged with intravenous Streptococcus pneumoniae and the incidence of bacteremia and mortality were recorded . Animals were divided into four groups based upon the amount of splenic tissue conserved: total splenectomy (0%), partial splenectomy (62%), splenic autotransplantation (27%), or sham celiotomy (100%) . A statistically significant (P 0.05) decrease in the incidence of septic death was seen in comparing the total splenectomized animals (63%) to the autotransplant group (27%), the partial splenectomy (4%) and the control group (4%) . This diminishing mortality is inversely proportional to the amount of splenic remnant in the respective groups . There was a similar, parallel relationship in the incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia . Thus, the greater the amount of remaining splenic tissue, the lower the incidence of bacteremia and subsequent mortality, implying the preservation of immunologic function with splenic conservation.

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, 1987 Dec, 91(3), 491 - 6
Effects of inhalation of ethylene dichloride on pulmonary defenses of mice and rats; Sherwood RL et al.; The effects of single or multiple inhalation exposures to ethylene dichloride (DCE) on the pulmonary defense systems of mice and rats were evaluated . Single exposures of mice to the threshold limit value of DCE (10 ppm) resulted in decreased pulmonary bactericidal activity to inhaled Klebsiella pneumoniae and increased mortality from Streptococcus zooepidemicus respiratory infection . A single exposure to 5 ppm DCE caused increased mortality from streptococcal pneumonia although bactericidal activity was not affected . Neither of these two parameters changed following single or five consecutive daily exposures to 2.5 ppm DCE . Single exposures to 10 or 100 ppm DCE did not affect mouse alveolar macrophage (AM) inhibition of the proliferation of a tumor target cell in vitro or AM in vitro phagocytosis of red blood cells . In rats, no effects were observed on pulmonary bactericidal activity . AM in vitro phagocytosis, AM cytostasis and cytolysis of tumor target cells, AM ectoenzymes, or blastogenesis of mitogen-stimulated rat T- and B-lymphocytes from lung-associated, mesenteric, and popliteal lymph nodes following single exposure to 100 or 200 ppm DCE or after twelve 5-hr exposures to 10, 20, 50, or 100 ppm DCE.

Scand J Immunol, 1987 Dec, 26(6), 755 - 61
Semi-purification of an immunosuppressor substance secreted by Streptococcus mutans that plays a role in the protection of the bacteria in the host; Santarem MM et al.; Crude extracellular products of Streptococcus mutans (CEP-Sm) suppress the proliferative response to phytohaemagglutinin of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the primary immune response of C57BL/6 mice to sheep erythrocytes . This immunosuppressive effect favours the survival of the microorganism, and the bacteria lose the ability to secrete immunosuppressor substance if previously subcultured several times . Cells incubated with CEP-Sm and subsequently washed recover the ability to proliferate . Traces of CEP-Sm or to short a time of contact between CEP-Sm and the target immune system induced higher proliferative ratios or higher in vivo immune responses than controls, respectively . The proliferative values of cultures supplemented with CEP-Sm were parallel to the control values up to a certain time, after which they dropped abruptly . This drop is followed by a proliferation, and the higher the amount of CEP-Sm added to the cultures, the shorter the time until the proliferation . CEP-Sm was fractionated by means of ion exchange chromatography followed by double preparative isoelectrofocusing, ending in a subfraction of isoelectric point between 3.9 and 4.2, containing a heat-unstable material stainable by Coomassie blue but unstainable by periodic acid Schiff or methylene blue, and having a maximum optical density of 280 nm.

Jpn Circ J, 1987 Dec, 51(12), 1357 - 61
Coronary arteritis in mice after systemic injection of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan; Ohkuni H et al.; We examined cell wall peptidoglycan (PGL) derived from group A streptococcus and other bacteria for possible induction of coronary arteritis in mouse strains . The histological finding of the main trunk of the coronary arteries of BALB/c, DBA/1J, C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice, which were given an intravenous injection of sonicated PGL fragments of st . pyogenes at 500 micrograms per mouse 4 times at intervals of 1 week, showed diffuse cellular infiltration in the vascular wall as well as perivascular space . Marked hyperplasia of the endothelial cells was noted and necrosis of the medial smooth muscle of the coronary artery also was observed . The elastica stain clearly demonstrated fragmentation and degeneration of the elastic fibers . The histological change of the originating site of the aorta also noted swelling or hyperplasia of the endothelial cells and perivascular cellular infiltration . PGL fragments of st . mutans, st . sanguis and s . aureus did not cause any heart lesions . Coronary arteritis induced by st . pyogenes PGL could be very useful as an experimental animal model of Kawasaki's disease.

Jpn Circ J, 1987 Dec, 51(12), 1350 - 2
Anti-streptopolysaccharide antibody in children with rheumatic fever and scarlet fever; Watanabe N et al.; As the serological test of streptococcal infection, the measurement of anti-exotoxin antibodies such as ASO is widely practiced . M protein of the cell wall of group A streptococcus has type specificity . To detect the anti M protein antibody is very significant, but it is not easy to apply this to clinical practice because there are many types and because of the difficulty of purifying M protein . C polypeptide has group specificity, so the measurement of the antibody to C polypeptide is very important as the serological test of group A streptococcus.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 25(12), 2285 - 8
Identification of Streptococcus sobrinus with monoclonal antibodies; de Soet JJ et al.; Identification of Streptococcus sobrinus is often difficult to perform because of the great resemblance of the organism to other oral streptococcal species . Therefore, monoclonal antibodies were prepared which were shown to be highly specific for S . sobrinus . Cross-reactivity with other oral microorganisms has not been observed in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an immunofluorescence assay . These monoclonal antibodies belonged to the subclass immunoglobulin G2b . To be certain that the strains used in cross-reactivity tests were S . sobrinus, their DNA base composition was measured as a golden standard . Additional tests like colony morphology and sugar fermentation with the API 20 Strep system (Analytab Products, Montalieu-Vercieu, France) were performed . These additional tests turned out to be necessary because 100% correct identification could not be obtained by separate tests . Immunological characterization with the clones OMVU10 and OMVU11 proved to be discriminative between S . sobrinus and other streptococcal species.

Infect Immun, 1987 Dec, 55(12), 3181 - 7
Molecular analysis of the M protein of Streptococcus equi and cloning and expression of the M protein gene in Escherichia coli; Galan JE et al.; A Streptococcus equi gene bank was constructed in the bacteriophage lambda gt11 cloning vector, and hybrid phage plaques were screened with S . equi M protein antiserum . A hybrid phage expressing the S . equi M protein (lambda gt11/SEM7) was identified and lysogenized into Escherichia coli Y1089 . The cloned M protein appeared in immunoblots as three polypeptides with relative molecular weights of 58,000, 53,000, and 50,000 . When reacted with S . equi M protein antiserum in an agar double-diffusion assay, the cloned M protein formed a line of identity with a protein in an acid extract of S . equi . Furthermore, lambda gt11/SEM7 protein inhibited opsonization of S . equi by antiserum to S . equi M protein . In addition, the recombinant protein expressed determinants of the antigen in the immune complexes of purpura hemorrhagica . Native M protein obtained from S . equi and recombinant M protein showed very similar molecular weight distributions on immunoblots, appearing as multiple closely spaced bands with molecular weights ranging from 52,000 to 60,000 . Antisera prepared separately against each of the acid-extracted polypeptides shown to be important in serum bactericidal responses (molecular weight, 29,000) and nasopharyngeal local antibody responses (molecular weights, 41,000 and 46,000) of the horse each reacted with all three polypeptides in an acid extract . Moreover, antisera against protoplasts and against recombinant M protein of S . equi also reacted with these polypeptides . These results suggest that the entire M protein molecule of S . equi is present in these preparations and that the fragments in acid extracts carry overlapping segments.

Poult Sci, 1987 Dec, 66(12), 2053 - 5
Prior experience and response of chickens to a streptococcal infection; Katanbaf MN et al.; Streptococcus fecalis infection was diagnosed in a population of individually caged meat-type pullets . A retrospective analysis showed that the infection occurred in pullets fed ad libitum and not in those whose feed intake was restricted . Among the former, resistance as measured by changes in body weight and blood heterophils and lymphocytes was greater for those from which blood samples had been obtained than from those which had not been bled . These data are consistent with the hypothesis that handling and feeding programs can modify an individual's resistance to infectious agents . Moreover, these experiences do not have to be extreme; rather they may be consistent with routine production practices such as restricted feed intake and removal of blood for serological testing.

Vet Med (Praha), 1987 Dec, 32(12), 705 - 9
{Use of the colonizing preparation Amylastin in the stimulation of rumen-type digestion in young ruminants}; Kmet V et al.; In experiments with calves during the milk-nutrition period we tested the use of the colonisation preparation Amylastim, containing a bacterial strain of Streptococcus bovis AO 24/85, as a factor speeding up the development of the rumen microflora . We gave the preparation to the animals for a period of four weeks and studied its influence on the microflora adherent to the epithelium of the rumen wall . We ascertained a significant increase in the number of Streptococcus bovis germs (P less than 0.001) as well as of alpha-amylase activity (P less than 0.05) . When giving the preparation Amylastim to calves in large-scale production conditions we ascertained a positive effect on the health condition, total losses being lower.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Dec, 210(2), 203 - 10
Complementation of Bacillus subtilis polA mutants by DNA polymerase I from Streptococcus pneumoniae; Martinez S et al.; The polA gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae cloned in the recombinant plasmid pSM22 is expressed in Bacillus subtilis . Extracts of B . subtilis polA mutants containing pSM22 showed 6 times more DNA polymerase activity than extracts of wild-type cells without the plasmid . Complete complementation of the B . subtilis polA5 and polA59 mutations with respect to in vivo resistance to UV irradiation and methyl methanesulfonate was observed when four copies of the pneumococcal polA gene were present in each cell . Ectopic integration of the polA gene together with a cat marker into the chromosome of B . subtilis gave chromosomal insertions containing single and double doses of the pneumococcal polA gene . Correlation with gene dosage was observed for both chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and DNA polymerase activities measured in vitro . Depending on the number of copies of the S . pneumoniae polA gene present, restoration of DNA repair functions in polA mutants of B . subtilis was either partial or complete.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Dec, 210(3), 528 - 34
Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Streptococcus sanguis of a gene for staphylokinase--a bacterial plasminogen activator; Behnke D et al.; The gene coding for the bacterial plasminogen activator staphylokinase was cloned from the Staphylococcus aureus phage 42D, a serogroup F phage used for lysotyping, onto the standard Escherichia coli plasmid vector pACYC184 . The coding and flanking sequences of the sak42D gene were largely identical to those of a sak gene cloned from the serologically different S . aureus phage SoC (Sako and Tsuchida 1983) . Subcloning of a 2.5 kb phage 42D DNA fragment onto plasmid pGB3631 allowed the sak42D gene to be introduced into the gram-positive hosts Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus sanguis . The sak42D gene was expressed and secreted most efficiently by B . subtilis cells (25 micrograms/ml of culture supernatant) reduced in exoprotease production . In this host expression and secretion of Sak was initiated at the early growth phase and continued through the logarithmic phase . Formation of Sak was, however, also observed with the other cloning hosts . The Sak elaborated by the heterologous hosts was serologically identical with authentic Sak derived from S . aureus.

Jpn J Cancer Res, 1987 Dec, 78(12), 1409 - 14
Antitumor activity of streptococcal acid glycoprotein produced by Streptococcus pyogenes Su; Kanaoka M et al.; Streptococcal acid glycoprotein (SAGP) was purified from the cultured cells of Streptococcus pyogenes Su, and its in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities were investigated in comparison with those of OK-432, a cell preparation of S . pyogenes Su which is used clinically as a potent antitumor agent . SAGP inhibited the growth of several tumor cell lines in vitro at less than 0.1 microgram/ml, while it did not affect the growth of the other tumor and normal cell lines even at 10 micrograms/ml . This selective cytotoxicity is a unique characteristic of SAGP . OK-432 did not show cytotoxicity in vitro . SAGP also showed a considerable life-span-prolonging effect on mice bearing Meth A tumor and inhibited the growth of sarcoma 180 tumor implanted im . The comparison of antitumor activities between SAGP and OK-432 definitely suggested a difference in the mechanisms of their actions, even though they were derived from the same bacterial strain.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Dec, 169(12), 5373 - 8
Dependence of Streptococcus lactis phosphate transport on internal phosphate concentration and internal pH; Poolman B et al.; Uptake of phosphate by Streptococcus lactis ML3 proceeds in the absence of a proton motive force, but requires the synthesis of ATP by either arginine or lactose metabolism . The appearance of free Pi internally in arginine-metabolizing cells corresponded quantitatively with the disappearance of extracellular phosphate . Phosphate transport was essentially unidirectional, and phosphate concentration gradients of up to 10(5) could be established . Substrate specificity studies of the transport system indicated no preference for either mono- or divalent phosphate anion . The activity of the phosphate transport system was affected by the intracellular Pi concentration by a feedback inhibition mechanism . Uncouplers and ionophores which dissipate the pH gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane inhibited phosphate transport at acidic but not at alkaline pH values, indicating that transport activity is regulated by the internal proton concentration . Phosphate uptake driven by arginine metabolism increased with the intracellular pH with a pKa of 7.3 . Differences in transport activity with arginine and lactose as energy sources are discussed.

Infect Immun, 1987 Dec, 55(12), 3137 - 41
Genetic control of the immune responsiveness to Streptococcus mutans by the major histocompatibility complex of the rat (RT1); Niiyama T et al.; The lymph node cells from 11 strains of rats, differing in the genotype of the major histocompatibility complex of the rat (RT1), were examined on the basis of their proliferative response to the cell wall antigen of Streptococcus mutans . The 11 rat strains fell into three groups: high, intermediate, and low responders . To demonstrate the influence of the major histocompatibility complex on immune responsiveness to S . mutans, further experiments were performed using the RT1-congenic rat strains WKAH.1L(LEW), WKAH . 1AV1(ACI), and WKAH.1J(LEJ), which differ only in the genotype of the RT1 region . Although the background genes of each strain were of WKAH origin, WKAH.1L(LEW) and WKAH.1AV1(ACI) rats showed a low response whereas WKAH.1J(LEJ) rats showed a moderate response to the S . mutans cell wall antigen . The results indicate that the immune response is controlled by the class II gene(s) in RT1 . Furthermore, the RT1.D locus products were shown to play an important role in the restriction molecule, since a monoclonal antibody, HOK7, directed to the RT1.Dk locus products reduced the proliferative response of lymph node cells.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Dec, 133 ( Pt 12), 3565 - 73
The influence of incorporation of octadecenoic acid on the cell-associated fructosyltransferase and the extracellular glucosyltransferase activities of Streptococcus salivarius; Pitty LJ et al.; The rate of expression of the cell-associated fructosyltransferase (FTFm) activity of Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 25975 grown in continuous culture was linearly related to the rate of octadecenoic acid (C18:1) incorporation into the membrane lipids irrespective of the presence or absence of Tween 80 in the growth medium . This observation was confirmed with data obtained from cells grown in the presence of a series of n-alkanols . The results suggested that cosynthesis of lipids containing C18:1 residues was necessary for FTFm expression and accounted for the slight stimulation of enzyme expression by Tween 80 at all growth rates . In contrast, addition of Tween 80 to the growth medium resulted in several-fold increases in extracellular glucosyltransferase (GTFe) production irrespective of the growth rate . Following the addition of the surfactant to the growth medium, an exponential relation between the increased rate of GTFe production and the concomitant net increase in the rate of C18:1 incorporation was noted . The results obtained in continuous culture emphasized the underlying effect growth rate had on GTFe production, especially when Tween 80 was added to the growth medium . In the presence of n-alkanols, the rate of GTFe production plotted as a single 'U'-shaped curve with respect to the rate of C18:1 incorporation irrespective of the chain length of the n-alkanol studied . Rapid analyses of the extracellular proteins by SDS-PAGE suggested that hexan-1-ol and Tween 80 specifically stimulated the synthesis and secretion of GTFe and no other extracellular protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Bacteriol, 1987 Dec, 169(12), 5887 - 90
Control of glycolysis by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in Streptococcus cremoris and Streptococcus lactis; Poolman B et al.; The decreased response of the energy metabolism of lactose-starved Streptococcus cremoris upon readdition of lactose is caused by a decrease of the glycolytic activity (B . Poolman, E . J . Smid, and W . N . Konings, J . Bacteriol . 169:1460-1468, 1987) . The decrease in glycolysis is accompanied by a decrease in the activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoglycerate mutase . The steady-state levels of pathway intermediates upon refeeding with lactose after various periods of starvation indicate that the decreased glycolysis is primarily due to diminished glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity . Furthermore, quantification of the control strength exerted by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase on the overall activity of the glycolytic pathway shows that this enzyme can be significantly rate limiting in nongrowing cells.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Dec, 169(12), 5481 - 8
Identification of a new insertion element, similar to gram-negative IS26, on the lactose plasmid of Streptococcus lactis ML3; Polzin KM et al.; In Streptococcus lactis ML3, the lactose plasmid (pSK08) forms cointegrates with a conjugal plasmid (pRS01) . It has been proposed that cointegration is mediated by insertion sequences (IS) present on pSK08 (D . G . Anderson and L.L . McKay, J . Bacteriol . 158:954-962, 1984) . We examined the junction regions of the cointegrate pPW2 and the corresponding regions of pSK08 (donor) and pRS01 (target) and identified a new IS element on pSK08 (ISS1S) which was involved in and duplicated during formation of pPW2 . ISS1S was 808 base pairs (bp) in size, had 18-bp inverted repeats (GGTTCTGTTGCAAAGTTT) at its ends, contained a single long open reading frame encoding a putative protein of 226 amino acids, and generated 8-bp direct repeats of target DNA during cointegrate formation . An iso-IS element, ISS1T, which is duplicated in some other cointegrate plasmids, was also found on pSK08 . ISS1T was also 808 bp in size and was identical to ISS1S in sequence except for 4 bp, none of which altered the inverted repeats or amino acid sequence of the open reading frame . Comparison of ISS1 with gram-negative IS26 revealed strong homologies in size (820 bp), sequence of inverted repeats (GGCACTGTTGCAAA), size of direct repeats generated after cointegration (8 bp), and number, size, and amino acid sequence (44.5% identical) of the open reading of frame.

Infect Immun, 1987 Dec, 55(12), 3006 - 10
Structural studies of the serotype-f polysaccharide antigen from Streptococcus mutans OMZ175; Linzer R et al.; The serotype f antigen of Streptococcus mutans has been described as a rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide associated with the bacterial cell wall . In this study, the structure of serotype f polysaccharide was examined by analyses of the methylated derivatives of the antigen and the periodate-oxidized antigen . Methylated derivatives were characterized with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer . The polysaccharide appeared to have a backbone of alternating 1,3- and 1,2,3-linked rhamnose units . Branching occurred at the 3-position of the 1,2,3-linked rhamnose . Side chains were composed of terminal alpha-linked glucose units . A small proportion of longer side chains containing 1,2- and 1,6-linked glucose units were noted in some preparations; however, these determinants were not reactive with serotype f antisera.

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1987 Dec, 7(4), 270 - 3
Pneumococci in ocular disease of children and their treatment; Mahajan VM et al.; A total of 171 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were obtained from eyes of children who had congenital dacryocystitis, congenital cataract and glaucoma, acute bacterial conjunctivitis, corneal ulceration, nasolacrimal duct block, or discharging socket, or who had developed ectropion, endophthalmitis and orbital cellulitis . The highest number of strains was obtained from cases of dacryocystitis (74.4%), followed by conjunctivitis (8.2%) and those having developed nasolacrimal duct block (7.6%) . The least overall resistance was to erythromycin (17.6%) and chloramphenicol (31.0%) . Erythromycin being unavailable for ocular use in India, chloramphenicol was reported to be one of the best drugs against pneumococcal ocular infections in children, the other being cloxacillin, a 2.5% solution of which is made from injectable cloxacillin and used as an ophthalmic preparation . Their use on patients has met with considerable success . Nineteen out of 20 isolates were typeable--the types being 3, 46, 8, 28, 29, 45, 21 and 18 . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from a developing country of serotyping ocular strains of pneumococci.

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1987 Dec, 7(4), 233 - 7
Bacteriological quality of raw human milk: effect of storage in a refrigerator; Olowe SA et al.; Eighty-seven breast milk samples were obtained from 63 mothers of infants on the neonatal intensive care unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital . The samples were cultured for bacteria immediately after collection (0 h) and then stored in a domestic refrigerator from where cultures were repeated at 6-hourly intervals for 24 h . At 0 h, three (3.4%) of the samples were sterile; 56 (64%) grew coagulase negative staphylococci, and one (1.1%) Streptococcus viridans . Thus, 60 (69%) of the samples were either sterile or contained only skin commensals . Twenty-nine (31%) grew potential pathogens--coagulase positive staphylococci in two (2.3%) and mixed growth of staphylococci, coliforms and klebsiella in 25 (28.3%) . During the 24 h storage in the refrigerator, bacteria multiplied in 50 and their growth was inhibited in 32 of the samples . But the mean bacterial count at any time during the 24 h was not significantly different from that at the beginning of the storage in the refrigerator . It is proposed that expressed breast milk stored in a domestic refrigerator can be given safely to infants within 24 h of collection if heavy contamination is prevented at the time of collection.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Dec, 95(6), 371 - 8
Availability of reaction with antibodies of the pneumococcal C-polysaccharide on the surface of capsulated pneumococci; Sjogren A et al.; Antigen detection for diagnosis of pneumococcal infections has earlier been based on the use of antibodies against capsular antigens . Methods based on the demonstration of C-polysaccharide (PnC) have the advantage of using antibodies against one single species-specific antigen instead of applying a polyvalent mixture of antisera against 83 different capsular antigens . Very little has been done earlier to evaluate the accessibility of the PnC on the surface of pneumococcal cells, particularly cells carrying capsules, and the release of PnC to the environment . We have used a monoclonal anti-PnC antibody in an ELISA inhibition test to demonstrate PnC during growth from four different Streptococcus pneumoniae strains (capsular types 1, 3 and 19F) and a C-mutant strain, reported to carry PnC as a small capsule . Heavily-capsulated types 3 and 19F exposed more PnC on their surface than the type 1 strain, and considerable amounts of PnC were released to the culture medium during growth . The C-mutant strain differed from the other strains in that it exposed less PnC on its surface . The type 1 strain and the C-mutant released approximately the same amount of PnC to the culture medium . Treatment with antibiotics during growth caused a decrease in surface-located PnC but did not significantly affect the amount released . The total accessible PnC in these cultures was quite significant and well above the limit of detection in an ELISA earlier described for the detection of PnC in clinical samples . The results presented here give support to the notion that the demonstration of PnC in clinical samples should provide a good basis for diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1987 Dec, 70(3), 555 - 61
Antibodies to basement membrane proteins nidogen and laminin in sera from streptococcal-related diseases and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients; Avila JL et al.; Using the ELISA technique, antibodies against two different basement proteins, laminin and nidogen (ALNA), were determined in 226 children suffering from one of 37 different inflammatory or infectious diseases . These included 80 patients with streptococcal infection and 40 with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis . Forty-eight percent of the streptococcus-infected patients (or 75% of those in the acute phase) and 60% of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients had significantly elevated ALNA levels compared with healthy controls . Interestingly 10 adult rheumatoid arthritis patients displayed normal ALNA levels, suggesting a particular immune process occurring in children affected by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis . By means of periodate oxidation and glycosidase treatments we have shown that ALNA positive sera recognized terminal alpha-galactose as the reactive epitope.

Infect Immun, 1987 Dec, 55(12), 3011 - 6
Characterization by affinity electrophoresis of an alpha-1,6-glucan-binding protein from Streptococcus sobrinus; Landale EC et al.; Glucan-binding protein 1 (GBP1), the most abundant glucan-binding protein isolated from culture supernatants of Streptococcus sobrinus 6715-49, has been purified by affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-50 followed by gel permeation chromatography with Bio-Gel P-10 . The specificity and affinity of GBP1 for glucans were assessed by affinity electrophoresis . GBP1 did not detectably bind to glucans lacking linear arrays of alpha-1,6 linkages . The association constant for the linear alpha-1,6-glucan Dextran T2000 was 3 x 10(7) M-1 . Providing small isomaltosaccharide ligands to compete with this dextran indicated that the binding site maximally accommodated isomaltosaccharides with a degree of polymerization of 8 . When glucans produced by purified S . sobrinus glucosyltransferases were tested, GBP1 displayed the highest affinity for the glucan from the soluble-product, primer-independent glucosyltransferase.

J Immunol Methods, 1987 Nov 23, 104(1-2), 57 - 63
Monoclonal antibodies evoked by the free oligopeptide (Gly)5 reacting specifically with peptidoglycan from staphylococci; Wergeland HI et al.; Murine monoclonal antibodies reactive with the Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan (PG) epitope (Gly)5 were obtained using the synthetic oligopeptide (Gly)5 in its free form as immunogen . The selected monoclonal antibodies were of the IgM kappa isotype and reacted specifically with PG from S . aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, but gave no reaction with PG from Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus lysodeikticus . Affinity chromatography showed that the antibodies were reactive with the N-terminus of the (Gly)5 peptide . These monoclonal antibodies can be used for the detection of staphylococcal PG in solution.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Nov 15, 262(32), 15400 - 5
Structure of the peptide network of pneumococcal peptidoglycan; Garcia-Bustos JF et al.; The peptide network of Streptococcus pneumoniae cell walls was solubilized using the pneumococcal autolytic amidase (N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase, EC 3.5.1.28) . The peptide material was fractionated into size classes by gel filtration followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography which resolved the peptide population into over 40 fractions . About 40% of the lysines present participate in cross-links between stem peptides . The main components (3 monomers, 5 dimers, and 2 trimers), accounting for 77% of all the wall peptides, were purified . Their structures were determined using a combination of amino acid and end-group analysis, mass spectrometry, and gas-phase sequencing . Two different types of cross-links between stem peptides were found . In the most abundant type there is an alanylserine cross-bridge between the alanine in position 4 of the donor stem peptide and the lysine at position 3 of the acceptor peptide, as in type A3 peptidoglycan . In the second type of cross-link there is no intervening cross-bridge, as in the type A1 peptidoglycan of Gram-negative bacteria . The data indicate that pneumococcal peptidoglycan has a structural complexity comparable to that recently shown in some Gram-negative species.

Cancer, 1987 Nov 15, 60(10), 2394 - 402
Immunotherapy using the streptococcal preparation OK-432 for the treatment of uterine cervical cancer . Cervical Cancer Immunotherapy Study Group; Streptococcus suis bacteraemia; Auckland HospitalStreptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen which causes meningitis, arthritis and septicaemia in pigs, and rarely meningitis or septicaemia in humans . This organism has recently been isolated from pigs in New Zealand, where it appears to be widely distributed in pig herds . This case is the first report of human infection in New Zealand.

Infect Immun, 1987 Nov, 55(11), 2721 - 6
Attachment of oral bacteria to a basement-membrane-like matrix and to purified matrix proteins; Winkler JR et al.; The purpose of this study was to investigate the adherence of oral bacteria to an in vitro basement-membrane-like matrix and to selected individual macromolecular constituents of this matrix . Radiolabeled bacteria were incubated with basement-membrane-like matrices isolated from PF HR-9 cells . Bacteroides gingivalis 33277, Fusobacterium nucleatum FN-2, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans GA3(A) bound to the matrix in the range of 44 to 70%, considerably higher than the ranges of A . actinomycetemcomitans GA3(NA) and SUNY AB67 (range, 20 to 25%) . The attachment of selected strains of gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus and Actinomyces spp . was much less frequent (range, 6 to 25%) . Competitive inhibition studies demonstrated that preincubating the bacteria with fibronectin significantly decreased the binding of B . gingivalis by 51% but increased the binding of other gram-negative and gram-positive organisms tested . Similarly, preincubating the matrices with antifibronectin antibodies decreased the binding of B . gingivalis by 31%, whereas the other bacteria tested were either unaffected or binding was increased . The adherence of bacteria to purified basement membrane proteins was also investigated . Strain and species differences were seen in binding, but no clear relationship emerged between binding to an intact matrix and binding to isolated matrix proteins . The results of this study suggest that some gram-negative oral bacteria commonly associated with periodontal disease, such as B . gingivalis, A . actinomycetemcomitans, and F . nucleatum, bound in high numbers to basement-membrane-like matrices in vitro . On the other hand, the gram-positive strains tested bound in much fewer numbers . The results suggest that further studies with this in vitro model may aid in understanding the mechanisms by which oral bacteria adhere to basement membranes.

Clin Orthop, 1987 Nov, (224), 224 - 7
Pneumococcal arthritis in a prosthetic knee . A case report and review of the literature; Ryczak M et al.; Prosthetic joint infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare condition . An 86-year-old woman with a S . pneumoniae-infected total knee arthroplasty was successfully treated by a combined medical-surgical approach.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Nov, 156(5), 732 - 5
Invasive disease due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in an area with a high rate of relative penicillin resistance; Istre GR et al.; During 1984 we conducted a population-based survey of culture-confirmed invasive disease due to Streptococcus pneumoniae among persons who lived in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, metropolitan area (population, 846,000) through the 20 clinical laboratories in the area . There were 139 residents identified with invasive pneumococcal disease (11 with meningitis and 128 with other bacteremic infections), for an infection rate of 16.4 per 100,000 population (meningitis, 1.3 cases per 100,000; other bacteremias, 15.1 cases per 100,000) . Cases peaked in January-May and December (75% of cases) . Rates were highest among infants less than 12 months old (97 cases per 100,000) and persons greater than or equal to 80 years old (87 cases per 100,000) . Seventeen (12.2%) of the pneumococcal isolates were relatively penicillin resistant . These isolates were most prevalent among elderly persons greater than or equal to 70 years old (six {17.6%} of 34) and young children 0-4 years old (7 {15.9%} of 44) compared with persons 5-69 years old (four {6.6%} of 61).

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1987 Nov, 12(4), 209 - 14
Hemolytic streptococcus preparation OK-432; beneficial adjuvant therapy in recurrent gastric carcinoma; Hanaue H et al.; The administration of a hemolytic streptococcus preparation, OK-432, is thought to be of therapeutic value in the treatment of cancer patients through a stimulatory effect on the immune system . In order to evaluate any beneficial effect of such an administration, a group of patients with recurrent gastric cancer was studied . This group was randomly subdivided into 3 groups: 1) Intradermal group (ID Group), 42 patients given an intradermal injections of OK-432 . 2) Intramuscular group (IM Group), 40 patients given an intramuscular injections of OK-432 . 3) Control group (C Group), 39 patients not given injections . Each group was studied in regards to the length of survival, the host immune response and the incidence of side effects . When compared to the IM and C Groups, the ID Group showed improved survival . Accompanying this improved survival, the ID Group also had greater white cell and lymphocyte counts, a greater number of T cells, and a more dramatic skin reaction to the extracted cell wall polysaccharide of hemolytic streptococcus Su-strain (Su-PS) . The ID Group, following OK-432 injection, had a 4.8% incidence of fever and a 52.4% incidence of local abscess formation at the injection site . 90% of the IM Group developed fever but abscess formation was absent in all patients . From these results, it was concluded that in the patients tested, intradermal injection of OK-432 appears to be clinically superior to intramuscular injection.

J Natl Cancer Inst, 1987 Nov, 79(5), 1019 - 24
Antitumor activity of a Streptococcus pyogenes preparation (OK-432) . II . Analysis of the cytotoxic lymphocytes induced by OK-432 injection into tumor-bearing F344 rats; Fukui H et al.; In the present study, the antigenic phenotype and target cell specificity of the cytotoxic lymphocytes observed in F344 rats following the ip inoculation of a syngeneic MADB106 mammary carcinoma and the single injection of OK-432 were examined . When the cytotoxicity of peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) was measured in a 4-hour 51Cr release assay, appreciable cytotoxicity against MADB106 tumor cells was evident by day 7-14 following OK-432 injection . With the use of an antibody (R1-3B3) and complement depletion of cytotoxic PECs, the MADB106 killer cells appeared to consist of both R1-3B3- (non-T) and R1-3B3+ (T) cells, with most of the anti-MADB106 killing residing in the R1-3B3- cell population . The R1-3B3- killer cells were further defined as: a) phenotypically asialoGM1+, b) present in athymic nude rats, and c) accompanied by some augmentation of YAC-1 killing {the prototype rat natural killer (NK) target}, suggesting that some of these R1-3B3- killer cells were typical NK cells . However, it was also observed that most of the R1-3B3- cells that killed MADB106 tumor cells were: 1) phenotypically or functionally different from either cytotoxic T-cells or typical NK cells; 2) observed only in MADB106 tumor-bearing rats challenged with OK-432; 3) not present on day 1-2 following OK-432 injection, the time when YAC-1 killing was maximally augmented; and 4) present in high numbers in a secondary response following reinoculation of the MADB106 tumor cells into cured rats . The in vivo relevance and possible derivation of these various cytotoxic lymphocyte populations in the syngeneic tumor-bearing hosts are discussed.

J Natl Cancer Inst, 1987 Nov, 79(5), 1011 - 7
Antitumor activity of a Streptococcus pyogenes preparation (OK-432) . I . Sequential effector mechanisms following a single OK-432 injection in F344 rats leading to the rejection of syngeneic MADB106 tumor cells; Fukui H et al.; The effector mechanisms evoked in tumor-bearing rats following a single injection of the avirulent Su strain of type 3, group A Streptococcus pyogenes (OK-432) were sequentially examined . F344 rats challenged ip with a lethal dose of the syngeneic MADB106 mammary carcinoma could survive more than 100 days when given 50 mg OK-432/kg ip 1 day after tumor challenge . When the responsible effector mechanisms were examined in this therapeutic model, two distinct effector phases distinguished by the number of tumor cells were evident . Phase I, 1-6 days following OK-432 injection, resulted in a sharp decrease in tumor cell numbers and was related to the direct antitumor cytotoxicity of OK-432 and was coincident with an increase in the number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils . However, by day 6 a sharp increase in tumor cell numbers was again observed . Subsequently, a second phase of tumor cell destruction was observed 7-20 days following OK-432 injection and was reflected in a strong lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity response as well as the production of complement-dependent cytotoxic antibody against the MADB106 tumor cells . Further, the adoptive transfer of either peritoneal exudate cells or sera from the phase II animals revealed that both factors may be responsible for the antitumor activity observed in this therapeutic model . In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that the antitumor effects seen with OK-432 are due to a combination of sequential effector mechanisms leading to the eventual rejection of established tumor.

Mol Microbiol, 1987 Nov, 1(3), 355 - 63
Penicillin-binding proteins in beta-lactam-resistant laboratory mutants of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Laible G et al.; The increasing number of penicillin-resistant clinical strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae has raised questions about the mechanism involved . We have isolated a large number of independent, spontaneous laboratory mutants with increasing resistance against either piperacillin or cefotaxime . Both classes of mutants showed a different pathway of penicillin-binding protein (PBP) alterations, and within each group of mutants the individual PBPs appeared to have changed at different resistance levels and in different sequences . The mutations led to decreased beta-lactam affinity and possibly to a reduction in the amount of protein present in the cell, but differences in apparent molecular weight, like those reported in low- and high-level resistant pathogenic strains, were not found . Some mutants showed a high degree of cross-resistance to a variety of penicillins and cephalosporins independently of the acquired PBP alterations, indicating that different genotypes can be responsible for the same phenotypic expression of resistance.

J Pediatr Surg, 1987 Nov, 22(11), 1017 - 8
Noma in an unusual case of perforated appendicitis with pneumoperitoneum; Katz E et al.; Noma is a very rare gangrenous infection of the oral cavity usually associated with debilitating diseases, immunosuppression, or malnutrition . Its development in a previously healthy 13-year-old boy with perforated appendicitis is presented . Streptococcus bovis type II and E coli were isolated from the noma and Streptococcus bovis, Bacteroides fragilis, and Bacteroides asacharolyticus from the peritoneal fluid . A transient impaired immune cellular function was found and may have contributed to the development of the noma in this child.

Am J Med Sci, 1987 Nov, 294(5), 353 - 6
Fatal cardiac tamponade in a young man with group C streptococcal endocarditis; Raizes EG et al.; The case of a previously healthy man with endocarditis due to the group C streptococcus, complicated by myocardial abscess and fatal cardiac tamponade, is presented . Group C streptococcus is an unusual cause of endocarditis which tends to produce extensive valve destruction . Early surgery should be considered in patients with endocarditis caused by this organism.

Anticancer Res, 1987 Nov-Dec, 7(6), 1251 - 6
Cytotoxic and antitumor effect of a fraction from cell-free extract of group A Streptococcus on transplantable tumor cells; Higuchi Y et al.; A fraction (60F) which had cytotoxic and antitumor activity could be obtained by precipitating cell-free extract (CFE) of group A streptococcus (Su strain) with a 50% to 60% saturation of ammonium sulfate . 60F exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into various types of transplantable tumor cells . The activity of 60F was reduced by proteases and heating at 45 degrees C, but not by glycosidases and nucleases . Furthermore, 60F showed antitumor activity, such as cure and prolongation of life, in animals bearing EAC, MM-2, and S-180 tumors . These results show that 60F is probably protein and essentially exerts cytotoxic action against every cell line of tumor tested in vitro, and that the antitumor activity of 60F in vivo depends on the transplantability of tumor cells.

Biokhimiia, 1987 Nov, 52(11), 1875 - 80
{Isolation and characteristics of surface proteins from Streptococcus group A}; Savel'ev EP et al.; Cell wall surface proteins of group A Streptococcus type 29 were extracted with 1 M hydroxylamine pH 6.0 . The purification procedure included fractionation with ammonium sulfate and gel filtration on Sephadex G-150 . SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a number of proteins (approximately 20) with molecular mass of 70 kD; the difference in Mr between the proteins was 5-10 kD . Isoelectrofocusing demonstrated that the proteins are either acid (pI = 3.7) or weakly alkaline (pI = 7.7) . Possible reasons for the heterogeneity of Streptococcus cell wall surface proteins are discussed.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Nov, (11), 20 - 3
{Microcolony morphology as a criterion in bacterial diagnosis . The differentiation of Pneumococcus from alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus}; Khadzhiev S et al.; The authors have developed a method permitting the microscopic study of the morphology of bacteria and their relative position in microcolonies . Thus, the use of this method has made it possible to distinguish Streptococcus pneumoniae from other bacteria by the morphology of their microcolonies . In the study of 75 streptococcal strains, all strains yielding positive results in two or three tests, similarly to all strains pathogenic for mice, formed microcolonies with granular (pneumococcal) morphology, while all strains yielding negative results have been found to form microcolonies with catenulate ("nonpneumococcal") morphology . The authors suggest that the morphology of microcolonies is a more reliable criterion for the identification of S . pneumoniae than other tests used separately.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Nov, 20 Suppl B, 139 - 44
Roxithromycin in the therapy of Streptococcus pyogenes throat infections; Herron JM; Roxithromycin in two dosage regimens was compared with erythromycin in the therapy of 227 patients with throat infectious due to Streptococcus pyogenes . All three groups had the same clinical efficacy but roxithromycin 300 mg daily was less effective than erythromycin 500 mg qds in eradicating S . pyogenes while there were less antibiotic-related side effects with roxithromycin 150 mg bd than with erythromycin.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1987 Nov, 6(11), 1036 - 9
Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia in children; Yagupsky P et al.; Twenty cases of Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia in children diagnosed between 1980 and 1987 are reported . Most cases occurred during the winter . The skin and soft tissues were the most common sources of the Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal bacteremia . Three patients died . Two separate groups of children were observed: (1) a group of 12 young, well-nourished, previously healthy infants, who did not generally develop focal complications and had a favorable course; (2) a group of 8 older children suffering from malnutrition and underlying diseases, such as psychomotor retardation, infected hemangiomata, hemophilia and acute hepatitis B who commonly had focal infections such as pneumonia, meningitis or arthritis/osteomyelitis and had a worse prognosis . M protein-typable strains traditionally related to Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus virulence were an inconstant finding in this series.

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 1987 Nov-Dec, 16(6), 404 - 9
Trends in neonatal infections; Larson E; The changing epidemiology of neonatal infections manifested in the first few weeks of life is described . The six infections discussed are herpes, hepatitis B, chlamydial infection, infection due to the group B streptococcus, gonococcal disease, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . Nursing actions to prevent the spread of these diseases are described, with particular emphasis on the importance of body substance precautions for all neonates.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1987 Nov, 105(11), 1524 - 7
Acanthamoeba keratitis and infectious crystalline keratopathy; Davis RM et al.; Two cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis and infectious crystalline keratopathy, occurring simultaneously, are presented . Three and 12 months after initiating topical corticosteroid therapy in cases 1 and 2, respectively, alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus viridans was cultured from each cornea . Topical corticosteroid therapy was initiated for the treatment of an annular stromal opacity, presumably secondary to herpes simplex keratitis . Acanthamoeba was identified in culture following penetrating keratoplasty in case 1, and Acanthamoeba polyphaga, Acanthamoeba rhysodes, and Acanthamoeba castellanii were identified using indirect fluorescent antibody staining in case 2 . Histopathologic examination and electron microscopy demonstrated sheets of cocci within stromal lamellae characteristic of infectious crystalline keratopathy and double-walled encysted organisms typical of Acanthamoeba . These case reports alert one to the possibility of developing bacterial keratitis, such as infectious crystalline keratopathy, following the use of topical corticosteroids for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Ann Surg, 1987 Nov, 206(5), 661 - 5
Improved results from a standardized approach in treating patients with necrotizing fasciitis; Sudarsky LA et al.; Necrotizing fasciitis has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality . Thirty-three patients were studied over a 3-year period . Predisposing factors included intravenous drug abuse (30%), diabetes (21%), and obesity (18%) . Severe pain (94%) and abnormal temperature (88%) were present, whereas laboratory data and x-ray were nonspecific . Gram-positive organisms were most frequently recovered (B-hemolytic streptococcus 45%) . Treatment consisted of antibiotics, surgical debridement, re-exploration 24 hours before surgery, nutritional support, and early soft tissue coverage as needed . Mean duration from admission to operation was 43 hours . The average number of operative debridements was three and the average length of hospitalization was 47 days . Patients operated on less than 12 hours from admission or greater than 48 hours had shorter hospital stays (36 and 38 days) . The critical time period was 12-48 hours after admission; all deaths and amputations were in this group and the average hospital stay was 62 days (p less than 0.05) . The number of operations did not correlate to hospital stay . Despite antibiotics and aggressive debridement, significant morbidity exists if operation is delayed more than 12 hours . Methods of early detection such as local bedside diagnostic incision and fascial inspection may be needed in high risk patients to further reduce the morbidity and mortality.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1987 Nov, 26(11), 592 - 4
Escherichia coli cellulitis in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome; Asmar BI et al.; Although Streptococcus pneumoniae is traditionally considered the preponderant bacterial pathogen in children with nephrotic syndrome, recent data suggest an increase of infections with encapsulated gram-negative organisms . We report two children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in relapse who developed spontaneous Escherichia coli cellulitis . The organism was recovered from the cellulitis tissue aspirate of one, and from the blood of the other . Both patients responded to appropriate antibiotic therapy . Initial treatment of sepsis, peritonitis or spontaneous cellulitis in nephrotic patients should include broad spectrum antibiotic coverage pending results of appropriate cultures.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Nov, 133 ( Pt 11), 3053 - 63
Molecular characterization and comparison of 38 virulent and temperate bacteriophages of Streptococcus lactis; Relano P et al.; Thirty-three virulent and five temperate phages of Streptococcus lactis and Streptococcus cremoris were differentiated into three groups by DNA homology . A complete lack of DNA homology was demonstrated between the phage groups . Within each group, large parts of the phage genomes were homologous except for a few phages . One group consisted of five temperate and two virulent phages suggesting that virulent phages isolated during abnormal fermentations and temperate phages isolated after induction from lactic streptococcal starter cultures may be related to one another . We observed a good correlation between the grouping of phages by DNA homology and by their protein composition since within the same DNA homology group, the protein composition of a phage exhibited some similarities with that of the other phages of the group . Therefore, the DNA homologies seemed to be located, at least, in the region coding for the structural proteins . By immunoblotting, we confirmed the relatedness between the proteins of the phages belonging to the same DNA homology group . The important host range factor in bacterium-phage interactions appeared to be an unreliable criterion in determining phage taxonomy.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 Nov, 8(3), 165 - 72
Effect of antimicrobials on blood cultures in endocarditis; McKenzie R et al.; To study the effect of antimicrobials on bacterial growth in blood cultures, we used both simulated blood cultures and cultures obtained from rabbits with experimental endocarditis . Four strains of bacteria were incubated individually with six antimicrobials in nine blood culture media . Positivity rates varied with the ratio of the antimicrobial concentration to the MIC of the organism: 161 of 162 cultures (99%) were positive when the ratio was less than 1/10; 52 of 108 (48%) were positive when the ratio was between 1/10 and one; and none of 54 were positive when the ratio was greater than one . Endocarditis was produced in 28 rabbits with either E . coli, P . aeruginosa, S . aureus, or viridans streptococcus . Following a single dose of an antimicrobial, blood was taken for culture in eight media . Only for viridans streptococcus did recovery rates vary significantly in different media . Recovery rates for this organism in two supplemented peptone broths (78% and 89%) and in hypertonic supplemented peptone (78%) were each higher than in thioglycolate (22%), Columbia (22%), Bactec aerobic and anaerobic (11%), and trypticase soy broths (11%) (p less than 0.05 for each pair) . Growth of bacteria in blood cultures containing antimicrobials depended on the ratio of the antimicrobial concentration to the MIC and, for viridans streptococcus, the blood culture medium.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Nov, 169(11), 5167 - 73
Cloning of the saliva-interacting protein gene from Streptococcus mutans; Sommer P et al.; Genomic libraries from Streptococcus mutans OMZ175 were constructed in bacteriophage vectors . DNA fragments 1 to 2 kilobases in length were cloned in expression vector lambda gt11 . S . mutans DNA fragments 15 to 20 kilobases in length were inserted in the BamHI site of phage EMBL3 . Rabbit antiserum raised against an S . mutans saliva-interacting protein with a molecular weight of 74,000, designated 74K SR, was used to screen the lambda gt11 library . A recombinant phage carrying an S . mutans DNA sequence of 1.45 kilobases, lambda SmAD2, was detected and isolated . This fragment, named SmAD2, was used to construct the recombinant expression plasmid pSAD2-4 which encoded for the expression of a 60,000-molecular-weight protein controlled by the beta-galactosidase promoter from plasmid pUC8 . The SmAD2 fragment and polyclonal anti-74K SR antibodies were used to screen the EMBL3 library . A total coincidence between the screening with antibodies and the DNA probe was observed, and two phages, lambda SmAD9 and lambda SmAD10, were isolated . They contained a common S . mutans DNA sequence of about 11.8 kilobases and coded for a protein with a molecular weight of about 195,000, which comigrated with a protein of an S . mutans cell wall extract . The expressed protein was purified, and a very strong relationship with the S . mutans 74K SR protein was found by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Thus, cloning of the 74K SR gene allowed us to demonstrate that the saliva receptor appears to be a part of an S . mutans precursor molecule with a molecular mass of 195,000 daltons.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Nov, 133 ( Pt 11), 3207 - 17
A comparison of the adhesion, coaggregation and cell-surface hydrophobicity properties of fibrillar and fimbriate strains of Streptococcus salivarius; Handley PS et al.; Fibrillar and fimbriate strains of Streptococcus salivarius were compared for their ability to adhere to buccal epithelial cells and saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads, and for their ability to coaggregate with Veillonella strains . The fibrillar Lancefield group K strains adhered statistically significantly better to both buccal epithelial cells and saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads than the fimbriate strains, which lacked the Lancefield group K antigen . After 1 h the fibrillar strains coaggregated statistically significantly better than the fimbriate strains with V . parvula strain V1, but after 24 h, coaggregation both of fibrillar and of fimbriate strains reached approximately 90% . Freshly isolated Veillonella strains all coaggregated with the S . salivarius strains, but the percentage coaggregation varied considerably after 1 h depending on the Veillonella strain . Coaggregation was independent of the presence of Ca2+ . S . salivarius strain HB-V5, a mutant of strain HB that had lost the Veillonella-binding protein, coaggregated weakly with V . parvula strain V1, but coaggregated very well with other wild-type veillonellae, suggesting the presence of an alternative mechanism for Veillonella-binding for strain HB . Fibrillar strains were, therefore, more adhesive to oral surfaces and coaggregated with veillonellae after 1 h better than the fimbriate S . salivarius strains . Both fibrillar and fimbriate strains were highly hydrophobic in the hexadecane-buffer partition assay.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Nov, 169(11), 5193 - 200
Transport of branched-chain amino acids in membrane vesicles of Streptococcus cremoris; Driessen AJ et al.; The kinetics, specificity, and mechanism of branched-chain amino acid transport in Streptococcus cremoris were studied in a membrane system of S . cremoris in which beef heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase was incorporated as a proton motive force (delta p)-generating system . Influx of L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine can occur via a common transport system which is highly selective for the L-isomers of branched chain amino acids and analogs . The pH dependency of the kinetic constants of delta p-driven L-leucine transport and exchange (counterflow) was determined . The maximal rate of delta p-driven transport of L-leucine (Vmax) increased with increasing internal pH, whereas the affinity constant increased with increasing external pH . The affinity constant for exchange (counterflow) varied in a similar fashion with pH, whereas Vmax was pH independent . Further analysis of the pH dependency of various modes of facilitated diffusion, i.e., efflux, exchange, influx, and counterflow, suggests that H+ and L-leucine binding and release to and from the carrier proceed by an ordered mechanism . A kinetic scheme of the translocation cycle of H+-L-leucine cotransport is suggested.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Nov, 169(11), 4901 - 6
LiCl treatment releases a nickase implicated in genetic transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Fujii T et al.; When cells competent for genetic transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae which could bind and enable entry of extracellular DNA molecules were treated with LiCl, they released a nickase that introduced nicks into a double-stranded DNA in the presence of EDTA . The nickase was specific for competent cells and coupled with DNA-binding activity . Furthermore, when noncompetent cells were treated with LiCl, they released the putative receptors for the competence activator.

J Immunol, 1987 Oct 15, 139(8), 2775 - 80
Idiotope vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae . A precursor study; Ward MM et al.; An analysis of nominal vs idiotope antigen-induced B cell precursors was performed in A/St mice . With the use of the splenic fragment culture system, the quantity and quality of B cell precursors responding to two anti-idiotope carrier antigens (4C11 hemocyanin and F6 hemocyanin) and nominal antigen (phosphorylcholine-hemocyanin) were compared . In addition, the effect of priming with anti-idiotope-carrier antigens on B cell precursors responding to phosphorylcholine-hemocyanin was determined . We found that one anti-idiotope-carrier antigen, 4C11-hemocyanin, and phosphorylcholine-hemocyanin stimulated similar subpopulations of primary B cells . However, the B cell population stimulated by F6-hemocyanin, the other anti-idiotype complex, was distinct . Furthermore, priming with certain idiotope antigens can direct the phosphorylcholine-hemocyanin response into the expression of idiotypes that may be the most effective in protective immunity . Our results provide essential information for the rational design of idiotype vaccines by clarifying the dynamic relationship of the B cell precursor repertoire with the in vivo antibody response in the response to nominal and idiotope antigens.

Biochem Pharmacol, 1987 Oct 15, 36(20), 3495 - 500
Binding studies of macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins to Streptococcus G group using {3H}-erythromycin; Fournet MP et al.; Parameters of {3H}-erythromycin binding to Streptococcus are determined in vivo using both equilibrium and kinetic methods . This binding is saturable, reversible and independent of energetic systems . Whatever the methods used, the binding parameters are identical as 14 nM for the dissociation constant of the complex erythromycin-Streptococcus and a density of binding sites of 11,865 molecules/cell . Other macrolides, streptogramins and lincosamides competitively displaced bound {3H}-erythromycin suggesting that these compounds share common binding sites on the bacteria . In parallel, the MIC values of these antibiotics against Streptococcus are determined by agar dilution method in Mueller-Hinton medium with 5% of horse blood in order to compare the binding and microbiological parameters . A strong correlation (n = 0.863) has been found between the corresponding inhibition constants and MIC values . Such binding studies could be used in conjunction with microbiological assays for primary screening of active analogous or other compounds with interfere with {3H}-erythromycin binding to the bacteria.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1987 Oct, 6(10), 918 - 21
Infectious complications during peripheral intravenous therapy with Teflon catheters: a prospective study; Garland JS et al.; Infectious complication rates and associated risk factors occurring during peripheral intravenous therapy with Teflon catheters were determined during a prospective study of 286 cannula insertions . Suppurative phlebitis, cannula-related sepsis or suspected sepsis did not occur . Semiquantitative cannula cultures revealed a colonization rate of 10.4% (12 of 115) . Coagulase-negative nonadherent Staphylococcus was the most common colonizing organism occurring in 10 of 12 positive catheters . Alpha Streptococcus and adherent coagulase-negative Staphylococcus colonized the remaining catheters . Colonization was not related to the rate of phlebitis, extravasation or cannulation time . No patient- or catheter-related factors increased the risk of colonization . In children in a general pediatric ward the risk of catheter colonization and subsequent sepsis should not be used as reasons for routinely removing complication-free peripheral Teflon catheters at 72 hours.

Lab Anim Sci, 1987 Oct, 37(5), 646 - 51
Pharmacokinetics of cefazolin in guinea pigs; Fritz PE et al.; The occurrence of antibiotic-related enterocolitis in guinea pigs restricts the use of many common antibiotics in this species . Cephaloridine, an antibiotic frequently recommended for this species, is no longer available and a substitute has yet to be explored . In this study, the potential therapeutic efficacy of cefazolin, also a first generation cephalosporin, was evaluated in guinea pigs by assessing pharmacokinetics, toxicity and the minimal inhibitory concentration for selected animal pathogens . Pharmacokinetics and toxicity were evaluated in four phases: single intramuscular injections, multiple intramuscular injections over 30 hours, multiple intramuscular injections over 5 days, and serum-protein binding studies . Antibiotic-related enterocolitis and irritation at the injection site occurred following high (100 mg/kg) repeated doses . At all dose levels, blood values exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentration for Bordetella bronchiseptica for only 1 hour postinjection . For Streptococcus and Staphylococcus sp., the drug half-life was 0.5 hours with peak concentrations occurring within 0.25 hours of injection . The volume of distribution of 0.5 l/kg indicated that there was extensive tissue distribution . Serum protein binding was approximately 85% . The short half-life and rapid plasma clearance rate (10.4 ml/min/kg) indicated that cefazolin is eliminated very rapidly from the guinea pig and may be of questionable therapeutic value.

Eur J Respir Dis, 1987 Oct, 71(4), 295 - 305
Effect of human airway lysozyme on the in vitro growth of type I Streptococcus pneumoniae; Jacquot J et al.; The effects of purified human airway lysozyme and hen egg-white lysozyme on growth rate and viability of growing type I Streptococcus pneumoniae were studied . Exposure of bacteria to human and hen lysozyme at the same final concentration (100 micrograms/ml) for 1.5-4.5 h resulted in a marked reduction of the number of colony-forming units per ml compared to control cultures . After a 1.5-h exposure to human or hen lysozyme, the remaining percentage of colony forming units per ml was 54% and 69%, respectively . The onset of growth only appeared after a 3.5-h exposure period for human lysozyme whereas it began at 2.5 h for hen lysozyme . After 3.5 h and 4.5 h of exposure, the number of colony-forming units was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in human lysozyme-treated bacteria cultures compared to control cultures . Parallel electron microscopic observations of Streptococcus pneumoniae cultures confirmed that the density of pneumococci was less in the presence of either human lysozyme or hen lysozyme in comparison to control cultures, and showed the presence of numerous long, ribbon-like material and cytoplasmic condensations liberated in the culture medium.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Oct, 70(10), 2013 - 21
Partition of lactic streptococcal bacteriophage during the ultrafiltration concentration of milk and whey; Zottola EA et al.; Milk and whey inoculated with lactic streptococcal bacteriophages 316, or 322, or both were concentrated by UF using a DDS Mini-Lab 20 . The plate and frame unit was fitted with Type GR61PP polysulfone membrane with a 20,000 molecular weight cutoff . The unit was operated at an inlet pressure of .40 MPa and an outlet pressure of .23 MPa with an initial flux of 2.0 to 3.0 L/h . Samples of retentate, permeate, and membrane were analyzed for the presence of bacteriophages . Under the conditions established in this study, phage particles did not pass through the membrane but instead became trapped in the polarization concentration layer or in the membrane . Phages were recovered from the membrane by extraction in sterile buffered water with the Stomacher . The UF concentration of milk containing the host species of Streptococcus cremoris resulted in phage propagation and lysis of the host but did not result in the passage of phages through the membrane . The UF processing of milk or whey should produce a phage-free permeate.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Oct, 20(4), 557 - 62
One and two doses of cephradine in the prophylaxis of experimental streptococcal endocarditis; Longman LP et al.; The efficacy of cephradine in the prophylaxis of rabbit Streptococcus sanguis endocarditis was investigated . Three days after cardiac catheterization and prior to challenge with S . sanguis, rabbits received either 1000 mg/kg (ten animals) or 500 mg/kg cephradine intramuscularly . Infective endocarditis was prevented in only 30% of the animals . The addition of a second dose of cephradine (100 mg/kg) 8 h after an initial dose of 400 mg/kg did not prevent streptococcal endocarditis in 80% of animals tested . In one or two dose regimens cephradine was found to be inferior to a single 400 mg/kg prophylactic dose of amoxycillin . Cephradine is not recommended for prophylaxis against streptococcal endocarditis.

Immunology, 1987 Oct, 62(2), 185 - 91
Carrier-specific recognition for induction of secretory IgA anamnestic antibody responses; Ebersole JL et al.; This study examined antigen-carrier specificity for the induction of secretory IgA antibodies in the saliva of rats . Conjugate antigens used as probes to examined the formation of SIgA antibodies included: DNP-BGG, DNP-OVA and DNP-Streptococcus mutans, as well as the unconjugated carriers BGG and OVA . The results showed that local immunization of rats with homologous hapten-carrier conjugates (i.e . DNP-BGG + DNP-BGG) resulted in secondary responses of salivary IgA and serum IgG and IgA antibodies to the hapten DNP . In contrast, heterologous conjugate (i.e . DNP-BGG + DNP-OVA) administration was unable to provide priming for anamnestic secretory or systemic responses . Priming of rats with unconjugated carrier was found to enhance the response to a local immunization with hapten-carrier antigen only in an homologous system . Also, significant carrier priming was most pronounced with serum IgG and IgA . While salivary IgA was increased somewhat following priming with unconjugated carrier, this was less than following two immunizations with the homologous hapten-carrier conjugate . These findings demonstrate carrier-specific reactions in the elicitation of secretory IgA antibodies and further support evidence of the importance of T-cell co-operation in the induction of secretory immune responses.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Oct, 95(5), 269 - 75
Interaction between beta-lactam antibiotics and gentamicin against Streptococcus pneumoniae in vitro and in vivo; Frimodt-Moller N et al.; In vitro synergy was demonstrated for each of the beta-lactam antibiotics, penicillin, ampicillin, piperacillin and cefuroxime, respectively, in combination with gentamicin, by the time-kill method within 6 h . The combination of the beta-lactam antibiotics with gentamicin as compared to therapy with each drug alone was investigated by the mouse-protection test after intraperitoneal inoculation of the pneumococcus . Antibiotics were administered sc one h after inoculation . Three sub-therapeutic doses calculated on the basis of the 50% effective doses for each antibiotic were given individually or in combination (beta-lactam + gentamicin) by a factorial design, in order to study all possible dose-combinations . Penicillin, piperacillin, or cefuroxime in combination with gentamicin were significantly superior to either drug administered individually . Ampicillin + gentamicin was significantly superior to gentamicin alone but not to ampicillin alone . With combination therapy, survival of mice correlated significantly with increasing gentamicin doses but was independent of the size of the dose of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Oct, 95(5), 261 - 7
Experimental pneumococcus infection in mice: comparative in vitro and in vivo effect of cefuroxime, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone; Frimodt-Moller N et al.; In a mouse model using intraperitoneal inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3, the 50% effective dose, ED50, after single doses one hour post-inoculation was considerably lower for ceftriaxone (CRO) than for cefuroxime (CXM) and cefotaxime (CTX), in spite of the same minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC, of 0.02 mcg/ml against the pneumococcus for all 3 drugs . The bactericidal activity as measured by time-kill curves was similar for the 3 drugs, as was the post-antibiotic effect in vitro . Protein binding in mouse serum was considerably higher for CRO (87%) than for both CTX (35%) and CXM (15%), respectively . Of pharmacokinetic parameters investigated on doses equal to the ED50s, the time the serum antibiotic concentration remained above the MIC (delta T(MIC)) was the factor that varied the least among 3 drugs . Therefore, the superior in vivo effect for CRO is not due to higher intrinsic activity against the pathogen but to the long serum-elimination half-life resulting in an extended delta T(MIC), probably related to the high serum protein binding.

Infect Immun, 1987 Oct, 55(10), 2409 - 15
Protective secretory immunoglobulin A antibodies in humans following oral immunization with Streptococcus mutans; Gregory RL et al.; Ingestion of a vaccine containing killed Streptococcus mutans, originally isolated from each volunteer, daily for 10 consecutive days induced increased levels of specific secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) antibodies to S . mutans cells and two cell surface proteins, glucosyltransferase and surface antigen I/II, in parotid saliva and tears of four healthy males and in parotid saliva, tears, colostrum, and milk of a pregnant woman . In addition, these antibodies inhibited glucosyltransferase activity . Both IgA1 and IgA2 antibodies were induced . The levels of IgA antibodies in all secretions remained significantly above preimmunization levels for more than 50 days after oral administration of antigen . A second series of immunizations for 7 consecutive days resulted in even higher levels of sIgA antibodies, which peaked earlier and persisted longer than those observed after the primary immunizations . No increase in levels of antibodies in serum were detected in any subject . Antibodies reactive with human heart and kidney antigens could not be detected in saliva, tears, colostrum, milk, or serum samples collected at any time during the immunization regimen . The numbers of viable S . mutans organisms in dental plaque and whole saliva decreased after each series of immunizations, which correlated with increased levels of IgA antibodies in saliva, suggesting that IgA antibodies in saliva were responsible for the reduced adherence of this bacterium . These results indicate that ingested S . mutans antigen induces secretion of specific IgA1 and IgA2 antibodies in saliva, tears, colostrum, and milk, providing further evidence for the existence of a common mucosal immune system.

Chest, 1987 Oct, 92(4), 751 - 2
The utility of Osler's nodes in the diagnosis of infective endocarditis; Yee J et al.; The etiology of Osler's nodes remains controversial . We describe a patient with endocarditis in whom Streptococcus sanguis was grown from the biopsy of such a lesion . Bacterial embolic events are likely to be the major pathogenetic event in the development of Osler's nodes, and recognition of the etiology of infective endocarditis may be found through biopsy of them.

J Dent Res, 1987 Oct, 66(10), 1594 - 6
Effects of pH on expression of sodium fluoride resistance in Streptococcus mutans; Brussock SM et al.; Stable fluoride-resistant mutants of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 were isolated on Todd-Hewitt agar by a step-wise selection procedure . Resistance is defined here as the ability to form colonies in 48 hr . First-step mutants demonstrated six different levels of resistance, ranging from 400 to 1000 micrograms/mL sodium fluoride . Second-step mutants demonstrated two levels of resistance, one at 1600 and the highest at 3000 micrograms/mL sodium fluoride . All mutants (originally isolated at pH 7.2) were tested for fluoride resistance at pH 5 and 6 . At these lower pH values, all of the mutants demonstrated resistance to fluoride when compared with the parent strain, but at much-reduced levels.

J Dent Res, 1987 Oct, 66(10), 1583 - 6
Root surface caries subsequent to gingivectomy in rats inoculated with Streptococcus sobrinus (mutans) and Actinomyces viscosus; Firestone AR et al.; We studied the effect of oral infection with cariogenic micro-organisms on alveolar bone loss and root surface caries subsequent to gingivectomy in rats . Thirty-six rats were fed diet MIT 200 (67% sucrose); one-half, the controls, had antibiotics added to the diet . At ages 18, 19, and 21 days, the experimental group was orally infected with streptomycin-resistant Streptococcus sobrinus (mutans) 6715 and Actinomyces viscosus M-100 . At age 30 days, all animals were subjected to a gingivectomy on maxillary and mandibular left quadrants . The experimental group was re-inoculated at age 36 days . Animals were killed seven weeks after surgery . Jaws were stained, and planimetric measurements of exposed root surface area and caries on lingual/palatal surfaces of 1st and 2nd molars were made from video images with a computer/digitizer . Compared with the non-operated contralateral quadrants, gingivectomy significantly increased exposed root surface area in the maxilla and in the mandible in both the control and experimental groups . Oral inoculation significantly increased exposed root surface in mandibular (but not maxillary) quadrants which had received a gingivectomy, but had no effect on non-gingivectomized quadrants . There was no caries in the control group, whereas ten rats in the experimental group had root surface caries lesions, all in quadrants which had received a gingivectomy . This rat model should prove useful in further studies of root surface caries.

Can J Vet Res, 1987 Oct, 51(4), 486 - 9
Gross and histopathological findings in unusual lesions caused by Streptococcus suis in pigs . II . Central nervous system lesions; Sanford SE; Subacute meningoencephalitis or meningoencephalomyelitis caused by Streptococcus suis was diagnosed in 53 pigs over a four-year period . Affected pigs averaging 11 weeks of age with a range from five days to 26 weeks, had been treated with antibiotics and had partially recovered . Hyperemia of meningeal vessels and modest increase in cerebrospinal fluid were the most common gross central nervous system lesions . Histologically, fibrin, edema and a mixture of inflammatory cells were present in meninges and choroid plexus . Linear and perivascular infiltrates of neutrophils and mononuclear inflammatory cells invaded the brain and spinal cord and similar infiltrates were in lumina of ventricles and the spinal canal . Inflammatory cells also invaded the superficial layers of the brain directly from the overlying meninges . Bilateral subacute optic perineuritis and Gasserian ganglioneuritis also occurred . Segmental cortical necrosis of cerebellar folia characterized by degeneration, necrosis, neuronophagia and drop out of groups of Purkinje cells was a distinct lesion seen in 27 of the 53 pigs . Mild spongiosis of white matter in the cerebellum and brain stem accompanied these changes.

Can J Vet Res, 1987 Oct, 51(4), 481 - 5
Gross and histopathological findings in unusual lesions caused by Streptococcus suis in pigs . I . Cardiac lesions; Sanford SE; Unusual lesions caused by Streptococcus suis involved the heart of 48 pigs necropsied over a four-year period . Lesions included fibrinopurulent pericarditis (six pigs), hemorrhagic, necrotizing myocarditis resembling mulberry heart disease (21 pigs), and vegetative valvular endocarditis (21 pigs) . Histologically, the myocarditis was characterized by focally extensive and diffuse hemorrhages and necrosis, with infiltrations of neutrophils and mononuclear cells, and thrombosis of small and large myocardial vessels . The 21 pigs with vegetative valvular endocarditis generally were over ten weeks old and had died suddenly . The left atrioventricular valve was affected in 18 hearts . Most of an affected valve was replaced by a layer of granulation tissue covered by a mixture of fibrin, inflammatory cells, necrotic debris and large numbers of coccoid bacteria.

Int J Pediatr Nephrol, 1987 Oct-Dec, 8(4), 211 - 4
Acute glomerulonephritis secondary to lobar pneumonia; Schachter J et al.; We report 4 cases of children who developed lobar pneumonia and subsequently acute glomerulonephritis, all within a period of six weeks . In one case streptococcus pneumonia type 5 was isolated, a strain not previously described in the literature as being nephritogenic.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1987 Oct, 40(10), 1820 - 9
{Studies on antimicrobial concentrations of flomoxef in serum, pelvic dead space exudate, and pelvic organs/tissues}; Obata T et al.; To women undergoing radical and total hysterectomy, flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S) in a dose of 2 g was administered by intravenous drip infusion over 1 hour and drug concentrations in serum and pelvic dead space exudate as well as pelvic organs/tissues were determined over time . The following results were obtained: 1 . Serum concentrations of FMOX after intravenous infusion showed the peak value of 92.86 +/- 17.05 micrograms/ml at the end of infusion and then gradually decreased to 29.00 +/- 10.49 micrograms/ml in 1 hour and 1.16 +/- 1.08 micrograms/ml in 6 hours . 2 . Concentrations in pelvic dead space exudate, which were 6.54 +/- 3.21 micrograms/ml at the end of intravenous infusion, gradually increased to 31.28 +/- 12.69 micrograms/ml in 30 minutes, and the peak of 35.21 +/- 13.29 micrograms/ml in 1 hour . Exudate concentrations gradually decreased to 11.10 +/- 6.64 micrograms/ml at 6 hours after infusion . 3 . The serum concentration at the ligature of uterine artery was 103.21 +/- 51.69 micrograms/ml . Among concentrations in pelvic organ/tissues 37.17 +/- 18.20 micrograms/ml in uterine cervix was the highest, followed by 35.77 +/- 7.68 micrograms/g in portio vaginalis, 26.35 +/- 14.15 micrograms/g in tube, 21.62 +/- 12.15 micrograms/g in ovary, 20.56 +/- 9.82 micrograms/g in myometrium, and 16.45 +/- 8.10 micrograms/g in endometrium, in this order . 4 . From an analysis of the two-compartment model, the maximum serum concentration was 92.81 micrograms/ml, which was very high . The time of 50% reduction of concentration in beta phase was 1.21 hours . In the pelvic dead space exudate, the maximum concentration was 32.38 micrograms/ml and the time of 50% reduction was 2.44 hours . The AUC was 147 micrograms.hr/ml in serum and 201 micrograms.hr/ml in the pelvic dead space . The shift to the pelvic dead space was 137% when AUC's were used as the basis of the comparison . 5 . Clinically, FMOX was excellently effective against adnexitis caused by Peptostreptococcus asaccharolyticus, intrauterine infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, cystitis caused by Klebsiella and Escherichia coli, vaginal stump infection caused by Streptococcus and E . coli and many other infections.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1987 Oct, 40(10), 1763 - 6
{Investigation of clinical effect of flomoxef}; Noguchi Y et al.; Flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S) is a new antibiotic of oxacephem group with a broad antibacterial spectrum . Seven patients were treated by intravenous instillation of 1 g of FMOX twice daily . Seven-day treatment with FMOX was ineffective against chronic bronchitis caused by Escherichia coli in a patient who had received an operation for esophageal cancer 6 years previously . Seven-day treatment with FMOX was effective against acute pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus in a patient with lung cancer . Nine-day treatment with FMOX was effective against pulmonary suppuration caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a patient with lung cancer . Six-day and 7-day treatment with FMOX were excellently or moderately effective against suspected obstructive pneumonia in 2 patients with lung cancer . Five-day and 6-day treatment with FMOX were ineffective against fever of unknown origins in 2 patients with lung cancer . Overall, FMOX was effective in 4 of the 7 patients evaluated.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Oct, 31(10), 1618 - 26
Bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of beta-lactams against Streptococcus (Enterococcus) faecium are associated with saturation of different penicillin-binding proteins; Lleo MM et al.; The MICs and MBCs of benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, cefotaxime, and methicillin were evaluated against a Streptococcus (Enterococcus) faecium wild-type strain and against three mutants hyperproducing PBP 5 in cells incubated at both optimal and suboptimal temperatures . In the wild-type strain grown at optimal temperature, the MBCs of all beta-lactams were significantly greater than the MICs (bacteriostatic effect) . As opposed to this, in the same cells grown at suboptimal temperature and in the mutants hyperproducing PBP 5 at all temperatures, the MICs of all antibiotics coincided with the MBCs (bactericidal effect) . Under all conditions in which the MIC and MBC were the same, with all antibiotics, growth inhibition occurred only at the minimal concentration saturating all penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) (or at higher concentrations) . On the contrary, under conditions in which the MIC was lower than the MBC, only some of the PBPs were saturated (or bound) at both the MIC and the MBC, PBP 5 in no case being either saturated or bound . Under all conditions in which saturation of all PBPs was needed for growth inhibition, cells died at all antibiotic MBCs with kinetics which were much faster than those with which they died at the MBCs under conditions in which not all PBPs were saturated (or bound) . In addition, under the former conditions, antibiotic concentrations above the MBCs did not significantly accelerate cell death kinetics, while under the latter conditions there was an acceleration in kinetics with increasing antibiotic concentrations up to full saturation of PBPs . It is suggested that the killing that occurs when all PBPs are saturated is a direct consequence of inactivation of PBP functions, while killing occurring when only some of them are saturated or bound is also (or mainly) an indirect consequence of inability of cells to grow and that, in S . faecium, the targets for growth inhibition and cell killing reside in different PBPs: for the latter effect, inactivation of one (or more) of the high-molecular-weight PBPs is sufficient, whereas in the former case inactivation of PBP 5 is necessary (after saturation of all other PBPs).

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Oct, 266(3-4), 478 - 90
Investigations on the binding of erythrogenic toxin A of Streptococcus pyogenes on human peripheral blood lymphocytes . I . Light and electron microscopical demonstration of cell surface receptors using colloidal gold-labelled toxin; Scriba S et al.; Receptors for erythrogenic toxin A (ETA) of Streptococcus pyogenes (strain NY-5) were demonstrated on human peripheral blood lymphocytes by binding of ETA-gold conjugates to the cell surface . The specificity of the binding was proved in control experiments . The dark-red granules observed by light microscopy on unfixed cells were revealed by transmission electron microscopy to be patches of gold particles . By light microscopy on samples from 48 blood donors a mean value of 34 +/- 13% of ETA-receptor bearing lymphocytes was ascertained . The predominant part of the cells exhibited only a weak or moderate labelling . Transmission electron microscopy of prefixed cells revealed an attachment of single gold particles distributed over the whole cell surface . Counts of gold particles on serial sections yielded depending on prefixation values of 50-600 receptors/cell (1% glutaraldehyde) and 1000-7000 receptors/cell (0.26% glutaraldehyde), respectively . ETA cloned in Streptococcus sanguis as well as the toxoid of ETA exhibited a comparable binding as ETA (NY-5).

Jpn J Pharmacol, 1987 Oct, 45(2), 143 - 7
Cell growth-inhibitory action of SAGP, an antitumor glycoprotein from Streptococcus pyogenes (Su strain); Yoshida J et al.; An antitumor acidic glycoprotein (SAGP) from Streptococcus pyogenes (Su strain) inhibited the growth of BALB/3T3 cells in culture in a dose-dependent manner (0.03-10.0 micrograms/ml) . This effect of SAGP was abolished by washing the cells, suggesting that SAGP weakly binds to the cell membrane . The ability of the cells to form colonies was unaffected by three days exposure to SAGP . Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry revealed an accumulation of SAGP-treated cells in the S-phase . SAGP (3 micrograms/ml) reduced the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into the cells to approximately half of the control level . These results suggest that SAGP inhibits the growth of target cells by acting on their surface membrane and decreasing the rate of DNA synthesis.

Ophthalmology, 1987 Oct, 94(10), 1322 - 33
Epidemiology of microbial keratitis in southern California . A multivariate analysis; Ormerod LD et al.; Two hundred twenty-seven cases of microbial keratitis reported in nonreferral county practice were studied . The staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae, were the major isolates . A multivariate statistical model was developed to evaluate possible predisposing and outcome determinants . Several racial and age-related relationships were shown . The interaction of numerous local ocular and systemic factors played a fundamental role in causing disease . The authors found significant association between S . pneumoniae and topical steroid use, and direct and indirect linkage of S . aureus with diabetes and trauma, respectively . S . pneumoniae and Moraxella were risk factors for major complications (24% of cases); S . pneumoniae was related to enucleation and late perforation . Corneal exposure and prior topical steroids were associated with prolonged hospital stays . Hypopyon was associated with pneumococcal infection, 60 years of age or older, and trauma . The identification of groups at high-risk for microbial keratitis and problems of preventive management are discussed.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1987 Oct, 136(4), 1005 - 6
Polymicrobial bacteremic pneumonia: report of three cases caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae; Goodwin RA et al.; Three patients are reported with simultaneous bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae complicating community-acquired pneumonia . Polymicrobial bacteremia caused by pyogenic organisms has rarely been reported . Two of the patients had severe underlying hepatic disease, and the third had suffered a recent myocardial infarction . The infection ultimately proved fatal in each patient . The pathophysiologic aspects and clinical consequences of polymicrobial bacteremia arising from respiratory as well as from other sources is briefly reviewed.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Oct, 169(10), 4507 - 17
Expression, purification, and characterization of an exo-beta-D-fructosidase of Streptococcus mutans; Burne RA et al.; A genetic library of Streptococcus mutans GS-5, constructed in an Escherichia coli plasmid vector, was screened for cells which could utilize sucrose as the sole carbon and energy source . The recombinant plasmid pFRU1, containing a 4.2-kilobase pair insert of S . mutans DNA, was shown to confer this phenotype . Further characterization of the gene product encoded by pFRU1 revealed that the enzyme was a beta-D-fructosidase with the highest specificity for the beta (2----6)-linked fructan polymer levan . The enzyme could also hydrolyze inulin {beta (2----1)-linked fructan}, sucrose, and raffinose with 34, 21, and 12%, respectively, of the activity observed for levan . The gene (designated fruA) appeared to be expressed under its own control in E . coli, as judged by the lack of influence on gene product activity of induction or repression of the beta-galactosidase promoter adjacent to the insertion site on the cloning vector . The protein was purified to homogeneity, as judged by silver staining of purified protein in denaturing and reducing conditions in polyacrylamide gels, from sonic lysate of E . coli, as well as from culture supernatants of S . mutans GS-5 grown in a chemostat at low dilution rate with fructose as the sole carbohydrate source . Both purified proteins had an apparent molecular mass of 140,000 daltons in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were immunologically related and comigrated in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as determined by Western blotting with antisera raised against the cloned gene product, and were identical in all physical and biochemical properties tested . The pH optimum of the enzyme acting on fructan polymers was 5.5, with a significant amount of activity remaining at pH 4.0 . The optimum pH for sucrose degradation was broader and lower, with a peak at approximately 4.5 . Enzyme activity was inhibited almost completely by Hg2+ and Ag2+, inhibited partially by Cu2+, not inhibited by fluoride ion or Tris, and slightly stimulated by Mn2+ and Co2+ . Fructan polymers were attacked exohydrolytically by the enzyme, fructose being the only product released . With sufficient time, both levan and inulin were degraded to completion, with no evidence of product inhibition.

Microbiologia, 1987 Oct, 3(3), 179 - 83
Development of precipiting antibodies in rabbits inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae by crossed immunoelectrophoresis; Munoz R et al.; The antibody response of rabbits immunized with a strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 was studied by crossed immunoelectrophoresis . Sera taken every 4 weeks up to eight months post inoculation were tested in order to observe the development of precipiting antibodies, a complete response being encountered on week ten.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Oct, 266(3-4), 463 - 8
Colonization of human genital tract by Streptococcus agalactiae; Stropnik Z et al.; This bacteriological study involved 92 young married couples who required medical help because of infertility . Colonization of male urethra or the presence of Streptococcus agalactiae in the ejaculate was detected in 9.78% of men . Vagina or vagina and cervix were colonized in 4.35% of women . Oral application of phenoxymethylpenicillin temporarily eliminated S . agalactiae from the genital tract of all colonized partners . Repeated colonization occurred 3-7 months later, in three cases by different serotypes compared with pretreatment period, in one case by the same serotype.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Oct, 266(3-4), 347 - 58
Purification and characterization of Streptococcus pyogenes erythrogenic toxin type A produced by a cloned gene in Streptococcus sanguis; Gerlach D et al.; The gene of Streptococcus pyogenes erythrogenic toxin type A (speA) has been previously cloned in Streptococcus sanguis (Challis) and produces extracellular erythrogenic toxin type A (ET A) . The ET A produced and secreted by this heterologous host was purified to homogeneity and shown to have properties identical to ET A produced by S . pyogenes strain NY-5; i.e., serological identity in immunodiffusion, migration in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, mitogenic activity, inhibition of mitogenic activity by specific antibody, and precipitation by an international scarlatina antitoxin preparation . The cloned speA gene specified an ET A which had a molecular weight identical to that of ET A from S . pyogenes previously reported from this laboratory . NH2-terminal sequence determination of the purified protein showed the first nine residues to be gln gln asp pro asp pro ser gln leu; this is consistent with predictions made from the nucleotide sequence of the speA gene according to Weeks and Ferretti and different from the sequence published by Johnson et al.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Oct, 6(5), 591 - 3
Lectin-mediated bacterial adhesion to human tissue; Beuth J et al.; In vitro experiments with frozen sections of human lung and kidney demonstrated that adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae Pn 629 Type 14 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 to human cells was mediated by bacterial lectins (adhesins) with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine/D-galactose or N-acetyl-neuraminic acid specificity . Blocking of the lectin binding sites on bacterial surfaces with competitive carbohydrates completely prevented the bacterial adherence, whereas non-specific carbohydrates (D-mannose, D-xylose) did not inhibit adherence.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Oct, 31(10), 1474 - 7
Efficacy of orally administered penicillin V for prophylaxis of experimentally induced streptococcal endocarditis; Pujadas R et al.; Four oral penicillin V regimens were compared for the ability to prevent Streptococcus sanguis infection of experimentally induced valvular heart lesions in rabbits . Challenge doses of 10(4), 10(6), and 10(8) CFU of a penicillin-susceptible strain of S . sanguis were used in this study . Measured by recovery of test organisms from endocardial lesions, the lowest-concentration inoculum was infective for 53% of the recipients; the higher-concentration inocula were infective for all recipients . A single-oral-dose penicillin V regimen (36 mg/kg of body weight) prevented endocarditis when rabbits were challenged with 10(4) CFU, but protection diminished with increasing inoculum concentrations . In contrast, addition of a second penicillin V dose (18 mg/kg of body weight) administered with a 7-h interval between doses achieved fully effective prophylaxis against even the highest inoculum tested (10(8) CFU) . A repeated set of experiments in which half the dose of penicillin V was administered showed significantly reduced protection against S . sanguis endocarditis.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Oct, 70(10), 2005 - 12
Spontaneous release of temperate phage by relysogenized lactose-positive transductants of Streptococcus lactis C2; Baldwin KA et al.; Transduction for lactose-fermenting ability between the lactose-positive lysogen Streptococcus lactis LM0221 and plasmid-cured, prophage-cured, lactose-negative S . lactis LM2301 resulted in the appearance of lactose-positive transductants surrounded by a zone of clearing in the lactose-negative cell lawn . By using plaque assay procedures, the zones were shown to contain bacteriophage particles, and both spontaneous release and UV induction of prophage from these transductants were demonstrated . The DNA hybridization confirmed that LM2301 did not contain the prophage in its chromosome and that the zone-producing transductant KZ1 was relysogenized by the temperate bacteriophage . Further, a 4.35 Kb EcoRI digestion fragment appeared to contain the DNA sequences for integration into the chromosome and may provide a means for stabilizing cloned DNA by effecting chromosomal insertion in LM2301 derivatives . The selection of zone-producing lactose-positive transductants of LM2301 provided a means for detecting strains relysogenized by the temperate phage induced from LM0221.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Oct, 53(10), 2388 - 93
Transport and phosphorylation of disaccharides by the ruminal bacterium Streptococcus bovis; Martin SA et al.; Toluene-treated cells of Streptococcus bovis JB1 phosphorylated cellobiose, glucose, maltose, and sucrose by the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system . Glucose phosphorylation was constitutive, while all three disaccharide systems were inducible . Competition experiments indicated that separate phosphotransferase systems (enzymes II) existed for glucose, maltose, and sucrose . {14C}maltose transport was inhibited by excess (10 mM) glucose and to a lesser extent by sucrose (90 and 46%, respectively) . {14C}glucose and {14C}sucrose transports were not inhibited by an excess of maltose . Since {14C}maltose phosphorylation in triethanolamine buffer was increased 160-fold as the concentration of Pi was increased from 0 to 100 mM, a maltose phosphorylase (Km for Pi, 9.5 mM) was present, and this activity was inducible . Maltose was also hydrolyzed by an inducible maltase . Glucose 1-phosphate arising from the maltose phosphorylase was metabolized by a constitutive phosphoglucomutase that was specific for alpha-glucose 1-phosphate (Km, 0.8 mM) . Only sucrose-grown cells possessed sucrose hydrolase activity (Km, 3.1 mM), and this activity was much lower than the sucrose phosphotransferase system and sucrose-phosphate hydrolase activities.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Oct, 169(10), 4869 - 71
Streptococcus pneumoniae polA gene is expressed in Escherichia coli and can functionally substitute for the E . coli polA gene; Lopez P et al.; The Streptococcus pneumoniae polA+ gene was introduced into Escherichia coli on the recombinant plasmid pSM31, which is based on the pSC101 replicon . Extracts of E . coli polA5 mutants containing pSM31 showed DNA polymerase activity, indicating that the pneumococcal DNA polymerase I was expressed in the heterospecific host . Complete complementation of the E . coli polA5 mutation by the pneumococcal polA+ gene was detected in excision repair of DNA damage.

Infect Immun, 1987 Oct, 55(10), 2538 - 40
Cloning and characterization of Streptococcus mutans LM7 plasmid pAM7; Noji S et al.; The 5.6-kilobase-pair cryptic plasmid, pAM7, of Streptococcus mutans LM7 was cloned into Escherichia coli plasmids or a shuttle plasmid to examine whether the plasmid encodes bacteriocin . Plasmid pAM7 encoded proteins with molecular weights of 30,000, 22,000, and 12,000, but none of them appeared to be bacteriocin.

Microb Pathog, 1987 Oct, 3(4), 249 - 60
A protective monoclonal antibody that reacts with a novel antigen of pneumococcal teichoic acid; McDaniel LS et al.; D3114/63 is a hybridoma cell line producing a monoclonal antibody that appears to recognize a common antigenic determinant associated with the teichoic acids of Streptococcus pneumoniae . This hybridoma was produced in a fusion of splenic lymphocytes from an X-linked immunodeficient (xid) male (CBA/NxBALB/c)F1 mouse hyperimmunized with a heat-killed type 6A strain EF-3114 . Treatment of EF-3114 with periodate, but not with protease, destroyed its ability to bind D3114/63 . The specificity of D3114/63 for teichoic acids was suggested by the ability of both C-polysaccharide and F-antigen to inhibit its binding to EF-3114 . Inhibition studies indicated that D3114/63 does not bind the PC determinant of teichoic acids . As in the case with anti-PC antibodies, the presence of an intact pneumococcal capsule significantly reduced the binding of D3114/63 to viable pneumococci . By means of a colony immunoblot procedure, it was determined that D3114/63 bound to all 97 pneumococcal strains tested including representatives of 24 different serotypes . Both D3114/63 and anti-PC antibodies were able to detect pneumococcal antigen in spinal fluids of 3 out of 4 patients with pneumococcal meningitis . D3114/63 protected mice from fatal infection with type 3 strain WU2 pneumococci but not from type 5 strain DBL5 or type 6A strain EF-3114.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Oct, 53(10), 2452 - 7
Isolation and characterization of Streptococcus cremoris Wg2-specific promoters; van der Vossen JM et al.; By cloning MboI fragments in the promoter selection vector pGKV210, which replicates in Streptococcus lactis, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli and carries a promoterless chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, we obtained a number of fragments endowed with promoter activity, partly by direct selection for chloramphenicol resistance in S . lactis IL1403 and partly by selection in B . subtilis . Five fragments were sequenced, and the promoters were mapped with S1 nuclease . The promoters agreed with the E . coli promoter consensus and the B . subtilis vegetative sigma 43 promoter consensus . The promoters were preceded by an A + T-rich region (ranging from 64 to 78% A + T) . S1 nuclease mapping data showed that the transcriptional start point in three of the fragments was at a TAG sequence 5 to 9 nucleotides downstream from the promoter . Three fragments carried an open reading frame preceded by a ribosome-binding site which can be recognized by E . coli, B . subtilis, and S . lactis ribosomes.

Infect Immun, 1987 Oct, 55(10), 2448 - 55
Expression of M type 12 protein by a group A streptococcus exhibits phaselike variation: evidence for coregulation of colony opacity determinants and M protein; Simpson WJ et al.; Three major categories of colony opacity were observed for natural variants of the M type 12 (M12) group A streptococcus strain CS24 . Colony opacity variants that switched between two alternative categories at significantly high frequencies were identified and are referred to as switching between more opaque (Op+) and less opaque (Op-) phenotypes . Twenty lineages of such variants were derived for analysis and were assessed for resistance to phagocytosis, acid-extractable M12 antigen, and M12 mRNA, criteria which define the M protein-positive phenotype (M+) . Transition from the M+ to the M protein-negative phenotype (M-) correlated with a change from Op+ to Op- . Reversion to the Op+ phenotype was accompanied by reversion to the M+ state in all variants except one and occurred at a higher frequency than the forward M+ to M- switch . These data demonstrate the existence of M12 protein phaselike switching in the group A streptococcus strain CS24 . The discovery of an Op+ M- revertant confirmed that colony opacity and M protein can be expressed independently and are distinct gene products . We suggest that coregulation of colony opacity and M protein expression accounts for their association among descendents of strain CS24 . Southern blot hybridization analyses of digested genomic DNA from 27 M- variants and 15 M+ revertants were performed with DNA probes containing M12 protein and adjacent upstream sequences . DNA deletions were identified only in two stable M- variants, approximately 1.3 and 1.4 kilobases upstream from the M12 gene, respectively, whereas all unstable M- variants lacked detectable rearrangements . This suggests that deletions within or adjacent to the structural gene are unlikely to be responsible for the reversible switch in M protein expression . However, the association with the stable M- phenotype and the location of these deletions, as well as two other deletions, approximately 0.5 kilobase upstream from the M12 promoter in two previously described variants of strain CS24 suggests that a second gene product is required for full expression of M12 protein synthesis in this strain.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1987 Sep 15, 191(6), 703 - 4
Septicemia and septic arthritis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a cat: possible transmission from a child; Stallings B et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 23F was isolated from the blood and synovial fluid of an acutely ill, 15-year-old castrated male cat and from the nasopharynx of that regularly played with it, an infant child . Information presented supports the hypothesis that the infection was transmitted from child to cat.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Sep 15, 262(26), 12438 - 43
Mechanism of energy coupling to entry and exit of neutral and branched chain amino acids in membrane vesicles of Streptococcus cremoris; Driessen AJ et al.; The energetics of neutral and branched chain amino acid transport by membrane vesicles from Streptococcus cremoris have been studied with a novel model system in which beef heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase functions as a proton-motive force (delta p) generating system . In the presence of reduced cytochrome c, a large delta p was generated with a maximum value at pH 6.0 . Apparent H+/amino acid stoichiometries (napp) have been determined at external pH values between 5.5 and 8.0 from the steady state levels of accumulation and the delta p . For L-leucine napp (0.8) was nearly independent of the pH . For L-alanine and L-serine napp decreased from 0.9-1.0 at pH 5.5 to 0-0.2 at pH 8.0 . The napp for the different amino acids decreased with increasing external amino acid concentration . At pH 6.0, first order rate constants for amino acid exit (kex) under steady state conditions for L-leucine, L-alanine, and L-serine were 1.1-1.3, 0.084, and 0.053 min-1, respectively . From the pH dependence of kex it is concluded that amino acid exit in steady state is the sum of two processes, pH-dependent carrier-mediated amino acid exit and pH-independent passive diffusion (external leak) . The first order rate constant for passive diffusion increased with increasing hydrophobicity of the side chain of the amino acids . As a result of these processes the kinetic steady state attained is less than the amino acid accumulation ratio predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium . The napp determined from the steady state accumulation represents, therefore, a lower limit . It is concluded that the mechanistic stoichiometry (n) for L-leucine, L-alanine, and L-serine transport most likely equals 1.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1987 Sep, 64(3), 339 - 47
Pulp response to Streptococcus mutans; Paterson RC et al.; The maxillary molar pulps of germ-free rats were mechanically exposed, and suspensions of a strain of freshly grown Streptococcus mutans were applied to the pulp wounds . The pulps were left open to the oral environment, and the animals were maintained in the isolator until they were killed in groups after 2, 7, and 28 days . After 2 days there was little evidence of any pulp response . In the 7-day group early pulp necrosis was present . No evidence of inflammatory infiltration was detected in either the 2- or 7-day animals . After 28 days there was extensive pulp necrosis in many specimens . Dentine bridges were present in fewer than one fourth of the teeth.

J Dent Res, 1987 Sep, 66(9), 1503 - 8
Recolonization of human tooth surfaces by Streptococcus mutans after suppression by chlorhexidine treatment; Emilson CG et al.; In eight subjects who were initially highly colonized with Streptococcus mutans and who used a 1% chlorhexidine gel, the numbers of this organism were suppressed in both plaque and saliva . Bacterial plaque samples were obtained from all tooth surfaces, and the recolonization pattern of S . mutans was studied over a 26-week period . At baseline, 83% of all surfaces harbored S . mutans with buccal surfaces colonized in higher frequency than the others . After chlorhexidine treatment, the proportion of tooth surfaces colonized by S . mutans was reduced to a low level . Re-appearance was slow . S . mutans was first recovered from the most posterior teeth in the mouth, the molar surfaces were recolonized earlier than were those of pre-molars and anterior teeth, and the buccal surfaces were recolonized more readily than were the other tooth surfaces . The data show that there is a specific recolonization pattern of S . mutans after chlorhexidine treatment, and that the re-emergence of S . mutans is most probably due to regrowth of bacteria which have not been eradicated.

J Dent Res, 1987 Sep, 66(9), 1499 - 502
Relationship between dental plaque indices and bacteria in dental plaque and those in saliva; Schaeken MJ et al.; A variety of indices has been developed for the quantitation of dental plaque . The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the Loe plaque index and the number of bacteria on the same tooth . Furthermore, the effect of plaque accumulation on the salivary counts of some dental plaque organisms was estimated . Twenty volunteers were asked to abstain from all oral hygiene for a one-week period . Clinical indices and bacteriological samples were taken at the start and at the end of the experimental period . After an interval of seven days, the experiment was repeated . The relationship between the Loe plaque index and the total bacterial counts on the same area of the tooth was found to be highly significant . After seven days without oral hygiene, the total counts and the Actinomyces viscosus/naeslundii and Streptococcus sanguis counts in dental plaque had increased by approximately two log units, while the Streptococcus mutans counts had increased by more than one log unit . The large increase in the number of bacteria on the teeth was reflected in the salivary counts of the Actinomyces species, but not in the S . sanguis or S . mutans counts . This was due to differences in ecological habitats of these species in the mouth . Highly significant correlations were found between the S . mutans level in dental plaque and the salivary level, and between the S . mutans counts of the subjects in the first and second trials of the experiment.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1987 Sep, 63(3), 233 - 8
Interactions between rumen amylolytic and lactate-utilizing bacteria in growth on starch; Marounek M et al.; The growth and metabolism of the rumen amylolytic bacteria Streptococcus bovis, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and Bacteroides ruminicola, growing in pure cultures and co-cultures with the rumen lactilytic bacteria Megasphaera elsdenii and Veillonella alcalescens were followed . The interaction of amylolytic bacteria with V . alcalescens represents a simple food chain . The interaction with M . elsdenii is more complex, since there is a simultaneous competition for products of the starch degradation.

Can J Cardiol, 1987 Sep, 3(6), 275 - 80
Ultrastructure of cardiac bacterial vegetations on native valves with emphasis on alterations in bacterial morphology following antibiotic treatment; Marrie TJ et al.; Bacterial vegetations involving the aortic valves of six patients were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy . The microorganisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus--2, coagulase-negative staphylococcus--1, Streptococcus fecalis--2 and Streptococcus MG--1 . The surface of the vegetations was usually amorphous . However, in areas where the surface of the vegetation was broken, myriads of microorganisms were seen . Transmission electron microscopy revealed bacteria embedded in an electron dense matrix in all vegetations despite the fact that they were negative on culture . Cell wall rupture was common . Thinning, and in some instances thickening, of the cell wall was also observed . The Streptococcus MG cells showed abnormal division with daughter cells being unable to separate . It is likely that the altered morphology of these bacterial cells is due to antibiotic treatment, however studies of an animal model of endocarditis are needed to dissect out the various possible contributions to these changes: host defenses; bacterial malnutrition in the depths of the vegetation; and antibiotic effect.

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1987 Sep, 14(9), 2697 - 702
{The Su-polysaccharide skin test in lung cancer}; Harada J et al.; Skin testing with intradermally injected Su-Polysaccharide (extracted from Su strain Streptococcus bacteria) was performed in 41 cases of lung cancer . Su-polysaccharide skin test results were correlated, to some extent, with the patient's age, clinical stage and performance status and showed a similar trend to the simultaneously performed PPD skin test . These results suggested the potential usefulness of Su-Polysaccharide skin test results as one of the parameters of immunological status of patients with lung cancer . It was also demonstrated that skin reaction to Su-Polysaccharide was increased specifically after OK-432 immunotherapy and was well correlated with the prognosis of the disease . The Su-Polysaccharide skin test was thus considered to be a useful parameter for monitoring the immune response to OK-432 immunotherapy in lung cancer and also one of the parameters of prognostic value.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1987 Sep, 157(3), 770 - 3
Effects of alterations of zinc-to-phosphorus ratios and meconium content on group B Streptococcus growth in human amniotic fluid in vitro; Hoskins IA et al.; Several authors have described the bacterial growth-altering properties of amniotic fluid . We examined Group B Streptococcus growth in aseptically obtained amniotic fluid in vitro after altering its zinc, phosphorus, and meconium contents . Zinc and phosphorus levels were calculated in amniotic fluid and in meconium . Separate solutions of zinc and phosphorus were added to yield concentrations of 0.7, 7.0, 70, and 700 mumol . The solutions were incubated with Group B Streptococcus III 893 and Escherichia coli C5 strains, and 24-hour growth curves were plotted . Meconium, 0.5 mg/ml, was added to each amniotic fluid + zinc and amniotic fluid + phosphorus solution, and growth curves were plotted . The rate of proliferation of Group B Streptococcus varied directly with the zinc concentration (700 = 70 greater than 7 greater than 0.7 mumol) and inversely with the phosphorus content (700 less than 70 less than 7 = 0.7 mumol) . Meconium enhanced the proliferative effect of zinc and hindered the inhibitory effect of phosphorus . Thus one possible mechanism whereby meconium enhances bacterial growth in amniotic fluid may be by alteration of zinc-to-phosphorus ratios.

Anal Biochem, 1987 Sep, 165(2), 465 - 9
Diplococcal beta-galactosidase with a specificity reacting to beta 1-4 linkage but not to beta 1-3 linkage as a useful exoglycosidase for the structural elucidation of glycolipids; Kojima K et al.; Diplococcal beta-galactosidase, which is known to be useful for the structural studies of glycoprotein-linked oligosaccharides, was found to show the same substrate specificity in cleaving Gal beta 1-4 linkages of glycolipids as that of the oligosaccharides . The optimum conditions of beta-galactosidase in the 80% ammonium sulfate precipitates of the culture medium of Streptococcus (Diplococcus) pneumoniae were determined with nLcOse4Cer radiolabeled by the galactose oxidase-NaB3H4 procedure . Detergent was required for the highest activity, and different combinations of several buffers and detergents showed different properties in stimulating beta-galactosidase, and in enhancing or suppressing N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase which was contaminated in the enzyme preparation . The optimum pH was found to be at 6.5, and specific activity and Km were 8.1 nmol/mg protein/h and 1 nmol, respectively . While more than 70% of beta-galactose was liberated from LacCer and nLcOse4Cer within 1 h under the optimum conditions to form GlcCer and nLcOse3Cer, respectively, none was liberated from LcOse4Cer, GalCer, GgOse4Cer, GbOse3Cer, IV3 alpha GalnLcOse4Cer, and Il3NeuAcGgOse4Cer, showing the substrate specificity solely to Gal beta 1-4 linkage.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Sep, 169(9), 4320 - 6
Sulfonamide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae: DNA sequence of the gene encoding dihydropteroate synthase and characterization of the enzyme; Lopez P et al.; A chromosomal gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae carrying a spontaneous mutation to sulfonamide resistance was identified . Comparison of its DNA sequence with the wild-type sequence showed that the mutation, sul-d, consisted of an insert of 6 base pairs, a repeat of an adjacent 6-base-pair segment . The gene encoded a 34-kilodalton polypeptide, SulA, which as a dimer or trimer constituted the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase . This was shown by enzyme activity measurements, expression in minicells of Bacillus subtilis, and the amino-terminal sequence of the polypeptide product . Subcloning of the gene in an Escherichia coli expression vector allowed purification of the enzyme to 80% homogeneity in a single step and at high yield . Although a deleted plasmid, pLS83, produced the mutant dihydropteroate synthase, it did not confer sulfonamide resistance in vivo . It is suggested that the SulA polypeptide is also a component of an enzyme that acts in another step of folate biosynthesis and that this step is inhibited in vivo by either free or conjugated sulfonamides.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Sep, 169(9), 4147 - 53
Ornithine transport and exchange in Streptococcus lactis; Thompson J; Resting cells of Streptococcus lactis 133 appeared to accumulate {14C}ornithine to a high concentration in the absence of an exogenous energy source . However, analysis of intracellular amino acid pool constituents and results of transport experiments revealed that the accumulation of ornithine represented a homoexchange between extracellular {14C}ornithine and unlabeled ornithine in the cell . The energy-independent exchange of ornithine was not inhibited by proton-conducting uncouplers or by metabolic inhibitors . Intracellular {14C}ornithine was retained by resting cells after suspension in a buffered medium . However, addition of unlabeled ornithine to the suspension elicited rapid exit of labeled amino acid . The initial rate of exit of {14C}ornithine was dependent on the concentration of unlabeled ornithine in the medium, but this accelerative exchange diffusion process caused no net loss of amino acid . By contrast, the presence of a fermentable energy source caused a rapid expulsion of and net decrease in the concentration of intracellular ornithine . Kinetic analyses of amino acid transport demonstrated competitive inhibition between lysine and ornithine, and data obtained by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography established the heteroexchange of these basic amino acids . The effects of amino acids and of ornithine analogs on both entry and exit of {14C}ornithine have been examined . The data suggest that a common carrier mediates the entry and exchange of lysine, arginine, and ornithine in cells of S . lactis.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Sep, 169(9), 4271 - 8
Nucleotide sequence of a glucosyltransferase gene from Streptococcus sobrinus MFe28; Ferretti JJ et al.; The complete nucleotide sequence was determined for the Streptococcus sobrinus MFe28 gtfI gene, which encodes a glucosyltransferase that produces an insoluble glucan product . A single open reading frame encodes a mature glucosyltransferase protein of 1,559 amino acids (Mr, 172,983) and a signal peptide of 38 amino acids . In the C-terminal one-third of the protein there are six repeating units containing 35 amino acids of partial homology and two repeating units containing 48 amino acids of complete homology . The functional role of these repeating units remains to be determined, although truncated forms of glucosyltransferase containing only the first two repeating units of partial homology maintained glucosyltransferase activity and the ability to bind glucan . Regions of homology with alpha-amylase and glycogen phosphorylase were identified in the glucosyltransferase protein and may represent regions involved in functionally similar domains.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Sep, 169(9), 4263 - 70
Sequence analysis of the gtfB gene from Streptococcus mutans; Shiroza T et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the gtfB gene from Streptococcus mutans GS-5, coding for glucosyltransferase I activity, was determined . The gene codes for a strongly hydrophilic protein with a molecular size of 165,800 daltons . The deduced amino acid sequence revealed a typical gram-positive bacterial signal sequence at the NH2 terminus of the protein and 3.5 direct repeating units (each containing 65 amino acids) at the COOH terminus . Nucleotide sequencing of the region immediately downstream from the gtfB gene revealed the presence of a putative gene coding for an extracellular protein . This open reading frame is partially homologous to the gtfB gene.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 133 ( Pt 9), 2601 - 6
The relationship between glycosyltransferase production and membrane fatty acid composition of Streptococcus sanguis NCTC 7865 grown in the presence of protonmotive force inhibitors; West AA et al.; The fatty acid composition of Streptococcus sanguis NCTC 7865 was not altered by changing the cation composition (Na+/K+) of the growth medium; glucosyltransferase (GTF; EC 2.4.1.5) also remained constant . In contrast, fructosyltransferase (FTF-S; EC 2.4.1.10) production was reduced by at least 50% in medium with a high Na+ concentration . Growth in the presence of ionophores (gramicidin, nigericin or valinomycin) resulted in an increased proportion of saturated fatty acids, principally octadecanoic acid (C18:0), while the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, predominantly octadecenoic (C18:1) and hexadecenoic (C16:1) acids, decreased . GTF-S production was reduced in the presence of ionophores whereas FTF-S production was completely abolished . Tween 80 significantly increased both GTF-S production and the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the cytoplasmic membrane; FTF-S production was unaltered by Tween 80 . The production of GTF-S was inversely proportional to the C18:0:C18:1 fatty acid ratio of the cytoplasmic membrane . It was concluded that FTF-S production is directly influenced by protonmotive force (pmf), whereas GTF-S production is affected more by the physical properties of the cytoplasmic membrane, in particular its fatty acid composition . However, as perturbations in pmf generation can lead to variations in membrane fatty acid composition it can be argued that pmf indirectly influences GTF production by changing the saturated:unsaturated or C18:0:C18:1 fatty acid ratio of the cytoplasmic membrane.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Sep, 25(9), 1645 - 7
Hydrolytic enzymes of "Streptococcus milleri"; Ruoff KL et al.; Seventy-two isolates classified as "Streptococcus milleri" were examined for the presence of various hydrolytic enzymes . While no protein or lipid-degrading activities were demonstrated, some isolates showed DNase and mucopolysaccharide-degrading activities . Beta-hemolytic isolates were more likely to produce these enzymes than were nonhemolytic strains . Isolates of one "S . milleri" biotype (mannitol fermentation positive) were uniformly devoid of all enzyme activities tested.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Sep, 169(9), 4215 - 22
Fimbria-associated proteins of Bacteroides loescheii PK1295 mediate intergeneric coaggregations; Weiss EI et al.; Bacteroides loescheii PK1295 serves as a coaggregation bridge between Streptococcus sanguis 34 and Actinomyces israelii PK14, two gram-positive oral bacteria that are otherwise unable to coaggregate . Whereas coaggregation with S . sanguis 34 is inhibited by lactose, no simple sugar was found that inhibited coaggregation with A . israelii PK14 . Coaggregation-defective (Cog-) mutants of B . loescheii PK1295 were isolated for the purpose of identifying the surface components responsible for the interaction with each coaggregation partner . Selection for spontaneously occurring Cog- mutants gave rise to two phenotypic classes of mutants . Type I lost the ability to coaggregate with S . sanguis 34, whereas type II failed to coaggregate with either S . sanguis 34 or A . israelii PK14 . Purified fimbriae from the parent agglutinated cells of both partners, and agglutination with S . sanguis 34 was inhibited by lactose . Denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis demonstrated the presence of both a 75- and a 43-kilodalton (kDa) protein associated with parental fimbriae, but only a 43-kDa protein was seen with fimbriae prepared from the type I mutant . Neither polypeptide was found in similar preparations from the type II mutants . Our data suggest that coaggregation of B . loescheii PK1295 with both gram-positive partners is mediated by fimbria-associated proteins present on the surface of the gram-negative organism and that the 75- and 43-kDa polypeptides are responsible for the recognition of S . sanguis 34 and A . israelii PK14 cells, respectively.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Sep, 84(17), 6093 - 7
Arginine transport in Streptococcus lactis is catalyzed by a cationic exchanger; Driessen AJ et al.; Streptococcus lactis metabolizes arginine via the arginine deiminase pathway to ornithine, CO2, NH3, and ATP . The translocation of arginine and ornithine has been studied using membrane vesicles of galactose/arginine-grown cells of S . lactis fused with cytochrome c oxidase proteoliposomes by the freeze/thaw--sonication procedure earlier described . In the presence of reduced cytochrome c the fused membranes rapidly accumulate ornithine . Addition of arginine releases accumulated ornithine . Rapid uncoupler-insensitive exchange between external arginine and internal ornithine is seen at rates that are at least 60-fold higher than the rate of protonmotive force-driven arginine translocation . This arginine:ornithine exchange activity was reconstituted in proteoliposomes after solubilization of S . lactis membranes with octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside . These proteoliposomes catalyze a one-to-one exchange between arginine and ornithine . The arginine:ornithine exchange system is the first exchange system for cationic metabolites found in bacteria . Translocation of arginine via this system does not require metabolic energy obtained by arginine metabolism.

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1987 Sep, 7(3), 190 - 3
Pyomyositis in south Indian children; Cherian T et al.; Thirty-two children with pyomyositis were studied . In 28 children, 23 boys and 5 girls, Staphylococcus aureus was the aetiological agent . The strains isolated were resistant to penicillin . The muscles of the thigh, back and upper arm were most frequently involved . Eight children had infections in other parts of the body, namely pneumonia, empyema, pericarditis, meningitis, osteomyelitis and arthritis . Two children died . At follow-up one child had chronic osteomyelitis . In four neonates, beta haemolytic streptococcus was the causative organism . All were septicaemic . One infant died.

Carbohydr Res, 1987 Aug 15, 166(1), 133 - 43
Structure of a new hexasaccharide from the coaggregation polysaccharide of Streptococcus sanguis 34; McIntire FC et al.; The major constituent of a coaggregation polysaccharide from Streptococcus sanguis 34 is a hexasaccharide, isolated as the alditol . The proposed structure is alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-beta-L-Rhap-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----6) -beta-D-Galf- (1----6)-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-D-Galol, based upon g.l.c.-m.s . of alditol acetates and partially methylated alditol acetates, f.a.b.-m.s., 1H-n.m.r . spectroscopy, g.l.c.-m.s . of trimethylsilylated (+)- and (-)-2-butyl glycosides, and cleavage by alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase . The structural deduction was facilitated by cleavage of the hexasaccharide at the furanoside linkage by 48% hydrogen fluoride, and reduction of the product, to yield alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1----3)-beta-L-Rhap-(1----4)-beta-D-Glcp-(1----6) -D-Galol.

Carbohydr Res, 1987 Aug 15, 166(1), 123 - 31
Structure of the serotype f polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus mutans; Pritchard DG et al.; The structure of the serotype f polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus mutans was determined by methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, and partial methanolysis, and the configuration of the anomeric linkages by 13C-n.m.r . spectroscopy, indicating the trisaccharide repeating unit----3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1----2)-{alpha-D-Glcp-(1----3)}-alpha-L-+ ++Rhap- (1---- . The structure of the backbone of the polysaccharide was confirmed by demonstrating immunological identity between the product of Smith degradation of the S . mutans serotype f antigen and the group A-variant streptococcal polysaccharide.

J Mol Biol, 1987 Aug 5, 196(3), 457 - 69
Proteins encoded by the DpnII restriction gene cassette . Two methylases and an endonuclease; de la Campa AG et al.; Proteins encoded by three genes in the DpnII restriction enzyme cassette of Streptococcus pneumoniae were purified and characterized . Large amounts of the proteins were produced by subcloning the cassette in an Escherichia coli expression system . All three proteins appear to be dimers composed of identical polypeptide subunits . One is the DpnII endonuclease, and the other two are DNA adenine methylase active at 5' GATC 3' sites . Inactivation of enzyme activity by insertions into the genes and comparison of the DNA sequence with the amino-terminal sequence of amino acid residues in the proteins demonstrated the following correspondence between genes and enzymes . The promoter-proximal gene in the operon, dpnM, encodes a 33 X 10(3) Mr polypeptide that gives rise to a potent DNA methylase . The next gene, dpnA, encodes the 31 x 10(3) Mr polypeptide of a weaker and less-specific methylase . The third gene, dpnB, encodes the 34 x 10(3) Mr polypeptide of the endonuclease . Although the endonuclease polypeptide is initiated from an ordinary ribosome-binding site, each of the methylase polypeptide begins at an atypical site with a consensus sequence entirely different from that of Shine & Dalgarno . This presumptive novel ribosome-binding site is well recognized in both S . pneumoniae and E . coli.

Bioorg Khim, 1987 Aug, 13(8), 1102 - 9
{Synthesis of capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 . 4 . Polycondensation of the monomer and characteristics of the polysaccharide}; Nifant'ev NE et al.; Synthesis of a regular branched polysaccharide {6(Gal beta 1-4)GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1}n whose structure corresponds to that of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14, is described, involving a stereospecific polycondensation of the tetrasaccharide monomer, deacylation, and N-acetylation.

Bioorg Khim, 1987 Aug, 13(8), 1093 - 101
{Synthesis of capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 . 3 . Synthesis of a monomer for polycondensation}; Nifant'ev NE et al.; Synthesis of a tritylated tetrasaccharide 1,2-O-(1-cyano) ethylidene derivative is described by glycosylation of 3,6-di-O-benzoyl-4-O-(2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-beta- D-galactopyranosyl)-1,2-O-{1-(exo-cyano)ethylidene}-alpha-D- glucopyranose with 6-O-acetyl-3-O-benzoyl-4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta- D-galactopyranosyl)-2-deozy-2-phthalimido-D-glucopyranosyl . bromide followed by selective deacetylation and tritylation.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Aug, 95(4), 233 - 9
Streptococcus suis infections in Danish pigs and experimental infection with Streptococcus suis serotype 7; Boetner AG et al.; During a two-year period, Streptococcus suis serotypes 1-8 were isolated from 108 pigs examined at the laboratory . S . suis serotypes 2 and 7 represented 75% of the isolates . S . suis serotype 7 was isolated more frequently than reported from other countries, and mostly from piglets less than 3 weeks of age . Experimental inoculation of 7-day-old piglets with S . suis serotype 7 provoked severe illness within a week in 6 out of 7 animals . By bacteriological and pathological examination it was found that S . suis serotype 7 was pathogenic to piglets, giving rise to septicemia with predilection for joints, serous membranes and meninges.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 6(4), 422 - 4
Optochin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from blood and middle ear fluid; Kontiainen S et al.; Optochin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae having typical pneumococcal morphology in culture and Gram stain and giving clear agglutination with anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide antisera were isolated from primary cultures of blood and middle ear fluid . The isolated pneumococci were either fully sensitive to penicillin and other antimicrobial agents commonly used or relatively resistant to penicillin and resistant to cloxacillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, sulphatrimethoprim and clindamycin.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 6(4), 414 - 5
Streptococcus milleri infection of a hepatopulmonary hydatid cyst; Masterton RG et al.; A case of hepatopulmonary hydatid disease in a Cypriot who presented with pyogenic infection with Streptococcus milleri is described . Although hydatid disease and pyogenic liver abscess are both rare in the UK, an underlying echinococcal pathology should be suspected in any patient from an area endemic for hydatid who presents with a pyogenic hepatic or hepatopulmonary abscess.

Br J Surg, 1987 Aug, 74(8), 690 - 1
Intracystic injection of OK-432: a new sclerosing therapy for cystic hygroma in children; Ogita S et al.; Nine patients with cystic hygroma were treated with a new sclerosing therapy consisting of intracystic injection of OK-432 (group A Streptococcus pyogenes of human origin) . Favourable results including complete regression in eight patients and marked regression in one were observed within 2-3 months without serious side-effects except for fever of 2-3 days' duration and local inflammatory reaction lasting for 3-4 days . Local inflammatory reaction did not cause any damage to the overlying skin and did not lead to scar formation.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1987 Aug, 136(2), 320 - 4
Cimetidine does not impair lung host defense in experimental pneumococcal pneumonia; Esposito AL; Normal CD-1 mice were administered cimetidine (400 mg/kg/24 h) or control solution by subcutaneous injection and inoculated intratracheally with type S Streptococcus pneumoniae in order to evaluate the effect of the histamine H2-receptor antagonist on pulmonary antibacterial mechanisms . Therapy with cimetidine did not influence overall survival rates . After challenge with 1 X 10(6) colony-forming units (cfu), the eradication of viable pneumococci from the lungs (pulmonary clearance), the generation of a local inflammatory response, and the prevalence of bacteremia were similar in both study groups . Cimetidine also failed to influence pulmonary antimicrobial systems after challenge with lower bacterial inocula (5 X 10(4) and 5 X 10(3) cfu) . Further, treatment with cimetidine had no effect on the in vivo phagocytic or bactericidal activity of resident murine alveolar macrophages . Thus, in this animal model, cimetidine does not disrupt host defenses of the lower respiratory tract.

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