Streptococci

South Med J, 1987 Aug, 80(8), 1056 - 7
Group G streptococcal bacteremia in a chronically constipated adolescent; Hagen MD et al.; A chronically constipated, mentally retarded male adolescent was admitted on two occasions with gastroenteritis symptoms and stool positive for group G Streptococcus . The first episode was also associated with group G streptococcal bacteremia . This case of group G streptococcal disease is unique in that the primary symptoms were those of gastroenteritis . In the context of chronic constipation in colonic distention, the case appears to support the hypothesis of Watsky et al that group G streptococcal bacteremia is promoted by processes which breach anatomic mucosal or epithelial infection barriers.

Infect Immun, 1987 Aug, 55(8), 1819 - 23
Effect of culture conditions on the structure of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19A(57) capsular polysaccharide; Lee CJ et al.; The structural modifications and immunochemical activities of several Streptococcus pneumoniae type 19A polysaccharide (PS) preparations have been studied by sugar compositional analysis and immunodiffusion . The 19A PS preparations Lab-A-1 and Lab-A-3 and one PS isolated from 19A strain OB contained fucose (Fuc) and galactose (Gal) in addition to rhamnose (Rha) and glucose (Glc) . In contrast, 19A PSs Lab-A-2 and Lab-B contained only Rha and Glc . Despite their different sugar compositions, these 19A preparations appeared to be identical in serologic activity as measured by immunodiffusion with rabbit 19A and 19F antisera . The 19A PS Lab-A-1 was separated into three fractions by DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography with a NaCl gradient . Fraction II was the major peak with a yield of 72.9% . Fraction Ia contained Fuc and Gal, while fraction II contained Fuc, Gal, Rha, and Glc . Fractions Ia and Ib did not react with rabbit 19A antiserum . In contrast, 19A PS Lab-A-2 displayed only one peak, which was eluted by a NaCl gradient (0 to 0.6 M NaCl), and contained only Rha and Glc . The 19A PSs prepared from Lab-A and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strains and grown in pneumococcal inoculum medium (PIM) and modified Holt medium were chromatographed on a DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column, and the separated fractions were examined for their sugar composition . The fractions obtained from the 19A PSs Lab-A-PIM and CDC-PIM exhibited four sugar components, as observed for the PS Lab-A-1, while the separated fractions from the 19A PSs Lab-A-Holt and CDC-Holt displayed two sugar components, a pattern similar to that of PS Lab-A-2 . Thus, the sugar compositions of 19A PS appeared to vary according to the type of culture medium used to grow the 19A organisms.

Chest, 1987 Aug, 92(2), 204 - 12
Pneumococcal infection and immunologic response to pneumococcal vaccine in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . A pilot study; Davis AL et al.; We assessed the importance of Streptococcus pneumoniae and immunologic response to 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine in a randomized (saline placebo or vaccine) double-blind pilot study involving 103 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . Antibody titers, the flora of the sputum, respiratory infections or pneumonias, and deaths were monitored . The patients' antibody titers before immunization were higher than healthy control subjects . Titers rose normally in those vaccinated but declined more rapidly . Differences between the group receiving placebo and vaccine were not significant at 12 and 24 months . The incidence of pneumonia was high before and after vaccine (47/1,000 vs 41/1,000 patient-years) . Nonpneumococcal causes predominated (73 percent of pneumonias; 83.4 percent of lethal pneumonias) . Isolates from sputum were predominantly nonvaccine types (50 to 62.5 percent) . Twenty-seven patients died; pneumonia occurred in six (one pneumococcal in a vaccinated patient) as a terminal complication of other diseases . Thus, although pneumonia occurred frequently in these patients with COPD and contributed to mortality in 22 percent (six) of the 27 deaths, the predominance of nonpneumococcal causes and the data on antibodies and sputum suggest that pneumococcal vaccine may not be as beneficial for patients with COPD as was hoped . More observations are needed.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Aug, 70(8), 1529 - 43
Beta-lactamase-producing mutants of Streptococcus cremoris; Khosravi L et al.; Penicillin-resistant mutants were isolated for six strains of Streptococcus cremoris used in commercial Cheddar cheese manufacture after treatment with N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine . The resistant mutants had an elevated minimal growth inhibitory concentration, 2.5 micrograms (4.13 units)/ml, for penicillin G and other beta-lactam antibiotics as compared with the penicillin-susceptible parent strains, which were each sensitive to .05 micrograms (.08 units)/ml . Penicillin resistance was due to the production of beta-lactamase . Plasmid DNA was not demonstrated in partially purified lysates of four mutants . Mutants had normal cellular morphology but altered phage sensitivity patterns . All except one strain were able to support complete phage adsorption . Resistance was retained after 20 passages in absence of penicillin.

Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh), 1987 Aug, 65(4), 455 - 60
Early vitrectomy in the treatment of post-operative purulent endophthalmitis; Laatikainen L et al.; In 1979-85, 12 cases of purulent postoperative endophthalmitis (PPE) were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, corticosteroids and vitreous surgery . In 11 eyes endophthalmitis developed after cataract surgery, in 6 of them after an intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, in one eye after trabeculectomy . Signs related to an intraocular infection appeared 2 to 32 days after surgery, earlier in eyes with an IOL or post-operative complications than in those without . All 5 eyes where vitrectomy was performed within 24 h from the beginning of symptoms retained useful vision (0.1-0.6), whereas 2 of the 7 eyes where vitrectomy was performed later were lost . In the latter two the causative agent was streptococcus . No IOL implants were removed.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Aug, 95(4), 315 - 9
Prolonged oral reduction of Streptococcus mutans in humans after chlorhexidine disinfection followed by fluoride treatment; Zickert I et al.; The effect of oral chlorhexidine gel treatment supplemented with fluoride applications was studied in subjects with high salivary levels of S . mutans . In two experiments short-term treatment with a 1% chlorhexidine gel was followed by applications of either a 1% NaF gel daily for 2 weeks or a 1% NaF gel daily for 6 weeks supplemented twice with topical application of an 8% SnF2 solution . The salivary numbers of S . mutans were lower in the test group than in the placebo group after 6 and 12 weeks in experiments 1 and 2, respectively, and considerably lower than the pretreatment values . The findings show that fluoride applications can be a valuable adjunct to chlorhexidine treatment for combatting S . mutans.

J Dent Res, 1987 Aug, 66(8), 1321 - 5
Bacteriocin-like inhibitory activity associated with beta-hemolytic strains of Streptococcus salivarius; Tompkins GR et al.; Seven beta-hemolytic Streptococcus salivarius isolates produced bacteriocin-like inhibitory activity in deferred antagonism tests using a set of nine indicator bacteria (I1-I9) . Five of these S . salivarius strains (KWF, TOVE-R, K17, K21, and K26) were inhibitory to indicators I2, I5, I6, and I7 . Mutated non-hemolytic derivatives showed concomitant loss of inhibitory activity against I2, I5, and I6, but retained activity against I7 . Inhibitory activity against I2, I5, and I6 was restored in beta-hemolytic revertants of such mutants . Strain 3638 was inhibitory to all of the indicator organisms except I3, and this pattern of inhibitory activity was retained by non-hemolytic derivatives . It appeared that strain 3638 produced an additional broadly-active inhibitory agent, since a mutant (strain 3638A), which was apparently defective in the production of this inhibitor, retained both the beta-hemolytic and I2-, I5-, I6-, and I7-inhibitory activities . Non-hemolytic derivatives of strain 3638A were inhibitory only to I7 . Strain 3638, therefore, appeared to produce at least three inhibitory agents: one active only on I7; another acting on I2, I5, and I6 (and associated with beta-hemolytic activity); and a third apparently active on all of the indicators other than I3 . S . salivarius strain JH inhibited all nine indicator strains and possessed a beta-hemolytic character which differed from that of the other strains in being readily eliminated on treatment with the plasmid-curing agent novobiocin . Non-hemolytic derivatives of JH retained inhibitory activity against the complete set of indicators.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

S Afr Med J, 1987 Aug 1, 72(3), 219 - 20
Streptococcus bovis bacteraemia associated with candidal lesions of the large bowel in a leukaemic child . A case report; Berkowitz FE et al.; A 5-year-old boy with acute myeloblastic leukaemia had large-bowel masses, demonstrated at autopsy, 5 weeks after an episode of Streptococcus bovis bacteraemia . The association of Strept . bovis bacteraemia with large-bowel disease, well documented in adults, should be considered in children.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Aug, 266(1-2), 137 - 44
Modification of glycosylation by tunicamycin treatment inhibits lectin-mediated adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae to various tissues; Pulverer G et al.; Oligosaccharide moieties of cell surface glycoconjugates are thought to be involved in recognition events associated with infectious diseases . Treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae (which exhibits well defined surface lectins) with subinhibitory concentrations of the antibiotic tunicamycin was found to block the protein glycosylation of the bacterial surfaces . Since bacterial lectins (adhesins) are in most cases glycoproteins and play an important role in the organ specificity of infectious diseases, adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae to frozen sections of lung, meninges and kidney (from Balb/c-mice) was almost totally lacking after inhibition of the biosynthesis of N-linked carbohydrate chains which are important for an adequate lectin function . Chemiluminescence measurements of human granulocyte stimulation yielded results suggesting a great importance of lectin-carbohydrate interactions in this process, too . These experimental data indicate that the presence of specific cell surface carbohydrates is required for a successful completion of the adhesion phase of pathogenic bacteria in infectious diseases and for the induction of granulocyte stimulation.

Can J Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 33(8), 709 - 17
An electron microscope study of kidney basement membrane changes in the mouse by lipoteichoic acid from Streptococcus pyogenes; Leon O et al.; Mice injected repeatedly, intraperitoneally or intravenously, for approximately 1 month with a total of 1.04 mg lipoteichoic acid from a nephritogenic strain of Streptococcus pyogenes lost weight . Analysis by electron microscopy revealed that they also exhibited extensive kidney changes in basement membrane morphology which resembled, in part, those observed in human poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis . For example, the glomerular basement membrane became electron dense and exhibited at least a twofold increase in width sporadically within the same preparation after exposure to lipoteichoic acid . Also, whereas appreciable loss or reduction in epithelial foot processes as a result of fusion was clearly evident, epithelial slits and slit membranes or diaphragms between normal foot processes were not selectively affected . In addition, another mostly thickened, highly coiled or serpentinelike basement membrane with amorphous nodules appeared in these preparations . This type membrane was not observed surrounding the capillary lumina and was the most pronounced abnormality apparent in almost all preparations from mice exposed to lipoteichoic acid . Likewise, the proximal tubular basement membrane became variable in width and increased in electron density in mice given lipoteichoic acid as compared with controls . In addition, this membrane was often punctuated with various morphological protrusions originating from only its thickened areas and which extended away from, and not into, the capillary space . This change was only associated with the basement membrane of the proximal tubular capillaries . All membrane changes persisted but gradually subsided, with normal kidney membrane morphology reappearing on the 4th day following the last injection of lipoteichoic acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Aug, (8), 3 - 7
{Changes in the cell wall composition and structure of Streptococcus pyogenes during batch culture}; Bitko SA et al.; Changes in S . pyogenes cells in the process of batch cultivation have been studied . The composition of S . pyogenes cell walls has been studied by amino acid analysis; besides, their resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis and the electric conductivity of cell-wall lysates have been determined at different phases of the growth of S . pyogenes . The molar amino acid composition, expressed in percent, is unrelated to the growth phase, while the content of amino acids in preparations changes in the process of growth and reaches its maximum in the middle and in the end of the logarithmic phase . At the same time the electric conductivity of cell-wall lysates reaches the minimum level at these growth stages . The authors suggest that additional electrically charged compositions are formed in the cell walls at the beginning of the logarithmic and stationary phases . A considerable increase in the initial rate of cell-wall lysis with muramidase has been found to occur at the end of the logarithmic phase . This difference in the initial rate in the initial rates of lysis of S . pyogenes cell walls at different growth phases decreases after previous treatment of the cell walls with streptolytin possessing proteolytic activity . Analysis of these data leads to a conclusion on the "loose" structure of the outer protein layer of the cell wall at the end of the logarithmic phase of the growth curve.

CMAJ, 1987 Aug 1, 137(3), 209 - 11
Prevalence and significance of group B Streptococcus in a large obstetric population; Joshi AK et al.; Between Jan . 1 and Dec . 31, 1985, vaginal swabs were obtained for culture for group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GBS) from 3078 women admitted for labour and delivery to Regina General Hospital . Seventy-one women had positive results; thus, the colonization rate was only 2.3% . The charts of the 71 women and their 73 babies were analysed . Of the 58 babies from whom swabs were obtained, 20 had GBS at one or more sites; the transmission rate was therefore 34% . Early-onset GBS disease developed in one infant . Two infants died within the first month; however, death was not directly attributable to GBS . Higher rates of preterm delivery and of low birth weight were noted among the babies of the colonized women than among the babies of all women admitted for labour and delivery in 1985 . Given the low rate of GBS disease in our centre, we suggest that emphasis be placed on GBS as a possible source of obstetric complications such as preterm labour.

J Virol, 1987 Aug, 61(8), 2573 - 80
Cloning, purification, and biochemical characterization of the pneumococcal bacteriophage Cp-1 lysin; Garcia JL et al.; Cp-1, a small virulent bacteriophage infecting Streptococcus pneumoniae, encodes its own lytic enzyme (CPL) . A fragment of Cp-1 DNA containing the gene cpl coding for CPL was cloned and expressed in high amounts in Escherichia coli . CPL was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by using affinity chromatography on choline-Sepharose (T . Briese and R . Hakenbeck, Eur . J . Biochem . 146:417-427, 1985), and the enzyme showing a Mr of 39,000 was characterized as a muramidase . This muramidase required for in vivo and in vitro activity the presence of choline in the teichoic acids of the pneumococcal cell walls . Free choline or lipoteichoic acid noncompetitively inhibited the activity of CPL.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Aug, 266(1-2), 104 - 15
Streptococcal outbreaks and erythrogenic toxin type A; Kohler W et al.; Reference strains of Streptococcus pyogenes and strains from recent epidemics and sporadic cases of scarlet fever were examined for their ability to produce erythrogenic toxin type A (ET A) by ELISA and double immunodiffusion (Ouchterlony) using an anti-ET A antibody purified by affinity chromatography . Of the reference strains (most of them isolated before 1945) 16/51 produced more or less ET A (Table 1) . ET A synthesis is strain-specific, but not type-specific . Well-known toxin producers like the strains NY-5; 594 or "Smith" produce up to 16.000 micrograms/l under optimal culture conditions . Type 3 strains isolated from scarlet fever patients during the outbreak 1972/73 seem to belong to one clone as evidenced by the uniform SDS-PAGE pattern: They were found to produce 5-200 micrograms/l (mean 68 micrograms/l) ET A only . Type 3 strains from sporadic cases, isolated 10 years later, produced 0-138 micrograms/l (mean 30 micrograms/l) . Strains of the type 1 clone, causing the epidemic in 1982/83 produced only 0.75-10 micrograms/l (mean 8 micrograms/l) ET A (Table 3) . Only a few strains of S . pyogenes isolated 1984 or later synthesized ET A but they were found more often to produce ET B (proteinase precursor) in batch cultures . S . pyogenes strains seem to have lost their ability to produce large amounts of ET A during the last decades . Because this toxin must be considered as a pathogenicity factor the decrease in toxin production may be one reason for the present mild form of scarlet fever.

J Clin Lab Immunol, 1987 Aug, 23(4), 209 - 12
Absence of nephritis strain-associated protein (NSAP) in the extracellular product of Streptococcus pyogenes strain Su; Ohkuni H et al.; This study was undertaken to ascertain whether or not a nephritis strain-associated protein (NSAP) is produced by Streptococcus pyogenes strain Su, which is used in OK-432, an antitumor agent . SDS-PAGE and double immunodiffusion analysis showed that no NSAP occurred in the extracellular product of S . pyogenes strain Su.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 53(8), 1730 - 6
A method for genetic transformation of nonprotoplasted Streptococcus lactis; Sanders ME et al.; Plasmid transformation of whole cells of Streptococcus lactis LM0230 was demonstrated . The procedure required polyethylene glycol and incubation in hypertonic media, but did not require enzymatic cell wall digestion . Conditions were optimized, yielding 5 X 10(5) transformants per micrograms of pSA3 DNA . Variables tested for effect on transformation efficiency included molecular weight, concentration, and pH of polyethylene glycol; cell density; plating media; DNA concentration; heat shock; and incubation of cells in hypertonic buffer . DNAs transformed included pSA3, pVA856, pTV1, and c2 phi . Transformation from DNA-DNA ligation mixes, with DNA not purified through density gradients, and with previously frozen cells was also achieved . The method described here for transformation of nonprotoplasted cells of LM0230 is unique, and to date has not been applied successfully to other lactic acid bacteria.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Aug, 169(8), 3679 - 84
Isolation of DNA encoding sucrase genes from Streptococcus salivarius and partial characterization of the enzymes expressed in Escherichia coli; Houck CM et al.; Restriction enzyme fragments containing two sucrase genes have been isolated from a cosmid library of Streptococcus salivarius DNA . The genes were expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and the properties of both enzymes were studied in partially purified protein extracts from E . coli . One gene encoding an invertase-type sucrase was subcloned on a 2.4-kilobase-pair fragment . The sucrase enzyme had a Km for sucrose of 48 mM and a pH optimum of 6.5 . The S . salivarius sucrase clone showed no detectable hybridization to a yeast invertase clone . Two overlapping subclones which had 1 kilobase pair of DNA in common were used to localize a fructosyltransferase gene . The fructosyltransferase had a Km of 93 mM and a pH optimum of 7.0 . The product of the fructosyltransferase was a levan . A fructosyltransferase clone from Bacillus subtilis did not hybridize to S . salivarius DNA . The properties of the enzymes were compared with those of previously characterized sucrases.

J Dent Res, 1987 Aug, 66(8), 1364 - 9
Ultrastructure of extracellular polysaccharides produced by serotype c Streptococcus mutans; Toda Y et al.; The ultrastructure of extracellular polysaccharides produced in colonies by two clinical isolates and that of a nitrosoguanidine-induced mutant of serotype c Streptococcus mutans with different polysaccharide-synthesizing abilities were compared electron-microscopically . A large amount of polysaccharide was produced from sucrose by colonies of typical serotype c strain MT8148R and a clinical variant MT6801R with an enhanced fructan-synthesizing ability . Transmission electron-microscopy (TEM) revealed that the polysaccharides consisted of three structural components, i.e., globular, single-stranded filamentous, and double-stranded fibrillar structures . These structures were ascribed to production of fructan, water-soluble glucan, and water-insoluble glucan, respectively . On the other hand, two kinds of structures, a globular body and an amorphous substance, were observed by scanning electron-microscopy (SEM) . The former was composed of fructan, while the latter contained a mixture of water-soluble and water-insoluble glucans which formed filamentous and double-stranded fibrillar structures under TEM . Very small quantities of polysaccharides were formed in colonies of mutant NG7183, which was derived from S . mutans MT6801R . This strain was found to possess low glucan- and no fructan-synthesizing abilities . The polysaccharides produced in colonies of mutant NG7183 were composed only of filamentous and double-stranded fibrils under TEM . A small amount of amorphous substance was observed by SEM in colonies of NG7183.

Infect Immun, 1987 Aug, 55(8), 1900 - 5
Monoclonal antibodies to the extracellular glucosyltransferases from Streptococcus sobrinus 6715; McCabe MM et al.; Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against the glucosyltransferases (GTFs) of Streptococcus sobrinus 6715 . The antibody panels included MAbs raised against the primer-independent, soluble product enzyme (GTF-Si) which did not cross-react with other GTFs, as well as MAbs raised against the primer-dependent, soluble product enzyme (GTF-Sd) which recognized both GTF-Si and GTF-Sd, thus indicating that these catalytically distinct enzymes share epitopes . MAbs raised against GTF-I recognized several forms of GTF-I and did not cross-react with the GTF-S enzymes . None of the MAbs recognized the major glucan-binding protein of S . sobrinus . Two MAbs inhibited glucan synthesis, one blocking primer synthesis by GTF-Si by 89% and the second inhibiting that by GTF-I by 92%.

J Immunol, 1987 Aug 1, 139(3), 800 - 4
In vivo immunostimulating activity of the 163-171 peptide of human IL-1 beta; Nencioni L et al.; The stimulating effect of a synthetic nonapeptide (fragment 163-171) of human interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) on antibody responses to both T helper-dependent and T helper-independent antigens was investigated . It was shown that the nonapeptide enhanced the antibody response, as evaluated in the hemolytic plaque assay, of spleen cells from mice immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) . The activity of the 163-171 peptide on the primary response to SRBC was dose-dependent, being maximal when the peptide was inoculated at 100 mg/kg together with the antigen . Moreover, the 163-171 peptide was also effective in enhancing the secondary response to SRBC . The effect of the 163-171 peptide was to augment the frequency of cells specific for the antigen, inasmuch as no increase was ever observed in spleen cell numbers after treatment . In all these studies, human recombinant IL-1 beta gave effects qualitatively comparable to those of the 163-171 peptide, with a maximal activity at 20 ng/kg . Both the 163-171 peptide and human recombinant IL-1 beta were also able to enhance the in vivo immune response to a T helper-independent antigen such as SIII, a poorly immunogenic polysaccharidic antigen from Streptococcus pneumoniae type III . It can therefore be proposed that this synthetic nonapeptide of human IL-1 beta may represent a good candidate for use as adjuvant in vaccines.

J Dent Res, 1987 Aug, 66(8), 1404 - 6
Effect of beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists on saliva proteins and dental caries in asthmatic children; Ryberg M et al.; Twenty-four children, from 10 to 20 years old, with asthma treated with beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists were matched with healthy controls of the same age, sex, and social background . Stimulated whole and parotid saliva was collected, and decayed and filled tooth surfaces as well as oral hygiene habits were recorded . The dietary and sugar intake was carefully checked by a four-day dietary record . The asthmatic children had a 26% lower (p less than 0.05) value for secretion rate of whole saliva . Seventy percent of the children with Streptococcus mutans counts greater than 2 X 10(5) colony-forming units/mL of whole saliva belonged to the asthmatic group (p less than 0.05) . The concentrations of total protein and amylase in parotid saliva were significantly lower for the asthmatic children . The concentrations of potassium, salivary peroxidase, bacteria-aggregating glycoproteins, and secretory IgA were not affected, but the secretion rate of parotid saliva was 36% lower in the asthma group (p less than 0.05) . Oral hygiene and dietary habits did not differ between the groups . The asthmatic children had higher DFS scores, but these were not significantly different from those of the healthy controls (p = 0.07) . We suggest that subjects with asthma treated with beta 2-receptor agonists should receive special prophylactic attention.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Aug, 209(1), 110 - 5
Nucleotide sequence of the ends of the conjugative shuttle transposon Tn1545; Caillaud F et al.; The conjugative shuttle transposon Tn1545 from Streptococcus pneumoniae transposes in various gram-positive bacterial genera following self-transfer and in Escherichia coli after cloning . Analysis of the junction fragments and of the targets before insertion and after excision of the element by DNA hybridization and sequencing indicated that Tn1545 (1) is not flanked by terminal repeated sequences in either direct or opposite orientation, (2) is flanked, in an asymmetric fashion, by terminal variable base pairs, one at the left and three at the right of the element, (3) inserts in a target DNA consensus sequence, (4) does not generate duplication of the target DNA upon insertion, and (5) excises precisely.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1987 Aug, 20(2), 203 - 7
Comparative in-vitro activity of LY146032 and eight other antibiotics against gram-positive bacteria isolated from children; Kline MW et al.; LY146032, a cyclic peptide antibiotic active against many Gram-positive bacteria, was compared to methicillin, vancomycin, clindamycin, cefuroxime and gentamicin against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Staph . epidermidis . LY146032 was uniformly active against clinical isolates of staphylococci, inhibiting 90% of strains of Staph . aureus and Staph . epidermidis at a concentration of 0.5 mg/l . Vancomycin was slightly less active than LY146032 against Staph . aureus and Staph . epidermidis, inhibiting 90% of strains at concentrations of 1.0 and 2.0 mg/l, respectively . All other antibiotics tested were less active than LY146032 or vancomycin against staphylococci . LY146032 was compared to penicillin, ampicillin, vancomycin and chloramphenicol against strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B streptococcus, group D streptococcus (enterococcus) and Listeria monocytogenes and was found to inhibit 90% of the strains at concentrations of 0.25, 1.0, 32.0 and 16.0 mg/l respectively . The combination of LY146032 and chloramphenicol was antagonistic in vitro for one strain each of Staph . aureus and group D streptococcus and showed indifference against other strains of Staph . aureus(2), Staph . epidermidis(2), group D streptococcus(1) and L . monocytogenes(2) . LY146032 in combination with gentamicin showed indifference against the same bacteria . On the basis of its in-vitro activity, LY146032 appears to be a promising agent for the treatment of serious community- and hospital-acquired staphylococcal infections.

Bioorg Khim, 1987 Jul, 13(7), 977 - 91
{Synthesis of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 . 2 . Synthesis of methyl-6-O-acetyl-4-O-(2,3,46-tetra-O-benzoyl -beta-D-galactosylpyranosyl)-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-beta-D-gluco- pyranoside--a lactosamine precursor in the monomer synthesis for polycondensation}; Nifant'ev NE et al.; Glycosylation of methyl 6-O-acetyl-3-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-phthalimido-beta-D-glucopyranoside and its 4-trityl ether by benzobromogalactose, 1-O-acetyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-beta-D-galactopyranose, 1,2-{(alpha-p-tolylthio)benzylidene}- and 1,2-O-{(alpha-cyano)benzylidene}-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-alpha-D- galactopyranoses proceeds non-stereospecifically . The best yield of beta-linked disaccharide was obtained upon glycosylation by benzobromogalactose in the presence of silver triflate and tetramethylurea in nitromethane.

Bioorg Khim, 1987 Jul, 13(7), 967 - 76
{Synthesis of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 . 1 . Synthesis of a derivative of the tetrasaccharide repetitive link}; Nifant'ev NE et al.; A branched tetrasaccharide derivative of the repeating unit of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 has been synthesised by condensation of per-O-benzoylated 1,2-O-(1-cyano)ethylidene derivative of lactose with 6-O-tritylated methyl lactosaminide.

Bioorg Khim, 1987 Jul, 13(7), 958 - 66
{Synthesis of oligosaccharide fragments of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3}; Cherniak AIa et al.; Di-, tri- and tetrasaccharide fragments of the linear chain of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 consisting of glucose and glucuronic acid residues connected with beta 1----3- and beta 1----4-glycosidic linkage have been synthesised . A new method for selective deprotection of C3-hydroxyl group in the glucopyranuronic acid moiety is proposed.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Jul, 265(3-4), 330 - 9
Serological typing of reference strains and clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans by agglutination reactions and/or radioimmunoassay; Ota F et al.; Rabbit antisera were prepared against eight different serotypes of Streptococcus mutans . After absorption with heterologous serotype strains the antisera were able to distinguish 21 reference strains of different serotypes of S . mutans by simple agglutination reactions and radioimmunoassay, both using intact whole cells . The reference serotypes a, b, d and g were differentiated by specific agglutination using the corresponding monospecific antiserum . Strains of serotypes c, e, f and h were discriminated by differential agglutination using anti-c, anti-e, anti-f or anti-h serum respectively, but the antisera cross-reacted slightly with other serotype strains . Using these antisera a total of 261 clinical isolates of S . mutans from human dental plaques were serotyped by agglutination reactions, in addition to which radioimmunoassay and the classical immunodiffusion tests in agar were also used in some cases . The results were quite consistent in the three methods . The predominant strain was of serotype c (187), followed by serotype f (28), g (10), d (5), e (4) and b (1) . 26 strains were untypable and there were no serotype a or h strains.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Jul, 133 ( Pt 7), 1959 - 67
Modulation of competence for genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Chen JD et al.; The spontaneous development of competence by cultures of Streptococcus pneumoniae in casein hydrolysate medium was strongly dependent on the initial pH of the culture medium . Cells growing in cultures beginning with a wide range of initial pH values (6.8 to 8.0) all developed competence, as measured by {3H}DNA uptake, {3H}DNA degradation and genetic transformation; but the initial pH of the medium affected both the timing of the occurrence of competence and the number of times the culture became competent . In cultures grown in media of lower initial pH, competence occurred only once, at high population densities, while in more alkaline media a succession of competence cycles occurred, beginning at lower cell densities . The critical population density required for the initiation of competence varied tenfold over the pH range studied . Successive competence cycles in an alkaline medium were not equivalent: while the percentage of competent cells in the first competence cycle was high (approximately 80%), that in the second competence cycle was lower (approximately 12%) . Correspondingly, competence-specific proteins were less prominent in the labelled-protein pattern of the second competence cycle than in that of the first . These features of the physiology of competence control make it possible to adjust the expression of competence to suit various experimental requirements.

J Infect, 1987 Jul, 15(1), 77 - 9
A hospital outbreak of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae; Gould FK et al.; We report six patients colonised with a multiply resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Jul, 31(7), 1150 - 2
Penicillin tolerance in Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790; Said I et al.; Tolerant strains of Streptococcus faecium had higher levels of muramidase 2 and lower levels of trypsinactivable muramidase 1 than did susceptible strains . Susceptible strains lysed faster than did tolerant strains in buffer and at some antibiotic concentrations . The addition of Triton X-100 produced equal lysis rates for susceptible and tolerant cultures.

Infect Immun, 1987 Jul, 55(7), 1552 - 7
Role of sialic acid in the kinetics of Streptococcus sanguis adhesion to artificial pellicle; Cowan MM et al.; Evaluation of the kinetics of adhesion of Streptococcus sanguis 10556 to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite revealed that sialic acid played a role in the formation of a stable cell-substratum complex . In a previous paper (M . M . Cowan, K . G . Taylor, and R . J . Doyle, J . Dent . Res . 65:1278-1283, 1986) the adhesion was found to take place in two distinct stages: a reversible equilibrium, probably governed by long-range forces, followed by a transition to higher-affinity binding . In the present study, artificial pellicle was treated with neuraminidase, and kinetic adsorption and desorption experiments with S . sanguis were conducted . The depletion of sialic acid from pellicle decreased the initial adsorption rate constant only slightly . The rate constant describing the initial desorption was unaffected . However, no transition to the second (high-affinity) association occurred . While S . sanguis desorption from control pellicles exhibited two sequential rates, with the second rate being approximately 10 times slower than the first, all desorption from sialo-deficient pellicles occurred at one rate that was equivalent to the initial rate constant for control desorption . The cells did not reach an equilibrium with the sialo-deficient pellicle, even after 6 h . Competing sialic acid did not decrease the rate or extent of adsorption, but desorption occurred to a greater extent when cells had adsorbed in the presence of sialic acid . These data suggest that sialic acid plays little role in the initial association of cell and pellicle but that it is necessary for the transition to high-affinity binding and the concomitant decreased propensity to desorb.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1987 Jul, 21(3), 172 - 7
{The frequency of group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus in acute tonsillopharyngitis and therapy with cefadroxil, clavulanic acid-amoxicillin combination and erythromycin in patients unresponsive to procaine penicillin therapy}; Tuncer AM et al.; In January, February and March 1987, the frequency of Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus among 468 patients with acute tonsillopharyngitis who admitted to Dr . Sami Ulus Children's Hospital was % 41 . Ten day procaine penicillin therapy was not successful in the % 29.5 patients . Cefadroxil (Duricef), clavulanic acid-amoxicillin combination (Augmentin) and erythromycin were tried in these patients . While the success rate of Duricef therapy was % 55, the results of other drug therapies were not been successful.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Jul, 133 ( Pt 7), 1909 - 18
Novobiocin-resistant mutants of Streptococcus sanguis with reduced cell hydrophobicity and defective in coaggregation; Jenkinson HF; Mutants of Streptococcus sanguis resistant to novobiocin (NovR-mutants) were isolated after mutagenesis of strain Challis with ethyl methanesulphonate . The resistance phenotype was transferred by DNA-mediated transformation back into the parent strain at high frequency suggesting resistance was due to mutation(s) in a single gene or in closely-linked genes . Cells of NovR-mutants had normal morphology and secreted similar proteins to the wild-type strain . However, mutant cultures had slower growth rates, the mutant cells had reduced hydrophobicity, and they showed a reduced degree of coaggregation with Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii . Cell envelopes prepared from NovR-mutants differed from wild-type cell envelopes in that they (a) were impaired in ability to coaggregate with A . viscosus cells, and (b) had altered protein composition as detected by SDS-PAGE . The results suggest that hydrophobic proteins in the cell envelope of S . sanguis may be necessary for coaggregation of this bacterium with actinomycetes.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1987 Jul-Aug, 96(4), 419 - 24
Secretory IgA and serum type IgA in nasal secretion and antibody activity against the M protein; Kurono Y et al.; We studied IgA immunoglobulins in nasal secretions in order to clarify mucosal immunity of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses during chronic nasal infection . Secretory IgA and serum type IgA of 165 samples of nasal secretions were analyzed quantitatively by use of electroimmunodiffusion techniques, and the specific antibody activity of secretory IgA against the M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes was investigated by use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Results show that although the secretory IgA content in nasal secretions was elevated in chronic sinusitis, its specific antibody activity against the M protein was lower than that in normal subjects . This evidence suggests that nonspecific secretory IgA antibodies are predominantly produced in chronic sinusitis, and that mucosal immunity preventing the adherence of bacteria is impaired in the diseased mucosa.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1987 Jul, 157(1), 13 - 6
Reduction of group B streptococcal maternal and neonatal infections in preterm pregnancies with premature rupture of membranes through a rapid identification test; Morales WJ et al.; To establish the effect of rapid detection and chemoprophylaxis of group B streptococcal genital colonization in preterm gestations with premature rupture of membranes, 260 singleton pregnancies were cultured . Through the use of a rapid test based on coagulation methods, group B streptococcus was identified in 84 (32%) patients, of which 18 (7%) had heavily colonized infections . The treatment of 36 patients resulted in no cases of chorioamnionitis or neonatal sepsis compared with 11 (23%) cases of chorioamnionitis and 13 (27%) of neonatal sepsis among 48 untreated patients (p less than 0.01) . Although the risk of infection was significantly higher in patients with heavily colonized infections, characterized by less than 5 hours' growth for detection, even light colonization, requiring 20 hours for detection, resulted in a 14% rate of maternal and 16% rate of neonatal infection, respectively.

Obstet Gynecol, 1987 Jul, 70(1), 107 - 10
Effect of bacterial growth on the bursting pressure of fetal membranes in vitro; Sbarra AJ et al.; By mounting a layer of chorioamniotic membrane on a specially designed reaction vessel, we studied the effect of Escherichia coli and/or group B streptococcus growing on the decidual surface of the membranes in tissue culture or bacteriologic medium . The organisms grew equally well in either medium . When growing in tissue culture medium, either organism significantly weakened the membranes as compared with controls (membranes incubated in the absence of either organism) . Membranes derived from pregnancies delivered vaginally or abdominally responded similarly . When organisms were grown in bacteriologic medium, bursting pressures did not decrease . Addition of bacteriologic medium (20-60%) to tissue culture medium did not affect bacterial growth, but inhibited significantly the lowering of bursting pressures . Bacteriologic medium also inhibited the peroxidase-H2O2-halide system in vitro . Heat-killed bacteria and/or supernatants of culture medium previously inoculated with bacteria were not effective in weakening membranes . The results suggest that live bacteria in conjunction with active membrane metabolism lead to a weakening and eventual rupture of the membranes.

Crit Care Med, 1987 Jul, 15(7), 644 - 7
Thromboxane synthesis inhibition reverses group B Streptococcus-induced pulmonary hypertension; Tarpey MN et al.; Group B Streptococcus (GBS) sepsis in humans may cause the persistent pulmonary hypertension syndrome . Infusions of GBS in animals elevate pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and resistance and are associated with elevated thromboxane levels . We investigated the hemodynamic effects of the specific thromboxane synthesis inhibitor, dazmegrel, in a piglet model of GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension . PAP rose from 22 +/- 6 to 42 +/- 11 (SD) mm Hg during infusion of heat-killed GBS; pulmonary vascular resistance increased from 1440 +/- 400 to 4000 +/- 1040 dyne X sec/cm5 . No significant changes in cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, or left atrial pressure were noted . Treatment with 1 mg/kg of dazmegrel resulted in a rapid return of PAP and resistance to control values . No other hemodynamic effects of either bacteria or drug were observed despite continued infusion of GBS.

Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1987 Jul, 44(1), 114 - 21
Immunoglobulin G class and subclass antibodies to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides; Chudwin DS et al.; Enzyme immunoassays were developed to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgG1-4 subclass antibodies to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides (PCP) types 4 and 7F . In healthy subjects, anti-PCP antibodies were predominately of the IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses . There was a significant increase in IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 anti-PCP antibody concentrations following immunization with pneumococcal vaccine . IgG and IgG2, but not IgG1, anti-PCP antibody concentrations correlated with total anti-PCP antibody concentrations measured by the standard radioimmunoassay and with serum opsonic activity for serotype 7F Streptococcus pneumoniae . Such IgG and IgG subclass antigen-specific antibody assays may be useful to investigate the immune response to pneumococcal polysaccharides.

J Biomed Mater Res, 1987 Jul, 21(7), 913 - 20
Adherence of Streptococcus mutans to implant materials; Fujioka-Hirai Y et al.; The adherence of Streptococcus mutans OMZ-176 to six implant materials (poly-crystal alumina, single-crystal alumina, titanium alloy, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, hydroxyapatite, and heat-curing polymethylmethacrylate resin) was studied in vitro . The change of free energy, which corresponds to the adherence process, was also evaluated for hydrophobic interaction . Adherence of S . mutans to poly-crystal alumina was lower than adherence to other materials . The adherence of S . mutans to the test materials was highly correlated with the change of free energy, which suggests that hydrophobic interaction plays an important role in the adherence of S . mutans to the implant materials.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Jul, 265(3-4), 430 - 8
Extraction of group C streptococcal IgG-binding receptor and characterization of the active peptides by Western blotting and isoelectric focusing; Schmidt KH et al.; Three different enzymatic extraction procedures were tested for their effectivity in releasing IgG-binding peptides from the streptococcal cell wall . Streptococcus equisimilis strain 12628 isolated from pig was incubated with phage-associated lysin, trypsin and Streptomyces globisporus lytic enzyme and the extracts were investigated by Western blotting, indirect erythrocyte agglutination and Ouchterlony diffusion for IgG-binding activity . With all treatments IgG-binding peptides were extracted . However, no homogenous IgG-binding material was released by the enzymes tested . In each case a multiple peptide pattern with IgG-binding activity was found . The molecular weights of the active peptides released also differed between the extraction procedures . The isoelectric points between 4.0 and 4.3 of IgG-binding components were found to be similar for all three extracts.

Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Jul, 32(7), 541 - 3
{DNA isolated from Streptococcus sp . Thom-1066--the producer of thomicide}; Blinkova LP et al.; Thomicide is a complex preparation including a bacteriocin-like substance . To localize the determinant responsible for synthesis of the bacteriocin-like substance, DNA of the streptococcus producing thomicide was isolated and studied . Equilibrium centrifugation of the total DNA preparation in the gradient of cesium chloride-ethidium bromide yielded DNA of one density . The total DNA preparation was obtained with alkaline and neutral lysis . Restriction analysis of the streptococcal DNA followed by electrophoretic separation in agarose gel in comparison to the DNA standards of lambda phage and plasmid pBR 322 confirmed the absence of the plasmid or any other extrachromosomal DNA . Chromosomal localization of the determinant encoding biosynthesis of the thomicide bacteriocin-like substance was shown.

JAMA, 1987 Jun 19, 257(23), 3260 - 2
Recurrent postcoital lower-extremity streptococcal erythroderma in women . Streptococcal-sex syndrome; Ellison RT 3rd et al.; Two women with underlying distortion of their lower-body lymphatic systems from neoplasia and surgery or radiation therapy had recurrent episodes of lower-extremity erythroderma temporally associated with sexual intercourse . Both women had vaginal colonization with Streptococcus agalactiae (group B); one was shown to have recurrent bacteremia with this organism at the time of the episodes . Erythroderma developed in these women possibly because of seeding of S agalactiae in the vaginal soft tissues during coitus.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1987 Jun 15, 145(2), 927 - 33
Relationship between the uptake and cytotoxicity of celiptium in wild type and resistant mutants of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae; Sautereau AM et al.; Celiptium, a cationic and amphiphilic drug currently employed in cancer chemotherapy, was found to be accumulated against its concentration gradient by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae . Accumulation was reduced in Celiptium resistant amiA mutants which were also observed to have reduced electric transmembrane potentials delta psi . This suggested a relationship between Celiptium toxicity and accumulation in S . pneumoniae, and indicated a delta psi - driven uptake in a manner reminiscent of that observed for other lipophilic cations such as tetraphenylphosphonium.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1987 Jun 13, 117(24), 916 - 9
{Pleural empyema due to Streptococcus milleri}; Ferber T et al.; Thus far little attention has been focused on the precise identification of Streptococcus viridans to species level and the clinical relevance of Streptococcus milleri, yet there is growing evidence that closer identification would be of significant clinical value . Streptococcus milleri was identified in 142 isolates from approximately 120 patients over a period of 12 months (June 1984-May 1985) at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Zurich University Hospital . Pleural empyema was the source in eleven patients (10%) . The presentation of six cases of pleural empyema in which Streptococcus milleri played a role, together with a review of the literature, may serve to emphasize the importance of an organism whose taxonomic status is still unclear.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1987 Jun 6, 117(23), 868 - 73
{Antibiotic resistance and serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Zurich (1984-1985)}; Wust J et al.; We have investigated the serotypes and sensitivity of 133 pneumococci against 11 antimicrobial agents in the agar dilution test . The strains had been isolated from clinical specimens sent to the Department of Medical Microbiology of the University of Zurich during 1984 and 1985 . - Three strains (2.3%) had reduced sensitivity to penicillin G . 23 strains (17.3%) showed resistance or reduced susceptibility to tetracycline, one strain each (0.8%) to amoxycillin and cefaclor, and two strains each (1.5%) to erythromycin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim . All pneumococcal strains investigated were susceptible to ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, vancomycin and ciprofloxacin . In view of this situation, routine testing of all clinically significant pneumococci is to be recommended . However, in the agar diffusion test the use of a penicillin G disk is unreliable and may give results with false sensitivity . Therefore, the susceptibility test should be performed with a disk containing oxacillin . - The prevalent capsular serotypes were - in descending order - types 3, 6, 23, 19, 14, 7, 8, 9, 1, and 17 . 90.2% of the isolated pneumococci belonged to serotypes which are contained in the new vaccine "Pneumovax-23".

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1987 Jun 6, 117(23), 861 - 7
{Prognostic factors in bacterial meningitis in adults . Retrospective analysis of 46 patients}; Zimmerli W et al.; Clinical and laboratory data on 46 patients with acute bacterial meningitis were analyzed in a retrospective survey . The incidence of bacterial meningitis in hospital admissions was 1.3% and the mortality 33% . Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequent etiologic agent . Mortality was highest for pneumococcal meningitis and was higher in patients over 50 years of age (83% vs 25%, p less than 0.05) . The initial stage of consciousness was prognostically important . All awake patients survived, while the more impaired the consciousness (from lethargy to coma), the higher the mortality (19%, 25%, and 78% respectively) . Seizures and paresis of the third cranial nerve were significantly higher in lethal cases . Brain edema was the leading cause of death (60%) . The interval between hospital admission and start of antibiotic treatment was crucial for prognosis . Patients who received the first dose of antibiotics within 3 hours after admission had a mortality of 13%, while a delay of 6-24 hours increased the mortality to 3/3.

Cell, 1987 Jun 5, 49(5), 643 - 50
The proton flux through the bacterial flagellar motor; Meister M et al.; Bacterial flagella are driven by a rotary motor that utilizes the free energy stored in the electrochemical proton gradient across the cytoplasmic membrane to do mechanical work . The flux of protons coupled to motor rotation was measured in Streptococcus and found to be directly proportional to motor speed . This supports the hypothesis that the movement of protons through the motor is tightly coupled to the rotation of its flagellar filament . Under this assumption the efficiency of energy conversion is close to unity at the low speeds encountered in tethered cells but only a few percent at the high speeds encountered in swimming cells . This difference appears to be due to dissipation by processes internal to the motor . The efficiency at high speeds exhibits a steep temperature dependence and a sizable deuterium solvent isotope effect.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Jun, 265(1-2), 160 - 8
Lectin mediated adhesion of Streptococcus pneumoniae and its specific inhibition in vitro and in vivo; Beuth J et al.; According to our hypothesis, bacterial lectins play an important role in the organotropy of infectious diseases which is analogous to the metastasis of tumor cells . As a model for proving this, we investigated the specific lectin of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which has N-acetyl-D-glucosamine/D-galactose (GlcNAc-Gal) specificity . In vitro, after incubation with Streptococcus pneumoniae, cryotome sections of various organs from Balb/c-mice showed remarkable quantitative differences of bacterial adhesion to the organ cells . Whereas lungs and meninges were closely settled with bacteria, attachment to other organs (e.g . liver, spleen, brain) was lacking . In vitro lectin-blocking by GlcNAc completely prevented the adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to lungs and meninges . Other non-related carbohydrates (e.g . D-mannose, D-xylose) showed no effect . During in vivo experiments with Balb/c-mice, intratracheal application of Streptococcus pneumoniae led to a diffuse settlement of the lung . However, bacterial lectin-blocking with intratracheal GlcNAc administration completely inhibited adhesion to the organ cells of the lung . Therefore blocking of bacterial adhesins with competitive specific monosaccharides can completely prevent bacterial adhesion processes, a fact, which opens therapeutical aspects.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 133 ( Pt 6), 1611 - 8
A mutant of Streptococcus pneumoniae that exhibits thermosensitive penicillin tolerance and the paradoxical effect; Liu HH et al.; Mutants of Streptococcus pneumoniae that contain active autolysin and yet cannot be induced to lyse during treatment with penicillin (Lyt+Tol+ mutants) have been described . We have now shown that these mutants are temperature dependent (32 degrees C); at 37 degrees C these bacteria underwent penicillin-induced lysis . In addition, mutants at the lysis-permissive temperature showed the so-called 'paradoxical response' to penicillin . Temperature shift experiments indicated that the change from tolerant to lytic response or vice versa is a fast process . No differences were detected in autolysin specific activity or in the kinetics of inhibition of protein, peptidoglycan and teichoic acid syntheses in cells treated with penicillin at 32 and 37 degrees C . The results of genetic crosses indicated that the thermosensitivity of penicillin-induced autolysis in the Lyt+Tol+ mutants is not a property of the autolytic enzyme itself . The observations suggest that the thermosensitive process in the mutants represents either a step(s) in autolysin regulation or involves some difference in the structure of the cell walls produced at 32 degrees C versus 37 degrees C.

Aust Paediatr J, 1987 Jun, 23(3), 193 - 5
Acute cervical lymphadenitis in children; Wright JE et al.; A retrospective study of 78 children with acute cervical lymphadenitis treated in Newcastle over the last 9 years revealed that abscesses formed in 50 children despite antibiotic treatment . Children under 2 years of age were more likely to form an abscess than older children . The commonest organism isolated was penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus . Beta-haemolytic Streptococcus was isolated less commonly and isolation of penicillin-sensitive staphylococci was rare . Penicillin and amoxycillin alone are unsuitable as first line antibiotics . Severe infections and those failing to respond rapidly to initial antibiotic treatment should be admitted to a paediatric unit for intravenous beta-lactamase-resistant antibiotics.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1987 Jun, 46(6), 482 - 4
Pneumococcal septic arthritis in rheumatoid arthritis; Morley PK et al.; Septic arthritis is associated with a definite morbidity which may be related to a delay in diagnosis and hence treatment . The cases of three patients with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic chest disease where the joint sepsis was not the predominant feature are presented . The responsible organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae which had spread after recent chest infections . Minimal joint symptoms or general malaise in association with an unexplained rise in erythrocyte sedimentation rate in these circumstances warrant a search for joint sepsis.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Jun, 95(3), 159 - 65
The pneumococcus and the mouse-protection test: correlation of in vitro and in vivo activity for beta-lactam antibiotics, vancomycin, erythromycin and gentamicin; Frimodt-Moller N et al.; The mouse-protection test with intraperitoneal inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 was employed to compare the effect in vivo and to correlate with activity in vitro of ampicillin, piperacillin, methicillin, cefuroxime, erythromycin, vancomycin and gentamicin . The MICs for these drugs were lowest for the beta-lactam antibiotics, highest for vancomycin and gentamicin . Relative to the MIC, gentamicin and vancomycin showed the highest bactericidal rates against the pneumococcus . Vancomycin was the most effective in vivo as measured by the 50% effective dose (ED50) after single doses 1 h post-inoculation . Serum vancomycin concentrations measured after doses equal to the ED50 were below the minimal concentration measurable by our bioassay (i.e . less than 3.7 micrograms/ml) . For the other drugs, peak concentrations in serum were higher than those produced even by high doses in man . Among pharmacokinetic parameters studied at dosages equal to the ED50s, the period during which the serum concentration exceeded the MIC (delta T(MIC} was the factor which varied the least for the beta-lactam antibiotics (range, 2-5 h) . For gentamicin and probably also for vancomycin the delta T(MIC) was below 20 min, while it was considerably longer (i.e . 19 h) for erythromycin, although the bactericidal activity of this drug in vitro was comparable to that of the beta-lactam antibiotics.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1987 Jun, 95(3), 153 - 8
Experimental pneumococcus infection in mice: correlation of bactericidal activity in vitro with the effect in vivo for gentamicin, netilmicin and tobramycin; Frimodt-Moller N et al.; An experimental model in mice, incorporating the intraperitoneal inoculation of a Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3, was used to evaluate the effect in vivo after single-dose administration of the three aminoglycosides, gentamicin, tobramycin and netilmicin, and to correlate this effect with their in vitro activity against the pathogen, in particular the bactericidal rate . The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC's), which were equal to the minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC's), were 12.5 micrograms/ml for netilmicin, and 25 micrograms/ml for the two other aminoglycosides, respectively . All three antibiotics showed excellent bactericidal activities even at concentrations 1/4 times the MIC's, but the bactericidal rate was clearly lower for tobramycin than for the two other aminoglycosides . The effect in vivo measured as the 50% effective dose (ED50) closely reflected the relative bactericidal activities of the drugs . Of the pharmacokinetic parameters investigated on dosages equal to the ED50's for the three drugs, the best to correlate with the bactericidal rates in vitro were the peak serum concentrations.

Scanning Microsc, 1987 Jun, 1(2), 671 - 80
Scanning electron microscopy of dentin caries . Experimental in vitro studies with Streptococcus mutans; Adriaens PA et al.; This study was performed to gain better insight into the mechanisms involved in carious destruction of human dentin by Streptococcus mutans . In particular, bacterial colonization of dentin surfaces and bacterial invasion in dentin were studied . Streptococcus mutans (S . mutans), strain NCTC 10449, was grown on sterile dentin blocks in a 10% CO2 atmosphere at 37 degrees C . After 72, 120, 144 and 288 h of incubation the specimens were processed for scanning electron microscopic examination . The colonization of the dentinal surface progressed slowly and was nearly complete after 288 h . Invasion of S . mutans into the dentinal tubules was found occasionally and was limited to the initial 5 micron of the tubular lumen . The acid metabolites produced by S . mutans, caused lesions of the dentinal structures in the close proximity of the bacteria . From the results of this in vitro study it appears that carious destruction of exposed dentinal surfaces by S . mutans mainly occurs at the exposed dentin after it has been colonized by bacteria . Destruction of the deeper dentinal layers by bacteria invading the dentinal tubules may play a less important role . However, in the few cases where S . mutans invaded the dentinal tubules, rapid destruction of the peritubular dentin sheath occurred . In addition, the possibility remains that acid metabolites produced by S . mutans diffuse into the dentinal tubules and cause tissue damage in the deeper parts of the dentin.

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1987 Jun 1, 112(11), 660 - 4
{Streptococcus suis type 2 in swine . An imported problem?}; van der Velden EW et al.; Investigations were carried out on eighteen farms in the Province of Gelderland to determine whether it was possible to use biopsy specimens of the tonsils to differentiate between farms with clinical problems caused by Streptococcus suis type 2 and farms without these problems . The proportion of carriers of this organism on the farms was 14 per cent and 2 per cent respectively, so that this differentiation is feasible . It was also studied whether this proportion differed on farms which imported pigs from Great Britain and farms which did not do so; the proportion of carriers on farms having animals imported from Great Britain was found to be higher than that on farms not using these importations, viz., 17 per cent and one per cent respectively.

South Med J, 1987 Jun, 80(6), 780 - 2
Streptococcus pneumoniae endocarditis; Sands M et al.; We have reported a case of Streptococcus pneumoniae endocarditis involving the aortic valve of a 61-year-old alcoholic man . Antibiotic therapy with vancomycin sterilized the blood and valve, but aortic valve replacement was required for progressive congestive heart failure resulting from a ruptured valve leaflet.

J Immunol, 1987 Jun 1, 138(11), 3680 - 3
Immunoregulation by antigen/antibody complexes . I . Specific immunosuppression induced in vivo with immune complexes formed in antibody excess; Caulfield MJ et al.; Specific immune complexes, prepared at different ratios of antibody to antigen, were examined for their effects on the antibody response of BALB/c mice to the cell wall polysaccharide antigen (PnC) extracted from Streptococcus pneumonia R36a . Mice immunized with complexes formed in antigen excess developed a PnC-specific antibody response that was equivalent to that in mice injected with free antigen . On the other hand, mice injected with complexes formed in antibody excess developed very little PnC-specific antibody . Furthermore, administration of immune complexes (formed in antibody excess) resulted in suppression of the response to an immunogenic dose of PnC given concurrently or 1 day after injection of immune complexes but not when the antigen was given 1 day before injection of the immune complexes . Injections of free antibody (TEPC-15) also resulted in suppression of the response to antigenic challenge; however, suppression was greatest when the antibody was injected concurrently with the antigen, suggesting that the suppression was mediated through the formation of immune complexes in vivo . The suppression appears to be specific for the antigen (PnC), since in mice injected with TEPC-15/PnC complexes (formed in antibody excess) and challenged with PnC coupled to sheep RBC, only the response to PnC was suppressed.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jun, 169(6), 2755 - 61
Kinetic properties of a phosphate-bond-driven glutamate-glutamine transport system in Streptococcus lactis and Streptococcus cremoris; Poolman B et al.; In Streptococcus lactis ML3 and Streptococcus cremoris Wg2 the uptake of glutamate and glutamine is mediated by the same transport system, which has a 30-fold higher affinity for glutamine than for glutamate at pH 6.0 . The apparent affinity constant for transport (KT) of glutamine is 2.5 +/- 0.3 microM, independent of the extracellular pH . The KTS for glutamate uptake are 3.5, 11.2, 77, and 1200 microM at pH 4.0, 5.1, 6.0, and 7.0, respectively . Recalculation of the affinity constants based on the concentration of glutamic acid in the solution yield KTS of 1.8 +/- 0.5 microM independent of the external pH, indicating that the protonated form of glutamate, i.e., glutamic acid, and glutamine are the transported species . The maximal rates of glutamate and glutamine uptake are independent of the extracellular pH as long as the intracellular pH is kept constant, despite large differences in the magnitude and composition of the components of the proton motive force . Uptake of glutamate and glutamine requires the synthesis of ATP either from glycolysis or from arginine metabolism and appears to be essentially unidirectional . Cells are able to maintain glutamate concentration gradients exceeding 4 X 10(3) for several hours even in the absence of metabolic energy . The t1/2s of glutamate efflux are 2, 12, and greater than 30 h at pH 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0, respectively . After the addition of lactose as energy source, the rate of glutamine uptake and the level of ATP are both very sensitive to arsenate . When the intracellular pH is kept constant, both parameters decrease approximately in parallel (between 0.2 and 1.0 mM ATP) with increasing concentrations of the inhibitor . These results suggest that the accumulation of glutamate and glutamine is energized by ATP or an equivalent energy-rich phosphorylated intermediate and not by the the proton motive force.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jun, 169(6), 2543 - 7
Bicarbonate and potassium regulation of the shape of Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449S; Tao L et al.; Morphological changes of S . mutans NCTC 10449S associated with growth in modified Jordan medium and FMC medium (Terleckyj et al., Infect . Immun . 11:649-655, 1975) were studied by scanning electron microscopy . The cells were bacillary in Jordan medium, but coccoid and of unequal size in FMC . Transfer of the cells from Jordan medium to FMC and vice versa reversed their shapes, as did salt exchange between these media . Morphological changes could not be ascribed to either medium pH, concentration of P, or Na+/K+ ratio . However, they were growth dependent, since the changes did not occur when the cells were suspended in salt components alone or in media supplemented with protein synthesis inhibitors . Only a high bicarbonate/K+ ratio, as in FMC, produced spherical cells, whereas cells remained bacillary in medium with a low bicarbonate/K+ ratio, as in Jordan medium . Manipulating this ratio in other media resulted in similar shape changes . Thus, the shape of S . mutans 10449S can be dictated by the ratio of bicarbonate to K+ in the growth medium.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jun, 169(6), 2432 - 9
Streptococcus faecium mutants that are temperature sensitive for cell growth and show alterations in penicillin-binding proteins; Canepari P et al.; The penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of 209 cell division (or growth) temperature-sensitive mutants of Streptococcus faecium were analyzed in this study . A total of nine strains showed either constitutive or temperature-sensitive conditional damage in the PBPs . Analysis of these nine strains yielded the following results: one carried a PBP 1 constitutively showing a lower molecular weight; one constitutively lacked PBP 2; two lacked PBP 3 at 42 degrees C, but not at 30 degrees C; one was normal at 30 degrees C but at 42 degrees C lacked PBP 3 and overproduced PBP 5; two were normal at 42 degrees C and lacked PBP 5 at 30 degrees C; one constitutively lacked PBP 5; and one carried a PBP 6 constitutively split in two bands . The mutant lacking PBP 3 and overproducing PBP 5 continued to grow at 42 degrees C for 150 min and then lysed . Revertants selected for growth capability at 42 degrees C from the mutants altered in PBPs 5 and 6 maintained the same PBP alterations, while those isolated from the strains with altered PBP 1 or lacking PBP 2 or PBP 3 showed a normal PBP pattern . Penicillin-resistant derivatives were isolated at 30 degrees C from the mutants lacking PBP 2 and from that lacking PBP 3 . All these derivatives continued to show the same PBP damage as the parents, but overproduced PBP 5 and grew at 42 degrees C . These findings indicate that high-molecular-weight, but not low-molecular-weight, PBPs are essential for cell growth in S . faecium . This is in complete agreement with previous findings obtained with a different experimental system . On the basis of both previous and present data it is suggested that PBPs 1, 2, and 3 appear necessary for cell growth at optimal temperature (and at maximal rate), but not for cell growth at a submaximal one (or at a reduced rate), and an overproduced PBP 5 is capable of taking over the function of PBPs 1, 2, and 3.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Jun, 155(6), 1145 - 50
DNA fingerprinting of Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C) as an aid to epidemiological study; Skjold SA et al.; A collection of Streptococcus zooepidemicus strains from human and animal infections was examined for DNA banding patterns after nuclease digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis . The large variety of DNA fingerprints found revealed the complexity of the species but showed that isolates from clusters of outbreaks had identical prints . The results confirmed the specificity of bacteriocin and bacteriophage typing of S . zooepidemicus; the technique also gave useful profiles on untypable strains . Strains with common bacteriocin and biotyping patterns from sporadic infections could be differentiated by their DNA fingerprints . In several outbreaks and incidents, more than one strain of S . zooepidemicus were encountered, and the importance of carefully interpreting typing data is stressed . Chromosomal DNA fingerprinting is a very efficient technique for demonstrating differences between strains of S . zooepidemicus, and its use is recommended for future epidemiological studies of this infectious agent.

Infect Immun, 1987 Jun, 55(6), 1441 - 6
Cell-to-cell interaction of Streptococcus sanguis and Propionibacterium acnes on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite; Ciardi JE et al.; Cell-to-cell interaction (coaggregation) between Propionibacterium acnes PK93 and Streptococcus sanguis DL1 was measured on saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads (SHA) at bacterial concentrations between 1.3 X 10(6) and 6.7 X 10(8) cells per ml . Four hundredfold more DL1 than PK93 cells adhered to the saliva-coated beads, and the adherence of S . sanguis was proportional to cell input . SHA precoated with 3 X 10(8) DL1 cells bound 75 to 80% of available PK93 cells at all input amounts tested, up to an input of 8 X 10(7) cells . Adherence of PK93 to DL1-coated SHA approached saturation at an input of approximately 10(9) PK93 cells, when 1.5 X 10(8) bound . The coaggregation on SHA occurred either in buffer or saliva and was inhibited by N-acetylgalactosamine and by lactose; the attachment of DL1 to SHA was not inhibited by these sugars . S . sanguis 34 and heat-treated DL1 cells, neither of which form coaggregates with PK93, attached to SHA, but such cells did not bind PK93 cells . The findings of this study indicate that bacteria unable to attach to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite can indeed adhere to such a surface by strong lectin-mediated cell-to-cell interactions with bacteria already attached to the surface.

Infect Immun, 1987 Jun, 55(6), 1399 - 402
Acetoin production by wild-type strains and a lactate dehydrogenase-deficient mutant of Streptococcus mutans; Hillman JD et al.; Eleven different laboratory strains of Streptococcus mutans representing the various serogroups were found to produce an average of 6.0 +/- 4.8 mM acetoin when grown in glucose-containing medium under aerobic conditions . None of the strains produced detectable acetoin when grown anaerobically . A lactate dehydrogenase-deficient mutant produced acetoin both aerobically and anaerobically and in substantially greater amounts than the wild-type strains did . Substitution of mannitol for glucose resulted in decreased acetoin production by wild-type strains and the lactate dehydrogenase-deficient mutant, indicating a role for NADH2 in the regulation of the acetoin pathway . Pyruvate incorporated into the growth medium of a wild-type strain caused acetoin to be produced anaerobically and stimulated acetoin production aerobically . Cell extracts of a wild-type S . mutans strain were capable of producing acetoin from pyruvate and were (partly) dependent on thiamine PPi . Extracts prepared from aerobically grown cells had approximately twice the acetoin-producing activity as did extracts prepared from anaerobically grown cells . The results indicate that acetoin production by S . mutans may represent an auxiliary reaction of pyruvate dehydrogenase in this organism.

Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1987 Jun, 185(2), 120 - 8
Bacterial adherence to the upper respiratory tract of ferrets infected with influenza A virus; Sanford BA et al.; A ferret model was used to study bacterial adherence in animals with influenza . Ferrets were inoculated intranasally with influenza A3/Hong Kong/1/68 virus . Antiviral serum antibodies were apparent by Day 5 . On Days 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, three virus-inoculated and two uninoculated controls were anesthetized, exsanguinated, and decapitated, and the lower jaw was removed . Each animal was inoculated intranasally with a 1-ml suspension containing 20 mg (dry wt) of either 3H-labeled Staphylococcus aureus or 3H-labeled group B Streptococcus type Ia and incubated for 45 min at ambient temperature . In animals challenged with staphylococci, 80% of the original inoculum remained free in suspension; of the remaining 20%, the distribution in the upper respiratory tracts of virus-infected and control animals was significantly different . Of the staphylococci remaining in the nasopharynx of control animals, 74% was present in mucinous plugs, 11% was bound to host cells present in washes of the nasal cavity, and 15% was released by protease treatment of the nasopharynx . Of the staphylococci remaining in the upper respiratory tract of virus-infected ferrets, 36% was recovered in plugs, 24% was bound to cells in nasal washes, and 40% was released by enzyme treatment . Overall, adherence-positive staphylococci represented 64% of recoverable bacteria in virus-infected ferrets versus 26% in controls . Adherence was increased twofold (Days 5 and 7) to threefold (Days 3, 9, and 11) in virus-infected ferrets compared to uninfected controls . In contrast, only 7% of the original streptococcal inoculum was recovered from virus-infected and uninfected control animals and virus infection did not enhance streptococcal adherence except for an approximately threefold increase that was seen on Day 11.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Jun, 155(6), 1233 - 41
Effect of antimicrobial therapy for experimental infections due to group B Streptococcus on mortality and clearance of bacteria; Kim KS; In an effort to develop more effective antimicrobial therapy, we evaluated three alternative regimens currently available to clinicians for their efficacy against experimental bacteremia and meningitis due to group B Streptococcus (GBS) in newborn rats: various doses of penicillin G (100, 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg per day), combined penicillin G-gentamicin vs . penicillin G, and ceftriaxone vs . penicillin G . Higher doses of penicillin G and ceftriaxone exhibited significantly greater bactericidal activity in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), whereas the bactericidal activity of penicillin G plus gentamicin was not significantly different from that of penicillin G . Clearance of GBS from blood was significantly more rapid in animals receiving ceftriaxone . However, differences in death rates were not apparent with any single regimen . These findings suggest that clearance of GBS from blood and CSF can be improved by more potent antimicrobial agents, but further reduction in the death rate may be difficult to achieve by antimicrobial therapy alone.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Jun, 155(6), 1135 - 44
Unusual occurrence of an epidemic of type Ib/c group B streptococcal sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit; Noya FJ et al.; An epidemic of late-onset sepsis due to type Ib/c group B Streptococcus (Ib/c-GBS) occurred in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) . During a seven-week period, five very low birth weight infants (index cases {ICs}) more than four weeks of age became bacteremic . Bacteriologic surveillance of neonates revealed persistent colonization in three ICs and identified three asymptomatic carriers (ACs) . All ICs and one AC acquired Ib/c-GBS nosocomially, whereas the other two ACs were colonized at birth . Among nursery personnel, 39% carried GBS, but only two harbored Ib/c-GBS . Although phage typing of Ib/c-GBS isolates identified two patterns of susceptibility, we believe a single strain was involved in the epidemic, because the patterns overlapped and most isolates carried the same lysogenic phage . Analysis of events suggested infant-to-infant spread via the hands of personnel, but acquisition from the colonized staff was also possible . The control measures instituted prevented further spread of Ib/c-GBS in the NICU.

Infect Immun, 1987 Jun, 55(6), 1498 - 502
Induction of biologically active antibodies by a polyvalent synthetic vaccine constructed without carrier; Jolivet ME et al.; Four synthetic peptides that copy fragments of two bacterial antigens (Streptococcus pyogenes M protein and diphtheria toxin), one viral antigen (hepatitis B surface antigen), and one parasitic antigen (circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium knowlesi) were covalently bound within the same construct . This totally synthetic polyvalent administered to mice with Freund complete adjuvant or in saline with murabutide (an adjuvant-active muramyl peptide) elicited high levels of antibodies which, in certain cases, were shown to be biologically active . The results indicated that these antibodies recognized specifically the four peptides . None of the epitopes were immunodominant . It was also demonstrated that the association of several peptides enhanced their respective immunogenicities as compared with those of their homopolymers . Finally, this study shows that a totally synthetic vaccine administered in saline with a synthetic adjuvant can be immunogenic in the absence of a protein carrier.

J Dent Res, 1987 Jun, 66(6), 1159 - 61
Enhanced caries inhibition by certain NaF-surfactant combinations in animal models; Caslavska V et al.; The purpose of this animal investigation was to determine whether the cariostatic effect of sodium fluoride can be enhanced by combining it with certain surfactants . The surfactants, Zonyl FSC and Lodyne S-110, were selected because they had been found to accelerate the rate of deposition of firmly-bound fluoride in vitro in enamel during enamel-fluoride interaction . Sixty male hamsters and 60 female rats, 21 days old, were placed on the high-sucrose diet 2000 and inoculated with Streptococcus mutans (strain #6715) . Each set of animals was divided into six groups of 10 each . The groups received either distilled water, NaF, NaF with Lodyne S-110, NaF with Zonyl FSC, Lodyne S-110, or Zonyl FSC . The animals were scored for caries at the termination of the study . The caries findings in the hamster and the rat series closely paralleled each other . Animals receiving NaF with Zonyl FSC experienced the least decay (about 90% inhibition compared with about 65% for the NaF-alone group) . A statistical evaluation showed significant interaction between Zonyl FSC and NaF . No effect on caries experience was seen from administration of Lodyne S-110.

J Dent Res, 1987 Jun, 66(6), 1116 - 9
The effects of cheese snacks on caries in desalivated rats; Krobicka A et al.; Rats that had had their submandibular/sublingual glands removed surgically, and their parotid ducts tied, developed fewer and less severe caries lesions on coronal and root surfaces when fed cheese snacks in addition to a cariogenic diet than when fed additional cariogenic snacks or no additional snacks . The effects of cheese snacks were particularly dramatic on root-surface caries . These observations may be relevant for elderly humans who are most likely to develop root surface caries . Populations of Streptococcus mutans did not differ among the groups . Actinomyces viscosus was not detected at the end of the experiment in any of the groups . The results of this study demonstrate that cheese exerts a protective effect against coronal and root-surface caries in rats with a severely limited salivary function.

J Dent Res, 1987 Jun, 66(6), 1099 - 106
Structural determinants of activity of chlorhexidine and alkyl bisbiguanides against the human oral flora; Baker PJ et al.; We assayed chlorhexidine and a series of its analogues, in which the chlorophenyl terminal substituents were replaced with alkyl chains, for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against the Gram-negative and Gram-positive oral bacteria . Changes in antimicrobial activity were correlated with changes in agent structure for identification of structural criteria which may be important in the optimization of agent activity . Chlorhexidine showed substantial antimicrobial activity against the Gram-negative as well as the Gram-positive oral bacteria . The alkyl agents were comparable with chlorhexidine in their activity against Bacteroides gingivalis and Bacteroides intermedius, black-pigmented Gram-negative obligate anaerobes associated with periodontal disease in adults . Alkyl agents alexidine, heptihexidine (1,6-bis-n-heptylbiguanidohexane), hexoctidine (1,8-bis-n-hexylbiguanidoctane), and hexhexidine (1,6-bis-n-hexylbiguanidohexane), as well as chlorhexidine, were active against Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, a Gram-negative organism associated with localized juvenile periodontitis . Hexidecidine (1,10-bis-n-hexylbiguanidodecane) and heptoctidine (1,8-bis-n-heptylbiguanidooctane) were more active, and hexhexidine was as active as chlorhexidine against Fusobacterium nucleatum, also associated with periodontal disease . Seven of the agents were more active than chlorhexidine against Actinomyces species . All test agents were active against Streptococcus mutans, a Gram-positive coccus associated with dental caries . Hexidecidine had activity equal to that of chlorhexidine when evaluated against the entire battery of organisms . Analysis of structure-activity relationships revealed that alkyl chains could replace chlorophenyl groups with retention or improvement of antimicrobial activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Dent Res, 1987 Jun, 66(6), 1092 - 4
Colonization of the human oral cavity by a Streptococcus mutans mutant producing increased bacteriocin; Hillman JD et al.; Streptococcus mutans strain JH1005 is a mutant that produces levels of bacteriocin activity three-fold-elevated than those produced by its parent, JH1001 . A single infection regimen with JH1005 was found to result in persistent colonization of the teeth of all three adult subjects tested . This is a significant improvement over JH1001, which required multiple exposures in order to colonize the teeth of humans reliably . The levels of total cultivable bacteria and indigenous S . sanguis were not affected by JH1005 colonization . In two of the three subjects, total (indigenous plus JH1005) S . mutans levels were significantly decreased . The results provide additional support for the role of bacteriocin production as an ecological determinant in colonization by S . mutans . They also indicate that a practical regimen for infection by an effector strain might be achieved for use in the replacement therapy of dental caries.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Jun, 208(1-2), 361 - 3
Polarity of localised conversion in Streptococcus pneumoniae transformation; Mostachfi P et al.; Localised conversion in pneumococcal transformation is a process that spans a few nucleotides when the 5'-ATTAAT/3'-TAAGTA configuration occurs at the pairing step . It was first observed in two-point crosses between an amiA mutation (amiA36) carrying this sequence and other closely linked mutants of the locus . The yield of the amiA resistance allele conversion to wild type is 20% . In order to characterize this process, which differs from long-patch conversion by the length of DNA repair, gene requirements and sequence specificity, we devised experiments to detect the reciprocal conversion, AmiA+ to AmiAr . For this purpose we examined the suppressibility by a pneumococcal informational suppressor of several nonsense mutations at the locus . Amber (UAG) and ochre (UAA) mutations are suppressed whereas UGA is not suppressed . In this genetic background, where amiA36 is partly suppressed, it was possible to select for double mutants in a cross between amiA36 and a closely linked non-suppressible marker . Direct isolation of such double mutants was also performed without any screening in crosses between amiA36 and the same linked marker in cloned DNA . The frequency of double mutants was very low (1/175) suggesting that there is no conversion of wild-type to mutant alleles . Thus conversion is a polarized process changing specifically A to C.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Jun, 95(3), 266 - 9
Streptococcus mutans in plaque from conventional and from non-gamma-2 amalgam restorations; Wallman-Bjorklund C et al.; The frequency of Streptococcus mutans in plaque material from margins of conventional amalgam and non-gamma-2 amalgam fillings was examined in six subjects . One and 2 months after restorative treatment the mean values of the percentage S . mutans of the total number of microorganisms were somewhat lower in samples from non-gamma-2 amalgams than in those from conventional amalgams . The difference in values, however, was not statistically significant.

Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1987 Jun, 23(2), 137 - 45
{Comparison of 2 different blood culture systems: liquoid-BHI and hemoline performance diphasique}; Farina C et al.; The Liquoid-BHI, biphasic blood culture system, was compared with a conventional blood culture bottle (Hemoline performance diphasique) in 3125 paired blood cultures . Both systems were inoculated with equal volumes of blood (5 ml) . Streptococcus spp . (P less than 0.02) and S . epidermidis (P less than 0.05) were recovered from BHI system . In contrast, P . fluorescens (P less than 0.02) were recovered in conventional system . No important differences were found for other bacteria and fungi . For optimal detection of microorganisms, however, the biphasic BHI system should be paired with conventional bottle.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 Jun, 35(5 Pt 2), 825 - 8
{Septic localizations in septicemias}; Ragnaud JM et al.; Seventeen university hospitals have joined their observations of septicemias through an informatics system . 461 septicemias have been collected in 1985 . 407 are septic localizations, 299 primitives and 108 secondary . The frequent localisations are urologic (20.4%), pulmonary (20.15%), cutaneous (10.56%), abdominal (10.56%), cardiac and neurologic (9.58%) . In 51.8%, the organisms are Gram positive cocci (Staphylococcus 23.9%, Streptococcus 27.9%) . In 46.9% septic localizations are due to Gram negative bacilli with Escherichia coli (50.2%) . The origin of septicemia is urologic (18%), abdominal (15.8%), cutaneous (8.7%), pulmonary (8.7%), stomatologic (7.2%), venous (4.3%) . Gram positive cocci infections have more septic localizations than Gram negative bacilli infections . The mortality is more increased in pulmonary localizations (35%) than in the others localizations: venous (20%), cutaneous (19%), urologic (11%) and stomatologic (10%) . Septic localizations which required the most of an antibiotics association are osseous (81.5%) and cardiac (80.5%), where as all septicemias require two antibiotics in 51%.

Acta Neurol Scand, 1987 Jun, 75(6), 405 - 9
Experimental meningitis in the rabbit . II . Cerebral energy metabolism in relation to increased cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of lactate; Lindquist L et al.; We have analyzed cerebral energy metabolism in rabbits with Streptococcus pneumoniae or Escherichia coli meningitis aiming at an increased understanding of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactacidosis observed in this disease . After intracisternal inoculation of bacteria the lactate concentration in the CSF increased to 9.7 +/- 0.7 (mean +/- SE) mmol/l compared to control values of 3.2 +/- 0.2 mmol/l . Simultaneously sampled brain tissue from parietal cortex, caudate nucleus, and thalamus showed no increase in lactate concentrations . The high-energy phosphate content decreased only marginally, phosphocreatine levels by 11-17% in the cortex and in the caudate nucleus, and adenosine triphosphate concentrations by 15%, but only in the caudate nucleus . Our results indicate that the CSF lactate increase in bacterial meningitis is not primarily linked to cerebral lactacidosis . The decreased concentrations of high-energy phosphates in diseased animals need further study but may be due to increased intracranial pressure and reduced capillary blood flow.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Jun, (6), 63 - 5
{Determination of the cytotoxic action of cell fractions of Streptococcus group A on continuous human heart cells}; Rimkunas AI et al.; The work deals with the study of the cytotoxic action of the fractions of group A streptococcal cells, type 1, on human heart cells in continuous cell cultures, carried out by the method of J . L . Middlebrook and R . B . Dorland based on the determination of the protein content in the surviving monolayer cells . The addition of crude cytoplasm and the supernatant of sonicated streptococcal cell walls to human heart cell culture has made it possible to obtain a statistically significant decrease in the protein content of the remaining monolayer cells . The action of purified cytoplasm has resulted in faint statistically insignificant suppression of cell growth, thus decreasing the content of cell protein . This method of studying the cytotoxicity of streptococcal cell fractions is simple, convenient and can be used in research work.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Jun, 31(6), 876 - 82
Ampicillin versus cefamandole as initial therapy for community-acquired pneumonia; Weber DJ et al.; One hundred seven patients with community-acquired pneumonia thought to be of bacterial etiology by the admitting physician but whose initial sputum Gram stain was inadequate to direct specific therapy were randomized to receive either intravenous ampicillin or cefamandole as empiric therapy . Patients were excluded if the initial sputum Gram stain was highly suggestive of infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, or an enteric gram-negative bacillus . The two study groups had comparable demographic and presenting clinical features . The mean age of the patients evaluable for determination of clinical efficacy was 69 years, and greater than 75% had at least one serious underlying medical disorder . In the 90 evaluable patients, there were 11 therapeutic failures (12%), including 5 deaths (5%) . Cefamandole, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, was not more efficacious than ampicillin in producing a satisfactory clinical response or in shortening the duration of parenteral therapy . Patients received an average of only 4 days of intravenous antibiotics before changeover to oral therapy and were hospitalized for a mean of 7 days . No patient experienced a relapse of pneumonia following successful completion of parenteral drug therapy . We conclude that cefamandole is not a more effective agent than ampicillin for empiric therapy of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia of uncertain etiology.

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1987 Jun, 6(6), 515 - 9
Detection of group A Streptococcus: comparison of solid and liquid culture media with and without selective antibiotics; Tolliver PR et al.; Eight hundred thirty-seven consecutive throat cultures from pediatric patients were cultured comparatively on conventional sheep blood agar and selective agar containing 1.25 micrograms/ml trimethoprim and 23.75 micrograms/ml sulfamethoxazole . In two sequential studies the sheep blood agar-sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim plates were significantly (P less than 0.01) more sensitive for Group A Streptococcus (Strep-A) detection than conventional sheep blood agar plates or Todd-Hewitt broth using the fluorescent antibody-antigen detection technique . The selective plates inhibited normal upper respiratory flora but not Strep-A . An incubation time of 18 hours was significantly better than one of 4 hours for the detection of Strep-A antigen in cultures incubated in Todd-Hewitt broth alone or Todd-Hewitt-sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim broth, resulting in a 24% increase in positives . These studies demonstrate that Strep-A detection in throat swab specimens, by either culture or antigen detection, will be influenced by the use of selective antibiotics and incubation time.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Jun, 265(1-2), 146 - 50
Streptococcus pyogenes cell wall protein responsible for binding to pharyngeal epithelial cells; Tylewska S et al.; The aim of this study was to identify a streptococcal cell wall substance which is able to bind to epithelial cells . The water-soluble phase of sonicated M+ and M- strains was incubated with pharyngeal and buccal epithelial cells . Electrophoretic analysis of these materials, before and after incubation, showed disappearance of one band from the M+ samples only, after incubation with pharyngeal epithelial cells . The specific anti-M protein serum did not precipitate this protein . Incubation of tested materials with buccal epithelial cells did not change their composition . The molecular mass of this band was estimated as 35,000 Daltons by the use of SDS-PAGE and marker proteins . These results suggest that an adhesin responsible for the streptococcal group A binding to pharyngeal epithelial cells is a protein closely associated with the M antigen.

Acta Neurol Scand, 1987 Jun, 75(6), 400 - 4
Experimental meningitis in the rabbit . I . Arterial blood pressure and acid-base balance during halothane anesthesia and in situ freezing of the brain; Lindquist L et al.; Effects of halothane/N2O anesthesia and in situ freezing of the brain on mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), pH, pCO2 and pO2 were evaluated in rabbits with either Streptococcus pneumoniae or Escherichia coli meningitis . Prior to anesthesia infected rabbits had, compared to controls, significantly lower values for MABP and pCO2, either with a compensated (S . pneumoniae group) or decompensated (E . coli group) metabolic acidosis . In most animals a slight additional decrease in MABP was observed during anesthesia . With maintained pre-anesthetic hypocapnia no further disturbance in acid-base balance occurred during anesthesia . After one minute of freezing MABP increased towards preanesthetic levels . We conclude that the technique for in situ freezing of the brain under halothane/N2O anesthesia may be applied for studies of cerebral metabolism in rabbit with experimental meningitis.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Jun, 208(1-2), 84 - 7
Cloning and expression of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 in Bacillus subtilis; Kreiswirth BN et al.; The genes encoding streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin type A (SPE A) and staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) were stably cloned and expressed in Bacillus subtilis . In the non-pathogenic Bacillus background, the recombinant speA clone expressed 32-fold more SPE A than the native streptococcus, and similarly, the recombinant plasmid harboring tst expressed 4-fold more TSST-1 in Bacillus than in the native Staphylococcus aureus . The Bacillus-derived products were secreted into the culture fluid, were resistant to proteolytic degradation and their biological activities mimicked native preparations.

J Lab Clin Med, 1987 Jun, 109(6), 647 - 52
In vitro correlation of platelet aggregation with occurrence of disseminated intravascular coagulation and subacute bacterial endocarditis; Kessler CM et al.; Platelet-bacterial interactions were examined in vitro by incubating organisms isolated from patients with septicemia with normal platelet-rich plasma . The potency of various species of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria to induce irreversible platelet aggregation was then determined in an aggregometer . The aggregation curves produced by the bacteria resembled the normal platelet response to collagen and were impeded by the presence of aspirin . Strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from 25 different patients produced maximum increases in light transmission and irreversible platelet aggregation with relatively rapid mean aggregation times; six of these patients had clinical and laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation . In contrast, isolates of alpha streptococcus and Staphylococcus epidermidis induced irreversible platelet aggregation much less commonly and were associated with considerably longer mean aggregation times . None of the latter group of patients had evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation . Isolates of bacteria from a small number of patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis uniformly induced irreversible platelet aggregation . Addition of paired bacterial isolates to normal platelet-rich plasma demonstrated a synergistic aggregation response . These data suggest that a relative hierarchy exists in bacterial strain potency to induce irreversible platelet aggregation . The rapidity and degree of aggregation in vitro correlated well with the clinical and laboratory evidence for subacute bacterial endocarditis and disseminated intravascular coagulation in vivo . These observations may provide useful adjunctive laboratory information to help establish the diagnosis of subacute bacterial endocarditis, especially in the clinical setting where the classical findings of endocarditis are not obvious during initial presentation.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jun, 169(6), 2748 - 54
Neutral amino acid transport by membrane vesicles of Streptococcus cremoris is subject to regulation by internal pH; Driessen AJ et al.; The pH dependence of transport of the neutral amino acids L-serine and L-alanine by membrane vesicles of Streptococcus cremoris have been studied in detail . The rates of four modes of facilitated diffusion (e.g., influx, efflux, exchange, and counterflow) of L-serine and L-alanine increase with increasing H+ concentration . Rates of artificially imposed electrical potential across the membrane (delta psi)-driven transport of L-serine and L-alanine show an optimum at pH 6 to 6.5 . Under similar conditions, delta psi- and pH gradient across the membrane (delta pH)-driven transport of L-leucine is observed within the pH range studied (pH 5.5 to 7.5) . The effect of ionophores on the uptake of L-alanine and L-serine has been studied in membrane vesicles of S . cremoris fused with proteoliposomes containing beef heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase as a proton motive force (delta p)-generating system (Driessen et al., Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . USA 82:7555-7559, 1985) . An increase in the initial rates of L-serine and L-alanine uptake is observed with decreasing pH, which is not consistent with the pH dependency of delta p . Nigericin, an ionophore that induced a nearly complete interconversion of delta pH into delta psi, stimulated both the rate and the final level of L-alanine and L-serine uptake . Valinomycin, an ionophore that induced a collapse of delta psi with a noncompensating increase in delta pH, inhibited L-alanine and L-serine uptake above pH 6.0 more efficiently than it decreased delta p . Experiments which discriminate between the effects of the internal pH and the driving force (delta pH) on solute transport indicate that at high internal pH the transport systems for L-alanine and L-serine are inactivated . A unique relation exists between the internal pH and the initial rate of uptake of L-serine and L-alanine with an apparent pK of 7.0 . The rate of L-alanine and L-serine uptake decreases with increasing internal pH . The apparent complex relation between the delta p and transport of L-alanine and L-serine can be explained by a regulatory effect of the internal pH on the activity of the L-serine and L-alanine carriers.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 133 ( Pt 6), 1543 - 51
Adaptation of the membrane fatty acid composition by growth in the presence of n-alkanols influences glycosyltransferase expression in Streptococcus salivarius; Markevics LJ et al.; Growth of Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 25975 in the presence of n-alkanols in the series methanol to decan-1-ol led to a decrease in the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio . Each member of the set of n-alkanols which was examined over a range of concentrations possessed a point at which extracellular glucosyltransferase (GTF) production was minimal; increasing the concentration of the n-alkanol past this point stimulated GTF production . This effect was greatest with hexan-1-ol although it was observed to a lesser extent with pentan-1-ol and heptan-1-ol . Reduced cell-associated fructosyltransferase activity was observed with increasing concentrations of each n-alkanol . Growth in the presence of 25 mM-propan-1-ol gave rise to a fatty acid profile in which 55% of the fatty acids were of an odd chain length . S . salivarius ATCC 25975 was shown to be able to utilize ethanol in a similar manner to propan-1-ol by growing it in the presence of 400 mM-{14C}ethanol . Analysis of the membrane lipids at the stationary phase of growth indicated that 17.6% of the carbon of the fatty acids was derived from ethanol . A leaky adh mutant, S . salivarius MJ 37501, was isolated . The leaky nature of the mutant enabled it to incorporate reduced levels of odd-chain-length fatty acids into its membrane lipids when grown in the presence of 100 mM-propan-1-ol, but not when grown in the presence of 25 mM-propan-1-ol . S . salivarius ATCC 25975 therefore metabolized propan-1-ol (and ethanol) via a constitutive alcohol dehydrogenase.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Jun, 133 ( Pt 6), 1435 - 41
Purification and characterization of extracellular glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans serotype b (subspecies rattus); Kumada H et al.; An extracellular glucosyltransferase (GT-S) synthesizing water-soluble glucan was purified from the culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans BHT (serotype b, subsp . rattus) by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography and preparative isoelectric focusing . The Mr of the enzyme was 155,000 and the pI was 4.5 . The GT-S had a specific activity of 10.2 i.u . (mg protein)-1, an optimum pH of 6.0 and a Km value of 0.8 mM for sucrose, and was activated twofold by dextran T10 . The GT-S was immunologically partially identical with the corresponding enzymes in crude preparations from serotypes c, e and f . The glucan synthesized de novo from sucrose by the GT-S was water-soluble and consisted of 29 mol% of non-reducing terminal, 49 mol% of 1,6-alpha-linked, 11 mol% of 1,3-alpha-linked and 11 mol% of 1,3,6-alpha-branched glucose residues.

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1987 Jun, 80(7), 1203 - 6
{Infectious endocarditis caused by Streptococcus bovis and alcoholic cirrhosis complicated by hepatoma}; Grand A et al.; The case is reported of a 66-year old man who developed Streptococcus bovis endocarditis on a fairly loose aortic stenosis and who also presented with alcoholic cirrhosis complicated by an ultimately lethal hepatoma . On this occasion, comments are made on the following points: -Str . bovis is increasingly responsible for bacterial endocarditis . This micro-organism is now rapidly and reliably identified . -Str . bovis endocarditis has some clinical features of its own . -Patients in whom the usual portals of entry of bacterial infection (i.e . benign or malignant tumours of the colon or rectum) cannot be identified should be investigated systematically for hepatic cirrhosis . -Drug sterilization of the gut is useful to prevent bacteremia of intestinal origin in cirrhotic patients.

J Immunol, 1987 May 15, 138(10), 3360 - 6
A collagen-like immunodeterminant on the surface of Streptococcus sanguis induces platelet aggregation; Erickson PR et al.; The basis of similarities in the mechanism of human platelet aggregation induced by soluble collagen and the dental plaque bacterium Streptococcus sanguis was analyzed . Structural and functional comparisons were made by using molecular probes, including rabbit antibody fractions reactive with components on S . sanguis and a synthetic, collagen-like octapeptide mimicking segments from cyanogen bromide fragments 6 and 4 of types I and III collagen, respectively . When platelets were pretreated with tryptic peptides or class II antigen of S . sanguis or with the synthetic, collagen-like octapeptide, the onset of aggregation in response to S . sanguis and collagen was prolonged . When compared to other peptides of similar size and charge, the collagen-like peptide's action towards platelets was shown to be selective . Indeed, absorption of antiserum to S . sanguis cells with particulate type I collagen removed specificities directed at a single S . sanguis antigen . These observations suggested that a common platelet-interactive immunodeterminant on soluble types I and III collagens, particulate type I collagen, and S . sanguis cells was present . Selective inhibition by antibody was used to show structural similarities between the S . sanguis surface proteins and collagen . When either agonist was pretreated with anti-S . sanguis IgG or Fab fragments, the lag time to onset of platelet aggregation was increased . Greater increases in the lag time to aggregation was seen when S . sanguis cells or collagen were pretreated with anti-S . sanguis IgG or Fab fragments made relatively specific for the class II antigen . Neutralization of the platelet-interactive action of the octapeptide by anti-S . sanguis antibody fractions showed that the immunodeterminant common to S . sanguis and collagen triggered platelets in plasma to aggregate . Although the anti-S . sanguis antibodies could inhibit fibrillogenesis, this action was apparently independent of interactions with platelets . In contrast, S . sanguis could bind or adhere to platelets by different determinants . Our data suggest that platelets have at least two distinct sites that bind collagen or S . sanguis . One of these may be a common site for collagen and S . sanguis agonists.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 May 4, 164(3), 621 - 4
Biological role of the pneumococcal amidase . Cloning of the lytA gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Ronda C et al.; A pneumococcal recombinant plasmid, pRG2, containing the lytA gene that codes for the pneumococcal N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase has been constructed using the pneumococcal plasmid pLS1 as a vector . pRG2 was introduced by genetic transformation into a mutant of Streptococcus pneumoniae (M31) that has a complete deletion of the lytA gene . The transformed strain (M51) grew at a normal growth rate as 'diplo' cells and underwent autolysis at the end of the exponential phase of growth, two properties that had been lost in the deleted mutant M31 . M51 lysed very rapidly at the end of the exponential phase when the cells were grown in choline-containing medium probably because of the higher level of amidase activity present in this strain as compared to the lysis-prone strain M11 . These findings show that the expression of the plasmid-linked gene was placed under the mechanism(s) of control of the cell during the exponential phase . Our results demonstrate that the physiological role of the pneumococcal amidase was to catalyze the separation of the daughter cells at the end of the cell division to produce diplo cells; in addition we have also confirmed the basic role of this autolysin in the bacteriolytic nature of beta-lactam antibiotics.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 May, 7(1), 77 - 82
Antimicrobial activity of coumermycin and recommendations for disk diffusion tests with 5- and 15-micrograms disks; Jones RN et al.; Coumermycin was found to be extremely active against methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus spp . (MIC 90, less than or equal to 0.002 microgram/ml) . Vancomycin and coumermycin were equally active against Streptococcus spp . (MIC 90s, 0.5 microgram/ml) and both were superior to fusidic acid (MIC 90, 8.0 micrograms/ml) . The enterococci had the highest MICs for all three drugs . Disk diffusion susceptibility tests using either 5 or 15 micrograms coumermycin disks seem reliable . The tentative interpretive breakpoints for testing the Staphylococcus spp . only are: 5 micrograms disk-susceptible greater than or equal to 17 and resistant less than or equal to 13 mm; 15 micrograms disk-susceptible greater than or equal to 20 mm and resistant less than or equal to 16 mm . These zone criteria have approximate coumermycin MIC correlates of less than or equal to 0.12 microgram/ml for susceptible and greater than or equal to 0.5 microgram/ml for resistant.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 May, 7(1), 73 - 5
Pneumococcal antigens in sputa: ELISA for the detection of pneumococcal C-polysaccharide in sputa from pneumonia patients; Krook A et al.; An improved ELISA, the LKB UltroBact Pneumococcus Kit detecting pneumococcal C-polysaccharide, has been tested . Sputum samples from 72 patients with community acquired pneumonia were included in the study . The sensitivity obtained was 96.1% and the specificity 92.6% . This ELISA might offer a useful diagnostic method in major clinical microbiologic laboratories for demonstrating Streptococcus pneumonia in sputa from patients with pneumonia.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 May, 7(1), 21 - 7
Susceptibility of relatively penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae to newer cephalosporin antibiotics; Bosley GS et al.; Antimicrobial susceptibilities were performed at the Centers for Disease Control on 3400 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates that were collected during a national survey of serotype-distribution of pneumococci found in normally sterile body fluids . The results showed 126 isolates (3.7%) to be relatively resistant to penicillin (RPR) . The RPR strains were tested for susceptibility to cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefamandole, cefaclor, ceftazidime, and moxalactam . These newer generation cephalosporin drugs were tested either because of their ability to penetrate into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or for their activity against pneumococci . Three hundred ninety-one pneumococci were tested with 179 resistant to at least one antimicrobial . The RPR strains were not categorically resistant to the cephalosporins but were fourfold more resistant to them than were the penicillin-susceptible strains . The three most effective antimicrobials in the study for RPR were cefuroxime, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone {corrected} . Each gave MICs that were attainable in CSF for RPR . Fifty percent of the RPR were inhibited by 0.06 mg/ml and 90% by 0.25 micrograms/ml of these antimicrobials . The least effective were cefaclor, moxalactam, and ceftazidime.

Mol Immunol, 1987 May, 24(5), 427 - 33
Characterization of the binding of and the immune response to pneumococcal group 9 capsular polysaccharides; Lu CH et al.; The binding of Streptococcus pneumoniae 14C-9N and 14C-9V polysaccharides (PSs) to lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes of human blood were studied . The quantity of 14C-9N and 14C-9V PSs bound to leukocytes was proportional to the number of leukocytes and the incubation time; the binding was temperature-dependent . The binding activity appeared to be specific, since the binding was inhibited by prior treatment with homologous group 9 PSs . The binding was also inhibited by prior treatment with cross-reactive group 9 PSs . The binding of 14C-9V PS to leukocytes was greater than that of 14C-9N PS . Reciprocal plot analysis revealed 6.4 X 10(4) binding sites for 9N PS on each lymphocyte and 9.5 X 10(4) binding sites for 9V PS on each lymphocyte, while the affinity constant for 9N PS was 3.7 X 10(9) M-1 and that for 9V PS was 9.4 X 10(8) M-1 . Furthermore, there were 7.8 X 10(4) binding sites for 9N PS on each polymorphonuclear leukocyte and 1.2 X 10(5) binding sites for 9 V PS on each polymorphonuclear leukocyte, while the affinity constant for 9N PS was 1.6 X 10(9) M-1 and that for 9V PS was 8.5 X 10(8) M-1 . There was a high degree of inhibition of the binding of 14C-9N PS to leukocytes by prior treatment with 9V PS, and a low degree of inhibition of the binding of 14C-9V PS to leukocytes by prior treatment with 9N PS . The high degree of inhibition of binding of 9V PS to leukocytes was not directly related to the production of cross-reactive antibodies to 9N PS . The serum antibody and the plaque-forming cell responses in mice immunized with 9V PS were significantly greater than responses in mice immunized with 9N PS.

Aust Vet J, 1987 May, 64(5), 155 - 8
Suppurative splenitis and peritonitis in a horse after gastric ulceration caused by larvae of Gasterophilus intestinalis; Dart AJ et al.; A 12-year-old Thoroughbred mare, with a history of anorexia, dramatic weight loss, fluctuating pyrexia and intermittent diarrhoea after an episode of colic, was presented for examination with depression, emaciation and ataxia . Thoracic and abdominal paracenteses yielded copious quantities of inflammatory exudate . Palpation per rectum revealed an enlarged spleen . The primary alterations in haematology included a severe leucocytosis with a left shift, and a hyperproteinaemia characterised by hypoalbuminaemia and hypergammaglobulinaemia . Post-mortem examination revealed a low grade pleurisy and peritonitis with fluid accumulation in both cavities . A suppurative gastritis with full thickness perforations of the stomach wall associated with Gasterophilus intestinalis larvae had extended to the juxtaposed organ initiating an extensive suppurative splenitis . Streptococcus zooepidemicus was cultured.

Anticancer Res, 1987 May-Jun, 7(3 Pt B), 535 - 40
Phagocytosis of the streptococcal preparation OK-432 (picibanil) by non-phagocytic human leukemia K 562 cells and its modulation by tumor cell differentiation; Rallet A et al.; OK-432, an inactivated and lyophilized preparation of a low-virulence strain of Streptococcus pyogenes induced a phagocytosis process in human erythroleukemic K 562 cells . This process seems to be specific to the cell line, known however as non-phagocytic, and specific to the bacterial preparation . Transmission and scanning electron microscopy confirmed phagocytosis . Increased lysosomal activity was also demonstrated by cytochemical and biochemical criteria . The induction of phagocytosis required an intact cell surface membrane and sialo-glycoproteins seemed to be implied . The phagocytosis was inversely correlated with the erythroid differentiation of the K 562 cell . Hemin-treated K 562 cells and the markedly erythroid K 562 clone showed a decreased level of phagocytosis . The phagocytosis level in a K 562 clone expressing Fc (IgG) receptors was not altered by OK-432 . In addition, a weak erythroid K 562 clone expresses the same level of phagocytosis as the total population.

Acta Otolaryngol, 1987 May-Jun, 103(5-6), 432 - 4
Experimental acute sinusitis in rabbit . A study of mucosal blood flow; Drettner B et al.; An experimental model of sinusitis in the rabbit was developed, using type 3 pneumococci . The superior parts of the rabbit maxillary sinuses were surgically exposed and the maxillary ostium was unilaterally blocked . The following day a challenge dose of 10(7)-10(9) colony-forming units of Streptococcus pneumoniae, capsular type 3, was injected into the sinus . When the pneumococci used had been subjected to an animal passage, bacteria were recultured after 4 days . Histological examination showed thickening of the mucosa, with dilated venules and infiltration of granulocytes . No bacteria were seen in the mucosa on staining with acridine orange . With use of microspheres 15 micron in diameter labelled with Sn113, the mucosal blood flow was found to be higher than on the control side.

Infection, 1987 May-Jun, 15(3), 192 - 9
Pneumococcal antibody levels in patients with acute lung infiltrates; Lowenberg A et al.; We assessed the diagnostic value of serial serum antibody titers (IgG, IgM) to a polyvalent pneumococcal antigen preparation containing capsular polysaccharides from 14 different serotypes in the differential diagnosis between infectious lung infiltrates and lung infarction . A two-fold or higher change in antibody level, measured by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was considered significant . Of 30 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, 13 were infected with a Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype included in the vaccine (group A), five with a non-vaccine type (group B), and in 12 patients the S . pneumoniae serotype was not identified (group C) . The sensitivity was 62% (group A) . A heterotypic antibody rise was observed in one patient (group B) . There was no difference in antibody rises between groups A and C . In 13 patients the pulmonary infiltrates were associated with different etiological factors (group D) . The specificity determined in this group was 85% . The positive predictive value of an antibody rise was 89% (SD = 0.07) in pneumococcal pneumonia and a negative result signified in only 46% of the patients (SD = 0.10) that the pulmonary infiltrates were not associated with pneumococcal infection . Four patients suffering from pulmonary infarction had no antibody rise . Preliminary data of a current similar study, using a 23-valent antigen of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides supported the aforementioned results . It is noteworthy that ten additional patients with lung infarction showed no seroconversion . The results suggest that serum antibody changes to a polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine may be of value in the differential diagnosis between infectious lung infiltrates and lung infarction.

Am J Vet Res, 1987 May, 48(5), 776 - 9
Risk factors associated with mastitis in dairy goats; East NE et al.; Prevalence of intramammary infection in healthy goats was determined from 4,662 composite udder samples taken over a 9-month period . For each doe, a colostral sample and 2 milk samples were collected . Breed, age, number of days not lactating before kidding, number of lactation days, and kidding date were recorded . Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp were isolated from 17.5% of does, Staphylococcus aureus from 3.1%, Mycoplasma spp from 1.2%, Streptococcus spp from 0.3%, and gram-negative bacteria from 2.0% . Gram-negative organisms were associated with intermittent infections, whereas coagulase-negative staphylococci were associated with persistent infections . Intramammary infection was related to breed, number of days not lactating, and number of lactation days, as determined by log-linear analysis . Does of the Nubian breed, does with nonlactating periods of greater than 60 days, and does in the first and last third of a standard 305-day lactation appeared to be at higher risk for intramammary infection.

J Infect, 1987 May, 14(3), 217 - 23
Isolation of Streptococcus milleri from clinical specimens; Kambal AM; During a period of 26 months, 80 strains of Streptococcus milleri were isolated from 80 patients with clinical evidence of infection . More than a third of the isolates were from lesions related to the gastro-intestinal tract and a quarter from abscesses of various other sites . The haemolytic activity and group antigenic profile of these isolates are discussed . In addition, the clinical significance of S . milleri isolated from various sites is evaluated.

J Infect, 1987 May, 14(3), 209 - 15
New 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine in relation to pneumococcal serotypes in systemic and non-systemic disease; Smart LE et al.; The serotype distribution of 3631 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, isolated from various specimens obtained from patients was determined by coagglutination and included serotyping within a total of 13 serogroups . The results of serotyping of isolates from Scotland demonstrated that the new 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine includes serotypes which accounted for 91% strains associated with systemic disease and 79% strains isolated from other anatomical sites . Altogether, 114 strains (3.1%) were not typable because they did not possess a type-specific capsule; these were commonly isolated from eyes (12%).

J Anim Sci, 1987 May, 64(5), 1519 - 25
A proposed mechanism of monensin action in inhibiting ruminal bacterial growth: effects on ion flux and protonmotive force; Russell JB; Streptococcus bovis, a Gram-positive ruminal bacterium, was unable to grow in the presence of monensin . When monensin (5 mg/liter) was added to actively growing cultures, there was an immediate decrease in growth rate, and within 3 h no further growth was observed . Glucose utilization and lactate production continued for another 8 h even though growth had ceased . Monensin caused a decrease (P less than .05) in intracellular K+, a decrease (P less than .05) in intracellular pH and an increase (P less than .05) in intracellular Na+ . The net exchange of K+ for Na+ and H+ via monensin was driven by the difference in concentration of K+ and Na+ across the cell membrane . Non-treated cells maintained a 70-fold gradient (inside higher) for K+, while the Na+ gradient was only 2.7-fold (inside higher) . Previous models were based on a reverse mechanism whereby monensin would drive an efflux of Na+ from ruminal bacteria, and were not supported by experimental measurements of intracellular Na+ and K+.

Infect Immun, 1987 May, 55(5), 1264 - 73
Characterization of a rat salivary sialoglycoprotein complex which agglutinates Streptococcus mutans; Brack CM et al.; Rat saliva agglutinated Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt and NCTC 10449 and Streptococcus sanguis NCTC 7864 but not S . mutans NCTC 10921, GS 5, or LM 7, Streptococcus sobrinus 6715-13 or OMZ 65, or Streptococcus cricetus HS 6, as measured turbidometrically . The specificity of agglutination by rat saliva was the same as that by human saliva . Agglutination was associated with a mucin complex (rat salivary agglutinin complex {rS-A}) of sulfated sialoglycoproteins, with a trace of associated lipid and an apparent Mr of 1.6 X 10(6), isolated by gel-filtration Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography . The complex was dissociated in a high-ionic-strength buffer containing 6 M urea and then fractionated by gel filtration and anion-exchange Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography into four sulfated sialoglycoprotein components, designated rS-A-1Q1, rS-A-1Q2, rS-A-1Q3, and rS-A-2, with rS-A-1Q2 being polydisperse through differential glycosylation of the polypeptide backbone . The dissociation destroyed agglutination activity . The polypeptide backbones contained up to 42% serine plus threonine and up to 40% glycine plus alanine plus proline plus valine . The carbohydrate moiety of the rS-A sialoglycoproteins consisted of N-acetylgalactosamine, sialate, galactose, fucose, N-acetylglucosamine, and small amounts of mannose, with the predominant sugar being N-acetylgalactosamine . Agglutination was inhibited by 1 mM EDTA but was restored by 1.5 mM CaCl2 . Agglutination was also inhibited by 5 mM CaCl2; nonimmune sera; cationic polymers; and wheat germ, lentil, soybean, and peanut lectins . However, agglutination was not affected by lipoteichoic acid, various anionic proteins, or various sugars . Neuraminidase treatment of rS-A did not affect activity, but tryptic digestion of S . mutans did prevent agglutination . The results are consistent with calcium bridging the negative groups within the rS-A complex and allowing the approach of rS-A to the bacterial cell surface to effect a specific conformational attachment.

Infect Immun, 1987 May, 55(5), 1198 - 202
Characterization of lectinlike surface components on Capnocytophaga ochracea ATCC 33596 that mediate coaggregation with gram-positive oral bacteria; Weiss EI et al.; The interactions between Capnocytophaga ochracea ATCC 33596 and Streptococcus sanguis H1, Actinomyces naeslundii PK984, or Actinomyces israelii PK16 are dependent on specific recognitions between heat-sensitive adhesins on C . ochracea and heat-stable structures (probably carbohydrate-containing receptors) on the surfaces of these gram-positive coaggregation partners . The coaggregation of C . ochracea with each of these three organisms was inhibited by L-rhamnose and D-fucose and to a lesser extent by beta-methyl-galactoside . The reaction with S . sanguis was the most sensitive, while the coaggregation with A . israelii was the least sensitive and was only partially inhibited by each of the sugars that were considered to be effective inhibitors . A more effective inhibition of the coaggregation between C . ochracea and A . israelii was achieved by adding a combination of the 6-deoxysugars and N-acetylneuraminic acid . To further characterize the coaggregations, naturally occurring coaggregation-defective (Cog-) mutants of C . ochracea were obtained from several different selections . Three phenotypically distinct groups of mutants were were isolated . Type 1 mutants failed to coaggregate with S . sanguis only . Type 2 mutants lost ability to interact with both S . sanguis and A . naeslundii . Type 3 mutants failed to coaggregate with all three coaggregation partners . Characterization of the Cog- mutants by sugar inhibition studies made it possible to distinguish three classes of adhesin activity.

Infect Immun, 1987 May, 55(5), 1184 - 9
Molecular cloning, characterization, and complete nucleotide sequence of the gene for pneumolysin, the sulfhydryl-activated toxin of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Walker JA et al.; A recombinant lambda bacteriophage has been isolated that carries DNA from Streptococcus pneumoniae and expresses a potent hemolysin that has been shown to be pneumolysin, the sulfhydryl-activated toxin of the pneumococcus . Hemolytic activity is inhibited by cholesterol and neutralized by serum against streptolysin O . The cloned gene expresses two polypeptides (Mrs, 56,000 and 53,000) in an Escherichia coli in vitro transcription-translation system, and both are precipitated by the addition of anti-alveolysin serum and anti-streptolysin O serum in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus cells . Expression of pneumolysin occurs when the gene is cloned in both possible orientations in pUC8 . The DNA sequence of a 5-kilobase ClaI fragment that carries the pneumolysin gene has been determined . An open reading frame was identified that encodes a polypeptide of 471 amino acids that is hydrophobic in character and has an N-terminal amino acid sequence which is identical to that deduced from amino acid sequencing of the purified protein . The predicted amino acid sequence of the polypeptide reveals a single cysteine residue located 44 residues from the C terminus . Putative promoter and ribosome binding sites have been identified 5' to the pneumolysin coding sequence.

Tokai J Exp Clin Med, 1987 May, 12(2), 97 - 102
Effects of biological response modifier on thoracic duct lymphocytes in recurrent gastric cancer . Evaluation of OK-432, a hemolytic streptococcus preparation; Hanaue H et al.; In 9 patients with recurrent gastric carcinoma treated with intracutaneous injections of a hemolytic streptococcal preparation of OK-432 (PIC), the T/B cell ratio, the number of IgG-Fc receptor positive (T gamma) cells, the degree of blastoid transformation of lymphocytes in response to concanavalin-A (Con-A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and the activity of natural killer cells (NK) in the thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were measured . In thoracic duct lymph, the T cell to B cell ratio was higher than that found in peripheral blood . The proportion of T gamma cells and the natural killer cell activity was found to be considerably lower in TDL than PBL, though there was a higher degree of blastoid transformation of lymphocytes in response to Con-A and PHA in TDL . After the administration of PIC, there was no significant difference in T/B cell ratios and T gamma cell proportion between TDL and PBL, though the lymphocytic blastoid transformation in response to Con-A and PHA decreased in TDL but not in PBL . PIC administration appeared to augument natural killer cell activity in both TDL and PBL.

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract, 1987 May, 17(3), 603 - 16
Possible association of thymus dysfunction with fading syndromes in puppies and kittens; Roth JA; "Wasting" or "fading" syndromes are common causes of puppy and kitten mortality . Numerous infectious and toxic, metabolic, or nutritional factors could potentially be responsible for wasting and death in young animals . Evidence has been presented that infectious canine hepatitis virus infection, beta-hemolytic streptococcus infection, and feline infectious peritonitis virus infection are responsible for a significant number of deaths due to wasting syndrome . However, many cases of wasting syndrome cannot be attributed to infectious agents or other specific etiologies . The thymus gland warrants special attention when one is evaluating an animal with a wasting syndrome because it is known that, in some species, neonatal thymectomy results in wasting and death . Unfortunately, most reports describing fading syndromes in puppies and kittens do not mention the gross or histologic appearance of the thymus gland at postmortem examination . When examining the thymus gland, one must keep in mind that the thymus may be hypoplastic owing to a congenital or genetic defect in its structure and function or it may be atrophic secondary to whatever is causing the fading syndrome . If a thorough history, clinical examination, and/or postmortem examination do not reveal a cause for the fading syndrome, then defective thymus function should be considered as a possible causative or contributing factor to the fading syndrome . In these cases, therapy designed to replace or improve the defective thymus function should be considered . At least one form of wasting syndrome in puppies (immunodeficient dwarfism) has been found to respond to short-term therapy with a thymus hormone (thymosin fraction 5) or with bovine growth hormone (which is thymotropic) in limited clinical trials . It is possible that other forms of wasting or fading syndromes would also respond to therapy with thymus hormone or growth hormone . Certain thymus hormones (thymopoietin pentapeptide, thymosin alpha 1, facteur thymique serique, and rabbit thymus acetone powder) and bovine growth hormone are commercially available . Before initiating therapy, one should consider that if the cause of the wasting syndrome is genetic, then successful treatment may perpetuate a genetic defect . More research (both basic and clinical) is needed to determine the role of thymus gland dysfunction in fading syndromes of puppies and kittens and if therapy with one or several of the thymus hormones or with growth hormone could reverse the symptoms of wasting.

J Emerg Med, 1987 May-Jun, 5(3), 185 - 9
Recurrent meningitis: a case report; Garvey JL et al.; Recurrent meningitis is an uncommon clinical problem . It is most likely to result from head trauma . Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common infecting pathogen . Computed tomographic techniques are required to identify persistent bony defects in the skull that might predispose to this disorder . Because emergency physicians regularly care for victims of head trauma and meningitis, knowledge of this entity can be useful.

Pediatr Med Chir, 1987 May-Jun, 9(3), 305 - 8
{Vaginal infections in a population of diabetic children and adolescents}; Liotta A et al.; The prevalence of vaginal infections has been evaluated in 51 patient affected by insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) and in a control group of girls matched for age . Most frequent infectious agents were Candida Albicans (42.8%) and Streptococcus B (28.5%) . No statistical significant relationship was observed between infection and duration of diabetes nor metabolic control, while the relationship was positive between infection and puberty . The peculiarity of this infection during IDDM is stressed and the difficulties in the infection when caused by Streptococcus B are discussed.

Infection, 1987 May-Jun, 15(3), 169 - 76
Streptococcus agalactiae (group B) endocarditis--a description of twelve cases and review of the literature; Scully BE et al.; The group B streptococcus has been shown to be a major cause of meningitis in the newborn and an occasional cause of endocarditis and sepsis in postpartum women . Little attention has been devoted to this organism as a cause of bacterial endocarditis . Twelve patients with group B streptococcal endocarditis were seen at The Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, between 1974 and 1985 . There were seven women, five men . Ages ranged from 32 to 81 years . Serious underlying disease was present in all - diabetes mellitus in seven, carcinoma in three (bladder in two, and breast in one), alcoholism in three, malnutrition in two, heroin addiction in one, tuberculosis in one, serious prior valvular heart disease in two . The aortic valve was affected in four patients - mitral in two, mitral and aortic in one, tricuspid in four, unknown in one . The presentation was acute in seven patients . Metastatic infection occurred in seven, heart failure in six, major emboli in four, septic pericarditis in one, myocardial abscess in one . The group B streptococcus should be considered as a pathogen capable of causing acute endocarditis in certain patients with defects of host defense, particularly patients with diabetes mellitus, carcinoma or alcoholism . Cardiac surgery may be necessary in these patients due to the rapid destruction of the valves which occurs, in spite of the fact that the organisms are usually highly susceptible to penicillin.

Pediatr Dermatol, 1987 May, 4(1), 24 - 6
Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal septicemia complicating infected hemangioma in children; Yagupsky P et al.; Septicemia complicating infected hemangiomas was diagnosed in two children aged 2 months and 2 years . The younger also developed bacterial meningitis . Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus non-M protein typable was isolated in both patients . Neither had leukocytosis and in only one was the erythrocyte sedimentation rate elevated . The children recovered after intravenous antibiotic therapy . Use of systemic antibiotics should be considered in infected hemangiomas in childhood even in the absence of elevated acute-phase reactants.

J Nutr, 1987 May, 117(5), 846 - 51
In vitro assessment of nystose as a sugar substitute; Ziesenitz SC et al.; Nystose represents a fructooligosaccharide with two fructose molecules linked via beta(1----2) bonds to the fructosyl moiety of sucrose . This tetrasaccharide was subjected to an array of in vitro tests designed for the assessment of potential sugar substitutes before animal or human studies . beta-Fructosidase from yeast cleaved nystose at about 5% of the initial rate observed with sucrose . The terminal fructose was released first . Glycosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans #620 did not utilize nystose for the formation of a glucan-type polysaccharide . Anaerobic fermentation of nystose by a suspension of mixed dental plaque microorganisms and by S . mutans NCTC 10449 was about half as fast as with sucrose . Thin-layer chromatography at various reaction times with S . mutans NCTC 10449 indicated the terminal fructose as the site of first attack . Analyses for free monosaccharides confirmed these data because free fructose exceeded free glucose at early reaction times far more than would follow from the 3:1 ratio of fructose to glucose in the nystose molecule . High pressure liquid chromatography assays demonstrated lactic and acetic acids as the main fermentation products . Carbohydrases from human jejunal mucosa did not attack nystose . However, cecal anaerobic microorganisms of the rat fermented nystose rapidly into acids.

J Oral Pathol, 1987 May, 16(5), 234 - 40
Analysis of heart-reactive antibodies induced in rabbits by immunization with Streptococcus mutans; Russell MW; The induction of antibodies that react with human heart muscle in rabbits immunized with Streptococcus mutans and related organisms has been investigated in order to re-examine the reported antigenic cross-reactivity between the major cell wall protein antigen I/II of S . mutans and heart tissue . Serum from 2 of 8 rabbits hyperimmunized with whole cells of S . mutans, S . sobrinus, S . rattus, or S . mitis, assayed by immunofluorescence and radioimmunoassay, revealed antibodies reactive with sarcolemma that could be attributed to immunization . Antisera raised against several crude and purified antigens of S . mutans did not reveal heart-reactive antibodies, that could be attributed to antigenic similarity between heart and these antigens . An assay designed to detect antibodies that could simultaneously bind to both heart and antigen I/II of S . mutans failed to reveal cross-reactivity due to this antigen, although antibodies separately expressing these binding activities were demonstrable . IgM rheumatoid factor was elevated in several antisera to S . mutans, and could have contributed to some previous observations ascribed to antigenic cross-reactivity between S . mutans and human heart muscle.

J Dairy Res, 1987 May, 54(2), 247 - 55
Purification and characterization of a cell wall proteinase from Streptococcus lactis NCDO 763; Monnet V et al.; A proteinase was purified from a cell wall extract of a culture of Streptococcus lactis NCDO 763 grown in skim milk . Being active at a low pH (at pH 4.8 on haemoglobin and pH 6.0-6.5 on casein) and completely inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate, it was considered to be a serine proteinase partly inhibited by EDTA; the mol . wt was approximately 80,000.

J Bacteriol, 1987 May, 169(5), 2272 - 6
Regulation of the glutamate-glutamine transport system by intracellular pH in Streptococcus lactis; Poolman B et al.; Various methods of manipulation of the intracellular pH in Streptococcus lactis result in a unique relationship between the rate of glutamate and glutamine transport and the cytoplasmic pH . The initial rate of glutamate uptake by S . lactis cells increases more than 30-fold when the intracellular pH is raised from 6.0 to 7.4 . A further increase of the cytoplasmic pH to 8.0 was without effect on transport . The different levels of inhibition of glutamate and glutamine transport at various external pH values by uncouplers and ionophores, which dissipate the proton motive force, can be explained by the effects exerted on the intracellular pH . The dependence of glutamate transport on the accumulation of potassium ions in potassium-filled and -depleted cells is caused by the regulation of intracellular pH by potassium movement.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 May, 207(2-3), 196 - 203
Size variation in group A streptococcal M protein is generated by homologous recombination between intragenic repeats; Hollingshead SK et al.; M protein, a major surface protein and virulence factor for the group A streptococcus, exhibits extraordinary size variation in strains of the same serotype (Fischetti et al . 1985) . RNA sequence analysis of spontaneous M protein size variants shows that deletion mutations arise in a single strain by homologous recombination events between intragenic tandem repeats . Similar deletion and duplication events also occur in serial streptococcal isolates from a single patient and among related strains in a recent outbreak . We discuss how homologous recombination events can lead to the generation of antigenic variation.

J Dent Res, 1987 May, 66(5), 982 - 8
Selection for Streptococcus mutans with an altered xylitol transport capacity in chronic xylitol consumers; Trahan L et al.; The effect of long-term consumption of refined xylitol on the natural populations of S . mutans in the human oral cavity has been investigated . Fifty-four S . mutans strains were isolated from adults and children who had been consuming commercial food products containing xylitol for a period of from 1 1/2 to 10 years . Twenty isolates were also obtained from control subjects who had never consumed xylitol-containing commercial food products . The inhibitory effect of xylitol on the isolated strains was determined by monitoring growth on glucose in the presence or absence of xylitol . This was used to define the sensitivity of each isolate to xylitol . Phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase (PEP-PTS) activities were measured by means of the soluble and membrane fractions prepared from strains from both study populations . It was found that 87% of the fresh isolates from xylitol consumers were xylitol-resistant (XR), compared with only 10% of the strains isolated from the control subjects . The XR strains had low constitutive fructose PTS activity and very low xylitol-phosphorylating capacity . The xylitol-sensitive (XS) strains, however, had much higher levels of constitutive fructose PTS activity and phosphorylated xylitol 16 times more rapidly than did the XR strains . Evidence for the phosphorylation of xylitol by a fructose PEP-PTS in the XS strains was obtained . The growth inhibition by the intracellular accumulation of non-metabolizable toxic xylitol phosphate and its prevention by the presence of fructose are discussed.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 May, 53(5), 1171 - 4
Restriction enzyme analysis of lactose and bacteriocin plasmids from Streptococcus lactis subsp . diacetylactis WM4 and cloning of BclI fragments coding for bacteriocin production; Harmon KS et al.; The 131.1-kilobase (kb) bacteriocin production (Bac) plasmid pNP2 and the 63.6-kb lactose metabolism (Lac) plasmid pCS26, from Streptococcus lactis subsp . diacetylactis WM4, as well as pWN8, a 116.7-kb recombinant plasmid from a Lac+ transconjugant, were analyzed with restriction enzymes to determine the origin of pWN8 . Plasmid pWN8 conferred a Lac+ Bac- phenotype, contained DNA derived from pCS26 and pNP2, and, like pNP2, exhibited self-transmissibility (Tra+) . In cloning attempts, Bac+ transformant S . lactis KSH1 was isolated . The recombinant plasmid, pKSH1, contained three BclI fragments from pNP2 . Bac- transformants which individually contained each of the three fragments were also identified . Comparison of restriction maps of pKSH1 and pNP2 revealed an 18.4-kb region common to both plasmids, involving two of the three BclI fragments . S . lactis KSH1 also exhibited greater inhibitory activity against the indicator strain S . diacetylactis 18-16 than did a strain containing the 131.1-kb Bac plasmid.

J Bacteriol, 1987 May, 169(5), 2005 - 11
Competence for genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae: molecular cloning of com, a competence control locus; Chandler MS et al.; To identify and map genes involved in competence for genetic transformation in Streptococcus pneumoniae, we have cloned DNA surrounding an ermB insertion mutation that causes a competence factor deficiency . We recovered the insert and approximately 500 base pairs of neighboring pneumococcal DNA in pMB9 . Larger pieces of DNA from this region were unstable in pMB9 and pBR325 . However, larger pieces were stable in pKK232-8, an Escherichia coli vector containing strong transcription terminators . Overlapping pieces of wild-type DNA from this competence control region were cloned and mapped in this vector . Insertion mutations were constructed in vitro throughout the cloned region . When crossed into the pneumococcus chromosome, they showed that the com locus was 4.2 to 5.2 kilobases long.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 May, 133 ( Pt 5), 1351 - 8
Purification and characterization of a third glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans serotype g; Hanada N et al.; Streptococcus mutans strain AHT (serotype g) secretes at least two glucosyltransferases with different pI values . A novel glucosyltransferase with a pI of 5.8 was purified 244-fold from the ammonium sulphate fraction by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, FPLC (Mono Q column, Pharmacia) and hydrophobic chromatography . The enzyme preparation gave a single protein band on analysis by both PAGE and SDS-PAGE, and did not form multiple protein bands detectable by IEF . The Mr was estimated to be about 130,000 by SDS-PAGE and about 135,000 by ultracentrifugal analysis . The apparent Km value and pH optimum of the enzyme were 3.9 +/- 0.2 mM (mean +/- SD) and about 4.7, respectively . The enzyme synthesized water-soluble glucan from sucrose, and the glucan consisted of over 90 mol% 1,6-alpha-D-glucosidic linkages . The enzyme activity was not stimulated by primer dextran . Anti-enzyme serum produced a single precipitin band with the purified enzyme preparation, whereas it did not react with either of the other two known glucosyltransferases.

J Oral Pathol, 1987 May, 16(5), 223 - 33
Identification of bacteria in association with immune components in human carious dentin; Pekovic DD et al.; Actinomyces viscosus, A . naselundii, Streptococcus mutans serotype "c" and S . mutans serotype "d/g" were identified in human carious dentin using histological and immunofluorescent techniques . A . viscosus was most frequently found in association with patient's immunoglobulins and complement, followed by S . mutans serotype "d/g", S . mutans serotype "c", and A . naeslundii.

Arch Intern Med, 1987 May, 147(5), 885 - 8
Streptococcus mitis . A cause of serious infection in adults; Catto BA et al.; Twenty strains of Streptococcus mitis were isolated from blood or body fluids at the Cleveland Veterans Administration Medical Center from Jan 1, 1981, to April 30, 1984 . Fifteen (75%) isolates were considered contaminants . Five (25%) were clinically important and associated with a serious infection of the oropharynx or gastrointestinal tract (three of five), endovascular system (one of five), or a prosthetic hip . Four of five patients required surgical intervention for treatment . Two of five died; one death was directly attributable to S mitis infection . Eighteen strains were available for detailed bacteriologic study . Three strains had a minimum inhibitory concentration of greater than 0.1 micrograms/mL of penicillin and six other strains were tolerant to penicillin . This review suggests that S mitis can be an important pathogen in adults and may cause infections other than endocarditis.

Am J Med, 1987 Apr 27, 82(4A), 154 - 63
Acute bacterial exacerbations in bronchitis and asthma; Chodosh S; Symptomatic exacerbations are frequent problems in the management of chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma . Identification of a bacterial etiology as the cause of specific exacerbations should be based on changes in clinical symptoms and documentation of significant bronchial bacterial flora and a neutrophilic inflammatory response . Most acute bacterial exacerbations in patients with bronchitis or asthma are caused by Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Branhamella catarrhalis . Treatment with ampicillins, synthetic tetracyclines, or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole is successful in 80 to 90 percent of bacterial exacerbations . Emergence of resistant Hemophilus species and pneumococci motivates development of new orally administered antimicrobial drugs . Appropriate treatment depends on the prompt recognition that bacterial infection is present . Once instituted, antimicrobial therapy should be continued for a minimum of 10 to 14 days, which should increase the duration of the infection-free period until the next bacterial exacerbation . Adequate response should be evaluated by the return of symptoms to pre-infectious levels and by decreased sputum bacterial flora and neutrophilic inflammation.

Carbohydr Res, 1987 Apr 15, 162(1), 111 - 6
Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Streptococcus pneumoniae types 15B and 15C; Jansson PE et al.; The structures of the capsular polysaccharides (S-15B and S-15C) from Streptococcus pneumoniae types 15B and 15C have been investigated by using n.m.r . spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and various specific degradations . It is concluded that the polysaccharides are composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units having the following structure: (Formula: see text) . In this structure, R is H (80%) or CH2CH2N+Me3 (20%) . S-15B further contains O-acetyl groups, approximately 0.7 per repeating unit, which have not been located . The capsular polysaccharides S-15F and S-15A, which have been studied previously, are also composed of pentasaccharide repeating-units, containing the same sequence of sugars, but in a linear arrangement.

Biochem Pharmacol, 1987 Apr 15, 36(8), 1281 - 4
Inhibition of neutrophil response by mepacrine; Panus PC et al.; Clinical and experimental evidence supports neutrophil involvement in the pulmonary complications of adult respiratory distress syndrome . Preliminary evidence indicates that mepacrine salvages pulmonary function in experimental models of adult respiratory distress syndrome, possibly by inhibiting neutrophil activation {E . M . Canham et al., Am . Rev . resp . Dis . 127, 594 (1983)} . This study examines the effect of mepacrine on neutrophil responses involved in pulmonary dysfunction associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome . A comparison is made between the ability of mepacrine to inhibit a specific neutrophil response utilizing different stimuli and the ability to inhibit different neutrophil responses to a single stimulus . Neutrophils were activated by a soluble stimulus, phorbol myristic acetate, and a particulate stimulus, heat-inactivated opsonized group B streptococcus . Mepacrine inhibited superoxide production in response to both phorbol myristic acetate (IC50 = 5.3 +/- 1.2 microM) or opsonized group B streptococcus (16.1 +/- 1.7 microM) . Chemotaxis in response to n-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine was also inhibited (41.1 +/- 2.2 microM) . Finally, aggregation stimulated by either streptococcus or phorbol myristic acetate was inhibited by mepacrine (73.0 +/- 9.8 microM and 77.0 +/- 19.2 microM respectively) . A comparison of the IC50 values demonstrates that the inhibitory effect of mepacrine is response dependent and stimulus independent . The results of this study are consistent with the proposal that mepacrine protects against the pulmonary complications associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome by its action as an inhibitor of neutrophil function.

Thromb Haemost, 1987 Apr 7, 57(2), 222 - 5
Responses of platelets to strains of streptococcus sanguis: findings in healthy subjects, Bernard-Soulier, Glanzmann's, and collagen-unresponsive patients; Soberay AH et al.; The ability of endocarditis and dental strains of Streptococcus sanguis to induce platelet aggregation in plasma (PRP) from normal subjects were examined and compared to responses of PRP with known platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) and response defects . S . sanguis strains differed in their ability to induce normal PRPs to aggregate . Strains that induced PRP aggregation in more than 60% of donors were significantly faster agonists (mean lag times to onset of aggregation less than 6 min) than those strains inducing response in PRPs of fewer than 60% of donors . Platelets from patients with Bernard-Soulier syndrome aggregated in response to strains of S . sanguis . In contrast, platelets from patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and from a patient with a specific defect in response to collagen were unresponsive to S . sanguis . These observations show that GPIb and V are not essential, but GPIIb-IIIa and GPIa are important in the platelet response mechanism to S . sanguis . Indeed, the data suggests that the platelet interaction mechanisms of S . sanguis and collagen may be similar.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Apr, 133 ( Pt 4), 985 - 93
Induction of autolysis in Streptococcus faecium; Carvalho ME et al.; Autolysis of exponential-phase Streptococcus faecium cells was promoted by pretreating the bacteria (freezing-thawing; -70 degrees C) in Tris buffer, followed by incubation at 37 degrees C in the same buffer . The effect was dependent on Tris concentration . The pretreatment provoked ultrastructurally visible damage with extensive loss of K+ and leakage of UV-absorbing components . No autolysis was observed when the bacteria frozen-thawed in Tris were incubated in the presence of the autolysin inhibitor N-bromosuccinimide nor when they had been grown in the presence of chloramphenicol or tetracycline . Furthermore, two autolytic-defective mutants, EC31 and EC78, isolated from S . faecium, did not autolyse when frozen-thawed and incubated in Tris . Freezing-thawing in Tris, however, imparted extensive cell damage to the mutants and to the antibiotic-treated bacteria as well as considerable leakage of K+ and UV-absorbing materials . These observations indicate that the lysis of S . faecium reported above is due to the activity of the endogenous bacterial autolysin . Induction of autolysis of S . faecium by freezing-thawing was also observed, although to a lesser extent, when Tris was replaced by imidazole.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Apr, 264(1-2), 163 - 6
The utilization of nitrate and nitrite by Streptococcus salivarius in the saliva; Broschinski L et al.; Streptococcus salivarius BU 104 utilizes nitrate and nitrite only under anaerobic conditions and thus adds to the nitrite exposure of the human organism.

Vet Q, 1987 Apr, 9(2), 111 - 7
Streptococcus suis type 2 infections in pigs in the Netherlands (Part two); van Leengoed LA et al.; Since 1983 some pig breeding and fattening farms in the Netherlands have been faced with a considerable mortality in pigs due to Streptococcus suis type 2 infections . The most predominant clinical feature of S . suis type 2 infection is meningitis, although sudden deaths often occur . It was noted that some affected farms had imported breeding stock from the United Kingdom . Tonsils of slaughter pigs were collected from herds with and without a history of S . suis type 2 infections . Bacteriological examination was done by using an elective-selective medium . No significant difference was found in carrier rates of S . suis type 2 between clinically healthy and affected herds (38% vs . 45%) . A cohort study was carried out by regular bacteriological examination of tonsil biopsies on a farm with a high incidence of streptococcal meningitis . Twenty-seven percent of the pigs were carriers of S . suis type 2 at nine weeks of age . Possible methods for disease control are discussed.

Am J Vet Res, 1987 Apr, 48(4), 646 - 50
Opsonins of Streptococcus in uterine flushings of mares susceptible and resistant to endometritis: control of secretion and partial characterization; Hansen PJ et al.; The release of opsonins into the uterine lumen of mares susceptible or resistant to endometritis was examined after intrauterine inoculation of a filtrate of Streptococcus culture fluid or vehicle . Uterine flushings were collected at 0.5 hour before and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours after inoculation on day 2 or 3 of estrus and on day 7 or 8 after ovulation . Amounts of opsonins in flushings were quantified as the H2O2 produced by leukocytes incubated with flushings-opsonized bacteria, compared with H2O2 produced by leukocytes incubated with nonopsonized bacteria . Opsonin values in flushings increased (P less than 0.025) in all mares after inoculation of filtrate or vehicle . For mares resistant to endometritis, opsonin values were greater at diestrus than at estrus . The opposite was true for mares susceptible to endometritis, resulting in a status (susceptible vs resistant) X stage of cycle interaction (P less than 0.025) . Overall, opsonins were higher (P less than 0.05) in flushings of mares susceptible to endometritis than in flushings of mares resistant to endometritis, but this difference was only apparent at estrus . Preliminary characterization of opsonins in uterine secretions by ammonium sulfate fractionation and gel filtration indicated that opsonins were mainly associated with an ammonium sulfate-soluble fraction of high molecular weight (greater than 4 X 10(6} and an ammonium sulfate-precipitable fraction that was associated with immunoglobulin G.

Microbiologica, 1987 Apr, 10(2), 133 - 42
DNA-free liposome-assisted transfection of Streptococcus faecium SF 77R protoplasts; Prestini PA et al.; Two virulent phages of Streptococcus faecium SF 77R were used in DNA-free liposome assisted polyethylene-glycol-mediated protoplast transfection . This procedure, established to develop an effective gene-cloning system, optimized the conditions for DNA uptake by the protoplasts of Str . faecium . Transfection frequencies of up to 10(7)-10(8) P.F.U./microgram of DNA were achieved.

J Clin Pathol, 1987 Apr, 40(4), 368 - 71
Evaluation of anaerobic culture and effect of culture medium supplementation with factor V on colonial morphology and efficacy of isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from sputum; Brogan O et al.; The use of anaerobic incubation for the culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae from sputum was compared with incubation in carbon dioxide in air . A coagglutination test for pneumococcal antigen was used as an index of the number of specimens containing pneumococci . A total of 334 specimens were examined . There was evidence of pneumococcal colonisation by culture or coagglutination, or both, in 48 (14.37%), of which 41 (12.27%) yielded S pneumoniae on culture . Anaerobic incubation was better than incubation in carbon dioxide in air for the primary culture of S pneumoniae from sputum . Primary isolation of S pneumoniae was achieved in 11 of the 41 strains (26.82%) by anaerobic incubation alone, by incubation only in carbon dioxide in air in one strain (2.43%), and by both anaerobic incubation and incubation in carbon dioxide in air in 29 strains (70.73%) . Anaerobic incubation gave large moist or mucoid colonies that were easy to recognise, but it suppressed the typical draughtsman colony of S pneumoniae . The factor V supplement routinely used in our medium also inhibited the formation of draughtsman colonies . It is suggested that draughtsman colonies occur because of a relative lack of the coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (factor V), which is required as a reducing agent in aspartate and glutamate metabolism . This nutritional deficiency may lead to bacterial cell wall defect and hence to the autolysis which gives the typical draughtsman colony.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Apr, 169(4), 1460 - 8
Bioenergetic consequences of lactose starvation for continuously cultured Streptococcus cremoris; Poolman B et al.; Streptococcus cremoris cells that had been grown in a chemostat were starved for lactose . The viability of the culture remained essentially constant in the first hours of starvation and subsequently declined logarithmically . The viability pattern during starvation varied with the previously imposed growth rates . The death rates were 0.029, 0.076, and 0.298 h-1 for cells grown at dilution rates of 0.07, 0.11 and 0.38 h-1, respectively . The proton motive force and the pools of energy-rich phosphorylated intermediates in cells grown at a dilution rate of 0.10 h-1 fell to zero within 2 h of starvation . The culture, however, remained fully viable for at least 20 h, indicating that these energy-rich intermediates are not crucial for survival during long-term lactose starvation . Upon starvation, the intracellular pools of several amino acids depleted with the proton motive force, while large concentration gradients of the amino acids alanine, glycine, aspartate, and glutamate were retained for several hours . A quantitative analysis of the amino acids released indicated that nonspecific protein degradation was not a major cause of the loss in viability . The response of the energy metabolism of starved S . cremoris cells upon refeeding with lactose was monitored . Upon lactose starvation, the glycolytic activity and the rate of proton motive force generation decreased rapidly but the steady-state level of the proton motive force decreased significantly only after several hours . The decreasing steady-state level of the proton motive force and consequently the capacity to accumulate amino acids after the addition of lactose correlated well with the loss of viability . The response of the energy metabolism of starved S . cremoris cells upon refeeding with lactose was monitored . Upon lactose starvation, the glycolytic activity and the rate of proton motive force generation decreased rapidly but the steady-state level of the proton motive force decreased significantly only after several hours . The decreasing steady-state level of the proton motive force and consequently the capacity to accumulate amino acids after the addition of lactose correlated well with the loss of viability . It is concluded that a regulatory loss of glycolytic capacity has pivotal role in the survival of S . cremoris under the conditions used.

Epidemiol Infect, 1987 Apr, 98(2), 203 - 9
A comparison of the distribution of pneumococcal types in systemic disease and the upper respiratory tract in adults and children; Smart LE et al.; The serotype distribution of 874 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae was determined in relation to patients' age and to frequency of isolation from systemic disease . Types 14 and 18, in pre-school children, and types 1, 4, 7, 8 and 12 in patients over 5 years of age were significantly associated with systemic disease whereas type 23 in pre-school children, and type 6 in older patients was associated with upper respiratory tract carriage . No significant difference was found in the incidence of other types in systemic disease compared to upper respiratory tract carriage . Fifteen diagnostic pneumococcal antisera (to types 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 22 and 23) sufficed for typing 87% of strains.

Epidemiol Infect, 1987 Apr, 98(2), 183 - 90
Human infection with Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C): three case reports; Barnham M et al.; Three unrelated severe infections with Streptococcus zooepidemicus occurred in England in 1985 . The first patient developed septic arthritis, which has not been recorded before with this organism . The second died with septicaemia, pneumonia and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, the only record so far of nephritis following sporadic S . zooepidemicus infection and of nephritis and systemic sepsis in the same patient . The third patient experienced septicaemia during pregnancy but recovered without complications . A likely animal source of infection was found in only one case.

Epidemiol Infect, 1987 Apr, 98(2), 171 - 82
Characterization of Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C) from human and selected animal infections; Barnham M et al.; We assembled an international collection of strains from sporadic and epidemic human infection with Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C) for laboratory study . Cultural and physiological characteristics of the isolates were determined, including biotyping with the API 20 STREP test kit and susceptibility testing with penicillin, erythromycin and tetracycline . The strains were examined for bacteriocin production and sensitivity and typed with a specially developed group-C streptococcal bacteriophage system incorporating a panel of 14 phages . Results of these tests gave useful discrimination between many of the strains: differences were shown between each of the major outbreak strains, including those complicated by post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis . Serious group C streptococcal infection may be caused by S . zooepidemicus and isolates should be identified to species level; the application of a typing scheme such as this may help to distinguish epidemiological patterns of infection.

Br J Ophthalmol, 1987 Apr, 71(4), 315 - 21
Microbiological diagnosis of suppurative keratitis in Bangladesh; Williams G et al.; Experience in setting up an inexpensive microbiology laboratory in the Bangladesh National Society for the Blind Eye Hospital and Training Complex at Chittagong is presented, together with the results of a pilot study to identify organisms responsible in 33 consecutive cases of suppurative keratitis in the Chittagong area of Bangladesh . Of the 33 cases 21 were positively identified by means of Gram stain and/or culture . Two-thirds of the responsible organisms were bacteria, and one-third were fungi . The bacterial causes included Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The fungi isolated were Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus ochraceus, and Fusarium solani . Among the causes of failure to diagnose the organism was chronicity of infection and previous treatment . The value of the study in the planning of future treatment regimens, and the implications of setting up similar relatively cheap microbiology laboratory facilities in developing countries, are discussed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Apr, 25(4), 736 - 7
Nutritionally variant Streptococcus pyogenes from a periorbital abscess; Kocka FE et al.; A nutritionally variant Streptococcus pyogenes strain was isolated from a periorbital abscess . The organism was identified with the use of three rapid biochemical test kits, and the group A antigen was detected by conventional serology as well as direct antigen detection tests.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Apr, 25(4), 680 - 4
High levels of antibodies to streptococcal cell membrane antigens specifically bound to monoclonal antibodies in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis; Yoshimoto M et al.; We produced 15 immunoglobulin G class monoclonal antibodies against antigens of the streptococcal cell membrane (SCM) of Streptococcus pyogenes (T type 12, Tanaka strain) and determined the levels in human sera of antibodies against Triton-X-extracted antigens specifically bound to each of these 15 monoclonal antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Sample sera were obtained from 10 normal controls (group 1), 10 patients with streptococcal pharyngitis without sequelae (group 2), and 8 patients with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) (group 3) . Anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers of the sera increased in the order of groups 1, 2, and 3 . There was no relationship between ASO titer and the level of anti-SCM antibodies, and there was no significant difference in the level of anti-SCM antibodies determined with each of the 15 monoclonal antibodies between group 1 and group 2 sera . Group 3 sera had higher levels of antibodies to SCM antigens specifically bound to each of 14 of these 15 monoclonal antibodies than group 1 or group 2 sera did . Of these 14 monoclonal antibodies, 9 reacted with the four SCM antigens separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrophoretically transferred to a nitrocellulose sheet . These results suggest that high levels of antibodies to SCM antigens are related to the development of APSGN and that the systemic immune response to SCM antigens is involved in the pathogenesis of APSGN.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Apr, 95(2), 144 - 50
Interexaminer variability in common ratings in reading Streptococcus mutans dip-slides with or without a microscope; Murtomaa H et al.; The observer variability in reading 145 S . mutans dip-slides was assessed by a test panel consisting of a professional bacteriologist, practising dentists and unskilled laymen . The cultivated slides were read and classified into four categories by comparing them with standard photographs of previously cultivated slides with known numbers of S . mutans colonies . For reference, all the slides were also counted under a stereomicroscope . The results showed both under- and overestimation in the visual reading, but the scoring trend was logically increasing in relation to the microscopic reference scores in each case . The significance of the agreement on the ratings was high and it further increased when the results were recombined by classifying them into three categories . The individual agreement percentages varied then from 54 in the laymen to 79 in the bacteriologist . The use of a microscope did not significantly increase the number of common readings and cannot be considered necessary in practice . Reading the slides, however, definitely requires understanding and experience of the method.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Apr, 95(2), 132 - 5
Comparison between a micromethod and a conventional method for estimation of salivary Streptococcus mutans; Kohler B et al.; Two methods for estimating the number of S . mutans in 501 paraffin-wax stimulated whole saliva samples were compared . A highly significant correlation was found between the results of a micropipette method and conventional agar plating . The micropipette method is simple, reliable and economical and is a suitable alternative to conventional plating for determination of the S . mutans infection level.

J Urol, 1987 Apr, 137(4), 736 - 7
Cellulitis of the penis and scrotum due to group B streptococcus; Brady MT; Group B streptococcus was isolated from the blood, penile exudate and needle aspirate of cellulitis in a severely ill neonate with a rapidly progressive infection of the scrotum, penis and lower abdominal wall . This case demonstrates the need to evaluate and to manage newborns with scrotal cellulitis differently than older children and adults . A different group of organisms and a greater likelihood for systemic involvement are to be anticipated in newborns.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1987 Apr, 26(4), 183 - 5
Neonatal retropharyngeal cellulitis due to group B streptococcus; Asmar BI; Two neonates who presented with histories of poor feeding, irritability and noisy breathing had group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteremia and retropharyngeal cellulitis . One infant also had submandibular cellulitis . Retropharyngeal cellulitis has not been recognized as a manifestation of GBS disease . Evaluation of the upper airway should be part of the workup of any sick infant with noisy breathing and/or grunting . Retropharyngeal tissue enlargement may be an early indicator of GBS disease.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Apr, 84(8), 2449 - 53
IgA antibody-producing cells in peripheral blood after antigen ingestion: evidence for a common mucosal immune system in humans; Czerkinsky C et al.; The finding that ingestion of antigens results in the selection induction of IgA antibodies in external secretions suggests that antigen sensitizes Peyer's patch lymphoid cells, which migrate to mucosal sites and generate local secretory IgA (S-IgA) antibody responses . Evidence for a common mucosal immune system in humans has been scanty because of the difficulty in demonstrating migratory behavior of Peyer's patch cells . In the present study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from human volunteers who had ingested capsules containing killed Streptococcus mutans were assayed for spontaneous antibody-producing cells . Four of five volunteers exhibited circulating IgA-producing cells within 7 days and reached maximum responses by days 10-12 . One IgA-deficient subject exhibited IgM responses with identical kinetics . Pokeweed-mitogen-stimulated PBMC produced anti-S . mutans antibodies predominantly of the IgA isotype . Significant S-IgA anti-S . mutans antibodies were detected in saliva and tears by day 14, and the antibodies reached maximum titers by 3 weeks . No changes in serum anti-S . mutans antibodies were noted . The IgA-deficient subject produced salivary secretory IgM antibodies . These results suggest that, after antigen ingestion, peripheral blood contains antigen-specific precursors of IgA plasma cells and that their presence precedes the appearance of S-IgA antibodies in external secretions . Therefore, these experiments provide further support for the existence of a common mucosal immune system in humans.

Am Fam Physician, 1987 Apr, 35(4), 187 - 92
Dilemmas of streptococcal pharyngitis; Raz R et al.; Although the Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus is the most common cause of acute bacterial pharyngitis in childhood, the clinical diagnosis is often not straightforward and throat cultures are advisable . To avoid unnecessary antibiotics, treatment should be delayed until culture results are available . Patients with negative cultures should discontinue any antibiotics already started on clinical grounds . Positive cultures may represent a carrier state, which can be identified by serologic studies.

Gastroenterol Jpn, 1987 Apr, 22(2), 166 - 73
In vitro interferon producing activity of peripheral mononuclear cells in patients with chronic liver disease; Matsushita K et al.; Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was induced from a human peripheral mononuclear fraction by incubation with a streptococcal preparation stabilized with penicillin G (OK432) . This IFN-gamma-producing activity was significantly reduced in patients with chronic hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma . In patients with liver cirrhosis it was also reduced but not significantly . Serum hepatitis B virus DNA and skin tests for the purified protein derivative of tuberculin, phytohemagglutinin-P and a polysaccharide fraction prepared from streptococcus pyogenes Su strain were determined to have no significant relation to this IFN-gamma-producing activity . Although the addition of interleukin 2 (IL-2) to the culture medium enhanced the IFN-gamma-producing activity, there was no difference in this enhancement between normal control and chronic hepatitis . Therefore reduction of the IFN-gamma-producing activity observed in chronic hepatitis seems to be caused by a decreased number of IFN-gamma-producing activity cells or hypofunction of these cells or both . Since HBeAg became negative in patients whose IFN-gamma-producing activity was increased by the administration of the immunopotentiator OK432 or IFN-beta, the IFN-producing system in the patients with B type hepatitis may contribute to the elimination of HBV . Adenine arabinoside suppressed IFN-gamma-producing activity both in vivo and in vitro.

Arch Microbiol, 1987 Apr, 147(3), 207 - 12
Electrophoretic studies of extracellular glucosyltransferases and fructosyltransferases from seventeen strains of Streptococcus mutans; Kametaka S et al.; Streptococcus mutans was classified by the electrophoretic properties of glucosyltransferases (GTases) and fructosyltransferases (FTases) . The cells of serotypes a, d and g did not release extracellular FTases, although those from other serotypes did . The enzymes from cells of serotypes d and g synthesized a good deal of insoluble polysaccharide compared with other serotypes . The enzymes were applied to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and polyacrylamide gel-isoelectric focussing (PAG-IEF) . Gels were stained for their activity and protein content . Enzymes belonging to the same serotype gave the same specific pattern on both gels . The seven serotypes could be classified into the following four groups: serotypes d and g, serotype a, serotypes c, e and f, and serotype b . The results agree well with some previous reports based on other methods . The molecular weights of three GTase bands were 156K, 146K and 135K, and of four kinds of FTase bands were 108K, 95K, 80K and 76K . The isoelectric points of main enzymes were 4.25, 4.60, 5.00, 5.55 and 5.70 . Those of FTases were 4.25 and 4.60.

Am J Med, 1987 Mar 23, 82(3 Spec No), 630 - 2
Recurrent Streptococcus mutans endocarditis; Vose JM et al.; Recurrent bacterial endocarditis is associated with several risk factors including parenteral drug abuse, past valvular heart disease, and periodontitis . Recurrence rates vary from 2 to 18 percent for a single recurrence, and 1 to 5 percent for two recurrences . An unusual case study of a patient experiencing three episodes of bacterial endocarditis following dental work is described . The episodes occurred at least one year apart and were characterized by biochemically identical strains of Streptococcus mutans.

J Biol Chem, 1987 Mar 5, 262(7), 3344 - 53
Nucleotide sequence of the asd gene of Streptococcus mutans . Identification of the promoter region and evidence for attenuator-like sequences preceding the structural gene; Cardineau GA et al.; The complete nucleotide sequence of the asd gene of Streptococcus mutans encoding aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.11), an enzyme comprised of 357 amino acids, having an Mr of 38,897 and active in the biosynthetic pathway of lysine, threonine, methionine, diaminopimelic acid, and isoleucine, has been determined . In addition we report the 276 nucleotides upstream of the structural gene which contain a highly efficient promoter identified by both RNA polymerase binding and in vitro transcription analysis . A leader transcript which terminates at a fixed point immediately preceding the asd promoter region was identified in the DNA sequence and confirmed by in vitro transcription analysis as well . The close proximity of this transcript and its p-independent transcriptional terminator to the asd coding sequence suggests involvement in a mechanism of regulation . Message stability experiments indicate the half-life of asd specific messages to be comparable to that of Escherichia coli messages . Conditions of varying concentrations of lysine, threonine, and methionine exert no apparent control over expression of the S . mutans asd gene in Escherichia coli suggesting the requirement of an accessory regulatory element specific for the S . mutans asd gene.

Eur J Biochem, 1987 Mar 2, 163(2), 259 - 65
Purification and characterization of a novel metalloendopeptidase from Streptococcus cremoris H61 . A metalloendopeptidase that recognizes the size of its substrate; Yan TR et al.; An endopeptidase (LEP-II), which has a unique substrate specificity, was purified to homogeneity by conventional chromatographic techniques from Streptococcus cremoris H61 . The enzyme was a metalloendopeptidase since it was inhibited by EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline; the metal-depleted enzyme could be fully reactivated by micromolar levels of Zn2+ and was not inhibited by specific inhibitors for serine or thiol protease . The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 80 kDa by Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration and high-performance liquid chromatography with a TSK-G3000SW column . The enzyme consisted of two identical subunits and the N-terminal sequence of LEP-II was determined up to the 19th residue . Although the enzyme had a broad substrate specificity it specifically hydrolyzed the peptide bonds involving the amino groups of hydrophobic amino acid residues . Various small polypeptides, such as alpha s1-CN(f1-23), alpha s1-CN(f91-100), oxidized insulin B chain, glucagon and some biologically active peptides were hydrolyzed . However, a variety of larger polypeptides or proteins, such as alpha s1-CN(f1-54), alpha s1-CN(f61-123), alpha s1-CN(f136-196), alpha s1-casein, beta-casein, and kappa-casein were not hydrolyzed . LEP-II recognized the size of its substrates, which were limited below a molecular mass of about 3.5 kDa.

South Med J, 1987 Mar, 80(3), 401 - 2
Concurrent community-acquired pneumonia with Legionella pneumophila and Streptococcus pneumoniae; Brown RB et al.; Both Streptococcus pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila are well defined causes of community-acquired pneumonia, and may be associated with substantial mortality . Optimal therapy consists of penicillin for the former organism and erythromycin for the latter . We have presented a case of pneumonia caused by simultaneous infection with both of these agents . Organisms were recovered either from blood or lung tissue . This case carries important implications for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, and conceivably could explain some of the mortality that continues to be seen with pneumococcal pneumonia.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Mar, 169(3), 1200 - 4
Cell cycle changes in the buoyant density of exponential-phase cells of Streptococcus faecium; Dicker DT et al.; Cell buoyant densities were determined by centrifugation in Percoll gradients containing exponential-phase cells of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 grown at a mass doubling time of about 33 min . This bacterium showed the highest average density values (1.13 g/ml) measured to date for any eucaryotic or procaryotic organism . Fractions having the highest densities were enriched with cells that were in the process of dividing or had just divided . These high-density fractions were also enriched with cells that had newly initiated sites of cell wall growth . It appears that S . faecium shows minimum cell densities in the midportion of its cycle.

Infect Immun, 1987 Mar, 55(3), 771 - 7
Production of monoclonal antibodies that recognize specific and cross-reactive antigens of Fusobacterium nucleatum; Bird PS et al.; Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the cell surface antigens of Fusobacterium nucleatum 263 were obtained by fusion of murine myeloma cells (P3-NSI/1-Ag4-1) with the splenocytes of BALB/c mice immunized with whole cells of F . nucleatum 263 . Screening was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against the immunizing strain, F . nucleatum 263 . Further selection was done using a bacterial panel consisting of Bacteroides, Actinomyces, Streptococcus, Fusobacterium, and Escherichia species . Twelve MAbs were selected on the basis of this screening procedure, seven of which reacted specifically with F . nucleatum 263 . Two reacted with F . nucleatum 263 and ATCC 25586, and three reacted with F . nucleatum 263, ATCC 25586, and UQD-003 (a clinical isolate) and also cross-reacted with Fusobacterium russii ATCC 25533 . The selected MAbs were then further characterized by absorption experiments with suspensions of intact whole bacterial cells, and the residual binding activity of the supernatants was determined in an ELISA . To determine whether the MAbs reacted with the same or different epitopes, pairs of MAbs were reacted together and independently in a checkerboard manner in an ELISA . The additive or nonadditive nature of the reactivity was determined . A competitive inhibition assay was performed using one labeled and selected unlabeled MAbs . The results of these experiments suggested some epitope sharing among the selected MAbs that reacted with a specific antigen on F . nucleatum and also shared cross-reactive antigens with the three strains of F . nucleatum and F . russii.

Infect Immun, 1987 Mar, 55(3), 698 - 703
Metabolism of glycosylsucrose by oral microorganisms and its hydrolysis by Streptococcus salivarius fructosyltransferase; Hojo S et al.; Resting-cell suspensions of oral microorganisms grown in sucrose were studied for the production of acid from glucosylsucrose and maltosylsucrose . Most oral microorganisms fermented these sugars to only a limited extent . Streptococcus salivarius, however, metabolized glucosylsucrose as well as sucrose . We therefore looked for a specific enzyme in S . salivarius which was capable of hydrolyzing glucosylsucrose . Fructosyltransferase and invertase were purified from S . salivarius 13419, and the substrate specificities and hydrolytic activities of these enzymes were determined . Purified fructosyltransferase catalyzed fructan synthesis from glucosylsucrose or maltosylsucrose, whereas purified invertase barely hydrolyzed these sugars . These results suggest that the high fermentative efficiency of glycosylsucrose by S . salivarius is due to the hydrolysis of these sugars by fructosyltransferase, but not by invertase . The partially purified fructosyltransferases of Actinomyces viscosus NY1 and Streptococcus mutans NCIB 11723 catalyzed fructan synthesis from glucosylsucrose or maltosylsucrose . The fructosyltransferases of these oral microorganisms are also responsible for the hydrolysis of glycosylsucrose.

Infect Immun, 1987 Mar, 55(3), 692 - 7
Purification and biochemical properties of a bacteriocin from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans; Stevens RH et al.; Extracts of certain strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans are inhibitory to strains of Streptococcus sanguis such as S . sanguis ATCC 10556 . The isolation of a protein from an A . actinomycetemcomitans sonic extract which copurified with the inhibitory activity was accomplished by preparative isoelectric focusing, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography, and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) . The resulting isolated protein, which focused at a pH of 6.1 to 6.3, appeared as a single band in anionic nondissociating PAGE analysis . This protein could be dissociated into two subunits with molecular weights of 50,000 and 70,000, which were resolvable by PAGE analysis . A 1,758-fold increase in specific activity was seen in the purified inhibitory protein compared with the crude sonic extract starting material . The properties of the inhibitory activity in the A . actinomycetemcomitans extract are characteristic of a bacteriocin . Accordingly, we propose the name actinobacillicin for the inhibitory protein.

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1987 Mar, 18(1), 79 - 84
Pneumococcal infection in hospitalized patients: a four-year study in Malaysia; Jamal F et al.; A total of 90 cases of pneumococcal infections were identified at a major referral hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during a study period of four years . Pneumonia was the most common clinical presentation (41 cases) followed by meningitis (19 cases) . Of 48 patients who were followed-up during the microbiology consultation round, 11 died, 9 were children below two years old . Capsular typing was carried out on 57 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood and body fluids of 43 children and 14 adults . 38 strains isolated from pharyngeal specimens were also typed . Types 6A (11 strains), 6B (7 strains), 14 (8 strains) and 19A (8 strains) predominated in children . The strains from older patients comprised 3 isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (types 18B, 6B and 14), five from blood (4 strains, type 1 and 1 strain, type 4) and six from pus (1 strain, type 14, 3 strains type 23F and 2 strains type 34) . The isolates from pharyngeal specimens belonged to capsular type similar to those implicated in infections . 90% of the types reported in this study are included in the 23 valent pneumococcal vaccines . Minimum inhibitory concentrations of penicillin, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol and rifampicin were determined for selected strains . 4.1% of isolates were resistant to penicillin (3/74), 4.5% to cefuroxime (2/44), 6.5% to chloramphenicol (3/46) and 14.6% to rifampicin (6/41).

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1987 Mar, 135(3), 676 - 81
Effect of the elastase inhibitor, eglin-c, on antibacterial mechanisms in experimental pneumonia . Description of a system to quantitate phagocytic and bactericidal activity of resident murine alveolar macrophages in vivo; Esposito AL et al.; To evaluate the influence of the elastase inhibitor, eglin-c, on lung host defense, normal CD-1 mice were challenged intratracheally with type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae suspended in phosphate-buffered saline alone or containing 10 mg/ml eglin-c . After infection with 5 X 10(3) colony-forming units (cfu), animals given eglin-c demonstrated a significant enhancement in their capacity to clear viable pneumococci from the lungs at 24 h after challenge; the augmented pulmonary clearance was associated with an increased influx of granulocytes at 6 and 24 h . After challenge with higher inocula (5 X 10(4) and 5 X 10(5) cfu), animals treated with eglin-c exhibited a significant impairment in pulmonary clearance at 6 h; however, in the presence of larger numbers of granulocytes within the bronchoalveolar spaces, the attenuation in pulmonary clearance resolved between 6 and 24 h . Changes in the kinetics of pulmonary clearance that were similar to those noted after infection with high pneumococcal inocula were also observed after challenge with 1 X 10(6) cfu Staphylococcus aureus . In addition, although it did not influence the in vivo phagocytic capacity of resident alveolar against S . aureus, eglin-c depressed the bactericidal activity of these cells . We conclude that in the mouse, high doses of eglin-c alter pulmonary antimicrobial mechanisms important for preventing and eradicating bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1987 Mar, 263(4), 577 - 84
Blood-platelets-damaging activity of some synthetic Streptococcus peptidoglycan subunits and analogues; Ryc M et al.; A series of 25 synthetic subunits or analogues of streptococcal peptidoglycan was tested for their ability to damage rabbit blood platelets . The morphological changes of the platelets were studied on an ultrastructural level . Minimal subunit structure able to produce a complete lysis of the platelets was found to be muramyldipeptide (MDP) . Comparable lysis of platelets was also caused by muramyltetrapeptide and MDP containing D-Ala instead of L-Ala . The lytic effect was dose-dependent and was exhibited rather after high doses of the substances used (up to 500 micrograms/ml) . For the lytic reaction, the configuration of C3 and C4 in the muramyl residue of MDP was essential . Many substances produced only degranulation without lysis of the platelets and some of them did not influence the platelet ultrastructure at all . The paper presents some structure-to-function relationships of the compounds and shows that the platelet-damaging activity of peptidoglycan may be related to certain portions of the peptidoglycan molecule . This activity should be tested when the immunomodulatory substances derived from the bacterial peptidoglycan are searched for.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1987 Mar, 135(3), 166 - 9
{Successful treatment of a brain abscess with antibiotics and drainage puncture in an 11-year-old boy with a complex cyanotic heart defect}; Paul T et al.; A Blalock-Taussig-anastomosis was performed at the age of 2 years in a boy with transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary atresia . Nine years later he developed a transient aphasia . Cranial computed tomography (CT-scan) revealed a structure compatible with brain abscess . The boy was conscious and no neurological deficit was found . Initial therapy consisted of Ampicillin, Tobramycin, and Metronidazole, 12 days later an acute hemiplegia developed . 30 ml of pus were aspirated from the brain abscess, and the boy's condition dramatically improved . Streptococcus milleri was found bacteriologically and antibiotic therapy was continued over six weeks . Serial CT-scans during and after therapy demonstrated disappearance of the brain abscess . The presented case shows that after a shunt procedure in cyanotic heart disease right-to-left-shunting and therefore chronic oxygen desaturation and polycythemia are still present as facilitating factors for focal encephalomalacia, cerebritis, and brain abscess . In case of short duration of neurological symptoms and a size of abscess less than 4 cm in diameter antibiotic therapy without total excision may eliminate the infection.

Vaccine, 1987 Mar, 5(1), 39 - 42
Local response in rat to liposome-associated Streptococcus mutans polysaccharide-protein conjugate; Bruyere T et al.; The effect of gastric intubation with soluble or liposome-associated Streptococcus mutans serovar polysaccharide, 74-kDa saliva receptor (74K SR protein) or polysaccharide-74K SR protein conjugate on the locally induced salivary IgA response and memory in rats was investigated . Animals immunized on four successive days with soluble antigens showed a weak salivary anti-74K SR protein or anti-polysaccharide IgA response . Rats primed and boosted by a single injection of liposome-associated 74K SR protein or polysaccharide-74K SR protein conjugate developed a salivary anti-74K SR protein IgA and IgG primary and secondary response . A primary anti-polysaccharide response was only observed in saliva of animals immunized with either high concentration of liposome-associated polysaccharide or liposome-associated polysaccharide-74K SR protein conjugate . However, a secondary local anti-polysaccharide IgA response was detected in animals boosted with liposome-polysaccharide-74K SR protein conjugate . No such anamnestic response was seen when high dose of liposome-associated polysaccharide was used to boost the animals . Furthermore, the salivary anti-polysaccharide IgA response paralleled the anti-74K SR protein IgA response . These studies showed that intragastric immunization of rats with liposome-associated polysaccharide-74K SR protein conjugate produced a local anti-polysaccharide IgA memory.

J Cell Biochem, 1987 Mar, 33(3), 161 - 71
ATP-dependent protein kinase activities in the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans; Mimura CS et al.; ATP-dependent protein kinase activities were detected in both membrane and cytoplasmic fractions from the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans . Different polypeptides were phosphorylated by endogenous kinase(s) in the two fractions . In membranes, five phosphoproteins were detected with apparent masses of 82, 37, 22, 12, and 10 kilodaltons (KD) . In cytoplasm, two major acid-stable phosphoproteins were found . One was identified as HPr of the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS), while the other had an apparent mass of 61 KD . Both of these proteins were phosphorylated on a seryl residue . Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate stimulated phosphorylation of HPr by the kinase and inhibited phosphorylation of the 61-KD protein . In contrast, fructose 1-phosphate, 2-phosphoglycerate, 3-phosphoglycerate, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate inhibited phosphorylation of HPr and stimulated phosphorylation of the 61-KD protein . Several other glycolytic intermediates as well as inorganic phosphate inhibited phosphorylation of either or both proteins . Preincubation of cytoplasm with PEP prior to incubation with ATP reduced the amount of phospho-(seryl)-HPr formed, but not that of the 61-KD phosphoprotein . The latter protein has not yet been identified but has properties that suggest that it may be the protein kinase itself . These results provide evidence for one or more soluble ATP-dependent protein kinases in S mutans that are regulated by glycolytic intermediates and that may play a role in the modulation of carbohydrate uptake and metabolism in this organism . A model for feedback regulation of sugar transport in S mutans, mediated by an allosterically regulated kinase, is presented.

J Endocrinol, 1987 Mar, 112(3), 443 - 8
Influence of administration of ovarian steroids on the function of neutrophils isolated from the blood and uterus of ovariectomized mares; Watson ED et al.; The function of blood and uterine luminal neutrophils from ovariectomized mares treated with ovarian steroids was investigated 18 h after intrauterine infusion of 1 X 10(9) Streptococcus zooepidemicus . Random migration of blood neutrophils under agarose was reduced by treatment with progesterone compared with that of neutrophils from oestradiol-treated and control mares . In-vitro addition of progesterone to blood neutrophils from acyclic ponies also reduced migration . Uterine neutrophils did not migrate under agarose which was probably an effect of bacterial phagocytosis . Hormone treatment had little effect on phagocytosis of yeast blastospores by blood neutrophils . Phagocytosis by uterine neutrophils from oestradiol-treated and control mares was significantly better than that by blood neutrophils . In progesterone-treated mares, however, phagocytosis by uterine neutrophils was significantly lower than that in the other two treatment groups and was similar to that measured in blood neutrophils . The results indicate a marked effect of progesterone in reducing both migration of blood neutrophils and phagocytosis by uterine neutrophils.

J Clin Pathol, 1987 Mar, 40(3), 292 - 3
Streptococcus milleri and second trimester abortion; MacGowan AP et al.; PIP: A review of 214 fetal necropsies submitted to the University of Aberdeen's Department of Pathology in 1983-86 revealed 40 cases of chorioamnionitis or intrauterine pneumonia, 5 of which were associated with Streptococcus milleri . Abortion had occurred between 18-23 weeks' gestation . There was no systemic evidence of infection in any of the 5 mothers . 3 of the women had prolonged (longer than 24 hours) rupture of membranes and 1 had an IUD in place . 1 woman had a cervical suture inserted in this pregnancy after a cone biopsy in 1975; another had had a previous septic abortion and 2 terminations . There was good evidence to implicate S milleri as a cause of septic abortion in 2 cases . In both these women, a profuse growth of S milleri was obtained from a maternal high vaginal swab collected before abortion and from a swab taken from the fetal airways at necropsy . the pathogenic role of S milleri was less clear in the remaining 3 cases . It is also unknown whether intrauterine infection follows spontaneous rupture of membranes or whether heavy vaginal colonization with a particular organism predisposes to rupture and preterm labor .

J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 1987 Mar-Apr, 16(2), 91 - 6
Group B streptococcus: the pregnant woman and her neonate; Gaffney SE et al.; Within the past 10 years, group B streptococcal disease has emerged as a major causative agent in neonatal morbidity and mortality . A brief history of this pathogen and its epidemiologic factors regarding maternal colonization and carriage is presented . Group B streptococcal disease in the neonate and concurrent treatment and prevention modalities also are presented . A case study is included . Suggestions for nursing assessment, intervention, and future considerations are offered.

Inflammation, 1987 Mar, 11(1), 87 - 93
Characterization of polymorphonuclear leukocyte aggregation in vitro induced by heat-inactivated group B streptococcus; Panus PC et al.; We studied the aggregatory characteristics of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in response to heat-inactivated group B streptococcus . PMNs suspended in physiologic salt solution do not aggregate to heat-inactivated group B streptococcus (GBS) unless the GBS is previously opsonized in autologous plasma . The aggregating activity of both opsonized GBS and activated plasma are reduced if the plasma is decomplemented before incubation with GBS . Pretreatment of PMNs with pronase inhibited opsonized GBS-induced aggregation, suggesting aggregation via cell membrane receptors for opsonic fragments of C3 . Pronase pretreatment had no significant effect on aggregation induced by activated plasma or arachidonic acid . Unlike PMNs in physiologic salt solution, PMNs suspended in plasma aggregate when stimulated by unopsonized GBS . GBS aggregates PMNs via complement cascade activation, opsonization, and interaction with cell membrane receptors to stimulate cellular mechanisms resulting in PMN aggregation.

Infect Immun, 1987 Mar, 55(3), 837 - 8
Immunologic cross-reactivity of type A streptococcal exotoxin (erythrogenic toxin) and staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C1; Hynes WL et al.; Immunologic cross-reactivity between Streptococcus pyogenes type A exotoxin (erythrogenic toxin) and Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins B and C1 was demonstrated by Ouchterlony double diffusion, Western immunoblot, and immunodot analyses . Specific antiserum to type A streptococcal exotoxin reacted more strongly with staphylococcal enterotoxin B than with enterotoxin C1 . The reactivity of type A streptococcal exotoxin with antiserum to staphylococcal enterotoxin B was greater than that of antiserum to enterotoxin C1 . These results suggest that a conserved domain is present in the three exotoxins, which most likely originated from a common evolutionary ancestor.

Infect Immun, 1987 Mar, 55(3), 792 - 802
Purification and partial characterization of the multicomponent dextranase complex of Streptococcus sobrinus and cloning of the dextranase gene; Barrett JF et al.; The presence of proteases in culture supernatant fluids and on the cell surface of Streptococcus sobrinus and the aggregation of multicomponent enzyme complexes make the isolation and characterization of cell surface proteins difficult . We report a simple purification procedure for dextranase and the cloning of the dextranase structural gene . S . sobrinus culture supernatant fluids were precipitated with 70% ammonium sulfate, and the precipitate was dialyzed against sodium acetate buffer and loaded onto a hemoglobin-Sepharose 4B column connected to a blue dextran-agarose column at 4 degrees C . After being washed with low concentrations of salt, the dextranase and the dextran-binding proteins were eluted with 5 M KI and further purified by gel filtration . Two dextranases (molecular weights, 175,000 and 160,000) were purified and partially characterized . The structural gene for the dextranase of S . sobrinus 6715 strain UAB66, serotype g, was cloned into the cosmid vector, pHC79 . Clones were selected for expression of dextranase activity by detection of zones of enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of a blue dextran substrate incorporated into minimal medium agar plates . Release of dextranase was achieved by induction of thermoinducible, excision-defective Escherichia coli K-12 lysogens containing recombinant cosmid molecules of S . sobrinus DNA . Recombinant cosmid molecules were repackaged simultaneously into infectious lambdoid particles . Recombinant clones expressing dextranase activity which varied in size from the high-molecular-weight protein produced by S . sobrinus (i.e., 175,000) to lower-molecular-weight forms expressed by S . sobrinus have been identified and partially characterized.

Surg Neurol, 1987 Mar, 27(3), 259 - 63
Randomized controlled study of the effect of adjuvant immunotherapy with Picibanil on 51 malignant gliomas; Shibata S et al.; During the period from January 1981 to December 1983, two groups of a total of 51 patients (31 malignant astrocytomas, 17 glioblastomas, and 3 others) were treated with radioimmunochemotherapy using nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU) plus Picibanil (OK-432) (group A) and radiochemotherapy with ACNU only (group B) in a randomized controlled study . Group A consisted of 24 patients and group B of 27 patients . The differences in the background of the two groups were not statistically significant . Survival curves of both groups were shown by the Kaplan-Meier method . The postoperative survival rate at 1 year and 3 years was 70% and 30%, respectively, equal in both groups, and the differences between groups A and B were not statistically significant by the Cox-Mantel test . The side effects seen in group B were most prominent in the bone marrow, and severe leukopenia occurred . However, in group A leukopenia was suppressed after 2 months . Immunologic parameters, such as the purified protein derivative skin reaction test, did not change, but the streptococcus pyogenes Su-strain polysaccharide skin-reaction test became more positive after therapy in group A.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Mar, 155(3), 532 - 9
Type III group B Streptococcus: functional interaction with IgG subclass antibodies; Givner LB et al.; The functionally active IgG subclasses and the portion of the antibody molecule mediating opsonophagocytosis of type III, group B Streptococcus (III-GBS) have not previously been investigated . Serum from a healthy adult immunized with III-GBS vaccine was subjected to ion exchange chromatography, yielding 2,950 mg of IgG/dl and 1,440 micrograms of III-GBS-specific antibody/ml . Papain digestion for selective cleavage of IgG1 and IgG3 yielded an IgG2-rich pool that contained 31% of the initial IgG but 69% of the antibody to III-GBS . This pool retained opsonophagocytic activity of antibody to III-GBS at levels similar to that for the initial IgG pool . Analysis of F(ab')2 fragments of pepsin-digested IgG revealed that the level of alternative pathway-mediated opsonophagocytosis of III-GBS was similar to that mediating functional activity in the initial IgG preparation . Therefore, IgG2 is an active opsonin for III-GBS, but divalency appears to be required for alternative pathway-mediated opsonophagocytosis.

J Dent Res, 1987 Mar, 66(3), 795 - 8
In vitro caries-like lesion production by Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus using sucrose and starch; Clarkson BH et al.; We investigated the formation of caries-like lesions on root and enamel sections by S . mutans and A . viscosus when grown in four different carbohydrate substrates . The substrates were: sucrose, starch + alpha-amylase, and a combination of starch and sucrose with and without alpha-amylase . Twenty-four sections with exposed windows on both the root and enamel surfaces were exposed to the individual bacterial species in each of the four substrates for three weeks . At three weeks, the sections were removed and lesion depths measured . When grown in sucrose alone, S . mutans produced significantly deeper lesions in both root and enamel surfaces when compared with A . viscosus . However, S . mutans failed to produce lesions when grown in "limited" sucrose with starch added, whereas A . viscosus in this same substrate produced lesions in the enamel and root surfaces . A viscosus also produced either similar or significantly deeper lesions in both root and enamel surfaces, when compared with S . mutans grown in the two substrates with amylase . Thus, under these in vitro conditions, it was demonstrated that A . viscosus could utilize starch, whereas utilization of starch by S . mutans was alpha-amylase-dependent.

Immunobiology, 1987 Mar, 174(2), 146 - 61
Haptenated streptococcal antigens elicit either T cell-dependent type 1 or T cell-independent type 2 immune responses; Kimura S et al.; Antigens of Streptococcus mutans 6715 (alternatively designated serotype g Streptococcus sobrinus), including whole cells (WC g), cell walls (CW g), peptidoglycan (PG g) and serotype carbohydrate (Ml g) were coupled with trinitrophenyl (TNP), and the nature of the immune response to each immunogen was determined in normal and X-linked immunodeficient (xid) murine spleen cell cultures . Responses to TNP-WC g, -CW g and -PG g and to the classical type 1 antigen TNP-Brucella abortus occurred in both xid and normal splenic cultures, while TNP-Ml g only triggered immune responses in normal spleen cell cultures, suggesting that the former three antigens are type 1 and the latter type 2 . Further support for the type 2 nature of TNP-Ml g was the finding that Peyer's patch cell cultures from both xid (which contain mature B cells) and normal mice supported responses to TNP-Ml g and TNP-Ficoll, while xid splenic cultures failed to support responses to either type 2 antigen . The three type 1 TNP-S . mutans antigens induced responses in nude spleen cell and in purified splenic B cell cultures, but required T cells for in vitro responses to lower doses of immunogen . On the other hand, TNP-Ml g induced anti-TNP PFC responses at several antigen concentrations in purified B cell cultures, without requirement for added T cells . These studies show that the intact S . mutans cell, as well as CW g and PG g, acts as a T cell-dependent (TD) type 1 antigen, while the serotype carbohydrate (Ml g) induces a T cell-independent (TI) type 2 response . Thus, the intact bacterium is a TD type 1 antigen, whereas its purified components are either type 1 or type 2 antigens and differ significantly in terms of their T cell dependence.

J Dent Res, 1987 Mar, 66(3), 761 - 5
A 30-month longitudinal study of the effects of some oral hygiene measures on Streptococcus mutans and approximal dental caries; Axelsson P et al.; The effects of some oral hygiene measures on Streptococcus mutants and approximal dental caries were evaluated . One hundred and eighty-seven 13-year-old individuals with high levels of salivary S . mutans (greater than 10(6)/mL) were selected . They were randomly distributed into three groups . Group I initially received professional mechanical tooth-cleaning, tongue-scraping, chlorhexidine treatment, and oral hygiene instructions concentrated on the approximal surfaces most colonized by S . mutans . The treatment was given four times with intervals of two days, followed by one single treatment every six months throughout the experimental period . The initial treatment period for group II, also consisting of four visits, included the same oral hygiene instructions as for group I . The instructions were repeated every six months . Group III was maintained in the preventive program provided by the local Dental Health Office, based on mechanical plaque control and topical use of fluorides and chlorhexidine at individualized intervals . Group I showed a significant immediate reduction of S . mutans in saliva as well as an approximal tooth surfaces . After six months, there were no differences among the three groups regarding these variables . Compared with baseline, there was a significant reduction of S . mutans in all groups . There was no significant difference in caries progression among the three groups . However, the selected "high-risk" individuals in group I developed 0.25 new manifest caries lesions approximally/year, compared with 0.27 for all children of the same age group in the area . Seventeen individuals had approximal surfaces with consistently high or consistently low S . mutans levels . Forty-six percent of the surfaces with high values developed new or progressive caries, compared with 2% of the surfaces with low values.

Semin Respir Infect, 1987 Mar, 2(1), 8 - 19
Bacterial adherence to respiratory tract mucosa--a dynamic interaction leading to colonization; Reynolds HY; Normally, the mucosa of the nasooropharynx, trachea, and, perhaps, the major bronchi is colonized with aerobic and anaerobic microbes . This epithelial surface coexists with the microbial flora and is not overgrown with it . Moreover, the physiologic functions of the mucosa--including a protective barrier, mucociliary clearance and humidification, and warming of respired air--are not impeded . How this flora is controlled and what is amiss when virulent or pathogenic bacteria can cause infection are fascinating questions . A balance is maintained during health in which epithelial cell integrity--a function of proper nutrition, available secretory immunoglobulins and glycoproteins, and ciliary motion--resists the microbe's attempt to attach via specialized receptors (pili) or by proteolytic destruction of local proteins . These interactions are reviewed in detail . When colonization is excessive and aspiration of more microbes into the lower airway occurs, infection is more probable . Certain bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae, which are associated with chronic bronchitis, illustrate a mechanism in which the host-microbial balance may be upset by selective impairment of a host protein, secretory IgA1 . Alternatively, viral infection or cilotoxic microbes (mycoplasma) can favor colonization of bacteria when mucosal clearance mechanisms are impaired . Last, mucosal integrity can be breached by noxious gases or inflammation that may allow bacteria entry into the submucosal that provides a nidus for infection.

J Gen Microbiol, 1987 Mar, 133 ( Pt 3), 755 - 60
Interaction of non-lytic beta-lactams with penicillin-binding proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Hakenbeck R et al.; The monobactam aztreonam and the cephalosporin ceftazidime, beta-lactam antibiotics that possess the same side chain R1, showed unusual effects on exponentially growing pneumococci compared to other beta-lactams . Both antibiotics did not induce lysis even at concentrations up to 2 mg ml-1, values well above the respective MICs . However, morphological alterations and growth inhibition of the cells were observed at much lower concentrations . Binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) in vitro could be monitored directly by using anti-aztreonam antiserum and the Western blot technique . Both antibiotics showed high affinity for PBP 3, but had an extremely low affinity for PBP 2b . It is suggested that the failure to bind to PBP 2b is responsible for the failure to induce lysis in pneumococci.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1987 Mar, 40(3), 553 - 60
{Effect of metabolites on the human plasma concentration as total activity after oral administration of rokitamycin . Comparison of three different bioassay methods}; Morishita M et al.; Three different bioassay methods for rokitamycin (TMS-19-Q) were compared to each other in vitro and in vivo . Method I was a paper disc method using Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 as the test organism in nutrient agar (pH 8.0), method II was a paper disc method using Streptococcus pyogenes Cook in brain heart infusion agar (pH 7.4) and method III was an agar well method using M . luteus ATCC 9341 in the agar medium provided in the Minimum Requirements for Antibiotic Products of Japan (pH 6.5) . Ratios of relative potency of TMS-19-Q and its metabolites calculated from standard curves in human plasma using these bioassay methods, were 1.00:1.13:3.34:0.96 (TMS-19-Q:10"-OH-TMS-19-Q:LM A7:LM V) in method I, 1.00:1.58:0.40 (TMS-19-Q:LM A7:LM V) in method II and 1.00:0.51:0.86:0.114 (TMS-19-Q:10"-OH-TMS-19-Q:LM A7:LM V) in method III . The relative potency obtained from method I, generally used for macrolide antibiotics, greatly contradicted MIC values of TMS-19-Q and its metabolites against clinically isolated 190 strains of Staphylococcus aureus . On the other hand, the relative potency obtained from method III reflected closely MIC values of TMS-19-Q and its metabolites . Therefore, method III should be the most suitable bioassay method to measure the plasma concentration of TMS-19-Q . Plasma concentrations measured by these 3 different methods were compared to each other in vivo, after oral administration of TMS-19-Q at a dose of 1,200 mg to each of fasted healthy volunteers . Values obtained from method I were about 4.3 times higher than those method III.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Rev Infect Dis, 1987 Mar-Apr, 9(2), 382 - 5
Spontaneous gangrenous myositis induced by Streptococcus pyogenes: case report and review of the literature; Yoder EL et al.; A 54-year-old man presented with gangrenous myositis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes . A review of the literature disclosed 10 similar cases . Their presenting manifestations were spontaneously occurring, localized, excruciating pain; mottling suggestive of ischemic changes; and signs of sepsis . The duration of illness ranged from two to six days, and the outcome was uniformly fatal . This rare but distinct entity resembles clostridial myonecrosis except that it lasts slightly longer and does not involve gaseous crepitus . A definitive diagnosis of myonecrosi scan be established by surgical exploration; early, radical debridement plus penicillin therapy should be undertaken after diagnosis in an attempt to alter the usual devastating outcome.

Q J Med, 1987 Mar, 62(239), 195 - 220
Community-acquired pneumonia in adults in British hospitals in 1982-1983: a survey of aetiology, mortality, prognostic factors and outcome . The British Thoracic Society and the Public Health Laboratory Service; An audit of the effect of two cord-care regimens on bacterial colonization in newborn infants; Proper care of the umbilical cord of newborn infants may prevent later infections . When St Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario, started using alcohol instead of triple dye for umbilical cord care, there was a dramatic increase in the incidence of bacterial colonization in newborns in the nursery and, later, in the number of cases of staphylococcus-related skin infections in infants born at the hospital . Follow-up on 1,545 infants revealed that triple dye was significantly more effective than alcohol in reducing the growth of gram-positive organisms, especially Staphylococcus aureus and group B streptococcus, and several gram-negative organisms . Because hospital medical staff had carefully collected data on bacterial colonization, they were quickly aware of the problem and could justify resuming the use of triple dye.

J Pediatr, 1987 Mar, 110(3), 437 - 42
Intravenous gammaglobulin therapy for prophylaxis of infection in high-risk neonates; Chirico G et al.; The safety and effectiveness of intravenously administered gammaglobulin therapy for prophylaxis of infection was evaluated in 133 high-risk neonates . The infants were stratified into two groups: infants with birth weight less than or equal to 1500 g and gestational age less than or equal to 34 weeks, and infants with birth weight greater than 1500 g and receiving intensive care and assisted ventilation . Forty-three infants in group 1 and 25 in group 2 were given gammaglobulin at a dose of 0.5 g/kg/wk, for 1 month in group 1 and during intensive care in group 2 . Forty infants in group 1 and 25 in group 2 served as controls . Serum total IgG and group B streptococcus-, Escherichia coli-, and CMV-specific IgG levels similar to those in adult controls were observed in the treated infants 2 hours after gammaglobulin administration . In the treated infants in group 1, the incidence of infection was 51%, and of septicemia 5%; in the controls the incidence of infection was 77% (P less than 0.02), and of septicemia 20% (P less than 0.05) . Infection was the main cause of death in one treated and six control infants in group 1 (P less than 0.04) . In the infants with birth weight greater than 1500 g receiving intensive care and assisted ventilation, no significant differences were observed in the incidence of infection or septicemia in treated and control infants . No side effects were observed after intravenous gammaglobulin administration . These data show that intravenously administered gammaglobulin is both safe and effective for prophylaxis of infection in preterm very low birth weight infants.

J Dent Res, 1987 Mar, 66(3), 791 - 4
Effects of bicarbonate-based dental powder, fluoride, and saccharin on dental caries and on Streptococcus sobrinus recoveries in rats; Tanzer JM et al.; The effects of NaHCO3-based dental powder containing NaF and sodium saccharin on dental caries and Streptococcus sobrinus recoveries in rats were studied . Weanling specific-pathogen-free Osborne-Mendel (SPFOM) rats were inoculated with S . sobrinus 6715-13WT . One of six infected groups was topically treated with either demineralized water (DW), a dental powder suspended such that there was 1 part solid per 2 parts DW, 0.073% NaF, 0.5% Na-saccharin (Nas), or a combination of NaF and Nas at the same concentrations . NaF-supplemented DW (at 10 ppm F-) was provided to the 6th group of infected rats as a positive treatment control, but this group was otherwise untreated . A seventh but uninfected group was topically treated with DW . All topical treatments were given once for one min daily per rat, for five days per week . Animals' teeth were swabbed for recovery of 6715-13WT and total recoverable flora . At 37 days after start of treatment, S . sobrinus recoveries were lower only for those rats topically treated with the dental powder (p less than 0.05) by comparison with recoveries from the infected, topical DW-treated group . Caries scores, however, were 42% lower for the groups receiving the dental powder (p less than 0.005), 30% lower for those treated with the combined NaF-Nas (p less than 0.005), and 47% lower for the NaF-supplemented drinking water group (p less than 0.005) . The dental powder effects, like those for the combined NaF-Nas and NaF drinking water, were evident on both smooth and fissure tooth surfaces . Both the 10 ppm F- drinking water and the dental powder significantly (p less than 0.005) reduced fissure caries scores below the level elicited by the indigenous mutans-free flora in the DW-treated uninfected rats; however, these reduction were not significantly different from one another . Thus, the 10 ppm F- drinking water and the dental powder equally inhibited not only the S . sobrinus-attributable component of caries but probably also the component of caries attributable to the indigenous oral flora.

Inflammation, 1987 Mar, 11(1), 111 - 5
In vitro inhibition of group B streptococcus-induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte aggregation; Panus PC et al.; Evidence suggests that part of the pathophysiologic response seen in group B streptococcal (GBS) sepsis may be due to polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) activation . Indomethacin (INDO), which inhibits eicosanoid metabolism, attenuates the pathophysiologic response stimulated by GBS, possibly due to inhibition of PMN aggregation . We examined the capability of two eicosanoid metabolism inhibitors, INDO and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), to inhibit PMN aggregation induced by heat-inactivated opsonized GBS and GBS-activated plasma . Opsonized GBS-induced PMN aggregation was inhibited by INDO (50-500 microM) and NDGA (1-100 microM) . Over similar concentration ranges, INDO and NDGA had no significant effect on PMN aggregation induced by GBS-activated plasma . PMNs in plasma aggregate in response to unopsonized GBS . The stimuli for aggregation are opsonized GBS and GBS-activated plasma . INDO (50-500 microM) was unable to inhibit aggregation under this condition . Over the same concentration range in which INDO inhibited opsonized GBS-induced PMN aggregation, INDO was unable to inhibit opsonized GBS-induced superoxide production in PMNs . NDGA was examined but was found to interfere with the assay . The above evidence suggests PMN aggregation via eicosanoid metabolism may play a role in GBS-induced sepsis, which may be attenuated by agents such as INDO and NDGA.

J Hosp Infect, 1987 Mar, 9(2), 162 - 8
A prospective survey of hospital cross-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae; Davies AJ et al.; A prospective survey of pneumococcal carriage and infection between October 1984 and April 1985 in a male medical ward of a district general hospital is reported . In the hospital as a whole, pneumococcal infection, acquired more than 5 days after admission, accounted for some 20% of all pneumococcal infection.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Mar, 25(3), 540 - 5
Antibodies to various bacterial cell wall peptidoglycans in human and rabbit sera; Wergeland HI et al.; Sera from patients with verified systemic staphylococcal infection contained antibodies reactive with peptidoglycan (PG) from Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Micrococcus lysodeikticus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli . The presence of anti-PG cross-reactive antibodies was verified in patient sera by inhibition studies with the various bacterial PGs . Antibodies to nonstaphylococcal PGs were also elevated in sera from rabbits immunized with S . aureus PG . Antibodies to S . aureus PG were removed with the synthetic peptide analogs of S . aureus PG, the L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala, L-Lys-D-Ala, and (Gly)5 determinants, as well as with an S . aureus PG peptide fragment containing the determinants D-Ala-D-Ala and L-Lys-D-Ala . Isolated antibodies to the PG peptides, both synthetic and native, were reactive with S . aureus and S . epidermidis PGs . The antibodies to the D-Ala-D-Ala and the L-Lys-D-Ala determinants were also reactive with S . pyogenes PG, but not with PGs from M . lysodeikticus, B . subtilis, and E . coli.

Obstet Gynecol, 1987 Mar, 69(3 Pt 1), 354 - 7
Cervical Gram stain for rapid detection of colonization with beta-streptococcus; Holls WM et al.; The group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus has been implicated in significant maternal and neonatal infections . The usual criteria for identifying the organism has been culture . A preliminary prospective study of the applicability of a simple, rapid, and readily available inexpensive screening tool, the Gram stain, was evaluated in 98 high-risk patients (premature rupture of the membranes and/or premature labor) . In this selected population, cervical Gram stain was found to have a 98% negative predictive value for subsequent culture-proven group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus colonization . The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values were, respectively, 93, 69, and 33% . Gram stain may be an appropriate test to assist in evaluation of group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus colonization in an at-risk population.

Infect Immun, 1987 Mar, 55(3), 810 - 5
Recognition of carbohydrate and protein epitopes by monoclonal antibodies to a cell wall antigen from Streptococcus mutans; Mitchell CG et al.; The nature of the determinants recognized by a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against a cell wall antigen of Streptococcus mutans (SA I/II) was investigated . Mild periodate oxidation of SA I/II showed that MAbs Guy 1, 2, 3, and 5 recognized carbohydrate epitopes on the antigen . Glycosidases were used to identify the nature of the sugars involved in their binding . Treatment with beta-glucosidase inhibited the binding of Guy 1, 2, 3, and 5 by 90% . No competition was found for any of the MAbs between SA I/II and a series of carbohydrates, including the serotype c polysaccharide from S . mutans . The results show that MAbs Guy 1, 2, 3, and 5 recognize carbohydrate epitopes on SA I/II which are distinct from the serotype polysaccharide . The other MAbs recognized protein epitopes on SA I/II.

Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1987 Feb 20, 99(4), 105 - 7
{Etiology of erysipelas}; Stoberl C et al.; Bacterial cultures were taken from 31 patients by scarification from the dermal compartment of recent erysipelas foci . Pathogenic organisms were isolated from the dermis while cultures from the skin surface remained sterile in 5 patients; Streptococcus pyogenes was cultured in 2 of these patients and Staphylococcus aureus in the other 3 patients . Our findings indicate that staphylococcal erysipelas does exist and we suppose that Staphylococcus aureus is able to induce erysipelas, above all in the presence of dysfunction of lymph vessels . When treatment with penicillin G is not successful, erysipelas caused by staphylococci has to be considered . In these cases treatment has to be changed to penicillinase-resistant penicillin.

J Mol Biol, 1987 Feb 5, 193(3), 585 - 9
Response of the flagellar rotary motor to abrupt changes in extracellular pH; Shimada K et al.; Cells of a motile Streptococcus were starved, tethered to a quartz coverslip, energized with a potassium diffusion potential, and exposed to sudden decrements in external pH generated by flash photolysis of 2-hydroxyphenyl-1-(2-nitro)phenyl phosphate . The rotation rate of the cells increased following the flash but only after a brief time lag . Lags of the order of 0.1 second were observed in a dilute buffer (0.05 mM), confirming results obtained earlier . These lags were longer when the buffer was prepared in D2O . However, lags as short as 0.01 second were found in more concentrated buffers (1 and 3 mM) . In this case, there was no deuterium solvent isotope effect . These differences arise from the extra time required for diffusion of protons from a dilute medium into the cell wall, which has a large buffering capacity . The short lags observed in concentrated media could be inherent to the flagellar motor, but the possibility that they are due to buffered diffusion through the cell wall or to elastic filtering by the tether has not been ruled out.

J Clin Pathol, 1987 Feb, 40(2), 190 - 3
Fatal infection in neonates of 26 weeks' gestation due to Streptococcus milleri: report of two cases; Cox RA et al.; Fatal sepsis due to a particular biotype of Streptococcus milleri occurred in two neonates born at 26 weeks' gestation . The clinical importance of this biotype in association with premature labour and neonatal sepsis is discussed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 25(2), 222 - 5
Production and purification of Streptococcus pneumoniae hemolysin (pneumolysin); Kanclerski K et al.; Pneumolysin was found to be produced by 112 of 113 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and to be an intracellular hemolysin . A 10-liter-scale fermentor production and purification procedure was developed for this hemolysin . The culture was concentrated by filtration 10 times before centrifugation . The cellular content was purified by ion-exchange chromatography, covalent thiopropyl gel chromatography, and gel filtration . One batch operation resulted in 6 mg of highly purified pneumolysin, with a yield of 66% and a specific activity of 1,400,000 hemolytic units per mg . The pneumolysin had a molecular weight of 53,000 and an isoelectric point of 5.2 . The purification method developed will be of value in future studies on this hemolysin.

J Clin Invest, 1987 Feb, 79(2), 388 - 98
Direct evidence that decreased serum opsonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae via the alternative complement pathway in sickle cell disease is related to antibody deficiency; Bjornson AB et al.; Two approaches were used to demonstrate that reduction in serum opsonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae via the alternative complement pathway in children with sickle cell disease is related to a deficiency of antibodies to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide . First, opsonization of S . pneumoniae mediated by the alternative pathway in patients' sera was restored to normal by addition of the purified IgG or IgM fraction of goat antiserum to capsular polysaccharide of the homologous serotype . Secondly, IgG antibody titers to capsular polysaccharide in patients' sera correlated significantly with alternative pathway-mediated opsonization; the correlation between titers of IgM anticapsular antibodies and opsonization approached statistical significance . The sum of the IgG and IgM anticapsular antibody titers correlated most significantly with opsonization . Our results suggest that reduction in alternative pathway-mediated opsonization in sera from children with sickle cell disease is related to low levels of both IgG and IgM anticapsular antibodies.

Infect Immun, 1987 Feb, 55(2), 438 - 45
Relationship of cell surface morphology and composition of Streptococcus salivarius K+ to adherence and hydrophobicity; Weerkamp AH et al.; The cell surfaces of a range of variants of Streptococcus salivarius HB, altered in cell wall antigen composition, were compared with those of the parent with respect to adherence, ability to adsorb to hexadecane, morphology, and exposure of lipoteichoic acid (LTA) . Adherence to host surfaces was measured by using both saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads and tissue-cultured HeLa cells, and interbacterial adherence was measured by using Veillonella alcalescens V1 cells . Progressive loss of the protease-sensitive fibril classes was generally associated with decreasing ability to adsorb to hexadecane . However, increased exposure of protein antigen C (AgC) increased the apparent hydrophobicity of the cell . This correlated with the finding that AgC was the most hydrophobic of the solubilized fibrillar cell wall antigens . Collectively, this demonstrates that adsorption to hydrophobic ligands is directly related to the density of the fibrillar layer on the cells and the properties and surface exposure of specific fibril classes . The involvement of hydrophobic interactions in AgC-associated attachment was suggested by its sensitivity to low levels of the hydrophobic bond-breaking agent tetramethyl urea, although the reduction was not to the level of adherence observed with strains lacking AgC . However, hydrophobicity was less essential to other adherence reactions . Circumstantial evidence, including immunoelectron microscopy, showing that LTA was virtually absent from the fibrillar layer, whole-cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, suggesting that surface exposure of LTA related inversely to the density of the fibrillar layer, and agarose gel electrophoresis, showing that LTA was not specifically associated with protein fibrillar antigens, strongly suggested that LTA does not confer hydrophobic properties to these cells and is not involved in adherence reactions associated with the cell wall protein antigens.

J Reprod Immunol, 1987 Feb, 10(2), 157 - 66
Effects of stallion seminal plasma on hydrogen peroxide release by leukocytes exposed to spermatozoa and bacteria; Hansen PJ et al.; The ability of stallion seminal plasma to modify phagocytosis of spermatozoa and Streptococcus zooepidemicus was examined . Phagocytosis was monitored indirectly as the H2O2 produced by peripheral blood leukocytes after addition of spermatozoa or bacteria . Hydrogen peroxide production after addition of ejaculated spermatozoa was greater (P less than 0.01) than after addition of epididymal sperm . Furthermore, pre-incubation of epididymal sperm with 6.25-50% seminal plasma caused a dose-dependent increase in subsequent H2O2 production by leukocytes (P less than 0.05) . In addition, equine serum was capable of opsonizing epididymal and ejaculated sperm . Seminal plasma also directly stimulated phagocyte function because leukocytes preincubated with 12.5% or 25% seminal plasma released more H2O2 after addition of S . zooepidemicus than control leukocytes (P less than 0.05) . It is suggested that the opsonization of spermatozoa and the direct stimulation of phagocytes by seminal plasma may represent mechanisms for clearing spermatozoa and bacteria from the reproduction tract.

Can J Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 33(2), 118 - 22
The phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus salivarius . Identification of a IIIman protein; Vadeboncoeur C et al.; A double-spontaneous mutant resistant to the growth inhibitory effect of alpha-methylglucoside and 2-deoxyglucose was isolated from Streptococcus salivarius . This mutant strain, called alpha S3L11, did not grow on mannose and grew poorly on 5 mM fructose and 5 mM glucose . Isolated membranes of strain alpha S3L11 were unable to catalyse the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of mannose in the presence of purified enzyme I and HPr . Addition of dialysed membrane-free cellular extract of the wild-type strain to the reaction medium restored the activity . The factor that restored the phosphoenolpyruvate-mannose phosphotransferase activity to membranes of strain alpha S3L11 was called IIIman . This factor was partially purified from the wild-type strain by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, DEAE-TSK chromatography, and molecular seiving on a column of Ultrogel AcA 34 . This partially purified preparation also enhanced the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of glucose, fructose, and 2-deoxyglucose in strain alpha S3L11.

Bioorg Khim, 1987 Feb, 13(2), 273 - 7
{Synthesis of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14}; Nifant'ev NE et al.; Synthesis of the regular branched polysaccharide {-6(Gal beta 1-4)GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-}n structurally corresponding to capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 14 involves blockwise synthesis of a tritylated 1,2-O-(1-cyano)ethylidene tetrasaccharide derivative from lactosamine and lactose precursors followed by stereospecific polycondensation of the tetrasaccharide monomer.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 6(1), 68 - 9
A new coagglutination test for detecting pneumococcal C-polysaccharide; Krook A et al.; A new coagglutination test (PnC-CoA) for detecting pneumococcal C-polysaccharide (PnC) was compared with a commercial kit for detecting capsular polysaccharide using sputum samples from 105 patients with pneumonia . The sensitivity obtained with PnC-CoA was 95.8% and with the commercial kit 83.3%; the specificity was 96.5% and 91.2%, respectively . The PnC-CoA is simple to perform and it is a rapid, sensitive and specific test for detecting Streptococcus pneumoniae in sputa from adult patients with pneumonia.

Am J Med Sci, 1987 Feb, 293(2), 69 - 74
A comparison of native and modified intravenous immunoglobulin for the management of hypogammaglobulinemia; Steele RW et al.; Ten patients with severe hypogammaglobulinemia received 6 monthly infusions of either native or modified intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) followed by 6 monthly infusions of the other product in a double-blind, crossover protocol . Clinical parameters were monitored on a daily basis and serum was obtained at 24 hours, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks after each infusion for measurement of total IgG, specific antibodies, and opsonizing antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae types 5, 12F, and 14 . No differences between the products were seen for total IgG or antibodies against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, rubella, toxoplasma cytomegalovirus, diphtheria, or tetanus . Greater opsonizing antibody to the three strains of pneumococci were apparent for native IVIG until the third infusion, after which time products were equal . Clinical parameters (febrile or symptomatic days, missed work/school, time on antibiotics, culture positive infection, and hospitalizations) were equivalent during the treatment period with each preparation . This study showed equivalent efficacy of native IVIG as compared with reduced and alkylated IVIG during maintenance therapy for hypogammaglobulinemia.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1987 Feb, 35(2), 177 - 80
{Isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from genital samples . Discussion of its pathogenic role}; Darbas H et al.; Within an eleven month period (September 1984 to July 1985) fourteen Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated from varied genital samples (vaginal secretions, IUD, placentas, sperms) . The possible carriage and the pathogenicity of pneumococcus are examined . The outbreak of several pooled cases last year, pose a difficult problem.

J Exp Med, 1987 Feb 1, 165(2), 381 - 94
Use of insertional inactivation to facilitate studies of biological properties of pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA); McDaniel LS et al.; PspA is a cell surface protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae that is present on a number of clinical isolates as well as the nonencapsulated laboratory strain Rx1 . In a previous report we have shown that mAbs directed against PspA can protect mice from at least some of the pneumococcal strains bearing this protein . In our present report we have produced insertional inactivation mutants that lack PspA and have used these mutants to demonstrate that PspA can play a role in pneumococcal virulence and that anti-PspA immunity can lead to protection against pneumococcal infection . PspA- mutants were obtained using derivatives of plasmid pVA891 carrying chromosomal fragments from Rx1 . From one of the mutants, we cloned a 550 bp fragment of the pneumococcal gene into pVA891 and transferred this chimeric plasmid, designated pKSD300, into Escherichia coli . After transformation of pKSD300 into Rx1, PspA production is not detected . In colony hybridization experiments, the 550 bp fragment hybridizes specifically to pneumococcal isolates in a pattern consistent with the hypothesis that the fragment is a portion of the pspA structural gene that is different from the portions coding for the antigenic determinants detected by mAbs Xi64 or Xi126 . When X-linked immunodeficient (xid) CBA/N mice were immunized with wild-type Rx1, they were resistant to challenge with type 3 strain WU2 . However, when these mice were immunized with a PspA- mutant of Rx1, they failed to survive the subsequent challenge, indicating that immunity to PspA can contribute to the resistance to pneumococcal infection . Using pKSD300 we insertionally inactivated pspA in D39, a virulent strain of S . pneumoniae . When injected intravenously there was a 10-fold greater reduction of the mutant pneumococci in the blood, as compared to the wild-type D39.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 25(2), 259 - 62
Rapid detection of group B streptococcal antigen in human amniotic fluid; Moriarty RA et al.; Infants exposed in utero to group B streptococcus (GBS)-infected human amniotic fluid (HAF) are at high risk for serious infection . Latex particle agglutination (LPA) tests are not approved for detection of GBS in HAF . Two LPA systems, Patho-Dx Strep B and Wellcogen Strep B, were used to test unfiltered sterile HAF and filtered HAF containing concentrations of GBS carbohydrate from 0.2 to 100 micrograms/ml . Four different processing techniques were used to prevent nonspecific LPA: EDTA, nitrous acid, enzyme, and nitrous acid-heat . GBS (10(2) CFU/ml) was inoculated into filtered HAF, incubated, sampled serially, processed with enzyme, and tested by LPA . Unprocessed, unfiltered HAF showed 33% nonspecific agglutination when tested by LPA . Processing of HAF removed nonspecific agglutination and improved GBS antigen detection . Without processing, LPA could not detect less than 100 micrograms of GBS carbohydrate per ml . With nitrous acid or enzyme processing, as little as 0.2 microgram/ml could be detected . Results were easier to read after enzyme processing than after nitrous acid processing . Although both LPA systems were equally efficient, testing was easier with the Patho-Dx system . After enzyme processing, LPA could detect as few as 10(4) CFU/ml when agglutination was read with a 4 X hand lens . Substances in HAF induce false-positive reactions during LPA testing . Processing removes the interference and improves the detection of GBS . LPA testing of HAF may allow earlier identification and treatment of infants at risk for serious GBS infection.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 95(1), 49 - 54
Plaque inhibition by hexetidine and zinc; Giertsen E et al.; Rinsing experiments with mouthwashes containing zinc ions, hexetidine and a combination of hexetidine and zinc ions were performed with a group of 10 volunteers . The amount of plaque was assessed after rinsing with the test solutions for 4 days during which mechanical toothcleaning was discontinued . Significantly improved inhibition was observed by the combination of hexetidine and zinc ions compared with the two agents used separately . In vitro bacteriological tests showed that hexetidine and zinc ions had a synergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of Streptococcus mutans.

Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 95(1), 37 - 42
Streptococcus mutans levels in saliva and distribution of serotypes among 9-year-old Icelandic children; Holbrook WP et al.; Streptococcus mutans levels in saliva were determined in 9-yr-old children from five towns in Iceland . In four towns the mean counts were greater than 10(5)/ml . Serotype c was predominant but types e and d/g were also found . The proportion of children harbouring serotype d/g alone or in combination with other serotypes was higher than that reported in most other studies.

J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 66(2), 480 - 5
Characterization of lactoferrin interaction with Streptococcus mutans; Lassiter MO et al.; Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein common to exocrine secretions and the specific granules of neutrophils . Each molecule is capable of high-affinity coordinate-binding of two ferric ions with two bicarbonate or carbonic anions . The initial aspect of the present study was directed at determining the nature of anion involvement in LF bactericidal activity . It was found that selective anions were capable of inhibiting the expression of bactericidal activity by LF on S . mutans 10449 . The ability to block LF expression was directly related to the capacity of the anion to serve as a coordinate ion in iron-binding by the transferrin molecules . These data support the hypothesis that the LF target site on the bacterial surface is anionic . There has been controversy in the literature regarding LF involvement in hydroxy radical generation . The second phase of these studies indicated that treatment of S . mutans with LF under anaerobic conditions abrogated the bactericidal effect of this molecule . LF-killing could be enhanced by the presence of thiocyanate and inhibited by catalase and lactoperoxidase; however, bovine serum albumin was equally effective as an inhibitor . The apparent requirement for oxygen in LF bactericidal effect on S . mutans is not inconsistent with a hydroxy radical mechanism.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Feb, (2), 18 - 20
{Relation between natural bacterial colonization and adhesion to human buccal epithelium}; Maianskii AN et al.; As the results of the quantitative study of Streptococcus salivarius adhering to buccal epithelial cells, three levels of their natural colonization were established: low (less than 20 bacteria per epithelial cell), medium (20-50 bacteria), and high (more than 50 bacteria) . The characteristics of natural colonization by S . salivarius inversely correlated with the resistance of epithelial cells to the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In the process of interaction with P . aeruginosa highly adhesive strain, S . salivarius, naturally colonizing the cells of the buccal epithelium, decreased in number 2-10 times up to complete desorption . These results may be regarded as the manifestation of one of the mechanisms regulating the microecological balance in the system of mucous membranes.

J Dairy Sci, 1987 Feb, 70(2), 225 - 9
Phage resistance in Streptococcus lactis ssp . diacetylactis transconjugant SLA3.2501 and its derivatives; Vedamuthu ER et al.; Phage 18-16, which was virulent for Streptococcus lactis ssp . diacetylactis SLA3.25 was used to study phage-resistant characteristics of mucoid S . lactis ssp . diacetylactis transconjugant SLA3.2501 obtained through conjugative cotransfer of pSRQ2201 (Lac-plasmid) and pSRQ2202 (Muc-plasmid) to SLA3.25 (15) . Interaction of phage 18-16 with SLA3.2501 and its derivatives showed that phage resistance was not related to either the lack of phage adsorption or restriction-modification . Suppression of phage replication in SLA3.2501 and its derivatives was not completely relieved by curing of either pSRQ2201 or pSRQ2202 or both.

Mol Cell Biochem, 1987 Feb, 73(2), 111 - 5
Metal ion inactivation and chelator stimulation of Streptococcus mitis arginine aminopeptidase; Hiraoka BY et al.; Activation of Streptococcus mitis (ATTC 9811) arginine aminopeptidase resulted in removal of the metal(s) from the enzyme molecule, and the action of the heavy metal ion in the inactivation process was shown to involve formation of a chelate complex between the enzyme molecule and metal or oxidation of functional group(s) on the enzyme surface . The enzyme also underwent activation by bovine serum albumin, amino acids, phosphate, and citric acid, which are probable physiological chelators.

Microbiologia, 1987 Feb, 3(1), 5 - 12
Gene conversion in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Sicard AM; In pneumococcus, correction of mutations by the repair of mismatched bases results in gene conversion, i.e . transfer of genetic information from one strand of DNA to the other . Three different correction systems act upon a variety of mutations: 1) A long-patch process (a few Kb) is efficient in the elimination of transitions, mostly +/- 1 base-pair mutations and less efficient in eliminating some transversions without affecting fairly long deletions . Neighboring sequences may interfere with this process . It is directed by at least two genes . 2) A localized conversion system acts on a six base-pair heteroduplex structure such as 5'ATTAAT/3'TAAGTA by specifically converting the mutated A base to the wild type C base . Modifications of this configuration by site-directed mutagenesis lead to reduced conversion . 3) Fairly long deletions are eliminated during recombination by events that extend several scores of bases around the heterologus region . Although only the first conversion system has been shown to participate efficiently in protecting Streptococcus pneumoniae against spontaneous mutation, the two other processes may also eliminate mutations of different natures.

J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 66(2), 451 - 6
Ontogeny and senescence of salivary immunity; Smith DJ et al.; The objective of the present study was to evaluate the capacity for secretory immune responses throughout life . This was done by measuring, by single radial immunodiffusion, the concentrations of IgA and IgA1 subclass in saliva samples of subjects who ranged in age from two months to 91 years . The presence of salivary IgA antibodies to two nearly ubiquitous mucosal antigens, Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase (GTF) and killed poliovirus (Types 1, 2, and 3), was measured in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in this population . Whole saliva from 2-5-month-old infants contained significantly less IgA than did parotid saliva of any adult group . Also, a significantly higher proportion of the total salivary IgA was IgA1 in infants' saliva than was found in parotid saliva of adults . Salivary IgA and IgA1 subclass levels in parotid saliva of young and old (70-91 years) adults did not differ . Salivary IgA antibody levels to GTF were negligible in most saliva samples of children less than five years old, while 40% of children older than one year had detectable levels of salivary antibody to poliovirus (PV) . This differences between response to GTF and PV antigens may reflect differences in antigenic challenge . Parotid saliva of the oldest group (70-91 years) had narrowly distributed and uniformly low levels of IgA antibody to both antigens . Since their IgA immunoglobulin levels were the same as in younger adults, the low antibody levels in this oldest group may be associated with changes in the number or function of T or B lymphocytes or antigen-processing cells, and/or may result from diminished levels of challenge with these antigens.

Mol Gen Genet, 1987 Feb, 206(2), 259 - 64
Tn1545: a conjugative shuttle transposon; Courvalin P et al.; Tn1545, from Streptococcus pneumoniae BM4200, confers resistance to kanamycin (aphA-3), erythromycin (ermAM) and tetracycline (tetM) . The 25.3 kb element is self-transferable to various Gram-positive bacterial genera where it transposes . Tn1545 was cloned in its entirety in the recombination deficient Escherichia coli HB101 where it was unstable . The three resistance genes aphA-3, ermAM and tetM were expressed but were not transferable to other E . coli cells . Tn1545 transposed from the hybrid plasmid to multiple sites of the chromosome of its new host . The element re-transposed, at a frequency of 5 X 10(-9), from the chromosome to various sites of a conjugative plasmid where it could be lost by apparently clean excision . The element transformed and transposed to the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis . The properties of the conjugative shuttle transposon Tn1545 may account for the recent emergence of genes from Gram-positive bacteria in Gram-negative organisms.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Feb, 31(2), 207 - 12
Clinical evaluation of efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of teicoplanin for serious gram-positive infections; Bibler MR et al.; Nineteen patients hospitalized for serious gram-positive infections were treated with teicoplanin, a new glycopeptide antibiotic . A variety of infections were treated, including endocarditis, septic thrombophlebitis, osteomyelitis, pyogenic arthritis, and soft tissue infection . Of 13 infections that could be evaluated in 12 patients, there were 8 clinical cures, 2 improvements, 1 recurrence, and 2 failures . Of the eight patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, seven were clinically cured or improved with teicoplanin therapy . Of the nine patients in whom the bacteriological response to treatment could be fully evaluated, six were cured; there was recurrence of infection in one, and treatment failed in two patients . In vitro testing showed the 13 bacterial isolates (9 S . aureus, 3 S . epidermidis, and 1 group B streptococcus) to be uniformly susceptible to teicoplanin, with MICs ranging from 0.12 to 0.5 microgram/ml . Every isolate was more susceptible in vitro to teicoplanin than to vancomycin . Three of the staphylococcal isolates were resistant to methicillin . Pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that after an initial drug-accumulation period, a single daily dose adequately maintained the teicoplanin concentrations in serum within therapeutic ranges . Teicoplanin also penetrated well into synovial fluid . The drug was well tolerated by either intravenous or intramuscular administration . The most significant adverse reaction was an urticarial rash which required discontinuation of therapy in one patient; a second patient experienced a modest decrease in high-frequency auditory threshold . Asymptomatic eosinophilia and mild elevation of serum transaminases were noted as well . The results of this study suggest that teicoplanin is a safe and effective new agent for treatment of serious infections caused by gram-positive organisms.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Feb, 169(2), 447 - 53
Teichoic acid-containing muropeptides from Streptococcus pneumoniae as substrates for the pneumococcal autolysin; Garcia-Bustos JF et al.; Pneumococcal cell walls in which the normal phosphorylcholine component of the wall teichoic acids is replaced with phosphorylethanolamine cannot absorb the homologous autolytic enzyme and are completely resistant to autolytic degradation (S . Giudicelli and A . Tomasz, J . Bacteriol . 158:1188-1190, 1984) . We have now isolated and characterized soluble teichoic acid-containing muropeptides from such cell walls and tested them as substrates for the pneumococcal autolytic enzyme . Both choline- and ethanolamine-containing muropeptides were hydrolyzed to the same extent by the enzyme . Furthermore, free choline concentrations that totally inhibited the digestion of pneumococcal cell walls in vivo and in vitro were without effect when the soluble substrates were used.

Biochemistry, 1987 Jan 27, 26(2), 476 - 86
Structure of the complex group-specific polysaccharide of group B Streptococcus; Michon F et al.; The group-specific antigen was isolated from a type Ia group B streptococcal strain and is a complex polysaccharide composed of alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl, alpha-D-galactopyranosyl, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl, D-glucitol, and phosphate residues . The complexity of the group B polysaccharide antigen is evident from the fact that when depolymerized by basic hydrolysis it yielded three structurally related, but nevertheless significantly different, oligosaccharides . These oligosaccharides were obtained in different molar quantities as their monophosphate esters . This evidence strongly suggests that they are linked by phosphodiester bonds in the original group B antigen . If these oligosaccharides are in fact randomly situated throughout the linear polysaccharide, then this type of heterogeneous repeating unit is unusual for a polysaccharide of bacterial origin . However, this structural arrangement of the oligosaccharides has yet to be unambiguously established because the alternate explanation of there being three different polysaccharides in the group B antigen cannot be discounted in the evidence presented here . The oligosaccharides were enzymatically dephosphorylated, and the structures of two of the three oligosaccharides are (formula: see text) Despite their structural differences, the two oligosaccharides are related by the smaller being an integral part of the larger . In the structural analysis of the group B antigen, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and various specific chemical and enzymatic degradations were the principal methods used . Of particular interest was the use of an alpha-rhamnosidase to selectively degrade the larger oligosaccharide . This facilitated the assignment of signals in its 1H and 13C NMR spectra.

J Immunol Methods, 1987 Jan 26, 96(1), 47 - 56
Development of a semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of human IgG subclass antibodies; Kemeny DM et al.; We have developed a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which measures antibodies to bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and hyaluronidase (HYAL), horse IgG, bovine casein, and the bacterium Streptococcus mutans in each of the four human IgG subclasses . For this purpose, we have used mouse monoclonal antibodies (McAb) specific for each subclass and one which showed 'pan-IgG' reactivity . Binding to human IgG was similar for all the McAb and dilution of human IgG resulted in similar dilution curves for each subclass . Results were expressed as arbitrary U ml-1 by comparing the optical density obtained with each subclass-specific McAb to a reference curve for total IgG antibody constructed using the 'pan-IgG' McAb . Close agreement was found between the total amount of IgG antibody and the sum of the antibody in each of the four subclasses (PLA2 r = 0.90, horse IgG r = 0.98, bovine casein r = 0.84, S . mutans r = 0.85), confirming that these assays provide semi-quantitative measurements of the amount of subclass-specific antibody.

J Pediatr Surg, 1987 Jan, 22(1), 28 - 33
Current indications for decortication in the treatment of empyema in children; Foglia RP et al.; Although most children with empyema respond to antibiotics and pleural drainage, a recognizable number fail to improve . This study reviews experience with ten children over the past 7 years who have been selected for lung decortication for refractory empyema . Decortication was performed because of lack of clinical improvement despite drainage and multiple antibiotics during an average 20-day preoperative hospitalization . Responsible organisms included beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Hemophilus influenzae . A computerized tomographic (CT) scan of the chest was performed in the last eight patients and showed at least a 50% limitation of lung expansion by the products of the empyema in each case . Following decortication, chest tubes were removed, antibiotics stopped, and temperature and white blood cell count returned promptly to normal . The advantages of early decortication in selected patients with empyema who do not respond to antibiotics and drainage include low morbidity, shorter hospitalization, and excellent long-term results.

J Infect, 1987 Jan, 14(1), 31 - 7
The spectrum of pneumonia in 1983 at the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital; Mohamed AR et al.; The agents causing pneumonia have been assessed in 112 adult patients admitted to the Armed Forces Hospital in Riyadh during a period of one year: pathogens were identified in 78 patients (69.6%) . Sputum culture produced a significant isolate in 60 patients (53.5%), and in 17 (15.2%) the causative agent was suggested by serological tests . Streptococcus pneumonia was the commonest infecting agent (21.4%) . Pneumonia due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis was diagnosed in eight patients, to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in seven, to Chlamydia psittaci in two and to Legionella pneumophila in one . Three renal transplant patients had pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, cytomegalovirus and Pneumocystis carinii respectively, the latter diagnosed by lung biopsy . Two patients with acute Brucella melitensis infections developed pneumonia . In 34 patients (30.4%) the causative organism was not identified . Most of the epidemiological and aetiological factors studied in this survey are inconsistent with previous reports on pneumonia from western countries . For example, the commonest age group affected was younger than in western series . Tuberculous and brucella pneumonia, not commonly seen in western countries, are diagnoses to be considered in Saudi Arabia.

Immunology, 1987 Jan, 60(1), 111 - 6
A comparison of IgA in portal and peripheral venous blood; Challacombe SJ et al.; A comparison of IgA in portal and peripheral venous blood was made to elucidate further any possible role of the liver in IgA functions in man . Over fifty paired samples of portal and peripheral blood were obtained from patients undergoing abdominal surgery . The samples were examined for total IgA and secretory IgA content, IgA immune complexes, and the proportion of polymeric IgA and IgA antibodies to Streptococcus mutans and Escherichia coli . No significant differences in the overall IgA concentration in portal and peripheral venous blood were found, but the concentration of secretory IgA was raised in portal blood (P less than 0.02) . The IgA content of immune complexes (PEG precipitates) was significantly raised in portal sera compared with peripheral sera . Antibody levels to S . mutans or E . coli were not significantly different in the paired samples . A mean of 18.1% of the IgA in portal blood was greater than 7S in size compared with a mean of 15.3% in peripheral blood (P less than 0.01) . Detectable differences between IgA in portal and peripheral venous blood could indicate some role of the liver in the transport of polymeric IgA and IgA complexes from serum to bile in man, but could represent increased production of these types of IgA in tissues drained by the portal vein.

Eur Surg Res, 1987, 19(2), 86 - 90
Effect of splenectomy and hemisplenectomy on pneumococcal infection and bacteria clearance in the rat; Pouche A et al.; Median survival times 1 month after intraperitoneal inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae Felton UC 41 show that the difference between hemisplenectomized and control rats is not at all significant (chi 2 = 0.04) . On the other hand, comparing splenectomized rats with hemisplenectomized and control rats taken together, there is a significant difference: 10% level (chi 2 = 2.84; 1 degree of freedom; p less than 0.10) . The blood concentrations of pneumococci at different time intervals after inoculation do not differ between control and hemisplenectomized rats (F = 0.02; 1 and 135 degrees of freedom), but they differ very significantly when the splenectomized rats are compared with the hemisplenectomized rats and controls taken together (F = 10.00; 1 and 135 degrees of freedom; p less than 0.01).

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1987, 82(1), 40 - 5
Modulatory effects of Streptococcus mutans on human neutrophil adherence and deoxyglucose uptake; Seow WK et al.; Suppression of human neutrophil adherence and deoxyglucose uptake was observed after direct interaction between neutrophils and serotype c of Streptococcus mutans, but not other serotypes . Since neutrophils comprise more than 95% of leukocytes in gingival crevicular fluid and constitute one of the first lines of defense in the oral cavity, the capacity of S . mutans serotype c to suppress neutrophil activation may explain its predominance over other serotypes, and its greater propensity for colonization of the oral cavity.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Jan, 155(1), 107 - 12
Experimental bacterial endocarditis after dental extractions in rats with periodontitis; Overholser CD et al.; The development of bacterial endocarditis was analyzed after dental extractions in rats with or without periodontal disease . Periodontal disease was produced in rats by tying silk ligatures around the two maxillary first molars and placing the animals on a high sucrose diet for 14 weeks . Sterile aortic valve vegetations were produced by means of a transaortic catheter, and 24 hr later the maxillary first molars were extracted . The animals were killed 72 hr after the extractions . In rats with periodontal disease, extractions resulted in a 48% (14 of 29) incidence of bacterial endocarditis, most cases of which were due to Streptococcus spp . (one was caused by Staphylococcus aureus) . In contrast, when the teeth with a healthy periodontium were extracted, only 6% (one of 15) of the rats developed endocarditis . When catheters were placed in animals with periodontal disease but no extractions were performed, no endocarditis occurred.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 25(1), 152 - 3
Cross-reaction between Streptococcus pneumoniae and group C streptococcal latex reagent; Lee PC et al.; The extent of cross-reactivity between Streptococcus pneumoniae and two commercial streptococcal latex grouping reagents was examined . Cross-reactivity with the group C latex reagent was demonstrated in 91% (20 of 22) of blood cultures tested directly and in 97% (73 of 75) of clinical isolates of various serotypes tested after enzymatic extraction . This is important in the clinical laboratory because it may lead to erroneous identification of organisms present in blood cultures.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jan, 169(1), 164 - 71
Identification and preliminary characterization of a Streptococcus sanguis fibrillar glycoprotein; Morris EJ et al.; Cell surface fibrils could be released from Streptococcus sanguis 12 but not from strains 12na or N by freeze-thawing followed by brief homogenization . Fibrils were isolated from the homogenate by ultracentrifugation or ammonium sulfate precipitation . Electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of dense masses of aggregated fibrils in these preparations . Under nondenaturing conditions, no proteins were seen in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) . Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE analysis revealed a single band stained with Coomassie blue and periodic acid Schiff stain with a molecular weight in excess of 300,000 . The protein has been given the name long-fibril protein (LFP) . The molecule was susceptible to digestion with subtilisin, pronase, papain, and trypsin, but was unaffected by chymotrypsin or muramidases . Attempts to dissociate the protein into smaller subunits with urea, guanidine, sodium thiocyanate, and HCl were unsuccessful . Gel filtration on a column of Sephacryl S-400 in the presence of 2% SDS resulted in elution of the protein at the void volume . Antibody raised against the LFP excised from an SDS-PAGE gel reacted with long fibrils on the surface of strain 12 and with isolated fibrils by an immunogold labeling technique . Monoclonal antibody reactive with LFP in SDS-PAGE also reacted with fibrils present on the cell . Antisera raised against the fibrils inhibited adherence to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite.

Infection, 1987, 15(5), 328 - 31
Prevalence of legionellosis among adults: a study of community-acquired pneumonia in France; Aubertin J et al.; Over a 24-month period, 274 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were hospitalized in Departments of Medicine at hospitals in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse . Etiology of the pneumonia was determined either by organism identification or by indirect immunofluorescence in only 139 cases (51%) . The most frequently isolated etiological agents were Streptococcus pneumoniae (34 cases), Legionella pneumophila (29 cases) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (24 cases) . The majority of patients with legionellosis were male (79%), middle aged (mean age: 53 years), and living in urban areas (69%) . Their clinical features were atypical and did not differ from those of other pneumonias . Four patients with legionellosis (13.8%) died . L . pneumophila was isolated directly in only three instances . The study confirms the high prevalence of legionellosis (20%) among pneumonias of identified etiology . The fact that these cases had an atypical clinical presentation and that isolation of the organism was difficult reinforce the need to apply the CDC criteria for the interpretation of positive serological titers.

Postgrad Med J, 1987 Jan, 63(735), 19 - 22
Pyogenic infection and rheumatoid arthritis; Rowe IF et al.; Ten episodes of severe pyogenic infection occurring in nine patients with rheumatoid arthritis are reported . There was a wide range of presenting features including pyoarthrosis in 7 episodes . Three cases presented with meningitis, bacterial endocarditis and probable multiple abscesses respectively . Infection was caused by Staphylococcus aureus in 7 episodes and by Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and beta-haemolytic Streptococcus in each of one episode . Three infective episodes were fatal . Pyogenic, especially staphylococcal, infection should be considered in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with unexplained illness with or without sudden deterioration in joint symptoms . It is important to recognize and treat infection rapidly.

Bioelectromagnetics, 1987, 8(3), 295 - 302
Effects of microwave exposure and temperature on survival of mice infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae; Liddle CG et al.; Female CD-1 mice were injected with an LD50 dose of Streptococcus pneumoniae and then exposed to 2.45 GHz (CW) microwave radiation at an incident power density of 10 mW/cm2 (SAR = 6.8 W/kg), 4 h/d for 5 d at ambient temperatures of 19 degrees C, 22 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 28 degrees C, 31 degrees C, 34 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 40 degrees C . Four groups of 25 animals were exposed at each temperature with an equal number of animals concurrently sham-exposed . Survival was observed for a 10-d period after infection . Survival of the sham-exposed animals increased as ambient temperature increased from 19 degrees C-34 degrees C . At ambient temperatures at or above 37 degrees C the heat induced in the body exceeded the thermoregulatory capacity of the animals and deaths from hyperthermia occurred . Survival of the microwave-exposed animals was significantly greater than the shams (approximately 20%) at each ambient temperature below 34 degrees C . Based on an analysis of the data it appears that the hyperthermia induced by microwave exposure may be more effective in increasing survival in infected mice than hyperthermia produced by conventional methods (ie, high ambient temperature) . Microwave radiation may be beneficial to infected animals at low and moderate ambient temperatures, but it is detrimental when combined with high ambient temperatures.

Microbios, 1987, 51(207), 113 - 23
Aggregation of Streptococcus sanguis biotypes I and II by parotid saliva: a comparison between peritrichously fibrillar and tufted strains; Wyatt JE et al.; Twelve strains of Streptococcus sanguis biotype I and seven strains of Streptococcus sanguis biotype II carrying either peritrichous fibrils or tufts of fibrils, were examined for their susceptibility to aggregation by parotid saliva . Salivary aggregation was evaluated using a spectrophotometric measurement of sedimentation to assess clump size . A clear distinction emerged between structural sub-groups . Irrespective of biotype, strains carrying peritrichous fibrils aggregated strongly whilst tufted strains were little affected . The one strain with peritrichous fimbriae as well as fibrils, was not aggregated by saliva . Pre-treatment of two peritrichously fibrillar strains with parotid saliva reduced their ability to adhere to parotid saliva-coated hydroxyapatite, whereas adhesion of two tufted strains was not inhibited . Inhibition of adhesion may have been due to steric hindrance, but blocking of bacterial adhesins by saliva components could not be discounted.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1987, 83(4), 377 - 83
Effect of cocaine on the immune response and host resistance in BALB/c mice; Havas HF et al.; This study focuses on the effect of varying regimens of cocaine administration on three parameters of the immune response: antibody production, resistance to infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae following immunization, and resistance to tumors . The effect of cocaine on antibody production of female and male BALB/c mice was investigated to both a T-independent (pneumococcal polysaccharide type III {SSS-III}) and a T-dependent antigen (the 2,4-dinitrophenyl ligand {DNP}) . It was found that high doses of cocaine injected 3 times/day prior to SSS-III resulted in a small rise in antibody levels in male mice . Low doses given for 4 days prior to or subsequent to SSS-III injection had no effect on the antibody response nor on the susceptibility to infection by live S . pneumoniae . High dosages of cocaine administered 3-5 times/day had no effect on the anti-DNP immune response of male mice but resulted in an almost 2-fold increase of anti-DNP plaque-forming cells in female mice.

Int J Tissue React, 1987, 9(3), 219 - 25
Relationship between growth rate and phagocytosis susceptibility in Streptococcus mutans; Cuffini AM et al.; Streptococcus mutans strain GS-5 was grown in a variety of carbon sources in order to achieve different balanced growth rates, ranging from 61 to 383 minutes . The influence of the S . mutans growth rate on mouse phagocyte activity against these bacteria has been evaluated . The percentages of bacteria phagocytized and intracellularly killed by macrophages rose to 60-80% and 85-95% respectively when the doubling time was longer, showing that S . mutans is particularly sensitive to nonspecific immune defence mechanisms when cultured under conditions similar to those of its natural ecosystem.

Vet Res Commun, 1987, 11(2), 191 - 8
Microbiology of the genitalia of nulliparous and postpartum Savanna brown goats; Fasanya OO et al.; A study of the bacterial flora of the genitalia of nulliparous Savanna Brown does was carried out both before breeding and at different intervals postpartum to investigate the type of microbial organisms that could be present in the uterus, cervix and the vagina respectively . Of 29 pre-breeding vaginal swabs, Staphylococcus sp . was isolated from 20 goats, Streptococcus sp . from 15 goats and Micrococcus sp . from four goats . Mycoplasma agalactiae was isolated from five goats . The postpartum vagina did not show any appreciable change in the microbial flora, except that Escherichia coli was encountered in two cases . The uterus yielded E . coli from the goats slaughtered 2 days postpartum; Micrococcus sp . from goats slaughtered 12 days postpartum; Staph . aureus from goats slaughtered 16 days postpartum and Staph . aureus from goats slaughtered 24 days postpartum . Also in these two cases-a goat slaughtered at two days postpartum (dpp) and a goat slaughtered 16 dpp-E . coli was present in the uterus . Other isolates from the uteri of slaughtered goats were Micrococcus sp . (12 dpp), Staph . aureus and Micrococcus sp . (16 dpp) and Staph . aureus (24 dpp).

Exp Biol, 1987, 46(3), 127 - 32
Magnetic response in cultures of Streptococcus mutans ATCC-27607; Adamkiewicz VW et al.; Streptococcus mutans ATCC-27607 produces exopolysaccharides that adhere to glass . In the normal geomagnetic field about 50% more polysaccharide adhere preferentially to glass surfaces facing North as compared to South facing surfaces . Reversal of the direction of the magnetic field by 180 degrees produces a similar reversal in the direction of the preferential accumulation . Reduction of the field by 90% abolishes the preferential accumulation.

Microbios, 1987, 49(199), 115 - 22
NADH-peroxidase activity and H2O2 decomposition in a peroxidogenic strain of Streptococcus durans; Quesada A et al.; Streptococcus durans S-76 can accumulate hydrogen peroxide to high concentrations under aerobic conditions when it is previously grown anaerobically . An NADH-peroxidase enzyme protects this bacterium from the bactericidal effect of H2O2 . The relationship between oxygen uptake and H2O2 excretion into the medium has been investigated in cultures containing or lacking glucose under various conditions of incubation . The results obtained suggest that neither oxygen nor H2O2 regulate the cellular levels of NADH-peroxidase whose activity seems to be controlled exclusively by the availability of reduced NADH.

J Toxicol Environ Health, 1987, 21(1-2), 113 - 25
Influence of exposure patterns of nitrogen dioxide and modifications by ozone on susceptibility to bacterial infectious disease in mice; Graham JA et al.; The nitrogen dioxide (NO2) diurnal cycle found in urban communities usually consists of a low basal concentration upon which are superimposed higher concentration peaks or spikes of short duration . Various components of this environmental exposure mode were examined to assess effects of urban exposure profiles on susceptibility to infectious pulmonary disease . Mice were exposed to NO2 peaks of 4.5 ppm for 1, 3.5, or 7 h, challenged with Streptococcus sp . either immediately or 18 h postexposure, and then observed for mortality . When the streptococcal challenges were immediately after NO2 exposure, the mortality rate was directly related to the length of peak exposure, whether or not a basal exposure was used, and all peak lengths significantly increased mortality . When the challenge was delayed for 18 h after the peak exposure, spiked exposures of 3.5 and 7 h increased mortality to the same degree . If a 1-h peak exposure to 4.5 ppm was superimposed twice daily upon a continuous basal NO2 concentration of 1.5 ppm, there was a suggestive trend toward increased mortality near the end of the second week of exposure when challenge occurred immediately after the morning spike . Studies were also conducted to examine interactions with ozone (O3) and NO2, since urban air typically contains both of these oxidants . Using various combinations of basal and spiked exposure levels of NO2 and O3, synergistic results were obtained for streptococcal-induced mortality.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Jan, (1), 29 - 36
{Pneumococcal serotypes in children with acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the lungs and in healthy children}; Katosova LK et al.; The serotyping of 350 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from patients with acute and chronic diseases of the respiratory organs and from healthy children was carried out with the use of the agglutination test . 145 pleural fluid samples were tested for the presence of the pneumococcal antigen and its K-type . The prevailing pneumococcal serotypes were 6, 1, 19, 12 and 9 in acute pneumonia and 6, 19, 42, 3 and 12 in chronic pneumonia, including, respectively, 64.8% and 62% of all typed strains . Cases of pneumonia with complications in the form of pleuritis were mostly induced by serotypes 3, 1, 12 and 14, while in the destructive forms of pneumonia K-types 3, 14, 9 and 12 were isolated . Examinations of healthy pre-school children have shown 16.1% of them to be transitory pneumococcus carriers . Multiple biological examinations carried out during 1.5 years revealed that in this period 42.4% of the children were pneumococcus carriers.

Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 1987, 243(6), 382 - 6
The significance of calcium antagonists in rat experimental tympanosclerosis; Mann W et al.; The effect of calcium antagonists in experimental tympanosclerosis following infection with Streptococcus pyogenes and vitamin D3 intoxication has been analyzed in a rat animal model . Compared with untreated animals, calcium antagonists exert a positive effect on the degenerative process and on secondary calcification in the subepithelial layer . This effect could be substantiated planimetrically.

Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris), 1987 Jan, 36(1), 23 - 6
{Tricuspid endocarditis with right-left auricular shunt through a patent foramen ovale}; Morelon P et al.; The authors report the case of a tricuspid endocarditis secondary to Streptococcus bovis with important regurgitation and severe hypoxemia secondary to a right-left atrial shunt through a patent foramen ovale, requiring a surgical treatment which included the replacement of the tricuspid valve and closure of the dehiscence in the inter-atrial septum . The presence of a patent foramen ovale in the course of a tricuspid endocarditis has been exceptionally reported . This diagnosis deserves to be evoked in case of an unexplained hypoxic condition or a systemic embolism complicating a tricuspid endocarditis . The report emphasizes the advantage of ultrasonic examinations (contrast sonocardiography, pulsated Doppler) in order to demonstrate this right-left atrial shunt in addition to the data collected about the tricuspid valve.

Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1987 Jan, 111(1), 74 - 5
Group B streptococcal breast abscess; Weiss RL et al.; A 22-year-old women was admitted to the hospital with a large, tender supraareolar mass of her right breast . Cultures of the purulent aspirate yielded beta-hemolytic group B streptococcus . Surgical incision and drainage, together with therapy with erythromycin ethylsuccinate in this penicillin-allergic patient, resulted in cure . This is the first report, to our knowledge, of group B streptococcus causing human breast abscess.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1987 Jan, 84(1), 51 - 5
Molecular basis for group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal disease; Hellerqvist CG et al.; Group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GBS) is a major pathogen affecting newborns . We have investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the respiratory distress induced in sheep after intravenous injection of a toxin produced by this organism . The pathophysiological response is characterized by pulmonary hypertension, followed by granulocytopenia and increased pulmonary vascular permeability to protein . 31P NMR studies of GBS toxin and model components before and after reductive alkaline hydrolysis demonstrated that phosphodiester residues are an integral part of the GBS toxin . Reductive alkaline treatment cleaves phosphate esters from secondary and primary alcohols and renders GBS toxin nontoxic in the sheep model and inactive as a mediator of elastase release in vitro from isolated human granulocytes . We propose that the interaction of cellular receptors with mannosyl phosphodiester groups plays an essential role in the pathophysiological response to GBS toxin.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jan, 169(1), 297 - 302
Mechanism and regulation of phosphate transport in Streptococcus pyogenes; Reizer J et al.; In contrast to results reported with other bacteria, uptake of 32Pi in Streptococcus pyogenes was found to occur rapidly in starved cultures and to be strongly and immediately inhibited by addition of exogenous glycolytic energy sources (such as glucose) and nonglycolytic sources of ATP (such as arginine) . Preincubation of starved cells with NaF, iodoacetate, or arsenate eliminated the inhibiting effect of glucose but not that of arginine . In accordance with the hypothesis that transport was attributable to Pi-Pi exchange, uptake and efflux of 32Pi in the presence of trans unlabeled Pi exhibited similar characteristics and were largely eliminated by reduction of the trans Pi concentration . Neither process was inhibited appreciably by pretreatment of cells with ionophores or metabolic inhibitors, but both processes were abolished by exposure to p-chloromercuribenzoate . Inhibition by both exogenous energy sources resulted in a reduction in the maximal velocity of transport (Vmax) . Whereas arginine also caused a shift in the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) to larger values, glucose did not alter the Km . On the basis of the results reported, we propose that the rate of Pi exchange is determined positively by the intracellular and extracellular concentrations of Pi and negatively by ATP or metabolites thereof . The mechanism of ATP action is unknown but could involve either covalent or noncovalent modification of the carrier protein.

Bull Inst Marit Trop Med Gdynia, 1987, 38(1-2), 42 - 9
Limited, intragroup epidemics of acute infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tracts and throat among workers of a Polish construction site in a tropical country; Jaremin B; The occurrence of small, short-term epidemics of acute infectious diseases of the respiratory system and throat among the employees of a Polish construction site in an area of the Persian Gulf was described . It was stated that they occurred most often during the cold season and they comprise from 10 up to 45% of the employees, often as a consequence of arrival of new groups of employees . The most probably etiology of these diseases is infection with the following viruses: rhino-myxo-, adeno-viruses . Coxsackie A, as well as with bacteria, most probably with streptococcus . As they can cause the phenomenon of the temporary disability for work among considerable percentage of the employees they can disorganize rhythm and efficiency of the construction site.

J Fr Ophtalmol, 1987, 10(6-7), 443 - 6
{Intracamera penetration of ofloxacin in man}; Bron A et al.; The authors have studied the penetration of Ofloxacin in the aqueous humour in 30 patients (30 eyes) . Six hours after a single oral dose of 200 mg, the concentration in the anterior chamber reached 0.6 microgram/ml which is 23% of the average serum level . It is over the minimal inhibitory concentration necessary for many bacterial agents found in endophthalmitis (except Streptococcus) because the MIC of Ofloxacin are the lowest among quinolones . Side effects and association with other antibiotics are precise.

Vox Sang, 1987, 53(2), 70 - 5
Opsonic and physicochemical characteristics of intravenous immunoglobulin preparations; van Furth R et al.; The composition and opsonizing activity of five commercially available immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous use (Venoglobulin I, Venilon, Gammagard, Polyglobin, and Sandoglobulin) were studied . The composition of these preparations does not differ very much as far as total protein, immunoglobulin class and IgG subclass concentrations are concerned . The only exceptions were that Veniglobulin I, Gammagard and Sandoglobulin contain IgA, which might cause side effects in patients with anti-IgA antibodies, Gammagard contains very little IgG4, and Venilon and Polyglobin contain no and almost no IgG3, respectively, which might explain their very low opsonic activity . It was found that Venilon and Gammagard activate complement in the ready-for-infusion state . The opsonic activity of Venoglobulin I, Sandoglobulin and Gammagard is about equal to that of inactivated serum: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli with K antigen, Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus group B are well opsonized and E . coli without K antigen and Streptococcus pneumoniae are poorly opsonized.

Arch Oral Biol, 1987, 32(11), 817 - 23
Infection with the bacterium Streptococcus mutans and salivary IgA antibodies in mothers and their children; Camling E et al.; Salivary IgA-antibody titres against different streptococcal antigens were measured in 64 mothers and their first-born children . Their presence and the level of Streptococcus mutans had been monitored for several years . The children had carried this bacterium for various lengths of time and now had varying numbers of salivary Strep . mutans . The subjects had participated in a longitudinal study completed one and a half years before, concerning prevention of early colonization of the child's mouth by Strep . mutans through measures undertaken by the mother . Whole-saliva samples were collected from all subjects and analysed by ELISA techniques for total IgA, and for IgA antibodies to whole cells of Strep . mutans serotype c and d, whole cells of Strep . sanguis, purified polysaccharide and protein antigens of Strep . mutans serotype c and d; a pool of Escherichia coli antigens was used as a control . No significant differences were found in the level of any of the specific IgA antibodies in children with different levels of indigenous Strep . mutans . A tendency to higher IgA antibody activity was found in children who had levels of Strep . mutans first detectable after three years of age and who had carried the bacterium for six months or less . The IgA antibody activity to Strep . mutans specific serotype c antigen and to whole cells of Strep . mutans serotype c (JC 2) was significantly higher in children with no caries experience when compared to children with more than two df-surfaces . This study offers no clear evidence for a protective role of salivary IgA antibodies against Strep . mutans colonization.

Drugs, 1987, 34 Suppl 1, 9 - 13
Bactericidal activity of ofloxacin versus roxithromycin in the treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Shah PM et al.; Ofloxacin is highly active against Gram-negative aerobic bacilli, but moderately active against Gram-positive cocci . The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against Streptococcus pneumoniae range between 1 and 2 mg/L . MICs of roxithromycin (RU 28965) against S . pneumoniae range between 0.004 and 0.03 mg/L, but Gram-negative bacilli are resistant . The bactericidal activities of ofloxacin and roxithromycin were evaluated against 15 strains of S . pneumoniae, which were isolated recently from clinical specimens . Killing activity was evaluated under conditions simulating serum pharmacokinetic parameters . Initial concentrations were 10 mg/L for roxithromycin and 2 mg/L for ofloxacin, and the half-life was 6 hours for both compounds . Under these conditions, roxithromycin was rapidly bactericidal . The speed at which pneumococci were killed was faster with roxithromycin than with ofloxacin . No regrowth was seen with roxithromycin, but regrowth occurred in 8 of 15 strains with ofloxacin.

Swed Dent J, 1987, 11(5), 201 - 22
Studies on dental and periodontal conditions in normal mice and mice with genetic disorders . I . The effect of a hard diet or a soft sucrose-rich diet in the absence or presence of Streptococcus mutans in the normal (non-gnotobiotic) mouse, strain C57BL/6J; Gustafson GT et al.; Periodontal bone loss and caries development were studied in 45 pigmented mice of the C57BL/6J strain . At the age of 22-30 days the animals were divided into three groups . After 4.5 months one group, which received a hard pellet diet, presented no caries lesions . A second group, which received a soft sucrose-rich diet, had only 2 superficial caries lesions . The animals of the third group, finally, which also received a soft sucrose-rich diet but in addition were exposed to Strep . mutans, had all decayed teeth with only one exception . From this single mouse, Strep . mutants was not recovered . By using a scoring system for periodontal bone loss it could be shown that mice infected with Strep . mutans presented an increased distance between the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and the alveolar crest compared with non-infected mice receiving the same soft sucrose-rich diet . Mice kept on the hard pellet diet showed an even greater distance between CEJ and bone crest . This increased distance is suggested to be a result of both increased periodontal bone resorption and of an accelerated tooth eruption, the later probably due to an increased wear of the teeth, especially in the hard diet group, and a compensating elongation of the roots . The experimental model, using mice infected with Strep . mutans and given a sucrose-rich diet combined with the scoring system presented, is suggested to be useful in the study of the influence of endogenous factors on dental and periodontal tissues.

Cancer Detect Prev Suppl, 1987, 1, 317 - 28
Cell regulatory and immunorestorative activity of picibanil (OK432); Chirigos MA et al.; Picibanil (OK432), a pharmaceutical preparation of a low virulent Su strain of Streptococcus pyogenes, possesses cell regulatory activity particularly in its ability to augment natural killer (NK) cell activity and to activate macrophages to exert a tumoricidal effect both in vitro and in vivo . It is effective in retarding and/or inhibiting the growth of three different tumors: MBL-2 lymphoma, M109 alveolar adenocarcinoma, and B16 melanoma . The antitumor effect is mediated through regulation of NK cells and macrophages, possibly by its ability to stimulate the production and secretion of interferon and interleukin 1 and 2 . It is a very effective adjuvant for tumor cell vaccines that elicit cytotoxic T-cell responses . Following cytoreductive chemotherapy (Cytoxan) Picibanil treatment leads to an earlier reconstitution of both bone marrow cellularity and differentiation to granulocyte-macrophage colonies.

Arch Oral Biol, 1987, 32(8), 539 - 43
The effects of aggregated human IgG and IgG-immune complexes on the agglutination of bacteria mediated by non-immunoglobulin salivary agglutinins; O'Lee TW et al.; Non-immunoglobulin salivary agglutinins (SBA) for bacteria which bind to Streptococcus milleri TJ7 were isolated from parotid saliva and their interactions with human IgG studied . Purified SBA showed a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of approx . 500,000 . Heat aggregated human IgG (63 degrees C, 30 min), but not native IgG, interacted with SBA and thereby interfered with the ability of the SBA to agglutinate Strep . milleri . Immune complexes prepared from tetanus toxoid and isolated human IgG anti-tetanus toxoid antibody also inhibited salivary bacterial agglutination by SBA; antigen (tetanus toxoid) alone or antibody (anti-tetanus toxoid antibody) alone did not have this effect . Direct-binding studies with immobilized SBA on nitrocellulose paper showed that aggregated IgG bound to immobilized SBA and that this binding was inhibited by EDTA . Thus it appears that heat or specific antigen is able to induce an aggregation of IgG which results in the binding of the aggregated form of IgG to SBA.

Arch Oral Biol, 1987, 32(6), 455 - 7
Relative cariogenicity and in-vivo plaque-forming ability of the bacterium Streptococcus oralis in gnotobiotic WAG/RIJ rats; Willcox MD et al.; The rats, fed a high sucrose diet, were mono-infected with seven strains of Streptococcus oralis . Moderate levels of caries were induced by four strains, and three others induced low levels . Approximal lesions were induced by two strains; no buccal/lingual lesions were produced . Scanning electron microscopy showed that all strains colonized the tooth fissures, some strains producing a moderately abundant and dense plaque . The most cariogenic strains (PB178, PB180 and PB186) induced similar levels of caries to Streptococcus milleri.

Arch Oral Biol, 1987, 32(6), 391 - 9
Isolation, chemical and biological characterization of sulphated glycoproteins synthesized by rat buccal and palatal minor salivary glands in vivo and in vitro; Green DR et al.; 35S-labelled sulphated glycoproteins (SGP) were isolated from these glands after the incorporation of radiosulphate in vivo and in vitro by fractionation of tissue and medium extracts on Sepharose 4B and partial purification by DEAE-Sephacel anion exchange chromatography . Fractions were assessed for purity by SDS-PAGE and by cellulose-acetate electrophoresis . Molecular weights ranged from 34,000 to 5 X 10(6) . It was notable that the molecular size of SGP from the in vitro media was generally lower than from the corresponding tissue fractions, particularly for the palatal samples . The fractions were heterogeneous and contained no sulphated glycosaminoglycans; they had high levels of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, threonine and serine, but there was no major difference in amino-acid composition between them . Carbohydrate analysis indicated typical components associated with sulphated glycoproteins, including fucose, galactose, glucose, mannose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid . Protein:carbohydrate ratios ranged from 0.1:1.0-3.5:1.0 and ester sulphate from 0.8 to 16.2 per cent . All fractions exhibited blood-group A reactivity and aggregated Streptococcus sanguis NCTC 7864; several fractions interacted similarly with Streptococcus mutans OMZ61.

Arch Oral Biol, 1987, 32(1), 55 - 60
Increased dental caries activity in pre-school children with low baseline levels of serum IgG antibodies against the bacterial species Streptococcus mutans; Aaltonen AS et al.; The caries increment was followed for two years in 33 children, aged 2.6-4.9 years at the start of the investigation . This was analysed in relation to Streptococcus mutans counts in dental plaque and serum IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against Strep . mutans 10449 (serotype c) . Furthermore, related factors, sugar, fluoride consumption and oral hygiene, were analysed . Large numbers of Strep . mutans in dental plaque were significantly associated with high caries incidence . Children with dental caries at the first examination and an increasing incidence of caries throughout the study period had significantly lower serum IgG antibodies against Strep . mutans (p = 0.006) than those whose caries activity was decreasing or who were caries-free at the beginning of the follow-up . The protective effect of specific serum IgG antibodies was most pronounced on the approximal surfaces of deciduous molars . Specific IgA or IgM antibodies were not associated with the development of caries.

Arch Oral Biol, 1987, 32(1), 21 - 5
The relationship between IgA antibodies to Streptococcus mutans antigens in human saliva and breast milk and the numbers of indigenous oral Streptococcus mutans; Camling E et al.; The influence of indigenous Streptococcus mutans on naturally-occurring levels of IgA antibodies was studied in 42 lactating females . Breast milk, parotid and whole-saliva samples were collected and analysed by the ELISA method for IgA antibodies, reacting with antigens from Strep . mutans . All salivas and breast milk showed IgA antibody activity to five antigenic preparations from Strep . mutans and to a pool of Escherichia coli antigens . No correlation was observed between the IgA antibody level in breast milk and that in saliva . The total IgA in breast milk was, however, considerably higher than in the salivas . In subjects with active caries and subjects with high DMFS scores, there was a tendency toward lower levels of IgA antibodies in whole saliva than in subjects with low caries experience . The levels of specific IgA antibodies in saliva did not reflect the amount of indigenous Strep . mutans present in the mouth at the time of sampling.

Arch Oral Biol, 1987, 32(3), 175 - 9
The effect of arginine on in-vitro acid production by the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans 10449 in various concentrations of glucose; Duguid R; Acid production was measured both with constant pH and with the pH being allowed to fall . Under both conditions 10 mM arginine reduced it . There was also evidence that arginine reduced the rate of uptake of glucose by the bacterium . Thus arginine may affect the rate of glucose transport or catabolism by Strep . mutans 10449, and has more than a simple buffering effect on these cultures.

Nat Immun Cell Growth Regul, 1987, 6(5), 224 - 36
OK-432 stimulates primary production and activity of murine natural killer cells; Pollack SB; Although many immunostimulants have been shown to increase the lytic activity of natural killer (NK) cells in the periphery, little is known about their effects on NK cells in the bone marrow, the primary site of NK production . In the experiments reported here, we tested OK-432, a pharmaceutical preparation of Streptococcus pyogenes, for its effects on both the primary production and lytic activity of NK cells in C57BL/6J mice . NK activity in bone marrow cells (BMC) and spleen cells (SC) was significantly increased following intravenous administration of OK-432, peaking on day 2 in BMC and on day 3 in SC . Concomitantly, there were marked changes in the cellularity in the two compartments . Bone marrow cellularity fell significantly on day 1 post-OK-432 and then gradually returned to normal, whereas spleen cellularity rose rapidly and remained elevated . As a consequence, the total NK activity (per femur or per spleen) was significantly increased at 48-96 h after administration of OK-432 . The target specificity was unchanged . The phenotype of NK cells in BMC as determined by cytotoxic depletion was unchanged by OK-432, but splenic NK activity shifted to a 'less mature' phenotype, intermediate between that of normal BMC and SC . Cytokinetic studies using 3H-TdR revealed an increase in the production of NK cells in the bone marrow following administration of OK-432 . Proliferating NK cells also appeared in the spleen . Whether these were recently produced NK cells from the bone marrow that still retained the ability to proliferate or mature NK cells that were stimulated into cell cycle cannot be determined from these experiments . These data are the first to directly demonstrate the modulation of the primary production of NK cells by an immunologically active drug.

Arch Microbiol, 1987, 149(1), 52 - 6
Overproduction and rapid purification of the amidase of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Garcia JL et al.; Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of a plasmid containing the lytA gene coding for the pneumococcal amidase has allowed the separation of the coding sequence of the gene . This sequence has been placed in plasmid pIN-III(lppP-5)-A3 downstream from both a modified lipoprotein promoter and the lactose promoter to construct the recombinant plasmid pGL100 . When Escherichia coli RB 791 (pGL100) was grown in the presence of lactose, the pneumococcal amidase accounted for 7% of the total protein present in this strain after 18 h incubation at 37 degrees C . The overproduced amidase was purified in a single-step procedure using a choline-Sepharose 6B column taking advantage of the fact that this enzyme was the unique protein with affinity for choline present in extracts obtained from E . coli RB791 (pGL100) . The development of the above design opens up the possibility of studying the mechanism that regulates the activity of this important autolysin by using physiochemical techniques that require the availability of high amounts of purified amidase.

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