Protein Sci, 2002 Dec, 11(12), 2969 - 73 Redox-dependent structural changes in archaeal and bacterial Rieske-type {2Fe-2S} clusters; Cosper NJ et al.; Proteins containing Rieske-type {2Fe-2S} clusters play important roles in many biological electron transfer reactions . Typically, {2Fe-2S} clusters are not directly involved in the catalytic transformation of substrate, but rather supply electrons to the active site . We report herein X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) data that directly demonstrate an average increase in the iron-histidine bond length of at least 0.1 A upon reduction of two distantly related Rieske-type clusters in archaeal Rieske ferredoxin from Sulfolobus solfataricus strain P-1 and bacterial anthranilate dioxygenases from Acinetobacter sp . strain ADP1 . This localized redox-dependent structural change may fine tune the protein-protein interaction (in the case of ARF) or the interdomain interaction (in AntDO) to facilitate rapid electron transfer between a lower potential Rieske-type cluster and its redox partners, thereby regulating overall oxygenase reactions in the cells. Nippon Rinsho, 2002 Nov, 60(11), 2161 - 5 {Acinetobacter}; Iinuma Y; Acinetobacter spp . are increasingly important nosocomial pathogens and are capable of rapid adaptation to the hospital environment . National surveillance of nosocomial infection in Japan from July 2000 to June 2001 showed that 1.5% of blood-stream infections has occurred by Acinetobacter spp . The greatest impact of Acinetobacter has been a causative agent of nosocomial pneumonia, particularly ventilator-associated cases . Recent trends indicate increasing antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter isolates, posing a serious threat to hospitalized patients . Especially, carbapenem-resistance including muti-resistant metallo-beta-lactamase producing isolates has been identified in Japan and other countries . Hand-washing policy and practices with daily decontamination of medical-devices or hand-contact environment should control nosocomial infection by Acinetobacter. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Nov, 60(3), 288 - 92 Epub 2002 Oct 12. Enzymatic preparation of D-beta-acetylthioisobutyric acid and cetraxate hydrochloride using a stereo- and/or regioselective hydrolase, 3,4-dihydrocoumarin hydrolase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Honda K et al.; 3,4-Dihydrocoumarin hydrolase (DCH) from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus F46, which was previously found on screening for aromatic lactone-hydrolyzing enzymes, catalyzes the hydrolysis of several linear esters . The substrate specificity of the enzyme toward linear esters was quite characteristic, i.e., (1) it was specific toward methyl esters, (2) it recognized the configuration at the 2-position, and (3) it hydrolyzed diesters to monoesters . DCH hydrolyzed the methyl esters of beta-acetylthioisobutyrate and cetraxate . The products of these reactions were identified as D-beta-acetylthioisobutyrate and cetraxate, respectively, i.e., the hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by DCH were stereo- and/or regioselective . With recombinant Escherichia coli cells expressing the DCH gene as a catalyst, stereospecific hydrolysis of methyl beta-acetylthioisobutyrate and regioselective hydrolysis of methyl cetraxate proceeded efficiently. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2002 Nov, 20(5), 390 - 2 In vitro investigation of the susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from clinical specimens to ampicillin/sulbactam alone and in combination with amikacin; Savov E et al.; The sensitivity of 52 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii was determined to 13 antimicrobial drugs . All strains tested were multiresistant . Compared with MICs of amikacin and ampicillin/sulbactam alone, there was a significant decrease in MICs for both drugs when the combination was used . The results of the in vitro study of this combination showed a synergistic or partial synergistic effect in 98% of the strains. Meded Rijksuniv Gent Fak Landbouwkd Toegep Biol Wet, 2001, 66(2b), 609 - 17 Effects of natural products on soil organisms and plant health enhancement; Mulawarman et al.; TerraPy, Magic Wet and Chitosan are soil and plant revitalizers based on natural renewable raw materials . These products stimulate microbial activity in the soil and promote plant growth . Their importance to practical agriculture can be seen in their ability to improve soil health, especially where intensive cultivation has shifted the biological balance in the soil ecosystem to high numbers of plant pathogens . The objective of this study was to investigate the plant beneficial capacities of TerraPy, Magic Wet and Chitosan and to evaluate their effect on bacterial and nematode communities in soils . Tomato seedlings (Lycopersicum esculentum cv . Hellfrucht Fruhstamm) were planted into pots containing a sand/soil mixture (1:1, v/v) and were treated with TerraPy, Magic Wet and Chitosan at 200 kg/ha . At 0, 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after inoculation the following soil parameters were evaluated: soil pH, bacterial and fungal population density (cfu/g soil), total number of saprophytic and plant-parasitic nematodes . At the final sampling date tomato shoot and root fresh weight as well as Meloidogyne infestation was recorded . Plant growth was lowest and nematode infestation was highest in the control . Soil bacterial population densities increased within 24 hours after treatment between 4-fold (Magic Wet) and 19-fold (Chitosan) . Bacterial richness and diversity were not significantly altered . Dominant bacterial genera were Acinetobacter (41%) and Pseudomonas (22%) for TerraPy, Pseudomonas (30%) and Acinetobacter (13%) for Magic Wet, Acinetobacter (8.9%) and Pseuodomonas (81%) for Chitosan and Bacillus (42%) and Pseudomonas (32%) for the control . Increased microbial activity also was associated with higher numbers of saprophytic nematodes . The results demonstrated the positive effects of natural products in stimulating soil microbial activity and thereby the antagonistic potential in soils leading to a reduction in nematode infestation and improved plant growth. Water Res, 2002 Nov, 36(18), 4471 - 6 Nitrite inhibition of aerobic growth of Acinetobacter sp; Weon SY et al.; Nitrite inhibition of Acinetobacter sp . growing under aerobic conditions was studied . Specific growth rates under non-limiting concentrations of acetate and dissolved oxygen averaged 0.62h(-1) . Growth and phosphate uptake by Acinetobacter sp . were both inhibited by increasing nitrite concentrations . The median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of free nitrous acid (FNA) was 0.10 mg/L and the IC10 of FNA was 0.05 mg/L . Removing nitrite from cultures reversed the inhibitory effect . Comparison of the IC10 of FNA for Acinetobacter sp . to inhibitory concentrations for other wastewater heterotrophic bacteria suggests that Acinetobacter sp . are relatively sensitive to this compound. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol, 2002 Nov, 9(6), 1240 - 7 Adjuvant activity of emulsan, a secreted lipopolysaccharide from acinetobacter calcoaceticus; Panilaitis B et al.; Several promising adjuvant candidates have been studied over the past 75 years; however, only alum is currently approved for human use . The complex acylated polysaccharide emulsan, secreted from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, represents a new candidate . Unique features of this family of polymers are their amenability to structural tailoring and their emulsification behavior . We demonstrate that emulsan activates macrophages in a dose-dependent manner . This activation is dependent on the presence of the fatty acid side chains that decorate the polysaccharide backbone, and, furthermore, the level of activation can be affected by changes in the chemical characteristics of emulsan structural variants . One emulsan variant was examined in a classical hapten carrier immunization protocol and demonstrated significant adjuvant activity as determined by hapten-specific antibody titers . This immune response was characterized by a high immunoglobulin G2a titer, consistent with a Th1 response . The significant immunopotentiation demonstrated by this complex polymer establishes emulsan as an exciting new candidate adjuvant . Furthermore, by manipulating the chemical structure of this compound, we can explore the physical basis of pattern recognition receptors and macrophage activation. J Ethnopharmacol, 2002 Nov, 83(1-2), 117 - 21 Compositions and the in vitro antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of Achillea setacea and Achillea teretifolia (Compositae); Unlu M et al.; GC-MS analysis of the isolated essential oils from air-dried aerial parts of Achillea setacea and Achillea teretifolia, an endemic taxon, resulted in the identification of 51 constituents (79.8% of the total oil) and 42 constituents (87.1% of the total oil), respectively . Eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) was the major constituent of both oils studied (18.5 and 19.9%, respectively) . The antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were individually evaluated against 14 microorganisms . Both oils exhibited inhibitory effects on Clostridium perfringens, Acinetobacter lwoffii and Candida albicans with a range of minimum inhibitory concentration values extended from 0.28 to 2.25 mg/ml . Camphor and their derivatives, borneol, terpinen-4-ol and eucalyptol (1,8-cineol) can be considered as the main antimicrobial constituents of the oils studied. Am J Infect Control, 2002 Nov, 30(7), 386 - 90 Underlying characteristics of patients harboring highly resistant Acinetobacter baumannii; Mahgoub S et al.; BACKGROUND: Highly resistant (HR) Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) are frequently hospital-acquired and may be important causes of severe nosocomial infections . OBJECTIVE: Determine risk factors associated with such colonization/infection . METHOD: Retrospective review in 2000 of all AB isolates from sterile (blood, cerebrospinal fluid {CSF}) and nonsterile (respiratory, urine, and miscellaneous) sites . HR was defined as resistance to amikacin and/or imipenem and/or ampicillin-sulbactam . Isolates were analyzed as representing infection or colonization . A database including prior hospitalization, prior antibiotic use, nursing home residency, and procedures undergone was compiled . RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two cases of AB were identified . Eighty-four met the definition of HR; 6 (4.9%) were completely resistant to all antibiotics . Four (4.7%) isolates were from sterile body sites (3 blood, 1 CSF); 43 (51.2%) were from respiratory sites; 20 (23.8%) were from urinary sites; and 17 (20.2%) were from "other" sites . Only 4 (20%) of the urinary, 6 (35.2%) of the miscellaneous, and 23 (53.4%) of the respiratory isolates were deemed true pathogens; all blood/CSF isolates were considered pathogens . Associated risk factors included prior antibiotic usage (71%); prior hospitalization (24%); prior nursing home residency (34%); ventilator use (77%); tracheostomy placement (56%); and Foley catheterization (85%) . Twenty-seven (63%) of 43 respiratory, 8 (40%) of 20 urinary, and 6 (35%) of 17 "other" body isolates were treated . Outcome was not statistically significant in treated versus untreated patients . All patients with CSF/blood isolates underwent successful microbiologic eradication with 50% survival . The overall mortality rate was 10% . CONCLUSION: Antibiotics, Foley catheters, and tracheostomy/ventilator usage were strongly associated with AB isolation . Prior hospitalization and nursing home residency were less common risk factors . Outcome was not different in treated versus untreated patients, indicating colonization is a marker of severe illness but is not necessarily causal. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Nov, 29(5), 238 - 42 Chloroxylenol- and triclosan-tolerant bacteria from industrial sources; Lear JC et al.; Potential development of bacterial tolerance to biocides in the industrial environment is examined in this study . Bacteria tolerant to the phenolic-type agent para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX) and the bis-phenol 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenylether (triclosan) were isolated from industrial sources and identified . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined and compared with those of culture collection (standard) strains . Of around 100 isolates originally obtained, most were naturally tolerant species such as Pseudomonas spp., or showed low tolerance levels . PCMX-tolerant isolates of Pseudomonas stutzeri and triclosan-tolerant isolates of Citrobacter freundii and Acinetobacter johnsonii were retained for further study . Of these, only P . stutzeri and A . johnsonii showed elevated tolerance compared with the standard strains . There was no evidence of tolerance to the other biocide except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (an intrinsically tolerant microorganism), and tolerances were stable in the absence of selective pressure except for A . johnsonii . Attempts to select or generate increased tolerance in the standard strains were unsuccessful . High tolerances in terms of MIC were not reflected in terms of lethal effects . This study did not produce any evidence suggesting that the presence of residual biocide concentrations in the industrial environment promotes the emergence of bacterial tolerance for them. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Nov, 29(5), 233 - 7 A luxCDABE-based bioluminescent bioreporter for the detection of phenol; Abd-El-Haleem D et al.; A bioluminescent reporter strain, Acinetobacter sp . DF4-8, was constructed for the detection of phenol by inserting a mopR-like promoter upstream of the Vibrio fischeri bioluminescent luxCDABE gene cassette in a modified mini-Tn5 construct . When introduced into the chromosome of Acinetobacter sp . DF4, the bioreporter produced a sensitive bioluminescent response to phenol at concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 100 ppm . This response was linear (R(2)=0.986) in the range from 20 to 90 ppm . A significant bioluminescent response was also recorded when strain DF4-8 was incubated with slurries from aged, phenol-contaminated soil. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 Nov, 68(11), 5671 - 84 Cloning and characterization of a gene cluster involved in cyclopentanol metabolism in Comamonas sp . strain NCIMB 9872 and biotransformations effected by Escherichia coli-expressed cyclopentanone 1,2-monooxygenase; Iwaki H et al.; Cyclopentanone 1,2-monooxygenase, a flavoprotein produced by Pseudomonas sp . strain NCIMB 9872 upon induction by cyclopentanol or cyclopentanone (M . Griffin and P . W . Trudgill, Biochem . J . 129:595-603, 1972), has been utilized as a biocatalyst in Baeyer-Villiger oxidations . To further explore this biocatalytic potential and to discover new genes, we have cloned and sequenced a 16-kb chromosomal locus of strain 9872 that is herein reclassified as belonging to the genus COMAMONAS: Sequence analysis revealed a cluster of genes and six potential open reading frames designated and grouped in at least four possible transcriptional units as (orf11-orf10-orf9)-(cpnE-cpnD-orf6-cpnC)-(cpnR-cpnB-cpnA)-(orf3-orf4 {partial 3' end}) . The cpnABCDE genes encode enzymes for the five-step conversion of cyclopentanol to glutaric acid catalyzed by cyclopentanol dehydrogenase, cyclopentanone 1,2-monooxygenase, a ring-opening 5-valerolactone hydrolase, 5-hydroxyvalerate dehydrogenase, and 5-oxovalerate dehydrogenase, respectively . Inactivation of cpnB by using a lacZ-Km(r) cassette resulted in a strain that was not capable of growth on cyclopentanol or cyclopentanone as a sole carbon and energy source . The presence of sigma(54)-dependent regulatory elements in front of the divergently transcribed cpnB and cpnC genes supports the notion that cpnR is a regulatory gene of the NtrC type . Knowledge of the nucleotide sequence of the cpn genes was used to construct isopropyl-beta-thio-D-galactoside-inducible clones of Escherichia coli cells that overproduce the five enzymes of the cpn pathway . The substrate specificities of CpnA and CpnB were studied in particular to evaluate the potential of these enzymes and establish the latter recombinant strain as a bioreagent for Baeyer-Villiger oxidations . Although frequently nonenantioselective, cyclopentanone 1,2-monooxygenase was found to exhibit a broader substrate range than the related cyclohexanone 1,2-monooxygenase from Acinetobacter sp . strain NCIMB 9871 . However, in a few cases opposite enantioselectivity was observed between the two biocatalysts. Curr Microbiol, 2002 Dec, 45(6), 446 - 55 Diffusion of beta-lactam antibiotics through oligomeric or monomeric porin channels of some gram-negative bacteria; Nitzan Y et al.; The penetration of anionic beta-lactam antibiotics through porins was evaluated as a mechanism of drug resistance . The major proteins with porin activity were purified from the outer membranes of six bacteria . Three of the six porins were oligomeric porins . The molecular weights of their monomers were 37 kDa from Photobacterium damsela, 42 kDa from Serratia liquefaciens, and 36 kDa from E . coli B . The other three porins were heat-modifiable monomeric porins with molecular weights of 43 kDa from Porphyromonas asaccharolytica and Acinetobacter baumannii, and 37 kDa from Escherichia coli K12.Comparison of the six porin proteins revealed that, independent of their aggregation state, their amino acid content is similar but not identical . All have double the amount of negatively charged amino acids compared with positively charged amino acids . They have a similar polarity and polarity index . Two of the six tested bacteria do not produce beta-lactamase . These two bacteria were sensitive to the different beta-lactams tested . The other four bacteria were resistant to all or to several beta-lactams.A modified liposome swelling method was used for determining the rate of penetration of charged beta-lactam antibiotics . Zwitterionic beta-lactams were found to penetrate into liposomes at a rate that more or less fits their molecular weight, whether the porins are monomeric or oligomeric . The penetration rates of negatively charged beta-lactams are different for oligomeric and monomeric porins . Negatively charged beta-lactams penetrate through oligomeric porins better than estimated by their molecular weight, whereas monomeric porins are less penetrable to negatively charged beta-lactams than estimated by their molecular weight . The contribution of all types of porins to the susceptibility of bacteria to beta-lactam antibiotics (zwitterionic or negatively charged) is apparently doubtful . The porins may decrease or increase bacterial penetration rates to beta-lactams, and only the existence of a potential beta-lactamase that can destroy the penetrating drug will cause resistance. Appl Biochem Biotechnol, 2002 Jul-Dec, 102-103(1-6), 21 - 39 Isolation, characterization, and plasmid pUPI126-mediated indole-3-acetic acid production in acinetobacter strains from rhizosphere of wheat; Huddedar SB et al.; Thirty-seven strains of Acinetobacter isolated and characterized from rhizosphere of wheat were screened for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production . Only eight Acinetobacter strains showed IAA production . The genus Acinetobacter was confirmed by chromosomal DNA transformation assay . Biotyping of eight strains was carried out and they were found to be genospecies of A . junii, A . baumannii, A . genospecies 3, and A . haemolyticus . Five of eight strains produced IAA at the early stationary phase: A . haemolyticus (A19), A . baumannii (A18, A16, A13), and Acinetobactergenospecies 3 (A15) . A . junii A6 showed maximum IAA production at log phase and A . genospecies 3 and A . baumannii (A28, A30) at late stationary phase . IAA was extracted by ethyl acetate and purified by preparative thin-layer chromatography . Purified IAA was confirmed by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectrum analysis . Pot experiments showed a significant increase in plant growth inoculated with eight Acinetobacter genospecies as compared to control plants . IAA production was found to be encoded by plasmid pUPI126 . All eight strains of Acinetobacter contain a plasmid pUPI126 with a molecular weight of 40 kb . Plasmid pUPI126 was transformed into Escherichia coli HB101 at a frequency of 5 x 10(-5), and E . coli HB101 (pUPI126) transformants also showed IAA activity . PUPI126 also encoded resistance to selenium, tellurium, and lead . This is the first report of plasmid-encoded IAA production in the genus Acinetobacter. Srp Arh Celok Lek, 2002 May-Jun, 130 Suppl 1, 16 - 21 {Endocranial bacterial infections originating in the otorhinolaryngologic area}; Dragojlovic J et al.; The study reviewed 60 patients with various endocranial infections complicated by previous ORL infections . The mean age of patients was 41 years . Significantly more patients were males (70%) . The majority of patients (55%) had previous chronic otitis media, 25% had tonsillopharyngitis and 20% had sinusitis . The majority of patients (68%) presented with meningitis . In addition to meningitis, 13% of the affected patients manifested signs of cerebritis . Cerebritis was found in 13% of patients . Three simultaneous complications were seen in two patients: meningitis, cerebritis and subdural empyema . Brain abscess developed two patients during the treatment . Aetiologic diagnosis of neuroinfections was made in 25% of cases . The most common cause was S . pneumoniae (66%), followed by E . coli, S . aureus, S . alpha haemolyticus and Acinetobacter spp . In two patients the same microorganisms were obtained by culture of cerebrospinal fluid and purulent content from the ear (S . pneumoniae and Acinetobacter spp.) . Among patients with meningitis brain CT findings were mostly within normal limits, and mild diffuse oedema was found in patients with meningoencephalitis, while the patients with focal inflammatory brain diseases (cerebritis, abscessus and empyema) had solitary changes located mostly at the side of chronic otitis and near inflamming sinusitis . Following the treatment in our institution, 20% of patients underwent surgical treatment of chronical otitis or endocranial complications (empyema and abscessus) . The mortality rate of patients was 35%. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2002 Sep 24, 215(1), 33 - 9 Molecular characterization of bla(IMP-5), a new integron-borne metallo-beta-lactamase gene from an Acinetobacter baumannii nosocomial isolate in Portugal; Da Silva GJ et al.; Acinetobacter baumannii 65FFC, an imipenem-resistant clinical strain, isolated from the urine of a patient at the Coimbra University Hospital, Portugal, in 1998, produced a metallo-beta-lactamase with a calculated pI 9.3 . The isolate was highly resistant to penicillins, broad-spectrum cephalosporins, including ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefepime, cefpirome, and to aztreonam, but it remained susceptible to ampicillin/sulbactam, aminoglycosides and quinolones . Nucleotide sequence revealed a new allelic variant of other bla(IMP) genes, named bla(IMP-5) . IMP-5 beta-lactamase showed a greater homology with IMP-1, IMP-3 and IMP-4 (identified in Southeast Asia), than with IMP-2, found in Italy (93%, 92%, 91% and 87% of amino acid identity, respectively) . bla(IMP-5) was the only gene cassette inserted into a class 1 integron, named In76 . This is the first IMP-enzyme reported in Portugal and the second in Europe, indicating a wider dissemination in the environment of bla(IMP) alleles. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2002 Sep, 20(3), 196 - 200 Moxifloxacin activity against clinical isolates compared with the activity of ciprofloxacin; Aktas Z et al.; The activity of moxifloxacin, a new 8-methoxyquinolone, was compared in vitro with the activity of ciprofloxacin against clinical strains isolated from various sites of infection . The mode MIC values of moxifloxacin were superior to those of ciprofloxacin against Streptococcus pneumoniae, methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter spp., while ciprofloxacin was more active against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas spp . Both antibiotics had similar activity against Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Enterobacter spp . Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2002 Nov, 46(11), 3665 - 8 Molecular characterization of integrons in epidemiologically unrelated clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii from Italian hospitals reveals a limited diversity of gene cassette arrays; Gombac F et al.; Integron carriage by 36 epidemiologically unrelated Acinetobacter baumannii isolates collected over an 11-year period from patients in six different Italian hospitals was investigated . Sixteen type 1 integron-positive isolates (44%) were found, 13 of which carried the same array of cassettes, i.e., aacC1, orfX, orfX', and aadA1a . As ribotype analysis of the isolates demonstrated a notable genetic diversity, horizontal transfer of the entire integron structure or ancient acquisition was hypothesized. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 2002 Oct 28, 89(3-4), 197 - 205 Failure to demonstrate involvement of antibodies to Acinetobacter calcoaceticus in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of animals; Nielsen K et al.; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, a soil microbe, contains molecular sequences which resemble those found in neurofilaments of the brain tissue . It was hypothesized that if cattle ingest large amounts of feedstuff containing A . calcoaceticus, they may develop an autoimmune reaction, with consequences of pathological changes associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) . The hypothesis was tested using a small number of serum samples collected from cattle and it was found that affected individuals had elevated serum antibody levels to this organism . If this finding was substantiated, it would provide a possible means of diagnosing TSEs in vivo . In the present communication, a larger number of cattle, elk and sheep with or without TSEs were tested using A . calcoaceticus whole cell and lipopolysaccharide antigens as well as myelin basic protein (MBP) . It was found that antibody levels in normal and affected animals overlapped considerably, thus casting doubt on the usefulness of these antigens as diagnostic tools for TSEs and on the hypothesis of A . calcoaceticus being a cause of TSEs . Biochem J, 2003 Feb 1, 369(Pt 3), 573 - 81 Acetylacetone-cleaving enzyme Dke1: a novel C-C-bond-cleaving enzyme from Acinetobacter johnsonii; Straganz GD et al.; The toxicity of acetylacetone has been demonstrated in various studies . Little is known, however, about metabolic pathways for its detoxification or mineralization . Data presented here describe for the first time the microbial degradation of acetylacetone and the characterization of a novel enzyme that initiates the metabolic pathway . From an Acinetobacter johnsonii strain that grew with acetylacetone as the sole carbon source, an inducible acetylacetone-cleaving enzyme was purified to homogeneity . The corresponding gene, coding for a 153 amino acid sequence that does not show any significant relationship to other known protein sequences, was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli and gave high yields of active enzyme . The enzyme cleaves acetylacetone to equimolar amounts of methylglyoxal and acetate, consuming one equivalent of molecular oxygen . No exogenous cofactor is required, but Fe(2+) is bound to the active protein and essential for its catalytic activity . The enzyme has a high affinity for acetylacetone with a K (m) of 9.1 microM and a k(cat) of 8.5 s(-1) . A metabolic pathway for acetylacetone degradation and the putative relationship of this novel enzyme to previously described dioxygenases are discussed. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 2002 Sep, 44(1), 59 - 61 Comparative killing rates of gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin against 14 clinical isolates: impact of bacterial strain and antibiotic concentration; Pendland SL et al.; The influence of bacterial strain and antibiotic concentration on the time to achieve in vitro bactericidal activity was determined for gatifloxacin and ciprofloxacin using time-kill methodology . Killing rates were significantly affected by bacterial strain, antibiotic concentration, and type of fluoroquinolone . The most rapid bactericidal activity was seen against members of the Enterobacteriaceae and with fluoroquinolone concentrations of 8-16 X MIC . In general, gatifloxacin demonstrated faster killing against Acinetobacter baumanii, Legionella pneumophila, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Drug Metabol Drug Interact, 1994, 11(2), 153 - 60 Flavoenzymes inhibited by indomethacin; Chen GP et al.; The effect of indomethacin on the activity of five different flavoenzymes, three dehydrogenases and six hydrosases, was determined . Indomethacin at concentration 1.0 mM inhibited the activity, in decreasing order of sensitivity, of the following flavoenzymes: D-amino acid oxidase (pig kidney), flavin-containing monooxygenases (pig liver microsomal), cyclohexanone monooxygenase (Acinetobacter), NADPH-quinone reductase (pig liver), and glutathione reductase (yeast), but it had no effect on the activity of glucose oxidase (Aspergillus) or liver microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase . Indomethacin was competitive with D-alanine for the D-amino acid oxidase (Ki=30 microM) and with NADPH for all other flavoenzymes sensitive to this compound (Kis 170-500 microM) . While indomethacin also inhibited two of the three NAD(P)+-dependent dehydrogenases tested, the Kis were relatively high (<1, 500 microM), and of the six different hydrolases tested only one, liver microsomal esterase, was inhibited by indomethacin (Ki=600 microM) . Indomethacin also inhibited aminopyrine demethylation catalyzed by the liver microsomal P-450 monooxygenase (Ki=1,000 microM) . Although the exact mechanism for the inhibition of functionally different flavoenzymes sensitive to indomethacin is not known, the inhibition is probably not due to the detergent properties of this drug. Biotechnol Prog, 2002 Sep-Oct, 18(5), 1039 - 46 Reactor operation and scale-up of whole cell Baeyer-Villiger catalyzed lactone synthesis; Doig SD et al.; The recombinant whole cell biocatalyst Escherichia coli TOP10 {pQR239}, expressing cyclohexanone monooxygenase from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus NCIMB 9871, was used in 1.5- and 55-L fed-batch processes to oxidize bicyclo{3.2.0}hept-2-en-6-one to its corresponding regioisomeric lactones, (-)-(1S,5R)-2-oxabicyclo{3.3.0}oct-6-en-3-one and (-)-(1R,5S)-3-oxabicyclo{3.3.0}oct-6-en-2-one . By employing a bicyclo{3.2.0}hept-2-en-6-one feed rate below that of the theoretical volumetric biocatalyst activity (275 micromol x min(-1) x L(-1)), the reactant concentration in the bioreactor was successfully maintained below the inhibitory concentration of 0.2-0.4 g x L(-1) . In this way approximately 3.5 g x L(-1) of the combined regioisomeric lactones was produced with a yield of product on reactant of 85-90% . The key limitation to the process was shown to be product inhibition . This process was scaled up to 55 L, producing over 200 g of combined lactone product . Using a simple downstream process (centrifugation, adsorption to activated charcoal, 5-fold concentration with ethyl acetate elution, and silica gel chromatography), we have shown that the two regioisomeric lactone products could be isolated and purified at this scale. Am J Infect Control, 2002 Oct, 30(6), 346 - 50 Nosocomial infections among HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in a Brazilian infectious diseases unit; Padoveze MC et al.; BACKGROUND: Some researchers observed that HIV-infected patients have a higher risk of acquiring nosocomial infections (NI) . This study compared the incidence of NI among HIV-positive and HIV-negative inpatients . METHODS: Patients from an infectious diseases ward who were classified as positive and negative regarding their HIV status were followed-up for 21 months in a prospective cohort study . Daily surveillance was made with use of Centers for Disease Prevention and Control criteria for NI . RESULTS: NI per 1000 patients-day were 8.16 for HIV-positive patients and 3.94 for HIV-negative patients (P =.01) . Central venous catheter (CVC) and urinary catheter utilization was significantly higher among HIV-positive patients than among HIV-negative patients (P <.001) . Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused most of the NI, followed by urinary tract infections, vascular infections, and pneumonia . Overall, HIV-positive patients were more likely to have a BSI than were HIV-negative patients (P =.005) . When only BSI was analyzed in patients with a CVC, there was no difference in the incidence of BSI between the 2 groups of patients (P =.24) . HIV-positive patients were more likely to have an NI caused by Staphylococcus aureus than were HIV-negative patients (P =.04) . Other important NI agents in both groups were Acinetobacter baumanii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus . CONCLUSIONS: In this study the HIV-positive patients were more likely to have NI than were the HIV-negative patients . Overall, HIV-positive patients are at increased risk for an NI caused either by S aureus or a BSI . Although HIV-positive patients had more CVC-days, there was no difference in the number of BSI among both groups, suggesting that the BSI incidence in the HIV-positive group is not exclusively related to the CVC. J Clin Microbiol, 2002 Oct, 40(10), 3798 - 801 Imipenem-EDTA disk method for differentiation of metallo-beta-lactamase-producing clinical isolates of Pseudomonas spp . and Acinetobacter spp; Yong D et al.; Rapid detection of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing gram-negative bacilli is necessary to prevent their dissemination . The method using a disk with imipenem plus 750 micro g of EDTA differentiated all MBL-producing pseudomonads, and the sensitivity and specificity for acinetobacters were 95.7 and 91.0%, respectively . The imipenem-EDTA disks were stable for 12 and 16 weeks at 4 and -20 degrees C, respectively. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2002 Aug, 66(8), 1682 - 90 Primary structure and catalytic properties of a cold-active esterase from a psychrotroph, Acinetobacter sp . strain No . 6 . isolated from Siberian soil; Suzuki T et al.; We cloned a gene coding for a cold-active esterase from a genomic library of Acinetobacter sp . strain No . 6, a psychrotroph isolated from Siberian soil . The gene, aest, encoded a protein of 301 amino acid residues, the deduced sequence of which had less than 17% identity to sequences of known esterases and lipases . However, the esterase seemed to belong to the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily, because it contained a sequence, Gly-Xaa-Ser-Xaa-Gly (with Xaa an arbitrary amino acid residue), found in most serine hydrolases of this superfamily . Sequence comparison earlier suggested a weak phylogenetic relationship of gene product AEST to the EST group of the esterase-lipase family, which has been found only in eukaryotes . The aest gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells under the control of the T7 promoter, and the expression product was purified to homogeneity and characterized . It catalyzed the hydrolysis of esters with short-chain acyl groups and had lower activation energy and lower thermostability than do mesophilic enzymes, as expected from the cold-adapted nature of this enzyme. J Formos Med Assoc, 2002 Jul, 101(7), 495 - 501 In vitro activities of antimicrobial combinations against clinical isolates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia; Liaw SJ et al.; BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a major pathogen causing nosocomial infection, is inherently resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents . Evaluation of the effectiveness of recommended therapeutic options for S . maltophilia infections is crucial, particularly in areas with high antimicrobial resistance in this nosocomial pathogen . METHODS: The in vitro activities of ceftazidime (CAZ), ticarcillin-clavulanate (TIM), amikacin (AN), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) against 102 clinical isolates of S . maltophilia collected from January 1998 to December 1999 at a university hospital were evaluated . The disk diffusion and agar dilution susceptibilities of individual agents against these isolates were determined concomitantly . Errors between results obtained by the two methods were identified based on the guidelines for Acinetobacter species provided by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards . Activities of three two-drug combinations (AN + CIP, CAZ + CIP, and TIM + TMP-SMZ) against 32 of these isolates were analyzed using the checkerboard synergy test . RESULTS: Among the agents tested, TMP-SMZ was the most active against S . maltophilia (83.3% susceptible), followed by CIP (63.7%), CAZ (39.2%), TIM (36.2%), and AN (20.5%) . Errors (very major and major) between the results obtained by the disk diffusion and agar dilution methods occurred at a high frequency for AN (15% and 3%), CAZ (8% and 6%), and CIP (3% and 3%) . Synergy or partial synergy of antimicrobial agent combinations was detected predominantly with CAZ + CIP (81.3%) and TIM + TMP-SMZ (84.4%) but not with AN + CIP (37.5%) . No antagonism was detected with any drug combinations . CONCLUSION: The dilution method is preferable to the disk diffusion method for susceptibility testing of S . maltophilia isolates, particularly for testing with AN, CAZ, and TIM, which have considerable error rates between the results obtained by the two methods . The findings from the synergy test suggest that TIM + TMP-SMZ and CAZ + CIP combinations are the treatments of choice for infections caused by S . maltophilia. Malays J Reprod Health, 1989 Dec, 7(2), 131 - 7 Bacteriological study of extracted IUCDs; Harun R et al.; PIP: Previous studies have shown the users of intrauterine devices have a 4.4 times greater risk of pelvic inflammatory disease . This present study intends to categorize the distribution of microbes in cultures from different types of extracted copper intrauterine devices (IUCDs) . Bacteriological studies of aerobic and anaerobic organisms were performed on the extracted IUCDs of 522 IUCD users; 480 wearing a Multiload Cu 250, 15 wearing a Copper T, 22 Lippes Loop and 5 a Copper 7 . Cultures were negative in 46 (8.8%) IUCD cultures where 43 were Multiloads, Copper T (1) and Lippes Loop (2) . 91.2% yielded bacterial growth and the commonest organisms isolated were Staphylococcus species, (23%), E.coli (9.6%) and Staphylococcus aureus (4.0% . Candida albicans, E.coli and Staphylococcus sp . were commonly isolated from Multiload, Copper T, Lippes Loop and Copper 7 . Beta-hemolytic streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida sp . were frequently recovered from Multiload, Copper T and Lippes Loop . Only Multiload cultures yielded Bacillus, Streptococcus viridans, Klebsiella, Proteus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter diversus, Citrobacter freundii, Moraxella, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter . One woman with complaint of PID yielded E.coli in her IUCD culture . Mol Genet Genomics, 2002 Sep, 268(1), 19 - 27 Epub 2002 Aug 21. Efficient plastid transformation in tobacco using the aphA-6 gene and kanamycin selection; Huang FC et al.; Here we report on the development of a new dominant selection marker for plastid transformation in higher plants using the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase gene aphA-6 from Acinetobacter baumannii . Vectors containing chimeric aphA-6 gene constructs were introduced into the tobacco chloroplast using particle bombardment of alginate-embedded protoplast-derived micro colonies or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated DNA uptake . Targeted insertion into the plastome was achieved via homologous recombination, and plastid transformants were recovered on the basis of their resistance to kanamycin . Variations in kanamycin resistance in transplastomic lines were observed depending on the 5' and 3' regulatory elements associated with the aphA-6 coding region . Transplastomic plants were fertile and showed maternal inheritance of the transplastome in the progeny. J Vet Med B Infect Dis Vet Public Health, 2002 Aug, 49(6), 294 - 7 Bacterial flora in foals with upper respiratory tract infections in Poland; Boguta L et al.; Bacteria isolated from nasal cavity of 80 foals with upper respiratory tract infection, as well as from 20 healthy foals, were examined . Within the group of sick animals, from 18 (22.5%) bacteria with recognized pathogenicity were isolated . Coagulase-negative staphylococci and Acinetobacter sp . were the dominant species identified (100 and 45%, respectively) . No bacteria species with recognized pathogenicity were isolated from the group of healthy animals . Three cases of death within the group of sick foals were investigated . Rhodococcus equi in two cases and Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumoniae together with Escherichia coli were isolated post-mortem from lung abscesses. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2002 Sep 20, 297(2), 232 - 6 A novel beta-diketone-cleaving enzyme from Acinetobacter johnsonii: acetylacetone 2,3-oxygenase; Straganz G et al.; A novel Fe+Zn containing oxygenase from Acinetobacter johnsonii catalyses 2,3-cleavage of acetylacetone to acetate and methylglyoxal has been purified . The stoichiometry of reactants and products conforms to a classical dioxygenase . The pure protein is a homotetramer of 64kD with variable amounts of Fe(2+) and Zn(2+) . Activity of the enzyme is more closely related to the Fe(2+) content than to the amount of protein . A purification of acetylacetone 2,3-oxygenase, some of its physical properties, and the preference for some analogous substrates are described. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2002 Jul, 66(7), 1579 - 82 Microbial degradation of lipid by Acinetobacter sp . strain SOD-1; Sugimori D et al.; Acinetobacter sp . strain SOD-1, capable of rapidly degrading salad oil, was isolated from soil . Strain SOD-1 showed good growth and degraded 68.7+/-2.7 and 83.0% of an initial 3000 ppm salad oil suspension in 24 h at 20 degrees C and pH 7.0 and at 35 degrees C and pH 8.0, respectively . The degradation rate depended on pH, temperature, phosphate concentration, and initial cell density. Gynecol Oncol, 2002 Sep, 86(3), 384 - 6 Primary extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the fallopian tube; Noack F et al.; BACKGROUND: Only 2% of all extranodal primary lymphomas affect the female genital tract . Involvement of the fallopian tubes by primary lymphoma is extremely rare . CASE: A 34-year-old patient presented with the symptoms of salpingitis . Laparoscopy with salpingectomy was performed . Salpingitis caused by Acinetobacter species was diagnosed and antibiotic treatment was administered . Histologic examination of the fallopian tube revealed primary extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MALT-type lymphoma) of the fallopian tube . After 12 months no tumoral recurrence occurred . CONCLUSION: Although the female genital tract is rich in mucosa and the existence of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) has been demonstrated previously, extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the fallopian tube is exceptional . To our knowledge only two cases with extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the fallopian tube have been previously reported . Existence of inflammation close to the tumor is interesting to emphasize. Water Sci Technol, 2002, 46(1-2), 45 - 8 Competitive growth kinetics of Sphaerotilus natans and Acinetobacter anitratus; Contreras EM et al.; Growth kinetics of Sphaerotilus natans and Acinetobacter anitratus (strain E932) in pure and mixed cultures were analysed . In order to determine mixed cultures biomass composition, a quantitative image analysis technique was developed . Pure culture studies showed that for dilution rates less than 0.188 h(-1), the filamentous micro-organism will predominate leading to bulking phenomena . By using the developed technique to determine biomass composition, mixed culture experiments showed that changes in the dilution rate modify the microbial composition of the biomass determining which micro-organism predominate . The stated equations that predict the predominance of S . natans at low dilution rates agree satisfactorily with the obtained results. Water Sci Technol, 2002, 46(1-2), 443 - 7 Quantifying the impact of wastewater micronutrient composition on in situ growth activity of Acinetobacter spp; Oerther DB et al.; Batch growth studies with pure cultures of Acinetobacter johnsoniiT and Acinetobacter johnsonii strain 210 on various media formulations were used to examine the effects of micronutrient composition on the growth rate of microbial populations in wastewater treatment systems . On nutrient rich Luria-Bertani medium, both strains of A . johnsonii grew with a doubling time of approximately 30 min . On a defined, minimal medium with acetate as the sole carbon source, the doubling time of A . johnsoniiT was 9.62 h and the doubling time of strain 210a was 2.6 h . Using a synthetic wastewater as a growth medium, the type strain had a doubling time of 56 h and strain 210a had a doubling time of 9.62 h . The concentration and redox state of iron appeared to be the principle growth limiting factors with higher doubling times occurring in media containing ferric iron as compared to ferrous iron . Additionally, grab samples from batch growth experiments were analyzed with oligonucleotide hybridization probes targeting the mature 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and precursor 16S rRNA of Acinetobacter spp . Results showed that the precursor 16S rRNA levels responded more rapidly and to a greater extent than total 16S rRNA levels to changes in the micronutrient composition of the growth media . Precursor 16S rRNA levels increased in both strains when overnight cultures were diluted with fresh media and when micronutrient supplements were added to growing cultures . Our results show that the micronutrient composition of the influent wastewater can have a significant impact on the microbial community structure in wastewater treatment systems. J Antimicrob Chemother, 2002 Sep, 50(3), 411 - 20 Comparative in vitro activity of faropenem and 11 other antimicrobial agents against 405 aerobic and anaerobic pathogens isolated from skin and soft tissue infections from animal and human bites; Goldstein EJ et al.; Faropenem, a new oral beta-lactam agent with a penem structure, was very active against 405 aerobic and anaerobic bite isolates . It inhibited 232 of 236 (98%) aerobic isolates, including all Pasteurella spp . and Eikenella corrodens at < or = 0.25 mg/L, and 164/169 (97%) anaerobic isolates, at < or = 1 mg/L . The 10 isolates that required > or = 2 mg/L for inhibition were one strain each of Acinetobacter lwoffi, Corynebacterium minutissimum, Bacteroides ovatus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Peptostreptococcus tetradius, plus Corynebacterium 'aquaticum' (two strains) and Veillonella sp . (three strains). FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2002 Aug 27, 214(1), 81 - 6 Effect of p-nitrophenol metabolites on microbial cell electro-optical characteristics; Ignatov OV et al.; The effect of cellular p-nitrophenol (PNP) metabolism on the electro-optical (EO) characteristics of Pseudomonas putida C-11, P . putida BA-11, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticum A-122 was studied . When P . putida C-11 was incubated with hydroquinone, the orientational spectra of the cell suspensions changed considerably . When P . putida BA-11 and A . calcoaceticum A-122 were incubated with hydroquinone, no orientational spectrum changes were noted, possibly attesting to the operation of different PNP-metabolic pathways . In C-11, the initial metabolism of PNP may occur via the production of hydroquinone, an intermediate for PNP metabolism; in BA-11 and A . calcoaceticum A-122, via the production of 4-nitropyrocatechin, followed by a rupture of the aromatic ring . The respiratory activity of the strains toward hydroquinone was investigated concurrently . The results suggest that EO analysis is a good candidate for the study of cellular metabolism. Arch Pathol Lab Med, 2002 Sep, 126(9), 1064 - 70 Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia: a histological pattern of lung injury and possible variant of diffuse alveolar damage; Beasley MB et al.; CONTEXT: The histologic patterns of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP), and eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) are well-recognized histologic patterns of lung injury associated with an acute or subacute clinical presentation . We have recognized acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia (AFOP) as a histologic pattern, which also occurs in this clinical setting but does not meet the classic histologic criteria for DAD, BOOP, or EP and may represent an underreported variant . OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of the AFOP histologic pattern and to explore its possible relationship to other disorders, including DAD and BOOP . DESIGN: Open lung biopsy specimens and autopsy specimens were selected from the consultation files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, which showed a dominant histologic pattern of intra-alveolar fibrin and organizing pneumonia . Varying amounts of organizing pneumonia, type 2 pneumocyte hyperplasia, edema, acute and chronic inflammation, and interstitial widening were seen . Cases with histologic patterns of classic DAD, BOOP, abscess formation, or eosinophilic pneumonia were excluded . To determine the clinical behavior of patients with this histologic finding, clinical and radiographic information and follow-up information were obtained . Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier and chi(2) analysis . RESULTS: Seventeen patients (10 men, 7 women) with a mean age of 62 years (range, 33-78 years) had acute-onset symptoms of dyspnea (11), fever (6), cough (3), and hemoptysis (2) . Associations believed to be clinically related to the lung disease included definitive or probable collagen vascular disease (3), amiodarone (1), sputum culture positive for Haemophilus influenza (1), lung culture positive for Acinetobacter sp . (1), lymphoma (1), hairspray (1), construction work (1), coal mining (1), and zoological work (1) . Six patients had no identifiable origin or association . Follow-up revealed 2 clinical patterns of disease progression: a fulminate illness with rapid progression to death (n = 9; mean survival, 0.1 year) and a more subacute illness, with recovery (n = 8) . Histologic analysis and initial symptoms did not correlate with eventual outcome, but 5 of the 5 patients who required mechanical ventilation died (P =.007) . CONCLUSIONS: Acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia is a histologic pattern associated with a clinical picture of acute lung injury that differs from the classic histologic patterns of DAD, BOOP, or EP . Similar to these patterns of acute lung injury, the AFOP pattern can occur in an idiopathic setting or with a spectrum of clinical associations . The overall mortality rate is similar to DAD and therefore may represent a histologic variant; however, AFOP appears to have 2 distinct patterns of disease progression and outcome . The need for mechanical ventilation was the only parameter that correlated with prognosis . None of the patients with a subacute clinical course required mechanical ventilation. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 Sep, 68(9), 4502 - 8 Rhamnolipid stimulates uptake of hydrophobic compounds by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Noordman WH et al.; The biodegradation of hexadecane by five biosurfactant-producing bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG2, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG1, Rhodococcus erythropolis DSM 43066, R . erythropolis ATCC 19558, and strain BCG112) was determined in the presence and absence of exogenously added biosurfactants . The degradation of hexadecane by P . aeruginosa was stimulated only by the rhamnolipid biosurfactant produced by the same organism . This rhamnolipid did not stimulate the biodegradation of hexadecane by the four other strains to the same extent, nor was degradation of hexadecane by these strains stimulated by addition of their own biosurfactants . This suggests that P . aeruginosa has a mode of hexadecane uptake different from those of the other organisms . Rhamnolipid also enhanced the rate of epoxidation of the aliphatic hydrocarbon alpha,omega-tetradecadiene by a cell suspension of P . aeruginosa . Furthermore, the uptake of the hydrophobic probe 1-naphthylphenylamine by cells of P . aeruginosa was enhanced by rhamnolipid, as indicated by stopped-flow fluorescence experiments . Rhamnolipid did not stimulate the uptake rate of this probe in de-energized cells . These results indicate that an energy-dependent system is present in P . aeruginosa strain UG2 that mediates fast uptake of hydrophobic compounds in the presence of rhamnolipid. Jpn J Antibiot, 2002 Jun, 55(3), 281 - 90 {Evaluation of the Rapid Lumi 'Eiken' using chemiluminescent assay for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing}; Kohara T et al.; One hundred ninety eight clinical isolates, including Enterobacteriaceae (70 strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20 strains), Acinetobacter baumannii (10 strains), staphylococci (50 strains), enterococci (20 strains), Streptococcus pneumoniae (15 strains) and Haemophilus influenzae (13 strains) were tested for their antimicrobial susceptibilities by using the Rapid Lumi 'Eiken' (RL) . As a reference method, broth microdilution method according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards was used . Then, each MIC obtained by both of these methods was compared . In order to improve the discrepancy between MICs obtained by both methods, modification of the RL method was studied . All MICs using the RL method were obtained with an incubation period of 4 hours . The essential agreement (to within one twofold dilution) between MICs obtained by both methods was 82% . The false susceptible in the RL method test results (very major error) and the false resistant in the RL tests (major error) were 0.9% and 2.3%, respectively . The agreement of interpretive category (that is, when the categories obtained by both methods are in perfect agreement) was 89% . Proteus spp . and A . baumannii showed low essential agreements, 59% and 46% respectively . The differences were resulted from the RL method's MICs being higher than the reference method . In order to improve the difference between both methods, the RL method's procedure was modified in the inoculum size (10(6) CFU/mL to 10(5) CFU/mL), the menadione concentration (5 mg/L to 25 mg/L) and the interpretive criteria for Enterobacteriaceae and A . baumannii . As the results of the modification, the essential agreement in Proteus spp . and A . baumannii increased to 82% and 81%, respectively, and there was no significant change in the other species of Enterobacteriaceae . In the case of the modified RL method to Enterobacteriaceae and A . baumannii, the essential agreement, the very major error, the major error and the agreement of interpretive category of all 198 strains were 87%, 1.4%, 1.5% and 90%, respectively . In conclusion, with only 4-hour incubation period, the RL method based on chemiluminescent assay gave reliable susceptibility testing among the most clinically important bacteria . Although several tests showed low essential agreement, it was possible to improve by use of the modified RL method . The Rapid Lumi 'Eiken' will provide useful information for choosing the most effective antibiotic for primary treatment to bacterial infections. Mikrobiol Z, 2002 May-Jun, 64(3), 81 - 94 {Strategy of obtaining microbial exopolysaccharides possessing stable preset properties}; Pyroh TP et al.; Basing on the development of approaches to the controlled regulation of synthesis of the complex polysaccharide preparation ethapolan (producer Acinetobacter sp.) the strategy of obtaining microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) with stable composition and properties was determined . The strategy is based on the following principles of regulation of composition, physico-chemical properties and synthesis intensification of EPS: 1) to find out EPS functional groups determining their physico-chemical properties and factor providing synthesis of EPS with certain functional groups; 2) to study changes of EPS composition and properties during producer cultivation and to determine growth phase in which the synthesis of EPS possessing necessary properties occurs; 3) to investigate interrelation between EPS physico-chemical properties and their protective functions and to determine cultivation conditions necessary for development of EPS protective functions; 4) analysis of metabolic pathways of EPS synthesis, elucidation of "bottlenecks" in producer's metabolism and search for ways toward their elimination. Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi, 2002 Jul, 41(7), 468 - 71 Retrospective study on clinical features and risk factors of ventilator-associated pneumonia; Sun T et al.; OBJECTIVE: To deepen the understanding about ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) . METHOD: Patients admitted to the respiratory intensive care unit from Jan 1996 approximately Oct 1999 were divided into two groups, with or without VAP, according to the diagnosis criteria . The comparative analysis was performed in clinical characteristics, risk factors, distribution of pathological organisms and prognosis . RESULTS: The incidence of VAP was 48.3% (28/58 cases) . The cases with deep venous catheter in VAP group were much more than non-VAP group P < 0.05 . The duration of ventilation >/= 20 days among the patients of VAP group was 32.1%,while it was 6.7% in non-VAP group . 53 microorganisms were isolated from 25 patients with VAP . The main pathogens were Acinetobacter spp (32.1%), P . Aeruginosa (20.8%) and C.albicans (22.6%) . The mortality rate of VAP group was 32.1%, significantly higher than that of non-VAP group (P < 0.05) . CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors of VAP may be the use of deep venous catheter and long duration of ventilation . The main pathogens were Acinetobacter species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and yeasts . The presence of VAP could significantly increase the mortality of patients. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2002 Aug, 23(8), 477 - 9 Completely resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains; Mahgoub S et al.; Nosocomially acquired completely resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains are a major clinical concern . We identified completely resistant A . baumannii in 6 (4.9%) of 122 A . baumannii isolates in a retrospective chart review at two teaching hospitals . All of these patients had received broad-spectrum antibiotics and had severe underlying comorbid illnesses, long hospitalizations, or recent surgical procedures; 3 had been in the intensive care unit . Five (83%) of the 6 patients were older than 70 years . Only one death occurred . Strict infection control measures may limit further spread. Med Dosw Mikrobiol, 2002, 54(2), 137 - 43 {Occurrence of beta-lactamase types ESBL and AmpC among gram-negative rods isolated from food}; Majczyna D et al.; The aim of the study was to isolate extended spectrum beta-laktamases (ESBL) and chromosomal beta-laktamases AmpC producing strains from food products . A total of 739 Gram-negative bacteria were tested with double disc diffusion method using cefotaxim, ceftasidim and amoxycillin with clavulanic acid . One strain producing ESBL and belonging to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was detected from the ice cream (0.14% of all strains) . From different food products a total of 14 microorganisms (1.9%) having AmpC enzymes have been isolated . They belonged to Enterobacter spp, Hafnia spp, Morganella spp, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter, and Cedecea . Appearance of strains producing beta-laktamases ESBL and AmpC among microorganism isolated from food make it necessary to monitor enzymes activity during routine microbiological control of foods. New Microbiol, 2002 Jul, 25(3), 323 - 9 Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria by the Phoenix Automated Microbiology System; Endimiani A et al.; The Phoenix Automated Microbiology System (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD) was evaluated for its ability to identify nonfermenting gram-negative pathogens and measure their drug susceptibility . Isolates producing rare extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (PER-1, IMP-2, VIM-1, and VIM-2) were included in the study . Species identification was compared to that given by the ATB System (bio-Merieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France), whereas susceptibility results were compared to those produced by a reference broth microdilution test (panels manufactured by Pasco Laboratories, Becton Dickinson) . The Phoenix system consistently identified all isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 55) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 28), while in other cases species agreement was obtained for 47/53 isolates (Acinetobacter baumannii, 29/31; Pseudomonas putida, 10/11; Burkholderia cepacia, 6/7; and Pseudomonas fluorescens, 2/4) . Overall, the Phoenix and ATB systems gave equal results in 130/136 cases (95.6%) . For two isolates, consistent identification was obtained at the genus level, thus bringing the cumulative agreement to 97.1% . MIC values (interpreted according to NCCLS guidelines) gave essential and categorical agreement in 94.2% and 93.1% of cases, respectively . Minor and major errors were 5.1% and 5.2%, respectively . No very major errors were produced . The mean time to results (TTR) for the Phoenix system was 14.8 +/- 1.6 h (mean +/- SD), with the shortest TTR being observedfor A . baumannii (13.0 +/- 1.8 h) and the longest one for P . aeruginosa (15.6 +/- 1.2 h) . In conclusion, the Phoenix system performed rapidly and correctly in the identification of clinical isolates of important opportunistic pathogens and in measuring their susceptibility to antipseudomonal drugs. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Aug, 59(4-5), 580 - 4 Epub 2002 Jul 06. Solubilization of polyaromatic hydrocarbons by recombinant bioemulsifier AlnA; Toren A et al.; AlnA is the protein responsible for the emulsifying and solubilizing activity of the Acinetobacter radioresistens KA53 bioemulsifier alasan . AlnA was produced in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity and then used to measure the enhanced solubility of 12 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) . The amount of PAH solubilized was directly proportional to AlnA concentration . The ratio of PAH solubilized by 40 micro g/ml AlnA compared to that soluble in the aqueous buffer varied greatly, from 4 (fluorene) to 81 (hexylbenzylcyclosilane) . Calculations of moles PAH solubilized per mole AlnA yielded values from 4.3 (hexylphenylbenzene) to 55.8 (1,10-phenanthrolene) . There was no obvious relationship between the amount of PAH solubilized and its molecular weight or intrinsic solubility . Native gel electrophoresis indicated that AlnA formed hexamers in the presence of PAHs . With molar ratios of fluorene to AlnA of 0.75 or less, only the monomer was observed, whereas at ratios of 7.5 or higher, only the hexamer was detected . At an intermediate molar ratio of 2.6, both monomer and hexamer appeared . The data indicate that PAHs are initially solubilized by binding to the monomeric form of AlnA, and as the amount bound increases above one molecule PAH per AlnA, the protein aggregates to form a specific oligomer of 5-8 monomers which allows for the binding and solubilization of more PAH. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Aug, 59(4-5), 574 - 9 Epub 2002 May 10. Effect of dispersing oil phase on the biodegradability of a solid alkane dissolved in non-biodegradable oil; Hori K et al.; Acinetobacter sp . CR was grown on a model oil, which consisted of an inert oil matrix of pristane with n-heneicosane dissolved in it as the sole carbon source, in a stirred-tank bioreactor . This bacterium takes up substrates from the oil phase by direct contact with the oil phase . A previously established mathematical model was applied to reveal the effect of agitation conditions on the growth and n-alkane degradation kinetics of the bacterium . Higher impeller speed resulted in both lower microbial growth and lower n-alkane degradation rate of the bacterium, although it increased the specific surface area of the oil, which was measured by a previously developed device . This result was due to the decreased number of cells adhering to the oil surface, i.e., intense agitation inhibited the adhesion of cells to the oil surface . The addition of a surfactant below a critical micelle concentration (CMC) inhibited the degradation of n-heneicosane dissolved in pristane, although the biodegradability of the substrate recovered gradually with the increase in the dose of surfactant over CMC . The results suggest that efforts to increase the specific surface area of the oil phase have the undesirable result of inhibiting oil degradation when the dominant microbial degraders take up substrates in oil by direct contact with the oil. Chest, 2002 Aug, 122(2), 662 - 8 Quantitative culture of endotracheal aspirates in the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with treatment failure; Wu CL et al.; STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation of bacteriology between quantitative cultures of protected specimen brush (PSB), BAL, and quantitative endotracheal aspirate (QEA) in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) patients with treatment failure . DESIGN: Prospective observational clinical study . SETTING: A 15-bed medical ICU of tertiary medical center . PATIENTS: Forty-eight patients receiving mechanical ventilation with clinical suspected VAP who had been treated with antibiotics for at least 72 h without improvement . INTERVENTION: QEA, PSB, and BAL were performed with patients receiving antibiotics . The diagnostic thresholds for QEA, PSB, and BAL were 10(5), 10(3), and 10(4) cfu/mL, respectively . MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Microbial culture findings were positive in 24 BAL samples (50%), in 23 PSB samples (48%), and in 28 QEA samples (58%) . The correlations between of QEA vs PSB and QEA vs BAL were significant (rho = 0.567 and rho = 0.620, p < 0.01, respectively) . The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Acinetobacter baumannii (27%), Staphylococcus aureus (24%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (15%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10%) . Using the predetermined criteria, bacterial pneumonia was diagnosed in 28 of 48 suspected VAP episodes based on PSB and/or BAL results . The diagnostic efficiency of QEA at threshold of 10(5) cfu/mL had a sensitivity of 92.8% and a specificity of 80% . CONCLUSIONS: QEA correlated with PSB and BAL in patients with suspected VAP who responded poorly to the existent antibiotic treatment . QEA missed only two cases of bacterial pneumonia diagnosed by invasive PSB and/or BAL with acceptable sensitivity and specificity . More importantly, QEA is noninvasive and easily repeatable . Early use of QEA is helpful to clinical physicians in decision making with regard to antibiotics use. Korean J Intern Med, 2002 Jun, 17(2), 94 - 9 The resistance mechanisms of b-lactam antimicrobials in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii; Kwon NY et al.; BACKGROUND: Despite increasing importance of Acinetobacter baumannii in nosocomial infections and rapid development of multi-antimicrobial resistance in this strain, the resistance mechanisms of beta-lactam antimicrobials in A . baumannii were not clearly defined . In order to observe the resistance mechanisms against beta-lactams and carbapenem, we characterized the production of beta-lactamases and outermembrane protein (OMP) profiles for the 44 clinical isolates of A . baumannii . METHODS: The MICs of antimicrobials were determined by agar dilution test . The secondary beta-lactamases were characterized by isoelectric focusing, polymerase chain reactions and nucleotide sequencing, and the production of chromosomal beta-lactamases was quantitated by spectrophotometric method . For two strains with an elevated MIC of carbapenem, outermembrane protein (OMP) profile was analyzed by ultracentrifugation of the sonicated bacteral cells and SDS-PAGE . RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Twenty two or 4 of 44 strains produced TEM-1-like beta-lactamase or PER-1 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, respectively . However, when we analyzed the MICs of several beta-lactams with the beta-lactamase production, the resistance level of beta-lactam was mainly determined by the production of chromosomal beta-lactamase, not by the secondary beta-lactamases in the clinical isolates of A . baumannii . In two strains with an elevated MIC of imipenem, a decrease or loss of about 35 kDa and 22 kDa proteins in OMP was observed, which suggested that the change of OMP played a role in carbapenem resistance. Crit Care Med, 2002 Aug, 30(8), 1741 - 6 Influence on outcome of ventilator-associated pneumonia in multiple trauma patients with head trauma treated with selected digestive decontamination; Leone M et al.; OBJECTIVE: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is said to be associated with an increased mortality or a prolonged intensive care unit stay . In multiple trauma, the use of selective digestive decontamination has been reported to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with pneumonia . We performed a study to evaluate the attributable morbidity and mortality of ventilator-associated pneumonia in multiple trauma patients with head trauma treated with selective digestive decontamination . DESIGN: Prospective, matched-paired, case-control study . SETTING: Intensive care unit at a tertiary university hospital . PATIENTS: During a 6-yr period, 324 consecutive multiple trauma patients with head trauma requiring mechanical ventilation for >48 hrs were prospectively followed for the development of VAP . Case-control matching criteria were as follows: 1) age difference within 5 yrs, 2) Glasgow coma scale within five categories, 3) injury severity score within 5 points, 4) APACHE II score within 5 points, 5) ventilation of control patients for at least as long as the cases . The selective digestive decontamination regimen was used in all patients (cases and controls): polymixin E, gentamicin, and amphotericin B . Systemic cefazolin (1 g three times a day) was given for the first 3 days of intensive care unit stay . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Analysis was performed on 58 pairs that were matched with 100% of success The most common isolates recovered were Staphylococcus aureus (39%) and Haemophilus influenzae (22%) . High-risk pathogens were rarely isolated: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.1%), Acinetobacter species (8.6%), and methicillin-resistant S . aureus (6.7%) . The duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay were increased in case patients (11.6 +/- 1.7 and 22.7 +/- 2.9 days, respectively) compared with control patients (9.4 +/- 1.3 and 16.8 +/- 2.9 days, respectively; p <.0006) . Mortality was similar in both case (17%) and control (24%) patients . CONCLUSION: Ventilator-associated pneumonia did not seem to increase mortality of multiple trauma patients with head trauma who received selective digestive decontamination . Whether or not this conclusion applied to trauma patients not receiving selective digestive decontamination should be evaluated in further studies. J Antimicrob Chemother, 2002 Aug, 50(2), 261 - 4 Distribution of beta-lactamases in Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates and the effect of Syn 2190 (AmpC inhibitor) on the MICs of different beta-lactam antibiotics; Danes C et al.; The distribution of beta-lactamases in a group of 20 epidemiologically well defined Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates and the in vitro activity of Syn 2190, a novel beta-lactamase AmpC inhibitor, were determined . Twenty-five per cent of the strains carried and expressed a TEM-type beta-lactamase, whereas 35% had an OXA-type beta-lactamase . In nine out of 11 (82%) ceftazidime-resistant and four out of 13 (30.7%) cefepime-resistant strains, the MIC of these beta-lactam antibiotics decreased when determined in the presence of Syn 2190 . Thus, our results suggest that in a high percentage of A . baumannii clinical isolates the increased production of AmpC, in combination or not with other resistance mechanisms, contributes to the resistance pattern in A . baumannii to beta-lactams. J Clin Microbiol, 2002 Aug, 40(8), 2755 - 9 Evaluation of a new Etest for detecting metallo-beta-lactamases in routine clinical testing; Walsh TR et al.; Several Etest (AB BIODISK, Solna, Sweden) gradient formats were developed for detection of metallo-beta-lactamases based on the reduction of imipenem (IP) or ceftazidime (TZ) MICs in the presence of EDTA or 2-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) . The Etest metallo-beta-lactamase (Etest MBL) strips consisted of a double-sided seven-dilution range of IP or TZ (4 to 256 microg/ml) and IP or TZ (1 to 64 microg/ml) overlaid with a constant concentration of EDTA or MPA . The prototype strips were evaluated on several agar media (brain heart infusion agar, Isosensitest agar, nutrient agar, and Mueller-Hinton agar for aerobes and brucella blood agar for anaerobes) with 138 challenge strains: Acinetobacter spp . (n = 9), Aeromonas spp . (n = 8), Chryseobacterium spp . (n = 28), Escherichia coli (n = 1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 4), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 14), Proteus mirabilis (n = 3), Serratia spp . (n = 10), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 43), Sphingobacterium spp . (n = 3), and Bacteroides fragilis group (n = 15) . PCR analysis using specific primers for IMP-1, L1, CcrA, and bla(B/C) confirmed the presence of the metallo-beta-lactamase genes . Enzyme assays were also performed with IP as an indicator substrate followed by EDTA inhibition profiles . EDTA was found to be a better inhibitor of metallo-beta-lactamases, especially for anaerobes . IP was a better than TZ . Mueller-Hinton agar was the preferred medium, particularly when compared to Isosensitest agar, which frequently produced falsely low MICs for IP . Etest IP plus IP-EDTA with Mueller-Hinton agar had a sensitivity of 94% (79 of 84) and specificity of 95% (124 of 130) . The Etest MBL strip appears to be an acceptable diagnostic reagent to detect metallo-beta-lactamase phenotypes in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 Aug, 68(8), 3848 - 54 Metabolic engineering of a novel propionate-independent pathway for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in recombinant Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium; Aldor IS et al.; A pathway was metabolically engineered to produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), a biodegradable thermoplastic with proven commercial applications, from a single, unrelated carbon source . An expression system was developed in which a prpC strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, with a mutation in the ability to metabolize propionyl coenzyme A (propionyl-CoA), served as the host for a plasmid harboring the Acinetobacter polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis operon (phaBCA) and a second plasmid with the Escherichia coli sbm and ygfG genes under an independent promoter . The sbm and ygfG genes encode a novel (2R)-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase and a (2R)-methylmalonyl-CoA decarboxylase, respectively, which convert succinyl-CoA, derived from the tricarboxylic acid cycle, to propionyl-CoA, an essential precursor of 3-hydroxyvalerate (HV) . The S . enterica system accumulated PHBV with significant HV incorporation when the organism was grown aerobically with glycerol as the sole carbon source . It was possible to vary the average HV fraction in the copolymer by adjusting the arabinose or cyanocobalamin (precursor of coenzyme B12) concentration in the medium. J Hosp Infect, 2002 Jul, 51(3), 201 - 6 Association between intensity of chlorhexidine use and micro-organisms of reduced susceptibility in a hospital environment; Block C et al.; The potential for emergence of resistance to biocides has been a concern in recent years . This study tested whether an association exists between the intensity of chlorhexidine use and chlorhexidine susceptibility of micro-organisms isolated from patients in different clinical areas in an acute-care general hospital . Organisms frequently involved in nosocomial infections in the hospital were chosen for study over a six week period: Staphylococcus aureus (60 isolates), coagulase-negative staphylococci (48), Klebsiella pneumoniae (32), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (60), Acinetobacter baumannii (16) and Candida albicans (35) . An index of chlorhexidine exposure for each clinical unit was derived for the year preceding organism collection . Chlorhexidine susceptibility was evaluated using agar incorporation minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and disk diffusion . A statistically significant inverse correlation was shown between intensity of chlorhexidine use and the overall susceptibility of all study organisms taken together . There was no association when individual taxa were considered . These findings must be interpreted with caution considering that greater use of chlorhexidine is likely to occur in difficult clinical disciplines where antibiotic use, invasive procedures and other intensive care-related procedures, cross-infection and immunosuppression are all potential confounding factors . There was an excellent correlation between MICs and disk testing, suggesting that disk diffusion might be useful in studies involving more than one biocide. Emerg Infect Dis, 2002 Aug, 8(8), 827 - 32 Pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii causing nosocomial infections in a university hospital, Taiwan; Hsueh PR et al.; The rapid emergence (from 0% before 1998 to 6.5% in 2000) of pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (PDRAB) was noted in a university hospital in Taiwan . To understand the epidemiology of these isolates, we studied 203 PDRAB isolates, taken from January 1999 to April 2000: 199 from 73 hospitalized patients treated at different clinical settings in the hospital and 4 from environmental sites in an intensive-care unit . Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) generated by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction of these 203 isolates showed 10 closely related genotypes (10 clones) . One (clone 5), belonging to pulsotype E and RAPD pattern 5, predominated (64 isolates, mostly from patients in intensive care) . Increasing use of carbapenems and ciprofloxacin (selective pressure) as well as clonal dissemination might have contributed to the wide spread of PDRAB in this hospital. Clin Neurol Neurosurg, 2002 Sep, 104(4), 352 - 8 Community-acquired bacterial meningitis in adults: the epidemiology, timing of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and prognostic factors; Lu CH et al.; Between January 1986 and December 1999, 109 adult patients with culture-proven community-acquired bacterial meningitis were identified at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital . To compare changes over time, the appearance of disease among our patients was divided into two equal time periods: an earlier time period (1986-1992) and a later time period (1993-1999) . In this study, there was a decreasing proportion of community-acquired bacterial meningitis compared with nosocomial bacterial meningitis in adult patients in recent years . Its proportion declined dramatically from 81% in the earlier 7 years to 37% in the later 7 years . Of the pathogens, Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae was the most frequently implicated pathogen, followed by Viridans (V.) streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus . Other rare organisms including Acinetobacter baumannii, Salmonella Group B and D, Proteus mirabilis, Group B, D, and non-A, non-B and non-D streptococci, and coagulase-negative staphylococci emerged during the second period . There was a decrease in the mortality rate from 44% in the first to 34% in the second time period, but the overall mortality rate remained high . Of the implicated pathogens, patients infected with V . streptococci had a consistently favorable prognosis, while a dramatic decrease in the mortality rate of those infected with K . pneumoniae was seen in recent years . In the multiple logistic regression analysis, only the presence of septic shock and seizures was independently associated with mortality . The timing of appropriate antimicrobial therapy, as defined by consciousness level, was a major determinant of survival and neurological outcomes for patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis, and the first dose of an appropriate antibiotic should be administrated before a patient's consciousness deteriorates to a Glasgow coma scale score lower than 10. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2002 Jul 26, 295(4), 903 - 9 Enhanced detection and characterization of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase in Acinetobacter lwoffii K24 by proteomics using a column separation; Kahng HY et al.; Acinetobacter lwoffii K24 known as an aniline degrading bacterium has also been found to utilize p-hydroxybenzoate as a sole carbon source . In this study, 2-DE using Q-Sepharose column separation was attempted for fast screening of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase for catabolism of p-hydroxybenzoate in A . lwoffii K24 . Two protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase subunits, pcaG and pcaH were detected and identified with N-terminal and internal sequencing, suggesting proteomics using a column separation may be helpful for the identification of specific protein spots and maximizing the detectable protein spots on the 2-DE gel . The PCR process using degenerate primers for protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase and sequence analyses of the PCR products revealed the existence of pcaH and pcaG in A . lwoffii K24 . These two subunits were found to be closely located and share extensive homology with pcaH and pcaG of Pseudomonas marginata or Pseudomonas cepacia, providing the evidence that A . lwoffi K24 has the protocatechuate branches as well as catechol branches of beta-ketoadipate pathway. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2002 Jul, 20(1), 57 - 60 Synergistic activity of the novel des-fluoro(6) quinolone, garenoxacin (BMS-284756), in combination with other antimicrobial agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and related species; Fung-Tomc JC et al.; Non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cepacia, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Acinetobacter spp.) are intrinsically less susceptible to many antimicrobial agents . Two-drug combinations have been used to treat infections caused by less susceptible pathogens . In this study, the antibacterial activity of garenoxacin (GARX) with non-quinolones was examined . The non-quinolones evaluated were cefepime (CEPI), imipenem (IMIP), aztreonam (AZTR), piperacillin-tazobactam (PIPC/TZ), amikacin (AMK), ceftazidime (CTAZ), trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and ticarcillin-clavulanate (TICC/CA) . Synergism was determined by time-kill analysis using GARX (at 2 x its MIC, not to exceed 4 mg/l) and the second drug (at 1 x MIC, not to exceed its susceptible MIC breakpoint), and is defined as > or = 2 log(10) enhanced killing at 24 h with the combination . Partial synergy is defined as > or = 1.5 log(10) but < 2 log(10) enhanced killing with the drug combination . Synergy/partial synergy was observed most often with GARX plus: CEPI, AZTR, PIPC/TZ, IMIP (five strains each) or AMK (four strains) vs . eight P . aeruginosa; CTAZ, AZTR (five strains each) vs . six B . cepacia; TICC/CA (six strains), CEPI, CTAZ or AMK (five strains each) vs . eight S . maltophilia; and CEPI, AMK (three strains each) or CTAZ, TICC/CA (two strains each) vs . four Acinetobacter spp . In conclusion, synergistic killing was observed frequently with GARX plus a non-quinolone bactericidal agents against non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria, including strains intermediately susceptible/resistant to one or both agents. Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2002 Jul, 20(1), 10 - 7 Pathogen occurrence and antimicrobial resistance trends among urinary tract infection isolates in the Asia-Western Pacific Region: report from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program, 1998-1999; Turnidge J et al.; Worldwide surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among urinary tract pathogens is useful to determine important trends and geographical variation for common Gram-positive and -negative species . The most common causative uropathogens often have intrinsic or acquired resistance mechanisms which include ESBL production among enteric bacilli, multi-drug resistant staphylococci and non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp . and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp . This study evaluates pathogen frequency and the resistance rates among urinary tract infection (UTI) pathogens in 14 medical centres in the Asia-Pacific region between 1998 and 1999 . The isolates were referred to a central monitor for reference NCCLS broth microdilution testing, identification confirmation and patient demographic analysis . Over 50% of the 958 pathogens were Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp . followed by P . aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp . and Enterobacter spp . Susceptibility for the three enteric bacilli was high for carbapenems (100%), 'fourth-generation' cephalosporins (cefepime 94.9-98.6%) and amikacin (> or = 93.0%) . Beta-lactamase inhibitor compounds were more active against E . coli (piperacillin/tazobactam; > 90% susceptible) than the other two enteric species and all other tested agents had a narrower spectra of activity . The rank order of anti-pseudomonal agents was amikacin (91.5% susceptible)> imipenem > piperacillin/tazobactam > tobramycin > ceftazidime and cefepime (77.4 and 76.4% susceptible, respectively) . Susceptibility to quinolones for the P . aeruginosa isolates was only 63.2-67.0% . Only one vancomycin-intermediate Enterococcus spp . (van C phenotype) was detected among the 103 strains tested . Newer fluoroquinolones (gatifloxacin; MIC(50), mg/l) were more potent against enterococci than ciprofloxacin (MIC(50), 2 mg/l) and high-level resistance to aminoglycosides was common (41.7%) . The data presented are compared to studies of similar design from other areas which are part of the SENTRY surveillance network. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Jul, 4(4), 389 - 404 Multiple operons connected with catabolism of aromatic compounds in Acinetobacter sp . strain ADP1 are under carbon catabolite repression; Dal S et al.; Repression of enzymes contributing to degradation of aromatic compounds via the beta-ketoadipate pathway in the presence of additional carbon sources (carbon catabolite repression) in the bacterium Acinetobacter sp . strain ADP1 is described . The phenomenon was investigated on the level of specific activity of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase and p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase participating in catabolism of protocatechuate and p-hydroxybenzoate . Strong repression (90%) was found in cells grown on succinate and acetate in addition to the aromatic carbon source; partial derepression occurred towards the end of the logarithmic growth phase . Glucose, pyruvate, or lactate as secondary carbon sources had no repressing effect . The consumption of the aromatic substrate from the medium was delayed in the presence of acetate and succinate . The differences in specific enzyme activities were reflected at the transcript level for three operons connected to catabolism of aromatic compounds (pob, pca, van) as shown by Northern blot hybridization . Transcriptional fusions between the promoters of the pob and the pca operon identified the transcriptional level as the regulatory one . A mechanism of global regulation is postulated, which enables the organism to consume the offered carbon sources hierarchically in the most efficient manner. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2002 Aug, 46(8), 2513 - 7 Distribution of mef(A) in gram-positive bacteria from healthy Portuguese children; Luna VA et al.; We screened 615 gram-positive isolates from 150 healthy children for the presence of the erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), erm(F), and mef(A) genes . The mef(A) genes were found in 20 (9%) of the macrolide-resistant isolates, including Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp . Sixteen of the 19 gram-positive isolates tested carried the other seven open reading frames (ORFs) described in Tn1207.1, a genetic element carrying mef(A) recently described in Streptococcus pneumoniae . The three Staphylococcus spp . did not carry orf1 to orf3 . A gram-negative Acinetobacter junii isolate also carried the other seven ORFs described in Tn1207.1 . A Staphylococcus aureus isolate, a Streptococcus intermedius isolate, a Streptococcus sp . isolate, and an Enterococcus sp . isolate had their mef(A) genes completely sequenced and showed 100% identity at the DNA and amino acid levels with the mef(A) gene from S . pneumoniae. J Chemother, 2002 Jun, 14(3), 259 - 64 Antibiotic resistance of bacteria associated with community-acquired urinary tract infections in the southern area of the Gaza Strip; Astal Z et al.; The aim of this study was to identify the microorganisms that cause "community-acquired" urinary tract infections among adults and to investigate their resistance to fourteen selected antimicrobial agents . The uropathogens identified in 121 positive midstream urine cultures from the 270 subjects included in this study were Escherichia coli (57.9%), Proteus species (9.9%), Enterobacter species (7.4%), Klebsiella species (6.6%), Pseudomonas species (5.8%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (5.0%), Enterococcus species (3.3%), Acinetobacter species (2.5%), Citrobacter species (0.8%) and Staphylococcus aureus (0.8%) . Isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and a high proportion of the isolates was found to be resistant to amoxycillin (73.6%), doxycycline (68.6%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (66.1%) . The most effective drugs against all the isolates were ciprofloxacin (95.9%), amikacin (95.0%) and ceftazidime (94.2%) . A high percentage of multiple-drug resistance was also observed for the majority of the isolates. J Chemother, 2002 Jun, 14(3), 234 - 6 In-vitro activity of clinafloxacin compared to ciprofloxacin against Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from intensive care unit patients; Nikolaidis P et al.; The activity of clinafloxacin was compared to that of ciprofloxacin against 154 Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from patients treated in Intensive Care Units . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the Epsilometer test method . The majority (87.6%) of the A . baumannii strains tested were resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC range 0.125->32, MIC50 = >32, MIC90 = >32) . On the contrary, only 9.7% of the strains tested were resistant to clinafloxacin (MIC range 0.023->4, MIC50 = 0.75, MIC90 = 2) . Due to its superior activity shown against A . baumannii strains, compared to ciprofloxacin, clinafloxacin may be added to the therapeutic armamentarium for hospital-acquired infections caused by A . baumannii in Intensive Care Units. J Chemother, 2002 Jun, 14(3), 227 - 33 Comparative in-vitro activities of ertapenem against aerobic bacterial pathogens isolated from patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections; Pelak BA et al.; The in vitro activities of ertapenem, ceftriaxone, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ampicillin-sulbactam, and piperacillin-tazobactam were compared against 1018 aerobic bacterial pathogens isolated from 531 patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection . Enterobacteriaceae accounted for 66.3% of the aerobic bacteria; Escherichia coli was the most common isolate . The ertapenem minimal inhibitory concentration was < or = 2 microg/mL for 74.6% of isolates and > or = 8 microg/mL for 21.9% (including isolates of enterococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) . Against Enterobacteriaceae, ertapenem was the most potent and the most active drug evaluated (100% susceptible), followed by ceftriaxone (98% susceptible), piperacillin-tazobactam (96% susceptible), amoxicillin-clavulanate (80% susceptible), and ampicillin-sulbactam (64% susceptible) . Piperacillin-tazobactam was the only drug evaluated with clinically useful activity against P . aeruginosa . In summary, ertapenem was highly active in vitro against many clinically important aerobic intra-abdominal bacterial pathogens, especially Enterobacteriaceae. J Med Assoc Thai, 2002 Apr, 85(4), 477 - 81 Peritonitis in acute peritoneal dialysis in a university hospital; Dandecha P et al.; OBJECTIVE: Although acute peritoneal dialysis is a useful procedure, peritonitis is often a complication . When the patient is mainly at risk of peritonitis is controversial . The purpose of this study was to find the incidence time of peritonitis, the infecting microorganism, and risk factors . DESIGN: A retrospective study . PATIENTS: 118 cases of acute peritoneal dialysis in 93 patients were included in this study . METHOD: Data were collected from medical records . RESULTS: Overall, the peritonitis rate was 36.45 per cent . The peritonitis rate rose following the duration of dialysis from 11 per cent on the first day to 21 per cent on the third day, although the difference was not statistically significant . Gram-negative bacilli were predominant, at 81.6 per cent . Acinetobacter baumanii and Enterobacter cloacae were the two most common organisms (23.7 and 21.1% respectively) . There was a significantly higher male to female ratio in the peritonitis group than the no-peritonitis group (3.33:1 and 1.2:1 respectively, p=0.028) . CONCLUSION: There was a high peritonitis rate in acute peritoneal dialysis . The most common microorganisms were gram-negative bacilli, Acinetobacter baumanii and Enterobacter cloacae . The risk factor was male sex . Duration of dialysis of more than 2 days tended to increase the risk of peritonitis. Transgenic Res, 2002 Jun, 11(3), 291 - 303 Plant-specific promoter sequences carry elements that are recognised by the eubacterial transcription machinery; Jacob D et al.; During evolution the promoter elements from prokaryotes and eukaryotes have developed differently with regard to their sequence and structure, implying that in general a transfer of eukaryotic promoter sequences into prokaryotes will not cause an efficient gene expression . However, there have been reports on the functionality of the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) in bacteria . We therefore decided to experimentally investigate the capability of plant promoter sequences to direct gene expression in various bacteria . Accordingly, we tested ten different plant-specific promoters from Solanum tuberosum, Nicotiana tabacum, CaMV, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and A . rhizogenes for their ability to initiate transcription in five different eubacterial species (Escherichia coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, A . tumefaciens, Pseudomonas putida, and Acinetobacter sp . BD413) . To monitor the strength of the plant-specific promoters in bacteria we created fusions between these promoters and the coding region of the luciferase genes from Vibrio harveyi and measured the luminescence in the bacteria . Heterologous gene expression was observed in 50% of the combinations analysed . We then mapped the transcription start site caused by one of the plant-specific promoters, the ST-LS1 promoter from S . tuberosum, in these bacterial species . The location of the mapped transcription start site indicated that the sequences of the plant promoter themselves were recognised by the bacterial transcription apparatus . The recognition of plant-specific promoter sequences by the bacterial RNA polymerase was further confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis of the ST-LS1 promoter and the analysis of the effects of the mutations on the strength of gene expression in E . coli . Using these mutants in our reporter assays we could localise the sequences of the ST-LS1 promoter serving as -10 region in E . coli . The results of our study show that promoter sequences are much less specific than is generally assumed . This is of great importance for our knowledge about the evolution of gene expression systems and for the construction of optimised expression vectors. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Jul, 59(2-3), 217 - 23 Epub 2002 Apr 20. Bioengineered emulsans from Acinetobacter calcoaceticusRAG-1 transposon mutants; Johri AK et al.; Transposon mutants of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus strain RAG-1 were studied in an effort to control fatty acid (FA) substitution patterns of emulsan, a bioemulsifier secreted by the organism . The disrupted genes, involved in the biosynthetic pathways of biotin, histidine, cysteine or purines, influenced the level and types of FAs incorporated into emulsan . The structural variants of emulsan generated by the transposon mutants were characterized for yield, FA content, molecular weight, and emulsification behavior when grown on a series of FAs of different chain lengths from C11 to C18 . Yields of emulsan from the transposon mutants were found to be lower than the parent strain and depended on the type of FA used to supplement the growth medium . Mutants 13D (His-) and 52D (Cys-) grown on LB plus C16 or C14, respectively, exhibited enhanced emulsifying activity compared to A . calcoaceticus RAG-1 . The presence and composition of long chain FAs on the polysaccharide backbone influenced emulsification behavior: particularly a high mole percentage of C16 (48%) and C18 (42%) . The results provide important insight into the bioengineering of bioemulsifier-producing microorganisms and provide a path towards highly tailored novel amphipathic structures to utilize as biodegradable in environmental, biomedical, and personal care applications. Sci Total Environ, 2002 Jul 3, 293(1-3), 207 - 18 Antimicrobial multiresistance in bacteria isolated from freshwater Chilean salmon farms; Mirand CD et al.; The intensive use of antimicrobial agents, mainly oxytetracycline, to prevent and control bacterial pathologies in Chilean salmon culture is a frequent practice . A total of 103 gram-negative oxytetracycline-resistant bacteria recovered from various sources of 4 Chilean freshwater salmon farms were identified and investigated for their susceptibility patterns to various antibacterial agents, by using an agar disk diffusion method . Antibacterial resistance patterns of isolates were not correlated with bacterial species or strain source . A high number of bacteria resistant to amoxicillin, ampicillin . erythromycin, and furazolidone, as well as an important frequency of bacterial resistance to florfenicol, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was found . On the contrary, the proportion of bacteria resistant to gentamicin, kanamycin, flumequine and enrofloxacin was rather low . Resistant microflora showed a high taxonomic variability and mainly consisted of non-fermenting bacteria (77.7%) . These strains mainly belonged to the species Pseudomonas fluorescens (29), Aeromonas hydrophila (10), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (6), isolated from salmon fingerlings, and Acinetobacter lwoffii (5) isolated from pelletized feed . The occurrence of simultaneous resistance to various antibacterials was frequent . We observe a high frequency of bacteria resistant to 6-10 antibacterials (74 strains), and antibiotic resistance index (ARI) values ranging from 0.38 to 0.48 for the four salmon farms studied . These results suggest that Chilean salmon farms might play a role as reservoirs of antibacterial multiresistant bacteria, thus prompting the necessity for a more restrictive attitude towards the intensive use of antibacterials in salmon farming. J Formos Med Assoc, 2002 Feb, 101(2), 144 - 7 Ruptured mycotic aneurysm of the iliac artery complicated by emphysematous psoas muscle abscess: report of two cases; Chen CW et al.; Emphysematous psoas muscle abscess has rarely been described and has not been reported to be associated with ruptured mycotic aneurysm . We report two cases of ruptured mycotic iliac arterial aneurysm complicated by emphysematous abscess of the left psoas muscle . Case 1 occurred in a 70-year-old man and Case 2 in a 63-year-old woman . Both patients presented with fever for several weeks . Clinical clues leading to the diagnosis included a palpable abdominal mass with (Case 2) or without (Case 1) pulsation, blurring of the psoas muscle shadow with abnormal gas distribution on the plain abdominal film (Case 1), and peripheral vascular insufficiency and Salmonella bacteremia (Case 2) . Ruptured mycotic aneurysm of the left iliac artery complicated with left psoas muscle abscess was clearly demonstrated by abdominal computerized tomography scan and intravenous digital subtraction angiography in both cases . Causative agents, multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, unusual pathogens for mycotic arterial aneurysm, were cultured from debrided tissue in Case 1, and this finding led to the speculation that the infection was hospital-acquired . The favorable outcome in Case 2 resulted from early vascular surgery and a prolonged course of effective antimicrobial therapy. Emerg Infect Dis, 2002 Jul, 8(7), 713 - 6 Antibiotic resistance of gram-negative bacteria in rivers, United States; Ash RJ et al.; Bacteria with intrinsic resistance to antibiotics are found in nature . Such organisms may acquire additional resistance genes from bacteria introduced into soil or water, and the resident bacteria may be the reservoir or source of widespread resistant organisms found in many environments . We isolated antibiotic-resistant bacteria in freshwater samples from 16 U.S . rivers at 22 sites and measured the prevalence of organisms resistant to beta-lactam and non-beta-lactam antibiotics . Over 40% of the bacteria resistant to more than one antibiotic had at least one plasmid . Ampicillin resistance genes, as well as other resistance traits, were identified in 70% of the plasmids . The most common resistant organisms belonged to the following genera: Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, and Serratia. Arch Intern Med, 2002 Jul 8, 162(13), 1515 - 20 Citywide clonal outbreak of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Brooklyn, NY: the preantibiotic era has returned; Landman D et al.; BACKGROUND: Carbapenems are important agents for treating nosocomial gram-negative infections . Carbapenem-resistant bacteria have become increasingly problematic in certain regions . This study determined the citywide prevalence and molecular epidemiological features of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Brooklyn, NY . METHODS: All unique patient isolates of A baumannii and P aeruginosa were collected from 15 Brooklyn hospitals from July 1, 1999, through September 30, 1999 . Antibiotic susceptibilities, the genetic relatedness of resistant isolates, and the relationship between antibiotic use and resistance rates were determined . RESULTS: A total of 419 isolates of A baumannii and 823 isolates of P aeruginosa were collected . For A baumannii, 53% were resistant to meropenem and/or imipenem, and 12% were resistant to all standard antibiotics . Ribotyping revealed that a single clone accounted for 62% of the samples and was isolated from patients at all 15 hospitals . The rate of carbapenem resistance was associated with cephalosporin use at each hospital (P =.004) . For P aeruginosa, 24% were resistant to imipenem, 5% to amikacin, and 15% to 29% to other antipseudomonal agents . Ribotyping revealed that 3 clones accounted for nearly half of the isolates and were shared by most hospitals . CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 400 patients were infected or colonized with carbapenem-resistant A baumannii and P aeruginosa during a 3-month period in 1999 . A few strains have spread widely throughout hospitals in this region . The prevalence of resistant A baumannii seems to be correlated with cephalosporin use . Multiresistant hospital-acquired bacteria should be viewed as a serious public health issue rather than an individual hospital's problem . An intensive coordinated effort will be needed to effectively address this problem. J Hosp Infect, 2002 Jun, 51(2), 89 - 95 Outbreak of a susceptible strain of Acinetobacter species 13 (sensu Tjernberg and Ursing) in an adult neurosurgical intensive care unit; van Dessel H et al.; Between December 1999 and June 2000, an outbreak caused by Acinetobacter emerged on the neurosurgical intensive care unit of our hospital . It was shown using automated ribotyping using Eco RI and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis that the outbreak was caused by spread of a single strain, which was identified by ribotyping and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis as Acinetobacter DNA group 13TU (sensu Tjernberg and Ursing) . The outbreak strain, which showed no antibiotic resistance, was identified in 23 patients, five of whom developed an infection . The organism was also isolated from various environmental sites . Cross-transmission among patients continued despite contact isolation of colonized patients and reinforcement of basic disinfection procedures . Eventually, after implementation of additional stringent measures such as cohorting of positive patients and daily disinfection of the floor, the outbreak was brought under control . This study demonstrates that apart from Acinetobacter baumanii, Acinetobacter 13TU strains, even when they are fully susceptible, may cause outbreaks that are difficult to control . Correct identification to the species level of Acinetobacter by genotypic methods is necessary to get insight in the importance of the different Acinetobacter genomic species in hospital epidemiology . J Clin Microbiol, 2002 Jul, 40(7), 2696 - 7 Septicemia due to Acinetobacter junii; Linde HJ et al.; Acinetobacter spp . are considered to be emerging nosocomial pathogens . Acinetobacter junii is a rare cause of disease in humans and was associated mainly with bacteremia in preterm infants and pediatric oncologic patients . In this report we describe a case of catheter-related infection by A . junii in an adult oncologic patient . Application of molecular methods for precise species identification of Acinetobacter spp . will help to further clarify their role as human pathogens. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 Jul, 68(7), 3345 - 51 In situ transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from transgenic (transplastomic) tobacco plants to bacteria; Kay E et al.; Interkingdom gene transfer is limited by a combination of physical, biological, and genetic barriers . The results of greenhouse experiments involving transplastomic plants (genetically engineered chloroplast genomes) cocolonized by pathogenic and opportunistic soil bacteria demonstrated that these barriers could be eliminated . The Acinetobacter sp . strain BD413, which is outfitted with homologous sequences to chloroplastic genes, coinfected a transplastomic tobacco plant with Ralstonia solanacearum and was transformed by the plant's transgene (aadA) containing resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin . However, no transformants were observed when the homologous sequences were omitted from the Acinetobacter sp . strain . Detectable gene transfer from these transgenic plants to bacteria were dependent on gene copy number, bacterial competence, and the presence of homologous sequences . Our data suggest that by selecting plant transgene sequences that are nonhomologous to bacterial sequences, plant biotechnologists could restore the genetic barrier to transgene transfer to bacteria. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 2002 Jun-Jul, 20(6), 304 - 10; quiz 311-2 {Interpretative reading of the non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli antibiogram}; Vila J et al.; Among non-fermenting Gram-negative rods, the most clinically important species are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, which are frequently multiresistant . P . aeruginosa resistance to beta-lactams depends on the production of chromosomal and plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases, altered permeability (loss of OprD porin is related to carbapenem-resistance) and active efflux pumps, particularly MexAB-OprM . In aminoglycoside-resistant strains the main mechanism of resistance is the production of inactivating enzymes; the efflux pump MexXY-OprM is also involved . Quinolone-resistance in P . aeruginosa is related to changes in topoisomerases, altered permeability and efflux pumps . The mechanisms of resistance of A . baumannii have not been well characterized, which makes interpretative reading of the antibiogram in this organism difficult . Resistance to beta-lactams is associated with the production of beta-lactamases and altered penicillin-binding proteins . Resistance to aminoglycosides has been related to modifying enzymes and resistance to quinolones to altered targets . S . maltophilia is resistant to carbapenems and other beta-lactams because of the production of two beta-lactamases (L-1 and L-2) . Aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes have also been described in this species . In contrast to what is observed in other organisms, S . maltophilia resistance to quinolones has been mainly related to active efflux, rather than to target alterations. Clin Microbiol Infect, 2002 Jun, 8(6), 340 - 4 Comparative antimicrobial spectrum and activity of the desfluoroquinolone BMS284756 (T-3811) tested against non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli; Howard W et al.; OBJECTIVE: To compare the in vitro activity of BMS284756, a desfluoroquinolone, with four fluoroquinolones against 129 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, 97 Stenotrophomonas/Burkholderia group strains and 43 Acinetobacter spp . strains by three in vitro test methods . METHODS: The activity of BMS284756 was determined using the NCCLS reference broth microdilution method and E test (AB Biodisk, Solna, Sweden) . These methods were compared for test accuracy, and 5-microg disk zone diameters were compared for interpretative accuracy using the susceptible breakpoint of < or =4 mg/L recommended by the manufacturer . All strains tested were derived from the 1999-2000 SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program organism collection . RESULTS: Comparative quinolone potency against P . aeruginosa was as follows: ciprofloxacin (MIC50, 0.25 mg/L) > gemifloxacin (MIC50, 0.5 mg/L) > levofloxacin = gatifloxacin (MIC50, 1 mg/L) > BMS284756 (MIC50, 4 mg/L) . The MIC50 value for BMS284756 versus Stenotrophomonas/Burkholderia group was 2 mg/L . This potency was similar to that of other quinolones reported previously . The MIC50 results for the Acinetobacter spp . were ciprofloxacin at >2 mg/L, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin and gemifloxacin at 4 mg/L, and BMS284756 at >4 mg/L, all intermediate or resistant concentrations . The E test results compared favorably with the reference dilution test results for P . aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas/Burkholderia group, and Acinetobacter spp., with an overall essential agreement of 97.0% +/- 2 log2 dilution steps . E test MIC results tended to be slightly lower when testing Stenotrophomonas/Burkholderia group strains . The disk diffusion method correlated well for P . aeruginosa (r = 0.94), Stenotrophomonas/Burkholderia group (r = 0.84) and Acinetobacter spp . (r = 0.99) strains . CONCLUSIONS: BMS284756 was generally less active than other comparison quinolones when tested against non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli . Its spectrum remains equivalent only if dosing schedules substantiate a proposed susceptible breakpoint of < or =4 mg/L. Clin Microbiol Infect, 2002 Jun, 8(6), 321 - 31 Emerging carbapenemases in Gram-negative aerobes; Nordmann P et al.; Carbapenemases may be defined as beta-lactamases that significantly hydrolyze at least imipenem or/and meropenem . Carbapenemases involved in acquired resistance are of Ambler molecular classes A, B, and D . Class A, clavulanic acid-inhibited carbapenemases are rare . They a