J Perinatol, 1987 Fall, 7(4), 292 - 5 Neonatal bacterial endocarditis of the pulmonary valve: report of two cases; Franzek DA et al.; Bacterial endocarditis in the neonate is rare and fatal in the majority of reported cases . This article reports two neonates who survived bacterial endocarditis . One patient was infected with group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GBBS) while the second grew Streptococcus saluvarius from the blood. Drugs, 1987, 34 Suppl 1, 74 - 9 The use of quinolones in respiratory tract infections; Maesen FP et al.; In a prospective (and continuing) trial, a total of 271 patients with acute purulent exacerbations of chronic respiratory disease (bacteriologically confirmed) were treated with various new oral quinolones including enoxacin (26), pefloxacin (50), ciprofloxacin (80) and ofloxacin (115) . Various therapeutic schedules were employed, with differing drug dosages, frequencies of administration and durations of treatment . All patients were investigated microbiologically during and immediately after treatment and after 7 days of follow-up . The best clinical results were noted after ofloxacin 800 mg once daily for 7 days, which showed excellent gastrointestinal absorption and rapid penetration through to the sputum . Some of the treatment failures with enoxacin and pefloxacin could be ascribed to the development of resistance during treatment, rises in minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) being noted with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Scand J Infect Dis, 1987, 19(5), 519 - 20 Varicella and life-threatening streptococcal infection; Fischbacher CM et al.; Four children with varicella who subsequently developed life-threatening infection with Streptococcus pyogenes are reported . The need for increased awareness of this potentially lethal complication of what is usually a benign exanthem is stressed. J Reprod Fertil Suppl, 1987, 35, 327 - 34 Factors affecting uterine clearance of inoculated materials in mares; Evans MJ et al.; Twelve acyclic mares of various ages (2-29 years) and parity (maiden-multiparous) were given oestradiol-17 beta i.m . (winter 1982) or progesterone i.m . (winter 1983) to induce changes in the endometrium consistent with oestrus and dioestrus, respectively . After hormone treatment, mares were inoculated intrauterine with 50 ml saline containing 5 X 10(5) Streptococcus zooepidemicus bacteria, 51Cr-labelled 15-micron microspheres, and 500 mg charcoal (Groups E + B and P + B) or microspheres and charcoal only (Groups EC and PC) . At 5 h after inoculation uteri were flushed with 50 ml saline containing tracer amounts of 125I-labelled HSA . In Group E + B inoculated materials were cleared more rapidly in younger than in older mares, and there was a significant positive correlation between age and bacterial concentration, total numbers of bacteria, and amounts of microspheres and charcoal in the uterus and also between age and the WBC concentration and total numbers of WBC . In Group EC there was a significant positive correlation between age and the amounts of microspheres and charcoal remaining in the uterus, and between age and WBC concentration and total numbers of WBC . We suggest that in the oestrogen-dominated uterus physical drainage may be a factor in determining whether a mare is 'resistant' or 'susceptible' to bacterial challenge of the uterus . Physical clearance is increased in younger (resistant) mares in the presence and absence of an antigenic stimulus . In mares in Group P + B there was no correlation between age and the values measured.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Cornea, 1987, 6(3), 231 - 3 Corneal rim cultures; Mathers WD et al.; We performed a retrospective analysis of 291 consecutive scleral rim cultures, taken at the time of corneal transplantation, from 1981 to 1986 . There were 82 positive cultures (39%), and the most common pathogen was Staphylococcus epidermidis, with 24 positive cultures (30%) . Ten of these (42%) were resistant to gentamycin . There were no cases of endophthalmitis or other infections in the immediate postoperative period . We also found 15 positive cultures of Streptococcus viridans . Of these, 13 (87%) were resistant to gentamycin but sensitive to most other antibiotics . Even though endophthalmitis is rare following penetrating keratoplasty, the emergence of resistant strains of Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus epidermidis suggests that eyebanks need to consider the addition of a second antibiotic to their MK medium. Gene, 1987, 55(2-3), 179 - 87 Cloning of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA fragments in Escherichia coli requires vectors protected by strong transcriptional terminators; Chen JD et al.; Unstable recombinant plasmids are frequently encountered when cloning pneumococcal DNA into ordinary Escherichia coli plasmid vectors (e.g., pBR325, pMB9, pHC79) . Stassi and Lacks {Gene 18 (1982) 319-328} have shown that the pneumococcal mal region, which exhibits strong promoter activity, interferes with maintenance of a recombinant plasmid in E . coli . In this paper, we report that random pneumococcal DNA fragments cloned in E . coli exhibited a higher frequency of strong promoter activity than did similarly cloned E . coli fragments . Furthermore, shotgun cloning yields for pneumococcal DNA were found to be higher with cloning vectors containing efficient transcriptional terminators surrounding the insertion site than with vectors lacking such protection . Therefore, vectors which carry an efficient transcriptional terminator are likely to be valuable for cloning pneumococcal DNA and stabilizing the recombinants . A new vector, pJDC9, was constructed, containing a lacZ alpha' multiple cloning site surrounded by transcriptional terminators, and an erythromycin-resistant marker expressed both in E . coli and Streptococcus . This plasmid was shown to be unusually effective for cloning of streptococcal genes in E . coli, and is designed to permit excisional cloning of streptococcal DNA in E . coli. J Dent Res, 1987 Jan, 66(1), 57 - 61 A simplified diagnostic system for cultural detection and enumeration of Streptococcus mutans; Jordan HV et al.; A simple dip-slide test (Cariescreen SM) based on MSB selective agar was devised for detection and quantitation of Streptococcus mutans in oral samples . For this test, a bacitracin tablet is dissolved in a vial containing buffered saline diluent . Paraffin-stimulated saliva is collected in this diluent vial . A dip slide which incorporates a modified MSB agar (minus bacitracin) is immersed briefly in the diluted saliva . After addition of a CO2-generating tablet, the screw-cap dip slide is closed tightly in the vial and incubated for two days at 37 degrees C and one day at room temperature . S . mutans populations in saliva are estimated by comparison with a colony density chart . Growth of reference strains of S . mutans was equivalent on Cariescreen SM dip slides and on MSB agar plates . Reference strains of Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus milleri did not grow on Cariescreen SM dip slides . Aliquots of saliva from 50 schoolchildren and 51 adults were tested by the dip-slide method and by conventional plating methods in MSB agar . Very good correlation (0.93) between the two methods was obtained . This simplified S . mutans detection system is suitable for use by clinical personnel in dental clinics or other non-laboratory settings for identification of subjects potentially at risk for caries. Arkh Patol, 1987, 49(5), 64 - 70 {Morphological changes in the neuroendocrine system during experimental infection of animals with L-forms of group B Streptococcus}; Khostikian NG et al.; White rats and mice were subjected to a single intraperitoneal inoculation with a stable L-form of Streptococcus B (strain 090) . The hypothalamus, hypophysis and adrenal cortex of the animals were subsequently studied during one year . Progressive degenerative, inflammatory, necrotic and sclerotic changes found in the system hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenals were due to the bacteria persistence in these organs leading to the disturbance of hormonal homeostasis and development of the system deficiency . There was also the tendency (in 6-12 months after the inoculation) to intensifying regeneration with partial recovery of the organs function. Scand J Infect Dis, 1987, 19(2), 263 - 70 Experimental bacterial meningitis in the rabbit: cerebrospinal fluid changes and its relation to leukocyte response; Lindquist L et al.; This study was focused on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) manifestations in experimental Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli meningitis in rabbits . An increased (p less than 0.001) CSF lactate concentration was found in infected animals, mostly not accompanied by a decrease in CSF glucose concentrations . Despite a marked difference in CSF cellular response between the 2 etiological groups no significant difference in CSF lactate levels was found . Neither did CSF lactate levels correlate to CSF polymorphonuclear cell counts . CSF concentrations of albumin were with large variations above control levels in all infected animals . Also a small or moderate increase in CSF albumin levels was generally associated with a marked increase in CSF lactate concentration . The concentration of total amino acids in the CSF was above control values (mean + 2 SD) in 9/21 infected animals . Halothane/N2O anesthesia for 25 min increased (p less than 0.05) CSF levels of glucose, partly independent of alterations in plasma glucose concentrations, in both infected rabbits and in controls. Microbios, 1987, 50(204-205), 131 - 45 Effect of protease on cell surface structure, hydrophobicity and adhesion of tufted strains of Streptococcus sanguis biotypes I and II; Hesketh LM et al.; Protease treatment of S . sanguis biotype I strains (AKI and CR311) and S . sanguis biotype II strains (CN3410 and PSH1b) reduced cell surface hydrophobicity of all strains by up to 87.7% and reduced adhesion to saliva coated hydroxyapatite beads (S-SHA) by up to 90% . All four strains carried lateral tufts of fibrils of two lengths on the cells . Tuft fibrils and hydrophobicity were lost simultaneously from S . sanguis II CN3410 when these properties were monitored simultaneously over 3 h . A ruthenium red positive layer, 37 +/- 6 nm thick, outside the cell wall of S . sanguis I CR311 was more resistant than the tuft to protease digestion . After 2 h of protease treatment tuft fibrils of S . sanguis I AKI and 311 were gradually digested while still on the cells, whereas most of the tuft fibrils of S . sanguis II PSH1b remained apparently undamaged on the cells, and tuft fibrils of S . sanguis II CN3410 were removed intact from the cell surface and found in the supernatant. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1987, 31(2), 189 - 95 Bacterial microcolony--a possible approach for a rapid differentiation of bacteria; Hadzieva NC et al.; A method is developed for cultivating and observing bacteria in an early phase of their growth, when microcolonies were formed . The morphology of the microcolonies, including form, structure, characteristics of its periphery and center, as well as the mode of arrangement of bacteria in it and to each other proved to be typical for a species and often permitted its differentiation from the other species . Photographs are presented of typical microcolonies of S . aureus and of E . coli . A series of photographs is presented also as an illustration of the possibility to differentiate some species in the genus Streptococcus . The microcolonies observation is made 3 hours after material inoculation, that may permit a rapid bacteriological diagnosis . It is believed also, that the microcolony technique could be useful in the characterisation and identification of the species in the general bacteriology and taxonomy. Diagn Clin Immunol, 1987, 5(1), 8 - 13 Difficulties associated with serological diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infections; Fuccillo DA et al.; Physicians often rely on serology to help determine whether a patient has had a recent infection with Toxoplasma gondii and as an aid in estimating the possible teratogenic effect on the fetus . For this reason the diagnostic laboratory should take every precaution to avoid misleading results . The best serological analysis is based on a rise in IgG titer with two appropriately spaced serum samples . Also, the presence of a high IgM titer in one serum sample is generally considered to be good evidence that infection has occurred recently . The indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test has been the most widely used test for detection of IgG or IgM . Recently enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) have also been developed for this purpose . In this study we reaffirm that false IgM positive results can occur with these tests because of the presence of rheumatoid factor in serum, and false negative results can also occur because of competitive inhibition by specific IgG . We show that a preabsorption of serum with a Staphylococcus/Streptococcus preparation (Staffinoc, MA Bioproducts, Walkersville, MD) removes IgG and IgA and eliminates many of the false reactions . We have also found that elevated levels of specific IgM can persist for at least several years in some women . This suggests that the presence of IgM alone is not always an indication of recent infection. Tierarztl Prax Suppl, 1987, 2, 1 - 4 {Respiratory infectious diseases in horses}; Mayr A; Among all infectious diseases affecting horses, respiratory disease pose the greatest threat to horses kept in stables, horses used for breeding and race horses . Here a distinction should be made between the so-called monocausal infectious diseases (so-called Henle-Koch postulates) and multicausal infectious diseases which are the result of the synergistic interaction of different processes, that alone do not lead to disease . There is no clearcut distinction between the two groups . The most important monocausal respiratory infections of horses are caused by equine influenza virus (subtypes 1 and 2), equine rhinopneumonitis virus (equine herpes-virus type 1), equine arteritis virus and partially by Reoviruses . In addition, streptococcus equi (strangles, adenitis equorum, coryza contagiosa equorum) and mycobacteria tuberculosis can cause monocausal diseases . In multicausal infections, the first step usually is a virus infection . This is the basis for secondary infection by widespread, opportunistic agents such as bacteria, mycoplasms or fungi which lead to clinical disease . The method of choice for controlling monocausal respiratory infections of horses is prophylactic vaccination and chemotherapy . Measures to control multicausal infections include: vaccination with functional-synergistic combined vaccines; the use of herd-specific vaccines; medical stimulation of the non-specific part of immunity (immunmodulation, paramunization) . Paramunization is a new concept in the prophylaxis and therapy of respiratory infections of horses and can be combined with prophylactic vaccination as well as with chemotherapy . In severe cases of respiratory disease paramunization can also be combined with corticosteroids. J Med Primatol, 1987, 16(4), 249 - 60 Tamarin model of pneumococcal bacteremia; Chudwin DS et al.; Tamarins (Saguinus labiatus) were utilized to study host defenses against pneumococcal bacteremia . Tamarins had a poor antibody response to immunization with varying doses of pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP) vaccine (2 of 15 positive) or to infection with serotype 7F Streptococcus pneumoniae (2 of 14 positive) . Tamarins were protected against challenge with a lethal dose of serotype 7F S . pneumoniae if the bacteria were preopsonized with human immune globulin intravenous or if the tamarins were injected with the immune globulin 30 min before challenge . There was minimal protection utilizing a mouse monoclonal anti-type 7F PCP antibody. Can J Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 33(1), 27 - 32 Interbacterial adhesion between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and indigenous oral bacteria isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis; Komiyama K et al.; Interbacterial adhesion between strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and strains of indigenous oral bacteria, both of which were isolated from the oral cavity of cystic fibrosis patients, was investigated by the phenomenon of the coaggregation reaction . A total of 22 strains of P . aeruginosa were isolated from the oral cavity of 17 patients and examined for their abilities to coaggregate with 5 strains each of Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mitis, Actinomyces viscosus, and Actinomyces naeslundii . Coaggregation reactions were common between these oral bacteria and both the mucoid and nonmucoid variants of P . aeruginosa . All strains of P . aeruginosa were also able to agglutinate neuraminidase-treated or untreated human erythrocytes of blood types A, B, and O . Positive coaggregation reactions were further characterized by determining the effects of several sugars, and of heat and protease treatments of the bacteria . None of the coaggregtion reactions were inhibited by 0.05 M lactose, galactose, glucose, fucose, or mannose . All coaggregation reactions were dependent upon heat- and protease-sensitive components of the Pseudomonas . Thus, the interbacterial adhesions between P . aeruginosa and the oral bacteria studied appears to involve adhesins on the Pseudomonas cell, which bind to complementary receptors, on the cell surfaces of oral bacteria . The apparent prevalence and diversity of interbacterial adhesions between P . aeruginosa strains originating from the oral cavity of cystic fibrosis patients and strains of the indigenous oral bacteria suggest that some of these reactions may affect the extent to which P . aeruginosa colonizes in the oral cavity of cystic fibrosis patients, and thereby, influence susceptibility of the host to infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1987 Jan, 31(1), 93 - 9 Silver-coated nylon fiber as an antibacterial agent; MacKeen PC et al.; A blend of nylon fiber and silver-coated nylon fiber (the latter known as X-static) was used in these experiments . This fiber was bactericidal when bacteria were exposed to it directly or to an extract derived from its prior incubation in salt solution . At ambient temperatures, a rapid exponential decrease of survival occurred, usually after a delay of approximately 1 h . The rate of killing (decrease of survival) increased with an increase in X-static percentage of the fiber blend, temperature of fiber extraction, concentration of Tris buffer present during extraction, and temperature at which bacteria were exposed to the extract . When bacteria were exposed to the extract at 37 degrees C as opposed to ambient temperature, there was no delay in onset of killing . Escherichia coli was generally the indicator organism tested, but comparable results were also found for Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species . The rate of killing increased with increasing silver ion concentration of the fiber extract, as determined through atomic absorption spectrophotometry . The rate of killing was greater and the onset was earlier with an extract containing silver ions from fiber than with a salt solution containing the same concentration of silver ions from silver nitrate . Studies of the kinetics of ion release suggested that X-static may be an effective, sustained-release antibacterial agent. Plasmid, 1987 Jan, 17(1), 58 - 60 Physical analysis of the conjugative shuttle transposon Tn1545; Caillaud F et al.; The conjugative shuttle transposon Tn1545 from Streptococcus pneumoniae confers resistance to kanamycin (aphA-3), erythromycin (ermAM), and tetracycline (tetM) . The 25.3-kb element is self-transferable to various gram-positive bacterial genera where it transposes . Tn1545 is also capable of transposition, but not of conjugation, after cloningoff Escherichia coli . Analysis of the element by restriction endonucleases, molecular cloning, electron microscopy of heteroduplexes, DNA hybridization, and sequencing allowed us to establish a physical map of Tn1545, localize the resistance genes, determine their direction of transcription, and compare them with other characterized resistance determinants, and show that Tn1545 is not flanked by large terminal repeated sequences in opposite orientation. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 53(1), 114 - 8 Seasonal changes in the cecal microflora of the high-arctic Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus); Mathiesen SD et al.; The dominant cecal bacteria in the high-arctic Svalbard reindeer were characterized, their population densities were estimated, and cecal pH was determined in summer, when food quality and availability is good, and in winter, when it is very poor . In summer the total culturable viable bacterial population was (8.9 +/- 5.3) X 10(8) cells ml-1, whereas in winter it was (1.5 +/- 0.7) X 10(8) cells ml-1, representing a decrease to 17% of the summer population density . Of the dominant species of cultured bacteria, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens represented 23% in summer and 18% in winter . Streptococcus bovis represented 17% in summer and 5% in winter . Bacteroides ruminicola represented 10% in summer and 26% in winter . In summer and winter, respectively, the proportion of the viable population showing the following activities was as follows: fiber digestion, 36 and 48%; cellulolysis, 10 and 6%; xylanolysis, 33 and 48%; and starch utilization, 77 and 71% . The most abundant cellulolytic species in summer was Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, representing 62% of the total cellulolytic population, and in winter it was Ruminococcus albus, representing 80% of the total cellulolytic population . The most abundant xylanolytic species in summer was Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, and in winter it was Bacteroides ruminicola, representing 59 and 54% of the xylanolytic isolates in summer and winter, respectively . The cecal bacterial of the Svalbard reindeer have the ability to digest starch and the major structural carbohydrates of the diet that are not digested in the rumen . The cecum in these animals has the potential to contribute very substantially to the digestion of the available plant material in both summer and winter. Dis Mon, 1987 Jan, 33(1), 1 - 59 Overwhelming pneumonia; Segreti J et al.; Overwhelming pneumonias remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality . These illnesses may be rapidly fatal; thus, many patients are treated empirically . Although the various etiologic agents cannot be differentiated on the basis of radiographic appearance, epidemiologic information may give a clue to the cause . Community-acquired overwhelming pneumonias are usually due to pyogenic bacteria (especially Streptococcus pneumoniae), mycoplasma, mycobacteria, and fungi . Hospital-acquired pneumonias are usually due to aerobic gram-negative bacilli . If the patient is immunocompromised, Pneumocystis carinii, Candida, and Aspergillus must be considered . Choice of optimal antimicrobial therapy requires that a specific etiology be identified . Gram's stain of sputum is often helpful in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia . Invasive diagnostic techniques such as bronchoscopy and open lung biopsy are often required in nosocomial pneumonias and pneumonias in immunocompromised patients. J Enzyme Inhib, 1987, 1(3), 231 - 41 Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase by M-GTFI, a new inhibitor; Uyeda M et al.; Two hundred strains of soil microorganisms were screened for the production of inhibitors of the glucosyltransferase activity of Streptococcus mutans strain, K1-R . The strain producing the greatest amount of inhibitor was one recently isolated in our laboratory . It has now been identified as a strain of Micromonospora narashinoensis on the basis of morphological and physiological studies . The inhibitor, M-GTFI, affects the glucosyltransferase that produces the water-insoluble glucan rather than that which produces the water-soluble glucan . Fuchsin-sulphite staining of the inhibitor after its purification by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that it is probably an acidic substance . It had Mr 5700 as was determined by gel filtration . From an examination of the effects of this inhibitor on representative strains of S . mutans other than K1-R, there is a suggestion of a similar selectivity for the water-insoluble glucan-forming activity in other strains. Microbios, 1987, 51(206), 29 - 35 Purification and characterization of glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans OMZ176 with chromatofocusing; Kametaka S et al.; A crude glucosyltransferase (GTase) preparation of Streptococcus mutans OMZ176 was fractionated by chromatography on a chromatofocusing column . It was separated into three major fractions . Fractions 1 and 3 mainly synthesized water-soluble glucan (SG) without primer dextran T-10 . Dextransucrase activity of fraction 1 was not increased by the primer, although that of fraction 3 was increased . Fraction 2 synthesized only water-insoluble glucan (IG) in the absence of a primer, but mutansucrase activity of this fraction was greatly increased dose-dependently by the addition of a primer . The SG and IG synthesized by fraction 1 were rich in alpha-1,6 glucosidic linkages . On the other hand, about 80% of glucose residues of the IG synthesized by fraction 2 were alpha-1,3 linked . Both SG and IG synthesized by fraction 3 contained highly branched structures. Int J Biochem, 1987, 19(8), 729 - 32 Properties of the N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide resistant ATPase of Streptococcus cremoris; Rimpilainen MA; 1 . The specific activity of the membrane-bound ATPase of Streptococcus cremoris HA was 1.30 mumol Pi/mg protein/min . 2 . Km for ATP as substrate was 0.8 mM . 3 . The pH optimum was 8.0 at +37 degrees C . 4 . The ATPase was maximally activated with Mg2+/ATP molar ratio of 1:2 . 5 . Cations activated the enzyme in order: Mg2+ greater than Co2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Zn2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than K+ greater than Na+ . 6 . The enzyme was inhibited by oligomycin (27-77%), sodium azide (13-33%) and ouabain (15-22%) . N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide had no effect on the enzyme activity. Scand J Infect Dis, 1987, 19(2), 205 - 9 An outbreak of group A streptococcal skin infection: control by source isolation and teicoplanin therapy; Webster A et al.; Streptococcus pyogenes is a potential cause of serious infections in plastic surgery and burns units . We report an outbreak of this organism in one such unit, which was successfully managed by closing the ward, and treating infected patients with a new antibiotic, teicoplanin. Microbios, 1987, 50(204-205), 147 - 52 Comparison of different water-soluble glucan synthases from Streptococcus mutans serotype g; Hanada N et al.; A novel glucosyltransferase that synthesizes low molecular weight water-soluble glucan was partially purified from Streptococcus mutans AHT cell-free culture supernatant . This enzyme was compared with another water-soluble glucan synthase which synthesized high molecular weight glucan. Gene, 1987, 61(1), 13 - 9 3'-end modifications of the Streptococcus pneumoniae lytA gene: role of the carboxy terminus of the pneumococcal autolysin in the process of enzymatic activation (conversion); Sanchez-Puelles JM et al.; Plasmids containing modifications at the 3' end of the lytA gene encoding the pneumococcal amidase were constructed by DNA recombinant techniques . Several deleted and fused amidases were obtained . These modified amidases were capable of degrading cell walls containing choline residues in their teichoic acid components without need of conversion (i.e., change of the inactive E form of amidase to the active C form) . The reintroduction of as few as the terminal 11 amino acid (aa) residues present in the wild-type (wt) amidase into the sequence of the most extensively deleted form of the autolysin obtained in this work (E-520) partially restored the need of conversion . Our results demonstrate the importance of the C terminus for the catalytic activation of the wt amidase. Microbios, 1987, 50(202), 7 - 15 Lack of correlation between fibrils, hydrophobicity and adhesion for strains of Streptococcus sanguis biotypes I and II; Wyatt JE et al.; Fifteen strains of Streptococcus sanguis biotype I and eight strains of Streptococcus sanguis biotype II with peritrichous fibrils, tufts of fibrils or a mixture of fibrils and fimbriae on the cell surface, were tested for their ability to adhere to saliva coated spheroidal hydroxyapatite (S-SHA) in a radiolabelled assay . S . sanguis I strains adhered better than S . sanguis II strains and peritrichously fibrillar strains generally adhered better than tufted strains . There was no correlation between the density of fibrillation and adhesion . The only highly adherent strain of S . sanguis II carried fimbriae in addition to fibrils . No correlation was observed between cell surface hydrophobicity as measured by phase partitioning with hexadecane and adhesion to S-SHA. Infect Immun, 1987 Jan, 55(1), 123 - 8 Expression of Streptococcus sanguis antigens in Escherichia coli: cloning of a structural gene for adhesion fimbriae; Fives-Taylor PM et al.; Chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus sanguis FW213 was partially digested with EcoRI and ligated into the positive-selection cloning vector pOP203(A2+) . The ligation mixture was used to transform Escherichia coli K-12, and 4,500 transformants were examined . The tetracycline-resistant colonies had inserts averaging 3.2 kilobases . The entire colony bank was screened by colony immunoassay with polyclonal rabbit serum raised against S . sanguis FW213 whole cells . Thirty recombinant colonies produced stable positive reactions of various intensities, indicating that S . sanguis antigens could be expressed in E . coli . Restriction endonuclease digestion of these clones suggested that 26 of the clones were unique . Only two clones, VT616 and VT618, gave positive reactions with fimbria-specific antisera . That the gene coding for the antigen was located on the plasmid was confirmed by demonstrating that the presence of the plasmid was linked to antigen production . Western immunoblot analyses of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels showed that both clones produced a fimbrial peptide of Mr 30,000 . The two recombinant plasmids were shown by Southern analysis and restriction mapping to contain the same 6-kilobase EcoRI fragment inserted in opposite orientations . Southern hybridization confirmed that this fragment is present in S . sanguis genomic DNA . The Mr 30,000 protein gene was expressed in both orientations, suggesting that the fimbrial promoter is located on the 6-kilobase fragment . These results show that at least one streptococcal fimbrial gene can be cloned and expressed in E . coli. Acta Microbiol Pol, 1987, 36(1-2), 3 - 15 Isolation and characterization of mutants of Streptococcus mutans using selective removal of wild-type cells by agglutination with an agglutinin from Persea americana; Curtiss R 3rd et al.; Persea americana agglutinin (PAA), a substance known to bind basic proteins and inhibit the sucrose-independent adherence of Streptococcus mutants to saliva = coated hydroxyapatite (Staat et al., 1980) was used to selectively enrich for mutants defective in a variety of cell surface associated virulence characteristics from cultures UAB62 (PS14 Riff, serotype c), UAB66 (6715 Strr Spcr, serotype g) and UAB77 (GS5, serotype c) . Following mutagenesis and growth for segregation and phenotypic expression, washed cells of each strain were exposed to PAA overnight at 37 degrees C . Aggregated cells were removed by low-speed centrifugation and cells remaining in the supernatant fluids were concentrated, grown to stationary phase and the enrichment with PAA repeated . Mutants isolated following enrichment were phenotypically diverse and included strains defective in one or more of the following characteristics: adherence to glass in a sucrose-containing medium, aggregation with sucrose, dextran or PAA . dextranase production, colony morphology, cell or chain morphology, fermentation of sorbitol, lactose, galactose, raffinose, melibiose, or fructose, and production of surface protein antigen A (SpaA) . The diversity of mutant phenotypes identified along with the observation that PAA could still cause aggregation (with a lower efficiency) of all mutants leads us to infer that the interaction of this agglutinin with proteins on the S . mutans cell surface is relatively nonspecific and that the observed inhibition of S . mutants attachment to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite caused by PAA is not due to a highly specific unique interaction of PAA with the protein(s) responsible for sucrose-independent adherence. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1987 Jan, (1), 8 - 12 {Comparative analysis of antigenic preparations made from noncapsular strains of Pneumococcus}; Nisilevich VF et al.; Nonencapsulated strains obtained by subculturing Streptococcus pneumoniae in a medium containing 0.5% of bile have been shown to possess a number of morphological and cultural features . The preparations obtained from the biomass of these strains by sonication have been found to possess antigenic, immunogenic and protective properties and to be specific to S . pneumoniae . The data obtained in this investigation may be considered indicative of the necessity for further study of these preparations with a view to their use for the analysis of serum samples taken from patients with bronchopulmonary diseases by means of enzyme immunoassay. Infect Immun, 1987 Jan, 55(1), 266 - 8 Immunological study of cross-reactive polysaccharide antigens (types a, d, and h) of oral Streptococcus spp . with monoclonal antibodies; Ota F et al.; Two monoclonal antibodies against the cross-reactive antigens of S . cricetus (type a) and S . sobrinus (type d) were isolated . Galactose and especially melibiose inhibited the precipitin reaction markedly . Inhibition by melibiose was over 200-fold stronger than that by galactose . This may indicate that galactose-alpha 1, 6-glucose is the predominant antigenic determinant of this cross-reactive antigen . This antigen was also found in S . sobrinus type h strains, but no antigen was found in one type d strain (OMZ176). Wien Med Wochenschr, 1986 Dec 31, 136(23-24), 633 - 7 {Antibacterial therapy of acute exacerbated chronic bronchitis}; Forche G; An early therapy of the acute exacerbation is important for the long-term prognosis of chronic bronchitis . The aim of the therapy is to stop the progressive damage of the bronchial mucosa . The typical clinical symptoms and the knowledge of the usual pathogens (in at least 80% hemophilus influenzae and streptococcus pneumoniae) allow a "blind" chemotherapy with aminopenicillins, tetracyclines and the trimethoprim-sulphonamide combination as medication of choice . The treatment is successful when the purulent sputum turns mucoid within 2 to 5 days and the symptoms improve . If this does not happen, culture and antibiogram should be made and chemotherapy chosen according to the findings . The acute exacerbation can be complicated by an airway obstruction . In this case the short-term application of glucocorticoids in combination with bronchodilators and secretolytics is suggested. J Mol Biol, 1986 Dec 20, 192(4), 753 - 65 Identification and analysis of genes for tetracycline resistance and replication functions in the broad-host-range plasmid pLS1; Lacks SA et al.; The streptococcal plasmid pMV158 and its derivative pLS1 are able to replicate and confer tetracycline resistance in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria . Copy numbers of pLS1 were 24, 4 and 4 molecules per genome in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, respectively . Replication of the streptococcal plasmids in E . coli required functional polA and recA genes . A copy-number mutation corresponding to a 332 base-pair deletion of pLS1 doubled the plasmid copy number in all three species . Determination of the complete DNA sequence of pLS1 revealed transcriptional and translational signals and four open reading frames . A putative inhibitory RNA was encoded in the region deleted by the copy-control mutation . Two putative mRNA transcripts encoded proteins for replication functions and tetracycline resistance, respectively . The repB gene encoded a trans-acting, 23,000 Mr protein necessary for replication, and the tet gene encoded a very hydrophobic, 50,000 Mr protein required for tetracycline resistance . The polypeptides corresponding to these proteins were identified by specific labeling of plasmid-encoded products . The tet gene of pLS1 was highly homologous to tet genes in two other plasmids of Gram-positive origin but different in both sequence and mode of regulation from tet genes of Gram-negative origin. Carbohydr Res, 1986 Dec 15, 158, 147 - 55 Purification and characterisation of the extracellular D-glucosyltransferase from serotype c Streptococcus mutans; Baba T et al.; A simple method of purification for the extracellular D-glucosyltransferase (GTase) from a serotype c strain Streptococcus mutans was developed using chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and CM-cellulose . The GTase had a molecular weight of 155,000 and an isoelectric point of 7.4 . The enzyme converted sucrose, in the absence of dextran T-10, into a branched (1----6)-linked alpha-D-glucan having some alpha-(1----3)-linked D-glucosyl residues . The GTase was similar to GTases which have been isolated from other strains of serotype c S . mutans and which synthesise water-soluble glucans . In addition, the amino acid composition of the GTase protein was relatively similar to those of the GTases from serotype g S . mutans which synthesise water-soluble and water-insoluble glucans. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1986 Dec 5, 879(3), 345 - 9 Glycolipid transfer protein from pig brain transfers glycolipids with beta-linked sugars but not with alpha-linked sugars at the sugar-lipid linkage; Yamada K et al.; The glycolipid transfer protein purified from pig brain facilitates the transfer of various glycosphingolipids and glyceroglycolipids (Yamada, K., Abe, A . and Sasaki, T . (1985) J . Biol . Chem . 260, 4615-4621) . In this paper, the transfer of Man beta 1----4Glc beta 1-Cer and Man alpha 1----4Man beta 1-Cer isolated from a bivalve, Corbicula japonica, the transfer of 3-{Glc alpha 1-}-sn-1,2-diacylglycerol and 3-{Glc alpha 1----2Glc alpha 1-}-sn-1,2-diacylglycerol prepared from Streptococcus lactis, and the transfer of 3-{Glc beta 1-}-rac-1,2-dipalmitylglycerol have been investigated . The transfer of these lipids from liposomes to mitochondria was assayed by the decrease of these lipids in the donor liposomes . These lipids were determined by chromatographic isolation of the lipids, acid hydrolysis of the isolated lipids, and subsequent determination of glucose in the hydrolysate . The glycolipid transfer protein facilitated the transfer of ManGlcCer and ManManGlcCer . The transfer protein did not facilitate the transfer of Glc alpha-diacylglycerol or Glc alpha Glc alpha-diacylglycerol . However, the transfer of Glc beta-dipalmitylglycerol was facilitated by the protein . These results strongly suggest that the glycolipid transfer protein has the specificity to the presence of beta-linked glucose or galactose directly linked to either ceramide or diacylglycerol. Biol Reprod, 1986 Dec, 35(5), 1168 - 74 The functional competence of uterine-derived polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) from mares resistant and susceptible to chronic uterine infection: a sequential migration analysis; Liu IK et al.; The functional competence of uterine-derived polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) from 28 mares was measured for migration responsiveness by use of a chamber (filter) assay . Uterine infection was induced with Streptococcus zooepidemicus in mares considered resistant to chronic uterine infection (Grade I) . In sequential analysis of uterine flushings obtained from these mares 5, 12, 15, 20, and 25 h after infection was induced, PMNs showed an initial rise at 12 h (from 5), then a general decline in migration response and in concentration of cells per ml from 12 through 25 h post-inoculation . In contrast, PMNs obtained from the uterine flushings from mares considered susceptible to chronic uterine infection (Grade III) demonstrated premature migration dysfunction 12 h after infection . Subsequent increases in functional competence of the PMNs were demonstrated at 15 and again at 25 h after induced infection . The concentration of uterine PMNs per ml from mares considered susceptible to chronic endometritis remained elevated from 12 through 25 h after inoculation, which suggests a possible continued recruitment of new PMNs from the peripheral circulation . The results of this study suggest that uterine-derived PMNs obtained from mares susceptible to chronic uterine infection have a compromised ability to migrate . This dysfunction may play an important role in rendering the endometrium (uterus) susceptible to chronic endometritis. Jpn Circ J, 1986 Dec, 50(12), 1294 - 7 Infective endocarditis in children: a current diagnostic trend and the embolic complications; Yokochi K et al.; Twenty-three cases of IE, of which 91% had underlying congenital heart diseases were diagnosed by positive blood culture or vegetative lesion detected by 2-D ECHO when a patient revealed clinically suspicious episodes . VSD and TOF were the most common underlying heart diseases . The vegetation was detected successfully by 2-D ECHO in 91% of the cases . The causative organisms were identified in 83% of the cases . Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus aureus were the two major organisms detected . Candida albicans was found in 3 postoperative and fatal cases . Embolic complications occurred in 7 cases (30.5%): five cases of pulmonary infarction and two of cerebral infarction . The overall mortality was 22% . We recommend early surgical intervention whenever a patient reveals a very large vegetation with animated movability, and emphasize the importance of a proper prophylaxic regimen. Jpn Circ J, 1986 Dec, 50(12), 1241 - 5 Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Japan; Kawakita S; Rheumatic fever (RF) is the common cause of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in the 5-30 age group and is usually preceded by group A streptococcal pharyngitis . The annual mortality caused by RF and RHD has changed remarkably in Japan between 1960 and 1981 according to the report of the Ministry of Health and Welfare . The annual incidence of RF among schoolchildren as surveyed from pediatric clinics of 20 major hospitals between 1952 and 1980 varied year by year, and is now steadily declining . Follow-up studies of 287 patients with carditis over ten years showed that cardiac murmur disappeared in 44.9% of total patients within 4 years through use of antibiotic prophylaxis . Other patients continued to have cardiac murmur 10 years after the first attack of RF . Valvular involvement due to RF was mostly confined to mitral valve and the appearance of mitral regurgitation was particularly common in schoolchildren . Survey of RHD in schoolchildren showed that mitral regurgitation was the most common anomaly, but the prevalence rate of RHD decreased from 4.6/1000 population in 1958 to 0.14/1000 population in 1981 . By contrast, mitral stenosis was predominant in adults, according to the records of patients admitted in three university hospitals . Since socio-economic conditions have improved, and penicillin has been introduced to control group A streptococcus, mortality and morbidity from RF and RHD have remarkably decreased in well developed countries . These factors may have contributed predominantly to the sharp decrease in first and recurrent attack of RF in Japan. Immunology, 1986 Dec, 59(4), 515 - 20 Inhibition of human monocyte respiratory burst, degranulation, phospholipid methylation and bactericidal activity by pneumolysin; Nandoskar M et al.; The interaction between the pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin and human monocytes was examined . At non-cytotoxic concentrations (0.5-2.5 HU/10(6) cells) pneumolysin depressed the oxygen-dependent respiratory burst in monocytes, induced by opsonized zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) . This included depressed hexose-monophosphate shunt activity and hydrogen peroxide production . The toxin also depressed the ability of monocytes to degranulate (measured by release of lysozyme) in response to the above stimuli . Phospholipid transmethylation was also markedly decreased by pretreating monocytes with pneumolysin . These effects on monocyte functions were accompanied by a decreased ability of pneumolysin-treated monocytes to kill Streptococcus pneumoniae, the organism that produces the toxin . Cholesterol, which inhibits the haemolytic activity of the toxin, was shown to abrogate the effects of pneumolysin on monocytes. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Dec, 52(6), 1348 - 52 Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of hexoses by ruminal bacteria: evidence for the phosphotransferase transport system; Martin SA et al.; Six species of ruminal bacteria were surveyed for the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent phosphorylation of glucose . Selenomonas ruminantium HD4, Streptococcus bovis JB1, and Megasphaera elsdenii B159 all showed significant activity, but Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens 49, Bacteroides succinogenes S85, and Bacteroides ruminicola B1(4) showed low rates of PEP-dependent phosphorylation and much higher rates in the presence of ATP . S . ruminantium HD4, S . bovis JB1, and M . elsdenii B159 also used PEP to phosphorylate the nonmetabolizable glucose analog 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) . Rates of 2-DG phosphorylation with ATP were negligible for S . bovis JB1 and M . elsdenii B159, but toluene-treated cells of S . ruminantium HD4 phosphorylated 2-DG in the presence of ATP as well as PEP . Cell-free extracts of S . ruminantium HD4 used ATP but not PEP to phosphorylate glucose and 2-DG . Since PEP could serve as a phosphoryl donor in toluene-treated cells but not in cell-free extracts, there was evidence for membrane and hence phosphotransferase system involvement in the PEP-dependent activity . The ATP-dependent phosphorylating enzymes from S . ruminantium HD4 and S . bovis JB1 had molecular weights of approximately 48,000 and were not inhibited by glucose 6-phosphate . Based on these criteria, they were glucokinases rather than hexokinases . The S . ruminantium HD4 glucokinase was competitively inhibited by 2-DG and mannose, sugars that differ from glucose in the C-2 position . Since 2-DG was a competitive inhibitor of glucose, the same enzyme probably phosphorylates both sugars . The S . bovis JB1 glucokinase was not inhibited by either 2-DG or mannose and had a higher Km and Vmax for glucose. J Bacteriol, 1986 Dec, 168(3), 1463 - 5 Transformation of encapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae; Yother J et al.; We describe the high-efficiency transformation of several virulent, encapsulated isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Transformation was effected by the induction of competence with competence factor and was apparently the result both of inducing noncompetent recipients and overcoming the inhibition imposed by the capsule. Infect Immun, 1986 Dec, 54(3), 780 - 6 Characterization of immune response to oral administration of Streptococcus sobrinus ribosomal preparations in liposomes; Gregory RL et al.; Gnotobiotic rats gastrically intubated with a total of 12.5 micrograms of Streptococcus sobrinus ribosomal protein incorporated into cholesterol-based liposomes had significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) fewer carious lesions on their molar surfaces than did nonimmunized infected controls after challenge with a virulent organism . The immunized animals had significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) lower numbers of molar-adherent S . sobrinus cells and higher levels of salivary immunoglobulin A antibodies to S . sobrinus whole cells and ribosomes than did the control group . Dose-response studies indicated that 12.5 micrograms of S . sobrinus ribosomal protein in liposomes induced slightly higher immune responses than did 62.5, 125.0, and 250.0 micrograms of ribosomal protein incorporated into liposomes . Intubation of rats with up to 250.0 micrograms of S . sobrinus ribosomal protein alone was no more effective in reducing the numbers of molar-adherent S . sobrinus cells than were nonimmunized infected controls, establishing that insertion of ribosomes into liposomes was required for inducing an effective immune response . These results indicate that oral administration of as little as 12.5 micrograms of S . sobrinus ribosomal protein incorporated into liposomes can protect rats from caries formation after challenge with the virulent organism by inducing specific salivary immunoglobulin A antibodies which can inhibit colonization by the challenged S . sobrinus. Environ Res, 1986 Dec, 41(2), 514 - 28 Comparative study of various methods used for determining health effects of inhaled sulfates; Drummond JG et al.; Various health effect parameters were compared to determine which tests were the most sensitive indicators of toxic effects of exposure to metallic sulfate aerosols . Inhalation studies were conducted involving either single 3-hr exposure to various concentrations of cupric sulfate (0.43-2.64 mg/m3 SO4), aluminum sulfate (1.65-2.75 mg/m3 SO4), and aluminum ammonium sulfate (1.47-3.81 mg/m3 SO4) or multiple (five and ten) daily 3-hr exposures to cupric sulfate (0.1 mg/m3 SO4) . The test parameters studied in male and female CD1 mice were changes in mortality after respiratory infection with Group C Streptococcus zooepidemicus; pulmonary bactericidal activity; pulmonary cell number, type, viability, and ATP content; and pulmonary morphology by scanning electron microscopy . Tracheal ciliary beating frequency and morphology were also studied in both CD1 mice and Syrian golden hamsters . Differences in bacteria-induced mortality rate appeared to be the most sensitive and consistent indicators of pollutant damage . The other parameters produced evidence of damage but generally only at the higher pollutant concentrations . Cupric sulfate was the most toxic of the three sulfates, but the differences between the toxicity of the aluminum sulfate and aluminum ammonium sulfate were less clear. Arch Intern Med, 1986 Dec, 146(12), 2361 - 3 Streptococcus mitis endocarditis . Report of 17 cases; Rapeport KB et al.; Seventeen patients with Streptococcus mitis endocarditis were treated at a municipal hospital over a three-year period . Thirteen patients were intravenous drug addicts . Streptococcus mitis has a predilection for right-sided endocarditis in intravenous drug addicts and left-sided endocarditis in non-drug addicts . Streptococcus mitis is highly susceptible to therapy with penicillin G potassium (minimal inhibitory concentration less than or equal to 0.1 mg/L of penicillin in all of these 17 cases), and four to six weeks of therapy is safe and effective. Clin Exp Immunol, 1986 Dec, 66(3), 574 - 81 A comparison of leukocyte aggregation, leukocyte migration and skin reactivity to recall antigens in patients with AIDS; Rouveix B et al.; A study was made to evaluate the leukocyte aggregation test (LAT) in patients at risk for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and with confirmed AIDS using tuberculin, streptococcus and candida as recall antigens . These patients were selected on the basis of their well known absence of delayed hypersensitivity, a fact which should avoid false positive tests . Antigen-induced human peripheral blood leukocyte aggregation was measured quantitatively . The results obtained have been compared with the leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) in patient and control groups . Among the 46 patients, less than 7% were positive for the LAT, whereas more than 50% were LMIT positive (P less than 0.001) . These results suggest that there are fewer false positive reactions with LAT which can therefore be considered as a reliable method for assessing CMI in human . Furthermore, a negative LAT correlated well with negative delayed skin tests in more than 90% of the patients for the three antigens . These patients had either an AIDS or an advanced AIDS-related complex (ARC) . In only eight of the patients was there a discrepancy in the results of the two tests . A positive LAT and a negative skin test were seen in three cases lacking opportunistic infections (OI), whereas a negative LAT and a positive skin test were found in patients with or without OI . In the latter, a negative LAT could indicate a more advanced stage of disease and hence a poor prognosis. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1986 Dec, 94(6), 409 - 13 An alternative approach to typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains by coagglutination; Smart LE et al.; The coagglutination test, which uses staphylococcal protein A for typing strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae was extended to include typing within 13 groups . Typing was performed using the factors remaining in group antisera after absorption with a strain of a type within the group . 93 of 99 strains of S . pneumoniae, which belonged to one of the 13 groups included in the 23 valent vaccine formulation were correctly identified when compared to the capsular reaction test. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Dec, (12), 91 - 5 {Determination of antibodies against ribosomes and various cell wall components and detection of circulating antigens of group A Streptococcus in patients with erysipelas}; Shikhman AR et al.; The level of antibodies to the ribosomes, polysaccharide A and peptidoglycan of group A streptococcus in the blood of patients with primary, secondary, and often relapsing erysipelas was studied by means of the enzyme immunoassay with the use of the sandwich techniques . For control, the sera of healthy donors were used . In the sera obtained from all groups of erysipelas patients a significant rise in the levels of antibodies to ribosomes and peptidoglycan in comparison with the controls was revealed . An increase in the level of antibodies to polysaccharide A was revealed only in patients with frequently relapsing and secondary erysipelas . Depending on the clinical form and the duration of the disease, polysaccharide A was detected in 32-51.9% of erysipelas patients and protein-ribosomal antigen was detected in 28.6-51.9% of such patients. Scand J Dent Res, 1986 Dec, 94(6), 500 - 6 Comparison between a dip-slide test and plate count for determination of Streptococcus mutans infection; Emilson CG et al.; A significant correlation was found between the results of a dip-slide test and a conventional agar-plate method for determination of the salivary Streptococcus mutants population . The growth density of S . mutans around bacitracin discs on the dip-slide was estimated and examination of the dip-slides with or without a microscope showed good agreement . The percentage of identical scores between two observers increased from 69 to 84% with the use of a microscope . Scores from dip-slides inoculated with saliva by means of a cotton swab showed good agreement with those obtained with stimulated saliva . The dip-slide method is simple and reliable and can be a valuable tool in general practice for the estimation of the S . mutans infection. Am J Surg, 1986 Dec, 152(6), 583 - 6 Postsplenectomy infection in patients with chronic leukemia; Mower WR et al.; The added risk of infectious complications due to splenectomy in patients already immunocompromised because of chronic leukemia was studied over a 22 year period . When compared to patients with chronic leukemia who did not undergo splenectomy, survival was not influenced . Splenectomy did significantly increase the total number of serious infections (65 percent versus 35 percent, p less than 0.001), the number of infections per patient (p less than 0.05), and the interval between infections (p less than 0.01) in this patient population . Fatal septic episodes were not due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, but did occur significantly more often in the splenectomy group (22 percent versus 7 percent, p less than 0.05) . Although the location of infection was similar, there was a significant difference in the number of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in the patients who had undergone splenectomy (p less than 0.05) . Consideration must be given to the significantly increased risk of postoperative infectious morbidity in patients with chronic leukemia when evaluating the usefulness of splenectomy. Microb Pathog, 1986 Dec, 1(6), 519 - 31 Analysis of a surface protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae recognised by protective monoclonal antibodies; McDaniel LS et al.; Using two monoclonal antibodies which protect mice from a fatal challenge with S . pneumoniae, we have identified a surface protein antigen on the pneumococcus . These antibodies recognised components of 84 and 76 kD in a cell wall extract of the nonencapsulated strain, R36A, against which they were made . Absorption experiments indicated that both of the antibodies recognised the same two proteins . The proteins detected by the antibodies in the encapsulated type 2 strain D39 and type 3 strain WU2, exhibited different molecular weights than those proteins detected from R36A . Using a colony blot procedure and a quantitative ELISA, we have shown that these antibodies react with 6 of the 21 pneumococcal strains tested . There was no association between reactivity with these anti-protein antibodies and the capsular serotype of the pneumococcal isolates tested. J Rheumatol, 1986 Dec, 13(6), 1105 - 7 Polyarticular septic arthritis; Epstein JH et al.; Seven adult patients with nongonococcal polyarticular septic arthritis are presented with a literature review of the clinical features of polyarticular bacterial infection . Polyarticular septic arthritis occurred in 19% of reported cases of septic arthritis in adults . Similar to monoarticular disease, the knee was the most commonly affected joint, and Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated microorganism . Pneumococcus, group G streptococcus, and Hemophilus influenzae had an increased association with polyarticular infection . Five of our 7 patients had underlying rheumatic diseases and the immediate mortality rate was 57% . Review of the literature yielded an overall mortality of 23% for polyarticular septic arthritis compared to the 9% mortality of septic arthritis in general . The subset of patients with polyarticular infection superimposed on rheumatoid arthritis had a mortality rate of 56%. Chemioterapia, 1986 Dec, 5(6), 368 - 74 In vitro assessment of CI-934--a new quinolone derivative; Finch R et al.; CI-934 is a new broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone . We have studied its in vitro activity against 203 bacteria and compared it with ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, gentamicin, vancomycin and erythromycin . Against Gram-negative pathogens CI-934 showed broad-spectrum activity comparable to enoxacin . Of more interest is its superior activity against Gram-positive bacteria, especially Streptococcus pneumoniae and enterococci . This was further studied by observing its activity in comparison with ampicillin in in vitro kinetic studies . CI-934 was either equally or more rapidly bactericidal than ampicillin at concentrations of 1, 4, and 16 X MIC . On the basis of these findings further in vivo studies appear justified. Can J Microbiol, 1986 Dec, 32(12), 942 - 6 Bactericidal action of carbon dioxide laser radiation in experimental dental root canals; Zakariasen KL et al.; The ability of a carbon dioxide laser to sterilize the root canal of human teeth has been investigated . Three oral bacteria, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mutans, and Actinomyces viscosus, and three other bacteria, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as experimental organisms . Exposure of cells on glass slides to laser radiation showed there was little difference in the exposure required to kill these six organisms . Complete recovery of bacteria from the root canal was initially a problem and was only achieved when bacterial manipulations and removal were carried out in rapid succession, within 5 min of inoculation . However, the geometry of the instrumented canal and the laser alignment were major factors in achieving consistent cell death of oral bacteria in the root canals . Using sets of 10 teeth, four repeated exposures of 10 W for 1 s was found to sterilize 4 or more of the teeth. Am J Pathol, 1986 Dec, 125(3), 501 - 14 Bacteria associated with obstructive pulmonary disease elaborate extracellular products that stimulate mucin secretion by explants of guinea pig airways; Adler KB et al.; Certain cell-free filtrates from broth cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Hemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae stimulate secretion of glycoconjugates by explants of guinea pig trachea . The stimulatory effect is not related to toxicity or damage to the respiratory mucosa, as well as could be determined by ultrastructural examination of the explants after exposure . Bacteria isolated from patients with a history of chronic obstructive lung disease (P aeruginosa from cystic fibrosis, H influenzae, and S pneumoniae from chronic bronchitis) do not demonstrate increased frequency of positive strains or greater stimulation of secretion than organisms isolated from other individuals . At least three stimulatory substances are found in cell-free filtrates of P aeruginosa . They appear to be proteins of molecular weight 60,000-100,000 as determined by gel filtration . Within the crude filtrate, they are relatively stable to heat, proteolysis, and storage at 4 C and in liquid nitrogen . The stimulatory activity is not lost upon subculture of the bacteria . When isolated from the filtrate by column chromatography, they become labile to heat and trypsin . Isolated active fractions show proteolytic activity coinciding with mucin-stimulating capacity, suggesting a relationship with Pseudomonas proteases . Stimulatory substances released by S pneumoniae and H influenzae appear to be different from those elaborated by Pseudomonas . They are extremely labile to heat and storage, and the capacity to stimulate secretion is lost on subculture . Preliminary gel filtration indicates the S pneumoniae stimulatory substance(s) is in a molecular weight range of 100,000-300,000 daltons, while that of H influenzae is between 50,000 and 200,000 . The results suggest bacteria which chronically infect or colonize respiratory airways of individuals suffering from obstructive lung disease can elaborate extracellular product(s) capable of stimulating secretion of mucin . Thus, the bacteria themselves may contribute to local manifestations and, ultimately, to the pathogenesis of obstructive disease. J Dent Res, 1986 Dec, 65(12), 1392 - 401 Tight genetic linkage of a glucosyltransferase and dextranase of Streptococcus mutans GS-5; Burne RA et al.; A genetic library consisting of over 5000 clones with an average insert size of 6.9 kilobasepairs (kbp) of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 has been constructed in a bivalent plasmid vector pMK3, which is capable of replicating in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis . The recombinant plasmid pSUCRI, containing a 6.0 kbp fragment of S . mutans GS-5 DNA, was the focus of this study . Using Southern hybridization, in vitro and in vivo gene expression techniques, and biochemical analysis, this clone was shown to encode the 55 kiloDalton (kDal) GS-5 gtfA gene product, as well as a 38 and a 66 kDal polypeptide . In addition to the gtfA gene, pSUCRI encodes a dextranase activity with specificity for alpha(1----6)-linked glucans, and with no detectable activity on mutan . The dextranase enzyme had an apparent molecular weight of 66 kDal as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE analysis of the proteins produced by a dextranase-negative deletion derivative . The pH optimum of the enzyme was approximately 6.0, and there was no detectable activity below pH 5.0 . By subcloning various combinations of DNA fragments from pSUCRI, it was demonstrated that the dextranase gene (designated dexB) can be separated from the gtfA gene and still be efficiently expressed in both E . coli and B . subtilis . The dexB gene contained its own promoter and ribosome-binding site . The genetic linkage of the gtfA and dexB genes in the S . mutans GS-5 chromosome was confirmed by Southern hybridization and by the independent isolation of four distinct clones containing the gtfA gene and common flanking sequences . In addition to a glucosyltransferase and dextranase, an invertase-like activity is also encoded on pSUCRI, indicating that there is a cluster of genes on the S . mutans GS-5 chromosome which is devoted to the dissimilation of sucrose and concomitant synthesis or modification of glucans into a water-insoluble form, perhaps constituting an operon for glucan modification which can be coordinately regulated in response to environmental alterations. J Bacteriol, 1986 Dec, 168(3), 1096 - 9 Ferrous iron transport in Streptococcus mutans; Evans SL et al.; Radioiron uptake from 59FeCl3 by Streptococcus mutans OMZ176 was increased by anaerobiosis, sodium ascorbate, and phenazine methosulfate (PMS), although there was a 10-min lag before PMS stimulation was evident . The reductant ascorbate may have provided ferrous iron . The PMS was reduced by the cells, and the reduced PMS then may have generated ferrous iron for transport; reduced PMS also may have depleted dissolved oxygen . We conclude that S . mutans transports only ferrous iron, utilizing reductants furnished by glucose metabolism to reduce iron prior to its uptake. J Reprod Immunol, 1986 Dec, 9(4), 327 - 37 Formulation of a potential antipregnancy vaccine based on the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) . IV . The role of adjuvants in booster injections; Chang CC et al.; Experiments were conducted in rabbits to determine the effect of adjuvant use on the antibody response following booster injections . The antigen used was in all cases the beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin linked to tetanus toxoid (beta-hCG-TT) . Adjuvants used were Al(OH)3, MDP analogs, and a streptococcus preparation, OK432 . Primary vaccinations included Al(OH)3 adjuvant with or without supplementary adjuvants . In general, the greater the antibody response following primary vaccination, the greater the response following booster vaccination whether or not adjuvant was used in the booster . No increment in antibody titers was found by reason of including MDP analogs in booster vaccinations . OK432, in contrast, gave increased responses in booster injections which were in several cases statistically significant . The value of including Al(OH)3 in booster injections is not clear from the experimental data . In no case was the increment due to its inclusion large. FEBS Lett, 1986 Nov 24, 208(2), 435 - 8 Type 1 M protein of Streptococcus pyogenes . N-terminal sequence and peptic fragments; Moravek L et al.; Limited proteolysis of the surface of type 1 Streptococcus pyogenes by pepsin gives rise to fragment Pep M1 of Mr 20270 as the main product which covers the N-terminal part of the M protein . The amino acid sequence was determined of the N-terminal region of the M protein representing the most exposed part of the molecule on the surface fibrils of streptococcal cells, which seems to be very important for the differentiation of the individual serological types . The sequence differs from the homologous N-terminal sequences of types 5, 6 and 24, and shows a homology with sequences repeating in the chain of type 24 . Fragment Pep M1 binds to fibrinogen; the absence of its 30 N-terminal amino acid residues, however, abolishes this interaction which is believed to play a role in the virulence of S . pyogenes. N Engl J Med, 1986 Nov 20, 315(21), 1318 - 27 Efficacy of pneumococcal vaccine in high-risk patients . Results of a Veterans Administration Cooperative Study; Simberkoff MS et al.; We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test the efficacy of the 14-valent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine in 2295 high-risk patients (patients with one or more of the following: age above 55 years and the presence of chronic cardiac, pulmonary, renal, or hepatic disease, alcoholism, or diabetes mellitus) . Seventy-one episodes of proved or probable pneumococcal pneumonia or bronchitis occurred among 63 of the patients (27 placebo recipients and 36 vaccine recipients) . Vaccine-serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae strains were recovered in association with 11 infections in the placebo group and 14 infections in the vaccine group . Pneumococcal infections occurred most frequently among patients with chronic pulmonary, cardiac, or renal diseases . Among vaccine recipients who subsequently had vaccine-type pneumonia or bronchitis, the majority did not make or sustain serum antibodies against their infecting organism in concentrations that were twice as high as the base-line values, or more than 400 ng of antibody nitrogen per milliliter, although their base-line levels were higher than those in subjects in whom infection did not develop . We were unable to demonstrate any efficacy of the pneumococcal vaccine in preventing pneumonia or bronchitis in this population . Our data suggest that chronically ill patients, who are most susceptible to infection, may have an impaired immune response to the pneumococcal vaccine. Carbohydr Res, 1986 Nov 15, 156, 69 - 77 Structural elucidation of a water-insoluble glucan produced by a cariogenic oral Streptococcus; Davis HM et al.; The structure of a water-insoluble polysaccharide produced by the D-glucosyl-transferase of Streptococcus mutans 6715 has been elucidated through periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, dextranase digestion, concanavalin A binding studies, and methylation combined with g.l.c.-m.s . analysis . These studies show that the D-glucan is comprised of 67% alpha-(1----3) linkages in a contiguous backbone with the remaining 33% as alpha-(1----6) linkages, possibly as linear residues extending from alpha-(1----6) branch points . Of the residues, 14% are branch points and the ratio of linear alpha-(1----3) residues in the backbone to alpha-(1----6) residues in the side chain was found to be 5:2 . Dextranase digestion and Smith degradation both gave rise to a high-molecular-weight fraction that is only alpha-(1----3) linked. J Immunol Methods, 1986 Nov 6, 93(2), 275 - 83 In vitro stimulation prior to fusion generates antigen-binding human-human hybridomas; Wasserman RL et al.; Production of useful human monoclonal antibodies has been limited by the inability to reliably generate and isolate antigen-specific B cells by in vivo immunization . An in vitro culture system employing antigen and mitogen to stimulate lymphocytes derived from solid lymphoid organs has been developed . Human tonsilar or splenic lymphocytes were stimulated in vitro with antigen and mitogen in short term culture and then fused with either of two enzyme deficient human B cell lines . This approach appears to expand antigen-specific B cell clones prior to fusion resulting in the production of a significant number of antigen-binding human hybridoma antibodies . The system has been effective in the production of human monoclonal antibodies following stimulation with KLH-ARS, a soluble antigen, and intact group B streptococcus, a particulate antigen . Hybridomas have been produced by fusion with two distinct parental human B cell lines supporting the previously reported observation that human B lymphoblastoid cell lines representing different stages of B cell differentiation may be useful fusion partners . The utility of the in vitro stimulation system in producing human-human hybridomas secreting antibody directed against two distinct classes of antigens establishes this approach as a generally useful method for the production of human monoclonal antibodies. J Biol Chem, 1986 Nov 5, 261(31), 14398 - 407 Studies on the structure and mechanism of Streptococcus faecium L-alpha-glycerophosphate oxidase; Claiborne A; An FAD-containing L-alpha-glycerophosphate oxidase has been purified to homogeneity from Streptococcus faecium . The purified protein exists as a dimer (subunit Mr = 65,000); each subunit contains 1 mol of FAD . The enzyme contains no iron, as determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy . The alpha-glycerophosphate oxidase reacts reversibly with sulfite to form a covalent N(5) adduct; it preferentially binds the anionic form of the native oxidized FAD, and it also stabilizes the p-quinonoid form of 8-mercapto-FAD . The enzyme shows an unusually high reactivity with ferricyanide in the absence of oxygen; however, there is no evidence for any superoxide ion (O2-.) generation under standard assay conditions . Dithionite titrations of the enzyme reveal an unusual pH dependence for the stabilization of the flavin semiquinone; only at pH 8.5 does significant anionic semiquinone accumulate . L-alpha-Glycerophosphate rapidly reduces the enzyme-bound FAD; in addition, a small amount of catalytically insignificant red semiquinone appears under these conditions . The 5-deaza-FAD-reconstituted enzyme is also reduced by substrate, strongly suggesting that a radical mechanism is not involved in the oxidation of alpha-glycerophosphate . Furthermore, nitroethane anion reduces the native enzyme; this observation suggests that an electron transfer mechanism involving a substrate carbanion is possible with this enzyme. An Esp Pediatr, 1986 Nov, 25(5), 317 - 21 {Importance of bacteremia in children less than 2 years old with fever without manifest focus}; Villa JR et al.; Authors studied the importance of occult bacteremia among children, under 24 months of age, presenting fever without localizing signs . 113 patients were studied, six had positive blood cultures (5.4%) . Agents identified were: N . meningitidis twice, E . coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridians and group B Streptococcus . Some clinical and laboratory data (body temperature, WBC count, neutrophil count and band count), were studied as predictors of bacteremia . None of these were statistically related to presence of bacteremia. Arch Microbiol, 1986 Nov, 146(2), 118 - 24 Protonmotive force driven 6-deoxyglucose uptake by the oral pathogen, Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt; Keevil CW et al.; Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt was grown in glucose-excess continuous culture to repress the glucose phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PTS) and allow investigation of the alternative glucose process using the non-PTS substrate, (3H) 6-deoxyglucose . After correcting for non-specific adsorption to inactivated cells, the radiolabelled glucose analogue was found to be concentrated approximately 4.3-fold intracellularly by bacteria incubated in 100 mM Tris-citrate buffer, pH 7.0 . Mercaptoethanol or KCl enhanced 6-deoxyglucose uptake, enabling it to be concentrated internally by at least 8-fold, but NaCl was inhibitory to its transport . Initial uptake was antagonised by glucose but not 2-deoxyglucose . Evidence that 6-deoxyglucose transport was driven by protonmotive force (delta p) was obtained by inhibiting its uptake with the protonophores, 2,4-dinitrophenol, carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazine, gramicidin and nigericin, and the electrical potential difference (delta psi) dissipator, KSCN . The membrane ATPase inhibitor, N,N1-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide, also reduced 6-deoxyglucose uptake as did 100 mM lactate . In combination, these two inhibitors completely abolished 6-deoxyglucose transport . This suggests that the driving force for 6-deoxyglucose uptake is electrogenic, involving both the transmembrane pH gradient (delta pH) and delta psi . ATP hydrolysis, catalysed by the ATPase, and lactate excretion might be important contributors to delta pH. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Nov, 30(5), 810 - 2 Tetracycline resistance and tetM in pathogenic urogenital bacteria; Roberts MC et al.; Clinical isolates of Gardnerella vaginalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Bacteroides spp., and Mobiluncus spp . were screened for resistance to tetracycline and for the presence of the streptococcal tetM determinant . The S . agalactiae and G . vaginalis strains contained DNA sequences homologous to the tetM determinant, while strains of the other two genera did not. J Pediatr Surg, 1986 Nov, 21(11), 1000 - 4 Serial immunologic and histopathologic studies in the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis with combined immunodeficiency by a bovine thymic extract (thymostimulin); Lin CY et al.; A 25-day-old Chinese female baby developed necrotizing fasciitis (NF) with indurated erythematous patches with superficial necrosis over two thirds of the back . Skin cultures of the lesions yielded Streptococcus pyogenes, enterococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida species . The patient had lymphopenia with low T cells and T cell subsets . The lymphoproliferative response to mitogen and macrophage migration (MIF) production were also poor . Her lymphocytes were unable to produce IgG in vitro . Also, IgG bearing cells were not demonstrable . The initial lymph node biopsy demonstrated an absence of follicular formation and depletion of lymphocytes in both thymic-dependent and thymic-independent areas . Five weeks after bovine thymic extract (Thymostimulin) treatment, a second lymph node biopsy demonstrated germinal centers containing IgG bearing cells . Three weeks later, a third lymph node biopsy showed germinal centers with cuffs of lymphocytes . Differentiation of the cortex and medulla of the node was demonstrated . IgG was also detectable in an in vitro Ig synthesis study . The total T cells, T cell subsets, lymphoproliferative response MIF production also increased gradually after Thymostimulin treatment . This investigation demonstrated the therapeutic effectiveness of Thymostimulin in NF with underlying combined immuno-deficiency, both serious and frequently fetal diseases, by the histologic and immunologic reconstitution of T and B cell function. J Hand Surg {Am}, 1986 Nov, 11(6), 844 - 6 Abscesses of the hand associated with otopharyngeal infections in children; Pruzansky ME et al.; Abscesses of the hand associated with otopharyngeal infections are extremely rare in children . One case each of Hemophilus influenzae otitis media and beta hemolytic Streptococcus pharyngitis associated with infection of the thenar space and the extensor tenosynovium and dorsal subaponeurotic space, respectively, are reported . Surgical decompression is recommended if there is not marked improvement after a brief trial of intravenous antibiotics. J Dairy Res, 1986 Nov, 53(4), 507 - 14 Influence of the lactoperoxidase system on susceptibility of the udder to Streptococcus uberis infection; Marshall VM et al.; Lactoperoxidase (LP), thiocyanate (SCN-), pH and somatic cell counts (SCC) were measured in mammary secretions from 20 cows collected 14 d before drying-off, 7 and 21 d after drying-off, and 3-18 d postcalving . The inhibitory activity of the secretions on Streptococcus uberis was determined and the susceptibility of the udder to infection by this organism was tested by intramammary infusion of 250 colony forming units at the above stages . LP, SCN-, pH and SCC increased during involution and fell postcalving . The secretions collected before drying-off, 7 d after drying-off and postcalving inhibited growth of Str . uberis.; those collected 21 d after drying-off did not . Inhibitory activity in pre-drying-off secretions was destroyed by heating and restored by addition of LP, glucose and glucose oxidase, but addition of these substances to secretion 21 d after drying-off did not provide a full inhibitory system . The growth of Str . uberis in the secretions was correlated with intramammary susceptibility, since challenges with Str . uberis at 14 d before drying-off, at 7 and 21 d after drying-off and postcalving led to 43.8, 25.0, 81.3 and 37.5% of quarters becoming infected . It is suggested that the LP/SCN-/H2O2 system plays a role in protecting the lactating mammary gland from infection with Str . uberis but becomes ineffective as involution progresses. J Bacteriol, 1986 Nov, 168(2), 541 - 7 Autoradiographic studies of chromosome replication during the cell cycle of Streptococcus faecium; Higgins ML et al.; Analysis of the distribution of autoradiographic grains around cells of Streptococcus faecium which had been either continuously or pulse-labeled with tritiated thymidine (mass doubling time, 90 min) showed a non-Poisson distribution even when the distribution of cell sizes in the populations studied was taken into account . These non-Poisson distributions of grains were assumed to reflect the discontinuous nature of chromosome replication . To study this discontinuous process further, we fitted an equation to the grain distribution observed for the pulse-labeled cells that assumed that in any population of cells there were subpopulations in which there were zero, one, or two replicating chromosomes . This analysis predicted an average time for chromosome replication and for the period between completion of rounds of chromosome replication and division of 55 and 43 min, respectively, which were in excellent agreement with estimates made by other techniques . The present investigation extended past studies in indicating that the initiation and completion of rounds of chromosome replication are poorly phased with increases in cell volume and that the amount of chromosome replication may be different in different cell halves. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1986 Nov, 134(5), 1040 - 4 Adherence of type I Streptococcus pneumoniae to tracheal epithelium of mice infected with influenza A/PR8 virus; Plotkowski MC et al.; Bacterial adherence to virus-infected respiratory tract cells may be one of the several mechanisms whereby virus predisposes to bacterial pneumonia . To evaluate the effect of influenza virus infection on pneumococcus adhesion, 39 mice were infected with PR8/A influenza virus . The adherence of radiolabeled pneumococcus to mice tracheal cells was determined 2, 4, and 6 days after viral inoculation . The pneumococcal adhesion to infected tracheas was significantly enhanced on Day 6 (p less than 0.001) . Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that by the fourth and sixth days after virus inoculation, the ciliated and the secretory cells of the tracheal epithelium had desquamated and the mucosa were coated with a continuous layer of basal cells . In a few cases, a desquamation of the basal layer was observed and the exposed basement membrane appeared as a pole of attraction for bacteria . Pneumococci were never seen attached to control tracheas . In contrast, they were observed adhered to the microvilli of the basal cells and, to a greater extent, to the exposed basement membrane. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1986 Nov, 15(5 Pt 2), 1120 - 2 Livedo reticularis and purpura: presenting features in fulminant pneumococcal septicemia in an asplenic patient; Rusonis PA et al.; We report a case of pneumococcal septicemia in an asplenic, otherwise healthy, 31-year-old patient . He presented with a viral prodrome and skin findings of purpura and livedo reticularis . Blood cultures identified Streptococcus pneumoniae . Rapid initiation of appropriate therapy resulted in resolution of the infection and clearing of all skin signs. Infect Immun, 1986 Nov, 54(2), 421 - 7 Characterization of monoclonal antibodies specific for adhesion: isolation of an adhesin of Streptococcus sanguis FW213; Elder BL et al.; Monoclonal antibodies reactive to an adhesive strain of Streptococcus sanguis (FW213) and nonreactive to a nonadhesive mutant (JL7) were derived from the fusion of myeloma line X63Ag8.653 and spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with live S . sanguis cells . Five cell lines, belonging to subclasses of immunoglobulin G, produced monoclonal antibodies specifically directed against the adhesive strain . All five antibodies also failed to react with five additional, independently isolated, nonadhesive mutants . A spontaneous mutant of FW213 (VT508) that no longer reacted with monoclonal antibody F51 (MAbF51) was isolated by serial agglutination with the antibody . Langmuir adsorption isotherms of VT508 indicated that this mutant also had altered ability to adhere to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite further confirming the specificity of MAbF51 for adhesion . Electron microscopy revealed that VT508 had lost the peritrichous fimbriae associated with the adhesion of FW213 . MAbF51 was used to purify the adhesin from lysozyme cell extracts by using an affinity column of MAbF51 linked to Sephacryl S1000 . Purity was suggested by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) . The adhesin had a molecular weight greater than 150,000 and was not denatured in sodium dodecyl sulfate reducing gels . Two peaks of near electrophoretic mobility were detected in CIEP when the purified material was run against polyclonal antibody to the whole cell . Tandem CIEP analysis and immunoprecipitation provided evidence that the two peaks represented the same antigen in two different forms. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1986 Nov, 75(6), 993 - 8 Infective endocarditis in Swedish children . I . Incidence, etiology, underlying factors and port of entry of infection; Schollin J et al.; A retrospective study of Swedish children with infective endocarditis (IE) during the period 1971-80 was made . Sixty-six instances were identified in 64 children (0.39 cases per 100,000 children per year) . Fifty (78%) had a previously known heart disease . Most commonly this was a ventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot . Seventy-one percent had positive blood cultures . Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus aureus were most commonly isolated . Twenty-two percent of the children had undergone previous cardiac surgery . One case closely followed cardiac surgery and in only nine children could a definite port of entry of infection be demonstrated. Obstet Gynecol Surv, 1986 Nov, 41(11), 672 - 4 Severe pneumococcal peritonitis complicating IUD: case report and review of the literature; Goldman JA et al.; PIP: A case of a woman with pneumococcal peritonitis 3 months after insertion of a Nova-T copper IUD is described and the 5 other cases in the literature are reviewed . The 38-year old woman was multiparous, and had no related history other than recurrent right nephrolithotomy . She had acute peritonitis of 8 hours duration when admitted, with acute abdominal pain, fever, tachycardia and hypertension . She was treated with penicillin, gentamycin and chloramphenicol, and the IUD was removed . Her blood pressure fell to 70/40 and she developed acidosis and septic shock . Laparotomy, drainage, continued antibiotics, artificial ventilation and intensive hemodynamic treatment for 3 days were necessary to reverse coma and respiratory distress . Primary pneumococcal peritonitis only occurs in girls; in women it is though to arise from IUDs, pelvic infection or perhaps from the bowel . The other cases showed no preference for any type of IUD (3 Lippes loops, 1 Dalkon shield and 1 Gravigard) or length of use (1.5-5.5 years) . 1 of the women died, and another had recurrent pneumococcal peritonitis . Therapy should include surgical drainage, instillation of antibiotics, and removal of the IUD . Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 Nov-Dec, 5(6), 660 - 2 Low prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in the oropharynx of adolescents; Neinstein LS et al.; This study determined the prevalence rates of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the oropharynx of adolescents with and without pharyngitis . One hundred teenagers with and without symptoms of pharyngitis were cultured for C . trachomatis . Swabs were taken from the oropharynx and tonsillar areas for direct fluorescent antibody assay and cell culture . Of the 100 adolescents enrolled in the study 55% had a history of pharyngitis and 45% had no pharyngeal symptoms; 29% were male and 71% were female . The mean age was 15.5 years . Forty-two percent had a history of sexual intercourse, and 11.5% described a history of oral-genital sex . Only one 14-year-old female with a 2-week history of a sore throat had a positive culture . Her direct fluorescent antibody assay was inconclusive and the throat culture for Group A Streptococcus was negative . She had no history of sexual activity . The overall prevalence rate in the 100 adolescents was 1% with a 1.8% prevalence in the symptomatic group and 0 in the asymptomatic group . Of the symptomatic adolescents 39 had cultures for Group A Streptococcus and 8 (20.5%) were positive . The results of this study suggest that C . trachomatis is a rare inhabitant of the oropharynx in adolescents and is not a common cause of pharyngitis. Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 Nov-Dec, 5(6), 655 - 9 Clinical performance and effect on treatment rates of latex agglutination testing for streptococcal pharyngitis in an emergency department; Lieu TA et al.; Of 556 children with symptoms of streptococcal pharyngitis in a pediatric hospital emergency department, 38.8% had positive results on either a rapid latex agglutination test or throat culture for Group A Streptococcus . Twenty-six percent of patients with negative latex agglutination test results had growth on culture of a paired specimen . Under the best assumption rapid test sensitivity was 44.9% . The treatment rate (84%) for cases detected by the rapid test was markedly higher than the rate (44%) for cases detected only by culture (P less than 0.001), presumably because the rapid test result is available sooner . We conclude that: the rapid test had a lower sensitivity in routine use in our pediatric emergency department population than in previous reports from research settings; and using the rapid test in addition to culture can significantly increase treatment rates. J Clin Immunol, 1986 Nov, 6(6), 433 - 41 Serial studies on the cellular immune response to streptococcal antigens in acute and convalescent rheumatic fever patients in Trinidad; Read SE et al.; Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) has the characteristics of an autoimmune disease, triggered by cross-reactive antigens shared by the group A streptococcus and a variety of tissues including the heart, endothelium, and basal ganglia . Using two parameters of cellular reactivity, migration inhibition and blastogenic transformation, ARF patients from Trinidad show significant lymphocyte reactivity to streptococcal antigens, particularly those from an ARF associated streptococcal strain . This reactivity, studied over a 2-year period, peaked at 1 to 6 months after the acute onset and remained significantly elevated for at least 2 years . The reactivity is directed mainly toward a nonionic detergent extractable material in the cell membrane . These studies suggest a possible streptococcal strain specificity in ARF and demonstrate persistent sensitization, which explains the increased susceptibility to recurrences in the 2 years following the acute episode. Am J Clin Pathol, 1986 Nov, 86(5), 682 - 5 Propionibacterium acnes cerebral botryomycosis . The role of plastic embedding in the diagnosis of grain-producing infections; Schwartz DA et al.; Botryomycosis is a chronic infection in which bacterial colonies, or "grains," occur in purulent exudate associated with draining sinus tracts or abscess formation . This condition usually is caused by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, but other organisms occasionally have been implicated . This report describes the first case of botryomycosis caused by Propionibacterium acnes, a diphtheroid that has been rarely associated with opportunistic disease . In this case, plastic embedding allowed the observation of the structural details of the organisms composing the grains and permitted their presumptive identification as diphtheroids . The differential diagnosis of infectious agents that produce grains in tissue sections also will be discussed. J Pediatr, 1986 Nov, 109(5), 747 - 52 Viral and bacterial organisms associated with acute pharyngitis in a school-aged population; McMillan JA et al.; To investigate the causes and clinical characteristics of acute pharyngitis among school-aged children (4 to 18 years), we obtained throat cultures for respiratory viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, group A streptococcus, and Chlamydia trachomatis from 320 patients with sore throat and 308 controls without respiratory complaints . The study was conducted from January to April 1985 in a private pediatric practice in central New York State . Sixty percent of the patients and 26% of the control subjects had positive cultures for at least one organism . Forty percent of patients had positive cultures for group A streptococcus, compared with 11.9% of the controls . Fifty (16%) patients had positive viral cultures, compared with eight (2.6%) controls; the predominant viral isolate was influenza A Philippines . Patients infected with influenza A were significantly more likely to complain of cough and hoarseness, and were less likely to have pharyngeal exudate or tender cervical adenopathy, than were patients who had positive cultures for group A streptococcus . Although 49 (15.8%) patients with acute pharyngitis had cultures positive for M . pneumoniae, 53 (17.6%) asymptomatic controls were also had M . pneumoniae-positive cultures . Thus detection of M . pneumoniae in the throat of school-aged children with pharyngitis may not be sufficient to establish a diagnosis of disease caused by this organism . C . trachomatis was not isolated from any patient or control. J Exp Med, 1986 Nov 1, 164(5), 1641 - 51 Conversion of an M- group A streptococcus to M+ by transfer of a plasmid containing an M6 gene; Scott JR et al.; An M28-derived group A streptococcal strain deleted for the gene encoding M protein was converted to M+ by introduction of a plasmid carrying emm6, the structural gene for type 6 M protein from strain D471 . The reconstituted M+ strain, JRS2, resists phagocytosis in human blood and is opsonized by anti-M6 hyperimmune serum, but not by anti-M28 serum . Immunofluorescent microscopy and ELISA demonstrate the presence of M protein on its surface . In addition, JRS2 removes opsonic antibodies from hyperimmune rabbit sera generated by immunization with purified ColiM6 protein and with a synthetic amino-terminal peptide derived from M6 . Immunization of rabbits with JRS2 generates opsonic anti-M6 antibodies . These results indicate that the cloned emm6 gene contains the information necessary to convert a phagocytosis-sensitive streptococcus to phagocytosis resistance . Furthermore, it also contains the determinants for M type specificity and those required to elicit opsonic antibodies . It thus appears to determine all the traits associated with M protein. Am J Dis Child, 1986 Nov, 140(11), 1183 - 5 Pneumococcal carriage and type-specific antibody . Failure of a 14-valent vaccine to reduce carriage in healthy children; Douglas RM et al.; No consistent effect on nasal carriage rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae belonging to vaccine types was observed during a randomized, controlled trial of a 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine, which included 1273 Australian children aged 6 to 54 months . Nasal carriage of S pneumoniae was associated with a significantly elevated homotypic serum antibody concentration for types 18C, 19F, and 23F, but not for types 6A and 14 (these five types are the most important causes of pneumococcal infections in children) . Upper respiratory tract carriage seems to play an important role in natural acquisition of antibody to some but not all pneumococcal serotypes . These findings help to explain why pneumococcal vaccine fails to protect young children from acute otitis media. J Infect Dis, 1986 Nov, 154(5), 801 - 7 Mechanisms of successful amoxicillin prophylaxis of experimental endocarditis due to Streptococcus intermedius; Moreillon P et al.; Prophylaxis with amoxicillin (40 mg/kg) was studied in rats with aortic valve vegetations . Bacteria on the valves were quantitated early (10 min to 6 hr) and late (three days) after intravenous challenge with tolerant Streptococcus intermedius . Amoxicillin reduced by 40% the number of bacteria per valve 10 min after intravenous challenge with 10(5) S . intermedius (P less than .05) and by 74% the incidence of endocarditis three days thereafter (P less than .0001) . Bacterial multiplication started 2 hr after challenge in control rats, whereas bacteria disappeared in 6 hr in amoxicillin-treated rats . Intravenous penicillinase 30 min after challenge abolished successful amoxicillin prophylaxis, a result demonstrating the necessity of prolonged growth inhibition for protection . Growth inhibition for 18 hr (two subsequent amoxicillin doses) was necessary for protection after intravenous challenge with 10(5) S . intermedius . Thus, in the absence of bacterial killing, inhibition of valvular colonization by amoxicillin was not as important a mechanism of endocarditis prophylaxis as was prolonged inhibition of bacterial growth, which allowed adherent bacteria to be cleared from the valves. Infect Immun, 1986 Nov, 54(2), 543 - 8 Strong mitogenic effect for murine B lymphocytes of an immunosuppressor substance released by Streptococcus intermedius; Arala-Chaves MP et al.; A noncytotoxic protein substance, produced by Streptococcus intermedius, with very potent immunosuppressive properties (F3'EP-Si) was tested for lymphocyte mitogenic activity . Although devoid of T-cell mitogenicity, F3'EP-Si stimulated proliferation and led to high numbers of plaque-forming cells in cultures of normal or T-cell-depleted, small or large splenic B cells from both lipopolysaccharide-responding and -nonresponding mice . The B-cell mitogenic activity of F3'EP-Si was quantitatively comparable to that of lipopolysaccharide, and the simultaneous exposure to both mitogens stimulated additive B-cell responses . Injection of F3'EP-Si into normal mice resulted in increased numbers of spleen cells, higher rates of mitotic activity, and very large numbers of plaque-forming cells, predominantly of the immunoglobulin G2a and -b isotypes . In preliminary experiments, the analysis of surface markers among the lymphocytes participating in the blastogenic response in vivo revealed a T-cell component in the response to F3'EP-Si . These observations are discussed in the context of the immunosuppressive activity of this and other microbial substances. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1986 Nov, 5(4), 341 - 4 In vitro activity of CI-934, a new quinolone antimicrobial, against gram-positive bacteria; Eliopoulos GM et al.; The in vitro activity of CI-934, a new quinolone antimicrobial, was compared with that of ciprofloxacin against selected gram-positive bacteria . Concentrations of CI-934 required to inhibit 90% of strains (MIC90) were twofold to eightfold lower than those of ciprofloxacin . With the exception of Streptococcus faecium, all isolates were inhibited by CI-934 at concentrations less than or equal to 1.0 microgram/ml. J Infect Dis, 1986 Nov, 154(5), 760 - 9 Lack of a requirement for the Fc region of IgG in restoring pneumococcal opsonization via the alternative complement pathway in sickle cell disease; Bjornson AB et al.; Children with sickle cell disease have reduced serum opsonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Our previous studies have suggested that opsonization mediated by both the alternative and classic complement pathways is reduced because of a deficiency of IgG antibodies to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide . This study compares the ability of purified IgG (fractionated from goat antiserum to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide) and F(ab')2 fragments of the IgG preparation to restore alternative pathway-mediated opsonization of S . pneumoniae to sera from patients with sickle cell disease . Both the whole IgG preparation and F(ab')2 fragments of this preparation restored opsonization to normal levels and concomitantly increased alternative pathway-mediated deposition of C3 onto the pneumococci to a supranormal level . These results suggest that enhancement of opsonization is mediated by the F(ab')2 region of IgG antibody to capsular polysaccharide and is associated with an increase in complement deposition on the bacterial surface. Infect Immun, 1986 Nov, 54(2), 448 - 55 Rabbit antibodies to the cell wall polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae fail to protect mice from lethal challenge with encapsulated pneumococci; Szu SC et al.; A conjugate, composed of the cell wall polysaccharide (C polysaccharide) of Streptococcus pneumoniae and bovine serum albumin (BSA), was prepared with the bifunctional agent N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionate . Analysis with monoclonal antibodies provided evidence that the phosphocholine (PC) moiety of the C polysaccharide was retained during the conjugation procedure . The C polysaccharide-BSA conjugate elicited antibodies to C polysaccharide in rabbits; no PC-specific antibodies were detected in globulins prepared from these hyperimmune sera obtained early and late after a second immunization . Rabbit hyperimmune sera were taken after multiple intravenous injections of the pneumococcus strain SRC-2, which has a capsulelike structure composed of the C polysaccharide . Globulin prepared from these antisera had both C polysaccharide- and PC-specific antibodies . Antibodies to C polysaccharide elicited by the C polysaccharide-BSA conjugate failed to protect mice against intraperitoneal challenge with a strain of type 3 or type 6A pneumococci . The anti-SRC-2 globulin conferred protection against both of these pneumococcal strains . Absorption of the SRC-2 globulin with C polysaccharide, however, failed to change its protective activity . These data provide evidence that antibodies to the C polysaccharide do not confer immunity against infection of mice with encapsulated pneumococci inoculated by the intraperitoneal route. Infect Immun, 1986 Nov, 54(2), 273 - 82 Transformation of Streptococcus mutans with chromosomal and shuttle plasmid (pYA629) DNAs; Murchison HH et al.; Transformation (i.e., DNase-sensitive genetic transfer) of strains of Streptococcus mutans representing serotypes c and e was accomplished by using chromosomal DNA from a Rifr Strr Spcr isolate of strain GS5 (UAB525) and a chimeric plasmid, pYA629 . Shuttle plasmid pYA629 comprises the S . mutans plasmid pVA318, an inducible erythromycin resistance determinant originally isolated from a group A streptococcal strain, the tetracycline resistance gene and replication region of the Escherichia coli plasmid pBR322, and the promoter region of the S . mutans gene for aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase . The strains examined for recipient ability included those known to lack a cryptic plasmid (GS5, UA130, UA159, and MT8148) and those known to contain a widely disseminated 5.8-kilobase cryptic plasmid (LM7, V318, UA101, UA174, and 3098791) . The transformation frequencies in GS5 for GS5 chromosomal antibiotic resistance markers were comparable to those reported by others, but UA101, UA130, UA159 and UA174 were transformed with both chromosomal and plasmid markers at much higher efficiencies . In a larger strain survey, strains containing the 5.8-kilobase cryptic plasmid were more frequently transformable with both chromosomal and pYA629 DNAs than were strains lacking this cryptic plasmid . All plasmid-containing strains except LM7 lost their resident cryptic plasmids when transformed with pYA629 . LM7 transformed with pYA629 retained pLM7 . There are therefore at least two incompatibility groups among S . mutans cryptic plasmids . yPA629 DNA isolated from either E . coli or S . mutans transformed S . mutans with equal efficiency . pYA629 DNA isolated from S . mutans transformed both restriction-deficient and restriction-proficient E . coli recipients . Therefore, the strains of S . mutans used lack a restriction-modification system for pYA629 DNA sequences . S . mutans strains that are readily transformable, display maximal cariogenicity in gnotobiotic rats, and give high scores for in vitro measures of important virulence attributes have been identified to facilitate studies on the genetic basis and control of virulence. Scand J Immunol, 1986 Nov, 24(5), 549 - 57 Isolation and characterization of type IIa and type IIb Fc receptors from a group A streptococcus; Yarnall M et al.; Certain group A streptococcal strains have been reported to express two distinct type II receptors that bind to the Fc region of human IgG . In this study, we have isolated and characterized these two type II Fc receptors and characterized their reactivity with differing species of IgG . The type IIa receptor was found to be a 56,000 molecular weight protein which binds human IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4, in addition to pig and rabbit IgG . The type IIb receptor was found to be a 38,000 molecular weight protein that bound exclusively to human IgG3 . Neither the type IIa nor the type IIb receptor bound to goat, cow, dog, rat, or sheep IgG . Monospecific polyclonal antibodies were prepared against both the type IIa and type IIb Fc receptors . These antibodies demonstrated that the type IIa and type IIb were antigenically closely related and could not be distinguished from each other on the basis of their reactivity with either antibody . The distribution of type IIa and type IIb Fc receptors on a variety of different nephritogenic and non-nephritogenic group A streptococcal strains was documented. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1986 Oct 30, 140(2), 684 - 90 Sequence homology of group A streptococcal Pep M5 protein with other coiled-coil proteins; Manjula BN et al.; Group A streptococcal Pep M5 protein, an antiphagocytic determinant of the bacteria, is an alpha-helical coiled-coil molecule, and exhibits significant sequence homology with tropomyosin and myosin, but to a lesser degree with other coiled-coil proteins . Moreover, Pep M5 is more homologous to myosin than to tropomyosin, and the homologies are more numerous between the C-terminal domain of the Pep M5 protein and the S2 fragment of myosin . The C-terminal domain of the Pep M5 protein exhibits extensive sequence identity with the C-terminal region of Pep M6 molecule, another M protein serotype . Thus, regions within two M protein serotypes are homologous to the S2 region of the myosin molecule . These observations are consistent with the immunological findings of other investigators and thus may explain some of the previously reported immunological cross-reactions between antigens of the group A streptococcus and mammalian heart tissue. Carbohydr Res, 1986 Oct 15, 154, 229 - 38 Inhibition- and acceptor-reaction studies of Streptococcus mutans 6715 glucosyltransferases with 3-deoxysucrose, 3-deoxy-3-fluorosucrose, and alpha-D-allopyranosyl beta-D-fructofuranoside; Binder TP et al.; Three new sucrose analogs modified at C-3 have been studied as inhibitors and substrates for the glucosyltransferases (glucansucrases) of Streptococcus mutans 6715 . Although none of the analogs were found to be substrates for polymer synthesis with either the soluble-polysaccharide producing enzyme, GTF-S, or the insoluble-polysaccharide producing enzyme, GTF-I, 3-deoxysucrose and 3-deoxy-3-fluorosucrose were able to donate glycosyl residues for acceptor reactions with both enzymes . Modification at C-3 considerably decreased the binding at the active site of both enzymes, since all of the analogs had inhibition constants at least one order of magnitude greater than the Km value for sucrose. Jpn J Antibiot, 1986 Oct, 39(10), 2710 - 5 {Clinical studies on T-2588 in the field of otorhinolaryngology}; Kawasaki Y et al.; From clinical studies on T-2588, an oral ester type cephem, the following results were obtained . Ten patients with acute tonsillitis, 3 with acute pharyngolaryngitis, 2 with acute sinusitis, 1 with acute exacerbation of chronic sinusitis and 2 with acute exacerbation of chronic otitis media were treated with T-2588 at a daily dose of 300 or 600 mg . Clinical responses were excellent in 12, good in 4, fair in 1 and poor in 1 . Clinical efficacy was 88.9% . Bacteriologically, all isolates except one strain of S . aureus were eliminated . Clinical efficacies classified by clinical isolates correlated well with bacteriological efficacies . The MICs of T-2525 against clinical isolates were determined and compared with those of cephalexin, cefaclor and amoxicillin . The T-2525 showed potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including S . pneumoniae, H . influenzae and beta-Streptococcus, but the activity of T-2525 against S . aureus was similar to that of the other antibiotics examined . Neither side effect nor abnormal laboratory finding was observed. Can J Vet Res, 1986 Oct, 50(4), 537 - 9 Isolation of Streptococcus suis using a selective medium; Rosendal S et al.; A selective medium containing tryptic soy agar, 5% defibrinated bovine blood, crystal violet, nalidixic acid and gentamicin significantly improved the isolation rate of Streptococcus suis from tonsilar tissue of slaughtered pigs . Ninety-five percent of the S . suis isolates identified in Guelph were confirmed as S . suis in Copenhagen, but only six out of 21 isolates typed as capsular serotype 2 in Guelph were confirmed to possess serotype 2 antigen in Copenhagen . Sixty-four percent of the S . suis isolates were not typable within the current scheme of capsular serotypes from 1 to 13 and type 1/2. J Exp Med, 1986 Oct 1, 164(4), 971 - 80 Streptococcal M protein size mutants occur at high frequency within a single strain; Fischetti VA et al.; Streptococcal M protein, the antiphagocytic molecule on the surface of the organism, was previously found to exhibit extensive size heterogeneity between as well as within M serotypes . In this study, methods were devised to isolate M protein size mutants within a laboratory-grown culture . We were able to isolate three independent M protein deletion mutants and one additional mutant, which was derived from the first deletion mutant . We found that these deletion mutants occur at a frequency of approximately 1 in 2 X 10(3) CFUs in culture . Functional studies revealed that th