Arch Intern Med, 1984 Feb, 144(2), 408 - 9 Klebsiella ozaenae in a patient with cystic fibrosis; McCarthy VP et al.; For a 3 1/2-year period, a mucoid strain of Klebsiella ozaenae supplanted the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the respiratory tract of a patient with cystic fibrosis . He showed no clinical signs of ozena . While the patient was colonized with K ozaenae, his pulmonary status essentially remained unchanged . However, his clinical condition deteriorated rapidly when P aeruginosa colonization again became predominant. J Virol, 1984 Feb, 49(2), 310 - 4 Phenotypic mixing of pyocin R2 and bacteriophage PS17 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Shinomiya T; Previous results indicate that a group of bacteriocins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, named R-type pyocins, have a structure resembling bacteriophage tails and share some serological homology with certain bacteriophages . This paper presents genetic evidence which strongly suggests that components of pyocin R2, an R-type pyocin of P . aeruginosa PAO, and tail components of bacteriophage PS17 are interchangeable . Complementation tests with pyocin R2-deficient mutants of PAO and ts mutants of PS17 revealed that various phenotypic interactions occur between the pyocin and bacteriophage in PAO cells lysogenized or infected with PS17 . (i) Certain pyocin R2-deficient mutations were phenotypically suppressed in cells carrying PS17 prophage . (ii) A temperature-sensitive mutant of PS17, tsQ31, was phenotypically suppressed in PAO cells treated with mitomycin C . (iii) Phenotypically mixed phages with receptor and serological specificities of pyocin R2 were formed in PS17 lysogens of certain pyocin R2-deficient mutants. J Med Microbiol, 1984 Feb, 17(1), 37 - 44 Importance of methodology in determining bactericidal and bacteriostatic activities of azlocillin and ticarcillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Brumfitt W et al.; The activities of azlocillin and ticarcillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were compared by estimating minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) in liquid and solid media, and by constructing killing curves from sequential viable counts . In MIC studies, azlocillin was about three times more active than ticarcillin in solid medium (agar dilution test) and in liquid media (tube and microdilution tests) . When the MBC was measured, however, results varied according to the technique used . On agar and in microdilution tests, both azlocillin and ticarcillin were bactericidal, the MBC being 1.3-3 MIC . In the tube test, the MBC for ticarcillin was again about 3 MIC, but azlocillin appeared not to be bactericidal (MBC greater than 1 mg/ml) . However, sequential viable counts of four clinical isolates showed that at 4 MIC both antibiotics reduced viable counts by a factor of 10(4) in 8 h . Our results stress the importance of methodology when assessing the antibacterial activity of an antibiotic. J Bacteriol, 1984 Feb, 157(2), 673 - 7 Chromosomal location and function of genes affecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitrate assimilation; Jeter RM et al.; Seven known genes control Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitrate assimilation . Three of the genes, designated nas, are required for the synthesis of assimilatory nitrate reductase: nasC encodes a structural component of the enzyme; nasA and nasB encode products that participate in the biosynthesis of the molybdenum cofactor of the enzyme . A fourth gene (nis) is required for the synthesis of assimilatory nitrite reductase . The remaining three genes (ntmA, ntmB, and ntmC) control the assimilation of a number of nitrogen sources . The nas genes and two ntm genes have been located on the chromosome and are well separated from the known nar genes which encode synthesis of dissimilatory nitrate reductase . Our data support the previous conclusion that P . aeruginosa has two distinct nitrate reductase systems, one for the assimilation of nitrate and one for its dissimilation. J Bacteriol, 1984 Feb, 157(2), 632 - 6 Pyocin R1 inhibits active transport in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and depolarizes membrane potential; Uratani Y et al.; Pyocin R1, a bacteriocin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, inhibited active transport of proline in the presence of high concentrations of malate and magnesium salt . Pyocin R1 did not affect the respiration of sensitive cells nor induce cell lysis, but it caused a decrease in the intracellular ATP level . In addition, a passive inflow of {14C}thiocyanate anion, a probe of membrane potential, was induced by pyocin R1, showing a depolarization of the cytoplasmic membrane . It is considered that membrane depolarization is a primary action of pyocin R1. Infect Immun, 1984 Feb, 43(2), 759 - 60 Immunization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa high-molecular-weight polysaccharides prevents death from Pseudomonas burn infections in mice; Pollack M et al.; High-molecular-weight polysaccharides from the extracellular slime of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated as immunogens in Pseudomonas burn infections in mice . Immunization with immunotype 1 or 2 polysaccharides induced a strong immunotype-specific and weak cross-reactive antibody response but protected mice against burn infections caused by either immunotype . Passive protection was provided by rabbit antiserum to immunotype 1 polysaccharide against burn infection by the homologous organism . Pseudomonas high-molecular-weight polysaccharides are potentially effective vaccines in burn infections. Transplantation, 1984 Feb, 37(2), 156 - 60 Obstructive lung disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation; Kurzrock R et al.; We report the cases of 3 patients with marked dyspnea and an obstructive ventilation disorder associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation . This disorder was characterized by recurrent pulmonary infections and colonization of the lower respiratory tract by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Two patients have shown rapidly progressive deterioration with death following due to respiratory failure . Intensive therapy with antibiotics, bronchodilators, high-dose steroids, and azathioprine was not effective in arresting the malignant course of this disorder. JAMA, 1984 Jan 13, 251(2), 252 - 3 Nosocomial gram-negative bacillary parotitis; Pruett TL et al.; Historically, Staphylococcus aureus has been the primary pathogen in acute suppurative parotitis (ASP) . This report presents an index case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia associated with ASP and an institutional review of parotitis in which three of 23 additional cases of pyogenic parotitis had enteric bacilli cultured either alone or as the primary pathogen . These cases support the previously undocumented supposition that enteric gram-negative bacilli and pseudomonads can be pathogens in ASP. Eur J Biochem, 1984 Jan 2, 138(1), 141 - 52 The assignment of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of azurin . An investigation of the 1H NMR spectrum of the blue copper protein, azurin, from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with reference to the previously determined crystal structure; Canters GW et al.; A detailed assignment of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of azurin has been made . Resonances associated with the single tryptophan residue, all six phenylalanine residues, one of the two tyrosine residues and all four histidine residues, as well as most of the resonances from the ring-current shifted methyl groups have been assigned . These assignments have been used to study the pH dependence of the structure of the protein and binding of analogues of redox-active reagents to the protein. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1984 Jan, 18(1), 47 - 52 {Effects of storage conditions on the rate of disappearance of bacterial contamination of toothbrushes}; Misirligil A et al.; This investigation was made to show the effects of storage conditions on the decrease rate of bacterial contamination of tooth brushes . Tooth brushes were soaked into the broth cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, and then kept either in closed containers or in free circulating room air . The germ counts were made 24, 48 and 72 hours later and found that the decreases were much more rapid in brushes who kept in free air. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(4), 205 - 10 Penetration of cefsulodin into bronchial secretions; Bergogne-Berezin E et al.; The objective of this study was to evaluate the penetration of cefsulodin, a new cephalosporin active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, into the bronchial secretions . The study was carried out in 28 patients with respiratory infections; 11 patients received a single dose of 1 g i.v . (bolus); 17 patients received multiple doses of 1 g every 8 h for 48 h . Simultaneous samples of blood and bronchial secretions were collected 30 min and 1, 2, 4 and 6 h after injection . Bronchial secretions were obtained from 23 patients by means of fiberoptic bronchoscopy and in 5 tracheostomized patients (with severe respiratory insufficiency) through a tracheostomy cannula . The assays of cefsulodin were performed by means of the microbiological agar diffusion technique . The results of the study showed a noticeable penetration of the drug into the bronchial secretions, with a mean peak reaching 3.1-5.3 micrograms/ml at the 3rd or 4th hour, a slow elimination and residual levels at 6 h ranging between 2.0 and 6.0 micrograms/ml . The rate of penetration was not influenced by the administration of multiple doses of the drug . The ratios between bronchial concentrations and simultaneous serum concentrations ranged between 10 and 30%, corresponding to the usual values found for other cephalosporins . In conclusion, this study provides satisfactory results and confirms the presence of bronchial levels capable of inhibiting P . aeruginosa. Infection, 1984 Jan-Feb, 12(1), 31 - 5 {Experimental study of the local application of silver sulfadiazine, cefsulodin and povidone-iodine in burns}; Kaiser W et al.; Non-infected standardized burns and those contaminated experimentally with a constant number of organisms of a selected Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain underwent varying forms of treatment with silver sulfadiazine, cefsulodin cream and povidone iodine ointment . Wound healing was controlled by evaluating the wound area . In burns which had not been infected experimentally, healing was best without any treatment . Burns treated with cefsulodin cream showed delayed healing, though this was not significant . The most significant delay, however, was observed in wounds treated with povidone iodine . Wounds infected with Pseudomonas healed considerably better than the control group when treated prophylactically with silver sulfadiazine and cefsulodin . However, burns treated with povidone iodine again showed delayed healing. IMA J Math Appl Med Biol, 1984, 1(1), 77 - 94 A mathematical model of exoprotein production in bacteria; Coleman KD et al.; We present a simple mathematical model for the synthesis of extracellular proteins by a class of bacteria which secrete significant quantities of this exoprotein in late-exponential and stationary phases . This model is the simplest generalization of Michaelis-Menten kinetics (the Monod model) and agrees well with laboratory experiments in batch culture . The model may serve as a simple prototype for the analysis of certain virulent bacterial infections in vivo, particularly that of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in burn wounds. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jan, 25(1), 49 - 52 Comparative efficacies of piperacillin, azlocillin, ticarcillin, aztreonam, and tobramycin against experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia; Schiff JB et al.; The therapeutic efficacies of the newer beta-lactam antibiotics piperacillin, azlocillin and aztreonam were compared with the efficacies of ticarcillin and tobramycin in a guinea pig model of experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia . For animals challenged with 2 X 10(8) CFU, tobramycin treatment resulted in survival rates and intrapulmonary killing of pseudomonads which were significantly greater than those found with any of the beta-lactam agents . There were no significant differences noted among the individual beta-lactam agents . When animals were challenged with 200-fold-fewer organisms (10(6) CFU), there was no significant difference between the efficacy of tobramycin and those of the various beta-lactams . These data suggest that tobramycin is particularly valuable in treating more severe P . aeruginosa pneumonia, whereas a number of different beta-lactam agents are of equivalent value in less severe lung infections. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol, 1984 Jan, 20(1), 55 - 60 Causes of death in febrile granulocytopenic cancer patients receiving empiric antibiotic therapy; Sculier JP et al.; We reviewed the causes of death of 55 granulocytopenic patients who received empiric antibiotic treatment for fever according to an EORTC cooperative protocol; 53 presented cancer and 2 aplastic anemia . Among the 55 patients, 19 (35%) deaths were attributed to infection: 16 to bacterial and 3 to fungal infections . Among the patients with bacterial infections, 12 died from septic shock, 3 from pneumonia and 1 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis . The most frequent non-infectious causes of death were the cancer progression (18%) and hemorrhagic complications (27%), most often cerebromeningeal in relationship to thrombocytopenia . A large number of the patients who died from infection (78%) and hemorrhage (74%) had advanced cancer with poor chances to respond to anticancer therapy. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1984, 32(6), 689 - 94 Modulation of the humoral response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected mice; Izdebska-Szymona K et al.; Kinetics of humoral anti-SRBC response in the host infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated . In the course of experimental infection in CFW mice with 0.01 LD50 Pseudomonas aeruginosa 74 followed by immunization with SRBC, inhibition of PFC anti-SRBC production was observed for 5 days after infection . In the case of infection with 0.1 LD50 P . aeruginosa 74 stimulation of anti-SRBC PFC production was observed for 6 days after infection. Scand J Infect Dis, 1984, 16(4), 361 - 7 Infectious complications to granulocytopenia; Johansson PJ et al.; A consecutive series of patients with granulocytopenia was analysed with consideration of rate and spectrum of infectious complications . The records of 98 patients from 1975-81 were studied retrospectively . Fever was the most common symptom of infection . 78 patients had one or more infectious manifestations, and Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen isolated . Septicemia occurred in 22 patients of which 17 were caused by gram-negative bacteria . Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused septicemia in 8 patients . The risk of septicemia increased with a decreasing cell count and with the degree and duration of fever . The mortality rate for the whole group was 24% and for the septicemic patients 41%. Int J Tissue React, 1984, 6(5), 421 - 6 Experimental studies on mice challenged intracerebrally with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Campanile F et al.; Intact or immunodepressed mice of different strains were challenged with Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells by the peritoneal or intracerebral route, in order to establish experimental models which may mimic the clinical conditions of compromised hosts experiencing local or systemic invasion by the opportunistic pathogen . The possible role played by host sensitization alone or in combination with chemotherapy was also studied. Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1984, 135(7), 519 - 22 {Efficacy and reversible nephrotoxicity of cefsulodin during treatment of septicemia from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of a pacemaker}; Penalba C et al.; A case of P . aeruginosa septicaemia originating from a pace-maker electrode is described . Cure was obtained by surgical ablation of the contaminated electrode by a right thoracotomy and monotherapy with cefsulodin, an antibacterial agent . Nephrotoxicity was observed during treatment and regressed after its withdrawal . No other potentially nephrotoxic drug was used . The therapeutic indications of new beta-lactamase stable cephalosporins are reviewed. J Toxicol Environ Health, 1984, 13(4-6), 893 - 904 Effect of 0.64 ppm ozone on rats with chronic pulmonary bacterial infection; Sherwood RL et al.; Rats were chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa by entrapping viable bacteria in agar beads and intratracheally inoculating the beads into the left lung . The infection was allowed to stabilize over a 10-d period and the animals were then placed in environmental chambers and exposed to either filtered air or 0.64 ppm ozone (23 h/d) for 14 or 28 d . Rats exposed to ozone had reduced body weight and increased lung sizes and lung weights when compared with animals breathing filtered air . Rats inoculated with beads containing live P . aeruginosa had increased lung weights when compared with rats inoculated with beads containing heat-killed P . aeruginosa or controls . Quantitation of total viable bacteria in rats exposed to ozone or to filtered air revealed no significant differences in bacterial numbers . Thus, in this model, chronic exposure to ozone produces increases in lung volume and weight but does not enhance a smoldering Pseudomonas infection. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1984, 31(2), 141 - 51 Serial determination of complement and specific antibody titres in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection; Petras G et al.; Serial examination of the complement system and specific antibody titre of 12 surviving patients and 8 lethal cases suffering from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection showed that except the onset of infection, until the development of septic shock, the level of the complement components corresponded to or exceeded the average normal value . In reversible septic shock the complement titre decreased significantly and in irreversible shock the values were even lower . Activation of the complement system occurred on 10 occasions via the classical and on 42 occasions via the alternative pathway . The number of activations grew parallel with the severity of the infection . Activation through the classical way was generally more intensive . During the whole infectious process not the individual characteristics of the P . aeruginosa present unbroken, but the pathological events and the specific antibody level determined the mode (alternative or classical pathway) of complement activation . The specific antibody level of the surviving patients significantly surpassed the titres of the lethal cases until the development of shock . Not an insufficiency of the complement system but the relative lack of specific antibodies was mainly responsible for the fatal outcome of P . aeruginosa infections. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1984, 31(2), 109 - 16 Immunoserology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in man . III . Site of infection, duration of the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antibody response; Petras G et al.; In 39 patients of a respiratory intensive care unit the intensity of the serological response to the purified LPS of the causative Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to change according to the site of infection . The highest titres were found in septic cases, when the antigenic assault reached all the immune-competent cells in the body . Short presence (only one positive bacteriological culture) of P . aeruginosa at the site of inflammation resulted in a low or moderate rise in antibody titre . Ten days were enough for the development of a maximum total antibody (approximately IgM) response, while IgG type antibodies moderately grew further when the presence of P . aeruginosa lasted more than 10 days . Only a 16-fold increase in total antibodies per se or a 4-fold rise in both total (approximately IgM) and IgG antibodies confirmed the pseudomonas infection. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 29(3), 297 - 302 Pseudomonas aeruginosa . I . Large-volume cultivation of production strains for vaccination purposes; Belohlavek S et al.; A submerged culture technology was used to produce large-volume suspensions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa production strain for the purpose of vaccination . This paper describes the composition of the culture media used and the methods of preparing endotoxin and exotoxin components of the desired immunogenic activity. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1984, 29(3), 289 - 95 The structure and immunochemical specificity of 0-antigens of 03 serogroup Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Stanislavskii ES et al.; Using the method of phenol-aqueous extraction, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were isolated from 5 strains (subgroups) belonging to 03 serogroup of P . aeruginosa (4) . Specific polysaccharides were isolated from the LPS by means of acid hydrolysis . It has been established that the polysaccharides determining O-antigenic specificity have a uniform structure . They consist of repeated trisaccharide links comprising: 2,3(1-acetyl-2-methyl-2-imidazolino-5,4)-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannuronic acid (Im) 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy uronic acid with -D-manno-(M) or -L-gulo-(G) configuration and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-fucose (F) with alpha or beta configuration of the glycosidic bond . The structure of 0/3a/3d, 3f polysaccharide has not been definitely cleared up . Serological analysis using passive haemagglutination reaction (PHAR) testifies to the presence of antigenic cross activity of all the five LPS . Antigenic specificity of LPS of the individual subgroups was revealed in passive haemagglutination inhibition reaction (PHAIR) . Partial cross activity was clearly demonstrated in immunoprecipitation experiments in the five subgroups . Serological properties of the LPS of P . aeruginosa 03 subgroup essentially correlate with the structure of their polysaccharide chains determining O-antigenic specificity. Cornea, 1984, 3(1), 21 - 6 Gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal ulcers; Gelender H et al.; Six cases are described of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ulcerative keratitis in which antibiotic sensitivity studies demonstrate organism resistance to gentamicin sulfate but sensitivity to other aminoglycosides such as tobramycin and amikacin . In four cases, community-acquired infections represent the source of these ulcers . This paper documents the emergence of aminoglycoside resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis within the general community. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1984, 32(4), 481 - 7 Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by peritoneal macrophages of mice; Maresz-Babczyszyn J et al.; The poorly mucoid P . aeruginosa 87 strain was better phagocytized by peritoneal macrophages from normal mice than highly mucoid P . aeruginosa 219 . However, the macrophages killed significantly greater number of mucoid bacterial cells of P . 219 strain . The immunization of mice with 10, 50 or 100 micrograms of slime-extract P . 87 or P . 219 did not significantly enhance the phagocytic and bactericidal properties of macrophages . The vaccination of animals with viable bacterial cells of P . 219 strain, using several schemes of treatment, slightly augmented both activities of macrophages but the differences between them and control group were statistically not significant . However, the ingestion and killing of the bacteria were suppressed when macrophages were harvested from mice treated with 200 or 400 micrograms of slime-extract P . 219. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1984, 32(4), 467 - 79 Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of mucoid and nonmucoid variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by polymorphonuclear leukocytes: effect of specific immune sera; Gosciniak G et al.; Nonmucoid variants (NM) of 6 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were better phagocytized and intracellulary killed by rabbit peripheral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) than their mucoid variants (M) . The ratios of ingested and killed bacteria of both variants significantly increased in the presence of immune serum with antibodies against slime and somatic antigen (anti-OM) in the phagocytic mixture . Immune sera prepared for slime layer only enhanced the both activities of PMNs against M variant . The anti-O sera significantly increased the phagocytosis and killing of NM variants belonging to the same serogroup of O antigen as the strain used for the preparation of immune serum. Microbios, 1984, 41(164), 81 - 9 R68.45 plasmid mediated conjugation in Thiobacillus A2; Plasota M et al.; Plasmid R68.45 classified into the IncP-1 group which is characterized by a broad host range, was transferred from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA025 or Escherichia coli into Thiobacillus A2 by conjugation . The R plasmid was stably maintained in Thiobacillus A2 but only neomycin/kanamycin resistance was fully expressed in the new host . Conjugational transfer of R68.45 between different Thiobacillus A2 strains was observed . R plasmid mediated transfer of chromosomal markers has been demonstrated. Microbios, 1984, 41(163), 49 - 63 Influence of nutrient media on the characteristics of the exopolysaccharide produced by three mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains; Buckmire FL; Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa of the 'gelatinous' (strain PM1) and 'mucoid' (strains PM3 and PM11) types (Wahba and Darrell, 1965), from cystic fibrosis patients were grown on different nutrient media, in liquid and on solid matrix, and their ability to synthesize uronic acid-containing exopolysaccharide of varying molecular sizes was assessed . Strain PM1 produced the exopolysaccharide in all liquid media tested . However, the exopolysaccharide was always polydispersed when citrate was present but monodispersed and of high molecular weight (HMW) in its absence . Strain PM1 also formed non-mucoid colonies on some solid media and on those media no exopolysaccharide was produced . On media, on which the organism was always mucoid monodispersed, HMW exopolysaccharide was recovered . Strains PM3 and PM1 produced monodispersed, HMW exopolysaccharide in liquid MacConkey's and V-8 media, but polydispersed or no exopolysaccharide in ll other liquid media tested . On MacConkey's agar these strains were mucoid initially but appeared non-mucoid as the cultures aged . This colonial change was accompanied by a quantitative and qualitative change in the exopolysaccharide . In media on which these strains produced only non-mucoid colonies little or no exopolysaccharide was recovered . Crude enzyme preparations from all three strains indicate that enzyme(s) capable of depolymerizing the indigenous exopolysaccharide exist in each organism. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 197(2), 292 - 6 Mapping of cysteine genes on the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Brandt R et al.; Three loci coding for different steps in the pathway of cysteine biosynthesis have been mapped by R68.45-mediated coconjugation analysis . The cysteine auxotrophic mutants could be subdivided into sulfite and sulfide-requiring mutants . Sulfide-requiring mutants (cysIV group) were localized at a single position between pyrF and pur-67, while sulfite-requiring mutants (cysI and cysII) mapped at two different regions . The cysI group was also localized between pyrF and pur-67, although more distal to pyrF than the cysIV group . This group included the cys-54 marker, which has been mapped previously . The second group of sulfite-requiring mutants, designated as cysII, was cotransducible with hisI and localized at the end of the PAO chromosomal map . This location was also confirmed for the marker cys-59 . The marker cys-59 (which was cotransducible with hisI) was cotransferred by R68.45-mediated conjugations with both the late marker pur-67 and the early marker ilv-226 . As the late marker hisI was positioned at about 60-65 min (Herrmann and Gunther, in press) the length of the PAO chromosome was estimated to be about 70 min. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 197(2), 286 - 91 High frequency FP2 donor of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Herrmann H et al.; After NG mutagenesis an FP2 donor was isolated which exhibited an enhanced conjugational capacity for chromosomal genes . The recombination frequency was increased by two orders of magnitude as compared to the parental strain . In plate matings recombinants arose at a frequency up to 5 X 10(-1) per donor cell . Late markers also recombined efficiently . An Hfr state of the donor strain was supported by (i) the high recombination frequency, (ii) the incompatibility reaction with plasmid pRO271 (= FP2::Tn401) and (iii) the clearcut transfer kinetics in interrupted matings, even for a late marker. J Int Med Res, 1984, 12(6), 356 - 60 In vitro activity of ceftazidime and other beta-lactam antibiotics against nosocomial strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Santos Ferreira MO et al.; The in vitro sensitivity of 300 nosocomial strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ceftazidime was compared with their sensitivities to eleven other beta-lactam antibiotics . Concentrations of 2 mg/l of ceftazidime were sufficient to inhibit all of the strains tested including the carbenicillin-resistant ones . Ceftazidime shows considerably greater activity against Ps . aeruginosa than the other beta-lactam antibiotics. Dev Comp Immunol, 1984 Summer, 8(3), 537 - 46 The in vitro generation of an antibacterial activity from the fat body and hemolymph of non-immunized larvae of Galleria mellonella; De Verno PJ et al.; A state of immunity in Galleria mellonella against the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to be induced by the injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), isolated from the homologous organism . An in vitro mixture of the LPS and whole or cell-free hemolymph from non-immunized larvae is not antibacterial . In vitro mixtures of fat body and cell-free hemolymph from non-immunized larvae, incubated at 25 degrees C for 20 hours generated a proteinaceous antibacterial activity . The generation of this activity was enhanced by the presence in the incubation mixture of LPS and/or hemocytes from non-immunized larvae . It is suggested that LPS causes the release of a hemocyte factor(s) which acts in conjunction with or directly on the fat body resulting in an enhanced production of antibacterial factors. Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1984, (8), 86 - 8 {Effect of preservation conditions on the diagnostic traits of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P . fluorescens and P . putida}; Arkad'eva ZA et al.; After 20 years storage under the lyophylized condition 6 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P . fluorescens and P . putida retained all characters investigated . After storage under sterile vaseline oil for 10 years strains P . aeruginosa and P . putida lost one character, strains P . fluorescens lost 10-13 characters. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1984, 31(2), 91 - 100 Immunoserology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in man . I . Four types of interaction between host and bacterium; Petras G et al.; Continuous survey of clinical symptoms, bacteriological findings and anti-LPS antibodies in 39 acute and 9 chronic patients at a respiratory department revealed four interaction-types between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and host: I, clinical complications with a serological response; II, the same without serological answer; III, rise of specific antibodies without clinical symptoms; and IV, no clinical or serological reaction despite the presence of P . aeruginosa . Exogenous factors like massiveness or mode of infection (e.g . instrumental) determined mainly the type of interaction in the absence of immune-antibodies . P . aeruginosa colonization longer than a few days turned generally into manifest or subclinical infection . The lack of antibody production in severe infection was likely a consequence of an immune-paralysis, elicited by a massive infection . Antibody production was lower in subclinical than in manifest infection, yet IgG-type antibodies increased not only in the latter, but always in the former, too. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1984, 31(2), 101 - 8 Immunoserology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in man . II . effect of natural and immune anti-LPS antibodies on pseudomonas colonization and infection; Petras G et al.; In 39 acute patients of a respiratory unit a comparatively high Pseudomonas aeruginosa anti-lipopolysaccharide antibody level present on admission prevented colonization by the homologous pseudomonas serogroup . At lower natural antibody titres symptomless colonization occurred, and in patients with the lowest initial titres, later P . aeruginosa complications developed . A low antibody level also predisposed to pseudomonas infection in 9 chronic patients . When colonization occurred at high antibody titres, the presence of P . aeruginosa was only transient; however, the titre had no effect on the further duration of harbouring P . aeruginosa . Anti-LPS antibodies may play an important role not only in the outcome of pseudomonas infection, but also in other respects of pseudomonas-man interaction. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(4), 227 - 36 Fosfomycin, piperacillin, azlocillin . Correlation between therapeutic response of mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in vitro data; Haag R; Intramuscular infections of mice with eight different strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated with three doses each of fosfomycin, piperacillin and azlocillin . The therapeutic response (measured as decrease in colony-forming units in the homogenized infected tissue) was compared with the 'aggregate suprainhibitory time' (the time for which the serum concentration exceeds the minimal inhibitory concentration of the infecting bacteria during the whole treatment period) . The therapeutic response improved with increasing aggregate suprainhibitory time . The correlation was better for fosfomycin than for piperacillin and, especially, azlocillin. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(3), 165 - 9 Activity of cefsulodin, other beta-lactams, and aminoglycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Chandrasekar PH et al.; Cefsulodin was the most active of the cephalosporins and exhibited 4-16 times more activity than carbenicillin or ticarcillin against 50 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Azlocillin and piperacillin showed good activity, while tobramycin was the most effective aminoglycoside . The activity of cefsulodin was unaltered by increases in inocula, but resistance was induced easily . When combined with gentamicin, no synergistic or antagonistic activity was observed against multiply resistant isolates. Nauchnye Doki Vyss Shkoly Biol Nauki, 1984, (4), 103 - 6 {Separation of exoparasitic bacteria of the genus Micavibrio from the cells and membranes of the host bacterium}; Markelova NIu et al.; Conditions for separation of Micavibrio aeruginosavorus ARL-1 from cells and membranes of host-bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been developed . Differential centrifugation and ficoll density-gradient centrifugation were applied to purify a mixed culture . A fraction localized in the zone of 12-15% ficoll is a sufficiently homogenous suspension of the exoparasite . It meets requirements of purity of the biomass destined for biochemical investigations. Arzneimittelforschung, 1984, 34(3), 255 - 7 The combined activity of ampicillin with streptomycin or chloramphenicol against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Ghobashy AA et al.; The bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of ampicillin when combined at ten different ratios with either streptomycin or chloramphenicol against Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been investigated . Synergistic bacteriostatic effect was obtained with all ampicillin/streptomycin combinations and 9 ratios of ampicillin/chloramphenicol combinations . The highest synergistic value was obtained by the ratios containing 98% of ampicillin and 2% of either streptomycin or chloramphenicol . A synergistic and an indifferent combined bactericidal effect was obtained with ampicillin/streptomycin and ampicillin/chloramphenicol combinations respectively . The mechanism of such synergism is briefly discussed. Vet Med Nauki, 1984, 21(2), 24 - 34 {Methods of diagnosing infectious atrophic rhinitis}; Mermerski K; Prevailing is the opinion that the infectious character of atrophic rhinitis is due to the causative agents isolated-- Bact . pseudomonas aeruginosa, Borditella bronchiseptica, and Mycoplasma . Using these either alone or in a mixed infection a successful reproduction of the disease was accomplished in 10-day-old pigs, which demonstrated its infectious character . It was found that most susceptible were pigs at the age of up to 30 days . The symptoms of the disease were dependent on the acute or chronic manifestation of atrophic rhinitis . The morphologic changes were mainly confined to the septum nasi, the conchae, and os cribriformis . Pathogenicity was tested on albino mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits, and diagnosing was effected with test animals through rentgenography and histologic and biochemical investigations . The diagnosis was based on the results of the above-mentioned investigations as well as on the clinical and morphologic manifestation of atrophic rhinitis. Microbios, 1984, 39(157-158), 151 - 7 Effect of silver on whole cells and spheroplasts of a silver resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Richards RM et al.; Electron micrographs of a silver resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in the presence of 50 micrograms/ml Ag+ indicate that the surviving cells are resistant at the level of the cytoplasmic membrane . Spheroplasts of the resistant strain were not lysed by 1 h contact with 8 micrograms/ml Ag+, but were 36% and 22% lysed by 1 h contact with 20 micrograms/ml chlorhexidine and 40 micrograms/ml polysorbate 80, respectively . Spheroplasts of a silver sensitive strain of P . aeruginosa were lysed by 22% on contact with 1 microgram/ml Ag+ for 1 h. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 193(3), 437 - 44 Arginine degradation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants blocked in two arginine catabolic pathways; Haas D et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants defective in agmatine utilization (agu) were isolated . The genes encoding agmatine deiminase (aguA) and N-carbamoylputrescine amidinohydrolase (aguB) were 98% cotransducible and mapped between gpu and ser-3 in the 30 min region of the chromosome . Constructed agu arc double mutants (blocked in the arginine decarboxylase and arginine deiminase pathways) used arginine efficiently as the sole carbon and nitrogen source . This suggests the existence of a further arginine catabolic pathway in P . aeruginosa . The mapping data of this study confirm that in P . aeruginosa the chromosomal genes with catabolic functions do not show supraoperonic clustering as found in P . putida. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 193(3), 431 - 6 Revised locations of the hisI and pru (proline utilization) genes on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chromosome map; Soldati L et al.; The location of genes in the vicinity of the major FP2 origin on the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO has been revised . The markers hisI (a transduction group of histidine biosynthetic genes) and pru (a gene cluster encoding proline utilization functions) were located in the 90 to 95/0 min chromosome region by a series of plate matings mediated by R68.45 . Three-factor-crosses using this plasmid established the following marker order: pur-67 pru hisI/cys-59 proB ilvB/C . Genetic evidence is presented to confirm the previous observations that FP2 can mobilize the chromosome from at least two origins near proB and in both directions . Thus, when markers in this chromosome region are analyzed by FP2 crosses only, the mapping data may be difficult to interpret . This complication can be overcome by the use of R68.45 and Tfr (transposon-facilitated recombination) or Hfr donors. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Jan, 25(1), 4 - 6 Cefsulodin sodium therapy in cystic fibrosis patients; Cabezudo I et al.; Cefsulodin sodium is a narrow-spectrum cephalosporin with marked in vitro activity against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We have studied the antibiotic in a clinical trial in 10 patients admitted to the Pediatric Ward of the University of Virginia Medical Center with cystic fibrosis and recurrent acute lower respiratory tract infections with P . aeruginosa isolated from their sputa . The patients received 500 to 1,500 mg of cefsulodin every 6 hours by intravenous infusion for 10 to 22 days . Mean peak drug levels in plasma after 500, 1,000, and 1,500 mg were 46, 71, and 90 micrograms/ml, respectively, and the mean minimal inhibitory concentration of all organisms was 7.5 micrograms/ml . Detectable levels of cefsulodin in sputa were found in approximately half of the random samples and ranged from 2 to 5 micrograms/ml . The clinical response was satisfactory in nine (90%) of the patients . One patient gained weight and had improved pulmonary function tests but showed no reduction in sputum production and no improvement in arterial blood gas values . In pulmonary function tests, four of five patients tested showed an average 43% increase in forced vital capacity after initiation of therapy and five of five had an average 51% increase in forced expired volume in 1 s . No adverse effects were observed. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jan, (1), 50 - 3 {Virulence and toxigenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures of various origins}; Dziubak ST; The virulence and toxigenicity of newly isolated P . aeruginosa strains have been studied in experiments on white mice . These biological properties have been shown to be most pronounced in P . aeruginosa strains isolated from proteins, sometimes greatly exceeding those in strains isolated from healthy persons and the environment . Virulence and the factors which determine it are definitely interrelated in microorganisms and can vary, depending on the conditions of their habitat. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jan, (1), 31 - 5 {Pyocin typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains}; Moroz AF et al.; The possibility of using the typing of P . aeruginosa strains by their pyocins as one of the epidemiological markers in the study of P . aeruginosa hospital infections has been established . As this method of typing is characterized by certain variability, the authors propose that the method of the "cross analysis" of pyocins produced by P . aeruginosa strains be used simultaneously . This method is based on the following phenomenon: if the cultures to be compared are different, the pyocin produced by one strain suppresses the growth of the other one, and if the cultures are identical, no suppression of their growth by pyocins is observed. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Jan, (1), 14 - 9 {Antigenic complexes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa slime: their isolation and biological properties}; Aleksandrov AD et al.; The possibility of using antigenic complexes contained in the extracellular slime of P . aeruginosa clinical strains belonging to different serological groups as the components of a chemical vaccine has been revealed . Animal experiments have demonstrated a high immunogenicity of these preparations, as well as their low toxicity . The use of slime antigens stimulates the production of specific antibodies exerting a protective action against infection with homologous P . aeruginosa strains. Genetika, 1984 Jan, 20(1), 185 - 6 {Transducing activity of the temperate SM bacteriophage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Gorelyshev AS et al.; The temperate bacteriophage SM is not serologically related to the known transducing phages F116, G101, B3 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The strains with auxotrophic mutations within the wide ranges of the genetic map of P . aeruginosa strain PAO1 were used for studying the transducing activity of the SM phage . All of the 7 bacterial markers tested are transduced with SM phage grown on a prototrophic donor strain . The frequency of transduction of separate bacterial markers using the wild type SM phage is 2.3 to 4.6 X 10(-8) . Linked ilv202+ - met28+ markers are cotransduced with SM phage at a frequency of about 1.5%. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(1), 40 - 3 Antibiotic susceptibility of community hospital blood culture isolates of gram-negative bacilli; Gordon RC et al.; The comparative in vitro activity of amikacin, cefamandole, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, moxalactam, piperacillin, ticarcillin and tobramycin against 170 community blood culture isolates of gram-negative bacilli was investigated using the quantitative plate dilution method . Results showed that amikacin, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, moxalactam, piperacillin and tobramycin were most active on a weight basis . Tobramycin and amikacin were quite active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa but one isolate showed an MIC of 50 micrograms/ml to both . The order of activity of the remaining drugs for P . aeruginosa was cefoperazone greater than moxalactam greater than cefotaxime and piperacillin greater than ticarcillin. Chemotherapy, 1984, 30(1), 31 - 4 The activity of ceftazidime, other beta-lactams, and aminoglycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rolston KV et al.; The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of ceftazidime, cefoperazone, ceftriaxone, piperacillin, and five aminoglycosides were determined against 50 tobramycin-susceptible and 25 multidrug-resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Ceftazidime was the most active beta-lactam and tobramycin the most active aminoglycoside . The combination of piperacillin and tobramycin was synergistic in most cases . The combination of cephalosporin and tobramycin showed mostly addition or indifference, as did combination of two beta-lactams . No antagonism was observed. Infect Immun, 1984 Jan, 43(1), 49 - 53 Antibody response of infected mice to outer membrane proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hedstrom RC et al.; The antibody response to outer membrane proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied in mice experimentally infected with P . aeruginosa 220 . The infection consisted of an abscess established by subcutaneous injection of bacteria . Sera from these mice were analyzed by indirect radioimmunoprecipitation and immunoblot methods for the presence of antibodies to proteins of the isolated outer membrane . Sera from mice 14 days postinfection were shown to contain antibodies directed against proteins that comigrated with the major outer membrane proteins F (porin), H2, and I (lipoprotein) . A 16,000-dalton protein that did not appear to be a major outer membrane protein also elicited a significant antibody response in some instances . It is concluded that mice, in response to infection, elicit an immunological response to outer membrane proteins of P . aeruginosa. Infect Immun, 1984 Jan, 43(1), 21 - 7 Mode of cytotoxic action of pseudomonal leukocidin on phosphatidylinositol metabolism and activation of lysosomal enzyme in rabbit leukocytes; Hirayama T et al.; The cytotoxic action of leukocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was supported by the following observations . (i) The destruction of rabbit leukocytes by the toxin was reduced in the absence of Ca2+ and stimulated by the addition of calcium ionophore A23187 but inhibited by EDTA, EGTA, and TMB-8, an antagonist of intracellular Ca2+ transport . (ii) Uptake of 45Ca into leukocytes exposed to the toxin was enhanced about threefold the rate of uptake into untreated cells . The increased 45Ca uptake into the cells was slightly inhibited by trifluoperazine, an inhibitor of Ca2+-calmodulin activity, but not by ruthenium red . (iii) Pseudomonal leukocidin enhanced rapidly the labeling of phosphatidylinositol, polyphosphoinositides, phosphatidic acid, and lysophosphatidic acid from {32P}phosphate . The time course experiments of the labeling and breakdown of these phospholipids suggested that the initial action of this toxin was to stimulate phosphatidic acid production, presumably causing a rapid metabolic change of phosphatidylinositol correlating with the activities of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and 1,2-diacylglycerol kinase . It was considered that a rapid formation of phosphatidic acid and degradation of polyphosphoinositides might be related to a Ca2+ movement from extra- and intracellular space . (iv) In leukocytes exposed to the toxin, acid phosphatase activity as a marker enzyme of lysosome was activated up to 75% of the lysosomal enzyme before cell destruction . The leakage of lysosomal enzyme from the cells occurred at the almost same time as leukocyte destruction . The mode of cytotoxic action of pseudomonal leukocidin is discussed. Ciba Found Symp, 1984, 109, 72 - 88 Proteinases release mucin from airways goblet cells; Boat TF et al.; The mucin-release effect of proteinases on airways epithelium was assessed in vitro . Using explants of rabbit tracheal mucosa-submucosa we determined that elastase and alkaline proteinase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pancreatic trypsin and elastase and the microbial proteinases subtilisin, thermolysin and pronase, all stimulate mucin release from goblet cells . On the other hand Streptomyces caespitosus proteinase pancreatic chymotrypsin and collagenase fail to trigger mucin release . Bovine trachea and human nasal polyp epithelium also release mucins in response to proteinases . Mucin release activity is dependent on proteolytic activity of enzymes which have a fairly broad, but generally similar, substrate specificity . The cellular mechanism of action is not known . We propose that mucin secretion in response to proteinases represents a useful defence mechanism but also forms the basis for hypersecretory states and airways obstruction in chronic endobronchial inflammatory states. Clin Ther, 1984, 7(1), 112 - 20 Comparative evaluation of netilmicin-ticarcillin and tobramycin-ticarcillin in the treatment of serious systemic infections in elderly patients; Jansen W et al.; The effectiveness and safety of two antibiotic regimens, netilmicin-ticarcillin (NT) and tobramycin-ticarcillin (TT), were compared in a prospective, randomized, blind-evaluator study involving 60 elderly patients with serious systemic infections . Fifty-three patients were evaluated for treatment effectiveness; 25 (93%) of 27 patients in the NT group and 24 (92%) of 26 patients in the TT group had complete clinical resolution or improvement of their infections . There were two clinical failures in each group . Bacteriological responses were comparable in both treatment groups, with 87% (58/67) of the pathogens eliminated from patients in the NT group and 83% (59/71) eliminated from the patients in the TT group . The elimination rate for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the organism most frequently isolated, was 88% (14/16) in the NT group and 77% (10/13) in the TT group . The differences between response rates of the treatment groups were not statistically significant . Auditory toxicity, detected by pure tone audiometry, was observed in two of the 24 patients treated with TT and in none of the patients treated with NT . Dizziness or vertigo, possibly resulting from aminoglycoside administration, occurred in one of the 29 patients given NT and in four of the 31 patients given TT . Nephrotoxicity, detected by serial serum creatinine determinations, developed in none of the patients in the NT group and in five of the 31 patients in the TT group, the difference being statistically significant (P = 0.05) . The results of this study indicate that NT and TT are comparable in efficacy and that NT is less likely than TT to cause nephrotoxicity or disturbances in eighth cranial nerve function. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg, 1984, 18(1), 119 - 26 Silver sulfadiazine: an antibacterial agent for topical use in burns . A review of the literature; Hoffmann S; Topical antibacterial treatment is of major importance in the burn patient . Silver sulfadiazine is an effective agent with low toxicity and few side effects . Deposition of silver in tissues, and absorption of sulfadiazine are both minimal . Present and future problems are represented by the emergence of resistant Gram negative bacilli, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The development of related metal sulfadiazines to be used against resistant bacteria is on an investigational stage, and clinical trials are few . Silver sulfadiazine may be used in a variety of other conditions than burns. Z Geburtshilfe Perinatol, 1984 Jan-Feb, 188(1), 29 - 33 {Microflora of the birth canal and an intrauterine catheter system following use of polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine for subpartal disinfection of the vaginal mucosa}; Kronjager A et al.; Changes in the microflora of the birth canal as a result of application of polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine were examined . 58 women in labor were randomly selected and assigned to a PVP iodine prophylaxis- and to a control group . Germinal spectra from cervical smears at the beginning of birth and directly post partum (p.p.) were taken, and bacteriological specimens from the intra-uterine catheter system and the oral cavity of the neonatus were also determined . In the p.p . cervical smears of the PVP iodine prophylaxis group, Escherichia coli (p = 0.05) were found significantly less frequently . The germinal isolates of the tip and middle of the catheter produced an increased occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella oxytoca . The frequency of these germs could be reduced significantly by vaginal application of PVP iodine . The oral cavity smear of the neonatus which was taken at the same time as the post partum cervical smear showed an almost identical bacterial flora . A reduction of E . coli and other gram-negative bacilli were found in the PVP iodine group. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1984 Jan, 129(1), 66 - 71 Synthesis of complement by guinea pig bronchoalveolar macrophages . Effect of acute and chronic infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Alpert SE et al.; In order to assess the potential role of local production of complement in pulmonary host defenses against bacterial infection, this aspect of bronchoalveolar macrophage function was studied in guinea pigs challenged with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an acute and chronic infection model . Acute infection resulted in an increase in bronchoalveolar macrophage cell number and an increase in synthesis and secretion rates for the second (C2) and fourth (C4) complement components per macrophage . Manipulation of the airway without introduction of Pseudomonas also increased synthesis of both C2 and C4 when studied 60 h after control solutions were administered . Pseudomonas aeruginosa delivered in agar beads to induce chronic inflammation resulted in specific stimulation of C2 and C4 synthesis at 2 wk and to a lesser extent at 4 wk postchallenge . This increase in local complement synthesis by bronchoalveolar macrophages, in addition to enhancing the local inflammatory response, may serve to facilitate recruitment of intravascular cellular and humoral mediators of host defense against bacterial infection. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1984, 42, 143 - 50 Use of new beta-lactam antibiotics in intraabdominal surgery; Kager L et al.; Infections after gastrointestinal surgery may involve both Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms . Although the broadspectrum cephalosporins are active against most Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, many of these agents are ineffective against Bacteroides fragilis, many clostridia and some strains of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterococci . These bacteria are frequently found in intraabdominal infections . A major reason for this inefficacy is susceptibility to beta-lactamases . The new beta-lactam antibiotics--cephamycins, third generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, acyl ureidopenicillins and monobactams--are all more or less beta-lactamase stable . The beta-lactamase inhibitors combined with a beta-lactam antibiotic give a broad antibacterial spectrum . Most of these compounds are non-toxic or relatively atoxic and, with the exception of the monobactams, they can be used as a monotherapy in many infections derived from the gastrointestinal tract . Antibiotic prophylaxis in colorectal surgery offers a clinical model for the study of the benefit and risks of new beta-lactam antibiotics . Most infections are derived from the gastrointestinal endogenous microflora . The study of the impact of different antibiotics on the colonic microflora indicates the risk of bacterial resistance, superinfection, antibiotic associated diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis . Data obtained from such studies with the new beta-lactam antibiotics are compared to the results from controlled clinical trials with these antibiotics in this review article. J Bacteriol, 1984 Jan, 157(1), 7 - 12 Transposon mutagenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoprotease genes; Stapleton MJ et al.; Transposon Tn5 was used to generate protease-deficient insertion mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The presence of Tn5 in the chromosome of P . aeruginosa was demonstrated by transduction and DNA-DNA hybridization . The altered protease production and kanamycin resistance were cotransduced into a wild-type P . aeruginosa strain . A radiolabeled probe of Tn5 DNA hybridized to specific BamHI fragments isolated from the insertion mutants . Two independently isolated Tn5 insertion mutants had reduced protease production, partially impaired elastase activity, and no immunologically reactive alkaline protease. Infect Immun, 1984 Jan, 43(1), 161 - 5 Interaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alkaline protease and elastase with human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro; Kharazmi A et al.; Little is known about the interaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa extracellular products and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes . The present study was designed to examine the effect of alkaline protease and elastase purified from P . aeruginosa on human neutrophil function . Neutrophil chemotaxis, oxygen consumption, glucose oxidation, superoxide production, and nitro blue tetrazolium reduction were studied . It was found that alkaline protease and elastase at fairly low concentrations (0.05 and 0.0025 micrograms/ml, respectively) inhibited chemotaxis . The inhibitory effect of both enzymes was increased at higher concentrations . The chemotaxis of preincubated and washed cells was also inhibited . Alkaline protease but not elastase inhibited opsonized zymosan-stimulated neutrophil oxygen consumption, whereas neither of the enzymes had any effect on glucose oxidation and nitro blue tetrazolium-reducing activity of stimulated neutrophils . The data on superoxide production ability of the cells indicated that the cells preincubated with enzyme and washed were capable of producing superoxide equal to the amount produced by untreated cells when they were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate or zymosan . However, when elastase was present in the reaction mixture, the reduction of cytochrome c as a measure of superoxide production was inhibited . Inhibition of neutrophil function, particularly chemotaxis, will have important bearing on the escape of the microorganism from the phagocytic defense system of the host . The role of these products in localized infections and avascular areas such as skin burns, cornea, and, at least initially, in chronic lung colonization in cystic fibrosis patients becomes important. Infection, 1984 Jan-Feb, 12(1), 5 - 9 Quantitative determination of the effect of granulocytes on the course of experimental infections during antibiotic treatment; van der Voet GB et al.; We are presenting a quantitative determination of the effect of granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes on the course of infection during antibiotic treatment . The animal model was a short-term infection of the thigh muscle in normal or irradiated mice . Two kinds of antibiotics were used: tobramycin for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and ampicillin for Escherichia coli infections . The number of granulocytes was changed by irradiating the mice before they were infected . The dose-effect relations for both combinations of bacteria and antibiotics were determined on various days after irradiation . Analysis of the results shows that the effect of an antibiotic was predominantly potentiated by granulocytes . This means that under the conditions of granulopenia, the dose of an antibiotic must be increased to obtain the same antibacterial effect . The present results indicate that the interrelation between host factors, bacterial proliferation and antibiotic treatment can be quantitated and may offer a useful model for screening antimicrobial drugs before they are clinically applied. Am Fam Physician, 1984 Jan, 29(1), 193 - 200 Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections of the skin; Greene SL et al.; Otitis externa, green nail syndrome, toe web infections, hot tub folliculitis, superinfections in chronic antibiotic-treated acne and infectious eczematoid dermatitis are examples of mild cutaneous infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . These may occur in otherwise healthy persons . In persons with lowered resistance, more severe infections such as malignant otitis externa, blastomycosis-like pyoderma and necrotizing fasciitis are observed . Ecthyma gangrenosum, the pathognomonic skin sign of Pseudomonas septicemia, occurs in debilitated or terminally ill patients and must be treated immediately. Acta Derm Venereol, 1984, 64(5), 447 - 9 Panniculitis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia; Llistosella E et al.; A 71-year-old man developed multiple subcutaneous nodules during Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia . The acute and simultaneous flare of inflammatory nodules in a septic patient appears to be rather specific in Pseudomonas infections . Histological vascular lesions are prominent in the subcutaneous nodules. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 196(3), 494 - 500 Tn501 insertion mutagenesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Tsuda M et al.; Transposon insertion mutagenesis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO chromosome with Tn1 and Tn501 was carried out using a mutant plasmid of R68::Tn501 temperature-sensitive for replication and maintenance . This method consists of three steps . Firstly, the temperature-independent, drug-resistant clones were selected from the strain carrying this plasmid . In the temperature-independent clones, the plasmid was integrated into the chromosome by Tn1- or Tn501-mediated cointegrate formation . Secondly, such clones were cultivated at a permissive temperature to provoke the excision of the integrated plasmid from the chromosome . Excision occurred by the reciprocal recombination between the two copies of Tn1 or Tn501 flanking the integrated plasmid, leaving one Tn1 or Tn501 insertion on the chromosome . Thirdly, the excised plasmid was cured by cultivating these isolates at a non-permissive temperature without selection for the drug resistance . Using this method, we isolated 1 Tn1-induced and 43 Tn501-induced auxotrophic mutations in this organism . Genetic mapping allowed us to identify two new genes, pur-8001 and met-8003 . The Tn501-induced auxotrophic mutations were distributed non-randomly among auxotrophic genes, and the reversion of the mutations by precise excision of the Tn501 insertion occurred very rarely. Eur Biophys J, 1984, 11(1), 3 - 15 The spatial structure of the axially bound methionine in solution conformations of horse ferrocytochrome c and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ferrocytochrome c551 by 1H NMR; Senn H et al.; A generally applicable method for the determination of the spatial structure of the heme iron-bound methionine in c-type ferrocytochromes at atomic resolution is presented . It relies primarily on measurements of nuclear Overhauser effects between the individual hydrogen atoms of the axial methionine, and between individual hydrogens of the methionine and the heme group . Four different methionine conformers, corresponding to the four possible stereospecific assignments for the methionine methylene proton resonances, are generated by a structural interpretation of the nuclear Overhauser effects with the use of an interactive computer graphics technique . A unique structure and unique stereospecific resonance assignments are then obtained by discriminating between these four conformers on the basis of van der Waals' constraints and heme ring current effects on the chemical shifts . The use of the method is illustrated with studies of horse ferrocytochrome c and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ferrocytochrome c 551 . Comparison with the crystal structures shows close coincidence between the methionine conformations in solution and in single crystals of these proteins. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1984, 31(4), 359 - 64 Prophage induction by liver microsomal metabolites of aflatoxin B1 in lysogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Patel IR et al.; Microsomal metabolites of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) causing induction of prophage in lysogenic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa SM was studied . Reduction of culture turbidity was determined at various concentrations of toxin . The effect of the toxin was also studied on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein synthesis . AFB1 at the concentration of 50 micrograms/ml reduced initial turbidity to approximately 90% in 4 h . DNA synthesis stopped completely in the first hour but reappeared due to induction of the temperate phage . Soon after induction both RNA and protein synthesis continued but later little or no net synthesis of these macromolecules occurred . Plaque forming units (pfu) were increased approximately 90 times at 2 h as compared to the control . Testing of the effect of AFB1 on the non-lysogenic, sensitive strain demonstrated that although there was no significant decrease in culture turbidity at 50 micrograms/ml concentration of AFB1, DNA synthesis stopped completely within 1 h, while RNA and protein synthesis were increasing throughout the test interval . It has been concluded that the liver microsomal fraction of AFB1 caused induction of prophage in lysogenic cells and inhibited DNA synthesis significantly in non-lysogenic cells. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1984, 50(5-6), 763 - 74 Ribonuclease-sensitive ribosomal vaccines; Gonggrijp R et al.; This paper presents an analysis of the protective properties of the components in ribonuclease (RNase)-sensitive ribosomal vaccines, in particular the ribonucleic acid (RNA) . The protective activities in mice of purified ribosomes derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and from Listeria monocytogenes were compared . Both ribosomal vaccines had to be combined with the adjuvant dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA) in order to be protective, and both lost their activity after RNase treatment . The ribosomal vaccines as well as RNA purified from the ribosomes induced non-specific protection . Intraperitoneal injection of RNA with DDA induced an influx of peritoneal cells . Furthermore, RNA with DDA activated macrophages as shown by, a.o., enhanced phagocytic activity and killing capacity for L . monocytogenes . The results suggest that the observed macrophage activation is probably T-cell-independent . With regard to the ribosomal vaccine of P . aeruginosa it is concluded that RNA also contributed to the protective activity by increasing the humoral response against suboptimal concentrations of contaminating cell surface antigens . In conclusion, it is proposed that ribosomal vaccines may be considered as a combination of a non-specific immunomodulator (RNA) with pathogen-specific cell surface antigens . This concept of ribosomal vaccines is discussed in relation to the literature concerning RNase-sensitive ribosomal vaccines. Arzneimittelforschung, 1984, 34(11), 1528 - 34 Efficacy of human gamma-globulin preparation in experimental pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in mice and its mode of action; Kamimura T; The agglutinin titer of S-sulfonated human gamma-globulin (GGS, Venilon) against the formalinized cells of 20 clinical isolates of P . aeruginosa distributed as follows: 1:128 to 1:512 in 6 strains, 1:32 to 1:64 in 13 strains and 1:16 in only 1 strain . GGS given passively protected mice against P . aeruginosa infection, however, the effect of GGS differed markedly among the strains used . The difference in the effect was in correlation with the agglutinin titer of GGS against the formalinized cells but not in correlation with that against the heat-killed cells, serotypes or elastase- or protease-producing abilities of P . aeruginosa . In the experiment with representative GGS-sensitive P . aeruginosa No . 97 and GGS-resistant P . aeruginosa No . 20, P . aeruginosa No . 97 was drastically killed by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and macrophages in the presence of GGS, but P . aeruginosa No . 20 remained entirely unaffected . P . aeruginosa No . 97 preopsonized with GGS became more sensitive to phagocytic killing by PMNs and in vivo bactericidal activity than non-treated P . aeruginosa No . 97 . Preopsonized P . aeruginosa No . 97 also markedly decreased its virulence in mice . Absorption of GGS with the formalinized P . aeruginosa No . 97 cells simultaneously reduced the agglutinating activity, protective capacity and in vivo bactericidal activity . These results indicate that the protective effect of GGS against pseudomonal infection in mice depended on an amount of specific antibody to heat-labile antigens of each P . aeruginosa used. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1983 Dec 30, 725(3), 409 - 16 The effect of iron-hexacyanide binding on the determination of redox potentials of cytochromes and copper proteins; Pettigrew GW et al.; The midpoint redox potentials of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 and Rhodopseudomonas viridis cytochrome c2 were measured as a function of pH in the presence of Euglena cytochrome c-558 and the results compared with those obtained in the presence of ferro-ferricyanide . The pattern of pH dependence observed for the two bacterial cytochromes was the same whether it was measured by equilibrium with another redox protein or with the inorganic redox couple . Thus, the pH dependence of redox potential is not a consequence of pH-dependent ligand binding . The midpoint potential of Ps . aeruginosa azurin was measured as a function of pH using both ferro-ferricyanide mixtures and redox equilibrium with horse cytochrome c or Rhodopseudomonas capsulata cytochrome c2 . In this case also the pattern of pH dependence obtained did not vary with the redox system used and it closely resembled that of Ps . aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 . This is consistent with the observation that the equilibrium between cytochrome c-551 and azurin is relatively independent of pH . An equation was derived which described ph-dependent ligand binding and which can produce theoretical curves to fit the experimental pH dependence of redox potential for both cytochrome and azurin . However, the pronounced effect on such curves produced by varying the ligand association constants, and the insensitivity of the experimental data to changes in ionic strength, suggest that ligand binding effects do not account for the pH dependence of redox potential. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1983 Dec 16, 117(2), 562 - 7 Dansylcadaverine eliminates calmodulin stimulation of phosphodiesterase; Sundan A et al.; Dansylcadaverine, which structurally resembles the calmodulin antagonists W-7 and W-5, prevented the calmodulin dependent stimulation of 3':5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in vitro . Dansylcadaverine and trifluoperazine sensitized cells to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A in apparently the same way, exept that 40 times higher concentrations of dansylcadaverine than of trifluoperazine was required. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1983 Dec 13, 761(2), 119 - 25 Influence of sodium dodecyl sulphate quality on the electrophoretic mobility of the outer membrane proteins of mucoid and non-mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Anwar H et al.; The electrophoretic mobilities of proteins F and H1 from the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mucoid and non-mucoid) in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were affected by the quality of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) used . In particular, the sodium tetradecyl sulphate impurity present in crude SDS influenced the mobilities of F and H1 . These observations explain conflicting reports on changes in outer membrane proteins with strain and growth conditions . Synthesis of H1 was induced by growth in magnesium depleted medium but repressed when calcium or manganese were added to magnesium depleted medium. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1983 Dec 10, 113(49), 1858 - 60 {Bolus injection, short infusion or intravenous drip of aminoglycoside antibiotics? In vivo study with netilmicin and Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Brugger HP et al.; The efficacy of various dosage schedules of netilmicin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been compared using an in vivo model (normal and granulocytopenic mice) . Bolus injections were at least as effective as simulated short infusions or simulated continuous infusions of identical total amounts of netilmicin. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Dec, 12 Suppl D, 89 - 96 Imipenem therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia in neutropenic rats; Johnson DE et al.; Rats were made neutropenic by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of cyclophosphamide . Those neutropenic (mean white blood cell count of 470/mm3) rats were challenged intraperitoneally with Pseudomonas aeruginosa to assess the efficacy of single agent therapy with either imipenem, latamoxef (moxalactam) or amikacin, or combination therapy with imipenem-amikacin or latamoxef (moxalactam)--amikacin . Pharmacokinetic studies were performed in rats to assure that therapy was equivalent during therapeutic trials . Three levels of bacterial challenge (4 LD50, 13 LD50 and 250 LD50) were examined . At all challenge levels, single agent therapy with latamoxef (moxalactam) failed to significantly protect rats from fatal bacteraemia . Single-agent therapy with amikacin did significantly protect rats from fatal bacteraemia at the lower challenge levels, but not at the 250 LD50 challenge . Single agent therapy with imipenem significantly protected rats at all challenge . Single agent therapy with imipenem significantly protected rats at all challenge levels . In-vitro studies established a synergistic effect when combination antibiotics were used . This correlated with in-vivo findings that combination therapy resulted in improved rat survival and recovery of fewer Ps . aeruginosa isolates . The latamoxef (moxalactam)-amikacin combination was more effective than either agent alone, but was not more effective than imipenem alone . The imipenem-amikacin combination was the most effective therapeutic regimen tested . These results suggest that imipenem alone, and particularly when combined with an aminoglycoside, is effective in treating serious Ps . aeruginosa infections in neutropenic rats . Clinical studies in infected immunocompromised patients may be warranted. Clin Rheumatol, 1983 Dec, 2(4), 331 - 7 Serum and secretory IgA immune response to Klebsiella pneumoniae in ankylosing spondylitis; Trull AK et al.; Serum and salivary IgA antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 53 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 30 healthy controls . The concentrations of total serum IgA, salivary secretory component (SC) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were also measured . In the serum of AS patients there was a positive correlation between Klebsiella IgA antibodies and the CRP . Salivary anti-Klebsiella IgA was elevated in 39% of AS patients although this was not associated with disease activity . Serum and secretory IgA antibodies to E . coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were similar in patients and controls irrespective of disease activity . We conclude that part of the increase in salivary and serum IgA in AS may be due to a specific immune response to Klebsiella in the gastrointestinal tract and that serum antibodies reflect more closely those events associated with active inflammatory disease. Can J Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 29(12), 1715 - 30 {Efficacy of 8 disinfectants on 3 types of surfaces contaminated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Gelinas P et al.; The disinfecting capacity of eight commercial chemical products was evaluated by the use--dilution method given by the Associated of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) on three types of surface material (steel, aluminum, and plastic) . For most products tested the limit concentration was 10 times higher for disinfecting aluminum and plastic surfaces than stainless steel . As observed on the scanning electron microscope, the number of bacteria deposited on the surface and the production of extracellular material on polypropylene by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 would explain the observed differences . The applicability of the AOAC method or other techniques for the evaluation of the disinfecting capacity on different surfaces is discussed. Exp Lung Res, 1983 Dec, 5(4), 305 - 16 Respiratory infection of cyclophosphamide-treated mice with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rowatt JD et al.; The dose of cyclophosphamide that permits the colonization of the nasopharynx with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the survival of the animal was determined in mice . This dose, 100 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide, allowed P aeruginosa to colonize but not invade mouse nasal epithelium . Mice treated with 100 mg/kg cyclophosphamide were exposed to aerosol of 35S-labeled P aeruginosa to study clearance . Results indicated that this dose of cyclophosphamide suppressed both the pulmonary clearance of viable P aeruginosa (in situ killing) and the clearance of radiolabeled P aeruginosa (mechanical clearance). Biochem J, 1983 Dec 1, 215(3), 597 - 604 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxy-D-glucofuranurono-6,3-lactam from the hydrolysate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa P14 lipopolysaccharide; Okuda S et al.; An unknown amino sugar, U-7, which had been detected in the hydrolysate of the polysaccharide fraction (F-A) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa P14 lipopolysaccharide, was isolated from the hydrolysate of whole cells of this micro-organism and converted into the N-acetyl derivative (U-7NAc) . On the basis of i.r.-absorption spectrometry, 13C-n.m.r . and 1H-n.m.r . spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, the structure of compound U-7NAc was identified as 2-acetamido-3-amino-2,3-dideoxyhexofuranurono-6,3-lactam . The configuration of compound U-7NAc was then unequivocally identified as 2-acetamido-3-amino-2,3-dideoxy-D-glucofuranurono-6,3-lactam by comparing the synthetic and natural compounds . Compound U-7 and synthetic 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxy-D-glucofuranurono-6,3-lactam showed the same behaviour on chromatography . G.l.c.--mass-spectral analyses of fraction F-A and synthetic 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-glucuronic acid after methanolyses and trimethylsilylations showed the presence of the same derivative . It was concluded that the amino sugar U-7 was produced from the 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-glucuronic acid residue present in fraction F-A. Pediatr Res, 1983 Dec, 17(12), 952 - 8 The role of complement in the opsonization of mucoid and non-mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Baltimore RS et al.; Requirements for complement and/or antibody for opsonization were assessed for 34 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Included were mucoid strains from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), non-mucoid derivatives of these strains, and non-CF strains with classical morphology . Non-CF strains are known to vary as to opsonic requirements, but this study shows that mucoid strains are also diverse . Among the 14 mucoid strains, five could not be opsonized and completely resisted phagocytosis . All non-mucoid strains can be opsonized . When the bacteria were incubated in fresh human serum and stained with fluorescein, conjugated anti-C3 non-opsonizable strains did not bind C3 on the surface whereas five of six mucoid strains, which could be opsonized by complement alone, stained with anti-C3 . In mucoid strains, surface characteristics correlate with differences in functional requirements for opsonization . In non-CF strains this specificity was not seen . Most mucoid strains required an intact classical complement pathway for opsonization . A number of mucoid strains could not be opsonized in the absence of a functional alternative complement pathway whereas in contrast, non-CF strains were not greatly affected by inactivation of the alternative pathway. J Infect Dis, 1983 Dec, 148(6), 1069 - 76 Bioactivity of gentamicin in purulent sputum from patients with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis: comparison with activity in serum; Levy J et al.; Two mechanisms of potential biologic antagonism of gentamicin in purulent sputum from patients with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis were studied: reduction of activity by ions and antibiotic binding . Antagonism by ions was assessed by examination of the activity of gentamicin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in dialysates of serum or sputum in ion-depleted broth . The ionic content of the dialysates increased and reflected differences in the ion content of serum and sputum . Gentamicin had significantly less activity against P aeruginosa in sputum or serum dialysates than in ion-depleted broth alone . When gentamicin was mixed with serum or sputum before dialysis, the level of antipseudomonas activity of the sputum dialysates was significantly lower than that of the serum dialysate; this finding was correlated with greater binding by sputum . Thus, both binding and antagonism by ions evidently reduce the level of bioactivity of gentamicin in serum and in sputum . Purulent sputum, whether from children with cystic fibrosis or adults which bronchiectasis, is more inhibitory than serum; the greater degree of binding, rather than differences in the composition or quantity of cations, explains this difference. J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 18(6), 1370 - 7 Comparison of the effects of acid and base hydrolyses on hydroxy and cyclopropane fatty acids in bacteria; Lambert MA et al.; The cellular fatty acid compositions of Legionella oakridgensis, Brucella suis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Francisella tularensis were compared after base hydrolysis (saponification), acid hydrolysis, and acid methanolysis procedures were used to release the fatty acids . The branched-chain, unsaturated, saturated, and ester-linked hydroxy acids were released as effectively with saponification at 100 degrees C for 30 min as with acid hydrolysis or acid methanolysis at 85 degrees C for 16 h . Although the amide-linked hydroxy acids were released more effectively by acid hydrolysis or acid methanolysis, these methods degraded the cyclopropane fatty acids, producing a number of new peaks or artifacts in the chromatograms . Cyclopropane fatty acids were not degraded by saponification, and at least 50% of the hydroxy acids were released when the cells were saponified with 15% NaOH in 50% aqueous methanol . Thus, the results show that saponification for 30 min at 100 degrees C with 15% NaOH, followed by methylation is an excellent method for routine fatty acid analysis of bacteria and for screening cultures whose identity and fatty acid composition are unknown. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1983 Dec, 128(6), 1013 - 9 The effects of severe protein-calorie malnutrition on antibacterial defense mechanisms in the rat lung; Martin TR et al.; Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) impairs systemic immunity in humans and animals, but its effects on regional defense mechanisms in the lung are not clear . Therefore, we investigated lung phagocytic antibacterial defenses in vivo and in vitro in an animal model of PCM . Matched groups of weanling rats consumed Isocaloric diets containing either 0.8% (PCM) or 24% protein (Control, C) . A third group of animals was fed the C diet in restricted amounts to match the daily caloric intake of the PCM animals (pair-fed control, PF) . After 4 wk on the diet, PCM animals were hypoproteinemic, hypoalbuminemic, and anemic and had depressed systemic cell-mediated immunity . In vivo, the lung clearance rate of Listeria monocytogenes was markedly delayed in PCM animals (% bacterial recovery at 9 days, mean +/- SE:PCM = 120 +/- 25.1; PF = 5.2 +/- 3.0; C = 0.6 +/- 0.6; p less than 0.001 for PCM versus C) . Only 36% of the PCM animals survived for 9 days after Listeria exposure, whereas more than 94% of the C and PF animals survived (p less than 0.01) . Recruitment of macrophages to the lungs of PCM animals after Listeria aerosolization was markedly impaired compared with that in the PF and C animals (p less than 0.001) . By contrast, lung clearance rates of 2 pyogenic organisms, Staphylococcus aureus 502a and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 177, were similar in all groups . In vitro, alveolar macrophage chemotaxis toward zymosan-activated serum, and microbicidal activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis were also similar in all groups of animals . Our findings indicate that in the rat, PCM impairs the pulmonary clearance of L . monocytogenes, and that this defect is associated with impaired macrophage recruitment to the lung after Listeria inhalation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Bacteriol, 1983 Dec, 156(3), 1123 - 9 Clustering of mutations affecting central pathway enzymes of carbohydrate catabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Roehl RA et al.; Mutations in carbohydrate-negative mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 individually deficient in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (zwf), 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase (edd), or pyruvate carboxylase (pyc) were mapped on the chromosome by plasmid R68.45-mediated conjugation and by bacteriophage F116L-mediated transduction . Loci for all three genes were located in the 45- to 55-min region of the chromosome; both zwf-1 and edd-1 were linked by transduction to nalA, whereas pyc-2 was linked by conjugation to argF10 . The zwf-1 mutation exhibited cotransduction frequencies of greater than 95% with both edd-1 and the hex-9001 marker, a mutation reported to prevent growth on hexoses . The latter mutation was shown to cause a specific deficiency in 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase activity and was redesignated eda-9001 . These results demonstrate tight clustering of the gene loci for glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and for both enzymes unique to the Entner-Doudoroff pathway in P . aeruginosa . Our evidence suggests supraoperonic clustering of these and other inducible carbohydrate catabolic genes in the 45- to 55-min region of the chromosome. Infect Immun, 1983 Dec, 42(3), 936 - 41 Further purification and characterization of high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pier GB et al.; Previously published reports on high-molecular-weight polysaccharides from immunotype 1 and 2 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicated the presence of high levels of mannose in these preparations . This mannose has been found to be due to the presence of a yeastlike mannan in high-molecular-weight polysaccharide preparations . The source of the mannan was found to be the tryptic soy broth used to grow the bacteria . Mannan could be removed from the polysaccharide preparations by chromatography over columns of concanavalin A-Sepharose . The resulting polysaccharides had the same serological reactivity against rabbit antisera and the same immunogenic properties in mice as did the mannan-containing polysaccharides . Comparison of mannan-depleted polysaccharide with preparations of high-molecular-weight polysaccharide obtained from either ultrafiltered tryptic soy broth or a chemically defined medium showed that these polysaccharides were immunologically and chemically similar . Human immune responses to mannan-depleted polysaccharide from the immunotype 1 strain of P . aeruginosa were comparable with those previously seen in humans receiving mannan-containing polysaccharides . Thus, we found that P . aeruginosa high-molecular-weight polysaccharides prepared in either tryptic soy broth and then subjected to concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography, ultrafiltered tryptic soy broth, or a chemically defined medium were immunologically and chemically comparable. J Clin Invest, 1983 Dec, 72(6), 1874 - 81 Enhanced survival in Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia associated with high levels of circulating antibody to Escherichia coli endotoxin core; Pollack M et al.; We studied the relationship between serum antibodies to the cross-reactive endotoxin core of Escherichia coli and survival following Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia . Core glycolipid was purified from the outer cell membrane of a uridine diphosphate galactose 4-epimerase-deficient rough mutant E . coli (J5 strain), characterized, and used as the antigen in a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure core-specific IgG and IgM antibodies . 43 patients with Pseudomonas septicemia, among whom there was a mortality of 42%, were evaluated . Core-specific antibody concentrations in acute sera ranged from 1 to 49 micrograms/ml in the case of IgG and from 1 to 200 micrograms/ml for IgM . Core-specific antibodies of both isotypes were higher in patients who survived compared with those who succumbed to their septicemias (mean, microgram/ml +/- SEM, 26 +/- 3 vs . 14 +/- 4, P = 0.005 for IgG, and 55 +/- 12 vs . 18 +/- 5, P = 0.009 for IgM) . Although total IgG levels were also higher in acute sera from survivors compared with nonsurvivors (mean, mg/dl +/- SEM, 1,120 +/- 99 vs . 694 +/- 119, P = 0.004), total IgM levels were virtually identical in the two groups (146 +/- 23 vs . 148 +/- 48, P = 0.52) . Conversely, patients with core-specific IgG levels greater than 10 micrograms/ml at the onset of septicemia had better survival than those with levels less than 10 micrograms/ml (79 vs . 14%, P less than 0.001), and patients with core-specific IgM levels greater than 30 micrograms/ml had better survival than those with levels less than 30 micrograms/ml (81 vs . 44%, P = 0.01) . In comparison, patients with total IgG levels greater than 1,000 mg/dl also had better survival than those with levels less than 1,000 mg/dl (82 vs . 42%, P = 0.01), while those with total IgM levels greater than 150 mg/dl showed somewhat less improvement in survival compared with those with levels less than 150 mg/dl (71 vs . 50%, P = 0.12) . Core-specific IgM was highly correlated with core-specific IgG (r = 0.52), but not with type-specific anti-lipopolysaccharide (r = 0.13) or anti-toxin A (r = 0.12) antibodies, or with total IgG (r = 0.28) or IgM (r = 0.31) . In contrast, core-specific IgG correlated somewhat more closely with type-specific antibodies (r = 0.36), and with total IgG (r = 0.51) and IgM (r = 0.52) . Stepwise linear discriminant analysis indicated that type-specific antibody levels were the best predictor of outcome, among those antibodies examined, followed by anti-core IgM . Although anti-core IgG, anti-toxin A, and total IgG levels all correlated individually with survival, none augmented the prognostic power of type-specific antibodies in combination with anti-core IgM, which together predicted outcome accurately 73.5% of the time . Host factors not significantly associated with anti-core antibody levels included rapidly fatal underlying disease, age, sex, leukopenia, and prior treatment with cytotoxic drugs . In contrast, prior steroid therapy was associated with low levels of both core-specific IgG and IgM (P < 0.05) . These data suggest cross-protective activity against P . aeruginosa septicemia of naturally occurring antibodies to the endotoxin core of E . coli . Anti-core antibodies, particularly of the IgM isotype appear to augment the more specific protective immunity engendered by antibodies to the O-specific side chains of Pseudomonas lipopolysaccharides . This cross-protective immunity likely applies to other Gram-negative pathogens as well. Infect Immun, 1983 Dec, 42(3), 1027 - 33 Surface localization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane porin protein F by using monoclonal antibodies; Mutharia LM et al.; Hybridomas secreting highly specific monoclonal antibodies against porin protein F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated . These antibodies interacted with protein F in outer membranes isolated from strains representing the 17 serotypes of P . aeruginosa and from another 15 clinical isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis . The cell surface localization of antigenic sites on protein F was shown by indirect immunofluorescent techniques with these monoclonal antibodies . No fluorescence was observed on a protein F-deficient strain H283 of P . aeruginosa . Another monoclonal antibody specific for outer membrane lipoprotein H2 of P . aeruginosa showed no fluorescence on intact, wild-type bacterial cells, but was able to interact with a rough, LPS-deficient mutant. J Hosp Infect, 1983 Dec, 4(4), 350 - 60 Survival of multiply-resistant Klebsiella aerogenes and other gram-negative bacilli on finger-tips; Casewell MW et al.; The survival of various Gram-negative bacilli was evaluated by inoculating the finger-tips of volunteers and determining the number of recoverable organisms in finger washings taken at increasing time intervals up to 60 min . Three epidemic gentamicin-resistant multiply-resistant strains of Klebsiella aerogenes (capsular types K2, K16 and K21) survived better than Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli or non-epidemic antibiotic sensitive klebsiellae of corresponding capsular type . The survival of the epidemic klebsiellae was not altered by curing them of their resistance plasmids . Transfer of their plasmids to E . coli K12 and to sensitive non-epidemic strains of K . aerogenes of corresponding capsular type did not enhance the relatively poor survival of the recipients . We conclude that the enhanced survival on skin of multiply-resistant klebsiellae is not plasmid mediated but may well contribute to the transmissability of these organisms during hospital outbreaks especially when compared with E . coli and Ps . aeruginosa. Science, 1983 Nov 25, 222(4626), 929 - 31 Heme-heme orientation and electron transfer kinetic behavior of multisite oxidation-reduction enzymes; Makinen MW et al.; Analysis of the polarized single-crystal absorption spectra of cytochrome cd1 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa shows that the heme c and heme d1 groups in each subunit are oriented perpendicularly to each other in both oxidized and reduced forms of the enzyme . These results, together with those of previous kinetic studies, indicate that a perpendicular heme-heme orientation may be an important factor in specifying kinetically slow steps in a sequential series of electron transfer reactions. Nucleic Acids Res, 1983 Nov 25, 11(22), 8073 - 85 The major coat protein gene of the filamentous Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage Pf3: absence of an N-terminal leader signal sequence; Luiten RG et al.; From in vitro protein synthesis studies and nucleotide sequence analysis it has been deduced that, unlike the major coat proteins of the hitherto studied filamentous bacterial viruses Ff (M13, fd and f1), IKe and Pf1, the major coat protein of the filamentous Pseudomonas aeruginosa virus Pf3 is not synthesized as a precursor containing a leader signal polypeptide at its N-terminal end . From the elucidated nucleotide sequence of the Pf3 major coat protein gene it follows that the coat protein is 44 amino acid residues long (mol.wt . 6425) . No sequence homology was observed with the major coat protein genes of either the Ff group or IKe but, similar to these phages, 3' ward of the Pf3 coat protein gene a DNA sequence is located which has many characteristics in common with rho-independent transcription termination signals. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1983 Nov, 72(6), 861 - 6 Amyloid-related serum protein (SAA) as an indicator of lung infection in cystic fibrosis; Marhaug G et al.; Amyloid-related serum protein (SAA) was analysed by radioimmunoassay in 32 patients with cystic fibrosis, and compared with other acute phase reactants and lung function . The level of SAA showed significant correlation with impaired lung function due to active Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, and also to C-reactive protein . SAA seemed to correlate better to the presence of bacteria in sputum than C-reactive protein . Ten of the patients received extensive antibiotic treatment for their pulmonary infection, and falling serum levels of SAA paralleled the clinical response to treatment . Thus the concentration of SAA in these patients was a valuable guide for the selection of patients for antibiotic treatment as well as a good parameter of the response to therapy. Isr J Med Sci, 1983 Nov, 19(11), 977 - 9 Pseudomonas septicemia in childhood; Greif Z et al.; A 5-year study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia in children was conducted in two large hospitals . The average age of the patients was 20 months . Fourteen (93%) of the 15 patients were debilitated by underlying diseases or by a major invasive procedure . Most of the patients had received broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy prior to the development of Pseudomonas septicemia . The overall mortality was 53% . Ecthyma gangrenosum appeared in only three cases . The serotype H-11 was found in 53% of the septicemic patients, suggesting that Pseudomonas septicemia was a nosocomial disease in most of these cases . The adequate evaluation of the patient at risk, prevention, and early therapy are essential. Isr J Med Sci, 1983 Nov, 19(11), 1001 - 3 Azlocillin in cystic fibrosis; Malmborg AS et al.; The combination of azlocillin and gentamicin or tobramycin, in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis, was evaluated . Twenty patients, 10 boys and 10 girls (mean age 13 1/2 years) who had lower respiratory tract infection with positive sputum culture for P . aeruginosa, were given azlocillin i.v . 20 mg/kg every 8 hours for 10 to 12 days . In addition, either gentamicin, 2.5 to 4 mg/kg i.v . every 12 hours, or tobramycin, 4 to 5 mg/kg i.v . every 8 hours, was given . The antibiotics were given in short-term infusions (20 minutes) . Besides the antibiotic treatment, the patients received inhalation therapy, pulmonary physiotherapy, and pancreatic enzymes . Pharmacokinetic studies showed that azlocillin concentrations in serum were within therapeutic levels, and in sputum they inhibited 75% of all P . aeruginosa strains . However, in only 12 of the 52 treatment courses was Pseudomonas eliminated from the sputum. Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Nov-Dec, 5 Suppl 5, S936 - 40 Further studies on the genetic control of murine corneal response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Berk RS et al.; Intracorneal challenge of mouse strains DBA/1 and DBA/2 with Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrated that these strains were naturally resistant; they spontaneously recovered within four weeks postinfection . On the other hand, mouse strains BALB/c and C57BL/6 were susceptible to corneal infections and exhibited permanent eye damage . Resistance was dominant over susceptibility since the F1 generation obtained by crossing the DBA/1 or the DBA/2 strains (resistant) with the BALB/c strain (susceptible) were all resistant . Natural resistance to intracorneal challenge with P . aeruginosa is controlled by two or more autosomal dominant genes, at least one of which is located outside of the major histocompatibility (H-2) complex . F1 hybrids of the susceptible BALB/c and C57BL/6 background exhibited resistance to intracorneal infection . On the basis of these complementation studies, plus data from the F2 generation obtained by crossing the F1 progeny obtained from the mating of BALB/c with C57BL/6, it is concluded that each susceptible strain bears one autosomal resistance gene and that a dominant gene is required at each of the two loci involved for resistance to be expressed. Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Nov-Dec, 5 Suppl 5, S898 - 907 Examination of neutrophil function in a rat model of decreased host resistance following burn trauma; McManus AT; The high incidence of serious opportunistic infection following human burn injury has been well documented . Investigations of the mechanisms of this acquired susceptibility have demonstrated several defects in phagocytic defenses . An established rat burn infection model was modified for study of neutrophil function in animals with a 60% burn injury . These 350-g rats received a 35-ml saline resuscitation, and when not further stressed, 80% of the animals survived to healing . Burned animals were found to have decreased inflammatory responses to intraperitoneal injections of heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and sterile sodium caseinate . These reductions could not be explained by neutropenia . Prior immunization with heat-killed Pseudomonas did not improve the inflammatory response to homologous organisms injected intraperitoneally, but levamisole treatment did improve the imflammatory response . Epinephrine injection (intravenous) showed that burned animals have a markedly reduced proportion of marginated neutrophils but an increase in total peripheral neutrophil counts . The stress hormones corticosterone and catecholamines were elevated during times of decreased inflammatory responsiveness; additionally, neutrophils from burned animals had decreased adherence to nylon fiber . Serum from burned animals decreased in vitro adherence and chemotaxis of purified normal rat neutrophils. Clin Pharm, 1983 Nov-Dec, 2(6), 569 - 78 Neutropenia associated with beta-lactam antibiotics; Kirkwood CF et al.; Two patients who developed neutropenia while receiving beta-lactam antibiotics are presented, and the literature on beta-lactam-induced neutropenia is reviewed . A 55-year-old white woman was admitted to the hospital with a white blood cell (WBC) count of 8700/cu mm (68% neutrophils, 12% neutrophil bands, 0% eosinophils, 14% lymphocytes, 5% monocytes) . Moxalactam 2 g i.v . (as the disodium salt) every eight hours was started on hospital day 15 after a postoperative fever failed to respond to a regimen of intravenous tobramycin and clindamycin . The patient again had surgery on hospital day 27, and the moxalactam regimen was continued postoperatively . Approximately one week later the patient's WBC count had dropped to 1900/cu mm (8% neutrophils, 14% neutrophil bands, 6% eosinophils, 54% lymphocytes, 16% monocytes); moxalactam was discontinued, and the WBC count gradually increased after substitution of tobramycin and clindamycin for moxalactam . The second patient was a 75-year-old white man who was being treated with intravenous tobramycin and cefoxitin for a hospital-acquired pneumonia . Ticarcillin 3 g i.v . (as the disodium salt) every four hours was added to this regimen on hospital day 23 after sputum cultures revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa; four days previously, the WBC count had been 25,100/cu mm (64% neutrophils, 31% neutrophil bands, 1% eosinophils, 3% lymphocytes, 0% monocytes) . The WBC count on hospital day 36 was 11,900/cu mm (39% neutrophils, 33% neutrophil bands, 11% eosinophils, 10% lymphocytes, 6% monocytes) . Two days later it had dropped to 3700/cu mm (2% neutrophils, 0% neutrophil bands, 53% eosinophils, 24% lymphocytes, 16% monocytes), and ticarcillin was discontinued . The WBC count gradually increased and returned to normal within three days after discontinuing ticarcillin . Neutropenia associated with the administration of beta-lactam antibiotics appears to result from an immunologic reaction characterized by rapid destruction of peripheral neutrophils . Among penicillin analogs, penicillinase-resistant penicillins are involved most frequently, especially in pediatric patients receiving dosages of 150 mg/kg/day or greater . Two case reports have implicated ticarcillin as a cause of neutropenia; moxalactam has not been associated with this adverse effect in previous literature reports . Discontinuation of the suspected agent and initiation of an alternative antibiotic regimen is recommended as initial treatment of this condition since recovery usually occurs within days after discontinuing the offending drug. J Bacteriol, 1983 Nov, 156(2), 567 - 75 Bacterial formation and metabolism of 6-hydroxyhexanoate: evidence of a potential role for omega-oxidation; Kunz DA et al.; Alkane-utilizing strains of Pseudomonas spp . were found to omega-oxidize hexanoate, 6-hydroxyhexanoate, and 6-oxohexanoate to adipic acid in 5, 30, and 90% molar yields, respectively, after induction with n-hexane . 6-Hydroxyhexanoate was identified as the immediate product of hexanoate omega-hydroxylation by whole cells and was further oxidized into adipic acid and an unexpected metabolite identified as 2-tetrahydrofuranacetic acid . This same metabolite, together with adipic acid, was also detected when similarly induced cells were incubated with hexanoate or 1,6-hexanediol, but not with 6-oxohexanoate (adipic semialdehyde) . Cells grown on hexanoate and incubated with 6-hydroxyhexanoate were also found to accumulate 2-tetrahydrofuranacetic acid, which was not further degraded . Utilization of 6-hydroxyhexanoate for growth was restricted to those organisms also able to utilize adipate . Similar observations were made with 1,6-hexanediol serving as the carbon source and cells obtained from one organism, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO, grown either on 1,6-hexanediol or 6-hydroxyhexanoate, were found to be well induced for both 6-oxohexanoate and adipate oxidation . The results indicate that 6-hydroxyhexanoate and 1,6-hexanediol are susceptible to both beta- and omega-oxidative attack; however, the former pathway appears to be of no physiological significance since it generates 2-tetrahydrofuranacetic acid as a nonmetabolizable intermediate, making omega-oxidation via adipate the exclusive pathway for degradation. Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1983 Nov, 16(4), 291 - 9 {Antibiotic susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Huang PC et al.; The susceptibility of 128 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa against amikacin, kanamycin, gentamycin, minocycline, colistin, chloramphenicol, claforan , piperacillin and carbenicillin were tested . Piperacillin, carbenicillin, amikacin and claforan are effective against at least 54% of strains tested . The susceptibilities of microorganisms to antibiotics were evaluated in different points and discussed in details. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Nov, 12(5), 475 - 80 Serum bactericidal activity of cefoperazone and ceftazidime at increasing dosages against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Van Laethem Y et al.; Serum bactericidal activity (SBA) greater than or equal to 1:8 correlates with the clinical effectiveness of antibiotics . Ten healthy young volunteers received iv on separate days cefoperazone 1, 2, or 3 g and ceftazidime 1, 2, or 3 g . The serum levels 1 and 6 h after the administration of cefoperazone 1, 2 and 3 g were respectively 52 and 7 mg/l, 122 and 13 mg/l, 190 and 22 mg/l . The serum levels of ceftazidime 1, 2 and 3 g, after 1 h and 6 h were 28 and 8, 56 and 9, 78 and 13 mg/l . The SBA was determined against seven strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MBC of 1.6-12.5 mg/l of cefoperazone and 0.8-6.2 mg/l of ceftazidime . Increased dosage of cefoperazone and ceftazidime led to a significant increase in the SBA's greater than or equal to 1:8 at 1 h (P less than 0.01) . In sera obtained 1 h and 6 h after the injection of the antibiotics, 97% and 51% of the strains were inhibited by ceftazidime 2 g, while 1 g was inhibitory on 84% (1 h) and 8% (6 h) of the strains . Ceftazidime 1 g produced SBA's greater than or equal to 1:8 significantly more often than did cefoperazone 3 g (P less than 0.01) at 1 h . The rate of killing with all ceftazidime regimens was similar and slightly higher than that of any cefoperazone regimen . Ceftazidime seems more effective than cefoperazone against Ps . aeruginosa; however, increased MBC values were observed during killing curves studies with both drugs. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Nov, 12(5), 451 - 8 Frequency of beta-lactamases that are markedly active against carbenicillin in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in a medical school hospital; Jouvenot M et al.; During one year, 71 carbenicillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were isolated . The detection of the beta-lactamase activity in these strains was performed by the iodometric method . The beta-lactamases were found in 70% of the carbenicillin-resistant strains and were characterized by isoelectric focusing and by determination of substrate profiles . Seventy-two per cent of the beta-lactamases tested focused in the same way as the PSE-1 type from strain PU21(RPL11) . The determination of the substrate profiles by the acidimetric method showed that these enzymes had a high activity towards carbenicillin and that they can vary in their hydrolysis of cephalosporins . Such PSE-1 type beta-lactamases were found in gentamicin-tobramycin-resistant strains whereas other types of enzymes (PSE-4 enzymes and enzymes with pI 7.7) were found in strains sensitive to these antibiotics. Can J Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 29(11), 1493 - 9 Factors affecting the irreversible attachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to stainless steel; Stanley PM; To better understand the interaction between bacteria and surfaces, we studied the irreversible attachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to a common surfacing material . When brought into contact with the steel, cells began to attach in less than 1 min and the number adhering increased with time . An important physiological variable in attachment was cell motility since adherence decreased at least 90% when flagella were removed by blending . This treatment was shown to be effective because it caused motility loss and not because it removed a structure necessary for adherence . Cell viability was less important since adherence decreased only 50% when the number of viable cells was reduced 4.7 logs by heating or formaldehyde treatment . Significant environmental variables included turbulence and ionic strength . Attachment of motile cells was reduced 90% by agitation, although agitation had little effect on adherence of nonmotile cells . Both motile and nonmotile cells adhered poorly in distilled water with attachment increasing as CaCl2 or NaCl concentration increased to 10 mM . At 100 mM, attachment decreased . Viable cells, both motile and nonmotile, adhered best at a pH of 7 to 8, whereas nonviable cells attached most rapidly at a low pH. Gene, 1983 Nov, 25(1), 151 - 4 Reversion of an ilvB mutation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of a derivative of RP1 plasmid; Guss S et al.; We have isolated a derivative of RP1, a broad-host-range plasmid, in whose presence the ilvB112 mutation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PU21 reverts at a high frequency . This derivative of RP1 (RP1-ilvB+ complex) may have arisen by a fusion of the P . aeruginosa ilvB gene with RP1 during their co-transfer into strain PU21 . The RP1 derivative is not very stable in the PU21 background but it can apparently be stabilized by its integration into the host chromosome, resulting in an Hfr-type donor strain