Can J Microbiol, 1986 Apr, 32(4), 310 - 8 Phosphoproteins and the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus salivarius . Detection of two different ATP-dependent phosphorylations of the phosphocarrier protein HPr; Waygood EB et al.; Phosphoproteins which arise from incubation of Streptococcus salivarius ATCC25975 crude extracts with {32P}phosphoenolpyruvate and {gamma-32P}ATP, were separated and detected by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography . These procedures were carried out using the methodology that has been developed to allow for the detection of phosphoproteins containing 1-P-histidinyl and 3-P-histidinyl residues, and also to distinguish between these and phosphoproteins containing acid-stable phosphoamino acids such as phosphoserine, phosphothreonine, and phosphotyrosine . Extracts of cells which had been grown with various sugars as carbon sources were investigated to determine both constitutive and inducible phosphoproteins . No evidence was found for phosphoproteins specifically induced by a sugar, and in particular no evidence was found for any IIIsugar phosphocarrier protein of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) . Incubation with {gamma-32P}ATP showed that histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein (HPr) of the PTS could be phosphorylated to give both acid-stable and acid-labile phosphoamino acid residues . The acid-labile ATP-dependent phosphorylation activity was activated by glucose-6-P and appeared to produce a 3-P-histidinyl residue in HPr. Arch Dis Child, 1986 Apr, 61(4), 377 - 81 Carriage of penicillin resistant pneumococci; Klugman KP et al.; A survey of 303 urban and 156 rural children showed nasopharyngeal carriage of relatively resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae organisms in 14.2% and 19.2% of children, respectively . These organisms have minimum inhibitory concentrations for penicillin in the range of 0.12-1 microgram/ml . An analysis of 40 relatively resistant S . pneumoniae strains showed resistance to co-trimoxazole in 47.5%, trimethoprim in 42.5%, fusidic acid in 20%, tetracycline in 2.5%, and rifampicin in 5% . All the strains were susceptible to chloramphenicol and vancomycin, while the minimum inhibitory concentrations of third generation cephalosporins and imipenem were comparable with or lower than those of penicillin . Eighty three per cent of the strains tested belonged to serogroups 6 and 19 . These findings are discussed in relation to the poor clinical response to treatment with penicillin for relatively resistant S . pneumoniae meningitis, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of alternate agents under review for treatment of systemic pneumococcal disease are presented. Ophthalmology, 1986 Apr, 93(4), 456 - 61 Epidemiology of neonatal conjunctivitis; Rapoza PA et al.; Chlamydial conjunctivitis was diagnosed in 46 of 100 infants less than two months old presenting with conjunctivitis . Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Hemophilus species were most frequently identified in the remainder . All infants with chlamydial conjunctivitis were black and were born by vaginal delivery (P less than 0.001) . Average age at presentation was 13 days for chlamydial and 21 days for other causes of bacterial conjunctivitis (P less than 0.001) with symptoms present an average of five to six days prior to presentation . There was no statistically significant difference in sex, birthweight, APGAR scores, bilaterality, fever, or prophylactic drops administered . Mothers of infants with chlamydial conjunctivitis averaged 19.5 years old versus 23.0 for the bacterial group (P less than 0.001) . There was no statistically significant difference in past obstetrical or sexually transmitted disease history . Persistent chlamydial conjunctivitis following a two-week course of oral erythromycin as recommended by Centers for Disease Control was documented in 19% of patients with chlamydial infection. J Clin Microbiol, 1986 Apr, 23(4), 718 - 24 Comparative evaluation of four systems for determining susceptibility of gram-positive organisms; Henry D et al.; A study was undertaken to compare four commercial systems for testing the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of gram-positive cocci . The reference method was an agar dilution method . The systems evaluated were the MS-2 system (Abbott Diagnostics Div., Mississauga, Ontario), the AutoMicrobic system (AMS) (Vitek Systems, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.) with the gram-positive susceptibility (GPS) card, the Sceptor system (BBL Microbiology Systems, distributed by Becton Dickenson, Canada Inc., Mississauga, Ontario), and the Micro-Media system (Beckman Instruments, Inc., Anaheim, Calif.) . There was a greater than 98% essential accord (EA) between all test results and the reference method results when testing 134 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus . In testing 79 isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci the EA was greater than 97% with all systems except the MS-2 . In the MS-2 system only, 30% of tests were interrupted by the instrument because of insufficient growth in the control chamber . Excluding the Sceptor system, the EA was greater than 96% on testing 70 isolates of enterococcus . In testing 15 isolates of group B Streptococcus there was 91% EA with the AMS and Sceptor systems and only 71 and 88% EA with the MS-2 and Micro-Media systems, respectively . The new AMS GPS MIC card was tested against 29 methicillin-resistant S . aureus, 10 coagulase-negative staphylococci, and 9 enterococci, and it gave more accurate results than the earlier GPS breakpoint card . The Micro-Media and MS-2 systems did not reliably detect marginally methicillin-resistant S . aureus . The MS-2 was the least expensive system to operate on a cost per test basis ($3.59 Can.), whereas the Sceptor was the most expensive system ($5.29 Can.) . The AMS ws the least labor intensive (0.9 min per test), and the Sceptor system was the most time consuming (2.9 min per test). Vet Microbiol, 1986 Apr, 11(4), 387 - 92 Bacteriostatic activity of bovine milk lactoferrin against mastitic bacteria; Rainard P; The bacteriostatic activity of bovine lactoferrin (Lf) against mastitic bacteria was assessed with an in vitro microassay . The most susceptible species was Escherichia coli; all of the 35 isolates tested were susceptible to bacteriostasis by apo-Lf (0.1 mg ml-1), although a few strains showed a lower degree of inhibition . Heterogeneity among strains was more pronounced among 10 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, four of which were apparently unaffected by apo-Lf (1 mg ml-1) . Under the same conditions, Streptococcus agalactiae (six isolates) and Str . uberis (five isolates) resisted the bacteriostatic action of apo-Lf. J Rheumatol, 1986 Apr, 13(2), 434 - 6 Pectoralis pyomyositis: an unusual cause of chest wall pain in a patient with diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis; Caldwell DS et al.; We describe a case of isolated pectoralis swelling and tenderness, without systemic signs of infection, in a North American adult with diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis . The etiology was discovered to be pyomyositis, usually thought to be a disease of tropical climates . It is the first such case with group B Streptococcus as the causative organism. J Appl Bacteriol, 1986 Apr, 60(4), 301 - 10 A laboratory microcosm (artificial mouth) for the culture and continuous pH measurement of oral bacteria on surfaces; Hudson DE et al.; A laboratory microcosm has been designed for the cultivation of bacteria on surfaces subjected to an adjustable supply of fluids . Bacteria are grown as a microbial film on halved premolar teeth, mounted back to back . Synthetic saliva is dropped slowly over the teeth throughout experiments . A nutrient supplement is provided at regular intervals . The drops of fluid retained by the teeth can be sampled for metabolic end-products . Alternatively, a miniature glass electrode may be set into one half of a tooth assembly to monitor the pH continuously at the stagnation site between tooth segments . Up to six replicate culture flasks and six electrodes can be accommodated in a single experiment . Satisfactory electrode performance was maintained during 66 h experiments . In initial 48 h experiments, teeth were inoculated with Streptococcus rattus BHT or 'Streptococcus mitior' LPA-1 in pure culture and provided with 1% (w/v) glucose for 1 h every 6 h . Bacteria produced typical responses to glucose feeds leading to the formation of 'Stephan'-like curves of pH-fall . Under these conditions, 'Strep . mitior' was more acidogenic than Strep . rattus and the pattern of acid production was distinct for each organism. Mol Cell Biochem, 1986 Apr, 70(1), 57 - 66 Isolation and partial characterization of a type II Fc receptor from a group A streptococcus; Yarnall M et al.; A group A streptococcal strain rich in Fc receptors was selected by an immunoblotting technique and used as the source for isolation of a functionally active Fc receptor . A variety of extraction techniques were compared including (1) heat extraction at neutral, acid or alkaline pH, (2) treatment with the enzymes mutanolysin, hyaluronidase, trypsin, papain or phage lysin, or (3) autoclaving or heating in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate . The most homogeneous receptor was recovered following heat extraction and contained two molecular weight forms . The major form had a molecular weight of 56 000 daltons and the minor form had a molecular weight of 38 000 daltons . These two proteins could be isolated without loss of activity by binding to and elution from a column of immobilized human IgG . An antibody prepared against a single form of the affinity purified receptor demonstrated reactivity with both molecular weight forms of the heat extracted receptor . The group A receptor was found to be both antigenically and physicochemically distinct from either the type I receptor found on the majority of Staphylococcus aureus strains or the type III Fc receptors found on the majority of group C streptococcal strains. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1986 Apr, 133(4), 643 - 7 Ascorbate modulates antibacterial mechanisms in experimental pneumococcal pneumonia; Esposito AL; To evaluate the influence of vitamin C on pulmonary antibacterial mechanisms, normal CD-1 mice were administered sodium ascorbate (200 mg/kg/24 h) and challenged intratracheally with type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae . Survival rates were similar in ascorbate-treated and control animals . When infected with a high inoculum (1 X 10(6) cfu), animals given vitamin C demonstrated a significant enhancement in their capacity to clear viable pneumococci from the lungs at 24 h after challenge; the augmented pulmonary clearance was associated with an increased influx of granulocytes at 6 and 24 h . After infection with a lower inoculum (1 X 10(5) cfu), animals treated with the vitamin exhibited a significant advantage in pulmonary clearance and granulocyte recruitment but at 6 h only . After a very low inoculum challenge (1 X 10(4) cfu), the clearance of viable pneumococci was retarded in ascorbate-treated mice . In vitro, the pneumococcidal capacity of resident alveolar macrophages from animals given vitamin C was significantly reduced, but the ability of these cells to generate leukocyte chemoattractant activity after stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187 remained unaltered . We conclude that in the mouse, large doses of vitamin C alter pulmonary defense mechanisms against S . pneumoniae; however, these changes do not appear to convey a substantial advantage to the host. Infect Immun, 1986 Apr, 52(1), 144 - 50 Nucleotide sequence of the type A streptococcal exotoxin (erythrogenic toxin) gene from Streptococcus pyogenes bacteriophage T12; Weeks CR et al.; The gene specifying type A streptococcal exotoxin (speA), also known as erythrogenic toxin, was cloned from the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteriophage T12 genome and analyzed by nucleotide sequencing . The speA gene consists of 753 base pairs and codes for a 29,244-molecular-weight protein . The speA gene product contains a putative 30-amino acid signal peptide, resulting in a molecular weight of 25,787 for the secreted protein . A possible promoter and ribosome-binding site are present in the region upstream from the speA gene, and a transcriptional terminator is located 69 bases downstream from the translational termination codon . The amino acid sequence of the carboxy-terminal portion of the type A streptococcal exotoxin exhibits extensive homology with the carboxy terminus of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins B and C1. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1986 Apr, 25(4), 222 - 4 Infective endocarditis following cardiac catheterization in infancy . A case report and review; Yu LC et al.; A 4.5-month-old infant with transposition of great vessels and large ventricular septal defect developed acute infective endocarditis following cardiac catheterization . Beta-hemolytic streptococcus was recovered from three blood cultures . The infant survived after 6 weeks intravenous antibiotic therapy . The occurrence of infective endocarditis following cardiac catheterization during infancy is briefly reviewed and discussed . The importance of distinguishing febrile episodes of infancy from infective endocarditis and the use of two-dimensional echocardiography for diagnosis is re-emphasized. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1986 Apr, 112(4), 448 - 9 Acute uvulitis associated with epiglottitis; Westerman EL et al.; Acute infectious uvulitis is a rare condition . A case caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae occurred in a 56-year-old woman who also had coexisting epiglottitis . One other case of uvulitis reported in the literature has also been associated with acute epiglottitis . Because of potentially lethal complications, epiglottitis should be suspected in any patient who presents with acute painful swelling of the uvula. Scand J Dent Res, 1986 Apr, 94(2), 164 - 73 An experimental study of the adhesion of bacterial layers to some restorative dental materials; Tullberg A; In the present study a powerful method for measuring adhesion is introduced . It is based on the observation that the bacterial layer is usually capable of maintaining an interior pressure, but fractures when this pressure exceeds a certain critical value characteristic of the mechanical and adhesive properties of each specific bacteria and its formed matrix . A water jet from a nozzle was directed on the bacterial layer of the specimen . A specimen covered with a layer of Streptococcus mutans, grown in an artificial mouth, was placed on a sledge and displaced twice, at constant speed in front of the jet, thus forming two grooves in the plaque layer . When the grooves are made in parallel utilizing different water pressures, the critical pressure for causing disengagement of the plaque, pc, can be evaluated . It is claimed that pc gives an estimate of the plaque adhesion . Polished and ground surfaces of four materials were investigated, namely amalgam, PMMA, gold and porcelain-coated gold. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1986 Apr, 61(4), 338 - 42 New concept in chemoprophylaxis of bacterial endocarditis resulting from dental treatment; Littner MM et al.; Bacteremia following dental procedures may lead to bacterial endocarditis in susceptible patients . Traditional methods of chemoprophylaxis with a parenteral loading dose of penicillin followed by oral penicillin have proved impractical outside the hospital . In 1978, it was suggested in England that amoxicillin be substituted as the drug of choice in the prophylaxis of bacterial endocarditis . The recommended mode of treatment was a single oral dose of 3 g amoxicillin administered 1 hour before onset of the dental procedure . Amoxicillin is absorbed to a greater extent and more rapidly than penicillin V . It maintains its effectiveness throughout the critical postoperative period at concentrations well over the minimum necessary to combat Streptococcus viridans . Amoxicillin has two mechanisms of protection: bactericidal and inhibition of bacterial adherence to the thrombotic vegetation on injured heart valves . Data obtained from 206 susceptible patients undergoing dental treatment under chemoprophylaxis with amoxicillin showed that in no case did infective endocarditis occur . Only in 13.1% of the patients could very mild side effects of this drug be observed . With this new method, there is a higher incidence of patient compliance and administration is easier to supervise. Microb Pathog, 1986 Apr, 1(2), 191 - 204 Isolation of a C (Ibc) protein from group B Streptococcus which elicits mouse protective antibody; Valtonen MV et al.; The C (Ibc) proteins of group B Streptococcus (GBS) have been shown to induce mouse protective antibodies when present as immunogens on whole organisms . However, characterization of specific proteins responsible for inducing protection has not been reported . We have grown type Ic GBS in a dialysate of Todd Hewitt broth and analyzed the proteins extruded into the broth . Multiple proteins of varying size were visualized by SDS-PAGE . Ultrafiltration was used to separate the GBS components by molecular weight (MW) into 2 pools, those below 30,000 MW but above 10,000 MW (P10) and those above 30,000 MW (P30) . The P10 contained 4 major proteins, including a 14,000 MW protein . Balb-c mice were immunized with the P10 fraction and the antisera used in mouse protection studies . This immune sera protected 100% of mice against challenge with type Ib GBS and protection was not altered by prior absorption of the sera with type Ia or Ib capsular polysaccharide . The P10 was fractionated by column chromatography and eluted proteins examined by SDS-PAGE and Western blot with the mouse protective antisera elicited to the P10 . There was one major immunologically reactive protein at 14,000 MW which eluted in a partially purified form from the column . The 14,000 MW protein was reisolated from preparative SDS-PAGE gels and used to elicit antiserum in a rabbit . In mouse protection studies this rabbit antiserum protected mice against subsequent challenge with type Ib GBS (89% protection) . Surface antigens were extracted from 125I-labelled type Ic GBS and immunoprecipitated with antiserum to the 14,000 MW protein . The 14,000 MW protein and multiple higher molecular weight proteins were immunologically cross-reactive suggesting the presence of shared epitopes . Thus the 14,000 MW protein from type Ic GBS that is antigenic and elicits mouse protective antibodies against the heterologous type Ib GBS fulfills the criteria for a C protein of GBS. J Virol, 1986 Apr, 58(1), 31 - 5 Formation of a covalent complex between the terminal protein of pneumococcal bacteriophage Cp-1 and 5'-dAMP; Garcia P et al.; Incubation of extracts of Cp-1-infected Streptococcus pneumoniae with {alpha-32P}dATP produced a labeled treatment with micrococcal nuclease and sensitive to treatment with proteinase K . Incubation of the 32P-labeled protein with 5 M piperidine for 4 h at 50 degrees C released 5'-dAMP, indicating that a covalent complex between the terminal protein and 5'-dAMP was formed in vitro . When the four deoxynucleoside triphosphates were included in the reaction mixture, a labeled complex of slower electrophoretic mobility in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels than the terminal protein-dAMP complex was also found, indicating that the Cp-1 terminal protein-dAMP complex can be elongated and, therefore, that it is an initiation complex . Treatment of the 32P-labeled terminal protein-dAMP complex with 5.8 M HCl at 110 degrees C for 2 h yielded phosphothreonine . These results, together with the resistance of the terminal protein-DNA linkage to hydroxylamine, suggest that the Cp-1 terminal protein is covalently linked to the DNA through a phosphoester bond between L-threonine and 5'-dAMP, namely, a O-5'-deoxyadenylyl-L-threonine bond. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1986 Apr, 13(4 Pt 2), 1635 - 41 {Intra-tumoral injection therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma}; Watanabe S et al.; Ten patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) received intra-tumoral injection of OK-432 (6 patients), 99.5% ethanol (2 patients) or both (2 patients) . Under ultrasonographic control, a PTC needle (22 G) was inserted percutaneously into the tumor and OK-432, which was prepared with a solution of Su-strain Streptococcus pyogenes A3, or 99.5% ethanol was injected . Patients were injected with OK-432 repeatedly at one-to two-week intervals (up to 5 times) for a total duration of 5 to 15 weeks . The degree of skin test reaction for Streptococcus pyogenes was increased in all patients after the treatment . Over 40% tumor regression was noted in 6 out of 9 patients who received intra-tumoral injection of OK-432 . Complete regression was noted in one patient . Before treatment, Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity in peripheral blood lymphocytes decreased in HCC patients . Two of 6 patients showed markedly increased activity of LAK-cells one week after treatment with OK-432 . One other patient had moderately increased LAK-cell activity after treatment with OK-432 . No increase in LAK-cell activity was seen in 3 patients who received intra-tumoral injection of ethanol . An especially increased response of LAK-cell activity was seen in patients with small-sized HCC (diameter below 5 cm). Infect Immun, 1986 Apr, 52(1), 50 - 5 Transposon mutagenesis as a tool to study the role of hemolysin in the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes; Gaillard JL et al.; The role of hemolysin in the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes was studied by using transposon mutagenesis . The 26-kilobase conjugative transposon Tn1545, originally found in Streptococcus pneumoniae, was transferred to a hemolytic virulent strain of L . monocytogenes . The frequency of transfer was estimated to be about 10(-8) per recipient . This allowed us to isolate a nonhemolytic mutant which most likely harbors a single copy of Tn1545 . Loss of hemolysin production was associated with loss of virulence . The 50% lethal dose of the mutant was assessed to about 10(9.6) bacteria per mouse after intravenous challenge . Nonhemolytic bacteria were unable to grow in host tissues and were rapidly eliminated from the spleen and liver of infected mice . Virulence was restored in hemolysin-producing revertant obtained by spontaneous loss of transposon Tn1545 . These results strongly suggest that hemolysin is a major virulence factor implicated in the intracellular growth of L . monocytogenes. Mol Immunol, 1986 Apr, 23(4), 367 - 75 Monoclonal antibodies against isotypic and isoallotypic determinants of human IgA1 and IgA2: fine specificities and binding properties; Delacroix DL et al.; We have analysed and compared the fine specificity and behavior in various immunoassays of 10 mouse monoclonal antibodies, from three independent laboratories, directed against IgA1, IgA2 or non-IgA2m(2) . The following observations were made . (1) Although all of the monoclonal antibodies were specific for a particular IgA subclass or isoallotype in a radioimmunoassay, three of them were not specific when tested in indirect immunofluorescence on plasma cells derived from pokeweed-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes . In this highly sensitive system, contrary to direct immunofluorescence previously performed using formalin-fixed lymphoid tissue, the anti-IgA1 69.114 reacted with some of the IgA2 plasma cells, the anti-IgA2 DLDB7 reacted with some of the IgA1 plasma cells and the anti-IgA2 16.512 dimly reacted with all IgM plasma cells . (2) Among the eight anti-IgA subclass antibodies, seven were directed against the CH2 domain of IgA whereas the anti-IgA1 1-155-1 recognised an epitope destroyed by Streptococcus sanguis IgA1 protease and localised in the hinge region of IgA1 . The two anti-isoallotype antibodies were directed against epitope(s) probably localised in the 65 C-terminal amino acid residues of the alpha-CH3 domain . All of the 10 antibodies were able to react with endogeneously produced surface IgA on B-cells . (3) Using monoclonal anti-IgA subclass antibodies in radioimmunoassay may be hazardous in the absence of knowledge of their affinity constants and of careful control experiments: some of the antibodies were not sensitive in radioimmunoassays designed to measure the serum titer of specific IgA1 and IgA2 antibodies . Moreover, major differences were observed between the different monoclonal reagents with respect to the influence of the size of IgA on a solid-phase sandwich radioimmunoassay . While three of the anti-IgA1 underestimated dimeric IgA relative to monomeric IgA, the fourth anti-IgA1 and all the anti-IgA2 overestimated dimeric IgA relative to monomeric IgA, by a factor sometimes close to 7. Klin Wochenschr, 1986 Mar 17, 64(6), 287 - 9 Is "primary" subphrenic abscess caused by Streptococcus milleri a result of unrecognized gastrointestinal perforation? Admon D, Gottehrer N, Leitersdorf E. An unusual case of subphrenic abscess presenting as empyema of the pleural cavity is described . The abscess developed secondarily to an occult perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, which was, diagnosed indirectly by the discovery of a fishbone within the abscess . Isolation of Streptococcus milleri from the pus was an important clue for the existence of an underlying gastrointestinal pathology. J Clin Pathol, 1986 Mar, 39(3), 328 - 31 Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains by coagglutination; Smart LE; The coagglutination test, which uses staphylococcal protein A, for serotyping strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, was extended to include serotyping within serogroups . Serotyping was performed with "factor sera" prepared in the laboratory . Fifty one strains of S pneumoniae, which belonged to one of the seven serogroups included in the 14 valent vaccine formulation, were tested, and no inconsistency was found when compared with the capsule swelling reaction. Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 Mar-Apr, 5(2), 201 - 7 Clinical and epidemiologic studies of pneumococcal infection in children; Gray BM et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from 1310 children in a 5-year period from 1979 through 1984 . There were 44 cases of meningitis, 172 bacteremic infections, 787 cases of otitis media and 307 respiratory and miscellaneous isolates . The majority of infections could be accounted for by a small number of serotypes, with types 3, 6, 14, 19 and 23 predominating . Most infections (70%) occurred in infants younger than 2 years of age . However, nearly one-fourth of those suffering systemic illness had some underlying condition which may have contributed to their risk for infection, even beyond 2 years of age . Ten of the 12 deaths occurred in patients with altered host defenses . Characteristics of pneumococcal disease and the distribution of serotypes are discussed in relation to the work of other investigators over the past 50 years. J Infect Dis, 1986 Mar, 153(3), 511 - 9 Human IgG antibody to group b Streptococcus type III: comparison of protective levels in a murine model with levels in infected human neonates; Gotoff SP et al.; We determined the serum concentration of human IgG antibody to the native capsular polysaccharide of group B Streptococcus (GBS) type III needed to passively protect mice against lethal homologous challenge . Antibody was measured by an ELISA, standardized by two methods, and corrected for nonprecipitating antibody . A concentration of 1.3 micrograms of IgG antibody to GBS type III/ml protected 126 (97%) of 130 mice from an 80%-96% lethal dose bacterial challenge . Concentrations of IgG antibody to GBS type III in sera from 42 infected infants were less than or equal to 0.3 micrograms/ml . Concentrations of antibody ranged from less than 0.02 to 21.7 micrograms/ml in sera from 102 unselected pregnant women (median, 0.05 microgram/ml); 13% had concentrations greater than or equal to 1.3 microgram/ml . Levels in 25 women colonized with GBS type III who gave birth to normal infants were significantly higher and ranged from 0.1 to 10.7 microgram/ml (median, 0.78 micrograms/ml) . In a study of transplacental passage of antibody, protective levels were found in a number of infants with gestational ages between 28 and 36 weeks. J Bacteriol, 1986 Mar, 165(3), 756 - 62 Structural properties of fibrillar proteins isolated from the cell surface and cytoplasm of Streptococcus salivarius (K+) cells and nonadhesive mutants; Weerkamp AH et al.; Most Streptococcus salivarius (K+) cells contain two protein antigens with different adhesive functions . The subcellular distribution and some structural properties of purified proteins were studied . Antigen B (AgB), a protein involved in interbacterial coaggregation with gram-negative bacteria, was present in the cell wall fraction only of the wild-type strain and was absent from the cells of a nonadhesive mutant . Antigen C (AgC), a glycoprotein involved in host-associated adhesive functions, was predominantly associated with the cell wall of the wild-type strain (AgCw), but accumulated in high amounts in the cytoplasmic fraction (AgCin) of mutants lacking the wall-associated form . AgB, AgCw, and AgCin had molecular weights of 380,000, 250,000 to 320,000, and 488,000, respectively, upon gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions . In the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and beta-mercaptoethanol the molecular weights were only slightly lower, suggesting that the free, isolated molecules exist as monomers under native conditions . AgCin readily stained with periodate-Schiff reagent, indicating a significant content of carbohydrate, similar to AgCw . Circular dichroism spectra showed that about 45% of the amino acids of AgCw were involved in alpha-helical coiled structures . AgB had a significantly lower proportion of ordered coiled structure . Electron microscopic observations of low-angle-shadowed preparations of purified antigens showed that they were flexible, thin rods with thickened or globular ends . Measurements corrected for shadow thickness showed lengths of 184 nm (AgB), 112 nm (AgCin), and 87 nm (AgCw) . Treatment of AgCw with protease destroyed the fibrillar core, but seemed not to affect the globular ends . Comparison of the results with the localization of the antigens in wild-type and specific mutant strains suggested that each antigen molecule may represent a single, characteristic surface fibril with a specific adhesive capacity. J Bacteriol, 1986 Mar, 165(3), 689 - 95 Localization of competence-induced proteins in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Vijayakumar MN et al.; Intracellular locations of 11 proteins associated with the development of competence in Streptococcus pneumoniae were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of subcellular fractions prepared from protoplasts . Controls showed that the competence-induced proteins were stable during the formation of protoplasts at 25 degrees C even though some had a half-life of only 8 min at 37 degrees C . Five competence-induced proteins p38, p27, p19.5, p16, and p14.5, were found in the cytoplasm . Two, p52 and p41, were associated with the membrane, and one, p10, was extracellular . Three others, p50, p36, and p29, were recovered in both cytoplasmic and membrane fractions . No competence-induced protein was detected in the periplasmic fraction except under conditions where leakage of all components was occurring, a phenomenon that was seen in many preparations . Similar fractionation of competent cells soon after uptake of {3H}DNA showed the "eclipse complex" of single-stranded DNA and p19.5 was associated approximately one-third with membranes and two-thirds with cytoplasmic fractions, with almost none in the periplasm . This result suggests strongly that at the time the donor DNA entered the cytosol it was in single-stranded form and it had not yet paired with the recipient DNA. Obstet Gynecol, 1986 Mar, 67(3 Suppl), 10S - 12S Legionnaire disease complicating pregnancy; Soper DE et al.; Although pneumonia complicating pregnancy remains an unusual occurrence, it can have serious consequences for both the mother and fetus . Although Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common bacterial pathogen, recent epidemics have emphasized the importance of considering Legionella pneumophila as the etiologic agent . Presented is the first case of Legionnaires disease to be diagnosed during pregnancy. Pediatrie, 1986 Mar, 41(2), 109 - 13 {Amniotic fluid and neonatal infection}; Aujard Y; Bacterial contamination of amniotic fluid (AF) leads to a fetal contamination and, in less than 10% of cases, to an infection . A rupture of the membranes longer than 24 hours increases the frequency of bacterial contamination/infection of the fetus . However an AF contamination, due to a pathogen bacteria found in the vaginal flora, is possible trough intact membranes . Quantitative bacteriological studies of AF allows to predict an high risk of fetal infection . Antibacterial substances are found in AF, specially a zinc protein complex which has bacteriostatic activity against E . Coli and Streptococcus B in, respective, 68% and 36% of caucasian women . Heavy contamination, virulence of the pathogen and neonatal immunity are, with AF antibacterial factors, the parameters explaining why an AF contamination can lead to fetal/neonatal infection. Jpn J Antibiot, 1986 Mar, 39(3), 783 - 806 {Clinical and bacteriological studies of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Yearly changes in isolation frequencies from clinical specimens, serotype distributions and drug susceptibilities, especially those of beta-lactam-resistant strains}; Oguri T; Although chemotherapeutics have markedly reduced the mortalities of infectious diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, it has recently been recognized that S . pneumoniae is still clinically significant for the infants, highly-aged and high-risk patients . This work was planned to examine the isolation frequency of S . pneumoniae from clinical specimens and its drug-susceptibilities, especially to beta-lactam antibiotics . The strains were obtained from in- and out-patients in Main and Branch Hospitals of Juntendo University from 1961 to 1985 . Drug-susceptibility tests were carried out against 39 different drugs including 10 penicillins, 16 cephalosporins, 3 tetracyclines, 3 macrolides, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, vancomycin, 3 pyridone carboxylic acids and sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim using agar dilution method . The sero-typing of the isolates was made by the Quellung technique using Diagnostic Pneumococcal Anti-Sera (Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen) . The following results were obtained: S . pneumoniae was isolated mostly from sputum and throat swabs, but rarely from the blood and cerebrospinal fluid . S . pneumoniae was also isolated from the pus and discharges of ears, sinuses and eyes . The isolation frequency of S . pneumoniae was higher in Branch Hospital where subjects were mostly out-patients than in the Main Hospital . Frequent sero-types of S . pneumoniae were groups 23, 6, 19, and type 3, regardless of clinical specimens and years . Against tetracycline and chloramphenicol, approximately 40 to 70% of the strains were resistant, while against maclorides, resistant strains were few . Resistant strains were still fewer against beta-lactam antibiotics . Tetracycline- and chloramphenicol-resistant strains are recently decreasing, while macrolides- and beta-lactam-resistant strains are somewhat increasing . Nine beta-lactam-resistant strains of S . pneumoniae were isolated from sputum and throat swabs, with benzylpenicillin-MICs ranging from 0.39 to 3.13 micrograms/ml . Three (2 of 23F and 1 of 23A) out of the 9 strains were resistant to beta-lactams, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin and lincomycin . Four strains (3 of 23F and 1 of group 23) were resistant to beta-lactams, tetracycline, erythromycin and lincomycin . One strain (type 45) was resistant to beta-lactams, tetracycline and chloramphenicol . One strain (23A) was resistant to beta-lactams only . Those 9 beta-lactam-resistant strains were isolated mostly from children . Most of the patients had been given beta-lactam antibiotics before those resistant strains were isolated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 132 ( Pt 3), 625 - 31 In Streptococcus faecium penicillin-binding protein 5 alone is sufficient for growth at sub-maximal but not at maximal rate; Canepari P et al.; In Streptococcus faecium inhibition by both benzylpenicillin and cefotaxime of cells growing at maximal and at reduced rates was associated with saturation of different penicillin-binding proteins . Cells growing at reduced rates were not inhibited by benzylpenicillin concentrations that saturated all penicillin-binding proteins except penicillin-binding protein 5, but did stop growing when this protein was saturated. Br Poult Sci, 1986 Mar, 27(1), 3 - 10 Gordon memorial lecture . The biologists' debt to the domestic fowl; Coates ME; Although it is highly desirable to reduce the need for experiments with animals, in vitro methods cannot entirely supplant them . Observations made in simple systems must be checked in a live subject if they are to be relevant to man or other higher animals . Young growing chicks are very susceptible to vitamin deficiencies . Biological assays in chicks have been used to check the validity of chemical and microbiological methods of measuring vitamins in foods . Experiments with chicks and chick embryos deprived of vitamin B12 have served to predict the likely clinical effects of analogues of the vitamin . The discovery of the growth-promoting properties of dietary antibiotics stimulated research into the influence of the gut microflora on its host . Studies in germ-free and gnotobiotic chicks have implicated Streptococcus faecium as one of the organisms responsible for the growth depression reversed by antibiotics . In general the growth of conventional chicks given adequate diets is slightly less good than that of their germ-free counterparts, although small beneficial effects of the microflora have been observed in special circumstances . The most important function of the indigenous microflora appears to be as a barrier against invasion by pathogens . To sustain this protective barrier may incur a small cost to the host in terms of dietary energy and other nutrients. Res Vet Sci, 1986 Mar, 40(2), 183 - 8 Changes in immunoglobulin levels in whey during experimental Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis; Mackie DP et al.; Total protein and immunoglobulin levels in the wheys of eight first lactation heifers, four vaccinated and four unvaccinated, were measured during three consecutive experimental intramammary infections with Streptococcus agalactiae . There were no significant differences between infections 1, 2 and 3 in the protein or immunoglobulin content of the uninfected quarters . Peak whey total protein of the infected quarters came earlier with each infection, until by the third they were seen after eight hours . During this acute phase a reversal of the normal milk IgG1/IgG2 ratio in all infected quarters was measured . Increases in whey IgA and IgM in the infected quarters of the vaccinates were also noted . A similar response only occurred following the third infection of the unvaccinated animals . All whey immunoglobulin levels returned to normal by 48 hours after infection, after which only IgG1 levels increased in infected quarters. J Pediatr Orthop, 1986 Mar-Apr, 6(2), 232 - 5 Peracute streptococcal pyomyositis: report of two cases and review of the literature; Moore DL et al.; Pyomyositis occurs infrequently in temperate climates . The fulminating peracute form caused by group A Streptococcus is exceedingly rare . We present two children with streptococcal pyomyositis . One child was admitted in septic shock and required intensive supportive care during the acute stage of his illness . Persistent swelling and tenderness of his left thigh presented a diagnostic problem, which was eventually resolved with the aid of computerized tomography . Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy from the onset of illness, surgical debridement of the affected muscle was necessary . The second child presented with pyomyositis of the left paravertebral muscles and signs of incipient shock but did well on antibiotic therapy alone. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1986 Mar, 162(3), 204 - 8 Randomized, comparative trial of imipenem/cilastatin and moxalactam in the treatment of serious obstetric and gynecologic infections; Berkeley AS et al.; Thirty-four patients with pelvic inflammatory disease, postoperative, postabortal and postpartum infections were randomized to intravenous therapy with either 500 milligrams of imipenem and cilastatin sodium every six hours or 2 grams of moxalactam every eight hours for a minimum of four days . One patient in the moxalactam group was nonevaluable because of protocol noncompliance; three more patients had no bacteriologic pathogen isolated (two in the moxalactam group and one patient in the imipenem/cilastatin group) . The two groups were similar with respect to age, diagnosis, etiologic agents and duration of therapy . Of the 17 evaluable patients in the imipenem/cilastatin group, all were complete clinical cures . Three patients in the imipenem/cilastatin group had persistence of at least one bacteriologic pathogen despite clinical cure and apparent laboratory evidence of susceptibility . Of the 13 evaluable patients in the moxalactam group, eight were complete clinical cures . Two more patients in that group were clinically improved enough to be discharged on oral antibiotics . There were three clinical failures in the moxalactam group, all of whom had group D streptococcus resistant to moxalactam . An additional three patients in the moxalactam group had other resistant organisms isolated despite clinical cure . Both drugs were well tolerated and no serious complications or side effects occurred in either group . Despite small numbers, our data suggest that imipenem and cilastatin is a more appropriate agent for initial treatment of obstetric and gynecologic infections than moxalactam. J Exp Med, 1986 Mar 1, 163(3), 697 - 712 Purification and partial characterization of the nephritis strain-associated protein from Streptococcus pyogenes, group A; Johnston KH et al.; We report the isolation and purification of the nephritis strain-associated protein (NSAP) first described by Villareal et al . (8) . Amino acid analysis, and determination of the first 21 amino-terminal amino acids indicated that this 46 kD protein is a streptokinase . Biochemical analysis confirmed that NSAP could act as a plasminogen activator; immunological investigations indicated that NSAP is antigenically different from streptokinase from group C streptococcus, and possibly represents a unique streptokinase . It is this uniqueness that may contribute to the role of NSAP in the pathogenesis of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. J Bacteriol, 1986 Mar, 165(3), 682 - 8 Inhibition of beta-lactam antibiotics at two different times in the cell cycle of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790; Pucci MJ et al.; Treatment of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 with sublytic concentrations of beta-lactam antibiotics revealed two different division blocks in the cell division cycle . One block, induced by N-formimidoyl thienamycin and methicillin, occurred before the completion of chromosome replication, whereas the other, induced by cefoxitin and cephalothin, took place later in the cycle . In addition, these antibiotics gave rise to distinct morphological forms; the antibiotics acting at the earlier block point produced mainly "dumbbells," whereas those affecting the later time formed "lemons." When used in combination N-formimidoyl thienamycin and cefoxitin exerted synergistic killing on this strain . These data suggest that beta-lactam antibiotics have at least two sites of action in S . faecium. J Infect, 1986 Mar, 12(2), 175 - 8 The isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from bile; Blenkharn JI et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the bile of two previously healthy adults presenting with extrahepatic obstructive jaundice . The organism was recovered on two occasions from both patients over periods of at least 10 days indicating established biliary colonisation and at the time of surgery pneumococci were present at multiple sites throughout the biliary tract . In one patient, pneumococcal cellulitis necessitating treatment with benzyl penicillin arose post-operatively at the exit site of an external biliary drainage tube . Both strains of pneumococci exhibited typical colonial and microscopical morphology . They were susceptible to optochin and demonstrated typical solubility in normal human and ox bile as well as in solutions of sodium deoxycholate and sodium taurocholate. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 51(3), 566 - 71 Electron microscopic heteroduplex study and restriction endonuclease cleavage analysis of the DNA genomes of three lactic streptococcal bacteriophages; Jarvis AW et al.; Three lactic streptococcal bacteriophages were compared with one another by electron microscopic analysis of heteroduplex DNA molecules . The phages were almost identical in morphology and had been isolated over a period of 10 years on different strains of Streptococcus cremoris from cheese plants situated in different parts of New Zealand . There was a high degree of homology between the DNAs, in agreement with Southern blot hybridization data reported earlier . There were, however, distinct regions of nonhomology, mostly between 0.45 and 1.71 kilobases in length, suggestive of the occurrence of block recombination events . A deletion of 2.23 kilobases in the two more recently isolated phages, or an insertion in the first isolate, was found . All three phage DNAs showed differences in restriction endonuclease cleavage sites . Alignment of the restriction endonuclease maps with the heteroduplex maps showed that differences in cleavage sites occurred most frequently in regions of nonhomology . However, differences in cleavage sites in regions of apparent homology were also detected, indicating that point mutations may have occurred in addition to block recombination events. Z Naturforsch {C}, 1986 Mar, 41(3), 337 - 42 Some remarks about laser-induced mass spectrometry of bacteria; Albrecht J et al.; In order to investigate the availability of laser-induced mass spectrometry for the determination of bacteria, ten strains of the genera Escherichia and Streptococcus were chosen . Gram-negative as well as Gram-positive lysogenic and non-lysogenic, pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains were examined . Giant pulses of a Nd: YAG laser (frequency quadrupled, wave-length 265 nm) were used to vaporize and partly ionize the bacterial material . The time-of-flight mass spectra obtained could be discriminated by using the stepwise discriminant analysis provided by BMDP software package . Two different methods relating centrifugation and washing procedures were used . With the first method a correct classification between 50.0 and 90.9 per cent (S . sanguis) by means of mass spectra of positive ions and a correct classification between 27.1 and 80.4 per cent (S . lactis-25) by means of mass spectra of negative ions was observed . Using the second method a correct classification between 40.7 and 93.3 per cent (S . lactis-25) by means of mass spectra of positive ions and a correct classification between 56.7 and 95.0 per cent by means of mass spectra of negative ions was obtained . Here S . sanguis with 93.3 and S . lactis-25 with 81.7 per cent were significantly differentiated . In this context it must be emphasized that a correct classification of 27 per cent must be considered statistically significant, if 10 different strains are used. Carbohydr Res, 1986 Mar 1, 147(1), 135 - 44 Difference in mode of inhibition between alpha-D-xylosyl beta-D-fructoside and alpha-isomaltosyl beta-D-fructoside in synthesis of glucan by Streptococcus mutans D-glucosyltransferase; Nisizawa T et al.; Both alpha-isomaltosyl beta-D-fructoside and alpha-D-xylosyl beta-D-fructoside show strong inhibition of the synthesis of water-insoluble and water-soluble D-glucans from sucrose by a partially purified preparation of a D-glucosyltransferase (GTase) from Streptococcus mutans 6715; however, the inhibitory modes differ substantially . In the presence of alpha-isomaltosyl beta-D-fructoside, the production of reducing sugars and the consumption of sucrose are remarkably enhanced, compared with a control of sucrose alone . Under these conditions, a large proportion of low-molecular-weight glycan (lmwg) and a series of nonreducing oligosaccharides (both containing D-fructosyl groups or residues) are produced . In contrast, in the presence of alpha-D-xylosyl beta-D-fructoside, the production of reducing sugars and the sucrose consumption are strikingly suppressed, and no lmwg or oligosaccharides are produced . Thus, it may be concluded that alpha-isomaltosyl beta-D-fructoside acts as an alternative acceptor for the D-glucosyl and/or D-glucanosyl transfer reactions of the enzyme, and serves to lessen the formation of insoluble and soluble D-glucan, although it stimulates the transferring activity of the enzyme . On the other hand, alpha-D-xylosyl beta-D-fructoside competitively inhibits the sucrose-splitting activity of the enzyme as an analog to sucrose, and thereby diminishes the synthesis of D-glucan. J Dent Res, 1986 Mar, 65(3), 452 - 5 Effects of certain salts on glucosyltransferase synthesis by Streptococcus mutans strain PS-14; Takada K et al.; We investigated the effects of various salts on the synthesis of extracellular glucosyltransferase in a partially defined medium (M4) by Streptococcus mutans strain PS-14 and by certain other selected strains . The levels of glucosyltransferase produced by S . mutans strain PS-14 were found to increase to a maximum of seven-fold with increasing (NH4)2SO4 concentrations . However, at a 2% concentration of the salt, the level was stimulated 2.5-fold, and the growth was inhibited by 75% . A 1% concentration of MgSO4 or NaCl also caused an increase of glucosyltransferase of six-fold or 2.4-fold, respectively . However, for S . mutans strain B-13N, the enzyme production was not stimulated by (NH4)2SO4, MgSO4, or NaCl . Moreover, the enzyme production by serotypes c, e, and f was found to be stimulated by 1% (NH4)2SO4, whereas the enzyme production by serotypes d and g was not affected. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1986 Mar, 83(6), 1926 - 30 Expression of Mycobacterium leprae genes from a Streptococcus mutans promoter in Escherichia coli K-12; Jacobs WR et al.; Genomic libraries of Mycobacterium leprae DNA partially digested with Pst I were constructed in the expression vector pYA626, which contains the promoter region from the Streptococcus mutans gene encoding aspartate beta-semialdehyde dehydrogenase, which is very efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli . We have detected several clones that complement a mutation in the citrate synthase gene of E . coli . Southern blot analysis demonstrated that the complementing DNA was M . leprae DNA . Sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel analysis of polypeptides produced by minicells containing the citrate synthase-complementing recombinant molecules demonstrated the production of a 46-kDa polypeptide . When the citrate synthase-complementing fragment was cloned in pYA626 in the reverse orientation, the recombinant molecule was no longer able to complement the mutation in the citrate synthase gene and no longer produced the 46-kDa polypeptide . When the DNA fragment was cloned in the Pst I site of pHC79, so as to allow expression from the beta-lactamase promoter, the resulting recombinant failed to complement the mutation in the E . coli citrate synthase gene yet still produced the 46-kDa polypeptide, but in one-fourth the amount than when expressed from the S . mutans asd promoters . This demonstrates that M . leprae translational sequences can be recognized by E . coli translational machinery . Promoter expression vectors can be used to obtain expression of protein antigens to be used for early diagnosis of leprosy or components of a vaccine and proteins that are targets of potential antileprosy drugs. J Med Microbiol, 1986 Mar, 21(2), 101 - 4 Quantitative bacteriology of acute dento-alveolar abscesses; Lewis MA et al.; A qualitative and quantitative bacteriological study was performed on pus specimens obtained by needle aspiration of 50 acute dento-alveolar abscesses . Most samples contained a mixture of species (average 3.3); 20 (40%) of the abscesses contained anaerobes alone, 3 (6%) contained facultative anaerobes only and the remaining 27 (54%) contained mixtures of both types of bacteria, with anaerobes predominating . In total, 166 bacterial strains were isolated, 75% of which were strictly anaerobic; the most common species were Peptococcus spp, Bacteroides oralis and B . melaninogenicus . Among facultative anaerobes, Streptococcus milleri was particularly common . The mean concentration of bacteria in each abscess was 10(6.9 +/- 0.2) . The mean concentration of anaerobic bacteria was 10(6.2 +/- 0.1) and of facultatively anaerobic bacteria 10(5.7 +/- 0.2). J Surg Res, 1986 Mar, 40(3), 198 - 201 Treatment of pneumococcal postsplenectomy sepsis in the rat with human gamma-globulin; Offenbartl K et al.; A rat model was used to evaluate the possible effect on experimental postsplenectomy sepsis of a human gamma-globulin preparation for intravenous use (Sandoglobulin) . Sixty splenectomized male Sprague-Dawley rats were given 3 X 10(3) Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1 intravenously . Twelve of the animals received no treatment and all died, in contrast to 12 sham-operated controls which all survived the challenge . The remaining splenectomized rats were divided into four groups, each consisting of 12 animals . One group was given 120 mg human gamma-globulin twice intraperitoneally (0.3 g/kg body wt), at 18 and 42 hr, after challenge; 10 of the 12 survived, in contrast to none of the 12 in the second group receiving 120 mg human albumin instead of gamma-globulin (P = 0.00003) . When the injections were delayed to 24 and 48 hr, 9/12 gamma-globulin-treated animals still survived, in contrast to 0/12 in the albumin group . These findings point to new possibilities for treatment and perhaps prevention of overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis by administration of high doses of gamma-globulins. J Bacteriol, 1986 Mar, 165(3), 746 - 55 Negative staining and immunoelectron microscopy of adhesion-deficient mutants of Streptococcus salivarius reveal that the adhesive protein antigens are separate classes of cell surface fibril; Weerkamp AH et al.; The subcellular distribution of the cell wall-associated protein antigens of Streptococcus salivarius HB, which are involved in specific adhesive properties of the cells, was studied . Mutants which had lost the adhesive properties and lacked the antigens at the cell surface were compared with the parent strain . Immunoelectron microscopy of cryosections of cells labeled with affinity-purified, specific antisera and colloidal gold-protein A complexes was used to locate the antigens . Antigen C (AgC), a glycoprotein involved in attachment to host surfaces, was mainly located in the fibrillar layer outside the cell wall . A smaller amount of label was also found throughout the cytoplasmic area in the form of small clusters of gold particles, which suggests a macromolecular association . Mutant HB-7, which lacks the wall-associated AgC, accumulated AgC reactivity intracellularly . Intracellular AgC was often found associated with isolated areas of increased electron density, but sometimes seemed to fill the entire interior of the cell . Antigen B (AgB), a protein responsible for interbacterial coaggregation, was also located in the fibrillar layer, although its distribution differed from that of the wall-associated AgC since AgB was found predominantly in the peripheral areas . A very small amount of label was also found in the cytoplasmic area as discrete gold particles . Mutant HB-V5, which lacks wall-associated AgB, was not labeled in the fibrillar coat, but showed the same weak intracellular label as the parent strain . Immunolabeling with serum against AgD, another wall-associated protein but of unknown function, demonstrated its presence in the fibrillar layer of strain HB . Negatively stained preparations of whole cells of wild-type S . salivarius and mutants that had lost wall-associated AgB or AgC revealed that two classes of short fibrils are carried on the cell surface at the same time . AgB and AgC are probably located on separate classes of short, protease-sensitive fibrils 91 and 72 nm in length, respectively . A third class of only very sparsely distributed short fibrils (63 nm) was observed on mutant HB-V51, which lacks both wall-associated AgB and AgC antigens . The identity of these fibrils and whether they are present on the wild type are not clear . The function of long, protease-resistant fibrils of 178 nm, which are also present on the wild-type strain, remains unknown. Infect Immun, 1986 Mar, 51(3), 750 - 9 Adherence of Streptococcus sanguis to hydroxyapatite coated with lysozyme and lysozyme-supplemented saliva; Tellefson LM et al.; The adherence of {3H}thymidine-labeled Streptococcus sanguis strains to bare hydroxyapatite and to hydroxyapatite coated with a range of concentrations of lysozyme, poly-L-lysine, poly-L-glutamic acid, whole saliva supernatant, and combinations of some of the above was studied . Adherence of several strains of S . sanguis to bare hydroxyapatite and saliva-coated hydroxyapatite was compared . Saliva present as a pellicle on the hydroxyapatite inhibited adherence of some strains (903, M-5, 73X11) and stimulated that of others (S35, B-4, 66X49) . Strains 903 and S35 were chosen for further study . Adherence of both strains was stimulated up to fivefold by the presence of adsorbed lysozyme or poly-L-lysine on the hydroxyapatite, whereas poly-L-glutamic acid inhibited adherence (80 to 95%) . Adherence of strain S35 to hydroxyapatite coated with combinations of saliva and (i) lysozyme, (ii) poly-L-lysine, or (iii) poly-L-glutamic acid was unaffected compared with adherence to hydroxyapatite coated with saliva alone . In contrast, adherence of strain 903 to hydroxyapatite coated with combinations of saliva and either lysozyme or poly-L-lysine was inhibited up to ca . 90% compared with hydroxyapatite coated with saliva alone . Strain 903 was also unaffected by combinations of poly-L-glutamic acid and saliva on the hydroxyapatite . Adherent cells of both strains were completely (greater than 90%) eluted with high-ionic-strength buffer from either bare hydroxyapatite or hydroxyapatite coated with lysozyme alone . Adherent cells of strain S35 were only poorly eluted (25%) from hydroxyapatite coated with either saliva alone or saliva and lysozyme . Strain 903 elution from hydroxyapatite coated with either saliva alone or saliva and lysozyme was essentially complete . These observations were taken to indicate that the two test strains adhered to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite by different mechanisms . Protein-coated hydroxyapatite was shown not to be saturated under the conditions described here . Examination by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the variously supplemented salivary pellicles formed on the hydroxyapatite demonstrated that major changes in salivary protein composition did not occur when lysozyme, poly-L-lysine, or poly-L-glutamic acid was used to supplement saliva . Lysozyme-dependent aggregation of strain 903 was shown not to occur under the conditions of our experiments . We suggest that the basis for stimulation of adherence to hydroxyapatite coated only with lysozyme is an increase in the cationic surface area available for electrostatic adherence of the microorganisms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) J Immunol Methods, 1986 Feb 27, 87(1), 103 - 8 Class-specific antibodies to Streptococcus mutans in human serum, saliva and breast milk; Aldred MJ et al.; Previous techniques used for the detection and quantitation of antibodies in body fluids may be inappropriate where only small volumes are available, or may not be sensitive enough to detect low levels of specific antibodies . An indirect ELISA technique has successfully been employed to estimate class-specific antibody levels to Streptococcus mutans in serum and secretions in a group of mothers and their neonates, and an attempt has been made to relate such levels to the presence or absence of active caries in the mothers . A high maternal serum IgG antibody level appears to exert a protective effect against dental caries . Antibody levels in maternal saliva and colostrum/breast milk showed no differences between the 2 groups . The presence of active caries in mothers was associated with an elevated IgA antibody level in neonatal saliva . Although ELISA permitted the detection of low levels of antibody in the small volumes of neonatal saliva collected, a further increase in sensitivity and specificity of the assay would be advantageous. J Immunol Methods, 1986 Feb 27, 87(1), 95 - 102 ELISA detection of human IgG subclass antibodies to Streptococcus mutans; Challacombe SJ et al.; A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed to measure IgG subclass antibodies against whole cells of Streptococcus mutans and to a purified streptococcal antigen (SA I/II) . Bacterial cells were bound to the solid phase using methyl glyoxal and mouse monoclonal antisera against IgG and each IgG subclass were used to detect antibodies . Natural antibodies to S . mutans were predominantly of the IgG1 and IgG2 subclasses, though IgG3 and IgG4 antibodies were detectable in most subjects, and were the majority response in a few subjects . Antibodies to SA I/II were predominantly of the IgG1 subclass with virtually no activity detectable in the IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses . Inhibition studies suggested some restriction of IgG subclass responses to bacterial antigens since SA I/II and c polysaccharide could inhibit binding of all subclasses to whole cells of S . mutans equally, whereas glucosyltransferase, lipoteichoic acid and dextran showed greatest inhibition of the IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses. J Chromatogr, 1986 Feb 26, 353, 13 - 8 High-performance liquid chromatographic methods for antibodies, glycosidases and membrane proteins; Josic D et al.; The broad range of applications of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in biochemistry and cell biology is demonstrated by the purification of antibodies, separation of glycosidases and isolation of a liver membrane protein with a molecular weight of 65 000-67 000 daltons . The advantage of HPLC over classical chromatographic methods is shown by the purification of the glycosidases from Streptococcus pneumoniae . These enzymes can be purified to a degree similar to what can be achieved by "classical" ion exchange, combined with affinity chromatography, but the time needed for the HPLC experiment is much shorter and the yield at least three to five times higher . Particular attention is directed to sample preparation before HPLC separation . For the best results, a combination of HPLC with other biochemical and immunochemical methods is necessary, as is also demonstrated. Vet Rec, 1986 Feb 22, 118(8), 199 - 204 Incidence of clinical mastitis in a cohort of British dairy herds; Wilesmith JW et al.; A three-year survey to determine the incidence of clinical mastitis and the associated bacteria in dairy herds in England and Wales is described . Escherichia coli was the predominant organism in each year . Streptococcus uberis and Staphylococcus aureus were important for part for each year . The annual incidence of mastitis declined from 54.6 cases per 100 cows in 1980 to 41.2 in 1982 . The incidence increased with age and declined with increasing herd size . The culling rate due solely to mastitis was 3 per cent . Strep uberis was the pathogen most frequently isolated from clinical cases which occurred in the dry period . Thirty per cent of all cases recurred at least once and staphylococcal cases exhibited the highest frequency of recurrence. Pharm Weekbl Sci, 1986 Feb 21, 8(1), 53 - 9 The quinolones in chronic bronchitis; Davies BI et al.; Results are presented from 186 hospitalized patients treated for acute purulent exacerbations of chronic bronchitis with orally administered ciprofloxacin (80 patients), enoxacin (26 patients), ofloxacin (30 patients) or pefloxacin (50 patients) . In general, good clinical results were observed in 50-70% of the patients treated, most failures being due to relapses or reinfections with Streptococcus pneumoniae or Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Studies on blood and sputum concentration suggested that gastro-intestinal absorption was not always satisfactory . Unwanted drug effects were noted with all agents studied, generally presenting as stomach pain, nausea, hallucinations, or dizziness . Most adverse drug reactions were seen with enoxacin, often but not always during concomitant treatment with theophylline. Eur J Biochem, 1986 Feb 3, 154(3), 617 - 24 Functional incorporation of beef-heart cytochrome c oxidase into membranes of Streptococcus cremoris; Driessen AJ et al.; Beef heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase has been incorporated into membrane vesicles derived from the homofermentative lactic acid bacterium Streptococcus cremoris . Proteoliposomes containing cytochrome c oxidase were fused with the bacterial membrane vesicles by means of a freeze/thaw sonication technique . Evidence that membrane fusion has taken place is presented by the demonstration that nonexchangeable fluorescent phospholipid probes, originally present only in the bacterial membrane or only in the liposomal membrane, are diluted in the membrane after fusion and, by sucrose gradient centrifugation, indicating a buoyant density of the membranes after fusion in between those of the starting membrane preparations . The fused membranes are endowed with a relatively low ion permeability which makes it possible to generate a high proton motive force (100 mV, inside negative and alkaline) by cytochrome-c-oxidase-mediated oxidation of the electron donor system ascorbate/N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine/cytochrome c . In the fused membranes this proton motive force can drive the uptake of several amino acids via secondary transport systems . The incorporation procedure described for primary proton pumps in biological membranes opens attractive possibilities for studies of proton-motive-force-dependent processes in isolated membrane vesicles from bacterial or eukaryotic origin which lack a suitable proton-motive-force-generating system. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Feb, (2), 3 - 8 {Kinetics of the processes of Streptococcus pneumoniae batch cultivation in relation to the physiological state of the inoculum}; Gruber IM et al.; The present investigation, carried out with the use of S . pneumoniae as a model, has shown that the kinetics of cultivation processes depend on the preparation of the seed culture . The use of the seed culture, taken at the end of the exponential phase of growth, leads to high initial and maximum specific growth rates and a shorter lag phase, high productivity of the process and the economic coefficient of the yield of the biomass . If pH and pO2 are maintained at a set level, the most operative parameter of the process is the redox potential . A new informative characteristic of the cultivation process (T) is proposed . This characteristic permits the comparison of growth processes and indicates the time in which the fluctuations of Gibbs's free energy per 1000 million cells decrease to a definite level. J Otolaryngol, 1986 Feb, 15(1), 59 - 61 Capnocytophaga ochracea and group F beta-hemolytic streptococcus suppurative thyroiditis; Goudreau E et al.; The route of infection in acute suppurative thyroiditis is unknown in most cases; when demonstrated, pyriform sinus fistula appears to be the most frequent one . We report the clinical and laboratory findings of a child in whom culture of the thyroid pus yielded two bacteria which are part of the normal oropharyngeal flora: capnocytophaga ochracea and group F Beta-hemolytic streptococcus . The preliminary results of the culture, which showed a mixed flora, prompted us to search and to find a pyriform sinus fistula . Apart from the onset in infancy, the left lobe involvement and the frequent recurrence, the recovery from the thyroid pus of bacteria from normal oropharyngeal flora should be included in the characteristic features of thyroiditis resulting from an infection through the pyriform sinus fistula. Am J Med Sci, 1986 Feb, 291(2), 128 - 9 Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Streptococcus bovis; Robbins N et al.; The association of Streptococcus bovis septicemia with abnominal neoplasms has been well-documented . The case of a man who presented with vertebral osteomyelitis due to S . bovis is reported; he was subsequently found to have bacteremia and colonic polyps . It is recommended that patients who present with localized as well as generalized S . bovis infections undergo yearly colonoscopy. Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 607 - 17 Conditioned medium from stimulated mononuclear leukocytes augments human neutrophil-mediated killing of a virulent Acanthamoeba sp; Ferrante A et al.; Human neutrophils in the presence of serum containing anti-amoeba antibody either lacked amoebicidal activity or were poorly amoebicidal for Acanthamoeba culbertsoni . In contrast, neutrophils preexposed for 1 h to supernatants from human peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs) stimulated with phytohemagglutinin demonstrated significant amoeba killing in the presence of serum containing anti-acanthamoeba antibodies . Supernatant from MNL cultured in the absence of phytohemagglutinin were not effective in stimulating significant activity in the neutrophils . Serum containing antibody promoted the adherence of many neutrophils to one amoeba . There was no significant difference between the ability of neutrophils treated with supernatants from stimulated MNLs (stimulated conditioned medium {sCM}) and supernatants from nonstimulated MNLs (nonstimulated conditioned medium {nsCM}) in their binding to acanthamoeba . The effects of sCM on neutrophils was a general phenomenon . For example, the sCM but not the nsCM enhanced the antibody-dependent neutrophil-mediated cytotoxicity against three tumor targets (K562 erythroid myeloid leukemia cell line, B16 melanoma, and P815 (DBA/2 mastocytoma) . Furthermore, the sCM but not the nsCM increased the bactericidal (against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae) and fungicidal (against Torulopsis glabrata) activity of the neutrophil . The sCM but not the nsCM contained activities which inhibited neutrophil migration and stimulated a respiratory burst in these leukocytes . These results suggest that the neutrophil antimicrobial power can be increased by exposing the leukocytes to MNL mediators. Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 378 - 84 Purification of lipoteichoic acid by chromatography in water-organic solvent systems; Josephson SL et al.; Lipoteichoic acid (LTA), extracted from Streptococcus mutans 10449 by hot aqueous phenol, was partially purified by Sepharose 6B column chromatography in 0.01 M sodium acetate, pH 6.0, containing 0.25 M sodium chloride and 0.001 M EDTA . Nucleic acid and polysaccharide were precipitated from the LTA-containing column peak by the addition of 2 volumes of chloroform-methanol (1:5) . The resulting single-phase chloroform-methanol-water (1:5:3) supernatant contained LTA and small amounts of several contaminating substances as indicated by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography and chemical analyses . LTA was purified further by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, using a concentration gradient of sodium chloride in chloroform-methanol-water (1:5:3) . Two column peaks of LTA were found to contain phosphate, glycerol, glucose, and fatty acids at molar ratios of 1:1:0.11:0.10 and 1:1:0.09:0.04, respectively . The LTA polymers contained 18 and 22 repeating units of unsubstituted glycerophosphate and two glucose residues . The LTA in one column peak had two fatty acids per molecule, whereas that in the second peak contained only one . The yield of LTA was 1.68 mg per g of cell dry weight or 65 mg per g of phenol-water-extracted material . The specific activity of the LTA preparation was increased 128-fold by the purification scheme as determined by a erythrocyte-binding assay . Reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography may be used for rapid separation of LTA molecules containing different numbers of acyl groups. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1986 Feb, 39(2), 192 - 7 PD 116,152, a novel phenazine antitumor antibiotic . Discovery, fermentation, culture characterization and biological activity; Tunac JB et al.; A novel phenazine antitumor antibiotic is described, produced by Streptomyces lomondensis subsp . galanosa NRRL 15738 . The antibiotic is selectively active versus the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC less than 0.46 microgram/ml); the antitumor activity versus murine P388 leukemia is T/C 149. Tijdschr Kindergeneeskd, 1986 Feb, 54(1), 1 - 8 Bacterial meningitis in 366 children in the Netherlands, 1982-1983 . Epidemiology and antibiotic therapy; Spanjaard L et al.; Records of 366 children 0-15 years with bacterial meningitis (April 1982-March 1983) were reviewed in the framework of a medical audit . The general epidemiological pattern and the antibiotics administered are described and the patients in general hospitals are compared with those in academic hospitals . H . influenzae has been isolated from 31% of patients, N . meningitidis from 23% and S . pneumoniae from 10% . Case-fatality ratio was 6.6% overall, but it was higher in disease due to rare pathogens like E . coli and group B-Streptococcus (up to 25%) . These rare pathogens were more common among patients in academic than in general hospitals . However, this difference was not significant, nor were differences in age distribution or case-fatality ratio between the two hospital categories . As initial therapy chloramphenicol plus a penicillin were administered to 30% of patients . On the fifth day of treatment ampicillin was the most frequently used antibiotic in general hospitals (31%), but in academic centres the above-mentioned combination (27%) and penicillin alone (24%) were most popular . It is argued that new antibiotics need to be evaluated carefully . Because this necessitates several hundreds of patients, multi-centered randomised trials should be carried out. Mol Immunol, 1986 Feb, 23(2), 141 - 5 Characterization of the serotype e polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus mutans; Pritchard DG et al.; The structure of the Streptococcus mutans serotype e polysaccharide was studied in order to determine the chemical basis of the immunological cross-reactions observed between it and the streptococcal group E polysaccharide . The chemical structure was established using methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, partial methanolysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy . The polysaccharide was found to consist of a polyrhamnose backbone of alternating 2- and 3-linked alpha-L-rhamnose units and sidechain beta-D-glucosyl units linked to the 2-position of rhamnose units in the backbone . This structure of the oligosaccharide repeating unit of the S . mutans serotype e polysaccharide was identical to that of the group-specific polysaccharide of group E Streptococcus . Possible explanations for the previously reported differences in these two polysaccharides are discussed. Eur Heart J, 1986 Feb, 7(2), 171 - 5 Mitral valve aneurysm formation documented by cross-sectional echocardiography; Vandenbossche JL et al.; We report a case of mitral valve aneurysm secondary to Streptococcus viridans endocarditis of the mitral valve . Cross-sectional echocardiography demonstrated an initial thickening of the anterior mitral leaflet which evolved further into an aneurysm . Surgery showed that this lesion had subsequently perforated . This case highlights the ability of echocardiography to detect gradual anatomic changes in the course of bacterial endocarditis . The diagnosis of such abnormalities might have important therapeutical implications and might lead to a more aggressive surgical approach. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1986 Feb, 261(1), 75 - 84 {Isolation and characterization of erythrogenic toxins . VIII . Purification of a biologically active protein of the molecular weight 10,000 (LMP-10k) from filtrates of Streptococcus pyogenes, strain NY-5 . Relationship to erythrogenic toxin type A}; Gerlach D et al.; The "classical" method for purification of erythrogenic toxin type A results in two products: erythrogenic toxin type A and a low molecular weight protein, m.w . 10,000 (LMP-10k) with mitogenic activities . LMP-10k was purified from culture supernatants of S . pyogenes (group A) by CM-Sepharose CL-6B chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 and Sephadex G75 gel filtration to a high degree of purity with minimal amounts of residual erythrogenic toxin A . The isoelectric point of LMP-10k is the same as for erythrogenic toxin A: 5.2 . The immunogenic activity is low, only one of two rabbits produced anti-LMP-10k-antibodies after a prolonged course of immunization . On the other hand it is possible to induce antierythrogenic toxin A-antibodies by immunization with LMP-10k preparations contaminated with small amounts of erythrogenic toxin A . Possibly the data given by some authors for the m.w . of erythrogenic toxin type A as 8 000 D are the results of a mix-up with co-purified LMP-10k. Am J Vet Res, 1986 Feb, 47(2), 218 - 22 Growth inhibition of environmental mastitis pathogens during physiologic transitions of the bovine mammary gland; Breau WC et al.; Ten dairy cows were infused intramammarily near drying off with concanavalin A (conA) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) . Mammary secretions were collected during physiologic transitions of the udder and were used in an in vitro microbiological assay to determine growth inhibition of mastitis pathogens . As mammary involution progressed, in vitro growth inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus uberis increased . Mammary secretions from conA- and PHA-treated glands had significantly increased bacterial growth inhibition . Secretions contained significantly increased concentrations of lactoferrin and a decreased citrate:lactoferrin molar ratio earlier in the dry period than did control mammary secretions . Greatest bacterial growth inhibition was observed in mammary secretions obtained 7 days before parturition . However, differences in secretion composition or bacterial growth inhibition were not found between conA- or PHA-treated and control udder halves during the prepartum period . Bacterial growth inhibition by mammary secretion decreased markedly during early lactation . A highly significant positive correlation was found between bacterial growth inhibition and concentrations of lactoferrin, serum albumin, and immunoglobulin G . A highly significant negative correlation was found in the citrate:lactoferrin molar ratio during early involution and the peripartum period. J Clin Pathol, 1986 Feb, 39(2), 223 - 6 Detection of group B streptococcal antigen in necropsy specimens using monoclonal antibody and immunoperoxidase staining; Feldman RG et al.; A murine monoclonal antibody, which recognises various serotypes of group B Streptococcus in formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue, was used to show the organism in necropsy specimens of newborn infant lung by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique . The method seemed to be complementary to that of Gram staining, and may be successfully used to identify group B Streptococcus antigen in histopathological material. Clin Cardiol, 1986 Feb, 9(2), 65 - 72 Extracranial mycotic aneurysms in infective endocarditis; Mansur AJ et al.; Nine of 217 (4.15%) patients with infective endocarditis who were followed from October 1978 to February 1984 had extracranial mycotic aneurysms (MA) . Age range of patients was 6-43 years (mean of 24.8 years) and 7 were male . Etiologic agents were Streptococcus viridans (3 cases), Staphylococcus aureus (2 cases), Staphylococcus epidermidis (1 case), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1 case) . Two patients had negative blood cultures . The MA involved the arteries of the limbs (5 cases), thoracic (3 cases), and abdominal (1 case) arteries . The diagnosis was made by means of physical examination (5 cases), chest roentgenogram (2 cases), ultrasound examination (1 case), and aortography (1 case), at hospital admission (2 cases), early or before antibiotic therapy (2 cases), and from two days to six months after finishing antibiotic therapy (5 cases) . All but one patient were operated upon due to MA; bleeding occurred in three cases; surgery was an emergency procedure in one case and performed from 8 to 58 days after the diagnosis of the MA in the others . Signs of infection at surgery were found in one case . In the others, further antibiotic therapy was not administered . There were no limb losses in the peripheral MA . Four patients received surgical treatment for endocarditis . There was one in-hospital death and another one 6 months later due to heart failure. Pediatrics, 1986 Feb, 77(2), 217 - 21 Long-term outcome of group B streptococcal meningitis; Wald ER et al.; Group B Streptococcus is a common cause of neonatal sepsis and meningitis . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neurologic, psychologic, and academic status of children who had group B streptococcal meningitis and to compare these children with their siblings . Seventy-four children who acquired group B streptococcal meningitis between one day and 6 months of life formed the study population . Survivors were 3 to 18 years old at the time of their follow-up evaluations . Twenty children (27%) died, two were institutionalized, one severely affected child died at age 2 years, 15 were assessed by phone interview, and two were lost to follow-up . Thirty-four children and 21 siblings were comprehensively evaluated with physical and neurologic examinations, hearing tests, and tests of intellectual, perceptual-motor, and behavioral-adaptive functions . Of the total population, nine children (12%) had major neurologic sequelae (spastic quadraplegia, profound mental retardation, hemiparesis, deafness, or blindness) . Six children had acute hydrocephalus; two were doing well after shunt placement . In general, those children surviving group B streptococcal meningitis without major sequelae appeared to be functioning normally or comparably to their sibling in intellectual, social, and academic matters. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1986 Feb, 14(1), 57 - 9 Prevalence of dental caries and Streptococcus mutans in Meo of Northern Thailand; Reichart PA et al.; The prevalence of dental caries was studied in 505 Meo, a minority of Northern Thailand, using the DMFT index . Plaque material from all patients was examined qualitatively for S . mutans . The DMFT (dmft) index score ranged between 1.69 and 7.06 with a mean of 2.17 +/- 3.24 for men and 3.45 +/- 3.72 for women . There was a statistical difference in caries prevalence between males and females (P less than 0.05) . There was no statistical correlation between miang chewing and caries prevalence . Fluoride concentration of water samples was between 0.043 and 0.077 ppm F- . Of 505 plaque samples, 13.3% were positive for S . mutans, mostly of biotype I . Compared to other Northern Thai hill tribes and the Thai rural population, the Meo appear to have a higher dental caries prevalence rate. J Dent Res, 1986 Feb, 65(2), 85 - 8 Growth of micro-organisms from supragingival dental plaque on saliva agar; De Jong MH et al.; The role of saliva in supporting the growth of dental plaque has scarcely been investigated . We have studied the growth and recovery of micro-organisms from dental plaque samples on saliva-agar plates, prepared from filter-sterilized wax-stimulated whole saliva . Under optimal conditions, the mean recovery of plaque samples on saliva agar was about 50% (range, 22-77) of the recovery on blood agar . Addition of 2.5 mmol/L dithiothreitol (DTT) strongly facilitated filter-sterilization of saliva, but DTT concentrations higher than 1 mmol/L reduced the recovery of plaque micro-organisms on saliva agar . Catalase (100 U/ml) offered protection against the inhibitory effect of DTT . Addition of glucose (1-5 mmol/L) increased only slightly the recovery of plaque micro-organisms on saliva agar . When supragingival plaque was plated on saliva- and blood-agar plates, the composition of the microflora isolated from saliva agar strongly resembled that isolated from blood agar . The predominant species--i.e., Streptococcus and Actinomyces--all grew on saliva agar though usually in numbers somewhat lower than those on blood agar . In addition, most species normally found only in low proportions in supragingival dental plaque were also found to grow on saliva agar . Collectively, the results lead to the conclusion that the supragingival microflora can utilize saliva as a complete source of nutrients. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1986 Feb, 29(2), 342 - 3 Enhanced toxicity of copper for Streptococcus mutans under anaerobic conditions; Evans SL et al.; Copper inhibition of 11 strains (serotypes a through g) of Streptococcus mutans was increased by anaerobic incubation . Anaerobic toxicity was reversed by cuprous, but not by cupric, chelators . Susceptibility to aerobic copper inhibition was related to serotype; serotypes c, e, and f (biotype I) were most sensitive. J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 132 ( Pt 2), 331 - 40 Cloning, expression and location of the Streptococcus lactis gene for phospho-beta-D-galactosidase; Maeda S et al.; Genes for lactose catabolism and proteinase production in Streptococcus lactis 712 are encoded by a 56.5 kb metabolic plasmid, pLP712 . A lactose mini-plasmid of only 23.7 kb, pMG820, was constructed by introducing two deletions into pLP712, and was cloned as two segments of DNA into the Escherichia coli vector pAT153 using restriction endonuclease PstI . The lactose genetic region of pLP712, which has been defined by deletion and restriction mapping, was cut into two parts by this process . When the smaller 10.8 kb segment of pMG820 DNA was present, the key lactic streptococcal lactose splitting enzyme, phospho-beta-D-galactosidase, was expressed in E . coli . The gene for phospho-beta-D-galactosidase was more precisely located by introducing a series of deletions into cloned DNA by in vitro manipulations and then assaying for enzyme activity . The presence of this phospho-beta-D-galactosidase activity was correlated with the production of a 58 kDa 35S-labelled protein both by E . coli minicells and after coupled transcription and translation of cloned DNA . The product of a second gene, a 37 kDa protein ('protein X'), and a possible truncated phospho-beta-D-galactosidase protein of 16 kDa were also detected in minicells. J Bacteriol, 1986 Feb, 165(2), 564 - 9 Streptococcal tetracycline resistance mediated at the level of protein synthesis; Burdett V; The mechanism of tetracycline resistance was examined in strains containing each of the three previously identified resistance determinants in Streptococcus spp . Uptake of tetracycline was measured in tetracycline-sensitive cells as well as in cells containing each of the three resistance determinants . In cells containing tetL, uptake was not observed . However, in sensitive cells and cells containing either tetM or tetN, tetracycline was accumulated approximately 25-fold against a concentration gradient . Furthermore, there was no evidence for modification of intracellular tetracycline recovered from sensitive, tetM, or tetN cells . Protein synthesis in extracts derived from organisms containing tetM or tetN was resistant to tetracycline . In contrast, extracts of sensitive and tetL cells were sensitive to tetracycline. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 233 - 7 Cloning in Streptococcus lactis of plasmid-mediated UV resistance and effect on prophage stability; Chopin MC et al.; Plasmid pIL7 (33 kilobases) from Streptococcus lactis enhances UV resistance and prophage stability . A 5.4-kilobase pIL7 fragment carrying genes coding for both characters was cloned into S . lactis, using plasmid pHV1301 as the cloning vector . The recombinant plasmid was subsequently transferred to three other S . lactis strains by transformation or protoplast fusion . Cloned genes were expressed in all tested strains. Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 405 - 13 Isolation and characterization of a 60-kilodalton salivary glycoprotein with agglutinating activity against strains of Streptococcus mutans; Babu JP et al.; A bacterial agglutinin specific for strains of Streptococcus mutans was isolated from human saliva . Physiochemical analyses showed the agglutinin to be a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 60,000 . The agglutinin aggregated four of the eight strains of Streptococcus mutans tested but did not aggregate the strains of Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguis, and Streptococcus mitis tested . Chemical modification of carbohydrate moieties of the agglutinin with sodium metaperiodate had no effect on aggregation, whereas modification of the polypeptide portion with trypsin abolished aggregating activity . A set of five murine hybridoma antibodies was employed to further analyze the agglutinin . Two carbohydrate-specific antibodies, directed against D-mannose and N-acetylgalactosamine moieties, respectively, failed to block agglutinin- or whole saliva-mediated aggregation of S . mutans cells . In contrast, two antibodies directed against pronase-sensitive antigenic sites blocked both agglutinin- and saliva-mediated aggregation of S . mutans cells . Western blot analysis with the agglutinin-specific hybridoma antibodies demonstrated the agglutinin in whole saliva and in artificial tooth pellicles formed on hydroxyapatite beads incubated with saliva . These results suggest that a 60-kilodalton glycoprotein of human saliva is a bacterial agglutinin with specificity for certain strains of S . mutans . They further suggest that aggregation is mediated by polypeptide rather than carbohydrate determinants of the glycoprotein. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1986 Feb 1, 244(2), 607 - 18 Origin and function of the multiple extracellular glucosyltransferase species from cultures of a serotype c strain of Streptococcus mutans; Asem KG et al.; Two methods were used to purify the bifunctional extracellular enzyme sucrose: (1-6)- and (1-3)-alpha-D-glucan-6-alpha-D-glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.5; dextransucrase) from continuous cultures of a serotype c strain of Streptococcus mutans . The first method, based on a previously published report, involved Sepharose 6B gel filtration and DEAE cellulose anion exchange chromatography . This resulted in a dextransucrase preparation with an apparent molecular mass of 162 kDa and a specific activity of 125 mg of glucan formed from sucrose h-1 (mg of protein)-1, at 37 degrees C . It was almost homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The ratio of carbohydrate to protein was 0.14 and the recovery was 14% relative to the total glucosyltransferase activity in the original culture fluid . In the subsequently preferred method, hydroxyapatite-Ultrogel was used to purify dextransucrase with a 24% yield . The specific activity, 197 mg of glucan formed h-1 (mg of protein)-1, was the highest yet reported and this preparation contained less than 0.5 glucose-equivalent per subunit of molecular mass 162 kDa . Dextransucrase is therefore not a glycoprotein . Exogenous dextran stimulated activity, but was not essential for activity . The purified protein slowly degraded to multiple lower molecular mass forms during storage at 4 degrees C and 87% of the activity was lost after 20 days . The molecular mass of the most prominent, active degradation product was 140 kDa, similar to that of one of the multiple forms of dextransucrase detected in other laboratories . Preparations in which either the 140-kDa or the 162-kDa species predominated catalyzed the synthesis of a water-soluble glucan with sucrose alone, but catalyzed that of an insoluble glucan with sucrose and a high concentration of either (NH4)2SO4 or polyethylene glycol . The water-insoluble glucan was shown to lack sequences of 1,3-alpha-linked glycosyl residues typical of the insoluble glucan, mutan, which has been implicated in dental caries . We conclude that mutan is synthesized by the concerted action of two independent glucosyltransferases rather than by interconvertible forms of a single enzyme, as was proposed previously. Carbohydr Res, 1986 Feb 1, 146(2), 259 - 70 Activity of branched dextrans in the acceptor reaction of a glucosyltransferase (GTF-I) from Streptococcus mutans OMZ176; Walker GJ et al.; The ability of several native and chemically synthesized, branched dextrans to stimulate the activity of an alpha-D-glucosyltransferase (GTF-I) of Streptococcus mutans has been compared . The enzyme catalysed the transfer of glucosyl residues from sucrose with the formation of water-insoluble (1----3)-alpha-D-glucan . The rate of this reaction was greatly increased in the presence of dextran, and the extent of stimulation was negatively correlated with the degree of branching of the added dextran . The results refute the concept that growth of water-insoluble glucan occurs from the multiple, non-reducing termini of dextran acceptors. Infect Immun, 1986 Feb, 51(2), 600 - 6 Human serum antibody response against Streptococcus mutans antigens; Pucci MJ et al.; Antigens from Streptococcus mutans were examined to identify specific polypeptides that may have stimulated antibody responses and possibly play some role in caries immunity . A group of 10 adult human subjects was screened for serum antibodies reactive with antigens from S . mutans . Extracellular and cellular protein preparations from S . mutans LM7 (Bratthall serotype e) and V403 (biotype c) were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by Western electrophoretic transfer and immunoblotting analysis . Antibodies reactive with polypeptides ranging from 34 to 400 kilodaltons in apparent molecular mass were detected by these means . Radioimmunoassay competition experiments revealed that the cellular and extracellular antigens did not compete with each other for serum antibodies . Preabsorption of sera with extracellular proteins from other oral streptococcal species prior to immunoblotting indicated that the antigens unique to S . mutans have molecular masses greater than 100 kilodaltons, and each individual produced antibodies against different antigens of high molecular mass . Examination of sera from young children also indicated heterogeneous responses against S . mutans LM7 antigens. Biochemistry, 1986 Jan 14, 25(1), 108 - 14 Active streptokinase from the cloned gene in Streptococcus sanguis is without the carboxyl-terminal 32 residues; Jackson KW et al.; The streptokinase expressed by the cloned gene in Streptococcus sanguis has a molecular weight of about 44 000 {Malke, H., Gerlach, D., Kohler, W., & Ferretti, J.J . (1984) MGG, Mol . Gen . Genet . 196, 360-365} while the molecular weight of the native streptokinase is 47 000 . The structural and activity differences of the cloned streptokinase (cSK) as expressed by S . sanguis and the native streptokinase (nSK) were investigated . From a partially purified cSK, two active fractions were obtained by reversed-phase HPLC . The minor fraction cSKL was nearly as active as SK in plasminogen activation . The major fraction cSKs had only about one-fourth of the specific activity . The structures of cSKL and cSKs were studied and compared to the known amino acid sequence of SK {Jackson, K . W., & Tang, J . (1982) Biochemistry 21, 6620-6625} . From the NH2- and COOH-terminal sequences and amino acid composition of the cyanogen bromide (CNBr) fragments, it could be deduced that cSKL and cSKs are without 31 and 32 residues, respectively, from the COOH-terminal end of SK . Since the cloned gene contained the full SK structure, the missing structures must have been due to posttranslational proteolysis . An SK fragment similar in size to cSK was observed from a chymotryptic digest of SK. Minerva Med, 1986 Jan 14, 77(1-2), 1 - 5 {A case of splenic abscess in a drug addict with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome}; Ferraris R et al.; The complex diagnostic procedure involved in a case of splenic abscess in a young drug addict as a result of septicaemia caused by streptococcus fascalis is described and discussed with an examination of the criteria in support of a more aggressive approach to the removal of septic foci in such patients with AIDS . It is concluded that such criteria are valid even when, as in the case described, splenectomy further depresses the immune system. Scand J Infect Dis, 1986, 18(1), 45 - 8 Serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid in Sweden; Burman LA et al.; 215 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid at 3 different laboratories in Sweden were serotyped by coagglutination and subtyped by the capsular reaction test . 78% of the strains belonged to serotypes which are included in or completely cross-immunogenic with serotypes included in the 14-valent vaccine while serotypes included in the 23-valent vaccine covered 89% of the isolates . Types 7F, 14 and 33F, which cannot be detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis constituted 19% of all strains. Clin Allergy, 1986 Jan, 16(1), 25 - 32 Pneumococcus-specific immunoglobulin E in cigarette smokers; Bloom JW et al.; A relationship between elevated serum immunoglobulin E levels and smoking has been demonstrated in epidemiological studies . Allergy skin test data suggest that the excess immunoglobulin E of smokers is not specific for aeroallergens . It is possible that the excess immunoglobulin E is specific for microorganisms that often infect the lower respiratory tract of smokers . To investigate this possibility we utilized a radioallergosorbent test assay for detecting serum immunoglobulin E specific for Streptococcus pneumoniae, an organism commonly isolated from the respiratory tract of smokers with chronic bronchitis . We assayed sera of thirty smokers and thirty nonsmokers for immunoglobulin E specific for Streptococcus pneumoniae . Individual sera were considered positive for pneumococcus-specific immunoglobulin E if the binding was at least twice the non-specific binding at the total immunoglobulin E concentration of the particular serum . Eleven of the thirty sera of smokers and two of the thirty nonsmokers were positive for pneumococcus-specific immunoglobulin E . By chi-square analysis of these data, the prevalence of pneumococcus-specific immunoglobulin E was significantly greater in the smoking group compared with the non-smoking group (P less than 0.02) . These results suggest that the excess immunoglobulin E of smokers is, at least in part, specific for microorganisms that infect the airways. Pediatr Radiol, 1986, 16(2), 150 - 1 Parietal osteomyelitis and epidural abscess: a delayed complication of fetal monitoring; Listinsky JL et al.; Infected cephalohematomas are extremely rare . In this report an infant of 14 weeks developed an infected cephalohematoma, osteomyelitis of the parietal bone and an epidural abscess after fetal monitoring with scalp electrodes . Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the purulent aspirate. Microbiologica, 1986 Jan, 9(1), 21 - 8 Purification of Streptococcus faecium penicillin binding protein 5, a multifunctional penicillin-binding protein; Grossato A et al.; Penicillin-binding protein 5 of Streptococcus faecium has been solubilized and partially separated from other membrane proteins by covalent affinity chromatography . PBP 5 was successively purified to homogeneity by resolution on SDS-polyacrylamide gel, elution and renaturation of penicillin-binding activity . The purification procedure does not alter the properties that the protein exhibits in the membranous environment. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1986 Jan, 31(1), 7 - 13 {Thomicide biosynthesis during the cultivation of Streptococcus sp . strain Thom-1606 on a medium of various carbohydrate concentrations}; Blinkova LP et al.; The influence of different concentrations of carbohydrates on biosynthesis of thomicide, an antibacterial agent was studied . Inhibition of sugar consumption beginning at the calculated concentration of more than 1 per cent was shown . The excess of carbohydrates (not consumed carbohydrates) did not inhibit the culture growth and biosynthesis of thomicide . Sucrose in a concentration of 1 per cent proved to be the most optimal carbohydrate substrate for accumulation and preservation of the thomicide activity . Enrichment of the nutrient medium with carbohydrates in the calculated concentrations of 0.5 to 4 per cent promoted an increase in the cell dry weight accompanied by intensive synthesis of biopolymers. J Surg Res, 1986 Jan, 40(1), 43 - 8 Acute liver failure in rats inhibited by intrasplenic administration of OK-432; Matsumata T et al.; Intrasplenic administration of OK-432, an immunostimulant derived from Streptococcus, prevented hepatic failure induced in rats by D-galactosamine . When OK-432 was given 1.0 K.E . (Group I) or 0.1 K.E . (Group II) into the subcutaneously transpositioned spleen three times prior to dosing with D-galactosamine, survival rates were 100 and 87%, respectively . On the contrary, with a splenic injection of saline (Group III), the survival rate was 47 and 32% in rats given OK-432 1.0 K.E . intraperitoneally (Group IV) . The poisoned rats given no pretreatment (Group V) survived at a rate of 26% . These results show that intrasplenic administration of OK-432 leads to a significant enhancement of survival . Metabolic data and histological findings were compatible with survival rates, in each group . Activation of the reticuloendothelial function by the intrasplenic administration of this immunostimulant seems to have prevented acute liver failure. J Med Chem, 1986 Jan, 29(1), 25 - 9 5-(Alkylsulfonyl)salicylanilides as potential dental antiplaque agents; Clark MT et al.; A series of 22 5-(alkylsulfonyl)salicylanilides was synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial and antiplaque activity against Actinomyces viscosus and Streptococcus mutans, adherent microorganisms implicated in periodontal disease and dental caries . The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 25 salicylanilides (including 5-acyl-, 5-alkyl-, and 5-(alkylsulfonyl)-4'-bromo- and -4'-(trifluoromethyl)salicylanilides) were found to correlate (r = 0.94) with estimated log D values . Several salicylanilides, such as 5-(decylsulfonyl)- and 5-(dodecylsulfonyl)-4'-(trifluoromethyl)salicylanilides (15 and 19) were found to exhibit high levels of in vitro antibacterial and antiplaque activity against A . viscosus and S . mutans. J Infect Dis, 1986 Jan, 153(1), 83 - 9 Alterations in penicillin-binding proteins of clinical and laboratory isolates of pathogenic Streptococcus pneumoniae with low levels of penicillin resistance; Handwerger S et al.; Several recent surveys of clinical isolates have indicated that substantial fractions of naturally occurring populations of Streptococcus pneumoniae have undergone a distinct upward move in the required minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of benzylpenicillin (from a range of 0.006-0.008 to 0.03-0.05 microgram/ml) . Evidence is presented that in clinical pneumococcal isolates, penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) groups 1 and 2 have a decreased affinity for radioactive benzylpenicillin as compared with penicillin-sensitive isolates from the same locale . Exposure of a penicillin-sensitive type 2 strain (MIC, 0.006 microgram/ml) to sequentially increasing concentrations of penicillin allowed the isolation of spontaneous resistant mutants with stepwise increases in the MIC of penicillin required (0.01-0.02, 0.025-0.05, and 0.1 microgram/ml), and in these laboratory isolates too, PBP groups 1 and 2 showed decreased affinity for labeled benzylpenicillin . DNA from the low-level resistant clinical or laboratory isolates could be used to transform the appropriate levels of penicillin resistance into penicillin-sensitive laboratory isolates . These findings suggest that significant fractions of natural pneumococcal populations may have acquired one or two of the low-level penicillin resistance genes. J Infect Dis, 1986 Jan, 153(1), 78 - 82 Antibiotic-resistant isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from clinical specimens: a cluster of serotype 19A organisms in Brooklyn, New York; Simberkoff MS et al.; Ten of 294 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from patients enrolled in a Veterans Administration Cooperative Studies Program trial of pneumococcal vaccine efficacy were moderately resistant or resistant to penicillin . Nine of these organisms were serotype 19A isolated from patients at the Brooklyn (New York) V.A . Medical Center over an 18-month period (March 1983-November 1984) . The minimal inhibitory concentration of penicillin for these pneumococci ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 micrograms/ml by the agar dilution technique and from 4.0 to 8.0 micrograms/ml by tube dilution . These organisms were resistant also to other beta-lactam antibiotics and to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole . They were sensitive to erythromycin, clindamycin, vancomycin, and rifampin . The epidemiological source of these isolates was not discovered . However, it is possible that a focus of multiple antibiotic-resistant serotype 19A S . pneumoniae is present in Brooklyn. Infect Immun, 1986 Jan, 51(1), 119 - 24 Effect of endogenous phosphoenolpyruvate potential on fluoride inhibition of glucose uptake by Streptococcus mutans; Germaine GR et al.; The fluoride sensitivity of glucose uptake by whole cell suspensions of Streptococcus mutans was studied . Preincubation of the organism with up to 1 mM glucose markedly reduced the fluoride sensitivity of subsequent glucose uptake at pH 7.0 and 5.5 . Glucose preincubation was shown to result in the establishment of a stable pool of three-carbon glycolytic intermediates . On the basis of inhibition studies and thin-layer chromatography of cell extracts, we suggest that 3- and 2-phosphoglycerate are the principal constituents of the pool . Increased concentrations of glucose used in preincubation mixtures was associated with increased pool sizes of the glycolytic intermediates and increased fluoride resistance . Transport of 2-deoxy-D-glucose by permeabilized cells was inhibited by fluoride when 2-phoshoglycerate served as the energy source . Increased concentrations of 2-phosphoglycerate were shown to overcome the fluoride inhibition of transport . The data suggest that establishment of a stable pool of glycolytic intermediates that includes 2-phosphoglycerate (or its progenitors) may contribute significantly to the apparent refractoriness of plaque microbes to fluoride in vivo. Cornell Vet, 1986 Jan, 76(1), 49 - 60 Characteristics of an R antigen common to Streptococcus equi and zooepidemicus; Timoney JF; An R antigen of the group C streptococcus S . equi that cross reacts with a similar antigen of S . zooepidemicus has been identified and characterized . It is acid, heat and trypsin resistant, but pepsin sensitive and has an isoelectric point of 4.8 . The amino acids in highest concentration are glutamic, aspartic, alanine, leucine, and valine . Bacterial components released in a French Press contain large amounts of R antigen, which is present also in culture supernatants and acid extracts . It has a molecular weight of about 82,000 . Trypsin extraction of cells yields molecules of predominantly 56,000 and 25,000 molecular weight that appeared by immunoblotting to be similar to those obtained by trypsinization of purified R protein from preparations derived from the French Press . Although horses naturally infected with S . equi or S . zooepidemicus develop cross reacting R antibodies, the role of the R antigen in pathogenesis is unknown . Purified R protein does not stimulate bactericidal antibody in horses nor is it protective for mice . Its occurrence in antigen preparations in assays for S . equi antibody could be a source of interpretive errors because of the presence in many sera of antibody to the immunologically similar R antigen of S . zooepidemicus, a normal nasopharyngeal commensal of Equidae. Ann Intern Med, 1986 Jan, 104(1), 1 - 6 Pneumococcal vaccine efficacy in selected populations in the United States; Bolan G et al.; The efficacy of pneumococcal vaccine in groups of patients in the United States at high risk for pneumococcal disease was estimated by comparing distributions of serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from vaccinated and unvaccinated persons . Between May 1978 and March 1984, 187 blood isolates and 62 cerebrospinal fluid isolates from vaccinated patients, and 1447 blood isolates and 191 cerebrospinal fluid isolates from unvaccinated patients were serotyped at the Centers for Disease Control . The study did not include patients who were less than 2 years old or who had Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, or immunoglobulin deficiency . In patients with bacteremic disease, the overall efficacy of pneumococcal vaccine was estimated at 64% (95% confidence limits, 47% to 76%); efficacy did not differ significantly with age . In persons over 65 years of age with diabetes mellitus, chronic heart disease, pulmonary disease, or no underlying illnesses, efficacy was 61% (95% confidence limits, 1% to 85%) . These findings support the use of pneumococcal vaccine in selected populations in the United States. Biomed Pharmacother, 1986, 40(9), 352 - 5 Effects of arginine butyrate on bacterial growth; Raymond J et al.; The antibacterial activity of arginine butyrate was tested on 15 different strains . Its bacteriostatic action was detected, depending on the organisms, at concentrations between 55 and 250 mM, except for the Streptococcus B . The latter was not only resistant, but its growth was even stimulated at low concentrations (1.95 mM to 31.2 mM) .