J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Dec, 28(12), 2693 - 9 Infectious but nonpathogenic isolate of Borrelia burgdorferi; Anderson JF et al.; We document for the first time an infectious but nonarthritogenic variant of Borrelia burgdorferi . Strain 25015, previously isolated from an Ixodes dammini larva collected in upstate New York, was infectious but failed to produce arthritis or carditis in laboratory rats and mice . By contrast, pathogenic strain N40 invariably caused arthritis . This nonarthritogenic variant, with proteins with molecular weights different from those of the standard B31 strain, was frequently isolated from normal joint tissues of experimentally infected rats . Outer surface proteins A and B of strain 25015 have molecular weights of about 32,500 and 35,500, respectively, in contrast to molecular weights of approximately 31,000 and 34,000, respectively, for outer surface proteins A and B of strains B31 and N40 . A prominent low-molecular-weight protein of about 23,500 also characterizes strain 25015 . Test animals infected for 30 to 60 days had relatively high antibody titers (greater than or equal to 1:1,280) . The nonarthritogenic variant will be useful, along with pathogenic strains, in providing comparative insight into the pathogenesis of Lyme borreliosis . Homologous immunoblotting of sera from rats and mice inoculated with both the arthritogenic and nonarthritogenic strains revealed antibody reactivities to proteins of B . burgdorferi different from those revealed in the heterologous tests. Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi, 1990 Nov, 28(11), 658 - 9, 702 {Surveillance and prevention of infections after open heart surgery}; Zhang J; From October 1987 to December 1989, bacteriological surveillance was done after open heart surgery in 100 patients with cardiovascular diseases (54 with congenital, 44 with rheumatic, and 2 with other types of heart disease) . The time of bypass was 58 to 234 minutes (mean = 98.7 minutes) . The positive rate of culture was 5% for blood, 40% for sputum, and 15% for pericardial drainage . Many types of bacteria were separated . Most of them were conditional pathogenic bacteria . Postoperative infection was found in 9 patients, (bacteremia in 1 and pulmonary infection in 8.) Tracheostomy was done in 5 cases . In discussion, the authors think that the low defensive ability of the patients with serious heart disease is usually further damaged by bacterial invasion after open heart surgery and that bacterial contamination should be reduced in order to prevent postoperative infection. Laryngorhinootologie, 1990 Oct, 69(10), 554 - 7 {A simple method for the demonstration of the bacterial spectrum in the nose and the nasopharynx in the infection-free interval in children with adenoid hypertrophy}; Hess M et al.; The implications of bacterial colonization and distribution patterns in the nasopharynx and nasal cavities of children with adenoidal hypertrophy without clinical signs of acute infection are to be determined . We examined the spectrum and distribution of the facultative pathogenic bacterial flora in nasal cavities and nasopharynx of children with clinical apparent symptoms or signs of adenoid hypertrophy in an infection free interval . Compared with the nasal cavity we found an accumulation of pathogenic bacteria in the nasopharynx . A transnasal single swab from the nasopharynx showed to be the most effectively practical way to detect clinically relevant pathogenic bacteria . A thin flexible calcium-alginate swab was used in our experiments . Swabbing from the anterior nasal cavities proved to be a minor successful diagnostic method. Int J Exp Pathol, 1990 Oct, 71(5), 701 - 12 Primary biliary cirrhosis in the mouse: induction by human mycoplasma-like organisms; Johnson L et al.; Human intraocular and orbital chronic inflammatory disease with autoimmune features has been reported to be caused by mycoplasma-like organisms (MLO) . MLO are intracellular cell-wall deficient pathogenic bacteria, closely related to rickettsia, with a characteristic ultrastrural pleomorphic tubulo-spherical and filamentous appearance . No culture system has been developed for MLO and diagnosis of MLO disease is made by detecting these bacteria within infected cells using a transmission electron microscope . In human MLO ocular and orbital disease the organisms are found in parasitized leucocytes at the disease site . Inoculation of human MLO into mouse eyelids produces a high incidence of orbital and introcular disease . MLO disseminate to produce randomly distributed lethal systemic disease with infected leucocytes found in all disease sites and with similar histologic features in all disease sites . Microvasculitis is the initial lesion . Disease progression results in lysis of vascular and parenchymal structures, stromal lymphocytic infiltrates, granulomas, and fibrosis . This report describes the hepatic portal chronic progressive inflammatory disease in 11 of 100 of those mice versus 0 in 200 controls . MLO parasitized portal leucocytes are present in all 11 inflamed livers versus 0 in 5 control livers (P less than 0.05) . The resemblance of the animal liver disease induced by MLO to human primary biliary cirrhosis and rifampin treatment of MLO disease are discussed. J Infect Dis, 1990 Oct, 162(4), 949 - 54 An immunogenic 30-kDa surface antigen of pathogenic clinical isolates of Entamoeba histolytica; Blakely P et al.; A 30-kDa surface antigen was identified by Western blots with human immune sera in all 15 isolates of E . histolytica from patients with invasive amebiasis (pathogenic) but not in 15 strains from asymptomatic patients (nonpathogenic) . This antigen is highly immunogenic in naturally infected humans and was recognized by sera from 22 patients with invasive disease but not by sera from 13 patients harboring nonpathogenic strains . Its surface location is supported by its differential extraction in the detergent phase of Triton X-114 and by surface immunofluorescence of live trophozoites . Unlike previously described amebic surface antigens, this 30-kDa antigen is undetectable in axenic strains that were originally isolated from patients with invasive disease but have been adapted to grow without bacteria . Affinity-purified antibody to the 30-kDa antigen did not promote lysis of complement-resistant pathogenic strains . This surface antigen may be diagnostically important in the identification of pathogenic clinical isolates. FEBS Lett, 1990 Sep 3, 269(2), 377 - 80 Structure of syringotoxin, a bioactive metabolite of Pseudomonas syringae pv . syringae; Ballio A et al.; The covalent structure of syringotoxin, a bioactive metabolite of Pseudomonas syringae pv . syringae isolates, pathogenic on various species of citrus trees, has been deduced from 1D and 2D 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra combined with extensive FAB-MS data and results of some chemical reactions . Similarly to syringomicins and syringostatins, produced by other plant pathogenic strains of P . syringae pv . syringae, syringotoxin is a lipodepsinonapeptide . Its peptide moiety corresponds to Ser-Dab-Gly-Hse-Orn-aThr-Dhb-(3-OH)Asp-(4-Cl)Thr with the terminal carboxy group closing a macrocyclic ring on the OH group of the N-terminal Ser, which in turn is N-acetylated by 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid. J Clin Microbiol, 1990 Sep, 28(9), 2154 - 5 Evaluation of monoclonal antibody F9-4 as immunological probe for Leptospira interrogans; Cinco M; I assayed the lack of reactivity of monoclonal antibody (MAb) F9-4 with nonpathogenic leptospires . Of 47 saprophytic strains tested, 46 did not react in an enzyme immunoassay and 1 was recognized by MAb F9-4, as usually reported with pathogenic Leptospira strains . On the other hand, the MAb did not react with one pathogenic strain, thus showing that the ability of MAb F9-4 to discriminate between pathogenic and nonpathogenic leptospires is not absolute. Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1990 Sep, 273(4), 545 - 54 Production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody (P6) reactive to Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Kapoor J et al.; The production and characterization of a murine monoclonal antibody (P6) to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is described . The specificity of the monoclonal antibody, an IgG1/K type, was tested against sonic extracts obtained from 27 mycobacteria and 39 bacteria by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Apparently it was highly specific for the virulent form of M . tuberculosis (H37Rv) and did not react with avirulent strains of M . tuberculosis (H37Ra) and M . bovis (BCG) . It was devoid of reactivity with all other mycobacteria and bacteria except to a reaction of low extent with Nocardia asteroides (11.8%) . The antibody recognized intact M . tuberculosis as well as the sonicate . Various pathogenic strains of M . tuberculosis collected from different geographical locations showed a range of reactivity with this monoclonal antibody . The antibody reacted strongly with M . tuberculosis South Indian (79112) and British strain (wild) and to varying extents with other strains of M . tuberculosis tested . In Western immunoblots, it recognized antigens of 45 and 96 KDa of M . tuberculosis (H37Rv). J Exp Med, 1990 Sep 1, 172(3), 879 - 88 Characterization of an immuno-dominant variable surface antigen from pathogenic and nonpathogenic Entamoeba histolytica; Edman U et al.; A 125-kD surface antigen of Entamoeba histolytica is recognized by 73% of immune sera from patients with amoebic liver abscesses . Using pooled human immune sera a cDNA clone (lambda cM17) encoding this antigen (M17) has been isolated from a lambda gt11 expression library of the virulent stain E . histolytica HM1:IMSS . Monospecific antibodies, purified by binding to phage lysate of lambda cM17, and mAb FA7 reacted exclusively with the 125-kD antigen by Western blot analysis . Surface binding and cap formation are observed with patient sera, purified monospecific antiserum, and mAb FA7 . Corresponding genomic clones (pBSgM17-1/2/3) were isolated by hybridization with the cDNA clone . These contained an open-reading frame of 3345 bp, which is in good agreement with the mRNA size of approximately 3.0 kb as revealed by Northern hybridization with lambda cM17 . The inferred amino acid sequence predicts a 125,513 dalton protein that contains 17 potential N-linked glycosylation sites and is unusually rich in tyrosine and asparagine residues . A distinctly hydrophobic NH2-terminal region may serve as membrane anchor or signal sequence . In contrast to conservation of an immunodominant epitope recognized in pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains by monoclonal FA7 and human immune sera, amplification and sequence analysis of a 1,4000-bp fragment of this gene from a fresh nonpathogenic isolate by use of the PCR demonstrate regions of significant sequence divergence in this antigen . A 1% sequence variability among different isolates of the pathogenic strain HM1:IMSS and a 12-13% variability between pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains are revealed by comparison to published partial amino acid sequences (Tannich, E., R.D . Horstmann, J . Knobloch, and H.H . Arnold . 1989 . Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . USA . 86:5118) . Some restriction enzymes were found that allowed PCR diagnosis of nonpathogenic and pathogenic isolates with the exclusion of E . histolytica-like Laredo, suggesting that a detailed study of nonpathogenic and pathogenic isolates in relation to the M17 antigen sequence will provide a basis of differentiating isolates. Offentl Gesundheitswes, 1990 Aug-Sep, 52(8-9), 432 - 7 {Current questions in parasitology and infection prevention}; Hofler W; Topical treatment of cutaneous larva migrans with thiabendazole and cambendazole is briefly described . AIDS has focused attention on the coccidial parasites Cryptosporidium spp . and Isospora belli because they can be responsible for severe chronic enteritis in immunodeficient patients . The species formerly known as Isospora hominis--after detection of its life cycle--has now been correctly named Sarcocystis bovihominis and S . suihominis, respectively . In future, patients harbouring commensal strains of Entamoeba histolytica can be left untreated, since pathogenic strains can now be identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) . The geographic distribution of malaria risk and drug resistance, side effects of antimalarials and recommendations for prophylaxis are discussed more extensively. Infect Immun, 1990 Aug, 58(8), 2690 - 5 Adhesion of Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic weaned rabbits to intestinal villi and HeLa cells; Milon A et al.; Thirty-eight strains, representative of 575 Escherichia coli isolates from weaned diarrheic rabbits, were tested for their ability to adhere in vitro to rabbit intestinal villi and to HeLa 229 cells . The O103 rhamnose-negative, highly pathogenic strains, which are epidemiologically predominant in France, attached to intestinal villi prepared from 8-day-old as well as 6-week-old rabbits and gave a diffuse adhesion pattern with HeLa cells . These adhesion properties were associated with the presence of a protein with a molecular weight of 32,000 in surface extracts of the strains . The expression of the adhesion was dependent on culture medium and temperature, and the adhesion was D-mannose resistant . Antisera raised against the 32,000-molecular-weight protein inhibited adhesion . This adhesion was not expressed in two nonpathogenic O103 strains, indicating its implication in virulence . However, the same adhesin was expressed by two O128 non- or moderately pathogenic strains . Therefore, adhesion to enterocytes is not the only factor involved in the pathogenicity of O103 strains. Clin Chim Acta, 1990 Jul, 189(1), 39 - 46 Use of a new simplified assay for phospholipase A2 to measure bacterial enzyme levels; Lumb MR et al.; During investigation of possible phospholipase A2 (PLA2) production by pathogenic bacteria associated with preterm labour, a rapid and simple assay method was developed which involved few steps and which could be applied easily to large numbers of samples . The principle difference from previously described methods lies in separation of the reaction products by partitioning them between organic and aqueous solvents, rather than by using thin layer chromatography . This enabled us to determine that none of the bacteria studied released PLA2 into the culture medium spontaneously, and that only Escherichia coli contained high levels of PLA2. J Struct Biol, 1990 Jul-Sep, 104(1-3), 163 - 8 Contribution of electron microscopy in the study of the interactions between pathogenic bacteria and their host cells; Ryter A; Our knowledge on the functional anatomy of bacteria is based on the electron microscopic (EM) studies performed during the last forty years . Most pathogenic properties however cannot be visualized in EM because they are not related to defined structures . In contrast, EM studies have provided important data on the behaviour of pathogenic bacteria in their host cells . They have shown that many bacterial species have developed different stratagems to survive and multiply in their host cell . Some are even able to use the host cell machinery to move and invade adjacent cells. Am J Vet Res, 1990 Jun, 51(6), 958 - 62 Acute airsacculitis in turkeys inoculated with phorbol myristate acetate; Ficken MD et al.; Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), which induces acute pulmonary injury in mammals, induced acute airsacculitis in turkeys after intra-airsac inoculation of 0.1 mg/kg . Grossly, air sacs contained multifocal to diffuse hemorrhage and edema at postinoculation hours (PIH) 3 and 6 . Microscopically, there was multifocal congestion and small thrombocyte aggregates within small blood vessels by PIH 0.5, with a few vessels containing small numbers of marginating heterophils . By PIH 1.5, thrombocyte aggregates were larger and more numerous, and moderate numbers of heterophils were located perivascularly . Erythrocytes and proteinaceous fluid were in air sac interstitium . By PIH 3 and 6, hemorrhage and exudation of proteinaceous fluid had increased, in some instances severely distending the air sac . Ultrastructurally, changes resulting from PMA-induced injury were thrombocyte aggregation and degeneration, air sac epithelial cell vacuolation with separation of interdigitating cell processes, and endothelial cell vacuolar degeneration with loss of vascular integrity . Air sac lavage fluids had mildly increased total cell counts by PIH 1.5, but values returned to baseline by the end of the experiment, indicating lack of cell exudation into the air sac lumen . Circulating leukocyte changes included transient lymphopenia at PIH 3 and marked heterophilia at PIH 6 . These results indicate that thrombocytes and/or heterophils are central to the pathogenesis of injury induced in air sacs by PMA and that the air sac responds differently to PMA than to pathogenic bacteria. J Bacteriol, 1990 Jun, 172(6), 2930 - 4 tRNA genes in mycobacteria: organization and molecular cloning; Bhargava S et al.; DNAs from nine mycobacteria cleaved with restriction endonucleases were hybridized with cDNA probes synthesized to tRNAs from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis . The tRNA genes are conserved, but their gross genomic organization has diverged in six of the nine species examined . Organisms of the M . tuberculosis H37Ra and H37Rv-M . bovis BCG complex appeared to have identical tRNA gene organization and were indistinguishable from each other . M . tuberculosis and M . smegmatis tRNA-derived cDNA probes hybridized differentially to tRNA-coding DNA segments in five of the species examined, suggesting the existence of qualitatively different tRNA pools in these slow- and fast-growing species . Mycobacterial DNAs hybridized with cDNA synthesized to 23S plus 16S rRNAs from Escherichia coli, and the data suggested that the tRNA genes map close to the rRNA genes . A gene bank of M . tuberculosis H37Rv DNA was constructed, and a recombinant plasmid, pSB2, coding for tRNA(s) and rRNA(s) was partially characterized . Plasmid pSB2 recognized a SalI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in M . tuberculosis H37Rv and H37Ra; however, the RFLP is not linked to the tRNA-coding region . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an RFLP which distinguishes the pathogenic strain M . tuberculosis H37Rv from its avirulent derivative H37Ra. Middle East J Anesthesiol, 1990 Jun, 10(5), 479 - 87 Recolonization of anesthetic instruments after regular treatment with potentially pathogenic organisms; Takrouri MS et al.; Anesthetic instruments are classified as classes B with regard to sterilization status . This means that washing with soap and water or other detergents is sufficient for reuse . A prospective study was conducted over a 6 month period in the operating (rooms) theatres at Princess Basma Teaching Hospital on anesthetic instruments including laryngoscopes, oxygen masks, airways, tracheal tubes and suction catheters . Fifteen different samples were taken randomly at different sites on these instruments after they had been prepared conventionally for use, and these samples were cultured for bacterial contamination (e.g . P . Aeruginosa) . The results showed that potentially pathogenic bacteria were colonizing these instruments . It was concluded that these instruments are important vehicles for transmitting various agents of infection and play an important role in causing nosocomial infections . It is recommended that more effective methods be used for sterilizing these instruments. Biomed Chromatogr, 1990 Mar, 4(2), 70 - 2 Rapid detection of extended ganglio-series gangliosides with terminal GalNAc beta 1-4Gal sequence on high performance thin layer chromatography plates; Muthing J et al.; The mouse monoclonal antibody 2D4, which recognizes the terminal GalNAc beta 1-4Gal-disaccharide of GgOse3Cer and GgOse5Cer, was used for the detection of ganglio-series gangliosides . The method involves separation of gangliosides on thin layer chromatography plates, followed by silica gel fixation, Arthrobacter ureafaciens neuraminidase treatment and final immunostaining of desialylated gangliosides with the monoclonal antibody 2D4 . Both neuraminidase and the hybridoma 2D4 producing the specific monoclonal antibody are commercially available and therefore accessible to all researchers working in this field . Gangliosides from mouse T lymphocytes and the mouse T cell lymphoma YAC-1 have been used as examples . This technique may be used for fast screening of gangliosides with the GgOse5Cer core structure which have been described as T cell markers, antigens in human neuronal disease and receptors for certain pathogenic bacteria. Virus Res, 1990 Mar, 15(3), 237 - 42 A host range mutant of Newcastle disease virus with an altered cleavage site for proteolytic activation of the F protein; Pritzer E et al.; The primary structure of the F protein of a host range mutant of the Ulster strain of Newcastle Disease virus (NDV) has been determined by nucleotide sequence analysis and compared to that of the wild type and other NDV strains . The cleavage site of the mutant had the sequence Gly-Lys-Gln-Arg-Arg as compared to two isolated basic amino acids {Gly-Lys(Arg)-Gln-Gly-Arg} with the apathogenic strains and two pairs of basic amino acids {Arg-Arg-Gln-Lys(Arg)-Arg} with the pathogenic strains . The data indicate that the cleavability of the F protein of NDV increases with the number of arginine and lysine residues at the cleavage site and that the susceptibility of the pathogenic strains to ubiquitous host proteases depends on both pairs of basic amino acids. Nippon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi, 1990 Mar, 32(1), 93 - 110 {The effect of superoxide dismutase on the inflammation induced by periodontal pathogenic bacteria and wound healing of gingival incision}; Misaki H et al.; The therapeutic effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the role of O2- were assessed on 3 groups of Wistar rats (total 115) . Fifty-four received injections of gingival bacteria or of anaerobically cultured rat dental plaque in their peritoneum, then received both intravenous (i.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of SOD . The rats were killed 48 hours later to collect their peritoneal exudate for cell count and for acid phosphatase activity assessment . Twenty-six received injections of bacteria in their footpads, after which SOD was administered intravenously . These rats were killed at 6 hours, 48 hours and 1 week respectively for histological examination . The gingiva of 26 rats were incised to create artificial lesions . The rats were killed at 24 or 48 hours and examined histologically . The nine remaining rats were used as controls (untreated) for the 3 experiments . The results of the 3 experiments showed that: Injection of SOD reduced exudation and acid phosphatase activity enhanced by the injection of B . gingivalis, at dosages of 1, 5 mg/kg i.p . and 5 mg/kg i.v., but 10 mg/kg i.p . had no apparent effect; i.v . injection of SOD had inhibitory effects on cell infiltration of B . gingivalis into the footpad, and the increase in fibrin and fibroblast formation through time was greater in SOD-administered rats; a decreased cell infiltration rate and increased fibrin network, fibroblast proliferation and gingival tissue regeneration occurred in specimens with artificial lesions given SOD . Apparently SOD has a curative effect on both inflammatory reaction induced by B . gingivalis and periodontal wound healing. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1990 Feb, 79(2), 219 - 25 Chest X-ray appearances in pneumonia and bronchiolitis . Correlation to virological diagnosis and secretory bacterial findings; Friis B et al.; Chest X-ray findings were related to virus diagnosis, age and secretory bacterial findings in 128 infants and children under 7 years of age with clinical pneumonia and bronchiolitis . They belonged to a cohort examined in connection with the introduction of rapid methods for virological diagnosis . Seventy-six children had a virus infection diagnosed by examination of nasopharyngeal secretion and/or by serological methods . Thirty-seven of these children were classified as having pathogenic bacteria of importance in the respiratory tract . Four groups were compared: virus infected children with or without bacteria in the secretion and the corresponding virus negative groups . The X-rays were normal significantly more often in the virus positive/bacteria negative group compared with the other groups . Alveolar pneumonia appearing as lobar or segmental consolidations ("lobar" pneumonia) was observed with equal frequency and without relation to bacterial findings in the virus positive and the virus negative groups . But it was more often observed in the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infected children under 6 months of age compared with the older RSV children . In comparison disperse alveolar infiltrations ("bronchopneumonia") mostly appeared in the virus positive group . Interstitial pneumonia and peribronchitis were often present together in children over 6 months of age . There was no significant difference in the X-ray appearances in the groups with and without bacterial findings in the tracheal secretion except for a higher frequency of normal chest radiographs in the bacteria negative group. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol, 1990 Feb, 26(2), 140 - 6 Interactions of cultured rat synovial and ocular ciliary body cells with two strains of Mycoplasma arthritidis; Thirkill CE et al.; Strains of Mycoplasma arthritidis differ in their ability to cause joint and ocular inflammations . Although the reasons for this difference are not fully understood, pathogenic mycoplasmas commonly require close associations with the cells they damage . Using 3H-uridine labeled mycoplasma, we compared cellular interactions of in vitro cultivated rat synovial and ocular ciliary body epithelial cells with two American Type Culture Collection strains of M . arthriditis shown to differ in their virulence . Radiolabeling assays gave evidence of a stronger retention capability on cultured cells by the more pathogenic strain, 14152 . Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated cellular associations with the two strains of mycoplasma, with more of the 14152 adhering to both cell types . Examination by transmission electron microscopy showed evidence of contact between the more virulent 14152 strain and both cell types, but no similar evidence with the comparatively less virulent strain, 19611 . The pathogenicity of different strains of M . arthritidis may vary according to their ability to closely associate with specific target cells involved in the disease process. Jugosl Ginekol Perinatol, 1990 Jan-Apr, 30(1-2), 19 - 21 {Bacterial flora in the reproductive system in the intra-amniotic infection syndrome}; Curzik D et al.; By the bacteriological aerobic analysis of the cervical swabs of 64 pregnant women with a subacute syndrome of intraamniotic infection in the 16th and 28th gestation weeks, pathogenic bacteria were isolated in 59 women (92.2%) and out of the swabs of 30 young girls with less sexual experience, 8 (26.7%) showed the presence of pathogenic bacteria, the difference being statistically highly significant (X2 V 56.9, p less than 0.001) . From the ejaculates of the husbands of the same pregnant women, pathogenic bacterial were isolated in 57 of them (89.1%) and from the ejaculates of the controlled groups of young adolescents, pathogenic bacteria were isolated in 5 of them (16.7%), the difference being again statistically highly significant (X2 = 62.2, p less than 0.001) . Comparing bacteria from the swabs of pregnant women with the syndrome of intraamniotic infection with those from the semen of their husbands, it has been found that the bacteria were identical in 40.6% if only one kind of bacteria was isolated and in 68.7% if several kinds of bacteria were isolated from the swab or ejaculates . In the group of 30 young girls a statistically significant dependence of pathogenic bacteria on the number of partners in their sexual life was observed (X2 = 4.54, p less than 0.05); pathogenic bacteria were isolated only once from the swabs of girls with only one partner and 6 times from the swabs of girls with two or more sexual partners. Vestn Dermatol Venerol, 1990, (1), 23 - 5 {The preservation of strains of pathogenic Treponema pallidum in BALB/c mice}; Bednova VN et al.; A clinical and serologic follow-up of 307 BALB/c mice and 12 rabbits injected with the blood and brain and spinal tissue of mice infected with 5 strains of T . pallidum has demonstrated the possibility of a prolonged (up to 465 days) preservation of pathogenic T . pallidum strains in these mice, as well as the regularity of a syphilitic infection development in rabbits . This permits recommending T . pallidum pathogenic strains to be maintained in mice at laboratories of institutions for skin and sexually transmitted diseases where experimental and diagnostic studies with the use of specific serologic tests for syphilis are carried out. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1990 Jan, 25 Suppl A, 11 - 4 In-vitro activity of azithromycin and CP-63,956 against Treponema pallidum; Stamm LV et al.; The ability of the macrolide antibiotic azithromycin and its epimer CP-63,956 to inhibit protein synthesis in two pathogenic strains of Treponema pallidum was investigated . Using an in-vitro radiolabelling procedure employing treponemes freshly extracted from infected rabbit testes, our results indicate that both antibiotics were comparable with erythromycin in their ability to inhibit protein synthesis in T . pallidum Nichols strain . An erythromycin-resistant clinical isolate of T . pallidum, designated Street strain 14, exhibited only partial inhibition of protein synthesis at the highest antibiotic concentration tested. J Med Vet Mycol, 1990, 28(5), 395 - 403 Identification of extracellular siderophores of pathogenic strains of Aspergillus fumigatus; Nilius AM et al.; Clinical and environmental isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus synthesized extracellular siderophores when grown in defined medium . Six hydroxamate siderophores were purified from culture filtrates and identified by thin layer chromatography . The most prominent siderophore was identified as N,N',N"-triacetylfusarinine C and the second most prominent siderophore was identified as ferricrocin . In addition, a hydrolytic product of N,N',N"-triacetylfusarinine C was identified . Three other siderophores were present in smaller amounts and were not identified . Since the same siderophores were produced by isolates from diseases of varying severity and from environmental material, it is unlikely that the extracellular siderophores function as virulence factors during infection . However, they may function as growth factors by mediating iron uptake by the fungus in the micro-environment of the inflammatory focus. Sci Prog, 1990, 74(295 Pt 3), 279 - 90 Genetic mechanisms for modulating virulence determinants on the bacterial surface; Saunders JR; Many pathogenic bacteria gain considerable advantage in being able to vary the nature of their surfaces . This means that the stimulus presented to the immune systems of their animal or human hosts is varied . Consequently such pathogens can evade certain host defences and either prolong the course of disease or ensure that repeated infections are possible because the host does not develop lasting immunity . In recent years evidence has been accumulating for a complex variety of genetic mechanisms that allow bacteria to switch the expression of their surface components on and off and also to vary the structural and antigenic nature of those components . Most of the mechanisms that will be discussed here involve rearrangements of structural or controlling genes within the bacterial chromosome or in some cases between plasmids . The role of such changes in the evolution of pathogens and bacteria in general will be discussed. Acta Chir Hung, 1990, 31(3), 191 - 5 Evaluation of preoperative hospitalization duration in skin flora; Coelho JC et al.; The skin microbial flora of 18 patients was evaluated during prolonged preoperative hospital stay . Five cultures for bacteria and fungi were obtained on different days: on admission one, three and seven days after admission and after skin disinfection with povidone-iodine solution . There was no change in the mean bacterial count from the admission day to seven days after admission . All but one culture obtained following skin disinfection were negative . Pathogenic bacteria were isolated in only one of each of the following culture day: admission, three and seven days after admission . All cultures were negative for yeasts . The findings suggest that the higher rate of wound sepsis observed in patients with long preoperative hospitalization may not be due to bacterial flora change. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1989 Dec, 69(12), 687 - 9, 48 {A new pathogen of farmer's lung disease-Streptomyces thermohygroscopicus and its antigen analysis related to diagnosis}; Zhu JY; Streptomyces thermohygroscopicus (H9-4) is a new pathogenic strain of farmer's lung disease (FLD) which is wide spread in Hubei province . Experimental "farmer's lung" in mice C87 was induced with the metabolites of this strain . Rabbits also suffered from the same FLD with characteristic pathogenic changes after aspiration of dried powder of this organism . For analysis of antigen fractions, with diagnostic value from this crude antigen of H9-4 SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting technic was employed and sera of 82 patients suffering from FLD from several districts were tested with this technic and the results revealed IgG antibodies could recognize the antigen-peptides from Mw 73 Kd and 68 Kd which were main antigen-peptides or pathogenic antigen to the disease . Sera of patients with present illness could recognize the peptide antigen between 11-90 Kd . In addition, all serum samples from healthy controls and from patients suffering from other respiratory diseases gave negative results . Therefore we conclude that SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting technic can be used in the diagnosis of FLD. Immun Infekt, 1989 Dec, 17(6), 199 - 205 {Genetic regulatory mechanisms of bacterial virulence}; Hacker J et al.; Bacterial virulence is due to the action of different virulence factors (e.g . adhesins, toxins, capsules) . Virulence factors are encoded by special genes termed as virulence genes or virulence determinants . The degree of virulence of one particular bacterial strain depends on the activity of the corresponding virulence genes . Several mechanisms are involved in the regulation of activity of virulence determinants: plasmids and bacteriophages may be received or lost and chromosomal sequences may be deleted . Such processes are directly responsible for the presence or absence of virulence genes in the bacterial genome . Programmed genetic rearrangements may lead to a switch of promoter sequences and are therefore responsible for a variation of virulence expression . "Jumping" of DNA sequences (transposition) and subsequent recombinational events may also cause antigenic variation of virulence factors . In addition frame shift mutations may influence the expression of virulence genes . Transregulatory factors may also influence the expression of virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria . These systems positively influence the expression of different virulence factors in a coordinative manner . They can be triggered by environmental signals. FEBS Lett, 1989 Oct 9, 256(1-2), 207 - 10 Purification and characterization of an extracellular lectin from Mycobacterium smegmatis; Kundu M et al.; Mycobacteria exist naturally in aggregated form and pathogenic strains colonize macrophages . A lectin has been isolated from the culture broth of M . smegmatis, which may, possibly, have an important role in either or both of these phenomena . The lectin of Mr 12,000-14,000 agglutinates erythrocytes from different species, and agglutination is reversed by arabinogalactan isolated from mycobacteria, as well as by yeast mannan . It has a pI of 5.5 and is rich in aspartic and glutamic acid residues. Hybridoma, 1989 Oct, 8(5), 545 - 50 In vitro stimulation of nonimmunized, naturally infected rat spleen cells for the production of Mycoplasma pulmonis-specific monoclonal antibodies; Jarvill KJ et al.; Spleen cells derived from rats naturally-infected with Mycoplasma pulmonis were stimulated in vitro, and then fused with a mouse myeloma cell line . The resulting hybridomas were screened for mycoplasma-specific Mabs by ELISA and for hemolysis-blocking activities . Fusions performed with in vitro-treated spleen cells yielded larger numbers of growth-positive wells and antibody secreting cells than untreated spleen cells from the same animals . Hybridomas derived from naturally-infected animals gave a higher percentage of hemolysin-specific monoclonal antibodies than did hyperimmunized animals . This indicated that B cell priming during mucosal infections can produce antigen-primed spleen cells . Stimulation of these cells in vitro can result in monoclonal antibodies against antigens not normally recognized during immunization with in vitro grown pathogenic bacteria. Rev Chir Oncol Radiol O R L Oftalmol Stomatol Ser Stomatol, 1989 Oct-Dec, 36(4), 279 - 85 {Periodontal diseases with Entamoeba gingivalis}; Sefer M et al.; At the beginning of our century Entamoeba gingivalis was considered to be a pathogenic bacteria, capable to induce parodontal lesions . Later on it was also found in healthy persons, and the germ was less interesting from the medical view-point . In the present study the authors report their findings concerning E . gingivalis in 135 patients with various stomatological affections including: dental caries, parodontopathies, pulpitis, gangrene, ulcero-necrotic stomatitis etc . The study was started following the discovery of the amoeba in the gingival exsudate of a male aged 19 years with chronic superficial marginal parodontopathy, who, after a treatment with metronidazol, was cured . Entamoeba gingivalis belongs to the Rhizopoda class, together with E . dysenteriae, and E . coli, but, in contrast with these strains it does not have resistance forms (cysts) . Oral amoeba were evidenced in 18 out of 78 patients with parodontal lesions (23.07%), in the gingival exsudate, the purulent secretion from parodontal pouches, in the dental tartar, the alveolar fluid following extraction etc . In 117 students from the Faculty of Stomatology, and in 57 patients with various other stomatological affections these germs were not found in any of the abovementioned products . Microscopic examination of fresh preparations, and of Giemsa-stained smears was the main method for the detection of the amoeba . The etiopathogenic role of E . gingivalis is re-examined in discussions regarding certain parodontopathies. Infect Immun, 1989 Aug, 57(8), 2588 - 90 Cloning of a hemolysin gene from Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo; del Real G et al.; A DNA fragment encoding both hemolysin and sphingomyelinase C activity was cloned from the pathogenic bacterium Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo . Initial clones were obtained by screening a genomic library in EMBL3 for hemolytic activity . Both hemolytic and sphingomyelinase C activities were coded for by a 3.9-kilobase BamHI fragment . The hemolysin was expressed from its own promoter in Escherichia coli K-12 . Similar DNA sequences were also present in the serovars tarassovi and ballum. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1989 Aug, (8), 37 - 42 {Study of the plasmid composition of various strains of Treponema pallidum}; Piruzian AL; Plasmid DNA has been isolated by soft alkaline and hard alkaline lysis from a pathogenic strain (Nichols) and two cultural strains (Reiter and VIII) of Treponema pallidum . Plasmid DNA was identified in all three strains . The molecular mass of identified plasmid DNA is 7 x 10(6) daltons according to the data of electrophoretic analysis in the agarose gel. Arch Surg, 1989 Aug, 124(8), 973 - 7 Effects of biliary obstruction on hepatic clearance of bacteria; Allen MO et al.; High surgical mortality in patients with obstructive jaundice and sepsis have been attributed to reticuloendothelial system (RES) depression . The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of mechanical biliary obstruction on RES clearance of pathogenic bacteria by comparing the phagocytic index (K) with the directly measured hepatic uptake of indium 111-labeled bacteria injected into the portal vein of normal dogs and dogs with partial (PBO) or complete biliary obstruction (CBO) . No significant difference was observed between the K in normal dogs (0.19 +/- 0.08; n = 6) and that in dogs with PBO (0.24 +/- 0.06; n = 5) or CBO (0.21 +/- 0.03; n = 4) . There was no significant difference in uptake of radiolabel by the liver among the three groups of dogs . In our model, biliary obstruction had no effect on hepatic RES function and may not represent a significant determinant of mortality in patients with obstructive jaundice. J Pediatr Surg, 1989 Jul, 24(7), 674 - 6 Hypoalbuminemia may predispose infants to necrotizing enterocolitis; Atkinson SD et al.; Numerous risk factors for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) including prematurity, bowel ischemia, pathogenic bacteria, and hyperosmolar feedings have been proposed . Recent studies have demonstrated feeding intolerance and bowel dysfunction in children with hypoalbuminemia . No association between hypoalbuminemia and NEC has been suggested . The records of 45 patients with NEC and complete documentation of prenatal and birth histories were reviewed . A control (CONT) group of 90 children matched for maternal age (+/- 1 year), parity, gestational age (+/- 1 week), birth weight (+/- 20 g), type of delivery, sex, race, type of initial feeding, and perinatal stress was compiled . While all other measured parameters were similar in the two groups, premorbid albumin was significantly lower in the patients who subsequently developed NEC (P less than .001) . These data suggest that newborns with hypoalbuminemia may have an increased risk of developing NEC. Behring Inst Mitt, 1989 Jul, (84), 220 - 9 C1q interactions with cell surface receptors; Tenner AJ; The defense mechanisms initiated by the human body against foreign entities such as invading pathogenic bacteria and viruses involve intricate sequences of interactions between cells and macromolecules of the immune system . The complement system is a multienzymatic cascade which upon activation by either of two distinct mechanisms leads to the assembly of a common membranolytic complex of proteins, as well as the generation of protein fragments which mediate inflammation and enhance phagocytosis . It has now been clearly established that C1q, the initial component of the classical complement pathway, interacts in a specific manner with several immunologically important cell types, including B cells, monocytes, macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Thus it has an uncommon potential for participating in a cellular-humoral immune network . Furthermore, since it binds both antibody-antigen complexes and other non-antibody containing activators of the classical complement pathway, C1q could provide a very efficient, direct means of modulating the immune response especially during early stages of disease when little or no antibody is present . In vitro, C1q has been shown to be capable of stimulating a number of potentially useful immune cell functions including the enhancement of phagocytosis, stimulation of oxygen radical generation and stimulation of immunoglobulin secretion . In addition, individuals which are genetically C1q-deficient develop immune-complex related disease (primarily lupus-like) and/or have severe bouts with infection . Thus, while the structure and mode of action of the cell surface C1q receptor(s) are currently unclear, it is clear that C1q has multiple significant effects on cellular immune function. Rev Argent Microbiol, 1989 Jul-Dec, 21(3-4), 120 - 6 {Protection against encephalitis in rats caused by a pathogenic strain of the Junin virus, using peripheral inoculation of an attenuated strain}; Remesar MC et al.; Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever manifests itself in man either subclinically or in hemorrhagic or neurological forms, mortality reaching 20% . Although Candid 1 strain is undergoing pilot trials, current therapy still resorts to convalescent serum administration . A neurological model was used to evaluate protection conferred by the attenuated XJC13 Junin virus strain . Newborn rats inoculated intraperitoneally (ip) prove resistant, whereas 8-12 day-old animals infected by intracerebral route with the XJ prototype strain suffer 100% mortality with neurological signs . The aim of this study was to achieve protection in this model and attempt to elucidate the mechanisms involved in resistance . It was observed that the longer the inoculation challenge interval, the greater was the survival percentage . In protected animals, brain viral titres were 3 log lower than in challenged controls, while XJC13 infected unchallenged controls presented low CNS values throughout . Neutralizing antibody levels were not significantly different in experimental versus challenged control groups, ruling out any secondary booster effect on protected rats . Neither the transfer of immunoserum nor of endogenous or exogenous interferon altered mortality . However, when splenocytes from rats infected 10 days previously were transferred prior to XJ challenge, survival was increased to 50%, but there was no gain in protection when cells were treated with antithymocyte serum plus complement . Consequently, protection in this neurological model can be attributed to a cellular immune response. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, 1989 Jul-Aug, 31(4), 248 - 55 Prevention of electrocardiographic and histopathologic alterations in the murine model of Chagas' disease by preinoculation of an attenuated Trypanosoma cruzi strain; Cuneo CA et al.; The effects of infection with Trypanosoma cruzi on the electrocardiographic tracings of mice were studied in 4 groups of animals: (1) normal; (2) infected with a pathogenic T . cruzi strain (TS COB); (3) immunized with 3 intraperitoneal inocula of 10(6) attenuated T . cruzi epimastigotes (TCC) and (4) immunized-infected, which sequentially received the treatments of groups 3 and 2 . Infection and protection were confirmed by xenodiagnosis and histopathology . Isolated alterations such as extrasystolia, 1st degree atrioventricular block, arrhythmia and ST elevation were observed in normal as well as infected mice . However, tracings taken repeatedly on each mouse over a 293 day period revealed a set of alterations which were more frequently seen in infected (14/22) than in normal (4/27) animals (p = 0.00048) . These alterations consisted of supraventricular tachycardia, sinus bradycardia and persisting, first degree AV blocks, often associated to pacemaker changes . Inoculation of attenuated T . cruzi (group 3) did not increase these alterations (2/27 mice) but significantly prevented their development after challenge with the pathogenic strain (1/19 versus 14/22 mice, p = 0.000095) . Thus, preimmunization reduced not only parasitemia but also a pathogenic consequence of T . cruzi infection . This evidence is relevant for immunoprevention studies against Chagas' disease. Am J Med Sci, 1989 Jun, 297(6), 377 - 82 Comparison of tracheal aspirates and protected brush catheter specimens for identifying pathogenic bacteria in mechanically ventilated patients; Lambert RS et al.; Bacterial respiratory infections are common in patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation, and antibiotic selection often is based upon the results of smears and cultures of tracheal aspirates (TA) . This study was designed to determine the reliability of gram stains, cultures and antibody-coating of bacteria in TA by comparing them with the results of quantitative cultures of specimens obtained by protected brush catheters (PBC) inserted into involved areas of lung parenchyma . Twenty-two patients on mechanical ventilation for at least 72 hours, with new radiographic infiltrates and fever, were studied . Tracheal aspiration was performed in the usual manner using sterile disposable kits . Immediately thereafter, patients underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and PBC-specimens were obtained from the areas of new radiographic infiltrates . Tracheal aspirates were gram stained and cultured aerobically, and antibody coating of bacteria was determined by fluorescence microscopy . Quantitative culture of PBC specimens contained greater than or equal to 10(3) colony forming units per brush in 16 of the 22 patients; a smaller number of organisms was present in two additional patients . In TA from all 22 patients, gram stains revealed polymorphonuclear neutrophils and bacteria . Cultures of TA revealed potential pathogens in 20 patients, and in 15, multiple pathogens were present . The bacteria isolated from PBC also were present in 14 of the 16 patients with greater than or equal to 10(3) CFU in PBC cultures (88%) . Antibody coating was present in TA from 12 patients, and antibody coating correlated poorly with cultures of PBC specimens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1989 May, 115(5), 571 - 80 Extensive variations in nasal mucosa in infants with and without recurrent acute otitis media . A scanning electron-microscopic study; Jorgensen F et al.; Biopsy specimens of the nasal mucosa from the inferior turbinate of infants aged 2 to 26 months were examined by scanning electron microscopy . The specimens were obtained from 23 clinically healthy infants and compared with those from 43 infants with recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) . Potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 61% of the control subjects and 90% of those with RAOM . Infants with RAOM had about as extensive alterations as the healthy ones . A single healthy child and one with RAOM had what was interpreted as a normal nasal mucosa; all others showed reduced frequencies of ciliated cells, deformation of cilia, extensive loss of normal mucosal epithelium, and metaplasia in their nasal epithelial lining . Severely damaged area could be seen close to more normal ones . Nasal mucosa in clinically healthy infants rarely had a normal appearance, probably due to frequent infections and the fairly long time needed for the repair process . We proposed that the high frequency of damaged, incompletely healed nasal mucosa may constitute an important factor with regard to the susceptibility to further infections. Radiologe, 1989 Apr, 29(4), 170 - 5 {Is bacterial osteomyelitis of the spine spondylitis or spondylodiscitis?}; Elke M et al.; This is a retrospective study of 43 patients with pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis . Results obtained with several diagnostic methods, including myelography and CT are described and the usefulness of the different methods is assessed . The frequency of occurrence of the pathogenic bacteria, the focal localization, and the interval between early symptoms and diagnosis are determined . Involvement of intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebrae indicates the development of spondylodiscitis . There are several reasons to characterize the vertebral osteomyelitis as spondylodiscitis too. Kitasato Arch Exp Med, 1989 Apr, 62(1), 1 - 9 Hideyo Noguchi's research on yellow fever (1918-1928) in the pre-electron microscopic era; Kantha SS; One of the low points in Hideyo Noguchi's career as a pioneer medical microbiologist was his investigations on yellow fever between 1918 and 1924 in Central and South America . His discovery that spirochete Leptospira icteroides was the causative pathogen of yellow fever was discredited in 1927 . This paper evaluates the situation under which Noguchi conducted his experiments and assesses the causes which might have resulted in his erroneous interpretation in the pre-electron microscopic era . Even 60 years after Noguchi's untimely death, much remains to be known about the virulence of pathogenic strains of yellow fever. J Chemother, 1989 Apr, 1 Suppl 1, 12 - 8 The role of the skin in nosocomial infection: a review; Emmerson AM; This paper reviews the role that skin plays in nosocomial infection . Skin is heavily colonised with a variety of commensal and potentially pathogenic bacteria and poses an important source of hospital acquired infection . Several outbreaks of skin infection are described in which the source and route of infection have been identified . Some of the factors implicated in the survival and dispersal of skin pathogens are described. Ric Clin Lab, 1989 Apr-Jun, 19(2), 179 - 85 Isoenzyme analysis of Entamoeba histolytica for evaluation of pathogenicity: detection of zymodeme XIX in South America; Di Perri G et al.; Authors report the results of the isoenzyme analysis of strains of Entamoeba histolytica isolated from international travellers . This recently developed method allows the detection of pathogenic strains by evaluating the electrophoretic mobility of cytoplasmic enzymes and was proved to be more reliable and quickly feasible than previous ones . The experience reported refers to three strains isolated from travellers coming from Ecuador, Brazil and Indonesia, respectively; the zymodeme XIX (in accordance with the Sargeaunt's classification) was identified in all the three cases . This zymodeme has been first detected in 1981 and should currently be considered rare; moreover, it has never been previously reported from the Americas. J Chemother, 1989 Apr, 1(2), 113 - 22 Therapy of entamebiasis; Di Perri G et al.; Therapy of entamebiasis is critical in that, if untreated, the disease can be fatal . Recently, a new method for differentiating pathogenic and non-pathogenic amebae has been standardized . This method relies upon the electrophoretic analysis of 4 isoenzymes which allow the identification of 20 different zymodemes . It is now widely accepted that non-pathogenic strains of Entamoeba histolytica are not a hazard for humans and therefore don't need therapy . As a consequence, treatment must be addressed only toward infections caused by pathogenic strains . As there are different drugs available for treating amebiasis, from a therapeutical point of view the disease must be divided into two forms: intestinal and extraintestinal . For the former, drugs which reach therapeutical levels in the gut are required . The mainstay for the treatment of asymptomatic carriage of pathogenic strains is DILOXANIDE FUROATE, a very well tolerated luminal amebicide . METRONIDAZOLE and other 5-nitroimidazole compounds such as ORNIDAZOLE are indicated for the treatment of symptomatic intestinal infections as they reach good concentrations in tissues, including the bowel where ulcerations develop . In order to ensure the clearance of amebae from the gut, a subsequent cycle with diloxanide furoate is advisable . Extraintestinal forms include amebic abscesses which can develop in many sites, but most commonly in the liver . Metronidazole and related compounds are the drugs of choice; in case of liver abscess, the addition of CHLOROQUINE is indicated because of its good concentration in tissues . A subsequent cycle with diloxanide furoate is also indicated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Klin Wochenschr, 1989 Mar 15, 67(6), 349 - 56 {Insufficiency of intra-abdominal immunity to infection in purulent peritonitis--sequela of disordered foreign body opsonization}; Billing A et al.; Despite a high concentration of serum proteins and intact phagocytes peritonitis exudates contain a large number of viable, pathogenic bacteria . The reason for this biological paradox is unknown . Our investigations reveal a pronounced defect in humoral opsonization of foreign particles in peritonitis exudate . We evaluated a modified chemiluminescence system allowing the determination of opsonic activity in serum and exudate . In serum we found a close correlation between opsonic activity and immunologically measurable levels of C3-complement and IgG . In purulent peritonitis exudates, however, the actual opsonizing activity was much less than expected according to the opsonin concentrations . We found a pronounced difference between immunologically determined opsonin levels and impaired opsonic function . Employing crossed immunoelectrophoresis massive C3-splitting into smaller fragments could be demonstrated in peritonitis exudates . In these exudates we found very high concentrations of granulocyte proteolytic (elastase) and oxidative (myeloperoxidase) enzymes which may lead to a functional destruction of opsonins followed by impaired opsonization in peritonitis exudate . The great number of bacteria and foreign particles in addition can cause a pronounced physiological consumption of complement components . The almost complete breakdown of intact C3-complement in intraabdominal exudate explains the deficient host defence in patients with severe peritonitis. Br Poult Sci, 1989 Mar, 30(1), 39 - 48 Genetic differences in susceptibility to a mixture of avian infectious bronchitis virus and Escherichia coli; Bumstead N et al.; Two-week-old chickens of 9 inbred and partially inbred lines of chickens were challenged intranasally with a mixed infection consisting of a pool of virulent strains of infectious bronchitis virus and a pool of pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli . 2 . Wide differences in mortality were observed in the different lines, ranging from 3% in a Brown Leghorn line to 87% in White Leghorn line 7(2) . 3 . Experiments involving challenge with E . coli alone or virus alone suggested that this variation reflected resistance to the virus rather than to E . coli . 4 . Reciprocal F1 matings suggested these differences in mortality were not attributable to maternal effects and indicated that the inheritance of resistance was fully dominant . 5 . The pattern of mortality in F2 and backcross progeny of matings was compatible with the inheritance of a dominant autosomal resistance gene and showed no evidence of association with the major histocompatibility complex. J Med Virol, 1989 Feb, 27(2), 164 - 9 Shedding of coronavirus-like particles by children in Lesotho; Kidd AH et al.; Stools from 266 children in four districts of Lesotho were examined for viruses by electron microscopy (EM) over a 5-week period . Eighty one (30.5%) of the children shed coronavirus-like particles (CVLPs) . Shedding was not significantly associated with diarrhea . The proportion of children shedding these particles increased with increasing age . In one district, the prevalence of CVLP shedding (67.9%) was at least twice the prevalence in any of the other three districts . This was the only district to be sampled during the first week of the study . It was shown that the proportion of children shedding CVLPs declined during each of the 5 weeks of study . The stools of six children who shed CVLPs in the early summer of 1984-85 were negative by EM 5 months later . There was no association between the shedding of pathogenic bacteria or parasites and the presence or absence of CVLPs in the stool. Mycopathologia, 1989 Feb, 105(2), 111 - 6 Physiological and pathogenic characteristics of Nocardia brasiliensis isolated from human mycetomas; van Gelderen de Komaid A; A previous analysis of the physiological properties of Nocardia brasiliensis strains isolated from soil of Tucuman proves that non-pathogenic strains have a different behaviour pattern from the pathogenic strains . In the present paper, 16 Nocardia brasiliensis strains isolated from human mycetomas were studied in the same way . The object is to determine if any of the Nocardia brasiliensis present in soil can produce human mycetomas . The macro and micromorphological, biochemical (17 tests), physiological (4 tests) and pathological characteristics were determined for each of the strains . Experimental pathogenicity was determined using albino Swiss mice by inoculation into the footpads . The strains of Nocardia brasiliensis that cause human mycetomas have the same physiological pattern and experimental pathogenicity as the virulent strains present in soil. Vet Microbiol, 1989 Feb, 19(2), 151 - 65 A mouse lethal dose assay for detection and titration of Cowdria ruminantium (Kwanyanga strain) in goats and ticks; Endris RG et al.; A mouse lethal dose assay was used to detect a mouse pathogenic strain (Kwanyanga) of Cowdria ruminantium, the etiological agent of heartwater in goats and ticks . The titer of the rickettsial organisms in goat blood was directly related to the febrile response of the goat and the rickettsia were undetectable after the fever subsided . The maximum rickettsial titer in goat blood was 10(3) mouse LD50 ml-1 . Cowdria-infected goat blood was shown to retain infectivity when held on ice for up to 2 h, but when held at room temperature infectivity declined by greater than 50% in 2 h . The mouse assay detected Cowdria in feeding female Amblyomma variegatum only on the eighth day of feeding and in feeding males on the second and eleventh days of feeding . Cowdria was shown to persist in the hemolymph of the soft tick Ornithodoros coriaceus for a period of at least 2 years. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Feb, 8(2), 131 - 5 Serological evidence of viral or Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in acute maxillary sinusitis; Savolainen S et al.; Evidence for the involvement of viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydia spp . was studied by the complement fixation test in paired sera from 310 young adults (297 men and 13 women) with acute maxillary sinusitis . The diagnosis of acute sinusitis was confirmed by radiography and sinus puncture . Elevated antibody titres were found in 102 patients (33%) . A four fold or greater titre rise was detected in 21.5%, and a high stable titre suggestive of recent viral infection was present in a further 11.5% . Adenovirus, influenza A and B viruses, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae accounted for most of the elevated antibody titres . Elevated titres were found in 79 (32%) of the 245 patients with purulent maxillary sinusitis (pathogenic bacteria isolated in sinus secretion) and in 23 (35%) of the 65 patients with non-purulent sinusitis (no pathogenic bacteria isolated) . About 90% of the fourfold or greater titre rises in bacteriologically negative cases were due to adeno- or influenza viruses . A fourfold rise in antibody titre was also found in 7 of 101 control patients (7%) . The results of this study suggest that respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae may be potential etiological agents in acute maxillary sinusitis, either alone or in combination with the common bacterial pathogens of sinusitis. J Med Virol, 1989 Feb, 27(2), 145 - 50 Antigenic relationships between attenuated and pathogenic strains of Junin virus; Candurra NA et al.; Antigenic relationships between attenuated and pathogenic strains of Junin virus (JV) were investigated . Five strains of either human or rodent origin were tested by cross-neutralization assay with hyperimmune antisera, raised in rabbits, against each strain . Polyclonal antisera could be used to distinguish among these JV strains, as the titer values differed significantly with ratios of homologous to heterologous titers, which ranged from 1.3 to 22.3 . This demonstrates, independent of their virulence, a heterogeneity among the JV strains tested . The relatedness among JV strains was expressed quantitatively through a dendrogram based on taxonomic distance coefficients . The field strains of JV were grouped into two clusters, according to their geographic origin. Res Vet Sci, 1989 Jan, 46(1), 34 - 9 Mouse models for evaluation of virulence of Chlamydia psittaci isolated from ruminants; Rodolakis A et al.; Intestinal strains of Chlamydia psittaci isolated from faeces of clinically healthy sheep or goats were differentiated from pathogenic strains isolated from animals affected with chlamydial diseases by their virulence in mice . The invasiveness of strains after footpad inoculation was estimated in non-pregnant mice by recording the colonisation and the enlargement of the spleen on days 6 and 9 after inoculation . The abortifacient effect was judged by measuring the colonisation of placenta and fetuses of pregnant mice inoculated intravenously on day 11 +/- 1 of pregnancy . While 25 of 27 pathogenic strains were invasive and able to colonise placenta and fetuses, eight of 10 intestinal strains were not . The model permits graded differentiation between virulent and non-virulent strains and suggests that in propitious circumstances intestinal chlamydia could reach and colonise the placenta and disturb the pregnancy. Arch Virol, 1989, 107(3-4), 307 - 13 Langerhans cells in vaccinia virus infection in mouse skin; Becker Y et al.; Langerhans cells function as potent antigen-presenting cells in the epidermis . They were shown to play an essential role in the mechanisms of defense of the skin against viral infections . In the present study, the response of Langerhans cells to infection of the skin with vaccinia virus was investigated . Decrease in Langerhans cell density in the skin was accompanied by an increase in the pathogenicity of the WR and Noguchi but not of the Lister strain of vaccinia virus . Langerhans cell density was shown to increase rapidly at the site of inoculation with the two pathogenic strains of vaccinia virus. Symp Soc Exp Biol, 1989, 43, 417 - 22 Genetics of capsular polysaccharide production in bacteria; Boulnois GJ; Many pathogenic bacteria produce an extracellular capsule, composed of any one of a large range of polysaccharides, which plays a crucial role in the interaction with the host . Molecular techniques have been exploited to study the biosynthesis, export and cell surface assembly of these polymers . In the case of Escherichia coli a cassette of biosynthesis genes, unique and specific for a given polysaccharide and found only in bacteria producing this polysaccharide, is flanked on both sides by a cluster of genes which encode functions common to the production of chemically distinct polymers . On one side the DNA encodes products which function at some stage following the polymerisation of the sugar components of the polysaccharide . The nature of the reactions mediated by these products is unclear . To the other side of the biosynthesis cassette the DNA encodes five proteins for export of polysaccharide from the periplasm to the cell surface and its organisation into a capsule. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl, 1989, 169, 65 - 9 Furazolidone and metronidazole for treatment of giardiasis in children; Quiros-Buelna E; One hundred children were entered into a randomized study to compare the efficacy and safety of furazolidone and metronidazole when given in liquid suspension for treatment of giardiasis . The study was conducted between May 1985 and February 1986 . Dosages were calculated on the basis of body weight, and treatment lasted 10 days . Clinical diagnosis of giardiasis was confirmed by the presence of Giardia cysts in stools . Children were excluded from the study if stool culture was positive for pathogenic bacteria . Eighteen of the 100 children were withdrawn from the study because of noncompliance with the protocol . Of the 82 remaining patients, 37 received furazolidone and 45 metronidazole . No statistically significant differences in efficacy between treatments were found . With the exception of one case of urticaria, which occurred in a patient who received metronidazole, both drugs were well tolerated . In this study, furazolidone and metronidazole were equally safe and effective in treating children with giardiasis. Mol Biol Evol, 1989 Jan, 6(1), 1 - 14 Phylogenetic analysis using insertion sequence fingerprinting in Escherichia coli; Lawrence JG et al.; Chromosomal DNA from 23 closely related, pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli was digested and probed for the insertion sequences IS1, IS2, IS4, IS5, and IS30 . Under the assumption that elements residing in DNA restriction fragments of the same apparent length are identical by descent, parsimony analysis of these characters yielded a unique phylogenetic tree . This analysis not only distinguished among bacterial strains that were otherwise identical in their biochemical characteristics and enzyme electrophoretic mobilities, but certain aspects of the topology of the tree were consistent across several unrelated insertion elements . The distribution of IS elements was then reexamined in light of the inferred phylogenetic relationships to investigate the biological properties of the elements, such as rates of insertion and deletion, and to discover apparent recombinational events . The analysis shows that the pattern of distribution of insertion elements in the bacterial genome is sufficiently stable for epidemiological studies . Although the rate of recombination by conjugation has been postulated to be low, at least two such events appear to have taken place. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989, 12(1-2), 29 - 38 Transfer of plasmid Hly in vivo in pigs intestine; Klimuszko D et al.; The results of our study suggest the in vivo transfer of Hly plasmid from native pathogenic and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain to autochtonous Escherichia coli, using ileal loop test . To confirm this hypothesis pHly::Tn5 and PHly::Tn3 were obtained using an in vitro recombination method, and introduced to Escherichia coli laboratory strain . For experiments the laboratory strain, carrying pHly::Tn5 and pHly::Tn3 and pHly::Tn5 strain which acquired K88(F4) by means of conjugation, were used . In the study in which the donor Escherichia coli pHly::Tn5 strain, carrying antigen K88(F4), was injected into the ileum, pHly conjugants were isolated from faeces after 48 h in 2 out of 5 pigs, which was a low frequency . After the oral introduction of 10(9) cells of pHly::Tn5 and pHly::Tn3 Escherichia coli strains without the colonizing factor K88(F4), conjugants were not isolated from faeces of experimental animals . However when the pigs received donor CSH55 pHly::Tn5 Escherichia coli strain orally, which were also carrying plasmid K88(F4), transconjugants were obtained in a low frequency of 3 out of 9 pigs . Our experiments confirmed the suggestion of Smith that in vivo transfer of plasmid in the intestine of animals is only possible when the donor transfers the plasmid with high frequency and readily colonizes the intestine . The pHly::Tn5 plasmid acquired by in vitro recombination does not spread with time throughout the autochtonic population of Escherichia coli present in the intestine of swine . The results of our study showed the in vivo transfer in pigs intestine of Hly pathogenicity marker from both native pathogenic strains carrying antigen K88(F4) and constructed donor laboratory strain of Escherichia coli pHly::Tn5 also carrying antigen K88(F4) to autochtonous intestinal strains. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Jan, 8(1), 1 - 7 Modulation of the host flora; van Furth R et al.; Modulation of the bacterial flora of patients with a high risk of acquiring an infection can be achieved in several ways . The approach used in the Leiden University Hospital is based on selective elimination of the aerobic bacteria in the oropharyngeal cavity and intestinal tract, leaving the anaerobic flora intact . This kind of selective modulation of the host flora has an advantage in that it does not affect the colonization resistance provided by bacterial antagonism, which prevents colonization by resistant but potentially pathogenic bacteria or fungi . The elimination of aerobic bacteria combined with nursing in protective isolation and consumption of food with few bacteria has led to a significant reduction of the incidence of major and fatal infections in patients during episodes of severe granulocytopenia . From these results it may be concluded that the objective of selective antibiotic modulation, namely, the prevention of infections, can be achieved with this approach. Am J Gastroenterol, 1988 Dec, 83(12), 1420 - 3 Ischemic colitis in a 33-year-old woman on danazol treatment for endometriosis; Miyata T et al.; A 33-yr-old Japanese woman, married, no parity, was treated for endometriosis . Danazol 400 mg a day was initiated on September 25, 1986, for 21 consecutive days . She became severely constipated and had left lower abdominal colic pain . Five days later, she had to be admitted to the hospital, because she had had no bowel movements for 12 days and the abdominal pain was severe . On the day after admission, she had frequent painful bowel movements . The stool was blood-tinged, but pathogenic bacteria were nil . Ischemic colitis of the stricture type was identified . She was treated with hyperalimentation and anticholinergic agents . At 3 months and 5 days after discharge from hospital, danazol 400 mg per day was readministered, and 11 days later, the patient again became constipated and complained of the same pain in the left flank . We consider that danazol-induced constipation played a role in the onset of the ischemic colitis. Infect Immun, 1988 Dec, 56(12), 3152 - 6 Lipooligosaccharides from Treponema hyodysenteriae and Treponema innocens; Halter MR et al.; Lipooligosaccharides from Treponema hyodysenteriae serotypes 1 through 7, attenuated T . hyodysenteriae serotypes 1 and 2, and five strains of T . innocens were extracted with hot phenol water . The extracts were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation and analyzed by lipopolysaccharide selective silver staining and Western blot (immunoblot) immunodetection . Silver staining revealed the presence of two bands that ranged between 18,000 and 24,000 daltons and that were serotype specific for T . hyodysenteriae . Attenuation of pathogenic strains resulted in the loss of the higher-molecular-weight band . Four of five T . innocens strains also lacked this particular band . T . innocens 421 had six bands between 17,000 and 26,900 daltons . Western blots with hyperimmune rabbit sera and convalescent-phase swine sera revealed antigenic variation among serotypes of T . hyodysenteriae and attenuated serotypes of T . hyodysenteriae . Convalescent-phase swine sera failed to recognize lipopolysaccharides from T . innocens . Differences in results obtained by lipopolysaccharide selective silver staining versus immunoblotting of the lipopolysaccharide preparations probably indicate that these two methods identify separate characteristics of the same molecule. Am J Vet Res, 1988 Dec, 49(12), 2015 - 7 Distribution of Brucella abortus organisms in calves after conjunctival exposure; Meador VP et al.; Thirty calves (3 to 4 months old) were exposed conjunctivally to a pathogenic strain of Brucella abortus . Calves were euthanatized and necropsied at postexposure hours 2 and 4, and at postexposure days (PED) 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 42, and 49 . Selected ocular, pharyngeal, and lymphoid tissues were cultured bacteriologically for brucellae to determine organism distribution . Brucella abortus organisms initially localized in the third eyelids, bulbar conjunctivae, and parotid lymph nodes and were detected in these structures until PED 42, 21, and 49 respectively . In calves euthanatized at PED 7, organisms were in other cranial lymph nodes (mandibular and retropharyngeal), and in calves euthanatized at PED 21, organisms were isolated from peripheral lymphoid tissues . Brucellae were not isolated from mesenteric and bronchial lymph nodes and from the spleen until PED 21 . The pattern of isolation indicated that conjunctival exposure probably resulted in entrance of brucellae into the host via ocular tissues. Virology, 1988 Nov, 167(1), 299 - 301 MT-4 plaque formation can distinguish cytopathic subtypes of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Tateno M et al.; Using the MT-4 plaque assay, differences in the plaque-forming ability among various isolates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were observed . Kinetic studies showed that these differences reflected the enhanced ability of individual HIV to replicate rapidly in T cells and cause cytopathic changes . The plaque-forming HIV all came from patients with disease; no healthy seropositive individuals had these types of isolates . Plaque formation may be a useful assay for identifying pathogenic strains of HIV. J Comp Pathol, 1988 Nov, 99(4), 439 - 47 Occurrence of multinucleated giant cells in the appendix of clinically healthy rabbits; Feinstein RE et al.; The spontaneous formation of multinucleated giant cells was observed in the appendix of clinically healthy adult rabbits that were free of infection with intestinal viruses, pathogenic bacteria, fungi and parasites . Giant cells occurred singly and in aggregates . They were of the foreign body and of the Langhans' type, but intermediate forms were also noticed . Ultrastructurally, the hallmark of these appendiceal polykaryons were large phagolysomal fields harbouring amorphous debris and remains of cytoplasmic organelles and bacteria . The bacteria in the appendiceal tissues were neither of a special type nor acid-fast . The aetiology and significance of appendiceal giant cells remains to be clarified. J Dairy Sci, 1988 Oct, 71(10), 2820 - 9 Industry response to the problems of pathogenic bacteria; Everson TC; An on-farm assessment of sources of pathogenic bacteria in milk will be presented . Control of pathogenic bacteria through on-farm sanitation and herd management programs are part of the presentation . The processing plant environment and controls enacted in response to the menace of emerging pathogens will be reviewed . The current status of pathogen incidence and sources in dairy plants as evidenced by surveys provided by national trade organizations will also be presented. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1988 Oct, (10), 3 - 9 {Molecular-genetic mechanisms of antigenic variability of pathogenic bacteria}; Ginzburg AL; The literature on the molecular genetic mechanisms for antigenic variability of pathogenic bacteria is reviewed . Ability to antigenic variability in any case discussed is considered to be a pathogenicity factor permitting efficient struggle against the immune system of the host-organism . The molecular basis for such variability is instability of the genome structure, coding for highly immunogenic bacterial proteins. Avian Dis, 1988 Oct-Dec, 32(4), 624 - 31 Plasma cell quantitation in the gland of Harder during infectious bursal disease virus infection of 3-week-old broiler chickens; Dohms JE et al.; Histopathologic changes in the gland of Harder (GH) and bursa of Fabricius (BF) were studied during and after infection of 3-week-old broiler chickens with a pathogenic strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) . Plasma cell (PC) necrosis in the GH was seen from 5 to 14 days postinoculation (PI), BF follicular necrosis was observed from 1 to 7 days PI . PC numbers within the GH, counted for 28 days after inoculation, declined and were reduced (P less than 0.01) by 51% at 7 days after inoculation, which coincided with PC necrosis and heterophil infiltration . After 14 days PI, however, PC numbers were equal to those in uninfected controls . Since the GH is a major antibody-producing site in the paraocular area, the reduction in PC number at 7 days PI might indicate compromise of local immunity in the paraocular region and upper respiratory tract associated with IBD. Infect Immun, 1988 Sep, 56(9), 2458 - 66 Genetic relationships among pathogenic strains of avian Escherichia coli; Whittam TS et al.; Genetic relationships among 79 strains of Escherichia coli, isolated mostly from diseased chickens, were estimated on the basis of allelic variation at 15 enzyme-encoding loci, determined by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis . All 15 loci were polymorphic, with an average of 4.1 allelic states per locus . Comparisons of the observed combinations of alleles among strains revealed 37 distinct multilocus genotypes that were used to define naturally occurring cell lineages or clones . Two-thirds of the isolates were classified into 10 clones, including a single multilocus genotype that accounted for about a third of all isolates . For isolates of these clones, there was a high concordance (76%) between identity in multilocus genotype, O:K:H serotype, and pattern of resistance to five antibiotics . Cluster analysis disclosed two major complexes of closely related clones, in which more than 50% of the isolates were associated with localized infections (airsacculitis and pericarditis) . Both complexes contained isolates with serotype O2:K1, indicating that this serotype can occur on diverse chromosomal backgrounds . The results suggest that colibacillosis within avian populations is caused by a relatively limited number of pathogenic clones representing at least two distinct clone complexes. Vaccine, 1988 Aug, 6(4), 315 - 27 Potency testing of BCG vaccines on white mice: influence of variables on survival time, lung findings and vaccine assessment; Freudenstein H et al.; In protection tests on white mice vaccinated with BCG vaccine and challenged with a pathogenic strain of Mycobacterium bovis, the survival times are considerably altered by several variables . In the strains of mice used mainly in this study (NMRI and Albany), the median survival time of a group was roughly doubled in the sensitive range of the test system either by a twofold increase in the immunization period, a threefold decrease in the challenge dose or a 100-fold or less increase in the vaccine dose . The shape of the survival curve of an animal group depends on the median survival time achieved . The Gaussian distributions (sum curves) of the logarithms of the individual survival times are near linearity and parallelity in groups of animals which either survive for short or very long periods . In an intermediate range, however, the survival curves show a flatter and sometimes S-shaped course . This intermediate range of survival corresponds to the time at which the lung findings shift from acute to chronic . The occurrence of acute or chronic findings depends on the individual survival time after challenge . The autopsies show that both findings are equally frequent approximately equal to 35 days after challenge . Individual survival times should be evaluated by non-parametric methods due to their non-normal (bimodal) distribution . Evaluation of the gross lung findings supports these results but is, however, less efficient . The discriminating power of the test system can be altered by changes in any of the variables and is best when animal groups attaining less than 20 days median survival time are compared with groups attaining greater than 30 days . A twofold increase in the median survival time generally provides evidence of significance that may already be obtained 30 days after challenge . With a vaccination-challenge interval of 21 days or more, a 50 microliter vaccine dose generally induces a significant increase in the survival times of the vaccinated animals versus non-vaccinated controls . With increasing immunization periods (vaccination-challenge interval), however, a difference in the efficacy of several vaccines or vaccine doses will be evened out. J Virol, 1988 Aug, 62(8), 2903 - 15 Nucleotide sequence and genomic organization of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV): sequence comparisons between a nonpathogenic and a pathogenic strain of ADV; Bloom ME et al.; A DNA sequence of 4,592 nucleotides (nt) was derived for the nonpathogenic ADV-G strain of Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV) . The 3'(left) end of the virion strand contained a 117-nt palindrome that could assume a Y-shaped configuration similar to, but less stable than, that of other parvoviruses . The sequence obtained for the 5' end was incomplete and did not contain the 5' (right) hairpin structure but ended just after a 25-nt A + T-rich direct repeat . Features of ADV genomic organization are (i) major left (622 amino acids) and right (702 amino acids) open reading frames (ORFs) in different translational frames of the plus-sense strand, (ii) two short mid-ORFs, (iii) eight potential promoter motifs (TATA boxes), including ones at 3 and 36 map units, and (iv) six potential polyadenylation sites, including three clustered near the termination of the right ORF . Although the overall homology to other parvoviruses is less than 50%, there are short conserved amino acid regions in both major ORFs . However, two regions in the right ORF allegedly conserved among the parvoviruses were not present in ADV . At the DNA level, ADV-G is 97.5% related to the pathogenic ADV-Utah 1 . A total of 22 amino acid changes were found in the right ORF; changes were found in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions and generally did not affect the theoretical hydropathy . However, there is a short heterogeneous region at 64 to 65 map units in which 8 out of 11 residues have diverged; this hypervariable segment may be analogous to short amino acid regions in other parvoviruses that determine host range and pathogenicity . These findings suggested that this region may harbor some of the determinants responsible for the differences in pathogenicity of ADV-G and ADV-Utah 1. Pathol Biol (Paris), 1988 May, 36(5), 414 - 9 {Kinetics of ofloxacin-amoxicillin and ofloxacin-clavulanic acid combinations against pathogenic bacteria of the respiratory tract}; Caillon J et al.; Ofloxacin exhibit a good activity against the pathogen bacteria of the respiratory tract, except for S . pneumoniae . Its use is interesting because it has a good diffusion into respiratory tissues . However, the combination with an another antibiotic was necessary to spread the activity spectrum and to prevent the resistant variants . By the new killing curve checkerboard method, these 2 combinations are studied against 8 strains: 4 H . influenzae (2 beta-lactamase producers), 2 S . pneumoniae and 2 K . pneumoniae, at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours, a viable bacteria counting is executed by a microdilution method and is subcultured with a Steers-type multiple inoculator . With K . pneumoniae, ofloxacin has a dose dependent bactericidal activity which is maximum at 1 mg/l, While augmentin has a time-dependent activity . In the combination the synergy is rare . With H . influenzae, the results are the same; the bactericidal activity is less rapid but it is better than the ones with amoxicillin and clavulanic acid . With S . pneumoniae, the 2 antibiotics have the same activity . No antagonism is observed . And the antibiotic which has a better bactericidal activity determine the viable bacteria count. J Protozool, 1988 May, 35(2), 198 - 204 Restriction endonuclease analysis of mitochondrial DNA as an aid in the taxonomy of Naegleria and Vahlkampfia; Milligan SM et al.; Using restriction enzyme analysis, mitochondrial DNA fragment patterns from seven strains of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Naegleria and one strain of Vahlkampfia were compared to estimate nucleotide sequence divergence . Significantly high levels of estimated genetic variation between strains of N . gruberi, N . fowleri, and N . jadini support the current taxonomic level of the individual Naegleria species and suggest a distinct phylogeny for each group . Naegleria lovaniensis, strain TS, was shown to have significant nucleotide sequence homology with N . gruberi, strain EGs, suggesting that the two groups share a close taxonomic relationship . The pathogenic strain MB-41 of N . fowleri exhibited distinct genetic divergence from the highly homologous, pathogenic strain Nf66 and the drug-cured strain 6088 . Morphologically distinct strains EGs and 1518/la of N . gruberi exhibited significantly large sequence divergence consistent with a more distant taxonomic relationship . Amoebae from the genus Vahlkampfia expressed genetic similarity with strains of N . gruberi. Can J Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 34(4), 415 - 20 Bacterial extracellular polysaccharides; Whitfield C; The synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides has been recognized in certain bacterial cultures since the 1880s . It is now apparent that a wide range of bacteria produce these polymers and an equally wide range of chemical structures are possible . Their surface location, together with the range of available monosaccharide combinations, noncarbohydrate substituents, and linkage types, make extracellular polysaccharides excellent agents of diversity . As a result, much effort has been directed towards elucidating their structure in pathogenic bacteria and in enteric organisms in particular . Commercial applications of microbial polysaccharides have now broadened the scope of structural information . Most recently, technological advances in molecular biology have created the possibility of manipulating desired polymer characteristics, and with these advances, our knowledge of the mechanisms of synthesis and regulation of cell surface polysaccharides has improved . Ultimately more information regarding the function of extracellular polysaccharides in natural environments may result. Nature, 1988 Mar 17, 332(6161), 265 - 8 Identification and characterization of E . coli type-1 pilus tip adhesion protein; Hanson MS et al.; The type-1 pilus of Escherichia coli is the prototype of this class of hair-like, multimeric adhesive organelles . This pilus mediates adherence to mannose-containing receptors on mucosal epithelia and other cells . The type-1 pilus, in one of several serological variants, is expressed by nearly all E . coli strains, and its promotion of colonization by pathogenic bacteria and the protective effects of purified pilus vaccines suggest that it is important as a bacterial virulence factor . Both the adhesive function and the serological variation of the type-1 pilus have been attributed to the thousand or so pilin protein monomers making up the pilus rods . This idea has been contradicted by our earlier observations on an E . coli strain expressing adhesion-defective pili . More recent genetic evidence also indicates that auxiliary pilus proteins are required for adhesive function . We report here the identification of three previously undetected integral minor proteins on the type-1 pilus, and show that one of them is the receptor-binding adhesin . This protein is antigenically conserved among strains with different pilin serotypes and is located at the pilus tip. Gastroenterology, 1988 Mar, 94(3), 590 - 7 Studies in gnotobiotic piglets on non-O157:H7 Escherichia coli serotypes isolated from patients with hemorrhagic colitis; Tzipori S et al.; A number of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from sporadic cases of hemorrhagic colitis in the United States over the last 5 yr were shown to belong to serogroups other than O157:H7-the serotype originally implicated in this disease . Experimental infection of gnotobiotic piglets with five such strains (0111:NM, 0145:NM, 045:H2, 04:NM, and Ound:NM) caused diarrhea resulting from mucosal lesions in the cecum and colon that were indistinguishable from those previously described in piglets infected with E . coli O157:H7 . This suggests that, as with other categories of pathogenic E . coli, several serotypes cause hemorrhagic colitis in humans . The five E . coli strains that were compared with one O157:H7 strain and with an enteropathogenic calf strain (serotype 05:NM) caused a spectrum of disease ranging from moderate diarrhea (O157:H7) to severe illness (including septicemia and death) (0111:NM) . Characteristic lesions, which were identical for all seven pathogenic strains, included bacterial attachment, effacement of the microvillus border, and dissolution of the cell membranes of surface and glandular epithelium, resulting in complete cell destruction . Some piglets exhibited neurologic signs of convulsions and ataxia . It is concluded that a number of E . coli serotypes, in addition to O157:H7, fulfill the present limited criteria for enterohemorrhagic E . coli, which include association with hemorrhagic colitis, production of one or more verotoxins, possession of a large plasmid (50-70 megadaltons), and induction of distinct mucosal lesions in the large bowel of gnotobiotic piglets. J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Mar, 134 ( Pt 3), 585 - 98 Cloning, expression in Escherichia coli and nucleotide sequence of a tetracycline-resistance gene from Streptomyces rimosus; Reynes JP et al.; Determinants of tetracycline resistance have been cloned from two different tetracycline-producing industrial strains of Streptomyces into Streptomyces lividans using the plasmid vector pUT206 . Three plasmids, pUT250 and pUT260 with a 9.5 and a 7.5 kb insert respectively of Streptomyces rimosus DNA, and pUT270 with a 14.0 kb insert of Streptomyces aureofaciens DNA, conferring resistance to tetracycline, have been isolated . By in vitro sub-cloning, a similar fragment of 2.45 kb containing the tetracycline resistance gene (tet347) was further localized on these plasmids . The S . rimosus gene has been cloned into Escherichia coli and expressed under the control of lambda pL or Lpp promoters . Differential protein extraction of E . coli cells revealed the presence of an additional membrane-embedded protein in tetracycline-resistant cells . On the basis of available restriction endonuclease maps, the tet347 gene is probably identical to the tetB gene from S . rimosus recently identified by T . Ohnuki and co-workers as responsible for the reduced accumulation of tetracycline . The nucleotide sequence of a 2052 bp DNA fragment containing the TcR structural gene from S . rimosus has been determined . The amino acid sequence of the tet347 protein (Mr35818) deduced from the nucleotide sequence shows a limited but significant homology to other characterized tetracycline transport acting determinants from pathogenic bacteria. Vaccine, 1988 Feb, 6(1), 49 - 53 Influenza virus ISCOMs: antibody response in animals; Sundquist B et al.; A monovalent experimental ISCOM vaccine has been prepared with the envelope glycoproteins haemagglutinin and neuraminidase of the equine virus strain A/Solvalla/79 (H3N8) . In vaccination trials on BALB/c mice the ISCOM vaccine induced more than ten times higher serum antibody titres measured in ELISA than a corresponding experimental micelle vaccine . Similarly, in guinea-pigs the ISCOMs induced about tenfold higher haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and neuraminidase inhibition (NI) titres than a micelle vaccine or a conventional killed influenza whole virus vaccine . Horses vaccinated with a divalent experimental ISCOM vaccine, containing the equine strains A/Prague/56 (H7N7) and A/Solvalla/79 (H3N8), responded with ELISA antibody titres against haemagglutinin which were higher and lasted considerably longer than those in horses vaccinated with conventional whole virus vaccine . ISCOMs induced complete immunoprotection in mice vaccinated with a dose of 1 microgram envelope glycoproteins of the mouse pathogenic strain A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). J Parasitol, 1988 Feb, 74(1), 93 - 7 Mouse spleen cell responses to trichomonal antigens in experimental Trichomonas vaginalis infection; Mason PR et al.; Subcutaneous inoculation of live T . vaginalis into mice caused splenomegaly, particularly when using strains of parasites with low pathogenicity . The proliferative responses of spleen cells from uninfected mice, as measured by {3H} TdR uptake, showed that trichomonal antigens, whether from strains with high or low pathogenicity, have no mitogenic activity . Spleen cells from mice infected with trichomonads of low pathogenicity showed a proliferative response to trichomonal antigens that was maximal after 4 days incubation . The proliferative response of spleen cells from mice infected with trichomonads of high pathogenicity continued for at least 6 days in the presence of the antigen . Moreover, in the latter case there was a significantly greater uptake of {3H} TdR when cells were incubated with antigens of a highly pathogenic strain . These results support the view that although many antigens are common to strains with differing levels of pathogenicity, some antigens are more closely associated with strains that are more highly pathogenic . The strong proliferative response to these antigens may then be related to the clinical presentation of infection with these strains. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Feb, 33(2), 124 - 7 {Infectivity and sensitivity to antibiotics of Rickettsia prowazekii mutants of the low-pathogenic strain E cultured in chick embryos}; Frolova OM et al.; Selection of mutants of a low pathogenic strain E of R . prowazekii is a trend in genetic investigation of this Rickettsia species and one of the approaches to stabilizing the strain avirulent properties with a purpose of using in vaccine prophylaxis of typhus . The mutants of R . prowazekii, strain E selected by the authors earlier were characterized with respect to their infective capacity for chick embryos (CE) and antibiotic sensitivity . It was found that the infective capacity for CE of the erythromycin resistant mutant induced by nitroso guanidine (EErrI) was by ID50 2-3 logarithms lower than that of the initial strain E . The infective capacity for CE of the rifampicin resistant mutant induced by nitroso guanidine (ERifrI) and the spontaneous erythromycin resistant mutant was similar to that of strain E . The ERifrI strain differed from the initial strain E by higher sensitivity to tetracycline and erythromycin and the EErrI strain differed from the initial strain E by higher sensitivity to tetracycline and rifampicin . It was shown that the biological properties of the nitroso guanidine-induced mutants resistant to rifampicin and erythromycin differed from those of the initial strain E and the properties of the spontaneous erythromycin resistant mutant were similar to those of the initial strain E. Am J Vet Res, 1988 Feb, 49(2), 274 - 80 Histopathologic findings in Brucella abortus-infected, pregnant goats; Meador VP et al.; Twenty-eight pregnant goats in midgestation were exposed to a bovine pathogenic strain of Brucella abortus to determine the histologic changes associated with infection . Does were necropsied 0 to 7 days or 4 to 6 weeks after delivery of aborted, stillborn, or live, full-term fetuses . Aborted and stillborn fetuses were necropsied within 16 hours of delivery . Selected, paired tissue specimens were collected for histologic and bacteriologic examination . An avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex immunostaining procedure was used to detect Brucella antigen in tissue section . Histologic changes were evident in specimens from infected does and aborted fetuses . Postpartum does had endometritis, lymphoid hyperplasia in lymph nodes and spleen, and lymphocytic mastitis . The most prominent finding in aborted fetuses was an interstitial pneumonia . Lesions in does and fetuses were similar to those described in Brucella-infected cows and fetuses; however, lesions were less consistently observed in goat fetuses than has been observed in bovine fetuses . Brucella antigen was detected by immunoperoxidase staining within the cytoplasm of placental chorioallantoic trophoblastic cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and uterine epithelial cells . Also, stained brucellae were free in placental and fetal vascular lumens and in the interstitium of autolyzed fetal tissues. Infect Immun, 1988 Feb, 56(2), 413 - 8 Differences in excretion and efficiency of the aerobactin and enterochelin siderophores in a bovine pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli; Der Vartanian M; Secretion of aerobactin is thought to play an important part in the virulence of invasive Escherichia coli also capable of synthesizing enterochelin . Why, despite its markedly lower affinity for iron than that of enterochelin, aerobactin proves to be the predominant active siderophore for bacterial growth in transferrin was investigated . We studied the action of two iron chelators, 2,2'-dipyridyl and transferrin, in expression of the aerobactin and enterochelin genes . Specifically, we describe the sequential localization of the two siderophores in the cell compartments during bacterial growth under different iron limitation conditions . Our results demonstrated that, whatever the exogenous iron-chelating agent used, aerobactin was rapidly excreted, whereas enterochelin accumulated early in periplasm before its very belated release into the external medium . This work also showed that the advantage of aerobactin over enterochelin in competition with transferrin was not due to (i) lack of enterochelin activity, (ii) a cell-bound aerobactin-dependent mechanism, (iii) antagonism between the two siderophores, and probably (iv) genetic preferential induction of aerobactin . We propose that the superiority of aerobactin in competing with transferrin for iron(III) was a consequence of its more rapid excretion with respect to enterochelin . In contrast to transferrin, 2,2'-dipyridyl induced a greater efficiency of enterochelin, possibly by a more permanent function as iron-binding compounds in the bacterial envelope . In summary, unlike aerobactin, enterochelin appears to be a weakly secreted high-affinity iron ligand. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1988, 32(1), 87 - 93 Fatty acids as resource of carbon for leptospirae; Khisamov GZ et al.; The effect of saturated (palmitic, stearic, myristic) and unsaturated (oleic) fatty acids on the proliferation of Leptospirae was studied . Proliferation of the saprophytic strains G-45, K-1028 (serovar not identified) and of the pathogenic strain VGNKI-3 (serovar canicola) of Leptospirae was obtained on a serum-free medium with the addition of saturated fatty acids . The unsaturated oleic acid at relatively high concentrations (0.5 mg/ml) suppresses proliferation of these spirochetes . It has been demonstrated that the variants used in the experiment can be utilized for the study of nutritional requirements of Leptospirae and their metabolism. Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1988, 46(2), 135 - 7 {Bacteriology and intensive care}; Wauters G; The intensive care units (ICU) constitute one of the sectors of the hospital with the highest incidence of infections . Part of the patients admitted to the ICU are carrier of an, often serious, infection which justified their admission . But more important are of infections contracted in the course of hospitalization . These are particularly frequent because of the principal factors which govern the emergence of nosocomial infections are present in the ICU in a very evident way . The frequency of infections which are essentially of the nosocomial type, compels the microbiology laboratory to adapt certain attitudes in the performance as well as in the interpretation of bacteriological analyses . The following points have to be dressed: the "colonisation" of various sites by potentially pathogenic bacteria should obviously be interpreted correctly; a systemic supervision sampling has become current in the ICU; the organization of the laboratory must allow a correlation of the results obtained from different samples; the laboratory must be accustomed to the bacterial ecology of the hospital and more specifically to this of the ICU; as the risk of nosocomial infections in the ICU is quite high, hospital hygiene and supervision of hospital strains are directly involved. Gynecol Obstet Invest, 1988, 25(2), 123 - 9 Use of highly evacuated Redon drains after gynecologic laparotomies; Grillo M et al.; Highly evacuated (980 mbar) wound drainage systems according to Redon were used in 100 gynecologic laparotomies . In 96% of cases, no flask exchange was required before the system was removed . Bacteriological specimens from various locations of the Redon system showed minimal colonization with pathogenic bacteria . No correlation was found between secondary wound healing and bacterial findings in the system. Gynecol Obstet Invest, 1988, 26(3), 240 - 9 Bacterial vaginitis: protection against infection and secretory immunoglobulin levels in the vagina after immunization therapy with Gynatren; Ruttgers H; In a prospective, randomized double-blind study the prophylactic effect of the immunotherapeutic agent, Gynatren, against reinfection was investigated in 192 patients with bacterial vaginitis (95 treated with the active preparation versus 97 with placebo) . In 30 and 25% of the patients in the two groups, respectively, it was the third or even more frequent infection in a period of 12 months . In a further 46 and 39%, respectively, it was the second infection in the course of a year . All the patients were given local treatment with tetracycline-amphotericin B vaginal suppositories and at the same time vaccinated with Gynatren or placebo . One month after the start of treatment, 85% of the patients in the active-treatment group and 83% in the placebo group were asymptomatic and free from pathogenic bacteria . After 3 months 78% in the active-treatment group and 60% in the placebo group were free from infection . After 6 months 76 and 40%, and after 12 months 75 and 37% of the women in the active-treatment and placebo groups, respectively, were free from clinical symptoms and pathogenic bacteria . These results correlated with the concentrations of local antibodies (secretory immunoglobulin) detectable in the vaginal secretion. Biol Met, 1988, 1(1), 4 - 8 N alpha-dimethylcoprogens . Three novel trihydroxamate siderophores from pathogenic fungi; Jalal MA et al.; Three novel siderophores have been isolated from a highly pathogenic strain of Alternaria longipes (ATCC 26293) . The compounds are N alpha-dimethylated analogs of coprogen, neocoprogen I and isoneocoprogen I . Structures of the compounds have been determined by 1H- and 13C-NMR, fast-atom-bombardment (FAB) mass spectroscopy and partial hydrolysis . One of the new compounds, N alpha-dimethylcoprogen, is also produced, as the major siderophore, in another fungus, Fusarium dimerum. J Virol, 1988 Jan, 62(1), 132 - 8 Molecular comparisons of in vivo- and in vitro-derived strains of Aleutian disease of mink parvovirus; Bloom ME et al.; DNA from one cell culture-adapted and two pathogenic strains of Aleutian disease of mink parvovirus (ADV) was molecularly cloned into the vectors pUC18 and pUC19 . The DNA from the two pathogenic strains (ADV-Utah I and ADV-Pullman) was obtained from virus purified directly from the organs of infected mink, whereas the DNA from the nonpathogenic ADV-G was derived from cell culture material . The cloned segment from all three viruses represented a 3.55-kilobase-pair BamHI (15 map units) to HindIII (88 map units) fragment . Detailed physical mapping studies indicated that all three viruses shared 29 of 46 restriction endonuclease recognition sites but that 6 sites unique to the pathogenic strains and 5 sites unique to ADV-G were clustered in the portion of the genome expected to code for structural proteins . Clones from all three viruses directed the synthesis of two ADV-specific polypeptides with molecular weights of approximately 57 and 34 kilodaltons . Both species reacted with sera from infected mink as well as with a monoclonal antibody specific for ADV structural proteins . Because production of these ADV antigens was detected in both pUC18 and pUC19 and was not influenced by isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction, their expression was not regulated by the lac promoter of the pUC vector, but presumably by promoterlike sequences found within the ADV DNA . The proteins specified by the clones of ADV-G were 2 to 3 kilodaltons smaller than those of the two pathogenic strains, although the DNA segments were identical in size . This difference in protein molecular weights may correlate with pathogenicity, because capsid proteins of pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of ADV exhibit a similar difference. J Bacteriol, 1987 Dec, 169(12), 5489 - 95 Translocation of capsular polysaccharides in pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli requires a 60-kilodalton periplasmic protein; Silver RP et al.; An 11.6-kilobase (kb) region of a 34-kb fragment of Escherichia coli DNA that encodes the K1 capsular polysaccharide genes is necessary for translocation of the K1 polysaccharide to the bacterial cell surface . This 11.6-kb region contains a gene, kpsD, encoding a 60-kilodalton protein . The kpsD gene was localized to a 2.4-kb PstI-BamHI fragment . Cells harboring a Tn1000 insertion in kpsD did not synthesize the 60-kilodalton protein and did not express polysaccharide on the cell surface . Immunodiffusion and rocket immunoelectrophoresis of cell extracts, however, demonstrated that K1 polysaccharide was synthesized by these cells . We present evidence that the kpsD gene product is synthesized as a precursor and that the processed form is located in the periplasmic space . Analysis of alkaline phosphatase activity of a kpsD-phoA fusion demonstrated that kpsD expression was under positive regulation . A 260-base-pair AluI fragment located within the kpsD coding sequence was used as a probe and was found to hybridize to chromosomal DNA from E . coli that synthesizes the K2, K5, K7, K12, and K13 capsular polysaccharides but not K3 and K100 . These results suggest that the kpsD gene product may be required for export not only of K1 but for other K antigens as well. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1987 Nov, 104(11), 539 - 43 {Morphologic and biochemical changes in brain cells of mice with influenza}; Gorbunov NV et al.; The influence of influenza virus infection on the brain cells was studied in mice . Virology, electron microscopy and biochemistry methods were used for this purpose . It has been shown that intracerebral injection of pathogenic strain of influenza virus A/PR/8/34 is accompanied both by the reproduction of virus in the central nervous system tissue and the morphology changes in ependial cells of the vascular plexus of the brain lateral ventricle . It has been found that the level of the lipid peroxidation products in lipid extracts of infected mouse brain is greater than their level in extracts from control mouse brain . It has been concluded that the influenza virus has a damaging effect on the central nervous system cells. Vopr Virusol, 1987 Nov-Dec, 32(6), 666 - 70 {Cytotoxic activity of normal killers and the lymphocytic proliferative response to specific viral antigens in influenza in mice}; Lavrov VF et al.; Inoculation of CBA mice with pathogenic influenza A/PR8/34 (H1N1) virus and non-pathogenic A/Krasnodar/101/59 (H2N2) virus demonstrated that the pathogenic strain enhanced the synthesis of serum interferon and activated the function of normal killers, but had a relatively low capacity of causing in vitro proliferative response of spleen lymphocytes of intact and in vivo primed animals . In contrast, the nonpathogenic virus had less marked interferon-inducing capacity and that of activating normal killers, but induced a very high proliferative response of lymphocytes in culture. Genitourin Med, 1987 Oct, 63(5), 297 - 304 Light and electron microscopy of rabbit testes infected with Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain): nature of deposited mucopolysaccharides and localisation of treponemes; van der Sluis JJ et al.; The mucopolysaccharide nature of the material deposited in rabbit testes infected with Treponema pallidum was confirmed by histochemical staining with alcian blue . Differential staining of mucopolysaccharides showed the presence of sulphated mucopolysaccharides as an almost constant feature, whereas in little more than half of the orchitic testes studied variable deposits of hyaluronic acid were seen . The treponemes were almost exclusively present in the areas rich in mucopolysaccharide . A combination staining with the Warthin-Starry method and alcian blue showed treponemes in close association with pre-existing fibrils and cells contained in these fibrils . The latter findings were confirmed by electron microscopy, and the fibroblasts to which treponemes adhered displayed the characteristics of activated cells . The close parallel between the histopathological changes observed here and their descriptions in published reports shows that our specific strain still behaves the same as the original Nichols pathogenic strain of T pallidum. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1987 Sep, 76(5), 763 - 8 Acute gastroenteritis in children attending day-care centres with special reference to rotavirus infections . II . Clinical manifestations; Hjelt K et al.; In a prospective study of a cohort of 214 children (aged 6 months-7 years) attending day-care centres, a total of 197 episodes of acute gastroenteritis (GE) occurred in 109 children (i.e . 51% of the participants) during a 12-month observation period . Rotavirus, pathogenic bacteria and Giardia lamblia caused GE in 24%, 6% and 2% of the cases, respectively . The aetiology of the remaining 68% was not discovered . Generally, the symptoms of GE were light and only two episodes led to hospitalization . Thirty-two rotavirus infections were asymptomatic . Two rotavirus GE reinfections occurred . They showed less severe symptoms than the primary infections . The older children (greater than 1.5 years) with rotavirus GE had lighter symptoms than the younger ones (less than or equal to 1.5 years) . Compared with children with non-rotavirus GE, those with rotavirus GE showed the following clinical features: (1) Age between 6 months and 2 years . (2) Occurrence of rotavirus GE almost exclusively during the rotavirus season,