Pathogenic bacterium

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, i.e . January to April (winter) . (3) High frequency of vomiting, the onset of which often preceded that of diarrhoea . However, these signs did not form a safe basis for the clinical diagnosis of rotavirus GE . One or more upper respiratory manifestations (URM) were observed in 39% of the children with rotavirus GE and in 36% of those with non-rotavirus GE . The occurrence of URM was age-related being highest in children less than 2 years . Consequently, the existence of a rotavirus syndrome is questioned . It is argued that URM in children with rotavirus GE may be due to a co-infection of the upper respiratory tract by a different micro-organism.

Mol Biochem Parasitol, 1987 Sep, 25(2), 203 - 12
Isolation and partial characterization of the hexokinase isoenzymes from pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of Entamoeba histolytica; Bracha R et al.; Isoenzyme electrophoretic patterns (zymodemes) are increasingly used to distinguish between pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of Entamoeba histolytica . Isolates of E . histolytica from asymptomatic and symptomatic cases have been shown to differ in the electrophoretic mobility of their hexokinase and phosphoglucomutase isoenzymes . The hexokinase isoenzymes from a non-pathogenic strain and from a pathogenic strain of E . histolytica were purified by fast protein liquid chromatography in several steps, which included a separation by size, chromatofocusing, and anion exchange chromatography . The isoenzymes differed in their isoelectric points, which ranged from pH 4.8-5.4, but had very similar kinetic properties and almost identical apparent molecular weights (48,000) in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, as well as on gel filtration columns . Comparison of tryptic peptide analysis of each of the isoenzymes indicated considerable homology between the non-pathogenic and pathogenic forms . Antibodies produced against each of the two pathogenic hexokinase isoenzymes inhibited their enzymatic activity . The antibodies also inhibited the activity of the isoenzymes of the non-pathogenic strain . Our findings suggest that the isoenzymes have structural similarities, and that the pathogenic ones differ from the non-pathogenic ones in their electromobility due to post-translational modifications.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1987 Sep, 37(2), 296 - 301
The electrophoretic isoenzyme patterns of strains of Entamoeba histolytica isolated in two major cities in Canada; Proctor EM et al.; The isoenzyme patterns of 92 isolates of Entamoeba histolytica from British Columbia and 28 from Ontario were determined . Seropositivity for E . histolytica was assessed by indirect hemagglutination and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the one center and by ELISA and amebic gel diffusion in the other . In both British Columbia and Ontario nonpathogenic zymodemes I and III were most common . A newly described isoenzyme pattern was identified in Ontario . Only 9 of 120 zymodeme patterns identified were found to be pathogenic strains of E . histolytica . Pathogenic isolates were strongly correlated with clinical symptoms and seropositivity.

J Clin Microbiol, 1987 Aug, 25(8), 1384 - 7
Analysis of 506 consecutive positive serologic tests for brucellosis in Saudi Arabia; Kiel FW et al.; Brucellosis is common in the central region of Saudi Arabia . The major clue to the diagnosis is serologic testing . In 3 years, over 500 positive patients who had a titer of 1:160 or more were identified . Brucella species was the single organism most commonly recovered in all blood cultures, being found in 24% of patients with cultures positive for pathogenic bacteria . The expected greater number of Brucella cultures with high initial recorded titer was confirmed; 31% of the positive high-titer group had positive Brucella cultures . Conclusive correlation was uncommon below the 1:640 titer . The lower titers were less useful as indicators of active disease in this population, in which many people appear to have persistent low antibody levels.

Infect Immun, 1987 Aug, 55(8), 1824 - 9
Surface properties of the Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7; Sherman P et al.; Strains of Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 are Vero cytotoxin-producing enteric pathogens which have been associated with sporadic cases and outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis and with the hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans . In addition to toxin production, adherence of many pathogenic bacteria to intestinal mucosal surfaces is a critical primary step in the pathogenesis of diarrheal diseases . Although E . coli serotype O157:H7 organisms adhere to intestinal epithelia of orally infected animals in a pattern morphologically identical to that previously described in adherent, effacing E . coli infections, the mechanisms of bacterial adherence are not known . To determine the cell surface adhesins which mediate attachment of E . coli O157:H7 to epithelial surfaces, we evaluated the surface properties of these organisms . Five strains isolated from children with the hemolytic uremic syndrome were grown both in broth cultures and on agar media . Adherence and invasion of E . coli O157:H7 in Intestine 407 and HEp-2 epithelial cell lines was quantitated using an enteroinvasive E . coli strain (serotype O164:NM) as a control . Cell surface properties of E . coli O157:H7 were evaluated by agglutination of a series of erythrocytes, transmission electron microscopy, DEAE-ion-exchange chromatography, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography . E . coli O157:H7 strains adhered to but did not invade either Intestine 407 or HEp-2 cells . Homologous O157:H7 rabbit antiserum blocked attachment of bacteria to tissue culture cells, in contrast to heterologous antiserum and preimmune rabbit serum, which did not inhibit attachment of E . coli O157:H7 . None of the five O15:H7 isolates mediated mannose-resistant hemagglutination under any of the in vitro culture conditions . One isolate mediated mannose-sensitive hemagglutination after serial passage in broth cultures . Pili and fibrillae were not visualized by electron microscopy on nonhemagglutinating organisms, but pili were demonstrated on the one isolate which mediated mannose-sensitive hemagglutination . All O157:H7 strains demonstrated high anionic surface charge (DEAE) but low surface hydrophobicity properties (hydrophobic interaction chromatography) . The findings suggest that surface structures other than pili can mediate attachment of serotype O157:H7 bacteria to epithelial cells in vitro.

J Infect Dis, 1987 Aug, 156(2), 334 - 43
Use of monoclonal antibodies to identify, characterize, and purify a 96,000-dalton surface antigen of pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica; Torian BE et al.; We identified and partially characterized a surface antigen of Entamoeba histolytica by using seven monoclonal antibodies obtained after injecting mice with a pathogenic strain of amoeba . An intrinsically radiolabeled 96,000-dalton antigen was immunoprecipitated by five of the seven monoclonal antibodies; this antigen was present in three strains of E . histolytica . The antigen was situated on the external surface of E . histolytica, as demonstrated by agglutination and immunofluorescence staining of live amoeba and by immunoprecipitation of iodinated trophozoite antigen . All seven monoclonal antibodies were specific for E . histolytica and failed to react in an ELISA with Trichomonas vaginalis, Tritrichomonas foetus, Giardia lamblia, Acanthamoeba castellonii, and Entamoeba invadens . Two monoclonal antibodies were used to purify the antigen: the purified antigen was identical when antibody binding to live organisms or antibody reactive with nonviable organisms was used for purification.

Infection, 1987 Jul-Aug, 15(4), 245 - 7
Bacteremia in connection with transurethral resection of the prostate; Nielsen PB et al.; A bacteriological survey of 50 consecutive patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate was performed . Preoperatively, 28% of the patients had asymptomatic bacteriuria . In the postoperative period, 46% of all the patients developed transient bacteremia . A significantly higher rate of bacteremia was found in patients with hypertrophy of the prostate than in those with cancer of the prostate and in patients undergoing long-lasting surgical intervention . Patients who developed bacteremia due to pathogenic bacteria were hospitalized for a significantly longer period of time.

Mycopathologia, 1987 Jul, 99(1), 15 - 9
Natural occurrence of Nocardia in soil of Tucumán: physiological characteristics; van Gelderen de Komaid A et al.; This is the first study initiated in Argentina to establish the presence of species of Nocardia from soil samples . These samples were gathered in different areas of Tucuman . Thirty three pathogenic strains of Nocardia were isolated by the paraffin bait method . Out of them, 28 were N . brasiliensis, 3 N . asteroides and 2 N . caviae . N . brasiliensis was widely distributed in the soil of the areas tested . It is proved that N . caviae, so rarely found in other regions of the world, occurs in Tucuman . A detailed study of the morphological and physiological characteristics for identification is discussed.

J Med Virol, 1987 Jul, 22(3), 289 - 97
Effect of polymorphonuclear depletion on experimental Argentine hemorrhagic fever in guinea pigs; Gonzalez PH et al.; The role that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) may play in Argentine hemorrhagic fever (AHF), an endemo-epidemic disease caused by Junin virus (JV), was investigated in experimentally infected guinea pigs depleted of PMN by means of specific antiserum . In leucopenic animals the evolution of the infection with a highly pathogenic strain of JV was more severe, with earlier mortality and higher virus yields in blood and viscera . The pathological study showed similar lesions in both the control and PMN-depleted animals with the exception of the lung, which showed the pathological picture of the human "pulmonary distress syndrome of the adult" in nontreated guinea pigs and appeared histologically unaltered in the PMN-depleted animals . On the basis of these results it is suggested that in AHF, PMN play a dual role . In the first stage of infection they display a defensive antiviral action, but later on they participate in the pathogenesis of tissue damage.

Vet Parasitol, 1987 Jun, 25(1), 39 - 45
Experimental Eimeria debliecki infections in nursing and weaned pigs; Lindsay DS et al.; Three litters of six, 3-day-old nursing pigs were inoculated via a stomach tube with 8.0 X 10(5), 1.6 X 10(6) or 5.0 X 10(6) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria debliecki and four groups of six, 4-week-old weaned pigs were inoculated with 8.0 X 10(5), 1.6 X 10(6), 5.0 X 10(6) or 1.0 X 10(7) sporulated oocysts of E . debliecki to determine its pathogenicity . Clinical coccidiosis or deaths did not result from infections . Infections were confined to the jejunum and occasionally the duodenum . Microscopic lesions of mild to moderate villous atrophy were observed in one nursing pig given 5.0 X 10(6) oocysts and three weaned pigs given 1.6 X 10(6), 5.0 X 10(6) and 1.0 X 10(7) oocysts and examined 5 days post-inoculation . Pathogenic bacteria or viruses were not demonstrated in any pigs . Results of this study indicate that E . debliecki is not a cause of neonatal or weaning diarrhea in pigs.

J Bacteriol, 1987 Jun, 169(6), 2793 - 803
Clonal diversity and host distribution in Bordetella bronchiseptica; Musser JM et al.; A total of 303 isolates of Bordetella bronchiseptica recovered from 11 host species were characterized by the electrophoretic mobilities of 15 metabolic enzymes, and 21 distinctive multilocus genotypes (electrophoretic types) were distinguished on the basis of allele profiles at the enzyme loci . The population structure of B . bronchiseptica is clonal, and its genetic diversity is limited in comparison with most other pathogenic bacteria, perhaps reflecting a relatively recent origin of the species . Electrophoretic types mark clones which are, in many cases, nonrandomly associated with host species . Clones differing only slightly in overall chromosomal genetic character may have pronounced differences in virulence potential . There was considerable variation among individual clones and clone families in degree of host specificity and among various species of hosts in the diversity of clones causing disease . The diversity of clones infecting dogs was an order of magnitude greater than that of clones infecting pigs . Most bordetellosis in pigs in the United States and Japan was found to be caused by strains of a single multilocus genotype.

Isr J Med Sci, 1987 Jun, 23(6), 742 - 6
Synthetic oligonucleotide probes complementary to rRNA for group- and species-specific detection of mycoplasmas; Gobel U et al.; A variety of genetic probes has been used for the detection of pathogenic bacteria . Here we present a straightforward approach for the development of group- and species-specific oligonucleotide probes complementary to mycoplasmal rRNA . These probes are useful not only for the identification of mycoplasmas in clinical specimens, but also for the detection of Mollicutes in contaminated cell cultures . Radiolabeled rDNA probes detected less than 1 x 10(3) organisms in an RNA-DNA hybridization procedure.

Obstet Gynecol, 1987 Apr, 69(4), 550 - 3
An evaluation of two rapid bacteriuria screening procedures; McNeeley SG et al.; Two commercially available rapid bacteriuria screening procedures were evaluated for routine screening for 10(4) or more colony forming units per milliliter of pathogenic bacteria in two female patient populations . In 694 obstetric patients with 56 cases of significant bacteriuria, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values, respectively, were as follows: for Chemstrip LN, 69.6, 83.4, 26.9, and 96.9%; and for Bac-T-Screen, 96.4, 56.0, 16.1, and 99.4% . In 143 nonpregnant females with 32 cases of significant bacteriuria, these values were: for Chemstrip LN, 71.9, 75.7, 46.0, and 90.3%; and for Bac-T-Screen, 84.4, 65.8, 41.5, and 93.6% . These results indicate that the LN strip did not have acceptable sensitivity in either patient group . The Bac-T-Screen had better sensitivity, particularly for obstetric patients; however, a high false-positive rate and high cost per test may restrict its use in those clinical settings where culture is available and cost-effective.

Microbiologica, 1987 Apr, 10(2), 171 - 82
Pathogenic and non-pathogenic Naegleria and Acanthamoeba spp.: a new autochthonous isolate from an Italian thermal area; Scaglia M et al.; We performed an epidemiological survey of 17 thermal baths and the same number of mud-basins . This study aimed to ascertain the presence and incidence of small free-living amoebae, particularly species and/or strains of Naegleria and Acanthamoeba spp., occasional etiological agents of fatal meningoencephalitis and/or ocular infections in man . Over 51 samples of water and mud incubated at 37 degrees C and at 45 degrees C, 34 (66.7%) became positive at 37 degrees C and 33 (64.7%) at 45 degrees C . We isolated 7 (6%) strains of Naegleria spp., 6 (5.2%) of Acanthamoeba spp., 39 (33.6%) of Vahlkampfia spp., 28 (24.1%) of Hartmannella spp . and 36 (31.1%) strains of other species of free-living amoebae . 4 strains of Naegleria spp . and 6 of Acanthamoeba spp . proved pathogenic both in vivo, after experimental infection (meningoencephalitis) in the albino mouse, and in vitro, having previously contaminated monolayers of Vero cell line (cytopathic effect) . Within the isolated pathogenic strains of Naegleria spp., a new strain of N . australiensis s.sp . italica was typified from an immunochemical point of view . This should be added to previous isolations reported by us.

Am J Vet Res, 1987 Mar, 48(3), 354 - 5
Chemoprophylaxis of cryptosporidiosis in chickens, using halofuginone, salinomycin, lasalocid, or monensin; Lindsay DS et al.; Chemoprophylaxis of Cryptosporidium baileyi infections was attempted by feeding 4 groups of chicks diets containing 3 mg of halofuginone/kg of feed, 60 mg of salinomycin/kg, 75 mg of lasalocid/kg, or 110 mg of monensin/kg . Rations were fed 5 days before oral or intratracheal inoculation with oocysts and were continued for 20 days . None of the drugs prevented C baileyi infections . Clinical signs of respiratory tract disease and gross lesions of airsacculitis were observed in intratracheally inoculated birds in all treatment groups and nonmedicated controls . Orally inoculated birds did not develop clinical signs of infection . Pathogenic bacteria were not isolated from the respiratory tract systems of any chicks . Halofuginone delayed the establishment of infections of the bursa of Fabricius and cloaca, but not of the trachea.

Rhinology, 1987 Mar, 25(1), 49 - 55
Predictive value of nasal bacterial culture for etiological agents in acute maxillary sinusitis; Savolainen S et al.; Nasal secretion, aspiration yield and lavage content from the sinus were studied for bacteria in 175 patients (247 sinuses) with acute maxillary sinusitis . The same pathogen was cultured from the nose and aspiration fluid in 91% of cases of acute purulent sinusitis . This indicated a significant predictive value of the nasal bacteriological culture for presence of pathogenic bacteria in the sinus in purulent cases . In cases with no growth of pathogens in the aspirate, the nasal culture showed pathogenic bacteria in about 50% . Examination of the aspiration fluid may occasionally give false negative result in purulent maxillary sinusitis (at least 3% in the present series) . In these cases, culture of the irrigation yield may prove helpful.

J Periodontol, 1987 Mar, 58(3), 153 - 8
The effects of antiformin-citric acid chemical curettage on the microbial flora of the periodontal pocket; Forgas LB et al.; This study investigated the hypothesis that antiformin-citric acid chemical curettage combined with scaling and root planing (SRP/AF) would significantly reduce pathogenic bacteria of the periodontal pocket when compared to scaling and root planing alone (SRP) . Ten patients with moderate periodontitis participated . Four pockets per patient, one in each posterior sextant, were chosen . Pocket depths, attachment levels, and gingival index (GI) were measured . Bacterial samples were examined under dark-field microscope for: (1) spirochetes, (2) motile rods, and (3) all others . A randomized four-sextant treatment design was used . One sextant received no treatment, a second received SRP, and the two remaining sextants received identical treatments of SRP/AF . Of these two sextants, one was sampled at baseline and 12 weeks only in order to serve as an additional control . The remaining sextants were sampled at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks . Both SRP and SRP/AF significantly reduced the percentage of spirochetes and motile rods . A significant reduction in GI and pocket depths was also noted . Attachment level showed no significant change . Results of both treatment groups showed no significant differences among any of the parameters . A comparison of the two SRP/AF groups indicated no significant difference among clinical or bacterial parameters due to sampling.

Plasmid, 1987 Mar, 17(2), 110 - 6
Short, interspersed, and repetitive DNA sequences in Spiroplasma species; Nur I et al.; Small fragments of DNA from an 8-kbp plasmid, pRA1, from a plant pathogenic strain of Spiroplasma citri were shown previously to be present in the chromosomal DNA of at least two species of Spiroplasma . We describe here the shot-gun cloning of chromosomal DNA from S . citri Maroc and the identification of two distinct sequences exhibiting homology to pRA1 . Further subcloning experiments provided specific molecular probes for the identification of these two sequences in chromosomal DNA from three distinct plant pathogenic species of Spiroplasma . The results of Southern blot hybridization indicated that each of the pRA1-associated sequences is present as multiple copies in short, dispersed, and repetitive sequences in the chromosomes of these three strains . None of the sequences was detectable in chromosomal DNA from an additional nine Spiroplasma strains examined.

Am J Vet Res, 1987 Feb, 48(2), 239 - 42
Cross protection of mice and swine inoculated with culture filtrate of attenuated Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and challenge exposed to strains of various serovars; Sawada T et al.; Mice and swine inoculated subcutaneously with culture filtrate vaccine prepared from acriflavine-fast attenuated Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strain Koganei 65-0.15 (serovar 2), were challenge exposed to 20 pathogenic strains of E rhusiopathiae of 18 serovars and type N . Vaccinated mice survived after challenge exposure to serovars 1b, 2, 8 (strain Goda), and type N, but mortality occurred in vaccinated mice challenge exposed to other strains: 20% to 30% mortality in mice challenge exposed to serovars 1a, 11, 12, 15, 16, or 21; 40% to 50% mortality in mice challenge exposed to serovars 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 (strain 911); and 60% to 80% mortality in mice challenge exposed to serovars 9, 10, 18, or 19 . All vaccinated mice died after challenge exposure with strain 2553 (serovar 20) . Non-vaccinated control mice died after challenge exposure to all strains . Of 2 vaccinated swine challenge exposed to strain 2553, 1 developed a local urticarial lesion at the site of intradermal exposure . Vaccinated swine challenge exposed to serovars 1a, 1b, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, or type N did not have clinical signs of acute erysipelas . Nonvaccinated control swine developed acute generalized erysipelas or localized urticarial lesions at the site of intradermal exposure.

Minerva Med, 1987 Jan 15, 78(1), 49 - 53
{A case of Hodgkin's disease complicated by Strongyloides stercoralis infestation}; Dini D et al.; A case of Hodgkin's disease complicated by severe Strongyloides stercoralis infection is reported . Strongyloides is an opportunistic parasite that can produce particularly dangerous clinical pictures by autoinfestation in patients with impaired immunity . The appearance of aspecific gastrointestinal symptoms in such patients should trigger careful examination to discover the presence of parasites as well as the more common pathogenic bacteria . reduced among the elderly.

Arch Surg, 1987 Jan, 122(1), 33 - 7
Microbiologic prediction of abdominal surgical wound infection; Pollock AV et al.; We compared two methods of estimating parietal bacterial contamination during abdominal operations . Duplicate swabs were taken from the subcutaneous tissues at the end of 817 operations; one was transported to the Department of Microbiology in Stuart's thioglycollate medium and the other immediately incubated in Robertson's cooked meat broth in the operating room suite and subsequently subcultured . The broth cultures revealed significantly more isolations of potentially pathogenic bacteria and more accurately predicted the likelihood of wound infection . In particular, when visceral cultures were positive, broth culture of wound swabs predicted a major wound infection rate of 0% when sterile, 4.8% when a single pathogenic species was cultured, and 10.1% when two or more were cultured . The corresponding figures for thioglycollate-transported swabs were 1.0%, 10.5%, and 12.9% . We conclude that broth cultures of parietal swabs allow accurate identification of patients at risk of infection from bacterial contamination of the wound during operation.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1987 Jan, 67(1), 124 - 9
Increased concentration of serum IgA antibody to pneumococcal polysaccharides in patients with IgA nephropathy; Drew PA et al.; It has been postulated that IgA nephropathy (IgAGN) is caused by deposition within the glomerular mesangium of IgA polymers and IgA containing immune complexes which are overproduced in response to antigens presented at mucosal surfaces . To test this, the concentrations of specific antibodies to capsular polysaccharides from pneumococci, which are common commensal and/or pathogenic bacteria in the respiratory tract, have been measured . Sera from 35 patients with IgAGN, six with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), eight with membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) and six with Goodpasture's syndrome (GPS), and from 20 controls (C) were assayed . The concentrations of IgG and IgA antibodies specific for each of five pneumococcal polysaccharides (serotypes 2, 7F, 9N, 14 and 23F) were determined by ELISA . The results from the SLE, MGN and GPS patients were pooled and used as a control group of patients with forms of nephritis other than IgAGN (patient controls, PC) . Groups were compared using the Wilcoxon test or the Chi square test . There were no significant differences in the concentrations of IgG antibody to any of the serotypes between the IgAGN and normals, but the PC sera had significantly lower concentrations than either the IgAGN or normals . By contrast, there were no differences between the PC and C in the proportion with detectable IgA antibody to four of the serotypes, but this was significantly increased in IgAGN . There was insufficient IgA antibody to serotype 2 to detect in the assay system used . It is concluded that IgAGN patients have greater concentrations of IgA antibodies, but not IgG, to these pneumococcal polysaccharides, compared with normal controls or patients with other forms of nephritis.

Prog Clin Biol Res, 1987, 233, 79 - 89
Hemagglutinins and bacterial agglutinins of earthworms; Stein EA et al.; The biological roles of invertebrate agglutinins have been and remain an unresolved subject of controversy . Classical studies on agglutinins, beginning with the pioneer work of Noguchi (1903) on Limulus polyphemus and Homarus americanus have emphasized their hemagglutinating properties, an approach that has been criticized for its lack of biological relevance . While erythrocyte agglutination has proven useful for determining various properties of invertebrate agglutinins, it does not address the question of their natural function . More recently, invertebrate agglutinins have been investigated for their ability to interact with pathogenic agents such as bacteria (for review, see Pistole, 1982), yeast (Van der Knapp et al., 1982; Renwrantz and Stahmer, 1983) and parasitic protozoans (Ingram et al., 1984) . In addition, the possible relationship of agglutinins to defense mechanisms of both vertebrates and invertebrates has been indicated by the observation that limulin, the major agglutinin of Limulus polyphemus, bears a number of similarities to vertebrate C-reactive proteins (Robey and Liu, 1981) . In annelids, there have been no studies on bacterial agglutinins prior to our work with Lumbricus (Stein et al., 1985; Stein et al., submitted) . Earthworms are particularly appropriate for studying bacterial agglutinins since their coelomic fluid contains constant low levels of bacteria and fungal spores, and their agglutinins are both naturally occurring and inducible . Although our initial studies on Lumbricus agglutinins were directed toward their hemagglutinating properties, our recent observations using bacteria have allowed us to reach the following conclusions: 1) Lumbricus coelomic fluid normally contains agglutinins against both erythrocytes and bacteria . After injecting worms with either erythrocytes or bacteria, agglutinin titers increase in coelomic fluid . This increase appears to be due to both an increase in numbers of agglutinins as well as levels of specific agglutinins . 2) Absorption studies, temperature effects and sugar inhibition analyses suggest that agglutinins which bind to erythrocytes are identical to bacterial agglutinins, but there are additional agglutinins capable of reacting only with bacteria . 3) The inducibility and bacterial binding properties of Lumbricus agglutinins suggest that they serve an immune function by participating in the earthworm's defense against bacterial infection . In this sense, the agglutinins serve as a humoral surveillance system that entraps and prevents the multiplication of pathogenic bacteria.

Arch Virol, 1987, 94(3-4), 297 - 303
Susceptibility of chicken blood lymphoblasts and monocytes to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV); Burkhardt E et al.; PHA-M stimulated lymphoblasts obtained from peripheral blood and separated from small lymphocytes by X 1 g velocity sedimentation, unstimulated blood lymphocytes, monocytes and cells isolated from the bursa of Fabricius of chickens, were infected in vitro by the pathogenic strain CU-1 of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) . Six hours after infection 32.5 per cent of the bursal cells reacted immunocytologically with IBDV antiserum and had high infectivity titers in plaque assays . Separated lymphoblasts showed a marked lower degree of virus replication and only 2.5 per cent reacted positively when studied by immunocytology, while monocytes ranged between these two cell types with regard to both the degree of virus replication and the positive reaction with IBDV antiserum . Small lymphocytes, however, were found to be totally resistant to IBDV infection . When studied by electron microscopy, virus particles arranged in a crystalloid pattern could only be detected in bursal cells . The results of this study indicate that proliferating lymphoid cells at a certain stage of cellular differentiation are the target cells for IBDV, and that in infected chickens monocytes may play a role in the spreading of the virus.

J Toxicol Environ Health, 1987, 20(4), 321 - 32
Inhibition of natural killer cell function by marijuana components; Klein TW et al.; The extent of modulation of host resistance mechanisms by marijuana components is not fully understood . Natural killer (NK) cells are a subpopulation of lymphoid cells and are important in host resistance mechanisms against malignant cells, virus-infected cells, and possibly pathogenic bacteria and fungi . We report that the marijuana component delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) injected into mice results in a suppression of splenic NK activity . Furthermore, THC and the hydroxylated metabolite 11-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-hydroxy-THC) suppress the NK activity of cultured murine splenocytes in a dose-dependent manner (range 1 X 10(-5) to 3.2 X 10(-5) M) without diminishing NK cell viability . The hydroxylated derivative appears to possess a more potent suppressive effect, in that it suppresses at lower concentrations than THC does and requires a shorter incubation time with the effector cells for its suppressive action . Purification of NK cells by Percoll density-gradient centrifugation suggests that both cannabinoids act directly on the natural killer cell population, resulting in suppression . Studies involving target binding analysis and calcium ionophore experiments suggest that cannabinoids do not suppress NK cell killing by the inhibition of effector/target binding or by disruption of calcium ion flux . These results suggest that two principal psychoactive cannabinoids can suppress natural killer cell function by interacting directly with the killer cells and disrupting cellular events postbinding and during the programming for lysis . Furthermore, the data suggest different modes of action for THC and the hydroxylated metabolite.

J Med Virol, 1987 Jan, 21(1), 39 - 47
Protective effect of preexisting rotavirus-specific immunoglobulin A against naturally acquired rotavirus infection in children; Hjelt K et al.; The preexisting levels of rotavirus IgA and IgG were measured in 225 children aged 6 months to 7 years in November, ie, before the "rotavirus season" from January to April . During the following 6 months, all episodes of acute gastroenteritis (GE) were evaluated clinically according to a score system and feces was examined for rotavirus, pathogenic bacteria, and parasites . Furthermore, rotavirus GE (n = 45) as well as asymptomatic rotavirus infections (n = 29) were diagnosed serologically . The preexisting concentrations of rotavirus IgA and IgG measured by ELISA were similar in these two groups . However, preexisting rotavirus IgA in the group of children who developed rotavirus GE correlated with less severe symptoms . Thus vomiting was found in 24% and 63% of the children with detectable and undetectable rotavirus IgA, respectively (P less than 0.025) . Moreover, according to the total symptom score of rotavirus GE, 52% of the children with detectable preexisting rotavirus IgA had mild symptoms compared with only 13% of those with undetectable concentrations (P less than 0.025) . Rotavirus IgG did not have any protective effect . Age per se had a protective effect; older age (greater than 1.5 years) was related to mild symptoms . According to previous studies of local and intestinal antibody response to a rotavirus GE, it is suggested that rotavirus IgA in serum reflects the immunological status of the intestine concerning rotavirus . It is recommended that studies of rotavirus vaccines include rotavirus IgA response and its protective effect.

Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 477 - 9, 639-40
The adherence of Escherichia coli to the intestinal epithelium of piglets; Talafantova M et al.; The ability of some pathogenic strains of E . coli to adhere to the intestinal epithelium significantly enhances their effectivity . This adhesion of particular pigs' strains is mediated by specific pili possessing the K 88 antigen found on the outer membrane of the bacterial cell . In in vitro experiments with isolated piglets' enterocytes, a considerable adherence of the E . coli K 88+ strain was found when compared with the same bacterial strain but lacking this plasmid-directed antigen . Comparable results were obtained in in vivo experiments with ligated intestinal loops as well as with monoassociated piglets . Furthermore, the adherence ability is most pronounced at the early postnatal period and is negligible in adult pigs.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1987, 176(1), 37 - 46
Hydrophobic adherence and phase variation in Bordetella pertussis; Fish F et al.; The hydrophobicity of Bordetella pertussis was assayed by measuring the ability of cells in suspension to adhere to a polystyrene surface . The quantity of adhered bacteria was measured by the binding of enzyme-conjugated anti B . pertussis antibodies . Hydrophobic adherence of non-pathogenic variant strains was about 20% of that exhibited by pathogenic strains . Hydrophobicity was a stable trait as it did not change with passaging or storage . Assays of a series of characterized stable variants suggested that the Filamentous Hemagglutinin (FHA) is the cell surface moiety responsible for hydrophobic adherence in B . pertussis.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1987, 36(1-2), 73 - 82
R factors of pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli isolated from infant diarrhoea; Tarabasz-Szymanska L et al.; Several drug resistance patterns were determined in 170 pathogenic strains of E . coli isolated in 6 Polish towns from infant diarrhoea . The most frequent were strains resistant to 5 different drugs: ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, streptomycin and sulfonamide . Conjugative R factors of 30 strains of the same resistance pattern (Ap Tc Cm Sm Su) were characterised by determining their Fi(F) character, incompatibility and molecular weight.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Dec, 52(6), 1261 - 5
Properties of Cytophaga johnsonae strains causing spoilage of fresh produce at food markets; Liao CH et al.; Two strains of gliding, orange-pigmented bacteria, isolated from fresh bell pepper and watermelon, respectively, showing soft-rot lesions, were identified as Cytophaga johnsonae . They differed from seven type strains of C . johnsonae deposited at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in some properties, such as the ability to utilize glucose, xylose, trehalose, rhamnose, and sucrose . Spherical bodies resembling microcysts of Sporocytophaga sp . in addition to short rods and long filaments were observed in two strains (ATCC 29583 and 29588) throughout the growth cycle and also in aged cultures of other strains . All strains examined were shown to degrade five natural or synthetic polymers (pectin, chitin, starch, protein, and carboxymethyl cellulose) . Only six strains (including ATCC 17061, 29587, 29589, and 19366) were able to infect and macerate artificially wounded potato tubers and fruits of pepper, squash, and tomato . The pathogenic strains secreted more pectate lyase in broth medium than the nonpathogenic strains . C . johnsonae, generally known as a soil saprophyte, might occasionally act as an opportunistic pathogen, causing decay of fresh produce in storage or in transit.

Int J Zoonoses, 1986 Dec, 13(4), 236 - 40
Isolation of leptospires from a one week dead coypu (Myocastor coypus Molina); Wanyangu SW et al.; The isolation of L . Interrogans from a one week dead coypu is reported . The isolate was identified as a pathogenic strain of leptospira belonging to the Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1986 Dec, 183(2-3), 130 - 52
{Hygiene problems in dental practice with special attention to dental units}; Borneff M; Within a scope of an investigation concerning hygiene-problems in dental practice a longitudinal study was carried out in 20 dental offices with 53 units . In order to guarantee equal experimental conditions and to eliminate variations caused by changing water flow during the day, we took the samples before office hours alternating mondays, tuesdays and wednesdays . Those samples gathered from all handpieces (n = 530) and the drinking water faucets (n = 200) were examined according to the "Trinkwasser-Verordnung" (1986), diagnostics were supplemented concerning special groups of bacteria (see also Table 1) . Analyses of copper, zinc and iron were done once during the study . Selecting certain sampling spots (see also Table 2) the surface contamination of the units and the surroundings was examined using the "Rodac"-method (n = 4800) . The results of the study may be summarized as follows: The investigation concerning the surface contamination showed under qualitative and quantitative aspects (see also Fig . 10) constant contaminations on the patients' head- and armrests, the operating lamp, cuspidor-bowl and hand-wash-basin . In samples taken from the water system of dental units potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated in 71%, in first place Ps . aeruginosa, followed by Ps . acidovorans and other species of this group . Legionella species occurred sporadically in the units and potable water of 8 offices . On the base of the total germ count (22 degrees C and 37 degrees C) the diagnosis "drinking-water quality" was possible only in 31% . The longitudinal investigation showed, that the contamination of the water system follows different progressive forms regarding extent and quality (see also Fig . 7) . Relating to these results in the first step the development of a theoretical model concerning the different influencing factors (quality of water tubes and other devices, variation of temperature, quality of potable water and the effect of ionic exchangers, indirect contamination by patients and dental staff, nature of dental treatment, utilization frequency of the direct handpieces) appears to be necessary . Thus the contamination has to be understood as a developing process determined by specific promotors and catalyzers; in the second step the evaluation of adequate bactericidal and virucidal decontamination procedures fitting into the daily practical needs of dental offices should follow.

Mycopathologia, 1986 Nov, 96(2), 115 - 22
Studies in sporotrichosis: fungal morphogenesis and pathogenicity in differing environments; Findlay GH et al.; Sporothrix schenckii exhibits different morphology and pathogenic properties according to the source and circumstances of its growth . The present study considers the morphology and experimental pathogenicity in relation to - the 'wild' strains; the possible circumstances enhancing pathogenicity in strains recovered from the soil; the rate and nature of the transformational steps in morphology, in human and experimental infections by established pathogenic strains; the elimination of pathogenic strains to the surface of clinical lesions, enabling a simplified diagnostic proof of infection; the rate and nature of the reversion of pathogenic forms to the 'wild' type when the constraints of the host are lessened; the plasticity of conidium-pigmentation as a sign of pathogenicity; the morphological conversions on moist wattle-wood as occur in the Gold Mines; and a note on the therapeutic value of itraconazole . Host resistance is seen to play a larger part in morphology of the pathogenic phase, and exhaustion of natural food resources as the generator of potentially pathogenic forms.

Int J Dermatol, 1986 Nov, 25(9), 580 - 3
Bovine ringworm . An outbreak caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes var . granulare in Greece; Kakepis E et al.; Seven cattle barns were investigated during the years 1976 through 1977 . Six of these barns located in central Euboea have been characterized as "suspect" barns because one or more persons working in these barns had been infected by dermatomycosis . The seventh barn serving as control was located on the opposite side of the Boeotic coast . A total of 60 "suspected as infected" animals were isolated from all these barns . Twenty-one of them (35%) gave positive cultures for dermatophytes in Sabouraud medium . Of the 113 "healthy" animals that were examined, 28 (24.8%) gave positive cultures . The only pathogenic strain of dermatophyte that was isolated was the Trichophyton mentagrophytes var . granulare.

Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 Nov-Dec, 5(6 Suppl), S247 - 52
Role of Ureaplasma urealyticum in amnionitis; Cassell GH et al.; Ureaplasma urealyticum is commonly isolated from the amniotic fluid of unselected individuals with intact membranes at the time of cesarean section even prior to onset of labor . The risk of placental infection increases with onset of labor, rupture of membranes and number of vaginal examinations . Qualitative cultures of women with clinical signs of intraamniotic infection and matched controls indicate that U . urealyticum can be found in 50% of amniotic fluid samples of both groups thus suggesting that it may not be a cause of clinical amnionitis . To gain further understanding of the potential role of this organism, we performed amniotic fluid and blood cultures and measured serologic responses by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in women with clinical intraamniotic infection and matched controls . U . urealyticum was the single most common bacterial species isolated from maternal blood and amniotic fluid but the isolation rate did not differ between symptomatic and asymptomatic women . Also other known pathogenic bacteria were often isolated from amniotic fluids containing ureaplasmas . However, the marked difference in serologic response between symptomatic and asymptomatic women and the occurrence of ureaplasmemia in some suggest that in certain individuals U . urealyticum may be a cause of clinical amnionitis . Serologic responsiveness, ureaplasmemia and isolation of ureaplasmas in pure culture from amniotic fluid of some asymptomatic women suggest that U . urealyticum may also be a cause of clinically silent amnionitis . Previous studies have shown a significant association between chorioamnionitis documented by histopathology and isolation of U . urealyticum from the placenta or infant but not the maternal cervix.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1986 Nov, 35(6), 1134 - 9
Isoenzyme patterns of Entamoeba histolytica isolates from asymptomatic carriers: use of gradient acrylamide gels; Meza I et al.; A vertical polyacrylamide gradient gel (3% to 7%) was designed to facilitate the electrophoretic resolution and classification of isoenzyme patterns of Entamoeba histolytica isolates . The following enzyme systems were used: phosphoglucomutase (PGM), hexokinase (HX), glucosephosphate isomerase (GPI), and malate dehydrogenase (ME) . The modifications in the electrophoretic procedure and sample preparation allowed the reproducible comparison of enzyme patterns of axenic, monoxenic, and mixed cultures of E . histolytica isolated from humans . The clear distinction obtained in gradient polyacrylamide gels, between amebic isoenzyme bands and those from bacteria, renders this technique adequate for application to epidemiological studies where mixed cultures are used . The isoenzyme patterns of eight isolates from asymptomatic carriers, rigorously characterized by the absence of clinical, endoscopic, and serological findings were studied and compared with three well characterized pathogenic strains, cultured under axenic conditions . Our observations confirm the existence of distinct isoenzyme patterns for PGM, HX, and GPI in pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains, and reveal the consistent presence of more than one band for GPI . In addition, a previously undescribed band for GPI with an Rf of 0.64 in a carrier strain was found . The results suggest that while carriers usually harbor amebas with nonpathogenic isoenzyme patterns, pathogenic patterns also may be found in carriers.

Chest, 1986 Oct, 90(4), 534 - 6
Antibody coating and quantitative cultures of bacteria in sputum and bronchial brush specimens from patients with stable chronic bronchitis; Vereen L et al.; Antibody coating of bacterial isolates has been proposed as a method of identifying bacteria responsible for chronic lower respiratory infections . This study was designed to determine the specificity of antibody coating by examining bronchial secretions obtained from a group of patients with chronic bronchitis who had no clinical evidence of acute infection . Routine and quantitative bacterial cultures were performed at the same time . The bronchial brush specimens contained potentially pathogenic bacteria in all 18 patients examined, and 17 of these 18 specimens had antibody coating of bacteria . Quantitative cultures yielded greater than 10(4) colony forming units in only one patient and he subsequently developed a lower respiratory tract infection . We conclude that in patients with chronic bronchitis, the determination of antibody coating of bacterial isolates does not significantly increase the specificity of routine culture . Quantitative cultures of specimens obtained via the protected brush catheter are useful in identifying potential pathogens.

Postgrad Med, 1986 Sep 15, 80(4), 30 - 2, 37, 41
Marine-acquired infections . Hazards of the ocean environment; Chang WJ et al.; Numerous pathogenic bacteria are found in seawater . They can cause several environmental infections, such as conjunctivitis, otitis externa, wound infections, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal illness . The incidence of some of these infections could be lowered if people took care to avoid eating undercooked seafood, swimming in brackish water, or sustaining lacerations in a marine environment . However, such infections will probably increase in frequency as more people visit ocean resorts . Prompt elimination of the infective agent, adequate wound care, and avoidance of reexposure can minimize the severity of the condition.

Can J Microbiol, 1986 Sep, 32(9), 728 - 32
Recovery of Mycobacterium avium after treatment with chemical decontaminants; Jaramillo VL et al.; Cell suspensions of a pathogenic strain of Mycobacterium avium, serovar 1, were tested for susceptibility to chemical disinfectants that are frequently used for decontamination of environmental samples . Kinetic data were obtained by determining the viability at 15-min intervals during 60 min of exposure at room temperature with aeration . After 60 min exposure to a combination of 0.094% Zephiran, and 10% trisodium phosphate, only 0.3% of the initial number of colony-forming units survived . Survival after 60 min treatment with 2% sodium hydroxide, 1% sodium hydroxide, or 0.04% hexadecylpyridinium chloride was 20, 46, and 57%, respectively . To assess the practical applications, the same agents were employed to extract M . avium that had been seeded into soil . Recovery of more than 25% of the initial number of colony-forming units was achieved with any of the treatments . Several combinations of chloramphenicol and antifungal drugs were tested for inhibition of soil microbiota that survived the decontamination procedures.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1986 Aug, 262(2), 189 - 94
Participation of iron on the growth inhibition of pathogenic strains of mycobacterium avium and M . paratuberculosis in serum; Barclay R et al.; Serum, which is low in freely-available iron, was bacteriostatic for M . avium and M . paratuberculosis irrespective of the ability of these organisms to produce the iron-chelators mycobactin and exochelin for iron acquisition . Bacteriostasis was overcome when the serum was supplemented with exochelin or mycobactin, but only if the mycobacteria had previously adapted to growth in a low iron environment . The results imply that for studies on mycobacterial pathogenicity the test cultures should be grown under low iron conditions before being used . The role of the exochelins, mycobactin and iron in the development of in vivo growth is discussed.

Virus Res, 1986 Jul, 5(1), 27 - 42
Studies on the temperature sensitivity of influenza A virus reassortants nonpathogenic for chicken; Giesendorf B et al.; Influenza A virus reassortants which are nonpathogenic for chickens are like mammalian influenza A viruses in that they are temperature sensitive for growth at 41 degrees C . We have investigated the mechanism of this temperature sensitivity using reassortants between the two highly pathogenic strains A/FPV/Rostock/34 (FPV, H7N1) and A/turkey/England/63 (TE, H7N3) . These reassortants show a strict correlation between the pathogenicity for chickens and the constellation of the genes coding for the ribonucleoprotein complex, RNP . Evidence is presented which shows that all viral components are synthesized in sufficient amounts and that the block in the viral replication cycle at the nonpermissive temperature is a late one affecting virus maturation . It is suggested that the RNP, although still enzymatically functional, may lose its ability to interact normally with viral surface components, thus interfering with the process of virus maturation . Some of the nonpathogenic reassortants which possessed the neuraminidase of TE showed an interesting temperature-dependent phenomenon: the haemagglutinin synthesized at the elevated temperature could only agglutinate erythrocytes at 20 degrees C, when the neuraminidase was inhibited or the infected cells vigorously disrupted by ultrasonication . This phenomenon is possibly not directly related to the temperature-sensitive block.

J Gen Microbiol, 1986 Jul, 132 ( Pt 7), 1853 - 8
Highly pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli revealed by the distinct electrophoretic patterns of carboxylesterase B; Goullet P et al.; One hundred and ninety one strains of Escherichia coli isolated from extra-intestinal infections and 85 strains isolated from the stools of healthy human beings were compared for electrophoretic mobility and isoelectric point of carboxylesterase B, and for production of alpha-haemolysin and the presence of mannose resistant haemagglutinin . Fast and slow electrophoretic mobilities were distinguished among the strains . The frequency of strains showing slow mobilities was considerably higher when they originated from extra-intestinal infections (40%) than when they were obtained from the stools of healthy individuals (7%) . In a two-dimensional electrophoretic profile, the fast and slow mobility variants of carboxylesterase B were resolved into two patterns, B1 and B2, respectively . The frequency of pathogenic strains that concomitantly produced alpha-haemolysin and mannose resistant haemagglutinin was 48.7% for strains of pattern B2 but only 2.8% for strains of pattern B1 . Thus, the electrophoretic pattern B2 of carboxylesterase B appears to be a molecular marker for a group of highly pathogenic E . coli strains which are frequently implicated in extra-intestinal infections.

Medicine (Baltimore), 1986 Jul, 65(4), 268 - 79
Trichosporonosis in patients with neoplastic disease; Walsh TJ et al.; Trichosporonosis due to Trichosporon beigelii or T . capitatum is an infrequent but potentially fatal invasive fungal infection in cancer patients . We studied epidemiologic, clinical, pathologic, and microbiologic features of this infection during a 7-year period at the University of Maryland Cancer Center . Fifteen patients with involvement by Trichosporon were identified: 5 were infected, 5 were possibly infected, and 5 were colonized but not infected by Trichosporon . Four of the infected patients had trichosporonemia and/or positive skin biopsy cultures as the first evidence of infection . The fifth infected patient had positive marrow and skin biopsy cultures . Serial surveillance cultures of infected patients showed preceding Trichosporon colonization in only 1 of 5 cases . Pulmonary infiltrates in 3 infected patients correlated at postmortem examination with Trichosporon pneumonia . Renal dysfunction marked by proteinuria, hematuria, red blood cell casts and azotemia correlated with widespread glomerular infiltration with the fungus . The five infected patients died of their infection, whereas the 2 possibly infected patients who died succumbed to their underlying illness . Trichosporonemia may have been averted in possibly infected patients because of a shorter median duration of profound (less than 100/microliter) neutropenia (5 days) when compared to that of infected patients (20 days) . No environmental source of Trichosporon was found in environmental surveillance cultures of food, air, or inanimate surfaces . In vitro studies of three pathogenic strains showed resistance to 5-fluorocytosine but susceptibility to amphotericin B, ketoconazole, and miconazole . Norfloxacin augmented the in-vitro antifungal activity of amphotericin B . Trichosporon must be considered an opportunistic pathogen that can cause serious infections among patients with cancer.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Jun, (6), 33 - 5
{Effect of the viable cell count on the growth parameters of Leptospira cultures}; Boroznov NI et al.; The influence of the amount of live cells on the growth characteristics of 41 Leptospira pathogenic strains belonging to 4 serogroups at different stages of growth has been studied . The study has revealed that under the conditions of batch cultivation the maximum concentration of pathogenic leptospires in the inoculum decreases the duration of the lag phase and determines the highest specific growth rate characterizing the individual features of leptospires in the serogroups under study.

J Bacteriol, 1986 Apr, 166(1), 230 - 7
Genetic diversity and relationships in populations of Bordetella spp; Musser JM et al.; Genetic diversity in 60 strains of three nominal Bordetella species recovered from humans and other mammalian hosts was assessed by analyzing electrophoretically demonstrable allelic variation at structural genes encoding 15 enzymes . Eleven of the loci were polymorphic, and 14 distinctive electrophoretic types, representing multilocus genotypes, were identified . The population structure of Bordetella spp . is clonal, and genetic diversity is relatively limited compared with most other pathogenic bacteria and is insufficient to justify recognition of three species . All isolates of Bordetella parapertussis were of one electrophoretic type, which was closely similar to 9 of the 10 electrophoretic types represented by isolates of Bordetella bronchiseptica . Bordetella pertussis 18-323, which is used in mouse potency tests of vaccines, is more similar genetically to isolates of B . bronchiseptica and B . parapertussis than to other isolates currently assigned to the species B . pertussis . Apart from strain 18-323, the isolates of B . pertussis represented only two closely related clones, and all isolates of B . pertussis from North America (except strain 18-323) were genotypically identical . Strain Dejong, which has been classified as B . bronchiseptica, was strongly differentiated from all of the other Bordetella isolates examined.

Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1986 Apr, 181(4), 507 - 11
Mycoplasma pneumoniae attachment to glutaraldehyde-treated human WiDr cell cultures; Izumikawa K et al.; Attachment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae to host cells initiates disease, and the attachment components may represent important protective immunogens for preventing disease . We have studied the mechanisms of attachment using in vitro cell culture systems and selected pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of M . pneumoniae . Attachment of the pathogenic strains M129 and PI-1428 was several fold greater than attachment of the nonpathogenic strain, and attachment of strains M129 and PI-1428 was reduced by 21 to 63% when human WiDr cell monolayers were exposed to neuraminidase, supporting the concept that M . pneumoniae attaches to mammalian cells by a neuraminidase-sensitive glycoconjugate . While attachment of the two pathogenic strains was markedly reduced by treating the WiDr cells with glutaraldehyde, glutaraldehyde treatment produced minimal effects on the attachment of the nonpathogenic strain B176 . Glutaraldehyde treatment also altered the temperature dependence of attachment by the pathogenic strains . Because glutaraldehyde-treated WiDr cell monolayers showed little difference in attachment between pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains, glutaraldehyde-treated cells are not appropriate cell substrates for studying M . pneumoniae attachment mechanisms or identifying immunogens for vaccine development.

J Immunol, 1986 Mar 15, 136(6), 2265 - 70
Activation of complement by pathogenic and nonpathogenic Entamoeba histolytica; Reed SL et al.; Previous studies had demonstrated that strains of Entamoeba histolytica isolated from patients with colitis or amebic liver abscess were resistant to complement-mediated killing, whereas strains from asymptomatic patients were readily lysed by non-immune serum . Both serum-sensitive and serum-resistant strains of E . histolytica depleted complement rapidly as assessed by CH50, C3, and C7, and C5-9 hemolytic activities . Activation of the alternative pathway was important in lysis of nonpathogenic strains, as demonstrated by lysis by NHS (60.9 +/- 15.6%) and NHS + 5 mM EGTA (59.3 +/- 4.5%) as well as by C4-deficient guinea pig serum (72.8 +/- 7.1%) and C2-deficient human serum (64.4 +/- 11.1%), but not by NHS + 5 mM EDTA . Classical pathway activation also occurs as both pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains deplete greater than 98% of C4 activity, although it is not necessary for lysis . Pathogenic strains are not lysed by either the classical or the alternative pathway . These results suggest that pathogenic strains of E . histolytica activate complement but are able to evade an important host defense, complement-mediated lysis.

Am J Vet Res, 1986 Mar, 47(3), 587 - 93
Eosinophilic myositis and muscular sarcocystosis in the carcasses of slaughtered cattle and lambs; Jensen R et al.; Fifty-three bovine and 7 ovine carcasses condemned for having eosinophilic myositis were evaluated . Four (7.3%) of the bovine carcasses had a few, large local lesions in skeletal muscles (category A), and 49 (92.7%) of the bovine carcasses and 7 (100%) of the ovine carcasses had multiple, small, disseminated lesions in tongue, esophagus, heart, diaphragm, or skeletal muscles (category B) . Tissue from carcasses of category B were evaluated for bacteria, viruses, selenium, and pathologic changes . Pathogenic bacteria and viruses were not isolated and selenium concentrations were normal . In category B, all carcasses had granulomas; of the 49 bovine carcasses and 7 ovine carcasses, 38 (77.6%) and 7 (100%), respectively, had one or more granulomas with opened dead sarcocysts . The data indicated that opened sarcocysts killed the host myocyte and adjacent myocytes and stroma, thereby initiating granuloma formation.

Virology, 1986 Mar, 149(2), 255 - 9
A sequence in HpaI-P fragment of herpes simplex virus-1 DNA determines intraperitoneal virulence in mice; Becker Y et al.; The virulence of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) strains by the intraperitoneal (ip) route of injection in mice depends on the presence of an intact sequence in the HpaI DNA fragment P within coordinates 0.762 to 0.787 . Deletion of the HpaI-P region (e.g., strain HFEM) abrogates the ability of the virus to infect mice by the ip route without affecting pathogenicity by the intracerebral (ic) route . A recombinant virus (M1C1) derived from DNA of the HSV-1 HFEM strain and the MLUIDNA fragment (coordinates 0.761 to 0.796) spanning the HpaI-P sequence of the pathogenic strain F regained pathogenicity for mice by the ip route.

Chest, 1986 Mar, 89(3), 327 - 30
Demonstration of calcitonin and calmodulin by immunoperoxidase in the cystic fibrosis lung; Wolf P et al.; In this investigation, the presence of calcitonin and calmodulin has been demonstrated in immunoperoxidase formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of lung from autopsy tissues of four patients who died as a result of complications resulting from their cystic fibrosis disease . Immunoreactive calcitonin has been stained and quantitated in solitary endocrine cells which are increased in number and staining intensity in cystic fibrosis lung when compared to COPD and normal lungs . Immunoreactive calmodulin has been demonstrated to be increased in cystic fibrosis lung when compared to COPD and normal lungs . Previously, increased calcitonin and calmodulin were identified in sputum from cystic fibrosis patients utilizing radioimmunoassay . The calcitonin and calmodulin may be associated with increased calcium in pulmonary secretions leading to selective colonization of the lung by a limited number of pathogenic bacteria and enhanced pulmonary infection.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1986 Feb 21, 111(8), 288 - 92
{Phage lysis typing and epidemiology of diphtheria 1975-1984}; Naumann P et al.; Phage typing of the available diphtheria strains from epidemics and isolated diphtheria infections in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1975 showed that the various waves of the disease were caused by pathogenic strains which differed from each other in lysis type and lysogenetic spectrum . The individual regional outbreaks, therefore, were not epidemiologically interlinked . Both a high incidence of diphtheria cases and isolated cases occurring in a particular region and within the same time period, however, were caused by the same pathogen with identical lysis type and lysogenetic pattern . On the other hand, the toxinogenic strains introduced from countries with a high prevalence of the disease had clearly different typing characteristics . According to our present studies on the incidence of pathogen carriers, no toxin-producing diphtheria bacteria are circulating in the indigenous population . It can be assumed, therefore, that the outbreaks of diphtheria during the last few years were caused by such imported strains . Since the importation of toxin-producing diphtheria bacteria is unavoidable and may occur at all times, universal active immunisation in childhood, as well as timely revaccination of adolescents and adults, are mandatory prophylactic measures to prevent new epidemics.

Science, 1986 Jan 31, 231(4737), 476 - 9
Irreversible block of the mycelial-to-yeast phase transition of Histoplasma capsulatum; Medoff G et al.; p-Chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (PCMS), a sulfhydryl inhibitor, prevented the mycelial-to-yeast transition of the dimorphic fungal pathogen, Histoplasma capsulatum . The effect of PCMS was specific for the mycelial-to-yeast transformation; it had no effect on growth of either the yeast or mycelial forms or on the yeast-to-mycelial transition . The failure of PCMS-treated mycelia to transform to yeast was permanent and irreversible . PCMS-treated mycelia could not infect mice but could stimulate resistance to infection by a pathogenic strain of Histoplasma capsulatum . These results suggest a new general strategy for vaccine development in diseases caused by dimorphic pathogens.

Pediatr Radiol, 1986, 16(2), 120 - 2
Radiological findings in children with respiratory syncytial virus infection: relationship to clinical and bacteriological findings; Eriksson J et al.; Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a frequent cause of bronchiolitis leading to acute admission to hospital in the winter months . A wide range of findings accompanies this disease and the appearances are seldom completely diagnostic . Associated bacterial co-infections are common and we have shown an association with atelectasis among patients with pathogenic bacteria in the nasopharynx.

Intervirology, 1986, 25(4), 216 - 22
Modification of Junin virus neurotropism in mice by selective brain or spinal cord passaging; Rabinovich RD et al.; The percentage of suckling mice that developed paralysis after intracerebral Junin virus (XJ-JV pathogenic strain) inoculation (13.8%) consistently increased after 5 serial passages of virus-infected brain or spinal cord obtained from paralytic animals, reaching 37.9 and 45.7%, respectively . As expected, all paralytic mice exhibited an identical spinal cord histologic picture, with widespread JV antigen in spinal cord astrocytes and neurons, particularly the large motor neurons of the anterior horn . These findings strongly support the existence of a motor neurotropic viral particle subpopulation in parental XJ-JV stock.

Arch Virol, 1986, 89(1-4), 113 - 30
Similarities and dissimilarities in the structure and expression of viral genomes of various virus strains immunologically related to Marek's disease virus; Hirai K et al.; Various strains immunologically related to Marek's disease virus (MDV) have been subdivided into three serotypes: serotype 1, pathogenic strains of MDV and attenuated or apathogenic variants derived from them; serotype 2, naturally occurring apathogenic strains of MDV; serotype 3, herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) . The viral genome structures of these three serotypes were compared by a simple, practical method using total DNA extracted from virus-infected cells instead of viral DNA purified from virions . The restriction endonuclease-cleavage patterns of serotype 2 viral DNA were found to differ from those of either serotype 1 MDV or serotype 3 . Under stringent conditions, no significant DNA homology was detected among the three serotype viruses, except in a restricted portion of these viral genomes . Northern blot hybridization experiments suggested that virus-specific polyadenylated RNA of about 2.4 kilobases was transcribed from a restricted portion showing close homology in these viruses . Southern blot hybridization under less stringent conditions revealed that regions with weak homology were distributed over most of the viral genomes of the three serotypes . Two types of virus-specific glycoproteins, gA and gB, were identified in the immunoprecipitates of the culture medium and cell lysates, respectively, of serotype 2-infected cultures with monoclonal antibodies or hyperimmune antisera cross reactive with serotype 1 MDV and serotype 3 HVT, and detected on the surface of serotype 2-infected cells by the membrane immunofluorescence test . These results indicate a close evolutionary relationship among these three viral serotypes.

Acta Otolaryngol, 1985 Nov-Dec, 100(5-6), 456 - 69
The nasal mucosa in immunodeficiency . Surface morphology, mucociliary function and bacteriological findings in adult patients with common variable immunodeficiency or selective IgA deficiency; Karlsson G et al.; Twenty-two adult patients suffering from common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and sixteen patients with selective IgA deficiency were examined with regard to the mucocilliary function of the nose . The surface structures of the nasal mucosa, e.g . cell distribution and degree of destruction and metaplasia, were judged from scanning electron microscopy of nasal biopsies . Bacteria were isolated from nasopharyngeal swabs . The results of the clinical and morphological investigations were analysed with regard to the duration of the disease and possible benefit of adequate prophylaxis with immunoglobulin . It was found that patients with CVID had a slower mucociliary transport rate and more extensive mucosal damages than patients with selective IgA deficiency . Most likely these alterations were due to repeated infections as patients who had had few infections or adequate immunoglobulin prophylaxis (CVID patients) had better mucociliary function and showed less extensive mucosal changes . Potentially pathogenic bacteria in the nasopharynx were found in equal numbers in both patient groups.

Vaccine, 1985 Sep, 3(3 Suppl), 215 - 8
Stability of infectious influenza A viruses at low pH and at elevated temperature; Scholtissek C; After treatment of different strains of influenza A at low pH, the threshold pH, at which the infectivity was lost, depended on the haemagglutinin (HA) subtype of the virus strain . Strains with noncleaved HA were much more stable when compared to strains with cleaved HA . These observations might explain why duck influenza viruses spread well by lake water, while highly pathogenic strains with cleaved HA do not . There were also significant differences in heat stability of infectivity among influenza A strains, which do not correlate with differences in stability at low pH.

Am Heart J, 1985 Sep, 110(3), 605 - 8
Agent of Chagas' disease from Honduran vector capable of developing in California insects: implications for cardiologists; Theis JH et al.; An exotic strain of Trypanosoma cruzi recovered from Triatoma dimidiata from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, was shown by isoenzyme studies to be closely related to the Miles' zymodeme 1 and laboratory reference strain Tehuantepec . It was injected into Swiss random-bred ICR mice . Clean Triatoma protracta nymphs and adults, which had been captured in Winters, California, fed on inoculated mice and were then examined over a 15-month period . Their feces contained multiplying epimastigote and infective trypomastigote forms of T . cruzi . This shows that exotic strains of T . cruzi can develop and survive for long periods in local California vectors . The increasing number of immigrants from Central America who enter California and other states may have public health implications in regard to the introduction of pathogenic strains that are capable of producing cardiomyopathy . Cardiologists who examine patients with cardiomyopathy from Central and South America should rule out Chagas' disease as a cause, since pathogenic T . cruzi strains are present in most Central and South American countries.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1985 Sep, 38(9), 2444 - 52
{Fundamental and clinical studies of S 6472 (sustained release preparation of cefaclor) in the pediatric field}; Sugita M et al.; Fundamental and clinical studies on S 6472 were carried out and following results were obtained . Serum concentrations after single oral administration showed 2 peaks at 1 or 2 hours and 5 or 6 hours in the cases with normal meal . Namely this drug has much more maintenance of serum concentration than normal cefaclor . In maintenance of serum concentrations after the administration, there were no obviously difference between normal and heavy meal . S 6472 was administered twice a day to 7 patients with various infections (bronchopneumonia 2 cases, acute bronchitis 1 case, purulent tonsillitis 4 cases) and clinical responses were all effective results . Pathogenic bacteria of S . aureus, S . pneumoniae, S . pyogenes and H . influenzae were completely eliminated in all cases . No significant side effects were observed . On the above results, this administration method of S 6472 twice a day was considered to be good response against mild or moderate bacterial infections in children.

Clin Lab Med, 1985 Sep, 5(3), 531 - 44
Monoclonal antibodies for bacterial identification and taxonomy: 1985 and beyond; Conway de Macario E et al.; Contemporary bacterial serology relevant to medicine involves poly- and monoclonal antibodies to study pathogenic bacteria and nonpathogenic organisms useful in controlling infectious diseases . Monoclonal antibody applications include immunodiagnostics, prophylaxis and serotherapy, and microbial biotechnology and molecular immunochemistry . If used in parallel with antisera, the analytic potential of monoclonal antibodies is better realized . However, the entire range of advantages from the use of monoclonal antibodies can only be attained if the antibodies are well characterized.

Infect Immun, 1985 Sep, 49(3), 828 - 32
In vitro and in vivo interaction between trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica and gerbil lymphoid cells; Chadee K et al.; The in vitro and in vivo antiamoebic cytotoxic effects of peritoneal exudate cells and mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes of gerbils with cecal amoebiasis or those immunized with amoebic extract were investigated . A differential effect of the lymphoid cells against trophozoites of nonpathogenic and pathogenic strains of Entamoeba histolytica was observed . Nonpathogenic amoebae were more susceptible to killing by lymphoid cells than pathogenic amoebae in vitro and in vivo in infected or immunized animals . These data suggest that during the course of cecal amoebiasis in gerbils, a differential stimulation or depletion of cytotoxic cells in the lymphoreticular tissues occurs, resulting in an impaired cell-mediated immune response.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Jun, 49(6), 1374 - 8
Probability of recovering pathogenic Escherichia coli from foods; Hill WE et al.; The probability of recovering pathogenic Escherichia coli from food by the Bacteriological Analytical Manual method was determined by the effects of several factors: the number of strains per food, the ability of pathogenic strains to survive enrichment, and the frequency of plasmid loss during enrichment . Biochemical patterns indicated the presence of about six E . coli strains per food sample . About half of the strains isolated from humans did not survive enrichment . Among those which grew, plasmid loss, as determined by gel electrophoresis and DNA colony hybridization, ranged from 20 to 95% . The combined effects of failure to survive enrichment and plasmid loss decreased the relative numbers of these strains and reduced the chance of detecting pathogens . To counteract this tendency and obtain a 90 to 95% probability off recovering a given pathogenic strain, 40 to 50 colonies per food sample should be picked during the routine testing of foods.

Eur J Biochem, 1985 May 15, 149(1), 73 - 8
Structure of the sidechain of lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas syringae pv . morsprunorum C28; Smith AR et al.; The sidechain of the lipopolysaccharide from the phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv . morsprunorum C28 was shown to be composed of D-rhamnose . Using 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis, Smith degradation and optical rotation data, the repeat unit was found to have the structure: ----3)-D-Rhap-(alpha 1----3)-D-Rhap-(alpha 1----2)-D-Rhap-(alpha 1---- and a degree of polymerization of approximately 70 . Attention is drawn to the possible prevalence of D-6-deoxyhexoses in the lipopolysaccharides of plant pathogenic bacteria.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol, 1985 May, 23(5), 279 - 81
A combination of cefuroxime and N-acetyl-cysteine for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections in children; Santangelo G et al.; One hundred and three children with lower respiratory tract infections were treated with a combination of cefuroxime and N-acetyl-cysteine . Positive clinical results were obtained in 100 patients, symptoms being completely relieved in 58 and distinct improvement produced in 42 . Chest x-rays provided objective evidence of recovery or improvement in these 100 patients . Of the 72 pathogenic strains isolated before treatment in the trial population as a whole, none were still detectable at the end of treatment . No side effects or adverse reactions of any kind were observed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1985 May, 21(5), 738 - 40
Determination of monounsaturated double-bond position and geometry in the cellular fatty acids of the pathogenic bacterium Francisella tularensis; Nichols PD et al.; The nonhydroxy fatty acid composition of Francisella tularensis is reported in detail . The double-bond configuration of the monounsaturated acids has been determined by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the derivatized fatty acids . The monounsaturated fatty acids detected, in decreasing order of abundance, were 24:1 omega 15c, 18:1 omega 9c, 22:1 omega 13c, 20:1 omega 11c, 16:1 omega 7c, 26:1 omega 17c, and 14:1 omega 7c . The fatty acid profile found in F . tularensis, in particular the double-bond positions, represents a valuable taxonomic characteristic of this pathogenic bacterium.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1985 May, 18(2), 149 - 55
{The relationship between indicator bacteria and pathogens in food safety}; Chen SL et al.; 57 specimens of raw foods and 143 specimens of ready to eat foods were examined for microbial contamination in a period from October, 1982 to September, 1983 . The results showed that 26% of the raw foods and 24% of the ready to eat foods didn't meet the government's requirement . When TAPC less than 10(6) CFU/g is used as acceptable level, then 60% of the raw foods and 46% of the ready to eat foods are unsatisfactory . The appearance of pathogenic bacteria in foods increased when the TAPC rised, although only the emergence of S . aureus was statistically significant . The number of indicator bacteria in the foods examined didn't show any correlation with the existence of pathogenic bacteria, indicating that the presence of coliform bacteria and E . coli in foods could hardly serve as parameters for evaluating food safety.

Rev Infect Dis, 1985 May-Jun, 7(3), 321 - 40
Fimbrial adhesions of Escherichia coli; Klemm P; Fimbriae are long, threadlike protein polymers found on the surface of many strains of Escherichia coli . The presence of fimbriae has been found to be significantly correlated with pathogenicity, and specific fimbriae confer on pathogenic strains the ability to adhere to and colonize various specific host epithelia . A surprising variety of fimbrial adhesions have been found in E . coli; several unrelated groups of such proteins have been extensively characterized . Fimbriae of E . coli are strongly immunogenic . Their continuous interaction with host defenses has imposed heavy selective pressure on them, leading to a fine balance between functional necessity and maximal immunologic diversity . These important virulence factors may be exploited in various ways in the production of vaccination agents . Vaccines based on E . coli fimbriae have proved extremely successful in the veterinary sector, and several types of immunization are currently being tested in humans.

Infect Immun, 1985 Mar, 47(3), 799 - 807
Cellular and extracellular protein antigens of Treponema pallidum synthesized during in vitro incubation of freshly extracted organisms; Stamm LV et al.; A new medium that permits radiolabeling of freshly extracted cells of Treponema pallidum with {35S}methionine very efficiently has been devised . Although treponemes were not purified free of contaminating rabbit tissue, label was incorporated exclusively into treponemal protein in a linear manner for at least the first 16 h of in vitro incubation . Throughout this period, virtually a full complement of treponemal proteins was synthesized, based on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis comparison of the radiolabeled protein profile with the Coomassie blue-stained profile of gradient-purified treponemes . The radiolabeled protein profiles obtained with three pathogenic strains were very similar but not identical . Using solubilized treponemal extracts and a sensitive radioimmunoprecipitation procedure, we identified the protein antigens of T . pallidum that were recognized by immunoglobulin G antibodies in various rabbit and human syphilitic sera . A simple fractionation procedure has been used to separate soluble and membrane-bound treponemal proteins . A number of the membrane proteins are exposed on the cell surface, since intact radiolabeled treponemes bound antibodies directed against these proteins . In addition, a unique class of low-molecular-weight extracellular treponemal proteins has been identified . The cell surface-exposed proteins were among the earliest proteins recognized by immunoglobulin G antibodies after experimental infection of rabbits with T . pallidum.

Infect Immun, 1985 Mar, 47(3), 704 - 9
Survey of immunoglobulin A protease activity among selected species of Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma: specificity for host immunoglobulin A; Kapatais-Zoumbos K et al.; Because immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the predominant immunoglobulin at mucosal surfaces, IgA proteases produced by pathogenic bacteria are considered potential virulence factors for organisms that cause disease or gain entry at mucous membranes . To determine the role of IgA protease in the pathogenicity of mycoplasmal disease, a variety of human and animal mycoplasma and ureaplasma species were examined for IgA protease activity with human, murine, porcine, and canine IgA . None of the mycoplasma species examined showed detectable IgA protease activity with any of the IgAs tested . Twenty-eight strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum isolated from human urogenital tissues cleaved human IgA1, but no cleavage of human IgA2 or murine, porcine, or canine IgA was observed . Ureaplasmas isolated from nonhuman hosts (feline, canine, avian, and bovine {Ureaplasma diversum}) did not cleave human IgA1 . Two strains of canine ureaplasmas were able to cleave canine IgA, but not murine IgA . Thus, ureaplasmas from other species can produce IgA protease, but the specificity of the enzyme was restricted to the IgA of the appropriate host . This finding suggests that IgA proteases could play a role in the selective host specificity of mucosal pathogens.

J Med Virol, 1985 Feb, 15(2), 197 - 202
Pathogenesis of attenuated Junin virus in the guinea pig model; de Guerrero LB et al.; The purpose of this work was to elucidate the pathogenesis of attenuated Junin virus (JV) strains in the guinea pig model . Three groups of guinea pigs were infected by the IM route with 10(3) PFU of the XJC13 and XJO-attenuated strains or with the XJ pathogenic strain of JV, respectively . Viremia was studied at 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, and 14 days postinfection (pi) (a) in serum samples of all animals and in washed cells from XJC13-infected guinea pigs by conventional techniques and (b) in whole blood samples from XJC13 and XJO animals by coculture with Vero cells . Virus spread was studied at 14 days pi in brain, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow by parallel suckling mouse inoculation or organ homogenates and coculture of cell suspensions with Vero cells . By coculture techniques of whole blood, an otherwise undetectable viremia was demonstrated for both attenuated strains throughout the observation period . In contrast, XJ viremia was easily detected by direct techniques, as has already been shown . Attenuated virus was also shown to reach brain and bone marrow when coculture methods were employed . But titers were always markedly lower than those of the pathogenic strain . The sustained viremia demonstrated in guinea pigs infected with either attenuated strain explains the mode of viral dissemination and accounts for viral rescue and antigen detection from some organs . These results suggest that attenuated strains do not differ greatly in their invasive capacity in guinea pigs, but later on viral replication is impaired . Therefore, these findings reveal potential risks and should be noted when developing human vaccines.

Ann Biol Clin (Paris), 1985, 43(2), 153 - 5
{Opportunistic bacteria}; Peloux Y; The definition of opportunistic bacteria is based on two parameters: the receptive subject and the bacteria . When the receptive subject is normal, theoretically, no saprophytic or normal commensal organisms are able to invade the subject . This subject can only be infected by certain "undesirable" commensal organisms such as Vargues' Specific Pathogenic Bacteria . If an otherwise normal subject has a temporary decrease in his immune defences, he may be invaded by a number of organisms from the normal commensal flora: these are the opportunistic bacteria in the broad sense of the term . The immunosuppressed patient with profound and prolonged depression of his immune system may be attacked by various saprophytic organisms and a number of commensal organisms, even those which were previously considered to be non-virulent . These are the opportunistic infections in the strict sense of the term.

Dev Biol Stand, 1985, 59, 43 - 9
Impact of recombinant DNA technology on studies of bacterial pathogenicity; Dougan G et al.; Gene manipulation techniques along with other molecular approaches have aided studies on bacterial pathogenicity in a number of ways . Potential virulence determinants have been isolated from a wide variety of pathogenic bacteria and some of these have been characterized in order to determine their genetic organization and identify specific gene products . Proteins such as toxins, adhesins, extracellular enzymes and surface antigens have been analysed . Once a potential virulence determinant has been characterized opportunity exists for further manipulations to be undertaken . For example, natural toxoid producing strains have been constructed including organisms expressing high levels of E . coli heat-labile toxin B-subunit and cholera B-subunits . Gene fragments can be used as hybridization probes to screen for silent or related virulence genes . Mutated genes can be re-introduced into parental pathogenic bacteria, following manipulations in E . coli, to construct specific mutants . Examples of some of these approaches will be discussed.

Avian Dis, 1985 Jan-Mar, 29(1), 188 - 97
In ovo pathogenicity of Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains in the presence and absence of maternal antibody; Levisohn S et al.; Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) strains showing marked variation in pathogenicity were examined for virulence in ovo . No correlation was found between in ovo pathogenicity and other in vivo or in vitro methods for pathogenicity evaluation . For certain highly pathogenic strains, there was a clear relationship between the titer of MG inoculated and the embryo mortality and time of death; an LD50 for these strains could be calculated by yolk-sac inoculation . However, not every strain that caused lesions in the respiratory tract in vivo caused embryo mortality . Less pathogenic strains that grow well and colonize the respiratory tract usually caused embryo mortality during the later stages of incubation, and there was no strict correlation between titer of inoculum and embryo mortality . It appeared that embryo death in these cases may have resulted from generalized stress due to mass multiplication of the MG . Embryo mortality due to virulent MG was completely blocked in eggs containing maternal antibody to MG, although the mycoplasma could be reisolated from the yolk-sac membrane of the live embryonated egg after 17 days of incubation . Attempts to mimic the effect of maternal antibody by injecting exogenous MG antiserum were not successful.

Arch Androl, 1985, 15(2-3), 181 - 6
Seminal biochemistry and sperm characteristics in infertile men with bacteria in ejaculate; Grizard G et al.; Sperm examination, quantitative sperm culture, citric acid, acid phosphatase, and fructose were assayed in three groups of men: fertile controls without significant bacteriospermia (group I), infertile men with significant bacteriospermia; idiopathic infertile men (group II), and infertile men with varicocele (group III) . Level of significance of bacteriospermia was greater than or equal to 10(4) germs/ml of ejaculate . In group II, motility and typical morphology percentages were lower, independently of the degree and the nature of bacteriospermia . Incidence of pathogenic bacteria was higher than in group III and linked to the degree of bacteriospermia . Fructose was unaltered in the two groups of infected men . No modification of prostatic markers was observed in any groups, except in group II, where they decreased when bacteriospermia was lower than 10(5) germs/ml and when biological pattern of semen evoked chronic prostatitis . Thus, the presence of germs in ejaculate alters the motility and the typical morphology percentages but does not result in any obvious modifications of biochemical markers of prostate and seminal vesicles . For idiopathic infertile men, it is suggested that the quantitative criterion of pathogenic bacteriospermia is a germ count greater than or equal to 10(5)/ml.

Vet Med Nauki, 1985, 22(7), 27 - 39
{Electron microscopic research on an experimental infection in chicks caused by the infectious bursal virus}; Savova M et al.; A total of 18 birds at the age of 25 days were infected intraocularly with the pathogenic strain 52/70 of the infectious bursitis virus . The bursa of Fabricius and the thymus were sampled for electron-microscopic investigations . The ultrastructural changes in the infected cells consisted in pycnosis of the lymphocyte and macrophage nuclei, vacuolization of the cytoplasm, and the production of lipid droplets as well as of inclusion bodies of varying density, myelin figures, multivericular bodies, and other irregular structures in the cytoplasm . These changes were slightly visible at the 24th hour, were characteristic at the 48th hour, and were well manifested at the 72nd hour following infection . Beside the degenerative changes in the cytoplasm of the affected cells (mainly lymphocytes) there were at the 24th hour of infection tiny-granular matter of fibre-like structure and particles within it of varying electron density . In the later phases (at the 48 h and the 72nd hour) viral particles that were either free or in the vacuoles were predominantly seen in the cytoplasm of the macrophages, having a dia of 50-60 nm and a hexagonal form, with crystalographic arrangement . It was also demonstrated that the replication of the virus of the infectious bursal infection took place in lymphocytes, and in the later stages of infection--chiefly in macrophages . These were the two main types of cells in which virus replication was seen to take place.

Dev Biol Stand, 1985, 61, 255 - 64
Studies on phase variation in Bordetella pertussis; Goldman S et al.; Pathogenic strains of Bordetella pertussis undergo spontaneous phase variation and become non-pathogenic upon culturing in vitro . The spontaneous process was studied in pathogenic B . pertussis strains Tohama, 165 and 18323 by isolating spontaneous variants, selected for their ability to grow on synthetic and semi-synthetic solid media . In strains Tohama and 165, the frequency of variants able to grow on synthetic and semi-synthetic media was between 10(-6) and 10(-7) . About 250 variant strains were screened for the presence of virulence-associated traits, such as production of hemolysin, pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) . Only four different combinations of the traits were found: 7-11% of the variants displayed all traits, 17% of the variants carried pertussis toxin and FHA, 5-11% carried FHA only and 66% were devoid of all virulence traits . The strains which had at least one virulence trait also demonstrated some adenylate cyclase activity . The disappearance of hemolysin was related quantitatively to the other traits . These results suggest that phase variation in B . pertussis is a non random process, involving ordered disappearance of virulence factors in the following order: hemolysin, pertussis toxin and FHA . Since all the variant strains were phenotypically stable upon further passaging in vitro, they represent the stable, final outcome of the variation process which may have occurred in "Phase I" colonies . In contrast, 300 variants of B . pertussis 18323, which were able to grow on selective solid media, carried all the virulence traits . This is in accordance with the strain's unique intracerebral virulence.

Parassitologia, 1984 Dec, 26(3), 305 - 9
{First isolation in Italy of Naegleria australiensis (De Jonckheere, 1981)}; Scaglia M et al.; An epidemiological investigation was carried out in Northern Italian spa to detect presence and incidence of free-living amoebae, mostly belonging to amphizoic species Acanthamoeba and Naegleria . Seven pathogenic strains of Naegleria spp . were isolated . Morpho-biological characterization and indirect immunofluorescence assays showed that all these strains belong to N . australiensis, a new pathogenic species . Such a species could induce, along with N . fowleri and Acanthamoeba spp., fatal meningo-encephalitis in man and other mammals.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1984 Dec 1, 185(11), 1357 - 8
Pregnancy toxemia (eclampsia) in Syrian golden hamsters; Richter AG et al.; Late-term pregnant Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) died within 24 hours of arrival in our facility . Disseminated thrombi were found in many organs, particularly in the kidneys, liver, intestines, and placenta . Pathogenic bacteria were not identified in bacterial cultures of the liver.

Pediatrics, 1984 Dec, 74(6), 1086 - 92
Pathogenesis and prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis: a hypothesis based on personal observation and a review of the literature; Kosloske AM; The hypothesis is, that necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) of the neonate occurs by the coincidence of two of three pathologic events: (1) intestinal ischemia, (2) colonization by pathogenic bacteria, and (3) excess protein substrate in the intestinal lumen . NEC is more likely to appear following quantitative extremes, ie, severe ischemia highly pathogenic flora, or marked excess of substrate . NEC develops only if a threshold of injury, sufficient to initiate intestinal necrosis, is exceeded . The hypothesis is derived from previous theories by Santulli, which implicated all three events, and by Lawrence, in which a single event, abnormal bacterial colonization, was considered sufficient to induce NEC . This hypothesis may explain both typical occurrences of NEC among high-risk premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and atypical occurrences among infants considered at low-risk, eg, previously healthy term infants, infants fed breast milk exclusively, and infants never fed . It may further explain why NEC fails to develop in most high-risk infants in NICUs . Preventive measures might include: (1) pharmacologic stabilization of intestinal perfusion, (2) modification of the intestinal flora, or (3) feeding colostrum or other protective substances . Each theoretical benefit is accompanied by potential risks . The prevention of NEC may require favorable intervention in two of the three pathologic events.

Gastroenterol Clin Biol, 1984 Nov, 8(11), 808 - 13
{Multifocal cryptogenetic stenosing enteritis: an autonomous entity?}; Chagnon JP et al.; Multifocal idiopathic stenosing enteritis has been described as a relapsing disease affecting the small bowel . The main anatomical characteristics are multiple non-specific inflammatory strictures . Six cases (4 men, 2 women) presenting this disorder were followed up for 3 to 22 years . Five patients were young . Iterative obstruction or chronic diarrhea and loss of weight were the outstanding clinical features . Hyposideremic anemia and protein-losing enteropathy were common . The anatomical substrate was numerous (2-19) short annular strictures situated in the ileum (75 p . 100) . These strictures presented shallow ulcerations and underlying fibrosis which never extended beyond the submucosa . The small bowel wall was otherwise normal and did not show mucosal or vascular abnormalities at microscopic examination . In case of relapse, strictures developed distal to or in close contact with previous suture lines . Cultures for pathogenic bacteria were constantly negative . The natural history of these 6 cases and of 7 other previously published cases suggests that this disease is an autonomous disorder which must be differentiated from other inflammatory bowel disease entities such as Crohn's disease or tuberculosis.

Trop Anim Health Prod, 1984 Nov, 16(4), 227 - 32
Observations on blood-borne parasites of domestic livestock in the lower Juba region of Somalia; Schoepf K et al.; The commonest parasite to be found in blood of cattle in the Lower Juba Region is Theileria mutans . Antibodies against Trypanosoma spp . and Anaplasma marginale could be detected serologically whereas no antibodies against T . parva and T . annulata were present . A list of ticks collected between 1980 and 1982 in the above mentioned area shows that vectors of T . mutans are common . As the cattle throughout the region are indigenous Somali Boran it seems that endemic stability is maintained and mortality from T . mutans infection is negligible . It is not yet clear whether pathogenic strains of T . mutans similar to those isolated in East Africa occur.

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1984 Nov, 33(6), 1251 - 7
The guinea pig model for Argentine hemorrhagic fever; Oubina JR et al.; Guinea pigs infected by the peripheral route with the XJ pathogenic strain of Junin virus showed viscerotropism mainly in reticulo-phagocytic rich organs . By immunofluorescence, heavy infection of reticular-phagocytic cells was demonstrated, supporting the leading role of these cell types . Absence of neurotropism was demonstrated by the inability to recover infectious virus, as well as the absence of antigens, immunoglobulins, or 3rd component of complement deposits, in cells, vessels, or meninges . The correlation between infectivity and antigen expression observed in organs, and the absence of evidence of immunopathologic mechanisms, strongly suggest a direct viral effect in these experimental conditions . The results show that infection of guinea pigs by the peripheral route is an adequate model for human Argentine hemorrhagic fever with the exception of central nervous system involvement . Comparisons are made with infections produced in guinea pigs by attenuated strains, as well as with the disease in primates and humans.

Am J Epidemiol, 1984 Nov, 120(5), 743 - 9
A common-source epidemic of mixed bacterial diarrhea with secondary transmission; Kapadia CR et al.; An epidemic of acute diarrhea in a village in southern India in 1972 was associated with a high rate of isolation of enteric pathogenic bacteria from the patients and lasted for three months . There was no significant association between the prevalence of enteroviruses or parasites and cases of diarrhea . The epidemic started as a common-source outbreak due to the contamination of well water, and there were many secondary cases probably due to a person-to-person spread . The illness did not produce chronic diarrhea or malabsorption.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Oct, (10), 72 - 3
{Sensitivity of different morphological variants of Leptospira to the leptospirocidal activity of normal animal sera}; Anan'ina IuV et al.; The leptospirocidal activity of normal animal sera with respect to 23 Leptospira strains was experimentally studied in vitro . 91.3% of the strains under study proved to be sensitive to the lytic action of cattle serum and 86.9%, to sheep serum . The uncinate variants of the pathogenic strains showed resistance to the action of the above sera, and their nonuncinate analogs were subject to agglutination with subsequent lysis, similarly to saprophytes.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 135 - 40
Genetic control of resistance to Mycobacterium intracellulare infection in mice; Goto Y et al.; The susceptibilities of various strains of mice to a highly pathogenic strain of Mycobacterium intracellulare, the Mino strain, were determined by intravenous injection of 5 X 10(6) bacteria . CFU were counted on days 1 and 21 of infection . Among 10 strains of mice, C57BL/6, C57BL/10, BALB/c, B10.BR, B10.A, and B10.D2 were susceptible, whereas DBA/2, A/J, CBA, and C3H/He were resistant . In the susceptible mouse strains, the number of bacteria increased during 21 days of infection, whereas no bacterial growth was observed in the resistant strains . Susceptible mice showed weak but positive delayed-type hypersensitivity to M . intracellulare purified protein derivative 20 days after injection of bacteria . Resistant mice developed no delayed-type hypersensitivity . Histological examination showed severe granulomatous lesions in livers or spleens of the susceptible mice after M . intracellulare injection . Analysis of F1 hybrids of susceptible and resistant strains and of F2 and backcross mice showed that the resistance to M . intracellulare seems to be controlled genetically by a single dominant gene . The pattern of distribution of resistance to M . intracellulare among the mouse strains was consistent with that of natural resistance to Mycobacterium bovis to BCG . Thus, resistance to M . intracellulare infection may be regulated by a gene linked to the Bcg gene on chromosome 1.

Acta Leprol, 1984 Oct-Dec, 2(2-4), 249 - 57
Exchange of material between the extracellular medium and macrophage phagosomes containing different species of bacteria including mycobacteria; de Chastellier C et al.; Pathogenic mycobacteria survive and multiply once they have infected macrophages . The aim of the present work was to determine whether the persistence of pathogenic bacteria such as M . avium inside the host cell phagosomes had any effect on the exchanges that normally occur between the extracellular medium and the macrophage vacuolar compartment . Our results indicate that fusions between phagosomes and lysosomes or/and incoming pinosomes appear to be slowed down by the presence of mycobacteria and even partially inhibited when phagosomes contain viable pathogenic mycobacteria.

J Exp Med, 1984 Oct 1, 160(4), 1001 - 11
Neonatal administration of idiotype or antiidiotype primes for protection against Escherichia coli K13 infection in mice; Stein KE et al.; Antibodies directed against the capsular polysaccharides (Ps) of encapsulated pathogenic bacteria can protect the host against infection with such organisms . The immune response to Ps, however, does not develop until relatively late in ontogeny . We have, therefore, studied alternative ways to stimulate anti-Ps antibody responses in neonates, namely priming with idiotype (Id) and anti-Id . We believe that these studies provide the first demonstration of the use of an anti-Id antibody to prime for protection against a bacterial infection and the first demonstration of the ability of a monoclonal anti-Id to prime for protection against any microbial infection . We have used a monoclonal IgM Id, anti-K13 capsular antibody, and a monoclonal IgG1 anti-Id in studies of the effects of administration of anti-Id or Id within 24 h after birth on the ability of mice to respond to subsequent immunization and challenge with live bacteria . These studies show that neonatal administration of 1 micrograms of Id or 50 ng of anti-Id lead to significantly enhanced protection in mice immunized at 4 wk of age and challenged at 5 wk with an intraperitoneal injection of 20-30 LD50 of E . coli 06:K13:H1, as compared with unprimed or antigen (Ps)-primed controls . Mice primed at birth, immunized at 12 wk of age, a time when they can respond fully to Ps itself, and challenged 1 wk later, were still significantly protected by anti-Id priming but no longer showed the effects of Id . We conclude that administration of protective Id early in life may serve a dual function in providing immediate passive protection as well as priming for protective antibodies upon subsequent antigen exposure.

Acta Otolaryngol, 1984 Sep-Oct, 98(3-4), 315 - 20
Study of bacteria in the nasal cavity and nasopharynx during naturally acquired common colds; Winther B et al.; It was the purpose of this study to examine whether the number of bacteria in the nose and nasopharynx changes during a common cold . Samples for bacteriological culture were taken from the nasal cavity of 29 and from the nasopharynx of 26 adult patients with naturally acquired colds . The bacteriological samples were taken on days 2, 4, 8 16, 32 and 64 after the first nasal symptoms . The results showed that there were few pathogenic bacteria in the nasal cavity and nasopharynx . There was no tendency to an increase in the number of positive cultures during the cold, although most patients had macroscopically purulent discharge on days 3-5 . In conclusion, the study indicates that during an uncomplicated common cold, a bacterial infection is not responsible for the occurrence of purulent nasal discharge which may be a direct consequence of the viral infection.

Vet Rec, 1984 Aug 4, 115(5), 101 - 5
Effect of anti-prostaglandin therapy in experimental parainfluenza type 3 pneumonia in weaned, conventional calves; Selman IE et al.; An acute pneumonia was induced experimentally in 10, 10- to 12-week-old conventional calves by administration into the upper airways of a pathogenic strain of parainfluenza type 3 (PI3) virus . The experimental calves had been selected on the basis of freedom from clinical evidence of respiratory and other diseases, freedom from current infection by PI3 virus as judged by repeated nasopharyngeal swabbing and freedom from earlier PI3 virus infection as judged by their lack of significant levels of serum antibody to that virus . The infection procedure was deemed to have been successful in that infection was established with subsequent seroconversion, clinical signs of a febrile pneumonia arose soon after the administration of virus, histopathological changes characteristic of PI3 pneumonia developed and the presence of PI3 virus antigen was demonstrated by immunofluorescence in association with those lesions . Treatment of five of the pneumonic calves was carried out on days 1, 2 and 3 of the trial using the anti-prostaglandin compound flunixin meglumine and that treatment appeared to be of benefit in that in the test calves there was a prompt cessation of coughing with fewer fevers and lower respiratory rates as compared with the untreated controls . The drug did not appear to influence PI3 infection rates but its administration was associated with a marked reduction in the extent of pulmonary consolidation, probably as the result of its known ability to limit the acute inflammatory response.

Br J Surg, 1984 Aug, 71(8), 623 - 5
Incidence of pathogenic bacteria from mesenteric lymph nodes and ileal serosa during Crohn's disease surgery; Ambrose NS et al.; Samples of ileal serosa and mesenteric lymph nodes have been harvested before antibiotic administration during 46 non-contaminated operations for Crohn's disease and compared with 43 operations for conditions other than Crohn's . Potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the serosa in 12 (27 per cent) Crohn's patients, compared with 6 (15 per cent) controls (P = 0.04) . Intestinal bacteria were recovered from mesenteric nodes in 15 (33 per cent) Crohn's patients compared with 2 (5 per cent) controls (P = 0.006) . These findings suggest that bacteria leak from the small bowel lumen in a high proportion of Crohn's disease patients . This may explain the pathogenesis of abscess and fistula in this disorder as well as the high rate of sepsis following elective surgery even in the absence of macroscopic contamination.

Vet Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 9(4), 399 - 414
Isolation and characterization of the heat stable enterotoxin from a pathogenic bovine strain of Escherichia coli; Gerday C et al.; A heat-stable enterotoxin secreted by a pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli of calf origin was purified to homogeneity by a procedure involving acetone fractionation, DEAE cellulose chromatography, Biogel P2 chromatography and size exclusion high pressure liquid chromatography . The purity of the product was ascertained by amino-acid analyses and amino acid sequence using manual degradation with 4-N, N dimethylaminoazobenzene-4' isothiocyanate (DABITC) and an automatic gas phase sequenator . The following amino acid sequence is proposed: Asn-Thr-Phe-Tyr-Cys-Cys-Glu-Leu-Cys-Cys-Asn-Pro-Ala-Cys-Ala-Gly-Cys-Tyr . It is identical to a similar active peptide isolated from strains of porcine origin . Antibodies to ST were successfully produced in rabbits using a conjugate with bovine serum albumin . The ultraviolet absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the active product were recorded and discussed.

Infect Immun, 1984 Aug, 45(2), 522 - 4
Attachment of human and pig (K88) enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains to either human or porcine small intestinal cells; Deneke CF et al.; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains pathogenic for humans and enterotoxigenic E . coli strains pathogenic for pigs producing the K88 pili antigen both bound to isolated small intestinal cells from either humans or pigs . Neither the K99 enterotoxigenic E . coli (from lambs and calves) nor the rabbit pathogenic strain RDEC-1 bound to human or pig small intestinal cells under the same conditions.

J Protozool, 1984 Aug, 31(3), 468 - 70
Entamoeba histolytica: collagenolytic activity and virulence; Munoz ML et al.; Several axenic strains of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Entamoeba histolytica were tested for their capacity to digest native radioactive type I collagen gels and to produce liver abscesses when injected into the liver of newborn hamsters . The results demonstrate that the pathogenic strains of amebas (HM1:IMSS, HM3:IMSS, HM38:IMSS and HK9) have a collagenolytic activity that closely correlates with their in vivo capacity to produce liver lesions . The nonpathogenic isolate (Laredo) did not show collagenolytic activity and failed to produce lesions in the liver of newborn hamsters . The results also demonstrate that type I collagen obtained from rodents and cats is degraded less by amebic collagenase than is bovine collagen, which is similar to human collagen . These findings suggest that species susceptibility to invasive infection may depend, among other factors, on the characteristics of the extracellular components of host tissues.

Avian Dis, 1984 Jul-Sep, 28(3), 710 - 7
Comparison of strains of Mycoplasma iowae; Rhoades KR; Comparison of biochemical test results and protein electrophoretic patterns of 21 strains of Mycoplasma iowae indicated that all were similar . Comparison of agglutination test results indicated marked within-species antigenic variation . None of 21 antigens prepared from different strains were effective in demonstrating turkey antibody against five reference strains . Examination of sera from turkeys exposed by intra-air-sac inoculation to two pathogenic strains also indicated antigenic variation . Neither the M . iowae type-strain, Iowa 695, nor the other reference strains were effective in demonstrating antibody against both strains used to expose the turkeys . These findings suggest that antigenic variation may be a major problem in effective serodiagnosis of M . iowae infections.

Avian Dis, 1984 Jul-Sep, 28(3), 651 - 61
Adherence pili in avian strains of Escherichia coli: effect on pathogenicity; Naveh MW et al.; Several pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from chickens and turkeys with severe colisepticemia . Electron microscopic examination showed that all these strains had thin pili (fimbriae) when grown at 37 C but not at 18 C . These pili facilitated adherence of the bacteria to chick tracheal epithelial cells both in vitro and in vivo . The role of these pili in pathogenicity was examined by comparing chicks infected intratracheally with piliated bacteria and chicks infected with non-piliated bacteria . The presence of adherence pili on the infecting bacteria affected both the number of chicks that developed disease and the severity of the disease.

EMBO J, 1984 Jun, 3(6), 1353 - 6
Spontaneous phase variation in Bordetella pertussis is a multistep non-random process; Goldman S et al.; Pathogenic strains of Bordetella pertussis undergo spontaneous phase variation and become non-pathogenic upon culturing in vitro . Spontaneous variants of the Tohama and #165 pathogenic strains of B . pertussis were selected by their ability to grow on synthetic and semi-synthetic solid media . The frequency of these variants was between 10(-6) and 10(-7) . About 250 variant strains were screened for the presence of virulence-associated traits, such as production of hemolysin, pertussis toxin and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) . Only four different combinations of the traits were found: 7-11% of the variants displayed all traits, 17% of the variants carried the toxin and FHA, 5-11% carried FHA only and 66% were devoid of all virulence traits . The strains which had at least one virulence trait also demonstrated some adenylate cyclase activity . The disappearance of hemolysin quantitatively affected the other traits . These results suggest that phase variation in B . pertussis is a non-random process, involving multistep disappearance of virulence factors in the following order: hemolysin, pertussis toxin and FHA . In contrast, all 300 variants of strain #18323 of B . pertussis, which were able to grow on the selective solid media, carried all the virulence traits . This is in accordance with the strain's unique intracerebral growth capability.

S Afr Med J, 1984 May 19, 65(20), 809 - 11
Pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime in premature, newborn and young infants; Prinsloo JG et al.; The pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime, a new injectable broad-spectrum cephalosporin with high anti-pseudomonal activity, were studied in 50 preterm, full-term and young infants after an intravenous bolus dose of 30 mg/kg . The serum concentrations of ceftazidime were higher in the younger babies, both premature and full-term . In infants over 2 months of age blood levels were similar to those of adult volunteer subjects . No untoward effects were encountered . Considering the in vitro activity of ceftazidime against a wide spectrum of pathogenic bacteria, the present dose schedules, 25-50 mg/kg/d for babies less than 2 months of age and 50-100 mg/kg/d for those 2-12 months of age, appear to be appropriate . Until more experience is gained with ceftazidime in neonates, monitoring of trough levels to ensure adequate blood concentrations would be ideal.

Am J Med, 1984 May 15, 76(5A), 231 - 7
Prevention of central nervous system infections in patients at risk; Durack DT; Infections of the central nervous system in patients at risk are relatively uncommon when compared with pneumonia, bacteremia, and soft tissue infection . However, they carry serious morbidity and are frequently fatal . Each of the diverse conditions that can place a patient at risk for central nervous system infection is associated with a fairly predictable spectrum of etiologic organisms . Various forms of trauma (including blunt and penetrating injuries and neurosurgery, especially when a cerebrospinal fluid shunt is implanted) predispose to infection with common pathogenic bacteria . Defects of cellular immunity including congenital immune deficiencies, immunosuppressive drug therapy, leukemia, lymphoma, and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome are more likely to give rise to infection with a distinctive spectrum of opportunistic viruses, fungi, and protozoa . Other underlying conditions include sinus, ear, and mastoid infections, congenital heart disease, intrathoracic suppuration, endocarditis, and bacteremia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and complement deficiencies . Some preventive measures including vaccines, antibiotics, and surgical procedures are available . However, for many of these central nervous system infections, preventive measures are lacking or less effective than those for infections in other organs . In the future, opportunistic central nervous system infections will increase in frequency as the number of patients at risk continues to grow.

Vopr Virusol, 1984 May-Jun, 29(3), 273 - 6
{Immunogenic properties of epidemic and recombinant strains of influenza viruses H1N1 and H3N2}; Shchipanova MV et al.; The study of the immunogenic properties of epidemic influenza viruses H1N1 and H3N2 isolated from patients in 1979-1982 revealed a high immunogenic activity of H3N2 viruses . Recombinant strains of both subtypes (H1N1 and H3N2) had a higher immunogenicity than the original viruses . The intensity of immunity determined for an antigenically close pathogenic strain was considerably higher than for an antigenically remote pathogenic virus which is important for obtaining accurate information on the immunogenic activity of influenza viruses . No correlation between the immunity intensity and the antibody titres was observed.

Ultraschall Med, 1984 Apr, 5(2), 77 - 9
{Prevention of infection in sonography}; Tolon M et al.; The instruments and surroundings of five ultrasound diagnostic departments were tested for bacteria, antimicrobic characteristics, and prevalence of Hbs Ag in commercial contact medium (cellulose) and were also analysed after contamination in vitro . Facultative pathogenic bacteria as well as normal skin bacteria were found on the ultrasound equipment . It was established that cellulose and oils taken from wide- mouthed containers and applied manually or with a brush, were often contaminated . However, no contamination was evident in contact medium that was still in its original packing or stored in small containers and subsequently refilled daily . No antimicrobic activity on the part of preservative agents in the cellulose could be demonstrated after artificially contaminating some contact medium with Staph . aureus and E . coli . Elimination of artificially added Hbs Ag in the contaminated contact medium could not be proven . It is postulated that transfer of bacteria or Hepatitis B infection during an ultrasound diagnosis is possible . It is therefore recommended that appropriate prophylactic hygienic measures be taken, especially with patients susceptible to infection.

Tropenmed Parasitol, 1984 Mar, 35(1), 5 - 8
{Entamoeba histolytica: II . Effect of humoral immune mechanisms on cytotoxic activity}; Hudler H et al.; The time dependency of the cytotoxic action of E . histolytica against tissue culture cells of mammalian origin was assessed in a 51Cr-release assay . Obviously, the amebae-dependent cytotoxic activity within the first 30-60 min of the assay against K562 (an erythroleukemic cell line) and MH1C1 (a rat hepatoma cell line) correlated with the pathogenicity of the respective amebae in vivo as measured by the hamster liver infectivity test . The in vivo apathogenic strain of E . histolytica (HK9) exhibited a delayed cytotoxic action in comparison with the in vivo pathogenic strain (SFL3), which revealed approximately 50% of maximum 51Cr-release after 10 min of the assay . Peripheral blood lymphocytes and HeLa cells proved to be not suitable to discriminate between pathogenic and apathogenic strains in vitro . Human antibodies directed against E . histolytica were capable of inhibiting the cytotoxic action of pathogenic amebae against K562 and MH1C1 within the first 30-60 min of the assay, revealing a kinetic pattern nearly identical with that observed with apathogenic amebae against K562 . Possibly, this antibody-mediated inhibition of the cytotoxic action of E . histolytica against target cells reflects one of the defence mechanisms of the host against invasive amebiasis.

J Protozool, 1984 Feb, 31(1), 116 - 31
A freeze-fracture electron microscope study of Trichomonas vaginalis Donné and Tritrichomonas foetus (Riedmüller); Honigberg BM et al.; Two strains of Trichomonas vaginalis, JH162A , with low pathogenicity, and Balt 44, with high pathogenicity, as well as one highly pathogenic strain, KV-1, of Tritrichomonas foetus were studied by freeze-fracture electron microscopy . The protoplasmic faces ( PFs ) of the cell membranes of all three strains of both species had similar numbers of intramembranous particles (IMPs); however, the particles in the external faces (EFs) of these membranes were least abundant in Trichomonas vaginalis strain Balt 44 and most numerous in those of strain JH162A of this species . In Tritrichomonas foetus strain KV-1 the number of IMPs in the EF was close to but somewhat lower than that in the mild strain of the human urogenital trichomonad . In both species, the anterior, but not the recurrent, flagella had rosette-like formations, consisting of approximately 9 to 12 IMPs on both the PFs and EFs . The numbers and distribution of the rosettes appeared to vary among different flagella and in different areas of individual flagella of a single organism belonging to either species . The freeze-fracture electron micrographs provided a more complete understanding of the fine structure of undulating membranes of Trichomonadinae , as represented by Trichomonas vaginalis, and of Tritrichomonadinae (the Tritrichomonas augusta -type), as exemplified by Tritrichomonas foetus, than was gained from previous transmission and scanning electron microscope studies . Typically three longitudinal rows of IMPs on the PF of the recurrent flagellum of Trichomonas vaginalis were noted in the area of attachment of this flagellum to the undulating membrane . The functional aspects of the various structures and differences between certain organelles revealed in the two trichomonad species by the freeze-fracture method are discussed.

Am J Vet Res, 1984 Feb, 45(2), 392 - 5
Effect of ammonia on the quantitative clearance of Escherichia coli from lungs, air sacs, and livers of turkeys aerosol vaccinated against Escherichia coli; Nagaraja KV et al.; Turkeys were given an aerosol vaccine to determine their ability to clear a virulent inhaled pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli, while they were being maintained in the presence of atmospheric NH3 . Turkeys were exposed to 2 concentrations of NH3 (10 and 40 microliters/L of air) . More E coli was found in lungs, air sacs, and livers of turkeys exposed to NH3 . Turkeys not exposed to NH3 had better clearance of E coli . Vaccination against E coli improved the rate of clearance of E coli in birds not exposed to NH3.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1984 Jan 30, 118(2), 587 - 93
A cell division-active protein from E . coli; Caprioli A et al.; A purification procedure for a protein obtained from an pathogenic strain of E . coli is described . The protein-called CNF-is active in inhibiting the duplication of cultured mammalian cells . Since nuclei division is apparently normal, treatment of cultured cells with CNF leads to the formation of gigantic, polynucleated cells . The purified protein is chromatographically and electrophoretically homogeneous . A partial characterization of CNF protein is also given.

Virology, 1984 Jan 15, 132(1), 199 - 204
Effect of inhibitors of glycosylation on proteolytic activation of avian influenza virus hemagglutinins: discrimination between tryptic cleavage and elimination of the connecting peptide; Bosch FX et al.; The glycosylation inhibitors tunicamycin (TM), 2-deoxyglucose (2-dg), bromoconduritol (BC; 3,5/4,6-6-bromo 3,4,5-trihydroxycyclohex-1-ene), and N-methyl-deoxynojirimycin (MdN) have been used to study the role of glycosylation in the two proteolytic reactions involved in the biological activation of H7 influenza virus hemagglutinins (HAs): trypsinlike cleavage and subsequent elimination of the connecting peptide . The results obtained revealed that trypsin-like cleavage of the HAs of pathogenic strains does not require glycosylation, since these HAs were efficiently cleaved in the presence of TM and 2-dg . The elimination of the connecting peptide between HA1 and HA2, however, appears to require the transfer of oligosaccharides onto the HA polypeptide, since this activity was blocked by TM and by 2-dg . Elimination was not blocked by BC or MdN, which inhibit glucose trimming and subsequent conversion of the high-mannose type to the complex type of carbohydrate.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1984, 16(2), 139 - 43
Isolation of pathogenic bacteria from the nasopharynx of children with respiratory syncytial virus infection . Predictive value of chest roentgen examination and laboratory tests; Wahlgren H et al.; Potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the nasopharynx in 33/66 hospitalized infants and children with verified respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection . The value of chest roentgenograms and blood counts for the prediction of concomitant bacterial infection was evaluated . Abnormal chest roentgenograms were found in 89% whether pathogenic bacteria were present or not . The most common finding was general hyperinflation of the lungs, with or without infiltrates . This occurred more frequently in the group with isolated RSV infection . Fever, leucocytosis and an elevated ESR were found during the illness in more than half the cases . These findings were more frequent in children who harboured potential pathogenic bacteria, though the difference was not significant . For optimal evaluation of a case all available information about it should be taken into consideration.

Ann Parasitol Hum Comp, 1984, 59(2), 133 - 42
{Isolation and identification of 2 new pathogenic strains of Naegleria australiensis}; Pernin P et al.; We report here the isolation of two pathogenic Naegleria strains which by their biological (thermotolerance, axenisation, pathogenicity), biochemical (zymogram patterns), and antigenic characters can be identified as belonging to N . australiensis whereas only one strain (type species PP 397) was known until now . The pathogenicity among this genus of free-living amoebas is no more an exclusive feature of N . fowleri.

Rev Argent Microbiol, 1984, 16(4), 229 - 32
{Effect of various schedules of cyclophosphamide administration on the mortality of the adult mouse infected with Junín virus}; Rondinone SN et al.; The object of this paper was to determine the influence of cyclophosphamide immunosuppression on the mortality of 40-45 day old Balb/c mice infected intracerebrally with a pathogenic strain of Junin virus, using different administration schedules . Up to 200 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide were not toxic . Results show that, unlike in other experimental models, three or four 50 mg/kg cyclophosphamide doses given both before and after viral infection were required to break-down resistance to Junin virus (90-96.5% mortality vs . 8% in controls) . Taking into account the effect of cyclophosphamide on the cell populations involved in the immune response, causes likely to lead to the greater susceptibility of the suppressed adult mouse to Junin virus are discussed.

Tropenmed Parasitol, 1983 Dec, 34(4), 248 - 52
{Entamoeba histolytica: I . Mechanism of cytotoxic activity}; Hudler H et al.; Cytotoxic action against K562-tissue culture cells was investigated under various conditions with a Chromium-release-assay . When amoebae and target cells were centrifuged together, pathogenic strains of amoebae induced a very fast increase of target cell lysis (up to 50% of maximum lysis after 10 minutes) . Only a minor degree of target cell lysis resulted, however, when amoebae and K562 cells were kept in suspension . When amoebae were eliminated selectively by addition of complement 10 minutes after starting the experiment, this fast increase of lysis could not be prevented . These observations suggest that the cytotoxic action might take place in two distinct phases . The first step ("lethal hit") seems to be temperature-independent, whereas a temperature of 37 degrees C is necessary for the second step to occur during which cytoplasmic material is released (chromium release) . The presence of amoebae is not necessary for the second step . When amoebae together with and target cells are kept in suspension, amoebae lost their capability of setting the "lethal hit" with increasing time of coincubation . It seems, as if the "lethal hit" cannot be accomplished effectively under the conditions of suspension: cytotoxic substances released by the amoebae cannot be transferred to the target cells and are lost in the fluid phase . Thereby, the amoebae are depleted of such substances . Thus, a stable contact between amoebae and target cells for at least a few minutes seems to be necessary for the expression of cytotoxicity.

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 1983 Oct, 7(5), 463 - 74
Effects of toxic pollutants on indicator germs in large-scale solid-waste ecosystems; Knoll KH et al.; A report is given on investigations with large-scale refuse lysimeters . It is demonstrated how pathogenic bacteria behave after implantation into such artificial ecosystems . The influence of toxic chemicals such as cyanides, phenols, heavy metals, and pesticides was of particular interest . The investigations described relate to the practical situation within different types of landfills to which toxic pollutants have been added by various techniques . The results obtained with the aid of suitable indicator bacteria do not agree completely with those obtained in small-scale investigations.

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