Streptococci

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1980 Feb, 168(1), 49 - 53
Antibody levels in mothers colonised with group B streptococci during pregnancy and in their newborn infants, as measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Cleat PH et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to measure serum antibodies to group B streptococci in 20 healthy pregnant women before delivery and in their newborn infants . The sera from 10 of these women who were colonised with group B streptococci and umbilical cord sera from their infants, had higher levels of type-specific IgG antibody than the 10 non-colonised controls and their neonates . All the babies remained well . The results demonstrate that infants from colonised mothers receive type-specific antibody . The possibility that this antibody may provide some degree of protection at birth against this potentially lethal organism warrants investigation.

Infect Immun, 1980 Feb, 27(2), 444 - 8
Growth characteristics of group A streptococci in a new chemically defined medium; van de Rijn I et al.; A new chemically defined medium for the growth of group A streptococci has been formulated . The advantages of this new medium over previously described defined media are: (i) rates of growth (i.e., doubling times) of 20 strains were comparable to the rates of growth in complex media; (ii) each strain grew to a higher culture density in the new defined medium than in complex media; (iii) transfer from complex media with small inocula was possible without any prior adaptation regimen; and (iv) the production of virulence factors (i.e., M protein and hyaluronic acid) and extracellular enzymes during growth in this new medium was comparable to that in complex media.

J Med Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 13(1), 37 - 43
The aetiology of acute cervical adenitis in children: serological and bacteriological studies; Yamauchi T et al.; Acute cervical adenitis was investigated in 26 children over a 33-month period . Lymph nodes were aspirated and cultured to yield Staphylococcus aureus or group-A streptococci or both from 22 (84.6%) of the aspriates . Mycobacterium kansasii was isolated from one child . By combined culture and serial serological tests (antistreptolysin-O, anti-DNAase B, and anti-NADase), 50% of the cases were found to be associated with streptococcal infection . In a few children, S . aureus was the only organism recovered, and appeared to be the aetiological agent.

J Med Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 13(1), 133 - 43
The development of a phage-typing system for group-B streptococci; Stringer J; A typing system for group-B streptococci, based on the use of 24 phages, has been evaluated . Used in conjunction with serotyping, it gave highly discriminating and reproducible results.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Feb, 11(2), 111 - 3
Serotypes of group B streptococci and their relation to hyaluronidase production and hydrolysis of salicin; Kjems E et al.; A total of 252 strains of group B streptococci were serotyped and examined for their ability to ferment lactose (lac+), to hydrolyze salicin (sal+), and to produce hyaluronidase (hy+) . Of these strains, 67 had been isolated from bacteremia and meningitis in infants less than 2 months old . Eighty-one strains were isolated from bacteremia and meningitis in adults, and 104 strains were from various other infections . Type III was the most common in neonatal disease, especially if isolates from cases of bacteremia in infants less than 10 days of age were not included . Only 6% of the strains were lac+ . Sal+/hy+ strains were never type III, but 91% of the strains belonging to the other serotypes were sal+/hy/ . Results showed that 81% of the sal+/hy- strains and 95% of the sal-/hy+ strains were type III, and sal-/hy+ strains were more than twice as frequent as sal+/hy- strains in serious neonatal infections, in contrast to the other two disease groups, in which the opposite was found to be the case . These reactions may be used as additional markers in epidemiological studies.

Radiology . 1980 Feb;134(2):390.
Diffuse skeletal involvement of streptococcal osteomyelitis in a neonate; Chilton SJ et al.; A case is presented of a 19-day-old boy who had diffuse skeletal changes of osteomyelitis which were secondary to Group B hemolytic streptococci . The association of multiple osseous lesions with minimal symptomatology is discussed.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1980 Feb, 33(2), 157 - 65
Bu-2313, a new antibiotic complex active against anaerobes . I . Production, isolation and properties of Bu-2313 A and B; Tsukiura H et al.; An unidentified oligosporic actinomycete strain, No . E864-61, produced two new antibiotics, Bu-2313 A (C27H35NO9) and Bu-2313 B (C26H33NO9) . Bu-2313 A and B each exhibited a broad antibiotic spectrum against Gram-positive and Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, and showed in vivo activity against experimental infections produced by B . fragilis and C . perfringens . Bu-2313 also inhibited some aerobic bacteria such as streptococci . Bu-2313 B was approximately two-fold more active than Bu-2313 A.

Scand J Dent Res, 1980 Feb, 88(1), 40 - 5
Streptococcus mutans-like bacteria from human dental plaque in a Sri Lanka (Ceylon) population; Denepitiya L et al.; This paper reports on the presence of low numbers of Streptococcus mutans among the oral streptococci present in human dental plaque in a Sri Lanka (Ceylon) population, where the caries activity is low and a low sucrose intake is combined with the presence of heavy plaque deposits . Plaque samples of unknown age were collected from 10 individuals in a tea estate, and another 10 samples were collected from dental students 19 days following interruption of oral hygiene . Of 670 such strains of oral streptococci studied, none showed typical "frosted glass" colony morphology on Mitis Salivarius agar . However, when subjected to physiological tests 14 of them were classified as S . mutans.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1980 Feb, 39(2), 519 - 25
Leucocyte migration inhibition with human heart valve glycoproteins and group A streptococcal ribonucleic acid proteins in rheumatic heart disease and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis; Gowrishankar R et al.; Leucocyte migration inhibition (LMI) tests have been performed with leucocytes obtained from patients with acute rheumatic carditis, established rheumatic valvular disease with and without rheumatic reactivation, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and healthy volunteers, using human heart valve glycoprotein (HVGP) antigens and ribonucleic acid protein antigens (P-RNA) from Group A streptococci, types 5, 6 and 12 and a Group C streptococcus . Significantly increased LMI was observed with HVGP and P-RNA antigens of Group A streptococci in patients with clinical evidence of rheumatic valvular damage . Healthy volunteers and patients with poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis did not show any increase in LMI to these antigens . This suggests that cell-mediated immune mechanisms may be involved in the production of tissue lesions in rheumatic fever.

Infect Immun, 1980 Feb, 27(2), 686 - 9
Adherence of oral streptococci to keratinized and nonkeratinized human oral epithelial cells; Sklavounou A et al.; The ability of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus salivarius to adhere to keratinized versus nonkeratinized human oral epithelial cells was compared . S . mitis and S . salivarius exhibited significantly greater adherence to keratinized cells than to nonkeratinized cells . S . mutans and S . sanguis adhered equally well to either epithelial cell type . It is concluded that keratinization of epithelial cells may be a significant factor in the adherence of certain oral streptococci to the oral mucosa.

Infect Immun, 1980 Feb, 27(2), 449 - 54
Mucin model for group B type III streptococcal infection in mice; Fleming DO; An experimental murine infection was established by the intraperitoneal injection of a log-phase culture of a laboratory reference strain of Streptococcus agalactiae, Lancefield group B, type III (strain SS620), suspended in sterile hog gastric mucin . The enhancement of streptococcal virulence was measured by a significantly increased mortality in outbred ICR Swiss mice . An inbred C57BL6 strain of mice was resistant to the mucin-bacterial combination . Mucin, treated with Desferal to chelate the iron, did not lose the capacity to enhance the virulence of group B, type III streptococci in ICR Swiss mice . Iron-dextran was not a suitable substitute for mucin and failed to enhance the virulence of group B, type III streptococci . The results of these studies indicate that iron is not the resistance-lowering factor in this group B, type III streptococci-mucin model.

Lancet, 1980 Jan 19, 1(8160), 133 - 6
10 Years of infective endocarditis at St . Bartholomew's Hospital: analysis of clinical features and treatment in relation to prognosis and mortality; Lowes JA et al.; A retrospective survey of patients with infective endocarditis at St . Bartholomew's Hospital in the decade 1966--75 showed a male/female ratio of 1.5/1 . The commonest presenting features were malaise, fever, new cardiac symptoms, heart-failure, splenomegaly, and finger clubbing . The commonest problem during treatment was heart-failure . As in the two previous decades, viridans streptococci were the commonest causative organisms . Acute endocarditis was caused by Staphylococcus aureus . 6 patients' lives were saved by heart-valve replacement during medical treatment . Of 3 patients who relapsed, 1 died . The overall mortality at six months was 20%, compared with 40% in the two previous decades . Of the patients with proven subacute infective endocarditis thought to have received adequate antibiotic treatment, only 5 of 49 (10%) died; in a similar group of patients in the previous decade 19% died . Early surgical intervention probably accounts for the improved prognosis.

Infection, 1980, 8 Suppl 2, S205 - 6
The treatment of infection and septicemia in the newborn; Walther M et al.; The authors discuss the reasons for the frequently fatal outcome of infections in the newborn and report their own bacteriological findings in cases of perinatal infections . The predominant organisms were group D streptococci, staphylococcus aureus, E . coli, and anerobic bacteria, most of which were sensitive to clindamycin . Following introduction of clindamycin therapy, in combination with an aminoglycoside or ampicillin, the duration of hospitalization was shortened by an average of six days, and the duration of treatment by an average of three days.

Dermatologica, 1980, 161(5), 315 - 26
{Benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of leg ulcers (author's transl)}; Ramelet AA et al.; 40 leg ulcers were treated for 6 weeks by application twice a day of a 20% benzoyl peroxide lotion . Each ulcer was regularly measured and its bacterial flora was determined . Therapeutic results were very satisfactory: the average healing rate of the ulcers was 62.8% of the initial wound area after 4 weeks of treatment and 76.5% after 6 weeks of treatment . The bacterial flora of the ulcers changed during treatments, streptococci and staphylococci disappeared . Pseudomonas aeruginosa became abundant.

Microbios, 1980, 27(108), 117 - 24
The effects of fluoride on the growth of oral streptococci; Beighton D et al.; Four species of oral streptococci were examined for their ability to grow in a complex medium supplemented with NaF, and at various pH levels . Streptococcus mutans strains were the most susceptible to inhibition, with Streptococcus mitior and Streptococcus sanguis being the least affected . The S . mutans genotype comprising serotypes c, e and f was more susceptible to inhibition by fluoride than was the genotype comprising serotypes d and g . The results suggest that the fluoride concentration of dental plaque might influence the relative proportions of the species of streptococci found in dental plaque.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Jan, 11(1), 76 - 8
Streptococcus zooepidemicus (group C) pneumonia in a human; Rose HD et al.; Lancefield group C streptococcal pneumonia appeared in a previously healthy young adult . The patient apparently acquired the infection while caring for her sick horse, and experienced a gradual onset of the illness . There was rapid accumulation of pleural fluid and empyema requiring open drainage . Group C pneumonia cannot be distinguished from classic group A pneumonia on clinical grounds . Beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from sputum, transtracheal aspirates, pleural fluid, or blood of patients with pneumonia should be grouped by the precipitin method of Lancefield or one of its more rapid modifications.

Microbios, 1980, 28(113-114), 149 - 56
Manganese antagonizes the inhibitory effect of fluoride on the glucose metabolism of Streptococcus mutans; Beighton D; Manganese stimulated the utilization of glucose by Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mitior and Streptococcus milleri . S . mutans serotype c strains formed larger amounts of intracellular polysaccharide, lactic acid and produced a lower terminal pH in glucose broth when grown in the presence of 0.5 mM Mn . Manganese stimulated the utilization of glucose by resting cell suspensions of each of the four oral streptococcal species examined . Fluoride inhibited the utilization of glucose by the streptococci and Mn, but not calcium or magnesium, was found to counteract the inhibitory effect of fluoride.

G Ital Cardiol, 1980, 10(9), 1228 - 33
{Infective endocarditis: a complication of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (author's transl)}; Mazzoli M et al.; The idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS) is thought to be infrequently complicated by infective endocarditis . Because IHSS is a disorder of the myocardium and not endocardium is not generally considered to have increased risk of infective endocarditis . Some Authors found, however, that approximately 5% of patients with IHSS develop bacterial endocarditis, because hemodynamically IHSS is like to valvular diseases . Therefore the incidence of endocarditis in IHSS is the same of valvular diseases . The vegetations can be found on anterior mitral valve leaflet, aortic cusps and subaortic endocardium . Some patients have dental surgery prior to the onset of endocarditis and others are infected with oral streptococci . For these reasons prophylactic antibiotics should be administered to patients with IHSS undergoing dental manipulation and in other settings where the risk of developing bacteremia is high . We describe one case of IHSS complicated with streptococcus viridans endocarditis . Vegetations, determined with echocardiography, were present on anterior mitral valve leaflet, aortic right coronary cusp and interventricular septum . In a review of literature we are been able to find twenty-seven cases of IHSS complicated with endocarditis.

Vet Med Nauki, 1980, 17(9-10), 25 - 8
{Differentiation of the streptococci isolated from the milk of cows with mastitis}; Filev F; Differentiation was carried out of a total of 170 strains of streptococci that caused mastitis, which were isolated from 3200 milk samples taken from a farm . Ouchterlony's agar gel precipitation method was employed for the serologic typing of the strains along with the Jonagar No . 2 Oxoid and group antisera . The biochemical behaviour of the strains was followed up with regard to the hydrolysis of esculin and sodium hippurate, the fermentation of lactose, sucrose, glucose, trehalose, mannite, and salicin, and the breakdown of arginine . It was found that 17.05 per cent of the isolated mastitis streptococci belonged to group B, 17.64 per cent belonged to group C, and 62.94 per cent--to group C . Untypeable were as many as 2.37 per cent . The behaviour of these three groups of mastitis causative agents with regard to esculin and sodium hippurate proved most stable in the biochemical differentiation of the strains . In this respect the selective TKT agar medium could be used in a mass scale diagnosis for the rapid differentiation of the most frequently isolated mastitis streptococci on the base of the characteristic morphologic traits.

Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980, 248(3), 314 - 22
Purification and characterization of erythrogenic toxins . II . Communication: in vivo biological activities of erythrogenic toxin produced by streptococcus pyogenes strain ny-5; Hribalova V et al.; Some in vivo biological activities of a purified erythrogenic toxin preparation from strain NY-5 of group A streptococci (ET NY-5) were studied . After intracutaneous administration in a dose of minimally 5 X 10(-8) mg, the toxin provoked a skin reaction in old guinea pigs . No skin reaction could be elicited in young adult rabbits . ET NY-5 was pyrogenic for rabbits; the MPD-4 amounted to 0.017 microgram/kg intravenously . The pyretic response had a delayed onset and then rose gradually up to hour 5 postinjection . Intravenous administration led to changes in circulating leukocyte counts, viz . brisk acute granulocytopenia and protracted lymphopenia . The method of pyrogenic cross tolerance revealed that ET NY-5 contains two types of pyrogenic exotoxin, A and C.

Respiration, 1980, 40(6), 323 - 8
Bacterial colonization in intubated newborns; Brook I et al.; The bacteriology of tracheal aspirates from 127 newborns was studied . Specimens were obtained twice a week as long as the newborns were intubated . Each newborn had between one and eight specimens taken (average 1.7) . 127 babies had one specimen taken, 38 had two, 25 had three, 12 had four, and 10 had more than four specimens taken, which made a total of 212 specimens . No bacterial or fungal growth was obtained from 65 specimens, whereas the remaining specimens (147) yielded 209 bacterial and fungal isolates accounting for 1.4 isolates per specimen . The total isolates recovered were 168 aerobes, 36 anaerobes, and 5 Candida albicans . Of this total, 70 specimens yielded one isolate, 48 two isolates, 6 three isolates, 5 four isolates, and one aspirate yielded five isolates . 78 newborns (61%) received antimicrobial therapy . A higher incidence of positive cultures and the presence of more than one organism per culture were found in those infants not receiving antibiotics . More isolates per specimen were noted with increasing time of incubation . The rate of isolation Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae remained constant with increased length of intubation, the rate of recovery of Staphylococcus epidermidis, viridans group streptococci, and Propionibacterium acnes increased, and the rate of isolation of Escherichia coli and anaerobic organisms decreased.

Scand J Infect Dis Suppl, 1980, suppl 25, 75 - 82
Cefamandole for treatment of obstetrical and gynecological infections; Cunningham FG et al.; Cefamandole nafate has been shown to have good in vitro activity against a wide spectrum of aerobic and anaerobic pathogens frequently isolated from women with obstetrical and gynecological infections . One hundred and twenty seven women with these infections were treated with cefamandole: 78 had post-cesarean section metritis; 24 acute pelvic inflammatory disease; 18 post-hysterectomy cuff cellulitis/abscess; and 7 had vulvar or abdominal wound abscesses . All but 13% of these women had either polymicrobial aerobic/anaerobic bacterial infections, or had an anaerobic infection alone . Of these 127 women, 116 responded to cefamandole administration alone, and in the other 11 chloramphenicol was added . Of these 11, surgical therapy was necessary to eradicate infection in six women . Phlebitis, mild to severe, was demonstrated in 14% of the women and responded to conservative measures . Of 402 bacterial isolates from these women, 94% were sensitive to cefamandole at 32 microgram/ml, an easily achievable serum level . Anaerobic streptococci were the most common isolate and 94% of these organisms were sensitive at 32 microgram/ml . Of the 43 Bacteroides species isolated, 90% were susceptible at 32 microgram/ml; 84% of Bacteroides fragilis were susceptible ast this concentration . Data now presented indicate that cefamandole given alone is safe and effective for treatment of women with polymicrobial mixed aerobic/anaerobic pelvic infections and approximately 5% will require surgical therapy for eradication of these infections.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1980, 102(18), 1075 - 6
{Impetigo neonatorum congenita caused by B-streptococci (author's transl)}; Kunze W; The growing incidence among newborns of B-streptococcal diseases has been accompanied by the appearance of less common findings, such as Impetigo neonatorum bullosa . The pathological pattern is described . Brief reference is made to literature.

J Mal Vasc, 1980, 5(2), 100 - 4
{Lymphoedema and elephantiasis due to filariasis . Pathogenesis and clinical aspects (author's transl)}; Carme B et al.; Adult lymphatic filariae (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi) can cause blocking of lymphatics producing obliterating endolymphitis lesions . The subsequent extravasation of lymph (or chyle when the obstruction is canal) is at the origin of the formation of lymphedema or elephantiasis, in which the main histological finding is great hypertrophy of collagen elements . This theory involving filaria only is not the full picture, and bacterial infection, mainly by streptococci, is an important factor . The association of filaria with microbes is particularly dangerous because the presence of the latter, or its toxins, causes death of local microfilariae and even adult worms, which are known to be more harmful dead than alive . The progression of the disease, especially in cases with lymphedema, which mainly affects the limbs and the genital organs, depends on three factors: the species of filaria, the degree of transmission, and the receptivity of the patient to the parasite . Large differences are found according to the region involved, and in the same endemic zone, according to the individuals affected . However, they almost always occur progressively in areas where there have been recurrent attacks of acute lymphangitis.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1980, 12(4), 271 - 5
Relation between maternal urogenital carriage of group B streptococci and postmaturity and intrauterine asphyxia during delivery; Christensen KK et al.; The obstetrical significance of maternal urogenital carriage of group B streptococci (GBS) was investigated in a prospective study comprising 799 parturients and their infants . 128 mothers were GBS carriers . Fetal heart rate recording showing abnormal baseline frequency and concomitant late decelerations during delivery were found in 6 infants born of GBS carriers (5%) and in 7 (1%) of non-carriers (P < 0.01) . The pH of fetal blood was determined in 14 (11%) GBS carriers and in 53 (8%) non-carriers . 6/14 (43%) infants of GBS carriers had pH values below 7.20, in contrast to 4/53 (8%) of the non-carrier group (P < 0.01) . Mothers of infants showing signs of intrauterine asphyxia had the same amount of antibodies to GBS as mothers of infants without signs of asphyxia . Among the GBS carriers, 11/128 (9%) were delivered later than the 42nd week of pregnancy . A smaller proportion of non-carriers, 21/671 (3%), were delivered postterm (P < 0.01).

Immun Infekt, 1980, 8(2), 61 - 3
{Methods for differentiation of streptococci: comparison of serological, biochemical methods, triple- and camp-test (author's transl)}; Jaeger U et al.; Methods for group classification of beta-hemolytic streptococci were compared: biochemical versus serological techniques as well as Triple- and CAMP-Test . Attention was mainly put to the Phadebact streptococcus test, based on the co-agglutination principle which is intended to differentiate groups A, B, C and G . This test is easy to conduct and allows grouping within minutes . Classification was done with 50 strains of clinical isolates . Approximately 88% of the strains were identified as group A and B which are the most important in human streptococcal infections . The co-agglutination gave false results with 6 strains (8%), one of which was group A . The others turned out to be S . milleri, they could be identified only by the Lancefield precipitin test . In cases where several Phadebact antisera lead to an agglutination of one strain, the questionable result must be verified by conventional methods.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1980, 74(3), 367 - 70
Group B streptococcal carriage in Nigeria; Onile BA; 1038 patients of different age groups and clinical conditions attending three large hospitals in Ibadan between August 1977 and December 1978 were screened for group B streptococcal carriage . 132 (12.7%) of these patients were found to be colonized by this organism . A breakdown of the colonization rates was: in women--19.3% during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, 17.6% during labour (third trimester) and 19% among STD patients; in adult males--9% among STD patients and nil among patients without STD; in newborns--4.7% . Type III was found most frequently (56.1%)) and there was a high incidence of R and X strains and of strains with only Ic protein . Type Ia streptococci were sensitive to penicillin G, ampicillin, erythromycin and cephalothin . Only 74.2% of the strains were sensitive to tetracycline.

Immunogenetics, 1980, 11(2), 145 - 6
Immunogenetics of response to a purified antigen from group A streptococci . I . Complex segregation analysis; Greenberg LJ et al.; A purified, extracellular protein, M . W . 17500, from group A streptococci was used in an in vitro model to study genetic aspects of immune responsiveness . Peripheral blood lymphocytes from members of eight nuclear families and one kindred of three generations were isolated and purified by F-icoll-Isopaque flotation and cultured together with varying concentrations of antigen . A summary measure of the antigen response data (measured as CPM) was constructed through a weighted regression analysis of response on dose . Commingling analysis of the standardized regression coefficients provided evidence for the existence of two underlaying distributions . Segregation analysis confirmed that response to this antigen is controlled by a major gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Infection, 1980, 8(2), 54 - 7
Murine resistance to type III group B streptococci; Kretschmer R et al.; We examined the role of serum, complement and the reticuloendothelial system in mouse resistance to type III group B streptococci (GBS) . Normal serum obtained from 21 day-old mice failed to protect chick embryos against a lethal intravenous (IV) inoculation of GBS-III-SS620/50 . Mice that were decomplemented using cobra venom factor remained resistant to intraperitoneal (IP) inoculation of 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) of GBS-III-22620/50, GBS III-Bell and GBS-III-Minnesota . In contrast, mice prepared with IP oleic acid were killed with 10(4) CFU of GBS-III-SS620/50 IP . However, when mice were injected IV with oleic acid, they remained resistant to IP inoculation of GBS-III-SS620/50 . These results suggest that peritoneal macrophages play a role in murine defense against IP infection with GBS-III-SS620/50.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1980, 12(2), 105 - 10
Quantitation of serum antibodies to surface antigens of group B streptococci types Ia, Ib, and III: low antibody levels in mothers of neonatally infected infants; Christensen KK et al.; A method has been developed for the detection in human sera of antibodies to surface antigens of group B streptococci (GBS), types Ia, Ib, or III . The sera were absorbed with GBS type II and then added to a suspension of GBS of the type against which antibodies were to be measured . After incubation and washing of the bacteria, the antibodies present on the surface of the cells were quantitated with radiolabelled protein A . Antibodies of IgG class were detected, probably specific for types Ia, Ib, or III, with the exception that the Ib GBS suspension used could detect some antibodies to type Ia . With this method it was found that 6/7 mothers to infants with GBS septicemia had low levels of serum antibodies to the infant's type of GBS . Urogenital carriers of GBS, giving birth to neonatally healthy infants, had higher serum antibody levels against the colonizing type.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1980, 12(2), 101 - 4
Serotypes of group B streptococci in urogenital patients; Jensen NE; Isolates of group B streptococci (B-str.) of human urogenital origin were typed by a double diffusion precipitation test in agarose gel . The 114 isolates originated from normal women, gynaecological patients, women and men examined at venereological clinics, and were all typable by this technique . Type III/R was most frequently encountered (41/114), type Ic next (28/114), and then type II/Ic (18/114) . Other types were: Ib (11/114), II/R (8/114), III (3/114), Ibc (3/114), II (1/114) and R (1/114) . When the 4 groups of strains were considered separately a different pattern of distribution was seen in the gynaecological patients, in that 12/26 strains in this material were of type Ic . The Ibc protein antigen, which has been proved to be present also in streptococci other than group B, was widely distributed among the strains examined.

J Clin Pathol, 1980 Jan, 33(1), 66 - 71
Bacteriological examination of pus from abscesses of the central nervous system; de Louvois J; The methods used successfully to examine pus from abscesses of the central nervous system are described . The association between direct inoculation of intracranial pus into a liquid anaerobic culture medium and the isolation of viable bacteria is emphasised . Cultural methods for the recognition of the streptococci associated with brain abscess and methods for the assay of antimicrobial drugs in pus are presented . The role of gas liquid chromatography is discussed.

J Clin Pathol, 1980 Jan, 33(1), 53 - 7
Use of the API-ZYM system in rapid identification of alpha and non-haemolytic streptococci; Waitkins SA et al.; The API-ZYM method of detecting enzymes was tested using 99 streptococci isolated from clinical material and 14 type species obtained from the National Collection of Type Cultures . We found the method easy and reliable . The results obtained indicate that this method could be a useful identification system in busy routine clinical laboratories.

J Clin Pathol, 1980 Jan, 33(1), 47 - 52
A shortened scheme for the identification of indifferent streptococci; Waitkins SA et al.; A shortened biochemical scheme was devised for the reliable identification of the 'viridans' streptococci . It compared favourably with the classical identification system of Colman and could be recommended for use in the busy routine laboratory to investigate streptococcal isolates from clinical sources.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jan, 27(1), 6 - 14
Demonstration of specific binding sites for human serum albumin in group C and G streptococci; Myhre EB et al.; A total of 297 bacterial strains belonging to 27 species was tested for quantitative uptake of radiolabeled human serum albumin . Specific binding sites with high affinity for human serum albumin were found exclusively in group C and G streptococci . The albumin binding was found to be a time-dependent, saturable, and displaceable process which obeyed simple kinetic equations . Scatchard analysis revealed that human serum albumin bound to a homogeneous population of receptors with an affinity in the order ot 10(7) liters/mol and that the average bacterial cell carried more than 80,000 binding sites . The albumin receptor is a heat-stable component susceptible to proteolytic digestion . It has a surface localization separate from the receptors for immunolgobulin G, fibrinogen, aggregated beta 2-microglobulin, and haptoglobin . In individual strains, albumin reactivity was also detected independently of these other types of interactions with human proteins.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jan, 27(1), 235 - 45
Characterization of tufted streptococci isolated from the "corn cob" configuration of human dental plaque; Mouton C et al.; Streptococci isolated from "corn cob" configurations of human dental plaque possess a polar fibrillar tuft extending 100 to 150 nm from one pole of the cell . The two strains studied were physiologically related to the Streptococcus sanguis-Streptococcus mitior group and were most similar to Streptococcus mitis ATCC 903 . The corn cob streptococci were serologically related to S . sanguis serotype 1 . The polar tuft contained at least two antigenically distinct components, one serologically related to the glycerol phosphate backbone of teichoic acid . The other was an electrophoretically slow-moving antigen similar to a component of S . mitis ATCC 903 . It is suggested that the corn cob streptococci in vivo adhere to Bacterionema matruchotii by means of the polar tuft.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jan, 27(1), 118 - 23
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for group B streptococcal antibodies; Rote NS et al.; We report here on the development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for antibodies to types II and III group B streptococci . Streptococcal antigens were prepared by trichloroacetic acid extraction and fractional alcohol precipitation . Microtiter wells were coated with antigen in 0.1 M carbonate buffer at pH 9.6 . Lyophilization was found to be an essential step for efficient binding of the streptococcal antigens . After incubation with antibody-containing rabbit serum, bound antibody was detected with peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G . Optimal antigen concentrations were 200 micrograms/ml for type II and 100 micrograms/ml for type III . An ELISA is also described that uses intact bacteria as antigen . Hyperimmune rabbit serum reacted at a titer in excess of 512 against trichloroacetic acid-soluble antigen and 4,096 against whole bacteria . Sera from human subjects were also tested . Most human sera contained antibody which bound to intact bacteria but not to trichloroacetic acid-solubilized streptococcal antigens . Antibody titers in human sera against intact bacteria correlated very well with opsonic antibody activity measured in a chemiluminescence assay.

J Exp Med, 1980 Jan 1, 151(1), 56 - 68
Biochemical and immunological characterization of the extracellular nucleases of group B streptococci; Ferrieri P et al.; Nearly all group B streptococcal strains representing the five major serotypes were found to produce extracellular nucleases by screening with an agar-well-diffusion technique in DNA-methyl green agar plates . Three different nucleases have been isolated and partially purified by DEAE-and carboxymethyl-cellulose chromatography . They possessed different mobilities on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and different molecular weights . These nucleases, designated I, II, and III, are optimally activated by cations of calcium and manganese and exhibited RNase as well as DNase activity . Despite differences in their physical and biochemical properties, nucleases II and III appear antigenically similar, but distinct from nuclease I . These group B streptococcal nucleases are immunologically different from the nucleases of group A streptococci . Neutralizing activity, probably antibody, to nucleases II and III was found in human sera, and was most prevalent in sera of pregnant women colonized with group B streptococci and in their newborn infants.

J Immunol, 1980 Jan, 124(1), 261 - 7
Studies on group A streptococcal M-proteins: purification of type 5 M-protein and comparison of its amino terminal sequence with two immunologically unrelated M-protein molecules; Manjula BN et al.; M-protein was isolated from group A, type 5, streptococci by limited proteolysis with pepsin and purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex followed by gel filtration . The protein thus purified (Pep M5) was homogeneous by SDS-polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis (apparent m.w.: 19,000), retained the capacity to remove opsonic antibodies from type 5 antiserum, and was capable of eliciting opsonic antibodies in rabbits . Its amino acid composition was very similar to that reported for M-proteins from other streptococcal types . The sequence of the first 29 amino terminal residues of Pep M5 was determined and compared with the reported amino terminal sequences of two immunologically unrelated M-proteins, namely, Pep M6 and Pep M24 . The results revealed that, although the amino terminal sequences fo these three proteins differed from each other, some amino acid residues appeared to be conserved, suggesting a certain degree of structural relatedness among these M molecules . The possibility that this feature forms the molecular basis for the common antiphagocytic behavior of immunologically unrelated M-proteins is discussed.

J Oral Rehabil, 1980 Jan, 7(1), 43 - 50
An in vitro model for studying adsorption of oral streptococci to crown and bridge cements; Orstavik J et al.; A sensitive, in vitro method has been developed for the study of bacterial adsorption to dental crown and bridge cements . The method employs heavily radiolabelled cells which adhere to the wall in wells made from the cements . Loss of radioactivity from the bacterial suspension during incubation is used to measure the degree of bacterial adherence to the materials . Strains of Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mutans adhered in greater numbers than a strain of Streptococcus salivarius to both a zinc phosphate cement and a zinc carboxylate cement . The zinc phosphate cement supported adherence to a greater degree than did the zinc carboxylate cement . Pretreatment of the cement surfaces with human saliva tended to reduce bacterial adherence . Pretreatment of the bacteria with saliva slightly enhanced sorption of S . sanguis and S . salivarius, but tended to impair sorption of S . mutans to both types of cements . When both bacteria and cements had been pretreated with saliva, a strong inhibition of the adherence of S . mutans was observed.

Handchirurgie, 1980, 12(3-4), 261 - 4
{Changes in the drug resistance of bacteria from peripheral infections after 5 years}; Pfeiffer KM et al.; The reports of outpatients with surgical infections of the years 1972 and 1977 are compared to demonstrate changes in composition of the spectrum and resistance to antibiotics . In the first period 425 cases could be used for study, in the second only 132 cases could be traced . In the second period phlegmonous infections, caused by streptococci were twice as frequent as in 1972 . In the same year resistance of staphylococci to Penicillin was found in 43% of the cases . Five years later no more resistance was present and in 28,8% Penicillin even proved to be the most efficient drug . Likewise the streptococci had become more sensitive to Penicillin in the second period, but Cephalosporin remained the treatment of choice for this type of infections . Gram negative germs as B . coli were found much less in 1977 than five years before and their sensibility to sulfamethoxazol-trimethoprim was remarkably higher . The study demonstrates the changes in antibiotic resistance of a given germ population as well as the need for close observation of these changes . Standard antibiotic treatment has to be adapted to the modifications of germ behavior.

Acta Histochem Suppl, 1980, 22, 331 - 7
{Immunohistology of the antibody-formation against M-protein of Streptococcus pyogenes in Macaca mulatta (author's transl)}; Wagner M et al.; The immunohistology of the antibody synthesis against M proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci) was studied in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) . For the immunoelectron microscopic detection of antibody producing cells peroxidase-labelled M protein was used . Cryostat sections of glutaraldehyde-fixed lymphoid organs were incubated with the peroxidase-conjugate followed by 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and H2O2 . The labelled tissue sections were further processed for the electron microscopy . Two sites of specific labelling were observed: 1) The cell membrane of lymphocytes and transformed lymphocytes and 2) the endoplasmic reticulum of plasma cells, proplasmocytes and transformed lymphocytes.

Infection, 1980, 8 Suppl 3, 321 - 6
{Clinical differentiation between idiopathic respiratory distress, neonatal septicemia caused by group B streptococci and septicemia caused by other pathogens (author's transl)}; Roos R et al.; Since bacterial infection in newborns must be treated as specifically and as early as possible, it is important to confirm a diagnosis of suspected infection based on clinical symptoms and to take possible pathogens into consideration when choosing therapy . RDS and septicemia with Group B streptococci can present very similar clinical symptoms, but leucopenia on the first day of life is most probably an indication of septicemia with Group B streptococci . Septicemia caused by other pathogens, however, usually has a much later onset . In the days following birth a raised cardiothoracic index indicates RDS . Other differential criteria are being investigated.

Immunogenetics, 1980, 11(2), 161 - 7
Immunogenetics of response to a purified antigen from group A streptococci . II . Linkage of response to HLA; Greenberg LJ et al.; Employing an in vitro blastogenesis model, evidence has been set forth for a major gene locus which controls response to a purified, extracellular antigen from group A streptococci . Response to this antigen is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner . Analysis of the data for linkage to HLA was done with the computer program LINKAS which can resolve pleiotropy from linkage and can detect and estimate recombination in the presence of etiological heterogeneity . Maximum likelihood estimation and likelihood ratio tests were used to assess the relative support for competing hypotheses . The results of this analysis indicate that at least two loci are involved in one of two ways: one locus that is closely linked to HLA and one locus that is unlinked; or a two-locus system of complementary alleles which are both tightly linked to HLA.

J Dairy Sci, 1980 Jan, 63(1), 15 - 24
Hydrolysis of beta-casein and peptides by intracellular neutral protease of Streptococcus diacetylactis; Zevaco C et al.; The endopeptidase activity of mesophilic streptococci was characterized further by investigating the specificity of an intracellular endopeptidase from Streptococcus diacetylactis for beta-casein, derived peptides, and bradykinin . The inhibitory action of phosphoramidon as well as direct determinations of metal content showed this enzyme was a metalloprotein . Hydrolysis of native beta-casein was relatively low . Peptides obtained from the fraction soluble at pH 4.6 led to the demonstration that Pro186-Ile187 and Ala189-Phe190 were hydrolyzed by the enzyme . Two peptides derived from beta-casein by the action of chymosin were hydrolyzed efficiently: we observed hydrolysis of Lys176-Ala177, Lys169-Val170, and Pro206-Ile207 . The Pro7-Phe8 bond of bradykinin was hydrolyzed rapidly, showing that this enzyme was efficient for the hydrolysis of prolyl peptide bonds . The protease was slightly less sensitive to phosphoramidon than was thermolysin . Metal analyses showed the enzyme contained 580 microgram of zinc and 4,760 microgram of calcium per gram protein . This protease is thus a true metalloenzyme (E.C.3.4.24.4), and its action may complete the hydrolysis initiated by chymosin remaining active in cheese curd by hydrolyzing peptides released by chymosin.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1980, 12(1), 33 - 5
Prevalence of group B beta-hemolytic streptococci in the male urethra; Manuel FR et al.; To evaluate the carrier rate of group B beta-hemolytic streptococci in males, we studied urethral swabs collected from 116 venereal disease (V.D.) clinic patients and 90 medical students . The prevalence rates for colonization in these groups were 8.6 and 2.2% respectively (statistically significant difference) . The colonization rate in V.D . patients was higher in those with gonococcal infection than in those without but the difference was not statistically significant . Rates in patients with and without urethral symptoms were the same.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1980, 61(2), 192 - 202
The nature of secretory agglutinins and aggregating factors . I . Secretory conglutinin-like factor, secretory bacterial aggregating factors and secretory IgA antibody in human saliva and amniotic fluid; Eggert FM; Secretory conglutinin-like factor (SKF), secretory bacterial aggregating factors (SBAF) and 11S secretory IgA antibodies of human saliva and full term amniotic fluid were quantitated by microtitration and partially characterized . The SBAF of both saliva and amniotic fluid aggregated a variety of oral streptococci, but no secretory IgA antibodies were found in amniotic fluid . The SKF and SBAF are distinguished from 11S IgA antibodies by being inhibited with EDTA and by being more susceptible to inhibition with reducing agents . These active factors are also distinguished from submaxillary mucins . Components of normal serum inhibit both SKF and SBAF, but blood-group reactive sugars cannot block either SKF or SBAF.

J Med Virol, 1980, 6(1), 37 - 44
New bacterial absorption method for determination of hepatitis A IgM and IgA antibodies; Lofgren B et al.; Antibodies against hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) can be determined by a commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA) (HavabTM, Abbott) . To discriminate between recent and past hepatitis A infection this RIA was used in combination with absorption with protein A-containing staphylococci . However, nonabsorbable anti-HAV was repeatedly detected in late-convalescent sera using this methods . The nature of these antibodies was studied in serum samples from 12 such patients . In all patients, the late-convalescent sera contained no IgM class anti-HAV as judged by sucrose density gradient centrifugation . The restricted specificity of staphylococcal protein A explains the lack of absorption . Some recently described streptococcal strains capable of binding all IgG subclasses (including IgG3) as well as both IgA subclasses were, therefore, added to the staphylococci . Absorption studies using these strains indicated that the previously nonabsorbable anti-HAV in these 12 patients was mainly of the IgA class . A bacterial mixture including IgA-binding streptococci seems preferable to routine determination of IgM anti-HAV in acute hepatitis A diagnosis . The results also indicate that IgA anti-HAV in serum can persist for more than two years after a hepatitis A infection.

Acta Microbiol Pol, 1980, 29(2), 135 - 44
Evaluation of lactic acid Streptococci for the preparation of frozen concentrated starter cultures; Jakubowska J et al.; Eight strains of Streptococcus diacetilactis and Streptococcus lactis were examined for viability, growth rate, lactic acid and diacetyl production in milk and proteolytic activity before and after freezing at --30 degrees C . Concentrations of yeast autolysate, peptone, lactose and citrate as well as the usefulness of milk and whey culture media for active biomass production were investigated . After freezing and storage at --30 degrees C, with the use of non-fat milk as a cryoprotective agent, high survival and endocellular proteolytic activity of the frozen concentrate was achieved . S . diacetilactis sp . and S . lactis 115 were shown to be more biologically active than other strains . Their physiological properties remained unaffected by freezing.

Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 1980 Jan-Feb, 17(4), 393 - 5
Neonatal septicemia resulting from group B streptococci: a case report; Onile BA et al.; A case of neonatal septicemia resulting from group B Streptococcus, type Ic is reported . The infection occurred in a premature infant delivered by cesarean section, which followed fetal distress . The same organism was isolated from a high vaginal swab taken from the mother who had had premature rupture of the membranes 48 hours before admission to the hospital . Both infant and mother made satisfactory recoveries . This is the first case of neonatal group B streptococcal infection reported from Nigeria.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1979 Dec 7, 104(49), 1748 - 50
{Acute bacterial endocarditis caused by streptococci of Lancefield group C (author's transl)}; Hess OM et al.; An Angell-Shiley heterograft valve was implanted in a 32-year-old woman with severe aortic regurgitation and stenosis . Post-operatively acute bacterial endocarditis occurred, due to group C streptococci . Because of severe acute aortic insufficiency with partial dehiscence of the heterograft valve and increasing left heart failure re-operation was necessary . After successful replacement of the valve an aortocoronary bypass was connected to the left circumflex artery because of displacement of the left coronary ostium . In addition, an aortoplasty was performed for spontaneous aortic rupture . Because of severe left heart failure with myocardial infarction in the course of the operation circulatory support with a paracorporeal artificial heart was necessary for 60 hours postoperatively . Despite transitory improvement the patient died from septic shock 30 days after the re-operation.

J Clin Pathol, 1979 Dec, 32(12), 1228 - 33
Serological grouping of streptococci by slide agglutination; Efstratiou A et al.; Streptococcal grouping sera for groups A, B, C, and G prepared for conventional testing by precipitation were made specific by absorption and used to identify streptococci by slide agglutination with and without staphyloccocal coagglutination . Trypsinised suspensions of 1055 strains, identified by precipitation as belonging to group A, B, C, or G, were tested by slide agglutination . Of these, 998 were correctly identified using a streptococcal suspension and antisera alone and a further 65 were identified when a loopful of protein A-positive staphylococci was added . Suspensions of 88 strains not of groups A, B, C, or G gave no reaction in the agglutination test with or without the addition of staphylococci . Group polysaccharide extracted by conventional methods also caused agglutination of staphylococci on a slide when specific antiserum was added . Growth from primary or secondary cultures digested in streptomyces enzyme for only 15-30 minutes provided an excellent antigen for a quick and simple method of streptococcal grouping using non-sensitised staphylococcal suspension and specific antisera for coagglutination.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Dec, 140(3), 1112 - 5
Rapid screening procedure for detection of plasmids in streptococci; Leblanc DJ et al.; An enrichment procedure, yielding plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid preparations normally containing less than 5% chromosomal contamination, has been devised for the isolation of plasmids from virtually all species of streptococci . The procedure is rapid, reproducible, and inexpensive, requiring no radioisotopes or density gradient centrifugation . The procedure can be used for routine screening of several hundred isolates in a short period of time, and plasmids obtained from 10- to 20-ml cultures can readily be visualized in agarose gels.

Infect Immun, 1979 Dec, 26(3), 1214 - 7
Inhibition of adsorption of Streptococcus mutans strains to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite by galactose and certain amines; Gibbons RJ et al.; Adsorption of all of eight strains of Streptococcus mutans to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite (S-HA) surfaces was inhibited by galactose and melibiose, but not by other neutral sugars tested . This observation supports the hypothesis that lectin-like components participate in the attachment of these streptococci to salivary glycoproteins on saliva-treated hydroxyapatite surfaces . Adsorption of all strains was also inhibited by iodoacetate and spermine; other amines tested reduced adsorption of some strains, but not others.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Dec, 10(6), 919 - 22
More sensitive test agar for detection of dextranase-producing oral streptococci and identification of two glucan synthesis-defective dextranase mutants of Streptococcus mutans 6715; Donkersloot JA et al.; A more sensitive test agar was developed to detect oral microbes with relatively low dextranase activity and to identify dextranase-negative mutants . Several oral streptococci that had previously been scored as dextranase negative readily decolorized the new, blue dextran-containing medium . To assess whether dextranase plays a role in glucan synthesis by oral streptococci, various glucan synthesis-defective mutants were tested for dextranase activity on the new medium . Mutants 4 and 27, which do not cause smooth-surface caries and which synthesize more soluble glucan than their parent, Streptococcus mutans 6715-13, were markedly deficient in these dextranase activity tests.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Dec, 140(3), 1090 - 7
Hyaluronic acid capsule: strategy for oxygen resistance in group A streptococci; Cleary PP et al.; Unencapsulated variants of encapsulated, M-protein-positive group A streptococci are oxygen sensitive and secrete inhibitory concentrations of hydrogen peroxide when grown in aerated broth cultures . The organisms were equally sensitive to hydrogen peroxide, and neither exhibited catalase or peroxidase activity, suggesting that differences in oxygen sensitivity reflect dissimilarity in oxygen uptake . The encapsulated parental culture was found to grow in aggregates that take up oxygen more slowly than unencapsulated, oxygen-sensitive derivatives . Moreover, the latter grow in an unaggregated, homogenous suspension . The enzyme hyaluronidase was able to disrupt aggregates of the encapsulated strain increase the rate that these cells take up oxygen, and cause the accumulation of toxic concentrations of hydrogen peroxide earlier in their growth cycle . The evidence presented shows that the aggregation of streptococcal cells by their hyaluronic acid capsule provides this organism with a novel means to avoid self-destruction by oxygen metabolites--cells are shielded from oxygen . The reduced surface-to-volume ratio and limited diffusion of oxygen into the interior of aggregates are proposed as the protective mechanism.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1979 Dec, 127(12), 720 - 3
{Group B streptococci: the most common cause of neonatal septicemia (author's transl)}; Schroder H et al.; Between 1965--78 118 newborns with septicemia have been treated in the Children's Hospital of the Free University Berlin . Microorganisms identified were streptococci in 32 cases, 27 of which were group B streptococci (increasing number since 1973) . In 1978 group B streptococci were responsible for 44% of all the septicemia cases as well as for 12% of all newborn deaths . The incidence of group B streptococcal septicemia in newborn babies is 1/1000 live births for the Berlin region . 2 patients presented the late-onset type of group B streptococcal neonatal sepsis; both survived having neurological sequelae . 25 newborns belonged to the early-onset group, the mortality rate in this group is 56% . The clinical features, bacteriological findings and risk factors are summarized in table form . There could be an influence related to the maternal blood type . Histological examinations in 5 placentae revealed signs of amniotic infection.

J Exp Med, 1979 Dec 1, 150(6), 1498 - 509
Characterization and localization of the enzymatic deacylation of lipoteichoic acid in group A streptococci; Kessler RE et al.; Protoplasts of a group A streptococcal strain were shown to contain enzymatic activity capable of converting lipoteichoic acid (LTA) to deacylated lipoteichoic acid (dLTA) . The enzyme(s) appear to be located mainly in the membrane, although activity was also found in the cytoplasm . Determination of the sites of cleavage within the LTA molecule was approached by comparing the chemical composition of LTA and native dLTA . Native dLTA, as distinguished from chemically deacylated LTA, was isolated from buffer in which live streptococci had been resuspended and incubated . The chemical data suggest that the enzyme(s) was(were) lipolytic in nature; that is, the conversion of LTA to dLTA was the result of cleavage of the ester linkages between the fatty acids and the remainder of the LTA molecule.

Infect Immun, 1979 Dec, 26(3), 1172 - 6
Alternate complement pathway activation by group A streptococci: role of M-protein; Bisno AL; Avirulent strains of group A streptococci readily activate the complement system in normal human serum via the alternate complement pathway (ACP) . Virulent M-positive group A streptococci are much less potent as activators of the ACP . The ability of M-positive streptococci to activate the ACP is enhanced by trypsinization or mild peptic digestion . The latter treatment removes the serologically active and antiphagocytic type-specific moieties of M protein, but retains the surface fuzzy layer . The phagocytosis of avirulent streptococci is markedly enhanced by preopsonization in serum chelated with Mg-ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (classic complement pathway blocked) but not in serum devoid of heat-labile factors . These studies suggest that the function of M protein as a virulence factor may be mediated, at least in part, by its ability to retard interaction of ACP components with structures present on the streptococcal cell surface.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Dec, 10(6), 910 - 8
Simple inoculum standardizing system for antimicrobial disk susceptibility tests; Barry AL et al.; A collaborative study was undertaken to evaluate a simple, convenient device which expedites inoculum standardization for antimicrobial disk susceptibility tests . The Inocupac system (Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing {3M} Co., St . Paul, Minn.) was used to perform disk tests in parallel with the standard Bauer-Kirby method . Five investigators tested 100 selected isolates, each in triplicate . Inter- and intralaboratory precision of both disk procedures was essentially comparable . The Inocupac system failed to consistently provide satisfactory growth with some streptococci, but when testing common gram-negative bacilli, staphylococci, and most enterococci, the Inocupac system gave zones about the same size (+/-2 mm) as the Bauer-Kirby procedure . Interpretive agreement between the two test systems varied from 90 to 99% with different antimicrobial agents, and repeated tests with the Bauer-Kirby method demonstrated the same degree of interpretive agreement . The Inocupac system is a valid alternative method for inoculating disk susceptibility tests.

Br Med J, 1979 Nov 24, 2(6201), 1320 - 2
Bacterial contamination of expressed breast milk; Jones CL et al.; In a study of breast milk collected into sterile bottles rinsed in 1% hypochlorite solution the hypochlorite solution adherent to the sides of the bottles apparently caused a large reduction in bacterial contamination of the milk after storage at 4 degrees C for up to four hours . Heating expressed breast milk at 62.5 degrees C for five minutes destroyed over 90% of the Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and group B beta-haemolytic streptococci inoculated into the milk samples . Rinsing collecting bottles with hypochlorite solution may be valuable in collecting milk with a low bacterial content for human-milk banks . Furthermore, the currently accepted pasteurisation time of 30 minutes may be excessive.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Nov-Dec, 1(6), 955 - 66
Viridans streptococcal endocarditis: the role of various species, including pyridoxal-dependent streptococci; Roberts RB et al.; The viridans streptococci are a heterogeneous group of organisms frequently associated with microbial endocarditis . Isolates from consecutive patients with endocarditis due to viridans streptococci who were seen at The New York Hospital from 1944 to 1955 and from 1970 to 1978 were speciated, and the relative frequencies and patterns of sus ceptibility to penicillin were determined . Vitamin B6-dependent streptococci, classified as Streptococcus mitior, accounted for 5%-6% of microbial endocarditis in both time periods . Since these nutritional variants require the active forms of vitamin B6 for growth in routein media, they can be responsible for culture-negative endocarditis . Media must be supplemented with either pyridoxal hydrochloride or pyridoxamine dihydrochloride (the active forms of vitamin B6) for isolation, identification, and subsequent testing of susceptibility to antimirobial agents . Pyridoxine hydrochloride does not support the growth of these organisms in vitro.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 10(5), 758 - 9
Group G streptococcal pneumonia and sepsis in a newborn infant; Ancona RJ et al.; A case of neonatal pneumonia and sepsis caused by a group G Streptococcus is described . Clinical and microbiological aspects of group G streptococci are compared with those of group B streptococci.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 10(5), 641 - 6
Evaluation of commercial latex agglutination reagents for grouping streptococci; Facklam RR et al.; A total of 155 strains of beta-hemolytic streptococci were serologically grouped by conventional techniques (Lancefield extraction and capillary precipitin testing) and by latex agglutination (LA) . Agreement between conventional and LA techniques was 97% when the instructions of the manufacturer for the LA technique were followed . Agreement of 99% was obtained when modified autoclave extracts were used as antigens in the LA procedure . A total of 82 strains of non-beta-hemolytic streptococci were also tested by conventional, prescribed LA, and modified autoclave procedures . The agreement between conventional techniques and both LA procedures was 76% . However, when serological cross-reactions in the conventional grouping procedures were considered as errors, the accuracy of identification of both LA procedures was 88% among the non-beta-hemolytic strains . Of 13 strains of Streptococcus bovis, 10 did not react with the LA group D reagent but were serogroup D by conventional techniques . More S . bovis strains were grouped by the LA technique when extracts of 20 ml of broth cultures were used as antigens; however, cross-reactions were observed with non-group D strains when this technique was applied to them.

Arch Environ Health, 1979 Nov-Dec, 34(6), 424 - 31
Effect of near ambient exposures to sulfur dioxide and ferrous sulfate particles on murine pulmonary defense mechanisms; Goldstein E et al.; An infectivity model was used to test the safety margins for presently established air quality standards for sulfur dioxide and sulfate particles . Mice and rats were exposed to atmospheres of sulfur dioxide and mono-disperse ferrous sulfate particles from 3 to 6 times the standard for 17 hr prior to, or 4 hr after infection with aerosols of Staphylococcus aureus or Group C Streptococci . Exposure to these concentrations of pollutants did not impair the rodents' ability to ingest and inactivate the minimally virulent Straphylococcus or enhance the virulence of the Group C Streptococci . Insofar as these results can be extrapolated to man, the present air quality standards for sulfur dioxide and sulfate particles are protective in regard to respiratory bacterial infection.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Nov-Dec, 1(6), 988 - 86
Rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, and the streptococcal connection: the role of streptococcal antigens cross-reactive with heart tissue; Kaplan MH; The role of streptococcal infections in initiating the diverse clinical and pathological manifestations of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease is considered in relation to the multiple cross-reactive relations of group A Streptococcus and tissue antigens . Autoantibodies to the following shared antigens have been demonstrated in sera of patients wit rheumatic fever: (1) cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle; (2) heart valve fibroblasts; (3) neurons in basal ganglia; and (4) a group A carbohydrate-related determinant in connective tissues . Circulating autoantibodies to these different antigens were present in higher titer or occurred more frequently in patients with rheumatic fever than in those with uncomplicated streptococcal infections . A direct correlation of the presence of these autoantibodies with carditis could not be established . The pathogenetic mechanisms that link streptococcal infection to rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are not yet clear . Among the possibilities to be considered within the above frame of reference are combined cell-mediated and humoral autoimmune mechanisms directed to one or more cross-reactive antigens in the tissues, selective binding of streptococci to tissues, role of circulating immune complexes, and linkage with histocompatibility antigens.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Nov-Dec, 1(6), 967 - 75
Changes and changing concepts in the biology of group A streptococci and in the epidemiology of streptococcal infections; Wannamaker LW; Concepts of the cellular structure of group A streptococci have been modified by the recognition of surface fimbriae and by problems with the older view of a layered arrangement of cell wall components . Evidence of genetic drift of serologic types and of some increase in the prevalence of erythromycin-resistant strains has appeared . A curiois bimodal age distribution for streptococcal pharyngitis and an increase in the prevalence of non-group A strains has been detected . Despite repeated challenges, the value of throat cultures for confirming the possibility of streptococcal pharyngitis remains firmly established; throat cultures are superior to saliva cultures, which more frequently detect non-group A streptococci . Difficulties in detecting subclinical steptococcal infections and in defining streptococcal infection in children in endemic situations (particularly in separating true streptococcal infection from carriage of streptococci in individuals whose illness is due to some other agent) continue to present problems to clinicians and epidemiologists . The value of school culture surveys and of treatment of asymptomatic family contacts of cases remains uncertain . A 20% bacteriologic failure rate has been reported after intramuscular treatment with benzathine penicillin, but no in vitro evidence of resistance to penicillin has appeared . No adequate explanations are available for the decline in the problem of rheumatic fever in industrialized countries, for its increased recognition in tropical countries, for the failure of rheumatic fever to occur after streptococcal pyoderma, or for the emergence of group B Streptococcus as a predominant bacterial pathogen in newborn infants.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Nov-Dec, 1(6), 935 - 45
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis following pyoderma; Dillon HC Jr; Studies of the epidemiology of acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) following pyoderma reported over the past 15 years have been reviewed . Investigations in Alabama, at Red Lake in Minnesota, and in Trinidad proved of special interest because they contribute new information concerning the natural history of streptococcal skin infections and the role of such infections in AGN . Interesting contrasts between streptococcal infections of the skin and those of the throat are now apparent . Compared with pharyngeal infections, skin infections are more common in young preschool children, are caused by different serotypes, and differ in the nature of the streptococcal antibody response . A number of new M-serotypes of group A streptococci, including several of importance in AGN, were found in studies of pyoderma . In contrast to M-types 1 and 12 (those of major importance in AGN followng pharyngitis), M-types 2, 49, 55, 57, and 60 are now recognized to be of major importance in AGN following pyoderma . Although streptococcal skin infections are quire important in AGN, they do not result in acute rheumatic fever.

Infect Immun, 1979 Nov, 26(2), 599 - 603
Experimental vaginal colonization and mother-infant transmission of group B streptococci in rats; Ancona RJ et al.; An animal model for group B streptococcal vaginal colonization and neonatal acquisition was developed with albino rats . Intravaginal inoculation of genital isolates of group B streptococci of serotypes Ia, II, and III either once or on 3 successive days resulted in carriage of the organisms for 7 days or longer in 26% of the virgin animals and 43% of the pregnant animals . Throat and perianal cultures of the offspring of pregnant rats revealed that 51% of the rat pups acquired the organisms at some time . Litter exchange studies were done to explore the contributions of environmental and intralitter spread . Significantly more infants born to mothers with positive vaginal cultures acquired the organisms than infants of culture-negative mothers who were suckled by positive adoptive mothers . However, 13% of the offsprinital cultures acquired group B streptococci . This model may be valuable in understanding the dynamics of vaginal carriage and mother-infant transmission of group B streptococci.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1979 Nov, 68(6), 819 - 23
Group B streptococcal colonization of pregnant women and their neonates . Epidemiological study and controlled trial of prophylactic treatment of the newborn; Gerard P et al.; Colonization with group B streptococci of the genital tract was studied in 1 115 women during the last trimester of pregnancy . 76 or 6.82% were found to harbour this bacterium . The incidence of contamination was significantly higher among Belgian women than among parturients of Mediterranean origin (p less than 0.001) . It was also more frequent in primigravidae (p less than 0.05) and in the poorer (0.10 less than p greater than 0.05) . At the time of admission in the delivery room, it was noticed that rupture of the amniotic membranes for more than 24 hours was more often associated with group B streptococcal carriage by the mother (p less than 0.001) . 29 out of 68 (42.6%) infants born to group B streptococci positive mothers were colonized at birth . 67 of them were submitted to a controlled trial of immediate versus delayed penicillin therapy . 44.8% and 42.1% of the neonates were contaminated at birth in each group of treatment respectively . No instance of group B streptococcal infection developed in either group . This suggests that immediate therapy with penicillin of infants of group B streptococci positive mothers has no definite advantage upon delayed treatment.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Nov, 140(5), 682 - 9
Human immunity to group B streptococci measured by indirect immunofluorescence: correlation with protection in chick embryos; Vogel LC et al.; An indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assay has been developed as a useful semiquantitative method for determination of type-specific IgG antibody in human sera to the five serotypes of group B Streptococcus . Antibody titers measured by IF correlated with passive protection in chick embryos, and antibody titers associated with chick embryo protection were delineated . Except for types Ia and Ic, IF antibody to each of the streptococcal types was completely absorbed by homologous strains, and antibody titers were unchanged by incubation with heterologous bacteria . For types Ia and Ic, IF antibody was absorbed by either the Ia or the Ic strain and by native Ia carbohydrate antigen . Antibody titers measured by IF and chick embryo protection against types Ia and Ic were similar, but were divergent for Ib and Ic, a finding suggesting that antibody is predominantly directed to the major carbohydrate determinants . In addition, 29 of 31 sera that had been tested in chick embryos yielded comparable results in mice against challenge with type Ia group B Streptococcus, a finding further validating the chick embryo assay . Sera from all of 43 mothers of infants infected with group B streptococci had antibody titers by IF that were less than titers associated with protection in chick embryos.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Nov, 140(5), 676 - 81
Production of pyrogenic exotoxin by groups of streptococci: association with group A; Schlievert PM et al.; Several groups of streptococci were tested for production of pyrogenic exotoxins (SPE) with Ouchterlony immunodiffusion, a newly developed passive hemagglutination inhibition assay, and an assay for pyrogenicity and capacity to enhance lethal endotoxin shock . With use of these assays, 68 (91%) of 75 group A streptococcal strains were positive for one or more of SPE types A, B, and C; seven were negative for both the known SPE types and antigenically unrelated pyrogenic exotoxins . Group A strains producing both SPE B and C were the most common, and strains producing A alone or AB and AC together were the least common . All of 11 rheumatogenic group A streptococci elaborated SPE C either alone or together with one or both of SPE types A and B . The 10 nephritogenic strains tested were positive for SPE B; five were positive for B alone . In contrast to group A streptococci, non-group A strains (41 tested) did not produce the known SPE types, and 19 of 19 tested were negative for antigenically unrelated pyrogenic exotoxins . Group A strains from Holland, India, and Japan also elaborated SPE . Several group A streptococci used widely in laboratory experiments were tested for SPE types produced.

J Med Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 12(4), 413 - 27
Production of a bacteriocine-like substance by group-A streptococci of M-type 4 and T-pattern 4; Johnson DW et al.; A unique and characteristic bacteriocine-like inhibitor elaborated by M-type 4, T-pattern 4, group-A streptococci was isolated and partially purified . This inhibitor was found to be produced optimally in Todd-Hewitt broth; after extraction and concentration, was shown to be protein in nature, and to have a m.w . of c . 8000 . It was extremely heat stable and acid tolerant, but was quickly inactivated in alkaline conditions . It could be demonstrated in cell-bound form, but 99.5% was found in culture supernates . It was specifically adsorbed by viable sensitive cells, and its mode of action was bacteristatic.

J Clin Pathol, 1979 Nov, 32(11), 1168 - 73
Identification of viridans streptococci on the Minitek Miniaturised Differentiation System; Holloway Y et al.; A total of 227 strains of viridans streptococci were simultaneously identified on the Minitek Miniaturised System (BBL) and by a conventional method according to Colman and Williams . The Minitek discs were each overlaid with a drop of sterile liquid paraffin, and the trays were incubated in GaSPak jars (BBL) with CO2 generator envelopes . Identification was possible three to four days earlier than with the conventional method . The results were found to be in agreement with the conventional method . Compared to the identification schemes of Cowan and Steel and of Facklam, the results were also in good agreement . Minor differences were found in the number of positive and negative results in those reactions that are variable in all three schemes.

Am J Dis Child, 1979 Nov, 133(11), 1143 - 5
Sensitivity of group A streptococci to antibiotics . Prevalence of resistance to erythromycin in Japan; Maruyama S et al.; More than 60% of all strains of group A streptococci isolated during the period from 1974 to 1975 from children with streptococcal infections in Hokkaido district, Japan, were highly resistant to erythromycin . These strains were found to be multiply resistant to lincomycin hydrochloride monohydrate, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline, and were exclusively type 12 by T-protein typing . The clinical symptoms produced by these organisms were rather mild, responded to penicillin well, and were rarely complicated with glomerulonephritis . The high prevalence of resistant group A streptococci was nationwide, which may have been related to recent excessive use of erythromycin and other macrolide antibiotics . Erythromycin can no longer be considered the drug of choice in the management of streptococcal infections in Japan . This suggests that a periodic surveillance of antibiotic sensitivity of streptococcal isolates may be necessary in other countries in which macrolide antibiotics are frequently prescribed.

Pediatrics, 1979 Nov, 64(5 Pt 2 Suppl), 787 - 94
Neonatal cellular and humoral immunity to group B streptococci; Hill HR et al.; The mechanisms of host resistance to group B streptococci have not been defined precisely . In the studies reported here we have assessed the contributions of both humoral and cellular factors in protection against strains of this group . With assays of specific opsonic activity based upon the production of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemiluminescence and radiolabeled bacterial uptake, we have demonstrated that specific heat-stable antibody and the classic complement pathway are major factors in opsonization of these organisms . In the absence of specific antibody, fresh serum resulted in markedly reduced bacterial uptake indicating, at best, a minor role for the alternative complement pathway . Additional studies have indicated that strain-specific antiphagocytic factors as well as type-specific ones may play a role in the virulence of these organisms . Neonates who developed group B streptococcal sepsis usually lacked opsonic activity in their infecting strain . In addition, polymorphonuclear leukocytes from normal term and stressed neonates showed impaired metabolic activation as measured in the chemiluminescence assay following exposure to opsonized group B streptococci . These results suggest that neonates who develop group B streptococcal disease may have defects in both the humoral and cellular aspects of their acute inflammatory response which may contribute to the high mortality observed in this most fulminant of bacterial infections.

Lab Invest, 1979 Nov, 41(5), 379 - 84
Cathepsin B activity in stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages; Morland B et al.; The activity of cathepsin B was assayed in murine resident peritoneal macrophages, and after stimulation of the cells in vivo and in vitro . The resident cells showed a very low activity of the enzyme, compared to the activities of three other lysosomal enzymes: cathepsin D, acid phosphatase, and beta-glucuronidase which were tested simultaneously . Endocytosis of carrageenan, latex, or carbon particles in vitro induced a prominent rise in intracellular cathepsin B activity . Addition of endotoxin from Escherichia coli in vivo or in vitro, or cell wall products from streptococci in vitro caused no change in cathepsin B activity . There was a release of enzyme activity to the medium after a 72-hour culture of macrophages . However, the release, calculated as a percentage of total activity, was not influenced by any treatments mentioned . All significant rises in enzyme activity could be inhibited by the addition of cycloheximide, and it was concluded that increased enzyme activity was dependent on new protein synthesis.

Ann Ophthalmol, 1979 Nov, 11(11), 1775 - 8
Bacterial endophthalmitis associated with vitreous wick; Lindstrom RL et al.; A culture proven case of bacterial endophthalmitis (alpha streptococci, not Group D, and coagulase-negative staphylococci) occurred in association with a vitreous wick 26 days following uncomplicated intracapsular cataract extraction . Despite intensive antibiotic therapy, the eye was lost to infection . Immediate surgical repair of vitreous wicks which communicate with the external ocular surface is recommended.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Nov, 140(5), 747 - 57
Genetic variation in the M antigen of group A streptococci: reassortment of type-specific markers and possible antigenic drift; Cleary P et al.; The phylogenetic relationships of 73 strains of group A Streptococcus isolated over a six-year period from a population with a high prevalence of streptococcal infections were analyzed with use of four serotype-specific markers: the serum opacity factor (OF), the T antigen, the determinant of the M antigen that precipitates with antibody, and the M antiphagocytic determinant . OF inhibition tests divided the strains into five subtypes: a, b, c, d, and e . Strains within subtypes a, b, and c shared a previously unidentified M precipitin . The identification of this new common M precipitin was based on absorption studies, double agar immunodiffusion, and immunoelectrophoresis analysis . Antisera directed against representative strains from subtypes a, b, and c contained cross-reactive bactericidal antibody, and absorption studies indicated that determinants of the M precipitins were identical, whereas determinants of resistance to phagocytosis were closely related but not identical . The association of a common M precipitin with three different OF antigens, two different T antigens, and three different, yet similar, antiphagocytic determinants is discussed in light of the possibility that the genes that code for these antigens have reassorted or recombined . Moreover, the possibility that differences in the antiphagocytic determinants of these strains have resulted from antigenic drift in a common gene is considered.

Infect Immun, 1979 Nov, 26(2), 441 - 7
Factors influencing adherence of group B streptococci to human vaginal epithelial cells; Zawaneh SM et al.; Factors affecting the adherence of group B streptococci to human vaginal epithelial cells in vitro were examined . Maximal adherence was achieved within 15 min of incubation of bacteria with epithelial cells . Adherence was temperature and pH dependent; maximal adherence occurred at 37 degrees C and pH 5.5 . Killing of streptococci with ultraviolet light or penicillin did not affect adherence . Similarly, adherence was not altered by preincubating epithelial cells at 65 degrees C for 30 min . Thus neither bacterial nor epithelial cell viability appears to be a prerequisite for adherence . Preincubation of streptococci at 65 degrees C for 30 min resulted in a marked decrease in adherence, whereas preincubation of group B streptococci with neuraminidase was associated with a significant increase in adherence . The adherence of strains belonging to five different group B streptococcal serotypes was not altered by group-specific or type-specific rabbit antisera . These findings suggest that the site for adherence on the bacterial cell wall is heat sensitive and is marked by sialic acid, but is not related to either group-specific or type-specific antigens.

J Med Microbiol, 1979 Nov, 12(4), 397 - 411
"Fingerprinting" beta-haemolytic streptococci by their production of and sensitivity to bacteriocine-like inhibitors; Tagg JR et al.; A scheme for the "fingerprinting" of streptococci according to their production of (P typing) and sensitivity to (S typing) bacteriocine-like inhibitory substances has been developed . P typing of 450 beta-haemolytic streptococci by their action on a set of nine standard indicator strains revealed that 80% of strains produced one or more detectable inhibitors, and that 17 different P types could be recognised . Production of some inhibitors seemed to be a property of strains of a particular serological group or type . Bacteriocine-like substances were produced by streptococci of serological groups, A, B, C, D, E, F and G . Nine strains were selected as standard producers for S typing . These strains differed in their spectra of inhibition, but all seemed to be active only against gram-positive bacteria . One producer, a group-F streptococcus, specifically inhibited group-A streptococci . The conditions of incubation were critical for demonstration of inhibitor production . A requirement for blood and for incubation at 32 degrees C were important factors . None of the inhibitors was induced by ultraviolet irradiation . The observed inhibitory effects were not attributable to either hydrogen peroxide or low pH, but to the production of a variety of substances having diverse physicochemical properties and production requirements . Most of the inhibitors do not seem to be produced in liquid media . The "fingerprinting" procedure is simple and inexpensive, and provides a reliable means of subdividing streptococcal strains that may find application as a supplement to the existing serological typing schemes.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1979 Oct, 16(4), 514 - 8
In vitro antimicrobial inhibition patterns of nutritionally variant streptococci; Cooksey RC et al.; Twenty-four isolates of nutritionally variant streptococci, previously categorized as species included among the viridans streptococci, were tested for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents . Minimum inhibitory concentrations for these isolates and for a control group of viridans streptococci with no apparent nutritional deficiencies were determined in two microdilution systems . Pyridoxal hydrochloride, which enhances growth of the nutritional variants, was added to one of these microdilution systems but not to the other . An agar dilution method was also used to test the nutritionally variant isolates . Minimum inhibitory concentrations determined by the three methods compared favorably . Penicillin, nafcillin, methicillin, and clindamycin were less effective in vitro against the nutritional variants than were the other antibiotics tested . Streptomycin, however, was less effective against the control isolates.

Arch Intern Med, 1979 Oct, 139(10), 1125 - 30
Infectious arthritis; Sharp JT et al.; One hundred thirteen patients with 120 episodes of septic arthritis were seen during a 14-year period . The most common bacteria cultured from joint fluid or blood during the acute episodes were gonococci, staphylococci, and streptococci . Seventeen other bacteria were the infecting organisms in one or more cases each . Other infections and medical conditions frequently were present . In some instances the septic arthritis was a complication of another infection . In other patients septic arthritis appeared to occur because of diminished resistance to infection . The majority of patients responded well to medical treatment, but eight died and 26 had persistence of articular pain at follow-up examination.

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg, 1979 Oct, 95(1-2), 23 - 6
Spontaneous fascial necrosis of the upper thigh by beta-hemolytic streptococci; Thelen E et al.; This is a case-report of a gangrene involving muscle and fascia of the left femur due to group A of beta-hemolytic streptococci without visible injury of the skin . The diagnosis was derived from germ-evidence and by course of anti-desoxyribonuclease-B titer.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1979 Oct, 87(5), 301 - 2
Group L streptococci as the cause of bacteraemia and endocarditis . A case report; Bevanger L et al.; A beta-haemolytic streptococcus was isolated from multiple blood cultures in a 56-year-old woman suffering from thrombophlebitis in a leg and from a 42-year-old man with endocarditis . Both strains were identified as group L streptococci by precipitation testing . Initially they were identified as group A streptococci on the basis of cultural characteristics, bacitracin sensitivity and fluorescent staining with an anti-group A conjugate . The two cases are an addition to the few existing reports on proved infection in humans by group L streptococci.

J Clin Pathol, 1979 Oct, 32(10), 1066 - 9
Evaluation of bacteriological swabs and transport media in the recovery of group B streptococci on laboratory media; Cumming CG et al.; The survival of group B streptococci on a variety of swabs, held either in their containers or in transport media for periods of up to 48 hours, at room temperature and at 4 degrees C, has been assessed . Results indicated that holding swabs in transport media did not favour prolonged survival of the streptococci and that the yield of organisms was much greater from swabs held in their ordinary plastic tubes . A holding temperature of 4 degrees C rather than room temperature is recommended if any delay in plating out swabs is anticipated.

J Exp Med, 1979 Oct 1, 150(4), 862 - 77
Human immune response to immunization with a structurally defined polypeptide fragment of streptococcal M protein; Beachey EH et al.; We tested the ability of pepsin-extracted, highly purified M protein to induce type-specific immunity in experimental animals and humans . M protein was prepared from limited peptic digests of whole group A type 24 streptococci and was purified to chemical homogeneity as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, quantitative amino acid analysis, and Edman degradation . For vaccination, the lyophilized M24 protein preparation (pep M24) was precipitated in aluminum hydroxide . When injected into laboratory animals, alum-precipitated pep M24 produced type-specific protective antibodies and was free of non-type-specific immunoreactivity . In man, skin tests with 1-microgram doses of pep M24 were negative in all 37 adults tested . 12 adult human volunteers received two-four subcutaneous injections of 100-200 micrograms of alum-precipitated pep M24 at intervals of at least 2 wk . The immune response to pep M24 was measured by a variety of assays designed to detect (a) type-specific humoral antibodies (opsonophagocytic, long chain, and mouse protection tests); (b) total humoral antibodies (complement fixation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay); (c) cellular immunity (skin tests); and (d) heart cross-reactive antibodies (immunofluorescence) . Type-specific opsonic antibodies developed in 10 of the 12 vaccinees, and positive delayed-type skin tests developed in 11 . Immune sera from two of the vaccinees were effective in mouse-protection tests against challenge with M24 but not M6 streptococci . None of the volunteers developed heart-reactive antibodies or antibodies to non-type-specific M protein antigens . Alum-precipitated pep M24 was well-tolerated in man, and no serious local or systemic reactions were observed . Thus, pep M24 induces type-specific, protective antibodies in doses that are well-tolerated in man.

Pediatr Res, 1979 Oct, 13(10), 1093 - 6
Defective activation of the third component of complement in the sera of newborn infants; Winkelstein JA et al.; The activation of the terminal complement components, C3--9, plays an important role in the host's defense against infection . In the present study, the ability of bacteria to activate the third component of complement (C3) in newborn serum was examined . A variety of bacteria were incubated in test sera at 37 degrees C for 30 min and the percent of available C3 that was activated was measured . Using one strain of Escherchia coli (no . 3), 32% (mean) of the available C3 was activated in sera from 18 newborns, as compared to 85% in sera from their mothers and 79% in sera from 13 normal adults (P less than 0.005) . In contrast, using another strain of E . coli (N70), the percent of C3 activated in newborn sera (83%) was the same as in sera from their mothers (81%) or in sera from normal adults (73%) . The defective activation of C3 in newborn sera by E . coli was not related to the presence of the K1 antigen . Newborn sera were also challenged with other bacterial species and the activation of C3 was deficient when tested with klebsiellae, but not with staphylococci or streptococci . The defect in newborn sera appeared to be due to a deficiency of a serum factor rather than to the presence of an inhibitor.

Infect Immun, 1979 Oct, 26(1), 316 - 21
Binding of lipoteichoic acid of group A streptococci to isolated human erythrocyte membranes; Chiang TM et al.; The spontaneous binding of group A streptococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) to mammalian cell membranes was studied in isolated membranes of human erythrocytes . The binding of radiolabeled LTA to erythrocyte membranes was dependent on membrane concentration and time . Binding approached a maximum within 30 min of incubation . The bound LTA could be displaced by adding a 50-fold excess of unlabeled LTA . The displaced LTA was eluted from a column of Sepharose 6B in a position identical to that of authentic LTA, suggesting that binding did not alter the size of the molecule . A dissociation constant of 42 micrometers was calculated, and only one population of approximately 5.5 X 10(6) binding sites per erhtyrocyte membrane was detected . Since these results suggested that erythrocyte membranes possess specific binding sites for LTA, an attempt was made to localize the putative receptors to the outside or the inside surface of the erhtyrocyte membrane . Assays of the binding of LTA to resealed right-side-out and inside-out membrane ghosts demonstrated that the outside surface was able to bind over 10 times more LTA than the inside surface . These results support the concept that the membranes possess specific binding sites for LTA and inciate that these binding sites are located almost entirely on the outside surface of erythrocyte membranes.

Infect Immun, 1979 Oct, 26(1), 287 - 93
Group B streptococcal type Ia sepsis in mice after intranasal inoculation and the effect of infection on lungs; Wennerstrom DE; The intranasal inoculation of adult mice with saline suspensions of virulent group B streptococci serotype Ia resulted in septicemia which was lethal . Decreasing the inoculation dose of streptotocci increased the time required for their appearance in the blood and the mean time to death of the mice . Before the appearance of septicemia, the number of organisms in the lungs decreased to about 1% of the inoculation dose, and the majority could be recovered by lavage of the lungs through the trachea . In contrast, most of the organisms remained in the lavaged lungs of bacteremic mice after intranasal or intravenous inoculation . Lung surfactant obtained from infected mice was altered by a reduction in lipid and by an increase in protein . The organisms in vitro did not attack surfactant lipid labeled with {1-14C}palmitic acid, but their pathogenesis in vivo affected the permeability of the air-blood barrier, as shown by the leakage into the air spaces of plasma albumin labeled by the intravenous injection of Evans blue dye.

J Dent Res, 1979 Oct, 58(10), 2019 - 27
Differential utilization of proteins in saliva from caries-active and caries-free subjects as growth substrates by plaque-forming streptococci; Cowman RA et al.; Mixed or parotid saliva from caries-active individuals consistently supported better growth of Streptococcus mutans (type c) than that from caries-free individuals . Electrophoretic studies revealed that certain proteins in caries-active salivas were susceptible to microbial attack, but similar proteins in caries-free salivas were refractory.

Cancer, 1979 Oct, 44(4), 1226 - 7
Septicemia due to Streptococcus equisimilis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Appelbaum PC et al.; A 4-year-old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in relapse with documented septicemia due to group C Streptococci (Streptococcus equisimilis) is described . The patient responded well to therapy with appropriate cytotoxic and antimicrobial agents . There is a general lack of recognition of the pathogenicity of group C Streptococci in man . The potential opportunistic nature of these organisms in immunocompromised hosts and the need for early recognition and appropriate treatment of such infection is emphasized.

Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci, 1979 Oct, 57(5), 521 - 7
A comparison of four methods for the serotyping of group B streptococci; Triscott MX et al.; Group B streptococci are implicated in a wide range of clinical conditions in human adults and neonates . The Group is subdivided into five serotypes Ia, Ib, Ic, II and III, which are differentiated on the basis of capsular polysaccharides . In the interests of epidemiology and efficiency a cheap, rapid method which is easily interpreted would be advantageous . In this study four methods of serotyping, namely, counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP), microimmunodiffusion (MID), coagglutination (COA), and the Lancefield capillary precipitin (CP) test were compared in terms of ease of operation and interpretation, accuracy and rapidity . Todd Hewitt Broth (THB) cultures and acid extracts of the group B streptococcal strains were used as antigens for these methods . It was concluded that COA using THB cultures allows cheap and rapid screening for presumptive serotyping, having a 93-96% correlation with the CP test . MID gives an accurate (100% correlation with the CP test) and unambiguous confirmatory diagnosis of serotype.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Oct, 10(4), 409 - 14
Comparison of Minitek and conventional methods for the biochemical characterization of oral streptococci; Setterstrom JA et al.; Fifty-six strains of viridans streptococci were tested in the Minitek system (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, Md.), and the results were compared with those obtained by conventional methods . An overall agreement of 98.9% was obtained when the Minitek tests were performed as follows . (i) All disks were incubated anaerobically for 48 h except for esculin and arginine, which required 5 to 7 days . (ii) The arginine disks were overlaid with 0.1 ml of sterile mineral oil even though incubated anaerobically . (iii) The Voges-Proskauer tests were performed under aerobic and anaerobic conditions . (iv) All tests for carbohydrate fermentation except for raffinose and salicin were read after the addition of 2 to 3 drops of 0.025% phenol red (pH 7.2) . Of all the tests performed, only the fermentation of starch resulted in such poor agreement as to be considered unreliable . Results for inulin (unavailable in the Minitek system) were obtained by conventional methods.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1979 Oct, 87(5), 303 - 10
Fibrinogen binding structures in beta-hemolytic streptococci group A, C, and G . Comparisons with receptors for IgG and aggregated beta 2-microglobulin; Kronvall G et al.; Binding of radiolabelled fibrinogen was measured to 197 strains of 16 different bacterial species . All streptococcal strains belonging to groups A, C, and G isolated from human sources were strongly positive . S . aureus strains showed low binding values . Occasional group B streptococci were positive . Reactive strains were also noted among group C streptococci of animal origin, Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Str . equii, and bovine beta-hemolytic group G streptococci . Bovine alpha-hemolytic group G strains as well as the remaining seven species of human origin were all negative . Inhibition experiments and correlation studies indicated that the streptococcal receptor for fibrinogen was different from immunoglobulin Fc binding reactivity . Comparisons with the newly discovered beta 2-microglobulin binding factor showed that trypsin concentrations which destroyed this receptor left the fibrinogen receptor intact . Although the two receptors correlate in strain population studies and show competition for binding the difference in trypsin sensitivity indicates that they represent two different structural entities . Both receptors might serve as basic markers for M-protein like surface components of Gram positive cocci.

Lab Anim Sci, 1979 Oct, 29(5), 645 - 51
The pathology of the Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus): a review; Vincent AL et al.; Both naturally occurring disease processes and experimental models of human disease in the Mongolian gerbil were reviewed . The gerbil was highly susceptible to cerebral infarction following unilateral ligation of one common carotid artery and was useful in studies of the pathogenesis of stroke . Spontaneous epileptiform seizures mimicked those of human idiopathic epilepsy, and both seizure-sensitive and resistant strains have been bred . Perhaps because of its more efficient nephron, the gerbil accumulated four to six times as much renal lead as the rat, and the gerbil has been proposed as an experimental model of lead nephropathy . On standard diets, about 10% of the animals became obese, and some showed decreased glucose tolerance, elevated serum immunoreactive insulin and diabetic changes in the pancreas and other organs . Some breeders exhibited hyperactivity of the adrenal cortex associated with hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and degenerative vascular disease . Although dietary supplements of cholesterol were toxic and did not induce atherosclerosis, the gerbil was useful in other studies of cholesterol absorption and metabolism . Spontaneous, insidious periodontal disease became evident after about 6 months on standard diets, and dental caries were induced by cariogenic diets or by pathodontic streptococci . Spontaneous neoplasia occurred in 8.4--24% of gerbils, usually after 2 years of life . Adrenal cortical, ovarian and cutaneous tumors were the most consistently reported neoplasms.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Oct, 245(1-2), 44 - 7
The role of M protein in phagocytosis . II . Opsonization of Streptococcus pyogenes in vitro; Tylewska S et al.; Opsonization of two different streptococcal group A type 12 strains was investigated . The strains differed only in M protein presence . It was observed that after the treatment of bacteria with fresh normal rabbit serum M positive strains bind to their surface IgG only whereas M negative strains solely some complement components . These results may suggest that streptococci lacking M protein are able to activate complement by alternate pathway.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Oct, 245(1-2), 17 - 24
{The production of streptolysin O by beta-hemolytic streptococci of group A (author's transl))}; Tiesler E et al.; 128 M- and 15 T-typed strains of A-streptococci were investigated in respect of their streptolysin O production . The peak of streptolysin O production was reached after the logarithmic growth-phase and persisted for more than 24 h . The strains were classified in very weak 44% (0-1,0 E/ml), weak 30% (1,5-3,0 E/ml), medium 21% (4-8,0 E/ml) strong 5% (12-48 E/ml), 9 strains (7%) produced no detectable streptolysin O . The amount of streptolysin O necessary for antigen stimulation is discussed . A connection of growth character and enzyme production was not observed.

Am J Med Technol, 1979 Oct, 45(10), 835 - 9
Susceptibility of streptococci to newer tetracyclines and cephalosporins and to other antimicrobial agents; Freundlich LF et al.; Two hundred and thirty-nine strains of Streptococcus including 71 strains of Group A, 81 strains of Group B, 69 strains of enterococci, and 18 strains of S . pneumoniae were tested against 12 antimicrobial agents using an agar dilution method . Cefamandole was the most active cephalosporin tested . Doxycycline and minocycline were more active than tetracycline, although the tetracyclines were considerably less inhibitory than the cephalosporins . Regression line analysis of zones of inhibition versus minimal inhibitory concentration values for tetracycline and minocycline showed the tetracycline disc to be unacceptable for predicting the susceptibility of the Group A Streptococcus to minocycline . Minimal inhibitory concentrations for clindamycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, and spectinomycin are also given.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1979 Sep 30, 58(4), 290 - 4
{Bacterial antagonism of oral secretions towards staphylococci}; Sbaffi A et al.; Bacterial antagonism may be one of the mechanism which regulates the bacterial flora of the pharynx . We have investigated the bacterial antagonism exerted in oral secretion by alpha-hemolytic streptococci against S . aureus and S . epidermidis . We cultured viridans streptococci and staphylococci in human saliva and we noted a bactericidal activity towards staphylococci . Such activity, referable to the salivary system (peroxidase-thiocyanate) activated by hydrogen peroxide produced by streptococci, was greater on S . epidermidis . The remarkable sensitivity of S . epidermidis could explain the rare presence of this species in pharynx and oral cavity.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Sep, 140(3), 392 - 6
Extracellular factors, blood group antigens, and bacteriophage of nephritogenic and nonnephritogenic strains of M-type 12 streptococci; Potter EV et al.; Strains of M-type 12 streptococci from 18 patients with acute glomerulonephritis and 18 patients with uncomplicated pharyngitis were analyzed for in vitro production of streptolysin O, diphosphopyridine nucleotidase, hyaluronidase, streptokinase, streptolysin S, proteinase, hyaluronic acid, and fibrinogen-precipitating factor . In addition, relations to blood group antigens, lysogeny, and susceptibility to bacteriophage were determined . No significant differences were found between strains from nephritic and nonnephritic patients . By not indicating a role in the pathogenesis of poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis for any of the factors studied, these observations diminish the probability that these factors are of specific importance in this disease and thus direct our attention elsewhere.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Sep, 10(3), 326 - 30
Physiological characterization of nutritionally variant streptococci; Cooksey RC et al.; Twenty-five isolates of nutritionally variant streptococci submitted to the Streptococcus Laboratory of the Center for Disease Control over a 2-year period were tested for growth requirements and for biochemical reactions . After they were recovered from storage in blood at -170 degrees C, all isolates grew within 48 h in both thioglycollate broth and Todd-Hewitt broth supplemented with 0.001% pyridoxal.HCl . They grew better in the latter, even though they all grew on unsupplemented infusion agar, anaerobe blood agar, and chopped meat-glucose medium . Biochemical patterns of the isolates resemble those of five viridans streptococcal species . Two isolates had patterns which did not resemble those of any viridans species . Biochemical reactions obtained with heart infusion broth base biochemicals and carbohydrate fermentation media compared favorably for an overall agreement rate of 86.5% for key tests . Lactic acid and acetic acid were the major fermentation products detected with gas-liquid chromatography.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Sep-Oct, 1(5), 880 - 4
Billroth and Penicillium; Majno G et al.; Between 1868 and 1873, a surgeon, Theodor Billroth, performed experiments with cultures of bacteria and molds (which he believed to be two aspects of a single form of life) to investigate their role in "accidental wound diseases." Some of the cultures teemed with rounded microorganisms arranged in chains; Billroth chose to call them streptococci . He also noticed that occasionally, when Penicillium appeared in a culture, bacteria failed to grow; he suggested that Penicillum could have "modified the medium" so as to render it unsuitable for bacterial growth . This may well have been the first observation of the antibacterial effect of Penicillium . Similar experiments were performed by Joseph Lister, who noticed in 1871 that bacteria tended to kill the Penicillium, and by John Tyndall, who described in 1876 a "battle" that could be won by either party.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Sep, 25(9), 1073 - 81
{Development of bacterial populations of telluric, enteric, and marine origin in planktonic systems exposed to urban pollution; mathematical data analysis}; Arfi R et al.; A study of the comparative distribution of different types of bacterial populations in the sea area where the city of Marseille rejects its waste water shows that, when in contact with the marine environment, a great part of the allochthonic bacterial population undergoes physiological stress expressed by an abrupt reduction of the effectives and by weak values of the energetic charge . The presence of coliforms and streptococci in waste water lens, at important distances from discharging conduits, shows the possibility of a large diffusion for a fraction of the bacterial populations that withstand the initial stress . From mathematical analyses, an inverse correlation is revealed between detergents and the bacterial population as a whole, and between phenols and various allochthonic bacterial populations . The above results were evidenced through a sampling strategy based upon a 24-h-cycle study and a search for mathematical correlations between several biological, chemical, and physical parameters.

Inflammation, 1979 Sep, 3(4), 417 - 29
Immune response to extracellular and somatic antigens in streptococcal infection and sequelae; Bergner-Rabinowitz S et al.; The aim of the present study is to define that temporal relationships of the IgM and IgG responses to streptococcal group A carbohydrate (CHO) in rabbits and in man . Rabbits were immunized with group A streptococci and the development of anti-group A carbohydrate (ACHO) was studied . ACHO which appeared one week after the beginning of immunization belonged to the 19S class of immunoglobulins (IgM) . A two- to four-fold rise in ACHO titers and immunoglobulins of the 7S class (IgG) were observed after two weeks . Three weeks after the beginning of immunization, the ACHO titer was at a maximum . In the following months no further rises in titer were seen, and the antibodies belonged mostly to the IgG class . IgM and IgG responses to streptococcal CHO and to extracellular antigens in patients with pharyngitis, acute rheumatic fever (ARF), and acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) were studied . Higher values of IgM were found in pharyngitis and AGN sera than in ARF sera, probably reflecting the interval between streprococcal infection and time of bleeding . ACHO antibodies persisted in patients' sera for long periods and belonged to IgG and IgM . This suggests a continuous, rather than a persistent, production of ACHO.

Infect Immun, 1979 Sep, 25(3), 1084 - 6
Hormonal and type-dependent adhesion of group B streptococci to human vaginal cells; Botta GA; Adhesion of group B streptococci to epithelial cells of the human vagina proved to be type dependent and to fluctuate during the menstrual cycle with a maximum near the time of ovulation . Oral contraception completely abolished the observed cyclic changes . Reduced serum levels of luteinizing hormones (less than 5 mIU/ml) and of follicle-stimulating hormone (less than 10 mIU/ml) were associated with a 10-fold reduction in adhesion of B streptococci to vaginal cells.

Infect Immun, 1979 Sep, 25(3), 1075 - 7
Nonspecific T-lymphocyte mitogenesis by pyrogenic exotoxins from group A streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus; Schlievert PM et al.; Group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins types A, B, and C and staphylococcal pyrogenic exotoxin were shown to be potent nonspecific T-lymphocyte mitogens . Adherent cell populations did not significantly affect the nonspecific mitogenicity.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Sep, 10(3), 392 - 3
Evaluation of anaerobic incubation for recovery of group A streptococci from throat cultures; Pien FD et al.; No statistical differences were found in the recovery of group A streptococci from throat culture specimens after overnight incubation of blood agar plates in 5% CO2 compared with anaerobiosis . Anaerobic incubation required many more subcultures and resulted in considerably greater technical time and expense.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Sep, 10(3), 263 - 6
Group B beta-hemolytic streptococci causing pharyngitis; Chretien JH et al.; Group B beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from the throats of 49 of 1,110 patients who had pharyngitis . Compared with patients whose throat cultures were negative for beta-hemolytic streptococci, those harboring group B were more likely to have enlarged tonsils (P less than 0.001), exudate (P less than 0.02), and tender enlarged anterior cervical lymph nodes (P less than 0.01) . Group B should not necessarily be dismissed as a nonpathogen when identified in the pharynx of patients with exudative pharyngitis; laboratories which report beta-hemolytic streptococcal isolates from the pharynx only as group A or non-group A should be encouraged to perform definitive group identification of all beta-hemolytic isolates to further evaluate the role of other streptococcal groups as the causative agents for pharyngitis.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1979 Sep, 72(3), 463 - 7
A rapid staphylococcal coagglutination technic to differentiate group A from other streptococcal groups; Matthieu DE Jr et al.; A rapid staphylococcal coagglutination technic for differentiating group A from other streptococcal groups properly classified 500 isolates of beta-hemolytic streptococci when compared with the results of a reference capillary precipitin test . Presumptive classification of the same 500 isolates by bacitracin susceptibility produced a significant number of incorrect identifications . The findings further document the inherent inaccuracy of the bacitracin susceptibility test and suggest that the staphylococcal coagglutination technic may be a simple, accurate, inexpensive alternative for identification of group A streptococci.

J Pediatr, 1979 Sep, 95(3), 454 - 60
Functional analysis of neutrophil granulocytes from healthy, infected, and stressed neonates; Shigeoka AO et al.; Neutrophil granulocyte function was assessed in 17 well term infants, 14 stressed infants, and eight infants with group B streptococcal infection . Chemiluminescence production elicited by opsonized zymosan or by a wild strain of type III group B streptococci, as well as phagocytosis and killing of streptococci, were measured . Chemiluminescence production by PMNs of term neonates in response to opsonized zymosan or group B streptococci was equal to that of adult controls . In contrast, six of nine stressed or infected neonates had depressed CL responses upon zymosan challenge . When opsonized type III group B streptococci were used to elicit CL, seven of ten stressed or infected infants had markedly depressed responses . Phagocytosis, as determined by a radiolabeled bacterial uptake technique, was normal in the healthy and stressed neonates . Depressed CL production by the PMNs of stressed or infected neonates was associated with impaired intracellular bactericidal activity, however . These studies indicate that stressed or infected neonates have impaired leukocyte metabolic activation that may be associated with depressed bactericidal activity . Such impairment may contribute to the morbidity and mortality observed in serious neonatal infections.

J Pediatr, 1979 Sep, 95(3), 431 - 6
Epidemiology of the group B streptococcus: maternal and nosocomial sources for infant acquisitions; Anthony BF et al.; Repeated bacteriologic observations were made in 462 newborn infants and correlated with similar data from their mothers to evaluate the relative contributions of the birth canal and the hospital environment to acquisition of group B streptococci in the first few days of life . Fifty-eight percent of infants whose mothers were intrapartum carriers acquired streptococci in comparison with 12% of those whose mothers were noncarriers . Acquisitions from the birth canal were not influenced by the route of delivery or the time between membrane rupture and birth, but could be related to the quantity of streptococci in maternal cultures . Observations in ten cohorts of infants, including serotyping and bacteriophage susceptibility of group B isolates, demonstrated clear-cut streptococcal spread among infants in two cohorts . Infants appeared to harbor larger numbers of streptococci at more body sites following acquisition from the birth canal than after acquisition from the hospital environment.

Inflammation, 1979 Sep, 3(4), 365 - 77
Effect of leukocyte hydrolases on bacteria . XIII . Role played by leukocyte extracts, lysolecithin, phospholipase a2, lysozyme, cationic proteins, and detergents in the solubilization of lipids from Staphylococcus aureus and group A streptococci: relation to bactericidal and bacteriolytic reactions in inflammatory sites; Lahav M et al.; The bactericidal and bacteriolytic effects of lysolecithin (LL) and egg-white lysozyme (LYZ) on Staph . aureus and group A streptococci and the solubilization of phospholipids from the bacterial membranes by these agents was studied . Low concentrations of lysolecithin (1--10 microgrames/ml) are highly bactericidal for Steph . aureus and group A streptococci, but induce neither bacteriolysis nor solubilization of a substantial amount of membrane phospholipids . On the other hand, while LL at greater than 50 micrograms/ml causes substantial lipid release, a combination of LL and LYZ is absolutely needed to solubilize lipids from streptococci . This combination is, however, not bacteriolytic for this microrganism . The solubilization of lipids from staphylococci by LL is much faster than that induced in streptococci by LL + LYZ . The solubilization of the bulk of membrane lipids from staphylococci can also be achieved by Triton X-100 and by sodium lauryl sulfate and from group A streptococci by Triton X-100 plus LYZ . A variety of other detergents (e.g., Cetavlon, sodium taurocholate, cetyl pyrdinium chloride) have no lipid-releasing properties even in the presence of LYZ . The release of lipids by LYZ (in the presence of LL) from group A streptococci is related to its enzymatic activity, on a still unknown substrate, but not to its cationic nature as this muramidase cannot be replaced by a variety of cation substances (histone, polylysin, leukocyte cationic proteins, polymyxin B, and spermidine) . The release of lipids from staphylococci by LL is not inhibited by a variety of anionic and cationic polyelectrocytes (heparin, liquoid, chondroitin sulfate, DNA histone, and polylysine) which markedly inhibit the release of lipids from group A streptococci by LL and LYZ . Streptococci that had been cultivated in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of penicillin G lose their membrane phospholipids to a larger extent and by much smaller concentrations of LL and LYZ, as compared to controls, suggesting that the interference with the synthesis of the peptidoglycan increases the accessibility of the cell membrane to the lipid-releasing agents . The mechanism by which LL collaborates with LYZ in lipid release is still not known . The possible role of bacterial lipids and lyso compounds in the control of bacterial survival in inflammatory sites is briefly discussed.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1979 Sep, 88(9), 319 - 22
{Immunoglobulin receptors of group A Streptococcus}; Borodiiuk NA et al.; It was shown in the gel precipitation tests that absorption of human and rabbit IgG or Fc-fragments obtained from human IgG group A streptococcal cultures results in inhibition of the reactions of these preparations with immunoglobulin sera . The reactions of F(ab')2-fragments with the corresponding sera are not inhibited during their absorption by the same cultures . The results obtained support the presence in a number of group A streptococcal cultures of immunoglobulin receptors (Ig-receptors) capable of reacting with Fc-parts of human and rabbit IgG . Pepsin treatment destroys Ig-receptors . These receptors could not be found by the method used in hydrochloric acid extracts prepared from streptococci containing the receptors . The method can be applied for determination of Ig-receptors in streptococcal cultures.

Infect Immun, 1979 Sep, 25(3), 960 - 3
Immunochemical cross-reactions between type III group B Streptococcus and type 14 Streptococcus pneumoniae; Crumrine MH et al.; Serological cross-reactions between certain streptococci and some serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae have been reported . These studies detail the serological cross-reactivity observed between hot HCl-extracted group b streptococcus type III (GBS III) antigens and S . pneumoniae type 14 (Pn 14) polysaccharide . Similar electrophoretic migration patterns of GBS III and Pn 14 were observed when either type-specific BGS III antisera or pneumococcal omniserum was utilized to precipitate these antigens . Both the GBS III antigen and the Pn 14 polysaccharide migrated toward the cathode, whereas all other pneumococcal polysaccharides migrated toward the anode . No cross-reactions were observed between GBS III antisera and the 11 other types of pneumococcal polysaccharides . Lines of identity were observed between type-specific GBS III antisera and monospecific Pn 14 antiserum with either GBS III antigens or purified Pn 14 polysaccharide . The cross-reacting antigens of GBS III and Pn 14 appear to be identical by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1979 Sep, 120(3), 589 - 93
The role of bacterial interference in the increased prevalence of oropharyngeal gram-negative bacilli among alcoholics and diabetics; Mackowiak PA et al.; The oral flora of alcoholics, diabetics, and normal control subjects were compared using an agar overlay technique to determine whether the increased prevalence of oropharyngeal gram-negative bacilli among alcoholics and diabetics exists because patients with these diseases have decreased numbers of normal inhibitory bacteria in the oropharynx . Alcoholics generally had slightly lower concentrations of inhibitory bacteria than control subjects, and diabetics had somewhat higher concentrations than control subjects . However, colonized subjects did not differ from noncolonized subjects with respect to concentrations of these inhibitory bacteria in the oropharynx . Characterization of inhibitory bacteria demonstrated a preponderance of nongroupable alpha-hemolytic streptococci in each of the study groups . Stimulated saliva obtained from subjects failed to demonstrate significant differences in pH between study populations or between colonized and noncolonized subjects within each study population . These results suggest that the frequent oropharyngeal colonization of alcoholics and diabetics by gram-negative bacilli involves mechanisms other than that of a deficiency of normal interfering aerobic bacteria in the oropharynx or an altered salivary pH leading to inactivation in vivo of bacteriocins produced by these inhibitory bacteria.

Aust Vet J, 1979 Aug, 55(8), 374 - 80
The prevalence of udder infection and mastitis in herds producing bulk milk with either consistently high or low cell count; Wanasinghe DD et al.; Quarter samples from twenty-five dairy herds, representing 223 herds supplying direct to Brisbane, were cultured and submitted to the Wisconsin Mastitis Test (WMT) . Thirteen herds had a history of producing bulk milk with a consistently high WMT score (greater than 15 mm) and in twelve herds the WMT score was consistently low . Prevalence of infection was higher in group A herds (22.2% quarters were infected with Staphylococcus aureus or streptococci) than in group B herds (9.8% of quarters were infected) . There was considerable scatter of prevalence among both groups of herds . Overall, S . aureus was found in 19% of cows and 7% of quarters, and Streptococcus agalactiae in 15% of cows and 7% of quarters . Quarters from group A herds showed a higher WMT score than those in group B herds whether infected with S . aureus, Str . agalactiae, micrococci or yielded no detectable organisms . It was concluded that regular surveys are required of the high cell count herds to monitor mastitis status in the industry.

Infect Immun, 1979 Aug, 25(2), 717 - 28
In vitro studies of dental plaque formation: adsorption of oral streptococci to hydroxyaptite; Appelbaum B et al.; A mixture of saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads and radioactively labeled bacteria has been employed as an in vitro model for the initial phase of dental plaque formation . Adsorption in this model can be expressed by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the adherence of oral streptococci can be expressed as the product of the affinity constant (Ka) and the number of binding sites (N), KaN . With this approach, Streptococcus sanguis serotype 1 strains adhered better (KaN = {187 +/- 72} X 10(-2)) than serotype 2 strains (KaN = {97 +/- 84} X 10(-2)); a t test showed this difference to be statistically significant to the 99.99% confidence level . Strains of S . mitis, S . mutans, and S . salivarius did not appear to adhere as well . To analyze the bacterial receptors involved in adherence, competition studies in which increasing quantities of unlabeled bacteria were added to a fixed quantity (4 X 10(9) cells per ml) of 3H-labeled serotype 1, reference strain S . sanguis G9B, were performed . These studies indicated that the type 1 strains competed for the same, or closely related, binding sites . Competition studies using serotype 2 S . sanguis strains resulted in an increased binding of reference strain G9B to hydroxyapatite . Scanning electron microscopy indicated this effect was due to the formation of localized aggregations of bacteria, presumably representing the two bacterial types . The results of competition studies with S . mitis were variable, and several strains of other oral bacteria showed little or no competition.

Immunobiology, 1979 Aug, 156(1-2), 57 - 64
Interaction of wheat-germ agglutinin with streptococci and streptococcal cell wall polymers; Wagner M; Wheat-germ agglutinin agglutinates all strains of group A and group C streptococci, a part of the strains tested of groups B and E and some strains of other streptococcal groups . It also agglutinates peptidoglycan of several streptococcal groups and precipitates some group-specific carbohydrates of streptococcal cell walls as well as some teichoic acid extracts . The basis for agglutination and precipitation of streptococci and streptococcal cell wall polymers appears to be the interaction of the combining sites of the agglutinin with N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues present in the cell wall polymers, either in terminal or in internal positions respectively.

Immunobiology, 1979 Aug, 156(1-2), 48 - 56
Isolation of type-specific antibody to streptococcus pyogenes by affinity chromatography; Havlicek J et al.; Rabbit type-specific opsonic antibodies to type 1 and type 12 streptococci were isolated by affinity chromatography on immobilized phage-enzyme extract . They were tested by precipitation in gel, bactericidal test and radioimmunoassay . Only type-specific activities were demonstrated . These activities were distributed homogeneously according to avidity . No suggestion of opsonizing and precipitating activities being separable from each other was found . These highly purified rabbit antibodies were marked by radioiodination and used to titrate human anti-M antibodies by competition . These marked antibodies were also used for the study of type-specific antigenic determinants on streptococcal antigens.

Gann, 1979 Aug, 70(4), 447 - 51
Cytolytic action of 60-F derived from live hemolytic streptococci against Ehrlich carcinoma cells; Higuchi Y et al.; The effect of 60-F, a fraction obtained by 0.5 approximately 0.6 saturation of ammonium sulfate of streptomycin-pretreated cell-free extract from live hemolytic streptococci (avirulent Su strain), on release of 51Cr from the 51Cr-labeled Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells was studied with following results: a) 60-F was found to be highly effective in releasing 51Cr from 51Cr-labeled Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells . b) Additionally, destructive picutres of the tumor cells contacted with 60-F in vitro was observed by phase-contrast microscopic examination . c) Indication was that the 51Cr-releasing assay method is also useful for the study of the direct cytolytic effect of 60-F.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1979 Aug, 76(8), 3765 - 8
Amino acid sequence and physicochemical similarities between streptococcal M protein and mammalian tropomyosin; Hosein B et al.; The amino-terminal sequences of two peptides of type 24 streptococcal M protein show similarities with that of rabbit skeletal muscle tropomyosin, having up to 40% identical residues and probabilities of occurring by chance as low as P less than 10(-5) . In addition, a hexapeptide (Glu-Ala-Glu-Lys-Ala-Ala) that is found five times in the M24 protein was shown to be identical to a sequence in tropomyosin . Similarities are also seen in the amino acid compositions and physicochemical properties of the two proteins . The amino-terminal sequences of peptides from another bacterial surface protein, staphylococcal protein A, are highly correlated with segments of two other myofibrillar proteins, rabbit actin (P less than 10(-7)) and rabbit myosin A1 light chain (P less than 10(-6)) . The data presented suggest that a close structural relationship exists between mammalian muscle proteins and the biologically active surface proteins of staphylococci and streptococci . In addition, the correlation between sequences in M protein and tropomyosin represents direct evidence of a structural similarity at a molecular level between a streptococcal protein and a mammalian muscle component and may therefore prove relevant to the pathogenicity of the streptococcus.

Infect Immun, 1979 Aug, 25(2), 484 - 90
Modulation of the susceptibility of inbred and outbred rats to arthritis induced by cell walls of group A streptococci; Anderle SK et al.; Inbred Buffalo rats were resistant to the induction of experimental arthritis induced by systemic injection of cell wall fragments in a crude whole-cell sonic extract of group A streptococci . This was in contrast to the susceptibility of outbred Sprague-Dawley and certain other inbred strains . Preliminary breeding studies indicated that genetic control of resistance of susceptibility is multigenic . When Buffalo rats were infected with a saline suspension of isolated cell wall fragments, chronic remittent arthritis developed . Suspension of isolated cell wall fragments, chronic remittent arthritis developed . Suspension of the isolated cell walls in the supernatant fraction of group A streptococci solubilized by sonication eliminated the arthropathogenicity in Buffalo rats . Thus, a component separable from the cell wall fraction can modulate the arthropathogenicity of cell walls in rats, but the effect depends upon the genetic background of the rat . The antibody response of Buffalo rats to the polysaccharide antigen of cell walls was also affected by the supernatant fraction of sonicated group A streptococci.

Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1979 Aug, 103(9), 456 - 8
Rapid slide agglutination test for Lancefield grouping of streptococci; Damask LJ et al.; A rapid slide agglutination test (the Phadebact {PB} Streptococcus test) was compared with the standard autoclave extraction method of Lancefield and presumptive clinical laboratory tests for grouping of streptococci (bacitracin disk sensitivity for group A and sodium hippurate hydrolysis for group B) . Identification of group A streptococci by the PB kit was statistically as accurate as by the Lancefield method, whereas bacitracin grouping was significantly less accurate than the Lancefield method (P = less than .02) . With regard to group B, there was no statistically significant difference between the PB test and the sodium hippurate test . The PB test correctly identified all group C and G streptococci . The PB kit provides a rapid and reliable method for Lancefield grouping of streptococci.

J Hyg (Lond), 1979 Aug, 83(1), 103 - 9
The effect of an intramammary infusion of endotoxin on the establishment of experimental mastitis by Streptococcus agalactiae in the cow; Brownlie J; An infusion of E . coli endotoxin (10 microgram) into the mammary gland of the cow 16 h before experimental infection with St . agalactiae prevented the establishment of mastitis . A clinical examination of the affected gland did not reveal signs of inflammation, all organisms were eliminated from the milk by 36 h after infection . Mammary glands not pretreated with endotoxin, and injected with the same number of viable streptococci, showed signs of severe inflammation the milk yield was reduced and the injected pathogen could be isolated from the gland for up to 14 days when sampling was discontinued . The injection of endotoxin alone produced a rapid increase in the cell count of the milk, there were some signs of inflammation and 80% of the cells in the milk were neutrophils . The cell counts in the milk remained above normal for 7-10 days . Untreated control quarters appeared to be unaffected by the injection of E . coli endotoxin into an adjacent quarter, on the other hand the injection of St . agalactiae into the adjacent quarter on the same side of the udder produced a cell response which reached a peak after 2 days and returned to preinoculation levels by the fourth day . No inflammation was observed in these control quarters and no streptococci were isolated from the milk.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Aug, 139(2), 507 - 14
Adherence of bacteria to mammalian cells: inhibition by tunicamycin and streptovirudin; Pan YT et al.; Group B streptococci were labeled either by growing the cells in {14C}fructose or by using the surface label 4,4'-{3H}diisothiocyano-1,2-diphenylethane-2,2'-disulfonic acid, which reacts with amino groups . A quantitative assay was developed by using these labeled bacteria to study the adherence of streptococci to canine kidney epithelial cells . The bacteria adhered to kidney cells that had been infected with influenza A virus, but did not adhere to uninfected cells . The binding of 3H-labeled group B streptococci was proportional to the number of bacteria added and showed saturation kinetics . The binding was blocked by the addition of unlabeled group B streptococci but was not affected by addition of streptococci from other groups . It was also blocked by mixing the 3H-labeled streptococci with influenza A virus before adding the bacteria to the kidney cells . When the kidney cells were infected with influenza virus in the presence of either tunicamycin or streptovirudin, these antibiotics inhibited the appearance of viral hemagglutinin in the kidney cells and also prevented the release of mature virus . In these experiments, the adherence of 3h-labeled streptococci was also inhibited . Tunicamycin was shown to block the incorporation of {14C}mannose into lipid-linked oligosaccharides and glycoprotein in both normal and virus-infected kidney cells . These data give strong support to the notion that adherence of streptococci to mammalian cells involves recognition of viral hemagglutinin, a glycoprotein whose synthesis is blocked by certain antibiotics.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1979 Aug, 167(3), 197 - 203
Presumptive identification of enterococci from other D streptococci by a rapid sodium chloride tolerance test; Qadri SM et al.; Ability of enterococci to cause severe disease in humans and their relative resistance to chemotherapeutic agents necessitate their differentiation from other group D streptococci . We developed and evaluated a medium that differentiates enterococci from other group D streptococci within 4 to 24 hours . The 410 clinical isolates used in this study consisted of 328 strains of enterococci and 82 strains of other group D streptococci . The method showed 100 percent sensitivity and specificity with the conventional sodium chloride test . It is simple, reliable, and rapid.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Aug, (8), 77 - 83
{Immunodiffusion methods of studying the F-fraction antigens obtained from group A streptococci}; Bukhova VP et al.; F fractions, obtained by the extraction of cultures of group A streptococci with distilled water at different pH, were studied by immunodifusion methods and subjected to chemical analysis . F fractions were shown to contain polyglcerophosphate, antigen E4 and in some cases group polysaccharide . Besides, F fractions were found to contain an antigen insensitive to trypsin and identical to one of the antigens of the thermostable fraction, as well as an antigen sensitive to the action of proteolytic enzymes and common to various types of group A streptococci . The antigen sensitive to the action of proteolytic enzymes were identical to one of the antigens showing no type specificity and contained in HC1 extracts prepared from group A streptococci . In grouping and typing group A streptococci the present of some F fraction antigens unrelated either to polysaccharide or to M substance should be taken into consideration . The antigens of F fraction have no protective properties.

J Biol Chem, 1979 Jul 25, 254(14), 6252 - 61
Biosynthesis of hyaluronic acid by Streptococcus; Sugahara K et al.; Synthesis of hyaluronic acid was investigated in a cell-free system derived from a strain of Group A streptococci . Preparative procedures were improved so that an enzyme system 70 times more active than that previously reported was obtained . The hyaluronic acid synthesized could be separated into trichloroacetic acid-soluble and -insoluble fractions . On the basis of pulse-chase experiments, it was shown that the trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction is a precursor of the soluble fraction . The release of the trichloroacetic acid-insoluble hyaluronic acid is specifically blocked with p-chloromercuribenzoate, without inhibition of chain elongation . The addition of butanol to trichloroacetic acid resulted in solubilization of all of the hyaluronic acid . No detectable difference in molecular size was observed between the two hyaluronic acid fractions, both of which were estimated to be more than one million daltons in size . Testicular hyaluronidase digestion of either one of the two types of hyaluronic acid yielded no high molecular weight fragments, indicating that hyaluronic acid is not bound covalently to protein . However, following incubation of enzyme assay mixtures with UDP-{14C}GlcUA, even in the absence of UDP-GlcNAc, radioactive high molecular weight hyaluronic acid was obtained which suggests that the enzyme system elongates rather than initiates hyaluronic acid chains . Tunicamycin did not inhibit hyaluronic acid synthesis, indicating lack of participation of an intermediate of pyrophosphorylpolyisoprenol type . The results obtained are consistent with the hypothesis that chain elongation of hyaluronic acid proceeds by alternate addition of monosaccharides from UDP-sugars by a membrane-bound synthesizing system followed by release of completed hyaluronic acid chains.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Jul, 244(2-3), 202 - 9
{Further investigations concerning the reaction between haptoglobin and T4-antigen-carrying streptocci (author's transl)}; Prokop O et al.; The median level of haptoglobin types 2-2 and 2-1 was found to be proportional to the agglutination titer of T4 antigen-carrying streptococci (Fig . 1) . This relationship need not exist in individual sera since, as seen from Table 1, high agglutination titers may be caused by sera with low levels of haptoglobin . Thus the agglutination reaction might depend not only on the quantity of haptoglobin but also on other factor(s) (at least in individual serum samples) . - On the other hand, different agglutination titers did not correlate with the quantity of T4 antigen either . A strain of Strep . pyogenes, type 60, was agglutinated at high titers by sera with a high level of haptoglobin in spite of its low ability to absorb haptoglobin . This was in contrast to a strain of group G (20488) which had a high capacity both to become agglutinated and to absorb haptoglobin (Table 2) . Absorption of haptoglobin by affinity chromatography decreased the agglutination titer for T4 streptococci . - The reaction between haptoglobin and T4-streptocci did not fix complement . No differences were found between sera of haptoglobin types 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 with respect to the amount of C, C3, C4, and C3A, respectively (Tables 3-5).

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Jul, 10(1), 69 - 71
Distribution of hemolytic streptococci in respiratory specimens; Forrer CB et al.; One hundred thirty-seven isolates of beta-hemolytic streptococci were recovered from 623 pharyngeal cultures . Twenty-nine percent of these were group A, 10% were group B, 31% were group C, 11% were group F, 12% were group G, and 7% could not be grouped . The significance of non-group A isolates in pharyngitis could not be evaluated in the absence of viral and serological studies . Hemolytic streptococci were recovered from 9% of 799 lower respiratory cultures . All except one were non-group A, and other potential respiratory pathogens were also present in these specimens . It is our impression that the presence of hemolytic streptococci in lower respiratory tract specimens usually represents pharnygeal contamination.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jul, 25(1), 175 - 86
Immunological specificity of heat-stable opsonins in immune and nonimmune sera and their interaction with non-encapsulated and encapsulated strains of Staphylococcus aureus; Karakawa WW et al.; The in vitro interactions between strains of Staphylococcus aureus and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the presence of immune and nonimmune sera were studied . Evidence indicated that phagocytosis of encapsulated strains occurred in the presence of specific homologous antiserum, whereas non-encapsulated strains were readily phagocytized by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the presence of both normal and immune sera . Immunological analyses demonstrated that normal serum opsonins, which reacted with the non-encapsulated strains, were specifically directed against exposed mucopeptide moieties of the organisms . Sera rich in antimucopeptide antibodies were obtained from rabbits immunized with heterologous bacteria such as Escherichia coli and group A-variant streptococci and were shown to be effective in opsonizing the non-encapsulated strains of S . aureus . Fresh clinical isolates of S . aureus were noticeably more resistant to the opsonizing effects of the antimucopeptide antibodies . Results were presented which suggest that the surface structures of these clinical isolates are more diverse than laboratory-propagated strains and that these antiphagocytic surface antigens may be significant factors in masking the opsonizing effects of the mucopeptide opsonins which are present in most sera.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979 Jul, 244(2-3), 192 - 201
Immunoelectron microscopic localization of T proteins in the cell wall of Streptococcus pyogenes; Wagner B et al.; T proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococci) were localized by means of immunochromatographical isolated anti-T-antibodies . For the electron microscopical detection both the direct and the indirect immunoferritin techniques were used . The arrangement of the ferritin particles showed, that the T proteins are evenly distributed on the whole cell surface . They are immediately bound to the outer layer of the cell wall or to only short filaments . On isolated cell walls the T protein was detected only on the outer surface.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Jul, 10(1), 80 - 4
Primary plate identification of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci utilizing a two-disk technique; Baron EJ et al.; A two-disk system is described which allows primary plate identification of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci . Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci could be visualized on primary throat culture plates by using trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole to inhibit normal flora . In the heavily inoculated area of Trypticase soy agar plates containing 5% sheep blood, a 25-microgram/ml trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole disk was placed contiguous to a 0.04-U bacitracin disk . A total of 259 throat specimens were examined with this two-disk system . The swabs from these throat specimens were incubated in Todd-Hewitt broth . The bacterial pellet from the broths was stained by fluorescent antibody as a control . Of the cultures that were determined to be positive on the plates, 75% could be read unequivocally after overnight incubation, whereas the remaining 25% required subculture . The plates recovered 91% of the cultures which were considered as true positives by the broth-fluorescent-antibody technique . This method provided a significant savings in time compared with standard plate methods and in cost of materials compared with broth-fluorescent-antibody methods . This technique is particularly valuable for producing rapid results in laboratories where fluorescence microscopy would not be cost-effective.

J Toxicol Environ Health, 1979 Jul, 5(4), 631 - 42
Effects of repeated exposures to peak concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and ozone on resistance to streptococcal pneumonia; Ehrlich R et al.; Exposures to various mixtures of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) reduced the resistance of mice to streptococcal pneumonia as evidenced by increased mortality rates and shortened survival time . Daily 3-h exposures (5 d/wk) for 2--6 mo to an air pollutant mixture consisting of 940 microgram/m3 (0.5 ppm) NO2 and 196 microgram/m3 (0.1 ppm) O3 were most effective in reducing the resistance to infection . The decrease in resistance to the infection occurred sooner than the mice continued to be exposed to the air pollutants instead of clean air for 14 d after the respiratory challenge with Streptococcus pyogenes aerosol . After 3 mo of exposure to the pollutant mixture, there was some decrease in the ability of mice to clear inhalated streptococci from their lungs . At the same time the total cell count in the fluid lavaged from the lungs of mice was markedly reduced, as were the viability and phagocytic activity of the alveolar macrophages . Exposure to the pollutants combined with challenge with Streptococcus aerosol resulted in marked morphological changes in lung tissues as seen by scanning electron microscopy.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jul, 25(1), 1 - 10
Specific absorption of human serum albumin, immunoglobulin A, and immunoglobulin G with selected strains of group A and G streptococci; Kronvall G et al.; Five gram-positive bacterial strains were selected for absorption studies of human serum samples . Strain AR1 (group A, M-type 1) and G148 (group G), with strong immunoglobulin G (IgG) binding capacities, and strain AW43 (group A, M-type 60), binding both IgA1 and IgA2, were compared with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I and with Staphylococcus epidermidis L603 . Both AR1 and G148 were capable of completely absorbing out serum IgG . In contrast, S . aureus Cowan I left a fraction unabsorbed, as expected from its known lack of IgG3 binding . Strain AW43 absorbed out all serum IgA, using a 10-microliter bacterial pellet for 20 microliter of serum . Serum IgM levels were slightly reduced by S . aureus Cowan I absorption . On the basis of the experiments, a bacterial mixture was designed consisting of S . aureus Cowan I and group A streptococcus strains AR1 and AW43, with absorption characteristics suitable for use in discriminating between early IgM and late IgG and IgA immune responses in routine serological work . A new type of bacteria-mammalian protein binding was discovered . Human serum albumin was completely absorbed out by strain G148 and to a lesser extent by strain AR1 and AW43 . S . aureus Cowan I and S . epidermidis were negative . The binding capacity of G148 for albumin equalled that of Cowan I for IgG . The binding pattern of albumin to the strains was different from those of IgG, IgA, IgM, fibrinogen, haptoglobin, or aggregated beta 2-microglobulin and therefore seems to represent another type of bacterial-mammalian interaction with a specific albumin receptor on the surface of streptococci.

Ann Intern Med, 1979 Jul, 91(1), 76 - 86
Poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis: fact and controversy; Nissenson AR et al.; Poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis is prototypic of the immunologic glomerulonephritides . It most commonly follows streptococcal infection of the pharynx or skin . The diagnosis is usually not difficult when a nephritic clinical presentation (with such manifestations as hematuria, edema, and hypertension) is associated with serologic evidence of recent streptococcal infection and a depressed serum complement concentration . Currently, however, the nephritogenic antigen(s) has not been identified and has not been shown to be the same antigen for all nephritogenic streptococci; it may not even be a part of the infecting organism . The development of a vaccine to prevent this illness from occurring is therefore still not possible . Whether poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis progresses to chronic renal failure is still uncertain . Painstaking laboratory research together with careful, prospective long-term follow-up studies of patients with poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis may provide some of the answers to these critical questions.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1979 Jul, 48(1), 70 - 6
Acute pulpal-aleveolar cellulitis syndrome . I . Clinical study of bacterial isolates from pulps and exudates of intact teeth, with description of a specific culture technique; Matusow RJ; A wide spectrum of microbes has been demonstrated as etiologic factors in the severest form of acute pulpal-alveolar infection; acute cellulitis . An appreciation of the pathogenic potential or oral microorganisms has been gained . Streptococci have been substantiated as the major group of microbes associated with acute odontogenic infection . Anaerobes, primarily gram-negative, are also significant factors . A culture technique for specific microbial growth has been demonstrated and discussed . A simple and economical procedure has been suggested for transport of culture and office study.

Pediatrics, 1979 Jul, 64(1), 65 - 7
Group B streptococcal colonization in prepubertal children; Maurer M et al.; Colonization of prepubertal boys and girls with group B streptococci was studied prosepctively for one year . Throat, anal canal, and vaginal cultures were obtained from 415 children not receiving antimicrobics . The over-all colonization rate at any site was 11.3% and did not vary with age, sex, or season . Streptococci were recovered most commonly from the anal canal . Throat colonization was comparable in boys and girls . A total of 71 sites were positive for the organism in the 47 colonized children . Serotype Ia was the most common (41% of isolates) . Types II and III accounted for 24% and 20%, respectively . Colonization at more than one site occurred in 20 children and in two of these children, different serotypes were recovered from different sites.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Jul, 10(1), 109 - 10
New serotypes of group B streptococci isolated from human sources; Perch B et al.; Antisera raised in rabbits against two nontypable group B streptococci, which were not agglutinable in a specific group B antiserum, were tested with acid extracts of 78 nontypable human group B streptococci . One antiserum (12351) reacted with 15 strains, and the other (7271) reacted with only 2 strains . Antiserum to Wilkinson's strain SS 1169 (NT 1) reacted with three strains . Antiserum against strain 12351 appears to be a useful antiserum against a new type antigen, which is probably polysaccharide in nature.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jul, 25(1), 279 - 83
Interactions between human serum proteins and oral streptococci reveal occurrence of receptors for aggregated beta 2-microglobulin; Ericson D et al.; A total of 31 strains of oral streptococci representing Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mitior, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus milleri were tested for possible binding of human immunoglobulins G, G1, G2, G3, G4, A1, A2, M1, and M2 and haptoglobin, hemoglobin, fibrinogen, and aggregated beta 2-microglobulin . Radiolabeled beta 2-microglobulin in aggregated form showed affinity for 20 of the 31 strains tested . Binding activity for the protein was found in strains belonging to all five species . The bacterial receptor was resistant to trypsin . Monomeric, unlabeled beta 2-microglobulin did not interfere with the binding of the aggregated form . Of the other proteins tested, only the immunoglobulin A1 protein showed positive binding, and that was only with a single strain of S . milleri . beta 2-Microglobulin is present on all nucleated cell membranes in vivo . The reaction between aggregated beta 2-microglobulin and oral streptococci is a new type of human-bacterium interaction which should be considered in studies of bacterial adherence.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Jul, 140(1), 81 - 8
Mouse protection test for group B Streptococcus type III; Baltimore RS et al.; The mouse model has been used previously for the study of protection against challenge with strains of group B Streptococcus types Ia, Ib, and Ic, but investigators have not yet been successful in causing lethal disease when type III strains are inoculated . In this study, six clinical isolates belonging to serotype III were lethal in seven-week-old outbred albino mice; the 50% lethal dose (LD50) for mice tested ranged from 1.8 x 10(4) to 4.6 x 10(6) . In contrast, a laboratory prototype strain of serotype III was not lethal . The lethality observed with this protection test depended on both the volume of the inoculum given and the medium in which the streptococci were suspended . LD50 values decreased as the volume of the inoculum, given intraperitoneally, increased, up to a volume of 1.5 ml . Hyperimmune rabbit antiserum to a clinical isolate of type III protected mice against an estimated 90% lethal dose of the isolate . Normal rabbit serum and heterologous antisera, except for one of two antisera to type Ia organisms, were not protective . Absorption of type III antiserum with whole organisms of serotype III or with purified, type III-specific polysaccharide inhibited protection of mice against type III organisms.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jul, 25(1), 304 - 9
Lactoperoxidase binding to streptococci; Pruitt KM et al.; There have been conflicting reports regarding the binding of lactoperoxidase to bacterial cell surfaces . We describe here the effects of cell-bound lactoperoxidase on acid production by suspensions of Streptococcus mutans (NCTC 10449) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate . Saline suspensions of log-phase bacteria were treated with 0.1 mg of lactoperoxidase per ml and were then washed thoroughly . The addition of hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate markedly reduced the acid production of these lactoperoxidase-treated bacteria but had no effect on the acid production of untreated controls . After a 3-h incubation in saline, the lactoperoxidase-treated bacteria produced acid in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate at the same rate as untreated bacteria . These observations suggest that lactoperoxidase is initially bound to the cell surface in an enzymatically active form at a concentration sufficient to inhibit acid production . The lactoperoxidase is slowly degraded or desorbed as the bacteria stand in saline suspension.

MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1979 Jun 22, 121(25), 847 - 50
{Postnatal infections with problem organisms (author's transl)}; Daschner F; Two problems are discussed: hospital infection of neonates and potentially fatal neonatal infections caused by group B streptococci and E . coli K1 . The incidence of hospital acquired infections in a neonatal intensive care ward was 12.4% . Premature infants with an average weight of 1673 g were particularly prone to infection . On the average, infected patients stayed in hospital 34.8 days, uninfected patients 6.8 days . The most common infections were sepsis, skin infections, infections of the upper and lower airways and meningitis . Group B streptococci are among the most frequent pathogens of potentially fatal postnatal infections . The "early" form (usually sepsis) and "late" form (usually meningitis) are presented in detail.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jun, 24(3), 742 - 52
Specificity of coaggregation reactions between human oral streptococci and strains of Actinomyces viscosus or Actinomyces naeslundii; Cisar JO et al.; Coaggregation reactions between actinomycete and streptococcal cells occurred frequently when human strains of Actinomyces viscosus or A . naeslundii were mixed with human isolates of Streptococcus sanguis or S . mitis, but were infrequent with other oral actinomycetes and streptococci . Two groups of actinomycetes and four groups of streptococci were defined by the patterns of their coaggregation reactions and by the ability of beta-linked galactosides (i.e., lactose) to reverse these reactions . Coaggregations occurred by one of the following three kinds to cell-cell interactions: (i) coaggregation that was blocked by heating the streptococcus but not the actinomycete and was not reversed by lactose; (ii) coaggregation that was blocked by heating the actinomycete but not the streptococcus and was reversed by lactose; and (iii) coaggregation that was blocked only by heating both cell types . The latter reaction was a combination of the first two since lactose reversed coaggregation between heated streptococci and unheated actinomycetes but did not reverse coaggregations between unheated streptococci and heated actinomycetes . Cells that could be heat inactivated also were inactivated by amino group acetylation or protease digestion, whereas cells that were unaffected by heat were not inactivated by these treatments . Coaggregation reactions of each kind were Ca2+ dependent and insensitive to dextranase treatment . These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that human strains of A . viscosus and A . naeslundii coaggregate with strains of S . sanguis and S . mitis by a system of specific cell surface interactions between protein or glycoprotein receptors on one cell type and carbohydrates on the other type.

HNO, 1979 Jun, 27(6), 181 - 4
{Antibiotic therapy - a critical review (author's transl)}; Daschner F; The antibiotic management of tonsillitis, acute otitis media, sinusitis and bronchitis is critically reviewed . Tonsillitis due to Group A streptococci must be treated with penicillin for 10 days in order to prevent complications . Antibiotics should not be used locally in pharyngitis or tonsillitis . Tonsillectomy does neither reduce the incidence of streptococcal tonsillitis nor of rheumatic complications . Antibiotic cover for tonsillectomy is not indicated except in patients with rheumatic heart disease or in those with prosthetic heart valves . The indications for the prophylactic use of antibiotics in ear, nose and throat surgery are discussed.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1979 Jun, 71(6), 709 - 12
The reliability and rapidity of the coagglutination technic and its comparison with precipitin technic in the grouping of streptococci; Koshi G et al.; Three methods of the grouping of 170 strains of beta-hemolytic streptococci belonging to Groups A, B, C, F, and G by capillary and agar-gel precipitation using Lancefield extract and by coagglutination of antibody-coated protein A-containing staphylococci were compared . Capillary and agar-gel precipitin technics correctly grouped all 170 strains, with no cross-reaction . One hundred sixty-nine out of the 170 strains were also correctly grouped by the coagglutination technic, and the one strain with a cross-reaction was correctly grouped after blood--agar subculture . Although 20 of the 170 strains showed minor cross-reactions by the coagglutination technic, the specific groups were easily and unquestionably detected, and the minor cross-reactions were easily overcome . A rapid method of grouping by coagglutination technic using 4--6-hour broth culture, done on 75 strains, showed that 73 strains could be correctly grouped by the rapid method and two after overnight incubation . Thus, the coagglutination technic of grouping was found to be easy, reliable, and economical, and could be adopted in any routine diagnostic laboratory as a rapid grouping procedure.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Jun, 139(6), 667 - 73
Association of respiratory tract colonization with adherence of gram-negative bacilli to epithelial cells; Johanson WG Jr et al.; Factors that promote oropharyngeal colonization of seriously ill patients with gram-negative bacilli are as yet poorly understood . In this investigation, 34 subjects who required intensive care were studied; 18 (53%) were colonized with gram-negative bacilli . Oropharyngeal epithelial cells of all colonized patients contained adherent bacilli . Fewer alpha-hemolytic streptococci but greater numbers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae (P less than or equal to 0.01) adhered in vitro to buccal epithelial cells from colonized patients than to cells from noncolonized patients . Adherence of bacilli to buccal cells was inhibited in vitro by concanavalin A but not by bovine serum albumin or phytohemagglutinin . Brief exposure of buccal cells to trypsin increased adherence of bacilli . Prior adherence of one species of bacilli inhibited subsequent adherence of a second species . These findings suggested that epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract contain binding sites for gram-negative bacilli . Factors associated with serious illness appear to increase the availability of these binding sites, thus facilitating colonization of the upper respiratory tract with gram-negative bacilli.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Jun, 9(6), 665 - 72
Presumptive identification of group A, B, and D streptococci on agar plate media; Facklam RR et al.; Several presumptive tests were evaluated for their effectiveness in differentiating streptococci . When the tests were combined into a battery and the resulting reactions were interpreted as patterns, the overall presumptive identification rate was at least 97% . We used the hemolytic reaction, susceptibility to bacitracin and sulfamethoxazole plus trimethoprim (1.25 micrograms plus 23.75 micrograms), and standard CAMP reactions on sheep blood Trypticase soy agar, and bile-esculin and 6.5% NaCl agar tolerance tests with incubation in candle extinction jars . Subsequently, 98.9% of the group A; 95.3% of the group B; 100% of the beta-hemolytic non-group A, B, or D; 92.3% of group D enterococcal; 100% of the group D non-enterococcal; and 92.8% of the viridans streptococci were presumptively identified . We then used the hemolytic reactions, susceptibility of bacitracin and sulfamethoxazole-plus-trimethoprim disks, CAMP disk reactions on sheep blood Trypticase soy agar and bile-esculin and 6.5% NaCl agar tolerance tests with incubation in normal atmosphere . Subsequently, 98.1% of the group A; 98.6% of the group B; 99.2% of the beta hemolytic non-group A, B, or D; 97.5% of the group D entercoccal; 97.6% of the group D non-entercoccal; and 92.4% of the viridans strains were presumptively identified.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1979 Jun, 87C(3), 257 - 61
Demonstration of the non-identity between the Fc receptor for human IgG from group A streptococci type 15 and M protein, peptidoglycan and the group specific carbohydrate; Christensen P et al.; After electrophoresis of an alkaline extract of type 15 group A streptococci, three main precipitation lines were obtained in diffusion experiments against commercial human polyclonal IgG (lines 1, 2 and 3) . Nineteen of 23 sera (83%) from apparently healthy human individuals gave line 3, while 6 of them (26%) gave line 1 . The sera giving line 1 did also give line 3 . Line 2 was obtained with 2 sera only, also giving lines 1 and 3 . Line 3 was caused by a streptococcal Fc-receptor for human IgG, since the line could be displaced by addition of Fc-fragments, but not Fab-fragments of pooled human IgG . Line 1 was shown to be different from line 3, since (1) line 1 was suppressed in contrast to line 3 on absorption of a human serum or commercial polyclonal human IgG with S . aureus; and (2), line 1 was suppressed by Fab-fragments but not Fc-fragments of polyclonal human IgG . Line 2 could be inhibited by addition of peptidoglycan to commercial polyclonal human IgG or a human serum investigated . Another line, 4, obtained in diffusion experiments involving electrophoretically separated alkaline extract of type 15 group A streptococci was type-specific as shown by rabbit antisera to streptococci type M1, M8, M15, and T44, and disappeared on trypsinization of the extract . The component responsible for line 4 in the streptococcal extract, judged to be type-specific M protein, had a mobility different from the component responsible for line 3 in electrophoresis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Jun, (6), 102 - 4
{Isolation of bacterial L forms from the joint fluid in rheumatoid arthritis in children}; Mashkov AV et al.; In the bacteriological study of intra-articular fluid in 22 children with rheumatoid arthritis the L-forms were isolated in 11 . Of these, 7 had not been treated with preparations of the penicillin series . The complete isolation of the focus of inflammation from the environment and the presence of the L-forms of bacteria in the children who had not been treated with preparations of the penicillin series gave us grounds for conclusions on the etiological and pathological significance of the L-forms of streptococci in rheumatoid arthritis.

J Exp Med, 1979 Jun 1, 149(6), 1438 - 49
Purification and properties of an extracellular blastogen produced by group A streptococci; Gray ED; An extracellular product of group A streptococci which induces lymphocyte blastogenesis has been purified to homogeneity by DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose chromatography . The protein, termed streptococcal blastogen A, has a mol wt of approximately or equal to 17,500 and is inactivated by protease treatment and by heating at 100 degrees C . The purified blastogen gave rise to multiple protein bands on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, only two of which possessed blastogenic activity . Treatment of the protein with dithiothreitol before electrophoresis resulted in the apparent conversion of the multiple forms to a single active species . Blastogen A differs in electrophoretic mobility from the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins and its lymphocyte stimulating activity is not inhibited by rabbit antisera to the exotoxins . An enzyme immunoassay has been developed to measure human antibodies against blastogen A . A selection of sera with varying levels of anti-DNase B contained antiblastogen A-IgG.

J Oral Surg, 1979 Jun, 37(6), 407 - 9
The bacteriology of perimandibular space infections; Bartlett JG et al.; The bacteriology of 21 perimandibular clised-space infections was studied prospectively using optimal bacteriological techniques to collect, transport, and process specimens . There was an average of six microbial species per specimen, including approximately four anaerobes and two aerobes . The predominant aerobes were alpha-hemolytic and non-hemolytic streptococci; the predominant anaerobes were peptostreptococci, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, and Fusobacterium nucleatum . These findings indicate that most perimandibular space infections involve a polymicrobial flora in which anaerobic bacteria are the dominant isolates . Antimicrobial decisions should account for these observations, particularly in cases where cultural data are not available or when anaerobic cultures are not performed with optimal techniques.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jun, 24(3), 780 - 6
Properties of extracellular neuraminidase produced by group A streptococcus; Davis L et al.; Extracellular neuraminidase production by group A streptococci was examined in 92 strains . Fourteen of these strains produced appreciable amounts of enzyme; 12 of the neuraminidase-producing strains belonged to T types 1, 4, and 12 . Production of the enzyme paralleled bacterial growth in culture and was maximal in medium containing 0.2% glucose . The enzyme produced by one of these strains was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and filtration on G-200 Sephadex . Its molecular weight was estimated at 90,000 . Activity was optimal at pH 5.7 and in the presence of 0.01 to 0.03 M calcium and magnesium cations . The enzyme was stable at temperatures of 4 and 37 degrees C for at least 24 h but was inactivated within 10 min at temperatures of 50 and 65 degrees C . The enzyme hydrolyzed 40% of the sialic acid in bovine submaxillary mucin, but was inactive on sialyl-lactose, porcine submaxillary mucin, oligosaccharides derived from porcine mucin, or human orosomucoid . The Km value for this enzyme with bovine submaxillary mucin as substrate was in the order of 3.6 x 10(-4) M.

JAMA, 1979 May 25, 241(21), 2293 - 4
Satellite streptococci . A major cause of "negative" blood cultures in bacterial endocarditis?
Roberts KB, Sidlak MJ.
In three of the 20 patients with bacterial endocarditis in our institution since 1975, satellite streptococci were recovered from the blood stream (15%) . These organisms do not grow under usual laboratory conditions and may only be demonstrable after fortuitous contamination of the media . Clinicians and microbiologists must be alert to the possibility of satellite streptococci in patients with suspected bacterial endocarditis, and measures should be instituted to identify the organism.

N Engl J Med, 1979 May 17, 300(20), 1130 - 5
Defective initiation of oxidative metabolism in polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Harvath L et al.; The polymorphonuclear leukocytes of a two-year-old boy who had multiple episodes of bacterial infections demonstrated defective oxidative metabolism with phagocytic, but not with soluble (non-phagocytic), metabolic stimuli . We used a chemiluminescence assay to examine the patient's polymorphonuclear leukocyte responses to numerous particulate and soluble stimuli . The patient's polymorphonuclear leukocytes had substantially depressed chemiluminescent responses during phagocytosis of opsonized particles (latex, pneumococci, pseudomonas, streptococci and zymosan); however, we observed normal chemiluminescent responses when these leukocytes were stimulated with soluble agents (sodium fluoride, concanavalin A, cytochalasin E, calcium ionophore A23187 or phorbol myristate acetate) . Polymorphonuclear leukocyte oxygen consumption and superoxide production were impaired during phagocytosis, even though phagocytosis was normal . In addition to the metabolic defect, this patient's polymorphonuclear leukocytes had depressed chemotactic and bactericidal activities . This study provides evidence that polymorphonuclear leukocytes have more than one mechanism for initiating oxidative metabolism.

Jpn Heart J, 1979 May, 20(3), 237 - 52
The natural history of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in the Orient; Lue HC et al.; Studies published in the past 10 years suggest that group A streptococcal infections are frequent in the Orient and lead to a high incidence of rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) . In the present study, streptococcal infections were found to be more prevalent in Japan and Taiwan, whereas RF and RHD were more common and severe in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, particularly among the socioeconomically less privileged populations . The pattern of childhood RF varied: Carditis was the most common manifestation, occurring in 57% to 94% of the patients; polyarthritis was generally atypical and less common in the tropics; chorea minor and erythema marginatum were much more common in Japan, less common in Taiwan and rare in the tropics . RF recurrences were quite common and led to the development of new carditis, and deterioration or persistence of the pre-existing heart disease . The 5 year mortality rates differed greatly, ranging from zero to 42% . There was disappearance of the heart murmur in 16.5% to 37.5% of patients . Such apparent recovery was related to adherence to chemoprophylaxis . The major risk factors adversely affecting survival were the severity of carditis, inadequacy of medical service, non-compliance to chemoprophylaxis, RF recurrence, poor socioeconomic status, and high prevalence of group A streptococci . It is concluded that there is no uniform "Oriental-type" of natural history of RF and RHD . The natural history varies greatly among countries as is true in other parts of the world.

Obstet Gynecol, 1979 May, 53(5), 545 - 9
The bacterial pathogenesis of infection following cesarean section; Gilstrap LC 3rd et al.; To further define the bacterial pathogenesis of infections following cesarean section, amnionic fluid was obtained transabdominally at the time of surgery from 56 women whose membranes were ruptured for more than 6 hours . In all specimens, bacterial growth was demonstrated, and 53 of these women developed postoperative myometritis . A mean of 2.5 pathogenic bacteria was isolated from each specimen . More than 90% of the amnionic fluid specimens had polymicrobial anaerobic/aerobic growth (63%) or anaerobes only (30%) . Aerobic and anaerobic streptococci accounted for 72% of all bacterial isolates; Bacteroides and Escherichia coli were the next most commonly recovered species . In women treated for myometritis and who subsequently developed a wound or pelvic abscess, cultures from these wounds or abscesses were positive for 1-3 organisms present in amnionic fluid . These data indicate that ascending colonization of flora from the lower genital tract and inoculation into surgically traumatized tissues usually result in polymicrobial pelvic infection with a predominance of anaerobic pathogens . Moreover, abscess development in these women is probably associated with organisms identified in amnionic fluid . Bacterial isolates from these women are remarkably similar to those from women with other pelvic infections.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1979 May, 87(5), 433 - 6
{Immunological cross reactions between polysaccharides of Streptococci groups A and L}; Kolesnikova VIu et al.; Antibodies on sepharose immunosorbents containing A-polysaccharide-sepharose or synthetic beta-N-acetylglucosamine, were isolated from the sera of rabbits immunized with streptococci, group A, by means of affinity chromatography . Antibodies obtained from some sera with both immunosorbents reacted with streptococcus, group A and L polysaccharides . Partial identity of these polysaccharides was revealed by the immunodiffusion test . Absorption of antibodies with polysaccharides, group A and L, showed their different specificities . These antibodies could apparently be directed against the end parts of molecules of streptococcus, group A polysaccharide.

Vopr Med Khim, 1979 May-Jun, 25(3), 333 - 42
{Role of peroxidase in the pathogenesis of parodontosis}; Barabash RD et al.; In order to study the role of peroxidase in pathogenesis of periodontosis clinical observations were carried out in 132 patients with inflammatory-dystrophic form of periodontal disease and eight species of laboratory and domestic animals were used in experiments . In the patients studied a distinct increase in peroxidase activity was observed in mixed saliva and in gum tissues, which correlated with the severity of the periodontal disease . Inflammatory-dystrophic impairment of cat periodontium was accompanied by an increase in the peroxidase activity only in gum and alveolar process tissues; cats are characterized by the highest amounts of exogenous peroxidase in oral tissues as compared with other laboratory animals . High amounts of exogenous peroxidase did not affect the periododontal tissues of rats during long-term experiments . The main protective effects of the enzyme were as follows: bacteriostatic influence on streptococci in oral cavity and inhibition of leukocyte emifration . Estimation of the peroxidase activity in saliva may be considered as a diagnostic test for periodontosis and may be used to monitore the course of treatment.

J Bacteriol, 1979 May, 138(2), 609 - 17
Morphological stabilization of capsules of group B streptococci, types Ia, Ib, II, and III, with specific antibody; Mackie EB et al.; Antibody prepared to the type-specific capsular polysaccharides of group B streptococci was used to demonstrate a stabilizing effect on the capsular glycocalyx . This permitted visualization by electron microscopy of the size of the capsule relative to the rest of the bacterial cell, and clear differences in the dimensions of untreated and antibody-treated capsular material were noted . Antibodies produced against group B streptococci types Ia, Ib, II, and III were used to demonstrate morphologically that the organization and extent of the capsular glycocalyx more closely resembles its natural state on stabilization by reaction with specific antibody.

JAMA, 1979 Apr 27, 241(17), 1801 - 6
Single-antibiotic therapy for streptococcal endocarditis; Karchmer AW et al.; Ninety-nine patients treated with penicillin G potassium, cephalothin sodium, or vancomycin hydrochloride were studied to evaluate single-drug therapy for nonenterococcal streptococcal endocarditis . Eighty-six patients survived; of these, 66 received penicillin alone . The maximum serum bactericidal titer obtained at the expected nadir of serum antibiotic concentration was 1:8 or greater in 70 (95%) of the 74 patients studied . No relapse occurred among the 66 patients treated wih penicillin . Only one patient experienced a relapse that occurred following therapy with suboptimal doses of vancomycin . Distinct second episodes of endocarditis occurred in five patients . While 13 patients died, none died of intractable infection . The treatment of endocarditis due to penicillin-susceptible streptococci with high-dose parenteral penicillin or a bactericidal penicillin substitute for four weeks or longer results in bacteriologic cure rates comparable with those achieved with combined penicillin-streptomycin regimens.

J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris), 1979 Apr-May, 8(3), 219 - 21
{The importance of Lancefield Group B streptococci (S . agalactiae) in gynaecology and obstetrics (author's transl)}; Rousset A et al.; A bacteriological study of 10,962 vaginal swabs has made it possible to work out the percentage of women who are carriers of Group B streptococci in their vaginas . The count varies between 9.43 and 17.25 per cent according to the different populations that were studied . Serotyping of the strains of 1,030 vaginal specimens was carried out and it was found that serotypes II and III predominated . We have been able to study 27 strains responsible for infection in the early neonatal period such as septicaemia or meningitis at the same time as we were studying the vaginal flora . The distribution of the serotypes illustrates a predominance of types 1c and III in 70 per cent of cases . Contamination between the mother and the child is obvious but in 95 per cent of cases the strain isolated in the infected child was of the same serotype as that which was isolated in the mother . Group B streptococci are still very sensitive to antibiotics and particularly to the penicillins . It does seem to us to be unrealistic to treat with antibiotics prophylactically in pregnancy . On the other hand careful attention to the newborn and careful bacteriological study of multiple specimens taken from the skin and the orifices gives easy screening for the germ and the possibility of treating infants that are grossly contaminated.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Apr, 9(4), 466 - 70
Laboratory and field evaluation of selective media for isolation of group B streptococci; Gray BM et al.; Problems encountered with currently recommended selective media for group B streptococci (GBS) (selective broth medium and CNA agar) prompted a searach for alternative culture methods in ongoing epidemiological studies . Previously recommended inhibitory agents were tested in vitro . Gentamicin, alone or in combination with nalidixic acid, proved inhibitory for many GBS strains . Among other agents tested, polymyxin was most complementary to the gram-negative spectrum of nalidixic acid, without compromising GBS growth . Crystal violet provided the simplest, most economical staphylococcal inhibitor . Broth and agar media, constituted with these three agents and designated NPC, were evaluated in vitro and in field studies . This investigation represents the first direct comparison of broth media containing inhibitory agents for the preferential isolation of GBS . In maternal colonization studies, NPC broth proved superior to Todd-Hewitt broth containing nalidixic acid and gentamicin at concentrations employed in the previously described selective broth medium (95% versus 59% recovery) . Our comparisons were done without added sheep blood since GBS grow well in Todd-Hewitt broth . NPC broth proved more sensitive than NPC agar for detecting GBS colonization in newborns . The NPC agar medium was useful for further purification of broth cultures and quantitative culture techniques.

Immun Infekt, 1979 Apr, 7(2), 65 - 7
{Investigation comparing the methods of serological differentiation of streptococci by precipitation, co-agglutination and fluorescence test (author's transl)}; Tiesler E et al.; Three methods for the serological determination of streptococci were compared: immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence and co-agglutination . The results of the immunoprecipitation were the basis of evaluation . The deviating results in immunofluorescence and co-agglutination deviate among one another . With immunofluorescence relatively too many strains were determined as group B, with co-agglutination as group C.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1979 Apr, 87(4), 541 - 3
Marginal corneal ulcers with acute beta streptococcal conjunctivitis and chronic dacryocystitis; Cohn H et al.; A 73-year-old woman had right dacryocystitis, intense conjunctival hyperemia and chemosis, marginal corneal ulcers, and abscesses and conjunctival cultures that were positive for beta hemolytic streptococci . A distinct lucid interval separated the peripheral corneal ulcers and infiltrates from the corneoscleral limbus . Gram stain of corneal scrapings revealed polymorphonuclear leukocytes but no bacteria, and corneal cultures were negative for bacteria . The peripheral corneal ulcers and abscesses in our patient with the lacrimal conjunctivitis of Morax clinically resembled the catarrhal ulcers found with staphylococcal blepharitis . A hypersensitivity or toxic reaction to streptococci or their products may have played a role in the development of the marginal ulcers in this patient.

Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1979 Apr, 34(4), 389 - 91
{Persistency and resistance of streptococci isolated from periodontal pockets}; Wildfeuer A et al.; Intradermal injection of cell walls or cell wall constituents (Peptidoglycane) of Streptococcus sanguis II in experimental animals caused a similarly severe inflammatory reaction as with Streptococcus A . The three "viridans" species of streptococci proved to be resistant to complement (active serum) as well as to lysozyme and were superior to Streptococcus A in their capacity for resistance to another type of muralytic enzyme isolated from Streptomyces albus . The new acylureido penicillins (Mezlocillin, Azlocillin) had an almost equally inhibitory effect on the growth of the various species of bacteria . The "viridans" and beta-haemolytic types of streptococci which induce a chemotactic reaction in vitro were about equally rapidly and effectively killed in the phagocytes (granulocytes, monocytes) isolated from a patient.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1979 Apr-Jun, 24(2), 115 - 22
{Rapid methods useful for determination of streptococcal groups with special reference to streptococci of groups B and D}; Rusu V et al.; A study was carried out on the efficiency of certain rapid methods for the identification of streptococcal groups, especially groups B and D, methods based upon physiologic properties such as hippurate hydrolysis, production of pigment, esculin hydrolysis, tolerance to salt and bilolysis, associated with the classical tests, for instance the hemolysis type and sensitivity to bacitracin and optochin . By these tests, accessible to hospital laboratories, a number of 3083 streptococcal strains were correctly identified within 2 to 18 hours, of which 2567 group A, 31 group B, 184 group C, G, 113 group D, 155 Str . pneumoniae and 31 viridans, strains isolated from pathological products.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1979 Apr, 87B(2), 77 - 83
Production and evaluation of antisera for serological type determination of group-B streptococci by double diffusion in agarose gel; Jensen NE; A double diffusion technique for serological typing of Group-B streptococci is presented . The method is valuable both for type determination on a large scale, as well as for evaluation of the specificity of type antisera . As in previously published methods, HC1-extracted antigens are used . The preparation of type antisera is described and the reactions of some selected sera are given in figures . The advantages of the method are good economy of antisera and easy recognition of weak and/or unspecific precipitates . The method is especially useful in epidemiological investigations.

Lancet, 1979 Mar 31, 1(8118), 713 - 5
Prevention of group-B beta-haemolytic streptococcal septicaemia in low-birth-weight neonates by penicillin administered within two hours of birth; Lloyd DJ et al.; Between January, 1969, and May, 1974, 11 of 1208 low-birth-weight infants had early onset group-B streptococcal septicaemia . All 11 infants were of less than 35 weeks gestational age and 9 presented with the clinical and radiological signs of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome . 10 died . Antibotics were given to 3 infants only, but not before the age of 12 h . From June, 1974, infants less than 35 weeks gestational age, and from January, 1977, infants less than 2500 g, received systemic penicillin by 2 h of age after throat, ear, umbilical, rectal, and blood cultures . Penicillin was continued for 10 days if group-B streptococci were isolated but was stopped at 48 h of age if all cultures were negative . Between June, 1974, and November, 1977, there was 1 case of septicaemia and no death from group-B streptococal infection in the 983 low-birth-weight infants born during this period . These data suggest that systemic penicillin from birth prevents low-birth-weight infants from dying of group-B streptococcal infection.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1979 Mar 15, 133(6), 602 - 10
Treatment of obstetric and gynecologic infections with cefamandole; Cunningham FG et al.; Cefamandole nafate is a derivative of 7-aminocephalosporanic acid which has been shown to have good in vitro activity against aerobes traditionally susceptible to cephalosporins as well as many anaerobes, including B . fragilis . One hundred women with obstetric or gynecologic infections completed treatment with cefamandole: 53 had post-cesarean section infections: 24, acute pelvic inflammatory disease: 16, posthysterectomy cuff cellulitis/abscess; and seven, vulvar or abdominal wound abscess . Almost 90% of these women had either polymicrobial aerobic/anaerobic bacterial infections or an anaerobic infection alone . Ninety women responded to cefamandole alone; in 10 cases chloramphenicol was added, but in addition five of these women required surgical therapy for eradication of infection . Mild to severe phlebitis at the infusion site that responded to conservative therapy was demonstrated in 14 women . Of 312 bacterial isolates from these women, 89% were sensitive to cefamandole at 32 microgram/ml, an easily achievable serum level; 93% of anaerobic streptococci, the most common isolates, were sensitive at 32 microgram/ml . Also, 90% of all Bacteroides species were susceptible at 32 microgram/ml; 82% of B . fragilis were susceptible at this concentration . These data indicate that cefamandole is safe and effective for treatment of women with polymicrobial pelvic infections but that approximately 5% of these women will require surgical exploration in addition to antimicrobial administration.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 9(3), 333 - 5
Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus and group A, B, C, and G streptococci to free fatty acids; Heczko PB et al.; The susceptibility of 242 strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 117 strains of streptococci of groups A, B, C, and G to decanoic, dodecanoic, octadeca-9,12-dienoic, and octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acids was estimated by determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations . S . aureus strains appeared to be generally less susceptible to all four fatty acids than streptococcal strains of all groups . Dodecanoic acid was the most inhibitory fatty acid against both staphylococci and streptococci . Both saturated fatty acids used were more active than the unsaturated acids . Among the unsaturated acids, octadeca-9,12,15-trienoic acid appeared to be more inhibitory for Staphylococcus and Streptococcus strains than octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid . No differences in susceptibility to fatty acids among staphylococcal and streptococcal strains isolated from skin, throat, or other sites were found.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 9(3), 329 - 32
Modified coagglutination procedure for the serological grouping of streptococci; Carlson JR et al.; Cowan I staphylococci coated with antisera to streptococcal groups A, B, C, D, F, and G were used as coagglutination reagents in a modified coagglutination procedure (MCAP) . Streptococcal group antigens were extracted with a Streptomyces albus-lysozyme enzyme mixture for 30 min at 55 degrees C and centrifuged, and the supernatant was tested by slide coagglutination . Positive coagglutination reactions occurred within 30 s . The cell pellets from overnight broth cultures and colonies taken directly from sheep blood agar plates were tested and compared with the results of the Lancefield capillary precipitin method . Of the 102 strains of broth-grown cells tested, 100 were grouped by the MCAP and the Lancefield capillary precipitin method . The remaining two isolates were serologically identified only by the MCAP . Of the original 102 strains, 97 were tested by MCAP after extraction of five well-isolated colonies from a sheep blood agar plate . When this latter method was used, 95.9% of the strains were correctly identified . Nonspecific reactions were observed only while testing the MCAP with the direct plate assay . These cross-reactions were remedied promptly by either absorption or dilution of the antisera involved . The MCAP was found to be a rapid and reliable technique for the serological grouping of streptococci.

Am J Med, 1979 Mar, 66(3), 450 - 6
Infections due to group C streptococci in man; Mohr DN et al.; Although a common cause of infection in animals, group C streptococci are rarely noted to be pathogenic in man . A total of 150,000 blood cultures obtained at the Mayo Clinic from 1968 to 1977 revealed group C streptococci in only eight patients . Acute bacterial endocarditis, meningitis, pheumonia, cellulitis and bacteremia due to group C streptococci are described in a host who had undergone immunosuppression (immunosuppressed host), and the relatively few cases previously reported are reviewed . Although severe, these infections may respond favorably to penicillin therapy . Endocarditis caused by group D streptococci is acute and destructive, and associated with early cardiac decompensation . The manifestations of cellulitis and pneumonia are similar to those when group A streptococci are causative organisms . Meningitis due to group C streptococci is acute and severe, and responds slowly to antimicrobial therapy . Colonization also occurs.

Obstet Gynecol, 1979 Mar, 53(3 Suppl), 28S - 30S
Postpartum septicemia due to group G streptococci; Filker RS et al.; A case of postpartum endometritis and septicemia due to the group G beta-hemolytic streptococci is reported . The relationship of a group G streptococci to groups A and C are discussed.

Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1979 Mar, 152(3), 234 - 9
{Principles of differential immunodiagnostics in tuberculosis and other pulmonary diseases (author's transl)}; Awerbach MM et al.; When differential diagnostics between tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, bronchial carcinoma and non-specific pulmonary diseases is not possible with clinical and laboratory methods, diagnosis may be often put by the aid of immunological methods . Differential diagnostics, usually, has not to delimit all these diseases one from another . In most cases it is necessary to differ only between two of these diseases, tuberculosis versus sarcoidosis, tuberculosis or bronchial carcinoma, tuberculosis or non-specific lung disease . By the aid of antibody determination (against streptococci, staphylococci, and pneumococci), determination of Ig and of immunological tests patterns of values for differential diagnostics between these groups of diseases can be elaborated and are shown in this paper.

Prim Care, 1979 Mar, 6(1), 127 - 39
Staphylococcal and streptococcal infections of the skin; Causey WA; Acute pyogenic infections of the skin, caused by hemolytic streptococci and S . aureus, account for the vast majority of bacterial infections of the skin seen in ambulatory practice . In preschool children the principal manifestation is pyoderma, which is usually caused by Group A Streptococcus . In this age group pyoderma regularly responds to systemic penicillin therapy plus adjunctive local care to the lesions . However, in older age groups, the ability to distinguish streptococcal from staphylococcal skin infections on the basis of clinical features alone is poor, and penicillin treatment failures are more common . Safe, effective antibiotics that are effective against both staphylococci and streptococci are readily available . For this reason penicillinase-resistant semisynthtic penicillins and or erythromycin can be used to treat acute pyogenic skin infections in older age groups.

Infect Immun, 1979 Mar, 23(3), 838 - 44
Nature and mechanism of action of the CAMP protein of group B streptococci; Bernheimer AW et al.; The extracellular product of group B streptococci responsible for the CAMP reaction was purified to near homogeneity . It is a relatively thermostable protein having a molecular weight of 23,500 and an isoelectric pH of 8.3 . It was found that the CAMP reaction could be simulated by substituting {14C}glucose-containing liposomes prepared from sphingomyelin, cholesterol, and dicetyl phosphate for sheep erythrocytes . In the belief that the liposome system is a valid model, the mechanism of the CAMP reaction was further investigated by using liposomes in which N-acylsphingosine (ceramide) was substituted for sphingomyelin . In this system disruption of liposomes, as measured by release of trapped {14C}glucose, was effected by CAMP protein alone . As judged from thin-layer chromatography, CAMP protein caused no reduction in the amount of ceramide present in ceramide-containing liposomes, nor were split products demonstrable . However, binding of CAMP protein to ceramide-containing liposomes could be shown . It is inferred that in sheep erythrocytes CAMP protein reacts nonenzymatically with membrane ceramide formed by the prior action of staphylococcal sphingomyelinase and that binding of CAMP protein to ceramide disorganizes the lipid bilayer to an extent that results in cell lysis.

Antibiotiki, 1979 Mar, 24(3), 193 - 7
{Streptococcus group A resistance to tetracycline: its spread and transduction}; Bulgakova TN; The study on antibiotics resistance of group A streptococci isolated in 1977 showed that the number of the antibiotic resistant strains had significantly increased as compared to the data of 1960 . High percentage (53%) of the cultures with multiple resistance was noted . It was observed that the number of the streptococcal cultures resistant to erythromycin and chloramphenicol decreased while the number of the strains resistant to tetracyclines increased . The level of resistance to tetracycline increased more than 2 times from 1960 and in some cases reached 125 and 250 gamma/ml . The wide spread of tetracycline resistance was evident of the presence of the mechanism of the marker transduction . Possible transduction of this feature was studied . Microbe-free phagolysates obtained by induction with UV-light from the strains with multiple antibiotic resistance were used as the donor material in the experiment on transduction . Principal possibility of transducing resistance to tetracycline from 2 donors to 4 recipients at a frequency of 10(-6) was shown.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Mar, (3), 46 - 51
{Interrelationships between the virulence and the presence of M-protein in hemolytic streptococcus group A}; Burova LA; Experiments on mice demonstrated that of hemolytic streptococci A M types 2, 3, 12, 22, 46, and 49 characteristic is the absence of parallelism between their virulence for mice and the presence of M+-colonies in the microbial population . There was also a greater virulence for mice of M-variants . The established changes in serological properties of the cultures passaged in vitro were brought to the acquisition of polyagglutinability by the passage cultures, and to the loss of type-specific protection by the immune sera against these cultures . A possibility of acquisition by passage cultures of a factor determining their high virulence for mice, nonidentical to M-protein, is discussed.

Am J Med Technol, 1979 Mar, 45(3), 199 - 204
A review of laboratory methods for identification of group B streptococci (Streptococcus agalactiae); Smith JP et al.; A selected review is presented of the history of Group B streptococcal infections and the laboratory tests used to identify Group B streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae), an opportunistic pathogen which causes serious infections in newborn infants and compromised patients in other age groups . Its isolation may be increased by growth in a selective medium . The methods for Group B streptococci identification include the hydrolysis of sodium hippurate, the CAMP reaction, pigment production, and antibiotic disk susceptibility . Also, immunological tests, such as Lancefield's classical precipitin test, immunofluorescence staining, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, and coagglutination are available.

Cutis, 1979 Mar, 23(3), 332 - 3
Impetigo contagiosa--etiology in Iraq; Dilaimy M et al.; Two hundred cases of impetigo contagiosa were studied bacteriologically . Along with the usual staphylococci and streptococci, gram-positive diplococci were isolated in pure cultures in thirty-seven cases . Ninety-six cases were submitted for sensitivity tests to several antibiotics; the results are discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Mar, 137(3), 1395 - 405
Electron microscope study of the rod-to-coccus shape change in a temperature-sensitive rod- mutant of Bacillus subtilis; Burdett ID; The changes in cell morphology of Bacillus subtilis rodB during a temperature shift from 20 to 42 degrees C, in the absence of added anions, are described . At 20 degrees C the organisms grow as rods but gradually become spherical in shape when placed at 42 degrees C . The shape change is initiated by an increase in diameter at the cell equator, resulting in a bulged morphology, which is further modified to the morphology of a coccus . This change may involve a modification of the pattern of normal cylindrical extension such that incorporation of newly synthesized wall leads only to increase in diameter, perhaps from a growth zone of limited extent . The pattern of surface growth was followed by reconstructing the sequence of cross wall formation and pole construction in rods grown at 20 degrees C and in organisms incubated at 42 degrees C for 75 and 150 min . In thin section, wall forming the septum and nascent poles can be distinguished from the surface distal to the division site by the presence of raised tears, perhaps analogous to the wall bands of streptococci . By using an analog rotation technique involving the three-dimensional reconstruction of cells by mathematical rotation of axial thin sections about their longitudinal axis, it is shown that the proportion of septal wall increases during the shape change . In the coccal forms, all surface growth may arise from septal growth sites.

Ann Intern Med, 1979 Mar, 90(3), 293 - 7
Streptococcal pharyngitis: diagnosis by gram stain; Crawford G et al.; Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were isolated from 49 (10.4%) of 472 patients with pharyngitis . Throat culture results, interpreted by five observers of varying experience, showed the mean sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of a positive Gram-stained smear of pharyngeal secretions as 73%, 96%, and 71% . Assignment to a high-risk group by clinical algorithm gave sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of only 45%, 83%, and 23% . The Gram-stained smear is the most accurate method of early diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis.

S Afr Med J, 1979 Feb 3, 55(5), 157 - 9
Group B streptococci in blacks; Hallett AF et al.; Vaginal swabs were taken from 60 Black women attending a family planning clinic and from 60 attending a special clinic for sexually transmitted diseases . Using selective media, the isolation rate for group B streptococci was 26,7% in the former group and 40,0% in the latter . The isolation rates of other streptococcal serogroups are also given . All group B streptococci isolated were uniformly sensitive to penicillin but resistant to gentamicin . Clinical details of 7 patients with group B streptococcal septicaemia are also given.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1979 Feb, 87C(1), 73 - 7
Interaction of the Fc part of IgG with Lancefield extracts of hemolytic streptococci . Strain specificity and activity; Christensen P et al.; Lancefield extracts of 19 types of group A streptococci as well as one group C and one group G strain were examined for agglutination of human red cells coated with various anti-Rh antibodies . Fourteen extracts agglutinated one or more of the coated cell samples, while five did not . The agglutination was inhibited by Fc but not by Fab fragments of human IgG . After mouse passages, three of the non-agglutinating strains acquired agglutinating capacity . At least three different reactivities were distinguished by the action of the extracts on IgG1 and IgG3 coated cells, respectively . Two of the streptococcal extracts, agglutinating the same anti-Rh coated cells, could be further differentiated in hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) experiments using purified IgG3 myeloma proteins . Five selected agglutinating systems were inhibited by purified myeloma proteins of the IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 subclasses . IgG3 proteins inhibited only two of the five HAI systems.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Feb, 9(2), 236 - 8
Comparison of media and techniques for detection of group A streptococci in throat swab specimens; Dykstra MA et al.; Detection of group A streptococci in primary throat cultures was compared by using aerobic and anerobic incubation with selective nonselective media . Sheep blood agar plates incubated anaerobically detected 98% of the group A streptococci, whereas aerobically incubated blood agar plates which had been stabbed at the time of inoculation detected only 63% . Blood agar plates containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (23.75 and 1.25 mirograms per ml, respectively) detected only 70% of group A streptocci when incubated aerobically and 84% when incubated anaerobically.

Am J Epidemiol, 1979 Feb, 109(2), 226 - 35
The risk of streptococcal infections in rheumatic and non-rheumatic families: an application of Greenwood's chain-binomial model; Poku K; Infectious transmission of streptococci in families has been demonstrated to follow Greenwood's chain-binomial model in its simplest form which did not need beta transformation to correct for differences in susceptibility between families . Following the application of this model, an estimate of the risk of acquisition of M-typable group A beta-hemolytic streptococci is given (p = 0.05--0.06) . The risk is the same among siblings of rheumatic fever patients and children from non-rheumatic families . This emphasizes that the familial aggregation associated with rheumatic fever is not due to increased susceptibility of such families to streptococcal infections.

Infect Immun, 1979 Feb, 23(2), 438 - 45
Strain specificity of opsonins for group B streptococci types II and III; Shigeoka AO et al.; Strains of types II and III group B streptococci do not appear to be uniformly susceptible to opsonization by antibody-containing human sera, as studied using both a chemiluminescence and a radiolabeled bacterial uptake technique . We could not demonstrate a correlation of serum-sensitive or resistant strains with capsular antigen quantities, although serum absorption studies with whole organisms and HCl, trichloroacetic acid, and saline extracts indicated that the antibody to type-specific capsular polysaccharide is important in opsonizing both serum-resistant and serum-sensitive strains . Since trypsin treatment produced significantly enhanced opsonization of serum-resistant and serum-sensitive strains, proteins present on some group B streptococci may be important antiphagocytic factors.

J Exp Med, 1979 Feb 1, 149(2), 459 - 72
The occurrence of a protein in the extracellular products of streptococci isolated from patients with acute glomerulonephritis; Villarreal H Jr et al.; The present report compares the extracellular proteins of streptococci by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis . A marked variation in the streptococcal extracellualr proteins (SEP) of different strains was detected, even in strains of similar serotypes . It was possible, however, to identify a single protein band that occurred predominantly in the SEP of strains isolated from patients with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) . This protein was generally not produced by streptococci obtained from patients without this disease . It appears to be immunologically similar in the various serotypes of streptococci isolated from patients with APSGN and can be demonstrated by immunofluorescence techniques to be present in the glomeruli of these patients.

J Dairy Sci, 1979 Feb, 62(2), 339 - 42
Characterization of groups N and D streptococci isolated from rumen fluids; Ledford RA et al.; Twelve strains of streptococci of serological groups N and D were isolated from rumen fluids of nine cows on four rations although both groups were not isolated from the same animal . The twelve were representative of a larger number of streptococci isolated by enrichment in milk . Generally, the physiological characteristics of the isolates indicated members of the lactic or enterococcus groups; however, several were atypical in one or more of the tolerance tests . Physiologically typical Streptococcus lactis but not S . cremoris, were isolated.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1979 Feb, 87B(1), 51 - 4
Complete and incomplete Ibc protein fraction in group B streptococci; Bevanger L et al.; The Ibc protein fraction of group B streptococci was isolated from the type Ib strain H36B, the type Ic strain A909, and the type Ic strain 335, and examined against antisera by immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis . The fraction from the Ib strain and one of the Ic strains (A909) contained two antigens or groups of antigens, called the alpha and beta antigens, respectively . Strain 335 produced the alpha but not the beta antigen . This was also the case with three other group B isolates previously classified as type Ic . One type II and one type III strian produced both antigens . The results suggest that group B streptococci producing the Ibc fraction can be subdivided further on the basis of the antigens that are present in that fraction.

J Protozool, 1979 Feb, 26(1), 142 - 6
Partial purification and characterization of a bacteriolytic enzyme secreted by Tetrahymena; Vick GW 3rd et al.; Tetrahymena pyriformis strain HSM secretes large quantities of acid hydrolases into the culture medium . An enzyme secreted by the ciliate and capable of degrading walls of streptococci was identified and purified to a considerable degree . The pH optimum of this enzyme was 3--4, and it was eluted after cytochrome c from Sephadex G-75 columns . Unlike lysozyme, the enzyme was thermolabile at pH 2.9, but relatively thermostable at pH 8.1 . It degraded 14C-labeled cell walls of streptococci releasing reducing groups . Cell walls prepared from different strains of streptococci differed in susceptibility to this enzyme, the most sensitive strain tested being of group A, type T12 . It was shown in immunologic studies that this hydrolase released the group-specific carbohydrate from the walls . Secretions of Tetrahymena from early stationary-phase cultures had more bacteriolytic activity than those from cells from late stationary-phase cultures . Further, cells from cultures grown in glucose-supplemented medium secreted less of the enzyme than ciliates of comparable age grown in unsupplemented proteose-peptone . The newly isolated bacteriolytic enzyme, presumably of lysosomal origin, may be helpful in characterizing streptococcal cell walls.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Feb, 139(2), 242 - 5
Factors causing the clumping reaction of streptococcal strains with human plasma; Yoshida K et al.; Fresh isolates of 204 strains of Streptococcus haemolyticus, 75 strains of viridans group Streptococcus, and 45 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were studied for their clumping reactions with human plasma . The plasma and serum factors that clumped the streptococcal strains were compared with those that clumped a Staphylococcus aureus strain . One hundred eleven strains of S . haemolyticus, 10 strains of viridans group Streptococcus, and none of the strains of S . pneumoniae tested were clumped by human plasma . However, clumping activity was remarkably unstable after subculturing on plates containing Todd-Hewitt blood agar . The strain with the highest level of activity was clumped by fibrinogen and normal human serum . Results of tests of the clumping reactions of staphylococci and streptococci with human serum indicated that the serum factors responsible for those reactions may be identical.

Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1979 Feb, 34(2), 162 - 4
{Comparison of the metabolism of isolated streptococci and dental plaque}; Distler W et al.; 1 . Isolated cultures of Streptococcus mutans form lactic acid as well as small amounts of formic acid and acetic acid during the anaerobic break down of glucose . The composition of the acids in terms of percent is independent of time . 2 . Plaque specimens incubated in vitro show a complicated spectrum of substances; propionic and butyric acids are found in addition to lactic, formic, and acetic acids . The composition in terms of percent depends on the incubation period . The percentage of lactic acid drops as the incubation period is extended . 3 . Just as the plaque, the product spectrum of isolated streptococci in terms of quantitative composition depends on the buffer capacity.

Eur J Pediatr, 1979 Jan 18, 130(1), 53 - 8
Acute bone marrow necrosis caused by streptococcal infection; Terheggen HG et al.; An 8 year old boy with a furuncle on the dorsum of the right foot, high fever, severe pain in the right knee joint, slight hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia was admitted with the working diagnosis of acute leukemia . However, an abundance of necrotic cells, together with clusters of streptococci, could be demonstrated in the bone marrow aspirate . After antibiotic therapy the boy recovered completely.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1979 Jan 15, 133(2), 171 - 3
Group B streptococcal colonization and antibody status in lower socioeconomic parturient women; Beachler CW et al.; This investigation was undertaken to determine the prevalence of group B streptococcal vaginal and throat colonization among lower socioeconomic pregnant women and the antibody concentration to the capsular polysaccharide antigen of type III group B streptococcus in their sera . Group B streptococci were recovered from 28.6 per cent of the 112 women studied; vaginal colonization was detected in 23.4 per cent, throat colonization in 4.7 per cent, and colonization at both sites in 0.9 per cent of the patients, respectively . Among these isolates of group B streptococci, serotypes III (39.5 per cent) and II (30.3 per cent) predominated . No differences were found between colonized and noncolonized women with respect to age, race, marital status, or parity . The majority of all women studied had low concentration of antibody in serum (less than 1.0 microgram per milliliter) . However, women with isolation of type III group B streptococci from cultures at the time sera were collected had significantly higher concentrations than did women without group B streptococci from cultures at the time sera were collected had significantly higher concentrations than did women without group B streptococcal colonization.

Br Med J, 1979 Jan 13, 1(6156), 80 - 2
Bacteriological quality control in human milk-banking; Lucas A et al.; The bacteriological quality of pooled human milk donated to the Oxford milk bank was analysed and the effects on bacteriology of sterilisation of the milk-collecting vessels in the home with hypochlorite solution and of Holder pasteurisation in a purpose-built human-milk pasteuriser were studied . Collecting milk in hypochlorite-sterilised vessels resulted in a significantly lower bacterial count of both pathogens and species of unlikely pathogenicity before pasteurisation and significantly increased the chance of pasteurisation giving a sterile product . Potentially pathogenic organisms grown in untreated milk were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and group B beta-haemolytic streptococci . Seven species of organisms of unlikely pathogenicity were also identified . Pasteurisation eliminated all potential pathogens from milk but did not reliably remove any of the species of unlikely pathogens . Banked human milk may be contaminated with bacteria which are known to be capable of producing lipases, proteases, and decarboxylases . Accurate pasteurisation, together with attention to the sterility of the collecting vessels, results in a bacteriologically safe product that retains many of the protective properties of raw milk.

J Pediatr, 1979 Jan, 94(1), 10 - 2
Bacteriology and therapy of lung abscess in children; Brook I et al.; The bacteriology and clinical findings of ten pediatric patients with lung abscess are presented . Bacteriologic data were based on percutaneous transtracheal aspiration obtained before initiation of antimicrobial therapy . Anaerobic bacteria were present in all ten patients; in nine they were mixed with aerobic bacteria . The most frequent isolates were Peptostreptococcus (8), Peptococcus (5), Bacteroides melaninogenicus (6), and Bacteroides fragilis (3) . The aerobic isolates most frequently recovered were alpha-hemolytic streptococci (5), group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (4), and Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4 each) . Virtually all abscesses were located in dependent pulmonary segments . Antimicrobial therapy was guided by the bacteriologic findings and was successful in all instances.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(2), 159 - 67
Prospective study on streptococcal pharyngitis among a town population; Duben J et al.; A one-year-round study on pharyngitis incidence among the general population of a town (24,300 inhabitants) was carried out . All patients, with pharyngitis who visited health centres were examined clinically and mcirobiologically . The overall pharyngitis incidence rate and the streptococcal pharyngitis incidence rate were, respectively, 8.3 and 3.9 cases per 100 population . Age-related incidence was highest in the group of 5-10 years, seasonal incidence was highest in autumn . Clinical diagnoses made preliminary to bacteriological examination were correct in only a half of the streptococcal pharyngitis cases . The accuracy of clinical diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis could, at best, be raised to 80% if fever of less than or equal to 38.0 degrees C and presence of exudate on tonsils should be considered significant criteria . A great majority of the streptococcal pharyngitis cases were caused by group A streptococci; the prevailing M types were 12, 1 and 3 . Emphasis is laid on the necessity of performing microbiological examination of all pharyngitis cases in order to ensure etiological diagnosis and causal therapy . 15)

Infect Immun, 1979 Jan, 23(1), 1 - 7
Immunoglobulin-binding structure on bovine group G streptococci different from type III Fc receptors on human group G streptococci; Myhre EB et al.; The immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding capacity of 54 group G streptococci of human and bovine origin was investigated . Of 20 human strains, 17 carried a surface component which could combine with human IgG and bovine IgG1 and IgG2 . Inhibition experiments with unlabeled human IgG and with a panel of animal sera revealed that the same surface component was involved in the binding of human as well as bovine immunoglobulins . Of 16 beta-hemolytic bovine group G streptococci, 13 reacted with human IgG but not with bovine IgG1 or IgG2 . This binding structure was different from the type III Fc reactivity found in human group G streptococci . All human strains, including the three IgG Fc-nonreactive strains, fermented trehalose, in contrast to all bovine beta-hemolytic strains, which were negative . Immunoglobulin Fc reactivity is thus a feature not only of human strains but also of some bovine strains.

Microbios, 1979, 26(105-106), 159 - 64
An in vitro study of the exposure of mixed populations of normal oropharyngeal bacteria to cigarette smoke; Bardell D et al.; Mixed populations of freshly isolated oropharyngeal bacteria growing in dextrose broth at 37 degrees C were subjected to smoke from four cigarettes over a 3 h period . Each cigarette, a commercially available brand, contained 23.0 mg of tar and 1.4 mg of nicotine . At hourly intervals eight puffs of smoke from a cigarette were passed over a 1.0 ml suspension of bacteria dispersed in a thin layer in a sterile tissue culture flask . Normal filtered air was in contact with the suspension between smoke treatments . Exposure to cigarette smoke resulted in a marked decrease in numbers of viable bacteria . Non-filter cigarette smoke had a greater detrimental effect than smoke from filter-tipped cigarettes . The predominant bacteria, non-haemolytic streptococci, and less numerous bacteria such as staphylocci, were equally sensitive to the toxic action of cigarette smoke.

Infection, 1979, 7 Suppl 6, 609 - 14
{Experience with cefaclor in the treatment of ear, nose and throat infections . Indications for cefaclor therapy (author's transl)}; Federspil P et al.; The efficacy and tolerance of the new oral cephalosporin cefaclor was tested in 61 patients treated for a variety of moderate to severe ENT infections which were not expected to undergo a spontaneous remission without antibacterial therapy . The most frequently isolated pathogens were streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus . The dosage consisted of 500 mg cefaclor three times daily, and the treatment lasted between 4 and 43 days (average 14 days) . In 35 cases, some of whom had already been treated unsuccussfully with another antibiotic, the results were very good . In 22 patients locally applied medicaments or surgery contributed to the good result . In four patients an unequivocal evaluation was not possible or therapy was not successful . The frequently noted rapid response to treatment with cefaclor was impressive . No relapses were recorded . In pharmacokinetic studies a cefaclor concentration of 2.8 mcg/g was obtained in the tonsils 90 minutes after oral administration of 1000 mg . Clinical examinations in 61 patients and a complete range of laboratory tests in 47 patients did not reveal any case of allergic reaction . One patient only complained of nausea and diarrhoea . In two patients temporary low grade thrombopenia and thrombocytosis respectively were observed . In several patients a slight transitory rise in transaminases was seen . Cefaclor thus proved to be an effective and well-tolerated antibiotic . Its indications in the treatment of ENT infections are discussed.

Postgrad Med J, 1979, 55 Suppl 4, 77 - 81
Clinical and laboratory studies with cefaclor: efficacy in skin and soft tissue infections; Dillon HC Jr et al.; Clinically relevant, recent isolates of common Gram-positive pathogens were examined for their in vitro susceptibility to cefaclor . Group A streptococci and pneumococci were uniformly sensitive (MICs 0.06--0.12 micrograms/ml) to both cefaclor and cephalothin . Cefaclor was 5--10-fold less active than cephalothin against group B streptococci . S . aureus strains were uniformly more susceptible to cephalothin than to cefaclor, but among isolates from children, almost all were sensitive to the latter drug . In clinical studies of patients with skin and soft tissue infections, cefaclor proved effective . Over 90% of patients with staphylococcal bullous impetigo, streptococcal and mixed streptococcal-staphylococcal forms of pyoderma were cleared after 7--10 day courses of treatment . In addition, twice-daily therapy, examined more recently, proved as effective in these forms of infection as did the conventional dose schedule . No significant adverse reactions were noted . Cefaclor appears to be an effective orally absorbed cephalosporin for common skin and soft tissue infections.

Vet Med Nauki, 1979, 16(9), 42 - 9
{Distribution and forms of latent mastitis in cows}; Prandzhev I et al.; A study on the distribution of symptomless mastitis in cows on its forms and onthe percentage involvement of the individual microorganisms isolated in the positively reacting cases was carried out including clinical, cytological and microbiological investigations . The study covered 8 cow farms with a total number of 2377 cows . It was established that 68.42% of the cows suffer from symptomless mastitis and 24.09% of the udder quarters . In 32.39% of the latter cases non-specific mastitis or the so called secretory disturbance was observed, while in 67.61%--bacterial mastitis, which in 50.75% had a subclinical course, while in 17.36--as latent infection . In the samples with pathogenic microorganisms 72.35% had staphylococci, 14.32%--micrococci, 8.39%--streptococci and the remaining 4.94%--other kinds of bacteria . The appearance and distribution of symptomless mastitis in cows is the result of bad management of cow rearing and use.

J Egypt Public Health Assoc, 1979, 54(3), 138 - 53
Effect of different contraception on microbial vaginal flora and immunoglobulin levels; El Ghazzawi E et al.; PIP: The effect of oral contraceptives (combined OCs) and IUDs (Lippes loop D) on vaginal flora and immunoglobulin levels (IgG and IgA) was studied via bacteriological examination of 3 vaginal swabs (cervical mucus) from each of 120 nonpregnant, multiparous randomly selected women aged 20-40 years . All participants had used the respective contraceptive method from 1-10 years . IgA and IgG levels increased simultaneously with duration of OC intake until 4 years and then decreased thereafter . Both Ig levels increased with duration of IUD use . Subjects using OCs harbored Trichomonas vaginalis more often and the prevalence increased with duration of pill intake . Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, anaerobic streptococci, and gram-negative bacteria also increased among pill users until 4 years of use and then decreased with continued duration of pill usage . Among pill users, the pH shifted to alkaline, whereas with IUD use the pH shifted to the less acidic side . IUD users also had increased incidence of tric, candida, staph, anaerovic strep, and gram-negative bacilli, a rate which increased with duration of IUD use .

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1979, 101(17), 1111 - 6
Haptoglobins act similar to antibodies . Steps of discovery . Analogous conclusions from pure preparations, umbilical cord sera and animal sera; Prokop O et al.; The haptoglobins in man and in mammals are agglutinin-like-substances for streptococci having the T4 antigen . The kind of the agglutinin-like behaviour depends on the genetic type of the haptoglobins . Haptoglobins of the types Hp 2-2, Hp 2-2 like and Hp 2-1 are hightitred complete agglutinins (titre in the range between 1:200 up to 1:3000 and higher) whereas haptoglobins of the type Hp 1-1 are "blocking antibodies" . - The steps of the discovery and evidence are presented in detail . Different questions dealing with the clinical significance are discussed.

Vet Med Nauki, 1979, 16(4), 7 - 11
{Diacetyl content and the organoleptic evaluation of cow's milk cultured butter}; Rusev Kh; Diacetyl content of cow butter is one of the factors determining its quality . It is a metabolic product of aroma producing lactic acid streptococci . The gradation of diacetyl water solutions and the correlation between diacetyl quantity in cow butter and its taste, flavour and aroma evaluation were assessed by smelling . It was confirmed that experienced degustators of dairy butter can distinguish and grade diacetyl water solutions in a comparatively very good order . A satisfactory correlation was observed between the organoleptic evaluation of the taste, flavour and aroma of cow sour cream butter . In the opinion of experienced degustators of cow butter the latter can be graded only organoleptically.

Vet Med Nauki, 1979, 16(3), 52 - 6
{Cell content and bacteriological findings in individual cow's milk samples}; Atiekh M; Hundred thirty seven milk samples were investigated by the mastitis test "Sofia" after the "Breed" method for the assessment of cell content and by inoculation on 5% blood agar for bacteriological findings . A certain correlation between reaction degree and number of cell elements was established . The better expressed the test reaction the larger was the number of cell elements, but not always a full coverage was evident . A correlation existed between the number of cell elements and the bacteriological findings also . The stronger the reaction resp . the larger the number of cells, the more samples had positive bacteriological findings . The percentage of samples with positive bacteriological findings having a cell number of 500 thousand to 5 million cells per 1 cm3 of milk ranged within 70.83 to 96.30%, while for samples having a cell content above 5 million it was 100% . In the samples with positive reaction the bacteriological investigations established 38.48% staphylococci, 52.28% streptococci, and 10.74% various other microorganisms.

Derm Beruf Umwelt, 1979, 27(3), 75 - 7
{Efficacy and tolerability of cefazedone in infectious skin diseases; determination of serum and tissue concentrations (author's transl)}; Schneider C et al.; The efficacy and tolerance of Cefazedone, a new Cephalosporin derivate, were investigated in an open clinical trial on 40 patients with bacteriological skin infections . Patients with Erysipelas, impetiginized dermatoses and Pyodermia were treated during an average period of 9 days mainly with a dosage of 2X1 g i.v., in some cases with 2X2 g i.v . daily . The success of the treatment was good--very good in 92% of the cases . All pathogens isolated before treatment (Streptococci, St . aureus, E . coli) were eliminated after treatment . 2 patients showed transitory incompatibility reactions due to too rapid injections . The local and systemic tolerance were excellent in all other cases . 1 hour after i.v . injection of 1 g Cefazedone to 20 patients the mean concentration in the serum was 51 micrograms per ml and in the skin-tissue 10.6 micrograms/g.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1979, 101(6), 377 - 81
{The relationship between haptoglobin type and serum agglutination titers against group G streptococci with the T4-antigen in pregnant women and newborn infants}; Gunther M et al.; The relationship between haptoglobin type and titer of agglutination against streptococci carrying the T4-antigen was examined in 100 pairs of sera (mother/child) . In healthy pregnant women high titers were predominant in individuals of haptoglobin type 2--2 . Lower titers were found in sera of women with diseases during pregnancy . In 4% of the newborns only the haptoglobin type could be recognized . In comparison of maternal and neonate titers of agglutination pointed out the antibody-like activity of haptoglobins.

J Rheumatol, 1979 Jan-Feb, 6(1), 96 - 102
Septic subcutaneous bursitis . Report of sixteen cases; Canoso JJ et al.; Sixteen cases of bacterial infection of subcutaneous bursae were reviewed . Septic subcutaneous bursitis usually occurred following injury to the skin overlying the bursa . Two cases developed after bursal corticosteroid injection for treatment of aseptic bursitis . Bursal fluid culture yielded staphlococci in 14 cases and streptococci in 2 . Blood cultures obtained in 8 patients were negative . No patient had clinical manifestations suggestive of bacteremia . Needle and/or incisional drainage of the bursa plus systemic antibiotics led to uneventful recovery in 14 patients . Two patients had chronic drainage . One resolved spontaneously and the other required bursectomy.

Arch Inst Cardiol Mex, 1979 Jan-Feb, 49(1), 89 - 102
Streptococcus-related acute glomerulonephritis; Villarreal H Jr et al.; Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) is likely the result of immune complex mechanisms . The current theories in search of the streptococcal antigen responsible for the initiation of the disease are reviewed . The finding of an extracellular protein unique to streptococci isolated from patients with APSGN and its possible role in the pathogenesis of this disease is presented.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Jan, 9(1), 20 - 2
Detection of group D and viridans streptococci in blood by radiometric methods; Beckwith DG; A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the radiometric detection of group D and viridans streptococci in blood, using three media preparations, Bactec 6A and 6B isotonic media and 8B hypertonic medium . All enterococci tested were detected by the 6A and 6B media . However, the 6A medium failed to detect 76% of the Streptococcus bovis isolates and 57% of the viridans streptococci, whereas all S . bovis isolates and 95% of the viridans streptococci were detected with the 6B formulation . No improvement in detection was noted in comparing the 6B and the 8B hypertonic media . The importance of adequate detection of this group of organisms, especially in patients with endocarditis, is discussed.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Jan, 25(1), 40 - 3
Evaluation of an improved rapid coagglutination method for the serological grouping of beta-hemolytic streptococci; Lim DV et al.; Grouping of beta-hemolytic streptococci was performed with the Phadebact Streptococcus Test, a coagglutination method, and the results compared with serological grouping by the standard Lancefield precipitin method . Of 171 clinical specimens examined, 169 (98.8%) were grouped correctly by the Phadebact Test after 24 h of continuous growth in Todd-Hewitt broth . In a parallel study, 96.9% of specimens that grew after only 4 h of incubation in broth were grouped correctly by the coagglutination method . In both studies, the accuracy of the coagglutination test was increased significantly by elimination of multiple-agglutination reactions through centrifugation of cultures and utilization of the supernatant fluid in the Phadebact Test.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1979, 11(1), 17 - 30
Bacterial endocarditis . II . A prospective study with clinical, laboratory and therapeutic observations; Svanbom M et al.; In a prospective study 31 cases of proved and 10 of highly suspected bacterial endocarditis were analysed . Valve incompetence was the usual consequence but stenosis occurred in 3 cases, all fatal . Congestive heart failure developed in two-thirds . Secondary manifestations were common and as often caused by alpha-streptococci as by other bacteria . Initial antibiotic treatment was mainly applied according to a fixed schedule, generally with continuous intravenous infusion, followed by oral therapy . In 10 patients, the infection was still active after 6 weeks of therapy . Therefore, we now use intermittent injections or infusions for at least 4--6 weeks . Within a year, 9 patients died from uncontrolled infection together with congestive heart failure, and 1 from heart failure and active chronic endocarditis . In 4, myocardial abscesses or inflammations were found . All 10 had underlying factors or advanced stages of the disease . Of 18 patients with alpha-streptococci or enterococci none died from endocarditis, as against 10 of 23 with other or unknown bacteria . Follow-up yielded valuable information on one-third of the patients . The mortality during the initial hospital stay was 22%, after 1 year 24% and after 5 years 39%.

Ciba Found Symp, 1979, (77), 69 - 83
Perinatal implications of the lower genital tract flora; Ross JM; In a longitudinal study of the microflora of the lower genital tract at three stages in pregnancy and once postnatally, 20 different groups or genera of microorganisms were isolated . No substantial change was demonstrated in the flora as pregnancy progressed, although there was a fall in the rate of isolation of organisms after delivery . Few infants acquired organisms from their mother's lower genital tract . Caucasian mothers colonized by genital ureaplasmas gave birth to infants with a higher mean birth weight for length of gestation than the infants of ureaplasma-negative mothers . There was no correlation between birth weight and maternal genital colonization with ureaplasmas in the infants of Asian mothers . Group B streptococci were recovered from the ano-rectum more frequently than from the posterior vaginal fornix during pregnancy and strains recovered from these sites in individual patients were indistinguishable by serotyping and phage typing, suggesting that the ano-rectum or bowel is the probable source of the organism . Group B streptococci were never recovered from Asian patients (16% of the study population) . Sera of women colonized with group B streptococci and cord sera from their infants had higher levels of type-specific IgG antibody than non-colonized controls and their neonates.

Ciba Found Symp, 1979, (77), 103 - 18
Escherichia coli and group B streptococcal infections in experimental animals; Coid CR; Small doses of Escherichia coli endotoxin or of viable E . coli caused only a mild illness in pregnant mice but severely impaired fetal development . After intravenous injection and after experimental renal infection E . coli multiplied in placental tissue, causing resorption of the conceptuses and sometimes fetal infection . It is suggested that in humans coliform bacteraemia sometimes results in abortion and premature delivery because of the placental damage brought about by E . coli and its abortifacient endotoxin . Isolates of group B streptococci from various sites in 175 patients varied markedly in their pathogenicity for mice, and pregnant animals were less susceptible to infection than non-pregnant . In late pregnancy streptococci multiplied rapidly in placental tissue, suggesting that the placenta may be a significant focus of infection at the time of delivery . After antibiotic treatment the majority of mice infected with a highly pathogenic strain died but the majority of those infected with a strain of low pathogenicity survived . Preliminary experiments suggest that guinea-pigs and rabbits may be useful for studying the role of maternally derived antibodies in protecting the neonate against group B streptococci.

Ann Immunol Hung, 1979, 19, 75 - 8
Studies on the carrier-state of haemolytic streptococci in iron-masters; Ulewicz K et al.; Throat swabs from 165 iron-masters and 160 control subjects were tested for the presence of group A, C and G haemolytic streptococci and other serological groups . The group-A streptococcus strains were serotyped . The study was extended to the evaluation of the state of health, analysis of the sanitary conditions at the working place as well as the analysis of the social, living and economic conditions . Carriers of group-A haemolytic streptococci were of approximately the same frequency in healthy iron-masters and healthy controls and the proportions of the carriers of streptococci of other serological groups were also comparable . On the other hand, some differences in the proportions of the carriers of groups A, C and G haemolytic streptococci in persons with respiratory tract disorders were found, affected iron-masters comprising twice as many carriers as affected controls . The differences are attributed to the different sanitary-hygienic conditions at the working places.

Zentralbl Gynakol, 1979, 101(24), 1576 - 80
{Bacteriaemia during parturition (author's transl)}; Klingenfeld U et al.; Bacteriological tests were made of 606 blood cultures which had been obtained from 64 women in labour . Positive findings were recorded from 8.1 per cent, whereas another positive percentage established before delivery amounted to 4.7 only . The percentage of bacteriaemia findings was not substantively increased following electronic monitoring of childbirth . Beta-haemolysing streptococci were found to grow in 7.8 per cent of vaginal smear cultures taken from women in labour and in six per cent of cultures taken from newborns . Amniotic fluid was also bacteriologically tested during labour.

Vet Med Nauki, 1979, 16(5), 23 - 8
{Finding of the staphyloccoi and streptococci of mastitis on the udder after various ways and means of cleaning}; Slavchev G et al.; The presence of mastitis staphylococci and streptococci on the udder's surface of 400 cows was studied following application of various ways and means of cleaning . The presence of agents causing mastitis was determined before and after cleaning the udder . On uncleaned udder surfaces presence of mastitis staphylococci was observed in 52.5% and of mastitis streptococci--39.5% of udders studied . After washing with water mastitis staphylococci--on 12-20% of the udders . Following udder cleaning with solutions of antigerm 50 (0.04%) or yozan CCT (4%), mastitis staphylococci were found on 4% and 6% of the udders, respectively, while mastitis staphylococci--on 2% and 6%, respectively . Udder surface staphylococci belong in 2.2% to II phagous group, in 46.6%--to the III group, and in 37.7% -- to mixed groups . The most frequently encountered phagous types were 6 and 42D.

Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(11), 1049 - 54
Identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from hospitalized children in Baghdad; Al-Hindawi N et al.; Two hundred and twenty four hospitalized children in Baghdad aged between 1 month and 10 years were examined for Streptococcal infections . Thirty-four percent of the throat and saliva specimens were positive for beta-hemolytic streptococci . Males were more susceptible to infection with group A streptococci than females . Streptococcus of group A was isolated from 39.5% of the positive cases while group G was 47.4% . The etiological significance of the latter group in tonsillitis and otitis media is to be further investigated . Ninety six percent of the isolated streptococci were T typable and 13.3% of the strains were M typable . A high frequency of type T-11 was found in streptococcal infections . T type 3875 was found to be a new provisional type . All isolates were M untypable, and antiopacity factor negative except for two isolates of T type 4 which were positive in both typings.

J Reprod Fertil Suppl, 1979, (27), 307 - 15
The bacteriological culture of equine uterine contents, in-vitro sensitivity of organisms isolated and interpretation; Shin SJ et al.; A total of 19 pathogenic bacterial species was isolated from uterine swabs of 498 out of 1539 mares over 4 years . The swabs were taken by 5 veterinary clinicians using 2 different techniques . Bacterial contamination during swabbing was minimized by scrupulous attention to cleansing of the external genitalia and the perineal area, and in the handling of the culture specimen . The most prevalent organisms isolated were beta-haemolytic streptococcus (39%), Escherichia coli (27%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (7%) . Interpretation of microbiological findings correlated well with clinical findings when number of organisms isolated and endometrial cytology were considered . The use of a bacterial transport medium combined with sophisticated culture methods reflects a more accurate picture of the uterine microflora than can be obtained by previous techniques . Streptococci isolated were uniformly sensitive to penicillins . The sensitivity of E . coli and K . pneumoniae towards chloramphenicol, gentamicin and polymyxin was nearly 100% . The selection of an appropriate antibacterial agent depends upon sensitivity, pharmacological action, genital tract status and cost . This study shows that a Gram stain of uterine cytology can be used to diagnose quickly and select an appropriate antibiotic for treatment prior to culture results if sufficient numbers of organisms are present.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1979, 11(2), 125 - 7
An outbreak of skin infections caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci probably originating from wild moose; Herva E; An outbreak of about 20 recorded cases of impetiginous skin infections occurred during the moose (Alces alces) hunting season in October and November 1976 in persons having been in contact with moose from Hailuoto Island, Northern Finland . Samples for bacteriological studies werre obtained from 4 patients, and beta-hemolytic streptococci group A were isolated from all . The strains were biochemically identical . Epidemiological data strongly support a moose origin of the streptococci, even though none were isolated from the animals.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Jan, 9(1), 144 - 6
Improved reliability of the primary plate bacitracin test on throat cultures with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim blood agar plates; Kurzynski T et al.; The primary plate bacitracin differentiation disk susceptibility test identified 85% of group A streptococci from throat cultures on SXT-BA(CO2) plates within 24 h, as compared to only 26% on a conventional sheep blood agar plate.

Am J Med Sci, 1979 Jan-Feb, 277(1), 67 - 73
Group B streptococcal infections in adult males; Dworzack DL et al.; A 19-month study of group B streptococcal infection was performed to investigate the spectrum of such infections in adult males, the relation of serotypes to clinical illnesses, the effects of previous antibiotic therapy on infection and colonization, and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these organisms . Twenty-four patients had definite or possible infections while 41 patients were colonized with group B streptococci . The most frequent infections encountered were pneumonia (ten cases) and soft tissue infections (nine cases) . Five infections (21%) were nosocomial in origin . The most frequent serotypes were Ia and II . No correlation of serotype and type of infection was observed . Patients receiving previous antibiotic therapy were significantly more likely to be colonized than infected with group B streptococci . Penicillin was the antibiotic to which these organisms were most susceptible; tetracycline and gentamicin showed the least activity.

J Exp Med, 1979 Jan 1, 149(1), 73 - 83
Immunological properties of hyaluronidases associated with temperate bacteriophages of group A streptococci; Benchetrit LC et al.; The antigenic relationships of hyaluronidases, bound and free, associated with temperate bacteriophages of group A streptococci were examined with antibody against purified whole phage and with antibody against phage-bound enzyme released by urea and purified to homogeneity . Studies performed by double diffusion in agar (ouchterlony) with antibody against the homologous purified enzyme from a temperate phage of a type 49 streptococcus indicated that the bound and free enzyme gave a single line of identity and that the free hyaluronidase activities in induced lysates of four strains of M type 49 streptococci were immunologically indistinguishable but different from the enzyme in induced lysates of a heterologous type . The four M type 49 strains were from widely different geographical or temporal sources and of different phage subtypes as determined by lyxic patterns . These findings were confirmed in studies that employed a functional assay of enzyme neutralization . An immunoglobulin preparation of antiserum against the purified enzyme as well as one against homologous purified whole phage neutralized the hyaluronidase activity produced by induction of the M type 49 strains and present either phage-bound or soluble in phage-free lysates . These immunoglobulin preparations had little effect on the hyaluronidase activities present in phage-lysates of other M types of group A streptococci . Inhibition of propagation of temperate phages by antibody against the purified phage hyaluronidase paralleled the neutralization of phage-associated enzyme activity by this antibody, indicating that antibody to the purified enzyme can inhibit phage infection . Antibody preparations against the purified phage-bound enzyme or against purified whole phage did not neutralize the extracellular hyaluronidase in the supernate of an uninduced culture of M type 4 streptococci . A human serum strongly inhibitory for the extracellular enzyme of this strain or on the purified phage enzyme from an M type 49 strain . The results support the view that the hyaluronidases associated with the temperate bacteriophages from various M types of group A streptococci do not share common antigenic determinants but that an immunological specificity exists that parallels the serologic specificity of the M protein of the host strains.

J Immunol, 1979 Jan, 122(1), 189 - 95
Lymphocytes binding and T cell mitogenic properties of group A streptococcal lipoteichoic acid; Beachey EH et al.; We previously reported that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of group A streptococci binds spontaneously to mammaliam cell membranes via lipid moieties ester-linked to the LTA molecule . We now describe biochemical and immunologic evidence that LTA binds to human and murine lymphocytes as an early event in the induction of mitogenesis in T lymphocytes . The biochemical studies showed that binding of radiolabeled LTA to lymphocytes was lymphocyte-concentration, and temperature dependent, and it reached a maximum in 15 min . Binding was reversible and specific with a dissociation constant of 89 micrometer for adult lymphocytes and 57 micrometer for cord blood lymphocytes . Immunologic studies showed that the LTA was mitogenic only for T lymphocytes . Dose response curves of lymphocyte mitogenesis induced by LTA and the binding of LTA to intact lymphocytes were shown to be related . The results suggest that LTA binds to specific receptor sites on T lymphocytes to trigger the mitogenic response.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1979 Jan 1, 133(1), 57 - 9
Localization of group B beta-hemolytic streptococci in the female urogenital tract; MacDonald SW et al.; Isolation rates of group B streptococci were determined for various sites in 100 women attending a Special Urology (VD) Clinic . Standard procedures were used for the collection of specimens, all of which were processed using a selective medium . Specimens from the urethra and lower vagina yielded significantly higher percentages of isolations than those collected from the cervix, upper vagina, and rectum . Although lower vaginal cultures yielded more positive results than urethral cultures, the difference was not significant.

Obstet Gynecol, 1979 Jan, 53(1), 23 - 6
Vaginal flora in women undergoing hysterectomy with antibiotic prophylaxis; Grossman JH 3rd et al.; One objection occasionally raised against the use of routine antibiotic prophylaxis for pelvic surgery is the concern that the flora of treated patients will be altered, thus favoring the emergence of different, potentially more resistant organisms . This report summarizes experience with 100 women undergoing elective hysterectomy who were subjected to short-term cefazolin, penicillin, or placebo prophylaxis . The changes in preoperative versus postoperative flora were similar among antibiotic-treated and placebo-treated groups . In general, postoperative isolation of gram-negative aerobes and Bacteroides sp increased, and isolation of gram-positive aerobes (except group D streptococci) decreased in antibiotic-treated and placebo-treated groups . The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Jan-Feb, 1(1), 170 - 4
Cefoxitin therapy for bacterial endocarditis; Webb D et al.; Of 22 patients who were suspected of having bacterial endocarditis and who were treated with cefoxitin intravenously (8-12 g per day), 12 were evaluated for responses to therapy . Ten patients had infections due to a single pathogen, and two had polymicrobial infections . Staphylococci were isolated from eight patients, and streptococci from four; both of these pathogens were susceptible to 2-16 micrograms of cefoxitin/ml . Staphylococcus aureus and four strains of anaerobic bacteria, including Bacteroides fragilis (minimal inhibitory concentration, 32 micrograms/ml), were isolated from one patient . The average level of cefoxitin in serum was 32.8 micrograms/ml (range, 14.5-64 micrograms/ml) at 1 hr after an intravenous dose of 2 g; after 5 hr the average level in serum was 8.5 micrograms/ml (range, 2-20 micrograms/ml) . The mean (+/- SD) level of cefoxitin in myocardial tissues from eight rabbits at 1 hr following a 250-mg/kg dose of the antibiotic was 4 +/- 0.5 micrograms/g . On the average, patients were treated for 29 days (range, 14-40 days), and they became afebrile in 6.2 days (range, three to 20 days) . Both clinical and microbiologic responses to cefoxitin therapy were excellent in 10 patients with monobacterial infections . Both patients with polymicrobial infections were not cured . One, who was infected with a mixed flora of anaerobes, died; the other was cured after surgical valvectomy . These results suggest that cefoxitin is effective in the treatment of endocarditis due to a single susceptible organism but that this antibiotic should be used with caution in patients whose endocarditis is caused by a mixed population of bacterial pathogens.

Microbios, 1979, 25(101-102), 155 - 66
Serological properties of cellular and extracellular glycerol teichoic acid antigens of Streptococcus mutans; Hamada S et al.; Cell-free supernatant of Streptococcus mutans cultures was concentrated by 50% ammonium sulphate precipitation to 1/50 of the original culture volume . Most extracellular glucosyltransferase activity was detected in the supernatant . Furthermore, the supernatant reacted with serotype specific antiserum, showing immunological identities with the serotype specific polysaccharide antigen obtained from whole cells by hot saline or NaOH extraction in double diffusion tests . Immunoelectrophoretic analysis also revealed that the supernatant antigen possessed significant quantities of lipid-bound and free glycerol teichoic acid antigens . The lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was obtained from whole cells by phenol-water extraction . The lipid-teichoic acid linkage was easily split by mild acid or alkaline hydrolysis . The supernatant and phenol antigens spontaneously sensitized sheep red blood cells . These antigens were adsorbed to hydroxyapatite powder . The extracellular LTA and glucosyltransferase were found to be closely associated and difficult to separate chromatographically . In vivo significance of these properties of LTA and GTase is discussed in terms of the ecology of S . mutans and other oral streptococci.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1979, 11(3), 199 - 202
The prevalence of group B streptococci in human urogenital secretions; Jensen NE et al.; Urogenital secretions from a total of 510 patients (153 female and 151 male venereological patients, 123 gynaecological patients and 83 gynaecologically normal women) have been examined for group B streptococci (B-str.) and gonococci . The prevalence of B-str . (32%) among the female venereological patients was significantly higher than among the gynaecological patients (21.1%) and normal women (18.0%) . Urethral samples gave a higher recovery rate of B-str . than cervical samples . A significant correlation was demonstrated between the presence of B-str . and the diagnosis of vaginitis in the gynaecological material . Fermentation types of B-str . isolated from urogenital patients differed considerably from the types prevalent in bovine isolates.

J Immunol Methods, 1979, 31(3-4), 219 - 29
Detection of protein A-like substances on haemolytic streptococci prior to use in mixed reverse passive antiglobulin haemagglutination (MRPAH); Freimer EH et al.; Before mixed reverse passive antiglobulin haemagglutination tests (MRPAH) can be used to measure the class of bacterial antibodies, the bacteria have to be shown to be free of Protein A or Protein A-like substances on their surfaces . Two basic procedures have been examined: haemagglutination of red cells coated with immunoglobulin by the bacteria, and the MRPAH reaction itself to reveal absorption of purified gamma Fc by the bacterial suspension . The use of a purified gamma Fc component has proved successful in providing a sensitive test for the detection of Protein A-like substances on the surface of bacterial . In addition to both the Cowan and Wood strains of Staph, aureus, strains of haemolytic streptococci of groups A, C and G had Protein A-like substances on their surfaces . In contrast, strains of group B and group D, as well as Strep . milleri, had no detectable Protein A-like activity.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1979 Jan-Mar, 24(1), 45 - 53
{Laboratory diagnosis of group D Streptococcus}; Mihalcu F et al.; After taxonomic listing of group D streptococci, the authors discuss the methodology of the bacteriologic diagnosis of infections produced by these bacteria, showing the way in which the pathological products are collected, the strains isolated and seeded . The strains are identified in two stages: (1) group identification by group antigen identification, resistance to oxacillin, development at +45 degrees, development on bilaesculin media; (2) species and variety identification by biochemical, physiologic and metabolic tests, by lysotyping and enterocinotyping . A description is given of the testing of sensitivity of the strain to antibiotics by determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration . The formulas of the media used for culture and identification are given.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Jan, (1), 75 - 9
{Localization of group A streptococcal nontype-specific antigens and their occurrence among streptococci of different groups}; Bukhova VP et al.; It was shown by immunodiffusion methods that nontypespecific antigens revealed in the HCl extracts of streptococcus, group A, were localized in the cell wall . In B, E, H, K, L, M, P, S, T streptococci groups there was revealed only one, and in C and G streptococci groups--two antigens identical to the HTC antigens of streptococci, group A . Besides, an antigen, which was apparently specific specific for group A streptococcus only, was detected . The data obtained should be taken into consideration in the elaboration of improved method of grouping and typing group A streptococcus.

Folia Haematol Int Mag Klin Morphol Blutforsch, 1979, 106(5-6), 908 - 14
{The heterogeneity of streptokinases}; Gerlach D et al.; Purified streptokinases of some strains of different types of Strep . pyrogenes (group A) as well as streptokinases of a strain of group C or group G streptococci, resp., were studied in regard of their heterogeneity . Differences of the streptokinases were found in their amino acid compositions and in isoelectric points . Serological differences were detected by a quantitative precipitation reaction with fluorescein-coupled antistreptokinase antisera from the goat as well as by neutralization reactions of the activator activities of the streptokinases by antistreptokinase antisera obtained from guinea pigs.

Lancet, 1979 Jan, 1(8107), 75 - 7
Immunoprecipitation and opsonic cross-reaction between type-14 pneumococcus and group-B streptococcus type III; Fischer GW et al.; Antisera directed against type-14 pneumococcus was opsonic for several strains of type-III group-B streptococcus . Furthermore, the polysaccharide antigen in the polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine reacted to form precipitation lines with antisera directed against type-14 pneumococcus and group-B streptococcus type III Immunisation with currently available pneumococcal vaccine may provide opsonic antibody against group-B streptococci and provide a method of preventing neonatal group-B streptococcal infections.

Curr Med Res Opin, 1979, 6(2), 111 - 7
Bactericidal action of an average dose of erythromycin in the bronchi; Fraschini F et al.; A study was carried out to establish whether erythromycin stearate was bacteriostatic or bactericidal at the concentrations reached in the bronchial secretion . Twenty-two patients suffering from an acute attack of chronic bronchitis, sustained by streptococci, diplococci, staphylococci or H . influenzae sensitive to erythromycin, were treated with 1500 mg erythromycin per day until symptoms regressed, usually within 3 to 5 days . The results showed that after treatment there was a dramatic reduction in the number of bacterial colonies cultured from the bronchial secretion and marked changes in bacterial morphology were seen using electron microscopy . Further evidence of bactericidal activity was provided by the rapid clinical response of the patients.

J Exp Med, 1979 Jan 1, 149(1), 58 - 66
Isolation of type-specific polysaccharide antigen from group B type Ib streptococci; Tai JY et al.; Group B streptococcus type Ib (strain H36B) was subjected to digestion with extracellular muralytic enzymes prepared from Streptomyces albus . Type Ib-specific polysaccharide antigen was isolated from the lysate by alcohol precipitation and Sepharose 6B chromatography . The purified type Ib antigen has a Kd value of 0.31 on a Sepharose 4B column and contains four sugars, galactose, glucose, N-acetyl glucosamine, and sialic acid in a molar ratio of 2.05:0.86:1.00:0.90 . Acid treatment (pH 2.0) of this polysaccharide results in partial degradation of the antigen (Kd = 0.41 on Sepharose 4B) with the loss of 93% of the sialic acid . The molar ratio of the remaining sugars in the polysaccharide remains identical to that in the native one . This suggests that the sialic acid is at the terminal position in the molecule . Both intact and acid-treated antigen cross-react with some type Ia and type Ic antisera as a result of the common Iabc determinant, but not with type II and type III antisera . Absorption studies indicate that Ib-specific determinant and Iabc determinant are on the same molecule and that sialic acid is not the cross-reactive determinant.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1978 Dec, 48(6), 525 - 31
An analysis of the fatty acid composition of total lipids from mycoplasmas; Miura Y et al.; The fatty acid composition of the total lipids obtained from 9 species (22 strains) of Mycoplasma and 3 species (7 strains) of Acholeplasma was determined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) . The major fatty acids of the Mycoplasma species were palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), and linoleic acid (C18:2) . Lauric acid (C12:0) and myristic acid (C14:0) were present in small amounts in this genus . For the Mycoplasma species, the most prevalent fatty acid was C16:0 or C14:0, and other leading fatty acids were C12:0, C18:0, C18:1 and C18:2 . A substantial amount of C12:0 and C14:0 was found in the Acholeplasma species . It was confirmed that C12:0 and C14:0 were synthesized de novo, based on the fact that 14C-acetate was incorporated into these acids . The total percentage of C16 fatty acid was less than that of C18 fatty acids in all the strains of Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma except 4 strains . This may be related to osmo-regulation of the L-forms of Streptococci as mentioned in other reports.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 8(6), 667 - 72
Bacteriology of human and animal bite wounds; Goldstein EJ et al.; Seventy-three patients with bite wounds (16 patients with clenched-fist injuries, 18 with human bite wounds, and 39 with animal bites) were cultured aerobically and anaerobically . A total of 33 of 34 patients with human bites and clenched-fist injuries and 33 of 39 patients with animal bites had aerobic or facultative bacteria isolated from their wounds . A total of 224 strains of aerobic or facultative bacteria were isolated, the most frequent isolate being alpha-hemolytic streptococci (50 strains) . Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 18 wounds . Penicillin-resistant gram-negative rods were infrequently isolated (12 strains) . Anaerobic bacteria were isolated in 18 of 34 human bite wounds and clenched-fist injuries and 16 of 39 animal bite wounds . A total of 88 anaerobic strains was isolated, the most common being various Bacteroides species (36 strains).

Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health, 1978 Dec, 9(4), 549 - 57
Aetiologic agents of septic sore throat in Thai children; Jayanetra P et al.; A bacteriological study of children with respiratory infections in Bangkok during January to November 1976 revealed that 37% of the patients had symptoms and sign of bacterial pharyngotonsillitis . Twenty-six per cent of these children harboured Streptococcus pyogenes in their throats . The numbers of streptococci other than group A and Staphylococcus aureus were increased in the children with respiratory infections . However, Staph . aureus was found as the sole organism in children with exudate more often than in the children with only URI . The possible role of Staph . aureus in bacterial pharyngitis should not be ignored . Penicillin remains a drug of choice for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis . If penicillin is contraindicated, erythromycin should be preferred over lincomycin as a second choice of drug in order to avoid treatment failure if lincomycin resistant streptococci are present.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 8(6), 725 - 8
Serological identification of group A streptococci from throat scrapings before culture; Kholy AE et al.; The use of a microtechnique (modified nitrous acid extraction) to test samples from 150 school children and from patients with acute follicular tonsillitis has indicated that group A streptococci in the throat can be identified from tonsillar scrapings in 30 min . The results are comparable to the grouping results obtained by standard throat culture techniques and the Lancefield procedure for grouping . No cross-reaction with other bacteria or cellular material occurs . Study has also shown that the nitrous acid extraction yields three- to fourfold more polysaccharides than the Lancefield hot-HCl of Fuller formamide techniques . The use of the microtechnique leads to another 20-fold concentration of the antigen . Immune salting-out effect could be obtained with 1.00 M sodium acetate . Such molarity is too low to cause nonspecific slating out . It leads to a strong ampliciation of the precipitin reaction.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Dec, 138(6), 712 - 8
Protective studies with group A streptococcal M protein vaccine . III . Challenge of volunteers after systemic or intranasal immunization with Type 3 or Type 12 group A Streptococcus; D'Alessandri R et al.; Alum-precipitated and soluble, purified M protein vaccines were prepared from type 3 and type 12 group A Streptococcus . Adult volunteers were assigned to one of three groups: group I received placebo by both parenteral and intranasal routes; group 2 received vaccine parenterally (either type 3 or type 12) and placebo intranasally; and group 3 received placebo parenterally and vaccine intranasally (either type 3 or type 12) . Subjects were inoculated three times at montly intervals . Thirty to 50 days after the last dose, all subjects were challenged with homologous streptococci applied to the oropharynx . Six subjects (30%) vaccinated subcutaneously had definite illness, three (15%) had probable illness, and 11 (55%) had no illness . In the group vaccinated intranasally, four (14%) had definite illness, two (7%) had probable illness, and 22 (79%) had no illness . Fifteen controls (42%) had definite illness, and 21 (58%) had no illness . The rate of colonization was significantly lower in recipients of intranasal vaccine . Average clinical scores and vaccine side effects were also decreased in subjects vaccinated intranasally . Induced serum antibody as measured by passive hemagglutination was not a reliable predictor of resistance to streptococcal pharyngitis . Penicillin was administered to all subjects five days after challenge . No sequelae of streptococcal infection or other complications occurred . Thus, local immunization with M protein apparently may reduce both colonization and clinical illness after challenge with homologous streptococci.

J Exp Med, 1978 Dec 1, 148(6), 1699 - 704
The type-specific polysaccharides of Streptococcus suis; Elliott SD et al.; Streptococcus suis types 1 and 2 were subjected to digestion with lysozyme . Serologically type-specific capsular polysaccharides were isolated from the lysates by ethanol precipitation followed by Sepharose 6B chromatography . The purified type 1 polysaccharide has a Kd value of 0.074 on a Sepharose 4B column and contains galactose, glucose, N-acetyl glucosamine, N-acetyl galactosamine, and sialic acid in a molar ratio of 2.42:1.00:1.00:1.13:1.39 . The type 2 polysaccharide has a Kd value of 0.185 and is composed of rhamnose, galactose, glucose, N-acetyl glucosamine, and sialic acid in a molar ratio of 1.07:3.17:1.00:0.94:1.00 . A comparison is drawn between the type polysaccharides of S . suis and those of group B streptococci.

Scand J Dent Res, 1978 Dec, 86(6), 430 - 43
Salivary agglutinin and secretory IgA reactions with oral streptococci; Bratthall D et al.; S . mutans, S . salivarius, S . mitis and S . sanguis strains were isolated from three subjects of blood groups A, B and O . Parotid saliva samples obtained from the same subjects induced aggregation of some of the bacteria, the S . sanguis and the S . mutans strains in particular . While parotid saliva from the three subjects gave almost identical reactions, slight interindividual differences were observed for a few strains with the submandibular sublingual salivas . In parotid saliva, secretory antibodies reacting with all strains were present . The antibody levels differed between the three subjects but no specific pattern was observed when homologous strains were compared with heterologous strains.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Dec, 138(6), 804 - 10
Nasal colonization of infants with group B Streptococcus associated with intrauterine pressure transducers; Davis JP et al.; The rate of nasal colonization with group B Streptococcus in infants cultured at the time of discharge from the nursery rose significantly during a four-month interval . Investigation of this trend resulted in detection of group B streptococci in the domes of two intrauterine pressure transducers (IPTs) . Subsequent routine sterilization of IPT domes after each maternal use was associated with a decline in infant group B streptococcal colonization to the usual endemic rate in the nursery . Retrospective evaluation demonstrated that colonization in infants born to IPT-monitored women had increased significantly during the study interval and that no increase in colonization occurred in infants born to non-IPT-monitored women . From epidemiologic evidence it appears that use of contaminated IPTs during labor was a nosocomial source of group B streptococcal colonization.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1978 Nov 15, 132(6), 686 - 90
Experimental group B streptococcal infection in the rhesus monkey . I . Disease production in the neonate; Larsen JW Jr et al.; Group B streptococci (GBS) are responsible for serious infections of newborn infants . An experimental model for GBS infection was developed in the newborn rhesus monkey in order to obtain more information concerning the pathogenesis of such infections . A series of 29 newborn monkeys were inoculated with either type Ic or type III GBS or sterile broth . Fatal neonatal meningitis without associated pneumonia was produced consistently following intracerebral inoculation with either type Ic or type III; intracerebral inoculation with sterile broth produced no apparent disease . Variable disease production followed intravenous or intra-amniotic GBS inoculation, and clinical manifestations ranged from no apparent disease to fatal meningitis and pneumonia . This monkey model may be useful for further investigation of treatment and prevention of neonatal GBS infection.

Ann Intern Med, 1978 Nov, 89(5 Pt 2 Suppl), 774 - 6
Hospital infections: gynecologic, obstetric, and perinatal infections; Ledger WJ; Increased perinatal use of invasive monitoring techniques and a higher rate of cesarean section have led to an increase in the rate of maternal infection and to new types of infections in newborns . Control measures for maternal infections include antibiotic prophylaxis, direct administration of antibiotics to the amniotic fluid, extraperitoneal cesarean section, and cesarean hysterectomy . New types of infections in newborns include abscess resulting from use of electrodes to monitor fetal heart rate and the development of group B beta hemolytic streptococci infection, particularly in association with prolonged rupture of maternal membranes . Prospective studies are needed of preventive measures and proper management of maternal and perinatal infections . Obstetric and gynecologic problems that need further investigation include pelvic infection after vaginal hysterectomy, salpingooophoritis, and antibiotic dosages for pregnant women.

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