Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1979 Jun, 87C(3), 229 - 33
IgA and IgG antibodies against surface antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum and serum from patients with cystic fibrosis; Schiotz PO et al.; Eleven cystic fibrosis (CF) patients chronically infected in the lungs with mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa and presenting multiple precipitins in serum against this bacterium (CF + P) and 10 CF patients without P . aeruginosa infection (CF-P) had their serum and sputum sol phase specimens examined for antibodies of the IgA and IgG classes against surface antigens of P . aeruginosa by means of an indirect immunofluorescence technique . Both the IgA and IgG antibody titres demonstrated in serum and sputum of the CF + P patients were significantly higher than in those of the CF-P patients (p less than 0.01) . The titre of IgA antibodies in the sputum was higher than in serum in 3 cases indicating local pulmonary production of specific IgA antibodies . The role of the demonstrated antibodies in the local pulmonary immune defense mechanisms and the possible patogenesis of the pulmonary tissue damage in CF patients is discussed.

Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1979 Jun, 174(6), 788 - 91
{An epidemic of pseudomonas keratitis due to permanent-wear contact lenses (author's transl)}; Landolt E et al.; In 1977 thirty-three patients (35 eyes) with permanent-wear contact lenses presented with keratitis in varying degrees of severity . Among the nine cases investigated bacteriologically (including some contact lenses) three showed no organisms, while six were found to have pseudomonas aeruginosa . The contact lenses all came from the same optician, where shortly beforehand the patients had had their lenses either replaced or checked . The inspection of the optical establishment revealed faultless application of steril technique . Nevertheless it must be assumed that contamination of the lenses had had occurred there.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Jun, 112(2), 297 - 300
Effect of bacteriophage C5 on ultraviolet light survival in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Dirckze CD et al.; Bacteriophage C5 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is able to reactivate ultraviolet (u.v.)-irradiated phage E79 in coinfection experiments and decrease the u.v.-sensitivity of a host-cell reactivation deficient mutant . These properties suggest that phage C5 has a gene(s) which is involved in the repair of u.v.-damaged DNA . The isolation of two u.v.-sensitive mutants of C5 supports this hypothesis.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jun, 24(3), 948 - 52
Experimental bacterial keratitis in neutropenic guinea pigs: polymorphonuclear leukocytes in corneal host defense; Chusid MJ et al.; Quantitative techniques were used to determine the relative concentrations of viable bacteria and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the corneas of neutropenic and non-neutropenic guinea pigs with experimental bacterial keratitis induced with three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Neutropenia was produced by whole-body X-irradiation 1 week before infection . Significantly greater numbers of bacteria were present in the cornea of neutropenic animals 48 h after infection than were present in the corneas of non-neutropenic animals . The same was true 24 and 48 h after infecting animals with Staphylococcus aureus . Examination of histological sections showed that fewer PMNs were present in the corneas of infected neutropenic animals than in the corneas of infected non-neutropenic animals . Radiolabeling of PMNs confirmed a significant reduction in PMN concentration in the corneas of infected neutropenic animals . Tears and the corneal epithelium appear to be the most important elements protecting the cornea against local invasion by bacteria . However, once bacterial keratitis is established, PMNs play a role in limiting bacterial multiplication.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jun, 24(3), 837 - 42
Production of exoenzyme S during Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections of burned mice; Bjorn MJ et al.; Antisera which distinguished between Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S and toxin A neutralized the adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase activity of the homologous, but not the heterologous, enzyme . Skin extracts and sera from burned mice infected with the exoenzyme S-producing strain P . aeruginosa 388 contained adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase activity that was not found in skin extracts or sera from uninfected mice . On the basis of immunological reactivity and enzymatic properties, the adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase activity present in skin extracts and sera from P . aeruginosa 388-infected mice was identified as exoenzyme S . Active elongation factor 2 levels in tissues from strain 388-infected mice were normal at 24 h postinfection, indicating that strain 388 does not produce detectable amounts of toxin A in vivo . An unexpected finding in this investigation was the presence of exoenzyme S-inactivating activity in the sera from some nonimmunized animals.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Jun, (6), 84 - 9
{Pathogenicity of clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Savitskaia KI et al.; The study of 208 Ps . aeruginosa clinical strains, introduced intraperitoneally into white mice, revealed the statistically significant prevalence of pathogenic cultures (87.5--100%) . The pathogenic strains of Ps . aeruginosa were found to have statistically significant differences in their cultural and biochemical properties depending on the kind of clinical material: the strains isolated from blood formed mucoid colonies, the zones of hemolysis and thermolabile or thermostable alkaline phosphatase, and typing could be made in 100% of the isolated cultures; the strains isolated from material of closed cavities formed mucoid colonies and the zones of hemolysis; the pathogenic strains isolated from material of open cavities showed only a tendency towards greater activity in the formation of extracellular sline and greater capacity for the formation of clarification zones on yolk agar as compared with nonpathogenic cultures.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jun, 138(3), 846 - 52
Biosynthesis of phenazine pigments in mutant and wild-type cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Byng GS et al.; Pigmentation mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, selected by observed visual differences in coloration from the wild-type strain, were examined for altered patterns of phenazine synthesis . Three classes of mutants that were incapable of pyocyanine production were identified . Pigmentation patterns that were found to characterize the various mutant classes implicated precursor-product relationships, and a biochemical scheme covering the terminal reactions of pyocyanine biosynthesis is proposed . Among compounds tested as inhibitors of pigmentation, two effectively inhibited pyocyanine production production while allowing cell growth . p-Aminobenzoate inhibited total pigmentation; i.e., no other phenazine accumulated . m-Aminobenzoate inhibited a presumptive methylation step in pyocyanine biosynthesis, abolishing the formation of pyocyanine and aeruginosin pigments but increasing the yields of phenazine 1-carboxylic acid and oxychlororaphin . D-{2,3,4,5(n)-14C}shikimate was most efficiently incorporated into phenazines in the middle to late exponential phase of growth . Label was incorporated predominantly into pyocyanine in the absence of inhibitors and into phenazine 1-carboxylic acid when the organism was grown in the presence of m-aminobenzoate.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jun, 138(3), 748 - 55
Suppressor mutation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kageyama M et al.; Suppressor mutations were identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a comparison was made with Escherichia coli suppressor systems . A suppressor-sensitive (sus) derivative of a plasmid, RP4 trp, and several Sus mutants of IncP1 plasmid-specific phages, were isolated by using E . coli . Plasmid RP4 trp (sus) was transferred to P . aeruginosa strains carrying trp markers which did not complement RP4 trp(sus), and Trp+ variants were selected . Some, but not all such revertants, could propagate PRD1 Sus phages, and these mutants were found to be supressor positive . Plating efficiencies of various Sus phages on these strains were compared with on E . coli strains carrying known suppressor genes . The results suggested that the Pseudomonas suppressors were probably amber suppressors . In iddition, some Sus phages (PRD1sus-55, PRD1sus-56) were obtained which, although apparently of the amber type for E . coli, were able to propagate equally well on sup+ or sup strains of P . aeruginosa . On the other hand, several mutants of phage PRR1 which were suppressed in E . coli were not suppressed by the P . aeruginosa suppressor . Suppressor-sensitive mutants were also isolated with P . aeruginosa bacteriophages E79 and D3.

Virchows Arch B Cell Pathol Incl Mol Pathol, 1979 May 4, 30(1), 1 - 13
Hairy cell leukemia: differences in phagocytic capacity of cells in vitro; Golomb HM et al.; Hairy cells from eight patients with hairy cell leukemia were evaluated with both light and transmission electron microscopy for their capacity to phagocytose zymosan, latex, staphylococcus aureus, and pseudomonas aeruginosa . In two patients, there was no phagocytosis of any of these substances; cells from three patients phagocytosed only latex; two, all except pseudomonas; and one, all 4 substances . Hairy cells became relatively smooth while in culture with staphylococcus, but no surface changes were noted during incubation with the other substances . Of the eight patients studied, one died of pseudomonas pneumonia and sepsis; pseudomonas was the only substance which her hairy cells did not phagocytose . The one patient whose hairy cells phagocytosed all 4 test substances developed a disseminated Mycobacterium intracellulare infection; culture of his hairy cells with this atypical myocbacterium showed no phagocytosis . Hairy cells have different phagocytic capabilities from patient to patient, and the evaluation of these capabilities in vitro might provide early identification of potential infectious complications.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 May 2, 96(1), 101 - 8
Inhibition of the aliphatic amidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by urea and related compounds; Gregoriou M et al.; The time-dependent inhibition of amidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain AI 3 by urea, hydroxyurea and cyanate displayed saturation kinetics fitting a model for the reaction sequence in which formation of a complex in a reversible step was followed by an irreversible step . Altered amidases from mutant strains AIU 1N and OUCH 4, selected for their resistance to inhibition of growth by urea and hydroxyurea respectively, had altered kinetic constants for inhibition indicating reduced binding capacity for the inhibitors . The substrate acetamide protected AI 3 amidase against inhibition by urea,.and altered Ki values for inhibition of the mutant amidases were paralleled by alterations in Km values for acetamide indicating that urea acted at the active site . Inhibition of AI 3 amidase involved the binding of one molecule of urea per molecule of enzyme . Urea inhibited amidase slowly regained activity at pH 7.2 through release of urea.

Arch Dermatol, 1979 May, 115(5), 609 - 10
Botryomycosis . A bacterial cause of mycetoma; Picou K et al.; Botryomycosis is a chronic, granulomatous, bacterial infection in which grains are produced . Clinically, it may not be distinguished from a mycetoma of fungal origin . A case is reported in which the causative organisms were Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Am J Med Sci, 1979 May-Jun, 277(3), 311 - 8
Continuous infusion tobramycin combined with carbenicillin for infections in cancer patients; Issell BF et al.; The cure rate of infections in cancer patients is adversely affected by neutropenia (less than 1,000/mm3) . In particular, patients with severe neutropenia (less than 100/mm3) have shown a poor response to antibiotics . To overcome the adverse effects of neutropenia, tobramycin was given by continuous infusion and combined with intermittent carbenicillin . Tobramycin was given to a total daily dose of 300 mg/m2 and carbenicillin was given at a dose of 5 gm every four hours . There were 125 infectious episodes in 116 cancer patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy . The overall cure rate was 70% . Pneumonia was the most common infection and 61% of 59 episodes were cured . Gram-negative bacilli were the most common causative organisms and 69% of these infections were cured . The most common pathogen was Klebsiella pneumoniae and this, together with Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, accounted for 74% of all gram-negative bacillary infections . Response was not influenced by the initial neutrophil count, with a 62% cure rate for 39 episodes associated with severe neutropenia . However, failure of the neutrophil count to increase during therapy adversely affected response . Azotemia was the major side effect recognized, and it occurred in 11% of episodes . Major azotemia (serum creatinine greater than 2.5 mg/dl or BUN greater than 50 mg/dl) occurred in only 2% . Azotemia was not related to duration of therapy or serum tobramycin concentration . This antibiotic regimen showed both therapeutic efficacy and acceptable renal toxicity for these patients.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 May, 9(5), 632 - 4
Isolation of oxidase-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa from sputum culture; Hampton KD et al.; Two isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lacking characteristic indophenol oxidase were recovered from a sputum specimen . A discussion of the characteristic biochemical tests and antibiograms along with a possible explanation for this phenomenon is presented.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 May, 32(5), 468 - 71
Disodium D-6-{alpha-(1,2,4-triazine-3,5-dione-6-carboxamido)-4-hydroxyphenylacetamido}penicillanate, BL-P1908; Baker SR et al.; The synthesis of a new penicillin, disodium D-6-{alpha-(1,2,4-triazine-3,5-dione-6-carboxyamido)-4-hydroxyphenylacetamido}penicillanate (BL-P1908), is described . The compound shows superior in vitro activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to carbenicillin and ticarcillin and produces higher intramuscular serum levels in mice than does carbenicillin.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 May, 112(1), 181 - 3
Effect of piperacillin on D-alanine carboxypeptidase activities from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Suginaka H et al.; Membrane-bound D-alanine carboxypeptidase activity from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is very sensitive to inhibition by piperacillin.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 May, 25(5), 637 - 40
Transfer and integration of chromosomal genes from Pseudomonas glycinea into Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Leary JV; The plasmids FP2 and R68.45 were shown to function as chromosome-mobilizing plasmids in a series of interspecific crosses between the phytopathogen Pseudomonas glycinea and the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa . At least four of seven loci tested were transferred from P . glycinea donors to P . aeruginosa auxotrophic recipients . Transductional analysis indicates that a leu+ locus of the P . glycinea chromosome transferred is stably integrated into the P . aeruginosa chromosome.

Infect Immun, 1979 May, 24(2), 399 - 403
Inhibitory effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the phagocytic and killing activity of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes: mechanisms of action of a polymorphonuclear leukocyte inhibitor; Nonoyama S et al.; The polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) inhibitor isolated from a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is resistant to the phagocytic and killing activities of rabbit PMN inhibited migration of PMN and engulfment of latex particles by PMN . In studies of the bactericidal metabolism of PMN, the PMN inhibitor did not inhibit the intracellular activity and extracellular release of lysosomal enzymes . However, the PMN inhibitor caused a decrease of Nitro Blue Tetrazolium reduction . The PMN inhibitor had a cytotoxic effect on PMN and inhibited {14C}tyrosine uptake in intact PMN inhibitor had no inhibitory effect on protein synthesis in cell extracts.

Infect Immun, 1979 May, 24(2), 394 - 8
Inhibitory effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the phagacytic and killing activities of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes: purification and characterization of an inhibitor of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function; Nonoyama S et al.; A clinically isolated strain of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-resistant Pseudomonas was found to produce an extracellular substance (PMN inhibitor) that inhibits the phagocytic and killing activities of PMN . The PMN inhibitor was purified from culture filtrates by precipitation with (NH4)2SO4 and chromatography on phosphocellulose, diethylaminoethyl-cellulose, and Sephadex G-100 . The preparation was homogenous as judged by disc gel electrophoresis . The purified PMN inhibitor appeared to be a protein with a molecular weight of approximately 65,000 that was inactivated by heating and by exposure to a proteolytic enzyme.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 May, (5), 67 - 72
{Problems of the immunoprophylaxis of experimental Pseudomonas pyocyanea wound sepsis}; Kolker II et al.; An experimental study showed that a multicomponent Pseudomonas aeruginosa preparation, developed by the authors and named "Pyoimmunogen", had a pronounced protective effect against the culture of P . aeruginosa, most frequently isolated in surgical clinics . The immunization of rats carried out in accordance with a specially devised scheme allowed to decrease mortality rate in experimental pyocyanic wound sepsis to 6.9%, whereas in the control animals mortality rate reached 91.5%.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1979 May, 85(5), 1173 - 81
Membrane-bound D-gluconate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Purification and structure of cytochrome-binding form; Matsushita K et al.; A membrane-bound D-gluconate dehydrogenase {EC 1.1.99.3} was solubilized from membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and purified to a homogeneous state with the aid of detergents . The solubilized enzyme was a monomer in the presence of at least 0.1% Triton X-100, having a molecular weight of 138,000 on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or 124,000--131,000 on sucrose density gradient centrifugation . In the absence of Triton X-100, the enzyme became dimeric, having a molecular weight of 240,000--260,000 on sucrose density gradient centrifugation . Removal of Triton X-100 caused a decrease in enzyme activity . Enzyme activity was stimulated by addition of phospholipid, particularly cardiolipin, in the presence of Triton X-100 . The enzyme had a cytochrome c1, c-554(551), which might be a diheme cytochrome, and it also contained a covalently bound flavin but not ubiquinone . In the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the enzyme was dissociated into three components with molecular weights of 66,000, 50,000, and 22,000 . The components of 66,000 and 50,000 daltons corresponded to a flavoprotein and cytochrome c1, respectively, but that of 22,000 dalton remained unclear as to its function.

Antibiotiki, 1979 May, 24(5), 340 - 3
{Comparative study of the antibacterial activity of a number of new antibiotics and their combinations in relation to Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Bekbergenov BM et al.; Tobramycin and sisomycin proved to have the highest antibacterial activity against 156 clinical strains of Ps . aeruginosa and were 4--8 times more effective than monomycin, kanamycin, neomycin and to a lesser extent gentamicin . The combination of mecillinam and sisomycin had a synergistic effect with respect to 26 out of 50 strains of Ps . aeruginosa and the combination of mecillinam and tobramycin had a synergistic effect on 18 strains . An antagonistic effect was observed with the use of the above combinations in 3 cases . The effect of the combinations depended on sensitivity of Ps . aeruginosa cultures to the aminoglycoside antibiotic included into the compositions.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 May, 25(5), 593 - 9
Experimental studies of the pathogenesis of infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa: extracellular protease and elastase as in vivo virulence factors; Holder IA et al.; The effects on mortality of supplemental injections of protease and elastase were determined in burned mice infected with non-lethal inocula of a toxin-producing but non-proteolytic-enzyme-producing strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . When a variety of solutions containing proteolytic enzyme were injected under these conditions, the mortality increased significantly . This did not occur when organisms other than P . aeruginosa were used . Injections of the enzyme solutions alone were non-lethal . Injection of a solution of alpha 2-macroglobulin, which was shown to inhibit proteolytic activity, together with a proteolytic enzyme--toxin producing strain of P . aeruginosa caused a significant delay in mortality when compared with controls . It was concluded that protease, elastase, and toxin production were necessary for P . aeruginosa to express full virulence in the burned mouse model.

Mol Gen Genet, 1979 Apr 17, 172(1), 99 - 105
Mapping of the loci involved in the catabolic oxidation of L-hydroxyproline in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Manoharan HT et al.; Genes specifying the oxidative utilization of hydroxyproline (Hyp) in P . aeruginosa PAO were located on the chromosome, around 19th minute by conjugation experiments . A map order of his-68-his-07-Hyp was assigned . Confirmation of this gene order was also demonstrated by transductional mapping studies . All the genes determining the enzymes of Hyp dissimiliatory pathway were closely linked.

Eur J Pediatr, 1979 Apr 3, 130(4), 259 - 69
Evaluation of long term tobramycin therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis and advanced pulmonary disease; Paporisz U et al.; To nine cystic fibrosis patients with chronic bronchopulmonary infection of severely damaged lungs invaded by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, eleven courses of prolonged tobramycin treatment (5 mg/kg/day) for four to 16 weeks were administered . Pulmonary symptoms improved and a better quality of life was achieved in all but one patient . Objective parameters (chest X-ray, pulmonary function tests) changed to a lesser extent . In only one patient was Pseudomonas eradicated from the sputum but reappeared after discontinuation of therapy . In the rest of the patients Pseudomonas was significantly suppressed or replaced by other pathogens . Four patients showed rises of antibody titres to Candida and two to Aspergillus fumigatus . No nephrotoxic side effects were observed, but vestibular function was reversibly impaired in one patient without corresponding clinical symptoms . No bacterial resistance to tobramycin was observed during therapy.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1979 Apr, 127(4), 171 - 4
{Possible indications for recently developed antibiotics {author's transl)}; Simon C; Properties and possible indications of recently developed antibiotics are described . For the treatment of pseudomonas aeruginosa infections of all penicillins azlocillin is the most favourable drug (instead of carbenicillin), for treatment of esch . coli infections it is mezlocillin (instead of ampicillin) . Becampicillin and equally amoxycillin are more than ampicillin suitable for oral application (because of almost complete absorption) . Cefaclor has a broader spectrum and stronger activity than cefalexin and will replace cefalexin in future . Sisomicin is similar to gentamicin and has no essential advantages . Netilmicin seems to be less oto-and nephrotoxic than gentamicin and may be used with less risk of side-effects in patients with renal insufficiency . Amikacin is reserved for infections by gentamicin-resistant bacteria.

Arch Dermatol, 1979 Apr, 115(4), 459 - 60
Persistent subcutaneous abscesses following Pseudomonas sepsis . Treatment by surgical incision and drainage; Picou KA et al.; Despite appropriate and adequate antibiotic therapy, multiple subcutaneous abscesses developed in a child with Pseudomonas aeruginosa spesis and meningitis . The patient's condition remained toxic until the abscesses were incised and drained.

Z Gastroenterol, 1979 Apr, 17(4), 231 - 5
{Small bowel biopsy as a cause of pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia in a patient with intestinal lymphoma? (author's transl)}; Jenss H et al.; A patient with intestinal lymphoma developed a gram-negative septicemia 48 hours following a peroral biopsy of the small intestine . The bacteriological examination of the instrument proved the same bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) which was the cause of septicemia . On the basis of our observation and of other reports it seems reasonable besides gassterilization or effective disinfection of the instruments to carry out cultural examinations of the instrument before and following endoscopic and bioptic investigations of patients with impaired resistance; it would then be possible to start an appropriate antibiotic treatment in case of a septic complication.

South Med J, 1979 Apr, 72(4), 437 - 40
Respiratory failure secondary to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection; Fraley DS et al.; Three previously healthy patients presented with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, hypoxemia, and respiratory failure associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection . None had underlying pulmonary or immune deficiency diseases . One died with dense fibrotic reorganization of the lungs, and another survived after prolonged mechanical ventilatory assistance . Two developed pulmonary superinfections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . All had extrapulmonary complications: one had Coombs'-positive hemolytic anemia, another myocarditis, and all three had abnormal results of liver function tests, consistent with hepatocellular dysfunction.

J Parasitol, 1979 Apr, 65(2), 222 - 5
Isolation of Plasmodium berghei by hemolysin lysis of infected erythrocytes and evidence for a parasite hexokinase; Coleman MB et al.; A rapid and simple procedure has been developed for the isolation of Plasmodium berghei parasites from infected-mouse erythrocytes employing the heat stable hemolysin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Using parasites isolated by this method, the presence of a parasite specific hexokinase has been demonstrated, providing an explanation for the increased glucose consumption observed with infected cells . Enzyme assays and serology were employed in determining the purity and yield of purified parasites . The enzyme assays showed that about 25% of the parasites in infected RBCs were recovered in the purified state . The purified parasites were not agglutinated by rabbit-anti-mouse RBC serum which indicated the purified parasites were not contaminated by RBC components.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1979 Apr, 130A(3), 315 - 30
Effect of antibiotics on mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Berche P et al.; A study of the susceptibility to 18 antibiotics has been performed on 47 mucoid strains comparatively to 71 fried-egg strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The minimal inhibitory concentration was determinated by agar dilution method . On the whole, the mucoid strains were more sensitive to antibiotics than the fried-egg strains . The more effective antibiotics were carbenicillins, aminosids, colistin and tetracyclines . However, this drug susceptibility of mucoid strains were heterogeneous . The results of a statistical analysis demonstrated that the strains of P . aeruginosa were distributed into two classes: a first class clustered very sensitive strains to most antibiotics and a second class clustered more resistant strains . The mucoid strains were included almost equally into the two classes (respectively 45% and 55%) . The fried-egg strains were more homogeneous, since 89% of these strains were in the resistant class . The antibiotics which distinguished the best between the two classes were: tobramycin, netilmicin, amikacin, colistin and tetracyclines . A study of the phenotypes and associations of resistances has been equally performed.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Apr, 9(4), 479 - 84
Use of 2-aminoacetophenone production in identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Cox CD et al.; A grapelike odor is often of diagnostic importance in detecting the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in culture and in burn wounds . The compound responsible for the odor has been identified as 2-aminoacetophenone by mass spectroscopy . Although the grape odor is sometimes difficult to detect in culture media, gas chromatographic, fluorometric, and colorimetric methods can be utilized to assay 2-aminoacetophenone production in a variety of media . Its synthesis occurs relatively early in the growth cycle . It has proved easy and convenient to detect 2-aminoacetophenone excretion by P . aeruginosa after 24 h of incubation on blood agar plates employing a fluorometric assay of ether extracts of the agar medium.

Infect Immun, 1979 Apr, 24(1), 32 - 8
Depression of the antibody response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-injected mice; Garzelli C et al.; Heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa inhibit antibody response in C57BL/6 mice . The depression of this response is dependent on the dose of bacteria injected, on the time interval between microorganism injection and antigen administration, and on the nature of the antigen used . Cell transfer experiments provide evidence that suppressor cells are not operative in this model . Furthermore, the results show that P . aeruginosa induces a marked dose-dependent proliferation of spleen cells in vivo, and the in vitro targets of this proliferative effect are B lymphocytes . It is suggested that whole, heat-killed P . aeruginosa in vivo also behave as cell mitogens on B lymphocytes which, when strongly stimulated to proliferate, temporarily lose their capacity to mount a normal antibody response.

Infect Immun, 1979 Apr, 24(1), 188 - 93
Protease and elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: inactivation of human plasma alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor; Morihara K et al.; The present study indicates that crystalline elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a very potent inactivator of human plasma alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, the enzyme (E) inactivated the inhibitor (I) almost completely within 1 h at 25 degrees C at a molar ratio of E/I = 1:100 . The crystalline P . aeruginosa protease also inactivated the inhibitor, but 100-fold less . Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor inactivated by the elastase and protease showed decreases in molecular weight of approximately 5,000 and 10,000, respectively . Regeneration of trypsin was negligible even when bovine trypsin-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor complex (E/I = 1.0) was treated with the elastase . The affinity of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor to trypsin was much higher than that to elastase . It was suggested that, assuming the pseudomonal proteases are produced and can inactivate alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor in vivo during pseudomonal diseases, the loss of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor activity may permit the endogenous serine proteases to cause tissue destruction.

Infect Immun, 1979 Apr, 24(1), 181 - 7
Assessment of protease (elastase) as a Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factor in experimental mouse burn infection; Pavlovskis OR et al.; The data presented indicate that in experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of mice, protease enhances the virulence of the organism . Anesthetized CBA/Lu mice were subjected to a 15-s flame burn and infected with a wild-type protease-producing strain and two of its protease-deficient mutants . The average bacterial cell mean lethal dose (LD50) of 3.8 +/- 0.3 standard deviation (log10) for mice infected with the protease-producing P . aeruginosa was at least 1 log lower than the LD50 of the protease-deficient mutants (0.02 greater than P greater than 0.01) . The addition of purified protease to the infecting inoculum of protease-deficient strains reduced the LD50 . Although the generation time in vitro was the same for all three bacterial strains used, there were consistently fewer viable bacteria in the blood of mice infected with protease-deficient strains than in those infected with the protease-producing strain . When a protease-deficient strain was mixed with the protease-producing wild-type strain, the number of protease-producing pseudomonas found in the blood remained constant, whereas the number of protease-deficient organisms increased, suggesting that protease contributed to the invasiveness of the organisms . The survival of mice infected with protease-producing pseudomonas was enhanced by antiprotease serum . Antiprotease serum had no effect in mice infected with protease-deficient mutants.

Infect Immun, 1979 Apr, 24(1), 132 - 8
Production of exotoxin A by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a chemically defined medium; DeBell RM; A defined medium was developed in which easily measured quantities of exotoxin A (PE) were produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA-103 . The medium contained three L-amino acids (arginine, aspartic acid, and alanine), basal and trace salts including 14 mM K2HPO4, 14 mM glucose, and 140 mM glycerol . The concentrations of amino acids which yielded most satisfactory results were 6 mM alanine, 13 mM aspartic acid, and 16 mM arginine . The identity of PE in the culture supernatant fluid was demonstrated by adenosine diphosphate-ribosyl transferase activity and by immunodiffusion with sheep antitoxin elicited with purified PE and with PE produced in Trypticase soy broth dialysate and pure PE as controls . PE production was also demonstrated by mouse lethality and passive hemagglutination . As compared to Trypticase soy broth dialysate, P . aeruginosa produced 25 to 50% PE in the defined medium . Different strains of P . aeruginosa produced PE in the defined medium in proportions relative to those in Trypticase soy broth dialysate.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Apr, 139(4), 396 - 400
Influence of genetic factors on natural resistance of mice to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pennington JE et al.; In order to determine whether genetic background influences natural resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a series of 16 different strains of inbred mice were challenged intraperitoneally with P . aeruginosa . Significantly greater natural resistance to infection was found in mice of C3H background genome than in mice of A background genome . This phenomenon was documented for two different strains of P . aeruginosa but could not be demonstrated in control studies in which mice were intraperitoneally challenged with Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli . The enhanced resistance of C3H mice was independent of currently defined haplotypes at the H-2 locus . The killing activity of serum against Pseudomonas was not greater in C3H mice than in A mice . The extension of these findings to disease in humans suggests that the particular susceptibility of certain populations of patients to Pseudomonas may be partially related to genetic factors.

Immunology, 1979 Apr, 36(4), 781 - 91
The role of lactoferrin in the bactericidal function of polymorphonuclear leucocytes; Bullen JJ et al.; Rabbit polymorphonuclear leucocytes contain the iron-binding protein lactoferrin, and can rapidly phagocytose and destroy Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The lactoferrin normally has a large unsaturated iron-binding capacity . If the cells are exposed to a ferritin-antibody complex, large amounts of this are phagocytosed and appear in the cytoplasmic granules and phagosomes . This leads to saturation of the cellular iron-binding protein with Fe . In these circumstances, the bactericidal power of the cells is greatly reduced with the result that some phagocytosed bacteria survive and eventually grow and destroy the cells . An apoferritin-antibody complex used as a control is also phagocytosed but has no effect on the bactericidal power of the cell . The results support the view that lactoferrin plays an essential role in the bactericidal power of the cell.

Biokhimiia, 1979 Apr, 44(4), 720 - 8
{Cyanide-resistant respiration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria}; Trutko SM et al.; The transition of the bacterial culture into the stationary growth phase is accompanied by an appearance of cyanide-resistant respiration . Chloramphenicol inhibits the development of cyanide-resistant respiration . The cyanide-resistant oxidase is localized in the bacterial membrane . Its appearance is not due to the quantitative and qualitative changes of flavins, non-heme iron, ubiquinone and cytochromes of the b and c types, but is accompanied by an increase in the copper content of the membrane preparations . Neither cyanide-sensitive, nor cyanide-resistant chains of the bacterial electron transfer contain cytochromes of the a type . The cyanide-resistant oxidase accepts electrons at the ubiquinone--cytochrome b level of the main respiratory chain . The cyanide-resistant respiration is not accompanied by a formation of hydrogen peroxide . Cytochrome o performs the function of cyanide-sensitive oxidase . The nature of cyanide-resistant oxidase still remains obscure.

J Med Chem, 1979 Apr, 22(4), 432 - 6
Aminoglycoside antibiotics . 2 . N,N-Dialkylkanamycins; Kumar V et al.; N6',N3''-Dialkyl derivatives of kanamycins A and B were prepared regiospecifically from the parent antibiotics . Although the dimethyl and diethyl derivatives of kanamycin A were inactive in standard antibacterial assays, the dimethyl derivative of kanamycin B showed moderate activity, especially against various strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A method for the selective dimethylation of the 3''-amino group of kanamycin A also was developed.

Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1979 Mar 30, 55(6), 529 - 33
{In-vitro antibiotic resistance of hospital and non-hospital strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Ceddia T et al.; The AA report about the resistence towards antibiotics of 42 stocks of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from hospitalized patients and of 18 stocks isolated from non hospitalized patients . The most active antibiotics are Gentamicine, Neomicine and Streptomicine . Interestingly towards Tobramicine no resistence has been detected . The stocks isolated from hospitalized patients have generally shown a higher resistence.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Mar 16, 567(1), 225 - 37
Kinetic mechanism of the aliphatic amidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Woods MJ et al.; The kinetic constants for hydrolysis and transfer (with hydroxylamine as the alternate acceptor) of the aliphatic amidase (acylamide amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.4) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were determined for a variety of acetyl and propionyl derivatives . The results obtained were consistent with a ping-pong or substitution mechanism . Product inhibition, which was pH dependent, implicated an acyl-enzyme compound as a compulsory intermediate and indicated that ammonia combined additionally with the free enzyme in a dead-end manner . The uncompetitive activation of acetamide hydrolysis by hydroxylamine and the observation that the partitioning of products between acetic acid and acetohydroxamate was linearly dependent on the hydroxylamine concentration substantiated these conclusions and indicated that deacylation was at least partially rate limiting . With propionamide as the acyl donor apparently anomalous results, which included inequalities in certain kinetic constants and a hyperbolic dependence of the partition ratio on the hydroxylamine concentration, could be explained by postulating a compulsory isomerisation of the acyl-enzyme intermediate prior to the transfer reaction.

Respir Care, 1979 Apr, 24(4), 321 - 7
Disinfection of anesthesia and respiratory therapy equipment with acid glutaraldehyde solution; Lin KS et al.; The dilution of acid glutaraldehyde solution and its effect on microbiological effectiveness were investigated using Sonacide and the Cidematic Decontamination System under normal use conditons at 18 hospitals over a 4-week period . The dilution of Sonacide was found to follow first-order kinetics and is described by the equation, ln C = ln Co-KT, where K is the apparent dilution-rate constant . The average dilution-rate constant under normal use conditions was 0.015/day . It takes an average of 47 days under normal hospital-use conditions to reduce its potency to half its original strength . The average glutaraldehyde concentration after 28 days' use was found to be approximately 66% of the initial concentration . The AOAC use-dilution test was employed to evaluate the microbiological effectiveness of the Sonacide samples collected weekly for four weeks . Results showed that all the Sonacide samples from 18 hospitals passed the AOAC use-dilution test for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442) . Based on this study, it is apparent that Sonacide can be used to disinfect various anesthesia and respiratory therapy equipment for up to 4 weeks in the Cidematic machine.

Mol Gen Genet, 1979 Mar 9, 171(1), 107 - 9
Transformation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli with resistance plasmid DNA: formation of smaller conjugative plasmids from RPI; Haque H; Sheared DNA from RPI, and R plasmid from a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was used to transform other strains of P . aeruginosa and Escherichia coli . From transformed cells other plasmids like RPI were isolated . These deletion plasmids were conjugally transferrable and confer resistance mainly against carbenicillin and tetracycline.

JAMA, 1979 Mar 9, 241(10), 1034 - 6
Pseudomonas sternotomy wound infection and sternal osteomyelitis . Complications after open heart surgery; Stiver HG et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa sternotomy wound infections occurred in five patients who underwent open heart surgery . The initial isolate in each case was from a mediastinal chest tube routinely cultured on removal . Soft-tissue infection developed in two patients, and sternal osteomyelitis developed in three patients . Pseudomonas-typing studies showed a correlation between five isolates from chest-tube suction pumps used postoperatively and the wound isolates . Analysis of antibiograms of Pseudomonas wound isolates from the cardiac surgery ward from 1975 to 1977 showed eight of 15 with the same antibiogram as the sternotomy pathogens, compared with two of 13 isolates from other wards.

Biochemistry, 1979 Mar 6, 18(5), 774 - 9
1H NMR and ESR studies of oxidized cytochrome c551 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Chao YY et al.; Near neutral pH, Fe(III) cytochrome c551 exhibits an ESR absorption due primarily to a single species with g values of 3.24, 2.06, and 1.48 . These g values are somewhat different from those of horse heart cytochrome c and can be interpreted by the generalizations of Brautigan et al . {(1977) J . Biol . Chem . 252, 574} to be due to Fe binding by the imidazole anion of histidine rather than by neutral imidazole . The NMR spectrum of Fe(III) cytochrome c551 exhibits a number of hyperfine-shifted peaks whose pattern shows similarities to but many differences from that of horse heart cytochrome c . Variation in shifts of some of the peaks in the pH range 5--9 is ascribed to ionization of a somewhat buried propionic acid side chain (pK = 5.8) and to ionization of the N-terminal NH3+ group (pK = 7.7) . At alkaline pH greater than 9.4, as shown by a variety of optical and ESR spectral changes, the Met-61 S ligand is replaced by other ligands.

Invest Urol, 1979 Mar, 16(5), 360 - 4
The response of the renal pelvis to infection: a scanning electron microscopic study; Cohen MS et al.; The response of the rat renal pelvis to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was examined using scanning electron microscopy . Bacterial attachment was noted in regions of microplical alteration with subsequent strand formation and epithelial cell exfoliation . These observations support the hypothesis that bacterial invasion initiates defense mechanisms in the renal pelvis similar to those noted in bladders, namely, membrane alteration with increased bacterial attachment, strand formation with further bacterial entrapment, and exfoliation of bacteria-laden epithelial cells which are eliminated via voiding.

South Med J, 1979 Mar, 72(3), 282 - 6
Patterns of infection in untreated acute leukemia: impact of initial hospitalization; Beam TR Jr et al.; Several previous authors have examined the association between infection and acute leukemia, especially at the time of death, but none has assessed this problem at the time of diagnosis and initial hospitalization . We have undertaken a retrospective review of cases of acute leukemia diagnosed at the affiliated hospitals of the State University of New York at Buffalo . Results suggest that bacteriologic findings in this population initially resemble those in the general outpatient population . Gram-negative bacilli, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, appear as important pathogens after the first week of hospitalization . A statistically significant association with prolonged granulocytopenia and use of antibiotics develops during this course . As a consequence of these data, we recommend careful culture and clinical delineation of the early infection, choosing the narrowest spectrum of antibiotic coverage appropriate to the infection present as data evolve.

Afr J Med Med Sci, 1979 Mar-Jun, 8(1-2), 19 - 23
Pyocine typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; Porebska AM; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from clinical and environmental sources in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, were pyocine typed using the indicator strains and the standardized method of Gillies & Govan . Out of 302 clinical isolates 9.6% were untypable and 3.6% were unclassifiable . Among typable isolates fourteen pyocine types were identified, types 1, 3, 11, 5, and 10 being the commonest . Among ninety-six environmental isolates types 1, 3 and 10 were most common, 18.7% were untypable and 3.1% were unclassifiable . Sink traps were environmental sites most frequently contaminated with Ps . aeruginosa . Out of ten pyocine types identified in environmental strains, eight were the same as those isolated from patients . Seven subtypes were found among the most commonly encountered pyocine type 1 isolates . The procedure is a simple and reliable method to study the epidemiology of infections due to Ps . aeruginosa.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 9(3), 347 - 50
Standardization of direct susceptibility test for blood cultures; Fay D et al.; Insufficient data are available to establish the reliability of direct disk diffusion susceptibility tests performed utilizing positive blood culture broth as inoculum . When Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 were used, 0.03 ml of turbid overnight blood culture broth was found to produce zone diameters closely approximating the size of diameters obtained by a standardized method . Results of direct (0.03 ml of inoculum) and standardized susceptibility tests were then compared for 116 positive blood cultures (1,069 individual disk comparisons) . There were 1,011 test agreements (94.6%) . There were also 48 (4.5%) minor discrepancies (change between sensitive and intermediate or between intermediate and resistant) and 10 (0.9%) major discrepancies (change between sensitive and resistant) . The major discrepancies were randomly distributed among several organisms and antibiotics . Discrepancies occurred most frequently in the more clinically acceptable direction; i.e., in 79.3% the direct test indicted greater resistance than the standardized test . These data establish that 0.03 ml of turbid overnight blood culture broth produces results which compare closely to those obtained with standard methods, and in practice yield direct susceptibility results with a clinically acceptable level of reliability.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 25(3), 390 - 8
The extraction and analysis of lipopolysaccharides from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO, and three rough mutants; Kropinski AM et al.; Three spontaneously arising rough mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been isolated by selection for resistance to virulent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) specific bacteriophages . In addition, the first phages specific for rough mutants of P . aeruginosa were isolated . Using these phage and autoagglutination patterns in 4% NaCl and acriflavine, these mutants could be clearly distinguished from the wild-type strain and each other . Chemical analysis of the LPS together with chromatographic resolution of the polysaccharide moieties showed alterations in both O-specific side chains and core regions.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 25(3), 340 - 51
Release of rhodanese from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by cold shock and its localization within the cell; Ryan RW et al.; Whole cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa possess rhodanese activity . The enzyme can be released by rapidly resuspending the cells in cold Tris--HCl buffer . Approximately 95% of the rhodanese activity is released by cold shock . Release of the enzyme can be inhibited either by preincubating the cells with Mg2+ or by incorporating Mg2+ into the shocking buffer . The effect of Mg2+ can be reversed by washing the cells twice with buffer prior to cold shock . While rhodanese can be released from P . aeruginosa by cold shock, lactic dehydrogenase, a cytoplasmic enzyme, remains within the cell . Diazo-7-amino-1,3-napthalenedisulfonic acid, a compound which does not penetrate the cytoplasmic membrane, completely inactivated rhodanese and alkaline phosphatase, a periplasmic enzyme, whereas lactic dehydrogenase retained its full activity . These data suggest that rhodanese in P . aeruginosa, like alkaline phosphatase, is located distal to the cytoplasmic membrane in the periplasmic space . Electron micrographs also show that portions of the lipopolysaccharide outer membrane are shed from the cell during cold shock, while cells preincubated with Mg2+ did not release segments of their outer membrane.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1979 Mar, 119(3), 453 - 9
A rat model of chronic respiratory infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Cash HA et al.; Chronic, nonlethal, pulmonary infection of rats by Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be initiated by intratracheal inoculation of 10(4) bacteria enmeshed in agar beads . The number of bacteria recoverable from the lung increased to approximately 10(6) within 3 days and remained at that number during 35 days of observation . Histologic examination of the infected lungs revealed lesions resembling those seen in lung tissue of humans with acute or chronic nonbacteremic, Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, including the presence of goblet-cell hyperplasia, focal areas of necrosis, and acute and chronic inflammatory infiltrate . This model should be useful for investigating the interactions between microbial virulence factors and host defense mechanisms.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Mar-Apr, 48(2), 181 - 6
{Conditions for the manifestation of cyanide-resistant respiration in Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Trutko SM et al.; Conditions for manifestation of cyanide-resistant respiration were studied in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Transition of the culture from the logarithmic to the stationary phase of growth, once the source of carbon (hexadecane, glucose, citrate, succinate) or nitrogen was exhausted, was accompanied with a decrease in the sensitivity of bacterial respiration to cyanide . As soon as the limiting factor was added, the culture started to grow again and its respiration became more sensitive to the inhibitor . Changes in the sensitivity of respiration to cyanide were observed when the bacterial growth was not limited with oxygen, and cyanide was not accumulated in the cultural broth . The manifestation of cyanide-resistant respiration was caused by changes in the physiological state of the bacterium induced by the cessation of growth . The culture formed phenazine pigments while growing on all of the studied substrates . However, no correlation was established between the resistance of respiration to cyanide and the concentration of the pigments in the medium . Therefore, the resistance of respiration of Ps . aeruginosa to cyanide should be attributed to changes in the electron transport chain.

Int J Clin Pharmacol Biopharm, 1979 Mar, 17(3), 131 - 4
Penetration through the gram-negative cell wall: a co-determinant of the efficacy of beta-lactam antibiotics; Zimmermann W; Resistance of gram-negative bacteria to beta-lactam antibiotics is based mainly on two mechanisms: hydrolysis by beta-lactamases and exclusion of the antibiotics from their target sites in the inner membrane . This article describes the use of Pseudomonas aeruginosa K 799/WT and a mutant of this strain (K 799/61) to assess the role of the outer membrane as a permeability barrier to penicillins and cephalosporins . The data confirm the importance of good penetration for a beta-lactam to be active against Pseudomonas . The second part illustrates the interplay of beta-lactamases and the outer membrane in the resistance of Escherichia coli to beta-lactams . A method to determine membrane permeability parameters parameters is given . The results support the idea that only a combined consideration of inactivating enzymes and penetration barriers can lead to a better understanding of the efficiency of the defence mechanisms which gram-negative bacteria can invoke against beta-lactam antibiotics.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Mar, 94(2), 549 - 56
Biosynthesis of peptidoglycan in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . 2 . Mode of action of beta-lactam antibiotics; Mirelman D et al.; The intrinsic effect of various beta-lactam antibiotics on the biosynthesis of peptidoglycan of Pseudomonas aeruginosa X-48 was investigated . Most of the cephalosporins and penicillins tested already at 0.5 microgram/ml strongly inhibited (a) the incorporation of nascent peptidoglycan into the detergent-insoluble fraction (greater than 75%), (b) the formation of peptide crosslinkages (greater than 60%) and (c) the activity of the DD-carboxypeptidase and partially that of the transpeptidase (approximately 90% and approximately 40% respectively) . Another group of beta-lactum drugs did not inhibit incorporation into the material insoluble in sodium dodecylsulfate, the formation of peptide crosslinkages nor transpeptidase activity . They only partially inhibited the activity of the DD-carboxypeptidase--endopeptidase system (40--50% at 0.5 microgram/ml) . The results obtained differ from those of Presslitz and Ray {Antimicrob, Agents Chemother . 7, 578--581 (1975)} and show some resemblance to the effects of beta-lactams on the biosynthesis of Escherichia coli peptidoglycan.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Mar, 94(2), 541 - 8
Biosynthesis of peptidoglycan in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . 1 . The incorporation of peptidoglycan into the cell wall; Mirelman D et al.; Ether-treated cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa catalyze the formation of crosslinked peptidoglycan from the two nucleotide precursors uridinediphospho-N-acetylglucosamine and uridinediphospho-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-gamma-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelyl-D-alanyl-D-alanine . The main enzymatic reactions of biosynthesis were similar to those found in Escherichia coli . Part of the reaction products were soluble in 4% sodium dodecylsulfate whereas the other part was covalently bound to the preexisting cell wall peptidoglycan sacculus . The incorporation into cell wall is carried out by a transpeptidation reaction in which the nascent peptidoglycan functions mainly as the donor and the preexisting one as acceptor . The detergent-soluble peptidoglycan is composed of partially crosslinked peptidoglycan strands as well as low-molecular-weight peptidoglycan fragments . Pulse-chase biosynthesis experiments show that the detergent-soluble peptidoglycan is an intermediate that eventually becomes covalently bound to the wall . The DD-carboxypeptidase activity of P . aeruginosa is membrane-bound and does not hydrolyse C-terminal D-alanine residues from the L-lysine-containing nucleotide-precursor analogue . An LD-carboxypeptidase was also detected in P . aeruginosa.

J Pharm Pharmacol, 1979 Mar, 31(3), 168 - 70
Additivity of action between polysorbate 80 and polymyxin B towards spheroplasts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 6750; Brown MR et al.; When polymyxin B and polysorbate 80 were used together against spheroplasts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the activities were found to be additive . These substances have previously been reported to act synergistically against P . aeruginosa, but little or no intrinsic activity towards intact cells has been attributed to polysorbate 80 . We suggest that in addition to enhancing polymyxin B penetration to the cytoplasmic membrane, polysorbate 80 may also act as an antimicrobial agent when polymyxin-induced damage to the outer membrane facilitates the surfactant's passage through the cell envelope.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Feb 26, 576(2), 502 - 8
Mössbauer studies of cytochrome c-551 . Intrinsic heterogeneity related to g-strain; Dwivedi A et al.; The Mossbauer spectra of oxidized and reduced cytochrome c-551 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa are analyzed . Excess broadening is observed in the 4.2 K spectra of oxidized c-551 which is consistent with a Gaussian distribution of the crystal field parameters delta and R as inferred from the g-strain model of EPR line shapes.

Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1979 Feb, 174(2), 219 - 24
{The pharmacocinetics of azlocillin (author's transl)}; Mester U et al.; Azlocillin concentrations in the rabbit eye were studied after intravenous and subconjunctival injections . The following results were found: therapeutic levels of Azlocillin were achieved in the aqueous humor, using either way of administration . Concentrations of the antibiotic were much higher after s . c . injection than after i . v . administration . The pharmacocinetics of Azlocillin proved to be comparable to those of other penicillins . No antibiotic could be detected in the vitreous body, irrespectively of the administration . With regard to the better antibacterial activity of Azlocillin in comparison with other known penicillins it should be preferred in eye infections caused by gramnegative rods, especially by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Arch Intern Med, 1979 Feb, 139(2), 167 - 9
Metronidazole therapy of anaerobic bacteremia, meningitis, and brain abscess; Warner JF et al.; Four patients with Bacteroides fragilis bacteremia, one patient with a brain abscess due to Bacteroides species, Fusobacterium naviforme, and Peptostreptococcus species, and an infant with Bacteroides species ventriculitis and meningitis were treated with metronidazole . In all cases the anaerobic pathogens were eradicated . Five of the six patients recovered . One patient with leukemia in whom B fragilis bacteremia was eradicated by metronidazole treatment subsequently died of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia . Ventricular fluid and serum concentrations of metronidazole were determined in the case of meningitis and are reported.

J Clin Invest, 1979 Feb, 63(2), 276 - 86
Protective activity of antibodies to exotoxin A and lipopolysaccharide at the onset of Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia in man; Pollack M et al.; Serum antibodies to exotoxin A and type-specific lipopolysaccharide were measured by passive hemagglutination in 52 patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicemia . Their comparative protective activities were evaluated by relating the titers of each at the onset of bacteremia to subsequent outcome . High acute serum antitoxin and antilipopolysaccharide titers (log2 reciprocal mean titers greater than 5) were associated with survival (76% of 17 with high vs . 46% of 24 with low antitoxin titers, P = 0.05; 85% of 13 with high vs . 48% of 29 with low antilipopolysaccharide titers, P = 0.03) . In contrast, neither antibody titer was significantly associated (P less than or equal to 0.05) with patients' age or sex, severity of underlying disease, presence of leukopenia, steroid or immunosuppressive therapy . Despite a correlation between acute titers of the two antibodies (r = 0.33, P = 0.06), they appeared to protect independently and additively . Whereas 75% of 8 patients with high antitoxin titers and only 38% of 16 with low titers survived with low antilipopolysaccharide titers (P = 0.10), 100% (6/6), 73% (8/11), and 38% (6/16) survived, respectively, when both, one, or neither antibody was present in high titer (P = 0.01) . Furthermore, the association between high acute serum antitoxin titers and survival was more pronounced in patients with rapidly fatal underlying disease (P = 0.06) and leukopenia (P = 0.12) than in more favorable prognostic and immune categories . These data indicate that serum antibodies to exotoxin A and lipopolysaccharide are found in most patients with P . aeruginosa septicemia and both are protective . Both antibodies may have therapeutic or prophylactic potential, whereas serum antiexotoxin A antibodies may be particularly beneficial in compromised hosts.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1979 Feb, 87(2), 130 - 2
Transfer of bacterial infections by donor cornea in penetrating keratoplasty; Khodadoust AA et al.; A 45-year-old man died of Hogdkin's disease complicated by peritonitis and possible septicemia . His corneas were used for transplant in a 26-year-old man with advanced keratoconus and a 42-year-old man with vascularized central leukoma of old herpetic keratitis . Both recipients developed a fulminating endophthalmitis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We believe that the donor corneas, although clinically normal, were heavily infected, with signs of inflammation possibly suppressed by the Hodgkin's disease.

J Clin Microbiol, 1979 Feb, 9(2), 239 - 43
Rapid identification of nonfermentative gram-negative rods by the Corning N/F system; Barnishan J et al.; A total of 1,298 nonfermentative gram-negative rods were used to evaluate the performance of the individual biochemical tests in the N/F System and to determine whether the observed results included sufficient key reactions for rapid identification . The system included an oxidase test, two screening tubes providing 5 test reactions designed primarily to identify pigment-producing strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a plate providing 12 test reactions designed to identify other nonfermenters . With both the tubes and plates, most results were consistent with expected conventional test reactions . Use of the tubes permitted the identification of 90% of the strains of P . aeruginosa in 24 h and 97% in 48 h . Use of the plates permitted the identification of 95% of the other oxidative nonfermenters within 24 h and 96% within 48 h . Only 26% of weak and nonoxidative nonfermenters were identified because of the nonreactivity of these organisms in this system . There were no misidentifications based on misleading test results.

J Pharm Sci, 1979 Feb, 68(2), 146 - 9
Sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa envelope mutants to alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides; Brown MR et al.; A series of stepwise polymyxin-resistant envelope mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used to test the activity of a homologous series (C10-C18) of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides . A sterilization kinetics procedure in deionized water was devised to avoid amounts quaternary compound above the critical micelle concentration . In all cases, there was a linear relationship between the logarithm of the rate of change of the colony count with time and the logarithm of the homolog concentration . For all strains, there was a linear relationship between alkyl chain length and the concentration required to reduce the colony count to 10% in 2 hr . The stepwise series of polymyxin-resistant strains increased in resistance to polymyxin about threefold for each step . In general, this increase resulted in a similar increase in resistance to the quaternary compound . It is proposed that death in this system may primarily be a consequence of damage to the outer membrane rather than to the cytoplasmic membrane.

Infect Immun, 1979 Feb, 23(2), 509 - 21
Passive immunization against Pseudomonas with a ribosomal vaccine-induced immune serum and immunoglobulin fractions; Lieberman MM et al.; Passive protection of mice against Pseudomonas aeruginosa using specific antisera and immunoglobulin fractions induced by immunizing rabbits with a ribosomal vaccine is reported . The results demonstrated that protection by the ribosomal vaccine against challenge with live organisms can be serum mediated . Previous work has shown that the vaccine can be separated into two components on the basis of molecular weight and that both higher (peak A)- and lower (peak B)-molecular-weight fractions were capable of inducing active immunity in mice . The present report indicates that both fractions are also capable of eliciting the production of mouse-protective antibody in rabbits . Agar gel diffusion with antisera to peaks A and B or unfractionated vaccine indicated a common antigenic component among them in addition to an extra antigen in unfractionated vaccine not present in peak B . Passive hemagglutination with antisera to peaks A and B demonstrated high-titer agglutinating antibody only with antiserum to peak A when a method of erythrocyte sensitization for lipopolysaccharide antigens was used . Also, passive hemagglutination was greatly inhibited by small amounts of lipopolysaccharide prepared from the same organism from which the vaccine was made . Both antisera to peaks A and B fixed complement with either A or B antigens . Antisera to peaks A and B, when reacted with peak B antigen, had about the same complement fixation titer (as determined by a quantitative complement fixation test) . However, when peak A antigen was used, antiserum to peak A had about twice the complement fixation titer that antiserum to peak B had . These results are consistent with previous observations which suggest that the ribosomal vaccine contains lipopolysaccharide in addition to an unidentified immunogenic principle associated with ribosomes . Furthermore, this immunogen was present in both peaks A and B, but detectable amounts of lipopolysaccharide were present only in peak A . The relative importance of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM classes of antibodies was also compared . The results indicated that both IgG and IgM isolated from immune rabbit serum are protective in mice . Only IgG precipitated with the vaccine in agar gel diffusion, but both IgG and IgM were active in passive hemagglutination and in complement fixation . The passive hemagglutination titer of the IgM was higher than that of the IgG, but the complement fixation titer of the IgG was higher than that of the IgM . The mouse-protective capability of the IgG and IgM was about the same.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Feb, (2), 96 - 9
{Serotype characteristics of clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Savitskaia KI et al.; A total of 348 P . aeroginosa strains isolated from patients with pulmonary and pleural diseases were studied, and 87% of the test showed the possibility of their serotyping with the use of group-specific agglutinating antisera . Serogroups II, III, IV were found to be prevalent among the strains isolated from patients with bronchopulmonary pathological states . Correlations between definite groups of P . aeroginosa in their sensitivity to antibiotics were established; thus, the cultures belonging the serogroups II, III, IV were found to be more sensitive to tetracycline annd chloramphenicol than the culture belonging to other serogroups.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1979 Feb-Mar, 130(2), 179 - 88
An acellular vaccine from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: homologous and crossed protection between serogroups according to Habs' classification; Berche P et al.; Homologous and cross-reactions were studied in 16 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa belonging to different O serogroups according to Habs' classification . By slide agglutination, cross-reactions were rare between the strains of two or three serogroups: O2, O5 and O16; O1 and O9; O7 and O8; O13 and O14 . Experiments of cross-protection have been performed in mice inoculated with acellular vaccines prepared from the 16 studied strains . A high homologous protection was observed with all the 16 strains, which is in favour of existence of an O serogroup-specific immunity . However, it exists some cross-protective reactions between the serogroups . This cross-protection allows to reduce the numbers of strains for a polyvalent vaccine . A classification of P . aeruginosa into 8 classes of related serogroups (A to H) is proposed which could be a basis for an antigenic classification of P . aeruginosa.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Feb, (2), 56 - 60
{Principle of constructing polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccines}; Akatova NS; Dependence of the range of protective action of P . aeruginosa vaccine on the number of its composites was studied . A principle of the selection of strains who vaccines differed in vivo by immunological specificity was applied to construction of the experimental preparations and modelling a polyvalent vaccine . Increase of the number of components in the vaccine was accompanied by increase of its protective action range . However, with the increase of the number of polyvaccine components in the polyvaccine the accretion of the protective effect expressed in the mean protective index per component displayed a gradual reduction . It was calculated theoretically that a 6--7-component vaccine should provide protection from 94--96% of the P . aeruginosa strains; as to further increase of the number of components--it would induce overloading of the vaccine with a possible absence of any effect.

Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung, 1979, 26(4), 265 - 72
Natural antibodies in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; Petras G et al.; Studying 347 sera of 49 patients suffering from Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection the mean titre value (MTV) calculated from the exponent of the binary logarithm of natural antibody (NA) titres, was found suitable to characterize the humoral immune status . As long as the organism is in equilibrium with the infection, the NA level rises . In septic shock, before death or at the development of a massive infection, the NA titre decreases rapidly . The decrease may be due partly to the permeability increasing effect of endotoxin and antigen-antibody reactions exerted on the capillaries . Consequently, in the most severe phase of sepsis, when bacteria enter the circulation less NA is available to fight against them . This might be a cause of the still very high lethality of septic shock due to Gram-negative bacteria . Finally, when applying the MTV one always has to consider that despite its advantages it gives less information than the Backhausz immunogram.

Anat Anz, 1979, 146(3), 295 - 306
{Comparison of disinfectant activity of 3 different embalming fluids on cadavera for anatomical study (author's transl)}; Lischka MF et al.; The antimicrobial effect of 3 different embalming fluids (Phenol/Formaline, JORES 1913 TUTSCH 1975) was evaluated from the beginning of the conservation process through storage in a new system (TUTSCH et al . 1971) and the subsequent dissection course . Endogenous bacteria are significantly reduced 24 hours after injection . Later on during the storage period of at least 6 months no germs are detected in swabs from orifices whereas Staphylococcus epidermidis and aerobic sporeforming bacteria were found on the surfaces of the bodies in some cases . The formula of the disinfectant (Phenol/Formaline or Merfen according to NEUMANN 1974) in the storage system appears to be of no significance . During dissection as a rule Staphylococcus epidermidis and a few aerobic sporeformers were found on the surface of specimens, at one time Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultivated too . Swabs from the peritoneal cavity and from contents of the intestine were sterile . Investigations by broth dilution method were carried out in order to evaluate the degree of bacteriostatic activity of the various fluids in use . This method is now routinely used for control of the disinfectants in the storage system.

J Int Med Res, 1979, 7(2), 117 - 26
Netilmicin: clinical evaluation of efficacy and toxicity of a new aminoglycoside; Nordstrom L et al.; The efficacy and toxicity of netilmicin, a new semisynthetic aminoglycoside, was clinically evaluated in fifty-two patients with moderate to severe infections with Gram-negative rods or Staph . aureus . Average duration of treatment was 14 days and mean total dose 2,960 mg . One-hour mean value of netilmicin serum concentration was 6.4 microgram/ml and mean trough value 1.2 microgram/ml . Forty-four patients were cured or improved . In twenty-one of them the effect could be attributed to netilmicin alone; the other twenty-three had a combined therapy . No improvement took place in five, but four of them could not be regarded as netilmicin failure . One patient with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was possible failure . The sensitivity of the causative bacteria to netilmicin was studied and compared with amikacin, gentamicin, sisomicin and tobramycin . Vestibular function and hearing acuity was thoroughly examined by electronystagmography and audiography . Drug-related VIIIth nerve damage could not be confirmed in any of our patients . Five patients showed a rise of serum creatinine of 30 mumol/l . This shows that netilmicin, similar to other aminoglycosides, is a potential nephrotoxic drug . Netilmicin appears to be an efficacious aminoglycoside and the oto- and nephrotoxicity is low, if careful attention is paid to the renal function and the serum concentrations of the drug.

Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg, 1979, 13(1), 81 - 4
Systematic utilization of an antipseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in a severe burn unit; Wassermann D et al.; The biological and clinical results of vaccination against pseudomonas aeruginosa infection have been analyzed for a group of 287 burned patients having over 25% surface burnt . The vaccine used was a cellular one inactivated by heat and containing 10 different strains . The effectiveness has been judged on the one hand by the increase in the antipseudomonas antibody count and on the other by comparing a group of vaccinated patients with a non-vaccinated group . After vaccination, the antipseudomonas aeruginosa antibodies increased from the 4th-5th day and reached an impressive increase after the 10th day . Clinically, protection is almost complete if one considers that pseudomonas aeruginosa positive blood cultures appear 15 days after vaccination, and above all the prognosis of these late infections . Both locally and generally, this vaccine has always been perfectly tolerated.

Infection, 1979, 7(1), 21 - 6
{Current chemotherapy of infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)}; Bauernfeind A et al.; In addition to carbenicillin, the newer beta-lactam antibiotics such as ticarcillin and azlocillin are now available for the chemotherapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections . We investigated the in vitro effect of these antibiotics on 233 isolates from clinical material . We were particularly careful, when choosing the experimental material, to exclude copies of the same individual strain, and we achieved this by combining various epidemiological typing procedures . A comparison of carbenicillin, ticarcillin and azlocillin according to the concentrations at which half of the 233 strains were inhibited showed the ticarcillin values to be higher than those of azlocillin by a factor of 2.1, and carbenicillin values to be higher than those of azlocillin by a factor of 4.9 . Individual strains also occurred in which the inhibitory concentration for azlocillin was higher than that of carbenicillin (5 strains) or ticarcillin (11 strains) . In 17 out of the 233 isolates no therapeutic success would have been within reach even with the newer beta-lactam antibiotics . The use of ticarcillin and azlocillin permits an extension of the indications for therapy with beta-lactam antibiotics in P . aeruginosa infections, from hitherto 76%, to 90% of the cases . If one includes the aminoglycosides gentamycin, tobramycin, sisomycin and amikacin in the therapeutic armoury, then the proportion of in vitro sensitive strains of P . aeruginosa in the material submitted for examination rises to 98%.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Jan-Feb, 1(1), 195 - 8
Cefoxitin therapy for surgical patients; Rambo WM et al.; Cefoxitin was administered to 25 patients on a general surgical service . In 16 of these patients, a bacteriologic diagnosis was made: four patients had peritonitis, one had ascending cholangitis, seven had cellulitis, and four had abscess . The dosage of cefoxitin varied from 4 to 8 g per day and was generally well tolerated, although there were three cases of phlebitis and one superinfection . There was no evidence of renal, liver, or bone marrow toxicity . All isolates of Bacteroides (eight), Escherichia coli (six), and Staphylococcus aureus (five) were sensitive to cefoxitin . Two of three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant . All patients recovered with cefoxitin and corrective surgery . The results indicate that cefoxitin has the potential of replacing combination therapy in some surgical patients.

Adv Shock Res, 1979, 2, 205 - 18
Gram-negative sepsis in thermally injured sheep; Adair TH et al.; Burn wound sepsis was studied for four days in awake, unanesthetized sheep . Each of the animals was given a 40% third-degree burn, and the wound was infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . According to their cardiopulmonary response, the animals were divided into three groups: hyperdynamic, normodynamic, and hypodynamic . The hyperdynamic group had an increased cardiac index and a decreased total peripheral resistance index . The hypodynamic group was characterized by the following: decreased cardiac index, increased total peripheral resistance index, increased hematocrit, decreased PaO2, increased pulmonary vascular resistance index, and decreased neutrophils (P less than or equal to 0.05) . The hypodynamic group was inoculated with more P aeruginosa, had more positive cultures for P aeruginosa, and had a greater mortality rate than the other two groups . It is suggested that the hypodynamic group was hypovolemic as a result of a fluid shift from the vascular compartment, that this fluid shift may be important in preventing the animals from responding to sepsis with an elevated cardiac index, and that the derivation of the cardiovascular response to sepsis is related to the severity of the initial septic insult.

C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1979, 173(1), 51 - 8
{Cytotoxic action of Pseudomonas aeruginosa hemolysin}; Borderon E et al.; The cytopathic action of haemolysin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been studied in mouse and human leucocytes . The morphological changes suggest that haemolysin affects the molecular architecture of the cell membrane, whose permeability is increased . It does not induce non-specific stimulation of peripheral lymphocytes . Normal sera and albumin neutralize the hemolytic activity of haemolysin; this inhibition is also observed, to a les extent, on the lytic action on leucocytes . This raises the possibility that the two activities are probably associated with the same molecule.

Microbios, 1979, 26(104), 85 - 93
Electron-microscope study of the effect of chlorhexidine on Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Richards RM et al.; Electron micrographs of cytological damage to log phase Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused by low consentrations of chlorhexidine indicate an action primarily on the cytoplasmic membrane at concentration of 2.0--3.0 micrograms/ml chlorhexidine, and on the cytoplasmic membrane plus layers external to it at concentrations greater than 3.0 micrograms/ml . Evidence of two types of resistance to chlorhexidine is presented.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(4), 462 - 7
Lytic manifestations in the bacterial strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (bacteriophages bacteriocines, autoplaques); Pillich J et al.; Ps . aeruginosa strains--a frequement resuet of an irresponsible antibiotic therapy--represent a common agent of nosocomial infektions . At the same time, gravity of Pseudomonas diseases is also increasing . Lysogeny, bacteriocinogeny and frequent occurrence of autoplaques are the lytic manifestations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains which play a great role in the complexity of solving diagnostic, epidemiological end therapeutical problems connected with infections induced by these microbes . A survey is presented of the importance and utilization of the lytic properties of bacterial strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during the differentiation, epidemiological typing and further expansion of therapeutical possibilities in infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {B}, 1979, 169(5-6), 530 - 4
{Verification of nosocomial infection chains with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)}; Lebek G et al.; With all 3 typing methods (sero, lyso, pyocin type) errors can arise . The pyocin test following heat curing can be expected to give the least erroneous results . This was demonstrated by a test of 200 non-selected strains which were grown within 4 weeks . The possibility exists that a single patient discharges several different strains simultaneously or in succession . These results must be considered when efforts are made to detect infection chains in a hospital.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1979, 29(12a), 1937 - 9
{Ultrastructural and microbiological studies on the activity of azlocillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)}; Voigt WH et al.; To examine the effect of 6-{(R)-2-(2-oxo-imidazolidine-1-carboxamido)-2-phenyl-acetamido}-penicillanic acid sodium salt (azlocillin, Securopen) on the ultrastructure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa investigations were carried out by electron microscopy on thin sections and on negative-stained preparations . Depending on the concentration and the contact time of azlocillin the bacteria showed distinct alterations . The bacterial cells did not build septa and therefore only grew in length up to 100-fold that of untreated controls . The bacteria diameter remained unchanged . Survival curves showed that these bacterial filaments were unable to build colonies . They were irreversibly damaged.

Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(8), 693 - 704
In vitro studies on bacterial colonization . The effects of beta-lactam antibiotics on the growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mixed culture; Tsuji A; Many cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection are considered to be secondary superinfections, resulting from bacterial colonization . Such cases of superinfection with P . aeruginosa developing after administration of cephalosporin or penicillin are offering serious clinical problems . To make a fundamental analysis of the development of such superinfections, attempts were made to compare the growth patterns of Escherichia coli and P . aeruginosa in pure and mixed cultures and to determine the effects of cephalothin, cefazolin, cephalexin, and ampicillin on the growth patterns . In mixed cultures, the growth of P . aeruginosa was markedly inhibited by E . coli . The higher the concentration of each of the cephalosporins and ampicillin added to the mixed culture, the smaller the population of E . coli sensitive to these agents . When the population of E . coli became smaller than that of P . aeruginosa, which is resistant to these agents, the latter was restored to the same population level as that in pure cultures . Experimental bacterial colonization, by which the predominant population of E . coli was replaced by that of P . aeruginosa in mixed culture, was brought about more efficiently with the cephalosporins than with ampicillin . This might be accounted for by the difference in minimal inhibitory concentration for P . aeruginosa between ampicillin and the other three agents.

Prog Clin Biol Res, 1979, 31, 751 - 9
Structure-activity relationships in diphtheria toxin and exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Collier RJ et al.; Diphtheria toxin and exotoxin A from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pseudomonas toxin) block protein synthesis in sensitive animal cells by virtually identical mechanisms . Both toxins are proenzymes that, after activation, catalyze attachment of the adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADP-ribose) moiety of NAD to elongation factor 2 (EF-2) by covalent linkage . EF-2 is thereby inactivated . In the case of diphtheria toxin (60,000 daltons) the ADP-ribosylation of EF-2 is catalyzed by a 21,000-dalton peptide (fragment A) released after mild tryptic digestion and reduction of the toxin . The complementary B moiety of the toxin (39,000 daltons) is required for toxic activity and functions by attaching the toxin to oligosaccharide-containing cell surface receptors . In the case of the Pseudomonas toxin, the ADP-ribosylation reaction may be catalyzed either by the intact 66,000-dalton chain after reduction, or by a 26,000-dalton peptide released after mild proteolysis . Current approaches to study of the mechanisms of entry of the two toxins in active form into animal cells are reviewed.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1979, 11(3), 211 - 7
Chemotherapy of chronic infections with mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in lower airways of patients with cystic fibrosis; Friis B; The bacteriological effect of chemotherapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps.ae.) in lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis is reviewed . During a 5-year period 49 children and adults were treated with 190 courses of different antibiotics . The mucoid strains of Ps.ae . disappeared in 72.0% of the courses in which a combination of tobramycin and carbenicillin was employed . Tobramycin given alone had only bacteriological effect in 26.6% of the courses . Colimycin alone or in combination with carbenicillin had no effect . In 18 patients who received subsequent courses of tobramycin and combination of tobramycin and carbenicillin a significant difference in favour of the combination therapy was found, also in cases with many precipitins against Ps.ae . in serum . In 74.5% of the initially successful courses the patients were recolonized with Ps.ae . within 1 month . No nephrotoxic or ototoxic side effects were demonstrated in spite of the high doses of tobramycin (10 mg/kg/24 h) emmployed and the repeated courses.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1979, 11(3), 207 - 10
Peritonitis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in hospital patients treated with peritoneal dialysis; Kolmos HJ et al.; From December 1976 to July 1977 Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured from the dialysate of 8 hospital patients on peritoneal dialysis . Seven of the cases occurred within 1 month . The source of the epidemic was a water bath used to preheat the dialysis fluids before start of dialysis . Six patients developed a severe protracted peritonitis with Ps . aeruginosa . Continuous peritoneal dialysis with antibiotics added to the dialysis fluid did not eradicate infection, but after removal of the catheters signs of peritonitis subsided rapidly in all patients . In conclusion, water baths used for this purpose should be replaced by dry-heat incubators.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(1), 74 - 7
Wild - type Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage AP 34 transducing gentamicin-tobramycin resistance and autoplaque formation; Vymola F et al.; A method of determining antibodies by their adsorption on large-pore or surface immunosorbents with subsequent treatment of the carrier with anti-immunoglobulin serum and antiphage serum isologous to the antibodies and then with the bacteriophage, has been presented . The adsorbed virions are split off by means of papain-induced hydrolysis of the antibody complex . The antigens are determined by the reaction of phage fixing inhibition . The method permits to determine small amounts of antibodies to proteins, haptenes and cells with objective calculation of results.

Dev Biol Stand, 1979, 43, 53 - 9
Pseudomonas aeruginosa: prevention better than cure?
Mellor JA, Miler JJ.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common pathogen in certain groups of patients . The use of antibiotics in these patients may be associated with toxic side effects, drug resistance and therapeutic failure . Pseudomonas vaccines have been prepared by many workers and one vaccine has been widely used in clinical trials . Administration of this vaccine was associated with a high incidence of toxic reactions . A new polyvalent pseudomonas vaccine has recently been prepared . We report the reactivity of this polyvalent vaccine in healthy volunteers and compare this with the reactivity of the earlier pseudomonas vaccine reported in the literature . The vaccine is at present being used in burned patients and has been associated with a significant reduction in mortality . We suggest that this new polyvalent vaccine has a low incidence of toxic effects and promises a considerable advance upon earlier vaccines.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1979, 27(4), 585 - 9
Immunogenic properties of slime produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Maresz-Babczyszyn J et al.; The slime of 8 various Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was purified and used to immunize rabbits . All studied slime-extracts were strongly immunogenic for animals . The level of antibodies against slime was determined by the passive hemagglutination test . Immune hemagglutinins were present mainly in the IgM fraction of antisera.

J Int Med Res, 1979, 7(5), 375 - 8
Global and effective synergism of amikacin, gentamicin or tobramycin when combined with carbenicillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Ximenes J et al.; The authors describe a study to evaluate the synergistic effects of the combinations of amikacin-carbenicillin, gentamicin-carbenicillin and tobramycin-carbenicillin at the associated minimal bactericidal concentrations and at doses related to the serum levels reached by the drugs in the blood.

Nephron, 1979, 24(2), 69 - 70
Precipitating antibodies against pseudomonas aeruginosa in serum from dialysis patients; Jans H et al.; Hemodialysate in our facility was found contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . By means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis, series of serum samples from 20 patients in regular dialysis treatment have been investigated for development of precipitating antibodies against P . aeruginosa during dialysis treatment . In 6 patients antibacterial antibodies occurred during the observation period but were, in all 6 occasions, in close relation to acute intercurrent bacterial infections and not related to the dialysis treatment . It is therefore concluded that P . aeruginosa antigens from the dialysate do not pass the dialysis membranes in quantities sufficient to evoke a humoral immune response.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1979 Jan-Jun, 71(1-6), 55 - 61
{Biological characteristics of various strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from human pathological matter}; Costa AL et al.; According to the higher frequency of isolation of bacterial strains belonging to the genus Pseudomonas from various human phatologic materials, in was seemed interesting to study the biological characteristics of these bacteria, which are the most virulent and pathogenic Gram-microorganism . In the present work the results of cultural, biochemical, cytochemical and immunological tests are reported . In vivo tests were also carried out, using rabbits inoculated with whole cells or their products.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1979, 24(3), 217 - 23
Genetic mapping of the region c of the bacteriophage G101 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa); Spanova A; Morphological mutants of the c type of the bacteriophage G101 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were isolated after mutagenesis with hydroxylamine . Complementation analysis of 27 c mutants showed that the c region is formed by at least two genes . Two types of c mutants were obtained . One of them (cI26) behaves analogously to a mutant in the gene controlling the synthesis of the repressor of phage lambda . The second type of the c mutants (cII1, cII18) specifies a gene having probably an auxiliary function in the "c" region . According to the low frequency of recombination between the genes cI26 and c II18 (1.37 recombination units), these genes responsible for lysogenization are localized in a short region of the chromosome.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1979, 24(2), 185 - 7
2-Deoxy-D-lyxo-hexonic acid from 2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hexose by Pseudomonas aeruginosa fermentation; Kulhanek M et al.; Aerobic fermentation of media or solutions containing 2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hexose and calcium carbonate by bacterial cells capable of oxidizing aldoses to aldonic acids was used to prepare 2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hexonic acid; the acid was isolated in a 62% yield in the form of its 1,4-lactone.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1979, 6(5), 2003 - 16
Initiation of translation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage PP7 RNA: nucleotide sequence of the coat cistron ribosome binding site; Bassel BA et al.; Initiation complex formation between PP7 RNA and ribosomes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli has been investigated . The PP7 RNA fragments protected by both species of ribosome have been isolated, and their sequences have been determined . Only one binding sites is available on the intact PP7 RNA strand, and this site is recognized by ribosomes of both species . The PP7 RNA binding site is approximately 38 nucleotides long . It contains two AUG sequences and a purine-rich segment near the 5'-end that is complementary to segments near the 3'-ends of the 16S ribosomal RNA's of both P . aeruginosa and E . coli . In order to establish which of the AUG codons acts as the initiator, the H2N-terminal amino acid sequence of PP7 coat protein was determined . This sequence is compatible with the codon sequence following the second AUG codon . The extent of the reaction of PP7 RNA with E . coli ribosomes is greater than with P . aeruginosa ribosomes, but our results do not indicate a qualitative difference in the initial interaction between intact PP7 RNA and the ribosomes of either species.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Jan, 139(1), 18 - 25
Morphologic expression of the interactions of human lymphocytes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as observed by scanning electron microscopy; Waisbren BA et al.; When human lymphocytes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were incubated together and then observed under the scanning electron microscope, four distinct morphologic observations were made: (1) filopods extending between lymphocytes and bacteria; (2) globular structures bulging out in many of the filopods; (3) filopods connecting lymphocytes to each other in the presence of bacteria; and (4) bacteria adhering to the lymphocytes in areas where decreased numbers of microvilli were present.

Infection, 1979, 7(2), 67 - 73
Comparative antibacterial activity of azlocillin, mezlocillin, carbenicillin and ticarcillin and relative stability to beta-lactamases of pseudomonas aeruginosa and klebsiella aerogenes; Basker MJ et al.; The antibacterial activities of two ureidopenicillins, azlocillin and mezlocillin, were compared with those of the alpha-carboxypenicillins, carbenicillin and ticarcillin, against a large number of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria . All four penicillins were active against a wide range of bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but there were differences in the antibacterial spectra and in the antibacterial effects demonstrated by the two classes of penicillins . In particular, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of azlocillin and mezlocillin against Klebsiella aerogenes and against P . aeruginosa were greatly influenced by the size of bacterial inoculum tested whereas there was no significant inoculum effect with carbenicillin and ticarcillin . In stability tests, the ureidopenicillins were inactivated rapidly by the beta-lactamases of K . aerogenes and P . aeruginosa whereas the alpha-carboxypenicillins were stable . It seems probable that the inoculum effect seen with azlocillin and mezlocillin in antibacterial tests with K . aerogenes and P . aeruginosa is associated with the instability of the compounds to the beta-lactamases of these bacteria.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1979 Jan, 28(1), 17 - 21
{Automatic rearing system of mice and transmission of pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Ito M et al.; Mice either excreting or not excreting Pseudomonas aeruginosa in feces were maintained in stainless steel mesh cages on an automated rearing apparatus with automatic water-supply nozzles and intermittently flusing metal racks . No evidence of transmission of the organisms from positive mice to negative ones was obtained during at least eight weeks.

Antibiotiki, 1979 Jan, 24(1), 37 - 41
{Antibiotic resistance study of clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Boronin AM et al.; The study of 40 clinical strains of Ps . aeruginosa isolated from the wound surfaces of the patients showed that all the isolates were resistant to one or several antibiotics . The number of the strains resistant to 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 drug was 5, 22.5, 25 . 30 or 17.5 per cent respectively . Fifteen strains carried resistance plasmids capable of conjugative transfer . Eleven out of 21 plasmids controlled resistance to chloramphenicol, 7 plasmids controlled resistance to streptomycin and sulfanylamides, 1 plasmid controlled resistance to streptomycin and chloramphenicol . The presence of two types of the plasmids controlling resistance to chloramphenicol and streptomycin + sulfanylamides respectively was found . All the plasmids proved to be capable of conjugative transfer between the strains of Ps . aeruginosa ML (PAO) . The frequency of the plasmid conjugative transfer in such crosses ranged from 10(-6) to 10(-3) . Most of the plasmids belonged to the incompatibility groups P-2 and P-7 . One plasmid belonged to the incompatibility group P-5 . It should be noted that about a half of the plasmids (11 out of 21) belonged to the incompatibility group P-7 which up to the present time was conditional, since was represented by a single plasmid Rms 148.

Mikrobiologiia, 1979 Jan-Feb, 48(1), 109 - 13
{Isolation and general characteristics of a group of Pseudomonas aeruginosa temperate phages}; Ianenko AS et al.; Eighteen temperate phages were isolated from 38 natural strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The phages belong to five heteroimmune groups according to the ability of lysogenic variants of the strains PAO1 and PAT2 to exclude the growth of the superinfecting phage . Phages of the II and V immunity groups are serologically similar; the remaining phages are not inactivated by antisera against phages B26 (II group) and K1338 (V group) . Prophages of the II, IV, and V groups are induced by UV for vegetative growth . Phages belonging to different immunity groups vary in their morphology and particle size as was found by electron microscopy . Phages of the I, II, IV and V groups comprise one morphological type, those of the III group are of another morphological type . Phages of the IV group are not adsorbed on the bacterial mutants resistant to phages of the II and V immunity groups.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jan, 23(1), 87 - 93
Phage-related surface modifications of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: effects on the biological activity of viable cells; Dimitracopoulos G et al.; Lysogenic {EI(8)3} and phage 8-resistant mutant (EI/8S17) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa EI were isolated . Besides lacking the capacity to adsorb phage 8, strains EI(8)3 and EI/8s17 did not contain surface substrate for the depolymerase that is produced de novo when phage 8 infects wild-type strain . EI . The glycolipoprotein (GLP) in the wild type contains phage 8 receptors and surface substrate for the depolymerase, as well as possesses characteristics of a virulence factor; therefore, the chemical and biological characteristics of the derived strains were investigated . The neutral-sugar, amino sugar, and protein content of the GLPs from the derived strains differed quantitatively from that of the wild type . In spite of some cross-reactivity, the GLPs from all strains were antigenically distinct in the indirect hemagglutination inhibition test . In mice, the toxicity of the GLP from strain EI(8)3 equaled that of the wild type, but the GLP of strain EI/8s17 was threefold less toxic . Significantly fewer viable EI(8)3 cells were required for the mouse 50% lethal dose than for the cells of either the wild type or the phage-resistant mutant.

Infect Immun, 1979 Jan, 23(1), 150 - 9
Microscopic characterization of rabbit lung damage produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases; Gray L et al.; The intratracheal administration of highly purified Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases (ca . 10 to 100 microgram) elicited extensive, grossly observable rabbit lung damage by 3 h postinjection . Light and electron microscopic characterization of the lesions revealed: (i) progressive injury and necrosis of type I epithelial cells and capillary endothelial cells from 3 h to 1 day postinjection, and progressively increasing accumulations of erythrocytes, plasma proteins, fibrin, and released type II epithelial cell lamellar bodies in alveolar lumina during that time period; (ii) progressively increasing accumulations of macrophages, but not of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, in alveolar lumina from 3 h to 6 days postinjection; (iii) progressive hyperplasia of type II epithelial cells from 12 h to 4 days postinjection; (iv) progressive infiltration of alveolar septa by mononuclear inflammatory cells (interstitial pneumonitis) from 2 to 6 days postinjection; (v) no loss of alveolar septal connective tissue and no damage to pulmonary arterioles and venules; and (vi) almost normal alveolar structure by ca . 8 days postinjection . The study revealed that the intra-alveolar hemorrhage, the injury and necrosis of alveolar septal cells, and the infiltration by mononuclear cells that have been reported to occur during human pseudomonas pneumonia can also be elicited by the experimental administration of pseudomonas proteases . Thus, the results support the idea that in vivo production and activity of P . aeruginosa proteases is important, at least in part, in eliciting the lung damage characteristic of pseudomonas pneumonia.

J Trauma, 1979 Jan, 19(1), 52 - 5
Transient defect in the bactericidal capacity of rabbit alveolar macrophages following sublethal shock; Grogan JB; The phagocytic function of alveolar macrophages obtained from rabbits after they were given sublethal shock by tumbling in a modified Noble-Collip drum was studied . As compared to the phagocytic function of alveolar macrophages from normal rabbits, tumbling produced a statistically significant reduction in in vitro bactericidal capacity for both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli . However, there was no alteration in the ingestive phase . The reduced bactericidal capacity was evident within 15 minutes after the stress, but the bactericidal capacity had returned to normal in rabbits that were allowed to recover for 24 hours before the studies were performed.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1979 Jan, 85(1), 7 - 19
Biochemical properties of a new flexuous bacteriocin, pyocin F1, produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kuroda K et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain P15 produces not only pyocin R1 and phage PS10, but also a substance having a flexuous rod structure, the nature of which is so far unknown . A variant strain (P15--40) was obtained which produced these flexuous particles more effectively than the original strain, and the particles were purified to homogeneity and investigated . Several strains of P . aeruginosa were found to be killed by the particles . It was concluded that the flexuous rod-like particles are not related to pyocin R1 or phage PS10, but represent a new pyocin, which we have designated as pyocin F1 . Pyocin F1 showed a different action spectrum and a different pattern on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from either pyocin R1 or phage PS10 . The killing activity of pyocin F1 was of single-hit type . The activity was not affected by anti-R1, anti-R1-core or anti-PS10, or by DNase, RNase, pronase or trypsin, but was completely destroyed by treatment at 70 degrees C for 10 min . Some cofactor was required for the adsorption of this pyocin on sensitive bacteria . Another flexuous bacteriocin was also found and named pyocin F2.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1979 Jan, 85(1), 115 - 22
Isolation of characterization of a major outer membrane protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Evidence for the occurrence of a lipoprotein; Mizuno T et al.; In the outer membrane of P . aeruginosa, a protein of apparent molecular weight 8,000 (protein I) is present as a major protein . Purification and chemical analysis of protein I were carried out . This protein was purified by essentially the same procedure as for the purification of the E . coli lipoprotein, which was developed by Inouye et al . (J . Bacteriol . (1976) 127, 555--563) . The amino acid composition of protein I was determined . Protein I lacks proline, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and half-cystine . Fatty acid analysis of the protein revealed that it contained 0.89 mol of fatty acids per mol of protein . Among the fatty acids hexadecanoic acid (C16:0) was predominant . In an in vivo labeling experiment, {2-3H}glycerol was incorporated into protein I . A protein with similar mobility to protein I on urea-SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was isolated from the purified peptidoglycan of P . aeruginosa by trypsin digestion . The amino acid composition of this protein was essentially the same as that of protein I . These results indicate that the outer membrane of P . aeruginosa contains a protein analogous to the E . coli lipoprotein, although considerable differences were observed in the amino acid composition and the fatty acid content.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jan, 137(1), 357 - 64
Isolation of an iron-binding compound from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Cox CD et al.; An iron-binding compound was isolated from ethyl acetate extracts of culture supernatant fluids of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and was purified by successive paper and thin-layer chromatographic procedures . The purified compound was characterized by UV, visible, infrared, and fluorescence spectroscopy . The compound possesses phenolic characteristics, with little or no similarity to dihydroxybenzoates and no indication of a hydroxamate group . P . aeruginosa synthesized the compound during active growth in culture media containing less than 5 X 10(-6) M added FeCl3 . When added to iron-poor cultures of P . aeruginosa, the compound promoted the growth of the bacterium and also reversed growth inhibition by the iron chelator ethylenediamine-di-(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid).

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jan, 137(1), 274 - 80
Chemotaxis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Moulton RC et al.; Chemotaxis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa RM46 has been studied, and conditions required for chemotaxis have been defined, by using the Adler capillary assay technique . Several amino acids, organic acids, and glucose were shown to be attractants of varying effectiveness for this organism . Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was absolutely required for chemotaxis, and magnesium was also necessary for a maximum response . Serine taxis was greatest when the chemotaxis medium contained 1.5 X 10(-5) M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and 0.005 M magnesium chloride . It was not necessary to include methionine in the chemotaxis medium . The strength of the chemotactic responses to glucose and to citrate was dependent on prior growth of the bacteria on glucose and citrate, respectively . Accumulation in response to serine was inhibited by the addition of succinate, citrate, malate, glucose, pyruvate, or methionine to the chemotaxis medium . Inhibition by succinate was not dependent on the concentration of attractant in the capillary . However, the degree to which glucose and citrate inhibited serine taxis was dependent on the carbon source utilized for growth . Further investigation of this inhibition may provide information about the mechanisms of chemotaxis in P . aeruginosa.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1979 Jan-Jun, 72(1-6), 72 - 7
{Endotoxic contamination of biological products (ribosomal vaccines, viral vaccines and interferon)}; Fumarola D et al.; The A.A . have examined by the Limulus assay the possible endotoxin contamination in some biological products (ribosomal vaccines, viral vaccines, interferon) . While the preparations of influenza vaccines and a partially purified fraction of ribosomal vaccine from Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibit a gelation of lysate with high levels of endotoxin, rubeola vaccines, interferon and a purified fraction of ribosomal vaccine, presented a negligible amount of endotoxin . The results are discussed with the aim to examine the possible role of contaminating endotoxin in the mediation of some adverse effects and of the unsuspected extrinsic adjuvant activities developed in clinical and experimental use of these preparations.

Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung, 1979, 26(2), 111 - 20
Heat-stable somatic antigens of a group of unclassified fluorescent pseudomonads (UFP); Lanyi B et al.; (i) Isolates belonging to a group of unclassified fluorescent pseudomonads (UFP) are similar to Pseudomonas aeruginosa not only in cultural behaviour but also in basic serological properties of their somatic antigens . Living bacteria and cultures subjected to prolonged heating at 100 degrees C or above agglutinated readily in homologous O serum, whereas after exposure to 60 degrees C, ethanol, saturated sodium chloride and formalin the cells of both species became practically inagglutinable . Surface factors inhibiting the agglutination of living bacteria in O sera being absent, the slide technique was chosen as a routine method for the serological grouping of UFP . (ii) The O antigens of UFP were different in serological specificity from those of P . aeruginosa: the two organisms were related only by minor "common" antigens detectable with bacteria heated at 130 degrees C . One hundred and ten out of 115 UFP isolates were classified into 17 serological groups; O groups 2, 5, 10, 12 and 16 were each further divided into two subgroups . Five isolates reacted in several sera or were unstable . (iii) Serological grouping of UFP is reproducible and adequate for the tracing of isolates and may be helpful for a rapid differentiation of the organism from P . aeruginosa.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jan, 137(1), 73 - 81
Sodium-dependent transport of L-leucine in membrane vesicles prepared from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hoshino T et al.; Membrane vesicles were prepared by osmotic lysis of spheroplasts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain P14, and the active transport of amino acids was studied . D-Glucose, gluconate, and L-malate supported active transport of various L-amino acids . The respiration-dependent leucine transport was markedly stimulated by Na+ . Moreover, without any respiratory substrate, leucine was also transported transiently by the addition of Na+ alone . This transient uptake of leucine was not inhibited either by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethyoxyphenylhydrazone or by valinomycin, but was completely abolished by gramicidin D . Increase in the concentration of Na+ of the medium resulted in a decrease of the Km for L-leucine transport, whereas the Vmax was not significnatly affected . Active transport of leucine was inhibited competitively by isoleucine or by valine, whose transport was also stimulated by Na+ . On the other hand, Na+ was not required for the uptake of other L-amino acids tested, but rather was inhibitory for some of them . These results show (i) that a common transport system for branched-chain amino acids exists in membrane vesicles, (ii) that the system requires Na+ for its activity, and (iii) that an Na+ gradient can drive the system.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1979, 19(8), 527 - 33
{Oxidative degradation of dibenzylsulfide}; Babenzien HD et al.; Dibenzylsulfid (DBS) as a model of the organic sulfur compounds in crude oil was converted by a mixed culture (containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa) into several water soluble organic substances . Whereas these compounds are detectable with DC- and IR-spectroscopic techniques, benzylmercaptoacetic acid (BMA) was the only isolated product of DBS utilization . Efficiency of degradation, respectively, accumulation of BMA were dependent on aeration and pH-regulation.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 36(6), 906 - 14
Toxicity of zinc to fungi, bacteria, and coliphages: influence of chloride ions; Babich H et al.; A 10 mM concentration of Zn2+ decreased the survival of Escherichia coli; enhanced the survival of Bacillus cereus; did not significantly affect the survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Norcardia corallina, and T1, T7, P1, and phi80 coliphages; completely inhibited mycelial growth of Rhizoctonia solani; and reduced mycelial growth of Fusarium solani, Cunninghamella echinulata, Aspergillus niger, and Trichoderma viride . The toxicity of zinc to the fungi, bacteria, and coliphages was unaffected, lessened, or increased by the addition of high concentrations of NaCl . The increased toxicity of zinc in the presence of high concentrations of NaCl was not a result of a synergistic interaction between Zn2+ and elevated osmotic pressures but of the formation of complex anionic ZnCl species that exerted greater toxicities than did cationic Zn2+ . Conversely, the decrease in zinc toxicity with increasing concentrations of NaCl probably reflected the decrease in the levels of Zn2+ due to the formation of Zn-Cl species, which was less inhibitory to these microbes than was Zn2+ . A . niger tolerated higher concentrations of zinc in the presence of NaCl at 37 than at 25 degrees C.

Ann Neurol, 1978 Dec, 4(6), 564 - 72
Neurotoxicity of intrathecal gentamicin: a case report and experimental study; Watanabe I et al.; Distinctive lesions occurred in the brainstem of a 59-year-old patient who had had recent Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis treated with parenteral and intrathecal gentamicin sulfate . The lesions were multiple, minute, and discrete, and were characterized by loss of axons, spongiosis, axonal swelling with frequent calcification, loss of astroglia and oligodendroglia, and slight inflammatory response . These lesions were restricted to the myelinated fiber bundles of the pons and mesencephalon . Because similar lesions can occur with other intrathecally administered medications and emboli to the brain, an experimental study in rabbits was done . Similar lesions were produced in normal adult rabbits after a single intracisternal injection of gentamicin sulfate with or without preservative at doses equivalent to 50 and 100 times the human therapeutic dose . Lesions were not seen after injection of normal saline, preservative, or gentamicin sulfate with preservative at doses equivalent to 1 and 10 times the human therapeutic dose . A direct relationship was observed between the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of gentamicin, brain tissue concentrations of gentamicin, and occurrence of the lesions.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Dec, 138(6), 859 - 64
Carbenicillin for treatment of Bacteroides fragilis infections: why not penicillin G?
Maki DG, Kurzynski TA, Agger WA.
Carbenicillin has been advocated for treatment of infections caused by Bacteroides fragilis and other anaerobic bacteria . Wide-scale use of the drug in this setting could result in a substantial increase in carbenicillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an effect that would have serious implications . Thirty-four strains of B . fragilis, one-half from bacteremic infections, were tested in vitro, and penicillin G was found to be twice as active as carbenicillin on an equal weight basis; 94% of the strains were inhibited by 32 microgram of penicillin/ml, a level easily achieved therapeutically . Penicillin killed B . fragilis organisms as rapidly as carbenicillin . In two subjects given equivalent doses (100 mg/kg intravenously) of carbenicillin and aqueous penicillin G, the bactericidal activity of serum against B . fragilis after administration of each drug was the same . Controlled clinical trials of treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections with penicillin G in high dosage, carbenicillin (or closely related ticarcillin), clindamycin, and chloramphenicol should be undertaken . Carbenicillin (and ticarcillin) for the present would seem better reserved for P . aeruginosa infections.

Aust J Biol Sci, 1978 Dec, 31(6), 679 - 88
Transformation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO with bacteriophage and plasmid DNA; Sinclair MI et al.; A procedure has been developed which allows transformation of P . aeruginosa strain PAO with plasmid and bacteriophage DNA at a frequency of 10(-6) per recipient cell . The method is similar in outline to that developed for Escherichia coli . It involves growing the recipient cells to 3-5 x 10(8) per ml in nutrient broth, washing the cells with 0.1 M MgCl2, resuspending in 0.175 M CaCl2 for 20 min, exposing to DNA for 1 h and then heat pulsing at 42 degrees C for 1 min . Some plasmid markers are expressed immediately, whereas others require time for phenotypic expression.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1978 Dec, 48(6), 497 - 501
Passive hemagglutination reaction using formalinized sheep erythrocytes treated with tannic acid and coated with exotoxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Takeshi K et al.; Passive hemagglutination (PHA) tests using fixed sheep erythrocytes coated with exotoxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were devised for estimating antibodies of the exotoxin . No serological cross-reactivity among exotoxin OEP, protease and elastase of P . aeruginosa was foud by the PHA tests . The exotoxin PHA reaction was more sensitive than the neutralizing reaction of skin necrotizing activity of exotoxin by guinea pigs . Thirteen out of 40 sera of patients with P . aeruginosa infections showed PHA titers from 40 to 1,280, while those of 20 healthy human sera were under 40.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1978 Dec, 48(6), 491 - 6
IgE antibody production to exoenzymes and common antigen (OEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice; Cho YJ et al.; IgE antibody production to exoenzymes and common antigen (OEP) of P . aeruginosa was studied in mice that were injected with the antigens incorporated into water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsion or Al(OH)3 gel . OEP and protease toxoid (PT) elicited IgE antibody response but elastase toxoid (ET) did not . Capacity of the OEP to produce IgE antibody was reduced remarkably by it's protease treatment, which suggested that the capacity lies in the protein portion of OEP . The w/o/w emulsion was less effective than Al(OH)3 gel in adjuvanticity to elicit IgE antibody response, but the emulsion enhanced the IgM and/or IgG antibody response to PT and maintained a constant level for a long period . These findings may suggest that IgE antibody response to some components of P . aeruginosa could be induced in man . High serum level of IgE was observed in some cases of cystic fibrosis caused by P . aeruginosa infection, although the IgE antibody activity has not yet been determined.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {B}, 1978 Dec, 167(5-6), 462 - 9
{Pseudomonas aeruginosa in swimming pool waters (author's transl)}; Schindler PR et al.; During the year 1977 we examined 2226 samples of swimming pool waters for colony counts, Escherichia coli and coliforms according to the German standards for drinking water . In addition, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated out from 180 of those samples . This microorganism was found in 4.7% of samples from public municipal swimming pools, in 4.1% from swimming pools in schools, in 13.1% from swimming pools in hotels, boarding-houses, hydropathic establishments, sanatoria, blocks of flats and private dwellings as well as in 38% (!) from swimming pools in hospitals . P . aeruginosa could rarely be isolated together with E . coli or coliforms . However, it was often found in samples, which were faultless according to the bacteriological standards for drinking water . Its necessity as an additional important hygienic parameter will be discussed.

J Lab Clin Med, 1978 Dec, 92(6), 883 - 94
Complement-mediated phagocytosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Peterson PK et al.; The nature of the opsonic factors in nonimmune human serum for six blood culture isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated by measuring uptake of {3H} adenine-labeled bacteria by human PMNs . Normal human serum, C2- and C4-deficient sera, zymosan-treated serum, and immunoglobulin-deficient sera were used as opsonic sources . Heat inactivation of each of these serum sources markedly reduced its opsonic capacity for all Pseudomonas strains, suggesting that the serum C system was essential for opsonization . Five strains were opsonized in the absence of the classical C pathway; however, kinetic studies revealed that opsonization proceeded at a faster rate when the classical pathway was present . In spite of markedly reduced factor B and C3 levels, zymosan-treated serum retained significant opsonic activity for one of the strains tested . Four strains were poorly opsonized by immunoglobulin-deficient serum, and C activation by these strains appeared to depend upon the presence of antibodies . Two strains, however, were effectively opsonized in a relative absence of antibodies . Thus, in the nonimmune state, phagocytosis of P . aeruginosa is mediated primarily via the C system, and antibodies appear to play a role in the opsonization of some but perhaps not all Pseudomonas strains.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Dec, 84(6), 1373 - 9
Effect of pyocin R1 on the glucose metabolism of sensitive cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kageyama M; The effect of pyocin R1 on the glucose metabolism of sensitive Pseudomonas cells was investigated . Upon treatment with pyocin R1, although the rate of O2 uptake of the sensitive cells for glucose or gluconate was not very much affected at first, the final level of O2 uptake was greatly reduced . When 2-oxogluconate was used as a substrate, O2 uptake was immediately halted by pyocin . By determining the amounts of glucose, gluconate, and 2-oxogluconate before and after the reaction and the amount of O2 consumed, it was concluded that glucose was exclusively metabolized via the following pathway with quantitative accumulation of 2-oxogluconate after pyocin treatment . (Formula: see text) . The possible mechanism of this change is discussed.

Chest, 1978 Dec, 74(6), 643 - 7
Pulmonary function and morbidity in 40 adult patients with cystic fibrosis; Fink RJ et al.; Pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary complications were studied in a group of 40 patients with cystic fibrosis who reached the age of 25 years . Mean values for vital capacity (VC), functional residual capacity, residual volume (RV), the ratio of RV over total lung capacity (RV/TLC), conductance, and the ratio of the forced expiratory volume in one second over VC were abnormal . There was a variable pattern of progression from patient to patient . The men differed from the women only in that they had a significantly larger TLC and inspiratory capacity than the women . The resultant preservation of VC may have an advantage for survival in those patients in whom it is observed . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was encountered with increasing frequency with age . Massive hemoptysis did not result in early death . The occurrence of rightsided heart failure secondary to cor pulmonale, with or without respiratory failure, was a poor prognostic sign.

Infect Immun, 1978 Dec, 22(3), 919 - 25
Protective immunity induced in mice by immunization with high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pier GB et al.; A high-molecular-weight alkali-labile polysaccharide (PS) isolated from the slime of immunotype 1 Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested for its ability to protect mice from lethal challenge with the live, homologous organism . Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 10 to 25 microgram of the PS protected 60 to 70% of the mice against challenge with up to 50 50% lethal dose units . Although single immunization of mice with up to 250 microgram of PS effected protective levels of only 70%, two successive immunizations provided 100% protection . Subcutaneous and intravenous immunization with PS also provided protection to i.p . challenges with immunotype 1 P . aeruginosa, but not to i.p . challenge with immunotype 4 P . aeruginosa . Although lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was found to be more immunogenic than PS in out studies, contamination of the alkali-labile PS with LPS did not account for the protection seen . Alkali treatment (0.1 N NaOH, 37 degrees C, 2 h) of the PS destroyed its protective effectiveness, while similarly treated LPS retained its capacity for inducing immunity in mice . Adsorption and passive protection studies with sera raised to either PS or a mixture of PS and LPS indicated that antibody directed to the alkali-labile PS antigen was capable of contributing to the protection of mice against challenge with P . aeruginosa.

Infect Immun, 1978 Dec, 22(3), 908 - 18
Isolation and characterization of a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide from the slime of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pier GB et al.; A procedure is described for isolating a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide (PS) from the slime of Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotype 1 . The resultant material, obtained from the void volume of a Sephadex G-100 column, was composed of carbohydrate and water . No lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonoate, heptose, phosphate, or protein was detectable, and nucleic acid contamination was generally below 1% . The carbohydrate composition of the PS was glucose, rhamnose, galactose, arabinose, and mannose . PS had a molecular weight of between 100,000 and 350,000 and did not disaggregate when chromatographed in the presence of sodium deoxycholate . An antigen immunologically indistinguishable from PS could be obtained from LPS by either acetic acid hydrolysis and column chromatography or by allowing solutions of LPS to stand at room temperature for 3 days . Some of this LPS-associated polysaccharide eluted as the void volume of a G-100 column but differed from PS by its lack of galactose and arabinose . LPS also contained an immunodeterminant not shared with PS that was detected by its stability to dilute alkali treatment (0.1 N NaOH, 37 degrees C, 2 h) . PS was destroyed by alkali treatment . PS appeared to represent a form of LPS polysaccharide side chain that contains galactose and arabinose and is of a high molecular weight.

Infect Immun, 1978 Dec, 22(3), 878 - 90
Biological activities of pyochelins: iron-chelating agents of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Liu PV et al.; Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa able to grow readily in serum (serum resistant) produce siderophores in large quantity, enabling them to extract iron from transferrins . The term pyochelin has been proposed for this group of compounds . Pyochelin extractable with ethyl acetate and designated pyochelin A appears to be a mixture of catechols and other phenolates . The structures of water-soluble siderophores, designated pyochelin B, have not been determined . Pyochelins enabled growth in serum of strains of serum-sensitive P . aeruginosa and other gram-negative bacilli . Serum-resistant strains of P . aeruginosa tended to be more virulent than equally toxigenic strains of the serum-sensitive group . However, incorporation of pyochelins into the inocula of serum-sensitive strains could reduce, rather than enhance, their virulence . Utilization of pyochelins by serum-sensitive strains of P . aeruginosa rendered some of these organisms resistant to pyocins which were otherwise lethal to them.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Dec, 136(3), 1159 - 64
An explanation for the apparent host specificity of Pseudomonas plasmid R91 expression; Jacoby GA et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 9169 has been reported to contain a plasmid that expresses resistance to carbenicillin (Cb), kanamycin (Km), and tetracycline (Tc) in Escherichia coli but resistance only to Cb in certain Pseudomonas recipients . The triply resistant plasmid in E . coli belonged to incompatibility (Inc) group P or P-1, whereas the singly resistant plasmid in P . aeruginosa was compatible with IncP-1 plasmids and other plasmids of established Inc specificity but incompatible with plasmid pSR1 that is here used to define a new Pseudomonas Inc group P-10 . Additional physical and genetic studies showed that strain 9169 contained not one but two plasmids: IncP-1 plasmid R91a, determining the Cb Km Tc phenotype, and IncP-10 plasmid R91, determining Cb that differed in molecular weight and in EcoRI and BamHI restriction endonuclease recognition sites . Plasmid multiplicity rather than host effects on plasmid gene expression can account for differences in the phenotype of strain 9169 transconjugants to E . coli and P . aeruginosa.

Mol Gen Genet, 1978 Nov 29, 167(2), 165 - 76
Chromosomal location of genes participating in the degradation of purines in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Matsumoto H et al.; Genetic mapping of the genes (puu) that encode the enzymes catalysing degradation of purines in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO has been carried out . Mutants that are deficient in adenine deaminase (puuA), guanine deaminase (puuB), xanthine dehydrogenase (puuC), uricase (puuD), allantoinase (puuE), and/or allantoicase (puuF) were isolated and used for the genetic study . Conjugation by FP5 factor and generalized transduction by phage G101 gave the following map locations of these six genes on the chromosome: hisI--puuB--hisII; trpA,B--puuA--ilv202; met9011--catA1--tyu--nar9011--(puuC, puuD, puuE)--puuF . A close linkage among the puuC, puuD and puuE was demonstrated by the transduction.

Med Klin, 1978 Nov 10, 73(45), 1577 - 80
{Hospital infections with pseudomonas aeruginosa . II . Intensive care units (author's transl)}; Kruger H et al.; 72 newly admitted patients of three surgical intensive care units of the Medical School Hannover were examined bacteriologically for pseudomonas aeruginosa for a period of 7 months . A total of 810 specimens was examined during therapy . 95 strains of pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated in 32 of 72 patients, taken either at the time of admission or during the stay of the patients in the hospital . The frequency of contamination increased with the duration of the stay of the patients in the hospital as follows: 20 per cent at the time of admission, 71 per cent after 8 to 10-day stay and up to 100 per cent for a duration of stay exceeding 14 days . The germs were mainly localized in the nose-throat region and in the respiratory tract . The results of phage typing suggested a hospital infection in about 50 per cent of the patients . The relationship between infection and infectious disease was discussed with respect to the epidemiologic characteristics of intensive care units . Furthermore, it was attempted to formulate recommendations for interrupting or abolishing the infection chains.

Am J Med, 1978 Nov, 65(5), 864 - 7
Bacterial invasion of pulmonary vessels . Pseudomonas bacteremia mimicking pulmonary thromboembolism with infarction; Soave R et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa displays a curious propensity for invading blood vessels and causing vessel wall necrosis . This bacteremia-related "vasculitis" is often associated with hemorrhagic necrosis and infarction of surrounding organ parenchyma . With the exception of skin lesions, however, clinical manifestations of Ps . aeruginosa vasculitis seldom occur . In the patient we describe, fatal Ps . aeruginosa bacteremia was first manifested by a syndrome indistinguishable from pulmonary thromboembolism with infarction.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Nov, 242(2), 228 - 38
{Flagella specific H antigenic schema of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)}; Ansorg R; Serogrouping of P . aeruginosa on the basis of heat-stable somatic (O-)agglutinogens is well established, but H-typing on the basis of heat-labile agglutinogens is not accepted generally because of uncertain flagella specificity . In contrast to the agglutination reaction, the indirect fluorescent antibody technique allows the differentiation of soma and flagellum of P . aeruginosa cells at the morphological and serological level simultaneously, and thereby the specific analysis of flagellar (H-)antigens, even with OH-antisera . Using this technique the complex flagella-antigen a with the partial antigens a0, a1, a2, a3, a4 and the uniform flagella-antigen b are differentiated by cross absorption experiments . As the partial factors a1-a4 are independent determinants, a flagellar antigenic schema containing 17 H-types is devised . Type strains, immunization and absorption procedures for preparing diagnostic antisera are described . O-group and H-type show free combination . Completing the extended O antigenic schema of Habs (slide agglutination) with the flagella specific H antigenic schema (indirect fluorescent antibody technique), a detailed OH typing system of P . aeruginosa is obtained, by which clinical isolates are subdivided into 99 serovars.

J Gen Microbiol, 1978 Nov, 109(1), 25 - 35
Regulation of enzyme synthesis in the arginine biosynthetic pathway of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Voellmy R et al.; In Pseudomonas aeruginosa the synthesis of only two out of eight arginine biosynthetic enzymes tested was regulated . Comparisons were made between the specific activities of these enzymes in bacteria grown on arginine or on its precursor, glutamate . N2-Acetylornithine 5-aminotransferase (ACOAT), an enzyme involved in both the biosynthesis and catabolism of arginine, was induced about 14-fold during growth of the organism on arginine as the only carbon and nitrogen source, and the anabolic ornithine carbamoyltransferase (aOTC), a strictly biosynthetic enzyme, was repressed 18-fold . Addition of various carbon sources to the arginine medium led to repression of ACOAT and to derepression of aOTC . Fructose, which supported only slow growth of P . aeruginosa, had a weak regulatory effect on the synthesis of the two arginine enzymes while citrate, a good carbon source for this organism, had a strong effect . The repression of ACOAT by citrate was not relieved by adding cyclic AMP to the medium . Under a variety of growth conditions leading to different enzyme activities, a linear relationship between the reciprocal of the specific activity of ACOAT and the specific activity of aOTC was observed . This inverse regulation of the formation of the two enzymes suggested that a single regulatory system governs their synthesis . Such a view was supported by the isolation of citrate-resistant regulatory mutants which constitutively formed ACOAT at the induced level and aOTC at the repressed level.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Nov, 8(5), 489 - 95
Type-specific indirect hemagglutinating antibody in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection; Shigeta S et al.; Lipopolysaccharide antigens were extracted from heated cell extracts of several serotypes of Pseudonomas aeruginosa . Indirect hemagglutination with the extracts indicated specific reactivity with sera from rabbits immunized with homologous serotypes of P . aeruginosa . Sera from healthy adults and patients infected with P . aeruginosa were studied subsequently and shown to possess antibodies against P . aeurginosa . In patients infected with P . aeruginosa type E, indirect hemagglutination antibody against type E was resistant to 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and classified as immunoglobulin G . In patients infected with any other type of P . aeruginosa and in healthy adults, it was sensitive to 2-ME and classified as immunoglobulin M . The antibody in the seven patients infected with P . aeruginosa was titrated during the course of infection with lipopolysaccharide antigen prepared from the infecting strain . As a result, all patients either possessed 2-ME-resistant antibody or showed antibody rise to homotypic antigen during the infection . However, no patient showed 2-ME-resistant antibody against hetero-typic lipopolysaccharide antigens . In hospitalized patients, the incidence of anti body against type E, G, and I Pseudomonas strains was greater than that against type A . In particular, 2-ME-resistant antibody to all four serotypes was detected at a higher rate in hospitalized patients than in healthy adults.

Infect Immun, 1978 Nov, 22(2), 530 - 9
R-factor inheritance and plasmid content in mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Markowitz SM et al.; Eighteen strains of alginate-producing mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated with respect to plasmid content and the ability to maintain well-characterized R plasmids . The spontaneous loss of alginate production in these strains varied from 0.01 to 0.7% and was not significantly increased by plasmid curing regimens . Examination of cleared lysates of these strains and their isogenic nonmucoid derivatives by agarose gel electrophoresis failed to reveal plasmid DNA . R-plasmid (P-incompatibility-group) transfer to mucoid P . aeruginosa was unaffected by the presence of the alginate capsule . Maintenance and expression of such plasmids in the mucoid strains were confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis and by verification of plasmid-linked drug resistance and pilus-specific bacteriophage sensitivity . These studies demonstrate that alginate production does not appear to be plasmid linked and that mucoid P . aeruginosa are capable of receiving and donating certain drug resistance plasmids . Since some of the plasmids used here have been shown to mobilize chromosomal DNA, strains constructed in this study should afford the means for exploring the genetic basis of the mucoid phenotype.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Nov, 36(5), 724 - 30
Frequency of F116-mediated transduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a freshwater environment; Morrison WD et al.; Transduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa streptomycin resistance by a generalized transducing phage, F116, was shown to occur during a 10-day incubation in a flow-through environmental test chamber suspended in a freshwater reservoir . Mean F116 transduction frequencies ranged from 1.4 X 10(-5) to 8.3 X 10(-2) transductants per recipient during the in situ incubation . These transduction frequencies were comparable to transduction frequencies determined in preliminary laboratory transduction experiments . The results demonstrate the potential for naturally occurring transduction in aquatic environments and concurrent environmental and ecological ramifications.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Nov, 136(2), 638 - 46
Relationship between catabolism of glycerol and metabolism of hexosephosphate derivatives by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Heath HE et al.; The relationship between catabolism of glycerol and metabolism of hexosephosphate derivatives in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied by comparing the growth on glycerol and enzymatic constitution of strain PAO with these characteristics of glucose-catabolic mutants and revertants . Growth of strain PAO on glycerol induced a catabolic oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-linked glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase and seven glucose-catabolic enzymes . The results indicated that these enzymes were induced by a six-carbon metabolite of glucose . All strains possessed a constitutive anabolic Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway allowing limited conversion of glycerol-derived triosephosphate to hexosephosphate derivatives, which was consistent with induction of these enzymes by glycerol . Phosphogluconate dehydratase-deficient mutants grew on glycerol . However, mutants lacking both phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and phosphogluconate dehydratase were unable to grow on glycerol, although these strains possessed all of the enzymes needed for degradation of glycerol . These mutants apparently were inhibited by hexosephosphate derivatives, which originated from glycerol-derived triosephosphate and could not be dissimilated . This conclusion was supported by the fact that revertants regaining only a limited capacity to degrade 6-phosphogluconate were glycerol positive but remained glucose negative.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Nov, 136(2), 507 - 21
Linkage map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAT; Watson JM et al.; The locations of new markers relative to markers previously mapped on the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAT were defined by generalized transduction with phage F116L and F1083 . Although the marker orders of the various marker groups were deduced mainly from the results of two-factor crosses, the locations of a number of markers were confirmed by three-factor crosses . A linkage map of the chromosome of P . aeruginosa PAT was constructed which shows the relative locations of 50 genes . From the available data, the linkage maps of P . aeruginosa strains PAO and PAT appear to be similar.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1978 Nov, 17(11), 1076 - 86
Pathogenesis of experimental Pseudomonas keratitis in the guinea pig: bacteriologic, clinical, and microscopic observations; Van Horn DL et al.; Uniformly severe corneal infections were produced in guinea pigs by intracorneal injection of about 10 viable Pseudomonas aeruginosa . After a brief lag period, multiplication of bacteria was rapid, reaching geometric means of 280,000 after 24 hr and of 5 million after 48 hr . Within 8 hr after inoculation, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) began to infiltrate the anterior two thirds of the stroma . Stromal cells adjacent to the injection site became necrotic and appeared to be engulfed by PMNs . By 14 to 16 hr, an abscess containing a dense aggregate of PMNs and multiplying bacteria developed in the central stroma . By 16 to 24 hr, collagen breakdown was apparent within and around the abscess . Ultrastructural evidence of collagen breakdown included loss of intact collagen fibrils, tactoid formation, and accumulation of amorphous electron-dense material . The area of liquefactive necrosis gradually enlarged, and many corneas perforated after 3 to 4 days . Because the course of infection is highly reproducible, this model should prove useful for many studies of experimental Pseudomonas keratitis.

C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 1978 Oct 30, 287(11), 1067 - 70
{Evidence for plasmidic localization of "beta-lactamase" gene in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain, highly resistant to carbenicillin}; Jouvenot M et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain HL, isolated in Besancon (France), shows a high level of resistance for carbenicillin, as proved in preliminary studies . In this paper, we report the transfer of carbenicillin resistance from Pseudomonas aeruginosa HL1 carrying helper plasmids to other strains of the same species . Comparative study of beta-lactamase activity in the HL1 strain and in the conjugated strains allows confirmation of the transfer of an R-factor from the HL1 strain: in all these strains, the beta-lactamase has the same pI (5.3) and the same Vmax (relative to benzylpenicillin) for ampicillin, carbenicillin and cephaloridin.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1978 Oct 20, 165(3), 181 - 9
{Antibody response to somatic and flagellar antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)}; Ansorg R et al.; Using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique, the production of antiflagellar and antisomatic antibodies in rabbits immunized with different P . aeruginosa strains is measured . After 6 injections of formalinized cultures in graded doses over 3 weeks, the antiflagellar antibodies reach the peak in the 4th to 5th week, followed by a rapid fall . The antisomatic antibodies reacting with native and boiled cells show a plateau-shaped maximum from the 3rd to 5th/6th week and fell slightly up to the 11th week . A significant dissociation of antiflagellar and antisomatic antibodies, however, is not observed . The antisomatic antibodies are less absorbed by protein A (Staph . aureus) than are the antiflagellar antibodies.

Mol Gen Genet, 1978 Oct 4, 165(2), 213 - 9
Relationship between mutant amidases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and hydroxyurea as an inhibitor; Brown PR et al.; Hydroxyurea inhibited growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain AI 3 on media containing either acetanilide (N-phenyl acetamide) or acetamide as sole carbon sources . Mutants resistant to hydroxyurea inhibition of growth on acetanilide (OUCH strains) and acetamide (AmOUCH strains) displayed altered growth properties on various amide media compared with the parent strain AI3 . AI3 amidase, which catalyses the initial step in the metabolism of acetanilide and acetamide, was inhibited by hydroxyurea in a time-dependent reaction that was slowly reversible at pH 7.2 . Compared with AI3 amidase, amidases from the OUCH mutants were much less sensitive to inhibition by hydroxyurea and showed altered substrate specificities and pH/activity profiles; amidases from the AmOUCH mutants were more sensitive to hydroxyurea inhibition but showed increased activity towards acetamide . Association of resistance to hydroxyurea inhibition with a mutation in the amidase structural gene of strain OUCH 4 was confirmed by transduction.

Br J Dermatol, 1978 Oct, 99(4), 353 - 6
Ultraviolet light inhibition of oriented fibrin formation in psoriasis; Juhlin L et al.; Radially-oriented fibrin crystallization was induced by incubation of blood from psoriatic patients with killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The phenomenon was inhibited by irradiation of the buffy coat in plasma with UV-B . It was not inhibited by UV-A unless trioxsalen had been added . Addition of UV-A-irradiated plasma to non-irradiated buffy coat also inhibits the fibrin formation.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Oct, 24(10), 1140 - 4
Comparison of three methods for identifying nonfermenting gram-negative rods; Hofherr L et al.; Seventy-six strains of nonfermenting gram-negative rods were tested on the Analytab Products, Inc . (API) system and on conventional media . In addition, 51 strains were tested on the Oxi-Ferm system . When the identification results were compared, the API agreed with the conventional system on 41% of the isolates and Oxi-Ferm agreed with the conventional system on 72% of the isolates . API had the greatest difficulty in identifying Pseudomonas aeruginosa . API and Oxi-Ferm both had difficulty identifying P . cepacia . Oxi-Ferm had more individual discrepant biochemical reactions than did API when compared to the conventional media, but still maintained a higher percentage agreement with the conventional system.

J Clin Pathol, 1978 Oct, 31(10), 923 - 8
A test for 'hygienic' hand disinfection; Ayliffe GA et al.; A standardised test procedure is described in which finger-tips are inoculated with broth cultures of organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphyloccocus saprophyticus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa): counts are made from washings of hands after disinfection with various antiseptic-detergents, alcoholic solutions, or unmedicated soap . 70% alcohol, with or without chlorhexidine, was the most effective preparation . The two antiseptic detergents showed variable results, but against Gram-negative bacilli neither was significantly more effective than plain soap . Some tests were also made on the death rate of organisms dried on the skin without disinfection.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Oct, 136(1), 381 - 90
Outer membranes of gram-negative bacteria . XIX . Isolation from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and use in reconstitution and definition of the permeability barrier; Hancock RE et al.; A method for separating the outer and inner membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 in the absence of added ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was devised . The method yields two outer membrane fractions which show the same protein pattern on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but differ substantially in their relative contents of phospholipids . One of these outer membrane fractions and the inner membrane fraction are less than 4% cross-contaminated, as judged by the content of typical inner and outer membrane markers . The outer membrane contains four major protein bands with apparent molecular weights of 37,000, 35,000, 21,000 and 17,000 . Vesicles reconstituted from lipopolysaccharide and phospholipids were impermeable to all saccharides included in the vesicles during vesicle formation . When the vesicles contained outer membrane proteins, they fully retained only those saccharides of greater than 9,000 molecular weight, suggesting that the exclusion limit of the outer membrane of P . aeruginosa for saccharides is substantially larger than the figure (500 to 600 daltons) obtained for certain enteric bacteria . The advantages and potential disadvantages of having an outer membrane with a higher exclusion limit for hydrophilic substances are discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Oct, 136(1), 312 - 7
Deletion plasmids from transformants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa trp cells with the RSF1010-trp hybrid plasmid and high levels of enzyme activity from the gene on the plasmid; Nagahari K; A RSF1010-trp hybrid plasmid which contained the tryptophan operon of Escherichia coli was introduced into Pseudomonas aeruginosa trp cells by transformation . From the Trp+ transformants several deletion plasmids were obtained, and their physical maps with restriction endonucleases were constructed . P . aeruginosa trp cells with these plasmids showed at first more than 100 times higher levels of tryptophan synthetase beta activity over that of the control P . aeruginosa wild-type cells, but these levels were drastically decreased by 1 week of successive transfers of cultures . This decrease in enzyme activity was found to be due to the change on the plasmids but not to the host cells . The production of E . coli tryptophan synthetase beta enzyme in P . aeruginosa cells was proved by immunological test.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Oct, 31(10), 1013 - 22
beta-lactam antibiotics . II . Structure-activity relationships of 6-{alpha-(alpha'-ureido-acylamino) acylamino} penicillanic acids; Ferres H et al.; The influence on the structure-activity relationships (S.A.R.) of the stereochemistry and various alkyl, aryl, aralkyl and heterocyclic substituents at the two chiral centres in the dipeptide side-chain of a new series of penicillins was examined . In many cases the effects of these changes had a pronounced influence on the degree of activity against Gram-positive and especially Gram-negative bacteria . Several compounds indicated that the size, shape and spatial disposition of a substituent were the parameters of importance in influencing activity, rather than it lipophilic or electronic character . The most active homologues in the series provided broad-spectrum penicillins which in terms of their in vitro antibacterial properties showed improvements over certain of the marketed penicillins . Thus 6-{D-alpha(alpha'-ureidoacyl-amino)acylamino}penicillanic acids were found which had a carbenicillin-like profile, with improvements against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella aerogenes, sensitive and beta-lactamase-producing Gram-positive cocci.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Oct, 31(10), 1039 - 45
Mutational biosynthesis of butirosin analogs . III . 6'-N-methylbutirosins and 3', 4'-dideoxy-6'-c-methylbutirosins, new semisynthetic aminoglycosides; Takeda K et al.; Two pairs of butirosin analogs were isolated from the fermentation broths obtained by cultivating a neamine-negative mutant of the butirosin-producing organism Bacillus circulans in the medium supplemented with 6'-N-methylneamine and gentamine C2, respectively . These amtibiotics were characterized as 6'-N-mentylbutirosins A and B (NMB-A & NMB-B), and 3', 4'-dideoxy-6'-C-methylbutirosins A and B (DCB-A & DCB-B), respectively, by chemical and spectroscopic studies . NMB-A and NMB-B exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activities with in vitro potency similar to or slightly less than that for butirosin A, but with greater activities against butirosin-resistant strain which contains acetylating enzyme AAC-(6')-I . The activities of NMB-A and NMB-B against Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were relatively weak . DCB-B had broad-spectrum activity, and exhibited greatly improved activity against butirosin-resistant organisms which contain acetylating enzymes AAC(6')-I and AAC(6')-IV, and phosphorylating enzyme APH(3')-II . These new butirosin analogs were also active against some of the clinical isolates resistant to butirosins, dibekacin and/or gentamicin.

Can Med Assoc J, 1978 Sep 9, 119(5), 466 - 70
Comparison of silver sulfadiazine and gentamicin for topical prophylaxis against burn wound sepsis; Snelling CF et al.; Daily prophylactic application of either 1.0% silver sulfadiazine cream or 0.1% gentamicin cream was compared for effectiveness in preventing bacterial colonization of burn wounds and sepsis . Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonized the wounds of 37% of the 38 patients treated with silver sulfadiazine and 30% of the 33 patients treated with gentamicin; gentamicin-resistant P . aeruginosa colonized the wounds of 21% of the patients treated with gentamicin . Staphylococcus aureus colonization occurred in 55% of the patients treated with silver sulfadiazine, whereas colonization with Candida species occurred in 58% of the patients treated with gentamicin . Although gentamicin-resistant organisms caused no deaths their repeated appearance resulted in discontinuation of prophylaxiz with gentamicin cream . The next year P . aeruginosa strains resistant to gentamicin were isolated from burn wounds of only two patients who had not previously received parenteral therapy with gentamicin or tobramycin . Gentamicin cream should be reserved for treating patients with wounds infected by gentamicin-sensitive P . aeruginosa and those allergic to sulfa drugs . For most patients with burn wounds silver sulfadiazine is safe and effective as an antibacterial agent for topical prophylaxis.

Ann Sclavo, 1978 Sep-Oct, 20(5), 707 - 12
{Reiterant contaminations by "pseudomonas aeruginosa" on culture cell lines in a hospital virology service (author's transl)}; Papa G et al.; The selection of antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains by an indiscriminate administration of antibiotics has been observed . The consequences induced by Ps . aeruginosa on the tissue culture cell lines (both primary and continuos) are harmful, velding a sharp pH drop from a slight initial increase, followed by the destruction of the cell layer . Sometimes the cells succeed in growing up for some passages since antibiotics are usually present in the growth medium . Tissue culture contamination can be avoided by carrying out drastic disinfection treatments . A profilatic measure would amply to keep the Virology laboratories separated from the rest of the hospital in which Ps . aeruginosa is often present.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Sep, (9), 70 - 4
{Use of the indirect hemagglutination reaction for detecting antibodies to Pseudomonas pyocyanea in acute suppurative destructive pneumonia}; Oleinik II et al.; No less than 4-fold increase in the antibody titres to Pseudomonas aeruginosa during the infectious process served as laboratory confirmation of its participation in the infectious process . In 49 of 91 patients hemagglutining titre exceeded the diagnostic one (1:640) . In 9 patients (chiefly in infants) hemagglutinin titre remained low, but there was a rise of antibody level to Pseudomonas aeruginosa during the disease . High hemagglutinin titres were noted in 12 patients on admission to the clinic, with reduction of the antibody titres at the late periods of the disease . Antibody titres remained unchanged during the disease in 15 patients . In 3 cases the indirect hemagglutination test was assesed as negative . In the rest of the patients hemagglutinin titres varied within the range of the diagnostic titre . Thus, the indirect hemagglutination test with erythrocytic diagnostic agent permitting to determine antibodies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be used at the clinic in combination with bacteriological and other investigations for establishing etiology of the destructive process.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1978 Sep, 70(3), 337 - 42
Inability of the standardized disk agar-diffusion test to measure susceptibility of the fluorescent group of pseudomonads to gentamicin; Woolfrey BF et al.; Four hundred thirteen clinical isolates of fluorescent pseudomonads consisting of 286 Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 127 organisms of the Pseudomonas fluorescent group were tested for susceptibilities to gentamicin by the broth-dilution method and by the standardized disk agar-diffusion test, using Mueller-Hinton agar from three sources . Different regression lines and significantly different mean inhibition zone diameters were found for the three Mueller-Hinton agars . Single zone-diameter breakpoints of either 13 or 16 mm for the standardized disk agar-diffusion test produced unacceptable rates of false-sensitive and false-resistant interpretations . When error rates were limited by using zone-diameter breakpoints determined by the method of error rate-bound analysis, the percentage of indeterminate interpretations became so large as to make the standardized disk agar-diffusion test impractical . It is concluded that the standardized disk agar-diffusion test should not be used for testing susceptibility of the fluorescent pseudomonads to gentamicin, and presumably other aminoglycosides.

J Gen Microbiol, 1978 Sep, 108(1), 119 - 23
R plasmids which alter ultraviolet light-sensitivity and enhance ultraviolet light-induced mutability in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Lehrbach PR et al.; R plasmids pMG1, R2, R931 and pMG15 increased the survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to ultraviolet radiation (u.v.) in the wild type, and uvr and polA mutants but did not alter the u.v.-response of a recA mutant . The R plasmid RPL11 reduced u.v.-survival in the wild type, and uvr and polA mutants but did not alter the u.v.-response of a recA host . All the plasmids enhanced the level of spontaneous and u.v.-induced back mutation (Trp+) in a trpB1 strain . The effect of sublethal concentration of sodium arsenite following u.v.-irradiation was examined . It was concluded that in strains trpB1(pMG1) and trpB1(R931), u.v.-protection is determined by a recA+-dependent, arsenite-sensitive repair pathway, whereas in strains trpB1(R2) and trpB1(pMG15), u.v.-protection is determined by a recA+-dependent, arsenite-insensitive step in DNA repair.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Sep, 135(3), 911 - 9
Transfer-deficient mutants of the narrow-host-range plasmid R91-5 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Carrigan JM et al.; Three methods have been successful in the isolation of transfer-deficient mutants of the narrow-host-range R plasmid R91-5 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: (i) selection for donor-specific phage resistance; (ii) direct screening after mutagenic treatment with either ethyl methane sulfonate or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine; (iii) in vitro mutagenesis of plasmid DNA by hydroxylamine followed by transformation and direct screening . The majority of transfer-deficient mutants were donor-specific phage resistant, supporting the view that sex pili and other surface components are essential for conjugal transfer (since the phages PRD1 and PR4 adsorb to these sites) . Some of the transfer-deficient mutants were also unable to inhibit the replication of phage G101 or lost entry exclusion or both phenotypes . The ability to revert these pleiotropic mutants to wild type implicates the latter two functions in R91-5 transfer . Suppressor mutations in P . aeruginosa enabled the detection of suppressor-sensitive, transfer-deficient mutants . Such mutants should prove useful in conjugational complementation tests for the identification of the transfer cistrons of R91-5.

Lancet, 1978 Aug 19, 2(8086), 401 - 3
Low mortality in burned patients in a Pseudomonas vaccine trial; Jones RJ et al.; In a controlled clinical trial of a polyvalent pseudomonas vaccine in burned patients infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa all 18 vaccinated patients survived, whereas 8 of 20 unvaccinated patients died.

Experientia, 1978 Aug 15, 34(8), 992 - 3
Comparative study of the sensitivity of acetylcholinesterases and cholinesterases from animal and bacterial sources to inhibition by serotonin and its derivatives; Gilboa-Garber N et al.; Serotonin was found to inhibit human erythrocyte and electric-eel acetylcholinesterase activities . The serotonin amino group, free of negative charges in its vicinity and its hydroxyl group, were important for the inhibition . Serotonin precursors and several related compounds had little or no effect . Human plasma cholinesterase was also inhibited by serotonin and tryptamine . In contrast to these animal enzymes, the cholinesterase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was refractory to serotonin and its derivatives under the same experimental conditions.

Lancet, 1978 Aug 5, 2(8084), 289 - 91
Noma neonatorum: Its aetiopathogenesis; Ghosal SP et al.; Noma neonatorum, a gangrenous process affecting the nose, lips, mouth, anal region, and occasionally the scrotum and eyelids, affects neonates, especially low-birth-weight and premature ill babies, and is usually fatal 1-3 days after onset . In 35 cases of noma neonatorum Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from blood-culture (86.3%), gangrenous areas (96.0%), rectal swabs (58.3%), and cerebrospinal fluid (60.0%) . Blood-vessels in the deep cutis or subcutis were affected and the gangrenous process extended superficially . Noma in older children and adults is caused by fusospirochaetosis but noma neonatorum appears to be due to P . aeruginosa septicaemia.

Mol Gen Genet, 1978 Aug 4, 164(1), 51 - 6
Mapping of the locus involved in the catabolic oxidation of D-amino acids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO; Manoharan TH et al.; Mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO deficient in their utilization of DL-valine have been found to have lost their capacity to utilize DL-alanine and L-proline . Use of conjugal and transductional mediated gene transfers have established the chromosomal location of this gene and also its pleotropic function in the induction of the D-amino acid oxidase, involved in the oxidative utilization of DL-valine, DL-alanine and L-proline . These point mutations are clustered in a single locus designated as Val D and mapped around the 19th minute on the chromosome.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1978 Aug, 118(2), 319 - 24
Differential effects of cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate on bronchoalveolar phagocytic cell populations; Pennington JE; The effects of cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate on numbers of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) and on inflammatory response of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to bacterial infection in the lung were studied in guinea pigs . Groups of animals were treated for 7 days with each drug alone or in combination . Bronchoalveolar lavage was carried out on the day after completion of the drug regimens . Selected animals were challenged via the trachea with Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 hours before lavage . Single-drug therapy did not significantly decrease numbers of PAM in lavage fluids, but combined therapy led to a 60 per cent (P less than 0.01) decrease in numbers of PAM . Normal animals and cortisone-treated animals responded 2 hours after Pseudomonas lung challenge with a 4-fold increase in PMN in lavage fluid, wherease animals treated with cyclophosphamide or the combined-drug regimen failed in this response . The clearance of viable Pseudomonas organisms from bronchoalveolar fluids was inhibited only in animals treated with both cyclophosphamide and cortisone . Thus, only a combined regimen of cyclophosphamide plus cortisone led to the simultaneous occurrence of decreased numbers of PAM, as well as inhibition of polymorphonuclear leukocyte inflammation in the lung . Combined immunosuppressive drug regimens may result in more severe alterations in lung host defense for the clearance of bacteria than does single-drug therapy.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1978 Aug, 48(4), 313 - 20
Experimental Pseudomonas infection in mice: acquired resistance against Pseudomonas septicemia and altered susceptibility in BCG infected mice; Ishibashi T et al.; Pseudomonas septicemia in mice caused the early death in the first three days of infection without any localized lesions . Localized lesions such as abscess are observed in the kidney and liver after the third day of infection . The early death increased in the BCG infected mice showing an increased level of macrophage activation . It seemed that such early death is due to endotoxin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . However, the BCG infected mice showing an enhanced antibody formation were more resistant to pseudomonas septicemia . Immune serum protected such death, but immune spleen cells did not . Furthermore immune serum also protected the increased death in BCG infected mice.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Aug, (8), 55 - 60
{Experience with epidemiologic studies of pyocyaneus infections . I . Feasibility of using serotypes and antibiotic resistance as a epidemiologic label for clinical strains}; Petropavlovskaia IS et al.; The authors carried out serological typing of 98 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, isolated from patients of burn department of the Sklifosovsky First Aid Institute in January-July, 1974, and of 215 strains obtained from other sources; their sensitivity to 13 antibiotics was determined . Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures isolated from the patients were typed with O-sera of 10 serological types . The presence of several hospital strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found by means of serological typing; along with these there were revealed cultures of this causative agent sporadically appearing in the department . Sensitivity to some antibiotics could serve as an additional criterion for differentiation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains of the same serological type.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1978 Aug, 48(4), 287 - 95
The role of OEP-antibodies in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection; Doi T et al.; When mice were challenged intraperitoneally with 2.2 X 10(4) Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 0.5 ml of 2.7% mucin solution, the bacteria markedly increased in the peritoneal cavity, rapidly entered the blood stream, and the mice died, probably of bacteremia, within a short time . However, when mice were injected subcutaneously 4 hours prior to the challenge with 0.2 ml of 0.75% IgG (OEP-HA = 12.8) or IgM (OEP-HA = 64) separated from human plasma or 3% S-IgA EP-HA = 19.2) from fresh human milk, the bacteria were inhibited from propagating and were eliminated from the cavity so that they could not enter the blood stream . As a result, the mice tolerated the challenge and survived . When 3% IgA (OEP-HA less than 0.8) from human plasma was given, a complete cure was not effected in a few mice despite a general tendency of healing . Determination of the number of viable intra- and extracellular bacteria in the peritoneal cavity revealed that the infecting bacteria were rapidly phagocytized and killed by the peritoneal phagocytes in the presence of OEP-antibodies . These findings indicate that the effect of bacterial clearance from the cavity results from the cooperative action of OEP-antibodies and peritoneal phagocytes . Marked enhancement of phagocytosis by the antibodies was observed in an in vitro study in the presence of a heat-labile, complement-like substance(s) . This finding is interpreted as evidence of the cooperative activity.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Aug, 8(2), 181 - 8
Serological classification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a slide agglutination test; Kusama H; Serological classification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the slide agglutination test with live organisms was studied, based on the O antigen schema adopted by the international expert panel sponsored by the Subcommittee on Pseudomonas and Related Organisms of the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology . The typing results obtained by the slide test with well-absorbed O sera were identical to those obtained by the conventional tube agglutination test with autoclaved organisms . Most O antigens occur singly; but O2, O5, and O16 occur in four combinations . Antigens O13 and O14 are closely related, as are O7 and O8, and it would be convenient to classify organisms possessing these antigens collectively as O7,8 and O13,14.

Infect Immun, 1978 Aug, 21(2), 354 - 9
Depression of contact sensitivity by enhancement of suppressor cell activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-injected mice; Colizzi V et al.; Heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa depresses contact sensitivity to oxazolone in C56BL/6 mice . The draining lymph nodes and spleens of mice exhibiting an impaired reactivity to oxazolone contain a cell population capable of depressing the response to oxazolone of recipients sensitized immediately before cell transfer . The suppressive activity of these cells appears to be antigen specific, since they do not affect the response to picryl chloride and because they do not arise in P . aeruginosa-injected but not oxazolone-sensitized mice . These suppressor cells occur in the draining lymph nodes and spleen at 3 and 4 days after sensitization, respectively, and have precursors sensitive to cyclophosphamide . It is concluded that P . aeruginosa depresses contact sensitivity to oxazolone by enhancing the suppressor cell activity of the regulatory cells which arise during conventional sensitization.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Aug, 23(8), 718 - 20
{Effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa melanin on antibiotic activity}; Rozhavin MA; The properties of microbial melanines are very diverse . Melanine of P . aeruginosa is little studied . The pigment was isolated from a strain of P . aeruginosa possessing all characteristic properties of the species . Interaction of P . aeruginosa melanine with various antibiotics was determined by the method of serial dilutions in beaf-peptone broth, using Staph . aureus 209 as a test-microbe, which was added to the medium in an amount of 10(6) cells to each tube . It was found that P . aeruginosa melanine differed from DOPA-melanine in a concentration of 1 mg/ml and did not change the activity of penicillin, tetracycline, oleandomycin, kanamycin and gentamicin with respect to Staph . aureus.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Aug, 135(2), 379 - 92
Positive regulation of amidase synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Farin F et al.; Mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated that were acetamide-negative in growth phenotype at 41 degrees C and constitutive for amidase synthesis at 28 degrees C . Two mutants were derived from the magno-constitutive amidase mutant PAC111 (C11), and a third from a mutant that had enhanced inducibility by formamide, PAC153 (F6) . The three temperature-sensitive mutants produced amidases with the same thermal stabilities as the wild-type enzyme . Cultures growing exponentially at 28 degrees C, synthesizing amidase constitutively, ceased amidase synthesis almost immediately on transfer to 41 degrees C . Cultures growing at 41 degrees C were transferred to 28 degrees C and had a lag of about 0.5 of a generation before amidase synthesis became detectable . Pulse-heating for 10 min at 45 degrees C of a culture growing exponentially at 28 degrees C resulted in a lag of about 0.5 of a generation before amidase synthesis recommenced after returning to 28 degrees C . Acetamide-negative mutants that were unable to synthesize amidase at any growth temperature were isolated from an inducible strain producing the mutant B amidase PAC398 (IB10) . Two mutants were examined that gave revertants producing B amidase but with novel regulatory phenotypes . It is suggested that amidase synthesis is regulated by positive control exerted by gene amiR.

J Pediatr, 1978 Aug, 93(2), 201 - 5
Lymphocyte responsiveness to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis: Relationship to status of pulmonary disease in sibling pairs; Sorensen RU et al.; Lymphocyte proliferative responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated in six sibling pairs with cystic fibrosis . In each pair, one sibling had advanced clinical disease, whereas the other sibling was in good clinical condition . Three in this latter group had no clinically apparent Pseudomonas bronchitis . In all cases, the average responses to Pseudomonas isolated from each sibling pair were lower in the sibling with advanced clinical disease . This difference was not observed in the responses to Staphylococcus . Normal plasma or plasma from patients with CF in good clinical condition does not restore the responses in patients with advanced clinical disease . However, plasma from patients with low or no responses to Pseudomonas inhibits the responses of responding siblings . A progressive specific lymphocyte unresponsiveness to Pseudomonas may play an important role in the increasing destructiveness of chronic pulmonary Pseudomonas infection in cystic fibrosis.

JAMA, 1978 Jul 7, 240(1), 30 - 4
Pseudomonas colonization in cystic fibrosis . A study of 160 patients; Kulczycki LL et al.; We investigated the role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization in the respiratory tracts of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients to relate the effect of this colonization to progression of bronchial airway pathologic conditions and to the patients' clinical progress, and to identify predisposing factors to persistence of P aeruginosa colonization and bronchial tree damage . Half of 160 CF patients studied had persistent P aeruginosa respiratory tract colonization; the other half had none . Pseudomonas aeruginosa seems to have an exclusive propensity for the respiratory tract and may appear at any age . Treatment with antibiotics, including aminoglycosides, failed to eradicate P aeruginosa . The continuous use of antibiotics seemed to contribute to the persistence of P aeruginosa and the appearance of mucoid strains of P aeruginosa.

Gene, 1978 Jul, 3(4), 353 - 7
Refined molecular weights for phage, viral and ribosomal RNA; Vollenweider HJ et al.; The RNAs of the Escherichia coli bacteriophages MS2 and Qbeta as well as E . coli 16S ribosomal RNA were examined under identical conditions by electron microscopy using the protein-free benzyldimethylalkylammonium chloride (BAC) spreading technique . From the contour length ratios of the RNAs and the known number of nucleotides for MS2, the chain lengths for Qbeta RNA and 16S RNA were found to be 4790 +/- 150 and 1645 +/- 55 nucleotides . Correcting for the base composition of Qbeta RNA the molecular weight of the Na salt of this RNA is (1.64 +/- 0.06) . 10(6) daltons . Since published values on the relative lengths of Qbeta RNA and several other homogeneous RNAs (E . coli 23S rRNA, E . Coli bacteriophage R17 and f2 RNAs, Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage PP7 RNA and Newcastle disease virus RNA) are available, we are able to calculate the approximate number of nucleotides for these useful standards.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1978 Jul, 96(7), 1268 - 71
The limulus lysate test . A rapid test for diagnosis of Pseudomonas keratitis or endophthalmitis; Ellison AC; The limulus amebocyte lysate test has been shown to be a highly sensitive indicator of endotoxin . Our studies showed that as little as 5 ng of endotoxin could be detected in aqueous or vitreous humor in vitro, although 10 microgram endotoxin injected into the aqueous could not be detected . Subsequent studies showed that by diluting the aqueous equally with saline solution, this inhibitory effect could be overcome . Detection of endotoxin elaborated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was made as early as 24 hours after induced Pseudomonas keratitis or endophthalmitis, whereas staphylococcal-induced keratitis or endophthalmitis gave negative results . Positive cultures using trypticase soy broth or agar slants were observed on all infected animals . Thus, this technique should have ready application for rapid detection of Pseudomonas keratitis or endophthalmitis.

Biochem J, 1978 Jul 1, 173(1), 11 - 17
The reaction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 oxidase with oxygen; Greenwood C et al.; The reaction of ascorbate-reduced Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase with oxygen was studied by using stopped-flow techniques at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C . The observed time courses were complex, the reaction consisting of three phases . Of these, only the fastest process, with a second-order rate constant of 3.3 X 10(4) M-1.S-1, was dependent on oxygen concentration . The two slower processes were first-order reactions with rates of 1.0 +/- 0.4s-1 and 0.1 +/- 0.03s-1 . A kinetic titration experiment revealed that the enzyme had a relatively low affinity constant for oxygen, approx . 10(4)M-1 . Kinetic difference spectra were determined for all three reaction phases, showing each to have different characteristics . The fast-phase difference spectrum showed that changes occurred at both the haem c and haem d1 components of the enzyme during this process . These changes were consistent with the haem c becoming oxidized, but with the haem d1 assuming a form that did not correspond to the normal oxidized state, a situation that was not restored even after the second kinetic phase, which reflected further changes in the haem d1 component . The results are discussed in terms of a kinetic scheme.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Jul, 75(7), 3211 - 5
Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S: an adenosine diphosphate ribosyltransferase distinct from toxin A; Iglewski BH et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S is an adenosine diphosphate ribosyltransferase distinct from Pseudomonas toxin A . Exoenzyme S catalyzes the transfer of radioactivity from all portions of radiolabeled NAD+ except nicotinamide . Digestion of the radiolabeled product(s) formed in the presence of {adenine-14C}NAD+ and exoenzyme S with snake venom phosphodiesterase yields only AMP, suggesting that ADP-ribose is present as monomers and not as poly(ADP-ribose) . Exoenzyme S does not catalyze the transfer of ADP-ribose from NAD+ to elongation factor 2, as do toxin A and diphtheria toxin, but to one or more other proteins present in crude extracts of wheat germ or rabbit reticulocytes and in partially purified preparations of elongation factor I . The ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of exoenzyme S is distinct from toxin A by several tests: it is not neutralized by toxin A antibody, it is destroyed rather than potentiated by pretreatment with urea, and it is more heat stable . These latter observations and the substrate specificity suggest that exoenzyme S is different from any previously described prokaryotic ADP-ribosyltransferase.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Jul, 24(7), 811 - 7
Inhibition of enzyme induction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by exogenous nucleotides; Kight-Olliff LC et al.; Alkylsufatase induction in resting cell suspensions of P . aeruginosa was inhibited by exogenously supplied adenosine or by ATP (2mM) . Adenine phosphate had no effect while AMP or ADP caused a slight stimulation of induction . The inhibitory effect of ATP required the presence of added Mg2+, was not reversed by cyclic-AMP (2mM), and was independent of the nature of the inducer . Of a number of other nucleoside triphosphates tested, only UTP (2mM) acted as an inhibitor of induction . These nucleotides at external concentrations of 6mM also inhibited alkysulfatase induction in actively growing cells.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1978 Jul-Dec, 71(7-12), 158 - 66
{Antibiotic sensitivity of some Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains}; Amato A et al.; By means of MBC and MIC determinations, the sensitivity tests of some pathogenic strains of Pseudomonas aeuruginosa were determined . Moreover it has been found production of H2S and higher amounts of piocianyne in resistant strains compared with sensible ones.

Ann Sclavo, 1978 Jul-Aug, 20(4), 616 - 24
{Pyocin typing of 111 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in Tuscany, using the Gillies and Govan method}; Degl'Innocenti R et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from Tuscany have been typed for pyocine production against Govan and Gillies' extended set of indicator strains; results have been expressed following a binary code . Among 111 strains only 6 could not be typed; the remaining 105 strains (94.6%) presented 59 different patterns, 44 of which were represented by one isolate only . The most commonly encountered pattern (n . 8045, corresponding to Govan and Gillies' subtype 1e) was shared by 13 strains . Isolates from outpatients or from the environment tended to a uniform distribution of pyocine patterns; those from two different hospitals tended to group into distinct subtypes.

Pathology, 1978 Jul, 10(3), 269 - 75
Renal infection in the rat after reflux challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Birch DF et al.; A rat-pseudomonad reflux model was employed to examine the effect of the size of inoculum on the emergence of renal infection . Widely varying degrees of renal disease observed in challenged animals indicated that a number of variables influenced the outcome of the host-parasite interaction . In this regard, animals in which there was a reduction of the colony counts below a threshold figure rarely gave evidence of renal infection when examined at autopsy on the eighth day following reflux . These results suggest that a threshold level of bacteriuria may also have to be exceeded if renal infection is to become established in patients with vesico-ureteric reflux.

Lab Anim, 1978 Jul, 12(3), 159 - 61
Provocation of pseudomoniasis with cyclophosphamide in mice; Urano T et al.; After treatment with cyclophosphamide, a fatal syndrome was found in mice contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The syndrome seems to be caused by P . aeruginosa from the intestine, and the liver is suspected to be the most important target organ.

Infect Immun, 1978 Jul, 21(1), 76 - 86
Pseudomonas ribosomal vaccines: preparation, properties, and immunogenicity; Lieberman MM; The preparation, properties, and immunogenicity of ribosomal vaccines from Pseudomonas aeruginosa are described . These preparations, containing protein and RNA, were tested for immunogenicity by active immunization of mice and subsequent challenge with homologous, live bacteria . The results demonstrated that vaccines prepared from a majority of serotypes used were immunogenic, i.e., afforded 60 to 100% mouse protection against a challenge inoculum containing 8 to 50 50% lethal doses . In some cases vaccine doses as low as 1 microgram of RNA provided 100% mouse protection . Molecular sieve chromatography of a highly immunogenic ribosomal preparation on Sepharose 4B demonstrated the presence of two molecular weight fractions: (i) peak A, an excluded peak (thus having a molecular weight of at least 2 times 10(7)), and (ii) peak B, considerably retarded, with an elution position corresponding to a molecular weight of about 2.2 X 10(6), approximating that of typical 70S ribosomes . Both peaks A and B were immunogenic; however, the immunogenicity of peak A was greater (i.e., a smaller immunizing dose was required) than that of peak B . Peak A was shown to contain components of lipopolysaccharide in addition to protein and RNA (which comprised 80% of the dry weight of peak A) . On the other hand, peak B was shown to be free of lipopolysaccharide, and 100% of its dry weight consisted of protein and RNA.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1978 Jul, 27(3), 263 - 9
{Distribution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in experimentally infected mice (author's transl)}; Urano T et al.; The distribution of experimentally administered Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied in germfree CF no . 1 mice, barrier-sustained DDD mice with or without oral treatment of aminobenzyl-penicillin and conventional DDD mice . On day 1 after oral administration of 8 X 10(7) organisms, more than 10(8) of organisms/g were recovered from the feces of ex-germfree mice and the number was maintained during the experiment . On the other hand, from barrier-sustained mice with antibiotic treatment and those without the treatment, 10(4-7) and 10(3) organisms were recovered, respectively . In all of monoassociated mice and some antibiotic-treated barrier-sustained ones the organisms were recovered also from the lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys . In conventional mice, however, no organisms were recovered from the internal organs throughout the experiment, while some were detectable from the intestinal tracts . The distribution of the organisms in naturally infected mice appears to be similar to that of experimentally infected animals with antibiotics.

Can J Ophthalmol, 1978 Jul, 13(3), 200 - 5
In vitro and in vivo effect of PC 904, a new broad-spectrum penicillin, on ocular strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Okumoto M et al.; The in vitro and in vivo activities of PC 904 were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from infected eyes and were compared with carbenicillin and gentamicin . By the microtiter plate method, we tested 30 strains of P . aeruginosa in vitro; PC 904 was very active against 29, but one strain was resistant . In a comparative study, PC 904 was more active than carbenicillin but less active than gentamicin . In vivo tests were conducted on rabbit corneas infected with a strain of P aeruginosa isolated in El Salvador . At moderate and high dosage levels, PC 904'S efficacy was comparable to carbenicillin's but much less than gentamicin's . When tested for ocular toxicity, the subconjunctival administration of PC 904 was well tolerated . The drug's greater activity in vitro than in vivo was probably due to its high serum-binding capacity.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Jul, 36(1), 76 - 80
Automated food microbiology: potential for the hydrophobic grid-membrane filter; Sharpe AN et al.; Bacterial counts obtained on hydrophobic grid-membrane filters were comparable to conventional plate counts for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus in homogenates from a range of foods . The wide numerical operating range of the hydrophobic grid-membrane filters allowed sequential diluting to be reduced or even eliminated, making them attractive as components in automated systems of analysis . Food debris could be rinsed completely from the unincubated hydrophobic grid-membrane filter surface without affecting the subsequent count, thus eliminating the possibility of counting food particles, a common source of error in electronic counting systems.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1978 Jul, 36(1), 36 - 42
Improved medium for recovery and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from water using membrane filters; Brodsky MH et al.; A modified mPA medium, designated mPA-C, was shown to recover Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a variety of water sources with results comparable to those with mPA-B and within the confidence limits of a most-probable-number technique . Enumeration of P . aeruginosa on mPA-C was possible after only 24 h of incubation at 41.5 degrees C, compared with 72 h of incubation required for mPA-B and 96 h of incubation for a presumptive most probable number.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Jul, 84(1), 179 - 91
Separation and characterization of the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Mizuno T et al.; A method is described for the preparation of outer and cytoplasmic membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the outer membrane proteins characterized . Isolated outer and cytoplasmic membranes differed markedly in the content of 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (lipopolysaccharide) and phospholipid as well as in the localization of certain enzymes (NADH oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, D-lactate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, and phospholipase), and also in the microscopic morphology . The outer membrane preparation showed activity neutralizing a certain bacteriocin or bacteriophages, whereas the cytoplasmic membrane preparation showed no neutralizing activity . The protein composition of membrane preparations from five different strains of P . aeruginosa {P14, M92 (PAO1), PAC1, P15, and M2008 (PAT)} were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . More than 50 protein bands were detected in the cytoplasmic membrane preparation . The protein compositions of outer membranes from the five different strains were very similar: at least 6 major bands were found (apparent molecular weights: Band D, 50,000; band E, 45,000; band F, 33,000; bands G and H, 21,000; and band I, 8,000) . The protein composition of outer membranes was affected by some physiological growth conditions . Some features of major outer membrane proteins were also studied . Band F showed anomalous migration on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis depending on the solubilizing conditions or pretreatment with TCA . Band I seemed to be a protein analogous to the lipoprotein which had been found in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

Dev Comp Immunol, 1978 Jul, 2(3), 425 - 33
Time and dose studies of the effect of cobra venom factor on the in vivo immune response in Galleria mellonella to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Aston WP et al.; The induced resistance of wax moth larvae vaccinated with formolized Pseudomonas aeruginosa 18 hr prior to challenge with the live organism was significantly inhibited by 0.2 to 1.0 units of cobra venom factor (CVF) per insect given 6 hr after vaccination . Approximately 90% inhibition of the protective response was caused by 1.0 units CVF/insect . Administration of this dose 6 hr before vaccination, with the vaccine, and 6 hr before challenge had no significant effect . The CVF effect was inhibited by heating the CVF preparation at 70 degrees for 30 min.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Jul, 138(1), 49 - 8
Antibodies to proteases and exotoxin A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis: Demonstration by radioimmunoassay; Klinger JD et al.; Sera from 33 patients with cystic fibrosis and two pediatric patients being treated for chronic pulmonary infections not related to cystic fibrosis and six sera or serum pools from uninfected individuals were tested with a microtiter radioimmunoassay for reactivity against exotoxin A and two proteases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Exotoxin A was purified from a low-protease strain of P . aeruginosa and shown to have adenosine diphosphate-ribose transferase activity and mouse lethality . Proteases were purified from an isolate of P . aeruginosa from a patient with cystic fibrosis and had proteolytic activity against elastin and collagen in an assay employing dimethylated protein substrates . The antibody responses of the patients detected using 125I-labeled antibody to human immunoglobulin were correlated with clinical evaluations expressed as a composite score based on pulmonary findings, case histories, growth and nutrition, and chest X rays . Values in the radioimmunoassay for patients' sera were compared with those of a control serum pool and expressed as the ratio of counts per minute (cpm) in patient serum to the cpm in the control pool . Inverse correlations were found between these ratios for each of the pseudomonas exoproducts and clinical scores; highest ratios occurred in patients showing the lowest clinical scores . These results confirm that proteases and exotoxin A of P . aeruginosa are produced in cystic fibrosis pulmonary infections due to P . aeruginosa and suggest that they may serve as significant virulence factors in these chronic infectious states.

Am J Med, 1978 Jun, 64(6), 961 - 6
A comparative study of ticarcillin plus tobramycin versus carbenicillin plus gentamicin for the treatment of serious infections due to gram-negative bacilli; Parry MF et al.; The combination of ticarcillin plus tobramycin (TT) or carbenicillin plus gentamicin (CG) was used to treat 82 patients with severe systemic gram-negative infection in a prospective, randomized study . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the primary pathogen in 7 (93 per cent) of these patients . Patients treated with TT responded more frequently (92 per cent or 37 of 40) than patients treated with CG (71 per cent or 30 of 42) (p is less than 0.05) . This difference was primarily due to a greater response to TT in patients with pulmonary infections (93 per cent versus 68 per cent) and infections due to Pseudomonas (92 per cent versus 70 per cent) . Severity of underlying disease was also an important determinant of response . Except for a greater incidence of hepatotoxicity with CG (23 per cent versus 3 per cent; p is less than 0.02), there was no difference in toxicity, colonization with drug-resistant microorganisms or superinfection between the two treatment groups . The combination of TT appears to be superior to CG for the treatment of pulmonary infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Jun, 137(6), 775 - 82
Synergistic infection with murine cytomegalovirus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice; Hamilton JR et al.; A previous report from this laboratory demonstrated that mice infected intraperitoneally with a 0--20% lethal inoculum of murine cytomegalovirus (CMV) exhibited markedly enhanced mortality rates (90%--100%) within 48 hr after an intravenous injection of a 0--20% lethal inoculum of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The current study demonstrated that mice infected with murine CMV alone had high titers of virus in multiple organs over a 20-day period, whereas mice injected with P . aeruginosa alone had a self-limited infection confined to the kidney . In the combined murine CMV-P . aeruginosa infection, titers of virus in tissues were changed very little . In contrast, P . aeruginosa was recovered in high concentrations from multiple organs, a finding which demonstrated a progressive systemic infection closely resembling that produced by a 100% lethal inoculum of P . aeruginosa alone in normal mice . An increased mortality rate due to P . aeruginosa in murine CMV-infected mice was dependent on inoculation of live bacteria and could not be explained by enhanced susceptibility to endotoxin . These results indicate that murine CMF markedly enhanced the suceptibility of mice to infection with P . aeruginosa and suggest that the virus altered mechanisms of host resistance important in recovery from bacterial infections.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jun, (6), 50 - 5
{Immunological study of cellular components of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . IV . Fractionation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mucus by diafiltration and biological properties of isolated fractions}; Palkina NA et al.; In fractionation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mucus (strains No . 8 and 1463) by means of diafiltration on the system of membranes Diaflo XM-300, XM-100A, PM-30, and PM-10 there was obtained a successive series of fractions differing by the molecular weight and chemical composition . According to the results of gel chromatography fractions with the mol wt of 100000 dalton and over apparently represented protein-polysaccharide components of mucus in the form of complexes; fractions with the mol wt of 30000 dalton and lower contained a considerable amount of free protein along with the protein-polysaccharide complex . The fractions obtained differed by biological properties: fractions with the mol wt of 100000 dalton and over were toxic for mice and possessed weak antigenic properties in the precipitation in agar test and immunoelectrophoresis; fractions with the mol wt lower than 30000 dalton expressed in the mentioned test distinct antigenic properties and proved to be practically nontoxic for mice . Thus the use of diafiltration method permitted to separate the antigenic, weakly toxic component of Ps . aeruginosa mucus from the toxic factor with weak antigenic properties.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Jun, 24(6), 675 - 9
Antigenic variation and increase in pathogenicity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a result of growth on glucose or N-hexadecane as sole carbon source; Stinson RS et al.; When Pseudomonas aeruginosa is grown on glucose as opposed to n-hexadecane as the sole carbon source, the antigenicity, virulence, and protein composition of the outer membrane are altered . The hydrocarbon-grown cells demonstrate a 3-log increase in virulence over the glucose-grown cells (in mice) . There also appears to be an additional protein present in the outer membrane of the n-hexadecane-grown cells . This protein may contribute to the observed antigenic differences between the two cell types.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Jun, 75(6), 2674 - 8
Pseudomonas cytochrome c551 at 2.0 A resolution: enlargement of the cytochrome c family; Almassy RJ et al.; The structure of respiratory cytochrome c551 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with 82 amino acids, has been solved by x-ray analysis and refined to a crystallographic R factor of 16.2% . It has the same basic folding pattern and hydrophobic heme environment as cytochromes c, c2, and c550, except for a large deletion at the bottom of the heme crevice . This same "cytochrome fold" appears to be present in photosynthetic cytochromes c of green and purple sulfur bacteria, and algal cytochromes f, suggesting a common evolutionary origin for electron transport chains in photosynthesis and respiration.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Jun, 137(6), 764 - 74
Pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia during immunosuppression; Pennington JE et al.; A guinea pig model of immunosuppression was utilized to study the effects of immunosuppressive chemotherapy on lung response to challenge with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Study groups included normal guinea pigs, as well as guinea pigs that received a one-week course of cortisone acetate (CA, 100 mg/kg per day) plus 15 mg of cyclophosphamide (CTX)/kg per day (CA + LoCTX group) or 30 mg of cyclophosphamide/kg per day (CA + HiCTX group) . Separate groups received CA or HiCTX alone . Intratracheal instillation of P . aeruginosa resulted in bilateral hemorrhagic pneumonia in both normal and immunosuppressed animals . Survival was 100% for normal animals and for those given CA alone, 67% in the CA + LoCTX and the HiCTX groups, and 0 in the CA + HiCTX group . Increased mortality correlated with a diminished polymorphonuclear leukocyte inflammatory response in infected lung tissues and also with the addition of CA to CTX . Clearance of viable P . aeruginosa from lung tissue was significantly reduced in animals receiving the combination CA + HiCTX . Thus, decreased lung inflammation and the addition of CA appeared to be important determinants for fatal pseudomonas pneumonia.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Jun, 134(3), 875 - 83
Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants deficient in the establishment of lysogeny; Miller RV et al.; Mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with impaired ability to establish a lysogenic relationship with temperate bacteriophage (Les-) have been isolated . These les mutations map to two areas of the P . aeruginosa chromosomal map as determined by conjugational and transductional analyses . Two phenotypic classes of Les- mutants were identified . One class of mutations has pleiotropic effects on DNA metabolism . These mutants are unable to recombine genetic material acquired as a result of either conjugation or transduction (Rec-) . In addition, the ability of these Les- Rec- mutants to repair UV-induced damage to bacteriophage is reduced (host-cell reactivation deficient, Hcr-) . Mutants of the second class are Les-, Rec+, and Hcr+.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1978 May, 166(4-5), 408 - 20
{Investigations on the antimicrobial activity of amin-aldehyde-condensates . 3 . Communication: n,o-acetals (author's transl)}; Rehn D et al.; In the scope of our research about the antimicrobial activity of amin-aldehyde-condensates a number of partly new N,O-acetals was synthesized by reaction of formaldehyde with several alcohols and secondary amines . Structures and physically constants are shown in the tables 1 and 2 . The antimicrobial activity is demonstrated by the results of the disk-test (table 3), of the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC, table 4) and the suspension and area disinfecting test following the methods of the DGHM (tables 5 and 6) . It may be shown, that the N,O-acetals have both germistatic activity mainly versus Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium glaucum and germicidal activity versus the gram-negative testgerms especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1978 May, 75(5), 758 - 62
Endocarditis related to transvenous pacemakers . Syndromes and surgical implications; Bryan CS et al.; Two cases of microbial endocarditis related to transvenous pacemakers illustrate syndromes whose pathogenesis we consider to be distinctive . Acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis related to a pacemaker developed in a 75-year-old man, an event which to our knowledge has not been previously described . There was no evidence of generator site infection, and the sequence of events indicated metastatic implantation of bacteria on traumatized endothelium . A 76-year-old women with a 3 year history of local generator site infection and recurrent fever was found to have extensive vegatative Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis at cardiotomy . The sequence of events indicated gradual spread of infection locally, related to the contaminated foreign body . Awareness of these separate pathogenetic mechanisms should facilitate recognition and appropriate management . Removal of the entire pacing system and prolonged antibiotic therapy were considered to be essential to cure of infection in both instances.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1978 May, 17(5), 480 - 3
The role of hemolysin in corneal infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Johnson MK et al.; Cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa considered to be of proven virulence were found to have higher titers of extracellular hemolysin than cultures of lesser virulence . Intracorneal injection of purified hemolysin produced extensive corneal opacification with extensive leukocytic infiltration of the tissue . It is suggested that the hemolysin plays a role in the pathogenesis of P . aeruginosa infections by effecting lysis of host cells and/or subcellular organelles, leading to the release of enzymes destructive to corneal tissue.

J Clin Pathol, 1978 May, 31(5), 426 - 9
Performance of converted pressure cookers and two conventional jars for anaerobic bacterial culture; Gargan RA et al.; The simple conversion of commercial pressure cookers into inexpensive anaerobic jars is described . These containers were shown to be as good as the small conventional BBL polycarbonate GasPak and large vented 150 gas-replacement jars when assessed by means of three biological indicators: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides melaninogenicus, and Bacteroides fragilis . Ps . aeruginosa seeded on Simmond's citrate agar was shown to be the most sensitive indicator of the three for traces of oxygen.

Arch Androl, 1978 May, 1(3), 241 - 8
Implications of heterophile antigens in immunological infertility in males; Eyquem A et al.; Immunological study was conducted on serum and hydrocel fluids from males belonging to an equatorial African population heavily contaiminated by Filaria and Schistosoma . Anti-spermatozoa antibodies were detected by agglutination in 31 of 64 sera and 24 of 60 fluids, and by cytotoxicity in 19 of 64 sera and 8 of 60 fluids . Antinuclear antibodies were detected in 21 of 64 sera and 8 of 60 fluids . However, the titers of these antibodies were low, as were the frequency and titers of other tissues antibodies . The appearance of antispermatozoa antibodies is also correlated with extensive skin burns and infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or severe Candidiasis.

Infect Immun, 1978 May, 20(2), 468 - 75
Cigarette smoke and phagocyte function: effect of chronic exposure in vivo and acute exposure in vitro; Thomas WR et al.; Phagocytic function was studied in mice chronically exposed to cigarette smoke, and the effects of in vitro exposure to cigarette smoke on macrophage activity were also assessed . Cultures of radiolabeled Pseudomonas aeruginosa were employed to investigate phagocyte activity in vivo and in vitro . Mice were exposed on weekdays to fresh cigarette smoke for periods up to 37 weeks and the bactericidal and clearance activity of their lungs was measured . Both pulmonary clearance and bactericidal activity was impaired . The clearance of intravenously injected bacteria from the blood of smoke-exposed mice occurred at the same rate as in control mice, but the accumulation of radiolabel by the liver was decreased . In addition, the rate of elimination of radiolabel from the liver was less than the controls . Macrophages exposed to cigarette smoke in vitro initially had a depressed phagocytic rate, but if phagocytosis over a prolonged period was measured it was eventually enhanced over the rate of control macrophages . The vapor phase of cigarette smoke could also transiently inhibit and then enhance the phagocytic activity.

Infect Immun, 1978 May, 20(2), 340 - 6
Effect of growth environment on Pseudomonas aeruginosa killing by rabbit polymorphonuclear leudocytes and cationic proteins; Finch JE et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in a chemostat under carbon- and magnesium-limited conditions showed varying resistance to killing by rabbit peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Slow-growing (D = 0.05 h-1), magnesium-limited cells were significantly more resistant to the lethal effects of the phagocytes than were fast-growing magnesium-limited cells and carbon-limited cells (D = 0.05 h-1 and D = 0.5 h-1, respectively) . The resistance of magnesium-limited cells to killing by cationic proteins isolated from the leukocytes was shown to be growth-rate dependent, the slowest-growing (D = 0.05 h-1) cells being the most resistant . Carbon-limited cells were sensitive to killing by the cationic proteins at all growth rates tested . Antisera raised in rabbits to all types of cells and commercial anti-Pseudomonas serum rapidly agglutinated magnesium-limited cells but failed to agglutinate carbon-limited cells . There was some indication that slow-growing (D = 0.05 h-1), magnesium-limited cells agglutinated most readily with both types of antisera . No difference was detected in the mouse toxicity of heat-killed cells grown under the various conditions.

J Med Microbiol, 1978 May, 11(2), 145 - 54
Experimental infections with protease-deficient mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice; Wretlind B et al.; The virulence of a protease-producing strain of Psuedomonas aeruginosa was compared with that of mutants that had lost the ability to produce proteases and other extracellular enzymes . Lethal infections were produced by inoculating mice intraperitoneally with bacteria in mucin, or by inoculating mice intraperitoneally or intravenously with bacteria 4 days after treatment with cyclophosphamide, 200 mg per kg body weight . No significant difference in virulence between the wild-type parent strain and some of its protease-deficient mutants was found . Histopatholoical examination of different organs in the cyclophosphamide-treated and infected mice showed striking fatty infiltration and focal necrosis of liver, multiple necrotic foci in the spleen and haemorrhagic cystitis with necorsis . The cystitis was produced by cyclophosphamide alone but was aggravated by the infection . In conclusion, no correlation between the production of protease in broth culture and the ability to produce lethal septicaemia in mice was found, and extracellular proteases probably didnot contribute to the virulence of P . aeruginosa . However, the histopathological changes in the liver suggested a role for exotoxin A insystemic infections.

J Med Microbiol, 1978 May, 11(2), 101 - 9
Experimental studies of the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: evidence for the in-vivo production of a lethal toxin; Stieritz DD et al.; Evidence is presented that a lethal toxin is produced by P . aeruginosa growing in the burned skin of experimental mice . After injection of approximately 100 P . aeruginosa cells into the burned skin there was a rapid proliferation of organisms at the site of inoculation . When the organisms in the burned skin tissue reached a critical concentration, there was generalised toxaemia with subsequent mortality; the process was not reversible at this stage, even by reducing substantially the numbers of infecting organisms . However, when the reduction was accompanied by administration of rabbit serum prepared against filter-sterilised extracts of infected burned tissues, approximately 40% of the animals survived for at least 96 h . The data suggests that the antiserum afforded protection by inactivating a toxin produced by the organisms growing in the infected burned tissues rather than by further reducing the numbers of infecting organisms.

J Bacteriol, 1978 May, 134(2), 690 - 2
Pattern of phenazine pigment production by a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kanner D et al.; An atypical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa capable of synthesizing three phenazine pigments was isolated . Cultural conditions, under which the strain forms either chlororaphin, oxychlororaphin, or pyocyanine, are described . This broad spectrum of pigment production, as well as some other characteristics, sets this strain apart from previously described chlororaphin producers.

J Bacteriol, 1978 May, 134(2), 418 - 22
Biosynthesis of exopolysaccharide by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Mian FA et al.; In batch cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the maximum rate of exopolysaccharide synthesis occurred during exponential growth . In nitrogen-limited continuous culture, the specific rate of exopolysaccharide synthesis increased from 0.27 g g of cell-1 h-1 at a dilution rate (D) of 0.05 h-1 to 0.44 g g of cells h-1 at D=0.1 H-1 . The yield of exopolysaccharide on the basis of glucose used was in the range of 56 to 64% . Exopolysaccharide was also synthesized in carbon-limited cultures at 0.19 g g of cell-1 h-1 at D=0.05 h-1 in a 33% yield . Nonmucoid variants appeared after seven generations in continuous culture and rapidly increased in proportion to the total number of organisms present.

Med J Aust, 1978 Apr 22, 1(8), 452 - 4
Comparative in-vitro activity of ticarcillin and carbenicillin against 100 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pearman JW et al.; The in-vitro activity of ticarcillin was found to be greater than that of carbenicillin against 97 out of 100 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which were recently isolated from clinical specimens at the Royal Perth Hospital complex . These results indicate that ticarcillin should be considered for use in place of carbenicillin for treating infections caused by P . aeruginosa.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Apr, 240(2), 271 - 8
{Modified procedure for pyocin typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)}; Bauernfeind A et al.; The Procedure for pyocin typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolations as proposed by GILLIES and GOVAN has been modified in the following aspects: strains are arranged in a symmetrical way, with a central producer zone and radial indicator streaks, optimal size of inocula for both producer (300 x 10(6)/ml) and indicators (50 X 10(6)/ml) was determined, unsupplemented Tryptic Soy Agar is used giving identical results to those when TSA is supplemented with 5% horse blood . The typing results obtained with this simplified and standardized procedure were identical with those from the cross streak method.

J Clin Pathol, 1978 Apr, 31(4), 351 - 4
Aberrant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum and cerebrospinal fluid causing infection in a compromised patient; Middleton J et al.; A patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma developed meningitis due to an aberrant form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa observed on Gram stain . The organism was grown on primary isolation media without needing hypertonic media . The significance of aberrant forms in body fluids is discussed.

Cancer, 1978 Apr, 41(4), 1610 - 22
Fever and infection in leukemic patients: a study of 494 consecutive patients; Bodey GP et al.; All of the febrile episodes occurring in 494 adults with acute leukemia were reviewed . There were an average of 2.39 febrile episodes per patient and the patients spent 28% of their days in the hospital with fever . Sixty-four percent of the febrile episodes were due to infection . The most common types of infection were disseminated infection and pneumonia, which together accounted for 69% of the total episodes of documented infection . The etiologic agent was identified in 73% of the documented infections and gram-negative bacilli were responsible for the great majority . The most common gram-negative bacilli causing infection were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp . and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . During the course of their leukemia, 31% of the patients had repeated episodes of infection caused by the same organism and 13% ahd repeated FUO's . Fever occurred most often when the patients had neutropenia (less than 500/mm3) . The fatality rate from septicemia decreased from 84% in 1966 to 44% in 1972 . The fatality rate for major infections caused by gram-positive cocci was 16%, for gram-negative bacilli was 37% and for fungi was 86% . Although infection remains a serious problem in leukemia patients, considerable progress has been made.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1978 Apr, 48(2), 111 - 33
Effectiveness of immunization with single and multi-component vaccines prepared from a common antigen (OEP), protease and elastase toxoids of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on protection against hemorrhagic pneumonia in mink due to P . aeruginosa; Homma JY et al.; Toxoids of protease and elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were successfully prepared by treatment with 8% formalin plus 0.2 m lysine and by 4% formalin respectively . The two toxoids proved sufficiently potent to elicit high antibody titers as estimated by both the enzyme-neutralizing and passive hemagglutination tests . The effectiveness of immunizing minks with a single component-vaccine consisting of the common antigen (OEP) of P . aeruginosa or the protease toxoid (PT) or the elastase toxoid (ET) and with the two (PT and ET) or the three (OEP, PT and ET) component-mixed vaccines, on hemorrhagic pneumonia in minks due to the bacteria was investigated . Female Sapphire minks, 3.5 months old, were used in two experiments performed in 1975 and 1976 . Minks were immunized three times in one month with a total of 1 mg of each of the three antigens in the case of a single component vaccine and with a total of 2 or 3 mg (equal amounts of each component) in the case of the two or three component vaccines . Two or three weeks after the last immunization, challenge exposure with strain No . 5 was carried out by intranasally inoculating an inoculum containing serial dilutions of 10(3) -10(10) of live bacteria . Summarizing the results of the two experiments, in the case of controls, nonimmunized minks and minks immunized with potassium aluminum sulfate (potash alum) alone, the LD50 values were approximately 10(3) -10(4) with no significant difference between the two . In the case of OEP-vaccinated minks, the LD50 value was about 10(6) and thus clearly differed from those of the controls . In minks immunized with the three-component-vaccine, however, the LD50 value was about 10(8) -10(9), which indicated that the three-component-mixed vaccine was remarkably more effective than the single OEP vaccine component . In minks immunized with either PT or ET or both, the LD50 values were about 10(8) -10(9) . The effectiveness of the vaccine made with ET or PT alone is discussed in the text . The pathological findings of the minks which died or survived are described.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Apr, 24(4), 427 - 32
An alkaline phosphatase mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . 1 . Effects of regulatory, structural, and environmental shifts on enzyme function; Marceau-Day ML et al.; An alkaline phosphatase mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting both regulatory and catalytic changes was isolated . Under repression conditions (i.e . high inorganic phosphate (Pi)) the mutant culture produced an alkaline phosphatase (APase) displaying significant activity against both beta-glycerol phosphate (betaGP) and p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP), while the wild type displayed no activity directed towards these substrates under the same conditions . In vivo, the mutant enzyme's ratio of specific activities was 45:1 in favour of betaGP versus pNPP, whereas this ratio was reversed to 1:9 betaGP versus pNPP for the same enzyme isolated from mutant cells . In addition, the kinetic parameters and stability requirements for the mutant-derived enzyme was altered in comparison with those of the wild type . A study of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations from both the mutant and wild type indicated the mutant to be deficient in the core region of its LPS . The authors propose that the modifications in the catalytic activity of the mutant enzyme, demonstrated in vivo, are due to a change in the enzyme's microenvironment.

Biochemistry, 1978 Mar 21, 17(6), 1087 - 92
Triplet state of tryptophan in proteins: the nature of the optically detected magnetic resonance lines; Rousslang KW et al.; Optical detection of magnetic resonance (ODMR) has been employed to examine the homogeneity of the tryptophan environment, both of the isolated residue in solvent, and of tryptophan in glucagon and lysozyme and azurin B (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) . From the shifts in the zero-field splittings, we can safely conclude that tryptophan in lysozyme, azurin B, or glucagon does not have the same type of solvent interaction as the free residue . However, by "burning holes" in the OSMR lines, it is evident that the lines in these cases are inhomogeneously broadened . From the relative line widths and hole widths, it appears that ODMR can be used to examine the relative diversity of interactions for a luminescent amino acid in a protein . We have followed the ODMR line characteristics in a progression from free N-acetyl-L-tryptophanamide, to tryptophan in lysozyme, to "denatured" lysozyme, and present evidence that the line widths narrow as the tryptophan residues become less solvent accessible.

Farmakol Toksikol, 1978 Mar-Apr, 41(2), 199 - 202
{Dioxidine in experimental pyocyanic pyelonephritis in rats}; Rudzit EA et al.; A model of obturation hematogenous pyelonephritis was reproduced in rats by infecting them with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . On the model subject to study was chemotherapeutic activity of dioxidine (50--100 mg/kg per day) as compared to gentamycin (5 mg/kg per day) . The drugs were administered intramuscularly for 7 days, starting 24 hours after inoculation of the animals . The action of both dioxidine and gentamycin on lethality, bacteriura, the mass of the kidneys and macroscopic changes in them was approximately the same, but dioxidine extered a greater influence on the seeding rate of the causative agent coming from the kidneys . Both drugs fail to bring about complete recovery of the animals.

Arch Intern Med, 1978 Mar, 138(3), 472 - 3
Botryomycosis as an obstructive hepatic disease; Bagby GC Jr et al.; Botryomycosis is a disorder caused by certain nonfilamentous bacteria that produce lesions that resemble actinomycosis . We describe a previously well, young man who initially had apparent hepatitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa which spread hematogenously to involve both lungs . He was treated successfully with antibiotics.

Transfusion, 1978 Mar-Apr, 18(2), 142 - 8
Granulocyte transfusions for patients with severe thermal burns; Workman RD et al.; Ten severely burned (greater than 50% BSA) pediatric and young adult patients developed 19 episodes of clinical sepsis of four or more days duration . During eight of the 19 septic episodes the patients received granulocyte transfusions (median, four; range, two to seven) . Risk variables, types and prevalence of infections, mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antibiotic regimens were similar for all the septic episodes studied . All eight episodes (100%) resolved in the transfused group while eight of 11 (72%) episodes resolved in the nontransfused group . Patients survived four episodes of ecthyma gangrenosum when granulocyte transfusions were used and the single episode in which they were not used was fatal . Granulocyte transfusions may be helpful in severely burned patients with sepsis.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Mar, 83(3), 711 - 8
A compound possessing antitumor and interferon-inducing activities derived from the common antigen (OEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Tanamoto KI et al.; OEP, a component consisting mainly of protein with small amounts of lipids and sugars, has been isolated from the autolysate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and purified by physicochemical methods . It possesses remarkable biological properties, showing antitumor and interferon-inducing activities . As regards the antitumor activity of the sample, the ED50 value against ascites sarcoma-180 was 1 microgram/kg mouse/day, and its interferon-inducing activity amounted to 15 units at a concentration of 0.01 microgram/ml . Both activities increased after protease digestion, reaching about ten times those of the sample which had not undergone digestion . The protease-treated OEP contained 17% protein, 14.5% total sugars, 31% lipids, 12.5% hexosamine, 3.8% KDO, and 2.7% phosphorus . Neutral sugars consisted of 12.4% rhamnose, 2.7% mannose, 66.9% glucose, and other unidentified material . Total lipids derived from OEP consisted of 65% loosely-bound and 35% covalently-bound lipids; the former contained C14:10, C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, and C15:1 acids and the latter, beta-OH C10:0, C12:0, alpha-OH C12:0, beta-OH C12:0, C16:0, and C16:1 acids . The antitumor and interferon-inducing activities of OEP remained after the removal of loosely-bound lipids from OEP.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Mar, 133(3), 1378 - 82
Nutritional studies with Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on inorganic sulfur sources; Schook LB et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa was grown on a succinate-basal salts medium supplemented with various inorganic sulfur compounds as its sole source of sulfur . The organism was able to grow on the sodium salts of sulfide, thiosulfate, tetrathionate, dithionite, metabisulfite, sulfite, or sulfate, but not on those of dithionate . Analyses of the culture media after 24 h of growth indicated accumulation of sulfate from each inorganic sulfur source except sulfate . Manometric studies with resting cells obtained by growth on each of these sulfur sources yielded net oxygen uptake for all substrates except sulfite and dithionate . Similar results were obtained with extracts from these cells by spectrophotometric techniques . Thiosulfate oxidase activity appeared to be induced by growth on sulfide, thiosulfate, or tetrathionate, with little or no activity observed when cells were grown on inorganic sulfur sources of higher oxidative states . Metabisulfite oxidase appeared to be associated with growth on all inorganic sulfur compounds . Rhodanese activity appeared to be constitutively present, and its activity, observed only in soluble fraction, seemed independent of the growth medium employed . Thiosulfate and tetrathionate oxidase activities were studied in greater detail than some of the other sulfur oxidases, and both were found to be distributed between particulate and soluble fractions.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Mar, 133(3), 1113 - 25
Chromosome mapping in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAT; Watson JM et al.; A linkage map of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAT has been derived from the results of conjugation experiments using the plasmids FP2-2, R68, R91-5, and R68.45 . FP2-2 and R68 each mobilize the chromosome from single, distinct transfer origins . R91-5 appears to mobilize the chromosome from two such origins, and R68.45 utilizes a number of transfer origins . R68 and R91-5 have both been shown to mobilize the chromosome with a polarity opposite to that by FP2-2 . The locations of the transfer origins of these plasmids are such that it has not been possible to demonstrate chromosomal circularity by means of interrupted mating experiments . However, the available time-of-entry data combined with linkage data from plate mating experiments support the conclusion that the chromosome of P . aeruginosa is circular.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Mar, 133(3), 1078 - 82
Isolation and characterization of an R' plasmid in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Holloway BW; An R' plasmid, R'PA1, carrying a 3- to 4-min segment of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa chromosome has been derived from the incP-1 plasmid R68.45 . The chromosomal segment includes the markers argA, argB, argH, and lys-12 . The plasmid retains all the properties of R68.45, including chromosome mobilization ability and wide bacterial host range . R'PA1 reverts to R68.45 in rec+ strains of P . aeruginosa, but it can be maintained in a recA strain.

Infect Immun, 1978 Mar, 19(3), 785 - 91
Effect of iron on yields of exotoxin A in cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA-103; Bjorn MJ et al.; The yields of exotoxin A in Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures were influenced by the concentration of iron in the culture media . When the iron concentration of the culture media was increased from 0.05 to 1.5 microgram/ml, there was at least a 90% decrease in exotoxin A (measured both by enzymatic activity and by mouse lethality) and a slight increase in the growth of the bacteria . The addition of iron as late as 13 h after initiation of growth repressed further measurable increases of exotoxin A within 3 h . Intracellular toxin levels were also reduced by increasing the iron concentrations of the culture media . The addition of 3.0 microgram of iron per ml did not significantly alter either the enzyme activity of preformed crude or purified exotoxin A or the mouse toxicity of the pure toxin . Thus it appears that either the rate of production or the rate of intracellular degradation of exotoxin A is regulated by the concentration of iron in the culture media.

J Gen Microbiol, 1978 Mar, 105(1), 23 - 8
The effect of lipopolysaccharide composition on the ultrastructure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Salkinoja-Salonen M et al.; The surface structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PACl and PAClR and of lipopolysaccharide-defective mutants derived from them was studied by negative-staining and thin-section electron microscopy and compared with that of a rough mutant with wild-type lipopolysaccharide . The rough mutant and the parent strains had fairly smooth outer layers . Negatively stained preparations of all the mutants lacking polymerized O-antigenic sidechains, including a semi-rough mutant, showed numerous blebs on the surface . In thin sections of these mutants occasional extrusions from the surface were seen . They appeared to consist of material extruded from the outer membrane, but there was no evidence to suggest they were complete unit membranes . Polymerized O-antigenic side-chains in the lipopolysaccharide appear to be required to produce the wild-type appearance of the outer membrane in P . aeruginosa.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1978 Mar, 13(3), 536 - 9
Comparative in vitro activities of SCE-129, sulbenicillin, gentamicin, and dibekacin against Pseudomonas; Tsuchiya K et al.; Against sulbenicillin- and gentamicin-susceptible strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, SCE-129 was about 10 times more active than sulbenicillin and had a similar activity to gentamicin and dibekacin . Sulbenicillin-resistant strains of P . aeruginosa were moderately resistant to SCE-129, whether these strains were gentamicin-resistant or not . Gentamicin-resistant strains of P . aeruginosa were resistant to dibekacin but not to SCE-129 . Against P . maltophilia, the minimum inhibitory concentration of SCE-129 resembled those of sulbenicillin, gentamicin, and dibekacin . Most strains of P . cepacia were moderately resistant to SCE-129 and sulbenicillin and highly resistant to gentamicin and dibekacin.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1978 Mar, 13(3), 494 - 9
Susceptibility of lipopolysaccharide-defective mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO to dyes, detergents, and antibiotics; Kropinski AM et al.; Lipopolysaccharide-defective mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO have been isolated on the basis of their resistance to lipopolysaccharide-specific bacteriophages . These mutants have been differentiated by their agglutination in NaCl and acriflavine, phage sensitivity, and chemical analysis of the lipopolysaccharides . The susceptibility of the wild-type strain and four mutants to a series of twenty-six agents, including dyes, detergents, antibiotics, and lysozyme, was examined . The roughest mutant (AK-43) exhibited increased susceptibility to sodium deoxycholate, hexadecylpyridinium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, ampicillin, penicillin G, erythromycin, colymycin, and polymyxin B . The role of cell envelope fractions in antibiotic resistance in P . aeruginosa is discussed.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1978 Mar, 13(3), 446 - 53
Influence of R-plasmid RP1 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on cell wall composition, drug resistance, and sensitivity to cold shock; Kenward MA et al.; R-plasmid RP1 was transferred to Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells, as indicated by their resistance to carbenicillin, ampicillin, cephaloridine, kanamycin, and tetracycline, and by the presence of a periplasmic beta-lactamase . The wild-type cells (RP1-) were lysed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid but not by ethylene-glycol-bis(2-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid, whereas cells carrying the plasmid (RP1+) were resistant to both these chelating agents . RP1+ and RP1- strains were both sensitive to the lytic action of polymyxin B and the lethal action of cold shock, but the effect was less marked in the RP1+ cultures . A proportion of the RP1+ cells surviving cold shock lost resistance to carbenicillin, tetracycline, and kanamycin . The chemical composition of whole cells and cell walls of RP1+ differed from that RP1- in the content of cation, phospholipid, and markers for lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan . Differences in cell wall composition, response to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and polymyxin B, and the effects of cold shock are all compatible with the hypothesis that RP1 confers changes in the cell envelope, probably in the outer membrane, of P . aeruginosa.

Am J Med Sci, 1978 Mar-Apr, 275(2), 173 - 9
Factors associated with acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to gentamicin; Ruben FL et al.; Concern over the increased occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to gentamicin colonizing and/or causing disease in patients prompted our review of the years 1974 and 1975 for all P aeruginosa isolates, both gentamicin-resistant and gentamicin-sensitive . In this period, 39 patients had gentamicin-resistant P aeruginosa recovered from clinical specimens while 683 patients had gentamicin-sensitive strains . Compared to both matched and/or randomly selected controls with gentamicin-sensitive infections, patients with gentamicin-resistant infections had a higher incidence of (1) prior antibiotic therapy (p less than 0.01), (2) prior therapy with gentamicin (p less than 0.005), and (3) exposure to multiple antibiotics.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Mar, (3), 65 - 70
{Immunologic study of the cellular components of bacillus pyocyaneus . III . Immunochemical analysis, toxicity and protective properties of water-soluble antigenic complexes}; Stanislavskii ES et al.; Aqueous extracts of two Ps . aeruginosa strains killed with acetone were subjected to fractionation by preparative ultracentrifugation and gel-chromatography . Toxic activity of the extract was found to be connected with the high-molecular, possibly glycoprotein components reacting with the corresponding antiserum in the immunoprecipitation test, and protecting 30--40% of rats against the generalized infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This protective activity is apparently connected with the protein components (molecular weight--20000--60000 dalton), nontoxic for mice, not reacting with the corresponding antiserum in the immunoprecipitation test, and protecting 60 to 80% of rats against Ps . aeruginosa infecsion . Thus, as a result of preparative ultracentrifugation and gel-chromatography it was postible to divide the toxic and the nontoxic protective components of Ps . aeruginosa.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Mar, 83(3), 727 - 36
Bacteriolytic enzyme induced from pyocinogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Purification and characterization of PR1-lysozyme; Ochi N et al.; A bacteriolytic enzyme, PR1-lysozyme, has been purified from the lysate of mitomycin C-induced pyocinogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa, by acrinol treatment, Amberlite CG-50 chromatography, ammonium sulfate fractionation, Sephadex G-100 gel filtration and two cycles of SP-Sephadex C-50 chromatography . Homogeneity of the preparation was demonstrated by three electrophoretic techniques . PR1-lysozyme is a basic protein (pI, 9.4) and consists of a single polypeptide chain having a molecular weight of 24,000 . The amino acid composition of the protein was analyzed, and no cystein residue was found among more than 210 amino acid residues . The optimum pH for enzymatic activity was 6.4 and the enzyme exhibited about 50 to 70 times greater specific activity than hen egg-white lysozyme when assayed with chloroform-killed P . aeruginosa as a substrate . By analyzing the products of enzymatic action on purified peptidoglycan of P . aeruginosa, the enzyme was identified as an N-acetylmuramidase, i.e., the same classification as hen-egg-white lysozyme . PR1-lysozyme did not show any activity towards intact cells of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested . However, the enzyme was able to lyse chloroform-killed gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1978 Feb, 86(1), 37 - 40
Immune complexes in the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis suffering from chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection; Schiotz PO et al.; 12 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients chronically infected with mucoid P . aeruginosa and presenting multiple precipitins in serum against this bacterium and 12 patients without P . aeruginosa infection were examined for occurrence of soluble immune complexes in their sputum sol phase by a complement consumption assay and a solid phase rheumatoid factor binding assay . The correlation between the results obtained in the two assays was significant (r = 0.625, p less than 0.01) . The patients chronically infected with P . aeruginosa showed a significantly (p less than 0.01) higher frequency of immune complex activity in their sputum sol phase, as compared to the patients without P . aeruginosa lung infection . These findings point to the possibility that chronic lung infection with mucoid P . aeruginosa in CF may be an immune complex disease.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Feb, 133(2), 932 - 41
Protein-lipid-lipopolysaccharide association in the superficial layer of Spirillum serpens cell walls; Chester IR et al.; The backing layer of the Spirillum serpens VHA cell wall, which supports and is bonded to the outer, structured protein layer, was isolated and shown to be similar in composition to the same elements of the outer membrane . It contained a lipopolysaccharide that was similar, but not identical, to that of the intact wall and the same phospholipids . The interaction of the isolated wall lipopolysaccharide with the loosely bound wall lipids provided lamellae, whose surfaces were an effective template for a lifelike reassembly of the isolated outer-layer hexagonal protein in the presence of Ca2+ . Assembly did not take place on pure lipopolysaccharide, which dispersed in differing forms . A lipid-lipopolysaccharide-water interface appeared to be required as a template surface for the assembly . Lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was able to replace that of S . serpens in the template . These observations suggest that lipid-lipopolysaccharide complexes are highly ordered, and this order is important to the nucleation and assembly of the protein array.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Feb, 24(2), 196 - 9
Protein-lipopolysaccharide interactions . 1 . The reaction of lysozyme with Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS; Day DF et al.; Lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) complexes with extracted Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS in two distinct stages . The initial stage does not produce turbidity detectable by nephelometry (measured as nephelos units (N) per time) but does permit low-speed sedimentation of the lysozyme-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) complex . This association is 100% disrupted by the action of 0.1 M Mg2+ . Monovalent cations at equal ionic strength to the Mg2+ concentration used for these studies failed to alter significantly the lysozyme-LPS complex, indicating that the role of Mg2+ was not strictly an ionic one . The study of lysozyme-LPS complexes may provide a model system for investigating in vivo protein-LPS interactions.

Can J Microbiol, 1978 Feb, 24(2), 154 - 61
{Diminution of the antibacterial activity of antibiotics in cultures and in experimental mixed infections}; Lebrun M et al.; We have studied interactions between Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the absence and the presence of four different antimicrobials in mixed cultures and experimental infections . These two bacterial species, in addition to having different properties, are known to be opportunistic pathogens often present in human microflora . Two main aspects have been investigated and they are related to modifications in two species affecting their equilibrium in the mixed bacterial population and also their pathogenicity markers . Our results indicate that individual growth of S . aureus and P . aeruginosa is not modified in vitro in mixed cultures in the absence of antimicrobials; in vivo, in mouse peritoneal cavity, there is a synergism favorable to S . aureus . In the presence of rifamycin SV and three cell wall inhibitors, pencillin G,D-cycloserine, and vancomycin, we have observed that P . aeruginosa protected S . aureus against the inhibitory effect of these antimicrobials in vitro and in vivo . Such results were obtained in different conditions of culture, stationary, shaken, and in special apparatuses, an "Ecologen" and a "Chemostat." When any one of the antimicrobials was allowed to be in contact for 6 to 8 h with P . aeruginosa cells in a culture, we observed a decrease in their inhibitory effects against S . aureus . These results were supported by microscopical observation . It seems that the inhibitory effects of the antimicrobials have hindered the formation of toxic products of S . aureus, e.g., alpha toxin, and that it was not restored in the presence of P . aeruginosa . Conversely, P . aeruginosa remained apparently unchanged through all these experiments . Our observations may imply that the inhibitory effect of an antimicrobial towards a bacterial species may be significantly decreased in the presence of another species, sometimes present in human microflora.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Feb, 83(2), 395 - 402
Mode of action of pyocin R1; Iijima M; The effects of pyocin Rl on transport systems and syntheses of macromolecules in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain P14 were studied under two conditions, 0.4 mM and 40 mM Magnesium ions . In the presence of 0.4 mM magnesium ions, the incorporation of {14C}leucine into protein and the uptake of {14C}leucine into the leucine pool were completely inhibited by pyocin . Furthermore, {14C}leucine which had been taken up into the leucine pool was depleted by pyocin . Comparing the concentration of amino acid within cells with that in the medium, it was concluded that the active transport in P14 cells was inhibited completely by pyocin . Such an effect of pyocin Rl on transport systems was not specific to leucine but common to many amino acids and uridine . On the other hand, under the condition of 40 mM magnesium ions, {14C}-leucine once accumulated was not depleted by pyocin, but uptake of {14C}leucine into the leucine pool stopped immediately while incorporation of {14C}leucine into protein continued at a considerably reduced rate; therefore the machinery for protein synthesis was not directly inhibited by pyocin . It is suggested that the loss from the amino acid pool in cells brings about the rapid cessation of protein synthesis under the condition of 0.4 mM magnesium.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Feb, 31(2), 141 - 6
Uptake of (methyl-14C)-sisomicin and (methyl-14C)-gentamicin into bacterial cells; Lee BK et al.; Eight sensitive strains (two Staphylococcus aureus, two Escherichia coli, two Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two Klebsiella pneumoniae) and four resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were used to study uptake of sisomicin and gentamicin by the bacterial cells . In eleven out of the twelve organisms studied employing (methyl-14C)-sisomicin and (methyl-14C)-gentamicin, uptake of the former was found higher that that of the latter . In one organism, the uptake of the two antibiotics was similar . This higher uptake of sisomicin may help explain the superior potency of the antibiotic in relation to gentamicin.

Infect Immun, 1978 Feb, 19(2), 630 - 48
Purification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa proteases and microscopic characterization of pseudomonal protease-induced rabbit corneal damage; Kreger AS et al.; Extracellular proteases of three cornea-virulent strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated by sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation, Ultrogel AcA 54 gel filtration, and flat-bed isoelectric focusing . The purity of the preparations was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis , thin-layer isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel, immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic procedures, and tests for the presence of other known pseudomonal products . Light and electron microscopic examination of rabbit corneal lesions observed 4 to 6 h after the intracorneal injection of submicrogram amounts of the proteases revealed: (i) degeneration and necrosis of epithelium, endothelium, and keratocytes, (ii) infiltration, degeneration, and necrosis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, (iii) loss of the characteristic weblike pattern, colloidal iron staining, and ruthenium red staining of the stromal proteoglycan ground substance, (iv) dispersal of strucutrally normal appearing collagen fibrils, ground substance, (iv) dispersal of structurally normal appearing collagen fibrils, and (v) accumulation of plasma proteins and fibrin in the necrotic corneas . These structural alterations are very similar to those observed previously during experimental P . aeruginosa keratitis, and this similarity supports the idea that pseudomonal proteases are responsible, at least in part, for the rapid and extensive liquefaction necrosis characteristic of pseudomonal-induced keratitis . In addition, the results support the idea that pseudomonal proteases elicit severe corneal damage by causing the loss of the corneal proteoglycan ground substance, thus resulting in dispersal of undamaged collagen fibrils, weakening of the corneal stroma, and subsequent descemetocele formation and corneal perforation by the anterior chamber pressure.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Feb, 137(2), 103 - 11
Effect of cation content of agar on the activity of gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Washington JA 2nd et al.; Fifty-five strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested against arithmetic increments in concentrations of gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin in 14 different lots of Mueller-Hinton agar . The divalent cation content of each lot was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry . The relation between mean minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for strains within each lot and cation content was studied by stepwise regression . Among the cations, the content of Zn++ most highly correlated with the MIC of each aminoglycoside; however, Zn++ accounted for only 23%, 60%, and 47% of the variability in the mean MIC of gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin, respectively, against all strains . In two-cation models Zn++ with Ca++ or Cu++ was most highly correlated with the mean MICs of the three aminoglycosides against all strains . No divalent cation, either singly or in combination with one or two other cations, gave a good prediction of the MICs of the aminoglycosides in agar . Furthermore, there was variability in the cations that most highly correlated with the MICs for some strains . These observations support the concept that ionic strength, cations, and a variety of other as yet poorly defined components of media influence the activity of aminoglycosides against P . aeruginosa.

J Med Microbiol, 1978 Feb, 11(1), 15 - 23
The specificity of agglutination reactions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with O antisera; Pitt TL et al.; Polyagglutinable (PA) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are agglutinated by more than one of the antisera prepared against antigenically unrelated O serogroups . They form c . 4% of strains--other than isolates from cystic-fibrosis units--submitted to us for typing . We were able to allocate 80% of PA strains to a single O serogroup by agglutination with typing sera that had been absorbed with the polyagglutinable strain SMC-247, or by co-agglutination tests with protein A-containing staphylococci coated with immunoglobulin from unabsorbed sera . Similar results were obtained by precipitation tests with crude bacterial extracts and unabsorbed sera, but these tests were less sensitive and less specific . Evidence is presented that PA antigen is a heat-stable cell constituent distinct from the O antigen . In rabbit antisera, anti-PA antibody is exclusively of the IgM class, but O antibody of both IgM and IgG classes is present.

South Med J, 1978 Feb, 71(2), 222 - 4
Skin protothecosis in a patient with renal allograft; Dagher FJ et al.; The case history of a 30-year-old male kidney transplant patient who developed cutaneous protothecosis is presented . The lesions, initially located over the forearm and around the site of previous AV shunt, consisted of maculopapular areas which opened spontaneously and drained purulent sanguineous material . Culutre of drainage grew Prototheca wickerhamii . Other virulent organisms, ie . Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were also grown . The patient died of Klebsiella septicemia and shock . Protothecosis is an uncommon algal infection in man . This is the first report of the disease among recipients of a renal transplant.

Eur J Biochem, 1978 Feb 1, 83(1), 261 - 75
Structural homology of cytochromes c; Cookson DJ et al.; Cytochromes c from many eukaryotic and diverse prokaryotic organisms have been investigated and compared using high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy . Resonances have been assigned to a large number of specific groups, mostly in the immediate environment of the heme . This information, together with sequence data, has allowed a comparison of the heme environment and protein conformation for these cytochromes . All mitochondrial cytochromes c are found to be very similar to the cytochromes c2 from Rhodospirillaceae . In the smaller bacterial cytochromes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c551 and Euglena gracilis cytochrome c552, the orientation of groups near the heme is very similar, but the folding of the polypeptide chain is different . The heme environment of these two proteins is similar to that of the larger bacterial and mitochondrial cytochromes . Two low-potential cytochromes, Desulfovibrio vulgaris cytochrome c553 and cytochrome c554 from a halotolerant micrococcus have heme environments which are not very similar to those of the other proteins reported here.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1978 Feb, 48(1), 41 - 51
Therapeutic effect of immunization with OEP, protease toxoid and elastase toxoid on corneal ulcers in mice due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection; Hirao Y et al.; The effectiveness of immunizing mice with protease toxoid (PT) or elastase toxoid (ET) on the corneal ulcerization due to either protease or elastase were investigated . Consequently, mice immunized with either PT or ET were protected from corneal ulcers experimentally induced by the homologous enzyme, either protease or elastase . Similarly, two kinds of rabbit immune sera, anti-PT and anti-ET, were found to prevent corneal ulcers by the homologous enzyme . Then, the therapeutic effects of vaccination with a single or mixed vaccine consisting of one, two or three components, i.e., PT, ET and/or the common antigen (OEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were examined on corneal ulcers in mice produced by live cultures of the bacteria . For the same purpose, administration of a single or combined rabbit immune sera against PT, ET and OEP was conducted . As a result, vaccination with the three-component-mixed vaccine or administration with rabbit immune sera combined with anti-PT and anti-ET sera in addition to anti-OEP serum, were found to be the most effective in preventing corneal ulceration as well as in treating corneal ulcers in mice.

J Biol Chem, 1978 Jan 25, 253(2), 489 - 95
Reconstitution of the apoenzyme of cytochrome oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with heme d1 and other heme groups; Hill KE et al.; Cytochrome oxidase (EC 1.9.3.2) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa contains heme d1 and heme c in an equimolar ratio . The heme d1 can be removed from the enzyme with acidified acetone leaving an apoenzyme that contains heme c but has no oxidase activity . Reconstitution of the apoenzyme in neutral 6 M urea with heme d1 yields a reconstituted product which, after removal of the urea, has 90 to 100% of the oxidase activity of the native enzyme, a 1:1 molar ratio of the heme groups, and is indistinguishable from the native on the basis of its absorption spectral properties and its EPR spectrum . The apoenzyme can also be reconstituted with heme a, deuteroheme, hematoheme, mesoheme, and protoheme but only the heme a yields a product with any oxidase activity . The properties of these reconstituted products are compared.

Mol Gen Genet, 1978 Jan 17, 158(3), 229 - 37
Chromosome mobilization by the R plasmid R68.45: a tool in Pseudomonas genetics; Haas D et al.; The conjugative plasmid R68.45 mobilizes the chromosome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO from multiple sites located in different chromosome regions . In interrupted matings on the plate, selection for any single marker tested resulted in entry times of 3-5 min . When selection was imposed for two markers linked in R68.45-mediated conjugation, double recombinants appeared after a delay which corresponded approximately to the map distance between the two markers as measured by the sex factor FP2 . Thus, R68.45 and FP2 appear to promote chromosome transfer at similar rates, but R68.45, unlike FP2, seems to give non-polarized transfer . R68.45 may be used to estimate map distances between linked markers located in those chromosome regions where other sex factors do not produce enough recombinants to permit accurate measurement of entry times . In R68.45 matings on the plate, most recombinants inherited short donor chromosome fragments (usually less than 10 min long) and lost the R plasmid during purification . Used like a "large" generalized transducing phage, R68.45 has proved valuable in construction of PAO strains with desired genotypes.

Science, 1978 Jan 13, 199(4325), 186 - 8
Costae of Tritrichomonas foetus: purification and chemical composition; Sledge WE et al.; The costa is an intracellular organelle common to all trichomonads . Costae from Tritrichomonas foetus have been purified by a method which involves lysis of T . foetus with the heat-stable hemolysin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by differential centrifugation . Analysis of the purified costae demonstrated that the organelle is composed of 95 percent carbohydrate and 5 percent protein . The carbohydrate moiety, probably a polysaccharide, consisted of glucose (95 percent), mannose (0.4 percent), glucosamine (1.4 percent), ribose (0.6 percent), and an unidentified sugar (2.6 percent) . The kinetosomal complex was attached to the costa after initial lysis of cells but was separated from the costa during purification.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Jan, 133(1), 210 - 6
Evolution of Pseudomonas R-plasmids: consequences of Tn1 insertion and resultant partial diploidy to chromosome and Tra- R-plasmid mobilization; Olsen RH; Tn1 transposes from pRO161, a Tra- derivative of RP1, to Pseudomonas aeruginosa sex factor FP2 . The acquisition of Tn1 by FP2 results in its ability to mobilize pRO161 to other bacteria . Genetic evidence presented here suggests two sequential mechanisms . Initially, transposition of Tn1 results in trans-diploidy for the Tra+ and Tra- plasmids . This subsequently allows mobilization of the Tra- R-plasmid dependent on a host recombination mechanism . Transconjugants from this mating contain either stable cointegrate R-plasmids or aggregates resulting from dissociation of the cointegrates into a Tra+ and Tra- plasmid . These aggregates have lost at least part of Tn1 from their parent FP2:Tn1 component, but now they mobilize the tra- R-plasmid from a recombination-deficient (Rec-) genetic background as well as from Rec+ donor strains . Transconjugants from these retransfer matings are aggregates . These results suggest a contribution of transposons to R-plasmid evolution and dissemination beyond the mere acquisition of resistance to a given antibiotic.

Health Lab Sci, 1978 Jan, 15(1), 50 - 7
Pseudomonas aeruginosa in swimming pools related to the incidence of otitis externa infection; Seyfried PL et al.; A study is reported which demonstrates that four out of twenty-four people developed otitis externa as a result of swimming in a pool with a high incidence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Serotyping and phage typing were used to establish that P . aeruginosa was the etiolgoical event responsible for the outbreaks of the infection.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1978 Jan, 83(1), 171 - 81
Isolation and characterization of outer and inner membranes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and effect of EDTA on the membranes; Matsushita K et al.; The outer and inner cytoplasmic membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were separated as small and large membranes, respectively, from the cell envelope of this organism treated with lysozyme in Tris-chloride buffer containing sucrose and MgCl2 by differential centrifugation . The small membrane fraction contained predominantly 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO), and little cytochromes or oxidase activities . The small membrane was composed of only 9 polypeptides and showed homogeneous small vesicles electron-microscopically . On the other hand, the large membrane fraction had high cytochrome contents and oxidase activities, and little KDO . The large membrane was composed of a number of polypeptides and showed large fragments or vesicles electron-microscopically . These results indicate that the small and large membranes are the outer and inner cytoplasmic membranes of P . aeruginosa, respectively . The isolated outer membrane showed a symmetrical protein peak with a density of 1.23 on sucrose density gradient centrifugation and the isolated inner membrane showed an unusually high density, probably due to association with ribosomes and extrinsic or loosely bound proteins . EDTA lowered the density of both membranes and caused lethal damage to the outer membrane, causing disintegration with the release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), proteins and phospholipid.

Infect Immun, 1978 Jan, 19(1), 66 - 70
Purification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin by affinity chromatography; Taylor NS et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A was purified by affinity chromatography from culture supernatants by elution of toxin from antitoxin immunoglobulin G-Sepharose 4B with 3 M NaSCN . The purity, toxicity, and enzymatic activity of exotoxin obtained were comparable to those of toxin purified by previously reported multiple-step procedures.

Infect Immun, 1978 Jan, 19(1), 29 - 33
Mechanism of action of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A in experimental mouse infections: adenosine diphosphate ribosylation of elongation factor 2; Pavlovskis OR et al.; The data presented indicate that one of the primary actions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin during experimental infection is the inactivation of elongation factor 2 (EF-2) in various mouse organs . Organs from mice infected with the toxigenic P . aeruginosa strain PA103 contained considerably less EF-2 activity than did organs from uninfected controls . Whereas EF-2 activity was reduced in all organs examined from PA103-infected animals, the largest decrease was observed in the liver, where the active EF-2 levels were reduced by 70 to 90% . In addition, consistent inhibition of protein synthesis in livers but not in other organs was observed in mice infected with the toxigenic PA103 strain . Treatment of mice with antitoxin before infection with strain PA103 prevented inactivation of EF-2 . When mice were infected with lethal doses of the nontoxigenic P . aeruginosa WR5 strain, tissue EF-2 levels were not markedly reduced below those derived from uninfected control animals.

Z Immunitatsforsch Immunobiol, 1978, 154(1), 34 - 40
Transfer of antibacterial immunity by "Immune" RNA from animals treated with pseudomonas lipopolysaccharide; Barasoain I et al.; The humoral primary immune response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide was studied . Mice immunized with various doses of LPS developed anti-LPS antibodies . Antibody activity was due to 19S and 7S immunoglobulins . Extracts rich in RNA from spleen cells of immune mice were able to transfer specific anti-LPS response to normal recipients . Immunogenic antigen contamination of RNA was ruled out by a variety of controls.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1978 Jan, 117(1), 176 - 8
Effects of sputum from patients with cystic fibrosis on the activity in vitro of 5 antimicrobial drugs on Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Davis SD et al.; By in vitro tests on 12 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, sputum from patients with cystic fibrosis sharply increased the minimal bactericidal concentrations of polymyxin B and neomycin . Sputum had a lesser effect on tests with gentamicin and tobramycin and essentially none on tests with carbenicillin.

Nephron, 1978, 20(1), 10 - 7
Bacteriological contamination of dialyzers . Clinical, bacteriological and scanning electron-microscopic evaluation of different dialysate mixing systems; Jans H et al.; Membranes from Gambro Lundia Nova dialyzers were investigated for presence of bacteria after hemodialysis with centrally and peripherally mixed dialysate . Centrally mixed dialysate was found contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and bacterial cultures as well as electron scanning micrographs showed the presence of these bacteria on the dialysate side as well as on the blood side of membranes from dialyzers perfused with this dialysate during hemodialysis . No bacteria were found on membranes used with peripherally mixed dialysate, in which very few bacteria were found . Despite this the frequency of febrile episodes in patients submitted to hemodialysis with the two different dialysate mixing systems showed no significant difference in our material.

J Lab Clin Med, 1978 Jan, 91(1), 96 - 103
Decreased virulence of gentamicin-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a rat model; Khakoo RA et al.; Previous studies have reported that GR strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were less likely to cause serious infections . In the present study, this clinical observation of decreased virulence of GR strains of P . aeruginosa was documented in Andriole's rat model . A significantly higher mortality in rats was noted with GS strains of P . aeruginosa (MIC less than 10 microgram/ml) compared to moderately resistant strains (MIC 12.5 to 312 microgram/ml) and highly resistant strains (MIC greater than 312 microgram/ml) . Slower growth rates of GR strains of P . aeruginosa were observed in both the lag and the log phases as compared to GS strains . Average counts of in vivo quantitative blood cultures with the use of GR strains were lower at 30 min, 8 hr, and 24 hr compared to those with GS strains . The mortality in mice injected intraperitoneally with CFS's from GS strains (MIC 0.78 to 3.125 microgram/ml) was significantly higher at 8 and 24 hr than those injected with supernatants from GR strains (MIC 25 to 400 microgram/ml) . Human neutrophils killed GR and GS strains of P . aeruginosa equally . Decreased virulence of GR strains of P . aeruginosa may be due in part to slower growth rates and to a decreased ability to produce heat-labile toxic components.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Jan, 133(1), 427 - 9
Chemotaxis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Moench TT et al.; A chemotaxis system for Pseudomonas aeruginosa was defined by using the method of Adler . Cells were attracted to compounds in the order ammonium chloride greater than amino acids greater than organic acids . Two sugars were assayed and elicited no response . Comparisons with other model systems are discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Jan, 133(1), 165 - 71
Peptide utilization in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: evidence for membrane-associated peptidase; Miller RV et al.; A methionine auxotroph of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grew on methionine-containing peptides as a source of the required amino acid . Amino-terminus-blocked peptides would not serve as growth substrates, despite the fact that peptidases active on these blocked peptides were readily detectable in cell extracts . No evidence was found for extracellular enzymes capable of degrading the oligopeptides investigated . The degradative enzymes were not found in the periplasmic space of the cellular envelope . A high proportion of cellular peptidase activity was associated with the particulate (membrane) fraction of the cell lysate.

Chemotherapy, 1978, 24(1), 45 - 54
Antimicrobial synergism in the therapy of gram-negative rod bacteremia; Anderson ET et al.; To determine if antimicrobial synergism might affect the results of treatment of gram-negative rod infections, 444 bacteremias from 1972 through 1974 were studied . On these, 173 were treated with two antibiotics to which the infecting organisms were sensitive . Clinical responses were observed in 80% of 83 cases where antibiotic activity was synergistic, as defined by a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each antibiotic in combination being one-fourth or less than the MICs of individual drugs . This response rate was significantly better than the 64% response seen in patients treated with nonsynergistic combinations (p less than 0.05) . Synergism correlated with significantly better clinical responses in those patients with "rapidly fatal" and "ultimately fatal" underlying disease (p less than 0.005), neutropenia (p less than 0.001), shock (p less than 0.01) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections (p less than 0.05) . These results suggest that the use of antibiotic combinations to treat patients with gram-negative rod bacteremia who have the poorest prognosis is clinically justified and the improved results may be related to the synergistic activity of antimicrobial agents.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1978 Jan, 69(1), 41 - 7
Evaluation of a multitest system for identification of saccharolytic pseudomonads; Morris MJ et al.; The API-20 Enteric Strip has been proposed to have the capacity to differentiate the nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli . This multitest strip serves as the basis of an evolving system, which first provided a Register, then a Selector, and more recently a computer Index . Twenty-three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and P . putida, 21 of P . fluorescens, 27 of P . maltophilia, and 33 of P . cepacia were investigated by duplicate test runs to determine reproducibility . The results were then evaluated at each of the three stages to determine accuracy of identification and the effect of the system evolution on the identification rate . Seventy-one of the 127 pseudomonads gave reproducible results in the multitest strips . Approximately half of them were correctly grouped or speciated by the Register, whereas 80 to 83% were similarly identified by both the Selector and Index . Of the clinically important pseudomonads, 61 to 65% of P . aeruginosa and 93% of P . maltophilia strains were correctly speciated; neither P . putida nor P . fluorescens strains were speciated, although most were correctly grouped . P . cepacia was speciated by the Index with only 55 to 58% accuracy . Although the present stage of the evolving system offers improvement over the Register, further modifications are needed to eliminate identification problems and to increase speciation.

Chemotherapy, 1978, 24(3), 166 - 71
Bactericidal action of ascorbic acid on Psuedomonas aeruginosa: alteration of cell surface as a possible mechanism; Rawal BD; Neutralised ascorbic acid is found to exert a strong bactericidal action on Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspended in isotonic phosphate buffer at pH 7.1 . Both the bactericidal and bacteriostatic action of ascorbic acid are antagonised by magnesium ions . In the absence of complex formation between magnesium and ascorbic acid it is concluded that ascorbic acid acts by competing with the magnesium binding sites in the cell wall, cell membrane or ribosomes . Using the chequer-board titration method the synergistic action of ascorbic acid and erythromycin is determined; such a potentiation of erythromycin is also adversely affected by magnesium ions . P . aeruginosa cells, washed and suspended in isotonic phosphate buffer containing ascorbic acid, became increasingly susceptible to the action of polymyxin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, neomycin and tetracycline . It is suggested that ascorbic acid alters the cell surface to render it increasingly permeable to these antibiotics.

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