Pseudomonas aeruginosa

C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1978, 172(5), 879 - 84
{Effect of haemolysin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on Ehrlich ascites tumor cells}; Borderon E et al.; Haemolysin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exerts toxic effects upon the metabolism of Ehrlich ascitic tumor cells : morphological changes appear readily ; respiration is inhibited more slowly ; the lethal effect determined by intraperitoneal injection of tumor cells is neutralized . Inhibition with human normal sera is complete for the hemolytic action, but incomplete for the cytopathic action.

Chemotherapy, 1978, 24(2), 81 - 6
Synergistic effects of chlorpromazine and perphenazine on several chemotherapeutic agents . I . General profile of the effects measured by the filter paper strip-agar diffusion method with Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Yamabe S; The combination effects of chlorpromazine (CPZ) and periphenazine (PPZ) with beta-lactam antibiotics (ampicillin, carbenicillin, cefazolin) and nalidixic acid group compounds (nalidixic acid, piromidic acid and pipemidic acid) have been estimated to be synergistic by the filter paper strip-agar diffusion method (Dye's method) with Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as test organisms . The observed synergism might be associated with their inhibition of various enzymes including ATPase and DNAase as well as with their specific binding to DNA . Similar synergistic effects of CPZ and PPZ have been shown by the broth dilution method . Based on these findings, it seems to be a fascinating project to devise a new phenothiazine drug without influence in mental disease that will have a greater measure of synergistic effect when combined with the above-studied antibacterial agents.

Ann Ist Super Sanita, 1978, 14(4), 735 - 52
{Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in an Oncological Center (author's transl)}; Ameglio F et al.; Distribution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed, both in cancerous hospitalized and ambulatorial patients, through Uroculture or by Screening at the time of admission in Hospital . The data have been statistically evaluated according to the specific sectorial activities . The chemiosensitivity of isolated strains was evaluated for eight antibiotics, selected among the most active ones . Minimal Inhibent Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were also evaluated for Gentamicin and Colistin . The results obtained are relevant to the significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in neoplastic diseases.

Acta Biol, 1978, 29(1), 67 - 74
Cell wall characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its carbenicillin-induced L-form; White CJ et al.; L-forms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were induced and cultured on a medium supplemented with carbenicillin . Morphological studies of the passaged variant revealed the presence of a triple-layered cell wall similar to that found in the parent species . Furthermore, the L-form was found to be more susceptible to gentamicin, kanamycin, tetracycline and colistin sulphate . Chemical analysis of the lipopolysaccharide fraction showed a difference in phosphorus content, and changes in cell wall envelope fatty acid content were also exhibited . It is suggested that these differences may influence the transport of certain antibiotics through the cell wall.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1978, 26(1-6), 255 - 60
Some biological and immunological properties of extracellular slime from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Maresz-Babczyszyn J et al.; Extracellular slime from 8 different Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was extracted and purified . All slime-preparations exhibited immunogenic properties in rabbits vaccinated with detoxified or not detoxified slime . The antisera of both groups of immunized animals possessed strong hemagglutination activity against homologous slime . Immune hemagglutinins were present in the IgM and IgG fractions of serum globulins . The high value of these antibodies was found in rabbit's sera short after injection of slime-extract . The hemagglutinins quickly reached the peak value and maintained in serum over 60-70 days . Biological properties of lyophilized slime-preparations were defined in rabbit-skin test, local Shwartzman test, pyrogenic reaction and measured as LD50 for mouse . Intravenous injection of slime elicited marked changes in the number of leukocytes in the peripheral blood of rabbit . The animals responded to slime either with leukopenia passing into leukocytosis or with leukocytosis without leukopenia.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Naturwiss, 1978, 133(6), 543 - 50
Hemolysin of Myxococcus fulvus NK 35 i . production and isolation; Varghese KV et al.; Myxococcus fulvus NK 35 has been shown to produce a soluble hemolysin which lysed rabbit, human, horse, and sheep erythrocytes . A medium (Varghese's medium) was devised in which a maximum of hemolysin was produced in 6 days at 28 degrees C under static conditions . The lysin was precipitated by complete saturation of the culture filtrate with ammonium sulphate, followed by dialysis against saline . Other enzyme systems were destroyed by heating at 100 degrees C . Further purification was achieved by passing through a Sephadex G-25 column, giving a single peak with 0.01 M of phosphate buffer, pH 6.6 . Like the hemolysin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, this hemolysin is non-proteinic and withstands 100 degrees C for 30 minutes.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1978, 10(4), 307 - 11
Recurrent Pseudomonas infection associated with neutrophil dysfunction; Shigeoka AO et al.; A 72-year-old male is described with a history of 4 episodes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis and chronic otitis media caused by pseudomonas species . In vitro testing of the patient's polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) revealed profoundly abnormal chemotactic responses and defective intracellular killing of Ps . aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . Chemiluminescence production by the patient's PMNs in response to opsonized zymosan as well as endotoxin stimulated nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction were markedly depressed . These data indicate the presence of a profound, apparently acquired, defect in PMN function in an elderly male . Detailed evaluation of adult patients with recurrent infections may reveal similar, apparently acquired defects in PMN function.

Med Trop (Mars), 1978 Jan-Feb, 38(1), 65 - 8
{A study of serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in man in Saigon (Vietnam) (author's transl)}; Doury JC et al.; The authors study the serological distribution of 143 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated in hospital Grall (Saigon-Vietnam) according to the country (South Vietnam), the kind of pathological specimens and the various departments of the hospial . They describe a special distribution of serological groups in Vietnam with a large predominance of groups 0 = 6 and 0 = 11 . They consider the possibility of adapting a polyvalent vaccine including the 10 serological groups now prevailing in Vietnam.

Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales, 1978 Jan-Feb, 71(1), 48 - 54
{Pseudomonas aeruginosa epidemiology in Egypt: study of 80 hospital strains isolated at Alexandria}; Vieu JF et al.; Eighty hospital strains of P . aeruginosa, isolated in Alexandria, were examined with the aid of three epidemiological markers (serotype, lysotype and O . N . P . G.-test) . The most frequent serotypes in Alexandria are 0:11, 0:12, 0:2, 0:4, 0:6 et 0:1; this situation is different from those reported in European countries and in U . S . A . Sixty-five lysotypes were found and the strains of serotype 0:11 fall in fifteen lysotypes . One strain 0:12 was found O . N . P . G . positive.

J Int Med Res, 1978, 6(5), 418 - 9
A comparison of the antibiotic activities of sisomicin, gentamicin and aminosidine sulphate against pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pitzus E et al.; Sisomicin, gentamicin and aminosidine sulphate were compared for their antibiotic activity against Pseudomonas strains freshly isolated from clinical material . The activity of the three agents, expressed as a minimum inhibitory concentration, was determined using the same automatized system.

Chemotherapy, 1978, 24(6), 343 - 6
In vitro activity of carbenicillin, ticarcillin, sisomicin and netilmicin alone and in combination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Watanakunakorn C et al.; The in vitro activity of carbenicillin, ticarcillin, sisomicin and netilmicin alone and in combination against 35 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigated . Ticarcillin was more active than carbenicillin and sisomicin was more active than netilmicin . There was enhanced killing of many strains of P . aeruginosa by the combination of carbenicillin or ticarcillin with sisomicin or netilmicin.

Chemotherapy, 1978, 24(5), 283 - 9
Synergy studies with Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to gentamicin and/or carbenicillin; Klein RA et al.; The predictability of synergy with strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa highly resistant to gentamicin in combination with carbenicillin has been controversial . 30 clinical isolates of P . aeruginosa resistant to gentamicin and/or carbenicillin were tested by checker-board technique . 14 were found to be highly resistant to gentamicin (minimal inhibitory concentration MIC greater than or equal to 128 microgram/ml) and/or carbenicillin (MIC greater than or equal to 512 microgram/ml) . Of these 14, 4 isolates showed synergy . 10 of 16 isolates with moderate resistance demonstrated synergy . It is concluded that the level of resistance to gentamicin with P . aeruginosa cannot be used in predicting whether synergy will occur.

S Afr Med J, 1977 Dec 24, 52(27), 1095 - 8
Respiratory infection in an intensive care unit; Hallett AF et al.; A postmortem bacteriological study of Black children in a respiratory intensive care unit showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common opportunistic pathogen and that it usually complicated a viral infection . In a parallel study of non-debilitated patients in general hospital wards Klebsiella aerogenes and Escherichia coli were the most frequently isolated organisms . Counter-immuno-electrophoresis was used for the identification of Pseudomonas-precipitating antibody in serum and tracheal secretions, and also of Pseudomonas antigen in the latter.

C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 1977 Dec 19, 285(16), 1565 - 8
{Isolation of a new plasmid of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by chromatography on coupled Sepharose 4B-nitrocellulose}; Chardon-Loriaux I et al.; A new plasmid has been isolated by chromatography on coupled columns of Sepharose 4B-Nitrocellulose from the auxotrphic strain PAO8 56 Be of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This strain has been shown by genetic tests to be resistant to carbenicillin.

S Afr Med J, 1977 Dec 17, 52(26), 1049 - 55
Gram-negative bacillary infections in cancer patients; Bodey GP et al.; The majority of infectious complications in cancer patients are caused by Gram-negative bacilli . The most common organisms are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp . and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Sites of infection are related to the patients' underlying malignancies, but pneumonia and septicaemia occur most often . Important newer antibiotics for the therapy of these infections are aminoglycosides and semisynthetic penicillins . It is advisable to utilize combinations of antibiotics for serious infections in cancer patients, and therapy should be instituted promptly at the onset of infection.

Chest, 1977 Dec, 72(6), 794 - 6
Endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a heroin addict . Successful treatment with trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole mixture plus colistin; Yoshikawa TT et al.; Endocarditis of the tricuspid valve due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a heroin addict failed to respond to therapy with gentamicin, carbenicillin, and amikacin . Clinical and bacteriologic cure was achieved with oral administration of a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole mixture plus parenteral therapy with colistin . In vitro synergism was demonstrated for the three drugs at concentrations achievable in the serum . Therapy for endocarditis due to Pseudomonas continues to be a major problem; however, the successful treatment of this patient warrants consideration for instituting therapy with a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole misture plus colistin in individuals with this infection who fail to respond to standard therapeutic regimens for severe infections with Pseudomonas.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1977 Dec, 165(5-6), 458 - 63
{Automatic disinfection of fiberendoscopes (author's transl)}; Baas EU; Bacteremia following endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract in patients with impaired resistance even fatal septicemia has been reported . Transmission of pathogenic bacterias via endoscopes has been described . We could demonstrate a considerable high number of gramnegative bacteria obtained from biopsy channel of fiberendoscopes after conventionell cleaning of the instruments . In seven different endoscopy units we found high bacterial contamination of all 22 fiberendoscopes . Pseudomonas aeruginosa in concentrations up to 4 X 10(6)/ml was cultivated on the instruments including cleaning utilities (flasks etc., Table 1) . The new apparatus we demonstrate here has the advantage of cleaning and disinfecting the endoscopes . One or two endoscopes are placed into a U-shaped pipe which is interconnected with a pumping system . In this automatic apparatus a disinfectant which recycles through all channels is used (Fig . 1) . We investigated solutions of 2% glutardialdehyde, of 5% succindialdehyde respectively 1% peracetic acid . Disinfection of instruments was effective . No bacteria could be detected in material obtained from biopsy channels, HBsAg also could not be detected on the instruments after this procedure . The use of dialdehyde is recommended.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1977 Dec, 47(6), 495 - 500
Effects of elastase, protease and common antigen (OEP) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on protection against burns in mice; Kawaharajo K et al.; For the purpose of studying the role of elastase and protease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bacterial infection in burns, the effects of the vaccines made from each enzyme, their toxoids and OEP on protection against infection in burned mice were studied . Elastase, protease, toxoids of the enzymes, two- or three-component-mixed vaccines and OEP demonstrated significant protection . Toxoids of elastase and protease produced effects similar to those of the enzymes themselves but no synergistic effect in mixed vaccine was detected . Elastase was significantly more effective than protease, the three-component-mixed vaccine or OEP in protecting mice against P . aeruginosa infection in burns.

Biomedicine, 1977 Dec, 27(9-10), 368 - 73
Heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a systemic adjuvant in cancer immunotherapy; Mathe G et al.; The effect of heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 serotypes) on antibody formation, macrophage activation and leukemia growth was investigated in relation to the dose injected and to the time and the route of administration . It appeared that intravenous administration of the preparation (10(9) bacteria per ml) was the most efficient at the dose of 0.1 ml since: 1) it increased the number of PFC against SRBC when injected 10 days before the antigen (higher doses and shorter time intervals resulted either in no modification or an significant inhibition of the PFC response; 2) it induced a slight activation of peritoneal macrophages as measured by their cytostatic activity for tumor cells in vitro, when injected 3 or 7 days before testing whereas higher doses were ineffective; 3) it increased the survival time of leukemic mice when administered 2.5 days before the injection of L1210 tumor cells, and higher doses were also effective in this immunoprophylaxis assay . When the subcutaneous route was used, large doses appeared to be the most effective: 1) potentiation of the PFC response was obtained only when 0.5 or 0.2 ml were given 10 days before the antigen; 2) macrophage activation was demonstrated 7 and 10 days after 0.5 ml; 3) leukemia growth was retared when 0.5 or 0.2 ml was injected 2.5 days prior to L1210 tumor cell inoculation and also when 0.2 and 0.1 ml were injected 7 days before tumor cells . No correlation between macrophage activation and the inhibition of tumor growth could be found.

Biomedicine, 1977 Dec, 27(9-10), 328 - 30
Comparison of the restoration effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, BCG and poly I: poly C on cancer patients non responsive to recall antigen delayed hypersensitivity; Mathe G et al.; A preparation of 10 serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has restored skin delayed hypersensitivity reactions to recall antigens in about fifty per cent of cancer patients not previously immunodepressed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy, but anergic . This proportion is similar to that obtained by given modalities of administration of BCG, C . parvum or levamisole, while other modalities of application of BCG or administration of poly I: poly C do not induce such an immuno-restoration in a significant number of patients.

J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Dec, 103(2), 329 - 36
Protease-deficient mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: pleiotropic changes in activity of other extracellular enzymes; Wretlind B et al.; Mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAKS-I which are defective in the formation of extracellular protease activity have been characterized . The mutants produced between approximately 1 and 25% of the protease activity of the wild type and no strains completely lacking extracellular protease were found, even after repeated mutagen treatment . Most mutants also had changed activities of extracellular staphylolytic enzyme, lipase and lecithinase . Four of 13 mutants were unable to release alkaline phosphatase and staphylolytic enzyme into the medium in contrast to the wild type . Serotype, phage type and biochemical reactions were essentially unchanged . The results indicate that some of the mutations affected the cell envelope structure of function leading to decreased ability to release extracellular proteins, and that other mutations possibly affected a common regulatory mechanism for extracellular enzymes.

J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Dec, 103(2), 319 - 27
Purification and properties of a protease with elastase activity from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Wretlind B et al.; The isoelectric points of three proteases (I, II and III), separated from culture supernatants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAKS-I by isoelectric focusing, were 8.5, 6.6 and 4.5 respectively . Collagenase activity was not detected . More than 75% of the extracellular protease activity of this strain was due to protease II . This enzyme also possessed elastase activity . When purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, isoelectric focusing and gel chromatography, protease II showed one band on disc electrophoresis and one band on conventional immunoelectrophoresis . The pH optimum, stability and effect of inhibitors and substrate concentration were examined . The molecular weight was 23000 +/- 5000 . Protease II was lethal for mice when injected intraperitoneally at a high dose (minimum lethal dose 0.1 mg) . Dermonecrosis and subcutaneous haemorrhages were produced in new-born mice upon subcutaneous injection of 10 microgram protease II . A sensitive test for cytotoxicity showed no evidence of cytoplasmic membrane damage to HeLa cells or human diploid embryonic lung fibroblasts by protease II . Morphological changes similar to those produced by trypsin were found.

Mayo Clin Proc, 1977 Dec, 52(12), 802 - 5
Antimicrobial susceptibility of gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Yu PK et al.; The susceptibility of 41 strains of gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa to tobramycin, sisomicin, netilmicin, amikacin, and carbenicillin was determined . Amikacin and carbenicillin exhibited the greatest activity against these strains and especially against those with a high level of resistance to gentamicin . Netilmicin exhibited little activity, whereas tobramycin and sisomicin were active against approximately two-thirds of the strains . Cross-resistance to tobramycin, sisomicin, and netilmicin was frequent.

Mayo Clin Proc, 1977 Dec, 52(12), 797 - 801
Gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Mayo Clinic Experience, 1970-1976; Keys TF et al.; During the period 1970 through 1976, there were 144 patients from whom gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (minimum inhibitory concentration {MIC}, more than 5 microgram/ml) was isolated . In 20(21 percent) of the 95 patients who acquired such organisms within our institutions, the occurrence was considered clinically significant . Factors that favored the appearance of gentamicin-resistant P . aeruginosa included prolonged hospitalization, previous antibiotic treatment, increased gentamicin usage, underlying disease, and instrumentation (70 percent) . Virulence of gentamicin-resistant isolates appeared less than that of susceptible organisms, with bacteremia due to these isolates occurring in only three cases . Resistant isolates with MICs for gentamicin of 8 to 16 microgram/ml were more susceptible to tobramycin than to amikacin, whereas isolates with MICs for gentamicin of 64 microgram/ml or greater were more susceptible to amikacin than to tobramycin . Eighty percent of all strains were susceptible to 128 microgram/ml or less of carvenicillin . Favorable results occurred in 12 or 13 cases treated with gentamicin plus carbenicillin, whereas treatment with either of these agents alone resulted in failure or relapse in 7 of 14 cases.

Infect Immun, 1977 Dec, 18(3), 596 - 602
Passive protection by antitoxin in experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn infections; Pavlovskis OR et al.; The protective effect of intravenously administered rabbit antitoxin serum was studied in lethal Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn infections in mice . Survival after infection with 2 median lethal doses of a toxigenic, low-protease-producing strain (PA103) was enhanced in antitoxin-treated mice, as compared with controls that had received anti-bovine serum albumin serum (P = 0.0004) . Survival time was prolonged in other antitoxin-treated mice infected with toxigenic, high-protease-producing strains (PA86 and PA220, P = 0.0003 and P = 0.01, respectively) . In contrast, antitoxin had no protective effect in mice challenged with a nontoxigenic strain (WR 5, P = 0.57) . There were fewer viable bacteria in blood and liver of antitoxin-treated mice than in those of anti-bovine serum albumin-treated controls after infection with toxigenic organisms, whereas there were no significant differences between the two groups after challenge with the nontoxigenic strain . These data suggest that P . aeruginosa exotoxin A contributes to lethality in this burn infection model, and this effect is diminished by passive immunization with antitoxin.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1977 Dec, 95(12), 2222 - 5
Corneal rings with gram-negative bacteria; Mondino BJ et al.; Corneal rings have been described with corneal ulcerations caused by Gram-negative bacteria . Corneal rings were produced by intracorneal injections of viable Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as heat-inactivated suspensions of Gram-negative bacteria (P aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) but not Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) or Freund's adjuvant . It is suggested that endotoxin is the factor responsible for their production since purified endotoxin produced corneal rings after intracorneal injection . Histopathological examination of the areas corresponding to the corneal rings disclosed that the rings represented accumulations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Direct immunofluorescent studies of the corneal rings revealed staining for properdin and C3 complement but not for immunoglobulins . The present report suggests that endotoxin has the ability to stimulate the alternate pathway of complement through properdin activation with the production of chemotactic fragments that attract polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the cornea.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Nov 23, 485(1), 60 - 74
Protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase . Inhibitor studies and mechanistic implications; Que L Jr et al.; Protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.3) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa catalyzes the cleavage of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (protocatechuate) into beta-carboxy-cis,cis-muconate . The inhibition constants, Ki, of a series of substrate analogues were measured in order to assess the relative importance of the various functional groups on the substrate . Though important for binding, the carboxylate group is not essential for activity . Compounds with para hydroxy groups are better inhibitors than their meta isomers . Our studies of the enzyme-inhibitor complexes indicate that the 4-OH group of the substrate binds to the active-site iron . Taken together, Mossbauer, EPR, and kinetic data suggest a mechanism where substrate reaction with oxygen is preceded by metal activation of substrate.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Nov 15, 81(1), 185 - 92
Purification and characterization of two aldehyde dehydrogenases from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Guerrillot L et al.; Two soluble aldehyde dehydrogenases isoenzymes have been purified and separated from extracts of a paraffin-assimilating bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The first one, obtained at an estimated purity of 20% (spec . act . with butanal 0.33 kat/kg) was NAD-dependent . It was rapidly inactivated at pH 8.6 but was efficiently protected by NAD . It had a molecular weight of 225000 and presented a high affinity for aldehydes of short and middle chain lengths . The second enzyme, obtained in a nearly homogenous state (spec . act . with pentanal 0.62 kat/kg) was NADP-dependent . It was activated by ions, in particular potassium ions, and had a good affinity for aldehydes of higher chain lengths . Both enzymes were stabilized by thiols and glycerol and were inactivated by reagents of sulfhydryl groups . These enzymes are 'constitutive' and their physiological function is uncertain . When the bacteria were grown on n-paraffin a new membrane-bound NAD-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was produced.

Neurology, 1977 Nov, 27(11), 1034 - 7
Spinal cord compression due to pseudomonas in a heroin addict . Case report; Jabbari B et al.; Involvement of the spinal cord has not been reported in osteomyelitis of the spinal column caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Cerebrospinal fluid findings have been reported only once in osteomyelitis of the spine by this agent . Our patient had persistently increased cerebrospinal fluid protein during an acute episode of cervical spine osteomyelitis, characterized by fever and neck pain . Roentgenograms of the cervical spine and neurologic examination did not show any definite abnormality . He became paraplegic 18 months later, after having symptoms of numbness of the feet and progressive weakness of the legs for 1 month . A surgical procedure and antibiotic treatment resulted in remarkable recovery . A bone specimen grew P . aeruginosa.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1977 Nov-Dec, 128B(4), 487 - 94
{Four new pyocine types of "Pseudomonas aeruginosa": epidemiological significance (author's transl)}; Santos-Ferreira MO et al.; The pyocin-typing of 448 Ps . aeruginosa from several Hospitals in Lisbonne has been done with the Gillies and Govan method; 69% Portuguese strains are in pyocinotypes n degrees 1, 3, 5 and 7; 16 % are in 24 other pyocinotypes . Four new pyocinotypes were found in a group of 34 atypical strains . The relationship between serotype and pyocinotype was investigated and the most frequent serotypes in Portugal (0:11; 0:6; 0:3) has been subdivided into numerous pyocinotypes with epidemiological significance.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Nov, 239(3), 361 - 4
Transduction, by phases F116 and G101, of gentamicin-tobramycin resistance, and of "autoplaque formation" property in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Krcmery V et al.; Pseudomonas aerugionsa phages F 116 and G 101, propagated on ML 4262 strain into which gentamicin-tobramycin resistance determinants have been increased by means of conjugation, from wild-type strains Vy 28, 29 and 34, were capable to transduce R determinants to PAO 1670 strain . Transfer ability was co-transduced as well, with exception of transductants selected with streptomycin . "Autoplaque formation" ability, occurring in original wild-type strain Vy 28, could be co-tranduced with all tobramycin-resistant determinants by F116 but not G 101 phage.

Mikrobiologiia, 1977 Nov-Dec, 46(6), 1027 - 33
{Alkane-induced protein biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Illarionov EF et al.; Protein disc-electrophoregrams of cell-free homogenates have been compared in the "non-adapted" and "preliminarily-adapted" to n-hexane strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A statistically reliable increase in the content of protein by 60 per cent was found in fractions a (M . W . 70,000) and b (M . W . 130,000) when the cells of both strains were gorwn on hexane as compared to the cells cultivated on glucose . The content of protein in each a and b band was about 4 per cent of the total cell protein before the induction by hexane . No differences were found when the cells of the two strains were grown on identical substrates . The induced proteins are supposed to belong to the system of primary oxidation of n-alkanes with short chains and to be localized in the cytoplasm of Ps . aeruginosa.

Infect Immun, 1977 Nov, 18(2), 304 - 9
Glycolipoprotein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a protective antigen against P . aeruginosa infection in mice; Sensakovic JW et al.; After primary subcutaneous immunization of rabbits with glycolipoprotein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa BI, indirect hemagglutinating and bacterial agglutinating activities appeared in the antiserum 6 days after immunization and reached a peak between 15 and 20 days . Both these in vitro activities paralleled in vivo antipseudomonas-induced leukopenia and mouse passive-protection activities . Further experiments indicated that a functional association exists between the hemagglutinating and passive-protection activities, and that passive protection depends on activity levels in the plasma rather than in the peritoneum . After intraperitoneal injection in mice, in vitro and in vivo activities of antiglycolipoprotein serum declined in the peritoneal cavity as the plasma levels increased . After intravenous injection of the antiglycolipoprotein serum, initially high levels of in vitro and in vivo activity declined at approximately equal rates . Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) fractions from 15-day antiglycolipoprotein serum were assayed for biological activity . Most of the hemagglutinating and bacterial agglutinating activity and all of the mouse passive-protection activity were found in the IgM fraction . Assay of antiglycolipoprotein serum after 2-mercaptoethanol inactivation of IgM showed that most of the in vitro and all of the passive-protection activities had been destroyed, again locating these activities principally in the IgM fraction of the original antiserum.

J Med Microbiol, 1977 Nov, 10(4), 447 - 59
Epidemiological information from active and passive pyocine typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Falkiner FR et al.; An investigation was carried out to determine the value of active and passive pyocine typing in the study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections acquired in hospital . Active typing was a more reliable and reproducible method than passive typing . Both methods were used in studies of nine outbreaks of infection . In six of these episodes there was good agreement between the two methods . Less clear-cut results were achieved in the remaining three episodes . In one of these, active typing gave more valuable information . However, both methods are easy, convenient and of value in epidemiological studies.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Nov, 136(5), 679 - 83
Mechanism of action of tetracaine hydrochloride against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Leung YW et al.; The mode of action of tetracaine hydrochloride in vitro on Pseudomonas aeruginosa was investigates . The inhibitory and bactericidal action of tetracaine hydrochloride in vitro was adversely affected by magnesium ions . Observation of cellular lysis, leakage of intracellular materials, dehydrogenase activity, and a higher sensitivity of spheroplasts than of whole cells to tetracaine led to the conclusion that tetracaine acts by damaging the cell membrane . The lytic action of lysozyme was potentiated by tetracaine; this finding indicates enhanced permeability of the cell wall . Alteration of cell wall permeability was demonstrated by the finding that the cells exposed to subinhibitory amounts of tetracaine became susceptible to otherwise ineffective erythromycin.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Nov, 132(2), 377 - 84
Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutants resistant to urea inhibition of growth on acetanilide; Gregoriou M et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa AI 3 was able to grow in medium containing acetanilide (N-phenylacetamide) as a carbon source when NH4+ was the nitrogen source but not when urea was the nitrogen source . AIU mutants isolated from strain AI 3 grew on either medium . Urease levels in bacteria grown in the presence of urea were 10-fold lower when NH4+ or acetanilide was also in the medium, but there were no apparent differences in urease or its synthesis between strain AI 3 and mutant AIU 1N . The first metabolic step in the acetanilide utlization is catalyzed by an amidase . Amidases in several AIU strains showed altered physiochemical properties . Urea inhibited amidase in a time-dependent reaction, but the rates of the inhibitory reaction with amidases from the AIU mutants were slower than with AI 3 amidase . The purified amidase from AIU 1N showed a marked difference in its pH/activity profile from that obtained with purified AI 3 amidase . These observations indicate that the ability of strain AIU 1N and the other mutants to grow on acetanilide/urea medium is associated with a mutation in the amidase structural gene; this was confirmed for strain AIU 1N by transduction.

Mayo Clin Proc, 1977 Nov, 52(11), 675 - 9
Antimicrobial agents--Part II . The aminoglycosides: streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, neomycin; Brewer NS; Aminoglycoside antibiotics are poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, do not penetrate well into the cerebrospinal fluid, are minimally bound to plasma proteins, and are rapidly excreted by the normal kidney . Neomycin is limited by its toxicity to irrigating and topical preparations or to oral medication for surgical bowel preparations or hepatic coma . Streptomycin has only a few specific indications, because newer agents are available that have broader spectrums of activity . Kanamycin is indicated in serious gram-negative infections in which Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not a likely causative agent . Gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin are effective against a broad spectrum of gram-negative organisms including P . aeruginosa . In general, both gentamicin and tobramycin are more active in vitro than amikacin on a weight basis; however, higher serum levels are achievable with amikacin than with the two others . Amikacin is probably the aminoglycoside of first choice when gentamicin resistance is strongly suspected.

Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1977 Nov, 145(5), 702 - 4
The time at which infected postoperative wounds demonstrate increased strength; Oloumi M et al.; It was again shown in this study that laparotomy wounds purposely infected with a known inoculum of live gram-negative bacteria exhibited greater tensile strength than did those in the normal control group . The organisms used were Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The phenomenon was not present during the first ten days after wounding but was quite evident in wounds tested at 14 and 21 days . By histologic examination, there was evidence of much more new collagen in the wounds that exhibited increased strength.

Biochem J, 1977 Nov 1, 167(2), 447 - 55
The electron-transfer reaction between azurin and the cytochrome c oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Parr SR et al.; A stopped-flow investigation of the electron-transfer reaction between oxidized azurin and reduced Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 oxidase and between reduced azurin and oxidized Ps . aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 oxidase was performed . Electrons leave and enter the oxidase molecule via its haem c component, with the oxidation and reduction of the haem d1 occurring by internal electron transfer . The reaction mechanism in both directions is complex . In the direction of oxidase oxidation, two phases assigned on the basis of difference spectra to haem c proceed with rate constants of 3.2 X 10(5)M-1-S-1 and 2.0 X 10(4)M-1-S-1, whereas the haem d1 oxidation occurs at 0.35 +/- 0.1S-1 . Addition of CO to the reduced enzyme profoundly modifies the rate of haem c oxidation, with the faster process tending towards a rate limit of 200S-1 . Reduction of the oxidase was similarly complex, with a fast haem c phase tending to a rate limit of 120S-1, and a slower phase with a second-order rate of 1.5 X 10(4)M-1-S-1; the internal transfer rate in this direction was o.25 +/- 0.1S-1 . These results have been applied to a kinetic model originally developed from temperature-jump studies.

Laryngoscope, 1977 Nov, 87(11), 1836 - 40
Progressive necrotizing external otitis: treatment with ticarcillin and tobramycin; Horwitz MJ et al.; The history of necrotizing external otitis, its diagnosis and management are reviewed . A case history is presented of a patient who was diagnosed as having progressive necrotizing external otitis with facial paralysis . In spite of standard medical treatment and aggressive surgical management, the disease process continued with progressive involvement of Cranial nerves IX and X . The Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria developed an increased minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to carbenicillin and gentamicin by requiring near toxic blood levels to be effective . Investigational ticarcillin (alpha-carboxy-3-thienylmethylpenicillin) and tobramycin were used successfully in resolving the infection.

Br Med J, 1977 Oct 29, 2(6095), 1121 - 2
Noxythiolln-resistant organisms in a district general hospital; Chattopadhyay B; Twelve strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, three strains of Klebsiella aerogenes, and two strains of Escherichia coli were found to be resistant to noxythiolin . Some of the pseudomonads were isolated from patients in the same ward, not all of whom were on noxythiolin treatment . The strains from these patients were indistinguishable from each other on phage typing, which suggested cross-contamination . No Gram-positive organism was found to be resistant to noxythiolin . Noxythiolin should not be used before a disc diffusion sensitivity test has been performed to determine whether the organisms are sensitive to it . This is particularly important when pseudomonads are the offending organisms.

Med Klin, 1977 Oct 28, 72(43), 1803 - 7
{Hospital infections with pseudomonas aeruginosa: I . Technical devices and wet areas as sources of infection in intensive care units (author's transl)}; Kruger H et al.; In an intensive care unit system comprising three surgical intensive care wards bacteriologic investigations on the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were carried out over a period of 7 months (as an example for the aetiology of hospital infections) . Centers of contaminations were found to exist in wet areas and in technical devices (ultrasonic nebulizers, respirators etc.) . In many cases, the bacterial strains isolated from patients were found by means of phage-typing to be identical with strains isolated from devices and wet areas . Additional experimental investigations showed the predominant role of ultrasonic nebulizers for germ dissemination . On the basis of the results obtained a patient oriented scheme of probable infection chains was tried to establish . Hereby the wet areas play a central role as reservoirs of germs and therapeutical devices as vectors . The results obtained were evaluated in order to define a catalogue of practical measures for interruption of infection chains.

Microbiol Immunol, 1977 Oct 20, 21(10), 545 - 51
Biochemical properties of a penicillinase from Escherichia coli carrying Rms 298; Sawada Y et al.; We obtained two R plasmids, i.e., Rms195 and Rms298, from a clinical isolate, E . coli GN5503 . Penicillin beta-lactamase (PCase) was extracted from ML1410 Rms195+ and Rms298+, and was purified by chromatography . Rms195 PCase was identical to the type I PCase mediated by R-TEM, RI and Rms212 . The isoelectric point of Rms298 PCase was 5.9 and its molecular weight was 21,000 +/- 1,000 . The substrate profile and physiochemical properties indicate that Rms298 PCase belongs to the type IV PCase mediated by Rms139 isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Med J Aust . 1977 Oct 8;2(3 Pt 2 Suppl):29.
Tobramycin in the treatment of peritonitis; Stone HH; Tobramycin is a new aminoglycosidic aminocyclitol antibiotic which has a broad spectrum of activity against aerobic and facultative Gram-negative bacilli . It is particularly effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including some strains of this organism which are resistant to gentamicin . The newer aminoglycosidic aminocyclitol antibiotics all consist of a "backbone" of 2-deoxystreptamine, to which are attached several amino-containing sugar groups . These agents inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria at the level of the ribosome and are bactericidal although the precise mechanism by which they kill bacteria is still not known . There are a number of processes by which bacteria can become resistant to the action of the aminoglycosidic aminocyclitol antibiotics . Among these, the ability of bacteria to produce inactivating enzymes (usually mediated by R-factors or plasmids) appears to be the most important in current clinical isolates of bacteria . Aminoglycosidic aminocyclitol antibiotics which are resistant to these enzymes may have an enhanced spectrum of activity.

Med J Aust, 1977 Oct 1, 2(3 Pt 1 Suppl), 13 - 6
The pharmacology of newer aminoglycosides, with a consideration of the application to clinical situations; Neu HC; This has been an overview of the pharmacology of tobramycin, a new potent aminoglycoside, particularly active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Close attention must be given to the administration of this compound, and to the administration of all aminoglycosides, if one is to achieve adequate serum and tissue concentrations without provoking a toxic renal or otic reaction . Differences in methods and dosage of administration depending upon age, status of renal function, and route of administration are discussed . The basic principles reviewed can be applied to all the agents in this class.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1977 Oct, 47(5), 393 - 402
Infection protective property of the common antigen (OEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its chemical composition; Abe C et al.; The protein moiety (OEP) of the endotoxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a proteinaceous compound composed of possessing 77% protein and a small amount of lipid and sugar . The antigen has been proved to possess a common protective property against P . aeruginosa infections regardless of serotype and also to possess an antigen common to all the serotype strains of P . aeruginosa . When OEP was subjected to protease digestion, (protease-treated OEP) the protein content was reduced to 17% without a change in the lipid and sugar composition . The protease-treated OEP was no longer found to possess a serologically common antigen and was also found to have lost the common protective property against infections due to all the serotypes of P . aeruginosa . In conclusion, a serologically common antigen (OEP) as well as a common infection protective property was found to reside in a protein portion of the antigen.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 Oct, 23(10), 1456 - 64
Physiological control of alkylsulfatase synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: effects of glucose, glucose analogs, and sulfur; Fitzgerald JW et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa (isolated from soil) synthesizes an alkylsufatase allowing this bacterium to utilize sodium hexan-1-yl sulfate as a source of carbon and sulfur for growth . The formation of the enzyme was induced by this and by other (C4-C16) primary alkylsulfate esters as well as by some (C-8 and C-9) primary alkylsulfonates . Secondary (2-yl) alkylsulfate esters did not act as inducers . The induction of alkylsulfatase was markedly inhibited by L-cysteine, L-methionine, sodium sulfide, and by high (greater than 2mM) concentrations of D-glucose and other related monosaccharides . Similar inhibitory effects by four glucose analogs which will not support growth suggest that prior metabolism was not a requirement for glucose-mediated inhibition . The inhibition by D-glucose of the same inducible system in P . aeruginosa (PAO-57) supported this conclusion since this glucose transport-positive mutant is deficient in the further metabolism of the monosaccharide . At low (0.1-1.0 mM) concentrations, D-glucose or D-glucose 6-O-phosphate (20 mM) caused a marked enhancement of alkylsulfatase induction in the isolate . This novel enhancement was reproduced using P . aeruginosa strain PAO . However, both monosaccharides acted as potent inhibitors of alkylsulfatase formation occurring in mutant PAO-57 which, unlike the parent strain PAO, exhibits low glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity . These results suggest that D-glucose (0.1-1.0 mM) must be metabolized to enhance the synthesis of the enzyme.

J Virol, 1977 Oct, 24(1), 135 - 41
Secondary structure of RNA from bacteriophages f2 Qbeta, and PP7; Edlind TD et al.; Electron microscopy of RNA-protein monolayers prepared under partial denaturing conditions has been used to compare the secondary structure of coliphage f2 and Qbeta and Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage PP7 RNAs . The secondary structure map of f2 RNA contains a central open loop and four symmetrically placed hairpins, which is similar to the pattern reported by Jacobson (A . B . Jacobson, Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 73:307-311, 1976) for the closely related phage MS2 . With the same denaturing conditions, Qbeta RNA, which is 20% larger than f2 or PP7 RNA, has a central open loop and a smaller terminal loop . PP7 RNA has two large, closed secondary structures, one of which is nearly central . The base composition of PP7 RNA was determined and is similar to that of the group I coliphage RNAs . Thus, the greater amount of large base-paired structure is not related to an increased guanine-plus-cytosine content of PP7 RNA . With increased denaturing conditions, the central, closed structure of PP7 RNA is converted into an open loop . The central structures of all three phages include about 700 nucleotides . The relevance of these findings to the genetic maps of the coliphage RNAs is discussed.

J Med Chem, 1977 Oct, 20(10), 1277 - 82
Effect of colloidal association on the measured activity of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Tomlinson E et al.; The antibacterial activities of a homologous series (C8-C18) of alkylbenzyldimethylammonium cholorides (ABDAC) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been measured using both a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) procedure and a sterilization kinetics test carried out in deionized water . There was a log-linear relationship between activity measured by kinetics and carbon number . With MIC there was a log-linear relationship up to C14, when there was a turndown in activity . Consideration of the colloidal association of ABDAC in deionized water and in a simple salts growth media leads us to suggest that use of high concentrations of nutrient salts in MIC tests will lower the effective concentration of the surface active agents . This change may be responsible for the turndown in activity observed in MIC tests, and that in such circumstances the MIC test does not give a true reflection of the intrinsic activity of the compounds . Literature reports of parabolic relationships between ABDAC alkyl chain length and antimicrobial activity are reinterpreted on this basis.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Oct, 136(4), 555 - 61
Experimental studies on the pathogenesis of infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa: direct evidence for toxin production during Pseudomonas infection of burned skin tissues; Saelinger CB et al.; Direct evidence is presented for the production of an exotoxin by Pseudomonas aeruginosa multiplying at the burned site in an infected mouse . Pseudomonas toxin was assayed by measurement of its ability to catalyze the transfer of radioactivity from {14C}adenine-labeled nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to elongation factor 2 (adenosine diphosphate ribosylation activity) . This enzyme activity was found in saline extracts of burned infected skin but was not present in similar extracts of burned uninfected skin . It was detected in the serum of infected animals by 26 hr after infection . The level of active elongation factor 2 in the livers of infected mice was reduced significantly after infection . These data suggest that pseudomonas exotoxin, produced by bacteria multiplying at the burn site, enters the circulation and is disseminated to different organs where it acts by depletion of elongation factor 2 and thus causes a reduction in protein synthesis.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Sep, 136(3), 327 - 35
Experimental endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . II . Therapy with carbenicillin and gentamicin; Archer G et al.; Rabbits with left-sided endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated with a high dose (7.5 mg/kg) of gentamicin for six days, a low dose (5 mg/kg) of gentamicin for six days or two weeks, carbenicillin (400 mg/kg) for six days or two weeks, or a combination of the lower dose of gentamicin and carbenicillin (400 mg/kg) for six days or two weeks . Sterilization of cardiac vegetations was accomplished more effectively in rabbits given the higher dose of gentamicin for six days (44% with sterilized vegetations) or combination therapy for 14 days (64%) than in rabbits given the lower dose of gentamicin or carbenicillin alone for two weeks (23.5% and none, respectively) . Combination therapy for two weeks prevented relapse in all of six treated rabbits that were followed after treatment; in contrast, all four animals treated with carbenicillin and four of six animals treated with the lower dose of gentamicin relapsed after two weeks of treatment . Levels of creatinine in serum became elevated in four of nine rabbits that received gentamicin along for two weeks . Therapeutic success was associated with a synergistic antibiotic combination, a peak bactericidal titer in serum of greater than or equal to 1:16, and a high level of gentamicin in serum.

Am J Med Sci, 1977 Sep-Oct, 274(2), 179 - 88
A comparative trial of sisomicin therapy by intermittent versus continuous infusion; Feld R et al.; One hundred and thirty-nine febrile episodes in 120 patients were treated with sisomicin after a combination of carbenicillin and a cephalosporin antibiotic had failed . These patients were randomized to receive sisomicin either by continuous or by intermittent infusion . The response rate for patients treated with sisomicin was 61 percent by continuous infusion and 46 percent by intermittent infusion, which was not statistically significant . Pneumonia, septicemia, and soft tissue infections were the most frequent infections . Most (96 percent) of the identified pathogens were gram-negative bacilli with the most frequent being Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The response rate was higher in those patients whose neutrophil count increased or remained the same while on therapy . The worst response was obtained if there was a decrease in the neutrophil count during therapy . The major toxicity of sisomicin was found to be azotemia and occurred in 17 percent of episodes treated by continuous infusion and in 21 percent treated by intermittent infusion . Hearing loss in the high frequency range occurred in five patients . Sisomicin is effective in the treatment of gram negative infections in neutropenic cancer patients.

Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Xue Za Zhi, 1977 Sep, 10(3), 60 - 6
Pyocyanine production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Ding MJ et al.; Dextrose enhanced the growth of P . aeruginosa but suppressed the biosynthesis of pyocyanine . The preformed pigment could be released from dead cells . Pigmentation was not correlated directly with number of viable organisms in the culture . High concentration of maltose likewise inhibited pyocyanine production . Maltose contained in medium used for pyocyanine production by P . aeruginosa should be kept in low concentration or omitted.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Sep, 239(1), 59 - 61
Conjugation in lysogenic, multiple-drug resistant, nosocomial strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing a hemolytic toxin; Hust'avova H et al.; From incubators and children in a premature-born unit, a number of red-pigmented Ps . aeruginosa strains, resistant to kanamycin, streptomycin and lividomycin and producing haemolytic toxin II, were isolated and investigated for transfer of resistance in mixed cultures . Streptomycin, kanamycin and lividomycin resistance was co-transferred, from some strains, together with the ability of toxin production . Transfer ability was also co-transferred which might have genetic as well as epidemiological significance . Strains do produce "Autoplaques" and transferability of this property as well as of lysogeny is under investition.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1977 Sep, 165(1), 102 - 12
Factors influencing the assessment of the pseudomonacidal activity of disinfectants by a quantitative suspension test . I . Influence of the growth conditions of the test organism; Reybrouck G; A matter of special concern in disinfectant testing is the preparation of the bacterial suspension that shall be exposed to the action of the disinfectant . In the present paper attention is drawn to three details of the testing method being determinative for the resistivity of the test organism and for the degree of standardization of the test results . - In the first place the influence of the nutrient medium used in the cultivation of the test organism has been investigated . Sixteen culture media (Table 1) have been compared . The resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to phenol depends on the formulation of the preparatory medium: significantly more bacteria survive if the test organism is grown on the nutrient agar following the German pharmacopoeia (Table 2) . Further the author has investigated the effect of the temperature and the length of the initial culture incubation period (Tables 3 and 4) . Here also the differences among temperatures (37, 32 and 22 degrees C) or incubation periods (48, 24 and 18 h) are statistically significant . The highest numbers of survivors are found when the initial culture is incubated at 37 degrees C and for 48 h . Whereas the resistance of the test culture is determined by these three factors, the variability of the test results is not . The coefficients of variation calculated for the different initial culture media, the three incubation temperatures or the three incubation periods show no differences among these test conditions.

J Med Chem, 1977 Sep, 20(9), 1164 - 9
Synthesis and biological activity of some broad-spectrum N-acylphenyglycine cephalosporins; DeMarinis RM et al.; The synthesis and the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of a series of N-acylated phenylglycine cephalosporins are described . These compounds exhibit activity against a broad spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria including some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterial species normally insensitive to the cephalosporin antibiotics . The cephalosporins were prepared by acylation of cephaloglycin or its 3-tetrazolylthiomethyl analogue . In several cases, the acylations produced mixtures of diastereomeric cephalosporins, the components of which, when separated, showed different levels of antibiotic activity . Optimum activity was obtained when the acyl moiety on the phenylglycine nitrogen contained an oxygen atom centrally located between the amide carbonyl and a carboxyl substituent, preferably in a three- or five-membered ring . Replacement of acetoxymethyl by (1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)thiomethyl at the 3 position resulted in overall improvement in activity both in vitro and in vivo . Against a group of P . aeruginosa strains, the best compounds of this series showed activity on the order of carbenicillin.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1977 Sep, 84(9), 360 - 2
{Transgenosis with participation of plasmid RP1; indications of the presence of a "composit plasmid" in an interspecies hybrid of Escherichia coli}; Fil'kova EV et al.; One of the transconjugants (1-7) obtained by the authors earlier in the conjugation of Escherichia coli J-62 with Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1822, besides the plasmic RP1 has acquired the ability to grow without proline and tryptophan . The detailed analysis has shown that in the conjugation of the transconjugant 1-7 with different strains of E . coli the plasmic RP1 and chromosomal genes were transmitted together, but in transduction--by means of bacteriophage P1, independently of each other . The fertility was found only in the transductants carrying the plasmid RP1 . This suggests that in the intergeneric conjugations the transmission of chromosomal genes may occur without any firm link with the plasmid (as in the case of "aggregated plasmids") . In E . coli cells these chromosomal fragments of Ps . aeruginosa apparently formed small nontransmissible replicons.

Can J Biochem, 1977 Sep, 55(9), 975 - 81
Mannose-binding hemagglutinins in extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Gilboa-Garber N et al.; Mannose-binding hemagglutinins were found in the extracts of a pyocyanin-forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which contain galactose-specific hemagglutinins . They were purified simultaneously with the latter proteins by heating to 70 degrees C, precipitating with ammonium sulfate, application to a Sepharose 4B column, and elution from it by 0.05 M mannose . The mannose-specific hemagglutinins were shown to be similar to the galactophilic ones in (a) being glycoproteins of very low molecular weight (about 11 000 by SDS gel electrophoresis), (b) their tendency to aggregate, and (c) their ability to effect stronger agglutination of erythrocytes treated with papain than of untreated ones . They were found to resemble them also in their reaction with simple sugars and interactions with divalent cations, which are essential for their activity . In these properties, as well as in their relative resistance to heat and to proteolytic enzymes, these two types of bacterial hemagglutinins are like most of the plant, contrasted with the animal, hemagglutinins . The reactions with mannose and mannose-bearing compounds (yeast mannan, horseradish peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), and serum globulins), which are not shared with the galactophilic Pseudomonas hemagglutinins, indicate a relationship of the mannose-binding protein of Pseudomonas to the plant lectin concanavalin A . The mannose-binding hemagglutinins do not exhibit identical cell-agglutinating spectra owing to difference in profiles of sugar specificity and relative affinity to mannose derivatives compared with free mannose.

Pediatrics, 1977 Sep, 60(3), 372 - 7
Amikacin therapy of exacerbations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in patients with cystic fibrosis; Lau WK et al.; Amikacin, a new semisynthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic with activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was used to treat 22 acute exacerbations of chronic pulmonary infections in 18 patients with cystic fibrosis . Patients ranged from 5 to 32 years of age and had mucoid P . aeruginosa isolated from sputum . The amikacin dose was usually 7.5 mg/kg every eight hours but was increased to 10 mg/kg and/or carbenicillin was added in selected cases depending on clinical course . Although P . aeruginosa was not eliminated from our patients' sputum except in two cases, there was a good clinical response in 19 of 22 courses . Significant improvement in chest x-ray films, spirometry, or arterial oxygen tension was documented in 11 of 17 courses . One instance of serum creatinine level elevation could not be attributed to this antibiotic . Two patients showed minimal (15 dB) unilateral high-frequency hearing loss on serial audiograms . Activity against many gentamicin-resistant strains and high blood levels are among the attractive properties of amikacin . Amikacin is clinically effective in treating Pseudomonas-associated pulmonary infections complicating cystic fibrosis.

J Virol, 1977 Sep, 23(3), 461 - 6
Identification of the cell wall receptor for bacteriophage E79 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO; Jarrell K et al.; Bacteriophage E79 was shown to interact with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO . LPS isolated from an E79-sensitive, smooth strain inactivated the phage, exhibiting a Phl50 value (concentration of LPS that caused a 50% decrease in the titer of phage during 1 h of incubation at 37 degrees C) of 0.04 microgram/ml, whereas the LPS isolated from a rough mutant derived from the wild type showed no neutralizing activity towards E79 . EDTA and sodium deoxycholate were demonstrated to abolish the neutralizing capacity of the smooth LPS . One E79 receptor site was shown to be equivalent to 10(-16) g of LPS.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Sep, 131(3), 765 - 9
Inhibition and facilitation of transfer among Pseudomonas aeruginos R plasmids; Sagai H et al.; Esamining 12 plasmids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we found two types of interaction in their transfer (inhibition and facilitation), using donor cells carrying two compatible plasmids . (i) Ten plasmids representing incompatibility groups P-1, P-2, P-5, P-6, and P-7 were all transmissible at a high frequency, 10-2 to 10-1, except for one with a lower frequency of about 10-3 . The transfer of P-5 plasmids was inhibited by P-2 plasmids reciprocally or unilaterally, and the unilateral transfer inhibition was observed in other combinations between plasmids belonging to groups P-1, P-2, P-6, and P-7 . It was characteristic of Pseudomonas plasmids that most plasmids with high transferability inhibited the transfer of other coexisting plasmids without distinct inhibition of their own transfer . (ii) Two plasmids, Rms149 of P-8 group and Rlb679, which was not classified, were transmissible at an exceptionally low frequency of 10-7 to 10-6, but their transfer was facilitated by plasmids with high transferability.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1977 Aug 26, 102(34), 1211 - 6
{Treatment of pseudomonas infection with the new ureidopenicillin, azlocillin (author's transl)}; Helm EB et al.; Azlocillin, in vitro four to eight times more effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than carbenicillin, was administered to 30 patients severely ill and having an additional pseudomonas infection . The drug was given at a dose of 4-6 g, in one case 8 g, per day, sometimes together with an aminoglycoside . Treatment was effective in 20, improvement occurred in five and failure only in four . In one instance the effect of the drug could not be evaluated . Results were particularly striking in septicaemia and necrotising external otitis . Pulmonary and wound infections in patients with circulatory disturbances did not respond so well . There were no serious side effects . The drug should not as yet be used at too high a dosage.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Aug 25, 499(1), 111 - 8
Purine degradation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas testosteroni; Bongaerts GP et al.; 1 . Adenine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and guanine are broken down in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas testosteroni to allantoin by the concerted action of the enzymes adenine deaminase, guanine deaminase, NAD+-dependent xanthine dehydrogenase and uricase . 2 . Uric acid is broken down by an unstable, membrane-bound uricase with an unusually low pH optimum . 3 . In both strains adenine inhibits growth and xanthine dehydrogenase . A second type of inhibition is manifest only in Ps . testosteroni and concerns the regulation of the biosynthesis of amino acids of the aspartate family . Enzymic studies showed that in this strain aspartate kinase is inhibited by AMP.

Experientia, 1977 Aug 15, 33(8), 1002 - 3
Immunochemical studies on acetylornithine 5-aminotransferase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Voellmy R et al.; Mouse antibodies with specificity towards acetylornithine 5-aminotransferase (ACOAT) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used to study the structural similarities of several isofunctional enzymes from different sources . With the antibody directed against ACOAT, the amounts of enzyme present in cells grown under different conditions were determined . These experiments established that the enzyme is induced by arginine and is subject to repression by carbon sources.

Experientia, 1977 Aug 15, 33(8), 1000 - 2
Immunological studies on the key enzyme of arginine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Utzinger R; A method to manufacture specific antisera with a minute amount of prue enzyme is presented . The influence of antibodies on activity and inhibition of an allosterically regulated enzyme was studied.

Ann Intern Med, 1977 Aug, 87(2), 188 - 91
Cystic fibrosis diagnosed after age 13 . Twenty-five teenage and adult patients including three asymptomatic men; Stern RC et al.; Cystic fibrosis was diagnosed after age 13 in 25 patients . All had an elevated sweat chloride and either a sibling with cystic fibrosis or typical pulmonary infection or digestive symptoms caused by exocrine pancreatic deficiency . Fourteen had long-standing pulmonary or digestive symptoms . In contrast, four of eight patients whose symptoms began after age 13 presented with biliary cirrhosis . Three male patients were asymptomatic at diagnosis . Opacification of all paranasal sinuses was found in all patients examined radiologically . At diagnosis, pulmonary-function testing showed obstructive changes in 19 patients and sputum cultures showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 15 patients . Delayed menarche in five of seven female patients and infertility in the asymptomatic male patient (two of whom were found to have aspermia) could have led to earlier diagnosis . Teenagers and young adults with long-standing pulmonary or digestive symptoms, unexplained cirrhosis, aspermia, or a sibling with cystic fibrosis should be sweat-tested by pilocarpine iontophoresis.

Arch Intern Med, 1977 Aug, 137(8), 1036 - 40
Sternoarticualr pyoarthrosis due to gram-negative bacilli . Report of eight cases; Bayer AS et al.; Of eight patients with Gram-negative bacillary sternoarticular pyoarthrosis, seven were long-term intravenous heroin abusers . Clinical onset was insidious and a long delay (one month or more) in seeking hospitalization was usually noted . Anterior chest discomfort and painful, restricted homolateral shoulder motion were the chief complaints . Fever and monoarticular arthritis were universally present, Open synovial biopsy examination was frequently required for etiologic diagnosis . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common pathogen isolated . Roentgenographic evidence of associated osteomyelitis was usually seen, but tomography was often necessary to delineate this lesion . Intraoperatively, associated osteomyelitis of the clavicular head and/or sternum was present in all eight cases and a perisynovial and/or retrosternal abscess was found in five patients . Early surgical exploration and prolonged antimicrobial therapy yielded excellent results.

Aust J Biol Sci, 1977 Aug, 30(4), 345 - 55
Apparent fusion of the TOL plasmid with the R91 drug resistance plasmid in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; White GP et al.; The TOL catabolic plasmid was shown to be compatible with the R91 drug resistance plasmid . However, the TOL plasmid was extremely unstable in mutant PA03 of P . aeruginosa . By selecting for stabilization of the TOL plasmid in PA03 harbouring R91, it was possible to isolate a strain in which markers from both R91 and TOL appeared to exist in a single recombinant plasmid . This plasmid, pND3, encoded resistance to carbenicillin, was able to transfer at the same frequency as the R91 plasmid and encoded the ability to grow on m-toluate, p-toluate, m-xylene, p-xylene and toluene . In addition, it was shown to be incompatible with the NAH catabolic plasmid and it could be transferred by transduction . The TOL plasmid could stabilize in PA03 harbouring R91 without fusion with R91, and could stabilize in PA03 in the absence of R91 . PA03 harbouring either the recombinant plasmid or the stable TOL plasmid in the absence of R91 could promote bacterial chromosome transfer between mutant derivatives of P . aeruginosa strain PA0.

J Clin Pathol, 1977 Aug, 30(8), 738 - 44
Aminoglycoside cross-resistance patterns of gentamicin-resistant bacteria; Houang ET et al.; Ten strains each of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were habituated to gentamicin by serial passage in antibiotic containing medium . Complete cross-resistance to streptomycin, neomycin, kanamycin, and tobramycin in a linear proportional fashion was demonstrated at all stages of habituation . Most strains of Staph . aureus and Ps . aeruginosa showed a greater increase in resistance to gentamicin than to the other three aminoglycosides . E . coli required more transfers to reach the same degree of resistance than did the other two species . Reversion to greater susceptibility to gentamicin took place after serial passage on antibiotic-free media . 'Wild' gentamicin-resistant strains showed no such proportionality of resistance to kanamycin, neomycin, or streptomycin . But many of these strains showed a proportional increase in resistance to tobramycin.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1977 Aug, 47(4), 249 - 54
Serotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients with cystic fibrosis of the pancreas; Hirao Y et al.; Serotyping of 30 mucoid strains isolated from cystic fibrosis patients was carried out by slide agglutination tests with both live and heat-killed cells and by tube agglutination test with heat-killed cells . Comparison of the results obtained by these 2 methods revealed that tube agglutination with heat-killed cells was the superior method . More than half the strains were found to be Homma's serotype 15 (group M in the new schema {2}) . Slide agglutination with live cells did not give clear results: some strains showed occasionally positive or negative agglutinations against the same serotype serum . Changes in serotypes (groups in the new schema {2}) were found in some strains, although the number was very small.

J Hyg (Lond), 1977 Aug, 79(1), 103 - 6
Water beds - a potential source of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Elhag KM et al.; Water beds in use in this hospital were found to be contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The addition of sodium hypochlorite, giving a final concentration of 200 parts/10(6) available chlorine, was found to be effective in preventing microbial contamination over a 6-month study period.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Aug, 131(2), 526 - 32
Transfer of chromosomal genes mediated by plasmid r68.45 in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides; Sistrom WR; Plasmid R68.45 was transferred from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO25 to the photosynthetic species Rhodopseudomonas gelatinosa and Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides by selection for resistance to antibiotics . R . sphaeroides strains carrying the plasmid could transfer the plasmid and also chromosomal genes to other strains of R . sphaeroides.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Aug, 136 Suppl, S167 - 73
Antibody to cell wall glycolipid of Gram-negative bacteria: induction of immunity to bacteremia and endotoxemia; Braude AI et al.; Antiserum to the core glycolipid of gram-negative bacteria was prepared by immunization of rabbits with vaccine composed of killed cells of the uridine diphosphate galactose-deficient mutant (J5) of Escherichia coli O:111 . Antiserum to J5 not only prevented death of animals from endotoxin but also prevented the local and generalized Shwartzman reactions . Antiserum to endotoxin also prevented renal cortical necrosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation during the evolution of the generalized Shwartzman reaction . Antiserum to be J5 mutant was successful in the treatment of overwhelming bacteremia produced by other gram-negative bacteria; in addition to bacteremia cause by coliform organism, antiserum to J5 was dramatically effective in treatment of bacteremia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . One injection of rabbit antiserum to J5 improved the survival rate from 15% in controls to 59% in treated animals (P less than 0.002) . Active immunization with J5 vaccine was even more effective against pseudomonas bacteremia: such immunization improved the survival rate from 13% in controls to 92% in vaccinated rabbits . Since an antiserum effective against the J5 mutant of E . coli can be prepared safely in human subjects, such immunotherapy should be considered for patients with gram-negative bacteremia.

Can J Biochem, 1977 Aug, 55(8), 796 - 803
The oxidation of ferrocytochrome c in nonbinding buffer; Peterman BF et al.; The apparent equilibrium constant and rate of oxidation was investigated for the reaction of cytochrome c with iron hexacyanide . It was found that if horse heart ferricytochrome c was exposed to ferricyanide (to oxidize traces of reduced protein) the cytochrome subsequently, even after extensive dialysis, had an apparent equilibrium constant different from that of electrodialyzed protein . The effect of ferricyanide ion apparently cannot be removed by ordinary dialysis . The ionic strength dependence of the apparent equilibrium constant and bimolecular oxidation rate constant was measured in the range 1--200 mM using Tris--cacodylate or potassium phosphate buffers at pH 7.0, and electrodialyzed horse heart cytochrome c . The oxidation reaction proceeded very rapidly . Extrapolated to zero ionic strength, kox (approximately 9 X 10(9) M-1 S-1) was about 7% of that calculated for a diffusion-limited reaction . Since the exposed heme edge occupies only the order of 3% of the surface area, electron transfer apparently results at nearly every collision with the active-site region . An effective charge of + 7.8 units was estimated for the oxidation reaction . The rate of oxidation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa c551 was much slower (kox at mu = 0 was the order of 6 X 10(3)), and was not consistent with diffusion-limited kinetics.

Arch Microbiol, 1977 Jul 26, 114(1), 51 - 4
The effect of inorganic phosphate on cyanogenesis by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Meganathan R et al.; The biosynthesis of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) by a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is found to be significantly influenced by inorganic phosphate . Optimum HCN production occurs when the phosphate concentration is between 1 and 10 mM . Above and below this concentration the amount of HCN produced decreases sharply and at 0.1 and 100 mM phosphate low HCN production occurs . If a culture growing at 0.1 mM phosphate and producing low HCN is shifted to 10 mM phosphate, HCN biosynthesis resumes . Experiments with chloramphenicol indicate that de novo-protein synthesis is required for the process.

Med J Aust, 1977 Jul 23, 2(4), 116 - 9
Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Australian hospitals having R-plasmid determined antibiotic resistance; Dean HF et al.; Six hundred and fifty hospital isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Australian sources have been examined for high-level resistance to a number of antibiotics . Fifty-four strains were resistant to one or more of the antibiotics, and four of these strains carried as R-plasmid conferring resistance to streptomycin, tetracycline and sulphanilamide, and belonging to incompatibility group P-2 . Possible reasons for the low incidence of R-plasmids in P . aeruginosa from Australian sources are discussed.

Fortschr Med, 1977 Jul 7, 95(25), 1635 - 40
{Central hemodynamics and left ventricle contractility in experimental septicemia}; Gay B; A well-defined septicaemia in dogs was induced using different initiating causes, such as abscess of thigh and peritonitis . The determination of the septicaemia was based upon both quantitative (number of bacteria) and qualitative criteria (staphylococcus aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa) . The hemodynamic changes lead to the classification of three time intervals, which occur constantly . There are correlations between the general infection and the reaction of blood circulation . There is no evidence of specific types of shock corresponding to the type of bacteria . Correlations exist between the moment when endotoxin is present and the occurrence of low-cardiac-output shock-syndrome . A disturbance of myocardial contractility develops in all types of shock in septicaemia . The decrease of contractility correlates in time with the first duration of the presence of the endotoxin . Several causes of the negative inotropic effects are discussed . Some of these are possible cardiotoxic effects of endotoxin shock mediators, lactate acidosis, and the decrease of coronary perfusion pressure.

Mol Gen Genet, 1977 Jul 7, 154(1), 7 - 22
The genetic organization of arginine biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Haas D et al.; Six loci coding for arginine biosynthetic enzymes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO were identified by enzyme assay: argA (N-acetylglutamate synthase), argB (N-acetylglutamate 5-phosphotransferase), argC (N-acetylglutamate 5-semialdehyde dehydrogenase), argF (anabolic ornithine carbamoyl-transferase), argG (argininosuccinate synthetase), and argH (argininosuccinase) . One-step mutants which had a requirement for arginine and uracil were defective in carbamoylphosphate synthase, specified by a locus designated car . To map these mutations we used the sex factor FP2 in an improved interrupted mating technique as well as the generalized transducing phages F116L and G101 . We confirmed earlier studies, and found no clustering of arg and car loci . However, argA, argH, and argB were mapped on a short chromosome segment (approx . 3 min long), and argF and argG were cotransducible, but not contiguous . N-Acetylglutamate synthase, the enzyme which replenishes the cycle of acetylated intermediates in ornithine synthesis of Pseudomonas, appears to be essential for arginine synthesis since argA mutants showed no growth on unsupplemented minimal medium.

Jikken Dobutsu, 1977 Jul, 26(3), 259 - 62
Control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in laboratory mice with gentamicin; Urano T et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in laboratory mice was successfully eradicated by oral treatment of gentamicin, 1.0 g per liter of drinking water for 3 days.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1977 Jul, 128B(1), 61 - 71
{An acellular vaccine from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . II . -- Estimate of immuneserum protective effect by measure of bacterial clearance (author's transl)}; Daoulas-Le Bourdelles F et al.; The protective antibodies obtained in mice with an acellular vaccine P2 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been titered in vivo by a bacterial clearance technique . The kinetics of the bacterial disappearance from the circulating blood were compared in mice which had been vaccinated or had received injection of specific serum, and in normal mice . The following results were obtained; (a) the disappearance of the bacteria from the blood is quicker in immunized animals; (b) the rate of bacteria in the blood depends on doses of injected serum; (c) the titers of protective antibodies expressed by 99% clearance dose is directly in relation with the vaccinating dose.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Jul, 238(3), 402 - 12
{Investigations on the antimicrobial activity of amin-aldehydecondensates . 1 . (Communication:) Symmetrically substituted animals of formaldehyde (author's transl)}; Rehn D et al.; In the scope of our research about the antimicrobial activity of aldehyde-amin-condenates a number of partly new aminals was synthesized by reaction of formaldehyde with various 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, talbe 4) and the suspension and area disinfecting test following the method of the DGHM (tables 5 and 6) . Standardized formulations were developed to eliminate the different solubility effects of the various aminals . These formulations do not influence the test results . It may be shown, that aminals have both germistatic activity mainly versus Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium glaucum and germicidal activity especially versus Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporium gypseum.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1977 Jul, 3 Suppl B, 29 - 39
In vitro studies with mecillinam on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Richmond MH; The ability of a beta-lactam antibiotic to inhibit the growth of Gram-negative bacteria depends on three main properties: ting sites in the bacterial cell; the ability to penetrate through the outer layers of the bacterial envelope to these sites; and the ability to resist destruction by beta-lactamases that may be encountered on the way to the target . This article describes the properties of mecillinam with respect to the last two of these properties . Although able to hydrolyse mecillinam under some conditions, the beta-lactamases present in many Gram-negative species are unlikely to be very effective at protecting the bacteria in vivo because of their relatively low affinity for this penicillin and the good penetrative properties of the antibiotic.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1977 Jul-Aug, 86(4 Pt 1), 417 - 28
Malignant external otitis: further considerations; Chandler JR; Malignant external otitis is an infection which begins in the external auditory canal . It is uniformly caused by the Gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa organism and mainly affects elderly diabetics . It spreads to the soft tissues beneath the temporal bone and, if not properly treated leads to facial nerve palsy, mastoiditis, sepsis, osteomyelitis of the base of the skull, sigmoid sinus thrombosis, multiple cranial nerve palsies and death . Experience with 72 patients in varying stages of the disease is summarized . Stressed are the diagnostic criteria of nonresponsiveness to the usual methods of treatment, continued suppuration, and the continuing reformation of granulation tissue in the floor of the external auditory canal . Medical treatment is recommended with hospitalization and intravenous carbenicillin and gentamicin . Minor surgical debridement is helpful . All patients should be treated medically for as long as improvement continues, reserving surgical intervention only in the event a plateau is reached or symptoms and signs become worse under treatment . With or without a major surgical procedure, it is imperative to continue treatment for at least seven days after apparent cure in order to avoid recurrent disease possibly at a site distant from the canal.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Jul, 136(1), 112 - 6
Detection of IgG antibodies to type-specific Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharides by solid-phase radioimmunoassay; Kohler R et al.; Previous studies have suggested that IgG serotype-specific antibodies are protective against infections with pseudomonas aeruginosa . In the present study, type-specific IgG antibodies to P . aeruginosa were detected by solid-phase radioimmunoassay in sera from 15 volunteers before and after vaccination with lipopolysaccharides from P . aeruginosa and from four patients with endocarditis due to P . aeruginosa . Significant type-specific increases in IgG antibody occurred after both vaccination and infection . The correlation coefficients comparing net counts per minute by solid-phase radioimmunoassay with hemagglutination titers in the 15 vaccinees were 0.940, 0.874, 0.792, 0.903, 0.882, 0.869, and 0.704 for serotypes 1--7, respectively.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jul, 6(1), 58 - 61
Serum antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin measured by a passive hemagglutination assay; Pollack M et al.; A passive hemagglutination (PHA) assay for antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin is described which utilizes chromic chloride-treated ovine erythrocytes coated with purified toxin . PHA antitoxin titers correlated well with those obtained by a cytotoxicity neutralization assay (r = 0.91, P less than 0.001), whereas the PHA assay was four to eight times as sensitive . The mean serum PHA titer of 16 patients convalescing from recent pseudomonas infections (log2 = 9.4 +/- 3.9) was significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than that of 17 healthy controls (2,7 +/- 2.6), and fourfold or greater rises were demonstrated in 5 of 7 patients examined sequentially . The lower levels of PHA antibody in sera from 11 of 17 controls suggested the acquisition of antitoxin secondary to asymptomatic infection.

Arch Dermatol, 1977 Jul, 113(7), 952 - 3
Pseudomonal balanitis; Petrozzi JW et al.; Significant ecologic changes in the cutaneous flora during treatment may present a challenge both diagnostically and therapeutically . The development of an erosive balanitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa presented an example of such a microbiologic shift in the case reported . The eruption developed during treatment with topical antibacterial, antifungal, and corticosteroid agents . The sudden exacerbation of any balanitis while under treatment should alert the physician to the possibility of superinfection.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Jul, 131(1), 259 - 69
Composition and molecular weight of pili purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa K; Frost LS et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain K (PAK) bears polar pili that promote infection by at least six bacteriophages . Moreover, a recently isolated mutant of strain K (PAK/2PfS) is many times more piliated than the wild-type strain and facilitates the preparation of large amounts of pure pili for biochemical studies . The present investigation was carried out to establish the structural relatedness of PAK and PAK/2PfS pili and to determine their biochemical composition . A purfication procedure is described for PAK and PAK/2PfS pili that yields about 8 mg of pure pili per 100 g (wet weight) of PAK/2PfS cells and 0.8 mg of pure pili per 100 g (wet weight) of PAK cells . PAK and PAK/2PfS pili were found to be free from phosphate, carbohydrate, and lipid and to contain a single polypeptide subunit of 17,800 daltons . Isopycnic centrifugation studies revealed that PAK and PAK(2PfS pili have the same buoyant density in sucrose (1.221) and CsC1 (1.295) . Both types of pili banded at pH 3.9 when subjected to isoelectric focusing . Amino acid analyses showed that PAK and PAK/2PfS pili have identical amino acid compositions, whereas microimmunodiffusion studies revealed that the two types of pili are immunologically indistinguishable . It was concluded that PAK and PAK/2PfS pili are identical and that the mutation responsible for producing the multipiliated state in PAK/2PfS is probably located outside the structural gene for PAK pili.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Jul 1, 77(1), 53 - 60
Nuclear-magnetic-resonance studies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551; Moore GR et al.; Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to study Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 . Assignments of resonances to specific residues have been made . A low-resolution X-ray structure was used to aid assignments . A structural comparison was made between P . aeruginosa cytochrome c-551 and mammalian cytochrome c, based on comparisons of NMR data.

Postgrad Med J, 1977 Jun, 53(620), 334 - 7
Successful treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicaemia and meningitis with neutropenia--the presenting feature of hypogammaglobulinaemia; Johnston PG et al.; A neutropenic child of 20 months suffered generalized infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, involving the bloodstream and the meninges . This was successfully treated with intravenous and intrathecal antibiotics and granulocyte transfusions before granulopoiesis recovered spontaneously . No immunoglobulin replacement was given during the acute episode, as the diagnosis of X-linked hypogammaglobulinaemia was made subsequently.

Postgrad Med J, 1977 Jun, 53(620), 347 - 8
Vertebral osteomyelitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Denham MJ et al.; A case of vertebral osteomyelitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa is described and the problems of diagnosis and treatment discussed.

Carbohydr Res, 1977 Jun, 56(1), 129 - 38
Characterization of 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose as a constituent of the lipopolysaccharide antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotype 4; Horton D et al.; The title lipopolysaccharide was freed from its lipid A component by mild, acid hydrolysis, to give a polysaccharide fraction that was subsequently hydrolyzed completely to afford a mixture of neutral sugars and amino sugars . The amino sugars were separated, and identified as 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galactose, 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-galactose as a 2:1 mixture of the D and L enantiomers, and 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose . A reference sample of 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose was synthesized by an improved preparative route . Among the lipopolysaccharide antigens of the seven recognized immunotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 2-amino-2,6-dideoxyglucose is also characterized as a constituent of two others, types 3 and 5.

Am J Physiol, 1977 Jun, 232(6), H682 - 9
Cardiorespiratory effects of Pseudomonas and E . coli endotoxins in the awake dog; Miller TH et al.; A comparison of the cardiovascular and respiratory effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli endotoxins was investigated in the unanesthetized dog . Animals were anesthetized with halothane for placement of cardiovascular catheters and then allowed to awaken prior to collection of control data and experimentation . One group of 12 animals was given E . coli endotoxin (5 mg/kg), another group of 13 received Pseudomonas endotoxin (8 mg/kg) . Variables were collected for 6 h after endotoxin injection . A third group of 13 animals serving as sham animals received no endotoxin . When major cardiovascular variables, such as arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, right atrial pressure, and left ventricular pressure and dP/dt were monitored, it was seen that the basic patterns of response to endotoxins were quite similar, with differences between groups being primarily quantitative . Analysis of respiratory data showed that animals receiving Pseudomonas developed an earlier respiratory response . Nevertheless, blood gas data were similar in the two groups.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 Jun, 23(6), 823 - 6
Experimental pulmonary infection of mice by tracheal intubation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: the use of antineoplastic agents to overcome natural resistance; Schook LB et al.; Tracheal intubation of viable Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 19660 into the lungs of mice had no significant effect on the animals even with administration of organisms as high as 5.0 X 10(9) CFU . Animals treated with a single injection of an antineoplastic drug were, however, susceptible to bacterial challenge into the lungs . LD50 values of 4.1 X 10(7), 4.8 X 10(7), and 1.0 X 10(8) CFU were obtained when animals were simultaneously infected and treated with methotrexate, vincristine sulfate, or cytosine arabinoside, respectively.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 Jun, 23(6), 798 - 810
The orthonitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside hydrolase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0: 11 serotypes) is a superficial enzyme; Poindron P et al.; About 95% fo the 0: 11 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was able to hydrolyze orthonitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG), but was unable to use lactose . The ONPG-hydrolyzing enzyme was located essentially in the periplasm, as seen by biochemical and ultrastructural studies.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 Jun, 23(6), 653 - 8
The nature of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO bacteriophage receptors; Kropinski AM et al.; Receptors for phages specific to Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO were studied . Phages 16, 44, 109, F8, and PBI are lipopolysaccharide (LPS) specific as shown by neutralization tests . The PhI50's of the LPS, adsorption rate constants with strain PAO and the plaque morphologies of these five phages were quite similar . Phages 1214 and 7 also appear to be LPS-specific on the basis of host-range studies . Phage 73 is pilus-specific, while phages 21 and 68 fall into a group which does not attach to pili, flagella, or LPS . A theoretical approach to the interpretation of phage-cell interactions is presented.

Am J Surg, 1977 Jun, 133(6), 710 - 2
Cell-mediated immune responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Munster AM et al.; Of six healthy laboratory workers with no history of illness caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, four exhibited positive skin responses at 24 hours, strong inhibition of leukocyte migration, and marked stimulation of blastogenesis of peripheral lymphocytes when exposed to a "cocktail" of three phenol-killed strains of P aeruginosa . There was no correlation between the extent of these responses with serum hemagglutinin titers . It is postulated that cell-mediated immunity against P aeruginosa may have a biologic role in host defense.

J Hyg (Lond), 1977 Jun, 78(3), 395 - 409
Acute otitis externa in divers working in the North Sea: a microbiological survey of seven saturation dives; Alcock SR; Saturation diving is an important and widely used technique in the Offshore Oil Industry . During 1974-5 two saturation dives in the North Sea were terminated because of outbreaks of incapacitating otitis externa, and others were disrupted . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was consistently isolated from the ears of affected divers . Because complex work schedules were threatened seven subsequent dives were subjected to microbiological monitoring and control . Colonization of ear canal with P . aeruginosa or with other gram-negative bacilli occurred in 39 (67%) of the 58 divers studied, usually within 7 days of starting the dive . Data obtained by serotyping this isolations of P . aeruginosa suggested that a single infected diver may be the source of organisms which rapidly spread to his colleagues and throughout the living chambers, that the living chambers may constitute a reservoir of infection during and between dives, and that certain serotypes of P . aeruginosa are more likely than others to colonize the ear canal in the conditions of a saturation dive . The control measures used during the dives were only partially effective, but none of the divers suffered severe pain and all the dives were an operational success.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1977 Jun, 16(6), 488 - 97
Pseudomonas protease . Purification, partial characterization, and its effect on collagen, proteoglycan, and rabbit corneas; Kessler E et al.; The extracellular protease of a virulent strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography in two steps . SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme revealed a single band, and the enzyme was shown to be the major component of the bacterial filtrate . The protease was fully inhibited by Na2 EDTA, 1,10-orthophenanthroline, L-cysteine and Zn+2 ions but was insensitive to dissopropylphosphofluoridate . The elastase substrates orcein-elastin and acetyl-L-alanyl-L-alanyl-L-alamine-methyl ester were degraded by the enzyme . The protease activity toward soluble and insoluble collagen was found to be limited to the telopeptide region of the collagen molecule . With soluble collagen, conversion of the beta and gamma chains into monomeric alpha chains was observed . About 60% of the total proteoglycans and 1.5% of the total collagen were solubilized from rabbit corneas following incubation with the enzyme, and the solubilized products were nondialyzable . It was concluded that the purified protease has little or no collagenolytic activity and that dissolution of the cornea by Pseudomonas protease infection results essentially from the degradation of the protein backbone of the corneal proteoglycans.

Biochem J, 1977 Jun 1, 163(3), 629 - 32
The reduction of Pseudomonas cytochrome c551 oxidase by chromous ions; Barber D et al.; The reduction of cytochrome c551 oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Cr2+ ions was followed in the stopped-flow apparatus at a number of wavelengths . The c-haem reduction proceeded in a biphasic fashion with second-order rate constants of 2.6 X 10(5)M-1-S-1 and 4.8 X 10(4)M-1-S-1 at 25 degrees C, whereas the biphasic reduction of the d1-haem appeared to be independent of reductant concentration with rate constants of approx . 1.0S-1 and 0.25S-1 respectively . The kinetically determined difference spectra (reduced minus oxidized) for the c- and d1-haems are presented.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1977 Jun, 47(3), 195 - 201
Serological typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa--comparison of various antigenic schema; Homma JY et al.; Serotyping sera for both the agglutination (using IMSUT sera) and slide agglutination (using TIBS sera) were succesfully prepared using Homma's serotype strains . They were proved to be type specific and distinct . The two typing sera (IMSUT and TIBS) were used to determine the correspondence of major O-antigens among the different kinds of serotype schema which are used at present throughout the world . The serotype sera of Lanyi, Liu and Meitert were also used for the same purpose . The relationships among serotypes of the seven schemata were clarified as shown in tables in the text . Cross-reactions were found among several serotypes in each of several serotype schemata was suggested.

Infect Immun, 1977 Jun, 16(3), 832 - 41
Enzymatically active peptide from the adenosine diphosphate-ribosylating toxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Chung DW et al.; A nontoxic peptide (molecular weight, 26,000), which is active in catalyzing the adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation of elongation factor 2, has been isolated from the culture supernatant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 103 in stationary phase . Like fragment A from diphtheria toxin, the active peptide catalyzed the hydrolysis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as well as the ADP-ribosylation of elongation factor 2 and showed similarities to fragment A in specific activity, kinetic constants, pH optimum, and ionic sensitivity . These results provide strong evidence for a high degree of homology in the structures of their active sites . That the peptide is not identical to fragment A is shown by the fact that it was not neutralized by fragment A-specific antiserum and was different in amino acid composition and pH and thermal labilities . Although definitive evidence is lacking, there are data suggesting that this peptide is a proteolytic fragment from the ADP-ribosylating toxin (exotoxin A; molecular weight, 66,000) produced by the same strain of P . aeruginosa.

Am J Med, 1977 May, 62(5), 731 - 42
Bacteremia and fungemia complicating neoplastic disease . A study of 364 cases; Singer C et al.; During a 14 month period there were 364 episodes of bacteremia and fungemia at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center . The first nine months of the study were retrospective, and the next five prospective . In patients with leukemia or lymphoma (group 1), Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently isolated organisms . The mortality in this group was 40.5 per cent . In the patients with solid tumor (group 2), Esch . coli, Staph . aureus, Bacteroides sp . and Candida sp . were most frequent . Mortality was 27.8 per cent . The source of infection in both groups was often indeterminate . High mortality was associated with pulmonary and intraabdominal infection and with Ps . aeruginosa, K . pneumoniae or polymicrobic sepsis . Factors of prognostic significance were the causative microorganism, source of infection and shock . Although mortality was higher in patients with leukopenia than in those with normal leukocyte counts, the differences were not significant . The mortality in this series was low considering the severity of the underlying diseases and the immunosuppressed state of many of the patients . In a prospective, randomly controlled study, mortality was further diminished by infectious disease consultation at the time the positive blood culture was reported . Severe fungal superinfection, predominantly aspergillosis and candidiasis, was found in 52 per cent of the autopsy patients with leukemia or lymphoma (group 1), but in only 8 per cent of those with solid tumors (group 2).

JACEP, 1977 May, 6(5), 184 - 6
The use of silver-zinc-allantoin powder for the prehospital treatment of burns; Klippel AP et al.; We describe our experimental studies of a powder formulated to treat serious burn wounds on-the-scene . The wound powder comprises two parts silver-citro-allantoinate, two parts zinc allantoinate and 96 parts pure allantoin . The back skin of 62 rats was shaved and exposed to actively boiling water for ten seconds, resulting in third degree burns of 20% of the total body surface . Immediately, 1 ml of a culture containing 2 X 10(8) Pseudomonas aeruginosa was applied to the burn . The animals were isolated . Of the 30 control rats, six were powdered with allantoin only . Thirty-two rats were dusted with the silver-zinc-allantoin powder within 15 minutes of burning . Cultures were taken at 48 hour intervals . Eighty-seven percent of the control animals died an average of six days postburn . In the treated animals, the mortality was 15% . A mean of 27% of the applied silver (0.35 gm) became incorporated in the eschar . In all control rats, sepsis was detected under the eschar . In treated animals, bacterial concentration fell from an initial average of 5 X 10(4) at 4 hours postburn to 6 X 10(2) at 96 hours.

Ann Sclavo, 1977 May-Jun, 19(3), 437 - 45
{"In vitro" activity of gentamicin, sisomicin and tobramycin against "pseudomonas aeruginosa" strains from hospital sources (author's transl)}; Campello C et al.; The in vitro activity of two amynoglicosidic antibiotics, tobramycin and sisomicin, against 215 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical specimens during the years 1972-1975, was evaluated in comparison with that of gentamicin . Tobramycin showed a greater activity than sisomicin and gentamicin . At the concentration of 5 mu/ml tobramycin resulted inhibitory on 94% of strains and sisomicin and gentamicin on 78.6% and 49.8% of strains respectively . The susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to gentamicin decreased from 1972 to 1975, with an increasing of resistant strains of 23% . In an evaluation of possible cross-resistance of 14 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa highly resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 25 gamma/ml) to gentamicin, 13 showed a high degree of resistance also to sisomicin; on the other hand 7 strains highly resistant to gentamicin was sensitive to tobramycin at concentration less than or equal to 10 gamma/ml.

Rev Asoc Argent Microbiol, 1977 May-Aug, 9(2), 68 - 73
{Study of various constituents of a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Stefanini de Guzman AM et al.; Using a strain of Ps . aeruginosa (A.T.C.C . 10.145), several preparations were obtained: cytoplasm, cellular wall, extract with veronal buffer and carbohydrates . A morphologic and biochemical study of the bacterium was performed and the soluble fractions were analysed by electrophoresis in poliacrilamide gel with strains for proteins, carbohydrates and lipids . The results led the following conclusions: 1 . -Electrophoresis of cytoplasm in poliacrilamide gel made it possible to recognize 17 proteic, 9 carbohydrate and 3 lipid fractions . 2 . -Eight of the protein fractions were combined with carbohydrates and 9 were proteins . 3 . -The extract obtained with veronal buffer showed 12 protein, 7 carbohydrate and 4 lipid fractions . 4 . -The seven carbohydrate fractions were combined with proteins . 5 . -Five of the cytoplasm proteins fractions were not extracted with veronal buffer; two protein fractions extracted by veronal buffer were not from cytoplasm . 6 . -Heating the extract obtained with veronal buffer determined the loss of most of the fractions extracted probably due to denaturalizations of the proteins . 7 . -The heated extract obtained with veronal buffer showed diffuse bands coloured with protein, carbohydrate and lipid strains.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 May, 23(5), 633 - 7
Allantoinase and allantoicase synthesis in Pseudomonas aerguinosa; Rijnierse VF et al.; Allantoinase (allantoin amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.2.5.) and allanoicase (allantoate amidinohydrolase, EC 3.5.3.4) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are inducible enzymes, whose syntheses are enhanced by the presence of allantoin, allantoate, ureidoglycolate, N-carbamoyl-L-asparagine, N-carbamoyl-L-aspartate, hydantoate, and diureidomethane . For each compound a specific ratio between the activities of allantoinase and allantoicase was obtained . The synthesis of these enzymes is not coordinately controlled . N-Carbamoyl-L-aspartate, hydantoate, and diureidomethane are gratuitous inducers.

Transfusion, 1977 May-Jun, 17(3), 227 - 32
The opsonic activity of stored blood; McClellan MA et al.; Experiments were performed to measure the stability of opsonins during storage of whole blood collected in CPD solution and stored at 4 C . Three units were collected, and aliquots removed and recalcified on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 . Reconstituted serum was immediately frozen and stored at -70 C . The ability to opsonize Escherichia coli 075 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotype 1, both of which require activation and utilization of the alternative pathway of complement for opsonization, were performed simultaneously for each organism and for each unit . Results showed that there was a slight but insignificant reduction in opsonic strength during storage for up to 28 days . The results indicate that standard collection and storage conditions using CPD as the anticoagulant retains functional activity of the alternative pathway . C3 measured by radial immunodiffusion using antisera against the B antigenic determinant showed that C3 had not been converted during storage.

Carbohydr Res, 1977 May, 55, 35 - 47
Analytical characterization of lipopolysaccharide antigens from seven strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Horton D et al.; Lipopolysaccharide antigens from seven different serotype strains (antigen immunotypes Nos . 1-7 in the classification of Fisher et al.3) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been analyzed for neutral carbohydrate, amino sugars, lipid, protein, 3-deoxy-manno-octulosonic acid, and phosphorus . The individual amino sugars were determined for each antigen type; all contained 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose and -D-galactose, together with 2-amino-2,6-dideoxygalactose; the latter as isolated from the type 2 antigen was identified as the DL form . In addition, 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose was present in the types 3, 4, and 5 antigens . Mild, acid hydrolysis of the antigens gave the lipid A component containing all of the lipid and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose, together with lipid A-free polysaccharides that contained principally carbohydrate . The lipid A-free polysaccharides all contained L-rhamnose and D-glucose, together with 2-amino-2,6-dideoxygalactose in all except those from types 1, 5, and 7; that from type 6 also contained D-xylose.

Am J Med, 1977 May, 62(5), 672 - 6
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in a dialysis unit . 11 . Relationship to reuse of coils; Wagnild JP et al.; Blood for culture was obtained over a six week period from 17 patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis . Bacteremia was detected during 18 of 201 dialyses . Blood drawn during fifteen of these dialyses contained pseudomonas aeruginosa . Ten of the 17 patients (59 per cent) had a Pseudomonas bacteremia some time during the study . Only one patient was symptomatic . The frequency of positive cultures was related to reuse of coils . No cultures were positive until after the fifth use, but by the tenth use, 41 per cent of the dialyses were associated with bacteremia . All coils that were used repeatedly and 32 of 48 of those used only once, grew Ps . aeruginosa when filled with media and incubated . This suggests that the coils were inoculated during dialysis and that benzalkonium chloride, the sterilizing agent, was unable to eradicate this organism . With repeated uses, the number of residual bacteria in the coil became large enough to cause detectable bacteremia during dialysis.

Am J Med, 1977 May, 62(5), 667 - 71
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in a dialysis unit . 1 . Recognition of cases, epidemiologic studies and attempts at control; Uman SJ et al.; Infections commonly occur in patients undergoing dialysis and have been related to diminished host resistance of uremic patients, the arteriovenous fistulas and bacteriologic contamination of dialysis fluids . The occurrence of four cases of bacteremia due to Pseudomonas, three of which were type 7, and the presence of this serotype in the dialysis fluids suggested an important association between infection and growth of bacteria in the fluids . Attempts to reduce levels of bacteria in the dialysis fluid were unsuccessful using dialysate free of glucose in clinical trial, despite in vitro studies demonstrating poor growth of Pseudomonas in this medium . A filter placed with the recirculating system was only partially successful . The second paper of this series traces the portal of entry of bacteria from dialysate to the blood through reutilized coils.

J Bacteriol, 1977 May, 130(2), 826 - 31
Glycine metabolism by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: hydrogen cyanide biosynthesis; Castric PA; Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a synthetic medium is stimulated by the presence of glycine . Methionine enhances this stimulation but will not substitute for glycine as a stimulator of cyanogenesis . Threonine and phenylalanine are effective substitutes for glycine in the stimulation of HCN production . Glycine, threonine, and serine are good radioisotope precursors of HCN, but methionine and phenylalanine are not . Cell extracts of P . aeruginosa convert {14C}threonine to {14C}glycine . H14CN is produced with low dilution of label from either {1-14C}glycine or {2-14C}glycine, indicating a randomization of label either in the primary or secondary metabolism of glycine . When whole cells were fed {1,2-14C}glycine, cyanide and bicarbonate were the only radioactive extracellular products observed.

Can J Microbiol, 1977 May, 23(5), 583 - 8
Pyocin sensitivity of pseudomonas aeruginosa pretreated with antibiotics; Stevens GS et al.; Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of either polymyxin B, gentamicin, or carbenicillin were compared with untreated organisms for changes in sensitivity to pyocin . Pretreatment with polymyxin B or gentamicin resulted in a decreased sensitivity to pyocin, while carbenicllin pretreatment did not alter pyocin sensitivity.

J Bacteriol, 1977 May, 130(2), 943 - 5
Bacterial mutation affecting plasmid maintenance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Chang BJ et al.; A bacterial mutation, risA, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused growth inhibition at 43 degrees C of risA strains containing P2 plasmids . Incubation at 43 degrees C resulted in selection for clones that had lost P2 plasmids.

J Bacteriol, 1977 May, 130(2), 596 - 603
Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa derepressed R-plasmids; Chandler PM et al.; A genetic study of conjugal transmissibility of two R-plasmids was undertaken in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Conjugally derepressed mutants of the R-plasmids were isolated, and examination of 11 independent mutants revealed that 10 were recessive to the wild-type transfer repressor, whereas 1 mutant was cis dominant . Cross-repression was observed between the two R-plasmids, suggesting that they have functionally equivalent systems for regulating the expression of tra loci . The derepressed R-plasmid mutants exhibited several characteristics, in addition to derepressed transfer, that were not expressed by the parental plasmids . These included sensitivity to certain donor-specific phages, inhibition of multiplication of a transducing phage, and, in the one case examined, a high degree of entry exclusion . The coexpression of these different functions suggests that their respective genetic loci are controlled by the same regulatory system as that of tra, or else that they are part of the tra complex.

Med J Aust, 1977 Apr 23, 1(17), 627 - 8
Pseudomonas pneumonia with bacteraemia; Govan J et al.; A previously healthy man developed fulminating pneumonia and bacteraemia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This organism was isolated from sputum and blood before death, and from the lung, liver and spleen at autopsy . Bacteraemic psuedomonas pneumonia is rare, carries a high mortality, and is usually associated with serious underlying disease.

Biochemistry, 1977 Apr 19, 16(8), 1642 - 8
Inhibition of Escherichia coli growth and respiration by polymyxin B covalently attached to agarose beads; LaPorte DC et al.; Polymyxin B was attached to agarose beads by stable covalent bonds and the antimicrobial activity of the immobilized peptide was examined . Polymyxin-agarose inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but not Bacillus subtilis . In addition, the respiration of E . coli, E . coli spheroplasts, and B . subtilis protoplasts was inhibited by immobilized polymyxin, whereas the respiration of B . subtilis was unaffected by polymyxin-agarose . The activity of polymyxin-agarose was not due to the release of free peptide from the derivative . These data indicate that polymyxin can inhibit the growth and respiration of gram-negative bacteria by interacting with the outer surface of these cells . It is proposed that perturbation of outer membrane structure by polymyxin-agarose indirectly affected the selective permeability of the inner membrane and inhibited respiration . The results of this study emphasize the importance of outer membrane structural integrity for the normal functions of gram-negative bacteria.

Infect Immun, 1977 Apr, 16(1), 353 - 61
Structure-activity relationships of an exotoxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Vasil ML et al.; The relation of the structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PA toxin) to its enzymatic activity (adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribosyl transferase) in vitro and to its toxicity in vivo was examined . PA toxin is produced as a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of about 71,500 . PA toxin is produced by Pseudomonas as a toxic proenzyme that lacks enzymatic activity . Adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribosyl transferase activity is expressed when the molecule is denatured and reduced or when its is cleaved by Pseudomonas proteases to yield an enzymatically active 27,000-dalton fragment (fragment a) . A 45,000-dalton protein is tentatively identified as the enzymatically inactive fragment b of PA toxin . Enzymatically active forms of the toxin lack toxicity for mouse L-cells or mouse lethality . Thus, it is concluded that the native toxin proenzyme is required for toxicity and that a structural rearrangement must precede its intracellular activity.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1977 Apr, 85(2), 107 - 14
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis . Bactericidal effect of serum from normal individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis on P . aeruginosa strains from patients with cystic fibrosis or other diseases; Holby N et al.; P . aeruginosa strains originating from the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and patients with other diseases (non-CF) were analysed with regard to their sensitivity to the bactericidal activity of human serum . P . aeruginosa strains isolated from CF patients were more sensitive than strains from non-CF patients to the bactericidal activity of normal human serum . The bactericidal activity was heatlabile . As regards the sensitivity to normal human serum, mucoid and non-mucoid variants were not found to differ . Strains originating from chronically infected CF patients with many precipitins against these bacteria did not differ with respect to serum sensitivity from strains originating from intermittently colonized CF patients without P . aeruginosa precipitins . Compared with normal sera, CF sera showed similar or higher bactericidal activity against a panel of P . aeruginosa strains . In this respect, any difference between CF sera with precipitins and CF sera without precipitins against P . aeurginosa was not found . Sera from three CF patients chronically infected with P . aeruginosa, and with many precipitins against these bacteria, showed a selective inability in bactericidal activity against the patients' own P . aeruginosa isolate possibly reflecting the presence of "bactericidal blocking" antibodies.

Scand J Respir Dis, 1977 Apr, 58(2), 65 - 79
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis . Diagnostic and prognostic significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa precipitins determined by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis; Hoiby N et al.; A total of 133 patients with cystic fibrosis have been followed for up to 5 years with monthly examinations including bacteriological examinations of sputum . Sera from the patients were examined by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis for the occurence and number of precipitating antibody specificites against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Poor prognosis in cystic fibrosis was associated with chronic colonization (9 months - more than 5 years) of the respiratory tract with mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and with an onset of the chronic colonization before puberty . Among the patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, poor prognosis was associated with high numbers of precipitins against antigens from these bacteria (up to 61) . The number of Pseudomonas aeruginosa precipitins increased on an average with five per year in chronically colonized patients . Rapidly increasing number of precipitins was associated with poor prognosis . Patients with any degree of impairment of the ventilatory function and any changes on the chest radiographs could contract chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization . Poor ventilatory function and severe changes on the chest radiographs was associated with high numbers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa precipitins and with poor prognosis . Although many O groups of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found in the chronically colonized group of patients, 53% of the patients harboured strains belonging to O group 3 or 3/9, and the highest numbers of precipitins were found in serum from these patients.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Apr, 130(1), 545 - 7
Hydrolysis of lithocholate sulfate by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Imperato TJ et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be able to hydrolyze bile sulfate . This property was observed when lithocholate sulfate was substituted for the sulfur source in the culture medium . The addition of MgSO4 to the medium inhibited the hydrolysis of the bile sulfate.

Laryngoscope, 1977 Apr, 87(4 Pt 1), 483 - 92
Pseudomonas mastoiditis; Meyerhoff WL et al.; Opportunistic infections of the external auditory canal or the middle ear due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurring in patients with low resistance to infection have a 35 percent mortality rate . Once the process extends into the pneumatized temporal bone, eradication becomes more difficult and the mortality rate increases to 72 percent because of the high incidence of involvement of cranial nerves, adjacent intracranial vessels, and meningitis . Treatment is directed towards the underlying condition, administration of systemic carbenicillin and gentamicin, topical colistin therapy, and judicious surgical debridement . Pseudomonas vaccine may be of help . Fifteen cases are presented . Nine follow the pattern of malignant external otitis and six began as a primary acute otitis media.

Infect Immun, 1977 Apr, 16(1), 362 - 6
Incidence of exotoxin production by Pseudomonas species; Bjorn MJ et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A has been shown to catalyze the transfer of the adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-ribose moiety of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide onto elongation factor 2, resulting in the inhibition of mammalian protein synthesis . The enzymatic activity (ADP-ribosyl {ADPR}-transferase) is thought to account for the toxicity of exotoxin A . The distribution of the expression of exotoxin A within Pseudomonas species was examined . Laboratory strains as well as clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested . The production of exotoxin A was determined by assaying for ADPR-transferase activity in dialyzed frozen (-20 degrees C) and thawed cell-free supernatants from 22-h cultures or in 10-fold-concentrated supernatants . In addition, toxin production was detected immunologically using a modified Elek test . Exotoxin A production was detected in approximately 90% of the 111 isolates of P . aeruginosa . In contrast, none of the other species of Pseudomonas examined produced exotoxin A detectable by either ADPR-transferase activity or immunological reactivity.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1977 Apr, 85(2), 149 - 52
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis . Relative prevalence of antibodies in serum against cathodic and anodic migrating P . aeruginosa antigens determined by immunoelectrophoretic methods; Holby N; Sera from 119 patients with cystic fibrosis were examined for precipitating antibodies against anodic migrating P . aeruginosa antigens by means of crossed immunoelectrophoresis . The presence of precipitins against cathodic migrating P . aeruginosa antigens was investigated by means of classical immunoelectrophoresis . Thirty-six per cent of the sera contained precipitins against both anodic and cathodic antigens, 20% contained only precipitins against anodic antigens, none contained only precipitins against cathodic antigens, and 44% had no demonstrable P . aeurginosa precipitins . The amount of extra information obtained by combining the results of classical immunoelectrophoresis with the results of crossed immunoelectrophoresis was small.

Arch Microbiol, 1977 Apr 1, 112(3), 287 - 9
Allohydroxy-D-proline dehydrogenase . An inducible membrane-bound enzyme in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01; Bater AJ et al.; Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 on isomers of hydroxyproline induced the synthesis of an allohydroxy-D-proline dehydrogenase . The enzyme resembled the D-alanine dehydrogenase of this organism in its association with the particulate fraction and its linkage to oxygen through a cytochrome-containing respiratory chain, but differed from this and other bacterial D-amino acid dehydrogenases in its high substrate specificity and low Km.

Biochemistry, 1977 Mar 8, 16(5), 886 - 94
Studies of individual carbon sites of azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by natural-abundance carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Ugurbil K et al.; The environments of the aromatic residues (and of the single arginine residue) of azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa are investigated by means of natural-abundance 13C Fourier transform NMR spectroscopy . In the case of the diamagnetic Cu(I) azurin, all 17 nonprotonated aromatic carbons (and Czota of Arg-79) yield narrow resonances . Furthermore, a single-carbon amide carbonyl resonance with an unusual chemical shift (peak chi) is observed . The pH dependence of chemical shifts is used to identify the resonances of Cgamma of titrating histidines, and of Cgamma and Czota of the two tyrosines . The resonances of Cgamma and Cdelta2 of the single tryptophan residue (and Czota of Arg-79) are also identified . The pKa values of the two tyrosines are different from each other and higher than typical values of "solvent-exposed" tyrosine residues . Two of the four histidine residues do not titrate (in the pH range 4 to 11) . The resonance of Cgamma of one histidine exhibits a pH titration with fast proton exchange behavior and a pKa of 7.5 +/- 0.2 . The direction of the titration shift indicates that the imidazole form of this histidine is the Ndelta1-H tautomer . The Cgamma resonance of the other titrating histidine exhibits slow exchange behavior with a pKa of about 7 . The imidazole form of this histidine is the Nepsilon2-H tautomer . When going to the paramagnetic Cu(II) protein, only 11 of the 19 carbons mentioned above yield resonances that are narrow enough to be detected . Also, some of the observed resonances exhibit significant paramagnetic broadening . A comparison of spectra of fully reduced azurin, mixtures of reduced and oxidized azurin, and fully oxidized azurin yields the following information . (i) Peak chi arises from an amide group that probably is coordinated to the copper . (ii) The two nontitrating histidine residues are probably copper ligands, with Ndelta1 coordinated to the metal . (iii) The side chains of Arg-79 and the two tyrosine residues are not coordinated to the copper, and Trp-48 is probably not a ligand either . (iv) The gamma carbons of Trp-48, the tyrosine with the lower pKa, the titrating histidine with slow exchange behavior, and three or four of the six phenylalanine residues are sufficiently close to the copper to undergo significant paramagnetic broadening in the spectrum of oxidized azurin.

Mikrobiologiia, 1977 Mar-Apr, 46(2), 273 - 6
{Bacteriocin-like substances produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Arakelova VA; Cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested for the production of bacteriocin-like substances, and differentiated with respect to three various indicator cultures . A technique was elaborated for the isolation of bacteriocin-like substances from a solid medium . Physico-chemical properties of Ps . aeruginosa were studied for the strains 8-H-3, PAO-406, and PAT-2 . The molecular weight of bacteriocin-like substances was calculated for the strain 8-H-3.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Mar, 30(3), 209 - 14
SP127, a bacterial protein enhancing the activity of macrolide antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa: isolation and characterization; Kikuchi M et al.; Some strains belonging to the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas were found to produce in the culture broth, a protein which synergistically enhanced the activity of macrolide antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeroginosa . The protein produced by Bacillus brevis ATCC 8185, designated SP127, was isolated in a pure state by means of ammonium sulfate fractionation, CM-cellulose column chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 . The sedimentation coefficient and the molecular weight of SP127 were 1.8 s and 15,000, respectively according to the analytical ultracentrifuge . The isoelectric point of SP127, obtained by electrofocusing experiments, was over 10.0 . Half cystine and histidine were absent in the molecule.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1977 Mar, 30(3), 209 - 14
{Laboratory studies on antibiotic chemotherapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections (author's transl)}; Kobayashi Y et al.; Majority of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were inhibited at 25 approximately 50 microng/ml of carbenicillin . There was no difference in MIC'S determined using either MUELLER-HINTON agar or Heart Infusion agar . All strains which showed one plus or more sensitivity in either of mono- or tri-disc test showed MIC of 100 microng/ml or less . In view of the high serum concentrations obtainable with 20 approximately 30 g per day dose of carbenicillin, the disc sensitivity test for this antibiotic should reasonably be interpreted as sensitive when it is one plus or more . The combination of carbenicillin with gentamicin or dibekacin showed marked synergism in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Infect Immun, 1977 Mar, 15(3), 776 - 80
Exotoxin production by clinical isolates of pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pollack M et al.; Seventy-five consecutive clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were tested for in vitro exotoxin production . Exotoxin was demonstrated in culture filtrates biologically, by its ability to produce characteristic dermonecrotic lesions in guinea pigs, and seriologically, by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) with rabbit antiserum elicited with purified exotoxin . By these two methods, exotoxin was detected in 87 and 89% of P . aeruginosa strains, respectively (r = 0.48, P less than 0.001) . Although less sensitive than CIE in detecting exotoxin immunodiffusion demonstrated a reaction of antigenic identity in most cases . Exotoxin was produced by all seven Fisher-Devlin immunotypes and by untypable strains . In contrast, exotoxin was not detected in the culture filtrates of 16 non-aeruginosa pseudomonas isolates and 48 non-pseudomonas organisms . The production of biologically similar antigenically closely related exotoxins is thus a characteristic of the majority of P . aeruginosa strains derived from diverse clinical sources.

Infect Immun, 1977 Mar, 15(3), 692 - 7
Relationship between Habs serotypes and 2-amino sugar composition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Suzuki N et al.; Thirteen Habs-serotype strains could be classified into 11 groups depending on the characteristic patterns of 2-amino sugar composition; strains of serotypes 2, 5, and 7 had the same pattern, and each other serotype strain had its own distinctive pattern . In our classification, fucosamine and quinovosamine were of importance . We found that fucosamine from strain P14 (Habs serotype 1) was of the D configuration only, unlike DL-fucosamine from strain N10 (Habs serotype 11).

J Infect Dis, 1977 Mar, 135(3), 438 - 46
Experimental pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in leukopenic dogs: prolongation of survival by combined treatment with passive antibody to Pseudomonas and granulocyte transfusions; Kazmierowski JA et al.; Treatment with type-specific IgG antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly increased rates of survival after experimental induction of pseudomonas pneumonia in leukopenic dogs . Longer survival times were correlated with higher titers of circulating antibody in serum; however, no animals treated with antibody alone were long-term survivors . Subsequent development of sepsis or the recovery of Pseudomonas from infected lung tissue was not altered by treatment with antibody . Therapy with granulocyte transfusions plus gentamicin was associated with a 27% rate of long-term survival . Passive immunization with IgG (reciprocal mean hemagglutination titer, 52) in addition to granulocyte transfusions and treatment with gentamicin resulted in a rate of long-term survival of 67% (P less than 0.05) . Dogs that died while receiving this combination therapy still had a survival time significantly longer than those of controls or animals treated only with granulocytes and antibiotic.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Mar, 129(3), 1653 - 6
Properties of derivatives of the Pseudomonas plasmid pVS1 that have inherited carbenicillin resistance from RP1; Stanisich VA et al.; A procedure is described for the isolation, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO, of bacteria carrying derivatives of pVS1 that inherited the carbenicillin-resistance determinant from RP1 either alone or together with that for aeruginocin resistance . Such bacteria occur among the transconjugant progeny from both recombination-proficient or -deficient pVS1+ RP1+ donors, suggesting that the formation of these plasmids is due to the translocation of TnA from RP1 into pVS1 . It is possible, therefore, that the aeruginocin-resistance determinant is part of TnA or is closely linked to it . Unexpectedly, none of these plasmids showed the 3 x 10(6)- to 4 x 10(6)-dalton increase in size predicted for TnA+ derivatives of PVS1 . It is suggested that an interaction between TnA and the Tn501 translocation unit in pVS1 could account for this result.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Mar, 129(3), 1227 - 33
Characterization of a translocation unit encoding resistance to mercuric ions that occurs on a nonconjugative plasmid in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Stanisich VA et al.; The nonconjugative plasmid, pVS1, has a molecular weight of 18.5 X 10(6) and confers resistance to sulfonamides and to mercuric ions . In Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO, the transfer can be mobilized by a variety of conjugative plasmids, and the process does not require a functional recombination system in the donor . Hybrid plasmids that arise by the relocation of the mer gene onto the mobilizing plasmid can be isolated readily, and, as far as can be determined, these hybrids retain the genome of the conjugative plasmid in toto . The relocation of mer occurs by a Rec-independent process and leads to a constant increase (about 6 X 10(6) daltons) in the size of the recipient plasmid . This suggests that the mer gene in pVS1 is located on a translocation unit, designated Tn501, of a molecular weight of about 6 X 10(6) . The translocation of Tn501 into RP1 is not usually associated with the loss of any known plasmid-mediated function, but transfer-defective or tetracycline-sensitive derivatives do occur at frequencies of about 4%, whereas carbenicillin-sensitive or kanamycin-sensitive variants arise with a frequency of about 0.2% each . It seems therefore that the integration of Tn501 can occur at any one of a minimum of five sites in RP1.

Infect Immun, 1977 Mar, 15(3), 679 - 85
Production of protease and elastase by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patients; Morihara K et al.; Using 20 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients, production of protease, elastase, and collagenase was determined by shaking culture in either complex or semisynthetic medium . No collagenase was produced by any strain of P . aeruginosa . According to their production of protease and elastase in different media, the P . aeruginosa strains were divided into three groups: the first group can produce elastase in complex medium and both protease and elastase in semisynthetic medium; the second group cannot produce any proteolytic enzymes in complex medium but can produce any proteolytic enzymes in either medium; and the third group cannot produce any proteolytic enzymes in either medium . In spite of the differences in the ability of the strains to produce the enzymes, depending upon the origin of the strains, the protease or elastases produced in different broths were regarded as identical.

J Biol Chem, 1977 Feb 25, 252(4), 1367 - 74
Formation of a biologically active, ordered complex from two overlapping fragments of cytochrome c; Hantgan RR et al.; A noncovalent complex of the apoprotein (1-104) and cyanogen bromide heme fragment containing residues 1 to 65, (1-65) H, has been prepared from horse heart cytochrome c . Conditions under which the redundant portions of the ferrous complex can be removed by limited trypsin digestion have been devised . The complementing fragments have been isolated from the derived complexes and four apofragments and one heme fragment have been identified in the amino acid sequence of cytochrome c . They are (39-104), (40-104), (54-104), (56-104), and (1-53)H . The formation of an ordered ferric complex composed of one heme fragment and one apofragment for the cases (1-53)H (39-104), (1-53)H-(40-104), (1-53)H-(54-104), and (1-53)H-(56-104) has been demonstrated by the quenching of the tryptophan 59 fluorescence and the regain of biological activity in a cytochrome b2 assay . The apparent dissociation constant has been estimated as less than 3 X 10(-7) M in all the aforementioned cases . Thus, the region (between residues 38 and 57) of the amino acid sequence permissible for cleavage without disruption of the ordered structure indicated by the present in vitro experiments corresponds to that (between residues 38 and 57) evolutionally deleted in the three-dimensional structure of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytochrome c551 discovered by Dickerson et al . (Dickerson, R.E., Timkovich, R., and Almassy, R.J . (1976) J . Mol . Biol . 100, 473-491).

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Feb 16, 474(4), 646 - 61
Heterologous transfection with bacteriophage phiX174 DNA . Unusual heterogeneous products; Suzuki M et al.; Hydroxylamine-resistant infectious materials (HARIM) synthesized in natural non-host and progeny phage low productive bacterial spheroplasts upon transfection with bacteriophage phiX174 DNA were found to be unusually heterogeneous in their forms . Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a source of HARIM, it was shown that they have the following unusual features . (1) Almost all of the HARIM are denser than normal single-stranded (SS)- and double-stranded replicative form (RF)-DNAs of phiX174 found usually in the phage-infected host cells . (2) A great part of these heavy HARIM (approximately 84%) contain a variable length of single-stranded RNA associated with their infectious elements . (3) For most of the HARIM (approximately 80% of total molecules as the infectious elements of the heavy HARIM), the infectious elements are phiX-RFI-DNA . The wide-spread system for phiX-HARIM synthesis was shown to be present in many gram-negative bacterial cells.

Br J Ophthalmol, 1977 Feb, 61(2), 92 - 5
Ticarcillin in the treatment of experimental pseudomonas keratitis; Ahmad A et al.; In rabbits with experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis the subconjunctival administration of either ticarcillin or gentamicin significantly ameliorated the keratitis and reduced the number of organisms to be found in the cornea . The use of these drugs in combination had an additive effect in vitro studies and a significantly more beneficial effect on the clinical disease than the use of either drug alone.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1977 Feb, 47(1), 35 - 40
The enhancement of phagocytosis and intra-cellular killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its common antigen (OEP) coated latex particles by mouse spleen macrophages to which anti-OEP-IgG and gentamicin have been added; Haranaka K et al.; This experiment was performed using macrophages derived from mouse spleens immunized or non-immunized with the common antigen (OEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The phagocytosis of these macrophages of live or formalin killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa and latex particles coated with OEP were enhanced by the addition of anti-OEP-IgG, but not by immunoglobulin taken from normal mice . The macrophages from mice immunized with OEP showed significantly enhanced phagocytosis of latex particles coated with OEP, but not of live or killed bacteria . The effects of anti-OEP-IgG and gentamicin on phagocytosis and intracellular killing were compared in cases where only anti-OEP-IgG or only getamicin were used as well as in cases where the two were combined . It was found that the two combined was far more effective on phagocytosis and intracellular killing . Furthermore, there was little or no difference in the results depending on whether macrophages from mice immunized or non-immunized with OEP were used.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1977 Feb, 47(1), 1 - 7
Serotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical specimens; Kono M et al.; Serotyping of 168 clinical isolates by the slide agglutination test using TIBS (Toshiba Institute of Biological Science) serotyping sera, which were prepared from Homma's serotype strains at the request of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Serotype Committee in Japan, was performed and the results were compared with serotyping using IMSUT (Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo) serotyping sera by the tube agglutination test . When heat-killed antigen from clinical isolates were used, both sets of serotyping sera showed similar results and the slide agglutination test using TIBS serotyping sera could be substituted for the tube agglutination test using IMSUT sera . It was also discovered that serotyping by the slide agglutination test with TIBS serotyping sera could be carried out using live bacteria . However, in serotyping with live bacteria, there is some difficulty in observing the agglutination time . To solve this problem, we propose that positive agglutination should be determined within 60 sec . The authors also performed serotyping of the clinical isolates using Difco serotyping sera prepared by the Difco Company based on Liu's serotyping system, and the results were compared with those obtained with serotyping sera prepared with Homma's serotype strains . The results indicated that in serotyping of clinical isolates using Difco serotyping sera more cross reaction occurred than in serotyping with sera obtained from Homma's serotype strains.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Feb, 33(2), 240 - 5
Confirmation of the single-step membrane filtration procedure for estimating Pseudomonas aeruginosa densities in water; Dutka BJ et al.; The efficiency of two procedures, membrane filtration and most probable number, to resuscitate and enumerate Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been compared at two temperatures and varying incubation periods . Data indicate that the membrane filtration procedure using mPA or mPA medium B is more efficient than the most-probable-number procedure in estimating P . aeruginosa populations . It was also found that the specificity of the membrane filtration procedure was such that 92 to 99% of the colonies counted as P . aeruginosa were confirmed, whereas only 2.7 to 10% of the nontypical colonies were confirmed as P . aeruginosa . Furthermore, the data indicate that mPA medium B combined with a 3- to 4-day incubation period at 4.15 degrees C is slightly more specific than mPA medium and is a valid single-step procedure for the resuscitation and enumeration of P . aeruginosa from water or sewage effluent.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1977 Feb, 81(2), 333 - 41
A fluorescent probe response to the interaction of pyocin R1 with sensitive cells; Uratani Y et al.; Additon of pyocin R1, a bacteriocin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, to sensitive cells caused a fluorescence increase of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) in the cell suspension . The reaction was rapid, starting with a short time lag after adsorption of pyocin onto the cells and finishing within several minutes . The fluorescence response was attributed to the interaction of the cell body and ANS, not to that of the medium outside the cells and ANS . The maximal amplitude of fluorescence after pyocin addition was dependent on temperature, and the relation appeared to be biphasic . Similarly, Arrhenius plots of the initial rate of fluorescence change were biphasic . The transition of slopes in both cases occurred in the temperature range between 18 and 19 degrees . These results suggest that ANS interacts with lipids in the cell envelope and that pyocin causes a structural change of the cell envelope leading to increased fluorescence of ANS.

J Med Microbiol, 1977 Feb, 10(1), 19 - 27
A new polyvalent Pseudomonas vaccine; Miler JM et al.; This paper describes the preparation, chemical characterisation and immunogenic properties of a new polyvalent pseudomonas vaccine . New cultural methods were devised which allowed a build-up of the immunogen in the cell wall of the bacteria, and mild extraction techniques were used to remove the immunogens from the cell wall of living bacteria without apparent physical or chemical change which might affect immunogenicity . The polyvalent vaccine comprised 16 component vaccines, each a lipid-protein-carbohydrate complex extracted from one of the 16 different serotypes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Single injections into mice of each of the 16 component vaccines induced protection against several strains of homologous serotypes within 3 days of vaccination . The polyvalent vaccine induced similar protection against several strains of each of the 16 serotypes . We would like to thank R . E . Dyster, K . Digby and J . Simmonds for their technical assistance.

Surgery, 1977 Feb, 81(2), 180 - 3
Effect of prolonged bacteremia on leukocyte bactericidal function; Postel J et al.; Neutrophil bactericidal function (NBF) was studied in dogs during intravenous infusions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Administration of 10(6) bacteria per minute over 3 hours was associated with a bacteremia level of about 10(3) organisms per milliliter of blood without adverse effects on NBF . Infusion of 10(7) organisms per minute resulted in blood bacterial counts in the upper 10(4) range and significantly impaired NBF . To determine the relative contribution of the spleen in bacterial phagocytosis, splenectomies were performed in additional dogs immediately prior to 5 hour infusions of 10(6) Pseudomonas aeruginosa per minute . Results revealed that splenectomy did not influence the blood bacterial clearance . These experimental findings emphasize the dominant role of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in bacterial defense.

J Lab Clin Med, 1977 Feb, 89(2), 433 - 8
Extraction and purification of specific antibody against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by immune affinity chromatography; Ogle JD et al.; Immune affinity chromatography has been used to extract and purify specific immune antibody against P . aeruginosa immunotype 4 from hyperimmune gamma glubulin containing antibody against each of seven major immunotypes of P . aeruginosa . A column with a 4 ml . bed volume was construced which had a "working capacity" of approximately 1,680 agglutination units . With water used as the eluting agent, 100 percent yields of functionally active antibody were obtained when amounts equal to or less than the working capacity were loaded onto the column . The technique appears to be suitable for large scale extraction of specific immune antibody for therapeutic trials or investigative use.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1977 Feb, 16(2), 116 - 25
The corneal response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa: histopathological and enzymatic characterization; Kessler E et al.; The host response to the intrastromal injection of heat-inactivated Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells was studied . An extensive polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration, which progressed to ulceration within 1 week, was observed . In some cases descemetoceles also developed . Only a limited degree of PMN infiltration and no ulcerations were observed at 1 week in eyes treated with corticosteroids . Collagenase and proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading proteoglycans were found in the ulcerated corneas . A correlation was made between the level of these host-derived enzymes and the extent of corneal destruction . It was concluded that corneal destruction by P . aeruginosa depends not only on the Pseudomonas protease, which rapidly destroys the cornea, but also on host-derived enzymes which are capable of degrading both collagen and proteoglycans.

Biokhimiia, 1977 Feb, 42(2), 223 - 9
{Optical and magnetic properties of azurin from Pseudomanas aeruginosa}; Kamalian MG et al.; Optical, fluorescence and EPR spectra of azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa are described . Some properties of this protein are found to be similar to those of copper-containing proteins from plants (plastocyanin and plantacyanin) . The interaction of ferricyanide with azurin bleached in alkaline media results in the formation of free radicals and an alteration in the shape of the EPR signal of azurin.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1977 Jan, 16(1), 76 - 80
Oral vaccination and multivalent vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis; Gerke JR et al.; Active immunization against Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis and systemic disease in mice was studied . In the first series of experiments, monovalent vaccine, administered orally or intraperitoneally, protected against subsequent corneal and intraperitoneal challenge with the homologous strain of P . aeruginosa; however, oral administration of vaccine elicited less protection than intraperitoneal administration . After both routes, protection was observed at 11 and 32 days post-vaccination, but it was greater at 11 days . In the second series of experiments, multivalent vaccine administered intraperitoneally protected against corneal challenge with 56 to 78 percent of 18 strains.

Ann Surg, 1977 Jan, 185(1), 100 - 10
Smoke, burns, and the natural history of inhalation injury in fire victims: a correlation of experimental and clinical data; Zawacki BE et al.; Mortality and morbidity in fire victims is largely a function of injury due to heat and/or smoke . While degree and area of burn together constitute a reliable numerical measure of cutaneous injury due to heat, as yet no satisfactory measure of inhalation injury has been developed . In this study, with fluid resuscitation and pulmonary infection eliminated as variables, dose-response curves were constructed as a measure of inhalation injury by exposing burned and unburned animals to smoke of constant temperature and toxicity under conditions similar to the fire situation . In these animals, the natural history of inhalation injury: 1) proved to be a relatively simple function of smoke and burn dosage; 2) appeared to simulate and therefore aid interpretation of the inhalation injury syndromes seen in human fire victims; 3) indicated that within limits {COHgb} measured immediately after injury was directly proportional to, and might prove to be a clinically valuable measure of, absorbed dose of smoke . While fluid resuscitation and pulmonary contamination with bacterial pathogens may be eliminated experimentally, such is not the case with the vast majority of fire victims admitted to burn services with associated inhalation injury . Fluid resuscitation and inhalation of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa aerosol were therefore included serially in a study of animals with inhalation injury and burns large enough to require fluid resuscitation . In these animals it was demonstrated that: 1) pulmonary edema occurred in association with too little rather than too much fluid therapy; 2) after aerosol inoculation, fatal bacterial pneumonia was difficult to produce when inhalation injury was associated with no or only small burns, but common when associated with no or only small burns, but common when associated with a burn large enough to require fluid resuscitation.

Microbios, 1977, 18(72), 79 - 86
Synergistic activity of gentamicin plus carbenicillin upon Pseudomonas aeruginosa: its relationship with pyocin and antibiotic susceptibility; Zemelman R et al.; The synergistic effect of combinations of gentamicin and carbenicillin, as well as the type or subtype of the pyocins produced, were investigated in 170 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical specimens . A high proportion of strains were synergistically inhibited (73.5%), but among strains producing pyocins 7, 14 and 31, synergy was infrequent or absent . The synergistic effect was more frequent upon gentamicin- or carbenicillin-susceptible strains . However, among untypable strains, synergy was more frequent among gentamicin-resistant strains . Susceptibility to both gentamicin and carbenicillin must be considered if antibiotic susceptibility is to be related to synergy.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg, 1977, 132(8), 722 - 8
{Phytopathological tests with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (author's transl)}; Knosel D et al.; Several strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated for pathogenicity to plant tissue . Inoculations into the intercellular spaces of leaves of Vicia faba (28 degrees C) and Vinca rosea (36 degrees C) showed negative results . In leaves of Nicotiana tabacum (32 degrees C) the bacteria multiplied; the tissue reacted to form partial lesions and necrosis . Neither in culture filtrates of the bacteria nor in eluates of inoculated leaves pectolytic and cellulolytic enzymes or breakdown products of these could be obtained . Whilst the proteolytic activity was high, symptoms for effects on the plant tissue, however, were not observed . Although this bacterium may be able to multiply after injection into tobacco leaf, the general question about pathogenicity to plants must be denied.

Acta Biol Med Ger, 1977, 36(2), 267 - 73
{Studies on the activation of humoral defense factors against bacteria in larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella L}; Hanschke R et al.; The change of lysozyme activity in the hemolymph of the wax moth larvae caused by vaccination is influenced by the size and the dose of the injected particles . The rate of incorporation of those particles into phagocytes has no effect on this process . The change of lysozyme activity correlats negatively with the amount of granulocytes after vaccination . There were no correlations with the amount of other types of the hemocytes, neither with the resistance of the larvae against Pseudomonas aeruginosa nor with the survival of gram-negative bacteria within the hemocoelom . Origin, regulation and role of lysozyme are discussed regarding the defence against gram-negative bacteria . In the hemolymph of wax moth larvae after vaccination the formation of spheroblasts has been observed with all gram-negative strains of bacteria studied . The speed and extent of the formation of spheroblasts corresponded to the pathogenicity of these bacteria for the larvae as well as to the survival of the bacteria within the hemocoelom.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg, 1977, 132(4), 300 - 7
Comparative study of chromogenesis and endotoxin production from pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, isolated from neoplastic processes; Barasoain I et al.; Several differences in relation to the chromogenesis and the production of endotoxins were found in Ps . aeruginosa strains, isolated from tumors . The strains isolated from neoplastic processes showed a higher amount of chromogenic fractions as compared with the control strains . Phenazinic compounds presented the main differences . Using two common methods of isolation and purification of Gram-negative endotoxin, we found a higher yield of these molecules in the case of tumor-isolated strains.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1977, 9(3), 243 - 5
Successful treatment of pseudomonas aeruginosa--ventriculitis with intraventricular gentamicin in a child with hydrocephalus; Olsen L et al.; A hydrocephalic child, who was operated with a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt at the age of 1 month, developed ventriculitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 8 months . After removal of the shunt and successively increasing intramuscular and intraventricular doses of gentamicin the patient was cured and a new shunt could be inserted . As high 24-hour gentamicin level in the cerebrospinal fluid as 76 microgram/ml was reached without any apparent toxic signs.

Chemotherapy, 1977, 23(5), 314 - 23
Antibacterial activity of ticarcillin, tobramycin and gentamicin alone and in combination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro; Ullmann U; Using the biophotometer with ticarcillin no persistent bactericidal effect was found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 10490 . After addition of 1.2 microgram/ml gentamicin an increase of multiplication of bacteria was observed, but not after 1.2 microgram/ml tobramycin . With 6.2 microgram/ml tobramycin bactericidal effects lasted more than 24 h . In tube dilution test with Isotonic Sensi-test Broth out of 109 examined strains 51% were resistant to gentamicin, 16% to tobramycin and 4.5% to ticarcillin . If MIC values of gentamicin and tobramycin were calculated for magnesium-free media the resistance rate would be 10% for gentamicin and 3% for tobramycin . Combining subinhibitory doses of gentamicin or tobramycin with ticarcillin, most of the strains resistant to gentamicin and tobramycin became susceptible . The rate of inactivation of tobramycin by ticarcillin depends on the fluid into which they are placed . In combination therapy both antibiotics should be applied separately and immediately one after the other.

Scand J Infect Dis, 1977, 9(2), 151 - 3
Aeromonas hydrophila septicaemia producing ecthyma gangrenosum in a child with leukaemia; Moyer CD et al.; A 4-year-old girl with leukaemia developed fever and ecthyma gangrenosum . Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from blood and skin lesions . Ecthyma gangrenosum is often considered pathognomonic of Pseudomonas aeruginosa septicaemia . As is evident from the case reported, it may also result from infection with A . hydrophila, which has different antibiotic sensitivities, and which is now being recognised more frequently as a serious pathogen in immunosuppressed patients.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1977 Jan, 128A(1), 61 - 8
{Virulence of human and environmental strains of "pseudomonas aeruginosa" in mice (author's transl)}; Loiseau-Marolleau ML; The virulence of 21 clinical isolates and 10 environmental strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied by intraperitoneal challenge in mice . The LD50 values of human strains ranged from 10(7),(0) to 10(8),(5) viable cells per mouse (average: 10(7),(7)(2)) . The LD50 of environmental strains ranged from 10(7),(2) to 10(8),(1) (average: 10(7),(59)) . These results are not significantly different . Experimental virulence for mice of P . aeruginosa strains found in hospital environment allows no prediction on their level of pathogenicity for in-patients . Furthermore, this study proved no relationship between letal effect of P . aeruginosa for mice and following characters of strains: O serogroup, untypability and productivity of specific pigments, pyocyanin and pyorubrin.

Chemotherapy, 1977, 23(4), 260 - 6
Bactericidal activity of amikacin and gentamicin; Shah RM et al.; Using the membrane filtration method bactericidal activity of amikacin and gentamicin as a function of time and concentrations was determined . Amikacin was bactericidal against all Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 7) and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains (n = 8) tested . In 5 of the 7 P . aeruginosa and 3 of the 8 K . pneumoniae strains we saw a secondary regrowth at 24h . There was no difference between amikacin and gentamicin . The experiments to determine the effect of concentration on bactericidal activity showed that higher concentrations lead to a faster kill rate.

Mikrobiologiia, 1977 Jan-Feb, 46(1), 5 - 9
{Role of cosubstrates in the microbiologic oxidation of xylene isomers by a culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Golovleva LA et al.; Cosubstrates (additional substrates) produced different effect on transformation of isomeric xylenes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7 . The cosubstrates manifested the highest stimulating effect on transformation of o-xylene, on which the culture did not grow, and p-xylene, in the presence of which only a weak growth was detected . The most effective cosubstrates were xylose and maltose which were actively oxidized by the culture but could not serve as carbon sources . One of mechanisms of the cosubstrate action is inhibition (or repression of synthesis) of the enzymes responsible for oxidation of toluic acids by the cosubstrates or their metabolites, which results in their accumulation in the medium . Addition of cosubstrates can regulate transformation stimulating accumulation of different products.

Infection, 1977, 5(1), 9 - 12
Sensitivity of gram-negative bacteria to six aminoglycoside antibiotics; Eyckmans L et al.; An in vitro study of the susceptibility of 201 newly isolated strains of gramnegative bacteria to six aminoglycoside antibiotics (kanamycin, amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, sisomicin and netilmicin) was performed by the twofold dilution method in fluid medium . Both the minimal inhibitory concentration and the minimal bacteridical concentration were determined . Overall, tobramycin seemed the most effective of the drugs studied . Netilmicin, the new derivative from sisomicin, compared favourably with the other drugs tested, but may, on theoretical grounds, offer the additional advantage of retained efficacy in the face of developing bacterial resistance . Not unexpectedly, amikacin appeared to be the most promising of the drugs studied in its action against Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Amikacin and netilmicin appeared to be the most effective of this group of antibiotics against Klebsiella species.

Biochem J, 1977 Jan 1, 161(1), 103 - 9
Amino components of the lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa N.C.T.C . 8505 . Presence of 2,4-diamino-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-glucose; Wilkinson SG; Configurations were determined for previously identified amino components of the lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa N.C.T.C . 8505 . Glucosamine and galactosamine belong to the D-series, and alanine and aminogalacturonic acid to the L-series . An additional amino component was identified as 2,4-diamino-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-glucose . This compound may be a characteristic component of the O-specific chain in lipopolysaccharides of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa belonging to Habs sero-group 3.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977, 237(2-3), 297 - 309
Effects of the common protective antigen (OEP) and toxoids of protease and elastase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on protection against hemorrhagic pneumonia in mink; Honda E et al.; The effects of common protective antigen (OEP) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain N10 (serotype 5) and OEP plus toxoids of protease and elastase from P . aeruginosa strains IFO 3080 and IFO 3455 were studied during an enzootic of hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by P . aeruginosa serotype 3 in mink . The overall mortality rate in non-vaccinated mink was 24.8% (524 mink) . It was highest in male kittens, followed by female kittens and adults . OEP (1,000 millimicrong) plus toxoids (each 1,000 millimicrong of protease toxoid and elastase toxoid) was significantly protective in every stable or farm regardless of sex or age . It was also effective in a stable where the vaccine was administered 12 days after the onset of the disease . OEP (1,500 millimicrong) alone produced a similar effect in a majority of mink, but was less effective in some stables . OEP plus toxoids was significantly more effective than OEP alone in protecting mink against hemorrhagic pneumonia due to P . aeruginosa.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977, 237(2-3), 280 - 96
{Studies on serological classification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique (author's transl)}; Ansorg R et al.; An application mode of the indirect fluorescent antibody technique is described which allows the differentiation of soma and flagella of Ps . aeruginosa cells on the morphological and serological level simultaneously and the determination of the topic specificity of Ps . aeruginosa antisera . Antisera prepared by immunization of rabbits with formalinized semisolid agar cultures react with somatic and flagellar antigens (anti-OH-sera), while antisera made with heated cultures strain somatic antigens exclusively (anti-O-sera) . Anti-OH-sera absorbed by heated cultures of the strain used for immunization lead to selective fluorescent staining of flagellar antigens (anti-H-sera) . The reaction between somatic antigens and antisomatic antibodies is inhibited by coating substances which are removed by washing the cells . The masking effects of thermovariable and correlates with the viscosity of the cell suspension . The somatic antigens of washed cells are thermostabile, whereas the flagellar antigens are destroyed after heating at 60 degrees C . The strains representative of serogroups 0:1-0:12 of Habs show numerous uni- and bilateral relationships of the somatic antigens . However, group-specific reacting anti-O-sera are obtained by dilution of absorption of the overlapping antisomatic antibodies . The flagellae of the representative strains belong to two flagellae types: one type shows a complex, the other a uniform antigen structure . They do not include all flagellar antigens existing in Ps; aeruginosa;

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977, 237(2-3), 274 - 9
Immunosuppressive effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endotoxin on lymphocyte transformation in vitro; Garrido MJ; In order to prove the immunosuppressive activity of an endotoxic fraction from pathogenic Ps . aeruginosa, the lymphoblastic transformation test was used . The results have shown that lymphocytes cultured in presence of PHA and endotoxin have a decreased rate of DNA synthesis and oxygen uptake . On the contrary, there seemed to be a slight relative increase of RNA and protein synthesis as compared with PHA-transformed cells.

Avian Dis, 1977 Jan-Mar, 21(1), 136 - 8
Aeruginocine typing and antibiotic sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa of poultry origin; Sadasivan PR et al.; Aeruginocine typing and an antibiotic sensitivity test were conducted on 277 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from dead-in-shell embryos and on water from waterers of a chick hatchery . Thirty different aeruginocine patterns were obtained using 8 Wahba indicator strains . Of the 277 strains, 129 were typable and 148 were not . The aeruginocine typing patterns of the strains isolated from dead-in-shell embryos and water were similar, suggesting that contaminated water may be the source of infection . Antibiogram revealed that all the strains were resistant to methicillin and tetracycline, and had varying degrees of resistance to other antibiotics tested.

Tohoku J Exp Med, 1977 Jan, 121(1), 77 - 80
Isolation of drug-resistant bacteria from newborn infants; Mitsuhashi N et al.; The fetus is known to be bacteria-free and is contaminated with bacteria during birth . We examined drug-resistant bacteria in feces of new-born infants to know the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria in a hospital . Among 76 infants examined, we could isolate drug-resistant strains of bacteria from 65 infants (86%) . We collected 110 drug-resistant strains of Escherichia coli, Klebisella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and could isolate 53 strains (48%) carrying R plasmids; they being 33R (TC.CM.SM.SA.APC) and 20R (TC.CM.SM.SA) plasmids . The data indicated that R plasmids with the same resistance patterns were distributed in a hospital, and new-born infants were contaminated with bacteria carrying R plasmids, although the contamination rate of drug-resistant bacteria in the intestinal flora was very low.

Scott Med J, 1977 Jan, 22(1), 16 - 21
Persistence of a specific pseudomonas infection in a large general hospital; Tinne JE; Of at least 37 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa distinguishable by their pyocine production, Type 10 is noteworthy for its relative rarity and its virulence to man . Opportunistic infections by this organism occurring in a single hospital over 8 years are described, and its ecology discussed with reference to its possible control.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 5(1), 58 - 61
Effect of N-acetylcysteine on antibiotic activity and bacterial growth in vitro; Parry MF et al.; The antibiotic bacerial inactivity of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and its interaction with penicillin and aminocyclitol antibiotics was evaluated . NAC inhibited growth of both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria . Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were more susceptible than other microorgainsms tested . P . aeruginosa strains were inhibited synergistically by NAC and carbenicillin or ticarcillin . However, NAC antagonized the activity of gentamicin and tobramycin . These findings have implications for the combined clinical use of NAC and aerosolized antibiotics and are also important for the processing of sputum specimens in the microbiology laboratory.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1977 Jan, 16(1), 73 - 6
Pathogenesis of corneal damage from pseudomonas exotoxin A; Iglewski BH et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A was injected into rabbit corneas . Death of epithelial, endothelial, and stromal cells resulted, and necrosis of the cornea followed . Control eyes with exotoxin neutralized by specific antitoxin showed minimal damage . A dose-response pattern was evident . Antitoxin neutralization of pseudomonas exotoxin A in corneal ulcers may have possible therapeutic implications.

Infect Immun, 1977 Jan, 15(1), 109 - 14
In vivo distribution of Pseudomonas aeruginosa slime glycolipoprotein: association with leukocytes; Lynn M et al.; Intraperitoneal injection of slime glycolipoprotein (GLP) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced leukopenia and death of mice, similar to the effect of infection with viable organisms . Differential counts established that the leukopenia was characterized by a decrease in the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, followed by death of mice . Mice immunized with GLP survived challenge and responded with a leukocytosis that had a substantial increase in circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Leukocytes from GLP-injected mice were agglutinated by anti-GLP serum, indicating an association between GLP and leukocytes . Other results indicated that 14C-labeled GLP is deposited mainly in the liver . Normal leukocytes labeled with 51Cr were injected intravenously into mice receiving an intraperitoneal injection of GLP . As with GLP, the 51Gr-labeled leukocytes were sequestered in the liver . These results indicate that GLP enters the blood stream and becomes associated mainly with neutrophils, and that the neutrophil-GLP complex is deposited in the liver, possibly accounting for the leukopenia in mice.

Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 37 - 44
The action of fosfomycin on the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hardisson C et al.; A study was made of the effect of the inoculum size and the culture conditions on the MIC of a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that was sensitive to fosfomycin . The increase of the inoculum and the conditions which favour the cellular multiplication considerably increase the MIC . Phosphates inhibit the action of the antibiotic . Fosfomycin produces a logarithmic decrease in the number surviving 1 h after being added; the bacterial lysis measured by the decrease in the OD depends on the medium and is hardly noticeable in ordinary broth . In a minimum medium the antibiotic does not affect the growth . The determination of the variation in the consumption of oxygen is a rapid and accurate method of evaluating the effect of fosfomycin . A spontaneous mutant glpT was isolated which was more than 128 times more resistant than the isogenic parental strain . The growth curves of this mutant, the sensitive parental strain and a naturally resistant strain that was isolated in a patient were similar to each other in complex media . In synthetic media the naturally resistant strain shows shorter phases of latency, but the generation times are analogous . This would seem to indicate that the resistance to fosfomycin in P . aeruginosa has no influence on the speed of growth.

J Pediatr, 1977 Jan, 90(1), 144 - 8
Treatment of pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis: a comparative study of ticarcillin and gentamicin; Parry MF et al.; The effectiveness of ticarcillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in acute exacerbations of pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis was evaluated . Seventy-one percent of patients treated with ticarcillin alone responded favorably . The response rate was similar in patients treated with a combination of ticarcillin plus gentamicin or with gentamicin alone . Severity of the underlying disease was the most important determinant of response to treatment . Ticarcillin-resistant organisms were recovered during treatment in 50% of patients who received this drug; recovery of them was not prevented by the inclusion of gentamicin in the therapeutic regimen nor did they interfere with clinical improvement . The ticarcillin-resistant strains persisted at follow-up, two to six months after completion of therapy, in only one of ten patients . No serious toxicity to ticarcillin was noted during the study period.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Jan, 129(1), 527 - 9
Appearance of straight flagellar filaments in the presence of p-fluorophenylalanine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Suzuki T et al.; In the presence of p-fluorophenylalanine, a normally flagellated strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa produced straight flagellar filaments at the distal ends of preexisting flagella, indicating polar growth on its flagella.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Jan, 129(1), 276 - 81
Plasmid-determined resistance to tellurium compounds; Summers AO et al.; Transferable plasmids in gram-negative bacteria that confer resistance to potassium tellurite or tellurate were found . This re-istance was distinct from resistance to mercury, silver, or arsenic compounds and was unrelated to antibiotic resistance . In Escherichia coli, plasmids determine a 100-fold increase in the minimal inhibitory concentration for tellurite and a 10-fold increase in tellurate resistance . Many, but not all, of the plasmids belong to incompatibility group S . In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, tellurium resistance is specifically associated with incompatibility group P-2 and involves a 5- to 10-fold increase in tellurite or tellurate resistance.

Chest, 1977 Jan, 71(1), 52 - 4
Absence of clinical pneumonia following bronchoscopy with contaminated and clean bronchofiberscopes; Suratt PM et al.; Two hundred forty-nine fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedures were surveyed for the presence of bronchoscopy-related pneumonia . The first 103 procedures were performed during a period when the fiberscope was presemably contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Chart review of these 103 procedures and prospective epidemiologic surveillance of the remaining 146 procedures revealed no cases of bronchoscopy-related pneumonia.

J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 98(1), 167 - 76
Plasmid modification of radiation and chemical-mutagen sensitivity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Lehrbach P et al.; The R factor pMG2 protects Pseudomonas aeruginosa against the lethal effects of ultraviolet (u.v.) and gamma irradiation, and methyl methanesulphonate and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treatment . Enhanced survival occurs in strains of uvr+ rec+ (wild-type) genotype and a variety of uvr rec+ type mutants . No protection occurs in a rec A-type mutant . The plasmid also enhances u.v.-induced mutagenesis . These effects appear to be due to host-cell controlled plasmid-determined DNA repair function(s) . Studies on P . aeruginosa strains deficient in DNA polymerase I (polyA) suggest that a plasmid-determined repair resynthesis function may be responsible for increased u.v.-survival and enhanced u.v.-mutability in pMG2-containing bacteria.

Infect Immun, 1977 Jan, 15(1), 138 - 44
Mechanism of action of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin Aiadenosine diphosphate-ribosylation of mammalian elongation factor 2 in vitro and in vivo; Iglewski BH et al.; Previous studies showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PA toxin) catalyzes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent inhibition of protein synthesis in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate and transfer of radioactivity from {14C}adenine-labeled NAD to a protein having the same molecular weight as elongation factor 2 (EF-2) (B.H.Iglewski and D . Kabat, 1975) . Such an inhibited protein-synthesizing lysate was restored to activity by addition of a protein from normal mouse liver which co-purifies with EF-2 . In addition, EF-2 activity was almost totally absent in livers of mice which had been injected 24 h earlier with PA toxin . On the contrary, EF-2 concentrations were only partially reduced in other organs and were normal in brains of intoxicated mice . Studies using NAD labeled in various positions show that PA toxin, like fragment A of diphtheria toxin, catalyzes transfer of the adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribosyl moiety of NAD . Furthermore, reversal occurred when the modified protein was incubated with excess concentrations of PA toxin and nicotinamide, and NAD was identified as a product of the reverse reaction . The protein modification catalyzed either by PA toxin or by fragment A of diphtheria toxin could be reversed by incubation with other toxin . These results support the proposal that these two toxins adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribosylate and same amino acid of EF-2 in a stereochemically identical fashion . Furthermore, PA toxin inactivates EF-2 in intoxicated mice to an extent which would ultimately result in death.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Jan, 129(1), 87 - 96
Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate levels and activities of adenylate cyclase and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase in Pseudomonas and Bacteroides; Siegel LS et al.; A modified Gilman assay was used to determine the concentrations of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in rapidly filtered cells and in the culture filtrates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli K-12, and Bacteroides fragilis . In P . aeruginosa cultures, levels of cAMP in the filtrate increased with the culture absorbance (3.5 to 19.8 X 10(-9) M) but did not vary significantly with the carbon source used to support growth . Intracellular concentrations (0.8 to 3.2 X 10(-5) M) were substantially higher and did not vary appreciably during growth or with carbon source . Sodium cAMP (5 mM) failed to reverse the catabolite repression of inducible glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) synthesis caused by the addition of 10 mM succinate . Exogenous cAMP also had no discernible effect on the catabolite repression control of inducible mannitol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.67) . P . aeruginosa was found to contain both soluble cAMP phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.17) and membrane-associated adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) activity, and these were compared to the activities detected in crude extracts of E . coli . B . fragilis crude cell extracts contain neither of these enzyme activities, and little or no cAMP was detected in cells or culture filtrates of this anaerobic bacterium.

Zahn Mund Kieferheilkd Zentralbl, 1977, 65(7), 770 - 7
{Microbiological studies on mouth-ringing, cooling and turbine-spray waters}; Thiem A et al.; Microbiological examinations of mouth-cleaning, cooling, and turbine spray waters from various types of dental units showed different degrees of water contamination . The detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, because of the classification of this organism as a "problem germ", indicates the necessity for a more critical analysis of water used in stomatology including the elimination of possible sources of contamination.

C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1977, 171(4), 755 - 9
{The effect of zinc and cobalt ions on the chromogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of methylphosphonic acid}; Labeyrie S et al.; Adding zinc or cobalt sulphate into synthetic culture media of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was followed by partial or total inhibition of pyocyanine production, varying with the nature of the chemical source of phosphorus . An antagonism between Zn2+ and Co2+ ions was shown.

Microbios, 1977, 19(76), 103 - 16
The chemical composition of the lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO and a spontaneously derived rough mutant; Jarrell K et al.; The chemical composition of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the smooth strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO 307 and a spontaneously derived rough mutant, obtained by selection for resistance to the LPS-specific phage E79, are compared . The rough LPS was shown to contain lipid A, heptose, 2-keto 3-deoxyoctonic acid, galactosamine, alanine and phosphate but lacked glucose, rhamnose and fucosamine which were important constituents, on a weight basis, of the smooth LPS . These results, and chromatographic analysis of the polysaccharide fraction indicate that the rough strain lacked side chain material and was defective in its inner core region . The chemical date obtained were consistent with a core in the PAO strain similar to that of strain NCTC 1999, enhancing the evidence for a common core polysaccharide in the LPS of P . aeruginosa strains.

Microbios, 1977, 19(77-78), 151 - 6
Effect of certain sulphydryl compounds and dimethyl sulphoxide on potassium release by certain amines and proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Bernheim F; Dithiothreitol, cysteine, and mercapto-ethanol inhibit K+ release from cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by amines and NH4Cl incubated at pH 8.5 . The inhibitions are competitive for the monamines and NH4Cl but non-competitive for the diamines and spermidine . The percent inhibition is largest for tryptamine, least for spermidine and ethylene diamine . DMSO inhibits K+ release by monamines and certain proteins but not significantly by diamines and histamine . The inhibitions are competitive.

Microbios, 1977, 18(72), 99 - 109
Specific agglutination of Escherichia coli O128B12 by the mannose-binding proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Gilboa-Garber N et al.; The mannosephilic haemagglutinins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to agglutinate cells of Escherichia coli O128B12, to be adsorbed onto them and to attach peroxidase to them . These reactions were specifically inhibited by D-mannose . No agglutination by this Pseudomonas haemagglutinin was obtained when several other enteropathogenic types of Escherichia coli and some other Gram-negative bacteria were examined . Concanavalin A, which also reacted with Escherichia coli O128B12 cells, interacted with some of the other bacteria examined, too . Escherichia coli O128B12 was not agglutinated by the Pseudomonas galactosephilic haemagglutinins and those of the plant Phaseolus vulgaris . Its maximal agglutination by the Pseudomonas mannosephilic haemagglutinins was obtained employing cells grown for 4-6 h in conventional media . The growth temperature, aeration and presence of certain amino acids, but not D-mannose, in the culture medium had some effect on the agglutination in tensity; pH 6-8 was optimal for it and only at pH 3.0-3.2 no agglutination was observed . Treatment of the bacteria by proteolytic enzymes, ethanol or formaldehyde did not alter their agglutinability by either the Pseudomonas lectin or by antibodies produced against them in rabbits . Heating of the bacteria to 100 degrees C prevented their agglutination by the Pseudomonas lectin and lowered their ability to adsorb it, but did not significantly affect their reactions with the rabbit antibodies.

Mol Gen Genet, 1976 Dec 8, 149(2), 217 - 23
The properties of hybrids formed between the P-group plasmid RP1 and various plasmids from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Stanisich VA et al.; R38, R931-1, and R933 are conjugative plasmids derived from strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . They confer resistance to mercuric ions (Hg-r), and do not tranfer from P . aeruginosa to Escherichia coli at detectable frequencies . Hybrids between each of these plasmids and the P-group plasmid, RP1, have been detected among the rare Hg-r transconjugants arising from matings of P . aeruginosa PAO donors (RP1 + R+) and E . coli K12 recipients . Two independently isolated hybrid plasmids from each of the three mating combinations have been studied . All were found to confer the entire marker phenotype of RP1, but only the Hg-r phenotype of their second parent . Moreover, all were larger than RP1 but comprised only two groups of sizes; those increased by about 14 x 10(6) daltons (the RP1/R38 hybrids), and those increased by about 30 x 10(6) daltons (the RP1/R931-1 and RP1/R933 hybrids) . The hybrid plasmids were all too large to be transduced intact by phage F116L, but tranduction of fragments was possible . Thus, the determinants for both carbenicillin-resistance (Cb-r) (from RP1) and mercuric-ion-resistance could be "rescued" by recipients that already carried an RP1-like plasmid and were recombination-proficient . A molecular analysis of the plasmids recovered from such transductants suggested that each of the parental hybrids was comprised of an entire RP1 genome into which a fragment of heterologous DNA had been inserted . In similar experiments in which the recipient carried a derivative of R931-1, the Hg-r but not the Cb-r determinant could be rescued . This suggested that R38, R931-1, and R933 shared sufficient homology in the region of the mer gene for recombination to occur between them . The reason for the inability to rescue the Cb-r determinant was also investigated.

Mol Gen Genet, 1976 Dec 8, 149(2), 211 - 6
Isolation and characterisation of deletion mutants involving the transfer genes of P-group plasmids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Stanisich VA et al.; The P-group plasmids RP1 and R26 are recovered at low frequency following conjugal transfer to B3-lysogens of P . aeruginosa PAO . The rare carbenicillin-resistant transcipients that do arise are usually transfer-defective (Tra-) and may show the loss of other plasmid borne functions, namely kanamycin-resistance (Kmr) and reduced plating of phage G101 (Spp+) . The four phenotypic classes that occur among the Tra- derivatives are respectively, Tra- (69-81%), Tra- Spp- (12-30%), Tra- Kms and Tra- Kms Spp- (0.2-1%), of which the latter three are dut to plasmid deletions . This is seen from the sizes of the plasmids carried by these bacteria and from the transductional analysis of the R26-derivatives . Thus, although R26 (MW = 52 X 106 daltons) is too large to be transduced by phage F116L (MW = 40 X 106), this is possible for its Tra- Kms and Tra Kms Spp- derivatives . The phenotypes and frequencies of the various transcipient classes suggests that the gene order Km. . Tra. . Spp occurs in both RP1 and R26, and that Spp is more closely linked to Tra than is Km . These conclusions are supported by the sizes of the plasmid mutants since deletions spanning the loci Km Tra Spp, Km Tra, and Tra Spp involve the loss of DNA of MW 8-17 X 106, 5-13 X 106 AND 1-9 X 106 DALTONS RESPECTIVELY . Whilst all the transcipients displayed the incompatibility properties of the parent plasmids (Inc+), only some retanied plasmid surface exclusion (Sfx+) . Moreover, a strict correlation existed between the Sfx and Spp phenotypes such that the transcipients were either wild type, Sfx- Spp-, or displayed an intermediate phenotype for both characters . Thir are different manifestations of the same gene function . The deletion map of these various markers in both RP1 and R26 therefore seems to be Km. . Tra. . Sfx/Spp. . Inc.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1976 Dec 8, 452(2), 320 - 34
Mössbauer and EPR spectroscopy of protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Que L Jr et al.; Protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.3) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been investigated by EPR and Mossbauer spectroscopy . Low temperature Mossbauer data on the native enzyme (Fe3+, S = 5/2) yields a hyperfine field Hsat=-525 kG at the nucleus . This observation is inconsistent with earlier suggestions, based on EPR data of a rubredoxin-like ligand environment around the iron, i.e . a tetrahedral sulfur coordination . Likewise, the dithionite-reduced enzyme has Mossbauer parameters unlike those of reduced rubredoxin . We conclude that the iron atoms are in a previously unrecognized environment . The ternary complex of the enzyme with 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionate and O2 yields EPR signals at g = 6.7 and g = 5.3; these signals result from an excited state Kramers doublet . The kinetics of the disappearance of these signals parallels product formation and the decay of the ternary complex as observed in the optical spectrum . The Mossbauer and EPR data on the ternary complex establish the iron atoms to be a high-spin ferric state characterized by a large and negative zero-field splitting, D = approximately -2 cm-1.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1976 Dec, 163(5-6), 540 - 55
{Mutual relations between plastic materials and bacteria (author's transl)}; Toepfer CT et al.; The complex problems of microbiological degradation of synthetic plastics and a fairly wide variety of 62 testing materials, belonging to 14 major groups of plastics, are described . Adaequate and reliable testing techniques had to be devised . Drawing on the experiences of H . Braun, 1930, and of Bushnell and Haas, 1941, as to the metabolism of bacteria and the utilization of certain hydrocarbons by microorganisms, and previous research work by A . Schwartz in Berlin, 1959-60, on microbial corrosion of plastics, methods of laboratory testing were developed . The bacteriological technique was based on selection of aerobic microorganisms, which were, by starvation, adapted to use the plastic materials as their only carbon source; foreign carbon sources had to be strictly eliminated; emphasis was laid on proper, double control cultures . The test organisms involved included P . aeruginosa and fluorescens strains, also a certain species of Candida, and mixtures of soil, sewage and garbage organisms grown on exposed plastic surfaces . By means of series of passages the selective adaptation and conservation of these organisms was continued up to 4 1/2 years . An anaerobic adaptation method for Desulfovibrio desulfuricans was developed and used successfully . After preliminary experimentation (Soil burial, sewage and garbage exposure tests) in the laboratory as well as in the open, a large scale Field testing programme under realistic and to some extent extreme conditions was implemented: Nine different plastic materials comprising eight plain high polymer plastics and for comparison one synthetic Cellulose derivate, together with glass control samples, were exposed in twelve different sewage, garbage, and soil media over a period of 3 months to 2 years, and subsequently examined . On the basis of the bacteriological results obtained from the adaptation series the test materials were classified into three categories, corresponding to the stimulation of bacterial growth: Group one, which allowed strong proliferation, included certain types of plasticized P.V.C . and Cellulose esters, as expected, and, as a new result, Polyurethane rubber; the latter showed clear signs of surface corrosion . Group two, which induced a clear but moderate growth, comprised a nylon trade type of Polyamide . Gruop three, allowing weak but still recognisable growth, included Formaldehyde pressure resing (Bakelite) . This was surprising as it was thought that the formaldehyde and phenol components would exert a bacteriocidic or at least bacteriostatic effect . The results of the long and time consuming adaptation series with Pseudomonas aeruginosa were confirmed by the manometric dissimilation method of O . Warburg by means of the Braun/Melsungen apparatus . With this subtle but elegant procedure results and graphical recordings were obtained within hours and days...

Arch Microbiol, 1976 Dec 1, 111(1-2), 117 - 22
Inactivation of allantoinase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a subunit of urease; de Windt FE et al.; Cell-free extracts prepared from Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells, cultured in a medium containing allantoin as sole nsource of carbon, nitrogen and energy and harvested in the stationary phase, contain an enzymicly inactive allantoinase-inhibitor complex . Pure inhibitor was isolated by dissociation of this complex followed by gelfiltration . The inhibitor had a molecular weight of about 5500 daltons . Association between inhibitor and allantoinase was demonstrated by gelfiltration and by polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis . The inhibitor was unstable in the absence of 1 M urea and the inactivation was accompanied by aggregate formation and appearance of urease activity . The inhibitor was also isolated from cells containing urease but no allantoinase . It was concluded that the inhibitor is a subunit of urease . Inhibitors isolated from P . aeruginosa and P . acidovorans cells were active against both allantoinase from P . aeruginosa and allantoinase from P . acidovorans.

Can J Microbiol, 1976 Dec, 22(12), 1734 - 42
{Characteristics of the increased resistance of mice to Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused by Staphylococcus aureus}; Mathieu LG et al.; Mice were protected against a lethal dose of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a previous sublethal infection with Staphylococcus aureus . Under similar conditions, Staphylococcus epidermidis afforded only slight protection . The following characteristics of this increased resistance that we have observed are (1) survival of mice, and decrease of the number of viable units of P . aeruginosa in the peritoneal cavity of the same mice infected with S . aureus coagulase-positive strains, either from our laboratory collection or from hospital cases, when the time interval between the injection with staphylococci and that of P . aeruginosa was between 4 and 96 h; (2) absence of a net inhibitory effect in vitro on P . aeruginosa with serum from mice infected with a sublethal dose of coagulase-positive S . aureus; (3) changes in the appearance of peritoneal exudate cells after infection with a sublethal dose of S . aureus; P . aeruginosa injected afterwards in the peritoneal cavity of mice was eliminated; when P . aeruginosa was injected alone, "activated macrophages" were not observed and bacterial cells were present in large numbers in the exudate . The immunostimulation induced by a previous sublethal injection of S . aureus coagulase-positive strains seemed to be inhibited by the immunosuppressive drug cyclophosphamide, since mice were no longer protected against a lethal dose of P . aeruginosa . Cell immunity may intervene in such infections with opportunistic species and check the invasiveness of a gram-negative bacterium superinfecting a host already exposed to coagulase-positive S . aureus.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1976 Dec, 94(12), 2149 - 52
Effects of zinc sulfate on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and protease in rabbit corneas; Mondino BJ et al.; Zinc ions were shown to reversibly inhibit the activity of Pseudomonas protease . Zinc sulfate was more effective topically in preventing corneal perforations by this enzyme than either cysteine or edetate disodium (Na2 EDTA) . The reversibility of the enzyme inactivation by zinc sulfate and its efficacy in preventing perforations were used to estimate the duration of the enzyme activity in the cornea . The protease was found to retain its activity in the rabbit cornea for up to two days after intrastromal injection . The extent of corneal destruction in rabbit corneas infected with live Pseudomonas cells was significantly greater in eyes treated with zinc sulfate than in controls, precluding its use in a clinical setting.

Am J Vet Res, 1976 Dec, 37(12), 1441 - 4
Effect of common protective antigen vaccination to protect mink from challenge exposure with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Shimizu T et al.; The protein portion of endotoxin (OEP), or common antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa prepared from strain N10 of P aeruginosa, was examined as a possible vaccine against this organism in mink . Mink were given OEP vaccine and challenge exposed by instillation with the inoculum into the nostril . They survived after this exposure with 4 median lethal (LD50) doses of strain NC-5 (protease negative, elastase negative) or with 160 LD50 doses of strain 5 (protease positive, elastase positive) . Strain NC-5 belonged to TYPE 5 AND strain 5 belonged to type 8 (according to the serotyping method of Homma) . Strain N10, the source of OEP, belonged to serotype 5 . Thus, the mink vaccinated with OEP vaccine were able to stand challenge exposure to both homologous and heterologous serotype strains . More mink given OEP vaccine survived the challenge exposure by intranasal spraying with virulent strain 5 than did those in the nonvaccinated control group, with a significant difference . When the surviving mink of the vaccinated group were rechallenge exposed with 300 or 3,000 LD50 doses of the same strain a month later, most of them survived.

J Bacteriol, 1976 Dec, 128(3), 722 - 9
Role of 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase in the arginine metabolism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Voellym R et al.; 4-Aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABAT) from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was purified 64-fold to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity from cells grown with 4-aminobutyrate as the only source of carbon and nitrogen . Purified GABAT catalyzed the transamination of 4-aminobutyrate, N2-acetyl-L-ornithine, L-ornithine, putrescine, L-lysine, and cadaverine with 2-oxoglutarate (listed in order of decreasing activity) . The enzyme is induced in cells grown on 4-guanidinobutyrate, 4-aminobutyrate, or putrescine as the only carbon and nitrogen source . Cells grown on arginine or on glutamate contained low levels of the enzyme . The regulation of the synthesis of GABAT as well as the properties of the mutant with an inactive N2-acetyl-L-ornithin 5-aminotransferase suggest that GABAT functions in the biosynthesis of arginine by convertine N2-acetyl-L-glutamate 5-semialdehyde to N2-acetyl-Lornithine as well as in catabolic reactions during growth on putrescine or 4-guanidinobutyrate but not during growth on arginine.

Arch Otolaryngol, 1976 Dec, 102(12), 727 - 8
Skin flap survival . Influence of infection, anemia, and tubing; Nielsen RW et al.; The use of regional skin flaps in reconstructive head and neck surgery is well established . The specific factors that influence the survival of the various skin flaps are numerous . An experimental approach to this problem has been outlined and carried out . Rabbits were used to evaluate the effect of severe anemia on pedicle skin flap survival . Infected as well as noninfected flaps were studied . Skin flaps of various length-to-width ratios were placed on the backs of each rabbit . These flaps included the full-thickness skin and the panniculus carnosus . Some animals were infected with pure cultures of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Some animals were made anemic by slowly bleeding them until the desired hematocrit leading was achieved . The best flap survivals occurred in the noninfected, anemic group . The next best survival percentage was noted in the noninfected group with normal hematocrit readings . The poorest survival was noted in rabbits with a normal hematocrit reading and infection . In all groups, flattened pedicled grafts had better survival than tubed pedicled grafts.

Thoraxchir Vask Chir, 1976 Dec, 24(6), 447 - 52
{Treatment of postoperative sternal osteomyelitis (author's transl)}; Zeidler D et al.; Report on 5 cases of postoperative sternal osteomyelitis after cardiac valve replacement . In 3 cases evaluation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in probes taken of sternal wounds . Treatment of the osteomyelitis with continuous irrigation and suction supported by excochleation of the fistulae and application of pure spongiosa chips to the bone defect of the sternum . Uncomplicated postoperative course in 4 patients . In 1 patient postoperative time too short for a final decision.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1976 Dec, 29(12), 1098 - 105
{Protective effect of schizophyllan on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of mouse (author's transl)}; Koike K; Effects of schizophyllan (SPG) and several antibiotics in combination against experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were examined . (1) Whereas the increase in protective effect of SPG was not observed in combination with carbenicillin or sulbenicillin, remarkable effects could be recognized in combination with dibekacin or gentamicin (GM) . The combined therapy with SPG and GM proved to be most excellent . (2) The time course for changes of viable number of Ps . aeruginosa in various organs of mice revealed that the multiplication of the infected bacteria was more markedly inhibited in mice treated with SPG and GM in combination than those treated with each alone . (3) The increase in bactericidal activity of the peritoneal exudate cells was more remarkably demonstrated in the combined treatment with SPG and GM than with each alone, showing the rapid clearance of bacteria from the peritoneal cavity in the former . (4) The microscopic estimation demonstrated that the increase in both phagocytic index and intracellular digestion of bacteria by cultivated macrophages was larger in combination of SPG and GM than each alone . (5) The measurement of viable number of bacteria in cultivated macrophages by the plate-count method also showed that the ingestion and bactericidal activity within the cells were much higher in combined treatment with SPG and GM than each alone.

JAMA, 1976 Nov 8, 236(19), 2190 - 2
Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A sign of cystic fibrosis in young adults with chronic pulmonary disease?
Reynolds HY, Di Sant'Agnese PA, Zierdt CH.
Two adult patients with cystic fibrosis had late onset of symptoms with principal involvement only of the lungs . The absence of other typical features of cystic fibrosis confused the diagnosis . Recovery of mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa from sputum cultures helped to establish the diagnosis in these patients, because these mucoid isolates are rarely obtained from subjects who do not have cystic fibrosis . Recent findings, which have identified the mucoid isolates as predominantly a single strain of P aeruginosa and have documented its widespread carriage in the United States by patients with cystic fibrosis, point to an interesting epidemiologic relationship between this bacterium and this disease.

Arch Microbiol, 1976 Nov 2, 110(23), 287 - 93
D-Alanine dehydrogenase . Its role in the utilisation of alanine isomers as growth substrates by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01; Pioli D et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 was found to utilise both the D- and L-isomers of alpha-alanine and also beta-alanine as sole sources of carbon and energy for growth . Enzymological studies of wild-type cultures and comparison with mutants deficient in growth upon one or more isomers of alanine led to the following conclusions: (i) utilisation of D-alanine involved its direct oxidation by an inducible, membrane-bound, cytochrome-linked dehydrogenase; (ii) utilisation of L-alanine required its conversion to the directly oxidisable D-form by a soluble racemase; (iii) utilisation of beta-alanine, like L-alanine, involves both the racemase and D-alanine dehydrogenase enzymes, but in addition must involve other enzymes the identity of which is still speculative; (iv) P . aeruginosa, like Escherichia coli, appears to take up D-alanine and L-alanine by means of two specific permeases.

Lab Invest, 1976 Nov, 35(5), 501 - 6
Alterations in rabbit alveolar macrophages as a result of traumatic shock; Lockard VG et al.; Biochemical and electron microscope studies were conducted to determine the effects of traumatic shock on rabbit alveolar macrophages . Both resting and phagocytosing macrophages from the shocked animals, in comparison to comparable control macrophages, showed increased release of acid phosphatase from the cells into medium upon incubation in vitro, but decreases in the total content of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase . Studies by electron microscopy showed ultrastructural alterations in macrophages from shocked animals consisting of a reduction in the number or a complete absence of lysosomes and, in some cases, increased amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes . In vitro incubation of macrophages from shocked animals with Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed that the process of bacterial ingestion was not impaired nor were the numbers of bacteria ingested decreased as compared to control macrophages . However, the ability of macrophages from shocked animals to destroy ingested bacteria appeared to be significantly altered . Extensive degradation of Pseudomonas was observed within phagocytic vacuoles of control macrophages after 15 minutes of incubation . In contrast, the majority of ingested organisms in macrophages from shocked animals showed no evidence of degradative changes.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1976 Nov, 26(2), 355 - 62
Evidence for suppressor cell activity associated with depression of contact sensitivity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected mice; Campa M et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection depresses contact sensitivity to 2-phenyl-4-ethoximethylene-oxazolone (oxazolone), and enhances the antibody response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) in the mouse . Anti-oxazolone antibody titres were found not to be significantly different in infected and uninfected animals; thus, the major circulating classes of antibodies do not seem to be responsibile for the observed depression of skin reactivity . Low dose (20 mg/Kg) cyclophosphamide (CY) pretreatment induced a further potentiation of antibody response to SRBC, and prevented depression of contact sensitivity in infected mice . On the other hand, when infected animals were pretreated with high doses (200 mg/Kg) of CY, antibody production was completely suppressed, whereas contact sensitivity was unaffected . Since CY treatment is known to selectively inhibit B lymphocytes, and since it can abrogate the infection-induced depression of reactivity to oxazolone, it is suggested that suppressor cells, which may have B-cell characteristics, are stimulated during P . aeruginosa infection in the mouse.

Am Surg, 1976 Nov, 42(11), 849 - 52
Wound infection: a prospective study of 7519 operations; Stone AM et al.; Wound infection was prospectively studied in 7,519 consecutive operations after preoperative classification as clean, clean-contaminated, and infected . The overall infection rate was 3.9 per cent . Clean, 3.2 per cent; clean-contaminated, 4.4 per cent; contaminated, 12.4 per cent; infected, 16.2 per cent . Wound infection was not seasonally related or dependent on changes in house staff . In clean cases, the predominant role of Staphylococcus aureus (37%) has been superceded by enterococci (44%) . In clean-contaminated cases, enterococci (43.5%) were the most common, followed by Escherichia coli (40.0%) . In contaminated wounds, E . coli was most common (40.0%) . The infected case category grew mixed flora (E . coli, 82 per cent; enterococci, 54 per cent, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 43 per cent) . Nosocomial organisms were important only in the contaminated (14%) and infected (43%) categories . Antibiotic therapy before cultures are available should include agents with activity against enterococci as well as S aureus, and E . coli in clean cases.

Mikrobiologiia, 1976 Nov-Dec, 45(6), 951 - 4
{Peripheral metabolism of isomeric xylenes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Skriabin GK et al.; Microbiological oxidation of xylenes was studied with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, strain 7 . The culture grows on m-xylene and, at a lower rate, on p-xylene, but does not grow on o-xylene though partly oxidizes it . Pathways of primary enzymatic oxidation of xylenes by the culture were established . Oxidation of m-xylene follows the pathway described earlier but methylsalicylic acid formed is not accumulated in the medium and is transformed into 3-methylcatechol . The aromatic ring is splitted according to the meta pathway . It has been demonstrated for the first time that o-xylene is oxidized to o-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Nov, (11), 59 - 64
{Intergeneric transmission of chromosomal genes with the aid of Pseudomonas aeruginosa RP factor}; Domaradskii IV et al.; The author demonstrated the transmission of chromosomal genes, controlling the histidine, proline, tryptophane synthesis, from Ps . aeruginosa to E . coli in conjugation mediated through the factor of drug resistance . A simultaneous transmission of the drug resistance and of the chromosomal genes by some transconjugants with further conjugation and also in transduction, a simultaneous transmission of the mentioned signs by transductants in conjugation with RecA--recipients, and also the presence of the satellite DNA peaks in the transconjugants permitted to draw a conclusion on the formation of the replaced RP factors, R'-his, R'-pro, and also R'-protrp.

Arch Dermatol, 1976 Nov, 112(11), 1568 - 70
Pseudomonas botryomycosis; Bishop GF et al.; A patient had cutaneous botryomycosis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The diagnosis of botryomycosis was based on the clinical manifestations, results of bacterial culture, and demonstraction of the Gram-negative organisms by tissue Gram stain of the granules in the dermis and subcutaneous fat . Numerous laboratory tests, including tissue immunofluorescence and special studies with the patient's lymphocytes, failed to demonstrate an abnormality that might help to explain the pathogenesis of the granular tissue reaction in this patient.

Am J Public Health, 1976 Nov, 66(11), 1092 - 3
Pseudomonas aeruginosa serogroup 11 and pool-associated skin rash; Jacobson JA et al.; The isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, serogroup 11, from the skin lesions of bathers and from public whirlpools during outbreaks of pool-associated rash illness raises the question of whether the association is an etiologic one and if so what accounts for it . We suggest that a particular environmental adaptation of some strains of Pseudomonas and certain virulence factors they possess may enhance their pathogenic potential.

J Bacteriol, 1976 Nov, 128(2), 573 - 9
Isolation of dicarboxylic acid- and glucose-binding proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Stinson MW et al.; Inducible binding proteins for C4-dicarboxylic acids (DBP) and glucose (GBP) were isolated from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by extraction of exponential-phase cells with 0.2 M MgC12 (pH 8.5) and by an osmotic shock procedure without affecting cell viability . DBP synthesis was induced by growth on aspartate, alpha-ketoglutarate, succinate, fumarate, malate, and malonate but not by growth on acetate, citrate, pyruvate, or glucose . Binding of succinate by DBP was competitively inhibited by 10-fold concentrations of fumarate and malate but not by a variety of related substances . GBP synthesis and transport of methyl alpha-glucoside by whole cells were induced by growth on glucose or pyruvate plus galactose, 2-deoxyglucose, or methyl alpha-glucoside but not by growth on gluconate, succinate, acetate, or pyruvate . The binding of radioactive glucose by GBP was significantly inhibited by 10-fold concentrations of glucose, galactose, and glucose-1-phosphate but not by the other carbohydrates tested . The binding of glucose by GBP or succinate by DBP did not result in any chemical alteration of the substrates.

Infect Immun, 1976 Nov, 14(5), 1151 - 5
Passive immunity against pseudomonas sepsis during granulocytopenia; Harvath L et al.; Specific passive immunity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis was assessed in granulocytopenic dogs . Dogs were infused with either normal or antipseudomonas immune plasma 24 h before pseudomonas challenge . They were challenged intravenously with 10(7) serotype 6 P . aeruginosa during granulocytopenia . Treatment was evaluated by observation of survival periods, febrile responses, type 6 pseudomonas antibody titers, and quantitative cultures of blood and tissues . The results demonstrated that passively immunized dogs did not survive infection . Both normal-plasma and immune-plasma recipients had bacteremia at death, with median values of 980 and 470 pseudomonas per ml of blood, respectively . All dogs had marked febrile responses 24 h after pseudomonas challenge and had high concentrations of pseudomonas in their lung tissue at death, with median values of 10(8) pseudomonas per g of wet tissue weight . After plasma infusion, immune-plasma recipients had high concentrations of anti-pseudomonas antibody, with total antibody titers ranging from 256 to 1,024 and a median value of 1,024 . These titers were comparable to titers attained in a previous study from our laboratory using active immunization with pseudomonas lipopolysaccharide vaccine, where the median total anti-pseudomonas antibody titer was 2,048 . Actively immunized animals, however, were significantly protected against pseudomonas sepsis and had prolonged survival periods and prevention of bacteremia . The present study demonstrates that circulating type-specific antibody is not solely responsible for the protection afforded to granulocytopenic dogs actively immunized against pseudomonas.

Medicine (Baltimore), 1976 Nov, 55(6), 453 - 66
Infective endocarditis and access site infections in patients on hemodialysis; Cross AS et al.; Infective endocarditis has been a subtle and very often lethal complication of hemodialysis . Thirty-five episodes have been described to date . Antecedent infections, particularly those involving the access site, access manipulation, and dental work appear to predispose to IE . Once IE is acquired, factors associated with mortality are involvement of two or more valves, infection caused by enterococci, antecedent infection, steroid therapy, infection in the first year post-access insertion and patient age over 46 . The incidence of access infection with the arteriovenous fistula is significantly less than that associated with the arteriovenous cannula . Staphylococci are the most common organisms in access infections and in IE . Gram-negative bacilli and particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a frequent cause of access infection but an unusual cause of IE . Access removal may be madatory in the successful management of IE in patients on hemodialysis.

Biochemistry, 1976 Oct 19, 15(21), 4699 - 703
Regulatory properties of the pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Active enzyme ultracentrifugation studies; Widmer F et al.; Active enzyme ultracentrifugation studies of the pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EC 1.6.1.1.) show that the enzymatic reaction is catalyzed by a molecular species characterized by an S20,W value of about 34 S, whatever the reduced substrate may be (tri- or diphosphopyridine nucleotide) . The filamentous aggregated form of the enzyme (S20,W = 121 S and higher), identified by previous investigations (Cohen, P . T., and Kaplan, N . O . (1970), J . Biol . Chem . 245, 2825-2836; Louie, D . D., Kaplan, N . O., and Mc Lean, J . D . (1972), J . Mol . Biol . 70, 651-664), appears, therefore, to be an inactive species . The physiological implications of the enzyme are discussed . Several lines of evidence lead to the conclusion that the transhydrogenase might act as an essential link between carbohydrate catabolism and the respiratory chain.

Biochemistry, 1976 Oct 19, 15(21), 4693 - 9
Regulatory properties of the pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Kinetic studies and fluorescence titration; Widmer F et al.; Mechanisms involved in the action of the pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EC 1.6.1.1) have been investigated by means of kinetic studies and fluorescence titration . Our results, as well as those from previous investigations, suggest that the allosteric MWC model (Monod, J., Wyman, J., and Changeux, J . P . (1965), J . Mol . Biol . 12, 88-118) may be used as a first step for the explanation of the properties of the transhydrogenase . The basic reaction of the enzyme is the oxidation of reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPNH) by diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPN+) . In terms of the model, the functional R state is favored by TPNH, whereas the product triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPN+) behaves as an allosteric inhibitor, and is therefore assumed to favor the nonfunctional T state . To a slight extent, the T state is also favored by inorganic phosphate . On the other hand, adenosine 2'-monophosphate and several other 2'-phosphate nucleotides function as activators, and hence are presumed to shift the allosteric equilibrium toward the R state . The studies in this paper suggest a specific regulatory site for the transhydrogenase.

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 1976 Oct 12, 295(1), 63 - 9
Comparative studies on isolated rat hepatocytes and AS-30D hepatoma cells with leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Frimmer M et al.; Leucocidin, one of the cytotoxic principles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces potassium loss and swelling in isolated hepatocytes and in AS-30D ascites hepatoma cells in a dose and time dependent manner . Hepatoma cells are more sensitive than normal hepatocytes . As shown by scanning electron microscopy the volume increase of both types of cells is accompanied by disappearance of microvilli . In contrast to phalloidin poisoning no protrusions were formed when the cells were exposed to leucocidin under isotonic conditions.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1976 Oct, 46(5), 297 - 303
Bone marrow reactions to E . coli endotoxin or Pseudomonas original endotoxin protein in germ-free mice; Yoshida M et al.; Comparative studies between germ-free and conventional mice were made as to the bone marrow reactions to E . coli endotoxin and Pseudomonas aeruginosa OEP . With the direct smear method of the bone marrow reactions, it was found that conventional mice were more vulnerable than germ-free mice . Conventional mice were more sensitive also as to lethality . With the absolute count method of the bone marrow reactions, conventional mice were more vulnerable than germ-free mice on the increase of red blood cell number in the marrow which reflected damage of the circulation, whereas germ-free mice were more sensitive than conventional mice as to the decrease of nucleated cell number in the marrow which resulted from leukopenia and leukocytosis in the peripheral circulation . This finding as to the nucleated cell number was more remarkable in mice given OEP than in the mice given endotoxin.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1976 Oct, 84C(5), 372 - 82
The serology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa analysed by means of quantitative immunoelectrophoretic methods; Hoiby N; The conformity of the immunoprecipitate pattern obtained with a polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa antigen (St-Ag) and different pools of a polyvalent, purified (IgG and IgA) rabbit antiserum (St-Ab) against St-Ag has been studied . Ten rabbits were immunized and bled every fifth week . Eight pools of St-Ab were produced during nearly four years . All the St-Ab pools were mutually compared by means of quantitative immuno-electrophoretic methods . All St-Ab pools were found to present St-Ag/St-Ab immunoprecipitate patterns which, qualitatively and quantitatively, were similar . None of the obtained immunoprecipitates between St-Ag and the pooled antisera disappeared during the procedures of purification of IgG and IgA . Quantitative and qualitative comparison of the polyvalent St-Ab pools ("titre") was made by counting the total number of immunoprecipitates obtained by St-Ag, followed by their identification, and by calculating the mean area of 12 selected and representative immunoprecipitate . The abilities of the rabbits to produce antibodies were found to vary individually . None of the rabbits produced precipitating antibodies against all the 64 known P . aeruginosa antigens in St-Ag . On the average, each of the rabbits lacked precipitating antibodies against 5 of the antigens . By pooling antisera from 3 rabbits out of 8 only 14 per cent of the possible combinations would contain detectable precipitins against all the known antigens of St-Ag.

J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 96(2), 253 - 61
Use of auxotrophic mutants to isolate LL- or DD-isomers of 2,6-diaminopimelic acid; Saleh F et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAC7 (a mutant deficient in diaminopimelate epimerase), excreted diaminopimelate (solely LL-isomer) after growth in a minimal medium plus lysine with succinate as carbon source . More diaminopimelate was excreted when bacteria were transferred at the end of the exponential phase of growth into fresh minimal medium without lysine but supplemented with pyrivate and additional (NH4)2SO4 . The excreted LL-isomer was isolated from the culture filtrate by ion-exchange chromatography and purified by crystallization (1.7 g/9 1 culture) . A diaminopimelate-requiring mutant of Bacillus megaterium NCIB7581 grew on LL- and/or meso-diaminopimelate but not on the DD-isomer . This mutant was used to isolate the DD-idomer from a mixture of synthetic LL- and DD-diaminopimelate . It was grown in a minimal medium containing glycerol as carbon source and LL- plus DD-diaminopimelate at a growth-limiting concentration (300 mg l-1); when growth stopped, the DD-diaminopimelate that remained in the culture was isolated and crystallized (1.0 g/II l culture).

Infect Immun, 1976 Oct, 14(4), 942 - 7
Neutralizing antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin in human sera: evidence for in vivo toxin production during infection; Pollack M et al.; Antibody to Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin was detected in human sera by using a cytotoxicity-neutralization assay . Serum antitoxin was present in high titer in all 14 patients who recovered from serious pseudomonas infections (log2 of 50% neutralization titer, mean +/- standard deviation = 6.0 +/- 1.2) . In contrast, serum antitoxin was present in lower titer in four of seven patients with fatal pseudomonas infections (3.3 +/- 2.7, P less than 0.005), in 3 of 7 patients with non-pseudomonas infections (1.4 +/- 0.6 P less than 0.001), and in 6 of 14 normal control subjects (2.0 +/- 1.3, P less than 0.001) . Fourfold or greater serum antitoxin rises were demonstrated in two survivors of acute infections, and toxin-neutralizing activity was associated with the immunoglobulin G fraction of human sera . Immunization of rabbits with purified exotoxin also induced high antitoxin titers.

J Gen Virol, 1976 Oct, 33(1), 99 - 106
The isolation and characterization of a lipopolysaccharide-specific Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage; Jarrell K et al.; The isolation and some properties of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-specific phage isolated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa is reported . The phage, designtaed omega PLS-I, is a Bradley A type phage with a head diameter of 70 nm and a contractile tail 120 nm long . The average adsorption rate constant for omegaPLS-I is 4-48 X 10(-9) ml/min . omegaPLS-I is inactivated by purified LPS from P . aeruginosa strain 1-1A, showing a PhI50 value of 1-25 mug/ml.

J Hyg (Lond), 1976 Oct, 77(2), 211 - 20
Toxic activity against alveolar macrophages of products of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from respiratory and non-respiratory sites; Al-Dujaili AH; The toxic effect of certain products of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on guinea-pig alveolar macrophages has been studied in an attempt to account for the apparent infrequency with which certain strains of this species are associated with respiratory infection . Texts were carried out on strains derived from the respiratory tract, strains from infection at other sites, and strains from the inanimate hospital environment which were believed not to have been responsible for infection ('environmental' strains) . Haemolysin, pigments, enzyme-containing fractions, slime and cell-wall fraction all exhibited toxic activity against macrophages in an in vitro system, although for any given strain of Ps . aeruginosa the haemolysin was by far the most potent factor . The activity of this factor against macrophages was directly proportional to its haemolytic activity against human erythrocytes . The haemolysin fractions of environmental strains, which have previously been found to have little activity on erythrocytes, were also less active against macrophages than haemolysin preparations from 'infective' strains . It is therefore postulated that the ability of a strain of Ps . aeruginosa to initiate respiratory infection may be related to the degree of haemolysin production . The activity of other fractions against macrophages is more variable, but they may contribute in different ways to the development of infection once entry into the lung has been achieved.

Can J Ophthalmol, 1976 Oct, 11(4), 323 - 6
Inhibition of pseudomonas strains in two soft contact lens soaking solutions; Penner JL et al.; Ten Pseudomonas aeruginosa and six Pseudomonas cepacia strains recently isolated from infected patients were tested for susceptibility to the antimicrobial activity of two commercially-available soft contact lens soaking solutions . No strain showed evidence of viability after two hours but survivors were found in both solutions after one-half hour and in one solution after one hour . The solution most effective in inhibiting the Pseudomonas strains contained chlorhexidine and disodium edetate but each solution was effective in reducing heavy inocula of both species within the times recommended by the manufacturers.

Can J Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 22(10), 1425 - 9
The release and characterization of some periplasm-located enzymes of Pseudomona aeruginosa; Bhatti AR et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027) releases four periplasm-located enzymes, i.e., ribonuclease (EC 3.1.4.22; EC 3.1.4.23), alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), cyclic-2', 3'-phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.d), and 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) into the medium during growth . Ribonuclease and alkaline phosphatase are classed as enzymes which are readily extracted by osmotic shock and spheroplast formation whereas cyclic-2',3'-phosphodiesterase and 5'-nucleotidase are classed as enzymes which are not readily extracted by these procedures . In view of the relative ease of extraction of the former enzymes it is suggested that the lattter enzymes, cyclic-2',3'-phosphodiesterase and 5'-nucleotidase, are bound and located in the periplasm in a manner different to ribonuclease and alkaline phosphatase.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1976 Oct, 82(4), 619 - 27
Therapeutic effects of heparin on Pseudomonas-induced corneal ulceration; Ellison A et al.; Fifty organisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were injected intralamellarly in both eyes of 60 albino rabbits . Twenty-four hours later, all eyes were graded and stratified into six groups of ten rabbits with equivalent infections . Treatment was begun with gentamicin alone or 0.3% polymyxin B alone, and in combination with acetylcysteine, 0.3M edetate disodium, and 2.500 units/ml of heparin sodium, four times daily . We also compared topical colistin and colistin and topical heparin . After two weeks, those corneas treated with polymyxin B and topical heparin showed a reduction in ulceration, corneal thinning, and descemetocele formation compared to those treated with polymyxin B alone . Based on these studies, heparin was administered topically, four times daily, to three patients with Pseudomonas-induced corneal ulcers in addition to antibiotics . Before treatment all corneas showed evidence of corneal liquefaction and two of the corneas were in imminent danger of perforation . After therapy, no corneas perforated; one patient recovered visual acuity of 6/9 (20/30), one patient recovered visual acuity of 6/6 (20/20) after keratoplasty, and the third has a vascularized leukoma.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1976 Oct, 84C(5), 383 - 9
The serology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa analysed by means of quantitative immunoelectrophoretic methods . V . Thermostability, resistance to degradation by plasmin activity and storage conditions of a polyvalent P . aeruginosa reference standard-antigen; Hoiby N; The stability of a polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa antigen (St-Ag) was analysed under different experimental conditions by quantitative immunoelectrophoretic methods . St-Ag did not undergo proteolytic degradation by plasmin which is present in the corresponding polyvalent rabbit antiserum (St-Ab) against St-Ag . Storage at -30 degrees C for up to 4 years caused no qualitative changes in St-Ag and, after 1 year, only minor quantitative changes could be revealed . Repeated thawing and freezing caused no changes in St-Ag whereas storage at 4 degrees C, or at room temperature, caused gradual degradation of most of the antigens of St-Ag, beginning after 1 week . Heating up to 40 degrees C for 2 min did not change St-Ag, but heating for longer periods of time or at higher temperatures gradually destroyed most of the antigens of St-Ag . The most thermostable antigen in St-Ag was number 37 which is related to the group specific O antigens.

Surgery, 1976 Oct, 80(4), 465 - 73
Cerium nitrate: a new topical antiseptic for extensive burns; Monafo WW et al.; The wounds of 60 burned patients were treated topically with cerium nitrate, which was applied either as a cream or in aqueous solution . Cerium nitrate has a potent antiseptic effect in human burn wounds, especially against gram negative bacteria and fungi . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered from the wounds infrequently and never predominated . Fungi were practically never found . No patient treated with cerium developed a necrotizing wound infection . Analysis of the detailed bacteriological data indicated that, in contrast to previous results with use of the nitrate or sulfadiazine salts of silver, when gram negative species predominated, the flora tended to be predominantly gram positive when cerium was used . Therefore, some patients were treated simultaneously with cerium nitrate and silver sulfadiazine; this resulted in an even more efficient suppression of the wound flora than was observed previously with either cerium alone or silver salts alone; results with the simultaneous topical therapy in patients with injuries that previously were uniformly lethal were excellent . No toxicity attributable to the use of cerium was observed, although one instance of methemoglobinemia due to nitrate was documented . The adsorption of topically applied cerium essentially is nil . The use of cerium nitrate was associated with a nearly 50 percent reduction in the anticipated death rate . Cerium nitrate is a promising new topical antiseptic agent for the treatment of burns, particularly when it is used in combination with silver sulfadiazine.

Infect Immun, 1976 Oct, 14(4), 1077 - 86
Large-scale purification and characterization of the exotoxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Leppla SH; The exotoxin (PE) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was purified from 50-liter cultures by a simple three-step procedure, yielding 135 mg of essentially homogeneous protein . In Ouchterlony gel diffusion, PE produces a single line which does not interact with a diphtheria toxin-antitoxin precipitin line . The protein has a molecular weight of 66,000, an isoelectric point of 5.1, N-terminal arginine, and four disulfide bridges . The amino acid composition shows no apparent similarity to that of diphtheria toxin . The median lethal dose of this PE preparation in mice weighing 20 g is 0.1 mug . The median lethal dose in 350-g rats is 20 mug . The cytotoxicity of PE for mouse L929 fibroblasts is completely neutralized by small amounts of specific pony antitoxin . The exotoxin possesses adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation activity . Both cytotoxic and adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation activities are shown to be properties of the intact 66,000-dalton protein.

Biochemistry, 1976 Sep 21, 15(19), 4197 - 208
Kinetics and equilibria of the electron transfer between azurin and the hexacyanoiron (II/III) couple; Goldberg M et al.; The electron transfer reaction between the "blue" single copper protein azurin (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and the hexacyanoiron (II/III) couple has been studied . Equilibrium constants for the reduction of azurin were measured spectrophotometrically in the temperature range 5-33 degrees C (K = 1.1 X 10(-2) at 25 degrees C, deltaH degrees = 10.9 kcal/mol, 0.1 M potassium phosphate, pH 7.0, I = 0.22) . The enthalpy change was also determined by microcalorimetry and from the analysis of chemical relaxation amplitudes . Following a temperature-jump perturbation of this equilibrium, only a single relaxation was observed . The reciprocal of the relaxation time increased linearly as oxidized azurin was reacted with increasing amounts of ferrocyanide, yet reached saturation when reduced azurin was titrated with ferricyanide . This behavior as well as the analysis of the relaxation amplitudes led to the following scheme for this system: see article . At 25 degrees C the rate constants for the electron transfer were k+3=6.4s-1 and k-3=45s-1, the association constants K1=54 M-1 and K2-1=610 M-1 . The activation and overall thermodynamic parameters as well as the individual thermodynamic values for the different steps were combined to construct a self-consistent energy profile for the reaction.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1976 Sep, 47(3), 223 - 6
Discolouration of wool: 1 green discolouration; Van Tonder EM et al.; Since 1974 green bacterial discolouration of Merino wool was frequently encountered in the Karoo and Eastern Cape areas . The occurrence of this condition coincided with the extraordinary wet conditions that prevailed during this period . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered in almost pure culture from affected wool of 24 out of 25 different sheep . The role played by this particular organism was fonfirmed by the successful reproduction of this condition after exposure of unaffected sheep to cultures of Ps . aeruginosa isolated from green wool.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Sep, 134(3), 290 - 3
beta-Lactamase activity in Chromobacterium violaceum; Farrar WE Jr et al.; A strain of Chromobacterium violaceum isolated from a fatally infected patient was found to produce a beta-lactamase . When the organism was grown in drug-free medium, beta-lactamase activity was barely detectable, but when it was grown in the presence of penicillin G, a much larger amount of activity was produced . The beta lactamase was active primarily against cephalosporins; it was sensitive to inhibition by cloxacillin but resistant to p-chloromercuribenzoate . Thus this enzyme closely resembled the common type of beta-lactamase found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The organism was relatively susceptible to ticarcillin, carbenicillin, and cefoxitin, which resected hydrolysis by its beta-lactamase, but was quite resistant to 11 other beta-lactam antibiotics . Production of the beta-lactamase appeared to be mediated by chromosomal genes.

J Bacteriol, 1976 Sep, 127(3), 1524 - 8
Motility as a morphogenic character in the genus Arthrobacter; Stanlake GJ et al.; Motility in Arthrobacter atrocyaneus, A . citreus, and A . simplex was found to correlate with the morphogenic cycle of these organisms . The percentage of the A . atrocyaneus and A . simplex populations that were flagellated at a given time during the growth cycle differed significantly from that of the normorphogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa population . Flagellation in A . atrocyaneus was shown to be dependent upon the morphogenic cycle rather than upon growth . The commitment to flagellar synthesis in A . atrocyaneus was found to occur only after induction to the rod morphology . Flagellar synthesis in A . atrocyaneus was shown to be restricted to only a small segment of the morphogenic cycle.

Ann Sclavo, 1976 Sep-Oct, 18(5), 749 - 54
{Study on the sensibility "in vitro" to antibiotics of 77 strains of "Pseudomonas aeruginosa" (author's transl)}; Padovani F et al.; It has been studied the sensibility in vitro to antibiotics of 77 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from various biological materials derived from sheltered patients . The best results have been obtained with colistin, carbenicillin and gentamicin which have done inhibition respectively in 80.5%, 70.1% and 50.6% of the strains.

Ann Sclavo, 1976 Sep-Oct, 18(5), 743 - 8
{Resistance "in vitro" to several antibiotics of "Pseudomonas aeruginosa" strains isolated both in cases from the hospital and in cases from the outside . Considerations on the differences in the resistance between the two groups (author's transl)}; Bucci M et al.; The sensibility of Ps . aeruginosa strains to several antibiotics has been tested in vitro . The strains have been divided into two groups: a group of 42 cases from the Hospital and a group of 31 cases from the outside . Then the percentage of resistance to each antibiotic of the cases in both groups has been calculated, and so has the significance of the differences between the percentages, whenever a difference has been found out . The strains from the Hospital have proved to be significantly more resistant to Rifampicin and to Nalidixic acid, whereas the strains from the outside have shown greater resistance to Humatin, with a semi-significant difference however . All the other differences between percentages haven't proved to be significant.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Sep, (9), 126 - 9
{Serotyping strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Smirnova NE; A total of 552 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were obtained in 1970-1975 from different hospitals; the strains were isolated from various sources . Serotyping of these cultures was carried out with the aid of a set of agglutinating sera (20 in all) prepared by the author, and 97.5% of these cultures were typed . A high percentage of the strains belonging to the II, III, and IV serological groups and to the serotype 011 pointed to the epidemiological significance of these serological groups . The results obtained showed the expediency of introduction of the method of serological typing of the Ps . aeruginosa cultures into the public health practice for the purpose of epidemiological analysis.

J Trauma, 1976 Sep, 16(9), 734 - 8
Altered neutrophil phagocytic function in burn patients; Grogan JB; Neutrophil ingestion and bactericidal capacity were studied in 35 burn patients . Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the test microorganism, it was found that defects in bactericidal capacity were common, particularly in phagocytes of patients with burns greater than 30% of the body surface . Even though reduced neutrophil ingestion was observed in a significant number of assays the incidence was low in comparison to the incidence of reduced bactericidal capacity . Defects in phagocytic function were not detected until at least 5 days after injury and at the time of discharge all patients that were studied had resumed normal phagocytic function.

Am J Physiol, 1976 Aug, 231(2), 476 - 82
Protein metabolism in burned rats; Brown WL et al.; Incorporation of {2-14C}glycine was used to estimate serum protein synthesis in four groups of rats . These were the control (group C); 20% body surface burn (group B); 20% burn, seeded with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (group BI); and burned-infected treated topically with mafenide (alpha-amino-p-toluenesulfonamide) acetate (group BIS), a treatment which controls P, aeruginosa burn-wound infection in humans . On the 6th day postburn the relative specific activities of all fractions were increased in the order BI greater than BIS greater than B greater than C, as were the concentrations of the globulins; Serum albumin concentration fell, being lowest in BI . Tissue albumin contents, measured by radioimmunoassay, of eviscerated blood-free bodies of rats were (mg/100 g rat wt): C, 207; B, 294; BI, 256 . Analyses of individual tissues showed that the difference was due to increased albumin content in the burn-wound area . The tissue albumin was of normal molecular size and was immunologically reactive . We conclude that the prolonged hypoalbuminemia following burn injury is not a consequence of impaired albumin synthesis, but a result of altered compartmentation.

Br Med J, 1976 Aug 7, 2(6031), 349 - 50
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections associated with use of contaminated medicaments; Baird RM et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered from three hospital-prepared medicaments being used on the wards . Sixty-six patients were studied to observe the effect of using these contaminated medicaments . Psaeruginosa was recovered from 29 patients; in five the strains recovered bore a close resemblance to strains previously isolated from the contaminated medicaments.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134 Suppl, S191 - 3
Tobramycin therapy of infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis: effect of dosage and concentration of antibiotic in sputum; McCrae WM et al.; Established respiratory infections with mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis were treated with conventional as well as larger doses of tobramycin . The infection was eradicated in four of the 17 patients treated, but the duration of follow-up study of one patient was short . It appeared that treatment was most successful in those patients in whom the highest peak concentrations of tobramycin in sputum were obtained . No side effects were noted, even when tobramycin was given in large doses for two weeks.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1976 Aug-Sep, 127B(2), 189 - 93
{A complementary phage-typing scheme for "P . aeruginosa" (author's transl)}; Ferreira MO et al.; Twenty per cent of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in Portugal are non typable with the phage-typing Lindberg system, but most of them may be typed with the aid of a new phage-typing method . This complementary scheme of phage-typing is based on the use of 15 new phages from sewage; 39 phage-types were found among a group of the non-typable strains isolated in several hospitals in Lisbonne . The relations between the serotypes, the pyocinotypes and the new lysotypes are investigated.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1976 Aug, 46(4), 245 - 56
Studies on the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the use of ligated rabbit intestines (the De test); Okada K et al.; The De test was used as a test to assess the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo . The test was positive in rabbits inoculated intraintestinally with the protease and elastase-producing strain IFO 3455 of P . aeruginosa whereas it was negative in those inoculated with the nonproducing strains NC-5 or PA103 . Animals similarly injected with not less than 2.0 mg of protease or elastase showed positive De tests . The intestinal lesions produced in the animals with positive reaction to the inoculation with the enzyme-producing strain IFO 3455 was histopathologically characterized by atrophy, detachment and flattening of the mucosa with submucosal hemorrhage and atrophy of the Auerbach's plexus, which were nearly comparable to a sum of the microscopic findings found in the animals inoculated with respective enzymes singly . Namely, villi were noted to be atrophic and hemorrhage from the submucosal blood vessels was prominent with atrophy of the mesenteric plexus in the rabbits inoculated with protease alone, whereas in those injected with elastase alone, submucosal hemorrhage was less prominent besides the atrophy of the villi and mesenteric plexuses were markedly atrophic . These experimental findings are considered to suggest that the two enzymes liberated from P . aeruginosa, protease and elastase, may be implicated in the pathogenesis of P . aeruginosa enteritis.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Aug, 235(4), 413 - 20
{A comparison of antibiotic resistance patterns and pyocine types between strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from animal and human sources (author's transl)}; Kuchler R et al.; 291 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from human bacteriological samples were compared with 102 strains which had been isolated from animals for frequency of pyocine-types and patterns of antibiotic resistance . 146 strains had been isolated from hospitalized patients and 145 from out-patients . More strains of animal origin were sensitive to carbenicillin and tetracyclines compared to strains of human origin . Since the frequency of different pyocine-types is the same in all three groups, it is concluded, that antibiotic resistance may be transferred from man to animal and vice versa via transfer of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

J Trop Med Hyg, 1976 Aug, 79(8), 177 - 81
Serious infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Alausa KO et al.; Infections due to Ps . aeruginosa are a problem in the tropics as in other parts of the world . Over a four year period, 15 patients attending University College Hospital, Ibadan, were proved to have septicaemia due to this organism and 13 patients died rapidly as a direct result of the infection . The two patients who survived the acute episode had received immediate treatment with at least one antibiotic active against Ps . aeruginosa: a third patient, who received immediate appropriate antibiotic therapy, was already suffering from aplastic anaemia and died rapidly despite treatment . The remaining patients received inappropriate antibiotic therapy because pseudomonas infection was not suspected at the time the diagnosis of septicaemia was made . Patients most at risk appear to be the very young and those with pre-existing malignant or other conditions affecting the defence mechanisms of the body: it is suggested that routine initial management of such patients should include a blood culture, followed by immediate treatment with an antibiotic combination that includes at least one agent likely to be active against Ps . aeruginosa . The development of medical services can lead to the introduction of ophthalmic or other operations on tissues that are highly susceptible to infection before facilities are provided for the maintenance of a pathogen-free environment . Following an outbreak of eye infection after cataract extractions, carried out in an old and unsatisfactory theatre, wide-spread room contamination was demonstrated with the same strains of Ps . aeruginosa that had been responsible for the clinical infections . Chemical disinfection of the theatre floor failed to eliminate the organisms, although other experiments suggested that the drying effect of air-conditioning would be successful in this respect . The wisdom of introducing such operations before the provision of adequate facilities is seriously questioned.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134 Suppl, S50 - 6
Comparative in vitro activity of tobramycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, colistin, carbenicillin, and ticarcillin and clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: epidemiological and therapeutic implications; Dulong de Rosnay HL et al.; The susceptibility of clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to six antibiotics was related to the epidemiologic knowledge yielded by serotyping . The agar dilution method for determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the Habs serotyping system were used . Effectiveness of each agent ranked highest to lowest as follows: tobramycin, colistin, ticarcillin, carbenicillin, gentamicin, and kanamycin . For many isolates, the MICs of gentamicin were close to the peak level in serum . Susceptibility to carbenicillin and to ticarcillin were highly correlated, with MICs of ticarcillin half those of carbenicillin . Similary, susceptibility to gentamicin and to tobramycin were correlated . For susceptible strains, MICs of gentamicin were two to four times greater than those of tobramycin . However, strains resistant to gentamicin were clearly in one of two groups: susceptible to tobramycin or resistant to the drug . Most strains resistant to both gentamicin and tobramycin were serotype 11, whereas those resistant gentamicin and kanamycin only were nonagglutinable.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134 Suppl, S194 - 7
Tobramycin and ticarcillin therapy for exacerbations of pulmonary disease in patients with cystic fibrosis; Parry MF et al.; Patients who had cystic fibrosis and acute infectious exacerbations of pulmonary disease produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were treated with a combination of tobramycin and ticarcillin . P . aeruginosa recovered from patients was inhibited by lower concentrations of both of these drugs than of gentamicin or carbenicillin . Thirteen courses of treatment were administered to 11 patients (mean, 14.4 days) . A favorable response was seen in 11 of 12 completed courses of treatment . Improvement was associated with decreases in white blood cell count, temperature, and sedimentation rate . Adverse reactions were uncommon . Although P . aeruginosa was not eradicated from the sputum, the clinical results suggest that the combination of tobramycin and ticarcillin may be particularly useful for treatment of acute exacerbations of pulmonary disease in patients with cystic fibrosis from whom P . aeruginosa is isolated.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134 Suppl, S187 - 90
Tobramycin in treatment of infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis; Crozier DN et al.; The effectiveness and safety of tobramycin against infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis were studied in 15 patients with moderate-to-severe exacerbation of chronic pulmonary infection . Seventeen courses of treatment were given . Tobramycin (5-7.5 mg/kg per day) was administered intravenously in three divided doses per day (seven to 21 days) . All specimens of sputum yielded moderate-to-heavy growth of P . aeruginosa; all isolates were inhibited by 4 mug of tobramycin/ml, and in seven cases isolates were not inhibited by 4 mug of gentamicin/ml . The mean levels of tobramycin in the blood were 4.4 mug/ml 0.5-1 hr and 0.8 mug/ml 7.5-8 hr after administration . All patients received an antistaphylococcal agent before, during, and after therapy . All patients except for two received 750 mg of carbenicillin/kg per day intravenously in six divided doses and 1 g of carbenicillin in a mask for inhalation three times a day . Both clinical and radiological improvement was noted in all patients . The white blood cell count, which was elevated in seven patients, returned to normal, and levels of blood gases improved . P . aeruginosa was eliminated from the sputum in five cases . No adverse side effects were noted.

J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 4(2), 124 - 8
Preparation of typing antisera specific for O antigens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Duncan NH et al.; Results of serotyping 966 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed that 72% agglutinated specifically in one or another of the 16 typing antisera, but 28% agglutinated in two or more and often in as many as 10 antisera; this polyagglutinability correlated with a high incidence of cross-reactivity among the antisera . Absorption of each typing antiserum with either cell suspensions of five O-type strains or with a suspension of a particular polyagglutinable strain (SMC 247) abolished cross-reactivity in the typing antisera without significantly reducing titers against the homologous strains . All but four of the polyagglutinable strains agglutinated specifically in one or another absorbed antisera . The cross-reactions of unabsorbed antisera were interpreted to have been caused by antibodies directed not against specific O antigens but against thermostable specificities that remain undefined.

Infect Immun, 1976 Aug, 14(2), 564 - 70
Murine gastrointestinal tract as a portal of entry in experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; Schook LB et al.; Peroral administration of viable Pseudomonas aeruginosa into the stomach of mice resulted in an acute systemic infection, with death occurring within 72 h . One strain, ATCC 19660, a non-encapsulated form of P . aeruginosa, had a median lethal dose of 5.3 X 10(6) colony-forming units, whereas two encapsulated strains, ATCC 17933 and 17934, had median lethal dose values of 5.0 x 10(7) and 5.6 x 10(7) colony-forming units, respectively . Each strain required fewer organisms to establish a lethal infection via the stomach than by intravenous or intraperitoneal routes . The non-encapsulated strain, ATCC 19660, did not cause any diarrhea in the infected animals, whereas the two encapsulated strains, although less virulent, caused diarrhea when administered perorally . No signs of necrosis were noted within the gastrointestinal tract; however, hematogenous spread of the organism resulted in a vasculitis associated with the pulmonary vessels and bacterial invasion of the renal tissues . Treatment of animals with antineoplastic drugs 24 h before or simultaneously with peroral challenge resulted in an increased susceptibility to infection.

Infect Immun, 1976 Aug, 14(2), 490 - 5
Rat polyvinyl sponge model for the study of infections: host factors and microbial proliferation; Isenberg HD et al.; Female rats were treated with several administration regimens of methylprednisolone, cobra venom anti-complementary factor, and cyclophosphamide in conjunction with polyvinyl sponge implantations . The effect of these drugs on host factors active against bacteria was evaluated with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25933, Escherichia coli K-12, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa CDC 7725 . One of two implants in each animal was infected with 10(8) of one of the three bacteria, and bacterial and granulocyte content was determined in the infected and control sponges after 48 h . The single large dose of methylprednisolone decreased staphylococcal and E . coli clearance while promoting dissemination of P . aeruginosa . A low chronic dose of the steroid inhibited E . coli chemotaxis only . A higher dose of the steroid administered chronically interfered markedly with S . aureus and E . coli curtailment by the host while leading to enhanced dissemination of P . aeruginosa, accompanied by a precipitous decline in granulocytes . Results with cobra factor resembled the higher chronic dose of steroid enhancing, especially the dissemination of the pseudomonad and its anti-granulocytic propensity . Cyclophosphamide depression of granulocytes revealed the rat's ability to curtail the proliferation of particular S . aureus and E.coli strains even in the absence of leukocytes . This treatment resulted in the rapid spread of P . aeruginosa, leading to the death of some experimental animals . These experiments underline the versatility of this animal model in the study of host and microbial factors influential in infectious disease.

Infect Immun, 1976 Aug, 14(2), 483 - 9
Rat polyvinyl sponge model for the study of infections: initial investigations; Isenberg HD et al.; Polyvinyl sponges were implanted subcutaneously on both sides of young female rats . One sponge was infected with 10(8) of either Escherichia coli K-12 F-, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa CDC 7725 . P . aeruginosa remained at the inoculum level and S . aureus declined by 1 log, whereas E . coli was reduced 1,000-fold . Only P . aeruginosa was recovered from the blood in 36% of the animals in 24 h and in 20% of the rats in 48 h . The nutrient potential of rat inflammatory fluid was compared to nutrient broth by growth of each bacterium in untreated and heat-inactivated sponge fluids and Trypticase soy broth.

Infect Immun, 1976 Aug, 14(2), 399 - 402
Granulocyte function and Pseudomonas burn wound infection; McEuen DD et al.; Granulocyte function in burn injury has been evaluated with an in vitro animal assay . Bactericidal activity, using this technique, was markedly depressed only when granulocytes from scald burned rats were challenged with each of three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of autologous postburn serum or heat-inactivated serum . Preincubation of postburn and normal serum at 37 degrees C for 1 h resulted in normal phagocytosis . These studies validate an investigation of plasma and/or granulocyte replacement therapy in the burned patient.

J Med Microbiol, 1976 Aug, 9(3), 363 - 4
The presence of a variant of type-IIIa beta-lactamase in a series of strains isolated in a burns unit; Richmond MH; An outbreak of carbenicillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a Burns Unit in 1968-69 occurred in two phases separated by a period when no resistant pseudomonas were detected . Nevertheless, strains of Klebsiella aerogenes carrying R factors similar to those in the pseudomonas strains were encountered in the intervening period . The similarity of the plasmids occurring in all stages of this outbreak has been confirmed by the fact that each specifies a novel variant of type-IIIa beta-lactamase.

Am J Med, 1976 Aug, 61(2), 298 - 302
Malignant external otitis: a severe form of otitis in diabetic patients; Zaky DA et al.; Two cases of malignant external otitis are presented and the literature is reviewed . The disease seems to occur exclusively in elderly diabetic patients . Diagnosis is mostly a clinical one, and requires a high index of suspicion . The characteristic clinical manifestations are pain and severe tenderness of the tissues around the ear and mastoid, persistent drainage and the presence of granulation tissue at the junction of the osseus and cartilagenous portions of the external ear . Roentgenographic findings are not helpful in the early stages . The pathogenesis of this disease depends on the presence of clefts in the cartilage forming the floor of the external auditory canal at its junction with the osseus portion through which infection can spread from the external ear to the deep soft tissues . Serious and often fatal complications may ensue . The most common and earliest symptom to appear if facial nerve palsy . Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been isolated uniformly, in pure or mixed cultures . This entity, therefore, should be borne in mind whenever an elderly diabetic patient presents with external otitis not amenable to the usual methods of therapy . Ps . aeruginosa should be strongly suspected, and its isolation should prompt vigorous systemic treatment with gentamicin and carbenicillin before extensive necrosis of cartilage and bone takes place . Any delay in diagnosis and management will lead to a serious and often fatal complications.

Biochem J, 1976 Aug 1, 157(2), 423 - 30
A purification procedure for the soluble cytochrome oxidase and some other respiratory proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Parr SR et al.; The production of the soluble cytochrome oxidase/nitrite reductase in the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is favoured by anaerobic conditions and the presence of KNO3(20g/l) in the culture medium . Of three methods commonly used for the disruption of bacterial suspensions (ultrasonication, liquid-shear homogenization and glass-bead grinding), sonication proved the most efficient in releasing the Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase . A polarographic assay of Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase activity with sodium ascorbate as substrate and NNN'N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride as electron mediator is described . A purification procedure was developed which can be used on the small scale (40-litre cultures) or the large scale (400-litre cultures) and provides high yields of three respiratory-chain proteins, Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase, cytochrome c551 and azurin, in a pure state . A typical preparation of 250g of Ps.aeruginosa cell paste yielded 180mg of Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase, 81 mg of Pseudomonas cytochrome c551 and 275mg of Pseudomonas azurin.

J Bacteriol, 1976 Aug, 127(2), 794 - 802
Purification and properties of two deoxyribonucleases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Miller RV et al.; A survey of the major deoxyribonucleases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO was undertaken . Two activities predominated in Brij-58 lysates of this organism . These have been purified from contaminating nuclease activities, and some of their properties have been elucidated . The first was a nuclease that degraded heat-denatured deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to mono- and dinucleotides . The activity of this enzyme was confined to single-stranded DNA, and 100% of the substrate was hydrolyzed to acid-soluble material . The Mg2+ optimum is low (1 to 3mM), and the molecular weight is 6 X 10(4) . The second predominant activity was an adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-dependent deoxyribonuclease . This enzyme had an absolute dependence on the presence of ATP Mg2+ concentrations of approximately 10 mM . Five moles of ATP was consumed for each mole of phosphodiester bonds cleaved . The acid-soluble products of the reaction consisted of short oligonucleotides from one to six bases in length . Only 50% of the double-stranded DNA was rendered acid soluble in a limit digest . The molecular weight of this enzyme is 3 X 10(5) . The observation of these enzymes in P . aeruginosa is consistent with the possibility that recombinational pathways similar to those of Escherichia coli are operating in this organism.

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 1976 Jul 16, 294(1), 85 - 9
Cardiovascular reactions induced by leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Frimmer M et al.; Leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes cardiovascular failure in rats and mice . The time between i.v . injection and death depends on the dose . After injection of high doses (500 mug/kg) the arterial blood pressure decreases rapidly and cardiac irregularities and AV block occur within about 5 min . In contrast to endotoxin shock no pulmonary hypertension was observed, whereas portal hypertension was seen in our experiments . Injection of lower doses (less than 200 mug/kg) caused peripheral vascular damage with lung oedema, vascular disturbances in various tissues, exudation and bleeding . Finally cardiac insufficiency predominated . Dexamethasone delayed the symptoms but did not prevent death in either rats or mice . Heparin was ineffective in this type of shock.

Eur J Biochem, 1976 Jul 15, 66(3), 467 - 75
Affinity chromatography and binding studies on immobilized 5'-monophosphate and adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate of nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Hojeberg B et al.; 1 . Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was purified to apparent homogeneity with an improved method employing affinity chromatography on N6-(6aminohexyl)-adenosine 2', 5'-bisphosphate-Sepharose 4B . 2 . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified transhydrogenase carried out in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate, indicated a minimal molecular weight of 55000 +/- 2000 . 3 . The kinetic and regulatory properties of the purified transhydrogenase resembled those of the crude enzyme, i.e., NADPH, adenosine 2'-monophosphate and Ca2+ were activators whereas NADP+ was inhibitory . 4 . Nicotinamide nucleotide-specific release of binding of the transhydrogenase to N6-(6-aminohexyl)-adenosine-2',5'-bisphosphate-Sepharose and N6-(-aminohexyl)-adenosine-5'-monophosphate-Sepharose suggests the presence of at least two separate binding sites for nicotinamide nucleotides, one that is specific for NADP(H) and one that binds both NAD(H) and NADP(H) . 5 . Binding of transhydrogenase to N6-)6-aminohexyl)-adenosine-2',5'-bisphosphate-Sepharose and activation of the enzyme by adenosine-2',5'-bisphophate showed a marked pH dependence . In contrast, inhibition of the Ca2+-activated enzyme by adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate was virtually constant at various pH values . This descrepancy was interpreted to indicate the existence of separate nucleotide-binding effector and active sites.

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