Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Jul, (7), 105 - 10 {Identification and serological typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the indirect immunofluorescence method}; Bekbergenov BM et al.; The authors used the method of indirect immunofluorescence for detection and serological typing of Ps . aeruginosa in pathological material . This method was found to be useful for detection of Ps . aeruginosa in association with other microorganisms . The indirect immunofluorescence method can be used for determination of the serological group of the clinical Ps . aeruginosa strains. J Clin Pathol, 1976 Jul, 29(7), 652 - 6 Pneumonia caused by coliforms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Noone P et al.; The diagnosis and treatment of 20 hospital patients seen in the past year with proven pneumonia caused by coliforms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are discussed . Predisposing factors and methods for improving laboratory and clinical diagnosis are analysed, the main problem being to discriminate between genuine pneumonia caused by these organisms and mere contamination of sputum samples resulting from colonization of the upper respiratory tract following broad-spectrum chemotherapy . Overall initial chemotherapy with gentamicin cured 75% (15 out of 20) of the patients in spite of unfavourable underlying pathology . Where gentamicin was given in adequate dosage, which in practice meant that dose which produced peak serum concentrations of 8 mug/ml or more, the cure rate was 91% (11 out of 12) . In those patients achieving (measured) peak serum concentrations of less than 8 mug/ml the cure rate was only 33% (4 out of 12) . These figures include four patients who failed to respond to doses of gentamicin producing peak concentrations of 5-0-6-0 mug/ml in each case . These patients responded promptly to higher doses (or accumulation), producing peak serum concentrations of 8 mug/ml or more and were then cured within three to five days . Toxicity from gentamicin was not observed in any patient . These results indicate that it is necessary to monitor gentamicin therapy by laboratory assay to ensure adequate dosage and that peak serum concentrations of 8 mug/ml or more are significantly correlated with successful treatment of pneumonia caused by coliforms and Ps . aeruginosa. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1976 Jul, 80(1), 135 - 40 Oxidation-reduction behavior of the heme c and heme d moieties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa nitrite reductase and the formation of an oxygenated intermediate at heme d1; Shimada H et al.; Dithionite reduced the heme c moiety of Pseudomonas nitrite reductase almost instantaneously, whereas the spectral change of heme d proceeded in two steps, requiring at least 15 min for completion . The final spectrum coincided well with that obtained by anaerobic reduction with ascorbate, during which a quasi oxidation-reduction equilibrium was established between the two heme groups . The difference in apparent redox potential was calculated to be 24 mV, heme d being more negative . When the enzyme was supplemented with a reductant and molecular oxygen, an oxygenated intermediate appeared at the heme d moiety. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 Jul, 29(7), 743 - 53 Gentamicin resistance in clinical-isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with diminished gentamicin accumulation and no detectable enzymatic modification; Bryan LE et al.; Three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to gentamicin obtained as representative gentamicin-resistant clinical isolates from the University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) in Edmonton, Canada were characterized to determine their mechanism of resistance . All strains showed wide aminoglycoside resistance (tobramycin, sisomicin, amikacin, streptomycin, kanamycin, SCH 20569) but contained no evidence of gentamicin-acetylating, adenylating or phosphorylating activity . Gentamicin inhibited amino-acid incorporation in cell-free systems equally well with either ribosomes or soluble cell fractions obtained from either resistant or sensitive strains . Plasmid DNA was detected in two strains but resistance could not be transferred by conjugation to either P . aeruginosa or Escherichia coli recipients . The resistant strains showed a marked reduction in energy-dependent accumulation of gentamicin compared to a sensitive strain . These strains which are common at UAH are most likely resistant due to a failure of gentamicin to be transported across the cytoplasmic membrane to ribosomal sites until relatively high external gentamicin concentrations. Johns Hopkins Med J, 1976 Jul, 139(1), 1 - 12 The clinical significance and management of fever in acute myelocytic leukemia; Burke PJ et al.; In order to optimize the clinical management of fever in acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), our experience with febrile patients during two therapy periods was reviewed . A structured approach to the management of fever was then devised and evaluated during a third period . Among a total of 104 patients with AML, 77 were febrile at presentation . Only agranulocytic patients (15%) had severe infection, while 43% had localized sites which responded to specific antibiotic therapy . The remainder (42%) had fever functionally attributed to leukemia . In contrast, life-threatening infection occurred in most patients (90%) after antileukemic treatment was begun . During the trial therapy period, the empiric use of carbenicillin-gentamicin for fever greater than or equal to 101 degree F during aplasia reduced the incidence of sepsis from 90 to 30% and of bacteremia from 50 to 23% . The fall in the incidence of blood and localized site cultures positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 65 to 15% corresponded to a reduction in the number of distinct organisms per site from 1.6 to 1.0 . These data suggest that hematogenously born invasion of infected sites by endogenous organisms has been prevented . Aplastic patients with fever responded to therapy by defervescing (54%) or improving clinically (34%) . Stopping antibiotics once started while evaluating persistent fever was detrimental . Although the early empiric use of amphotericin B reduced the incidence of fungemia, its proper use in fever management is yet to be determined. J Infect Dis, 1976 Jul, 134(1), 1 - 7 Experimental endocarditis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa . I . Description of a model; Archer G et al.; Rabbits with sterile, right ventricular cardiac vegetationss were challenged with Staphylococcus aureus and serum-susceptible or -resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . None of the rabbits challenged with serum-susceptible P . aeruginosa died or had greater than 10(2) colony-forming units (cfu)/g cultured from vegetations two weeks later . In contrast, 78% of animals challenged with serum-resistant P . aeruginosa died within three weeks, and 74% sacrificed at three days had organisms cultured from vegetations . All of the animals challenged with S . aureus died, and all had greater than 10(8) cfu of P . aeruginosa/g in vegetation tissue at three days . There was a significantly greater number of organisms (P less than 0.001) in the vegetations of animals dying of S . aureus infection than in those of animals with P . aeruginosa endocarditis (mean, 10(9.6) vs . 10(7.5) cfu/g, respectively) . Left-sided endocarditis was produced in 100% of rabbits injected with serum-resistant P . aeruginosa . These models could be used for studies of the pathogenesis and therapy of P . aeruginosa endocarditis. Infect Immun, 1976 Jul, 14(1), 55 - 61 Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin: purification by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the development of a highly specific antitoxin serum; Callahan LT 3rd; Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin has been purified to a specific activity of 12,000 to 16,000 mouse median lethal doses/mg of protein . Total recovery was about 25%, and the degree of purification was approximately 3,000-fold . Preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis greatly facilitated purification . As judged by analytical disc gel electrophoresis, the purified toxin contained one major band of protein and only a negligible amount of contamination . Antiserum prepared against the purified toxin neutralized the lethal activity of crude toxin preprations and reacted by double immunodiffusion with a single component of concentrated broth cultures of P . aeruginosa isolates obtained from a clinical source. Infect Immun, 1976 Jul, 14(1), 168 - 77 Effect of cyclophosphamide on the immune response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice; Pierson CL et al.; Natural resistance in mice to Pseudomonas aeruginosa was decreased 10-fold with a single dose of 300 mg of cyclophosphamide (CY) per kg intraperitoneally . Mice were resistant to infection when immunized actively with Pseudomonas vaccine or passively with Pseudomonas immune serum before receiving CY . Syngeneic spleen, thymus and/or bone marrow cells were transfused into CY-treated recipient mice . Protective anti-Pseudomonas antibody was elicited in the recipient mice when they were vaccinated 1 day after receiving normal spleen cells and challenged 8 days after vaccination . When 1.6 X 10(7) normal thymus and bone marrow cells were infused before vaccination, 69% of the recipients of both cell preparations responded serologically compared with 15 and 27% of those receiving either thymus or bone marrow cells, respectively . CY-treated thymus or bone marrow cell recipients were resistant to Pseudomonas infection when 6 X 10(7) of either cell population was transfused. Infect Immun, 1976 Jul, 14(1), 114 - 7 Interactions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with immunoglobulins and complement in sputum; Hann S et al.; The interactions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with humoral factors in the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis were investigated by using an indirect immunofluorescent technique . Fluorescein-conjugated, monovalent antiserum specific to heavy chains of human immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, or IgM and to complement C3 were used . All strains of P . aeruginosa recovered from the sputum specimens of patients with cystic fibrosis were found to be coated with antibodies of IgA, IgG, and IgM classes and with C3 . The specificity of the antibody coating was determined . The fluorescence was most intense with IgA and was followed in intensity by IgG, IgM, and C3 . No difference was noted between rough and mucoid strains of P . aeruginosa . When the subcultured P . aeruginosa was incubated with the sputum eluates, a similar pattern of fluorescence was demonstrated, indicating that these humoral factors are present in the sputum and that the coating process can take place in the lower respiratory tract of the patients . By single radial immunodiffusion, significant quantities of the humoral factors in the sputum eluates were detected . These findings suggest that P . aeruginosa is opsonized in sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis. Arch Surg, 1976 Jul, 111(7), 776 - 8 Osteolytic lesion indicating Pseudomonas sternal osteomyelitis; Mandal AK et al.; Two cases of osteolytic lesion of the sternum were caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Both were in heroin addicts, and both occurred as a delayed reaction to injury in an automobile accident . Bony curettage and appropriate antibiotic therapy were sufficient for diagnosis and cure . Tobramycin sulfate (3 mg/kg/day), a new aminoglycoside, was successfully used in both instances . Excision of the sternum was not necessary. Am J Clin Pathol, 1976 Jul, 66(1), 80 - 6 A quantitative study of the multiplication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vented and unvented blood-culture bottles; Braunstein H et al.; A quantitative study of the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in both vented and unvented vaccum blood-culture bottles revealed that these organisms multiply readily in the latter . After a 3- to 4-hour lag period they double at 33--34-minute intervals, reaching a maximum growth of 10(8) - 10(10) organisms by 18 hours . Multiplication then stops . The data indicate that blind sampling should invariably be successful in isolating organisms after 8 hours of incubation . The rate of recovery of these organisms is not increased by venting, but the maximum level of growth in unvented containers is at the borderline level of visibility, necessitating a blind subculture for definitive diagnosis, whereas vented containers show relatively unrestrained growth . A method for the use of single vacuum bottles for the detection of Ps . aeruginosa, and optionally, Candida species, is proposed. J Pediatr, 1976 Jul, 89(1), 23 - 6 Pseudomonas carrier rates of patients with cystic fibrosis and of members of their families; Laraya-Cuasay LR et al.; The majority (86.6%) of patients with cystic fibrosis were found to be carriers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . None of them, however, carried P . aeruginosa in their nares . In contrast, none of the non-CF family members of the patients with CF were carriers of P . aeruginosa . For example, only 4 of 468 cultures from skin, throat, and nares of the family members were positive for P . aeruginosa . Isolations of P . aeruginosa from the same CF patients were often of the same pyocine type . No specific pyocine type of P . aeruginosa was predominant in patients with CF . Isolations of P . aeruginosa from siblings with CF may or may not be of the same pyocine type as that of the family proband . Colonization of a patient with CF by P . aeruginosa is not a threat to the non-CF members of the family. J Clin Invest, 1976 Jul, 58(1), 190 - 9 Neutrophil function in gram-negative rod bacteremia . The interaction between phagocytic cells, infecting organisms, and humoral factors; Weinstein RJ et al.; To assess the phagocytic and bactericidal function of neutrophils in the acute stages of gram-negative rod bacteremia, cells from 30 nonleukopenic patients were studied in a test system utilizing plasma obtained simultaneously with culture-positive blood, the autologous infecting strain, and two laboratory test strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Results were compared to those obtained with normal neutrophils and plasma . Patient and control plasma were simultaneously tested with each source of phagocytic cells to localize any abnormalities . Four patients had a defect against their infecting strain, 33% of the inoculum phagocytized and killed versus 80% by controls . In these cases differences were localized to the patients' plasma, as normal plasma tested with patients' cells reversed the defect . Thus, four patients had impaired opsonization when compared to normal controls, but we also observed that 11 of 30 bacteremic isolates, all Escherichia coli, showed absolute or relative resistance to phagocytosis in the patient and control assay system . No intrinsic granulocyte killing abnormalities were noted . There was poor correlation between results obtained with infecting strains compared to laboratory test organisms . We conclude that in patients without evidence of an inherited neutrophil bactericidal disorder, recurrent infection, or treatment with cytotoxic drugs, intrinsic bactericidal defects are uncommon at the onset of gram-negative bacteremia, and impaired opsonization is the most commonly encountered cause of neutrophil dysfunction. Health Lab Sci, 1976 Jul, 13(3), 184 - 9 A mycobacteriology proficiency testing program using simulated sputum specimens; Gruft H et al.; The New York State Department of Health proficiency testing program in mycobacteriology determines the ability of a laboratory to isolate the acid-fast bacillus present in a simulated specimen and to identify the strain . Until 1964 the specimens were autoclaved normal sputa seeded with mycobacteria . When mandatory testing was introduced by law in 1964, more specimens were needed . These have been prepared in simulated sputum bases, first skimmed milk, then granulated hog gastric mucin . The bases are seeded with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa is added to simulate the contamination in clinical specimens . Laboratory performance in general has improved as a result of the proficiency testing and the concomitant educational program, but laboratories processing more than 200 specimens a year continue to perform best. Soz Praventivmed, 1976 Jul-Aug, 21(4), 120 - 1 {Infections transmitted in swimming pools}; von Suzani C et al.; Public swimmingpools can be the source of infections due to micro-organism such as mycobacterium balnei, adeno and enteroviruses, the virus of plantar warts and molluscum contagiosum, the TRIC-Agent of swimmingpool-conjonctivitis and pathogenic fungi . The transmission of trichomonas vaginalis is considered unlikely-Water of pools, supposed to present satisfactory qualities by standard controls, was found to contain pathogenic staphylococci and pseudomonas aeruginosa . Effective preventive measures include the continuous recording of the redox-potential of the water, limiting the number of visitors to pool design specifications, better desinfection of sanitary installations, regular maintenance of technical equipment including frequent backwashing of filters and exclusion of visitors with communicable disease. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1976 Jun 8, 430(3), 445 - 53 Cytochrome oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . IV . Reaction with oxygen and carbon monoxide; Wharton DC et al.; The reaction between a cytochrome oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and oxygen has been studied by a rapid mixing technique . The data indicate that the heme d1 moiety of the ascorbate-reduced enzyme is oxidized faster than the heme c component . The oxidation of heme d1 is accurately second order with respect to oxygen and has a rate constant of 5.7 - 10(4) M-1 - s-1 at 20 degrees C . The oxidation of the heme c has a first order rate constant of about 8 s-1 at infinite concentration of O2 . The results indicate that the rate-limiting step is the internal transfer of electrons from heme c to heme d1 . These more rapid reactions are followed by more complicated but smaller abcorbance changes whose origin is still not clear . The reaction of ascorbate-reduced oxidase with CO has also been studied and is second order with a rate constant of 1.8 - 10(4) M-1 - s-1 . The initial reaction with CO is followed by a slower reaction of significantly less magnitude . The equilibrium constant for the reaction with CO, calculated as a dissociation constant from titrimetric experiments with dithionite-reduced oxidase, is about 2.3 - 10(-6) M . From these data a rate constant of 0.041 s-1 can be calculated for the dissociation of CO from the enzyme. Jpn J Exp Med, 1976 Jun, 46(3), 155 - 65 Synergistic effect of immune gamma-globulin fraction on protection by antibiotic against corneal ulcers in experimental mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kawaharajo K et al.; Synergistic effects of immune gamma-globulin fraction containing antibodies of OPE, protease and elastase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the activities of antibiotic, dibekacin (DKB), in the cornea of mice were examined for the purpose of studying therapy for corneal ulcers due to Pseudomonal infection . In the case of the intramuscular injection, a medium effective dose (ED50) of DKB alone against corneal ulcers caused by strain IID 1210 of P . aeruginosa in experimental mice was 620 mug per mouse . When 15.6 to 18.7 mg of gamma-globulin fraction was subcutaneously given to each mouse prior to the infection with strain IID 1210, opacity instead of severe ulcers was observed only in the central area of cornea . The immune gamma-globulin fraction was far more effective in the protection of cornea from the infection than the calf serum that showed no antibody titer against OEP, protease and elastase . The ED50 values of DKB's combined with the immune gamma-globulin, Fr . 1 and Fr . 2, and the calf serum were 34 and 73, and 480 mug per mouse respectively . There was found no statistical difference in ED50 value between DKB combined with the calf serum and one without it . There was, however, significant difference in ED50 value between DKB's combined with Fr . 1 and Fr . 2, and one with the calf serum . When DKB alone is dropped in the eye of mouse for the protection, the ED50 value was 15 mug per mouse . When 1.56 to 1.87 mg of the immune gamma-globulin fraction was dropped in the eye after the infection with P . aeruginosa, there was observed no protection against corneal ulcers . the ED50 values of DKB's combined with Fr . 1, Fr . 2 and the calf serum were 0.96, 0.94 and 13 mug per mouse, respectively . There was no significant difference between the ED50 values of 0.96 and 0.94 mug, and between 15 and 18 mug . There was, however, significant difference between the former ED50 values (0.96 and 0.94 mug) and the latter ones (15 and 18 mug) . The combination of DKB and the immune gamma-globulin fraction was found to be superior to the combination of DKB and the calf serum in the therapeutic effect on corneal ulcers caused by strain IID 1210 of P . aeruginosa. Chirurg, 1976 Jun, 47(6), 331 - 5 {Studies on the distribution of thienylcarbenicillin in the human tissue}; Plaue R et al.; Thienylcarbenicillin is another semisynthetic penicillin with a wide range of antibacterial activity including most of gram-negative bacterias, even such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa . To investigate penetration activities into bone and another tissues, 120 specimens of serum and 120 specimens of tissue were obtained from 20 patients, after i.v . injection of a single doses of 150 mg thienylcarbenicillin per kg body weight . The evaluation of concentration showed that Thienylcarbenicillin was eliminated from serum in a half-life time of 77 minutes . The concentration varied in different tissues . Maximal levels were found in musculature and in spongy bone . Unexpected high concentrations were found in fascia and in cutis . The lowest concentration was found in subcutis and compact bone . The experimental doses of 150 mg/kg body weight was not enough to gain a sufficient therapeutical level in compact bone. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Jun, 3(6), 643 - 5 Effect of volume of blood cultured on detection of bacteremia; Hall MM et al.; The rates of recovery of bacteria from vented vacuum blood culture bottles containing 50 and 100 ml of a soybean-casein digest broth were compared . Overall, more isolates were recovered from the larger bottle; moreover, gram-negative bacilli and especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa were recovered significantly more frequently (P less than 0.01) from the 100-ml bottle. Nor Tannlaegeforen Tid, 1976 Jun, 86(6), 259 - 62 {A microbiological investigation of the effectiveness of Micro Megas E-spray}; Kardel K et al.; The disinfecting effect of Micro Megas E-spray was tested using a microbiological technique which also included a practical test . Contra-angels and straight handpieces which were sprayed after being used for treatment on patients, and then dried and incubated in a liquid medium, showed a marked growth of microorganisms . The spray had a weak and barely significant growth inhibiting effect on contaminated, simulated instrument surfaces . using Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as test bacteria . It is concluded that the spray is not suitable for distinfection of contra-angels and straight handpieces. J Hyg (Lond), 1976 Jun, 76(3), 429 - 39 A new Pseudomonas vaccine: preliminary trial on human volunteers; Jones RJ et al.; Fifteen healthy volunteers were given three weekly subcutaneous injections of a new polyvalent Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine (PEV-01) . Four doses - 1-0 RHD (manufacturer's recommended human dose), 0-75 RHD, 0-5 RHD and 0-1 RHD - were used in separate groups of volunteers . Blood samples taken before each of the injections and one taken 7 days after the last injection were examined for immune response to the vaccine and for possible adverse clinical, biochemical and haematological effects . Raised titres of antibody in serum of volunteers given 0-5-1-0 RHD vaccine were shown, often by the seventh day, in passive haemagglutination tests against all of the 16 serotypes of Ps . aeruginosa represented in the vaccine; serum from volunteers who received 0-1 RHD usually showed a reduced antibody titre . Tests of mouse protection by serum against intraperitoneal challenge with Ps . aeruginosa P14 showed increased titres of mouse protective antibody in the blood of volunteers given 1-0, 0-75 or 0-5 RHD of vaccine but a reduced mouse-protective titre in two out of three sera from volunteers given 0-1 RHD vaccine . There was a suggestion of enhanced phagocytic ingestion and intracellular killing of two strains of Ps . aeruginosa by the blood of vaccinated volunteers, and more definite enhancement of ingestion of inert latex particles, which were less well ingested than were the bacterial cells by phagocytes from unvaccinated volunteers . Apart from slight or moderate local reactions and a transient rise of temperature in some volunteers, there were no clinical, biochemical or haematological abnormalities in the vaccinated volunteers. Can J Microbiol, 1976 Jun, 22(6), 800 - 7 Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide: factors influencing toxicity for isolated mitochondria and endotoxin properties; Greer GG et al.; In the present study Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exhibited the following endotoxin properties: (1) toxicity for mice; (2) gelation of the Limulus lysate; (3) induction of a localized Shwartzman reaction in the skin of rabbits, and (4) anticomplementary activity . Differences in LPS toxicity as measured with the rat liver mitochondrial assay system were found to be related to the nature of the bacterial growth media, the functional integrity of mitochondria, and the time and temperature of mitochondrial assay . The significance of these findings to P . aeruginosa infections is discussed, and it is concluded that LPS is a factor of importance. Jpn J Exp Med, 1976 Jun, 46(3), 149 - 54 Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibodies in human plasma; Doi T et al.; Plasma samples from healthy adults were examined for antibodies to the common protective antigen (OEP) {1} by passive hemagglutination (HA) reaction {2} with the finding that the majority of them had an antibody titer of 60 or lower . 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME) treatment, however, caused a decrease in HA titer down to 16 or lower in most of the cases, suggesting that the OEP antibody resides mostly in IgM and slightly in IgG . The finding was corroborated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 . It appears likely that IgA is not implicated in the HA titer since IgA was HA negative . However, the detection of enzymatic activity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) {9} still suggests a possibility that OEP antibody resides in IgA . On the other hand, antibodies to proteolytic enzymes, especially protease and elastase {3}, elaborated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were found to be present in most cases at a titer of 16 or lower by HA reaction . It was also found that they reside mostly in IgM. JAMA, 1976 May 17, 235(20), 2205 - 7 Pseudomonas aeruginosa rash associated with a whirlpool; Washburn J et al.; A generalized pruritic pustular rash was reported by 32 of 61 (53%) persons who had used the swimming pool and whirlpool at a Minnesota motel in March 1975 . A questionnaire survey indicated that attack rates were highest in periods of heaviest bather load . The rash appeared 8 to 48 hours after exposure and resolved within seven days . No rash was reported by 37 motel guests who did not use the pool . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, serogroup 11, was isolated from the skin lesions of two patients and from the water from both pools . Circumstantial evidence implicated the whirlpool as the most probable source of infection . Deficiencies in disinfecting equipment and technique were identified and corrected. C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 1976 May 3, 282(17), 1637 - 9 {Research on the catabolism of phosphonic acids: biodegradation of the C-P bond by Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Cassaigne A et al.; 3-Aminopropylphosphonic acid and 2-(beta-alanyl-amino)-ethylphosphonic acid can be used by Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a phosphorus source . Both compounds undergo a biodegradation through the cleavage of the C--P bond, without any modification upon the amino or amino-groups of the substrates. J Lab Clin Med, 1976 May, 87(5), 840 - 7 Combined pre-immunization and granulocyte transfusion therapy for treatment of pseudomonas septicemia in neutropenic dogs; Harvath L et al.; An experimental model was designed to evaluate a combined protocol of active immunization and granulocyte transfusions for treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis in the neutropenic host . One member of a pair of dogs was immunized with P . aeruginosa vaccine . Both dogs were then rendered transiently neutropenic with a single intravenous dose of cyclophosphamide (40 mg . per kilogram) and challenged with an intravenous inoculum of P . aeruginosa . Twenty-four and 48 hours after pseudomonas challenge each animal received granulocyte transfusions . Effectiveness of therapy was evaluated by observation of survival time, febrile response, and quantitative blood cultures . Results showed a significant increase in the survival period (P is less than 0.05), a lower febrile response (P is less than 0.025), negative blood cultures, and a greater recovery rate in the immune group . Immune dogs that died had negative blood cultures or less than or equal to 10 pseudomonas per milliliter of blood despite the presence of P . aeruginosa in tissues . In contrast, control dogs had septic deaths within 67 hours of pseudomonas challenge, marked febrile responses with 24 hours of infection, and positive blood cultures with 4,000 to 25,800 pseudomonas per milliliter of blood . These data show that combined therapy with immunization and granulocyte transfusions is effective in reducing the severity of P . aeruginosa infection and in preventing bacteremia during periods of leukopenia. Medicine (Baltimore), 1976 May, 55(3), 259 - 68 Causes of death in adults with acute leukemia; Chang HY et al.; The causes of death were investigated in 315 adults with acute leukemia during a 7-year period (1966-1972) . Infection alone or in combination was the most common cause (75%), followed by hemorrhage (24%) and organ failure (9%) . Most of the infections were either systemic or pulmonary . Seventy-five percent of the systemic infections and 72% of the pneumonias were caused by bacteria . Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most frequent organisms isolated . After 1968, there was a sharp decrease in the number of fatal infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a marked increase in the incidence of fatal infections caused by Klebsiella spp . and E . coli . Infections caused by Gram-positive cocci occurred in only 3% of the cases . The incidence of systemic fungal infections was 13%; most common fungi causing infection were Candida spp . and Aspergillus spp . Eighty-five percent of 159 patients with a terminal neutrophil count of less than 100/mm3 died of infection, compared to 48% of 62 patients with a terminal neutrophil count of greater than 1000/mm3 . Hemorrhage was mostly due to thrombocytopenia (61%) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (12%) . This study indicates that infection continues to be the most common cause of death in patients with acute leukemia . Although advances in antibiotic therapy have changed the distribution of causative organisms, ultimate control of infection requires further improvements in supportive care measures which rectify impairments in the patients' host defense mechanisms. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 May, (5), 108 - 13 {An experimental study of the immunogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccines}; Akatova NS; The author studied comparatively the immunogenicity of the vaccines prepared of 38 virulent Ps . aeruginosa strains belonging to different serological types . It was demonstrated that the immunogenicity of killed vaccines varied within a wide range--from the absoulte protective effect to its complete absence . The culture medium on which the initial culture was grown and the method of its detoxication produced practically no influence on the immunogenicity of the vaccines . Immunogenicity of Ps . aeruginosa vaccines apparently had no relationship with the serological type of the strains. J Med Microbiol, 1976 May, 9(2), 153 - 61 Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections with pyocines; Williams RJ; The interactions of a contractile, a filamentous and a small pyocine with a sensitive strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (no . P14) were examined in vivo . The purification procedure used yielded high-activity pyocine preparations that were not toxic to mice . The inhibitory activity of such preparations, when injected into mice by various routes, was retained for up to 24 h . However, high molecular-weight pyocines given intraperitoneally in the presence of a lethal dose of strain P14 administered by the same route did not prevent the fatal outcome of infection unless they are given before or together with the bacteria . The small pyocine had no protective effect . In burned mice infected with strain P14, topical application of a filamentous pyocine failed to improve the chances of survival . The results suggest that there is little future for pyocine therapy. Immunology, 1976 May, 30(5), 603 - 10 The effect of antipolymorphonuclear leucocyte serum on Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in rabbits; Bullen JJ et al.; Studies were made on the rate of phagocytosis and killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by phagocytic cells in the peritoneal cavity of rabbits . In sublethal and lethal infections the phagocytosed bacteria were killed very quickly . In antibody-protected animals, the polymorphs became loaded with liveing bacteria, but this had little effect on the decline in infection . In sublethal infections and in protected animals theproportion of intracellular bacteria labelled with 32O or {14C}uracil was high and antibody greatly enhanced phagocytosis . In lethal infections the rate of phagocytosis was insufficient to prevent the development of a fatal septicaemia . Antipolymorphonuclear leucocyte serum (APS) completely suppressed the normal polymorph response to infection and greatly reduced resistance . The macrophages in the peritoneum, which were not affected by APS, delayed bacterial growth for several hours but were eventually unable to control bacterial mutiplication . The outcome of infection appeared to depend almost entirely on the ratio of bacterial to phagocytes and the presence of antibody . Iron-binding proteins probably make a significant contribution to resistance by reducing the rate of multiplication of extracellular bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1976 May, 73(5), 1389 - 93 Spectroscopic studies and a structural model for blue copper centers in proteins; Solomon EI et al.; Low temperature absorption, circular dichroism, and magnetic circular dichroism spectral studies of the blue copper proteins Rhus vernicifera stellacyanin, bean plastocyanin, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin have been made . Low energy bands attributable to the d-d transitions 2B2 leads to 2E and 2B2 leads to 2B1 in a flattened tetrahedral (D 2d) copper-(II) center are observed in these proteins at about 5000 and 10,000 cm-1, respectively . The band positions accord well with ligand field calculations based on a tetrahedral structure that is distorted approximately 6 degrees toward a square plane . The ligands in this flattened tetrahedral coordination unit in bean plastocyanin are identified from various spectroscopic experiments as His-38, Cys-85, His-88, and a deprotonated peptide nitrogen (N) a few residues above His-38. J Infect Dis, 1976 May, 133(5), 538 - 47 Therapy of neutropenic rats infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Lumish RM et al.; Rats made profoundly neutropenic with cyclophosphamide were injected with 100 or 1,000 50% lethal doses of a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspended in mucin . Rats were treated for 24, 48, or 72 hr with thrice daily intramuscular administration of carbenicillin (400 mg/kg), gentamicin (10 mg/kg), both of these agents at the same doses, or saline . One hour after injection of antibiotics, the mean bactericidal titers in serum were 1:4.7, 1:21., and 1:8.6 for rats receiving carbenicillin, gentamicin, and a combination of the two agents, respectively . Combination chemotherapy produced a greater reduction in mortality rate than did either agent alone for both inoculum sizes and for all three durations of therapy . Gentamicin was at least as effective as carbenicillin regardless of inoculum size or duration of therapy . Fourfold or greater increases in minimal inhibitory concentrations of P . aeruginosa were seen in 54% of postmortem blood culture isolates from animals treated with carbenicillin, in 15% from rats treated with gentamicin, and in none from animals receiving both agents. Blood, 1976 May, 47(5), 869 - 76 Experimental Pseudomonas pneumonia in leukopenic dogs: comparison of therapy with antibiotics and granulocyte transfusions; Dale DC et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia was produced in dogs with radiation-induced leukopenia to study the comparative efficacy of several different therapies . In a randomized control trial, five treatment regimens were compared: no antibiotics or granulocytes (controls), gentamicin (5 mg/kg/day), carbenicillin (500 mg/kg/day), gentamicin and carbenicillin (same dosages), and daily granulocyte transfusion (minimum 5 x 10(9) cells/day) plus gentamicin (5 mg/kg/day) . The most effective therapy was gentamicin plus granulocyte transfusions . Gentamicin alone was not significantly better than no specific therapy . Carbenicillin with or without gentamicin gave intermediate results . This study further supports the utility of granulocyte replacement therapy of infections in severely granulocytopenic subjects . The results also indicate that the relative value of granulocyte transfusions depends upon the specific antibiotic regimen with which these transfusions are compared. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1976 Apr 23, 118(17), 529 - 32 {Change of form of septicaemic diseases (author's transl)}; Stille W et al.; As to pathogens causing septicaemic diseases, the era of antibiotics has brought about a shift from gram-positive cocci to gram-negative rod-shaped bacilli . 628 septicaemic infections verified by haemocultures were evaluated from January 1, 1960 until March 31, 1975 . Septicaemic complications in haemodialyses originated either from infections of the shunt or of the dialytic system, or septicaemia occurred as a result of infusion . In 110 patients presenting myeloid insufficiency, the pathogen ranking first was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by E . coli and Klebsiellae . The entire spectrum of facultatively pathogenic bacteria is capable of causing septicaemic complications in myeloid insufficiency . Postoperative endocarditis may be particularly serious and problematical. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1976 Apr 16, 118(16), 495 - 6 {Progressive necrotizing otitis externa in diabetics with disorders of the cerebral nerves (author's transl)}; Paulsen K; The disease occurs without exception in elderly diabetics . Pseudomonas aeruginosa (pyocyaneus) is always found in the secretion . In our reported case of a 71-year old man appeared in addition to a fetid, festering, granulating otitis externa, disturbances of swallowing, hoarseness and severe occipital headaches appear after five months . Neurologically, the N . glossopharyngeus, the N . recurrens and the N . hypoglossus were shown to be paretic . The inflammatory process has pushed forward via the bone of the auditory meatus on to the base of the skull to the jugular foramen and the foramen lacerum . Surgical removal of the inflammatory changes and subsequent treatment with carbenicillin is recommended as the treatment of choice. Nord Vet Med, 1976 Apr-May, 28(4-5), 250 - 64 {Pseudomonas aeruginosa III . Identification of strains isolated from blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) in a Danish fur farm (author's transl)}; Gierloff BC et al.; The technique of determining bacterial strains as Ps . aeruginosa is described . It was attempted to base this technique upon well-defined commercial preparations, so as to afford a possibility for comparative studies . 261 strains presumed to be Ps . aeruginosa were isolated from sick and healthy blue foxes and their watering troughs . 244 of the strains could be subjected to detailed bacteriological study (Table I a, b, c, fig . 1) in addition to the demonstration of pigment (pyocyanin and fluorescin) . All 244 proved to be Ps . aeruginosa . Among them 10 non-pigment-producing strains were characterized as "atypical" Ps . aeruginosa strains . The determination of the genus was supported by the results of the sensitivity tests (Table II). J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 93(2), 303 - 8 The cytotoxic action of leucocidan from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on human polymorphonuclear leucocytes; Scharmann W et al.; Human polymorphonuclear leucocytes treated in vitro with leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa underwent characteristic morphological alterations as shown by phase-contrast and scanning electron microscopy . Within a few minutes of exposure to leucocidin the granulocytes became round, and protoplasmic extrusions appeared on the cell membrane, were withdrawn again and put out at another point of the cell . The final stage of the leucocidin-treated leucocyte was an enlarged, rounded vesicle with apparently intact plasma membrane . Omission of calcium ions from the diluting buffer caused certain differences in the morphologic appearance of the damaged leucocytes. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 93(2), 292 - 302 Purification and characterization of leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Scharmann W; Leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 158 was released from bacteria by autolysis and purified 19-fold by ammonium sulphate precipitation (20% saturation) and combined 'tandem' gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 superfine and Bio Gel P-100 . The product gave a single band (mol . wt . 27000) after poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) . However, it was separated into two active peaks (pI 5-0 and 5-2) by isoelectric focusing, and into five bands by disc electrophoresis without SDS . All bands contained leucocidic activity of about the same specific activity and retained their homogeneity . The purified toxin was thermolabile and was inactivated by pronase, but not by several other proteases . The ultraviolet light absorbancy was typical of proteins . Antibodies directed against leucocidin were detected by passive haemagglutination and by toxin-neutralization . These antibodies inhibited the cytotoxic action of leucocidin bound to granulocytes . The toxin damaged all tested leucocytes (granulocytes of various animal species and lymphocytes of humans) and a number of tissue cultures, but was ineffective against erythrocytes, thrombocytes and isolated granules from polymorphonuclear leucocytes . The intravenous lethal dose for mice was about 1 mug. Infect Immun, 1976 Apr, 13(4), 1139 - 43 Evaluation of type-specific and non-type-specific pseudomonas vaccine for treatment of pseudomonas sepsis during granulocytopenia; Harvath L et al.; The protective role of serotype-specific and non-type-specific active immunity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was assessed in granulocytopenic dogs . Dogs were preimmunized with either specific serotype 6 vaccine (SI) or nonspecific serotype 3 vaccine (NSI) and challenged intravenously with 10(7) viable serotype 6 P . aeruginosa during granulocytopenia . Control dogs (C) having insignificant anti-pseudomonas antibody levels were also tested . Results showed: (i) significant increase in survival of SI dogs (P less than 0.05) compared to C and NSI dogs, with no significant difference between C and NSI animals; (ii) lower febrile responses in SI dogs; and (iii) markedly reduced bacteremia in SI dogs compared to C and NSI animals . SI dog sera from survivor animals did not kill the infecting pseudomonas strain in vitro . The study demonstrated that type-specific immunity to P . aeruginosa induced by active immunization is effective in protection against pseudomonas during granulocytopenia and that non-type-specific immunity offers no cross-reactive protection . The findings suggest that the reticuloendothelial system in conjunction with specific immunity constitute an important defense against pseudomonas infections. Infect Immun, 1976 Apr, 13(4), 1046 - 53 Interaction of purified leukocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa with Bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Scharmann W; The interaction of purified leukocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, strain 158, with polymorphonuclear leukocytes of cattle (PMLC) was studied by using 125I-labeled toxin . According to the Scatchard plot, PMLC offered two binding sites for leukocidin: one at the surface of the plasma membrane, and a second one that presumably became accessible to the toxin in the course of the cytotoxic action . Toxin once fixed to PMLC at 37 C could not be detached from the cells by either chemical or mechanical treatment . However, active leukocidin was liberated if it was bound to PMLC at 4 C and the temperature of the cell suspension was subsequently increased to 37 C . In the presence of Ca2+, the velocity of toxin fixation was accelerated and the rate of fixation was increased . Preliminary investigations on the identification of the leukocidin-binding material indicated the leukocidin receptor to be an integral protein of the plasma membrane. Am J Med, 1976 Apr, 60(4), 501 - 8 Pseudomonas bacteremia . Review of 108 cases; Flick MR et al.; The current circumstances associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia are reviewed in 108 episodes to assess the impact of new antimicrobial drugs on this infection . Since 1961, Pseudomonas bacteremia has apparently become more frequent with proportional increases in middle-aged patients . The respiratory tract has become the major source of infection . Clinical features are not characteristic, but infected patients are almost uniformly severely ill before blood stream invasion occurs . The use of gentamicin, carbenicillin and colistin has not changed the outcome of Pseudomonas bacteremia . Although better than no antimicrobial treatment, these drugs cannot be shown to be superior to any other available antibiotics . A reassessment is needed to evaluate the relationship between the in vitro action and the effectiveness of antibiotics in the treatment of Pseudomonas infection and the use of gentamicin, carbenicillin and colistin in these bacteremias . In view of the poor results with antibiotics, investigation into immunologic prophylaxis and therapy is needed . At the present time, control of the patients' underlying disease contributes most towards assuring survival with Pseudomonas bacteremia. Am J Clin Pathol, 1976 Apr, 65(4), 557 - 63 Immunotyping and pyocin typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical specimens; Kurup VP et al.; Two hundred sixty-seven strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical specimens were immunotyped using seven anti-Pseudomonas rabbit sera, and pyocin typed using eight indicator strains . Of the 230 consecutive isolates tested, 83% were immunotypable and 90% were pyocin typable . When both typing methods were used concurrently, 261 strains were typed, giving a 98% overall typability . An attempt was made to correlate sensitivity to carbenicillin and gentamicin with various immunotypes . Using growth from sensitivity plates directly for immunotyping as an added advantage for early surveillance and treatment is discussed. J Bacteriol, 1976 Apr, 126(1), 516 - 9 Immunological properties of protocatechuate 3, 4-dioxygenase isofunctional enzymes; Hou CT et al.; Antiserum prepared against protocatechuate 3, 4-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms precipitin bands without spurs with isofunctional enzymes from different strains of the fluorescent pseudomonads on immunodiffusion plates . Catalytic activity of the isofunctional enzymes was inhibited by an immunoglobulin fraction prepared against the enzyme from organisms of the same genus and not from different genera. J Bacteriol, 1976 Apr, 126(1), 400 - 9 Cell division in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: participation of alkaline phosphatase; Bhatti AR et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa grows at an apparent reduced rate at 46 C as compared with the rate at 37 C, when growth is measured as an increase in absorbance . Cells at 46 C are long, plasmolyzed, nonmotile filaments . The filaments contain phase-dark material that may be chromosomal in nature . When the 46 C culture is shifted to 37 C, the filaments fragment at polar ends after flagella form, and the final number of cells is equal to the number of chromosomal "packets" observed within the filament . The outer envelope of the filament appears to be structurally complete as determined by biochemical, thin section, and freeze-etch examination . When filaments are treated with lysozyme, they form large spheroplasts, suggesting that the outer wall and the cytoplasmic membrane are continuous within the filament . Filaments produce little or no periplasm-located alkaline phosphatase (APase), but activity appears immediately after a shift to 37 C . Cells grown at 37 C and shifted to 46 C remain as single, nonmotile, rods or doublets, and the APase formed at 37 C remains stable at 46 C . The addition of APase or inorganic phosphate is partially or completely effective as an inducer of filament fragmentation at 46 C . The results suggest that periplasm-located APase is an important enzyme in the final stages of cell division when P . aeruginosa is cultured on inorganic phosphate-limiting media. J Bacteriol, 1976 Apr, 126(1), 177 - 82 Isolation of nonsense suppressor mutants in Pseudomonas; Mindich L et al.; A strain of Escherichia coli harboring the drug resistance plasmid RP1 was treated with the mutagen N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and mutants were isolated in which ampicillin resistance had been lost due to an amber mutation in the plasmid . One of these mutants was again treated, and a strain was isolated in which tetracycline resistance was also lost due to an amber mutation in the plasmid . The plasmid containing amber mutations in the genes amp and tet was named pLM2 . This plasmid could be transferred to strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P . phaseolicola, and P . pseudoalcaligenes . Mutants resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline could not be obtained from P . phaseolicola carrying pLM2 . However, strains of E . coli, P . aeruginosa, and P . pseudoalcaligenes carrying the plasmid did produce mutants simultaneously resistant to both antibiotics . All of the mutants of E . coli had developed nonsense suppressors since they became phenotypically lac+, although harboring a lac amber mutation, and formed plaques with amber mutants of phages PRR1 and PRD1 that attack organisms carrying RP1 . Approximately 20% of the resistant mutants of P . aeruginosa and P . pseudoalcaligenes were sensitive to the amber mutant of PRD1 . These mutants were of variable stability and grew somewhat more slowly than their parent strains . One of the suppressor mutants of P . pseudoalcaligenes, designated ERA(pLM2)S4, was used for the isolation of nonsense mutants of bacteriophage PHA6, a virus having a segmented genome of double-stranded ribonucleic acid and an envelope of lipids and proteins. Chest, 1976 Apr, 69(4), 500 - 5 The effects of copper in heated nebulizers; Hughes RL et al.; The antibacterial potential of copper mesh in heated nebulizers was evaluated by simulating clnical usage in the laboratory and comparing the relationship between the copper levels achieved in nebulizer water and the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms . Mesh size, length of immersion, temperature, water replacement, and nebulization all affected copper concentration . Antibacterial acitivity was demonstrated over a wide range of copper levels for as long as three weeks . Nebulizers driven for one hour by 10 L/min of gas flow and containing 8 gm of copper mesh were inoculated with more than 31,000 organisms and became sterile within 60 minutes of inoculation . Units without copper showed a much slower decline in colony counts . Solutions of copper salts also proved to be effective antibacterial substances but only in much higher concentrations than those achieved with copper mesh . It it is concluded that metallic copper mesh is an effective antibacterial substance when used in water-containing heated nebulizers . Attempts to quantitate aerosolization of copper were not sucessful, and potential upper-airway deposition and human toxicity with this technique remain to be defined. Surg Gynecol Obstet, 1976 Apr, 142(4), 553 - 9 Zinc sulfadiazine for topical therapy of pseudomonas infection in burns; Fox CL Jr et al.; Zinc sulfadiazine is a new compound which is effective in vitro and in vivo against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in burned mice and rats . It contains an important body constituent, zinc, and appears to expedite wound healing, diminish weight loss after infected burns and improve food intake . Like silver sulfadiazine, it prevents the postburn changes in plasma proteins . After topical application, the uptake of the radioactively labeled zinc is significant in the zone of injury and negligible in organs and body fluids . The binding to deoxyribonucleic acid by zinc is similar to, but less than, that by silver . The data indicate that zinc sulfadiazine may be a valuable addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for the control of burn wound sepsis. Jpn J Antibiot, 1976 Apr, 29(4), 358 - 65 {Studies on the intravenous administration of sulbenicillin (author's transl)}; Kato Y et al.; Basic and clinical investigation on the intravenous administration of sulbenicillin in moderate dose (510g daily) was carried out to evaluate its clinical effect in systemic infections due to gram-negative bacilli . The following results were obtained . (1) In human subjects received 5 g intravenous drip infusion, the peak blood levels were found at the end of infusion . In 6 cases with normal renal function (Ccr greater than or equal to 70ml/min.) the peak blood level was 181 mcg/ml on the average and the half-life 1.1 hours, while in 3 cases with impaired renal function (Ccr less than 70 ml/min.) the peak level 216 mcg/ml and the half-life longer than 2 hours . The height of the peak level seemed to be subjected to the duration of infusion . The renal excretion of sulbenicllin was 55.2% on the average both in cases with normal and impaired renal functions . (2) Sulbenicillin, 510g daily divided in 2 doses, was administered to 15 cases including 6 cases with acute pyelonephritis, 3 with acute cystitis, 3 with biliary tract infection, 2 with respiratory tract infection and 1 with acute prostatitis . All the cases except 3 cases with acute pyelonephritis had underlying diseases . Escherichia coli was isolated from 10 cases, Klebsiella from 2, Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 1, and unidentified gram-negative bacilli from 1 . Eleven cases responded to the treatment, but 4 cases failed . In 11 cases with susceptible bacteria, 8 cases responded bacteriologically (2 cases recurred), and 3 cases failed to respond . A case with biliary tract infection due to E . coli did not respond to 5 g daily treatment, but responded to 5 g twice daily . Two cases due to organisms which were not inhibited by 200mcg/ml in vitro did not respond to the treatment . (3) A moderate decrease in red blood cell number and hemoglobin content was observed in one case . A transient increase in transaminase and alkaline phosphatase level was observed in other cases. J Trauma, 1976 Apr, 16(4), 317 - 9 Pseudomonas ulceration of the cornea following major total body burn: a clinical study; Mitchell WH et al.; If periorbital or facial areas are involved in burn injury, the eyes must be given prophylactic care . The importance of these cases is not to point out the danger of corneal injury as a direct result of thermal trauma; rather, it is to emphasize the seriousness of corneal abrasions and the danger of subsequent Pseudomonas infection during convalescence of the postburn patient . Once the corneal epithelium is damaged, ulceration rapidly occurs and when infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa presents one of the most difficult ophthalmologic situations . The convalescent burn patient is in jeopardy of corneal abrasion during general anesthesia for grafting or debridement . Neither of the patients who underwent anesthesia was noted to have corneal abrasion . Nor did either ectropion or lid contracture develop in the three patients described herein . Lid contracture may lead to corneal exposure and should be corrected by expeditious lid tarsorrhaphy . Once ulceration has occurred, as with these patients, corneal transplantation may be indicated. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 93(2), 377 - 87 The effect of nitrogen limitation on catabolite repression of amidase, histidase and urocanase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Potts JR et al.; In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the synthesis of histidase, urocanase and amidase is severly repressed when succinate is added to a culture growing in pyruvate + ammonium salts medium . When growth is nitrogen-limited, catabolite repression by succinate of histidase and urocanase synthesis does not occur but succinate repression of amidase synthesis persists . Amidase synthesis is not regulated in the same way as histidase synthesis by the availability of other nitrogen compounds for growth . Growth of P . aeruginosa strain PACI in succinate + histidine media is nitrogen-limited since this strain is defective in a histidine transport system . When methyl-ammonium chloride is added to succinate + histidine media, growth inhibition occurs . Mutants isolated from succinate + histidine + methylammonium chloride plates were found to be resistant to catabolite repression by succinate even in ammonium salts media . It is suggested that the hut genes of P . aeruginosa may be regulated in the same way as in Klebsiella aerogenes, by induction by urocanate and activation by either the cyclic AMP-dependent activator protein or by glutamine synthetase. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Apr, 93(2), 283 - 91 Formation and isolation of leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Scharmann W; A toxic substance, which destroyed leucocytes from man but was inactive against erythrocytes, was demonstrated in cultures of four out of 110 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa tested . The toxin, designated 'leucocidin', was cell-bound as a precursor toxin, exhibiting little or no toxicity . It was converted into toxin with maximum activity by various proteases including an endogenous elastase . The production of leucocidin was directly proportional to the number of bacteria and was not influenced by variations in media, iron concentration, pH or temperature . The best method for large-scale production of leucocidin was autolysis of washed bacteria. Mol Gen Genet, 1976 Mar 30, 144(3), 243 - 51 R factor variants with enhanced sex factor activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Haas D et al.; The R factor R68 readily promotes chromosome transfer in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAT, but shows little such sex factor activity in strain PAO . A variant of this plasmid, R68.45, has been isolated which produces recombinants in PAO plate matings at frequencies of 10(-3)--10(-5) per donor cell for markers in the 0-60 min region of the chromosome . Little or nor chromosome transfer was shown in liquid media . The kinetics of chromosome transfer were studied by interrupting matings on solid media with nalidixic acid . Five chromosomal markers, mapping in widely spaced regions of the chromosome all entered 3-5 min after initiation of mating . These results, combined with linkage studies, indicated that R68.45, unlike the Pseudomonas sex factors FP2 and FP39, promotes chromosome transfer from a range of origin sites and can thus be used for mapping the region of the P . aeruginosa chromosome later than 40 min . R68.45 and other similar variants were isolated from rare chromosomal recombinants appearing in crosses between PAO(R68) donors and PAO recipients in which selection for ARGB+ was made . Selection for other chromosomal markers did not result in such variants suggesting that plasmides of the R68.45 type arise by recombination of genetic material between the R68 plasmid and certain regions of the bacterial chromosome. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 1976 Mar 24, 293(1), 49 - 55 Leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and membrane functions; Hegner D et al.; Leucocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (strain 158) induced loss of potassium from isolated hepatocytes . The (Na+-K+) stimulated ATPase activity of isolated rat liver plasma membranes showed dose-dependent activation up to 56% . Electron-spin-resonance (ESR) measurements gave no indication of toxin-induced changes in membrane fluidity . On isolated guinea pig heart auricles the toxin produced an increase in frequency from 180/min to about 300/min, with arrhythmia and transitory flutter . On isolated nerve-diaphragm preparations the toxin caused a contracture and a decline in twitch tension, with a loss of potassium into the bathing solution . The action potential of the electrically stimulated N . ischiadicus of rat or frog was not affected when leucocidin was added to the bathing solution up to a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml. Biochem J, 1976 Mar 15, 154(3), 659 - 68 The regulation of transport of glucose, gluconate and 2-oxogluconate and of glucose catabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Whiting PH et al.; 1 . The induction by glucose and gluconate of the transport systems and catabolic enzymes for glucose, gluconate and 2-oxogluconate was studied with Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 growing in a chemostat under conditions of nitrogen limitation with citrate as the major carbon source . 2 . In the presence of a residual concentration of 30mM-citrate an inflowing glucose concentration of 6-8 mM was required to induce the glucose-transport system and associated catabolic enzymes . When the glucose concentration was raised to 20mM the glucose-transport system was repressed, but the transport system for gluconate, and at higher glucose concentrations, that for 2-oxogluconate, were induced . No repression of the glucose-catabolizing enzymes occurred at the higher inflowing glucose concentrations . 3 . In the presence of 30mM-citrate no marked threshold concentration was required for the induction of the gluconate-transport system by added gluconate . 4 . In the presence of 30mM-citrate and various concentrations of added glucose and gluconate, the activity of the glucose-transport system accorded with the proposal that a major factor concerned in the repression of this system was the concentration of gluconate, produced extracellularly by glucose dehydrogenase . 5 . This proposal was supported by chemostat experiments with mutants defective in glucose dehydrogenase . Such mutants showed no repression of the glucose-transport system by high inflowing concentrations, but with a mutant apparently defective only in glucose dehydrogenase, the addition of gluconate caused repression of the glucose-transport system . 6 . Studies with the mutants showed that both glucose and gluconate can induce the enzymes of the Entner-Doudoroff system, whereas for the induction of the gluconate-transport system glucose must be converted into gluconate. Ann Sclavo, 1976 Mar-Apr, 18(2), 338 - 56 {On the acute respiratory infections of anaerobes bacteria: clinical, bacteriological and therapeutic results (author's transl)}; Moroni M et al.; In order to isolate and identify aerobe and obligate anaerobe (O.A.) bacteria investigations were carried out on 11 patients with acute respiratory tract infections (7 of them severely ill and hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit) . O.A . species were isolated in 7 subjects, in all cases in mixed culture (from 2 to 5 species per sample), including also potentially pathogenic aerobe bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, etc) . On the 24 strains of O.A . bacteria identified, M.I.C . was determined for penicillin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, and thiamphenciol . The data obtained have been compared with the M.I.C . of 28 strains isolated from uro-gynecological infections . The strains isolated from the respiratory tract presented a sensitivity spectrum to antibiotic similar to those isolated from the urogenital tract . Chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol inhibited growth in 100% of the cases at concentrations equivalent or inferior to plasma levels obtained with normal therapeutical doses; clindamycin was active at lower concentrations but not on all the strains isolated (3 Bacteroides, 1 Fusobacterium sp., 1 Peptococcus sp . were resistent) . Penicillin G was active on 21 out of 25 Gram-positive strains, but only on 7 out 26 Gram-negative bacilli . In view of these results the difficulty of obtaining a correct etiologic diagnosis and the consequent use of a correct antibiotic therapy are discussed . The usefulness of the association of different antibiotics is suggested. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Mar, 234(2), 202 - 11 {Comparative pyocine typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with different indicator sets (author's transl)}; Kuchler R; In a comparative study, 336 strains of Ps . aeruginosa were typed by their pyocine production with the indicator-sets of Gillies and Govan, Govan and Gillies, and with the author's set . The results obtained by either of the three sets of indicators showed a high degree of correlation with the results obtained by means of other sets . These correlations allow a subdivision of strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa into four major subgroups . The possible reasons for the existence of such subgroups and for the correlations between pyocine types and serological groups, which have been demonstrated by other authors, are discussed . For practical purposes and epidemiological investigations the advantages of combined pyocine typing with different sets of indicators are discussed, and a combination of the indicators of Govan and Gillies with the author's set is recommended, giving the most even distribution of epidemiologically unrelated strains of Ps . aeruginosa among different pyocine types with the smallest possible number of indicators. Nord Vet Med, 1976 Mar, 28(3), 141 - 9 {Pseudomonas aeruginosa . II . Occurrence in blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) in a Danish fur farm}; Gierloff H et al.; Ps . aeruginosa were demonstrated fairly often in samples from the rectum (9,1%) and external genitalia (3,7%) of clinically healthy blue foxes . These animals are considered carriers and thus constitute a risk of infecting other animals, especially those already debilitated . The same organism was isolated as pure cultures from the intrauterine contents in a case of pyometra with septicaemia and fatal outcome and in two cases of puerperal endometritis . In these 3 cases there may have been a question of "superinfection" with this latent pathogen. Infect Immun, 1976 Mar, 13(3), 836 - 43 Cytotoxic effects of leukocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa on polymorphonuclear leukocytes from cattle; Scharmann W; The cytotoxic action of leukocidin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was studied in vitro by following the release of various intracellular markers from polymorphonuclear leukocytes from cattle (PMLC) . Low-molecular markers (K+, 86Rb+, glucose) were lost from PMLC within 1 to 2 min after the addition of leukocytes . The release of high-molecular-weight indicators (51Cr, bound to intracellular protein; lactate dehydrogenase) occurred only after swelling of the cells, leading to an increased permeability of the plasma membrane . Calcium ions stimulated the leakage of granule enzymes but retarded or inhibited the release of cytoplasmic markers . At 4 C, leukocytes were unaffected by the toxin . Leukocidin, bound at 4 C to leukocytes and treated with antiserum against leukocidin, did not damage the cells upon increasing the incubation temperature to 37 C. Eur J Cardiol, 1976 Mar, 4(1), 91 - 7 Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis . A report of nine cases; Witchitz S et al.; 9 cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis are reported and the results of this study are compared with the data of the literature . The source of infection was known in 8 patients: 7 were nosocomial infections (cardiac catheterization in 5 cases, cardiac surgery in 2 cases) . The diagnosis was made in 8 patients with left-sided endocarditis . In 1 patient tricuspid endocarditis was diagnosed on postmortem examination . Carbenicillin associated with an aminoglycoside antibiotic appeared to be the most effective treatment when prescribed for several weeks . 6 of 9 patients died of uncontrolled septicemia, 3 of whom underwent surgery which was twice performed because of poor hemodynamic status . In the other 3 patients drug administration was effective at first . However, a relapse occurred in these three cases compelling another effective antibiotic therapy . Surgery was peformed in these three patients . Valve cultures were negative in two cases and positive in 1 . These 3 patients survived . They are still alive after a follow-up period of 2 or 3 years. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1976 Mar, 151(3), 603 - 7 Experimental studies on mice subcutaneously challenged with heat-killed cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Gaydos JM et al.; Mice were found to be generally refractory to sc challenge with heat-killed cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and did not die unless unusually high concentrations were employed . Approximately 38.6% of the animals receiving a single, sublethal dose of 1 X 10(10) dead cells developed black, crusty, necrotic skin lesions within 3 to 5 days . No major gross and histopathological changes were detected in internal organs . If the animals were sc administered sublethal doses of either live or dead cells of P aeruginosa 16 days prior to sc challenge, then the incidence of black lesions rose to 78.6 and 50% of the animals, respectively . Of several antineoplastic agents tested, only methotrexate significantly affected the 72-hr LD50 resulting in a drop to 1.8 X 10(9) afrom 3.4 X 10(10) cells . However, both methotrexate and actinomycin D decreased the incidence of the black lesions. J Infect Dis, 1976 Mar, 133(3), 253 - 9 Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin in mice: histopathology and serum enzyme changes; Pavlovskis OR et al.; The histopathology and serum levels of mice inoculated intravenously with Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin were studied . The toxin exerted a marked effect on the liver but elicited no demonstrable microscopic changes in other organs . The microscopic lesions caused in the liver by a single injection of two 50% lethal doses (LD50) of toxin (2.3 mug) were characterized by necrosis, cellular swelling, and fatty change within 4--8 hr and near total hepatocellular necrosis at 48 hr . Hepatic necrosis was accompanied by a parallel rise in serum levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase . A single injection of 10 LD50 elicited similar but somewhat more rapid degeneration . No progressive lesions were seen after injection of toxoid or of 0.5 LD50 of toxin. J Bacteriol, 1976 Mar, 125(3), 837 - 44 Evolution and utility of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa drug resistance factor; Olsen RH et al.; We describe the addition to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa sex factor, FP2, of carbenicillin resistance encoded by the RP1 plasmid . This occurred in a step-wise manner as detected by variations in the characteristics of the FP2-RP1 plasmid aggregate . The addition of the carbenicillin resistance marker to FP2 facilitates estimates of FP2 transfer . Transfer frequencies for the presumed cointegrate plasmid, using carbenicillin selection, approached 10(-1) per donor bacterium . The chromosomal mobilization properties of the derived plasmid, designated pR0271, resembled those of the progenitor plasmid FP2 . Plasmid pR0271 was also observed to mobilize a nontransmissible drug resistance plasmid sharing genetic homology at frequencies corresponding to those observed for chromosomal markers proximal to the origin of transfer. Br Med J, 1976 Feb 28, 1(6008), 511 - 2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa in hospital pharmacies; Baird RM et al.; The environments of hospital pharmacies and the preparations made in these pharmacies were examined for Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This organism was widely distributed in the pharmacies and was isolated from 9% of preparations . In 11 instances strains of Ps aeruginosa from the preparations bore a close resemblance to strains previously found in the pharmacy environments. Biochemistry, 1976 Feb 24, 15(4), 775 - 86 Conformational equilibria accompanying the electron transfer between cytochrome c (P551) and azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rosen P et al.; The redox reaction between cytochrome c (Cyt c) (P-551) and the blue copper protein azurin, both from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was studied using the temperature-jump technique . Two relaxation times were observed in a mechanism assumed to involve three equilibria . The fast relaxation time (0.4 less than tau less than 8 ms) was ascribed to the electron exchange step . The slow relaxation time (tau congruent to 37 ms) was assigned to a conformational equilibrium of the reduced azurin that was coupled through the electron exchange step to a faster conformational equilibrium of the oxidized Cyt c (P551) . But because the Cyt c (P551) isomerization, being very rapid, was uncoupled from the two slower equilibria, and was assumed to involve no spectral change, the amplitude of its relaxation time (tau congruent to 0.1 ms) would be zero . At 25 degrees C and pH 7.0 the rate constants for the oxidation and reduction of Cyt c (P551) by azurin were 6.1 X 10(6) and 7.8 X 10(6) M-1 s-1, respectively; for the formation and disappearance of the reactive conformational isomer of azurin they were 12 and 17 s-1, respectively . The rates for the Cyt c (P551) isomerization could only be estimated at approximately 10(4) s-1 . The thermodynamic parameters of each reaction step were evaluated from the amplitudes of the relaxations and from Eyring plots of the rate constants . Measurements of the overall equilibrium constant showed it to be temperature independent (5-35 degrees C), i.e . deltaHtot = 0 . This zero enthalpy change was found to be compatible with the enthalpies calculated for the individual steps . In the electron exchange equilibrium, the values of the activation enthalpies were two to three times higher than the values published for various low molecular weight reagents in their electron exchange with copper proteins, yet the rate of exchange between Cyt c (P551) and azurin was some hundreds of times faster . This was explained in terms of the measured positive or zero entropies of activation that could result from a high level of specificity between the proteins particularly in areas of complementary charges . The mechanism of electron transfer was considered as essentially an outer sphere reaction, of which the rate could be approximated by the Marcus theory. Mol Gen Genet, 1976 Feb 2, 143(3), 333 - 7 A molecular analysis of transductional marker rescue involving P-group plasmids in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Stanisich VA et al.; The molecular properties of the P-group plasmids R26, R527 and R18-18- (a carbenicillin-sensitive derivative of R18) have been compared with those of RP1 . R18-18 and RPI have a MW about 38 X 10(6) daltons, and R26 and R527 of 52 X 10(6) daltons (determined from contour lengths) . All three plasmids have a bouyant density similar to that of RPI (1.719 g/cm3, 60% GN . From their molecular and phenotypic similarities, these plasmids probably represent two pairs of identical or closely similar elements . Resistant bacteria are not recovered following F116L-mediated transduction of R26 (or R527), and this correlates with the plasmids' larger size (phage genome=40 X 10(6) daltons) . Fragments of R26 are, however, transduced and their resistance determinants may be "rescued" by recombination if the recipient harbours R1818 . Such events are accompanied by an increase in the size of the recipient plasmid from 38 X 10(6) to 52 X 10(6) daltons following inheritance of the resistance determinants Sm Su Gm Hg, but not Cb . Thus, Sm Su Gm Hg are encoded in a DNA segment of MW about 14 X 10(6) daltons which apparently has no homologous region on R18-18 . Since a piece of DNA of this MW also corresponds to the difference in size between R26 and R18-18, it is possible that the former is derived from an RPI-like element which has acquired these additional resistance determinants. J Pediatr, 1976 Feb, 88(2), 315 - 7 Commentary: An appraisal of tobramycin usage in pediatrics; McCracken GH et al.; Tobramycin is a newly marketed aminoglycoside which closely resembles gentamicin in antimicrobial activity, pharmacology, clinical efficacy, and toxicity . It is somewhat more active in vitro against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than is gentamicin and may have a lower ototoxic potential . Tobramycin should be considered a limited-purpose drug for pediatric patients until greater clinical experience has been gained . At the present time the major indication for its use is for treatment of infections caused by coliforms or pseudomonas resistant to kanamycin and gentamicin . Demonstration of in vitro susceptibility is mandatory because resistance to tobramycin and the other aminoglycosides may be mediated by the same episome (R-factor) . The recommended dosage is 2 mg/kg every 12 hours (4 mg/kg/day) intramuscularly or as a two-hour intravenous infusion to neonates, with the possible exception of full-term infants over seven days of age who may require administration every eight hours . Beyond the neonatal period, the dosage should be 1.0 to 1.5 mg/kg every eight hours (3 to 4.5 mg/kg/day) . Larger dosages may be required for treatment of meningitis, but presently there is no information on which to base a recommendation . Neither is there experience with intrathecal use in infants . It is desirable to monitor tobramycin serum concentration to be certain that peak values are within the therapeutic range of 3 to 8 mug/ml . Dosage must be reduced in patients with impaired renal function and monitoring of serum concentrations is imperative . All patients should be evaluated for evidence of renal and eighth nerve toxicity. Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1976 Feb-Mar, 127A(2), 247 - 59 {An acellular vaccine from "Pseudomonas aeruginosa." I . Preparation and activity (author's transl)}; Berche P et al.; From a strain (72 V) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, we have prepared an acellular vaccine P2, which showed a good efficiency against homologous experimental infection in mice . The extraction procedure is as follows: washed bacterial cells are suspended in 0,15 M NaCl and heated at 60 degrees centigrade for 1 hr; after centrifugation, the supernatant fluid is precipitated with one and five volumes of ethanol . This acellular vaccine possess the following properties: rapid efficiency (10 days) after a single or three inoculations of very small doses (ED50 = 0.014 mug per mouse); weak toxicity (LD50 = 1,148 mug per mouse, subcutaneous route); capacity for production of specific protective antibodies. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 Feb, 29(2), 176 - 80 Mechanism of chloramphenicol-resistance mediated by kR102 factor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kono M et al.; The chloramphenicol (CP)-resistance mechanism of five-drug-resistant R factor (kR102) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa K-Ps 102 derived from a clinical specimen was investigated . Neither inactivation by acetyltransferases of CP nor induced resistance by CP was recognized . Reduced affinity of the ribosome to the drug was not seen in the result of incorporation experiment of 14C-valine by phage f2 RNA and risosome of K-Ps 102 . However, on spheroplasts by glycine treatment, remarkable increase of CP susceptibility was observed . From the above evidence, it was considered that the CP-resistance barrier controlled by kR102 factor would be in the cell wall and the surface layer of cytoplasma and that the mechanism of CP-resistance was possibly by decreased membrane permeability of CP . However, the susceptibility to CP of the susceptible strain still increased by the formation of spheroplasts . Consequently, it was considered that R factor might be controlling the function of membrane permeability of the cells. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 Feb, 29(2), 169 - 75 Mechanisms of streptomycin(SM)-resistance of highly SM-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains; Kono M et al.; Three clinical isolates, K-Ps 94, K-Ps 97 and K-Ps 102, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa having R factor and showing MIC of more than 51,200 mcg/ml to streptomycin (SM), were examined for mechanisms of SM-resistance . Among the strains, K-Ps 94 and K-Ps 102 had R factor conferring SM-resistance . In K-Ps 94, the mechanism of SM-resistance was mainly owing to SM-phosphorylating enzyme and also owing to decreased permeability by an R factor, kR94 . In K-Ps 97, it was considered to be due to SM-adenylylating enzyme by the chromosomal gene but not R factor, kR97 . In K-Ps 102, the reduced permeability of the cell membrane to SM by an R factor, kR102, and the reduced affinity of the ribosome to the drug by the chromosomal gene contributed to the mechanisms of SM-resistance. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Feb, (2), 51 - 3 {Principle of obtaining specific sera for the serotyping of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Akatova NS et al.; The authors elaborated a method of obtaining sorbed specific sera for serotyping of Ps . aeruginosa on slide . A set of specific sera consisting of 20 sera was prepared; 93% of 500 cultures isolated from pathological material were typed with the aid of this set. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Feb, (2), 45 - 50 {Immunological study of the cellular components of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Report 1}; Stanislavskii ES et al.; Water extracts obtained from acetone culture of 5 strains of Ps . aeruginosa isolated from wounds of patients with severe burns were investigated . These extracts contained exotoxin and capsular mucous cell component . By the data of gel-chromatography the extracts proved to be heterogeneous . Their toxic activity was associated chiefly with the high-molecular fraction . The extracts were active in experiments of immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoresis with homologous and heterologous antisera . Up to 5 components with a different electrophoretic mobility were found in the extracts . There proved to be a correlation between the content in the extract of protein and its toxicity for mice . Differences between the strains of various O-serological groups were detected in experiments of gel-chromatography. J Hyg (Lond), 1976 Feb, 76(1), 11 - 22 The antibacterial activity of chloroxylenol in combination with ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid; Dankert J et al.; The bactericidal activity of RBA 777 has been found to vary with both the cultural and environmental test conditions against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to a lesser extent against Staphylococcus aureus . These variations may explain certain anomalies in earlier work regarding the activity of chloroxylenol-based products . The addition of EDTA to RBA 777 has brought about an improvement in the performance against P . aeruginosa and this activity is confirmed in vivo . Previous reports have already illustrated this potential and the evaluations of the new antibacterial agent DA 136 confirms and extends these results to its performance under adverse conditions, often associated with the hospital environment. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1976 Feb, 124(2), 90 - 2 {Reversible bactericidal defect of leukocytes . Pseudomonas meningitis in a child with diabetes mellitus (author's transl)}; Sychlowy A et al.; A 3-year-old boy with diabetes mellitus contracted meningitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The disease lasted for several months in spite of antibiotic treatment . Diabetes mellitus was poorly controlled and hypoglycemia often occured . Immunoglobulin levels were normal . Investigations of leukocyte functions showed (no bactericidal activity), decreased phagocytic activity and very low NBT dye reduction by neutrophils during phagocytosis . Under the administration of polymixin, leukocyte transfusions and stabilization of glycemia the pathological clinical and laboratory findings disappeared within three weeks . Serial investigations of leukocyte function showed a gradual recovery of normal activity. J Gen Microbiol, 1976 Feb, 92(2), 304 - 10 The role of glucose limitation in the regulation of the transport of glucose, gluconate and 2-oxogluconate, and of glucose metabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Whiting PH et al.; The pathway of glucose metabolism in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was regulated by the availability of glucose and related compounds . On changing from an ammonium limitation to a glucose limitation, the organism responded by adjusting its metabolism substantially from the extracellular direct oxidative pathway to the intracellular phosphorylative route . This change was achieved by repression of the transport systems for gluconate and 2-oxogluconate and of the associated enzymes for 2-oxogluconate metabolism and gluconate kinase, while increasing the levels of glucose transport, hexokinase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase . The role of gluconate, produced by the action of glucose dehydrogenase, as a major inhibitory factor for glucose transport, and the possible significance of these regulatory mechanisms to the organism in its natural environment, are discussed. Br Med J, 1976 Jan 17, 1(6002), 120 - 2 Cell-mediated immunity in patients with cystic fibrosis; Gibbons A et al.; Leucocytes from 26 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and 18 healthy controls were investigated by migration inhibition induced by a variety of antigens . In patients with CF cell-mediated immunity was found to human lung and pancreatic tissue extracts as well as to Aspergillus fumigatus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and food antigens but not to brain, heart, or kidney . Those patients with the severest form of the disease had the greatest impairment of cell-mediated immunity, but this impairment could be reversed by steroid treatment . Cell-mediated cytotoxicity may also be concerned in the pathogenesis of CF. Fortschr Med, 1976 Jan 8, 94(1), 3 - 6 {Chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis . Clinical aspects and bacteriology}; Ring J et al.; 50 patients suffering from chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis were examined . In 66% an open fracture, caused either by traffic or industrial accidents was the primary reason for hospitalization . The most frequent pathogenic bacterium was staphylococcus aureus: 80% of the patients suffered from staphylococcal infections, mostly, however, in mixed culture with pseudomonas aeruginosa or clebsiella . Whereas the peripheral leukocyte count and the serum electrophoresis showed abnormal values only in a small percentage of the patients, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate proved to be a reliable index of the intensity of chronic infection. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Jan, 3(1), 14 - 20 Microbial skin flora of selected cancer patients and hospital personnel; McBride ME et al.; The bacterial flora of the skin from five anatomical sites on 10 leukemia patients, 10 patients with malignant melanoma, and a control group of 10 medical personnel was examined quantitatively and qualitatively . This was done to determine whether malignant disease results in changes in skin flora and to establish carrier rates of gram-negative bacteria on the skin of personnel in hospital environments . Gram-negative bacteria were isolated more frequently (74 isolates from 100 cultures) from the skin of leukemia patients than from either patients with malignant melanoma (8 isolates from 100 cultures) or the medical personnel (9 isolates from 100 cultures) . Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated exclusively from leukemia patients . Relative proportions of gram-negative bacteria in total populations were determined . The axilla was the only site with a uniformly high proportion of gram-negative bacteria . From all other sites cultured, gram-negative populations were low (1 to 5 bacteria/cm2 of skin), although a high proportion of gram-negative populations occurred randomly throughout all subject groups . It was concluded that leukemia patients tend to carry gram-negative bacteria on the skin . The factors permitting colonization of skin by gram-negative bacteria are discussed. Rev Farm Bioquim Univ Sao Paulo, 1976 Jan-Jun, 14(1), 69 - 83 {Evaluation of humoral immunologic response in rabbits immunized with a slime antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Primavera KS; Sera of rabbits immunized with slime antigen of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 14.207 were tested for the presence of the correspondent, circulating antibodies by the most common serological tests used in the medical laboratory: double immunodifusion in agar, indirect hemagglutination, complement fixation and indirect immunofluorescence tests . The slime antigen obtained from stationary culture of the bacteria, in trypticase-soy broth grown at 36 degrees C by 72 hours, was extracted from the supernatant of the culture and also from the cell mass through cold ethanol precipitation after buffering of the medium . All the sera had significant antibody titers, with the values changing according to the technique employed . The best results were obtained by hemagglutination and by immunofluorescence tests, there were no cross reactions of antibodies with other bacteria, shown by immunofluorescence tests made using as antigen other microorganisms. Microbios, 1976, 16(64), 111 - 23 Surface properties of cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa possessing R-factor-mediated resistance to gentamicin; Chapman DB et al.; The surface properties of cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which are sensitive to gentamicin are markedly different from those which are resistant to gentamicin . Cells of four out of five strains in which gentamicin-resistance is R-factor-mediated have electrokinetic properties characteristic of gentamicin-sensitive cells . The surface properties of transconjugant strains are indistinguishable from those of the original acceptor strain . Cells of the remaining R-factor donor strain (which transferred very low gentamicin-resistance) exhibited surface properties characteristic of gentamicin-resistant cells . Gentamicin-resistance in cells of this strain is thus the result of at least two different mechanisms . The results are discussed in terms of possible alternative mechanisms of resistance. Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung, 1976, 23(4), 337 - 51 Antigenic changes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo and after lysogenization in vitro; Lanyi B et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures not conforming in antigenic structure to established serogroups were isolated from infants and from infants and from 23 O antigen type strains lysogenized with 22 different phages in vitro . The derivatives, characterized by smooth colonial form and heat stability, retained at least part of the antigens of the parent strains and became agglutinable in certain heterologous sera . All derivatives showed immunoelectrophoretic patterns identical with those of the parent strains . Antigenic analysis showed the presence of factors in the derivatives identical with (italicized figures), bilaterally related to (non-bracketed figures) or unilaterally related to (bracketed figures) O antigens of LANYI's schema: (i) changes in vivo, 01 leads to 01, (O8); O11a, 11b leads to O11a, 11c; (ii) changes in vitro, O1 leads to O1, (O8); O4a, 4b leads to O4a,4b,O1,O8,(O10a), O11; O4a,4b leads to O4a,4b,O1,O8,O10a,O11; O4a,4c leads to O4a,4c,O1,(O8),(O10a),(O11) . The antigenic changes were accompanied usually by a loss of sensitivity to several typing phages and the lytic spectrum of phages released from the derivatives had become narrower . The findings suggest that multiple agglutinability of P . aeruginosa frequently encountered in nature is associated with phage action. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976, (12), 113 - 07 {Immunologic study of the cellular components of pseudomonas pyocyaneus . II . Extraction of purified lipopolysaccharide, its characteristics and elaboration of an erythrocyte O-diagnosticum}; Kolker II et al.; The authors elaborated a method of obtaining a highly active lipopolysaccharide preparation from the cell membranes of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa whose sensitizing activity exceeded that of the polysaccharide isolated from the intact microbial cells almost 20 times . The optimal sensitizing dose of the preparation constituted 15 micron/ml . An erythrocytic diagnostic agent permitting to determine the antibodies in the sera of patients with the purulent-in flammatory diseases caused by Ps . aeruginosa was prepared on the basis of the purified lipo polysaccharide . A definite dependence of the hemagglutinin titres on the severity of the affection and the degree of the purulent-inflammatory process was revealed. Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung, 1976, 23(3), 239 - 49 Role of C1 in the complement activating effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide preparations; Fust G et al.; The complement consumption of endotoxin preparations extracted by the trichloroacetic acid or phenol-water method from different Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was measured in normal human and guinea pig serum and in serum chelated with Mg2+-EGTA . In the chelated serum, which was essentially Ca2+-free, the first component of complement (C1) could not exert its function . All preparations tested consumed considerably less complement activity in chelated than in normal serum . The proportion of CH50 units fixed in Mg2+-EGTA and in normal serum was always higher in the tricholoracetic acid extract than in the phenol-water extract of the same strain . The part of LPS molecule that was able to activate the complement system in Ca2+-free serum was partially separated from the C1-requiring part by the combination of different extraction methods . The results suggest that on the LPS molecules two different sites are responsible for the complement activating effect through the classic and the alternative pathways. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg, 1976, 10(2), 91 - 5 In vitro studies of antimicrobial effects of biological dressings . A comparison of the effect of human cadaver split skin grafts; irradiated and deep frozen porcine split skin; and fresh split skin from living humans and pigs; Brandberg A et al.; The in-vitro antimicrobial effect of certain biological dressings was analysed . Glass basins lined with inverted human or pig skin treated and stored in various ways were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli . Glass basins served as controls . Human split skin from cadavers or living donors, deep frozen or preserved in Histocon and fresh-frozen pig had marked inhibitory activity . Heated skin and beta-irradiated pig skin did not have this effect . The antimicrobial effect was not observed during the first 2 hours of incubation but was present after 24 and 48 hours . It was not dependent on serum factors, It is concluded that when a biological dressings is used, advantage should be taken of its bactericidal activity, as infection is often a problem in sound dressing. Biochimie, 1976, 58(8), 913 - 5 {Kinetics of a new cephalosporinase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Labia R et al.; Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain RL 39 produces an inducible cephalosporinase possessing an isoelectric point of 8,66 . The kinetic constants have been measured by computerized microacidimetry . The results allow to differenciate this enzyme from the one produced by Ps . aeruginosa GN 918 (Yaginuma et al . (1973) Jap . J . Microbiol., 17, 141-149) showing a similar isoelectric point. Scand J Infect Dis, 1976, 8(3), 145 - 9 Bacteraemia in patients with leukaemia and allied neoplastic diseases; Mortensen N et al.; 94 episodes of bacteraemia were demonstrated in 79 patients with leukaemia and allied disorders over a 3-year period . The relative proportions of different microorganisms differed from that of an unselected Danish material in the high proportion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemias, and from studies from other centers for cancer treatment in the high proportion of cases where gram-positive cocci were isolated . 70% of the Staphylococcus aureus strains were fully sensitive to antibiotics or resistant only to penicillin G . A liberal use of penicillins and aminoglycoside antibiotics was employed in the department . No outbreaks attributable to cross infection with a single variety of Staph . aureus or Ps . aeruginosa strains were found during the study. Chemotherapy, 1976, 22(6), 341 - 5 Some evidences for the hypothesis of active transport of streptomycin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Camba SA et al.; New evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis put forth by CAMBA et al . {1} that streptomycin enters bacterial cells by a process of active transport . In this paper a general inhibitor of transport, uranyl nitrate, when added to the bacterial suspension prior to the addition of streptomycin, was shown to significantly increase the resistance to the drug . Furthermore, in suspensions of cells with a progressively exhausted endogenous metabolism and consequently with less available energy, a corresponding increase in the amount of streptomycin remaining in the supernatant was observed. Biochimie, 1976, 58(6), 703 - 12 {2-Amino-ethylphosphonic acid transport in Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Lacoste AM et al.; 2-Aminoethylphosphonic acid (ciliatine) can be used as a source of phosphorus or nitrogen by Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The conditions of its uptake have been investigated . The transport is inducible by ciliatine itself or by its homologue, 3-aminopropylphosphonate, but neither by other phosphonic compounds nor by carboxylic or sulfonic related derivatives . The induction was not suppressed by inorganic phosphate . The transport appears to be an active process, pH and temperature dependent: it requires energy and is dependent on new protein synthesis . The uptake follows Michaelis kinetics . The substrate specificity involved in ciliatine uptake favours the existence of two different transport systems: the first one, inducible by ciliatine, was very sensitive towards different aminophosphonic acids and was competitively inhibited by inorganic phosphate and methylphosphonate; the second transport system, inducible by 3-amino-propylphosphonate, appeared less sensitive towards alpha-aminophosphonic acids and was non competitively inhibited by phosphate and methylphosphonate . No interactions were observed with related aminocarboxylic acids or with taurine . Some molecular structural requirements for the binding of an effector on both permeases are discussed . The regulatory function of inorganic phosphate, the chief breakdown product of ciliatine, is also emphasized. J Pharm Sci, 1976 Jan, 65(1), 76 - 80 Electron microscope study of effect of benzalkonium chloride and edetate disodium on cell envelope of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Richards RM et al.; Electron micrographs of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in nutrient broth or broth containing subinhibitory concentrations of benzalkonium chloride indicate that benzalkonium chloride at 50 and 100 mug/ml strips off the outer cell membrane . Cells grown in the presence of edetate disodium, 50-100 mug/ml had convoluted surfaces (wavy in cross section) . Cells damaged by growing on nutrient agar containing benzalkonium (200 mug/ml), when subsequently grown for 16 hr in nutrient broth, produced cells with apparently normal outer lavers . Similar cells grown on nutrient agar plus benzalkonium (500 mug/ml) when grown for 16 hr in nutrient broth had normal resistance to edetate disodium lysis, but cells grown overnight in broth plus benzalkonium (500 mug/ml) showed increased sensitivity to edetate disodium lysis . Cells grown on nutrient agar in the presence of benzalkonium (800 mug/ml) grew in broth plus benzalkonium (10 mug/ml) without stripping of their external membrane, but replicate inocula into broth plus benzalkonium (10 mug/ml) and edetate disodium (50 mug/ml) produced cells with structural damage to the outer lavers of the cell envelope. J Gen Virol, 1976 Jan, 30(1), 73 - 9 Characterization and properties of phage B33, a female-specific phage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Morgan TM et al.; The morphology and physico-chemical properties of a temperate phage, B33, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been determined . This phage is similar in size and structure to the previously described and serologically related phage B3 (Holloway, Egan & Monk, 1960), but differs from it in its plating properties on bacteria harbouring R plasmids . The plasmid RP1-1 causes a reduction in e.o.p . of B33 of 10(-6), and the mechanism whereby this occurs has been studied . The interaction is a specfic one since other plasmids either fail to affect plating or completely abolish it . The mechanism by which the latter occurs is different from that mediated by RP1-1, since mutants of B33 insensitive to RP1-1 nevertheless fail to plaque on these hosts. Chemotherapy, 1976, 22(3-4), 203 - 10 Effect of antibiotics on the phagocytosis and killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Nishida M et al.; The effect of antibiotics on phagocytosis and killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes was studied . Carbenicillin and sulbenicillin, when added to an incubation medium at a concentration as low as 1/16 MIC, increased phagocytosis and killing of P . aeruginosa by PMN . Meanwhile, gentamicin and 3',4'-dideoxykanamycin B gave no influence on the PMN activity, and polymyxin B and colistin enhanced the activity only at MIC . The PMN activity was not facilitated even when the cells of P . aeruginosa had been pretreated with antibiotics . The bactericidal activity of PMN decreased after sonification, but was restored following addition of carbenicillin. J Bacteriol, 1976 Jan, 125(1), 267 - 81 Ultrastructural study of polymyxin-resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Gilleland HE Jr et al.; Upon exposure to 6,000 U of polymyxin B sulfate per ml, cells of the polymyxin-sensitive PAO 1 strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa displayed in thin sections long projections arising from the outer membrane of the cell wall and extensive cytoplasmic degradation with accumulation of cytoplasmic membrane infoldings . Polymyxin-resistant isolates derived from the PAO 1 strain, however, grew well in the presence of 6,000 U of polymyxin per ml and exhibited none of these effects, having instead the appearance of a typically healthy cell . Freeze-etching of cells of the sensitive strain grown in basal medium without polymyxin revealed a concave cell wall layer studded with numerous particles . Freeze-etching of cells of the resistant isolates grown in basal medium containing 6,000 U of polymyxin per ml revealed a concave cell wall layer (i.e., the outer half of the outer membrane) in which most of these particles were absent . Thus, acquisition of resistance to polymyxin was correlated with an alteration in the architecture of the outer membrane . When the resistant isolates were grown in the basal medium lacking polymyxin and then freeze-etched, the particle distribution in the concave cell wall layer resembled that of the sensitive parent strain . The cells had regained sensitivity to polymyxin upon suspension in medium containing 6,000 U/ml as determined by their failure to grow and by internal damages seen in thin sections . These cells also had acquired increased sensitivity to ethylenediaminetetraacetate, whereas the polymyxin-resistant cells grown in the presence of polymyxin were resistant to lysis by ethylenediaminetetraacetate . The polymyxin-resistant isolates were not stable mutants but instead represented an adaptive response to the presence of polymyxin in the medium. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil, 1976, 170(5), 1026 - 30 {Transmissible resistance factor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: arguments in favor of it being a plasmid}; Michel-Briand Y; The transmissible Carbenicillin resistance factor R (56 BE) was isolated in Pseudomonas aeruginosa . It was not cured by usual agents and not isolated by ultra-centrifugation . So the plasmidic nature may be doubtful . We demonstrate in this paper that it is possible: 1) to transduce this factor into bacteria which is then able to conjugate and to transfer resistance to another bacteria, 2) to transfer carbenicillin resistance to arginine deficient strains without bringing chromosomic genes, 3) to obtain the carbenicillin resistance maintenance in Rec deficient strains . All these results are in favour of a plasmid. Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 1976 Jan-Mar, 21(1), 43 - 8 {Hemorrhagic syndrome in newborn infants during a hospital infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa}; Pasare G et al.; In a department for neonates 21 of the 34 children contracted infections with various clinical manifestations within a relatively short interval (approximately two weeks) . Three of the children died and pathoanatomic examination revealed aspects characteristic of vascularitis and diffuse hemorrhage in most organs accompanied by infiltration and oedema . From the lethal cases, part of the sick and healthy children and personnel the same bacterium was isolated--Pseudomonas aeruginosa, suggesting an in-hospital epidemic. Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg), 1976 Jan, 55(1), 36 - 42 {Experimental studies on the reaction of the immunological system during chronic otitis media and about the course of this disease (author's transl)}; Kastenbauer ER et al.; During chronic otitis media intact immunoglobulins are split due to the proteolytic activity of extracellular bacterial proteinases into fragments of different molecular weight . The most malignant bacterial proteinases are the proteinases of pseudomonas aeruginosa (pyrocyanea) . These proteinases can only be inhibited by alpha-2-macroblobulin of human blood serum . Because of its high molecular weight we find this inhibitor only in a very low concentration in the middle ear secretion . The destruction of the immunoglobulins is certainly one of the factors of weakening the immunological system in the middle ear . The inhibitory system with alpha-1-antitrypsin, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin is unable to inhibit these bacterial proteinases of pseudomonas aeruginosa . The only possibility to get a high concentration of alpha-2-macroglobulin in the middle ear secretion is the liberation of this inhibitory by injuring blood vessels during a tympanoplasty . By this procedure the proteinases of pseudomonas aeruginosa with maximum activity at pH 7.8 and with a high proteolytic activity are almost completely inhibited . By blocking these proteinases combined with an appropriate antibiotic therapy and with the reconstruction of the destroyed parts of the middle ear by a tympanoplasty we can produce a preponderance of the immunological system as compared with the proteolytic activity of the proteinases . This high proteolytic activity can be a cause of the destruction of the small processes of the ossicular bones, especially of the lenticular process of incus . In order to demonstrate that there are proteolytic splitting processes of intact immunoglobulins, a quantitative analysis of the immunoglbulins IgG, IgA and IgM was done pre- and postoperatively . By these studies we found postoperatively a much higher level of intact immunoglobulins, particulary in cases of chronic otitis media associated with cholesteatoma . The blocking of the proteinases and the increase of the level of intact immunoglobulins combined with the reconstruction of physiological conditions in the chronically inflamed middle ear by a tympanoplasty lead to a stabilsation of the immunological and inhibitory system and create the prerequisites for a healing process in chronic otitis media . It is the purpose of further studies to learn about the capability of the split-products of the immunoglobulines to attach and to absorb antigens and toxins during a chronic inflammation in the middle ear. C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 1975 Dec 15, 281(23), 1909 - 12 {Autoradiographic study of a bacterial colony . Application to the effects of polymyxin on Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonies}; Reyrolle J et al.; The autoradiograph of a colony of Ps . a . which has been transferred, during growth, on a medium added with polymyxin and tritiate leucin makes it possible to locate an upper zone with a high metabolic activity and a basal zone with no metabolic activity . The latter, which consists of lysed cells, acts probably as a selective filter against the drug. Arch Dermatol, 1975 Dec, 111(12), 1603 - 5 Incontinentia pigmenti and defective neutrophil chemotaxis; Dahl MV et al.; A child with incontinentia pigmenti and chronic erythema multiforme had recurrent bacterial infections . Greatly elevated serum IgE was found . In addition, the patient's neutrophils showed essentially no chemotaxis toward Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa in either patient or control serum . Neutrophil phagocytosis and killing function were normal. Jpn J Exp Med, 1975 Dec, 45(6), 515 - 24 Pathogenesis of the mouse keratitis produced with Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kawaharajo K et al.; For the purpose of studying the pathogenesis of corneal infection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was examined virulence of elastase and protease producing strains or non-producing strains of the bacteria by using the cornea of mouse . The cornea of mouse was experimentally incised, and then P . aeruginosa cultures were dropped once onto it . As a result serious ulcers were caused over the entire cornea, and abscesses in its central area, by 10(5) and 10(7) viable cells of the enzymes producing strains IID 1210 and NO-5 of P . aeruginosa, respectively . Histological destruction, enlargement and cellular infiltration were observed in the corneal epithelium and stroma . On the other hand, P . aeruginosa strains NC-5 and N-10, enzymes non-producing ones, could not cause corneal lesions such as ulcers or abscesses . However, strain PA-103, which is considered to produce neither of the enzymes, could not cause corneal ulcers but cause uveitis even with 10(5) viable cells per mouse . His