Streptococci

J Dent Res, 1985 Jan, 64(1), 58 - 61
The more Streptococcus mutans, the more caries on approximal surfaces; Kristoffersson K et al.; The relationship between the presence of Streptococcus mutans and caries on approximal tooth surfaces was studied in a group of 28 children who were 13 years old at baseline . 700 surfaces in the pre-molar and molar region were studied . Sampling of S . mutans was performed with a toothpick method at the beginning of the study and after one and two years . From bite-wing radiographs, the approximal surfaces were recorded as caries-free, decayed, or restored . Progression of lesions during the two years was also studied . More new caries lesions and progression caries lesions were found on surfaces positive for S . mutans than on surfaces without, and the more S . mutans, the more lesions, 52% of the surfaces with positive S . mutans findings at all three sampling occasions became carious or had caries in a progressive form . Among the surfaces with no detectable S . mutans, the corresponding figure was 8% . 80 out of the 530 surfaces diagnosed as intact at the start of the study became carious over the two-year period . 69 of these were S . mutans-positive at the first and/or second sampling.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1985 Jan, 131(1), 131 - 3
A new elastase inhibitor from Streptococcus pneumoniae protects against acute lung injury induced by neutrophil granules; Vered M et al.; A neutrophil elastase-inhibitor isolated from lysed pneumococcal cells, as well as trypsin-digest peptides derived from this factor, were tested for their ability to suppress acute lung injury in mice treated with human neutrophil granule extracts . Injury was assessed by measuring pulmonary sequestration of circulating 125I-labeled albumin, lung water, and lung hemoglobin . Both the native inhibitor and the tryptic-peptides gave good protection when preincubated with granule extract for brief periods before intrapulmonary instillation . Lesser, but still significant, protection was observed in the absence of preincubation . Protection was not simply due to addition of exogenous proteins to the granule extract because substitution of goat immunoglobulin for pneumococcal fraction was ineffective . These results suggest that pneumococcal elastase-inhibitors, recently described by us, may play a role in minimizing lung injury during pneumococcal pneumonia.

Microbios, 1985, 44(181S), 223 - 32
Transmission of Streptococcus mutans in some selected families; Masuda N et al.; The aim of the present study was to determine the source and transmission route of Streptococcus mutans . The frequency of this organism in saliva and plaque samples was compared among fifteen pairs of mothers and their children . The results showed that most of the mothers harboured almost equal or greater levels of S . mutans than their children . Similarities of the distribution of various serotypes and mutacin types were observed between these mothers and their offspring . Samples were also collected from plaque and/or carious lesions of the relatives of the subjects who carried one of the serotypes other than serotype c as the dominant S . mutans . The strains of the same serotypes of S . mutans which possessed similar mutacin patterns were predominantly detected in the siblings and mothers of each subject . However, a similar distribution of S . mutans strains was not clearly observed in other relatives including fathers, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

J Fr Ophtalmol, 1985, 8(12), 773 - 7
{The Posner-Schlossmann syndrome and allergy}; Demailly P et al.; In 13 cases of Posner Schlossmann Syndrome, the authors have performed a systematic and full allergologic investigation . They were able to demonstrate in all cases an atopic constitution . The immunity tests in vivo associated with a rhinomanometric inhalation of the responsible allergen have shown positive responses to the pneumallergens and to the streptococcus hemolyticus by the way of a focal infection . In almost all cases secondary syndromic reactions were present . Specific desensitization carefully managed, closely supervised, makes possible in early detected cases the attacks to become less frequent and eventually to disappear.

Microbiol Immunol, 1985, 29(12), 1163 - 73
Effect of mutacin administration on Streptococcus mutans-induced dental caries in rats; Ooshima T et al.; A bacteriocin from serotype c Streptococcus mutans strain C3603 was examined for its inhibitory effect on experimental dental caries in rats infected with S . mutans MT8148R (serotype c) . Significant reduction in the incidence of dental caries was found only when bacteriocin was incorporated both in the drinking water and in the diet at a high concentration . However, caries reduction was not as great as expected and the addition of bacteriocin to drinking water alone had no effect on the recovery of S . mutans, plaque deposition or caries incidence . The bacteriocin activity must have been reduced in the oral cavity of rats, and the reasons were examined . Bacteriocin-resistant mutants were not detected and the bacteriocin was not inactivated by saliva . Whereas the bacteriocin did not kill the S . mutans cells grown in a sucrose-containing medium, it completely killed the cells grown in a sucrose-free medium.

J Gen Microbiol, 1985 Jan, 131 ( Pt 1), 67 - 72
Does an increase in membrane unsaturated fatty acids account for Tween 80 stimulation of glucosyltransferase secretion by Streptococcus salivarius?
Jacques NA, Jacques VL, Wolf AC, Wittenberger CL.
When Streptococcus salivarius was grown in batch culture in the presence of various Tween detergents, the fatty acid moiety of the detergent was incorporated into the lipids of its membrane . Tween 80 (containing primarily oleic acid) markedly stimulated the production of extracellular glucosyltransferase and also increased the degree of unsaturation of the membrane lipid fatty acids . The possibility that an increase in membrane unsaturated fatty acids promoted extracellular glucosyltransferase production was examined by growing cells at different temperatures in the presence or absence of Tween 80 . The membrane lipids of cells grown at 30 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 40 degrees C without Tween 80 exhibited unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratios of 2.06, 1.01 and 0.87 respectively . A significant increase in the production of extracellular glucosyltransferase was observed at 30 degrees C compared to cells grown at 40 degrees C . However, cells produced much more exoenzyme at all temperatures when grown with Tween 80 . The results indicated that an increase in the unsaturated fatty acid content of the membrane lipids was not by itself sufficient to account for the stimulation of extracellular glucosyltransferase production by Tween 80, but that the surfactant also had to be present.

Pediatr Pathol, 1985, 4(3-4), 247 - 55
Fatal adenovirus pneumonia in two newborn infants, one case caused by adenovirus type 30; Sun CC et al.; Adenovirus rarely causes pneumonia in the newborn infant . We added 2 cases of fatal adenovirus neonatal pneumonia to the 3 cases previously reported . One of our cases was caused by adenovirus type 30, which is not previously known to be a pathogen . While the pneumonia could have been acquired in the nursery, the presence of chorioamnionitis and mixed infection with group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus suggests that an ascending infection from the birth canal might be another mode of transmission for neonatal adenovirus pneumonia.

Ter Arkh, 1985, 57(9), 49 - 56
{Viral myocarditis (the etiologic, clinical, diagnostic and treatment problems)}; Novikov IuI et al.; To elucidate the etiology of respiratory infection and pharyngitis associated myocarditis a serological study was made of 201 patients who were successively admitted with a clinical diagnosis of myocarditis . Coxsackie viral infection of group B, influenza A and B, para-influenza and adenoviral infection and beta-hemolytical streptococcus of group A were determined . Preceding Coxsackie infection was established in 38,3% of the patients, influenza A and B in 27.5%, adenoviral infection in 3.6% and para-influenza in 1.7% . beta-hemolytical streptococcus as the cause of myocarditis was detected in 4.9% of the patients only . In view of the viral etiology of most cases of myocarditis the authors discussed the problems of its pathogenesis, clinical course and therapy.

Gene, 1985, 36(3), 341 - 8
Inverted terminal repeats and terminal proteins of the genomes of pneumococcal phages; Escarmis C et al.; The nucleotide (nt) sequence at the ends of the genomes of the Streptococcus pneumoniae phages Cp-5 and Cp-7 has been determined and compared with the corresponding sequence of phage Cp-1 . The genomes of phages Cp-5 and Cp-7 have inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) 343 and 347 bp long, respectively . In Cp-1 DNA the ITR is 236 bp long and the following 116 bp are 93% homologous . Some regions within the ITRs are conserved in the three genomes although the complete sequence of the ITRs is no more conserved than the rest of their genomes . The chromatographic behavior of their tryptic peptides suggests that the terminal proteins (TPs) of at least two of the phages are similar and that the TPs of the three pneumococcal phages differ markedly from that of the Bacillus subtilis phage psi 29.

Mol Gen Genet, 1985, 200(3), 482 - 9
The hexB mismatch repair gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae: characterisation, cloning and identification of the product; Prats H et al.; A second gene involved in mismatch repair in Streptococcus pneumoniae, the hexB gene, has been characterised . The gene was cloned into a multicopy plasmid vector . The cloned hexB gene is expressed as judged by its ability to complement a chromosomal hexB- allele . Its direction of transcription and its functional limits were defined . Comparison of the proteins encoded by recombinant plasmids and by restriction fragments allowed us to identify an Mr 83,000 protein as the probable product of the hexB gene . We offer evidence that this gene together with the hexA gene is essential for repair of transition as well as frameshift mismatches.

Gene, 1985, 34(2-3), 357 - 62
Nucleotide sequence of the streptokinase gene from Streptococcus equisimilis H46A; Malke H et al.; The entire nucleotide sequence of a cloned 2568-bp PstI fragment from the genome of Streptococcus equisimilis H46A encoding the streptokinase gene (skc) has been determined . The longest open reading frame comprises 1320 bp which code for streptokinase . The protein is synthesized with a 26-amino acid residue N-terminal extension having properties characteristic of a signal peptide . Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the available amino acid sequence of a commercial streptokinase reveals minor primary structure differences . The nucleotide sequencing of skc does not support the hypothesis that the gene has evolved by duplication and fusion, as suggested by internal twofold amino acid homologies of its product . Furthermore, the skc gene sequence shows no extended regions homologous to the staphylokinase gene . Upstream from the skc gene, the putative skc promoter and the ribosome-binding site sequence have been identified; downstream from the coding region, inverted repeat sequences thought to function as transcription terminators have been detected.

Gene, 1985, 34(2-3), 293 - 303
Cloning of the hexA mismatch-repair gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae and identification of the product; Martin B et al.; The hexA mismatch repair gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae has been cloned into multicopy plasmid vectors . The cloned hexA gene is expressed as judged from its ability to complement various chromosomal hexA- alleles . Its direction of transcription was defined and the functional limits were localized by original methods relying on homology-dependent integration of nonautonomous chimeric plasmids carrying chromosomal inserts into the chromosome . Comparison of the proteins encoded by recombinant plasmids and by restriction fragments allowed us to identify an Mr 94 000 protein as the probable product of the hexA gene.

Arch Oral Biol, 1985, 30(11-12), 821 - 6
In-vitro inhibition of glucosyltransferase from the dental plaque bacterium Streptococcus mutans by common beverages and food extracts; Kashket S et al.; Some fruit juices and beverages inhibit the glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans . Inhibition by cocoa, coffee and tea was due partly to gelatin-precipitable tannins and partly to components that exhibited properties of monomeric polyphenols . Charcoal treatment removed all inhibitory activity . Catechin, a known constituent of these beverages, was an effective inhibitor of the enzymes . The effects of the fruit juices were attributable mainly to the inhibition of the glucosyltransferases by the endogenous fructose and glucose . The findings show that naturally-occurring constituents of foods can inhibit extracellular polysaccharide formation from sucrose . Such constituents may play a role in regulating dental plaque formation in vivo and, thereby, may have long-term effects on the development of dental caries.

Mol Gen Genet, 1985, 201(2), 225 - 30
Cloning and expression of the pneumococcal autolysin gene in Escherichia coli; Garcia E et al.; A 7.5 kb BclI-fragment of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA has been cloned in Escherichia coli HB101 using pBR322 as a vector . The new plasmid (pGL30) of 12.0 kb expresses a protein that has been characterized by biochemical, immunological and genetic methods as the inactive form (E-form) of the pneumococcal N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl amidase (EC 3.5.1.28) . Our results demonstrate that the E-form is the primary product of the lyt gene of S . pneumoniae . The inactive E-form can be converted to the active C-form in vitro by incubation of the E-form enzyme with choline-containing pneumococcal cell walls at low temperature in a similar way to enzyme production in the homologous system . The production of this protein in E . coli HB101 was 500-fold higher than in the homologous host . E . coli CSR603 containing pGL30 and labeled with {35S}methionine synthesized a 35 kd protein . pGL30 can transform at high frequency an autolysin-defective mutant of S . pneumoniae to the lyt+ phenotype.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1985 Jan-Feb, 136A(1), 63 - 6
The autolytic peptidoglycan hydrolases of Streptococcus faecium; Shockman GD et al.; Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 possesses two peptidoglycan hydrolase activities . The first enzyme, an N-acetylmuramoylhydrolase, has been purified and has been shown to be a glucoenzyme . Studies of hydrolysis of soluble, linear uncross-linked peptidoglycan chains showed that the enzyme bound strongly to the non-reducing ends of the chains and then sequentially (processively) hydrolysed susceptible bonds in that chain . The second peptidoglycan hydrolase does not appear to be a glycoprotein and differs from the first enzyme in substrate specificity and mechanism of hydrolysis . The presence of two partially redundant activities which may play different roles in surface growth and division could, at least in part, explain previous difficulties in obtaining mutants which completely lack autolytic activity.

J Bacteriol, 1985 Jan, 161(1), 18 - 24
Pneumococcal Forssman antigen: enrichment in mesosomal membranes and specific binding to the autolytic enzyme of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Horne D et al.; The choline-containing pneumococcal membrane teichoic acid (Forssman antigen) can be isolated with the membrane fractions of the bacteria . The small vesicle (mesosomal) fraction generated during the formation of protoplasts seems to be highly enriched in this material . Forssman antigen was identified in cell fractions on the basis of (i) radioactive choline label, (ii) autolysin-inhibitory activity, and (iii) the sedimentation profile in sucrose density gradients with and without detergent . A membrane teichoic acid could also be isolated from pneumococci grown in medium in which choline was replaced by ethanolamine as the nutritionally required amino alcohol . This material contained radioactive ethanolamine label and behaved similarly to the choline-containing membrane teichoic acid during centrifugation in detergent-containing and detergent-free density gradients . On the other hand, the material had only low autolysin-inhibitory activity . Binding of pure pneumococcal autolysin to micelles of purified Forssman antigen could be demonstrated by mixing these components in vitro and analyzing them by sucrose density gradients and by agarose chromatography . No binding could be observed between the pneumococcal enzyme and the micellar forms of either cardiolipin or polyglycerophosphate-type lipoteichoic acid isolated from Streptococcus lactis.

South Med J, 1985 Jan, 78(1), 65 - 6
Subdural empyema and group C Streptococcus; Layon J et al.; We have described a case of subdural empyema in a 13-year-old boy whose presentation was not atypical for the disease . The unusual organism cultured from his blood, frontal sinuses, middle ear, meninges, and epidura was group C beta-hemolytic Streptococcus.

Arch Oral Biol, 1985, 30(3), 295 - 8
The effects of basic and acidic synthetic polypeptides on the adherence of the oral bacteria, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis, to hydroxyapatite; Lamberts BL et al.; Two basic and two acidic synthetic polypeptides that bind strongly to hydroxyapatite at neutral pH were tested to determine their influence on adsorption of two Streptococcus mutans and two Streptococcus sanguis strains to hydroxyapatite . The adsorption of the strains was significantly enhanced or reduced by the basic and acidic agents, respectively . Study of acidic polypeptides provided evidence of competition between the polypeptides and the bacterial cells for hydroxyapatite adsorption sites.

Arch Oral Biol, 1985, 30(3), 207 - 12
Comparative immunogenicity and protective effect against dental caries of a low (3800) and a high (185,000) molecular weight protein in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta); Lehner T et al.; The immunogenicity and protective effect of two peptides derived from the human oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans (serotype c) was examined . Furthermore, the effect of immunization was examined in monkeys previously given fluoride in their diet and which had developed a low incidence of dental caries when offered a human type of diet containing about 15 per cent sucrose . The 3800 peptide streptococcal antigen (SA) has two major antigenic determinants, similar to those in the 185,000 SA I/II . Immunization with 10 (or 1) micrograms of the 3800 SA, made up in an aluminium-hydroxide adjuvant, induced a consistent increase in serum IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies to SA I/II throughout the period of investigation . Salivary-IgA antibodies were only slightly raised . Sequential examination up to 76 weeks showed a significantly lower incidence of dental caries and a lower proportion of Strep . mutans in the immunized compared with sham-immunized, control monkeys . Thus immunization with the 185,000 or 3800 SA can almost completely prevent dental caries in rhesus monkeys which otherwise develop a low incidence of caries.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1985, 51(2), 227 - 40
RNase-sensitive and RNase-insensitive protective components isolated from Listeria monocytogenes; Antonissen AC et al.; Crude ribosomes were isolated from Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b and separated into two fractions by molecular sieve chromatography . Chemical analysis indicated that fraction I contained cell envelope components while fraction II contained the ribosomes . Both fractions protected mice against Listeria, but only in combination with the adjuvant dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DDA) . RNase-treatment, but not proteinase K-treatment destroyed the protective properties of fraction II, and RNA purified from fraction II also induced protection . Protection induced by fraction I was not affected by either RNase- or proteinase K-treatment . Both subcutaneous and intraperitoneal, but not intravenous administration of fraction I, fraction II, or purified RNA induced significant protection against intraperitoneal infection, the intraperitoneal route of administration being the most effective . All preparations induced high levels of protection 3 to 7 days after administration, but protection was already decreased after 14 days . Protection induced with RNA appeared to be biphasic, because it also protected mice 1 day, but not 2 days after administration . Protection induced with both fraction I and RNA was at least in part non-specific, because both preparations also protected mice against L . monocytogenes serotype 3, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Results are discussed in relation to previous work with analogous preparations from P . aeruginosa.

Ann Inst Pasteur Microbiol, 1985 Jan-Feb, 136A(1), 59 - 62
Analysis of nutritional shift-up of Streptococcus faecium; Higgins ML et al.; Three-dimensional reconstruction methods were applied to electron micrographs of Streptococcus faecium to study the initiation of cell wall growth sites during a nutritional shift-up experiment . Upon lowering the mass doubling time from 76 to 33 min by the addition of excess glutamate, the formation of new cell wall growth sites was studied in relation to other growth parameters (autolytic capacity, cell number, mass, RNA, DNA and peptidoglycan) . The findings from these studies, to be described below, support a model in which new sites are introduced when cells grow to a relatively constant, growth-rate-independent size, while the rate at which sites form and grow increases with growth rate . In this model, chromosome synthesis does not regulate the formation of new sites of cell wall growth, but existing sites cannot be completed until rounds of chromosome synthesis are completed.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Dec 20, 802(3), 385 - 9
Human mononuclear leukocyte transglutaminase activity is enhanced by streptococcal erythrogenic toxin and a staphylococcal mitogenic factor associated with toxic shock syndrome; Zettergren JG et al.; Transglutaminase activity in human peripheral lymphocytes is enhanced after incubation of the cells with concanavalin A . Streptococcal proliferative factor toxin (erythrogenic toxin) from Streptococcus pyogenes and Toxic shock syndrome toxin from Staphylococcus aureus were purified and tested for their ability to enhance transglutaminase activity . Mononuclear leukocyte transglutaminase activity was enhanced 3-5-fold 30 min after incubation with either toxin . Enhancement occurred only when toxin was incubated with intact cells; addition of toxin to cell lysates was without effect . Transglutaminase was not measurable extracellularly . Histamine and dansyl cadaverine, competitive substrates for transglutaminase, inhibited {3H}putrescine incorporation into casein and {3H}thymidine incorporation into DNA . Incubation of lymphocytes with cycloheximide and either toxin or concanavalin A did not inhibit enzyme activity . These bacterial toxins, like phytomitogens, may perturb the cellular membrane and mediate their effect by transglutaminase-mediated cross-linking of membrane proteins.

Science, 1984 Dec 14, 226(4680), 1325 - 6
Monoclonal idiotope vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection; McNamara MK et al.; A monoclonal anti-idiotope antibody coupled to a carrier protein was used to immunize BALB/c mice against a lethal Streptococcus pneumoniae infection . Vaccinated mice developed a high titer of antibody to phosphorylcholine, which is known to protect against infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae . Measurement of the median lethal dose of the bacteria indicated that anti-idiotope immunization significantly increased the resistance of BALB/c mice to the bacterial challenge . Antibody to an idiotope can thus be used as an antigen substitute for the induction of protective immunity.

N Z Med J, 1984 Dec 12, 97(769), 849 - 51
Thoracic empyema due to Streptococcus milleri: four cases; Frankish PD et al.; Four cases of Streptococcus milleri empyema occurring over a six month period are reported . Empyema was post-pneumonic in three patients and followed blunt abdominal and chest trauma in one patient . There was an absence of serious underlying disease in these patients and management consisted of tube drainage, lavage of the pleural space and prolonged intrapleural and systemically administered antibiotic therapy . Complete recovery was achieved in three patients and a satisfactory result in the other without surgical intervention . The clinical and microbiological features of this group of patients are reviewed.

Health Policy, 1985, 5(2), 159 - 64
Cost-effective control of rheumatic fever in the community; Strasser T; Rheumatic fever is declining rapidly in importance in the developed countries, but is still a major public health problem in the developing countries . Primary prevention techniques, consisting of the detection and antibiotic treatment of streptococcal infections of the pharynx, are both feasible and effective, but are also costly, as only 10-20% of all pharyngeal infections are due to the beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, and only a small proportion of those actually develop into rheumatic heart disease . A different concerted approach, which is both effective and economically entirely justifiable, is to use antibiotics as a prophylaxis to prevent secondary infection, i.e . relapses of rheumatic fever . A multi-centre study conducted by the WHO has shown that the cost of antibiotics used for secondary prevention was less than the savings resulting from the lower incidence and shorter hospital stays of recurrencies of rheumatic fever . Given economic restrictions, therefore, priority is given to organized and systematic secondary prevention.

Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Dec, 92(6), 533 - 8
Influence of bacterial cell concentration and inorganic anions on lysis of Streptococcus mutans BHT by salivary lysozyme; Twetman S et al.; The aim of this work was to study the influence of bacterial cell concentrations and inorganic anions on lysis of Streptococcus mutans BHT by human salivary lysozyme (HSL) . HSL was partly purified from saliva by ion exchange chromatography . The bacteria were grown in a synthetic medium containing 3H-thymidine to monitor DNA release . The experiments demonstrated that release of 3H-thymidine was dependent on the bacterial cell concentration and an apparent Km-value corresponding to approximately 2.9 X 10(8) cells/ml was calculated . The influence of I-, Br-, Cl-, F-, HCO3- and SCN- on bacteriolysis was studied . All anions tested were slightly inhibitory on the action of HSL . The inhibition varied from 7 to 76% depending on the ion and ionic strength . The order of addition of HSL and sodium chloride caused different lytic responses . This was reflected by the amount of HSL adsorbed by the bacteria.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Dec, 26(6), 933 - 4
Susceptibility of multiply antibiotic-resistant pneumococci to the new quinoline antibiotics, nalidixic acid, coumermycin, and novobiocin; Gombert ME et al.; The susceptibility of 10 multiply antibiotic-resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae to several quinoline antibiotics and to coumermycin, novobiocin, and penicillin was determined . The MIC of penicillin for all test isolates was greater than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml . Ciprofloxacin was the most active quinoline derivative tested, followed by norfloxacin . These isolates of S . pneumoniae were not inhibited by the remaining quinolines at achievable concentrations in serum . Coumermycin and ciprofloxacin were the most active antibiotics tested in this study.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1984 Dec, 130(6), 1118 - 24
Inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase in extracts of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Vered M et al.; Alveolar architecture is spared during most pneumococcal pneumonias, despite the presence in pneumonic exudate of many neutrophils containing a potent elastase . We explored the possibility that pneumococci might contain an inhibitor of this enzyme . We found that pneumococcal extracts prepared by sonication or by lysis with sodium deoxycholate contained 2 different inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase . Both inhibitors were specific for neutrophil elastase and did not affect pancreatic elastase or trypsin . Inhibitor I was partly purified by affinity chromatography and preparative acrylamide gel electrophoresis and shown to be a negatively charged, low molecular weight substance that inhibited competitively (Lineweaver-Burk analysis) . Inhibition depended on ionic interaction with the cationic enzyme and could be blocked by 0.15 M NaCl . For this reason, the first agent seemed unlikely to play an important role in modulating neutrophil elastase activity in inflammatory exudates and was not studied further . The second agent (Inhibitor II) eluted in the high molecular weight fraction during Sephacryl S-300 chromatography . Gradient SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of partly purified Inhibitor II revealed an apparent molecular weight of 140,000 daltons . This agent inhibited noncompetitively and remained active in the presence of 0.15 M NaCl . Prolonged incubation with TPCK-trypsin resulted in cleavage of Inhibitor II into smaller fragments, which could be further dissociated by reduction with dithiothreitol . Inactivation of neutrophil elastase with N-acetyl-alanyl-alanyl-prolyl-valyl-chloromethyl ketone prevented complex formation between this enzyme and Inhibitor II, suggesting that an unblocked binding pocket in neutrophil elastase is required for its complexation to the noncompetitive pneumococcal inhibitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Dec, 67(12), 3075 - 80
Evaluation of experimental teat dip containing sodium chlorite and lactic acid by excised teat assay; Schmidt AL et al.; An experimental teat dip containing sodium chlorite and lactic acid, diluted in water, was evaluated by excised teat protocol . The teat dip was tested against 21 microorganisms . Included were: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Numerous strains were tested for strain differences . Environmental bacteria were included because of their increasing importance as a cause of bovine mastitis . All excised teats were dipped in a bacterial suspension containing about 1 X 10(8) cfu/ml . Negative control teats were not dipped in a germicidal compound . Positive controls were dipped in 1% iodophor . Effectiveness of the experimental teat dip was expressed as the percent reduction in mean log of bacteria recovered from dipped teats as compared to numbers recovered from control teats . The sodium chlorite - lactic acid dip caused a greater percent log reduction than iodophor for 14 of 21 strains tested . However, differences were generally slight . The experimental teat dip appeared effective against Gram-negative bacteria . Some differences in percent log reduction were observed between strains of the same species . Lowest effectiveness and greatest strain variation were observed with Staphylococcus aureus for both dips tested.

Can J Biochem Cell Biol, 1984 Dec, 62(12), 1309 - 20
Structural analysis of the specific polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 9L (American type 49); Richards JC et al.; The specific capsular polysaccharide produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 9L (American type 49) is composed of D-galactose (one part), D-glucose (one part), D-glucuronic acid (one part), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannose (one part), and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (one part) . Partial acid hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, nitrous acid deamination, optical rotation, methylation, and 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance studies showed that the polysaccharide is an unbranched high molecular weight linear polymer of a repeating pentasaccharide unit having the structure: (formula; see text).

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Dec, (12), 24 - 7
{Isolation and characteristics of an antibacterial substance produced by strains of Streptococcus sp . Thom-1606 . I . Study of the conditions for increasing the synthesis of an antibacterial substance during the stab cultivation of Streptococcus sp . TOM-1606}; Savranskaia SI et al.; In the process of investigations the antibacterial substance released by the producer strain has been found to be the secondary product of biosynthesis . The substance is synthetized under the conditions of low carbohydrate concentration in the culture fluid . The addition of glutamine into the culture medium at a concentration of 25 micrograms/ml increases the accumulation of the target product 4-fold in comparison with the control . The maximum synthesis of the antibacterial substance is shown to occur at the lowest rate of sucrose utilization.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Dec, 26(6), 903 - 8
Effect of exchange transfusion with an oxygen-carrying resuscitation fluid on the efficacy of penicillin therapy of pneumococcal infection in rats; Hodges GR et al.; The effects of exchange transfusion with Fluosol DA (FDA) or stroma-free hemoglobin on the outcome of pneumococcal infection in rats were determined . Rats were sham transfused or exchange transfused with 25 ml of FDA or stroma-free hemoglobin . They were then challenged intraperitoneally with Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 and treated with penicillin for 120 h . Only 2 of 15 (13.3%) FDA-transfused rats were alive at 312 h compared with 11 of 15 (73.3%) concurrently studied sham-transfused control rats (P = 0.0016) . Of 10 stroma-free hemoglobin-transfused rats and 10 concurrently studied sham-transfused control rats (P = 0.98), 8 from each group (80%) were alive at 312 h . Penicillin therapy only suppressed pneumococcal infection in FDA-transfused rats, and relapse occurred after therapy was stopped . This effect could not be attributed to interference with the bactericidal activity of penicillin against pneumococci, to an alteration in the pneumococcal burden before penicillin therapy or to an alteration of the leukocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte response by FDA . In contrast, pneumococcal infection in stroma-free hemoglobin-transfused rats was cured with penicillin therapy . These data showed that FDA altered the ability of rats to respond to pneumococcal infection.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Dec, 26(6), 807 - 10
pH-dependent bactericidal effects of acidulated fluoride gels on preformed plaque aggregates of Streptococcus mutans 6715; Caufield PW et al.; The anticaries action of topically applied sodium fluoride (NaF) preparations has been attributed, at least in part, to the antibacterial effect of fluoride on cariogenic bacteria . In this report we examined the bactericidal activity of acidulated NaF gels against preformed plaque aggregates of Streptococcus mutans 6715 . Both commercially available and laboratory-prepared gels were tested . Prepared NaF gels were acidified to various pH levels with HCl, H3PO4, or HF . The aggregates of S . mutans were immersed in the various fluoride gels for 5 min and then monitored for viability . None of the commercially available NaF gels with pHs of 3.5 to 4.5 and fluoride concentrations of 5,000 to 12,300 micrograms/ml were capable of exerting complete bactericidal activity against aggregates of S . mutans . For the laboratory-prepared NaF gels, neither the source of hydrogen ion nor the source of fluoride influenced the outcome when fluoride was present at the appropriate MBC and pH . NaF gels with a fluoride concentration of 37,000 micrograms/ml were bactericidal to S . mutans at pH 3.0 . At pH 2.5 and 2.0, approximately 12,000 and 1,100 micrograms of fluoride per ml, respectively, was bactericidal . Results from this study suggest that the bactericidal properties of acidulated NaF gels can be enhanced by lowering their pHs to below 3.0.

Vet Rec, 1984 Dec 1, 115(22), 562 - 4
Monitoring herds for Streptococcus suis type 2 by sampling tonsils of slaughter pigs; Clifton-Hadley FA et al.; Heads were removed soon after slaughter from the dressed carcases of 155 pigs belonging to 12 herds with a history of streptococcal meningitis and from 180 pigs from four herds believed to be free from this disease . Deep scrapings from both tonsils were sown on two selective media . Streptococcus suis type 2 was detected in a proportion of pigs from the 12 herds with a history of the disease, including three herds in which no cases were noted during the year this study was made . Pigs in six of these herds had received therapeutic levels of certain antibiotics in their feed as growers . The confirmed detectable tonsillar carrier rates varied between these 12 herds from 20 to 90 per cent and between batches of heads from one herd from 0 to 100 per cent . Carrier rates could not be correlated with disease levels, herd size or husbandry system . S suis type 2 was also detected in pigs from two herds thought to be free of the disease, at rates of 20 and 1.5 per cent.

Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1984 Dec 1, 114(48), 1758 - 60
{Dosage interval and in vivo action of penicillin against pneumococci}; Gerber AU et al.; The relationship between dosage intervals of penicillin and bactericidal efficacy was investigated in an experimental model using normal and granulocytopenic mice and Streptococcus pneumoniae . Pulsdosing at 4-hour intervals proved to be significantly less efficient than fractional doses of the same total amount of penicillin injected at 1-hour intervals.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 20(6), 1028 - 30
Isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 from equine species; Benson CE et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 was isolated from seven tracheobronchial aspirates and one pleural tap of seven adult horses and one foal . There was no direct evidence in these horses that isolation of the pneumococcus was related to a specific disease syndrome . Presenting complaints included two horses with chronic cough, two horses with decreased exercise tolerance, one horse with exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, and three horses with pneumonia . Antibiotic therapy resolved the primary clinical complaint . This is the first report of the isolation of S . pneumoniae type 3 from adult horses.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1984 Dec, 130(6), 1174 - 6
Streptococcus pneumoniae infections and bacteremia in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, with report of a pneumococcal vaccine failure; Simberkoff MS et al.; Five patients had Streptococcus pneumoniae infections among the 35 hospitalized with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) at the New York Veterans Administration Medical Center between January 1, 1982, and June 30, 1983 . Three of these patients had pneumococcal bacteremia and 2 had pneumonia without bacteremia . Twenty-seven bacteremic S . pneumoniae infections occurred among 5,143 patients without AIDS admitted to the Medical Service of this hospital during the same period . Thus, pneumococcal bacteremia was more likely to occur in patients with AIDS than in the general hospitalized population (x2 = 26, p = less than 0.001) . Two of the bacteremic infections were caused by S . pneumoniae type 4 . One of these occurred in a patient who had been inoculated with the 14 valent pneumococcal vaccine 5 months earlier . There were no significant differences in concentrations of radioimmunoassay antibody to type 4 pneumococcal polysaccharide in sequential serum samples collected from this patient, and opsonic titers to this organism were not detected . It is concluded that pneumococcal infections are very common among patients with AIDS, and may not be prevented by active immunoprophylaxis.

South Med J, 1984 Dec, 77(12), 1602 - 3
Primary subcutaneous abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae; Gleich S; A primary subcutaneous abscess and associated bacteremia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, type 9V, occurred in a healthy 23-year-old man . Penicillin therapy and surgical drainage were curative.

J Lab Clin Med, 1984 Dec, 104(6), 977 - 86
Opsonic activity of immunoglobulin prepared for intravenous use; Hetherington SV et al.; The opsonic activity of two immunoglobulin preparations modified for intravenous infusion was tested against Streptococcus pneumoniae types 3, 7F, and 14 and two strains of Staphylococcus aureus by polymorphonuclear leukocyte uptake of 3H-thymidine-labeled bacteria . Reduced and alkylated immunoglobulin (Chem-IgG) and immunoglobulin prepared by chromatography with diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex (DEAE-IgG) were evaluated with and without complement and compared with the opsonic activity of immune serum globulin and heated pooled human serum . Opsonic activity of DEAE-IgG was greater than that of Chem-IgG and equivalent to the activity of immune serum globulin and pooled human serum against S . aureus 502A and type 3 pneumococcus . Both intravenous immunoglobulins had lower opsonic activity than either pooled human serum or immune serum globulin against type 14 pneumococcus . There were no differences in antibody avidity for pneumococcal antigen among the immunoglobulins tested . All four opsonins had similar opsonic activity against the protein A-deficient S . aureus Wood 46 . Modification of immunoglobulin for intravenous infusion by chemical alteration may adversely affect opsonic activity by changing the Fc portion of the antibody molecule.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Dec, 160(3), 849 - 53
Alteration of Streptococcus pneumoniae membrane properties by the folate analog methotrexate; Trombe MC; The antifolate compound methotrexate (MTX) is toxic to the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae . Interaction of MTX with this bacterium resulted in an increase in the electric transmembrane potential (delta psi) and enhanced the delta psi-dependent uptake of isoleucine and MTX . In contrast, delta psi-independent uptake of glutamine was not changed . Folate, a nontoxic analog of MTX, did not exhibit these membrane effects, nor did it prevent the effect of MTX, suggesting that the NH2 in position 4 of the pteridine ring of the MTX molecule is involved in the MTX response . A strain bearing the nonsense mutation amiA9, selected for MTX resistance, did not exhibit increased membrane potential after MTX pretreatment . This suggests that MTX interacts with a specific membrane component in S . pneumoniae . A resulting change in ion permeability could lead to changes in the magnitude of the delta psi . The MTX-sensitive component is altered or absent in mutant amiA9.

Infect Immun, 1984 Dec, 46(3), 870 - 2
D-Alanyl-substituted glycerol lipoteichoic acid in culture fluids of Streptococcus mutans strains GS-5 and BHT; Levine M et al.; The content and D-alanyl ester complement of lipoteichoic acid from stationary-phase culture filtrates of Streptococcus mutans (strains BHT and GS-5; serotypes b and c) were determined chemically and serologically . A third less lipoteichoic acid was obtained from strain GS-5 than from strain BHT . This lipoteichoic acid had an increased mobility on immunoelectrophoresis after exposure overnight at pH 8 and a 10-fold greater content of alanine per mole of glycerol.

Infect Immun, 1984 Dec, 46(3), 854 - 6
Identification and properties of distinct sucrose and glucose phosphotransferase enzyme II activities in Streptococcus mutans 6715g; Jacobson GR et al.; We investigated phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system enzyme II activities for sucrose and glucose in Streptococcus mutans 6715g . Two integral membrane proteins, enzyme IIscr and enzyme IIglc, each specific for its sugar substrate, sucrose or glucose, were identified by their abilities to catalyze specific sugar:sugar-phosphate exchange reactions . Some of the properties of these two transport proteins are also presented.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1984 Dec, 65(6), 683 - 90
Reduction of the susceptibility to infective endocarditis with time in animals with endocavitary catheters; Pujadas-Capmany R et al.; In a previous study we showed that the lesions of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis induced by means of implantation of a catheter in the left ventricle (LV) of the rabbit, undergo inner connectivization and surface endothelialization, which are completed within 2-3 months . In the present study we have investigated whether these histological changes lead to a variation in susceptibility to infective endocarditis (IE) . After studying two control groups, we compared the incidence of IE in four groups of 15 rabbits each, inoculated with Streptococcus mitis I, 10, 35 and 70 days after implantation of a catheter in the LV . The frequency of infection was shown to be progressively reduced from 100% to 26.7% . This demonstrates that endothelialization of the catheter and the sterile vegetations protect the animals from IE.

J Immunol, 1984 Dec, 133(6), 3308 - 12
Blood clearance by anti-phosphocholine antibodies as a mechanism of protection in experimental pneumococcal bacteremia; McDaniel LS et al.; Previous studies have demonstrated that monoclonal IgG and IgM antibodies to phosphocholine (PC), a determinant in the cell wall of Streptococcus pneumoniae, can protect mice from fatal infection with S . pneumoniae . In this study we demonstrate that both passive and naturally occurring anti-PC antibodies promote the clearance of S . pneumoniae from the blood . The bulk of the cleared pneumococci are apparently killed, because they fail to accumulate in reticuloendothelial tissues . These findings suggest that their protective effect is probably dependent on their ability to promote phagocytosis . We have found that on a weight basis IgG antibody is more effective at promoting blood clearance than IgM antibody . This observation fits with our earlier findings that IgG anti-PC antibody is more protective against i.v . infection than IgM anti-PC antibody . We have also demonstrated that anti-PC antibodies are protective against S . pneumoniae infection when given as late as 24 hr postinfection . This finding makes it unlikely that the ability to protect against pneumococcal infection with anti-PC antibody is dependent on an artifact associated with either their in vitro growth or the harvesting procedure.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 Dec, 258(4), 449 - 56
{T-proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes . IV . Isolation of T1-protein using affinity chromatography on immobilized fibrinogen}; Schmidt KH et al.; T-protein of Streptococcus pyogenes, type 1 (strain SF 130 Griffith) was extracted by enzymatic treatment of the cells with trypsin and partially purified by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose and gel chromatography on ultrogel ACA 44 . The crude T protein still showing serologically type specific and cross reactions finally was applied to a fibrinogen sepharose column . Components eluted with the neutral buffer (0.05 M phosphate, 0.2 M NaCl, 0.02% NaN3, pH 7.0) reacted serologically in the same manner as the crude T protein . By using 0.1 M citrate, 6 M urea pH 3.0 buffer a type specifically reacting protein (T1-TRYP-F) was eluted from the fibrinogen column . T1-TRYP-F showed identical precipitation lines with the recently characterized T1-protein (T1-TRYP-I) purified by immunochromatography on type specific anti-T antibodies . Comparison of the SDS-patterns of T1-TRYP-F and T1-TRYP-I revealed a less complex molecular size subunit structure for the fibrinogen binding T1-TRYP-F (two bands of 60000 and 70000) as found for T1-TRYP-I, which showed serologically active peptides between 30000 to about 500000 . It is discussed that T protein also may be linked covalently with fibrinogen receptors as it has been reported for M protein.

J Med Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 18(3), 377 - 84
The variable response of bacteria to free haemoglobin in the tissues; Maskell JP et al.; The local enhancement of infection by exogenous ferric iron, as ferric ammonium citrate, and by ferrous iron as guinea-pig haemoglobin, was assessed in studies with 55 strains of bacteria injected into the skin of guinea-pigs . The test organisms included Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Four strains of Bacteroides spp . were tested with haemoglobin only . As previously reported with other strains, enhancement of infection by members of a given species by ferric iron was variable; in this study infection with only 11 of 59 strains was enhanced . Haemoglobin either of equal or lesser iron content was a more potent enhancer, affecting 27 of the 59 strains . The enhancement ranged from two-fold to 80-fold, the higher figures on the whole being characteristic of haemoglobin enhancement . Some few instances of depression by both haemoglobin and ferric ammonium citrate were noted . A few tests were made with systemic haemoglobin but the concentrations attainable were largely ineffective . Enhancement of infection did not appear to be related to the capacity of a strain to lyse or digest host red blood cells . In so far as guinea-pigs, whose antibacterial defences are lowered by ferric or ferrous iron, represent human subjects at risk of infection because of clinical circumstances characterised by excess of available iron--either exogenous or as a result of haemolysis--our results with organisms of a kind commonly associated with infection in hospitals suggest that only a small proportion of environmental bacteria can take advantage of any decreased resistance associated with iron excess.

Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Dec, 3(6), 506 - 9
Pyogenic liver abscess: diagnosis, bacteriology and treatment; McDonald MI; Pyogenic liver abscess is an uncommon but potentially fatal disease . The accuracy of diagnosis made on clinical grounds can now be greatly improved with the use of modern organ-imaging techniques . The condition is often polymicrobial: Escherichia coli and other enteric gram-negative rods are major pathogens, with anaerobic gram-negative rods and Streptococcus milleri being increasingly recognised . Staphylococcal liver abscesses are less common, often arising in association with neutrophil disorders . Open surgical drainage along with antimicrobial chemotherapy has long been regarded as standard treatment, however, in many centres it is being displaced by percutaneous drainage under the guidance of computed tomography or ultrasound . Some patients have been successfully treated with antimicrobial chemotherapy alone . Once specimens have been taken for culture, empiric antimicrobial therapy should include a combination of an anti-anaerobe agent, an aminoglycoside and a beta-lactam drug such as ampicillin . Early diagnosis and treatment of this condition is essential for patient survival.

J Dent Res, 1984 Dec, 63(12), 1343 - 7
Chemical analyses of membranes isolated from Streptococcus mutans BHT; Crowley PJ et al.; Cell membranes of Streptococcus mutans BHT (serotype b) were prepared following glass-bead disruption or mutanolysin digestion of whole cells . Major constituents of purified BHT membranes included: protein (60-65%), fatty acids (10%), glucose (3%), and phosphorus (0.5%) . The principal amino acids measured were glutamate, aspartate, lysine, alanine, and leucine . The principal fatty acids measured were octadecenoic, palmitoleic, palmitic, and eicosenoic acids; smaller amounts of eicosanoic acid were also detected . Chemical analyses of membranes from cells grown to four different growth phases revealed no major shifts in composition during batch growth under our experimental conditions . Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of these four membrane preparations confirmed the apparent compositional stability of cell membranes during growth.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1984 Dec, 98(12), 708 - 10
{Cross-reacting antigen of Streptococcus group A and of the stromal fibroblasts of lymphoid organs}; Kochetkova EV et al.; It has been demonstrated by the indirect immunofluorescent method that sera of rabbits immunized with nontype-specific (NTS) proteins of the group A streptococcal cell wall react with cultivated fibroblasts . These fibroblasts were explanted from human and guinea-pig lymphoid organs . The same reactions were observed with F(ab')2 fragments of IgG obtained from antisera to NTS-proteins . Fractions containing NTS-antigens inhibited these reactions . A possible role of the cross-reactive streptococcal antigen in common with the antigen of lymphoid organs during thymic damage and the development of the autoimmune process in rheumatic fever is discussed.

Infect Immun, 1984 Dec, 46(3), 703 - 9
Effect of peroral immunization of humans with Streptococcus mutans on induction of salivary and serum antibodies and inhibition of experimental infection; Cole MF et al.; Naturally occurring antibodies reactive with Streptococcus mutans whole cells were assayed in whole saliva, parotid saliva, and blood samples collected from eight human volunteers . The levels and serotypes of indigenous S . mutans in plaque and whole saliva samples were also determined . After baseline sampling the teeth were cleaned and the subjects were inoculated with streptomycin-resistant S . mutans strains Ingbritt (serotype c) and OMZ65 (serotype g) . The level of implantation and duration of colonization were determined in plaque and saliva, and antibodies reactive with these strains were monitored in saliva and serum . After the implanted bacteria were shed, the subjects wee immunized by the daily ingestion of an enteric-coated capsule containing 25 mg of Formalin-killed, freeze-dried OMZ65 cells for 3 days and inoculation was repeated . The levels of antibodies and of implantation and the duration of colonization were monitored as before . One month after the bacteria could no longer be detected, the immunization and inoculation cycle was repeated except that the subjects were immunized for 7 days . Five of the eight subjects were successfully colonized by strains Ingbritt and OMZ65 . The remaining three did not become colonized with either strain . Strain OMZ65 implanted at a higher level than did strain Ingbritt . Oral immunization did not result in a detectable antibody response in saliva or serum to whole bacterial cells . However, after both the first and second immunizations there were marked reductions in the peak levels of infection and the duration of colonization of both OMZ65 and Ingbritt.

Infect Immun, 1984 Dec, 46(3), 754 - 8
Extracellular stimulation by serum proteins required for maximal intracellular killing of microorganisms by mouse peritoneal macrophages; Leijh PC et al.; Intracellular killing of catalase-positive Staphylococcus aureus by resident mouse peritoneal macrophages was very low in the absence of serum but maximal in the presence of fresh normal serum . A large proportion of catalase-negative Streptococcus pyogenes were killed in the absence of extracellular serum, and maximal killing was reached only when serum was present extracellularly . Further investigations revealed that stimulation of intracellular killing by extracellular serum is dependent on the interaction of immunoglobulin G and Fc receptors and of complement component C3b with C3b receptors in the macrophage membrane.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1984 Dec, 92(6), 283 - 9
Genetic transformation in Streptococcus sanguis . Simultaneous variation of surface-spreading, competence, hemagglutination and polar fimbriation in selected strains; Gaustad P et al.; Strains of Streptococcus sanguis expressing spreading zones around the colonies and competence in genetic transformation, were subcultivated in the laboratory, and in three strains a variation to non-spreading colony morphology on human blood agar plates was observed . These variants were isolated and compared with the original strains by genetic transformation, hemagglutination and electron microscopy . In genetic transformation with streptomycin resistance as genetic marker, the non-spreading variants showed a decrease to 1/50 or less of the transformation frequencies compared to the wild types . Hemagglutination of guinea-pig erythrocytes is a common characteristic of S.sanguis strains, but the non-spreading variants did not hemagglutinate . In electron microscopy studies the wild-type strains of S.sanguis, but not the non-spreading variants, presented long, polar fimbriae . One of the non-spreading variants had short, peritrichous fimbriae . The co-variation in surface-spreading, competence in genetic transformation, hemagglutination and polar fimbriation is discussed.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Dec, 160(3), 935 - 42
Analysis of initiation of sites of cell wall growth in Streptococcus faecium during a nutritional shift; Gibson CW et al.; Three-dimensional reconstruction methods were applied to electron micrographs of Streptococcus faecium to study the initiation of cell wall growth sites during a nutritional shift experiment . Upon lowering the mass doubling time from 76 to 33 min by the addition of excess glutamate, the formation of new cell wall growth sites accelerated above the old steady-state rate at about the same time (10 to 15 min) as did mass, RNA, protein, cell numbers, and autolytic capacity but considerably before DNA (30 min) and peptidoglycan (20 min) synthesis did . During the shift, the average range of cell volumes over which new wall growth sites were introduced did not change significantly . However, upon the shift there was an increase in the frequency of cells having new sites, which was due to the faster-growing cells initiating more new sites in peripheral locations before division . After a transition period, the number of new sites per milliliter of culture increased at a rate that paralleled that of the culture mass . These findings support a model in which new sites are introduced when cells grow to a relatively constant, growth rate-independent size, while the rate at which sites form and grow increases with the growth rate . In this model, chromosome synthesis does not regulate the formation of new sites of cell wall growth, but existing sites cannot be completed until rounds of chromosome synthesis are completed.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Dec, 14(6), 653 - 60
Ceftriaxone in acute purulent exacerbations of chronic bronchitis; Maesen FP et al.; A group of 36 patients, admitted to hospital because of acute purulent exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, were treated with once daily injections of ceftriaxone for 10 days, 17 receiving 1 g injections and 19 patients 2 g doses . At the end of treatment (day 11) six patients remained infected (three with Branhamella catarrhalis and three with Pseudomonas aeruginosa) but during the 7 follow-up days 12 patients developed infections with beta-lactamase producing strains of Bran . catarrhalis, Ps . aeruginosa was cultured from 2 patients and Streptococcus pneumoniae from 3 more . Kinetic studies confirmed the long half-life of ceftriaxone (13 to 14 h in this patient group) and showed average peak serum concentrations of 31 mg/l after 1 g and 43 mg/l after the 2 g dose . The comparable sputum concentrations were 3.5 and 4.8 mg/l, respectively . However, four patients failed to show any ceftriaxone in the sputum despite simultaneous blood concentrations of between 32 and 50 mg/l and in two patients ceftriaxone only appeared in the sputum 12 h after the injection . All except one harboured beta-lactamase-producing Bran . catarrhalis in the sputum, and the possibility of breakdown of ceftriaxone by branhamella beta-lactamases is suggested.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1984 Dec, 235(2), 385 - 92
Characterization of the group-specific polysaccharide of group B Streptococcus; Pritchard DG et al.; The group-specific polysaccharide of the group B Streptococcus was isolated by nitrous acid extraction followed by gel filtration on Sepharose 6B and chromatography on DEAE-Bio-Gel A . It was composed of rhamnose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and glucitol phosphate . Mild periodate oxidation of the polysaccharide resulted in a rapid reduction in molecular weight, indicating that the glucitol was located in the backbone of the polymer . High-resolution 31P NMR showed the presence of a single type of phosphodiester bond in the molecule . Methylation analysis and several specific chemical degradations were done to determine sugar linkages . The basic structure of the group B polysaccharide consists of a backbone of 2-linked rhamnose, 2,4-linked rhamnose, and glucitol phosphate, and side chains of rhamnose(1----3)galactose(1----3)N-acetylglucosamine linked to the 4-position of a rhamnose in the backbone.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Dec, 160(3), 867 - 73
Ectopic integration of chromosomal genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Mannarelli BM et al.; When a DNA fragment containing a marker gene was ligated to random chromosomal fragments of Streptococcus pneumoniae and used to transform a recipient strain lacking that gene, the gene was integrated at various locations in the chromosome . Such ectopic integration was demonstrated for the malM gene, and its molecular basis was analyzed with defined donor molecules consisting of ligated fragments containing the malM and sul genes of S . pneumoniae . In a recipient strain deleted in the mal region of its chromosome, these constructs gave Mal+ transformants in which the malM and sul genes were now linked, with malM located between duplicate sul segments . Ectopic integration was unstable under nonselective conditions; mal(sul) ectopic insertions were lost at a rate of 0.05% per generation . Several possible mechanisms of ectopic integration were examined . The donor molecule is most likely to be a circular form of ligated homologous and nonhomologous fragments that, after entry into the cell, undergoes circular synapsis with the recipient chromosome at the site of homology, followed by repair and additive integration.

J Immunol Methods, 1984 Nov 30, 74(2), 205 - 15
A computer program for the evaluation of ELISA data obtained using an automated microtiter plate absorbance reader; Caulfield MJ et al.; A new computer program is described which calculates titers and antibody concentrations from ELISA data . Optical densities are measured in 96-well microtiter plates using an automated colorimeter and simultaneously fed into a microcomputer . The data can then be arranged and printed in an 8 X 12 format corresponding to the format of a 96-well microtiter plate . The computer program can also compute the titers of samples if the samples are arranged and titrated in one of the suggested formats . In addition, the titers of unknown samples can be automatically compared with the titer of a standard to obtain concentrations . An ELISA designed to measure the concentration of murine antibodies to the cell wall polysaccharide (PnC) extracted from Streptococcus pneumoniae was performed to document the use of the program.

Eur J Biochem, 1984 Nov 2, 144(3), 637 - 41
Penicillin-binding proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae: characterization of tryptic peptides containing the beta-lactam-binding site; Ellerbrok H et al.; Penicillin-binding proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae were labeled with {3H} propionyl-ampicillin and treated with trypsin . The fragments were separated on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels, and peptides containing the beta-lactam-binding site visualized by fluorography . From native penicillin-binding proteins (PBP), either membrane-bound or solubilized with Triton X-100, relatively stable end products of proteolysis were obtained . The smallest radioactive peptides from PBP 1a (92 kDa), PBP 2b (77 kDa), and PBP 3 (43 kDa ) had sizes of 36.5 kDa, 26 kDa, and 29 kDa, respectively . When the PBP were trypsin treated prior to labeling with the radioactive beta-lactam, these small peptides were still able to bind the antibiotic . Under conditions of limited proteolysis, membrane-bound PBP 2b and PBP 3 were converted into soluble, hydrophilic derivatives after loss of a peptide of only 2 kDa and 1.5 kDa, respectively . These two PBP are therefore anchored in the membrane by a small terminal peptide . In contrast, PBP 1a could be digested to a Mr of 48000 without becoming water-soluble; the only hydrophilic tryptic peptide that could be found was the 36.5 kDa fragment . Therefore, large domains of this PBP seem to be embedded in the membrane.

J Dent Res, 1984 Nov, 63(11), 1293 - 7
Screening of sugars inhibitory against sucrose-dependent synthesis and adherence of insoluble glucan and acid production by Streptococcus mutans; Imai S et al.; Various sucrose derivatives and a sucrose analogue were enzymatically synthesized on the assumption that structural similarities of the sugars to sucrose would endow them with an ability to inhibit the cariogenicity of sucrose . The effect of these sugars on sucrose-dependent synthesis and adherence of insoluble glucan and on acid fermentation of sucrose by Streptococcus mutans was examined in vitro . Although none of them inhibited the acid fermentation, several sugars not only inhibited the synthesis and adherence of insoluble glucan, but were themselves only slightly fermented as well.

J Dent Res, 1984 Nov, 63(11), 1266 - 70
Salivary clearance of sugar and its effects on pH changes by Streptococcus mitior in an artificial mouth; Lagerlof F et al.; We recently developed a computer model of oral sugar clearance (Dawes, 1983), and an artificial mouth has now been constructed which will allow variation in the salivary parameters identified in the model and the study of their effects on bacterial acid production . Using a thin layer of S . mitior, strain 572, over a miniature Sb electrode to measure bacterial pH changes during sugar clearance from the "mouth", we found that three consecutive sets of "Stephan curves" could be obtained with the same bacteria during one day . In each of several experimental series, one salivary parameter was varied, while other parameters were held constant . The maximum pH decrease and the surface area of the registered Stephan curve (delta pH.min) were used as measures of acid production . The results indicate that the volume of "saliva" in the mouth before and after swallowing, the unstimulated salivary flow rate, and the buffer capacity had significant influences on the extent of the pH changes . Other factors, such as the maximum flow rate, the delay between start of stimulation and maximum flow, the volume of saliva in the mouth at time zero, and the taste threshold for sugar, were of lesser importance, confirming some predictions from the computer model.

Nippon Geka Gakkai Zasshi, 1984 Nov, 85(11), 1479 - 89
{Experimental study on the antitumor activity of regional lymph nodes during immunotherapy}; Kawata H; In ascites hepatoma MH134-bearing C3H/He mice, the hemolytic streptococcus preparation OK-432 was administered as model immunotherapy for malignant tumors, and the significance of the presence of regional lymph nodes and changes in cellular immunological competence were investigated . The antitumor effects of OK-432 were greater in tumor-bearing mice in which the regional lymph nodes were preserved than in those lacking regional lymph nodes, showing the significance of the presence of regional lymph nodes during immunotherapy . Regarding lymphocytes in the regional lymph nodes, the Thy 1,2 antigen positive cell ratio, PHA blast formation reaction, cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 cells and MH134 cells as the target cells were determined . Although these values were decreased in proportion to the progress of the tumor, the administration of OK-432 suppressed the decrease . In terms of the increase ratio of the values after the administration of OK-432, the effects of OK-432 on the regional lymph nodes were greater than those on other lymph nodes . It is presumed that immunotherapy suppressed a decrease in cellular immunological competence of regional lymph nodes in proportion to the progress of the tumor and allowed the recovery of the antitumor activity.

Infection, 1984 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 369 - 71
Enhancement of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function against gram-positive aerobic organisms grown in the presence of lincomycin; Bassaris HP et al.; The effect of pre-incubating Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes with subinhibitory concentrations of lincomycin was studied with respect to polymorphonuclear leukocyte function against these organisms . Culturing the above organisms in the presence of lincomycin (1/4 MIC) resulted in a significant enhancement of polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis, phagocytosis and bactericidal activity against these organisms.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Nov, 20(5), 945 - 7
Carrier rate of Streptococcus suis capsular type 2 in palatine tonsils of slaughtered pigs; Arends JP et al.; Palatine tonsils of 143 slaughtered pigs aged 4 to 6 months were investigated for the presence of Streptococcus suis type 2 . Slices (50 micron) of frozen tonsils were cultured on a selective agar medium containing antibodies against S . suis type 2 in which colonies of this bacterium showed a halo of immunoprecipitation . When tonsils were sectioned in one plane S . suis type 2 was found in 45 of 143 pigs (32%) . This percentage increased to 50% when tonsils were sectioned in more then one plane, which was done on 55 tonsils . The first 45 strains showing a ring of immunoprecipitation were studied and found to be biochemically identical to our reference strain 735 (de Moor) and to 23 isolates from human patients with meningitis . In slices incubated for 24 h at 37 degrees C on selective agar plates and stained with hematoxylin and eosin after fixation, it could be demonstrated that S . suis type 2 was confined to the crypt lumen . The same was true in sections fixed directly (without incubation) that were stained by an indirect immunoperoxidase method with a rabbit anti-S . suis type 2 serum.

Biochem J, 1984 Nov 1, 223(3), 823 - 30
Reversible inhibition of bacterial growth after specific inhibition of spermidine synthase by dicyclohexylamine; Mattila T et al.; The effect of dicyclohexylamine on seven freshly isolated bacterial strains of mastitis pathogens was studied . Streptococcus uberis was the most sensitive strain investigated, since 5 mM-dicyclohexylamine totally arrested its growth and 1.25 mM of the drug caused 60% growth inhibition . The Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were also sensitive to the drug, but less so than Strep . uberis, since 5 mM drug caused only partial inhibition of growth . Micrococcus sp . and Klebsiella sp . grew in the presence of 10.0 mM-dicyclohexylamine, and, finally the growth of Streptococcus agalactiae was not at all affected by dicyclohexylamine . These different sensitivities towards dicyclohexylamine in vivo were paralleled by different sensitivities of the bacteria's spermidine synthase to the drug in vitro, and also by the ability of the drug to lower spermidine concentration in bacterial cells . Spermidine synthase from sensitive bacteria was inhibited by more than 90% by 50 microM-dicyclohexylamine in vitro, and the concentration of spermidine was decreased in E . coli and Ps . aeruginosa by 70% and in Strep . uberis by 95%, whereas in Strep . agalactiae 5 mM-dicyclohexylamine did not affect the concentration of spermidine at all . Dicyclohexylamine treatment led to the accumulation of putrescine in Strep . uberis . Spermidine synthesis catalysed by the extracts of Micrococcus sp . required 500 microM-dicyclohexylamine for 90% inhibition, and Strep . agalactiae contained a spermidine synthase that was still active at 1000 microM-dicyclohexylamine, The observed inhibition of growth was totally reversed by adding 50 microM-spermidine (final concentration) to the medium . Putrescine reversed the inhibition only when bacteria had a spermidine synthase activity insensitive to dicyclohexylamine . Spermine did not overcome the inhibition of growth caused by dicyclohexylamine, probably because it was not taken up by the bacterial cells used in this study . The inhibition of the growth by dicyclohexylamine (even in the case of Strep . uberis) was reversible in the sense that addition of 50 microM-spermidine 18 h after dicyclohexylamine still restored the growth rate of untreated controls.

Am J Surg, 1984 Nov, 148(5), 618 - 20
A bacteriologic study comparing closed suction and simple conduit drainage; Raves JJ et al.; A simple experimental study was designed to determine if closed suction drainage reduces the migration of pathogenic bacteria along a drain tract . Sixty New Zealand rabbits, equally divided into three groups, were splenectomized through midline incisions . Group I served as the control group and received no drainage . Groups II and III had drainage of the splenic bed with simple latex conduit drains (Penrose drains) and closed suction drains (Jackson-Pratt drains), respectively . The skin near the drain exit site was inoculated with a Streptococcus organism . The animals were sacrificed after 72 hours, and intraperitoneal culture specimens were obtained . None of the control rabbits had positive cultures on intraperitoneal specimens . Eighteen of 20 rabbits (90 percent) in Group II (Penrose) had positive cultures on specimens from the splenic bed, whereas 75 percent had positive cultures on drain specimens . Only 4 of 20 (20 percent) of the Group III rabbits had positive cultures on the drain or splenic bed specimens . This difference was statistically significant by chi-square analysis (p less than 0.001) . Retrograde migration of bacteria along a drain tract does occur with relatively high frequency with simple conduit drainage and is significantly less with closed suction drainage.

J Surg Oncol, 1984 Nov, 27(3), 186 - 8
Streptococcus bovis subacute bacterial endocarditis as a presenting symptom of occult double carcinoma of the colon; Trajber I et al.; A case of double carcinoma of the colon is presented in association with subacute bacterial endocarditis due to Streptococcus bovis . The presence of Streptococcus bovis septicemia is a strong pointer in favour of associated colon carcinoma even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptomatology.

J Infect Dis, 1984 Nov, 150(5), 653 - 61
The biochemistry of opsonization: central role of the reactive thiolester of the third component of complement; Hostetter MK et al.; In these studies, we have defined the mechanism by which the opsonic fragment of the third component of complement (C3) binds to pathogenic bacteria . With use of purified human C3 to reconstitute the alternative pathway in human serum in which both C3 and C4 had been chemically inactivated, we showed that opsonization of pathogenic serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae (serotypes 3, 4, 6A, 14, and 18C) requires the reactive thiolester of native C3 . When purified human C3 (thiolester intact) is added to serum deficient in C3 and C4, phagocytic uptake of 3H-labeled pneumococci by polymorphonuclear leukocytes from normal adults is fully reconstituted . However, hydrolysis of the thiolester or reaction of the thiolester with the inhibitor methylamine abolishes opsonization and phagocytosis . Finally, by characterizing those C3 fragments released from pneumococcal surfaces after treatment with 1.0 M hydroxylamine, we have defined a role for covalent-bond formation in the opsonic interaction . Therefore, the presence of the reactive thiolester of C3 is an absolute requirement for the opsonic and covalent binding of the C3b molecule to pathogenic bacteria.

Infection, 1984 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 361 - 6
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for anti-streptococcal protoplast membrane antibodies; Banchuin N et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is described for the quantitative determination of circulating antibodies to streptococcal protoplast membranes (SPM) in human sera . The assay was used to study the prevalence of antibodies to SPM of M types 6 and 12 Streptococcus pyogenes in sera from 55 patients with recent streptococcal infection, and 30 normal individuals without clinical evidence of streptococcal infection . No correlation was found between levels of anti-SPM antibodies and ASO titres . However, in serial serum samples from one patient with uncomplicated streptococcal sore throat, it was possible to demonstrate that the increase in the level of anti-SPM antibody paralleled the rise in ASO titre . The anti-SPM antibody level and the ASO titre in this patient persisted throughout a six-month period of follow-up.

Pediatr Infect Dis, 1984 Nov-Dec, 3(6), 510 - 3
Immediate postmortem cultures in an intensive care nursery; Pierce JR et al.; The results of several published studies suggest that bacterial infection plays an important role in the mortality of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients . To evaluate more thoroughly this role we have routinely performed postmortem cultures of blood and cerebrospinal fluid on all infants who die in our NICU . During a 5-year review period 25.9% of infants who died had one or both cultures positive for an organism considered to be pathogenic in the neonate . The organisms most commonly cultured were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Group B Streptococcus . Of those infants who had positive postmortem cultures and who had an autopsy, 95% had histologic evidence of infection . Forty-three percent of our infants with positive postmortem cultures were not suspected of having a serious infection and had not received antibiotics before death . Postmortem cultures appeared to be helpful in identifying NICU patients in whom serious infection may have played a role in mortality . Unsuspected serious infection is a common finding in infants who die in a neonatal intensive care setting.

J Pediatr Orthop, 1984 Nov, 4(6), 756 - 8
Streptococcal osteomyelitis associated with varicella virus infection: a case report and review of the literature; Liebergall M et al.; A case in a child with varicella associated with osteomyelitis caused by Streptococcus hemolyticus group B is reported . The complication of bacterial osteomyelitis in varicella is rare, and only three cases have been reported in the English literature.

Infect Immun, 1984 Nov, 46(2), 585 - 9
Inhibition of in vitro human lymphocyte response by the pneumococcal toxin pneumolysin; Ferrante A et al.; The effects of pneumolysin, a sulfhydryl-activated cytolytic toxin produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae, on the in vitro human lymphocyte response was examined . The toxin, at concentrations of one to five hemolytic units per ml, caused marked inhibition of the response of lymphocytes to concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and protein A . The response was assessed by measuring both {3H}thymidine incorporation and the ability of lymphocytes to produce immunoglobulins and lymphokine activity . The effects of pneumolysin were irreversible, could be prevented by pretreatment of the toxin with cholesterol, and were not related to a direct cytotoxic effect on the lymphocytes . Pneumolysin appeared to act at the initiation phase of the immune response and had no effect on lymphocytes committed to DNA synthesis or to the synthesis and secretion of immunoglobulins . Furthermore, pneumolysin-mediated inhibition of the lymphocyte response was not due to the inhibition of binding of mitogens to leukocytes and is likely to be related to effects on membrane-mediated signals essential for lymphocyte triggering . This may be one means by which pneumolysin plays a role in the pathogenesis of pneumococcal infections.

Infect Immun, 1984 Nov, 46(2), 526 - 30
Agglutination of Streptococcus mutans by low-molecular-weight salivary components: effect of beta 2-microglobulin; Ericson D; Radiolabeled monomeric human beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) was tested for binding to Streptococcus mutans strains in buffers containing 1 mM calcium (Ca2+) . Binding was seen to strains with a previously established binding capacity of aggregated beta 2m . Monomeric beta 2m agglutinated beta 2m-binding strains when Ca2+ was present . At Ca2+ concentrations of 1.4 mM, 0.032 micrograms of monomeric beta 2m per ml caused bacterial agglutination . Parotid saliva was gel filtered on a Sephadex G-75 column, and low-molecular-weight fractions containing beta 2m could agglutinate S . mutans cells . Five of six strains that could bind beta 2m were agglutinated by these fractions, but only one of five nonbinding strains was . All strains tested were agglutinated by void volume fractions . A new method for the measurement of turbidity in bacterial agglutination inhibition experiments with parotid saliva was used . Suspensions containing parotid saliva, bacteria, and control serum were directly compared in a spectrophotometer with test suspensions containing goat anti-human beta 2m, bacteria, and saliva . Thus, the spectrophotometer directly read the difference in agglutination of the two suspensions, and the result was presented as one curve by the recorder . Agglutination of five beta 2m-binding strains of S . mutans was inhibited or decreased by the addition of goat anti-human beta 2m as compared with control serum . The agglutination of two beta 2m-nonbinding strains and one with variable binding was not inhibited . Thus, salivary beta 2m may contribute to agglutination of S . mutans cells in parotid saliva.

Am J Dis Child, 1984 Nov, 138(11), 1058 - 61
Primary peritonitis in previously healthy children; Freij BJ et al.; In a review of 22 years of clinical experience, we found seven previously healthy children with primary peritonitis . The diagnosis was made at laparotomy in all patients . Their symptoms included diffuse abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea . Abdominal tenderness was maximal in the right lower quadrant in five children, which led to confusion with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis . Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified as the etiologic agent in three patients and group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus in one patient . The remaining three patients all had prior antibiotic therapy, and peritoneal fluid cultures were sterile . All children had a prompt response to treatment with antibiotics and recovered without complications . Long-term follow-up (4 1/2 to 15 years) was available for three patients; all three remained healthy.

Eur J Immunol, 1984 Nov, 14(11), 1027 - 30
The effects of idiotype on the ability of IgG1 anti-phosphorylcholine antibodies to protect mice from fatal infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae; Briles DE et al.; Anti-phosphorylcholine (PC) antibodies of the mouse are found in three different idiotype families: T15, M603 and M511 . These subgroups exhibit different specificities for PC analogs and utilize light chains of different VL subgroups . In this study we have found that IgG1 antibodies of the T15 idiotype are much more protective against pneumococcal infection than IgG1 antibodies of the M511 or M603 idiotypes . This finding provides additional evidence that the T15 VH and VL genes may have evolved to protect mice from infection with PC-bearing pathogens.

Pediatr Res, 1984 Nov, 18(11), 1127 - 31
Characteristics and functional capacities of human cord blood granulocytes and monocytes; Marodi L et al.; Cord blood phagocytic cells were characterized with respect to cytochemical activities, Fc gamma and C3b receptors, and capacity to phagocytose and kill various species of bacteria . The percentages of peroxidase-positive granulocytes and monocytes from neonates and adults were comparable; the percentage of esterase-positive cord-blood monocytes was about two-thirds of that of adults' blood monocytes . The numbers of cord blood and adults' monocytes with Fc gamma and C3b receptors were similar . Phagocytic and intracellular killing capacities of cord blood granulocytes and monocytes were investigated for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, and group B Streptococcus type III . The rates of phagocytosis and intracellular killing by granulocytes from newborns proved to be comparable to the corresponding values for granulocytes from adults . Cord blood monocytes phagocytosed E . coli, S . aureus, and S . pyogenes at a normal rate, and killed ingested E . coli and S . pyogenes intracellularly at the same rate as adults' monocytes did . However, S . aureus was killed at a much lower rate by cord blood monocytes than by monocytes from adults . Phagocytic activity for group B Streptococcus was impaired and killing of these bacteria by cord blood monocytes was virtually nil . The latter finding might partially explain the frequent streptococcal infections in newborns.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1984 Nov, 130(5), 857 - 62
Aspirin impairs antibacterial mechanisms in experimental pneumococcal pneumonia; Esposito AL; Normal CD-1 mice were inoculated intratracheally with Streptococcus pneumoniae and treated with aspirin in order to assess the effects of that drug on pulmonary antibacterial mechanisms . Animals pretreated for 72 h with aspirin prior to bacterial challenge and animals given aspirin immediately after infection experienced worse survival rates than did control mice (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively) . When challenged with a sublethal inoculum, pretreated and immediately treated animals demonstrated significant impairments in their ability to clear viable pneumococci from the lungs; the inefficient pulmonary clearance was associated with a marked attenuation in the ability of aspirin-treated mice to recruit granulocytes and macrophages into the bronchoalveolar spaces . Survival in mice administered aspirin 6 h after pneumococcal challenge was not adversely affected; however, the pulmonary clearance and cellular response were significantly impaired . We conclude that aspirin can disrupt host defense against pneumococci by blunting the normal pulmonary inflammatory reaction to organisms deposited into the lower respiratory tract.

J Invest Dermatol, 1984 Nov, 83(5), 394 - 8
Intradermal injection of Propionibacterium acnes: a model of inflammation relevant to acne; De Young LM et al.; The intradermal injection of 140 micrograms of Propionibacterium acnes (CN 6134) into the ears of female Sprague-Dawley rats produced a chronic inflammation with formation of acneiform lesions . Inflammation was characterized by more than a doubling of ear thickness at 24 h and a peak of 3-4 times control levels at day 21 . At 42 days post injection ears were still 3 times normal thickness . Histologically there was early polymorph accumulation giving way to macrophages and lymphocytes by day 7 . Pilosebaceous follicles overlying the inflamed area lost their sebaceous glands and became hyperplastic cords of cells that grew down and encapsulated inflammatory loci . By day 9 many of these follicles had become secondary comedones . Three isolates of P . acnes from inflammatory acne lesions and 4 of 5 isolates from non-acne patients produced results similar to that of the strain CN 6134 . In these cases the number of histologically evident secondary comedones was correlated with ear thickness . In contrast, samples of Streptococcus lactis, Escherichia coli B, and Staphylococcus epidermidis failed to produce this combination of chronic inflammation and high lesion count . Benzoyl peroxide, tetracycline, erythromycin, phenidone, naproxen, and cis and trans retinoic acid were inactive as inhibitors of P . acnes CN 6134-induced ear thickening . The corticosteroid fluocinolone acetonide produced dramatic suppression of inflammation, but upon cessation of treatment the ears returned to inflamed levels . The specificity for P . acnes, the formation of acneiform lesions, and the recalcitrance of the inflammation suggest our model is indeed relevant to acne.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Nov, 160(2), 556 - 63
Characterization and expression of a cloned tetracycline resistance determinant from the chromosome of Streptococcus mutans; Tobian JA et al.; A chromosomal tetracycline resistance (Tcr) determinant previously cloned from Streptococcus mutans into Streptococcus sanguis (Tobian and Macrina, J . Bacteriol . 152:215-222, 1982) was characterized by using restriction endonuclease mapping, deletion analysis, and Southern blot hybridization . Deletion analysis allowed localization of the Tcr determinant to a 2.8-kilobase region of the originally cloned 10.4-kilobase sequence . This cloned determinant hybridized to a representative of the tetM class of streptococcal Tcr determinants but not to representatives of the tetL and tetN classes and, like other tetM determinants, mediated high-level resistance to tetracycline and low-level resistance to minocycline . A portion (approximately 3 kilobases) of the isolated streptococcal fragment was subcloned into Escherichia coli, where it conferred resistance to tetracycline and minocycline . Two proteins with apparent molecular weights of 33,000 and 35,000, encoded by the S . mutans DNA, were synthesized in E . coli minicells . Insertion of DNA into a unique SstI site of the cloned S . mutans fragment resulted in inactivation of Tcr expression in E . coli and S . sanguis, as well as loss of production of both the 33,000- and 35,000-dalton proteins in E . coli minicells . Incubation of minicells in subinhibitory concentrations of tetracycline did not result in changes in the levels of synthesis of either protein . Our data suggest that at least one of these proteins is involved in the expression of Tcr.

Mycopathologia, 1984 Oct 30, 88(1), 27 - 9
Fate of aflatoxin B-1 in fermented dairy products; Megalla SE et al.; Polyacrylamide gel electropheresis and thin layer chromatography (TLC) were applied to detect the fate of aflatoxin B-1 in milk fermented with an active culture of Streptococcus lactis (ATCC-11454) . TLC analysis revealed the formation of two fluorescent metabolites (B2a and R0) in fermented milk . Electropheretic analysis of both casein and whey protein showed fluorescent bands in the region of Kappa-casien and immunoglobulin which are glycoproteins in nature . The transformation of B-1 to the nontoxic metabolite B2a and the less toxic compound aflatoxicol (R0) reflects the preference for fermented dairy products in consumption in order to reduce chances of toxicity.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Oct 25, 259(20), 12576 - 85
Characterization of phosphate:hexose 6-phosphate antiport in membrane vesicles of Streptococcus lactis; Ambudkar SV et al.; Membrane vesicles of Streptococcus lactis were used to characterize a novel anion exchange involving phosphate and sugar 6-phosphates . For vesicles loaded with 50 mM phosphate at pH 7, homologous phosphate:phosphate exchange had a maximal rate of 130 nmol/min/mg of protein and a Kt of 0.21 mM external phosphate; among phosphate analogues tested, only arsenate replaced phosphate . Heterologous exchange was studied by 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate entry into phosphate-loaded vesicles; this reaction had a maximal velocity of 31 nmol/min/mg of protein and a Kt of 26 microM external substrate . Sugar phosphate moved intact during this exchange, since its entry led to loss of internal 32Pi without transfer of 32P to sugar phosphate . Inhibitions of phosphate exchange suggested that the preferred sugar phosphate substrates were (Kiapp): glucose, 2-deoxyglucose, and mannose 6-phosphates (approximately 20 microM) greater than fructose 6-phosphate (150 microM) greater than glucosamine 6-phosphate (420 microM) greater than alpha-methylglucoside 6-phosphate (740 microM) . Stoichiometry for phosphate:2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate antiport was 2:1 at pH 7, and since initial rates of exchange were unaffected by charge carrying ionophores (gramicidin, valinomycin, a protonophore), this unequal stoichiometry indicated the electroneutral exchange of two monovalent phosphates for a single divalent sugar phosphate.

Am J Med, 1984 Oct 19, 77(4C), 54 - 8
Tolerance study of ceftriaxone compared with amoxicillin in patients with pneumonia; Baumgartner JD et al.; The safety of ceftriaxone was compared with that of amoxicillin in a randomized study of 91 patients with community-acquired pneumonia . The origin of infection was similar in the two groups . It was proven or probable Streptococcus pneumoniae in 50 percent of the patients and remained uncertain in 40 percent . Ninety percent of the patients who received ceftriaxone were clinically cured compared with 69 percent of those given amoxicillin (p less than 0.05) . However, this difference was not apparent among the patients with proven or probable pneumococcal pneumonia . No severe clinical side effects were observed . Cutaneous reactions were more prevalent in the amoxicillin group, whereas mild diarrhea and mucosal candidiasis were more frequent in the ceftriaxone group . Reversible neutropenia was observed in two patients treated with ceftriaxone and none of those treated with amoxicillin.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Oct 10, 259(19), 11818 - 27
The mechanism of soluble peptidoglycan hydrolysis by an autolytic muramidase . A processive exodisaccharidase; Barrett JF et al.; The action of purified N-acetylmuramoylhydrolase (muramidase, EC 3.2.1.17) of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 on linear, uncross-linked, soluble, peptidoglycan chains produced by the same organism in the presence of benzylpenicillin was characterized as a processive exodisaccharidase . Specific labels, one {( 14C}Gal) added to the nonreducing ends of chains, and the other (3H from {3H}NaBH4) incorporated into the reducing ends of the chains, were used to establish that an enzyme molecule binds at the nonreducing terminus and sequentially hydrolyzes the glycosidic bonds, releasing disaccharide-peptide units . An enzyme molecule remains bond to a chain, and is not released at a detectable rate, until hydrolysis of that chain is complete . Reaction rates increased with the length of the polymer chain to give a maximum of 91 bonds cleaved/min/enzyme molecule for hydrolysis of a continuous polymeric substrate . The relationship between hydrolytic rate and glycan chain length is consistent with hydrolysis of bonds within the chain followed by slow release of enzyme from the distal, reducing terminus . This mechanism was experimentally confirmed by analysis of product formation during hydrolysis with stoichiometric mixtures of enzyme and soluble peptidoglycan chains . Kinetic analyses showed an apparent Km of 0.17 microM for the enzyme, independent of substrate polymer length . The dissociation constant for the initial enzyme-substrate complex was calculated to be 1.5 nM . Kinetic analyses are consistent with one catalytic site per enzyme molecule . The Kcat/Km value of 9 X 10(6) M-1 S-1 is near the limit imposed by diffusion for the initial hydrolytic events when long chains are hydrolyzed . The kinetic and physical properties of this muramidase are highly consistent with its location outside of the cellular permeability barrier and its ability to remain with and hydrolyze appropriate bonds in the cell wall in such an environment.

N Z Med J, 1984 Oct 10, 97(765), 678 - 80
Patients with rheumatic fever recurrences; Newman JE et al.; An evaluation is made as to the effectiveness of a rheumatic fever followup clinic in preventing recurrences . Forty-nine recurrences are known to have occurred in 228 patients . Oral rather than intramuscular benzathine penicillin prophylaxis, positive oral or pharyngeal culture of Streptococcus pyogenes and large sibship were found to be associated with recurrences.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1984 Oct, 58(4), 394 - 6
Hospital personnel with penicillin-resistant Streptococcus viridans . A case for special consideration in the prevention of bacterial endocarditis; Leviner E et al.; Penicillin is the drug of choice for the prevention of bacterial endocarditis (BE) resulting from dental treatment . The susceptibility of Streptococcus viridans to this antimicrobial agent was studied . A representative sample of hospital personnel (N = 76) was compared to a control group of seventy-six subjects who were not associated with the hospital . Twenty-four of the hospital personnel worked in wards that consume 0.13 to 1.64 (mean +/- SD = 0.88 +/- 0.64) gm penicillin per day per position (low consumption group = LCG) and fifty-two worked in wards that consume 2.27 to 3.67 (mean +/- SD = 3.04 +/- 0.55) gm penicillin per day per position (high consumption group = HCG) . Antibiograms of oral isolates showed that, while 48.08% of the subjects from the HCG revealed penicillin-resistant S . viridans only 8.33% of the subjects from the LCG and 7.89% of the control group presented such results . The data presented suggest that there are subjects who may unknowingly carry penicillin-resistant S . viridans as part of their oral flora . It is therefore recommended that the preferable antibiotic used for the prevention of BE should be determined by an antibiogram.

J Dent Res, 1984 Oct, 63(10), 1186 - 9
A model for producing caries-like lesions in enamel and dentin using oral bacteria in vitro; Clarkson BH et al.; Subsurface enamel lesions and root surface caries-like lesions were consistently produced in vitro using Streptococcus mutans FA1 cultured in thioglycollate broth containing 3.5% w/v dextrose and 2% w/v gelatin . When viewed in polarized light and after imbibition in water, the enamel lesions had a negatively birefringent surface zone and positively birefringent body of the lesion . Those lesions produced after six weeks, after imbibition in quinoline, exhibited a dark zone . The root surface caries-like lesions exhibited a less-radiolucent surface zone above a heavily demineralized body of the lesion . However, no reactionary dentin was seen in the in vitro lesions.

Eur Heart J, 1984 Oct, 5 Suppl C, 29 - 32
Bactericidal activity of five combinations of penicillin G with aminoglycosides against Streptococcus faecium; Le Bouguenec C et al.; Combinations of penicillin G and five aminoglycosides were tested against 7 strains of S . faecium . For all the strains that had a low-level of resistance to streptomycin, the combination of penicillin G with streptomycin was synergistic . Penicillin combined with either kanamycin or netilmicin was ineffective against all strains . The combination of penicillin and amikacin was synergistic against only one of the aminoglycoside-susceptible strains and ineffective against all the other strains . Penicillin G with gentamicin was the only combination synergistic against all strains . The clinical implications of these findings for the treatment of bacterial endocarditis caused by S . faecium are discussed.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 48(4), 895 - 6
Plasmid associated with diplococcin production in Streptococcus; Davey GP; The ability to produce diplococcin (Dip+) was transferred by conjugation from Streptococcus cremoris 346 to two plasmid-free S . cremoris recipients at a high frequency (10(-1) per donor) . Dip+ transconjugants from each mating gained a 54-megadalton plasmid . Spontaneous loss of this plasmid restored the Dip- phenotype.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Oct, (10), 69 - 71
{Streptococcus pneumoniae multiplication in the allantoic cavity of developing chick embryos}; Iakovleva NV et al.; The possibility of the active multiplication of S . pneumoniae (serotypes 1, 3, 6 and 19) in the allantoic cavity of chick embryos has been demonstrated . This multiplication is accompanied by the development of characteristic changes whose intensity and time of manifestation have been found to depend on the infective dose and the age of the embryo . The accumulation of S . pneumoniae in the allantoic cavity of chick embryos in the absence of visible changes in the biological properties of the infective agent after 5 successive subcultures makes it possible to recommend chick embryos as a model for the study of experimental pneumococcal infection.

Eur Heart J, 1984 Oct, 5 Suppl C, 81 - 5
Mitral valve prolapse and infective endocarditis; Roucaut G et al.; In a review of 350 consecutive patients with infective endocarditis (IE) 14 patients were found to have mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral IE between 1970 and 1982 in our institution . We first describe the clinical features, laboratory findings and follow up of this group; then we compare it with the data obtained in patients with IE with other types of mitral regurgitation (MR) . All patients with MVP had a murmur or a click with a murmur before the acute episode of IE, the most frequent consecutive organism was Streptococcus (nine cases) and the response to antimicrobial therapy was good; only one patient died and three others needed a mitral valve replacement from one month to 12 years later . The comparison with other types of mitral regurgitation with IE was done by sex, age, duration of symptoms before IE diagnosis, frequency of atrial fibrillation, number of congestive heart failures, heart volume on chest X-ray, number of echographic vegetations and echographic left ventricle size, and number of mitral valve replacements and deaths . None of these items differed significantly, but the duration of symptoms before diagnosis was shorter in the group of patients with MVP.

Bioorg Khim, 1984 Oct, 10(10), 1376 - 84
{A carbohydrate-containing copolymer with the specificity of a capsular polysaccharide of type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae}; Cherniak AIa et al.; The synthesis of allyl beta-glycoside of cellobiuronic acid by chemical modification of cellobiose was described . The carbohydrate-containing polymers with different content of determinant groups were obtained via radical copolymerization of this hapten with acrylamide . The copolymer which contained 27% carbohydrates and had molecular mass about 100-300 kilodaltons had the serological specificity of the capsular polysaccharide Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 as shown by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 57(2), 345 - 53
Changes in metabolism of the rumen bacterium Streptococcus bovis H13/1 resulting from alteration in dilution rate and glucose supply per unit time; Silley P et al.; Streptococcus bovis H13/1 was grown in a glucose-limited chemostat . A concomitant increase in dilution rate and glucose supply per unit time caused both an increase in lactate production per mole of glucose fermented and a linear increase in growth yield over the dilution rate range 0.052 to 0.141/h . When the dilution rate was increased with no change in glucose supply per unit time there was a reduction in lactate production and an increase in that of acetate and ethanol coinciding with a non-linear increase in growth yield . YMaxglu = 38.6 and a maintenance coefficient, ms = 0.290 mmol/l glucose/g cells/h were calculated . The results also suggested an interaction between the formate and CO2 pools.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 57(2), 229 - 36
Heat injury and recovery of Streptococcus faecium associated with the souring of chub-packed luncheon meat; Bell RG et al.; The presence of NaCl in the heating medium provided some protection from lethal heat damage for cells of a Streptococcus faecium strain isolated from luncheon meat whereas the presence of NaNO2 either alone or in addition to NaCl, had no significant effect on cell survival . Subsequent recovery and growth of heat-damaged cells was retarded by the presence of NaCl . When NaNO2 was present in addition to NaCl the inhibitory effect of the latter was reduced . These principal components of the luncheon-meat-cure are apparently opposed in their activities on post-heating recovery and growth of Strep . faecium . Product stability, i.e . duration of the lag before growth occurs, is directly related to the severity of the heat treatment and to the concentration of NaCl in the product . Therefore the resistance of pasteurized chub-packed luncheon meat to streptococcal spoilage during storage at temperatures conducive to microbial growth results from a prolonged heat-induced salt-maintained pre-growth adjustment phase rather than to any inherent inhibitory property of the luncheon meat to the growth of non-heat-damaged Strep . faecium cells.

Am J Vet Res, 1984 Oct, 45(10), 1933 - 6
Immune response of swine vaccinated with a group E Streptococcus whole-culture bacterin; Wood RL et al.; Swine (n = 10) were given a concentrated whole-culture adsorbate bacterin made from group E Streptococcus (GES) . Two doses of bacterin were given subcutaneously 3 weeks apart . Control swine (n = 10) were given a blank preparation made from sterile culture medium . Swine were challenge exposed 3 weeks after the 2nd injection of bacterin by being penned continuously for 8 weeks with carrier swine infected with GES . A significant (P less than or equal to 0.009) immune response to vaccination with the bacterin was observed . Vaccinated swine, but not control swine, developed antibodies to an antiphagocytic factor (as detected with bactericidal and long-chain tests) before challenge exposure . Vaccinated swine also developed 51.2% (20 vs 41) fewer abscesses after challenge exposure than did control swine . Control swine developed a greater serologic response to challenge exposure, indicating a more extensive infection with GES.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 20(4), 653 - 9
Glucose-sucrose-potassium tellurite-bacitracin agar, an alternative to mitis salivarius-bacitracin agar for enumeration of Streptococcus mutans; Tanzer JM et al.; An agar medium for selective recovery and enumeration of Streptococcus mutans was developed as an alternative to mitis salivarius-bacitracin (MSB) agar . Combinations of dyes, antibiotics, and tellurite were added to a nonselective medium which, because of its sucrose content, allowed easy recognition of S . mutans colonies . Candle jar incubation for 2 days, by comparison with anaerobic incubation, reduced background flora but did not diminish S . mutans recoveries from clinical samples . Quantitative comparisons were made of the simultaneous recoveries of a number of authentic S . mutans serotype representatives and fresh clinical isolates, using various glucose-sucrose-potassium tellurite-bacitracin (GSTB) formulations and mitis salivarius, MSB, and blood agars . Mitis salivarius counts were not detectably different from blood counts, but counts on MSB were distinctly lower . A formulation of the new medium containing 5% glucose 5% sucrose, 0.001% potassium tellurite, 0.3 U of bacitracin per ml (hence GSTB), and 2% agar gave recoveries nearly equal to those on mitis salivarius agar and much greater than those on MSB . The medium yielded readily recognized S . mutans colonies and facilitated detection of intracellular polysaccharide formers upon flooding with I2 reagent . Freshly isolated serotype c, E, and f colonies could often be distinguished from serotype d and g colonies, a distinction made reliable by testing for intracellular polysaccharide . A study of 300 salivary samples revealed GSTB to give significantly higher recoveries than MSB . About 72% of all samples were substantially underestimated for S . mutans with MSB, and 6.7% of samples were falsely negative for S . mutans with MSB . Recovery of background flora on GSTB was as low or lower than on MSB, and both types of agar could be stored for at least 9 weeks without notable change of selectivity . Thus, GSTB agar appears to be simple and reliable to use and requires no anaerobic incubation . Caution is voiced about interpretation of data previously reported which evaluated S . mutans on MSB agar.

Forensic Sci Int, 1984 Oct, 26(2), 131 - 7
Analytical pyrolysis of Streptococcus salivarius as an aid to identification in bite-mark investigation; Elliot TR et al.; The use of pyrolysis mass spectrometry (Py-MS) and statistical analysis of mass spectra is introduced as a method for "finger-printing" strains of Streptococcus salivarius . The objective is to provide correlative evidence regarding the identity of suspects in cases of assault or rape involving bite-marks . The results of the analysis of isolates from two individuals are presented, illustrating the differentiation of S . salivarius at strain level according to the origin of the isolate.

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1984 Oct, 11(10), 2163 - 9
{Adjuvant immunochemotherapy with long-term OK-432 administration in colorectal cancer}; Kikkawa N et al.; A new clinical trial on immunochemotherapy as an adjuvant therapy of surgery for colorectal cancers was studied . Results were retrospectively evaluated against previous controls treated by chemotherapy alone . As an immunotherapeutic agent, a streptococcal preparation, OK-432 was used . The maintenance dosage of OK-432, was 5 KE once a week and was continued for at least 2 years after surgical resection . As chemotherapeutic agents, mitomycin C for 2 weeks postoperatively and tegafur for 1 year were administered . Delayed skin reactivity to SU-polysaccharide (SU-PS) extracted from Streptococcus pyogenes SU-strain and lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinins (PHA) were significantly enhanced in the OK-432, immunochemotherapy group . Disease-free interval in the immunochemotherapy group (n = 49) was prolonged compared to that in the control group (n = 129), especially in the curative resection cases of Duke's C stage . There was statistical significance between the two groups (p less than 0.05) . These results suggested that long-term administration of OK-432 after surgical resection of colorectal cancer was effective on growth inhibition of micrometastasis and could increase the postoperative survival rate.

Surgery, 1984 Oct, 96(4), 775 - 83
Factors influencing the risk of early and late serious infection in adults after splenectomy for trauma; Malangoni MA et al.; We reviewed the clinical course of 245 adults who underwent splenectomy for trauma to assess the risk of both early and late serious infection . Twenty-one patients (9%) had an early serious infection (sepsis) during hospitalization for splenectomy . The mortality rate was 62% in patients with early sepsis, and encapsulated bacteria were isolated from the blood of 43% of patients with sepsis . Only one of 58 patients with isolated splenic injury had sepsis (2%), and the risk of early sepsis increased when three or more concomitant injuries were present (p less than 0.05) . Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that patients with injuries to the pancreas, colon, or central nervous system or with extremity fractures had an increased risk of sepsis (p less than 0.05) . The risk of sepsis was not influenced by age, the type of injury, delay in operation, use of drains, or other individual injuries . Sufficient information was available to assess the risk of late serious infection for 140 surviving patients (63%) . Follow-up ranged from 2 to 277 months . Three late infections occurred at 2, 8, and 15 years after splenectomy; two were due to Streptococcus pneumoniae . None of these patients died . There were no identifiable factors influencing the risk of late infection . These results suggest that the risk of early serious infection in adults after splenectomy for trauma is low when isolated splenic injury is present but that this risk is increased by both the degree of injury and the presence of certain associated injuries . Encapsulated bacteria are frequent pathogens in both early and late infections . The mortality rate related to an early septic episode is high, but the risk of late serious infection is low and is not related to identifiable factors that decrease host defenses.

J Pediatr, 1984 Oct, 105(4), 576 - 82
Decline of serum antibody in splenectomized children after vaccination with pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides; Giebink GS et al.; Asplenic persons are at increased risk of overwhelming sepsis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae . Vaccination with polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide has been shown to stimulate a nearly normal antibody response in these individuals, indicating that active vaccination might prevent pneumococcal disease in this population . To obtain information on the duration of protective levels of pneumococcal antibody, 33 asplenic children were vaccinated and antibody levels were measured at intervals for up to 4 1/2 years after vaccination . Significant antibody decline was observed in children who had undergone splenectomy because of trauma, but antibody decline was not observed in children whose spleens had been removed because of hereditary spherocytosis . There was a highly significant difference in rates of antibody decline among the 12 antibody serotypes measured: types 1, 4, 6A, 7F, 8, 19F, and 23F showed the greatest decline . Based on measured rates of antibody decline, subprotective antibody levels (antibody nitrogen less than 300 ng/ml) for types 7F, 8, and 19F would be reached 1 to 2 years after vaccination; type 6A never reached the protective level; and antibodies against the remaining eight types either were within the protective range initially or did not show significant decline . Asplenic children may benefit from revaccination with certain antigen types (7F, 8, and 19F) 1 to 2 years after initial vaccination.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 160(1), 427 - 9
Division of temperature-sensitive Streptococcus faecium mutants after return to the permissive temperature; Canepari P et al.; The regrowth of 27 temperature-sensitive division mutants of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 was examined after various periods of incubation at the nonpermissive temperature . Several of the mutants blocked at various stages of septum formation or of daughter-cell separation divided in a partially or completely synchronous way after a short incubation at the nonpermissive temperature . All four lytic mutants blocked early in the cell division cycle divided at a normal rate after a brief lag.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 81 - 6
Complement (C5)-derived chemotactic activity accounts for accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in cerebrospinal fluid of rabbits with pneumococcal meningitis; Ernst JD et al.; Experiments were performed to identify the chemoattractant for polymorphonuclear leukocytes that appears in the cerebrospinal fluid of rabbits with experimental pneumococcal meningitis . Meningitis was induced in anesthetized New Zealand white rabbits by injecting 10(4) cells of stationary-phase Streptococcus pneumoniae type III intracisternally . Before bacteria were injected, cerebrospinal fluid contained neither polymorphonuclear leukocytes nor chemotactic activity . Significant chemotactic activity for rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes was detected 12 h after inoculation with bacteria and was maximal after 18 to 20 h . Chemotactic activity appeared in cerebrospinal fluid while concentrations of pneumococci and total protein were increasing but before there was any accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes . The chemotactic activity in cerebrospinal fluid was heat stable (56 degrees C for 30 min), eluted from Sephadex G-75 with a profile identical to that of the chemotactic activity in zymosan-activated rabbit serum, and was inhibited by treatment with antibodies to native human C5 . In addition, preincubation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes with partially purified rabbit C5a selectively inhibited their subsequent chemotactic responses to cerebrospinal fluid . These data indicate that complement (C5)-derived chemotactic activity appears in cerebrospinal fluid during the course of experimental pneumococcal meningitis in rabbits and suggest that this activity accounts for the accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes observed in this infection.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 42 - 7
Lack of cross-reactivity of antibodies to ribosomal preparations from Streptococcus mutans with human heart and kidney antigens; Gregory RL et al.; Previous studies have suggested that sera from animals immunized with whole Streptococcus mutans cells may cross-react with human and monkey heart sarcolemmal tissues . In the present study, sera and saliva from rats and rabbits immunized peripherally with ribosomal preparations from S . mutans 6715 (serotype g) or GS-5 (serotype c) were examined for their ability to react with normal human heart sarcolemmal and kidney glomerular tissues by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent and immunofluorescence assays . The results showed that antibodies to serotype g and c ribosomal preparations do not react with either the human heart or renal antigens . Sera from mice immunized with human heart tissue and from a patient with a high anti-streptolysin O titer reacted strongly with human heart sarcolemmal and kidney glomerular tissues . These data indicated that ribosomal preparations from S . mutans lack the putative human heart cross-reactive determinant and suggest that the use of an S . mutans ribosomal vaccine against dental caries may not be pathogenic to human heart or renal tissues.

Cancer, 1984 Oct 1, 54(7), 1288 - 92
Radiochemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in palatine tonsil; Fujitani T et al.; From January 1966 to December 1980, 367 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were autopsied at Kobe University Hospital . The rate of extranodular type was 76.7% and the most common site of origin was the palatine tonsil . Of 133 patients with NHL in the palatine tonsil, at the Kobe University Hospital 110 were treated . All of the patients were treated by irradiation . Sixty-one patients were treated by irradiation alone . Forty-nine patients were treated in addition with conventional chemotherapy using vincristine, cyclophosphamide, endoxan a, and prednisolone . In 14 of 49 patients, adjuvant immunochemotherapy using a Streptococcus pyogenes (OK-432) was added at maintenance dose in combination with induction radiochemotherapy . The survival curve of the patients treated by radiochemotherapy is better than that of the patients treated by irradiation alone . The survival rates at 0 to 1, 1 to 2, and 2 to 3 years for the patients treated by radiochemotherapy were 81.5, 66.3, and 59.0%, respectively, significantly higher than those of the radiotherapy group . The 5-year survival rates of the radiotherapy group were 50.2% for Stage I and 26.5% for Stage II patients . The rates increased to 78% and 41.8% by radiochemotherapy . The extranodal NHL of Stage II also frequently develops into the advanced stage and adjuvant chemotherapy is necessary for such patients.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1984 Oct, 92(5), 253 - 9
Induction of aggregation in Streptococcus mitis by certain ions; Abaas S; Streptococcus mitis ATCC 903 aggregated when suspended in salt solutions containing the ions zinc, aluminium, lanthanum and cerium . This aggregation was very rapid as compared to spontaneous aggregation occurring in this strain . It was not inhibited by alkaline pH . Washed bacteria treated previously with zinc sulphate recovered and retained their ability to aggregate spontaneously at a slow rate . No such effect was observed with lanthanum-induced aggregation . The aggregates caused by lanthanum chloride were stable in sodium chloride up to 5 M concentrations . Magnesium sulphate dissociated these aggregates at 250 mM . Aggregation induced by zinc sulphate was less stable in these salts . The spontaneously aggregated cells were dissociated completely at 10 mM magnesium sulphate or 100 mM sodium chloride . Bacteria which had lost their ability to aggregate, owing to trypsin or beta-galactosidase treatment, were re-aggregated after addition of zinc, lanthanum or aluminium ions . Galactosamine inhibited the spontaneous aggregation and aggregation induced by zinc but not the aggregation induced by lanthanum or aluminium ions . In conclusion, the results provide a molecular model of induced and spontaneous aggregations where the two phenomena are qualitatively different.

Vet Med (Praha), 1984 Oct, 29(10), 619 - 26
{The effect of hormonal preparations on superovulation and egg transport in ewes}; Arendarcik J et al.; The relation between the prevalence of contagious mastitis with the finding of Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus and the number of somatic cells in the tank samples of milk was studied on the basis of a clinical and bacteriological examination of 11 129 dairy cows on four large farms, with a capacity of 600 to 1240 animals . A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the analyzed characteristics (r = 0.621) . The relation was demonstrated at a prevalence up to 25.3% . The number of somatic cells provides a marked indication of prevalence only from 10% . We failed to demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between the prevalence of mastitis with a cultivation finding significant correlation between the prevalence of mastitis with a cultivation finding of Staphylococcus aureus and the number of somatic cells in tank samples of milk (r = 0.054) . The results suggest that on large farms it will not be possible to use only the number of somatic cells in tank milk samples as a signal of diagnostic improvement and preventive mastitis-control measures, since a 10% prevalence of these diseases usually excludes the possibility of herd sanitation.

Vet Med (Praha), 1984 Oct, 29(10), 577 - 81
{Relation of the count of somatic cells in tank samples to the incidence of contagious mastitis on large farms}; Pastrnkova M et al.; The relation between the prevalence of contagious mastitis with the finding of Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus and the number of somatic cells in the tank samples of milk was studied on the basis of a clinical and bacteriological examination of 11 129 daily cows on four large farms, with a capacity of 600 to 1240 animals . A statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the analyzed characteristics (r = 0.621) . The relation was demonstrated at a prevalence up to 25.3% . The number of somatic cells provides a marked indication of prevalence only from 10% . We failed to demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between the prevalence of mastitis with a cultivation finding of Staphylococcus aureus and the number of somatic cells in tank samples of milk (r = 0.054) . The results suggest that on large farms it will not be possible to use only the number of somatic cells in tank milk samples as a signal of diagnostic improvement and preventive mastitis-control measures, since a 10% prevalence of these diseases usually excludes the possibility of herd sanitation.

Clin Perinatol, 1984 Oct, 11(3), 591 - 9
The effects of group B streptococcus and other organisms on the pulmonary vasculature; Rojas J et al.; In this article, the authors review the effects of group B streptococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli on the pulmonary vasculature and the possible mechanisms involved in their genesis.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Oct, 26(4), 583 - 4
Pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime in newborn infants; McCracken GH Jr et al.; Doses of 50 mg of ceftazidime per kg were administered intravenously to 29 newborn infants every 8 or 12 h for 3 to 5 days . Mean peak concentrations in plasma ranged from 102 to 124 micrograms/ml . Mean elimination half-life values ranged from 2.9 to 6.7 h and varied inversely with gestational age and plasma clearances . Peak and trough plasma bactericidal titers against an Escherichia coli and a group B streptococcus strain were at least 1:16 and 1:32, respectively.

J Rheumatol, 1984 Oct, 11(5), 713 - 5
Streptococcus anginosus-constellatus infection of the sternoclavicular joint; Hynd RF et al.; We describe the first reported instance of sternoclavicular pyarthrosis caused by Streptococcus anginosus-constellatus . Infections caused by this organism are unusual in a nonimmunocompromised host . Common conditions predisposing to sternoclavicular joint infection were not present . A possible mechanism for the infection is offered.

Vet Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 9(6), 571 - 9
A case study of Streptococcus group G infection in a dairy herd; Watts JL et al.; In this paper an outbreak of bovine mastitis in a dairy herd caused by Streptococcus group G is described . Initial identification of the organism as Streptococcus agalactiae was based upon hemolysis, esculin reaction, and CAMP reaction observed on blood agar used for bulk milk analysis . Initial therapy with a penicillin-containing, lactating cow product cured 24.4% of all streptococcal infections . Definitive serogrouping by coagglutination determined that the majority of infections were due to a weakly-hemolytic, esculin-negative Streptococcus group G . Treatment with a cephalosporin, lactating cow product was only moderately successful (54.9%) . Dry-cow therapy with 300 mg cephalosporin eliminated 69.5% of refractory infections . Animals remaining infected following dry-cow therapy were culled . Histopathological study of parenchymal tissue in the lower portion of infected quarters revealed mild damage and slight involutionary changes, whereas, deep parenchymal areas appeared relatively unaffected.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Oct, 67(10), 2441 - 5
Specific agglutination of Streptococcus agalactiae from bovine mastitis by casein components of bovine milk; Wanger AR et al.; Streptococcus agalactiae strains freshly isolated from bovine mastitis cases clumped within 15 min of addition of small amounts of bovine milk to a broth culture . This reaction was not observed with isolates from human infections or bovine strains that had been maintained in the laboratory for extensive periods . Intensity of the clumping response as measured by a microtiter dilution assay was highly variable . Analysis of several single colony isolates derived from one strain indicated that the clumping phenotype was genetically unstable . The clumping reaction took place in the presence of rifampicin or chloramphenicol . Milk components that caused aggregation were heat stable, relatively insensitive to proteases, and were larger than 10,000 daltons . Purified casein also induced clumping in these strains.

Am J Infect Control, 1984 Oct, 12(5), 293 - 6
Injection-site abscess caused by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus . An unusual complication of tonsillectomy and intramuscular injection; Jacobson JT et al.; The epidemiologic investigation of any IM injection site infection can be quite complex . In this particular case, one potential source of the organism was established (the patient herself), another source was shown to be less likely (the nurses administering the medications), and a third possible source (the single-dose unit medications) could not be eliminated.

J Laryngol Otol, 1984 Oct, 98(10), 997 - 8
Secondary haemorrhage following tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy; Kumar R; A series of 24 cases of secondary haemorrhage following tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy was investigated for bacterial causes of bleeding . Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated in one, streptococcus haemolyticus in another, the remainder being non-pathogens.

J Infect Dis, 1984 Oct, 150(4), 589 - 93
Streptococcus durans: an unexpected enteropathogen of foals; Tzipori S et al.; Streptococcus durans was isolated from a foal with profuse watery diarrhea and caused a similar syndrome when inoculated into foals via the orogastric route . The most consistent and striking histological feature was the extensive colonization of the mucosal surface of the small intestine by S . durans . Associated mucosal changes were mild to modeate, and brush border lactase and alkaline phosphatase production were depressed . S . durans also induced acute diarrhea in young gnotobiotic piglets . Mucosal changes were mild and, as with foals, the mucosal surface of the small intestine was colonized by the organism.

J Clin Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 20(4), 735 - 41
Enzyme immunoassay for the detection of group A streptococcal antigen; Knigge KM et al.; A competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Streptococcus pyogenes directly from throat specimens or from solid bacteriological medium is described . Group A-specific polysaccharide adsorbed onto treated polystyrene beads, in conjunction with rabbit antibody to S . pyogenes, was used to determine the presence of the polysaccharide antigen . Inhibition values in excess of 65% were observed with 10(4) or more CFU of S . pyogenes per test . An inhibition of 25% was demonstrated with as few as 10(3) CFU per test . Heterologous microorganisms tested at 10(6) CFU per test reacted at levels of inhibition less than 25% . Two types of bacterial transport medium and swabs of different fiber compositions did not alter the assay performance . Accurate identification of S . pyogenes was achieved by testing single colonies picked directly from blood agar plates which had been incubated for 18 to 24 h . In addition, the assay was performed on throat specimens from children and adults having pharyngitis . A single-swab, blind study was conducted in which enzyme immunoassay reactivity was compared with results of blood agar culture and bacitracin sensitivity . When there were discordant results, serological identification was used as the confirmatory test . At an optimal cutoff value of 40% inhibition, sensitivity and specificity by enzyme immunoassay were 97.0% and 97.9%, respectively, as compared with confirmed culture results . The assay has an incubation time of 3 h and is a sensitive and specific method for the detection of S . pyogenes antigen.

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1984 Oct, 12(5), 325 - 31
Comparison of two screening tests for Streptococcus mutans and evaluation of their suitability for mass screenings and private practice; Newbrun E et al.; Two simple microbiological tests for quantitating salivary Streptococcus mutans levels were compared with each other and evaluated for suitability for mass screenings and private practice . Both tests use mitis salivarius medium with bacitracin (MSB) and are selective for S . mutans . One test estimates colonies grown on agar (MSBA) and the other estimates colonies grown in broth that adhere to glass (MSBB) . Both are scored from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) . Children (293) in grades 5 and 6 in Tallahassee, Florida (nonfluoridated) were tested for S . mutans levels . Scores of children by both tests were significantly similar (chi 2, regression and Kappa statistical analysis) . Correlation coefficients (regression) between scores and DMFS increments of the previous 4 yr were 0.35 (MSBA) and 0.26 (MSBB) . Both tests were very good in identifying children with low caries increments, but positive scores did not correlate well with high caries increments . Sampling and interpreting took 2 min (MSBA) and 1 min (MSBB) . Cost of MSBA/child was $1.15, and MSBB/child $1.25 . These tests are economical and suitable for mass screenings to identify low risk populations who do not require preventive treatment.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 145 - 51
Binding of Streptococcus mutans antigens to heart and kidney basement membranes; Stinson MW et al.; Using indirect immunofluorescence, alkali-extracted components of Streptococcus mutans were found to bind in vitro to capillary walls and sarcolemmal sheaths of monkey cardiac muscle and to glomerular and tubular basement membranes of monkey kidney . Adsorption of S . mutans components to tissue fragments was also detected by indirect radioimmunoassay and immunoblotting on nitrocellulose paper . Antibodies did not bind to untreated, control tissues in these experiments, proving that antigens shared by S . mutans and tissue components were not involved . Rabbit and monkey heart and kidney components bound S . mutans antigens of 24,000, 35,000, and 65,000 Mr . Monkey heart also bound molecules of 90,000 and 120,000 Mr . Rabbits immunized by intravenous injection of disrupted S . mutans cells developed severe nephritis that was characterized by the deposition of immunoglobulins, complement component C3, and S . mutans antigens in the glomeruli . Immunoglobulin G eluted from nephritic kidneys reacted in immunoblots with the 24,000, 35,000, and 65,000 Mr components of S . mutans extract, indicating that the antigens that bound to tissue in vitro also bound in vivo and reacted with antibodies in situ . Antibodies to other S . mutans antigens were not detected in the kidney eluate, although they were present in the serum of the same rabbit.

Ann Intern Med, 1984 Oct, 101(4), 494 - 6
An outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes infections in a nursing home; Ruben FL et al.; An outbreak of serious infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes occurred in a nursing home for elderly patients . The outbreak began in mid-winter and continued for 12 months . Thirteen residents and two nurses had infections . Severity of infection was worse in residents, who developed sepsis, necrotizing fasciitis, cellulitis, septic arthritis, pneumonia, and conjunctivitis; in contrast, the nurses had pharyngitis only . Six of thirteen residents required acute hospital care, and the index case died with sepsis . Typing of S . pyogenes was done in 13 of 15 cases, and the same serotype (M-non-typable, T-25) was found . Control measures consisted of identifying all patients with infections, obtaining cultures, and providing prompt treatment . Patients in nursing homes are highly susceptible to serious infections with S . pyogenes.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1984 Oct, 43(5), 716 - 20
Rheumatological manifestations of infective endocarditis; Thomas P et al.; A retrospective study showed musculoskeletal manifestations in 32 of 108 patients treated for infective endocarditis in several departments at the Poitiers CHU . Such manifestations included articular pain or aseptic arthritis, typically involving the major joints, as well as vertebral osteomyelitis, low back pain (inflammatory or non-inflammatory), and myalgia . Patients showing such signs were generally younger than those without musculoskeletal involvement, diagnosis was made later, and prognosis was worse; streptococcus D was more often involved, and microscopic haematuria was more common . With the exception of vertebral osteomyelitis, the pathogenesis was not clear.

Infect Immun, 1984 Oct, 46(1), 168 - 75
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Streptococcus mutans antigenic determinants I/II, I, II, and III and their serotype specificities; Smith R et al.; Monoclonal antibodies (McAb) were developed to four protein components of Streptococcus mutans serotype c, some of which are significant in the protection against dental caries . The six McAb used in this investigation support the identities of streptococcal antigens (SA) I/II, I, II, and III . The specificities of these antigenic determinants were established both by direct binding and inhibition with the pure SA with a solid-phase radioassay . Whereas conventional antisera to S . mutans serotype c cross-react with serotypes c, e, and f (and g), McAb to serotype c-derived SA I/II react predominantly with serotype c and show some low-titer reactivity with serotype f . The slight cross-reactivity between S . mutants cells of serotypes c and f could be further differentiated by absorption of any of the three McAb to SA I/II with cells of serotype c . Parallel studies of McAb with cells of S . mutans and their ammonium sulfate-precipitated culture supernatants suggest that some SA determinants are retained predominantly on the cell surface, but others are readily shed into the culture medium, so that they are detected both on the cell surface and culture medium . Unlike polyclonal antibodies, McAb are capable of discriminating single antigenic determinants and can be applied to the study of shedding of antigens from microorganisms into the environment, such as the gut or gingival sulcus.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1984 Sep 15, 185(6), 666 - 8
Isolation of Streptococcus suis from swine in Nebraska; Erickson ED et al.; Streptococcus suis was isolated from swine with localized and diffuse infections . The isolates (n = 121) were unable to grow in broth containing 6.5% NaCl . Their abilities to hydrolyze esculin were variable, as were their fermentative reactions in lactose, trehalose, raffinose, and inulin . Sorbitol was not attacked by any strain . Serologic reactions were obtained between the isolates and coagglutination reagents prepared from commercially available antisera to streptococcal groups D, R, or S.

J Immunol, 1984 Sep, 133(3), 1424 - 30
Binding of C-reactive protein to the pneumococcal capsule or cell wall results in differential localization of C3 and stimulation of phagocytosis; Holzer TJ et al.; C-reactive protein (CRP) is a serum protein that shows rapid increases of as much as 1000-fold in concentration in response to infection, traumatic injury, or inflammation . CRP reacts with the phosphocholine moiety of pneumococcal cell wall C-polysaccharide, and this reaction can lead to complement activation in vitro and protection against pneumococcal infection in vivo . We have previously studied the chemiluminescence response of human neutrophils to Streptococcus pneumoniae as a measure of in vitro opsonophagocytosis by CRP and complement . CRP in the presence of complement was an effective opsonin for S . pneumoniae serotype 27 (Pn27), but not for serotypes 3 or 6 . Because Pn27 differs from most serotypes of S . pneumoniae in containing phosphocholine in its capsular polysaccharide, we have determined the sites of CRP and C3 fixation to Pn27 and S . pneumoniae serotype 4 (Pn4), and related these to the ability of CRP and complement to opsonize these serotypes in vitro . By using a chemiluminescence (CL) assay to measure opsonophagocytosis, CRP was shown to enhance the response of human neutrophils and monocytes to Pn27 in the presence of normal human serum . The CL response of neutrophils and monocytes to Pn4 was not affected by the addition of CRP to serum . The addition of anti-capsular antibody to Pn4 and Pn27 enhanced the CL responses of both neutrophils and monocytes to both bacteria . The localization of bound CRP and C3 on Pn4 and Pn27 was determined by immunoelectron microscopy . CRP bound to Pn4 only in the cell wall region and C3 was located in this area whether or not CRP was present . Anti-capsular antibody deposited C3 in the capsule of Pn4 . In contrast, Pn27 bound CRP throughout the capsule and cell wall areas . C3 was deposited in the cell wall region of Pn27 by serum alone and in the cell wall region and capsule when CRP or anti-capsular antibody was present . Because C3 fixation to the capsule was consistently associated with enhanced responses by phagocytic cells, it appears that the site of CRP binding and subsequent complement activation may be critical in the opsonophagocytosis of S . pneumoniae . These findings extend the correlation between capsular C3 and opsonization to a nonimmune system . By using CRP and different pneumococcal serotypes we have shown that the same molecules that are effective in the stimulation of phagocytic cells when bound to the capsule are not effective when bound to the cell wall.

Bull Tokyo Med Dent Univ, 1984 Sep, 31(3), 155 - 64
Biochemical and serological studies on oral ureaplasma; Saito Y et al.; This study was conducted to study chemically and serologically the characteristics of the Ureaplasmas isolated from the human oral cavity . Two hundred and fifty-one healthy and 12 periodontitis subjects were examined for the incidence of the isolation of Ureaplasmas from their oral cavity . A total of twenty-six strains was isolated from the healthy human saliva . But no strains could be isolated from a variety of clinical specimens obtained from the patients . The serological properties of the isolates were tested by the method of metabolism inhibition test (MI test) . Seven out of 26 isolates were serologically identical with either one of the ATCC standard strains . However, the serological types of the other strains could not be demonstrated by the MI test . The biological characteristics of 4 isolates and ATCC strains were tested by the usual method . The isolates did not metabolize glucose and arginine, while all strains hydrolyzed urea . On the other hand, none of the isolates lysed skimmed milk and gelatin . The proteolytic activity of the isolates could be demonstrated by using casein and horse serum proteins as substrates . Zymogram patterns from one of the isolates and Streptococcus salivarius were obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cells lysed with digitonin or cell protein extracts . On the basis of the gel electrophoresis patterns, it is clear that the urease of the Ureaplasma is different from that of the Streptococcus salivarius.

J Periodontol, 1984 Sep, 55(9), 540 - 9
Human neutrophil migration under agarose to bacteria associated with the development of gingivitis; Lareau DE et al.; In clinically healthy gingiva and increasingly with the development of inflammation, neutrophils are found in the gingival tissues and sulcus . This study evaluated the relative ability of bacteria associated with gingival health and developing inflammation to stimulate this increase in neutrophil accumulation . Dialyzed bacterial sonic extracts (BE) in buffer and pooled human serum (PHS) from pure cultures of Streptococcus sanguis . Actinomyces viscosus, A naeslundii, Bacteroides intermedius, Fusobacterium sp and Veillonella sp were tested for stimulation of human neutrophil migration under agarose . In addition, fractions of S sanguis culture fluids (CFs) from Sephadex G-10 chromatography were evaluated . All BE solutions were incubated for 1 hour at 37 degrees C and heat-inactivated prior to testing . All BEs in buffer attracted neutrophils, with the greatest responses seen to S sanguis and B intermedius followed by A viscosus . Migration to all BEs in PHS was greater than in buffer, suggesting that all BEs are capable of generating serum chemoattractants . A viscosus BE activated serum attractants to the greatest degree . CFs of S sanguis, A viscosus, and to a lesser degree, Fusobacterium sp, also attracted neutrophils . Evidence from {3H}FMLP competitive ligand-binding assays indicated that S sanguis CFs contained low molecular weight (less than 700) chemoattractants, which were probably formylmethionyl oligopeptide-like materials . Of the bacteria associated with health, S sanguis and A viscosus appeared at least as able to generate chemoattractants during growth or with exposure to serum as bacteria associated with gingivitis . This observation suggests that these "healthy" bacteria, which are found in greater numbers with developing inflammation, may mediate increased neutrophil transmigration in early disease.

J Dent Res, 1984 Sep, 63(9), 1126 - 9
Effects of fluoride, lithium, and strontium on intracellular polysaccharide accumulation in S . mutans and A . viscosus; Wegman MR et al.; Fluoride (5 mg/l) consistently depressed the accumulation of intracellular iodophilic polysaccharides (IPS) in Streptococcus mutans strains BHT, FA-1, and GS-5 by over 90% and in Actinomyces viscosus strain RC-45 by over 50% . There was little further reduction in IPS content when fluoride was increased from 5 to 100 mg/l . Lithium (0 to 1 mg/l) neither enhanced nor inhibited IPS accumulation, nor did it modify the inhibitory effects of fluoride in three of the four strains tested . Strontium (0 to 100 mg/l) did not alter IPS accumulation in S . mutans GS-5 but decreased accumulation (less than 10%) in S . mutans FA-1 and BHT and significantly enhanced IPS accumulation in A . viscosus RC-45 . Analysis of variance indicated no statistically significant interactions between fluoride and strontium, fluoride and lithium, or strontium and lithium.

Carbohydr Res, 1984 Sep 1, 132(1), 39 - 44
Synthesis of a disaccharide component of the capsular polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1; Lonn H et al.; Methyl 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-3-O-(alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-uronic acid)-alpha-D-galactopyranoside has been synthesised . The parent disaccharide is a structural element of the capsular polysaccharide antigen of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1.

Virus Res, 1984 Sep, 1(6), 443 - 53
Conditions to enhance transfection in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Serratosa C et al.; Enhancement of transfection in the wild-type strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which contains normal levels of nucleases, can be achieved by a careful control of the components of the medium . Protection of the donor DNA against the degradation by the nucleases present at the surface of the cell during the adsorption to the physiologically competent bacteria is a necessary condition to obtain an enhanced transfection . Using {3H}thymidine-labeled Dp-4 DNA we have found that maximal levels of DNA uptake and a remarkable stimulation in genetic transfection were obtained in the presence of calcium ions . Concentrations of magnesium ions higher than 2 mM stimulated the extracellular degradation of the donor DNA and inhibited transfection.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Sep, 26(3), 306 - 9
Use of lipids to potentiate the antibacterial activity of aminoglycosides; Gilbertson JR et al.; Linolenyl alcohol has been shown to inhibit the in vitro growth of several species of gram-positive bacteria . Since the double bonds in linolenyl alcohol could undergo autooxidation, the antimicrobial activities of saturated primary alcohols of similar molecular sizes against Streptococcus mutans BHT were evaluated . Tridecan-1-ol was identified as the most active compound, eliciting a bacteriostatic effect at concentrations at which growth occurred in the presence of other saturated alcohols or linolenyl alcohol . Evidence is also presented that the combined use of tridecan-1-ol and gentamicin sulfate produces a synergistic effect that is bactericidal to S . mutans BHT . A similar bactericidal response was observed when tridecan-1-ol was combined with other aminoglycosides or tested alone against other strains of S . mutans.

J Infect, 1984 Sep, 9(2), 157 - 60
Lack of effect of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines on anticoagulation by warfarin; Farrow PR et al.; The effects on anticoagulation of a purified trivalent sub-unit influenza vaccine and a 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine were investigated in a single-blind controlled study involving 69 well-stabilised warfarin recipients . There were no clinically or statistically significant alterations of anticoagulant control in vaccine recipients as compared with controls at 2, 7 and 21 days after vaccination . On the basis of these data, concern about warfarin-vaccine interaction should not deter practitioners from immunising warfarin recipients against influenza or infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

J Infect, 1984 Sep, 9(2), 126 - 33
Group G streptococcal septicaemia: clinical observations and laboratory studies; Finch RG et al.; The clinical features of Group G streptococcal bacteraemia in nine patients are reported . The serious nature of many of these infections was striking, with major embolic complications in all three patients with endocarditis . In this hospital, Group G streptococcal bacteraemia is now more common than that caused by Streptococcus pyogenes . Laboratory investigations included serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing . Although the strains isolated were found to be sensitive to a broad range of agents, tolerance was observed to a varying extent with penicillin, erythromycin and vancomycin . The clinical significance of this observation remains to be determined.

J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 1984 Sep, 7(3), 183 - 8
Standardization of an experimental disease model of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in the equine; Varma KJ et al.; A reproducible experimental disease model in horses using Streptococcus zooepidemicus was developed . An intravenous challenge dose of 1 X 10(10) colony-forming units (CFU), followed 24 h later with another challenge of 1 X 10(8) CFU of Strep . zooepidemicus produced the desired disease model . The disease was characterized by depression, pyrexia, anorexia, abnormal lung sounds, inflammation of joints, moderate to severe lameness, gradual loss of condition and emaciation . The effects of the disease on hematology, serum chemical profile and different protein fractions were studied . The disease state had no effect on serum glucose, sodium, potassium, chloride, urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus and enzymes SGOT or SGPT . However, the alkaline phosphatase showed a gradual decline . The serum iron levels dropped markedly and remained low to the last day of observations (post-infection day, PID 13) . On serum protein electrophoresis, the albumin showed a gradual decrease; whereas, alpha II, beta and gamma globulin levels rose suggesting an immune response . The elevation of rectal temperatures and white blood cell counts related well with clinical observations . The serum iron levels proved very helpful in predicting the severity of clinical signs and often dropped before the onset of clinical signs and pyrexia.

Arch Intern Med, 1984 Sep, 144(9), 1749 - 51
Pyomyositis . Report of 18 cases in Hawaii; Brown JD et al.; Eighteen patients with pyomyositis were seen at a large hospital in Hawaii . Most were healthy young men or boys, and eight had never traveled abroad . Fever, muscle pain and swelling, and leukocytosis were common, but only seven had erythema or fluctuance . A single large muscle was infected in 14, and two to three muscles were infected in the others . Pyomyositis mimicked cellulitis, muscle hematoma, thrombophlebitis, appendicitis, and neoplasm . Staphylococcus aureus was found in 13, and Streptococcus pyogenes was found in two . Bacteremia occurred in 29% (5/17) . Drainage and antimicrobial agents were usually effective therapy, but one patient died and another had CNS damage . The pathogenesis is uncertain, but 12 had nonpenetrating muscle injury and 13 had pyoderma, suggesting that bacteria invade injured muscle via the bloodstream or lymphatic system.

Dis Colon Rectum, 1984 Sep, 27(9), 613 - 4
Streptococcus bovis endocarditis and its association with colonic carcinoma; Silver SC; Two cases of colonic carcinoma detected in patients with Streptococcus bovis endocarditis are presented . Neither patient had any complaints referable to the gastrointestinal tract; gastrointestinal evaluations were undertaken and colonic lesions were identified purely on the basis of the patients' underlying endocarditis . Both patients underwent successful surgery after completion of appropriate antibiotic treatment for S . bovis endocarditis . Results of a literature search for similar cases are presented . It is emphasized that all patients with S . bovis endocarditis should be evaluated for concomitant colonic carcinoma, even if they are totally asymptomatic.

Biochem Pharmacol, 1984 Sep 1, 33(17), 2749 - 53
Alteration of delta psi-dependent amino acid transports in Streptococcus pneumoniae by the antitumoral drug SOAz; Trombe MC et al.; Interactions of the antitumoral drug SOAz with natural and model membranes are described . Biological studies were carried out with the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae taken as a model system . They reveal that SOAz is able to reduce delta psi and the delta psi-dependent amino acid transports without being cytotoxic for the bacteria . With respect to model membranes, leakage studies carried out with Na+ and K+ loaded lipid vesicles demonstrated that SOAz exhibits no ionophore activity . In contrast, the drug is shown to decrease the surface potential of monolayers of acidic phospholipids but without penetrating within the film . The possibility that SOAz might alter the delta psi part of the proton motive force by decreasing the outside surface potential of the bacterial membrane is discussed.

J Infect, 1984 Sep, 9(2), 177 - 84
A study of 280 cases of neonatal meningitis in The Netherlands; Mulder CJ et al.; Within the framework of a more extensive study of the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in The Netherlands (1976-1982), 280 cases of neonatal meningitis were investigated retrospectively . Escherichia coli (132 cases, 47%), Streptococcus agalactiae (68 cases, 24%), Listeria monocytogenes (12 cases, 4%) were the organisms most commonly isolated . The mortality rate for these 280 cases was 27% . The male-female ratio was 1.33:1 . The minimum incidence for The Netherlands was calculated to be 23 per 100 000 live births.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Sep, 14 Suppl C, 19 - 31
Enoxacin-induced alteration of susceptibility of pneumococci and Pseudomonas to phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Pruul H et al.; This report examines the effects of exposure to enoxacin on interactions of bacteria and neutrophils . Pretreatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with x 1/2 to x4 the MIC of enoxacin had no enhancing effect upon phagocytic killing when the antibiotic was not present . Phagocytic killing was synergistically enhanced when enoxacin was continually present although this was not manifested in increased phagocytosis . The enhanced killing was abrogated by disruption of bacterial opsonization, internalization and intraleukocytic killing processes of polymorphonuclear leukocytes . These observations indicate that the synergistic killing of Str . pneumoniae and Ps . aeruginosa by enoxacin and human neutrophils is due to enhanced intracellular killing and not an increase in phagocytosis.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Sep, 14 Suppl B, 23 - 31
Management of neonatal meningitis, 1984; McCracken GH Jr; Neonatal bacterial meningitis continues to cause substantial mortality and morbidity despite the advent of new antimicrobial agents and of modern intensive care facilities . In Dallas, the case-fatality rate for bacterial meningitis in newborn and young infants is 17% (40 of 231 patients) . Three pathogens, Group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes, accounted for 84% of the causative agents . Although new beta-lactam antibiotics have been extensively evaluated in experimental meningitis due to these pathogens, there is limited clinical experience from which to judge efficacy and safety . Currently, conventional therapy with ampicillin and an amino-glycoside should be used as initial empirical therapy for neonatal meningitis . Once the pathogen has been identified and the susceptibilities determined, the most appropriate antibiotic or combination of antibiotics can be selected . Latamoxef (moxalactam) and cefotaxime are highly active agents in vitro against Gram-negative enteric bacilli and may prove useful for therapy of meningitis due to those organisms . Additional experience with these compounds is required before they can be recommended for routine use.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1984 Sep, 102(9), 1394 - 5
Quantitative adherence of bacteria to human corneal epithelial cells; Reichert R et al.; An in vitro assay was used to quantitatively determine the ability of a variety of bacteria to adhere to human corneal epithelial cells . Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found to adhere to corneal epithelium significantly better than other species that were tested . However, there was considerable variability in the adherence of individual strains of these bacterial species . The results of this study support the hypothesis that the frequency with which certain species of bacteria cause bacterial corneal ulceration may be related to the ability of those organisms to adhere to corneal epithelium . In addition, differences in pathogenicity between strains of a given species may be related to the variability of adherence within a species.

Infect Immun, 1984 Sep, 45(3), 610 - 7
In vitro and in vivo studies of cellular lysis of oral bacteria by a lysozyme-protease-inorganic monovalent anion antibacterial system; Pollock JJ et al.; Compared with anion-activated cell lysis of oral bacteria damaged with either lysozyme or trypsin, cells which were treated with both of these enzymes showed a far greater degree of lysis . This was true regardless of whether turbidimetric, DNA release, or electron microscopic assays were used to monitor the lytic process . At an acidic pH of 5.2 and an NaHCO3 concentration of 100 mM, the kinetics of lysis for two different serotype c strains of Streptococcus mutans were similar . At 0 to 100 mM bicarbonate, however, differences in the lytic susceptibilities of the two strains were evident . At pH 5.2, NaHCO3, but not NaSCN, NaCl, or NaF, was effective in promoting cell lysis of the oral bacteria . At apparent sublytic concentrations of NaHCO3, lysis was achieved by adding appropriate concentrations of NaSCN, NaCl, or NaF to the lysozyme-protease-damaged cells . In in vivo studies, hamsters given a combination of NaHCO3, NaCl, and NaSCN were found to have significantly reduced levels of S . mutans on their molar teeth compared with that found in controls or animals exposed to any one of the salts alone or to a combination of chloride and thiocyanate only . The results suggest that bicarbonate is an essential anion which, together with the other major salivary inorganic monovalent anions, plays an active role in the lysis and ultimate elimination of cariogenic bacteria.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Sep, 67(9), 2062 - 5
Evaluation of teat dips with excised teats; Watts JL et al.; Thirty-eight teat dip formulations were evaluated for germicidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae with an excised teat model . Twenty-six of 27 iodophor products provided log reductions greater than 3 against Staphylococcus aureus, but only 13 against Streptococcus agalactiae . Log reductions obtained with two .2% quaternary ammonium and .5% cetylpyridium chloride products were greater than 4 against both organisms . A 1% benzyl alcohol formulation provided log reductions of 3.86 and 4.30 against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae . Germicidal activities of six novel formulations containing sodium chlorite were determined . Two products were effective against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae with log reductions greater than 4 . One product provided a log reduction of 3; three products were ineffective.

Infect Immun, 1984 Sep, 45(3), 618 - 24
Protective levels of human immunoglobulin G antibody to group B streptococcus type Ib; Boyer KM et al.; We studied the concentration of circulating human immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody to the native capsular polysaccharide of group B streptococcus (GBS) type Ib necessary to protect mice against lethal challenge by laboratory and clinical GBS Ib strains . Antibody was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in which native polysaccharide antigen coupled to human serum albumin was used . The assay was standardized by a quantitative precipitation test, using native antigen and specific human IgG antibody purified by affinity chromatography . IgG anti-GBS Ib antibody level-protection curves for 90% lethal dose challenge of mice were sigmoidal . The curves of whole serum and affinity-chromatographed IgG anti-GBS Ib were superimposable . The serum concentrations of human antibody required for complete protection of mice varied with the infecting strain and ranged from 0.038 to 0.175 microgram/ml . Protective levels of human IgG anti-GBS Ib were lower than those we found previously for homologous protection against GBS Ia challenge (range, 0.25 to 1.0 microgram/ml).

J Clin Invest, 1984 Sep, 74(3), 1027 - 34
Immunological studies of post-streptococcal sequelae . Evidence for presence of streptococcal antigens in circulating immune complexes; Friedman J et al.; Since elevated levels of circulating complexes have been noted to occur in the sera of patients with post-streptococcal sequelae, the possibility that these complexes contained streptococcal antigens within the complex was investigated . Sera from these patients were precipitated with polyethylene glycol to extract a fraction rich in these complexes, which was then injected into rabbits . The rabbit sera were then reacted with both cellular and extracellular fractions obtained from streptococcal strains associated with either acute post-streptococcal nephritis (APSGN) or acute rheumatic fever (ARF) by using immunoelectrophoresis and ELISA techniques . The data demonstrate that both ARF and APSGN complexes contain streptococcal antigens . However, APSGN complexes react uniquely to certain extracellular antigens present in those strains associated with nephritis, while ARF complexes react specifically to certain streptococcal extracellular antigens excreted by strains associated with rheumatic fever . Neither of the two groups of complexes appear to contain streptococcal antigens related to any cellular antigens derived from the group A streptococcus . Additionally, a rabbit serum immunized with streptococcal extracellular products reacted directly with complexes isolated from nephritis patients . Removal of the gamma globulin by absorption with an anti-human Fc serum resulted in the concomitant loss of reactivity with the anti-streptococcal serum, strongly suggesting an intimate association of the streptococcal antigen with these complexes . The presence of streptococcal antigens within the circulating immune complex of patients with APSGN coupled with their specific presence in those strains associated with post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis argues strongly for a causal role of these antigens in the disease process.

J Immunol, 1984 Sep, 133(3), 1553 - 7
A rabbit helper T cell clone reactive against group-specific streptococcal carbohydrate; Jackson S et al.; Cloned rabbit T cell lines specific for the group-specific carbohydrate of group C streptococcus were established to study T cell responses to this antigen . T cell lines and clones of these lines were prepared from peripheral blood lymphoid cells of animals previously hyperimmunized with group C streptococcal vaccine . All cell lines studied were antigen specific in that they proliferated in the presence of group C but not group A vaccine . Three clones from one rabbit showed strong proliferation in the presence of soluble group C carbohydrate, in addition to the particulate vaccine . One of these clones, 5317.1, upon additional characterization, was shown to possess helper activity in that it induced autologous B cells to produce anti-carbohydrate antibody . Interestingly, B cells could not be stimulated by this carbohydrate-responsive clone to produce anti-carbohydrate antibody in the presence of soluble carbohydrate; the intact vaccine was required to demonstrate the helper effect of the clone . Phenotypic characterization of this clone with a panel of monoclonal antibodies indicated that it was of the T1 subpopulation of peripheral T cells . No suppressor activity was observed for any of the lines studied . Although the use of outbred animals in T cell cloning experiments has certain disadvantages, the present results indicate that cloned rabbit T cells may be useful tools for the elucidation of phenotypic and functional differences of rabbit T cell subsets.

Plasmid, 1984 Sep, 12(2), 119 - 38
A physical and functional analysis of Tn917, a Streptococcus transposon in the Tn3 family that functions in Bacillus; Perkins JB et al.; The erythromycin-resistance (Emr)-conferring transposon Tn917, first isolated in the genus Streptococcus, has in previous work been shown to function efficiently in the spore-forming species Bacillus subtilis, where it has been developed as a tool for identifying and studying sporulation genes . In the present work, a physical analysis of Tn917 was undertaken, including detailed restriction mapping, chemical DNA sequencing, heteroduplex studies, and Southern hybridization analysis, as a first step in understanding the genetic organization of this useful insertion element . The location and transcriptional orientation of the transposon-borne erm gene (the gene responsible for the Emr phenotype) have been determined, and a partial sequence of DNA 5' to the coding sequence of this gene indicates that its inducibility is probably the result of "translational attenuation," a mechanism known to be responsible for the regulation of at least two other gram-positive erm genes . Restriction mapping and heteroduplex analysis have revealed extensive homology between Tn917 and the Staphylococcus transposon Tn551, throughout virtually their entire lengths, and DNA sequencing studies have revealed a remarkably high degree of sequence correspondence within the terminal inverted repeats of Tn917, Tn551 and the gram-negative transposon Tn3 . Tn917 was also shown to generate a 5-bp duplication upon insertion, as do Tn3 and Tn551 (and all of the other Tn3-related elements studied thus far), strengthening the conclusion that these three transposons are members of a highly dispersed family of related insertion elements which populate both gram-positive and gram-negative genera.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Sep, 159(3), 870 - 6
Isolation of transformation-deficient Streptococcus pneumoniae mutants defective in control of competence, using insertion-duplication mutagenesis with the erythromycin resistance determinant of pAM beta 1; Morrison DA et al.; Several transformation-deficient mutants of Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated after insertion-duplication mutagenesis . Mutagenesis was accomplished by transformation of competent cells with chimeric DNA formed by the ligation of TaqI fragments of pneumococcal DNA to the erythromycin resistance determinant of the streptococcal plasmid pAM beta 1 . The two mutants described were characterized as defective in the control of competence induction, possibly due to a block in the production of the intercellular competence-inducing protein.

Cancer, 1984 Aug 15, 54(4), 773 - 6
Kaposi's sarcoma in two lymphoma patients with hepatitis B and other infections; Berrebi A et al.; Kaposi's sarcoma developed in two lymphoma patients previously treated by chemotherapy and chemoirradiation . The histologic picture in the two cases showed a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with multifocal epithelioid histiocytic reaction . Both patients had Hepatitis-B surface antigen and other infections due to herpes and streptococcus . The European Jewish origin of the two patients, the previous chemotherapy, and their infective state tend to support more the hypothesis of predisposing factors in the occurrence of Kaposi's sarcoma than a coincidental association.

S Afr Med J, 1984 Aug 4, 66(5), 192 - 3
The value of autopsy bacteriology . A case report and review of techniques; Moar JJ et al.; A case of fatal post-traumatic purulent meningitis is described . While no antemortem aetiological diagnosis was available, bacteriology yielded a pure and profuse culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae . The problem of postmortem microbial contamination is discussed and recommendations for appropriate autopsy techniques are presented.

J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1984 Aug, 74(2), 185 - 9
Asthma and bacterial sinusitis in children; Friedman R et al.; Signs, symptoms, and radiographic abnormalities of sinusitis are frequent in children with asthma; it is not known whether sinus inflammation is associated with bacterial infection or other mechanisms . Eight asthmatic patients with exacerbation of asthma despite bronchodilator therapy were studied after maxillary sinusitis was confirmed by radiographs . All had cough, wheezing, nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea and were afebrile . Four patients had headaches, and two had facial pain . Maxillary sinus aspirates were obtained, and bacterial cultures were positive in five: Branhamella catarrhalis (2), nontypeable Hemophilus influenzae (2), Streptococcus pneumoniae (1) . Nose and throat cultures did not correlate with sinus cultures . All patients received bronchodilators, and four of eight patients received steroids . All were treated for 14 to 28 days with antibiotics during which seven of the eight patients improved clinically including all with positive sinus cultures . Asthma-symptoms diary scores were kept by five; all demonstrated improvement . Pulmonary-function tests improved in five of seven patients after the antibiotic and asthma therapy including the four patients with positive cultures . Sinus radiographs cleared in three, improved in three, and were unchanged in two patients after antibiotic therapy.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Aug, 159(2), 745 - 9
Oxygen toxicity in Streptococcus mutans: manganese, iron, and superoxide dismutase; Martin ME et al.; When cultured anaerobically in a chemically defined medium that was treated with Chelex-100 to lower its trace metal content, Streptococcus mutans OMZ176 had no apparent requirement for manganese or iron . Manganese or iron was necessary for aerobic cultivation in deep static cultures . During continuous aerobic cultivation in a stirred chemostat, iron did not support the growth rate achieved with manganese . Since the dissolved oxygen level in the chemostat cultures was higher than the final level in the static cultures, manganese may be required for growth at elevated oxygen levels . In medium supplemented with manganese, cells grown anaerobically contained a low level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity; aerobic cultivation increased SOD activity at least threefold . In iron-supplemented medium, cells grown anaerobically also had low SOD activity; aerobic incubation resulted in little increase in SOD activity . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the cell extracts revealed a major band and a minor band of SOD activity in the cells grown with manganese; however, cells grown with iron contained a single band of SOD activity with an Rf value similar to that of the major band found in cells grown with manganese . None of the SOD activity bands were abolished by the inclusion of 2 mM hydrogen peroxide in the SOD activity strain . S . mutans may not produce a separate iron-containing SOD but may insert either iron or manganese into an apo-SOD protein . Alternatively, iron may function in another activity (not SOD) that augments the defense against oxygen toxicity at low SOD levels.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Aug, 159(2), 520 - 6
Hydrolysis of soluble, linear, un-cross-linked peptidoglycans by endogenous bacterial N-acetylmuramoylhydrolases; Barrett JF et al.; Soluble, linear, uncross-linked peptidoglycans, prepared from two autolysis-defective mutants of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 and from Micrococcus leuteus, were used as substrates for studies of hydrolysis by an N-acetylmuramoylhydrolase (muramidase) . The kinetics of hydrolysis of these substrates and the ability of the muramidases isolated from S . faecium ATCC 9790 and from two autolysis-defective mutants, Lyt-14 and Aut-3, to carry out transglycosylation reactions were compared with the action of hen egg white lysozyme (EC 3.2.1.17) . Hydrolysis of these substrates by the endogenous streptococcal muramidases resulted in the production of disaccharide-peptide monomers with the structure (formula; see text) as nearly the sole product . As estimated from increases in reducing groups, hydrolysis proceeded at a linear rate for extended intervals, with consumption of up to 75% of the substrate, even at substrate concentrations well below the Km value . Apparent Km and relative Vmax values for the three streptococcal enzymes were indistinguishable from each other or from those for hen egg white lysozyme . These results indicate that the autolysis-defective phenotype of these mutants cannot be attributed to differences in their muramidases . In contrast to the action of hen egg white lysozyme, the streptococcal muramidase failed to catalyze transglycosylations . The extended periods of hydrolysis at constant rates are consistent with the occurrence of multiple catalytic events after the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Aug, 159(2), 511 - 9
Isolation and characterization of soluble peptidoglycan from several strains of Streptococcus faecium; Barrett JF et al.; Two phenotypically autolysis-deficient strains of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 were shown to produce high-molecular-weight, soluble, linear, uncross-linked peptidoglycan when incubated with benzylpenicillin in a wall medium which permits cell wall synthesis (wall thickening) but not balanced growth . This high-molecular-weight s-peptidoglycan was shown to have a molecular weight of 46,000 to 54,000, lack peptide cross-links, and be virtually devoid of accessory wall polymers . It was hydrolyzed by hen egg white lysozyme and the endogenous, autolytic N-acetylmuramidase of S . faecium, but was not attacked by proteinases . Chemical analyses of the polymer are consistent with the following structure, where n is the number of repeating disaccharide units: (formula; see text).

Infect Immun, 1984 Aug, 45(2), 356 - 9
Effect of fluoride on growth and acid production by Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque; van der Hoeven JS et al.; The aim of this study was to measure the effect of fluoride on the production of organic acids by Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque . The effect was studied in a simplified model of dental plaque with gnotobiotic rats monoinfected with S . mutans Ny341 . Adaptation of S . mutans to fluoride was induced by feeding one group of the rats on fluoride-containing diet and drinking water . No difference was found in the accumulation of S . mutans on the teeth between the fluoride-adapted and the control groups . However, there was a significant difference in the amount of lactic acid in metabolically resting plaque between the groups, lactic acid being lower in the fluoride-adapted plaque . At 5 min after a rinse containing 10% sucrose, a high level of lactic acid was found in plaque from animals not exposed to fluoride . Rinses containing 4 or 20 mM fluoride before the sucrose rinse significantly inhibited the lactic acid production in the control group . In the plaque from rats on fluoridated diet and drinking water the sucrose-induced production of lactic acid was not inhibited by a 4 mM fluoride rinse . Moreover, the production of lactic acid in the fluoride-adapted plaque was prolonged . The results indicate that due to fluoride adaptation the inhibition of acid production is unlikely to be important for the caries-preventive action of fluoride.

Cancer Res, 1984 Aug, 44(8), 3299 - 302
Effect of TEPC-183 plasmacytoma on resistance of passively or actively immunized BALB/c mice to infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae; Havas HF et al.; This study focuses on the effect of TEPC-183 (tetramethylpentadecane)-induced plasmacytoma on resistance of mice to infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae type III . Vaccination of normal or of TEPC-183-bearing mice with either a polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine (Pnu-Imune) or purified polysaccharide type III protects both against challenge with live S . pneumoniae . However, a 38-fold increase in susceptibility of the tumor-bearing mice over that of controls was observed . Immunized splenectomized mice were ten times more susceptible to infection than were immunized normal mice . However, this increased susceptibility of splenectomized mice could be overcome by passively administered antibody . In passive protection experiments, antisera obtained from normal and TEPC-183-bearing or from cyclophosphamide-treated mice were almost equally protective . A 6-fold increase of antibody (133 ng of antibody), however, was required to protect TEPC-183-bearing mice against challenge with 500 organisms, as compared with the 22 ng of antibody required to protect normal mice, indicative of defective host defense mechanisms in addition to the lower production of antibody in the TEPC-183-bearing mice . In contrast, mice bearing an equal tumor load of Sarcoma 37 behaved similarly to normal mice, showing that the increased susceptibility to infection was due to TEPC-183, a particularly immunosuppressive tumor.

J Periodontol, 1984 Aug, 55(8), 453 - 60
Immunologic profile of juvenile periodontitis . I . Lymphocyte blastogenesis and the autologous mixed lymphocyte response; Suzuki JB et al.; Studies of blastogenesis of lymphocytes in culture from juvenile periodontitis (JP) patients have been inconclusive . Experiments demonstrating differences in lymphocyte blastogenesis to preparations of putative periodontopathogens in JP and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were performed . Variables in the blastogenesis assay system recently reported were controlled which included using a range of cell and activator concentrations, incubation times of 3, 5 and 7 days, conical-bottomed microtest wells and chemical inhibitors during labeling of DNA which permits accurate assessment of lymphocyte blastogenesis . Using these modified culture conditions, stimulated lymphocytes of localized (LJP) and generalized (GJP) forms of JP patients did not differ significantly from stimulated lymphocytes of healthy subjects in counts incorporated, stimulation index, incubation time, cell concentration or activator dose required for maximal blastogenesis to bacterial preparations of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Y-4), Bacteroides gingivalis, Capnocytophaga ochraceus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus sanguis and Treponema denticola . Unstimulated lymphocyte cultures reflecting the autologous mixed lymphocyte response (AMLR) were increased for LJP compared to healthy subjects although not statistically significant . Unstimulated lymphocyte cultures of GJP were decreased compared to healthy subjects and LJP (P less than 0.05) . These observations indicate that GJP patients may have abnormalities in T- and B-lymphocyte regulatory mechanisms.

J Hyg (Lond), 1984 Aug, 93(1), 9 - 16
Antibiotic-resistant pneumococci in hospitalized children; Robins-Browne RM et al.; A search for nasopharyngeal carriers of Streptococcus pneumoniae was conducted in 573 children hospitalized in Durban, South Africa . Study subjects were divided into two groups, comprising 305 new admissions and 268 patients who had been hospitalized for more than 24 h . Of the 573 children 178 (31%) yielded pneumococci on nasopharyngeal culture; 99 (32%) and 79 (29%) children in the new admission and in-patient categories respectively . Twenty-one (12%) pneumococci were resistant to penicillin, including 11 strains that were resistant to more than one antibiotic . Resistant pneumococci belonged exclusively to serotypes 6 and 19 (Danish nomenclature), which were also the commonest serotypes among penicillin-sensitive strains . Factors that correlated with carriage of penicillin-resistant pneumococci were hospitalization for more than 24 h, young age and recent exposure to beta-lactam antibiotics.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Aug, 159(2), 805 - 7
Detergent-resistant Streptococcus faecium derivatives that display conditional penicillin lysis; Pucci MJ et al.; Three spontaneous derivatives of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790, originally isolated as conditionally Triton X-100 detergent-resistant at 25 degrees C, displayed normal penicillin-induced rates of lysis at 37 degrees C but substantially reduced rates of lysis and killing at 25 degrees C . The addition of exogenous unsaturated fatty acids at 25 degrees C restored wild-type penicillin lysis rates.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1984 Aug, 92(4), 237 - 8
The bacteriology of endocarditis in slaughter pigs; Pedersen KB et al.; Streptococcus suis was isolated from 11 (10 per cent) out of 107 cases of endocarditis in slaughter pigs from which bacteria of any kind were isolated . Seven of the isolates belonged to the capsular serotypes 1, 2 and 1/2 . Four were non-typable owing to lack of capsule . The organism isolated most often was Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, which was found in 68 (64 per cent) cases.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1984 Aug, 92(4), 213 - 6
Administration route and splenectomy effects on resistance to pneumococci in rats; Offenbartl K et al.; Normal and splenectomized rats were challenged with Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1 via different administration routes . In experiment I, previously splenectomized or sham-operated rats received 4 X 10(3) colony-forming units (CFU) of pneumococci via (i) a peripheral vein, (ii) subcutaneously, or (iii) intraperitoneally . The results indicated an increased susceptibility of the splenectomized animal to pneumococci administered via all three routes . However, subcutaneously administered pneumococci gave a lower mortality than pneumococci given intravenously or intraperitoneally . In experiment II 40 splenectomized rats received 4 X 10(3) CFU of pneumococci via (i) peripheral, (ii) portal, or (iii) caval veins or the aorta . No differences in mortality were found . In experiment III, non-operated animals received 4 X 10(5) CFU of pneumococci either intravenously or intraperitoneally, resulting in mortality rates of 0/20 and 17/20, respectively . After 2 weeks the rats surviving intravenous challenge received 4 X 10(5) CFU of pneumococci intraperitoneally; all survived . The data indicate the the spleen and the subcutis have a greater capacity to protect against pneumococci in the absence of specific antibody than the peritoneum or the circulation outside the spleen.

Vet Res Commun, 1984 Aug, 8(3), 217 - 27
Studies of Streptococcus suis type 2 infection in pigs; Clifton-Hadley FA; Investigations into the immunology, pathogenesis and epidemiology of Streptococcus suis type 2 infections were carried out in experimental pigs and in naturally-occurring field outbreaks of disease . The capsular polysaccharide from Str . suis type 2 was shown to induce opsonic antibodies in pigs when injected with Freund's incomplete adjuvant, but difficulties encountered in experimental production of the disease prevented a study of their protective effects . Problems with the bactericidal tests led to an investigation of other assays for antibodies against Str . suis type 2, namely, a phagocytic test with pig neutrophils, a mixed reverse passive antiglobulin haemagglutination test and an indirect haemagglutination test . There was evidence that with modifications both the latter tests would be useful . Transmission studies in 39 conventionally-reared and 7 hysterectomy-derived, colostrum-deprived pigs yielded interesting results with regard to the distribution of the organism in relation to the disease process . Tonsil carriage in clinically-healthy pigs was demonstrated after experimental and natural infection . Detectable carrier rates varied between 0 and 59% . The organism was shown to persist in the presence of circulating opsonic antibodies and in pigs on penicillin-medicated feed . Attempts to isolate the organism from the genital tract were unsuccessful . Medicated early weaning and classical SPF techniques applied to infected herds appeared to be effective in producing pigs free from Str . suis type 2 infection.

Carbohydr Res, 1984 Aug 1, 131(1), 119 - 29
Structural determination of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18C (56); Lugowski C et al.; The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 18C (56) contains D-glucose, D-galactose, L-rhamnose, and glycerol residues, and phosphate and O-acetyl groups in the molar ratios of 3:1:1:1:1:1 . Accumulated data from methylation analyses of the native and the specifically degraded, native polysaccharide indicated that it is composed of the repeating unit shown; it also contains O-acetyl groups, of undetermined location, in the molar ratio to L-rhamnose of 1:1 . (formula; see text).

J Am Optom Assoc, 1984 Aug, 55(8), 587 - 90
Ocular pathogenicity of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Terry JE; Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive organism that commonly is the etiologic agent for external ocular infections . The conjunctival response may be relatively mild or quite intense with abundant discharge . Pharmaceutical management with various topical antibiotics is extremely effective in resolving the infection.

Arch Intern Med, 1984 Aug, 144(8), 1603 - 7
Bacterial meningitis in the elderly; Gorse GJ et al.; To assess the implications of meningitis in a more mature population, we reviewed the records of patients with meningitis: 71 aged 50 years and older and 138 patients aged 15 to 49 years . Among the older population, 54 (76%) had bacterial, nine (13%) had granulomatous, and eight (11%) had aseptic meningitis . Among the cases of bacterial meningitis in the older age group, Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for 24% (13/54) and enteric bacilli accounted for 17% (9/54) . Serious complications occurred in 38 elderly patients (70%) with bacterial meningitis, and mortality occurred in 24 (44%) . In the younger age group with bacterial meningitis, the complication rate and mortality were 41% (13/32) and 13% (4/32), respectively . Meningitis in the elderly is likely to be bacterial and to cause greater morbidity and mortality.

Biosci Rep, 1984 Aug, 4(8), 659 - 64
Inhibition of peptidoglycan synthesis of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 and Streptococcus mutans BHT by the antibacterial agent dodecyl glycerol; Ved HS et al.; Dodecyl glycerol inhibits the synthesis of the peptidoglycans of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 and Streptococcus mutans BHT . This metabolic regulation represents the second known mode by which dodecyl glycerol expresses antibacterial activity . The first mode of action of dodecyl glycerol was shown to stimulate autolysin activity which degrades cell-wall peptidoglycan (Ved HS, Gustow E, Mahadevan V and Pieringer RA, 1984, J . Biol . Chem . 259, 8115-8121).

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 48(2), 342 - 6
Transformation of Streptococcus sanguis Challis with Streptococcus lactis plasmid DNA; Harlander SK et al.; Streptococcus lactis plasmid DNA, which is required for the fermentation of lactose (plasmid pLM2001), and a potential streptococcal cloning vector plasmid (pDB101) which confers resistance to erythromycin were evaluated by transformation into Streptococcus sanguis Challis . Plasmid pLM2001 transformed lactose-negative (Lac-) mutants of S . sanguis with high efficiency and was capable of conferring lactose-metabolizing ability to a mutant deficient in Enzyme IIlac, Factor IIIlac, and phospho-beta-galactosidase of the lactose phosphoenolpyruvate-phosphotransferase system . Plasmid pDB101 was capable of high-efficiency transformation of S . sanguis to antibiotic resistance, and the plasmid could be readily isolated from transformed strains . However, when 20 pLM2001 Lac+ transformants were analyzed by a variety of techniques for the presence of plasmids, none could be detected . In addition, attempts to cure the Lac+ transformants by treatment with acriflavin were unsuccessful . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to demonstrate that the transformants had acquired a phospho-beta-galactosidase characteristic of that normally produced by S . lactis and not S . sanguis . It is proposed that the genes required for lactose fermentation may have become stabilized in the transformants due to their integration into the host chromosome . The efficient transformation into and expression of pLM2001 and pDB101 genes in S . sanguis provides a model system which could allow the development of a system for cloning genes from dairy starter cultures into S . sanguis to examine factors affecting their expression and regulation.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 48(2), 332 - 7
Regulation of product formation during glucose or lactose limitation in nongrowing cells of Streptococcus lactis; Fordyce AM et al.; Nongrowing cells of Streptococcus lactis in a pH-stat were dosed with sugar to allow fermentation at the maximum rate or were fed a continuous supply of sugar at rates less than the maximum . Under anaerobic conditions, rapid fermentation of either glucose or lactose was essentially homolactic . However, with strain ML3, limiting the fermentation rate diverted approximately half of the pyruvate to formate, acetate, and ethanol . At limiting glucose fermentation rates, cells contained lower concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase activator (fructose 1,6-diphosphate) and pyruvate formate-lyase inhibitors (triose phosphates) . As a result, pyruvate formate-lyase and pyruvate dehydrogenase play a greater role in pyruvate metabolism . In contrast to strain ML3, strain ML8 did not give the same diversion of products under anaerobic conditions, and cells retained higher concentrations of the above effector compounds . Lactose metabolism under aerobic conditions resulted in pyruvate excretion by both S . lactis ML3 and ML8 . At 7% of the maximum utilization rate, pyruvate accounted for 69 and 35% of the lactose metabolized by ML3 and ML8, respectively . Acetate was also a major product, especially with ML8 . The data suggest that NADH oxidase is involved in coenzyme recycling in the presence of oxygen and that pyruvate formate-lyase is inactivated, but the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex still functions.

J Exp Med, 1984 Aug 1, 160(2), 386 - 97
Monoclonal antibodies against protease-sensitive pneumococcal antigens can protect mice from fatal infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae; McDaniel LS et al.; Monoclonal antibodies were raised against surface determinants of Streptococcus pneumoniae by hyperimmunizing X-linked immunodeficient (xid) CBA/N mice with the heat-killed rough strain R36A . 17 hybridomas produced antibody that bound intact R36A and did not cross-react with phosphocholine, an antigen common in the cell wall of all S . pneumoniae . The antibody produced by at least two of these hybridomas, Xi64 (IgM) and Xi126 (IgG2b), could protect mice from a lethal intravenous challenge of type 3 S . pneumoniae strains WU2 and A66 and of the type 2 strain D39 . The minimum amount of antibody required to protect xid mice from 100 WU2 was 4.5 micrograms/mouse for Xi64 and 2.6 micrograms/mouse for Xi126, . Free phosphocholine, C-polysaccharide, and type 3 capsular polysaccharide all failed to inhibit the binding of Xi64 or Xi126 to R36A . These antibodies appeared to bind surface polypeptides, since treatment of R36A with either pepsin or trypsin, or of R36A lysate with trypsin, effectively eliminated the ability of Xi64 and Xi126 to bind antigens in these preparations . Binding studies indicated that these two antibodies recognized different epitopes that were expressed on several but not all serotypes of pneumococci.

Am J Med, 1984 Aug, 77(2), 297 - 304
Glomerulonephritis in bacterial endocarditis; Neugarten J et al.; The introduction of antibiotic therapy and changing epidemiologic patterns have altered the nature of glomerulonephritis as it occurs during the course of bacterial endocarditis . Observations made predominantly in the pre-antibiotic era suggested that infections with less virulent organisms, by virtue of their indolent subacute course, favored an antibody response predisposing to immune complex glomerulonephritis . Although antibiotic prophylaxis and therapy have reduced the incidence of both Streptococcus viridans bacterial endocarditis and concomitant glomerulonephritis, Staphylococcus aureus has become a major cause of acute bacterial endocarditis with a high incidence of glomerulonephritis . Parenteral drug abuse itself, which has emerged as a major factor predisposing to endocarditis, may also favor the development of glomerulonephritis . The course of glomerulonephritis has been altered in association with these changes in etiology and epidemiology . This review summarizes the clinical and morphologic features of glomerulonephritis as it currently occurs during the course of bacterial endocarditis.

J Immunol, 1984 Aug, 133(2), 882 - 5
C-reactive protein inhibits pneumococcal activation of the alternative pathway by increasing the interaction between factor H and C3b; Mold C et al.; We previously studied two alternative pathway activators, Streptococcus pneumoniae and positively charged liposomes, which react with C-reactive protein (CRP) . Binding of CRP to these surfaces initiates classical pathway but blocks alternative pathway activation . In this study, we investigated the mechanism of this inhibition using S . pneumoniae, R36a . R36a were pretreated with CRP (CRP-R36a) or buffer and incubated with C2-deficient human serum to which 125I-labeled C3 had been added . The amount of specific 125I-C3 binding was decreased from 8200 mol/CFU on R36a to 2200 mol/CFU on CRP-R36a . In contrast, when the same experiment was performed with purified factors B, D, P, and C3, in the absence of regulatory proteins, specific 125I-C3 uptake was slightly lower on R36a (6100 mol/CFU) than on CRP-R36a (8100 mol/CFU) . The ability of the fixed C3b to inactivate factor B in the presence of factor D was equivalent on the two surfaces . The binding of the regulatory factor H to C3b fixed to R36a and CRP-R36a was compared by using purified 125I-labeled factor H . The ratio of factor H bound to C3 bound was twofold greater on CRP-R36a than on R36a . This increase was found by using C2-deficient serum or purified factors B, D, P, and C3 to fix C3b to the surfaces . The ability of CRP to inhibit C3 binding to R36a was restored by the addition of factors H and I to factors B, D, P, and C3 . These results indicate that CRP inhibits alternative pathway activation by increasing regulation of bound C3.

J Dent Res, 1984 Aug, 63(8), 1040 - 2
Automated immunofluorescent speciation of oral bacteria using flow cytometry; Barnett JM et al.; Mixtures containing two bacterial species were analyzed using flow cytometric techniques . Light scattering characteristics of Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces viscosus show unique profiles for pure cultures . However, the light scatter analysis of a mixture containing these two species demonstrates overlapping near the origin . Thus, light scatter analysis was not sufficient to speciate bacteria with different morphologies . Labeling of samples with species-specific immunofluorescent antibodies permitted speciation of mixtures . As the percentage of the bacterium to which the antibody is directed increased in a two-component mixture, fluorescent flow cytometric analysis showed a corresponding increase in the percentage of cells displaying fluorescent labeling . These methods could permit the rapid identification of bacteria from oral sites without culturing.

Infect Immun, 1984 Aug, 45(2), 464 - 9
Serological characterization of Streptococcus mutans serotype polysaccharide g and its different molecular weight forms; Takada K et al.; The serotype polysaccharide g from Streptococcus mutans 6715 was found to cross-react with serotype polysaccharide a from S . mutans HS6 and serotype polysaccharide d from S . mutans B13 . Double immunodiffusion experiments indicated that the serotype polysaccharide g consisted of the following: (i) the type-specific g site; (ii) a cross-reactive site g-a that was in common with polysaccharide a; (iii) a cross-reactive site g-d that was in common with polysaccharide d; and (iv) a cross-reactive site g-(a-d) that was in common with both polysaccharides a and d . Moreover, by a procedure involving several column chromatography steps, six polysaccharide-containing fractions showing reactivity with anti-g serum were found . By gel filtration, the molecular weight estimates of fractions LI, LII, LIII, SI, SII, and SIII were 2 X 10(6), 5 X 10(5), 6 X 10(4), 3 X 10(4), 1.4 X 10(4), and 1 X 10(4), respectively . Double immunodiffusion analysis indicated that LI, LII, and LIII contained the four antigenic sites of the putative polysaccharide g . LII also contained another additional immunodominant region, designated site x . The analysis also suggested that fraction SI lacked the type-specific site g, fraction SII lacked sites g and g-a, and fraction SIII lacked sites g, g-a, and g-d.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 Aug, 257(3), 357 - 63
Streptococcus faecium M 74 in control of diarrhoea induced by a human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain in an infant rabbit model; Wadstrom T; Streptococcus faecium strain M 74 was evaluated as a prophylacticum for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) diarrhoea with human isolates of E . coli with CFA/I and CFA/II surface fimbrial haemagglutinins (adhesins) in a rabbit model . Young rabbits (3 to 4 days old) were given S . faecium organisms (5 X 10(9)) 15 min before (group A), 6 h before (group B) and 12 h after (group C) challenge with ETEC organisms . Only 4 out of 26 rabbits in group A, 6 out of 21 in group B and 7 out of 23 in group C developed diarrhoea . In conclusion, this S . faecium strain M 74 seems efficiently to protect animals from ETEC diarrhoea when given as a prophylactic agent at a high dose . This animal model seems useful for comparative studies on new preventive methods for ETEC diarrhoea such as testing probiotics and antiadhesive drugs.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Aug, 159(2), 793 - 6
Biochemical characterization of a murein hydrolase induced by bacteriophage Dp-1 in Streptococcus pneumoniae: comparative study between bacteriophage-associated lysin and the host amidase; Garcia P et al.; A phage-associated lysin recently isolated and purified from Streptococcus pneumoniae infected with bacteriophage Dp-1 has been biochemically characterized as an endo-N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanine amidase . The purified peptides obtained after treatment of the cell wall with phage-associated lysin are composed of glutamic acid, alanine, lysine, glycine, serine, and aspartic acid in the molar ratios of 1.0:1.6:1.0:1.0:0.8:0.6 . The N-terminal amino acid of this peptide has been characterized as alanine . This amidase and the inactive form of the amidase (E form) previously purified (J.V . Holtje and A . Tomasz, J . Biol . Chem . 251:4199-4207, 1976) from S . pneumoniae differ in their molecular weights, as well as in their capacity to be stimulated by reducing agents, and do not cross-react immunologically, although anti-phage-associated lysin serum was able to recognize and inhibit both phage-associated lysin and the active form (C form) of the host amidase.

Can J Biochem Cell Biol, 1984 Aug, 62(8), 666 - 77
The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 33F; Richards JC et al.; The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 33F (American type 70) is composed of D-galactose (5 parts), D-glucose (1 part), and O-acetyl (ca . 0.4 parts) . Periodate oxidation, partial hydrolysis, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies showed that the polysaccharide is a high molecular weight polymer of a repeating hexasaccharide unit having the structure: (Formula: see text)

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 48(2), 347 - 51
Molecular cloning of the lactose-metabolizing genes from Streptococcus lactis; Harlander SK et al.; Restriction endonucleases and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to analyze plasmid pLM2001, which is required for lactose metabolism by Streptococcus lactis LM0232 . The enzymes XhoI, SstI, BamHI, and KpnI each cleaved the plasmid into two fragments, whereas EcoRI and BglII cleaved the plasmid into seven and five fragments, respectively . Sizing of fragments and multiple digestions allowed construction of a composite restriction map . The KpnI fragments of pLM2001 were cloned into the KpnI cleavage site of the vector plasmid pDB101 . A recombinant plasmid (pSH3) obtained from a lactose-fermenting, erythromycin-resistant (Lac+ Eryr) transformant of Streptococcus sanguis Challis was analyzed by enzyme digestion and agarose gel electrophoresis . Plasmid pSH3 contained 7 of the 11 KpnI-HindIII fragments from pLM2001 and 5 of the 7 fragments from pDB101 . It was determined that a 23-kilobase (kb) KpnI-generated fragment from pLM2001 had been cloned into pDB101 with deletion of part of the vector plasmid . The recombinant plasmid could be transformed with high frequency into several Lac- strains of S . sanguis, conferring the ability to ferment lactose and erythromycin resistance . The presence of pSH3 allowed a strain deficient in Enzyme IIlac, Factor IIIlac, and phospho-beta-galactosidase of the lactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system to efficiently ferment lactose . Under conditions designed to maximize curing of plasmid DNA with acriflavin, no Lac- derivatives could be isolated from cells transformed with pSH3 . Seven of the 40 Lac+ colonies isolated after 10 transfers in acriflavin were shown to be sensitive to erythromycin and did not appear to harbor plasmid DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 Aug, 48(2), 252 - 9
Plasmid transformation of Streptococcus lactis protoplasts: optimization and use in molecular cloning; Kondo JK et al.; The parameters affecting polyethylene glycol-induced plasmid transformation of Streptococcus lactis LM0230 protoplasts were examined to increase the transformation frequency . In contrast to spreading protoplasts over the surface of an agar medium, their incorporation into soft agar overlays enhanced regeneration of protoplasts and eliminated variability in transformation frequencies . Polyethylene glycol with a molecular weight of 3,350 at a final concentration of 22.5% yielded optimal transformation . A 20-min polyethylene glycol treatment of protoplasts in the presence of DNA was necessary for maximal transformation . The number of transformants recovered increased as the protoplast and DNA concentration increased over a range of 3.0 X 10(6) to 3.0 X 10(8) protoplasts and 0.25 to 4.0 micrograms of DNA per assay, respectively . With these parameters, transformation was increased to 5 X 10(3) to 4 X 10(4) transformants per microgram of DNA . Linear and recombinant plasmid DNA transformed, but at frequencies 10- to 100-fold lower than that of covalently closed circular DNA . Transformation of recombinant DNA molecules enabled the cloning of restriction endonuclease fragments coding for lactose metabolism into S . lactis LM0230 with the Streptococcus sanguis cloning vector, pGB301 . These results demonstrated that the transformation frequency is sufficient to clone plasmid-coded genes which should prove useful for strain improvement of dairy starter cultures.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Jul 30, 800(2), 127 - 34
Purification and characterization of an intracellular N-terminal exopeptidase from Streptococcus durans; Machuga EJ; An intracellular N-terminal exopeptidase isolated from cell extracts of Streptococcus durans has been purified 470-fold to homogeneity (specific activity of 12.0 mumol/min per mg) . In the absence of thiol compounds, the purified aminopeptidase undergoes a slow oxidation with a 70% loss of activity, which can be restored by the addition of 2 mM beta-mercaptoethanol . The purified aminopeptidase (Mr 300000) preferred L-peptide and arylamide substrates with small nonpolar or basic side chains . SDS electrophoresis yielded a single protein band corresponding to a molecular weight of 49400, suggesting that the native enzyme is a hexameric protein . The enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of L-alanyl-p-nitroanilide exhibited a bell-shaped pH dependence for log Vmax/Km (pK1 = 6.35; pK2 = 8.50) while the log Vmax versus pH profile showed only an acid limb (pK = 6.35) . Methylene blue-sensitized photooxidation of the enzyme resulted in the complete loss of activity, while L-leucine, a competitive inhibitor, partially protected against this inactivation . Amino acid analysis indicated that this photooxidative loss of activity corresponded to the modification of one histidine residue per enzyme monomer . N-Ethylmaleimide (100 mM) caused a 78% reduction in enzyme activity . Treatment of the enzyme with 1.0 mM hydrogen peroxide resulted in the oxidation of two cysteine residues per enzyme monomer and caused a 70% decrease in the catalytic activity.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Jul 10, 259(13), 8122 - 4
The involvement of the proteinase of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 in the stimulation of its autolysin activity by dodecylglycerol; Ved HS et al.; Treatment of Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 with 3.5 micrograms/ml of dodecylglycerol produces a nonwall entity found in the 25,000 X g supernatant cell fraction which activates the autolysin activity of S . faecium . The stimulation of the autolysin activity by dodecylglycerol mimics the activation of the autolysin from a latent to an active form by trypsin and other proteolytic enzymes . This stimulation of autolytic activity by dodecylglycerol can be reversed by specific proteinase inhibitors . Dodecylglycerol also markedly stimulates the proteinase activity endogenous to S . faecium, and this stimulation can be reversed by several proteinase inhibitors . It is concluded that one primary antibacterial mode of action of dodecylglycerol is to stimulate the proteinase of S . faecium which activates the cell's autolysin and thereby prevents bacterial growth.

J Biol Chem, 1984 Jul 10, 259(13), 8115 - 21
Dodecylglycerol . A new type of antibacterial agent which stimulates autolysin activity in Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790; Ved HS et al.; Dodecylglycerol has a minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 micrograms/ml compared to 9 micrograms/ml for monolaurin (dodecanoylglycerol) with Streptococcus faecium ATCC 9790 as the test organism . The greater potency of dodecylglycerol can be correlated to its greater retention by the cell . Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria to dodecylglycerol . The antibacterial action of dodecylglycerol is not through the physical dissolution of cell walls, but rather as an enzymatic effector . The autolysin activity of whole cells of S . faecium was greatly stimulated by dodecylglycerol . The stimulation of autolytic activity and inhibition of growth respond in parallel to different concentrations of dodecylglycerol, to dodecylglycerol versus some poorer effector such as monolaurin or a glycerol alkyl ether with a longer or shorter fatty alkyl side chain than dodecanol, and to the antagonistic effects of diphosphatidlyglycerol . This close relationship implies that the stimulation of autolysin activity could be a primary, but not necessarily the only, mechanism by which dodecylglycerol and related compounds exert their antibacterial activity . However, the autolysin activity is not stimulated by a direct interaction between the enzyme and dodecylglycerol . A non-wall entity, such as a proteinase, has been implicated as an intermediary (Ved, H . S., Gustow, E., and Pieringer, R . A . (1984) J . Biol . Chem . 259, 8122-8124).

Int J Cardiol, 1984 Jul, 6(1), 17 - 34
Clinical and echocardiographic correlations in right heart endocarditis; Panidis IP et al.; The echocardiographic findings were correlated with the clinical findings and outcome in 23 patients with tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve endocarditis . There were 15 males and 8 females with a mean age of 33.1 +/- 8.4 years . Eighteen patients had tricuspid valve endocarditis, 1 patient had pulmonary valve endocarditis, 3 patients had concomitant mitral valve and tricuspid valve endocarditis, and 1 patient had tricuspid valve and pulmonary valve endocarditis . Twenty of the 23 (87%) patients had a history of intravenous drug abuse . The most common organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (10 of 23 patients or 43%), Streptococcus viridans (5 patients) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4 patients) . Pulmonary manifestations with septic pulmonary emboli were present in 18/23 (80%) patients, and a regurgitant murmur in 16/23 (73%) patients . Vegetations on the tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve were detected in all patients who had 2D echo, but they were missed by M-mode echo in 2 patients . Nine of the 23 patients (40%) improved on medical therapy, 5 (21%) expired, and 7 (30%) required surgery (tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve replacement in 3, and tricuspid valve excision without replacement in 4) . Conclusions: (1) 11 of 13 patients with persistent infection, multivalvular involvement, fungal or Pseudomonas infection and increasing size of vegetations by echo died or underwent surgery compared to only 1 of 8 patients without these features (P less than 0.01) . (2) Staphylococcus aureus infection (10 patients) and flail tricuspid valve or pulmonary valve by echo (6 patients) were not predictive of outcome.

Can J Surg, 1984 Jul, 27(4), 383 - 6
Early valve replacement in active infective endocarditis; Pelletier LC et al.; Infective endocarditis is associated with a high mortality, but previous studies have suggested that the major complications of the condition might be prevented by early surgery . Of 50 patients treated for infective endocarditis at the Montreal Heart Institute from 1977 to 1982, 30 were treated nonsurgically and the remaining 20 underwent early valve replacement before preoperative antibiotic therapy was completed . Of these 20, 14 had native valve endocarditis and 6 prosthetic valve endocarditis . The organisms involved were Streptococcus sp in 11, Staphylococcus aureus in 2, gram-negative organisms in 3 and Candida parapsilosis in 1 . Blood cultures remained negative in three patients . There were three early deaths (15%) following operation and one late death (5%) . Infection on implanted prostheses did not recur, but reoperation was required in one patient because of prosthetic dehiscence 7 months after initial implantation . All resected valves displayed evidence of infection . Follow-up was obtained in all survivors . After an average follow-up of 26 months, 12 patients remained in functional class I and 4 in class II (New York Heart Association classification) . Early valve replacement has resulted in improved survival of patients with infective endocarditis and is now associated with a low operative mortality and morbidity.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jul, 45(1), 107 - 12
Identification and preliminary characterization of saliva-interacting surface antigens of Streptococcus mutans by immunoblotting, ligand blotting, and immunoprecipitation; Ogier JA et al.; The ability of surface protein antigens of Streptococcus mutans to interact with salivary components was examined by Western blot and immunoprecipitation methods . Immunoblotting of S . mutans OMZ175 wall-associated antigens revealed 10 major antigens, designated according to their estimated molecular weights . Four of them, with molecular weights of 135,000, 125,000, 120,000, and 115,000 in their denaturated form, bound salivary components . This property was further investigated by immunoprecipitation experiments: the reactivity with saliva was confirmed for antigens with molecular weights of 135,000, 125,000, and 120,000 in their native form, and their locations on the bacterial cell surface were established . These three antigens were characterized as glycoproteins; they directly bound concanavalin A, and pronase abolished their antigenicity, which was partly retained after treatment with NaIO4 . Because of their distribution in several other stains of S . mutans, it will be of interest to study their possible implication in the mechanism of attachment of streptococcal strains to saliva-coated tooth surfaces.

Arch Otolaryngol, 1984 Jul, 110(7), 429 - 36
Scanning electron microscopy of the cochlea in rats with Streptococcus pneumoniae otitis media; Hodges KB et al.; This investigation was performed to determine the morphologic effects of bacterial otitis media on the organ of Corti . The middle ear cavities of rats were inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae or saline and the animals were killed on days 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, and 21 after inoculation . Middle ear cultures were obtained and the cochleas were examined using scanning electron microscopy . All animals killed on day 1 had positive cultures, but by day 21, all cultures were negative . Cochlear changes observed were (1) damage to supporting cells (Deiters' cells), (2) morphologic changes of hair cell stereocilia, and (3) loss of inner and outer hair cell stereocilia and cell bodies (to a lesser extent), especially in the lower middle and basal turns . These changes appeared to occur in a definite sequence; ie, damage to the supporting cells, changes in stereocilia, and, finally, hair cell loss . These data show that cochlear damage and hair loss can be associated with bacterial otitis media.

J Infect Dis, 1984 Jul, 150(1), 139 - 44
Laboratory diagnosis of pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae; Perlino CA; The diagnostic reliability of the Quellung reaction of sputum and the gram stain-directed sputum culture (SC) for bacteriologic diagnosis of pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae was determined . Detection of pneumococcal polysaccharide in sputum by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) or isolation of pneumococci from blood or pleural fluid (BPF-positive) was considered indicative of definite pneumococcal infection . Specimens were obtained from 211 patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia . Of 119 CIE-positive specimens, the Quellung reaction was positive for 117 and the SC was positive for 96 . However, 35 CIE-negative specimens were positive by QR, SC, or both, a result suggesting that CIE is a less sensitive indicator of pneumococcal infection than originally assumed . CIE, QR, and SC were positive in similar numbers of BPF-positive cases . All BPF-positive and CIE-positive cases were detected by both QR and SC . Use of both the QR and directed SC offers a rapid, accurate bacteriologic diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1984 Jul-Dec, 77(7-12), 131 - 6
{Bactericidal activity of octophene}; Bellotti MG et al.; In this study the bactericidal activity of Clofoctol has been evaluated by "in vitro" technique against gram-positive against gram-positive microorganisms clinically isolated . The results show that MIC of Clofoctol is very close to its bactericidal activity, which could therefore be retained as its main activity . The MBC recovered was 1-8 mcg/ml against strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 2-8 mcg/ml against Streptococcus pyogenes, while the bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, evaluated at M.B.C., was recovered after 30'.

Am J Otol, 1984 Jul, 5(5), 382 - 6
Otitis media: the middle ear effusion total white cell count; Ostfeld E; The middle ear effusion (MEE) total white cell count (TWCC) was correlated with clinical and bacteriologic data in 184 MEEs from 125 patients diagnosed as having acute primary and recurrent otitis media and chronic otitis media with effusion . The MEE total white cell count was classified as high, low, or acellular . Polymorphonuclear leukocytes predominate in the MEE having a high TWCC . The overall incidence of culture-positive MEE was 62.5 percent . A cellular component was found in 81 percent of the MEEs, 63 percent having a neutrophilic-predominant high TWCC . In very young children (up to 2 years old) a neutrophilic-predominant high TWCC was found in 80 percent of MEEs as compared with 28 percent in patients over 5 years old . According to the MEE type, neutrophilic-predominant high TWCCs were found in 89 percent of the purulent effusions, 46 percent of the mucoid, and 35 percent of the serous effusions . The incidence of neutrophilic-predominant high TWCC was 78 percent in acute primary 76 percent in recurrent otitis media and 18 percent in chronic otitis media with effusion . The impact of age on the MEE cellularity was shown to be independent of the chronicity of the disease . The incidence of neutrophilic-predominant high TWCC in MEE in which Streptococcus Pneumoniae or Hemophilus influenzae was identified was 85 percent and 92 percent respectively . The diagnostic value of a high TWCC in predicting a culture-positive MEE was shown by a sensitivity of 83 percent, false positivity of 25 percent, and false negativity of 27.5 percent.

Infection, 1984 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 258 - 9
Spinal epidural abscess: an unusual complication of bacterial endocarditis; Elian D et al.; We are reporting a case of epidural abscess complicating bacterial endocarditis . To the best of our knowledge, this association has not been reported before . Streptococcus sanguis was isolated from the blood . A full recovery followed surgery and antibiotic therapy . The relevant characteristics of both diseases are reviewed . No explanation for this rare association is available as yet.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1984 Jul, 14(1), 75 - 9
Erythromycin compared with a combination of ampicillin plus flucloxacillin for the treatment of community acquired pneumonia in adults; Shanson DC et al.; Erythromycin was compared with a combination of ampicillin plus flucloxacillin for treating adults admitted to hospital with community acquired pneumonia . A satisfactory clinical response to a seven day course of antibiotics was observed in 29 of 36 patients (81%) in the erythromycin group and 35 of 39 patients (90%) treated with ampicillin plus flucloxacillin, as judged by a fall in temperature, improvement in the general condition, diminution of respiratory symptoms and radiographic improvement . Streptococcus pneumoniae was the causative organism most commonly detected and a satisfactory outcome of treatment of diagnosed pneumococcal pneumonia cases was observed in 16 of 18 patients (89%) treated with erythromycin compared with 20 of 22 patients (91%) treated with ampicillin plus flucloxacillin . These results indicate that erythromycin has similar clinical efficacy to ampicillin plus flucloxacillin, given as a seven day course, for the treatment of community acquired pneumonia in adults.

Vet Clin North Am Large Anim Pract, 1984 Jul, 6(2), 361 - 70
The importance of hygienic procedures in controlling mastitis; Bushnell RB; Properly designed and instituted sanitation will improve milk quality and reduce mastitis . The majority of mammary infections occur during milking . Since the populations of pathogenic organisms on the teat are directly correlated to the incidence of udder infections, hygienic practices in the milking parlor are of major importance to accomplish effective mastitis control . The organisms causing mastitis have two general sources . The contagious pathogens originating from infected udders are passed from cow to cow . The environmental agents are ubiquitous, gaining entrance to the mammary gland from external sources; they do not rely on intramammary infection for survival in the dairy environment . Cow hygiene in the milking parlor consists of three separate steps: premilking cleansing, sanitation of the milking unit between cows, and covering the teats with a germicide after milking . Each step has separate requirements in terms of product selection, concentration of germicide, time commitment, and mechanical assistance . Premilking sanitation is most effective against coliform-like infections as well as the other environmentals . Unit flushing and teat dipping are the greater deterrents to infection from the contagious pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and the Mycoplasma species . Extra care needs to be given to hygiene measures when infusing the mammary gland with antibiotics . Dipping the teats in an effective germicide both before and after infusion is highly effective in reducing mammary infections . Fresh cows and sick cows are both highly susceptible to infection . Only minimal sanitation of these animals while milking is generally practiced . Dipping prior to milking and leaving the germicide in contact with the teat while milking can be recommended as an additional procedure to reduce pathogens . All products used during milking should bear the label for product safety in food environments, and judicious use should not threaten product safety through potential residues.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Jul, 130 ( Pt 7), 1819 - 26
The effect of oxygen on the growth and mannitol fermentation of Streptococcus mutants; Higuchi M; The effects of oxygen on growth and mannitol fermentation of eight strains of Streptococcus mutans were compared under aerobic and strictly anaerobic conditions . The growth of three strains was severely inhibited by oxygen, whereas the others were oxygen-tolerant . The growth of two of the oxygen-tolerant strains was significantly enhanced by oxygen . The activities of superoxide dismutase and NADH oxidase in extracts from aerobically grown bacteria showed a positive correlation with the growth rate under aerobic conditions . The activities of these enzymes in oxygen-sensitive strains grown aerobically were as small as those in anaerobically grown cultures . Moreover, the enzyme activities increased during aeration of anaerobically grown oxygen-tolerant strains, but not in oxygen-sensitive strains . In all strains, oxygen changed mannitol catabolism from heterolactic to homolactic fermentation . It was concluded that oxygen-tolerance of S . mutans is dependent on the ability of strains to induce NADH oxidase and superoxide dismutase.

Pediatr Dermatol, 1984 Jul, 2(1), 55 - 63
Necrotizing fasciitis in infancy: report of three cases and review of the literature; Goldberg GN et al.; Necrotizing fasciitis exists on a continuum of soft tissue infections between cellulitis and myonecrosis . It has been uncommonly reported in infancy (1-10) . The diagnosis depends on recognition of the characteristic rapidly progressive clinical course and demonstration of full-thickness skin necrosis with involvement of the fascial planes overlying the muscle . The organisms most often recovered are beta-hemolytic Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus, but other aerobic and anaerobic organisms in single or mixed infection have been reported (1, 2, 11, 12) . This infection has a significant mortality rate, necessitating early, aggressive, specific medical and surgical treatment.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1984 Jul-Aug, 20(4), 473 - 9
{Quantitative determination of the protein and carbohydrate polymers in the cell wall of Streptococcus group A}; Savel'ev EP et al.; The content of protein and carbohydrate polymers was estimated in the cell wall of Streptococcus, group A, type 29 . A method was developed for analysing peptidoglycane in a polysaccharide-peptidoglycane complex after the prior oxidation by sodium periodate . It was found that the cell wall peptidoglycane bears two carbohydrate and three amino acid residues, i . e . N-acetylglucosamin, muramic acid, glutamic acid, alanine and lysine, in the ratio 1:1:1:4:1, respectively . The data on the cell wall composition prior to and after its oxidation with sodium periodate are given, and the ratio between the main structural components is determined: proteins (60% mol), polysaccharide (23% mol), peptidoglycane (17% mol).

Pediatr Res, 1984 Jul, 18(7), 634 - 7
Diminished bactericidal capacity for group B Streptococcus in neutrophils from "stressed" and healthy neonates; Stroobant J et al.; This study compared the bactericidal capacity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from neonates and adults for type Ic group B Streptococcus (GBS), and examined the effect of severe stress on the bactericidal capacity of PMNs from newborn infants . PMNs were obtained from three study groups: 26 adults, 13 healthy neonates (cord blood), and 29 stressed neonates . Stress was defined as an acute respiratory illness or bacterial infection requiring assisted ventilation . Bacterial killing was assessed using a fluorochrome microassay and PMNs adherent to glass coverslips . PMNs from stressed infants killed significantly fewer GBS than PMNs from adults (P less than 0.001 at both time points) . PMNs from healthy infants also demonstrated reduced killing compared with adults (P less than 0.01 at 60 min; P less than 0.001 at 90 min) . There was no significant difference in bacterial killing between stressed and healthy neonates and no correlation between bactericidal capacity and age at time of study, gestational age, birth weight, peripheral leukocyte count, or Apgar scores . Therefore, the bactericidal capacity for GBS by PMNs from neonates is diminished; however, it is not further compromised by stress.

Eur J Immunol, 1984 Jul, 14(7), 595 - 8
Phosphorylcholine on isologous red blood cells induces polyclonal but not anti-phosphorylcholine plaque-forming cells in mice; Beckmann E et al.; It has been demonstrated in the preceding report (Bach, M . A., Beckmann, E . and Levitt, D., Eur . J . Immunol . 1984 . 14: 589) that phosphorylcholine (PC) on the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae R36a stimulated polyclonal as well as anti-PC plaque-forming cells (PFC) in mouse spleen in vivo . In this study, red blood cells from BALB/c mice (MRBC) were either conjugated with PC, 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl (TNP) or treated with phospholipase A2 (PLA2) to expose PC on the cell membrane (determined by hemagglutination with the anti-PC myeloma HOPC8) . When BALB/c mice were immunized i.v . with the conjugated or enzyme-treated MRBC, a significant polyclonal antibody response occurred (p less than 0.05) using PC-MRBC or PLA2-treated MRBC, but not with TNP-MRBC or sham-treated MRBC . No anti-PC or anti-MRBC immunoglobulin-secreting cells developed after immunization . Repeated immunization with PC-MRBC resulted in similar levels of protein A PFC after each immunization but no anti-PC, anti-MRBC or anti-PC-MRBC PFC . Thus, PC on R36a or isologous RBC stimulated increased numbers of splenic plaque-forming cells . In the case of R36a, 10-25% of these PFC produced antibodies directed towards PC . In contrast, PC-MRBC or PLA2-treated MRBC, failed to evoke any anti-PC antibody responses.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Jul, 67(7), 1525 - 31
Compositions and characteristics of strains of Streptococcus bovis; Russell JB et al.; Streptococcus bovis strains JB1, 26, 581AXY2, 21096C, and 45S1 grew on glucose, maltose, starch, sucrose, cellobiose, and lactose . None of these strains grew on xylose or ribose, but arabinose was a suitable energy source for strains 2109C and K27FF4 . All strains grew at 45 degrees C, but incubation at 50 degrees C prevented growth . Growth was permitted in 2% sodium chloride, but 6.5% sodium chloride was inhibitory . Doubling times ranged from 24 to 27 min, and final pH on glucose was approximately 4.6 . None of the strains had a requirement for amino acids, and growth was rapid in media containing glucose salts and B vitamins . There was no ammonia production from arginine . All strains showed aminoendopeptidase activity, but there was considerable strain variation . Strain 7H4, reported as Streptococcus bovis, was noticeably different from the other six strains . It had a doubling time that was more than four times as long, and it grew poorly on starch or in the absence of an amino acid source . Six-and-a-half percent sodium chloride was not inhibitory, and it produced ammonia from arginine . Cell morphology was coccoid rather than ovoid . Based on these criteria, classification of strain 7H4 as Streptococcus bovis seemed doubtful . Other experiments with strain 7H4 indicated that Streptococcus bovis was devoid of diaminopimelic acid . In these experiments strain 7H4 contained significant diaminopimelic acid . The six Streptococcus bovis strains all contained diaminopimelic acid as well, but concentration varied.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jul, 45(1), 286 - 9
Function of anti-Streptococcus mutans antibodies: anti-ribosomal antibodies inhibit acid production, growth, and glucose phosphotransferase activity; Gregory RL et al.; Antibodies induced in sera and saliva of rats and rabbits immunized with ribosomal preparations from Streptococcus mutans 6715 inhibited transport of glucose by the phosphotransferase system by greater than 60%, acid production from sucrose by greater than 95%, and growth of the homologous S . mutans by greater than 59% . Inhibition of growth and acid production by immune sera and saliva were abrogated by prior adsorption with S . mutans 6715 whole cells, glucosyltransferase, lipoteichoic acid, or alpha 1-6 or alpha 1-3 dextran . These results indicate that antibodies induced to an S . mutans ribosomal preparation react with cell surface determinants and suggest that the antibodies inhibit sucrose-induced acid formation and growth of virulent S . mutans by neutralizing the glucose-phosphotransferase system.

Plasmid, 1984 Jul, 12(1), 1 - 9
Construction of a cloning site near one end of Tn917 into which foreign DNA may be inserted without affecting transposition in Bacillus subtilis or expression of the transposon-borne erm gene; Youngman P et al.; A 1.3-kb restriction fragment carrying a cat gene derived from Staphylococcus aureus was inserted by ligation in both possible orientations into a HpaI restriction site located less than 300 bp from one end of Tn917 . The resulting transposon derivatives were unimpaired in their ability to make and resolve transpositions into the chromosome of Bacillus subtilis and they displayed no detectable defect in expression of the inducible erm gene carried by the transposon . This demonstrates that the HpaI site itself, and perhaps the entire 250- to 300-bp region between the HpaI site and the nearest transposon terminal inverted repeat consists of nonessential DNA, and is there fore available to be modified or used as a cloning site with the expectation that the resulting transposon derivatives should be capable of normal transposition activity . To facilitate such manipulations, the HpaI site was "replaced" by a 24-bp DNA segment which contains a BamHI site flanked on either side by SmaI sites; these BamHI and SmaI sites are unique to the transposon . Several of the plasmid constructions undertaken in the course of this work illustrate ways in which homologous recombination may be used in conjunction with ligation in B . subtilis (and other bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, which have similar mechanisms for DNA uptake during competence) to facilitate significantly the recovery of certain kinds of recombinant molecules.

Gene, 1984 Jul-Aug, 29(1-2), 221 - 30
Plasmid vector for cloning in Streptococcus pneumoniae and strategies for enrichment for recombinant plasmids; Balganesh TS et al.; A new plasmid, pLS101, was constructed for use as a vector for cloning in Streptococcus pneumoniae . This plasmid carries two selectable genes, tet and malM, each of which contains two or more restriction sites for cloning . Insertional inactivation of the malM gene allowed direct selection of TcRMal- clones containing recombinant plasmids . Other means of enriching a recipient population for cells containing recombinant plasmids were examined . The effect of removing vector terminal phosphate in attempts to clone heterogeneous DNA fragments, such as those from chromosomal DNA, was to abolish recombinant plasmid establishment altogether, presumably because donor DNA processing during entry into the cell prevented establishment of the hemiligated molecule . However, with homogeneous DNA fragments, such as those from plasmid or viral DNA, vector phosphate removal allowed enrichment for recombinant plasmids . In the cloning of heterogeneous DNA that was homologous to the recipient chromosome (i.e . chromosomal DNA from S . pneumoniae), recovery of recombinant plasmids could be enriched tenfold (relative to the regenerated vector) by the process of chromosomal facilitation of plasmid establishment . This involved an additional passage of the mixed plasmids in which interaction with the chromosome of plasmids containing chromosomal DNA inserts (i.e . recombinant plasmids) increased their frequency of establishment relative to the vector plasmid . An overall strategy for cloning in S . pneumoniae, depending on the nature of the fragment to be cloned, is proposed.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Jul, 130 ( Pt 7), 1665 - 71
Characterization of high-level aminoglycoside resistance in a strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Collatz E et al.; The aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (APH)(3')(5'')-III has been characterized from Streptococcus pneumoniae BM4200, which is resistant to high levels of aminoglycosides . The phosphotransferase was apparently chromosomally-encoded and was responsible for the high-level resistance . The enzyme was not notably pH-dependent, was heterogeneous after isoelectric focusing, with pI values of approximately 4.8 and 5.1, and had an apparent molecular weight of 32 500 after SDS-PAGE.

Vet Rec, 1984 Jun 23, 114(25), 607 - 12
Assessment in the mouse of cefoperazone as a treatment for mastitis; Anderson JC et al.; The value of cefoperazone in mastitis therapy was assessed in the mouse model of mastitis primarily by its effect on bacterial cell numbers in the gland . In addition histological studies showed that the drug was not an irritant in the mammary gland . Pharmacokinetic studies showed that it was slowly absorbed from the gland (six days to absorb 500 micrograms) but was easily removed by milking . In ascending order of efficacy cefoperazone (500 micrograms/gland) was active against four-hour-old intramammary infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae and Strep uberis . The effect against Staph aureus was titrated down to a dose of 50 micrograms/gland . Cefoperazone was not bactericidal against intracellular staphylococci but it did sensitise them to the action of lytic enzyme . Cefoperazone and cloxacillin behaved similarly against progressive staphylococcal mastitis . Both antibiotics significantly reduced the bacterial numbers when four-hour-old infections were treated but the effect on 26-hour-old infections was perceptible only when each antibiotic was assayed against saline treatment in the mouse . The results suggest that further studies in dairy cattle should be undertaken.

Vet Rec, 1984 Jun 16, 114(24), 584 - 6
Factors affecting the survival of Streptococcus suis type 2; Clifton-Hadley FA et al.; The survival of Streptococcus suis type 2 was assessed in experimentally inoculated faeces and dust stored at 0, 9 and 22 to 25 degrees C . The organism survived in faeces for 104 days at 0 degrees C, up to 10 days at 9 degrees C and up to eight days at 22 to 25 degrees C . It survived in dust for up to 54 days at 0 degrees C and up to 25 days at 9 degrees C but could not be isolated from dust stored at room temperature for 24 hours . The organism survived at 4 degrees C in nutrient medium for up to nine months but in distilled water for only one to two weeks . At 50 degrees C it survived in water or broth for up to two hours but at 60 degrees C it only survived for 10 minutes . The organism was rapidly inactivated by disinfectants and cleansers, commonly used on farms and in laboratories, at concentrations less than those recommended for use by the manufacturers.

Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1984 Jun 8, 109(23), 899 - 902
{Streptococcus A septicemia . An analysis of 18 cases in adults}; Enzensberger R et al.; Within a 13-year period (1970-1982) there were seen 18 cases of A-streptococcal septicaemia (age range 18-77 years), 1.3% of all septicaemia cases in this time . The portal of entry was most often a banal skin infection . Typically the disease occurred suddenly and took a fulminating course with the clinical picture of severe septicaemia . In more than half the patients septic complications occurred . Despite correct antibiotic treatment pyrexia disappeared only slowly . Four patients died of septic shock . In every case with an acute septic course and a suspicious cutaneous focus, one should think of A-streptococcal septicaemia and, if necessary, give penicillin in high dosage even before the bacterial culture result is known.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 56(3), 515 - 8
A note on the pectinolytic enzyme of Streptococcus bovis; Wojciechowicz M et al.; A pectinolytic strain of Streptococcus bovis isolated from the bovine rumen produced an endopolygalacturonate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2) . The principal decomposition products of pectin were unsaturated methyl tetra- and tri-galacturonates.

Mod Vet Pract, 1984 Jun, 65(6), 467 - 9
Dairy herd health management; Snider EL; Estrual cows are more likely to be recognized if penned with other open cows . Cycling cows fresh less than 100 days, without signs of heat or a follicle but with good uterine tone and signs of ovarian activity, are closely observed for heat 15-20 days after examination . Those fresh at least 150 days are given prostaglandin . Lugol's iodine solution is infused into the uterus of cows without signs of ovarian activity but with normal uterine tone . Cows with retained fetal membranes are given an intrauterine infusion of oxytetracycline with the membranes being removed only if it will not damage the uterus . Oxytetracycline or chlorhexidine solution is infused into the uterus of cows with a purulent vulvar discharge 2 or more weeks postpartum . Prostaglandins may benefit cows not showing signs of heat by 21 days postpartum . Procaine penicillin G solution is infused if the uterus is abnormal at 60 days postpartum . Heifers are vaccinated against brucellosis, blackleg, leptospirosis, IBR-PI3 and BVD at 4-11 months of age, with an optional Vibrio vaccination if a bull is used in the herd . Cows are given IBR-PI3, BVD and Leptospira vaccines a few days post-partum, with a Leptospira booster at pregnancy examination . Cows with Streptococcus mastitis in late lactation may best be treated by drying off . Control of coliform mastitis necessitates a clean barn and milking parlor environment . Staphylococcus mastitis may require segregation of affected cows and installation of a low-line milker to prevent spread.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1984 Jun, 129(6), 1018 - 20
Antibiotic susceptibility and serotype distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Stable incidence of antibiotic-resistant isolates and common serotypes; Perlino CA et al.; The serotype distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of 200 pneumococci isolated from clinical specimens in 1981 were determined . These results were compared with the susceptibility of organisms determined in 1974 and the serotype distribution of organisms determined in 1974 and 1977 . Penicillin G, tetracycline, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol were tested in both 1974 and 1981 . No isolates resistant to penicillin, erythromycin, or chloramphenicol were found, and the percent of isolates resistant to tetracycline and of moderate susceptibility to penicillin were similar in the 2 yr . An increasing incidence of pneumococci with decreased susceptibility to these antibiotics was not observed . Vancomycin was tested in 1981 only and no resistant isolates were identified . The distribution of serotypes during each time period was also similar . Our results establish a stable, low-level incidence of antibiotic-resistant pneumococci at our hospital, as well as a stable distribution of serotypes.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 158(3), 832 - 43
Chemical modification of Streptococcus flagellar motors; Conley MP et al.; Video techniques were used to record changes in motility of cells of Streptococcus sp . strain V4051 exposed to a variety of protein modification reagents . Starved cells were tethered to glass by a single flagellum, energized metabolically with glucose, or treated with valinomycin and energized artificially via shifts to media containing low concentrations of potassium ion . Experiments were devised that distinguished reagents that lowered the proton motive force from those that blocked the generation of torque (damaged the flagellar motors) . Imidazole reagents blocked the generation of torque . Amino, sulfhydryl, dithiol, and disulfide reagents did not . Some of the imidazole, amino, and sulfhydryl reagents had long-term effects on the direction of flagellar rotation.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jun, 44(3), 695 - 701
Growth-inhibitory and bactericidal effects of human parotid salivary histidine-rich polypeptides on Streptococcus mutans; MacKay BJ et al.; Growth inhibition and cell viability assays demonstrate that the histidine-rich polypeptides isolated from human parotid saliva are bacteriostatic and bactericidal for strains of Streptococcus mutans belonging to the serotype b and c classifications . Both inhibition of growth and cell division are enhanced by preincubation of bacteria with these polypeptides in low-ionic-strength buffers of acidic and neutral pH before dilution into enriched growth media . With prior exposure at pH 6.8, inhibition by these polypeptides of the serotype c strains, S . mutans GS5 and SB, as well as the serotype b strain, S . mutans BHT, is reversible over time under the experimental conditions selected . With similar exposure at pH 5.2, however, irreversible damage is manifested by complete inhibition of both growth and cell viability . At concentrations of 250 micrograms of the mixture of histidine-rich polypeptides per 5 X 10(5) bacterial cells per ml in the acidic preincubation buffer, bacterial lethality is maintained for a period of 48 h in the enriched growth media . At a 50-micrograms/ml concentration of these salivary agents, approximately 80% killing of S . mutans SB is noted after a 24-h incubation; however, surviving bacteria multiply and reach turbidities of untreated control cells when examined at the 48-h growth point . Similarly, hen egg white lysozyme is also found to be bactericidal for these microorganisms when preincubation is carried out under acidic conditions . However, in contrast to the histidine-rich polypeptides, lysozyme under these experimental conditions does not inhibit growth of S . mutans SB at neutral pH, although it does inhibit growth of both S . mutans BHT and S . mutans GS5 at this pH . Preexposure of S . mutans SB to the peptides in buffer at ionic strengths of 0.025 to 0.125, followed by either viability assays under nongrowing conditions or growth inhibition studies, suggests that there is very little effect of ionic strength on the antibacterial function of these peptides . In contrast to the inhibition of viability noted under growing conditions, lower concentrations of the histidine-rich polypeptides were required to elicit immediate cell death under nongrowing conditions.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1984 Jun, 23(6), 342 - 4
Umbilical cord care . A study of bacitracin ointment vs . triple dye; Andrich MP et al.; Umbilical cord colonization rates were examined over a 4-year period following topical application of bacitracin (1978-1980) or triple dye (1980-1982) . A total of 2402 cords were cultured: 1229 following bacitracin cord care and 1173 after triple dye application . Cords treated with bacitracin had significantly higher colonization rates when compared to triple dye prophylaxis . Bacterial colonization with Staphylococcus epidermidis and group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus was found only after bacitracin prophylaxis . Our data support the use of triple dye for routine cord care and suggest that bacitracin application may increase the rate of group B streptococcal colonization.

J Neurosurg, 1984 Jun, 60(6), 1148 - 59
Experimental anaerobic brain abscess . Computerized tomographic and neuropathological correlations; Britt RH et al.; The neuropathological progression of brain abscess formation induced by a mixed anaerobic culture of Bacteroides fragilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis was studied experimentally in dogs . Histological findings were correlated with computerized tomographic (CT) brain scans . The evolution of brain abscess formation could be divided into three stages based on histological criteria: early cerebritis (Days 1 to 3); late cerebritis (Days 4 to 9); and capsule formation (Day 10 and later) . Capsule formation could not be divided into early and late stages because encapsulation was delayed compared with a previously reported model of alpha-Streptococcus brain abscess . Histologically, there was evidence for a very virulent infection . Leptomeningitis was significant even in the late stages . Early ventricular rupture occurred in 25% of the animals . A pattern of extensive purulent encephalitis was seen in 25% of the animals . In the early cerebritis stage, blood vessels near the necrotic center were engorged and were surrounded by hemorrhage and/or protein-rich fluid . Cerebral edema was extensive . Although fibroblasts appeared in late cerebritis, there was marked delay of capsule formation . Three-week-old lesions still had areas of incomplete capsule formation and foci of uncontrolled infection . In the cerebritis stages, CT scans showed an area of ring enhancement which was incomplete on early scans (at 5 minutes after injection of contrast material) but partially filled in and thickened on delayed scans (at 20 to 45 minutes) . On even later delayed scans there was no decrease in intensity of ring enhancement . Lesions in which capsule formation occurred also showed ring enhancement, but delayed scans showed a decrease in the intensity of enhancement . The lesions that ruptured into the ventricular system showed atypical CT findings, with either lack of contrast enhancement (histologically there was minimal cerebritis adjacent to the abscess cavity) or a marked delay in contrast enhancement (cerebritis was more extensive and corresponded to the width of ring of enhancement) . This study suggests that Bacteroides fragilis is a virulent organism in the brain . The developing abscesses enlarged quickly, were prone to early ventricular rupture, and showed incomplete and delayed encapsulation.

Acta Odontol Scand, 1984 Jun, 42(3), 157 - 63
Streptococcus mutans in saliva: intraindividual variations and relation to the number of colonized sites; Togelius J et al.; Analysis of the salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans may contribute to the evaluation of the caries risk . It is therefore important to identify factors that might influence the outcome of such analyses . This investigation consisted of three parts . The first aim was to evaluate the short-term variation of S . mutans concentration in saliva . Furthermore, we estimated the effect of discontinued oral hygiene on salivary S . mutans . We also analyzed the relation between salivary levels of S . mutans and the number of colonized approximal and occlusal sites . Tongue samples were also included in the comparison . Systematic short-term variation could not be demonstrated . A 95% confidence interval for an observed S . mutans value was obtained by multiplying and dividing the observed value by a factor of 5 (for S . mutans samples less than 10(6) or 2.3 (S . mutans greater than 10(6) . One week of discontinued oral hygiene did not significantly change the level of S . mutans in saliva . Saliva samples correlated significantly with tongue samples and with the number of colonized approximal sites . The results of these studies confirm the stability of the S . mutans colonization level.

Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Jun, 92(3), 211 - 7
Effect of orthodontic treatment on prevalence of Streptococcus mutans in plaque and saliva; Scheie AA et al.; The effect of orthodontic treatment on the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans was investigated in 14 subjects . Insertion of appliances tended to give a transient decrease in S.mutans levels, in both plaque and saliva, possibly due to elimination of S.mutans reservoirs by the banding procedure . After 3 months of extensive banding, the S.mutans proportions surpassed pretreatment levels in saliva and on banded teeth, whereas unbanded surfaces only showed a slight increase . It was thus concluded that creation of new retentive areas favors the local growth of S.mutans, which in turn increases the general infection level of this organism . Time was, however, needed before elevated levels were reached . Insertion of appliances tended to eliminate the characteristic gradient of S.mutans levels within the dental arches.

J Dent Res, 1984 Jun, 63(6), 894 - 6
Effect of cheese, with and without sucrose, on dental caries and recovery of Streptococcus mutans in rats; Rosen S et al.; The objective of this study was to determine the effect of aged and young cheddar cheese with and without added sucrose on dental caries and the associated recovery of implanted Streptococcus mutans . Very little caries was observed in rats consuming cheese without sucrose . There was an increase in caries in rats fed cheeses with 20% sucrose, but this increase was not significant . There was significantly greater caries activity in rats fed standard diets containing 20% or 5% sucrose (SLS or MIT 305) than in rats fed cheeses containing 20% sucrose . Rats fed cheese or powdered diets containing sucrose had significantly higher frequency of recovery and higher levels of S . mutans infection than did rats fed cheese containing no sucrose . This study confirms the low cariogenic potential and possible cariostatic activity of cheddar cheese in rats . Since cheddar cheese with sucrose did not significantly interfere with S . mutans implantation, the cariostatic mechanism is apparently unrelated to a direct antimicrobial effect on S . mutans.

Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 1984 Jun, 78(3), 287 - 93
Glomerular disease in adults in the Savannah region of Nigeria--clinical and pathological features; Awunor-Renner C et al.; In a consecutive series of 134 adult patients with glomerular disease, 82.7% showed proliferative glomerulonephritis on renal biopsy; 45% of the cases were asymptomatic . Nephrotic syndrome in adults in northern Nigeria should respond to immunosuppressive therapy only rarely . There was no evidence to implicate Plasmodium malariae as the cause of glomerular disease in adults in the savannah belt in Nigeria . The roles of hepatitis B virus and Yersinia enterocolitica were discussed and require further serological investigations . O-serotype 8 yersiniosis is reported outside the USA for the first time and is possibly nephritogenic . Hepatosplenomegalic schistosomiasis is also reported for the first time in Africa south of the Sahara . The role of the eradication of infections due to the Streptococcus, hepatitis B virus, P . malariae, schistosomes and Y . enterocolitica in the reduction of glomerular disease is discussed.

J Gen Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 130 ( Pt 6), 1351 - 7
A possible mechanism for the cellular coaggregation between Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 19246 and Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10557; Sato S et al.; The cells of Actinomyces viscosus ATCC 19246 (Av19246) and Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10557 (Ss10557) coaggregated immediately after mixing in 40 mM-Tris/HCl buffer . Optimal conditions were pH 7.5 in the presence of Ca2+ at 0.1 mM or higher . Na2 EDTA and its analogues, Na2MgEDTA and Na2MnEDTA at 7.5 mM inhibited the coaggregation . Trypsin and heat treatment impaired the reactive site on Av19246 cells, but not on Ss10557 cells . The coaggregates, once formed, dissociated gradually during extended incubation at 37 degrees C; this was prevented by addition of sufficient Ca2+ . The disaggregation appears to be a spontaneous denaturation of the proteinaceous reactive site on Av19246 cell surface . Thus, the coaggregation involves the interaction of a lectin-like substance on the surface of Av19246 with a carbohydrate site on Ss10557 . Native Ss10557 cell walls possessed reactivity with Av19246 cells but 5% (w/v) TCA-extracted cell wall residues did not . A carbohydrate moiety extracted from Ss10557 exhibited a high potency in blocking coaggregation, and coaggregates were dissociated upon addition of the carbohydrate . Lactose, galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (the latter two are major constituents of the antigen extract) also significantly inhibited the coaggregation, but the other antigen components, glucose and rhamnose, did not . Relative inhibitory activity, expressed as molar potency, of carbohydrate antigen, lactose, galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine respectively, was approximately 26 X 10(3):16:4:1 . Ss10557 cells and cell walls reacted only with a Ricinus communis (castor bean) agglutinin-120 but not with Glycine max (soybean) agglutinin, Arachis hypogaea (peanut) agglutinin or Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (phytohaemagglutinin).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1984 Jun, 92(3), 266 - 9
Attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human pharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro--mechanism of binding; Andersson B et al.; To colonize mucosal surfaces and to invade underlying tissues, bacteria need to bind to components of the mucosa . Unattached bacteria are transported away from the surface with the fluid flow . By binding to the nasopharyngeal mucosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae causing otitis media may persist at the site of infection . High binding capacity of the bacterium and increased receptivity of the epithelial cells for attaching bacteria may both contribute to the susceptibility of patients prone to otitis . Thus, epithelial cells from children with frequent episodes of otitis bind attaching bacteria more readily than do cells from age-matched controls . The binding mechanism probably involves bacterial surface proteins and epithelial cell surface glycoconjugate receptors . Evidence is presented that phosphorylcholine, a component of the bacterial surface, as well as epithelial cell receptor analogues, that is, natural or synthetic saccharides analogous to the lactoneoseries of glycolipids, inhibits pneumococcal attachment . Inhibition of bacterial binding in vivo may be a new approach to prophylaxis against otitis media.

J Oral Pathol, 1984 Jun, 13(3), 213 - 20
Carbohydrate composition of dental plaque from primates with irradiation caries; Emilson CG et al.; Carbohydrate analyses were performed on dental plaque collected from the teeth of irradiated monkeys, non-irradiated monkeys and a group of Streptococcus mutans free animals, all of which were fed the same standard cariogenic diet . Glucose was the predominant sugar constituent in plaque and was detected in highest concentration in the irradiated animals . Small amounts of pentoses and other hexoses were also present . Plaque from irradiated animals contained, by comparison with the other groups, higher levels of Strep . mutans and lower levels of Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 158(3), 791 - 800
Use of 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and 14C fluorography in studies of glycolysis and regulation of pyruvate kinase in Streptococcus lactis; Thompson J et al.; High-resolution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and 14C fluorography have been used to identify and quantitate intermediates of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway in intact cells and cell extracts of Streptococcus lactis . Glycolysing cells contained high levels of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (a positive effector of pyruvate kinase) but comparatively low concentrations of other glycolytic metabolites . By contrast, starved organisms contained only high levels of 3-phosphoglycerate, 2-phosphoglycerate, and phosphoenolpyruvate . The concentration of Pi (a negative effector of pyruvate kinase) in starved cells was fourfold greater than that maintained by glycolysing cells . The following result suggest that retention of the phosphoenolpyruvate pool by starved cells is a consequence of Pi-mediated inhibition of pyruvate kinase: the increase in the phosphoenolpyruvate pool (and Pi) preceded depletion of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and reduction in intracellular Pi (by a maltose-plus-arginine phosphate trap) caused the restoration of pyruvate kinase activity in starved cells . Time course studies showed that Pi was conserved by formation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate during glycolysis . Conversely, during starvation high levels of Pi were generated concomitant with depletion of intracellular fructose 1,6-bisphosphate . The concentrations of Pi and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate present in starved and glycolysing cells of S . lactis varied inversely . The activity of pyruvate kinase in the growing cell may be modulated by the relative concentrations of the two antagonistic effectors.

Trop Geogr Med, 1984 Jun, 36(2), 159 - 63
Bacterial liver abscesses in Nigeria; Mabogunje OA et al.; There has been no previous report on bacterial liver abscess (BLA) from West Africa . During the period 1972-1979, 13 patients were treated for BLA in Zaria, Nigeria . S . aureus was the most frequent pathogen but an anaerobic streptococcus was identified in one instance . The case fatality rate was 54%, similar to those reported in the literature . Since diagnosis was made without the benefit of the newer liver-imaging technologies it seems probable that BLA is underdiagnosed and therefore untreated in some patients.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Jun, 67(6), 1327 - 30
Evaluation of linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid teat dip under experimental challenge; Pankey JW et al.; Linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid at 1.94% was evaluated as a teat dip in two experimental challenge trials . Each trial was 4 wk, and a half udder design was used . In the first trial the product reduced incidence of intramammary infection with Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29740) by 82.5% . Incidence of infection with Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 27956) was reduced nonsignificantly 19.5% . Ineffectiveness was attributed to challenge with Streptococcus agalactiae at concentrations higher than previously used . In a second trial of only Streptococcus agalactiae, infections were reduced 56.9%; concentrations of challenge suspensions were those routinely used.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Jun, 67(6), 1293 - 300
Effect of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on incidence of clinical mastitis and duration of clinical symptoms; Smith KL et al.; Incidence of clinical mastitis and duration of clinical symptoms for complete lactations were evaluated for 80 cows randomly assigned to one of four groups: vitamin E supplemented- and selenium injected, selenium injected, vitamin E supplemented, and controls . Vitamin E supplementation and selenium injection were during the dry period . Log-linear analysis of incidence data revealed a significant 37% reduction of clinical mastitis by vitamin E . Incidence was not affected by selenium alone, nor was there any evidence for interaction of vitamin E with selenium on incidence . However, duration of clinical symptoms (calendar months clinical/quarter lactating) was reduced by 46% for the selenium group, 44% for the vitamin E group, and 62% for the vitamin E-selenium group as compared to controls . We conclude that dairy cow diets deficient of vitamin E may elevate incidence of clinical mastitis . Selenium deficiency may result in greater duration of clinical symptoms, and selenium may interact with vitamin E . Coliform bacteria and species of streptococcus other than Streptococcus agalactiae were isolated from 70% of the clinical cases.

J Dairy Sci, 1984 Jun, 67(6), 1281 - 92
Relationships between linear type scores, objective type measures, and indicators of mastitis; Thomas CL et al.; Objectives were to examine the usefulness of objective measures of conformation and linear scores for type for predicting indicators of mastitis . Approximately 300 cows in five herds were scored in the experimental linear classification program of the Holstein-Friesian Association of America, measured objectively for numerous components of conformation, and evaluated for four indicators of mastitis . Indicators of mastitis were average natural logarithm of somatic cell counts during the lactation, percent of samples (taken approximately every 3 mo) infected during a lactation, percent of samples infected with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and percent of samples with signs of mastitic milk . Relationships between conformation and mastitis often were inconsistent because of moderate or low correlations between indicators of mastitis . Indicators of mastitis were predicted from results of multiple regression analyses with subjective scores and objective measures of type as independent variables . Largest differences of predicted indicators of mastitis from variation in any single type trait were sufficient to be important economically, but average differences were much smaller . Selection to reduce frequencies of cows with deep udders, especially low rear udders, widely placed teats, rear teats too far back, and teats that are short and wide, may augment, modestly, efforts to reduce incidence of mastitis through improved sanitation, antibiotic treatment, and proper milking procedures.

Acta Orthop Scand, 1984 Jun, 55(3), 334 - 8
Primary acute haematogenous osteomyelitis of an isolated metatarsal in children; Robb JE; Acute haematogenous osteomyelitis of an isolated metatarsal is a rare condition in childhood . Fourteen children diagnosed with this condition were followed up for an average of 3 years . Organisms responsible were found to be either Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes . Growth disturbances of the metatarsal were seen in the majority, but the radiographic features were not serious in the long term, and no child was subsequently disabled . Since these children often present with symptoms akin to trauma, a better recognition of the condition is required to avoid misdiagnosis.

J Infect Dis, 1984 Jun, 149(6), 861 - 9
Vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae in childhood: lack of demonstrable benefit in young Australian children; Douglas RM et al.; A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of a 14-valent Streptococcus pneumoniae polysaccharide vaccine, with saline as placebo, was performed on 1,273 healthy children six to 54 months of age . Different dosage regimens were used for children younger and older than two years of age . The vaccine was well tolerated . Follow-up continued for two years, during which time 95% of mothers submitted diaries of their children's respiratory-tract and otic symptoms . Data from diaries and medical and hospital case notes failed to reveal consistent or significant benefits in those who received the vaccine . In the first 16 months after immunization, recipients of placebo experienced an average of 0.69 episodes of otitis media per child, compared with 0.63 in recipients of vaccine (P = .6) . Recipients of vaccine had no consistent reduction in days of respiratory morbidity, antibiotic consumption, hospitalization, or visits to a physician, when compared with recipients of placebo.

Infect Control, 1984 Jun, 5(6), 271 - 4
A maternal-neonatal outbreak of infections due to an unusual group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus; Wiesenthal AM; An outbreak of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections involving three parturients, three newborns, and a nursery RN is reported . Six of six organisms available for serotyping were M-untypable, T-11, serum opacity reaction-negative . Propagation of the outbreak may have been fostered by the common use of a single sitz bath, although the evidence to support this is weak . The outbreak was rapidly controlled via strict cohorting, appropriate treatment and isolation of cases, and the routine use of triple dye for umbilical cord care.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1984 Jun, 81(11), 3557 - 61
Streptokinase: cloning, expression, and excretion by Escherichia coli; Malke H et al.; Genomic DNA from Streptococcus equisimilis strain H46A was cloned in Escherichia coli by using the bacteriophage lambda replacement vector L47 and an in vitro packaging system . A casein/plasminogen overlay technique was used to screen the phage bank for recombinants carrying the streptokinase gene ( skc ) . The gene was present with a frequency of 1 in 836 recombinants, and 10 independent clones containing skc were isolated and physically characterized . One recombinant clone was used to subclone skc in E . coli plasmid vectors . Plasmid pMF2 {10.4 kilobases (kb)} consisting of pACYC184 with a 6.4-kb H46A DNA fragment in the EcoRI site and pMF5 (6.9 kb) carrying a 2.5-kb fragment in the Pst I site of pBR322 were among the recombinant plasmids determining streptokinase production in three different E . coli host strains . Expression of skc was independent of its orientation in either vector, indicating that its own promoter was present and functional in E . coli . However, expression in pBR322 was more efficient in one orientation than in the other, suggesting that one or both of the bla gene promoters contributed to skc expression . Several lines of evidence, including proof obtained by the immunodiffusion technique, established the identity of E . coli streptokinase . Testing cell-free culture supernatant fluids, osmotic shock fluids, and sonicates of osmotically shocked cells for streptokinase activity revealed the substance to be present in all three principal locations, indicating that E . coli cells were capable of releasing substantial amounts of streptokinase into the culture medium.

Obstet Gynecol, 1984 Jun, 63(6), 862 - 4
Recurrent streptococcal cellulitis complicating radical hysterectomy and radiation therapy; Chmel H et al.; Reported is a rare complication of radical hysterectomy and radiation therapy, recurrent streptococcal cellulitis . Two patients had 14 episodes over a nine-year period, characterized by high fever and systemic toxicity . The streptococcal cellulitis was atypical in its presentation and its causative organism . The rash was bilateral in patches, flat, irregular in outline, and without induration . The causative microorganisms, a group B and G streptococcus, were isolated from blood and skin cultures . Therapy in such patients may have to be prolonged because of the alterations in normal anatomy resulting from surgery and radiation.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jun, 44(3), 708 - 15
Resolution of the phosphotransferase enzymes of Streptococcus mutans: purification and preliminary characterization of a heat-stable phosphocarrier protein; Mimura CS et al.; The sucrose phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus mutans catalyzes the phosphorylation of sucrose to sucrose-6-phosphate with concomitant translocation of this disaccharide across the cytoplasmic membrane in reactions requiring intracellular phosphoenolpyruvate . Soluble proteins released by vigorous homogenization of cells with glass beads are shown to be necessary for the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of sucrose in combination with one or more proteins that remain tightly associated with the membrane fraction . We have partially purified phosphotransferase enzyme I and have purified a heat-stable phosphocarrier protein (HPr) to apparent homogeneity, by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography from the soluble fraction . HPr from S . mutans has an apparent molecular weight larger than that of Escherichia coli HPr but has properties similar to those of Staphylococcus aureus HPr . Furthermore, it appears to be partially complexed with a heat-stable enzyme III-like protein in cell-free fractions from S . mutans, and we also report the purification of this complex . Enzyme I from S . mutans is a protein (native Mr greater than 100,000) that cross-complements enzyme I from S . aureus . Preliminary characterizations of homogeneous HPr and its complex with the putative enzyme III are also presented.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1984 Jun, 23(6), 348 - 51
Comparison between cephalexin two- and four-time per day regimens in group A streptococcal pharyngitis; Stillerman M et al.; In previous studies, twice daily (bid) and four times daily (qid) administration of most antibiotics approved for group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis therapy have been demonstrated to be equally effective . In this study, four investigators collaborated in a double-blind, randomized multicenter study assessing the efficacy of cephalexin given in doses of 1.0 g or 0.5 g daily on a bid or qid regimen for 10 to 14 days to 157 patients with GAS pharyngitis . The mean daily doses for patients on the bid and qid regimens were 30 mg/kg and 29 mg/kg, respectively . Pretreatment and two follow-up cultures, usually 2 to 6 and 12 to 16 days after the end of treatment, were taken on all patients . Failure, defined as recurrence of the original GAS M-precipitin and T-agglutination types on follow-up culture, occurred in 7.3 percent of 82 patients on the bid and 5.3 percent of 75 patients on the qid regimen . We conclude that cephalexin bid and qid regimens are equally effective, and that the bid regimen can be recommended for all antibiotics approved for GAS pharyngitis therapy.

Am J Dis Child, 1984 Jun, 138(6), 589 - 91
Primary plate identification of group A Streptococcus on a selective medium . Efficiency in an office practice; Roe MH et al.; The efficiency of group A Streptococcus detection and identification in an office practice was studied using a selective blood agar plate containing sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim and primary plate bacitracin disk speciation . All results were confirmed by conventional bacteriologic and immunologic techniques the next day by a reference laboratory . In all, 1,591 cultures were processed, of which 156 (10%) could be confirmed the next morning to have group A Streptococcus by primary disk susceptibility interpretation . Bacitracin-resistant beta-hemolytic colonies, which could be immunologically confirmed as group A Streptococcus grew from only three cultures (0.1%) . Fifty-six (3%) of the cultures had too few beta-hemolytic colonies to determine bacitracin susceptibility, of which 47 were later proved to be group A Streptococcus . On all preliminary negative cultures, 1% demonstrated group A Streptococcus after incubation for an additional 24 hours . If a selective blood agar plate with primary bacitracin disk susceptibility speciation is used in an office laboratory setting, 99% of all cultures can be accurately interpreted within 24 hours of incubation, providing that those plates with limited growth of beta-hemolytic colonies are thereafter immunologically tested for group A Streptococcus antigen.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 158(3), 954 - 62
Genetic and physical characterization of recombinant plasmids associated with cell aggregation and high-frequency conjugal transfer in Streptococcus lactis ML3; Anderson DG et al.; Restriction mapping was employed to characterize the 104-kilobase (kb) cointegrate lactose plasmids from 15 independent transconjugants derived from Streptococcus lactis ML3 as well as the 55-kb lactose plasmid ( pSK08 ) and a previously uncharacterized 48.4-kb plasmid ( pRS01 ) from S . lactis ML3 . The data revealed that the 104-kb plasmids were cointegrates of pSK08 and pRS01 and were structurally distinct . The replicon fusion event occurred within adjacent 13.8- or 7.3-kb PvuII fragments of pSK08 and interrupted apparently random regions of pRS01 . Correlation of the transconjugants' clumping and conjugal transfer capabilities with the interrupted region of pRS01 identified pRS01 regions coding for these properties . In the 104-kb plasmids, the pRS01 region was present in both orientations with respect to the pSK08 region . The replicon fusion occurred in recombination-deficient (Rec-) strains and appeared to introduce a 0.8 to 1.0-kb segment of DNA within the junction fragments . The degeneration of the cointegrate plasmids was monitored by examining the lactose plasmids from nonclumping derivatives of clumping transconjugants . These plasmids displayed either precise or imprecise excision of pRS01 sequences or had dramatically reduced copy numbers . Both alterations occurred by rec-independent mechanisms . Alterations of a transconjugant 's clumping phenotype also occurred by rec-independent inversion of a 4.3-kb KpnI-PvuII fragment within the pRS01 sequences of the cointegrate plasmid.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 158(3), 905 - 9
Transfer of recombinant plasmids containing the gene for DpnII DNA methylase into strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae that produce DpnI or DpnII restriction endonucleases; Lacks SA et al.; Plasmid transfer via the transformation pathway of Streptococcus pneumoniae was weakly restricted by the DpnI or DpnII restriction endonuclease, either of which gave a reduction only to 0.4, compared with phage infection, which was restricted to 10(-5) . The greater sensitivity of plasmid transfer compared with chromosomal transformation, which was not at all restricted, can be attributed to partially double-stranded intermediates formed from two complementary donor fragments . However, clustering of potential restriction sites in the plasmids increased the probability of escape from restriction . The recombinant plasmid pMP10 , in which the gene for the DpnII DNA methylase was cloned, can be transferred to strains that contain neither restriction enzyme or that contain DpnII as readily as can the vector pMP5 . Introduction of pMP10 raised the level of methylase by five times the level normally present in DpnII strains . Transfer of pMP10 to DpnI -containing strains was infrequent, presumably owing to the suicidal methylation of DNA which rendered it susceptible to the host endonuclease . The few clones in which pMP10 was established had lost DpnI . Loss of the plasmid after curing of the cell eliminated the methylase but did not restore DpnI . Although this loss of DpnI could result from spontaneous mutation, its relatively high frequency, 0.1% suggested that the loss was due to a regulatory shift.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 158(3), 1175 - 8
Use of a cloned DNA fragment to analyze the fate of donor DNA in transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Mejean V et al.; The integration of donor label into the recipient fragment is followed during transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae . The method used involves gel analysis of restriction endonuclease-treated recipient DNA after recombination with a radioactively labeled homologous cloned fragment.

J Immunol, 1984 Jun, 132(6), 3098 - 102
Streptococcal Fc receptors . II . Comparison of the reactivity of a receptor from a group C streptococcus with staphylococcal protein A; Reis KJ et al.; The reactivity of a soluble Fc receptor from a group C streptococcus ( FcRc ) was compared antigenically and functionally with the staphylococcal Fc receptor, protein A . Protein A and FcRc were found to inhibit each others' binding to the Fc region of human IgG, indicating that they bind to sites that are in close proximity on the Fc region of human IgG . The two bacterial Fc receptors were antigenically unrelated . Differences were observed in the species and subclass reactivity of the two receptors . The patterns of binding of protein A and FcRc under various conditions suggested that these receptors reacted with distinct regions on the Fc region of immunoglobulins . FcRc bound more efficiently to goat, sheep, and cow IgG, protein A bound more efficiently to dog IgG, and neither receptor bound to rat IgG . Differences were also observed in the reactivity towards human IgG subclasses . The FcRc bound to all samples of the four human IgG subclass standards . Protein A bound to IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4, and to one of two IgG3 myeloma proteins tested . The reactivity of our soluble FcRc corresponds to a type III streptococcal Fc receptor classified by the reactivity of intact bacteria.

J Immunol, 1984 Jun, 132(6), 3091 - 7
Streptococcal Fc receptors . I . Isolation and partial characterization of the receptor from a group C streptococcus; Reis KJ et al.; A receptor for the Fc region of immunoglobulin G was extracted from a group C streptococcus, purified and physicochemically characterized . The Fc receptor was extracted in high yield by lysis of the bacteria after infection with bacteriophage . The soluble receptor was purified to functional homogeneity by sequential chromatography on cellulose phosphate, DEAE, and selective elution from a column of immobilized human IgG . Four hundred micrograms of the functionally pure protein was obtained per gram (wet weight) of bacteria extracted . The affinity-purified receptor was functionally homogeneous in binding to the Fc region of human IgG; however, the product was heterogeneous on both non-denaturing and SDS polyacrylamide gels . Four major protein bands were observed, with the predominant form of the Fc receptor having an m.w . of 64,000 daltons . Antibody prepared against the major Fc receptor protein ( FcRc -II) was capable of reacting with all the fractions and completely inhibiting functional activity . The results of the competitive binding studies suggest that the purified Fc receptor behaves as a single receptor, and that the differences in charge and size were probably due to covalently bound cell wall constituents.

J Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 158(3), 1109 - 14
Characterization of a Streptococcus pneumoniae mutant with altered electric transmembrane potential; Trombe MC et al.; It is possible to select transmembrane potential (delta psi)-altered mutants in Streptococcus pneumoniae on the basis of their resistance to the antifolate methotrexate . Comparison of such a mutant strain ( amiA9 ) with its parent was used to evaluate the role of delta psi in the uptake of certain amino acids . The delta psi-dependent uptake of isoleucine, leucine, valine, and asparagine showed a reduced maximum velocity of uptake, and decrease in the transport constant of the energy-dependent, delta psi-independent uptake of lysine, methionine, and glutamine was observed . No reduction of the intracellular pool of ATP or of lactate excretion could be detected in the mutant strain . Moreover, studies on membrane preparations suggest that the phenotype expressed by the amiA mutation is not a consequence of alteration of its ATPase activity or susceptibility to N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide . Therefore, it is unlikely that the amiA mutation affects the H+ F1F0 ATPase which is involved in the establishment of the proton motive force in anaerobic bacteria . We propose that another function contributes to delta psi in S . pneumoniae . The amiA gene may be the structural gene of that function.

Infect Immun, 1984 Jun, 44(3), 617 - 22
Clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans serotype c with altered colony morphology due to fructan synthesis; Okahashi N et al.; Streptococcus mutans MT6801 , MT6861 , and MT6879 , which form large mucoid colonies on mitis salivarius agar, were isolated from a mother and her two daughters . These isolates were identified as serotype c by immunodiffusion with serotype-specific antisera . The large colonies formed on sucrose-containing agar were found to contain water-soluble fructan . The cell-free fructosyltransferase ( FTase ) activity of the strains which formed large colonies was five to eight times higher than that of serotype c S . mutans which produced small, rough colonies typical of this serotype . Furthermore, greater quantities of fructan were synthesized from sucrose by growing cells of MT6801 when compared with MT8148 , a typical serotype c S . mutans . Glucosyltransferase and FTase could be isolated by chromatofocusing from culture supernatants of MT6801 and MT8148 . The FTase activity of both strains was eluted at pH 4.5, and glucosyltransferase was released by elution with an NaCl linear gradient . The eluted FTase activity of MT6801 was significantly higher than that of MT8148 . Strains MT6861 and MT6879 were also found to possess a similar property in terms of FTase activity . These results suggest that formation of large mucoid colonies by these strains is a consequence of high FTase activity.

J Immunol, 1984 Jun, 132(6), 3103 - 8
Characteristics of amplifier T cells involved in the antibody response to the capsular polysaccharide of type III Streptococcus pneumoniae; Taylor CE et al.; Amplifier T cell activity can be transferred by spleen cells harvested 72 hr after priming with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (SSS-III) and can be abolished by treating the transferred cells with monoclonal anti-Lyt-1, or anti-Thy-1 antibodies in the presence of complement; thus, amplifier cells represent a distinct subpopulation of T cells . Amplifier T cells were found to be sensitive to irradiation but not to treatment with cyclophosphamide . When amplifier cells were transferred to athymic nude (nu/nu) mice, the enhancement obtained was much greater than that produced in thymus-bearing (nu/+) mice; this is presumably due to the lack of suppressor T cell activity in nu/nu mice that enables amplifier T cell activity to be expressed more fully . Amplifier T cells also were found to be present in peripheral blood; these amplifier T cells were Lyt-2- in phenotype . Although the induction and activation of amplifier T cells appear to be antigen-specific, the product made by amplifier T cells may not be antigen specific in its mode of action . Because amplifier T cells can be induced and activated by exposure to immune B cells, specificity is presumably due in whole or in part to the ability of amplifier T cells to recognize the idiotypic determinants of B cell-associated antibody specific for SSS-III.

Vet Rec, 1984 May 26, 114(21), 513 - 8
Further studies on the subclinical carrier state of Streptococcus suis type 2 in pigs; Clifton-Hadley FA et al.; Tonsil swabs were taken from 626 pigs of all ages in four infected herds . Streptococcus suis type 2 was isolated from 106 pigs aged between three weeks and 18 months . Detectable carrier rates in different groups of pigs varied between 0 and 80 per cent and were highest in weaned pigs aged between four and 10 weeks . Deep scrape cultures carried out post mortem suggested that the actual carrier rate was higher than that detected by tonsil swabs before death . Detection was improved by using two selective media . S suis type 2 persisted in the tonsils in the presence of circulating opsonic and binding antibodies and in pigs receiving penicillin-medicated feed . It was detected in the tonsils of individuals for up to 521 days . It was rarely detected in the nose . Some carriers appeared to eliminate the infection . Weaned detectable tonsil carriers transmitted the infection to previously uninfected pigs with which they were mixed . Titres of serum binding antibodies assessed by a micro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were relatively low and results from infected and non-infected pigs were not always distinguishable.

Can J Microbiol, 1984 May, 30(5), 647 - 52
Acetic, propionic, and oleic acid as the possible factors influencing the predominant residence of some species of Propionibacterium and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus on normal human skin; Ushijima T et al.; The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of acetic and propionic acid for resident bacteria on normal human skin, such as Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, was 25 mg/mL or more at any pH tested (pH 5.5-6.8) . While the MIC of these acids for most of the transient bacteria was markedly decreased by lowering the pH of the media and at pH 5.5, the mean pH value of the normal human skin, the MIC was 6.25 mg/mL or less . The MIC of oleic acid for some strains of Gram-positive transient bacteria of Streptococcus, Micrococcus, or Bacillus was 100 micrograms/mL or less at all pH's tested . Staphylococcus aureus was resistant to this acid at pH 6.8, but became as sensitive as Streptococcus when the pH was lowered . The growth of P . acnes, the most predominant resident bacterium, was enhanced markedly and reached a maximum level at 6.25 mg/mL of propionic acid, 12.5 mg/mL of acetic acid, and 50-100 micrograms/mL of oleic acid . On the basis of these results, we presumed that acetic, propionic, and oleic acids are factors influencing the predominant residence of some species of Propionibacterium and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus on normal human skin.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1984 May, 47(5), 901 - 4
Growth of oral Streptococcus species and Actinomyces viscosus in human saliva; de Jong MH et al.; Microorganisms in dental plaque live in constant association with saliva . The role of saliva in the adherence of bacteria to the teeth and the antibacterial properties of saliva have been well investigated; less interest has been shown in the possible role of saliva as a substrate for oral microorganisms . In this study it was shown that saliva can serve as a growth medium for oral Streptococcus spp . and Actinomyces viscosus . The cell production of these organisms on saliva was carbohydrate limited . The doubling times for growth on glucose-supplemented saliva (4 to 5 mmol/liter) ranged from 1.6 to 4.0 h . The availability of carbohydrate sources for the oral microflora is discussed in relation to microbial growth in the oral cavity.

J Clin Invest, 1984 May, 73(5), 1483 - 6
Inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis or cathepsin B prevent muscle wasting due to sepsis in the rat; Ruff RL et al.; Systemic infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae produced atrophy, decreased twitch and tetanic tension, and altered intracellular electrolyte composition in rat skeletal muscle . Cathepsin B activity was selectively elevated early in the course of illness . Luepeptin, a cathepsin B inhibitor, and indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, prevented muscle atrophy and impaired contractility . Indomethacin, but not leupeptin, prevented the intracellular electrolyte changes . Acetaminophen reduced fever but did not prevent muscle atrophy, impaired contractility, or altered intracellular electrolytes . Muscle wasting and impaired contractility associated with sepsis may involve selective prostaglandin stimulation of cathepsin B activity . Intracellular electrolyte changes may involve prostaglandin synthesis but do not require cathepsin B activation.

Infect Immun, 1984 May, 44(2), 486 - 92
Glucose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system of Streptococcus mutans GS5 studied by using cell-free extracts; Liberman ES et al.; The glucose phosphotransferase system (PTS) of Streptococcus mutans GS5 has been partially characterized, using fractions derived from cells treated with the muramidase mutanolysin . Membranes retained functional PTS enzymes for the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of glucose, fructose, and mannose . This was confirmed by assaying membranes directly for enzyme I (EI) and enzyme IIglc (EIIglc) by employing specific phosphoryl-exchange reactions for each factor . Membranes prepared from glucose PTS- mutants, however, were either deficient in glucose phosphorylation or reflected the "leakiness" displayed by whole cells . Mutant membranes were unable to catalyze the glucose:glucose 6-phosphate transphosphorylation reaction, indicating a defective EIIglc in these fractions . Although total cellular EI activities in the mutant clones were about the same as that measured for the wild-type strain by employing the pyruvate:phosphoenolpyruvate phosphoryl-exchange reaction, mutant membranes were found to possess less than 10% of the specific EI activity of wild-type membranes . The cytoplasmic fractions of mutants, however, displayed markedly increased specific activities for this enzyme when compared with wild-type extracts . These results strongly suggest a molecular association of EI with a normal membrane protein, perhaps EIIglc, that is absent in mutants . This would explain the absence of fructose PTS activity in glucose PTS- mutant membranes despite the fact that whole cells of these clones are normal for this transport function.

Infect Immun, 1984 May, 44(2), 370 - 8
Mode of inhibitory action of a bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus mutans C3603; Takada K et al.; The basis for the lethal activity of a bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus mutans C3603 (serotype c) was studied . Bacteriocin C3603 was found to adsorb to cells of representative strains of the seven serotypes of S . mutans . S . mutans BHT (serotype b) was used to study the adsorption and the lethal properties of bacteriocin C3603 . The adsorption of bacteriocin to cells of S . mutans BHT was inhibited by treatment of cells with protease and beta-glucosidase and by such ligands as poly-L-lysine, poly-L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, glutathione, oxidized glutathione, poly-L-aspartic acid, and poly-L-glutamic acid . The adsorption to cells was also inhibited by oligosaccharides and glucosamine . Mixtures of anionic and cationic amino acids or polyamino acids did not greatly enhance or antagonize the inhibition of adsorption of bacteriocin C3603 to cells . Sodium hydroxide extracts of cell walls and cell wall-membranes contained carbohydrates and proteins; however, only proteins were found to bind to bacteriocin or to a bacteriocin affinity column . The sodium hydroxide extracts contained about 35 protein bands as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis . Bacteriocin C3603 was found to immediately inhibit the synthesis of proteins, DNA, and RNA of cells and to slowly release DNA from cells of S . mutans BHT.

Immunology, 1984 May, 52(1), 143 - 50
Natural antibodies in man to Streptococcus mutans: specificity and quantification; Challacombe SJ et al.; Antibodies to whole cells of Streptococcus mutans were examined in 108 subjects by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay and quantified by reference to isotype-specific affinity-purified antibodies . Serum antibodies of each isotype were present in all subjects examined . The mean concentration of serum antibodies to S . mutans was calculated as about 84 micrograms/ml of IgG (range 33-140 micrograms/ml), 26 micrograms/ml of IgA (range 12-43 micrograms/ml) and 9 micrograms/ml of IgM (range 4-15 micrograms/ml) . The mean antibody values accounted for about 0.7, 1 and 0.8% of the total IgG, IgA, and IgM, respectively . Overall the antibody binding to whole cells of S . mutans accounted for about 0.8% of the total immunoglobulin . Inhibition experiments using a variety of purified cell wall antigens revealed that the binding of antibodies to whole cells could be inhibited by about 30% with a purified protein antigen (SA I/II) and with glucosyltransferase (GTF), by 25% with c polysaccharide and by 16% with lipoteichoic acid . The protein antigens GTF and SA I/II appear to be major immunogenic cell wall antigens, but natural antibodies in man that bind to S . mutans whole cells have been induced by several antigens, some of which are specific to S . mutans and some of which are shared with other Gram-positive bacteria.

Am J Dis Child, 1984 May, 138(5), 496 - 9
Hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae . Report of a case and review of the literature; Alon U et al.; A child aged 2 years 3 months with Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis and pulmonary abscesses had hemolytic-uremic syndrome and acute renal failure develop that required 36 cycles of peritoneal dialysis . A percutaneous renal biopsy specimen taken after dialysis showed mesangial proliferation with interposition, hemorrhagic crescents, and intracapillary thrombosis with fibrinogen and IgM deposition . The atrophic renal tubules showed positive immunofluorescence against peanut agglutinin . Neuraminidase released by pneumococcal organisms is thought to expose the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen on platelets, erythrocytes, and kidneys, resulting in IgM deposition and binding of peanut agglutinin . Review of the literature showed four other reports involving five children who had hemolytic-uremic syndrome develop secondary to pneumococcal infections.

Jpn J Surg, 1984 May, 14(3), 191 - 7
Efficacy of streptococcal preparation OK-432 for gastric cancer patients--comparison between intradermal and intramuscular injection; Hanaue H et al.; Nonspecific immunotherapy with OK-432, penicillin and heat treated lyophilized powder of Su-strain of streptococcus pyogens A3, was evaluated in patients with recurrent or unresectable stomach cancer to assess the relative benefit of the preparation administered by different routes . Comparative studies were made of the variation in immunological parameters, the survival rate and the incidence of adverse reactions in two groups of patients with uniform background factors: 24 receiving the preparation intradermally and 18 receiving intramuscular doses of the preparation . In for former group, no serious adverse reaction occurred but more marked improvement was achieved in various immunological parameters examined . The survival rate was significantly higher (P = 0.005) for patients receiving intradermal than those receiving intramuscular doses of the preparation . The results of the present study showed that the preparation is of greater value when it is administered intradermally than intramuscularly.

Am J Med Sci, 1984 May-Jun, 287(3), 39 - 43
Possible pseudoresistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin G in a patient with a mixed pneumococcus-Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia; Drelichman V et al.; We report the case of a 53-year-old woman with a mixed pneumococcus-staphylococcus pneumonia, in which both organisms were recovered from both sputum and blood . Streptococcus pneumoniae persisted in sputum 48 hours after initiation of high-dose intravenous penicillin G . When nafcillin was substituted for penicillin G, both pneumococci and staphylococci were eradicated from blood and sputum . This strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae was highly susceptible to penicillin G, but the associated strain of Staphylococcus aureus was not . The staphylococcus produced large amounts of a penicillin -degrading betalactamase . We reviewed the records of ten cases of pneumococcus pneumonia from the Wayne State University-Detroit Medical Center admitted from March 1978 to April 1981, in which sputum cultures were repeated within one to ten days after penicillin G had been initiated . At second cultures of sputum, Streptococcus pneumoniae was recovered in none of these latter cases . We further showed that on a blood agar culture plate in the presence of penicillin G, a beta-lactamase positive strain of Staphylococcus aureus allowed growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Therefore, despite penicillin therapy, Staphylococcus aureus in sputum may facilitate the persistence of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1984 May-Jun, 20(3), 369 - 72
{Hydrolysis of streptococcal polysaccharides by micromycete dextranases}; Zinchenko ON et al.; The effect of dextranase enzyme preparations obtained from Penicillium piscarium BIM G-102, Penicillium funiculosum, Aspergillus insuetus G-116 and Aspergillus ustus on polysaccharides synthesized by cariesogenic Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mitis was being studied . According to the data obtained dextranases from P . piscarium, P . funiculosum and Asp . ustus can be considered as a promising anticarious agent.

Isr J Med Sci, 1984 May, 20(5), 389 - 93
A comparative study of infective endocarditis; Grossman E et al.; A survey of hospitalizations at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, covering two nonconsecutive decades (1951-60 and 1970-79), included 213 patients (228 episodes) with infective endocarditis . The increase in the age of patients and in the frequency of atherosclerotic heart disease, as well as the introduction of techniques such as heart catheterization and open-heart surgery, are responsible for the differences in clinical course, microbiology and therapy . Despite the changed pattern, rheumatic heart disease remained the principal underlying disease in both periods and Streptococcus viridans remained the most common pathogen . Not a single case of drug addiction appeared in our material, despite its increasing frequency in Israel.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1984 May, 257(1), 38 - 50
{Isolation and characterization of erythrogenic toxins . VII . Study of the erythrogenic toxin type C produced by Streptococcus pyogenes}; Ozegowski JH et al.; Erythrogenic toxin (ET) type C was purified from culture filtrates of Streptococcus pyogenes strains NY 5, T 18, and AT 13 . Methods used included ammonium sulfate precipitation, phosphate precipitation, column chromatography on CM-Sepharose and Sephadex G 100, and isoelectric focusing in Sephadex gel . The molecular weight was determined by SDS gel electrophoresis as 25,500 . The preparation reacted only with homologous antiserum (anti-C), but not with antitoxins types A or B in double diffusion tests . The isoelectric point was determined to be 6.8 by analytical isoelectric focusing . Also the amino acid composition was determined . The toxin was found to be mitogenic (as well as pyrogenic and toxic for rabbits) . The ET type C is digested by trypsin, pepsin, chymotrypsin and Pronase E, but is rather stable when treated with papain or streptococcal proteinase.

Infection, 1984 May-Jun, 12(3), 181 - 4
The extended microbiology of group A streptococcal pharyngitis . Observations during a double-blind controlled study of cephalexin twice versus four-times daily; Tarpay MM et al.; In a double-blind controlled study we compared the effectiveness of cephalexin b.i.d . versus q.i.d . in the treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis in 65 children . Clinical improvement was noted in 64 patients (98%) and bacteriologic cure in 60 (92%) . Despite good compliance, three bacteriologic failures were noted in the q.i.d., and two in the b.i.d . treatment groups . Two of these five were carriers . Significant antibody responses were observed in 61% of the patients by at least one of three tests (ASO, anti-DNase B, Streptozyme) . We also investigated the extended microbiology of streptococcal pharyngitis by looking for the presence of viruses, chlamydia and beta-lactamase producing organisms in the pharynx . Respiratory viruses were isolated concomitantly with Streptococcus pyogenes in six patients . Beta-lactamase producing bacteria were present in the pharynx of 98% of the patients at the initiation of treatment and comprised 1-98% of the total bacterial flora . The beta-lactamase producing flora did not significantly change with cephalexin therapy.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 May, (5), 82 - 5
{Stimulation of lymphokine formation as an index of reactivity to bacterial antigens}; Rassanov AP; In the cultures of lymphocytes from healthy donors, activated by Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and enterococcal antigens (allergens) the formation of lymphokines stimulating the oxygen-dependent metabolism of human neutrophils was studied . The preparations yielded positive reactions in a wide range of concentrations (2-60 micrograms/ml); in experiments with concentrations of 2 micrograms/ml these reactions were observed, respectively, in 71.5%, 40.0% and 47.7% of the donors . Individual features were most pronounced when minimally active concentrations were used, and an increase in dosage led to smoothing out differences and to an increase in lymphokine production . Direct contact with allergens did not induce the stimulation of neutrophils . The results thus obtained are discussed from the viewpoint of the functional cooperation of different effector systems of immunity.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1984 May, 32(5), 369 - 71
{Antibody formation in rabbits after vaccination with Streptococcus pyogenes cultured in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of erythromycin}; Ferne M et al.; Rabbits were immunized with suspensions of Streptococcus pyogenes grown, either in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of erythromycin (1/2 and 1/8 MIC) or without antibiotic . Over a twelve-week period, the opsonic activity of the serum and the levels of various streptococcal antibodies were determined . For the two test strains, the immune response observed was identical for the vaccine grown with 1/8 MIC erythromycin and for the control vaccine . The vaccines grown with 1/2 MIC of erythromycin induced a slower and weaker elaboration of protective antibodies.

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