Arch Oral Biol, 1983, 28(2), 153 - 8 Reproducibility of dental caries in BALB/c mice induced by the bacterium Streptococcus mutans; Kamp EM et al.; Dental caries induced by infection with Strep . mutans C67-1 (serotype c) or Strep . mutans 50B4 (serotype d/g) and feeding a 30 per cent sucrose-containing diet was found mainly in fissures; smooth surface caries was not detected . A decrease in the mean caries score was observed with time, coinciding with lower recoveries of Strep . mutans at the end of the experimental period . The decrease in caries formation may be attributed to changes in some of the cariogenic properties of the individual Strep . mutans strains during maintenance in the laboratory, as re-isolation of the strains from caries-active mice yielded similar and reproducible caries scores to those in early experiments . Hence Balb/c mice can be used as an experimental model in caries research, provided that great care is taken in selecting and storing the bacteria. Arch Oral Biol, 1983, 28(3), 225 - 31 Preventive measures in mothers influence the establishment of the bacterium Streptococcus mutans in their infants; Kohler B et al.; First-time mothers who had a high salivary number of Strep . mutans {greater than or equal to 10(6) colony-forming-units (c.f.u.) per ml} were selected . Every second mother was given a special preventive programme to reduce her salivary level below 3 x 10(5) c.f.u . per ml . Where a reduction of Strep . mutans was achieved in the mother, the establishment of Strep . mutans in her infant was prevented or delayed . Thus, 28 mothers were successfully treated until their infants were 23 months old and only 3 of their infants (11 per cent) were infected with Strep . mutans, compared with 17 out of 38 infants in the control group (45 per cent) . In both groups, the percentage of infected infants increased with increasing age, although at all ages fewer infants were infected with Strep . mutans in the test group than in the control group . Sixteen infants of successfully treated mothers had reached the age of 36 months . Three were infected (19 per cent) compared with 17 out of 27 in the control group (63 per cent) . These findings show that the spread of Strep . mutans can be delayed or prevented by measures directed against the main source of infection, an approach which is successful in the prevention of other infectious diseases. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1983 Jan, 55(1), 91 - 4 The antibacterial effects of calcium hydroxide apexification pastes on Streptococcus sanguis; DiFiore PM et al.; Four calcium hydroxide-based apexification pastes were tested for their antibacterial effects on Streptococcus sanguis . Their zones of growth inhibition on blood agar plates were measured at 2, 4, 6, and 8 days . Only the camphorated parachlorophenol and the metacresylacetate pastes showed zones of inhibition . Both of these zones of inhibition decreased with time; however, the zones of inhibition for the parachlorophenol paste decreased at a slower rate. J Bacteriol, 1983 Jan, 153(1), 200 - 10 Genetic transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae by DNA cloned into the single-stranded bacteriophage f1; Barany F et al.; A Staphylococcus aureus plasmid derivative, pFB9, coding for erythromycin and chloramphenicol resistance was cloned into the filamentous Escherichia coli phage f1 . Recombinant phage-plasmid hybrids, designated plasmids, were isolated from E . coli and purified by transformation into Streptococcus pneumoniae . Single-stranded DNA was prepared from E . coli cells infected with two different plasmids, fBB101 and fBB103 . Introduction of fully or partially single-stranded DNA into Streptococcus pneumoniae was studied, using a recipient strain containing an inducible resident plasmid . Such a strain could rescue the donor DNA marker . Under these marker rescue conditions, single-stranded fBB101 DNA gave a 1% transformation frequency, whereas the double-stranded form gave about a 31% frequency . Transformation of single-stranded fBB101 DNA was inhibited by competing double-stranded DNA and vice versa, indicating that single-stranded DNA interacts with the pneumococcus via the same binding site as used by double-stranded DNA . Heteroduplexed DNA containing the marker within a 70- or 800-base single-stranded region showed only slightly greater transforming activity than pure single-stranded DNA . In the absence of marker rescue, both strands of such imperfectly heteroduplexed DNA demonstrated transforming activity . Pure single-stranded DNA demonstrated low but significant transforming activity into a plasmid-free recipient pneumococcus. C R Seances Acad Sci III, 1983, 297(8), 427 - 9 {Change in the active transport of amino acids during competence in Streptococcus pneumoniae}; Trombe MC; Streptococcus pneumoniae can be transformed by DNA . Transformation occurs in a transitory physiological state called competence . We observed a modulation of the Vi of aminoacid uptakes which seems selectively related to the energy coupling of the corresponding transports. Ophthalmology, 1983 Jan, 90(1), 38 - 9 Endophthalmitis following penetrating keratoplasty; Leveille AS et al.; To determine the incidence of infectious endophthalmitis in the early postoperative period following penetrating keratoplasty, and the type and origin of the causative organisms, all cases of penetrating keratoplasty performed at the Emory University affiliated hospitals between January 1977 and March 1982 were reviewed . Four (0.2%) of the 1,876 cases developed infectious endophthalmitis . In all four, evidence of infection developed within 72 hours, and in three the donor rim culture grew the same organism as was obtained from the anterior chamber or vitreous . The causative organisms were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, group D Streptococcus-enterococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Eyes with positive donor rim cultures had a 22-fold increased incidence of endophthalmitis. Acta Microbiol Hung, 1983, 30(3-4), 259 - 62 Bacterial colonization of newborn infants in an intensive care unit; Schmidt M et al.; Bacterial screening of external ear, umbilical and gastric fluid samples from infants at admission to the intensive care unit yielded opportunistic pathogens in 22% and 12% in the years 1980 and 1982, respectively . As a result of improved hygienic measures and more rational use of antibiotics, bacterial colonization of infants staying longer than 3 days decreased from 56% to 19% . Antibiotic treatment is not indicated if opportunistic pathogens except Streptococcus agalactiae (group B), are cultured from infants without clinical symptoms. Adv Microb Physiol, 1983, 24, 301 - 66 The surface stress theory of microbial morphogenesis; Koch AL; From the physics of the situation, one might conclude that the osmotic pressure within most prokaryotes creates a sufficiently high tension in the wall that organisms are at risk of ripping themselves apart . The Surface Stress Theory holds that they avoid this, and are able to carry out certain morphogenetic processes by linking the cleavages of appropriate bonds to enzymes that are sensitive to the stress in the bonds under attack . This tends to maintain the internal pressure and couples wall growth to cytoplasmic growth . Mechanisms with widely different geometry function for different organisms, but they have in common the requirement that new murein be covalently linked, and usually in an unextended conformation . Organisms differ in the site of wall addition and site of cleavage . In the Gram-positive Streptococcus, septum formation, and septal splitting occurs with little stretching of the unsplit septum . In Gram-positive bacilli, the cylinder grows by the inside-to-outside mechanism, and the poles appear to be formed by a split-and-stretch mechanism . Gram-negative rods, with their much thinner wall, resist a spherical shape and are capable of cell division by altering the biochemical mechanism so that initially one-third to one-fifth of the pressure-volume work required to increase the area of the side wall is needed to increase that in a developing pole . The growth of hyphae is a separate case; it requires that much less work is needed to force growth of the apex relative to the side wall . Some other bacterial shapes also can be explained by the theory . But at present, it is only a theory, although it is gradually becoming capable of accounting for current observations in detail . Its importance is that it prescribes many experiments that now need to be done. Arch Oral Biol, 1983, 28(11), 1073 - 5 Activation of the alternate complement pathway by peptidoglycan of Actinomyces viscosus, a potentially pathogenic oral bacterium; Baker JJ et al.; Peptidoglycans and cells walls from Actinomyces viscosus, Staphylococcus aureus, and group A streptococcus were compared for their relative abilities to activate the alternate complement pathway (ACP) . On the dry-weight basis, the peptidoglycan from A . viscosus was 3.5 times more active than group A streptococcal peptidoglycan and 15.6 times more active than Staph . aureus peptidoglycan in activating the ACP . Consequently A . viscosus peptidoglycan is one of the most potent ACP-activators reported to date . For both A . viscosus and group A streptococcus, the peptidoglycan was a better ACP activator than cell walls from the same organism (125- and 52-fold, respectively) indicating that the peptidoglycan is probably the most important subcellular ACP-activator in these microorganisms . In contrast, cell walls from Staph, aureus were 9 times more active than peptidoglycan from Staph . aureus in activating the ACP, presumably because teichoic acids are the most important subcellular ACP activator in this microorganism. Scand J Infect Dis, 1983, 15(4), 347 - 60 Clinical and microbiologic aspects of serious infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis; Tuazon CU et al.; 10 patients with serious infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis (8 cases of endocarditis in non-prosthetic valves, 1 was complicated by osteomyelitis, 1 case of osteomyelitis, and 1 case of septicemia) are described . Clinical and microbiologic features were evaluated including antibiotic sensitivity and synergy studies, phage typing and biotyping . Endocarditis tended to affect the elderly population and the clinical manifestations were quite similar to those caused by Streptococcus viridans . Both patients with osteomyelitis had involvement of the cervical spine with excellent response to antibiotic therapy . The only patient with septicemia acquired via hyperalimentation had delayed clearance of the bacteremia but ultimately responded to intravenous antibiotics . Rifampicin was the most effective of all antibiotics tested . All isolates were sensitive to penicillinase-resistant penicillins and cephalosporins and over half were sensitive to penicillin . Full synergistic activity was demonstrated with cephalothin and nafcillin in combination with rifampicin, and rifampicin-vancomycin was partially synergistic against the majority of the strains . Five of 8 available isolates were non-phage typeable and no definite pattern was established for various types of infections . Four of the 8 isolates were classified as biotype SIIa, 2 biotype SIIc and 2 biotype SVh. Prog Food Nutr Sci, 1983, 7(3-4), 5 - 12 The effect of feeding Streptococcus faecium upon Escherichia coli induced diarrhea in gnotobiotic pigs; Underdahl NR; Streptococcus faecium (Sf) was fed to gnotobiotic pigs to control colibacillosis . Three strains of Escherichia coli (Ec) were used . Strain 0:K103,987p:NM of Ec fed to pigs without Sf developed severe diarrhea which persisted for several days . Those pigs given Sf and Ec had less diarrhea, recovered earlier, and had better weight gains than Ec only pigs . Two other strains of Ec (0157:K88ac:H19 and 08:K87,K88ab:H19) which were more virulent developed severe diarrhea and death in 5 of 8 pigs given Ec only . Those fed Sf and challenged with Ec developed some diarrhea, but the pigs gained weight and none of the pigs died . Bacterial counts of Ec and Sf from 3 different levels of small intestine and cecum were comparable . The counts were reduced for both organisms in those pigs with dual colonization . It would appear that feeding Sf reduced the toxic effect of Ec and prevented a generalized infection and death . Forty-eight litters of surgically-obtained colostrum-deprived specific-pathogen-free (SPF) pigs for repopulating swine production units were started on Sf probiotic; 48 preceding litters not fed Sf were used for comparison . Those fed Sf had a mortality rate of 8.5% as compared to 18% for those not fed Sf. Arch Oral Biol, 1983, 28(10), 977 - 9 Inactivation and stabilization of IgA protease from the human oral bacterium Streptococcus sanguis; Lindler LE et al.; The oral bacterium, Streptococcus sanguis, secretes an extracellular protease which specifically cleaves immunoglobulin A (IgA) . During in vitro growth of Strep . sanguis at 37 degrees C the IgA protease was completely inactivated within 2 h . Lowering the growth temperature to 31 degrees C reduced the inactivation rate 50 per cent and a doubling of enzyme yield was obtained . The IgA protease could be stabilized by the presence of whole human saliva, by a low concentration of IgA, or by inhibition of non-specific protease activity . Therefore, the inactivation of IgA protease appeared to be the cumulative result of thermal denaturation and inactivation by non-specific proteases. Arch Oral Biol, 1983, 28(10), 911 - 5 Application of inhibitor typing in a study of the transmission and retention in the human mouth of the bacterium Streptococcus salivarius; Tagg JR et al.; Inhibitor production (P)-typing was used as a strain marker in epidemiological studies of Streptococcus salivarius . 43 per cent of 180 adult subjects had inhibitory Strep . salivarius strains as components of their oral microbiota . Strains of 13 different P-type patterns were detected and strains of different P-types often co-existed in the same subject . Adults from whom inhibitor-producing Strep . salivarius strains had been isolated retained their characteristic bacteriocinogenic strains over a 3-yr period . A specific Strep . salivarius-inhibitor screening method was used to study oral acquisition of Strep . salivarius by 14 newborn babies . Initially the babies were colonized by a wide variety of strains, many of which were not detected in the mothers' mouths . By the fifth day of life, strains with P-types identical with those in the mother had often become established as quantitatively prominent members of the babies' Strep . salivarius population. Arch Oral Biol, 1983, 28(7), 599 - 603 A selective medium for the two major subgroups of the bacterium Streptococcus mutans isolated from human dental plaque and saliva; Van Palenstein Helderman WH et al.; A selective medium was developed on which both major subgroups of Strep . mutans (c/e/f and d/g) can be cultured and recognized on the basis of colonial morphology, Trypticase, yeast, cystine (TYC) agar was modified by adding separately autoclaved sucrose to a final concentration of 20 per cent and 0.1 unit/ml bacitracin (TYCSB) . This medium yielded significantly higher counts of Strep . mutans than the widely used mitis-salivarius bacitracin (MSB) medium. Acta Odontol Scand, 1983, 41(2), 125 - 8 Immunoperoxidase labeling of Streptococcus mutans for scanning electron microscopy; Berthold P; The application of an immunoperoxidase method to labeling of Streptococcus mutans subsp . sobrinus for scanning electron microscopy is described . Bacteria from four separate cultures were fixed in 2.5% buffered glutaraldehyde solution . The specimens were treated in accordance with an indirect immunolabeling procedure using a rabbit anti-S . mutans subsp . sobrinus gamma-globulin . Labeled bacteria were equipped with a layer of small, distinct globules of horse-radish peroxidase reaction product . Bacteria exposed to control incubations were not equipped with this layer. J Dairy Sci, 1983 Jan, 66(1), 161 - 7 Evaluation of nine teat dip formulations under experimental challenge to staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus agalactiae; Pankey JW et al.; Nine postmilking teat dips were evaluated by an experimental challenge model against either Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, or both . Formulations containing .9 and .6% sodium hypochlorite, 1% sodium dichloro-s-triazene-trione, .55% chlorhexidine gluconate, and .35% povidone iodine reduced incidence of Staphylococcus aureus infections 56.8, 28.3, 75.9, 92.5, and 77.9% . Incidence of infections with Streptococcus agalactiae was reduced 48.1 and 63.2% by 1.7 and 1% sodium dichloro-s-triazene-trione formulations . The 1% chlorhexidine gluconate and .35% povidone iodine products reduced Streptococcus agalactiae infections 71.0 and 67.0% . Three experimental 1% iodophor formulations reduced Streptococcus agalactiae infections 28.9, 44.8, and 50.7% . The experimental challenge model was refined further and provided an efficient method to determine efficacy of postmilking teat dips. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1983 Jan, 95(1), 112 - 4 {Study of the kinetics of antigen-antibody reaction by light scattering}; Aref'ev IM et al.; Laser light scattering in conjunction with measurement of the spectral width and integral intensity of light scattering was applied to studying the process of complex formation of antigens and antibodies . The system of polysaccharide group A streptococcus and antibody against it was examined under varying polysaccharide concentrations . The measurements were performed every 10 s for 70 min after combining polysaccharide and antibody solutions . Within the entire time interval, the size of the complexes were less than the wave length of exciting laser light (0.633 m) . This made it possible to determine their average magnitude in terms of the Rayleigh model. Pediatrics, 1983 Jan, 71(1), 1 - 5 Group A streptococcal meningitis; Murphy DJ Jr; A retrospective record study of six cases of meningitis caused by group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus is presented . Associated findings included otitis media, pharyngitis, and erysipelas . All patients survived their infections despite major complications including seizures, shock, coma, renal failure, and hepatitis . Two patients had neurologic sequelae . Group A Streptococcus causes a severe form of bacterial meningitis in apparently healthy children. Arch Oral Biol, 1983, 28(9), 865 - 71 Synergism of lysozyme, proteases and inorganic monovalent anions in the bacteriolysis of oral Streptococcus mutans GS5; Pollock JJ et al.; Streptococcus mutans GS5 was grown in synthetic medium containing radioactive thymidine to monitor deoxyribonucleic acid release . At neutral pH, cell lysis of hen egg-white lysozyme- or lysozyme-protease-treated cells was dependent upon the nature and concentration of the additive inorganic anions, HCO-3, SCN-, Cl- or F- . At acidic pH, NaHCO3, but not NaSCN, NaCl or NaF, was effective in promoting cell lysis which was due not only to the change in pH but also to the new HCO-3 anion concentration at the new pH . In both pH 4 and 5.2 reaction mixtures, the lysozyme and trypsin acted synergistically with NaHCO3 and the amount of lysis produced was markedly greater than in reaction mixtures containing lysozyme and bicarbonate but no protease . At apparent sub-lytic concentrations of NaHCO3, lysis was achieved by adding an appropriate concentration of one of NaSCN, NaCl or NaF to the lysozyme-protease-damaged cells . Thiocyanate proved to be most effective among the anions requiring lower concentrations to elicit lysis compared to chloride or fluoride for a fixed sub-lytic concentration of bicarbonate . As the NaHCO3 concentration increased, the lysis in the presence of these other anions increased until maximum levels of released deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were attained . In addition, the higher the NaHCO3 concentration, the more marked was the change in the degree of cell lysis . At a selected concentration at which NaHCO3 was not effective with any one salt, lysis could be achieved by combining all four inorganic anions at this concentration . The results suggest that the various anions present in oral fluids may together be sufficient to trigger lysis of oral microorganisms. Chemotherapy, 1983, 29(5), 352 - 61 Experimental group B streptococcal endocarditis treated with penicillin G versus ceftizoxime . In vitro-in vivo disparity; Bayer AS et al.; Aortic valve endocarditis due to a penicillin G (PNC) and ceftizoxime (CZ)-sensitive group B streptococcus (GBS) was induced in 72 rabbits . Animals received either procaine PNC (300 mg/kg per day) or CZ (150 mg/kg/day) for 3, 6, or 9 days . PNC rapidly sterilized blood cultures (less than or equal to 3 days) and significantly reduced vegetation GBS titers versus controls at all three sacrifice times (p less than 0.0005) . In contrast, CZ exerted a slow in vivo bactericidal effect with vegetation titers not significantly different from controls until day 9 of therapy . By day 9 of therapy, 65/89 (73%) of vegetations were sterilized by PNC versus only 24/94 (26%) sterilized by CZ (p less than 0.0005) . This marked in vitro-in vivo disparity in CZ-treated animals occurred despite 100% of individual serum bactericidal titers greater than or equal to 1:32 and 100% of individual CZ serum levels greater than or equal to 100 times the GBS MBC . The suboptimal CZ in vivo effect was not related to: (1) development of CZ resistance on therapy; (2) CZ inactivation, or (3) inoculum-growth phase effect. J Bacteriol, 1983 Jan, 153(1), 76 - 83 Plasmid linkage of the D-tagatose 6-phosphate pathway in Streptococcus lactis: effect on lactose and galactose metabolism; Crow VL et al.; The three enzymes of the D-tagatose 6-phosphate pathway (galactose 6-phosphate isomerase, D-tagatose 6-phosphate kinase, and tagatose 1,6-diphosphate aldolase) were absent in lactose-negative (Lac-) derivatives of Streptococcus lactis C10, H1, and 133 grown on galactose . The lactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system and phospho-beta-galactosidase activities were also absent in Lac- derivatives of strains H1 and 133 and were low (possibly absent) in C10 Lac- . In all three Lac- derivatives, low galactose phosphotransferase system activity was found . On galactose, Lac- derivatives grew more slowly (presumably using the Leloir pathway) than the wild-type strains and accumulated high intracellular concentrations of galactose 6-phosphate (up to 49 mM); no intracellular tagatose 1,6-diphosphate was detected . The data suggest that the Lac phenotype is plasmid linked in the three strains studied, with the evidence being more substantial for strain H1 . A Lac- derivative of H1 contained a single plasmid (33 megadaltons) which was absent from the Lac- mutant . We suggest that the genes linked to the lactose plasmid in S . lactis are more numerous than previously envisaged, coding for all of the enzymes involved in lactose metabolism from initial transport to the formation of triose phosphates via the D-tagatose 6-phosphate pathway. Microbiol Immunol, 1983, 27(11), 917 - 27 Effect of maltose on glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans; Fukui K et al.; The effects of added maltose on the activities of a preparation of crude glucosyltransferases (GTases) and purified dextransucrase (DS) were investigated to elucidate the inhibition mechanism of maltose on the synthesis of water-insoluble glucan (ISG) in Streptococcus mutans HS-6 . Tri- and tetra-saccharides produced by crude GTases from sucrose in the presence of maltose were identified as panose (4-alpha-isomaltosylglucose) and 4-alpha-isomaltotriosylglucose which were responsible for the activity of DS involved in crude GTases . Kinetic studies on crude GTases in the presence of maltose showed similar results to those of DS except that the synthesis of ISG in the crude GTases was inhibited . Comparative studies of soluble products of crude GTases and DS in the presence of maltose were performed employing gel filtration on Sephadex G-15 . The existence of oligosaccharides above hexasaccharide was revealed as the products of DS but not of crude GTases . These findings were interpreted in terms of the previously proposed mechanism of ISG synthesis by S . mutans, i.e., ISG should be synthesized from the preformed soluble glucan . It was indicated that oligosaccharides above hexasaccharide are utilized for ISG synthesis in the crude GTases system . From these results, the inhibitory mechanism of added maltose on ISG synthesis by crude GTases is considered as follows: DS synthesizes a series of 4-alpha-isomaltodextrinylglucose from sucrose and maltose, and the increase of added maltose results in the decrease of oligosaccharides responsible for synthesis of ISG. Arch Oral Biol, 1983, 28(3), 211 - 6 Degradation of the microbial and salivary components participating in human dental plaque formation by proteases elaborated by plaque bacteria; Sato S et al.; Twenty-eight strains of facultative, Gram-positive, sporulating bacilli which produce caseinolytic enzymes were isolated from human early dental plaque . A major component of the extracellular caseinolytic enzymes elaborated by strong producers seemed to be neutral zinc proteases . The extracellular proteases inactivated glucosyltransferase of Streptococcus mutans and inhibited the synthesis of adherent glucans from sucrose . The enzymes also degraded the Strep . mutans cell-surface receptor for dextran and glucan, the receptor for salivary agglutinins, located on Streptococcus sanguis cells, and the surface component of Actinomyces viscosus cells involved in co-agglutination with Strep . sanguis cells . The enzymes hydrolysed human whole saliva proteins, which seemed to result in loss of the ability to agglutinate Strep . sanguis cells. J Bacteriol, 1983 Jan, 153(1), 211 - 21 Expression of a Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase gene in Escherichia coli; Robeson JP et al.; Chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus mutans strain UAB90 (serotype c) was cloned into Escherichia coli K-12 . The clone bank was screened for any sucrose-hydrolyzing activity by selection for growth on raffinose in the presence of isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside . A clone expressing an S . mutans glucosyltransferase was identified . The S . mutans DNA encoding this enzyme is a 1.73-kilobase fragment cloned into the HindIII site of plasmid pBR322 . We designated the gene gtfA . The plasmid-encoded gtfA enzyme, a 55,000-molecular-weight protein, is synthesized at 40% the level of pBR322-encoded beta-lactamase in E . coli minicells . Using sucrose as substrate, the gtfA enzyme catalyzes the formation of fructose and a glucan with an apparent molecular weight of 1,500 . We detected the gtfA protein in S . mutans cells with antibody raised against the cloned gtfA enzyme . Immunologically identical gtfA protein appears to be present in S . mutans cells of serotypes c, e, and f, and a cross-reacting protein was made by serotype b cells . Proteins from serotype a, g, and d S . mutans cells did not react with antibody to gtfA enzyme . The gtfA activity was present in the periplasmic space of E . coli clones, since 15% of the total gtfA activity was released by cold osmotic shock and the clones were able to grow on sucrose as sole carbon source. Acta Microbiol Pol, 1983, 32(3), 221 - 30 Surface-located trypsin-activated Streptococcus sanguis strain Wicky endonuclease; Kawczynski M et al.; A new Streptococcus sanguis strain Wicky endonuclease was isolated, purified and partially characterized . This nuclease acts preferentially on thermally denatured DNA, is not inhibited by RNA and is activated 3-5 times by trypsin . This activation is accompanied by the reduction of molecular weight of the enzyme . These features distinguish the new S, sanguis nuclease from the 3 previously described S . sanguis endonucleases . With covalently closed circular plasmid DNA, the enzyme causes first the appearance of a single stranded nick, then the second nick on the opposite DNA strand, resulting in plasmid DNA linearization . This nuclease most likely is located at the cell surface . The possible relationship of the described nuclease with ability of S . sanguis cells to take up DNA in genetic transformation is discussed. Microbios, 1983, 36(143), 21 - 32 The action of selected agents on the accumulation of 18F by Streptococcus mutans; Yotis WW et al.; The action of certain substances known to induce cellular alterations, or encounted in the oral cavity, on the accumulation of 18F by Streptococcus mutans GS-5 has been investigated . A 62-67% inhibition in the number of 18F atoms bound per mg dry weight of cells could be induced by a 15 min pretreatment with 2.7 X 10(-4) M cetyltrimethylammoniumbromide, 1 X 10(-1) M acetic anhydride, or 7 X 10(-2) M HCl . Plate counts indicated that alteration of the cellular composition rather than viability was responsible for this diminution in 18F accumulation . Prior exposure for 15 min of this organism to 1 M HCHO or 0.1 M NaOH did not alter 18F accumulation . Of the common salts encountered in the oral cavity, CaCl2 enhanced 18F binding . Pretreatment of the assay cells for 15-160 min with 0.1-10 mg/ml of trypsin, pronase, protease, alpha-glucosidase, dextranase, or lactoferrin had no significant effect on the accumulation of 18F . However, pre-exposure of cells for 60 min to 1-10 mg/ml of either amylase or lipase induced a 40-67% inhibition in the binding of 18F, while lysozyme enhanced the binding of 18F by the cells . It would appear then that the binding of 18F by S . mutans may be altered by certain substances encountered in the oral cavity. Wien Med Wochenschr, 1982 Dec 31, 132(23-24), 603 - 6 {Comprehensive review of the possibilities and limits of drug therapy of rheumatic diseases}; Mirtl B; Practically 10-20% of all patients registered with a General Practitioner complains of symptoms in some way associated with rheumatism . Incidences of this disorder are distributed in such a way as to form a pattern whereby 55% is troubled with extra-articulary rheumatism, 38% with arthrosis and spondylarthrosis and 7% with rheumatoid arthritis . It is of most importance that the General Practitioner identifies these patients during the early stages of their disorder, and that he commerces the necessary treatment immediately . With the exception of streptococcus-rheumatism and gout, the pathogenesis of rheumatics eludes us to this day . As far as individual measures are concerned therefore, it is merely a question of selecting some kind of treatment, ranging from the symptomatic to the semi-causal, which can be used alongside the recommended form of therapy . The author describes various kinds of treatment including NSTAR, Glucocorticoids, Antisuppressives and basic therapy such as Chloroquin, gold and D-Penicillamin. Sem Hop, 1982 Dec 30, 58(48), 2845 - 6 {Septicemia due to Fusobacterium necrophorum . A case report}; Pera J et al.; Septicemia due to the anaerobic gram-negative bacillus Fusobacterium necrophorum is exceptional . It may originate in tonsillitis or intestinal or gynecological infection . We report one case in a young man with head injury . Fusobacterium necrophorum is frequently associated with aerobic pathogens such as streptococcus or staphylococcus (more than fifty per cent of the cases) . Metastatic localizations are numerous, often pleuro-pulmonary (infarction, abscess), hepatic (cytolysis) and meningeal (purulent meningitis, cerebral abscess), and in some instances articular (joint swelling) or embolic . Hypercoagulability is often associated . Prognosis is severe (45% mortality rate) . Penicillin G seems to be the best antibiotic but erythromycin is effective, as well as imidazole which was very active in our case. J Biol Chem, 1982 Dec 25, 257(24), 15059 - 64 Enzymatic deglycosylation of the subunits of chorionic gonadotropin . Effects on formation of tertiary structure and biological activity; Goverman JM et al.; Both the O- and N-linked oligosaccharide moieties of the subunits of the placental glycoprotein hormone, human choriogonadotropin (hCG), are removed by treatment with a mixture of glycosidases produced by Streptococcus (Diplococcus) pneumoniae . The resulting deglycosylated subunits recombine with their native counterparts in good yield, and the reassociated hormones bind to gonadotropin receptors equally as well as the untreated hormone . Stimulation of steroidogenesis by the deglycosylated alpha-native beta recombinant, however, was markedly less than the stimulation by unmodified hCG both in terms of relative potency (0.10-0.15) and the maximal amount of steroid (40-50%) produced . The native alpha-deglycosylated beta recombinant produced a maximum level of steroid production of 80-90% that of control hCG although its relative potency had decreased approximately 4-fold . The data are in accord with results by others in which either hCG or lutropin was partially deglycosylated by treatment with anhydrous hydrofluoric acid . In addition, the effects of deglycosylation on the ability of each subunit to refold after reduction of their disulfide bonds was studied . Of particular interest is that, after deglycosylation, the beta subunit can correctly refold to a significant degree, in contrast to several unsuccessful attempts to demonstrate correct refolding of the unmodified beta subunit of either lutropin or hCG . Alpha subunit, as measured by a conformation sensitive radioimmunoassay, refolds with equal facility both before and after deglycosylation. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1982 Dec 20, 709(2), 178 - 86 Purification and kinetic characterization of a specific glucokinase from Streptococcus mutans OMZ70 cells; Porter EV et al.; Glucokinase (ATP-D-glucose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.2) was purified 144-fold from extracts of sucrose-grown Streptococcus mutans OMZ70 (ATCC 33535) cells . Twenty compounds were tested as potential substrates; only glucose (Km = 0.61 mM) was phosphorylated . The reaction catalyzed by the purified enzyme was dependent on the presence of glucose, nucleoside triphosphate and metal ion; glucose 6-phosphate and ADP were the products . Of the seven nucleoside triphosphates tested, ATP (Km = 0.21 mM) was the most efficient phosphate donor in the enzyme-catalyzed formation of glucose 6-phosphate . Both Mn2+ (relative activity, 173%) and Co2+ (264%) were more efficient than Mg2+ (100%) in supporting the enzyme reaction . The enzyme exhibited a broad maximal activity in the pH range from 7.5 to 9.5 . The apparent molecular weight of glucokinase, as determined by gel filtration, was 41 000 . With glucose held constant at either saturating or subsaturating levels, ADP was a noncompetitive inhibitor of ATP (Ki = 0.67 mM) . ADP was an uncompetitive inhibitor of glucose (Ki = 0.71 mM) when ATP was held constant at either a saturating or subsaturating concentration . Glucose 6-phosphate was a competitive inhibitor of glucose (Ki = 0.31 mM) at saturating ATP and exhibited noncompetitive or mixed inhibition at a subsaturating ATP concentration . Glucose 6-phosphate was not an inhibitor toward ATP at saturating glucose concentrations, but exhibited noncompetitive inhibition at subsaturating glucose concentrations . The kinetic data support the postulation of a sequential mechanism for the glucokinase reaction; they are consistent with an ordered mechanism in which glucose binds first and glucose 6-phosphate dissociates last . Furthermore, the data suggest the existence of more than one enzyme binding site for the substrates of the glucokinase reaction. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1982 Dec, 9(12), 2201 - 6 {Organ distribution of 99m technetium-labeled OK-432 following intravenous administration in man}; Toki H et al.; We investigated the pharmacokinetics of OK-432, au immunomodulator of streptococcus preparation which, is used in cancer patients for active nonspecific immunotherapy . First, OK-432 was labeled with 99mTechnetium in vitro . Four patients with malignancy were studied . By the method of scintigraphy using gamma camera, OK-432 administered intravenously was found to be distributed in the liver, lung and spleen, by the decreasing grade . When OK-432 was administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly in the buttocks, most of the radioactivity of 99mTechnetium remained locally at the injected site . These results suggested that OK-432 given intravenously was effectively phagocytized by cells of reticuloendothelial system (RES) . Compared with other routes of administration, the intravenous route of OK-432 administration is thus considered more effective in order to stimulate RES, which is responsible for the first step of immune reaction. An Esp Pediatr, 1982 Dec, 17(6), 475 - 8 {Acute suppurative thyroiditis}; Perez Alvarez F et al.; Authors present a case of acute suppurative thyroiditis gland being normal before in a 5 8/12 year old . Plasma TSH, T3 and T4 remained within normal ranges . An alpha haemolytic streptococcus was isolated from suppuration and thyroglossal duct remnant was not identified . Surgical treatment was quickly followed by recovery . Some considerations about clinical picture, pathogenesis, etiology, prognosis and treatment are made . Usefulness of thyroid scan is emphasized. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1982 Dec 1, 181(11), 1371 - 4 Hemorrhagic streptococcal pneumonia in newly procured research dogs; Garnett NL et al.; An acute necrotizing hemorrhagic pneumonia syndrome was recognized among 14 newly arrived research dogs . Typically, there were acute deaths without clinical signs . Necropsy revealed diffuse hemorrhagic pneumonia, and Lancefield group C Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated consistently from the lungs . In many cases, septic thrombi were seen in the small vessels of the kidneys, lymph nodes, spleen, brain, and adrenal glands . The syndrome was reproduced by intratracheal inoculation of the isolant into a susceptible dog. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1982 Dec 1, 181(11), 1367 - 70 Ascending intrauterine infections in rhesus monkeys; Swindle MM et al.; Seventeen cases of abortions and stillbirths from a harem breeding colony of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were studied to determine the role of aerobic bacteria in their etiology . Using histopathologic criteria correlated with bacterial cultures, the cause in 11 of 17 cases was found to be ascending infection with normal vaginal flora, most commonly gram-positive cocci, especially an alpha-hemolytic streptococcus (Streptococcus viridans) . Actively breeding animals in the colony were screened for Str viridans, and it was determined to be a normal vaginal inhabitant that had the potential of becoming an opportunistic pathogen. J Toxicol Environ Health, 1982 Dec, 10(6), 859 - 70 Evaluation of the immune response to type III pneumococcal polysaccharide as a means to evaluate T-independent immune function in the rat; Benson RW et al.; Since the rat is frequently the experimental animal of choice for toxicology testing, studies were undertaken to adapt assays routinely used to evaluate immune function in mice so that immune function could likewise be evaluated in collaborative projects employing toxicant-treated rats . Contrary to previous reports in the literature, Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide (S3) was immunogenic in rats . Specific antibody responses to S3 were demonstrated in two strains of rats following immunization by either the subcutaneous (sc) or intraperitoneal (ip) route with purified S3, with S3 contained in polyvalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (pneumovax), or with heat-killed Type III Streptococcus pneumoniae . Dose-response studies demonstrated that the optimal immunizing dose in Sprague-Dawley or Fischer rats was 25 micrograms S3 . Reimmunization with S3 on d 21 did not produce an anamnestic response, and the kinetic data were consistent with S3 being a thymus-independent (T-independent) antigen in the rat . In contrast to our previous studies in the mouse, concurrent sc or ip injections of pertussis vaccine did not modify the response to S3 in rats . Sprague-Dawley rats acquired the capacity to respond immunologically to S3 between 24 and 31 d of age . In mature animals, sex had no effect on the ability to respond to S3 . The utility of this model as a means of characterize toxicant-induced immune dysfunction was demonstrated using the prototype immunotoxicant cyclo-phosphamide. Infect Immun, 1982 Dec, 38(3), 1094 - 101 Humoral and cell-mediated responses to a ribosomal preparation from Streptococcus mutans; Gregory RL et al.; Streptococcus mutans 6715 ribosomes disrupted in a Braun homogenizer were isolated in sodium dodecyl sulfate by differential centrifugation . This preparation contained 80% RNA and 20% protein, and carbohydrate was not detected by phenol-sulfuric acid and methyl pentose assays . The sedimentation coefficient of the ribosomes was 70S . After dialysis in 0.01 M phosphate buffer containing 10(-4) M MgCl2, the ribosomes dissociated into 54S and 32S particles . Leukocytes from rabbits immunized intramuscularly with the ribosomal preparation showed transformation and migration indices of 13.0 and 0.71, which were significantly different (P less than 0.05) from the respective indices of 0.9 and 0.98 in nonimmunized animals . Hyperimmune serum from these rabbits agglutinated representative Formalin-killed strains of all seven serotypes of S . mutans, inhibited adherence of live S . mutans 6715 to glass, and agglutinated S . mutans 6715 ribosomes adsorbed upon erythrocytes . These findings suggested that animals immunized with S . mutans ribosomes may be protected from caries caused by any of the seven serotypes of this organism. Am J Dis Child, 1982 Dec, 136(12), 1075 - 8 Fever in children with sickle cell hemoglobinopathies; Kravis E et al.; To estimate the frequency of bacteremia in children with sickle cell hemoglobinopathies (SCHs) and to evaluate the usefulness of various findings in predicting septicemia, we reviewed the charts of 153 patients with SCH who made 326 emergency department visits in a one-year period . Ninety children were febrile (greater than 38.0 degrees C) . Four children, three of whom were 2 years old or younger, were bacteremic with Streptococcus pneumoniae . A temperature greater than 40 degrees C occurred in three of the four and was more common than in those who had sterile blood cultures . Two of the five patients who were 2 years old or younger and who had the combination of a WBC count of 20,000/cu mm or more and a temperature of 39.5 degrees C or higher were bacteremic . These children were significantly more likely to have bacteremia than those with lower temperatures and WBC counts. Infect Immun, 1982 Dec, 38(3), 1130 - 6 Effect of neonatal thymectomy on dental caries in rats; Ebersole JL et al.; The effect of T-cell depletion on susceptibility to dental caries after infection with Streptococcus mutans was studied . Rats were neonatally thymectomized (Tx) and infected with S . mutans 6715 or locally immunized with the homologous organism before infection . The Tx rats uniformly exhibited a higher level of infection with S . mutans and subsequently showed a greater extent of carious activity . Correlation studies were performed comparing the level of salivary and serum anti-S . mutans antibodies and the relative amount of dental caries . The results demonstrated that salivary immunoglobulin A antibody after immunization and infection, or infection only, showed a significant negative correlation with dental caries . Also, after local immunization, serum immunoglobulin G antibody showed a negative correlation with dental caries in the rats . These findings further support a major protective role for salivary immunoglobulin A in experimental dental caries in rats. Scand J Dent Res, 1982 Dec, 90(6), 423 - 8 Effect of a fluoride-containing varnish on Streptococcus mutans in plaque and saliva; Zickert I et al.; The effect of topical application of a fluoride-containing varnish, Duraphat, on the level of Streptococcus mutans in saliva and in dental plaque was investigated in schoolchildren . Samples of saliva and pooled buccal plaque were taken before varnish application and 4, 10 and 21 d after treatment . Fluoride varnish treatment with or without a preceding dental prophylaxis had no significant effect on the plaque and salivary levels of S . mutans . The findings suggest that the caries-reducing effect of fluoride varnish cannot be explained by an alteration of the incidence of S . mutans in dental plaque or in saliva. Scand J Dent Res, 1982 Dec, 90(6), 417 - 22 Transient reduction of Streptococcus mutans interdentally by chlorhexidine gel; Kristoffersson K et al.; Chlorhexidine gel was applied interproximally with the intent to reduce Streptococcus mutans at these sites . Bacterial samples were obtained using toothpicks, which were inserted in each interproximal space and then immediately pressed against agar plates, selective for S . mutans . Duplicate bacterial samples of non-treated subjects showed that this method gave reproducible results . Using a split mouth technique, 10 subjects were exposed to short term chlorhexidine exposures of varied intensity . At the baseline sampling about 90% of the sites showed growth of S . mutans . One week after the chlorhexidine applications about 55% were infected . After 40 d S . mutans were back to about baseline levels except for the most intensively treated interproximals, which showed 75% infected sites . Thus, at many sites the reduction of S . mutans was only transient . Four subjects with more than 1 million S . mutans per ml saliva participated in a study where salivary and interproximal levels of S . mutans were compared after a rinsing period with chlorhexidine lasting for 2 weeks . The effect of the rinses varied individually, but it was noted that several interproximal spaces could be infected even if the saliva numbers did not reach detectable levels of S . mutans. J Dent Res, 1982 Dec, 61(12), 1405 - 7 A longitudinal study of caries development in initially caries-free naval recruits; Walter RG; The purpose of this investigation was to determine the pattern of caries development in initially caries-free naval recruits during a four-year period . The results indicated that: (1) 37% of the individuals developed at least one carious lesion during the four-year study, (2) occlusal lesions occurred most frequently, (3) maxillary second molars were most frequently attacked, and (4) the development of caries mirrored the isolation frequency of Streptococcus mutans. J Dent Res, 1982 Dec, 61(12), 1390 - 3 Adherence of Streptococcus sanguis to salivary mucin bound to glass; Stinson MW et al.; This study demonstrated that human submandibular-sublingual saliva (HSMSL) provided a better substrate than did whole saliva or parotid saliva for the binding of Streptococcus sanguis in a glass adherence assay . Additional evidence indicated that the lower molecular weight salivary mucin in HSMSL was involved in these interactions . Mucin's sialic acid residues were found to play a major role in mediating the binding of certain strains of Streptococcus sanguis. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Dec, 126(6), 1107 - 10 Balloon embolization of a mycotic pulmonary artery aneurysm; Renie WA et al.; A patient presented to the hospital with mild hemoptysis of 1 day's duration and an infiltrate on chest roentgenogram . Shortly after admission, she developed shock, massive hemoptysis, and a bloody pleural effusion that yielded Streptococcus viridans . Pulmonary arteriography revealed a peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysm, which was embolized with a detachable silicone balloon, resulting in immediate cessation of hemoptysis . An acute pneumonia associated with moderate to massive hemoptysis raises the possibility of mycotic aneurysm; pulmonary arteriography is indicated, which allows for diagnosis and treatment during the same study . Successful embolization may obviate the need for surgery or convert an emergency thoracotomy to an elective procedure. Gene, 1982 Dec, 20(3), 359 - 66 Nucleotide sequence of DNA controlling expression of genes for maltosaccharide utilization in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Stassi DL et al.; An analysis of previous data indicated that four structural genes concerned with maltosaccharide utilization in Streptococcus pneumoniae are organized in two operons that are transcribed in opposite directions from a central control region . This region contains two strong promoters subject to repression by a regulatory gene product in the absence of maltose . The nucleotide sequence of the 554-bp control region DNA and adjacent portions of the malX and malM structural genes was determined . Unique reading frames and initiation codons allowed identification of the oppositely oriented structural genes . Putative ribosome binding sites and -10 and -35 RNA-polymerase-binding sites, as well as AT-rich regions farther upstream, were observed proximal to both the X and M genes . The similarity of these sequences to sites found in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis indicated the conservation of control signals in bacteria, both Gram-negative and Gram-positive . A pair of 17-bp hyphenated repeat sequences in the control region may represent repressor binding sites . Two down promoter mutations, VII and 69, were shown to be deletions in the control region . The VII mutation, which affected only the MP operon, deleted the promoter adjacent to the M gene . Mutation 69, which reduced both X and M gene functions, deleted the entire segment between the promoters so that they now overlap at their -35 binding sites . As a consequence of this deletion, the AT-rich regions proximal to the promoters were lost . This suggests that the AT-rich regions are important for promoter strength. Am J Vet Res, 1982 Dec, 43(12), 2227 - 32 Effect of Streptococcus faecium C-68 in control of Escherichia coli-induced diarrhea in gnotobiotic pigs; Underdahl NR et al.; Streptococcus faecium was fed to prevent colibacillosis in gnotobiotic pigs . Three strains of Escherichia coli were used . With strain O:K103, 987P:NM in pigs fed S faecium before the E coli challenge exposure, the pigs exhibited less severe diarrhea, recovered earlier, and produced better weight gains than did pigs given E coli only . Escherichia coli strains O157:K88ac:H19 and O8:K87, K88ab:H19 were more virulent . Pigs fed S faecium and challenge exposed with these 2 strains of E coli developed mild diarrhea; however, none of the pigs died, and they continued to eat well and gained weight . Pigs given E coli only developed severe diarrhea and lost weight, and 5 of 8 infected pigs died . Bacterial counts of E coli and S faecium from 3 areas of the small intestine and the cecum were all comparable among experimental groups . Histopathologic examinations demonstrated abundant colonization of the intestinal tract with S faecium . Seemingly, S faecium reduced the toxic effects of E coli and prevented generalized infection and death. Infect Immun, 1982 Dec, 38(3), 1172 - 80 Bacteriolysis of Streptococcus mutans GS5 by lysozyme, proteases, and sodium thiocyanate; Wilkens TJ et al.; Streptococcus mutans GS5 was grown in a synthetic medium containing radioactive thymidine to monitor cell lysis by assay of the release of DNA . Bacteriolysis was achieved by sequential treatment of the cells with either hen egg white lysozyme and sodium thiocyanate or a combination of hen egg white lysozyme and a proteolytic enzyme followed by addition of the thiocyanate . In the absence of sodium thiocyanate, a small percentage of the total macromolecular thymidine was released in control reaction mixtures during incubation . This amount of released DNA more than doubled in trypsin-treated cells, but the inclusion of lysozyme in reaction mixtures prevented assay of the DNA . Lysis was found to be optimal in the late log phase of growth and was dependent on the concentrations of both lysozyme and protease . Concentrations of trypsin or chymotrypsin as low as 0.01 microgram/ml were found to be effective in enhancing the lytic process . The addition of protease to lysozyme-inorganic salt reaction mixtures altered both the pH and ionic strength profiles of cell lysis . At pHs of 5.5 or lower, both the lysozyme-NaSCN and the lysozyme-trypsin-NaSCN systems were inactive in mediating lysis . The loss of insoluble cell wall peptidoglycan by lysozyme treatment was pH independent and did not appear to be affected by the addition of protease . Either diluted whole saliva or neutrophil extracts could replace trypsin to enhance cell lysis further. Infect Immun, 1982 Dec, 38(3), 1037 - 45 Protease production by Streptococcus sanguis associated with subacute bacterial endocarditis; Straus DC; A viridans streptococcus (Streptococcus sanguis biotype II) isolated from the blood of a patient with subacute bacterial endocarditis was examined for protease production . In broth culture, extracellular proteolytic enzymes were not produced by this organism until after the early exponential phase of growth, with maximal protease production occurring during the stationary phase . Four distinct proteases were isolated and purified from the supernatant fluids of stationary-phase cultures, employing a combination of ion-exchange column chromatography, gel filtration column chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . All four proteases could be eluted from a diethylaminoethyl cellulose column at a sodium chloride gradient concentration of 0.25 M but were separable by gel filtration chromatography on a Sephadex G-100 column . They varied in molecular weights as determined by gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis from approximately 13,000 to 230,000 . All four proteases had pH optima of between 8.0 and 9.0, and two of the proteases were active against casein, human serum albumin, and gelatin but were not active against elastin and collagen . The remaining two proteases were able to degrade only casein and gelatin . These results show that S . sanguis is able to excrete maximal levels of potentially destructive enzymes when the organisms are not actively multiplying . This finding may explain some of the damage caused in heart tissue by these organisms during subacute bacterial endocarditis. Am J Epidemiol, 1982 Dec, 116(6), 933 - 9 Type-specific immunity and pharyngeal acquisition of group A Streptococcus; Guirguis N et al.; A prospective study of spread of M-type 1, 2, 13, 14, 25 and 60 group A Streptococcus in 64 families in Qalyub, Egypt, in 1972-1974 showed that type-specific serum bactericidal antibody does not protect against pharyngeal acquisition of homologous organisms . The presence of type-specific antibody also does not appear to affect duration of carriage of the organism . Type-specific immunity must be mediated in another way, such as by local antibody or trough prevention of infection (as evidenced by a host response) following acquisition . This study also confirms the observations of others that administration of penicillin lowers the probability that a person who acquires group A Streptococcus will develop type-specific antibody. South Med J, 1982 Dec, 75(12), 1471 - 5, 1478 Scrotal ecchymosis: sign of intraperitoneal hemorrhage in the newborn; Amoury RA et al.; Ecchymosis of the scrotum and lower abdominal wall occurred in four newborn boys . All were anemic . Three had coagulation abnormalities and evidence of sepsis . In two, group B streptococcal septicemia was documented . Intraperitoneal hemorrhage from a ruptured subcapsular hematoma of the liver was the source of blood in the scrotum in three, and most probably in the fourth as well . Two infants died in spite of antibiotics, vigorous blood replacement, including exchange transfusion, and desperation laparotomies for continued intraperitoneal hemorrhage . Newborns with scrotal ecchymosis should be examined for intraperitoneal hemorrhage, ruptured subcapsular hematoma of the liver being the most probable source . Their coagulation status should also be evaluated, and sepsis should be suspected, especially in those with a demonstrated coagulopathy . Group B Streptococcus is a likely primary etiologic agent in these critically ill neonates . Nonoperative treatment, as given the two survivors in this experience, is preferred. Cell, 1982 Dec, 31(2 Pt 1), 327 - 36 Identification of base mismatches recognized by the heteroduplex-DNA-repair system of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Lacks SA et al.; The susceptibility to repair of particular base mismatches by the hex system of Streptococcus pneumoniae was examined by comparison of the nucleotide sequence of the wild-type and eight mutant alleles of the malM gene . A detailed restriction map was constructed for pLS70, and the nucleotide sequence was determined for its 3475 bp chromosomal insert, which contains the entire malM gene (encoding amylomaltase), portions of malX and malP (encoding a membrane protein and a phosphorylase, respectively) and a control region . Transition mismatches were highly susceptible to repair; transversion mismatches, much less so . A mismatch caused by a single-nucleotide deletion was reparable, but mismatches with longer deletions were not . The hex system also reduced spontaneous reversion of mutations corresponding to transitions . It is suggested that recognition of donor or nascent DNA strands by the hex system depends on single-strand breaks in the target strand, and that the role of DNA methylation in mismatch repair of Escherichia coli can be accommodated to this model. Infect Immun, 1982 Dec, 38(3), 882 - 6 Effect of a glucosyltransferase inhibitor on glucan synthesis and cellular adherence of Streptococcus mutans; Koga T et al.; The effects of mutastein, a glucosyltransferase inhibitor derived from an Aspergillus terreus strain, on the glucan synthesis by glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans and sucrose-dependent adherence of S . mutans cells were examined in vitro . The synthesis of insoluble glucan by crude glucosyltransferase of S . mutans strain B13 was markedly inhibited by mutastein at a final concentration of 10 micrograms of protein/ml . The synthesis of insoluble glucan adherent to glass surfaces was almost completely inhibited by mutastein at this concentration . In addition, mutastein inhibited the sucrose-dependent adherence to glass surfaces of resting and growing cells of various S . mutans strains . These results suggest that mutastein could be useful for controlling dental plaque and dental caries in vivo. Onkologie, 1982 Dec, 5(6), 273 - 8 {Chemo-immunotherapy in disseminated malignant testicular tumors}; Sagaster P et al.; Since 1978 we have treated 26 patients with testicular cancer in stage IV with the following chemotherapy regimen: Vinblastine 6 mg/m2 (day 1 and 2) and bleomycin 30 mg given over 24 hour period (day 1 to day 5) . After two cycles this therapy was changed and patients received the combination adriamycin 60 mg/m2 (day 1) and cis-DDP 20 mg/m2 (day 1 to 5) for further two cycles . We achieved 69% (18 of 26 patients) complete remissions . Patients without response or no change received as second treatment modality vincristine 0,8 mg/m2 (day 1) and ifosfamide 1500 mg/m2 (day 1 to 5) . Before each chemotherapy in an interval of two days 1 Unit (= 1 KE) of OK-432 (Streptococcus pyogenes) preparation, an immunomodulating agent, was given intravenously . In the therapyfree interval of chemotherapy 2 KE of OK-432 were applied . The maintenance therapy for 1 year consisted of vinblastine and trofosfamide and also OK 432 . For the achievement of complete remissions 4 courses of chemotherapy seemed to be sufficient . The inclusion of OK 432 immunotherapy in an already established chemotherapy regimen seems to be qualified due to the reduction of chemotherapy induced side effects (myelosuppression, immunodeficiency) and the immunorestoration achieved before chemotherapy. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1982 Nov 22, 692(3), 415 - 24 Sucrose transport by Streptococcus mutans . Evidence for multiple transport systems; Slee AM et al.; The transport of sucrose by selected mutant and wild-type cells of Streptococcus mutans was studied using washed cocci harvested at appropriate phases of growth, incubated in the presence of fluoride and appropriately labelled substrates . The rapid sucrose uptake observed cannot be ascribed to possible extracellular formation of hexoses from sucrose and their subsequent transport, formation of intracellular glycogen-like polysaccharide, or binding of sucrose or extracellular glucans to the cocci . Rather, there are at least three discrete transport systems for sucrose, two of which are phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferases with relatively low apparent Km values and the other a non-phosphotransferase (non-PTS) third transport system (termed TTS) with a relatively high apparent Km . For strain 6715-13 mutant 33, the Km values are 6.25 X 10(-5) M, 2.4 X 10(-4) M, and 3.0 X 10(-3) M, respectively: strain NCTC-10449, the Km values are 7.1 X 10(-5) M, 2.5 X 10(-4) M and 3.3 X 10(-3) M, respectively . The two lower Km systems could not be demonstrated in mid-log phase glucose-adapted cocci, a condition known to repress sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity, but under these conditions the highest Km system persists . Also, a mutant devoid of sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity fails to evidence the two high affinity (low apparent Km) systems, but still has the lowest affinity (highest Km) system . There was essentially no uptake at 4 degrees C indicating these processes are energy dependent . The third transport system, whose nature is unknown, appears to function under conditions of sucrose abundance and rapid growth which are known to repress phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity in S . mutans . These multiple transport systems seem well-adapted to S . mutans which is faced with fluctuating supplies of sucrose in its natural habitat on the surfaces of teeth. Pediatr Infect Dis, 1982 Nov-Dec, 1(6), 388 - 90 Streptococcal abscesses following diphtheria-tetanus toxoid-pertussis vaccination; Greaves WL et al.; Abscesses developed in seven children who received diphtheria-tetanus toxoid-pertussis vaccine at a clinic in Indiana . Epidemiologic investigation revealed that all seven children had received vaccine from the same multidose vial and had been vaccinated by the same nurse at the office of one physician . Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus was isolated from abscesses in six of the seven children . No source was identified as the cause of this cluster of abscesses . Vaccine of the same lot number used elsewhere was not associated with the development of abscesses . It appears that the vaccine became contaminated during use. Infect Immun, 1982 Nov, 38(2), 785 - 7 Familial clustering of the Streptococcus mutans cryptic plasmid strain in a dental clinic population; Caufield PW et al.; Of Streptococcus mutans strains from 100 pedodontic patients, 13% contained the common cryptic plasmid . Family members of four plasmid-positive patients harbored plasmid-positive S . mutans at a significantly greater frequency compared with the pedodontic population, but there was not a one-to-one correlation of strains between mothers and children. Rheumatol Rehabil, 1982 Nov, 21(4), 206 - 10 Group G streptococcal arthritis; Bradlow A et al.; Six cases of Lancefield Group G streptococcocal arthritis are described . Two cases had pre-existing chronic arthritis (one rheumatoid) with infection of a joint prosthesis . Three cases had neoplastic disease before or at the same time as septic arthritis . Skin reactions, including cellulitis and scarlatiniform rash were prominent in five cases . One patient may have acquired a Group G streptococcus from her dog . Five cases responded well to penicillin and the sixth who was allergic to that drug was cured by erythromycin . This unusual cause of septic arthritis is being recognized more frequently in the United Kingdom. J Bacteriol, 1982 Nov, 152(2), 765 - 72 Enhancement of pneumococcal transfection by protamine sulfate; Goscin LP et al.; Protamine sulfate enhanced transfection of Streptococcus pneumoniae by DNA of omega 3 phage by factors as large as 10(5)-fold, provided it was present at the time the cells were added to the DNA . For DNA concentrations well below 1 microgram/ml, the optimum amount of protamine sulfate was near 1 microgram/ml of cells . Higher DNA concentrations required more protamine for maximum effect, and in all cases transfection fell when protamine was in excess . Transformation was not enhanced by low protamine levels and was inhibited by higher levels . A recipient strain with low but finite endonuclease activity and normal transformability showed higher transfection than did the wild type at low DNA concentrations but less than did the wild type at high DNA concentrations . Protamine sulfate enhanced its transfection at low, but not high, DNA concentrations . The behavior of this strain and the enhancement of transfection by protamine sulfate of wild-type cells were each consistent with less cutting of the donor DNA at the cell surface, which is part of the normal entry process in naturally competent gram-positive bacteria . Less cutting would lead to entry of fewer but longer strands that would be more efficient in reconstruction of the 33-megadalton phage replicon . We suggest that in this system protamine enhances transfection by inhibition of the surface nuclease action that is part of the normal entry process. J Bacteriol, 1982 Nov, 152(2), 682 - 6 Electrochemical proton gradient and lactate concentration gradient in Streptococcus cremoris cells grown in batch culture; ten Brink B et al.; The lactate concentration gradient and the components of the electrochemical proton gradient (delta micro H+) were determined in cells of Streptococcus cremoris growing in batch culture . The membrane potential (delta psi) and the pH gradient (delta pH) were determined from the accumulation of the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium and the weak acid benzoate, respectively . During growth the external pH decreased from 6.8 to 5.3 due to the production of lactate . Delta pH increased from 0 to -35 mV, inside alkaline (at an external pH of 5.7), and fell to zero directly after growth stopped . Delta psi was nearly constant at -90 mV during growth and also dissipated within 40 min after termination of growth . The internal lactate concentration decreased from 200 mM at the beginning of growth (at pH 6.8) to 30 mM at the end of growth (at pH 5.3); the external lactate concentration increased from 8 to 30 mM due to the fermentation of lactose . Thus, the lactate gradient decreased from 80 mV to zero as growth proceeded and the external pH decreased . From the data obtained on delta psi, delta pH, and the lactate concentration gradient, the H+/lactate stoichiometry (n) was calculated . The value of n varied with the external pH from 1.9 (at pH 6.8) to 0.9 (at pH values below 6) . This implies that especially at high pH values the carrier-mediated efflux of lactate supplies a significant quantity of metabolic energy to S . cremoris cells . At pH 6.8 this energy gain was almost two ATP equivalents per molecule of lactose consumed if the H+/ATP stoichiometry equals 2 . These results supply strong experimental evidence for the energy recycling model postulated by Michels et al. J Bacteriol, 1982 Nov, 152(2), 616 - 25 Biosynthesis of glucosyl monophosphoryl undecaprenol and its role in lipoteichoic acid biosynthesis; Mancuso DJ et al.; A glucophospholipid was detected in an incubation mixture containing UDP-glucose, MgCl2, ATP, and a particulate enzyme prepared from Streptococcus sanguis . The synthesis of this lipid was inhibited strongly by UDP and moderately by UMP . The molar ratio of glucose to phosphate in the purified lipid was found to be 1:1 . Glucose and glucose 1-phosphate were released by mild alkaline hydrolysis of the glucophospholipid . The lipid produced by mild acid degradation of the purified lipid yielded a thin-layer chromatographic profile similar to that of acid-treated undecaprenol . One of the minor components exhibited the same mobility as untreated undecaprenol . To characterize further the lipid moiety of the glucophospholipid, a polyisoprenol was purified from the neutral lipid of S . sanguis . The polyisoprenol was converted in the presence of ATP, UDP-glucose, and the particulate enzyme into a lipid which exhibited the same thin-layer chromatographic mobility as the glucophospholipid . The structure of the polyisoprenol was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry to be an undecaprenol with an internal cis-trans ratio of 7:2 . These results indicate that the glucophospholipid is glucosyl monophosphoryl undecaprenol . The glucosyl moiety of the glucophospholipid was shown to be incorporated in the presence of the particulate enzyme into a macromolecule which was characterized as a lipoteichoic acid by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography . This result indicates that glucosyl monophosphoryl undecaprenol is the direct glucosyl donor in the synthesis of lipoteichoic acid. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1982 Nov, 21(11), 659 - 63 Occult bacteremia in toxic-appearing, febrile infants . A prospective clinical study in an office setting; Schwartz RH et al.; The prevalence of occult bacteremia was evaluated prospectively in two groups of infants: those with a toxic appearance and temperature greater than 38.8 C and a comparison group with similar fever but without a toxic appearance . All patients were diagnosed by one physician employed in a suburban, middle-class, private ambulatory pediatric practice . Toxicity scores were assigned based on the results of history and physical examination . Peripheral white blood cell (WBC) counts and blood cultures were obtained for every child . Of 52 toxic infants involved in the study, an infectious source, commonly otitis media, was found in 26 (50%) . Eighteen patients (35%) had WBC counts above 15,000 . Bacteremia was documented in six patients (12%), due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in five and to group C Streptococcus in one . Five bacteremic infants had toxic, febrile illnesses for which no overt focus could be identified . None of 31 febrile infants without a toxic appearance had bacteremia . We conclude that highly febrile, toxic-appearing infants are at risk for occult bacteremia even when they are seen in the pediatrician's office . Toxicity diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings in a febrile infant warrants obtaining a white blood cell count and a blood culture. Ann R Coll Surg Engl, 1982 Nov, 64(6), 375 - 82 An inquiry into the decay of teeth; Cohen B; John Hunter's observations on dental caries are described and various early speculative theories of its nature and causation are mentioned . With the demonstration in the late 19th century of the chemicoparasitic nature of the late 19th century of the chemicoparasitic nature of the disease attention focused on dietary methods of prevention . An account is given of research carried out at the Royal College of Surgeons in the past 25 years, with particular reference to efforts to develop a means of immunisation against Streptococcus mutans. Jpn Circ J, 1982 Nov, 46(11), 1176 - 9 Macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes and its correlation with T-type; Yamada T et al.; Erythromycin is accepted as the second drug of choice for streptococcal infections . The incidence of macrolide resistance in streptococcal strains has been low and the previously reported macrolide-resistant strains were almost all serotype T-12 . In a 2-year survey conducted from 1979 to 1980, the strains isolated from a wide variety of geographic locations throughout Japan were studied for their macrolide-resistance . The resistance to erythromycin was correlated with the T-type of these strains and its minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined . Serotype T-12 strains isolated during this period were highly resistant to erythromycin . In addition, resistant strains were found in T-4 and T-1, the two other frequently isolated serotypes . Two point eight percent strains were moderately resistant with MICs of 1.56 to 12.5 microgram per ml and 25.5% of the strains were highly resistant with 100 microgram MIC or more. Infect Immun, 1982 Nov, 38(2), 637 - 44 Hydrophobic interactions and the adherence of Streptococcus sanguis to hydroxylapatite; Nesbitt WE et al.; Streptococcus sanguis demonstrated a high affinity for hydrocarbon solvents . When aqueous suspensions of the organism were mixed with either hexadecane or toluene, the cells tended to bind to the nonaqueous solvent . Increases in temperature resulted in a greater affinity of cells for hexadecane . Interaction between the cells and hexadecane was also enhanced by dilute aqueous sodium chloride and by low pH (pH less than 5) . The results suggest that the cell surface of S . sanguis has hydrophobic properties . Isolated cell walls also tended to partition into the nonaqueous solvent . Amino acid analyses of the walls revealed the presence of several amino acids which possess hydrophobic side chains . It is likely that the hydrophobic amino acids associated with the cell wall contribute to the hydrophobicity of intact S . sanguis . When the adherence of S . sanguis to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite was measured, it was found that hydrophobic bond-disrupting agents, such as the Li+ cation, the SCN- anion, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, were capable of inhibiting the cell-hydroxylapatite union . In addition, it was observed that both urea and tetramethylurea were inhibitors of the adherence, although the latter reagent was the superior inhibitor . The results suggest that the adherence of S . sanguis to saliva-coated smooth surfaces is at least partially dependent on the formation of hydrophobic bonds between the cell and adsorbed salivary proteins . Hydrophobic bonding may contribute to cooperative interactions involving S . sanguis and saliva-coated hydroxylapatite (Nesbitt et al., Infect . Immun . 35:157-165, 1982). Biochim Biophys Acta, 1982 Oct 28, 719(1), 81 - 9 Purification and characterization of basic glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans serotype c; Mukasa H et al.; Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt (serotype c) was found to secrete basic glucosyltransferase (sucrose: 1,6-alpha-D-glucan 3-alpha and 6-alpha-glucosyltransferase) . The enzyme preparation obtained by ethanol fractionation, DEAE Bio-Gel A chromatography, chromatofocusing and preparative isoelectric focusing was composed of three isozymes with slightly different isoelectric points (pI 8.1-8.4) . The molecular weight was estimated to be 151000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The specific activity of the enzyme was 9.8 IU per mg of protein and the optimum pH was 6.5 . The enzyme was activated 2.4-fold by commercial dextran T10, and had Km values of 7.1 micro M for the dextran and 4.3 mM for sucrose . Glucan was de novo synthesized from sucrose by the enzyme and found to be 1,6-alpha-D-glucan with 17.7% of 1,3,6-branching structure by a gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1982 Oct 15, 144(4), 413 - 7 Antepartum pneumonia in pregnancy; Benedetti TJ et al.; Thirty-nine patients satisfying criteria for antepartum pneumonia in pregnancy were retrospectively reviewed . Twenty-one patients had culture-proved bacterial pneumonias . Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common organism isolated (13/39) . Significant anemia (hemoglobin less than or equal to 10 gm) was present in 49% of patients (19/37) on admission . In the patients presenting in the second and third trimesters (25 to 36 weeks) of pregnancy, 85% (11/13) were delivered at term . The perinatal mortality rate for the entire group was 40/1,000 . There were no maternal deaths. Nouv Presse Med, 1982 Oct 2, 11(38), 2817 - 20 {Streptococcal rheumatic fever in adults}; Lemaire V et al.; Thirty-seven cases of streptococcal rheumatic fever in adults (20 women and 17 men; mean age 33 years) are reported . Only 3 patients had a history of previous rheumatic fever . In 73% of the cases untreated sore throat had occurred 8 to 30 days before the condition developed . Throat swabs taken during the rheumatic attack were positive for Streptococcus haemolyticus in only 5 out of 22 patients . The joints most commonly affected were those of the lower limbs and the symptoms were severe; in 2 out of 3 patients other joints were subsequently involved . Five patients had stable mitral regurgitation of undetermined duration, with systolic murmur . ECG abnormalities were noted in 7 patients, including 5 with prolongation of the PR interval and 2 with moderate elevation of the ST segment; these abnormalities regressed in all cases . No specific skin lesions were observed . The streptococcal infection was associated with a rise in antistreptolysins in 73% of the cases, a rise in antistreptokinases in 80% and a rise in both types of antibodies in 97% . Response to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs was satisfactory in all cases . Cure was achieved within less than one month in 57% of the patients, but the condition lasted three years in 3 patients. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Oct, 22(4), 707 - 8 Conversion of amoscanate to a mutagenic metabolite in gnotobiotic mice implanted with Streptococcus equinus; Reddy BS et al.; Recent in vitro studies indicate that intestinal bacteria convert amoscanate (4-nitro-4'-isothiocyanodiphenylamine), an antischistosomal drug, to a potent mutagen . The present study indicates that the implantation of germfree mice with Streptococcus equinus, isolated from the small intestine of conventional mice, restores the mutagenic activation of amoscanate in vivo. J Exp Med, 1982 Oct 1, 156(4), 1177 - 85 Anti-phosphorylcholine antibodies of the T15 idiotype are optimally protective against Streptococcus pneumoniae; Briles DE et al.; In the mouse, most anti-PC antibody is found in one of the three murine anti-PC idiotype families: T15, M603, or M511 . The antibodies within each of these idiotypic families have characteristic fine specificities for phosphorylcholine (PC)-analogues . In this paper we compare the ability of hybridoma IgM anti-PC antibodies of the three idiotype families to protect mice from fatal infection with S . pneumoniae . Antibody bearing the T15 idiotype was approximately 8 times as effective as antibody with the M603 idiotype and approximately 30 times as protective as antibody with the M511 idiotype . Reports by others have shown that the heavy chains of virtually all mouse anti-PC antibodies are produced by translocation of a single variable region gene and that the direct translation of this gene (in the absence of somatic mutations) results in heavy chains characteristic of the T15 idiotype . Thus, our findings suggest that the T15 germ line heavy chain variable region gene may have been selected through evolution to code for antibody binding PC-containing pathogens such as S . pneumoniae . Our observations may also explain the existence of regulatory mechanisms that result in maintenance of T15 idiotype expression in murine anti-PC immune responses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1982 Oct 1, 181(7), 673 - 6 Streptococcus suis type II-associated diseases in swine: observations of a one-year study; Sanford SE et al.; Streptococcus suis type II was isolated from 170 pigs submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Ontario, Canada, over a 1-year period . The most common disease condition with which the organism was identified was suppurative bronchopneumonia, usually secondary to enzootic pneumonia of pigs . The organism was also isolated in cases of pleuropneumonia, valvular endocarditis, arthritis, and vaginitis as well as from aborted fetuses . A condition characterized by neonatal disease and rapid death, usually within the first 24 hours of life, was identified in 23 pigs from 5 farms . Meningitis was identified in 15 weaned pigs from 8 farms . All S suis type II isolates tested for antimicrobial sensitivity were sensitive to penicillin and ampicillin . Most isolates were also sensitive to chloramphenicol and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, but resistant to streptomycin and tetracycline . Accessions from which the organism was isolated were concentrated in the colder months of the year, with few or no isolates recorded in the summer months. Infect Immun, 1982 Oct, 38(1), 8 - 13 Effect of microbial interaction on the colonization rate of Actinomyces viscosus or Streptococcus mutans in the dental plaque of rats; Beckers HJ et al.; The resident oral microflora of conventional Osborne-Mendel rats was challenged with Actinomyces viscosus or Streptococcus mutans strains . The adherence of the inoculated organism to the tooth surface and the subsequent growth were studied by means of viable counts determination . The initial growth rate of S . mutans in conventional rats was lower than in mono-associated gnotobiotic rats (doubling time, td = 5 h versus td = 1.1 h) . The delayed start of growth and the low initial growth rate indicated that a competitive interaction between S . mutans and the resident microflora occurred . The initial growth rate of A . viscosus in conventional rats (td = 3.1 h) was approximately the same as that in gnotobiotic rats (td = 2.8 h) . The start of growth of A . viscosus was only slightly delayed compared with the start in gnotobiotic rats . These results suggest a neutralistic relationship between A . viscosus and the resident microflora . A . viscosus reached a stationary level about 7 days after inoculation, whereas the S . mutans strains did not reach stationary levels until 2 weeks after inoculation. Eur J Biochem, 1982 Oct, 127(2), 231 - 6 Purification of penicillin-binding protein 3 from Streptococcus pneumoniae; Hakenbeck R et al.; Penicillin-binding protein 3 from wild-type Streptococcus pneumoniae has been purified to homogeneity by solubilization with Triton X-100 and successive column chromatography . The penicillin-binding activity during the fractionation procedure was monitored with a rapid filter binding assay using {3H}propionylampicillin and penicillin-binding protein 3 identified after fluorography of dodecyl sulfate gels . The purified protein showed penicillin-sensitive D,D-carboxypeptidase activity. Am J Ophthalmol, 1982 Oct, 94(4), 528 - 33 Bacterial endophthalmitis following cutting of sutures after cataract surgery; Gelender H; Bacterial endophthalmitis developed in four patients after cataract surgery sutures were cut . Wound dehiscence was present in three cases, but in one the wound remained intact . Vitreous cultures identified Streptococcus viridans in two cases and Staphylococcus aureus and St . epidermidis in one case each . Antibiotic therapy was administered by intraocular, periocular, topical and systemic routes and three patients underwent vitrectomy . Visual function recovered to 20/50 in two cases and to 20/100 in a third . Retinal detachment in the fourth case resulted in loss of all visual function. Am J Epidemiol, 1982 Oct, 116(4), 692 - 703 Epidemiologic studies of Streptococcus pneumoniae in infants . The effects of season and age on pneumococcal acquisition and carriage in the first 24 months of life; Gray BM et al.; In a study of the natural history of pneumococcal carriage and infection in infants enrolled at birth in Birmingham, Alabama from November 1974 to December 1975, the authors observed patterns of acquisition and carriage that appeared to be influenced by age and the season of the year . To describe more precisely these effects, the original data were used to construct multiple regression models for acquisition, carriage rates, and duration of carriage of pneumococci during the first 24 months of life . The acquisition rate was strongly seasonal, with a marked winter peak and summer low . Seasonal rate increased with age, while the duration of carriage decreased; these combined effects were reflected in the carriage rate, which increased sharply up to the age of nine months, then leveled off . While age and season accounted for a relatively small part of the variation in acquisition and carriage rates, the models were found to fit the data very well . The authors were able to analyze the data in a precise fashion, confirm earlier observations, and relate them to the work of other investigators over the past 50 years. Arch Intern Med, 1982 Oct, 142(10), 1958 - 9 Failure of erythromycin in preventing bacterial endocarditis; Eng RH et al.; Use of oral erythromycin to prevent bacterial endocarditis has been accepted in the treatment of penicillin-allergic patients who required oral or sinusal surgery . A case of Streptococcus sanguis endocarditis, however, developed in a patient following intravenous erythromycin administration during surgery on the maxillary sinus . The organism isolated proved resistant to erythromycin . This isolation of an erythromycin-resistant organism, together with previous reports of the drug's failure in preventing endocarditis in animal models, and recognition of the bacteriostatic action of erythromycin, argue for caution in our current practice of using erythromycin as a single drug therapy to prevent endocarditis in the patient who is allergic to penicillin. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Oct, 126(4), 712 - 3 Bacteremia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae of nonvaccine serotypes; Shlaes DM et al.; Comparison of serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae blood isolates showed a 2.5-fold increase in nonvaccine strains from the Cleveland Veterans Administration Hospital compared with those from other Cleveland area hospitals . Death was more frequently associated with nonvaccine than vaccine serotypes . No patient at any of the hospitals involved in the study received pneumococcal vaccine . This suggests that Cleveland Veterans Administration Hospital represents a unique population of patients within the Cleveland area and emphasizes the need for continued serotyping of blood and body fluid isolates. Ann Intern Med, 1982 Oct, 97(4), 493 - 6 Recurrent cellulitis after saphenous venectomy for coronary bypass surgery; Baddour LM et al.; We describe a previously unreported complication of coronary artery bypass grafting, recurrent cellulitis . Five patients had 20 episodes of acute cellulitis, each occurring in the lower extremity in which saphenous venectomy had been done . The cases were striking because the patients presented with high fever and considerable systemic toxicity . The appearance of the lesions, presence in one case of obvious associated lymphangitis, and prompt response in three instances to therapy with penicillin alone all suggest group A streptococcal infection . In one case, a beta-hemolytic, bacitracin-susceptible Streptococcus strain was isolated from the lesion . The pathogenesis of this syndrome remains obscure but, based on our understanding of postsurgical erysipelas, this cellulitis likely results from the interplay of several factors, including local compromise of lymphatic drainage, direct bacterial invasion, and acquired hypersensitivity to streptococcal exotoxins. Scand J Dent Res, 1982 Oct, 90(5), 354 - 62 Migration of leukocytes in dental pulp in response to plaque bacteria; Bergenholtz G et al.; Cell material from three different dental plaque bacteria (Actinomyces viscosus, Streptococcus mitis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) were studied for their capacity to induce leukocyte migration in the dental pulp of monkeys . Altogether five animals were used to provide 123 teeth for the study . The bacterial test materials were prepared from lyophilized sonicates of pure cultures of respective bacteria mixed with crystalline bovine serum albumin (BSA) 1:1 by weight . Immediately prior to use in the experiment saline was added to render the test material into a paste-like consistency . Buccal Class V cavities were prepared in the monkey teeth leaving a thin remaining wall to the pulp . In these cavities, the test materials were enclosed for a period of 8 h . A set of control cavities received BSA alone . Placement of test and control materials were made before and after depleting the animals of serum complement by repeated injections of Cobra Venom Factor . Histologic examination of pulp tissue specimens showed that materials from two of the bacterial species (A . viscosus, Act . actinomycetemcomitans) consistently induced infiltrations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in one to several cell layers underneath the test cavity . The material from S . mitis seemed less potent and in 11 of 22 teeth no pulpal reaction was recorded . Inactivation of complement with Cobra Venom Factor did not appear to affect the severity of the pulpal responses. J Dent Res, 1982 Oct, 61(10), 1199 - 205 Establishment and localization of mixtures of Streptococcus mutans serotypes in the oral cavity of the rat; Huis in 't Veld JH et al.; The colonization of S . mutans serotypes on different tooth surfaces of the rat was investigated . Fissures appeared to be the main habitat . In the presence of a serotype c strain, S . mutans serotype d could only be established when sucrose-containing diets were supplied . However, the serotype c strain was always present in higher proportions . The production of a bacteriocin for which the serotype d strain was sensitive appeared to be responsible for the observed predominance of the serotype c strain. Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Oct, 78(4 Suppl), 659 - 63 The ability of participant laboratories to detect penicillin-resistant Pneumococci . A report from the microbiology portion of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) surveys; Jones RN et al.; To assess the ability of clinical laboratories to identify penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, a challenge sample was distributed to CAP Special Bacteriology surveys participants in 1981 . Their performance was excellent (greater than 99%) for organism identification, but less than 15% of surveys subscribers that use the standardized disk diffusion test detected penicillin resistance . The recommendations of the NCCLS M2-A2S for 1-microgram oxacillin disk screening are discussed . The screening and dilution tests for detecting drug resistant S . pneumoniae seem to be accurate and the use of other disks, such as methicillin and nafcillin, also appear efficacious . Due to the clinical frequency of serious pneumococcal disease, all microbiology laboratories should be applying these screening procedures to appropriate patient isolates. Antibiotiki, 1982 Oct, 27(10), 757 - 61 {Nisin inactivation in a culture of the producer Streptococcus lactis strain MGU}; Egorov NS et al.; The intensive biosynthesis of nizin on the glucose-yeast medium is observed during the logarithmic and early lag phases of the staphylococcal growth . The ratio of nizin in the fermentation broth (free nazin) and that bound with the cells depended on pH of the medium . When pH was maintained at 6.6-6.8, the amount of nazin in the cells during and growth logarithmic phase was equal to its amount in the fermentation broth filtrate . During the lag phase marked inactivation of nizin was noted . periodical feeding of casein prevented the nizin inactivation . The preliminary data are indicative of the enzymatic nature of the antibiotic. J Bacteriol, 1982 Oct, 152(1), 175 - 82 Involvement of oxygen-sensitive pyruvate formate-lyase in mixed-acid fermentation by Streptococcus mutans under strictly anaerobic conditions; Abbe K et al.; Streptococcus mutans JC2 produced formate, acetate, ethanol, and lactate when suspensions were incubated with an excess of galactose or mannitol under strictly anaerobic conditions . The galactose- or mannitol-grown cell suspensions produced more formate, acetate, and ethanol than the glucose-grown cells even when incubated with glucose . The levels of lactate dehydrogenase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate were not significantly different in these cells, but the level of pyruvate formate-lyase was higher in the galactose- or mannitol-grown cells, and that of triose phosphate was lower in the galactose-grown cells . This suggests that the regulation of pyruvate formate-lyase may play a major role in the change of the fermentation patterns . The cells of S . mutans grown on glucose produced a significant amount of volatile products even in the presence of excess glucose under strictly anaerobic conditions . However, when the anaerobically grown cells were exposed to air, only lactate was produced from glucose . When cells were anaerobically grown on mannitol and then exposed to air for 2 min, only trace amounts of fermentation products were formed from mannitol under anaerobic conditions . It was found that the pyruvate formate-lyase in the cells was inactivated by exposure of the cells to air. Clin Perinatol, 1982 Oct, 9(3), 593 - 611 Edema formation in the newborn lung; Bland RD; Pulmonary edema is an important cause of respiratory distress in newborn infants . It occurs with severe perinatal asphyxia, heart failure, hyaline membrane disease, persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus, pneumonitis from group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia) . Neonatal pulmonary edema often develops from increased pressure in the microcirculation of the lungs . This may occur in conjunction with sustained hypoxia; left ventricular failure associated with congenital heart disease or myocardial dysfunction; following excessive intravascular infusions of blood, colloid, fat, or electrolyte solution and in conditions that increase pulmonary blood flow . Low intravascular protein osmotic pressure from hypoproteinemia may predispose infants to pulmonary edema . Hypoproteinemia is common in infants who are born prematurely . Large intravascular infusions of protein-free fluid further decrease the concentration of protein in plasma and thereby facilitate edema formation . Lymphatic obstruction by air (pulmonary interstitial emphysema of fibrosis (chronic lung disease) also may contribute to the development of edema . Bacteremia, endotoxemia, and prolonged oxygen-breathing injure the pulmonary microvascular endothelium and cause protein-rich fluid to accumulate in the lungs . Epithelial protein leaks may develop when the transpulmonary pressure needed to inflate the lungs increases because of high surface tension at the air-liquid interface . Fibrin clots from in some of the air spaces, which in combination with atelectasis and edema constitute the pathologic features of hyaline membrane disease . The risk of neonatal pulmonary edema can be reduced by several therapeutic measures designed to lessen fluid filtration pressure, increase plasma protein osmotic pressure, and prevent or reduce the severity of lung injury. J Dairy Sci, 1982 Oct, 65(10), 1987 - 92 Mastitis: effect of pH, temperature, and emollients on disinfecting action of N,N-dimethyldodecanamine; Turck PA et al.; Growth inhibition of bacteria over time by N,N-dimethyldodecanamine, a tertiary alkyl amine, was studied to evaluate disinfecting action with changes in pH and temperature and with addition of emollients . Because alkyl amines have limited solubility in aqueous solutions, the effect of pH on solubility of the tertiary amine was determined . Non-growing cultures of Streptococcus agalactiae or Escherichia coli were added to sterile buffer or buffer containing the amine, and at specific intervals aliquots were removed, neutralized in a lecithin/Tween 80 quencher, and then plated to determine the number of surviving bacteria per plate . Survival curves were used to determine the effect of changing environmental conditions on antimicrobial activity . Antimicrobial activity was greater at pH 7 than at pH 8 and was least at pH 6 . Increases in temperature from 20 to 40 degrees C caused a corresponding increase in antimicrobial activity . Addition of up to 10% glycerin or propylene glycol caused no significant decrease in antimicrobial activity of the tertiary amine. Am J Vet Res, 1982 Oct, 43(10), 1770 - 5 Antibody response in lacteal secretions of cows after immunization with various concentrations of staphylococcal and streptococcal antigens; Opdebeeck JP et al.; A total of 55 lactating Holstein cows were randomly allocated to 6 groups . Five of these groups (No . 2 through 6) were inoculated on 2 occasions in the region of the external inguinal lymph node with various concentrations of 3 bacterial antigens . Saline solution was administered to group 6 as a control . The antigen preparations consisted of a Staphylococcus aureus bacterin, a Streptococcus agalactiae bacterin, and staphylococcal alpha-toxoid . These antigens were administered as a composite preparation suspended in saline solution . The concentration of antibody in the lacteal secretions, represented by immunoglobulin G specific for each of the 3 vaccine antigens, was monitored during the 18-week experimental period by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . The concentration of each of the 3 vaccine components which was required to stimulate a maximal immune response in the lactating gland appears to have been established. J Fam Pract, 1982 Oct, 15(4), 743 - 5, 750, 755 passim Otitis media; Froom J; The spectrum of otitis media includes acute and chronic forms, each of which can be either suppurative of nonsuppurative . In the usual clinical setting distinctions between these several forms can be difficult . Determination of accurate incidence figures is impeded by the unavailability of universally accepted diagnostic criteria . Risk factors include season of the year, genetic factors, race, preceding respiratory tract infections, cleft palate, and others . The effect of household size and allergy are uncertain . The most common infecting organisms are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae, although in a significant number of cases either the fluid is nonpathogenic or no organisms can be isolated . The effects of several therapies are reviewed, including antibiotics, myringotomy, steroids, and middle-ear ventilating tubes. Gene, 1982 Oct, 19(3), 345 - 53 A cloning vector able to replicate in Escherichia coli and Streptococcus sanguis; Macrina FL et al.; A plasmid that is able to replicate in both Escherichia coli and Streptococcus sanguis has been constructed by the in vitro joining of the pACYC184 (Cmr Tcr) and pVA749 (Emr) replicons . This plasmid, designated pVA838, is 9.2 kb in size and expresses Emr in both E . coli and S . sanguis . Its Cmr marker is expressed only in E . coli and may be inactivated by addition of DNA inserts at its internal EcoRI or PvuII sites . The pVA838 molecule also contains unique SalI, SphI, BamHI, NruI and XbaI cleavage sites suitable for molecular cloning . pVA838 may be amplified in E . coli but not in S . sanguis . We have used the pVA838 plasmid as a shuttle vector to clone streptococcal plasmid fragments in E . coli . Such chimeras isolated from E . coli were readily introduced into S . sanguis by transformation. Eur J Immunol, 1982 Oct, 12(10), 854 - 60 Construction of a partial rabbit spleen cDNA library and identification of immunoglobulin clones; Pavirani A et al.; A partial cDNA library was constructed from total poly A(+)-RNA isolated from the spleen of a rabbit (kappa allotype b5; heavy chain allotypes a3d12e15) that had been hyperimmunized with Streptococcus pneumoniae (type III) . In spite of the absence of either specific DNA probes for rabbit immunoglobulin (Ig) sequences or cross-hybridizing mouse Ig DNA probes, recombinant clones containing cDNA sequences of rabbit gamma heavy chain and kappa light chains were identified by a combination of screening techniques: (a) colony hybridization using labeled mRNA; (b) mRNA hybridization selection and translation and (c) hybridization to electrophoretically fractionated poly A(+)-RNA ("Northern" analysis) . Sequencing of three kappa light chain recombinant DNA sequences, including part of the 3' untranslated (UT) region, has confirmed the fact that recombinant DNA for kappa light chain mRNA has been identified . An unexpectedly high degree of homology between the 3' UT region sequence of this DNA from a rabbit of b5 allotype and the published 3' UT sequence from a b4 rabbit was found . It appears that 3' UT sequences from b4 and b5 alleles have diverged less than the coding sequences for the constant regions . The functional significance of this conservation of 3' UT sequences remains to be elucidated. J Bacteriol, 1982 Oct, 152(1), 183 - 90 Transformation of restriction endonuclease phenotype in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Muckerman CC et al.; The genetic basis of the unique restriction endonuclease DpnI, that cleaves only at a methylated sequence, 5'-GmeATC-3', and of the complementary endonuclease DpnII, which cleaves at the same sequence when it is not methylated, was investigated . Different strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from patients contained either DpnI (two isolates) or DpnII (six isolates) . The latter strains also contained DNA methylated at the 5'-GATC-3' sequence . A restrictable bacteriophage, HB-3, was used to characterize the various strains and to select for transformants . One laboratory strain contained neither DpnI nor Dpn II . It was probably derived from a DpnI-containing strain, and its DNA was not methylated at 5'-GATC-3' . Cells of this strain were transformed to the DpnI restriction phenotype by DNA from a DpnI-containing strain and to the DpnII restriction phenotype by DNA from a DpnII-containing strain . Neither cross-transformation, that is, transformation to one phenotype by DNA from a strain of the other phenotype, nor spontaneous conversion was observed . Extracts of transformants to the new restriction phenotype were shown to contain the corresponding endonuclease. Jpn J Exp Med, 1982 Oct, 52(5), 221 - 30 Biochemical and electron microscopic observations of cytotoxic effect of a fraction from hemolytic streptococcus on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells; Higuchi Y et al.; A protein fraction (60-F), obtained from cell-free extract of living hemolytic streptococcus, Su-strain, by 50-60% saturation with ammonium sulfate, inhibited the de novo synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells . 60-F released RNA but not DNA from EAC cells . This cytotoxic or cytolytic effect of 60-F was substantiated morphologically by scanning and transmission electron microscopic (SEM and TEM) observations, showing that 60-F induced cellular changes such as a loss of microvilli, bleb formation, cell deformity and partial gap of cell membrane in EAC cells . In addition, it was found that 60-F was more stable in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with fetal calf serum than in other various media examined and was sensitive to temperature, pH changes and trypsin digestion. Hum Pathol, 1982 Oct, 13(10), 925 - 9 An immunohistochemical study of Whipple's disease using the immunoperoxidase technique; Du Boulay CE; Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded jejunal, lymph nodal, and splenic tissues were obtained from four patients with Whipple's disease . Using antisera to a variety of bacteria, sections were stained by the immunoperoxidase technique . Positive staining was obtained with antiserum to streptococcus group B in all tissues examined . The distinctive pattern of staining was similar to the findings of previous workers using fluorescein-labeled antibodies . However, when rigorous controls for specificity were applied in this study, it was not possible to confirm the presence of streptococcus B antigen in the tissues . The discrepancy between the specificity of the technique on control and test sections is interesting and emphasizes the need for adequate controls when the immunoperoxidase technique is used to look for microorganisms in tissues . It is suggested that the unknown microorganism observed in the macrophages of patients with Whipple's disease has been altered in some way to resemble streptococcus B antigenically or that it shares common antigens with streptococcus B. J Immunol Methods, 1982 Sep 30, 53(3), 335 - 43 A fluorescein-linked immunoabsorbent assay for the detection of antibacterial antibodies in secretions and serum; Cole MF et al.; A rapid, quantitative solid-phase immunofluorescence assay has been developed to measure antibodies reactive with Streptococcus mutans in saliva and serum . Formalin killed bacteria were adsorbed to cellulose acetate discs and antibodies bound to the antigen-coated immunoabsorbent were detected by use of fluorescein-labeled antibody to human immunoglobulin isotypes . Quantitation was performed by placing the immunoabsorbent discs in a fluorometer . Low levels of naturally occurring antibodies reactive with S . mutans were easily detected in saliva and serum from normal human subjects. JAMA, 1982 Sep 24, 248(12), 1486 - 9 Pneumococcal disease in a medium-sized community in the United States; Mufson MA et al.; To assess the importance of bacteremic pneumococcal disease among the population of one "average" American community, we studied all hospitalized patients who had Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood, CSF, pleural fluid, or ascitic fluid during the years 1978 through 1981 in Huntington, WVa, and environs . Seventeen patients were children younger than 13 years, and 71 were adults . The case fatality rate from bacteremic pneumococcal disease among adults was 30%, and among children it was 6% . It was much higher (88%) in adults older than 50 years with extrapulmonary disease . Approximately four fifths of the typed isolates from adults or children were types included in the current vaccine . Eighty-nine percent of the adults who died of pneumococcal infection had been candidates for pneumococcal vaccine, but only one patient had received vaccine, just before becoming ill with pneumococcal disease . These data provide a basis for widespread use of pneumococcal vaccine in high-risk groups. Infect Immun, 1982 Sep, 37(3), 987 - 92 Effect of C-reactive protein on the complement-mediated stimulated of human neutrophils by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 3 and 6; Mold C et al.; C-reactive protein (CRP) has long been known to appear in the sera of individuals with inflammatory processes, but its role in host defense against bacterial infection is unclear . We have recently demonstrated that CRP in the presence of the classical complement pathway markedly enhances the opsonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 27 by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (Edwards et al., J . Immunol . 128:2493-2496) . In this report we have extended these studies to characterize the role of CRP in the opsonization of other S . pneumoniae serotypes . Two clinically important serotypes, 3 and 6, were tested along with the nonpathogenic rough strain R36a . All strains were found to bind radiolabeled CRP in the presence of calcium and to activate the classical complement pathway in normal human serum . However, the opsonophagocytic response of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to the strains, measured by chemiluminescence, was quite different . In contrast to the marked enhancement by CRP of the chemiluminescent response to serotype 27 in normal human serum, CRP had no effect on the opsonization of serotype 6 or R36a and inhibited opsonization of serotype 3 in normal serum . In serum from a hypogammaglobulinemic patient, CRP enhanced the lowered chemiluminescent response to serotype 3 and 6 organisms but did not restore the response to normal . The greater opsonic effect of CRP on serotype 27 may be related to the ability of CRP to bind to the capsule as well as to the cell wall of this serotype or to differences in the amount of CRP bound to the different strains. Am J Med, 1982 Sep, 73(3), 357 - 61 Legionnaires' disease: new clinical perspective from a prospective pneumonia study; Yu VL et al.; In an attempt to ascertain the incidence of Legionnaires' disease at our hospital, a prospective case-control pneumonia study was conducted for 11 months . Specialized diagnostic tests for Legionella pneumophila, including serologic study, direct immunofluorescent examination, and selective culture, were made routinely available in our hospital . To our surprise, L . pneumophila was the most common cause of pneumonia (22.5 percent) attributable to a single pathogen, followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (10.6 percent) . In 68.8 percent of the cases, Legionnaires' pneumonia was hospital-acquired . In contrast to other investigators, we found that abdominal pain, diarrhea, neurologic signs, abnormal liver function results, hypophosphatemia, and hematuria did not occur significantly more frequently in pneumonia caused by L . pneumophila than in that caused by other microorganisms . However, hyponatremia within five days of onset of pneumonia occurred significantly more frequently in Legionnaires' disease (p less than 0.0001) . Since the clinical presentation is nonspecific, specialized laboratory tests are necessary to make the diagnosis . As a result of our experience, we suggest an approach using serologic tests as a screen to determine whether more specialized tests for Legionnaires' disease should be introduced into a hospital without previously recognized cases of Legionnaires' disease. Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Sep, 78(3), 348 - 50 Pneumococcal sepsis with false-negative blood cultures; Fischer GW et al.; Most physicians recognize the false-positive blood cultures (generally due to contamination) are common . Bacteria such as pneumococci, however, may rapidly die in broth cultures, and viable bacteria may not be identified . Several patients were observed with pneumococcal infections that had false-negative blood cultures 24 hours after inoculation . Hemolysis and methemoglobin formation in the bottle suggested bacterial growth within 12 hours after incubation, and blind subcultures at that time yielded pneumococci . Pneumococcal antigen could be detected in the blood culture bottles