Streptococci

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 using counter-immunoelectrophoresis, even though subculture at 24 hours yielded no growth . Physicians and laboratory personnel should be aware that false-negative blood cultures may occur, particularly with certain bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, and that the blood culture bottles should be observed visually for the presence of brown sediment or hemolysis.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Sep, 151(3), 1581 - 90
Choline-containing bacteriophage receptors in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Lopez R et al.; Choline-containing teichoic acid seems to be essential for the adsorption of bacteriophage Dp-1 to pneumococci . This conclusion is based on the following observations: In contrast to pneumococci grown in choline-containing medium, cells grown in medium containing ethanolamine or other submethylated aminoalcohols instead of choline were found to be resistant to infection by Dp-1 . Live choline-grown bacteria and heat- or UV-inactivated cells and purified cell walls prepared from these cells were capable of adsorbing phage Dp-1; ethanolamine-grown pneumococci or cell wall preparations were unable to do so . Adsorption of Dp-1 to choline-containing cell walls was competitively inhibited by phosphorylcholine and by several choline-containing soluble cell surface components, such as the Forssman antigen and the teichoic acid-glycan complexes formed by autolytic cell wall degradation . Cell walls prepared from pneumococci grown in ethanolamine or phosphorylethanolamine were inactive . Electron microscopic studies with pneumococci that had segments of choline-containing cell wall material amid ethanolamine-containing regions indicated that the Dp-1 phage particles adsorbed exclusively to the choline-containing surface areas . We suggest that the choline residues of the pneumococcal teichoic acid are essential components of the Dp-1 phage receptors in this bacterium.

J Lab Clin Med, 1982 Sep, 100(3), 385 - 98
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human IgG antibody to the type Ia polysaccharide of group B streptococcus; Papierniak CK et al.; An ELISA was developed to measure human IgG antibody to the native polysaccharide antigen of GBS serotype Ia . Because the polysaccharide binds poorly to polyvinyl chloride, its adherence was enhanced by activation with cyanogen bromide and coupling to HSA in a molar ratio of polysaccharide to albumin of 1:4.5 . There was minimal loss of sialic acid during coupling, and the coupled antigen showed identity with uncoupled native antigen by Ouchterlony analysis . OD values obtained by ELISA showed a log-linear relation to concentration of specific antibody in whole and affinity-chromatographed human sera measured by quantitative precipitation over a range of 0.25 to 3.5 microgram/ml . In replicate ELISA experiments using serially diluted human serum, dilutions with antibody content as low as 0.016 microgram/ml could be reliably differentiated from PBS or agammaglobulinemic serum . The concentration of antibody in 98 selected human sera measured by ELISA correlated well (r = 0.89, p less than 0.001) with results obtained by indirect IF assay . This quantitative ELISA for GBS antibody is rapid, convenient, economical, and suitable for routine use.

Infect Immun, 1982 Sep, 37(3), 993 - 1000
Effect of neonatal thymectomy on immune responses of rats to Streptococcus mutans; Ebersole JL et al.; The effect of neonatal thymectomy on secretory and systemic antibody responses in rats was studied . Groups of normal or thymectomized (Tx) rats were infected or immunized and infected with Streptococcus mutans 6715 . Tx rats exhibited a significantly lower level of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody to S . mutans after a 45- to 65-day infection . Similarly, after multiple local injections of formalinized S . mutans, Tx rats showed a delay in the appearance and lower levels of salivary IgA antibody to S . mutans . Serum IgG antibody levels were also decreased in Tx rats with both experimental protocols . In contrast, salivary IgG and serum IgM anti-S . mutans activity in Tx and normal rats were similar during the experiments . These results demonstrated that thymus deprivation at birth produces profound effects on the ability of rats to manifest secretory IgA antibody responses to the pathogenic microorganism S . mutans.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Sep, 252(4), 463 - 71
{Induction of immune interferon by erythrogenic toxins A and B from Streptococcus pyogenes}; Tonew E et al.; By interaction of streptococcal erythrogenic toxins A and B with chick embryo fibroblasts and human amnion (FL) cells an antiviral interferon-like factor was secreted . It inhibited the replication of vesicular stomatitis, vaccinia and Mengo viruses . The streptococcal toxin type B was 50 times more cytotoxic for both cell cultures in comparison with streptococcal toxin A . The maximum tolerated doses of the two types of streptococcal toxins induced approximately the same antiviral protection effect . The production curve of the antiviral factor showed a maximum at the 12th hour after incubation at 37 degrees C with graduate decrease up to the 24th hour using a 6 hours induction time . The interferons induced by the streptococcal erythrogenic toxins A and B were thermostable at 56 degrees C for 30 min and were partially destroyed at pH 2 as tested against Mengo virus in FL cells . The antiviral effect could be reversed by addition of streptococcal erythrogenic toxin A at the maximum tolerated dose simultaneously with the glycosylating inhibitors streptovirudin and D-glucosamine by 90 and 100 per cent, respectively.

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1982 Sep, 75(9), 1049 - 54
{Bacterial endocarditis in congenital heart diseases}; Dahan M et al.; The following observations were made on a series of 15 cases of bacterial endocarditis on congenital cardiac lesions admitted between 1971 and 1980, in 13 patients aged 6 to 48 years old (average 21 yrs old): --The low but constant incidence of endocarditis--The majority of causal lesions were ventricular septal defects of Fallot's tetralogy--The portal of entry diagnosed in 2/3 of cases was usually dental--The causal organism was a streptococcus in 80% of cases--The long period of pyrexia before, the diagnosis of endocarditis was made--M mode, and above all, 2D echo detected vegetations in half the cases where it was performed--The gravity of the immediate prognosis due to a 25% mortality and a high incidence of complications--Early complications present in 2/3 of cases were dominated by true "oslerian" lesions, cardiac failure, cerebral complications, pulmonary embolism and early relapse . --The relatively good secondary prognosis.

Z Ernahrungswiss, 1982 Sep, 21(3), 246 - 53
Occurrence of bacterial pollution indicators in Boulti (Tilapia nilotica Linn.) fish; El-Zanfaly HT et al.; A study was made for the occurrence of coliform and streptococcal groups on the skin surface (32 samples), gills (32 samples), intestinal tract (4 samples) and raw fish flesh (4 samples) and raw fish flesh (4 samples) of Boulti fish (Tilapia nilotica Linn.), a fresh water fish caught from Nasser's Lake in Aswan . Streptococcus group was detected in 13 samples taken from fish surface, 12 samples out of 32 swabs from gills . All intestine samples and raw fish flesh were positive for the streptococcus group . Coliform organisms were detected at nearly 43% of skin or gill samples, 100% of intestine and raw fish flesh samples.

Infect Immun, 1982 Sep, 37(3), 961 - 5
Type-specific protection of neonatal rats from lethal group B streptococcal infection by immune sera obtained from human volunteers vaccinated with type III-specific polysaccharide; De Cueninck BJ et al.; Sera obtained from human volunteers at 6 weeks after vaccination with highly purified type III polysaccharide antigen prepared from a group B Streptococcus, strain M732, were found to protect neonatal rats from otherwise lethal infection by the homologous strain . The specific antibody content of the sera, expressed in micrograms of antibody protein per milliliter, was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in conjunction with quantitative precipitin analysis . For two sera studied in detail, the protective dose of antibody for 50% of the animals was 0.4 micrograms . Immune serum obtained from a volunteer who received type II polysaccharide vaccine was not protective against type III infection . Absorption of anti-type III serum by quantitative precipitation of antibodies with type III polysaccharide completely removed the passive protective activity of the serum . The results show that antibodies induced in humans by purified type II polysaccharide give serotype-specific protection in an animal model of neonatal infection.

Rev Infect Dis, 1982 Sep-Oct, 4 Suppl, S406 - 10
Comparative susceptibility of Yersinia enterocolitica, Eikenella corrodens, and penicillin-resistant and penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae to beta-lactam and alternative antimicrobial agents; Goldstein EJ et al.; The antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined for 14 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, 28 strains of Eikenella corrodens, 10 strains of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, and 10 strains of penicillin-susceptible S . pneumoniae . Y . enterocolitica was found to be susceptible to the aminoglycosides tested and to chloramphenicol, moxalactam, cefoperazone, and cefotaxime but resistant to ampicillin and variably susceptible to carbenicillin, cefoxitin, and cefazolin . On a weight basis, cefotaxime and moxalactam were the most active agents against E . corrodens . Most strains of E . corrodens were resistant to the aminoglycosides tested: gentamicin, tobramycin, kanamycin, and amikacin . Penicillin-resistant S . pneumoniae was most susceptible to cefotaxime and moxalactam . Cefotaxime was consistently active against all tested strains of Y . enterocolitica, E . corrodens, and penicillin-resistant S . pneumoniae, three unusual but clinically significant pathogens.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Sep, 151(3), 1454 - 65
Novel phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent futile cycle in Streptococcus lactis: 2-deoxy-D-glucose uncouples energy production from growth; Thompson J et al.; The addition of 2-deoxy-D-glucose to cultures of Streptococcus lactis 133 that were growing exponentially on sucrose or lactose reduced the growth rate by ca . 95% . Inhibition did not occur with glucose or mannose as the growth sugar . The reduction in growth rate was concomitant with rapid accumulation of the analog in phosphorylated form (2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate) via the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent mannose:phosphotransferase system . Within 5 min the intracellular 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate concentration reached a steady-state level of greater than 100 mM . After maximum accumulation of the sugar phosphate, the rate of sucrose metabolism (glycolysis) decreased by only 30%, but the cells were depleted of fructose-1,6-diphosphate . The addition of glucose to 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate preloaded cells caused expulsion of 2-deoxy-D-glucose and a resumption of normal growth . S . lactis 133 contained an intracellular Mg2+-dependent, fluoride-sensitive phosphatase which hydrolyzed 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate (and glucose 6-phosphate) to free sugar and inorganic phosphate . Because of continued dephosphorylation and efflux of the non-metabolizable analog, the maintenance of the intracellular 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate pool during growth stasis was dependent upon continued glycolysis . This steady-state condition represented a dynamic equilibrium of: (i) phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent accumulation of 2-deoxy-D-glucose 6-phosphate, (ii) intracellular dephosphorylation, and (iii) efflux of free 2-deoxy-D-glucose . This sequence of events constitutes a futile cycle which promotes the dissipation of phosphoenolpyruvate . We conclude that 2-deoxy-D-glucose functions as an uncoupler by dissociating energy production from growth in S . lactis 133.

Infect Immun, 1982 Sep, 37(3), 1101 - 11
Pyridine analogs inhibit the glucosyltransferase of Streptococcus mutans; Thaniyavarn S et al.; Soluble glucan synthesis catalyzed by dextransucrase preparations from Streptococcus mutans 6715 were inhibited by pyridoxal-5-phosphate and several other pyridine analogs, including pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, pyridoxamine-5-phosphate, pyridoxal, and 4-pyridoxic acid . Pyridine and pyridine-4-carboxaldehyde were not effective inhibitors of the enzyme . Kinetic analyses suggested that pyridoxal-5-phosphate is a noncompetitive inhibitor of dextransucrase . The inactivation was dependent on time, pyridoxal-5-phosphate concentration, and hydrogen ion concentration . Apparent Ki values were 4.9 mM at pH 7.0 and 4.2 mM at pH 5.5 . Dextransucrase activity could be restored by dialysis to remove the inhibitors . Maximum inhibition was observed after a 120-min incubation of the enzyme with pyridoxal-5-phosphate . The pH optima for inhibition by pyridoxal-5-phosphate were 4 and 7 . The sucrose-dependent adherence of S . mutans cells to saliva-coated hydroxylapatite beads was also inhibited by pyridoxal-5-phosphate but only marginally by the other pyridine anatogs . In addition, pyridoxal-5-phosphate markedly reduced the rate of acid production by intact S . mutans cells from sucrose or glucose substrates . Another pyridoxal-5-phosphate analog, 2-methyl-5-hydroxypyridine, was also effective in preventing the production of acid by S . mutans from sucrose or glucose . When S . mutans cells were preincubated with pyridoxal-5-phosphate or pyridine analogs, significant reductions in the rate of D-glucose uptake were observed . It is suggested that the inhibition of dextransucrase occurs because of a change iun enzyme conformation which results from the binding of the pyridine derivatives . The results suggest that pyridoxal-5-phosphate or structural analogs may ultimately be useful in reducing the incidence of dental caries.

J Exp Med, 1982 Sep 1, 156(3), 719 - 30
Immunoglobulin idiotopes expressed by T cells . I . Expression of distinct idiotopes detected by monoclonal antibodies on antigen-specific suppressor T cells; Cerny J et al.; The idiotopic repertoire expressed by antigen-specific suppressor T cells (Ts) generated by Streptococcus pneumoniae strain R36a (Pn) in BALB/c strain mice was investigated using a panel of five monoclonal anti-idiotopic antibodies against TEPC-15/HOPC-8 myeloma proteins . Previous studies suggested that the anti-idiotopic antibodies recognize distinct idiotopic determinants within the T15 idiotype, and that Pn-reactive B cells express all of those idiotopes as shown by a specific inhibitory effect of the anti-idiotopic antibodies on induction of anti-Pn response in vitro as well as on the mature antibody plaque-forming cells . In this study we asked the question of whether anti-idiotopic (Id) can block the inductive and/or effector phases of generation of Ts which act on the Pn-reactive B cells . The presence of anti-Id during the activation of T cells with Pn did not prevent the generation of Ts . However, suppression mediated by Ts on responder lymphocytes (cultures of spleen cells or B cels) was inhibited (reversed) by four out of five anti-Id . Some of the antibodies recognize hapten (phosphorylcholine)-inhibitable Id in the paratope of Ig whereas others are directed against nonparatopic Id . These data indicate that the antigen receptor on Ts includes VH sequences both within and without the immunoglobulin in paratope, and that the Id repertoir of Ts overlaps with that of B cells.

Eur J Biochem, 1982 Aug, 126(1), 43 - 7
Copurification of citrate lyase and citrate lyase ligase from Rhodopseudomonas gelatinosa and subsequent separation of the two enzymes; Antranikian G et al.; A procedure has been worked out which allowed the purification and crystallization of a citrate lyase/citrate lyase ligase complex from Rhodopseudomonas gelatinosa . The complex was subsequently separated to yield two homogeneous enzymes . Citrate lyase ligase was purified 365-fold with a yield of 3.23% . The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 39500, the enzyme consisted of one polypeptide chain . The reaction rates for ATP, acetate and citrate lyase (sulfhydryl form) followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Km values: 0.14 mM, 5 mM and 37 nM respectively) . Citrate lyase ligase exhibited a high substrate specificity and could not react with citrate lyases from nonphototrophic microorganisms . In contrast to the ligase from Streptococcus diacetilactis, the enzyme from R . gelatinosa was extremely labile; however, it could be stabilized by nucleotides, the most potent stabilizing one being ADP.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Aug, 44(2), 428 - 34
Effect of pH on growth rates of rumen amylolytic and lactilytic bacteria; Therion JJ et al.; The relationship between the pH of the medium and specific growth rates, in well-buffered media at 38.5 degrees C, was determined for three strains of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and for one strain each of Streptococcus bovis, Selenomonas ruminantium subsp . lactilytica . Megasphaera elsdenii, Veillonella alcalescens, and Propionibacterium acnes . The pH optima for growth were between 6.1 and 6.6 for all six species, and the upper pH limits were between 7.3 and 7.8 . The lower limit pH values for growth on glucose were 5.4 for B . fibrisolvens, near 5.0 for V . alcalescens, and between 4.4 and 4.8 for the other four species . These values fall within the minimum pH ranges found when these species are grown in poorly buffered medium with nonlimiting glucose concentrations . Acid sensitivity per se could cause the washout of B . fibrisolvens, but not of the other five species, from the rumens of animals on high-starch diets.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Aug, 126(2), 253 - 7
Circulating immune complexes in cystic fibrosis; Manthei U et al.; The presence or absence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) was studied longitudinally over a period of 15 months in 17 patients with cystic fibrosis . (CF) . Using the Raji cell assay, CIC were found in 47% of patients . Presence of immune complexes did not correlate with age at midpoint of the study severity of disease, acute pulmonary exacerbations, progression of lung disease, or nonspecific, humoral and cellular immune functions . In addition, the presence of CIC did not correlate with colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Hemophilus influenzae, or streptococcus species (viridans or pneumoniae) . Because CIC were present in patients without concurrent sputum colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, antigens other than components of this organism may be capable of forming CIC in CF . The clinical and pathologic significant of CIC in CF remains to be determined.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Aug, 151(2), 838 - 44
Effects of penicillin on synthesis and excretion of lipid and lipoteichoic acid from Streptococcus mutans BHT; Brissette JL et al.; Cultures of Streptococcus mutans BHT grown for at least eight generations in a chemically defined medium containing {1(3)-14C}glycerol, when treated with growth-inhibitory concentrations (0.2 micrograms/ml) of benzylpenicillin (Pen G), produced and excreted increased amounts of lipid and lipoteichoic acid per unit of cells . Cellular lysis was not observed . Compared with untreated controls, lipid excretion increased 15-fold, and lipoteichoic acid excretion increased 6-fold, 4 h after the addition of Pen G . All lipid species showed increased synthesis and excretion after exposure to Pen G . Although the same lipid types were found in both the Pen G-treated and the untreated cultures, the percent composition was altered after treatment with Pen G . The most dramatic example of this was the percentage of intracellular diphosphatidylglycerol found in the Pen G-treated cultures, 22.6%, in contrast to 5.3% found in the untreated cultures.

Am J Dis Child, 1982 Aug, 136(8), 732 - 6
Peritonitis in childhood nephrotic syndrome: 1970-1980; Krensky AM et al.; A retrospective review (1970 through 1980) of 351 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome disclosed 24 episodes of peritonitis in 19 patients . Twenty-six percent of the patients had more than one episode . Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common agent (50%), but Escherichia coli remained important (25%) . Four cases (16%) were culture-negative . Signs of peritoneal irritation were present in all patients, including the 16 children receiving corticosteroid therapy . No morphological subtype of nephrotic syndrome could be demonstrated to be at increased risk for the development of peritonitis . Significantly decreased IgG levels and an apparent susceptibility to pneumococcal infection among blacks may be important risk factors.

Scand J Dent Res, 1982 Aug, 90(4), 292 - 8
Streptococcus mutans in plaque and saliva after mouthrinsing with SnF2; Svanberg M et al.; Mouthrinses with SnF2 in 11 subjects significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) the total colony forming units (CFU) count and the numbers of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis in plaque . The numbers of S . mutans and S . sanguis were significantly more reduced than was the total CFU count . After rinsing with SnF2S . sanguis was present in 97% and S . mutans in only 42% of plaque samples from tooth surfaces where they were detected after rinsing with water . SnF2 also significantly reduced (P less than 0.01) the number of S . mutans in saliva . Mouthrinses with NaF did not markedly affect the number of S . mutans either in plaque or in saliva.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Aug, 22(2), 295 - 301
Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in Streptococcus faecium; Eliopoulos GM et al.; Clinical isolates of Streptococcus faecium are characteristically resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics . Two strains, selected for hypersusceptibility to penicillin, were derived from normally resistant isolates treated with novobiocin . These strains were also found to be hypersusceptible to other beta-lactams . Differences in beta-lactam susceptibility between the original isolates and the hypersusceptible strains could not be attributed to alterations in penicillin-binding protein affinities, and no evidence of a relative permeability barrier was found in the resistant strains . Isolated cell membranes prepared from resistant strains were found to possess two protein bands which were absent or greatly diminished in the membranes of susceptible strains . Hypersusceptibility to beta-lactam antibiotics in these strains may be due to the absence or alteration of one or more cell membrane proteins distinct from the penicillin-binding proteins of these organisms.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Aug, 22(2), 222 - 5
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae: serotype distribution of penicillin-resistant strains in Spain; Casal J; This study examined the resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol of 318 pneumococcal strains isolated in Spanish hospitals from blood or cerebrospinal fluid of patients during 1979 to 1981 . The serotypes of these strains were determined to discover whether a correlation between serotype and patterns of antibiotic resistance could be found . Seven and nine patterns of resistance were found in strains isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid, respectively; tetracycline was the most frequent pattern, followed by tetracycline associated with chloramphenicol . A random distribution of serotypes which was similar to the general distribution of serotypes was found for resistance to tetracycline and chloramphenicol, but penicillin-resistant strains were confined to seven serotypes . Thirty-six strains of penicillin-resistant pneumococci isolated from sources other than blood or cerebrospinal fluid were also serotyped . They represented the same serotypes, suggesting that serotype distribution among penicillin-resistant strains could be a manifestation of local epidemiological factors.

Infect Immun, 1982 Aug, 37(2), 401 - 6
Interference of Salivary immunoglobulin A antibodies and other salivary fractions with adherence of Streptococcus mutans to hydroxyapatite; Gahnberg L et al.; The adherence of Streptococcus mutans to hydroxyapatite was studied in the presence of salivary fractions with varying activity of naturally occurring immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies . Human parotid saliva from different donors was fractionated by chromatography and compared . Salivary IgA antibodies had no decisive effect on the adherence of the S . mutans strain used . High-molecular-weight salivary components from some subjects had an adherence-promoting effect, whereas fractions collected after the void volume of a Sepharose 2B column always inhibited adherence . The data indicate that the influence of unfractionated saliva on adherence is dependent on the net effect of adherence-promoting and adherence-inhibiting components . This principle has to be considered when the effect of human saliva on microbial adherence is studied.

J Lab Clin Med, 1982 Aug, 100(2), 279 - 87
Granulocyte phagocytosis and killing virulent and avirulent serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Braconier JH et al.; Five commonly isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes (3, 6, 14, 19, and 23) and five rarely found serotypes (31, 35, 36, 42, and 43) were compared to elucidate whether increased resistance against granulocyte phagocytosis and killing could explain the restricted number of pneumococcal serotypes found in infections . There was a great variation in sensitivity among the serotypes to granulocyte killing . No consistent pattern was found when pathogenicity and resistance to granulocytes were compared . The results do not indicate that the increased tendency of pathogenic pneumococcal serotypes to cause infections is due to increased resistance to granulocytes . Monocyte killing of some pneumococal serotypes (6, 19, 23, 35, and 43) was also studied and found very similar to granulocyte killing . Defective granulocyte kiling of encapsulated pneumococci was due to impaired phagocytosis . Moreover, no correlation was found between the sensitivity of the serotypes to isolated intragranulocytic microbial systems (i.e., MPO, hydrogen peroxide, or CCP) and the sensitivity to killing by intact granulocytes or pathogenicity . The significance of both the classical and alternative complement pathways for pneumococcal opsonization was indicated by reduced, the residual phagocytosis in C2-deficient and MgEGTA-chelated serum.

Infect Immun, 1982 Aug, 37(2), 656 - 61
Effects of local immunization with glucosyltransferase on colonization of hamsters by Streptococcus mutans; Smith DJ et al.; Experiments were performed to study the effect of antibody to Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase (GTF) on the implantation of these organisms in hamsters . Salivary (immunoglobulin A) and serum (immunoglobulin G) antibodies to GTF and GTF-inhibiting activity were elicited by injection of GTF in Freund complete adjuvant in the salivary gland region . Sham-immunized and GTF-immunized groups were then orally challenged with approximately 10(7), 10(8), or 10(9) colony-forming units of cariogenic S . mutans 6715 . The results were evaluated by systematically swabbing molars 4 days and approximately 4 weeks after challenge . In general, fewer GTF-immunized hamsters became infected with S . mutans after challenge with 10(7) or 10(8) organisms than did identically challenged sham-immunized hamsters . Of the animals that did become infected, fewer S . mutans colony-forming units were recovered from GTF-immunized hamsters . These results indicate that the presence of antibody to GTF can diminish the ability of S . mutans to implant in the oral cavity of immunized hamsters.

Infect Immun, 1982 Aug, 37(2), 499 - 505
Humoral immune response to oral microorganisms in periodontitis; Doty SL et al.; Serum antibody titers from patients with periodontitis were compared with those from periodontally healthy subjects . With the micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and IgM antibody titers to isolates of Streptococcus sanguis, Actinomyces viscosus, Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp . intermedius, Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp . intermedius, Bacteroides ochraceus, and Fusobacterium nucleation were determined . Antibody titers of the IgG and IgA classes to B . melaninogenicus, B . ochraceus, F . nucleatum, and S . sanguis were found to be significantly higher in the controls than in the patients . No correlations were found with serum IgM titers . These findings indicate that periodonitis may be associated with depressed antibacterial serum antibody titers of the IgG and IgA classes.

Nature, 1982 Jul 29, 298(5873), 488 - 90
Plasmids from Staphylococcus aureus replicate in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Goursot R et al.; It is known that some plasmids, such as RP4, can replicate in many Gram-negative bacteria . Certain small Staphylococcus aureus plasmids have an even broader host range, being able to replicate in not only phylogenetically distant Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis or Streptococcus pneumoniae, but also in the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli . Here we have examined whether these plasmids can also replicate in a lower eukaryote, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . For this purpose we constructed hybrids between a S . aureus plasmid pC194 and an E . coli plasmid YIp5, which carries a ura-3 gene easy to select for in yeast but cannot replicate in this host . We found that the hybrids transformed yeast with high efficiency (as did hybrids between YIp5 and three other S . aureus plasmids); were maintained extrachromosomally in yeast; and were not modified during residence in yeast . We conclude from this evidence that S . aureus plasmids can replicate in yeast, which raises the questions of whether the replication signals used by prokaryotes and eukaryotes are similar, and how far up the phylogenetic tree the organisms still able to be hosts to S . aureus plasmids may be.

Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 1982 Jul 10, 285(6335), 95 - 6
Minimum amount of penicillin prophylaxis required to control Streptococcus pyogenes epidemic in closed community; Colling A et al.; The prophylaxis required to control an epidemic of Streptococcus pyogenes throat infection in a junior detention centre has been reported . In a further epidemic an attempt was made to determine the minimum amount of penicillin required to control the outbreak . Oral penicillin (0.5 g) given as a single daily dose for 10 days to all boys after entry proved effective . The added risk of relatively deprived adolescent boys developing rheumatic fever is stressed.

Can J Microbiol, 1982 Jul, 28(7), 881 - 3
Effect of carbohydrates on the antibacterial activity of patulin on Streptococcus bovis; Escoula L; The antibiotic activity of patulin on Streptococcus bovis varied in the presence of different sugars in the incubation medium . The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of patulin was 4.5 times greater in the medium containing glucose than in the lactose-containing medium (100.5 versus 22 micrograms/mL) . The addition of two sugars (glucose plus lactose) to the medium was followed by the utilization of glucose only when patulin was present; lack of growth on lactose was not due to beta-galactosidase inactivation by patulin.

Can J Comp Med, 1982 Jul, 46(3), 267 - 9
The use of polyethylene intramammary device in protection of the lactating bovine udder against experimental infection with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus agalactiae; Brooks BW et al.; The susceptibility of lactating bovine udder quarters fitted with a polyethylene intramammary device to infection was investigated . Following experimental challenge with Streptococcus agalactiae or Staphylococcus aureus, the incidence of infection was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower in intramammary device-fitted quarters compared to control quarters . In general, total foremilk and strippings milk somatic cell counts for intramammary device-fitted and control quarters were not significantly (p less than 0.05) different . Differential foremilk and strippings milk somatic cell counts were significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in samples from intramammary device-fitted quarters compared to control quarters.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Jul, 22(1), 115 - 9
In vitro susceptibility of streptococcus mutans 6715 to iodine and sodium fluoride, singly and in combination, at various pH values; Caufield PW et al.; The effect of pH on minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of sodium fluoride (NaF) and iodine (I2), singly and in combination, for Streptococcus mutans 6715 was investigated by using an in vitro checkerboard broth dilution assay . As pH was decreased, lower concentrations of NaF and I2 were required to exert a bactericidal effect . There was statistically significant linear correlation between pH and the MBCs of NaF (r = 0.95, P less than 0.001) and I2 (r ;.92, P less than 0.001) . The MBCs of NaF were more affected by a change in pH than were the MBCs of I2; for every decrease of one pH unit in the range of pH 5 to 8, the MBC of NaF decreased fourfold, and the MBC of I2 decreased twofold . NaF and I2 in combination exhibited bactericidal effects on S . mutans which were additive at all pH values tested . These data indicated that the antibacterial properties of I2 and NaF, singly or in combination, can be enhanced by acidification.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jul, 37(1), 255 - 63
Age-dependent susceptibility of neonatal rats to group B streptococcal type III infection: correlation of severity of infection and response of myeloid pools; Zeligs BJ et al.; A distinct age-dependent susceptibility to group B streptococcus type III (GBS) was demonstrated, utilizing a neonatal rat model . The most dramatic changes in susceptibility occurred within the first 7 days of postnatal life . To further investigate this susceptibility, experiments were performed utilizing two age groups of rats: (i) animals within the first 24 h of life (NB) and (ii) 7-day-old animals (7d) . The infective dosage used was 10(4) GBS per g of body weight, a dose lethal to 100% of NB but only to 15% of 7d . The responses of the myeloid cells in the peripheral blood, spleen, and bone marrow were evaluated at intervals during the first 24 h post-GBS infection . The susceptibility of the NB to GBS appeared to be associated with a number of events, including smaller base-line levels of myeloid elements particularly in the bone marrow, a lag of at least 2 h in their initial response to infection, and an inability to maintain the myeloid pools . The band form of neutrophils appeared to be the predominant cell type in both total number and rapidity of response to infection . Moreover, an initial depletion of this band form was seen in both groups, which returned to base-line levels with recovery in 7d but persisted until death in NB animals . Similarly, shifts in numbers of peripheral nucleated erythrocytes appeared to reflect changes in the myeloid storage pools, with numbers of nucleated erythrocytes significantly decreasing in 7d animals with recovery in contrast to persistence in NB until death . Therefore, shifts in these cells in peripheral blood during infection appear to reflect the state of myeloid storage pools which parallel disease outcome.

Laryngoscope, 1982 Jul, 92(7 Pt 1), 744 - 51
Lateral sinus thrombosis: a modern perspective; Teichgraeber JF et al.; At Emory, six cases of lateral sinus thrombosis (LST) were seen over the last ten years--two children and four adults . The picture and bacteriology of LST have changed with the advent of antibiotics as has the usefulness of various diagnostic tests . Less is it a disease of children in association with acute otitis media . More often it is seen in the adult patient after a long history of chronic ear disease . Fever and mastoid and neck tenderness are still universal signs of the affliction . However, rarely patients do present with progressive anemia, emaciation and evidence of septic emboli . Since antibiotics are commonly used during the prodromal ear infection, cultures are often negative . If they do identify an organism, it is usually a mixed flora rather than beta hemolytic streptococcus . Spinal fluid results are variable and seldom is there evidence of increased spinal fluid pressure . Arteriography, venography, and digital subtraction venography are the most reliable tests to prove and delimit the thrombus . Early management involves high dose broad spectrum, intravenous antibiotics including chloramphenicol . Surgical intervention involves a mastoidectomy, exposure of the sinus, incision and drainage, but not necessarily removal of the thrombus . Internal jugular vein ligation should be reserved for those cases in which septicemia and embolization do not respond to initial surgery and intravenous antibiotics.

Cancer, 1982 Jul 1, 50(1), 62 - 8
Neutrophil-mediated tumor cell destruction in cancer ascites; Katano M et al.; Intraperitoneal injections of OK-432, originated from Group A streptococcus pyogens of human origin, were administered to 77 patients with ascites caused by cancer of the digestive tract . Complete disappearance of effusion was observed in 43 cases, its reduction in five out of 77 . They received cytologic examination of ascites daily before and after OK-432 injection . One of these patients, a 77-year-old man with carcinomatous peritonitis due to gastric cancer, showed an interesting phenomenon after OK-432 injection . All adenocarcinoma cells in his ascites disappeared at least with 36 hours after OK-432 injection with increasing number of intraperitoneal neutrophils . In addition, neutrophils collected from his ascites or peripheral blood showed cytostatic effect on his ascites-derived tumor cells in vitro . His neutrophil-depleted intraperitoneal cells, however, had no significant effect on DNA synthesis of his tumor cells in vitro . OK-432 itself had no significant effect on DNA synthesis of his tumor cells in vitro . This report describes a patient in whom OK-432-induced neutrophils may play an important role in his tumor cell destruction in ascites.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Jul, 16(1), 1 - 3
Detection of pneumococci in the upper respiratory tract: comparison of media and culture techniques; Robins-Browne RM et al.; A survey for carriers of Streptococcus pneumoniae among 573 children was undertaken . Throat and nasopharyngeal cultures from 303 children disclosed pneumococci in 89 (29.4%) nasopharyngeal swabs but in only 8 (2.6%) throat specimens . Carriers of pneumococci were detected with frequencies of 84.4 and 79.9% on aerobically incubated 5% horse blood agar with a 5-micrograms optochin disk and on 5% horse blood agar with 5 mg of gentamicin per liter, respectively . Anaerobically incubated 5% horse blood agar yield pneumococci from 78.2% of 179 carriers . We consider the examination of nasopharyngeal secretions for optochin-susceptible alpha-hemolytic bacteria to be the most sensitive and convenient means for detecting carriers of pneumococci.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jul, 37(1), 127 - 31
Natural history of aortic valve endocarditis in rats; Heraief E et al.; Sterile aortic vegetations were produced in rats by introducing a polyethylene catheter through the right carotid artery . The catheter was either left in place throughout the experiments or removed before bacterial challenge . Bacterial endocarditis was uniformly produced by intravenous injection of 10(7) colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus intermedius, whether the catheter was left in place or removed . However, in rats with the catheter left in place, bacterial multiplication within the vegetations with both strains was accelerated, and mortality from Staphylococcus aureus infection was increased . Using 10(7) colony-forming units of serum-resistant Escherichia coli as a test microorganism, we found a marked difference in the production of endocarditis depending upon whether the catheter was left in place or removed before injection; only those animals infected with the catheter in place developed infection . From these experiments in rats, it was evident that the presence of a foreign body has a considerable influence on the ability of bacteria to grow within an intravascular vegetation . In addition, a striking difference in the virulence of the three strains studied was established; Staphylococcus aureus was the most, and E . coli the least, pathogenic.

Angiology, 1982 Jul, 33(7), 427 - 41
Immunologic aspects of heart disease; DeCarvalho S; All forms of heart disease, whether caused by streptococcus group A, aseptic heart injury, virus, hypersensitivity, autoimmune conditions, or graft-versus-host reactions, have in common allogenic transformation of the myocardial cell membrane and production of multifunctional autoantibodies, in addition to cause-specific antibodies, some of which cross-react with heart tissue . The outcome of this immunologic insult depends on the ability of the host's immunoregulatory mechanisms to dispose swiftly of the offending antigen and antibody or their complexes . Heart disease often results when these mechanisms, exemplified here, are not intact or when they function inappropriately in genetic or acquired settings and in varying haplotype frames.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Jul, 22(1), 145 - 7
In vitro activity of antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of otitis media against Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates with different susceptibilities to penicillin; Tarpay MM et al.; Susceptibilities of 82 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, including 25 from the middle-ear fluid, were evaluated against antibiotics commonly used in the treatment of acute otitis media . Potentially significant resistance occurred in 6% of the isolates to erythromycin and an erythromycin-sulfisoxazole combination . The combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole was synergistic for 95% of the isolates . Only 2.5% of all of the isolates were resistant to both erythromycin-sulfisoxazole and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole . The presently used drug regimens should be effective against the majority of S . pneumoniae isolates in otitis media.

Isr J Med Sci, 1982 Jul, 18(7), 779 - 84
Bacterial meningitis . A follow-up study of 115 children; Shohet I et al.; The clinical and laboratory date on 115 pediatric patients with bacterial meningitis are presented . Sixty-one were less than 12 mo of age including 13 less than 1 mo of age . Thirty-nine children were treated prior to admission with antimicrobial agents which obscured accurate bacteriologic diagnosis in eight of them . Gram-negative enteric bacteria, mainly Escherichia coli, were recorded in 9 of 13 neonates . Hemophilus influenzae type B accounted for 56 (52%) of all isolated recorded in those greater than 2 mo of age, of which 35% were resistant to chloramphenicol . Seventy-eight patients (73%) recovered completely following 10 to 14 days of antimicrobial therapy . Fifteen patients died, most of whom were less than 1 yr of age, including five neonates . Major neurologic sequelae included subdural effusions, cerebral abscesses and recurrent convulsions . This study, which documents the infrequency of Streptococcus group B and H . influenzae as etiological agents of neonatal meningitis, indicates that treatment of this disease with ampicillin and an aminoglycoside is efficacious . Chloramphenicol may be the drug of choice in the postnatal period, since H . influenzae is partly resistant to ampicillin.

Res Vet Sci, 1982 Jul, 33(1), 70 - 2
Resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin antibiotics in enterococci from the intestines of animals; Dutta GN et al.; Macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin group B (MLS) resistant strains were found among enterococci isolated from caeca of poultry, pigs and cattle . The percentage of MLS resistance among the poultry strains was 70 per cent . The Streptococcus faecium strains were more susceptible than the other enterococcal strains to virginiamycin, a member of the streptogramin class of antibiotics . This was due to higher susceptibility of the S faecium strains to the virginiamycin component M which belongs to the streptogramin group A antibiotics . Ability to inactivate clindamycin, an antibiotic of the lincosamide class of antibiotics, was noted in an unclassified group D streptococcus strain isolated from a pig.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Jul, 16(1), 8 - 14
Characterization of nontypable Streptococcus pneumoniae-like organisms isolated from outbreaks of conjunctivitis; Shayegani M et al.; From January through June 1980 seven colleges and universities in various parts of New York State (NYS) reported outbreaks of conjunctivitis affecting at least 1,500 students of both sexes . Of the 125 conjunctival swabs tested in our laboratory, organisms identified as nontypable Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated in pure culture from 24% and in combination with other organisms from 22% . Although bile-soluble and susceptible to optochin, the isolates had a dry-colony appearance and no typable capsule with the Neufeld capsular-swelling test . Mouse passage of four representative NYS isolates did not stimulate production of a typable capsule . We subsequently chose to refer to these isolates as S . pneumoniae-like organisms . Of primary importance to our study, all NYS isolates tested were similar in biochemical and immunological reactions, antibiotic susceptibility, and virulence in mice . Of 18 strains referred to us from three other outbreaks (California, 1980; NYS, 1981; Illinois, 1981), four of the six tested biochemically gave the same biochemical reactions as the four NYS isolates, and 16 of the 18 tested immunologically reacted strongly with antisera produced against those four isolates, showing line(s) of identity with each other and with the NYS isolates.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Jul, 35(7), 1737 - 48
{Fundamental and clinical investigations of cefotaxime in neonates}; Hashira S et al.; Fundamental and clinical investigations of cefotaxime were carried out in neonates . The following results were obtained . 1 . Seven neonates with serious infections caused by identifiable pathogens, including Group B streptococcal meningitis and Group A streptococcal sepsis, were treated by intravenous bolus injection of 20-200 mg/kg of cefotaxime 2 or 3 times daily (60-400 mg/kg/day) . The clinical efficacy of cefotaxime was assessed to be good in 6 patients and fair in 1 patient . Bacteriological efficacy was evaluable in 4 patients, all of whom displayed complete eradication of pathogens . 2 . Among 22 neonates administered cefotaxime, adverse reactions appeared in 3 patients . Adverse reactions consisted of a transient skin rash in 1 patient and elevation of GOT in 2 patients . 3 . Serum concentrations of cefotaxime and desacetyl cefotaxime were investigated in 8 mature infants and 5 immature infants on days 0-7 postpartum . A single intravenous injection of 20 mg/kg produced peak serum concentrations of 31.8-49.7 mcg/ml, associated with a half-life of 1.38-4.47 hours, in mature infants and peak serum concentrations of 35.5-55.0 mcg/ml, associated with a half-life of 3.22-6.43 hours, in immature infants . On days 0-2 postpartum the half-life was longer than on subsequent days . This tendency was particularly remarkable in immature infants . Serum concentrations of desacetyl cefotaxime displayed high individual variations; no consistent trends were noted . 4 . Cefotaxime and desacetyl cefotaxime serum concentrations were studied in 3 neonates undergoing exchanged transfusion (exchanged volume 177-180 ml/kg) on 1-4 days postpartum . Serum concentrations of cefotaxime after exchanged transfusion were equivalent to 32.6-63.9% of the pretransfusion level, while those of desacetyl cefotaxime were 75.2-106% of the pretransfusion level . 5 . Minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBCs) of cefotaxime were determined against clinical isolates . MICs for inoculum sizes of 10(8)/ml and 10(6)/ml were respectively 3.13-25 mcg/ml and 3.13-25 mcg/ml against S . aureus, 0.024 mcg/ml and 0.012 mcg/ml against Group A Streptococcus, 0.05 mcg/ml and 0.05 mcg/ml against Group B Streptococcus and 0.39 mcg/ml and 0.1 mcg/ml against E . coli . MBCs for an inoculum size of 10(6)/ml were 3.13-100 mcg/ml or over against S . aureus, 0.012 mcg/ml against Group A Streptococcus, 0.39 mcg/ml against Group B Streptococcus and 1.56 mcg/ml against E . coli.

Calcif Tissue Int, 1982 Jul, 34(4), 350 - 64
Effect of streptococcal cell wall components on bone metabolism in vitro; Meikle MC et al.; Cell was components from Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449 and Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10558 stimulated the release of 45Ca from prelabeled mouse calvariae in organ culture . Bone resorbing activity was not blocked by fetal calf serum . It was, however, blocked by calcitonin, an inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption . Indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, partially blocked endogenous but not antigen-stimulated 45Ca, suggesting that antigen-stimulated bone resorption was not mediated by prostaglandins . The antigen preparations also had an inhibitory effect on the incorporation of 3H-proline and 3H-thymidine into explants of rabbit and rat calvariae, respectively . The inhibitory effect of antigen on 3H-proline incorporation was not altered by the presence of calcitonin, which suggests that it represented a real inhibition of protein synthesis and not a reflection that the bones were resorbing . These findings indicate that plaque bacterial antigens may contribute directly to the progressive loss of alveolar bone during periodontal disease . The assumption that only Gram-negative organisms play an important role In the etiology of periodontal disease appears incorrect.

J Pediatr, 1982 Jul, 101(1), 16 - 20
The role of respiratory syncytial virus and other viral pathogens in acute otitis media; Klein BS et al.; We utilized recently developed enzyme immunoassay techniques to examine the role of selected viruses in the etiology of acute otitis media . Viral pathogens were found in middle ear fluids obtained from 13 (24%) of 53 children with acute otitis media; respiratory syncytial virus accounted for ten of the 13 viral agents identified . In addition, respiratory syncytial viral antigen was found in nasopharyngeal washings obtained from 15 of the 53 children . Seven of these children had RSV identified as the sole middle ear pathogen, whereas six children had otitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae as either the sole middle ear pathogen or in combination with RSV . Similarly, all three children with respiratory infections caused by influenza virus had ear infections caused by bacterial pathogens, either alone or in combination with influenza virus . These findings suggest that, in patients with viral respiratory infection, coexisting acute otitis media may be associated with the recovery of either viruses or bacteria from the middle ear exudates.

J Dent Res, 1982 Jul, 61(7), 953 - 6
In vitro hydrolysis of monofluorophosphate by dental plaque microorganisms; Jackson LR; Enzymic hydrolysis of sodium monofluorophosphate by suspensions of dental microorganisms has been demonstrated at pH 5.1, pH 7.0, and pH 8.4, using a fluoride-selective electrode . The extracellular medium from viable Streptococcus mutans K1R cells contained low MFPase and paranitrophenyl phosphatase activity . It is hypothesized that the enzymes responsible for MFP hydrolysis by S . mutans K1R are intracellular, and that cell disruption is necessary for hydrolysis to be manifested; this question requires further study . In vitro MFPase activity was of a magnitude consistent with the hypothesis that it may significantly raise the fluoride ion concentration of plaque within the several minutes MFP would be in the mouth during toothbrushing.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jul, 37(1), 1 - 9
Purification and properties of glucosyltransferase responsible for water-insoluble glucan synthesis from Streptococcus mutans; Fukui K et al.; A glucosyltransferase responsible for water-insoluble glucan synthesis was purified from the culture fluids of Streptococcus mutans 6715-15 strain by column chromatography on Toyopearl HW-60 and subsequently on hydroxyapatite . The enzyme preparation gave a single band on analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The pH dependency of the activity showed two optimal peaks at 5.8 and 7.3 and the Km values for sucrose were 1.4 and 3.3 mM at the respective optimal pHs . The molecular weight determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis was 180,000 . Although the enzyme scarcely synthesized water-insoluble and water-soluble glucans from sucrose, water-insoluble glucan formed from sucrose in the presence of dextran T10 consisted of over 93% alpha-1, 3-glucosidic linkage . Analysis of the structure of water-insoluble glucan indicated that the enzyme catalyzed the formation of branch points in alpha-1,6-glucan (dextran) and transferred the glucosyl moiety of sucrose to the C-3 position of the branching glucose residue of dextran . Since this enzyme has not yet been registered, we named it mutansynthetase (EC 2.4.1.?).

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Jul, 16(1), 141 - 4
Whole-bacterial cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Streptococcus sanguis fimbrial antigens; Elder BL et al.; A whole-bacterial cell enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bactELISA) was developed for detecting fimbrial antigens on Streptococcus sanguis . In this assay, S . sanguis cells were directly adhered to polystyrene or polyvinyl via drying . Use of the assay indicated that consistently high and uniform optical densities could be obtained from well to well . In addition, radioactive assaying indicated increased adsorption to the polystyrene wells over polyvinyl, suggesting that polystyrene may prove superior in the gram-positive bactELISA . Use of the bactELISA may prove valuable to both the clinical and research laboratory involved in the study of bacterial cell surface components or in the evaluation of antisera directed against bacterial antigens, which are difficult to prepare as purified derivatives.

Can J Biochem, 1982 Jun, 60(6), 684 - 92
The biosynthesis of triterpenoid carotenoids in Streptococcus faecium UNH 564P; Davies BH et al.; Cell-free enzyme preparations from Streptococcus faecium UNH 564P and Phycomyces blakesleeanus strain C5-car10(-) were used to study the incorporation of {14C}isopentenyl pyrophosphate and either all-trans-{4,8,12-3H}farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) or all-trans--{4,8,12,16-3H}geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) into squalene and the carotenoids of the organisms . It was found that the triterpenoid (C30) carotenoids of S . faecium are formed by condensation of two molecules of FPP similar to squalene biosynthesis rather than by condensation of two molecules of GGPP with subsequent degradation . Additional studies have shown that carotenoid glucoside biosynthesis in S . faecium extracts is stimulated by the addition of glucose and UDP-glucose . Such glucoside biosynthesis appears maximal in systems exposed to aeration . These results confirm that the triterpenoid carotenoids in S . faecium are symmetrical and are representatives of a unique new class of carotenoids.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Jun, 21(6), 902 - 5
In vitro activity of U-57930E, a new clindamycin analog, against aerobic gram-positive bacteria; Ahonkhai VI et al.; The in vitro activity of U-57930E, a new clindamycin analog, against aerobic gram-positive cocci was studied by microdilution broth susceptibility tests and compared with the activities of clindamycin, vancomycin, oxacillin, and ampicillin . U-57930E inhibited methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus viridans at concentrations of less than or equal to 1 microgram/ml . This degree of activity was generally slightly less than that of the other antimicrobial agents tested . Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, and enterococci were resistant to U-57930E . At the concentrations used, U-57930E exhibited bactericidal activity against most susceptible organisms, and a minimal effect of inoculum size was noted.

Lab Anim Sci, 1982 Jun, 32(3), 278 - 9
Tympanic membrane temperature during experimental otitis media due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in chinchillas; Fisch RO et al.; The relationship between tympanic membrane temperature and acute purulent otitis media was investigated using thermistor probes to measure surface temperature of the tympanic membrane in chinchillas with experimental unilateral otitis media due to Streptococcus pneumoniae . Sedated animals were kept on a thermally insulated surface during the procedure to avoid hypothermia . Although the animals' core temperature rose during middle ear infection, direct measurement of tympanic membrane temperature did not show a significant difference between the infected and uninfected contralateral ears.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jun, 36(3), 1019 - 22
Immunoglobulin A antibody levels in human tears, saliva, and serum; Burns CA et al.; The presence and level of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to the oral microorganism Streptococcus mutans were determined in human tears, parotid saliva, and serum by a modified, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . IgA antibodies were found in the tears of all 15 subjects, although S . mutans is a nonocular bacterium . The IgA antibody levels in tears and saliva were not significantly different . This finding suggests that the level of IgA antibody activity per volume is independent of the naturally occurring site of the antigen, and that local stimulation does not cause a significant difference in the antibody level per volume of secretion between exocrine sites . Much higher levels of IgA antibody were present in serum, suggesting that after oral ingestion of antigen both the systemic and exocrine systems are stimulated . IgG antibodies to S . mutans were also found in human tears, saliva, and serum . No relationship between serum levels and tear and saliva levels was found for either IgA or IgG antibodies . Thus the antibodies in tears and saliva did not appear to have leaked from serum . We conclude that there may be remote regulation of both the ocular and the parotid IgA and IgG antibody systems.

Am J Dis Child, 1982 Jun, 136(6), 543 - 7
Clinicopathologic characteristics of septicemia in sickle cell disease; Lobel JS et al.; Bacterial septicemia occurred in 22 of 210 pediatric patients with sickle cell disease over a nine-year period, an attack rate of 10.5% . Children less than 2 1/2 years old with hemoglobin SS were at greatest risk; Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common pathogen . Although sudden febrile illness developed in nine patients, in 13 a gradual prodrome was associated with symptoms for more than 24 hours before evaluation . Both initial body temperature and WBC count were highly variable . In all six fatal cases, autopsy disclosed adrenal hemorrhagic necrosis, which in three was diffuse and typical of that seen in the Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome . Recommendations in patients with sickle cell disease and fever, even if only of moderate degree, include the rapid initiation of antibiotic therapy and the use of corticosteroids at the first sign of circulatory insufficiency.

J Infect Dis, 1982 Jun, 145(6), 822 - 8
Streptococcus pneumoniae and three species of anaerobic bacteria in experimental otitis media in guniea pigs; Thore M et al.; Three species of anaerobic bacteria commonly isolated in upper respiratory tract infections in humans were studied in an animal model of otitis media . The ability of Propionibacterium acnes to induce acute otitis media was comparable with that of streptococcus pneumoniae, the classic middle ear pathogen . The response to Peptostreptococcus micros was weak and irregular, and no effects of Bacteroides asaccharolyticus were observed despite the use of high doses (10(8) colony-forming unite per ear) . The results of this study support the contention that anaerobic bacteria such as P . acnes may be true pathogens in middle ear infections.

J Hyg (Lond), 1982 Jun, 88(3), 425 - 31
A survey of nasal Streptococcus pneumoniae in children; Burr ML et al.; Nasal swabs were taken from 369 four-year-old children in two South Wales towns and cultured for Streptococcus pneumoniae . The organism was isolated in 34% of the specimens, similar rates being found in boys and girls in the two towns . The children were swabbed again a year later, when the prevalence of nasal pneumococci had fallen to 25% . There was no association between the presence of the organism on the two occasions . Types 6 and 23 were most often isolated . After excluding children who had received an antibiotic, the proportion carrying a pneumococcus was higher in those who had recently had a respiratory infection than in the rest, although the difference was not quite statistically significant . There was a significant negative association between the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and Strep . pneumoniae.

Surgery, 1982 Jun, 91(6), 638 - 41
Protection against pneumococcal sepsis in splenectomized rats by implantation of splenic tissue into an omental pouch; Patel J et al.; Clinical and laboratory studies have documented high susceptibility to pneumococcal infection in asplenic humans and animals . Surgeons have stressed the need to preserve the spleen when possible to maintain host resistance . It has been suggested that autotransplantation of splenic tissue might be a method of providing host resistance when total splenectomy is necessary . However, previous studies of rats have failed to demonstrate any protective effect of autotransplanted spleen . This study evaluates the effect of splenic autotransplantation into the omental pouch on pneumococcal infections in rats . Healthy, young Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups of 40 each . Group I served as anesthetized sham-operated controls . Group II had a splenectomy . Group III had a splenectomy with autotransplantation of two slices of spleen 3 mm thick into surgically created omental pouches . Sixteen weeks after surgery, all animals were inoculated with Streptococcus pneumoniae type 25 in a dose of 2 X 10(7) (LD50 for splenectomized rats) . Fourteen days after inoculation, all group III survivors were killed and the transplants were removed for examination . Group I had 100% survival rate following bacterial inoculation . There was a significant difference in survival rate between group II (56%) and group III (89%) (P less than 0.001) . Pathologic examination of group III demonstrated hyperplastic regeneration of splenic tissue within the omental pouch . Rats bearing reimplanted splenic tissue in an omental pouch were protected against pneumococcal peritonitis.

J Immunol, 1982 Jun, 128(6), 2493 - 6
A role for C-reactive protein in the complement-mediated stimulation of human neutrophils by type 27 Streptococcus pneumoniae; Edwards KM et al.; Although C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be opsonic when bound to erythrocytes, its role in bacterial phagocytosis is unclear . Chemiluminescence (CL), a measure of the metabolic stimulation of neutrophils, was used to investigate the effects of CRP and complement (C) on the interaction between phagocytes and Streptococcus pneumoniae, type 27 (Pn27) . CRP binding to Pn27 was demonstrated by using radiolabeled CRP, and Scatchard analysis indicated a saturation binding of about 10(7) CRP molecules/CFU . When Pn27 was pretreated with normal human serum and added to neutrophils, the CL response observed was directly related to the number of bacteria and the amount of serum added . Although bacteria pretreated with CRP alone produced minimal CL, the addition of CRP to serum resulted in a two to 13-fold enhancement of the CL response . CRP enhancement of CL was not observed with heated serum or serum from a patient genetically lacking C2 . CRP bound to Pn27 was found to cause consumption of C3 and C4 in normal human serum, indicating activation of the classical C pathway . Because CRP opsonization might provide early protection in the nonimmune host, we tested the ability of CRP to enhance opsonization in serum with markedly decreased immunoglobulin . CRP enhanced the CL response in serum from a hypogammaglobulinemic patient to between 12 and 16 times the serum control . These studies show CRP binds to Pn27 and in the presence of C enhances the opsonization of these organisms . These findings support the concept that CRP plays a protective role in bacterial infection.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Jun, (6), 95 - 8
{Antigen localization in Streptococcus group A, L forms and revertant by an immunoferritin method}; Churilova NS et al.; The comparative study of antigen localization in the initial streptococcus, in its stable L-forms and in the revertant obtained from the L-forms in early L-transformation passages . has been carried out . In this study 3 sera were used in homologous and heterologous reactions Ferritin-labeled homologous antibodies have been shown to localize directly on the cell-wall surface in the initial strain and in the capsule-like slime in the revertant . The L-forms have been found to possess some membrane-localized antigens in common with the revertant and, to a lesser extent, with the initial streptococcal strain.

Am J Vet Res, 1982 Jun, 43(6), 973 - 8
Effect of time of sample collection, milk composition, and stage of lactation on the growth-promoting properties of milk for Streptococcus agalactiae; Brown RW et al.; Milk samples were taken from noninfected mammary quarters before the AM milking and at intervals after milking . The pH values of the post-AM milk samples were higher than the AM foremilk samples for approximately 3 to 6 hours after milking . When these samples were pasteurized, inoculated with a culture of Streptococcus agalactiae, and incubated at 37 C for 24 hours, there was a greater pH change (delta pH) in the post-AM milks . The higher pH and delta pH values of 3-hour samples coincided with higher concentrations of bicarbonate and chloride, lower concentrations of citrate and phosphate, and lower titratable acidities . Milk samples were taken before the AM milking and 3 to 4 hours later from 2 noninfected quarters of each of 2 cows at weekly intervals for 9 months . The growth of S agalactiae in the milk samples showed that the delta pH and bacterial counts (i) increased as the lactation progressed and milk yield decreased, (ii) were higher in he 3- to 4-hour samples than in the AM samples, and (iii) were higher in the whole milk than in the skim milk of the 3-to 4-hour samples; this difference was attributed to the cream layer and in most instances could be duplicated by layering liquid petrolatum on the surface of skim milk . Also, the bacterial counts in the 3- to 4-hour skim milks were higher than those of the corresponding AM skim milks in 78% of the paired samples, which indicated that another factor, in addition to the cream layer, might be involved in promoting better in vitro growth of S agalactiae in the 3 to 4-hour milk.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jun, 36(3), 1115 - 22
Association of type- and group-specific antigens with the cell wall of serotype III group B streptococcus; Doran TI et al.; The type-specific antigens (TSA) of group B streptococcus (GBS) represent the primary virulence factors for these organisms, yet little is known about their relationship to the cell surface of GBS . Crude cell walls of serotype III GBS strain 110 were purified by extraction with sodium dodecyl sulfate, LiCl, and urea, which removed essentially all of the protein associated with the cell wall as determined by amino acid analysis . Only those amino acids found in peptidoglycan were present, which included alanine, lysine, and glutamate (3.5:1:1 molar ratio) . In contrast, these procedures resulted in the release of only 4.6% of the wall-associated TSA, indicating that protein was not the primary means by which TSA was bound to the cell surface . Mutanolysin (20 micrograms/ml) treatment of purified cell walls resulted in the release of 95% of the wall-associated TSA . The covalent association of TSA, the group B polysaccharide, and the peptidoglycan was demonstrated by the presence of N-acetylmuramic acid, rhamnose, alanine, glutamate, and lysine in mutanolysin-extracted TSA material purified by DEAE-Sephacel anion exchange and Sepharose 4B gel chromatography . Chemical analysis of purified cell walls revealed that group B antigen and peptidoglycan comprised 37.4 and 36.5%, respectively, whereas TSA accounted for 22.1 to 24.5% of the weight of the purified walls . Of the total 283.5 mg of TSA produced per 10-liter culture of GBS strain 110, 8.4% was released into the supernatant fluid . The remainder (249 mg) comprised the cell wall antigen . As described above, 4.6% of the cell wall antigen was extractable by nonenzymatic methods, which represented 3.8% of the total TSA, whereas 87.8% of the total TSA produced appeared to be covalently attached to the cell wall.

Eur J Immunol, 1982 Jun, 12(6), 485 - 90
Messenger RNA from allotype-defined rabbits directing the cell-free synthesis of immunoglobulin heavy and light chains; Pavirani A et al.; In vitro synthesis studies were performed utilizing polyA(+)-RNA and lymphocytes from the spleens of rabbits hyperimmunized with Micrococcus luteus or Streptococcus pneumoniae (type III) . PolyA(+)-RNA isolated after 4 M guanidinium thiocyanate extraction and oligo(dT)-selection appeared to be undegraded on CH3HgOH-agarose gel electrophoresis and demonstrated biological activity when translated in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system . The electrophoretic patterns of the specifically immunoprecipitated cell-free products were compared with those of Nonidet-P40 extracts (lysates) and secretions (supernatants) from rabbit spleen lymphocyte cultures and serum proteins . Kappa light chains with specific b allotypes, as well as immunoglobulin heavy chains, were identified . The efficient translation of mRNA of defined allotypes was a necessary prerequisite for production of characterized cDNA clones and identification of genomic sequences for rabbit immunoglobulin heavy and light chains.

J Oral Pathol, 1982 Jun, 11(3), 252 - 9
Protein components in saliva and plaque fluid from irradiated primates; Edgar WM et al.; Irradiation of the major salivary glands of monkeys (Macaca mulatta) fed cariogenic diets leads to caries clinically indistinguishable from radiation caries in man . This study compares the organic composition of individual samples of plaque fluid and saliva from irradiated and control monkeys receiving the same cariogenic diet . Plaque and saliva were collected from fasting, tranquillised animals . Four irradiated animals were sampled repeatedly as were non-irradiated controls . Total protein, albumin, immunoglobulins A, G, and M, and the third component of complement (C'3) were quantitated in plaque fluid and whole saliva . Salivary amylase and peroxidase activities were also determined . Plaque fluid and saliva samples were also subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The total viable anaerobic count and numbers of Streptococcus mutans were determined in samples of plaque . The results suggest that the major effect of irradiation leading to increased numbers of S . mutans and caries susceptibility is in the amount, and not the composition, of the saliva produced by the residual gland tissue . The scanty flow of saliva may reduce the effectiveness of cleansing, buffering and lubrication mechanisms as well as resulting in a marked reduction in the total amount of specific and non-specific immune factors entering the mouth.

J Clin Gastroenterol, 1982 Jun, 4(3), 259 - 62
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis associated with acute viral hepatitis; Thomas FB et al.; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) occurs most frequently in patients with cirrhosis and preexistent ascites; SBP has not been previously recognized in association with acute liver disease . We report two patients with acute hepatitis B infection who developed SBP . Patient 1 had Streptococcus pneumoniae peritonitis and bacteremia, but did not have ascites until after the peritoneal infection was evident . Subsequent liver biopsy and follow-up studies confirmed the clinical diagnosis of acute hepatitis . Patient 2 had submassive hepatic necrosis due to hepatitis B and developed ascites before Streptococcus fecalis SBP . Although the association of SBP with acute hepatic injury is rare, these two patients illustrate that the syndrome of SBP does occur with acute liver disease.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Jun, 35(6), 1511 - 22
{Evaluation of clinical efficacy of a cephem antibiotic, cefmetazole, in inflammatory infections of the upper respiratory tract}; Fujimaki Y et al.; We had reported the fundamental study on the utility of a new cephem antibiotic, cefmetazole (CMZ) . On the basis of the results we administered CMZ to patients to investigate its clinical utility in this study . 1 . CMZ was administered to 53 patients including 4 infants . They consisted of 30 cases of acute tonsillitis, 10 of peritonsillar abscess, 10 of laryngitis or pharyngitis, and 3 of sinusitis . 2 . One of 2 g CMZ was administered to an adult patient except for l case and 0.5 g to an infant patient once or twice daily for at least 3 days . The method of administration was one shot intravenous injection, intravenous drip infusion or intramuscular injection . 3 . The strict criteria for evaluating the efficacy of a drug were made and used for judging the efficacy of CMZ . 4 . CMZ was clinically effective in 100% of patients with acute tonsillitis, 100% of those with peritonsillar abscess, 90% of those with laryngitis or pharyngitis, and 67% of those with sinusitis . 5 . Bacteriologically, a single sort of bacterium was isolated in most cases of acute tonsillitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis and in the half of cases of peritonsillar abscess . Two and more sorts of bacteria were isolated in the other cases . The main bacteria isolated were beta-Streptococcus, S . pneumoniae and H . influenzae . Anaerobic bacteria, mostly Peptococcus spp . and Peptostreptococcus spp., were detected in peritonsillar abscess . 6 . The clinical results agreed with the clinicobacteriological results . All the bacteria detected before treatment of CMZ disappeared . CMZ also acted effectively in cases in which H . influenzae was suspected to be a causative organism . 7 . The present results of CMZ treatment were similar to those of cefazolin (CEZ) treatment published so far . 8 . Thus, CMZ was confirmed fundamentally and clinically to be a very useful drug for infection of the upper respiratory tract.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1982 Jun, 30(6 Pt 2), 581 - 4
{Treatment of peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis }; de Fremont JF et al.; Thirty patients were treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis during 313 patients months . 26 episodes of peritonitis defined by a cloudy dialysate with more than 100 cells/mm1 and more than 50 p . cent of polynuclear were observed . The organisms initially responsible were Gram-positive in 11 cases (6 Staphylococcus aureus, 1 Staphylococcus albus, 4 Streptococcus viridans), a gram negative in 3 cases (1 Klebsiella, 1 serratio, one unidentified), a Candida in 2 cases . In 10 cases, the culture was negative, Initial treatment was peritoneal lavage (40 l/day) with in situ antibiotics: in the absence of Candida, the association sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) (80 mg/l) and trimethoprim (TMP) (16 mg/l) was used; when Candida was present amphotericin B (5 mg/l) was used . The association SMZ + TMP led to cure of PT in 17 cases, in 7 +/- 4 days . In 5 cases, this initial treatment was changed at the 48th hour because of initial resistance in one case or secondary resistance of Candida surinfection (2 cases) . Candida surinfection occurred later in 2 other cases . For these 6 primary or secondary Candida peritonitis, the catheter was changed within 48 hours . Nevertheless, death occurred in 3 cases and cure was obtained after 51 +/- 11 days in the 3 other cases . Conclusions: 1) The initial treatment by SMZ + TMP appears quite effective in most cases (73%) . 2) The severity and the high incidence of Candida surinfection suggest that its systematic prophylaxis may be appropriate.

Can J Biochem, 1982 Jun, 60(6), 675 - 83
A cell-free system for Streptococcus faecium for studies on the biosynthesis of triterpenoid carotenoids; Taylor RF et al.; A cell-free enzyme extract from Streptococcus faecium UNH 564P has been prepared . The extract incorporates either {2-14C}mevalonic acid (MVA) or {1-14C}isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) into squalene and the carotenoids of the bacterium . ATP and manganese ion were found to be absolute requirements for MVA incorporation by the extract . Only manganese ion was found to be an absolute requirement for IPP incorporation by the extract . Other cofactors including magnesium ion, glutathione, potassium fluoride, NADP, and FAD significantly increase the incorporation of both substrates into the S . faecium terpenoids . Isolation and purification of the radioactive terpenoids from the cell-free system confirmed that the carotenoids of S . faecium are triterpenoids.

Gene, 1982 Jun, 18(3), 319 - 28
Effect of strong promoters on the cloning in Escherichia coli of DNA fragments from Streptococcus pneumoniae; Stassi DL et al.; Attempts to clone wild-type DNA containing the malM gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae in plasmid pBR322 of Escherichia coli were unsuccessful . However, it was possible to clone a PstI fragment of DNA containing this gene in a plasmid of S . pneumoniae . Cells carrying the recombinant plasmid produced large amounts of the malM product, amylomaltase, and a fragment of the protein coded by the adjacent malX gene, apparently as a result of transcription in opposite directions from strong promoters located between the two genes in the plasmid insert . Under derepressed conditions these products represented 10% of the total protein . No transcription terminators appeared to be included within the cloned segment . The effect of various mutations in the segment on its ability to be cloned in pBR322 was examined . Of those tested, only a down promoter mutation that affected production of both the amylomaltase and the X-protein rendered the segment clonable in E . coli . Fragments of the S . pneumoniae vector, pMV158, which appear to lack strong promoters, were readily cloned in the pBR322-E . coli system . Although it is possible that large amounts of the X-fragment are toxic for E . coli, a more general explanation would be that excessive transcription of the pBR322 vector portion interferes with maintenance of the recombinant plasmid.

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1982 Jun, 2(2), 57 - 62
Infective endocarditis in thirteen children: a retrospective study (1974-1981); Moethilalh R et al.; Thirteen children (11 African, two Indian) with infective endocarditis are described . Rheumatic heart disease was present in nine of the children and was therefore a major determinant of infective endocarditis whereas a congenital cardiac abnormality (Fallot's tetralogy) was detected in only one child . Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest infecting organism, being found in five children, and Streptococcus viridans was isolated in one . Fever, murmurs and anaemia were the most frequent clinical expression of the disease . Renal problems were trivial except in two children with endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus in whom they were serious . Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis was uniformly fatal . Among eight children who died neurological complications caused death in four . The patterns of infective endocarditis in developed and Third-World countries are compared.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jun, 36(3), 1217 - 22
Antibodies against the Ag2 fimbriae of Actinomyces viscosus T14V inhibit lactose-sensitive bacterial adherence; Revis GJ et al.; Monospecific antisera against the Ag1 and Ag2 fimbrial components of Actinomyces viscosus T14V were produced by immunizing rabbits with immune precipitates of each antigen harvested from crossed-immunoelectrophoresis plates . The Fab fragments prepared from these sera were used as specific reagents in immunoelectron microscopy to identify each fimbrial component on the bacterial surface and also were assayed for their abilities to prevent the coaggregation of A . viscosus T14V with Streptococcus sanguis 34, an interaction that is lactose sensitive . Each Fab preparation appeared to react with different fibrillar structures present on the actinomycete, and only the Ag2-specific Fabs blocked coaggregation . These results provide strong support for the presence of distinct types of fimbriae on A . viscosus T14V and indicate the exclusive involvement of Ag2 fimbriae in lactose-sensitive adherence.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1982 May 15, 143(2), 153 - 6
Antepartum versus intrapartum selective screening for maternal group B streptococcal colonization; Iams JD et al.; Selective antepartum culturing was performed in pregnant women at high risk for low-birth-weight delivery and neonatal infection, in order to identify the presence of the group B streptococcus (GBS) . Intrapartum culturing was performed in an additional group of gravid women when they presented either in premature labor or with prematurely ruptured membranes . Antepartum screening for GBS offered no additional advantage over intrapartum culturing in predicting pregnancies that resulted in neonatal infection . Therefore, an intrapartum approach is recommended.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1982 May-Jun, 91(3 Pt 1), 256 - 60
Longitudinal study of the efficacy of ampicillin in the treatment of pneumococcal otitis media in a chinchilla animal model; Supance JS et al.; A chinchilla animal model was used to determine the effects of early antibiotic treatment with ampicillin or the local and systemic protective mechanisms during pneumococcal acute otitis media with effusion (AOME) . The right bullae of 74 chinchillas were inoculated with 170 colony-forming units (CFU) of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 7F, and animals were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: early (24 hours postinoculation) and late (12 days postinoculation) initiation of ampicillin treatment . During the first challenge, 52 chinchillas died within a 1-month period, apparently from suppurative complications of AOME . Following the resolution of AOME in their right ears, all surviving animals were challenged for the second time by bilateral bullar inoculations using 130 CFU of the same organism . All 10 animals in the early ampicillin treatment group developed severe bilateral AOME, whereas only 3 of the 12 animals in the late ampicillin treatment group developed a recurrence of AOME in the right ear . Significantly, 8 of the 12 animals in this group developed severe left AOME . These findings suggest the presence of a local middle ear defense system and support the results of previous similar studies in which S pneumoniae types 3 and 6A were used . The results of the present study also suggest that in the chinchilla the early administration of a systemic antibiotic (ampicillin) interferes with this defense mechanism.

J Med Microbiol, 1982 May, 15(2), 163 - 72
Changes in the serum of mice infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae that stimulate in-vitro multiplication of virulent but not avirulent strains; Firshein W et al.; During pneumococcal infection of mice, nucleic-acid products, including deoxynucleotides, may be released into the serum from cellular disintegration in at least three organs, the lungs, spleen and liver . The serum, after sterilisation to remove contaminating pneumococci, stimulated multiplication of virulent but not avirulent pneumococci in vitro . It also stimulated growth of virulent pneumococci in serum from uninfected animals and could be replaced, at least in part, by certain nucleic-acid degradation products at concentrations found in infected serum . The effects of the serum were lost after dialysis or dilution.

Am J Otolaryngol, 1982 May-Jun, 3(3), 189 - 95
Effect of tympanostomy tubes on the pathogenesis of acute otitis media; Meyerhoff WL et al.; Intubation of the tympanic membrane as a treatment for acute otitis media is extremely controversial . This study was designed to determine the effect of tympanic membrane intubation in an experimental model for acute purulent otitis media . The right tympanic membrane of the chinchilla was intubated with Paparella Type I tympanostomy tubes . This procedure was followed in seven days by nasopharyngeal inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae and in an additional three days by nasopharyngeal inoculation of influenza A virus . Nasopharyngeal inoculation with these microorganisms results in acute purulent otitis media in 70 per cent of animals . The presence of the tympanostomy tubes did not reduce the incidence of clinical otitis media, nor did it reduce the pathologic changes within the middle ear space . The tympanostomy tubes did, however, significantly reduce the incidence and severity of pathologic changes in the subepithelial space of the middle ear mucosa.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 May, 15(5), 964 - 66
Predominant microflora associated with human dental periapical abscesses; Oguntebi B et al.; The microflora of periapical abscesses of teeth free of periodontal disease was studied . Permucosal aspiration of abscess contents and anaerobic cultural, microscopic, and biochemical techniques indicated a mixed but somewhat specific and relatively limited facultative and obligate anaerobic flora with Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus mitis as a frequent pair.

Infect Immun, 1982 May, 36(2), 576 - 81
Properties of Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt growing on limiting sucrose in a chemostat: repression of the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase transport system; Ellwood DC et al.; Growth of Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt on limiting sucrose in a chemostat at dilution rates of 0.05 to 0.4 h-1 (mean generation time, 14 to 1.7 h) resulted in a heterofermentative pattern of metabolic end products . During fast growth, lactic acid was the major end product, whereas at slower growth rates, acetic and formic acids, as well as ethanol, increased to be major end products . The patterns obtained were similar to those seen with the same organism growing on glucose . The glycolytic rate by washed cells was maximum at the lowest dilution rates and decreased as the cells were made to grow faster . Transport of sucrose, glucose, and fructose via the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PTS) was repressed during growth on sucrose after growth on glucose . Uptake rates suggested that sucrose was transported in the PTS as the intact disaccharide . Comparison of the rate of sugar uptake in the chemostat with the rate of PTS activity in the cells at each growth rate indicated that the PTS was capable of supporting growth only at a dilution rate of 0.05 h-1 . Growth on sucrose at faster growth rates required the activity of a second transport system, supporting our earlier observations with glucose that S . mutans contains at least two sugar transport systems.

Arch Neurol, 1982 May, 39(5), 307 - 8
Meningitis caused by Streptococcus bovis; Gavryck WA et al.; Streptococcus bovis was isolated from the CSF of a 66-year-old man with meningitis . His clinical appearance was unusual in that he lacked typical signs and symptoms of pyogenic meningitis . Streptococcus bovis was also recovered from his blood, which suggested that bacterial endocarditis was the source of his CNS infection . He was cured after four weeks of therapy with intravenous penicillin G potassium . This is the fourth reported case of meningitis caused by S bovis . The previous three patients also had endocarditis caused by S bovis . Because of the reported propensity of S bovis to infect heart valves and the frequent association of S bovis bacteremia with malignant gastrointestinal (GI) tract tumors, recovery of this organism form CSF should prompt a search for bacterial endocarditis and occult GI cancer.

Z Naturforsch {C}, 1982 May-Jun, 37(5-6), 385 - 9
Effects of trypan blue and related compounds on production and activity of streptolysin S; Taketo Y et al.; Most dyes related to trypan blue inhibited hemolytic activity of oligonucleotide-streptolysin S (SLS) complex, an exotoxin produced by Streptococcus pyogenes . Order of the inhibition was: trypan blue greater than benzo blue 2B greater than Congo red greater than Evans blue greater than benzo purpurine 4B greater than thiazine red greater than trypan red . When resting streptococcal cells were incubated with these dyes, significant amount of the hemolysin was produced . The carrier (or inducing) activity for SLS was further manifested in growing cell system and the potency of the compounds was as follows: Congo red greater than benzo blue 2B greater than trypan blue greater than Evans blue greater than Benzo purpurine 4B greater than or equal to thiazine red greater than trypan red . In this system, Congo red was more effective than oligonucleotide fraction rich in guanyl residue . Chromotrope 2B, H acid and o-tolidine were ineffective, as the carrier as well as the inhibitor . Based on these results, structure-function relationship among SLS, the carrier and the inhibitor was discussed.

Arch Dermatol, 1982 May, 118(5), 343 - 5
Trichosporon beigelii fungemia and cutaneous dissemination; Manzella JP et al.; Trichosporon beigelii fungemia and multiple, purpuric, papular skin lesions developed on the chest wall and extremities of a 22-year-old man with acute granulocytic leukemia . Histologically, the skin lesions demonstrated dermal budding yeasts, which were identified as T beigelii in culture . Unexplained biventricular, congestive heart failure and sepsis wit Streptococcus intermedius developed, and the patient died 28 days after his admission to the hospital.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 May, 15(5), 967 - 8
Postoperative infection caused by an unusual serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae associated with multiple drug resistance; O'Donnell ED et al.; A 15-month-old child developed an infectious pulmonary complication of open heart surgery . Cultures of the respiratory secretions showed growth of a 9L serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae which was resistant to penicillin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol . There was no evidence that the organism was spread among the family of the patient or hospital personnel.

J Gen Microbiol, 1982 May, 128 (Pt 5), 927 - 45
The role of surface stress in the morphology of microbes; Koch AL et al.; The shapes of many prokaryotes can be understood by the assumption that the cell wall expands in response to tension created by the osmotically derived hydrostatic pressure . Different organisms have different shapes because wall growth takes place in different regions . A previous paper (Koch et al., 1981 a) considered the simplest case of prokaryotic growth, i.e . that of Streptococcus faecium . In the present paper, an elaboration of this theory is applied to two further cases - the more perfectly spherical cocci and the rod-shaped bacteria . These cases are more complex mathematically, because growth over a considerable fraction of the surface must be considered . Such diffuse growth cannot be treated analytically, but can be simulated on a computer or handled by geometric arguments . The spherical form of the cocci may result from either diffuse growth over their entire external surface, or from zonal growth in which the addition of new material only occurs in the immediate vicinity of the splitting septum . In the zonal model, it must be assumed that the least amount of previously laid down septal peptidoglycan consistent with wall growth is reworked in the formation of the new external wall . For Gram-positive rods, where the body of the rod is truly cylindrical, three kinds of growth zones are required: (1) the inward edge of the ingrowing septum, (2) the junction of septum and nascent pole, and (3) the cylindrical walls . Two modes for cylindrical elongation ara possible: (a) new wall is added in one or a few narrow annular zones, or (b) new wall material is added continuously all over the innermost surface and the outer layer is degraded . It is shown that the latter case applies to Bacillus subtilis . Also summarized in this paper are results, developed in more detail elsewhere, concerning the morphology of fusiform bacteria, Gram-negative rods and the hyphal tips of fungi.

J Gen Virol, 1982 May, 60(Pt 1), 147 - 51
Electron microscopy of Streptococcus lactis phage plaque margins; Moussavi-Jahed Z et al.; Ultrathin sections of plaques produced by Streptococcus lactis phages O712 and m13 were examined by transmission electron microscopy . The clear central area of the plaque was found to contain hardly any cellular material but the turbid margin contained abundant plasma membranes and some partially lysed cells whose appearance suggests a novel mechanism for the termination of plaque growth.

Yale J Biol Med, 1982 May-Aug, 55(3-4), 291 - 5
Pathogenesis of neonatal group B streptococcal infections; Baltimore RS; Infections of the neonate due to the group B Streptococcus have been recognized since the 1930s, but it was during the 1970s that their incidence grew alarmingly throughout the world . A research effort stimulated by this problem has yielded significant new information about many facets of the pathogenesis of these infections . Immunologic investigations have pinpointed a lack of transplacentally acquired antibody as a significant risk factor . In the laboratory, assays of antibody which have a functional endpoint have demonstrated that the type-specific carbohydrate antigens play a major role in stimulating the development of protective antibody . These assays have been shown to correlate with certain tests of primary antigen-antibody interaction which do not have a functional endpoint, but are simpler to use in larger scale epidemiologic studies . These tools may be useful in filling the gaps in our current knowledge of the pathogenesis of this infection.

Allergy, 1982 May, 37(4), 249 - 58
Studies on bacterial hypersensitivity in man . Interrelationship between skin reactions to bacterial peptidoglycan and serum peptidoglycan antibody titers; von Mayenburg J et al.; The nature and extent of bacterially induced allergies are difficult to define . Since peptidoglycan, the main component of the cell wall of almost all bacteria, has been available in a highly purified, chemically and immunologically well-defined form, investigation of the allergological significance of this cell component is feasible . Intracutaneous tests were carried out on 181 test subjects with five different peptidoglycan (PG) preparations from Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus Pyogenes . The results of the investigation were compared with the result of determination of serum PG antibodies and serum IgE concentrations . It was shown that test subjects with dual and later reactions to three different staphylococcal PGs displayed significantly higher PG antibody titers than test subjects with negative reactions . Such a relationship could not be found with the cutaneous reactions to streptococcal PG . The total serum IgE values were very much higher in test subjects with immediate reactions to staphylococcal PG than in test subjects with a negative reaction . Typical Arthus reaction or late granulomatous reactions were not observed . Humoral antibodies are involved at least in part in the elicitation of dual and late reactions . Thus, there are interesting parallels to allergy to fungal spores and organic dusts.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 May, 43(5), 1006 - 10
Restriction endonuclease analysis of the lactose plasmid in Streptococcus lactis ML3 and two recombinant lactose plasmids; Walsh PM et al.; We investigated the molecular relationship between the 60-megadalton (Mdal) recombinant lactose plasmids in ML 3 x LM2301 lactose-positive (Lac+) transconjugants and the genetic material of Streptococcus lactis ML3 . Lactose metabolism is linked to the 33-Mdal plasmid pSK08 in ML3, and the recipient LM2301 is cured of plasmid DNA . The plasmids were analyzed with a series of restriction enzymes . We found that the 60-Mdal plasmids of Lac+ transconjugants contained pSK08 DNA, but were not simply dimers of pSK08 . The 60-Mdal plasmids contained a segment of DNA not apparent in pSK08 . The restriction patterns of the 60-Mdal plasmid in a Lac+ nonclumping transconjugant and that in a Lac+ clumping transconjugant were different . This suggested that there was a molecular differences between these two recombinant plasmids . We conclude that the segment of DNA in the 60-Mdal plasmids that was not present in pSK08 was the proposed transfer factor responsible for cell aggregation and high-frequency conjugation.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1982 May, 79(9), 2991 - 5
Staphylococcal plasmids that replicate and express erythromycin resistance in both Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli; Barany F et al.; Plasmid pSA5700 from Staphylococcus aureus coding for erythromycin (EmR) and chloramphenicol (CmR) resistance was transformed into Streptococcus pneumoniae . High-copy-number and EmR constitutive mutants of this plasmid were isolated . Transformation frequencies in S . pneumoniae as high as 70% were obtained with a constitutive plasmid as donor DNA, into a recipient cell containing a resident, inducible, high-copy-number plasmid . With the aid of these high frequencies, the site of constitutive mutations could be mapped via a simple marker rescue technique that uses purified restriction endonuclease-generated fragments . One of the EmR constitutive mutants, pFB9, a plasmid originating from a Gram-positive host, was shown to replicate and express EmR and CmR in a Gram-negative organism, Escherichia coli . Four derivatives of pFB9 containing large (0.6-0.9 megadalton) insertion sequences that arose spontaneously in E . coli demonstrated unusual transforming activity, as well as enhanced EmR, in E . coli . The inserted elements mapped to the region in front of the EmR gene . Three of these inserted elements had the size and restriction patterns of insertion sequence IS1, IS2, and IS5 . Plasmid pFB9 and derivatives are useful for isolation of new insertion sequences and for comparison of gene expression and illegitimate recombination between Gram-positive and Gram-negative species.

J Gen Microbiol, 1982 May, 128 (Pt 5), 1135 - 45
Expression of Streptococcus mutans aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase gene cloned into plasmid pBR322; Jagusztyn-Krynicka EK et al.; Streptococcus mutans chromosomal DNA cloned into the vector plasmid pBR322 in Escherichia coli is able to complement the metabolic defect of an aspartate-semialdehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.11) gene (asd) deletion in the host strain . We constructed two Asd+ recombinant plasmids, pYA570 and pYA571, containing 4.7 and 4.5 kilobases, respectively, of S . mutans chromosomal DNA inserted into the HindIII restriction endonuclease site of pBR322 in the same orientation . The S . mutans UAB62 Asd+ DNA did not hybridize with E . coli DNA which contained an intact asd gene, but did not hybridize with S . mutans UAB62 chromosomal DNA . Derivative Asd+ plasmids were then constructed from pYA570 . One, pYA574, had a 4.5 kilobase S . mutans insert DNA in the opposite direction from pYA570 . In another pYA575, the S . mutans insert DNA was reduced in size to 1.3 kilobases . It was seen that the orientation of the S . mutans DNA fragment inserted into the promotor region of the pBR322 tetracycline resistance (Tcr) gene affected expression of Tcr . Orientation of the S . mutans insert also affected the stability of the plasmid in certain E . coli strains . Restriction maps for pYA570, pYA571, pYA574 and pYA575 using the endonucleases EcoRI, BamHI, HindIII, PstI and SalI were determined, Asd+ plasmid-directed protein synthesis was studied in E . coli minicells . The plasmids pYA570, pYA574 and pYA575 each produced large amounts of a protein with a monomeric molecular weight of about 45000, that was distinct from both pBR322 and E.coli specified proteins: this protein is the S . mutans asd gene product . Smaller derivatives of recombinant plasmid pYA575 that were Asd- allowed the location of the S . mutans asd gene promotor and the direction of transcription to be determined.

J Biol Chem, 1982 Apr 25, 257(8), 4046 - 51
Oxygen toxicity in Streptococcus sanguis . The relative importance of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals; DiGuiseppi J et al.; Streptococcus sanguis, whose growth appears to be independent of the availability of iron, makes no hemes, contains neither catalase nor peroxidase, and can accumulate millimolar concentration levels of H2O2 during aerobic growth . It possesses a single manganese-containing superoxide dismutase whose concentration can be varied over a 50-100-fold range by manipulating the availability of oxygen during growth . Cell extracts contain a soluble NADH-plumbagin diaphorase which mediates O2- production in vitro and presumably also in vivo . Plumbagin increased oxygen consumption by S . sanguis and imposed an oxygen-dependent toxicity . Cells grown aerobically and containing elevated levels of superoxide dismutase were resistant to this toxicity . Dimethyl sulfoxide, which was shown to permeate S . sanguis freely, was used as an indicating scavenger of OH . An in vitro enzymic source of O2- plus H2O2 generated formaldehyde from dimethyl sulfoxide, an indication of OH . production . Either superoxide dismutase or catalase inhibited this OH . production and iron salts augmented it . Intact, aerobic cells of S . sanguis also gave evidence of OH . production, in the presence of plumbagin, but all of it appeared to be generated outside the cells . In addition, 0.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide did not diminish the oxygen-dependent toxicity of plumbagin . We conclude that, in S . sanguis, O2- can exert a toxic effect independent of the production of OH..

Carbohydr Res, 1982 Apr 16, 102, 263 - 71
Structural and immunological studies of the Escherichia coli K7 (K56) capsular polysaccharide; Tsui FP et al.; The structure of the Escherichia coli K7 capsular polysaccharide has been investigated by a combination of chemical and spectroscopic methods . The Structure of the repeating unit of the polymer was found to be goes to 3)-beta-D-ManNAcA-(1 leads to 4)-beta-D-Glc-(1 goes to ; the O-6 atom of the D-glucosyl residue in the repeating unit is acetylated . The K7 polysaccharide is cross-reactive with the Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 polysaccharide, the structure of which had previously been determined; our n.m.r . studies of the S . pneumoniae type 3 polysaccharide are in accord with this structure . The E . coli K7 and K56 capsular antigens have been shown by serology and 13C-n.m.r . spectroscopy to be identical.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1982 Apr 15, 142(8), 992 - 5
Vaginal colonization with Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus as a risk factor for post-cesarean section febrile morbidity; Minkoff HL et al.; Vaginal colonization of mothers with Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GBS) has been recognized as a risk factor for neonatal morbidity . The relationship of GBS colonization to risks for the mother who undergoes cesarean section has not been defined . In this study, we found that, among patients who underwent cesarean section, the 19% of them who were colonized with GBS had a higher incidence of standard fever (66.6% vs . 30.5%), clinical diagnosis of endomyometritis (61.1% vs . 12.5%), and use of antibiotics (61.1% vs . 26.3%) in relationship to a significantly increased frequency of premature rupture of the membranes (50.0% vs . 14.8%) . Reasons for the association between vaginal colonization and increased morbidity are discussed.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1982 Apr, 90(2), 131 - 3
Increased susceptibility of hypersplenic rats to infection with pneumococci; Alwmark A et al.; Hypersplenism was induced in rats by intra-peritoneal injections of methylcellulose . These rats developed an outsize spleen and had significantly depressed values for hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and platelet count . The rats given methylcellulose were also found to be more susceptible to a challenge with a standardized intravenous injection of Streptococcus pneumoniae and had a significantly higher mortality rate than the control rats.

Infect Immun, 1982 Apr, 36(1), 435 - 6
Plasmid-mediated transformation of Streptococcus mutans; Kuramitsu HK et al.; Streptococcus mutans GS-5 was transformed to erythromycin resistance with streptococcal plasmid pVA736 . Transformation frequencies were higher with plasmids reisolated from transformed GS-5 cells relative to plasmid originally derived from S . sanguis Challis.

Infect Immun, 1982 Apr, 36(1), 371 - 8
Inhibitors of coaggregation between Actinomyces viscosus T14V and Streptococcus sanguis 34: beta-galactosides, related sugars, and anionic amphipathic compounds; McIntire FC et al.; Coaggregation between Actinomyces viscosus T14V (T14V) and Streptococcus sanguis 34 (Ss34) depends upon specific reaction between lectin on T14V and carbohydrate on Ss34 . Studies on coaggregation inhibition by sugars related to D-galactose, beta-galactosides, and amphipathic molecules revealed: (i) D-fucose, D-talose approximately equal to D-galactose, which was 0.2 potency of lactose . No other hexoses or pentoses inhibited at 0.1 M . (ii) Gal beta (1 leads to 3)GalNAc alpha OCH2C6H5 was the most potent beta-galactoside inhibitor; it had 20 times the potency of lactose . (iii) Anionic nonaromatic amphipathic compounds were good inhibitors; sodium deoxycholate (I) was equal to lactose; sodium dodecyl sulfate (II) had 15 times the potency of lactose; there was 90 to 100% irreversible inhibition when T14V was treated with 0.005 M (II) . Treatment of Ss34 with II had no effect . (iv) Synergism of inhibition was observed between lactose and I or lactose and II, e.g., inhibition by 0.01 M lactose = 5%; inhibition by 0.01 M I = 9%; inhibition by 0.01 M lactose + 0.01 M I = 87% . (v) The irreversible inhibition by II was prevented when 0.25 M lactose or 0.25 M I was present during treatment of T14V with 0.005 M II . (vi) Synergism and prevention by lactose or by I of irreversible inhibition by II suggest that all three react at the same site on T14V lectin . We hypothesize that the T14V lectin combining site for Ss34 carbohydrate has specific affinity for beta-galactosides and for anionic nonaromatic amphipathic molecules . This site can be saturated by either kind of reagent to exclude the other reagent or to inhibit coaggregation.

Infect Immun, 1982 Apr, 36(1), 289 - 96
Influenza A virus-induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte dysfunction in the pathogenesis of experimental pneumococcal otitis media; Abramson JS et al.; The role of influenza A virus-induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte and eustachian tube dysfunction in the pathogenesis of acute purulent otitis media was studied in chinchillas . Polymorphonuclear leukocyte function, middle ear pressure, and the incidence of pneumococcal otitis media were observed after intranasal inoculation with influenza A virus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or both . Results showed that depressed negative middle ear pressure and polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemiluminescence and chemotactic activity occurred after influenza inoculation, but not after inoculation with pneumococcus alone . The greatest incidence of pneumococcal otitis media occurred when the pneumococcus was inoculated just before the time of influenza-induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte dysfunction and negative middle ear pressure . Animals that had unilateral tympanostomy tubes placed before inoculation of influenza with pneumococcus showed no difference in the occurrence of pneumococcal otitis media in ventilated and nonventilated ears, suggesting that polymorphonuclear leukocyte dysfunction contributes more to the pathogenesis of pneumococcal otitis media than does negative middle ear pressure in this animal model.

Infect Immun, 1982 Apr, 36(1), 184 - 8
Protection of mice from infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae by anti-phosphocholine antibody; Yother J et al.; Anti-phosphocholine (PC) antibody mediated protection against many strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, and hybridoma anti-PC antibodies protected mice from fatal infections with types 1 and 3 S . pneumoniae . Live types 1, 3, 5, 6A, and 19F S . pneumoniae had similar amounts of surface PC accessible to antibody . Furthermore, mice expressing the X-linked immunodeficiency (xid) of the CBA/N strain were found to be more susceptible to infection with S . pneumoniae of types 3, 6A, and 19F than were immunologically normal mice . The only exception to these results was with the type 5 strain, which was highly virulent for both xid and normal mice . In addition, we were unable to protect mice against infection with the type 5 strain by using anti-PC antibody.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Apr, 125(4), 436 - 42
Sensitivity, specificity, and risk of diagnostic procedures in a canine model of Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia; Moser KM et al.; A canine model in which unilateral Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia was induced was used to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and risk of various technics proposed for the diagnosis of pulmonary infection . Control and infected animals were studied during spontaneous and mechanical ventilation . We found that three procedures provided a reasonable degree of combined specificity and sensitivity: transthoracic needle aspiration (TTN), catheter-brush biopsy (CBB), and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) . Transtracheal aspiration, although sensitive, was consistently low in specificity, whereas TTN provided the highest sensitivity/specificity . Both CBB and TBB provided almost the same results in intubated animals, but specificity was lower in nonintubated animals . Gram-stained smears obtained by TTN, CBB, and TBB were highly specific, but often negative . The only risk encountered was pneumothorax . The TTN was associated with a 20 to 30% risk of pneumothorax; CBB and TBB did not appear to induce pneumothorax . These studies provide the first animal data regarding the comparative yield/risk of these diagnostic approaches . As such, they may prove useful in the design of future human investigations.

Ann Emerg Med, 1982 Apr, 11(4), 181 - 3
Otitis media: update on etiology and management; Friedman AD et al.; Thirty children with clinical evidence of otitis media underwent tympanocentesis . Streptococcus pneumoniae was the predominant organism recovered (63%) . Three cases of Hemophilus influenzae, alone or in combination with S pneumoniae, were identified . Other organisms found were Staphylococcus albus, Neiserria species . Group A B-hemolytic Streptococcus, and anaerobes . In four patients (13%) no organism was recovered . All isolates were ampicillin susceptible . No relationship was found between WBC, temperature, or age and the organism recovered . Tympanocentesis did not provide any information resulting in an alteration of therapy . Tympanocentesis may be indicated for relief of pain or for periodic surveillance of organism sensitivities, but is not justified in the emergency department for uncomplicated acute otitis media . {Friedman A, Fleisher GR, Henretig F, Handler S, Campos JM: Otitis media: Update on etiology and management . Ann Emerg Med 11:181-183, April 1982.}

J Infect Dis, 1982 Apr, 145(4), 514 - 9
Synergism between the spleen and serum complement in experimental pneumococcemia; Van Wyck DB et al.; To examine the interplay between the spleen and complement activation in host defense against pneumococcemia, serial colony counts in blood and survival rates were studied after high-dose (10(5)) and low-dose (10(2)) intravenous challenge with growth-phase Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3 in rats with splenic remnants of varying size (partial, total, or no splenic resection) and with or without complement depletion (by pretreatment with cobra venom factor {CVF}) . After high-dose challenge, the combination of total splenectomy and CVF produced greater pneumococcemia and higher mortality than either factor alone . After low-dose challenge, survival was uniform except when CVF was coupled with total splenectomy or splenic remnants less than one third of normal size, combinations which resulted in extremely high early mortality . This synergistic interaction between total splenectomy and CVF reveals a serious postsplenectomy immune defect and provides a highly sensitive assay of residual protective function in the spleen.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Apr, 15(4), 740 - 3
Vitamin B6 requirements of nutritionally variant Streptococcus mitior; Schiller NL et al.; The growth rate of three vitamin B6-dependent Streptococcus mitior (B6DS) and two non-B6DS strains in Todd-Hewitt broth, with and without vitamin B6 supplementation, was examined . Even in optimally supplemented culture media, the growth rate of the three B6DS strains was much slower than that of comparable non-B6DS strains . Uptake studies with {3H} pyridoxine suggest that these B6DS strains cannot assimilate pyridoxine . Although not transported intracellularly, pyridoxine inhibited the growth of B6DS strains in media supplemented with other vitamin B6 analogs, probably by binding to the vitamin B6 transport system and inhibiting the uptake of the other vitamin B6 analogs.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Apr, 15(4), 635 - 9
Increased bactericidal activity of dilute preparations of povidone-iodine solutions; Berkelman RL et al.; Recent confirmation of intrinsic bacterial contamination of 10% povidone-iodine solution has raised questions regarding the bactericidal mechanism of iodophors and the possibility for survival of vegetative bacterial cells in iodophor solutions . In this laboratory investigation, five different species were exposed to various dilutions of three commercial preparations of 10% povidone-iodine solution; survival was assessed after exposure for time periods varying between 0 and 8 min . All brands of povidone-iodine solution tested demonstrated more rapid killing of Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium chelonei at dilutions of 1:2, 1:4, 1:10, 1:50, and 1:100 than did the stock solutions, S . aureus survived a 2-min exposure to full-strength povidone-iodine solution but did not survive a 15-s exposure to a 1:100 dilution of the iodophor . Both stock and dilute preparations of 10% povidone-iodine solution demonstrated rapid bactericidal action against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas cepacia, and Streptococcus mitis.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Apr, 15(4), 567 - 70
Blood culture cross contamination associated with a radiometric analyzer; Griffin MR et al.; During a 9-day period in August 1980 in a New Jersey hospital, three pairs of consecutively numbered blood cultures from different patients were identified as positive for the same organism (two pairs of Klebsiella pneumoniae and one pair of group A Streptococcus), for each pair, both cultures were positive in the same atmosphere, both organisms had the same sensitivities, and the second of each pair grew at least 2 days after the first and was the only positive blood culture obtained from the patient . When the hospital laboratory discontinued use of its radiometric culture analyzer for 15 days, no more consecutive pairs of positive cultures occurred . Subsequent use of the machine for 9 days with a new power unit but the original circuit boards resulted in one more similar consecutive pair (Staphylococcus epidermidis) . After replacement of the entire power unit, there were no further such pairs . Examination of the machine by the manufacturer revealed a defective circuit board which resulted in inadequate needle sterilization . Laboratories which utilize radiometric analyzers should be aware of the potential for cross contamination . Recognition of such events requires alert microbiologists and infection control practitioners and a record system in the bacteriology laboratory designed to identify such clusters.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Apr, 35(4), 909 - 18
{Clinical study on 9,3"-diacetylmidecamycin in the field of pediatrics (author's transl)}; Minamitani M et al.; We have studied clinically on 9,3"-diacetylmidecamycin (MOM), a new macrolide antibiotic derived from midecamycin . The following results were obtained . 1) Serum concentration . To the the same child weighing 15 kg and aged 4 years, the MOM dry syrup was administered orally at single doses of 150 mg (10 mg/kg) and 300 mg (20 mg/kg) and then the MDM fine granules at a single dose of 300 mg (20 mg/kg) . At dosages of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of MOM dry syrup and 20 mg/kg of MDM fine granules, the serum concentrations were 0.5 microgram/ml, 0.8 microgram/ml and not detectable (N.D.) respectively, at 45 minutes after administration; 0.4, 0.6 and N.D . at 1 hour; 0.12; 0.2 and N.D, at 2 hours; N.D., less than 0.1, N.D . at 4 hours; N.D . in all the cases at 6 hours . 2) Clinical results . MOM dry syrup was administered to 25 children . The efficacy rate was 68.75% except for 1 dropout case and the elimination rate of 11 isolated strains of group A Streptococcus was 9.09% in 16 cases of scarlet fever and 1 of acute pharyngitis caused by group A Streptococcus . With 6 cases of pertussis were eradicated . The clinical response to 1 with acute bronchitis and 1 with Mycoplasma pneumonia were good and poor respectively . 3) Side effect . No clinical side effect and abnormal laboratory findings were observed in any of the 25 cases administered MOM dry syrup.

Scand J Dent Res, 1982 Apr, 90(2), 109 - 16
Development of aggregating ability in cells of Streptococcus mitis ATCC 903 grown under glucose-limiting conditions in continuous culture; Abaas S et al.; Streptococcus mitis ATCC 903 grown under glucose-limiting conditions in continuous culture did not aggregate upon incubation in 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 5--7 unless a metabolizable sugar was added . Aggregation started 45--60 min after the addition of glucose or sucrose whereas slowly metabolized sugars as galactose and lactose required several hours to cause aggregation . Active metabolism of the carbohydrate was a prerequisite for aggregation as indicated by acid formation . Chloramphenicol inhibited the development of aggregating ability in the presence of glucose or sucrose . The addition of a source of nitrogen (peptides and amino acids) enhanced aggregation and shortened the time for development of aggregating ability . No aggregation occurred at at 0 degrees C and the ability to aggregate was markedly delayed at 20 degrees C as compared to 30 degrees C and 37 degrees C . Trypsin treatment of the bacteria abolished aggregation, indicating that surface components of protein or glycoprotein nature contributed to the capacity to aggregate.

Aust Dent J, 1982 Apr, 27(2), 81 - 5
Immunization against dental caries . A review; Rogers AH; An attempt has been made to review the current state of knowledge in relation to the production of a completely safe, effective vaccine against dental caries . Almost all research has focused upon Streptococcus mutants on the assumption that it is of prime aetiological importance . In earlier studies, whole or broken cells of Strep . mutans were used to immunize experimental animals but, because of the possible harmful effects of impure vaccines, more recent attempts have been made to find a suitable immunogen from purified cell components of this organism . When this has been achieved, there still remain the problems of proving its safety and efficacy and of devising suitable immunization schedules whereby relatively long-lasting protection can be provided.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Apr, 77(4), 480 - 4
Fatal Streptococcus MG-intermedius (Streptococcus milleri) meningitis in an adult; Tecson-Tumang F et al.; A case of purulent meningitis in an adult caused by Streptococcus MG-intermedius, also known as Streptococcus milleri, is described . The intriguing taxonomical history of this organism and its association with mycoplasma pneumoniae pulmonary infections is reviewed . The incidence of central nervous system infections due to this organism is also discussed.

Aust Vet J, 1982 Apr, 58(4), 143 - 7
A survey of clinical mastitis in South-East Queensland dairy herds; Daniel RC et al.; A survey if clinical mastitis in 26 South-East Queensland dairy herds supplying more than 300,000 litres of milk annually, revealed a quarter incidence of 2.6% with a cow incidence of 9% over a 3-month period . Secretion samples from cows yielded Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus Uberis, Coliforms, Pseudomonas spp and other bacteria in 38.5%, 12.5%, 6.6%, 3.4%, 2.6%, 0.6% and 2.0% of cases respectively . Samples from 38% of the cases were culturally negative while at least 38% of the clinical quarters had shown a previous clinical episode of mastitis . There was a significant association (P less than 0.025) between herd and the likelihood of a negative culture result on samples from clinical cases . Twenty-one percent of cases occurred in the first month of lactation and 10.3% in the first week . There was a significant association (P less than 0.005) between the age of cow and the stage of lactation in which clinical cases occurred in that cows in the 2 to 5 year age group were more likely to suffer attacks in the earlier part of lactation . There was a highly significant relationship (P less than 0.005) between cow age group and the proportion of affected quarters and it was calculated that the change with each year of age was a 55% increase over the previous year . Forty-five percent of the isolates of S . aureus were resistant to penicillin.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1982 Mar 18, 702(1), 72 - 80
Purification and properties of Streptococcus mutans extracellular glucosyltransferase; Shimamura A et al.; Extracellular glucosyltransferase (sucrose:1,6-alpha-D-glucan 3-alpha- and 6-alpha-glucosyltransferase) was purified about 10 000-fold from the culture supernatant of Streptococcus mutans 6715 . The enzyme preparation was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and ultracentrifugation analyses . The specific activity of the enzyme was 34.9 I.U . per mg of protein and the carbohydrate content was less than 1% (w/w) . The molecular weight was determined to be 149 000 +/- 5000 by sedimentation equilibrium experiment . The acidic and basic amino acids of the enzyme comprised 29 and 8.4% of total amino acid, respectively, and the isoelectric point was pH 4.1 . The enzyme had the optimum pH of 5.5 and the Km value of 2.4 mM for sucrose . The water-soluble glucan, which was de novo-synthesized from sucrose by the purified enzyme, was analyzed by a gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy and was found to be 1,6-alpha-D-glucan with highly (35%) branched structure of 1,3,6-linked glucose residue.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1982 Mar 15, 142(6 Pt 1), 617 - 20
Perinatal group B streptococcal colonization and infection; Allardice JG et al.; Of 2,169 patients screened in labor for vaginal group B streptococcal colonization, 164 (7.6%) had positive results . Five hundred twenty-four of the patients were screened in the antenatal period, and 57 patients with positive tests for group B streptococcus were treated in labor with intravenous ampicillin . Four of the treatment group gave birth to colonized infants but none became infected . Of the 136 untreated mother-infant pairs with positive tests, 62 neonates were colonized, nine became infected, and three died . In the presence of an attack rate of 6.6% among infants born to colonized mothers, antenatal screening and treatment in labor of mothers colonized with group B streptococcus will reduce neonatal colonization and infection.

Vet Rec, 1982 Mar 13, 110(11), 247 - 9
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Streptococcus agalactiae antibodies in bovine milk; Logan EF et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Streptococcus agalactiae antibodies in bovine milk was developed using whole bacterial cells as antigen . Microtitre wells were coated overnight at room temperature with a 1:64 dilution of antigen in 0.05M carbonate-bicarbonate buffer at pH 9.6 . After washing, milk whey samples diluted 1:40 were added, incubated overnight and again washed . After incubation with rabbit antibovine serum, bound antibody was detected with alkaline phosphatase conjugated sheep antirabbit serum . Using the ELISA, the levels of Str agalactiae antibodies in the individual quarters of the mammary glands of cows in a severely infected dairy herd were measured . A high proportion of cows had specific antibody to Str agalactiae in one or more quarters . Using ELISA in association with electronic cell count and bacterial isolation, it was possible to identify latent and subclinical carriers of infection.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1982 Mar, 71(2), 331 - 3
Failure of pneumococcal vaccination in a splenectomized child; Lanng Nielsen J et al.; Recurrent Streptococcus pneumoniae septicaemia occurred in a splenectomized child with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura . Fatal infection took place 1 year after pneumococcal vaccination and was caused by sero-type 18C which was included in the vaccine . The efficacy of pneumococcal vaccination is discussed in relation to specific pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody titers, and it is concluded that vaccination alone is insufficient in preventing overwhelming infections in splenectomized individuals.

Int J Pediatr Nephrol, 1982 Mar, 3(1), 9 - 12
Primary peritonitis and meningitis in nephrotic syndrome in Riyadh; Elidrissy AT; Primary peritonitis among children with the nephrotic syndrome is increasing following a decline when antibiotics and steroids were introduced . Meningitis has not been reported in such patients . Six nephrotic children with primary peritonitis and two with pneumococcal meningitis are reported . Peritonitis occurred in relapsing long standing cases while meningitis occurred in recently diagnosed cases . Steroid therapy was not found to be a contributing factor in the causation of the septic episodes . Long standing ascites was not a precursor to the development of peritonitis . All cases had hypoproteinemia and all those tested had low plasma IgG . The pneumococcus was grown from ascitic fluid and blood in three of the peritonitis cases and streptococcus pyogenes from the throat of one . All responded to penicillin therapy.

Inflammation, 1982 Mar, 6(1), 31 - 8
Modulation of human lymphocyte transformation by bacterial products and leukocyte lysates; Sela MN et al.; Blast transformation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes by PHA is shown to be modulated by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) of Streptococcus mutans, by a cell-sensitizing factor of Actinomyces viscosus, as well as by a frozen and thawed extract of human leukocytes (LE) . While small amounts of LE (5-50 micrograms/10(6) cells) significantly enhanced PHA-induced transformation, higher amounts showed a lesser effect on the blastogenic response . Both LTA and the A . viscosus extract did not cause any lymphocyte blastogenic effect when used alone . On the other hand LTA had an inhibitory effect and the A . viscosus extract had an enhancing effect when lymphocytes were pretreated by these agents and then exposed to PHA.

Can J Microbiol, 1982 Mar, 28(3), 278 - 83
Bacteriocin production by Streptococcus milleri; Drucker DB et al.; Bacteriocinlike activity was sought among 58 streptococcal strains using a deferred antagonism technique and 50 indicator strains . Antagonist production was generally increased by glucose supplementation of brain heart infusion agar and reduced by addition of calcium carbonate . Activity due to complete bacteriophage was excluded, as was toxic buildup of lactate, acetate, or ethanol . Hydrogen peroxide activity was responsible for all, or part, of antagonist activity in Streptococcus mutans tested and in nine strains of S . milleri . Virtually all isolates of S . milleri tested were sensitive to the bacteriocinlike activity of S . mutans NCTC 10832.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Mar, 15(3), 391 - 4
Identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae by the Phadebact coagglutination test; Burdash NM et al.; The Phadebact Pneumococcus Test is a coagglutination slide test for the serological identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Of 200 alpha-hemolytic streptococcal isolates, coagglutination test results agreed with those of optochin susceptibility and bile solubility in 189 cases, 105 of which were identified as S . pneumoniae by all three methods . The Phadebact test was 100% (113 of 113) sensitive and 98% (85 of 87) specific and was more sensitive than counterimmunoelectrophoresis in detecting the presence of pneumococcal antigen in cerebrospinal fluid . In fluids seeded with known amounts of pneumococcal antigen, it consistently detected lower levels than did counterimmunoelectrophoresis . The test provides a rapid and simple method for the definitive identification of S . pneumoniae.

Infect Immun, 1982 Mar, 35(3), 1079 - 85
Fundus lesions after carotid injection of Streptococcus mutans in monkeys; Meyers SM et al.; Carotid injection of Streptococcus mutans in pigtail monkeys caused fundus lesions clinically resembling those seen in humans with bacteremia . On histopathological examination microabscesses occurred in the retina, choroid, and optic nerve . Bacteria were observed in the histopathological sections of the microabscesses, and S . mutans was cultured from the retina and choroid.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Mar, 149(3), 1034 - 40
Purification of pyruvate formate-lyase from Streptococcus mutans and its regulatory properties; Takahashi S et al.; Pyruvate formate-lyase (EC 2.3.1.54) from Streptococcus mutans strain JC2 was purified in an anaerobic glove box, giving a single band on disk and sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis . This enzyme was immediately inactivated by exposure to the air . Enzyme activity was unstable even when stored anaerobically, but the activity was restored by preincubating the inactivated crude enzyme with S-adenosyl-L-methionine, oxamate, and reduced for ferredoxin or methylviologen . On the other hand, the purified enzyme was not reactivated . Either D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate or dihydroxyacetone phosphate strongly inhibited this enzyme . The inhibitory effects of these compounds were largely influenced by enzyme concentration . The inhibition of these triose phosphates in cooperation with the reactivating effect of ferredoxin and the fluctuations of both the enzyme and the triose phosphate levels may efficiently regulate the pyruvate formate-lyase activity in S . mutans in vivo.

J Pediatr Orthop, 1982 Mar, 2(1), 57 - 61
Septic bursitis in childhood; Paisley JW; Ten cases of septic bursitis in children during a 25 year period were reviewed . Infection occurred in five girls and five boys with a mean age of 9 1/6 years . None had prior bursal disease . Direct trauma or local infection preceded the bursitis in seven children . The involved bursae were prepatellar (eight), olecranon (one), and subacromial (one) . Presenting signs included fever with localized swelling, tenderness, and erythema; superficial fluctuance and painless joint motion were helpful diagnostic findings . Bursal fluid cultures yielded Staphylococcus aureus (nine) and Streptococcus pyogenes (one) . Surgical therapy included needle aspiration (three), incision and drainage (three), and both procedures (four) . Antimicrobial therapy was given to nine children; four received only oral antimicrobials . Nine children including all who received oral antimicrobials recovered rapidly without apparent sequelae . One child's course was complicate by patellar osteomyelitis and septic arthritis . Septic bursitis is an uncommon infection in children and should be differentiated from cellulitis and septic arthritis . Rapid recovery is usually seen with appropriate therapy.

Can J Surg, 1982 Mar, 25(2), 215 - 6
Hematogenous infection of peritoneovenous shunts after dental procedures; Gilas T et al.; In two patients who had peritoneovenous shunts inserted for the treatment of intractable ascites, the shunt became infected following dental procedures that were carried out without antibiotic prophylaxis . The organisms grown were alpha-hemolytic streptococcus in one patient, and alpha-hemolytic streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae in the other . Alpha hemolytic streptococcus is commonly found in the oral cavity and has also been found, related to dental manipulations, in hematogenous infections at other sites . In both patients the infections were successfully managed by antibiotic treatment with removal of the infected shunt . Physicians caring for patients with peritoneovenous shunts should be aware of this potential complication; antibiotics should always be given prophylactically at the time of dental procedures.

Rev Infect Dis, 1982 Mar-Apr, 4(2), 311 - 4
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole vs . ampicillin in the treatment of experimental meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae; Durack DT et al.; When given in combination, both trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole penetrated well into the cerebrospinal fluid of rabbits with experimental pneumococcal meningitis, reaching concentrations that should have been adequate for synergistic killing of Streptococcus pneumoniae . However, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was less effective than ampicillin in the treatment of this experimental infection . The effect of the combination on pneumococci in vivo was bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal, possibly because the number of pneumococci in the cerebrospinal fluid of the rabbits at the start of treatment was larger than that in the inoculum used for in vitro sensitivity tests.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Mar, 35(3), 766 - 9
{Clinical results of 9, 3"-diacetylmidecamycin dry syrup in the pediatric field (author's transl)}; Takimoto M et al.; 9, 3"-Diacetylmidecamycin (MOM), a new macrolide antibiotic, was administered to 28 patients: 6 with pharyngitis caused by Group A beta-Streptococcus, 2 with lacunar tonsillitis, 8 with upper respiratory tract infection, 6 with acute bronchitis, 3 with Mycoplasma pneumonia, 1 with primary atypical pneumonia, 1 with pneumonia caused by H . influenzae and 1 with whooping cough . MOM in the form of fine granules was administered at a daily dose of about 20-30 mg/kg divided into 3 doses . Isolated group A beta-Streptococcus strains were eradicated in only 1 out of 6 strain S . One strain of H . influenzae was eradicated . The clinical results could be obtained with 21 cases and the response was excellent in 1 case, good in 7, fair in 3 and poor in 10 . Although diarrhea was found in 3 cases during the administration of MOM, it was not clear whether these phenomena were caused by MOM, because of the prevalence of diarrhea among the children treated by us at that time.

J Dent Res, 1982 Mar, 61(3), 502 - 5
Regulation of the growth rate of Streptococcus mutans; Cuffini A et al.; Streptococcus mutans strain GS-5 was grown under a variety of environmental conditions in order to achieve different balanced growth rates . A range of growth rates could be obtained using limitations in the concentrations of glutamate/glutamine, leucine, or valine . Different balanced growth rates were also obtained when cells were grown in a variety of carbon sources . Using glucose, cellobiose, amygdalin, maltose, mannitol, and galactose, reproducible doubling times were obtained ranging from 61 to 226 min.

Diabetes Care, 1982 Mar-Apr, 5(2), 101 - 4
Bacteremia in diabetic patients with infected lower extremities; Sapico FL et al.; Eleven cases of bacteremia in diabetic patients with infected lower extremities at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital (RLAH) were observed over a 34-mo period . The yearly incidence was 0.6% of admissions to the Ortho-Diabetes service . Aerobic bacteria were recovered in six cases and anaerobic bacteria in five . Bacteroides fragilis was isolated four times, Staphylococcus aureus three times, and nonfragilis Bacteroides sp., Escherichia coli, group B streptococcus, and viridans streptococcus were each seen once . Ten of the 11 patients were febrile at the time of bacteremia . Clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and ultrasonographic parameters were comparable in patients with aerobic and anaerobic bacteremia, and between bacteremic patients and nonbacteremic controls . Fever, however, was significantly more frequent in bacteremic patients . Foul-smelling lesions were seen in two of the five patients with anaerobic bacteremia, and in none of the patients with aerobic bacteremia . Postoperative B . fragilis bacteremia was observed to be transient and resolved without definitive therapy in one patient . Appropriate antibiotic therapy in 10 patients together with surgical intervention in eight cases resulted in resolution of the infection in the remaining patients.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1982 Mar, 61(1), 29 - 43
{Clinical evaluation, in the field of pediatrics, of a microagglutination test for research on anti-polysaccharide antibodies of a group of Streptococcus pyogenes}; Razon-Veronesi S et al.; The diagnostic and prognostic utility of a new microagglutination test for the evaluation of antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide are evaluated in different streptococcal and post-streptococcal diseases . The basal titers of a group of 834 children from 1 to 12 years old non affected with apparent or recent streptococcal infections are examined to establish the normal values related to age . From this study, it results the diagnostic utility of the test especially in pharyngotonsillar, pulmonary, pyodermitic, adenitic, glomerulonephritic infections and in the Schoenlein-Henoch syndrome . Particularly in little children, even under 1 year old, the antigenic stimulation of antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide is very good, on the contrary at this age the anticorpoiesis against streptococcal extracellular antigens is not very efficacious . Persistence beyond a year of elevated values of antipolysaccharide antibodies are observed in rheumatic disease with carditis and also in rheumatic disease without carditis, in glomerulonephritis and in common streptococcal infections in 11.1-68% of cases . The possible prognostic significance of these data is discussed.

C R Seances Acad Sci III, 1982 Feb 15, 294(7), 313 - 8
{Tooth' non collagenous protein degradation by Streptococcus mutans (author's transl)}; Waroux M et al.; Enzymatic degradation of non collagenic proteins of the organic matrix of bovine teeth by cariogenic Streptococcus mutans has been studied . The activity on glycoaminoglycans of a constitutive bacterial exoenzyme depends on pH . The speed of degradation of each proteic fraction varies depending on the presence of the substrate during the growing phase of the Bacteria.

JAMA, 1982 Feb 5, 247(5), 642 - 5
The value of the sputum gram's stain in community-acquired pneumonia; Boerner DF et al.; Expectorated sputum Gram's stain was correlated with clinical presenting data, cultures, serological data, and response to antibiotic therapy in 89 patients admitted with community-acquired pneumonia . The finding of Gram-positive diplococci on Gram's stain correlated with brief antecedent illness, Streptococcus pneumoniae growing from cultures, and a rapid response to single-agent antibiotic therapy . Patients with no predominant pathogen on Gram's stain were clinically indistinguishable from those with Gram-positive diplococci except for a longer antecedent illness, lack of growth of pathogens from cultures, and more prolonged response to antibiotic therapy . Sputum cytological findings and transtracheal cultures were useful in patients with no Gram-positive diplococci on Gram's stain . The sputum Gram's stain is proposed as a sensitive and reliable indicator to guide therapy and predict outcome in adults with community-acquired pneumonia.

Mol Immunol, 1982 Feb, 19(2), 235 - 46
The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 15F; Perry MB et al.; The specific capsular polysaccharide produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 15F (American type 15) is composed of D-galactose (3 parts), D-glucose (1 part), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (1 part), phosphate (1 part) and O-acetyl (2 parts) . Methylation, periodate oxidation, nitrous acid deamination, optimal rotation and nuclear magnetic resonance studies showed that the polysaccharide is a high mol . wt linear polymer of a pentasaccharide repeating unit having the structure.

Can J Microbiol, 1982 Feb, 28(2), 190 - 9
Glucose transport in Streptococcus salivarius . Evidence for the presence of a distinct phosphoenolpyruvate: glucose phosphotransferase system which catalyses the phosphorylation of alpha-methyl glucoside; Vadeboncoeur C et al.; A spontaneous mutant of Streptococcus salivarius ATCC 25975 was isolated by inoculating an agar medium containing 11 mM lactose and 0.5 mM 2-deoxyglucose . This mutant grew poorly on 5 mM glucose but almost as well as the parental strain on 110 mM glucose . Uptake of 2-deoxyglucose was abolished by the mutation, and phosphoenolpyruvate: glucose phosphotransferase activity could not be detected with toluenized cells under normal conditions when the glucose concentration was below 5 mM . Data from growth experiments, glycolysis, and uptake studies indicated the presence of a second phosphoenolpyruvate: glucose phosphotransferase system that could catalyze the phosphorylation of alpha-methyl glucoside . The activity of this system was detected by a spectrophotometric assay coupled with lactate dehydrogenase and by a radioactive isotope method using methyl alpha-D-{U-14C} glucoside . The phosphorylation was phosphoenolpyruvate dependent . The apparent Km of the system for glucose and alpha-methyl glucoside was approximately 20 mM . Studies with energy poisons ruled out the possibility of an active transport system, and accumulation of alpha-methyl glucoside argued against facilitated diffusion . It was concluded that the other glucose transport system which allowed growth of the mutant strain of S . salivarius was a second phosphoenolpyruvate: glucose phosphotransferase system.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Feb, 149(2), 733 - 8
Lactate efflux-induced electrical potential in membrane vesicles of Streptococcus cremoris; Otto R et al.; We developed a procedure for isolating membrane vesicles from the homolactic fermentative bacterium Streptococcus cremoris . The membrane vesicles were shown to have a right-side-out orientation by freeze-etch electron microscopy and to be free of cytoplasmic constituents . The membrane vesicles retained their functional properties and accumulated the amino acids L-leucine, L-histidine, and L-alanine in response to a valinomycin-induced potassium diffusion gradient . Studies with these membrane vesicles strongly supported the possibility that there was a proton motive force-generating mechanism by end product efflux (Michels et al., FEMS Lett . 5:357-364, 1979) . Lactate efflux from membrane vesicles which were loaded with L-lactate and diluted in a lactate-free medium led to the generation of an electrical potential across the membrane . The results indicate that lactate efflux is an electrogenic process by which L-lactate is translocated with more than one proton.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1982 Feb 1, 180(3), 293 - 9
A mild form of strangles caused by an atypical Streptococcus equi; Prescott JF et al.; A mild form of strangles caused by an atypical Streptococcus equi was recognized on a large horse breeding farm . The organism differed from most S equi isolates by disappearance of the mucoid capsule by 24 hours of culture, leaving a matt-type colony . Typically, the clinical signs were a transient (24-48 hour) fever, profuse nasal discharge, and anorexia . In about half the affected animals, there was moderate mandibular lymph node enlargement, and these glands usually ruptured or were drained . The use of a passive hemagglutination antibody test showed that subclinical infection was widespread in horses on the farm.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1982 Feb, 22(2), 165 - 73
Pathologic mechanisms of multifocal choroiditis with retinal detachment after carotid injection of Streptococcus mutans and other bacteria in dogs; Meyers SM et al.; Multifocal choroiditis with overlying retinal detachment occurs after carotid injection of certain bacteria in dogs . The ocular lesions occur mainly in the tapetal area of the retina, correlate with microabscesses in the inner choroid and subretinal space, and occasionally occur in the inner retina and anterior uveal tract . The major pathophysiologic factor involved in the dog model of septic choroiditis appears to be embolization of the choriocapillairies by "live" bacteria, which clump and adhere well to tissues . In the dosages used, antibiotics did not prevent or alter the severity of the fundus lesions.

Infect Immun, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 741 - 4
Specificity of natural antibodies reactive with Streptococcus mutans in monkeys; Russell RR et al.; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure levels of natural antibody to defined antigens of Streptococcus mutans in sera from monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) . The results suggest that most of the antibody in young monkeys that binds to whole bacteria is not specific to S . mutans.

Infect Immun, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 583 - 7
Growth rates of Actinomyces viscosus and Streptococcus mutans during early colonization of tooth surfaces in gnotobiotic rats; Beckers HJ et al.; Germfree Osborne-Mendel rats were monoassociated with Actinomyces viscosus or Streptococcus mutans . The adherence and subsequent growth of these organisms on the tooth surface was studied by means of total viable cell counts . Both A . viscosus and S . mutans showed a lag phase and an exponential growth phase, similar to logarithmic growth in batch cultures . The exponential growth rates of S . mutans and A . viscosus were 0.63 h-1 (doubling time {td} = 1.1 h) and 0.24 h-1 (td = 2.9 h), respectively . After a period of rapid growth, the rate declined and the populations approached a steady state . The presence of a sucrose-containing diet did not significantly influence the exponential growth rates of A . viscosus and S . mutans, but had a slight negative effect on the initial adherence of S . mutans at the tooth surface.

J Immunol, 1982 Feb, 128(2), 726 - 31
Interaction of specific and innate factors of immunity: IgA enhances the antimicrobial effect of the lactoperoxidase system against Streptococcus mutans; Tenovuo J et al.; The antimicrobial effect of the lactoperoxidase (LPO) system (enzyme with the thiocyanate ion and hydrogen peroxide) on Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449 (serotype c) was significantly enhanced when the system was combined with secretory IgA . Similar enhancement was observed with LPO-myeloma IgA1 or IgA2 combinations . This enhancement of the antimicrobial efficiency was not dependent on the presence of specific antibodies to S . mutans in the IgA preparation, but seemed to require binding between LPO and immunoglobulin . However, neither human polyclonal nor myeloma IgG or IgM nor rabbit IgG enhanced the antibacterial activity of the LPO system . None of the immunoglobulins, when added alone, produced antimicrobial effects . LPO was shown to bind to colostral secretory IgA, myeloma IgA1, IgA2, and to a lesser degree to monoclonal and polyclonal IgG and monoclonal IgM . This binding had a stabilizing effect on the enzyme activity . Our results suggest that IgA significantly enhances the antibacterial efficiency of one of the innate immune factors--the LPO system.

Infect Immun, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 572 - 81
Group B, type III streptococcal cell wall: composition and structural aspects revealed through endo-N-acetylmuramidase-catalyzed hydrolysis; De Cueninck BJ et al.; Cell walls from a group B, type III streptococcus strain were prepared, purified by extraction with sodium dodecyl sulfate, and solubilized by the M-1 fraction of mutanolysin, an endo-N-acetylmuramidase obtained from Streptomyces globisporus . The lysate was resolved into three fractions by ion-exchange chromatography: a fraction containing peptidoglycan (PG) fragments, free of neutral and acidic sugars and of phosphate; a complex of PG fragments and group B-specific polysaccharide; and a complex of PG fragments and group B-specific polysaccharide and type III-specific polysaccharide . The PG-polysaccharide complexes were large and heterogeneous in molecular size . When subjected to base-catalyzed beta-elimination, both complexes were disintegrated, and polysaccharides and low-molecular-weight PG fragments could then be separated by gel filtration . The low-molecular-weight PG fragment-containing fraction contained muramic acid, glucosamine, alanine, lysine, glutamic acid, and serine in molar ratios (to lysine) of 0.92:0.98:3.01:1.00:1.00:0.05 . Wall-derived, purified group polysaccharide contained rhamnose, galactose, glucosamine, and phosphorus in molar ratios (to galactose) of 5.03:1.00:1.00:1.05 . It also contained an unidentified sugar . Wall-derived, purified type III polysaccharide contained galactose, glucosamine, glucose, and N-acetylneuraminic acid in molar ratios (to glucose) of 1.94:0.85:1.00:1.39 . On a dry-weight basis, the whole wall lysate contained 19.8 and 20.6% of group and type polysaccharide, respectively . Neither glycerol nor ribitol was found, and all of the cell wall phosphorus was accounted for as polysaccharide, indicating the absence of a wall teichoic acid.

Infect Immun, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 456 - 60
Effect of trace metals on growth of Streptococcus mutans in a teflon chemostat; Aranha H et al.; Correlations between the presence of certain trace metals in dental enamel or in drinking water and the incidence of human dental caries have been demonstrated; therefore, the effects of several trace metals on growth of the cariogenic organism Streptococcus mutans OMZ176 were determined . For continuous growth in a chemically defined medium (treated with Chelex-100 to lower trace metal contamination and supplemented with high-purity trace metal salts) used in a chemostat constructed of Teflon, S . mutans required input of carbon dioxide and supplementation with magnesium (126 microM) and manganese (18 to 54 microM) . Addition of iron (3.6 microM) increased the level of steady-state growth by a factor of 2.8 (stimulation index {SI}); zinc at 0.4 microM nearly doubled equilibrium growth (SI = 0.9) . Higher concentrations of iron and zinc (5.4 and 0.8 microM, respectively) were less stimulatory (SI values of 1.95 and 0.3, respectively) . Small (but statistically significant) increases in steady-state growth were effected by cobalt (SI = 0.3 at 5.1 to 20.4 microM) and tin (SI = 0.4 at 5.1 to 10.2 microM) . These data suggest nutritional requirements for these metals . Copper at a concentration of 0.16 microM was inhibitory . These results show significant effects of these metals on growth of S . mutans and may confirm epidemiological evidence suggesting a role for certain trace metals in the incidence of dental caries.

J Dent Res, 1982 Feb, 61(2), 439 - 41
Identification of PK 1 bacteriophage DNA in Streptococcus mutans; Higuchi M et al.; A lysogenic bacteriophage PK 1 and plasmid DNA's in Streptococcus mutans PK 1 have been characterized by electron microscopy PK 1 phage DNA molecules were observed in both linear and circular forms, which gave the molecular weights of (28.9 +/- 0.4) x 10(6) and (27.4 +/- 0.2) X 10(6) daltons, respectively . Plasmid DNA has a molecular weight of 4.0 X 10(6) daltons . No difference of density in CsCl density gradient between linear and circular forms of phage DNA and plasmid DNA was observed.

Ann Intern Med, 1982 Feb, 96(2), 208 - 20
Pneumococcal vaccine: clinical efficacy and effectiveness; Schwartz JS; Streptococcus pneumoniae causes substantial morbidity and mortality . Incidence and severity are increased among populations with some chronic diseases . The currently available polyvalent polysaccharide vaccine induces antibody production among immunologically competent recipients against the 14 serotypes responsible for 80% of pneumococcal bacteremia in the efficacious in clinical trials with healthy young men in epidemic conditions and in patient with sickle cell anemia . Similar trials in two other high-risk populations had inconclusive results . Decisions on vaccine use now largely rest on indirect evidence of efficacy derived from knowledge of disease incidence, severity, and antibody response to vaccination among patient groups . Findings of a literature review suggest vaccinating high-risk patients immunologically competent to produce homotypic antibodies in response to vaccination with polysaccharide antigen, while continuing investigation of disease incidence, severity, serotype distribution, and immunologic response among high-risk groups and postmarketing surveillance efforts among all vaccinated patients.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Feb, 149(2), 420 - 5
Distinct galactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system in Streptococcus lactis; Park YH et al.; Lactose-negative (Lac-) mutants were isolated from a variant of Streptococcus lactis C2 in which the lactose plasmid had become integrated into the chromosome . These mutants retained their parental growth characteristics on galactose (Lac- Gal+) . This is in contrast to the Lac- variants obtained when the lactose plasmid is lost from S . lactis, which results in a slower growth rate on galactose (Lac- Gal+) . The Lac- Gal+ mutants were defective in {14C}thiomethyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside accumulation, suggesting a defect in the lactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system, but still possessed the ability to form galactose-1-phosphate and galactose-6-phosphate from galactose in a ratio similar to that observed from the parental strain . The Lac- Gald variant formed only galactose-1-phosphate . The results imply that galactose is not translocated via the lactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system, but rather by a specific galactose phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system for which the genetic locus is also found on the lactose plasmid in S . lactis.

Environ Health Perspect, 1982 Feb, 43, 61 - 9
Approaches to assessing host resistance; Bradley SG et al.; There is increasing evidence that chronic, subclinical exposure to certain environmental pollutants may upset immune responsiveness and alter susceptibility of animals to infectious agents . Environmental chemicals or drugs may affect diverse aspects of the immune system, leading to immunosuppression, immunopotentiation, hypersensitivity or perturbed innate host resistance . A variety of infectious models is available that involves relatively well defined target organs and host defense mechanisms; for example, infections with encephalomyocarditis virus, Herpesvirus simplex, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli or Plasmodium berghei . Important variables in infectious models used to assess immunotoxicity include species and strain of animal used, their age and sex, the route of exposure, and dose of the chemical . No one infectious model has yet emerged as a routine screening tool to detect and assess the subtle effects that may occur in immune responses when animals are exposed to doses of environmental pollutants that cause no adverse effect at a gross level . The selection of useful test systems is complicated because it is difficult to measure the effects of chronic, subclinical exposure to chemicals and sublethal challenges of microorganisms.

Doc Ophthalmol, 1982 Jan 29, 52(3-4), 409 - 14
An orbital fistula complicating anaerobic frontal sinusitis and osteomyelitis; Simonsz HJ et al.; A patient is described with an orbital fistula complicating frontal sinusitis and osteomyelitis of the frontal bone . The fistula was excised, but a fortnight later an acute exacerbation occurred . From the discharging pus a Staphylococcus aureus was cultured and from mucosa obtained during surgery a microaerophilic Streptococcus . These findings led to the diagnosis: synergistic bacterial inflammation of the frontal sinus, with osteomyelitis and orbital cellulitis.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1982 Jan-Jun, 75(1-6), 9 - 15
Polyclonal lymphocyte activators: adjuvant activity of a crude extract of Streptococcus faecium; Iannello D et al.; A crude extract of Streptococcus faecium, prepared according to Kramer and Bradis method, was utilized to further extend our previous research on polyclonal lymphocyte activators . Experiments were performed using Jerne's PFC method on 12 week-old C3H/FeJ mice immunized with sheep red blood cells to study the adjuvant activity of the crude extract by varying its dose, times of administration, and administration route (intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous) . The extract, containing cell membranes and cytoplasmic fraction, was demonstrated to have adjuvant activity which depend on the dose and time of administration.

G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1982 Jan-Jun, 75(1-6), 180 - 8
{Isolation and serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae}; Pasargiklian I et al.; 87 strains of Str . pneumoniae were typed by serology and a chemoantibiotic resistance assay was made . Among them, the most frequent serological types are 4, 6, 7, 19, 33 . None of these has shown a marked chemoantibiotic resistance and no prevalent resistance has been related to a particular specimen.

Curr Eye Res, 1982-83, 2(10), 705 - 10
Response of leukopenic rabbits to pneumococcal toxin; Harrison JC et al.; Pneumolysin, a cytolytic toxin from Streptococcus pneumoniae, has previously(1) been shown to interact in vitro with polymorphonuclear leukocytes in a variety of ways behaving as a chemotactic, lethal or lytic agent, depending on its concentration . In this study we examined the effect of leukopenia induced by administration of nitrogen mustard on the response of the rabbit to conjunctival instillation and intracorneal injection of pneumolysin . Control animals responded to instillation of crude and pure toxin with intense erythema and chemosis, and production of a thick discharge . No discharge and only traces of erythema and chemosis were noted in leukopenic animals . Leukopenic rabbits also showed a decreased capacity to respond to intracorneal injection of the toxin, particularly striking in the first 48 hours following pneumolysin injection, when opacification, discharge formation, chemosis, and erythema were found to be markedly less than in control animals . We conclude that the polymorphonuclear leukocyte plays a key role in the response of the rabbit eye to pneumococcal toxin . This system appears to be a good model for study of the inflammatory response to microbial products.

Vet Med Nauki, 1982, 19(5), 51 - 7
{Streptococcal infection in newborn lambs}; Masalski N et al.; A disease was observed in newborn lambs with a high mortality rate . Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated from dead lambs . The disease was reproduced through the intratracheal infection of lambs with a culture of the isolated organism . The picture of septicaemia was observed, strong symptoms of the disease being noticed with the involvement of the respiratory system . The morphologic changes were mainly seen within the region of the lungs, pleura, and pericardium . Histologically, there were lesions characteristic of an acute septic process . It was concluded that Streptococcus zooepidemicus was highly pathogenic for young lambs.

Clin Ther, 1982, 5(2), 113 - 9
Clinical and bacteriological evaluation of cefaclor and tetracycline in acute episodes of bacterial bronchitis; Smialowicz CR; This report describes a single-blind, comparative evaluation of cefaclor and tetracycline therapy for acute episodes of bacterial bronchitis due to Hemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae . One therapeutic failure occurred in the 25 patients receiving cefaclor, and four occurred in the 26 patients receiving tetracycline . The latter failures were due to tetracycline-resistant organisms . Sputum cultures yielded 39 isolates of S pneumoniae and 11 of H influenzae . None of the isolates were resistant to cefaclor . In contrast, the incidence of resistance to tetracycline was 38% (18 of 48 isolates) . All of the nine isolates of H influenzae tested were resistant to tetracycline; five of 11 H influenzae isolates were resistant to ampicillin, four of four were resistant to erythromycin, and five strains were resistant to multiple agents . These findings suggest that traditional therapy of bacterial bronchitis may be unsatisfactory in a substantial proportion of patients . The high cure rate and the absence of resistance found in the present study indicate that cefaclor is preferable to tetracycline in the treatment of bacterial bronchitis.

Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 1982 Fall, 4(3), 341 - 4
Congenital hypoplastic anemia (CHA) associated with congenital absence of the spleen; Robinson RG et al.; A 19-year-old boy with congenital hypoplastic anemia (CHA) treated with long-term steroid therapy, presented with septic shock caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae . Peripheral blood smears revealed Howell-Jolly bodies and postmortem examination revealed the absence of the spleen, splenic vein and splenic artery . We have found no association of CHA and congenital asplenia previously reported in the literature or in a review of 12 additional patients with CHA at this institution . The case is reported to bring attention to the concurrence of these two rare conditions in one individual and to discuss the possible implications of this association.

Dev Comp Immunol, 1982 Summer, 6(3), 481 - 9
Acute phase (C-reactive) protein-like macromolecules from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri); Winkelhake JL et al.; A protein which reacts with the Cx-polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae and is inhibited by phosphorylcholine was isolated from the serum of rainbow trout by affinity chromatography . The protein, which exists in monomeric and oligomeric forms in non-immune trout serum, is very similar with regard to specificity and size to the Cx-reactive protein from rabbits . A semi-quantitative analytical method for evaluating bacterial agglutination with an electronic particle counter and size distribution analyzer was developed to compare natural and acute serum levels of trout and rabbit Cx-reactive proteins . Results indicate that the poikilotherm has much higher concentrations in normal serum . The trout serum protein can also be rapidly induced to yet higher levels by both chemical and physical stress . The implications for such a protein in the teleost's natural defense system and overall homeostasis are discussed.

Ann Otolaryngol Chir Cervicofac, 1982, 99(6), 231 - 5
{Meningo-encephalic complications of sinusitis . 29 cases }; Gehanno P et al.; On the basis of 29 cases of meningo-cephalic complications of sinusitis, the authors evaluate the following ; the type of sinusitis responsible, emphasising the fact that in contrast to classical concept maxillary sinusitis was responsible equally as often as frontal sinusitis . Amongst abcesses, the predominant cause is the streptococcus . Cases of meningitis are dominated by the pneumococcus, which cases obviously the gravest bacteriological aetiology . Finally, amongst the 3 cases of thrombophlebitis reported, there were two blood cultures positive for staphylococci . In the light of these bacteriological data, the authors emphasise the need for appropriate antibiotic therapy in acute and chronic sinusitis.

Rev Fr Mal Respir, 1982, 10(2), 115 - 20
{Results of antibiotic sensitivity and "Streptococcus pneumoniae" serotype tests in the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, France, 1979-1980 (author's transl)}; Nguyen J et al.; Among 244 strains of S . pneumoniae, 24% are resistant to tetracycline, 10% to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP) and 1.6% to erythromycin . A low grade resistance to penicillin G is observed in two strains (MIC 0,12 and 0,3 mg/l) . Clinical correlations indicate that only 48% of the S . pneumoniae isolated are undoubtedlzy responsible for bacterial infection . The serotypes isolated from blood cultures and from other specimens are not statistically different . Only 67% of the strains belonged to serotypes included in the 14-valent vaccine.

Infection, 1982, 10(2), 63 - 6
Adherence in the colonization of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the nasopharynx in children; Lundberg C et al.; The adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to epithelial cells in mucus and to the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx in children was studied with the aid of FITC-labelled anti-sera and Omni-serum . By using acridine orange as a counterstain, other bacteria could be visualized as well . S . pneumoniae was seen to adhere more frequently to desquamated cells in mucus than to squamous cells from the nasopharyngeal wall which were obtained by scraping the dorsal side of the soft palate . No bacteria were found to be attached to the ciliated and metaplastic cells collected from the adenoid surface . Although S . pneumoniae appeared in small numbers in most patients and established microcolonies which were predominantly attached to desquamated cells in mucus, signs of an ecological shift were also observed, with S . pneumoniae constituting the majority of the bacteria present . In such cases many S . pneumoniae could also be seen lying free in mucus.

Arkh Patol, 1982, 44(3), 70 - 3
{Clinico-morphologic forms of sepsis (analysis of autopsy material over the past 20 years)}; Shabanov AM et al.; An analysis of 385 fatal cases of sepsis in therapeutic institutions for the past 20 years was carried out . The septico-pyemic variant was found to be predominant . Bacteriological studies revealed that the predominant causative agent was pathogenic staphylococcus (54.9%), less frequently streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Changes in the spectrum of the causative agents in the last two decades appear to reflect changes in the ecological conditions, immunologic responsiveness of the population, directed natural and therapeutic pathomorphosis . The analysis of the frequency and nature of divergencies in the clinical and pathoanatomic diagnoses indicate certain differences in sepsis diagnosis nowadays.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Jan, (1), 40 - 3
{Virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated in acute and chronic inflammatory lung diseases}; Vishniakova LA et al.; The virulence of 139 Str . pneumoniae strains was studied . The cultures differing in virulence were found to have the same specific prominence . In most serotypes the LD50 for mice was within greater than 3-5 lg/ml and greater than or equal to 6 lg/ml . Highly virulent cultures comprised a comparatively small number of serotypes . More than half of pneumococcal strains isolated in acute pneumonia possessed the moderate level of pathogenicity for white mice . During the acute phase of inflammatory pulmonary diseases Str . pneumoniae strains with high and moderate virulence prevailed, and at the period of clinical remission those with low virulence.

Obstet Gynecol, 1982 Jan, 59(1), 124 - 5
Acute bacterial endocarditis with postpartum aortic valve replacement; Cavalieri RL et al.; A case of acute bacterial endocarditis with aortic valve abscess, aortic insufficiency, and congestive heart failure at 32 weeks' gestation is described . Prompt valve replacement is indicated due to the risks of embolism to the coronary arteries and brain, and to the high mortality of such patients with medical management only . The infant was delivered prematurely to avoid the intraoperative risks to the fetus of cardiac surgery . General rather than regional anesthesia was chosen because venous pooling from a regional block would necessitate preoperative fluid loading and vasopressor therapy, which would be stressful for an already failing heart . In the presence of severe congestive heart failure, the patient underwent cesarean section and delivered a health 2020-g male infant; 36 hours later the aortic valve was successfully replaced with a no . 21 Byork-Shiley prosthesis . The infecting organism was Streptococcus viridans.

Can J Comp Med, 1982 Jan, 46(1), 51 - 6
Lymphocyte stimulation response in horses against phytohaemagglutinin and M protein of Streptococcus equi using whole blood; Srivastava SK et al.; Lymphocyte stimulation was observed in whole equine blood in the presence of phytohaemagglutinin and M protein extracted from a typical strain of Streptococcus equi . Blood samples were collected from several healthy horses and horse and pony foals and cultured in vitro with varying concentrations of phytohaemagglutinin and M protein for several days . Phytohaemagglutinin was found to induce lymphocyte stimulation in these animals . Highest mean stimulation indices in horse foals (49.3 +/- 24.4) and pony foals (54.7 +/- 32.0) were observed with 0.625 and 1.25 micrograms/mL phytohaemagglutinin, respectively, at either 72 or 96 hours of incubation . Significantly higher radioactive counts per minute in horse and pony foals were recorded in blood cultures incubated with 0.625 and 1.25 micrograms/mL phytohaemagglutinin . M protein induced a dose related stimulation response in adult horses . Maximum stimulation indices were observed against 125 micrograms/mL M protein at 96 hours . These stimulation indices were higher in adult horses (40.0 +/- 2.2) than observed in pony foals (14.4 +/- 15.7) . Higher stimulation levels in adult horses indicated either nonspecific stimulation against M protein or previous exposure of these animals to S . equi.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1982 Jan-Feb, 91(1 Pt 1), 20 - 4
Tympanometric configurations and middle ear findings in experimental otitis media; Giebink GS et al.; Relationships between ventilation of the middle ear (ME) system and pathogenic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract were explored in an animal model to better understand the etiopathogenesis of otitis media . Otitis media developed in 12 of 18 chinchillas inoculated intranasally with Streptococcus pneumoniae followed by bilateral ME deflation (negative pressure) . Otitis media with effusion developed in 19 of 36 ears examined ten days after inoculation . The development of purulent effusion after ten days was highly correlated with persistent negative ME pressure for at least 48 hours after deflation, while most ears that developed serous effusion after ten days had normal ME pressure 48 hours after deflation . Tympanometric validation of the presence of absence of effusion and type of effusion was obtained ten days after inoculation . A low compliance tympanogram detected 90% of the purulent effusions and was 100% specific for this type of effusion . In contrast . three of four serous effusions were associated with normal pressure/normal compliance tracings suggesting that the physical characteristics or volume of ME effusion and/or the histopathology of the ME cleft are reflected i the tympanometric configuration.

Lab Anim, 1982 Jan, 16(1), 68 - 70
An effect of communal caging on the streptococcal flora of the dental plaque of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis); Beighton D et al.; 22 monkeys were randomly allocated to one or other of 2 communes and fed a caries-promoting high sucrose diet . After 28 weeks commune 1 (13 monkeys) was found to harbour Streptococcus mutans serotype e as the predominant streptococcal species, but no monkey in commune 2 harboured this serotype . Instead the 9 monkeys of commune 2 harboured Streptococcus milleri in their dental plaque . The significance of these observations on the use of monkeys as a model of human dental caries is discussed.

Aviat Space Environ Med, 1982 Jan, 53(1), 44 - 8
Effect of altitude exposure on induction of streptococcal endocarditis in young and middle-aged rats; Altland PD; Young (age 2 months) and middle-aged (age 10 month) rats were injected once with a culture of Streptococcus sanguis and exposed for 24 h to 7620 m altitude . At 6 d 54% of the exposed and 30% of the unexposed middle-aged rats had bacterial endocarditis . Myocarditis developed in 63% of the injected exposed rats of both ages, in 11% of the injected unexposed middle-aged rats, and in none of the unexposed young adults . Interstitial nephritis was found in 46-66% of the injected, unexposed young and middle-aged rats and in 70-86% of the injected, exposed young and middle-aged rats, respectively . About 95% of all injected rats survived 6 d . No evidence of hemoconcentration was found . The increase in cardiac disease induced by altitude was probably due to deleterious effects of hypoxia on the myocardium, and cellular defenses, and to physiological and possible immunological changes associated with aging.

Ann Emerg Med, 1982 Jan, 11(1), 2 - 6
Pneumococcal bacteremia in pediatric patients; Rosenberg N et al.; Patients treated for pneumococcal bacteremia were prospectively evaluated over a 21-month period . Of 2,610 blood cultures obtained, 79 (3%) were positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae . Of these, 37 patients (47%) initially had a focus of infection, and 73 (92%) were reevaluated after the results of the blood culture were known . Two-thirds of these were evaluated within 24 hours of the blood culture being drawn; the remainder were seen between 24 and 72 hours after the initial visit . Twenty-three patients were febrile (greater than 37.4 C) on reevaluation . Six demonstrated persistence of the original disease, nine showed no focus of infection, seven developed a focus of infection, and one developed a second focus of infection . No patients with temperatures less than 37.4 C developed significant disease . A regimen for management of patients with pneumococcemia is given.

J Bacteriol, 1982 Jan, 149(1), 299 - 305
Purification and properties of pyruvate kinase from Streptococcus mutans; Abbe K et al.; Pyruvate kinase (EC 2.7.1.40) from Streptococcus mutans strain JC2 was purified, giving a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The molecular weight of the native enzyme was 180,000 to 190,000, and the enzyme was considered to consist of four identical subunits . This enzyme was completely dependent on glucose 6-phosphate for activity, and the saturation curve for activation by glucose 6-phosphate was sigmoidal . In the presence of 0.5 mM glucose 6-phosphate, the saturation curves for the substrates phosphoenolpyruvate and ADP were hyperbolic, and the Km values were 0.22 and 0.39 mM, respectively . GDP, IDP, and UDP could replace ADP, and the Km for GDP (0.026 mM) was 0.067 of that for ADP . The enzyme required not only divalent cations, Mg2+ or Mn2+, but also monovalent cations, K+ or NH4+, for activity, and it was strongly inhibited by Pi . When the concentration of Pi was increased, the half-saturating concentration and Hill coefficient for glucose 6-phosphate increased . However, the enzyme was immediately inactivated in a solution without Pi . The intracellular concentration of glucose 6-phosphate, in cooperation with that of Pi, may regulate pyruvate kinase activity in S . mutans.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jan, 35(1), 320 - 5
Effect of nitrogen mustard on natural history of right-sided streptococcal endocarditis in rabbits: role for cellular host defenses; Yersin BR et al.; Cellular host defenses are considered to be ineffective in bacterial endocarditis; the microorganisms in infected vegetations are protected from phagocytic cells by dense layers of fibrin . To test this hypothesis, nitrogen mustard-induced agranulocytosis and leukopenia were produced in rabbits with right-sided streptococcal endocarditis . The spontaneous sterilization of tricuspid infection observed in the control animals was not present in the granulocytopenic, leukopenic animals . Since the bacterium Streptococcus intermedius is not sensitive to the complement-mediated bactericidal effect of serum and since the animals were not bacteremic during the time of agranulocytosis, an inhibitory effect of the drug on local cellular host defense mechanisms is postulated . We suggest that the spontaneous sterilization of infective endocarditis in the right side of the heart in rabbits is mediated by cellular host defenses.

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