Proteus

Mol Genet Metab, 2005 Jan, 84(1), 90 - 9 Epub 2004 Dec 13.
Rapid, species-specific detection of uropathogen 16S rDNA and rRNA at ambient temperature by dot-blot hybridization and an electrochemical sensor array; Sun CP et al.; Development of rapid molecular approaches for pathogen detection is key to improving treatment of infectious diseases . For this study, the kinetics and temperature-dependence of DNA probe hybridization to uropathogen species-specific sequences were examined . A set of oligonucleotide probes were designed based on variable regions of the 16S gene of the Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A universal bacterial probe and probes-specific for gram-positive and gram-negative organisms were also included . The oligonucleotide probes discriminated among 16S genes derived from 11 different species of uropathogenic bacteria applied to nylon membranes in a dot-blot format . Significant binding of oligonucleotide probes to target DNA and removal of nonspecific binding by membrane washing could both be achieved rapidly, requiring as little as 10min . An oligonucleotide probe from the same species-specific region of the E . coli 16S gene was used as a capture probe in a novel electrochemical 16-sensor array based on microfabrication technology . Sequence-specific hybridization of target uropathogen 16S rDNA was detected through horseradish peroxidase acting as an electrochemical transducer via a second, detector probe . The sensor array demonstrated rapid, species-specific hybridization in a time course consistent with the rapid kinetics of the dot-blot hybridization studies . As in the dot-blot hybridization studies, species-specific detection of bacterial nucleic acids using the sensor array approach was demonstrated both at 65 degrees C and at room temperature . These results demonstrate that molecular hybridization approaches can be adapted to rapid, room temperature conditions ideal for an electrochemical sensor array platform.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2004 Nov-Dec, (6), 36 - 40
{Naso-subcutaneous application of the polycomponent vaccine VP-4 for the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis}; Microbial resistance to antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections in Mexican children; Instituto Nacional de Pediatria, SSA, Mexico, DF, MexicoUrinary tract infections are one of the most common bacterial infections in female children . This infection has a prevalence of 4.1 to 7.1% during infancy . The bacterial agents causing the urinary tract infection are Escherichia coil (80-90%), followed by other gram negative germs such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus species and gram positive such as Staphylococcus species . Typical treatment for this infection is ampicillin or the mixture of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (TMT/SMX) among others . However, a high incidence of microbial resistance to these antibiotics has been observed recently . The purpose of this study was to assess the microbial resistance of the most frequent infectious agents in urinary tract of Mexican children from January to December 2000 . A total of 725 urinary cultures were collected during all year . Of these, 293 patients were positive of the most frequently reported bacteria including Escherichia coil (205 patients, 69.9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (67 patients, 22.8%) and Proteus mirabilis (21 patients, 7.1%) . Infections produced by Escherichia coil were highly resistant to ampicillin (83.5%) and TMT/SMX (76.7%) . Results indicate a high incidence of microbial resistance to ampicillin and TMT/SMX in urinary tract infections in Mexican children and suggest caution before giving a treatment with antibiotic in this condition.

Arch Pharm Res, 2004 Nov, 27(11), 1081 - 5
Synthesis and study of antibacterial and antifungal activities of novel 2-{{(benzoxazole/benzimidazole-2-yl)sulfanyl} acetylamino}thiazoles; Kaplancikli ZA et al.; Several 2-{{(benzoxazole/benzimidazole-2-yl)sulfanyl}acetylamino}thiazoles derivatives were synthesized by reacting 4-substituted-2-(chloroacetylamino)thiazoles with benzoxazole/benzimidazole-2-thioles in acetone and in the presence of K2CO3 . The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated by IR, 1H-NMR, and FAB(+)-MS spectral data . Their antimicrobial activities against Micrococcus luteus (NRLL B-4375), Bacillus cereus (NRRL B-3711), Proteus vulgaris (NRRL B-123), Salmonella typhimurium (NRRL B-4420), Staphylococcus aureus (NRRL B-767), Escherichia coli (NRRL B-3704), Candida albicans and Candida globrata (isolates obtained from Osmangazi Uni . Fac.of Medicine) were investigated and in this investigation, a significant level of activity was illustrated.

Theriogenology, 2005 Jan 1, 63(1), 102 - 17
Clinical evaluation of postpartum vaginal mucus reflects uterine bacterial infection and the immune response in cattle; Williams EJ et al.; Bacteria contaminate the uterus of most dairy cattle after parturition and endometritis causes infertility . An endometritis score can be ascribed based on the vaginal mucus character and odour but it is not clear if the clinical score reflects the number of uterine bacteria or the inflammatory response . The present study tested the hypothesis that clinical evaluation of endometritis reflects the number of bacteria present in the uterus, and the acute phase protein response . Swabs (n = 328) were collected from the uterine lumen of dairy cattle, 21 and 28 days postpartum, vaginal mucus was scored for character and odour, and blood samples collected for acute phase protein measurement . Bacteria were identified following aerobic and anaerobic culture, and the bacterial growth density was scored semi-quantitatively . When bacteria were categorised by their expected pathogenic potential in the uterus, purulent or fetid odour vaginal mucus was associated with the growth density of pathogenic bacteria but not opportunist contaminants . When bacteria were analysed independently, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Proteus and Fusobacterium necrophorum growth densities were associated with mucopurulent or purulent vaginal mucus . The bacterial growth densities for A . pyogenes, Escherichia coli, non-hemolytic Streptococci, and Mannheimia haemolytica were associated with a fetid mucus odour . Peripheral plasma concentrations of alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein were higher if there was a fetid compared with a normal vaginal mucus odour (1.50 +/- 0.09mg/mL versus 1.05 +/- 0.02mg/mL, P < 0.001), but did not differ significantly between vaginal mucus character scores . The evaluation of the character and odour of vaginal mucus reflects the number of bacteria in the uterus, and the acute phase protein response.

J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent, 2004 Sep, 22(3), 154 - 7
"Craniofacial and dental manifestations of a case of Proteus syndrome"; Batra P et al.; Proteus syndrome, which is a reference to the ancient Greek god Proteus, the Polymorphous, was called to the attention of pediatricians . Recognition of this syndrome has been difficult because of the variability of the syndrome's manifestations and because of its rarity . We describe a rare case of Proteus syndrome and we discuss its differential diagnosis . Our case presents with hemi facial hypertrophy, scrotal tongue, enamel hyperplasia as well as differential in the size of the dentition on both sides of the arch.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2004 Nov, 25(11), 979 - 84
Cockroaches as potential vectors of nosocomial infections; Pai HH et al.; OBJECTIVE: To determine the possible role of cockroaches in the epidemiology of nosocomial infections . DESIGN: Epidemiologic investigation of bacteria and fungi in cockroaches and evaluation of the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria isolated from the insects . SETTING: Ninety hospitals in Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung County in Taiwan . METHODS: Cockroaches were collected in clinical and nonclinical areas and microorganisms were isolated from their external surface and alimentary tract . The susceptibilities of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, and Proteus species to 17 antibiotics were tested . RESULTS: Cockroach infestation was found in 46.7% of the hospitals studied . Two hundred three cockroaches were collected (139 Periplaneta americana and 64 Blattella germanica) . Periplaneta americana was found more often in nonclinical areas (64.5%) and B . germanica in clinical areas (78.1%) . There was no statistically significant difference between Periplaneta americana (98.6%) and B . germanica (96.9%) regarding overall isolation rate (P > .05) . However, 33 species of bacteria and 16 species of fungi were isolated from Periplaneta americana and only 23 and 12, respectively, from B . germanica . Resistance to ampicillin (13.7% to 100%), chloramphenicol (14.3% to 71.4%), tetracycline (14.3% to 73.3%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (14.3% to 57.1%) was found in two gram-positive and five gram-negative bacteria . CONCLUSION: Because cockroach infestation occurred in more than 40% of the hospitals and nearly all of the cockroaches harbored bacteria with multidrug resistance and fungi, cockroaches may play a potential role in the epidemiology of nosocomial infections in those hospitals.

Environ Microbiol, 2004 Dec, 6(12), 1252 - 63
Phylogenetic characterization of Legionella-like endosymbiotic X-bacteria in Amoeba proteus: a proposal for 'Candidatus Legionella jeonii' sp . nov; Park M et al.; The X-bacteria which initiated organismic association with the D strain of Amoeba proteus in 1966 as parasites have changed to obligate endosymbionts on which the host depends for survival . Owing to the difficulty in cultivating the bacteria in vitro, the identity of X-bacteria has not been determined . As the life cycle of X-bacteria is similar to that of Legionella spp . in soil amoebae, we applied the polymerase chain reaction method with specific primers aimed at Legionella spp . for the detection and cloning of 16S rRNA gene . The identity and intracellular localization of the endosymbiont were confirmed by the application of a specific fluorescently labelled 16S rRNA-targeted probe . In addition we cloned RNA polymerase beta-subunit gene (rpoB) of X-bacteria by genomic library tagging . A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene placed the bacterium within a unique monophyletic group containing all other members of the genus Legionella . Phylogeny from rpoB and mip genes further confirmed the taxonomic context of X-bacteria to be a Legionella sp . In all three phylogenic analyses, X-bacterium was placed apart from Legionella-like amoebal pathogens present in soil amoebae . Thus, we propose the name 'Candidatus Legionella jeonii' sp . nov . for the endosymbiotic X-bacteria in Amoeba proteus.

Neurocirugia (Astur), 2004 Oct, 15(5), 472 - 5
{Delayed brain abscess as a complication of a CSF shunt.}; Arrese I et al.; INTRODUCTION: Infection is a common complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts, but the formation of a brain abscess related to shunt system is very rare . We present the case of a patient who developed a brain abscess around a ventricular catheter left in place after removing the valvular system . CASE REPORT: This 38 years old woman, underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus secondary to an acoustic neurinoma . During a period of thirteen years she suffered two episodes of meningitis, and after the second one the CSF shunt was removed excepting for the ventricular catheter which appeared to be adherent to the choroid plexus . One year later, a brain abscess arised around that catheter, and both the abscess and the catheter were removed (Proteus mirabilis was the cultured germ) . DISCUSSION: In spite of the risks related to removal of a proximal catheter adherent to the choroid plexus, the risk linked to the removal of a ventricular catheter must be counterbalanced with the risk of infection.

Infect Immun, 2004 Dec, 72(12), 7306 - 10
Use of translational fusion of the MrpH fimbrial adhesin-binding domain with the cholera toxin A2 domain, coexpressed with the cholera toxin B subunit, as an intranasal vaccine to prevent experimental urinary tract infection by Proteus mirabilis; Li X et al.; This is a follow-up to our previous study using an intranasal vaccine composed of MrpH, the tip adhesin of the MR/P fimbria, and cholera toxin to prevent urinary tract infection by Proteus mirabilis (X . Li, C . V . Lockatell, D . E . Johnson, M . C . Lane, J . W . Warren, and H . L . Mobley, Infect . Immun . 72:66-75, 2004) . Here, we have expressed a cholera toxin-like chimera in which the MrpH adhesin-binding domain (residues 23 to 157) replaces the cholera toxin A1 ADP-ribosyltransferase domain . This chimera, when administered intranasally without additional adjuvant, is sufficient to induce protective immunity in mice.

J Craniomaxillofac Surg, 2004 Dec, 32(6), 391 - 4
Craniofacial hyperostoses in Proteus syndrome -- a case report; Adolphs N et al.; OBJECTIVE: Description of a patient with a rare syndrome leading to the partial overgrowth of craniofacial bones . CASE REPORT: In a 17-year-old female patient with severe hyperostoses of the craniofacial bones asymmetric overgrowth of the right upper and left lower limbs, linear hyperpigmentation of the right arm and a history of regional lipomatosis were found . These manifestations were suggestive of Proteus syndrome . The management of the craniofacial involvement is described and a literature overview presented . CONCLUSION: Proteus syndrome is a rare overgrowth syndrome probably related to a somatic mutation that involves craniofacial structures in about 30% of patients . Early diagnosis is required for adequate interdisciplinary treatment.

An Med Interna, 2004 Nov, 21(11), 533 - 9
{Infectious spondylodiscitis in a health area of Galicia (Spain) from 1983-2003}; Gomez Rodriguez N et al.; OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of infectious spondylodiscitis (IS) in adults of our health area in the late 20 years . MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of adult patients with a diagnosis of both, tuberculous (TS) and non tuberculous spondylodiscitis (NTS), between January 1983 and December 2003 . The diagnosis was made when compatible clinical-radiological picture were present in association with at least two positive blood cultures and/or micro-organism recovery from vertebral samples . Additionally, TS was diagnosed when biopsy showed typical caseating granulomas from vertebral or extra-vertebral lesions . RESULTS: 17 TS and 22 NTS were identified . The mean age was lower in patients with TS than in NTS (43.5 +/- 24.6 vs 52.0 +/- 15.2 years; mean +/- SD) . Patients were predominantly males in both, TS (57%) and NTS (82%; p < 0001) . The time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was longer in TS (16.4 +/- 15.2 weeks) than in NTS (3.9 +/- 3.2 weeks), p= 0.005 . Seven (41%) of the 17 patients with TS had active extra-vertebral tuberculosis . A source of infection was presumed in 20 NTS (90%), mainly surgical spinal procedures (9/22.41%) . In three TS and four NTS one o more predisposing factors were observed . The patients with NTS presented a higher prevalence of fever (41 vs 24%; p= 0.0003) and leucocytosis (41 vs 12%; p < 0.001), but less neurological impairment (9 vs 21% p= 0,01) . None patient with NTS presented mixed infection and Staphylococcus aureus was the main pathogen (14/22.64%) follows by Streptococcus sp (6/22.27%) . Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis were the remain causative agents . Spinal cord decompression and surgical drainage of abscess were performed in five patients (24%) with TS and four patients with NTS (18%), p= 0.0027) . Neurological sequels were more common in the patients with TS (24 vs 14%, p= 0.008) . The global incidence of IS was 2.2 cases/105 inhabitants/year, which 1.73 cases are NTS . CONCLUSIONS: The IS are a unusual disease what occurs predominantly in male patients . In the last 10 years, a increasing prevalence of NTS was observed, with high contribution (41%) of post-surgical cases . Diagnostic delay is greater in patients with TS and this condition was associated with more neurological sequels.

J Trop Pediatr, 2004 Dec, 50(6), 323 - 7
Bacterial isolates in the sick young infant in Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Adejuyigbe EA et al.; This prospective study was carried out to determine the bacterial pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity profile in the sick young infant . All consecutive young infants with features suggestive of infection seen over 5 months at a Comprehensive Health Centre in Ile-Ife, were screened for septicaemia and local bacterial infections . Of the 121 sick young infants screened for infection, 94 (77.7 per cent) had confirmed bacterial infection and 54 (57.4 per cent) of the 94 had confirmed septicaemia . Gram-positive organisms were the commonest bacterial isolates accounting for 204 (81.6 per cent) of the 250 isolates in this study . Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent organism accounting for 61.2 per cent of all isolates . Gram-negative organisms accounted for 46 (18.4 per cent) of all isolates with Salmonella spp . and Proteus vulgaris predominating . All the bacterial isolates in this study were sensitive to ofloxacin and most were sensitive to the antibiotics commonly employed in the treatment of infections caused by these organisms . However, many of both Grampositive and Gram-negative isolates in this study were resistant to cotrimoxazole . The study highlights the high prevalence of bacterial infections (localized or systemic) among young infants . It also shows that Gram-positive organisms, the principal aetiologic agents, were sensitive to commonly used antibiotics . It is recommended that genticin and cloxacillin or erythromycin should be used as the first-line antibiotics in the treatment of young infants with bacterial infections in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

J Eukaryot Microbiol, 2004 Sep-Oct, 51(5), 502 - 8
Genetic and physiological interactions in the amoeba-bacteria symbiosis; Jeon KW; Amoebae of the xD strain of Amoeba proteus that arose from the D strain by spontaneous infection of Legionella-like X-bacteria are now dependent on their symbionts for survival . Each xD amoeba contains about 42,000 symbionts within symbiosomes, and established xD amoebae die if their symbionts are removed . Thus, harmful infective bacteria changed into necessary cell components . As a result of harboring X-bacteria . xD amoebae exhibit various physiological and genetic characteristics that are different from those of symbiont-free D amoebae . One of the recent findings is that bacterial symbionts control the expression of a host's house-keeping gene . Thus, the expression of the normal amoeba sams gene (sams1) encoding one form of S-adenosylmethionine synthetase is switched to that of sams2 by endosymbiotic X-bacteria . Possible mechanisms for the switching of sams genes brought about by endosymbionts and its significance are discussed.

Am J Ophthalmol, 2004 Nov, 138(5), 799 - 802
Endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy: Incidence, causative organisms, and visual acuity outcomes; Eifrig CW et al.; PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence, causative organisms, and visual acuity outcomes associated with endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy . DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series . METHODS: The medical records were reviewed of all patients who developed acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis (within 6 weeks of surgery) after pars plana vitrectomy at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 2003 . RESULTS: During the 20-year study interval, the overall incidence rate of postvitrectomy endophthalmitis was 0.039% (6/15,326) . Cultured organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 3), Proteus mirabilus (n = 1), and Staphylococcus epidermidis/Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1); one case was culture-negative . Visual acuity after treatment for endophthalmitis ranged from 2/200 to no light perception, with a final vision of light perception or no light perception in four of six (67%) eyes . CONCLUSION: The incidence of endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy is low but the visual acuity outcomes after treatment are generally poor.

Niger J Med, 2004 Oct-Dec, 13(4), 359 - 65
The bacteriology of open fractures in Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ikem IC et al.; BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to determine the pattern of bacterial isolates and antibiotic sensitivity profile in open fractures . Fifty-nine patients with open fractures of the lower limb long bones were studied . The majority of the cases were Gustilo and Anderson types II 21(35.6%), and IIIA 16(27.1%) . METHOD: The patients were assessed by history taking, physical examination, and plain radiographs . Wound swabs were taken for bacteriological studies . Other necessary investigations were also done . During wound debridement open fractures were classified into Grades I, II and III using the Gustilo-Anderson method of classification . RESULTS: The infection rate was 45.8% . Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative rods were isolated . On the whole Staphylococcus aureus 13(25%), and Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) 14(26.9%), were the commonest organisms isolated . The commonest Gram-negative rods that were isolated from the wounds were Proteus mirabilis 9(17.3%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 8(15.4%) . Multiple organisms were commonly isolated from the wounds . While all the organisms isolated showed very good sensitivity to gentamicin, cloxacillin and ofloxacin, most of the organisms were resistant to penicillin, ampicillin and tetracycline . The sensitivity ranged from 62.5% to 100% . Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CONS) showed sensitivity to the widest range of antibiotics which included penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, cloxacillin and ofloxacin . The sensitivity ranged from 35.7% to 100% . There was statistically significant difference between the open tibial and femoral fracture cases with respect to the interval between injury and debridement time (p = 0.008); the rate of wound infection (p = 0.021); and the occurrence of osteomyelitis (p = 0.023) . The commonest complications observed were wound infection 27(45.8%), and delayed fracture union 26(44.1%), which were commoner in the open tibial fractures . CONCLUSION: This study shows that Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) were the commonest organisms associated with open fracture of the lower limbs in our centre and that delay in the initial wound debridement was a major predisposing factor to wound infection.

Biochemistry (Mosc), 2004 Sep, 69(9), 1034 - 43
New structures of the O-specific polysaccharides of proteus . 4 . Polysaccharides containing unusual acidic N-acyl derivatives of 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose; Kondakova AN et al.; The structures of the O-polysaccharides of the lipopolysaccharides of Proteus mirabilis O7 and O49 were determined by chemical methods, mass spectrometry, including MS/MS, and NMR spectroscopy, including experiments run in an H2O/D2O mixture to reveal correlations for NH protons . The O-polysaccharides were found to contain N-carboxyacetyl (malonyl) and N-(3-carboxypropanoyl) (succinyl) derivatives of 4-amino-4,6-dideoxyglucose (4-amino-4-deoxyquinovose, Qui4N), respectively . The behavior of Qui4N derivatives with the dicarboxylic acids under conditions of acid hydrolysis and methanolysis was studied using GLC-MS.

Med Sci Monit, 2004 Nov, 10(11), CR598 - 602 Epub 2004 Oct 26.
Plasmid-mediated multiple antibiotic resistance in Proteus mirabilis isolated from patients with urinary tract infection; Khan AU et al.; BACKGROUND: Worldwide surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among urinary tract pathogens is useful to determine important trends and geographical variation for common Gram negative and positive species . We initiated this study to learn the drug resistance pattern and its location (genomic or plasmid-borne) among the strains of Proteus mirabilis, one of the most common causative agents of urinary tract infection (UTI) . MATERIAL/METHODS: A total of 200 urine samples were collected from UTI patients, followed by isolation and identification of Proteus milabilis strains . Antibiotic sensitivity and resistance analysis was performed by the disc diffusion method, employing multiple antibiotic discs . The sensitivity was monitored by visualizing the zone of inhibition around the disc . Plasmid isolation was performed by the method of Kado and Liu . Transfer of the R-Plasmid to recipient E.coli C600 cells was achieved using the method of Lederberg and Cohen . RESULTS: Clinical study revealed that this infection is more common in young pregnant women . Various strains of Proteus mirabilis isolated during the course of the study were found to show multiple antibiotic resistance, which was further characterized as plasmid-borne drug resistance . CONCLUSIONS: Proteus mirabilis is one of the important causative agents of urinary tract infection in young women especially during the state of pregnancy . Multiple antibiotic resistance markers of Proteus strains were identified as plasmid mediated.

J Ethnopharmacol, 2004 Dec, 95(2-3), 287 - 96
Traditional medicine in Sakarya province (Turkey) and antimicrobial activities of selected species; Uzun E et al.; Traditional medicine in North-West of Turkey (Sakarya province) were studied during a 2 months field study by interviewing local informants from several villages . Plant species used to treat infections were tested for antimicrobial activity . Information was collected for 46 plant species from 30 families and for 5 animal species . Twenty four of the plant species were cultivated . Most used families were Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Lamiaceae and Rosaceae and the most used plants were Artemisia absinthium, Equisetum telmateia, Lavandula stoechas, Melissa officinalis, Tussilago farfara and Urtica dioica . A total of 139 medicinal uses were obtained . Plants are used mainly for infectious diseases (18%), for neurological and psychological disorders (13.7%), cardiovascular disorders (13%), skin disorders (12.2%) and respiratory disorders (10.1%) . Extracts were tested in vitro for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 65538, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC 4352, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 1539, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans ATCC 10231, using microbroth dilution technique according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) . This research showed that Arum maculatum, Datura stramonium, Geranium asphodeloides and Equisetum telmateia petroleum ether extracts had MIC values of 39.1 microg/ml, 78.1 microg/ml, 78.1 microg/ml and 39.1 microg/ml, respectively against Staphylococcus epidermidis . Datura stramonium petroleum ether extract had a MIC value of 39.1 microg/ml against Escherichia coli and Trachystemon orientalis ethanol extract had a MIC value of 39.1 microg/ml against Escherichia coli . The antimicrobial activity of Arum maculatum, Equisetum telmateia, Geranium asphodeloides, Plantago intermedia, Senecio vulgaris and Trachystemon orientalis has been reported here for the first time.

Nephron Physiol, 2004, 98(2), p48 - 54
Microorganisms and calcium oxalate stone disease; Goldfarb DS; Microorganisms may have a role in the pathogenesis and prevention of kidney stones . The subjects of this review include nanobacteria, Oxalobacter formigenes, and lactic acid bacteria . Not reviewed here is the well-described role of infections of the urinary tract with Proteus species and other urease-producing organisms associated with struvite stone formation . Nanobacteria have been proposed to be very small (0.08-0.5 nm), ubiquitous organisms that could play a role in stone formation . The theory is that nanobacteria can nucleate carbonate apatite on their surfaces and thereby provide the nidus for stone formation . However, their existence remains uncertain and many investigators are openly skeptical . Recent investigations suggest that they are artifacts, and not actually living organisms, but their proponents continue to study them . O . formigenes is an obligate anaerobe which may be important in the prevention of stone formation . Its sole substrate for generation of ATP is oxalate . It may thereby metabolize its human host's dietary oxalate and diminish intestinal absorption and subsequent urinary excretion of oxalate . There is evidence that the organism's absence, perhaps sometimes due to courses of antibiotics, may be a cause of hyperoxaluria and stone formation . In early investigations, patients not colonized with the organism can be recolonized . Urinary oxalate can be diminished by accompanying an oxalate-containing meal with the organism . One study demonstrated that a preparation of lactic acid bacteria successfully reduced urinary oxalate excretion in 6 patients with calcium oxalate stones and hyperoxaluria . The mechanism of this effect is uncertain since these bacteria lacked the gene possessed by O . formigenes which codes for that organism's oxalate uptake mechanism . The author is currently completing a small randomized controlled clinical trial with this preparation in calcium stone-forming patients with idiopathic hyperoxaluria . Copyright (c) 2004 S . Karger AG, Basel.

Biosens Bioelectron, 2004 Oct 15, 20(3), 524 - 32
MICREDOX--development of a ferricyanide-mediated rapid biochemical oxygen demand method using an immobilised Proteus vulgaris biocomponent; Pasco N et al.; Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is an international regulatory environmental index for monitoring organic pollutants in wastewater and the current legislated standard test for BOD monitoring requires 5 days to complete (BOD5 test) . We are developing a rapid microbial technique, MICREDOX, for measuring BOD by eliminating oxygen and, instead, quantifying an equivalent biochemical co-substrate demand, the co-substrate being a redox mediator . Elevated concentrations of Proteus vulgaris, either as free cells or immobilised in Lentikat disks, were incubated with an excess of redox mediator (potassium hexacyanoferrate(III)) and organic substrate for 1h at 37 degrees C without oxygen . The addition of substrate increased the catabolic activity of the microorganisms and the accumulation of reduced mediator, which was subsequently re-oxidised at a working electrode generating a current quantifiable by a coulometric transducer . The recorded currents were converted to their BOD5 equivalent with the only assumption being a fixed conversion of substrate and known stoichiometry . Measurements are reported both for the BOD5 calibration standard solution (150 mg l(-1) glucose, 150 mg l(-1) glutamic acid) and for filtered effluent sampled from a wastewater treatment plant . The inclusion of a highly soluble mediator in place of oxygen facilitated a high ferricyanide concentration in the incubation, which in turn permitted increased concentrations of microorganisms to be used . This substantially reduced the incubation time, from 5 days to 1h, for the biological oxidation of substrates equivalent to those observed using the standard BOD5 test . Stoichiometric conversion efficiencies for the oxidation of the standard substrate by P . vulgaris were typically 60% for free cells and 35-50% for immobilised cells.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2004 Jul-Aug, (4), 71 - 2
{Antibodies to Yersinia enterocolitica and Proteus mirabilis in blood sera of rheumatoid arthritis patients}; Species-dependent premature degradation of absorbable suture materials caused by infection--impact on the choice of thread in vascular surgery; Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitatsklinik Wurzburg, Germany . Larena_a@chirurgie.uni-wuerzburg.de

BACKGROUND: In case of infection after vascular reconstruction, preference is often given to absorbable suture material with the aim of preventing persistence of infection . We have investigated the functional deficit of absorbable sutures on incubation with various different bacteria . MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four suture materials Dexon bicolor, Vicryl, Maxon and PDS II--were placed in contact with reference bacterial cultures (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, E . coli, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Proteus mirabilis) . The bacteria were incubated for 7 days at 37 degrees C, together with the suture material . A logarithmic phase (Group A) and a static phase (Group B) were simulated . The linear tensile strength (LTS) of the suture material was measured (Instron Tensiometer) . RESULTS: In the case of Staphylococcus aureus, a significant decrease in LTS was established for Dexon bicolor (group A: 31%, group B: 22%), and Vicryl (53% and 43%), but not for the monofilament threads . With regard to the other bacteria, a considerably more dramatic effect was observed: in both groups the braided sutures had completely disintegrated after 7 days . The monofilament sutures also revealed a significant loss of function (Maxon: 88%, PDS II 66%) . CONCLUSIONS: The absorbable sutures revealed a premature, species-dependent loss of function due to the presence of the bacteria . On the basis of our results, the use of absorbable threads for vessel sutures in case of infection cannot be recommended, with the exception of monofilament material in a monocultural Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Antibiot Khimioter, 2004, 49(4), 21 - 4
{Antimicrobial activity of new original 2-aryliden-6-furfuryliden cyclohexanones and hexahydroindazoles on their basis}
{Bacterial colonization and home mechanical ventilation: prevalence and risk factors}
Rodriguez Gonzalez-Moro JM, Andrade Vivero G, de Miguel Diez J, Lopez Martin S, Sanchez C, Izquierdo Alonso JL, de Lucas Ramos P.

Seccion de Soporte Ventilatorio y Trastornos del Sueno, Servicio de Neumologia, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Maranon, Madrid, SpainOBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of bacterial contamination of ventilators and colonization of patients, the bacteria implicated, and predisposing factors in noninvasive home ventilation . MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients on a home noninvasive ventilation program (mean {SD} age: 63.1 {12} years; time on ventilation: 30.7 {25} months; daily use: 8.1 {2} hours) were enrolled in this descriptive cross-sectional study . Microbiological samples for semiquantitative cultures were swabbed from the ventilator (mask and tubing) and the nostrils . A questionnaire was completed on the underlying disease, time on the ventilation program, type of ventilator, presence of a humidifier, and attention to ventilator cleanliness and maintenance . We defined "colonization" as the presence of microorganisms in the nostrils without evidence of a host immune response, and "contamination" as the presence of surface microorganisms (on tubing or the nasal mask) . RESULTS: Potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 6 ventilators (15%) and the nasal swabs of 10 patients (25%) . Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated one (in 5 ventilators and 6 patients--contamination coinciding with colonization in 3 cases) . Other potentially pathogenic bacteria isolated were Proteus species (from the nostrils of 2 patients) and an unidentified gram-negative bacillus from the ventilator . On analysis by underlying disease, 60% of the patients with obesity had been colonized . No other findings of note were obtained for other diseases . Contamination and colonization correlated with attention to cleanliness and maintenance of the ventilator but not with type of ventilator, time on the ventilation program, or use of a humidifier . CONCLUSIONS: Home mechanical ventilators are a potential source of nasal colonization . The most frequently encountered microorganism was S . aureus . The degree of ventilator cleaning and disinfection seems to affect contamination; thus it is necessary to impress on patients the need for adequate maintenance of their ventilators.

Saudi Med J, 2004 Sep, 25(9), 1199 - 203
Otitis externa infection in Jordan . Clinical and microbiological features; Battikhi MN et al.; OBJECTIVE: Aims of this study were to investigate the clinical findings and to identify causative microorganisms and their susceptibility to antibiotics in otitis externa infection . METHODS: The symptoms and signs, as well as the bacterial and fungal flora from the auditory canal of one hundred and eighty patients (100 males and 80 females), age range from 6 month to 19-years old suffering from acute otitis externa were studied from January 2001 to December 2002 . One way ANOVA and Least Significant Difference (LSD) were carried out for statistical analysis . RESULTS: Pain was the most common symptom (97.2%) while, itching and difficulty in hearing were the least common (11.7 %) . Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa) was isolated from (41.7%) which showed the best susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (93.4%), aspergillus species from (19.4%), candida albicans from (10.6%), staphylococcus aureus from (16.1%) which showed the best susceptibility to amikacin and ciprofloxacin (96.5%), proteus mirabilis from (2.8%) which showed the best susceptibility (100%) to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem and ofloxacin, anaerobic bacteria from (2.2%); and no bacteria growth was observed in (7.2%) . There was a significant variation relating signs, symptoms and sex in favor of males (P=0.03) . Significant seasonal variation in otitis externa infection was observed (P <0.05) . CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequently isolated pathogenic microorganism, which showed the best susceptibility to ciprofloxacin . Pain was the most common symptom.

Tunis Med, 2004 Mar, 82(3), 299 - 305
{Profile of antimicrobial resistance of agents causing urinary tract infections in children}; Ghedira Besbes L et al.; OBJECTIVE: The management of urinary tract infection in children faces the problem of the emergence of resistant strains to antibiotics . The aim of this study is to precise the frequency of the different germs and their susceptibility to antibiotics . METHODS: We report a retrospective study concerning 200 cases of urinary tract infection hospitalised in the paediatric department of Monastir between January 1995 and December 2000 . There were 58 boys and 142 girls aged between two months and 14 years with a mean age of 5 years . The frequency of urinary tract infection is 1.85% . RESULTS: The most common causative agent is Escherichia coli in 75.5% of cases, followed by Proteus mirabilis (10%) then by Klebsiella pneumoniae (6%) . Escherichia coli is predominant in girls, whereas Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae are likely encountred in boys . Of all the strains, 96% are resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin and cefalotin, 67% to amoxicillin + clavulanic acid and 34% to cotrimoxazole . A resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin and cefalotin is noted in 96% of the germs . The resistance is of 67% for amoxicillin + clavulanic-acid and of 34% for cotrimoxazole . However, third generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides remain usually active on the majority of strains incriminated in these infections a part from Pseudomonas.

Arch Esp Urol, 2004 Jul-Aug, 57(6), 595 - 600
{Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis: clinical, radiological and pathologic characteristics}; Saavedra Jo S et al.; OBJECTIVES: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is an atypical chronic infection which simulates a malignant renal neoplasia, definitive diagnosis of which is obtained by pathologic study after surgical removal . In this paper we analyze our experience and compare it to that reported on the literature . METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis diagnosed in the period from January 1945 to December 2000 at the Institute of Neoplastic Diseases, analyzing clinical, radiological, and surgical features documented in the medical records . RESULTS: There were 11 cases, 82% of them were females . The presence of signs and symptoms such as pain and abdominal mass appeared in 73%, accompanied by hematuria and fever . Most radiological tests showed destruction of the renal parenchyma with abnormalities in the collecting system and obstruction by lithiasis . 91% of the cases had positive urine cultures, being Escherichia coli, Proteus Mirabilis and Klebsiella the most frequent germs . Simple nephrectomy was the surgical treatment, and complications were minimal . CONCLUSIONS: Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of renal cancer because of its clinical features.

Microbes Infect, 2004 Jul, 6(9), 853 - 60
Mucosal vaccination of mice with recombinant Proteus mirabilis structural fimbrial proteins; Scavone P et al.; Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of urinary tract infection (UTI), expresses several types of fimbria including mannose-resistant/Proteus-like fimbriae (MRP), uroepithelial cell adhesin (UCA), renamed non-agglutinating fimbriae (NAF) by some authors, and P . mirabilis fimbriae (PMF), which are potentially involved in adhesion to the uroepithelium . In this study, we immunised different groups of mice with recombinant structural subunits of these fimbriae (MrpA, UcaA and PmfA) using two mucosal routes (nasal and transurethral) and we transurethrally challenged the animals with a P . mirabilis uropathogenic isolate . Induction of specific serum and urine IgG and IgA was measured to assess the potential role of the humoral immune response in protection against experimental ascending P . mirabilis UTI . Intranasally MrpA- and UcaA-immunised mice were protected against P . mirabilis ascending UTI, since recovery of bacteria from kidneys and bladders was significantly lower than in PBS-treated mice, and both fimbrial subunits significantly induced specific serum and urine antibodies . Only MrpA and PmfA transurethrally immunised animals were protected only at the kidney level, and in this case only MrpA-immunised mice exhibited significant serum IgG induction . Correlation analysis did not show a significant relationship between serum and urine specific antibody response and protection observed against infection . Our results suggest that an immunisation strategy based on structural fimbrial proteins may be useful to prevent P . mirabilis UTI . Further studies are being carried out to characterise the immune and inflammatory response induced by P . mirabilis recombinant fimbrial subunits.

Prog Urol, 2004 Jun, 14(3), 376 - 9
{Urinary stones in Tunisian infants, based on a series of 64 cases}; Jellouli M et al.; OBJECTIVE: To define the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of urinary stones in infants, to study the role of stone chemical analysis in the aetiological assessment of urinary stones and to define the various treatment modalities adapted to this age-group . PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1984 and 2002, 64 infants (age: 5-24 months) were hospitalised for urinary stones . Urine culture was performed in all patients and metabolic assessment was performed in 24 patients . Physicochemical stone analysis was performed by infrared spectrophotometry in 37 patients . RESULTS: Upper tract and lower tract stones were equally prevalent . Urine culture was positive in 48 cases . The micro-organism most frequently isolated was Proteus mirabilis (19 cases) . The metabolic assessment was normal in 15 patients and pathological in 9 patients . Infrared spectrophotometry showed that 17 stones were pure . 60 patients were treated surgically, 2 were treated by endoscopy associated with intracorporeal lithotripsy . One patient was treated medically and another patient passed the stone spontaneously while in hospital . No intraoperative or postoperative complication was observed . No recurrence was observed in this series . The mean follow-up is 16 months (range: 6 months to 94 months) . CONCLUSION: The epidemiological profile of urinary stones in infants in Tunisia is situated between that observed in developed countries and that observed in developing countries . In our study, the incidence of metabolic abnormalities appears to be low despite a high rate of consanguinity in Tunisia . This can be largely explained by the absence of an aetiological survey and/or an inadequate survey when it is performed.

Am J Med Genet, 2004 Oct 1, 130A(2), 111 - 22
Reassessment of the Proteus syndrome literature: application of diagnostic criteria to published cases; Turner JT et al.; The medical care of patients affected by rare disorders depends heavily on experiences garnered from prior cases, including those patients evaluated by the treating physician and those published in the medical literature . The utility of published cases is wholly dependent upon accurate diagnosis of those patients . In our experience, the rate of misdiagnosis in Proteus syndrome (PS) is high . Diagnostic criteria have been published, but these criteria have not been applied consistently and were published after many case reports appeared in the literature . We reviewed 205 cases of individuals reported to have PS in the literature and three of us independently applied the diagnostic criteria to these case reports . Our initial diagnostic congruence was 97.1% (199/205); the discrepancies in six cases were easily resolved . Only 97 (47.3%) of reported cases met the diagnostic criteria for PS; 80 cases (39%) clearly did not meet the criteria; and although 28 cases (13.7%) had features suggestive of PS, there were insufficient clinical data to make a diagnosis . Reported cases that met the PS criteria had a higher incidence of premature death, and other complications (scoliosis, megaspondyly, central nervous system abnormalities, tumors, otolaryngologic complications, pulmonary cystic malformations, dental and ophthalmogic complications) compared to those in the non-Proteus group . The cases that met the criteria were more often male, which has implications for hypotheses regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of PS . We also studied the attributes that led authors to conclude the reported patients had PS when we concluded they did not . We found that two of the diagnostic criteria (disproportionate overgrowth and connective tissue nevi) were often misinterpreted . In PS, the abnormal growth is asymmetric, distorting, relentless, and occurred at a faster rate compared to the rest of the body . Furthermore, PS was associated with irregular and disorganized bone, including hyperostoses, hyperproliferation of osteoid with variable calcification, calcified connective tissue, and elongation of long bones with abnormal thinning . In contrast, non-Proteus cases displayed overgrowth that was asymmetric but grew at a rate similar to the growth found in unaffected areas of the body . Also, the overgrowth in non-Proteus cases was associated with normal or enlarged bones together with ballooning of the overlying soft tissues . Taken together, these data show that (1) PS diagnostic criteria sort individuals with asymmetric overgrowth into distinct groups; (2) individuals with PS were more likely to have serious complications; (3) PS affects more males than females; and 4) the published diagnostic criteria are useful for clinical care and research . This article contains supplementary material, which may be viewed at the American Journal of Medical Genetics website at http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0148-7299/suppmat/index.html.

Am J Med Genet, 2004 Oct 1, 130A(2), 123 - 7
Mutation analysis of the tumor suppressor PTEN and the glypican 3 (GPC3) gene in patients diagnosed with Proteus syndrome; Thiffault I et al.; Proteus syndrome is a complex hamartomatous disorder characterized by asymmetrical gigantism, epidermal nevi, vascular malformations, hamartomas, lipomas, and hyperostosis . Since the syndrome was first described, many hypotheses have been proposed to explain its occurrence . The most plausible is Happle's somatic mosaic hypothesis, but no somatic mutations in candidate genes have been reported to be clearly involved in Proteus syndrome . However, germ-line PTEN mutations have been reported in patients with Proteus and in "Proteus-like disorders." Other studies of patients with Proteus syndrome have not supported these findings . In this study, affected and unaffected tissue from six patients diagnosed with Proteus syndrome were screened by direct sequencing of genomic DNA to determine if there might be an association between germ-line or somatic mutations in PTEN or GPC3 and the development of Proteus syndrome . No intra-exonic mutations were identified, indicating that neither PTEN nor GPC3 are likely to have major roles in the etiology of Proteus syndrome in our series of patients.

Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2004 Sep, 24 Suppl 1, S53 - 6
The role of unusual pathogens in prostatitis syndrome; Skerk V et al.; A total of 1442 patients with symptoms of chronic prostatitis were examined over a 4-year period at the Outpatient Department for Urogenital Infections, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr . Fran Mihaljevic", Zagreb, Croatia . An infectious aetiology was determined in 1070 (74.2%) patients . In 561 of 1070 (52.4%) patients the inflammatory finding (>10 WBC/hpf) was found in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) or voided bladder urine (VB(3)) . Normal, <10 WBCs/hpf was found in 362 of 536 (67.5%) patients with symptoms of chronic prostatitis in whom Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in EPS or VB(3), in 51 of 151 (33.8%) patients with isolated Trichomonas vaginalis and in 40 of 72 (55.6%) patients with isolated Ureaplasma urealyticum . Escherichia coli was the causative pathogen in 95, Enterococcus in 68, Proteus mirabilis in 37, Klebsiella pneumoniae in 16, Streptococcus agalactiae in 19, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 3 patients with chronic prostatitis . Other patients had a mixed infection . In patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) caused by E . coli, P . mirabilis, K . pneumoniae, E . or S . agalactiae, an inflammatory finding was regularly found in EPS or VB(3).

Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2004 Sep, 24 Suppl 1, S32 - 4
Urinary tract infections in African infants; Adjei O et al.; Urinary tract infection (UTI) causes significant illness in the first 2 years of life . The diagnosis in most developing countries is often overlooked due to the tedious nature of obtaining urine from these young ones who would not void voluntarily . Misdiagnosis very often lead to avoidable ill health and long-term renal damage . There is a need to diagnose UTI in febrile infants to alert clinicians . A prospective study of febrile infants aged up to 12 months on admission was undertaken in a 6-months period . Urine specimen was obtained by supra pubic aspiration and investigated . Out of 150 urine samples screened for UTI, 45 (30%) had positive bacterial growth . Escherichia coli (32%) and Proteus sp . (22%) formed more than 50% of the total isolates . The Gram positive bacteria isolated was Staphylococcus aureus representing 11% . All isolates were susceptible to cefuroxime and resistant to ampicillin . Susceptibility to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was 77.8% and to nitrofurantoin was 67% . Only 11.1% of isolates were susceptible to cotrimoxazole . These results indicate that UTI is a common cause of pyrexia in infants requiring admission . These infants when clinically diagnosed as having UTI are treated with ampicillin and cotrimoxazole . They do not have the benefit of further investigation for renal abnormalities and subsequent antibiotic prophylactics to prevent recurrent infection, which could result in renal scarring and its associated problems later.

Braz J Infect Dis, 2004 Apr, 8(2), 118 - 25 Epub 2004 Sep 08.
Surgical infections: a microbiological study; Saini S et al.; Surgical infections are mostly polymicrobial, involving both aerobes and anaerobes . One hundred seventeen cases comprised of abscesses (n=51), secondary peritonitis (n=25), necrotizing fascitis (n=22) and wounds with devitalized tissues (n=19) were studied . The number of microorganisms isolated per lesion was highest in secondary peritonitis (2.32) . The aerobe/ anaerobe ratio was 0.81 in secondary peritonitis and 1.8 in necrotizing fascitis . Most secondary peritonitis (80%), necrotizing fascitis (75%) and wounds with devitalized tissues (66.7%) were polymicrobial . Common microorganisms isolated in our study were E . coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides fragilis and Peptostreptococcus spp . The most effective antibiotics for S . aureus were clindamycin (79.1%) and cefuroxime (70.8%) . For Gram-negatives (Klebsiella spp., E . coli and Proteus spp.), the most effective antibiotics were cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, amikacin and ciprofloxacin . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was maximally sensitive to amikacin (35.2%) and ciprofloxacin (35.2%) . The greatest degree of multidrug resistance to all the drugs was found in P . aeruginosa (52.9%), followed by Klebsiella spp . (33.3%), Proteus spp . (33.3%), E . coli (22.2%), and S . aureus (12.5%) . All the anaerobes that we isolated were 100% sensitive to metronidazole and chloramphenicol, followed by clindamycin (95% to 100%) . Apart from antibiotic therapy, non-antimicrobial methods, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy and debridement also play an important role in the treatment of surgical infections.

Biomacromolecules, 2004 Sep-Oct, 5(5), 2034 - 41
Poly(vinyl chloride)-coated sol-gels for studying the effects of nitric oxide release on bacterial adhesion; Nablo BJ et al.; Nitric oxide (NO) releasing sol-gel materials coated with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films exhibit increased stability at ambient and physiological temperatures . The polymer overcoat, however, reduces the NO fluxes by 5-35% over the initial week of release . The variation in NO fluxes between unmodified and PVC-coated sol-gels is negligible after 7 days . The PVC polymeric layer provides controlled surface chemistry for systematic studies of the effects of NO release on bacterial adhesion . As an example, the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis at PVC-coated NO-releasing sol-gels is investigated . A direct NO dependence on the reduction of P . aeruginosa adhesion is observed for NO fluxes up to 20 pmol cm(-2) s(-1) . Although decreased by 50% in the presence of NO release, P . mirabilis adhesion does not appear to correlate to the flux of NO release . PVC-coated NO-releasing sol-gels may prove useful for studying the effects of localized NO release on other biological and chemical systems.

Microbiology, 2004 Sep, 150(Pt 9), 2857 - 63
Transcription of Proteus mirabilis flaAB; Manos J et al.; Proteus mirabilis, a Gram-negative urinary tract pathogen, has two highly homologous, tandemly arranged flagellin-encoding genes, flaA and flaB . flaA is transcribed from a sigma(28) promoter, while flaB is a silent allele . Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of a family of hybrid flagellin genes, referred to as flaAB . These genes are composed of the 5' end of flaA and the 3' end of flaB, and are produced through excision of the intervening DNA between the two genes . Although the existence of flaAB DNA has been documented, it was not known if transcription of flaAB occurs in wild-type P . mirabilis . In this study, proof of flaAB transcription was obtained from a combination of RNA dot-blots and RT-PCR assays using specific primers and probes for flaAB and flaA . The RNA data were further supported by the demonstration of phenotypic switching of the locus using a FlaAB-detector strain . The results show that flaAB mRNA is transcribed and is 1/64 as abundant as flaA in the population of wild-type cells, suggesting that flaAB constitutes 1.0-1.5 % of the total flagellin message . Nucleotide sequence analysis of flaAB products produced by RT-PCR from the wild-type confirms previous reports of a variable fusion site between flaA and flaB resulting in a hybrid flagellin transcript . These data support the hypothesis that the production of FlaAB is integral to the physiology of P . mirabilis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2004 May-Jun, (3), 39 - 43
{Use of therapeutic polycomponent vaccine "Immunovac VP-4" for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis}; Bondarenko VM et al.; A complex of clinical and laboratory examinations of patients with bacterial chronic prostatitis was carried out . The patients were divided into two groups: 55 patients treated by the method of immunotherapy and 20 patients (controls) undergoing basic therapy . Immunotherapy was carried out with the use of polycomponent vaccine VP-4 containing Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli antigens . Vaccinal therapy was indicated in cases with infection focus associated with opportunistic bacteria, a prolonged torpid course of prostatitis and when different schemes of etiotropic therapy proved to be ineffective . The vaccine was introduced in 4 or 5 subcutaneous injections at an interval of 5-7 days . The study revealed that in cases of chronic prostatitis accompanied by microecological and immune disturbances the use of complex therapy allowed to achieve good clinical and laboratory results in 91% of the patients . In the patients undergoing immunotherapy the elimination of opportunistic bacteria from the urogenital tract and the restoration of affected microflora occurred.

Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 2003 Apr-Sep, 48(2-3), 123 - 9
{Incidence and sensitivity to antibiotics of germs isolated from surgical wound infections}; Berceanu Vaduva D et al.; We studied 119 bacterial strains isolated from postoperative infected wounds . All these strains were considered to be strains that derived from the same number of nosocomial infections, all the postoperative infections of the wounds being nosocomial infections . Regarding their frequency, we isolated the following strains: E . coli--68 strains (57%), S . aureus--37 strains (31%), Pseudomonas spp.--9 strains (8%) and Proteus spp.--5 strains (4%) . We performed the bacteriological study of these strains and some correlations between them and the surgical diagnosis . In order to help the surgical therapy of the overinfected wounds, we tested the drug sensitivity of all these strains . The results regarding the drug sensitivity show that these strains have different types of resistance to antibiotics, the Pseudomonas strains being the most resistant . We noticed a continuous decrease of the sensitivity of the isolated strains to certain antimicrobial drugs, and this focuses the attention on the necessity of monitoring the antibiotic prescriptions in hospitals . Taking into account the results obtained after this study, we should reconsider the concept of nosocomial infections control through prevention activities, in order to reduce the incidence and to identify the potential causes that can lead to nosocomial infections.

Akush Ginekol (Sofiia), 2004, 43(3), 17 - 20
{Causes of urinary tract infection in pregnant women}; Shopova E et al.; Data of etiology characteristics of uroinfections with pregnant women are presented treated at University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology "Maichin dom" in three periods . Gram negative species of microorganisms (E . coli, proteus, Klebsiella) are the agens of uroinfections in 95.4% of cases in the period 1988/89 . After 10-year period gram (-) are the uroinfection in 66.1% of the cases . The growing etiologycal importance of Gram positive species of microorganisms (S . aureus, Enterococcus, GBS) is 33,9% in the period 1997/98 and it is preserved in june 2001/may 2003 too . In cases of long lasting hospitalization or after repeated treatment with antibiotics the probability grows that the agents of uroinfections be polyresistant strains . In the period june 2001/may 2003 in 7% of the cases polyresistant E . coli are isolated, in 2.6% MRSaureus, in 7.6% Ampicillin - R Enterococcus spp . That suggest exact identification of the agen and therapy according to sensitivity to antibiotics.

Biol Pharm Bull, 2004 Sep, 27(9), 1462 - 4
Effects of trifluoromethyl ketones on the motility of Proteus vulgaris; Wolfart K et al.; In the present study, we showed the inhibition of motility by trifluoromethyl ketone (TF) derivatives (1-8) in Proteus vulgaris (P . vulgaris) cultures . Among them, 1-(2-benzoxazoyl)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-propanone (1) showed a much stronger inhibitory effect on the motility of P . vulgaris than other TF compounds at 10% MIC . Our results suggest the possibility of an inhibitory action of TF compounds on the proton motive forces by affecting the action of biological motor and proton efflux in the membranes, resulting in a reduction of the ratio of running and the increased number of tumbling and non-motile cells.

Zoolog Sci, 2004 Aug, 21(8), 823 - 8
Defense function of pigment granules in the ciliate Blepharisma japonicum against two predatory protists, Amoeba proteus (Rhizopodea) and Climacostomum virens (Ciliata); Terazima MN et al.; The defense function of pigment granules in the red ciliate Blepharisma japonicum against two predatory protists, Amoeba proteus and Climacostomum virens, was investigated by (1) comparing normally-pigmented and albino mutant cells of B . japonicum as the prey of these predators and (2) comparing resistance of the predators to blepharismin, the toxic pigment contained in the pigment granules of B . japonicum . Normally pigmented cells which contained more blepharismin than albino cells were less vulnerable to A . proteus than albino cells, but not to C . virens . C . virens was more resistant than A . proteus to the lethal effect of blepharismin . The results indicate that pigment granules of B . japonicum function as defense organelles against A . proteus but not against C . virens and suggest that successful defense against a predator depends on the susceptibility of the predator to blepharismin.

East Mediterr Health J, 2001 Jul-Sep, 7(4-5), 763 - 70
Urinary calculi: bacteriological and chemical association; Naas T et al.; We investigated the bacteriology of urinary calculi in relation to urinary tract infection, stone formation, chemical composition and antibiotic sensitivity . Fifty-two patients (37 males, 15 females) with urolithiasis were studied . Urine, serum and urinary calculi specimens were taken and serum biochemical tests to detect uric acid, calcium and phosphorus were performed . Urine analysis and culture were also performed . Of the 52 patients, 19 (37%) had associated urinary tract infection, with Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis being the most common causative microorganisms . The bacterial isolates from urine and those from calculi differed in their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents . We conclude that in over 50% of patients with urolithiasis, urine culture can detect the infecting organisms associated with stone formation and the organisms within urinary calculi.

Infect Immun, 2004 Sep, 72(9), 5159 - 67
Proteus mirabilis ZapA metalloprotease degrades a broad spectrum of substrates, including antimicrobial peptides; Belas R et al.; The 54-kDa extracellular metalloprotease ZapA is an important virulence factor of uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis . While ZapA has the ability to degrade host immunoglobulins (Igs), the dramatic attenuation of virulence in ZapA mutants suggests that this enzyme may have a broader spectrum of activity . This hypothesis was tested by in vitro assays with purified ZapA and an array of purified protein or peptide substrates . The data reveal that many proteins found in the urinary tract are substrates of ZapA proteolysis, including complement (C1q and C3), cell matrix (collagen, fibronectin, and laminin), and cytoskeletal proteins (actin and tubulin) . Proteolysis of IgA and IgG was significantly enhanced by conditions that denatured the Igs . It was discovered that the antimicrobial peptides human beta-defensin 1 (hBD1) and LL-37 are readily cleaved by the enzyme . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a bacterial protease capable of cleaving hBD1, a component of the human renal tubule innate immune response . Proteolysis of hBD1 resulted in ca . six peptides, while proteolysis of LL-37 resulted in at least nine products . Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis of the molecular masses of the reaction products indicated that ZapA preferred no distinct peptide bond . The antimicrobial activity of hBD1 and LL-37 was significantly reduced following ZapA treatment, suggesting that proteolysis results in inactivation of these peptides . The data suggest that a function of ZapA during urinary tract infections is the proteolysis of antimicrobial peptides associated with the innate immune response.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2004 Aug 15, 237(2), 179 - 86
S-adenosylmethionine and Pneumocystis; Merali S et al.; Pneumocystis is a parasitic fungus causing pneumonia in immunosuppressed mammals and S-adenosylmethionine a key intermediary metabolite for all cells . Other than a species of Rickettsia bacteria and an aberrant strain of the protozoan Amoeba proteus, Pneumocystis is the only cell known unable to synthesize AdoMet; it must extract this key compound from its host . This was discovered using a culture system and confirmed by observing depletion of AdoMet in the plasma of infected animals . Depletion also occurs in patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP), a phenomenon suggested as a basis for a method for diagnosis and evaluation of response to therapy . Preliminary data indicate that deliberate reduction of host lung AdoMet by nicotine treatment is therapeutic in the rat model of Pneumocystis pneumonia.

Biochem J, 2005 Jan 1, 385(Pt 1), 37 - 43
Contribution of the two conserved tryptophan residues to the catalytic and structural properties of Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1; Allocati N et al.; PmGSTB1-1 (Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1) has two tryptophan residues at positions 97 and 164 in each monomer . Structural data for this bacterial enzyme indicated that Trp97 is positioned in the helix a4, whereas Trp164 is located at the bottom of the helix a6 in the xenobiotic-binding site . To elucidate the role of the two tryptophan residues they were replaced by site-directed mutagenesis . Trp97 and Trp164 were mutated to either phenylalanine or alanine . A double mutant was also constructed . The effects of the replacement on the activity, structural properties and antibiotic-binding capacity of the enzymes were examined . On the basis of the results obtained, Trp97 does not seem to be involved in the enzyme active site and structural stabilization . In contrast, different results were achieved for Trp164 mutants . Conservative substitution of the Trp164 with phenylalanine enhanced enzyme activity 10-fold, whereas replacement with alanine enhanced enzyme activity 17-fold . Moreover, the catalytic efficiency for both GSH and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene substrates improved . In particular, the catalytic efficiency for 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene improved for both W164F (Trp164-->Phe) and W164A by factors of 7- and 22-fold respectively . These results are supported by molecular graphic analysis . In fact, W164A presented a more extensive substrate-binding pocket that could allow the substrates to be better accommodated . Furthermore, both Trp164 mutants were significantly more thermolabile than wild-type, suggesting that the substitution of this residue affects the overall stability of the enzyme . Taken together, these results indicate that Trp164 is an important residue of PmGSTB1-1 in the catalytic process as well as for protein stability.

Arch Dermatol, 2004 Aug, 140(8), 947 - 53
Cutaneous manifestations of proteus syndrome: correlations with general clinical severity; Nguyen D et al.; BACKGROUND: Proteus syndrome is a rare congenital disorder with progressive asymetric overgrowth of multiple tissues . OBJECTIVES: To determine the range of cutaneous findings in Proteus syndrome and to correlate cutaneous findings with overall disease severity . DESIGN: A prospective cohort study was performed at the National Institutes of Health, a tertiary referral center . PATIENTS: Twenty-four consecutive children and adults with Proteus syndrome meeting recent diagnostic criteria . INTERVENTIONS: Physical examination, including complete skin examination, and review of medical records . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of skin findings; correlation of skin findings with extracutaneous findings; cluster analysis of findings . RESULTS: The 24 patients had skin abnormalities: 22 (92%) had lipomas, 21 (88%) had vascular malformations, 20 (83%) had cerebriform connective tissue nevi on the soles of the feet, 16 (67%) had epidermal nevi, 9 (38%) had partial lipohypoplasia, and 5 (21%) had patchy dermal hypoplasia . Some patients had localized alterations in skin pigmentation and hair or nail growth . Patients with a greater number of skin abnormalities tended to have a greater number of extracutaneous abnormalities . The number of abnormalities tended to increase with age up to 8 years . CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Proteus syndrome exhibit a variable but defined assortment of cutaneous findings . The correlation between numbers of cutaneous and extracutaneous is consistent with the postulated mosaic basis for this syndrome.

Otolaryngol Pol, 2004, 58(3), 497 - 504
{Bacterial infections in chronic otitis media--usefulness of molecular diagnostics based on PCR method}; Kuczkowski J et al.; Infections in chronic otitis media (COM) are common, and identification of their pathogen is difficult, what is proven by high rate of negative results of bacteriological examinations . This fact may be explained by two factors: it is difficult to obtain a reliable material for culture and classic methods of bacteriological cultures may be of low sensitivity . Amplification of bacterial DNA in PCR is an examination, that leads to a higher effectiveness and sensitivity of bacteriological tests . The authors present material of 53 patients with COM, previously untreated, in which bacteriological examinations by classic and molecular PCR method were performed . The results of both methods were compared . In classic method the presence of pathogens was observed in 46 of 53 cases (86.8%) . The most often isolated bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (52.8% of the cases), Staphylococcus aureus (15.1%), Peptostreptococcus sp . and Fusobacterium sp . (11.3% of the cases each) and Proteus mirabilis (7.5%) . In 7 cases (13.2%) bacteriological results were negative . Using molecular diagnostic of PCR, the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed in 42 cases (79.2%) . Isolated strains of P . aeruginosa were epidemiologically unrelated (93.7% of isolates), what was proven in PCR-finger-printing technique . The authors stated that predominant aerobes pathogens in COM are P . aeruginosa and S . aureus and the PCR technique for identification of bacterial DNA presence is very sensitive and allows to precipitate diagnostics of patients with COM . Combination of classical bacteriological tests with PCR technique may be very helpful in estimation bacteriological condition of patients with COM.

Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr, 1996 Jan, 52(Pt 1), 189 - 91
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a bacterial glutathione transferase; Feil SC; Crystals of a bacterial glutathione S-transferase from Proteus mirabilis have been grown from polyethylene glycol by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method . Successful crystallization required the presence of the substrate glutathione . The crystals belong to the tetragonal space group P4 with cell dimensions a = b = 90.9 and c = 117.3 A . They contain between three and six monomers in the asymmetric unit and diffract to beyond 2.3 A resolution.

Semin Cutan Med Surg, 2004 Jun, 23(2), 145 - 57
Epidermal nevus syndromes; Sugarman JL; The term "epidermal nevus syndrome" (ENS) has been used to describe the association of epidermal hamartomas and extra-cutaneous abnormalities . Epidermal nevi follow the lines of Blaschko . The majority of the extra-cutaneous manifestations involve the brain, eye, and skeletal systems . Several subsets with characteristic features have been delineated including the nevus sebaceous syndrome, Proteus syndrome, CHILD syndrome, Becker nevus syndrome, nevus comedonicus syndrome, and phakomatosis pigmentokeratotica . Epidermal nevi have been associated with benign and malignant neoplasms . Advances in molecular biology have revealed that the manifestations of ENS are due to genomic mosaicism . It is likely that the varied clinical manifestations of ENS are due in great part to the functional effects of specific genetic defects . Optimal management of the patient with ENS involves an interdisciplinary approach . Amelioration of the cutaneous features of ENS has been difficult but there have been advances, especially in the use of lasers.

Paediatr Anaesth, 2004 Aug, 14(8), 689 - 92
Anesthesia for proteus syndrome; Cekmen N et al.; Proteus syndrome is a complex disorder comprising malformations and overgrowth of multiple tissues . The disorder is highly variable affecting tissues in a mosaic pattern . A 2-year-old boy with Proteus syndrome, with epidermal verrucal naevus, hyperplastic lesions of connective tissue, hyperostosis, overgrowth of tubular bones, bilateral inguinal hernia, and juvenile intestinal polyposis was scheduled for vertebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for further evaluation of malignancies . In addition to the pathological findings of this syndrome, potential complications such as difficult intubation, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary thromboembolism necessitate a careful preoperative and anesthetic preparation . MRI was performed under general anesthesia . There were no anesthetic complications . There are few previous reports on anesthesia in a patient with Proteus syndrome.

Pediatr Dermatol, 2004 Jul-Aug, 21(4), 432 - 9
Epidermal nevus syndromes: clinical findings in 35 patients; Vidaurri-de la Cruz H et al.; Of the patients with epidermal nevi, 10-18% may have disorders of the eye, nervous, and musculoskeletal systems . A predisposition to malignant neoplasms in ectodermal and mesodermal structures may also be found . There are six different epidermal nevus syndromes described so far: Proteus, congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform nevus and limb defect syndrome, phakomatosis pigmentokeratotica, sebaceous nevus, Becker nevus, and nevus comedonicus . Thirty-five patients with epidermal nevus syndrome seen at the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico City during a 31-year period are described . This syndrome represented 7.9% of 443 patients with epidermal nevi; its relative frequency was 1 case per 11,928 pediatric patients and 1 case per 1080 dermatologic patients . Nine epidermal nevus syndrome patients (26%) had Proteus syndrome . Sebaceous nevus syndrome was found in six patients (17%), while the nevus comedonicus syndrome was found in three (8%) . Two patients were diagnosed with phakomatosis pigmentokeratotica and one patient with congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform nevus and limb defect syndrome . This is the first report of phakomatosis pigmentokeratotica and congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform nevus and limb defect syndrome in Mexican patients . One patient had an inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus with systemic involvement . Thirteen patients (37%) had keratinocytic nevi with systemic involvement . We propose the keratinocytic nevus syndrome to be defined as the association of a keratinocytic nevus with neuronal migration and/or musculoskeletal disorders in addition to a higher risk for mesodermal neoplasms.

Carbohydr Res, 2004 Aug 23, 339(12), 2145 - 9
Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Proteus serogroup O34 containing 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactosyl phosphate; Perepelov AV et al.; On mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O34, strain CCUG 4669, the O-polysaccharide was cleaved at a glycosyl-phosphate linkage that is present in the main chain . The resultant phosphorylated oligosaccharides and an alkali-treated lipopolysaccharide were studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and the following structure of the branched tetrasaccharide phosphate repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide was established: {carbohydrate structure: see text}The O-polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis strain TG 276 was found to have the same structure and, based on the structural and serological data, this strain was proposed to be classified into the same Proteus serogroup O34.

Acta Paediatr Taiwan, 2004 Jan-Feb, 45(1), 45 - 7
Diffuse xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis and staghorn calculus: report of one case; Chen TY et al.; Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis and staghorn calculus are rare in children . In this report, we describe a Chinese boy without history of urinary tract infection who developed insidious onset of left flank pain . Urine culture showed Proteus mirabilis infection . Sonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showed typical picture of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis and staghorn calculus . Photomicrography showed characteristic lipid-laden macrophage aggregates . After nephrectomy, he was symptom-free . In conclusion, xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis should be considered in afebrile children with flank pain and staghorn calculus.

Radiographics, 2004 Jul-Aug, 24(4), 1051 - 68
Radiologic manifestations of Proteus syndrome; Jamis-Dow CA et al.; Proteus syndrome is a sporadic disorder named for its highly variable manifestations . The disease causes tissue overgrowth in a mosaic pattern and may affect tissues derived from any germinal layer . The disease process is not usually apparent at birth but develops rapidly in childhood . Common manifestations include macrodactyly, vertebral abnormalities, asymmetric limb overgrowth and length discrepancy, hyperostosis, abnormal and asymmetric fat distribution, asymmetric muscle development, connective-tissue nevi, and vascular malformations . The features of Proteus syndrome indicate that the condition may be caused by a somatic alteration in a gene, but no specific genetic mutation has yet been identified . Therefore, the diagnosis and management of the disease depend heavily on clinical evaluation and imaging . Although the manifestations of Proteus syndrome are highly variable, accurate diagnosis is possible if standard diagnostic criteria are followed and if disease features are assessed in comparison with those found in similar syndromes . Copyright RSNA, 2004

Ann Vasc Surg, 2004 Mar, 18(2), 243 - 5
Lemierre's syndrome associated with septic pulmonary embolism: a case report; Gormus N et al.; An 18-year-old female patient suffering from a painful right-sided neck mass was admitted to our emergency service . Computed tomography of the neck revealed thrombosis of the right internal jugular vein . Computed tomography of the chest indicated septic pulmonary emboli in both lungs . Blood and oropharyngeal cultures showed proteus that was sensitive to cefepime and amicasin . Chemotherapy was administered for 12 days, however, her complaints continued with fulminant progression . An urgent decompression and excessive debridement were performed . Although Lemierre syndrome is a well-known cause of internal jugular vein thrombosis, association with proteus culture is very rare.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2004 Jul 15, 236(2), 283 - 90
Gene cloning, expression and characterization of novel phytase from Obesumbacterium proteus; Zinin NV et al.; The gene phyA encoding phytase was isolated from Obesumbacterium proteus genomic library and sequenced . The cleavage site of the PhyA signal peptide was predicted and experimentally proved . The PhyA protein shows maximum identity of 53% and 47% to phosphoanhydride phosphorylase from Yersinia pestis and phytase AppA from Escherichia coli, respectively . Based on protein sequence similarity of PhyA and its homologs, the phytases form a novel subclass of the histidine acid phosphatase family . To characterize properties of the PhyA protein, we expressed the phyA gene in E . coli . The specific activity of the purified recombinant PhyA was 310 U mg(-1) of protein . Recombinant PhyA showed activity at pH values from 1.5 through 6.5 with the optimum at 4.9 . The temperature optimum was 40-45 degrees C at pH 4.9 . The Km value for sodium phytate was 0.34 mM with a Vmax of 435 U mg(-1).

Indian J Exp Biol, 2003 Aug, 41(8), 837 - 45
Bacterial dynamics associated with algal antibacterial substances during post harvest desiccation process of Sargassum stolonifolium Phang et Yoshida; Vairappan CS; Brown algae of genus Sargassum are known to produce relatively higher amount of alginic acid . Optimal extraction of this algalcolloid for local consumption requires in-depth studies on post-harvest treatment of the algal fronds . Present investigation endeavors to establish the dynamics and inter-relationship of moisture content and bacteria found on the surface of the alga and alginic acid content during post-harvest desiccation of Sargassum stolonifolium Phang et Yoshida . Harvested fronds were subjected to desiccation for 31 days and bacterial dynamics were monitored with relation to moisture content and water activity index (a(w)) . There was 85% decrease in moisture content, however, a(w) showed a more gradual decrease . Total bacterial count increased during the first week and attained maximal value on day 7 . Thereafter, a drastic decrease was seen until day 14, followed by a gradual decline . Six species of bacteria were isolated and identified, i.e . Azomonas punctata, Azomonas sp., Escherichia coli, Micrococcus sp., Proteus vulgaris and Vibrio alginolyticus . Calculated ratios for increase in alginic acid content and decrease in moisture content were almost the same throughout the desiccation process, implying that extracellular alginase-producing bacteria did not use the alginic acid produced by the algae as its carbon source . It became apparent that drastic decrease in bacterial count after day 7 could not be attributed to salinity, moisture content, a(w) or lack of carbon source for the bacteria . The possible exposure of these bacteria to algal cell sap which is formed due to the rupture of algal cells was seen as the most likely reason for the drop in bacterial population . Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrograph taken on day 10 of desiccation showed the presence of cracks and localities where bacteria were exposed to algal cell sap . In vitro antibacterial tests were carried out to verify the effect of algal extracts . Separation and purification of crude algal extracts via bioassay guided separation methodology revealed the identity of active compounds (i.e . gylcolipids and free fatty acids) involved in this inherently available antibacterial defense mechanism during algal desiccation.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 2004 May-Jun, 52(3), 188 - 96
Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O19 and reclassification of certain Proteus strains that were formerly classified in serogroup O19; Perepelov AV et al.; INTRODUCTION: Bacteria of the genus Proteus are a common cause of urinary tract infections . The O-polysaccharide chain of their LPS (O-antigen) defines the serological specificity of these bacteria . Based on the immunospecificity of the O-antigens, two species, P . mirabilis and P . vulgaris, were classified into 49 O-serogroups, and more O-serogroups for strains of these species and P . penneri have been subsequently proposed . MATERIAL AND METHODS: The lipopolysaccharide of P.mirabilis CCUG 19011 from serogroup O19 was degraded under mildly acidic and mildly alkaline conditions . Polysaccharides thus obtained were studied by chemical methods, including O -deacetylation, sugar and methylation analyses, and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy . Antisera were obtained by immunization of New Zealand white rabbits with heat-killed bacteria . In serological studies, enzyme immunosorbent assay, passive hemolysis test, and inhibition of passive hemolysis were used . RESULTS: The following structure of the O-polysaccharide repeating unit was established:-->3)- beta-D-GlcrhoNAc-(1-->3)- alpha-D-GalrhoNAc4,6(R-Pyr)-(1-->4)- a-D-GalrhoA-(1-->3) alpha-L-Rhap2Ac-(1-->where R-Pyr is (R)-1-carboxyethylidene (an acetal-linked pyruvic acid) . This structure is significantly different from the O-polysaccharide structures of P . vulgaris, P.hauseri and P . penneri strains from the same Proteus serogroup O19 . CONCLUSIONS: Based on immunochemical studies of the lipopolysaccharides, it is suggested 1) to keep P . vulgaris CCUG 4654 and P . penneri 31 in serogroup O19 as two subgroups, 2) to reclassify P . mirabilis CCUG 19011 into a new Proteus serogroup, O51, and 3) to classify serologically related strains, including P . vulgaris ATCC 49990, P . hauseri> 1732-80 and 1086-80, P . penneri 15, and some other P . penneri strains, in yet another Proteus serogroup, O52.

J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong), 2004 Jun, 12(1), 10 - 3
Changing epidemiology of neonatal septic arthritis; Deshpande SS et al.; PURPOSE: To study the changing epidemiological pattern of micro-organisms as an aetiology of septic arthritis, and to correlate the pattern with the outcome of neonatal septic arthritis, in terms of joint function and morphology . METHODS: 15 consecutive cases of neonatal septic arthritis of hip admitted between 1999 and 2002 were studied . Diagnosis of septic arthritis was made on the basis of Morrey's criteria . All patients were treated by arthrotomy after aspiration of purulent fluid from the joint . Patients were followed up for a mean period of 2.4 years . Clinical and radiological examinations were performed at follow-up . RESULTS: The mean age of the 15 patients was 20.35 days . 13 (87%) patients had primary septic arthritis, while only 2 (13%) had associated osteomyelitis . Culture reports revealed that the spectrum consisted of 33% gram-negative organisms, 7% fungal, and only 20% gram-positive organisms-Staphylococcus aureus in 3 patients, Klebsiella in 2 patients, one each of Proteus, Candida, Escherichia coli, and Enterobactor . Six patients were pus-cell positive with negative culture . No organism was found in 6 (40%) cases . Investigations showed leukocytosis, raised C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in all 15 patients . 12 patients had normal clinical and radiological parameters at follow-up . Three patients had delayed surgical drainage of more than 72 hours due to late presentation, and showed various radiological sequelae with terminal restriction of joint movements . CONCLUSION: There are more cases of primary septic arthritis than secondary septic arthritis . Clinicians should be alert of the aetiology shift to gram-negative organisms, in addition to fungal and gram-positive ones . Arthrotomy to drain pus from the joint should not be delayed . Better long-term results can be achieved by early surgical drainage and immediate antibiotic coverage.

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak, 2004 Mar, 14(3), 146 - 9
Sensitivity and spectrum of bacterial isolates in infectious otitis externa; Arshad M et al.; OBJECTIVE: To determine the spectrum and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of organisms from aural swabs taken from cases of infectious otitis externa . DESIGN: Descriptive study . PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, from May 2002 to April 2003 . SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four patients, diagnosed clinically as infectious otitis externa without concomitant suppurative otitis media, perforated tympanic membrane or otomycosis, were selected for the study . Samples of pus from external auditory canal were taken on sterile cotton swabs and were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey Agar for 24 to 48 hours . Sensitivity was tested and interpreted by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method of grading zones of inhibition . RESULTS: One hundred and twenty four subjects were cultured . Sixteen samples showed no growth . One hundred and eight specimens yielded growth of bacteria . No specimen revealed multiple organisms . Staphylococcus aureus was found in 38%, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in other 38% . Others included Proteus, Enterococci, Klebsiella, and E . coli . Majority of organisms were resistant to co-trimoxazole, amoxicillin and erythromycin, while 100% were sensitive to imipenem . Sensitivity to enoxacin was 96%, Ninety-two percent were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin . CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common bacterial isolates . Both were sensitive to fluoroquinolones . The latter can be used empirically for treatment of acute infectious otitis externa.

Eur J Pharm Biopharm, 2004 Jul, 58(1), 91 - 7
Degradation of raw or film-incorporated beta-cyclodextrin by enzymes and colonic bacteria; Fetzner A et al.; beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) is a suitable excipient for peroral use, which improves the solubility of lipophilic drugs, as well as for colon-specific drug release when it is mixed with coating polymers . The first aim of this work was to examine the suitability of various enzymes as a simple in vitro model for the glycolytic activity in the human colon . alpha-Amylase (source Aspergillus oryzae) and taka diastase (source A . oryzae) showed remarkable degradation capacity of free beta-CD, whereas other alpha-amylases (sources Bacillus subtilis or Hog pancreas) were found to be unsuitable . The next aim was to find out if film-incorporated beta-CD is also degraded by these enzymes . Therefore, diffusion studies of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) through Eudragit RS or Eudragit NE films containing beta-CD were performed with taka diastase present in the buffer medium . Pronounced diffusion of the drug through the Eudragit RS film was found only when swelling excipients like crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-CL sodium) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP 25) were present in the film, indicating enhanced accessibility of beta-CD by the enzyme . Films containing CMC-CL without beta-CD showed even higher permeability, which also points to enzymatic degradation of CMC-CL . Permeabilization by taka diastase of Eudragit NE films without swelling agents correlated with the beta-CD content, whereas control films containing talcum remained impermeable upon enzyme action . Furthermore, the beta-CD degradation capacity of colonic bacteria like Escherichia fergusonii, Serratia odorifera or Proteus mirabilis was examined with beta-CD coatings on tablets, which contained bisoprolol as a model drug . Tablets with beta-CD-containing Eudragit RS coatings showed the highest drug release upon incubation with P . mirabilis . The moderate drug release by E . fergusonii could be increased almost to the same level when the bacteria were pre-incubated for 24 h in medium containing 2.5 mg/ml beta-CD, indicating the induction of glycolytic enzymes by beta-CD in this colonic bacteria strain .

Panminerva Med, 2003 Dec, 45(4), 267 - 71
Proteus syndrome and somatic mosaicism of the chromosome 16; Cardoso MT et al.; The authors describe clinical pathologic findings in a patient with a structural chromosome 16 anomaly in mosaic distribution with the phenotypic characteristics of the Proteus syndrome . This is the 1st report showing that the Proteus syndrome may be associated with a chromosome 16 anomaly; while previous findings suggested that this syndrome was associated with a modification of chromosome 1 . As the pathologic hypothesis of this syndrome possibly involves lethal genes in somatic mosaicism, responsible for control of cellular proliferation and/or alteration in the mechanism of action of some growth factors, chromosomal alterations found in the patient described in this work may suggest the location of the genes involved in this syndrome.

Urologe A, 2004 Jul, 43(7), 843 - 4
{Total infarction of the penis caused by entrapment in a plastic bottle}; Maruschke M et al.; Penile strangulation injuries are rare emergency situations, but need a fast urological emergency management for decompression of the penis and for removing of the foreign bodies.Strangulation objects can be metallic or non-metallic objects and are usually used for erotic or autoerotic purposes, for masturbation or increasing erection.We report a case of a 62-year old male with a total infected gangrene of the penis caused by a strangulation of a plastic bottle neck which continued 14 days . A total amputation of the penis was necessary . A perineal urethrostomy was performed as definitive urine diversion.Bacteriologic examination has identified Proteus mirabilis . Thus, a systemic antibiotic therapy was perioperatively applicated . The further course was uneventful with a secondary healing wound.

J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem, 2004 Feb, 19(1), 79 - 84
Metalloantibiotics: synthesis and antibacterial activity of cobalt(II), copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes of kefzol; Chohan ZH et al.; Kefzol (kzl), a beta-lactam antibiotic, possesses various donor sites for interaction with transition metal(II) ions {Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)} to form complexes of the type {M(kzl)2}Cl2 and {M(kzl)Cl}, with molar ratio of metal: ligand (M:L) of 1:2 and 1:1 respectively . These complexes were prepared and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods . Their IR and NMR spectra suggest that kefzol potentially acts as a bidentate, tridentate as well as monoanionic tetradentate ligand . The complexes have been screened for antibacterial activity and results were compared with the activity of the uncomplexed antibiotic against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis . The metal complexes were found to be more potent against one or more bacterial species than the uncomplexed kefzol.

Comb Chem High Throughput Screen, 2004 Jun, 7(4), 327 - 36
Artificial neural networks for prediction of antibacterial activity in series of imidazole derivatives; Bucinski A et al.; Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been applied for the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) studies of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa of a large series of new imidazole derivatives . Antibacterial activity against individual bacteria, expressed as logarithm of reciprocal of the minimal inhibitory concentrations, log 1/MIC, has been related to a number of physicochemical and structural parameters of the imidazole derivatives investigated . Molecular descriptors of agents were obtained by quantum-chemical calculations combined with molecular modelling and from respective structure fragment reference data (e.g., log P) . A high correlation resulted between the predicted from ANN model antibacterial activity, log 1/MIC(ANN), and that from biological experiments, log 1/MIC(exp), both for the data used in learning and in the testing sets of imidazoles . Correlation coefficient, R, depending on the type of bacteria and structural subset of analysed imidazole compounds, varies from 0.875 to 0.969 . The applicability of ANNs has been demonstrated for the prediction of pharmacological potency of new imidazole derivatives based on their structural descriptors generated exclusively by calculation chemistry.

Am J Vet Res, 2004 Jun, 65(6), 847 - 53
Evaluation of the tensile strengths of four monofilament absorbable suture materials after immersion in canine urine with or without bacteria; Greenberg CB et al.; OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the tensile strength, elongation, and degradation of 4 monofilament absorbable suture materials that undergo degradation by hydrolysis in specimens of canine urine with various physical characteristics . SAMPLE POPULATION: 4 monofilament absorbable sutures (polydioxanone, poliglecaprone 25, polyglyconate, and glycomer 631) . PROCEDURE: Voided urine was collected from 6 healthy dogs, pooled, filter-sterilized, and prepared to provide 5 media: sterile neutral (pH, 7.0), sterile acidic (pH, 6.2), sterile basic (pH, 8.8), Escherichia coli-inoculated, and Proteus mirabilis-inoculated urine . Ten strands of each suture material were immersed in each of the media for 0 to 28 days . Tensile strength and elongation of each suture material were evaluated by use of a texture analyzer on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 . RESULTS: Reduction in tensile strength was detected for all materials in all urine specimens over time . Polyglyconate and polydioxanone had superior tensile strengths in sterile neutral and E . coli-inoculated urine, and polydioxanone retained the greatest tensile strength throughout the study period . All suture materials disintegrated before day 7 in P . mirabilis-inoculated urine . CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Polydioxanone, polyglyconate, and glycomer 631 may be acceptable for urinary bladder closure in the presence of sterile neutral and E . coli-contaminated urine . Tensile strength of poliglecaprone 25 in urine may be unacceptable by the critical healing time for bladder tissue (14 to 21 days) . During bladder surgery, exposure of suture material that degrades via hydrolysis to urine containing Proteus spp should be minimized.

Int J Impot Res, 2004 Jun, 16(3), 231 - 4
Prosthesis culture 6 months after implantation and the effect of haematogenous seeding in a rat model; Culha M et al.; The aim of this study was to investigate the role of haematogenous seeding in late prosthesis infection . In all, 45 male Wistar albino rats were divided into three equal groups . A small piece of silicone prosthesis was implanted into the scrotum of all rats under sterile condition and antibiotic prophylaxis . In the first group, all silicones were removed after 6 months without any complication and were cultured for bacterial growth . In the second group, a disc, which was saturated with Staphylococcus epidermidis, was inoculated subcutaneously in the legs of the rats in the 6th month, revealing a nodule formation 4-5 days after the inoculation and treated with an appropriate antibiotic after the nodule formation . In the third group, the same disc was inoculated, but all rats were treated immediately from the inoculation time onwards . The silicones of the second and third group were also removed at the end of the 6th month and were cultured to observe the bacterial growth . There was no evidence of prosthesis infection in any of the three groups . In the first group, three cultures were positive and revealed approximately 10 000 colonies of S . epidermidis in two and Proteus mirabilis in the remaining . Three and four cultures were positive in the second and third group, respectively . Low colonies of four different organisms (Escherichia coli, S . aureus, S . epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were identified in these cultures . There was no statistical significance of positive cultures in the three groups . Based on our results, there does not appear to be a true significance of haematogenous seeding on late prosthesis infection.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 2004 Mar-Apr, 52(2), 121 - 8
Characterization and serological classification of a collection of Proteus penneri clinical strains; Drzewiecka D et al.; INTRODUCTION: Bacteria of the genus Proteus, which are a common cause of urinary tract infections, are divided into four species: P . mirabilis, P . vulgaris, P . penneri, and P . hauseri, and three unnamed genomospecies, Proteus 4, 5, and 6 (single-strain species P . myxofaciens was isolated from the gypsy moth) . Establishing the serological classification of these species would aid in completing the classification scheme of the whole genus Proteus and in applying serological methods in diagnostic procedures and epidemiological investigations for these opportunistic pathogens . The aim of this research was a serological characterization and classification of 57 Proteus penneri clinical strains, isolated from patients from different countries all over the world, into Proteus O serogroups . MATERIAL/METHODS: Purified lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) extracted from 57 P . penneri strains were used as antigens in enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA), SDS/PAGE, and Western blot techniques, and alkali treated LPSs in passive immunohemolysis test (PIH), inhibition of PIH, and absorption of rabbit polyclonal O-antisera . RESULTS: That result confirms the serological distinction of this species within the genus Proteus, and may have diagnostic significance . CONCLUSIONS: As a result of serological studies of LPSs extracted from the P . penneri strains, one new Proteus serogroup, represented by the P . penneri 97 strain, was established . Three further strains were classified into the Proteus serogroup O8, which had not contained any P . penneri strains before . All the remaining strains were classified into 11 already existing Proteus O serogroups . It is important to emphasize that 72% of studied strains were classified into serogroups that contain P . penneri strains only.

Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 2004 Jul 5, 14(13), 3571 - 4
Synthesis, absolute stereochemistry and molecular design of the new antifungal and antibacterial antibiotic produced by Streptomyces sp.201; Boruwa J et al.; The absolute stereochemistry of the new antifungal and antibacterial antibiotic produced by Streptomyces sp.201 has been established by achieving the total synthesis of the product . A series of analogues have also been synthesized by changing the side chain and their bioactivity assessed against different microbial strains . Among them, 1e (R = C8H17) was found to be the most potent with MIC of 8 microg/mL against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 12 microg/mL against Escherichia coli and 16 microg/mL against Bacillus subtilis 6 microg/mL against Proteus vulgaris . This was followed by 1b (R = C5H11) with MIC of 10-20 microg/mL range and 1d (R = C7H15) with MIC of 14-24 g/mL, whereas 1a (R = C4H9) and 1f (R = C18H35) were found to be completely inactive . Besides, 1c (R = C6H13) showed certain extent of antibacterial activity in the range of 24-50 microg/mL . Mycobacterium tuberculosis was very sensitive to 1e (R = C8H17) with MIC of 8 microg/mL . Antifungal activity of analogues 1d (R = C7H15) and 1e, (R = C8H17) against Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani were found promising with MFCs in the 15-18 microg/mL range.

Vet Rec, 2004 May 8, 154(19), 596 - 8
Myocardial necrosis in a captive binturong (Arctictis binturong); Hollamby S et al.; An adult male binturong, Arctictis binturong, which had been anorexic and lethargic for seven days became acutely dyspnoeic and died under anaesthesia . A postmortem examination revealed left ventricular hypertrophy with a thrombus occluding the left ventricular chamber . Histological findings included moderate to severe multifocal, vasculocentric myocardial degeneration and necrosis with fibrosis replacing myocardiocytes . Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis were grown on cultures . The animal's serum vitamin E and selenium levels were considered adequate . The aetiology of the chronic myocardial changes could not be determined.

Medicina (B Aires), 1965 Nov-Dec, 25(6), 348 - 52
{Comparison between the bacterial flora airways and of the lung tissue}; Budzko DB et al.; In 44 patients tracheotomized and under mechanical ventilation bacteriological studies were carried out, inmediately after death, in bronchial secretions and in a small piece of lung obtained by thoracotomy . The more frequently found bacterium in bronchial secretions or the lung was the Pseudomona aeruginosa (Table 1) . In order of decreasing frequency: Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Proteus, etc . were found in the lung while in bronchial secretions the order was inverse by predominance of Proteus . Total bacteriological coincidence was found in 14 cases while it was partial in 8 more patients where another bacterium was added in bronchial secretions . Bacteria were different in 6 cases (Table 2) in 4 of them: staphylococcus was obtained in the lung while Pseudomonae, Proteus and Klebsiellae were present in bronchial secretions (Table 3) . In 16 cases cultures of the piece of lung taken were negative . Not taking into account these last ones, it is possible to conclude that from the therapeutic stand point culture of bronchial secretions was useful in antibiotic selection in 22 out of 28 cases.

Am J Med Genet, 2004 Jun 15, 127A(3), 298 - 301
Unusual features in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1: multiple subcutaneous lipomas, a juvenile polyp in ascending colon, congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt, and horseshoe kidney; Oktenli C et al.; We report a case that draws attention to a hitherto undescribed association of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) with juvenile polyp, congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt, multiple subcutaneous lipomas, and horseshoe kidney . Our patient has fulfilled the National Institutes of Health consensus conference criteria for NF1 by having neurofibromas, axillary freckling, Lisch nodules, and cafe-au-lait spots . There is no family history of NF1 and his 7-year-old son has no stigmata of NF1 . On the other hand, the patient's family had a presumably dominant inheritance of horseshoe kidney: the father, proband, sister, and son of the other sister had a horseshoe kidney . The patient was investigated for mutations in the NF1 gene and PTEN, but no germline mutations were detected . The differential diagnosis for such a collection of hamartomatous, cutaneous, and vascular disorders includes the Proteus, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba, and Cowden syndromes . None of these diagnoses was convincingly confirmed in this patient .

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2004 Jun 1, 41(2), 133 - 9
Structure of the O-polysaccharide and serological cross-reactivity of the Providencia stuartii O33 lipopolysaccharide containing 4-(N-acetyl-D-aspart-4-yl)amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose; Torzewska A et al.; The O-polysaccharide of Providencia stuartii O33 was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide and the following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit was established: -->6)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalpA-(1-->3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Quip4N(Ac-D-Asp)-(1-->, where d-Qui4N(Ac-D-Asp) is 4-(N-acetyl-D-aspart-4-yl)amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose . Structural studies were performed using sugar and methylation analyses and NMR spectroscopy, including conventional 2D 1H, 1H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY and 1H, 13C HSQC experiments as well as COSY and NOESY experiments in an H2O-D2O mixture to reveal correlations for NH protons . The O-polysaccharide of P . stuartii O33 shares an alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-beta-D-Quip4N(Ac-D-Asp) epitope with that of Proteus mirabilis O38, which seems to be responsible for a marked serological cross-reactivity of anti-P . stuartii O33 serum with the lipopolysaccharide of the latter bacterium . P . stuartii O33 is serologically related also to P . stuartii O4, whose O-polysaccharide contains a lateral beta-D-Qui4N(Ac-L-Asp) residue.

Microbiology, 2004 May, 150(Pt 5), 1291 - 9
Enhanced motility of a Proteus mirabilis strain expressing hybrid FlaAB flagella; Manos J et al.; Proteus mirabilis has two tandemly arranged flagellin-encoding genes, flaA and flaB . flaA is transcribed from a sigma(28) promoter, while flaB is silent . flaA and flaB can undergo reversible rearrangement to produce a set of hybrid genes referred to as flaAB . Flagellins composed of FlaAB protein have a different amino acid sequence and are antigenically distinct from flagellin composed of FlaA, implicating flagellin gene conversion as a putative virulence mechanism for P . mirabilis . The change in amino acid sequence is also hypothesized to alter the filament helix and, hence, affect the motility of FlaAB-expressing strains . To test this hypothesis, the motility of wild-type P . mirabilis was compared with that of a strain, DF1003, locked into the FlaAB(+) hybrid phase, under conditions of altered ionic strength, pH and viscosity . Cell motion tracking analysis showed that DF1003 has wild-type swimming velocity at physiological conditions, but moves significantly faster and travels further compared to the wild-type at NaCl concentrations greater than 170 mM . DF1003 is also significantly faster than the wild-type at pH 5.2, 5.8 and 8.2, and at 5 and 10 % polyvinylpyrrolidone . Measurements of amplitude and wavelength for isolated flagella subjected to pH 5.8 or 425 mM NaCl showed a loss of helical structure in FlaA flagella compared to FlaAB filaments, a feature that could significantly affect motility under these conditions . These results support a hypothesis that FlaAB flagellin imparts a motile advantage to P . mirabilis in conditions that otherwise may impede bacterial movement . In a broader context, flagellar antigenic variation, commonly thought to serve as means to avoid host defences, may also enhance motility in other bacterial species, thus aiding in the adaptation and survival of the cells.

Biotechnol Lett, 2004 Mar, 26(6), 493 - 8
Design of novel analogues with potent antibiotic activity based on the antimicrobial peptide, HP(2-9)-ME(1-12); Park Y et al.; To develop novel antibiotic peptides useful as therapeutic drugs, a number of analogues were designed to increase the hydrophobic helix region either by Trp-substitution or net positive charge increase by Lys-substitution, from HP(2-9)-ME(1-12) . The antibiotic activities of these peptides were evaluated using bacterial (Salmonella tryphimurium, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus), fungi (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trichosporon beigelii and Candida albicans), tumor and human erythrocyte cells . The substitution of Lys for Thr at position 18 and 19 of HP(2-9)-ME(1-12) (HM5) increased activity against Proteus vulgaris and fungal strains without hemolysis . In contrast, substitution of Trp for Lys and Thr at positions 2, 15 and 19 of HP(2-9)-ME(1-12), respectively (HM3 and HM4), decreased activity but increased hemolysis against human erythrocytes . This suggests that an increase in positive charge increases antimicrobial activity whereas an increase in hydrophobicity by introducing Trp residues at C-terminus of HP(2-9)-ME(1-12) causes a hemolytic effect . Circular dichroism spectra suggested that the alpha-helical structure of these peptides plays an important role in their antibiotic effect but that the alpha-helical property is not connected with the enhanced antibiotic activity.

Clin Exp Dermatol, 2004 May, 29(3), 222 - 30
Vascular anomalies in Proteus syndrome; Hoeger PH et al.; Proteus syndrome (PS) is a complex hamartomatous disorder defined by local overgrowth (macrodactyly or hemihypertrophy), subcutaneous tumours and various bone, cutaneous and/or vascular anomalies (VA) . VA are manifold in PS, but their prevalence is unknown so far . In order to further characterize PS, we studied the prevalence of VA in 22 PS patients presenting to our outpatient clinic and reviewed 100 PS patients previously reported between 1983 and 2001 . The diagnosis of vascular abnormalities was made on clinical grounds and supported with imaging studies and/or histology in 12 and seven patients out of 22, respectively . Thirty-five VA were identified in 22/22 (100%) of our patients, and more than one type of VA were present in 10 of them . Vascular tumours, portwine stains (PWS), and venous anomalies (varicosities, prominent veins) were equally common . A total of 118 VA were previously reported in 70/100 (70%) PS patients; vascular hamartomas were more prevalent (56/118 = 47.5%), whilst PWS (21.2%) and venous anomalies (22.9%) were slightly less common than in our series, but there is the possibility of under-reporting . Unlike Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, where VA are mostly confined to the hypertrophic limb, major arteriovenous anomalies are rare, and - similar to the other hamartomas and naevi observed in PS (pigmentary naevi, epidermal naevi, subcutaneous tumours, exostoses) - VA appear to be distributed at random sites on the body . We conclude that VA are among the most common findings in PS . Their varying type and distribution lend further support to the concept of somatic mosaicism.

Urologiia, 2004 Mar-Apr, (2), 13 - 7
{In Process Citation}; Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis CCUG 10701 (OB) classified into a new Proteus serogroup et al.; N.D . Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation . perepel@ioc.ac.ru

An acidic O-polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis CCUG 10701 (OB) and studied by chemical analyses and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy . The following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established: --> 3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc6Ac-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-GalpA4Ac-(1--> 3)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1 --> 4)-alpha-D-GalpA-(1 -->, where the degree of O-acetylation at position 6 of GlcNAc is approximately 50% and at position 4 of beta-GalA approximately 60% . Based on the unique structure of the O-polysaccharide and serological data, it is proposed to classify P . mirabilis CCUG 10701 (OB) into a new Proteus serogroup, O74.

Carbohydr Res, 2004 May 17, 339(7), 1347 - 52
Structure of a highly phosphorylated O-polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O41; Senchenkova SN et al.; A highly phosphorylated O-polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O41 followed by GPC . The initial and dephosphorylated polysaccharides and phosphorylated products from two sequential Smith degradations were studied by (1)H, (13)C and (31)P NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS . The O-polysaccharide was found to have a tetrasaccharide repeating unit containing one ribitol phosphate (presumably d-Rib-ol-5-P) and two ethanolamine phosphate (Etn-P) groups, one of which is present in the stoichiometric amount and the other in a nonstoichiometric amount . The following structure of the O-polysaccharide was established:

Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 2004 Jan, 78(1), 1 - 9
{Study of resistance mechanism on cefotaxime resistant Proteus mirabilis isolated from clinical specimens and its clinical background}; Horiguchi Y et al.; Over a 6-year period (1997 to 2002), 56 strains of Proteus mirabilis (12% of the total number of P . mirabilis isolates obtained) resistant to ampicillin, piperacillin, cefazolin and cefoperazone by routine antimicrobial testing method, were isolated in Saitama Medical School Hospital . Of the 56 strains resistant to 4 beta-lactams, 12 strains were studied and were found to produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, identified as CTX-M-10 group and Toho-1 group in 8 and 2 strains, respectively . Susceptibility testing showed that 12 strains were resistant to cefotaxime, and cepodoxime, and ceftriaxon but susceptible to ceftazidime . Moreover, all of the beta-lactamases were inhibited by clavulanic acid . Of the 12 strains, one strain showed resistance to cephamycins such as cefoxitin, cefmetazole and cefotetan . Four of the twelve patients had infections caused by ESBL producing P . mirabilis, and eight patients were colonized, as confirmed by clinical and laboratory findings . The infections were urinary tract infections (two episodes), pneumonia (one episode), and sepsis (one episode) . These patients had a favorable response to antibiotic therapy including cephalosporin . From these findings, CTX-M-type beta-lactamase producing P . mirabilis strains were confirmed from clinical specimens in our hospital.

Infect Immun, 2004 May, 72(5), 2922 - 38
Proteus mirabilis genes that contribute to pathogenesis of urinary tract infection: identification of 25 signature-tagged mutants attenuated at least 100-fold; Burall LS et al.; Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of urinary tract infections (UTI) in individuals with functional or structural abnormalities or with long-term catheterization, forms bladder and kidney stones as a consequence of urease-mediated urea hydrolysis . Known virulence factors, besides urease, are hemolysin, fimbriae, metalloproteases, and flagella . In this study we utilized the CBA mouse model of ascending UTI to evaluate the colonization of mutants of P . mirabilis HI4320 that were generated by signature-tagged mutagenesis . By performing primary screening of 2088 P . mirabilis transposon mutants, we identified 502 mutants that ranged from slightly attenuated to unrecoverable . Secondary screening of these mutants revealed that 114 transposon mutants were reproducibly attenuated . Cochallenge of 84 of these single mutants with the parent strain in the mouse model resulted in identification of 37 consistently out-competed P . mirabilis transposon mutants, 25 of which were out-competed >100-fold for colonization of the bladder and/or kidneys by the parent strain . We determined the sequence flanking the site of transposon insertion in 29 attenuated mutants and identified genes affecting motility, iron acquisition, transcriptional regulation, phosphate transport, urease activity, cell surface structure, and key metabolic pathways as requirements for P . mirabilis infection of the urinary tract . Two mutations localized to a approximately 42-kb plasmid present in the parent strain, suggesting that the plasmid is important for colonization . Isolation of disrupted genes encoding proteins with homologies to known bacterial virulence factors, especially the urease accessory protein UreF and the disulfide formation protein DsbA, showed that the CBA mouse model and mutant pools are a reliable source of attenuated mutants with mutations in virulence genes.

Am Surg, 2004 Apr, 70(4), 333 - 41
Mortality in murine peritonitis correlates with increased Escherichia coli adherence to the intestinal mucosa; Burch PT et al.; During peritonitis, bacterial adherence is the initial step in a series of events that include mucosal infection, bacterial translocation, organ dysfunction, and death . Adherent Escherichia coli levels increase in response to stress . This study was designed to assess the adherence of E . coli to the cecal mucosa after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) of increasing severity and to determine whether a relationship exists between adherence of bacteria and mortality . Sham surgery, sterile peritonitis (thioglycollate administration), lethal CLP (18-gauge double-puncture), and nonlethal CLP (23-gauge single-puncture) were performed on Swiss Webster mice and compared with normal mice or before CLP (time 0) . Specimens of bowel tissue were harvested, and serial log dilutions of homogenized specimens or bowel contents were plated and cultured on media selective for determination of individual bacterial species . Low levels of E . coli and Proteus mirabilis adhered to the mucosa of unmanipulated controls; however, adherence of both species increased significantly by 18 hours after both lethal and nonlethal CLP . After 18 hours, adherent E . coli levels increased by greater than 5 x 10(6)-fold compared to unmanipulated controls, whereas P . mirabilis levels decreased . After nonlethal CLP, adherent P . mirabilis increased 3 x 10(6)-fold compared to unmanipulated animals, whereas E . coli levels did not increase after 24 hours . Sterile peritonitis had little effect on bacterial adherence . Higher levels of adherent E . coli in the cecum correlate with the increased mortality observed after lethal CLP . Higher levels of adherent P . mirabilis appear to prevent the overgrowth of adherent E . coli following nonlethal CLP . Our data indicate that E . coli plays a key role in mortality from polymicrobial peritonitis and that Proteus may be antagonistic to E . coli in murine peritonitis.

Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol, 2002 Jul-Dec, 47(3-4), 125 - 30
{ Study of exo-enzymatic profile and cytotoxic effect of bacterial culture supernatants in different growth phase}; Balotescu C et al.; Bacterial quorum-sensing represents an ubiquitary regulating system in which the pheromones (small molecules with different chemical structures, i.e . homoserin-lactones, octapeptides, aminoacids) act as extracellular mediators of signaling and intercellular communication . This chemical system is implicated in the regulation of different physiological processes dependent on the cell density (i.e . biolumniscence, virulence factors expression, sporulation, conjugation, antibiotic secretion etc) . It is also mentioned in the literature the implication of bacterial pheromones in the modulation of eukariotic cells division rate . The objectives of this study were: a) to determine the exo-enzymatic profile of bacterial cultures in different growth phase in order to establish potential relationships between the phenotypic expression of some virulence factors on one side and the growth phase and bacterial culture density, on the other side; b) to determine de cytotoxic effect and the influence of bacterial culture supernatants on the HEp-2 cell division rate . Supernatants of bacterial cultures in nutrient broth of 2, 5 and 24 hrs of Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus sp . were tested directly and also, after thermic inactivation (at 100 degrees C, for 5 minutes) for the presence of different enzymatic activities known as virulence factors (spot and Kanagawa haemolysins, CAMP-like factor, caseinase, amilase, lipase, lecithinase, mucinase, DNA-ase) . The exo-enzymatic profile of bacterial cultures of 2 and 5 hrs proved to be similar, the tested supernatants exhibiting haemolytic activity, and for Staphylococcus aureus, amilase and caseinase activities . Supernatants of and 5 hrs bacterial cultures exhibited also cytotoxic effect on HEp-2 cells . Supernatants of bacterial cultures of 24 hrs exhibited neither enzymatic activities, nor cytotoxic effect on HEp-2 cells, probably due to the inhibition of phenotypic expression of enzymatic activities at high bacterial densities through the activation of the quorum-sensing system . Bacterial supernatants did not significantly influence the HEp-2 cells division rate.

Urol Int, 2004, 72(3), 212 - 5
The effect of circumcision status on periurethral and glanular bacterial flora; Gunsar C et al.; INTRODUCTION: Circumcision is a historical operation which is still performed for different purposes . The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in periurethral and glanular sulcus flora due to circumcision to determine the role of circumcision on urinary tract infections (UTIs) . PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients who were circumcised for social-religious reasons between January 2000 and January 2001 were evaluated in this prospective study . Two swabs were taken from the periurethral and glanular sulcus regions both just before circumcision and 4 weeks after, and the bacteria cultured were recorded . RESULTS: We isolated pathogenic bacteria in the periurethral region of 32 (64%) patients (enterococci in 14 cases; Escherichia coli in 12 cases) before circumcision, and this number decreased to 5 (10%) after circumcision . Similarly, pathogenic bacteria were cultured from the glanular sulcus swabs of 33 (68%) patients (enterococci in 14 cases; E . coli in 10 cases), as well as coagulase-negative staphylococci in another 15 patients before circumcision . Following circumcision, we detected pathogenic bacteria in the glanular cultures of only 4 cases, whereas 40 children had non-pathogenic skin flora . Only 1 of 5 children with history of UTIs (n = 1) and retractable phimosis (n = 4) had periurethral pathogenic bacteria (Proteus spp.) in the post-circumcision period . The differences between pre- and post-circumcision values of the pathogenic bacterial colonizations were statistically significant in both groups sampled (p < 0.05) . CONCLUSION: Non-circumcised patients have similar pathogenic bacterial colonizations in the periurethral and the inner preputial regions, although they have no phimosis . The origin of periurethral flora should be the deeper preputial regions . The flora greatly changed with skin commensals after circumcision . Circumcision might be beneficial from this point of view .

Otolaryngol Clin North Am, 2004 Apr, 37(2), 347 - 64
Maxillary sinus disease of odontogenic origin; Mehra P et al.; Odontogenic sinusitis is a well-recognized condition and accounts for approximately 10% to 12% of cases of maxillary sinusitis . An odontogenic source should be considered in patients with symptoms of maxillary sinusitis who give a history positive for odontogenic infection or dentoalveolar surgery or who are resistant to standard sinusitis therapy . Diagnosis usually requires a thorough dental and clinical evaluation with appropriate radiographs . Common causes of odontogenic sinusitis include dental abscesses and periodontal disease perforating the Schneidarian membrane, sinus perforations during tooth extraction, or irritation and secondary infection caused by intra-antral foreign bodies . The typical odontogenic infection is now considered to be a mixed aerobic-anaerobic infection, with the latter outnumbering the aerobic species involved . Most common organisms include anaerobic streptococci, Bacteroides, Proteus, and Coliform bacilli . Typical treatment of atraumatic odontogenic sinusitis is a 3- to 4- week trial of antibiotic therapy with adequate oral and sinus flora coverage . When indicated, surgical removal of the offending odontogenic foreign body (primary or delayed) or treatment of the odontogenic pathologic conditions combined with medical therapy is usually sufficient to cause resolution of symptoms . If an oroantral communication is suspected, prompt surgical management is recommended to reduce the likelihood of causing chronic sinus disease.

Clin Rheumatol, 2004 Apr, 23(2), 134 - 41 Epub 2004 Feb 13.
Antibacterial and antipeptide antibodies in Japanese and Finnish patients with rheumatoid arthritis; Rashid T et al.; It has been suggested that Proteus infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . Bacterial and peptide immune responses in patients with RA and other control subjects were investigated in two geographically different populations . Serum samples from Finnish patients with early ( n=72) and advanced ( n=27) RA and 30 Finnish healthy controls, as well as from Japanese RA patients from two different locations: Tokyo ( n=30) and Otsu ( n=30), 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 23 Japanese healthy controls were all screened for the total, and class-specific (IgG, IgA and IgM) antibodies against Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens by indirect immunofluorescence assay . These samples were also tested for the determination of levels of isotypic antibodies against the shared epitope involving 16-mer synthetic peptides containing the EQRRAA or ESSRAL sequences and compared to scrambled control peptide by using an enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay method . Significantly elevated levels of IgG and IgM antibodies to P . mirabilis and antibodies against both EQRRAA and ESSRAL peptides were detected in sera of Finnish patients with early and advanced RA, and in Japanese patients from Otsu or Tokyo compared to their corresponding control groups . In contrast, no difference either in the total or in any of the isotypic antibodies were observed between these groups when serum samples were screened against each of E . coli and S . marcescens or against the control peptide . Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the antibody levels against Proteus bacteria only and both EQRRAA and ESRRAL peptides . Our findings support the possibility for specific involvement of P . mirabilis in the etiopathogenesis of RA even in early cases.

Arzneimittelforschung, 2004, 54(2), 125 - 9
Synthesis of some new 6-methylimidazo{2,1-b}thiazole-5-carbohydrazide derivatives and their antimicrobial activities; Ur F et al.; In this study, 14 new compounds having 6-methyl-N2-(alkylidene/cycloalkylidene)imidazo{2,1-b}thiazole-5-carbohydrazide (3a-g), 3-{{(6-methylimidazo{2,1-b}thiazole-5-yl)carbonyl}amino}-4-thiazolidinone (4a-d) and 4-{{(6-methylimidazo{2,1-b}thiazole-5-yl)carbonyl}amino}-1-thia-4-azaspiro{4.4}nonan/{4.5}decan-3-one (4e-g) structures were synthesized . The structures of the compounds were elucidated by UV, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 1H-13C-COSY, mass spectra and elemental analysis . All compounds synthesized were tested for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 4352, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 1539, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 14153, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv . Only 4d and 4f demonstrated antimicrobial activity against S . epidermidis ATCC 12228 (MIC: 19.5 microg/ml and 39 microg/ml, respectively).

Afr J Med Med Sci, 2003 Sep, 32(3), 303 - 5
Widespread antibiotic resistance in savannah Nigeria; Habib AG et al.; There is minimal data on antibiotic resistance from savannah northern Nigeria . A retrospective study of 438 patients seen in 12 months (2000) with microbial pathogens from urinary and respiratory tracts was undertaken . Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined using stokes disc diffusion technique . Resistance in Escherichia coli (E . coli) reached 91-96% to cotrimoxazole, tetracycline and ampicillin but was 11%, 17% and 28% to colistin, nitrofurantoin and nalidixic acid . Resistance of other uropathogens (Klebsiella and Proteus spp) reached 83-99% to cotrimoxazole, tetracycline and ampicillin but was 14-40% to colistin, nitrofurantoin and nalidixic acid . Pneumococci were non-susceptible to penicillin (93%), cotrimoxazole (92%), tetracycline (84%), ampicillin (53%), chloramphenicol (21%) and cefazolin (8%) . Antibiotic resistance is widespread in savannah northern Nigeria . Resistance is less to chloramphenicol, colistin, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin and the latter generation cephalosporins and quinolones than to penicillin, ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and tetracycline.

Indian J Pathol Microbiol, 2003 Jan, 46(1), 137 - 41
Detection of anti-Proteus antibodies in sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis; Gautam V et al.; This study was carried out to determine increased level of antibodies to certain bacteria in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients . Fifty RA patients and 25 each of those suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy controls were tested for antibodies to somatic ('O) and flagellar ('H') antigens of Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and for antibodies to 'O' antigen of Klebsiella pneumoniae by standard tube agglutination method . Anti-Proteus antibodies against 'O' and 'H' antigens could be demonstrated in 70% and 64% RA cases respectively, and were statistically significant . Antibodies could be demonstrated against E . coli 'O' and 'H' antigens in 86% and 92% RA cases respectively, and were statistically significant . Against K . pneumoniae 'O' antigen, no antibody could be demonstrated in any of RA and OA cases, and healthy controls . Of the 50 RA patients, 30 had raised CRP levels . Antibodies against P . mirabilis and E . coli antigens appeared to be independent from CRP . Thus a specific elevation in the immune response to P . mirabilis and E . coli has been demonstrated in patients with RA from India.

Ann Vasc Surg . 2004 Mar 15; {Epub ahead of print}
Lemierre's Syndrome Associated with Septic Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Report; Gormus N et al.; An 18-year-old female patient suffering from a painful right-sided neck mass was admitted to our emergency service . Computed tomography of the neck revealed thrombosis of the right internal jugular vein . Computed tomography of the chest indicated septic pulmonary emboli in both lungs . Blood and oropharyngeal cultures showed proteus that was sensitive to cefepime and amicasin . Chemotherapy was administered for 12 days, however, her complaints continued with fulminant progression . An urgent decompression and excessive debridement were performed . Although Lemierre syndrome is a well-known cause of internal jugular vein thrombosis, association with proteus culture is very rare.

Drugs, 2004, 64(6), 611 - 28
Current issues in the management of urinary tract infections: extended-release ciprofloxacin as a novel treatment option; Blondeau JM; Symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major public health concern in the developed world, accounting for almost 8 million annual outpatient and emergency department visits in the US alone, while also representing one of the most common hospital-acquired infections . The vast majority of uncomplicated UTIs are caused by the Gram-negative bacillus Escherichia coli, with other pathogens including enterococci, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Klebsiella spp . and Proteus mirabilis . Effective management of UTIs in both the inpatient and outpatient settings has been complicated by the fact that many uropathogenic strains have developed resistance to antimicrobials, including cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole), the current first-line treatment for uncomplicated UTIs in the US and many other countries . In some countries, other antimicrobial therapies, such as trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin, are also used for treatment of uncomplicated UTIs . Antimicrobial resistance has been associated with an increased rate of clinical failure, and reports from Canada and the US indicate that the prevalence of cotrimoxazole resistance exceeds 15% and can be as high as 25%.The emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance can be reduced with the use of agents that have favourable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profiles and convenient dose administration regimens that facilitate patient adherence and, therefore, pathogen eradication . Fluoroquinolones have been used successfully to treat a wide range of community- and hospital-acquired infections, and the rates of fluoroquinolone resistance have remained low . Use of fluoroquinolones is recommended for uncomplicated UTIs in areas where the incidence of cotrimoxazole resistance exceeds 10%, as well as for the treatment of complicated UTIs and acute pyelonephritis . Ciprofloxacin is a widely used fluoroquinolone with high bactericidal activity against uropathogens and well established clinical efficacy in the treatment of UTIs . A new, extended-release formulation of ciprofloxacin (Cipro XR) provides systemic drug exposure comparable with that achieved with twice-daily administration of conventional, immediate-release ciprofloxacin, while also attaining higher maximum plasma concentrations with less interpatient variability . Therapeutic drug concentrations with extended-release ciprofloxacin are established immediately after dose administration and maintained throughout the 24-hour dosage interval, permitting convenient, once-daily treatment . Clinical trial results confirm that extended-release ciprofloxacin is as safely used and effective as the conventional, immediate-release formulation of ciprofloxacin in patients with uncomplicated UTIs, complicated UTIs or acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis . These findings support the use of extended-release ciprofloxacin as a well tolerated, effective and convenient therapy for UTIs, which may improve patients' adherence to therapy and, thereby, reduce the risk of infection recurrence and emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi, 2003 Mar, 28(3), 243 - 6
{Comparative study on antibacterial effects of huangqin-tang and its metabolites produced by intestinal flora}; Yan MZ et al.; OBJECTIVE: To compare the antibacterial effects of Huangqin-Tang with its metabolites produced by intestinal flora . METHOD: The antibacterial tests in vitro and in vivo were performed by agar dilution method and lethal protection of animal respectively . RESULT: Huangqin-Tang and its metabolites had antibacterial action on bacteria in vitro, however the antibacterial activity of metabolites of Huangqin-Tang on Salmomella, Dysentery bacillus and Proteus in vitro was stronger than Huangqin-Tang . The metabolites of Huangqin-Tang had protective effect on the animals infected by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively from death, but Huangqin-Tang had no lethal protection action . CONCLUSION: The antibacterial effects of metabolites of Huangqin-Tang in vitro and in vivo are stronger than that of Huangqin-Tang, which shows that intestinal flora play a very important role in antibacterial effects of Huangqin-Tang.

Carbohydr Res, 2004 Feb 25, 339(3), 623 - 8
Structure of the neutral O-polysaccharide and biological activities of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O20; Kondakova AN et al.; Mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Proteus mirabilis O20 resulted in depolymerisation of the O-polysaccharide to give a repeating-unit pentasaccharide . A polysaccharide was obtained by O-deacylation of the LPS followed by nitrous acid deamination . The derived pentasaccharide and polysaccharide were studied by NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, 1H,13C HMQC and HMQC-TOSCY experiments, along with chemical methods, and the following structure of the repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide was established: {Carbohydrate structure: see text} . As opposite to most other P . mirabilis O-polysaccharides studied, that of P . mirabilis O20 is neutral . A week serological cross-reactivity was observed between anti-P . mirabilis O20 serum and LPS of a number of Proteus serogroups with known O-polysaccharide structure . The ability of LPS of P . mirabilis O20 to activate the serine protease cascade was tested in Limulus amoebocyte lysate and in human blood plasma and compared with that of P . mirabilis O14a,14c having an acidic O-polysaccharide . The LPS of P . mirabilis O20 was found to be less active in both assays than the LPS of P . mirabilis O14a,14c and, therefore, the structurally variable O-polysaccharide may influenced the biological activity of the conserved lipid A moiety of the LPS.

J Infect Chemother, 2004 Feb, 10(1), 55 - 8
Different susceptibilities of Staphylococcus and Gram-negative rods to epigallocatechin gallate; Yoda Y et al.; We examined the antibacterial effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg, the main constituent of tea catechins) against various strains of Staphylococcus and Gram-negative rods . Compared to the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of EGCg against S . aureus, S . epidermidis, S . hominis, and S . haemolyticus (50-100 micro g/ml), higher MICs (>or=800 micro g/ml) were observed against Gram-negative rods, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens . And difference was observed between the binding abilities of EGCg with viable S . aureus and with E . coli . The bactericidal activity of EGCg for S . aureus was blocked dose-dependently by purified peptidoglycan but not by lipopolysaccharide or dextran . It was also found that peptone and protein, but not amino acids, in the culture medium greatly affected the antibacterial activity of EGCg . These results indicate that the structure of the bacterial cell wall and the different affinities of EGCg with the various cell wall components are responsible for the different susceptibilities of Staphylococcus and Gram-negative rods to EGCg.

Am J Ophthalmol, 2004 Feb, 137(2), 343 - 5
Endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty: microbiologic spectrum and susceptibility of isolates; Kunimoto DY et al.; PURPOSE: To present the microbial spectrum and susceptibilities of isolates in endophthalmitis following penetrating keratoplasty . DESIGN: Interventional case series . METHODS: The 1,074 consecutive cases of endophthalmitis presenting to Wills Eye Hospital between 1989 and 2000 were reviewed . Fourteen patients with endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty were identified, and vitreous biopsy isolates from these patients were examined . RESULTS: Eleven (78.6%) of 14 vitreous samples were culture-positive, and two others (14.3%) had organisms viewed on pathology specimen, for a total of 13 (92.9%) organism-proven cases of endophthalmitis . Isolates included 10 (76.9%) gram-positive cocci (six Streptococcus sp., three Staphylococcus sp., one identified on pathology specimen only) and three (23.1%) gram-negative organisms (Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, one identified on pathology specimen only) . Susceptibilities to organism-appropriate antibiotic testing are reported, including cefazolin (six of eight, 75.0%), ciprofloxacin (four of seven, 57.1%), nafcillin (four of six, 66.7%), and vancomycin (seven of seven, 100.0%) . CONCLUSION: This is the largest series on microbial susceptibilities in postpenetrating keratoplasty endophthalmitis . We report a high percentage of culture-positivity, and a high incidence of gram-positive species, and in particular Streptococcus species, with all tested gram-positive organisms susceptible to vancomycin.

Mol Microbiol, 2004 Jan, 51(2), 437 - 46
Evidence that putrescine acts as an extracellular signal required for swarming in Proteus mirabilis; Sturgill G et al.; In a search for Proteus mirabilis genes that were regulated by cell-to-cell signalling, a lacZ fusion (cmr437::mini-Tn5lacZ) was identified that was repressed 10-fold by a self-produced extracellular signal from wild-type cells . However, the cmr437::mini-Tn5lacZ insertion itself led to a marked reduction in this extracellular repressing signal . The cmr437::mini-Tn5lacZ insertion was mapped to a speA homologue in P . mirabilis . Sequence analysis indicated that a speB homologue was encoded downstream of speA . Products of the SpeA and SpeB enzymes (agmatine and putrescine) were tested for repression of cmr437::lacZ . Agmatine did not have repressing activity . However, putrescine was an effective repressing molecule at concentrations down to 30 microM . A second prominent phenotype of the cmr437 (speA)::mini-Tn5lacZ insertion was a severe defect in swarming motility . This swarming defect was also observed in a strain containing a disruption of the downstream speB gene . Differentiation of the speB mutant to swarmer cells was delayed by two hours relative to wild-type cells . Furthermore, the speB mutant was unable to migrate effectively across agar surfaces and formed very closely spaced swarming rings . Exogenous putrescine restored both the normal timing of swarmer cell differentiation and the ability to migrate to speB mutants.

Mymensingh Med J, 2004 Jan, 13(1), 76 - 81
Emergence of methicilllin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated with wound infections; Jahan Y et al.; In a hospital setting antimicrobial resistant organisms especially Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as an important variable influencing patients' outcome and overall resource utilisation . The present study was undertaken to find out the proportion of MRSA and other organisms and their antimicrobial resistance pattern in admitted cases with postoperative wound infections . A total of 50 wound swabs were collected irrespective of age and sex of the patients from National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics Rehabilitation (NITOR) . The laboratory work was performed in the department of microbiology of National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) . Isolation, identification and susceptibility testing was done according to the guideline of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS, 1998) . Out of the 50 samples 34 yielded growths of which 15 had growth of single organism and 19 had mixed growth of 2 to 3 organisms . Four different types of organisms were identified . Highest percentage was Escherichia coli 55.9%, followed by Pseudomonas sp . 52.9%, Proteus sp . 38.2%, and Staphylococcus aureus 17.6% . Of the 6 isolates of S aureus 5 (83.3%) were MRSA . Therefore it can be concluded that MRSA is existing in the hospital premises of NITOR, which can endanger the life of many . This study emphasises that susceptibility testing of all clinical isolates is essential to reduce the morbidity, mortality and longer duration of hospital stay . In addition proper management of the cases can decrease the spread of multiple drug resistant organisms in the community.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2004 Feb, 48(2), 392 - 5
Replacement of broad-spectrum cephalosporins by piperacillin-tazobactam: impact on sustained high rates of bacterial resistance; Bantar C et al.; We have previously observed a significant reduction of ceftriaxone resistance in Proteus mirabilis associated with an increase in the use of cefepime, along with a decrease in the consumption of broad-spectrum cephalosporins (CEP) . However, we did not observe such a reduction with Klebsiella pneumoniae . Therefore, we sought to determine whether replacement of CEP by piperacillin-tazobactam might be useful in reducing sustained high rates of CEP resistance by this organism . We used a 6-month "before and after model"; during the second (intervention) period, most prescriptions of CEP were changed to piperacillin-tazobactam at the pharmacy . No additional barrier precautions were undertaken . During intervention, consumption of ceftazidime decreased from 17.73 to 1.14 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 patient-days (P < 0.0001), whereas that of piperacillin-tazobactam increased from 0 to 30.57 DDD per 1,000 patient-days (P < 0.0001) . The levels of resistance to CEP by K . pneumoniae and P . mirabilis decreased from 68.4 and 57.9% to 37.5 and 29.4%, respectively (P < 0.05) . We conclude that replacement of ceftazidime by piperacillin-tazobactam might be a suitable strategy to decrease endemic CEP resistance by K . pneumoniae and P . mirabilis, even where there are high bacterial resistance rates and irrespective of any additional precautions for controlling nosocomial infection.

Trends Cell Biol, 1995 Mar, 5(3), 137 - 40
Bacterial endosymbiosis in amoebae; Jeon KW; The large, free-living amoebae are inherently phagocytic . They capture, ingest and digest microbes within their phagolysosomes, including those that survive in other cells . One exception is an unidentified strain of Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria that spontaneously infected the D strain of Amoeba proteus and came to survive inside them . These bacteria established a stable symbiotic relationship with amoebae that has resulted in phenotypic modulation of the host and mutual dependence for survival.

J Bacteriol, 2004 Feb, 186(3), 611 - 22
In vivo expression of the mannose-resistant fimbriae of Photorhabdus temperata K122 during insect infection; Meslet-Cladiere LM et al.; Photorhabdus temperata K122 is an entomopathogenic bacterium symbiotically associated with nematodes of the family Heterorhabditidae: Surface fimbriae are important for the colonization of many pathogenic bacteria, and here we report the nucleotide sequence and analysis of the expression of a 12-kbp fragment encoding the mannose-resistant fimbriae of P . temperata (mrf) . The mrf gene cluster contains 11 genes with an organization similar to that of the mrp locus from Proteus mirabilis . mrfI (encoding a putative recombinase) and mrfA (encoding pilin), the first gene in an apparent operon of nine other genes, are expressed from divergent promoters . The mrfI-mrfA intergenic region contains inverted repeats flanking the mrfA promoter . This region was shown to be capable of inversion, consistent with an ON/OFF regulation of the operon . In in vitro liquid cultures, both orientations were detected . Nevertheless, when we analyzed the expression of all of the genes in the mrf locus by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR during infection of Galleria mellonella (greater wax moth) larvae, expression of mrfA was not detected until 25 h postinfection, preceding the death of the larvae at 32 h . In contrast, mrfJ (a putative inhibitor of flagellar synthesis) was expressed throughout infection . Expression of mrfI was also detected only late in infection (25 to 30 h), indicating a possible increase in inversion frequency at this stage . In both in vitro liquid cultures and in vivo larval infections, the distal genes of the operon were expressed at substantially lower levels than mrfA . These results indicate the complex regulation of the mrf cluster during infection.

J Paediatr Child Health, 2004 Jan-Feb, 40(1-2), 48 - 52
Cephalosporin resistant urinary tract infections in young children; Mehr SS et al.; OBJECTIVE: To describe the antibiotic resistance pattern of bacteria causing urinary tract infection (UTI) in a cohort of Australian children under 6 years of age . METHODS: Data were collected over a 12-month period from children under 6 years of age with a provisional diagnosis of UTI made in the Emergency Department of Sunshine Hospital, Victoria . RESULTS: During the study period 100 culture-proven UTI were identified in 97 children . Three children had two episodes . Out of the 100 episodes, 39% were male, 56% were under 12 months of age at presentation and 61% were managed as outpatients . Clinical features were non-specific in the majority of cases . Hydronephrosis and vesicoureteric reflux was detected in 5.5% and 28.6%, respectively, of children with their first investigated UTI . A single bacterial isolate was cultured from 97 urines and two from three samples . Escherichia coli (n = 90) and Proteus mirabilis (n = 5) were the most common isolates . In vitro resistance to ampicillin/amoxycillin was found in 52% of isolates, to trimethoprim in 14% and to cephalothin/cephalexin in 24% . This resistance rate to first generation cephalosporins is the highest reported to date in adult or paediatric UTI in Australia . CONCLUSIONS: Ampicillin/amoxycillin or cephalothin/cephalexin may not be the optimal choice of antibiotic for the empiric treatment of UTI in this and possibly other paediatric populations.

J Natl Med Assoc, 2003 Dec, 95(12), 1189 - 95
Prevalence of bacterial pathogens in infected wounds in a tertiary hospital, 1995-2001: any change in trend?
Thanni LO, Osinupebi OA, Deji-Agboola M.
BACKGROUND: Wound care is a very important aspect of surgical care . Knowledge of the epidemiology of bacterial pathogens associated with infected wounds is critical in formulating policies on infection control . OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of bacterial pathogens in wounds from various units of a Nigerian tertiary hospital orthopedics and traumatology department, as well as changes over time, if any, in the prevalence rates . METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted using laboratory records from 1995 to 2001 . RESULTS: 670 bacterial isolates from 629 patients were studied . The most common isolates were Pseudomonas spp.-29.9%, and Staphylococcus aureus (S . aureus)--27.5% . Others were Klebsiella spp.-18.5%, Proteus spp.--15.1%, and Escherichia coli (E . coli)--7% . The least common were Streptococci--2%, and Enterococci--0.3% . Pseudomonas spp . accounted for 33% of isolates in the adult wards, while S . aureus was 21% and E . coli 8% . The pattem is similar in the pediatric ward (33.9%, 23.7%, and 8.5%, respectively) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (40%, 6.7%, and zero, respectively) . S . aureus was the most common isolate from the orthopedic clinics (OPD) 40%, and the A&E (35%), followed by pseudomonas spp.-25.4% and 19%, respectively . The odds of a wound being infected with Gram-negative bacilli among inpatients compared with outpatients is 2.44 (95% CL = 1.72-3.47; P = 0.0000003) Between 1995 and 2001, the prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria decreased, while that of Gram-negative bacilli increased . The prevalence of Pseudomonas spp . and S . aureus also increased . CONCLUSION: Wounds from patients in the orthopedics and trauma services are more frequently infected with Gram-negative bacilli than by Gram-positive bacteria . The prevalence of the former is higher in the ICU and least in the OPD . Pseudomonas spp . was the most common isolate . It was more common among inpatients, while S . aureus was more common among outpatients . The prevalence of Pseudomonas spp . in particular and Gram-negative bacilli in general is increasing.

Protoplasma, 2003, 222(3-4), 175 - 81 Epub 2003 Dec 19.
Characteristics of trajectory in the migration of Amoeba proteus; Miyoshi H et al.; We investigated the behavior of migration of Amoeba proteus in an isotropic environment . We found that the trajectory in the migration of A . proteus is smooth in the observation time of 500-1000 s, but its migration every second (the cell velocity) on the trajectory randomly changes . Stochastic analysis of the cell velocity and the turn angle of the trajectory has shown that the histograms of the both variables well fit to Gaussian curves . Supposing a simple model equation for the cell motion, we have estimated the motive force of the migrating cell, which is of the order of piconewton . Furthermore, we have found that the cell velocity and the turn angle have a negative cross-correlation coefficient, which suggests that the amoeba explores better environment by changing frequently its migrating direction at a low speed and it moves rectilinearly to the best environment at a high speed . On the other hand, the model equation has simulated the negative correlation between the cell velocity and the turn angle . This indicates that the apparently rational behavior comes from intrinsic characteristics in the dynamical system where the motive force is not torquelike.

J Cell Sci, 2004 Feb 1, 117(Pt 4), 535 - 43 Epub 2004 Jan 06.
Gene switching in Amoeba proteus caused by endosymbiotic bacteria; Jeon TJ et al.; The expression of genes for S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (SAMS), which catalyzes the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), a major methyl donor in cells, was studied in symbiont-free (D) and symbiont-bearing (xD) amoeba strains to determine the effect of bacterial endosymbionts . The symbionts suppressed the expression of the gene in host xD amoebae, but amoebae still exhibited about half the enzyme activity found in symbiont-free D amoebae . The study was aimed at elucidating mechanisms of the suppression of the amoeba's gene and determining the alternative source for the gene product . Unexpectedly, we found a second sams (sams2) gene in amoebae, which encoded 390 amino acids . Results of experiments measuring SAMS activities and amounts of AdoMet in D and xD amoebae showed that the half SAMS activity found in xD amoebae came from the amoeba's SAMS2 and not from their endosymbionts . The expression of amoeba sams genes was switched from sams1 to sams2 as a result of infection with X-bacteria, raising the possibility that the switch in the expression of sams genes by bacteria plays a role in the development of symbiosis and the host-pathogen interactions . This is the first report showing such a switch in the expression of host sams genes by infecting bacteria.

Carbohydr Res, 2004 Jan 22, 339(2), 409 - 13
Structure and cross-reactivity of the O-antigen of Providencia stuartii O18 containing 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-glucose; Kocharova NA et al.; The O-polysaccharide (O-antigen) of Providencia stuartii O18 was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide and studied by chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY and 1H,13C HSQC experiments . The following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established: {structure: see text} where Qui3NAc is 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxyglucose . Anti-P . stuartii O18 serum cross-reacted with the O-antigen of Proteus genomospecies 4, which could be accounted for the marked structural similarities of the main chain.

Diabetes Care, 2004 Jan, 27(1), 229 - 33
Infections in diabetic burn patients; Memmel H et al.; OBJECTIVE: Diabetic burn patients comprise a significant population in burn centers . The purpose of the study was to determine the demographic characteristics of diabetic burn patients and their rate of community-acquired and nosocomial infections . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a 46-month retrospective chart and patient registry review comparing diabetic with nondiabetic burn patients . Statistical analysis consisted of means +/- SD, descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and chi(2) tests . RESULTS: Of 1,063 adult burn patients (aged 15-54 years), 68 (6%) diabetic burns were compared with burns of 995 adult nondiabetic patients . Of 193, 62 (32%) senior (>/=55 years of age) diabetic burns were compared with 131 nondiabetic senior burns . The major mechanism of injury for the diabetic patients was scalding and contact, in contrast to that of nondiabetic patients who were injured mainly by scalding or flame burns . Adult diabetic patients had a significantly increased frequency of foot burns compared with adult nondiabetic patients (32 of 68 {68%} versus 144 of 995 {14%}, P = 0.001) . Adult diabetic burns had a significant increase in sepsis (P < 0.002) and community-acquired burn wound cellulitis (P < 0.001) compared with adult nondiabetic patients; and senior diabetic patients had a significantly increased frequency of urinary tract infections compared with senior nondiabetic burn patients (P < 0.04) . The most common organisms in diabetic burn infections were Streptococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Candida species, and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) . Forty-two percent of the diabetic patients were admitted during the winter months and 25% in the spring . Only 49 of 130 (38%) diabetic burn patients presented for treatment within 48 h after injury compared with 669 of 1,126 (62%) nondiabetic patients (P = 0.001) . CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral neuropathy may have precipitated and delayed medical treatment in lower-extremity burns of diabetic patients . Hospitalized diabetic burn patients were also at an increased risk for nosocomial infections, which prolonged hospitalization . Diabetic patient education must include not only caution about potential burn mishaps but also educate concerning the complications from burns that may ensue.

Clin Infect Dis, 2003 Dec 15, 37(12), 1643 - 8 Epub 2003 Nov 20.
Relationship between fluoroquinolone use and changes in susceptibility to fluoroquinolones of selected pathogens in 10 United States teaching hospitals, 1991-2000; Zervos MJ et al.; We retrospectively examined the relationship between fluoroquinolone use and the susceptibilities of 11 bacterial pathogens to fluoroquinolones in 10 US teaching hospitals from 1991 through 2000 . Statistical significance was determined by 2-way analysis of variance, with the number of isolates tested each year as a weighting factor . The analysis of baseline-to-end point change in the percentage of susceptibility and the slope of the regression line (trend line) for logit percentage of susceptibility showed that the overall percentage of susceptibility to fluoroquinolones decreased significantly during the study period (P<.05) and that change in percentage of susceptibility was significantly related to change in fluoroquinolone use (P<.05) . Particularly notable were the decreases in the susceptibilities of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Escherichia coli (decreases of 25.1%, 11.9%, and 6.8%, respectively).

J Pediatr (Rio J), 1996 Sep-Oct, 72(5), 303 - 10
{Treatment of pediatric outpatients with complicated urinary tract infections}; Pahl MM et al.; In an open and prospective study involving outpatient children with complicated urinary tract infections (UTI), we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of ceftriaxone administered intramuscularly, once-daily--50 to 70 mg/kg, during 8 to 10 days . Initially, the selected patients exhibited at least two of the following clinical criteria: age below 6 months, any degree of toxicity, fever, strong suspicion or proved abnormalities of their urinary tracts and lumbar pain in children older than 4 years . Significant bacteriuria was demonstrated by urine culture in 40 patients (21 boys, 19 girls), whose ages ranged from 15 days to 6 years 9 months (median 3 months) . The radiological studies revealed vesicoureteral reflux in 6 patients, urethral posterior valve in 1, and neurogenic bladder in 4 . The main causative agents were Escherichia coli isolated in 30 patients, Klebsiella (4) and Proteus (4) . The treatment was found to be effective in 38 patients (95%) . There was failure of treatment in 1 patient and a symptomatic reinfection in another one . It was concluded that children with complicated UTI could be treated alternatively by once daily ceftriaxone.

Infect Immun, 2004 Jan, 72(1), 66 - 75
Development of an intranasal vaccine to prevent urinary tract infection by Proteus mirabilis; Li X et al.; Proteus mirabilis commonly infects the complicated urinary tract and is associated with urolithiasis . Stone formation is caused by bacterial urease, which hydrolyzes urea to ammonia, causing local pH to rise, and leads to the subsequent precipitation of magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) and calcium phosphate (apatite) crystals . To prevent these infections, we vaccinated CBA mice with formalin-killed bacteria or purified mannose-resistant, Proteus-like (MR/P) fimbriae, a surface antigen expressed by P . mirabilis during experimental urinary tract infection, via four routes of immunization: subcutaneous, intranasal, transurethral, and oral . We assessed the efficacy of vaccination using the CBA mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection . Subcutaneous or intranasal immunization with formalin-killed bacteria and intranasal or transurethral immunization with purified MR/P fimbriae significantly protected CBA mice from ascending urinary tract infection by P . mirabilis (P < 0.05) . To investigate the potential of MrpH, the MR/P fimbrial tip adhesin, as a vaccine, the mature MrpH peptide (residues 23 to 275, excluding the signal peptide), and the N-terminal receptor-binding domain of MrpH (residues 23 to 157) were overexpressed as C-terminal fusions to maltose-binding protein (MBP) and purified on amylose resins . Intranasal immunization of CBA mice with MBP-MrpH (residues 23 to 157) conferred effective protection against urinary tract infection by P . mirabilis (P < 0.002).

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Nov 14, 338(23), 2697 - 709
Structural studies on the lipopolysaccharide core of Proteus OX strains used in Weil-Felix test: a mass spectrometric approach; Kondakova AN et al.; The core region of the lipopolysaccharides of Proteus group OX bacteria, which are used as antigens in Weil-Felix test for serodiagnosis of rickettsiosis, were studied by chemical degradations in combination with ESI FTMS, including infrared multi-photon dissociation (IRMPD) MS/MS and capillary skimmer dissociation . Structural variants of the inner core region were found to be the same as in Proteus non-OX strains that have been studied earlier . The outer core region has essentially the same structure in Proteus vulgaris OX19 (serogroup O1) and OX2 (serogroup O2) and a different structure in Proteus mirabilis OXK (serogroup O3) . A fragmentation due to the rupture of the linkage between GlcN or GalN and GalA was observed in IRMPD-MS/MS of core oligosaccharides and found to be useful for screening of Proteus strains to assign structures of the relatively conserved inner core region and to select for further studies strains with distinct structures of a more variable outer core region.

J Morphol, 2004 Jan, 259(1), 82 - 9
Histology and ultrastructure of the gut epithelium of the neotenic cave salamander, Proteus anguinus (Amphibia, Caudata); Bizjak Mali L et al.; Histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural features of the gut of the European endemic cave salamander Proteus anguinus were studied . The gut is a relatively undifferentiated muscular tube lined with a simple columnar epithelium containing numerous goblet cells . The mucosa and underlying lamina propria/submucosa are elevated into a number of high longitudinal folds projecting into the lumen . The enterocytes are covered apically with uniform microvilli . Irregularity in the arrangement of microvilli was observed . Occasionally, irregular protrusions of the cytoplasm appear between groups of microvilli . Pinocytotic activity occurs at the bases of the intermicrovillous space . Mitochondria are numerous in the apical cytoplasm and basally beneath the nuclei . The supranuclear cytoplasm contains most of the cell organelles . The lateral plasma membranes of adjacent cells interdigitate and are joined by junctional complexes . The periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction, indicating neutral mucosubstances, is positive only in the apical brush border of enterocytes and in goblet cells . The goblet cells also stained with Alcian blue (AB), at pH 2.5, thus revealing the presence of carboxylated glycosaminoglycans . Compact aggregations of AB- and PAS-negative cells are situated directly below the epithelium . Mitotic figures are present in individual clusters of cells . The fine structure of cells in these clusters indicated that these cells could be responsible for renewal of intestinal epithelium . Numerous endocrine-like cells could also be seen . The closely packed smooth muscle cells and amorphous extracellular material with collagen fibrils constitute a net-like structure under the basal lamina that is very closely associated with the epithelium . There are numerous acidophilic granular cells between epithelial cells, in the lamina propria/submucosa, and between cells aggregations . They seem to be associated with nematode infections and possibly constitute a humoral defense mechanism .

Microbiology, 2003 Dec, 149(Pt 12), 3383 - 94
Differential regulation of the Proteus mirabilis urease gene cluster by UreR and H-NS; Poore CA et al.; Proteus mirabilis, a cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, relies on several virulence factors to colonize the urinary tract . Among these, urease contributes to the development of urinary stones resulting from the increase in local pH due to urease-mediated hydrolysis of urea to NH(3) and CO(2) . UreR, an AraC-like transcriptional activator, activates transcription of the genes encoding the urease subunits and accessory proteins (ureDABCEFG) in the presence of urea . UreR also initiates transcription of its own gene in a urea-inducible manner by binding to the intergenic region between ureR and ureD . The intergenic region contains poly(A) tracts that appear to be the target of H-NS . It has been shown that Escherichia coli and P . mirabilis H-NS acts to repress transcription of ureR in an E . coli model system . It was hypothesized that H-NS represses urease gene expression in the absence of UreR and urea by binding to the intergenic region . To demonstrate this the P . mirabilis hns gene was cloned and the 15.6 kDa H-NS was overexpressed and purified as a myc-His tail fusion . Using a gel shift assay, purified H-NS-myc-His bound preferentially to a 609 bp DNA fragment containing the entire ureR-ureD intergenic region . H-NS and UreR were able to displace each other from the ureR-ureD intergenic region . Circular permutation analysis revealed that the intergenic region is bent . Moreover, H-NS recognizes this curvature, binds the DNA fragment and induces further bending of the DNA as shown by a circular ligation assay . The effects of H-NS, urea and temperature (25 vs 37 degrees C) on urease expression were shown in E . coli containing an hns knockout and P . mirabilis where expression was increased at 37 degrees C . Increased transcription from p(ureR) was seen in the E . coli hns knockout when temperature was increased from 25 to 37 degrees C . These findings suggest H-NS and UreR differentially regulate urease in a negative and positive manner, respectively.

J Clin Microbiol, 2003 Dec, 41(12), 5530 - 6
Nosocomial outbreak of infections by Proteus mirabilis that produces extended-spectrum CTX-M-2 type beta-lactamase; Nagano N et al.; Nineteen multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis strains were isolated from 19 patients suffering from infections probably caused by P . mirabilis . These strains were recovered from urine or other urogenital specimens of 16 inpatients and three outpatients with a hospitalization history in a urology ward of Funabashi Medical Center, from July 2001 to August 2002 . These strains demonstrated resistance to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefpodoxime, and aztreonam, while they were highly susceptible to ceftazidime (MIC, </=0.5 micro g/ml) . The resistance level of these strains to cefotaxime was decreased by the presence of clavulanic acid . Therefore, the strains were speculated to produce extended-spectrum class A beta-lactamases . These strains were later found to carry bla(CTX-M-2) genes by both PCR and sequencing analyses . The profiles of SmaI-digested genomic DNA of 19 isolates were distinguished into five different clusters by biased sinusoidal field gel electrophoresis . Four of them, consisting of 18 isolates, were suggested to be a clonal expansion . These findings suggested that a nosocomial outbreak of infections by CTX-M-2-producing P . mirabilis had occurred in our medical center . Most patients suffered from urogenital malignancies with long-term catheterization . Cefazolin, cefoperazone-sulbactam, and/or levofloxacin were mostly administered to the patients, but these agents seemed ineffective for eradication of CTX-M-2 producers . Early recognition and rapid identification of colonizing antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including CTX-M-2-producing P . mirabilis, would be the most effective measures to cope with further spread of this kind of hazardous microorganism in clinical environments.

J Biomater Sci Polym Ed, 2003, 14(9), 963 - 72
Gentamicin-releasing urethral catheter for short-term catheterization; Cho YW et al.; Urethral catheters, widely used for the drainage of the bladder, are associated with most urinary tract infections (UTIs) that account for 40% of all episodes occurring in acute-care hospitals . This study aimed to develop a gentamicin-releasing catheter that effectively prevents UTIs for short-term catheterization . For physical loading of gentamicin, the urethral catheters were coated by the simple dipping method with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and EVA/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blends containing gentamicin . By varying the molecular weight (MW) and contents of PEO in the blends, various catheter surfaces were produced . In vitro drug release studies demonstrated that all the coated catheters exhibited sustained release up to 7 days; however, the release pattern was significantly dependant on the coating layers . Of the coated catheters, EVA/PEO (MW = 100k)-coated catheters were utilized to evaluate the antibacterial activity using an inhibition zone test, since they showed a promising drug release behavior and had PEO-rich biocompatible surfaces . In accordance with drug release behavior, EVA/PEO-coated catheters exhibited antibacterial activities for 7 days against Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis . These results imply that the catheters coated with EVA/PEO have a potential for short-term catheterization.

J Biomater Sci Polym Ed, 2003, 14(9), 951 - 62
Norfloxacin-releasing urethral catheter for long-term catheterization; Park JH et al.; Norfloxacin-releasing urethral catheters were prepared for the purpose of preventing urinary tract infections during long-term catheterization . The outer and inner surfaces of the catheters were coated with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) and an amphiphilic multiblock co-polymer (PEO2kPDMS), composed of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(dimethyl siloxane) . Norfloxacin, a fluoroquinolone synthetic antibiotic, was impregnated into a coating layer . The in vitro drug release behavior was monitored for 30 days, the surface topography was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the antibacterial activity against different bacteria implicated in urinary tract infection was evaluated by the in vitro inhibition zone test . All the coated catheters showed continuous delivery of norfloxacin for up to 30 days owing to hydrophobic natures of norfloxacin and EVA . PEO2kPDMS incorporated in a coating layer produced a smooth and uniform surface . The coated catheters created considerable inhibition zones for 10 days against Escherichia coli . Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris, indicating the continuous release of norfloxacin . Overall, it was evident that the catheters coated with EVA/PEO2kPDMS blends containing norfloxacin have a promising potential for the clinical use in patients undergoing long-term catheterization.

Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr, 2003 Dec, 59(Pt 12), 2163 - 8 Epub 2003 Nov 27.
Structural studies of Proteus mirabilis catalase in its ground state, oxidized state and in complex with formic acid; Andreoletti P et al.; The structure of Proteus mirabilis catalase in complex with an inhibitor, formic acid, has been solved at 2.3 A resolution . Formic acid is a key ligand of catalase because of its ability to react with the ferric enzyme, giving a high-spin iron complex . Alternatively, it can react with two transient oxidized intermediates of the enzymatic mechanism, compounds I and II . In this work, the structures of native P . mirabilis catalase (PMC) and compound I have also been determined at high resolution (2.0 and 2.5 A, respectively) from frozen crystals . Comparisons between these three PMC structures show that a water molecule present at a distance of 3.5 A from the haem iron in the resting state is absent in the formic acid complex, but reappears in compound I . In addition, movements of solvent molecules are observed during formation of compound I in a cavity located away from the active site, in which a glycerol molecule is replaced by a sulfate . These results give structural insights into the movement of solvent molecules, which may be important in the enzymatic reaction.

FEBS Lett, 2003 Dec 4, 555(2), 367 - 70
Polyhalogenated benzo- and naphthoquinones are potent inhibitors of plant and bacterial ureases; Ashiralieva A et al.; Polyhalogenated benzo- and naphthoquinones were found to be potent inhibitors of pure ureases from Bacillus pasteurii and Canavalia ensiformis . They also inhibited ureases in whole cells of Helicobacter pylori, Klebsiella oxytoca and Proteus mirabilis . Inhibition was non-competitive with K(i) values in the micromolar range or below . Inhibition was irreversible as shown by equilibrium dialysis . Inhibitory power decreased considerably when halogens were replaced by -OH, -CN, alkoxy or alkyl groups.

Biochemistry (Mosc), 2003 Nov, 68(11), 1181 - 8
Role of arginine 226 in the mechanism of tryptophan indole-lyase from Proteus vulgaris; Kulikova VV et al.; In the spatial structure of tryptophanase from Proteus vulgaris the guanidinium group of arginine 226 forms a salt bridge with the 3;-oxygen atom of the coenzyme . The replacement of arginine 226 with alanine using site-directed mutagenesis reduced the affinity of the coenzyme for the protein by one order of magnitude compared to the wild-type enzyme . The catalytic activity of the mutant enzyme in the reaction with L-tryptophan was reduced 10(5)-fold compared to the wild-type enzyme . The rates of the reactions with some other substrates decreased 10(3)-10(4)-fold . The mutant enzyme catalyzed exchange of the C-alpha-proton in complexes with some inhibitors with rates reduced 10(2)-fold compared to the wild-type enzyme . Absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the mutant enzyme and the enzyme-inhibitor complexes demonstrate that the replacement of arginine 226 with alanine does not significantly affect the tautomeric equilibrium of the internal aldimine, but it leads to an alteration of the optimal conformation of the coenzyme-substrate intermediates.

Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg, 2003, 37(5), 307 - 10
Proteus syndrome; Bilkay U et al.; Proteus syndrome is a rare sporadic, hamartoneoplastic disorder of vascular, skeletal, and soft tissues that causes asymmetry of the skull, body, arms, and the legs . The name "Proteus" of the Greek god who had the ability to change his shape was coined to define the variety of deformities including partial gigantism of the hands or feet, asymmetry of the arms and legs, hypertrophy of long bones, plantar hyperplasia, haemangiomas, lipomas, varicosities, linear verrucous epidermal naevi, macrocephaly, and cranial hyperostoses . The basic defect seems to be the focal overgrowth of cellular elements in skin, bone, and other connective tissues . The variable features of the syndrome make differential diagnosis challenging for clinicians . The most important features are the hamartomatous disorders . The long-term prognosis is still not clear . As it is a hamartoneoplastic and incompletely delineated syndrome, the patients must be followed up because of the possible risk of neoplasms.

J Urol, 2003 Dec, 170(6 Pt 1), 2206 - 8
Vesical calculi with unrepaired vesicovaginal fistula: a clinical appraisal of an uncommon association; Dalela D et al.; PURPOSE: Primary vesical calculi are uncommon in patients with vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) . We retrospectively analyzed 19 such cases and present our experience with the management of this condition . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1989 and December 2002, 19 patients were treated for this association . All patients provided a history and underwent physical examination, metabolic evaluation for stone disease, urine culture test and cystovaginoscopic examination . They were treated with a staged procedure with the fistula repaired 2 to 3 months after stone removal . RESULTS: VVF was a result of obstructed labor in all cases . The patients presented a mean of 28.8 months after fistula formation . No metabolic abnormality was detected in any patient . Urine culture was positive for Proteus mirabilis in 6 and Escherichia coli in 5, and it yielded mixed growth in 8 . All women had some residual urine in the bladder (mean 11 ml) . The fistula was located supratrigonally in 13 cases, while it was high trigonal in the remainder . A total of 17 patients were treated endoscopically by cystolitholapexy or fragmentation of the stone by transurethral cystolithotripsy using a Lithoclast (Microvasive Urology, Natick, Massachusetts) . Two patients required open suprapubic cystolithotomy . All patients underwent fistula repair 3 months after stone removal with successful results in 16 . CONCLUSIONS: Primary vesical calculi in patients with VVF are associated with urinary contamination, a high or supratrigonal fistula location, residual urine in the bladder and a long history of disease . Staged management of the problem showed good results.

Fitoterapia, 2003 Dec, 74(7-8), 699 - 701
Antimicrobial activity of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract; Satdive RK et al.; The ethanolic extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaves demonstrated antimicrobial activity against Bacillus pumilis, B . subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and inactivity against Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli.

Curr Microbiol, 2003 Oct, 47(4), 352 - 4
Separation of glutathione transferase subunits from Proteus vulgaris by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis; Hong G et al.; Cytosolic glutathione transferases of Proteus vulgaris were purified by affinity chromatography and characterized by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis . Four different subunits were identified, and each subunit contained a different molecular mass, ranging from 26.2 kDa to 28.5 kDa; a different pI value, ranging from 8.2 to 9.4; and a different amount of protein fraction, ranging from 10% to 56% . All four subunits existed as basic proteins (pI > 7.0) . From these results, we concluded that multiple forms of glutathione transferase enzymes existed in Proteus vulgaris, and four different glutathione transferase subunits were separated by 2-D gel electrophoresis.

Microbiology, 2003 Nov, 149(Pt 11), 3231 - 7
Proteus mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) are important for both bladder and kidney colonization in mice; Zunino P et al.; Proteus mirabilis expresses different types of fimbriae simultaneously . Several fimbrial types have been described and their role in the colonization of the urinary tract is under study . Previously, P . mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) have been shown to be associated with bacterial colonization of the lower urinary tract but not of the kidneys . In this study, a pmfA mutant was generated and used in several in vivo and in vitro studies . Two different urinary tract infection models in the mouse and two in vitro assays of bacterial adhesion to uroepithelial cells were performed . Expression of PmfA in a collection of P . mirabilis strains of different sources was also assessed . The results shown here indicate that PMF are involved in both bladder and kidney colonization by P . mirabilis and that these fimbriae are widely distributed among P . mirabilis isolates from different origins since all strains tested expressed PmfA.

Clin Rheumatol, 2003 Oct, 22(4-5), 268 - 70
Proteus mirabilis and rheumatoid arthritis: no association with the disease; Chandrashekara S et al.; Proteus mirabilis (PM) is implicated in different studies in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of the structural homogeneity of its haemolysin B precursor with EQRRAA sequences in DRB 1 haplotype . The aim of the study was to compare the levels of antibodies specific to PM in the sera of patients with RA and healthy controls in our population . Serum samples from 78 consecutive RA patients and 75 healthy controls were analysed for the presence of IgG isotype and total immunoglobulins (IgG + IgA + IgM) against PM using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with two kinds of antigen preparations, whole bacteria and SDS-lysed bacterial extract . There was no significant increase in the concentrations of anti- Proteus antibodies (APA) in patients with RA compared to healthy controls in our population, when SDS-lysed bacterial extract or whole bacteria were used as antigen . The APA levels did not correlate with serum CRP levels . We conclude that P . mirabilis has no pathological or aggravating role in RA.

Farm Hosp, 2003 Sep-Oct, 27(5), 298 - 303
{Urinary tract infection in institutionalized elderly patients . Incidence of bacterial resistance and risk factors}; Faus Felipe V et al.; INTRODUCTION: The goal of the present work was to study urinary tract infections (UTI) in a sociosanitary center in order to characterize etiology, define sensitivity profiles, and study associations between these profiles and various clinical parameters . MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study of all urinary tract infections at the caring unit of a geriatric sociosanitary center was carried out . Antibiograms were performed on all patients in which a UTI was suspected, and the association between the isolated organism or E . coli resistance with various clinical parameters (gender, bed confinement, recurrence, incontinence, neural impairment, basic daily life activities and drug use) was studied using a multivariate logistic regression analysis . RESULTS: Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis are the most commonly isolated organisms (51% and 15%, respectively) . The former is associated with bed confinement and the female gender . The latter shows an inverse relation with recurrence in 90 days . Resistance to the antibiotics studied correlates with a number of clinical parameters, although associations vary for each antimicrobial agent . Previous use of antibiotics and recurrence of infection have no influence on resistance . DISCUSSION: Geriatric patients' characteristics may well account for some of the results encountered . However, the development of resistance in the center may be related to spreading from direct contact between patients . The relationship between resistance and drug use may be affected by the external administration, rather than in-center administration, of drugs.

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Oct 31, 338(22), 2387 - 92
Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O38 containing 2-acetamidoethyl phosphate and N-linked D-aspartic acid; Kondakova AN et al.; The O-antigen of Proteus mirabilis O38 was found to be unique among bacterial polysaccharides and to have the following structure: {carbohydrate structure in text} where D-Qui4N(Ac-D-Asp) is 4-(N-acetyl-D-aspart-4-ylamino)-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose and AcEtnP is 2-acetamidoethyl phosphate . Neither of these entities have been hitherto found in natural polysaccharides . Structural studies were performed using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, including experiments run in an H2O/D2O mixture to reveal correlations for NH protons . In addition, dephosphorylation, carboxyl reduction and selective cleavages were applied . Solvolysis of the polysaccharide with anhydrous HF gave an alpha-D-GlcNAc-(1-->3)-D-Qui4N(Ac-D-Asp) disaccharide . Solvolysis with trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid afforded D-GlcNAc6(AcEtnP), thus showing the suitability of this reagent for the preparation of phosphorylated sugar derivatives.

J Hosp Infect, 2003 Nov, 55(3), 220 - 5
Comparison of two test methods for the determination of sufficient antimicrobial activity of three commonly used alcohol-based hand rubs for hygienic hand disinfection; Kampf G et al.; In Europe, the antimicrobial efficacy of alcohol-based hand rubs is determined with a quantitative suspension test (prEN 12054) and a test under practical conditions (EN 1500) . Another test method has recently been published by the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) with four differences to the European system in the in vitro tests: additional qualitative suspension tests with product dilutions to the ineffective range; a selection of the most resistant Gram-negative test strains in the qualitative suspension test, which should be used adjacent to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the quantitative suspension test; a high organic load in the quantitative suspension tests (0.3% albumin and 0.3% sheep erythrocytes); and an aqueous control in the quantitative suspension test . According to DGHM, the in vitro tests should be followed by EN 1500 . We have determined the antimicrobial efficacy of three commonly used alcohol-based hand rubs according to both methods . prEN 12054 was carried out without organic load . The qualitative suspension tests (DGHM) were carried out with P . aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus hirae and Candida albicans . The quantitative suspension test (DGHM) was carried out with product dilutions of 75%, 50% and 25%, and a high organic load using the following test organisms: P . aeruginosa, P . mirabilis (one product only), S . aureus, E . hirae and C . albicans . All these suspension tests were carried out in quadruplicate with each product and exposure time . EN 1500 was carried out with 3 mL of each product and an application time of 30 s . All three products achieved the required bactericidal activity of prEN 12054 and the new DGHM method within 30 s, and were equally effective with the reference hand disinfection of EN 1500 within 30 s . In our study, the DGHM test method did not provide additional information for hand rubs which exhibit their bactericidal efficacy with 3 mL within 30 s (EN 1500).

J Endourol, 2003 Sep, 17(7), 523 - 7
Swarming of Proteus mirabilis over ureteral stents: a comparative assessment; Watterson JD et al.; BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Encrustation on indwelling ureteral stents is commonly related to the presence of urease-producing bacteria that elevate the pH of the urine through the hydrolysis of urea, resulting in the precipitation of calcium and magnesium salts . Using a model previously shown to measure accurately the ability of Proteus mirabilis to swarm over catheter surfaces (Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1999;18:206), we investigated the ability of this organism to swarm over three ureteral stents with potential encrustation-resistance properties . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three commercially available ureteral stents were selected for evaluation: a low surface-energy stent, a hydrogel-coated stent, and a silicone stent . Ten-microliter aliquots of a 4-hour culture of P . mirabilis 296 in Trypticase soya (TSA) broth was inoculated 5 mm from a 1-cm channel cut out from TSA plates . Ten-millimeter stent sections were placed as bridges across the central channel adjacent to the inocula . Time to pathogen crossing was measured . RESULTS: The mean time (+/- SD) to pathogen migration across the three test materials was 15.9 +/- 6.1, 19.8 +/- 9.5, and 29.7 +/- 14.3 hours for the low surface-energy, hydrogel-coated, and silicone stents, respectively . Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the crossing times of the low surface-energy (P = 0.001) and hydrogel-coated (P = 0.034) stents compared with silicone but not between the low surface-energy and hydrogel-coated stents (P = 0.387) . CONCLUSION: Migration of P . mirabilis 296 across silicone stents was significantly reduced compared with low surface-energy and hydrogel-coated stents . These findings suggest that P . mirabilis may have a lower affinity for silicone stents, which may translate into a reduced risk of infection with P . mirabilis and associated stent encrustation.

Cent Afr J Med, 2002 Jul-Aug, 48(7-8), 78 - 82
Asymptomatic bacteriuria among outpatients with diabetes mellitus in an urban black population; Makuyana D et al.; OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in individuals afflicted by Diabetes mellitus; the antibiotic susceptibility of the microbial isolates and the association of host factors with ASB . DESIGN: This was a prospective cross sectional study . SETTING: Attendants of outpatient polyclinics at three main tertiary hospitals; namely, Harare, Chitungwiza and Parirenyatwa Hospitals . SUBJECTS: 176 participants . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients attending the polyclinics between 6.30 am and 9.30 am from Monday to Friday were randomly selected . Demographic data was obtained at enrollment using a standardized questionnaire . Fasting venous blood was withdrawn from the participants for glucose analysis . Clean-catch midstream urine samples from all men and women were cultured and the causal organisms were isolated and identified by standard microbiological methods . Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using a disc diffusion method . Potential host factors included age, type of diabetes, duration of diabetes, glucosuria and leukocyturia . RESULTS: The prevalence of ASB was 32% in the diabetics and 11% in nondiabetic participants . The commonest bacterial organism isolated in participants afflicted by Diabetes mellitus was Escherichia coli (26%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (21%), Streptococcus group B (14%), Streptococcus group D and non-lactose fermenting coliforms (7% respectively) . Other isolates were Micrococcus and Pseudomonas (5% respectively), Klebsiella and Proteus (2% respectively) . Gentamicin, nitrofurantoin, ampicillin and nicene were the most effective antimicrobials in the majority of isolates . Certain isolates exhibited some bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics . Of the host factors, an association was found between bacteriuria and glucosuria (p < 0.001) and between leukocyturia and bacteriuria (p = 0.005) . CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ASB is increased in diabetes and the rather high blood glucose levels exhibited by these individuals may further complicate this condition . As some bacterial species exhibited resistance to some common antimicrobials, these results raise questions regarding future clinical reliability of some conventional antimicrobials when considering therapy for asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 2003 Oct, 96(4), 398 - 403
Temporomandibular joint involvement in malignant external otitis; Mardinger O et al.; OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to present 6 patients with malignant external otitis (MEO) that resulted in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement and to discuss the incidence, clinical presentation, and treatment modalities . STUDY DESIGN: All patients diagnosed with MEO between 1994 and 2002 were reviewed for cases in which the TMJ was invaded by the infectious process . Only patients in whom TMJ involvement was documented radiographically and in whom the clinical course was well documented were included in this study . RESULTS: MEO was diagnosed in 42 patients over an 8-year period; TMJ involvement was recorded in 6 patients (14%) . The medical history revealed controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus in 4 of the 6 patients . All patients reported early ear symptoms, mainly otalgia and otorrhea . Local signs included an ear canal filled with granulation material, edematous overlying skin, and sensitivity to palpation . Cultures taken from the external ear were positive for either Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Aspergillus, or Proteus mirabilis . TMJ symptoms developed between 1 and 5 months after admission and included painful periauricular swelling and trismus . In 3 patients, healing was uneventful; 3 also died of the disease . CONCLUSIONS: TMJ involvement in MEO is associated with a resistant disease process, often with several recurrences . Prolonged administration of antibiotics is the treatment of choice . Surgical debridement of the TMJ is necessary for the positive identification of the pathogenic organism, in cases of abscess formation, or when osteomyelitic bone destruction of the condyle and glenoid fossa develop.

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2003 Oct 24, 39(1), 87 - 93
Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Proteus penneri 28 and Proteus vulgaris O31 and classification of P . penneri 26 and 28 in Proteus serogroup O31; Kondakova AN et al.; The lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Proteus penneri 28 and Proteus vulgaris O31 (PrK 55/57) were degraded with dilute acetic acid and structurally identical high-molecular-mass O-polysaccharides were isolated by gel-permeation chromatography . Sugar analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic studies showed that both polysaccharides contain D-GlcNAc, 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-glucose (L-2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxyglucose (N-acetylquinovosamine)) and 2-acetamido-3-O-{(S)-1-carboxyethyl}-2-deoxy-D-glucose (N-acetylisomuramic acid) and have the following structure: {carbohydrate structure: see text} where (S)-1-carboxyethyl {a residue of (S)-lactic acid} (S-Lac) is an ether-linked residue of (S)-lactic acid . The O-polysaccharide studied is structurally similar to that of P . penneri 26, which differs only in the absence of S-Lac from the GlcNAc residue . Based on the O-polysaccharide structures and serological data of the LPS, it was suggested classifying these strains in one Proteus serogroup, O31, as two subgroups: O(31a), 31b for P . penneri 28 and P . vulgaris PrK 55/57 and O31a for P . penneri 26 . A serological relatedness of the LPS of Proteus O(31a), 31b and P . penneri 62 was revealed and substantiated by sharing epitope O31b, which is associated with N-acetylisomuramic acid . It was suggested that a cross-reactivity of P . penneri 28 O-antiserum with the LPS of several other P . penneri strains is due to a common epitope(s) on the LPS core.

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2003 Oct 24, 39(1), 73 - 9
Structure of the O-polysaccharide leads to classification of Proteus penneri 31 in Proteus serogroup O19; Kondakova AN et al.; O-polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Proteus penneri strain 31 . Sugar and methylation analyses along with NMR spectroscopic studies, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, 1H,13C and 1H,31P HMQC experiments, demonstrated the following structure of the polysaccharide: {carbohydrate structure: see text} where FucNAc is 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxygalactose and EtnP is 2-aminoethyl phosphate . The polysaccharide studied has the same carbohydrate backbone as the O-polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O19 . Based on this finding and close serological relatedness of the LPS of the two strains, it is proposed to classify P . penneri 31 in Proteus serogroup O19 as an additional subgroup . In contrast, D-GlcNAc6PEtn and alpha-L-FucNAc-(1-->3)-D-GlcNAc shared with a number of other Proteus O-polysaccharides could not provide any significant cross-reactivity of the corresponding LPS with rabbit polyclonal O-antiserum against P . penneri 31.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 2003, 48(4), 479 - 83
Antimicrobial activity of some 2- and 3-pyridinyl-1H-benzimidazoles and their FeIII, CuII, ZnII, and AgI complexes; Tavman A et al.; 2-(2-Pyridinyl)- (LI), 2-(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)- (LII), 2-(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)-5-methyl-(LIII), 2-(3-pyridinyl)- (LIV), 2-(3-pyridinyl)-5-methyl-1H-benzimidazoles (LV) and their complexes with Fe(NO3)3, Cu(NO3)2, Zn(NO3)2, and AgNO3 were synthesized and antibacterial activity of the compounds was tested toward Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Proteus mirabilis and antifungal activity against Candida albicans . The methyl groups of LIII increase the antimicrobial activity . The AgI complexes have considerable activity toward the microorganisms . Some ZnII complexes show an antimicrobial effect against S . aureus and S . flexneri, although the ligands themselves have no effect . CuII complexes have a considerable antibacterial effect to S . aureus and S . epidermidis.

West Afr J Med, 2003 Jun, 22(2), 110 - 3
Antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of organisms causing urinary tract infection in children with sickle cell anaemia in Ibadan, Nigeria; Brown BJ et al.; As part of a larger project on childhood urinary tract infection, antimicrobial sensitivity tests were carried out on the bacterial isolates from the urine of febrile children seen at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria . METHODOLOGY: Midstream urine specimens were collected from 171 sickle cell anaemia children and from an equal number of haemoglobin-A controls and cultured by standard methods . Sensitivity to eleven antimicrobials was tested using the disc-diffusion technique of Stokes . RESULTS: Significant bacteriuria was obtained from 37 children with sickle cell anemia and 27 controls . The isolates were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Non-haemolytic streptococcus, beta-haemolytic Streptococcus, Salmonella, Proteus and Pseudomonas species . Sensitivity was highest to Pefloxacin to which over 94% of the organisms were sensitive followed by Ceftriaxone (over 85%) and ceftazidime (over 85%) . Sensitivities to nalidixic acid and cefuroxime were between 67.6% and 74.1% . Most of the isolates were resistant to gentamicin, amoxycillin, cotrimoxazole and ampicillin . In general the sensitivity pattern in the sickle cell anaemia group was similar to the pattern in the control group . CONCLUSION: Aetiological agents of childhood UTI in this environment are resistant to most of the drugs commonly recommended for its treatment . Nalixidic acid and cefuroxime are recommended as first line drugs while awaiting results of sensitivity testing . Ceftriazone and ceftazidime should be reserved for cases of non-response to first line drugs and in severe cases . Pefloxacin should be considered potential drug of treatment particularly in multi-drug resistant infections.

Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2003 Oct, 22 Suppl 2, 61 - 4
Urinary tract infections in South Croatia: aetiology and antimicrobial resistance; Barisic Z et al.; The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of uropathogens isolated from outpatients living in South Croatia and the in vitro susceptibility of these organisms to antimicrobial agents . Of 5080 enrolled uropathogen isolates, 82.28% isolates were Gram-negative, the most frequent isolates being Escherichia coli (62.62%), enterococci (10.18%), Proteus mirabilis (5.31%), Streptococcus agalactiae (3.84%), Staphylococcus spp . (3.70%), Pseudomonas spp . (3.46%), Klebsiella spp . (2.38%) . The E . coli resistance rate was 42.17% to amoxycillin, 20.59% to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and 6.09% to norfloxacin . Almost all Klebsiella spp . isolates were resistant to amoxycillin and the resistance rate to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole was over 20%, and 14.15% to the fluoroquinolones . A high methicillin-resistance rate was found among S . aureus (61.22%) and coagulase negative staphylococci (41.48).

Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2003 Oct, 22 Suppl 2, 53 - 9
In vitro activity of fosfomycin against gram-negative urinary pathogens and the biological cost of fosfomycin resistance; Marchese A et al.; The aim of this study was to reassess the activity of fosfomycin against recently isolated uropathogens circulating in Italy and to evaluate the effect of fosfomycin resistance on the expression of several virulence traits using the rare mutant strains . In vitro activity of fosfomycin was evaluated using 441 Gram-negative organisms isolated from patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) . Fosfomycin was the most active antibiotic against Escherichia coli (99% susceptibility) . The activity against Proteus mirabilis was more potent than that of co-trimoxazole and nitrofurantoin (87.5, 67 and 0% susceptibility, respectively) . The other microorganisms, accounting for about 7% of all pathogens tested, showed variable susceptibilities to fosfomycin . Compared with susceptible strains, fosfomycin-resistant mutants showed a reduced rate of growth and were impaired in their ability to adhere to uroepithelial cells and to urinary catheters . They were also more resistant to UV irradiation and to phage T7 and showed diminished rates of colicin synthesis and transfer of plasmids.

Vasa, 2003 Aug, 32(3), 159 - 63
Proteus syndrome; Dragieva G et al.; A 34-year-old male patient was referred with a recalcitrant leg ulcer overlying an extensive vascular malformation, which had led several times to septic soft tissue infections . During his infancy he had been diagnosed to have Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome . Clinical examination revealed asymmetric hypertrophy of the lower extremities, an extensive portwine stain on the more severely affected left limb as well as prominent venous varicosities of both legs . Hands and feet showed striking cerebriform palmoplantar hypertrophy, and macrodactily with syndactily of several fingers . All toes had been amputated in early childhood due to extreme overgrowth and currently the patient walked on his forefeet in a prominent pes equinus deformity . Further symptoms consisted in several lipomas at both arms, another portwine stain at the left hemithorax and a single cafe-au-lait spot at the left scapula . Angio-magnetic resonance imaging scans of both legs showed an extensive venous-lymphatic vascular malformation involving the whole subcutis and infiltrating the muscle . The chronic wound was interpreted as venous stasis ulceration . Local percutaneous sclerotherapy of the dilated veins underneath the ulcer was discussed, but considered to carry a relevant risk of skin necrosis with consecutive progression of the wound . A conventional split-skin graft led to complete wound healing . Since, the patient consequently wears custom-made compression stockings and remained free from recurrences . The syndromatic constellation of palmoplantar overgrowth, multiple lipomas, giant fingers and toes, limb overgrowth, venous-lymphatic malformation and a cafe-au-lait spot led to the diagnosis of Proteus syndrome . The possible aetiology, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis and management of this rare disorder are discussed.

HNO, 2003 Oct, 51(10), 813 - 22 Epub 2003 Apr 04.
{Brain abscesses after extracranial infections of the head and neck area}; Marchiori C et al.; The authors report on 20 immunocompetent patients with brain abscess after 12 cases of middle ear, seven tooth and a single frontal sinus infection.The clinical aspects, hematochemical and microbiological data, the role of imaging diagnostics (CT, MR) and the type of treatment are analysed.Neurosurgery was performed on 17 patients (85%), eight of whom subsequently underwent evacuation of the primary source of infection (four mastoidectomies, two timpanoplasties, two tooth extractions) . Mastoidectomy was eventually carried out on one of the three patients who did not undergo neurosurgery . Microbiological diagnosis was possible in nine patients through culture examination: Proteus mirabilis in three cases, Peptostreptococcus sp . in two, Micrococcus varians, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus viridans not typed in single cases . The pus was sterile in eight patients (47.1% of those operated).An association of two antimicrobial agents was used in 18 patients, while in two cases monotherapy was preferred, based on the isolated bacteria . Treatment lasted on average 38 days . The most frequently used therapy regimen (75%) was the association of a beta-lactam drug with chloramphenicol or metronidazole.Therapy was successful in 19/20 patients; one patient died . There was no significant difference in prognostic terms with regard to sex, age, duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis, clinical picture at onset, number and size of abscesses or type of treatment . Recognising the first clinical signs and symptoms (headache, fever, alterations in consciousness, focal neurological deficit, epileptic seizures) is extremely important for prompt diagnosis of brain abscess.

Yao Xue Xue Bao, 2003 Jul, 38(7), 555 - 8
{Microbial transformation of sinenxan A, a rich constituent in callus cultures of Taxus}; Zhan JX et al.; AIM: To study the microbial transformation of sinenxan A . METHODS: Choose two strains of Fungi (Mucor spinosus AS 3.3450 and Cunninghamella echinulata AS 3.3400) and a strain of bacterium (Proteus vulgaris AS 1.1208) to transform the substrate . RESULTS: Three products were obtained and identified as 10-deacetylsinenxan A1, 6 alpha-hydroxy-10-deacetylsinenxan A2 and 9 alpha-hydroxy-10-deacetylsinenxan A3 respectively . CONCLUSION: Sinenxan A is facile to be transformed by microorganisms, the 10-acetyl group of which is an active group.

Eur J Immunol, 2003 Oct, 33(10), 2842 - 52
Role of the complement-lectin pathway in anaphylactoid reaction induced with lipopolysaccharide in mice; Swierzko AS et al.; We show that Proteus vulgaris O25 (PO25) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced an anaphylactoid reaction not only in wild-type and in lipid A non-responding mice but also in recombinase-activating gene-2-deficient (RAG-2(-/-)) and in mast cell-deficient (W/Wv) animals . Western blot analysis indicated that PO25 LPS bound to Ra-reactive factor (RaRF), the complex of mannan-binding lectins (MBL) and MBL-associated serine proteases . Binding of RaRF to PO25 LPS led to the activation of C4 component without participation of either C1 or Ig, via the lectin pathway . Relative concentration of RaRF and hemolytic activity in mouse serum decreased rapidly during the process of anaphylactoid reaction . A significant drop of MBL-A, but not MBL-C level was observed . Administrationwith antiserum to RaRF prevented animals from death as a consequence of the inhibition of interaction of RaRF with the carbohydrate target and complement activation . These results indicate that complement-lectin pathway activation is responsible for the anaphylactoid reaction induced with LPS in muramyldipeptide-primed mice . RaRF also activated fibrinogen in vitro suggesting the involvement of the coagulation system in the process investigated.

Protoplasma, 2003 Sep, 222(1-2), 75 - 83
Immunodetection and intracellular localization of caldesmon-like proteins in Amoeba proteus; Gagola M et al.; Caldesmon immunoanalogues were detected in Amoeba proteus cell homogenates by the Western blot technique . Three immunoreactive bands were recognized by polyclonal antibodies against the whole molecule of chicken gizzard caldesmon as well as by a monoclonal antibody against its C-terminal domain: one major and two minor bands corresponding to proteins with apparent molecular masses of 150, 69, and 60 kDa . The presence of caldesmon-like protein(s) in amoebae was revealed as well in single cells after their fixation, staining with the same antibodies, and recording their total fluorescence in a confocal laser scanning microscope . Proteins recognized by the antibodies bind to filamentous actin . This was established by a cosedimentation assay in cell homogenates and by colocalization of the caldesmon-related immunofluorescence with the fluorescence of filamentous actin stained with rhodamine-labelled phalloidin, demonstrated in optical sections of single cells in a confocal microscope . Caldesmon is colocalized with filamentous actin in the withdrawn cell regions where the cortical actomyosin network contracts and actin is depolymerized, in the frontal zone where actin is polymerized again and the cortical cytoskeleton is reconstructed, inside the nucleus and in the perinuclear cytoskeleton, and probably at the cell-to-substratum adhesion sites . The regulatory role of caldesmon in these functionally different regions of locomoting amoebae is discussed.

Indian J Med Sci, 2002 Nov, 56(11), 546 - 52
Polymerase chain reaction for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis; Desai MM et al.; (i) AIM OF THE STUDY: The study was carried out with the aim to evaluate a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the amplication of a 169 bp DNA fragment specific for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex for the rapid diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) . (ii) METHODOLOGY: A total of 105 CSF specimens from clinically suspected cases of TBM were studied . Clinical details of the cases and cytochemical parameters of the CSF specimens were recorded . In addition to the 105 specimens, 10 CSF specimens from cases other than TBM, 4 non-mycobacterial culture isolates (1 strain of E . coli, 1 strain of Proteus species and 2 strains of Salmonella species) and 1 sample of sterile distilled water were processed as negative controls . For positive control standard culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv was processed with every batch of specimens . Besides PCR, smear for AFB by the Ziehl Neelsen Carbol Fuchsin (ZNCF) and the fluoro chrome method and culture on LJ medium was also carried out . (iii) RESULTS: By PCR, 31.42% specimens were found positive, whereas by conventional culture on LJ medium only 3.8% specimens were positive . Only 1.9% specimens were found to be smear positive by the fluorochrome staining method, while none was positive by the ZNCF method.The PCR results showed complete correlation with the clinical findings of the patients . (iv) CONCLUSION: The PCR was found to be superior to the currently available techniques for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in terms of sensitivity, specificity and rapidity and could play a critical role in the diagnosis of suspected cases.

Afr J Med Med Sci, 2001 Mar-Jun, 30(1-2), 35 - 7
Comparative in-vitro activities of commonly available quinolones and other antibiotics on bacterial isolates in Ibadan, Nigeria; Oni AA et al.; The 4-quinolones, many of which are now available in Nigeria under different trade names, have a broad spectrum of activity . An evaluation is made of the comparative in-vitro activities of these quinolones and other antibiotics against 125 strains of bacteria commonly isolated from clinical specimens in University College Hospital, Ibadan, by using the Stroke's disc sensitivity method, and MIC estimation . The quinolones showed greater activity than the cephalosprins against Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp . and Escherichia coli, but were found to be equipotent against Pseudomonas spp . the MIC results revealed ciprofloxacin (Ciprotap) as the most active of the quinolones . Though some strains of Klebsiella spp . and Pseudomonas spp . were found to be resistant to all the antibiotics tested, majority of the strains of the gram-negative bacilli from clinical specimens were highly susceptible to all the quinolones . This emphasizes the need to monitor regularly the emergence of resistance associated with the use of antibiotics in the developing countries.

Urol Res, 2003 Dec, 31(6), 414 - 6 Epub 2003 Sep 24.
Staghorn calculus in renal allograft presenting as acute renal failure; Thakar CV et al.; BACKGROUND: Urolithiasis is a rare complication in renal transplant recipients . We report a case of a staghorn calculus occurring in renal allograft, presenting as anuric renal failure with Gram-negative sepsis . METHODS AND RESULTS: A 48-year-old Caucasian female, with end-stage renal disease due to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, underwent cadaveric renal transplantation in 1986 . Sixteen years after transplant, she presented with Gram-negative sepsis with Proteus mirabilis and acute anuric renal failure in the allograft . After undergoing an emergency nephrostomy and treatment of sepsis, a staghorn calculus was subsequently removed by percutaneous nephrolithotomy . Based on the stone analysis and history of urinary tract infections with urease splitting bacteria, the calculus was thought to be infection-induced . CONCLUSION: Although a rare complication, urolithiasis in an allograft can be associated with significant morbidity . Immediate recognition is critical to restore renal allograft function and to treat associated serious infection in an immunocompromised patient.

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Sep 26, 338(20), 2105 - 9
Structure of the O-polysaccharide of a serologically separate strain of Proteus mirabilis, TG 332, from a new proposed Proteus serogroup O50; Kolodziejska K et al.; The O-polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis TG 332 strain . The following structure of the O-polysaccharide was determined by chemical methods along with NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY and 1H, 13C HMQC experiments: {see equation in text} . The O-polysaccharide studied has a unique structure among Proteus O-antigens . Accordingly, P . mirabilis TG 332 is serologically separate, and we propose to classify this strain into a new Proteus serogroup, O50 . The nature of minor epitopes that provide a cross-reactivity of P . mirabilis TG 332 O-antiserum with the LPS of P . mirabilis O30 and Proteus penneri 34 (O60) is discussed.

Clin Rheumatol, 2003 Sep, 22(3), 218 - 20
Proteus mirabilis and rheumatoid arthritis: no association with the disease; Chandrashekara S et al.; Proteus mirabilis(PM) is implicated in different studies in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of the structural homogeneity of its haemolysin B precursor with EQRRAA sequences in DRB 1 haplotype . The aim of the study was to compare the levels of antibodies specific to PM in the sera of patients with RA and healthy controls in our population . Serum samples from 78 consecutive RA patients and 75 healthy controls were analysed for the presence of IgG isotype and total immunoglobulins (IgG+IgA+IgM) against PM using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with two kinds of antigen preparation, whole bacteria and SDS-lysed bacterial extract . There was no significant increase in the concentrations of anti- Proteus antibodies (APA) in patients with RA compared to healthy controls in our population, when SDS-lysed bacterial extract or whole bacteria were used as antigen . The APA levels did not correlate with serum CRP levels . Infection with P . mirabilis is found to have no pathological or aggravating role in RA.

Biochemistry, 2003 Sep 30, 42(38), 11161 - 9
Role of aspartate-133 and histidine-458 in the mechanism of tryptophan indole-lyase from Proteus vulgaris; Demidkina TV et al.; Tryptophan indole-lyase (Trpase) from Proteus vulgaris is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate dependent enzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydrolytic cleavage of L-Trp to yield indole and ammonium pyruvate . Asp-133 and His-458 are strictly conserved in all sequences of Trpase, and they are located in the proposed substrate-binding region of Trpase . These residues were mutated to alanine to probe their role in substrate binding and catalysis . D133A mutant Trpase has no measurable activity with L-Trp as substrate, but still retains activity with S-(o-nitrophenyl)-L-cysteine, S-alkyl-L-cysteines, and beta-chloro-L-alanine . H458A mutant Trpase has 1.6% of wild-type Trpase activity with L-Trp, and high activity with S-(o-nitrophenyl)-L-cysteine, S-alkyl-L-cysteines, and beta-chloro-L-alanine . H458A mutant Trpase does not exhibit the pK(a) of 5.3 seen in the pH dependence of k(cat)/K(m) of L-Trp for wild-type Trpase . Both mutant enzymes are inhibited by L-Ala, L-Met, and L-Phe, with K(i) values similar to those of wild-type Trpase, but oxindolyl-L-alanine and beta-phenyl-DL-serine show much weaker binding to the mutant enzymes, suggesting that Asp-133 and His-458 are involved in the binding of these ligands . D133A and H458A mutant Trpase exhibit absorption and CD spectra in the presence of substrates and inhibitors that are similar to wild-type Trpase, with peaks at about 420 and 500 nm . The rate constants for formation of the 500 nm bands for the mutant enzymes are equal to or greater than those of wild-type Trpase, indicating that Asp-133 and His-458 do not play a role in the formation of quinonoid intermediates . In constrast to wild-type and H458A mutant Trpase, D133A mutant Trpase forms an intermediate from S-ethyl-L-Cys that absorbs at 345 nm, and is likely to be an alpha-aminoacrylate . Crystals of D133A and H458A mutant Trpase bind amino acids with similar affinity as the proteins in solution, except for L-Ala, which binds to D133A mutant Trpase crystals about 20-fold stronger than in solution . These results suggest that Asp-133 and His-458 play an important role in the elimination reaction of L-Trp . Asp-133 likely forms a hydrogen bond directly to the indole NH of the substrate, while His-458 probably is hydrogen bonded to Asp-133.

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Sep 10, 338(19), 1999 - 2004
Structure of the N-acetyl-L-rhamnosamine-containing O-polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris TG 155 from a new Proteus serogroup, O55; Kondakova AN et al.; The O-polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Proteus vulgaris TG 155 was found to contain 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-mannose (N-acetyl-L-rhamnosamine, L-RhaNAc), a monosaccharide that occurs rarely in Nature . The following structure of the O-polysaccharide was established by NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY and 1H,13C HSQC experiments, along with chemical methods: {carbohydrate structure in text} Rabbit polyclonal O-antiserum against P . vulgaris TG 155 reacted with both core and O-polysaccharide moieties of the homologous LPS but showed no cross-reactivity with other LPS from the complete set of serologically different Proteus strains . Based on the unique O-polysaccharide structure and the serological data, we propose classifying P . vulgaris TG 155 into a new, separate Proteus O-serogroup, O55.

Postgrad Med J, 2003 Sep, 79(935), 519 - 21
Role of microbiological investigations in the management of non-perineal cutaneous abscesses; Garcea G et al.; BACKGROUND: Pus samples for microbiological examination are routinely sent after incision and drainage of abscesses . There is no evidence that microbiology reports influence treatment for non-perineal cutaneous abscesses . AIMS: This study assessed (1) how often the microbiology report is used to manage patients' treatment after incision and drainage of an abscess and (2) junior surgical trainees' opinions on sending pus for microbiological examination . METHOD: A retrospective analysis of the notes of all patients undergoing incision and drainage of abscesses from January 2001 to January 2002 was made . A telephone poll of junior surgical trainees was also undertaken . RESULTS: Most patients, 91%, had specimens referred for microbiology . Of these 43% yielded no growth . Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism (55.9% of all positive cultures) . Anaerobes were a frequent finding from axilla and groin abscesses . Mycobacterium tuberculosis was grown in two patients . Other less common organisms cultured were methicillin resistant S aureus (n=1) and Proteus sp (n=1) . Follow up of microbiology reports was found to be inadequate . CONCLUSION: The bacteria present in non-perineal cutaneous abscesses are, for the most part, predictable . However, a significant number grow less common organisms . It is concluded that pus specimens should be sent routinely for culture and sensitivity and there should be further emphasis on following up microbiology reports by junior medical staff.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2003 Sep 12, 226(1), 65 - 71
The XerC recombinase of Proteus mirabilis: characterization and interaction with other tyrosine recombinases; Villion M et al.; XerC and XerD are two site-specific recombinases, which act on different sites to maintain replicons in a monomeric state . This system, which was first discovered and studied in Escherichia coli, is present in several species including Proteus mirabilis, where the XerD recombinase was previously characterized by our laboratory . In this paper, we report the presence of the xerC gene in P . mirabilis . Using in vitro reactions, we show that the two P . mirabilis recombinases display binding and cleavage activity on the E . coli dif site and the ColE1 cer site, together or in collaboration with E . coli recombinases . In vivo, P . mirabilis XerC and XerD are able to resolve and monomerize a plasmid containing two cer sites, increasing its stability . However, P . mirabilis XerC, in combination with E . coli XerD, is unable to perform these functions.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2003 Sep 16, 100(19), 11086 - 91 Epub 2003 Sep 05.
Protean agonism at histamine H3 receptors in vitro and in vivo; Gbahou F et al.; G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are allosteric proteins that adopt inactive (R) and active (R*) conformations in equilibrium . R* is promoted by agonists or occurs spontaneously, leading to constitutive activity of the receptor . Conversely, inverse agonists promote R and decrease constitutive activity . The existence of another pharmacological entity, referred to as "protean" agonists (after Proteus, the Greek god who could change shape), was assumed on theoretical grounds . It was predicted from the existence of constitutive activity that a same ligand of this class could act either as an agonist or an inverse agonist at the same GPCR . Here, we show that proxyfan, a high-affinity histamine H3-receptor ligand, acts as a protean agonist at recombinant H3 receptors expressed in the same Chinese hamster ovary cells . In support of the physiological relevance of the process, we show that proxyfan also behaves as a protean agonist at native H3 receptors known to display constitutive activity . On neurochemical and behavioral responses in rodents and cats, proxyfan displays a spectrum of activity ranging from full agonism to full inverse agonism . Thus, protean agonism demonstrates the existence of ligand-directed active states LR* different from, and competing with, constitutively active states R* of GPCRs, and defines a pharmacological entity with important therapeutic implications.

Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2003 Jul, 73(4), 245 - 50
The effect of low concentrations of ascorbic acid in microbial adherence in vitro; Lianou PE et al.; In the present study, we examined the in vitro effect of low concentrations of ascorbic acid (lower than normal plasma levels), on the adherence of five microbial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to human buccal epithelial cells (BEC) of healthy volunteers . The study reached the following conclusions: 1) the presence of ascorbic acid significantly reduces the ability of all tested strains (with the exception of Klebsiella pneumoniae) to adhere to BEC; 2) ascorbic acid interacts with the epithelial cells and decreases the adherence of all tested microorganisms . These findings may be of potential clinical significance.

Mycoses, 2003 Sep, 46(8), 312 - 5
Microbiological study of external otitis in Rosario City, Argentina; Amigot SL et al.; Mycological and/or bacteriological studies were performed on 294 samples isolated from the external auditory control (EAC) . It was observed that 185 (81.5%) of the mycological analysis were negative while 42 (18.5%) were positive with the following distribution: 22 Candida (9.7%), 15 Aspergillus (6.5%) and five associations of Aspergillus and Candida (2.2%) . The bacteriological studies were negative in 52 cases (23.6%) and the frequency of the bacterial agents (75.5%) isolated were as follows: 41 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.6%), 24 Proteus mirabilis (10.9%), 24 Staphylococcus aureus (10.9%), and three associations of Ps . aeruginosa and Pr . mirabilis (1.4%) . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was the most frequent bacterial species isolated, did not present associations with any fungus.

Hum Mutat, 2003 Sep, 22(3), 183 - 98
PTEN: one gene, many syndromes; Eng C; PTEN, on 10q23.3, encodes a major lipid phosphatase which signals down the phosphoinositol-3-kinase/Akt pathway and effects G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis . Germline PTEN mutations have been found to occur in 80% of classic Cowden syndrome (CS), 60% of Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), up to 20% of Proteus syndrome (PS), and approximately 50% of a Proteus-like syndrome (PSL) . CS is a heritable multiple hamartoma syndrome with a high risk of breast, thyroid, and endometrial carcinomas . BRRS is a congenital autosomal dominant disorder characterized by megencephaly, developmental delay, lipomatosis, and speckled penis . PS and PSL had never been associated with risk of malignancy . Finding germline PTEN mutations in patients with BRRS, PS, and PSL suggests equivalent risks of developing malignancy as in CS with implications for medical management . The mutational spectra of CS and BRRS overlap, with many of the mutations occurring in exons 5, 7, and 8 . Genotype-phenotype association analyses have revealed that the presence of germline PTEN mutations is associated with breast tumor development, and that mutations occurring within and 5' of the phosphatase motif were associated with multi-organ involvement . Pooled analysis of PTEN mutation series of CS and BRRS occurring in the last five years reveals that 65% of CS-associated mutations occur in the first five exons encoding the phosphatase domain and the promoter region, while 60% of BRRS-associated mutations occur in the 3' four exons encoding mainly the C2 domain . Somatic PTEN mutations occur with a wide distribution of frequencies in sporadic primary tumors, with the highest frequencies in endometrial carcinomas and glioblastoma multiform . Several mechanisms of PTEN inactivation occur in primary malignancies derived from different tissues, but a favored mechanism appears to occur in a tissue-specific manner . Inappropriate subcellular compartmentalization and increased/decreased proteosome degradation may be two novel mechanisms of PTEN inactivation . Further functional work could reveal more effective means of molecular-directed therapy and prevention .

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Sep 1, 338(18), 1835 - 42
Structure and serological characterization of the O-antigen of Proteus mirabilis O18 with a phosphocholine-containing oligosaccharide phosphate repeating unit; Fudala R et al.; A phosphorylated, choline-containing polysaccharide was obtained by O-deacylation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Proteus mirabilis O18 by treatment with aqueous 12% ammonia, whereas hydrolysis with dilute acetic acid resulted in depolymerisation of the polysaccharide chain by the glycosyl phosphate linkage . Treatment of the O-deacylated LPS with aqueous 48% hydrofluoric acid cleaved the glycosyl phosphate group but, unexpectedly, did not affect the choline phosphate group . The polysaccharide and the derived oligosaccharides were studied by NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, 1H,13C HMQC and HMQC-TOSCY experiments, along with chemical methods, and the following structure of the pentasaccharide phosphate repeating unit was established: {carbohydrate structure in text} Where ChoP=Phosphocoline Immunochemical studies of the LPS, O-deacylated LPS and partially dephosphorylated pentasaccharide using rabbit polyclonal anti-P . mirabilis O18 serum showed the importance of the glycosyl phosphate group in manifesting the serological specificity of the O18-antigen.

Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol, 2003 Jul, 135C(3), 285 - 94
Hepatic metallothioneins in two neotenic salamanders, Proteus anguinus and Necturus maculosus (Amphibia, Caudata); Dobrovoljc K et al.; The presence of metallothionein (MT) and the subcellular distribution of copper, zinc and cadmium were investigated in livers of two neotenic salamanders, Proteus anguinus and Necturus maculosus . In P . anguinus, caught in the wild, hepatic MTs were present as a single isoform of (Zn, Cu, Cd)-thioneins, whose molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 12000 by size exclusion chromatography . The percentage of zinc and cadmium was higher in the cytosol and of copper in the pellet . Cytosolic cadmium was almost exclusively associated with MTs (80%), while zinc and copper were also present in the regions of higher-molecular weight proteins . In laboratory bred N . maculosus, MTs were isolated from the liver cytosol and extract of the pellet as (Cu, Zn)- and (Zn, Cu)-thioneins, respectively . According to the low amount of copper extracting from liver pellets of N . maculosus, the presence of water insoluble aggregated forms of Cu-thioneins should be checked in further investigations.

J Vet Diagn Invest, 2003 Jul, 15(4), 338 - 43
Trends in fluoroquinolone resistance of bacteria isolated from canine urinary tracts; Cohn LA et al.; Fluoroquinolone (FQ) antimicrobial agents are used extensively in human and veterinary medicine . Widespread use of any antimicrobial agent can apply selective pressure on populations of bacteria, which may result in an increase in the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant isolates . Antimicrobial-susceptibility data on bacteria isolated from the canine urinary tract by the University of Missouri-Columbia Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Columbia, MO, were used to determine whether there has been an increase in the prevalence of FQ-resistant bacteria over time . Between January 1992 and December 2001, minimum inhibitory concentrations of either ciprofloxacin (1992-1998) or enrofloxacin (1998-2001) were determined for 1,478 bacterial isolates from the canine urinary tract . The predominant bacterial species isolated were Escherichia coli (547 isolates), Proteus mirabilis (156), and Staphylococcus intermedius (147) . In all, there were 13 bacterial species with more than 25 isolates each . A significant increase in the overall proportion of resistant bacterial isolates was documented from 1992 to 2001 (Cochran-Armitage test for trend, P < 0.0001) . The same increase in resistant isolates was documented when either ciprofloxacin or enrofloxacin was analyzed separately (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0002, respectively) . No difference was detected in rates of bacterial FQ resistance with regard to the sex of the dog from which the bacteria were isolated . The frequency with which some bacterial species were isolated differed with the sex of the infected dog . Proteus mirabilis was found more often in females (P < 0.0001), whereas beta hemolytic Streptococcus spp., were found more often in males (P = 0.0003) . Although the overall efficacy of FQ antimicrobials remained high with greater than 80% of isolates being susceptible, the data demonstrated an increase in the proportion of resistant bacteria isolated from the urinary tract of the dog.

Chem Biol Interact, 2003 Jul 25, 146(1), 73 - 80
Alterations in human red blood cell membrane properties induced by the lipopolysaccharide from Proteus mirabilis S1959; Gwozdzinski K et al.; The effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin), isolated from Proteus mirabilis S1959 strain, on red blood cell (RBC) membranes in whole cells as well as on isolated membranes was studied . Lipid membrane fluidity, conformational state of membrane proteins and the osmotic fragility of RBCs were examined using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and spectrophotometric method . Lipid membrane fluidity was determined using three spin-labeled fatty acids: 5-, 12- and 16-doxylstearic acid (5-, 12- and 16-DS) . The addition of LPS S1959 to RBC suspension resulted in an increase in membrane fluidity, as indicated by 12-DS . At the concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/ml, LPS treatment led to a significant (P<0.05) increase in lipid membrane fluidity in the deeper region of lipid bilayer (determined by 12-DS) . The conformational changes in membrane proteins were determined using two covalently bound spin labels, 4-maleimido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl and 4-iodoacetamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (ISL) . The highest concentration of endotoxin significantly (P<0.05) decreased the relative rotational correlation time of ISL and significantly (P<0.05) increased the osmotic fragility of RBCs . The effect of endotoxin was much more profound in isolated membranes than in intact cells treated with LPS . At the concentrations 0.5 and 1 mg/ml, LPS led to a significant increase in h(w)/h(s) ratio . These results indicated increased membrane protein mobility, mainly in the spectrin-actin complex in membrane cytoskeleton . These data suggest that LPS-induced alterations in membrane lipids and cytoskeleton proteins of RBCs lead to loss of membrane integrity.

Int Urol Nephrol, 2002, 34(3), 311 - 3
Psoas abscess twenty-one years after ipsilateral nephrectomy; Tez S et al.; We report an unusual case of psoas abscess, which developed twenty-one years after ipsilateral nephrectomy and was caused by infrequent pathogen, Proteus mirabilis . It was diagnosed by computed tomography and was drained percutaneously with a nephrostomy tube guided by ultrasonography.

Ann Univ Mariae Curie Sklodowska {Med}, 2002, 57(1), 540 - 3
Diagnosis, treatment and registration of urinary tract infections in geriatric patients; Friis-Moller A et al.; Bacteriuria (> or = 10(5) CFU/ml) is a very common phenomenon in elderly people, occurring twice as frequently in women than in men . There are symptomatic and asymptomatic types of bacteriuria . Risk factors include: a decrease in the estrogen level in women after the menopause, catheterisation, urinary bladder dysfunction, hypertrophy of the prostate gland, diabetes, neurological illnesses . The diagnosis of bacteriuria is based on quantitative urine culture (positive result--> or = 10(5) CFU/ml bacteriae) . The most frequent pathogens are: E . coli, enterococci, staphylococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis . The antimicrobial therapy is not advised for asymptomatic bacteriuria . In the case of symptomatic bacteriuria it is advised to take urine for culture and to perform sensitivity testing as well as blood culture and to start a "blind therapy" . In order to use the antimicrobial treatment effectively, the most frequently occurring pathogens should be registered and their sensitivity patterns in the given hospital recognised.

Ann Univ Mariae Curie Sklodowska {Med}, 2002, 57(2), 285 - 9
Asymptomatic bacteriuria in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Orlowska A et al.; Chronic inflammatory state and chronic infections appear to be one of the most important risk factors of morbidity and mortality in patients (pts) on dialysis . The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of urinary tract infections (UTI) in clinically asymptomatic patients on CAPD . The study included 43 (22F, 21M) clinically stable asymptomatic CAPD patients with diuresis ranged from 300 to 2500 ml per 24 h . Clean catch urine specimen, was cultured and identified by standard technique . Urine from 31 patients had no significant organism growth, from 12 patients grew over 100,000 colonies per ml; 8 patients had been infected with E . coli, 2 pts with Proteus mirabilis, one with Enterococcus gallinarum, one with Klebsiella oxytocea . 7/12 infected pts were diabetic, 67% infected and 13% not infected pts had pyuria . CONCLUSIONS: Immune system disturbance and renal failure can predispose to common asymptomatic UTI in CAPD pts . E . coli is the most common bacterial strain found in infected dialysis pts . Diabetes mellitus is and additional predisposing factor for UTI in patients on CAPD . Pyuria is a valuable parameter of UTI in CAPD patients.

J Vet Intern Med, 2003 Jul-Aug, 17(4), 499 - 509
Polypoid cystitis in 17 dogs (1978-2001); Martinez I et al.; Polypoid cystitis is a rare disease of the urinary bladder in dogs characterized by inflammation, epithelial proliferation, and development of a polypoid mass or masses without histopathologic evidence of neoplasia . Medical records of 17 dogs with polypoid cystitis were reviewed to determine the clinical and laboratory features of this disorder and to assess treatment and outcome . Most affected dogs (15/17) were female and presented for evaluation of hematuria or recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) . Proteus spp were the most common bacterial isolates (12/52 or 23.1%) identified when all urine samples obtained for culture at any time during the course study were considered . Other commonly isolated organisms included Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus spp, and Enterococcus spp . Several dogs (7/17) also had cystic calculi at some time during the course of their disease . Most of the masses (11/14) were located cranioventrally in the bladder as opposed to transitional cell carcinoma, which has a predilection for the bladder neck or trigone area . It is unknown whether persistent or recurrent UTI predisposes to polyp formation or if polyps predispose to UTI . Surgery and removal of all polyps was the most efficacious treatment in dogs of this study . The question of whether or not polyps represent preneoplastic lesions remains unanswered and constitutes an area for future investigation.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2003 Mar-Apr, (2), 68 - 9
{Some specific features of vaginal microflora depending on ecological factors}; Plakhtii LIa et al.; In 75 female residents of Vladikavkaz, aged 18-45 years, who had applied to the gynecological department with complaints of vaginal discharge, the qualitative and quantitative composition of vaginal microflora was studied . All these women were divided into 2 groups: group 1 including 38 women living in ecologically unfavorable districts of the city and group 2 including 37 women living under ecologically favorable conditions . The relationship between the ecological situation of the districts of residence and vaginal microflora in women of the reproductive age was established . Unfavorable exogenous factors were found to lead to the development of vaginal dysbacteriosis: a sharp decrease in the amount of lactoflora or its complete absence accompanied by increased amount of staphylococci, enterococci, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella and yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida.

Chemotherapy, 2003 Jul, 49(4), 172 - 83
Target affinities of faropenem to and its impact on the morphology of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria; Dalhoff A et al.; Faropenem is a new oral beta-lactam antibiotic unique from carbapenems and other available beta-lactams . Determinants of the in vitro activity of beta-lactam antibiotics include affinity to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and beta-lactamase stability . In this study, the binding affinity of faropenem to various PBPs and its impact on the morphology of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were evaluated . In general, faropenem demonstrated high binding affinity to high-molecular-weight PBPs but low affinity to low-molecular-weight PBPs . In S . aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae, faropenem exhibited high binding affinity to PBP1, followed by PBP3 and PBP2 . In E . coli, faropenem showed the highest affinity for PBP2, followed by PBP1A, PBP1B, PBP3 and PBP4 . In Proteus vulgaris, binding was highest to PBP4, followed by PBP1A, PBP2 and PBP3 . In Serratia marcescens, faropenem bound preferentially to PBP2 and PBP4 . Exposure of S . aureus to faropenem at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1/8 or 1/4 resulted in irregular septum formation . At 1x MIC or higher, a larger number of lysed cells were observed . Exposure of E . coli to 1/8x MIC or 1/4x MIC also induced changes in cellular shape; the normal rod-shaped form changed to a spherical form in a time-dependent manner . After exposure of E . coli to 1x MIC for 2 h, bulging-shaped E . coli cells were observed and after 4 h of exposure cell lysis was demonstrated . In the presence of 4x MIC, spheroplast-like forms and cell lysis were observed . The morphological changes triggered by faropenem are in agreement with the PBP binding affinities reported . Thus, the high binding affinities of faropenem to PBPs from gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are mirrored by its pronounced and concentration-dependent bactericidal effect .

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 2003, 48(3), 385 - 8
Candida--agent of the diaper dermatitis?
Dorko E, Viragova S, Pilipcinec E, Tkacikova L.
Occurrence of Candida spp . was determined in a population of 60 infants, 1-15-month-old, with diaper dermatitis, admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in Hospital Saca (Kosice, Slovakia) . Specimens were obtained from the perianal, pubic, inguinal, or gluteal areas that showed signs of secondary infection as manifested by erythema, oozing, vesiculopustular lesions, and pus formation . The most frequently isolated species was C . albicans (41), followed by C . parapsilosis (8), C . tropicalis (4), C . pulcherrima (4), C . guilliermondii (2), and C . zeylanoides (1) . Other organisms present in the mixed culture from the diaper area were Staphylococcus aureus (6), Escherichia coli (3), and 2 strains of each group B and D streptococci, and Proteus mirabilis . Infants diapered exclusively in disposable diapers showed less rash than those diapered exclusively or sometimes in cloth diapers.

Genet Couns, 2003, 14(2), 221 - 6
Proteus syndrome associated with liver involvement: case report; Ahmetoglu A et al.; We report a patient with proteus syndrome who has epidermal nevus, right-sided asymmetric growth of extremities, pelvis, vertebrae and hemimegalencephaly . This patient also had enlargement of the liver which is not reported before in the proteus syndrome.

Ann Urol (Paris), 2003 Jun, 37(3), 117 - 9
{Pediatric vesical lithiasis . 70 case reports}; Abarchi H et al.; The study focuses on 70 vesicals lithiasis, with a sample consisting of 60 boys (86%) and ten girls (14%) . The age varies from one year to 14 years . The revealing signs are dominated by mictional troubles in 47 cases (67%), macroscopic hematurie in 26 cases (37%), the pyurie in 12 cases (17%) and acute retention of urine in 7 cases (10%) . The most frequent germs are the staphylococcus aureus with 28% of cases, the proteus mirabilis with 24% of cases and the Echerichia coli with 24% of the cases . Associated malformations were observed in 9% of the cases . The treatment was essentially surgical (99%) . The evolution was simple in 97% of the cases.

Anal Biochem, 2003 Aug 15, 319(2), 287 - 95
Enhanced microbial biomass assay using mutant luciferase resistant to benzalkonium chloride; Hattori N et al.; In a biomass assay based on adenosine 5(')-triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence, extracellular ATP is removed; then intracellular ATP is extracted from the microorganism by an ATP extractant and subsequently reacted with luciferase . To provide a highly sensitive assay, the concentration of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in the ATP extractant was optimized by using a mutant luciferase resistant to BAC . The use of 0.2% BAC, which was acceptable for the luciferase, simultaneously achieved the maximum extraction of intracellular ATP from microorganisms and the inactivation of the ATP-eliminating enzymes for removal of extracellular ATP . The detection limit (blank+3 SD) for ATP was 1.8x10(-14)M (1.8x10(-18)mol/assay) in the presence of the ATP extractant with coefficients of variation of 0.7 to 6.3% . The reagent system coupled with the ATP-eliminating enzymes allowed for the detection of 93 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, 170CFU/ml of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, 170CFU/ml of Proteus mirabilis ATCC 29906, 68CFU/ml of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and 7.7CFU/ml of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051 . The yeast cell of Saccharomyces cerevisiae IFO 10217 could be detected at 1CFU/ml . With 54 kinds of microorganisms, the average ATP extraction efficiency compared to the trichloroacetic acid extraction method was 81.0% in 24 strains among gram-negative bacteria, 99.4% in 13 strains among gram-positive bacteria, and 97.0% in 17 strains among yeast . The ATP contents of the gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and yeasts ranged from 0.40 to 2.70x10(-18)mol/CFU (mean=1.5x10(-18)mol/CFU), from 0.41 to 16.7x10(-18)mol/CFU (mean=5.5x10(-18)mol/CFU), and from 0.714 to 54.6x10(-16)mol/CFU (mean=8.00x10(-16)mol/CFU), respectively.

Eur J Biochem, 2003 Aug, 270(15), 3182 - 8
Structure of the O-polysaccharide from Proteus myxofaciens . Classification of the bacterium into a new Proteus-O-serogroup; Sidorczyk Z et al.; The O-polysaccharide (O-antigen) was obtained from the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus myxofaciens, a Proteus strain producing copious amounts of slime, which was isolated from the gypsy moth larvae . The structure of the polysaccharide was studied by chemical analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY and H-detected 1H,13C HMQC experiments . It was found that the polysaccharide contains an amide of glucuronic acid (GlcA) with an unusual alpha-linked amino acid, Nepsilon-{(R)-1-carboxyethyl}-l-lysine (2S,8R-alaninolysine, 2S,8R-AlaLys), and has a linear tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the following structure: This structure is unique among known bacterial polysaccharide structures . On the basis of these and serological data, it is proposed that P . myxofaciens be classified into a new Proteus serogroup, O60, of which this strain is the single representative . Structural and serological relatedness of P . myxofaciens to other AlaLys-containing O-antigens of Proteus and Providencia is discussed.

Indian J Med Res, 2003 Jan, 117, 13 - 8
AmpC beta-lactamase producing multidrug resistant strains of Klebsiella spp . & Escherichia coli isolated from children under five in Chennai; Subha A et al.; BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: AmpC beta-lactamases are Group I cephalosporinases that confer resistance to a wide variety of beta-lactam drugs . Plasmid mediated AmpC beta-lactamases has been discovered most frequently in isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, K . oxytoca, Salmonella, Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli . The present study was undertaken to study the occurrence of multidrug resistant and AmpC beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella spp . and Escherichia coli in children less than five years of age as this age group is very susceptible to intestinal and extraintestinal infections . METHODS: A total of 116 isolates of Klebsiella species and 32 isolates of Esch . coli were tested for resistance to cephamycin such as cefoxitin, third generation cephalosporin (3GC) antibiotics (ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone), ampicillin, amikacin, cephaloridine, cefuroxime, co-trimoxazole, gentamycin, imipenem and tetracycline by disc diffusion method . Isolates found resistant to cefoxitin were tested for the production of AmpC beta-lactamases by three dimensional extract method . Transconjugation experiments were done to study the transfer of drug resistance and AmpC beta lactamase production from AmpC producing Klebsiella and Esch . coli isolates to a recipient Esch . coli strain (K12 J62-2) . RESULTS: Twenty eight isolates (24.1%) of Klebsiella spp . and 12 (37.5%) of Esch . coli were found to be AmpC beta-lactamase producers; 66.6 per cent and 81 per cent of Klebsiella and Esch . coli isolates respectively showed resistance to all the 3GCs . All the strains were found to be sensitive to imipenem . Eighty four (72%) of Klebsiella isolates and 20 (62.5%) of Esch . coli were found to be resistant to cefoxitin . Transfer of cefoxitin resistance to the recipient strain was observed in all the AmpC producing strains of Klebsiella spp . Of the 12 AmpC producing strains of Esch . coli, only 4 (33.3%) showed the transfer of cefoxitin resistance to the recipient strain . INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: This study has shown the occurrence of AmpC beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella and Esch . coli strains in children in Chennai . Since AmpC beta-lactamase production is frequently accompanied by multiresistance to antibiotics, therapeutic options become limited resulting a need for new measures for the management of Klebsiella and Esch . coli infections . Also failure to identify AmpC beta-lactamase producers may lead to inappropriate antimicrobial treatment and may result in increased mortality . Detecting plasmid mediated AmpC beta-lactamase producing strains is technically difficult and the phenotypic tests for AmpC detection are not well defined . If an investigational AmpC beta-lactamase inhibitor was made available for diagnostic testing, it could be useful in combination with a suitable cephamycin to confirm AmpC production.

Planta Med, 2003 Jun, 69(6), 552 - 4
Antiviral activity of N-benzoylphenylisoserinates of Lactarius sesquiterpenoid alcohols in vitro; Krawczyk E et al.; Cytotoxic, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties of a new, originally synthesised group of compounds: the N-benzoylphenylisoserinates of sesquiterpenoid alcohols - derivatives of taxol and various sesquiterpenes of Lactarius origin were evaluated in vitro . Among 16 compounds tested, 6 decreased HSV-1 titres . Selectivity indices ranged from 13.9 to 31.7 . No activity against RNA viruses (parainfluenza 3, Coxsackie B3, vesicular stomatitis virus, and encephalomyocarditis virus), bacteria: Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Bacteroides fragilis and fungal strain of Candida albicans was detected.

Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2003 Jun, 990, 302 - 10
Real-time PCR duplex assay for Rickettsia prowazekii and Borrelia recurrentis; Jiang J et al.; Rickettsia prowazekii, the etiologic agent for epidemic typhus, and Borrelia recurrentis, the etiologic agent of relapsing fever, both utilize the same vector, the human body louse (Pediculus humanus), to transmit human disease . We have developed an assay to detect both bacterial pathogens in a single tube utilizing real-time PCR . Assays for both agents are specific . The R . prowazekii and B . recurrentis assays do not detect nucleic acid from R . typhi, R . canada, or any of eight spotted fever rickettsiae . In addition they did not react with Neorickettsia risticii, N . sennetsu, Franciscella persica, Bartonella quintana, Legionella pneumophila, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus . Moreover, the B . recurrentis assay did not detect B . duttonii, B . coriaceae, B . afzelii, B . garinii, B . hermsii, or B . burgdorferi nucleic acid . Both assays detected repeatedly only R . prowazekii or B . recurrentis either when tested alone or together in one test tube.

Pigment Cell Res, 2003 Aug, 16(4), 345 - 50
Biogenesis of melanosomes in Kupffer cells of Proteus anguinus (Urodela, Amphibia); Prelovsek PM et al.; The ultrastructural characteristics of melanosomes and premelanosomes observed during the biogenesis of melanosomes in liver pigment cells of the neotenic cave salamander Proteus anguinus (Proteidae) are described . It is well known that amphibian liver pigment cells, also known as Kupffer cells (KC), contain melanosomes and are able to synthesize melanin . Liver pigment cells of P . anguinus contain numerous siderosomes and melanosomes . The melanosomes are grouped together within single-membrane-bounded bodies, named as 'clusters of melanosomes' or 'melanosomogenesis centers' . Inside such clusters, different structures are present: (1) filament-like structures, characteristic of the initial stage of melanosome biogenesis, (2) medium electron-dense melanosomes in different stages of melanization, (3) melanosomes with an electron-dense cortical area and a less electron-dense medullar area, and (4) uniformly highly electron-dense mature melanosomes or melanin granules . Histochemical and cytochemical dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) oxidase reactions in pigment cells were positive . Our results confirm the ability of amphibian KC to synthesize melanin and contribute to this little known subject.

Clin Exp Dermatol, 2003 Jul, 28(4), 387 - 90
Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (Haberland syndrome) with bilateral cutaneous and visceral involvement; Rubegni P et al.; Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis, or Haberland syndrome, is a rare congenital neurocutaneous disease . It is characterized clinically by unilateral lipomatous hamartomata of the scalp, eyelid, and outer globe of the eye, ipsilateral porencephalic cysts with cortical atrophy, cranial asymmetry, marked developmental delay and mental retardation . This syndrome should be distinguished from other mosaic neurocutaneous phenotypes such as as Delleman syndrome, Schimmelpenning syndrome, Goltz syndrome, Goldenhar syndrome and Proteus syndrome . Here we report a case of Haberland syndrome with bilateral involvement which underscores the extreme heterogeneity of clinical presentation of this and related syndromes.

J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2001 Jan-Feb, 2(1), 34 - 40
Antimicrobial resistance patterns among urine isolates from patients in a geriatric hospital and from older patients in a general hospital in Jerusalem; Marcus EL et al.; INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE: Urinary tract infection is the most common cause of nosocomial infections in patients hospitalized in chronic care facilities . The changing spectrum of microorganisms involved in urinary tract infections and the emerging resistance require continuous monitoring to provide crucial information to guide empirical therapy and encourage prudent use of antibiotics . The aim of this survey was to assess the antimicrobial resistance profile of urine isolates from patients hospitalized in a geriatric hospital and from elderly patients hospitalized in an acute care hospital in order to guide empirical therapy of urinary tract infections . METHODS: The survey was performed in two hospitals in Jerusalem: a university-affiliated geriatric hospital- Herzog -and an acute secondary- and tertiary-care university hospital- Hadassah . We performed a retrospective analysis of antimicrobial resistance of all positive urine cultures obtained from patients in the geriatric division of Herzog Hospital and from patients aged 65 years and older hospitalized in the Internal Medicine departments in Hadassah Hospital during a 1-year period . RESULTS: The most common bacteria isolated from urine specimens in Herzog Hospital were, in order of frequency, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . We demonstrated a high rate of antimicrobial resistance of those bacteria in both hospitals . The pattern we observed necessitates recommending ceftazidime as the most appropriate empirical therapy for urinary tract infection in Herzog Hospital . In Hadassah Hospital we recommend cefuroxime for those patients in good general condition and ceftazidime for those who present with clinical sepsis . Antimicrobial resistance patterns should be assessed periodically and recommendations modified accordingly . Infection control guidelines should be implemented in order to try to decrease the rate of antimicrobial resistance . Further research is requested to assess the efficacy of such interventions in long-term care facilities.

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Jun 23, 338(13), 1431 - 5
Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O44: a new O-antigen that contains an amide of D-glucuronic acid with L-alanine; Toukach FV et al.; The O-polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O44, strain PrK 67/57 was studied by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, H-detected 1H, 13C HMQC, HMQC-TOCSY and HMBC experiments . The polysaccharide was found to contain an amide of D-glucuronic acid with L-alanine {D-GlcA6(L-Ala)}, and the following structure of the linear pentasaccharide repeating unit was established: {structure: see text} . The structural data of the O-polysaccharide and the results of serological studies with P . vulgaris O44 O-antiserum showed that the strain studied is unique among Proteus bacteria, which is in agreement with its classification in a separate Proteus serogroup, O44.

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Jun 23, 338(13), 1425 - 30
Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Providencia alcalifaciens O21 containing 3-formamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-galactose; Kocharova NA et al.; The O-polysaccharide (O-antigen) of Providencia alcalifaciens O21 was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide and studied by chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy . It was found that the polysaccharide is built up of branched pentasaccharide repeating units with a terminal residue of 3-formamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-galactose (D-Fuc3NFo) and has the following structure: {structure: see text} . Anti-P . alcalifaciens O21 serum cross-reacted with the O-antigen of Proteus vulgaris O47, which contains a GalNAc trisaccharide similar to that present in the P . alcalifaciens O21 O-polysaccharide.

Vasc Endovascular Surg, 2003 May-Jun, 37(3), 213 - 7
Mycotic aneurysm of the internal carotid artery--a case report; Angle N et al.; Extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) mycotic aneurysms are rare entities that may result in significant neurologic morbidity and mortality . Several operative techniques have been described in the literature for the management of this difficult condition . This case report describes a contained ruptured mycotic aneurysm of the extracranial ICA associated with Proteus mirabilis infection successfully treated by an end-to-end spatulated interposition saphenous vein graft.

J Chemother, 2003 Apr, 15(2), 118 - 23
Comparative bactericidal activity of fluoroquinolones against clinical isolates resistant to fluoroquinolones; Drago L et al.; The bactericidal activity of levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin and norfloxacin against clinical isolates conventionally classified as resistant to fluoroquinolones were compared at their maximum concentrations in serum, urine (except moxifloxacin) and bronchial mucosa (except norfloxacin) . Time killing curves against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were performed . Serum concentrations of the tested drugs were not able to produce a bactericidal effect on fluoroquinolone-resistant strains . In the urine series, levofloxacin was always bactericidal (decrease > or = 3 logs CFU/ml), while norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin were bactericidal on E . coli (both), P . mirabilis (norfloxacin) and P . aeruginosa (ciprofloxacin) . In the bronchial mucosa series, S . pneumoniae was rapidly killed by levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, and K . pneumoniae by levofloxacin after 12 hours . In conclusion, the maximum levofloxacin concentrations achievable at certain body sites allowed killing even of strains defined as resistant by conventional breakpoints.

Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2003 Jun, 21(6), 547 - 56
Antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria from Intensive Care Units and Urology Services . A nationwide study in The Netherlands 1995-2000; Hoogkamp-Korstanje JA et al.; A nationwide 6-year surveillance of resistance in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical specimens of patients from ten Intensive Care Units and ten Urology Services was started in 1995 . MICs of amoxycillin, amoxycillin/clavulanate, trimethoprim, cotrimoxazole, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, cefaclor, ceftazidime, imipenem and gentamicin were determined by broth microdilution . Intensive Care Units had higher resistance levels of amoxycillin/clavulanate, cefaclor and ceftazidime (P<0.005) and lower resistance levels of nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim, cotrimoxazole and quinolones (P<0.01) than Urology Services . Changes in MIC distributions in time and development of resistant clusters were observed for nitrofurantoin (E . coli), amoxycillin (E . coli, P . mirabilis), amoxycillin/clavulanate (E . coli) and for quinolones (E . coli) . The overall resistance level of ceftazidime and gentamicin was <5%, but this fluctuated with the appearance and disappearance of resistant clones in some Intensive Care Units . Quinolone resistance among P . aeruginosa from Intensive Care Units fluctuated between 7 and 14%.

West Afr J Med, 2003 Jan-Mar, 22(1), 50 - 4
A survey of common pathogens in wound in patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (U.P.T.H), Port Harcourt; Wariso BA et al.; During a 30-month period, January 1996 to June 1998, a total of 2458 wound swab samples were collected, cultured and identified . In descending order of frequency, the organisms isolated include: Staphylococcus aureus (31.60%), Escherichia coli (25.97%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.21%), Klebsiella species (10.82%), Proteus species (8.23%), non-haemolytic streptococci (1.29%), Beta-haemolytic streptococcus (0.43%) and Candida albicans (0.43%) . The variation in frequency of the isolates according to sex, age and ward is reported . The antibiotic sensitivity pattern of these isolates is also presented.

West Afr J Med, 2003 Jan-Mar, 22(1), 30 - 4
Aetiological agents, clinical features and outcome of septicaemia in infants in Ibadan; Ayoola OO et al.; The present study sought to determine the prevalence, clinical features and bacterial aetiological agents of septicaemia in post-neonatal infants (age 1-12 months) presenting with fever at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria . STUDY SETTING: It was carried out at the Otunba Tunwase Children Emergency Ward (OTCHEW) (a 40 bedded ward) of the Department of Paediatrics, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria . PATIENTS: All postneonatal infants aged 1-12 months presenting with fever and who had not had antibiotic treatment in the week prior to presentation during the period June to November 1998 were enrolled in the study . Each child had a full clinical evaluation followed by a blood culture . RESULTS: The infants comprised 56 (54.9%) males and 46 (45.1%) females . The mean age was 5.6 (SD 0.3) months . The prevalence of septicaemia in the infants studied was 38.2% . Clinical features associated with increased risk of septicaemia among these infants were age < or = 6 months, restlessness and a total white cell count > or = 15000/mm3 . The organisms isolated in the infants studied were Escherichia coli (35.9% of positive cultures) . Staphylococcus aureus (33.3%), Klebsiella species (10.3%), Streptococcus species (7.7%), Proteus species (5.1%), Pseudomonas species (5.1%) and Salmonella species (2.6%) . Mortality was significantly higher in patients with septicaemia (25.7% compared with those without septicaemia (7.9%) . CONCLUSIONS: Thirty eight percent of febrile infants presenting in this study had positive bacteria blood cultures, the most common organisms being Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Few clinical features distinguished febrile infants with septicaemia from those without . It is recommended that febrile infants in our setting with clinical features associated with increased risk of septicaemia should be treated emprically with antibiotics since the probability of having septicaemia is significant.

Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Ke Za Zhi, 2000 Jun, 35(3), 196 - 9
{An observation on long-term influence of middle ear bacterial infection on inner ear function and systemic immune reaction}; Zou J et al.; OBJECTIVE: To understand whether long-term inner ear heat shock response related to heat shock protein(HSP70) caused by middle ear bacterial infection and the potential influence on inner ear function . METHODS: Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly classified into 6 groups including Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pyocyaneus, Bacillus coli, Bacillus proteus and physiological saline control groups . On 135 days after injection, distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) was tested and all the samples were collected, which were examined with light and electronic microscopes . HSP70 related molecule expression in inner ear, nuclear factor (NF) kappa Bp65 characterization in mononuclear cell, anti-KP antibody and anti-membranous labyrinth proteins (MLP) were examined . RESULTS: No nuclear transfer of NF kappa Bp65 was observed in any animal . Anti-KP antibody was detected in 30% (3/10) of Staphylococcus aureus group, 29% (2/7) of KP group, 33% (3/9) of Bacillus pyocyaneus group and 10% (1/10) of control group . Anti-MLP antibody was created in 20% (2/10) of Staphylococcus aureus group, 20% (2/10) of KP group, one each in Bacillus pyocyaneus group and control group respectively . Double positive antibody against KP and MLP were found in Staphylococcus aureus group and KP group . When analyzed with Western blot, all the positive bands were small molecules including strongest 26,000-30,000, medium degree 38,000-41,000 and weak 46,000-50,000 except for 68,000 in one case . There was only one significant DPOAE amplification decrease at 1,625 Hz (2f1-f2) in left ear of Bacillus pyocyaneus group and right ear of Bacillus proteus group . No abnormal phenomenon was found in inner ear both under light microscope and electronic microscope . No significant expression of HSP70 was observed in inner ears . CONCLUSION: No long-term heat shock response related to HSP70 existed in the inner ear and the immune inner ear damage may be caused by multiplefactors.

Biochemistry (Mosc), 2003 Apr, 68(4), 446 - 57
New structures of the O-specific polysaccharides of Proteus . 3 . Polysaccharides containing non-carbohydrate organic acids; Kondakova AN et al.; Four new Proteus O-specific polysaccharides were isolated by mild acid degradation from the lipopolysaccharides of P . penneri 28 (1), P . vulgaris O44 (2), P . mirabilis G1 (O3) (3), and P . myxofaciens (4), and their structures were elucidated using NMR spectroscopy and chemical methods . They were found to contain non-carbohydrate organic acids, including ether-linked lactic acid and amide-linked amino acids, and the following structures of the repeating units were established: {Figure: see text}, where (S)-Lac and (R)-aLys stand for (S)-1-carboxyethyl (residue of lactic acid) and N(epsilon)-{(R)-1-carboxyethyl}-L-lysine ("alaninolysine"), respectively . The data obtained in this work and earlier serve as the chemical basis for classification of the bacteria Proteus.

Medicina (Kaunas), 2003, 39 Suppl 1, 59 - 63
{Long-term Cefadroxil prophylaxis in children with recurrent urinary tract infections}; Baciulis V et al.; The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose, long-term cefadroxil prophylaxis in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in children . A prospective, randomized trial in 33 children (32 female, 1 male) aged 2-14 years (mean 8.1+/-2.8) was conducted . Children with recurrent urinary tract infections were commenced to six-month prophylaxis with cefadroxil at the dosage of 12.5-15.0 mg/kg at bedtime administered every night (group I, n=15) or alternate night (group II, n=18) . Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated agent (90.9%), followed by Proteus mirabilis (3.0%) and Klebsiella oxytoca (3.0%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (3.0%) . Cefadroxil prophylaxis was effective in 80% of patients in group I and in 78% patients in group II . Reinfection occurred in 3/15 (20%) patients in-group I and in 4/18 (22.2%) patients in-group II (odds ratio - 1.14; 95% confidence interval - 0.16-8.3) . The difference of reinfection rate between the groups was not significant (p=0.88) . The rate of day- and night-time wetting in both groups before prophylaxis of urinary tract infections was high . It decreased significantly at the end of prophylactic treatment with cefadroxil (from 42.4% to 9.1% and from 39.4% to 6.1% respectively) . Mild adverse reaction (nausea) was observed in 1/33 patient . In conclusion our study shows that cefadroxil is an effective, well-tolerated and safe agent in the urinary tract infections prophylaxis . Prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infections in children with cefadroxil on alternate night regimen might reduce the cost of the treatment.

J Biomed Inform, 2002 Aug, 35(4), 236 - 46
Information extraction for enhanced access to disease outbreak reports; Grishman R et al.; Document search is generally based on individual terms in the document . However, for collections within limited domains it is possible to provide more powerful access tools . This paper describes a system designed for collections of reports of infectious disease outbreaks . The system, Proteus-BIO, automatically creates a table of outbreaks, with each table entry linked to the document describing that outbreak; this makes it possible to use database operations such as selection and sorting to find relevant documents . Proteus-BIO consists of a Web crawler which gathers relevant documents; an information extraction engine which converts the individual outbreak events to a tabular database; and a database browser which provides access to the events and, through them, to the documents . The information extraction engine uses sets of patterns and word classes to extract the information about each event . Preparing these patterns and word classes has been a time-consuming manual operation in the past, but automated discovery tools now make this task significantly easier . A small study comparing the effectiveness of the tabular index with conventional Web search tools demonstrated that users can find substantially more documents in a given time period with Proteus-BIO.

Harefuah, 2003 Apr, 142(4), 249 - 52, 320, 319
{Community acquired urinary tract infection among hospitalized children in northern Israel: pathogens, susceptibility patterns and urinary tract anomalies}; Sakran W et al.; BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common diseases in children . Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has been demonstrated in a substantial number of young children with UTI . Empiric antibacterial therapy is recommended before results of the urine culture are available in order to shorten the duration of the disease and prevent renal complications . OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence and susceptibility patterns of UTI pathogens, and urinary anomalies in children admitted with UTI . METHODS: The study population included 151 children younger than 14 years admitted with first UTI . Renal ultrasound was performed in all the patients and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) in children younger than 5 years . Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan was performed in children with vesicoureteral reflux . The data included age, sex, symptoms and signs, urinalysis, the pathogen and its sensitivity and the results of the imaging studies . RESULTS: A total of 119 patients (79%) were females . Gram negative rods caused 98% of the infections, of which Escherichia coli (87%) was the most prevalent pathogen, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (4%), and Proteus mirabilis (4%) . The sensitivities to antibacterial agents were: Amikacin 100%, ceftazidime 97%, gentamicin 96%, ceftriaxone 96%, cefuroxime 95%, amoxicillin-clavulanate 84%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 63%, cephalexin 58%, and ampicillin 28% . Renal US showed minor abnormalities in 24/149 (16%) and VCUG demonstrated vesicoureteral reflux in 38/127 (30%) patients . DMSA revealed renal scars in 7/28 (25%) children with vesicoureteral reflux . CONCLUSIONS: Overall Gram negative rods cause 98% of the UTI in hospitalized children in our area . E . coli is the leading pathogen and aminoglycosides and second or third generation cephalosporins are the most suitable agents for empiric therapy in UTI . A high incidence of renal scars in young children with vesicoureteral reflux was found.

Lett Appl Microbiol, 2003, 36(6), 343 - 8
Production of dyestuffs from indole derivatives by naphthalene dioxygenase and toluene dioxygenase; Kim JY et al.; AIMS: To isolate and characterize the phorate {O,O-diethyl-S-(ethylthio)methyl phosphoradiothioate} degrading bacteria from agricultural soil, and their assessment for multifarious biological activities of environmental and agronomic significance . METHODS AND RESULTS: Based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics, the selected isolates PS-1, PS-2 and PS-3 were presumptively identified as Rhizobium, Pseudomonas and Proteus species, respectively . The HPLC analysis of phorate in bioaugmented soil revealed its complete disappearance within 40 days . The degradation isotherms of the isolates PS-1, PS-2 and PS-3 suggested time-dependent disappearance of phorate following the first-order rate kinetics at the corresponding rate constants of 0.04, 0.05 and 0.04 d-1 . Besides, the isolates concurrently exhibited substantial phosphate solubilization, indole acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore production, as well as limited biocontrol activity against fungal phytopathogens . CONCLUSIONS, SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The data revealed the potential of isolates for collateral plant growth promotion, biocontrol and bioremediation . The selected strains may serve as an important bioresource for development of effective super-bioinoculants.

Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue, 2003 Apr, 9(2), 118 - 21
{Etiology and management of persistent hematospermia: a pilot study}; Zhang K et al.; OBJECTIVES: To study the etiology of persistent hematospermia and to evaluate the efficacy of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided transperineal needle aspiration and irrigation for diagnosis and treatment of persistent hematospermia . METHODS: Twelve patients were included in the study, with a mean age of (36.4 +/- 10.8) years old, and a mean duration of the disease of (13.9 +/- 6.4) months . After the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) by prostatic massage was cultured, patients with recurrent hematospermia received TRUS-guided transperineal needle aspiration for seminal vesicle fluid (SVF), which was sent for bacteriological and cytological examination . If the EPS culture were positive, certain antibiotics according to the drug sensitivity assay were injected into the abnormal seminal vesicle(s) via TRUS-guided transperineal needle puncture . The treatment would be repeated one month later if the patients still had hematospermia . The patients were followed up every three months . RESULTS: Abnormal images were found in left seminal vesicle (SV) in 4 cases, right in 3 cases, bilateral in 2 cases, and no abnormal findings in 3 cases . The abnormal findings included: 7 cases of SV and/or ejaculatory duct dilation, 3 cases of thickening SV wall, 3 cases of calcification or calculi of SV, and 1 case of Mullerian duct cyst . SVF cultures were positive in 7 cases: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) 4 cases, methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS), E . Coli, Proteus mirabilis 1 case, respectively . In five of these 7 cases, bacteriological cultures of SVF and EPS showed the same results . All patients were treated by TRUS-guided transperineal injection of certain antibiotics into SV . Seven cases were injected once, 5 cases twice . The mean follow-up period of 10 patients was (16.7 +/- 5.9) months . Hematospermia disappeared in 6 cases . CONCLUSIONS: SV infection of bacteria, especially infection of the drug resistant strains was one of the main causes of persistent hematospermia . The difficulties in treatment of persistent hematospermia were due to infection of drug resistant bacteria, calcification or calculi of SV, obstruction of ejaculatory duct . TRUS-guided transperineal aspiration of SVF was helpful to the etiologic diagnosis of persistent hematospermia.

J Med Microbiol, 2003 Jun, 52(Pt 6), 471 - 7
Crystallization of urine mineral components may depend on the chemical nature of Proteus endotoxin polysaccharides; Torzewska A et al.; Formation of infectious urinary calculi is the most common complication accompanying urinary tract infections by members of the genus Proteus . The major factor involved in stone formation is the urease produced by these bacteria, which causes local supersaturation and crystallization of magnesium and calcium phosphates as carbonate apatite {Ca(10)(PO(4))(6).CO(3)} and struvite (MgNH(4)PO(4).6H(2)O), respectively . This effect may also be enhanced by bacterial polysaccharides . Macromolecules of such kind contain negatively charged residues that are able to bind Ca(2+) and Mg(2+), leading to the accumulation of these ions around bacterial cells and acceleration of the crystallization process . The levels of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) ions bound by whole Proteus cells were measured, as well as the chemical nature of isolated LPS polysaccharides, and the intensity of the in vitro crystallization process was compared in a synthetic urine . The results suggest that the sugar composition of Proteus LPS may either enhance or inhibit the crystallization of struvite and apatite, depending on its chemical structure and ability to bind cations . This points to the increased importance of endotoxin in urinary tract infections.

Carbohydr Res, 2003 May 23, 338(11), 1191 - 6
Structural and serological studies of the O-antigen of Proteus mirabilis O-9; Kondakova AN et al.; The following structure of the O-polysaccharide (O-antigen) of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O-9 was determined by NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,(1)H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, and 1H,(13)C HMQC experiments, along with chemical methods: {chemical structure: see text} where the degree of O-acetylation is approximately 70% . Immunochemical studies using rabbit polyclonal anti-Proteus mirabilis O-9 serum showed the importance of the O-acetyl groups in manifesting the serological specificity of the O-9 antigen . Anti-P . mirabilis O-9 cross-reacted with the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of P . vulgaris O-25 and Proteus penneri 14, which could be accounted for by a structural similarity of their O-polysaccharides.

J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 2003 Mar, 36(1), 56 - 60
Is combination antimicrobial therapy required for urinary tract infection in children?
Lu KC, Chen PY, Huang FL, Yu HW, Kao CH, Fu LS, Chi CS, Lau YJ, Lin JF.
This retrospective study examined the characteristics of 338 pediatric patients presenting with a first episode of symptomatic urinary tract infection at Taichung Veterans General Hospital from November 1996 to December 2001 . Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (72.5%), followed by Proteus mirabilis (8.3%), Enterococcus (5.6%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.7%) . They were more susceptible to first-generation cephalosporin in comparison with other first-line antimicrobial agents such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, and gentamicin . Two hundred and eighty-seven (84.9%) of the 338 patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of antibiotic treatment received, and the susceptibility rate and the averaged day of defervescence after effective antibiotic therapy were compared among the groups . Group 1 consisted of those patients treated with cefazolin or cephalexin alone (95%, 2.1 days); Group 2, cefazolin plus gentamicin (88.9%, 2.8 days); and Group 3, ampicillin plus gentamicin (76.1%, 2.3 days) . A total of 38 (13.2%) cases from the 3 antibiotic groups did not respond to empiric antibiotics . For non-susceptible infections, when the antibiotic regimen was switched from cefazolin plus gentamicin to ampicillin alone, only 4 (20%) strains became susceptible, compared with 10 strains (62.5%) becoming susceptible after switching from ampicillin plus gentamicin to cefazolin alone (p < 0.01) . The results indicated that first-generation cephalosporin alone is an appropriate treatment for pediatric cases of community-acquired urinary tract infection and suggest that antimicrobial combinations should be reserved for serious or critical cases.

J Rheumatol, 2003 May, 30(5), 972 - 8
Cytotoxicity responses to peptide antigens in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis; Wilson C et al.; OBJECTIVE: To measure levels of IgG antibodies against structurally related synthetic peptides of HLA-DRB1*0404, type XI collagen, and Proteus mirabilis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and HLA-B*2705 and Klebsiella pneumoniae in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to determine whether sera from RA and AS patients are cytotoxic for sheep red blood cells (SRBC) coated with HLA-DRB1*0404, type XI collagen, or HLA-B*2705 . METHODS: Sera from 51 patients with RA, 34 with AS, and 38 healthy controls were tested against synthetic EQRRAA, ESRRAL, LRREI, and IRRET peptides by ELISA . Sera from patients and controls were also tested for reactivity in complement mediated cytotoxicity with SRBC coated with EQRRAA and HLA-B*2705, LRREI peptides . RESULTS: Antibodies to synthetic peptides containing EQRRAA, ESRRAL, LRREI, and IRRET were significantly increased in RA patients compared with AS patients (p < 0.001) and controls (p < 0.001) . The percentage lysis data for SRBC coated with EQRRAA and LRREI peptides were significantly higher for RA sera (p < 0.001) compared to control sera . Percentage lysis for SRBC coated with HLA-B*2705 peptide was significantly higher for AS sera (p < 0.001) compared to control sera . CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that antibodies against antigenic determinants of P . mirabilis in RA and K . pneumoniae in AS have cytotoxic properties on structurally related host proteins . These cytotoxic antibodies together with T cell interactions could be relevant in the etiopathogenesis of RA and AS.

Am J Infect Control, 2003 May, 31(3), 135 - 43
Microbiologic profile of intra-abdominal infections at Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Santos SG et al.; Intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) represent one of the most common clinical problems in hospital practice, especially in surgical areas and centers of intensive care . The treatment of IAIs generally involves the draining of abscesses and empirical antimicrobial therapy . In this study, among 150 patients suffering from IAI, 106 (70.7%) yielded samples that presented microbial growth . Polyinfection was detected in 51.9% of the cases and varied from 2 to 9 distinct microbes per specimen . The overall mean number of micro-organisms isolated per patient was 2.17 . Aerobic bacteria (as strict aerobes and facultative anaerobes), strict anaerobic bacteria, and fungi of the genus Candida represented 93.4%, 30.2%, and 13.2% of the cases positive for micro-organisms, respectively . The most common aerobic bacteria were those of the genera Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Proteus, and Streptococcus . Despite the frequent prior use (52%) with antimicrobials of recognized action against strict anaerobes, these micro-organisms constituted 30.9% of the total isolates, and the most frequently found were of the Bacteroides fragilis group and Prevotella species . The high prevalence of anaerobes in the specimens obtained from IAI demonstrates the need to give greater importance to these micro-organisms by making available material and human resources to carry out culture of the anaerobes as part of routine hospital procedures.

Lupus, 2003, 12(4), 317 - 20
Ruptured renal microaneurysms complicated with a retroperitoneal abscess for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus; Tsai YG et al.; Renal artery aneurysm is extremely rare among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.(SLE) . Herein, we report on a 22-year-old male lupus patient who presented with acute abdominal pain, anemia and subsequent hypertension . Abdominal computed tomography revealed a peri-renal hematoma over the right kidney . A renal angiography revealed bilateral renal microaneurysms . The patient subsequently developed a right-side retroperitoneal abscess 4 weeks after hematoma formation and received an emergent laparotomy with drainage . Subsequent culture ofthe abscess-derived fluid revealed the presence of Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli . Following appropriate antipyretic and immunosuppressive drugs therapy, the patient recovered successfully . To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of SLE associated with a retro-peritoneal abscess probably secondary to a ruptured renal microaneurysm.

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2003 May 15, 36(1-2), 103 - 10
Evaluation of Proteus mirabilis structural fimbrial proteins as antigens against urinary tract infections; Pellegrino R et al.; Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of urinary tract infection (UTI) and produce several types of different fimbriae, including mannose-resistant/Proteus-like fimbriae, uroepithelial cell adhesin (UCA), and P . mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) . Different authors have related these fimbriae with different aspects of P . mirabilis pathogenesis, although the precise role of fimbriae in UTI has not yet been elucidated . In this work we expressed and purified recombinant structural fimbrial proteins of these fimbriae (MrpA, UcaA, and PmfA) and assessed their role as protective antigens using an ascending and a haematogenous model of UTI in the mouse . MrpA protected subcutaneously immunised mice in both models, suggesting that it could be taken into account as a promising vaccine candidate against P . mirabilis UTI . UcaA could also be an interesting subunit to be studied although it only protected mice that were challenged intravenously . All subunits elicited a strong specific serum IgG response but there was no significant correlation between antibody levels and protection . Only PmfA-immunised mice elicited a significant urinary antibody response but this protein was unable to confer protection against P . mirabilis experimental challenges . These results may contribute to the development of vaccines against P . mirabilis, an important cause of complicated UTI.

An Pediatr (Barc), 2003 May, 58(5), 496 - 501
{Proteus syndrome: report of two cases}; Velazquez Fragua R et al.; Proteus syndrome is a complex disorder, consisting of mesodermal and skeletal malformations as well as hamartomatous overgrowth . It is characterized by highly variable presentation and mosaic-pattern lesions . The two cases described herein illustrate the wide polymorphism of this syndrome . The second case also had a pubic fracture, which we have not previously seen reported in the medical literature on Proteus syndrome.

Phytother Res, 2003 Apr, 17(4), 414 - 6
In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of leaf essential oils of Chukrasia tabularis Adr Juss and Melia dubia Cav (Meliaceae); Nagalakshmi MA et al.; The essential oils of Chukrasia tabularis and Melia dubia were tested for their antimicrobial activity against ten different pathogenic microorganisms responsible for human pathologies using standard antimicrobial assays . Chukrasia tabularis leaf oil exhibited strong antibiotic activities against Proteus vulgaris and Fusarium oxysporum and did not show any activity against the tested bacteria . Melia dubia leaf essential oil exhibited bacteriostatic and fungistatic activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Fusarium oxysporum and Candida albicans respectively . The inhibitory activities of both essential oils are comparable with that of respective standards .

Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2003 Mar, 53(Pt 2), 617 - 24
Systematics of primary osmotrophic euglenids: a molecular approach to the phylogeny of Distigma and Astasia (Euglenozoa); Busse I et al.; Nuclear-encoded SSU rRNA genes from nine strains of Distigma and three strains of Astasia were sequenced and analysed phylogenetically with maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony methods . It could be demonstrated that the genus Distigma is paraphyletic, consisting of two distinct clades: one comprises four strains of the type species, Distigma proteus, and the other includes four strains of Distigma curvatum, Distigma gracile, Distigma sennii and Distigma elegans . These findings are well corroborated by morphological characteristics . The investigated species of Astasia are closely related to members of the Rhabdomonadida, thus rendering the genus Astasia polyphyletic, with Astasia longa branching within the phototrophs . All of the species investigated cluster in a well-supported group of primary osmotrophic euglenids that are not derived from photosynthetic ancestors . The recovered clades are characterized by their sequence diversity . After different evolutionary rates among lineages had been determined, a modified slow-fast approach was used to differentiate phylogenetic signal from noise . Finally, a revised systematic scheme based on phylogenetic relationships is suggested to render euglenid taxonomy more transparent: primary osmotrophic euglenids are classified as Aphagea, and members of the D . curvatum group are transferred into the new subgenus Parvonema.

J Mol Biol, 2003 May 2, 328(3), 623 - 34
Crystal structure of Proteus vulgaris chondroitin sulfate ABC lyase I at 1.9A resolution; Huang W et al.; Chondroitin Sulfate ABC lyase I from Proteus vulgaris is an endolytic, broad-specificity glycosaminoglycan lyase, which degrades chondroitin, chondroitin-4-sulfate, dermatan sulfate, chondroitin-6-sulfate, and hyaluronan by beta-elimination of 1,4-hexosaminidic bond to unsaturated disaccharides and tetrasaccharides . Its structure revealed three domains . The N-terminal domain has a fold similar to that of carbohydrate-binding domains of xylanases and some lectins, the middle and C-terminal domains are similar to the structures of the two-domain chondroitin lyase AC and bacterial hyaluronidases . Although the middle domain shows a very low level of sequence identity with the catalytic domains of chondroitinase AC and hyaluronidase, the residues implicated in catalysis of the latter enzymes are present in chondroitinase ABC I . The substrate-binding site in chondroitinase ABC I is in a wide-open cleft, consistent with the endolytic action pattern of this enzyme . The tryptophan residues crucial for substrate binding in chondroitinase AC and hyaluronidases are lacking in chondroitinase ABC I . The structure of chondroitinase ABC I provides a framework for probing specific functions of active-site residues for understanding the remarkably broad specificity of this enzyme and perhaps engineering a desired specificity . The electron density map showed clearly that the deposited DNA sequence for residues 495-530 of chondroitin ABC lyase I, the segment containing two putative active-site residues, contains a frame-shift error resulting in an incorrectly translated amino acid sequence.

Burns, 2003 May, 29(3), 235 - 8
Bacteriology of burns at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi; Komolafe OO et al.; A retrospective study to determine the bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of burn isolates at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Blantyre, Malawi was undertaken . While a total of 1825 burn patients were admitted to the hospital over a 6-year period (January 1994 to December 1999) only 317 (17.4%) specimens selected from as many patients were processed . One hundred and seventy (170/53.6%) specimens yielded single while the rest (147/46.4%) had multiple isolates giving a total of 535 bacterial isolates . Of this number, 236 (44.1%) were Gram-negatives and 299 (55.9%), Gram-positives . Among the Gram-negatives, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Coliforms/Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common accounting for 94.1% while in the Gram-positive group, staphylococcal and streptococcal spp . predominated (100%) . However, the three most common isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (37.6%), P . aeruginosa (22.4%) and beta-haemolytic streptococci (13.6%) . While S . aureus and beta-haemolytic streptococci were most susceptible to penicillin (33.3 and 64.4% susceptibility, respectively), gentamycin appeared most effective against P . aeruginosa (53.3%) . A general broad-spectrum resistance to panels of antibiotics used in the study was however observed among the bacterial isolates . From these results, S . aureus, P . aeruginosa, streptococcal spp., P . mirabilis, Coliforms and K . pneumoniae representing 96.4% of all isolates were the most common in the Burns Unit.

Bioelectrochemistry, 2003 Apr, 59(1-2), 121 - 7
Membrane fluidity sensoring microbial fuel cell; Choi Y et al.; A study has been performed to examine the effect of temperature and ethanolic stresses on the coulombic efficiency of a microbial fuel cell . The conventional-type fuel cell containing Gram-negative bacteria, Proteus vulgaris, was investigated as a model system . From current output measurements, it was found that the coulombic yields were altered by environmental stresses such as temperature shock or ethanol treatment to the bacteria . While high-temperature or ethanolic shock led to a remarkable decrement in coulombic output, the low-temperature shock induced a slight increase in microbial fuel cell efficiency . These results indicate that the membrane fluidity is affected considerably by environmental stress, which in turn affects the electron transfer process through the bacterial cell membrane to and from the electrode . This interpretation was confirmed by the cyclic voltammetric study of a mediator on an electrode surface modified with the lipids extracted from the membrane of P . vulgaris under the given stress . Markedly different electrochemical behaviors were observed depending on the environmental stress . A reciprocal relationship between coulomb output and the ratio of saturation/unsaturation of fatty acids has been observed . This is the first report, to our knowledge, that the structural adaptation of membrane fatty acids in response to the environmental shock can regulate the coulombic efficiency of a microbial fuel cell.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 2003 May, 51(5), 1175 - 9 Epub 2003 Apr 14.
Effects of mupirocin at subinhibitory concentrations on flagella formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis; Horii T et al.; Colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at trachea, nares and oropharynx can cause ventilator-acquired pneumonia . To identify beneficial effects of antibiotics on expression of virulence factors related to colonization by such pathogens, we evaluated the effect of mupirocin on flagella formation in P . aeruginosa and on motility and flagella formation in Proteus mirabilis . In P . aeruginosa, subinhibitory concentrations of mupirocin inhibited flagella formation, which was associated with reduced flagellin expression . In P . mirabilis, subinhibitory concentrations of mupirocin dose-dependently suppressed bacterial motility and flagella formation, again with reduced flagellin expression . Our results indicate that subinhibitory concentrations of mupirocin can suppress expression of virulence factors in P . aeruginosa and P . mirabilis.

Eur J Dermatol, 2003 Mar-Apr, 13(2), 196 - 8
A minimal form of Proteus syndrome presenting with macrodactyly and hand hyperplasia; Morelli F et al.; Proteus syndrome is a rare congenital disorder characterized by progressive course and great variability of clinical presentation with partial gigantism of extremities, hemihyperplasia with macrocephaly, epidermal nevus, mesodermal hamartomas and the presence of peculiar cerebriform masses on the palms/soles . Many atypical cases have been reported and this is probably due to the mosaicism of the genetic disorder displaying different clinical features . We describe a patient with an extremely mild form of Proteus syndrome presenting macrodactyly and hyperplasia of one hand which was misdiagnosed until the age of 33 years.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 2003, 51(1), 69 - 74
Immunochemical studies on the O-antigens of Proteus mirabilis O23 and Proteus vulgaris O23; Rozalski A et al.; Analysis by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy demonstrated that the O-specific polysaccharides of Proteus mirabilis PrK 42/57 and P . vulgaris PrK 43/57 are structurally similar to that of P . vulgaris PrK 44/57 and different from the polysaccharide of P . mirabilis PrK 41/57 studied earlier . The lipopolysaccharides of these strains were tested using enzyme immunosorbent assay, passive hemolysis and Western blot with O-antisera against P . mirabilis 42/57 and P . vulgaris 43/57 and 44/57, as well as with cross-absorbed O-antisera . The chemical and serological data revealed the basis for combining the four strains into Proteus serogroup O23 and division of this serogroup to three subgroups, one for P . vulgaris 43/57 and 44/57 and two others for P . mirabilis 41/57 and 42/57.

J Clin Microbiol, 2003 Apr, 41(4), 1673 - 80
Tandem tetramer-based microsatellite fingerprinting for typing of Proteus mirabilis strains; Cieslikowski T et al.; Two microsatellite tandem repeated tetramers, (GACA)(4) and (CAAT)(4), were used for Proteus mirabilis strain differentiation . The microsatellite-based PCR tests were applied for the examination of interstrain diversity for 87 P . mirabilis strains . Forty-six of the investigated strains were clinical isolates (5 were hospital isolates and 39 were outpatient clinic isolates); 42 strains were derived from the Kauffmann-Perch collection of laboratory strains . Fingerprinting done with the tetramers had a high discrimination ability {0.992 and 0.940 for (GACA)(4) and (CAAT)(4), respectively} . The distributions of clinical isolates among well-defined laboratory strains, determined by numerical analysis (unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages; Dice similarity coefficient), proved their genetic similarity to reference strains in the Kauffmann-Perch collection . This analysis also indicated that it is possible to estimate some phenotypic properties of P . mirabilis clinical isolates solely on the basis of microsatellite fingerprinting.

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Apr 22, 338(9), 1009 - 16
Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Providencia rustigianii O14 containing N(epsilon)-{(S)-1-carboxyethyl}-N(alpha)-(D-galacturonoyl)-L-lysine; Kocharova NA et al.; The O-specific polysaccharide of Providencia rustigianii O14 was obtained by mild acid degradation of the LPS and studied by chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,(1)H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, and 1H,(13)C HSQC experiments . The polysaccharide was found to contain N (epsilon)-{(S)-1-carboxyethyl}-N(alpha)-(D-galacturonoyl)-L-lysine ('alaninolysine', 2S,8S-AlaLys) . The amino acid component was isolated by acid hydrolysis and identified by 13C NMR spectroscopy and specific optical rotation, using synthetic diastereomers for comparison . The following structure of the trisaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established:Anti-P . rustigianii O14 serum was found to cross-react with O-specific polysaccharides of Providencia and Proteus strains that contains amides of uronic acid with N(epsilon)-{(R)-1-carboxyethyl}-L-lysine and L-lysine.

Am J Clin Dermatol, 2003, 4(4), 273 - 6
Treatment of gram-negative folliculitis in patients with acne; Boni R et al.; Gram-negative folliculitis may be the result of long-term antibacterial treatment in acne patients . It is caused by bacterial interference and replacement of the Gram-positive flora of the facial skin and the mucous membranes of the nose and infestation with Gram-negative bacteria . These Gram-negative bacteria include Escherischia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marescens, Klebsiella and Proteus mirabilis . The occurrence of Gram-negative folliculitis should be considered in acne patients in whom oral treatment with tetracyclines has not resulted in a significant improvement of acne lesions after 3-6 months' treatment . The occurrence of Gram-negative folliculitis in acne patients is believed to be generally underestimated, since correct sampling and bacteriology is rarely performed by clinicians . Gram-negative folliculitis in acne and rosacea patients is best treated with isotretinoin (0.5-1 mg/kg daily for 4-5 months).

Water Environ Res, 2003 Jan-Feb, 75(1), 66 - 72
Representation, dispersion, and variation of bacterial indicators in the coastal waters of Nagore (east coast of India); Mohandass C et al.; The occurrence of bacterial indicators in the coastal waters of Nagore on the east coast of India was studied during two monsoon and nonmonsoon cycles from 1995 to1996 . Proteus/Klebsiella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and total coliforms were typically present at a mean level of 10(9) colony-forming units/g dry sediment, whereas other indicators such as Salmonella, Shigella, and V . cholerae were at the 10(5) level . In the water column, total coliforms and Salmonella were 2 to 3 orders of magnitude lower than in sediment . Higher numbers of indicators were retrieved at 10- and 15-m depth lines than at a 5-m depth line . While southwest monsoon caused increased bacterial input to the coastal sediment of Nagore, cyclonic effect on indicators was observed only in the water samples . Although physicochemical parameters did not influence the variation in coliform population significantly, most of the indicators in the sediment showed significant negative correlation with chlorophyll a, indicating an inverse relationship between them . With ever increasing development of Nagore, nonpoint sources of pollution may become a serious problem . Continued monitoring of these groups of bacteria over longer periods of time would help develop models for their regulation and may suggest remedial measures.

East Afr Med J, 2002 Dec, 79(12), 640 - 4
Aerobic pathogenic bacteria in post-operative wounds at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital; Andhoga J et al.; BACKGROUND: The emergence of bacterial antimicrobial resistance associated with acquired infections has made the choice of empirical therapy more difficult and expensive, hence the need for continuous research to determine their sensitivity patterns . OBJECTIVES: To identify the common aerobic pathogenic bacteria in post-operative wounds at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) and determine their sensitivity patterns to routine antibiotics used . DESIGN: Cross-sectional study . SETTING: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Surgical, Obstetrics and Gynaecology wards . PATIENTS: Sixty three patients chosen by convenient sampling between May and June 2001 were included in the study . A total of eighty four isolates were obtained from these patients . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolation of pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity determination was conducted in the Department of Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Moi University . The bacteria were cultured on blood agar, MacConkey and Nutrient agar followed by identification using biochemical tests (catalase urease, coagulase, triple sugar iron) . Disc diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar was used for sensitivity testing . RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus species were the most common pathogenic bacteria isolated from the post-operative wounds . Other organisms included Proteus, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coli . There was a multi-drug resistance pattern observed, with minocyline being the most effective drug against S . aureus . CONCLUSION: There is need for review of policies on prescription practice on the use of existing therapeutics choice to limit the spread of resistance . This will ensure reduced patient stay and cost incurred.

J Med Microbiol, 2003 Apr, 52(Pt 4), 303 - 8
Involvement of nitric oxide donor compounds in the bactericidal activity of human neutrophils in vitro; Klink M et al.; The bactericidal activity of human neutrophils against extracellular and facultatively intracellular bacteria was studied in the presence of the nitric oxide (NO) donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), a molsidomine metabolite . SNP and molsidomine are drugs commonly used as nitrovasodilators in coronary heart disease . It is demonstrated here that the NO donor compounds themselves did not affect the viability and survival of the bacterial strains tested . Neither SNP nor SIN-1 had any effect on the process of bacteria ingestion . In contrast, NO donors enhanced the ability of neutrophils to kill Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella Anatum . However, strains differed in their susceptibility to SNP- and SIN-1-mediated killing by neutrophils . Removal of the superoxide anion reduced the bactericidal activity of SNP- and SIN-1-treated neutrophils against E . coli and S . Anatum . This suggests that the NO derivatives formed in the reaction of NO generated from donors with the reactive oxygen species released by phagocytosed neutrophils potentiate the bactericidal activity of human neutrophils in vitro . The above original observation discussed here suggests clinical significance for the treatment of patients with nitrovasodilators in the course of coronary heart disease therapy.

J Eukaryot Microbiol, 2003 Jan-Feb, 50(1), 61 - 9
Characterization of sams genes of Amoeba proteus and the endosymbiotic X-bacteria; Jeon TJ et al.; As a result of harboring obligatory bacterial endosymbionts, the xD strain of Amoeba proteus no longer produces its own S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (SAMS) . When symbiont-free D amoebae are infected with symbionts (X-bacteria), the amount of amoeba SAMS decreases to a negligible level within four weeks, but about 47% of the SAMS activity, which apparently comes from another source, is still detected . Complete nucleotide sequences of sams genes of D and xD amoebae are presented and show that there are no differences between the two . Long-established xD amoebae contain an intact sams gene and thus the loss of xD amoeba's SAMS is not due to the loss of the gene itself . The open reading frame of the amoeba's sams gene has 1,281 nucleotides, encoding SAMS of 426 amino acids with a mass of 48 kDa and pI of 6.5 . The amino acid sequence of amoeba SAMS is longer than the SAMS of other organisms by having an extra internal stretch of 28 amino acids . The 5'-flanking region of amoeba sams contains consensus-binding sites for several transcription factors that are related to the regulation of sams genes in E . coli and yeast . The complete nucleotide sequence of the symbiont's sams gene is also presented . The open reading frame of X-bacteria sams is 1,146 nucleotides long, encoding SAMS of 381 amino acids with a mass of 41 kDa and pI of 6.0 . The X-bacteria SAMS has 45% sequence identity with that of A . proteus.

Biochem J, 2003 Jul 1, 373(Pt 1), 305 - 11
Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1 is involved in protective mechanisms against oxidative and chemical stresses; Allocati N et al.; We investigated the effects of several xenobiotics, including antimicrobial agents and general stress factors such as starvation, heat and osmotic shock, on the modulation of expression of Proteus mirabilis glutathione S-transferase B1-1 (PmGST B1-1) . The level of expression of PmGST B1-1 was established by both Western- and Northern-blot experiments . Our results show that several compounds can modulate expression of PmGST B1-1 . The level of PmGST B1-1 increased when bacterial cells were exposed to a variety of stresses such as 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, H(2)O(2), fosfomycin or tetracycline . A knock-out gst B gene was also constructed using the suicide vector pKNOCKlox-Ap . Successful inactivation of the wild-type gene was confirmed by PCR, DNA sequence analysis and Western blotting . Under normal culture conditions, this mutant was viable and displayed no significant phenotypic differences compared with the wild-type . However, viability tests revealed that the null mutant was more sensitive to oxidative stress in the form of H(2)O(2) and to several antimicrobial drugs when compared with the wild-type . These results suggest that PmGST B1-1 has an active role in the protection against oxidative stress generated by H(2)O(2) and it appears to be involved in the detoxification of antimicrobial agents.

Protoplasma, 2003 Mar, 220(3-4), 163 - 72
Effect of Rho family GTP-binding proteins on Amoeba proteus; Klopocka W et al.; While there is a number of studies on the effects of Rho GTPases on the actin-based cytoskeleton in higher eukaryotes, studies in protozoans are rather limited . The problem seems to be intriguing since the structure of protozoan cytoskeletons is distinct from most vertebrate cells . By blocking endogenous Rho family proteins of highly motile Amoeba proteus with C3 transferase and antibodies against human RhoA and Rac1, we tried to assess the in vivo role of these proteins in amoebae . In migrating amoebae, both proteins are concentrated in the cortical layer and seem to colocalize with filamentous actin . Endogenous Rac1, but not RhoA, is accumulated in the perinuclear cytoskeleton . Blocking Rac- or Rho-like proteins caused distinct and irreversible changes in the locomotive shape of the examined amoebae and significant inhibition of their migration . Amoebae microinjected with anti-Rac1 antibodies were contracted, shortened, and developed only few wide pseudopodia . More pronounced changes were observed in cells treated with anti-RhoA antibodies . They exhibited an atypical locomotion not leading to their effective displacement . After treatment with 50 microg of C3 transferase per ml, cells rapidly contracted and almost completely rounded up, became refractile with the granules beaten into a dense mass, detached from the surface and died . Ten times lower concentration of the enzyme caused similar changes as the inhibition of endogenous RhoA-like protein . These results indicate that Rho family-based regulation plays a key role in amoebic migration.

Med Dosw Mikrobiol, 2002, 54(4), 335 - 45
{Investigation of hydrophobicity of Proteus vulgaris strains and ability of Proteus vulgaris and Proteus penneri strains to penetrate bladder membrane HCV T-29 cells }; Bartodziejska B et al.; Proteus bacilli play a particularly important role in urinary tract infections (UTI) . Fimbriae and adherence ability and hemolysins production (HpmA, HlyA) are one of the factors of pathogenicity of these bacteria . In this paper we describe the invasion of HCV T-29 transitional bladder urothelial cells carcinoma strains of P . penneri, as well as P . vulgaris strains belonging to different serogroups . The cytotoxic effect was observed at 8 hour of incubation of the tested cells with P . vulgaris O21 and the same effect (complete lysis) at 6 hours by P . vulgaris O4 (this strain manifests maximal activity in the production of HlyA hemolysin) . P . penneri strains, produce different types of fimbriae, expressed similar bacterial invasiveness . The hydrophobic properties of 25 P . vulgaris strains were also tested and only 3 strains occur to have hydrophobic cell surface.

Indian J Med Sci, 2002 Jun, 56(6), 265 - 9
Electrophoretic analysis of Salmonella typhi and other bacteria; Sood A et al.; A comparative study involving SDS-PAGE of Salmonella typhi and other Bacteria was conducted . Protoplasmic antigens of Salmonella typhi . Salmonella paratyphi A, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus sp, Klebsiellas sp . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus aureus were separated and compared on SDS-PAGE followed by checking of their cross reactivity by gel diffusion using antisera raised against whole cell and lysates of Salmonella typhi . Lines of identity between Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A and Salmonella typhimurium were observed . No lines of identity were seen among Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Sfaphylococcus aureus.

Mutat Res, 2003 Mar, 543(2), 125 - 36
Somatic gene mutation and human disease other than cancer; Erickson RP; While the focus of much mutation research is on germ-line mutation, somatic mutation is being found to be important in human disease . Neurofibromatosis 1 and McCune-Albright are disorders which are detected in the skin and other systems . The skin manifestations were essential for the demonstration of somatic mosaicism in neurofibromatosis 1, while analysis of blood DNA demonstrated somatic mutation in neurofibromatosis 2 . Incontinentia pigmenti is also a disorder seen in skin and other tissues, but here it is the rare variant of the disorder in males, where it is usually lethal, that involves somatic mosaicism . Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a disorder of the blood and cell separation of blood elements allows the demonstration of the somatic mosaicism . This review also discusses disorders in which somatic mosaicism, for mutations probably incompatible with life if the mutation had been germ-line, are likely to be involved . These include the Proteus syndrome, which involves both vascular tissues and bones, and two disorders which might be thought of as representing two subtypes of Proteus: Klippel-Trenaunay, which involves vascular tissues, and Maffuci, which involves bones . Embryonic mutations, which create mosaicism for both the soma and germ-line, are being increasingly found in a number of disorders and are discussed more briefly . Finally, reverse mutations involving the soma have been recently found in several disorders and such revertant mutations are also examined . While the review focuses on the clinical importance of somatic mutations, many of the mutations found to date are tabulated . It is too early to see if there is a different pattern of somatic mutation as compared to germ-line mutation . Although the parameters to allow careful quantitation are not yet available, it seems that the frequency of gene mutation in embryonic cells is not markedly different than that in the germ-line .

Scand J Rheumatol, 2003, 32(1), 2 - 11
Rheumatoid arthritis: proposal for the use of anti-microbial therapy in early cases; Ebringer A et al.; Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease, affecting women more than men, especially in those possessing the "shared epitope" (EQK/RRAA) amino acid sequences present in HLA-DR1/4 molecules . Proteus mirabilis carries sequences showing molecular mimicry to the "shared epitope" and to type XI collagen of hyaline cartilage . Elevated levels of antibodies to P . mirabilis have been reported from 14 different countries involving 1375 RA patients and the microbe has been isolated from urine cultures of such patients . Our working hypothesis is that the disease develops as a result of repeated episodes of Proteus upper urinary tract infections . Prospective studies involving the trial of anti-Proteus measures in RA patients should be evaluated in the management of this disease . Antibiotics, high fluid intake, and fruit extracts, such as cranberry juice, have all been found to be effective in the treatment of urinary tract infections . Such measures could be used as possible additional adjuncts to the standard therapy with NSAIDs and DMARDs.

East Afr Med J, 2002 Nov, 79(11), 604 - 10
Pathogenic intestinal parasites and bacterial agents in solid wastes; Adeyeba OA et al.; OBJECTIVE: To determine the profile of potentially pathogenic enteric parasites and bacterial agents in municipal refuse dumps in Ibadan, Nigeria . DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey . SETTING: Five major market places refuse dumps in Ibadan municipality, Nigeria . METHODS: The major market places in Ibadan city were randomly selected by lottery method . The refuse sludge were sampled and examined parasitologically and bacteriologically using the methods as described . Data analysis was done by using chi-square test where applicable . RESULTS: Cases of multiple intestinal parasites and bacterial agents were commonly encountered in the sludge refuse samples . The commonly found parasitic agents were of both human and veterinary importance . These include Ascaris Lumbricoides (9.3 egp), Entamoeba histolytica (8.07 cyst per gram), Hookworm/strongyle (6.27 egp) and Ascaris suum (1.07 egp) . Others were Ascaris vitolorum (1.09 epg), Strongyloides papillosu (0.52 larvae per gram.), Schistosoma suis (0.31 epg) Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.9 egp) . The most commonly found bacterial agents were Klebsiella species, Escherichia Coli, Proteus species, streptococci, and other gram-positive organisms . Climatic conditions affected the distribution of both parasites and bacterial agents in the sludge (P<0.001) . More intestinal parasites 2423 (53.4%) and bacterial agents 2150 (27.2%) were encountered at mean air temperature 26.1 +/- 0.6, mean relative humidity of 72 +/- 3.5% . The degree of contamination by market locations varies significantly (P<0.001) . CONCLUSION: A high degree of contamination of solid waste dumpsites with bacterial and parasitic agents was observed in the present study . As a result of the public health importance of the organisms isolated it is opined that well planned waste management and health education programs will go a long way to reduce the potential epidemic risks posed by such sites in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2003 Jan-Feb, (1), 10 - 3
{Bacteriological monitoring of infective agents of purulent septic diseases in an emergency hospital}; Men'shikov DD et al.; During the period of 1995-2001 bacteriological examination of 13,842 patients with purulent septic diseases (PSD) was carried out . The statistical processing of data revealed that equalization of the dynamic rows of intensive and extensive values characterizing the number of patients with PSD caused by etiologically important infective agents made it possible to evaluate the reliability of information . A trend to increased etiological importance of the genera Pseudomonas, Escherichia and Klebsiella was established . The number of diseases caused by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Proteus decreased.

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 2003 Mar 20, 35(2), 165 - 9
Serologic evidence of human infection by Francisella tularensis in the population of Castilla y León (Spain) prior to 1997; Gutierrez MP et al.; Prior to an outbreak in Castilla y Leon in December 1997, tularaemia was practically non-existent in Spain . In this paper we studied the prevalence of antibodies against Francisella tularensis in a representative sample of the population (4825 people) from Castilla y Leon (Spain) in samples collected before this outbreak . Antibodies against F . tularensis were detected in nine (0.19%) of the 4825 sera, with antibody titres ranging from 1/20 to 1/160 . Of these nine sera, one was positive in seroagglutination against Brucella . Seroagglutination against other bacteria (Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 and O:3 and Proteus OX19) was negative in all sera . Seroprevalence of antibodies in females was 0.20% and 0.17% in males; no statistically significant differences were found in prevalence in terms of sex, age or province.

Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol, 2002, 10(3), 123 - 6
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-negative uropathogens isolated from obstetric patients; Jamie WE et al.; OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-negative uropathogens isolated from pregnant women . METHODS: We performed a snapshot cohort study of women receiving care in the University of Florida prenatal clinics during March 2000 . Subjects with asymptomatic bacteriuria or cystitis were identified and the antimicrobial susceptibility of each pathogen was recorded . Data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher's exact test and ninety-five percent confidence intervals, as appropriate . RESULTS: Ninety-five positive cultures were identified . Isolates were more often susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) (87%) and nitrofurantoin (89%) than to ampicillin (72%) (p < 0.03) . Escherichia coli accounted for 71 (75%) cases and was more often susceptible to nitrofurantoin (100%) than to TMP-SMX (87%) (p < 0.01) . Proteus isolates were all susceptible to TMP-SMX and resistant to nitrofurantoin (p < 0.01) . CONCLUSIONS: Both TMP-SMX and nitrofurantoin are superior to ampicillin for empiric treatment of lower urinary tract infection in pregnant women . Nitrofurantoin is superior to TMP-SMX for treatment of infections caused by E . coli . For suspected or confirmed cases caused by Proteus organisms, TMP-SMX is the preferred agent.

East Afr Med J, 2002 Apr, 79(4), 202 - 5
Pathogenic agents of chronic suppurative otitis media in Ilorin, Nigeria; Nwabuisi C et al.; OBJECTIVE: To determine the type and pattern of antibiotic susceptibility of the pathogenic micro-organisms causing chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in our environment . DESIGN: A retrospective study of ear discharges from patients presenting consecutively with chronic suppurative otitis media . SETTINGS: University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, a major referral centre in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bacterial isolates and their sensitivity patterns . SUBJECTS: Three hundred and seventy five patients aged between eight months and 70 years referred to the ear, nose, and throat clinic of The University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital were enrolled in the study . RESULTS: About 95.5% and 4.5% of the specimens were culture positive and negative respectively . The commonest bacterial aetiologic agents were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26.0%) and Proteus spp (21.8%) . Peak prevalence of 30.5% occurred among the 0-5 years age group . Seventy five per cent of isolates were gram-negative bacteria . Ofloxacin produced 100% sensitivity in both gram positive and gram-negative organisms tested . Colistin, ceftazidime and cefuroxime were highly active (80%) against the gram-negative bacteria while erythromycin and cloxacillin were very effective (80%) against the gram-positive isolates . CONCLUSION: Chronic suppurative otitis media is still highly prevalent in our environment, affecting mainly children . The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of pathogenic isolates is different from those of other regions of Nigeria with increasing resistance recorded for some organisms . Hence, where possible and available, susceptibility tests should guide the management of CSOM in this environment, otherwise, ofloxacin if indicated and cloxacillin/erythromycin may provide relief and delay emergence of resistant strains.

Indian J Exp Biol, 2002 May, 40(5), 614 - 6
R-factor in Proteus vulgaris from ulcerative disease of fish, Channa punctatus; Mandal S et al.; A Proteus vulgaris isolated from external ulcers of the fresh water fish Channa punctatus showed multidrug resistance and heavy metal tolerance . The isolate from the ulcer showed resistance to chloramphenicol (Ch), nalidixic acid (Nx), streptomycin (Str) and tetracycline (Tet) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 750, 150, 75 and 125 microg/ml, respectively . The isolate showed growth in medium containing cadmium (Cd2+), up to a concentration of 2.5 mM indicating its heavy metal tolerance . Resistance to Ch, Str, Tet and Cd2+ of the isolate was lost after plasmid curing . Presence of plasmid DNA in the wild type and its absence in the cured P . vulgaris suggested that the resistance were plasmid mediated.

Hum Mol Genet, 2003 Mar 15, 12(6), 679 - 84
BMP2 exposure results in decreased PTEN protein degradation and increased PTEN levels; Waite KA et al.; The tumour suppressor gene PTEN encodes a dual-specificity phosphatase that recognizes protein and phosphatidylinositiol substrates and modulates cellular functions such as migration and proliferation . Germline mutations of PTEN have been shown to cause Cowden syndrome, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome and Proteus syndrome . Recently, germline mutations in BMPR1A, the gene encoding the type 1A receptor of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) have been found in rare families with Cowden syndrome, suggesting that there may be a link between BMP signaling and PTEN . We thus sought to determine whether BMP2 stimulation alters PTEN protein levels in the breast cancer line, MCF-7 . We found that exposure to BMP2 increased PTEN protein levels in a time- and dose-dependent manner . The increase in PTEN protein was rapid and was not due to an increase in new protein synthesis, as cycloheximide treatment did not inhibit BMP2-induced PTEN accumulation, suggesting that BMP2 stimulation inhibited PTEN protein degradation . Indeed, we found that BMP2 treatment of MCF-7 cells decreased the association of PTEN with two proteins in the degradative pathway, UbCH7 and UbC9 . These data indicate that BMP2 exposure can regulate PTEN protein levels by decreasing PTEN's association with the degradative pathway . This opens up a new mode of regulating PTEN activity to be investigated further and may explain why BMPR1A can act as a minor susceptibility gene for PTEN mutation negative Cowden syndrome.

Indian J Gastroenterol, 2003 Jan-Feb, 22(1), 16 - 8
Bile cultures and sensitivity patterns in malignant obstructive jaundice; Neve R et al.; BACKGROUND: Bactibilia is one of the important factors in the development of postoperative septic complications . We undertook this retrospective analysis to identify the organisms present in bile and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice . METHODS: Bile specimens were obtained during endoscopic cholangiography (ERC; n=65), by flushing biliary stents (n=15), intra-operatively before incising the common bile duct (n=7) or during percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD; n=1) . Eighty-eight samples from 65 consecutive patients were analyzed for their bacterial spectrum and sensitivity to antibiotics . Concomitant septic complications such as wound infection and cholangitis were also assessed . RESULTS: Of 65 patients (hilar block 39, distal block 26), 17 (26.1%) had bactibilia at initial ERCP; in addition, 3 of 7 bile specimens obtained during surgery, one collected during PTBD, and 13 of 15 stent flushings grew bacterial organisms . Cholangitis developed in 15 patients (12 with hilar block, 3 with distal block) . Blood cultures were positive in 3 cases, and initial bile culture was positive in four patients with cholangitis . The most commonly found organisms were Escherichia coli (36.6%), Klebsiella pneumonia (18.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.3%), Proteus vulgaris (8.3%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (8.3%) . The organisms found on ERC were similar to those found at wound cultures in 3 of the 4 cases who developed wound infection . Amikacin, gentamicin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and cefoperazone-sulbactam combination showed good activity against E . coli and K . pneumonia . CONCLUSION: Approximately one-fourth of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice have positive bile cultures at initial ERC . Post-ERC cholangitis is common in hilar blocks.

Med Clin (Barc), 2003 Feb 1, 120(3), 97 - 8
{Prevalence of antibodies against Francisella tularensis in Castilla y León (Spain) before 1997}; Gutierrez MP et al.; BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was determine the prevalence of antibodies against Francisella tularensis in the representative sample of people from Castilla-Leon (Spain) before epidemic outbreak of end 1997 . SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We obtain 4,825 sera (between april-1996 and april-1997) of people from Castilla-Leon . All sera were tested by a microagglutination technique to detect antibodies against Francisella tularensis . The positive sera were tested to determine cross-reaction with Brucella, Yersinia enterocolitica and Proteus in the tube agglutination tests . RESULTS: We detected antibodies against Francisella tularensis in 9 (0,19%) of the 4,825 sera . Only one serum from the 9 seropositive was positive in the tube agglutination against Brucella . None of the 9 sera were positive against the remaining bacterial antigen tested . CONCLUSIONS: In the people of Castilla-Leon before 1997 the prevalence of antibodies against Francisella tularensis was 0,19%.

Vet Ther, 2002 Winter, 3(4), 493 - 500
Development of resistant bacteria isolated from dogs with otitis externa or urinary tract infections after exposure to enrofloxacin in vitro; Brothers AM et al.; Minimum inhibitory concentrations for enrofloxacin were determined for 63 bacterial isolates from dogs with otitis externa or urinary tract infections . Development of resistant mutants was determined after exposing the isolates to enrofloxacin in vitro for up to five serial passages . Results indicated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus spp isolates exposed to enrofloxacin developed resistance rapidly, whereas Klebsiella, Proteus, and Streptococcus spp were less likely to develop resistance . Despite the presence of enrofloxacin pressure, no resistant bacteria developed in the Escherichia coli and staphylococcal isolates . In many isolates, susceptibility patterns changed from susceptible to intermediate.

New Microbiol, 2003 Jan, 26(1), 33 - 8
Motility of three strains of Proteus mirabilis (G9, P11 and PM5C) in liquid suspension under different environmental conditions; Hazem A; The effect of compounds on the motility of Proteus mirabilis swarmer cells varies from one strain to another . The effect of compounds on the motility of swarmer cells is mainly at higher concentrations than the concentration used to inhibit swarming . Boric acid only affects the motility of strain G9 swarmer cells, whereas sodium deoxycholate prevented the motility of swarmer cells for three strains . Some antibiotics show their effect on the motility of swarmer cells in anaerobic areas, by slowing the movement of swarmer cells, followed by stopping the movement after a period of time or disappearance of the cells . The differentiation between the strains of Proteus species seems to be better in liquid suspension than on the solid medium.

Mycoses, 2002 Oct, 45(8), 317 - 28
Randomized prospective comparative study: short-term treatment with ciclopiroxolamine (cream and solution) versus boric acid in the treatment of otomycosis; del Palacio A et al.; Sixty-four patients with symptomatic otomycosis (80 infected ears) confirmed by direct microscopy and culture were randomly treated for I week with ciclopiroxolamine cream 11% (group A, 20 infected ears, 17 patients), ciclopiroxolamine solution 1% (group B, 20 infected ears, 17 patients) and boric acid (group C, 40 infected ears, 30 patients) and daily mechanical suction aspiration of the debris . An attempt was made to match 11 clinical parameters with both the mycological and bacteriological findings . There was no significant association between the fungal species cultured and the clinical parameters did not vary with the presence or absence of different bacteria; pus was never present in fungal otitis externa (Fisher's test, P < 0.001) . Before therapy, a significant number of ears had completely sterile bacterial cultures (p < 0.01, chi2 test); saprophytic Gram-positive bacteria increased after treatment, whilst Gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus species, decreased after treatment . Clinical total cure rates 3 days after the end of therapy ranged from 50% in group A, 25% in group B to 22.5% in group C . Mycological cure rates were 80% (group A), 95% (group B) and 72.5% (group C) . Two weeks after the end of therapy the clinical cure rates were 60% (group A), 65% (group B) and 80% (group C) and the mycological cure rates was 65% for group A and 75% for both group B and C . Eleven patients relapsed with otitis externa: four (20%) in groups A and C and three (15%) in group B . In four cases the infection was due to bacteria and the remaining seven were due to fungi . Six sites relapsed with the same fungal species as that isolated at the start of the study . In this short-term assessment the relapse rate was not significantly associated with predisposing conditions . The tolerance was excellent in group A . Four patients (20%) in group B had mild (two patients) or moderate (two patients) burning and itching with each application . Twelve patients (30%) in group C had severe stinging and five of these patients who had perforated tympanic membranes also experienced pain . In terms of clinical and mycological effectiveness, there were no significant differences between the three treatment groups, although group A (ciclopiroxolamine cream 1%) and B (ciclopiroxolamine solution 1%) both showed significantly better tolerance (Fisher's test, P < 0.05) when compared with boric acid (group C).

Tsitologiia, 2002, 44(11), 1120 - 8
{Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase in free-living Amoeba proteus}; Sopina VA; Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) of Amoeba proteus (strain B) was represented by 3 of 6 bands (= electromorphs) revealed after disc-electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels with the use of 2-naphthyl phosphate as a substrate at pH 4.0 . The presence of MgCl2, CaCl2 or ZnCl2 (50 mM) in the incubation mixture used for gel staining stimulated activities of all 3 TRAP electromorphs or of two of them (in the case of ZnCl2) . When gels were treated with MgCl2, CaCl2 or ZnCl2 (10 and 100 mM, 30 min) before their staining activity of TRAP electromorphs also increased . But unlike 1 M MgCl2 or 1 M CaCl2, 1 M ZnCl2 partly inactivated two of the three TRAP electromorphs . EDTA and EGTA (5 mM), and H2O2 (10 mM) completely inhibited TRAP electromorphs after gel treatment for 10, 20 and 30 min, resp . Of 5 tested ions (Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ and Zn2+), only the latter reactivated the TRAP electromorphs previously inactivated by EDTA or EGTA treatment . In addition, after EDTA inactivation, TRAP electromorphs were reactivated better than after EGTA . The resistance of TRAP electromorphs to okadaic acid and phosphatase inhibitor cocktail 1 used in different concentrations is indicative of the absence of PP1 and PP2A among these electromorphs . Mg2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+ dependence of TRAP activity, and the resistance of its electromorphs to vanadate and phosphatase inhibitor cocktail 2 prevents these electromorphs from being classified as PTP . It is suggested that the active center of A . proteus TRAP contains zinc ion, which is essential for catalytic activity of the enzyme . Thus, TRAP of these amoebae is metallophosphatase showing phosphomonoesterase activity in acidic medium . This metalloenzyme differs from both mammalian tartrate-resistant PAPs and tartrate-resistant metallophosphatase of Rana esculenta.

Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet, 2003 Feb 15, 117(1), 49 - 56
Mental deficiency, alterations in performance, and CNS abnormalities in overgrowth syndromes; Cohen MM Jr; Mental deficiency, alterations in performance, and central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities are discussed in the following overgrowth syndromes: Sotos syndrome, Weaver syndrome, Proteus syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, fragile X syndrome, syndromes with neonatal hypoglycemia, Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, hemihyperplasia, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba/Cowden syndrome, macrocephaly-autism syndrome, PEHO syndrome, chromosomal syndromes, and other miscellaneous syndromes .

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 2003 Jan, 58(1), 52 - 5
Pathogenic colonization of oral flora in frail elderly patients fed by nasogastric tube or percutaneous enterogastric tube; Leibovitz A et al.; BACKGROUND: Aspiration of infected oropharyngeal content is the main cause of aspiration pneumonia . This complication, mainly related to gram-negative bacteria, threatens percutaneous enterogastric tube as well as nasogastric tube (NGT) fed patients . The objective of this study was to examine the oral microbiota of tuboenterally fed patients and compare it with that of orally fed counterparts . METHODS: Patients were recruited for this study from six nursing and skilled nursing facilities with an overall number of 845 beds . Enrolled were 215 patients: Group 1 consisted of 78 patients on NGT feeding, Group 2 consisted of 57 patients on percutaneous enterogastric tube feeding, and Group 3 consisted of 80 patients fed orally who were from the same facilities . Cultures were performed by sampling the oropharynx of each subject in order to identify gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus . RESULTS: A high prevalence of potentially pathogenic isolations was found in tuboenterally fed patients: 81% in Group 1 and 51% in Group 2, as compared with only 17.5% in Group 3 (p <.0001) . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cultured from 31% of the subjects in Group 1 and 10% of Group 2, but in none of Group 3 (p <.001) . Klebsiella and Proteus were isolated mainly from the NGT fed patients (p <.003) . No correlation was found between the time duration on tube feeding or the presence of residual dentition and pathogenic microbiota . CONCLUSION: This study shows that tuboenteral feeding in elderly patients is associated with pathogenic colonization of the oropharynx . These findings are related to the risk of aspiration pneumonia and are compelling for the reevaluation of current oral cleansing procedures.

Carbohydr Res, 2003 Feb 7, 338(4), 327 - 31
Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O45 containing 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-galactose; Perepelov AV et al.; An O-specific polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O45 and studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, H-detected 1H,13C HSQC and HMBC experiments . The following structure of the pentasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established:-->6)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalpA-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-beta-D-Fucp3NAc4Ac-(1-->where Fuc3NAc4Ac is 3-acetamido-4-O-acetyl-3,6-dideoxygalactose . A cross-reactivity of anti-P . vulgaris O45 serum was observed with several other Proteus lipopolysaccharides, which contains Fuc3N derivatives.

Genet Couns, 2002, 13(4), 427 - 32
Proteus syndrome: a case with clonal chromosome aberration; Gieruszczak-Bialek D et al.; Proteus syndrome is a disorder characterized by overgrowth of multiple tissues, connective tissue nevi, epidermal nevi and hyperostoses with asymmetric involvement . The clinical expression of the disorder is extremely variable . Molecular pathogenesis of the syndrome is unknown but it is hypothesized that it resulted from a somatic alteration of a gene leading to mosaic effects that would be lethal if the mutation was carried in nonmosaic fashion, and this may explain the variability among patients . We report a new case who presented at birth with asymmetric hypertrophy of the bones and soft tissues of fingers and a tumor of the chest . Cytogenetic analysis of the excised tumor revealed clonal chromosome aberration: mos46, XY, add(9)(p13) {5}/46,XY{30} . During follow up tumors of the rectum and urinary bladder were diagnosed.

Sheng Wu Yi Xue Gong Cheng Xue Za Zhi, 2000 Jun, 17(2), 233 - 4, 237
{A study on the determination method of biological function of BRF}; Xu Q et al.; This study was aimed to establish a method for determining the biological function of biological wave regulating factor (BRF) . Proteus mirabilis was used to set up the experimental model . The biological function of the component obtained from wave growth media beneath the bacterial colony rings resulting from bacterial proliferation was determined in biological wave test by analytically microbiological method . The results indicated that BRF could enhance biological wave and shorten its period . The method is of some value in studying the regulative mechanism of biological wave.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2003 Feb, 47(2), 665 - 9
AcrAB multidrug efflux pump is associated with reduced levels of susceptibility to tigecycline (GAR-936) in Proteus mirabilis; Visalli MA et al.; Tigecycline has good broad-spectrum activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens with the notable exception of the PROTEEAE: A study was performed to identify the mechanism responsible for the reduced susceptibility to tigecycline in Proteus mirabilis . Two independent transposon insertion mutants of P . mirabilis that had 16-fold-increased susceptibility to tigecycline were mapped to the acrB gene homolog of the Escherichia coli AcrRAB efflux system . Wild-type levels of decreased susceptibility to tigecycline were restored to the insertion mutants by complementation with a clone containing a PCR-derived fragment from the parental wild-type acrRAB efflux gene cluster . The AcrAB transport system appears to be associated with the intrinsic reduced susceptibility to tigecycline in P . mirabilis.

Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Ke Za Zhi, 2001 Dec, 15(12), 550 - 2
{The clinical investigation of bacteriology of chronic suppurative otitis media}; Yang Y et al.; OBJECTIVE: To understand bacteriology of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and drug sensitivity of isolated bacteria for better treatment of CSOM . METHOD: Secretions of 92 samples with chronic suppurative otitis media were collected and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria respectively . Drug sensitivity test of isolated bacteria was done . RESULT: Aerobic bacteria was found in 75 of 92 samples (81.5%), the main pathogens were pseudomonas aeruginosa, aureus staphylococcus and bacillus proteus, and their sensitive rates for ciprofloxacin were 89.0%, 88.2% and 85.0% respectively . Anaerobic bacteria was found in 10 samples (10.9%) and the relative sensitive drug was cefoperazone sodium . CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, aureus staphylococcus and bacillus proteus are the main pathogens of chronic suppurative otitis media, and their sensitive rates for ciprofloxacin are high.

Infect Immun, 2003 Feb, 71(2), 1026 - 30
UreR, the transcriptional activator of the Proteus mirabilis urease gene cluster, is required for urease activity and virulence in experimental urinary tract infections; Dattelbaum JD et al.; Proteus mirabilis, a cause of complicated urinary tract infection, produces urease, an essential virulence factor for this species . UreR, a member of the AraC/XylS family of transcriptional regulators, positively activates expression of the ure gene cluster in the presence of urea . To specifically evaluate the contribution of UreR to urease activity and virulence in the urinary tract, a ureR mutation was introduced into P . mirabilis HI4320 by homologous recombination . The isogenic ureR::aphA mutant, deficient in UreR production, lacked measurable urease activity . Expression was not detected in the UreR-deficient strain by Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies raised against UreD . Urease activity and UreD expression were restored by complementation of the mutant strain with ureR expressed from a low-copy-number plasmid . Virulence was assessed by transurethral cochallenge of CBA mice with wild-type and mutant strains . The isogenic ureR::aphA mutant of HI4320 was outcompeted in the urine (P = 0.004), bladder (P = 0.016), and kidneys (P < or = 0.001) 7 days after inoculation . Thus, UreR is required for basal urease activity in the absence of urea, for induction of urease by urea, and for virulence of P . mirabilis in the urinary tract.

Int J Biochem Cell Biol, 2003 Mar, 35(3), 333 - 8
Lipopolysaccharide from Proteus mirabilis O29 induces changes in red blood cell membrane lipids and proteins; Gwozdzinski K et al.; Alterations in red blood cell (RBC) plasma membranes, i.e . in lipids and proteins, and osmotic fragility of these cells after treatment with Proteus mirabilis O29 endotoxin (lipolysaccharide (LPS)) were examined using a spin labelling method . At the highest concentration of LPS, insignificantly decreased fluidity of membrane lipids was observed . Changes in conformation of membrane proteins were determined by two covalently bound spin labels, 4-maleimido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (MSL) and 4-iodoacetamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (ISL) . The analysis of spectra of MSL and ISL showed modifications in membrane proteins in red blood cells treated with the highest concentration of lipopolysaccharide . On the other hand, in the case of isolated membranes, disturbances in membrane were observed for all concentrations of LPS . The alterations in membrane lipids and proteins are paralleled in a significant rise in osmotic fragility of RBCs upon endotoxin treatment . These results provide experimental evidence that P . mirabilis O29 LPS causes deleterious changes in membranes of human red blood cells . They show that action of lipopolysaccharide mainly concerns the membrane cytoskeleton.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 2002 Sep-Oct, (5), 35 - 40
{Comparative population study of the etiological role of causative agents of purulent inflammatory diseases and serum antibodies to antigens of opportunistic microorganisms}; Khvatov VB et al.; The comparative study of the relationship between the levels of serum antibodies to the antigens of opportunistic microorganisms of 5 genera (Pseudomonas, Proteus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Escherichia) and the microbial status was carried out . A total of 854 patients from 10 profile departments of a surgical hospital were examined . Population analysis and statistical methods of processing the results of the examination of 353 practically healthy subjects and 268 blood and plasma donors permitted the norms for the levels of specific antimicrobial antibodies (decreased, normal, elevated levels) were established . The constancy coefficients of Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Escherichia and the number of patients with elevated titers of specific serum antibodies were found to be positively correlated (r = +0.47-0.89, p < 0.01) . The data thus obtained made it possible to substantiate the importance of population serological investigations for the evaluation of the epidemiological situation in the surgical hospital.

J Obstet Gynaecol, 2001, 21(2), 141 - 144
Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women in Benin City, Nigeria; Akerele P Abhulimen F Okonofua J; A semi-quantitative screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria was carried out in the first trimester of 500 consecutive pregnant women in Benin City . The purpose was to provide baseline data and rational therapy for asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women . Of the 500 women screened, 433 clinical specimens showed significant bacteriuria, representing an incidence of 86.6% . Of this number, 38 (7.4%) were of mixed bacterial colonies while 395 (91%) were of single bacterial colonies . Staphylococus aureus (29.8%), Escherichia coli (29.1%) and Klebsiella pneuononiae (21.5%) were the most frequently isolated pathogens . The high incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy correlated significantly (P < 0.05) with the observed high proportion of pyuria . On average, sensitivity of the pathogens was ciprofloxacin 99.7%; ceftazidime 81.6%; co-trimoxazole 79.4%; augmentin 71.4%; nalidixic acid 61.7%; nitrofurantoin 61.%; gentamycin 56.9% and ampicillin 25.4% . S . aureus was most sensitive, while Proteus mirabilis was least sensitive among the pathogens . Rational therapy of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women may prevent associated risks such as pyelonephritis and pre-eclampsia.

J Vet Med Sci, 2002 Dec, 64(12), 1145 - 7
Studies of certain factors affecting the microenvironment and microflora of the external ear of the dog in health and disease; Yoshida N et al.; A total of 187 dogs, 110 with clinical signs of otitis externa (OE), and 77 without history or clinical signs of OE, were examined microenvironment and microbiological analysis of their ear exudates made . The aural temperature and humidity of 160 dogs were measured . There were no significant difference between healthy dogs and OE dogs . German shepherd showed relatively lower temperature (p<0.01) and higher humidity (p<0.01) . The mean log(10) number of microbial organisms of ears of OE dogs (4.16 +/- 0.31 cfu/g) was significantly increased, compared to that from the ears of non-OE group (2.55 +/- 0.24 cfu/g) . Pseudomonas spp . and Proteus spp . were detected only from OE dogs . In addition, three enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from ear specimens.

Folia Microbiol (Praha), 2002, 47(5), 481 - 7
Antimicrobial activity of FeIII, CuII, AgI, ZnII and HgII complexes of 2-(2-hydroxy-5-bromo/nitro-phenyl)-1H- and 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-methyl/chloro/nitro-1H-benzimidazoles; Ulkuseven B et al.; Antimicrobial activity of 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-R5-1H-benzimidazoles, 2-(2-hydroxy-5-R5'-phenyl)-1H-benzimidazoles and their FeIII, CuII, AgI, ZnII and HgII nitrate complexes was tested toward Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, and Proteus mirabilis . Antifungal activity was tested against Candida albicans . Benzimidazole benzene ring substituents increase the antimicrobial activity, phenol ring substituents decrease it . The ligands show an antibacterial effect against only S . aureus whereas AgI and HgII complexes of the ligands have a higher activity with respect to the other complexes to all the bacteria . On the other hand, FeIII complexes show a considerable activity against S . aureus and S . epidermidis.

J Ethnopharmacol, 2003 Jan, 84(1), 11 - 5
Evaluation of anti-diarrhoeal activity in seed extracts of Mangifera indica; Sairam K et al.; Mangifera indica is commonly grown in many parts of the world . Its seeds have been used for anti-diarrhoeal activity in Indian traditional medicine . This study evaluates the potential anti-diarrhoeal activity of methanolic (MMI) and aqueous (AMI) extracts of seeds of M . indica in experimental diarrhoea, induced by castor oil and magnesium sulphate in mice . Both MMI and AMI were given orally in the dose of 250 mg/kg, showed significant anti-diarrhoeal activity comparable with that of the standard drug loperamide . However, only MMI significantly reduced intestinal transit in charcoal meal test as compared with atropine sulphate (5 mg/kg; im) . The in vitro antimicrobial activity of MMI and AMI showed variable results . While, AMI significantly inhibited growth of Streptococcus aureus and Proteus vulgaris, both MMI and AMI did not show any significant effect on growth of E . coli and Klebsiella . The results illustrate that the extracts of M . indica have significant anti-diarrhoeal activity and part of the activity of MMI may be attributed to its effect on intestinal transit .

Biochemistry (Mosc), 2002 Nov, 67(11), 1224 - 9
On the involvement of the water-polaron mechanism in energy trapping by reaction centers of purple bacteria; Borisov AY et al.; A locus for binding a mobile water molecule was searched for in the immediate vicinity of the special pair in the reaction center . Using the PROTEUS PC-program (a part of the GRASP package) atomic structures of the reaction centers were analyzed in purple bacteria Rhodopseudomonas viridis and Rhodobacter sphaeroides . In both structures the loci for binding mobile water molecules were found at the distance of about 4.5 A from the middle of the special pair in the reaction center . The reorientation of a hydrogen atom of this water molecule in the electric field of the excited special pair required energy of no less than 40 MeV that corresponded to predictions of the water-polarization model of trapping of electron excitation which was developed by M . V . Fok and one of the authors of this article.

Carbohydr Res, 2002 Nov 29, 337(24), 2463 - 8
Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O15 containing a novel regioisomer of N-acetylmuramic acid, 2-acetamido-4-O-{(R)-1-carboxyethyl}-2-deoxy-D-glucose; Perepelov AV et al.; An acidic O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O15 and studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, and H-detected 1H,(13)C HMQC experiments . The polysaccharide was found to contain an ether of GlcNAc with lactic acid, and the following structure of the repeating unit was established:-->3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc4(R-Lac)6Ac-(1-->2)-beta-D-GlcpA-(1-->3)-alpha-L-6dTalp2Ac-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->where L-6dTal and D-GlcNAc4(R-Lac) are 6-deoxy-L-talose and 2-acetamido-4-O-{(R)-1-carboxyethyl}-2-deoxy-D-glucose, respectively . The latter sugar, which to our knowledge has not been hitherto found in nature, was isolated from the polysaccharide by solvolysis with anhydrous triflic acid and identified by comparison with the authentic synthetic compound . Serological studies with the Smith-degraded polysaccharide showed an importance of 2-substituted GlcA for manifesting of the immunospecificity of P . vulgaris O15.

Platelets, 2002 Nov, 13(7), 419 - 24
Polysaccharide part of Proteus mirabilis lipopolysaccharide may be responsible for the stimulation of platelet adhesion to collagen; Zielinski T et al.; Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) is a well-known causative agent of septic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation . The action of LPS is related to the activation of many types of cells, including blood platelets . We examined the effects of different LPSs from Proteus mirabilis (smooth form LPS S1959 and rough forms LPSs R110 and R45) and fragments of LPS structure (lipid A and polysaccharide part) on platelet adhesion to collagen in the presence or absence of the phoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K) inhibitor, wortmannin . We found that all forms of LPS and its fragments caused the stimulation of platelet adhesion to collagen, but the polysaccharide part (PS S1959) was the most important in this action . Wortmannin had no effect on LPS-stimulated platelet adhesion to collagen . We conclude that both lipid A and PS S1959 play important roles in LPS-stimulated platelet adhesion to collagen independent on the PI 3-K action.

Proteins, 2003 Feb 1, 50(2), 261 - 71
High-resolution structure and biochemical properties of a recombinant Proteus mirabilis catalase depleted in iron; Andreoletti P et al.; Heme catalases are homotetrameric enzymes with a highly conserved complex quaternary structure, and their functional role is still not well understood . Proteus mirabilis catalase (PMC), a heme enzyme belonging to the family of NADPH-binding catalases, was efficiently overexpressed in E . coli . The recombinant catalase (rec PMC) was deficient in heme with one-third heme and two-thirds protoporphyrin IX as determined by mass spectrometry and chemical methods . This ratio was influenced by the expression conditions, but the enzyme-specific activity calculated relative to the heme content remained unchanged . The crystal structure of rec PMC was solved to a resolution of 2.0 A, the highest resolution obtained to date with PMC . The overall structure was quite similar to that of wild-type PMC, and it is surprising that the absence of iron had no effect on the structure of the active site . Met 53 close to the essential His 54 was found less oxidized in rec PMC than in the wild-type enzyme . An acetate anion was modeled in an anionic pocket, away from the heme group but important for the enzymatic reaction . An alternate conformation observed for Arg 99 could play a role in the formation of the H-bond network connecting two symmetrical subunits of the tetramer .

Lett Appl Microbiol, 2003, 36(1), 35 - 40
Antimicrobial activity of essential oils isolated from Portuguese endemic species of Thymus; Faleiro ML et al.; AIMS: Thymus species are wild species mostly found in the arid lands of Portugal . Possible antimicrobial properties of Thymus essential oils have been investigated . The chemical composition of the essential oils and the antimicrobial activity of Thymus mastichina (L) L . subsp . mastichina, T . camphoratus and T . lotocephalus from different regions of Portugal were analysed . METHODS AND RESULTS: Hydrodistillation was used to isolate the essential oils and the chemical analyses were performed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC coupled to mass spectrometry . The antimicrobial activity was tested by the disc agar diffusion technique against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella spp . and Staphylococcus aureus . Pure linalool, 1,8-cineole and a mixture (1 : 1) of these compounds were included . Linalool, 1,8-cineole or linalool/1,8-cineole and linalool/1,8-cineole/linalyl acetate were the major components of the essential oils, depending on the species or sampling place . The essential oils isolated from the Thymus species studied demonstrated antimicrobial activity but the micro-organisms tested had significantly different sensitivities . CONCLUSIONS: The antimicrobial activity of essential oils may be related to more than one component . SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Portuguese endemic species of Thymus can be used for essential oil production for food spoilage control, cosmetics and pharmaceutical use . Further studies will be required to elucidate the cell targets of the essential oil components.

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