Staphylococcus

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1976 Jul, 11(7), 66 - 9
{Gram-negative infections in severe thermal injury}; Panova IuM et al.; Among 78 patients with persistant bacteriemia the latter was induced by staphylococci in 59 and by gram-negative microflora in 19 patients . In 14 of 19 patients gram-negative septicemia was preceded by staphylococcic one . Gram-negative septicemia would condition in patients the development of pyemic foci not only in the wound area but also in some portions of the body and in internal organs as well . Among 19 patients with gram-negative septicemia 12 patients died, while among 59 patients with staphylococcic septicemia there were 18 deaths.

Res Vet Sci, 1976 Jul, 21(1), 64 - 8
The increased resistance of mice to experimental staphylococcal mastitis following inoculation of endotoxin; Anderson JC; Intramammary inoculation of endotoxin in mice three days before intramammary challenge with staphylococci induced resistance to the staphylococci . Endotoxin given by the intraperitoneal route also induced resistance when inoculated three days before challenge . Resistance was not induced, however, if the mice were allowed to continue lactating during the induction period . Histological examination of mammary glands following different combinations of lactation/involution and endotoxin treatment indicated that endotoxin given by either the intramammary or the intraperitoneal route caused an accelerated involution of the mammary gland and suggested that the involuted gland was inherently more resistant . This was confirmed by demonstrating the same resistance in mice after five days of natural involution when the mammary glands had reached the degree of involution produced by endotoxin in three days.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Jul, 32(1), 53 - 5
Staphylococci from the feces of different animal species: biotypes of Staphylococcus aureus strains of sheep and goat origin; Dimitracopoulos G et al.; Staphylococcus aureus was found in 96% of the rectal swabs from 133 sheep and in 80% of the swabs from 125 goats . Seventy-seven percent of the isolates from both hosts exhibited the fibrinolytic and growth characteristics of human biotype A on human plasma and crystal violet agar, respectively, but 99% of these isolates resembled S . aureus of animal origin in their other properties . Only 21% of the sheep and 24% of the goat isolates were clearly identifiable as human biotype A and animal biotypes B and C.

J Immunol, 1976 Jul, 117(1), 136 - 42
An improved method for isolation of H-2 and Ia alloantigens with immunoprecipitation induced by protein A-bearing staphylococci; Cullen SE et al.; Mouse alloantigens, including the histocompatibility (H-2) and immune response linked (Ia) antigen molecules, can be readily isolated by a new precipitation technique utilizing protein A-bearing, fixed Staphylococci . The antigens are prepared by radiolabeling mouse spleen cells with 3H-leucine, solubilizing with the non-ionic detergent Non-Idet P-40, and purifying by affinity chromatography with lentil lectin coupled to Sapharose . The antigen preparations are mixed with appropriate alloantisera, and immune complexes formed in the mixture are then bound by the protein A sites on the Staphylococci . The organisms, Staphylococcus aureus, Cowan I strain (ATCC 12598), are heat inactivated and fixed, and are a stable, uniform IgG-binding reagent, especially when stored frozen . The antigen-antibody complexes are easily eluted from the organisms for electrophoretic analysis . The precipitation mediated by the organisms is more efficient, rapid, and artifact-free than the traditional "sandwich" precipitation technique involving anti-globulin reagents.

J Infect Dis, 1976 Jun, 133(6), 691 - 5
Antistaphylococcal activity and beta-lactamase resistance of newer cephalosporins; Farrar WE Jr et al.; Four newer cephalosporins (cefazolin, cefamandole, SK&F 59962, and cefoxitin) were investigated for determination of their antistaphylococcal activity and relative stability to staphylococcal beta-lactamase (penicillinase) . Crude preparations of beta-lactamase from recent clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were used . Cefamandole and SK&F 59962 were highly active against both large and small inocula of staphylococci and were resistant to staphylococcal beta-lactamase . Cefoxitin, although resistant to beta-lactamase, possessed less antibacterial potency but was still approximately as active as methicillin . Cefazolin was somewhat more susceptible to staphylococcal beta-lactamase than the other three agents and resembled cephaloridine in this respect . With minor exceptions, a correlation was found between the susceptibility of different agents to beta-lactamase and the magnitude of the effect of inoculum size when the drugs were tested against large and small inocula of staphylococci.

Can J Microbiol, 1976 Jun, 22(6), 771 - 9
Comparative zone electrophoresis of esterases of Staphylococcus species isolated from mammalian skin; Zimmerman RJ et al.; The electrophoretic mobilities of non-specific esterases in vertical polyacrylamide slab gels were determined for 184 strains of staphylococci, representing a total of 18 proposed species and subspecies . Markedly uniform esterase patterns were seen within species demonstrating a high degree of human host specificity, while those species demonstrating a wide host range were polytypic and often showed considerable polymorphism . The unique banding patterns found in several species indicate that this technique may serve as a valuable aid to existing taxonomic schemes . Starch gel electrophoresis of representative strains usually produced sharper esterase bands than were found with polyacrylamide electrophoresis . However, the additional molecular-sieving effect produced by the polyacrylamide gels differentiated esterases to a greater extent.

Antibiotiki, 1976 Jun, 21(6), 549 - 52
{Effect of the aerosol inhalations of some antibacterial preparations on the cocco bacterial flora of the respiratory tract in pulmonary tuberculosis}; Kulik NM; As a result of the experiments it was found the negativation of the sputum was 2 times higher in patients treated in addtion with inhalation of antibacterial drugs as compared to that in patients using no aerosol therapy . The rate of isolation of pathogenic staphylococci to the end of the treatment course was statistically insignificant though there was some tendency to an increase . No significant difference was observed in the antibiotic resistance development in the coccal and bacterial flora of the patients treated and not treated with streptomycin in the form of inhalation.

Antibiotiki, 1976 Jun, 21(6), 523 - 7
{Phenotype of antibiotic resistance in clinical strains of staphylococci isolated from patients with staphylococcal destructive pneumonia}; Speranskaia ON et al.; The results of the study on the dynamics of changes in antibiotic sensitivity of staphylococci isolated from 38 patients with destructive pneumonia were presented . Most of the strains were characterized by multiple resistance to the main antibiotics with high resistance levels . Aminoglycosides, fusidin and rifampicin were the most active against the clinical strains . Repeated determinations of the antibiotic sensitivity revealed changes in the structure of the antibiotic resistance with inclusion of new resistance markers.

Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1976 Jun 1, 162(2), 143 - 52
Some properties of coagulase-negative deoxyribonuclease-producing strains of staphylococci from human infections; Dornbusch K et al.; Twenty-seven coagulase-negative and deoxyribonuclease-positive staphylococci were isolated from more than 3000 specimens from human infections . The strains were tested by conventional biochemical tests and by simple agar plate assays for production of different extracellular enzymes and toxins . Three strains were lysed by S . epidermidis phages and 7 strains by S . aureus phages . All strains produced thermolabile nuclease but only 21 strains produced thermostable nuclease . The investigated strains belonged to a heterogeneous intermediate group sharing characters of S . aureus and S . epidermidis . Tests for production of coagulase and thermostable nuclease should be used in the classification of these intermediate strains in diagnostic bacteriology.

Arch Dermatol, 1976 Jun, 112(6), 856 - 8
Bullous impetigo . Occurrence of localized scalded skin syndrome in an adult; Elias PM et al.; The localized form of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, bullous impetigo, occurs commonly in children but rarely in adults . We will describe a case of bullous impetigo in an adult which developed while the patient was receiving short-term therapy with orally administered corticosteriods . Scalded skin syndrome in this case was characterized by isolation of phage group 2 staphylococci from intact bullae and by the presence of an intraepidermal, subgranular cleavage plane in histological sections . Features that differentiate the localized form of scalded skin syndrome from generalized forms include the presence of dermal infiltrate and the absence of cutaneous erythema and tenderness . On the basis of available experimental evidence, the rarity of both localized and generalized scalded skin syndrome in adults can be attributed to immunologic competence or enhanced capacity of adults to metabolize the staphylococcal exfoliatin.

J Clin Invest, 1976 Jun, 57(6), 1533 - 9
Defect in intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus within alveolar macrophages in Sendai virus-infected murine lungs; Jakab GJ et al.; Bacterial multiplication associated with virus infections is related to defects in in situ bactericidal (phagocytic) mechanisms of the lung . To determine whether the phagocytic defect was in bacterial ingestion and/or intracellular digestion, mice were infected with a sublethal dose of aerosolized Sendai virus and challenged 7 days later with a finely dispersed aerosol of Staphylococcus aureus . Groups of uninfected and virus-infected mice were sacrificed at 0, 6, 12, and 24 h after challenge, the lungs were perfused with formalin in situ, and the intra- or extracellular location of the bacteria was determined histologically . At 0 h, 49% and 51% of the staphylococci had an intracellular location in virus and nonvirus-infected lungs, respectively . With time, decreasing numbers of staphylococci were observed within the phagocytic cells of nonvirus-infected lungs, mostly as single organisms or in small clusters of less than four . In contrast, in focal area of virus-infected lungs, increasing numbers of phagocytic cells showed clumps of more than 25 bacteria/cell . These data demonstrate that virus-infected suppression of pulmonary antibacterial activity against S . aureus is related primarily to defects in intracellular processing mechanisms.

Br J Dermatol, 1976 Jun, 94(6), 619 - 32
Hypersensitivity to bacteria in eczema . I . Bacterial culture, skin tests and immunofluorescent detection of immunoglobulins and bacterial antigens; Welbourn E et al.; A study was made of the cytotoxic effect of antibacterial antibody and complement reacting with bacterial antigens firmly adsorbed to epidermal cells . It is believed that this phenomenon enhances the severity of the lesions and their spread in some cases of disseminated eczema . In this first part of the study it is confirmed that Staphylococcus aureus and micrococci are frequently present on lesions and 'unaffected' skin of patients with disseminated eczema . Intradermal skin tests with antigens of staphylococci and micrococci on 122 eczematous patients elicited immediate, or combined immediate and 4 h (Arthus-like) responses, in a large proportion, but few showed uncombined 4 h responses or delayed hypersensitivity, in contrast to findings reported by others . Immunofluorescence tests on skin of thirty patients showed that IgG and IgM diffused into the epidermis, sometimes to the skin surface, of lesional skin, and more immunoglobulin was found in skin of 'unaffected' areas than in skin of normal healthy persons, indicating that clinically unaffected skin in patients with disseminated eczema is abnormal . IgD was present in three of eight samples of unfixed, and six of eight samples of fixed eczematous skin . Staphylococcal and micrococcal antigen was shown on the skin surface and also diffusely in the cytoplasm of cells in the dermis beneath the surface deposits, indicating percutaneous absorption . Further small amounts of antigen were adsorbed to some epidermal cells . These results show that the predisposing conditions for a cytotoxic reaction mediated by hypersensitivity to bacteria do occur . Increased growth of staphylococci and micrococci on eczematous skin would result in increased deposits of antigen . Bacterial antigens are absorbed into the skin and bind with epidermal cells, and immunoglobulins diffuse into the epidermis . Furthermore, skin tests showed that many eczematous patients were hypersensitive to bacteria . Studies on the nature of the antibacterial antibody will be published in the succeeding reports.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1976 May, 15(5), 428 - 31
Antibiotic susceptibilities of 120 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients at a Children's Hospital . Decline of hospital staphylococci as compared with staphylococci in outpatients . A reversal; Yoshioka H et al.; The antibiotic sensitivities of 120 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from both hospitalized patients and outpatients at Children's Memorial Hospital, Oklahoma City were studied . The proportions of strains resistant to the commonly used antibiotics were considerably lower than that found by other workers in earlier years, except for penicillin G . Of the 120 strains, 98 (81.7%) were resistant to penicillin G, 13 (10.8%) to tetracycline, 9 (7.5%) to erythromycin, and 3 (2.5%) to clindamycin . No strains resistant against cephalothin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, or oxacillin were found . Sixteen strains (13.3%), of which 5 were inpatient strains and 11 were outpatient strains, were found to be resistant to more than one drug . Phage group 1 or type 80/81 staphylococci were not found among multiple resistant strains from hospitalized patients.

Blood, 1976 May, 47(5), 801 - 5
Effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies on neutrophil function; Kaplan SS et al.; Morphological and quantitative neutrophil abnormalities are common in the megaloblastic anemias of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency . Little is known, however, about the role of these vitamins in normal leukocyte function . Seven patients with megaloblastic bone marrows, four with vitamin B12 deficiency and three with folic acid deficiency, were studied to determine the effect, if any, of these deficiencies on leukocyte function . Phagocytosis of staphylococci, hexose monophosphate shunt activation with phagocytosis, and microbicidal capacity against Staphylococcus aureus were determined prior to the institution of specific therapy . In two instances, these studies were repeated following treatment . There was no impairment of phagocytosis per se, and resting metabolism was not significantly decreased . With phagocytosis, however, metabolic activation was decreased to 35%-36% of control values in the leukocytes of patients with vitamin B12 deficiency but not in the leukocytes of patients with folic acid deficiency . Bacterial killing was slightly decreased in vitamin B12 but not in folic acid deficiency . These abnormalities of function were reversed after specific therapy . These findings suggested a specific role for vitamin B12 in the production of intermediates necessary for normal cell function.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1976 May-Jun, 127(4), 503 - 14
{Dwarf colony mutants of "staphylococcus": study of three strains isolated from patients with osteosynthesis (author's transl)}; Borderon E et al.; Dwarf colony mutants of staphylococci were isolated from per operative samplings obtained from three patients with a bacterial contamination of their osteosynthesis material . The dwarf mutants grown in trypticase soja agar (TSA) after 72 h at 37 degrees C (two cases) and in nutrient broth (one case) . They displayed poor growth (very small, transparent colonies on TSA), reduced biochemical activity, deficient pigment formation and intermediary resistance to aminoglucoside antibiotics (kanamycin, streptomycin, gentamicin) . Biochemically, two types of metabolic defects have been demonstrated among these dwarf strains . Two of them are vitamin K2-less (strains 30 and 73) and are supplemented by menadion natrium bisulfit at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 10 mug per ml . In these cases the dwarf colony mutants coexisted with normal colony of S . epidermidis (case 30) and S . aureus (case 73) belonging to serotypes 52260 and I respectively . The third strain (case 163) supplemented by horse blood is hemin-requiring . This strain could be characterized in media supplemented with blood, because it was isolated only as dwarf colony mutant from the patient; it belongs to serotype 52260 (S . epidermidis) . This hemin-less dwarf mutant is the single responsible of the pathological manifestations of the patient 163 . In the cases of vitamin K12-less mutants (strains 30 and 73) the coexistence of dwarf mutants and normal colonies of the same serotype may make possible the elucidation of relapse in infectious complications of the patients with osteosynthesis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 May, (5), 71 - 5
{Typing staphylococci of intestinal origin according to the character of their bacteriocins}; Medzhidov BF et al.; Results of studying the properties of bacteriocines of pathogenic staphylococci isolated from children with intestinal disturbances are presented; morphology of the inhibition zones, the capacity to penetrate through cellophane, the rate of diffusion in agar and the period of inactivation pointed to the nonhomogeneousness of the 275 strains under study and a possibility of their differentiation with the aid of a provisional scheme including 12 bacteriocinogenotypes . Reference of all or the majority of the strains isolated from the same person to the same bacteriocinogenotype of the scheme pointed to a possibility of its practical application.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 May, (5), 37 - 41
{Pigment formation and other biological properties of staphylococci}; Bogdanova LF et al.; A comparison was made of the pigment-forming capacity and the enzymatic activity, growth rate, virulence and sensitivity to antibiotics and egg lysozyme in 397 pigment, 203 pigment-free strains of staphylococci and 24 pigment-free Staph aureus mutants . Pigment formation did not always correlate with the general biological activity of the cultures, the rate of their growth and the sensitivity to antibiotics and lysozyme . Pigment-free staphylococcus mutants retained the principal properties of the initial strains (including the virulence and sensitivity to antibiotics and egg lysozyme) more frequently . It is supposed that the marker determining the pigment formation in staphylococci was not connected with the markers determining the most significant pathogenicity properties and also antibiotic resistance.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1976 May-Jun, 85(3 pt 1), 394 - 7
Microbiology of the canine nasal cavities; Abramson AL et al.; The microbiota of both nasal cavities were investigated in 37 dogs by both aerobic and anaerobic techniques . The predominant microorganisms were composed of enterococci and staphylococci . A surprisingly high incidence (46%) of Gram-negative rods was noted from the inferior portion of the nose . Microorganisms from the superior region of the nose, as obtained with a surgical approach, differed both qualitatively and quantitatively from the respective transnasal cultures . Thus, it appears that different bacterial populations are present within various anatomic regions of the nose and a routine transnasal culture cannot accurately reflect the microbiology of the entire nasal cavity.

South Med J, 1976 May, 69(5), 627 - 8
Prophylactic treatment of umbilical stump: comparison of technics; DeLoache WR et al.; Three different technics of umbilical stump treatment (alcohol, "triple dye," and providone iodine) were compared . The study revealed a significantly lower rate of colonization with coagulase-positive staphylococci in the group of infants treated with "triple dye."

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1976 May, 59(3), 594 - 601
Collaborative study of the serological identification of staphylococcal enterotoxins by the microslide gel double diffusion test; Bennett RW et al.; A collaborative study was conducted, using the microslide gel double diffusion test for enterotoxin detection by determining the staphylococcal enterotoxigenicity of 7 strains of Staphylococcus aureus . Two strains produced staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), 2 strains produced staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), one strain produced both SEA and SEB, and 2 strains produced neither SEA nor SEB . To ascertain the effectiveness of this method for the detection of enterotoxins, strains of enterotoxigenic staphylococci which produced small or relatively large amounts of toxin were used in the study . The cultures were grown on semi-solid brain-heart infusion agar and the culture fluids were assayed serologically for SEA and SEB . The qualitative results of this study by 16 collaborators indicated that this technique, in general, demonstrated a high degree of specificity as well as simplicity and reproducibility in the identification of the enterotoxins . Of the 16 participating laboratories, 14 reported the correct diagnoses for the 7 staphylococcal strains studied and 2 laboratories determined 6 of the 7 strains correctly . Based on these results, this method has been adopted as official first action.

Antibiotiki, 1976 May, 21(5), 423 - 6
{Structure of drug resistance in Staphylococci}; Veselov AIa; The structure of drug resistance was studied on 2788 clinical strains of staphylococci isolated from various materials of patients with purulent-inflammatory processes, stuff and environment within 12 years from 1968 to 1973 . The number of staphylococci resistant to tetracycline increased 13 times among the cultures with resistance marker, while the number of staphylococci resistant to penicillin decreased 1-8 times . The study of the complex resistance revealed the predominance of staphylococci with tetracycline resistance structure (60-5 percent).

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 May, 234(4), 473 - 9
Multiple drug resistance in Escherichia coli - an analysis of all-nation computer-processed data; Krcmery V et al.; In a computer-assisted surveillance program, a one-year yield of nationally collected strains of E . coli, and separately of their enteropathogenic serotypes, were analysed for their biresistance to 10 frequently used antibacterials, and also their typical three-, four-, and five-resistance which occur most frequently . It was shown that, like in staphylococci (1), classical drugs: ampicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and kanamycin all show a significant degree of mutual selectivity . This was confirmed by analyses of comparatively large numbers of strains with higher complexity of multiple resistance . It is important and significant, for the regulation of further antibiotic policy, that the computer analysis showed a mutual devaluation of gentamicin and colistin antibiotics . Colistin-resistant strains of E . coli showed a high degree of resistance to gentamicin - far higher than strains resistant to any other drugs, even strains resistant to four or five classical drugs, vice versa, gentamicin-resistant strains were in more than 50% resistant to colistin - a value which is much higher than that of the very good effectiveness of gentamicin toward strains resistant to other antibiotics, even to five of them at once . This is another important observation, similar to one-way selectivity of oxacillin-resistant staphylococci by lincomycin resistance . Such findings urge for a special surveillance program for these crucially important antibiotics in the all-nation computer-assisted surveillance of the resistance to antibiotics in problem bacteria . Enteropathogenic strains of E . coli showed far higher resistance values not only for classical antibiotics, but also for kanamycin, nalidixin and septrin resistance.

Mikrobiologiia, 1976 May-Jun, 45, 466 - 9
{Phospholipase C of fungi and staphylococci}; Zaikina NA et al.; The activity of phospholipase was studied in the cultural broth and cell extract of 112 strains of fungi and yeasts . The endoenzyme was detected in 19 strains of mycelial fungi, the exoenzyme was found in Mucor hiemalis 50 and Aspergillus niger 117 . Phospholipase C of M . hiemalis was purified and compared to phospholipase of staphylococci . The values of Km are 8.9 and 1.07 mM, respectively, for the fungal and staphylococcal enzymes.

Can J Microbiol, 1976 May, 22(5), 677 - 83
Enumeration of sublethally heated staphylococci in some dried foods; Hurst A et al.; The effect of 45 substances to restore the salt tolerance of sublethally heat-injured Staphylococcus aureus was tested . Sodium pyruvate, yeast extract, L-histine, casitone (Difco), adenosine triphosphate, and acetylphosphate were effective . For enumeration a repair medium was first used, containing sodium pyruvate and penicillin in 1% skim milk . This step was followed by counting on Baird-Parker agar with penicillinase . This method was selective; fewer than 100 staphylococci/g food could be enumerated and it gave counts about 8 times higher than the method of Giolitti and Cantoni used as a five-tube most probable number technique . Heat injury sensitized S . aureus to polymyxin.

Ann Surg, 1976 Apr, 183(4), 355 - 7
Staphylococci in community-acquired infections: Increased resistance to penicillin; Hughes GB et al.; One hundred patients with community-acquired staphylococcal infections of the skin and soft tissues were treated in the Emergency Ward of Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital from June to October of 1974 . Each staphylococcal infection was considered community-acquired if, within two weeks prior to being treated for the first time, the patient had not received antibiotics, had not been hospitalized, and had not been in contact with other recently hospitalized persons . Of 100 community-acquired staphylococcal infections, 85 were resistant to penicillin . Almost no resistance to other tested antibiotics was observed . Unless indicated otherwise by bacteriologic testing, penicillin is a poor drug of choice in those skin and soft tissue infections suspected of harboring staphylococci.

J Bacteriol, 1976 Apr, 126(1), 225 - 31
Nitrate reductase activity in heme-deficient mutants of Staphylococcus aureus; Burke KA et al.; Mutants H-14 and H-18 of Staphylococcus aureus require hemin for growth on glycerol and other nonfermentable substrates . H-14 also responds to delta-aminolevulinate . Heme-deficient cells grown in the presence of nitrate do not have lactate-nitrate reductase activity but gain this activity when incubated with hemin in buffer and glucose . Lactate-nitrate reductase activity is also restored to the membrane fraction from such cells by incubation with hemin and dithiothreitol; addition of adenosine 5'-triphosphate has no effect upon the restoration . Cells grown with nitrate in the absence of hemin have two to five times more reduced benzyl viologen-nitrate reductase activity than do those grown with hemin . The activity increases throughout the growth period in the absence of hemin, but with hemin present enzyme formation ceases before the end of growth . There was no evidence of enzyme destruction . The distribution of nitrate reductase activity between membrane and cytoplasm was similar in cells grown with and without hemin; 70 to 90% was in the cytoplasm . It is concluded that heme-deficient staphylococci form apo-cytochrome b, which readily combines in vitro with its prosthetic group to restore normal function . The avaliability of the heme prosthetic group influences the formation of nitrate reductase.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1976 Apr, 73(4), 1305 - 9
Genetic polymorphism of IgD-like cell surface immunoglobulin in the mouse; Goding JW et al.; Lymphocyte surface antigens from spleen cells of several mouse strains were studied by cell surface radioiodination, extraction with detergent incubation with various antisera, and separation of complexes using protein A-containing staphylococci as a solid phase adsorbent . Complexes were then dissociated and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium diodecyl sulfate . Using this technique and an alloantiserum prepared in C57BL mice against CBA spleen cells, four distinct specific peaks of radioactivity were found with CBA spleen cells . These corresponded to H-2 and Ia antigens, immunoglobulin light chain, and a heavy chain previously proposed to be the murine homolog of the human delta chain . With the same serum, B10.BR spleen cells revealed only H-2 and Ia antigens, whereas C57BL.Ige (allotype congenic) spleen cells showed only the light chain and "delta" chain peaks . Depletion of immunoglobulin from the surface-iodinated preparations resulted in removal of the light chain and "delta" chain peaks . The tissue distribution and membrane expression of this "delta" chain antigen was then studied by indirect immunofluorescence with various C57BL derived alloantisera and lymphoid cells from C57.Ige allotype congenic mice . Significant numbers of positive cells were found in spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patches, whereas few if any positive were found in bone marrow or thymus . No reaction was found between this molecule and alloantisera to any of the previously described immunoglobulin allotypes . It is proposed that these alloantisera to spleen cells recognise one allelic form of the murine "delta" chain coded for by a gene locus closely linked to the known structural genes for mouse immunoglobulin heavy chains . The designation Ig-5 is proposed for this new immunoglobulin heavy chain locus.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Apr, (3), 64 - 8
{Indices of phagocytosis of staphylococci with different biological activity}; Antonovskaia II et al.; An index of completion of phagocytosis was studied for staphylococcus cultures of various biological activity in experiments with surviving polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Among the coagulase-forming staphylococci virulent strains proved to be nonviable in a lesser percentage of cases than the avirulent ones . Coagulase- and mannite-negative cultures proved to be most unstable . Staphylococcus toxin depressed the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to the focus of irritation, inhibited ingestion of the virulent, and, to a lesser degree, of avirulent coagulase-forming staphylococci, but failed to influence the ingestion of coagulase-negative epidermal staphylococci . The influence of staphylotoxin on the phagocytosis completion index was either the minimal or absent entirely.

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1976 Apr 1, 101(7), 365 - 71
{An investigation into the presence of staphylococci in farm milk (author's transl)}; Bijker PG et al.; Two hundred bulk milk samples drawn from milk collected in cans, which came from cows at stable at 40 farms in the Food Inspection District Utrecht, were examined for Staphylococcus aureus, by means of Baird-Parker's medium . Cultures obtained were phage typed with international, bovine, and additional Dutch phage series . About 60% of the isolated strains were found to be of human origin and about 20% of bovine origin . Isolated strains appeared to be farm specific . Approximately 70% of the farms supplied bulk milk containing 0.08-1.3X10(4) coagulase and DNAse positive staphylococci/ml . The conclusion is inescapable that this type of bulk milk still represents a latent hazard for human health.

Vet Med (Praha), 1976 Apr, 21(4), 215 - 20
{Penetration of Staphylococci through the egg-shell}; Lukasova J et al.; Penetration of staphylococci through egg-shell structures into the egg content was studied in 490 eggs . A series of experiments proved that staphylococci were able to penetrate through all egg-shell structures in a short time (of 1 hour) after the contamination . According to the results of these experiments, penetration was affected by the presence of cuticle, different shell porosity and high pH of the egg white.

Rev Can Biol, 1976 Mar, 35(1), 25 - 31
{Effects of histones on phagocytosis and phagocytic metabolism}; Agbaba O; Enhanced phagocytosis and no intracellular glycogen breakdown was found in guinea-pig peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) incubated together with heat-killed staphylococci (Twort) treated with a calf thymus histone fraction (P II), for 1 hr at 37 degrees C . Glcose consumption and lactate production of these PMN's were as high as in phagocytosis of the same germ untreated with P II, and their oxygen consumption was depressed significantly.

Infect Immun, 1976 Mar, 13(3), 682 - 7
Subcutaneous multiplication of exfoliatin-producing staphylococci; Kapral FA; After subcutaneous inoculation of approximately 10(6) cocci, changes in staphylococcal populations were followed by the enumeration of organisms in excised tissues . In contrast to conventionaal Staphylococcus aureus strains, exfoliatin-producing strains were able to multiply in the subcutaneous tissues of neonatal and adult mice . Although strains capable of producing large quantities of exfoliatin were better able to proliferate than strains producing lesser amounts of toxin, it was not determined whether exfoliatin was directly responsible for the observed multiplication . Two variants exhibiting a partial loss in exfoliatin production showed minor changes in proliferative capability . A third strain, after being cured of its exfoliatin plasmid, manifested a marked reduction in exfoliatin production and was unable to multiply subcutaneously . With some strains multiplication proceeded for several hours but was then followed by a decline in the number of viable organisms . Histological sections of subcutaneous lesions revealed a rapid influx of neutrophils, but leukocytes accumulated in the region regardless of whether the organisms multiplied or were eliminated.

Antibiotiki, 1976 Mar, 21(3), 226 - 30
{Method of determining the sensitivity of Staphylococcus aureus to methicillin}; Zueva VS et al.; The effect of the incubation temperature, i.e . 37 and 30 degrees and the effect of addition of 5 per cent of sodium chloride to the nutrient medium was studied with respect to the results of sensitivity determination of staphylococci to methicillin by 3 methods, such as serial dilutions in liquid and solid media and replica method applied to separate colonies . With the use of all 3 methods incubation of the samples at a temperature of 30 degrees increased the rate of staphylococcal cultures resistant to methicillin . Addition of sodium chloride to the solid nutrient medium increased the level of detecting methicillin resistant cultures in the samples incubated at a temperature of 37 degrees and decreased it in the samples incubated at 30 degrees.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1976 Mar, 161(5-6), 455 - 61
Staphylococci outside the hospital . Staphylococcus aureus in sheep; Hajek V et al.; Biochemical properties were studied in Staph . aureus strains obtained from the anterior nares of healthy sheep and from the udders of ewes suffering from purulent mastitis . Of the total number of 84 isolated staphylococcal strains 75 (89.3%) were classified as the C biotype . These undoubtedly sheep-adapted staphylococci produced pigment and beta hemolysin, they were growing on crystal violet agar as the negative type in violet colonies lacking both fibrinolysin and alpha hemolysin . All of them coagulated human plasma within one hour after inoculation . In bovine plasma 27 strains (36%) formed the coagulum within 3 hours, 16 (21.3%) within 24 hours, and the remaining 32 strains (42.7%) only within 72 hours . Mannitol was fermented after five days only by 33 cultures (44%) . The staphylococci were sensitive to the applied antibiotics without exception . All these sheep-adapted staphylococci had analogous biochemical features to the earlier discussed staphylococcal strains obtained by the authors from the nasal cavities of cattle . Next two strains were denoted as deficit variants of the C biotype because of their lack of pigment . Of quite a different character were 3 strains (3.6%) of the A biotype and one strain identified as the E biotype . The former were presumably transferred to sheep from man while the latter from a dog . The remaining 3 strains could not be subdivided according to the classificatory criteria used here.

Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique, 1976 Mar-Apr, 24(2), 151 - 64
{Epidemiology of S . aureus cross-infections in dermatological wards}; Barriere H et al.; Over a three-year period, 196 of 3115 patients admitted in a dermatological department became infected with S . aureus (6,2 %) . 205 strains of S . aureus were isolated . Serologic typing, phage-typing and antibiotic sensitivity tests revealed 3 epidemic and 2 endemic strains . The 3 epidemic strains infected 24 patients: 12 from july to november 1972 were infected with a serotype 66438 S . aureus resistant to fusidic acid . 6 patients (male) were infected with a serotype III in february and march 1972; 8 patients were contaminated with a serotype 18 S . aureus from december 1973 to february 1974, after staying in a surgical department . Of the 2 endemic strains 1, phage-pattern 53/79, is non-typable by serologic-typing; this strain has been observed only in the dermatological department and 20 patients were infected with, from january to october 1974 . The second endemic strain, phage-pattern 81/+ serotype I, cross-infected 16 patients during this three-year survey; 12 of them were admitted repeatedly . During this three-year survey, it could be proved that, at least, 1 out of 3 patients is infected with an epidemic or an endemic strain . We can suggest that the factors enhancing cross-infection in dermatological department are: the sex of patients (80 % were male); presence of a tween splitting enzyme by S . aureus promotes growth of Staphylococci on the skin; patients transfered from a department to another or repeatedly admitted are more often infected . But, as they are source of some outbreaks, they need special measures (asepsis and hygiene); corticoids or immunodepressors enhance cross-infection; antibiotics must not be only limited but varied too.

Res Vet Sci, 1976 Mar, 20(2), 148 - 50
Comparative studies on the use of 5-fluorouracil in two different media as a selective agent for isolation of Leptospira; Hussaini SN et al.; Incorporation of 5-fluorouracil at concentrations of 100-150 mug/ml in Korthof's medium was found to be effective in inhibiting staphylococci and Escherichia coli without adversely affecting leptospiral growth when cultures were incubated at 30 degrees C or at room temperature (15-22 degrees C) . No growth was detected in cultures incubated at 37 degrees C . it was concluded that Korthof's medium containing 5-fluorouracil at these concentrations forms a useful selective medium for the isolation of leptospires when incubated at appropriate temperatures.

Antibiotiki, 1976 Mar, 21(3), 231 - 3
{Comparison of the sensitivity of pathogenic staphylococci isolated in 1974 to certain antibiotics and nitrofuran derivatives}; Val'vachev NI et al.; Sensitivity of 267 strains of pathogenic staphylococci isolated in 1974 was studied with respect to some antibiotics and nitrofuran derivatives by the method of serial dilutions on solid media . Sensitivity to penicillin, oxacillin, olemorphocycline, ristomycin and nitrofuran derivatives (furagin and salafur) was observed in 30.7 +/- 2.8, 61.8 +/-3, 29.2 +/-2.8 and 98.9 +/- 0.8 per cent of the cultures respectively.

Am J Vet Res, 1976 Mar, 37(3), 303 - 5
Staphylococcus aureus infections of captive dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and oceanarium personnel; Streitfeld MM et al.; Samples from blowhole and pharynx of 1 dolphin ill with a respiratory tract infection and 31 healthy dolphins at 2 oceanariums were examined by bacteriologic cultural technique . During the same period, nasal and volar forearm skin samples were collected from 32 healthy personnel and from a furuncle on the forearm of 1 attendant . Coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated from 8 dolphins (including the ill dolphin) and from 14 persons . Antibiotic sensitivity patterns (8 drugs were tested) differed markedly for the staphylococcal isolates recovered from dolphins, as compared with those from persons . Staphylocci from the dolphins were totally or partially sensitive to every antibiotic, whereas almost all of the isolates from persons were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin, as well as to certain other antibiotics . Staphylococcus bacteriophage typing revealed that only 1 isolate from a dolphin could be typed (type D11) . Six of the isolates from persons were typable, but no isolate was sensitive to only type D11 . It was concluded that, although Staphylococcus aureus could be isolated commonly from captive dolphins, there was no evidence of cross infection between the dolphins and the oceanarium personnel.

Am J Dis Child, 1976 Mar, 130(3), 265 - 8
Nursery outbreak of scalded-skin syndrome . Scarlatiniform rash due to phage group I Staphylococcus aureus; Faden HS et al.; From Aug 6 to 14, 1973, scariatiniform eruptions that were considered to be mild forms of the staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome developed in four neonates . One infant had mild epidermal peeling . All had generalized, finely papular erythema that cleared rapidly after treatment with antibiotics . Cultures from the umbilical stumps or anterior nares of three of the infants yielded colonies of group I Staphylococcus aureus, phage type 29/52/79/86/D11/81, that were able to produce epidermal exfoliation in suckling mice . These data indicate that the nursery outbreak was caused by phage group I staphylococci rather than group II organisms previously associated with staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome . The demonstration that a group I Staphylococcus can produce exfoliative toxin suggests that the same mechanism for toxin production may exist for phage groups I and II staphylococci.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Mar, 234(2), 170 - 6
{Electron microscopic investigations on encapsulated Staphylococci (author's transl)}; Kitzrow D et al.; Attempts were made to study the surface of encapsulated staphylococci by electron microscopy . After fixation with osmium tetroxide the encapsulated staphylococci showed a "hazy" cell-surface, possibly because of capsular components (Fig . 1) . On the other hand, the nonencapsulated staphylococci exposed a "smooth" surface of the cell wall (Fig 1) . Similar findings were obtained after the immuneferritintechnique (Fig 2) . The staphylococcal capsules could be clearly demonstrated by the "negative contrasting" method with ferritin (Fig 3) . The capsules did not significantly enlarge after reaction of the encapsulated staphylococci with their homologous antiserum.

Fortschr Med, 1976 Feb 12, 94(5), 264 - 5, 268
{Chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis . Attempt at oral autovaccine therapy}; Ring J et al.; 18 patients suffering from chronic posttraumatic osteomyelitis were treated by oral autovaccination . 11 patients showed significant improvement of clinical condition . The therapeutic effect was evaluated by a scoring system considering the wound morphology, the bone radiology and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate . The most pronounced clinical improvements were observed in patients with established delayed type hypersensitivity against staphylococci.

Lancet . 1976 Feb 7;1(7954):283.
Impairment of human polymorphonuclear leucocyte function by influenza virus; Larson HE et al.; The effects of an influenza virus on polymorphonuclear leucocyte function were examined in vitro with a view to explaining why bacterial pneumonia often accompanies influenza in man . The ability of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes to show chemotaxis and to phagocytose staphylococci was inhibited when they were incubated with influenza viruses . Hexose-monophosphate-shunt activation was unaffected . The inhibitory effects were apparently specific to the virus.

Antibiotiki, 1976 Feb, 21(2), 136 - 8
{Sensitivity to antibacterial preparations of the pathogenic staphylococci isolated from carriers}; Chudner VZ et al.; After discontinuation of the use of antibiotics for sanation of the carriers of pathogenic staphylococci among the staff of a maternity unit, the number of the strains resistant to penicillin, streptomycin, chlortetracycline, tetracycline, levomycetin, erythromycin, monomycin and neomycin decreased 1.3, 2.9, 10,4.3,5.5,1.5,3.9 and 2.4 times respectively . The differences were statistically reliable . The causes of the antibiotic resistance decrease require further investigation.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Feb, (2), 86 - 9
{Data on the identification of staphylococci of hospital origin . Report 2 . Method of biological typing of S . epidermis}; Akatov AK et al.; In accordance with the principles of numerical taxonomy the authors elaborated a new method of biological typing of S . epidermidis strains of hospital origin based on the use of 5 tests (gelatinase, hemolysis, lecithinase, phosphatase, lysozyme) . The suggested scheme includes 5 biotypes . In typing 690 S . epidermidis strains it was revealed that 47.5% belonged to biotype 1,14.4% - to type 2,11.2% - to type 3,7.7% - to type 4,14.5% - to type 5, and 4.7% were nontyping strains . The suggested scheme permitted better differentiation of the cultures under study than methods of biological typing suggested earlier by foreign authors . The new scheme requires wide approbation.

J Immunol, 1976 Feb, 116(2), 549 - 53
Evidence for more than one Ia antigenic specificity on molecules determined by the I-A subregion of the mouse major histocompatibility complex; Cullen SE et al.; Ia antigenic specificities determined by the I-A subregion of the mouse major histocompatibility complex have been examined in strain B10.D2 (H-2d), C57BL/10 (H-2b), and in a (C57BL/6xDBA/2) hybrid (BDF1; H-2b/d) . Detergent solubilized, 3H-leucine-labeled antigen preparations were mixed with appropriate alloantisera and precipitation was induced either by addition of goat anti-mouse gamma-globulin or by addition of protein A-bearing Staphylococci . Sequential precipitation analysis showed that in strain B10.D2, Ia specificities 8 and 11 were co-precipitable, and that in strain C57BL/10, Ia specificities 8 and 9 were co-precipitable . In contrast, precipitation of specificities 9 and 11 from a BDF1 antigen preparation showed that these two Ia specificities were on separate molecules . The genetic implications of these data are discussed.

Polim Med, 1976, 6(1), 33 - 40
{Disinfection of medical orthopedic articles made of polymer materials}; Vashkov VI et al.; In traumatological hospitals the medical orthopedic articles made of polymer materials are contaminated by different microorganisms including pathogenic staphylococci, therefore they can serve as a factor of transmission of hospital-associated staphylococcal infections . Polymer materials used for medical orthopedic articles are not bactericidal . Mechanical cleaning with detergents does not provide sufficient elimination of microorganisms from orthopedic articles . This can be obtained by means of the treatment (immersion, wiping) with solutions of bactericidal preparations of various chemical orogin (chloramine, lithium hypochloride, chlorine, sulphochlorantine, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, nitran) . Medical orthopedic articles must be decontaminated before use . In the hospitals, disinfection of orthopedic articles should be performed at least once a day . Immersion of the articles made of porous materials into solutions of disinfectans with surface-active additives or into solutions of surface-active bactericides is a simple, readily available and effective method of treatment . Drawback of this method is that disinfectant solution partly remains in the pores and can be eliminated only by means of drying of the article in thermostate . Orthopedic articles of polyurethane foam can be decontaminated only by use of solutions of hydrogen peroxide and nirtan out of all the tested disinfectants . Medical orthopedic articles made of polymer materials have endured repeated treatment with disinfectant solutions without any change of their physical and mechanical properties . The usability of these articles did not deteriorate.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1976, 24(1), 115 - 9
Antibiotic action of beta-ursolic acid; Kowalewski Z et al.; The antimicrobial action of beta-ursolic acid (triterpenoid sapogenin from the ursan group) has been studied . At the concentration of 300 mug/ml, this substance inhibited growth of all strains of staphylococci investigated . MIC for Gram-positive bacteria ranged between 50 and 500 mug/ml, and 100 to 800 mug/ml for Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts . Acquired resistance to beta-ursolic acid was transient.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1976, 20(2), 201 - 6
Relationship between resistance to metallic ions and production of beta-lactamase in strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis; Wieckiewicz JA; Thirty five strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis were tested for resistance to penicillin G, erythomycin, metallic ions Zn, As3, As5, Cd, Hg, Pb and activity of beta-lactamase . These studies have shown that the majority of tested staphylococci were resistant to penicillin G, erythromycin, and produced beta-lactamase . No correlation between the activity of beta-lactamase and the resistance to metallic ions has been shown.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Jan, 234(1), 14 - 20
Multiple drug-resistance in staphylococci, an analysis of all-nation computer-processed data; Grunt J et al.; In a previous communication from this Institute it was assessed that multiple drug resistance plays a decisive role in overall antibiotic resistance of staphylococci and that true data of the extent of multiresistance depend decisively on sufficient number of antibiotics toward which strains of a given species is tested . It was found, by analysis of more than 60 000 staphylococcal strains isolated by Public Health Laboratories in the Slovak Socialist Republic (S.S.R.) during the period of one year, that triple and quadruple resistance is the most prevalent one in staphylococci - not regarded, however, the penicillin resistance which is absolutely predominant . Present analysis also shows that resistances to streptomycin, tetracyclines, erythromycin and kanamycin (STEK type) are both most frequent and mutually selective, i.e . strains resistant to any of these drugs (and also to penicillin, i.e . PSTEK type) show resistance also to other antibiotics of this group . In contrast, chloramphenicol resistance seems not to be connected with resistance to these substances nor is resistance to newer specific anti-staphylococcal antibiotics, used only recently in this country, as is oxacillin, lincomycin and cefaloridin . Nevertheless, lincomycin seems to select a co-resistance as many lincomycin-resistant strains were resistant also to oxacillin but not vice versa . Increasing resistance of staphylococci in S.S.R . to kanamycin and particularly to erythromycin, and their frequent occurrence in multiresistance types is a warning feature which might lead to an increase of therapeutic crisis in staphylococcal infections.

Vet Med Nauki, 1976, 13(10), 20 - 7
{Origin of the staphylococci in slaughtered poultry}; Bail'ozov D et al.; Studied were 382 coagulase-positive and 290 coagullase-negative Staphylococcus strains isolated from birds during their post-slaughter handling, from the vats for water cooling as well as from the women working on the slaughter-house conveyor . Studied were the phage behaviour, fibrinolysine production, the crystal-violet test and the type of hemolysines . It was established that the coagulase positive staphylococci were lysed slightly by the human and the bovine set of phages . The main sources of staphylococci of both human and bovine origin appeared to be the nasal cavity and the hands of workers . Evisceration proved to contribute to the tenfold higher count of staphylococci in the slaughtered birds . Most of the investigated strains of Staphilococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis differed from the human and the bovine type and were probably staphylococci of avian origin.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976, (12), 52 - 6
{Histopathology and histochemistry of a focus of staphylococcal infection in a sensitized body (material concerning pathogenesis)}; Gindin AP et al.; Rabbits were sensitized with a killed St . aureus culture (alpha-toxigenic 0-15 strain); one week later the were infected intradermally with a virulent leukocidin-active St . aureus V8 or with the 0-15 strain . A hyperegic inflammation with the signs of reaction observed in hypersensitivity of delayed type was revealed at the site of infection in 24 hours . On the seond day this process was supervened by an intensive leukocytic infiltration characteristic of this infection, with the subsequent suppuration . Beginning from the earliest stages of the process and up to its decline the inflammatory exudate displayed hyaluronic and sialic acids; they could perform functions of the nonspecific immunity factors in the focus . It was revealed at the terminal stage of the process that the organism did not react by the inflammatory reaction to the presence of the microbes remaining near the focus . Consequently, the tolerance of the organism to the microbe was revealed; this tolerance was possibly conditioned by the presence of sialic acids in the focus . Leukocytes with the phagocytized microbes appeared in the veins nearest to the focus . Histochemical shifts in the focus can be the cause of the incompleteness of phagocytosis . The tropism of staphylococci of the V8 strain to the collagen fibers was revealed.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976, (12), 43 - 9
{Role of the lysozyme-like enzyme of staphylococci in their pathogenicity}; Afanas'eva TI et al.; Observations of the authors of the present work permit to put forward the following suppositions on the biological significance of the lysozyme sign included into the number of sign-of the staphylococcus pathogenicity: 1) the action of the lysozyme-like enzyme (LLE) as a facs for increasing the permeability of the cell wall and thus promoting the exit of the "pathogenicity enzymes"; 2) its participation in the growth and division of staphylococci, pointing to the differences in the rate of the growth of the cultures forming and nonforming the LLE; 3) participation of the LLE in the microbial antagonism processes--crude LLE (in the form of lipoproteid complex) stipulated the antimicrobial effect against a number of nonpathogenic microbes . None of these hypotheses can be accepted without further investigations, particularly with the purified enzyme.

Horm Res, 1976, 7(4-5), 247 - 53
Polymorphonuclear leucocyte function in hypothyroidism; Farid NR et al.; The quantitative nitroblue-tetrazolium test demonstrated that polymorphonuclear leucocytes from patients with hypothyroidism reduced the dye less well than leucocytes from euthyroid persons . The ability of these cells to ingest and kill staphylococci were unimpaired . The abnormality of the nitroblue-tetrazolium test in hypothyroid patients was corrected after their treatment with thyroxine.

Scand J Immunol, 1976, 5(10), 1103 - 8
Binding of IgA to protein-A-containing staphylococci: relationship to subclasses; Saltvedt E et al.; Among 54 human monoclonal IgA proteins, 5 inhibited the binding of labeled human monoclonal IgM (IgM Se and IgM Ba) to protein-A-containing staphylococci, whereas 48 did not have this ability . One protein (IgA Ha) showed discordant findings in the IgM Se and IgM Ba inhibitions assays . Among the 54 IgA proteins, 49 were of the IgA1 and 5 of the IgA2 subclass . All of the 5 IgA2 proteins inhibited the binding of IgM Se and IgM Ba to staphylococci, whereas the 48 proteins that reacted negatively in the two inhibition assays belonged to the IgA1 subclass . These findings show that the ability to react with staphylococci is a property of the IgA2 subclass . IgM proteins may also be divided into two groups based on different reactivities with protein A . It is proposed to call the two IgM subclasses IgM1 and IgM2, where the latter is defined by ability to react with protein A.

Clin Neurol Neurosurg, 1976, 79(1), 57 - 61
Purulent osteomyelitis of the cervical spine with epidural abscess . Operative treatment by means of dorsal and ventral approach; Gruss P et al.; The present case concerns an acute purulent osteomyelitis with an epidural abscess, located particularly in the intervertebral foramen between C5 and C6, which led to infection by staphylococci of the adjacent vertebral arches and vertebral bodies . An obstruction of the CSF passage was discovered by myelography at the level between C5 and C6 . The bony tissue changed by inflammation was removed as far as possible by laminectomy . After irrigation of the epidural space with antibiotics and after control of the severe inflammation, the vertebral bodies C6 and C7 which were destroyed by the spreading inflammatory granulations, could be removed by a ventral approach 4 weeks later . The defect was filled with spongiosa chips . After immobilisation in a plaster shell and Crutchfield extension for 8 weeks the patient was slowly mobilized . A fusion of the vertebral bodies C5 and C6, C6/C7 and C7/C1 was achieved . A dislocation of the cervical spine did not occur and the patient recovered completely except for a paresis of the right hand . Treatment of this very rare and severe case was only possible by a combined dorsal and ventral procedure on the cervical spine.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1976, 21(2), 201 - 6
Relationship between resistance to metallic ions and production of beta-lactamase in strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis; Wieckiewicz JA; Thirty five strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis were tested for resistance to prenicillin G, erythomycin, metallic ions Zn, As3, As5, Cd, Hg, Pb and activity of beta-lactamase . These studies have shown that the majority of tested staphylococci were resistant to penicillin G, erythromycin, and produced beta-lactamase . No correlation between the activity of beta-lactamase and the resistance to metallic ions has been shown.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Jan, (1), 96 - 100
{Indentification of staphylococci of hospital origin . I . Specific identification of staphylococci}; Akatov AK et al.; In 22 biological tests a study was made of the properties of 1117 strains of staphylococci isolated from patients and medical personnel surgical departments . The significance of each of the tests for species identification of staphylococci was assessed on the basis of correlation of its results with the results of study of 3 main signs characteristic of S . aureus: the presence of coagulase, anaerobic mannite fermentation, and of DNA-ase . Besides the ones pointed out the following could be considered as properties characteristic of S . aureus: flocculus-forming factor, fibrinolysin, hyaluronidase, lysozyme, golden pigment, tellurite-reductase, aerobic fermentation of mannite and tregalose . A standard system of species identification of staphylococci was elaborated; on its basis assessment was made of the diagnostic value of a number of simple systems used in practice for determination of staphylococcus species.

Vet Med Nauki, 1976, 13(5), 32 - 6
{Study of the pathogenicity and drug sensitivity of staphylococci isolated from poultry}; Kolev V et al.; Studied were the pathogenicity and drug sensitivity of a total of 64 Staphylococcus strains isolated from chickens and chick embryos . A high per cent value of coincidence was established between the tests of positive plasma-coagulase reaction, hemolysis, golden-yellow pigment production, glucose-positive reaction in anaerobiosis and the lethal sequela following the experimental infection of young chickens and albino mice . The complex use of these tests proved to be a dependable criterion of pathogenicity . Most of the Staphylococcus strains were shown to be strongly and moderately sensitive to kanamycin gallimycin, oximycin, chloramphenicol, and persistent to oxitetracyclin.

Vet Med Nauki, 1976, 13(4), 77 - 83
{Characteristics of the staphylococci isolated from the udder of cows with mastitis}; Dincheva E et al.; A total of 175 strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 67 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis were studied, isolated from 486 samples of milk secretion taken aceptically from the individual quarters of the udder of cows affected with subclinical and purulent (clinical) mastitis . The staphylococci were referred to as the causative agent of mastitis in case they were the only microflora in the seedings of the investigated material . Tests were applied as given in Fig . 1 to characterize the strains . It was found that mastitis in cows could be due to both plasma coagulating staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus epidermidis organisms . The two Staphylococcus species were isolated from cows with clinical and subclinical mastitis . The division between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Staphylococcus strains by the plasma-coagulating symptom proved impossible, and this made it necessary to use other tests for pathogenicity . It became evident that the thing Staph . aureus and Staph . epidermidis had in common when isolated from cows with mastitis was the production of a gold-like pigment and delta hemolysin . Similarly to Staph . aureus isolated animals, the bovine Staph . epidermidis organisms did not possess fibrinolysin and rarely produced hemolysin . The isolated organisms belonging to the coagulase-positive staphylococci corresponded by their basic properties to Staphylococcus aureus var . bovis as described in the literature . The cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated under similar conditions showed in a considerable per cent of the cases somewhat different behaviour.

Vet Med Nauki, 1976, 13(4), 3 - 12
{Epizootiological and parasitological status of the flocks at a poultry combine}; Kolev V et al.; A comprehensive epizootiologic study has been carried out at one of the large poultry dressing combines in this country . Results have shown that the part played by infections as against the remaining diseases established in the various technologic categories is as follows: 9 to 23.8 per cent in growing parents; 16.0 to 24.6 per cent in adult parents; and 4.8 to 13.4 per cent in broilers . So far as parasitic diseases are concerned the respective figures are 3.2 to 9.9 per cent, 3.0 to 3.3 . per cent, and 2.9 to 3.0 to per cent . The import of birds from France and England intended for satisfying the needs of the poultry dressing combine in Rousse has contributed to the introduction of infections which have later on assumed an epizootic course, such as infections encephalomyelitis, infectious bronchitis, and Marek' disease . The epizootic status has been aggravated with the development of a number of diseases already existing in this country--fowl pox, lymphoid leukosis, chronic respiratory disease, salmonellosis, and above all infections caused by the so-called occasionally pathogenic agents--coli organisms, staphylococci, and Pseudomonas . Of the parasitic diseases only coccidiosis has developed, being caused by a variety of species: Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria muvati and Eimeria tenella . The absence of helminth infections is due to the routinely adopted technological practice of raising birds in confinement and the strict veterinary control and guard . On the basis of the results obtained and the conclusions drawn some more effective prophylactic measures are suggested correcting and supplementing the existing prophylactic programme.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1976 Jan, 31(1), 53 - 9
Preliminary studies on the characterization and distribution of Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species on animal skin; Kloos WE et al.; A total of 221 strains of staphylococci and 98 strains of micrococci isolated from the skins of Eastern gray squirrels, Southern flying squirrels, raccoons, opossums, squirrel monkeys, swine, sheep, horses, cattle, and dogs were characterized in a preliminary attempt to resolve their natural relationships and distribution in nature . Staphylococci demonstrating the widest host range included Staphylococcus xylosus and unnamed Staphylococcus sp . 3 . Unnamed Staphylococcus sp . 2 was isolated only from sheep, Staphylococcus sp . 4 only from opossums, Staphylococcus sp . 5 only from squirrel monkeys, and Staphylococcus sp . 6 only from swine . The predominant species isolated from human skin, including S . epidermidis, S . hominis, S . haemolyticus, and S . capitis, were either not isolated or only rarely isolated from animal skin . Micrococcus varians was the predominant Micrococcus species isolated from animal skin . M . luteus was only occasionally isolated . M . lylae, M . sedentarius, M . roseus, M . kristinae, and M . nishinomiyaensis, species occasionally isolated from human skin, were not isolated from animal skin.

Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung, 1976, 23(1), 1 - 5
{Pathogenicity test for staphylococci by the use of adrenaline (author's transl)}; Selli M; Pathogenic staphylococci will grow in broth containing 50 mug/ml adrenaline at 37 degrees C, while apathogenic ones tolerate a concentration of 20 mug/ml only . They are completely inhibited at higher adrenaline levels . After 6 hr incubation, pathogenic germs show growth up to 100-250 mug/ml adrenaline, apathogenic ones up to 40 mug/ml.

Acta Chir Scand, 1976, 142(2), 99 - 106
Wound infections in general surgery . Wound contamination, rates of infection and some consequences; Brote L et al.; Rates of wound infection have been studied in a clinic performing to an equal degree both clean surgery and potentially contaminated surgery . Included in the study were 2827 patients with 213 (7.5%) postoperative wound infections . The postoperative mortality was 2.1% . Primary illness and cardiovascular complications were the main causes of postoperative death, while infectious complications (pneumonia, peritonitis and wound infection) were associated with or caused 1/3 of all postoperative deaths . Positive cultures from the wound before closure and from the wound dressings, immediately after operation, were followed by an increased risk of wound infection compared to negative cultures . Rates of wound infection were significantly higher in potentially contaminated operations compared to clean operations . Gram negative bacteria dominated in isolates from infected wounds after the former type of surgery, while S . aureus was the most common bacteria in wound infections after clean surgery . The time interval between operation and the discovery of wound infection was in the mean 10 days for staphylococci, and 9 days for Gram negative bacteria . The average time of hospitalization for patients contracting postoperative wound infections was 9 days longer than that for non-infected patients, which means that 3.4% of all nursing days were lost owing to excess hospitalization of infected patients.

J Immunol Methods, 1976, 11(3-4), 345 - 53
Inhibition of thymidine uptake by staphylococci, a new method for the investigation of phagocytosis; Foroozanfar N et al.; A radioassay employing (3H) thymidine, to measure inhibition of growth of Staphylococcus aures by human phagocytes is presented . The principle of this new method is that viable and dividing staphylococci take up thymidine more rapidly than white cells, so that whereas in control cultures containing staphylococci alone high counts per minute (cpm) are obtained within 90 min of incubation in test cultures both leucocytes and plasma from 25 normal subjects reduced the cpm, following ingestion and killing of staphylococci.

Antibiotiki, 1976 Jan, 21(1), 62 - 7
{Species makeup, biological activity and antibiotic sensitivity of the microbes isolated from patients with a surgical infection}; Veselov AIa; Specimens from 227 patients with purulent surgical infections of various localization were tested . The microbial growth was observed in 87.6 per cent of the patients, staphylococci being found in 80.8 per cent of them . The plasma coagulating properties were detected in the staphylococci from 84.2 per cent of the patients among the total number of the staphylococcal isolates . Staphylococci were mostly isolated from the patients with osteomyelitis, infected wounds . Monocultures of the microbes and associations were found in 78.8 and 22.1 per cent of the patients respectively . The microbial associations were observed most often in cases with the diseases of the respiratory organs or abdominal cavity and osteomyelitis as compared to the cases with infected wounds . As dependent on the origin, the staphylococci in the patients of various groups differed by their phage type characteristics . Most of the isolates were sensitive to erythromycin, monomycin and neomycin (84 to 99.1 per cent) . The antibiotic sensitive staphylococci were isolated more frequent from the cases with osteomyelitis and the diseases of the respiratory organs as compared to the other nosological forms.

Acta Med Iran, 1976, 19(4), 277 - 84
Evaluation of 8 physiological characteristics of clinically isolated Staphylococci and Micrococci; Lashkari KB et al.; 307 cultures of staphylococci and micrococci were isolated from clinical sources and were subjected to 8 different physiological tests for the recognition of pathogentic strains . These tests were as follows; catalase, oxidase, fermentation and oxidation of glucose and mannitol, v.p . and coagulase activity, heat resistance endonuclease, and lipase production . From the results obtained it can be concluded that for the recognition of pathogenicity of staphylococci, coagulase, heat resistance endonuclease and fermentation of mannitol should be carried out.

CRC Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci, 1976, 7(2), 121 - 84
The identification of staphylococci in clinical and food microbiology laboratories; Sperber WH; A comprehensive review of the methods which have been utilized for the identification of staphylococci is presented . Biochemical characteristics which have assisted in the primary isolation of staphylococci, such as pigmentation, hemolytic activity, the egg yolk phenomenon, and deoxyribonuclease and coagulase production, are also analyzed . The potential applicability of advanced techniques to identify staphylococci, such as the detection of enterotoxin production, base ratio analysis, cell wall analysis, phage typing, and serology, is discussed . The following procedures are recommended for routine use: Idnetification of Staphylococcus sp . (clinical laboratories): microscopic observation, catalase activity, coagulase production, lysostaphin sensitivity, and (optional) facultative growth in thioglycolate medium . Identification of Staphylococcus aureus (food laboratories): microscopic observation, catalase activity, coagulase production, thermonuclease production, and (optional) lysostaphin sensitivity.

J Immunol Methods, 1976, 13(3-4), 367 - 80
A rapid immunofluorescent procedure for the detection of specific IgG and IgM antibody in sera using Staphylococcus aureus and latex-IgG as absorbents; Chantler S et al.; Sera from adults with toxoplasmosis and individuals with anti nuclear antibodies were examined for the presenceof specific IgM and IgG antibodies and for the occurrence of anti-immunoglobulin ("RF") activity both before and after absorption with freeze-dried preparations of protein A-containing Staphylococcus aureus . Such absorption removed most of the IgG present in sera without interfering with the detection of IgM antibody by immunofluorescence, but was relatively ineffective in the removal of "RF" . "RF" activity, demonstrable by slide agglutination, was removed by absorption with latex coated with IgG . In order to prevent the possibility of false positive IgM staining in immunofluorescence tests, it is concluded that sequential absorption with latex-IgG particles and protein A-positive staphylococci is essential . Such absorption is technically simple and can be performed on small volumes of serum.

Dermatologica, 1976, 153(1), 14 - 22
Interactions between econazole, a broad-spectrum antimicrobic substance, and topically active glucocorticoids; Raab W et al.; Econazole is a broad-spectrum antimicrobic substance which acts by permeabilizing the cell membranes . Glucocorticoids by their surface activity may counteract this effect by protecting the cell membranes . In fact, a protective action of glucocorticoids in high concentrations against econazole nitrate could be demonstrated in yeasts, not in staphylococci . The techniques applied were the Warburg assays (resting yeasts, resting and proliferating bacteria) . The elicitation of a blanching reaction on human skin by triamcinolone acetonide was not altered in the presence of econazole nitrate . The data collected in this study were discussed in regard to the combined use of antimicrobic drugs and glucocorticoids in topical therapy.

J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1976 Jan, 58(1), 76 - 81
The effect of polymethylmethacrylate and antibiotic combinations on bacterial viability . An in vitro and preliminary in vivo study; Chapman MW et al.; Polymethylmethacrylate itself has a slight, long-term bacteriostatic effect on the growth of staphylococci, but while polymerizing the heat of polymerization and possibly the elaboration of monomer can be bactericidal to many pathogenic organisms . Twelve antibiotics incorporated into polymethylmethacrylate cement retained their antibacterial activity for long periods in dry storage, but the antibiotics leached out of polymethylmethacrylate quite rapidly in vitro and in vivo . No antibiotic could be found after thirty-seven days in treated cement pellets placed in a rabbit thigh.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976, (3), 70 - 3
{Discharge of myeloperoxidase from neutrophils during bacterial sorption}; Zhekova MM et al.; A study was made of conditions and dynamics of discharge of myeloperoxidase (MPO) from rabbit neutrophils in case of encounter with staphylococci . The discharge began not later than 9--12 minutes after the administration of Staph . aureus into the neutrophil suspension, i . e . as early as the stage of bacterial sorption, and reached the maximum by the 30th minute . The contact of neutrophils with individual bacteria was an adequate signal for the beginning of the discharge . The greatest discharge was with the ratio of 5 bacteria per one neutrophil . The discharge was retarded when this ratio reached 80: 1 . A hypothesis on the "avalanche" switchingon of the system of MPO discharge: a single bacteria injection mu/ml a discharge from an individual neutrophil of MPO and cation proteins; the latter switch on discharge from several other neutrophils, without any participation of bacteria . Cation proteins intensified the MPO discharge in the concentration of the 10--20 switch on . Biolgical significance of the phenomenon of early discharge of antibacterial factors no directed to the provision of phagocytosis is discussed.

Ann Rech Vet, 1976, 7(1), 65 - 74
In vitro susceptibility and resistance of animal staphylococci to macrolide antibiotics and related compounds; Devriese LA; Strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from poultry, pigs and cases of bovine mastitis and strains of S . hyicus isolated from pigs were examined for their susceptibility of the macrolides and other related antibiotics . The susceptibility of these strains to erythromycin, oleandomycin, tylosin, spiramycin, lincomycin, clindamycin, virginiamycin, and its components virginiamycin S and M, was tested by the quantitative plate dilution method . With S . aureus, 3 p . 100 of the bovine, 12 p . 100 of the avian and 53 p . 100 of porcine isolated were found to be resistant . With S . hyicus strains 76 p . 100 were found to be resistant . Most resistant strains showed the generalized constitutive macrolide-resistance type . Twelve p . 100 of the porcine S . aureus strains were resistant to the virginiamycin component M.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1976, 16(6), 405 - 74
{Restriction and modification in Staphylococcus aureus: properties of resistance plasmids and prophages}; Witte W; Experiments on elimination and transfer of resistance-plasmids in S . aureus (controlling resistance to penicillin, chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline) show that these plasmids have no restricting influence on phages used for typing of staphylococci . Prophages in lysogenic strains control a mechanism of restriction and modification which is active on phages and on chromosomal markers . The resistance-plasmids used in these experiments are insensitive to prophage controlled restriction.

Nahrung, 1976, 20(8-9), 777 - 81
{Effect of production and storage on the survival of Staphylococcus aureus in curd}; Lukasova J; The effect of curd production on the survival of staphylococci has been studied . At the begining of the manufacture process favourable conditions exist for the development of staphylococci . Their number decreases with the increasing acidity and in the final product they occur only sporadically or quite disappeare, especially when the curd is stored at cooling chamber temperatures . The lactose-positive staphylococci take part in the splitting of milk lactose and the production of milk acid as well . Their participation in this process is statistically significant . Some biochemical properties of the used Staphylococcus aureus strain as plasma koagulation, lecithinase, phosphatase and haemolytical toxin production, glucose, mannitol and lactose fermentation under aerobic and anaerobic conditions were studied . The biochemical properties of this strain do not change during the process of curd production.

Minerva Med, 1975 Dec 8, 66(84), 4505 - 26
{Antistaphylococcal activity of gentamicin}; Rosaschino F; A review of the literature suggests the following conclusions: 1) since its first practical use in 1965, namely over the past 10 years, there has been no drop in activity of Gentamicin on Staphylococcus aureus and on numerous other Staphylococcus and/or Micrococcus species . 2) In comparison with the other aminoglycosidic antibiotics employed up to the present, i.e . Streptomycin, Neomycin, Kanamycin, Amminosidine, and Framycetin, Gentamicin has demonstrated a much superior antistaphylococcic activity, and this has also been documented on numerous strains of staphylococci recalcitrant to Kanamycin, Streptomycin, Framycetin and Neomycin . This goes to prove the absence of any cross resistance between Kanamycin, Streptomycin, Framycetin and Neomycin on the one hand and Gentamycin on the other . 3) Along with Rifampicin, certain Cephalosporins (Cephalotine, Cephaloridine) and Pristinamycin-Virgimycin, Gentamicin must undoubtedly be considered a "greater" antibiotic as far as antistaphylococcic activity is concerned . It also has the advantage over other antistaphylococcic-acting antibiotics that only in exceptional cases does it give rise to resistant strains.

Arch Intern Med, 1975 Dec, 135(12), 1555 - 61
Staphylococcal endocarditis in drug users . Clinical and microbiologic aspects; Tuazon CU et al.; Forty patients had staphylococcal endocarditis and a history of parenteral drug abuse . Clinical and microbiologic features of their cases were evaluated . None of our patients were known to have had preexisting valvular disease . The tricuspid valve lesions and their pulmonary complications were the predominant findings . Systemic complications in the form of meningitis, glomerulonephritis, empyema, arthritis, and nosocomial Gram-negative septicemia occurred in 33% of our patients . Of interest was the high incidence of reactions to therapy especially with methicillin sodium, which occurred in 30% of patients . Correlation of phage type and group with the antibiotic sensitivities of individual staphylococci showed that group 3 and phage types 6, 42E, 54, and 75 were much more resistant to penicillin than other groups and types . The clinical outcome did not relate to phage type and group or to antibiotic sensitivity of the organism.

J Invest Dermatol, 1975 Dec, 65(6), 501 - 12
Staphylococcal toxic epidermal necrolysis: pathogenesis and studies on the subcellular site of action of exfoliatin; Elias PM et al.; An exfoliating substance elaborated by certain phage Group 2 staphylococci causes toxic epidermal necrolysis . Both in man and in the newborn mouse, intraepidermal cleavage is the predominant histologic feature following exposure to this toxin . Electron microscopic study of sequential biopsy specimens obtained from neonatal mice and from organ cultures of human skin revealed intercellular cleavage and cell separation . The extracellular nature of the exfoliative process was confirmed in several ways: (1) perfused tracers did not penetrate cells during cell separation; (2) cultured cells exposed to high doses of exfoliating fractions demonstrated no signs of injury; and (3) cleaved surfaces examined by scanning electron microscopy and surface replication demonstrated intact plasma membranes . When fractions capable of inducing exfoliation were applied to cultured keratinocytes of fibroblasts, sperm, or lymphocyte suspensions, and to human or mouse skin in vivo, they did not alter the distribution or intensity of concanavalin A binding, ruthenium red staining, pemphigus antibody binding, or HL-A surface antigens . Therefore, while the pathogenesis of staphylococcal toxic epidermal necrolysis involves intercellular cleavage, the molecular cell surface target remains unknown.

Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1975 Dec, 150(3), 741 - 7
Influence of lead and cadmium on the susceptibility of rats to bacterial challenge; Cook JA et al.; Intravenous administration of an acute dose of lead acetate or cadmium acetate enhanced the susceptibility of rats to intravenous challenge with E . coli by approximately 1000-fold . Since equivalent vulnerability of lead- or cadmium-treated rats to killed E . coli was observed, toxicity is probably due to the endotoxin content of the bacteria . This postulate is further supported by the observation that equal doses of the Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococci epidermidis, failed to elicit lethality in the acute lead-intoxicated rats . The synthetic glucocorticoid, methylprednisolone, prevented lethality induced by the Gram-negative bacteria in lead-treated rats . It did not, however, afford significant protection in cadmium-treated rats in the presence of E . coli . Marked alterations in hepatic morphology were apparent in both lead- and cadmium-treated rats challenged with E . coli.

J Immunol, 1975 Dec, 115(6), 1617 - 24
Rapid isolation of antigens from cells with a staphylococcal protein A-antibody adsorbent: parameters of the interaction of antibody-antigen complexes with protein A; Kessler SW; The Cowan I strain of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus has been used as an adsorbent for antibodies complexed with radiolabeled antigens from cell lysates . This application is advanced as a superior alternative to other methods of immune precipitation for the isolation of antigens . It exploits the high adsorption capacity for IgG molecules by protein A molecules on the cell walls of certain strains of staphylococci, along with the advantageous sedimentation properties of the bacteria . The interaction of immune complexes with the adsorbent was defined initially using a model system of bovine serum albumin with a high excess of rabbit anti-bovine serum albumin antibodies (IgG) . The uptake of immune complexes under these conditions was extremely rapid, occurring within seconds, whereas maximum binding of free IgG was much slower . In addition, once bound the complexed antigen could not be displaced from the adsorbent either by large amounts of normal IgG or by extra free antibody . Antigen could be eluted almost completely from the inert adsorbent for analytic or preparative purposes with a variety of solvent systems, such as the detergent SDS in combination with urea and high temperature, and neutral salts with strong lyotropic salting in properties . The efficacy of the protein A-antibody adsorption technique was tested in direct comparisons with a conventional double antibody precipitation method for the isolation of mouse lymphocyte IgM . The bacterial adsorbent not only had a distinct advantage in speed of antigen isolation, but analyses by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS also revealed consistently higher antigen recoveries, lower levels of background radioactivity, and an absence of other cell components which may nonspecifically bind to and complicate analyses using conventional immune precipitates.

J Invest Dermatol, 1975 Dec, 65(6), 525 - 31
Quantification of bacteria in isolated pilosebaceous follicles in normal skin; Puhvel SM et al.; A technique for quantitating bacteria in isolated pilosebaceous follicles is described . This involves microdissection of the follicles from biopsies of skin, using the method of chemical pretreatment of skin to facilitate the separation of the epidermis and epidermal appendages from the dermis . The aerobic cocci and anaerobic diphtheroids in pilosebaceous follicles in 66 biopsies of scalp and 48 biopsies of skin of the upper back were quantitated using this technique . On the back, aerobic staphylococci were very sparse in normal follicles, indicating that their primary habitat on the skin must be on the skin surface rather than within follicles . Of 138 isolated follicles from skin of the upper back, 94 contained no aerobic cocci . Anaerobic organisms were present in high numbers within normal follicles . The geometric mean density of anaerobes in 138 isolated follicles from skin of the upper back was 3.8 X 10(4) diphtheroids per follicle . Eighty-eight follicles contained more than 10(4) anaerobic diphtheroids . Using data from scalp biopsies we found that there was a correlation between the weight of sebaceous glands and the density of anaerobes within the follicles attached to these glands (coefficient of correlation = 0.6).

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Dec, (12), 104 - 6
{Acetyl-CoA-synthetase activity of pigmented staphylococci}; Ignatov VV et al.; In 19 strains of staphylococci a study was made of the activity of acetyl-CoA-synthetase reaction . All the strains possessed an active enzymatic system transforming the acetate into an active form . The activity of acetyl-CoA-synthetase proved to be much greater in the pigmented staphyloccus strains than in the nonpigmented ones . It is supposed that there existed an association between the acetyl-CoA-synthetase and the biogenesis of carotinoid pigments in Staph . aureus.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Nov, (11), 65 - 7
{The role of the carotenoid pigments of staphylococcus in the response of cells to temperature changes}; Ignatov VV et al.; A study was made of the reaction of the membranous apparatus of the pigmented strains of staphylococcus 209-P and its four apigmented variants to the action of various temperatures measured by the exit from the cells of the low molecular components . Permeability of the cell membranes in case of the action of the extreme temperatures of the 209-P strain altered much more than that of the apigment variants . It is supposed that the carotinoid pigments of the apathogenic staphylococci took part in the formation of functional lability of the bacterial membranes.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Nov, (11), 61 - 5
{Resistance of different strains of pathogenic staphylococcus to unfavorable environmental factors}; Akatov AK et al.; A study was made of the resistance to drying the UV-irradiation, the action of furacillin and chloramine displayed by 60 stains of S . aureus differing by origin (hospital and extrahospital), by the source of discharge (the upper respiratory tracts of carriers and the discharge of the purulent-inflammatory foci of surgical patients), relation to the antibiotics (polyresistant and sensitive) and phage-group reference . It was found that the resistance of staphylococci to the unfavourable factors was not always associated with the listed signs of the strains . In respect to drying a marked resistance was expressed by the hospital strains in comparison with the extrahospital ones, polyresistant in comparison with the sensitive ones, staphylococci of III and I+III phage groups in comparison with the strains of other bacteriophage groups . Strains of the III phage group proved to be the most resistant to the UV-irradiation . Strains isolated from carriers were more resistant to furacillin than staphylococci isolated from the purulent-inflammatory foci . Strains of the III phage group and nontyping had analogous advantages over the cultures of other phage groups.

Res Vet Sci, 1975 Nov, 19(3), 288 - 92
Enhancement of in vitro phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureas by polymorphonuclear leucocytes; Watson DL; Polymorphs collected from ewes which had been infected with live staphylococci and immunised with a killed staphylococcal vacccine, had significantly enhanced capacity for phagocytosis of staphylococci compared with polymorphs from ewes which received only a killed vaccine . The numbers of viable bacteria were greatly reduced when blood serum or whey were incorporated in incubation mixtures compared to incubation mixtures containing only polymorphs and staphylococci . When serum was used in the incubation mixtures, the numbers of staphylococci which survived were significantly less than when colostral or milk whey was used . No significant difference was observed between whey collected from locally immunised mammary glands and that from non-immunised glands within each group.

J Infect Dis, 1975 Nov, 132(5), 493 - 9
Experimental osteomyelitis . IV . Therapeutic trials with rifampin alone and in combination with gentamicin, sisomicin, and cephalothin; Norden CW; Levels of rifampin, gentamicin, sisomicin, and cephalothin in normal and osteomyelitic rabbit bones were measured, and the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of osteomyelitis was evaluated . Single drug regimens, including rifampin for 14 days and gentamicin, sisomicin, and cephalothin each for 28 days, were relatively ineffective (5%-33% sterile bone cultures) . Rifampin, administered for 28 days, sterilized the bones of 55% of treated animals . The combination of gentamicin and rifampin, given for either 14 or 28 days, sterilized the bones of 67% of treated animals . The combinations of rifampin plus sisomicin and of rifampin plus cephalothin, given for 28 days, were significantly more effective than these agents alone, sterilizing 90%-95% of bones . The combination of rifampin, sisomicin, and cephalothin, given for only 14 days, sterilized the bones of all treated rabbits . Staphylococci isolated from the bones of therapeutic failures that had received rifampin alone or in combination with other antibiotics were highly resistant to rifampin (minimal inhibitory concentration, greater than 250 mug/ml), whereas the organisms recovered from animals not receiving rifampin remained sensitive . Results of in vitro studies of synergy and/or bactericidal activity of antibiotic combinations correlated with in vivo results in some, but not all, instances.

J Bacteriol, 1975 Nov, 124(2), 724 - 30
Cell wall composition of novobiocin-resistant pleiotropic mutant staphylococci; Korman RZ; Physically purified cell walls were prepared from selected pleiotropic novobiocin-resistant staphylococcal strains . The quantitative amino acid, amino sugar, and phosphorus contents of these walls are reported . This pleiotype was culturally diagnosed by its inability to support the growth of typing phages, inability to release latent bacteriophage, failure to elaborate coagulase, altered sugar catabolic pattern, and resistance to novobiocin . The strains were divided into two groups on the basis of wall composition . The walls of both groups of strains appeared to possess at least two phosphorus-containing polymers . On group of strains contained elevated levels of phosphorus in the cell walls . The second group contained the novel amino sugar galactosamine in the cell walls . This amino sugar is probably associated with one of the phosphorus-containing wall polymers of this group . On the basis of the data presented, it is suggested that the pleiotropy of these strains is the result of genetic change in the control of the biosynthesis of teichoic acids.

Antibiotiki, 1975 Nov, 20(11), 1014 - 8
{Metacycline, its chemotherapeutic activity and pharmacokinetic characteristics}; Bodunkova LE et al.; Methacycline prepared at the All-Union Research Institute of Antibiotics was characterized by high activity against staphylococci and gramnegative bacteria . A somewhat higher antistaphylococcal activity of methacycline as compared to oxytetracycline was found . The concentrations of methacycline in the kidneys, liver and lungs corresponded to its levels in the blood and were 3 times higher than those of oxytetracycline administered in close doses . Methacycline was characterized by a higher chemotherapeutic activity as compared to oxytetracycline in the treatment of staphylococcal pneumonia . The values of CD50 of methacycline were 1.5 times lower than those of oxytetracycline.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1975 Nov, 233(3), 288 - 95
Staphylococcus aureus-strains of phage group II and their possible relation to animal staphylococci . 1 . Antigenic properties, phage typing, and resistance to antibiotics; Galinski J; Investigations carried out on 350 strains isolated from clinical materials and carriers revealed that among coagulase-positive staphylococci of phage group II two main serologic types predominated . The first (61,1%) was characterised by positive reaction with factor serum 263-2, the second (30,8%) one gave positive reaction with factor serum i1-2 . The strains of type 263-2 contained as a rule polysaccharide A as well as polysaccharide 263, contrary to staphylococci belonging to type i1-2 which possessed polysaccharide A only . Both serologic types differed also epidemiologically, in phage typing and resistance to antibiotics . Staphylococci of serologic type 263-2 occurred in neraly all purulent lesions, they were more resistant to antibiotics than type i1-2 and prevailed in hospital environments . In phage-typing the differences between both serologic types were quantitative in character, with two being most outstanding, namely the prevalence of strains sensitive to phage 71 among staphylococci of serologic type 263-2 and of phage types 3A, and 3C as well as 3A, 3B, 3C among staphylococci of serologic type i1-2 . There was no correlation between the susceptibility of strains to phage 71 and their virulence, the latter seemed to be connected with serologic type.

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