Streptococci

Nouv Presse Med, 1981 Feb 26, 10(8), 654 - 6
{Combined cefotaxime-amikacin treatment of infectious episodes in acute leukaemia patients with therapeutically-induced bone marrow aplasia (author's transl)}; Guy H et al.; In view of the clinical results obtained in severe septicaemia due to Gram-negative organisms, cefotaxime and amikacin combination was used in leukaemic patients with chemotherapeutic aplasia . 30 infectious episodes were treated in 22 cases of acute myeloid leukaemia, one case of acute flare-up in chronic leukaemia and 7 cases of acute lymphoid leukaemia . Cefotaxime was administered at daily doses of 100 mg/kg to the first 4 patients and of 60 mg/kg to the remaining 26 patients by infusion every 6 hours . Amikacin was administered at a daily dose of 15 mg/kg by the same route . 24 excellent results, 4 failures and 1 doubtful result were observed . Tolerance was very good . A new infection appeared in 9 patients during prolonged treatment (mean: 13,7 days) . Cefotaxime appears to be a treatment of choice for infective conditions observed in chemotherapeutic aplastic leukaemia . A cure rate of 80% with amikacin combination can be obtained, but, in vivo, resistant pathogens (Streptococcus, group D) or poorly sensitive organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa + Bacteroides fragilis: 1 case) may be selected . Then, a new antibiotic treatment, based on accurate bacteriological results, could be given with success.

J Biol Chem, 1981 Feb 25, 256(4), 1861 - 6
The importance of inorganic phosphate in regulation of energy metabolism of Streptococcus lactis; Mason PW et al.; This paper is concerned with the control of glycolysis in nongrowing Streptococcus lactis 7962 . Changes were measured in the concentrations of glycolytic intermediates, intracellular inorganic phosphate (Pi), and adenine nucleotides following addition of glucose to cells that were in a starved condition . We find that intracellular Pi is a major factor in the control of glycolysis . In starved cells, the intracellular Pi concentration is high, greater than 40 mM . The large phosphoenolpyruvate pool that exists in starved cells can be explained as a result of inhibition of pyruvate kinase by the high concentration of Pi . On the other hand, in cells that are metabolizing glucose at a steady state rate, the cellular Pi concentration is low and pyruvate kinase is active . Upon depletion of glucose from the medium, the metabolite concentrations return to the values originally found in the starved state . This glucose depletion raises the intracellular Pi which again leads to inhibition of pyruvate kinase and the consequent buildup of the P-enolpyruvate pool.

Am J Med, 1981 Feb, 70(2), 247 - 51
Pneumococcal pericarditis: a persisting problem in contemporary diagnosis; Berk SL et al.; We reviewed the clinical and laboratory features of six patients with pericarditis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae who were admitted to Boston City Hospital . The diagnosis of pneumococcal pericarditis was delayed or missed entirely during life in all patients . The frequent absence of pericardial friction rubs and cardimegaly on chest roentgenograms contributed to the difficulty in recognizing this illness . Electrocardiograms and physical examinations of the heart almost always disclosed abnormalities, but they were not sufficiently specific to suggest pericarditis, and patients were often thought to have had an acute complication of arteriosclerotic heart disease . Review of the English literature since 1945 supports the recent experience in our hospital that the diagnosis of pneumococcal pericarditis may be elusive.

Am Heart J, 1981 Feb, 101(2), 174 - 6
Virulent streptococcus viridans bacterial endocarditis; Hosea SW; A particularly virulent form of bacterial endocarditis due to Streptococcus viridans is described in selected patients . The diagnosis of purulent pericarditis and myocardial abscess is delineated . In addition, emphasis is placed on early surgical intervention in the appropriate management of these potentially lethal complications.

South Med J, 1981 Feb, 74(2), 144 - 6
Mixed Streptococcus pneumoniae and gram-negative bacillary pneumonia in the elderly; Berk SL et al.; Of 24 elderly patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia confirmed by transtracheal aspiration, six had concomitant infection with gram-negative aerobic bacilli . All six patients were elderly men with underlying cardiopulmonary disease . Three had had recent prior episodes of gram-negative pneumonia and four had previously received antibiotics . The clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic characteristics of these six patients with mixed bacterial pneumonia are reported.

Obstet Gynecol, 1981 Feb, 57(2), 233 - 7
Use of umbilical cord blood culture for detection of neonatal bacteremia; Polin JI et al.; Rapid and accurate detection of neonatal bacteremia is an important part of the management of the neonate with suspected sepsis . This study compared the incidence of positive umbilical cord blood cultures (UCBCs) to the incidence of positive peripheral venous blood cultures and determined whether a meticulous UCBC technique prevented contamination of culture specimens . Six UCBCs of the 200 sampled were positive . Three cultures exhibited delayed growth (more than 48 hours) and were not considered clinically significant . In 2 of the 3 remaining positive cultures were organisms considered contaminants; the third culture correlated to the infant's peripheral venous blood culture (alpha-hemolytic streptococcus), showing evidence of bacteremia . From these data the authors conclude that 1) meticulous and fastidious collection of UCBCs prevents contamination of culture specimens, and 2) the UCBC may prove to be a satisfactory alternative to the postnatal peripheral venous blood culture for detection of neonatal bacteremia.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Feb, 145(2), 729 - 35
Purification and properties of endo-alpha-1,3-glucanase from a Streptomyces chartreusis strain; Takehara T et al.; An enzyme hydrolyzing the water-insoluble glucans produced from sucrose by Streptococcus mutans was purified from the culture concentrate of Streptomyces chartreusis strain F2 by ion-exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose columns and gel filtration on Bio-Gel A-1.5m . The purification achieved was 6.4-fold, with an overall yield of 27.3% . Electrophoresis of the purified enzyme protein gave a single band on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel slab . Its molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 68,000, but there is a possibility that the native enzyme exists in an aggregated form or is an oligomer of the peptide subunits, have a molecular weight larger than 300,000 . The pH optimum of the enzyme was 5.5 to 6.0, and its temperature optimum was 55 degrees C . The enzyme lost activity on heating at 65 degrees C for 10 min . The enzyme activity was completely inhibited by the presence of 1 mM Mn2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, Ag2+, or Merthiolate . The Km value for the water-insoluble glucan of S . mutans OMZ176 was an amount of glucan equivalent to 1.54 mM glucose, i.e., 0.89 mM in terms of the alpha-1,3-linked glucose residue . The purified enzyme was specific for glucans containing an alpha-1,3-glucosidic linkage as the major bond . The enzyme hydrolyzed the S . mutans water-insoluble glucans endolytically, and the products were oligosaccharides . These results indicate that the enzyme elaborated by S . chartreusis strain F2 is an endo-alpha-1,3-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.59).

Gastroenterology, 1981 Feb, 80(2), 375 - 9
Prevention of sepsis-induced gastric lesions in dogs by cimetidine via inhibition of gastric secretion and by prostaglandin via cytoprotection; Odonkor P et al.; The cytoprotective and acid-inhibitory effects of cimetidine and 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 were evaluated in a septic canine erosive gastritis model . In 21 dogs, total gastric fistulas were created, and after a 3-wk recovery period, basal, food-, and pentagastrin-stimulated acid output were measured . Then bacterial peritonitis was created by the intraperitoneal instillation of Pseudomonas, Bacteroides, Streptococcus Fecalis, Klebsiella and canine gallbladder bile . In 5 dogs no drug were given throughout the septic period while in 16 dogs either cimetidine, 6 or 12 mg/kg i.m . every 6 h, or 16,16-dimethyl PGE2, 0.2 or 0.4 microgram/kg i.m . every 6 h, was given 24 h before the induction of peritonitis and continued for 3 days . All 21 dogs had positive blood cultures on the 1st septic day . In the control animals, basal, food-, and pentagastrin-stimulated acid output significantly increased during the first 2 septic days, and gastroscopy demonstrated bleeding acute fundic erosions . Cimetidine decreased basal, food-, and pentagastrin-stimulated acid output in a dose-related manner, and only with the higher dose did it prevent gastric mucosal damage . 16,16-Dimethyl PGE2, 0.4 microgram/kg, significantly decreased acid output and prevented gastric mucosal damage . 16,16-Dimethyl PGE2 0.2 microgram/kg, although having no apparent effect on basal, food-, and pentagastrin-stimulated acid output, prevented the development of acute gastric erosions . Thus, in the canine septic model, acid output significantly increases during sepsis . Cimetidine prevents the development of sepsis-induced gastric erosions by inhibition of acid secretion and 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 by cytoprotection.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Feb, 34(2), 161 - 70
{Therapeutic experience with cefadroxil syrup in acute infections, especially scarlet fever, in pediatric field (author's transl)}; Minamitani M et al.; Clinical effects were investigated on cefadroxil powder for syrup (containing 100 mg of cefadroxil per 1 g) for acute bacterial infections (mostly scarlet fever) in the field of pediatrics, and the results were obtained as follows . Cefadroxil was applied in 100 cases of scarlet fever . Among 49 cases administered 30-39 mg/kg/day, the results were excellent in 34 cases and good in 15 cases, efficacy ratio being thus 100% . Among 38 cases administered 40-49 mg/kg/day, the results were excellent in 33 cases, and good in 5 cases, efficacy ratio being thus 100% . Out of 4 cases administered 20-29 mg/kg/day, the results were excellent in 3 cases and good in 1 case, while out of 9 cases administered 50-59 mg/kg/day, excellent in 4 cases and good in 5 cases . Among 78 cases of scarlet fever from which beta-hemolytic Streptococcus was proven from swab liquid of palatal tonsil, 67 cases received cefadroxil at a daily dose of 30-49 mg/kg, and the bacteria turned to negative the next day of administration in 72 cases, 2 days later in 6 cases . Cefadroxil was administered at a daily dose of 46 mg/kg for 7 days in 1 case of SSS syndrome of which Staphylococcus aureus was proven from skin lesion, and local bacteria turned to negative, as well as clinical effect was excellent . No pathogen was proven in 1 case of acute tonsillitis, maybe because ampicillin (ABPC) and cefazolin (CEZ) were administered before cefadroxil treatment, and yet a clinical efficacy was judged by administering cefadroxil at a daily dose of 46 mg/kg, though no clinical improvement was observed with the prior antibiotics . As to the side effects of cefadroxil in 102 cases, a slight vomiting was noticed in 6 cases, though the administration could be continued, and a slight rise of GOT or GPT was observed respectively in 3 cases and 1 case, all of which were recovered without abnormal clinical findings . Among the patients of scarlet fever, after beta-hemolytic Streptococcus became negative, reelimination or recurrence was noticed in 2 cases, but these patients were cured completely by readministration of cefadroxil or administration of amoxicillin (AMPC) . Cefadroxil powder for syrup was absorbed quite well, its serum levels were maintained for long, and it was easily administered in children . Considering from its superior antibacterial activity, cefadroxil may be expected to be useful for a remedy in slight or middle infections of children.

Farmaco {Sci}, 1981 Feb, 36(2), 102 - 8
{Synthesis and in vitro antibacterial activity of N-methylnitrone and nitrovinyl derivatives of some N-substituted 2-chloroindol-3-carboxaldehydes}; Gatti R et al.; N-methylnitrones and nitrovinyl derivatives from 1-substituted-2-chloroindol-3-carboxaldehydes were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity . Some nitrovinyl derivatives displayed good in vitro activity against Gram-positive bacteria; the compound (II e), 1-(o-chlorobenzyl)-2-chloro-3-(2-nitroethenyl)indole, was more active than nitrofurantoin against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes . Some structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1981 Feb, 43(2), 417 - 24
A radioimmunoassay for serum and gingival crevicular fluid antibodies to a purified protein of Streptococcus mutans; Smith R et al.; A solid-phase radioimmunoassay was developed to measure serum IgG antibodies to a purified protein antigen I/II prepared from Streptococcus mutans . The assay was specific to this antigen and significant binding of 125I-radiolabelled antiserum was found only in sera from rhesus monkeys immunized with the antigen I/II but not in sham-immunized monkeys or those immunized with streptococcal antigen III . A very significant correlation was found in serum IgG antibodies tested by the radioimmunoassay and an immunofluorescent technique (r = 0.88, P less than 0.001) . The sensitivity of the double-layer radioimmunoassay was increased 10 times by the addition of a third antibody layer and this enabled gingival crevicular fluid antibodies to be measured . Comparison of paired samples of serum and crevicular fluid revealed a very significant correlation between IgG antibodies to streptococcal antigen I/II in the the two fluids (P less than 0.001) . These findings suggest that serum antibodies can reach the tooth surface via gingival crevicular fluid.

Harefuah, 1981 Feb 1, 100(3), 129 - 30
{Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal sepsis in childhood}; Nutman J et al.; One of two children admitted with septicemia due to group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus died following a very fulminant course . This organism may cause overwhelming disease in newborn infants, as well as in children with diseases which compromise the immune system . Group A streptococcus, though very sensitive to penicillin, can cause severe and rapidly progressive illness even in previously normal children, unless recognized and treated promptly.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Feb, 34(2), 200 - 4
{Sensitivity of group B Streptococcus to various antibiotics (author's transl)}; Teramoto T et al.; Group B Streptococcus was isolated from the clinical materials of the patients examined in the Kobe Central Municipal Hospital, in 1974 to 1979 . 1 . Clinical isolates were all resistant to bacitracin . 2 . Serotypes of 19 isolates were type III in 12 strains, Ia in 3, Ic in 2 and untypable in 2 . 3 . The MICs were determined to 15 antibiotics, and the results showed that penicillin G was the best and in the order of decreasing potency, cefotaxime, ampicillin, ceftizoxime and cefoperazone . 4 . Compared with group A Streptococcus, the sensitivity of group B Streptococcus to penicillin G and ampicillin was inferior by 2 to 3 tubes . 5 . Based on the above results, the significance of the cephalosporin antibiotic of the third generation, particularly cefotaxime, was evaluated in the treatment of infectious diseases of the newborn infants.

Pediatrics, 1981 Feb, 67(2), 292 - 5
Pneumococcal sepsis in childhood leukemia and lymphoma; Allen JB et al.; Forty episodes of sepsis in 28 patients with leukemia or lymphoma were reviewed . Streptococcus pneumoniae accounted for 14 episodes and was the most frequent etiologic agent isolated . Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus accounted for an additional 16 episodes . No patients with pneumococcal sepsis died whereas the overall mortality was 25% . Five of the patients with pneumococcal sepsis had polymorphonuclear leukocyte counts less than 500/cu mm . All patients in remission who had pneumococcal sepsis had a leukocytosis in response to their infection . Foci in patients with pneumococcal sepsis were identified in 50% of the episodes and all were confined to the respiratory tract.

Aust N Z J Surg, 1981 Feb, 51(1), 52 - 5
Oesophageal microbial flora in carcinoma of the oesophagus; Lau WF et al.; In 79 patients, with carcinoma of the oesophagus, oesophageal aspirates obtained at oesophagoscopy were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic organisms in an attempt to identify the microbial flora . The aspirate culture was correlated with the pathogens isolated when infective complications developed after operation . Bacteroides were isolated from the oesophagus in 39.2% of patients, streptococcus in 10.1% and coliform organisms in 7.6% . No growth was obtained in 35.4% patients . Forty-one patients underwent oesophageal resection . Six of these had the complication of empyema thoracis in the postoperative period . Two patients had identical organisms isolated from the oesophagus and the empyema . B . melaninogenicus was cultured from the pleural fluid in two patients whose oesophageal aspirate culture yielded no growth . Six patients developed wound infection, all with anastomotic cutaneous fistula . There was no demonstrable relationship between the organisms isolated from two sources . Prophylactic antibiotic administration should be directed against the bacteroides, since it is the most common organism isolated from within the oesophagus.

Infect Immun, 1981 Feb, 31(2), 808 - 15
Mutanolysin-induced spheroplasts of Streptococcus mutants are true protoplasts; Siegel JL et al.; A method is described for the preparation of protoplasts of Streptococcus mutans BHT . The muralytic enzyme mutanolysin was prepared free of contaminating proteinases and shown to completely dissolve cell walls of this strain . Whole cells were converted to stabilizable protoplasts by using the enzyme in an isotonic medium containing 40% raffinose . Experiments using {3H}thymidine and {14C}leucine as cytoplasmic pool markers revealed only minimal (10%) leakage during a 1-h incubation . Examination by electron microscopy revealed the apparent absence of structural cell wall on the enlarged spherical bodies . Quantitative chemical analyses of membranes prepared by lysing protoplasts demonstrated only very small amounts of rhamnose and trace amounts of galactose . These sugars are the principal components of the BHT cell wall polysaccharide . Also, there were only small amounts of peptidoglycan components (e.g., N-acetylglucosamine) in the purified membranes obtained by this method.

Am Fam Physician, 1981 Feb, 23(2), 117 - 22
Group B streptococcus; Alcoff JM; The Group B streptococcus has only recently been recognized as a cause of serious clinical disease, especially in infants under three months of age . These organisms are normally found in the female genital tract and also exist, at a lower rate, in male urethras . During labor and delivery, they are transmitted to the fetus in utero or during passage through the birth canal . Group B streptococcal infections in infants are associated with high mortality and sequelae rates despite antibiotic administration.

Am J Otolaryngol, 1981 Feb, 2(1), 19 - 21
Acute otitis media in children eight years old and older: a reappraisal of the role of Hemophilus influenzae; Schwartz RH et al.; The bacteriology of acute otitis media in 18 children eight to 17 years of age was investigated through the use of culture of middle ear exudate obtained by tympanic membrane puncture . Equal numbers of children had either Hemophilus influenzae (six) or Streptococcus pneumoniae (six) in the middle ear exudate . Acute otitis media in children through adolescence should be treated with antibiotics known to be effective against H . influenzae.

Scand J Dent Res, 1981 Feb, 89(1), 19 - 25
Streptococcus mutans in plaque and saliva and the development of caries; Kohler B et al.; Plaque samples from 10 different tooth surfaces of 10 schoolchildren with varied caries experience (DFS 10-33) were collected five times during 2.5 years . The samples were examined with an immunofluorescent technique for identification and enumeration of Streptococcus mutans serotypes c/e/f and d/g . At each sampling occasion the children were scored for caries . A stimulated saliva sample was also collected and the number of S . mutans per ml saliva was determined . The saliva level of S . mutans was shown to reflect the prevalence and proportion of this microorganism on the selected surfaces . Five surfaces carried S . mutans at each sampling . Four of these surfaces showed progressive cries S . mutans infection was also found to precede the development of incipient caries on four surfaces . Eighty percent of the surfaces that stayed sound were only transiently carriers of S . mutans in mainly very low numbers . Serotype c/e/f dominated in prevalence and proportion on the surfaces with a history of caries during the study.

J Dent Res, 1981 Feb, 60(2), 187 - 92
Fluoride accumulation by oral microorganisms; Gaugler RW et al.; Ten laboratory strains of oral microorganisms and 17 recent clinical isolates were examined for their ability to concentrate fluoride from a 1 ppm (0.05 mM NaF( fluoride solution . The laboratory strains concentrated the ion from two- to six-fold over the surrounding media . Clinical isolates of Actinomyces concentrated the ion to similar levels to the laboratory strains of this organism; however, clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans and S . sanguis concentrated the fluoride significantly less than any of the laboratory strains examined.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1981 Feb, 89(1), 25 - 8
Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of recent clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Zackrisson G et al.; Antimicrobial susceptibility of 180 recent isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae was determined by microdilution technic . There was a high degree of susceptibility to both penicillin G and cefuroxime, except for one strain which required 0.25 microgram/ml . All strains were inhibited by 0.06 microgram/ml of ampicillin, clindamycin and erythromycin . When tested against doxycycline 97.2% of the strains were inhibited by 1.0 microgram/ml . 8 microgram/ml inhibited all strains . Three of the strains were chloramphenicol-resistant with MIC more than 8 microgram/ml . These strains could be shown to inactivate chloramphenicol . All strains but three were susceptible to 20/l microgram/ml of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim.

J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 122(Pt 2), 217 - 25
Separation and characterization of a protein antigen from cells of Streptococcus mutans; Zanders ED et al.; A protein antigen, I/II, was purified from cells and culture supernatants of Streptococcus mutans (serotype c) by solubilization in urea followed by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration . Immunological activity was retained after further purification by preparative sodium dodecyl sulphate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS--PAGE) . The sedimentation coefficient was estimated to be approximately 8.7S by sucrose gradient centrifugation . The use of staining procedures, as well as the linear migration of this protein through different concentrations of acrylamide during SDS--PAGE, indicated that the antigen is probably not a glycoprotein . A lower molecular weight protein containing the free antigen I determinant was shown to have extensive homology with intact antigen I/II which implied that the former was a degradation product of the intact 185 000 dalton antigen I/II . Antigen II, although previously defined by its resistance to proteases, could be further digested with trypsin after denaturation by SDS--PAGE . Antigen I/II could not be correlated with a group of glucosyltransferases isolated from whole cells and culture supernatants . The cell surface location of antigen I/II was established by the lactoperoxidase-catalysed iodination of intact cells followed by protein analysis using SDS--PAGE . Previously, the potential importance of antigen I/II has been established by its immunogenicity and capacity to induce a protective immune response against dental caries.

Immunology, 1981 Feb, 42(2), 175 - 83
Potentiation of natural killer activity of human lymphocytes by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria and its protein A; Kasahara T et al.; Cytotoxic activity of human lymphocytes against the myeloid cell line K-562 was augmented greatly by 24-h incubation with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I bacteria (SpA CoI) and its protein A . This effect was not observed when these stimulants were added after preincubation, suggesting that this activity was different from so-called lectin-induced cellular cytotoxicity . Potentiation required at least 12 to 18 h incubation of lymphocytes with these stimulants . Macrophage depletion did not affect the potentiation by protein A or SpA coI, although the potentiation by poly I:C or OK-432, an immunopotentiator of Streptococcus pyogenes was completely reduced . Further cell separation procedures revealed that neither T cells nor FcR- cells, which showed little natural killer (NK) activity, were enhanced by protein A or SpA coI . On the other hand, (a) null cells which were obtained from nylon column (NC)-passed fraction by depleting T cells and surface membrane Ig-positive cells, and (b) FcR+ E- cells which were obtained from NC-passed fraction by depleting FcR- cells and T cells, showed marked NK activity by themselves and were further augmented by these stimulants . FcR+ E+ cells failed to show NK activity even if they were stimulated by these stimulants . Thus, it was found that protein A and SpA CoI, as well as human interferon, could stimulate NC-non-adherent, FcR+, E- NK cells and potentiate markedly their NK activity.

JAMA, 1981 Jan 23-30, 245(4), 369 - 70
Vaccination-Associated relapse of immune thrombocytopenia; Kelton JG; Many patients with immune thrombocytopenia require splenectomy to achieve remission . They are therefore at risk for postsplenectomy septicemia and should receive vaccination against Streptococcus pneumoniae . In experiment situations, antigens contained within this vaccine cell initiate a polyclonal B-lymphocyte activation and increased production of specific and nonspecific antibodies . In certain animal models, a polyclonal B-lymphocyte stimulatory response can trigger an autoimmune disorder . Two patients with immune thrombocytopenia had relapses of their immune thrombocytopenia after the administration of pneumococcal and influenza vaccines . These observations suggest that patients with a history of immune thrombocytopenia should be monitored after vaccination.

JAMA, 1981 Jan 23-30, 245(4), 357 - 9
Evaluation of the buffy-coat smear for rapid detection of bacteremia; Reik H et al.; Buffy-coat smears prepared from 599 blood samples, obtained simultaneously with blood for culture, were examined for bacteria . Each blood sample was quantitatively cultured on chocolate agar . Twenty-one blood cultures (3.6%) from 17 patients were positive . Two (11.7%) of the 17 patients had positive buffy-coat smears . One patient had two positive smears, for a total of three positive buffy-coat smears from 21 positive blood cultures . Chart reviews were performed for two patients with positive buffy-coat smears, three patients with positive blood cultures (containing the same organisms as the two study patients) but negative buffy-coat smears, and six additional patients who had had positive buffy-coat smears between 1974 and 1979 . Of the eight patients with positive smears, six (75%) were infected with Gram-positive cocci, three of which were Streptococcus pneumoniae . Mortality was 100%.

Carbohydr Res, 1981 Jan 15, 88(1), 119 - 34
Oxidized saccharides as inhibitors of alpha-glucan synthesis by Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferase; Ono K et al.; Specific inhibition by periodate-oxidized dextrans of the synthesis of alpha-glucan by S . mutans glucosyltransferase prompted a search for structurally related inhibitors that might be effective as anticaries agents . Clinical dextran derivatives in which from 5 to 50% of the D-glucose units were oxidized acted as potent and specific enzyme-inhibitors, as did 10%-oxidized derivatives of dextran fractions ranging in mol . wt . from 10(4) to 2 X 10(6) . Within these limits, differences in oxidation or molecular weight did not significantly affect the high inhibitory potency of the derivatives . In contrast, periodate oxidation of (1 leads to 6)-alpha, (1 leads to 3)-alpha-, and (1 leads to 4)-alpha-linked oligosaccharides containing less than approximately 15 D-glucose units, and of sucrose and structurally related trisaccharides, yielded derivatives that were poor inhibitors . Enzymic hydrolysis of oxidized dextrans caused a loss of their inhibitory power and indicated that, to act as specific inhibitors, oxidized molecules must contain at least 16 to 20 D-glucosyl residues . The similar, minimum size required in order that unoxidized oligosaccharides may act as efficient acceptors in the glucosyltransferase reaction suggests that the inhibitory potencies of oxidized derivatives may reflect their relative abilities to bind at the acceptor site of the enzyme.

Carbohydr Res, 1981 Jan 15, 88(1), 107 - 17
D-Glucosyltransferase of Streptococcus mutans: isolation of two forms of the enzyme that bind to insoluble dextran; Figures WR et al.; The D-glucosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans 6715 has been separated into three enzymic fractions that differ in their binding to dextran and in their synthesis of dextran from sucrose . One enzymic fraction (AFF-I) does not bind to insoluble dextran, and it produces an insoluble D-glucan . Fraction AFF-IIU was eluted from a dextran affinity-column by either dextran or urea, whereas fraction AFF-IID was eluted only by dextran . Both of these fractions produce insoluble D-glucans from sucrose.

J Bacteriol, 1981 Jan, 145(1), 661 - 3
Purification of Streptococcus group C bacteriophage lysin; Raina JL; A simple procedure for the purification of Streptococcus group C phage lysin to apparent homogeneity is described . The electrophoretically pure, enzymatically stable polypeptide of 98,000 molecular weight converted Streptococcus (groups A, F, and H) cells into spheroplasts within 5 min at 0 degrees C or within less than a minute at 37 degrees C.

Am J Nephrol, 1981, 1(2), 97 - 104
Newer modifications of peritoneal dialysis: options in the treatment of patients with renal failure; Price CG et al.; Experience with peritoneal dialysis for the treatment of 69 patients suffering from renal failure is reported . Chronic intermittent peritoneal dialysis (CIPD) was used in 49 patients, and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in 34 patients . CAPD was well accepted by patients, and resulted in maintenance of laboratory parameters in a range similar to that achieved by hemodialysis and by CIPD . However, peritonitis occurred with a higher incidence in CAPD (one per 7.2 patient-months) than in CIPD (one per 19.2 patient-months) . All episodes of peritonitis were caused by only 40% of the patients, and in CAPD, patients who developed peritonitis in the first 4 weeks of treatment were the most likely to develop repeat episodes . An organism was identified in 81% of cases, of which 50% were due to Staphylococcus, 16% due to Streptococcus, 5% due to Candida and the remaining 29% were due to gram-negative organisms . In addition to CAPD, we introduced an automated modification of prolonged-dwell peritoneal dialysis (PDPD) that is applicable to a larger number of patients . In 11 patients PDPD proved comparable to CAPD in ameliorating the laboratory parameters measured, but was associated with lower incidence of peritonitis (one per 18.2 patient-months).

Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(12), 1229 - 42
Characterization of solubilized products from the cell wall of Streptococcus pneumoniae during autoplast formation; Ohno N et al.; The structure of the cell wall of Streptococcus pneumoniae R36a was investigated by means of chemical analysis of the solubilized products formed during autoplast formation . By autoplast formation, almost all of the cell wall components were solubilized as the end products within several hours . Analysis of the solubilized products revealed that the pneumococcal cell wall consists of three macromolecular components, teichoic acid-glycopeptide I (TA-GP I), teichoic acid-glycopeptide II (TA-GP II), and glycopeptide (GP-III) . The molecular size of TA-GP I was larger than that of TA-GP II . TA-GP I and TA-GP II were constituted of similar components, galactosamine, 2-acetamido-4-amino-2, 4, 6-trideoxyhexose, glucose, ribitol, choline, phosphate, and peptidoglycan components, but the ratio of teichoic acid to glycopeptide in TA-GP II was higher than that in TA-GP I . TA-GP II was solubilized more slowly than TA-GP I and GP III during autoplast formation . The assembly of the cell wall by TA-GP I and II, and GP III is discussed in connection with the action of autolysin.

Microbios, 1981, 30(121-122), 171 - 80
Mixed culture studies of Streptococcus mitis and oral enterococci; Vernazza TR et al.; Strains of Streptococcus mitis and oral enterococci were grown in mixed culture in 0.5% peptone, 1.0% peptone and 1.0% peptone supplemented with 0.5% glucose . In all three media the enterococci inhibited the S . mitis strains . The inhibition was strongest in the glucose supplemented broths, probably due to pH toxicity . Inhibition in the unsupplemented broths was not similarly caused, but no other inhibitory factors could be isolated from these culture.

Eur Neurol, 1981, 20(5), 374 - 9
Immunoglobulin characterization by bacterial absorption of antibrain antibodies in multiple sclerosis; Ryberg B et al.; Complement-fixing (CF) antibrain antibodies are frequently found in serum and CSF in multiple sclerosis (MS) . They represent several specificities and appear to be synthesized on both sides of the blood-brain barrier . Five sera and six CSF samples from 11 MS patients, representing 6 different specificities of antibodies, were absorbed with a series of bacterial strains with affinity for various immunoglobulins . Reactivity with brain preparations was eliminated by absorption with the following IgG absorbents: Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I, group A streptococcus strain A R1, and group G streptococcus strain G 148, but not by absorption with strains with low or no affinity for IgG . The results indicate in all tested samples the IgG1 and/or IgG2 nature of the antibrain antibodies.

Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1981 Jan-Feb, 38(1), 119 - 29
{Familial incidence of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis}; Martinez J et al.; The investigation on siblings of AGN patients has shown a streptococcus carrier evidence of 45%, while glomerulonephritis incidence was 15% . These data allowed us to classify our population as highly susceptible to bacterial dissemination and to the development of non-suppurative complications . Renal compromise was clinical and histologically classified . Subclinical forms showed glomerular lesions of mesangial localization, while clinical forms exhibited variable degrees of cellular proliferation . All patients recovered except one who died of a rapidly progressive form.

Can J Comp Med, 1981 Jan, 45(1), 20 - 5
The serological response of foals to vaccination against strangles; Srivastava SK et al.; A group of 100 foals was given either a commercial bacterin or an autogenous vaccine consisting of whole cells and an acid extract of Streptococcus equi . During the study, some of the foals developed clinical strangles . Various sets of sera were collected from these foals prevaccination, during vaccination, postvaccination and postinfection . The serological response of these foals was measured by passive haemagglutination and long chain tests . In foals which remained healthy, the highest titres were reached within one to two months postvaccination with a passive haemagglutination 10 x log2 mean titre of 6.78 and the long chain indices of 4.41 . These levels persisted for 120 days postvaccination . Those foals which had clinical strangles exhibited lower passive haemagglutination titres (3.78) at one to two months postimmunization, but rose significantly after recovery . Four ponies immunized with formalinized Str . equi bacterin showed a partial protection against the challenge infection . The passive haemagglutination titres, long chain indices and serum bactericidal activity in these ponies were highest at 35 days postvaccination but did not increase after infection.

Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1981, 60(1), 15 - 20
{Multicenter study on the distribution of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains in Italy}; De Bac C et al.; Pneumococcal serotyping by quellung reaction has been performed in five Italian areas on 267 strains, isolated from throat swab, sputum, blood, liquor, etc . 37 serotypes have been identified . The most frequent types resulted 19, 6, 3, 20, 9, 4 (in 50% of total samples), with no difference from those detected in other European countries . The proportion of type 19 was the highest among all age group, in four out of five different areas and in bacteremic pneumonia and meningitis . 36 strains were isolated from infection sites among which type 19 resulted more frequent than in isolates from throat swab and sputum (27.7% versus 16.1%) . Pneumococcal serotyping should be routinely done in the light of forthcoming use of polysaccharide vaccine.

J Dairy Sci, 1981 Jan, 64(1), 123 - 9
Variation in Wisconsin Mastitis Test Scores of bucket milk samples and relationship to bacterial infections; Bodoh GW et al.; Sources of variation in the Wisconsin Mastitis Test were studied in 4739 bucket milk samples from 111 cows in one herd during 103 days . Quarters of cows were classified infected or uninfected through bacteriologic assays of quarter milk samples . Quarters were uninfected in 70.4% of the cow-quarter-days and infected with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae in 1.4 and .9% of the quarter samples . Scores of all cow-days averaged 8.5 . Wisconsin Mastitis Test scores of cow-days having no pathogens averaged 5.8 . Correlation of duplicate samples was .97 . Repeatability of monthly tests was .67 . Days within month of lactation, month within age group, cow within age, and age differed . Older cows averaged higher Wisconsin Mastitis Test scores . Scores for uninfected cow-days did not differ with age . Scores were higher by 5.5 units in cows with infected quarters than in those with no infected quarters . The increase was greater with S . aureus or S . agalactiae present than with less virulent pathogens . In a cost-utility analysis, Wisconsin Mastitis Test was inefficient in detecting infected cows with a single test.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Jan, 34(1), 95 - 101
{Serotypes and drug-susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from clinical specimens (author's transl)}; Oguri T et al.; Serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae from various clinical specimens from Jan . 1979 to July 1980 were examined . (1) The serotype of the organism widely distributed, and predominant serotypes were type 6, type 15, type 19, type 3 and type 23 . Strains of type 2, 12 and 25, which were used as pneumococcal vaccine, were not found . (2) From the results of susceptibility test the most active drug was PCG among penicillins and CER among cephalosporins . There was one strain which was resistant to PCG and CER as well as CP and TC . Sixty-five% and 48% of the strains were resistant to TC and CP respectively . Almost of the strains were sensitive to macrolides and LCM . The occurrence of resistant strains to CP, TC, EM and LCM varied to the serotypes.

Rev Infect Dis, 1981 Jan-Feb, 3(1), 98 - 109
Intermittent or continuous therapy of experimental meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in rabbits: preliminary observations on the postantibiotic effect in vivo; Sande MA et al.; The relative effectiveness of bolus vs . constant intravenous administration of equivalent doses of penicillin G in killing bacteria in vivo was studied in a rabbit model of meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae . Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum were obtained from 30 rabbits at intervals of less than or equal to 8 hr after treatment for determination of antibiotic concentrations and titers of viable bacteria in the CSF . When penicillin G was given by continuous infusion (10(5) units/hr after an initial 10(5)-unit loading dose), concentrations of drug in serum and CSF reached a steady state in 1 hr . With intermittent bolus administration of 4 x 10(5) units every 4 hr, higher peak and lower trough concentrations were achieved, and these concentrations paralleled those in the CSF . Although an initial acceleration in bactericidal rate was observed with the bolus infusion between the first and second hour of therapy, after the second hour the rate of bacterial killing was identical for the two methods of administration . The duration of therapy required for sterilization of the CSF was dependent only on the bacterial count before treatment and not on the mode of drug administration . The effect of single bolus intravenous administration of ampicillin was examined in experimental pneumococcal meningitis . Ampicillin was given at various dosages (3.25-62.5 mg/kg), and frequent samples of CSF were obtained for determination of concentrations of pneumococci and ampicillin . A long postantibiotic effect was observed in the CSF of all animals, and this effect consistently was longer than that observed in vitro.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 78 - 87
Effect of fructose and other carbohydrates on the surface properties, lipoteichoic acid production, and extracellular proteins of Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt grown in continuous culture; Hardy L et al.; Streptococcus mutans Ingbritt was grown in a chemostat at destined dilution rates in either 0.5% fructose or 0.5% sorbitol and at destined pH values in 0.5% fructose . The yield of cells was affected by the carbohydrate source, as well as by the pH, with the lowest yield being at pH 5.5 in 0.5% fructose . Fructose-grown cells showed greater susceptibility to lysis by a muramidase than the corresponding glucose-grown cells, but there were no marked differences in the lytic susceptibilities of the corresponding cell wall preparations or in the serological reactivities of wall lysates with antiserum to S . mutans Ingbritt . The greatest amounts of cellular lipoteichoic acid were obtained at high dilution rates in both fructose and sorbitol, as well as at high pH values in fructose . The greatest amounts of extracellular lipoteichoic acid were found at low dilution rates, as estimated by rocket immunoelectrophoresis and also by hemagglutination . Three major extracellular protein components were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the effects of growth conditions on these components were determined . Results for batch-grown cultures showed that there was genotypic variation in the susceptibility of cells to lysis by a muramidase . The enhancement of lipoteichoic acid production by fructose and sorbitol in batch cultures was not identical in representative strains of S . mutans serotype c, nor was the effect of fructose found uniformly in representative strains of the different S . mutans serotypes.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 61 - 70
Antibody responses of monkeys to oral and local immunization with Streptococcus mutans; Walker J; Monkeys were immunized with Streptococcus mutans by a number of routes in an attempt to elicit exclusively a secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) response . Antibody responses were detected by a sensitive radioimmunoassay . Monkeys primed subcutaneously and boosted submucosally with formolized cells of S . mutans had high serum IgG, IgA, and IgM radioimmunoassay titers and only slight salivary IgG titers . Instillation of killed cells of S . mutans into the right parotid salivary duct elicited good IgG, IgA, and IgM responses in both the right parotid saliva and serum, but only a weak IgM response was detected in the left parotid saliva . Administration of killed cells of S . mutans in enterically coated capsules did not elicit a detectable antibody response or have a discernible effect on the antibody response to subsequent immunization by instillation . No increase in antibody titer was detected in the serum or whole saliva from monkeys orally immunized with enterically coated capsules containing viable S . mutans or in the serum, whole saliva, or intestinal contents from monkeys immunized with uncoated capsules containing killed cells of the same organism . These results do not support the concept that oral immunization with S . mutans is effective in stimulating a generalized secretory IgA response in primates.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 345 - 51
Use of combined immunization routes in induction of a salivary immunoglobulin A response to Streptococcus mutans in Macaca fascicularis monkeys; Linzer R et al.; Various combinations of immunization routes were examined for ability to elicit or prolong (or both) a salivary secretory immunoglobulin A response to Streptococcus mutans strain Ingbritt (serotype c) in Macaca fascicularis monkeys . Intraductal (i.d.), per os (p.o.), and subcutaneous (s.c.) routes were utilized . Four groups of three to five monkeys each were immunized by the following schedules: group I--p.o., s.c., i.d.; group II--i.d., p.o., i.d.; group III--s.c., p.o., i.d.; and group IV--control . Immune responses in the serum and parotid fluid were quantitated by using passive hemagglutination assays with purified serotype-specific polysaccharide and by indirect immunofluorescent staining assays . Both s.c . and i.d., but not p.o., routes resulted in detectable serum antibody responses . Only i.d . immunization resulted in a measurable salivary response . Indirect immunofluorescent staining revealed specific secretory immunoglobulin A antibodies in the parotid fluid which correlated with passive hemagglutination titers . The p.o . procedures used in this study did not result either in a prolonged immune response or in measurable tolerance related to the humoral or secretory immune system.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 228 - 35
Evaluation of the opsonic requirements for phagocytosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes VII, XIV, and XIX by chemiluminescence assay; Matthay KK et al.; A luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence assay was used to investigate opsonic requirements for phagocytosis of STreptococcus pneumoniae serotypes VII, XIV, and XIX . After opsonization with whole immune sera (with antibody and total complement pathway), heat-inactivated immune sera (with antibody alone), or magnesium dichloride-ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid-chelated immune sera (with antibody and alternative complement pathway), live S . pneumoniae cells were incubated at 37 degrees C with normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes while serial chemiluminescence measurements were recorded . The amount of chemiluminescence observed correlated closely with evidence of phagocytosis as observed by microscopy . Complement was required for efficient opsonization, since all three serotypes showed a slower rise and less integral chemiluminescence after opsonization with heat-inactivated serum as compared with whole serum . The alternative pathway provided opsonic activity equal to that of the total complement pathway for type XIX, but only intermediate activity for types VII and XIV . Type-specific antibody was also required for effective opsonization of all three serotypes since chemiluminescence was markedly reduced when bacteria were opsonized with antibody-depleted serum (serum absorbed with type-specific S . pneumoniae cells at 4 degrees C) . Thus, chemiluminescence proved to be an effective means of defining the requirement for both antibody and complement in the opsonization and phagocytosis of S . pneumoniae.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 160 - 8
Nature of the cross-protective antigen in subcellular vaccines of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Au CC et al.; Studies have been carried out to investigate the nature of the antigen present in subcellular extracts of a rough strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae A662b which has been shown to confer protection in mice against challenge with smooth, virulent organisms of the homologous and heterologous serotypes . The finding that whole, heat-killed cells were also capable of immunizing mice against challenge with organisms of heterologous serotypes suggests that the immunogen is present on the surface of the rough pneumococcal cell . Ribosomes purified by sucrose gradient centrifugation were not protective, but material recovered in the pellet retained activity . Subcellular extracts prepared from spheroplasts with a partial absence of cell wall showed decreased protective capacity, and extracts prepared from wall-deficient protoplasts were not protective . Crude cell walls evidenced cross-serotype protection, but purified walls did not protect . These results are interpreted as suggesting that the active moiety in the subcellular vaccine is present on the surface of rough pneumococci and is either a wall antigen that must be part of a larger macromolecular complex to be immunogenic, or a substance associated with the cell wall that is present in crude, but not purified, cell wall fractions.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981, 249(4), 466 - 82
{Influence of physical parameters on the production of streptococcal extracellular proteins in cultures with stabilized pH . I . Communication: pH-dependence of extracellular protein production (author's transl)}; Ozegowski JH et al.; The influence of the pH of the medium on growth and production of extracellular proteins was examined in a group C streptococcus (SA . equisimilis strain H 46 A) . The pH values employed ranged from 5.0 to 8.5 and the analytical methods used included the determination of enzyme activities, isoelectric focusing, crossed-immunoelectrophoresis, and SDS electrophoresis . The strain is able to grow in the entire pH range used, with maximum growth occurring at pH 6.5 . The amount of extracellular proteins elaborated depended on both the pH of the medium and the biomass produced . A specific pH range was defined for optimum production of all enzymes examined . With the exception of streptodornase and NAD-glycohydrolase, the pH optimum for product formation was generally in the neutral and weakly alkaline range . Active proteinase was formed only a pH 6.0, leading to gross degradation of most of the other proteins in the culture medium . At pH values ranging from 6.5 to 7.5, isoelectric focusing revealed the production of 28 different extracellular proteins, and crossed immunoelectrophoresis demonstrated 30 to 32 antigens . The number of extracellular products produced greatly declined at pH values above and below this range . Under optimum conditions, the main extracellular product at H 46 A was streptokinase, followed by deoxyribonuclease A.

Arch Oral Biol, 1981, 26(12), 1015 - 25
Microbial surface interactions: reduction of the haemagglutination activity of the oral bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum by absorption with Streptococcus and Bacteroides; Falkler WA Jr et al.; Oral strains of Fusobacterium nucleatum showed haemagglutination (HA) of sheep red blood cells and attachment of HA-active F . nucleatum fragments to other microorganisms allowed a means of studying microbial surface interactions . HA-active sonicated fragments (SF) prepared from F . nucleatum were mixed with whole cell suspensions of 48 bacterial strains and, after incubation, the whole cells were separated from the non-absorbed fragments by differential centrifugation . Attachment of F . nucleatum fragments to the cells was indicated by a reduction in the HA activity of the SF in the supernatant fluid remaining after absorption with whole cells . HA activity of the microbial cells used for absorption and the detection of F . nucleatum fragments on these cells by an indirect fluorescent antibody technique provided further evidence of attachment . Of the 48 strains tested, 10 absorbed F . nucleatum HA-active fragments . They included Bacteroides gingivalis, Bacteroides fragilis subsp . distasonis, Bacteroides corrodens, Streptococcus morbillorum, Streptococcus sanguis (Blackburn and JC 74) and Streptococcus mutans AHT, BHT, 10449 and 6715 . Chelators revealed that F . nucleatum attached to the microorganisms via a Ca2+-dependent interaction . Sugar inhibition demonstrated that F . nucleatum attached to the microorganisms via a D-galactose-containing moiety on their surface . A reduction in the absorption of F . nucleatum HA-active fragments by Strep . mutans grown in a higher concentration of sucrose was observed.

Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1981, 249(2), 190 - 4
Lethal effect of CAMP-factor and UBERIS-factor--a new finding about diffusible exosubstances of streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus uberis; Skalka B et al.; CAMP-factor, the exosubstance of Streptococcus agalactiae, and UBERIS-factor, the exosubstance of Streptococcus uberis, exerted lethal effect when administered parenterally to rabbits and white mice . A single intravenous dosis of 1,500 activity units per 1 kg body weight resulted in rapid death of the rabbits . To kill mice, the intravenous or intraperitoneal dosis had to be 45 times higher in relation to the body mass . After formaldehyde treatment, both streptococcal exosubstances were deprived of their lethal effect as well as of their synergistic hemolytic activity with the staphylococcal beta-toxin.

Vopr Onkol, 1981, 27(6), 27 - 32
{Cross-reacting antigen common to stratified squamous epithelium and Streptococcus group A in tumors of epidermal origin}; Silagadze DG et al.; A tissue-specific basal-cell antigen of stratified squamous epithelium which enters into cross reaction with group A streptococcus polysaccharide was detected in the cytoplasm of human basal- and squamous-cell tumor cells which are associated histogenetically with skin epithelium . However, it was not found in the cells of entodermal tumors (stomach and intestinal adenocarcinoma) . Considering earlier reports on the detection of cross reacting antigen in experimental ectodermal tumors, these results suggest the development of an additional histogenetical method of differential diagnosis of human tumors which arise in ectodermal tegumental epithelium.

Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1981, 156(2), 176 - 9
{Anaerobic bacteria in bronchopulmonary diseases (author's transl)}; Nyiredy G et al.; Report on the results of cultivating bronchial secretion for anaerobic bacteria . It was collected from 1005 not selected patients with various lung diseases by using a special canula allowing to obtain the specimen under sterile conditions . In 228 patients (22.7%) anaerobic germs could be identified predominantly potentially pathogenic being: Fusobacterium nucleare (91), Veillonella (36), Pepto-streptococcus (23) . Above all, they could be found in patients with bronchial carcinoma, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis and pulmonary abscess . Most of them were sensible to penicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline.

Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 185 - 8
Localisation of 125I-labelled streptolysin O of Streptococcus pyogenes in mice; Shibl AM et al.; The fate of 125I-labelled Streptolysin O injected intravenously into mice was studied . After 2 hours only 5% of the injected label remained in the blood . The highest concentration of radioactivity was consistently observed in the liver and kidneys . The labelled toxin was degraded in the liver but its greatest toxic effect took place in the kidneys.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jan, 19(1), 91 - 100
Genetic study of plasmid-associated zonal resistance to lincomycin in Streptococcus pyogenes; Malke H et al.; The phenomenon of zonal resistance to lincomycin, which is characteristic of most clinical isolates with lincomycin resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes, has been studied . These strains grow within a defined concentration range of lincomycin (approximately 60 to 200 microgram/ml), or at lincomycin concentrations below the minimal inhibitory concentration for susceptible strains . It is shown that the zonal growth phenomenon is a stable phenotype and results from induction of resistance only within the zonal concentration range of lincomycin . These strains also possess inducible resistance to erythromycin which is nonzonal in character . One-step mutations to constitutive resistance have been isolated which are of two types: constitutive for lincomycin or for erythromycin, but not for both . Those strains with constitutive erythromycin resistance retain their zonal resistance for lincomycin . Mutants doubly constitutive for both lincomycin and erythromycin can be obtained by a second mutational step from either of the singly constitutive mutants . Satellite deoxyribonucleic acid has been shown to be present in the zonal resistant strains . A plasmid, pSM10419, of 14.9 megadaltons, has been isolated from one of the doubly constitutive mutants and used to jointly transform Streptococcus sanguis strain Challis to constitutive resistance to both lincomycin and erythromycin . From this, a multicopy plasmid of reduced size, pSM10 (5.4 megadaltons), which retains its resistance phenotype, has been isolated and mapped with restriction endonucleases HindIII (three sites), EcoRI (one site), KpnI (one site), and HpaI (one site) . The staphylococcal plasmid pC221 (2.9 megadaltons; chloramphenicol resistant) has been fused to pSM10 at the EcoRI site resulting in a chimeric plasmid, pSM10221 (8.3 megadaltons), which retains resistance to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and lincomycin . pSM10 is therefore suggestive as an effective cloning vehicle for the genus Streptococcus.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jan, 19(1), 166 - 9
Mutational loss of susceptibility to mutacin GS-5 in Streptococcus pyogenes: surface protein in a tolerant variant; Franker CK; A variant (S4340) nonsusceptible to mutacin GS-5 was previously obtained from a strain of Streptococcus pyogenes susceptible to this bacteriocin . The variant was found to adsorb as much bacteriocin as parent cells and exhibit similar susceptibility to seven antibiotics and two detergents . Electrophoretic analysis of protein dissociated from mutant cells by brief sonication revealed the presence of a 74,000-dalton polypeptide not discernible in profiles obtained from susceptible parent cells . The precise role of this tolerance-associated marker remains to be determined . The protein does not appear to be an exported product transiently associated with the cell envelope.

Immunobiology, 1981, 158(4), 330 - 7
Interaction of streptococcal cell wall components with fibrinogen . I . adsorption of fibrinogen by immobilized T-proteins of streptococcus pyogenes; Schmidt KH et al.; Immobilized streptococcal T1-, T3- and T4-proteins to AH-Sepharose 4B were tested for their ability to absorb human fibrinogen . Purified fibrinogen and plasma samples were used for affinity chromatography . T1-protein was able to retain specifically fibrinogen from plasma . T4-protein bound fibrinogen in a similar manner, but it was not as specific as T1-protein . T3-protein failed to bind purified fibrinogen as well as fibrinogen from plasma . Adsorption of fibrinogen was accomplished using a 0.05 M phosphate/0.2 M NaCl/0.02% NaN3/pH 7.0 buffer system followed by elution with 0.05 M PO4/1 M NaCl/0.02% NaN3 to remove non specifically bound components . Retained components were eluted with 8 M Urea/0.025 M NaOAc, pH 5 and the fractions analyzed for fibrinogen content by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The presence of fibrinogen was determined by observations of the characteristic A alpha, B beta and gamma chain bands.

Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(2), 183 - 94
On the immunogenicity of ribosomes and ribosomal proteins isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae; Robert D et al.; The two pathogenic species Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae were used to analyze the immunogenic role of proteins in ribosomal preparations . The protective activity of ribosomes prepared from either strain and further purified by washing with high-salt concentrations, followed or not by sucrose gradient separation of the particles, was identical to that of crude unwashed ribosomes . Similarly, no substantial alteration of the level of protection was observed after treatment with the antibiotic puromycin . Therefore, the immunizing efficacy of ribosomes does not appear to be due either to the nonribosomal proteins adsorbed at the surface of organelles or to the growing polypeptide chain . It seems rather to be attributable to the structural ribosomal proteins themselves, which were indeed shown to induce alone a significant level of protection.

Immunogenetics, 1981, 13(1-2), 39 - 56
Inheritance patterns of idiotype expression: maternal-fetal immune regulatory networks; Olson JC et al.; The production of Id-1, a cross-reactive idiotype associated with rat anti-group . A streptococcal carbohydrate antibodies, by 11 strains of rats indicates that genes coding for Id-1 are in the germline . Its expression, however, follows a complex inheritance pattern . It was our intent in these studies to determine if immune responsiveness of streptococcus (GASV) immunized females could alter Id-1 expression of GASV-immunized progeny, and, in turn, introduce complications in Id-1 inheritance patterns . - We observed that Id-1-specific immune reactivity of GASV-immunized females could induce significant alterations in Id-1 production by progeny . The relationship between maternal and progeny Id-1 was complex, reflecting the complexity of autologous regulation of Id-1 production, and could be the opposite of what one would predict based upon parental transfer of Id-1 regulatory genes . The nongenetic nature of the maternal regulatory influence was confirmed by foster-mother studies . - We conclude that antigen-induced maternal immune responsiveness can exert a permanent regulatory influence on idiotype expression by progeny and consequently introduce error in to the interpretations of idiotype inheritance patterns . The recognition of this maternal regulatory influence also lends further support to Jerne's hypothesis that idiotype-specific immune networks play a significant role in the regulation of immune responsiveness in vivo.

Rev Infect Dis, 1981 Jan-Feb, 3(1), 150 - 3
Controlled comparative trial of bacampicillin and amoxicillin in therapy of bacterial infections of the lower respiratory tract; Finegold SM et al.; In this study the efficacy of bacampicillin and amoxicillin in treatment of bacterial lower respiratory tract infection were compared . Thirty-eight patients were treated with bacampicillin (800 mg twice a day), and 39 were treated with amoxicillin (500 mg three times a day) . Conditions treated included pneumonia, exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis . The two groups were roughly comparable in terms of demographic factors and clinical diagnosis . The most common pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Hemophilus influenzae; isolates of S . pneumoniae were somewhat more prevalent in the group treated with bacampicillin . All patients in both groups were either cured or improved clinically . The offending pathogen was eliminated except for two strains of H . influenzae in the group treated with amoxicillin . There were mild adverse effects, including two cases of diarrhea, in four patients treated with amoxicillin . Two patients treated with bacampicillin had mild adverse effects; no diarrhea was encountered . Minor abnormalities of laboratory test results that possibly were related to therapy were encountered in eight of the patients treated with bacampicillin and three of the patients treated with amoxicillin.

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 391 - 5
Effects of route and time of administration of antiserum on protection of mice from lethal infection due to group B Streptococcus type III; Stanton BF et al.; The present study examines a mouse model of infection due to group B Streptococcus serotype III (GBS-III) as to the route and timing of antiserum administration for protection and quantitation of bacteremia with and without antiserum . Data for these parameters are contrasted with those after challenge with serotype Ia of group B Streptococcus (GBS-Ia) . An intraperitoneal injection of GBS organisms and protective antiserum from a single syringe can be used to create an animal model of disease . Intraperitoneal injection of GBS-III resulted in bacteremia at 0.5 h both in animals who did not receive antiserum (17.4 X 10(2) +/- 7.6 X 10(2) colony-forming units per ml of blood samples) and in animals who received antiserum (19.3 X 10(1) +/- 6.8 X 10(1) colony-forming units per ml) . Although intraperitoneal injection of GBS-Ia also resulted in bacteremia evident by 0.5 h in unprotected animals (30.1 X 10(2) +/- 3.8 X 10(2) colony-forming units per ml), no bacteremia occurred in protected recipients of this organism . Bacteremia due to GBS-Ia and GBS-III logarithmically increased until at least 7 h . Bacteremia due to GBS-III in protected animals was cleared by 24 h . Protection against GBS disease did not require simultaneous or proximate administration of the organism and the antiserum . Mice could be protected from death after intraperitoneal challenge with GBS-III or GBS-Ia by antiserum administered intravenously or intraperitoneally from 6 h before to 2.5 h after challenge.

Arch Invest Med (Mex), 1981, 12(1), 141 - 51
Screening for ampicillin resistant Hemophilus influenzae and penicillin resistant Streptococcus Pneumoniae in healthy carriers; Guiscafre H et al.; 800 samples of pharyngeal exudate were taken from healthy children and 28 healthy intrafamilial contacts of children with meningitis caused by H . influenzae type b . H . influenzae type be was isolated in 8.7 per cent of nursery children, H . influenzae type e in 0.12 per cent and non typifiable H . influenzae in 5.8 per cent . On intrafamilial contacts, 32 per cent had H . influenzae type b and non typifiable in 3.5 per cent . Percent age of ampicillin resistant H . influenzae type b was 14 per cent . No strains were found resistant to chloramphenicol . S . pneumoniae was isolated in 37 per cent of pharyngeal exudate samples . 25.5 per cent of strains tested were penicillin sensitive; 74.5 per cent has a decrease sensitivity . Based on these results we consider chloramphenicol to the the first drug of choice for treatment of severe H . influenzae infections and penicillin for S . pneumoniae infections recommending in the latter higher doses when dealing with central nervous system infections.

Arch Oral Biol, 1981, 26(12), 1005 - 13
Extracellular polysaccharide synthesized by the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans of serotype a to e in vitro; Trautner K et al.; Extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) synthesized in vitro by Streptococcus mutans belonging to serotypes a, b, c, d and e was shown to consist mainly of glucan . Only strains of type b and e regularly produced substantial amounts of fructan, too . Strains of type d synthesized significantly higher quantities of glucan than strains of the other types per gram of bacterial mass . The percentage of insoluble glucan was lowest in samples from strains of type a and c, and highest in samples from strains of type d . In contrast to the insoluble glucan, the linkage pattern of the soluble glucan of the five types showed only small differences . The percentage of alpha-1,3-linked glucose units was highest in the insoluble glucan from strains of type d and e, and lowest in glucan from type c . The differences were significant . Incubation of Strep . mutans under various culture conditions showed that the quantities and composition of EPS formed depend on the culture condition used . The effect of culture conditions, however, was similar for all strains . Therefore the differences found with respect to the quantities and composition of EPS synthesized in vitro by Strep . mutans of different types are apparently type-dependent.

Acta Odontol Scand, 1981, 39(5), 267 - 74
Bacterial growth on dental restorative materials in mucosal contact; Orstavik D et al.; Test specimens of amalgam, gold, porcelain, heat-cured acrylic resin, and human enamel were made to fit into cavities prepared in acrylic pontics of maxillary bridges . One side of the specimen was in close contact with the mucosa . Plaque was allowed to accumulate on the specimens for 27 to 48 days, and adherent bacteria were then quantified by cultivation on selective and non-selective media . The inflammatory status of the mucosa overlying the specimens were monitored by exudation measurements . Lower total numbers of bacteria were recovered from acrylic specimens than from the other materials used, including enamel . There were also significant subject differences in bacterial recovery . Test specimens in contact with inflamed mucosa yielded less total numbers of bacteria, but higher numbers of Streptococcus mutans, than did specimens exposed to mucosa with no or negligible exudation.

Acta Odontol Scand, 1981, 39(2), 79 - 82
Microbial adhesion to surfaces with different surface charges; Larsson K et al.; The adhesion behaviour of Streptococcus sanguis was studied on well-defined stearic and behenic acid multilayers which were prepared by depositing fatty acids on a solid substrate according to the Langmuir-Blodgett technique . Using this technique and by adjustment of the substrate pH it was possible to form outer surfaces consisting of either close-packed methyl or carboxyl end-groups . Thus adhesion was studied on non-polar surfaces formed by the methyl end-groups and on high density negatively charged surfaces formed by carboxyl groups . Under the experimental conditions the non-polar surfaces showed the same degree of adhesiveness as the reference (metal), whereas adhesion was completely inhibited on multilayers with a high negative surface charge . The significance of these results is discussed with regard to dental plaque formation.

Acta Odontol Scand, 1981, 39(2), 61 - 6
Association between bacterial agglutinins and immunoglobulin A in human saliva; Olsson J et al.; Two distinct peaks were obtained when human parotid saliva was separated on a Sepharose 2B column . The bacterial agglutinating activity was concentrated to the void volume fractions whereas the IgA was found in the beginning of the second, large peak . Unfractionated saliva as well as the pooled agglutinin fractions, or a mixture of agglutinin and IgA, all induced the aggregation of KPSK2, a Streptococcus mutans serotype c strain . By adding anti-human-IgA antiserum to the whole saliva or to the mixture of agglutinin and IgA, the aggregation reaction could be eliminated . In order to achieve this effect the agglutinin and IgA had to be mixed prior to the addition of anti-IgA . Addition of anti-IgA antiserum to the agglutinin fraction only did not impair the aggregation of bacteria . The homologous reactions with anti-IgG antiserum did not give any inhibition effect . However, when human IgG was added to the saliva, or to the agglutinin, before the addition of anti-IgG, the aggregation of KPSK2 was again impaired . The data in this paper indicate that the agglutinins and the IgA antibodies in saliva may be normally associated with each other.

Acta Odontol Scand, 1981, 39(2), 115 - 23
Two-hour bacterial colonization of dental luting cements in vivo; Orstavik D et al.; Test specimens of zinc phosphate, polycarboxylate, zinc oxide-EBA, silico-phosphate and resin cements were carried in the mouth for 2 hours . The bacteria adhering to the cement specimens were quantified after culture on selective and non-selective, solid media . Significantly fewer bacteria could be recovered from the EBA cement than from the other cement types . All cement specimens, as well as samples from tooth surfaces, showed selective enrichment of Actinomyces viscosus compared with the proportion of this organism in saliva . The silicophosphate and particularly the polycarboxylate cement were poor substrates for the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans . Scanning electron micrographs revealed heavy accumulations of coccoid and filamentous organisms on zinc phosphate cement surfaces . Fewer bacteria, mainly cocci, were seen on the polycarboxylate and silico-phosphate cements, whereas the micrographs of the EBA and resin cement surfaces were difficult to interpret.

Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 182(1), 87 - 94
Enrichment of DNA polymerase III activity in a DNA membrane complex purified from Pneumococcus: the possible existence of subcomplexes; Firshein W et al.; Three DNA polymerase activities, one related to DNA pol III, have been extracted from a DNA membrane complex purified from Streptococcus pneumoniae . DNA pol III was purified 3300-fold, DNA pol II 2800-fold and DNA pol I 1800-fold . Based on inhibition analysis with a drug known to inhibit DNA pol III activity in Gram positive organisms . 6(p-hydroxyphenyl azo) uracil (HpU), 55% of the total DNA polymerase activity is represented by pol III . In contrast, only 3-5% of the total DNA polymerase activity is inhibited by HpU in crude extracts . The purification of the DNA membrane complex from pneumococcus is modified from an earlier procedure (Firshein 1972) . The modified procedure results in the separation of three distinct DNA-protein-phospholipid subcomplexes of which the one described above contains most of the radioactivity derived from cells pulsed for a short time with (3H)-thymidine . Proteins are involved in binding DNA in each complex and the conformation of DNA in each complex may be different . All of the subcomplexes contain DNA polymerase activity partially sensitive to HpU . These results provide direct evidence for the structural integrity of a complex that may be involved in DNA replication in vivo.

Pharmacol Ther Dent, 1981, 6(1-2), 45 - 56
In vitro evaluation of antibiotics in the treatment of periodontal disease; Mashimo PA et al.; To assess the antibiotic sensitivity of subgingival microflora, chloramphenicol sodium succinate, clindamycin hydrochloride hydrate, disodium carbenicillin, doxycycline hyclate, erythromycin, minocycline hydrochloride, penicillin -G, spiramycin adipate, tetracycline hydrochloride and metronidazole were examined . Eleven patients with periodontitis were selected for sampling . Subgingival plaque samples were taken from three sites on each patient . Anaerobic incubation of the plaque samples for ten days was made on the blood agar plates which contained 0.1 microgram/ml and 5 microgram/ml of each antibiotic substance, respectively . According to the results of viable counts on the plates, it was determined that penicillin, tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline were most effective antibiotics with which to control the periodontal plaque organisms . Resistant organisms against those four antibiotics were generally Streptococcus species . "anaerobic vibrios", and Veillonella parvula . Some of the oral anaerobic isolates were also tested against all antibiotics at the concentration of 1 microgram/ml of each . Minocycline and clindamycin were the two most effective antibiotics against anaerobic subgingival purified strains and chloramphenicol was the least effective.

Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 181(1), 57 - 62
Monomer plasmid DNA transforms Streptococcus pneumoniae; Saunders CW et al.; The covalently closed (CC) monomer form of plasmid pMV158 was found to transform pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) and to do so with two-hit kinetics . The evidence came from analysis of the behavior of the transforming activity in fractions from preparative gel electrophoresis . Activity in the first major peak to elute (i) co-eluted with monomer CC as detected on analytical gels, (ii) banded as CC in dye-buoyancy gradients, (iii) sedimented with the velocity expected for monomer CC, and (iv) gave two-hit kinetics as functions of both concentration and time of exposure of the cells to DNA . A second major peak of activity behaved physically as though mostly due to dimer CC forms and gave single-hit response curves . Because almost no dimer was detectable optically on analytical gels of starting preparations, its specific activity was high relative to that of the monomers.

Anesth Analg (Paris), 1981, 38(11-12), 645 - 50
{The subclavian vein catheter related infections (author's transl)}; Kannisto K et al.; The aim of the present investigation was to study the possible means to prevent the subclavian vein catheter related infections . The tip of the catheter and the part situating at the skin puncture were cultured using the semiquantitative culture method . The growth of the micro-organisms was divided into three groups: classical pathogenic, opportunistic and non pathogenic . We did not find any growth in 64 p . cent of the catheters . The puncture site gave growth in 15 p . cent, the catheter tip in 6,5 p . cent and both of them in 14 p . cent In this study four cases (1,5 p . cent) of septicemias were found . In these cases Streptococcus fecalis was the most common microorganism . The aim of the semiquantitative culture method was to differentiate a real catheter related infection and contamination . The real infection was found only in 32 catheter tips though growth was seen in 54 catheter tips . According to this investigation it seems that the most important factor in preventing catheter related infections was strict sterility during the catheter placement as well as during the maintenance . A small dose of heparin probably reduces the formation of fibrin sleeve around the catheter tip and thus prevents infections . The time the patient is catheterized is also of importance, patients with catheter related septicemia had twice as long duration than cases without growth of catheter tip.

Microbios, 1981, 31(123), 31 - 8
A synergistic increase in Bacillus subtilis 168 transformation produced by the presence of heterologous W23 DNA; Heard JT Jr et al.; Transformations utilizing a 168-like recipient and mixtures of homologous and heterologous DNA lead to an unexpected increase in the number of transformants when the two DNAs are in equal concentration . The absolute requirement for native heterologous DNA to produce the effect was demonstrated . The increase may be due to a helping effect analogous to that found in Streptococcus.

Ann Acad Med Singapore, 1981 Jan, 10(1), 11 - 3
Bacterial meningitis--a five year review 1975--1979; Nadarajah M; In a five year period 142 cases of bacterial meningitis were reported, of which 50 per cent were children under the age of four years and a third of the children were neonates . The commonest organism isolated was Streptococcus pneumoniae, there being 28 cases . The incidence of Klebsiella organism causing meningitis has been on the increase, and 20 cases were reported within this period . There has been a change in pattern of neonatal meningitis, with group B streptococcal infection predominating over the gram negatives.

Arch Neurol, 1981 Jan, 38(1), 43 - 5
Effect of CSF on bacterial growth; Agbayani MM et al.; The growth patterns of five potentially pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and a commonly encountered, nonpathogenic microorganism (S epidermidis) were compared using CSF, trypticase soy broth (TSB), and a phosphate buffer . Each grew less in CSF than in TSB . Escherichia coli was least affected with a median difference of 2 logarithms between CSF and TSB at 24 hours of growth, whereas S epidermidis was markedly inhibited, with a median difference of 6.85 logarithms . The differences among the remaining four organisms ranged from 3.86 to 5.94 logarithms, all significantly greater than that for E . coli . Similar results were obtained at 48 hours of growth . The non-support of bacterial growth by CSF may constitute a host defense mechanism . The basis of these observations may be the presence of inhibitors or the absence of nutrients required for bacterial growth in the CSF.

Med Decis Making, 1981, 1(3), 239 - 46
The diagnosis of strep throat in adults in the emergency room; Centor RM et al.; Adult patients who presented to an urban emergency room complaining of a sore throat had cultures and clinical information recorded . Models were constructed, using logistic regression analysis, of both a positive culture for Group A beta streptococcus and a positive guess by a resident . The model of a positive culture consisted of four variables--tonsillar exudates, swollen tender anterior cervical nodes, lack of a cough, and history of fever . Patients with all 4 variables had a 56% probability of a positive culture; 3 variables, 32%; 2 variables, 15%; 1 variable, 6.5%; and 0 variables, 2.5% . The model of a positive guess by a resident demonstrated an over-reliance on physical exam and an underuse of history . The model of a positive culture allows stratification of patients to assist clinicians in the management strategies.

Microbios, 1981, 32(129-130), 143 - 53
Factors affecting polysaccharide storage in group A Streptococcus pyogenes in non-proliferating cell suspensions; McFarland CR et al.; Optimal conditions for intracellular polysaccharide (IPS) storage by non-proliferating suspensions of group A Streptococcus pyogenes are described . Concentrations of yeast extract and acid-hydrolysed casein which did not support measureable growth prevented bacterial death during storage . For optimal storage, high concentrations of maltose were required to antagonize the inhibitory effect of medium glucose released by intracellular amylomaltase activity . Stabilization of cell washing solutions with 0.5 M sucrose and the minimal storage medium with 8.0% w/v polyethylene glycol MW 6,000 was required for optimal culture viability and IPS storage . The stabilization effect prevented loss of small purine or pyrimidine-containing compounds required for IPS storage as indicated by culture water-shock treatment.

Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 183(1), 7 - 12
Nonsense mutations in the amylomaltase gene and other loci of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Weinrauch Y et al.; Maltose-negative mutations in the amylomaltase gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae were examined for the presence of nonsense mutations . Out of 28 single-site mutants tested, 3 were shown to be suppressible by an amber suppressor previously found by Gasc et al . (1979) . In the presence of the suppressor these mutants manifested 10--30% of wild type amylomaltase activity . In addition to the amylomaltase governed by malM, and the maltosaccharide phosphorylase governed by malP (which maps to the side of malM distal to the regulatory gene, malR), a new maltose-inducible protein, governed by another gene, malX, was observed in gel electrophoretic patterns . The malX gene maps on the side of malM proximal to the malR gene . The approximate molecular weights of the amylomaltase, phosphorylase and malX polypeptides are 62,000, 87,000 and 50,000, respectively . There appear to be no polar effects of the nonsense mutations in the malM gene on synthesis of the gene products of either malP or malX . In a search for nonsense mutants at other loci, one was found in the end gene, which governs the major endonuclease, a membrane enzyme . None were detected among 5 mismatch-repair defective hex mutants analyzed.

Allerg Immunol (Leipz), 1981, 27(1), 22 - 7
{Investigations about the immunobiology of m-proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes . IV . Cell-mediated immunity of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) against streptococcal antigens (author's transl)}; Knoll H et al.; Cell-mediated immunity was tested in monkeys (Macaca mulatta) immunized with highly purified M-proteins by means of the lymphocyte transformation reaction . Lymphocytes from immunized and nonimmunized monkeys were stimulated with PAL-M-Proteins . IC-M-proteins were completely free of mitogenicity and no lymphocyte stimulation was to be found after immunization with 1.6 mg . Erythrogenic toxins of strain NY5 were able to stimulate lymphocytes of monkeys unspecifically.

Gene, 1981 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 65 - 73
Cloning of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA: its use in pneumococcal transformation and in studies of mismatch repair; Claverys JP et al.; EcoRI fragments of the amiA locus in Streptococcus pneumoniae were cloned either into a derivative of lambda or into pBR325 plasmid . Mutations in the amiA locus confer resistance to aminopterin . Pneumococcal DNA fractions were enriched for the desired EcoRI fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis . Recombinant clones were detected directly by transformation with DNA and lambda plaques or from single-colony lysates containing pBR325 . The use of cloned DNA in pneumococcal transformation has revealed a number of features pertinent to transformation in general, and also the mismatch repair process . High transformation levels can be achieved, from 40 to 80% of a competent culture . These high levels of transformation with cloned DNA made in a foreign host are taken to confirm the absence of restriction effects on transformation in S . pneumoniae . At saturation, similar transformation levels are obtained with hybrid phage or hybrid plasmid DNAs, but the DNA amount required is 20 to 25 times lower for hybrid plasmid than for hybrid phage, probably because plasmid DNA is 10 times shorter than phage DNA . There is no "end effect" with intact hybrid DNA, i.e . similar transformation levels are achieved for markers whatever their map position on the cloned pneumococcal fragment . Cloned DNA has been used to study the action of the mismatch repair process (hex system) . The presence of two mismatches in the same cell is not enough to saturate the hex system, and is not enough to kill the colony-forming center (cfc).

Infect Immun, 1981 Jan, 31(1), 151 - 9
Virulence of Streptococcus mutans: characterization of a serotype g antigen-defective mutants and its revertants; Otake S et al.; A mutant of Streptococcus mutans 6715 HSR, which is defective in serotype antigen and designated C307, was shown to exhibit full virulence on buccal, sulcal, and proximal surfaces similar to that of 6715 HSR . In addition, this bacterium caused significant decay on the lingual surfaces . Its colonial morphology and certain biochemical activities which may be related to caries production were distinct from those of 6715 HSR . This mutant adsorbed to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite beads in greater amounts and aggregated in the presence of either sucrose or dextran in excess of that seen with the parent strain . The abilities of C307 to grow and to produce acid from sucrose and to adhere to glass surfaces were similar to that of 6715 HSR . Although revertants of C307 exhibited biological activities and a content of serotype g antigen similar to that of 6715 HSR, the virulence pattern was still unlike the parent strain . These results suggest that the serotype g antigen is not required for the adherence of cells to smooth surfaces or for caries formation and that the loss of this antigen may alter the surface of cells causing enhanced ability of the cells to aggregate and to adsorb to saliva-treated hydroxyapatite beads.

Infection, 1981, 9(5), 220 - 2
Serotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility of Streptococcus pneumoniae in West Germany; Milatovic D et al.; Two-hundred-and-six strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated in eight centers in West Germany . The prevalent serotypes were: 19, 3, 6, 7, 23 and 15 . Seventy-five percent of the strains tested were antigenically identical to the pneumococcal types included in the 14-valent vaccine Pneumovax . Susceptibility testing revealed resistance to tetracycline (11% of the isolates), co-trimoxazole (7%) and chloramphenicol (2%) . Seven percent of the isolates were relatively resistant to penicillin (MIC 0.1-1.0 mg/l).

Pharmacol Ther Dent, 1981, 6(3-4), 99 - 107
The effect of surfactants upon the activity and distribution of glucosyltransferase in Streptococcus mutans 6715; Wernette CM et al.; A modified Somogyi-Nelson procedure was used to determine the amount of reducing sugar produced during the reaction of S . mutans 6715 glucosyltransferase (GTF) with sucrose . This technique is an indirect measure of GTF activity and was used to determine the effects of the surfactants glycerol monolaurin (GML) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) upon crude extracellular GTF . GML at 5, 10, and 15 micrograms/ml reduced culture filtrate GTF enzyme activity to an average of 81% of the control value . SLS at the only concentration tested (15 micrograms/ml) also caused a reduction, resulting in a GTF activity level that was 82% of the control value . Secondly, S . mutans 6715 cultures were grown in a medium containing Tween 80, or SLS . The cell-free culture filtrate and the cell-pellet were assayed separately for GTF activity . GML in the medium produced a decrease in culture filtrate GTF activity and an increased cell-pellet activity . The total (whole culture) activity for culture broths was 89% to 90% of the control value when 5, 10, or 15 micrograms/ml GML were added . Tween 80 supplemented culture medium resulted in increased culture filtrate GTF, while levels measured in the cell-pellet were decreased . Overall, Tween 80 caused a large increase in whole culture GTF activity . Cell cultures containing SLS at 15 micrograms/ml resulted in no change in the GTF activity as compared to the control, nor was there any change in the percent of GTF in the culture filtrate versus the percent which was in the cell-pellet . Higher concentrations of SLS could not be tested due to the inhibitory effect on cellular growth.

Ann Anesthesiol Fr, 1981, 22(3), 265 - 9
{Prognostic importance of skin tests in high-risk patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit}; Francois G et al.; This report involves the study of skin test carried out using five antigens (tuberculin, candidin, -haemolytic streptococcus, staphylococcus albus, pertussis bacillus) in 33 patients hospitalised in a polyvalent intensive care unit with two criteria of inclusion:--associated excretion of 20 g of nitrogen or more per hour;--severe infectious complications (either pneumonia or septicaemia) . Three patient populations were found: true anergism (all skin tests negative), relative anergism (one test only positive) and reactive (at least two tests positive) . Results were analysed at two levels . With regard to the value of the tests: the use of candidin or of haemolytic streptococcus alone would have sufficed to classify the patients within the same groups with two exceptions . Secondly, from a prognostic standpoint, the study confirmed data in the literature . There was a significant between the anergic and reactive groups in terms of survival . This applied both to tests performed at the time of admission of the patients as well as those repeated one week later.

Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1980 Dec 15, 56(23), 2460 - 6
{In vivo and in vitro activity of Streptococcus faecium extract on Herpes simplex virus}; Bonina L et al.; The effects of substance or substance extracted from Str . faecium SF 68 on HSV-1 are evaluated . The "in vivo" assay show that bacterial extract introduced i.p . in mice simultaneously with HSV-1 brought about 100% of survival, but bacterial extract after virus challenge brought about complete mortality of mice . "In vitro" assays show that bacterial extract reduce significantly PFU number . It seemed that Str . faecium extract affected the virus at the stage of adsorption on the host cells.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Dec, 142(6), 923 - 33
Epidemiologic studies of Streptococcus pneumoniae in infants: acquisition, carriage, and infection during the first 24 months of life; Gray BM et al.; A natural history study of pneumococcal infection in 82 infants followed from birth is reported . Longitudinal carriage patterns were determined by serial throat and nasopharyngeal cultures . Seventy-nine of 82 infants carried one or more types during the study period . The first type was acquired by a mean age of six months, and the duration of carriage decreased with successive types carried . Acquisition of new types peaked in winter months, but carriage rates fluctuated throughout the year . Thirty-one pneumococcal infections were documented in 24 infants: 28 episodes of otitis media, two of bacteremia, and one of meningitis . Types causing disease were similar to commonly carried types (6, 14, 19 and 23) . However, infection usually occurred within one month of acquisition of a new type and was seldom associated with prolonged carriage . In terms of exposure to new strains, 15% (31 of 196) of acquisitions resulted in disease.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Dec, 142(6), 903 - 9
The critical role of complement in experimental pneumococcal sepsis; Hosea SW et al.; Using a guinea pig model fo bacteremia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 7, opsonization by the classical and alternative pathways of complement activation was studied in immune and nonimmune animals . Depletion of the alternative complement pathway and complement components C3-C9 resulted in a significant, lethal defect of intravascular clearance in both normal and immune animals . Preopsonization corrected the initial clearance defect in complement-depleted animals . Maximal rates of clearance of bacteremia occurred in immune, normal animals, Immune, C4-deficient animals had clearance curves similar to normal, nonimmune animals . Thus, optimal clearance of pneumococcal bacteremia requires an intact alternative an classical pathway of complement activation . In the nonimmune animal, the alternative pathway provides the primary host defense against infection, whereas after immunization, optimal clearance of bacteremia requires an intact classical pathway of complement activation . However, immunization does not alter the lethal clearance defect in complement-depleted animals.

Immunology, 1980 Dec, 41(4), 857 - 64
Oral immunization with Streptococcus mutants in rhesus monkeys and the development of immune response and dental caries; Lehner T et al.; The oral route of immunization with Streptococcus mutants was compared with the subcutaneous route in rhesus monkeys . Significant levels of serum IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in Strep . mutans were elicited only in monkeys immunized subcutaneously . Similarly, the skin delayed hypersensitivity reaction to Strep . mutans was elicited only in the subcutaneously immunized monkeys . Oral immunization induced a modest increase in salivary IgA antibodies to Strep . mutans, though a slight increase in IgA antibodies was also found in the saliva of all other groups of immunized and control monkeys . A small though not significant reduction in dental caries was found in the monkeys immunized orally, whereas subcutaneous immunization with Strep . mutans consistently elicited a significant reduction in caries . Oral feeding of Strep . mutans failed to induce tolerance to a subsequent subcutaneous challenge by the same organism . Furthermore, sequential subcutaneous followed by oral immunization had little effect on the titre of salivary or serum antibodies.

J Exp Med, 1980 Dec 1, 152(6), 1459 - 72
Systemic tolerance and secretory immunity after oral immunization; Challacombe SJ et al.; Diminished systemic immune reaction after ingestion of antigen has been reported in several animal models . Conversely, it has been reported recently that oral immunization may lead to the production of secretory antibodies . To determine whether these events could occur concurrently, CBA/J mice were immunized intragastrically with varying doses of ovalbumin (OVA) and Streptococcus mutans . After 7 d, the animals were challenged systemically with antigen in complete adjuvant and 8 d later serum and saliva taken, and the draining lymph nodes assayed for a proliferative response . Intragastric doses of 1 mg OVA or 10(9) S . mutans led to significant suppression of the proliferative response, and intragastric doses of 10 mg OVA or 2.5 X 10(9) S . mutans led to the production of detectable salivary antibodies using hemagglutination . Serum antibodies were not detected after intragastric administration of OVA or S . mutans . Suppression of the proliferative response could be detected from 2-60 d after intragastric administration of OVA, and 2-21 d after S . mutans . Prior intragastric immunization with heterologous antigens did not suppress the response to OVA or S . mutans . Transfer of 40 X 10(6) mesenteric lymph node cells from mice given 20 mg OVA or 10(9) S . mutans led to suppression of the proliferative response in syngeneic recipients . Salivary antibodies wer removed by absorption with anti-IgA, but not anti-IgG or IgM, indicating that they were of the IgA class . It appears that intragastric administration of soluble or particulate antigens in mice may lead to the concurrent induction of salivary antibodies and systemic suppression.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1980 Dec 1, 138(7 Pt 1), 793 - 6
Transplacental ampicillin: inhibitory concentrations in neonatal serum; Kraybill EN et al.; Concentrations of ampicillin were measured in maternal serum at delivery, in cord serum, and in neonatal serum sampled at 1, 4, and 8 hours after ampicillin had been administered prophylactically to 22 mothers who were undergoing cesarean section . The concentrations of ampicillin in maternal serum at delivery ranged from 4.6 to 50 micrograms per milliliter and were inversely related to the time between administration of the drug and delivery . Concentrations in cord serum ranged from 4.4 to 23 micrograms/ml and were lower than those in corresponding maternal samples in all but two cases . The ratios of cord/maternal concentrations of ampicillin ranged from 0.16 to 1.3 and were directly related to the time which had elapsed between administration of ampicillin and delivery . The mean concentration of ampicillin in cord and neonatal serum declined exponentially in the 8 hours after infusion; it exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration against Escherichia coli for 4 hours and against Listeria monocytogenes and group B streptococcus for at least 8 hours.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Dec, 18(6), 882 - 6
Effect of meningitis and probenecid on the penetration of vancomycin into cerebrospinal fluid in rabbits; Krontz DP et al.; This study examined the effects of experimental pneumococcal meningitis and probenecid administration on the penetration of parenterally administered vancomycin into cerebrospinal fluid in rabbits . Bacterial killing was also examined in infected animals . Meningitis was induced by intracisternal inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Vancomycin was administered in a loading dose followed by a continuous intravenous infusion for 6 h . Serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h for antibiotic assays and quantitative cultures . Meningitis significantly enhanced the penetration of vancomycin into cerebrospinal fluid, but probenecid administration had no effect . In normal rabbits, at 6 h the mean percent penetration (cerebrospinal fluid concentration/serum concentration x 100%) +/- the standard deviation was 1.9 +/- 0.9% in the nonprobenecid group (n = 10) and 1.9 +/- 1.1% in the probenecid group (n = 9) . In rabbits with experimental pneumococcal meningitis, the mean percent penetration at 6 h was 3.9 +/- 2.6% in the nonprobenecid group (n = 11) and 4.3 +/- 2.1% in the probenecid group (n = 9) . Mean bacterial titers in the cerebrospinal fluid of infected animals decreased by more than 3.0 log 10 colony-forming units per ml in both the nonprobenecid and the probenecid groups.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Dec, 12(6), 772 - 5
Comparison of media and culture techniques for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in respiratory secretions; Wu SC et al.; We compared the relative efficacy of three methods for the isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae in lower respiratory secretions . Based on results from 294 clinical specimens, we found that S . pneumoniae was isolated at a frequency of 65% with 5% sheep blood agar or 5% sheep blood agar containing 5 micrograms of gentamicin per ml, both incubated in 5% CO2 . Anaerobic incubation of 5% sheep blood agar enhanced the recovery rate of S . pneumoniae to 93% . The improved efficacy with anaerobic incubation is due to the greater ease of recognition of the larger and more mucoid colonies of S . pneumoniae, and to the suppression of the growth of other oral bacteria present in the respiratory sections.

J Dent Res, 1980 Dec, 59(12), 2038 - 46
Location of Streptococcus mutans in the dentinal tubules of open infected root canals; Kouchi Y et al.; Seventy-six teeth from open canals were extracted to prepare serial longitudinal sections . The sections were made from apical portions of the teeth and stained . Ninety similar teeth were extracted to prepare dentinal splinters with files from the enlarged infected canal . The splinters were spread on a selected medium to grow S . mutans . S . mutans was detected in 48.7% of the 76 teeth examined . The distance of invasion of S . mutans in the dentinal tubules revealed by immunofluorescence averaged 509 micrometer from the canal wall and reached 1150 micrometer, depending on the serogroups of S . mutans . Unidentified germs in the sections which were demonstrated by Gram's stain invaded further than S . mutans . The frequency of appearance of the serogroups of S . mutans was 32.6% (d), 27.9% (c), 24.4% (a), and 15.5% (b).

J Infect Dis, 1980 Dec, 142(6), 803 - 10
Streptococcal adherence to pharyngeal cells of children with acute rheumatic fever; Reed WP et al.; The adherence of strains of group A Streptococcus to pharyngeal cells from Egyptian children with acute rheumatic fever (RF) was examined . Nine RF-associated and eight unassociated streptococcal strains were tested in vitro for adherence to pharyngeal cells from 11 patients with acute RF and eight normal subjects . RF-associated streptococcal strains adhered more avidly to pharyngeal cells of patients with acute RF (mean, 11.8 bacteria/cell) than did unassociated strains (mean, 5.9 bacteria/cell; P less than 0.05) . The difference in mean adherence could be attributed to certain RF-associated strains . There was no significant difference in adherence when pharyngeal cells from controls were used . Furthermore, one RF-associated streptococcal strain was found to adhere considerably more avidly to pharyngeal cells of patients with RF than to those of controls.

Immunology, 1980 Dec, 41(4), 903 - 11
Factor affecting the in vitro assessment of opsonization: a study of the kinetics of opsonization using the technique of phagocytic chemiluminescence; Williams AJ et al.; The importance of several factors involved in the investigation of opsonic defects was studied using phagocytic Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence . The range for the opsonization of zymosan and bakers' yeast by serum from healthy individuals was wide and kinetic studies showed comparative differences for different periods of incubation, serum concentrations and particles . Decay in the opsonic activity of serum stored at different temperatures was demonstrated and its clinical implications emphasized . By using techniques to ablate independently the classical and alternative pathways of complement activation, the contribution of these to the opsonization of zymosan, Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 6571), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and group B streptococcus (NCTC 11080) by normal and hypogammaglobulinaemic serum at a concentration of 7% was assessed . By comparison of the results obtained for different periods of incubation between particle and serum, the need for consideration of this parameter when assessing opsonic activity was shown . The results using the chemiluminescence assay were compared with those using other methods and were found to correlate well.

Pediatrics, 1980 Dec, 66(6), 873 - 5
Community acquisition of group B Streptococcus by infants of colonized mothers; Gardner SE et al.; Forty-six infants of women known to be colonized by group B Streptococcus (GBS) during the third trimester of pregnancy were not colonized by GBS at the time of discharge from the hospital nursery . At 6 to 8 weeks of age, two of these infants (4.3%) were found to harbor GBS . The rate of community acquisition of GBS by uncolonized infants appears to be low.

Crit Care Med, 1980 Dec, 8(12), 716 - 20
Early onset group B streptococcus neonatal septicemia and respiratory distress syndrome: characteristic features of assisted ventilation in the first 24 hours of life; Modanlou HD et al.; Clinical features and assisted ventilation (AV) aspects of 10 neonates with early onset group B streptococcus (GBS) septicemia were compared with those of 12 randomly selected newborns with severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) . Initial chest radiograph in the GBS group was interpreted as RDS in seven of 10 cases . Although 9 of the 10 neonates with early onset GBS were preterm, they were of a significantly higher mean birth weight (p < 0.01) and the mean gestational age (p < 0.005) . The duration of rupture of fetal membranes was not significantly different between the two groups . Contrary to neonates with severe RDS, who gradually developed hypoxia necessitating AV, the neonates with early onset GBS required AV because of persistent apnea, shock, and respiratory insufficiency . During the first 24 h of life, neonates with early onset GBS were more acidotic, had significantly higher PaCO2 and lower PaO2 values, and required significantly higher peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) on the respirator (po < 0.01) while on AV, although the oxygen requirement was similar.

J Dent Res, 1980 Dec, 59(12), 2076 - 9
The inhibitory effect of hydrolytic products of starch on in vitro colonization by Streptococcus mutans; Balekjian AY et al.; Synthetic culture medium containing potato starch and 1 gm% sucrose, with and without human parotid saliva, were pre-incubated . Filtrates from these mixtures were then incubated with Streptococcus mutans . S . mutans colonization on glass rods was suppressed in the cultures using filtrates from saliva and starch interaction . No inhibition was noted in filtrates pre-treated with parotid saliva in the absence of starch . The results suggest that the hydrolysis of starch by saliva yields by-products which inhibit in vitro S . mutans colonization.

Infect Immun, 1980 Dec, 30(3), 766 - 72
Immunochemical properties of antigen-specific monkey T-cell suppressor factor induced with a Streptococcus mutans antigen; Lamb JR et al.; Antigen-specific suppressor factor could be released from monkey suppressor T cells induced in vitro with a protein antigen isolated from the carcinogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans . The suppressor activity was due to the factor itself and not to carryover of free antigen . Characterization of the monkey factor revealed it to have a molecular weight of ca . 70,000, and to contain a constant region and determinants encoded by the major histocompatibility complex . The presence of immunoglobulin determinants could not be demonstrated . However, by virtue of its adsorption to specific antigen, an antigen-combining site was shown to be present . The possible regulatory role of streptococcal antigen-specific suppressor factor in protection against dental caries is discussed.

South Med J, 1980 Dec, 73(12), 1647 - 9
Nutritionally deficient Streptococcus: investigation of the hidden culprit in culture-negative endocarditis; Weinberg MS et al.; Subacute bacterial endocarditis in a 72-year-old woman was found to be caused by nutritionally deficient ("satelliting") Streptococcus sanguis . The organism, which required pyridoxal compounds or thiol substitutes, was identified after the application of relatively unusual but simple laboratory procedures . Normally, the organism's nutritional requirements would be fulfilled by components of the human blood that are used to inoculate clinical blood cultures, provided that the dilutional effect of the media is less than 10 . The difficulty of diagnosis in such cases appears to lie in the laboratory inability to identify the organisms, rather than in failure to grow in properly obtained blood cultures.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Dec, 144(3), 1168 - 73
Effects of penicillin on macromolecular synthesis and surface growth of a tolerant streptococcus as studied by computer reconstruction methods; Higgins ML et al.; Strains of Streptococcus mutans are very susceptible to growth inhibition by benzylpenicillin, but are tolerant to lysis when exposed to even high concentrations of this drug . These properties enabled this study of S . mutans GS-5 surface growth and peptidoglycan, ribonucleic acid, protein, and deoxyribonucleic acid syntheses in the absence of osmotic stabilization . Inhibition of syntheses of peptidoglycan, ribonucleic acid, and protein was dose dependent . Synthesis of peptidoglycan was most susceptible . Substantial but less severe inhibitions of ribonucleic acid and protein syntheses rapidly followed decreased peptidoglycan synthesis, whereas inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis was delayed and minimal . Computer-assisted reconstructions of surface growth zones and poles observed in electron micrographs of replicas were performed and indicated that at low concentrations of benzylpenicillin (0.03 micrograms/ml), growth sites reached abnormally large sizes and surface/volume ratios . The observed shifts in surface/volume ratio were attributed to an inhibition of the normal constrictive division mechanism . The poles of these cells also increased in size over those of the controls, but the relatively smaller change in surface/volume ratio confirmed the visual impression that the shape of the poles was much less altered than the shape of the growth sites . As the concentration of benzylpenicillin used was raised from 0.03 to 2 micrograms/ml, the ability of growth sites and poles to enlarge was restricted in a manner that most closely agreed with the extent of inhibition of peptidoglycan (rather than deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, or protein) synthesis . This correlation suggested that increases in cell size may be regulated by the supply of peptidoglycan precursors.

Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 1980 Nov 15, 105(22), 959 - 66
{STudies on the likelihood of growth of Streptococcus faecium following thermal treatment in meat suspensions (author's transl)}; Houben JH; A number of strains of enterococci was isolated from pasteurized meat products . Two variants of Streptococcus faecium (E1 and E20) took part in the present study . Using these organisms, heating tests in suspensions of pork (sealed plastic pouches) were performed . Mixtures of ingredients ('preparation of cooked ham') were added in the majority of experiments . Dextrose was replaced by sorbitol in one experiment, by glycyrrhizin in another . Following thermal treatment at 68.9 degrees C (various heating times), duplicate pouches were incubated at 8 and 37 degrees C . When the mixture of ingredients were added to the meat suspension, thermoresistance of the test strains was found to increase markedly . For E20, D 68.9 degrees C values of 63 and 2.5 min were measured respectively in the systems with or without ingredients (pH 6.3 in both cases) . When dextrose was replaced by one or by the two other sweeteners, the levels of thermoresistance did not show any changes . During incubation at 37 degrees C, the surviving cells almost invariably grew to high counts; however similar results were not observed at 8 degrees C . At this temperature a decrease in viable counts during five months' storage was recorded; this was particularly the case with longer periods of heating . On growth of Streptococcus faecium in the presence of dextrose, the pH of the meat suspension decreased from 6.3 to 4.7-4.9 . As a result, the residual nitrite fell to very low levels . These phenomena were not observed in the experiments in which dextrose was replaced by the other sweeteners.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1980 Nov 1, 177(9), 829 - 30
Contagious streptococcal lymphadenitis in cats; Swindle MM et al.; A Lancefield group G beta-hemolytic streptococcus was isolated from a group of laboratory cats with acute lymphadenitis of the head and neck and systemic signs of sepsis . The infection appeared to be transmitted by the oral route and was experimentally reproduced in cats after the isolant was inoculated by oral and subcutaneous routes.

Medicine (Baltimore), 1980 Nov, 59(6), 449 - 57
Necrotizing or cavitating pneumonia due to Streptococcus Pneumoniae: report of four cases and review of the literature; Yangco BG et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae is seldom considered as an etiologic agent of necrotizing or cavitating pneumonia . However, during a 5-month period we encountered four patients, bacteremic with S . pneumoniae, with such a pulmonary process . Review of the older literature indicates that this association may be more frequent than is commonly assumed . Anatomic, physiologic, and immunologic alterations of the pulmonary defense mechanisms prior to and during the infection as well as virulence factors of S . pneumoniae (i.e., rapid multiplication, accumulation of capsular polysaccharides, and inhibition of phagocytosis) in concert may produce the resultant decrease in bacterial clearance from the lung with the consequent necrosis of lung parenchyma . Since sputum and blood cultures are reported to be positive in only 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively, of cases of pneumonia, etiologic diagnosis may be difficult . Nevertheless, S . pneumoniae must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the patient with necrotizing or cavitating pneumonia.

J Clin Pathol, 1980 Nov, 33(11), 1092 - 4
A problem with the recognition of penicillin-resistant pneumococci; Rees T et al.; A strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae requiring 0.25 mg/1 penicillin to inhibit its growth was isolated from the antrum of a child who had no history of either foreign contacts or previous treatment with penicillin . The penicillin resistance was recognised by chance because the disc used contained substantially less than its stated content of 1.5 unit . When discs containing 2 units were used there was little reduction in size of the zone of inhibition.

Infect Immun, 1980 Nov, 30(2), 462 - 6
Effects of treatment with muramyl dipeptide and certain of its analogs on resistance to Listeria monocytogenes in mice; Humphres RC et al.; Studies were carried out to determine whether treatment of mice with the synthetic adjuvant muramyl dipeptide (MDP) afforded any resistance to infection with Listeria monocytogenes . Regardless of the timing, dose, or route of administration, there was no evidence that treatment with either MDP or two of its analogs (des-MDP or MDP-D-D) induced any resistance to listeria infection in BALB/c, CBA/J, or C57BL/6J mice . In contrast, pretreatment with MDP induced marked protection to infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae (type III).

Infect Immun, 1980 Nov, 30(2), 445 - 50
Experimental otitis media after nasal inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza A virus in chinchillas; Giebink GS et al.; Otitis media developed in 67% of chinchillas inoculated intranasally with type 7 Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza A virus . Only 4% of chinchillas inoculated with influenza alone and 21% of chinchillas inoculated with S . pneumoniae alone developed otitis media . Among the chinchillas that developed otitis media after inoculation with both pneumococcus and influenza, 73% of the affected ears contained effusion, and 27% of the affected ears showed tympanic membrane inflammation without middle ear effusion obtained on paracentesis . Although a majority of the ears with effusion yielded S . pneumoniae on culture, one-third of the effusions were sterile for aerobic bacteria . This model resembles conditions accompanying otitis media in humans and suggests that respiratory viral infection contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of acute otitis media.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Nov 1, 86(1), 105 - 12
The structure of an extracellular, water-soluble polysaccharide elaborated by the cariogenic Streptococcus mutans GS-5; Higton FR et al.; The extracellular, water-soluble polysaccharide elaborated by Streptococcus mutans GS-5 contains (1 leads to 6)- and (1 leads to 3,6)-linked alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues . Its average repeating-unit contains 6 D-glucosyl residues and it is comb-like in structure . The majority of branches consist of only a few D-glucosyl residues, if not one D-glucosyl group.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 121(1), 105 - 11
Evidence that Streptococcus mutans constructs its membrane with excess fluidity for survival at suboptimal temperatures; Tsien H et al.; When cells from cultures of Streptococcus mutans strain FA-1 grown at 37 degrees C were exposed to incubation temperatures of 26 degrees C or less for 5 min or more, an extensive aggregation of particles was observed on the convex fracture faces of their freeze-cleaved membranes . Aggregation of particles was accompanied by a parallel increase in the activation energy for growth . By shifting the growth temperature from 37 to 24 degrees C for one doubling of culture mass, the transition temperature for membrane particle aggregation could be lowered from about 26 to 0 degrees C . Although membrane lipids became enriched with unsaturated fatty acids during this period of growth at 24 degrees C, this enrichment was not accompanied by an increased growth rate of the culture . However, the period of growth at 24 degrees C did result in bacteria that could grow more rapidly at 10 degrees C than could bacteria directly transferred from cultures grown at 37 degrees C . These observations suggest that the increase in membrane fluidity that occurs when bacteria are grown at 24 degrees C doses not allow bacteria to grow faster at 24 degrees C, but rather allows them to adapt more readily to further decreases in growth temperature.

Ann Immunol (Paris), 1980 Nov-Dec, 131D(3), 309 - 35
Response of the lymphoid organs of the mouse to the peptidoglycan of a gram-positive bacterium (Streptococcus pyogenes); Caravano R et al.; The response of the lymphoid organs of the mouse to the injection of a Gram-positive (Streptococcus pyogenes) bacterial peptidoglycan (PGL) has been investigated by several complementary techniques . Special cares were brought to: a) the extraction mode and the characterization of the bacterial fraction, b) the sanitary and microbiological status of the mice, and c) the lack of biologically active contaminants, even at a trace level . In these conditions, the local reaction at the site of inoculation was very moderate, transient and not very distinctive . No toxic reactions were observed, even with doses of several milligrams per mouse . Changes in lymphoid organs, as determined by changes in weight, incorporation of radioactive precursors and detailed histological study revealed that PGL did not induce the typical responses of ordinary antigens . Changes in the weight of organs were not significant and there was no dose-response relationship . In the lymph node, the response was confined to the paracortical area; the lymphocyte activation stood at an early stage and became characterized only after booster injection . There was no activation of antibody-producing cells . An important recruitment of active macrophages was observed; this could participate to the adjuvant activity of PGL, whose at least a part of the biological activity is therefore independent of the inflammatory and/or toxic response.

Immunology, 1980 Nov, 41(3), 587 - 96
Partial characterization of murine and monkey helper factor to a streptococcal antigen; Zanders ED et al.; Helper factors specifically stimulating cooperative antibody responses by normal mouse spleen cells to a dinitrophenylated protein antigen from Streptococcus mutans (DNP-SA) were produced in vitro from monkey peripheral blood leucocytes and mouse spleen cells . The factors were partially characterized by gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, isoelectric focusing, treatment with heat and degradative enzymes and binding to specific immunoadsorbents . Gel filtration of both the monkey and mouse factors showed coelution with human serum albumin, suggesting a molecular weight of approximately 70,000 . The isoelectric points fell within the range of 4.9-5.2 for monkey and 6.4-6.7 for the mouse helper factors . The glycoprotein nature of both factors was suggested by their lability to heat and sensitivity to pronase and neuraminidase . The factors carried a small fragment of the stimulating antigen and showed specific binding to SA but not to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) . Monkey factor bound to rabbit antisera directed against the Fc portion of monkey IgM, but not to the IgG or IgA isotypes . The mouse factor contained determinants coded for by the I-Ak but not I-Jk subregion of the MHC . Both factors were absorbed by an antiserum to helper factor raised in rabbits against a KLH-specific mouse helper factor as immunogen . A corresponding antiserum to suppressor factor failed to adsorb either factor . This emphasizes the specific identities of helper and suppressor factors and suggests an evolutionary relationship between those derived from monkey and mouse leucocytes.

J Clin Pathol, 1980 Nov, 33(11), 1099 - 101
Bullous impetigo caused by Streptococcus salivarius: a case report; Brook I; A 19-month-old child presented with bullous impetigo around the perineal region, penis, and left foot . Streptococcus salivarius was the only isolate recovered from the lesions . The child was treated with parenteral penicillin, debridement of the bulli, and local application of silver sulphadiazine cream . This case of bullous impetigo illustrates another aspect of the pathogenicity of Strep . salivarius.

J Med Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 13(4), 551 - 60
Enzyme immunoassay of the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type III in cerebrospinal fluid in experimental meningitis; Nolan CM et al.; An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type III was developed and applied to the measurement of this antigen in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in an experimental model of pneumococcal meningitis . EIA was performed by a single-antibody sandwich technique in which the globulin fraction of pneumococcal type-specific antiserum (antiserum-globulin) was used to coat the solid phase before antigen attachment and to conjugate with the labelling enzyme, horseradish peroxidase . Under optimum assay conditions EIA detected purified pneumococcal type-III capsular polysaccharide in concentrations as low as 0.15 ng/ml in aqueous buffer . Assayed by EIA, the mean concentration of type-III capsular polysaccharide in CSF of rabbits with pneumococcal meningitis increased exponentially from 24 h to 96nh of infection (range 13.9 ng/ml--62 500 ng/ml) . Effective antimicrobial therapy of rabbits with meningitis was associated with a rapid decrease in the CSF concentration of the capsular antigen, although it was still detected in concentration in the range 1--10 ng/ml in 100% of animals treated for 4 days . Thus EIA provides a quantitative and extremely sensitive method of measuring type-III pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide in CSF.

South Med J, 1980 Nov, 73(11), 1447 - 9
Treatment of otitis media with cefaclor, a new oral cephalosporin; Aronovitz GH; Cefaclor, a new semisynthetic cephalosporin, was evaluated for efficacy in the treatment of otitis media in 46 pediatric patients who had aspiration of the middle ear for culture . The dose of cefaclor ranged from 29 to 42 mg/kg/day administered in three divided doses . No organism was isolated in nine of the 46 patients . Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in 43% and Hemophilus influenzae in 27% of the remainder . A bacteriologic cure was achieved in 97% of cases with culturable organisms . The one treatment failure was due to a cefaclor-resistant strain of H influenzae . The medication was well tolerated with the exception of one case of eosinophilia that was possibly drug related . Cefaclor given three times a day is an effective program for the treatment of otitis media.

J Dent Res, 1980 Nov, 59(11), 1953 - 9
Inhibition of Streptococcus mutans by human plaque flora; Deyloff JL et al.; The ability of human oral bacteria to inhibit Streptococcus mutans was studied under a variety of in vitro conditions using an agar overlay assay . Extensive inherent variability in microbial antagonism by certain organisms was demonstrated . Antagonistic activity was also significantly influenced by changes in the assay conditions.

J Oral Surg, 1980 Nov, 38(11), 849 - 55
Ludwig's angina: report of two cases and review of the literature from 1945 to January 1979; Hought RT et al.; Two cases of Ludwig's angina treated successfully led us to review the main English language literature from 1945 to January 1979 . The most common cause of Ludwig's angina is dental, and the organism cultured most often is streptococcus . However, other avenues of infection and numerous pathogens have been implicated in this disease . Penicillin remains the preferred primary antibiotic, with combinations of this drug and other antibiotics being used by various authors . In both the pre-antibiotic and antibiotic era, the airway remains the prime concern of the surgeon in the management of this potentially life-threatening disease . Of the 75 cases reviewed, there were seven deaths, but four of these patients had pre-existing fatal systemic problems and Ludwig's angina was not the cause of death . The other three deaths were due to Ludwig's angina, yielding a 4% mortality rate . Thus, aggressive management of Ludwig's angina, with respect to airway, antibiotics, and early surgical intervention, has resulted in a significant drop in the mortality rate of this disease which once led "almost uniformly to a fatal ending."

J Neurosurg, 1980 Nov, 53(5), 633 - 41
Bacterial intracranial aneurysms; Frazee JG et al.; The treatment of 13 patients with bacterial intracranial aneurysms is reported . The incidence of bacterial intracranial aneurysms was 4% of all patients admitted with intracranial aneurysms and 3% of all patients admitted with bacterial endocarditis . Each patient had neurological signs or symptoms suggestive of intracranial disease prior to the diagnosis of an aneurysm . Alpha Streptococcus was the most common infecting organism . All patients were treated with specific, high-dose antibiotics, and five patients underwent surgery as well . There were no surgical deaths . Six of eight nonsurgically treated patients died . A review of the literature confirms a high mortality for patients treated with only antibiotics, and a low mortality for elective surgery . The authors conclude that 1) patients with bacterial endocarditis, who develop sudden severe headache, focal neurological signs or symptoms, or seizures, should undergo serial cerebral angiography every 7 to 10 days throughout their hospitalization; 2) if an aneurysm is identified it should be excised whenever possible; and 3) patients with proximal or multiple aneurysms should be considered for surgery.

Antibiotiki, 1980 Nov, 25(11), 870 - 4
{Physiological characteristics of immobilized cells of Streptococcus lactis, Moscow State University strain}; Kozlova IuI et al.; Immobilized cells of Streptococcus lactis, strain MSU, synthesized nisin by 20--30 per cent of the possible maximum antibiotic production level . The immobilized cells of the Streptococcus synthesized nisin by 40--50 per cent probably at the expense of the cell nutrient pools and by 50--60 per cent at the expense of the medium nutrient consumption . The electron microphotographs showed that the cells of Str . lactis, strain MSU, preserved their usual appearance in the granules of polyacrylamide gel 24 hours after immobilization . In 3 weeks there were observed structural changes in the cell wall and inner membranes resulting in the cell lysis after presence in the granules for 3 months.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Nov, 144(2), 683 - 91
Galactose transport systems in Streptococcus lactis; Thompson J; Galactose-grown cells of Streptococcus lactis ML3 have the capacity to transport the growth sugar by two separate systems: (i) the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system and (ii) an adenosine 5'-triphosphate-energized permease system . Proton-conducting uncouplers (tetrachlorosalicylanilide and carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone) inhibited galactose uptake by the permease system, but had no effect on phosphotransferase activity . Inhibition and efflux experiments conducted using beta-galactoside analogs showed that the galactose permease had a high affinity for galactose, methyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside, and methyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside, but possessed little or no affinity for glucose and lactose . The spatial configurations of hydroxyl groups at C-2, C-4, and C-6 were structurally important in facilitating interaction between the carrier and the sugar analog . Iodoacetate had no inhibitory effect on accumulation of galactose, methyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside, or lactose via the phosphotransferase system . However, after exposure of the cells to p-chloromercuribenzoate, phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent uptake of lactose and methyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside were reduced by 75 and 100%, respectively, whereas galactose phosphotransferase activity remained unchanged . The independent kinetic analysis of each transport system was achieved by the selective generation of the appropriate energy source (adenosine 5'-triphosphate or phosphoenolpyruvate) in vivo . The maximum rates of galactose transport by the two systems were similar, but the permease system exhibited a 10-fold greater affinity for sugar than did the phosphotransferase system.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Nov, 144(2), 698 - 709
Genetic transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae by heterologous plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid; Barany F et al.; A number of heterologous plasmid deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) coding for erythromycin, tylosin, lincomycin, tetracycline, or chloramphenicol resistance have been introduced into Streptococcus pneumoniae via genetic transformation with frequencies that varied between 10(-5) to as high as 5 x 10(-1) per colony-forming unit . Transformation with plasmid DNA required pneumococcal competence, was competed by chromosomal DNA, and showed a saturation at about 0.5 micrograms/ml (with a recipient population of 3 x 10(7) colony-forming units of competent cells per ml) . Plasmid transformation did not occur with a recipient strain, 410, defective in endonuclease I activity and in chromosomal genetic transformation . All erythromycin-resistant transformants examined contained covalently closed circular DNA with the same electrophoretic mobility on agarose gels as the donor DNAs, and when examined in detail the plasmid reisolated from the transformants had the same restriction patterns and the same specific transforming activity as the donor DNA . In the cases of two plasmids examined in detail--pAM77 and pSA5700 Lc9--most of the transforming activity was associated with DNA monomers; DNA multimers present in pSA5700 Lc9 also had biological activity . An unexpected finding was the demonstration of transformation (2 x 10(-5) per colony-forming unit) with plasmid DNAs linearized by treatment with S1 nuclease or with restriction endonucleases.

Infect Immun, 1980 Nov, 30(2), 329 - 36
Protective effects of S-sulfonated human gamma globulin against experimental infections in mice; Tomioka H et al.; S-sulfonated gamma globulin (GGS), newly developed as a safe drug for intravenous use, was studied for its protective effects against some experimental infections in mice . Gamma globulin showed a good protective activity against infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Escherichia coli and was moderately active against infections due to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In most cases, the potency of GGS was almost the same as that of original native gamma globulin . The duration of GGS activity in vivo was found to be comparable to that of native gamma globulin and much higher than that of pepsin-digested gamma globulin . In the control of infection due to E . coli, specific antibody was found to play a central role in the antibacterial action of GGS . When GGS was administered in combination with the antibiotics gentamicin and cefazolin for the control of infections due to S . pneumoniae or E . coli, a clear synergistic effect was observed.

Pediatr Res, 1980 Oct, 14(10), 1139 - 41
The effect of penicillin on the mortality of splenectomized mice exposed to an aerosol of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 3; Dickerman JD et al.; In experiment 1, splenectomized mice exposed to 1 X 10(9) colony-forming units (cfu) of type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae experienced no mortality when given 40,000 or 4,000 units of procaine penicillin IM starting 2 days before exposure and continuing for 4 days . On day 5, Bicillin was given once in the same dosages . In experiment 2, splenectomized mice exposed to 2.2 X 10(9) cfu were significantly protected by 400 but not 40 units of penicillin when compared to controls (P less than 0.005) . In experiment 3, splenectomized mice exposed to 2.7 X 10(9) cfu were significantly protected when compared to controls if 4,000 units of procaine penicillin were given either 2 days postexposure for 2 days followed by 1 day of Bicillin in the same dosage or 4 days postexposure with the same schedule and dosage (P less than 0.005 and 0.01, respectively) but not 6 days postexposure.

Cornell Vet, 1980 Oct, 70(4), 321 - 8
Nocardia brasiliensis in a horse with pneumonia and pleuritis; Deem DA et al.; A 15 month-old Quarter Horse colt developed severe bacterial pneumonia and effusive pleuritis . A beta-hemolytic streptococcus was isolated from a tracheal wash specimen but the colt died despite conventional therapy . The gross post mortem and histologic lesions were characteristic of pulmonary nocardiosis . Nocardia brasiliensis was isolated from the lung and bronchial lymph node.

J Hyg (Lond), 1980 Oct, 85(2), 275 - 85
Streptococcal infection in young pigs . V . An immunogenic polysaccharide from Streptococcus suis type 2 with particular reference to vaccination against streptococcal meningitis in pigs; Elliott SD et al.; Of 17 pigs vaccinated with STreptococcus suis type-2 capsular polysaccharide plus Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant, all developed opsonizing antibody against Str . suis type 2 . Of 14 pigs vaccinated with type-2 polysaccharide alone, 4 (possibly 6) developed opsonizing antibody . It is possible that some pigs vaccinated with polysaccharide plus Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant developed opsonizing antibody in response to a 'booster' injection of polysaccharide alone . Of 21 unvaccinated control pigs, late bleeding from 3 showed opsonizing activity against Str . suis type 2.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Oct, 18(4), 629 - 37
In vivo interaction of beta-lactam antibiotics with the penicillin-binding proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Williamson R et al.; The interactions of several beta-lactam antibiotics with the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of Streptococcus pneumoniae have been studied using whole organisms treated with such antibiotics and subsequently with {3H}benzylpenicillin . Differences in chemical structure were shown to cause major and selective changes in the affinities of the beta-lactams for the PBPs Only 4 of the 28 compounds tested induced a specific morphological effect (enlargement of the equatorial region) under the particular conditions tested . In 12 of the 18 beta-lactams studied, a close correlation was found between the minimal inhibitory concentrations and the concentrations required to half-saturate PBP2b . However, such a correlation was no longer apparent when the bacteria were treated with the antibiotics at their minimal inhibitory concentrations . These findings are discussed in the context of various approaches that have been used to identify the growth-inhibitory targets of beta-lactam antibiotics in bacteria.

J Pediatr Surg, 1980 Oct, 15(5), 660 - 2
Cryptogenic hepatic abscess in two uncompromised children; Harrington E et al.; A pre-mortem diagnosis of cryptogenic liver abscess in children is rare, but this diagnosis must be considered in the evaluation for pyrexia of unknown origin . Two previously healthy children were suspected of harboring liver abscesses . Radioisotopic, sonographic, and angiographic evidence supported the clinical diagnosis . Operative drainage was performed in each case . No source for either abscess was found and no cause established . Anaerobic bacteria, microaerophilic streptococcus and Fusobacterium necrophorum, each in pure culture, were retrieved on culture of the pus from each child's abscess . Experience gleaned from these two cases emphasizes the possibility of an hepatic abscess existing in the uncompromised child with fever of unknown origin . A cryptogenic hepatic abscess may occur in a child with only mild gastrointestinal complaints and in a child with sickle cell disease . Recovery is attributed to suspicion of diagnosis, prompt investigation, operative drainage, effective culture technique with isolation of organism and appropriate antibiotic coverage.

Infect Immun, 1980 Oct, 30(1), 150 - 8
Adherence of Streptococcus salivarius HB and HB-7 to oral surfaces and saliva-coated hydroxyapatite; Weerkamp AH et al.; We compared the binding of Streptococcus salivarius HB and the mutant HB-7 to oral surfaces in vivo . Mutant HB-7 does not aggregate with saliva nor does it bind to buccal epithelium, but it does retain its ability to coaggregate with Veillonella and Fusobacterium . At 1 h after inoculation into the oral cavity of six volunteers, significantly more S . salivarius HB than HB-7 cells were found adhering to the buccal mucosa (P < 0.05) and to a cleaned tooth surface (P < 0.01); there was no significant difference in the numbers adhering to the tongue . The ratio of HB to HB-7 on the tongue increased in samples taken 1, 3, and 9 days after inoculation . The average time required to clear the mutant HB-7 from the oral cavity was 7 days, whereas that for the parent HB was greater than 20 days, and in some cases strain HB was still present 3 months after its inoculation . A representative S . salivarius serotype II strain, designated T3, behaved similarly to mutant HB-7 with respect to its adherence to the buccal mucosa . Strain HB adhered better to hydroxyapatite treated with human saliva than mutant HB-7; both strains adhered in similar numbers to untreated hydroxyapatite . Hydroxyapatite treated with rat saliva bound less HB than hydroxyapatite treated with human saliva, corresponding to the lower aggregating activity of rat saliva . Extraction of saliva with aggregating strains of S . salivarius reduced the ability of saliva to mediate attachment of strain HB to hydroxyapatite.

Br J Dermatol, 1980 Oct, 103(4), 375 - 82
Streptococcus milleri causing treatable infection in perineal hidradenitis suppurativa; Highet AS et al.; Streptococcus milleri was isolated from the active lesions of three patients with perineal hidradenitis suppurativa . In each patient, elimination of this organism by appropriate antibiotic therapy was accompanied by marked clinical improvement.

South Med J, 1980 Oct, 73(10), 1378 - 80
Mediastinitis complicating cellulitis of the head and neck; Perfect JR; A patient with mediastinitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes and/or Staphylococcus aureus responded to antibiotic therapy without surgical intervention, although fever was prolonged and recovery slow . The medical and surgical management of mediastinitis is discussed.

Am Surg, 1980 Oct, 46(10), 582 - 8
Gangrenous appendicitis in children: a different approach; Berman EJ et al.; Fifty children with gangrenous appendicitis were treated consecutively by appendectomy followed by saline irrigation and loose wound closure . Drainage was not employed . Ampicillin and oxacillin were mixed and given intravenously . In 28 of 50 patients, ampicillin powder was dusted into the wound . No intraperitoneal complications occurred . Seven would infections required incision . Dusting ampicillin powder into the wound reduced this complication to less than 10 per cent . Four patients had nasogastric tubes . The usual hospital stay was three to eight days . The most common organisms cultured were Escherichia coli (68%), Streptococcus species (60%), and anaerobic species (48%) . Eleven patients were evaluated for synergism between ampicillin and oxacillin . Eight showed some evidence of synergism in that the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the combination was less than the MIC of the individual drugs.

J Med Chem, 1980 Oct, 23(10), 1139 - 42
Studies on antimicrobial agents . 1 . Synthesis and relation between the antimicrobial activities and certain physicochemical properties of some N'-(pyridinoacetyl) fatty acid hydrazides; Sicardi SM et al.; A new series of N'-(pyridinioacetyl)alkanoic and -benzoic acid hydrazides, as chloride salts, and some cyclic analogues produced ring closure have been synthesize and tested in a search for more effective germicides . Physicochemical parameters, such as surface tension, critical micelle concentration, and thermodynamic activity . (Ferguson values), were also determined . Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes were the most susceptible of the organisms tested . N'-(Pyridinoacetyl)hexadecanoic acid hydrazide exhibited the highest toxicity to Staph . aureus and fungi . The mean surface tension of the equitoxic solutions is 59.8 +/- 0.3 dyn/cm for bacteria and 51.65 +/- 0.1 dyn/cm for fungi . N'-(Pyridinoacetyl)octadecanoic acid hydrazide and N'-(pyridinoacetyl)-9-ocadecenoic acid hydrazide exhibit the highest toxicity to S . pyogenes (1.1 x 10(-6) M) . The surface tension of their equitoxic solutions and their Ferguson values indicate that these compounds may act through a different mechanism.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Oct, 12(4), 572 - 5
False no-growth blood cultures in pneumococcal pneumonia; Adeniyi-Jones CC et al.; The growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae in commercial media containing 14C-labeled substrates was studied experimentally; the results of blood cultures that were positive for S . pneumoniae over a 14-month period were analyzed to explain no-growth but radiometrically positive blood cultures from four patients with clinically diagnosed pneumococcal pneumonia . The growth of S . pneumonoiae in aerobic blood culture vials resulted in a chocolate color in the medium . S . pneumoniae grew rapidly in both aerobic and anaerobic media, but 14CO2 evolved from the metabolism of the labeled substrates was detected only in the aerobic culture vials . Radiometric detection lagged behind growth of the organisms and was accompanied by visual changes in the media . By 24 h, the viability of the culture was on the decline; radiometric readings remained positive even when the culture had died.

Ann Acad Med Singapore, 1980 Oct, 9(4), 435 - 9
Infective endocarditis 1968-1977: an Asian experience; Singham KT et al.; The clinical pattern of infective endocarditis as seen in 101 patients at the University Hospital in Kuala Lumpur from 1968 to 1977 is reviewed . There were 60 males and 41 females . Majority of the patients were between 10-40 years of age . The most frequent underlying heart disease was rheumatic valvular disease (69%) . Endocarditis was most frequent when aortic and mitral valve disease co-existed . Other than one patient who had candida endocarditis on a Bjork Shiley valve, the other patients had congenital heart disease . Patent ductus arteriosus was the commonest congenital heart disease . Microorganisms were identified in 77 patients . Streptococcus species was the commonest, followed by streptococcus aureus . The clinical features included fever, splenomegaly, petechial haemorrhages, finger clubbing, heart failure, peripheral and pulmonary emboli and neurological lesions . On adequate antibiotic therapy the hospital mortality was 22.7% . Most of the deaths were due to major cardiac or neurological complications.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Oct, 120(Pt 2), 301 - 7
The deposition of Streptococcus sanguis NCTC 7868 from a flowing suspension; Rutter P et al.; Measurements were made of the rates at which continuously cultured Streptococcus sanguis NCTC 7868 cells accumulated on the inside surfaces of narrow glass capillaries from suspensions of the bacteria flowing down the capillaries at different velocities . Initially, the rate of accumulation of bacteria on the clean walls of the capillary was rapid . The deposition rate decreased with time, however, resulting in a saturation coverage of the glass surface which was considerably less than a monolayer . Multilayer coverage of the tube surface by bacteria was only achieved when fresh nutrient was pumped over deposited cells . This was attributed to cell growth . Although theoretical considerations of the deposition of small particles on to the walls of a tube suggest that the initial deposition rate should increase with flow rate, this was not the case with cells grown at dilution rates of 0.2 and 0.5 h-1 . It is suggested that this can be explained by a polymer bridging mechanism of attachment.

Jpn J Exp Med, 1980 Oct, 50(5), 383 - 8
Production of L-forms of Streptococcus pyogenes and their antitumor effects; Yamamoto A et al.; Unstable L-forms of Streptococcus pyogenes were effectively isolated when protoplasts induced by muralysin were cultivated on a gradient plate containing penicillin-G . By this method, L-forms were obtained from the strains of serotype 3 and 4, from which they had been considered to be difficult to obtain . After 30 to 40 subcultures, two L-form strains (L-forms of Su and C-512) were successfully transferred into fluid medium without serum and penicillin . The antitumor effects of these stable L-forms were compared with these parent cocci . Treatment of the L-form of Su, which has antitumor effect, showed a considerable prolongation of life span in mice inoculated with Meth-A ascites tumor . On the other hand, the L-form of C-512, which has no antitumor effect, produced no effect on the tumor growth . Using two different transplantable tumors, the antitumor properties of th L-form of Su were investigated by comparing them with protoplast and cell wall fraction derived from the Su strain . In ascites tumors, the L-form treatment showed visible effects, while the cell wall produced no inhibitory effect . On the contrary, in solid tumors the antitumor effects obtained by the administration of the cell wall were never improved by the L-form . In both types of tumor, L-form showed antitumor activities similar to protoplast.

J Dent Res, 1980 Oct, 59(10), 1581 - 9
Prevalence of Streptococcus mutans serotypes, Actinomyces, and other bacteria in the plaque of children; Thomson LA et al.; Selected microbial components in dental plaque were determined for children in Biddeford, Maine and Colombia, South America . Using cultural methods, Streptococcus mutans was detected in 51.4% of the Colombian children and 63.3% of the Maine children . Serotype c was predominant in both populations . The greatest difference between the two groups occurred with serotypes d and g which were present in 25% of the Colombian children with S . mutans and were not detected in the Maine children . In the specimens examined with specific FA conjugates . Actinomyces was the predominant genus, present in all individuals and comprising an average of 52% of all cells.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Oct, 144(1), 457 - 9
Improved method for conjugative transfer by filter mating of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Smith MD et al.; The frequency of conjugation during filter mating of pneumococcus was increased 10- to 100-fold when the filter was embedded in agar during incubation instead of being on the surface . The major effect was not due to protection from oxygen . The factor of increase was similar for transfer of plasmids and of chromosomal insertions of drug resistance elements.

Cancer, 1980 Oct 1, 46(7), 1688 - 94
Preliminary evaluation of intratumoral injection of a Streptococcus pyrogenes preparation in patients with malignant brain tumors; Tanaka R et al.; Thirteen patients with malignant brain tumors, 12 anaplastic gliomas and one metastatic tumor, received repeated intratumoral injections of an immunopotentiator, Picibanil, prepared from streptococcus pyogenes . All patients tolerated this therapy; morbidity rates were acceptable . Significant tumor regression was noted on computerized tomography scanning for 6 of 12 patients for whom scanning was performed . Histologic examination of the post-therapy specimens obtained from 8 patients revealed that inflammatory reactions were evoked in all of the tumors, although the extent of inflammatory changes varied from patient to patient and mostly was localized to an area surrounding the intratumoral tubes.

Arch Otolaryngol, 1980 Oct, 106(10), 648 - 51
Necrotizing fasciitis . (Streptococcal gangrene) of the face . Report of a case and review of the literature; Bahna M et al.; Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare infection frequently preceded by trauma and usually caused by beta-hemolytic Streptococcus . The disease is characterized by cutaneous necrosis, suppurative fasciitis, and vascular thrombosis . Associated systemic problems are common, with chronic alcoholism and diabetes being the most prominent . Involvement of head and neck structures is exceedingly rare, with only seven cases reported in the literature . We report an additional case that terminated fatally . Management requires high doses of aqueous penicillin G potassium given intravenously, early surgical drainage, and debridement of necrotic tissue . Mortality may be as high as 30%, and it is negatively influenced by delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1980 Oct, 19(10), 662 - 3
"Acquired" congenital diaphragmatic hernia following early onset group B streptococcal pneumonia; Giacoia GP et al.; A newborn baby who presented with neonatal pneumonia due to group B streptococcus and who required artificial ventilation is described . After the infant was weaned from the respirator, increasing respiratory distress led to the diagnosis of posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia.

Scand J Dent Res, 1980 Oct, 88(5), 382 - 8
Effect of an autopolymerizing sealant on viability of microflora in occlusal dental caries; Jensen OE et al.; A total of 106 molars with occlusal caries were sealed with an autopolymerizing sealant . Samples of the carious dentin were obtained 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 d, and 2, 4, 6, and 12 months after sealant placement . The samples were cultured on enriched nonselective medium, a streptococcal medium, a Streptococcus mutans medium, and a medium for acidogenic microorganisms . The bacterial counts were compared with control samples obtained from nonsealed occlusal carious lesions, half of which had acid conditioner applied to the occlusal surface for 1 min prior to sampling . The mean total viable counts decreased by approximately 99.9% during the 1-year study period, from 925.1 x 10(4) CFU/mg of sample to 0.9 x 10(4) CFU/mg of sample . Statistically, there was a very strong linear relationship (P less than 0.001) between the reduction in bacterial counts and time . A similar reduction was observed for the total streptococcal count and the S . mutans count . The etching procedure itself reduced the number of cultivable organisms by about 75% . Sealant material that was polymerized directly in culture media did not result in any inhibition of bacterial growth . Although slight fluctuations in the relative proportion of the microflora were observed at the different sampling intervals, there were no significant changes in the relative distribution of bacterial types with time.

Aust Dent J, 1980 Oct, 25(5), 279 - 83
Bacteriocin typing of Streptococcus mutans strains isolated from family groups; Rogers AH; Specific identification of strains of Streptococcus mutans isolated from family groups has been accomplished by a bacteriocin typing method . A common Strep . mutans type was found within most families and although the actual source of infection appeared to vary from family to family, the study supports the concept of intrafamiliar transfer of this potentially cariogenic organism.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Oct, 77(10), 6062 - 6
Switches in macromolecular synthesis during induction of competence for transformation of Streptococcus sanguis; Raina JL et al.; The induction of synchronous development of competence for genetic transformation in Streptococcus sanguis, by either endogenous or exogenous competence factor (CF), is manifested in the transient synthesis of a new set of at least 10 polypeptides, ranging from 14,000 to 51,000 in molecular weight . Eight polypeptides (E14, E16, E24, E28, E32, E37, E44, E51) appear early, and two polypeptides (L34, L42) appear 5-10 min later . One of the newly synthesized early polypeptides, E16, is shown to be a component of the presynaptic complex containing single-stranded DNA that is produced in vivo upon uptake of native donor DNA . Concomitant with this induced synthesis of competence-specific polypeptides there is a net decrease in RNA and protein synthesis but no change in DNA synthesis; donor DNA-binding ability and transformability reach maxima during the phase of diminishing macromolecular synthesis . Subsequently, donor DNA-binding ability and transformability decay at disproportionate rates as cells return to the normal state of macromolecular synthesis within one generation . Coincident with the induction of competence, the synthesis of a new RNA transcript of high molecular weight appears to be induced which continues during the restricted phase of total cellular RNA synthesis.

J Dent Res, 1980 Oct, 59(10), 1620 - 6
Cariogenicity of mutants of Streptococcus mutans; Mao MW et al.; In this study, we induced a number of mutants of S . mutans differing in their abilities to synthesize glucan and produce acid . When tested for cariogenicity in gnotobiotic rats, "high pH" mutants caused less caries, but could not supplant a cariogenic parent strain.

J Dent Res, 1980 Oct, 59(10), 1606 - 12
Comparison of the predominant cultivable microflora in the dental plaque of Macaca mulatta (rhesus) and Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgus); Loftin KC et al.; The predominant cultivable bacteria in the supra-gingival plaque of Old World monkeys were similar to those in human plaque . A significant interanimal species difference was observed in the absolute and relative concentration of specific microbial populations . Streptococcus mutans serotype c was found primarily in rhesus plaque and serotype e in cynomolgus plaque.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Oct, 144(1), 422 - 4
Physical and genetic characterization of deletions in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Lataste H et al.; Genetic properties of markers may discriminate between deletions and point mutations . We have designed a physical method for a direct characterization of deletions which also gives an estimate of their size.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Oct, 144(1), 105 - 13
Antibiotic-tolerant mutants of Streptococcus pneumoniae that are not deficient in autolytic activity; Williamson R et al.; Several mutants of Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated that appeared tolerant, to varying extents, to the lytic and bactericidal effects of some antibiotics that inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis, but were not deficient in autolytic activity . The method used to select the mutants was based on the survival of tolerant mutants during treatment with either bacitracin, benzylpenicillin, D-cycloserine plus beta-chloro-D-alanine, or vancomycin . Most (60 to 80%) of the surviving isolates were found to be deficient in autolytic activity, and these were rejected . The smaller proportion that had wild-type sensitivity to deoxycholate-induced lysis was studied further with respect to tolerance to the other antibiotics used in the selection procedures . Two of these mutants (selected by treatment with benzylpenicillin) were tolerant to either benzylpenicillin or D-cycloserine plus beta-chloro-D-alanine, but were supersusceptible, in terms of initiation of lysis, to either bacitracin or vancomycin . The minimal inhibitory concentration values of several antibiotics for these two mutants were identical to those for the wild-type strain . Moreover, the interaction of radioactive benzylpenicillin with the penicillin-binding proteins, examined in whole organisms, also appeared the same as previously found for either wild-type or autolytic-deficient strains of S . pneumoniae.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Oct, 120(Pt 2), 513 - 6
Comparison of the antibacterial activity of the hypothiocyanite anion towards Streptococcus lactis and Escherichia coli; Marshall VM et al.; It has been suggested that the antibacterial activity of the lactoperoxidase/thiocyanate/hydrogen peroxide system is due to the hypothiocyanite anion . Relatively pure solutions of hypothiocyanite can be prepared using an immobilized enzyme . These preparations have been used to examine the effect of the anion on the growth and on the membranes of Escherichia coli and Streptococcus lactis . Escherichia coli is killed in the presence of the anion whereas the effect on Streptococcus lactis is only bacteriostatic . As similar effects have been noted with the lactoperoxidase/thiocyanate/hydrogen peroxide system the hypothesis that the action of the two systems is similar is supported.

J Dent Res, 1980 Oct, 59(10), 1613 - 9
Comparison of the glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans gs-5 to a non-cariogenic mutant; Bozzola JJ et al.; The extracellular glucosyltransferase (GTF) enzymes of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 and avirulent mutant GS-511 were fractionated using agarose and DEAE-cellulose columns . GTF of GS-5 produced both water-soluble and -insoluble glucans, while those of GS-511 made soluble products almost exclusively . Nearly all (98%) of the small amount of insoluble GTF enzyme made by GS-511 was bound to the cell wall.

Infect Immun, 1980 Oct, 30(1), 69 - 73
Cross-reactivity of Streptococcus mutans antigens and human heart tissue; Ferretti JJ et al.; Rocket and two-dimensional immunoelectrophoreses were used to demonstrate that antisera from rabbits immunized with Streptococcus mutans strain B13 cross-reacted with human heart tissue . Absorption of the anti-S . mutans serum with S . mutans whole cells removed all reactivity to heart tissue, but did not remove the reactivity of an added antibody marker to its corresponding antigen . The anti-S . mutans serum reacted most intensely with heart tissue antigen and to a lesser degree with skeletal muscle, but not with liver or kidney tissues . These results support the conclusion that antigens of S . mutans cross-react with mammalian heart tissue and, further, suggest that caution should be exercised in the formulation of a dental caries vaccine containing S . mutans antigens.

Infect Immun, 1980 Oct, 30(1), 140 - 6
Purification and immunological characterization of a rhamnose-glucose antigen from Streptococcus mutans 6517-T2 (serotype g); Prakobphol A et al.; The serotype antigens of Streptococcus mutans have been described as cell wall-associated polysaccharides . In this study, an additional wall polysaccharide antigen was purified and characterized from S . mutans strain 6715-T2, a mutant of 6715 (serotype g) . Strain 6715-T2 lost the serotype antigen during animal passage . Rhamnose-containing carbohydrate fractions were solubilized from bacterial cells by extraction with 5% trichloroacetic acid at 4 degrees C for 18 h and with 0.01 N HCl at 100 degrees C for 20 min . Extracts were combined and purified on columns of diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-25 and Sephadex G-100 . The purified sample contained 59% rhamnose, 31% glucose, 2.2% protein, and 0.24% phosphorus . The purified rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide (RGP/6715-T2) reacted strongly with antisera to whole cells of 6715-T2 . Agar gel diffusion and comparative immunoelectrophoresis studies revealed that RGP/6715-T2 was serologically distinct from the serotype g and d polysaccharide antigens . These techniques also indicated immunological identity between RGP/6715-T2 and RGP/B13, a rhamnose-glucose polymer previously isolated from S . mutans B13, a serotype d strain . Antigen immunologically identical to RGP/6715-T2 was detected both in Rantz-Randall extracts from whole cells of S . mutans strains 6715, OMZ-65, and 6715-PT and in extracts from cells of 6715-T2 and C307, two mutant serotype g strains that lacked the serotype g antigen.

Biochemistry, 1980 Sep 30, 19(20), 4712 - 9
Structure of the complex polysaccharide C-substance from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1; Jennings HJ et al.; The complex cell-wall polysaccharide, C-substance, was isolated from Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1 and purified by DEAE-cellulose (HCO3(-) form) and Sephadex column chromatography . The complete structure of this antigen was obtained by the application of methylation and 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic techniques to a series of oligosaccharide fragments obtained by the selective degradation of the N-acetylated antigen . Native C-substance is composed of the following repeating unit: beta-D-Glup-1 leads to 3-alpha-AAT-Galp-1 leads to 4-alpha-D-GalNAcp-1 leads to 3-beta-D-GalNH2p-1 leads to 1'-ribitol-5-phosphate where AATGal is 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxygalactose . Phosphocholine substituents are situated at O(6) of the unacetylated galactosamine residues, and the repeating units are linked through a diphosphate ester from ribitol to O(6) of the beta-D-glucopyranose residue . This structure has also been shown to be common to C-substances prepared from a number of other pneumococcal types based on the criterion of their identical 13C NMR spectra.

JAMA, 1980 Sep 26, 244(13), 1446 - 9
An outbreak of type 1 pneumococcal pneumonia in a men's shelter; DeMaria A Jr et al.; A striking increase in blood culture isolates of Streptococcus pneumonia capsular type 1 was noted at Boston City Hospital in early 1978 . The increased incidence of type 1 pneumococcal bacteremia was due, at least in part, to an outbreak of disease among alcoholic, male clients of Boston's largest shelter . Residents of the shelter also were found to have a high rate of nose and throat carriage of type 1 pneumococci . This outbreak of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia is compared with endemic disease caused by other serotypes observed at Boston City Hospital during the same period and with previous studies of epidemic pneumococcal disease . Routine serotyping of pneumococcal isolates is important, especially in light of the emergence of pneumococci resistant to multiple antibiotics and of the renewed use of polysaccharide vaccines.

Med Clin (Barc), 1980 Sep 25, 75(5), 196 - 8
{Bacteremia and sepsis due to Streptococcus agalactiae . Study of eight cases (author's transl)}; Sanchez Ario MA et al.; During a period of 29 months positive hemocultures to Streptococcus agalactiae corresponding to eight adult patients have been observed . These bacteria were apparently responsible for the clinical picture in five patients . In other two patients S . agalactiae appeared in the course of a sepsis caused by other germ . The remaining patient had a transient bacteremia and no treatment was required . Septic shock and bacterial endocarditis were the cause of death in two patients . Six patients cured . Literature on this subject is reviewed and the better prognosis of sepsis due to S . agalactiae in adults than in neonates is stressed . Endocarditis and meningitis occur as severe complications with poor prognosis . In patients with endocarditis the administration of penicillin and gentamicin as well as the consideration of early surgical replacement of the affected heart valve is recommended . Intravenous penicillin and gentamicin associated with intrathecal gentamicin are indicated in meningeal infections . Vancomycin is a good substitutive antibiotic in patients with penicillin hypersensibility.

N Engl J Med, 1980 Sep 4, 303(10), 549 - 52
Pneumococcal disease after pneumococcal vaccination: an alternative method to estimate the efficacy of pneumococcal vaccine; Broome CV et al.; Trials of pneumococcal vaccine in healthy young adult populations suggest 75 to 95 per cent type-specific efficacy . Trials have not been done, however, in groups for which pneumococcal vaccine is currently recommended in the United States . To assess efficacy in the immunocompromised groups now receiving the vaccine, we compared serotypes of 35 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid one month or longer after the patient had received commercially available pneumococcal vaccine with serotypes of 392 isolates from unvaccinated persons surveyed in a study of the nationwide distribution of pneumococcal serotypes . Proportions of infections with vaccine serotypes were unexpectedly similar . An alternative approach to estimation of vaccine efficacy suggested an average efficacy of 36 per cent in persons of all ages . The estimated efficacy was lowest in children two to 10 years old (less than or equal to 0 per cent) and in persons with preexisting diseases that are thought to predispose to pneumococcal disease (less than or equal to 0 per cent), and highest in the group over 10 years old (60 per cent) . The possibility that efficacy is low in high-risk, immunocompromised populations makes it important to evaluate clinical efficacy and not just serum antibody responses in such groups.

J Infect Dis, 1980 Sep, 142(3), 313 - 7
Legionella pneumophila: growth inhibition by human pharyngeal flora; Flesher AR et al.; Several bacterial isolated from human pharyngeal cultures specifically inhibited the growth of Legionella pneumophila . The inhibitory substance from two strains (Streptococcus species 1-3 and Staphylococcus saprophyticus KC) was isolated from a broth supernatant . The inhibitor was active against all strains of L . pneumophilia tested, including five strains of L . pneumophila serogroup 1 and one strain each of serogroups 2, 3, and 4 . The substance did not inhibit growth of 18 fresh clinical and laboratory pathogens (12 general) . The substance was dialyzable, was resistant to head and proteolysis, and did not precipitate with ammonium sulfate . Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, produced by several upper respiratory tract organisms, did not inhibit L . pneumophila, and L . pneumophila could not be isolated when Streptococcus species 1-3, S . saprophyticus KC, and L . pneumophila were cocultivated . These properties may in part explain the difficulty of isolation and may aid in the identification of L . pneumophila.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1980 Sep 1, 177(5), 441 - 4
Use of a teat sealer for prevention of intramammary infections in lactating cows; Farnsworth RJ et al.; An acrylic latex film that is applied like a teat dip and remains intact as a physical barrier until the next milking was developed and studied with respect to its effect on intramammary infection rates in 4 dairy herds . Rates of new infections in treated quarters were compared with the rates in control quarters on the same cows . A statistically significant reduction in the rates was observed for the following organisms: Staphylococcus aureus, 28%; S epidermidis, 33%; and coliforms, 76% . The percentage reduction for infections caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (18%) and for those caused by streptococcus other than Str agalactiae (7%) were not statistically significant . The film also was shown to be nonirritating.

Infect Immun, 1980 Sep, 29(3), 1190 - 2
Bactericidal effect of hydrogen peroxide is prevented by the lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate system under anaerobic conditions; Carlsson J; Streptococcus sanguis and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius were exposed to various combinations of the components of the lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate-hydrogen peroxide system . The bactericidal effect of hydrogen peroxide was prevented under anaerobic conditions by lactoperoxidase together with thiocyanate, but not by lactoperoxidase or thiocyanate alone . Thiocyanate was effective already at a molar ratio to hydrogen peroxide of 1:100.

J Biomed Mater Res, 1980 Sep, 14(5), 653 - 63
An investigation of the bacteriostatic properties of pure metals; Bundy KJ et al.; The effect of 16 pure metals on the in vitro growth of a form of dental caries producing Streptococcus mutans was studied under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions . Cobalt and copper were consistently observed to be inhibitory . With less consistency nickel, titanium, iron, and vanadium also exhibited ability to inhibit growth of the organism . Bacteriostasis apparently is contingent upon the presence of a corrosion process . The bacteriostatic agent is of uncertain identity and could be a corrosion product or a process secondary to the occurrence of corrosion . Concentrations of metals after 6 days of electrochemical dissolution in the growth medium were measured via electron microprobe analysis and compared with the amount of inhibition which resulted . Threshold concentrations above which growth did not occur were identified . As measured by threshold concentrations, wide variability between metals exists in the ability to inhibit the growth, with cobalt being particularly effective at small concentrations . This implies a sensitivity on the part of the organism that is different for different metals . The threshold concentration varied between aerobic and anaerobic conditions . Streptococcus mutans appeared more resistant to the effects of the metals under anaerobic conditions even though little difference in the amount of corrosion was detected.

Biophys J, 1980 Sep, 31(3), 313 - 24
Size determination of Streptococcus mutans 10499 by laser light scattering; Ryan V et al.; We have performed three different optical experiments to determine the mean size of the bacterial strain Streptococcus mutans 10449, a microorganism with dimensions comparable to the wavelength of the light used in our experiments . The three optical measurements give size values which are consistent with one another and favorably comparable to the consistency we found in identical measurements on a test system of polystyrene spheres of dimensions similar to the bacteria . Homodyne time correlation and power spectrum spectroscopy both depend on the coherence and monochromaticity of laser light for the determination of the mean diffusion coefficient of the scatterers . The Stokes-Einstein equation then relates the diffusion constant to the cell size . Differential light scattering relies for the interpretation of experimental data on the classical theoretical analysis of the angular distribution of scattered light from a scattering object . The three methods yield mean values for the radius of S . mutans 10499 of 0.324 +/- 0.006 mum, 0.0325 +/- 0.007 mum, and 0.315 +/- 0.009 mum, respectively . However, since intensity correlation spectroscopy provides a direct measure of polydispersity, it would appear to be the preferred single measurement technique for size determination.

P N G Med J, 1980 Sep, 23(3), 120 - 5
Puerperal sepsis in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Vacca A et al.; PIP: Because puerperal sepsis is the second most common cause of maternal death in Papua New Guinea some aspects of its etiology and prevention have been investigated . 91% of 125 women with puerperal fever were found to have postpartum uterine infection . The anaerobes Bacteriodes and Peptostreptococcus singly or together, were the commonest causes, while Streptococcus pyogenes was the predominant aerobic species . Antibiotic sensitivity patterns were established, and chloramphenicol was found to be the most active agent against anaerobic and most aerobic strains . Endocervical cultures obtained from 103 antepartum and 50 afebrile postpartum women demostrated all the species associated with postpartum genital infection in the study . An analysis of the records of all patients was made to determine the predisposing factors associated with puerperal fever; only operative delivery was found to be significant, especially when it followed prolonged labor . Metronidazole given to 72 women before induction of labor was associated with puerperal fever in 4%, compared with 21% in martched controls . author's modified

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Sep, 77(9), 5497 - 501
Regulation of beta-galactoside phosphate accumulation in Streptococcus pyogenes by an expulsion mechanism; Reizer J et al.; Streptococcus pyogenes pregrown on lactose took up glucose, lactose, or methyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (MeSGal or TMG) by a phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system . MeSGal accumulated in the cell as MeSGal-phosphate (MeSGalP) . Three effects were noted when various sugars were added to MeSGal preloaded cells: (i) no decrease in intracellular MeSGalP concentration after addition of fructose, sucrose, o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactoside, glycerol, 6-deoxyglucose, alpha-methyl D-glucoside, 2-deoxygalactose, glucose 1-phosphate, or glucose 6-phosphate; (ii) slow loss of preaccumulated MeSGalP evoked by lactose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, or unlabeled MeSGal; and (iii) a short lag followed by extremely rapid expulsion of intracellular MeSGalP elicited by glucose or mannose and a slower expulsion elicited by glucosamine . The expelled compound was free MeSGal, indicating the involvement of dephosphorylation in the expulsion mechanism . Deoxyglucose inhibited the expulsion evoked by mannose, and prepoisoning of cells with fluoride or arsenate prevented the glucose-dependent expulsion . The expulsion is due to activation of an expulsion mechanism rather than to turnover of MeSGalP and leak of internal MeSGal with concomitant inhibition of MeSGal influx . The results suggest the need for phosphotransferase-dependent translocation of a preferential sugar or accumulation of the sugar catabolite for expulsion activation . The significance of the expulsion mechanism in synthesis regulation of enzymes involved in carbohydrate utilization is proposed.

Infect Immun, 1980 Sep, 29(3), 999 - 1006
Affinity purification and characterization of protease-susceptible antigen I of Streptococcus mutans; Russell MW et al.; An antigenic component (antigen I) of the cell surface of Streptococcus mutans has been purified from culture supernatants and shown to be immunologically identical to the protease-susceptible moiety of antigen I/II . Ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography failed to yield a physicochemically homogeneous product . Immunoasbsorbent chromatography on single and tandem columns containing immobilized antibodies to antigens I/II and II yielded identical products which were homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and which when injected into rabbits induced monospecific antisera to antigen I . This antigen consisted of approximately 70% protein . Its molecular weight was estimated as 150,000, and the isoelectric point was estimated to be 5.1 . Immunofluorescence microscopy using monospecific antiserum to antigen I showed that a similar antigen was present on cells of S . mutans serotypes a, c, d, e, f, and g, but not b.

Ann Clin Lab Sci, 1980 Sep-Oct, 10(5), 377 - 82
Latex agglutination test for rapid detection of bacterial antigens in body fluids; Kumar A et al.; A modified latex agglutination (LA) test performed on glass slides was evaluated for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn), Hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and K1 antigens in serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), nasopharyngeal secretions, and other body fluids in patients suspected of having infection . Forty-eight, 61, and 31 specimens were tested for the presence of Pn, Hib, and K1 antigens, respectively, by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and LA . Of the specimens positive by CIE or LA, 16 of 28 specimens (57 percent) were positive for Pn antigen by CIE while all 16 (100 percent) were positive by LA . LA was unique in detecting type 7 and 14 Pn antigens which are not detected by CIE . Twenty-seven of 37 specimens (73 percent) were positive for Hib by CIE, while all (100 percent) were positive by LA . LA test (11 of 11) was superior (p < 0.002) to CIE (4 of 11) in detecting Hib antigens on patients with nonmeningitic Hib diseases (cellulitis, epiglottitis and pneumonia) . Sensitivity of CIE and LA were identical in detecting K1 (5 of 5) antigen . LA is a simple, sensitive and specific test for the detection of Pn, Hib, and K1 antigens in various body fluids.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Sep, 18(3), 390 - 6
Penicillin-binding components of penicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae; Percheson PB et al.; Three strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae with low-level resistance to penicillin, one strain with resistance to penicillin, and three strains susceptible to penicillin were compared . The three susceptible strains had very similar patterns of penicillin-binding components (PBCs) as detected by fluorography after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Gels of these strains showed four major bands and a single minor band . All of the resistant strains showed different PBC patterns from those obtained for susceptible strains . The most marked changes were observed with the most resistant strain SPR110, which showed markedly reduced intensity of PBC 3 and a reduction in intensity of PBCs 1 and 2, as well as additional bands in the region of band 2 . Low-level resistant strains had band densities different from the susceptible strains principally for PBC 3 . No beta-lactamase activity or plasmid was detected in the resistant strains . An apparent difference in affinity for cloxacillin was also demonstrated between some of the PBCs of susceptible strain S . pneumoniae SPS101 and resistant strain S . pneumoniae SPR110 . Penicillin resistance in the low-level resistant and the resistant strains was associated with PBCs possessing different properties from those seen in the three susceptible strains . Reduction in affinity for penicillin or a reduction in the amount of a PBC protein, or both, are the probable explanations of penicillin resistance in these strains.

Vet Med (Praha), 1980 Sep, 25(9), 545 - 55
{Demonstration of immunoglobulin levels in aborted bovine fetuses in relation to the results of histological, microbiological and viro-serological investigations}; Horyna B et al.; In the pectoral body fluid or in the stomach contents of 63 aborted foetuses, IgG and IgM was demonstrated in 38 foetuses from the fourth month to the end of pregnancy . Out of the 38 foetuses in which immunoglobulins were found to be present, 23 had a positive bacteriological finding . In one case in which Streptococcus agalactiae was isolated, neither IgG nor IgM was found . In the foetuses with a positive bacteriological finding, IgG was found in the body fluid at the average level of 36.75 mg in 14 foetuses, and in the stomach contents at the average level of 17.48 mg per 100 ml in 17 foetuses . IgM was detected in nine foetuses, and in two cases the average level was 7.16 mg and 12.6 mg per 100 ml . In the foetuses with a negative bacteriological finding IgG was found in 14 body fluid samples at the level of 15.06 mg, and in nine foetuses IgG was present in the stomach contents at the level of 17.26 mg per 100 ml; IgM was found in three body fluid samples at the average level of 14.12 mg per 100 ml . Antibodies were demonstrated in the PI3 virus in 28 foetuses and in the BVD-MD virus in 35 foetuses . The serological examination with other antigens was negative . A suspected and positive histological finding was obtained in 30.2% of the foetuses studied . Immunoglobulins were detected in 43.5% of the foetuses with a positive and suspected histological finding . Immunoelectrophoretic examination revealed IgG in 24 foetuses and IgM in 12 foetuses . Transferrin was not demonstrated in nine foetuses at the age from the fifth to the seventh month of pregnancy . Albumin, alpha, and beta-globulins were demonstrated to be present in all foetuses.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 1980 Sep-Oct, 89(5 Pt 1), 479 - 82
Experimental otitis media following middle ear inoculation of nonviable Streptococcus pneumoniae; Lowell SH et al.; The pathogenesis of otitis media is poorly understood, and the events leading to bacterial invasion of the middle ear cleft and resulting inflammation are a matter of conjecture . While Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent microbe cultured from acute, purulent middle ear effusions, it is infrequently cultured from nonsuppurative serous and mucoid effusion . To explore the possibility that nonviable pneumococci persisting in the middle ear cleft might produce mucosal inflammation, a solution of heat-killed pneumococci was placed in the middle ear cavity of experimental animals . Mucoperiosteal pathology which followed inoculation included an active, early subepithelial inflammatory response, metaplasia of the lining epithelium and later new bone formation . Thus, nonviable pneumococci are capable of producing middle ear inflammation, and it is possible that persistence of whole nonviable organisms or subcellular components in either middle ear effusion or mucoperiosteum may lead to continued middle ear inflammation or nonsuppurative otitis media.

Cancer Res, 1980 Sep, 40(9), 3211 - 3
Immunotherapy of the guinea pig line 10 hepatocarcinoma with a variety of nonviable bacteria; Brunda MJ et al.; A variety of heat-killed bacteria were tested for their capacity to induce regressions of established line 10 hepatocarcinomas in syngeneic guinea pigs . Multiple intralesional injections of heat-killed Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, Listeria monocytogenes, and Propionibacterium acnes resulted in complete regression of the tumor in a majority of guinea pigs . Repeated injections of heat-killed Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacillus Calmette-Guerin caused no regressions . Surviving animals were immune to subsequent challenge with line 10 cells but not L2C cells, another syngeneic tumor.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Sep, 143(3), 1260 - 4
High-frequency conjugation associated with Streptococcus lactis donor cell aggregation; Gasson MJ et al.; Conjugal transfer of the Streptococcus lactis 712 lactose plasmid was found to occur at a low frequency . Variants of this plasmid were selected which had much greater donor abilities and which also exhibited an unusual cell aggregation phenotype.

Rev Infect Dis, 1980 Sep-Oct, 2(5), 761 - 800
Infections in patients with Hodgkin's disease: a clinical study of 300 consecutive adult patients; Notter DT et al.; Patterns of infection were investigated in 300 consecutive adult patients with Hodgkin's disease who were followed for an average of 5.7 years after diagnosis . Serious infection other than cutaneous herpes zoster infection developed in 21% of the 300 patients . Sixty percent of the episodes of serious infection were microbiologically documented (MDSI) . Bacteremia was the most frequent MDSI, and Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common organism causing MDSI . Bacteremia due to S . pneumoniae occurred in 3% of the 300 patients, was rarely fatal, and almost always was associated with prior relapse of Hodgkin's disease and with prior extensive combined modality therapy . The incidence of bacteremia due to S . pneumoniae among patients who had received extensive radiation therapy plus chemotherapy was 5.5% . Identifiable factors predisposing patients to infection were present at the time of all but two of the 68 episodes of MDSI that were observed . Patients who had received extensive radiotherapy plus chemotherapy had a higher incidence of subsequent episodes of serious infection and MDSI than did those who had received extensive radiotherapy alone . Among patients without Hodgkin's disease at autopsy but with infection contributing to death, only four patients lacked other major compromising illnesses . Patients cured of Hodgkin's disease who remained free of major second illnesses or long-term complications of prior treatment rarely developed MDSI other than infections caused by the post-splenectomy spectrum of organisms, regardless of the extent of prior cumulative immunosuppressive therapy.

J Biol Buccale, 1980 Sep, 8(3), 201 - 11
Glucose and sucrose effects in the culture media on Streptococcus sanguis OMZ 9 glucosyltransferase inhibition by anti-glucosyltransferase antibodies; Scholler M et al.; An anti-glucosyltransferase serum was prepared against a purified enzyme of Streptococcus sanguis OMZ 9 . Antibody fractions obtained after gel filtration on a Bio-Gel P200 column were used to study enzyme-antibody interaction in broth culture containing either sucrose or glucose, and to localize ultrastructurally the enzyme on thin sections of bacteria using labelled and unlabelled antibodies . The antibody fractions had no effect on bacterial growth in broth culture . A strong inhibition of insoluble and soluble polysaccharides synthesis was obtained in batch culture after a 24 hours incubation of bacteria with rides synthesis was obtained in batch culture after a 24 hours incubation of bacteria with antibodies . The GTF was localized at different cellular levels on bacteria grown in glucose but the ultrastructural method failed to localize GTF in sucrose grown cells.

J Exp Med, 1980 Sep 1, 152(3), 477 - 92
Quantitative studies on T cell diversity . I . Determination of the precursor frequencies for two types of streptococcus A-specific helper cells in nonimmune, polyclonally activated splenic T cells; Eichmann K et al.; A limiting-dilution system is described that makes use of T cell growth factor T cell expansion and allows the determination of precursor frequencies for various regulatory and effector T cells in nonimmune, polyclonally, or specifically activated T cell populations . Two different sets, a frequent and a rare set, of T helper cell precursors with specificity for trinitrophenyl-group A streptococcal vaccine, could be identified: the frequent set is of the Lyt-123 phenotype, and is present at frequencies of from 1/1,000 to 1/6,000 splenic T cells . It is only active at low cell numbers, whereas it is completely inactivated at greater cell numbers, presumably by suppressor T cells of lower frequency but greater potency . The rare set is of the Lyt-1 phenotype, is present at frequencies of from 1/10,000 to 1/70,000, and is not sensitive to suppressor cells present within the tested cell numbers . We suggest that the frequent set contains primiary helper cell precursors, whereas the rare set contains helper T memory cells preselected by previous exposure to other antigens . The results are discussed with respect to other reports on the involvement of more than one set of helper cells in antibody production.

Ann Neurol, 1980 Sep, 8(3), 248 - 55
Viral and bacterial antibody responses in multiple sclerosis; Vartdal F et al.; An imprint electroimmunofixation method (IEIF) was used to characterize antibodies to eight viral antigens (measles, mumps, rubella, herpes simplex type 1, varicella-zoster, vaccinia, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus) and four bacterial antigens (beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Hemophilus influenzae type B, Escherichia coli, enterococcus) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 12 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) . Twelve patients matched for age and sex sex served as controls . Evidence for intrathecal synthesis of oligoclonal antibodies to one or more antigens was found in all 12 MS patients and in 1 of the controls . In the MS group, antibodies to viruses with neurotropic properties were more frequently associated with local synthesis than antibodies to other viruses and bacteria . The types and number of locally synthesized antibodies showed no correlation with disease duration and severity . The antibodies were not associated with oligoclonal CSF IgG and appear to account for only a minor fraction of the locally synthesized CSF IgG in MS.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Sep, 77(9), 5502 - 6
Generation of an electrochemical proton gradient in Streptococcus cremoris by lactate efflux; Otto R et al.; Recently an energy-recycling model was proposed that postulates the generation of an electrochemical gradient in fermentative bacteria by carrier-mediated excretion of metabolic end products in symport with protons . In this paper experimental support for this model is given . In batch cultures of Streptococcus cremoris with glucose as the sole energy source the maximal specific growth rate decreased by 30% when the external lactate concentration was decreased from 50 to 90 mM . In the same range of external lactate concentrations the molar growth yield Y for glucose as measured in energy-limited chemostat cultures also showed a 30% drop . From Y max lactose values of S . cremoris grown in the presence and absence of added lactate it was calculated that the net energy gain from the lactate efflux system was at least 12% . Lactate efflux from de-energized cells loaded with lactate could drive the uptake of leucine . This uptake was sensitive to carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and was only partly inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) . The limited inhibition by DCCD of lactate-induced leucine uptake indicates that ATP hydrolysis was not the driving force for transport of leucine . Uptake studies with the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium demonstrated that lactate efflux increased the electrical potential across the membrane by 51 mV . The generation of an electrical potential by lactate efflux and the demonstration of a potassium efflux-induced uptake of lactate indicates that lactate is translocated across the membrane by a symport system with more than one proton.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Sep, 143(3), 1425 - 35
Chimeric streptococcal plasmids and their use as molecular cloning vehicles in Streptococcus sanguis (Challis); Macrina FL et al.; Chimeric plasmids, which were useful as cloning vehicles in a Streptococcus sanguis (Challis) host vector system, have been constructed . By using three different strategies of restriction endonuclease digestion and ligation, a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragment bearing an erythromycin resistance determinant was ligated in vitro to a phenotypially cryptic plasmid from Streptococcus ferus . Recombinant plasmids could be recovered after transformation of S . sanguis (Challis) with these preparations . Three useful chimeras were constructed . pVA680, 5.5 megadaltons in size, contained a single KpnI site into which passenger DNA may be spliced . pVA736, 5.0 megadaltons in size, contained single EcoRI, HindIII, and KpnI sites into which passenger DNA may be spliced . The EcoRI and KpnI sites of pVA736 may be used in combination with one another when ligating DNA into this plasmid . pVA738, 3.7 megadaltons in size, contained single HindIII and AvaI sites into which passenger DNA may be spliced . pVA680, pVA736, and pVA738 were stably maintained as multicopy plasmids in S . sanguis (Challis) . None of them continued to replicate (amplify) in chloramphenicol-treated cells . By using pVA736 as a vector, we have cloned a chloramphenicol resistance determinant obtained from a large, conjugative streptococcal R plasmid . In addition, chromosomal DNA sequences from Streptococcus mutans have been inserted into pVA736 by using the KpnI-EcoRI site combination.

Eur J Immunol, 1980 Sep, 10(9), 661 - 4
Regulation of the T 15 idiotype-positive, T-independent immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae R 36 a (Pn) . I . Specific suppressor T cells induced by Pn in vitro are antigen-specific and idiotype-positive; Cerny J et al.; Normal BALB/c spleen cells incubated for 2 days with Streptococcus pneumoniae R 36 a (Pn) vaccine in vitro acquired the specific ability to inhibit the T-independent anti-Pn response of fresh lymphocytes . The activated suppressor cells were susceptible to cytotoxic treatment with mouse anti-theta serum plus complement, and they inhibited the anti-Pn response of B lymphocytes deprived of T cells . The suppressive effect was eliminated by adsorbtion of cells on dishes coated with the C polysaccharide from Pn, and treatment of the suppressor cells with a rabbit antibody specific for TEPC-15 myeloma protein, in the presence of complement, abolished the suppressive effect . The results indicate that stimulation of lymphocytes with a T-independent antigen in vitro activates suppressor T cells bearing a specific antigen receptor that may express the idiotype(s) characteristic of anti-Pn antibody, and that these cells inhibit the Pn-reactive B cells directly.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Aug 15, 83(2), 321 - 6
Evidence of multiple branching in the levan elaborated by Streptococcus salivarius strain 51; Marshall K et al.; Enzymic degradation of the levan elaborated by Streptococcus salivarius strain 51 followed by linkage analysis revealed that the levan possesses multiply-branched chains (B-chains) . Large segments of the levan are arborescent.

Carbohydr Res, 1980 Aug 15, 83(2), 315 - 20
Extracellular beta-D-fructofuranosidase elaborated by Streptococcus salivarius strain 51: preparation, and mode of action on a levan and on homologues of inulobiose; Marshall K et al.; Streptococcus salivarius strain 51 produces an extracellular beta-D-fructofuranosidase when grown in a levan-containing medium . The enzyme hydrolyses levan, and inulo-biose, -tetraose, -pentaose, and -hexaose, but has negligible effects on inulin, inulotriose, and inuloheptaose . The branching in S . salivarius strain 51 levan is through a single (2 yields 1)-beta-D linkage.

J Clin Pathol, 1980 Aug, 33(8), 770 - 3
A new selective medium for Streptococcus pneumoniae; Nichols T et al.; The development and evaluation of a new selective medium for Streptococcus pneumoniae is described . It is shown that the new medium (crystal violet-nalidixic acid-gentamicin agar:CVNG) is highly selective for Strep . pneumoniae in sputum specimens containing other organisms and is also sensitive, being only marginally inhibitory when compared to Columbia blood agar . The advantages of the medium in routine use are presented, based on 206 consecutive sputum specimens . It is concluded that CVNG medum is a useful adjunct to sputum bacteriology, especially in combination with digestion of the sputum samples by Cleland's reagent.

J Med Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 13(3), 469 - 75
Qualitative and quantitative methods of studying the effect of lipids on bacteria grown on the surface of solid culture media; Davidson C et al.; New qualitative and quantitative methods are described for the investigation of the antibacterial activity of lipids on solid media by the application of lipid-impregnated filter paper over a lawn of the organisms . The methods have been used to investigate the antibacterial activity of unsaturated fatty acids that are important in skin defence . Oleic and linoleic acids inhibited Streptococcus pyogenes markedly, Staphylococcus aureus and Staph epidermidis to a lesser extent and had no effect on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The inhibition of growth of a strain of Str . pyogenes from a sore throat was greater than that of a strain from an outbreak of impetigo . Linoleic acid was a more potent inhibitor of bacterial growth than oleic acid, and with both acids inhibition was more pronounced under aerobic than under anaerobic conditions of incubation . The methods described could be applied in other fields such as pharmacology, horticulture and industry.

J Med Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 13(3), 393 - 9
Differences in intramammary pathogenicity of four strains of Streptococcus dysgalactiae; Higgs TM et al.; The intramammary pathogenicity of four strains of Streptococcus dysgalactiae was measured by infusion of small numbers of bacteria (8-16 colony-forming units) into the teat sinus after milking . Significant differences in the infectivity of strains were detected.

J Fam Pract, 1980 Aug, 11(2), 301 - 5
Chronic airway obstruction; Burki NK; The initial diagnosis and evaluation of patients with chronic airway obstruction should include an assessment of the degree of pathophysiologic abnormality by means of pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas analysis; a chest roentgenogram and an electrocardiogram provide information on the extent of parenchymal disease and its cardiac effects . The management of these patients should focus on measures to reduce airway irritation, prevent and treat pulmonary infections, and decrease the functional effects of the airway obstruction . Abstinence from cigarettes and the avoidance of air pollution such as working in dusty atmospheres would reduce continued airway irritation . Exacerbations due to pulmonary infections, most commonly due to Hemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae, require treatment with an appropriate antibiotic: ampicillin, amoxicillin, or trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole . Bronchodilator drug therapy should be used in patients who demonstrate some reversibility of airway obstruction; useful bronchodilator drugs include theophylline, metaproterenol, isoetharine, and terbutaline . A trial of steroid therapy may be indicated in some patients . The treatment of cor pulmonale requires adequate oxygenation and diuretic therapy; digoxin is not indicated, except for the treatment of arrhythmias.

Am Surg, 1980 Aug, 46(8), 461 - 3
Acute suppurative thyroiditis; Lambert MJ 3rd et al.; Acute suppurative thyroiditis is a rare disease which may be confused with other, more common thyroid disorders . Gram-positive organisms such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Pneumococcus are most frequently responsible for this condition . Appropriate antibiotics should be selected to control local and systemic signs of infection . Incision and drainage of fluctuant areas are indicated . Thyroid function almost always returns to normal with eradication of infection.

Pediatrics, 1980 Aug, 66(2), 309 - 12
Bacterial endocarditis caused by vitamin B6-dependent viridans group Streptococcus; Feder HM Jr et al.; Two cases of bacterial endocarditis in children, caused by viridans group Streptococcus which requires vitamin B6 or thiol compounds for growth are reported . It is important to recognize these organisms as a possible cause of endocarditis because supplemented media are needed for their isolation and sensitivity testing . These organisms may be penicillin-sensitive, -resistant, or -tolerant . An organism is considered tolerant to an antibiotic when the minimum bactericidal concentration of that antibiotic is greater than or equal to 32 times the minimum inhibitory concentration . One of our patients relapsed when treated with a single antibiotic to which the B6-dependent viridans group Streptococcus was tolerant . If a B6-dependent viridans group Streptococcus is isolated from a patient with endocarditis, therapy should be initiated with penicillin and an aminoglycoside until sensitivities are available . Sensitity testing should include both the MIC and MBC and adequate therapy can be confirmed by determing the serum bactericidal activity.

J Lab Clin Med, 1980 Aug, 96(2), 363 - 70
Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccination in adult chronic hemodialysis patients; Simberkoff MS et al.; PCP vaccine was administered to 21 adult hemodialysis patients and 25 control patients with no renal nor hepatic dysfunction . Antibody concentrations measured by the RIA technique were lower in the hemodialysis than in the control patients in both prevaccination sera and specimens obtained 3 to 4 weeks following vaccination . However, 6 months after vaccination, RIA GMACs in hemodialysis and control subjects were more nearly alike . OTs against Streptococcus pneumoniae, types 1 and 3, were measured in paired sera from vaccine recipients . Opsonic activity against S . pneumoniae, type I, was detected as frequently in the 3 to 4 week postvaccine sera of the dialysis as in those of control patients . However, there was a poor correlation between OTs and RIA-ACs against this organism . There was good correlation between OT and RIA-AC against type 3 pneumococci in 3 to 4 week postvaccine sera, and significantly more control patients had opsonic activity detectable in these specimens . No clinical S . pneumoniae infections have been observed in vaccine recipients . However, continued follow-up will be necessary to document the degree to which hemodialysis patients are protected by pneumococcal vaccines and the relationship between protection and antibody concentration or OTs.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1980 Aug, 19(8), 549 - 53
Acute mastoiditis in infants and children; Ginsburg CM et al.; During a 25-year period, 57 cases of acute mastoiditis occurred in infants and young children who ranged in age from 2 months to 12 years of age . All patients had abnormalities of the tympanic membrane and most had fever and localized edema and redness of the overlying skin . Fifty per cent of the infants who were less than one year of age had swelling primarily above the involved ear pushing the pinna out and down . By contrast, older children had swelling of the skin overlying the mastoid process which produced the classical finding of an elevated earlobe . Mastoid roentgenograms were a useful adjunct to diagnosis, revealing concurrent osteomyelitis in 9 patients . A diagnosis of specific bacterial etiology was made in 80 per cent of the patients in whom cultures were performed . Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes were the bacteria most frequently isolated . Unusual manifestations or serious complications occurred in 53 per cent of the patients, including one death (due to meningitis) . These data indicate that the frequency of serious complications from acute mastoiditis has not declined over the past 3 decades.

J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 12(2), 243 - 9
Isolation and immunobiological classification of Streptococcus sanguis from human tooth surfaces; Hamada S et al.; A total of 113 pure cultures of Streptococcus sanguis were obtained from dental plaque samples of 64 subjects . All isolates synthesized glucan from sucrose, elaborated peroxide, and were alpha-hemolytic . Two biotypes and four serotypes were differentiated within the species . Biotype A (95 isolates) fermented salicin and inulin and hydrolyzed arginine and esculin, whereas biotype B (18 isolates) did not possess these activities . The isolates were serotyped with autoclaved extracts against whole-cell antiserum to strains ATCC 10556 or ST3 (serotype I), ATCC 10557 (serotype II), ATCC 10558 (serotype III), and ST7 (serotype IV), by the capillary precipitin test . Serotypes I, II, III, and IV were found to consist of 24, 16, 37, and 15 isolates . Type IV was demonstrated anew in this study . The remaining 21 isolates were not typed because of either multiple reactions or nonreactivity against the standardized typing sera . All isolates of serotype II belonged to biotype B, which resembles Streptococcus mitior physiologically . Five isolates representing four serotypes and an untypable strain were examined for their cariogenicity against specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats fed high sucrose diet no . 2000 . Organisms of each isolate were established in the mouths of the rats, but only three isolates induced weak caries that were restricted to pits and fissures of occlusal surfaces of the teeth.

Infect Immun, 1980 Aug, 29(2), 714 - 8
Septic choroiditis with serous retinal detachment in Streptococcus mutans-injected dogs; Meyers SM et al.; This report describes a dog model of multifocal choroiditis with serous retinal detachment after carotid injection of Streptococcus mutans . The fundus lesions occurred mainly in the tapetal area of the retina, and, on histopathologic examination, microabscesses in the choroid and subretinal space were observed.

Infect Immun, 1980 Aug, 29(2), 459 - 68
Characterization of the adherence properties of Streptococcus salivarius; Weerkamp AH et al.; The adherence and aggregation properties of 46 human oral Streptococcus salivarius isolates were examined . A total of 41% of the isolates aggregated with whole human saliva, 50% aggregated with human erythrocytes, and 85% adhered to human buccal epithelial cells . Strains that aggregated with saliva and erythrocytes usually reacted with Streptococcus group K typing serum whereas the non-hemagglutinating strains did not . K+ strains also adhered more strongly to human buccal epithelial cells than K- strains . All isolates coaggregated with Fusobacterium nucleatum LF and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus 2D, 91% coaggregated with Veillonella alcalescens V1, and 50% coaggregated with Veillonella parvula V4 . S . salivarius HB aggregated with saliva from 15 different human donors and aggregated with human erythrocytes irrespective of the blood group . This strain only weakly aggregated with rat saliva or rat erythrocytes . We isolated mutants which concomitantly lost the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes, aggregate with saliva, and bind to buccal epithelial cells, but retained their interbacterial aggregation properties . A second class of mutants lost the ability to coaggregate with Veillonella, but these mutants retained all of the other aggregation properties . Treatment of S . salivarius HB cells with pronase or subtilisin destroyed their ability to aggregate with saliva and erythrocytes and to bind to buccal epithelial cells . The unique characteristics of the aggregation and adherence reactions were suggested by differences in the rate of loss of activity during protease treatment and in the response to chemical modification . The presence of saliva did not affect hemagglutination and adherence to buccal epithelial cells . Binding of the salivary aggregating factor to the bacteria could be distinguished from aggregation on the basis that the latter required divalent cations . The factor involved in coaggregation with F . nucleatum LF was physicochemically different from the other factors, since it was resistant to heat and to extraction with trichloroacetic acid, aqueous phenol, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and formamide, but was sensitive to proteases and was present in both classes of mutants . Coaggregation with V . alcalescens was not sensitive to proteases . A variety of mono- and disaccharides had no influence on any of the reactions tested.

Am J Otolaryngol, 1980 Aug, 1(4), 269 - 74
Demonstration of the adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to the surface of human tonsillar tissue; Dudley JP et al.; One of the mechanisms by which bacteria become pathogenic on mucosal surfaces is their capacity to adhere to those surfaces . Although adherence of pathogens has been demonstrated on other mucosal surfaces, it has never been demonstrated on tonsillar tissue . A section of the surface of a pharyngeal tonsil was thoroughly washed with phosphate buffered saline and divided into fragments of Gram staining, scanning electron microscopy, and incubation with group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from the upper respiratory tract . After 30 minutes and 24 hours of incubation the fragment was removed, washed thoroughly with phosphate buffered saline to remove any nonadherent S . pyogenes, and divided into three parts for Gram staining, scanning electron microscopy, and homogenization for tube and plate dilution . Adherence of S . pyogenes was demonstrated by Gram staining, scanning electron microscopy, and plate dilution . This first demonstration of bacterial adherence on tonsillar mucosa tract points to adhesion as a mechanism of pathogenesis in S . pyogenes infection in the tonsil.

Lab Anim Sci, 1980 Aug, 30(4 Pt 1), 689 - 93
Hepatic abscesses in beagle puppies; Hargis AM et al.; Postmortem examination revealed hepatic abscesses in 49 laboratory beagle dogs dying during the first 10 weeks of life . The abscesses appeared to be omphalogenic in origin and frequently contained Gram-positive coccoid bacteria most often identified as Staphylococcus and less often as Streptococcus . A few abscesses contained Gram-positive, branching, beaded, filamentous organisms never successfully cultured . Puppies with hepatic abscesses died as early as 3 days of age and 46 (94%) were dead by 4 weeks of age.

South Med J, 1980 Aug, 73(8), 1079 - 80
Group a beta-hemolytic streptococcal otitis externa in an infant; Bennett H et al.; A 5-week-old infant presented with bilateral otorrhea secondary to acute localized otitis externa . Bacterial studies confirmed group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus as the causative agent; this has not been previously reported.

Endocrinology, 1980 Aug, 107(2), 596 - 601
A probable endocrine basis for the depression of ketone bodies during infectious or inflammatory state in rats; Neufeld HA et al.; The effects of infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Francisella tularensis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus as well as inflammatory stress induced by the administration of turpentine and endotoxin on plasma ketone bodies and insulin were studied in white rats . All of the infectious/inflammatory stresses caused a significant decrease in the ketonemia of fasting and an elevation of plasma insulin . When a pneumococcal infection was initiated in a diabetic rat, inhibition of fasting ketonemia did not occur . Similarly, pneumococcal infection in the hypophysectomized rat did not result in a noticeable depression of either fasting ketonemia or plasma FFA . The increase in circulating insulin appears to be closely correlated with the inhibition of fasting ketonemia noted in the infectious/inflammatory stress.

Scand J Dent Res, 1980 Aug, 88(4), 316 - 22
Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent glucose phosphotransferase activity in Streptococcus mitis ATCC 903; Roberts KR et al.; A constitutive phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent glucose phosphotransferase system was found in decryptified cells of Strep . mitis . The system displayed saturation kinetics and the apparent Km value for the non-fermentable analogue 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) was 0.4 mM . Sodium fluoride inhibited the activity when 2-phosphoglycerate was used as the energy source instead of PEP . Intact cells accumulated 2DG and also a derivative that behaved chromatographically like 2DG-6-phosphate . PEP-dependent glucose phosphotransferase activity was also demonstrated in freshly collected plaque.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1980 Aug, (8), 79 - 83
{Antibodies to non-type-specific group A streptococcal cell wall antigens in human sera}; Borodiiuk NA et al.; The use of gel immunodiffusion for the determination of antibodies to nontype-specific cell-wall protein antigens of group A streptococcus allowed to eliminate reactions caused by antibodies to type-specific antigens, group polysaccharide and teichoic acid . Antibodies to nontype-specific antigens, and particularly to two such antigens, occurred more frequently in the blood sera of patients with rheumatism in the active phase than in patients with rheumatism in the inactive phase, erysipelas and with non-rheumatic cardiac diseases, and in donors . Antibodies to nontype-specific antigens occurred in the blood sera of patients with rheumatism in the inactive phase and with non-rheumatic cardiac diseases as frequently as in donors . The occurrence of these antibodies in the blood sera of erysipelas patients was significantly more frequent than in donors; but antibodies to two nontype-specific antigens occurred in erysipelas patients, in contrast to patients with rheumatism in the active phase, not more frequently than in donors . Patients with rheumatism and erysipelas seem to differ in their immune response to certain nontype-specific streptococcal antigens.

N Engl J Med, 1980 Jul 24, 303(4), 173 - 8
Influence of preimmunization antibody levels on the specificity of the immune response to related polysaccharide antigens; Baker CJ et al.; We studied the influence of preimmunization antibody level on the immune response of adults to one of two structurally related yet immunologically distinct type-specific polysaccharides from Type III Group B streptococcus and Type 14 pneumonococcus . Four weeks after immunization with multivalent pneumococcal vaccine, 20 subjects with low levels of antibody to Type III Group B streptococcus antigen had no significant increase in antibody to this antigen (P greater than 0.05), but all volunteers with moderate to high preimmunization antibody levels who were immunized with Pneumovax had significant increases (P less than 0.01) . However, the streptococcal antibody response to pneumococcal Type 14 antigen was weaker and briefer than that in 10 adults given Type III Group B streptococcus vaccine(P less than 0.05) . Preimmunization antibody levels influenced the immune response to a structurally similar polysaccharide antigen, but specific Type III polysaccharide antigen appeared necessary to induce a primary antibody response in "nonimmune" adults . We conclude that immunization of mothers with pneumococcal vaccine is not likely to prevent neonatal Type III Group B streptococcal infection, despite immunologic similarities between the two organisms.

J Biol Chem, 1980 Jul 10, 255(13), 6092 - 7
Binding of streptococcal lipoteichoic acid to the fatty acid binding sites on serum albumin; Simpson WA et al.; The ability of the fatty acid binding sites of serum albumin to bind lipoteichoic acid of Streptococcus pyogenes was investigated . Initial studies indicated that lipoteichoic acid, but not its deacylated deprivative, protected albumin from being denatured by heat (80C for 1 h) and changed its mobility in an electrical field . Albumin covalently linked to agarose beads bound radiolabeled lipoteichoic acid, and the bound {3H}lipoteichoic acid could be specifically eluted with unlabeled lipoteichoic acid or albumin but not with other proteins tested . After binding to albumins, the lipoteichoic acid also could be quantitatively eluted with 50% ethanol and various detergents but not with up to 1.0 M sodium chloride . Binding of lipoteichoic acid to albumin followed first order kinetics, reaching saturation at 12 h . Analysis of the binding data by a Scatchard plot indicated heterogeneity of the binding sites on the albumin molecule similar to that previously reported for fatty acids . The affinity of binding of lipoteichoic acid to albumin was found to be intermediate between that previously reported for octanoic and palmitic acids, respectively . Based on these findings, we prepared affinity columns of immobilized albumin and were able to separate biologically active lipoteichoic acid from heterogeneous extracts of S . pyogenes.

Am J Vet Res, 1980 Jul, 41(7), 1117 - 22
Trimethoprim and sulfadiazine: experimental infection of Beagles; Powers TE et al.; The purpose in the present study was to determine whether the commercial combination of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) tribrissen (TRI) was more effective than either of the components for treating experimentally induced infection of Streptococcus zooepidemicus . Two dose levels of each were given subcutaneously for treatment, and their effectiveness was compared with that of sulfadimethoxine (SDM) in terms of (i) clinical manifestations, (ii) hematologic changes, (iii) blood culture examinations, and (iv) tissue culture examinations . According to these four measurements, the combination TMP/SDZ was more effective than either of the components . This effect was observed at the two dosages of TRI (30 and 15 mg/kg) . The higher dosage, however, was more effective as demonstrated by three of the measurements . Alone, TMP and SDZ were not effective, but SDM treatment was effective in this model.

J Wildl Dis, 1980 Jul, 16(3), 319 - 21
Bronchopneumonia caused by Streptococcus equi in a North Atlantic pilot whale (Globicephala melaena); Higgins R et al.; Bronchopneumonia was observed at the necropsy of a North Atlantic pilot whale (Globicephala melaena) . The areas of necrosis were well circumscribed clusters, disseminated throughout the left lung . Streptococcus equi was isolated in pure culture from the lung parenchyma, pharynx and pericardial fluid.

Am J Med, 1980 Jul, 69(1), 57 - 63
The demonstration of vegetations by echocardiography in bacterial endocarditis . An indication for early surgical intervention; Davis RS et al.; The visualization of vegetations by M-mode echocardiography in patients with infective endocarditis has been suggested to imply a poor prognosis regarding the development of major systemic emboli, congestive heart failure and the need for early surgical intervention . The question of using the finding of vegetations by echocardiography as an indication for surgery is controversial . To answer this question, 30 patients with the clinical diagnosis of endocarditis were studied by echocardiography . In 17 of the 30 (57 per cent) vegetations were present (aortic eight, mitral four, both mitral and aortic five), whereas in 13 (43 per cent) no vegetations were visualized . Infecting organisms were similar in each group; Streptococcus viridans being the most common . The patients with echocardiographically demonstrable vegetations had a higher incidence of congestive heart failure compared to the patients without (14 of 17 versus six of 13, p less than 0.05), major emboli (eight of 17 versus two of 13, p = NS) and need for valve surgery (17 of 17 versus two of 13, p less than 0.001) . Mortality was not significantly different in the two groups (six of 17 versus three of 13, p = NS) . Urgent or emergency surgery was required in 16 of 17 patients with vegetations . Thus, the demonstration of vegetations by echocardiography identified a subset of patients with more severe disease in whom early operative intervention was required.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1980 Jul, 19(7), 457 - 62
Occult pneumococcal bacteremia and the febrile infant and young child; Feder HM Jr; Occult pneumonoccemia (OP) is unsuspected Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia occurring in a previously well child who presents with fever associated with either no focus or an upper respiratory focus infection . In this report, four cases of OP are presented and the literature is reviewed . The risk of OP appears highest for children, seen in urban emergency rooms and clinics, who are 6 to 24 months of age with rectal temperatures greater than or equal to 38.9 C (102 F) and who have white blood cell counts greater than or equal to 15,000/mm3 . Other symptoms associated with OP include irritability, rhinorrhea, and febrile seizures . When recalled because of positive blood cultures, 40 per cent of untreated patients with OP had had spontaneous resolution of their illness, 29 per cent had persistent fever or symptoms and sterile blood cultures, 22 per cent had persistent fever or symptoms and positive blood cultures, while 10 per cent had a febrile course complicated by pneumococcal meningitis.

Arch Sci Med (Torino), 1980 Jul-Sep, 137(3), 525 - 36
{Streptococcus antibodies in various population groups with no apparent signs of streptococcal infection . Sero-epidemiological evaluation}; Angela GC et al.; ASO- and streptozyme (STZ) antibodies were evaluated in about 2000 subjects: apparently healthy persons, persons in hospital, members of the armed forces, puerperae and their newborns . STZ antigen was found to be more sensitive than ASO; statistically much higher than STZ- and ASO+ . The results were coincident (75%-90%) in subjects with normal antibody levels and those with "pathological" titres.

Pathology, 1980 Jul, 12(3), 403 - 6
Beta-haemolytic bacitracin sensitive strains of Streptococcus salivarius: a source of confusion with Streptococcus pyogenes in throat swab cultures; Tapsall JW et al.; Thirty strains of Streptococcus salivarius were beta-haemolytic when initially isolated from throat swabs and, because they were also bacitracin sensitive, they could be confused with the pathogenic Streptococcus pyogenes on primary culture plates . These strains were isolated form approximately 3000 throat swab cultures made in 6 mth, during which time 220 Lancefield group A organisms were also detected . Other features of these organisms, including loss of beta-haemolysis on subculture, penicillin resistance in half of the strains and ability to grow on MacConkey bile salt agar, are not shared by Strep . pyogenes, and their demonstration enables strains of the 2 species to be simply distinguished.

J Toxicol Environ Health, 1980 Jul, 6(4), 843 - 51
Decreased resistance to infection in exercised mice exposed to NO2 and O3; Illing JW et al.; A mechanized wheel was constructed for use in evaluating the interaction of exercise and gaseous pollutants such as O3 and NO2 . Immediately after the pollutant exposure, both exercised and nonexercised female mice (CD-1) were combined with controls, challenged with an aerosol of viable Streptococcus pyogenes (group C), and then observed over a 15-d period for incidence of mortality . Exposure to O3 at 196 micrograms/m3 (0.1 ppm) or 590 micrograms/m3 (0.3 ppm) while exercising yielded mortality rates that were significantly higher than those observed in the O3 groups that were not exercised . With exposure to NO2 at 5640 micrograms/m3 (3 ppm), exercise produced a significant enhancement in mortality over the other treatment groups . These studies show that exercise can affect the mortality observed in this model system and indicate the need for establishing safe exposure levels of pollutants as a function of the activity level of the exposed population.

J Bacteriol, 1980 Jul, 143(1), 313 - 20
Conjugative transfer of multiple antibiotic resistance markers in Streptococcus pneumoniae; Buu-Hoi A et al.; Two antibiotic-resistant isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were investigated for conjugative transfer of their drug resistance markers into streptococcal (groups B and D) and pneumococcal (encapsulated and non-encapsulataed) recipients . Of these, 7 wild-type donor pneumococci transferred all their resistance markers (except Pc {penicillin}, Su {sulfonamide}, and Tp {trimethoprim}) into group D Streptococcus and non-encapsulated S . pneumoniae recipients at a low frequency (10(-5) to 10(-6)) . The resistance markers transferred were Tc (tetracycline); Tc and Cm (chloramphenicol); Tc and MLS (macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramin B); Tc, MLS, Km (kanamycin), and Cm . The transconjugants obtained retransferred their resistance markers into appropriate streptococcal or pneumococcal recipients or both . The resistance markers of streptococcal transconjugants could not be cured by chemical agents . All attempts to detect extra-chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid from pneumococcal or streptococcal transconjugants were unsuccessful . The molecular weight of a streptococcal conjugative R plasmid (pIP501) was investigated after transfer into the non-encapsulated S . pneumoniae recipient and was found to be similar to that of the wild-type group B Streptococcus host (20 x 10(6)).

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1980 Jul 1, 137(5), 579 - 82
Studies on the growth-inhibiting property of amniotic fluids from two United States population groups; Appelbaum PC et al.; This study attempted to determine if lack of antimicrobial activity in amniotic fluid is the reason United States blacks have more amniotic fluid bacterial infection than whites . No significant interracial differences were found in a study of 111 fluids from whites and 56 fluids from blacks . It has been claimed that the phosphate:zinc ratio in amniotic fluid is an accurate predictor of antimicrobial activity . The present study found this often to be untrue . Amniotic fluids that lacked antimicrobial activity gained such activity when zinc was added, but the in vitro zinc levels required were usually higher than observed physiologic concentrations . Previous studies have claimed that antimicrobial activity first appears in the amniotic fluid in the third trimester of gestation . We found such activity in the majority of fluids by the end of the first trimester, with a Staphylococcus aureus indicator; in contrast, with Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae as test organisms, greater inhibition was observed after 35 weeks.

South Med J, 1980 Jul, 73(7), 904 - 5
Bacteremia in childhood; Wald ER et al.; Review of the bacteriology records of a University Hospital pediatric service for a 30-month period revealed 42 patients with Hemophilus influenzae type b bacteremia and 30 patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia, all under age 10 . Eighty-eight percent of the Hemophilus bacteremias and 7% of the pneumococcal bacteremias occurred in children less than 2 years of age . Hemophilus bacteremia was seen mot frequently in the first year of life, in contrast to pneumococcal bacteremia which was seen evenly throughout the first and second years of life . In all but one of the Hemophilus infections, a definite source of the bacteremia was apparent; these included CNS infection (58%), cellulitis (14%), and pneumonia (12%) . In contrast, no obvious source was apparent in 37% of the pneumococcal bacteremias . When a focus for pneumococcal bacteremia was identified, otitis media and pneumonia were the most frequent diagnoses . Most of the occult pneumococcemias were transient; the results of repeat blood cultures before a treatment decision were helpful in determining the necessity for and duration of antibiotic therapy in those patients with no obvious source of infection.

J Dent Res, 1980 Jul, 59(7), 1187 - 91
Uptake of fluoride by cells of Streptococcus mutans in dense suspensions; Eisenberg AD et al.; Fluoride uptake by nongrowing cells of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 was assessed by means of the space technique . Uptake was highly concentrative at low fluoride concentrations or low pH . In all, it appeared that fluoride uptake is predictably related to its weak-acid properties and that fluoride can be used, as certain other weak acids are, to estimate intracellular pH.

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1980 Jul-Aug, 88(4), 332 - 5
Pediatric infectious cervical lymphadenitis; Lane RJ et al.; Infectious cervical lymphadenitis is a frequently encountered problem in the pediatric population . The recent experience with infectious cervical lymphadenitis at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was reviewed . The most common etiologic agent was Staphylococcus aureus . beta-Hemolytic streptococcus and mycobacterium were found in 15% and 6% of cases respectively . Other agents included pneumococcus, cat scratch, Toxoplasma gondii, actinomycosis, and mixed bacteroides and peptostreptococcus . Most patients responded to high-dose intravenous antistaphylococcal penicillin . Needle aspiration proved successful in identifying the casual agent in a high percentage of cases . Aspiration was also beneficial in draining small abscess cavities . Surgical drainage was rarely necessary.

Antibiotiki, 1980 Jul, 25(7), 495 - 9
{Adsorption of the antibiotic, nisin, to Streptococcus lactis cells}; Grushina VA et al.; Nizin is produced by Str . lactis, strain MSU . During biosynthesis it is excreted into the fermentation broth and gradually adsorbed on the organism cells . This was confirmed by experiments with an inactive variant of Str . lactis IIa . The cells of this culture adsorbed nizin from "active" fermentation broth . Adsorption of nizin depended on pH of the medium; at pH 2,3 the cells did not adsorbe the antibiotic and at pH 6.6 the amount of the antibiotic adsorbed by the cells was maximum.

Ann Allergy, 1980 Jul, 45(1), 1 - 7
IgE antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in asthma and other atopic diseases; Tipirneni P et al.; IgE antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigens were measured by RAST assay in 152 patients with asthma and other IgE and non-IgE mediated diseases . Five patients with asthma and/or atopic dermatitis had highly elevated Mycoplasma RAST binding ratios, p < 0.001 . For these five patients the ratios ranged from 1.78 to 4.74 . These increased ratios persisted at least two to 16 months in three of four individuals who were evaluated sequentially . RAST inhibition studies using Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma control, Streptococcus MG and viral antigens showed the specificity of binding for M . pneumoniae in these five patients indicating the presence of IgE antibodies to M . pneumoniae.

Arch Dermatol, 1980 Jul, 116(7), 798 - 9
Recurrent erysipelas caused by group B streptococcus organisms; Binnick AN et al.; Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GBS) has emerged as a major cause of neonatal infections . Serious GBS infections in adults occur most frequently when predisposing illness is present . Recurrent erysipelas caused by GBS is reported in a woman who had chronic lymphedema after a radical hysterectomy and radiation therapy . Type III GBS was identified from cultures of vulvar vesicles, vaginal mucosa, and blood . Prophylactic penicillin V potassium therapy prevented further episodes of erysipelas . Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus should be considered a possible cause of erysipelas or cellulitis.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 Jul, 40(1), 25 - 31
Branched-chain amino acid transport in Streptococcus agalactiae; Moran JW; The transport of the branched-chain amino acids in Streptococcus agalactiae was characterized . Glucose-grown cells were able to utilize only glucose as an energy source for transport of L-leucine, whereas lactose-grown cells could utilize both glucose and lactose . It was determined from metabolic inhibitor studies that energy from glycolysis and substrate level phosphorylation was required for active transport . Energy was found to be coupled to transport by the action of adenosine triphosphatase and the generation of a proton motive force . The branched-chain amino acids were found to share a common transport system that may consist of multiple components.

Rev Ig Bacteriol Virusol Parazitol Epidemiol Pneumoftiziol Pneumoftiziol, 1980 Jul-Sep, 29(3), 137 - 42
{Significance of immunological investigation in pulmonary pathology}; Cernusenko EF et al.; An extensive range of investigations were used in a comparative study of immune reactivity in the tuberculous pulmonary pathology, as well as in sarcoidosis, pneumonia and cancer of the lungs . T and B lymphocyte populations were followed, indexes of leucocyte migration, induced lymphoblastogenesis to phytohaemagglutinin, and the serum levels of immunoglobulins . Also the intensity of the hypersensitivity to tuberculin was investigated, to allergens extracted from staphylococcus and streptococcus strains, as well as against organ antigens (pulmonary tissues) . Differences were evidenced, of immunologic reactivity in various nosologic entities investigated . The dynamic follow-up of some of the cases has demonstrated that the immunological reactivity varies in parallelly with severity of cases, deficiences being corrected by adequate therapy . The immunologic status may be considered a criterium for a rational pathogenetic treatment, for assessing the efficiency of such a treatment, as well as for the differential diagnosis of pulmonary diseases.

Biophys J, 1980 Jul, 31(1), 113 - 25
Laser light scattering measurement of dextran-induced Streptococcus mutans aggregation; Ryan V et al.; Intensity fluctuation spectroscopy was used to study dextran-induced aggregation of Streptococcus mutans bacteria . Smoluchowski's theory of colloidal flocculation provided a consistent model of the agglutination process . Our experiments indicated that aggregation was inhibited by the negatively charged surfaces of the cells, while dextran polymers effectively bound organisms together . Our experimental data were consistent with the quantitative predictions of a polymer bridge model of agglutination.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jul, 29(1), 114 - 8
Elevated glycosyltransferase activities in infected or traumatized hosts: nonspecific response to inflammation; Canonico PG et al.; Streptococcus pneumoniae infection leads to multifold increases in sialyltransferase, galactosyltransferase, alpha 2-fucosyltransferase, and alpha 3-fucosyltransferase activity of rat liver . Such changes may reflect an increased demand for glycosylation of acute-phase proteins synthesized and secreted by the liver during inflammatory processes . Serum sialyltransferase became elevated in bacteria-infected or burned rats and sandfly fever-infected humans, but did not correlate with acute-phase serum protein changes . These data suggest that nonparenchymal liver cells, such as macrophages, may contribute substantially to elevated sialyltransferase activity in the circulation during infection and, as such, represent a general host response to infection and tissue trauma.

N Z Med J, 1980 Jun 25, 91(662), 456 - 60
Probable association of M type 57 streptococcal skin infection with acute glomerulonephritis in the Tauranga area; Meekin GE et al.; Evidence is presented for the probable association of streptococcal skin infection (M type 57) with six cases of acute glomerulonephritis . M type 57 streptococcus was isolated from skin infections in four of the cases and from skin sores occurring in sibling contacts of the other two . Two of the cases occurred at a time when M type 57 streptococcus predominated in skin lesions of children from the same school . A further two cases of post-streptococcal nephritis with possible involvement of M type 57 are discussed . The superiority of the anti-DNase B test over anti-streptolysin O determination in a situation when streptococcal pyoderma nephritis has occurred is shown.

Med J Aust, 1980 Jun 14, 1(12), 603 - 6
Septicaemia in patients with haematological malignant disease; King K; Of 565 patients with haematological malignant disease who were seen between January, 1976, and July, 1978, 66 patients (11.7%) developed 77 episodes of septicaemia, 37 of which proved fatal . The highest prevalence of septicaemia occurred in patients with acute granulocytic leukemia (16 of 42 patients, nine deaths) and acute monocytic leukaemia (four of eight patients, two deaths) . The prevalence of septicaemia in patients with multiple myeloma was also high (eight of 41 patients), due in five of these patients to Streptococcus pneumoniae . Factors associated with septicaemia, and the prevalence of the various pathogens isolated, are discussed.

Rev Esp Fisiol, 1980 Jun, 36(2), 163 - 70
{Influence of the autolytic system on the bactericidal effect induced by beta-lactamic antibiotics (author's transl)}; Lopez R et al.; New experimental conditions showing the phenomena of "antibiotic tolerance" are described . In Streptococcus pneumoniae, a strong protection against the loss of viability induced by penicillin was obtained when TRIS (hydroxymethyl aminomethane), instead of potassium phosphate, was used as buffer of the growth medium . The main pneumococcal autolysin (N-acetyl-muramil amidase) present in S . pneumoniae was found to be, at least partially, responsible for the loss of viability induced by beta-lactamic molecules.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jun, 28(3), 832 - 6
Antigenicity and protective effects of type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide in rats; Hodges GR et al.; The response to type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination, the protective effect of type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination, and the ability of hemagglutinating antibody to type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide to cross the blood-brain barrier were studied in rats . Hemagglutinating antibody response to vaccination with type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide was found to be dependent on the dose and route of inoculation . Intraperitoneal vaccination with type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide protected the rats from subsequent intraperitoneal challenge with type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae but had no effect after intracisternal challenge with type 3 S . pneumoniae . In the presence or absence of sterile meningeal inflammation, hemagglutinating antibody could not be found in cerebrospinal fluid of animals vaccinated intraperitoneally with type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide . These results suggest that type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide is antigenic in rats and intraperitoneal vaccination with type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide does not protect against experimental meningitis because antibodies do not cross the blood-brain barrier.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jun, 28(3), 713 - 8
Modulation of immunoreactivity to periodontal disease-associated microorganisms during pregnancy; Lopatin DE et al.; The lymphocyte blastogenic response to a panel of antigens and mitogens was assessed in a group of 20 women throughout their pregnancy . In addition, a group of five nonpregnant women was monitored simultaneously to identify variations in response to the same stimulants . The stimulants included orally associated bacterial antigens (Streptococcus sanguis, Actinomyces viscosus, Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, Bacteroides melaninogenicus subsp . intermedius, Bacteroides {Capnocytophaga} ochraceus, and Fusobacterium nucleatum) and non-orally associated-stimulants (streptokinase-streptodornase, tetanus toxoid, concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen) . Intrinsic (cells cultured in male AB plasma) suppression of the lymphocyte response to these stimulants was observed to occur by the second trmester of pregnancy and was resolved after parturition . Additionally, an extrinsic (cells cultured in autologous plasma) suppression was also suggested to occur in a similar manner . There was no detectable enhancement of the blastogenic response to oral bacteria associated with elevated gingivitis, which is generally reported to occur during nonpregnancy gingivitis . We propose that concomitant immunosuppression occurs during the second trimester, which masks such enhancement.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jun, 28(3), 1048 - 50
Nasopharyngeal carriage of pneumococci in children with sickle cell disease; Overturf GD et al.; Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae was studied in children with sickle cell disease . The incidence of nasopharyngeal isolation was 17.8% . Groups 23 and 6 and type 14 predominated.

South Med J, 1980 Jun, 73(6), 793 - 5
Liver abscess in previously healthy children; Steele NP et al.; We have described a previously healthy child who presented with a liver abscess secondary to alpha-hemolytic streptococcus . Toxicity and fever persisted until the abscess cavities were completely drained, illustrating the importance of a combined surgical and medical approach in managing liver abscess.

J S Afr Vet Assoc, 1980 Jun, 51(2), 93 - 100
Group B streptococcus-comparison of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from humans and cows in the Republic of South Africa; Van den Heever LW et al.; The serological and biochemical characteristics of 100 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from quarter mild of dairy cows and of 107 strains cultured from various sites of human patients, were determined and compared . All the isolates were CAMP-phenomenon and Na-hippurate positive, aesulin negative, fell into Lancefield's Group B and could be placed into one of the 6 recognised serotypes . No human isolates fell into type R but for the rest all the other types were represented in the series of bovine and human cultures . In order of frequency, the human isolates were of type III, II, Ib, X and Ia and the bovine of type II, X, III, Ia, Ib and R . Of the human and bovine cultures respectively, 34 and 96% altered litmus milk, 30 and 100% were sensitive to bacitracin, 32 and 4% were pathogenic to mice, 82 and 93% reduced the ultimate pH of glucose broth to 4,2-4,8, 36 and 100% fermented lactose, 93 and 99% salicin and 94 and 79% trehalose . Concerning the combination of lactose/salicin fermentation, 35 and 95% of bovine and human isolates were , 0 and 5% were , 59 and 0% were -/=nd 7 and 0% were -/- . Data are summarised in 5 tables and discussed against the background of reports from other countries . It appears that a proportion of the human infections concern organisms likely to have been derived from bovine sources, either directly or indirectly . Definite classification of South African GBS into either human or animal strains does not seem possible . It is concluded that it would be more correct to refer to the source of an isolate instead of inferring that because the organism was primarily cultured from, say human resources, it is necessarily a human "strain'.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1980 Jun, 171(1), 64 - 8
Bactericidal properties of lysosomal proteins obtained from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) examined in vitro . II . Morphological estimation of cells treated with lysosomal proteins; Kowalska M et al.; The present paper is concerned with the action of lysosomal proteins isolated from granulocytes of human peripheral blood on Gram-plus and Gram-minus bacteria . Differences in bacterial sensitivity to these proteins were found . The highest bactericidal activity was observed while bacteria from Staphylococcus and Escherichia were treated with lysosomal proteins . No structural changes in cells of bacteria from Streptococcus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were observed . The sensitive bacteria cell walls underwent destruction mainly but changes also concerned cytoplasma which was destroyed.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1980 Jun, 40(3), 566 - 72
Skin test reactivity and in vitro responses to microbes and microbial antigens; Rasanen L; In the present study the relationships between skin reactivity, leucocyte migration inhibitory factor (LIF) production and lymphocyte transformation in healthy volunteers and newborns were investigated . LIF synthesis was assessed by the two-step agarose migration method and cellular proliferation by the incorporation of iododeoxyuridine . The following soluble antigens and whole microbes were used: purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD), bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), streptokinase-streptodornase (SK-SD), Streptococcus Beta-haemolyticus, group A, Dermatophytin O (DO) and Candida albicans . The results indicated a significant correlation between skin reactivity and in vitro tests with soluble antigens and that, of the in vitro tests used, lymphocyte transformation correlated better with skin test than LIF production . Furthermore, soluble antigens gave better correlations with skin tests than whole microbes . Experiments with cord blood cells demonstrated that they did not respond to antigens but were activated by whole microbes . Thus the whole microbes appear to contain mitogenic components.

J Pediatr, 1980 Jun, 96(6), 1047 - 51
Prevalence of type-specific group B streptococcal antibody in pregnant women; Vogel LC et al.; Immunoglobulin G antibody against the four major serotypes of group B streptococcus was measured by indirect immunofluorescence in the sera of 200 consecutive pregnant women seen in the obstetric screening clinic of an urban teaching hospital . Antibody was detectable in 26% of undiluted sera against serotype Ia, 52% against serotype Ib, 82% against serotype II, and 45% against serotype III . Only 9% had antibody against all four GBS types . When serotype-specific antibody prevalences in 108 women with GBS vaginal colonization were compared with prevalences in noncolonized women, only women colonized with GBS type Ia were more likely to have antibody against Ia than noncolonized women . Antibody prevalences in sera from 54 mothers whose infants developed invasive GBS disease were significantly lower than those in colonized or noncolonized women . Since low titers of IF antibody to GBS III were present in some sera from mothers of infected infants, the data were analyzed based on IF antibody titers associated with passive protection in a chick embryo model of GBS septicemia . None of the sera from mothers of infected infants had antibody levels associated with chick embryo protection . Less than 10% of women had titers associated with chick embryo protection . These data suggest that the majority of pregnant women lack immunity to GBS, regardless of colonization status.

HNO, 1980 Jun, 28(6), 197 - 200
{Internal carotid artery aneurism following peritonsillar abscess (author's transl)}; Mootz W et al.; We report an unusual case of simultaneous occurrence of peritonsillar abscess due to Streptococcus viridans with an aneurism of the internal carotid artery . Inflammation caused by the abscess was so marked that its operative treatment unexpectedly uncovered the aneurism . We believe that the aneurism probably resulted from lymphatic spread of inflammation . Although rarely occurring, such aneurisms are clinically very important: the danger of misinterpreting symptoms as those of a peritonsillar or retropharyngeal abscess is great, as is that of bleeding caused by incising an abscess overlying the aneurism . This is particularly important in children due to the frequent occurrence of tonsil infections in this age group . The differential diagnosis of posterior or lateral pharyngeal swellings in children does not generally include aneurisms since these seldom occur in children and are overall rare in occurrence.

Scand J Dent Res, 1980 Jun, 88(3), 236 - 43
In vitro development of chlorhexidine resistance in Streptococcus sanguis and its transmissibility by genetic transformation; Westergren G et al.; Three chlorhexidine-sensitive strains of Streptococcus sanguis developed resistance to chlorhexidine when grown as continuous cultures in a fermenter containing medium with increasing concentrations of the drug . The MIC of the test strains increased by between two and three dilution steps and these high values were maintained after daily transfer in drug-free medium for at least 15 d . In addition, the resistance of one of the strains persisted for more than 1 month of continuous growth in drug-competent sensitive S . sanguis to increased chlorhexidine resistance, thus proving that resistance to this drug is an inheritable trait . Immunoelectrophoretic experiments showed that certain changes in the antigenic pattern of the Chxr variants had occurred as compared with their sensitive wild-type strains . Antigenic extracts of the Chxr variants and all Chxr recombinants tested contained consistently less protein than those of the sensitive wild-types.

Bull Tokyo Med Dent Univ, 1980 Jun, 27(2), 79 - 88
Insoluble glucan hydrolyzing enzymes from oral bacteroides; Takahashi N et al.; Crude enzymes (En(C)) which hydrolyze insoluble glucan produced by Streptococcus mutans FA-1 were extracted from Bacteroides oralis obtained from human dental plaque . Extracellular insoluble glucan of S . mutans (IsG) and the one which was partially modified by Smith degradation (M-IsG) were used as substrates . Commercial dextran (M.W . 2,000,000) was used as control . Composition of the types of glucosidic linkages of the glucans was determined by methylation analysis . The ratio of the alpha-(1--6) linkage and alpha-(1--3) linkage was 96.3% and 0.5% for dextran, 29.2% and 55.1% for IsG and 11.9% and 84.9% for M-IsG . En(C) was extracted by salting out of the culture of B . oralis with 60% saturation of ammonium sulfate . En(C) hydrolyzed IsG, M-IsG and dextran, whereas commercial dextranase (alpha-1,6 glucanase) hydrolyzed only dextran . IsG was treated with the commercial dextranase until no glucose was detected in the medium, and the remaining material was used for the substrate of enzymes . Release of glucose was detected from the substrate by treatment with En(C), but not with commercial dextranase . These results indicated that En(C) of Bacteroides oralis contained at least two types of glucanase, one being dextranase which hydrolyzes the alpha-(1--6) linkage and the other the so-called mutanase which hydrolyzes the alpha-(1--3) linkage.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jun, 28(3), 893 - 8
Bactericidal activity of human lactoferrin: sensitivity of a variety of microorganisms; Arnold RR et al.; Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that has been detected in secretions that bathe human mucosal tissues . Previous studies have shown that, when this protein is in the iron-free state, it is capable of a direct bactericidal effect on Streptococcus mutans and Vibrio cholerae . The present study demonstrates variable susceptibilities for a variety of different microorganisms . The list of susceptible organisms includes gram-positive and gram-negative microbes, rods and cocci, facultative anaerobes, and aerotolerant anaerobes . Similar morphological and physiological types are represented among the lalctoferrin-resistant bacteria . S . mutans was more resistant to lactoferrin when grown on a sucrose-contaning medium than when it was grown on brain heart infusion broth without added scurose . When a lactoferrin-sensitive, avirulent strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae was passed through mice, the resultant virulent culture became lactoferrin resistant . Since organisms of the same species and even of the same strain (S . pneumoniae) can differ in susceptibility to lactoferrin, it appears that accessibility to the lactoferrin target site may account for differences in susceptibility . It appears that there may be a relation between virulence and resistance to lactoferrin.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1980 Jun, 77(6), 3534 - 8
Transformation of Streptococcus pneumoniae with S . pneumoniae-lambda phage hybrid DNA: induction of deletions; Claverys JP et al.; The genetic fate of a fragment of Streptococcus pneumoniae DNA cloned into a derivative of the Escherichia coli bacteriphage lambda has been studied in pneumococcal transformation . Transforming activity of this hybrid DNA is 8 times higher than standard S . pneumoniae DNA . Hybrid DNA is mutagenic for the recipient bacteria . Mutations are induced at a rate of 2 per 1000 transformation events . Most of these mutations are deletions adjacent to the cloned pneumococcal fragment, starting at or near its extremities and extending outside . The length of these deletions, estimated by genetic analysis or by gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments generated by restriction endonucleases, is quite variable, ranging from 150 base pairs to more than 1800 base pairs . Insertion of lambda DNA bas been detected in two large deletions by using DNAxDNA hybridization as a probe . This suggests that nonhomologous regions adjacent to the cloned fragment may be illegitimately integrated by the tranformation process . During the genetic analysis of these induced mutations we have observed that not only these deletions but also spontaneous deletions drastically increase recombination rates when present on donor DNA in transformation of neighboring markers . Such an effect is interpreted as partial exclusion of deletions from synapsis between donor and recipient DNA.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 118(2), 353 - 66
Effect of dextran and ammonium sulphate on the reaction catalysed by a glucosyltransferase complex from Streptococcus mutans; Newman BM et al.; The highly aggregated proteins precipitated by (NH4)2SO4 from the culture fluid of three strains of Streptococcus mutans gradually released less aggregated glucosyltransferase activities - dextransucrase and mutansucrase - which catalysed the synthesis of water-soluble and insoluble glucans from sucrose . Mutansucrase was eluted from a column of Sepharose 6B before dextransucrase . This activity was lost during subsequent dialysis and gel filtration, but there was a corresponding increase in dextransucrase activity which catalysed the formation of soluble glucan when incubated with sucrose alone, and insoluble glucan when incubated with sucrose and 1.55 M-(NH4)2SO4 . Relative rates of synthesis of soluble and insoluble glucan in the presence of 1.55 M-(MH4)2SO4 were dependent upon the enzyme concentration: high concentrations favoured insoluble glucan synthesis . Insoluble glucans synthesized by mutansucrase or by dextransucrase in the presence of 1.55 M-(NH4)2SO4 were more sensitive to hydrolysis by mutanase than by dextranse, but soluble glucans were more extensively hydrolysed by dextranase than by mutanase . Partially purified dextransucrase sedimented through glycerol density gradients as a single symmetrical peak with an apparent molecular weight in the range 100000 to 110000 . In the presence of 1.55 M-(NH4)2SO4, part of the activity sedimented rapidly as a high molecular weight aggregate . The results strongly suggest that soluble and insoluble glucans are synthesized by interconvertible forms of the same glucosyltransferase . The aggregated form, mutansucrase, preferentially catalyses (1 leads to 3)-alpha bond formation but dissociates during gel filtration to the dextransucrase form which catalyses (1 leads to 6)-alpha bond formation.

Infect Immun, 1980 Jun, 28(3), 846 - 52
Streptococcus mutans dextransucrase: effect of cerulenin on lipid synthesis and enzyme production; Leung WL et al.; The effect of the fatty acid synthesis inhibitor cerulenin on growth and dextransucrase (EC 2.4.1.5) production by Streptococcus mutans 6715 was analyzed . Growth was markedly inhibited by less than 1 microgram of the antibiotic per ml . Under conditions where cerulenin did not inhibit amino acid incorporation into protein but did block acetate metabolism into lipid, the production of extracellular dextransucrase was suppressed . Inhibition was not due to a direct effect of the antibiotic on the enzyme or the lack of release of enzyme from the bacterial cell surface . Gel column chromatography demonstrated that enzyme produced in the presence of cerulenin was highly aggregated, similar to the control enzyme . Although the addition of ysophosphatidylcholine to enzyme which had been synthesized in the presence of cerulenin stimulated glucan formation from sucrose, the increase was not greater than that produced with the control enzyme . The differential inhibition of dextransucrase production by cerulenin indicates that enzyme secretion requires the production of lipid and may reflect the mechanism by whch this enzyme is transported from the bacterial cell.

Vet Rec, 1980 May 24, 106(21), 431 - 5
A survey of mastitis in the British dairy herd; Wilson CD et al.; Five hundred herds were examined to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in the British dairy herd . The prevalences of the various infections recorded were Streptococcus agalactiae 3.4 per cent of quarters, S dysgalactiae 1.1 per cent, S uberis 1.5 per cent and Staphylococcus pyogenes 8.1 per cent . There were regional differences in the prevalence of some of these pathogens . The national prevalence of subclinical mastitis as defined by the International Dairy Federation was 9.6 per cent of all quarters . Udder infections were less prevalent in herds where mastitis control measures were being used . The prevalence of infection also declined as the size of herd increased . However, as the uptake of mastitis control measures was greater in the larger herds it seems likely that the widespread use of control measures was the most important factor responsible for the relatively low prevalence of subclinical mastitis.

Lancet, 1980 May 10, 1(8176), 995 - 6
Immunisation with a purified protein from Streptococcus mutans against dental caries in rhesus monkeys; Lehner T et al.; A purified protein antigen, molecular weight 185,000, was prepared from Streptococcus mutans and used in the immunisation of monkeys against dental caries . 1 mg of this antigen, mixed with adjuvant and injected subcutaneously, elicited serum IgG and to a lesser extent IgA antibodies . Compared with sham-immunised monkeys, those receiving this antigen had a 70% reduction in dental caries and a smaller growth of Strep . mutans from dental plaque . The results suggest that the defined protein material isolated from Strep . mutans may be one of the antigens eliciting a protective immune response against dental caries . This antigen seems to be a suitable candidate for consideration as a vaccine for man.

JAMA, 1980 May 9, 243(18), 1924 - 7
Relative resistance to penicillin in the pneumococcus . A prevalence and case-control study; Saah AJ et al.; Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from 103 patients were submitted for serotyping and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for penicillin . Isolates from 16 patients were relatively resistant to penicillin (MIC, 0.1 to 0.5 micrograms/mL) . In a study to determine if the patients with relatively resistant pneumococci (RRP) differed from patients with normally susceptible pneumococci, 18 patients with RRP showed no significant difference from their matched controls in antibiotic use during the two months prior to isolation of the pneumococcus . Other variables that showed no significant difference between the two groups were (1) antibiotic use in household contacts in the previous six months, (2) presence of chronic infection in the case or control patients, and (3) recurrence of pneumococcal infection following therapy . The high rate of relative resistance to penicillin is heretofore unknown in a general, unconfined population in this country . The case-control study suggests that no strong relationship exists between isolating RRP and prior penicillin administration . More extensive surveys in the United States are needed.

J Gen Microbiol, 1980 May, 118(Pt 1), 85 - 94
Regulation of synthesis of beta-fructofuranosidase (invertase) in Streptococcus mitis; Sund ML et al.; beta-Fructofuranosidase activity was found to be cell-bound in Streptococcus mitis ATCC 903 . The following evidence suggests that induction functions as a regulatory mechanism for beta-fructofuranosidase in S . mitis: (1) on transfer of glucose-grown exponential phase bacteria to sucrose medium, the specific activity of beta-fructofuranosidase increased fourfold in the course of one generation; (2) other sugars had no stimulatory effect on the rate of synthesis of beta-fructofuranosidase; (3) the effect of sucrose on the rate of synthesis of beta-fructofuranosidase could be measured within a few minutes . Glucose, fructose and mannose repressed beta-fructofuranosidase . The addition of glucose to bacteria growing on sucrose repressed beta-fructofuranosidase for about one generation . The intracellular concentration of glucose was considerably increased during repression, while the intracellular concentration of glycolytic intermediates did not vary significantly.

Immunology, 1980 May, 40(1), 97 - 106
Specificity of antibodies induced by Streptococcus mutans during immunization against dental caries; Russell MW et al.; Protection against smooth surface dental caries was investigated in fifteen young rhesus monkeys which were immunized subcutaneously with Streptococcus mutans serotype c in Freund's incomplete adjuvant . Monkeys immunized with killed whole organisms developed significantly less caries than control animals . Monkeys immunized with pronase-treated cell walls developed significantly more caries than control animals while monkeys immunized with untreated cell walls showed no such enhancement of caries . Haemagglutinating and complement-fixing antibodies to cell walls and culture supernatant antigens (SN Ag) of S . mutans developed in the sera of all immunized animals to a similar degree . Antibodies to lipoteichoic acid and to an insoluble dextran preparation were found in all immunized animals and showed no relationship to the prevalence of caries . Antibodies to the serotype c polysaccharide were also found in animals immunized with whole cells and pronase-treated cell walls . However, precipitating antibody levels to partially purified antigens I/II and II, derived from SN Ag, but present also in cells, were related to the development of caries . Animals immunized with whole cells and with untreated cell walls developed a brisk antibody response to antigen I/II, while those immunized with pronase-treated cell walls responded more slowly . The results suggest that immunization may induce both caries reduction and enhancement, depending on the antibody response which is developed.

J Neurol Sci, 1980 May, 46(2), 233 - 7
Induction of hydrocephalus in mice by i.c . inoculation with a streptococcus isolated in mice following passage of multiple sclerosis brain material; Oaten SW et al.; Following the intracerebral passage in 1-day-old mice of brain material from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients hydrocephalus was produced . An organism, identified as a Streptococcus, was isolated from the hydrocephalic brains . When grown in pure culture the Streptococcus was capable of producing gross hydrocephalus in 1-day-old mice by destruction of the ependyma and blockage of the aqueduct . The organism cannot be allotted to any known streptococcal species nor can it be said at this stage that it is related to MS . The failure to detect bacteria in the original MS brains by bacteriological culture methods makes its origin open to question.

Dig Dis Sci, 1980 May, 25(5), 392 - 5
Retroperitoneal abscess . Case report and review of the literature; Harris LF et al.; The case of a 93-year-old female with a Streptococcus pneumoniae retroperitoneal abscess diagnosed by physical examination and abdominal ultrasonography is presented . Review of the literature reveals no previous cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae retroperitoneal abscess . Retroperitoneal abscess is a complication of common medical diseases . Delay in diagnosis contributes to a high mortality rate and surgical drainage is the primary mode of therapy . The new diagnostic techniques of ultrasonography, radionucleotide scanning with gallium-67 citrate or indium-111 chloride, and computerized tomography appear to provide a sensitive method for earlier diagnosis.

Ann Sclavo, 1980 May-Jun, 22(3), 444 - 9
{The importance of C-reactive protein (CRP) in scarlet fever diagnosis (author's transl)}; Ulivelli A et al.; Scarlet fever, especially in the mild and attenuated forms, proposes considerable diagnostic problems . The Authors, on the basis of their cases, remark the importance of C-reactive protein (CRP) positivity . After comparing the high initial positivity of this aspecific index of illness to the bacteriological pharyngeal findings and to the movement of antibodies against the Streptococcus, they think that CRP in scarlet fever may have a punctual significance, also for the ease and the quickness of this test.

Appl Environ Microbiol, 1980 May, 39(5), 1054 - 8
Ecology of Streptococcus faecium bacteriophage in chicken gut; Houghton SB et al.; The interaction in the chick gut between Streptococcus faecium and its phage was examined . In conventional chicks, large numbers of S . faecium and phage were found in the cecum and smaller numbers were found in the anterior gut . In gnotobiotic chicks associated with S . faecium SY1 and its phage, there was no marked effect on bacterial numbers, but resistance to the phage rapidly developed . Depression of chick growth caused by S . faecium strain SY1 was partially reversed by its phage.

Ann Sclavo, 1980 May-Jun, 22(3), 385 - 403
{Neonatal meningitis (personal contribution)}; Rossolini A et al.; The authors, after a review of the literature about etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, pathological anatomy and clinic of newborn meningitis, report a personal experience of 15 cases . The more frequent etiological agents were Gram-positive bacteria (60%) and in particular Listeria monocytogenes type 4 and Streptococcus agalactiae . Gram-negative bacteria were isolated in 40% of cases and E . coli presented the highest ratio . All patients were treated with ampicillin-CAF association intravenous for the first 3-5 days and then i.m . or oral . The survival ratio was 77% in case of Gram-positive meningitis and 83% in case of Gram-negative meningitis . Sequeles were observed only among patients with Gram-negative meningitis; it's important to remark that in these cases the etiological agent was CAF-resistant.

Infect Immun, 1980 May, 28(2), 319 - 24
Kinetics of phagocyte response to group B streptococcal infections in newborn rats; Schuit KE et al.; To test the hypothesis that inadequate in vivo mobilization of leukocytes may contribute to the unique susceptibility of neonates to infection, we studied the kinetics of phagocyte response to neonatal and adult rats to intraperitoneal infection with group B streptococcus, type Ia . The 50% lethal dose was considerably greater for adults than for neonates (1.1 x 10(7) colony-forming units per g versus 2.7 x 10(2) colony-forming units per g) . After challenge with group B streptococcus, type Ia, the number of neonatal peritoneal leukocytes increased more slowly than did those of adult rats . For example, at 4 h, the adult neutrophil count was 41 times greater than that of the neonate, but at 24 h, neonatal peritoneal neutrophils had not yet reached the adult 4-h level . Peritoneal macrophages also increased more rapidly in adults than in neonates . After intraperitoneal infection, both adults and neonates developed bacteremia, but adults cleared the bacteria with greater efficiency . Adult blood neutrophils increased 247% by 12 h and then decreased; neonatal neutrophils steadily decreased to a 57% reduction by 24 h . These data suggest that the neonatal neutrophil response to group B streptococcus, type Ia, infection is inadequate and may contribute to the high mortality associated with this infection.

J Bacteriol, 1980 May, 142(2), 568 - 80
Interactions of competent Streptococcus sanguis (Wicky) cells with native or denatured, homologous or heterologous deoxyribonucleic acids; Ranhand JM; Competent cell-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) interactions were examined using tritium-labeled homologous or heterologous native or denatured DNAs and competent Streptococcus sanguis Wicky cells (strain WE4) . The DNAs used were extracted from WE4 cells, Escherichia coli B cells, and E . coli bacteriophages T2, T4, T6, and T7 . The reactions examined were: (i) total DNA binding, (ii) deoxyribonuclease-resistant DNA binding, and (iii) the production of acid-soluble products from the DNA . Optimal temperatures for the reactions were as follows: reaction (i), between 30 and 40 degrees C; reaction (ii), 30 degrees C; and reaction (iii), greater than 40 degrees C . The rates for the reactions (expressed as molecules of DNA that reacted per minute per colony-forming unit) did not vary greatly from one DNA source to another . With a constant competent cell concentration and differing DNA concentrations below a saturation level (from a given source), a different but constant fraction of the added DNA was cell bound, deoxyribonuclease resistant, and degraded to acid-soluble products . In experiments where the number of competent cells was varied and the DNA concentration was held constant, again essentially the same result was obtained . The extent of reactions (i), (ii), and (iii) depended upon the numbers as well as the source of DNA molecules applied to competent cells . Calcium ion essential for native DNA-cell reactions was also found essential for denatured DNA-cell reactions . Data obtained from competition experiments lead to the conclusion that competent WE4 cells contain specific sites for native as well as denatured DNAs.

Am J Med, 1980 May, 68(5), 649 - 54
Hypoglycemia as a manifestation of sepsis; Miller SI et al.; Hypoglycemia has rarely been described as a clinical sign of severe bacterial sepsis . We recently encountered nine patients in whom hypoglycemia (mean serum glucose of 22 mg/dl) was associated with overwhelming sepsis . Clinical disease in these patients included pneumonia and cellulitis; in three patients, no focus of infection was apparent . Altered mental status, metabolic acidosis, leukopenia, abnormal clotting studies and bacteremia were common features in these cases . In four patients, no cause for hypoglycemia other than sepsis was present . In five patients, another possible metabolic cause for hypoglycemia was present (alcoholism in four and chronic renal insufficiency in one) although none had been observed to be hypoglycemic on previous hospitalizations . Streptococcus pneumoniae (three cases) and Hemophilus influenzae, type b, (two cases) were the most common pathogens, and the over-all mortality was 67 per cent . The mechanism(s) for hypoglycemia with sepsis is not well defined . Depleted glycogen stores, impaired gluconeogenesis and increased peripheral glucose utilization may all be contributing factors . Incubation of bacteria in fresh blood at room temperature does not increase the normal rate of breakdown of glucose suggesting that the hypoglycemia occurs in vivo . Hypoglycemia is an important sign of overwhelming sepsis that may be more common than has previously been recognized.

Obstet Gynecol, 1980 May, 55(5 Suppl), 171S - 177S
Group B streptococcal neonatal infection: clinical review of plans for prevention and preliminary report of quantitative antepartum cultures; Bobitt JR et al.; The neonatal and obstetric approaches to preventing group B streptococcal neonatal infections are reviewed . Although recent reports recommend prophylactic antibiotic treatment of antepartum and intrapartum group B streptococcal carriers and low-birth-weight infants, acceptance of these schemes is not widespread . A preliminary study to evaluate the value of semiquantitative vaginal and cervical cultures of antepartum women for group B streptococcus in predicting maternal and neonatal infectious morbidity revealed: 1) 11% of the study population were carriers (group B streptococcus isolated from broth only) but only 2.8% had heavy colonization (growth in broth and on streaked plates), and 2) morbidity associated with 8 heavily colonized mothers during the current pregnancy included group B streptococcal endometritis (1 patient), neonatal sepsis (1), and readmission of a newborn for transient cyanosis (1) . Two of the heavily colonized mothers were known carriers in their last pregnancy; 1 had group B streptococcal endometritis and the infant of the second developed clinical sepsis at 2 weeks of age . The clinical value of semiquantitative culture techniques requires additional investigation.

J Exp Med, 1980 May 1, 151(5), 1275 - 87
The role of specific antibody in alternative complement pathway-mediated opsonophagocytosis of type III, group B Streptococcus; Edwards MS et al.; The native capsular polysaccharide antigen of type III, group B Streptococcus contains a terminal sialic acid residue on each repeating unit that masks all end-group galactopyranose residues and prevents alternative pathway complement activation by adult human sera in the absence of type-specific antibody . The critical role of the sialic acid residues in allowing the organism to evade activating the alternative complement pathway was shown when neuraminidase treatment of the organism converted the bacteria to activators of the alternative pathway as assessed in agammaglobulinemic serum . The requirement for specific antibody in permitting alternative pathway activation by the fully sialated bacteria was shown when sera that contained low levels of specific antibody failed to activate this pathway, and when prior absorption of serum that contained higher type-specific antibody levels with the capsular antigen failed to activate this pathway . The use of C2-deficient sera showed that the calssical pathway was not required for antibody-dependent alternative pathway activation . The use of isotonic, pH 7.5, veronal-NaCl buffer that contained 1% gelatin and that was supplemented to 4 mM Mg++ and 16 mM EGTA and adjusted to pH 7.5 (MgEGTA) ruled out the participation of the C1-bypass pathway . The presence of sialic acid on the bacterial surface is one means of evading an important mechanism of natural immunity, namely activation of complement by the alternative pathway . Only specific antibody, i.e., acquired immunity, can overcome this virulence factor.

Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1980 May 1, 137(1), 34 - 8
The natural history of group B streptococcal colonization in the pregnant woman and her offspring . I . Colonization studies; Yow MD et al.; A longitudinal study of colonization by group B streptococcus (GBS) was conducted in 93 pregnant women and 92 of their infants . Positive cultures were obtained from vaginal swab specimens on at least one occasion during pregnancy from 20.4% of the women . Three types of carriage were observed: chronic, transient, and intermittent . At the time of delivery, 12.9% of the mothers were colonized by GBS . GBS colonization occurred in 41.7% of the infants of the mothers colonized intrapartum . Only 1.2% of infants intrapartum culture-negative mothers were colonized . Infants colonized at birth were culture negative by 4 months of age . This study suggests that interruption of vertical transmission of GBS from mother to infant not only would influence the incidence of early-onset GBS disease but also might reduce the incidence of late-onset GBS disease.

Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1980 May, 35(5), 548 - 53
{Reciprocal in vitro actions of Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces and Veillonella: a simplified model for carbohydrate metabolism in plaque}; Distler W et al.; Different acids can be found in vitro, if glucose is metabolized in plaque or by different combinations or oral bacteria: 1 . Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces do not show interactions concerning metabolism and formed acids . 2 . Streptococcus mutans and Veillonella after short incubation time produce lactate; after long time of incubation acetic and propionic acid are main products and lactic acid diminishes . 3 . Actinomyces and Veillonella react similar to Streptococcus mutans and Veillonella . Succinate produced by Actinomyces is fully utilized by Veillonella.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl, 1980 May-Jun, 89(3 Pt 2), 344 - 50
Experimental otitis media in chinchillas; Lewis DM et al.; Otitis media was induced in chinchillas by intrabullar injection of type 3 Streptococcus pneumoniae . It was found that the severity of a primary infection was related to the dose of bacteria injected, and animals that had recovered from a primary infection were resistant to reinfection with type 3 S pneumoniae . Middle ear effusions from infected animals contained antibodies to type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide, whereas the sera of these animals lacked this antibody, suggesting that resistance to reinfectin was due to local immune mechanisms . This idea was tested by immunizing chinchillas by various routes . Animals immunized with formalin-killed type 3 S pneumoniae by intramuscular injection (to stimulate the systemic immune system) or by intranasal inoculation (to stimulate the secretory immune system) were found to be susceptible to infection with type 3 pneumonococcus, while animals immunized by inoculation of bacterial suspension directly into the middle ear were resistant to infection . In addition, we found that ampicillin treatment of a primary infection blocks the development of resistance since antibiotic-treated animals were susceptible to reinfection with the type 3 pneumococcus . These results indicate that chinchillas develop an immunity to pneumococcal otitis media following recovery from primary infection and that this immunity is mediated primarily by local immune mechanisms rather than systemic immune responses.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl, 1980 May-Jun, 89(3 Pt 2), 339 - 43
Animal models for studying pneumococcal otitis media and pneumococcal vaccine efficacy; Giebink GS et al.; The natural history of experimental pneumococcal otitis media (POM) was studied in chinchillas following direct inoculation of Streptococcus pneumoniae into the middle ear cavity and following nasal colonization with S pneumoniae . POM was induced in over 75% of animals whose middle ears were inoculated with fewer than 1.5 x 10(2) S pneumoniae of types 3, 6A, 7F, 18C and 23B . Following nasal inoculation of pneumococci, fewer than 10% of animals spontaneously developed 50% of animals developed POM . Bacteriologic results suggested that POM induced by nasal colonization was less severe than that induced by direct middle ear inoculation, yet serum pneumococcal antibody responses were similar . These findings demonstrate the combined roles of nasopharyngeal colonization with pathogenic bacteria, compromised middle ear ventilation and immunologic response in the pathogenesis of otitis media . To determine whether pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine was effective in preventing experimental POM, 23 chinchillas were vaccinated with type 7 pneumococcal vaccine . Fourteen animals seroconverted with at least a twofold rise in serum antibody, and nine did not seroconvert . Following intranasal inoculation of type 7 S pneumoniae and application of bilateral negative middle ear pressure, only one (7%) of the vaccinated seroconverting animals and four (44%) of the nonseroconverting animals developed POM . Twenty-six of 42 (62%) unvaccinated animals developed POM . Protection was associated with high levels of serum antibody prior to nasal inoculation, and higher antibody levels were found in sterile middle ear effusions than in effusions with pneumococci . These findings suggest that vaccination with pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide may be effective for preventing type-specific pneumococcal otitis media in infants and young children.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl, 1980 May-Jun, 89(3 Pt 2), 138 - 42
Polymorphonuclear leukocyte function during otitis media; Giebink GS et al.; Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function was evaluated in children with serous (SOM) and mucoid otitis media (MOM) and in an experimental model of acute purulent otitis media due to Streptococcus pneumoniae using chinchillas . Twenty-three of 100 children with SOM or MOM had depressed peripheral blood PMN chemotactic, bactericidal or chemiluminescence activity . Depressed PMN chemotactic activity was observed in 17(18%) of 97 children . Children whose middle ear effusions cultured Hemophilus influenzae were more than twice as likely to have depressed PMN chemotactic activity as children whose effusions were sterile . Depressed PMN bactericidal activity was observed in seven (23%) of 30 children, and depressed PMN chemiluminescence activity was found in three (16%) of 19 children . Combined chemotactic and bactericidal dysfunction was observed in four (13%) of 30 children . All seven of the chinchillas with pneumococcal otitis media showed significantly depressed PMN chemotactic activity during the first week after inoculation, while only two of ten uninfected control chinchillas showed the same degree of chemotactic depression (P = .002) . The association of H . influenzae and S . pneumoniae with depressed PMN function suggested that bacterial components of these microbes might have functional similarities . Both bacteria are surrounded by capsular polysaccharides which are known to persist in mammalian tissues for an extended period . It is possible that these or other components of H . influenzae and S . pneumoniae, or even host factors generated during middle ear infection and inflammation, impair the PMN response to middle ear infection resulting in delayed bacterial killing and persistent middle ear effusion.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl, 1980 May-Jun, 89(3 Pt 2), 133 - 7
Otitis media in the young infant: an IgE-mediated disease?
Sloyer JL Jr, Ploussard JH, Karr LJ.
IgE antibody directed against noncapsular antigens of mechanically disrupted Streptococcus pneumoniae, serotype 3 rough, was demonstrated in middle ear effusions (MEE) and serum of infants with and without prior evidence of pneumococcal otitis media with effusion (OME) . The techniques employed included radioimmunoassay (RIA), passive skin testing, Prausnitz-Kustner (P/K), and enzyme-linked immunospecific assay (ELISA) . Adsorption of MEE with ultrasonically disrupted crude pneumococcal antigen (CPA-U) resulted in a reduction of total IgE counts per minute and suggested bacteria-specific IgE antibody ranging from approximately 22 to 92% of the total IgE . The biological activity of the IgE antibody was confirmed by challenging skin passively sensitized with MEE IgE and CPA-U . Areas of induration appeared 20 minutes after challenge and continued to increase in size until 90 minutes . An ELISA procedure was developed as a tool to determine the nature of the antigen(s) and to determine the class(es) of antibody other than IgE . It appeared that CPA-U possesses free amino groups and that it can withstand the rigors of autoclaving . An analysis of 45 cord bloods revealed that high levels of IgG CPA-U antibody occur in this type of sample and that no correlation exists between the IgE and IgG levels . The mean IgG:IgE ratio, optical density at 420 nm (OD 420), for cord bloods was 2.49 . In contrast, serum samples from nine infants without pneumococcal otitis media and from 14 infants with pneumococcal otitis media had lower levels of IgG antibody . There was no significant relationship between IgG and IgE OD 420 in infants who never had an episode of pneumococcal otitis media and the mean IgG:IgE was 1.88, whereas the ratio for those infants with pneumococcal otitis media was 1.56 . In addition, there was a significant correlation between IgG and IgE levels in this latter group . The results suggest that it may be important to monitor the levels of at least these two classes of antibody to enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis and recovery from otitis media.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl, 1980 May-Jun, 89(3 Pt 2), 115 - 6
Attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae to human pharyngeal epithelial cells in vitro; Andersson B et al.; The aim of this study has been to develop a test system for attachment of pneumococci to pharyngeal cells . Cells scraped from a healthy person were washed and quantitated, bacteria added and after incubation the suspension was washed and the number of adhering bacteria counted . Among strains from different infectious foci the highest number of strains with adhesive capacity was found in the otitis media group . Capacity to attach to the pharyngeal mucosa might be a virulence factor of pneumococci causing otitis media . There was a lack of distinct relation between capsular serotype and adhesive capacity indicating that the polysaccharide is not primarily responsible for the binding to epithelial cells . If attachment to the pharyngeal mucosa is a first step necessary for colonization and subsequent invasion of the tissues, then antibiotics in the secretions preventing such colonization might be of protective value in otitis-prone children.

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