Staphylococcus

J Gen Virol, 1989 Nov, 70 ( Pt 11), 3091 - 7
Expression of the human parvovirus B19 protein fused to protein A in Escherichia coli: recognition by IgM and IgG antibodies in human sera; Morinet F et al.; A 1.4 kb fragment (nucleotides 2430 to 3901) encoding portions of the human parvovirus B19 structural proteins was inserted into the pRIT2 plasmid expression vector containing the gene encoding staphylococcal Protein A under the control of the phage lambda promoter PR . The fusion protein was used to raise antibodies in rabbits . The sera were shown by immune electron microscopy to agglutinate B19 particles and were also shown to recognize the VP2 B19 capsid protein, by Western blot analysis . The B19 antigenicity of the fusion protein was confirmed by immunoblot and enzyme immunoassay with IgG and IgM anti-B19-positive reference human sera.

Can J Cardiol, 1989 Nov-Dec, 5(8), 395 - 400
Staphylococcal alpha toxin induced cardiac dysfunction; Adamo P et al.; Myocardial dysfunction in isolated heart muscle preparations from Wistar rats was induced by low concentrations (3 hemolytic units/mL) of staphylococcal alpha toxin . Exposure of isolated, intact hearts to alpha toxin caused an increase in coronary perfusion pressure within 1 min that continued to rise throughout the experiment . Similar changes occurred with intraventricular systolic pressure . Diastolic pressure initially remained stable but increased after 5 to 6 mins of treatment . Coronary pressure increased approximately 68% while ventricular contractile response was altered 45% . Short exposure to alpha toxin, followed by perfusion with toxin-free buffer did not reverse the coronary vascular response . Pretreatment of the heart with the same concentration of alpha toxoid blocked alpha toxin . Tension development in isolated atria was insensitive to 3 hemolytic units/mL of alpha toxin but it was altered by 12 hemolytic units/mL . Proteinaceous extracts from ventricular cardiac muscle inhibited alpha toxin fourfold more than extracts from atrial tissue . These data demonstrate that purified alpha toxin, administered in low concentrations to cardiac muscle with an intact vascular supply, irreversibly changes pump function primarily through vascular constriction . Direct effects on cardiac muscle tissue could only be observed with substantially higher toxin concentrations . The mechanism of action appears to be mediated through a binding or receptor response that is more sensitive in ventricular than atrial muscle.

Mol Cell Biol, 1989 Nov, 9(11), 4914 - 22
Tyrosine phosphorylation of a c-Src-like protein is increased in membranes of CD4- CD8- T lymphocytes from lpr/lpr mice; Katagiri T et al.; Mice homozygous for the autosomal recessive lpr gene have a disorder that results in autoimmunity and massive accumulation of T lymphocytes lacking CD4 and CD8 surface markers . These abnormal T cells exhibit constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation of a component of the CD3-T-cell receptor complex . We compared membrane tyrosine phosphorylation in lpr/lpr CD4- CD8- T cells and control T cells, lpr membranes exhibited a 7.3-fold increase (n = 16) in tyrosine phosphorylation of a 60-kilodalton protein . The increase was correlated with the Lpr but not the CD4- CD8- phenotype in that p60 phosphorylation was not increased in membranes from normal CD4- CD8- thymocytes . To identify the p60 in lpr cells, we examined the activity of several T-cell tyrosine-specific protein kinases . p56lck phosphorylation was only slightly increased in lpr membranes (2.2-fold; n = 16) . Phorbol ester treatment of intact T cells before membrane isolation caused p56lck to migrate as pp60lck; however, pp60lck could be clearly distinguished from the pp60 in lpr cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis . The pp60 from lpr cells exhibited several isoforms at pH approximately 6.3 to 6.5 . Although on two-dimensional gels pp60c-src had a pI (6.4 to 6.8) within a similar region, p60c-src mRNA, protein, and kinase activities were not increased in lpr cells . In addition, staphylococcal V8 proteolytic cleavage of the lpr pp60 isolated on two-dimensional gels yielded two major fragments, a pattern distinct from that of pp60c-src . However, by using an antiserum against the C-terminal sequence of c-Src and other related kinases, including p59fyn, the pp60 could be immunoprecipitated in greater amounts from lpr than from control T cells . When pp59(fyn) was selectively immunoprecipitated from T-cell membranes with specific antisera, its molecular weight, proteolytic cleavage pattern, and behavior on two-dimensional gels were identical to those of the pp60 from lpr cells . We conclude that p59(fyn) phosphorylation is increased in membranes from lpr/lpr CD4(-) CD8(-) T cells and that the increase is correlated with constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation and perhaps with the expansion of this unusual T-cell population.

Eur J Immunol, 1989 Nov, 19(11), 2175 - 7
Antigen-induced apoptosis in developing T cells: a mechanism for negative selection of the T cell receptor repertoire; Jenkinson EJ et al.; Herein we have investigated the ability of antigen to induce thymocyte death by apoptosis on the basis that this may be the mechanism for the deletion of autoreactive cells during T cell development . We show that the ability of the bacterial "superantigen" staphylococcal enterotoxin B to cause specific depletion of V beta 8+ cells when added to thymus organ cultures is accompanied by DNA degradation into oligonucleosomal fragments, indicating that depletion involves apoptosis . Our results provide the first direct evidence that antigen-induced apoptosis can be triggered in developing T cells.

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Nov, 8(11), 962 - 7
Evaluation of four qualitative methods for detection of beta-lactamase production in Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species; Petersson AC et al.; Four qualitative methods for the detection of beta-lactamase production in Staphylococcus and Micrococcus species were evaluated and compared with a quantitative macroiodometric reference method . The disc diffusion test with penicillin G and the cloverleaf method could not separate beta-lactamase-positive from beta-lactamase-negative strains . Two applications of the chromogenic cephalosporin test, using uninduced strains and strains grown on blood agar plates, gave a large number of false negative and false positive results . False negative reactions were most common among uninduced strains, while the false positive reactions were most often recorded for Staphylococcus saprophyticus . A high degree of efficiency was recorded for the nitrocefin spot test, using induced strains grown on antibiotic susceptibility agar, and for the starch-iodine plate method . The starch-iodine plate with methicillin as inducer gave the most reliable results.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Nov, 27(11), 2624 - 5
Evaluation of trehalose-mannitol broth for differentiation of Staphylococcus epidermidis from other coagulase-negative staphylococcal species; Knapp CC et al.; Trehalose-mannitol agar and various broth formulations thereof were evaluated for the differentiation of Staphylococcus epidermidis from other common coagulase-negative staphylococcal species isolated from human blood cultures . While this differentiation was accurately made on trehalose-mannitol agar in 18 h, modification of the medium to a broth formulation containing 2% each trehalose and mannitol in 0.2 ml of purple broth base provided greater than 95% accuracy when a heavy inoculum was incubated on a rotary shaker for at least 4 h.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1989 Nov, 108(11), 580 - 3
{Interferon production by primary culture of human endothelial cells}; Shcheglovitova ON et al.; Endothelial cells of human umbilical vein are capable of producing interferon upon induction with Newcastle disease virus, influenza virus, and poly I: poly C, but not staphylococcal enterotoxin A . All the interferons produced belonged to the alpha-type . After treatment with influenza virus the endothelial cells produce two subtypes of alpha-interferon: acid-labile and acid-stable.

J Immunol, 1989 Nov 1, 143(9), 2814 - 9
Sequences outside a minimal immunodominant site exert negative effects on recognition by staphylococcal nuclease-specific T cell clones; Vacchio MS et al.; In recent years, synthetic peptides have been utilized extensively to characterize the minimal essential immunodominant sites on model protein Ag . However, little work has focused on the effect that sequences flanking these minimal recognition sites may exert on T cell recognition . Previous work with staphylococcal nuclease (Nase) demonstrated that I-Ek-restricted clones recognize the peptide 81-100, whereas I-Ab-restricted clones recognize the over-lapping but non-cross-reacting peptide 91-110 . Further analysis with 15 or 10 residue peptides within the region 81-110 reveals that the minimal sequence capable of stimulating I-Ek-restricted clones is contained within the decapeptide 91-100 . Addition of residues 86-90, to give the peptide 86-100, enhanced the recognition substantially, whereas addition of residues 101-105 produced a 91-105 peptide with no stimulatory ability . These results suggest that interactions between the antigenic peptide 91-100 and residues within the flanking 101-105 sequence have negative consequences for presentation of the immunodominant epitope to T cell clones . Introduction of single amino acid substitutions within 91-105 produced peptides that induce responses comparable to those seen with 91-100 . These results are consistent with the suggestion of negative interactions between the minimal immunodominant site and flanking sequences in that single residue substitutions may remove these negative interactions and lead to restoration of stimulatory ability . The negative effect of flanking sequences on T cell recognition of immunodominant sites presents new considerations for development of synthetic vaccines as well as for understanding the biology of Ag processing and presentation.

Blood, 1989 Nov 1, 74(6), 1989 - 96
Identification of and partial characterization of platelet vitronectin: evidence for complex formation with platelet-derived plasminogen activator inhibitor-1; Preissner KT et al.; Vitronectin (VN; = complement S-protein), a plasma glycoprotein that is also associated with extracellular sites, was identified in washed human platelets contaminated with less than 0.05% of plasma VN . A specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for VN has been developed and was used to detect and to quantitate VN in detergent extracts of washed platelets with 8.1 +/- 4.6 micrograms/10(9) platelets (n = 10), representing about 0.8% of the plasma VN pool . Platelet and plasma VN were similar by immunochemical criteria using Western-blot analysis, although platelet VN was mainly found as partially proteolyzed polypeptide . Total release of platelet VN occurred at optimal doses of Ca-ionophore 23187 or thrombin, whereas no VN was released by platelet treatment with digitonin or Staphylococcus alpha-toxin . During stimulation of washed platelets with various concentrations of thrombin, the nearly concomitant release of VN and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) together with platelet factor 4 indicated the association of VN with inner-platelet storage granules . Furthermore, platelet VN and PAI-1 in Ca-ionophore releasates comigrated during ultracentrifugation in high mol wt fractions of sucrose density gradients, indicating a possible association of both components . Complex formation of platelet VN and PAI-1 was verified by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and accounts at least in part for a high molecular form of platelet VN . The identification of platelet VN and its binding to platelet PAI-1 raises the possibility that VN, in contrast to other adhesive proteins, may participate in localized regulatory functions of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in platelet-matrix interactions and the protection of the matrix against proteolysis.

Gene, 1989 Oct 30, 82(2), 249 - 57
Cloning, sequencing and overexpression of the mannitol-specific enzyme-III-encoding gene of Staphylococcus carnosus; Fischer R et al.; The gene which encodes the mannitol-specific enzyme III (EIIImtl) of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system of Staphylococcus carnosus, has been cloned . Genomic libraries of S . carnosus DNA were constructed using the expression vector pUC19 and EIIImtl-producing clones were identified using rabbit polyclonal antiserum . A 700-bp Dde I fragment, containing the complete gene encoding EIIImtl, was sequenced by the dideoxy chain-termination technique . Upstream from the ORF for EIIImtl one can find a sequence analogous to that of the Escherichia coli promoter . This region acts as a strong promoter when subcloned into the promoter test vector M13HDL17 . EIIImtl was overproduced using the inducible T7 polymerase system and purified to homogeneity . Amino acid sequence comparison confirmed a 38% similarity to the hydrophilic enzyme-III-like portion of enzyme IImtl of E . coli . There is also a 36% similarity to the N terminus of the fructose-specific phospho-carrier protein from E . coli.

J Immunol Methods, 1989 Oct 24, 123(2), 233 - 40
Characterization of individual tumor necrosis factor alpha-and beta-producing cells after polyclonal T cell activation; Andersson U et al.; Mononuclear cells from human blood were stimulated to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) or beta (TNF beta) production by the T cell mitogens anti-CD3 antibody (OKT3) or staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) . The cells were then fixed and subsequently permeabilized in suspension by the detergent saponin in order to enable TNF alpha- or TNF beta-specific antibodies to enter the cells and interact with cytoplasmic TNF in producer cells . A characteristic morphology of the staining pattern of the two cytokines was noted, with a local accumulation in the cytoplasm in a perinuclear position reflecting the presence of TNF alpha or -beta in the Golgi system . TNF alpha-producing cells appeared 2-3 h after activation of the cultures and increased up to 6 h . The majority of these early TNF alpha-producing cells were monocytes as judged by two-color staining and morphology, but a small fraction of CD4- and CD8-positive T cells was found up to 72 h . TNF beta production started later and peaked 18 or 48 h after OKT3 or SEA stimulation, respectively . The number of TNF beta-producing cells was much larger than that of TNF alpha-producing cells, and approximately 90% of them were CD4-positive T cells . The remaining TNF beta production occurred in CD8-positive T cells and in B cells . Almost every second CD4-positive T cell made TNF beta at the peak of the SEA-induced synthesis . The cytotoxic activity found in the supernatants correlated well with the number of TNF-producing cells found in the cultures . Cells from fresh blood or unstimulated cultures showed no or very few TNF-producing cells.

Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1989 Oct 23, 238(1290), 89 - 102
The biogenesis of the cyanellae of Cyanophora paradoxa . III . In vitro synthesis of cyanellar polypeptides using separated cytoplasmic and cyanellar RNA; Burnap RL et al.; RNA from Cyanophora paradoxa was separated into cytoplasmic and cyanellar fractions by using a combination of subcellular fractionation and oligo-dT chromatography . In vitro translation of the separated cytoplasmic and cyanellar RNAs in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system in the presence of {35S}methionine resulted in the incorporation of radiolabel into electrophoretically distinct sets of polypeptides . Monospecific and polyspecific antibodies that react with cyanellar polypeptides were used to probe the in vitro translation products by indirect immunoprecipitation by using Staphylococcus protein A conjugated to Sepharose beads . The results indicate that linker polypeptide L1 of the phycobilisome, the gamma subunit of coupling factor CF1, and subunit II of PS I are synthesized in the cytoplasm as precursor molecules that are 5-8 kDa larger than their mature sizes . Antibodies directed against the psbA gene product (the D1 protein) precipitated a polypeptide found in the translation products of the cyanellar RNA-directed reactions, which is about 1.5 kDa larger than the mature protein.

Cell, 1989 Oct 20, 59(2), 395 - 404
pT181 plasmid replication is regulated by a countertranscript-driven transcriptional attenuator; Novick RP et al.; pT181 is the prototype of a family of staphylococcal plasmids that regulate their replication by means of antisense RNAs (countertranscripts) that block expression of the plasmid-coded initiator protein . In this paper, we show that the pT181 countertranscripts induce premature termination (attenuation) of the initiator mRNA by promoting the formation of a termination-causing hairpin just 5' to the initiator start codon . In the absence of the countertranscripts, an upstream sequence, the preemptor, pairs with the proximal arm of the terminator hairpin, preventing termination and permitting transcription of the initiator gene . This system thus differs from the classical attenuators in that attenuation is driven by antisense RNAs rather than by tRNA-induced stalling of ribosomes.

Biochemistry, 1989 Oct 17, 28(21), 8277 - 86
Generation of a catalytic sequence-specific hybrid DNase; Corey DR et al.; Hybrid nucleases consisting of an oligonucleotide fused to a unique site on the relatively nonspecific phosphodiesterase staphylococcal nuclease have been shown to sequence specifically cleave DNA . We have introduced mutations into the binding pocket of the nuclease which lower the kcat/Km of the enzyme . Hybrid nucleases generated from these mutants sequence selectively hydrolyze single-stranded DNA in a catalytic fashion, and under a much wider range of conditions than was previously possible . One such hybrid nuclease (Y113A, K116C) was able to site selectively cleave single-stranded M13mp7 DNA (7214 nt), primarily at one phosphodiester bond . Another hybrid nuclease (Y113A, L37A, K116C) catalyzed the hydrolysis of a 78-nt DNA substrate with a kcat of 1.2 min-1 and a Km of 120 nM . The effects of variations in the length and sequence of the oligonucleotide binding region were examined, as were changes in the length of the tether between the oligonucleotide and the enzyme . Cleavage specificity was also assayed as a function of substrate DNA primary and secondary structure and added poly(dA).

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1989 Oct 15, 195(8), 1120 - 2
Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp septicemia in a lovebird; Bounous DI et al.; Gram-positive cocci were observed within phagocytes in the blood of a psittacine with clinical signs of blindness and CNS disease . A coagulase-negative Staphylococcus sp was isolated from blood cultures, and the bird was successfully treated with chloramphenicol . Although the primary route of infection was not determined, the infection spread secondarily via the hematogenous route and localized intraocularly . Usually, only coagulase-positive strains of Staphylococcus are considered pathogenic, and are seldom diagnosed before death.

Cancer, 1989 Oct 15, 64(8), 1747 - 52
Complications from long-term indwelling central venous catheters in hematologic patients with special reference to infection; Kappers-Klunne MC et al.; Forty-three evaluable patients with hematologic malignancies, mainly acute leukemia, were prospectively randomized to receive a double lumen central venous catheter or a totally implantable venous access system . The mean catheter stay was 166 days (median, 104 days) for the 23 double lumen catheters and 164 days (median, 65 days) for implanted systems . Exit site infections were not encountered in double lumen catheters, but there were two proven infections around the injection port of implanted devices . Tunnel infections did not occur . Seven double lumen catheters and four implanted systems were removed because of infection . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the predominant microorganism cultured from these catheters . Five of nine patients with double lumen catheters and catheter-related S . epidermidis infection and the two patients with implanted systems in whom S . epidermidis was cultured were on selective gut decontamination . The pattern of infection did not seem to be influenced by this regimen . Totally implantable systems proved to be as safe as double lumen central venous lines.

J Immunol, 1989 Oct 15, 143(8), 2583 - 8
Staphylococcal enterotoxin B and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 bind to distinct sites on HLA-DR and HLA-DQ molecules; Scholl PR et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) activate human T cells in vitro . This requires the presence of Ia+ accessory cells but does not require processing of the toxin by the accessory cell . We and others have recently demonstrated direct binding of SE to human MHC class II molecules . In this study, we have compared in detail the ability of class II molecules to bind two SE, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and SEB . Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding data indicate that SEB binds to Ia+ human cell lines with a 10-fold lower affinity than TSST-1 . Likewise, SEB precipitates HLA-DR alpha- and beta-chains from detergent lysates of Ia+ cells less efficiently than TSST-1 . The binding of TSST-1 and SEB to transfected L cells expressing HLA-DR and HLA-DQ gene products was differentially inhibited by anti-HLA-DR mAb . There was virtually no cross-inhibition of TSST-1 and SEB in competitive binding assays . We conclude that TSST-1 and SEB bind to two MHC class II sites which can be distinguished by their relative accessibility to blocking by anti-class II mAb and heterologous toxin.

J Biol Chem, 1989 Oct 15, 264(29), 17564 - 73
Evidence that platelet glycoprotein IIIa has a large disulfide-bonded loop that is susceptible to proteolytic cleavage; Beer J et al.; The proteolytic digestion of GPIIIa on intact platelets by chymotrypsin, thrombin, plasmin, trypsin, and staphylococcal V8 protease was monitored in immunoblot studies employing three different antibodies to GPIIIa, one of which was made against a 13-residue synthetic peptide containing the amino terminus of GPIIIa . Chymotrypsin, plasmin, and trypsin gave similar patterns, from which it could be inferred that the major products after extensive digestion were two-chain molecules composed of amino-terminal fragments of Mr approximately 17,000-18,000 disulfide bonded to carboxyl-terminal remnants of Mr approximately 58,000-70,000 . These patterns suggest that GPIIIa contains a large disulfide-bonded loop of at least 325 amino acids that is susceptible to proteolytic cleavage, and that the 4 cysteine residues between residues 177 and 273 bond with each other . Such a structure can also account for the presence of the PIA1 epitope, which has recently been localized to a polymorphism at position 33 on these late digestion products . Thrombin did not proteolyze GPIIIa even at 2.5 units/ml . Still to be resolved is whether the minor immunoreactive GPIIIa bands found on normal platelets are related to in vivo or in vitro proteolysis and whether GPIIIa proteolysis plays a role in chymotrypsin-induced exposure of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor.

Biochemistry, 1989 Oct 3, 28(20), 8249 - 54
Homologous membrane folate binding proteins in human placenta: cloning and sequence of a cDNA; Ratnam M et al.; A preparation of folate binding protein purified from human placental membranes in the presence of a variety of protease inhibitors followed by deglycosylation with N-glycanase gave a sharp band at Mr approximately 28,000 following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The deglycosylated protein bound {3H}folic acid as tightly as the native protein . Peptides obtained following digestion of the purified protein with staphylococcal V8 protease and HPLC purification were sequenced . Polyclonal antibodies against the protein preparation were affinity purified and used to screen a placental cDNA expression library . A full-length cDNA for a placental folate binding protein was thus obtained and the corresponding protein sequence deduced . This result, taken together with the peptide sequence data, indicates the expression of at least two homologous folate binding proteins in placenta, one of which appears to be identical with the folate binding protein from human milk and nasopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cells; the cDNA sequence obtained corresponds to the other protein . The deduced protein sequence is characterized by a putative 16-residue amino-terminal signal peptide that is cleaved, resulting in a 239-residue polypeptide . The mature protein exhibits two potential sites for N-linked glycosylation at Asn-99 and Asn-179, eight potential intramolecular disulfide bonds, and a stretch of hydrophobic residues at the carboxyl terminus that could form a transmembrane domain . The protein bears a 68% sequence homology with the KB cell folate binding protein and may represent a fetal folate transport protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ann Plast Surg, 1989 Oct, 23(4), 284 - 8
Infection following breast reconstruction; Armstrong RW et al.; Of 33 patients who underwent 49 breast implantations for reconstructive surgery, 8 (24%) patients developed implant infections . All 8 of these patients were among a subgroup of 15 having immediate breast reconstructions with tissue expander implants after simple or modified radical mastectomy (a 53% infection rate) . The infection rate increased substantially when bilateral procedures involving implants were performed as opposed to unilateral implants . Nine implants were removed (an overall implant loss rate of 18%) . Patients who underwent other breast reconstruction techniques (i.e., including immediate reconstruction with permanent implants or delayed reconstruction with or without tissue expanders) did not develop infection unless they had had simultaneous immediate reconstruction with a tissue expander in the contralateral breast . The most frequently isolated organism was the coagulase-negative staphylococcus . The study concludes that neither the tissue expander nor immediate reconstruction is a risk factor, but the combination may lead to an unacceptable infection rate, especially in the face of bilateral breast procedures.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1989 Oct, 78(1), 31 - 6
Specificity of kidney-bound antibodies in Goodpasture's syndrome; Saxena R et al.; The specificity of kidney-bound antibodies in Goodpasture's syndrome was studied and compared with the specificity of circulating anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies . Antibodies were eluted from kidneys of two patients with Goodpasture's syndrome and from one normal human kidney . Their specificity was studied by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy, ELISA and immunoblotting using purified GBM components as antigens . It was shown that the reactivity of the eluted antibodies was very similar to those of the circulating anti-GBM antibodies . Both showed major reactivity against the M2 subunit of the globular domain of collagen IV . Competitive inhibition of the binding of 125I-labelled serum antibodies from a patient with Goodpasture's syndrome to the Goodpasture antigen by the eluted antibodies and those from their respective sera further supported that the circulating and the kidney-bound anti-GBM antibodies have similar specificity . These observations extend the support to the clinical usage of plasmapheresis and more recently, immunoadsorption using staphylococcal protein A as the effective therapeutic measure for the removal of circulating anti-GBM antibodies in the management of Goodpasture's syndrome.

APMIS, 1989 Oct, 97(10), 935 - 40
Effects of extracellular products from Staphylococcus saprophyticus on human lymphocytes; Hjelm E et al.; Extracellular products from Staphylococcus saprophyticus were isolated and tested for their effect on the lymphoproliferative activity of con A and LPS and on the growth of human lymphocytes . The stimulatory effects of con A or LPS were not affected but a T-cell mitogenic activity was noted after 5 days of incubation . The extracellular material was separated by gel chromatography and the mitogenic activity was shown to be located to the protein fraction.

APMIS, 1989 Oct, 97(10), 923 - 5
Serum HDL2 distribution in patients with coronary heart disease and controls as estimated by a precipitation reaction between HDL2 and an extract of Staphylococcus capitis; Osland A et al.; Serum HDL2 concentration has been shown to be lowered in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) . Since we previously reported that serum HDL2 can be estimated by single radial diffusion in agar containing an extract of Staphylococcus capitis, it seemed of interest to study whether serum HDL2 as estimated by this method is different in CHD patients and controls . It was shown that relative activity of HDL2, assessed by the method, was appreciably lower in 40 men with angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) than in a control group of 39 men of the same age . Also apolipoprotein A (apo A) concentration was lower in the CAD group, but group difference in HDL2 activity was greater than separation based upon apoA . It is suggested that precipitation with an extract of Staphylococcus capitis might be a useful approach to estimate serum HDL2 levels.

Infect Immun, 1989 Oct, 57(10), 2998 - 3002
Cloning and expression of Staphylococcus saprophyticus urease gene sequences in Staphylococcus carnosus and contribution of the enzyme to virulence; Gatermann S et al.; The urease gene of Staphylococcus saprophyticus CCM883 was cloned and expressed in Staphylococcus carnosus TM300 . In vitro translation of the cloned DNA sequences revealed six polypeptides (of 70, 47, 29, 27, 20, and 17 kilodaltons) that were associated with enzyme activity . Introduction of the cloned genes into a urease-negative mutant of S . saprophyticus restored the virulence of this strain, confirming our previous suggestion (S . Gatermann, J . John, and R . Marre, Infect . Immun . 57:110-116, 1989) that this enzyme is a major virulence factor of the organism and contributes mainly to cystopathogenicity.

J Wildl Dis, 1989 Oct, 25(4), 592 - 6
Pyogranulomatous pneumonias due to Nocardia asteroides and Staphylococcus epidermidis in two koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus); Wigney DI et al.; Pyogranulomatous pneumonia was detected in two koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) . Nocardia asteroides was isolated from one koala with extensive pneumonia, pleurisy and splenitis . Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from a second koala with pneumonia restricted to the left cranial lobe . Both koalas were in poor condition and had underlying urogenital disease . It was concluded that each organism had acted as an opportunistic pathogen in its compromised host.

J Dent Hyg, 1989 Oct, 63(8), 358 - 9, 362, 388-9
An investigation on the safety of rewashed gloves; Glang-Yetter C et al.; Despite recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services, some dental professionals are using rewashed gloves . To study the effects of repeated washings, latex gloves were washed up to 50 times and tested for defects before and after washing . Then, to investigate the safety of rewashed gloves, they were contaminated with either bacteriophage viruses or Staphylococcus epidermidis . After application of four commonly used hand-washing solutions, the contaminated gloves were washed one to five times and tested for residual organisms . Our results showed that one percent of the gloves had manufacturer's defects, and that repeated washings did not increase the incidence of these defects . Furthermore, in spite of significant reductions in the number of microorganisms on contaminated gloves after repeated washings, rewashed gloves remained infected with the test organisms . The results of this investigation indicate that rewashed gloves have the potential to cause cross-contamination.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1989 Oct, (10), 87 - 91
{The effect of antifungal agents on the chemoluminescence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes}; Vorob'ev AA et al.; The intensity of the formation of active forms of oxygen by Staphylococcus-activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was registered according to the level of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence . Peritoneal PMNL of rats were shown to be already in an activated state . Activation probably occurred in the process of their penetration into the abdominal cavity . For this reason, further studies of three chloral and griseofulvin derivatives with respect to their influence on the metabolic activity of phagocytes were made on PMNL of human peripheral blood . The compounds under study were found to produce a suppressive effect, which was probably linked with their influence of the enzymatic cell systems taking part on the formation of active forms of oxygen.

Mol Immunol, 1989 Oct, 26(10), 993 - 1006
A substantial proportion of the adult BALB/c available B cell repertoire consists of multireactive B cells; Rousseau PG et al.; A variety of studies have documented multireactive antibodies in both the preimmune and naturally activated repertoire, but the relationship of these primarily IgM multireactive antibodies to antigen-specific primary and secondary response antibodies is currently not defined . In order to characterize the BALB/c preimmunization specificity repertoire and the baseline of naturally activated antibodies from which the immune response to a specific antigen (hen egg-white lysozyme, HEL) develops, panels of polyclonally activated blast-derived hybridomas (BlAbs) and natural antibody hybridomas (NAbs) from the spleens of unimmunized mice were screened for binding to a panel of nine complex antigens . Over half of the IgM-secreting BlAbs produced antibodies that were antigen-reactive; of these, over half were multireactive, i.e . capable of binding more than one complex antigen . There was no bias towards self vs foreign or thymus-dependent vs thymus-independent antigens . The frequency of antigen-reactive NAbs was about half the frequency of antigen-reactive antibodies found among the BlAbs . However, over half of the antigen-reactive NAbs were also multireactive, and the reactivity profile within the antigen-reactive subset of NAbs was similar to that within the antigen-reactive subset of BlAbs . These results suggest that the available repertoire of adult spleen cells contains a high proportion of multireactive antibodies, and that a subset of the available repertoire is randomly activated, yielding a small proportion of natural antibodies which closely reflect a random sampling of the available repertoire . Although monospecific precursor cells are rare, monospecific IgM BlAbs were found for all antigens in the panel except staphylococcal nuclease and mouse IgG . Monospecific as well as multireactive HEL-binding BlAbs were found at frequencies comparable to other protein antigens in the panel, and HEL-reactive NAbs were also present . On the other hand, it has previously been shown that HEL-reactive IgM antibodies (including multireactive antibodies whose specificities include HEL) are rare or absent in both the primary and secondary response to HEL . This cannot be attributed to an absence of available precursor B cells, and most likely reflects an early recruitment of HEL-reactive clones into the peripheral B cell pool . The possibility that polyreactive B cells may serve as precursors for some HEL-specific IgG antibodies is discussed.

J Am Podiatr Med Assoc, 1989 Oct, 79(10), 492 - 6
Diagnosis and treatment of staphylococcal diseases; Tan JS et al.; Staphylococcus is, by far, the most commonly seen organism in podiatric infections . Although common, staphylococcal infections are difficult to understand and treat . These bacteria have undergone significant changes in their pathogenicity and antibiotic susceptibility over the last few years . Methicillin-resistant strains, once relatively rare, are becoming a major therapeutic dilemma in some centers.

Nippon Seikeigeka Gakkai Zasshi, 1989 Oct, 63(10), 1248 - 55
{Experimental studies on haematogenous osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus hyicus in mice}; Niki M; 10(7) colony forming units of 18 different strains of Staphylococcus hyicus were intravenously administered into mice . Five mice as a group received each strain of S . hyicus . At 14 days after inoculation, 11 out of 18 strains were found in the bone marrow . Out of these 11 strains, SMUH 10 and SMUH 18 caused remarkable inflammation which was characterized by roentgenographical change . A number of these organisms were detected in the bone marrow until 28 and 42 days after the injection, suggesting specific lodgement of the strain in mouse bone marrow . X-rays of the upper and lower extremities taken 14 days after inoculation showed multiple small radiolucent areas surrounded by small rims representing osteosclerosis . However, these changes did not show any aggravation during 70 days after inoculation suggesting tendency of improvement.

Nippon Kyobu Geka Gakkai Zasshi, 1989 Oct, 37(10), 2111 - 6
{Treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis--analysis of eleven cases}; Katayama Y et al.; A retrospective examination was made of eleven patients that developed prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) during the period from January 1960 to December 1987 . Infection occurred in one patient within 60 days after surgery and in 10 thereafter . Causative organism was found in 6 patients . As organism, Staphylococcus species were noted in 4 patients and Peptstreptococcus was noted in one patient and Aspergyllus was noted in one patient . Three of eleven patients received medical treatment only and the other 8 patients were received surgical treatment . Mortality rate was 67% in medical group and 29% in surgical group . Two patients with medical treatment died of cerebral infarction about 40 days after the onset of PVE . In surgical group one patient died of uncontrollable Aspergillus infection and the other one died of dyspnea . No survivors who was treated surgically have developed reinfection or relapse of infection but four of them developed perivalvular leakage and needed reoperation . Absolute removal and closure of the valve ring abscess and reconstruction of defect should be considered for those needed surgical treatment to prevent reinfection and relapse developing.

J Clin Microbiol . 1989 Oct;27(10):2393.
Frequency of Staphylococcus intermedius as human nasopharyngeal flora; Talan DA et al.; Staphylococcus intermedius, a veterinary flora and pathogen, has recently been isolated from humans with infected dog bite wounds . The frequency of S . intermedius as a human nasopharyngeal flora was determined by culturing samples from 144 veterinary college staff members . This bacterium was isolated from only one individual (0.7%) . It appears that S . intermedius is a true zoonotic opportunistic pathogen.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1989 Oct, 67(4), 395 - 9
Rapid detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in foods with a modification of the reversed passive latex agglutination assay; Bankes P et al.; A modification of the reversed passive latex agglutination kit assay for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins by centrifugation of microtitration plates reduces the incubation time of the assay from 20-24 h to 4 h . Enterotoxins can therefore be detected in foods within the working day.

J Hosp Infect, 1989 Oct, 14(3), 193 - 200
Effects of heparin and chlorbutol on bacterial colonisation of intravascular cannulae in an in vitro model; Elliott TS et al.; An in vitro model was used to study the effects of heparinised saline, with or without the preservative chlorbutol, on the colonisation of intravascular cannulae . Chlorbutol significantly reduced cannula colonisation by Staphylococcus epidermidis . Flushing colonised cannulae with heparinised saline plus chlorbutol significantly reduced the number of organisms adhering to the inner surface of cannulae, when compared with the use of heparinised saline without preservative . Chlorbutol-preserved heparinised saline may not only maintain cannula patency by the prevention of thrombus formation, but may also reduce the incidence of bacterial colonisation of cannulae in vivo.

Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1989 Oct, 65(10), 975 - 82
{Staphylococcus haemolyticus . Bacterial resistance to teicoplanin and associated morpho-structural aspects}; Giovanetti E et al.; To improve our understanding of the bases of teicoplanin resistance we studied a "one-step" mutant of S . haemolyticus from a morphological point of view . The results show that the organization of peptidoglycan is altered in the resistant S . haemolyticus strain . It is suggested that the alterations, including the spongier cell wall structure, may prevent the teicoplanin from reaching its target.

Cancer, 1989 Oct 1, 64(7), 1400 - 3
Cisplatin-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome . Successful treatment with a staphylococcal protein A column; Watson PR et al.; Cisplatin-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), an under-reported form of HUS induced by chemotherapy, typically pursues a fulminant and lethal course . We report the cases of two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who developed massive hemolysis, profound thrombocytopenia, and dialysis-dependent renal failure after therapy with cisplatin . Plasma exchange was ineffective in both patients, but plasma perfusion with a staphylococcal protein A column produced a dramatic and permanent response in the second patient . These cases show the importance of considering HUS as a cause of renal failure in such patients who receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy, and support the role of staphylococcal protein A plasma perfusion as treatment for this condition.

Mikrobiyol Bul, 1989 Oct, 23(4), 318 - 22
{Postoperative orthopedic and wound infections}; Tumoz MA et al.; In this study, 586 clean wounds is researched in Ankara Numune Hospital 1 . Ortopaedics and Traumatology Clinic . The rate of the infection, the pathogen agent and the source of the infection in clean wounds were examined . In 586 clean wounds, 16 of them (2.7%) were postoperative infections . Coagulase (+) staphylococcus was seen in nine patients (56%) . Coagulase (-) staphylococcus was seen in one patient and all the gram (-) microorganisms were found as 43.6% . This rate is almost close to the rate of coagulase (+) staphylococcus.

Biochem J, 1989 Oct 1, 263(1), 157 - 64
Identification of a human non-interferon lymphokine activating monocyte complement biosynthesis; Drouet C et al.; A monocyte-stimulating activity produced by mitogen-induced mononuclear cells has been defined by its ability to enhance the synthesis in vitro of complement C1 subcomponents, C2 and C3 . A lymphokine responsible for this activity was purified from culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells activated by staphylococcal enterotoxin A . From 0.5 litre of supernatant the purification procedure {(NH4)2SO4 precipitation, phenyl-Sepharose chromatography and preparative electrofocusing} yielded about 100 pmol of purified lymphokine . Its pI is 7.9 and its Mr, estimated by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, is 14,600, 27,000 and 56,000, the high-Mr species representing oligomeric forms of the Mr-14,600 molecule . Its amino acid analysis reveals a high percentage of hydrophobic amino acids (34%); the absence of histidine residues suggests that it is a novel monocyte-activating lymphokine . It enhances C1r and C1s biosynthesis at a pretranslational level . From its structure and activity this lymphokine appears different from gamma-interferon.

Eur J Immunol, 1989 Oct, 19(10), 1965 - 8
T cell activation: independent induction of killing activity and interleukin 2 secretion in cytolytic hybridomas; Ozery T et al.; Memory-like cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) hybridomas exhibiting inducible killing activity and IL2 production were used to analyze the anamnestic response of CTL . Four activating agents were examined; anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody G7, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma . These agents seemed to affect CTL activities in three distinct ways . Anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody, like specific antigen, was found to be a potent inducer of specific killing and IL2 production, whereas staphylococcal enterotoxin B induced IL2 production, but not cytolytic activity . On the other hand, IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma effectively stimulated cytotoxicity without inducing IL2 production . The independent triggering of specific killing and IL2 secretion in the monoclonal cytolytic hybridomas suggests that in CTL distinct signals stimulate killing activity and IL2 production . The results also suggest that IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma trigger the cytolytic program through an alternative activation pathway which does not involve the T cell receptor.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1989 Sep 15, 163(2), 929 - 35
Direct regulation of smooth muscle contractile elements by second messengers; Nishimura J et al.; The effects of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and phorbol 12,13 dibutyrate (PDBu) on the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile elements in the rat mesenteric artery were investigated, using a method of permeabilizing smooth muscle with Staphylococcal alpha-toxin . Both cAMP and cGMP relaxed the permeabilized rat mesenteric artery at the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations {( Ca2+}i) held constant with Ca2+ EGTA buffer and Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin . In addition, forskolin and sodium nitroprusside which activate adenylate and guanylate cyclases, respectively, also induced relaxation at a fixed {Ca2+}i . In contrast PDBu which stimulates protein kinase C caused an increase in force at a constant {Ca2+}i which could be partially reversed by cAMP or cGMP . These results indicate that second messengers exert direct control over smooth muscle Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile elements, which is of physiologic and pharmacologic importance.

J Biol Chem, 1989 Sep 15, 264(26), 15165 - 8
A novel cell adhesive protein engineered by insertion of the Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser tetrapeptide; Maeda T et al.; A tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) has been shown to be a versatile cell recognition signal of extracellular matrix components for the interaction with cells . We introduced the RGDS tetrapeptide into a truncated form of protein A, a staphylococcal immunoglobulin-binding protein, by inserting an oligonucleotide cassette encoding the tetrapeptide into the coding region of the protein A expression vector pRIT2T . The mutagenized protein was capable of not only binding to immunoglobulin G but also mediating cell attachment and spreading onto an inert substrate . Cell adhesion mediated by the mutagenized protein was inhibitable by a synthetic peptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser but not by a related peptide Gly-Arg-Gly-Glu-Ser, confirming that the inserted RGDS tetrapeptide served as a recognition signal for cell adhesion . Furthermore, the RGDS-containing protein was capable of adhering cells onto an immunoglobulin-coated surface which could not by itself support cell adhesion . Thus, the cell adhesive and immunoglobulin binding activities of the mutagenized protein appear to function coordinately . The protocol described here is essentially applicable to any protein and, therefore, provides a general principle in tailoring novel multifunctional proteins having cell adhesive activity.

FEBS Lett, 1989 Sep 11, 255(1), 59 - 62
ADP-ribosylation of cell membrane proteins by staphylococcal alpha-toxin and leukocidin in rabbit erythrocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Kato I et al.; Staphylococcal alpha-toxin resulted in ADP-ribosylation of the 37 and 41 kDa proteins of a membrane preparation from rabbit erythrocytes . In the presence of 100 microM GTP, the toxin ADP-ribosylated proteins of 54 and 59 kDa and potentiated ADP-ribosylation of the 37 and 41 kDa forms . GTP had no effect on ADP-ribosylation of membrane proteins in the absence of alpha-toxin . Incubation of a membrane preparation of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes with the S and F components of staphylococcal leukocidin resulted in ADP-ribosylation of the 37 and 41 kDa proteins, respectively . Furthermore, the 37, 41, 54 and 59 kDa proteins were ADP-ribosylated by leukocidin in the presence of GTP . The ADP-ribosylation of these proteins was observed to be dependent on the incubation time and toxin dose and was abolished by prior boiling . Addition of agmatine did not attenuate ADP-ribosylation of these proteins . These results demonstrate that staphylococcal alpha-toxin and leukocidin possess ADP-ribosyltransferase activities which are potentiated by GTP and suggest that ADP-ribosylation reactions are responsible for development of the cytolytic activities of these staphylococcal toxins.

Arch Dis Child, 1989 Sep, 64(9), 1225 - 9; discussion 1229-30
Early experience of heart-lung transplantation; Smyth RL et al.; We report our experience of heart-lung transplantation for the treatment of children with terminal respiratory disease . Between May 1987 and October 1988 we performed heart-lung transplantation in five children under the age of 16 (age range 11-15) . All the patients were severely disabled by dyspnoea and hypoxia . Two had primary pulmonary hypertension, two cystic fibrosis, and one had Eisenmenger's syndrome . All five children are alive and well five to 17 months after operation and have returned to activities normal for their age . Three of the five patients had episodes of infection after operation . These were staphylococcal pneumonia, herpes simplex pneumonitis and, in one of the patients with cystic fibrosis, persistent purulent sputum . The mean number of episodes of rejection per child was 2.7 per half year . Heart-lung transplantation is a practical treatment for children in these disease groups with terminal respiratory failure.

Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1989 Sep, 36(7), 532 - 6
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using staphylococcal protein A for the measurement of rabies antibody in various species; Mebatsion T et al.; An ELISA was developed using staphylococcal protein A linked with horseradish peroxidase for detecting IgG antibody of rabies virus in human and carnivore sera (80 human, 270 fox, 40 cat, 35 marten, 5 badger and 4 polecat sera were tested in the present work) . In comparison with the serum neutralization (SN) test in cell culture, close overall agreement was obtained particularly in human and cat sera (97.5%) . Two post-vaccination human sera were found positive with ELISA values of 2.16 and 2.65 IU/0.2 ml, but with SN titers less than 1:10 . All prevaccination human sera were found negative by both tests . Regression analysis on 30 post-vaccination human sera revealed better correlation between ELISA and SN test at a serum dilution of 1:100 than at lower serum dilutions of 1:80 or 1:20 . The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.73 (p less than or equal to 0.0001).

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Sep, 24(3), 365 - 73
The effect of slime production on vancomycin efficacy in the treatment of experimental endocarditis due to Staphylococcus epidermidis; Baddour LM et al.; We compared the efficacy of vancomycin in the treatment of experimental endocarditis caused by either a parent strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis that produced slime or a daughter strain that produced less slime . After subcutaneously administered vancomycin, we noted similar cure rates and similar microbiological characteristics of endocardial infections in rats challenged with these strains, regardless of slime produced.

Cell Biol Int Rep, 1989 Sep, 13(9), 747 - 58
The anchorosome, a special chromatin granule for the anchorage of the interphase chromosome to the nuclear envelope; Fais D et al.; Peripheral chromatin granules bound to the nuclear envelope of rat liver nuclei have been further investigated . Judging by the results of Staphylococcal nuclease digestion of nuclei and electron microscopical observations, the peripheral granules have nucleosomal organization . As shown by ultraviolet radiation DNA-protein cross-linkage, the histone-like proteins present in the peripheral chromatin instead of histone H1 (Fais et al., 1982) are in close contact with DNA . The peripheral chromatin contains a DNA firmly bound to the lamina . This DNA, resistant to extraction in high salt, heparin and SDS, is protected against a DNase attack since, as shown by DNA electrophoresis data, high molecular weight molecules (up to 20 kbas) are still present in the lamina residue . However, the high molecular weight DNA disappeared if the nuclear envelope fraction was again DNase-digested after high salt treatment . Altogether, the data of the previous (Fais et al., 1982; Prusov et al., 1980: Prusov et al., 1982) and the present investigations demonstrate that the peripheral chromatin granules are endowed with properties which distinguish them from the bulk chromatin and account for the chromosome bond to the nuclear envelope during interphase . This is why we suggest the term "anchorosome" for the peripheral protein granule attached to the nuclear envelope.

J Clin Pathol, 1989 Sep, 42(9), 935 - 9
Immunohistological localisation of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) antigen in sudden infant death syndrome; Newbould MJ et al.; A polyclonal antiserum to toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) and a standard immunoperoxidase technique were used on formalin fixed tissues from 50 cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) to determine if the syndrome was associated with bacterial infection . There was strong specific staining in the renal tubular cells in nine (18%) cases . A similar pattern of staining was seen in three of a series of 50 kidneys selected for comparison from a wide range of necropsy cases . The staining was finely granular within the cytoplasm of proximal convoluted tubular cells and diffuse in tubular cell nuclei . In an attempt to validate the staining pattern the immunoperoxidase technique was also performed on formalin fixed kidneys from rats which had been given intravenous injections of crude bacterial products containing TSST-1 . These showed coarse granular cytoplasmic staining in proximal convoluted tubules with some diffuse nuclear staining . This pattern was not seen in controls injected with saline . These results indicate that TSST-1 might have a pathogenic role in some cases of SIDS.

Ann Plast Surg, 1989 Sep, 23(3), 219 - 23
Staphylococcal wound infection in the pig: Part II . Inoculation, quantification of bacteria, and reproducibility; Sanden G et al.; Bacteria from full-thickness excision wounds with staphylococcal infection in the pig were cultured quantitatively . The bacterial concentration increased with the size of the inoculum, and after 2 days it had already reached a stable, maximal level of approximately log 8 CFU/g in the tissue . The correlation coefficient was 0.753 in comparing concentrations from superficial and deep biopsy halves and 0.145 from "surface wash" and superficial biopsies . The "within wound" sample distribution was logarithmic . The gain in precision when assessing the mean bacterial concentration from three instead of one biopsy was 45% . The coefficient of variation of between wound and within wound determinations was in the same range (i.e., 7.1-12.5%) . Paired observations from a sample population with 7 sites (wounds) were needed to determine a 10% change in the bacterial concentration at a significance level of p less than 0.05, and a similar change could be determined from unpaired observations based on two populations with eleven sites.

J Clin Microbiol, 1989 Sep, 27(9), 2110 - 1
Pathogenicity in two cases of Staphylococcus schleiferi, a recently described species; Jean-Pierre H et al.; Staphylococcus schleiferi is a new species of coagulase-negative staphylococcus first described in April 1988 (J . Freney, Y . Brun, M . Bes, H . Meugnier, F . Grimont, P . A . D . Grimont, C . Nervi, and J . Fleurette, Int . J . Syst . Bacteriol . 38:168-172, 1988) . There are few data in the literature on its pathogenicity . We report two cases in which its role as an opportunistic nosocomial appears to be incontestable.

Equine Vet J, 1989 Sep, 21(5), 325 - 31
Sequential clinical and synovial fluid changes associated with acute infectious arthritis in the horse; Tulamo RM et al.; Infectious arthritis was induced experimentally in one tarsocrural joint of six horses by intra-articular injection of 1 ml Staphylococcus-saline suspension containing 9 x 10(4) to 3 x 10(6) organisms . The corresponding contralateral joint was injected with 1 ml of saline and served as a control . The progression of the induced infectious arthritis was assessed over a nine-day period by clinical examination and sequential synovial fluid analysis with pH and lactate measurements . Changes in synovial fluid were present before clinical signs of infectious arthritis were manifested . The diagnostic value of different synovial fluid parameters at various stages of infection was determined . Cellular changes initially preceded the biochemical changes . Total leucocyte counts showed a significant increase within 24 h (up to 100 x 10(9)/litre) with great variability in subsequent measurements . Neutrophilia over 90 per cent and pH under 6.9 were the most consistent findings in the infected synovia . Increased total protein was also significant and was progressive throughout the experiment . Serum and synovial glucose difference and synovial lactate had more diagnostic value in the acute stages than in the chronic stages . The control joints elicited an inflammatory response manifested by increased leucocyte count, moderate neutrophilia, slightly increased total protein concentration, and slightly decreased pH, but all reactions were minor in comparison to those in the infected joints.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1989 Sep, 14(3), 184 - 95
Response of chronic renal failure mice to peritoneal Staphylococcus epidermidis challenge: impact of repeated peritoneal instillation of dialysis solution; Gallimore B et al.; The effect of repeated instillation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution on the peritoneal clearance of a Staphylococcus epidermidis challenge was investigated in a mouse model of surgically induced chronic renal failure . For periods of up to 2 weeks, mice bearing peritoneal catheter implants underwent daily (3 mL) or twice daily (1.5 mL) peritoneal instillation of PD solution (4.25% dextrose) by transcutaneous injection into the catheter lumen . Peritoneal instillation of PD solution did not have a significant influence on the microbiological status of peritoneal structures of renal failure or sham-operated mice following experimental intracatheter S epidermidis inoculation with 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) (assessment 48 hours after inoculation) or 10(8) CFU (assessment 1 week after inoculation) . Microbiological and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) assessments of recovered peritoneal catheters demonstrated that S epidermidis remained associated with the catheter site after other peritoneal structures had become culture negative . SEM of the parietal peritoneum revealed striking morphologic alterations of the mesothelial surface as a consequence of daily PD solution infusion . In the absence of S epidermidis inoculation, repeated instillation of PD solution caused a marked acute peritoneal inflammation without evidence of a concomitant systemic inflammatory response . Furthermore, peritoneal inflammatory response to S epidermidis challenge was augmented by the infusion procedure . Concurrent assessments of inflammatory response and microbiological status revealed that, in spite of heightened peritoneal inflammatory response with peritoneal infusion, bacterial clearance from the catheter site was not improved . Although the animal preparation was limited to peritoneal infusion without drainage, the influence of repeated peritoneal instillation of hyperosmolar, acidic PD solution on the response of mice to S epidermidis challenge was successfully addressed.

Am J Dis Child, 1989 Sep, 143(9), 1038 - 41
Anti-Staphylococcus aureus IgE antibodies for diagnosis of hyperimmunoglobulinemia E-recurrent infection syndrome in infancy; Lavoie A et al.; Four infants with hyperimmunoglobulinemia E presented with a persistent papulovesicular rash and eosinophilia . Serum IgE levels and specific anti-Staphylococcus aureus IgE antibodies were studied during the first year of life . Increased anti-S aureus IgE antibodies were an early indicator of the disease; they appeared as soon as 7 weeks of age in patient 1 and before 1 year of age for the other patients . These antibodies were detected before the development of deeper staphylococcal infections . Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important, as they may prevent long-term infectious complications.

Vopr Virusol, 1989 Sep-Oct, 34(5), 576 - 9
{Use of an immunoperoxidase method in situ for detecting recombinant clones of vaccinia virus containing an expressed gene of influenza viral hemagglutinins}; Selivanova TK et al.; The vaccine L-IVP strain of vaccinia virus (VV) was used to construct the recombinant viral clones containing the influenza A hemagglutinin gene . The recombinant T plasmid was obtained with HA gene inserted in the vector pGS-20 (B . Moss) under the 7.5 K promoter of VV . A homologous recombination technique was used to insert the gene with the flanking TK sequences into vaccinia virus genome . The recombinant clones were selected by dot-hybridization with {32P}-labeled HA-probe . These recombinants were analysed for HA gene expression by the indirect immunoperoxidase method in situ using the peroxidase conjugate of the staphylococcal A-protein . This technique allows to obtain stable stained preparation and analyse the protein behavior at the ultrastructural level.

Med J Malaysia, 1989 Sep, 44(3), 189 - 93
Pattern of neonatal septicemia in a Malaysian maternity hospital; Boo NY et al.; Over a 12 months period, out of 25,411 livebirths, 155 neonates (6.1 per 1000 livebirths) had proven septicemia by blood culture . The mortality rate was 26.5% . Septicemia was more common among the very low birthweight and preterm neonates of gestation of 30 weeks or less . 45.8% of the septicemia occurred during the first 48 hours of life . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common causative organism . However, mortality was highest among neonates who acquired multiresistant nosocomial infection during the later part of neonatal life.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Sep-Oct, 12(5), 381 - 4
Detection of staphylococcal resistance to penicillinase-resistant penicillins . A comparison of two widely used disk diffusion methods; Jones RN et al.; One hundred Staphylococcus spp . strains were used to compare the results of two single potency disk diffusion methods (oxacillin and methicillin disks) . The NCCLS disk diffusion and dilution methods correctly categorized all strains resistant to penicillinase-resistant penicillins (PRPs) . The SHOWA disk method (Showa Yakuhin Kako Co., Ltd., Japan) produced false-susceptible results with approximately half of the PRP-resistant strains . The errors by the SHOWA method seemed to be the result of an excessive amount of drug (30 micrograms) in the disks, a light inoculum, and a high susceptible breakpoint (less than or equal to 25-50 micrograms/ml) . Until these and other major technical differences between these two methods are resolved by internationally accepted testing standards, susceptibility statistics, and/or clinical trials, information from the United States and Japan cannot be reliably compared.

Infection, 1989 Sep-Oct, 17(5), 301 - 3
Septic osteomyelitis and polyarthritis with ureaplasma in hypogammaglobulinemia; Jorup-Ronstrom C et al.; We describe a hypogammaglobulinemic woman with a one-year history of destructive septic osteomyelitis and polyarthritis with positive cultures for Ureaplasma urealyticum from joint exudate and blood . The clinical course was complicated by subcutaneous abscesses from which both U . urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis were grown . Multiple routine cultures had been negative, except for sporadic findings of Staphylococcus epidermidis before specific cultures for mycoplasmas were performed . Therapy with beta-lactam antibiotics, clindamycin, rifampicin, fusidic acid and aminoglycosides had been given without obvious clinical effect . Intravenous doxycycline treatment instituted after microbiological diagnosis had a dramatic effect on the clinical course . The clinical suspicion of mycoplasma and ureaplasma as etiologic agents of orthopaedic infections in hypogammaglobulinemic patients is mandatory in order to perform appropriate cultures.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1989 Sep, (9), 74 - 6
{Patterns in the antigen-nonspecific modulation of the B-cell activity in mice under the influence of a purified staphylococcal anatoxin}; Semenova IB et al.; Purified staphylococcal toxoid (PST) has been shown to be an antigen-nonspecific immunomodulator, capable of inducing changes in the immune response of B-cells to unrelated antigens, such as sheep red blood cells (SRBC), in a wide range of doses (from 15 to 0.15 binding units per mouse) . The manifestation of the immunomodulating effect depends on the conditions of the experiment: the doses of PST and SRBC, the age of mice, the sequence of the injections of the antigens and the intervals between the injections . The simultaneous injection of PST and SRBC induces, as a rule, an increase in immune response to the test antigen, while their separate injection induces mainly immunosuppression.

EMBO J, 1989 Sep, 8(9), 2761 - 73
Characterization of the staphylococcal beta-lactamase transposon Tn552; Rowland SJ et al.; The staphylococcal beta-lactamase transposon Tn552 is a member of a novel group of transposable elements . The organization of genes in Tn552 resembles that of members of the Tn21 sub-group of Tn3 family transposons, which transpose replicatively by cointegrate formation and resolution . Thus, a possible resolution site ('resL') and a resolvase gene (tnpR or 'binL') have been identified . However, consistent with the fact that Tn552 generates 6 bp (rather than 5 bp) flanking direct repeats of target DNA, neither the putative transposase protein, nor the terminal inverted repeats of Tn552 are homologous to those of Tn3 elements . Tn552, like phage Mu and retroelements, is defined by the terminal dinucleotides 5' TG . . CA 3' . A naturally occurring staphylococcal plasmid, pI9789, contains a Tn552-derived resolution system ('resR-binR') that acts as a 'hotspot' for Tn552 transposition; insertion creates a segment of DNA flanked by inversely repeated resolution sites, one (resR) on pI9789 and the other (resL) on Tn552 . The putative Tn552 resolvase, the most closely related of known resolvases to the homologous DNA invertases, initially was identified as a DNA invertase ('Bin') as a result of its ability to mediate efficient inversion of this segment in vivo.

J Bacteriol, 1989 Sep, 171(9), 4799 - 806
Genetic and molecular analyses of the gene encoding staphylococcal enterotoxin D; Bayles KW et al.; The gene (entD) encoding staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED) has been located on a 27.6-kilobase penicillinase plasmid designated pIB485 . This plasmid was present in all SED-producing strains tested . The entD gene was cloned on a 2.0-kilobase DNA fragment and was expressed in Escherichia coli . Sequence analysis of this fragment revealed an open reading frame that encoded a 258-amino-acid protein that possessed a 30-amino-acid signal peptide . The 228-amino-acid mature polypeptide had a molecular weight of 26,360 and contained a high degree of sequence similarity to the other staphylococcal enterotoxins . S1 nuclease mapping showed that transcription of entD was initiated 266 nucleotides upstream from the translation start codon . The entD gene was also shown to be activated by the staphylococcal regulatory element known as agr.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1989 Sep, 271(3), 311 - 20
Trospectomycin enhances surface phagocytosis of Bacteroides and Staphylococcus by altering the bacterial glycocalyx; Veringa EM et al.; The influence of trospectomycin on phagocytosis of Bacteriodes thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides fragilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis was studied in the presence or absence of glycocalyx isolated from these microorganisms . Bacteria were grown with or without 0.25 or 0.5 of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of trospectomycin, a new chemically synthesized analog of spectinomycin . Surface phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was determined using a modified fluorochrome assay . Subinhibitory concentrations of trospectomycin significantly enhanced surface phagocytosis of Bacteroides and Staphylococcus . When homologous or heterologous isolated glycocalyx was added to trospectomycin treated bacteria prior to incubation with PMNL, phagocytosis was reduced to levels observed in the untreated bacteria . Addition of glycocalyx to untreated strains produced no significant reduction of phagocytosis . The glycocalyx preparations were free of lipopolysaccharide and did not affect PMNL viability.

Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1989 Sep, 3(3), 461 - 7
The importance of penetration of antimicrobial agents into cells; Schwab JC et al.; Phagocytes may shelter intracellular pathogens from the otherwise lethal effects of many antibiotics . Research in conditions such as chronic granulomatous disease, tuberculosis, legionellosis, and experimental staphylococcal infection underscores the principle that an antibiotic must enter the cell in order to be active against an intracellular microorganism . Demonstrating entry does not guarantee activity, however . The microenvironment and intracellular distribution of the pathogen and antimicrobial agent, and interactions between agent, pathogen, and host cell all contribute to determining the treatment result.

Nichidai Koko Kagaku, 1989 Sep, 15(3), 196 - 206
{Mechanism of stimulation of spleen mononuclear cells by gram-positive bacterial peptidoglycan}; Sashida M; Periodontal disease is a chlonic inflammatory disorder, and for which oral microbes are supposed to be responsible . Among oral microbials, gram-negative bacterias have been studied extensively in relation to periodontal disease for their pathogenicity due to their lipopolysaccharide (LPS), exocellular enzymes or bacterial toxin . As for gram-positive bacterials, it has been reported recently that gram-positive bacteria can elicit immunological responses, and this may be responsible for the initiation and/or development of periodontal disease . However, precise mechanisms of bacterial action, especially of gram-positive bacteria, on periodontal disease have not been elucidated yet . In this experiment, therefore, gram-positive bacteria (S . epidermidis), peptidoglycan subunits of S . epidermidis (SEPS) and muramyl dipeptide (MDP) were used to investigate for their activities to stimulate spleen mononuclear cells to replicate and produce various kinds of cytokines . Immunological responsibilities of various strains of mice were explored to investigate the difference of defence of mechanisms . Following results were obtained . (1) S . epidermidis itself showed a extremely low cell-mediated activity to stimulate the replication of spleen mononuclear cells in contrast to E . coli . Staphylococcal phage lysate and SEPS stimulated remarkally the replication of spleen mononuclear cells . (2) The stimulation of spleen mononuclear cells was accompanied by the production of interleukin 3 (IL-3) and colony stimulating factor (CSF), but interleukin 2(IL-2) was not produced as in the case of E . coli . (3) Analysis of cell surface antigens revealed the increase of the numbers of Ia+ and Mac-2+ bone marrow cells following stimulation of spleen mononuclear cells with SEPS . However, T or B cells were not increased . (4) Macrophage-depleted and antisera Ia-treated spleen mononuclear cells showed a marked decrease of replicating activity of spleen mononuclear cells . (5) Among the various strains of mice tested C3H/HeN, Balb/c, AKR, DBA/2, C57BL/6, ddY, C3H/HeJ, MRL/lpr and showed a high immunological responses, but Balb/c did not . C3C/HeJ and MRL/lpr also lacked immunological reactivity . These results suggest that proliferative response of lymphocyte with peptidoglycan in gram-positive bacterium is very important for infection and its defensive reaction against gram-positive bacteria.

Rev Med Interne, 1989 Sep-Oct, 10(5), 409 - 11
{Jaundice caused by rifampicin: 3 cases}; Taillan B et al.; Three cases are reported of cholestatic hepatitis occurring during treatment with rifampicin for staphylococcal septicemia (2) and tuberculosis (1) . There was no previous history of hepatic affection . The administration of rifampicin caused cholestasis alone . No immunoallergic phenomenon has been shown.

Scand J Immunol, 1989 Aug, 30(2), 175 - 83
Complement-fixing properties of human IgA antibodies . Alternative pathway complement activation by plastic-bound, but not specific antigen-bound, IgA; Russell MW et al.; The complement-fixing properties of human IgA antibodies bound to specific antigen, or coated directly on plastic surfaces, were examined in comparison with those of IgG antibodies . Use was made of antigen-binding (anti-staphylococcal alpha-toxin) IgA and IgG monoclonal antibodies and normal polyclonal IgA and IgG, purified greater than 99.9% by avoidance of denaturing processes . Complement-fixation ELISA was used, with a high density of biotin-conjugated staphylococcal alpha-toxin bound to avidin-coated plates for the efficient capture of antibodies, and conditions were adjusted for the assessment of classical and alternative pathways of complement activation . Although IgA coated directly on plastic surfaces activated the alternative complement pathway in a dose-dependent manner, IgA antibodies bound to antigen failed to fix complement by either classical or alternative pathways . In contrast, IgG antibodies, either bound to antigen or coated directly on plastic, activated complement mainly by the classical pathway . It was concluded that the complexation of IgA antibodies with antigen is insufficient to elicit complement activation: rather a degree of denaturation seems to play a part in the expression of alternative complement pathway-activating properties by IgA.

J Med Chem, 1989 Aug, 32(8), 1789 - 95
Chemical delivery systems for some penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillins; Pop E et al.; Chemical delivery systems (CDS's) based on a dihydropyridine----quaternary pyridinium ion redox system analogous to the naturally occurring NADH----NAD+ system were synthesized for a group of staphylococcal penicillinase resistant penicillins, including methicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin, and dicloxacillin, in order to improve their penetration of the central nervous system (CNS) . The CDS's are penicillin monoesters of gem-diols in which the other hydroxyl group is esterified by the dihydrotrigonelline carrier . The CDS's were found to be much more lipopholic than the parent drugs by comparing their log k' values used as lipophilicity indexes . A study of the chemical oxidation of the CDS's performed by a UV spectrophotometric method showed relatively slow reaction . Stability studies were performed in buffers and different animal tissues for both the CDS's and the quaternary salt type derivatives . These studies showed that the CDS's were oxidized to the quaternary salt forms at neutral and basic pH and added water at lower pH . The quaternary salts released the parent drugs both in buffers and in vitro . A preliminary in vivo distribution study in the rat and rabbit demonstrated blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration by the CDS, whereas no drug was detected by administering the drug itself.

J Dermatol, 1989 Aug, 16(4), 289 - 95
Partial purification and some characteristics of proteinase(s) induced by staphylococcal exfoliative toxin; Suzuki K et al.; After 8 hrs incubation with epidermis of newborn mice and exfoliative toxin, a marked increase in caseinolytic activity was detected, which reached a maximum at 12 hrs . Casein-hydrolyzing enzyme(s) induced by ET were partially purified by chromatography . A substantial increase in caseinolytic activity was detected in the fractions obtained from Sephadex G-50, while practically no caseinolytic activity was observed when the extract obtained from the epidermis incubated without ET was applied . The caseinolytic activity appeared as a single peak eluted from DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B and Sephadex G-75 . However, on SDS-PAGE, the partially purified fractions exhibited several protein bands . The molecular weights of these band were estimated as 78 KD, 68 KD, 45 KD, 14.5 KD and 8.8 KD . When the partially purified enzyme(s) was preincubated with EGTA or EDTA, substantial inhibition of the activity was observed; however, no recovery of the activity was detected after the addition of CaCl2 . Treatment of the enzyme(s) with PMSF and NEM caused little inactivation of the activity . Enzyme activity retained about 57% of the initial activity following 3 min incubation at 60 degrees C, but was completely inactivated after 4 min.

Protein Eng, 1989 Aug, 2(8), 583 - 8
Structure and dynamics of staphylococcal nuclease mutants as studied by fluorescence quenching techniques; Wright G et al.; Fluorescence techniques have been used to investigate the effect of mutations on the structure and dynamics of staphylococcal nuclease . An estimate of the accessibility to acrylamide of the enzyme's single tryptophan residue (Trp140) was obtained from the Stern-Volmer constant for fluorescence quenching . This was indicative of a partially buried tryptophan in the wild-type nuclease . Five single-site mutant nucleases (H124L, V66L, G88V, G79S and F76V) and one double mutant (V66L + G88V), with widely differing stabilities to denaturants, gave Stern-Volmer constants which were very similar to that of their parent enzyme . Studies of the temperature- and viscosity-dependence of quenching suggest that access by acrylamide to Trp140 is limited by diffusion rather than by protein structural fluctuations . Lifetime-resolved fluorescence anisotropy studies using steady-state instrumentation suggest that there is very little segmental motion of the Trp140; most of the anisotropy therefore decays due to protein rotation in the solution . Rotational correlation times for several nuclease mutants have been determined and these are very similar to that of the native nuclease . Thus it appears that these substitutions in the primary amino acid sequence, which have significant effects on the stability of the folded proteins, do not cause a significant change in the protein structure or dynamics around Trp140.

Int J Artif Organs, 1989 Aug, 12(8), 485 - 501
Implant of autologous mesothelial cells in animals and a peritoneal dialysis patient; Di Paolo N et al.; Success in culturing human and animal peritoneal mesothelial cells for the purpose of study, led us to determine whether these cells could be autoimplanted in animals and man during peritoneal dialysis in cases of acute and extensive loss of mesothelial surface area . Using an original biopsy technique, we were able to cultivate and characterize from the structural and caryological point of view, human and rabbit peritoneal mesothelial cells . Staphylococcal peritonitis was provoked in 12 rabbits with in-dwelling peritoneal catheters and after 4 days of antibiotic therapy, 6 of them were autoimplanted with cultured mesothelial cells . In the animals sacrificed on the third and sixth days, direct morphological observation and autoradiographic techniques showed that the transplanted cells had taken and revealed a different picture from that in the non-transplanted rabbits . In a 56 year old female diabetic patient, upon insertion of the first peritoneal catheter, a specimen of mesothelial cells was cultured and then frozen . Seven months later after an episode of peritonitis from candida which dictated removal of the peritoneal catheter, since there was a sufficient number of cultured mesothelial cells and the patient consented, the implant was performed . Peritoneal biopsy by laparoscopy three and six days later showed that the cells had taken . The purpose of the study was merely to show that autoimplant of mesothelium in man and animals is possible.

Surg Clin North Am, 1989 Aug, 69(4), 807 - 15
Abdominal aortic aneurysmorrhaphy combined with biliary or gastrointestinal surgery; Thomas JH; Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in 2 to 5 per cent of the population over 60 years of age . Statistically, 7 per cent of patients with aneurysms will have associated cholelithiasis . The incidence of other concomitant intra-abdominal disease is much less . Because of the catastrophic complications associated with infection of synthetic aortic grafts, most authors have advised against opening a hollow viscus during aneurysm resection . Although Staphylococcus is the predominant organism responsible for graft infections, Szilagyi and associates and Liekweg and Greenfield found gram-negative organisms in 40 per cent of infected aortic prostheses . Thomas, Bickerstaff, and Fry and their coauthors have recommended caution when considering aneurysm resection and concomitant nonvascular operations . On the other hand, there is suggestive evidence that the risk of aneurysm rupture is increased in the postoperative period, especially if the aneurysm is greater than 6 cm in diameter . Therefore, optimum management of patients with aneurysms and other intra-abdominal pathology must reduce both the risk of graft infection and the risk of postoperative rupture . To reduce morbidity and mortality rates, careful preoperative evaluation for the detection and management of coexistent disease, the proper choice of intraoperative procedures, and close postoperative monitoring with prompt surgical intervention, as indicated, are essential.

Rinsho Ketsueki, 1989 Aug, 30(8), 1319 - 20
{Methicillin-resistant staphylococcal enterocolitis developed after induction chemotherapy in a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia}; Chubachi A et al.; A case of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal (MRSA) enterocolitis following combination chemotherapy for acute promyelocytic leukemia is presented . MRSA enterocolitis has characteristic clinical features of high fever, frequent vomiting and watery diarrhea, and its mortality rate is very high without a proper antibiotic therapy . When the patient with hematological malignancy has the above-mentioned clinical manifestations during antineoplastic chemotherapy, appropriate antibiotics for MRSA should be promptly begun before a bacteriological diagnosis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1989 Aug, (8), 64 - 7
{The creation of specific immunity to staphylococcal infection in newborn infants by the intranasal administration of adsorbed staphylococcal anatoxin}; Manolova EP et al.; The possibility of enhancing specific immunity in newborn infants by the intranasal administration of adsorbed staphylococcal toxoid to infants with a high risk of staphylococcal infection in doses of 1 drop (0.05 ml) into each nostril during the first 7-9 years of their life . On days 7-9 the level of anti-alpha-toxin in the blood rose to 3.8 +/- 0.14 I . U./ml and remained sufficiently high 3-6 months later . When this method was used for the simultaneous immunization of mothers, their antitoxic titers were not as high as in newborn infants . No side effects were observed . In the control group, the titers of anti-alpha-toxin were low during the whole period of observation . Infants immunized by the proposed method had no staphylococcal infections both during the newborn period and within the first year of their life . In the control group, 8 cases of minor forms of purulent septic infection were registered during the newborn period, and in 2 infants umbilical staphylococcal sepsis was diagnosed.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Aug, 33(8), 1329 - 34
Teicoplanin in the treatment of gram-positive-bacterial endocarditis; Martino P et al.; Intravenous teicoplanin has been used to treat 23 cases of gram-positive-bacterial endocarditis, usually with 3 to 7 mg/kg every 12 h on the first day, followed by 3 to 7 mg/kg every 24 h . For some cases (staphylococcal and enterococcal endocarditis), the dosage was 8 to 14.4 mg/kg per day and/or other antibiotics were given . The mean duration was 48.2 days (range, 23 to 130 days) . Of 23 patients, 21 (91.3%) had negative cultures or were cured . A total of 18 patients were treated with teicoplanin alone; of these, 4 had surgery, and all (except 2 who relapsed) were cured . Teicoplanin was combined with one or more antibiotics in five cases; in all cases appropriate cultures were negative, but three patients died during therapy or follow-up . Mild renal impairment was seen in two patients; both were receiving teicoplanin in combination with an aminoglycoside . We conclude that intravenous teicoplanin administered once a day at doses of 7 to 14 mg/kg per day is well tolerated, easy to administer, and may represent an efficacious therapy for gram-positive-bacterial endocarditis.

J Bacteriol, 1989 Aug, 171(8), 4146 - 53
Nucleotide sequence and genetic characterization of staphylococcal bacteriophage L54a int and xis genes; Ye ZH et al.; The nucleotide sequence of a staphylococcal bacteriophage L54a DNA fragment containing genes involved in site-specific recombination was determined . Mutations generated by in vitro mutagenesis were used to map and characterize the int and xis genes . The site-specific recombination functions are tightly clustered within a 1.75-kilobase stretch of DNA fragment with the gene order of attP-int-xis . The int and xis genes are transcribed divergently . The Int protein deduced from the nucleotide sequence has a molecular weight of 41,000 . Int is a basic protein with 354 amino acids of which 72 are basic and 38 are acidic . The Xis protein consists of only 59 amino acids with a molecular weight of 7,180 . Unlike the Xis proteins of the lambdoid bacteriophages which are all basic proteins, L54a Xis is an acidic protein containing 13 acidic and 8 basic amino acids . The Int protein is required in both integrative and excisive reactions, whereas Xis is only required in excisive reaction . A well-conserved 40-residue region, including three perfectly conserved residues found in 15 site-specific recombinases of the integrase family that have been characterized, was also found in the L54a Int protein.

Cell Immunol, 1989 Aug, 122(1), 108 - 21
The mechanisms involved in the activation of human natural killer cells by staphylococcal enterotoxin B; Bankhurst AD et al.; The induction of enhanced natural cytotoxicity from human peripheral mononuclear cells by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was examined . The activated killer cytotoxicity (AKC) was maximum at 16 hr with 1 mg/ml SEB . The precursor and effector cells of AKC were determined to be primarily CD5 negative, CD8 negative, CD16 positive cells . Monocytes and interleukin-1 played no role in the generation of AKC . However, a major role for interleukin-2 (IL-2) in AKC was shown by the inhibition of AKC when anti-IL-2 antibody or cyclosporin was added to the induction cultures . SEB rapidly induced the production of IL-2 from glass nonadherent cells by 6 hr and reached peak levels by 24 hr (162 U/ml) . IL-2 induced by SEB in these induction cultures was preferentially produced by CD16 positive cells . Even though interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production was induced in these cultures, no role for IFN could be shown in SEB-induced AKC.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1989 Aug, 106(2), 282 - 8
Some properties and amino acid sequence of plastocyanin from a green alga, Ulva arasakii; Yoshizaki F et al.; Plastocyanin was purified from a multicellular, marine green alga, Ulva arasakii, by conventional methods to homogeneity . The oxidized plastocyanin showed absorption maxima at 252, 276.8, 460, 595.3, and 775 nm, and shoulders at 259, 265, 269, and 282.5 nm; the ratio A276.8/A595.3 was 1.5 . The midpoint redox potential was determined to be 0.356 V at pH 7.0 with a ferri- and ferrocyanide system . The molecular weight was estimated to be 10,200 and 11,000 by SDS-PAGE and by gel filtration, respectively . U . arasakii also has a small amount of cytochrome c6, like Enteromorpha prolifera . The amino acid sequence of U . arasakii plastocyanin was determined by Edman degradation and by carboxypeptidase digestion of the plastocyanin, six tryptic peptides, and five staphylococcal protease peptides . The plastocyanin contained 98 amino acid residues, giving a molecular weight of 10,236 including one copper atom . The complete sequence is as follows: AQIVKLGGDDGALAFVPSKISVAAGEAIEFVNNAGFPHNIVFDEDAVPAGVDADAISYDDYLNSKGETV VRKLSTPGVY G VYCEPHAGAGMKMTITVQ . The sequence of U . arasakii plastocyanin is closet to that of the E . prolifera protein (85% homology) . A phylogenetic tree of five algal and two higher plant plastocyanins was constructed by comparing the amino acid differences . The branching order is considered to be as follows: a blue-green alga, unicellular green algae, multicellular green algae, and higher plants.

Eur J Biochem, 1989 Aug 1, 183(2), 381 - 90
Interaction of staphylococcal delta-toxin and synthetic analogues with erythrocytes and phospholipid vesicles . Biological and physical properties of the amphipathic peptides; Alouf JE et al.; Staphylococcal delta-toxin, a 26-residue amphiphilic peptide is lytic for cells and phospholipid vesicles and is assumed to insert as an amphipathic helix and oligomerize in membranes . For the first time, the relationship between these properties and toxin structure is investigated by means of eight synthetic peptides, one identical in sequence to the natural toxin, five 26-residue analogues and two shorter peptides corresponding to residues 1-11 and 11-26 . These peptides were designed by the Edmundson wheel axial projection in order to maintain: (a) the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance while rationalizing the sequence, (b) the alpha-helical configuration and (c) the common epitopic structure . The fluorescence of the single Trp residue was used to monitor the behaviour of the natural toxin and analogues . All 26-residue analogues were hemolytically active although to a lesser extent than natural toxin . The peptide of residues 11-26 bound lipids weakly and was hemolytic at high concentration . The peptide of residues 1-11 did not bind lipids and was hemolytically inactive . All peptides except the latter cross-reacted in immunoprecipitation tests with the natural toxin . The study of a 26-residue analogue by circular dichroism revealed an alpha-helical configuration in both the free and lipid-bound state . Changes in the fluorescence of the peptides in the presence of lipid micelles and bilayers varied according to the position of the reporter group . When bound to lipids, Trp5, Trp16 and the Fmoc-1 positions of the analogues became buried while Trp15 of the natural toxin and its synthetic replicate remained more exposed . All changes are rationalized by the proposal of an amphipathic helix whose hydrophobic face is embedded within the apolar core of bilayers while the hydrophilic and charged face remains more exposed to solvent.

J Bacteriol, 1989 Aug, 171(8), 4507 - 10
Nucleotide sequence of the type C3 staphylococcal enterotoxin gene suggests that intergenic recombination causes antigenic variation; Couch JL et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the structural gene for staphylococcal enterotoxin type C3 (entC3) was determined . This gene contains 798-base-pair open reading frame that encodes a protein of 266 amino acid residues . Sequence analysis suggests that staphylococcal enterotoxin type C3 is synthesized in a precursor form that is processed to yield a mature extracellular form of 238 amino acid residues (molecular weight, 27,438) . The entC3 gene is closely related to the gene for staphylococcal enterotoxin type C1, with 98% nucleotide sequence identity . Sequence comparisons between the entC3, entC1, and entB genes suggest that an ancestral entC1-like gene was formed by recombination between the entC3 and entB genes.

J Immunol, 1989 Aug 1, 143(3), 813 - 20
Immunomodulatory activity of staphylococcal enterotoxin-B . The induction of an I-J-restricted suppressor factor; Taub DD et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin-B (SEB), a common cause of food-borne intoxication, is a potent polyclonal T cell activator . Previous studies from this laboratory and others have shown that SEB has the capacity to nonspecifically inhibit antibody responses both in vivo and in vitro . We have shown that the inhibitory activity of SEB is mediated, in part, by the activation of a CD8+, CD4-, and CD5- suppressor cell population . The present studies show that the activity of the SEB-induced suppressor cell population is mediated by a soluble factor . This factor nonspecifically inhibits both primary and secondary in vitro antibody responses . Delayed addition analysis demonstrates that the factor must be present early in the ongoing antibody response to exhibit suppressive activity . Monoclonal anti-I-J antisera block the activity of the factor, and eluates (but not filtrates) collected from monoclonal anti-I-J immunoaffinity columns possess suppressive activity . Furthermore, the activity is restricted at the "I-J" gene locus, but is not restricted at the Igh locus . Finally, size-exclusion chromatographic analysis shows that the factor possesses an apparent Mr of 26 kDa . These studies suggest that SEB induces the production of a suppressive factor with properties similar to those exhibited by Ag-induced, and typically Ag-specific, suppressor factors.

J Biol Chem, 1989 Jul 25, 264(21), 12666 - 72
An analog of lophotoxin reacts covalently with Tyr190 in the alpha-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; Abramson SN et al.; Lophotoxin and lophotoxin analog-1 are natural diterpenes from coral that inhibit nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by covalent reaction with the acetylcholine recognition sites on the alpha-subunits . Although both toxins contain potentially reactive epoxides and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, the mechanism of their covalent reaction with the receptor is not known . The role of the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde in analog-1 was investigated by reduction of the aldehyde to an alcohol with {3H}NaBH4 . The reduced {3H}analog-1 bound selectively and covalently to the alpha-subunit of the receptor . Covalent binding was inhibited by agonists and antagonists, but not by noncompetitive allosteric inhibitors . The apparent dissociation constant of the reduced {3H}analog-1 was approximately 1.5 x 10(-6) M . These results demonstrate that the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde in analog-1 is not an absolute requirement for covalent reaction with the receptor . Receptors were treated with the reduced-{3H}analog-1, and the labeled alpha-subunits were isolated by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and digested with staphylococcal V8 protease . A labeled 20-kDa V8 protease fragment was purified by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and subjected to sequence analysis . A peptide beginning at Ser173 was identified, and the label appeared in the 18th step corresponding to Tyr190 . This assignment was confirmed by digestion of the labeled 20-kDa V8 protease fragment with cyanogen bromide, followed by purification of the labeled cyanogen bromide peptide on reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography . A peptide beginning at Lys179 was identified, and the label appeared in the 12th step, again corresponding to Tyr190 . Tyr190 may react with the coral toxin by nucleophilic addition at one of the carbons associated with an epoxide, and may form part of the alkylammonium-binding subsite of the acetylcholine recognition site.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1989 Jul 21, 992(1), 9 - 22
Pinpointing the sites of hydroxylysine glycosides in peptide alpha 1-CB7 of bovine corneal collagen, and their possible role in determining fibril diameter and thus transparency; Ibrahim J et al.; Two cyanogen bromide fragments (alpha 1-CB7 and alpha 1-CB8) of bovine corneal stromal collagen have been isolated and characterized . These added to those characterized in our previous work account for 95% of the amino acid sequence of the alpha 1(1)-chain . The hydroxylysine glycoside content of each fragment was determined and in this way the general distribution of glycoside over the entire molecule was deduced accounting for all the galactosylhydroxylysine and most of the glucosylgalactosylhydroxylysine of this heavily glycosylated type I collagen . The characterization of fragments alpha 1-CB7 and alpha 1-CB8 has enabled us to resolve the controversy over the relative mobilities of these fragments on SDS gels . Fragment alpha 1-CB7 of bovine corneal collagen was digested by trypsin and by staphylococcal proteinase V8 . The resultant peptides were isolated by gel and ion-exchange chromatography and identified in relation to the known amino acid sequence of type I collagen . The hydroxylysine glycosides were determined in the relevant peptides providing a complete account of their distribution along this part of the collagen molecule . Most of the glycoside was found in the gap region of collagen especially near the edges of the axial holes where it could act as a peg to facilitate fibre formation . In addition, some glycoside was found in the overlap region where, being unable to fit into axial holes, it might impede the growth of the fibre and, with other glycoside of the overlap region, might be responsible for the narrow fibres of corneal collagen that are essential for corneal transparency . This glycoside, with that previously found in the peptide alpha 1-CB3 is the only hydroxylysine glycoside identified in the overlap region of a type I collagen.

Antibiot Khimioter, 1989 Jul, 34(7), 514 - 21
{Fluoroquinolones and their importance in modern chemotherapy of infectious diseases}; Padeiskaia EN; Experimental and clinical data on antibacterial drugs belonging to fluorine derivatives of quinolone carboxylic acid (quinolones of the third generation) were summarized . Brief characteristics of their antibacterial activity and experimental data on chemotherapeutic activity of pefloxacin, a fluoroquinolone on models of septicopyemia and meningoencephalitis in experiments with mice infected by P . aeruginosa, Staphylococcus and Klebsiella are presented . High efficacy of pefloxacin was shown and its advantages over dioxidine and gentamicin on the model of meningoencephalitis were revealed . The main indications to the use of fluoroquinolones, possible adverse reactions and contraindications to the use of the drugs of that group are described.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1989 Jul, 42(7), 1471 - 6
{Clinical studies on cefpodoxime proxetil in the pediatric fields}; Watanabe A et al.; Cefpodoxime proxetil (CPDX-PR, CS-807) was given orally to 18 children with acute bacterial infections including 10 with acute tonsillitis, 3 with acute bronchitis, 1 with pneumonia, 3 with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome and 1 with infectious impetigo . Daily dosages per kg bodyweight ranging from 7.5 to 18 mg were given in 2 or 3 divided doses per day for 5 to 15 days . Clinical responses were excellent in 3 (16.7%), good in 11 (61.1%), fair in 4 (22.2%) and poor in 0 (0%), with an overall efficacy rate of 77.8% . Good bacteriological responses were obtained in 6 out of the 7 cases from which pathogens were identified . No side effect was observed . The above results suggest that CPDX-PR is a useful new oral cephalosporin derivative for the treatment of bacterial infections in children.

Actas Urol Esp, 1989 Jul-Aug, 13(4), 264 - 7
{Psoas abscess: considerations on 6 cases}; Lopez de Alda A et al.; We present six cases of psoas abscess, three primary and three secondary . The etiologic, pathogenic and therapeutic considerations are outlined . Staphylococcal infections prevail in the primary abscesses . The diagnostic difficulties are considerable but nowadays are facilitated by echography and TAC . In the secondary ones, the psoas abscess is an epiphenomenon of a more easily recognised clinical syndrome . It is surprising how these septic processes are increasingly placed in the hands of urologists in recognition of their mastery of retroperitoneal surgery.

Acta Chir Belg, 1989 Jul-Aug, 89(4), 185 - 8
Arterial aneurysms associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; Sinzobahamvya N et al.; The authors report four arterial aneurysms seen in three patients infected by HIV . The aneurysms affected: 1) the left common carotid artery in a young man HIV carrier, 2) the right common carotid artery and the abdominal aorta in a woman with AIDS, 3) the right common carotid artery in a patient with AIDS-related complex . The aetiology was found to be infectious, respectively: 1) staphylococcus epidermidis (certain), 2) tuberculosis or another undetected infection (possible), 3) staphylococcus epidermidis or syphilis (highly probable) . A viral arteritis mechanism is also postulated in the second case . If this association of aneurysms with HIV infection is not fortuitous, an increase of aneurysm incidence in HIV infected population is to be expected.

Kinderarztl Prax, 1989 Jul, 57(7), 335 - 8
{Oxacillin-induced granulocytopenia}; Bormann M et al.; A girl at the age of nearly 13 years with a haemodynamic insignificant defect of the ventricular septum fell ill with a staphylococcal endocarditis of the aortic valve . After a high dosage therapy with oxacillin for some weeks occurred a leucocytopenia which was reversible after discontinuation of this therapy . Because we could find only few reports about this problem in the german literature, we will report about our patient and give a short survey of literature.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1989 Jul 1, 51(1), 89 - 94
Surface free energy and interaction of Staphylococcus epidermidis with biomaterials; Ferreiros CM et al.; The adhesion of twenty nine Staphylococcus epidermidis strains to teflon, polyethylene, polycarbonate and bovine pericardium was studied in vitro and examined in relation to the surface free energies of both bacteria and biomaterials . All S . epidermidis strains had similar surface free energies, close to that of water, and adhered better to the materials with analogous surface free energies . There was a significant correlation (Kendall's Tau B = 1000) of biomaterial's surface free energy with the number of adhering bacteria . This correlation is inverse (Kendall's Tau B = -1000) when surface hydrophobicity is considered instead of surface free energy . This indicates that in Staphylococcus epidermidis adherence to biomaterials is inversely correlated to the surface hydrophobicity of the last, being so just the opposite of that occurring with other bacteria.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Jul, 33(7), 1108 - 10
Penetration of cefuroxime into ventricular fluid in cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections; Edwards MS et al.; The penetration of intravenously administered cefuroxime into ventricular fluid was assessed in five pediatric patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections and in one with a ventriculostomy infection . Patients received a total dose of 200 to 230 mg of cefuroxime per kg of body weight per day administered at 8-h intervals . Levels of cefuroxime in ventricular fluid ranged from 1.6 to 22.5 micrograms/ml and were associated with cerebrospinal fluid bactericidal titers ranging from less than 1:2 to 1:16 against infecting staphylococcal isolates . Five infections were cured with cefuroxime monotherapy . On the basis of MIC data, one patient had vancomycin substituted for cefuroxime and the infection was cured.

Infect Immun, 1989 Jul, 57(7), 2057 - 65
Selective proliferation of natural killer cells among monocyte-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells as a result of stimulation with staphylococcal enterotoxin B; Garcia-Penarrubia P et al.; In vitro stimulation of monocyte-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) resulted in selective proliferation of cells which express the phenotypic and functional characteristics of natural killer (NK) cells . This culture system provides an easy method for obtaining highly purified NK cells, by sequential incubation of monocyte-depleted cells with SEB and then with interleukin-2 (IL-2) . After culture for 4 to 5 days in the presence of SEB, 98 to 100% of the cells expressed the CD16 (Leu11) and HNK-1 (Leu19) antigens . This purification occurred through the death of lymphocytes lacking NK cell markers and marked proliferation of NK cells themselves, which leads to an enrichment of the NK cell population . Activation of NK cells was detected by the appearance of the gamma interferon receptor and IL-2 receptor antigens . This homogeneous population showed the morphology of large granular lymphocytes, were potent effectors of cell-mediated cytotoxicity against K562 and Daudi tumor cell lines, and were able to kill gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria . IL-2 was necessary to maintain the activation and proliferation after SEB stimulation for 4 days . Moreover, the maximum frequency of binding to K562 cells (60.6%) was similar to that recently found (58 +/- 3%) (P . Garcia-Penarrubia, F . T . Koster, and A . D . Bankhurst, J . Immunol . Methods 118:199-208, 1989) with fresh and highly purified NK cells . This method can be used as a source of highly purified NK cells to study their functional properties and applications to the treatment of cancer.

Vet Surg, 1989 Jul-Aug, 18(4), 300 - 3
Comparison of aerobic culturette, synovial membrane biopsy, and blood culture medium in detection of canine bacterial arthritis; Montgomery RD et al.; Canine joints were cultured 24 hours after inoculation with Staphylococcus intermedius using synovial membrane biopsy, synovial fluid on aerobic culturette and in blood culture medium, and synovial fluid incubated 24 hours in blood culture medium before being cultured . A mildly virulent strain consistently yielded positive cultures when incubated in blood culture medium 24 hours and negative cultures with the other techniques . A highly virulent strain also yielded positive cultures when incubated in blood culture medium 24 hours, which was significantly better than synovial membrane biopsy . When both strains were considered together there was no significant difference between the first three techniques; blood culture medium incubated 24 hours was significantly more reliable . These results suggest that the trauma of synovial membrane biopsy is not justified because synovial fluid culture is more reliable . Synovial fluid should be placed on an aerobic culturette and in blood culture medium, and the samples cultured immediately upon arrival at the laboratory to allow the most rapid results of culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing . The blood culture medium should be recultured after 24 hours of incubation to permit culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing of those samples (approximately 50%) that have no growth on initial culture.

DICP, 1989 Jul-Aug, 23(7-8), 582 - 8
Thrombotic microangiopathy associated with chemotherapy: case report and review of the literature; Fields SM et al.; Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a serious toxicity associated with a small number of antineoplastic agents . A case report of a patient with probable cisplatin and bleomycin-induced TMA is presented . The basic triad of symptoms that occurs in the TMA syndrome include microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal impairment . Cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neurologic complications also occur frequently . The pathogenesis of chemotherapy-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (C-TMA) has not been established . Proposed mechanisms include von Willebrand Factor abnormalities, decreased prostacyclin production, and immune complex formation . Treatment modalities have been unsuccessful and the majority of patients reported have died . Immunoperfusion with staphylococcal protein A is the most effective treatment available and this new technique appears promising . This article reviews the results of all cases of C-TMA reported to date in the English literature and discusses the theories of pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment, and treatment-related complications of the syndrome.

Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci, 1989 Jul-Sep, 31(3), 151 - 7
Pleuropulmonary complications of staphylococcal pulmonary infection in children; Singla R et al.; A series of 44 cases of staphylococcal pulmonary infection in children is reported . Their clinical features and characteristic roentgenological manifestations have been discussed.

Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, 1989 Jul-Aug, 31(4), 279 - 85
Toxoplasmosis serology: an efficient hemagglutination procedure to detect IgG and IgM antibodies; Camargo ME et al.; In search of an efficient but simple, low cost procedure for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis, especially suited for routine laboratories facing technical and budget limitations as in less developed countries, the diagnostic capability of Hematoxo, an hemagglutination test for toxoplasmosis, was evaluated in relation to a battery of tests including IgG- and IgM-immunofluorescence tests, hemagglutination and an IgM-capture enzymatic assay . Detecting a little as 5 I.U . of IgG antitoxoplasma antibodies, Hematoxo showed a straight agreement as to reactivity and non-reactivity for the 443 non-reactive and the 387 reactive serum samples, included in this study . In 23 cases presenting a serological pattern of acute toxoplasmosis and showing IgM antibodies, Hematoxo could detect IgM antibodies in 18, indicated by negativation or a significant decrease in titers as a result of treating samples with 2-mercapto-ethanol . However, a neat increase in sensitivity for IgM specific antibodies could be achieved by previously removing IgG from the sample, as demonstrated in a series of acute toxoplasmosis sera . A simple procedure was developed for this purpose, by reconstituting a lyophilized suspension of Protein A--rich Staphylococcus with the lowest serum dilution to be tested . Of low cost and easy to perform, Hematoxo affords not only a practical qualitative procedure for screening reactors and non-reactors, as in prenatal services, but also quantitative assays that permit to titrate antibodies as well as to identify IgM antibodies.

Mikrobiol Zh, 1989 Jul-Aug, 51(4), 63 - 7
{The biological properties of low-molecular staphylococcal peptides}; Protchenko PZ et al.; Staphylopeptides with molecular weight less than 4000 Da, possessing their own specific allergic activity in skin allergic tests . immunoleukolysis test and phagocytosis breaking test were obtained by the acid extraction method.

J R Soc Med, 1989 Jul, 82(7), 396 - 8
Septicaemia in patients with temporary and permanent endocardial pacemakers; Smyth EG et al.; Twenty-four patients with staphylococcal septicaemia due to permanent (14) and temporary (10) endocardial pacemakers were reviewed . With permanent pacemakers local inflammation was usually present and the onset of septicaemia rapid . If patients were treated with high dose intravenous flucloxacillin combined with removal, recovery was usual . In patients with retained endocardial tips (6) we eradicated infection with medical treatment alone in four cases . We would advocate antistaphylococcal prophylaxis for patients undergoing revision in the presence of local inflammation and high dose intravenous flucloxacillin plus a second anti-staphylococcal antibiotic (e.g . gentamicin) in patients with septicaemia and a pacemaker in situ.

Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1989 Jul, 63(7), 726 - 31
{Gastric microflora in patients receiving H2-blocker}; Kato N et al.; The gastric microflora of 21 cases receiving histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2-blocker) were studied . Patients not given H2-blocker were also examined for gastric microflora . The gastric pH of patients who were receiving H2-blocker ranged from 1.91 to 6.51 (mean, 4.32) . The gastric pH of over 5.00 was seen in 10 cases . Aerobic bacteria were isolated from 20 cases (95%) . Aerobic bacterial counts per ml of gastric aspirates correlated positively with the pH of those aspirates but was little correlation between the pH of the gastric aspirates and the number of anaerobic bacteria of the samples, which were positive in 7 cases (33%) . Candida and Staphylococcus were predominant isolates with positive rates of 82% and 41%, respectively . While Fusobacterium was isolated from 33% of the samples, none of the Bacteroides fragilis group organisms were isolated . It was also observed in the control group that aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the gastric aspirates with high pH . These results suggest that in patients receiving H2-blocker anaerobes as well as aerobes may have the possibility to become pathogen for aspirate pneumonia and so on because of the overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria in the gastric fluid.

Bioorg Khim, 1989 Jul, 15(7), 904 - 7
{Disulfide bonds in neurotoxin-III from the sea anenome Radianthus macrodactylus}; Zykova TA et al.; Positions of the three disulfide bridges in neurotoxin-III (RTX-III) from sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus were determined: Cys3--Cys43, Cys5--Cys33, Cys26--Cys44 . The cystine-containing peptides obtained by the staphylococcal proteinase/trypsin digestion of the intact RTX-III were investigated.

J Rheumatol, 1989 Jul, 16(7), 1000 - 2
Takayasu arteritis presenting as retinal and vertebrobasilar ischemia; Edwards KK et al.; A young woman presented with a 4-month history of retinal and vertebrobasilar ischemia . Angiography demonstrated narrowing of major branches of the aortic arch . Intractable, severe retroorbital pain of the right eye developed after a middle cerebral artery stroke . During 4 weeks of aggressive immunosuppressive therapy including IV high dose bolus corticosteroids and pulse cyclophosphamide, her neurologic deficit improved transiently, but her retroorbital pain persisted . She died of staphylococcal sepsis and pneumonia . An autopsy demonstrated thrombotic or fibrous occlusion, with minimal inflammation, of extracranial arteries.

Arch Biochem Biophys, 1989 Jul, 272(1), 103 - 13
Effects of denaturants at low concentrations on the reversible denaturation of staphylococcal nuclease; Shortle D et al.; Three very unstable mutant forms of staphylococcal nuclease were used to quantitate the change in the apparent equilibrium constant for reversible denaturation (Kapp) as a function of denaturant concentration for a variety of different denaturing solutes . The value of this equilibrium constant in the absence of denaturant (Kapp,0) was determined by renaturation of the mutant proteins with a combination of glycerol and calcium ion, the latter of which binds at the active site in the native conformation . Because Kapp,0 fell in the easily measurable range between 0.1 and 1, the change in Kapp, and thus the change in free energy (delta Gapp), at very low concentrations of denaturants could be accurately measured . With guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl), the rate of change of the apparent free energy of denaturation with respect to denaturant concentration (d(delta Gapp)/dCGuHCl or mGuHCl) was found to be remarkably constant down to zero denaturant concentration, even though this value was different for each of the three proteins . Unlike GuHCl, urea exhibited a slightly reduced value of d delta Gapp/dCurea at low concentrations . Results with a number of thiocyanate, perchlorate, and iodide salts confirmed that the Hofmeister series holds for concentrations below 0.1 M; that is, with regard to efficacy as a denaturant SCN- greater than ClO4- greater than I- and Li+,NH4+ greater than Na+,K+ . However, all of the chaotropic salts analyzed exhibited markedly increased values of d(delta Gapp)/dCsalt at concentrations below 0.2 M . One possible explanation for these large deviations from a linear relationship between delta Gapp and salt concentration is that weak binding or adsorption of chaotropic anions is occurring at a saturable number of sites in hydrophobic regions of the denatured state.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1989 Jul, 8(4), 299 - 316
Liquid and solid selective differential media for the detection and enumeration of L . monocytogenes and other Listeria spp; van Netten P et al.; A selective and differential medium (PALCAM agar) was elaborated for the isolation and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes . PALCAM is based on Columbia agar with 0.05% glucose made selective by the addition of 0.001% polymyxin B, 0.0005% acriflavin, 1.5% lithium chloride and 0.002% ceftazidime . The diagnostic traits were attained by the incorporation of (i) 0.08% aesculin and 0.05% ferric salt; and (ii) 1% mannitol plus 0.008% phenol red . PALCAM recovered test strains of L . monocytogenes and other Listeria spp quantitatively and suppressed most other bacteria of common occurrence in fresh food . L . monocytogenes colonies were approximately 2 mm grey-green with a black sunken centre and a black halo on a cherry-red background . The occasional Enterococcus or Staphylococcus strains developing on the medium gave rise to grey colonies with a brown-green halo or yellow colonies with a yellow halo . PALCAM was the preferred medium out of 13 tested Listeria selective agars in current use . A similar differential enrichment broth, L-PALCAMY was developed based on peptone yeast extract broth with 2.5% egg yolk emulsion . The diagnostic traits and inhibitors used in this medium were the same as in PALCAM agar, through in different concentrations . Growth rate and cellcrop of L . monocytogenes in L-PALCAMY were of the same order as in Columbia broth . The growth of the majority of other bacteria of common occurrence in fresh foods was inhibited . The medium recovered L . monocytogenes more effectively from severely contaminated food than other current enrichment media.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1989 Jul, 42(7), 1171 - 7
Inhibitory effect of antibiotic cerulenin on the respiratory burst in phagocytes . I . Effects of cerulenin on active oxygen-generation and lipid metabolism in phagocytes; Nakata M et al.; The antibiotic cerulenin, a known inhibitor of fatty acid and sterol synthesis, inhibited bactericidal activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages and chemiluminescence (CL) response upon phagocytosis . The antibiotic also inhibited the CL response of human neutrophils upon exposure to various stimuli such as chemotactic peptide N-formylmethionylleucylphenylalanine (fMLP), calcium ionophore A23187 and Staphylococcal delta toxin . The loss of CL response of both types of cells was observed only after incubation of the cells with cerulenin for certain periods . The results of radioactive precursor incorporation suggest that lipid metabolism blocked by cerulenin affected in turn signal transduction across the cell membrane and inhibited CL production in these cells.

J Immunol, 1989 Jul 1, 143(1), 280 - 4
Localization of an immune functional site on staphylococcal enterotoxin A using the synthetic peptide approach; Pontzer CH et al.; Using the synthetic peptide approach, we have identified a part of the staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) molecule that is responsible for stimulation of T cell proliferation and induction of the lymphokine IFN-gamma . Peptides were synthesized corresponding to amino acids 1 to 27, SEA(1-27), and 28 to 45, SEA(28-45) . Both peptides were tested for direct competition with SEA for blockage of SEA induced proliferation and production of IFN-gamma by T cells . Further, antibodies were produced to the peptides and tested for their ability to bind to SEA and block SEA function . SEA (1-27), but not SEA (28-45), blocked proliferation of human peripheral T cells and induction of IFN-gamma by the T cell line, L12-R4 . The inhibitory effects were specific, because SEA (1-27) did not inhibit the induction of T cell proliferation by the mitogen PHA . Consistent with the direct inhibition of function, antibodies to SEA (1-27), but not SEA (28-45), neutralized the mitogenic activity of SEA on human PBL . The data suggest that a functional site on SEA that is responsible for its modulation of T cell function involves the N-terminal 27 amino acids . Residues 1 to 27 of SEA could potentially interact at either the level of the TCR or may block the proposed binding of SEA to class II MHC Ag, based on recent data showing that these molecules are involved in SEA-induced proliferation.

J Immunol, 1989 Jul 1, 143(1), 113 - 7
Differential effects of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha, and vaccinia virus growth factor in the positive regulation of IFN-gamma production; Abdullah NA et al.; We have recently shown that epidermal growth factor (EGF) is capable of positive regulation of IFN-gamma production, thus establishing a functional relationship between nonhemopoietic growth factors and the immune system . In order to study this relationship further, EGF and the EGF-related growth factors transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and vaccinia virus growth factor (VGF), which stimulate cellular proliferation via binding to the EGF receptor, were studied for their functional and physicochemical effects on IFN-gamma production . In contrast to the positive signal of purified murine EGF and recombinant human EGF (both at 1 nM), neither synthetic TGF alpha nor recombinant VGF were capable of restoring competence for IFN-gamma production by Th cell-depleted spleen cell cultures . TGF-alpha and VGF, in molar excess, also failed to block the helper signal of EGF for IFN-gamma production . Thus TGF-alpha and VGF failed to functionally compete for the EGF receptor in the murine spleen cell system . Both TGF-alpha and VGF stimulated murine 3T3 cell proliferation at concentrations similar to those of EGF, and thus their failure to provide help for IFN-gamma production was not due to a general lack of biologic activity . Binding studies with 125I-EGF suggest that the EGF receptor on murine lymphocytes is not constitutively expressed, but inducible by the T cell mitogen staphylococcal enterotoxin A . TGF-alpha did not compete with 125I-EGF for the induced receptor . The data suggest that lymphocytes express a novel inducible EGF receptor that differs from that expressed on cells such as 3T3 fibroblasts.

Clin Nephrol, 1989 Jul, 32(1), 27 - 30
Treatment of resistant CAPD peritonitis by temporary discontinuation of peritoneal dialysis; Cairns HS et al.; Resistant continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) peritonitis (recurrent or persistent infection) is traditionally treated by removal of the CAPD catheter and a period off peritoneal dialysis . In a pilot study we have treated 8 patients with recurrent staphylococcal peritonitis and 3 patients with persistent staphylococcal peritonitis by stopping CAPD for a 2-week period, the CAPD catheter being left in-situ . All 8 patients with recurrent peritonitis and 2 of the 3 patients with persistent peritonitis had resolution of their infection; the third patient required catheter removal to clear the infection . There were no acute problems associated with stopping CAPD, and there was no evidence of loss of peritoneal filtration capacity on restarting CAPD . This novel approach to the treatment of resistant CAPD peritonitis should reduce the number of CAPD catheters replaced and therefore diminish the risks and inconvenience to patients that such replacements entail.

Rev Argent Microbiol, 1989 Jul-Dec, 21(3-4), 111 - 9
{Resistance profiles of the various species of the genus Staphylococcus to 15 clinically-used antimicrobials}; Catalano M et al.; A total of 78 strains of 11 species of Staphylococcus genus (29 S . aureus, 48 Staphylococcus coagulase-negative and 1 S . intermedius strain,) were studied in order to determine the resistance patterns to fifteen commonly used antimicrobial agents . Out of 48 Staphylococcus coagulase-negative strains studied, 8 (4/15 S . epidermidis, 1/10 S . hominis, 1/6 S . haemolyticus, 2/3 S . xylosus) showed resistance patterns similar to that of S . aureus strains against beta-lactam antibiotics, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol and fosfomycin, and 10 exhibit beta-lactamase-activity . Although the 7 S . saprophyticus strains assayed were beta-lactamase-negative by the chromogenic cephalosporin method after induction, the penicillin G minimal inhibitory concentration values were slightly higher than those obtained with other beta-lactamase-negative species . The susceptibilities to erythromycin and clindamycin suggested that macrolides-lincosamides-streptogramin type B (MLS) resistance was present in a large number of Staphylococcus coagulase-negative strains . In all the Staphylococcus genus, the aminoglycosides resistance seems to be mediated by the same aminoglycosides modifying-enzymes . Vancomycin was very active against the 11 species assayed . Rifampicin was effective with all Staphylococcus coagulase-negative strains . The S . aureus rifampicin-resistant were also resistant to oxacillin, and variable against aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, fosfomycin, erythromycin and clindamycin . Only 5 strains were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS), 1 S . aureus oxacillin-susceptible, 1 S . aureus oxacillin-resistant, 2 S . xylosus and 1 S . warneri strains.

Vopr Virusol, 1989 Jul-Aug, 34(4), 458 - 9
{A stat-method of determining respiratory syncytial virus}; Makarian EA et al.; For rapid detection of RS virus we have modified agglutination test with staphylococcus coated with RSV-antibody which allows the virus titer to be determined within 3-5 min . The results of RS virus titration in the yield compared with those obtained by CFT and CPE tests showed our modified test to be twice as specific and sensitive (60-80 ng/ml) . This modification of the coagglutination test with sensitized staphylococcus and the method of running the test on a row of slides may be used in virological and serological laboratories as well as in infectious hospitals and outpatient wards.

Biochemistry, 1989 Jun 27, 28(13), 5509 - 24
Staphylococcal nuclease: sequential assignments and solution structure; Torchia DA et al.; Sequential assignments are reported for backbone 15N and 1H of nearly all residues of staphylococcal nuclease (Nase) complexed with thymidine 3',5'-diphosphate and Ca2+ . Because of the relatively large size of the Nase ternary complex, Mr 18K, the crucial element of our assignment strategy was the use of isotope-edited two-dimensional NMR spectra, particularly 15N-edited nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY), 15N-edited J-correlated spectroscopy (COSY), and 1H/15N or 1H/13C heteronuclear multiple quantum shift correlation spectroscopy (HMQC) . These experiments, together with the more conventional NOESY, COSY, and homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectra of natural abundance or deuteriated samples, yielded backbone assignments of 127 of the 136 residues in the structured part of the protein . Using the NOESY data, we identified three helical domains and several beta-sheets which were in close correspondence with secondary structure identified in the crystal structure . Moreover, many long-range NOESY connectivities were identified that were in agreement with distances derived from the crystal structure . The region of the sequence in the neighborhood of residue 50 appears to be more flexible and disordered in solution than in the crystal . Very slowly exchanging amide protons are those found to be hydrogen bonded in the crystal structure; however, even hydrogen-bonded amides located within similar types of regular secondary structures, e.g., alpha-helices, exchange with greatly different rates.

Biochemistry, 1989 Jun 27, 28(13), 5327 - 34
Pump-1 cDNA codes for a protein with characteristics similar to those of classical collagenase family members; Quantin B et al.; Pump-1 cDNA has recently been isolated by screening a human tumor cDNA library with a transin (rat stromelysin) probe under low-stringency hybridization conditions . The cDNA codes for a potential protein with significant sequence similarity to the metalloproteinases collagenase and stromelysin, but which lacks the hemopexin-like domain characteristic of these enzymes . Expression of pump-1 cDNA in cos cells using an expression vector leads to secretion of a protein of Mr 28,000 with latent, organomercurial-activatable proteinase activity . Cos cells transfected with a partial pump-1 cDNA in the vector pPROTA secrete a fusion protein between the IgG-binding domains of staphylococcal protein A and pump-1 . The fusion protein binds to IgG-Sepharose, and the bound fusion protein undergoes apparent autocleavage in the presence of 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate with elution of active pump-1 species of Mr 21,000 and 19,000 . Active pump-1 degrades casein, gelatins of types I, III, IV, and V, and fibronectin and can activate collagenase . Active pump-1 is inhibited by EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases . These results show that, despite the absence of a hemopexin-like domain, pump-1 is a latent secreted metalloproteinase . Postpartum rat uteri contain elevated levels of rat pump-1 mRNA . On the basis of this observation, its size, and its substrate specificity, we suggest that pump-1 might correspond to a previously described uterine metalloproteinase, matrix metalloproteinase 7.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1989 Jun, (6), 81 - 3
{Suppression of delayed hypersensitivity to microbial and transplantation antigens with ultraviolet radiation}; Akopian NG et al.; The influence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on delayed hypersensitivity to antigens of different nature has been studied . UV radiation in different doses has been shown to induce the suppression of delayed hypersensitivity to staphylococcal cell-wall antigens and transplantation alloantigens.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1989 Jun, (6), 57 - 61
{Reactivity of neutrophils in systems with peptidoglycans of different species of Staphylococcus}; Lebedeva IuV et al.; The work presents the results of the comparative study of the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of human neutrophils stimulated with peptidoglycans of 14 staphylococcal species . The intensity of chemiluminescence greatly varied, which was not linked with specific antigenic and structural features of peptidoglycans . The maximal chemiluminescence was induced by S . aureus and S . cohnii peptidoglycans and the minimal chemiluminescence, by S . lentus and S . epidermidis peptidoglycans . The data obtained in experiments on cross restimulation with homologous and heterologous peptidoglycans suggest that the mechanisms of neutrophil activation are similar in character, differing from the mechanism of latex-induced chemiluminescence . These data were analyzed from the viewpoint of the heterogeneity of bacterial peptidoglycans and its effect on their relationship with neutrophils.

Infect Immun, 1989 Jun, 57(6), 1816 - 24
Cell surface molecules involved in early events in T-cell mitogenic stimulation by staphylococcal enterotoxins; Vroegop SM et al.; We tested the mitogenic response to staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) type A and SE type B in spleen cells from five strains of mice and found consistent and significant differences among the strains . We chose to study the mitogenic responses of two of these strains, C58BL/6J and BALB/cJ, in greater detail . We investigated the effects of specific monoclonal antibodies to cell surface determinants on SE-induced mitogenesis . Monoclonal antibodies against Ia (class II major histocompatibility complex) determinants blocked SE-induced mitogenesis . Both I-A and I-E molecules can participate in the stimulation, and in BALB/cJ mice which express both types of class II molecules both must be blocked to prevent mitogenesis . Mitogenesis was not inhibited by monoclonal antibodies specific for class I major histocompatibility complex antigens or monoclonal antibodies specific for Mac-1, Lyt-1, or Lyt-2 cell surface proteins . Monoclonal antibodies specific for the T-cell surface antigens L3T4 and T3 also substantially inhibited SE-induced mitogenesis . This implicates participation of the T-cell antigen receptor complex in stimulation induced by the SEs . Elimination of L3T4+ helper-inducer T cells abolished the mitogenic response of spleen cells to SE . Reconstitution of L3T4-depleted spleen cells with L3T4+ T cells showed that the level of the mitogenic response was directly proportional to the number of L3T4+ cells added . Elimination of Lyt-2+ cells resulted in a 50% decrease in the response to SEs . These results indicate that L3T4+ T cells are required for the mitogenic response to SE, but both L3T4+ and Lyt 2+ T cells participate in SE-induced mitogenesis . Our results suggest that both Ia and the T-cell antigenic receptor complex are involved in SE-induced mitogenesis.

Khirurgiia (Mosk), 1989 Jun, (6), 42 - 5
{Treatment of non-lactation suppurative mastitis}; Abdulzhavadov IM; The author analyses the case records of 238 patients who were treated at the clinic for nonpuerperal mastitis during a period of 10 years . Concomitant diseases were encountered in 31.7% and trauma of the breast in 14.1% of patients . Staphylococcus was the main causative agent (in 85%) of nonpuerperal mastitis . Surgical operation was the method of choice in the treatment of this form of mastitis; it was undertaken in 237 of the 238 patients . Emphasis is placed on the necessity of making sparing incisions which ensure good immediate results and the best cosmetic effect.

Am J Anat, 1989 Jun-Jul, 185(2-3), 301 - 9
Use of colloidal gold in diagnostic surgical pathology; Warhol MJ; Colloidal gold immuno-electron microscopy is a powerful tool for defining antigenicity at the subcellular level . Such studies permit correlation with cell fractionation studies . They also allow one to assess the specificity of a particular antibody . The most useful reagent for immuno-electron microscopy is colloidal gold stabilized by a binding protein, either staphylococcal protein A or immunoglobulin . This method permits highly discrete labeling, and the system is useful for most antibodies used in diagnostic pathology.

Rev Fr Transfus Hemobiol, 1989 Jun, 32(3), 179 - 91
{Rheologic and cytologic study of autologous blood collected with Cell Saver 4 during cesarean}; Durand F et al.; Intra-operative autologous transfusion has been frequently used in vascular and traumatic surgery for about ten years . The technique would be justified in other procedures when intra-operative bleeding is significant and the quality of retrieved blood is satisfactory . We have studied the potential use of intra-operative autologous transfusion during caesarean section of 15 parturients . The quality of autologous blood (at different stages of the procedure) was assessed after being recovered and washed by "Cell Saver 4" (Haemonetics) . Blood quality was assessed through 1) measuring the following: erythrocyte deformability with Erythrometer and Hemorheometer; blood and plasma viscosities; ATP, 2.3 DPG and plasma hemoglobin rates; and RBC morphology through SEM; 2) bacterial detection and identification; 3) detection of foetal cells which could create immunological disturbances if reinjected into the mother . The results showed: 1) little variation in RBC deformability properties with ATP and 2.3 DPG rates which, apart from a slight decrease, remained within the normal range; 2) a 20 fold increase in plasma hemoglobin persisting, despite successive washes, in 80% of cases; 3) positive Staphylococcus epidermidis hemoculture clinically irrelevant in the reinjectable bag in 90% of cases; 4) close to 1% foetal cells in the reinjectable bag in 20% of cases; 5) 8% abnormal cells as seen on SEM (Stage I echinocytes) and a slight swelling of the RBCs, which could account for their fragility . These preliminary results show that intraoperative autologous transfusion could be used in obstetrical surgery, provided that certain precautions are taken to minimize the aforesaid drawbacks.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1989 Jun, 66(6), 543 - 8
Modelling the growth response of Staphylococcus xylosus to changes in temperature and glycerol concentration/water activity; Chandler RE et al.; The growth response of Staphylococcus xylosus strain CM21/3 to changes in temperature and water activity (glycerol concentration) was similar to that observed when water activity was adjusted by added NaCl . At each water activity level the effect of temperature on bacterial growth rate was described well by the square root model . TMIN (the notional minimum temperature for growth) was found to be constant and was similar to the value obtained for the same organism grown in media containing NaCl . Growth rate was proportional to glycerol concentration/water activity allowing the combined effect of this factor and temperature to be modelled by substitution of the constant b in the basic square root model by a term for water activity . The observed minimum water activity for growth at the optimum temperature was close to that predicted by the model.

Br J Ophthalmol, 1989 Jun, 73(6), 402 - 6
Adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to intraocular lenses; Griffiths PG et al.; We have demonstrated, with an in vitro model, that Staphylococcus epidermidis is able to colonise intraocular lenses . Adherent organisms were quantitated by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and viable counting . Bacterial adherence was associated with production of a polysaccharide glycocalyx . Organisms which were attached to the lenses were resistant to apparently bactericidal concentrations of antibiotics, as determined by conventional testing . We speculate on the role of colonisation in the pathogenesis of endophthalmitis.

Minerva Med, 1989 Jun, 80(6), 579 - 80
{Infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis in the Alessandria Civil Hospital}; Garavelli PL et al.; Eighty-seven cases of S . epidermidis infection isolated from various pathological materials in patients admitted to the Alessandria Civil Hospital are reported . The antibiotic resistance of the various strains is also evaluated.

J Trauma, 1989 Jun, 29(6), 811 - 6
Risk factors associated with intravascular catheter infections in burned patients: a prospective, randomized study; Franceschi D et al.; A prospective, controlled study of 101 intravascular catheter sites was undertaken to determine the importance of tubing manipulation and skin contamination in the etiology of catheter infection in burned patients . Catheters in place for 3 days were randomized to have the tubing changed every 24 or 48 hours . Catheters were removed at 72 hours and the tips cultured by the semi-quantitative technique of Maki . Hubs were cultured (by swab culture) at times of tubing change and at the time of catheter removal . Skin cultures of the area surrounding the catheter were done at the time of insertion and removal . Catheter tip infection was defined as 15 or more colony forming units . Positive cultures were found in 25.7% of the cases, and were most often due to Pseudomonas species (33%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (29%) . Infections occurred in 35% of arterial catheters, 27% of central, and 12% of peripheral venous catheters . No benefit was observed from changing the administration tubing at 24 hours vs . 48 hours . Hub cultures were positive 30% of the time at 24 hours, 39% at 48 hours and 41% at 72 hours . Although the isolated organisms correlated with tip cultures, false positive rates varied from 8 to 62% . Discriminant analysis showed no relationship between catheter infection and burn size or day postburn; however, the incidence of catheter infection correlated inversely with the distance of the catheter insertion site from the burn wound (p = 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1989 Jun 1, 1008(1), 52 - 61
Non-random reconstitution of HMG1 and HMG2 in chromatin . Determination of the histone contacts; Bernues J et al.; We have studied how non-histone proteins HMG1 and HMG2 interact with rat liver chromatin using reconstitution and chemical cross-linking procedures . Both proteins were found to associate to chromatin only to some extent and always with a marked preference for short oligonucleosomes, mainly mono- and dinucleosomes . However, a slight reconstitution with the long polynucleosomal fraction can be observed in H1-depleted chromatin . Reconstitution is non-random and a clear preference for regions highly sensitive to staphylococcal nuclease (EC 3.1.31.1) is observed . Chemical cross-linking has allowed us to identify H1, H2A and H2B as the histones contacted by HMG1 and HMG2 upon reconstitution . Also, we present evidence that HMG1 and HMG2 interact with the nucleosomal particle without replacing H1 or any other histone.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1989 Jun, 37(5 Pt 2), 591 - 4
{In vitro effect of combinations of daunorubicin and antibiotics against various bacterial strains}; Fourche J et al.; The associations of daunorubicin with various antibiotics were studied by the broth dilution method ("checkboard" technic) . The FIC Index were calculated to evaluate the effect of the various combinations . Antibiotics tested were chosen according to the bacterial species: vancomycin, cefotaxime, oxacillin, tobramycin, rifampicin against 15 isolates of Staphylococcus, ampicillin, piperacillin, vancomycin, rifampicin against 10 isolates of enterococci, piperacillin, ofloxacin, tobramycin against 5 E . coli strains . No antagonistic effect was observed whatever the antibiotic or bacterial strain . Against enterococci, all combinations showed a synergistic or additive effect, the most pronounced effect being demonstrated with rifampicin (FIC Index value around 0.3) . Among the combinations tested against Staphylococcus, the combination daunorubicin + tobramycin demonstrated synergy against all but 1 strain tested, the combinations including oxacillin, cefotaxime or rifampicin showed a synergistic or additive effect, combinations including vancomycin showed addition or no drug interaction . Antibiotics tested against E . coli gave a synergistic combined drug effect in some cases, more often an additive effect, some time no interaction, depending on the strain.

Rhinology, 1989 Jun, 27(2), 125 - 8
Toxic shock syndrome after nasal surgery: is prevention possible? A case report and review of the literature; de Vries N et al.; Toxic shock syndrome (TSS), is an acute illness with four major criteria: involvement of multiple organ systems, fever greater than 38.9 degrees C, hypotension or shock and rash with subsequent desquamation . TSS was first reported by Todd et al . in 1978, and is a rare complication of staphylococcal infection . Although it at first was thought to be a childhood disease and an illness of menstruating women using intravaginal tampons, it has now been described as a complication of minor surgery, burns and minimal skin infections (Reingold et al., 1982; Jacobson et al., 1983) . More than 2800 cases have been reported at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta (Reingold, 1985) . Jacobson and Kasworm (1986) estimate the incidence after nasal surgery to be 16.5 per 100.000, which in fact is higher than the incidence in women of menstrual age using intravaginal tampons . TSS usually occurs within 24-48 hours after surgery, often starting with nausea and vomiting . Although the syndrome can be lethal or can have troublesome sequelae, as prolonged weakness fatigue and neuropsychological disturbances, complete recovery is often the case.

Mol Cell Biol, 1989 Jun, 9(6), 2477 - 86
DNA-binding domain of human c-Myc produced in Escherichia coli; Dang CV et al.; We have identified the domain of the human c-myc protein (c-Myc) produced in Escherichia coli that is responsible for the ability of the protein to bind sequence-nonspecific DNA . Using analysis of binding of DNA by proteins transferred to nitrocellulose, DNA-cellulose chromatography, and a nitrocellulose filter binding assay, we examined the binding properties of c-Myc peptides generated by cyanogen bromide cleavage, of mutant c-Myc, and of proteins that fuse portions of c-Myc to staphylococcal protein A . The results of these analyses indicated that c-Myc amino acids 265 to 318 were responsible for DNA binding and that other regions of the protein (including a highly conserved basic region and a region containing the leucine zipper motif) were not required . Some mutant c-Mycs that did not bind DNA maintained rat embryo cell-cotransforming activity, which indicated that the c-Myc property of in vitro DNA binding was not essential for this activity . These mutants, however, were unable to transform established rat fibroblasts (Rat-1a cells) that were susceptible to transformation by wild-type c-Myc, although this lack of activity may not have been due to their inability to bind DNA.

J Appl Bacteriol, 1989 Jun, 66(6), 507 - 14
Studies on antagonism between porcine skin bacteria; Allaker RP et al.; Strains of Staphylococcus warneri, Staph . epidermidis and Aerococcus viridans isolated from porcine skin were shown to produce substances that inhibited the growth of Staph . hyicus . Studies of interactions between the inhibitor-producing bacteria and Staph . hyicus on cellulose acetate membranes demonstrated a significant reduction (P less than 0.001) of the Staph . hyicus population at various stages of its growth cycle, depending on the inhibitor used . Inhibitor production profiles in batch culture showed a change in production with culture growth . Trypsin and an extracellular substance from Staph . hyicus had similar effects in reducing inhibitor production . Staphylococcus hyicus was shown to produce varying amounts of a proteolytic enzyme during growth in batch culture . Such in vitro models of bacterial interaction enable potential mechanisms of disease control using inhibitor-producing organisms to be investigated and provide a basis for studies in vivo.

Orthop Rev, 1989 Jun, 18(6), 707 - 12
Infected uncemented hip arthroplasty . Preserving the femoral stem with a two-stage revision procedure; Struhl S et al.; Revision of an infected uncemented hip arthroplasty can be significantly complicated by the presence of extensive bony ingrowth . Although removal of the prosthesis is desirable, technical difficulties in extracting a well anchored prosthesis can be extreme . Femoral windowing or splitting may be necessary . In these cases, treatment alternatives that avoid destruction of the femoral cortex are desirable . A 47-year-old man presented with a deep infection of a virtually fully coated porous implant two years postoperatively . Radiographs revealed extensive bony ingrowth and an arthrogram revealed no dye tracking down the femoral canal . The infecting organism was Staphylococcus epidermis . In order to avoid the possible complications of extraction of this fully coated stem, treatment was carried out initially with removal of the bipolar head, joint debridement, and placement of antibiotic impregnated beads . After seven weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy with the patient in tibial pin traction, a revision was undertaken and the acetabulum was revised with a threaded uncemented acetabular component . The patient recovered and at 18 month follow-up is without evidence of infection and back to full function . Revision with a two-stage femoral stem preserving procedure is presented as an alternative in the management of infected uncemented hip arthroplasty.

Biochem Pharmacol, 1989 Jun 1, 38(11), 1849 - 62
Blockade by lipoxygenase inhibitors of Ca2+-dependent insulin secretion from permeabilized rat islets . A molecular mechanism distinct from that of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists; Metz SA; To evaluate the regulation and effects of pancreatic islet lipoxygenase, adult rat islets were permeabilized, using digitonin or staphylococcal alpha-toxin, and then were studied in a medium simulating an intracellular milieu at fixed ambient concentrations of Ca2+ . Permeabilized islets retained 12-lipoxygenase activity, as indicated by conversion of tritiated arachidonic acid to a predominant peak of {3H}12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE); this activity was inhibited (89-98%) by the lipoxygenase blockers nordihydroguaiaretic acid (35 microM), BW755c (250 microM) or ETYA (35 microM) . Lesser amounts of compounds coeluting with 15- and 11-HETE (but little or no 5-HETE) were formed; however, 11-HETE (and possibly some 15-HETE) was probably synthesized (at least in part) via cyclooxygenase, as suggested by the partial synthesis blockade induced by 50 microM ibuprofen . The production of 12-HETE did not require the presence of Ca2+, Mg2+ or ATP; it also was not stimulated by addition of cyclic AMP, a phorbol ester, or calmodulin . However, it was augmented modestly by provision of a basal cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration of 60-80 nM, with no further increase at physiologically elevated levels of 260-530 nM . Elevations in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations induced insulin release which was inhibited by cooling, epinephrine or protein kinase inhibitors and, therefore, was exocytotic in nature . Lipoxygenase inhibitors blocked this insulinotropic effect of calcium at submaximal or saturating Ca2+ concentrations (with or without its potentiation by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an activator of protein kinase C) by 53-82% . However, they did not reduce the Ca2+-independent secretory effects (at subnanomolar Ca2+ concentrations) of the phorbol ester alone . Similar results were seen using dibutyryl cyclic AMP to activate protein kinase A . The alpha 2-adrenergic agonists epinephrine or clonidine inhibited Ca2+-, TPA- or cyclic AMP-induced insulin release without reducing HETE formation . We conclude that (1) islet lipoxygenase is constitutively expressed and is not physiologically regulated by alpha 2-adrenergic agonism, Ca2+ or protein kinases; (2) lipoxygenase modulates insulin release; HETE production is not merely an epiphenomenon reflecting the activation (or inhibition) of exocytotic secretion; (3) islet lipoxygenase inhibitors reduce insulin secretion, at least in part, by blocking the direct effects of Ca2+ on exocytosis and/or its synergism with Ca2+-binding proteins such as protein kinase C; and (4) these same inhibitors do not directly poison protein kinase C or A, or the exocytotic apparatus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Eur J Immunol, 1989 Jun, 19(6), 1157 - 60
Human interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha production studied at a single-cell level; Andersson U et al.; Individual peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which produced interleukin 6 (IL 6) or tumor necrosis factor alpha, (TNF alpha), were studied by cytokine-specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and immunofluorescence technique with UV microscopy . Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced IL 6 as well as TNF alpha production in the majority of the monocytes, but not at all in lymphocytes . Approximately every second monocyte made TNF alpha in response to LPS within 0.5 h from start of the cultures, when no IL 6 or TNF alpha production occurred . The maximal number of TNF alpha-synthesizing monocytes was observed 1.5 h later and then rapidly declined . LPS stimulation led to optimal IL 6 production 3 h after initiation of the cultures, with 90% of the monocytes expressing intracellular IL 6 . LPS-induced IL 6 synthesis started about 1 h after that of TNF alpha . Polyclonal T cell activation with staphylococcal enterotoxin A or anti-CD3 mAb induced a biphasic production pattern of IL 6 as well as TNF alpha . Early IL 6 synthesis, which peaked 6-8 h from start of the cultures, occurred exclusively in monocytes, while late IL 6 production at 48 h was restricted to a small fraction of lymphoid cells . T cell mitogen induced early TNF alpha production, which peaked at 6 h, took mainly place in monocytes and to a minor degree in CD4+ as well as CD8+ T cells . The majority of the TNF alpha-producing mononuclear cells at 24 h were of the CD4+ T cell lineage in the staphylococcal enterotoxin A- or anti-CD3 mAb-activated cultures . IL 6 as well as TNF alpha accumulated in the Golgi system, which resulted in a characteristic morphology of the staining, eliminating problems with evaluation of background signals.

Arthritis Rheum, 1989 Jun, 32(6), 717 - 25
High-dose, pulse intravenous methylprednisolone enhances Fc gamma receptor-mediated mononuclear phagocyte function in systemic lupus erythematosus; Salmon JE et al.; The benefit of high-dose, pulse intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) for some patients with active lupus nephritis would appear paradoxical, since active nephritis is associated with profound abnormalities in Fc gamma receptor function, and several studies have demonstrated that glucocorticoids decrease monocyte Fc gamma receptor expression and phagocytic function . To resolve this paradox, we investigated the possibility that pulse IVMP might enhance monocyte Fc gamma receptor function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) . Circulating immune complex (CIC) levels, Fc gamma receptor-mediated clearance, and Fc gamma receptor-dependent monocyte function were analyzed in 23 SLE patients before and after pulse IVMP (1 gm daily for 3 days) . A biphasic response in CIC levels, determined by a staphylococcal protein A binding assay, was observed . Initially, CIC levels increased within 2-4 hours after the first dose of pulse IVMP and then decreased by 50% within 24-48 hours after the completion of therapy . Fc gamma receptor-mediated binding and phagocytosis of IgG-sensitized erythrocytes (EA) by monocytes in vitro were significantly enhanced 24 hours after the final dose of pulse IVMP (pre-IVMP versus post-IVMP 43 +/- 14% versus 53 +/- 12% EA rosettes, P less than 0.01; 3.00 +/- 1.04 versus 3.99 +/- 1.30 EA ingested/monocyte, P less than 0.01) . In contrast, there was no change in the phagocytosis of an Fc gamma receptor-independent probe, neuraminidase-treated erythrocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Neurosci Nurs, 1989 Jun, 21(3), 185 - 9
Epidural abscesses of the spine: case comparisons; Gilliland K; Epidural abscesses of the spine generally arise from staphylococcal infections that by hematologic spread or direct invasion affect the integrity of the vertebral column or meningeal coverings of the spinal cord . A case comparison approach highlights goal-oriented nursing interventions which assist the patient in the adaptation to and recovery from this unique central nervous system infection.

Indian J Cancer, 1989 Jun, 26(2), 76 - 84
Interferon producing capacity (IPCA) of peripheral mononuclear cell in oral cancer patients; Jamkar AV et al.; Interferon producing capacity (IPCA) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells is ability of these cells to produce IFN with suitable IFN inducer . In Vitro IPCA of cryopreserved mononuclear cells (MNC) from peripheral blood of 46 oral cancer patients was studied and was compared to that of healthy, age matched donors . New castle disease virus (NDV) and staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) were used as inducers for evaluating Type alpha IPCA (AIPCA) and Type gamma IPCA (GIPCA) respectively . Age of healthy donors did not influence the AIPCA or GIPCA . Oral cancer patients demonstrated significant low AIPCA (P less than 0.05) (Range Healthy donors 3.5 to 4.6 log 10Iu/ml Oral Cancer 2.0 to 4.6 log 10Iu/ml GIPCA was found to be further depressed (P less than 0.005) (Range Healthy donors 2.87 to 3.6 Log 10 U/ml, Oral cancer 1.7 to 3.6 log 10 U/ml . The depression in IPCA was found to be more pronounced in advanced stage of disease.

Burns, 1989 Jun, 15(3), 190 - 2
Susceptibility of Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus wound isolates to topical antimicrobial agents: a 10-year review and clinical evaluation; Thomson PD et al.; A 10-year review of Ps . aeruginosa and Staph . aureus susceptibility to various topical agents is presented . Susceptibility testing was performed using the agar well diffusion (AWD) method . A reduction in microbial growth to numbers less than 10(5) per gram of tissue in the wound, measured by quantitative biopsy, was compared with predicted susceptibility test results . In this measurement of clinical efficacy, silver sulphadiazine and mafenide acetate compared most favourably with AWD results, 83 per cent and 82 per cent respectively . However, nitrofurazone only reduced bacterial counts to less than 10(5) per gram 42 per cent of the time when an inhibition zone was present . Hydrogen peroxide solution (1 per cent) was 100 per cent effective by the AWD test, but no relationship to clinical efficacy could be shown . Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) data for gentamicin sulphate was compared to AWD and showed a positive relationship of greater than 80 per cent for both organisms . The AWD test has been a useful aid in the decision-making process for the choice of topical agent by providing data which eliminates agents inappropriate for use.

J Clin Oncol, 1989 Jun, 7(6), 781 - 9
Cancer-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome: analysis of 85 cases from a national registry; Lesesne JB et al.; A registry of suspected cases of cancer-associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome (C-HUS) was established in May 1984 . Records of 85 patients from the registry, all with history of cancer, hematocrit less than or equal to 25%, platelet count less than 100,000, and serum creatinine greater than or equal to 1.6 mg/dL were subjected to in-depth analysis . Eighty-nine percent of patients had adenocarcinoma, including 26% with gastric cancer . Microangiopathic hemolysis was reported in 83 patients; coagulation studies were normal with rare exception . Bone marrow examination ruled out chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in 68 of 85 . Thirty-five percent of patients were without evident cancer at time of syndrome development . Mitomycin (MMC) was part of the treatment regimen in 84 patients; all but nine received a cumulative dose greater than 60 mg . Pulmonary edema, generally noncardiogenic, developed in 65% of patients, often after blood product transfusions . C-HUS has a high mortality: over 50% of patients died of or with syndrome, most within 8 weeks of syndrome development . Conventional treatment was ineffective, although ten of 21 treated with staphylococcal protein A (SPA) immunopheresis showed significant responses . Statistical analysis found only absence of obvious tumor and treatment with SPA to suggest favorable prognosis . C-HUS is distinguishable from related syndromes such as childhood HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), consumption coagulopathy, and microangiopathic hemolysis associated with advanced carcinoma . MMC is likely involved in the development of C-HUS; the risk of developing C-HUS after treatment with MMC is between 4% and 15% . However, possible bias in patients referred to the registry and reports of non-MMC C-HUS cases must be remembered . Recommendations include careful monitoring of renal and hematologic function in patients treated with MMC, aggressive nontransfusion in patients with suspected C-HUS, and consideration of treatment with SPA immunopheresis in patients with definite syndrome.

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1989 Jun, 107(6), 720 - 2
{Immunobiological properties of staphylococcal enterotoxins type A, B, C, D and E}; Beilbaeva ML et al.; Comparative study of mitogenic and interferonogenic properties of staphylococcal enterotoxins of different serotypes is done . It is revealed that preparations of enterotoxins are polyclonal mitogens and have interferon-inducing activity . It is stated that enterotoxin of D type has the highest mitogenic activity, which is shown by interferon-inducing activity of A type toxin.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1989 Jun, 86(12), 4649 - 53
Relative contribution of "determinant selection" and "holes in the T-cell repertoire" to T-cell responses; Schaeffer EB et al.; Using BALB/c and CBA/J mice, the I-region associated (Ia) binding capacity and T-cell immunogenicity of a panel of 14 overlapping peptides that span the entire sequence of the protein staphylococcal nuclease (Nase) was examined to evaluate major histocompatibility gene complex (MHC) control of T-cell responses . Ia binding and Ia-restricted T-cell immunogenicity could be determined for a total of 54 peptide-MHC combinations . Only 30% of the 54 instances examined involved detectable Ia binding, but they represented almost all (12 of 13) of the immune responses found . However, binding to Ia was not sufficient to ensure T-cell immunogenicity, since only 70% of the binding events were productive--i.e., were associated with an immune response . Thus, Ia molecules have the expected characteristics of a highly permissive capacity for antigen interaction that allows them to function as restriction elements for a large universe of antigens . On the other hand, since the Ia molecules cannot distinguish between self and non-self, not all antigen-Ia interactions would be permitted to elicit a T-cell response . It appears that both Ia binding ("determinant selection") and T-cell repertoire act in concert to define the immune response status of an individual toward any particular T-cell epitope.

Biochemistry, 1989 May 30, 28(11), 4680 - 9
Calculations of free energy profiles for the staphylococcal nuclease catalyzed reaction; Aqvist J et al.; Calculations of the free energy profile for the first two (rate-limiting) steps of the staphylococcal nuclease catalyzed reaction are reported . The calculations are based on the empirical valence bond method in combination with free energy perturbation molecular dynamics simulations . The calculated activation free energy is in good agreement with experimental kinetic data, and the catalytic effect of the enzyme is reproduced without any arbitrary adjustment of parameters . The enormous reduction of the activation barrier (relative to the reference reaction in water) appears to be largely associated with the strong electrostatic effect of the Ca2+ ion and the two arginine residues in the active site . This favorable electrostatic environment reduces the cost of the general-base catalysis step by almost 15 kcal/mol (by stabilizing the OH- nucleophile) and then stabilizes the developing negative charge on the 5'-phosphate group in the second step of the reaction by about 19 kcal/mol . The basic features of the originally postulated enzyme mechanism (Cotton et al., 1979) are found to be compatible with the observed activation free energy . However, the proposed modification of the mechanism (Sepersu et al., 1987), in which Arg 87 interacts only with the pentacoordinated transition state, is supported by the simulations . Further calculations on the D21E mutant also give results in good agreement with kinetic data.

J Biol Chem, 1989 May 25, 264(15), 9090 - 3
The small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and its precursor expressed in Escherichia coli are associated with groEL protein; Landry SJ et al.; The small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase is synthesized in the cytoplasm as a precursor which is transported into the chloroplast . During or after transport the precursor is processed to its mature size by removal of an amino-terminal transit peptide . Eight small subunits and eight large subunits (synthesized in the chloroplast) assemble to form the holoenzyme . We have expressed the precursor of the small subunit in Escherichia coli as a fusion to the carboxyl terminus of staphylococcal protein A' . The fusion protein was recovered from the bacterial lysate by chromatography on IgG-agarose . A 58-kDa protein copurified with the fusion protein in approximately equal amounts . Much less of the 58-kDa protein copurified with a fusion in which the transit peptide was deleted, and it did not copurify with protein A' . The 58-kDa protein was identified as the E . coli groEL gene product with antibodies directed against a homologous mitochondrial heat shock protein . This finding is particularly interesting because a chloroplast protein involved in the assembly of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase also is homologous to the groEL protein . These homologs could modulate protein-protein interactions during folding and assembly of subunits into native complexes.

Science, 1989 May 19, 244(4906), 817 - 20
Class II MHC molecules are specific receptors for staphylococcus enterotoxin A; Mollick JA et al.; T cell proliferation in response to stimulation with Staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA) requires accessory cells that express class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules . Murine fibroblasts transfected with genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of HLA-DR, DQ, or DP were used to show that the proliferative response of purified human T cells to SEA is dependent on class II molecules but is not restricted by the haplotype of the responder . Binding of fluoresceinated SEA to class II transfectants and precipitation of class II heterodimers with SEA-Sepharose show that the proliferative response is a result of SEA binding to class II molecules . The binding is specific for class II molecules and is independent of class II allotype or isotype . The ability of SEA to bind class II molecules may be a general characteristic of this class of antigens, now called "superantigens".

Science, 1989 May 19, 244(4906), 811 - 3
V beta-specific stimulation of human T cells by staphylococcal toxins; Kappler J et al.; The staphylococcal toxins are responsible for a number of diseases in man and other animals . Many of them have also long been known to be powerful T cell stimulants . They do not, however, stimulate all T cells . On the contrary, each toxin reacts with human T cells bearing particular V beta sequences as part of their receptors for major histocompatibility complex protein-associated antigen . The specificity of these toxins for V beta s puts them in the recently described class of superantigens and may account for the differential sensitivity of different individuals to the toxic effects of these proteins.

Nature, 1989 May 18, 339(6221), 221 - 3
High-affinity binding of staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B to HLA-DR; Fraser JD; Staphylococcal enterotoxins A-E (refs 1-3), toxic shock toxin (TST-1) (ref . 1), a product of Mycoplasma arthritidis and the Mls antigens provoke dramatic T-cell responses . All are extremely potent polyclonal mitogens stimulating a large proportion of both murine and human CD4+ and CD8+T cells although activity is tightly restricted by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens . The murine T-cell response to staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) has recently been shown to involve only those T cells expressing T-cell receptor V beta 3, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 domains, a situation which closely mimics the response to Mls antigens . This paper examines the initial events in SEA and SEB T-cell activation and shows that MHC restriction results from a direct high affinity binding by intact SEA and SEB to the same site on MHC class II HLA-DR antigens.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1989 May 15, 160(3), 1106 - 9
Plasmid-encoded lysostaphin endopeptidase resistance of Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus; Heath HE et al.; Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus, the lysostaphin-producing organism, secretes a staphylolytic endopeptidase (EC 3.4.99.17) that is encoded on plasmid pACK1 . Susceptibility of pACK1-cured strains to lysis by endopeptidase established that resistance to this enzyme is not an inherent property of the organism but rather is encoded on this dispensable plasmid . Furthermore, the enzyme is not an autolysin that is essential for cell wall synthesis because strains lacking the endopeptidase gene grew normally.

Clin Ter, 1989 May 15, 129(3), 193 - 206
{Critical considerations on various experimental staphylococcus infections}; Farinelli S et al.; The authors discuss some problems concerning the use of models in biomedical research and particular animal models of staphylococcal infections simple, reproducible and similar to the corresponding human diseases . Two models of staphylococcal infections are examined in particular: experimental endocarditis and osteomyelitis, considering their characteristics and reliability in relation to the corresponding human diseases.

Nature, 1989 May 4, 339(6219), 73 - 6
Transfer of a beta-turn structure to a new protein context; Hynes TR et al.; Four-residue beta-turns and larger loop structures represent a significant fraction of globular protein surfaces and play an important role in determining the conformation and specificity of enzyme active sites and antibody-combining sites . Turns are an attractive starting point to develop protein design methods, as they involve a small number of consecutive residues, adopt a limited number of defined conformations and are minimally constrained by packing interactions with the remainder of the protein . The ability to substitute one beta-turn geometry for another will extend protein engineering beyond the redecoration of fixed backbone conformations to include local restructuring and the repositioning of surface side chains . To determine the feasibility and to examine the effect of such a structural modification on the fold and thermodynamic stability of a globular protein, we have substituted a five-residue turn sequence from concanavalin A for a type I' beta-turn in staphylococcal nuclease . The resulting hybrid protein is folded and has full nuclease enzymatic activity but reduced thermodynamic stability . The crystal structure of the hybrid protein reveals that the guest turn sequence retains the conformation of the parent concanavalin A structure when substituted in the nuclease host.

Biochemistry, 1989 May 2, 28(9), 3976 - 81
Photo-CIDNP studies of Bence Jones proteins, immunoglobulins, and their proteolytic fragments; Hayashi F et al.; The results of photo-CIDNP measurements of Bence Jones proteins, immunoglobulins, and their proteolytic fragments are reported . The CIDNP spectra of constant region CL fragments, which were derived from lambda-type Bence Jones proteins with three different isotypes, gave polarizations originating from two Tyr and one Trp residues . From comparisons of the results obtained by using lambda-type Bence Jones proteins that possess the known amino acid sequences with those for the CL fragments, it was concluded that the CIDNP signals observed in the case of Bence Jones proteins are all due to the hypervariable region . On the basis of the results obtained by using IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 myeloma proteins along with their Fab, Fc, and pFc' fragments, it was concluded that CIDNP signals for the Fab region all originate from the variable region . The Fc region gives two Tyr polarizations, one of which has been assigned to Tyr-296 . We have also shown that the second Tyr signal is due to Tyr-373 . Interaction of Fc and staphylococcal protein A has also been examined by the CIDNP technique.

Vopr Virusol, 1989 May-Jun, 34(3), 308 - 11
{Immune structure and rubella incidence in pregnant women in Moscow}; Vikhnovich EM et al.; The immune structure of the Moscow City population (mostly, pregnant women) in relation to rubella virus antigen . Specific antihemagglutinins were found in 82%-93% of pregnant women, depending on their age . Examination of sera from 207 pregnant women who had contacts with rubella patients demonstrated clinically manifest rubella verified serologically in 9.2%, and asymptomatic form of rubella in 8.6% . By an immunochemical method (treatment of sera with staphylococca reagent) specific rubella IgM were found in 7 (100%) pregnant women who had experienced clinically manifest rubella, and in 6 (14.3%) pregnant women with asymptomatic rubella.

J Immunol, 1989 May 1, 142(9), 3151 - 7
Binding of staphylococcal enterotoxin A to HLA-DR on B cell lines; Fischer H et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is a potent polyclonal T cell activator . Its activating effect is entirely dependent upon its binding to accessory cells . Monocytes, B cells, and B lymphomas can bind SEA and support activation of T cells . We have earlier found that Raji cells are particularly efficient as accessory cells for SEA-induced T cell proliferation . In the present investigation we have used this cell line for the isolation and characterization of the membrane molecule to which SEA binds . Flow cytometric analysis of cells dually stained with SEA and anti-HLA-DR mAb showed that the amount of bound SEA was proportional to the HLA-DR expression . Electrophoresis of detergent extracts of Raji cells revealed one distinct SEA-binding band with a Mr of 60 to 65 kDa . This band had the same electrophoretic mobility as the MHC class II molecules . A mAb (G8) with the ability to block SEA binding to Raji cells was established . This mAb was shown to bind to the HLA-DR molecule . Both the G8 mAb and an anti-HLA-DR mAb 9-49 inhibited SEA binding to accessory cells and also inhibited SEA-induced, but not PHA-induced, T cell proliferation and production of IL-2 . Immunoprecipitation with specific anti-HLA-DR and anti-HLA-DQ mAb demonstrated that SEA binds to the HLA-DR molecule but not to the HLA-DQ molecule . Binding SEA to Raji cells followed by cross-linking and detergent solubilization of cell membranes, electrophoresis, and Western blotting resulted in two SEA-containing bands corresponding to a Mr of 90 and 105 kDa, respectively . Both these bands also contained the HLA-DR molecule and their appearance could be blocked by preincubation of the Raji cells with the G8 mAb . Collectively the results show that the HLA-DR molecule is the main functional molecule for binding of SEA to accessory cells and that this binding of SEA to HLA-DR is a necessary requirement for SEA-induced T cell activation.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1989 May, 37(5), 442 - 5
{Meningeal diffusion of cefpirome in adults}; Chavanet P et al.; Cefpirome is a new aminothiazolyl cephalosporin with a low protein binding, a long half-life of elimination and a wide antibacterial spectrum including pseudomonas and staphylococcus . We studied its diffusion into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) . Cefpirome, 2 g, was administered intravenously over 3 min . Nineteen patients, aged 12-75 y (mean +/- SD = 40 +/- 20) were studied: 13 had meningitis (septic = 6; chronic = 2; viral = 4) . Seric and CSF samples were assayed by the high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure . Results at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours after the infusion were (mean +/- SD) 62.44 +/- 19.8 mg/l, 26.51 +/- 3.7 mg/l, 10.19 +/- 3.3 mg/l, 3.99 +/- 2.3 mg/l, 2 +/- 1.72 mg/l in the serum and 1.1 +/- 1 mg/l, 2.6 +/- 1.8 mg/l, 2.83 +/- 1.7 mg/l, 1.92 +/- 1 mg/l, 1.83 +/- 0.36 mg/l in CSF of bacterial meningitidis respectively . The half-life of elimination were 2.45 h and 9.8 h in the blood and CSF respectively . The area under the curve CSF/serum ratio was 28% . We conclude that cefpirome concentrations in the CSF were above the minimal inhibitory concentrations of almost all the bacteria causing meningitis.

Arch Fr Pediatr, 1989 May, 46(5), 355 - 7
{Nephritis caused by ventriculo-atrial shunt: possible cure without reoperation of the valve?}; Gourrier E et al.; A case of ventriculo-atrial shunt nephritis in a 3 year-old child is reported . It was induced by an infection with Staphylococcus Albus . Complete cure of kidney disease was obtained with antibiotics (Oxacilline and Rifampicine) alone without resorting to surgical removal of the valve . Attention is drawn to the fact that a long-term clinical and biological follow-up is necessary to make sure that this conservative attitude does not compromises renal function.

Zentralbl Veterinarmed B, 1989 May, 36(3), 180 - 4
Evaluation of the Staph-Zym-system for identification of Staphylococcus hyicus and Staphylococcus intermedius; Lammler C; The Staph-Zym system was evaluated as a means for identifying cultures of Staphylococcus hyicus isolated from pigs and bovines and cultures of Staphylococcus intermedius isolated from canines . The selected cultures had been identified by conventional methods . The Staph-Zym system correctly identified all 52 S . hyicus and all 33 S . intermedius . It is concluded that the Staph-Zym system is a practical and reliable test for identifying mostly animal pathogenic S . hyicus and S . intermedius, and might possibly be useful for veterinary microbiologists.

Grudn Khir, 1989 May-Jun, (3), 50 - 3
{Several aspects of septic shock in lung surgery}; Lebedeva RN et al.; It was established that septic shock is a rare (0.2%) but the severest (5 of 6 patients died) complication in pulmonary surgery and is a consequence of the spread of postoperative wound infection or pyo-inflammatory process in the lung for which the operation was performed . The staphylococcus and nonfermentative Gram-negative bacteria prevail among the causative agents of septicemia . The most typical clinical signs of septic shock are acute circulatory insufficiency with rapid development of insufficiency of the function of the brain, kidneys, liver, and intestinal paresis in a febrile patient with a severe postoperative wound infection or in one operated on for a disseminated pyo-inflammatory disease in the lung . Precise determination of the indications for operation, careful preoperative treatment of the pyo-inflammatory processes, immediate establishment of the diagnosis, and timely removal of the localized focus of infection are important in preventing septic shock.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1989 May, 78(3), 463 - 4
Atopic dermatitis complicated by acute bacterial endocarditis; Pike MG et al.; We describe a child in whom severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and a neutrophil chemotactic defect were complicated by acute bacterial endocarditis following recurrent staphylococcal skin infections.

Immunology, 1989 May, 67(1), 81 - 6
Heterogeneity in opsonic requirements of Staphylococcus epidermidis: relative importance of surface hydrophobicity, capsules and slime; van Bronswijk H et al.; The opsonic requirements of 65 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis were compared in fresh and in heated normal human serum . The strains were isolated from patients with CAPD peritonitis (n = 26), neonatal septicaemia (n = 24) and nasal cultures (n = 15) . A wide variation was observed in opsonic requirements between the different strains, both with fresh and with heated serum . Opsonization in heated serum proceeded less efficiently and higher concentrations (mean three-fold compared to fresh serum) were needed for adequate phagocytosis . However, a highly significant correlation was found between the minimal opsonic concentrations of fresh and of heated serum (r = 0.84, P less than 0.0005) . In addition, S . epidermidis can become opsonized in agammaglobulinaemic serum . Thus, opsonization of S . epidermidis can be mediated by antibodies alone and by complement alone . Slime-producing strains and encapsulated strains did not require higher concentrations of serum to become opsonized . Opsonic requirements were highly significantly correlated with surface hydrophobicity . Enzymatic treatment rendered the strains more hydrophilic and decreased their opsonic requirements . Isolates from nasal cultures required significantly higher concentrations of both fresh and heated serum to become adequately phagocytozed, whereas isolates from CAPD peritonitis required higher concentrations of heated serum only compared to blood isolates . The uptake of S . epidermidis preopsonized in heated serum as determined in our direct phagocytosis assay did not result in a comparable chemiluminescence response.

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 1989 May, 52(5), 605 - 9
Prevention of hydrocephalus shunt catheter colonisation in vitro by impregnation with antimicrobials; Bayston R et al.; A process is described by which hydrocephalus shunt catheters can be impregnated with antimicrobials . The processed catheters showed antimicrobial activity at their surfaces for long periods and could be sterilised by autoclaving . When tested in vitro in a model of catheter colonisation using large challenge doses of Staphylococcus epidermidis and prolonged perfusion, some antimicrobials failed to protect against colonisation whereas others protected against one or two challenges . A combination of rifampicin and clindamycin gave best results, protecting against three successive challenges over a 28 day perfusion period . Resistant organisms did not develop . The process is likely to be useful in prevention of hydrocephalus shunt infection.

Am J Dis Child, 1989 May, 143(5), 580 - 2
Neonatal Staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis with unremarkable CSF examination results; Gruskay J et al.; We identified 10 infants (mean +/- SD birth weight, 1000 +/- 500 g; gestation, 29 +/- 3 weeks; postnatal age, 24 +/- 19 days) who had Staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis despite unremarkable cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) blood cell counts and glucose and protein levels . Staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis was diagnosed if all the following criteria were satisfied: (1) a CSF culture positive for S epidermidis within 48 hours, (2) a blood culture positive for S epidermidis with antibiotic sensitivities identical to those of the CSF isolate, and (3) clinical symptomatology . Lumbar puncture yielded white blood cell counts lower than 10 x 10(6)/L in 8 infants . Two subjects had CSF white blood cell counts of 11 x 10(6)/L and 14 x 10(6)/L . Cerebrospinal fluid glucose (2.8 +/- 0.9 mmol/L) and protein (1.15 +/- 0.32 g/L) concentrations were also unremarkable . Infants were treated with parenteral antibiotics for 19 +/- 5 days . There was no mortality or short-term morbidity . Staphylococcus epidermidis is a recognized cause of nosocomial meningitis in low-birth-weight infants and frequently occurs without CSF abnormalities.

J Tenn Med Assoc, 1989 May, 82(5), 243 - 4
Staphylococcal pyomyositis with idiopathic dermatomyositis; Gelfand MS et al.; We have described a patient with staphylococcal pyomyositis of the left pectoralis major muscle, complicating idiopathic dermatomyositis . Dermatomyositis and corticosteroids are possible predisposing factors . Patients with idiopathic muscle inflammation should be considered at risk for bacterial superinfection.

Diabetes, 1989 May, 38(5), 659 - 62
In vivo pH of induced soft-tissue abscesses in diabetic and nondiabetic mice; Bessman AN et al.; Infections in the diabetic host have been shown to persist longer than those in the nondiabetic host . To investigate whether intra-abscess milieu might be a contributing factor to this persistence, the in vivo intra-abscess pH was measured in induced soft-tissue abscesses in diabetic and nondiabetic mice . Two models (female genetically obese insulin-resistant and male streptozocin-induced diabetic mice) were used with appropriate controls . The bacteria injected to produce the soft-tissue abscesses were Bacteroides fragilis and Enterococcus (B + E), Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus (S + E), and S . aureus (SA) . Intra-abscess pH measured on day 3 was consistently and significantly lower in all diabetic mice compared with their controls . In the diabetic mice, the pH of an abscess induced with B + E, S + E, and SA was 6.28 (n = 17), 6.79 (n = 10), and 6.52 (n = 10), respectively; the pH in the controls was 7.21 (n = 20), 7.30 (n = 10), and 7.17 (n = 10), respectively . Differences in all groups between diabetic and nondiabetic mice were significant . The blood glucose values of the diabetic mice averaged 722 mg/dl, and in the nondiabetic mice were 210 mg/dl . No animals were ketotic . There were no significant differences in total colony counts between any groups . In conclusion, there is a significantly lower pH in the abscess of the diabetic host compared with the nondiabetic host that is not related to the numbers or types of causative bacteria.

Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1989 May, 271(1), 70 - 6
Evaluation of the Phadebact ETEC-LT test for the heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli; Bettelheim KA et al.; The Phadebact ETEC-LT is a rapid method of identifying enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), producing the heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) . It uses staphylococcal coagglutination as a means of identifying the LT released from ETEC . In this investigation both known strains of ETEC from a variety of sources as well as strains from patients were tested . Good agreement was found between the Phadebact ETEC-LT test and established tests for LT . The test was found easy to use in the clinical laboratory environment, and revealed that LT producing ETEC may be more common causes of diarrhoea in Australia than had been anticipated.

Acta Radiol, 1989 May-Jun, 30(3), 273 - 5
Chest sonography . Differentiation of pulmonary consolidation from pleural disease; Acunas B et al.; Ultrasonography was used to evaluate 53 patients with equivocal juxta-diaphragmatic and/or lateral densities in chest radiographs . An air bronchogram, fluid bronchogram, and scattered echogenic foci due to residual air in the consolidated lung parenchyma were used as US criteria of pulmonary parenchymal consolidation . One or more of these signs were observed in 39 patients with a clinical or bacteriologic diagnosis of pneumonia . The US air bronchogram was seen in 32 of the 39 patients (82%), the fluid bronchogram in 37 patients (94%) and the scattered echogenic foci in 30 (77%) . In 14 patients, pleural effusion was diagnosed sonographically and verified by aspiration of fluid . The final diagnoses in these cases were pulmonary tuberculosis in 11 patients, staphylococcal empyema in 2, and tuberculous empyema in one patient . It is concluded that US criteria provide a useful differentiation of pulmonary parenchymal consolidation from pleural effusion.

Pediatr Pol, 1989 May, 64(5), 304 - 9
{Role of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the etiology of septicemia in newborn infants}; Galczak W et al.; 124 newborns admitted to the Department within the period of 3 years with suspected sepsis were analysed . In 55.6% of children, boys prevailing (62.3%), generalized infection was confirmed with positive bacterial cultures . Late-onset disease predominance was found (72.8%) . The mortality rate in this group was 5.8% (11.3% boys and 1.9% girls) . Analysis of the causative organisms revealed more frequently the Gram positive bacteria (81% of all positive cultures) with a predominant role of Staphylococcus epidermidis (43.5%) . The pathogenic role of Staphylococcus epidermidis (regarded by some other authors as a contamination) was stressed . Its increasing clinical significance has been correlated with a deterioration of sanitary and hygienic conditions at the obstetric and neonatal wards, wider application of invasive procedures and antibiotics.

W V Med J, 1989 May, 85(5), 186 - 7
Glomerulonephritis and sinusitis . Hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis associated with coagulase-negative staphylococcal pansinusitis and subdural empyema; Patel Y et al.; A 16-year-old male developed acute hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis in association with pansinusitis and subdural empyema . Nephrotic-range proteinuria, serum complement, and renal function rapidly returned to normal with antimicrobial therapy and surgical drainage of both infected cavities . Culture of the exudate obtained during drainage of the frontal sinus yielded pure growth of coagulase-negative staphylococcus . This case documents the association of acute hypocomplementemic glomerulonephritis and pansinusitis-subdural empyema due to coagulase-negative staphylococcus, not previously described.

Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult, 1989 May-Jun, (3), 15 - 8
{The immunological mechanism of the modulation of IgE antibody formation during microwave irradiation of the thymus}; Evstropov VM et al.; Contrary to bone marrow exposure, microwave therapy of the thymus (80 mW/cm2) in induction sensitization results in inhibition of the production of IgE-antibodies to staphylococcus Cowan . The process, studied in experiment, rested on microwave induction of the function of IgE-antibody formation of T suppressors.

J Hepatol, 1989 May, 8(3), 358 - 66
Interleukin-2, interleukin-2 receptor and gamma-interferon synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in chronic hepatitis delta virus infection; Magrin S et al.; The behaviour of the immune system during liver damage caused by chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection was evaluated by assessing, in 16 patients with HBsAg+ chronic liver disease and HDV superinfection (15 HBeAg-, 1 HBeAg+), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-induced interleukin-2 synthesis and interleukin-2 receptor expression, PHA and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced gamma-interferon synthesis and, in some cases, the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) within peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) . The results were compared to those obtained in 13 patients without HBV replication (i.e., serum HBV-DNA and liver HBcAg-negative), in 15 with HBV replication (i.e., serum HBV-DNA and/or liver HBcAg-positive) with chronic liver disease without HDV superinfection, and in 15 HBsAg-negative healthy control subjects . The lymphokine pattern in HDV infection was comparable to that of healthy subjects and of HBV non-replicating patients without HDV superinfection . Interleukin-2 receptor expression and gamma-interferon synthesis were however significantly decreased in HDV-negative patients with active HBV replication . HBV-DNA was detected in PBMC from 8 of 23 patients, without any correlation with the lymphokine pattern . Our results suggest that in HDV-related chronic liver disease, immune system alterations are unlikely . HDV superinfection does not affect the occurrence of HBV-DNA sequences within the leukocytes . HBV-DNA in PBMC does not interfere with the interleukin-2 system nor with the gamma-interferon response in HBV- and HDV-related chronic liver disease.

Biochemistry, 1989 Apr 18, 28(8), 3483 - 9
Isolation, characterization, and amino acid sequence of a polypeptide neurotoxin occurring in the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus; Kem WR et al.; An aqueous exudate collected from frozen and thawed bodies of a Caribbean sea anemone, Stichodactyla (formerly Stoichactis) helianthus, contained a polypeptide neurotoxin (Sh I) selectively toxic to crustaceans . The polypeptide was purified by G-50 Sephadex, phosphocellulose, and sulfopropyl-Sephadex chromatography and shown to have a molecular size of 5200 daltons and a pI of 8.3 . The amino acid sequence determined by automatic Edman degradations of whole RCM Sh I and of its clostripain, staphylococcal protease, and cyanogen bromide digest peptides is A1ACKC5DDEGP10DIRTA15PLTGT20VDLGS25CNAGW30EKCAS35YYTII40ADCCR45KKK . Only 33% of this sequence is identical with the sequence of Anemonia sulcata toxin II, a sea anemone toxin isolated from the taxonomic family Actiniidae . The six half-cystines are located in equivalent positions to those of the actiniid toxins and account for nearly half of the residues common to all of the toxins . However, 69% of the Sh I sequence is identical with that of toxin II from Heteractis paumotensis, another sea anemone belonging to the family Stichodactylidae . Stichodactylid toxins lack the initial N-terminal residue of actiniid toxins and possess three consecutive acidic residues at positions 6-8, a single tryptophan at position 30, and four consecutive basic residues at positions 45-48 (C-terminus) . A rabbit IgG prepared by Sh I immunization bound Sh I with a K0.5 of 4.7 nM but failed to bind homologous actiniid (Anemonia sulcata II, Condylactis gigantea III) or bolocerid (Bolocera tuedae II) polypeptide neurotoxins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Immunol, 1989 Apr 15, 142(8), 2943 - 8
Dissociation between murine spleen cell mitogenic activity of enterotoxin contaminants and anti-tumor activity of staphylococcal protein A; Das C et al.; Soluble staphylococcal protein A (SpA) in the form of high m.w . complexes with IgG has been shown to significantly inhibit the growth of Meth A fibrosarcomas in BALB/c mice . Although SpA reportedly is a potent T cell mitogen that can induce immune cell proliferation and production of humoral factors with anti-tumor activity, it has been suggested that mitogenic enterotoxin contaminants might be responsible for these effects . The purpose of the present study was to investigate the nature of SpA-induced cell proliferation and the relationship between mitogenicity and the anti-tumor effect that we observed in our mouse model . SpA stimulated the proliferation of a mixed population of splenic B and T cells from BALB/c mice, but activity did not require the presence of IgG in the culture medium . Furthermore, mitogenic activity could be inhibited completely by anti-SEA plus anti-SEB, but was unaffected by anti-SpA . HPLC-purified SpA was inactive while the mitogenic factor(s) had the same retention time as authentic enterotoxin and its activity was inhibited by anti-SEA and anti-SEB, but not by anti-SpA . Enterotoxin-free rSpA produced in Escherichia coli had the same IgG binding capacity as the staphylococcal product but was not mitogenic . These data indicate that SEA and SEB completely account for mitogenicity in SpA preparations . In contrast, we found that optimal concentrations of rSpA as well as crude and HPLC purified staphylococcal SpA were equally effective in inhibiting the growth of established Meth A fibrosarcomas demonstrating that SpA is responsible for antitumor activity without any apparent role for enterotoxins.

J Immunol, 1989 Apr 15, 142(8), 2778 - 83
Human IgM molecules that bind staphylococcal protein A contain VHIII H chains; Sasso EH et al.; Staphylococcal protein A (SPA) is a bacterial membrane protein which has distinct binding sites for Fc gamma and for the Fab region of some IgM, IgG, IgA, and IgE molecules . This study establishes a structure-function correlation responsible for the binding of Ig Fab regions to SPA . Binding of 24 isolated human monoclonal IgM proteins to SPA was measured in a solid phase RIA . VH and V kappa subgroups of each IgM were determined by SDS-PAGE, transfer blotting, and detection with antisera prepared against specific first framework region peptides . Binding to SPA was seen with 10 of 11 VHIII IgM, but none of the 7 VHI or 6 VHII . Similarly, polyclonal IgM fractionated on a SPA-Sepharose CL4B column showed nearly complete partition of VHIII molecules into the SPA-binding fraction, and VHI and VHII subgroup proteins into the fall-through . We conclude that SPA binding is a functional marker for VHIII H chains in human IgM molecules.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1989 Apr, 105(4), 577 - 81
Tetrahymena HMG nonhistone chromosomal protein . Isolation and amino acid sequence lacking the N- and C-terminal domains of vertebrate HMG 1; Hayashi T et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of a high mobility group (HMG) nonhistone chromosomal protein of the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis (GL strain) was determined . This protein was extracted with 0.5 M HClO4 together with histone H1 (molar ratio 1:1) from the whole histone extract, then purified by gel filtration and reverse-phase HPLC . The HMG protein showed a single electrophoretic band on SDS gel electrophoresis . The amino acid sequence was determined by Edman degradation of intact protein, BrCN fragments, and their staphylococcal protease and tryptic peptides . Thus the total sequence, consisting of 99 amino acid residues and having a molecular weight of 11,626, was completely determined . Phosphorus analysis of the tryptic peptides, containing serine or threonine, showed that this HMG protein was phosphorylated at two positions, each 6-7%, and contained 0.15 mol phosphate/mol protein . This Tetrahymena HMG is rather similar to the central part of vertebrate HMG 1 in terms of the amino acid sequence and the hydropathy profile.

Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1989 Apr, (4), 32 - 6
{Staphylococcal enterotoxin type E: isolation, purification, identification}; Beilbaeva ML et al.; Homogeneous protein of staphylococcal enterotoxin type E has been isolated . The technique of isolation, permitting 48% yield of active material, includes concentration by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel-filtration on sephacryl S-200 . The molecular mass of the isolated protein is 32 Kd . Antigenic affinity of staphylococcal toxins types A and E has been established by immunochemical analysis.

J Chemother, 1989 Apr, 1(2), 95 - 100
In vitro susceptibility to quinolones and other antimicrobial agents of Staphylococcus species isolated from immunocompromised patients; Cellini L et al.; A total of 237 Staphylococcus strains were isolated from different kinds of body tissues and fluids from immunocompromised patients admitted to the Hematology Department of Pescara Hospital (Italy) . These strains, collected from November 1987 to September 1988, were studied for their susceptibility to methicillin and other drugs commonly used in therapy, and the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of five quinolones were determined . The killing curve of ciprofloxacin compared with nalidixic acid was determined . The results show a considerable activity of fluoroquinolones against all strains studied.

Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989 Apr, 55(4), 383 - 92
Mechanism of staphylococcal serine proteinase inactivation by lymphocytes and granulocytes; Ochalek T et al.; Stricking differences were observed in the mechanism of interaction between staphylococcal serine proteinase and surface of human granulocytes or lymphocytes despite the fact that incubation of this enzyme with both types of cells leads to analogical decrease of proteinase activity . Interaction of proteinase with lymphocytes releases peptides smaller than these released spontaneously by non-treated lymphocytes or lymphocytes treated with DFP-proteinase . However, in supernatants of lymphocytes neither complex of proteinase with cell derived molecules nor changes of electrophoretic mobility of proteinase was found . Products of proteinase-lymphocyte reaction have a proliferative effect on intact lymphocytes, which is greater that the one of active proteinase . On the other hand granulocytes are resistant to proteinase and bind active proteinase as well as the DFP-proteinase in the receptor mediated way, followed by endocytosis with the affinity similar to the one in monocytes.

Semin Hematol, 1989 Apr, 26(2 Suppl 1), 3 - 9
Immune thrombocytopenia purpura: a pilot study of staphylococcal protein A immunomodulation in refractory patients; Guthrie TH Jr et al.; Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) is a primary immune thrombocytopenia that is typically manifested in adults by acute bleeding, severe thrombocytopenia, and normal to increased megakaryocytes in the bone marrow . Labeling studies suggest that most patients with ITP have an IgG antibody directed against the platelet membrane resulting in sequestration in the spleen . Splenectomy and/or corticosteroids remain the mainstay of therapy, with permanent remissions induced in 75% of patients . Despite the use of cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, vincristine, high-dose gamma globulin, and other forms of therapy, less than 50% of refractory patients achieve long-term satisfactory platelet counts . In view of these facts, ten consecutive patients with immune thrombocytopenia, unrelated to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), received plasma perfusion over a staphylococcal protein A column (PROSORBA column) to evaluate efficacy and toxicity . All patients had an initial platelet count less than 50,000 and had failed corticosteroids . Five patients had also failed splenectomy . Two patients were not splenectomized due to pediatric age, two due to severe coexisting medical conditions, and one due to refusal of operation . Multiple other forms of therapy had also failed in this cohort of patients . Patients received two to ten treatments with the protein A column . All patients are evaluable for response and toxicities . Of the ten patients, results were as follows: complete response in one (platelet count greater than 150,000); partial response in four (platelet count greater than 50,000 and less than 150,000); and no response in five . Duration of responses ranged from 1 to 6 or more months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neth J Med, 1989 Apr, 34(3-4), 205 - 9
Tropical pyomyositis; Gyssens IC et al.; Two cases of "tropical" pyomyositis or bacterial abscess of striated muscle are presented . In the first patient, a Pakistani, computed tomography gave the clue to the diagnosis . The other patient never lived outside Belgium . His history suggested staphylococcal bacteraemia preceding trauma . Familiarity with the disease considerably reduced the delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Br Heart J, 1989 Apr, 61(4), 356 - 7
Endocarditis in intravenous drug abusers with staphylococcal septicaemia; Burns JM et al.; The case reports of 186 intravenous drug abusers admitted over a three year period were studied . Nineteen had proven staphylococcal septicaemia . Echocardiography showed tricuspid vegetations in seven and aortic vegetations in two . Eighteen out of 19 had systolic murmurs, but only the two patients with aortic vegetations had diastolic murmurs . The chest x ray showed opacities in 10 patients (all those with tricuspid vegetations plus three with normal echocardiograms) . Four patients died during follow up, including both those with aortic vegetations; both mitral and tricuspid vegetations were found at necropsy in the other two . All remaining patients were alive at one year . The presence of tricuspid vegetations in intravenous drug abusers is associated with opacities on chest x ray, but carries a good short term prognosis . But these results suggest a poor outcome when left sided endocarditis is present in intravenous drug abusers.

J Leukoc Biol, 1989 Apr, 45(4), 301 - 10
Leukocyte function in Pelger-Huët anomaly of dogs; Latimer KS et al.; Leukocyte function was evaluated in five dogs with Pelger-Huet (P-H) anomaly and in five control dogs . No significant differences were found between groups in neutrophil adherence, random movement, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, or bacterial killing of Staphylococcus intermedius . Neutrophils migrated rapidly into inflammatory sites where progressive nuclear lobulation was noted over time . Antibody titers to exogenous antigens were similar in the P-H and control groups indicating B- and T-lymphocyte cooperation in humoral immunity . Lymphocyte blastogenesis to phytohemagglutinin also was similar in both groups suggesting the presence of a responsive T-lymphocyte population . These findings indicate that no apparent predisposition to infection or immunodeficiency exists in dogs with P-H anomaly.

FASEB J, 1989 Apr, 3(6), 1705 - 14
NMR studies of the interactions of substrates with enzymes and their peptide fragments; Mildvan AS; Metal-nucleus distances measured by paramagnetic effects on T1 and interproton distances measured by the nuclear Overhauser effect have been used to determine the conformations, arrangement, locations of enzyme-bound substrates with respect to specific amino acid residues, and to dock them into X-ray structures of enzymes . Synthetic peptide fragments of enzymes that range from 45 to 50 residues in length in some cases retain enough secondary and tertiary structure to bind substrates with affinities and in conformations similar to those found on the complete enzymes . The entire structure of peptides of this size can be determined in solution by 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods . The applications of NMR methods to enzymology are exemplified by studies of adenylate kinase, ketosteroid isomerase, staphylococcal nuclease, and DNA polymerase I.--Mildvan, A . S . NMR studies of the interactions of substrates with enzymes and their peptide fragments.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Apr, 33(4), 585 - 8
Activities of daptomycin and teicoplanin against Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, including evaluation of susceptibility testing recommendations; Low DE et al.; The in vitro activities of daptomycin, teicoplanin, and three other antimicrobial agents were determined against 105 strains of Staphylococcus haemolyticus and 92 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis . The MICs for 90% of strains tested (MIC90s) of fusidic acid and rifampin were less than or equal to 0.25 microgram/ml . The MIC90s of daptomycin and vancomycin were less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml . Teicoplanin had a comparable MIC90 of less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml for isolates of S . epidermidis . However, MIC90s were 8 and 16 micrograms/ml for oxacillin-susceptible and oxacillin-resistant S . haemolyticus, respectively . Disk diffusion tests were evaluated for daptomycin and teicoplanin . Disks with 30 micrograms of teicoplanin performed satisfactorily when S . epidermidis was tested, but when S . haemolyticus was tested, there was a very major error rate of 10% and a minor error rate of 38%.

Semin Hematol, 1989 Apr, 26(2 Suppl 1), 31 - 41
Modulation of immunity in patients with autoimmune disease and cancer treated by extracorporeal immunoadsorption with PROSORBA columns; Snyder HW Jr et al.; Extensive animal studies and clinical observations support an immunosuppressive role for certain antibodies and circulating immune complexes (CIC) in malignant and autoimmune diseases . Investigators have attempted to correct or modulate dysfunction by removal of antibodies or CIC from plasma . Extra-corporeal immunoadsorption of plasma over columns containing a silica matrix and covalently attached highly purified staphylococcal protein A (PROSORBA column) is a procedure that specifically removes those plasma components by the interaction of protein A with the Fc region of IgG . The interaction of CIC with the Fc receptor on protein A has three specific results . First, there is direct removal of immunosuppressive CIC from the circulation . Studies of CIC-mediated immunosuppression in experimental systems have shown dose-response relationships over wide ranges of CIC concentrations . Thus, removal of CIC relative to the IgG antibody may be expected to exert some stimulation of the immune system . Second, the complement system is activated . Elevated levels of C3a, C4a, and C5a are observed in patients' circulating plasma after PROSORBA treatment . These levels peak one to three hours post-perfusion and are near normal levels by six hours post-perfusion . These complement components are stimulators of growth and activity of immune cells . In addition, by binding to CIC they stimulate clearance of CIC by the reticuloendothelial system . Thus, treatments may induce removal of more CIC than could be anticipated by the binding capacity of treatment columns . Third, antibody is released from CIC . Interaction of CIC with bound protein A with or without the aid of activated complement components leads to liberation of free antibody . Depending upon other factors, eg, amount of circulating antigen and/or unbound IgG, either free antibody or CIC containing more antibody relative to antigen (or both) may be infused into patients with the posttreatment plasma . Such CIC function as immune stimulators rather than suppressors of immune cell activity . The consequences of the treatments are summarized as follows . Stimulation of immune cellular activity is seen one to three hours posttreatment . During the first one to three treatments, cells of the granulocyte/macrophage series show the greatest increase . During and after treatments 2 to 4, lymphocytes show the greatest increase . At this point, increased blastogenic response to mitogens is observed along with an increase in the T helper/suppressor cell ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Semin Hematol, 1989 Apr, 26(2 Suppl 1), 25 - 30
Remission of FeLV-associated lymphosarcoma and persistent viral infection after extracorporeal immunoadsorption of plasma using staphylococcal protein A columns: details of immune response; Snyder HW Jr et al.; Sixteen feline leukemia virus (FeLV)-infected cats with lymphosarcoma (LSA) were treated by extracorporeal immunoadsorption using staphylococcal protein A columns in order to remove immunoglobulin G (IgG) and circulating immune complexes (CIC) from plasma . Complete viral clearance and long-lasting tumor regression were achieved in nine of the cats and tumor regression without virus clearance was observed in two other cats . Since LSA cats rarely go into spontaneous remission, and since other forms of therapy are ineffective, these cats offered a unique system for analyzing details of the immune response to LSA and FeLV as they are cleared . Immunological parameters associated with the FeLV and LSA responses were assessed in detail in three responder cats and three nonresponders during the treatment and follow-up periods . Two serological parameters that always correlated with complete clearance of LSA were development of precipitating antibodies against FeLV-C gp70 and development of cytotoxic antibodies that kill cultured FL74 LSA cells in the presence of complement . The precipitating antibodies were detected prior to the clearance of LSA and prior to the detection of free cytotoxic antibodies . One serological parameter that always correlated with complete clearance of . FeLV was development of free antibodies to FeLV-AB gp70 . Quantitative levels of FeLV-specific CIC and feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA)-specific CIC correlated well with fluctuating levels of the corresponding antigens and antibodies . These results suggest that the staphylococcal protein A treatment columns remove CIC "blocking factors" directly or indirectly and thereby stimulate existing antibody responses . These antibodies mediate clearance of FeLV and LSA.

J Leukoc Biol, 1989 Apr, 45(4), 293 - 300
Reversal of virus-induced alveolar macrophage bactericidal dysfunction by cyclooxygenase inhibition in vitro; Laegreid WW et al.; Virus infection of alveolar macrophages (AM) both in vivo and in vitro has been associated with a decreased ability of these cells to kill bacteria, together with enhanced production of metabolites of arachidonic acid . These metabolites, especially PGE2, may be inhibitory to some phagocyte functions . Primary cultures of bovine AM obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of normal cattle were infected in vitro with parainfluenza-3 (PI3 virus) virus . Killing of Staphylococcus epidermidis by AM was determined on days 1-4 post-infection (p.i.) PI3 virus-infected AM killed significantly fewer bacteria on day 4 p.i . compared to uninfected controls (12.1 +/- 1.3% infected vs . 52.7 +/- 7.2% controls, P less than or equal to 0.05) . Bacterial killing by virus-infected AM, but not control AM, was significantly enhanced on day 4 p.i . by addition of cyclooxygenase inhibitors 1 hr prior to bactericidal assay (28.0 +/- 4.5% indomethacin, 36.0 +/- 4.1% mefenamic acid, 38.6 +/- 7.3% piroxicam, 37.0 +/- 6.4% NDGA, 44.9 +/- 7.7% ETYA, P less than or equal to 0.05) . Phagocytosis of opsonized sheep erythrocytes and superoxide generation by virus-infected AM were not significantly increased by cyclooxygenase inhibition . Phagosome-lysosome fusion was severely impaired in virus-infected AM . Pretreatment of virus-infected AM with indomethacin significantly enhanced the percentage of cell expressing fusion activity . This data suggests that in vitro bactericidal dysfunction associated with virus infection of AM is partially the result of enhanced production of prostaglandins or thromboxane by AM and/or an abnormal response to normal levels of endogenously produced cyclooxygenase metabolites . The data further indicate the presence of cyclooxygenase sensitive (phagosome-lysosome fusion) and insensitive (phagocytic) components of virus-induced bactericidal dysfunction in AM.

Arch Surg, 1989 Apr, 124(4), 425 - 8
Anastomotic tensile strength following in situ replacement of an infected abdominal aortic graft; Vetsch R et al.; The tensile strength and histologic features of anastomotic bonding were studied prior to and following in situ replacement of aortic vascular prostheses infected by Staphylococcus epidermidis . Sterile (n = 6) and infected (n = 19) Dacron grafts were used to replace the abdominal aorta of 25 dogs . After five weeks, grafts were explanted, and peak tensile force (measured in kilograms) required for anastomotic disruption was measured using a linear gain tensiometer . Anastomotic tensile strength (mean +/- SEM) of infected grafts (5.4 +/- 0.5 kg) was decreased when compared with that of sterile, control grafts (9.0 +/- 0.9 kg) . The decreased anastomotic tensile strength of infected grafts was the result of an inflammatory aortitis adjacent to the suture line . Only grafts infected with the study strain of bacteria demonstrated signs of infection . In 19 dogs, the graft infection was treated by graft excision, antibiotic administration, and in situ graft replacement (Dacron or polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses) . After five weeks and 12 weeks, anastomotic tensile strength of polytetrafluoroethylene (10.6 +/- 0.6 kg) and Dacron (10.8 +/- 0.5 kg) replacement grafts was similar to that of uninfected control grafts . In situ replacement of vascular prostheses infected by S epidermidis can result in graft healing with normal anastomotic bonding.

FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1989 Apr, 49(2-3), 223 - 7
Influence of cationic peptides on the activity of the autolytic endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase of Staphylococcus simulans 22; Bierbaum G et al.; The peptidoglycan hydrolyzing endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase of Staphylococcus simulans 22 is not able to attack intact cell walls of S . simulans 22, but hydrolyzes cell walls of Micrococcus luteus and soluble peptidoglycan chains of S . simulans 22 . Hydrolysis of cell walls of M . luteus is activated in presence of organic cations such as poly-L-lysine (n = 17) and the peptide antibiotics Pep 5 and nisin, whereas hydrolysis of soluble peptidoglycan chains is not influenced . High concentrations of inorganic cations inhibit enzyme activity . These effects are discussed with respect to the cationic nature of the enzyme (pI greater than 9.5) and the regulation of the concerted action of the N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase and the glucosaminidase during S . simulans 22 autolysis in vivo.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1989 Apr, 76(1), 61 - 7
Cellular activation without proliferation to B cell growth factor and interleukin 2 in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia B cells stimulated with phorbol ester plus calcium ionophore; Engel P et al.; Individual leukaemic B cells of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) do not proliferate to B cell growth factor (BCGF) or interleukin 2 (IL-2) when co-stimulated with immunoglobulin (Ig) ligands . To exclude possible defective signalling via surface Ig (sIg), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore (A23187) were used to activate purified CLL B cells and compared with staphylococcal protein A coupled to sepharose beads (Seph-PA) . RNA synthesis and phenotypic changes after PMA plus A23187 stimulation indicate that CLL B cells from (10) different individuals are similarly able to undergo the G0 to the G1 phase transition and express surface activation antigens . In contrast, they are variable in the capacity to show DNA synthesis, which occurred in only six out of 10 cases . Even in the presence of BCGF (10%, v/v) or IL-2 (50 U/ml) four out of nine CLL B cells activated with PMA plus A23187 or PMA alone were still unable to proliferate although they were induced to express CD23, 4F2, CD25 and OKT9 antigens by PMA plus A23187 . However, PMA plus A23187 induced IgM secretion which increased further in response to IL-2 even in the absence of DNA synthesis . Moreover, in other CLL B cell populations, the unresponsiveness to growth factors upon co-stimulation with Ig ligands (Seph-PA) may simply reflect a defective signalling via sIg cross-linking which can be circumvented by PMA plus A23187 stimulation . Recombinant Interferon-gamma (50 U/ml) failed to affect DNA synthesis and IgM secretion.

Cutis, 1989 Apr, 43(4), 325 - 9
Norwegian scabies in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Hall JC et al.; A rare, severe form of scabies called Norwegian or keratotic scabies is described in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) . This is the first known description of this disease in an AIDS patient . The occurrence of secondary staphylococcal sepsis illustrates the importance of early correct diagnosis and treatment . Cutaneous hydration followed by aggressive application of gamma benzene hexachloride was safe and effective.

J Biol Chem, 1989 Mar 15, 264(8), 4404 - 11
Comparative structural analysis of staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E; Singh BR et al.; Structural analysis of staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E, two functionally and serologically related proteins, has been carried out using circular dichroism, and tryptophan fluorescence quantum yield and quenching . Secondary structures derived from the far-UV circular dichroic spectra revealed that both enterotoxins are in predominantly beta-sheets/beta-turn structures (80-85%) . Staphylococcal enterotoxin A has significantly higher alpha-helical content (10.0%) than staphylococcal enterotoxin E (6.5%) . Tryptophan fluorescence spectra of both enterotoxins showed maxima at approximately 342 nm, indicating that the fluorescent tryptophan residues are in polar environments . However, the tryptophan fluorescence quantum yields indicated that tryptophan residues are approximately 41% more fluorescent in staphylococcal enterotoxin A than in staphylococcal enterotoxin E . Tryptophan fluorescence quenching by a surface quencher, I-, and a neutral quencher, acrylamide, indicated that at least 1 of the 2 tryptophan residues in both staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E is located on the outer surface of the proteins . This tryptophan residue is in significantly different environments in the two enterotoxins . Six antigenic sites are predicted from the hydrophilicity and secondary structure information; at least four sites are identical . In general, staphylococcal enterotoxins A and E have some structural similarities which are compatible with their common biological activities.

Biochemistry, 1989 Mar 7, 28(5), 2116 - 24
Staphylococcal nuclease active-site amino acids: pH dependence of tyrosines and arginines by 13C NMR and correlation with kinetic studies; Grissom CB et al.; The pH and temperature dependence of the kinetic parameters of staphylococcal nuclease (EC 3.1.4.7) have been examined with three p-nitrophenyl phosphate containing DNA analogues that vary as to 3'-substituent . With wild-type (Foggi variant) (nuclease wt) and the substrates thymidine 3'-phosphate 5'-(p-nitrophenyl phosphate) (PNPdTp), thymidine 3'-methylphosphonate 5'-(p-nitrophenyl phosphate) (PNPdTp*Me), and thymidine 5'-(p-nitrophenyl phosphate) (PNPdT), kcat remains nearly constant at 13 min-1 . However, kcat/Km with nuclease wt varies considerably: 413, 13, and 0.52 mM-1 min-1 with PNPdTp, PNPdTp*Me, and PNPdT, respectively . When tyrosine-85 is changed to phenylalanine (nuclease Y85F) by site-directed mutagenesis, kcat is unchanged at about 13 min-1, except with PNPdTp where it drops to 1 min-1 . With nuclease Y85F, kcat/Km is 19.5 and 25 mM-1 min-1 with PNPdTp and PNPdTp*Me, respectively . With PNPdTp as the substrate, a bell-shaped kcat/Km vs pH profile is seen with pKa values at 8.94 and 9.67 in 0.3 M KCl and H2O . The pKa at 9.67 disappears, and a new pKa appears at 10.1 when tyrosine-85 is changed to phenylalanine (nuclease Y85F) or when the substrate 3'-phosphomonoester is changed to a 3'-methylphosphonate (PNPdTp*Me) . This suggests that the inflection in kcat/Km with pKa at 9.67 arises from ionization of tyrosine-85, which hydrogen bonds to the divalent 3'-phosphomonoester of substrates with this substituent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

J Biol Chem, 1989 Mar 5, 264(7), 3666 - 9
Introduction of a metal-dependent regulatory switch into an enzyme; Corey DR et al.; A cysteine has been introduced into the hydrophobic binding pocket of staphylococcal nuclease via oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis . The L89C mutation does not significantly alter the catalytic activity or specificity of the nuclease yet provides a metal-dependent switch for regulating enzymatic activity . The L89C mutant can be inactivated by addition of mercuric or cupric salts and subsequently reactivated by addition of chelating agents . This work may provide a general strategy for regulating the catalytic activity of other enzymes or the binding affinity of proteins to DNA or other proteins.

J Vasc Surg, 1989 Mar, 9(3), 464 - 71
Vascular prosthetic infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis: experimental study of pathogenesis and therapy; Martin LF et al.; To determine whether a slime-producing strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis was capable of producing acute infection of a prosthetic vascular graft, 5 cm segments of knitted Dacron were implanted in the infrarenal aortic position of dogs in three groups of animals . These included a control group (no graft contamination), a contaminated group that received a graft soaked in an S . epidermidis solution (untreated group), and a contaminated group in which perioperative antibiotics (three doses of cefamandole, 100 mg/kg) were administered (prophylaxis group) . In all the animals reexploration and graft removal were performed at 10 days, with replacement of the defect being achieved with a new uncontaminated graft . These animals underwent exploration a third time after an additional 10-day period . S . epidermidis was not grown from the control animals (n = 7) but was cultured in 44% of the prophylaxis group (n = 9) and 88% of the untreated group (n = 16) during at least one of the operative procedures (chi 2 = 15.859; p less than 0.001) . The pathologic features of acute S . epidermidis infection were best seen in the untreated animals and included anastomotic disruption (56%), periaortic hematoma, and lymphadenopathy (94%) . Microscopic examination of the aortic tissues revealed extensive infiltrates of leukocytes, macrophages, and foreign body giant cells with aortic necrosis . These features were less prominent in the prophylaxis animals . We conclude that S . epidermidis is capable of producing acute graft infection with perigraft inflammation and anastomotic disruption . The administration of perioperative antibiotics reduced but did not abolish these effects of bacterial contamination of prosthetic vascular grafts.

Clin Exp Allergy, 1989 Mar, 19(2), 163 - 8
Use of an autologous reaction in vitro to assess contributions of T and B lymphocytes to immune hyperreactivity of atopics; Duke-Cohan JS et al.; The in-vitro proliferation reaction of peripheral blood lymphocytes (measured by {3H}thymidine incorporation) to autologous pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced lymphoblasts (PWM-lymphoblast-stimulated autologous mixed leucocyte reaction, PWM.AMLR) was used as a measure of immune hyperreactivity for comparison of atopic with non-atopic individuals . Accordingly, 10/24 non-atopics responded in the PWM.AMLR, and 19/19 atopics reacting to inhaled allergens responded . Autologous stimulation was associated with release of mitogenic factors from the PWM-activated stimulating cells (2/15 non-atopics, 9/15 atopics) . For non-atopics, stimulation delivered by staphylococcus A (SAC)-activated cells was similar to that delivered by PWM-induced cells, while in atopics, the SAC.AMLR was never more than 50% of the PWM.AMLR, indicating a possible T cell component . Separation by panning of the stimulation cells into lymphocyte subsets supported the notion that stimulation involved a cooperation between B and T4+ T cells . It is proposed that a positive PWM.AMLR is dependent upon an initial B cell activation followed by the PWM stimulus dependent upon a previous T cell activation, where atopics have more lymphocytes in an activated state than healthy non-atopics . Such a baseline priming may contribute to an innate sensitivity of atopics to environmental allergens.

Immunol Lett, 1989 Mar, 20(4), 283 - 91
Experimental model for testing the efficiency of immunotoxins administered in vivo: evaluation of two ricin A-chain--multivalent antibody immunotoxins; Mota G et al.; Two immunotoxins, the ricin A chain-multivalent hybrid antibody (750 kDa) and the complex A chain-staphylococcal protein A-rabbit IgG antibody (370 kDa), were prepared . A simple method was elaborated to test the immunotoxins' efficiency in selectively killing target cells in tumor-bearing mice . The target cell (murine EL4 leukemia) was coated with a xenogenic molecule by a method conserving its ability to proliferate and kill the inoculated animals . When the challenged animals were treated with these immunotoxins, which were specific for the antigenic molecule coating the tumor cells, survival time was lengthened compared with that of untreated animals, corresponding to a proportion of over 90% cells killed . This demonstrates the efficiency of the immunotoxins and the validity of the method elaborated.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1989 Mar, 91(3), 319 - 22
Improved detection of beta-lactamase activity in isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus with the use of a modified Cefinase disk procedure; Kellogg JA et al.; The Cefinase disk (BBL Microbiology Systems, Cockeysville, MD) technique has been reported to be relatively insensitive for detection of beta-lactamase production by Staphylococcus saprophyticus . The effects of time (up to 24 hours) and temperature (25 degrees C vs . 35 degrees C) of test incubation as well as enzyme induction on Cefinase detection of beta-lactamase activity in clinical isolates of S . saprophyticus was investigated . Results were compared to beta-lactamase detection with the use of conventional nitrocefin and cloverleaf methods and with penicillin minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) . Of 85 S . saprophyticus isolates, 84 (98.8%) had penicillin MIC end points of greater than or equal to 0.25 microgram/mL . Beta-lactamase was detected by at least one method in 73 (85.9%) of the isolates: 63 (74.1%) by nitrocefin, 55 (64.7%) by cloverleaf, and 63 (74.1%) by Cefinase . Of Cefinase-positive isolates, 56 (88.9%) and 63 (100%) were detected at 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C, respectively, and none required enzyme induction . At 35 degrees C, 4 (6.3%) and 19 (30.2%) of the Cefinase-positive isolates were detected at 1 hour and 24 hours, respectively . Incubation of Cefinase tests at 35 degrees C for 24 hours provides a satisfactory alternative to the conventional nitrocefin assay for detection of beta-lactamase activity in S . saprophyticus.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 177 - 9
Clinically significant differences in antibiograms of morphologic variants of blood culture isolates; Travis LB et al.; The present environment of cost containment frequently forces laboratories to reassess various strategies for the diagnostic work-up of patient specimens . The necessity for the performance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing on all morphologic variants of blood culture isolates was examined in this study . Over a 4-year period, of 143 such organisms that were identified, 56 (39%) exhibited clinically significant differences in antibiogram profiles . Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus represented the largest proportion of isolates (n = 115), 39% of which demonstrated clinically significant differences in antibiograms . The authors conclude that these results justify the current practice in their laboratory of performing separate antimicrobial susceptibility testing on all morphologic variants of isolates.

Stomatologiia (Mosk), 1989 Mar-Apr, 68(2), 27 - 9
{Antigen-independent factors of the system of immunity in patients with inflammatory processes of the maxillofacial area of staphylococcal etiology}; Kiselev VA et al.; The course of severe acute and chronic odontogenic purulent inflammatory staphylococcal disorders involves the depression of cellular (myeloperoxidase, cation proteins of the neutrophilic leucocytes) and humoral (hemolytic complement and the blood serum bacteriostatic activities) antigen-independent immune factors . The differentiated immunomodulating therapy is recommended in such cases.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1989 Mar, 42(3), 594 - 7
{Cerebrospinal fluid levels of sulbactam/ampicillin in rabbits with staphylococcal meningitis}; Haruta T et al.; Concentrations of sulbactam (SBT) and ampicillin (ABPC) in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following an intravenous administration of SBT/ABPC at a dose of 150 mg/kg (SBT/ABPC = 1:2) were determined in 12 rabbits with staphylococcal meningitis . Drug concentrations were measured 9 times, 6 times each with intervals of 15 minutes and thereafter with intervals of 30 minutes . The results were compared with those of a group of 9 rabbits given 100 mg/kg of ABPC alone . 1 . The maximum concentration of SBT in the CSF and the percentages of both the maximum concentration and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of SBT in CSF vs . those in serum of the SBT/ABPC group were higher than those of ABPC and the half-life of SBT in the CSF was also longer than that of ABPC, all with significant difference . When these parameters for SBT of SBT/ABPC groups were compared with those of ABPC of the ABPC group, not much differences existed between the 2 groups except that the CSF half-life of SBT was much longer than that of ABPC . 2 . The percentages of both the maximum concentration and AUC of ABPC in CSF vs . those in serum of the SBT/ABPC group were significantly lower than those of ABPC of the ABPC group . The CSF half-life of ABPC of the former group was longer than that of the latter . 3 . The above results suggest that when SBT and ABPC are administered simultaneously, the penetration of ABPC into the CSF is inhibited.

Probl Endokrinol (Mosk), 1989 Mar-Apr, 35(2), 77 - 81
{Obtaining antibodies to placental lactogen for radioimmunologic analysis}; Piven' NV et al.; The authors describe the approaches to obtaining specific antibodies to placental lactogen (PL) with required analytical parameters in order to investigate this hormone by RIA . A study was made of the dependence of the analytical parameters of antibodies on a dose of immunogen, the type of adjuvant (Freund's adjuvant, pertussoid monovaccine), a scheme of immunization, etc . The authors proposed that specific (primary) antibodies immobilized on the staphylococcal reagent A protein should be used as fixing and separating agents in the radioimmunoassay test-system for the determination of PL concentration in order to improve the parameters of the analytical system and to reduce the time and procedure of analysis . The RIA determination of the PL serum concentration was used for the production of kits of reagents RIO-PL-125I.

Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1989 Mar-Apr, 25(2), 184 - 7
{Increase in the effectiveness of microbial absorption on activated charcoal upon sorbent polarization}; Tikhonova LS et al.; The effect of Staphylococcus albus and the contact time on hydrolytic adsorption of ions on activated charcoal SKN-2K in the physiological solution (0.9% NaCl) was investigated . Experiments were performed without polarization or with cathodic and anodic polarization of the adsorbent . The adsorbed microorganisms decreased the rate of electrolyte ion adsorption, especially in case of cathodic polarization . When activate charcoal was at negative potential (-0.2 V), up to 95% of active microorganisms was adsorbed at the initial concentration of 5.75.10(6) microorganisms per ml, while in case of anodic polarization only 43-44% of microorganisms was adsorbed.

J Clin Periodontol, 1989 Mar, 16(3), 185 - 9
Periodontal disease and oral microbial successions during myelosuppressive cancer chemotherapy; Reynolds MA et al.; Factors contributing to the succession of opportunistic pathogens at oral sites, including the periodontium, during myelosuppressive chemotherapy are poorly understood . This study examined the relation of periodontal disease to qualitative and proportional shifts in the oral microflora of 21 acute nonlymphocytic leukemia patients (7 male and 14 female, mean age (range) = 51.0 (25-81 years) observed during standardized myelosuppressive regimens . Supra- and subgingival microbial plaque specimens were individually collected from 2 contralateral oral sites (distobuccal of teeth 1-6 and 3-6) in each participant at hospital admission (day 1) and during point of maximal myelosuppression (day 14) . Periodontal disease indices obtained at day 1 included site-specific measures of attachment loss and clinical assessment of disease status . Using a residualized change score analysis, periodontal disease status and attachment loss were positively correlated with increases in the proportional recovery of Staphylococcus sp . from supragingival sites and total yeast from supra- and subgingival sites . When age-related covariation in the microbial shifts was controlled in the analysis, periodontal disease status and attachment loss demonstrated no significant correlation with increases in total yeast at supragingival sites . These findings suggest that host factors such as periodontal disease may contribute to patterns of oral microbial successions during cancer chemotherapy.

Neurochirurgia (Stuttg), 1989 Mar, 32(2), 61 - 4
{Non-surgical management of an infected ventriculo-atrial shunt}; Zink PM et al.; We report on a 81-year old patient who showed clinical signs of a shunt infection eight months after implantation of a ventriculo-atrial shunt system Heyer-Schulte . The reason was identified to be a massive infection with staphylococcus albus . Elimination of the infection was achieved by intravenous administration of fosfomycine and local instillation of gentamycin into the valve . The follow-up was uneventful for more than two years until the death of the patient in January 1987.

J Dairy Sci, 1989 Mar, 72(3), 702 - 7
Soluble complex formation of bovine immunoglobulin G2 with staphylococcal protein A studied by gel filtration chromatography; Shimazaki K; The binding property of bovine IgG2 to staphylococcal Protein A was investigated by the methods of gel filtration chromatography and affinity chromatography . High performance gel filtration chromatography was carried out using TSK gel G3000SW and G2000SW columns, and immobilized Protein A column was used for affinity chromatography . Although bovine IgG2 did not form any precipitin lines with Protein A by double diffusion method on agar gel, IgG2 could bind to immobilized Protein A column . Moreover, by gel filtration chromatography, peaks of the complex between bovine IgG2 and Protein A were observed in addition to the IgG2 monomer peak . Thus, it is concluded that bovine IgG2 interacts with staphylococcal Protein A and forms "soluble complexes" . Carbethoxylated IgG2 lost its affinity to Protein A indicating that histidyl residues in IgG2 is essential for the binding to Protein A.

Br Vet J, 1989 Mar-Apr, 145(2), 178 - 84
Non-clinical intramammary infection in lactating ewes and its association with clinical mastitis; Bor A et al.; A bacteriological survey for the study of non-clinical intramammary infection in the sheep udder was carried out in 88 Assaf ewes . A mean infection prevalence in the first few weeks of lactation was 55% . The most common bacterial isolates were Micrococcus spp . followed by coagulase negative staphylococcus, together accounting for 93% of the total number of isolates . An infection prevalence of 54% was found in ewelambs 2 days after their first lambing, indicating a marked new infection rate around lambing . Generally, the course of lactation was characterized by dynamic changes of new infection and spontaneous resolution . About 5% of half udders examined developed clinical mastitis . The comparison of bacteriological data from mastitic milk samples and from samples taken from the same half udders before the appearance of the clinical disease could not support the theory that in sheep, mastitis is a clinical exacerbation of a non-clinical intramammary infection.

Protein Eng, 1989 Mar, 2(6), 481 - 7
High level expression of a synthetic gene coding for IgG-binding domain B of Staphylococcal protein A; Saito A et al.; A gene coding for one of the IgG-binding domains of Staphylococcal protein A, designated domain B, was chemically synthesized . This gene was tandemly repeated to give dimeric and tetrameric domain B genes by the use of two restriction enzymes which gave blunt ends . The genes were highly expressed in Escherichia coli to afford a large amount of dimeric and tetrameric domain B proteins . The single domain B protein was efficiently produced as a fusion protein with a salmon growth hormone fragment . The fusion protein was converted to monomeric domain B by cyanogen bromide cleavage . The CD spectra of the monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric domain B proteins were essentially the same as that of native form protein A, showing that their secondary structures were very similar . The dimeric and tetrameric domain B proteins formed precipitates with IgG as protein A . This system permits the efficient production of mutated single and multiple IgG-binding domains which can be used to study structural changes and protein A-immunoglobulin interactions.

Pediatr Emerg Care, 1989 Mar, 5(1), 40 - 2
Toxic shock syndrome associated with poison oak dermatitis; Kishaba RG et al.; Toxic shock syndrome commonly occurs in menstruating women, but it is known to be associated with a variety of staphylococcal infections . We report a case of nonmenstrual toxic shock syndrome in an 11-year-old male who presented with altered consciousness and infected poison oak dermatitis of the feet . This is the first reported case of toxic shock syndrome associated with poison oak dermatitis . The signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, and treatment of toxic shock syndrome are reviewed.

Laryngorhinootologie, 1989 Mar, 68(3), 160 - 2
{The asepsis problem at the office of the ENT physician}; Knothe J et al.; Microorganisms were determined in a microbiological study in the near environment of ENT working places . We found especially saprophytic flora as Micrococcus sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis and aerobic spore-forming microorganisms on 54 examination instruments of 2 outpatient and 2 inpatient treatment areas . In 22% of the instrument examinations, microbiological controls were negative . There were no pathogenic microorganisms.

J Clin Pathol, 1989 Mar, 42(3), 289 - 94
Construction of a database to identify Staphylococcus species; Geary C et al.; A database was constructed for the routine identification of Staphylococcus species, isolated from man . The method comprised 15 conventional characterisation tests using substrates incorporated into agar plates and a multipoint inoculation system . The database was constructed from results of 125 reference strains and 1567 clinical isolates . In an evaluation trial, using a probability profile index generated from the database, 529 of 559 (94.6%) further clinical isolates were identified to species level . A further 20 (3.6%) gave low discrimination between two species . The proposed scheme was rapid, reliable, and inexpensive.

Biophys J, 1989 Mar, 55(3), 575 - 9
Fluorescence lifetime studies with staphylococcal nuclease and its site-directed mutant . Test of the hypothesis that proline isomerism is the basis for nonexponential decays; Eftink MR et al.; Using frequency domain methods, the fluorescence decay of Trp-140 in staphylococcal nuclease and its site-directed mutant (Pro-117----Gly) has been examined . Based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies (Evans, P . A., C . M . Dobson, R . A . Kautz, G . Hatfull, and R . O . Fox . 1987 . Nature {Lond.} . 329:266-268), it is believed that nuclease exists in two macroscopic, native conformations and that the slow interconversion of these conformations is controlled by the cis----trans isomerization of Pro-117 . The above mutant shows only one native conformation in NMR experiments . To test the hypothesis that the biexponential fluorescence decay of Trp-140 of nuclease can also be related to the existence of these conformational states of the protein, we have compared the decay patterns of the wild type and mutant . Essentially no difference was observed, which indicates that there is some other basis for the nonexponential decay of Trp-140 . We have used global nonlinear least squares analysis to link the fit of data at several temperatures.

J Leukoc Biol, 1989 Mar, 45(3), 231 - 8
Oxidative responses of rabbit alveolar macrophages: comparative priming activities of MIF/MAF, sera, and serum components; Hayakawa H et al.; The comparative abilities of various reagents to prime rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM) to produce reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) in a chemiluminescent (CL) assay were investigated . It was noted that AM from normal rabbits cultured in a serum-free medium for 18 hr exhibited a "spontaneous" priming response following a challenge with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA); however, "spontaneous" priming was not evident when the AM were cultured for only 3 hr . It was further established that pretreatment of normal AM for 3 or 18 hr with MIF/MAF preparations (serum-free), fetal bovine serum (FBS), or bovine serum albumin (BSA) exhibited marked increases in their CL responses following challenge with PMA . When FBS was used in the culture medium, the priming activity of MIF/MAF was masked because of the high CL responses of controls due to the priming effects of FBS . BSA at concentrations approximately equivalent to the amount in FBS also displayed marked priming activity . Bacterial products (lipopolysaccharide and muramyl dipeptide), latex particles, rabbit IgG, PMA, and opsonized as well as nonopsonized zymosan and bacteria (BCG and Staphylococcus epidermidis) were inactive as priming agents . In comparison, AM from BCG-immune rabbits that were primed in vivo yielded a very large CL response when challenged with PMA . Opsonized zymosan and bacteria produced twofold increases in the CL responses in BCG-immune AM compared to nonopsonized preparations . The marked priming effect of serum on AM cultured for even a short period (3 hr) indicates that normal AM undergo marked changes in culture that complicate the interpretation of AM function when AM are cultured in vitro in media containing serum.

Am J Kidney Dis, 1989 Mar, 13(3), 184 - 8
A prospective evaluation of blood culture versus standard plate techniques for diagnosing peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Holley JL et al.; Peritonitis remains a major cause of morbidity in patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) . Culture-negative episodes of peritonitis occur at rates of up to 20%, and in part may reflect inadequate culturing techniques of peritoneal effluent . Through a large, prospective study, the improved sensitivity of a blood culture system, when compared with a standard plate technique (P = 0.001), for the detection of bacterial growth in 67 episodes of CAPD peritonitis is demonstrated . Improved recognition of infections caused by gram-positive organisms, primarily Staphylococcus epidermidis, was especially significant using the blood culture system (P = 0.0001) . Because of improved sensitivity and a decreased time to organism identification, particularly with infections caused by S epidermidis, the most common cause of bacterial peritonitis in CAPD patients, we suggest that a blood culture system be the standard means of culturing peritoneal fluid in CAPD patients with peritonitis . The lysis-centrifugation system of culturing peritoneal fluid is also discussed in comparison with the blood culture system.

Infect Immun, 1989 Mar, 57(3), 937 - 43
Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli K-12 of chromosomal genes determining the O7 lipopolysaccharide antigen of a human invasive strain of E . coli O7:K1; Valvano MA et al.; We have cloned and studied the expression in Escherichia coli K-12 of chromosomal rfb genes determining the biosynthesis of the O7 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen from E . coli K1 strain VW187 . Two E . coli K-12 strains carrying recombinant cosmids gave positive coagglutination reactions with protein A-rich staphylococcal particles bearing an O7-specific rabbit polyclonal antiserum . Silver-stained polyacrylamide gels of total membranes extracted with hot phenol showed O side chain material which had O7 specificity as determined by immunoblotting experiments . However, the amount of O7 LPS expressed in E . coli K-12 was considerably lower than that produced by the wild-type strain VW187 . Deletion and transposition experiments identified a region of about 17 kilobase pairs which is essential for the expression of O7 LPS . The existence of homologies between the O7 LPS genes and other E . coli O side chain genes was investigated by Southern blot hybridization experiments . An O7-specific probe fragment of 15 kilobase pairs did not hybridize to genomic DNA digests of E . coli strains belonging to several different O types, demonstrating that the O7 LPS genes are unique.

Ophthalmology, 1989 Mar, 96(3), 367 - 74
Treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis with intravitreal ganciclovir . Long-term results; Cantrill HL et al.; Long-term management of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis by intravitreal injection of ganciclovir was evaluated in ten patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) . Patients were unable to tolerate systemic ganciclovir because of severe neutropenia (8 cases), catheter-induced sepsis (1 case), or the need to continue therapy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with zidovudine (ZDV) (1 case) . All patients had a favorable response to initial treatment . Cytomegalovirus retinitis progressed in four fellow eyes in which treatment was deferred . Vision improved or remained stable in all but one eye . Patients were followed for a mean of 4 months and received an average of 16.6 intravitreal injections in each eye . Relapse occurred late in the course while on maintenance treatment in five eyes (33%) . There was no evidence of toxicity from repeated intravitreal injections . Treatment was very well tolerated . The only severe complication in a total of 249 injections was a single case of Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis which responded to intravitreal antibiotic treatment . Intravitreal ganciclovir is an effective alternative to systemic ganciclovir in those patients with severe neutropenia and in those patients who desire to remain on systemic ZDV.

J Exp Med, 1989 Mar 1, 169(3), 765 - 77
Cytolysis by Ca-permeable transmembrane channels . Pore formation causes extensive DNA degradation and cell lysis; Hameed A et al.; This study investigates the effect of the purified membrane pore formers, staphylococcal alpha-toxin and CTL perforin, on target cell lysis as measured by 51Cr release and on nuclear damage as measured by DNA degradation and 125IUdR release . Both pore formers cause dose-dependent cell lysis, which is accompanied by DNA release . The ratio of DNA/Cr release depends on the nature of target cell and shows the same pattern as the ratio of release of the two markers reported for CTL-mediated lysis of the same targets . DNA degradation is dependent on the presence of intracellular Ca in the target cell and is totally blocked if Ca is chelated by Quin 2 intracellularly and EGTA extracellularly . DNA degradation, in addition, is inhibited by the lysosomotropic agents NH4Cl, chloroquine, and monensin . rTNF doubles the degree of DNA degradation mediated by alpha-toxin in 3-h assays . We conclude that pore formers alone can mediate DNA degradation . In addition, they may promote the uptake of other factors and thereby accelerate their time course of action . DNA degradation by pore formers requires active target participation in a pathway that is dependent on intracellular Ca and lysosomes . These aspects of target lysis resemble CTL- and NK cell-mediated cytolysis.

Vopr Pitan, 1989 Mar-Apr, (2), 51 - 4
{Increasing the effectiveness of the method of Staphylococcus phage-typing}; Petrushina LI et al.; Eight nutrient media used for St . aureus phage-typing were assessed in parallel experiments . 22 test strains of St . aureus with previously known bacteriophage formulas and 44 strains isolated from different sources during food poisonings were subjected to typing . Bacteriophages were employed in the test dose (TD) and in 10 TD . Marked relationship was established between the degree of lytic reactions of bacteriophages used in the TD and the type of solid nutrient media . The best results of phage-typing as regards the strength of lysis were obtained on agar for Brucella isolation (erythritol agar) with all bacteriophages applied in the TD . The results appeared similar to those obtained with Hottinger's medium . In order to unify the method of Staphylococcus phage-typing, it is suggested that dry erythritol agar manufactured by the Dagestan Research Institute for Nutrient Media should be used as a solid medium . In addition, two procedures for St . aureus cultivation before phage-typing are offered, raising the percentage of cultures lysed by bacteriophages.

J Bacteriol, 1989 Mar, 171(3), 1652 - 7
Extent of the DNA sequence required in integration of staphylococcal bacteriophage L54a; Lee CY et al.; We characterized the minimum length of the DNA sequence of the attachment sites involved in the integrative recombination of staphylococcal bacteriophage L54a . A DNA fragment carrying the functional viral attachment site (attP) or the bacterial attachment site (attB) was sequentially trimmed, recloned, and tested for integrative recombination in vivo . The size of the functional attP site was at least 228 base pairs (bp) but no more than 235 bp . The left endpoint of the attP site was located to between positions -142 and -140, whereas the right endpoint was located to between positions +86 and +93 with respect to the center of the core sequence . The attB site was located to within a 27-bp sequence, from position -15 to +12, which included the 18-bp core sequence.

Ann Neurol, 1989 Mar, 25(3), 281 - 5
The effects of a new tissue plasminogen activator analogue, Fb-Fb-CF, on cerebral reperfusion in a rabbit embolic stroke model; Phillips DA et al.; Early fibrinolytic therapy with full molecular tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) has been observed to be both angiographically and clinically effective when employed in animal stroke models . Preliminary clinical trials with t-PA are in progress . It is possible to refine t-PA by developing fragments or analogues of the drug . Using recombinant DNA technology in the Escherichia coli system, a t-PA analogue consisting of the catalytic fragment of t-PA and a dimer of the B fragment of staphylococcal protein A (Fb-Fb-CF) has been produced . Because this analogue has a long serum half-life of 90 minutes, we employed Fb-Fb-CF in a rabbit cerebral embolic stroke model to assess its efficacy as a reperfusion agent . When given as a bolus to 10 animals 15 minutes after embolization, Fb-Fb-CF produced angiographic cerebral reperfusion in 48 +/- 21 minutes (+/- SD), while in 8 saline-treated controls, reperfusion was not observed at 180 minutes in any animal (p less than 0.01) . In another experiment reperfusion was demonstrated at 66 +/- 32 minutes in 11 animals treated with Fb-Fb-CF 90 minutes after embolization as compared with 100 +/- 25 minutes in 12 saline-treated controls (p less than 0.01) . A small macroscopic hemorrhage within an infarct was seen in 1 Fb-Fb-CF-treated animal in the 15-minute experiment and in none of the controls . In the 90-minute experiment, macroscopic hemorrhagic infarction was seen in 4 Fb-Fb-CF-treated animals and in 3 controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo), 1989 Mar, 29(3), 196 - 201
Late infection after cranioplasty--review of 14 cases; Tokoro K et al.; The incidence of late infection after cranioplasty was studied in 130 patients with 133 cranioplasties . The materials used were prefabricated resin in 62 cases, autogenic bone in 38, intraoperatively fashioned resin in 25, and vitallium in eight . Six infections were documented, for an infection rate of 4.5% . In addition to these six cases, we studied eight patients with infections who had undergone cranioplasty elsewhere but had the infected plates removed in our hospitals . Among the 14 cases of infection, the intervals between cranioplasty and plate removal were 3 to 43 months (average, 10.5 months) . The eight patients referred from other hospitals had a significantly shorter average interval between external decompression and cranioplasty than did patients who did not develop infection (2.6 versus 6.7 months; p less than 0.005) . Systemic signs were mild despite obvious local signs of infection . Of the 11 first infections, nine (82%) were associated with discharge of pus from a fistula; in these cases a galeal suture had become infected apparently through scratching by the patients . In contrast, in the three patients who had had a previous infection, the second infection manifested as subgaleal and epidural empyema or meningitis without a fistula or pus discharge . Nine infections (69%) were due to Staphylococcus . All but two patients required removal of the infected plates . One recovered with conservative therapy and one died of meningitis, giving a mortality rate of 0.8% . No matter how mild the systemic signs, late infection warrants surgical debridement and plate removal . The risk factors for late infection of cranioplasty are discussed.

Oncogene, 1989 Mar, 4(3), 317 - 24
Insulin and phorbol ester induce distinct phosphorylations of pp60c-src in the BC3H-1 murine myocyte cell line; Luttrell LM et al.; Insulin and phorbol esters have been shown to produce similar, non-additive metabolic effects in BC3H-1 murine myocytes . Recently, it has been demonstrated that insulin stimulation of these cells increases production of diacylglycerol, a known activator of protein kinase C (PK-C) . To determine if insulin stimulation results in the activation of PK-C, we have examined the effects of insulin and the tumor promoting phorbol ester, 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), on the phosphorylation of a known PK-C substrate in vivo, the cellular proto-oncogene product, pp60c-src . Differentiated BC3H-1 monocytes showed an approximate twofold elevation in the {32P} content of pp60c-src following stimulation with insulin or TPA for 20 min, with no detectable change in the level of immunoprecipitable c-src protein . The enhanced phosphorylation in response to each agent localized to serine residues in the amino terminal 16 kD staphylococcal V8 proteolytic fragment . Tryptic phosphopeptide analysis revealed that TPA stimulation resulted in an approximate 18-fold increase in phosphorylation of the serine 12-containing tryptic fragment . Insulin stimulation, however, resulted in an approximate 10-fold increase in phosphorylation of the serine 17-containing tryptic fragment with little or no accompanying increase in serine 12 phosphorylation . In cells exposed to high concentrations of TPA for 16 h to deplete PK-C activity, insulin, but not TPA, stimulated phosphorylation of pp60c-src . These data suggest that insulin and phorbol ester induce phosphorylation of pp60c-src by distinct protein kinases.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1989 Mar, 86(6), 1766 - 70
Site-selective cleavage of structured RNA by a staphylococcal nuclease-DNA hybrid; Zuckermann RN et al.; A hybrid enzyme consisting of an oligodeoxyribonucleotide fused to a unique site on staphylococcal nuclease site-selectively cleaves a number of natural RNAs including Escherichia coli M1 RNA (377 bases), 16S rRNA (1542 bases), and yeast tRNA(Phe) . The oligonucleotide directs the nuclease activity of the enzyme to the nucleotides directly adjacent to the complementary target sequence on the substrate RNA . In the case of M1 RNA, hydrolysis occurs primarily at one phosphodiester bond, converting 50% of the starting material to product . Furthermore, the reaction products can be enzymatically manipulated: tRNA(Phe) was cleaved in the anticodon region and was religated to form the full-length tRNA in high yield . Because the specificity of these hybrid enzymes can be easily altered, they should prove to be useful tools for probing RNA structure and function.

Biochemistry, 1989 Feb 21, 28(4), 1539 - 48
Kinetic and magnetic resonance studies of the glutamate-43 to serine mutant of staphylococcal nuclease; Serpersu EH et al.; The Glu-43 residue of staphylococcal nuclease has been proposed to function as a general base that facilitates the attack of water on the phosphodiester substrate {Cotton, F . A., Hazen, E . E., & Legg, M . J . (1979) Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 76, 2551-2555} . With DNA as substrate, Vmax in the glutamate-43--serine (E43S) mutant enzyme is decreased by 2700-fold at pH 7.4 but only 376-fold at pH 9.9 . With the wild-type enzyme, Vmax increases with pH to pH 9.2, above which it becomes less sensitive to further increase in pH, leveling off at pH 9.8 . In contrast, Vmax of the E43S mutant continues to rise, first order in {OH-}, to pH 9.8 . Above pH 10 both activities fall irreversible . Hence the hydroxyl ion can partially replace the effect of Glu-43 on kcat, in accord with the proposed role of Glu-43 as a general base . The inflection point in the curve relating pH to log Vmax of the wild-type enzyme at pH 9.4 may reflect the ionization of a Ca2+-bound water, or of a Lys or Tyr residue at the active site . The activator Ca2+ and the competitive inhibitor Mn2+ bind to the E43S mutant an order of magnitude more weakly than to the wild-type enzyme as detected by kinetics and by direct metal binding studies, and approximately one additional water ligand on Mn2+ is found in the binary Mn2+ complex of the E43S mutant (1.4 +/- 0.2) as compared to that of the wild-type enzyme (0.8 +/- 0.2) . These data suggest that Glu-43 coordinates the divalent cation in the binary enzyme-metal complex but dissociates from the metal to create a water binding site and to function as a general base in the ternary enzyme-metal-DNA complex . While a 2-fold weaker binding of DNA to the Ca2+ complex of the E43S mutant than to the wild-type enzyme is found by kinetic studies, an order of magnitude tighter binding of the competitive inhibitor 3',5'-pdTp to the Mn2+ and Ca2+ complexes of E43S is found by direct binding studies . Distances from Co2+ to phosphorus in the ternary enzyme-Co2+-pdTp complexes reveal coordination of only the 5'-phosphate by Co2+ on the wild-type enzyme but coordination of both the 3'- and 5'-phosphates of pdTp on the E43S mutant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Biochemistry, 1989 Feb 21, 28(4), 1704 - 10
High-yield purification of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor: structural characterization and establishment of a specific antiserum; Miyazono K et al.; Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is a 45-kDa protein that stimulates the growth of endothelial cells {Miyazono, K., et al . (1987) J . Biol . Chem . 262, 4098-4103} . Here, we describe a method to purify large quantities of PD-ECGF from human platelet lysate at a high yield (14% overall recovery) . The purification method involves five steps, using high-performance liquid chromatography grade hydroxylapatite and hydrophobic chromatographies as the two final steps . The purified material contained two major components of apparent molecular weight values of 46,000 and 44,000 . These components coeluted in a high-resolving reversed-phase chromatography and were found to give similar peptide maps after treatments with staphylococcal V8 protease, suggesting that the 44-kDa form is related to the 46-kDa molecule . Partial tryptic digestion of native PD-ECGF revealed that the molecule contains a trypsin-resistant domain of 37-39 kDa . A rabbit antiserum was produced against the purified material and was found to specifically recognize PD-ECGF in immunoblotting . When added to the cell culture medium, an immunoglobulin fraction of the antiserum neutralized the activity of purified PD-ECGF . Furthermore, it completely neutralized the endothelial cell mitogenic activity of platelet lysate, indicating that PD-ECGF is the only mitogen in platelet lysate for this cell type.

J Mol Biol, 1989 Feb 20, 205(4), 737 - 50
Heat capacity and conformation of proteins in the denatured state; Privalov PL et al.; Heat capacity, intrinsic viscosity and ellipticity of a number of globular proteins (pancreatic ribonuclease A, staphylococcal nuclease, hen egg-white lysozyme, myoglobin and cytochrome c) and a fibrillar protein (collagen) in various states (native, denatured, with and without disulfide crosslinks or a heme) have been studied experimentally over a broad range of temperatures . It is shown that the partial heat capacity of denatured protein significantly exceeds the heat capacity of native protein, especially in the case of globular proteins, and is close to the value calculated for an extended polypeptide chain from the known heat capacities of individual amino acid residues . The significant residual structure that appears at room temperature in the denatured states of some globular proteins (e.g . myoglobin and lysozyme) at neutral pH results in a slight decrease of the heat capacity, probably due to partial screening of the protein non-polar groups from water . The heat capacity of the unfolded state increases asymptotically, approaching a constant value at about 100 degrees C . The temperature dependence of the heat capacity of the native state, which can be determined over a much shorter range of temperature than that of the denatured state and, correspondingly, is less certain, appears to be linear up to 80 degrees C . Therefore, the denaturational heat capacity increment seems to be temperature-dependent and is likely to decrease to zero at about 140 degrees C.

Cancer Res, 1989 Feb 15, 49(4), 887 - 94
Monoclonal antibody against human colonic sulfomucin: immunochemical detection of its binding sites in colonic mucosa, colorectal primary carcinoma, and metastases; Yamori T et al.; Previous studies using metabolic labeling of fresh colonic mucosa and colorectal carcinoma with {35S}sulfate followed by biochemical analysis demonstrated that the amount of a sulfated high-molecular-weight glycoprotein expressed in primary colorectal carcinoma was lower than that in normal mucosa, and that the amount further decreased in liver metastases . This suggested that this sulfated molecule represented a sulfomucin previously defined by histochemical reactivity with a cationic dye . We have extracted and partially purified this high-molecular-weight sulfated glycoprotein from normal human colonic mucosa . We immunized mice with the partially purified sulfomucin and generated hybridomas . One cloned hybridoma, designated as 91.9H, produced a monoclonal antibody strongly reactive with a component which migrated at an identical position as the metabolically {35S}sulfate-labeled high-molecular-weight glycoprotein after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate . The reactive molecules appeared to have a polydisperse nature with a molecular weight ranging between 400,000 and 900,000 . The {35S}sulfate-labeled high-molecular-weight glycoprotein was bound to Staphylococcus Protein A-agarose coated with this monoclonal antibody but did not bind to unconjugated Protein A-agarose . The immunoprecipitated substance also migrated at an apparent molecular weight range of 400,000 to 900,000 . The reactivity of monoclonal antibody 91.9H with the extracts of normal mucosa, colorectal primary carcinoma, and metastasis was compared by dot blot assay on a nitrocellulose membrane . This antibody was more reactive with the extracts of mucosa adjacent to carcinoma tissues than with the carcinoma extracts . Primary tumors showed higher reactivity than metastases in most of the cases . These results strongly suggest that this antibody is specific to colonic sulfomucins or at least to mucins closely related to colonic mucins previously identified by metabolic labeling with {35S}sulfate.

J Immunol, 1989 Feb 15, 142(4), 1177 - 82
GP120 specific cellular cytotoxicity in HIV-1 seropositive individuals . Evidence for circulating CD16+ effector cells armed in vivo with cytophilic antibody; Tyler DS et al.; Fresh circulating PBMC from HIV-1 seropositive individuals have been found to mediate specific, non-MHC restricted lysis of targets expressing the major envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1, gp120, in 6-h 51Cr release assays . This gp120 specific cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) is broadly reactive against target cells infected with a wide range of viral isolates, is IL-2 augmentable, and is mediated by a CD16+, Leu-7+, CD15-, CD3- population of NK/K cells . The presence of FcR (CD16) on these cells suggested that the lytic specificity for gp120 might be directed by cytophilic antibody bound to the cell surface . Affinity purified F(ab')2 antibody fragments specific for the Fc and F(ab')2 portions of human IgG were used in attempts to block gp120 specific lysis . A 1/50 dilution of these antibodies inhibited gp120 specific cytolytic activity by more than 90% while exhibiting a minimal effect on NK/K cell lysis of K562 targets . The blocking activity of these fragments demonstrates the direct involvement of cytophilic antibody in CMC . In attempts to isolate this cytophilic anti-HIV-1 antibody, short 56 degrees C incubations were used to dissociate antibodies from the surface of PBMC of seropositive individuals . The supernatants generated in this manner exhibited specific gp120 activity in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity assays . The ability of Staphylococcal protein A to remove this activity confirms the presence of cytophilic antibody on freshly isolated PBMC . Selective enrichment of specific cell subpopulations revealed the origin of the cytophilic antibody to be CD16+ NK/K cells and not B cells, T cells, or monocytes/macrophages . These studies show that the gp120-specific CMC seen in HIV-1 seropositive individuals is directed by cytophilic antibody bound to circulating CD16+ NK/K cells and represents a form of direct antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity which may provide a primary cytotoxic host defense.

Biochemistry, 1989 Feb 7, 28(3), 936 - 44
Residual structure in large fragments of staphylococcal nuclease: effects of amino acid substitutions; Shortle D et al.; In an attempt to develop a model of the denatured state of staphylococcal nuclease that can be analyzed experimentally under physiological conditions, a series of four large fragments of this small protein which extend from residues 1 to 103, 1 to 112, 1 to 128, and 1 to 136 have been generated through the overexpression of nuclease genes containing stop codons at defined positions . Large amounts of protein fragments were accumulated in induced cells and were purified by carrying out all fractionation steps in the presence of 6 M urea . The far-ultraviolet circular dichroism spectra of all four fragments suggested the presence of small to moderate amounts of residual structure . When the CD spectra were monitored as a function of concentrations of the tight-binding ligands Ca2+ and thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate and the known affinity constants for wild-type nuclease (1-149) were used, apparent equilibrium constants of 160 and 2000 for the reversible denaturation reaction for fragments 1-136 and 1-128, respectively, were estimated . Four single and two double mutations, all of which exhibit unusual behavior in the full-length protein on solvent denaturation {Shortle, D., & Meeker, A . K . (1986) Proteins: Struct., Funct., Genet . 1, 81-89} and thermal denaturation {Shortle, D., Meeker, A . K., & Freire, E . (1988) Biochemistry 27, 4761-4768}, were recombined into the 1-136 and 1-128 fragment expression vectors, and purified mutant fragments were characterized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thorax, 1989 Feb, 44(2), 132 - 5
Impaired non-specific delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in bird fancier's lung; Orriols R et al.; The relation between non-specific delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity and bird fancier's lung was investigated in 13 patients with the disorder . They were compared with 50 subjects who had no reason to have decreased non-specific delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (control group) and 34 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis . In addition, 13 patients with bird fancier's lung (11 of the original group) were tested at least one year after avoiding exposure to the causal antigen . Five antigens (candidine, staphylococcal toxoid, tuberculin purified protein derivative, trichophyton, and streptokinase-streptodornase) were injected intradermally (0.1 ml) and the mean weal diameter was measured at 48 hours . The mean weal size was significantly less in the subjects with bird fancier's lung at the time of diagnosis than in the control group (2.23 v 5.66 mm) but did not differ significantly from that of the subjects with sarcoidosis (2.80 mm) or from that of the bird fanciers with no exposure to the causal antigen for one year (2.75 mm) . The impairment of non-specific delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in patients with bird fancier's lung appears to be quantitatively similar to that occurring in sarcoidosis.

Allergy, 1989 Feb, 44(2), 123 - 31
Circulating immune complexes during immunotherapy in allergy to dog; Valovirta E et al.; Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were determined from dog-allergic asthmatic children (n = 35) receiving immunotherapy with dog dander and hair extract . The results from CIC are expressed in SDU (standard deviation units) and presented as follows: pretreatment results (n = 20), rush results (n = 11), mid-schedule results (n = 20), maintenance results (n = 15) and the results of the placebo-treated group (n = 12) . The results of the placebo-treated group (n = 12) and those of the untreated atopic (n = 12) and non-atopic (n = 14) were controls . CIC levels were analysed by means of KgB-ELISA (conglutinin binding enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), C1qB-ELISA (C1q-binding enzyme linked immunososrbent assay), RFb-ELISA (rheumatoid factor binding enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and by PIPA (platelet 125J-labelled staphylococcal protein-A test) . The CIC level determined by KgB-ELISA in dog-allergic asthmatic children was higher than that of the atopic controls (P less than 0.05) already before the onset of the hyposensitization . During conventional hyposensitization with dog dander and hair the CIC level remained the same as before treatment . On day 5 of rush hyposensitization the mean level of CIC showed no increase when compared with the pretreatment values . A statistically significant correlation (P less than 0.01) was observed between the dog dander and hair-specific IgG antibodies and the CIC level measured by KgB-ELISA during the maintenance period of conventional immunotherapy . The samples of sera to measure this correlation were collected before the injection of allergen and after 2 weeks of injection during maintenance treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clin Exp Immunol, 1989 Feb, 75(2), 239 - 44
Relative strength of the mitogenic and interleukin-2-production-inducing activities of staphylococcal exotoxins presumed to be causative exotoxins of toxic shock syndrome: toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and enterotoxins A, B and C to murine and human T cells; Uchiyama T et al.; Several observations suggest that staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B and C (SEA, SEB and SEC, respectively), in addition to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), are causative exotoxins of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) . Based on the view that polyclonal T cell activation with the causative exotoxins, resulting in over-production of lymphokines, is involved in the development of the pathological changes observed in TSS, we investigated the activities of these four exotoxins to induce proliferation and interleukin 2 production in murine and human lymphocytes by using in vitro culture systems . The results showed that all these exotoxins are strong polyclonal inducers of proliferation and interleukin 2 production in human T cells, whereas TSST-1 and SEA are strong and SEB and SEC are weak polyclonal inducers in murine T cells . These results suggest that SEA, SEB and SEC, in addition to TSST-1, are possibly involved as causative exotoxins in the development of the pathological changes observed in TSS.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1989 Feb, 142(2), 8 - 11
{Septic metastatic staphylococcal destruction of the lungs in adults}; Liashchenko VI; The author analyzes results of diagnostics and treatment of 152 patients with septic metastatic staphylococcal destruction of the lungs . Specific features of the clinical course of the disease are described . Under consideration are questions of the complex pathogenetic treatment of this group of patients by means of using antibiotic and immune therapy, fat emulsions (lipofundin), exchange plasmapheresis, ultraviolet irradiation of blood etc.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Feb, 33(2), 209 - 11
Comparative in vitro activities of new fluorinated quinolones and other antibiotics against coagulase-negative Staphylococcus blood isolates from neutropenic patients, and relationship between susceptibility and slime production; Venditti M et al.; We evaluated the in vitro antibiotic susceptibilities of 31 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus isolates causing septicemia in neutropenic patients undergoing norfloxacin prophylaxis . All the strains but one were resistant to 1 microgram of norfloxacin per ml . At the same concentration, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, imipenem, and pefloxacin were inhibitory for 19 (61%), 19 (61%), 18 (58%), and 14 (45%) of the evaluated strains, respectively . Imipenem had an MBC/MIC ratio of greater than or equal to 32 against 19 (61%) of the evaluated isolates, and resistant subpopulations were detected at 5 micrograms/ml in 16 of 17 oxacillin-resistant strains and in 3 of 14 oxacillin-susceptible or -tolerant strains . Resistance to gentamicin was seen with increased frequency among slime-producing strains.

Hautarzt, 1989 Feb, 40(2), 90 - 3
{Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in 2 adults with acute kidney failure}; Petzelbauer P et al.; We report on two cases of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) in adults . In contrast to the previously reported cases our patients were neither immunosuppressed nor haemodialysed, nor did they have cancer . In both cases, acute renal failure in the presence of a rather banal staphylococcal infection preceded the SSSS . The pathogenic role of acute renal failure in the development of SSSS is discussed.

Vrach Delo, 1989 Feb, (2), 70 - 2
{Immune response of donors during immunization with staphylococcus anatoxin}; Fedorovskaia EA et al.; The content of antistaphylococcal antitoxins--antialphastaphylolysins was examined in the blood serum of three groups of blood donor volunteers . It is shown that volunteer blood donors immunized according to two schemes with prophylactic purposes may be a source of antistaphylococcal plasma . Additionally antistaphylococcal plasma may be obtained from non-immune donors showing high titers of antialphastaphylolysins revealed by the screening method.

Cancer Genet Cytogenet, 1989 Feb, 37(2), 201 - 8
Cytogenetic studies of Hodgkin's disease . Analysis of involved lymph nodes from 12 patients; Dennis TR et al.; Cytogenetic studies were performed on 12 involved lymph nodes from Hodgkin's disease patients utilizing conditioned medium from 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-staphylococcus enterotoxin A induced mononuclear cells . The majority of cells analyzed had a normal karyotype . An unusually high rate of nonclonal karyotypic abnormalities was noted in most cultures . Clonal abnormalities involving chromosomes 3 and 21 were noted in two patients . Cytogenetic analysis of cultures stimulated with conditioned medium or specific growth factors may lead to a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved in Hodgkin's disease.

Ir J Med Sci, 1989 Feb, 158(2), 36 - 9
Pulmonary disease following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation; Murray M et al.; Bone marrow transplantation is the treatment of choice of many haematological disorders but its success is limited by two major complications, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and pulmonary disorders . Of the first 31 patients transplanted at St . James's Hospital (1984-1986) 16 (52%) had a successful outcome . Of the 15 patients who died, two died of GVHD and one of recurrent leukaemia . All others had severe pulmonary disease either causing death directly (9 cases) or contributing to death from toxic encephalopathy, carditis or recurrent leukaemia (1 case each) . The principal forms of pulmonary disease were cytomegalovirus pneumonitis (4 cases), acute haemorrhagic pulmonary oedema (4 cases) and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (2 cases) . There were single cases of staphylococcal pneumonia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis . Aspergillus was a second pathogen in two cases . Pulmonary damage due to conditioning chemoradiotherapy and to GVHD probably underlies this high incidence of pulmonary disease . T-cell depletion to limit the incidence of GVHD together with increased prophylaxis against CMV and pneumocystis carinii will probably substantially reduce these complications in the near future.

J Biochem (Tokyo), 1989 Feb, 105(2), 196 - 203
Amino acid sequence of a presynaptic neurotoxin, agkistrodotoxin, from the venom of Agkistrodon halys Pallas; Kondo K et al.; The amino acid sequence of a presynaptic neurotoxin, agkistrodotoxin (ATX) isolated from the venom of Agkistrodon halys Pallas, was determined by automated Edman degradation and the carboxypeptidase digestion of the S-carboxymethylated ATX and by sequence analyses of peptides produced with cyanogen bromide cleavage and with trypsin or staphylococcal V8 protease digestion of the S-carboxymethylated ATX . ATX consists of 122 amino acid residues, including the histidine residue and 14 half-cystine residues . The amino acid sequence of ATX is very similar to those of toxic phospholipases and the phospholipase subunits of presynaptic neurotoxins from snake venoms . The residues responsible for the toxic activity of the presynaptic neurotoxins are discussed.

Br J Ophthalmol, 1989 Feb, 73(2), 136 - 9
Effects of fusidic acid on staphylococcal keratitis; Tabbara KF et al.; We treated 20 consecutive patients suffering from staphylococcal keratitis with topical fusidic acid 1% suspension in a carbomer gel . Fifteen (79%) of the isolated Staphylococcus epidermidis strains were resistant to methicillin, but all were sensitive to fusidic acid by in-vitro testing . The keratitis showed evidence of healing in 17 (85%) of the 20 patients . The healing times ranged between 5 and 21 days (mean 10.5 days) . In this open clinical trial fusidic acid proved to be a safe and effective antibiotic for the treatment of staphylococcal keratitis.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1989 Feb, 8(1), 65 - 72
Detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in dairy products by the reversed passive latex agglutination (SET-RPLA) kit; Rose SA et al.; The SET-RPLA is a commercially available kit for the detection of staphyloccal enterotoxins in foods . Previous reports have shown that non-specific reactions occur on use of the kit with cheeses and thereby restrict its use . In this study a variety of dairy products were tested and non-specific reactions were found to be associated with those products rennetted during manufacture . These reactions can be obviated by addition of 10 mM sodium hexametaphosphate to the diluent provided in the kit, without affecting the ability to detect staphyloccal enterotoxins in dairy products . The sensitivity of the SET-RPLA was demonstrated to be 0.25 ng/ml.

Int J Food Microbiol, 1989 Feb, 8(1), 25 - 34
ELISA with enzyme amplification for sensitive detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in food; Windemann H et al.; A highly sensitive amplified ELISA in microtitre plates for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins compared favourably with a commercially available kit . The amplified ELISA demonstrated a reduced effect of the food sample matrix and an ease of handling . Using the amplified ELISA, the influence of different parameters (pH, time, temperature, re-extraction, concentration procedure) on the recovery efficiency and assay reliability was tested on foods implicated in food poisoning outbreaks as well as on spiked foods containing low levels of enterotoxins.

Wiad Lek, 1989 Feb 1, 42(3), 149 - 54
{Clinical problems of staphylococcal septicemia}; Jezyna C et al.; Clinical Problems in staphylococcal septicaemia are reported in the observed 13 cases with severe multiorgan complications . In 69.2% of patients the course of the disease was very serious or severe, in the remaining cases it was moderately severe . Attention is called to the variety of clinical patterns and to frequent involvement of the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and respiratory system during septicaemia . The therapeutic management included, besides combined treatment with three antibiotics of synergistic action, antistaphylococcal serum, glucocorticoids, agents increasing the general resistance of the organism (transfusion of fresh blood, gamma-vein, gammaglobulin), cardiac drugs and symptomatic drugs, and in some cases cytochrome and heparin . Particular attention was given to adequate nursing care . Two patients died (15.4%).

Artif Organs, 1989 Feb, 13(1), 71 - 7
Reduction in platelet-binding immunoglobulins and improvement in platelet counts in patients with HIV-associated idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) following extracorporeal immunoadsorption of plasma over staphylococcal protein A-silica; Snyder HW Jr et al.; Platelet-directed antibodies and circulating immune complexes (CIC) were removed from plasma of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) by extracorporeal immunoadsorption using columns of Staphylococcal protein A-silica (Prosorba columns) . In addition, stimulation of a broadly cross-reactive anti-F(ab')2 antibody response was observed . These antibodies also appeared to play a role in the additional removal of platelet-directed immunoglobulins (Igs) and CIC from plasma . Removal of these components from plasma was associated with diminishing levels of antibodies and CIC on patient platelets and significant increases in platelet counts . Extracorporeal immunoadsorption of IgG and CIC from plasma is a beneficial new treatment modality for HIV-associated ITP.

J Immunol, 1989 Feb 1, 142(3), 744 - 7
Thyrotropin: an endogenous regulator of the in vitro immune response; Kruger TE et al.; We have previously shown that thyrotropin (TSH), which is produced by lymphocytes in response to the T cell mitogen staphylococcal enterotoxin A, enhances in vitro antibody production to T cell-dependent and independent Ag (SRBC and trinitrophenylated Brucella abortus {BA-TPN}, respectively) as determined by a direct plaque-forming cell assay . As a result of these studies, experiments were designed to examine the possible immunoregulatory function of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the in vitro antibody response to the T cell-independent Ag BA-TNP . Our studies demonstrate that TRH at very low concentrations (pM) enhances the in vitro plaque-forming cell response to BA-TNP and also induces splenocyte production of TSH . Other hypothalamic-releasing factors were without effect . This enhancement effect by TRH was specifically blocked by rabbit antisera to the TSH-beta subunit, whereas addition of normal rabbit sera had no effect . These data suggest that TRH specifically enhances the in vitro antibody response via production of immunoreactive TSH.

J Mol Biol, 1989 Jan 20, 205(2), 355 - 62
Functional organization of the plasmid pT181 replication origin; Gennaro ML et al.; Replication of the staphylococcal plasmid pT181 is initiated at the origin (ori) with the introduction of a site-specific nick by the plasmid-encoded initiator protein RepC . Deletion analysis showed that a sequence of about 70 base-pairs is required for full ori function, including the ability to compete with a co-resident wild-type origin for the trans-acting RepC protein . A shorter sequence of 43 base-pairs is sufficient for origin function in the absence of competition . Single and double point mutations within these 43 base-pairs were used to determine the sequence requirement for replication within the minimal origin . Deletion mutants and point mutants were tested in replication and competition assays in vivo and in vitro, and in a RepC-mediated nicking assay.

Cell, 1989 Jan 13, 56(1), 27 - 35
The V beta-specific superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B: stimulation of mature T cells and clonal deletion in neonatal mice; White J et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is known to be a powerful T cell stimulant in mouse and man . In this paper we show that, for mice, this is because the protein in association with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules stimulates virtually all T cells bearing V beta 3 and V beta 8.1, 8.2, and 8.3, and few others . Neonatal mice given the enterotoxin eliminate all mature, and some immature, T cells bearing these V beta s, demonstrating that tolerance to exogenously administered antigen can be caused by clonal deletion of reactive T cells . The enterotoxin shares these "superantigenic" properties with known self-antigens in mice, Mls-1a and Mls-2a, and a B cell-derived product, a shared property that is unlikely to be coincidental or inconsequential.

Biochemistry, 1989 Jan 10, 28(1), 362 - 70
A magnetization-transfer nuclear magnetic resonance study of the folding of staphylococcal nuclease; Evans PA et al.; The equilibrium between alternative folded states of a globular protein, staphylococcal nuclease, has been investigated by using 1H NMR . Magnetization-transfer experiments have revealed the existence of a related structural heterogeneity of the unfolded state, and quantitative analysis of a series of these experiments has permitted the kinetics of folding and interconversion of the different states to be explored . A model based on cis/trans isomerism at the peptide bond preceding Pro-117 has been developed to account for the results . This model, recently supported by a protein-engineering experiment {Evans et al . (1987) Nature (London) 329, 266}, has been used to interpret the kinetic data, providing insight into the nature of the folding processes . The predominance of the cis-proline form in the folded state is shown to derive from a large favorable enthalpy term resulting from more effective overall folding interactions . The kinetics of folding and isomerization are shown to occur on similar time scales, such that more than one pathway between two states may be significant . It has been possible, however, to compare the direct folding and unfolding rates within the cis- and trans-proline-containing populations, with results suggesting that the specific stabilization of the cis peptide bond is effective only at a late stage in the folding process.

Biochemistry, 1989 Jan 10, 28(1), 204 - 11
Hydrogen-1 NMR evidence for three interconverting forms of staphylococcal nuclease: effects of mutations and solution conditions on their distribution; Alexandrescu AT et al.; It has been known for several years that 1H NMR spectra of the enzyme staphylococcal nuclease contain resonances due to conformational heterogeneity {Markley, J . L., Williams, M . N., & Jardetzky, O . (1970) Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 65, 645-651} . One source of conformational heterogeneity has been attributed recently to cis/trans isomeriation of the Lys116-Pro117 peptide bond {Evans, P . A., Dobson, C . M., Kautz, R . A., Hatfull, G., & Fox, R . O . (1987) Nature (London) 329, 266-268} . In this paper we present evidence for three interconverting folded forms of nuclease . Forms N and N' are monomeric; form N" appears at higher nuclease concentrations and probably corresponds to dimerized enzyme . Saturation transfer was used to demonstrate that exchange occurs between the denatured state and N" . The effects of temperature, pH, and Ca2+ and nucleotide binding on NMR spectra of nuclease were examined . When the temperature is increased or the pH is lowered, form N' is favored relative to N . Binding of a competitive inhibitor (thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate plus calcium ion) strongly favors one form of nuclease . 1H NMR spectra of wild-type nuclease, the single-mutant nucleases L89F and H124L, and the double-mutant nuclease F76V+H124L were compared . In the unligated proteins, the equilibrium constant for the conformational equilibrium N in equilibrium with N' is approximately 0.1 in wild-type nuclease and nuclease H124L; by contrast, this equilibrium constant is about 0.7 in nuclease L89F and 1.2 in nuclease F76V+H124L under similar conditions.

J Immunol Methods, 1989 Jan 6, 116(1), 37 - 43
Detection, isolation and characterization of staphylococcal enterotoxin B in protein A preparations purified by immunoglobulin G affinity chromatography; Balint J Jr et al.; Studies were performed to detect and isolate trace contaminants of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in various protein A preparations isolated by affinity chromatography employing human IgG covalently bound to Sepharose 4B . Utilizing an ELISA technique, trace amounts (0.018-0.138%) of SEB could be detected in protein A preparations after separation of the SEB employing a molecular sizing column in a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system . Trace contamination by SEB could be removed from protein A preparations by an additional DEAE ion exchange chromatography step employing a low ionic strength buffer system (0.005 M NaCl in 0.01 phosphate buffer, pH 7.50) . The resulting protein A preparations possessed a purity higher than that observed prior to the final purification step . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analyses of the trace contamination removed from protein A preparations by ion exchange chromatography revealed, in addition to SEB, several additional contaminating polypeptides of an unknown nature . These studies indicate that protein A preparations of high purity can be prepared by employing DEAE ion exchange chromatography in addition to affinity chromatography utilizing immobilized human IgG.

An Esp Pediatr, 1989 Jan, 30(1), 8 - 10
{Nephropathy caused by ventriculo-atrial derivation (shunt nephritis)}; Rodo Salas J et al.; We report three patients (one, nine and ten year old) who suffered from secondary nephritis caused by an infection of a ventriculo-atrial shunt . In all three cases diagnosis was made based on persistent hematuria accompanied by prolonged fever of unclear origin and was subsequently confirmed by the presence of staphylococcus in the blood . LCR and prosthesis cultures and in the renal biopsy . The period of time elapsed between the insertion of the shunt, the beginning of the illness and the diagnosis, was variable . In the three cases, the treatment consisted of removal of the infected shunt and insertion of a new one in the peritoneum together with antibiotic treatment . The outcome was successful in only two cases, the third died . The hystological study showed the presence of: membranoproliferative, proliferative and intra and extra capillary glomerulonephritis with diffuse semilunae in each case . We point out the importance of the prosthesis infection by low virulence germs, the continuous dissemination of these into the circulatory system and the production and depositing of antibodies at the renal level.

Rev Infect Dis, 1989 Jan-Feb, 11 Suppl 1, S275 - 80; discussion S280-1
Damaging effect of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 on chick embryo cells in vitro; Drumm A et al.; The lethal effect of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) on rabbits and chick embryos is enhanced in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . In an investigation of the mode of action of TSST-1, its effect-both singly and in combination with LPS-on tissue culture cell lines was examined . Of a variety of cell lines examined for sensitivity to TSST-1 treatment, only primary chick embryo cells were susceptible . At a critical concentration (0.2 microgram/mL), TSST-1 alone caused detachment of the cell monolayer . In contrast, LPS per se had no visible effect on the cells at any concentration tested . TSST-1 in combination with LPS caused monolayer detachment at all concentrations of TSST-1 employed; thus detachment was independent of TSST-1 concentration in the presence of LPS . The ability of TSST-1 to disrupt the monolayer was neutralized in the presence of polyclonal rabbit antiserum to TSST-1 . In a time course study over 24 hours, the effect of the toxin on the cells was initially visible by light microscopy after 4-7 hours . Clear differences in cellular morphology between TSST-1 treated monolayers and untreated controls were observed by scanning electron microscopy . Treated cells lost their normal spindle-shaped appearance before detachment.

Rev Infect Dis, 1989 Jan-Feb, 11 Suppl 1, S248 - 53
Toxicity of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 for germ-free and conventional piglets; Bulanda M et al.; The susceptibilities of conventional and germ-free miniature pigs to staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) were studied and compared . TSST-1 at doses of 100 micrograms/kg evoked reactions similar to those observed in rabbits, i.e., hyperthermia, diarrhea, apathy, conjunctival hyperemia, and various changes indicating toxic damage of different organs, but it was never lethal at this dose . Germ-free piglets were less susceptible than were corresponding conventional animals, a finding that may support the concept that endogenous endotoxin is involved in the pathogenesis of toxic shock syndrome.

Br J Haematol, 1989 Jan, 71(1), 97 - 105
A prospective comparison of four techniques for measuring platelet-associated IgG; Kelton JG et al.; We describe a prospective study comparing four different assays for PAIgG . Platelets from patients with a variety of thrombocytopenic disorders were collected into ACD, washed, and the PAIgG then measured using three assays for surface PAIgG . These included: (a) a direct binding assay using 125I-monoclonal anti-IgG (MoAb); (b) a direct binding assay using 125I-staphylococcal protein A (SPA); and (c) a two-stage assay . PAIgG also was measured using an assay for 'total' PAIgG following platelet lysis . The mean +/- SD number of molecules of IgG per platelet on washed platelets from 29 healthy, non-thrombocytopenic controls was: 86 +/- 80 (125I-MoAb); 94 +/- 96 (125I-SPA); 3520 +/- 1890 (two-stage surface assay); and 10,850 +/- 3720 (total PAIgG) . A total of 62 different patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or thrombocytopenia complicating systematic lupus erythematosus, and 73 different patients with 'non-immune' thrombocytopenia, were tested using each of the four assays . These 'non-immune' thrombocytopenic patients included patients with carcinoma, septicaemia, pre-eclampsia, chronic leukaemia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, acute leukaemia and myelodysplasia . All four assays gave similar results for both the immune and non-immune thrombocytopenic patients . The sensitivity of the assays for the most severely thrombocytopenic patients with immune thrombocytopenia was: MoAb 60%; SPA 88%; two-stage 82%; and 'total' PAIgG 88% . The specificity of the four assays in the non-immune thrombocytopenic patients was 57% 'total' PAIgG; 63% two-stage surface; 25% SPA; 38% MoAb.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1989 Jan, 107(1), 68 - 71
{Ultrastructural analysis of interactions of neutrophil leukocytes and macrophages in the center of inflammation}; Vtiurin BV et al.; The authors have developed the method of investigating the interaction between neutrophil leukocytes and macrophages using a modified model of experimental peritonitis by Gallily and Feldman . The results of electron microscopy studies with quantitative assessment of phagocytosis allowed to demonstrate the sequence of staphylococcus phagocytosis in the peritoneal cavity of rats during the development of experimental peritonitis as well as the interaction between neutrophils and macrophages.

Transfusion, 1989 Jan, 29(1), 23 - 6
Vancomycin-induced red cell aggregation; Williams L et al.; Vancomycin, an antibiotic similar in structure to ristocetin, is used to treat staphylococcal infections . However, vancomycin-induced hemagglutination complicated red cell (RBC) serologic testing in the blood bank . At concentrations greater than 3.0 mg per ml, vancomycin caused spontaneous macroscopic red cell (RBC) aggregation; concentrations of 2.0 and 2.5 mg per ml were associated with weakly positive aggregation with anti-IgG and polyspecific antiglobulin reagents negative with anti-complement; and concentrations less than 1.5 mg per ml had no apparent effect . Ficin-treated RBCs demonstrated negative reactions with the antiglobulin reagents . Vancomycin-induced aggregation was reversed partially with 0.2 M trisodium citrate, and supernatant transfer studies showed that normal RBCs retained a significantly (p less than 0.025) greater percentage of vancomycin than did ficin-treated RBCs . Vancomycin causes the aggregation of RBCs, which can be a source of confusion in the blood bank . The mechanism(s) through which vancomycin enhances aggregation may be related to its polycationic properties and to its direct protein binding to the RBC membrane, although other nonimmunologic mechanisms may be operative.

J Lab Clin Med, 1989 Jan, 113(1), 67 - 72
A unique insertion in the primary structure of bovine amyloid AA protein; Benson MD et al.; Amyloid fibrils were isolated from kidney tissue of a cow afflicted with renal failure caused by spontaneous reactive amyloidosis . These fibrils were reduced and alkylated, and the amyloid subunit protein was isolated on a column of Sepharose CL6B . The protein was fragmented with both trypsin and Staphylococcus protease, and the resultant peptides were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography . Sequence analysis gave the complete primary structure of the protein with overlaps of the tryptic peptides confirmed by the Staphylococcus protease peptides . Comparison of the bovine amyloid A (AA) amino acid sequence with human protein AA demonstrates complete invariability from human position 33 to 45 and a very high degree of homology from positions 16 to 29 and 46 to 63 . These data indicate that these portions of the molecule may be significant factors in amyloid fibrilogenesis . The bovine AA protein shows a blocked amino terminus, as is the case with the dog and the cat AA proteins . In addition, this protein contains an insertion of nine amino acid residues between human positions 69 and 70 . The existence of an additional six residues after position 76 makes the bovine AA an unusually large 90 amino acid peptide . These findings point to a high tolerance for mutation in the carboxyl end of the molecule.

Przegl Epidemiol, 1989, 43(2), 213 - 7
{Intravenous catheters (venflons) in children as a possible cause of hospital infections}; Rudkowski Z et al.; The authors made 106 cultures from the endings of intravenous catheters used in children hospitalized in the teaching hospital in the years 1987-88 . In 30 cases (28%) the cultures were positive . The most common cultures were those of Staphylococcus and Micrococcus . No correlation was found between the time of keeping a catheter in the vein and the number of positive cultures from the catheter . The children not receiving antibiotics had 2.6 as many positive cultures as those receiving antibiotics.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 1989, 68(1), 87 - 8
Mastitis and toxic shock syndrome; Demey HE et al.; Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) secondary to mastitis or breast abscess is only seldom described . We report a case of definite TSS due to postpartum staphylococcal mastitis which evolved over a period of 3 weeks to a breast abscess, recurring after 2 months . Only the episode of acute mastitis was complicated with TSS, while Staph . aureus could be isolated during the period of mastitis from milk and during drainage of the second breast abscess.

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1989, 89(1), 24 - 30
Induction of IgE synthesis in anti-IgM-activated nonatopic human B cells by recombinant interleukin-3; Matsumoto T et al.; The signals required to induce purified normal human B cell subpopulations into IgE production were studied . Pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated T cell supernatant induced IgE synthesis in low-density but not high-density Percoll-gradient-separated resting B cells . The PWM supernatant also enhanced (greater than 2-fold) IgE synthesis by anti-IgM (but not Staphylococcus A Cowan I)-activated high-density B cells (but not low-density B cells) and had affinity for lentil lectin . Subsequent studies were carried out using purified human recombinant interleukins (rIL) . Human rIL-3 consistently (10/19 experiments) augmented IgE synthesis by anti-IgM-activated normal B cells . rIL-4 did not consistently (4/23 experiments) induce IgE synthesis by normal B cells or mixtures of T and B lymphocytes +/- monocytes . Furthermore, IL-1, IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, granulocyte, macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and interferon-gamma also failed to induce IgE synthesis . Identification of IL-3 as the factor(s) in the PWM supernatant that was responsible for inducing IgE synthesis was inconclusive since its effect could not be reversed by the addition of anti-IL-3 antibody . Thus, our results suggest that at least two distinct soluble factors are involved in the induction of IgE synthesis by nonatopic B cells.

Proteins, 1989, 5(3), 183 - 201
The crystal structure of the ternary complex of staphylococcal nuclease, Ca2+, and the inhibitor pdTp, refined at 1.65 A; Loll PJ et al.; The structure of a complex of staphylococcal nuclease with Ca2+ and deoxythymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate (pdTp) has been refined by stereochemically restrained least-squares minimization to a crystallographic R value of 0.161 at 1.65 A resolution . The estimated root-mean-square (rms) error in the coordinates is 0.16 A . The final model comprises 1082 protein atoms, one calcium ion, the pdTp molecule, and 82 solvent water molecules; it displays an rms deviation from ideality of 0.017 A for bond distances and 1.8 degrees for bond angles . The mean distance between corresponding alpha carbons in the refined and unrefined structures is 0.6 A; we observe small but significant differences between the refined and unrefined models in the turn between residues 27 and 30, the loop between residues 44 and 50, the first helix, and the extended strand between residues 112 and 117 which forms part of the active site binding pocket . The details of the calcium liganding and solvent structure in the active site are clearly shown in the final electron density map . The structure of the catalytic site is consistent with the mechanism that has been proposed for this enzyme . However, we note that two lysines from a symmetry-related molecule in the crystal lattice may play an important role in determining the geometry of inhibitor binding, and that only one of the two required calcium ions is observed in the crystal structure; thus, caution is advised in extrapolating from the structure of the complex of enzyme and inhibitor to that of enzyme and substrate.

Microbiol Immunol, 1989, 33(4), 277 - 86
Induction of resistance with heat-killed unencapsulated strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis against challenge with encapsulated strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis; Ichiman Y et al.; Active immunization of mice with high doses of heat-killed unencapsulated strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, which were grown in brain heart infusion media, protected mice against challenge with encapsulated strains of S . epidermidis . The unencapsulated strains were capable of absorbing the protective antibody in rabbit hyperimmune sera prepared with the encapsulated strains . Also, mice treated with rabbit hyperimmune sera prepared with the unencapsulated strains were protected against challenge with the encapsulated strains . The protective activities of these rabbit hyperimmune sera were assumed to be essentially identical to those of the protective antibody induced by the encapsulated strains.

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