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| Chemotherapy, 1989, 35(2), 113 - 8 Effect of sublethal concentration of antibiotics on the adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to eukaryotic cells; Chugh TD et al.; Adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to pharyngeal epithelial cells as measured by {3H}-leucine-labelled bacteria was found to be a simple, objective and highly reproducible technique . Sublethal concentrations of cephalothin, rifampicin and vancomycin significantly reduced the bacterial adherence to epithelial cells, the effect being most marked with 1/2 MIC . Cloxacillin increased the adherence for one strain while it decreased it for the second . The effect was dose-related and the maximum reduction was observed when bacteria were grown with an antibiotic overnight. Microbiol Immunol, 1989, 33(5), 381 - 90 Bindings of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C to rabbit spleen cells; Fujikawa H et al.; Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) A, B, and C were studied on binding to rabbit spleen cells . The toxins showed remarkable mitogenic effects on the cells . Among them, SEA and TSST-1 had much stronger mitogenic activities than SEB and SEC . Binding study showed that labeled TSST-1 and SEA bound considerably to cells, but that labeled SEB or SEC was not observed to bind at a detectable level under the same conditions as TSST-1 and SEA . Competitive binding analysis between toxins to cells proved that TSST-1 and SEA clearly competed with each other in binding . Scatchard plots for TSST-1 and SEA in binding were linear at the doses used . The Scatchard analysis for TSST-1 and SEA gave a dissociation constant of 2.5 X 10(-9) M and 7.6 X 10(-8) M and the number of binding sites per cell of 5.3 X 10(3) and 1.0 X 10(5), respectively. Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1989, 15(3), 129 - 32 Stability of dactimicin to aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes produced by 341 bacterial clinical isolates; Gomez-Lus R et al.; The stability of dactimycin to aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes produced by 341 bacterial clinical isolates has been studied . Enzymatic activities were measured by the phosphocellulose binding assay . The results demonstrated that dactimicin was stable to the following enzymes: (i) AAC(3)-II,-III,-IV and -V . (ii) AAC(2'); (iii)AAC(6')-I and -II;(iv) ANT(2"); (v)ANT(4'); (vi) APH(3')-I,-II,-III and -IV . In contrast, dactimicin was only inactivated by two enzymes, AAC(3)-I and the bifunctional AAC(6')/APH(2") . This staphylococcal enzyme modified and inactivated dactimicin by acetylation but not by phosphorylation, suggesting the possibility of a second target amino group, such as 6'-NH2, in addition to the C4 amino group, which is the target for AAC(3)-I. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1989, 178(3), 127 - 33 Specificity, cross-reactivity and competition profile of monoclonal antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C1 detected by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; Kienle E et al.; A group of monoclonal antibodies to the staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C1 without any cross-reactivity to the other known staphylococcal enterotoxins A, C2, C3, D and E was developed . The monoclonal antibodies were compared in competition ELISA's with regard to affinity and epitope recognition . Three different groups could be classified: Group 1, consisting of the MAbs B/3-4 and B/3-8, recognizes in identical manner staphylococcal enterotoxin B . Also group 2 (MAb B/3-5) recognizes only staphylococcal enterotoxin B, yet group 1 and 2 do not compete with each other in the competition ELISA and therefore own different paratopes . Group 3 (MAb C1/2-3 and C1/4-6) reacts exclusively with staphylococcal enterotoxin C1, not even with staphylococcal enterotoxins C2 and C3. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1989 Jan, 23(1), 117 - 21 Lack of extracellular slime effect on treatment outcome of Staphylococcus epidermidis experimental endocarditis; Steckelberg JM et al.; We studied the response of two slime negative Staphylococcus epidermidis strains (NS1 and NS2) and one slime producing strain (S1) to treatment with vancomycin in the rabbit catheter-induced endocarditis model . All micro-organisms had vancomycin minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration of 4 mg/l . Three days after infection, treatment with vancomycin 25 mg/kg every 12 h was begun and continued for 4 days . Cardiac valve vegetations were harvested 12 h after the last dose of vancomycin and cultured quantitatively . In treated animals the mean +/- S.D . log10 colony forming units per g of cardiac valve vegetation were 1.6 +/- 0.1 for NS1, 4.4 +/- 1.9 for NS2, and 2.3 +/- 1.2 for S1 . Slime production did not influence the results of vancomycin therapy of S . epidermidis experimental endocarditis . Other factors may cause strain-dependent variability in response to antimicrobial treatment in this model. Drugs Exp Clin Res, 1989, 15(2), 77 - 81 Objective assessment of cough suppressants under normal and pathological experimental conditions; Nosal'ova G et al.; The influences of the antitussive activity of glaucine were studied in 56 non-anaesthetized cats under normal and pathological conditions . Cough was induced by mechanical stimulation of the airways with a nylon fibre . The authors found that if glaucine was administered at a dose of 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg b.w., i.p., it evoked statistically significant suppression on single cough components . After inflammation of the airways was induced with unsoluted croton oil, no decrease in antitussive activity of glaucine could be observed, according to the number of cough efforts, frequency, intensity of maximal cough effort, and intensity of cough attack during expiration . Glaucine used under such conditions was not found to be powerful enough to suppress either the intensity of maximal cough effort or the intensity of cough attack during inspiration . The antitussive effect of glaucine was stronger under pathological conditions (Staphylococcus-induced inflammation) . The antitussive effect of glaucine was approximately the same as with codeine if administered in equal doses. Klin Khir, 1989, (3), 35 - 7 {Specific immunity in patients with severe burns complicated by Pseudomonas infection}; Fedorovskaia EA et al.; The authors have studied 500 samples of blood serum in 262 patients at the age of from 17 to 70 years with thermal burns of different severity degree, depth of injury and location, which were followed by severe infective processes of pyocyanic etiology, and also in reconvalescents of the burn disease . It was established that despite the high degree of staphylococcal and pyocyanic sensibilization, the specific immune response against the background of infective process developed only in a small number of patients with severe burns. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol, 1989, 146, 59 - 66 Biodegradable microspheres: vaccine delivery system for oral immunization; Eldridge JH et al.; The potential of biocompatible and biodegradable microspheres as a controlled release oral vaccine delivery system has been examined . Orally-administered 1-10 micron microspheres composed of poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) were specifically taken up into the Peyer's patch lymphoid tissue of the gut, where those greater than or equal to 5 micron remained for up to 35 days . Microspheres less than 5 micron disseminated within macrophages to the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen . In contrast to soluble staphylococcal enterotoxin B toxoid, oral immunization with enterotoxoid in microspheres induced circulating toxin-specific antibodies and a concurrent secretory IgA anti-toxin response in saliva and gut fluid. Clin Ther, 1989, 11(1), 32 - 7 Activity of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of experimental intra-abdominal abscesses in mice; Esposito S; The therapeutic efficacy of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of experimental intra-abdominal abscesses in mice caused by a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis was compared with that of ampicillin and clindamycin . The abscesses were produced by intraperitoneal administration of a bacterial suspension obtained by bacterial culture of S epidermidis diluted to 10(8) CFU/ml mixed with sterilized rat feces and barium sulphate in male BALB/C mice . The following doses of antibiotics were given twice a day for seven days: ciprofloxacin, 1 microgram/100 microliters; clindamycin, 1.5 micrograms/100 microliters; and ampicillin, 3.6 micrograms/100 microliters . The antibiotic serum and pus concentrations were also determined by an agar well diffusion assay . The maximum serum concentrations were obtained 30 minutes after intraperitoneal administration (ciprofloxacin, 2.7 micrograms/ml; clindamycin, 9.0 micrograms/ml; ampicillin, 3.9 micrograms/ml) . The penetration inside the abscess was also satisfactory (ciprofloxacin, 0.51 microgram/ml; clindamycin, 3.4 micrograms/ml; ampicillin, 3.8 micrograms/ml) . A favorable clinical and bacteriologic response was obtained in 69% of the mice following the ciprofloxacin treatment and in 56% following ampicillin . The efficacy of ciprofloxacin was much higher than that of clindamycin and ampicillin, presumably because of its much higher intrinsic potency against the pathogen rather than for its pharmacokinetic characteristics and its penetration inside the abscess. Patol Fiziol Eksp Ter, 1989 Jan-Feb, (1), 52 - 4 {Disrupted function of the cardiovascular system in fulgurant sepsis}; Krikunovskii KV et al.; The condition of cardiodynamics and the toxic properties of venous blood plasma in fulgurant staphylococcal sepsis were studied in 30 experiments on dogs . The values of myocardial contractile activity, the heart pumping function, and systemic hemodynamics were recorded . Blood plasma toxicity was determined according to the paramecium test and the content of medium-molecular peptides . A correlation between the degree of disorders of myocardial contractile activity and the degree of toxemia was revealed. Nephron, 1989, 52(1), 81 - 2 Generalized lymphadenopathy in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients associated with Staphylococcus epidermidis infection; Pollock CA et al.; In patients utilizing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most prevalent organism isolated from peritoneal and exit site infections {1} although clinically significant systemic infection is unusual . We report 2 patients undergoing CAPD who developed generalized lymphadenopathy following peritonitis and exit site infection with S . epidermidis isolated from the excised lymph nodes . We conclude that catheter-related S . epidermidis infection may result in generalized lymphadenopathy due to dissemination of the infective focus. Farmakol Toksikol, 1989 Jan-Feb, 52(1), 90 - 3 {Effect of sodium oxybutyrate on the development of a staphylococcal intoxication}; Brill' GE; Sodium oxybutyrate (200 and 400 mg/kg) was found to increase life expectancy of the animals poisoned with staphylococcus toxin . The improvement of the blood supply to the bulbar structure of the brain as well as normalization of hemorheological parameters probably underlie the protective effect of the drug. Pediatr Neurosci, 1989, 15(3), 131 - 5 Delayed cerebrospinal-fluid shunt infection in children; Schiff SJ et al.; Twelve patients with shunt infection occurring more than 6 months following shunt implantation or revision were identified and their charts reviewed . These cases were accumulated over a 9-year period, and delays from shunt surgery to detection were as long as 11 years . For 5 patients, no antecedent infection or surgery could be identified as a presumptive cause of the shunt infection . Propionibacterium species and Staphylococcus epidermidis species were the most common organisms identified . The risk of late onset of infection at this institution is less than 1% per year. Pediatr Nephrol, 1989 Jan, 3(1), 83 - 5 Enhanced clearance of vancomycin by hemodialysis in a child; Schoumacher R et al.; Clearance of vancomycin by hemodialysis has previously been reported to be negligible . We describe a child undergoing chronic hemodialysis using a hollow fiber dialyzer with cellulose acetate membrane . When the patient was treated with intravenous vancomycin for staphylococcal bacteremia, the serum vancomycin half-life was found to decrease by more than 90% during each course of hemodialysis . We conclude that, contrary to prevailing opinion, vancomycin can be rapidly cleared by hemodialysis in the small pediatric patient, and that the dosage should be adjusted accordingly. J Fr Ophtalmol, 1989, 12(4), 317 - 22 {A multicenter randomized study of fusidic acid ophthalmic gel and rifamycine eyedrops in acute conjunctivitis}; Adenis JP et al.; A total of 163 patients with acute, presumably bacterial, conjunctivitis were included in a randomized trial, comparing: 1% fusidic acid viscous eye drops, a new ophthalmic formulation of fusidic acid instilled twice daily with rifamycin eye drops, four times daily . Both drugs were given 7 days long . Bacterial origin of the conjunctivitis, mainly staphylococcal, was proved in 75% of the cases . Overall, at the end of the treatment, a satisfactory response, on bacteriological and clinical grounds, was recorded for 87.3 and 89.5% of the patients in the Fucidin gel and rifamycin groups respectively . 9 and 12% of the patients in each group respectively, had a clinical recurrence 15 days after the treatment . No significant difference between the groups clinically and bacteriologically was noted . Side effects, mainly burning and smarting were noted by the investigators in 8 and 11 patients treated by fusilic acid and rifamycin respectively . Two patients were taken out of the study in the rifamycin group because of allergy . The difference between the groups is not significant . The use of fusidic acid viscous eye drops as compared to rifamycin eye drops was judged significantly easier by the patients (P less than 0.02), especially because of the reduced number of applications, the lack of color, and the lase of application. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989 Jan, 33(1), 87 - 91 Randomized trial comparing ciprofloxacin plus netilmicin versus piperacillin plus netilmicin for empiric treatment of fever in neutropenic patients; Chan CC et al.; To assess the efficacy of ciprofloxacin in neutropenic patients, we conducted a randomized prospective trial comparing the combination of ciprofloxacin and netilmicin against piperacillin plus netilmicin as an empiric treatment of fever in cancer patients with neutropenia . Of 214 evaluable episodes, 115 and 99 were randomly assigned to the ciprofloxacin and the piperacillin arms, respectively . The overall response rates were very similar (59 and 62% for the ciprofloxacin and piperacillin arms, respectively) . The response for the gram-positive bacteremias was almost identical (around 40%); this low response was due in part to an outbreak of infection by a multiply resistant strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis (for which the ciprofloxacin MIC was greater than or equal to 128 micrograms/ml) which occurred during the second half of the trial . Among gram-negative bacteremias, 9 of 11 infections (82%) responded to the ciprofloxacin combination compared with 3 of 7 (43%) that responded to the piperacillin combination (P = 0.23) . The incidences of persistent, profound neutropenia were comparable in both treatments, but the susceptibility of the gram-negative organism to ciprofloxacin and netilmicin was significantly higher than was susceptibility to the other combination . Ciprofloxacin was well tolerated, and patients were able to convert from intravenous to oral therapy in 64 of 115 episodes. J Bacteriol, 1989 Jan, 171(1), 593 - 5 Homology of mycoplasma plasmid pADB201 and staphylococcal plasmid pE194; Bergemann AD et al.; The complete nucleotide sequence of pADB201, a 1.7-kilobase cryptic plasmid from Mycoplasma mycoides subsp . mycoides, is reported . The sequence contains a single large open reading frame capable of coding for a polypeptide of up to 198 codons long . The sequence of the putative polypeptide shows significant similarity to that of the repF gene product of staphylococcal plasmid pE194. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1989 Jan, 107(1), 65 - 8 {Effects of gentamycin on interactions of neutrophils with Staphylococcus}; Pal'tsyn AA et al.; The authors studied the effect of gentamicin on abilities of neutrophils to uptake and killing of extracellular Staphylococcus . Gentamicin had not changed naturally the ability of healthy men and burn patients neutrophils to uptake Staphylococcus, but intensified the ability of neutrophils to killing of these bacteria. J Exp Med, 1989 Jan 1, 169(1), 99 - 113 Antibacterial activity of human natural killer cells; Garcia-Penarrubia P et al.; The in vitro effects of human NK cells on viability of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was investigated . PBLs depleted of glass-adherent cells showed a significant antibacterial activity that was increased as the concentration of NK cells became higher . Leu-11-enriched cells exhibited the most efficient bactericidal activity . Stimulation of NK cells with staphylococcal enterotoxin B for 16 h produced a significant increase in the antibacterial activity of all NK cells tested . The antibacterial activity of monocyte-depleted cells and Leu-11-enriched cells was also enhanced after culturing in vitro for 16-24 h without exogenous cytokines . Dependence of the antibacterial activity on the presence of serum in the culture medium was not found . Ultrastructural studies revealed close contact between NK cell membranes and bacteria, no evidence of phagocytosis, and extracellular bacterial ghosts, after incubation at 37 degrees C . Supernatants from purified NK cells exhibited potent bactericidal activity with kinetics and target specificity similar to that of effector cells . These results document the potent antibacterial activity of purified NK cells and suggest an extracellular mechanism of killing. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim, 1989, 8(6), 620 - 4 {Peripheral venous catheterization: influence of catheter composition on the occurrence of thrombophlebitis}; Jacquot C et al.; Infusion thrombophlebitis is a common troublesome complication of intravenous therapy . This study compared peripheral intravenous Teflon and Vialon catheters . The incidence of phlebitis, bacterial adherence and mechanical resistance (distortion) were assessed on 170 catheters, 85 of each type . The Vialon catheter resulted in less phlebitis than the Teflon one (18 vs . 35; p less than 0.01) . During the period 49 to 72 h after the insertion of the catheter, the risk of phlebitis in the Teflon group was twice that in the Vialon group . The study of bacterial adherence using a semi-quantitative culture method demonstrated that 9.0% of the catheters were infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis . There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (5.7% Vialon group vs . 12.5% Teflon group) . The Teflon catheters were much more distorted than vialon catheters: 1.7% vs . 55.7% in the macroscopic study; 1.75% vs . 8.2% in the microscopic study . As Vialon softens at body temperature, it would seem likely that it generates a lesser degree of endothelial injury, explaining the lower rate of phlebitis with Vialon catheters. Dev Pharmacol Ther, 1989, 14(2), 77 - 83 Vancomycin pharmacokinetics in infants: relationship to postconceptional age and serum creatinine; Kildoo CW et al.; Multidose pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were studied in 15 infants with gestational age less than 36 weeks and suspected or confirmed Staphylococcus epidermidis infections . Postconceptional age (PCA) at the time of the study ranged from 26 to 44 weeks . Vancomycin individual doses ranged from 6.7 to 10.6 mg/kg and were infused over 60 min . Five postinfusion samples were obtained in 13 infants, while 4 samples were obtained in 2 patients . Vancomycin pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by fitting the data to a two-compartment model using a weighted least-squares nonlinear regression method . Mean vancomycin body clearance (CL), volume of distribution (Vdss) and terminal elimination half-life were 1.37 ml/min, 0.58 liters and 5.6 h, respectively . When standardized for patient weight, the CL and Vdss values were 1.07 ml/min/kg and 0.48 liters/kg, respectively . The CL (ml/min/kg) was strongly inversely correlated with the serum creatinine (r = -0.82), while a weaker but significant association was noted with PCA (r = 0.41) . These data suggest that in sick infants, in addition to the PCA, serum creatinine should be considered when determining the initial vancomycin dosing regimen. Vestn Akad Med Nauk SSSR, 1989, (12), 70 - 6 {The main pathogenetic mechanisms of disorders of the detoxication function of the liver in endogenous toxemia of various etiologies}; Krakovskii ME et al.; The mechanisms of cell proliferative activity regulation under the effect of growth factors, mitogens, virus transformation, etc . were analyzed . Changes in the location of cAMP-dependent protein kinase caused by these factors, the effect of the nerve growth factor on the activities of protein kinase and high-affinity ATPase, and the mechanism of antiproliferative action of staphylococcal enterotoxin A were specified . Data on receptor-independent intracellular penetration of protein factors hydrophobized by fatty acid residues are overviewed. Arch Exp Veterinarmed, 1989, 43(5), 713 - 20 {Detection certainty of the contamination of bull sperm with mycoplasma}; Richter A et al.; Tests for presence of mycoplasmas were conducted on 20 insemination bulls known as mycoplasma spreaders, with 5 sperm pellet batches of 20 pellets each being investigated for each animal . Mycoplasma contamination was positively recorded from 83 of the above 100 batches . Mycoplasma (M.) bovigenitalium, M . californicum . M . arginini, M . bovirhinis, and Acholeplasma laidlawii were typed by means of indirect immunofluorescent technique, which confirmed the presence also in the GDR of mycoplasma species described in the literature and detected in sperm samples . The solid culturing media used in the above tests, medium-B agar and cattle blood agar with staphylococcal nutrix, proved to be equally suitable for isolation of mycoplasma from sperm samples . Mycoplasma was positively identified in about one third of all pellets/batches tested . 3 pellets to one batch should be sufficient a random sample size from which to obtain information at least very close to real contamination. Arch Exp Veterinarmed, 1989, 43(5), 699 - 704 {Comparative studies of the suitability of different culture media for the isolation of Mycoplasma californicum from milk samples}; Pfutzner H et al.; Mycoplasma (M.) californicum und M . bovigenitalium mastitis had occurred in four herds . 240 milk samples of 120 cows were tested for M . californicum, using in parallel nine different culturing substrates and test methods . Included were 120 initial and 120 final milk samples . Inoculation of milk to medium-I broth containing V-factor yeast extract, incubation at 37 degrees C for 5 days, subsequent spreading onto cattle blood agar with staphylococcal nutrix, followed by 5 days of incubation proved to be superior to all other culturing substrates and methods tested and resulted in positive detection of M . californicum in 69 milk samples . M . californicum was identified in 70 milk samples by combination of all 9 test variants . No significant difference was found to exist with regard to isolation results between initial and final milking samples. Vestn Dermatol Venerol, 1989, (11), 16 - 20 {Experimental characteristics of the immune response of lymphoid organs to fungal and staphylococcal antigens}; Diudiun AD et al.; Increased proliferative and functional activities of the lymphoid organs and a high mitotic activity of the lymphocyte blast forms were recorded by autohistoradiography (3H thymidine and 35S-labeled sulfate) in 60 guinea pigs in acute experiments (a challenge with staphylococcal or fungal antigen) . Degeneration of the lymphoid tissue and substitution of the lymphoid tissue with fatty tissue were observed in a chronic experiment . Discoordination of the immune response consisted in depression of the T-component, with the B-component retaining high activity; these shifts were the most manifest after challenge with fungal antigen. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1989, 251, 191 - 202 Vaccine-containing biodegradable microspheres specifically enter the gut-associated lymphoid tissue following oral administration and induce a disseminated mucosal immune response; Eldridge JH et al.; Biodegradable and biocompatible microspheres have been investigated for their usefulness as a vaccine delivery system for both parenteral and enteral immunization . Microspheres composed of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) which contained a toxoid vaccine of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B were found to strongly potentiate the circulating anti-toxin antibody response following intraperitoneal injection . Following oral administration, microspheres less than 10 microns in diameter were specifically taken up into the Peyer's patches of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, where those greater than or equal to 5 microns remained fixed for an extended period . Microspheres less than 5 microns were disseminated within macrophages to the mesenteric lymph nodes, blood circulation and spleen . Oral immunization with enterotoxoid-containing microspheres induced circulating toxin-specific antibodies and a concurrent secretory IgA anti-toxin response in saliva, gut wash fluids and bronchial-alveolar wash (BAW) fluids . In contrast, soluble enterotoxoid was completely ineffective as an oral immunogen. J Postgrad Med, 1989 Jan, 35(1), 30 - 5 Chronic bronchitis . IV--Antibody titres to bacterial antigens during acute exacerbations; Dalvi SG et al.; In 49 patients of chronic bronchitis with acute exacerbation, serum antibody titres were estimated against the respective pathogen isolated and cultured from sputum of individual patients . Antibody titres to Klebsiella and Staphylococcus coagulase positive organisms were found in 28 and 25 patients respectively . Paired serum samples from 21 patients showed rising antibody titres in 17 of them, whereas the antibody titres fell in the remaining 4 patients . Notably, only 2 patients demonstrated a four fold rise or fall in the antibody titres . The significance of these findings is discussed. Adv Perit Dial, 1989, 5, 124 - 7 Are intracellularly penetrating antibiotics warranted in CAPD-related peritonitis? de Fijter CW, Verbrugh HA, Heezius HC, van Bronswijk H, van der Meulen J, Oe PL, Donker AJ, Verhoef J. Survival and growth of bacteria within peritoneal macrophages has been implicated as causes of recurrences and relapses of Staphylococcus epidermidis peritonitis . We compared the effect of cephradine--known not to penetrate into peritoneal macrophages--with that of clindamycin--known to concentrate in phagocytes--on the intracellular killing of S . epidermidis by human peritoneal macrophages . Clindamycine (q.i.d . 300 mg) or cephradine (q.i.d . 250 mg) was taken orally for one day in a randomized cross-over setting by 8 stable CAPD patients . On both days peritoneal macrophages were isolated from the overnight effluents and their capacity to phagocytize and kill S . epidermidis was measured . Phagocytes isolated from and incubated in effluents containing clindamycin, showed better bacterial uptake (32 vs 17%, p less than 0.01) and killing (70 vs 42%, p less than 0.01) compared to cephradine . Moreover, clindamycin prevented S . epidermidis to multiply intracellularly (-0.33 decrease in log colony forming units (cfu)/ml after 18 h) . In sharp contrast, phagocytes incubated with cephradine allowed S . epidermidis to increase over 18 h (+1.48 increase in log cfu/ml; p less than 0.01 compared to clindamycin) . We conclude that antibiotics with the ability to suppress intracellular bacterial growth may provide a more optimal treatment of CAPD-related peritonitis. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc, 1989, 101, 195 - 204; discussion 204-6 Superantigens: interaction of staphylococcal enterotoxins with MHC class II molecules; Rich RR et al.; We have shown that the staphylococcal enterotoxins and TSST specifically bind to MHC class II molecules . This binding to class II molecules is a prerequisite for the function of these bacterial exotoxins as T cell mitogens in vitro . While SEA bound all class II molecules tested with respect to isotype and allotype, the other enterotoxins were limited in binding by the class II isotype . In contrast to conventional antigen, the nature of enterotoxin interactions with MHC enables them to stimulate class I-restricted CD8+ T cells, most likely due to the ability of SEs to engage the T cell receptor based solely on V beta usage . Finally, in addition to activating adjacent T cells, the enterotoxins and TSST can evoke responses from the class II-bearing cells to which they bind . Enterotoxin/TSST effects on cells that bear class II molecule "receptors", in addition to their induction of T cell hormones such as interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma, provide possible explanations for some of the symptomatology seen with these bacterial exotoxins and also implicate MHC class II molecules as signal-transducing receptors. J Hosp Infect, 1989 Jan, 13(1), 27 - 31 Infection risks from electrically operated breast pumps; Blenkharn JI; Using formula milk seeded with Staphylococcus epidermidis as indicator, bacteria were observed to pass beyond the collecting bottles of three electrically operated breast pumps . Bacteria were recovered from sites distal to the level of visible contamination, the incidence increasing with repeated use of the apparatus . Despite use of a sterile collecting bottle, retrograde contamination of freshly collected milk may occur from previously contaminated components of the pumps . The results suggest that a terminal in-line air filter is essential to ensure aerosols containing potentially pathogenic bacteria do not contaminate the suction source or be emitted to the environment with the exhaust air . Where a single pump is used by more than one person adequate sterilization of all removable components is essential. Chemotherapy, 1989, 35(3), 168 - 73 Comparison of in vitro activity of daptomycin, vancomycin and fluoroquinolones in broth and serum against Staphylococcus epidermidis as determined by time-kill kinetics; Lentino JR et al.; We compared the activity of daptomycin, vancomycin and fluoroquinolones against 46 blood isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis . Daptomycin was more rapidly bactericidal than vancomycin and demonstrated less of an inoculum effect than the quinolones . Time-kill kinetic studies demonstrated no significant differences in survival in broth as compared to 50% human serum-supplemented broth . Daptomycin and the quinolones are suitable for study in clinical trials of efficacy as therapeutic alternatives to vancomycin for S . epidermidis infections. Plasmid, 1989 Jan, 21(1), 43 - 7 Random insertion of the gentamicin resistance transposon Tn4001 in Mycoplasma pulmonis; Mahairas GG et al.; The staphylococcal transposon Tn4001 was introduced into Mycoplasma pulmonis using an Escherichia coli-derived vector by polyethylene glycol-mediated transformation . Using a reaction mixture containing 10 micrograms plasmid DNA, 10 micrograms yeast tRNA, and 34-35% polyethylene glycol per 1 x 10(8) cells, Tn4001 could be introduced into M . pulmonis at a frequency of 5 x 10(-5) per colony forming unit . DNA-DNA hybridization studies illustrated that Tn4001 could occupy a diversity of insertion sites in the M . pulmonis chromosome . These data indicated that Tn4001 is a potentially useful tool for the introduction of mutations and for genetic studies in M . pulmonis. Rev Esp Fisiol, 1989, 45 Suppl, 239 - 44 {Changes caused by staphylococcal protein A and gamma interferon on the natural cytotoxic activity in patients with cancer}; Subira ML et al.; The effects on natural killer (NK) activity of in vitro incubation of effector cells with staphylococcal Protein A (SPA) and gamma interferon (gamma IFN) in patients with different types of tumors have been compared . The modifications induced in NK activity by these two immunomodulators were assessed using the K-562 cell line and autologous tumoral cells as targets of natural cytotoxicity . The results obtained show that both SPA and gamma-IFN are good inducers of NK activity against the K-562 cell line . SPA always shows itself more efficient than gamma-IFN in increasing the basal level of NK activity . The cytotoxicity against autologous tumoral cells was also greatly increased by the two immunomodulators assayed, SPA being also in this type of assay more efficient than gamma-IFN . Taken the data as a whole the increases induced by SPA and gamma-IFN are parallel both against K-562 and autologous tumoral cells . However when the different types of tumours are considered separately some discrepancies between NK activity against K-562 and autologous tumoral cells appear . The effects of SPA as a modifier of NK activity against autologous tumoral cells looks clear . In our experiments incubation of effector cells with SPA behaves more effectively than the well established gamma-IFN model in the induction of this type of activity . The intimate mechanisms by which SPA exerts its action are quite interesting and merit further investigation. J Tongji Med Univ, 1989, 9(4), 193 - 8 Immunohistochemical localization of vascular endothelial cell factor VIII/von Willebrand factor antigen in human normal and disordered gastric tissues; Shen SL et al.; Vascular endothelial cell factor VIII/von Willebrand factor antigen (FVIII/vWF Ag) of normal and disordered gastric tissues was studied with staphylococcus protein A-gold (PAG) labelling followed by photochemical silver reaction . FVIII/vWF Ag was localized clearly in the tissue fixed with various common fixatives and embedded in paraffin without enzyme treatment . The most satisfactory staining and the least nonspecific background were observed in the tissues fixed with Zamboni's and Bouin's solutions . The staining reaction could be enhanced, if the sections were pretreated with trypsin and subtilisin . Under the electron microscope, the gold particles were found over the Weibel-Palade bodies of vascular endothelial cells in the tissues fixed either in Zamboni's solution or in Zamboni's solution-osmium tetroxide, and embedded either with Lowicryl K4M or with Epon 812 . It has been proved to be a better technique in investigation of FVIII/vWF Ag in vascular endothelial cells. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1989, 90(3), 219 - 23 A positive feedback loop for staphylococcal enterotoxin-A-stimulated IFN-gamma production requires macrophage immune-associated antigen upregulation; Russell JK et al.; The C57Bl/6-derived T cell line, L12-R4, produced murine interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) in response to mitogenic stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or concanavalin A (Con A), but not by staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) . Low levels of IFN gamma were produced by SEA stimulation of L12-R4 cells cocultured with C57Bl/6 bone marrow macrophages (BMM) . Significantly increased yields of IFN gamma resulted from 48-hour pretreatment of the BMM with recombinant IFN gamma (100 U/ml) prior to coculture . Polyclonal anti-IFN gamma and anti-IFN alpha/beta were used to characterize the interferon as IFN gamma . Paraformaldehyde (0.1%) treatment of IFN gamma-pretreated BMM did not affect IFN gamma production, suggesting that processing of SEA was not required . IFN gamma treatment of BMM resulted in significantly increased expression of immune-associated (Ia) antigen as determined by flow cytometric analysis, suggesting that the accessory cell role of BMM involved Ia antigen . Polyclonal anti-Ia antibody selectively inhibited the production of IFN gamma by SEA-stimulated whole spleen cell cultures, consistent with the necessity of Ia antigen for BMM help in SEA induction of IFN gamma . More interestingly, induction of IFN gamma . These findings suggest that Ia antigen is necessary for BMM accessory function in SEA induction of IFN gamma . More interestingly, the results implicate class II molecules in a positive feedback loop for IFN gamma production by SEA. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1989 Jan, 82(1), 37 - 44 {Staphylococcal endocarditis on a heart valve prosthesis . Apropos of 28 cases}; de Gevigney G et al.; The purpose of this retrospective study of 28 cases of staphylococcal endocarditis on cardiac valve prosthesis was to evaluate the prognosis of that disease and the possible causes of its recent improvement . Between March 1977 and May 1987, 69 patients were treated for bacterial endocarditis on cardiac valve prosthesis . Among these, 28 patients (19 men, 9 women, mean age 53.2 +/- 14.3 years) had staphylococcal endocarditis (Staph . epidermidis in 18 cases, Staph . aureus in 10 cases) of early (10 cases) or late (18 cases) onset . Complications were present in no less than 27 out of 28 patients, the most frequent being heart failure, embolism or neurological disorders . The mortality rate was high (61 p . 100) . Among the clinical variables studied, only a state of shock seemed to be predictive of death . Mortality was higher in the group treated medically (100 p . 100) than in the group treated surgically (50 p . 100) . Since 1984, however, a significant decrease of mortality was noted; it coincided with the systematic use of vancomycin but also with surgical treatment in all cases . As a result of this study, we suggest that all patients with staphylococcal endocarditis on cardiac valve prosthesis should be operated upon and that this should be done as soon as possible, before the end of the classical antibiotic therapy period. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1989 Jan, 7(1), 40 - 3 {Sepsis and neonatal meningitis}; Bosch J et al.; The epidemiological, clinical and bacteriological data of 38 infants under 28 days of age with a diagnosis of neonatal meningitis (13 patients), early neonatal sepsis (17 patients) or late neonatal sepsis (8 patients) were retrospectively reviewed . 52.6% of patients were premature and/or low weight neonates, 76.3% had an unfavorable obstetrical history and 39.4% had one or more underlying diseases . The clinical features were predominantly neurological (81.5%), cardiac or respiratory (71%) and gastrointestinal (34.2); the most outstanding laboratory data were positive CRP, hyperbilirubinemia and abnormalities in leukocyte differential count . The major microorganisms involved were E . coli (11 patients), S . agalactiae (9), S . aureus (5), L . monocytogenes (3) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (3) . The overall incidence of these disorders was 3.33 cases/1000 live neonates, and the mortality rate was 7.9%. Perit Dial Int, 1989, 9(2), 115 - 9 Longitudinal study of peritoneal defence mechanisms in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD); McGregor SJ et al.; Peritoneal cellular and humoral defence mechanisms have been examined in a group of 16 patients over a nine-month period from the day of commencement of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) . Significant decreases in the levels of IgG, C3, and opsonic activity occurred with the passage of time in the over-night peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) . The ability of PDE to inhibit in vitro growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis also decreased . The number of cells in the PDE and their ability to kill S . epidermidis decreased, although there was no significant change in their ability to ingest this organism . These results suggest that the immunological protection of the peritoneal cavity decreases with time, and this may account for the increase in the incidence of peritonitis with length of time on CAPD that some workers have reported. J Invest Surg, 1989, 2(4), 381 - 9 Effects of extracellular slime produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis on oxidative responses of rabbit alveolar macrophages; Myrvik QN et al.; Bacterial slime produced in mass cultures of the RP 12 strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis was extracted with 4 M guanidine-HCl plus 0.05 M sodium acetate and 0.5% CHAPS, concentrated, dialyzed, and subjected to separation on DEAE sephacel columns . Three fractions, I-2A, I-2B, and I-4, were eluted with linear gradients of NaCl . Fractions I-2A and I-2B were alcian blue positive, whereas I-4 was alcian blue negative but the most electronegative fraction . The crude polysaccharide fraction and the three purified fractions were incubated individually for 2.5 or 20 h with normal rabbit alveolar macrophages (AM) to determine their effect on a subsequent PMA-induced oxidative burst . The crude fraction (50-200 micrograms/mL) and I-2B (50-200 micrograms/mL) primed the AM to give approximately a threefold increase in the PMA-induced burst after 2.5 h incubation . In contrast, a 20-h incubation resulted in a 30-40% inhibition of the PMA-induced burst with AM incubated with the same concentrations of the crude, I-2A, or I-2B fractions . Fraction I-4 had no detectable effect . The fractions also were tested to determine if they could elicit an oxidative burst in BCG-immune AM . None of the fractions (up to 500 micrograms/mL) elicited a significant oxidative burst even though BCG-immune AM yielded a PMA-induced burst 100 times that observed with normal resident AM . These data suggest that slime from S . epidermidis can impair the PMA-induced oxidative burst of normal AM during a 20-h incubation period and could explain in part why host defenses are compromised by slime-producing S . epidermidis. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop, 1989, 42(3), 379 - 82 Abscess disease in goats in the Sudan; el Sanousi SM et al.; The "abscess disease" was described in naturally infected goats for the first time in Sudan . An anaerobic respiratory deficient staphylococcus was isolated in pure form . The biochemical properties were studied . The disease was successfully reproduced in experimental goats. Acta Microbiol Pol, 1989, 38(3-4), 233 - 45 Staphylococcal L-asparaginase: purification and properties of enzymic protein; Rozalska M; Staphylococcal L-asparaginase has been purified 400-fold with 40% recovery . The procedure involves ammonium sulphate precipitation and a column chromatography on Sephadex G-200 gel filtration) . The enzyme is composed of not identical subunits . protein (pI 4.4) with the approximate molecular weight of 125,000 (estimated by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration) . The enzyme is composed of not identical subunits . The polyacrylamide-SDS gel electrophoresis indicated two subunits with molecular weight 18,000 and 22,000. Lab Delo, 1989, (7), 30 - 5 {Recognition of the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome: methodology and expert assessment}; Barkagan ZS et al.; Basing on the results of follow-up of 700 patients suffering from various forms of this syndrome (DIC syndrome), the authors have developed an algorithm and criteria for the expert evaluation of the diagnostic evidence of this condition with specification of the confidence measures for E . Shortliffe's equation . The major classes of evidence have been distinguished, including the causes and clinical situations leading to the development of the DIC syndrome (class A); manifestations of the syndrome--microcirculation blocking, organ ischemias and dysfunctions, thrombohemorrhages, etc . (class B); laboratory findings (class C), the most informative and easily available being: various shifts of different coagulation tests, eventuating in deep hypocoagulation in acute cases, abnormal blood platelet and fibrinogen levels, detection of soluble fibrin-monomer complexes and noncoagulating fibrinogen in the blood serum in the test with Echis carinatus venom, positive staphylococcal clumping test and increased level of fibrinogen degradation products in the plasma, the red cell injury phenomenon, reduced levels of antithrombin III and plasminogen, intensive elimination of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin into the plasma . Complexes of laboratory tests (up to 4-5) have been singled out, that help diagnose the disease with an accuracy of 90-97.5%, particularly as regards classes A and B evidence. Lab Delo, 1989, (4), 27 - 30 {A method of determining the concentration of biologically active fibronectin}; Safina NA et al.; The suggested method is based on the ability of fibronectin intact molecules to agglutinate gelatin-coated particles . Gelatin-coated particles have been prepared with the use of specially treated Staphylococcus epidermidis cells . The concentration of biologically active fibronectin has been measured using laser nephelometry and agglutination test in microtitre plates . The accuracy of the test is 4 mg/ml (laser nephelometer) and 0.1 mg/ml (agglutination test). Lab Delo, 1989, (3), 11 - 3 {Use of the coagglutination reaction for typing Leptospira cultures}; Mel'nitskaia EV et al.; The coagglutination test has been employed for the serologic typing of Leptospira cultures . A set of diagnostic agents with a maximum kit of anti-Leptospira sera of various serogroups has been prepared on the basis of a 10% suspension of formalin-treated Cowan 1 staphylococcus strain . To prepare the diagnostic agent, 0.1 portion of the serum and 9 portions of phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.2 should be added to 1 portion of a 10% staphylococcal suspension . 1% staphylococcal suspension has been prepared for control . The diagnosticum and the culture to type (0.01 ml each) have been mixed on the slides; the control test has been carried out with 1% non-sensitized staphylococcal suspension . The test has been read by microscopy in the dark visual field after the slides' 15 min exposure in a humid chamber . Typing of 17 Leptospira cultures of known serologic groups has yielded positive responses with the homologous diagnosticums only; no cross reactions have been recorded . The coagglutination test may be used for the rapid differentiation of mixed Leptospira cultures belonging to different serologic groups. Int J Food Microbiol, 1988 Dec 31, 7(4), 311 - 6 Estimation of human dose of staphylococcal enterotoxin A from a large outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning involving chocolate milk; Evenson ML et al.; An outbreak of gastroenteritis in a school district in the United States was determined to be staphylococcal food poisoning due to 2% chocolate milk containing staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) . Twelve one-half pint (approx 0.28 l) cartons of the 2% chocolate milk from this outbreak were analyzed for the quantity of SEA present in the milk . The amount of SEA in the cartons varied from 94 to 184 ng with the average being 144 ng (mean = 139 +/- 45) . The attack rate for vomiting among those who consumed more than one carton was greater (38.3%) than among those who consumed only one carton (31.5%) with the highest attack rate among those who consumed three or more cartons (44.4%). Nucleic Acids Res, 1988 Dec 23, 16(24), 11691 - 704 Inhibition of deoxyribonucleases by phosphorothioate groups in oligodeoxyribonucleotides; Spitzer S et al.; The Rp- and Sp-diastereomers of the phosphorothioate-containing oligonucleotide d{ApAp(S)ApA} have been synthesized . They and the tetramer d{ApApApA} were tested as substrates for staphylococcal nuclease, DNase II and spleen phosphodiesterase . For digestions with DNase I these oligonucleotides were converted to the 5'-phosphorylated derivates . The reactions with the nucleases were analysed by HPLC . The phosphorothioate groups of both diastereomers were resistant to the action of staphylococcal nuclease, DNase I and DNase II . While the phosphorothioate group of the Rp-diastereomer was resistant to the action of spleen phosphodiesterase, the Sp-diastereomer was hydrolysed at an estimated rate 1/100 the rate of cleavage of the unmodified tetramer . The presence of the phosphorothioate group in the center of the molecule affected the rate of hydrolysis of neighbouring phosphate groups for some enzymes . In particular, very slow release of 3'-dAMP from the Rp-diastereomer occurred on incubation with staphylococcal nuclease but the Sp-diastereomer was completely resistant . DNase II produced 3'-dAMP quite rapidly from both diastereomers of d{ApAp(S)ApA} and DNase I released 5'-dAMP from both diastereomers of d{pApAp(S)ApA} only slowly. J Biol Chem, 1988 Dec 5, 263(34), 18190 - 2 Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a quadruple mutant of staphylococcal nuclease; Loll PJ et al.; A quadruple mutant of staphylococcal nuclease, nuclease (V66L/G79S/G88V/L108V), has been crystallized in a form well suited to moderate-to-high resolution x-ray diffraction analysis . This mutant is highly unstable; only about 20% of the protein in solution at room temperature is in its folded form . Under the crystallization conditions, the protein exhibits circular dichroism properties similar to, but not identical with, those of native wild type protein . The crystals belong to the space group P6(1)22 or P6(5)22 with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 61.1 A, c = 170.1 A and diffract to at least 2.5 A resolution . A data set complete to 3.7 A resolution has been collected and processed; attempts to determine the structure using molecular replacement techniques are under way. J Biol Chem, 1988 Dec 5, 263(34), 18568 - 73 Lophotoxin and related coral toxins covalently label the alpha-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; Abramson SN et al.; Lophotoxin and lophotoxin analog-1 are uncharged cyclic diterpenes obtained from gorgonian corals . They have been shown to block the function of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors . Inhibition results from blockade of the agonist recognition site and appears irreversible in that extensive washing does not restore receptor function . This study was undertaken to determine whether this apparently irreversible inhibition involves covalent labeling at a selective site and to further characterize this site directly . Incubation of membranes prepared from the electric organ of Torpedo californica with analog-1 followed by reduction with NaB3H4 resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity into several membrane proteins . The incorporation of radioactivity into the alpha-subunit of the receptor was blocked by prior incubation with agonists and antagonists . {3H}Lophotoxin and {3H}analog-1 were prepared by reduction with NaB3H4 and back-oxidation with CrO3 . The radiolabeled coral toxins reacted selectively and covalently with the alpha-subunit of the receptor . Their binding was prevented by prior exposure to agonists and antagonists . In contrast to the site-directed alkylating agent 4-(N-maleimido)benzyltrimethylammonium iodide, prior reduction of the receptor was not required for covalent binding of 3H-labeled coral toxins . Selective reduction of Cys192 and Cys193 followed by alkylation with 4-(N-maleimido)benzyltrimethylammonium iodide blocked the binding of {3H}analog-1, whereas alkylation with iodoacetic acid or iodoacetamide did not . Thus, the binding site for the coral toxins does not overlap the binding surface near Cys192 and Cys193 . Digestion of isolated labeled alpha-subunits with endoglycosidase H revealed that the polypeptide portion of the protein retained the covalently bound {3H}analog-1 . Digestion with staphylococcal V8 protease revealed two major peptides of approximately 19 and 20 kDa, along with several smaller peptides . Only the 20-kDa peptide retained the covalently bound {3H}analog-1, localizing the site of covalent attachment between Ser173 and Glu335 . The unique chemical structure and covalent reactivity of these gorgonian coral toxins will undoubtedly allow further insights into the structure of the agonist recognition site. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1988 Dec, 193(6), 589 - 93 {A classification of intraocular bacteriologic findings following lens implantation}; Wenzel M et al.; Findings in seven patients with intraoperative bacterial invasions are reported . These invasions were classified in three stages of severity: (1) According to the literature it may be assumed that clinically undetectable invasion occurs in more than 10% of all operations . The bacteria detected in one case may have been a secondary finding in an electron-microscopic study . (2) A benign endophthalmitis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis was found in three patients . The symptoms initially prompted the incorrect diagnosis "toxic lens syndrome" . Cells resembling leukocytes were detected on the lenses by light microscopy . Following explantation of the lens and the posterior capsule, patients' vision slowly recovered to an average of 0.8 . (3) Of three patients with fulminant panophthalmitis caused by Enterococci and/or Staphylococcus epidermidis, only one patient re-attained 0.5 vision, after two weeks; in the second case vision remained restricted to "hand movements", and in the third the eye had to be enucleated. J Clin Invest, 1988 Dec, 82(6), 2097 - 105 Release of interleukin 1 inhibitory activity (contra-IL-1) by human monocyte-derived macrophages infected with human immunodeficiency virus in vitro and in vivo; Locksley RM et al.; Infection of monocyte-macrophages with human immunodeficiency virus may be central to the pathogenesis of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . The ability of infected macrophages to prime T cells through IL-1 production was investigated in vitro . Purified human monocytes maintained in suspension culture were infected with strain HIV-DV . Intracellular expression of virus p24 antigen increased from undetectable levels immediately after infection to 13-59% of cells by 10-14 d; infected macrophages remained viable for up to 60 d . Supernatants collected between 14 and 20 d after infection were examined in the murine thymocyte co-mitogenesis assay and demonstrated to contain a potent IL-1 inhibitor, designated contra-IL-1 . Contra-IL-1 activity was present in all supernatants examined after 4 d of infection, and peaked coincident with peak p24 antigen expression . Inhibitory activity was not present in uninfected cells . Contra-IL-1 activity eluted after gel filtration with an approximate molecular weight of 9 kD . Inhibitory activity was removed by exposure to heat or acid pH, or by incubation with chymotrypsin or staphylococcal V8 protease . Contra-IL-1 did not inhibit IL-2- or IL-4-dependent proliferation of murine T cell lines . Despite its ability to inhibit IL-1 activity, contra-IL-1 did not interfere with the binding of recombinant IL-1 beta to a fibroblast cell line . Contra-IL-1 inhibited the proliferation of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells to both concanavalin A and tetanus toxoid; inhibition could be attenuated by the addition of exogenous IL-1 . Messenger RNA extracted from infected macrophages was examined by Northern analysis for the presence of message to IL-1 beta . No message was apparent, suggesting that the presence of contra-IL-1 was not obscuring the concomitant release of IL-1 . Infected macrophages stimulated with endotoxin generated readily detectable message for IL-1 beta . Spleen macrophages purified from two patients with AIDS complicated by immune thrombocytopenia spontaneously expressed p24 antigen in vitro and released contra-IL-1 activity into the media . Contra-IL-1 may contribute to the immune dysfunction of AIDS. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Dec, (12), 9 - 13 {Staphylococcal DNA as a basis for classification}; Akatov AK et al.; The genome characterization of the typing strains for all 13 species of the genus Staphylococcus, included into the Approval List of the Names of Bacterial (1980), is presented . The nucleotide composition of DNA (28-33% of GC) did not permit the differentiation between staphylococcal species, but some of the groups of these species could be differentiated by the size of their genome (0.6-1.6 X 10(9) daltons) . Differences in the degree of similarity between the nucleotide sequences of the DNA of all species (5-6% of DNA homology) made it possible to suggest raising the genus Staphylococcus to the rank of the family Staphylococcaceae fam . nov . The hypothetical classification scheme of this family is presented for discussion. Chemioterapia, 1988 Dec, 7(6), 373 - 7 The activity of antistaphylococcal drugs on nosocomial Staphylococcus epidermidis; Fabbri A et al.; In reporting on the activity of cephalothin, cefamandole, FCE 22101, gentamicin, netilmicin, amikacin, rifampicin, clindamycin, josamycin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin and teicoplanin on 72 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains clinically isolated in the hospital, the Authors observed a high percentage of methicillin-resistance (68.05%) as well as resistance to other important drugs such as gentamicin (72.22%), rifampicin (27.7%), clindamycin (36.1%), and josamycin (40.27%) . They also recorded good inhibitory activity of the studied beta-lactam drugs . However, this activity was not confirmed against methicillin-resistant strains when the test was performed under particular technical conditions (hypertonic medium, incubation at 30 degrees C, inoculum = 10(6)) . The Authors also emphasize the poor bactericidal activity against these strains . The activity of quinolones was good; the activity of vancomycin and teicoplanin was very good on all strains studied. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 1988 Dec, 6(2), 121 - 8 Chronic granulomatous disease in two Chinese families; Lin YZ et al.; Two Chinese families with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) are reported . The first case was an 11-month-old male baby and the second a 2-month-old male baby . Both patients presented with persistent infections caused by Staphylococcus and Candida since birth . Neutrophil functions were studied in patients and a number of family members . Chemotaxis and phagocytosis were normal in every subject . Slide and spectrophotometric nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) tests of both patients were abnormal and remained unchanged in spite of treatment with ascorbic acid, levamisole, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and isoniazide . Mothers were proved to be carriers as evidenced by the presence of both normal and CGD phagocytes in the slide NBT test . During the 2-month follow-up period, the percentage of normal phagocytes from the mother of case 1 varied from 12% to 73%, which correlated with the fluctuation of spectrophotometric NBT value . The slide NBT test of the mother of case 2 was nearly normal in face of the presence of CGD phagocytes . Both carrier mothers were healthy and asymptomatic. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1988 Dec, 106(12), 741 - 4 {The phenomenon of the accumulation of biological and nonbiological corpuscular particles in mammalian lungs}; Kaufman OIa et al.; When injecting yeast, staphylococcus, polyacrolein microspheres, 3 microns in diameter, into the blood stream of white common rats, it was found that these tend to accumulate in the lumen of pulmonary capillaries, being disposed there in the cytoplasm of macrophages and neutrophils. Can J Microbiol, 1988 Dec, 34(12), 1358 - 61 Phage typing set for differentiating Staphylococcus epidermidis; Gershman M et al.; A phage typing set composed of 13 phages is described for characterizing Staphylococcus epidermidis . Isolates (372) from cases of bovine mastitis were used in this study . Of these, 350 or 94% were successfully delineated, and 63 phage types were observed . Twenty two cultures were not typeable. Pediatr Res, 1988 Dec, 24(6), 673 - 6 Fluorescent cytometric analysis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in Chediak-Higashi syndrome: diminished C3bi receptor expression (OKM1) with normal granular cell density; Cairo MS et al.; Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS) has been associated with recurrent bacterial infections and defective polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte function . Confirmation of the diagnosis of CHS and defective PMN function was established in a 2-month-old with accelerated phase CHS . The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstrating reduced PMN degranulation (beta-glucuronidase release 34.1 +/- 0.9% versus 5.1 +/- 4% and lysozyme release 17.6 +/- 1.2% versus 11.1 +/- 7% (control versus CHS) and staphylococcal bacterial killing at 15' 51.4 +/- 3.6% versus 24.9 +/- .4% (control versus CHS) . Additional studies using fluorescent cytometric analysis were made to investigate other etiologies of PMN dysfunction in CHS . Total cell density and PMN granularity, as measured by fluorescent-activated cell sorter side scatter analysis, was no different from CHS and age-matched controls . Although CHS is characterized by large PMN granular inclusions, right angle light scatter analysis in this study suggests that the total cell density within the PMN of patients with CHS is normal (D less than .01) . PMN granular release of surface receptors was also studied using antibody binding and fluorescent analysis . OKM1 antibody-binding demonstrated significantly reduced C3bi (MO-1) receptor expression (13% of control) p less than 0.001 . Decreased surface reception expression of C3bi receptors may play an additional role in defective PMN mobility, chemotaxis, and bactericidal activity in patients with CHS. Eur J Pediatr, 1988 Dec, 148(3), 253 - 6 Sympatho-adrenal response to hypoglycaemia in infants; Stanek B et al.; The response of the sympathoadrenal system to hypoglycaemia of different etiology was studied in seven infants, aged 10-189 days . Five infants had hyperinsulinism secondary to nesidioblastosis or to a beta-cell adenoma of the pancreas, one infant had neonatal sepsis due to staphylococcal infection and one infant congenital growth hormone (HGH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency . In babies with hyperinsulinism, plasma noradrenaline increased from 0.29 +/- 0.03 to 0.61 +/- 0.09 ng/ml (P less than 0.01), whereas adrenaline increased only in three, but did not change in two babies . Increases in heart rate and blood pressure paralleled these changes . In hypoglycaemia due to congenital sepsis, noradrenaline increased from 0.39 to 1.64 ng/ml and adrenaline from 0.05 to 0.86 ng/ml . This was associated with marked haemodynamic changes . In congenital HGH and ACTH deficiency, the low basal plasma levels of noradrenaline (0.12 ng/ml) and adrenaline (0.01 ng/ml) remained unchanged in response to hypoglycaemia . Heart rate and blood pressure were unaffected . The sympathoadrenal system was activated by hypoglycaemia in all infants except in congenital HGH and ACTH deficiency . In contrast to adults, noradrenaline was the preferentially released catecholamine, suggesting an involvement of noradrenaline in glucose counter regulation in infancy. Clin Immunol Immunopathol, 1988 Dec, 49(3), 424 - 38 Measurement of immunoreactive interleukin-1 beta from human mononuclear cells: optimization of recovery, intrasubject consistency, and comparison with interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor; Endres S et al.; Numerous studies have reported altered levels of in vitro production of the cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) from blood leukocytes in various human disease states . Most of these studies have used bioassays which are vulnerable to inhibitors produced by these cells . Furthermore in vitro cytokine production is often assessed on a single occasion . The present study was designed to standardize stimulation conditions for in vitro IL-1 beta production and to employ a competitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) to demonstrate reproducibility and long-term variation of in vitro cytokine production in a cohort of healthy human subjects . We also examined relative amounts of immunoreactive IL-1 beta, IL-1 alpha, and TNF induced by the stimuli endotoxin, phytohemagglutinin, or Staphylococcus epidermidis . We show that the RIA can reliably detect IL-1 beta produced from mononuclear cells in concentrations as low as 115 pg/ml . Lysing cells by repeated freeze-thawing yields maximal recovery of total (i.e., secreted plus cell-associated) immunoreactive IL-1 beta, when compared to extraction with the detergent CHAPS or addition of protease inhibitors . Repeated measurement of in vitro cytokine production on different days within 1 week shows good reproducibility for a given individual and a given stimulus (variation coefficient 20 to 30%) . Over a long time period (6 months) in vitro cytokine production is stable in some individuals but changes considerably in others . The soluble stimulus endotoxin induces twofold more IL-1 alpha than IL-1 beta or TNF; in contrast the phagocytic stimulus heat-killed S . epidermidis induces fourfold more IL-1 beta and TNF than IL-1 alpha . This distinct pattern of cytokine response indicates differential stimulation of the mononuclear cells by different stimuli . The results form the basis for studying in vitro cytokine production in different human disease states. Biochemistry, 1988 Nov 29, 27(24), 8735 - 41 Structural analysis of staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C1 using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy; Singh BR et al.; Secondary and tertiary structural parameters of two functionally and serologically related proteins, staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C1, have been determined by using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy . The secondary structures derived from the respective far-UV circular dichroic spectra were 9.5% alpha-helix, 55.0% beta-pleated sheets, 16.5% beta-turns, and 19.0% random coils for enterotoxin B and 15.0% alpha-helix, 38.0% beta-pleated sheets, 25.5% beta-turns, and 21.5% random coils for staphylococcal enterotoxin C1 . The values matched well with the secondary structures derived from the amino acid sequences (Chou and Fasman method) . Seven antigenic sites have been predicted for both staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C1 by using the hydrophilicity and the secondary structure information . Three of these antigenic sites appear similar . Fluorescence quantum yield of the single tryptophan residue (Trp-197) of both the enterotoxins showed the tryptophan residue in staphylococcal enterotoxin B to be approximately 46% more fluorescent than in staphylococcal enterotoxin C1 . Tryptophan fluorescence quenching by the surface quencher I- and the neutral quencher acrylamide revealed that the single tryptophan residue in each of the enterotoxins is buried in the protein matrix and is not accessible to the surface quencher I- . The tryptophan residue in staphylococcal enterotoxin C1 is 14% less accessible to acrylamide than in staphylococcal enterotoxin B . The data, in general, reflect several similarities and significant differences between the two related enterotoxins. Biochemistry, 1988 Nov 29, 27(24), 8730 - 5 Molecular topography of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 as revealed by spectroscopic studies; Singh BR et al.; Molecular characterization of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 has been carried out and compared with a group of functionally related staphylococcal enterotoxins . The secondary structure analysis of the far-UV circular dichroic spectrum of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 revealed 6.25% alpha-helix, 51.25% beta-pleated sheets, 9.0% beta-turns, and 33.5% random coils . The pattern, in general, was similar to the staphylococcal enterotoxins . Four antigenic sites have been predicted for toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 by using the secondary structure information in combination with the hydrophilicity calculation . The location of the antigenic sites, in general, agrees with the experimental results . Topographical analysis of the tyrosine residues as determined by second-derivative UV spectroscopy {Ragone, R., Colonna, G., Balestrieri, C., Servillo, L., & Irace, G . (1984) Biochemistry 23, 1871-1875} showed that six of nine tyrosine residues are exposed to aqueous solvent . Tryptophan fluorescence quenching studies with an anionic surface quencher, I-, and a neutral quencher, acrylamide, revealed that almost all of the tryptophan residues are buried in the protein matrix as their accessibility to the surface quencher is very low (17%) . Since there are only three tryptophan residues in the amino acid sequence of the toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 and there is a tyrosine residue (Tyr-15, Tyr-115, and Tyr-153) next to each of the tryptophan residues (Trp-14, Trp-116, and Trp-154), it appears the tyrosine residues not exposed to the aqueous solvent are those next to the tryptophan residues . Functional implications of the topography of the tryptophan and tyrosine residues are assessed. J Immunol Methods, 1988 Nov 25, 115(1), 119 - 25 A sensitive chemiluminescence based immunoassay for antibody to staphylococcal peptidoglycan; Minors S et al.; A sensitive chemiluminescence based immunoassay is described for measuring antibody to staphylococcal peptidoglycan in blood and dialysates from patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) . Peptidoglycan was isolated from a strain of S . epidermidis obtained from the dialysate of a CAPD patient with peritonitis and after sonication used to coat polystyrene beads . The coated beads were incubated with standard or sample and bound IgG was detected by the addition of affinity-purified goat anti-human IgG labelled with acridinium ester . After a wash stage 0.1 M nitric acid containing 0.1% hydrogen peroxide was added to the beads . Subsequently the chemiluminescence produced following the addition of 0.3 M sodium hydroxide was measured over a 2 s time interval with an automatic luminescence analyser . Using this technique the optimum dilution of serum for detecting antibodies to peptidoglycan was found to be 1/800 and for overnight effluent from CAPD patients the dilution was 1/8 . Initial values of serum and dialysate antibody levels from 34 subjects are presented . This method has the advantage that it will detect concentrations of anti-peptidoglycan which are less than 1% of those in sera, the reagents remain stable for long periods and large numbers of samples can be processed on the same day. J Biol Chem, 1988 Nov 15, 263(32), 16823 - 9 Molecular cloning of the cDNA which encodes beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A from Dictyostelium discoideum . Complete amino acid sequence and homology with the human enzyme; Graham TR et al.; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidase A (EC 3.2.1.52), the product of the nag A gene, is a lysosomal enzyme which is developmentally regulated in Dictyostelium discoideum . The enzyme plays a role during the slug stage of development in the maintenance of pseudoplasmodia of normal size . We used a homogeneous preparation of deglycosylated enzyme subunits to generate antibody . The antibody was suitable for screening a lambda gt11 cDNA expression library derived from the mRNA of late log stage axenic cells . We isolated seven positive clones . One of these contains the complete coding sequence of the protein . We also isolated a genomic clone which contains 800 base pairs of 5'-flanking sequence and 728 base pairs of coding sequence . Analysis of the sequences and of primer extension studies indicates an inferred transcript size of 1665 bases which closely matches the 1.8-kilobase mRNA size estimated by Northern blot analysis of poly(A+) mRNA from the organism . The sequence contains an open reading frame which encodes a protein of 59,787 kDa . This equals the apparent molecular weight in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels of in vitro translated enzyme . The amino terminus of the purified enzyme appeared to be blocked, but internal peptide sequences were obtained by automated Edman degradation of gel-purified peptides generated by treatment of protein subunits with staphylococcal V-8 protease . These sequences are included in the inferred sequence . In addition to a typical signal sequence, the open reading frame encodes a second candidate transmembrane region, a serine-rich region, and four potential N-glycosylation sites . These are discussed with regard to the localization and processing of the enzyme during its biogenesis . Beginning at amino acid 100 of the Dictyostelium enzyme sequence, 36% of its amino acids are identical to the corresponding sequence of the beta chain, and 33% are identical with those of the alpha chain of human beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase . This is strong evidence that the Dictyostelium enzyme is homologous to the alpha and beta chains of the human enzyme. JAMA, 1988 Nov 11, 260(18), 2682 - 5 Prevention of recurrent staphylococcal skin infections with low-dose oral clindamycin therapy; Klempner MS et al.; We conducted a double-blind, controlled trial of low-dose (150 mg/d) oral clindamycin hydrochloride vs placebo to prevent recurrent staphylococcal skin infections . Twenty-two patients (11 in both the placebo and clindamycin treatment groups) completed the trial and were assessable . The two groups did not differ as to age, sex, race, or the number of recurrent abscesses preceding the trial . In pretrial evaluations, no patient had hypogammaglobulinemia or abnormal neutrophil function . Sixty-four percent (7/11) of the placebo-treated patients had a recurrent abscess within three months of enrollment whereas 82% (9/11) of the patients treated with clindamycin were free of any infection during the three-month treatment period . Of the nine patients who responded to clindamycin treatment, six did not have a recurrent infection for at least nine months after discontinuing antibiotic therapy . All patients tolerated the regimen without side effects . We conclude that a three-month course of low-dose oral clindamycin is an effective, convenient, well-tolerated, and often durable approach to prevention of recurrent staphylococcal skin infections. J Periodontol, 1988 Nov, 59(11), 728 - 30 Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Bacteroides gingivalis activate human peripheral monocytes to produce interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor; Lindemann RA et al.; The effects of gram-negative bacteria clearly associated with juvenile and adult periodontitis on monokine production were assessed using standard in vitro assay techniques . Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Bacteroides gingivalis were able to activate human peripheral blood monocytes to produce significant amounts of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) . These monokines are known to induce osteoclastic bone resorption . An oral gram-positive organism, Staphylococcus epidermidis, was able to induce only modest amounts of IL-1 and TNF, slightly above unstimulated monocyte levels. Eur J Immunol, 1988 Nov, 18(11), 1733 - 7 Clonal analysis of human T cell activation by the Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen (MAS); Matthes M et al.; Mycoplasma arthritidis produces an as yet undefined soluble molecule (MAS) that has a potent mitogenic effect on T cells of several species . We have used cloned human cytotoxic and proliferative T lymphocytes to dissect the molecular mechanism of T cell activation by this mitogen . Reactivity to MAS is clonally expressed among T cell receptor (TcR) alpha/beta chain-expressing T cell clones of CD4+ or CD8+ phenotype, as well as CD4-8- TcR alpha/beta chain-negative T lymphocyte clones expressing the CD3-associated TcR gamma chain . MAS is able to induce cytotoxicity and/or proliferation in these T cell clones . For triggering of these T cells, regardless of their phenotype of specificity, the presence of autologous, allogeneic or xenogeneic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules on accessory cells or target cells is necessary . However, T cells do not immunologically recognize MAS on class II molecules, since a direct action of MAS on the T cells themselves can be demonstrated . Triggering of T cells by MAS can be blocked by monoclonal antibodies against CD2, CD3 and the TcR alpha/beta chain dimer . We discuss as a possible explanation that MAS is a functionally bivalent molecule cross-linking TcR and MHC class II molecules . Thus, the mechanism of T cell activation by MAS has striking similarities to the mechanisms by which Staphylococcal enterotoxins activate T cells . It is intriguing that a similar mitogenic principle has been developed by two evolutionary distinct pathogenic microorganisms. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 270(1-2), 22 - 7 Lectin-mediated cell-attachment and phagocytosis of Staphylococcus saprophyticus strain S1; Beuth J et al.; Adhesion studies with cryotome sections of human kidney and lung respectively uroepithelial cells together with blocking experiments with competitive carbohydrates suggested that specific attachment of S . saprophyticus strain S 1 to host cells apparently is mediated by lectins . Accordingly, microbial lectin blocking with specific glycoconjugates or lectin dysfunction (after treatment of bacteria with subinhibitory concentrations of tunicamycin) significantly decreased staphylococcal adherence to epithelial cells . Chemiluminescence measurements of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) function yielded results suggesting importance of lectin-receptor interaction in phagocytosis, too, since PMN activity was significantly decreased after staphylococcal lectin blocking or dysfunction. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 270(1-2), 213 - 8 Immunostimulating staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid prevents pulmonary tumor colonization in BALB/c-mice; Ohshima Y et al.; Immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities of staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) were studied in Balb/c-mice . Systemic administration of LTA (1 mg or 2 mg i . p., 7 and 4 days prior to challenge) significantly enhanced chemiluminescence response of peritoneal macrophages (p less than 0.0125) and induced enlargement of the spleen (p less than 0.025) as compared to non-treated controls . In vivo the number of lung colonies was significantly lower (p less than 0.0125) in LTA-treated mice 14 days after challenge with L-1 sarcoma cells. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 270(1-2), 110 - 4 Prevalence of serum antibodies to toxic-shock-syndrome-toxin-1 and to staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B and C in West-Germany; Schroder E et al.; Sera of 152 healthy blood donors and 43 infants 9 to 12 months of age were tested for serum antibodies to TSST-1 and staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B and C by a microtiter ELISA assay . Only 50% of the adult population had detectable antibody-titers to enterotoxin A, whereas 80% to enterotoxin C and 90% to enterotoxin B and TSST-1, which is very similar to the prevalence of TSST-1 antibodies among USA-residents . The "protective" titer of TSST-1-antibodies can be estimated to be 1:100 in the test system used by comparison with anti-TSST-1-titers in five acute phase sera from confirmed menstrual TSS cases. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Nov, (11), 94 - 8 {Effect of detergent and glycerin on the efficacy of nasal immunotherapy with allergens and on the level of the lymphocyte subpopulation in the organs of local immunity}; Sukhodoeva GS et al.; Experimental mixed allergy to staphylococcal antigens in guinea pigs was treated by the intranasal administration of a staphylococcal allergen with a surfactant or glycerin added . The treatment was found to produce a hyposensitizing effect with respect to immediate and delayed hypersensitivity . The addition of glycerine enhanced this effect . At the same time the level of T-lymphocytes in the lungs and the lymph nodes of the respiratory tract returned to normal . Detergent used at a concentration of 2% abolished the hyposensitizing effect of the allergen, stimulated T-lymphocytes in the lymph nodes of the respiratory tract and the lungs; the number of T-suppressors decreased. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 1988 Nov, 16(2), 119 - 24 Serous otitis media (S.O.M.) . A bacteriological study of the ear canal and the middle ear; Cabenda SI et al.; A bacteriological study of the middle-ear effusions and the ear canals in children with chronic serous otitis media (S.O.M.) was performed . Sixty-eight children (127 ears) were investigated . From this study it appeared that cleansing of the ear canal with 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% ethanol for 30 s is partially effective; micro-organisms (diptheroids, Staphylococcus epidermidis) could still be isolated in 29% . Cleansing of the ear canal decreases the incidence of middle-ear fluid contamination by non-pathogenic ear canal organisms (diptheroids, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Aerococcus), but after cleansing, 'non-pathogenic' micro-organisms could still be isolated in 33% of the effusions (diptheroids, Staphylococcus epidermidis) . From 12% of the middle-ear effusions pathogenic micro-organisms (Hemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus pneumoniae) were isolated; cleansing of the ear canal did not influence this percentage . Anaerobics were not isolated from the middle-ear effusions. Arch Ophthalmol, 1988 Nov, 106(11), 1570 - 1 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis keratitis treated with vancomycin; Goodman DF et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis accounts for nearly one third of all cases of bacterial keratitis in certain geographic areas . Recently, the sensitivity of this organism has changed dramatically so that nearly half of nosocomially acquired systemic S epidermidis infections are resistant to methicillin sodium, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides . Methicillin-resistant and gentamicin sulfate-resistant S epidermidis causing infectious blepharoconjunctivitis and endophthalmitis has previously been reported . Two cases of methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant S epidermidis keratitis occurred that were treated successfully with topical vancomycin hydrochloride. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1988 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 628 - 32 Guidewire catheter exchange with triple culture technique in the management of catheter sepsis; Porter KA et al.; We report 70 total parenteral nutrition (TPN) patients who received guidewire catheter exchange for suspected sepsis during their hospitalization . To diagnose catheter-related sepsis (CRS) and catheter infection (CI), we used a system of pre- and postexchange catheter blood cultures and a catheter tip culture . There were 27 catheter exchanges with positive cultures . The rate of definite CRS/CI (eight instances) was 6.8% of catheters exchanged and 3.5% of all catheters at risk . Probable CRS/CI (11 instances) was seen in 9% of exchanged catheters and 5% of at risk catheters . Thus, 19/27 positive cultures were presumed to represent definite or probable CRS/CI . Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (SCN) was the most frequently isolated organism . Simple catheter exchange was usually effective treatment of CRS/CI when SCN was the offending organism . The salvage rate of catheters exchanged for suspected sepsis or after a positive blood culture was 84% . Only 7% of exchanged catheters had to be removed . Guidewire exchange with triple culture technique was without mechanical complications . We recommend this technique to monitor central venous catheters in patients receiving TPN since it is simple, essentially painless to perform, and easily interpreted. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 270(1-2), 219 - 27 Cell surface antigen of encapsulated Staphylococcus epidermidis SE-360 protects mice from homologous infection; Ohshima Y; Cell surface antigen was mechanically extracted from encapsulated strain SE-360 of Staphylococcus epidermidis and purified by DEAE-Sephadex A 25 (Cl- form) ion exchange chromatography . This antigen manifested type-specific activity and major sugar constituents were galactose, glucose and N-acetyl-glucosamine at the molar ratio 1.00:9.05:1.65 . alpha-D-glucosyl- and N-acetyl-glucosaminyl-residues were closely correlated to the antigenic determinant . In mice, protection against homologous microorganisms could be achieved by active immunization with thus purified antigen . Type-specific opsonin in rabbit anti-SE-360 serum could also be absorbed. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 270(1-2), 200 - 12 Effects of Staphylococcus epidermidis on cellular immunity to infection with Listeria monocytogenes; Ehlers S et al.; With the present study, the effects of intravenous applications of Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE) on the course of experimental infections of mice with Listeria monocytogenes were evaluated . SE treatment 24 h prior to Listeria infection led to a reduced growth of Listeria organisms in both livers and spleens and to an increased resistance of infected animals against a lethal Listeria challenge . SE treatment 24 h after Listeria infection resulted in an enhanced growth of and retarded elimination of Listeria organisms from animal organs as well as in a reduction of delayed-type hypersensitivity to soluble Listeria antigen . Adoptive immunotherapy accomplished by transferring immune peritoneal exudate T-lymphocyte-enriched cells (PETLEs) to Listeria-infected recipients 24 h before SE treatment did not prevent the delay in clearance of Listeria organisms . When Listeria-infected recipients compromised in their immune response by SE treatment were infused with immune PETLEs either immediately or 24 h after the application of SE, the immunosuppression induced by SE proved to be reversible . It is concluded that, in analogy to other bacterial immunomodulators, Staphylococcus epidermidis is able to either nonspecifically activate macrophages or interfere with T-lymphocyte functions. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Nov, 269(3), 346 - 54 Incorporation of staphylococcal alpha-toxin in glutaraldehyde fixed erythrocytes; Fussle R et al.; The incorporation of staphylococcal alpha-toxin into glutaraldehyde fixed erythrocytes occurs in the same way as with native erythrocytes . Binding of alpha-toxin to the cells is accompanied by oligomerization of native 3 S toxin to the membrane-bound 11 S toxin hexamer, which is embedded into the lipid bilayer of the membrane . Antibodies against alpha-toxin, build up during an infection with S . aureus, can be determined in a passive hemagglutination test (IHT) using glutaraldehyde fixed and alpha-toxin treated erythrocytes . To test the validity of this IHT, antibodies to alpha-toxin were determined in 550 human sera of patients from hospitals of the University of Giessen suspected to suffer from staphylococcal infections and in 300 sera of healthy blood donors . The results were compared with the titres obtained by a convenient neutralisation test (ASTA) . All sera with elevated titres in the ASTA test also showed high titres in the IHT . Because it is simple to perform and highly reproducible, the IHT seems to be a valuable test for detection of antibodies against staphylococcal alpha-toxin. Cutis, 1988 Nov, 42(5), 443 - 4 Skin infection provoked by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus resembling gram-negative folliculitis; Lotem M et al.; A superficial pustular eruption with acute onset has been reported in patients with acne vulgaris receiving systemic antibiotic treatment . In all past cases the causative micro-organism was found to be a gram-negative bacterium . This case report describes a similar clinical picture under the same circumstances, in which the bacterium incriminated was a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Ukr Biokhim Zh, 1988 Nov-Dec, 60(6), 60 - 6 {Effect of pH on the potential-dependent functioning of staphylococcal toxin channels in phosphatidylcholine bilayer}; Krasil'nikov OV et al.; Potential-dependence of staphylococcal toxin channels at neutral pH is poorly expressed and increases with the medium acidation . It is shown that the value of the translocating charge is practically unchanged, whereas the energy parameters of this process vary essentially . The data obtained indicate the asymmetrical disposition of ionogenic channel groups determining its behaviour in the electric field. J Cell Biol, 1988 Nov, 107(5), 1799 - 808 Structure of the gamma heavy chain of the outer arm dynein from Chlamydomonas flagella; King SM et al.; We describe here the vanadate-dependent photocleavage of the gamma heavy chain from the Chlamydomonas outer arm dynein and the pathways by which this molecule is degraded by endoproteases . UV irradiation in the presence of ATP, Mg2+, and vanadate cleaves the gamma chain at a single site (termed V1) to yield fragments of Mr 235,000 and 180,000 . Irradiation in the presence of vanadate and Mn2+ results in cleavage of the gamma chain at two other sites (termed V2a and V2b) to yield fragment pairs of Mr 215,000/200,000 and 250,000/165,000 . The mass of the intact chain is therefore estimated to be 415,000 D . We have located the major tryptic and staphylococcal protease cleavage sites in the gamma chain, determined the origins of the resulting fragments, and identified the regions which contain the epitopes recognized by two different monoclonal antibodies . Both antibodies react with the smaller V1 fragment; the epitope recognized by antibody 25-8 is within 9,000-52,000 D of the original gamma-chain terminus contained in that fragment, whereas that recognized by antibody 12 gamma B is within 16,000 D of the V1 site . The data permit the construction of a linear map showing the structural organization of the polypeptide . The substructure of the gamma chain is similar to that of the alpha and beta chains of the outer arm dynein with regard to polarity as defined by the sites of vanadate-dependent photocleavage, and to that of the beta chain with regard to a highly sensitive protease site located approximately 10,000 D from the original terminus contained in the smaller V1 fragment. Presse Med, 1988 Oct 26, 17(37), 1988 - 90 {Probabilistic treatment with ceftazidime of infections in neutropenic patients}; Schaison G et al.; Infection is the most common cause of mortality in neutropenic patients . Although fever does not necessarily mean infection, it must be regarded as its first sign and treated, within hours of its onset, on the basis of probability before a pathogen is isolated . The first-line treatment must cover a wide antibacterial spectrum corresponding to the usual bacteriological flora and to the patient's underlying pathology . The risk of Gram-negative septicaemia in infants and elderly people and the frequency of staphylococcal infections in patients with an indwelling central catheter are well-known . The "best guess" treatment should consist of a third generation cephalosporin, notably ceftazidime, and an antistaphylococcal antibiotic . This treatment should be pursued throughout the period of neutropenia . Due to advances in antibacterial therapy, more aggressive chemotherapeutic regimens can now be prescribed to improve the prognosis of acute blood diseases and of numerous carcinomas. J Biol Chem, 1988 Oct 25, 263(30), 15521 - 7 Testis-specific calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase . A distinct high affinity cAMP isoenzyme immunologically related to brain calmodulin-dependent cGMP phosphodiesterase; Rossi P et al.; A cell-specific isozyme of calmodulin (CaM)-dependent phosphodiesterase that exhibits micromolar affinity for cAMP has been purified 900-fold from mouse testis by DEAE chromatography, gel filtration, affinity chromatography with CaM-Sepharose 4B, and isoelectric focusing . The highly purified enzyme is stimulated 5-6-fold by CaM in the presence of Ca2+ and hydrolyzes both cAMP and cGMP with anomalous substrate dependence, i.e . high and low affinity components (Km 2 and 20 microM) are observed either in the presence or absence of CaM . Each of the substrates acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor of the other, suggesting the presence of two distinct catalytic sites on the enzyme . Hydrodynamic studies suggest that the testis phosphodiesterase is an asymmetric monomer of 68-70 kDa that forms a dimer after interaction with Ca2+ and CaM; the tetrameric complex exhibits an apparent molecular size of 180 kDa . These enzymatic and biophysical properties differ in many respects from those of the brain isozyme, suggesting that they are different proteins . Nevertheless, common epitopes do exist, since the testis enzyme interacted with rabbit antibodies raised against bovine brain CaM-dependent phosphodiesterase . The major peptide of 68 kDa was strongly reactive on immunoblots, and was distinguished unambiguously from the 60-kDa species from mouse brain . A comparison of the immunoreactive fragments produced by limited proteolysis with staphylococcal V-8 protease indicated several similarities in the domains of these polypeptides . Thus, although differing in several important physical and biochemical parameters, the testis enzyme appears immunologically related to CaM-dependent phosphodiesterase from brain . On the basis of these data, we conclude that common elements of the structural genes for these isozymes have been conserved, whereas certain biological properties, including substrate specificity, have diverged substantially. Biochemistry, 1988 Oct 18, 27(21), 8034 - 44 Electron spin echo modulation and nuclear relaxation studies of staphylococcal nuclease and its metal-coordinating mutants; Serpersu EH et al.; Electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy has been applied to the determination of the number of water molecules coordinated to the metal in the binary complex of staphylococcal nuclease with Mn2+, to the ternary enzyme-Mn2+-3',5'-pdTp complex, and to ternary complexes of a number of mutant enzymes in which metal-binding ligands have been individually altered . Quantitation of coordinated water is based on ESEEM spectral comparisons of Mn2+-EDTA and Mn2+-DTPA, which differ by a single inner sphere water, and with Mn2+-(H2O)6 . It was found that Mn2+ in the ternary complex of the wild-type enzyme has a single additional coordinated water, as compared to Mn2+ in the binary complex, confirming earlier findings based on T1 measurements of bound water {Serpersu, E . H., Shortle, D . L., & Mildvan, A . S . (1987) Biochemistry 26, 1289-1300} . Ternary complexes of the mutant proteins D40E, D40G, and D21Y have the same number of water ligands as the ternary complex of the wild-type enzyme, while the D21E mutant has one less water ligand . In order to maintain octahedral coordination geometry, these findings require two additional ligands to Mn2+ from the protein in the binary complex of the wild-type enzyme, probably Glu 43 and Asp 19, and one additional ligand from the protein in the ternary D40G and D21E complexes . Other ESEEM studies of ternary Mn2+ complexes of wild-type, D21E, and D21Y mutants indicate the coordination by Mn2+ of a phosphate of 3',5'-pdTp, as demonstrated by a 31P contact interaction of 3.9 +/- 0.3 MHz . Magnetic interaction of Mn2+ with 31P could not be demonstrated with the D40G and D40E mutants, suggesting that metal-phosphate distances are greater in these mutants than in the wild-type protein . In a parallel NMR study of the paramagnetic effects of enzyme-bound Co2+ (which occupies the Mn2+ site on the enzyme) on the T1 of 31P from enzyme-bound 3',5'-pdTp and 5'-TMP, it was found that metal to 5'-phosphate distances are 0.9-1.6 A shorter in ternary complexes of the wild-type enzyme and of the D21E mutant than in ternary complexes of the D40G mutant . In all cases, the 5'-phosphate of pdTp is in the inner coordination sphere of Co2+ and the 3'-phosphate is predominantly in the second coordination sphere. Eur J Biochem, 1988 Oct 15, 177(1), 53 - 9 Gallidermin: a new lanthionine-containing polypeptide antibiotic; Kellner R et al.; Gallidermin is a new member of the class of lanthionine-containing peptide antibiotics, which are summarized under the common name lantibiotics . The lantibiotic gallidermin is produced by Staphylococcus gallinarum (F16/P57) Tu3928, and it exhibits activities against the Propionibacteria, involved in acne disease . Gallidermin differs from the recently discovered tetracyclic 21-residue peptide antibiotic epidermin only in a Leu/Ile exchange in position 6 . The isolation procedures for gallidermin included adsorption directly from the culture broth, ion-exchange chromatography of the amphiphilic and basic polypeptide followed by desalting, and final purification by reversed-phase HPLC . The structural elucidation of the polypeptide containing four thioether bridges involved mainly a combination of automated gas-phase sequencing, thermospray liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry. Czas Stomatol, 1988 Oct, 41(10), 654 - 9 {Staphylococcuses and their drug-resistance in inflammations of submandibular lymph nodes in children}; Gruszewska-Lewczuk L et al.; Analysis of bacteriological examination results in 46 children with submandibular lymph nodes inflammation has been presented in the paper . The examinations have been carried out from the point of view of observation of bacterial flora variation and its drug--resistance . The analysis of examination results has revealed existence of strains such as: S . aureus, S . albus, S . epidermidis . The attention has been called to the necessity of bacterial flora examinations considering substantial changes in the frequency of particular strains occurrence and their drug resistance. Doc Ophthalmol, 1988 Oct-Nov, 70(2-3), 175 - 8 Endophthalmitis after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy; Neuteboom GH et al.; A 63-year-old patient underwent a Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, 5 months after an extracapsular cataract extraction . One day later endophthalmitis had developed . Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from the vitreous . We assume that this micro-organism, a pathogen of low virulence, had been sequestered in the capsular bag and was released into the vitreous after Nd:YAG capsulotomy. Postgrad Med J, 1988 Oct, 64(756), 796 - 8 Delayed tension pneumothorax complicating staphylococcal pneumonia; Yates SP et al.; A case is described in which a tension pneumothorax complicated staphylococcal pneumonia 11 months after its onset . The delayed and subacute/chronic nature of the tension pneumothorax is unusual . The case also highlights the difficult differential diagnosis between subpleural lung cysts and encysted pneumothorax. J Protein Chem, 1988 Oct, 7(5), 561 - 9 Primary structure of the hemoglobin alpha-chain of rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri); Islam A et al.; The structure of the hemoglobin alpha-chain of Rose-ringed Parakeet was determined by sequence degradations of the intact subunit, the CNBr fragments, and peptides obtained by digestion with staphylococcal Glu-specific protease and trypsin . Using this analysis, the complete alpha-chain structure of 21 avian species is known, permitting comparisons of the protein structure and of avian relationships . The structure exhibits differences from previously established avian alpha-chains at a total of 61 positions, five of which have residues unique to those of the parakeet (Ser-12, Gly-65, Ser-67, Ala-121, and Leu-134) . The analysis defines hemoglobin variation within an additional avian order (Psittaciformes), demonstrates distant patterns for evaluation of relationships within other avian orders, and lends support to taxonomic conclusions from molecular data. Biomed Environ Mass Spectrom, 1988 Oct, 16(1-12), 41 - 4 Identification of some abnormal haemoglobins by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and fast atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry; Prome D et al.; The characterization of two abnormal human haemoglobins by fast atom bombardment (FAB) mapping is presented . The first variant, called 'R', exhibits a tryptic FAB map identical to that of normal haemoglobin . However, using Staphylococcus protease V8, a peptide containing the carboxyl end of the beta-chain exhibits a mass shift down to 300 mass units . This clearly indicates the deletion of the two last amino acids of the beta-chain . The second variant, called 'Grenoble', is due to two different modifications of the beta-chain . The location of the Pro----Ser exchange on peptide T5 is achieved by the collisionally activated dissociation mass analyzed ion kinetic energy spectra of the corresponding {MH}+ ion . The m/z value of that peptide indicated a supplementary acid----amide modification, which was located by amino acid sequencing using chemical methods . This work concludes with the necessity of using complementary methods for achieving rapid determinations of abnormal proteins with minute amounts. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Oct, 33(10), 779 - 81 {Effect of lincomycin and staphylococcal vaccine on the course of experimental staphylococcal sepsis}; Gabysehva LS et al.; Therapeutic efficacy of lincomycin used alone and in combination with inactivated staphylococcal vaccine and the effect of these agents on synthesis of antibodies and their content in blood serum were investigated . Lincomycin was shown to inhibit septic processes in the host . After its administration the number of the pathogens in the blood and organs markedly decreased . At the same time, lincomycin lowered antibody synthesis in the lymphoid organs and the content of alpha-antitoxins in blood serum . The use of lincomycin in combination with inactivated staphylococcal vaccine promoted an increase in the number of the antibody forming cells in the spleen and lymph nodes and the content of the antibodies to the staphylococcal alpha-toxin in blood serum of the animals with staphylococcal sepsis. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 54(10), 2345 - 8 Rapid latex agglutination test for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins A to E that uses high-density latex particles; Fujikawa H et al.; A rapid reversed passive latex agglutination method that uses high-density latex particles for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) A to E was developed . It took 3 h for incubation, much less than the 16 h needed with a customary latex agglutination test for SE detection such as a commercial test kit (SET-RPLA; Denka Seiken Co . Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) . The rapid test was shown to be highly specific and sensitive for SE detection (detection limit, about 0.5 ng of SE per ml), comparable to the SET-RPLA test . The rapid test was also efficient in SE detection in foods and culture supernatants of staphylococcal strains, similar to the SET-RPLA test . This showed that a rapid test with high-density latex particles is fully reliable for use. Am J Infect Control, 1988 Oct, 16(5), 206 - 13 Infection related to intravascular pressure monitoring: effects of flush and tubing changes; Covey M et al.; The optimal frequency for changing pressure monitoring tubing and flush solution that minimizes catheter-related infection and contains cost has not yet been established . We conducted a pilot study to examine the effects of three protocols on catheter-related infection: group I, change of flush solution and pressure monitoring tubing every 24 hours; group II, change of flush solution every 24 hours and change of pressure monitoring tubing every 48 hours; group III, change of flush solution and pressure monitoring tubing every 48 hours . Thirty critically ill patients were randomly assigned to one of the three protocols . Semiquantitative cultures of the solution from the flush bag and catheter tip were obtained . Intervening variables were documented: duration of cannulization, number of entries into the system, presence of other invasive devices, white cell count, patient's temperature, presence of preexisting infection, patient's age and diagnosis, use of steroids and antibiotics, and host risk factors for immunocompromise . All flush solution cultures were negative for growth . Incidence of catheter-related bacteremia was zero . The cultures of four catheter tips were positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis; none in group I, three in group II, and one in group III . The results of this pilot study suggest that there is no difference in the incidence of catheter-related infection whether the change interval for flush solution and pressure monitoring solution is 24 or 48 hours . However, further study with a larger sample is needed. J Immunol, 1988 Oct 1, 141(7), 2367 - 73 Mutant monoclonal antibodies with select alteration in complement activation ability . Impact on immune complex functions in vivo; Nose M et al.; Mutagenesis of mAb is a useful means for studying the biologic and pathologic functions of immune complexes . Treatment of the Hy-1.2 hybridoma-producing IgG2a-anti-TNP antibodies with ethylmethanesulfonate provided us with a mutant clone, producing antibodies with reduced capacity for C activation . The antibodies retained normal Ag-binding capacity, staphylococcal protein A reactivity, and association to FcR for IgG on murine macrophages . No significant polypeptide deletion or class-switch was observed, but a significant change in clonotype was revealed by IEF . Intravenous injection of the mutant antibodies in immune complex form induced different tissue distributions of Ag in mice; i.e., more in kidneys and less in spleen, and developed more mesangial deposits in renal glomeruli compared with those of the wild type . Moreover, the production of granulomatous lesions in vivo caused by immune complexes of TNP-Sepharose was augmented by using mutant antibodies . These lesions demonstrated an enhanced accumulation of macrophages with multinucleated giant cells . Availability of this kind of mutant mAb is thus helpful in the elucidation of the biologic functions and consequences of immune complexes. Eur J Clin Invest, 1988 Oct, 18(5), 486 - 92 Monocytic production and plasma bioactivities of interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor in human cancer; Moldawer LL et al.; Plasma concentrations and in-vitro production of interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor were evaluated in 23 weight-losing patients with cancer, six bacterially infected patients without cancer and six healthy controls . Bioactivity of interleukin-1 was found in the plasma from five of six bacterially infected patients but only from one of 23 cancer patients . Tumour necrosis factor activity was not detected in the plasma of any patient . In four of 23 patients with cancer, in-vitro stimulation of peripheral blood monocytes by either endotoxin or heat-killed Staphylococcus albus resulted in no significant production of interleukin-1 . Such a defect was not seen in any of the bacterially infected or control patients . Tumour necrosis factor production by endotoxin-stimulated blood monocytes was unaffected by the presence of cancer or bacterial infections and was normal in the four individuals with defective interleukin-1 production . We can therefore conclude that interleukin-1 bioactivity is not generally found in the plasma of weight-losing cancer patients . Furthermore, in a fraction of such cancer patients, monocytic production of interleukin-1 is markedly down-regulated . However, this defect appears to be specific for interleukin-1 since in-vitro tumour necrosis factor production is normal. Rev Argent Microbiol, 1988 Oct-Dec, 20(4), 171 - 82 {Minimal biochemical tests for interspecies identification in the Staphylococcus genus}; Romeo AM et al.; A total of 50 different strains from clinical specimens and/or from experimental surgery were typified . The Staphylococcus genus was subdivided according to minimal test results for Staphylococcus genus differentiation into 3 groups: A . the coagulase-positive/novobiocin-susceptible species; B . the coagulase-negative/novobiocin-resistant species and C . the coagulase-negative/novobiocin-susceptible species . Species belonging to the different groups were differentiated by means of minimal biochemical tests readily available to all clinical bacteriology laboratories . To evaluate the predictive value of the procedure employed, the following strains were used as unknown: S . capitis, S . simulans, S . hominis, S . warneci, S . intermedius, S hyicus subsp . hycus, S hyicus subsp . chromogenes and S . haemolyticus . Results indicated that, for the coagulase-positive/novobiocin-susceptible group, the production of pigment and acetoin plus beta-galactosidase were sufficient for interspecies differentiation . For the coagulase-negative/novobiocin-resistant group, urease and phosphatase activity plus production of acid from xylose proved to be sufficient . The coagulase-negative/novobiocin-susceptible group required the greatest number of tests, due to phenotypical variability of species, including: reduction of nitrates; production of acetoin; use of arginine and the production of acid from maltose and/or trehalose . Preliminary findings justify routine application of these minimal tests for Staphylococcus genus differentiation. Anal Biochem, 1988 Oct, 174(1), 313 - 7 Detection and use of recombinant staphylococcal protein A fusion proteins to localize nucleic-acid-binding domains of proteins; Dang CV; We developed a rapid method to visualize recombinant staphylococcal protein A fused to segments of another protein and detect DNA-binding proteins simultaneously . Fusion genes were expressed in Escherichia coli to produce fusion proteins of protein A and segments of c-myc oncoprotein . Polypeptides from total E . coli lysates were separated in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels and transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes . Without the use of an antigen-specific antibody, protein A/c-myc fusion proteins were visualized by incubation of nitrocellulose membranes with horseradish-peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated immunoglobulin, the Fc region of which directly binds protein A . The sensitivity of detection of the protein A/c-myc fusion proteins was greatly enhanced by incubation of nitrocellulose membranes with rabbit immunoglobulin before incubation with HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit antibody . Prior to incubation of nitrocellulose membranes with immunoglobulin, the membranes were incubated with radiolabeled DNA to visualize DNA-binding proteins by autoradiography . Purified staphylococcal protein A does not bind DNA, whereas a segment of c-myc oncoprotein fused to protein A binds DNA in vitro . These methods may be applied to identify nucleic-acid-binding domains of other proteins without prior purification of the fusion proteins. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Oct, 26(10), 2167 - 72 Possible common biological and immunological properties for detecting encapsulated strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis; Yamada T et al.; Twenty strains of capsular type II Staphylococcus epidermidis, determined by the method of Ichiman, were obtained from clinical specimens . Among them, 5, 5, and 10 strains were 4+, 3+, and 2+ in the intensities of their reactions against fluorescent antibody, respectively . Strains exhibiting 4+ and 3+ intensities were mouse virulent and phage nontypable, while 2+ strains were mouse avirulent and phage typable . When three strains randomly selected from each of the mouse-virulent and mouse-avirulent strains were compared in terms of their cell volume indices, all mouse-virulent strains had significantly higher indices (average, 1.86 times) than the mouse-avirulent strains . With intraperitoneal injection of the strains into mice, strains with higher cell volume indices resisted ingestion by peritoneal cells, while strains with low cell volume indices were sensitive to phagocytosis . When the capacity to absorb a definite amount of passive protective activity in rabbit antiserum prepared with capsular type II strains was compared among these strains, 10 to 20 mg of mouse-virulent strains was capable of completely absorbing the passive protective activity, whereas more than 80 mg of the cells was required for similar absorption by mouse-avirulent strains . In ultra-thin sections of three mouse-virulent strains stained with ferritin-conjugated rabbit antiserum, well-defined capsules were detected around cell walls; however, no capsule was seen around the walls of three mouse-avirulent strains. Drug Intell Clin Pharm, 1988 Oct, 22(10), 784 - 5 Paresthesia and back pain in a patient receiving vancomycin during hemodialysis; Cohen LG et al.; A 36-year-old woman was admitted for initiation of hemodialysis for chronic renal failure . Two days after catheter placement the patient developed a fever that persisted and resulted in subsequent removal of the catheter . Although blood cultures were negative, cultures of the catheter tip were positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis . An initial vancomycin dose was well tolerated, but the patient later experienced numbness and tingling of her lower back accompanied by pain ten minutes after initiation of the second dose . Symptoms abated when the vancomycin infusion was discontinued, and the drug was subsequently well tolerated when reinstituted at a slower infusion rate . Similar symptoms were observed five minutes into a vancomycin infusion a week later that also resolved after decreasing the infusion rate . Patients on hemodialysis receiving vancomycin should be carefully monitored during drug administration for the development of paresthesia and spasmodic lower back pain. Gene, 1988 Sep 7, 68(2), 315 - 21 Construction of a recombinant expression plasmid encoding a staphylococcal protein A-ricin A fusion protein; Kim JH et al.; A recombinant plasmid has been constructed containing the coding regions for a functional fragment of staphylococcal protein A and the entire ricin A chain in tandem in the same reading frame . The recombinant gene has been expressed in Escherichia coli cells to produce a protein with both staphylococcal protein A activity and ricin A chain activity . Such a fusion protein could be used for producing immunotoxins. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 Sep 2, 962(1), 73 - 80 Apolipoprotein-E-binding proteins of rat liver endothelial cells; Gustafson S et al.; In an attempt to characterise the apolipoprotein-E-binding proteins of rat liver endothelial cells, we prepared membranes from monolayer cultures of liver endothelial cells as an enriched source of membrane receptors . The membranes could specifically bind iodinated very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and the binding could be inhibited effectively by unlabelled VLDL and high-density lipoproteins, but only moderately by low-density lipoproteins . To identify the binding proteins, we performed immunoprecipitation studies of solubilised iodinated liver endothelial cells and cell membranes, respectively, using purified apolipoprotein E and monospecific polyclonal IgG directed towards this apolipoprotein . The antibodies together with the bound apolipoprotein E and iodinated liver endothelial cell proteins were harvested with staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose . The immunoprecipitates were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and after autoradiography of the dried gel, the Mr of the liver endothelial cell proteins bound to apolipoprotein E could be determined . Two protein bands with molecular masses of 55-60 and 110, and a weak band of 170 kDa could be detected from intact cells . These proteins were specifically precipitated only in the presence of divalent cations, and might represent cell-surface receptors for apolipoprotein-E-containing lipoproteins . Additional bands were seen when cell membranes were used, the most prominent ones having molecular masses of 32 and 35 kDa . These proteins could be of intracellular origin, or they may be degradation products of the other apolipoprotein-E-binding proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 Sep, 85(17), 6362 - 5 Comparison of the solution and crystal structures of staphylococcal nuclease with 13C and 15N chemical shifts used as structural fingerprints; Cole HB et al.; We report high-resolution 13C and 15N NMR spectra of crystalline staphylococcal nuclease (Nase) complexed to thymidine 3',5'-diphosphate and Ca2+ . High sensitivity and resolution are obtained by applying solid-state NMR techniques--high power proton decoupling and cross-polarization magic angle sample spinning (CPMASS)--to protein samples that have been efficiently synthesized and labeled by an overproducing strain of Escherichia coli . A comparison of CPMASS and solution spectra of Nase labeled with either {methyl-13C}methionine or {15N}valine shows that the chemical shifts in the crystalline and solution states are virtually identical . This result is strong evidence that the protein conformations in the solution and crystalline states are nearly the same . Because of the close correspondence of the crystal and solution chemical shifts, sequential assignments obtained in solution apply to the crystal spectra . It should therefore be possible to study the molecular structure and dynamics of many sequentially assigned atomic sites in Nase crystals . Similar experiments are applicable to the growing number of proteins that can be obtained from efficient expression systems. Am J Vet Res, 1988 Sep, 49(9), 1452 - 5 Determination by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the optimal dose of staphylococcal leukocidin for systemic immunization of dairy cows; Loeffler DA et al.; A dose-response study was conducted to determine the optimal dose of staphylococcal leukocidin toxin to use for systemic vaccination of lactating dairy cows . Each of 5 groups of cows (8 cows/group) were given 2 injections of crude leukocidin (dose range, 9 to 2,700 mg) . Antileukocidin antibody concentration in milk samples collected before vaccination and at 4 and 10 weeks after vaccination was determined by use of an ELISA . The highest antibody concentration at postvaccination sample collection dates was observed in cows of the group immunized with 900 mg of leukocidin . This appeared to be the optimal vaccination dose for production of antileukocidin antibodies in the mammary gland of lactating cows. Infection, 1988 Sep-Oct, 16(5), 313 - 22 An international study on the occurrence of multiresistant bacteria and aminoglycoside consumption patterns; Johansen KS et al.; The correlation between aminoglycoside consumption patterns and the occurrence of aminoglycoside-resistant bacteria from 12 different countries was analyzed . Regional and national data were collected retrospectively and compared . There was evidence of a wide variation of the national aminoglycoside consumption patterns in the different countries . There was a striking correlation of gentamicin resistance and the total national aminoglycoside and national gentamicin consumption . In addition, there was a clear correlation between bacterial resistance inside and outside the hospital to the total amount of aminoglycoside, particularly gentamicin, consumption in hospitals . In a number of countries, an increase in the frequency of gentamicin-resistant bacterial strains could be noticed . For amikacin, only a correlation of staphylococcal resistance in hospitalized patients to the total amount of national aminoglycoside and amikacin consumption could be found. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1988 Sep, 82(3 Pt 1), 439 - 46 Double-blind, placebo-controlled immunotherapy with mixed grass-pollen allergoids . II . Comparison between parameters assessing the efficacy of immunotherapy; Bousquet J et al.; Specific immunotherapy is effective in alleviating symptoms in grass pollen-induced rhinitis, but there are no clear data demonstrating a correlation between symptom-medication scores and objective parameters . Twenty-five patients taking part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled immunotherapy with mixed grass pollen-formalinized allergoids were studied . All patients had the same investigations . Symptom-medication scores were significantly (p less than 0.005, Mann-Whitney U test) reduced in the treated group by comparison to the placebo-treated patients . Nasal challenges performed with threefold increasing numbers of orchard grass-pollen grains demonstrated that patients treated with allergoid tolerated a significantly (p less than 0.005, Wilcoxon W test) greater number of grains after treatment, whereas there was no mean difference in the placebo-treated patients . There was a significant (p less than 0.005, Spearman rank-correlation) correlation between nasal challenges and symptom scores during the season . The skin prick test end point was significantly (p less than 0.001, Wilcoxon W test) reduced after treatment in the allergoid-treated group and remained unchanged in the placebo-treated group . There was a significant (p less than 0.001) correlation between the skin prick test end point and symptom scores during the season . Serum grass-pollen IgG titrated by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay with Staphylococcus A protein was significantly (p less than 0.01, Wilcoxon W test) increased after treatment with allergoid, but there was no significant correlation between IgG titer and symptom scores during the season . Serum grass-pollen IgE increased (p less than 0.04, Wilcoxon W test) in the treated group but there was no correlation with symptom scores. Infect Immun, 1988 Sep, 56(9), 2479 - 83 Changes in binding of staphylococcal leukocidin to HL-60 cells during differentiation induced by dimethyl sulfoxide; Morinaga N et al.; The susceptibility of HL-60 cells to the cytotoxic activity of leukocidin increased depending on the degree of differentiation induced by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) . To compare binding characteristics of two components (S and F) of leukocidin to HL-60 and DMSO-treated HL-60 cells, the S and F components were labeled with 125I . Scatchard analysis of the binding curve of the 125I-labeled S component to HL-60 cells showed two classes of binding sites . The binding sites with higher affinity had a dissociation constant of 3.39 nM, and the number of binding sites per cell was 730 . The specific binding of the 125I-labeled S component to DMSO-treated cells increased depending on the period of DMSO treatment . Scatchard analysis of the binding curve of cells treated with DMSO for 7 days gave a straight line . The dissociation constant was 1.78 nM, and the number of binding sites per cell was 6,920 . The total binding of the 125I-labeled F component to DMSO-treated cells increased about twofold over binding to HL-60 cells . However, in the presence of the unlabeled S component, the increase of binding of the F component to DMSO-treated cells was much greater . These data suggested that the increased susceptibility of DMSO-treated cells to leukocidin was dependent on the changes in the number of high-affinity binding sites of the S component and of the bound F component. Infect Immun, 1988 Sep, 56(9), 2228 - 34 Effect of staphylococcal alpha-toxin on intracellular Ca2+ in polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Suttorp N et al.; Staphylococcal alpha-toxin, a channel-forming protein, stimulates leukotriene B4 formation in rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) (N . Suttorp, W . Seeger, J . Zucker-Reimann, L . Roka, and S . Bhakdi, Infect . Immun . 55:104-110, 1987) . The concept was advanced that transmembrane toxin pores act as Ca2+ gates allowing passive Ca2+ influx into the cell, thus initiating stimulus response coupling . A critical step in this hypothesis is the demonstration of an increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration {( Ca2+}i) . {Ca2+}i and membrane-associated Ca2+ were therefore monitored in quin-2- or chlorotetracycline-loaded PMN exposed to alpha-toxin . The effects of the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin and the chemotactic tripeptide formylmethionyl-leucylphenylalanine (fMLP) were studied in parallel . All stimuli increased {Ca2+}i in dose- and time-dependent manner . In the presence of an EDTA excess there was a decrease of {Ca2+}i due to an efflux of Ca2+ in alpha-toxin- and ionomycin-treated cells, while addition of fMLP still induced an increase of {Ca2+}i . In the presence of verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker, {Ca2+}i was reduced after stimulation with fMLP but not with alpha-toxin or ionomycin . Addition of fMLP and ionomycin but not of alpha-toxin to PMN resulted in a rapid and substantial mobilization of membrane-associated Ca2+ . The collective data demonstrate that exposure of PMN to staphylococcal alpha-toxin results in an increase in {Ca2+}i which is due to an influx of extracellular Ca2+ and not to a mobilization of intracellularly stored Ca2+ . The concept of initiating stimulus response coupling by Ca2+ influx through transmembrane pores may be generally applicable to other channel-forming cytolysins. J Gen Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 134 ( Pt 9), 2615 - 21 Characteristics of extracellular protein production by Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus during aerobic and anaerobic growth; Donham MC et al.; Aerobic cultures of Staphylococcus simulans biovar staphylolyticus characteristically achieved about 17 times higher bacterial densities and produced about 7 times higher concentrations of exoprotein than did anaerobic cultures . However, total exoprotein secreted per unit of bacterial dry weight typically was 2.3 times greater for anaerobic cultures . As determined by SDS-PAGE, anaerobic cultures also produced a wider variety of exoproteins than did aerobic cultures . Three exoenzymes, a staphylolytic endopeptidase, a micrococcolytic hexosaminidase and a thiol protease, were completely repressed during anaerobic growth, which is further evidence for coordination of their production. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 26(9), 1729 - 34 Restriction endonuclease analysis of Staphylococcus epidermidis DNA may be a useful epidemiological marker; Renaud F et al.; We compared the epidemiological markers of 13 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from an adult inpatient during a febrile episode and 23 S . epidermidis strains isolated during a presumptive outbreak of nosocomial infection in a neonatal ward . The total DNA restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) was processed along with the following conventional markers: biotyping, serotyping, phage typing, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and plasmid profiles . The REA method was reproducible, giving stable results both in vitro and in vivo . For the hospitalized adult patient, the conventional markers of the 13 strains were concordant and the restriction profiles were identical . Five restriction groups were demonstrated during the course of the outbreak . Within two of the groups, the identities of all of the markers were used to verify whether all of the isolates belonged to the same cell clone . In a third group, combined analysis of the conventional markers and REA had to be used to demonstrate isolate similarity . On the other hand, in another group, none of the markers were similar; interpretation was not easy . An epidemiological study of S . epidermidis infections in hospitals must take into account all of the epidemiological markers: biotypes, serotypes, phage types, antibiograms, plasmid profiles, and REA. J Exp Med, 1988 Sep 1, 168(3), 1081 - 97 T cell receptor gene usage in the response to lambda repressor cI protein . An apparent bias in the usage of a V alpha gene element; Lai MZ et al.; The T cell response to the lambda repressor cI protein is directed to the same region of the protein (residues 12-26) in both BALB/c and A/J mice . A panel of T cell hybridomas specific for P12-26 in the context of either I-Ek or I-Ad have been isolated To further understand the molecular interaction between the TCR and the Ia-P12-26 complex, the primary structures of the TCR of five T cell hybridomas have been determined . Southern and Northern analyses indicate that two members of the V alpha 3 gene family are used by 13 out of 14 I-Ek-restricted T cells . Four different V beta genes are used by these T cell hybridomas, while the majority (8 out of 13) express V beta 1 in combination with the J beta 2.1 element . No clear correlation can be seen in this system between gene usage and MHC restriction . In addition, the fine specificity of I-Ek-restricted T cells to a single amino acid substitution {Phe22/His22}P12-26 is not attributed to the usage of particular V alpha and V beta elements . The V alpha 3 family gene is also used by a few I-Ad-restricted T cells . Interestingly, these I-Ad T cells share a reactivity pattern more similar to that of I-Ek-restricted T cells than other I-Ad-restricted T cells . The nonrandom selection V alpha 3 is also demonstrated by the fact that V alpha 3 is used by P12-26-specific, but not by cytochrome c- or staphylococcal nucleus-specific, I-Ek-restricted T cells . This suggests that although antigen specificity may not be accounted for by either chain of the TCR, the members of V alpha 3 genes may be selected by the antigen (P12-26). Am J Vet Res, 1988 Sep, 49(9), 1447 - 51 Effect of respiratory infections caused by bovine herpesvirus-1 or parainfluenza-3 virus on bovine alveolar macrophage functions; Brown TT Jr et al.; Calves, 90 to 130 days old, were inoculated with bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) or parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) virus . Pulmonary lavage specimens obtained from calves before virus inoculation contained 98% alveolar macrophages (AM) and 1% neutrophils . Six days after inoculation, the mean percentage of neutrophils in lavage specimens had significantly increased to 7.9 +/- 6.0% in BHV-1-inoculated calves and to 18.3 +/- 9.9% in PI-3 virus-inoculated calves, reflecting viral-induced pulmonary inflammation that was confirmed histologically . Approximately 75% of AM obtained before virus inoculation had Fc surface receptors, and 60% had C3b receptors . Six days after inoculation, the percentage of AM with Fc and C3b receptors was significantly reduced to 69.7 +/- 8.6% and 27.1 +/- 19.8%, respectively, in BHV-1-inoculated calves and to 67.8 +/- 15.4% and 38.8 +/- 23.2%, respectively, in PI-3 virus-inoculated calves . Alveolar macrophages obtained after virus inoculation were significantly impaired in their ability to phagocytize opsonized Staphylococcus epidermidis, but were able to kill ingested bacteria . Alveolar macrophage dysfunctions caused by BHV-1 or PI-3 respiratory infection did not differ appreciably. J Biol Chem, 1988 Aug 25, 263(24), 11892 - 9 Structure-function relationships in the collagenase family member transin; Sanchez-Lopez R et al.; We have developed a system for studying the proteinase activity of a collagenase family member, transin . Cos cells transfected with a vector designed to direct synthesis of a secretable fusion protein between staphylococcal protein A and transin secrete a latent proteinase, activable by 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate, which binds to IgG-Sepharose . Treatment with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate leads to cleavage of the fusion protein and elution of the active proteinase transin . Based on results obtained with this system we propose that transin comprises an N-terminal proteinase domain and an independent C-terminal hemopexin-like domain . The latter domain is not required for binding of inhibitors or for maintenance of transin in its inactive form . The sequence PRCGVPDV is present in the proenzyme forms of collagenase family proteinases just upstream from the N termini of the active enzymes . We show that mutations within this sequence lead to transin variants with a much increased tendency to undergo spontaneous activation . Finally, we show that mutations within a region of transin having sequence similarity to the zinc-binding site of bacterial metalloproteinases inactivate the proteinase activity of transin, lending support to the notion that this region represents part of transin's active site. J Trop Med Hyg, 1988 Aug, 91(4), 173 - 80 Nosocomial and community-acquired infections in malnourished children; Christie CD et al.; A total of 206 community-acquired and 73 nosocomial infections in 50 malnourished Jamaican children were studied prospectively . Predominant community-acquired infections in the 50 children, included gastroenteritis (68%), otitis media (60%), rhinopharyngitis (60%), oral candidiasis (46%), skin infections (40%), pneumonia (28%), bacteraemia (24%) and bacteriuria (18%) . The most frequent nosocomial infections were rhinopharyngitis (34%), lower respiratory tract infections (24%) and septicaemia (18%) . In those infections where an aetiological agent was identified, Giardia lamblia was the commonest enteric pathogen, Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most frequent blood culture isolate and Klebsiella sp . were recovered from the majority of urines . The lack of clinical signs and symptoms and atypical clinical presentation in some infected malnourished children were attributed to impairment of the acute inflammatory response . Diagnosis of infection in these children required a high index of suspicion and a comprehensive screening system . Nasal, throat and axilla swabs taken on admission revealed significant colonization with coliforms and pneumococcus; however, these swabs were not useful as indicators of potentially infective organisms . Four of the 50 children died and two of these deaths were attributed to infection. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 1988 Aug, 70(4), 603 - 6 Cementless total replacement for old tuberculosis of the hip; Eskola A et al.; We report the results of cementless total joint replacement in 18 patients with old tuberculosis of the hip, performed, on average, 34 years after the onset of infection . Mean follow-up was 3.5 years . Only seven of the patients had antituberculous drugs during or after the operation . Using the Mayo hip score, 15 patients had excellent or good results and two had a fair rating . One patient had the prosthesis removed more than one year postoperatively for late haematogenous staphylococcal infection and had a poor rating . All the patients had relief of hip-related pain . Despite the absence of any reactivation of tuberculosis in our series, we recommend the use of specific prophylaxis. J Bacteriol, 1988 Aug, 170(8), 3427 - 34 Replication termination for staphylococcal plasmids: plasmids pT181 and pC221 cross-react in the termination process; Iordanescu S et al.; We present data which indicate that (i) the origin of replication of plasmids pT181 and pC221 can also function as termination signals; (ii) termination of replication occurs when a round of replication initiated either by RepC at the pT181 origin or by RepD at the pC221 origin reaches either of these origins, proving that the two plasmids cross-react for termination of replication; and (iii) the replication initiated at the origin of another staphylococcal plasmid, pE194, does not terminate at the origin of pT181 or pC221, indicating the existence of a specific relationship between the initiation and termination of a replication event. Chest, 1988 Aug, 94(2), 441 - 2 Fatal hemoptysis due to lung abscess and pulmoaortic fistula; Rogol PR; A 79-year-old man was hospitalized because of staphylococcal sepsis, and subsequently died from massive hemoptysis . Autopsy revealed a lung abscess which had eroded into the aorta . Severe atherosclerosis of the aorta may have been an important contributing factor. Ann Ophthalmol, 1988 Aug, 20(8), 306 - 10, 315 Keratomycosis--a retrospective histopathologic and microbiologic analysis; Arora R et al.; In this retrospective study, the results of concurrent histopathologic and microbiologic examinations of 61 corneal buttons were evaluated . These revealed histologic fungus identification in 77.04% of cases compared with culture examination which yielded fungal growth in 75.4% of cases . Mixed fungal and bacterial infection caused difficulty not only in isolation but also in demonstrating fungus in the tissue sections . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common isolate in cases of mixed infection . Aspergillus was the most prevalent nondematiaceous fungus . Dematiaceous fungi were isolated in culture in only 10.8% of our cases, and in none of them was the histopathology positive, indicating that they might have been contaminants. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd, 1988 Aug, 193(2), 142 - 5 {Pseudo- "toxic lens" syndrome over the course of 4 years caused by staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis}; Bialasiewicz AA et al.; A 79-year-old female patient presented with recurrent severe iridocyclitis after extracapsular cataract extraction and implantation of a PMMA posterior chamber lens in 1983: In April, June, July, September, October and December 1984 as well as April and August 1985 and January and April 1987, the uveitis appeared without a hypopyon and was diagnosed as a "toxic lens syndrome" . Consequently, IOL explantation followed by anti-inflammatory and - intermittently - immunosuppressive therapy was performed in October 1984 with a resulting improvement in vision . In June 1987, the patient presented with a full-blown bacterial endophthalmitis, which required immediate pars plana vitrectomy . Lens cortex material and capsule residues were removed . Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from the vitreous aspirate using enrichment techniques . Antibiotic topical and systemic therapy was performed according to the antibiotic sensitivity test and resulted in a complete cure of the intraocular inflammation. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Aug, (8), 36 - 9 {Accelerated laboratory diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia}; Baizhomartov MS et al.; The effectiveness of countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) used for the accelerated differential diagnosis of pneumococcal, staphylococcal, mycoplasmal and Legionella infections in cases of pneumonia has been shown . The presence of correlation between the results obtained in the bacterial study of sputa and bronchial washings and in CIE has been revealed, which gives grounds for recommending CIE for the accelerated diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia on the basis of the analysis of sputa, bronchial washings and blood sera obtained from patients . In Legionella infection the passive hemagglutination test with antigenic diagnostica has proved to be more effective for accelerated diagnosis than CIE. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Aug, 269(2), 251 - 6 Immunomodulatory effects of staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid in early Listeria monocytogenes infection in Balb/c-mice; Ohshima Y et al.; Balb/c-mice were intravenously infected with 5 X 10(4) viable cells of Listeria monocytogenes SLCC 4013 . Liver, lung and spleen of the animals showed heavy organ colonization 48 h after infection . Pretreatment of experimental animals with staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA; 2 mg i.p . 7 and 3 days before challenge) significantly reduced the bacterial count in these organs . In vitro, peritoneal macrophages from LTA-treated mice significantly reduced listerial viability as compared to control cells (p less than 0.0025) . In vitro, exposure of macrophages from non-treated animals to LTA did not influence their bacterial killing ability. J Interferon Res, 1988 Aug, 8(4), 549 - 57 Recombinant rat and murine immune interferons are phosphorylated at a single site, Ser132; Fields R et al.; Recombinant rat (Ra) and murine (Mu) immune interferons (IFN-gamma) were found to be phosphorylated by bovine heart muscle cAMP-dependent protein kinase at a single site, in contrast to human (Hu) IFN-gamma, which was reported to be phosphorylated at two different serine residues . Chromatography of a Staphylococcal aureus V8 protease digest of Ra or MuIFN-gamma indicated that the site of phosphorylation was in the carboxy-terminal undecamer fragment of the protein . Due to inherent problems in measuring both phenylthiohydantoin-serine (PTH-serine) and PTH-phosphoserine with an automated sequenator, a novel approach, involving partial Edman degradation of aliquots of the peptide followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, was developed . It was determined that Ser132 is the exclusive site of phosphorylation for both IFNs. Br J Exp Pathol, 1988 Aug, 69(4), 551 - 61 A morphological study of the effect of treatment with the antibiotic ceftazidime on experimental staphylococcal endocarditis and aortitis; Ferguson DJ et al.; The morphological effects of antibiotic therapy with either single or repeated (8 hourly) injections of ceftazidime were examined in rabbits with experimentally induced staphylococcal endocarditis and aortitis . At 3 h after initiating treatment, many of the bacteria, irrespective of the location of the colony, showed evidence of abnormal ultrastructural changes of the cytoplasm and/or cell wall . By 8 h many degenerate lysed bacteria were present . By 24 h, in rabbits which received a single injection, bacterial colonies contained many normal and dividing bacteria . In comparison, bacterial colonies at 24 h in rabbits receiving repeated injections consisted of large masses of lysed bacteria with only a few viable appearing thick-walled 'persistent' cells . At 48 and 72 h, no viable appearing bacteria were observed although they could be isolated by culture methods . Treatment was associated with an increased inflammatory cell response at the surface of the vegetation and within the vasculature . In the later stages there was evidence of healing with endothelialization of the lesions . It would appear, therefore, that ceftazidime penetrates efficiently into the vegetations with only a short transitory phase at sub-bactericidal concentrations . The few 'persistent' bacteria appear to be protected from the host defences by the surrounding thrombus which prevents their eradication. Immunology, 1988 Aug, 64(4), 643 - 8 Induction of suppressor cells by staphylococcal enterotoxin B: identification of a suppressor cell circuit in the generation of suppressor-effector cells; Holly M et al.; We have shown previously that staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) has the capacity to non-specifically inhibit antibody responses in vitro through the induction of a suppressor cell population . In the present studies, an analysis of the cellular dynamics has shown that the generation of Lyt-1-2+ suppressor-effector cells is dependent on the initial activation by SEB of an Lyt-1+2- suppressor-inducer population . Co-culture experiments carried out in vitro suggest that the induction of the suppressor-effector population requires at least two signals: one signal is provided by the suppressor-inducer population, and the second signal is provided by SEB . Studies also show that the in vitro antibody response is suppressed when the suppressor cells are added as late as Day 4 of a 5-day culture . While the suppressor cell population activated early in the antibody response is Lyt-1-2+, depletion studies suggest that the population that acts late in an ongoing response bears the Lyt-1+2+ surface phenotype . The results demonstrate that at least three distinct SEB-induced T-cell populations are capable of participating in the suppression of the antibody response . The relationship between the generation of non-specific suppressor cells and the activation of antigen-specific cell circuits is discussed. Eur J Immunol, 1988 Aug, 18(8), 1173 - 8 Two subsets of human CD4+ T helper cells differing in kinetics and capacities to produce interleukin 2 and interferon-gamma can be defined by the Leu-18 and UCHL1 monoclonal antibodies; Dohlsten M et al.; Human CD4+ T helper cells were separated into CD4+45R+ and CD4+45R- cells . When stimulated with the polyclonal activator staphylococcal enterotoxin A in the presence of autologous monocytes, these two subsets exhibited a striking difference in production of interleukin 2 (IL2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . While the CD4+45R- subset produced maximal amounts of IL2 within 24 h and IFN-gamma within 72 h, the CD4+45R+ subset produced no IL2 within 24 h and merely marginal amounts of IFN-gamma as assayed after 24 to 96 h . This discrepancy between the subsets was found when the cells were stimulated by other accessory cell-dependent activators and by the accessory-independent combination of the calcium ionophore A23187 and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate as well . The inability of the CD4+45R+ cells to produce IL2 during the first day of culture was not due to any modulation of either the CD4 or the CD45R antigens, as purified CD4+45R+ cells obtained by negative panning selection with the reciprocal UCHL1 monoclonal antibody responded in a similar manner as the positively selected sorted CD4+45R+ cells . Analysis of the kinetics of IL2 production by the two T helper cell subsets clearly demonstrated that the IL2 recorded after 1 day of culture was entirely produced by the CD4+45R- cells, whereas the CD4+45R+ cells produced IL2 during and after the second day of culture . This discrepancy in kinetics was not due to an increased absorption of IL2 by the CD4+45R+ cells during the first day of culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Infect Immun, 1988 Aug, 56(8), 2125 - 32 Saliva inhibits the chemiluminescence response, phagocytosis, and killing of Staphylococcus epidermidis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Saito K et al.; Saliva inhibited several functional properties of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from murine peritoneal exudate, namely, luminol-mediated chemiluminescence (CL) induced by either Staphylococcus epidermidis or formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), phagocytosis, and killing of bacteria in vitro . The concentration of saliva in the reaction mixture that caused a complete inhibition of the CL response of PMNs to both S . epidermidis and FMLP was 25% . However, there was no catalase or superoxide dismutase activity in saliva that could influence the CL response of PMNs . The production of superoxide by PMNs stimulated with S . epidermidis was assayed in the presence or absence of saliva by inhibition of the reduction of cytochrome c by superoxide dismutase . In the presence of 50% saliva, O2- generation by PMNs was only 7.3% of that observed in the absence of saliva . After gel filtration of salivary material through Sephadex G-25 or Sephacryl S-200, several fractions were obtained that inhibited the CL response of PMNs to either FMLP or S . epidermidis or to both . Two inhibitory fractions were analyzed . One contained immunoglobulin A, and the other contained a peptide which was composed of 14 different amino acids . The two fractions of high molecular weight included in the first protein peak of Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration were able to inhibit the CL response to S . epidermidis and to inhibit phagocytic activity, while fractions of low molecular weight (under 12,500 Mr) inhibited the CL response to FMLP and to S . epidermidis but did not inhibit phagocytic activity. J Biol Chem, 1988 Jul 25, 263(21), 10224 - 8 Signal peptidases recognize a structural feature at the cleavage site of secretory proteins; Duffaud G et al.; The cloning of the gene for staphylococcal nuclease A in the pIN-III-OmpA secretion vector results in a hybrid protein which is processed by signal peptidase I, yielding an active form of the nuclease that is secreted across the cytoplasmic membrane (Takahara, M., Hibler, D., Barr, P . J., Gerlt, J . A., and Inouye, M . (1985) J . Biol . Chem . 260, 2670-2674) . Using oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis, we have constructed a set of mutants at the cleavage site area of the precursor hybrid protein designed to alter progressively the predicted secondary structure of the cleavage site . Our results show that processing becomes increasingly defective as the turn probability decreases . These results are consistent with the structural requirement that we found for the processing of lipoprotein by signal peptidase II (Inouye, S., Duffaud, G., and Inouye, M . (1986) J . Biol . Chem . 261, 10970-10975) . We conclude that secretory precursor proteins have a distinct secondary structural requirement at their cleavage site for processing by signal peptidase I, as well as by signal peptidase II. Biophys Chem, 1988 Jul 15, 30(3), 199 - 224 Anisotropy decay of fluorescence as an experimental approach to protein dynamics; Bucci E et al.; This minireview makes an initial assessment of the progress made using anisotropy decay measurements for investigating the conformational changes and molecular dynamics in soluble systems . A critical analysis of available data is presented . The anisotropy decays of the tryptophan fluorescence of staphylococcal nuclease, adrenocorticotropin, melittin and of labeled transfer RNA were studied for investigating the functional conformational changes of these systems . The emissions of variously labeled immunoglobulins have been used to elucidate the conformations of these proteins before and after the binding of specific antibodies . Labeled myosin and its fragments have given information on the functional motions of the protein domains . The anisotropy decays of labeled and natural hemoglobin systems have been utilized for exploring the allosteric behavior of these molecules . The data suggest a wide applicability of this technique to the study of protein dynamics and conformational changes of macromolecules. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1988 Jul 15, 154(1), 455 - 61 Structural analysis of the calcium channel by photoaffinity labelling and limited proteolysis; Johnson DF et al.; The L-type calcium channel of rabbit skeletal muscle triads, purified from digitonin extracts, was photolabelled with the dihydropyridine (+){3H}PN 200-110 . This photolabelled form was then subjected to limited proteolysis with papain and staphylococcus V-8 protease and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . In the absence of proteolysis, the photolabelled channel was represented by a single protein with an apparent molecular weight of 160 kDa in the presence or absence of reducing agents . Following proteolysis, numerous photoadducts were observed with smaller molecular weights . The V-8 protease digestion pattern indicated that photoinsertion occurred in at least two distinct domains of 33 and 28 kDa . Papain digests were more extensive, generating smaller fragments of 28 and ca . 10 kDa . The results suggest that at least two distinct regions of the calcium channel interface at or near the dihydropyridine binding site, and that the binding site for these calcium antagonists resides within the channel proper, thereby modulating calcium influx. Biochemistry, 1988 Jul 12, 27(14), 5135 - 41 NMR signal assignments of amide protons in the alpha-helical domains of staphylococcal nuclease; Torchia DA et al.; We report complete assignments of the amide proton signals in the three long dNN connectivity sequences observed in the NOESY spectrum of deuteriated staphylococcal nuclease (Nase) complexed with thymidine 3',5'-bisphosphate (pdTp) and Ca2+, Mr 18K . The assignments are made by comparing NOESY spectra with 1H-15N and 1H-13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum shift correlation (HMQC) spectra of Nase samples containing 15N- and 13C-labeled amino acids . The assignments show that the residues which are linked by the dNN connectivity sequences are located in three alpha-helical domains of Nase . Our results indicate that by combining NOESY and HMQC spectra of appropriately labeled samples it should be possible to delineate and study alpha-helical domains in soluble proteins having molecular weights that are greater than 18K. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1988 Jul, 19(1 Pt 1), 112 - 6 The incidence of bacteremia in skin surgery of the head and neck; Halpern AC et al.; The normal microflora of skin vary significantly between sebaceous rich, wet, and dry areas . This would be expected to influence the likelihood of developing transient bacteremia while undergoing skin surgery on these different areas, thereby affecting the risk of infective endocarditis from such procedures . We evaluated the incidence of transient bacteremia in 45 patients undergoing skin surgery on the sebaceous rich areas of the head and neck . After surveillance skin cultures, aerobic and anaerobic blood culture samples were taken at 0, 1, 5, and 15 minutes after the start of the procedure . All baseline blood culture results were negative . Three of the 45 patients developed transient bacteremia within the first 15 minutes after the start of the procedures . Samples from two patients grew pure cultures of Propionibacterium acnes and that from one patient grew a pure culture of Staphylococcus hominis, yielding a 7% incidence of bacteremia in the 45 patients studied . These data support the use of perioperative prophylactic antibiotics for surgery involving clinically uninfected skin of the head and neck only in patients with prosthetic heart valves . This is in keeping with the current recommendations of the American Heart Association against the need for antibiotic prophylaxis for nonprosthetic valve endocarditis in patients undergoing cutaneous surgery on clinically uninfected skin. J Med Microbiol, 1988 Jul, 26(3), 229 - 35 The effect of antibiotics on bacterial colonisation of vascular cannulae in a novel in-vitro model; Elliott TS et al.; An in-vitro model for studying semi-quantitatively the bacterial colonisation of the external and internal surfaces of peripheral intravascular cannulae is described . Using this model, we studied the effect of ciprofloxacin, teicoplanin and fusidic acid on cannula colonisation by Staphylococcus epidermidis . Exposure of colonised cannulae to sub-MICs of ciprofloxacin and fusidic acid reduced bacterial attachment, whereas sub-MIC levels of teicoplanin had little effect . Pre-exposure of S . epidermidis to sub-MICs of ciprofloxacin and fusidic acid also reduced slime production and colonisation . In comparison, pre-exposure of S . epidermidis to teicoplanin 1.0 mg/L did not influence colonisation, whereas at 0.1 mg/L it was reduced . The model allowed investigation of bacterial colonisation of cannulae and offers a screening system for the assessment of potential agents for the prophylaxis and treatment of these infections. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1988 Jul, 82(1), 11 - 9 Measurement of IgG blocking antibody in human serum: comparison of ELISA with monoclonal antibody and fluorogenic substrate and Staphylococcus protein A solid-phase RIA; Lee HB et al.; We compared ELISA with mouse monoclonal antihuman gamma-chain antibody and a fluorogenic substrate with the Staphylococcus protein A solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA) in the measurement of specific IgG antibody to short ragweed pollen . Sera from 51 ragweed-allergic patients undergoing allergen immunotherapy were evaluated for ragweed-specific IgG antibodies with the same ragweed extract in the two assay systems . With optimal conditions, the ELISA and SPRIA displayed comparable positive thresholds (approximately 1 ng/ml of ragweed-specific IgG) . Both assays also demonstrated consistently parallel dilution curves with 51 sera (mean interdilutional coefficient of variation {CV} less than 8.8% for ELISA and less than 8.6% for SPRIA) . Reproducibility was determined by constructing precision profiles for intra- and interassay variations over the working ranges of each assay (ELISA, 0.8 to 100 ng/ml; SPRIA, 1 to 250 ng/ml) . ELISA intra-assay CVs ranged from 13% near threshold to less than 5% at higher antibody concentrations; SPRIA intra-assay CVs ranged from 4.3% to 2.8% . Interassay reproducibility was somewhat better for SPRIA (4.6% to 9.6%) than for ELISA (10% to 18%) . In direct comparison, 41 (80%) of the 51 sera were concordant in the two assays (r = 0.91; p less than 0.001) . Although each assay result was reproducible, 10 (20%) of the sera elicited consistently discrepant results in the two assays . In eight of the 10 discordant sera, the SPRIA results were higher than ELISA, suggesting the possibility that some ragweed allergen may be better represented on the short ragweed-pollen extract agarose than on ELISA plate wells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Transfusion, 1988 Jul-Aug, 28(4), 322 - 5 Detection of drug-dependent platelet antibodies using immobilized Staphylococcal protein A; Christie DJ et al.; Serum samples from eight patients suspected of having drug-induced immunologic thrombocytopenia provoked by a variety of medications were tested for drug-dependent platelet antibodies with a newly developed assay that forms rosettes of antibody-coated platelets around Staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose beads . The same samples were then tested with immunofluorescence and 51Cr-release assays . Seven of eight patients (87.5%) tested positive for drug-dependent antibodies by the rosette assay . In contrast, two of eight (25.0%) and one of eight (12.5%) patients tested positive for drug-dependent antibodies by immunofluorescence and 51Cr release, respectively . These results demonstrate that the new rosette method is significantly more sensitive and specific for the detection of drug-dependent platelet antibodies than either immunofluorescence or 51Cr release. Neurology, 1988 Jul, 38(7 Suppl 2), 32 - 7 Effect of total lymphoid irradiation on functional status in chronic multiple sclerosis: importance of lymphopenia early after treatment--the pros; Devereux C et al.; To determine whether immunosuppression by total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) slowed deterioration of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), functional impairment score and blood lymphocyte counts were compared at 6-month intervals through 4 years following treatment of MS patients by either TLI (n = 27) or sham irradiation (n = 21) . At each interval, 20 to 30% fewer TLI-treated patients had deteriorated (p less than 0.05 at 6, 12, and 18 months), and the difference in mean functional impairment score between groups became progressively greater (p less than 0.01 at 42 and 48 months) . Benefit accrued principally to the 17 TLI-treated patients with absolute blood lymphocyte counts less than 900/mm3 3 months after treatment, whose mean functional impairment score remained within 0.6 units of baseline (p = NS), whereas the ten TLI patients with higher post-treatment lymphocyte counts had progressive deterioration (p less than 0.05 to p less than 0.001 versus TLI-treated patients with lower lymphocyte counts at all intervals except 30 months) and had deteriorated by more than 5 functional scale units by 42 and 48 months . Side effects were minor and complications rare in TLI-treated patients, but one TLI-treated patient developed staphylococcal sepsis . Thus, TLI slows deterioration of chronic progressive MS, with what appears to be enduring benefit through 4 years compartmented to patients with greater induced lymphopenia . Modification of lymphoid irradiation regimens to increase the proportion of MS patients who achieve a favorable degree of lymphopenia and to avert functional hyposplenism may further improve the benefit/risk ratio. J Neurosurg, 1988 Jul, 69(1), 52 - 7 Prophylactic parenteral antibiotics in clean neurosurgical procedures: a review; Dempsey R et al.; Clean surgical procedures carry a risk of postoperative wound infection that is less than 5% in most hospitals . The use of prophylactic antibiotic agents in clean neurosurgical cases is controversial, and the neurosurgical literature through 1980 contains no controlled clinical trials to study its effectiveness in such cases . A report of 1732 consecutive procedures without a single postoperative wound infection in patients receiving systemic gentamicin, vancomycin, and streptomycin irrigation fluids is often quoted by neurosurgeons; however, these results have not yet been duplicated by others . Since 1980, there have been several controlled trials that support the use in clean neurosurgical cases of prophylactic antibiotics, including the vancomycin/gentamicin/streptomycin regimen and the first-generation cephalosporins . A report in 1986 of 1602 cases without a primary wound infection supports the use of a single perioperative dose of cefazolin . A review of causative organisms in postoperative wound infections demonstrates the preponderance of Gram-positive pathogens . Therefore, when antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated, adequate Gram-positive bacterial coverage, including protection against Staphylococcus infection, is required . With consideration of the present data, the cost of antibiotic therapy, and the danger of drug toxicity, a short perioperative regimen of cefazolin as prophylaxis is preferred in clean neurosurgical cases. FEMS Microbiol Immunol, 1988 Jul, 1(2), 69 - 74 Induction of tumour necrosis factor by staphylococcal toxic shock toxin 1; de Azavedo JC et al.; Staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST1) induced the release of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) from human and rabbit monocytes in vitro . Nanogram amounts of TSST1 were sufficient to induce TNF release . There was considerable variation in response between cells from different rabbits and different donors . Rabbit monocytes were slightly more sensitive to TSST1 than were human monocytes . Release of TNF in vivo could explain many of the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 1988 Jul, 19(1), 79 - 91 The detection of conventional class I and class II I-E homologue major histocompatibility complex molecules on feline cells; Pollack MS et al.; The presence on feline cells of class I and class II I-E type major histocompatibility complex (MHC) homologues was demonstrated using cross-reacting monoclonal antibodies (mAb) . The feline class I antigen homologues were detected with both immunofluorescent and biochemical techniques, using the anti-human class I mAb W6/32 . The class I antigens were detected on in vitro cultured feline fibroblasts and lymphoid cells, but not on fresh lymphoid cells, apparently as a result of the association of bovine beta-2 microglobulin with feline class I heavy chains which generated the determinant(s) recognized by mAb W6/32 . Class II I-E-like molecules could be detected with immunofluorescent techniques using the species cross-reactive anti-mouse I-E antibody 40D only when peripheral blood mononuclear cells were activated, for example, with the mitogens staphylococcus enterotoxin A or lipopolysaccharide . The predominant expression of I-A-like molecules by resting class II-positive feline cells could explain some of the functional difference we have seen in comparison with those of most other mammalian species. Br J Dermatol, 1988 Jul, 119(1), 93 - 9 Hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome: treatment with isotretinoin; Shuttleworth D et al.; A patient with hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome is described . Recurrent cutaneous staphylococcal abscesses were a prominent feature and had been resistant to treatment with antibiotics and surgical drainage . Following a 4-month course of treatment with isotretinoin, he developed no further abscesses over a 6-month follow-up period . Detailed immunological investigations were undertaken before and after treatment and no change was found to account for his improvement . We consider that the beneficial effects of isotretinoin in this situation are likely to be due to a reduction in sebaceous gland size and activity, rather than to any effect on the underlying disorder. Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis, 1988 Jul-Oct, 65(3-4), 271 - 8 {Extraction of chromosomal DNA from Staphylococcus and Listeria by a rapid method using achromopeptidase}; Boujaafar N et al.; A rapid and simple method for preparation of chromosomal DNA from Gram-positive bacteria is reported . Susceptibility to lysis with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) increases when undergoing treatment with acetone before being digested by bacteriolytic enzymes . Rapid lysis of Staphylococcus and Listeria cells is obtained through a respective treatment by lysozyme with lysostaphine and by lysozyme with achromopeptidase, adding to that the effect of SDS in Tris-Hcl buffer . This procedure of preparing chromosomal DNA provides 1 to 4 mg of DNA out of 1 g of bacterial cells in a day. Avian Dis, 1988 Jul-Sep, 32(3), 391 - 403 Diagnostic summary of 1986 turkey, broiler breeder, and layer necropsy cases at the University of Georgia; Morris MP et al.; Turkey, broiler breeder, and layer cases submitted for necropsy in 1986 to the University of Georgia were categorized by diagnosis, grouped by clinical features, season, age, and presenting history, and evaluated for statistically significant patterns . The most commonly diagnosed diseases were: fowl cholera in turkeys, 64 cases (34.4% of cases; 26.2% of diagnoses); staphylococcal arthritis/synovitis (SA/S) in broiler breeders, 35 cases (20.7%; 17.7%); and osteomalacia in layers, 17 cases (21.0%; 15.6%) . In turkeys, fowl cholera, colibacillosis, and aspergillosis were significantly more common in the fourth, second, and third quarters of the year, respectively; enteritis and viral enteritis were more common in early grow-out, and osteomyelitis, SA/S, and synovitis were greatest in late grow-out . Overall, musculoskeletal problems in turkeys were more common in the third quarter and were less common in the first and fourth quarters . Erysipelas occurred most frequently in turkeys 50 to 112 days of age . In both broiler breeders and layers, SA/S was more common in the second quarter, and a history of musculoskeletal problems was less common in both post-peak-production broiler breeders and layers . Fowl pox was more common in the fourth quarter and in late-production broiler breeders . In layers, osteomalacia and Marek's disease were more common in the first and fourth quarters, respectively. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1988 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 356 - 9 Answering the fat emulsion contamination question: three in one admixture vs conventional total parenteral nutrition in a clinical setting; Vasilakis A et al.; Fat emulsions (FE) support microbial growth when inoculated in vitro; dextrose/amino acid solutions (D/AA) do not . Can FE be safely added to D/AA when delivered over 24 hrs? We attempted to answer this question by culturing both conventional (C) total parenteral nutrition (TPN), in which the FE and D/AA are given separately, and the 3-in-1 admixture TPN, in which all components are delivered in one bag . Two-hundred TPN fluid cultures were obtained serially by collecting 1 ml of fluid from the distal-most connection when the TPN was changed every 24 hrs . Quantiative and qualitative cultures were obtained . One hundred sixty-six (83%) were negative . Of the 34 (17%) positive cultures, 15 (17% of 88) were from the conventional system whereas 19 (17% of 112) were from the 3-in-1 system . Six clinically septic patients furnished 11 TPN fluid specimens which grew greater than 400 colonies/ml . Seven (8% of 88) of these were from the conventional system whereas four (3.6% of 112) were from the 3-in-1 system . All had distant sites of sepsis . The 23 remaining positive TPN fluid cultures grew less than 25 colonies/ml, with 20 growing Staphylococcus epidermidis . All of these patients were clinically well and there was no significant difference in the distribution of positive cultures between the conventional system (9%) and the 3-in-1 system (13%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Appl Environ Microbiol, 1988 Jul, 54(7), 1761 - 5 Novel method for purification of staphylococcal enterotoxin A; Reynolds D et al.; A novel single-step procedure for the purification of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), namely, dye ligand affinity chromatography with the triazine dye Red A, was developed . SEA purified by this method produced a single band when subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The yield from 5 liters of culture supernatant was 0.113 g, corresponding to an overall yield of 55% . In some instances, purification of SEA from culture supernatants by dye ligand affinity chromatography produced two enterotoxin peaks that could be eluted from the column with 300 and 500 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) . Enterotoxin from these peaks produced a single band when subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but multiple bands were observed on isoelectric focusing gels . This method of purification represents a significant improvement in time, yields, and purity of enterotoxin over previously published purification methods. Int J Neurosci, 1988 Jul, 41(1-2), 143 - 53 Changes of phagocytic biological rhythm by reduction of circadian times and by influences upon hypothalamus; Baciu I et al.; The circadian oscillations of central temperature and phagocytic activity of blood polymorphonuclears were studied in guinea pigs after circadian times have been reduced, under the effect of chlorpromazine or in animals with bilaterally lesioned hypothalamus in preoptic or in tuberomammillary area . The phagocytic activity was assayed against staphylococcus epidermidis in heparinized blood . In the animals exposed to artificial light in conditions of space restriction (stressed) the phagocytic activity is depressed in the lighting period, the differences light-dark being higher (300%) as in controls (25%) . Chlorpromazine lowers both central temperature and phagocytic activity, without changes of their circadian rhythms . Bilateral symmetrical injuries of the preoptic hypothalamic area determined a rise of the central body temperature in the beginning of the dark period . The phagocytic activity of these animals decreases especially at the end of the dark period . Lesions of the tuberomammillary area reduces the phagocytic activity to very low levels and attenuates to a marked extent its circadian oscillations . Body temperature remain unaffected . The circadian biorhythm of the body temperature and of the phagocytic activity, usually concurrently, are controlled by separate hypothalamic mechanisms . After tuberomammillary lesions the phagocytic response of animals to an endovenous injection of a bacterial suspension is very low . The results are discussed on the basis of present data and of prior researches of this laboratory. J Med Microbiol, 1988 Jul, 26(3), 199 - 204 Site of action of a gonococcal growth inhibitor produced by Staphylococcus haemolyticus; Frenette M et al.; The inhibitory substance produced by Staphylococcus haemolyticus strain no . 7 acts on growing as well as resting gonococcal cells, as shown by reductions in viable counts . The optical density of these cell suspensions was only slightly reduced . The inhibitor caused lysis of gonococcal spheroplasts at 24 degrees C and 37 degrees C, but was much less active at 4 degrees C . Acting on intact gonococcal cells, the inhibitor caused a temperature-dependent release of radioactive cytoplasmic material . Electronmicroscopy showed that treated suspensions contained ghost cells with the cell envelope relatively intact . Our results suggest that the inhibitor may act on the cytoplasmic membrane of the gonococcal cell causing cytoplasmic leakage and, eventually, death. Biol Chem Hoppe Seyler, 1988 Jul, 369(7), 609 - 15 Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Zea mays: amino-acid sequence of the small subunit; Ren L et al.; The amino-acid sequence of the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from Zea mays has been determined by alignment of peptides generated by digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, staphylococcal protease and thermolysin . The protein-chemically determined structure is in complete agreement with the nucleotide-derived sequence as published recently (Matsuoka et al . (1987) J . Biochem . 102, 673-676), but in addition possesses, however, sixteen experimentally verified dimorphies at various positions and possibly nine more for which evidence is tentatively pointing to two (or more) different expressed nuclear genes for the small subunit . These protein dimorphies represent a protein family corresponding to a gene family, the components of which have not been separated . The closest homologous polypeptide is the small subunit from wheat. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1988 Jul, 22 Suppl B, 13 - 23 Mechanism of action of spiramycin and other macrolides; Brisson-Noel A et al.; Macrolide antibiotics constitute a group of 12 to 16-membered lactone rings substituted with one or more sugar residues, some of which may be amino sugars . They inhibit bacterial protein synthesis both in vivo and in vitro with varying potencies . Macrolides are generally bacteriostatic, although some of these drugs may be bactericidal at very high concentrations . The mechanism of action of macrolides has been a matter of controversy for some time . Spiramycin, a 16-membered macrolide, inhibits translocation by binding to bacterial 50S ribosomal subunits with an apparent 1:1 stoichiometry . This antibiotic is a potent inhibitor of the binding to the ribosome of both donor and acceptor substrates . Spiramycin induces rapid breakdown of polyribosomes, an effect which has formerly been interpreted as occurring by normal ribosomal run-off followed by an antibiotic-induced block at or shortly after initiation of a new peptide . However, there is now convincing evidence that spiramycin, and probably all macrolides, act primarily by stimulating the dissociation of peptidyl-tRNA from ribosomes during translocation . Although the ribosomes of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms are susceptible to macrolides, these antibiotics are mainly used against Gram-positive bacteria since they are unable to enter the porins of Gram-negative bacteria . Resistance to macrolides in clinical isolates is most frequently due to post-transcriptional methylation of an adenine residue of 23S ribosomal RNA, which leads to co-resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins type B (the so-called MLSB phenotype) . Other mechanisms of resistance involving cell impermeability or drug inactivation have been detected in Staphylococcus spp . and Escherichia coli . These strains are resistant to 14-membered macrolides (erythromycin and oleandomycin) but remain susceptible to spiramycin. J Hosp Infect, 1988 Jul, 12(1), 19 - 27 Drug resistance and plasmid profiles in Staphylococcus epidermidis in 1964 and 1986; Moller JK; An examination has been made of drug resistance and plasmid content of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from hospital patients in 1964 and 1986 . Drug resistance was much more prevalent in isolates from 1986 than in isolates from 1964 . Plasmids were demonstrated in 50 of 52 strains from 1964 and in 102 of 111 strains from 1986 . The majority of both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant strains harboured more than one plasmid . Of five plasmids obtained from a multiply-drug-resistant S . epidermidis, four were shown to mediate drug resistance. Bioorg Khim, 1988 Jul, 14(7), 878 - 82 {Amino acid sequence of neurotoxin II from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus}; Zykova TA et al.; Amino acid sequence of neurotoxin II isolated from the sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus was determined by analysis of peptides obtained after its digestion with trypsin and staphylococcal proteinase . It is shown that the polypeptide chain of the toxin consists of 48 amino acid residues, including six cysteines. J Chromatogr, 1988 Jul 1, 444, 97 - 106 Staphylococcal nuclease high-performance liquid chromatographic characterization of diaminooctane-modified DNA and its biotin and fluorescein derivatives; Cecchini DJ et al.; DNA was subjected to bisulfite-catalyzed transamination at the N4 sites of its cytosine residues with 1,8-diaminooctane (DAO) . The product, DNA-DAO, was non-specifically degraded with a cloned staphylococcal nuclease (Nase) . The products from the Nase digestion were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to define the extent of reaction with DAO . Mostly, nucleoside 3'-monophosphates were obtained, along with four Nase-resistant dinucleotides: TpdGp, dApdGp, TpdCp-DAO and dApdCp-DAO . The addition of spleen phosphodiesterase II gave a faster hydrolysis and left no dinucleotides . A mixture of Nase, snake venom phosphodiesterase I and alkaline phosphatase gave a fast hydrolysis as well but two dinucleotides, apparently TpdC-DAO and dApdC-DAO, persisted . Further modification of the diaminooctyl side chains with fluorescein isothiocyanate or biotin N-hydroxysuccinimide ester was similarly investigated . Interestingly, derivatization of the DAO side chain with biotin eliminates the resistance of TpdCp-DAO and dApdCp-DAO to Nase digestion . This work provides some guidelines for using Nase, alone or with other nucleases, along with HPLC, for characterizing alkyldiamine DNA products, and should be similarly useful for studying other modifications of DNA. Rev Infect Dis, 1988 Jul-Aug, 10 Suppl 2, S386 - 90 Antigenic structure of surface-exposed regions of the major outer-membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis; Newhall WJ 5th; The major outer-membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis displays a number of surface-exposed epitopes . Some of these are shared by all or some of the 15 known serovars, whereas others are serovar-specific . With use of epitope-mapping analysis of limited proteolytic digests of purified MOMPs with monoclonal antibodies, the present study assessed whether the same or different surface-exposed regions of the protein express these different epitopes . Results with both chymotrypsin and the staphylococcal V8 protease for MOMP of serovar F indicated that many of the shared surface epitopes are clustered in one region whereas the serovar-reactive epitope is located in a separate region . Analysis of MOMPs from all the serovars with a species-specific monoclonal antibody indicated that each MOMP possesses a structurally analogous region that expresses this epitope . Such a region might play a role in pathogenic mechanisms that are shared by all serovars. Neurosci Lett, 1988 Jun 29, 89(2), 127 - 32 A radioimmunohistochemical method for autoradiographic visualization of cell antigens using 125I-staphylococcal protein A; Correa FM et al.; 125I-Staphylococcal protein A was used to visualize immunoreactive cell antigen in rat brain and pituitary by autoradiography . Autoradiograms of rat brain sections generated with 125I-protein A were clear and showed low background signals . We were able to visualize neural structures containing tyrosine hydroxylase or methionine-enkephalin-like immunoreactivities in the brain, and vasopressin-like immunoreactivity in the pituitary gland . Our results suggest that 125I-protein A can be used for the radioimmunohistochemical visualization of cell antigens in tissue sections. Biochemistry, 1988 Jun 28, 27(13), 4761 - 8 Stability mutants of staphylococcal nuclease: large compensating enthalpy-entropy changes for the reversible denaturation reaction; Shortle D et al.; By use of intrinsic fluorescence to determine the apparent equilibrium constant Kapp as a function of temperature, the midpoint temperature Tm and apparent enthalpy change delta Happ on reversible thermal denaturation have been determined over a range of pH values for wild-type staphylococcal nuclease and six mutant forms . For wild-type nuclease at pH 7.0, a Tm of 53.3 +/- 0.2 degrees C and a delta Happ of 86.8 +/- 1.4 kcal/mol were obtained, in reasonable agreement with values determined calorimetrically, 52.8 degrees C and 96 +/- 2 kcal/mol . The heat capacity change on denaturation delta Cp was estimated at 1.8 kcal/(mol K) versus the calorimetric value of 2.2 kcal/(mol K) . When values of delta Happ and delta Sapp for a series of mutant nucleases that exhibit markedly altered denaturation behavior with guanidine hydrochloride and urea were compared at the same temperature, compensating changes in enthalpy and entropy were observed that greatly reduce the overall effect of the mutations on the free energy of denaturation . In addition, a correlation was found between the estimated delta Cp for the mutant proteins and the d(delta Gapp)/dC for guanidine hydrochloride denaturation . It is proposed that both the enthalpy/entropy compensation and this correlation between two seemingly unrelated denaturation parameters are consequences of large changes in the solvation of the denatured state that result from the mutant amino acid substitutions. J Biol Chem, 1988 Jun 15, 263(17), 8232 - 8 Localization of the pyridoxal phosphate binding site at the COOH-terminal region of erythrocyte band 3 protein; Kawano Y et al.; A human erythrocyte Band 3 peptide, affinity labeled with pyridoxal phosphate, was purified by a combination of gel permeation and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography . The amino acid sequence of the transmembrane peptide was determined by sequencing subfragments of the peptide obtained from lysyl endopeptidase and staphylococcal proteinase V8 digestions . When a peptide containing the COOH-terminal of human erythrocyte Band 3 was also purified and sequenced, the affinity-labeled peptide was found to be located close to the COOH-terminal of Band 3, where it could be aligned with amino acid residues 852-927 of a murine erythrocyte Band 3, deduced from a nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone (Kopito, R . R., and Lodish, H . F . (1985) Nature 316, 234-238) . The amino acid sequence of the COOH-terminal region was highly homologous to that of murine Band 3 . As a result, the sequence of the COOH-terminal peptide of Band 3 was established as follows . (Formula: see text) . The pyridoxal phosphate binding site was identified as Lys-18 which corresponded to Lys-869 of the deduced sequence . It appears that the COOH-terminal region of Band 3 constitutes at least a part of the active center for anion transport in human erythrocyte membranes. Eur J Biochem, 1988 Jun 15, 174(3), 521 - 30 Insulin-like growth factor I receptors on mouse neuroblastoma cells . Two beta subunits are derived from differences in glycosylation; Ota A et al.; We have characterized receptors for the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) on the mouse neuroblastoma cell line N18 as well as NG108, the hybrid cell line of N18 and rat glioma (C6) . In this cell-free system, IGF-I and insulin stimulated the phosphorylation of 95-kDa and 105-kDa proteins . Using appropriate antibodies we were able to demonstrate that the IGF-I receptor beta subunit has two subtypes of 95 kDa and 105 kDa . On the other hand, insulin receptor beta subunit is a separate single 95-kDa protein . Enzymatic digestion of IGF-I receptor beta subunit subtypes by glycopeptidase F resulted in similar molecular masses (84 kDa and 86 kDa) on SDS-PAGE, which suggests that the difference in molecular masses between two subtypes is attributable to the differences in N-linked complex-type carbohydrate chains on the extracellular domain of beta subunits . This conclusion is further supported by peptides of similar molecular mass following staphylococcal V8 protease digestion . Analysis of IGF-I receptor beta subunit subtypes in these cells may provide insights into the mechanism of action of IGF-I on neural tissues. Am J Hematol, 1988 Jun, 28(2), 71 - 8 Cephalosporin-induced immune cytopenia in the dog: demonstration of erythrocyte-, neutrophil-, and platelet-associated IgG following treatment with cefazedone; Bloom JC et al.; Cephalosporin treatment in man has been associated with a low incidence of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia; some cases have been shown to be immune-mediated . This triad of blood dyscrasias was also demonstrated in our laboratory in a series of toxicity studies in dogs of two cephalosporin compounds, cefonicid and cefazedone; these studies provided evidence for drug-associated immune hemolytic anemia, based on conventional laboratory tests . To further investigate possible immune mechanisms of the cephalosporin-induced cytopenias, we measured erythrocyte-associated, platelet-associated (PAIgG), and serum antineutrophil IgG over the course of cephalosporin treatment, using highly sensitive 125I-staphylococcal protein A (SPA) assays, as well as the direct antiglobulin test; we compared these findings with the hematologic changes . Intravenous treatment with high doses of cefazedone (540 mg/kg/day, increased to a maximum of 840 mg/kg/day for 4 months or until hematologic effects were evident) resulted in a high incidence of anemia (7/14), thrombocytopenia (11/14), and neutropenia (7/14) . Of the affected dogs examined, 6/7 with anemia, 9/9 with thrombocytopenia, and 7/7 with neutropenia showed increased levels of the respective cell-associated antibody, compared with untreated controls . Unaffected dosed animals generally did not show these changes . In 3/3 dogs examined following remission of thrombocytopenia, PAIgG returned to levels comparable with controls; as one of these dogs suffered a relapse, increased PAIgG was again observed . Animals sacrificed during cytopenic episodes showed cytologic and histologic evidence of increased hemophagocytosis . We conclude that antibody-mediated blood cell destruction contributes to all three cephalosporin-induced cytopenias in the dog. Clin Perinatol, 1988 Jun, 15(2), 365 - 88 Antibiotic therapy of the newborn; de Louvois J et al.; The bacteria infecting newborn babies have changed over the last few decades and vary from place to place . Each neonatal unit must therefore make its own choice of antibiotics to attack the local pathogens . This choice must be reconsidered regularly because of the continuing change in pathogens, such as the recent problems encountered with Staphylococcus epidermidis . The newer beta-lactam antibiotics, especially the third-generation cephalosporins, are proving useful in the treatment of neonatal infections. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Jun, 33(6), 426 - 8 {Isolation and identification of the enzyme complex in Streptomyces recifensis var . lyticus 2435 with beta-lactamase activity}; Gnilomedova LE et al.; Ability of an enzyme complex from Streptomyces recifensis var . lyticus 2435 to inactivate beta-lactam antibiotics was shown . Two lytic endopeptidases with beta-lactamase activity were isolated and identified as beta-lactamases of classes II and V according to the Richmond and Sykes classification system . The ability of the endopeptidases to hydrolyze the beta-lactam ring confirmed the absence of strict substrate specificity in them . Correlation between the capacity of the lytic endopeptidases for lysing staphylococcal cells and their capacity for inactivating beta-lactam antibiotics was observed. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1988 Jun, 140(6), 17 - 24 {Regeneration of the alveolar tree after suppurative-destructive diseases of the lungs}; Muromskii IuA et al.; Electron microscopic examinations of the lungs of animals with the model of experimental staphylococcal destruction of the lungs have revealed the regeneration of lung tissues which took place by the 6th month from the onset of the disease . The stimulating effect of laser radiation on the cell growth at the expense of mitosis was observed in the culture of epithelioid cells of the lung tissue . Findings of bronchography, angiopulmonography and an analysis of the function of external respiration in 10 patients have shown a complete anatomical and functional recovery of the alveolar tissue in sites of the former localization of pulmonary abscesses. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Jun, 268(4), 435 - 47 Properties of a protein from Staphylococcus capitis that binds human serum high density lipoprotein; Osland A et al.; A high density lipoprotein (HDL) binding component from the cell wall of Staphylococcus capitis, possessing both HDL binding and HDL precipitating activity, has been partially characterised . Growth of the bacteria on medium containing cysteine or in presence of CO2, was found to induce the synthesis of this factor . Analysis show an incorporation of radioactive amino acids into the factor, and also its sensitivity to trypsin, indicating strongly that the HDL binding factor is of protein nature . Gel-filtration experiments showed that the HDL binding protein had an elution volume corresponding to a molecular weight of about 150K . However, SDS-PAGE analysis of HDL binding protein, purified by affinity chromatography, showed that the 150K component was composed of subunits of a low molecular weight protein (7K) . As judged by the incorporation of radiolabelled amino acids, the HDL binding protein may, under certain growth conditions, constitute as much as 15% of the total protein in the autolytic extract from the bacteria. J Appl Bacteriol, 1988 Jun, 64(6), 483 - 6 Demonstration of capsule in a strain of Staphylococcus hyicus by an electron microscope; Yoshida K et al.; A compact type variant designated as strain ST67V was isolated by a high-temperature subculture method from strain ST67P of Staphylococcus hyicus, which was a diffuse type in serum-soft agar . The parent strain was relatively virulent in mice and resisted ingestion by mouse peritoneal cells . The variant strain, however, was avirulent in mice and no antiphagocytic activity was observed in the peritoneal cavity . In ultra-thin sections of the organisms treated with anti-ST67P rabbit anti-serum conjugated with ferritin, the outermost layer of the cell wall of the parent strain was covered with a well-defined capsule while no capsule was shown in the variant strain. J Appl Bacteriol, 1988 Jun, 64(6), 471 - 3 Survival of Staphylococcus epidermidis on the skin of patients of lepromatous leprosy; Kumar B et al.; The effect of hydration on Staphylococcus epidermidis, the predominant resident bacterial flora, was studied on skin affected by leprosy and known to have impaired sweating . Normal areas served as control . Significantly higher bacterial counts were observed in affected areas compared with normal-looking skin in 16/19 of the patients . Artificial application of Staph . epidermidis on leprosy-affected and unaffected areas, however, showed equivocal results, as in only 50% of the patients were higher counts obtained in affected compared with unaffected sites . The possible responsible factors for the present observation are discussed. EMBO J, 1988 Jun, 7(6), 1621 - 6 Hyperphosphorylation of N-60, a protein structurally and immunologically related to nucleolin after tumour-promoter treatment; Issinger OG et al.; Okadaic acid, a non-TPA-type tumour promoter, induces hyperphosphorylation of a 60-kd protein in primary human fibroblasts . Treatment with TPA-type tumour promoters (e.g . TPA and teleocidin) did not cause this hyperphosphorylation . Phosphorylation of this protein was not seen at times earlier than 90 min after the addition of 75 ng/ml okadaic acid to the proliferating cell cultures . The presence of inhibitors such as actinomycin D and cycloheximide, did not significantly influence the level of hyperphosphorylation induced by okadaic acid treatment . By immunoblotting using an antibody anti-nucleolin, the 60-kd protein was identified as a fragment of nucleolar protein, nucleolin . Similarly, antibodies against the 60-kd protein cross-reacted with nucleolin . Furthermore peptide mapping, using staphylococcal V8 protease, showed that the 60-kd protein phosphorylated by casein kinase II in vitro and the okadaic-acid-induced hyperphosphorylated 60-kd protein exhibited identical phosphopeptide maps, indicating that there is also structural relatedness between N-60 and nucleolin . Hyperphosphorylation of the nucleolin fragment (N-60) was suppressed by anti-tumour promoter retinoic acid. Pathol Biol (Paris), 1988 Jun, 36(5 Pt 2), 621 - 5 {In vitro activity of fusidic acid in combination with various antibiotics against Staphylococcus epidermidis}; Fosse T et al.; In vitro antibacterial activity of fusidic acid (FUC) in combination with cefotaxime (CTX), imipenem (IMP), gentamicin (GEN), amikacin (AKN), rifampin (RIF), fosfomycin (FOS), vancomycin, pefloxacin (PEF) was studied against 19 presumably pathogen meti-R Staphylococcus epidermidis strains . The study was carried out by means of a microtiter checkerboard method (FICs index, 19 strains) and killing-curves (3 strains) . FUC x GEN, FUC x AKN and FUC x IMP combinations were found synergistic with achievable therapeutic concentrations for IMP (MIC in the combination less than 1 microgram/ml) but with higher concentrations for AKN and GEN (greater than or equal to 8 micrograms/ml) . FUC x PEF combinations were regularly antagonistic . FUC x RIF, and FUC x FOS combinations showed a modal FIC greater than or equal to 4 but were found respectively additive and synergistic with killing-curve method . Remaining FUC combinations results were variable . FUC resistant mutant frequency, studied for 3 S . epidermidis strains, was similar as S . aureus one's (0.5.10(-7) a 2.5.10(-8)). J Appl Bacteriol, 1988 Jun, 64(6), 497 - 504 Azelaic acid: its uptake and mode of action in Staphylococcus epidermidis NCTC 11047; Bojar RA et al.; In vitro tests using Staphylococcus epidermidis as a model have shown that at pH 5.6 the micro-organisms are sensitive to azelaic acid, whilst at pH 6.0 and 7.0 the cells become progressively resistant, especially with nutrients present . In a simple defined medium the growth rate was reduced at 1 mmol/l and growth inhibited at 25 mmol/l . The uptake of azelaic acid was pH dependent, higher transport at lower pH values, and required viable cells . Azelaic acid, 457 mumol/l gave 50% inhibition of protein synthesis and this mechanism could account for the bactericidal and bacteristatic effects . DNA and RNA were affected slightly by 100 mmol/l azelaic acid, and respiration by 500 mmol/l. Biochemistry, 1988 May 31, 27(11), 4127 - 32 Identification of residues involved in a conformational change accompanying substitutions for glutamate-43 in staphylococcal nuclease; Wilde JA et al.; A recent paper from our laboratories {Hibler, D . W., Stolowich, N . J., Reynolds, M . A., Gerlt, J . A . Wilde, J . A., & Bolton, P . H . (1987) Biochemistry 26, 6278} described the generation of site-directed substitutions for the putative general base Glu-43 in the active site of Staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) and the use of 1H NMR spectroscopy to characterize the effect of the substitutions on the conformations of the mutant proteins . The replacements for Glu-43 (Asp, Gln, Asn, Ser, and Ala) both decreased the catalytic efficiency and changed the one- and two-dimensional NMR spectral properties of the mutant enzymes . We have prepared and studied the NMR spectral properties of several samples of deuteriated wild-type SNase that allow sequence-specific resonance assignments for several aromatic and aliphatic amino acid side chains that experience changes both in normal one-dimensional spectra and in two-dimensional NOESY spectra . Due to severe spectral congestion of resonances in the one- and two-dimensional spectra of protiated SNase, the assignments would have been difficult, if not impossible, to obtain without deuteriation of selected amino acids . The spectra we have obtained demonstrate that changes in NOE intensities involve a valine residue that is spatially adjacent to two phenylalanine residues; given the X-ray structure for SNase {Cotton, F . A., Hazen, E . E., & Legg, M . J . (1979) Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S.A . 76, 2551}, these residues must be Val-74, Phe-34, and Phe-76 . In addition, a leucine residue experiencing changes in NOE intensities spatially adjacent to Val-74 and Phe-34 can be assigned to Leu-25.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biochim Biophys Acta, 1988 May 22, 960(2), 220 - 8 Lipoprotein lipase in heart cell cultures is suppressed by bacterial lipopolysaccharide: an effect mediated by production of tumor necrosis factor; Friedman G et al.; Exposure of rat heart cell cultures, consisting mainly of nonbeating mesenchymal cells, to 50 ng/ml of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h resulted in a more than 80% reduction in lipoprotein lipase activity . The loss of enzymic activity was accompanied by a concomitant reduction in enzyme protein, as shown by immunoblotting . Addition of LPS to the culture medium resulted also in the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and the fall in lipoprotein lipase in LPS-treated cultures could be prevented by an antibody to TNF . Addition of recombinant human TNF to the heart cell cultures also depressed lipoprotein lipase activity . LPS treatment of preadipocytes in culture resulted in a fall in lipoprotein lipase activity and TNF production . Since TNF is known as a macrophage product, the cultures were tested for phagocytic capacity, and only 0.2-1.3% of the cells were shown to engulf Staphylococcus albus . Immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies OX-1, which identify leukocyte common antigen, was negative, and only 0.1 +/- 0.07% of the cells were positive after staining with OX-42 antibody to iC3b receptor . Both antibodies stained more than 98% of rat peritoneal macrophages used as controls . Since LPS treatment of macrophages at numbers comparable to or exceeding the number of phagocytic cells present in the heart cell cultures did not induce measurable amounts of TNF, it is suggested that in the heart cell cultures, TNF may be produced by cells other than macrophages. Nature, 1988 May 19, 333(6170), 276 - 8 Prepeptide sequence of epidermin, a ribosomally synthesized antibiotic with four sulphide-rings; Schnell N et al.; The genetic basis for the biosynthesis of large polypeptide antibiotics such as nisin has not been explained so far . We show here that the structural gene epiA encoding the antibiotic epidermin from Staphylococcus epidermidis is located on a 54-kilobase plasmid and codes for a 52-amino-acid prepeptide, which is processed to the tetracyclic 21-peptide amide antibiotic . The mature sequence of epidermin corresponds to the C-terminal 22-peptide segment of pre-epidermin and contains the precursor amino acids Ser, Thr and Cys, from which the unusual amino-acid constituents are derived . The more lipophilic epidermin is cleaved at a hydrophilic turn between Arg-1 and Ile+1 from the N-terminal segment-30 to -1, which probably assumes a partially amphiphilic alpha-helix conformation . We propose that the N-terminus (-30 to -1) plays a cooperative role during modification reactions and prevents toxicity of the mature epidermin to the producing strain before the antibiotic is cleaved off and secreted. Anal Biochem, 1988 May 15, 171(1), 141 - 4 A dye release assay for determination of lysostaphin activity; Zhou R et al.; We describe a method for determination of lysostaphin activity using Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBB)-dyed staphylococcal cells or RBB-dyed staphylococcal peptidoglycan as substrate . The dyed substrates are easy to prepare and are stable for at least 6 months . Soluble hydrolytic products released by lysostaphin are measured spectrophotometrically at 595 nm after the insoluble substrate is removed by filtration or centrifugation . The dye release assay is more sensitive and more accurate than the previously described turbidimetric assay. J Biol Chem, 1988 May 15, 263(14), 6777 - 82 Relationship of protein phosphorylation to the activation of the respiratory burst in human neutrophils . Defects in the phosphorylation of a group of closely related 48-kDa proteins in two forms of chronic granulomatous disease; Okamura N et al.; When 32P-labeled human neutrophils were activated by exposure to phorbol myristate acetate, three 48-kDa proteins (designated pp48/6.8, pp48/7.3, and pp48/7.8, from their isoelectric points) were found to have become labeled . With maximal stimulation, labeling was complete by 30 s . With lesser degrees of stimulation, the extent of labeling at 2 min correlated with rates of production by the phorbol-treated cells . Increased labeling of these 48-kDa proteins was also seen in cells exposed to f-Met-Leu-Phe . In phorbol-treated neutrophils from patients with X-linked cytochrome b558-negative chronic granulomatous disease, pp48/7.8 was labeled in a normal fashion, but pp48/6.8 and pp48/7.3 failed to take up 32P . In cells from patients with autosomal recessive cytochrome b558-positive chronic granulomatous disease, however, none of the three proteins took up 32P in response to phorbol . The three proteins appear to be very closely related, as indicated by the findings that phosphoserine was the only phosphoamino acid found in any of the three, and all three yielded identical one-dimensional phosphopeptide maps after digestion with either chymotrypsin or staphylococcal proteinase V8 . These results reconcile earlier observations on protein phosphorylation in chronic granulomatous disease and provide further evidence for a relationship between the phosphorylation of this group of 48-kDa proteins and the activation of the respiratory burst oxidase. Biochem J, 1988 May 15, 252(1), 87 - 93 The amino acid sequence of a gonococcal growth inhibitor from Staphylococcus haemolyticus; Watson DC et al.; A gonococcal inhibitor produced by Staphylococcus haemolyticus was separated into three components by reverse-phase h.p.l.c . The amino acid composition analysis of each of the three components indicated extensive similarities . N-Terminal sequence analysis of all three components allowed the identification of the first 27-30 residues of each . The complete primary structure of each component was determined from the sequence analysis of trypic peptides and peptides generated by mild acid hydrolysis . Each component is composed of 44 amino acid residues, with evidence suggesting the presence of an N-terminal formylmethionine residue in each . The components I, II and III have respectively 33, 29 and 33 identical amino acid residues in their sequences, which represents 75%, 65.9% and 75% homology . These components contain a high proportion of hydrophobic amino acids, and their hydrophobicity profiles are closely related . Also, each of the three components contains a positively charged residue (lysine) as the third residue, followed by a core of hydrophobic residues . These results suggest that the three components are possible signal sequences of one or more secreted or membrane-associated proteins. Biochem J, 1988 May 15, 252(1), 237 - 45 Rat monoclonal antibodies to rabbit and human serum low-density lipoprotein; Gherardi E et al.; A total of 16 hybrid myeloma clones secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAb) to rabbit or human serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were derived from the fusion of spleen cells from LOU or DA rats immunized with rabbit or human LDL and the rat myeloma lines Y3 Ag1.2.3 or YB2/0 . Anti-(rabbit LDL) McAb showed limited reactivity with LDL from human, rhesus-monkey, rat and mouse serum . Six out of seven anti-(human LDL) McAb reacted with rhesus-monkey LDL, and only one showed partial cross-reaction with rabbit LDL . Binding-competition experiments indicated that the epitopes recognized by the anti-(rabbit LDL) IgG could be grouped into two major clusters: McAb in the first cluster reacted either with apo-(lipoprotein B-100) (apoB-100) and apo-(lipoprotein B-74) (apoB-74) or with apoB-100 but not with apo-(lipoprotein B-48) (apoB-48), the lower-Mr form of apoB of intestinal origin; the McAb in the second cluster all reacted with apoB-48 in addition to apoB-100 or apoB-100 and apoB-74 . The six anti-(human LDL) IgG bound to separate epitopes on LDL . Further data on the epitope specificity of these McAb were obtained by antibody blotting after partial proteolysis of apoB-100 with trypsin or staphylococcal V8 proteinase, and the data confirmed the results obtained with the binding-competition experiments . One McAb to rabbit LDL inhibited the binding of LDL to the fibroblast LDL receptor (50% inhibition at a McAb/LDL molar ratio of 10) . A similar result was produced by two other McAb at higher concentrations of antibody. Brain Res, 1988 May 10, 448(1), 192 - 7 A simple two-step immunocytochemical method using protein A-peroxidase to stain immunoreactive cell antigens; Correa FM et al.; We report a simple two-step immunocytochemical method that uses staphylococcal protein A conjugated to horseradish peroxidase and the H2O2-3,3'-diaminobenzidine chromogenic reaction to stain neurons and fibers containing immunoreactive cell antigens . Our protein A-peroxidase method was found to produce stains of equal or superior quality to those of the classical 3-step peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) technique . Since the chromogenic reaction with protein A-peroxidase has low non-specific tissue binding, the reaction can be carried out at acidic pH with higher horseradish peroxidase activity and no significant increase in background . Using this method, we were able to produce clear stains of neurons and fibers containing tyrosine hydroxylase or fibers containing methionine-enkephalin . The use of protein A-peroxidase conjugate substantially simplified the immunocytochemistry procedure, and reduced both the time and cost of experiments. J Biol Chem, 1988 May 5, 263(13), 6363 - 9 Structure and differential mechanisms of regulation of expression of a serine esterase gene in activated human T lymphocytes; Caputo A et al.; A cDNA clone encoding a polypeptide resembling proteolytic serine esterases (from cytotoxic T-cells; SECT) was isolated from human peripheral blood lymphocytes which had been cultured in the presence of the T-cell mitogen phytohemagglutinin for 72 h . The cDNA encodes a polypeptide of 247 amino acids which show homology of 99% with the protein sequence encoded by a cDNA clone (1-3E) isolated from staphylococcal enterotoxin A-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes and 68% with the protein sequence (cytotoxic cell protease type I) derived from a cDNA clone (C11) encoding a serine esterase isolated from a murine cytotoxic T-cell line . The overall nucleotide sequence homology between the SECT cDNA and 1-3E was 99% and 73% between SECT and C11 . Comparing the coding regions of SECT and C11 showed 75% homology, whereas the 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions showed 67% homology . Phytohemagglutinin stimulation results in 30-, 60-, and 370-fold increases in cytoplasmic SECT mRNA with respect to unstimulated cells after 6-, 24-, and 72-h cultures, respectively . At 6 h, the increase in SECT mRNA occurs in the absence of increases in SECT gene transcription and cytoplasmic mRNA stabilization . A 5-fold increase in SECT nuclear RNA seen at this time suggests that stabilization of SECT nuclear RNA transcript is responsible for early increases in SECT mRNA levels . At 24 and 72 h, the increased cytoplasmic SECT mRNA levels can be accounted for by increased transcriptional activity of the SECT gene. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 May, (5), 15 - 8 {Staphylococcal dehydrogenase activity after application of the antibacterial preparation baliz-2 . A biochemical and electron microscopic study}; Zlishcheva LI et al.; The study carried out by means of biochemical and electron-microscopic techniques has shown that the antibacterial preparation baliz-2 at low and therapeutic concentrations suppresses the dehydrogenase activity of staphylococcal cells and their membrane fraction. Farmakol Toksikol, 1988 May-Jun, 51(3), 72 - 5 {Effect of benzonal on the drug-metabolizing function of the liver in pathological states}; Nadzhimutdinov KN et al.; In male rabbits with experimental acute hepatitis, acute renal insufficiency, diffuse peritonitis, Staphylococcus sepsis and thermic burns and also in patients with diseases of the nervous system one could observe prolongation of the half-elimination period (T1/2) and decrease of metabolic clearance of antipyrine . Benzonal (50 mg/kg orally for 3 days) normalized indices of antipyrine test . Similar results were obtained in patients with diseases of the nervous system (epilepsy, rheumatic vasculitis of the cerebral vessels with convulsive syndrome). Biomaterials, 1988 May, 9(3), 285 - 9 Surgical biomaterials and differential colonization by Staphylococcus epidermidis; Oga M et al.; The data presented in this communication demonstrate preferential colonization of certain biomaterials by Staphylococcus epidermidis . Using a laminar flow biomaterial colonization chamber and surgical-grade biomaterials (stainless steel, aluminium ceramic, methyl methacrylate and high-density polyethylene), the pattern of colonization was quantitated using plate count techniques and electron microscopy . Under comparable conditions, methyl methacrylate was colonized by S . epidermidis in greater numbers than the other biomaterials . Increased bacterial colonization and slime production on methyl methacrylate was time-dependent and 15 times higher than on stainless steel and aluminium and four times higher than on high-density polyethylene . The data reveal that certain biomaterials may promote infection by favouring colonization by potential pathogens . This variable should be explored extensively in an in vivo setting because of its implication in clinical infections. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 May, 268(3), 357 - 61 The role of lectins and lipoteichoic acid in adherence of Staphylococcus saprophyticus; Beuth J et al.; Staphylococcus saprophyticus strains S 1 and S 35 demonstrated lectin like surface receptors specific for N-acetylgalactosamine (S 1) or N-acetylneuraminic acid (S 35) . Adhesion assays with human uroepithelial cells together with blocking experiments with competitive carbohydrates suggested that specific attachment of S . saprophyticus to host cells is apparently mediated by lectins . Staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was also shown to interfere with S . saprophyticus adherence to human uroepithelial cells. J Cataract Refract Surg, 1988 May, 14(3), 317 - 20 Suppurative keratitis: a late complication of radial keratotomy; McClellan KA et al.; A 21-year-old man who had radial keratotomy performed two years previously presented with a painful, red right eye . Suppurative keratitis was found in one of the eight radial incisions and Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated by culture . Lack of stromal healing of the infected incision and the presence of epithelial cysts in four other incisions in the same eye suggest that the cause of the corneal infection was loss of the epithelial barrier function because of epithelial breakdown. J Infect, 1988 May, 16(3), 243 - 51 Peritonitis in children on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Mocan H et al.; Between 1979 and 1985, 26 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis had 97 episodes of peritonitis . These occurred over a period of 336 patient months, giving an incidence of one episode every 3.5 patient months . The micro-organisms comprised Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi which accounted for six episodes . Gram-positive bacteria were isolated in 49 of the 97 episodes (50.5%) with Staphylococcus epidermidis predominating . The incidence of culture-negative peritonitis was high (27.8%) . Because of failure to respond to treatment, or because of frequent recurrences, 42% patients were transferred to haemodialysis . The changing bacterial ecology has necessitated an alteration in choice of antibiotics . Cefamandole and/or gentamicin are no longer appropriate since 46% strains of S . epidermidis are now methicillin-resistant . Our 'best guess' choice for bacterial peritonitis would now start with netilmicin, vancomycin being added if indicated . For fungal peritonitis we would now start with a primary course of anti-fungal agents followed by early removal of the catheter if there is no response to treatment. Am J Vet Res, 1988 May, 49(5), 697 - 701 Identification of protein A from Staphylococcus intermedius isolated from canine skin; Fehrer SL et al.; Protein A was identified in cell wall-bound and secreted forms from Staphylococcus intermedius isolated from canine skin . A direct binding radioimmunoassay for the detection of bacterial surface Fc receptors identified 48 of 50 S intermedius isolates that contained cell wall-bound protein A . Using a competitive binding radioimmunoassay for the detection of Fc-reactive proteins in bacterial culture supernatants, we identified 9 of 50 clinical isolates of S intermedius that secreted measurable quantities of an Fc receptor into the culture medium . Concentrated culture supernatants from these isolates were analyzed by western blotting techniques and probed with either a radiolabeled human IgG Fc-specific probe or a radiolabeled affinity-purified chicken antibody against protein A . The studies reported here confirmed that Fc receptors are secreted by S intermedius isolates from dogs and are antigenically and functionally similar or are identical to staphylococcal protein A . Analysis of Fc receptor secretion by S intermedius strains, isolated from dogs with a variety of dermatologic conditions, suggested a trend between severity of skin disease and the extent of Fc receptor secretion. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand, 1988 May, 32(4), 343 - 6 Antistatic treatment for reducing airborne contamination of insulating materials in intensive care; Cozanitis DA et al.; In an effort to reduce airborne contamination by Staphylococcus epidermidis harboured on emitted skin scales, items used in patient care were studied as regards bacterial contamination and electrical resistance . An alcoholic benzalkonium chloride sodium was used to coat stopcocks, latex drains, silicon drains and plastic covering . Static electricity did not accumulate when the insulating resistance was less than 10(9) to 10(10) ohms . Study items not treated with the antistatic solution had resistances of greater than 2 x 10(12) ohms, which decreased to 2 x 10(6) to 8 x 10(10) ohms following antistatic treatment . The resistance of the silicon drain before and after antistatic exposure remained unchanged; an increase in its weight after treatment suggests absorption rather than the solution adhering to its surface . Statistically significantly lowered aerobic bacterial colony counts occurred from study items antistatistically treated as compared to those items left untreated . The coating of an entire room and its metal contents failed to decrease bacterial contamination . The results suggest that coating of insulating objects with an antistatic solution will reduce electrical resistance and thereby airborne bacterial contamination. J Clin Pathol, 1988 May, 41(5), 568 - 72 Rapid protein A assay for intrinsic factor and its binding antibody; Sourial NA; A simple and rapid method for the measurement of cobalamin bound intrinsic factor (Cbl-IF) complex and intrinsic factor binding antibody is described . The method is based on the principle of affinity chromatography and adapted to a batch separation technique . A specific ligand staphylococcal protein A was coupled to Sepharose to form a convenient solid phase matrix . The intrinsic factor binding antibody in patients with pernicious anaemia was used to form an immune complex with Cbl-IF . This complex was adsorbed on to staphylococcal protein A . Gastric juice from control subjects and patients with pernicious anaemia was assayed for intrinsic factor activity and the results correlated very closely with two other established methods . Sera from 30 control subjects were assayed for binding intrinsic factor antibody and all were found to be negative; of 15 patients with pernicious anaemia, six were positive . These patients were selected with blocking antibody . The method does not require technologically advanced protein separation techniques and could therefore be applied in any clinical laboratory using radioisotopes . It could also be adapted to assay cobalamin in body fluids or in food. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 May, 85(10), 3343 - 7 Cold denaturation of staphylococcal nuclease; Griko YV et al.; Denaturation of staphylococcal nuclease was studied in a temperature range from -7 to 70 degrees C by scanning microcalorimetry and spectropolarimetry . It was found that the native protein is maximally stable at about 20 degrees C and is denatured upon heating and cooling from this temperature . The heat and cold denaturation processes are approximated rather well by a two-state transition showing that the molecule is composed of a single cooperative system . The main difference between these two processes is in the sign of the enthalpy and entropy of denaturation: whereas the heat denaturation proceeds with increases in the enthalpy and entropy, the cold denaturation proceeds with decreases in both quantities . The inversion of the enthalpy sign occurs at about 15 degrees C in an acetate buffer, but this temperature can be raised by addition of urea to the solvent. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1988 May, 85(9), 3170 - 4 Protection against the staphylococcal enterotoxin-induced intestinal disorder in the monkey by anti-idiotypic antibodies; Reck B et al.; The staphylococcal enterotoxin serotype B (SEB)-induced enteric intoxication and the immediate-type reaction in the skin of unsensitized monkeys was used to define whether agents competing with SEB for target cell receptors may inhibit pathophysiological effects . For this purpose a duodenal provocation test was developed by use of a pediatric gastroscope, allowing the evaluation of the influence of antagonists on the intestinal disorder upon SEB challenge at the same duodenal site . First, carboxymethylation of histidine residues of SEB caused a complete loss of emetic and skin-sensitizing activity without changing the immunological specificity . However, carboxymethylated SEB is a strong inhibitor of enteric intoxications and immediate-type skin reactions upon SEB challenge . Second, after immunization of BALB/c mice with monoclonal anti-SEB antibodies, monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies (anti-Id) were obtained by the "hybridoma technique" and purification by idiotype-affinity chromatography . Anti-Id specifically inhibited the binding of horseradish peroxidase-labeled anti-SEB to the ligand, and SEB blocked as well the interaction of these two antibody species, indicating a high degree of binding-site selectivity . Anti-Id completely protected against emetic response and diarrhea upon duodenal provocation with SEB and inhibited immediate-type skin reactions as well . Further, anti-Id acted as an antagonist without triggering biologic functions themselves . This shows that anti-Id constitute a useful tool to protect against a bacterial toxin-induced intestinal disorder. Br J Ophthalmol, 1988 May, 72(5), 386 - 9 Role of vitrectomy in Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis; Ficker LA et al.; Seventeen patients with endophthalmitis due to coagulase-negative staphylococcus were treated over a nine-year period with vitrectomy, intraocular antibiotics, and systemic steroids and antibiotics . Fifteen patients presented with moderate to severe disease and visual acuities from counting fingers to light perception, while two had acuities of 20/60 and 20/200 . A final visual outcome of 20/70 or better was achieved in 13 of 17 eyes (76%) . Only one eye lost perception of light secondary to retinal detachment . Therapy including vitrectomy is an effective means of controlling moderate to severe coagulase-negative staphylococcal endophthalmitis and restoring vision. J Exp Med, 1988 May 1, 167(5), 1697 - 707 T cell stimulation by staphylococcal enterotoxins . Clonally variable response and requirement for major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on accessory or target cells; Fleischer B et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) are the most potent mitogens for T lymphocytes known; concentrations of less than 10(-9) M are sufficient for T cell activation . The mechanism of T cell activation by SE is unknown . We have used cloned human cytotoxic and proliferative T lymphocytes to dissect the molecular mechanism of T cell activation by SE . With rare exceptions, all TCR alpha/beta chain-expressing T cell clones of CD4+ or CD8+ phenotype, as well as CD4-8- TCR alpha/beta chain negative chain-expressing T lymphocyte clones, respond with proliferation and/or cytotoxicity to SE . For triggering of all these clones, the presence of autologous or allogeneic MHC class II molecules on accessory or target cells is necessary . This requirement for class II antigens is not due to an immunological recognition of processed SE, since inhibition of antigen processing has no influence on the T cell response to SE . SE acts on the T cells directly since (a) they stimulate a rise in intracellular calcium concentration in T cell lines or purified T cells, and (b) accessory cells can be replaced by phorbolesters in the proliferative activation of resting T cells by SE . Furthermore, the T cell response to SE shows extensive clonal heterogeneity . These results suggest that SE are functionally bivalent mitogens binding highly selectively to HLA class II molecules and the TCR . Thus, compared with other polyclonal T cell activating agents, activation with SE most closely mimicks the physiological way of MHC-restricted antigen recognition by T lymphocytes. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1988 May, 137(5), 1223 - 6 Fatal hemoptysis in acute bacterial endocarditis; Cosmo LY et al.; Massive hemoptysis is a rare complication of bacterial endocarditis . When seen, it is most often due to septic pulmonary emboli with infarction or rupture of a mycotic aneurysm of the pulmonary artery; these conditions are usually associated with endocarditis of the tricuspid valve . We report a case of fatal hemorrhage into the lung from a mycotic aneurysm of the subclavian artery, which eroded into the left upper lobe; this condition arose as a sequela of staphylococcal endocarditis involving the mitral valve. Plasmid, 1988 May, 19(3), 203 - 21 Comparative analysis of five related Staphylococcal plasmids; Projan SJ et al.; The genomic organization of five small multicopy staphylococcal plasmids comprising the pT181 family has been analyzed . In addition to pT181, the family presently includes the streptomycin resistance plasmid pS194 and the chloramphenicol resistance plasmids pC221, pC223, and pUB112 . Although they belong to five different incompatibility groups, the five plasmids have similar basic replicons, use the same basic copy control mechanism, and have a common structural organization . It has been demonstrated previously that pT181 and pC221 encode trans-active replication proteins (RepC and RepD, respectively) which specifically recognize the respective plasmid's origin of replication in both cases is initiated by site-specific nicking and 3' extension . The other three plasmids in this family encode similar replication proteins; 63% of the predicted amino acid residues are identical for all five and the least similar pair shows 75% identity at the amino acid level . However, despite this homology, the replication proteins and origins of replication of different members in this family did not show cross complementation in vivo . Outside of the basic replicon, which comprises about one-third of each plasmid's genome, functional organization is also conserved . The resistance determinants are all located in the same position, immediately downstream of the replication protein coding sequence, and all are transcribed in the same direction . The three chloramphenicol resistance determinants encode highly homologous chloramphenicol transacetylases which are unrelated to the tet and str gene products . Three of the five plasmids form relaxation complexes and the involved genome segments are closely related . The other two are not homologous to these three in the corresponding region, but are homologous to each other and encode a site-specific recombinase, Pre . It is suggested that the replication, resistance, and relaxation complex regions of these plasmids can be regarded as conserved segments ("cassettes") assembled in various combinations, but always with the same spatial arrangement. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1988 May, 137(5), 1151 - 8 A peptide from alveolar macrophages that releases neutrophil enzymes into the lungs in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome; Cohen AB et al.; A monoclonal antibody has been made to a peptide that is released by human alveolar macrophages . This enzyme-releasing peptide (ERP) causes neutrophils to secrete azurophilic granule enzymes . Normal subjects, patients with pulmonary fibrosis, and patients with sarcoidosis had similar concentrations of this peptide in their bronchoalveolar lavage fluids . However, patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) had about 2.7 times higher concentrations in their lavage fluids . The enzyme-releasing activity in the lavage fluids was significantly correlated with 2 indices of the severity of the clinical illness in patients with ARDS, the APACHE score, and the chest radiograph score . The correlation was diminished or ablated by removing the peptide with the monoclonal antibody bound to staphylococcal Sepharose 4B . This peptide accounted for 62.08% (SD = 15.88%) of the enzyme-releasing activity in fluids from lungs of patients with ARDS and 86.39% (SD = 24.46%) of the activity in fluids from lungs of normal control subjects . Therefore, ERP is the major neutrophil enzyme-releasing agent in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with ARDS and from normal persons . There was a significant correlation between the neutrophil enzyme-releasing activity and the ERP concentrations in BAL of patients with ARDS . These observations suggest that modulation of neutrophil function by ERP significantly controls the protease and peroxidase loads in the lungs of patients with ARDS. J Pediatr Surg, 1988 May, 23(5), 462 - 5 The surgical management of hyperinsulinism in infancy due to nesidioblastosis; Warden MJ et al.; Severe neonatal hypoglycemia due to nesidioblastosis demands prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent mental retardation . Early central venous catheter placement is essential for a constant glucose infusion . At surgery, near-total (95%) pancreatectomy is done, starting at the tail and preserving the spleen . Bipolar electrocoagulation is very useful for the tiny vessels . The uncinate process is removed leaving a small amount of pancreas adjacent to the preserved common bile duct . Three patients, diagnosed shortly after birth, had surgery at 34 days, 2 years, and 17 days of life . Two patients developed staphylococcal infections, one of whom exhibited the "scalded baby" syndrome and required reoperation for evisceration . Insulin was required for one to seven days in two and for three months in one . Diazoxide was needed for 18 months in the initial patient, who did not have uncinate resection . All patients are healthy and off medication with a postoperative follow-up period of 11, 12, and 65 months. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 May, (5), 90 - 5 {Effect of terrilytin on the activity of nonspecific resistance factors during immunization with staphylococcal anatoxin and staphylococcal infection}; Bel'skii VV et al.; Terrilytin and immobilized terrilytin enhance the activity and intensity of phagocytosis and increase the concentration of lysozyme in nonimmunized animals . Both preparations increase the production of antibodies to staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin, the titers of beta-lysins, the activity and intensity of the phagocytosis of bacterial cells by peripheral blood leukocytes in animals immunized with staphylococcal toxoid and challenged with live staphylococcal culture . In healthy animals terrilytin and immobilized terrilytin induce an increase in total proteolytic activity and in the activity of alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin, decreased as the result of staphylococcal infection. Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi, 1988 May, 63(3), 398 - 406 {Investigations of interferon and oligo-2',5'-adenylate systems in endogenous uveitis}; Kotake S; The interferon (IFN) and oligo-2',5'-adenylate (2-5A) systems were investigated in endogenous uveitis . It was shown that oligo-2',5'-adenylate synthetase (2-5AS) activities of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were significantly increased in Behcet's disease (P less than 0.01), Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's disease (VKH disease, P less than 0.01), and sarcoidosis (P less than 0.01) compared with those in controls . In order to investigate the effect of cyclosporin A (Cy A) on IFN systems in Behcet's disease, 2-5AS activities of PBL from 2 patients under Cy A therapy (10 mg/kg/day) were examined . The enzyme activities were high before treatment in both patients, but the activities were suppressed after treatment . The effect of Cy A on the production of IFN by PBL in vitro was also examined . IFN synthesis was markedly suppressed by Cy A in patients and controls . The effect of corticosteroids on IFN and 2-5A systems in VKH disease was studied . Two patients were given 200 mg of prednisolone with gradual tapering . Activities of 2-5AS of PBL from patients were high before treatment, and they were markedly suppressed after prednisolone treatment . The serum IFN, 2-5AS activities of PBL and the synthesis of IFN in vitro were examined in one patient who was given pulse methylprednisolone therapy . The serum IFN and 2-5AS activity of PBL were suppressed by this therapy . The production of IFN-alpha induced by herpes simplex virus and IFN-gamma induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin A and OK-432 were greatly suppressed . These results suggest that the IFN and 2-5A systems in endogenous uveitis play some significant role in the immunopathophysiology of these diseases. J Immunol, 1988 May 1, 140(9), 3098 - 107 Antigenic specificities of human monoclonal and polyclonal IgM rheumatoid factors . The C gamma 2-C gamma 3 interface region contains the major determinants; Sasso EH et al.; The binding site specificity of 12 monoclonal and 11 polyclonal IgM rheumatoid factors (RF) isolated from human plasma or serum has been studied . All IgM RF bound best to sites on IgG and intact Fc . The monoclonal IgM RF did not bind at all to fragments lacking the C gamma 2 or C gamma 3 domains . In contrast, low level binding to the pFc' fragment, composed of the C gamma 3 domain, was seen with seven IgM RF, mainly from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . IgG1 binding appeared to be a requisite specificity of all human IgM RF . IgM RF binding to IgG3 subclass was common among the monoclonal IgM RF . Most RA polyclonal IgM RF but only 2 of the monoclonal IgM RF possessed the IgG1, 2 and 4 binding pattern . Monoclonal IgM RF which bound best to histidine-modified IgG also bound well to IgG3 . The 7-kDa fragment D of staphylococcal protein A inhibited the IgG binding of most monoclonal and to a lesser degree polyclonal IgM RF . Thus, the results indicate that the C gamma 2-C gamma 3 interface region of IgG contains the predominant determinants for monoclonal and polyclonal IgM RF . For some monoclonal IgM RF the binding site, even though at the interface of the C gamma 2 and C gamma 3 domains, is not the staphylococcal protein A site . Furthermore, polyclonal IgM RF possess specificities not encountered among the monoclonal IgM RF . These specificities may have special J Immunol Methods, 1988 Apr 22, 109(1), 85 - 92 Two-site monoclonal antibody quantitative ELISA for toxic shock syndrome toxin-1; Kuffner TA et al.; A two-site monoclonal antibody (MAB) quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed that enables quantitation of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) down to 0.25 ng/ml and detection of TSST-1 to 0.06 ng/ml . Interference by Staphylococcus protein A was eliminated by incorporating normal rabbit serum into the test sample diluent . In the process of selecting an MAB pair for a two-site 'sandwich'-type ELISA, the MABs were screened for inhibition or common epitope binding . Some MABs that reacted with antigen that was adsorbed to a polystyrene well would not bind to antigen that was presented in a more natural configuration, as in the case of antigen immobilized by trapping antibody . Conversely, MABs that reacted with antigen that was immobilized by another antibody did not all function as trapping antibodies when adsorbed directly to a polystyrene surface . ELISAs that used polyclonal antibodies in the capture mode and MAB conjugate as the second antibody were generally more sensitive than were those that used polyclonal antibodies for both capture and indicator functions . MAB screening and selection schemes should be carefully designed to evaluate MABs in the mode in which they will be used in the final assay. J Immunol, 1988 Apr 15, 140(8), 2484 - 8 Binding of staphylococcal enterotoxin A to accessory cells is a requirement for its ability to activate human T cells; Carlsson R et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) activates human T cells at extremely low concentrations corresponding to 1 to 5 molecules/T cell . SEA, in contrast to other polyclonal activators, is absolutely dependent on accessory cells to interact with and activate T cells . Only cells that can bind SEA can act as accessory cells . Monocytes, B cells, and B lymphomas have these properties . Cells of the EBV-transformed B lymphoma Raji are particularly efficient as accessory cells . T cells do not bind soluble SEA . Probably the SEA molecule has to be attached to the accessory cell to become mitogenic . It is presently not known whether the T cell recognizes a molecular complex between the SEA molecule and the putative receptor moiety on the accessory cell or the SEA molecule itself modified by its binding to the accessory cell. Biol Psychiatry, 1988 Apr 15, 23(8), 797 - 806 Decreased mononuclear leukocyte TSH responsiveness in patients with major depression; Harbour DV et al.; A subgroup of individuals with major depressive disorder have an impaired thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) . The molecular relationship between the mechanism of this "blunted" TSH response and depression is unknown . Numerous recent studies have characterized similarities and interactions between the immune and neuroendocrine systems . As the immune system both produces and responds to TSH, we utilized a peripheral blood leukocyte system to compare immunoreactive (ir)-TSH responsiveness in 10 adult patients (1 man, 9 women) with Research Diagnostic Criteria for major depressive disorder to that of 9 control subjects . All subjects had normal baseline serum TSH and T4 concentrations . Isolated mononuclear leukocytes were treated in vitro with either 0.5 micrograms/ml staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), 50 micrograms/ml TRH, or no stimulant . After incubation, the cells were monitored for ir-TSH production by indirect immunofluorescence and reverse hemolytic plaque assay using antisera to TSH-beta . The culture supernates were analyzed by TSH radioimmunoassay . SEA- and TRH-treated cell cultures from depressed individuals had significantly fewer immunofluorescent positive cells, as well as significantly fewer and smaller plaques, than did similarly treated leukocytes from control subjects . The increase in supernatant ir-TSH was significantly less in TRH-treated cultures from depressed patients as compared to normals (p less than 0.05) . These results suggest that examination of mononuclear leukocyte TSH production may reflect an altered state of neuroendocrine function and may thus be a useful marker for major depressive disorder. Immunol Invest, 1988 Apr, 17(2), 121 - 33 Safety aspects of intravenous immunoglobulins; Medgyesi GA et al.; Seven commercially available intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) preparations, a gamma globulin prepared by ethanol fractionation, and an experimental IgG isolated by a chromatographic procedure were compared in several tests . Split products were present in preparations manufactured by procedures involving protease treatment and in a sulphitolysed IgG . The same preparations and another chemically modified product displayed a loss in their capacity to bind staphylococcal protein A . None of the preparations exerted a high anticomplementary activity using concentrated human serum as a complement source . No strict correlation between aggregate content and anticomplementary activity could be established . None of the commercial IVIG preparations tested displayed a sizeable hypotensive action as assessed by a rat model involving potentiation of bradykinin action by an angiotensin convertase inhibitor . The chromatographically purified IgG and an intramuscular IgG prepared by Rivanol fractionation contained high endogenous protease and prekallikrein activator (PKA) activity, respectively and both were found markedly hypotensive . Neither endogenous protease nor PKA activity was detected in the Cohngammaglobulin fraction . However, it was very strongly hypotensive even without any previous blocking of angiotensin convertase . Our data support the view that immunoglobulin preparations may affect blood pressure without inducing bradykinin generation. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Apr, 32(4), 420 - 5 Novel mechanisms of resistance to lincosamides in Staphylococcus and Arthrobacter spp; Quiros LM et al.; Clinical isolates of Staphylococcus and Arthrobacter spp . were screened for lincosamide resistance . Six different patterns of resistance were found . Strains designated SF27 and SF28 showed low-level resistance to lincosamides: one was susceptible to erythromycin (SF27) and the other was resistant (SF28) . Analysis of ribosomes from the resistant strains in an in vitro poly(U)-dependent protein-synthesizing system showed that ribosomes of both strains were sensitive to lincomycin and clindamycin . Four patterns of high-level resistance to lincosamides were observed (strains SF4, SF19, SF30, and SF31) . All of these except SF30 had ribosomes which were highly resistant in vitro to the antibiotics and showed a close correlation with results of the in vivo experiments . In vivo protein synthesis by strain SF30 was resistant to lincomycin and sensitive to clindamycin, whereas the ribosomes were sensitive when assayed in vitro . Lincosamide-inactivating enzymes were not detected in cell extracts of the six resistant strains . Strains SF19 and SF31 demonstrated two ribosome-mediated lincosamides resistance mechanisms that were not previously reported . Both strains were highly resistant to lincosamides and susceptible to erythromycin, but SF19 was also highly resistant to oleandomycin and partially resistant to various macrolides. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 26(4), 613 - 7 Characterization of clinically significant isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from patients with endocarditis; Etienne J et al.; Biotyping, slime production, bacteriophage typing, serotyping, antibiograms, and plasmid profiles were used to characterize 19 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from 12 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis and from 7 patients with native valve endocarditis . With the API Staph battery, 12 different biocodes with, at the most, three differences were obtained . Slime production was found for 10 strains (53%) . Agglutinogens investigated by agglutination with two specific sera were found for 12 strains (63.1%) . Three strains were phage typable (15.2%) . Against a panel of nine antimicrobial agents, 15 different profiles were found . Multiply antibiotic-resistant strains were isolated from patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis when disease onset occurred less than 18 months after heart surgery and from patients with native valve endocarditis who received antibiotics immediately prior to their illness . All of the strains were available for plasmid analysis, and all the DNA profiles were distinct . On gels run in Tris-borate buffer, 73.7% of the strains had large plasmids of more than 30 megadaltons . A small plasmid of 2.8 megadaltons was found in multiply resistant strains and in strains resistant only to tetracyclines . None of the isolates appeared to be the same strain, and the bacteriological differences between the strains were confirmed mainly by the antibiotic susceptibility profile and the plasmid pattern analysis . These bacteriological results were in agreement with the clinical data. Arch Dermatol, 1988 Apr, 124(4), 548 - 50 Anthralin-corticosteroid combination therapy in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis; Monk BE et al.; A prospective randomized trial of anthralin in Lassar's paste compared with anthralin in 0.0125% clobetasol propionate in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis was undertaken . The psoriatic skin of patients treated with the corticosteroid-anthralin combination cleared significantly more quickly than those treated with anthralin alone, with a mean time to clearance of 14.9 days compared with 18.5 days, and with lower concentrations of anthralin . No significant difference was found in the rate of relapse of the two treatment groups, with relapse occurring in over 80% of patients within one year . Anthralin in 0.0125% clobetasol propionate was found to be an effective agent in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis, and one that was cosmetically acceptable to patients and nursing staff . An important disadvantage, however, was the development of a staphylococcal folliculitis in four of the 35 patients in which it was used . Because of this, anthralin in Lassar's paste remains our standard inpatient therapy, although the ease of use and cosmetic acceptability of anthralin in clobetasol propionate make it a useful remedy for outpatient use. Arch Surg, 1988 Apr, 123(4), 506 - 8 Microbiological monitoring of aortic aneurysm wall and contents during aneurysmectomy; Ilgenfritz FM et al.; Fifty-six patients, ranging in age from 49 to 90 years, underwent abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy and had cultures taken from the aneurysm wall and atheromatous debris to identify possible microbiological sources of future graft infection . All patients received antibiotics before and after operation . Eleven (19.6%) of 56 cultures yielded bacterial growth . The most common organism isolated was Staphylococcus epidermidis (in six of 11 patients) . Thirty-seven percent of the aneurysms cultured were symptomatic (expanding or ruptured); however, this group accounted for 54% (6/11) of the positive cultures . During an average follow-up period of 24.5 months (range, four to 82 months), no early or late graft infections were documented . A literature review demonstrated the same disparity between positive cultures obtained at aneurysmectomy and subsequent low graft-infection rate. J Infect Dis, 1988 Apr, 157(4), 757 - 63 Phenotypic selection of small-colony variant forms of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the rat model of endocarditis; Baddour LM et al.; Four pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis (sensu strictu)-EC, RP62A, LW, and HBSN--exhibited a mixed population of colony phenotypes when plated onto a high-salt, low-glucose agar ("Memphis agar") . When compared with challenge inocula, significant shifts in colony populations to the small-colony variant forms occurred for all four strains for isolates recovered from infected vegetations of rats with catheter-induced endocarditis . Various colony phenotypes of the HBSN strain were compared in virulence studies by using the rat model of endocarditis . The infectivity rate of the small-colony variant forms was significantly less than that of either the normal parent form (P less than .05) or the mixed phenotypic inoculum (P less than .05) . These data indicate that the small-colony variant forms may be selected for, once endocardial infections are established, and that the small-colony variant forms alone are much less able to initiate and/or sustain intracardiac infections in experimental endocarditis. J Immunol, 1988 Apr 1, 140(7), 2279 - 87 Phosphorylation of intracellular precursors of human IL-1; Kobayashi Y et al.; The human IL-1 molecules (IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta) are post-translationally cleaved from 31-kDa precursor to 18-kDa biologically active molecules . During the course of studies of post-translational modifications of human IL-1, we have observed that although LPS induced the production of both intracellular IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in human monocytes, {32P}orthophosphate labeling of these cells revealed that intracellular precursor of IL-1 alpha (pre-IL-1 alpha) to be phosphorylated at least 10-fold more than intracellular pre-IL-1 beta . However, no 32P-incorporation could be detected in the 18-kDa processed IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta . Analysis by TLC revealed that the major phosphorylation site occurred at serine residue(s) . The 32P was incorporated into multiply cleaved precursors of IL-1 alpha, which appeared in the absence of protease inhibitors . Since the smallest Mr pre-IL-1 alpha that was labeled with 32P was 22 kDa, the phosphorylated serine residue is presumably located adjacent to a sequence of four basic amino acids located in the 4-kDa region at the amino terminus of the 22-kDa precursor of IL-1 alpha . This serine residue might also be a major phosphorylation site for a cAMP-dependent protein kinase . This hypothesis was substantiated by the demonstration that a synthetic peptide analogue of this region (residue 84 to 112) could be similarly phosphorylated in vitro by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase . Furthermore, a truncated pre-IL-1 alpha (residue 64 to 271) and a "fusion" protein containing staphylococcal protein A and an amino-terminal half-portion of pre-IL-1 alpha (residue 1 to 112), but not mature IL-1 alpha (residue 113 to 271), could also be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase . There is no comparable amino acid sequence in IL-1 beta which could be expected to be phosphorylated by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase . The physiologic relevance of phosphorylation of pre-IL-1 alpha was investigated . The data showed that phosphorylation of truncated pre-IL-1 alpha greatly enhanced its susceptibility to digestion by trypsin and promoted the conversion of pre-IL-1 alpha to the more biologically active IL-1 . Although the precise role of the rather selective phosphorylation of pre-IL-1 alpha is not known, our findings do suggest that the phosphorylation of serine close to dibasic/tetrabasic amino acid sequence functions to facilitate the processing and/or release of IL-1 alpha. Biochem Soc Trans, 1988 Apr, 16(2), 111 - 2 Protein engineering to optimize recombinant protein purification; Uhlen M et al.; Genetic approaches have been used to facilitate purification of recombinant proteins, on both a large and a small scale . Based on developments in three different areas: (i) affinity chromatography; (ii) specific cleavage of fusion proteins and (iii) secretion of fusion proteins, a coupled expression/secretion system was designed . It was further improved by protein engineering . Using a synthetic DNA fragment, encoding two IgG-binding domains derived from staphylococcal protein A, gene products were secreted to the culture medium of Escherichia coli and purified with a one-step affinity procedure . The system has been used for large-scale production of biologically active human peptide hormones, to generate peptides for antibody production and to immobilize proteins on solid supports. Clin Exp Immunol, 1988 Apr, 72(1), 124 - 9 Evidence that defective gamma interferon production in patients with primary immunodeficiencies is due to intrinsic incompetence of lymphocytes; Paganelli R et al.; We have selected 11 patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders predominantly affecting T lymphocyte function (four with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT), four with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) and one each with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, hyper-IgE syndrome and combined immunodeficiency) with defective gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production in vitro . Induction with phytohaemagglutinin showed low interleukin 2 (IL-2) production concomitant with reduced IFN-gamma titres . However the addition of 10 U/ml of rIL-2 to cultures stimulated with staphylococcal enterotoxin B or galactose oxidase failed to restore IFN-gamma production in defective cases . IFN-gamma was titrated by both bioassay and immunoradiometric assay, ruling out the possible release of inactive or altered IFN-gamma molecules . Normal levels of IFN-gamma were found in patients of patients with AT, as well as in two AT and two CVI cases, demonstrating heterogeneity of defects within these syndromes . Soluble inhibitors or cellular suppression of IFN-gamma were not observed in mixing experiments . The possibility that defective interaction between accessory cells and T lymphocytes might account for the poor response to the inducing agents was ruled out as no IFN-gamma was produced using a calcium ionophore--which bypasses this step--in seven patients with absolute IFN-gamma deficiency. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1988 Apr, 7(2), 130 - 4 Poor efficacy of teicoplanin in treatment of deep-seated staphylococcal infections; Galanakis N et al.; Teicoplanin in a 400 mg intravenous loading dose followed by 200 mg/day intravenously or intramuscularly was given to 19 patients with deep-seated staphylococcal infections . Only eight patients (44.4%) were considered cured, failure mostly being observed in patients with osteomyelitis, endocarditis and bacteremia . Poor tissue kinetics of teicoplanin and the presence of foreign bodies are probable explanations for the reported failures . Future trials using a higher dose of teicoplanin with or without the addition of rifampicin or gentamicin seem to be justified. J Med Genet, 1988 Apr, 25(4), 270 - 2 Unknown syndrome: mental retardation with postaxial polydactyly, congenital absence of hair, severe seborrhoeic dermatitis, and Perthes' disease of the hip; Garrett C et al.; We report a six year old male with mental retardation, postaxial polydactyly and syndactyly, atrichia congenita totalis, severe seborrhoeic dermatitis, recurrent staphylococcal skin sepsis, and Perthes' disease of the hip . His birth may have resulted from an incestuous mating. J Hosp Infect, 1988 Apr, 11 Suppl B, 33 - 41 Current thoughts on Staphylococcus epidermidis in vascular surgery; Strachan CJ; Staphylococcus epidermidis (CNS) is a major cause of infection in peripheral vascular surgery . It occurs as commonly in vascular prostheses as in orthopaedic, cardiac and neurosurgical implants . Greater awareness of the possible presence of CNS in initially indolent infections, particularly in the groin, is necessary . More rapid isolation and identification techniques to separate the contaminant from the pathogenic CNS are needed . It seems that better preoperative antiseptic care of vascular patients may reduce the tendency for even 24 h cephalosporin prophylaxis to encourage the emergence of resistant CNS strains. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Apr, 26(4), 781 - 3 Establishment by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of seronegative range for herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus antibodies and evaluation of heterologous responses to live varicella vaccine; Gong AK et al.; Cord serum samples treated with staphylococcus protein A and an immune affinity column to remove immunoglobulin G were used to establish a seronegative range for herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus . No seroconversions or increased heterologous antibody levels to herpes simplex virus or cytomegalovirus were found in live varicella vaccine recipients. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1988 Apr, 268(2), 228 - 37 Detection of different fimbriae-like structures on the surface of Staphylococcus saprophyticus; Schmidt H et al.; In relation to the ability of adhesiveness to HEp-2-cells the sizes of capsules on three strains of Staphylococcus saprophyticus were examined using an electron microscopic India ink technique . There was a good correlation between small amounts of capsular material and good adherence to the tissue culture cells . In contrast to this a very large capsule could be demonstrated on a strain which adhered only in a poor manner . Some indications of fimbriae-like structures could be confirmed by negative staining . Three different appendages: thick, short sticks, long, branched fimbriae and fine, thin filaments on the surface of S . saprophyticus were detected . The possible functions of these surface structures in the adherence process represented in a hypothetical cell model is discussed. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1988 Apr, 66(4), 689 - 95 Antigenic determinants on thyroglobulin: comparison of the reactivities of different thyroglobulin preparations with serum antibodies and T cells of patients with chronic thyroiditis; Shimojo N et al.; To delineate the antigenic determinants on thyroglobulin (Tg) recognized by serum autoantibodies and peripheral blood T cells from patients with chronic thyroiditis, we studied the reactivities of three different Tg preparations, i.e . enzyme-digested Tg fragments, physically or chemically denatured Tg, or Tg with differing iodine contents . Human Tg was digested with staphylococcal V8 protease, and the fragments were separated by high performance liquid chromatography . The autoantibodies reacted with the larger fragments, but their ability to bind to small fragments was limited . On the other hand, T cells reacted similarly with all fragments, regardless of mol wt . The autoantibodies bound little to denatured Tg after its disulfide bonds were destroyed with dithiothreitol or 2-mercaptoethanol, while the reactivity of heat-denatured Tg was partially decreased, and that of Tg denatured with sodium dodecyl sulfate was conserved . Conversely, T cells reacted with Tg denatured by heating or dithiothreitol treatment . These results indicate that autoantibodies recognize mainly a conformational structure of Tg, presumably containing disulfide bonds, whereas T cells recognize the primary structure of Tg . Variations in the iodine content of Tg were not associated with altered reactivity with autoantibodies or T cells . We propose that variations in Tg conformation related to iodination of the molecule do not contribute significantly to its reactivity with autoantibodies and T cells . In addition, T cells reacted with the smaller Tg fragments containing few T3 or T4 residues to a greater extent than they did with larger Tg fragments with the same amount of T3 or T4 as native Tg . Therefore, it appears that the Tg-reactive T cells predominantly recognize determinants on the Tg molecule that are unrelated to hormone-containing sites. Biochemistry, 1988 Mar 22, 27(6), 2158 - 65 NMR assignments of the four histidines of staphylococcal nuclease in native and denatured states; Alexandrescu AT et al.; NMR signals from all four histidine ring C epsilon protons and three of the four histidine C delta protons in the protein staphylococcal nuclease have been assigned by comparing spectra of the wild-type (Foggi strain) protein to spectra of three variants that each lack a different histidine residue . All proteins studied were cloned and overproduced in Escherichia coli . The NMR spectra of the three mutant proteins (H8R, H46Y, and H124L) used to make these assignments were similar to one another and to those of the wild type, except for signals from the mutated residues . The pKa values of those histidines conserved between the wild type and the mutants remained essentially unchanged . Multiple histidine C epsilon proton resonances due to non-native forms of nuclease were observed in both thermally induced and acid-induced unfolding . Residue-specific assignments of H epsilon protons in the thermally denatured forms of the mutant H46Y were obtained from connectivities to the native state by saturation transfer. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1988 Mar 15, 192(6), 777 - 80 Coagulase-positive staphylococcal mastitis in a herd with low somatic cell counts; Hoblet KH et al.; An increase in clinical mastitis infections was observed in a high-producing 77-cow Holstein herd . Low bulk tank somatic cell counts and individual cow Dairy Herd Improvement Association somatic cell counts observed before, during, and after the epizootic were suggestive of herd environmental mastitis . However, bacteriologic culture survey of the total herd indicated that, in addition to infections possibly attributable to environmental pathogens, 22% (17/77) of the cows were infected with coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp . Conceivably, investigative efforts and management changes, without bacteriologic culturing, might have resulted in reduction of the clinical infection rate in this herd . However, the continued high prevalence of a contagious pathogen with potential future implications would have gone unnoticed . Somatic cell count in milk from individual cows generally is a useful tool for monitoring the probability of intramammary infection, but must be complemented with bacteriologic culture of milk to determine whether contagious or environmental pathogens are responsible. Arch Fr Pediatr, 1988 Mar, 45(3), 189 - 92 {Mycotic aneurysm of the pulmonary artery complicating infectious endocarditis}; Tounian P et al.; The authors report the case of a 7 year-old boy, in whom a mycotic aneurysm of the lobar inferior left pulmonary artery had been found in the course of a staphylococcal endocarditis of the tricuspid valve . Surgical removal of the aneurysm was followed by a thrombosis of this artery . This is a rare complication after infective endocarditis . Analysis of literature data shows that the rupture of these aneurysms frequently occurs; therefore, systematic surgical treatment is recommended whenever the anatomic conditions make it possible. Br J Haematol, 1988 Mar, 68(3), 273 - 8 Neutrophil function in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; Harvey DM et al.; Frequent and recurrent episodes of peritonitis are a major cause of morbidity in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) . One factor contributing to this problem may be an abnormality of neutrophil function in these patients . We have therefore quantified phagocytosis and killing by circulating and peritoneal neutrophils from patients on CAPD with and without peritonitis . Circulating neutrophils from uninfected patients showed reduced phagocytosis of both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Candida guilliermondii because of an opsonic defect in CAPD serum and because of a defect of the neutrophils themselves . In contrast, phagocytosis by circulating and peritoneal neutrophils from patients with peritonitis was normal . Intracellular killing of C . guilliermondii was normal in all groups of neutrophils but killing of S . epidermidis, the organism most commonly isolated in CAPD peritonitis, was reduced . The possible mechanisms for the enhanced neutrophil activity seen in peritonitis, and for the decreased killing of S . epidermidis in contrast to normal killing of C . guilliermondii are discussed . A defect in killing of S . epidermidis may explain why peritonitis caused by this organism can be difficult to erradicate. J Infect, 1988 Mar, 16(2), 141 - 6 Use of an in vitro model for studying the eradication of catheter colonisation by Staphylococcus epidermidis; Bayston R et al.; Silicone rubber catheters were experimentally colonised with three different strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis sensu stricto . The catheters were then perfused with brain-heart infusion broth by means of an in vitro apparatus which simulates the pharmacokinetics of intraventricular administration of antimicrobial agents . When colonisation was established, vancomycin was administered to the dosing chamber three times daily so as to give peak concentrations of 16, 32, 64 and 128 mg/l . Each experiment was performed in triplicate . Samples of fluid taken from each catheter were cultured before treatment and at intervals thereafter during perfusion for 4 weeks or until recolonisation became apparent . Those catheters not showing evidence of recolonisation were examined by scanning electron microscopy for the presence of organisms . Colonisation was eradicated (as judged by cultural examination) in 37% catheters but eradication did not bear any clear relationship to drug concentrations . Electron microscopical examination of all catheters showing eradication by cultural means revealed the presence of organisms. Arch Surg, 1988 Mar, 123(3), 309 - 15 The microbiology of multiple organ failure . The proximal gastrointestinal tract as an occult reservoir of pathogens; Marshall JC et al.; The microbiology of infection acquired in the intensive care unit (ICU) was studied prospectively in 205 consecutive patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit . A multiple organ failure (MOF) score was calculated for each admission . Susceptibility to ICU-acquired infection increased with increasing MOF scores . While Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, and enterococci were the most common isolates from infections present at the time of ICU admission, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Candida, and Pseudomonas dominated infections occurring in patients with high MOF scores . Mortality correlated highly with infection due to S epidermidis or Candida and only poorly with infection due to Pseudomonas or E coli; significant foci of invasive infection were frequently absent at autopsy . Quantitative cultures of proximal gastrointestinal fluid in 16 of these patients showed Candida, S epidermidis, and Pseudomonas to be the most common isolates, and all but one patient colonized with these organisms had invasive infection with the same organism . The proximal gastrointestinal tract appears to be an important occult reservoir of the predominant pathogens in MOF. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1988 Mar, 32(3), 319 - 23 Antibacterial activities of fluorovinyl- and chlorovinylglycine and several derived dipeptides; Patchett AA et al.; The in vitro antibacterial activities of several halovinylglycine compounds and their L-norvalyl peptide derivatives are presented . The most potent of them, L-norvalyl-L-chlorovinylglycine, displayed good activity against gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species . Chlorovinylglycine is an efficient inhibitor of alanine racemase, but the antibacterial activity of L-norvalyl-L-chlorovinylglycine may involve other physiological targets as well. Br J Ophthalmol, 1988 Mar, 72(3), 206 - 9 Effect of preoperative fusidic acid on the normal eyelid and conjunctival bacterial flora; Taylor PB et al.; A randomised trial comparing the topical application of 1% fusidic acid with 0.3% gentamicin solution in the reduction of the normal preoperative lid and conjunctival microbial flora was performed . Forty patients awaiting cataract surgery were randomly divided into two groups consisting of 20 patients each . The first group received a 1% microcrystalline suspension of fusidic acid, the second 0.3% gentamicin to the preoperative eye every two hours between 0600 and 2400 daily for 48 hours preoperatively . Cultures were obtained from both the lid margins and the conjunctival sac of both groups prior to antibiotic therapy and again in the operating theatre before surgery . Microbiological identification and colony counts were performed by standard laboratory methods . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the commonest micro-organism isolated . Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the ability of a 1% microcrystalline suspension of fusidic acid and 0.3% gentamicin in eliminating or reducing the normal preoperative conjunctival or lid flora. Transfusion, 1988 Mar-Apr, 28(2), 109 - 12 Bacterial contamination of bone marrow grafts intended for autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation . Incidence and clinical significance; Rowley SD et al.; In a series of 100 bone marrow harvests, the incidence of bacterial contamination of the bone marrow graft was 17 percent . Ex vivo manipulation of some of the grafts prior to infusion may have caused additional bacterial contamination . All isolated bacteria were common skin flora, and no serious sequelae were observed in the patients receiving the culture-positive bone marrow grafts . Samples of harvested bone marrows purposely contaminated with an isolate of Staphylococcus epidermidis demonstrated a bactericidal property that was maximal early after bone marrow collection . Bone marrow collection and ex vivo manipulation may result in considerable bacterial contamination . Procedures must be developed to assure that marrow collection and processing do not result in clinically significant contamination. Heart Lung, 1988 Mar, 17(2), 121 - 8 Sterility and efficiency of two methods of cardiac output determination: closed loop and capped syringe methods; Yonkman CA et al.; A prospective randomized study was done to compare the fluid contamination rates of two methods used to determine cardiac output by thermodilution under in-use conditions . Fifty patients were randomly assigned to have cardiac output measured by the capped syringe or closed loop method, and were followed with quantitative cultures of fluid and catheter . The two treatment groups (n = 25 each) were comparable in terms of age, sex, intensive care unit location, underlying diagnosis, and mean number of cardiac output determinations performed in the first 24 hours after placement of the catheter line . No differences in the rates of fluid contamination were seen at any time between the two groups . The overall fluid contamination rate was 2/124 cultures (1.8% with 95% confidence interval +/- 4.1%) with one colony of Staphylococcus epidermidis from a closed loop sample and one colony of Pseudomonas maltophilia in a capped syringe sample . Although no difference in contamination rates was documented, the closed loop system required less nursing time and effort. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1988 Mar, 70(3), 369 - 76 Infection in bone allografts . Incidence, nature, and treatment; Lord CF et al.; Of 283 patients who had a massive allograft of bone, an infection developed in thirty-three (11.7 per cent) . To assess the frequency and identify the co-morbid and predisposing factors of this devastating complication, we compared demographic data for the infected and non-infected patients . Comparison of mean age, type of graft, anatomical site of the procedure, and stage of the tumor yielded no significant differences . Multiple-regression analysis of a subgroup of eighty-two patients who had a distal femoral graft showed a correlation between infection and factors that are associated with more extensive surgery (more loss of bone, soft tissue, or skin) or with multiple operations . Approximately 30 per cent of the patients who had an infected allograft had no co-morbid or predisposing factors that could be statistically correlated with an increased risk for infection . Gram-positive organisms were the most common cause of infection, with twelve infections (36 per cent) being due to Staphylococcus epidermidis . Six patients had a single gram-negative organism and nine had mixed flora . The final result in the thirty-three patients who had an infected allograft was poor compared with that of the over-all series and of the uninfected patients . Twenty-seven infected allografts (82 per cent) were considered to be failures of treatment because amputation of the limb or resection of the graft was required to control the infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Ann Emerg Med, 1988 Mar, 17(3), 268 - 73 Toxic shock syndrome: a review; Wright SW et al.; TSS is a recently described acute febrile illness characterized by hypotension, rash, desquamation, and multisystemic involvement . While most common in menstruating women, TSS also occurs in men and non-menstruating women . It is now known that the disease is caused by one or more toxins produced by the S aureus organism . Treatment of TSS consists primarily of fluid resuscitation and supportive care . Anti-staphylococcal antibiotics are indicated primarily to reduce the rate of recurrence in menstrually related cases . In wound-related TSS, antibiotics are necessary to treat the primary wound infection and to prevent recurrent disease . Currently, the case fatality rate is stable at less than 3% and the major long-term complication of survivors is the risk of recurrence. J Urol, 1988 Mar, 139(3), 575 - 7 Combination extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and percutaneous extraction of calculi in a renal allograft; Locke DR et al.; Renal calculi are a well documented although uncommon complication of kidney transplantation and may be associated with significant morbidity in this immunosuppressed population with a single functioning kidney . We describe a patient who presented with 2 episodes of staphylococcal bacteremia associated with a ureteral structure and struvite calculi involving the calices, renal pelvis and proximal ureter of a cadaveric renal allograft . The patient was treated successfully with a combination of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, percutaneous extraction and balloon dilation of the ureteral stricture . Renal transplant function was not altered postoperatively . In selected cases shock wave lithotripsy can be used as effective adjunctive therapy in a renal allograft harboring stones. Crit Care Med, 1988 Mar, 16(3), 221 - 8 Positive tip cultures and related risk factors associated with intravascular catheterization in pediatric cardiac patients; Damen J et al.; The incidence and risk factors of positive catheter tip cultures were studied prospectively in 392 consecutive children undergoing cardiac surgery under cover of cephalothin prophylaxis . A total of 1649 catheter tips were cultured and 58 (3.5%) yielded positive cultures . Specifically, the incidence of positive catheter tip cultures for iv, central venous, arterial and pulmonary arterial (PA) catheters was 0.9%, 5.9%, 3.9% and 10.6%, respectively, whereas one of the six surgically placed venous and arterial catheters had a positive tip culture and none of the 279 transthoracic catheters . Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated from 79% of the positive tip cultures . Ten percent of the children had one or more positive tip cultures but none developed catheter-related septicemia or endocarditis . Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that longer in situ time (p less than .001), younger age (p less than .001), and inotropic support (p = .003) were significant independent predictors of risk for children developing positive catheter tip cultures . The safe in situ period for arterial, central venous, and PA catheters is 3 days in infants under 1 yr and 4 and 6 days for arterial and central venous catheters, respectively, in older children, if 0.95 cumulative probability of remaining free of a positive tip culture is accepted . The data generally support the bacteriologic safety of invasive hemodynamic monitoring in infants and children undergoing cardiac surgery. Infection, 1988 Mar-Apr, 16(2), 86 - 90 Central venous catheter infections in pediatric patients--in a community hospital; Kumar A et al.; We reviewed the records of 23 pediatric patients who had received at least one central venous catheter during a two-year period . Nine patients had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), nine had other hematologic/oncologic diagnoses, and five had cystic fibrosis . Twenty-nine of 65 febrile episodes in 16 patients were associated with a catheter-related infection . Twenty of 40 catheters were associated with an infection over a period of 7,229 catheter days . For every 1,000 catheter days, four episodes of infections were observed . The number of infections/1,000 catheter days, the average life of a catheter (approximately equal to 180 days), and mean number of days elapsing before the first infection were not significantly different in the three diagnostic groups . Broviac catheters were used most often (24/40), followed by Quinton (9/40) and Port-a-Cath (7/40) . Broviac catheters lasted twice as long (224 days, p less than 0.01) as Quinton and Port-a-Cath . Gram-positive cocci were isolated most frequently and Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common pathogen . No consistent relationship between an absolute neutrophil count of less than 1,000/mm3 and infection with gram-positive cocci was seen . However, seven of eight episodes of gram-negative bacillary infections occurred in patients with an absolute neutrophil count of less than 1,000/m3 (p less than 0.005) . Those patients who were not considered terminally ill responded well to antimicrobials . Catheter removal was necessary in only two instances. J Exp Med, 1988 Mar 1, 167(3), 752 - 61 Toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 as an inducer of human tumor necrosis factors and gamma interferon; Jupin C et al.; We present evidence that toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) induces the production of high levels of TNF by human blood monocytes . Enriched lymphocyte preparations incubated with the staphylococcal toxin produced significant levels of TNF-like activity that is not neutralized by anti-rHuTNF antibodies and is likely to be lymphotoxin (LT or TNF-beta) . We demonstrate also that TSST-1 is a potent inducer of IFN-gamma . When lymphocyte preparations were costimulated with PMA, the TSST-1 effect was strongly potentiated and the levels of cytotoxic factors, IFN-gamma, and IL-2 present in supernatant fluids were comparable to those observed after treatment with PMA and PHA . Thus, TSST-1, which is also known as an inducer of IL-1 and IL-2, stimulates the production of endogenous mediators that could play a role in the physiopathological processes of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) . The described results suggest that the discrepancies in the clinical features between TSS and endotoxin shock may be related to qualitative differences in cytokine production. Ann R Coll Surg Engl, 1988 Mar, 70(2), 105 - 8 Bacterial colonisation of leg ulcers and its effect on the success rate of skin grafting; Gilliland EL et al.; There is little information on the immediate and long-term results of skin grafting to chronic lower limb ulcers . Our experience in their management had led us to analyse, retrospectively, the results of split thickness skin grafts applied to lower limb ulcers in 88 consecutive patients . Graft take has been related to bacterial growth from ulcer swabs taken on admission, preoperatively and postoperatively . Follow-up was for a median of 18 months . Initial graft take varied from 20% to 100% (median 85%) . Bacterial flora grown from the ulcer swabs varied with the duration of the ulcer and the treatment . Analysis by bacterial type has shown that Staphylococcus aurcus and Pseudomonas significantly reduced skin graft healing . Overall, 90% of these ulcers had healed with a median of 6 weeks' in-patient treatment . Examination of the swab results from the 8 ulcers that were slow to heal postoperatively and the 8 ulcers that recurred 6 days to 8 months after discharge from hospital revealed that 15 out of 16 (94%) grew S . aurcus; none had Pseudomonas isolated from them . After eighteen months 8% of these ulcers remain active . Aetiology appears important as this figure is 6% for limbs affected by venous disease only, 13.3% for limbs with arterial disease only and 13.6% for limbs with both venous and arterial disease. Allerg Immunol (Paris), 1988 Mar, 20(3), 87 - 90 {Eczema and hyper-IgE . Effect of cephalosporins}; Robert J; Atopic dermatitis is a disease in which staphylococcal cutaneous superinfection and immune disorders, especially hyper IgE, are closely related . Cephalosporins are very effective on exacerbations of superinfections; among them, Cefadroxil diminishes immunoglobulins E in vivo . In vitro, this antibiotic promotes from the macrophage the PgE2 synthesis to which the T suppression is classically sensitive . In DNP-OVA sensitized rats which produce anti DNP IgE, the secondary response is inhibited by Cefadroxil . From clinical to research experiments, the hypothesis is the effect of cephalosporins, and especially Cefadroxil, on IgE synthesis. Chest, 1988 Mar, 93(3), 667 - 8 Isolated right heart purulent pericarditis forming a large mediastinal mass; Suzuki S et al.; A 40-year-old man developed cardiomegaly with protrusion of the right heart border following staphylococcal endocarditis . Computed tomography of the chest revealed a large anterior mediastinal mass . Hemodynamic pressure curves presented features similar to those of constrictive pericarditis . At operation, 150 ml of purulent fluid was encapsulated within the thickened pericardium and separated from the rest of the pericardial sac . The encapsulated abscess was resected. Acta Virol, 1988 Mar, 32(2), 109 - 16 Simultaneous determination of the level of antibodies to influenza virus surface and internal proteins by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Khristova ML et al.; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been adopted for simultaneous determination of the levels of antibodies to different influenza virus proteins in human sera with known haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) titre . Whole virus of serotypes H1N1 and H3N2, haemagglutinin (HA), matrix (M) and nucleoprotein (NP) proteins have been used as antigens . For detection of antibodies bound to the antigen, peroxidase labelled Staphylococcus protein A conjugate has been used . Correlation of the ELISA and HI titres of anti-HA antibody has been demonstrated . The use of isolated HA as antigen increased the specificity of ELISA . The analysis of human reconvalescent sera has shown that increase in the titre of antibodies to internal proteins does not always coincide with the increase of antibody level to HA . Out of 8 sera with significant increase of the HI titre to the H3 subtype 5 specimens showed 4-fold increase of antibody titre to NP protein . The antibody titre to M protein was elevated in 2 sera only, while 1 serum showed no rise of antibody response to the tested viral proteins. Ann Trop Paediatr, 1988 Mar, 8(1), 22 - 5 Severe staphylococcal sepsis in Nigerian children: a report of 27 cases; Fadahunsi HO; Twenty-seven children with severe staphylococcal sepsis were encountered over a 6-year period in a busy teaching hospital paediatric practice . The clinical manifestations are described, among which anaemia, osteomyelitis, lung infection and purulent pericarditis were most common . Osteomyelitis was particularly severe and multifocal in many of the children, leading to bone and joint deformity in some . Striking features were that all affected children were previously healthy, 83.3% had normal haemoglobin genotype AA and none had homozygous sickle cell haemoglobin SS. Am J Physiol, 1988 Mar, 254(3 Pt 1), G450 - 6 Regulation of food intake and hepatic protein synthesis by recombinant-derived cytokines; Moldawer LL et al.; During inflammation, activated monocytes and lymphocytes synthesize and release many soluble protein mediators, such as interleukin (IL) 1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-2 . It is presently unclear which cytokines, if any, contribute to the anorexia and hepatic protein changes frequently seen during inflammation . To evaluate their potential role, food intake and liver and plasma protein synthesis were determined in both endotoxin-sensitive C57Bl/6j mice and endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ mice given either crude secretory products of Staphylococcus albus-stimulated human blood monocytes or murine recombinant IL-1-alpha, human recombinant IL-1-alpha or -beta, human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or human IL-2 . When given intraperitoneally to healthy animals, 2,000 lymphocyte-activating factor U/day of secretory products of activated human blood monocytes or recombinant murine IL-1-alpha depressed spontaneous food intake by 42 and 53%, respectively . Human IL-1-alpha and -beta and human tumor necrosis factor-alpha produced smaller reductions in food intake . In contrast, human IL-2, when given in equimolar quantities, had no appreciable effect on food intake or body weight . Administration of crude secretory products of activated blood monocytes, recombinant IL-1, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha increased liver weight, protein, and RNA content . In addition, plasma protein synthesis was significantly increased, as were serum amyloid P concentrations . Administration of recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha resulted in IL-1 production by peritoneal adherent cells . However, IL-2 had no effect on any hepatic parameter. J Biol Chem, 1988 Feb 25, 263(6), 2905 - 10 Identification and primary structure of a calmodulin binding domain of the Ca2+ pump of human erythrocytes; James P et al.; Exposure of the purified Ca2+ pump of human erythrocytes to chymotrypsin led to the rapid loss of calmodulin activation . A fragment of about 12 kDa was removed from the ATPase in 1-2 min . Blotting experiments with 125I-labeled calmodulin showed that this fragment contains the calmodulin binding region . The remainder of the ATPase molecule was degraded to a number of fragments ranging from 3 to 120 kDa; none of them bound calmodulin . To isolate the calmodulin binding domain, calmodulin which had been coupled to the Denny-Jaffe reagent (a cleavable radioactive photoaffinity cross-linker) was allowed to bind to the Ca2+ pump . After illumination to couple the cross-linker to the pump, the cleavable bond was split and the calmodulin removed, leaving the pump radioactively labeled . This pump was digested with chymotrypsin, and the products were separated by gel permeation chromatography . The only radioactive peak (migrating at about 12 kDa) was further purified on reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) . Amino acid analysis showed the fragment to have a minimal molecular mass of 12.4 kDa and to contain a single methionine . After attempts to sequence the peptide directly failed . CNBr digestion was carried out on the labeled ATPase, producing both soluble and insoluble labeled material . After reverse-phase HPLC purification of the soluble material, a single radioactive peak was collected . Its sequence was (Formula: see text) . A portion of this peak was passed through a microcalmodulin column; it bound in the presence of Ca2+ and was eluted by EDTA, and by a mixture of EDTA and urea . Staphylococcal V8 protease digestion of the eluted peak produced the same sequence as shown above, but starting at Leu-2 and ending at Glu-32 . Structural analysis of this peptide showed that it shares features with the calmodulin binding domains of other enzymes which are regulated by calmodulin. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Feb, 33(2), 111 - 5 {Enzymatic lysis of staphylococcal cells and isolation of cell walls}; Babenko IuS et al.; Procedures for lyzing staphylococcal cells with the use of ultrasound, lysozyme and a lytic enzyme complex of Actinomyces recifensis var . lyticus, 2435 were compared . The lysis level was estimated by two parameters: lower optical density and protein yield percentage . It was found that ultrasound provided rather high levels of cell destruction reaching 60-68 per cent . The use of lysozyme enabled to destroy 16 per cent of the cells . The enzyme complex of strain 2435 showed high lytic activity with respect to the tested culture . For destroying dense staphylococcal suspensions it appeared necessary to study the effect of preliminary treatment of the cells with various chemical substances on their liability to the effect of the enzyme complex . It was demonstrated that treatment of the cells with 0.01-0.1 M cystein HCl solutions, 0.01-0.02 M sodium dodecylsulfate solutions or 0.05-0.5 M sodium hydroxide solutions increased 2.6-4.7-fold the cell liability to enzymatic hydrolysis . The studies enabled to develop conditions providing complete lysis of 10-percent staphylococcal cell suspension within 5 to 15 minutes under the effect of the lytic enzyme complex of strain 2435 . A procedure for isolating cell walls was developed. J Appl Bacteriol, 1988 Feb, 64(2), 145 - 9 Plasmids in Staphylococcus hyicus; Noble WC et al.; Fifty-one strains of Staphylococcus hyicus and six of Staph . chromogenes were collected from porcine and bovine sources in England and Belgium . Antibiotic resistance and plasmid profiles were established . Plasmids associated with resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin and streptomycin were identified in many strains; these plasmids were about the same size as those mediating similar resistances in Staph . aureus of human origin . Many small cryptic plasmids were also seen. Arkh Anat Gistol Embriol, 1988 Feb, 94(2), 41 - 3 {Bone marrow cells as affected by staphylococcal toxin against a background of overheating of the whole body}; Gogichadze GK et al.; The electron microscopic study of the material demonstrates that after injection of staphylococcal toxin in combination with high temperature, in the bone marrow cells of the animals certain ultrastructural changes are observed already from the first day of the experiment and they progressively increase . Especially essential changes are observed in the cells of erythroid and granulocytic sprouts . In elements of lymphoid and megakaryocytic sprouts morphological changes are manifested to a less degree . Sometimes in vacuoles irregular formations of high electron density are localized. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1988 Feb, (2), 47 - 51 {Postvaccinal reactions to the administration of a dried staphylococcal vaccine made from water-soluble antigens}; Efremova VN et al.; An unequivocal regularity in local and systemic reactions to multiple (in 5 injections) administration of lyophilized staphylococcal vaccine prepared from water-soluble antigens has been established in patients and in healthy adults: the number and intensity of reaction decreased after each subsequent injection . A similar tendency has been observed in the vaccinees who were examined for their IgE levels . These data are indicative of the desensitizing action of the vaccine. Biochem J, 1988 Feb 1, 249(3), 779 - 88 The complete amino acid sequence of human skeletal-muscle fructose-bisphosphate aldolase; Freemont PS et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of human skeletal-muscle fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, comprising 363 residues, was determined . The sequence was deduced by automated sequencing of CNBr-cleavage, o-iodosobenzoic acid-cleavage, trypsin-digest and staphylococcal-proteinase-digest fragments . Comparison of the sequence with other class I aldolase sequences shows that the mammalian muscle isoenzyme is one of the most highly conserved enzymes known, with only about 2% of the residues changing per 100 million years . Non-mammalian aldolases appear to be evolving at the same rate as other glycolytic enzymes, with about 4% of the residues changing per 100 million years . Secondary-structure predictions are analysed in an accompanying paper {Sawyer, Fothergill-Gilmore & Freemont (1988) Biochem . J . 249, 789-793}. Am J Vet Res, 1988 Feb, 49(2), 143 - 6 Circulating immune complex concentrations in selected cases of skin disease in dogs; DeBoer DJ et al.; Serum samples from 25 clinically normal dogs and 137 base-line serum samples from dogs with skin disease were assayed blindly for presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) . The method used was a solid-phase C1q-binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . This assay detected only IgG-containing CIC that were capable of binding C1q . Statistical analysis revealed that dogs with systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, generalized demodicosis, and recurrent staphylococcal pyoderma had significantly higher mean CIC concentrations than did normal dogs . Dogs with other skin diseases had mean CIC concentrations indistinguishable from those of normal dogs . Presence of CIC in dogs with these dermatopathies may have pathogenetic significance or may be the result of the disease process . Further studies are necessary to define the antigens contained in the immune complexes and the importance of CIC in skin disease of dogs. Pediatr Infect Dis J, 1988 Feb, 7(2), 116 - 20 Plasmid DNA analysis of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from blood and colonization cultures in very low birth weight neonates; Valvano MA et al.; We prospectively studied the course of colonization and sepsis with Staphylococcus epidermidis among 29 very low birth weight neonates undergoing prolonged umbilical catheterization . S . epidermidis bacteremia occurred in 7 patients . In 6 bacteremia was preceded by positive colonization cultures . Isolates obtained from nares, base of umbilicus, umbilical catheter entry sites, catheter tips and blood were examined for plasmid DNA profiles . In 4 patients the plasmid profiles of the catheter entry site isolates were identical with those of the blood isolates . In the other 3 bacteremic patients plasmid profiles of the catheter entry site and blood isolates were different . No correlation was observed in the plasmid DNA patterns of isolates obtained from catheter tip cultures as compared to the corresponding blood cultures . The blood isolates from bacteremic patients had different plasmid profiles. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Feb, 26(2), 271 - 4 Detection of staphylococcal exfoliative toxin by slide latex agglutination; Murono K et al.; A simple and rapid method in which slide latex agglutination was used was developed to detect the exfoliative toxin (ET) elaborated by clinical isolates . ET types A and B (ET-A and ET-B) were purified by plate gel isoelectrofocusing, and anti-ET sera were obtained by immunizing rabbits . A specific immunoglobulin G antitoxin was then prepared from the immunized rabbit sera by fast protein liquid chromatography, and latex particles were coated with the antitoxin . Of 74 staphylococcal strains isolated from patients with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, 61 strains were found to produce ET by the newborn mouse bioassay . All 61 strains were shown to be positive for ET-A and ET-B production by the slide latex agglutination method . The lowest concentration of ETs detected by the latex agglutination method was 0.5 microgram/ml, which was much lower than that detected by the double immunodiffusion method, with a sensitivity of 50 micrograms/ml . It is crucial to prove ET production by clinical isolates for the diagnosis and surveillance of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome . The latex agglutination method is a sensitive, simple, and rapid test which can be used as an alternative to the newborn mouse bioassay. Metabolism, 1988 Feb, 37(2 Suppl 1), 22 - 4 Clinical characteristics of diabetic patients with serious pedal infections; Leichter SB et al.; The clinical characteristics of 55 diabetic patients referred for treatment of serious pedal infections were surveyed . These patients had been infected for 22.5 +/- 5.0 weeks prior to referral . A majority had received therapy with oral antibiotics and approximately one third had received no antibiotic therapy . The average age of the patients was 53.5 years; average duration of disease, 18 years; and mean weight, 135% of ideal . All had poor glycemic control, as judged by hemoglobin A1c determinations . The patients had a high prevalence of diabetic complications, particularly peripheral neuropathy and nephropathy . Approximately 69% were hypertensive . Although their corrected ESRs were elevated, mean total WBC counts were not . A majority of the patients had zinc deficiency . Most of their infections involved multiple organisms, particularly staphylococcus species, enterococcus, and gram-negative aerobes . These observations suggest that the clinical characteristics of these patients in part explain the difficult nature of their infections and argue the need for early, aggressive antibiotic therapy. Antibiot Khimioter, 1988 Feb, 33(2), 115 - 20 {Effect of lytic enzymes on Staphylococcus and the possibilities of their combined use with antibiotics}; Babenko IuS et al.; Dependence of lytic enzyme preparation activity on temperature and time of Staphylococcus incubation with the preparation was shown . A decrease in the activity with an increase in the ionic strength of the incubation solutions and protective effect of salts on the staphylococcal cells were observed . Possible combined use of the preparation with antibiotics was studied . The enzymatic preparation inactivated penicillins and cephalosporins at the account of the ability of lytic endopeptidases to hydrolyze the peptide bond of the beta-lactam ring . However, its combined use with many other antibiotics such as novobiocin, lincomycin, rifampicin, gramicidin, polymyxin, oleandomycin, streptomycin, kanamycin, tetracycline and levomycetin is quite possible. Infect Immun, 1988 Feb, 56(2), 370 - 5 Growth of Legionella pneumophila in thioglycolate-elicited peritoneal macrophages from A/J mice; Yamamoto Y et al.; Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular bacterium which readily grows in cultures of guinea pig and human mononuclear phagocytes . In this report, we demonstrate that the Legionella sp . also grows in thioglycolate-elicited macrophages obtained from A/J mice but not in cells from other mouse strains tested, such as BDF1, DBA/2, C3H/HeN, C57BL/6, and BALB/c . Growth of Listeria monocytogenes and interleukin-1 production in A/J mice were similar to their growth and production in other strains tested, and the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis was restricted by A/J macrophages . This finding suggests that although A/J macrophages share functional capabilities with cells from other mouse strains, they differ in growth restriction capacity for the Legionella sp . Resident macrophages were less permissive than were thioglycolate-elicited cells in that resident cells from A/J mice failed to support the growth of Legionella pneumophila . Also, resident cells from BDF1 mice rapidly eliminated the bacteria, rather than merely restricting growth . This finding was also observed in in vivo studies in which thioglycolate pretreatment of mice resulted in the enhanced recovery of viable bacteria from the peritoneal cavity of mice infected intraperitoneally . Higher numbers of bacteria were obtained from A/J mice and, in addition, this strain was more susceptible to the lethal effects of Legionella infection . These data suggest that, as with other intracellular bacteria, macrophages may serve a pivotal role in the early stages of Legionella infection and further suggest that the A/J mouse represents a useful animal model for the study of Legionella infection and immunity. Microbiol Sci, 1988 Feb, 5(2), 53 - 7 Non-thiol-activated cytolytic bacterial toxins: current status; Kato I et al.; Among non-thiol-activated cytolytic toxins, staphylococcal alpha-toxin, staphylococcal leucocidin, and pseudomonal leucocidin are characterized by their interaction (with susceptible cell membranes) as a biomembrane response modifier . The transmembrane signalling by the receptor-toxin complex follows the activities of membrane-associated enzymes, which lead to changes in membrane ion-permeability. J Immunogenet, 1988 Feb-Jun, 15(1-3), 161 - 8 An external stimulus that mimics Mls locus responses; Janeway CA et al.; The response to a novel set of T cell mitogens has been analysed and compared to the response to Mls locus differences . These polyclonal T cell activators, staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B, stimulate T cells in a way that requires an antigen-presenting cell bearing class II MHC products and involves the CD4:T cell receptor complex . However, the specificity of MHC recognition by the T cell receptor is lost in this response . Thus, these mitogens produce a response with characteristics similar to that induced by Mls locus differences . These mitogens can be used to analyse the immunobiology of this response, and may help in understanding and identifying the Mls locus product as well. J Immunogenet, 1988 Feb-Jun, 15(1-3), 153 - 9 Staphylococcal enterotoxin B stimulation of BALB/c lymphocyte mitogenesis and potential relationship to the Mls response; Buxser S et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is a T cell mitogen with properties different from the plant lectin mitogens . We examined the stimulation of mitogenesis induced by SEB in BALB/c mouse spleen cells and its relationship to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and related cell surface proteins . Based on the ability of specific monoclonal antibodies to block mitogenesis, SEB stimulation appears to be more dependent on interaction with I-E than with I-A class II MHC molecules . Additionally, anti-L3T4, and possibly other antibodies specific for proteins related to the T cell receptor complex, were inhibitory . When A20 cells were treated with SEB and used to stimulate BALB/c spleen cells which were not otherwise exposed to SEB, the treated A20 cells were capable of stimulating mitogenesis of the BALB/c spleen cells . The data support the hypothesis that SEB stimulation is mediated primarily by interactions with class II MHC proteins and possibly proteins in the T cell receptor complex . We also observed that the presence of SEB in DBA/2 (Mlsa)-stimulated BALB/c (Mlsb) spleen cell cultures enhanced the BALB/c mitogenesis three-fold over the sum of the SEB-plus Mls-stimulated mitogenesis . These results suggest that SEB may be a useful tool for further exploration of the Mls response. Immunol Lett, 1988 Feb, 17(2), 121 - 4 Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on interferon gamma production in vitro; Muscettola M et al.; In recent years, receptors for calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D3) have been identified in monocytes and activated, but not resting, human B and T lymphocytes suggesting that it may be involved in immune regulation . Because lymphokines are central in the regulation and modulation of immune or inflammatory responses and since the calcium translocation is involved in the mitogen-induced activation of lymphocytes, we thought it interesting to study the role of calcitriol on interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production in vitro . In this study, we report that calcitriol inhibits the IFN-gamma production by staphylococcal enterotoxin A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in a dose-dependent fashion . The inhibitory effect was less potent in calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated PBMC and was absent in resting PBMC. J Trauma, 1988 Feb, 28(2), 152 - 7 Interleukin-2 secretion and transmembrane signalling in burned patients; Teodorczyk-Injeyan JA et al.; IL2 secretion in response to the T-cell mitogen Staphylococcal protein A (SPA) is significantly decreased in patients with major burns (n = 10, greater than 20% total body surface area) up to 50 days postburn in comparison with normal control (greater than 2 to 10 U/ml and 16 to 36 U/ml, respectively) . Activation of protein kinase C (PK-C) and changes in {Ca++}i are both normally implicated in the production of IL2 . Bypassing the requirements for mitogen-induced increases in {Ca++}i, using the cation ionophore A23187, or activating PK-C with the phorbol ester 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), failed to significantly restore SPA-induced IL2 production in cell cultures from burned patients . The combination of A23187 and TPA significantly (p less than 0.005-0.001) enhanced IL2 secretion in patients' cell cultures (range, 20 to greater than 64 U/ml) . However, the levels of IL2 from the burned patients' cultures remained significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than those in control cultures exposed to TPA and A23187 (range, 256 to greater than 600 U/ml) . Therefore, the burn-related defect in mitogen-induced IL2 secretion is only partially bypassed with cation ionophores and phorbol esters . This suggests that the abnormality in IL2 production may not be solely related to changes in PK-C activation and in {Ca++}i but may reside in other than transmembrane signalling mechanisms required for IL2 production. J Immunol, 1988 Jan 15, 140(2), 451 - 5 Spontaneous expression of antibodies to DNA of various species origin in sera of normal subjects and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; Karounos DG et al.; To investigate mechanisms for the induction of anti-DNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the specificity of anti-DNA antibodies was determined in sera from SLE patients and normal control subjects . As a marker of these responses, the reactivity to single-stranded DNA of various mammalian and bacterial species origin was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Patients with SLE demonstrated serum antibodies to all six types of DNA tested, whereas normal control subjects showed appreciable antibody responses only to DNA obtained from Micrococcus lysodeikticus (MC) and Staphylococcus epidermidus (SE) . Anti-DNA antibodies in normal sera appeared to recognize unique sites on the DNA because MC DNA failed to inhibit antibody binding to SE DNA, and vice versa; in contrast, SLE antibody binding to MC DNA could be inhibited by SE as well as other DNA, suggesting recognition of a more widely shared epitope . The expression in normal sera of antibodies specific for certain bacterial DNA is consistent with their induction by structural determinants on these DNA molecules that are immunogenic . DNA may therefore represent another bacterial macromolecule capable of inducing cross-reactive antibodies in human autoimmune disease. Med Microbiol Immunol (Berl), 1988, 177(3), 115 - 21 Stimulation of human monocyte chemiluminescence by staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid; Ohshima Y et al.; Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Staphylococcus saprophyticus strains S1 and S35 was shown to be a potent stimulator of human monocyte chemiluminescence, whereas human granulocytes were not activated . Data on the chemical analysis of these LTA-preparations were given. Ter Arkh, 1988, 60(3), 61 - 4 {Effect of intratracheal administration of gentamycin in exacerbations of suppurative bronchitis due to gram-negative bacteria and Staphylococcus}; Shteingardt IuN et al.; The effect of intratracheal administration of gentamicin (G) was observed in 22 patients in exacerbations of chronic purulent bronchitis caused by gram-negative bacteria and staphylococcus . A high concentration of gentamicin quickly occurred in the sputum, it always exceeded a minimum concentration suppressing the growth of an agent isolated from the sputum but its absorption from the respiratory tracts was poor: in half of the patients it hardly penetrated the blood, in the rest of them its concentration in the blood was insignificant . In order to potentiate the therapeutic effect in some of the patients, penicillin or gentamicin administration should be continued intramuscularly . The duration and type of antibacterial therapy must be based on the results of bacteriological investigation of the sputum in the course of treatment.
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