Acta Microbiol Pol, 1978, 27(3), 181 - 91 Competence-related increased enzyme release from Streptococcus sanguis (Wicky) cells; Fuchs PG et al.; The ablity of competent and noncompetent Streptococcus sanguis (strain Wicky) cells to release enzymes to the environment was studied . Both competent and noncompetent cells leaked the enzymes tested (aldolase, phosphatase and deoxyribonuclease), but the activities liberated from the competent cells were always roughly 2-fold higher than those released from noncompetent cells . This increased enzyme leakage from competent cells occured in all kinds of media and procedures employed . The leakage of enzymes followed a time-dependent kinetics (different for aldolase and phosphatase), was temperature sensitive and had a pH optimum . The increased enzyme release was most likely not due to cell disruption, but seemed to be rather a consequence of alteration in cell barrier permeability . These results strongly support the "unmasking" model proposed for explanation of competence development in bacteria. Microbiol Immunol, 1978, 22(5), 263 - 7 Existence of 28R-antigen in a certain strain of group F streptococcus; Maekawa S et al.; An inter-Group common antigen was detected between Group A type 28 (Small)- and Group F (21/58/O'Mahoney, Colindale)-streptococcal cells by the T-typing agglutination reaction . The characteristics of this antigen coincide with those of the 28R-antigen, which was first detected in the Group A type 28 (Small) cells by Lancefield in 1943, in the following points: 1) It can be extracted from the cells with HC1 at pH 2.0 at 100 C in a stable state; 2) It can be kept in a stable state by heating in an alkaline solution at pH 7.8; 3) The antigen on the heat-killed cells was not affected by trypsin digestion at pH 7.8 but was destroyed by pepsin digestion at pH 2.0. Microbios, 1978, 23(92), 93 - 8 Plaque formation in vitro by Actinomyces viscosus in the presence of Streptococcus sanguis or Streptococcus mutans; Ahmed FI et al.; Actinomyces viscosus, growing on a tooth in the presence of sucrose, slowly produced a loosely-attached plaque, the pH being 6.1 after 120 h . When the tooth was inoculated simultaneously with A . viscosus and either Streptococcus sanguis or Streptococcus mutans, firmly-adherent plaque was quickly formed and the pH fell below 5 after 33 h with the former Streptococcus and 24 h with the latter . A . viscosus disappeared from each mixed plaque by 120 h. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1978, 22(4), 435 - 41 Biological characteristics of peptidoglycans of group A streptococcus and some other bacterial species . II . Immunological mechanisms involved in thrombocytolysis; Ryc M et al.; Immunological mechanisms are involved in the thrombocytolytic activity of peptidoglycan of Group A streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus . Inactivation of particular components of complement (heating of blood serum to 56 degrees C,incubation with zymosan or NH4OH) inhibited the thrombocytolytic activity of group A streptococcus peptidoglycan . So did preincubation of Group A streptococcus peptidoglycan with homologous antipeptidoglycan antibody . On the other hand, antibody to Group A streptococcus peptidoglycan did not inhibit the thrombocytolytic effect of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan . Human platelets are resistant to peptidoglycans . They remain resistant in the presence of rabbit serum although rabbit platelets are highly sensitive to peptidoglycans . This suggests that, for the expression of the thrombocytolytic activity of bacterial peptidoglycan, specific receptors on the surface of platelets must be present in addition to serum factors. Microbiol Immunol, 1978, 22(12), 745 - 54 Mechanism of glucan-induced agglutination in Streptococcus mutans . I . Binding of radioactive glucan to whole cells of S . mutans OMZ-176; Suginaka H et al.; The binding of radioactive glucan to Streptococcus mutans cells, which are agglutinated by dextrans, was examined . The glucan was synthesized from sucrose by extracellular glucosyltransferases from S . mutans FA-1 and was highly branched at C-3 and C-6 of D-glucose residues, containing 17% of a (1 leads to 3)inter-chain residues . Binding of glucan to whole cells of S . mutans OMZ-176, which were agglutinated by addition of glucan or Dextran T2000, was irreversible and followed saturation type kinetics; saturation was achieved at approximately 110 ng of glucan per ml . About 14 ng of glucan were bound per mg of the cells at the saturated concentration . The heated cells of this organism, however, had a relatively low ability of glucan-binding, compared with the freshly prepared and lyophilized cells . Binding to the heated cells was entirely of a non-saturation type . Binding of Dextran T2000 or T10 was determined by competition between the labeled glucan and unlabeled Dextrans for the binding site(s) . Both Dextrans and glucan from S . mutans FA-1 were bound to the same site(s) . Other organisms, which did not undergo glucan- and Dextran-induced agglutination, had a relatively lower ability of glucan-binding than S . mutans, which was agglutinated. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1978, 107, 661 - 72 Genetic alterations of Streptococcus mutans' virulence; Tanzer JM et al.; The use of mutants defective in caries-associated traits has enabled the genetic dissociation of agglutination from adhesion, the demonstration of serotype-specific contributions of IPS to virulence, the importance of glucanohydrolase to virulence to a greater degree than to plaque formation, and the apparent lack of importance of agglutination to virulence . We have also been able to demonstrate the ability of plaque formation-defective mutants and other variants both to infect and to emerge, yet not to cause disease . Additional mutants, currently under study in our laboratory include fructanase, invertase, and sucrose permease-defectives . Ultimately, the identification of key, probably surface-associated virulence factors will offer more potent and specific antigens for directed immune responses by the host. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1978, 107, 489 - 95 Assay and properties of IgA protease of Streptococcus sanguis; Plaut AG et al.; An assay procedure for streptococcal IgA protease is described which uses isotopically labelled human serum IgA as substrate . Enzyme activity was monitored by the radioactive counts in the Fab alpha product, which was separated from other components in the digestion mixture by electrophoresis . Cleavage of IgA was linear with respect to time using catalytic amounts of the enzyme . Km was calculated to be 5.5 X 10(-6)M, pH optimum 6.0-7.0 at 37 degrees C, and the enzyme was fully inactivated at low concentrations of the metal chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Chemotherapy, 1978, 24(4), 227 - 30 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates relatively insensitive to penicillin G recovered from patients in Switzerland; Modde HK; The sensitivity to penicillin G of pneumococci isolated in Switzerland has been determined by the quantitative tube dilution method . 3 out of 100 strains were relatively insensitive to this antibiotic (minimum inhibitory concentration greater than 0.1 microgram/ml), thus confirming observations already made in other countries . These results underline the necessity of routinely testing the sensitivity of pneumococci to penicillin G. J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Jan, 7(1), 3 - 5 Survival of Streptococcus pneumoniae in sputum from patients with pneumonia; Williams SG et al.; The isolation rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae in sputum cultures from patients with pneumococcal pneumonia is low . An investigation was made to determine whether this low yield might be due to loss of pneumocci and/or overgrowth by pharyngeal flora before the specimen is plated . Pneumococcal survival times and pharyngeal overgrowth at 4 degrees C and at room temperature were determined in sputum obtained from 42 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia . It was found that pneumococci survived for long periods in sputum--2.2 +/- 1.4 days at room temperature and 9.5 +/- 3.6 days at 4 degrees C . Overgrowth by pharyngeal flora occurred in only 6 of 42 specimens kept at 4 degrees C and 31 of 42 specimens kept at room temperature . The low yield of S . pneumoniae in sputum from patients with pneumococcal pneumonia is not explained by decreased viability of the organism. Infect Immun, 1977 Dec, 18(3), 629 - 35 Distribution of dextransucrase in Streptococcus mutans and observations on the effect of soluble dextran on dextransucrase activities; Montville TJ et al.; Total and insoluble dextransucrase activities were measured in cell-associated and supernatant fractions of Streptococcus mutans GS-5 grown in several media . Although the amount of cell-associated and supernatant activity varied greatly as a function of medium, the total activity appeared constant . The distribution of dextransucrase could be altered without changing the total dextransucrase activity . This indicates that the distribution of the enzyme can be regulated independently of its synthesis . Strain GS-5 had significant cell-associated activity in media devoid of sucrose . In all cases, the ratio of insoluble to total dextransucrase activity was higher in the cell-associated fractions than in the cell-free supernatants . It is also demonstrated that exogenous soluble dextran caused a decrease in insoluble dextransucrase activity and an increase in soluble dextransucrase activity in both the cell-associated fraction and the culture supernatant . The stimulation of soluble dextran-synthesizing activity was not due to de novo synthesis . The inhibition of insoluble dextran-synthesizing activity is shown to be noncompetitive . These results support a physical rather than metabolic mechanism for the effect of soluble dextran on dextransucrase activities. Pediatrics, 1977 Dec, 60(6), 901 - 7 Complement activation and group B streptococcal infection in the newborn: similarities to endotoxin shock; Fenton LJ et al.; Serial measurements of CH50, C3, C4, and factor B were performed on three newborn infants with group B streptococcal sepsis . Two of the septic infants had a colonized but noninfected identical twin . All three infants with group B streptococcal sepsis had hypotension, prolonged coagulation times, neutropenia, and respiratory failure . During the course of the sepsis, factor B was depressed 30% to 35%, C3 was depressed 40% to 60%, and CH50 was depressed by 100% when compared to their cord blood levels . Two of the infants also had a 50% to 70% depression of C4 . In contrast, no significant decrease in complement levels occurred in the siblings of the twins or in two additional control infants . These data are characteristic of older patients with Gram-negative sepsis and strongly suggest that the group B Streptococcus has endotoxin-like properties. Arch Intern Med, 1977 Dec, 137(12), 1725 - 8 Endocarditis with myocardial abscesses and pericarditis in an adult: group B Streptococcus as a cause; Hager WD et al.; Group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus, S agalactiae, is an uncommon cause of endocarditis in adults . We present the clinical, laboratory, and postmortem findings of an adult patient with group B streptococcal endocarditis and major arterial emboli . What to our knowledge are previously unreported features are purulent pericarditis and myocardial abscesses . Twenty-five cases of endocarditis caused by group B Streptococcus that are reported in the literature are reviewed. J Dent Res, 1977 Dec, 56(12), 1608 - 13 Antibacterial effect of salivary peroxidases on a cariogenic strain of Streptococcus mutans; Tenovuo J et al.; The antibacterial effect of purified human salivary lactoperoxidase on a cariogenic strain of Streptococcus mutans was demonstrated while another oral peroxidase, probably of leukocytic origin, did not affect the growth . Lactoperoxidase was rapidly adsorbed by bacterial cells indicating the necessity of the contact between the enzyme and the cells before inhibition. J Dent Res, 1977 Dec, 56(12), 1603 - 7 The antibacterial action of the various components of the lactoperoxidase system on a cariogenic strain of Streptococcus mutans; Tenovuo J et al.; Physiological activity of lactoperoxidase and in vivo concentration of thiocyanate ions were shown to be inhibitory against a cariogenic strain of Streptococcus mutans . However, the amount of H2O2 in vivo may be too low for optimum inhibition by lactoperoxidase system . H2O2 alone also inhibited the growth of S mutants to some degree. Aust J Biol Sci, 1977 Dec, 30(6), 543 - 52 Purification and properties of the pyrrolidonecarboxylate peptidase of Streptococcus faecium; Sullivan JJ et al.; Pyrrolidonecarboxylate peptidase (EC 3.4.11.8) from Streptococcus faecium was purified by fractionation with streptomycin sulphate and ammonium sulphate, by chromatography on Sephadex G200 and DEAE-cellulose, and by preparative electrophoresis on Sephadex G25 . The purified enzyme on acrylamide gel showed a strong protein band which contained enzyme activity and a very faint band which had no activity . The subunit molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate to be 42,000 +/- 1,000 . The enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 7.6 and was unstable in the absence of 2-mercaptoethanol . The sensitivity of the enzyme to alkylating agents (N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide) suggested that free sulphydryl groups were essential for enzyme activity . The enzyme was rapidly inactivated above 45 degrees C . The values of the Michaelis constants (Km) obtained with various L-pyrrolidonecarboxylyl dipeptides were similar although there was a 10-fold range in the maximal rates of hydrolysis of these substrates . Inhibition studies showed that the substrate analogues 2-pyrrolidone and pyrrolidonecarboxylate are competitive inhibitors of the enzyme . The binding of substrates and inhibitors to the active site of the enzyme is discussed. Infect Immun, 1977 Dec, 18(3), 680 - 7 Fluoride uptake by Streptococcus mutans 6715; Whitford GM et al.; The short-term kinetics of fluoride uptake by cells from 20- to 22-h cultures of Streptococcus mutans strain 6715 were studied using rapid filtration and centrifugation techniques . Saline-suspended organisms were diluted with fluoride-containing solutions buffered at four different pH values (2.0, 4.0, 5.5, and 8.2) . Fluoride disappearance from the medium was inversely related to pH and to the duration of the exposure at any given pH . The uptake was rapid and extensive at the lower pH values and decreased as the pH increased . Media fluoride concentrations subsequently increased; i.e., fluoride was released from the cells . The presence of glucose, cyanide, or iodoacetate did not influence the results . However, preincubation of the cells in fluoride-free buffers, followed by the addition of fluoride, reduced fluoride uptake markedly . Cell-to-media pH gradients were determined by the distribution of 14C-labeled 5,5-dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione . Fluoride uptake was found to be a function of the magnitude of the pH gradient (P less than 0.001) . It is hypothesized that fluoride uptake occurs by the diffusion of hydrogen fluoride and the subsequent trapping of ionic fluoride. Biochemistry, 1977 Nov 29, 16(24), 5303 - 8 Isoelectric focus analysis of rat anti-phosphocholine antibodies; Braciale V et al.; Anti-phosphocholine (PC) antibodies in sera from four strains of rats were examined before and afterimmunization with either Streptococcus pneumoniae R36A, which contains PC as a cell wall component, or with PC-coupled keyhole limpet hemocyanin (PC-KLH) . PC-specific protein was purified from pooled immune sera and shown by a combination of isoelectric focus (IEF) in acrylamide and crossed immunoelectrophoresis, as well as by molecular weight determination in NaDodSO4-acrylamide, to be immunoglobulin . An additional, small molecular weight, nonimmunoglobulin protein (pI = 7.1-7.3) was present in sera from normal and germ-free rats which had the ability to bind the C-carbohydrate of S . pneumoniae R36A, but without specificity for PC . The IEF profile of normal and immune sera showed marked sharing of bands of anti-PC antibody between individual rats as well as between strains . In addition, other anti-PC antibodies which focused between pH 8.5 and 9.5 were less regularly shared . The uniformity of IEF profile of the bulk of anti-PC antibodies in rats is most consistent with their being the products of germ line genes. Lancet, 1977 Nov 12, 2(8046), 995 - 7 Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to penicillin and chloramphenicol; Appelbaum PC et al.; Three cases of meningitis and two of septicaemia were caused by pneumococci resistant to the penicillins/cephalosporins and chloramphenicol . No beta-lactamase was demonstrated in any of the organisms . All three patients with meningitis died, but the patients with septicaemia recovered after being given appropriate antibiotic therapy. Am J Med Sci, 1977 Nov-Dec, 274(3), 255 - 63 Ticarcillin: a collaborative in vitro comparison with carbenicillin against over 9,000 clinical bacterial isolates; Fuchs PC et al.; The minimal inhibitory concentrations of ticarcillin and carbenicillin were determined for 9,236 clinical bacterial isolates by the broth microdilution method at four participating laboratories . Ticarcillin showed significantly increased activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (P less than .001), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P less than .001) and Aeromonas hydrophilia (P less than .005) when compared to carbenicillin, but no signifcant differences were observed against other gram-negative organisms . Ticarcillin was consistently less active against the gram-positive cocci, and these differences were significant for Staphylococcus aureus (P less than .001), Streptococcus agalactiae (P less than .001), Staphylococcus epidermidis (P less than .001) and Streptococcus viridans (P less than .005) . Significant regional and institutional differences in susceptibility to the two drugs were observed for several species, including common nosocomial pathogens such as S . aureus, P . aeruginosa, K . pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. J Dairy Sci, 1977 Nov, 60(11), 1677 - 82 Species differences and effect of incubation time on lactic streptococcal intracellular proteolytic enzyme activity; Schmidt RH et al.; Ruptured cells of Streptococcus lactis C2, S . cremoris ML 1 and a lactose-negative proteinase-negative (Lac-Prt-) mutant of S . lactis C2 (LMO220) were fractionated into the soluble, particulate, and ribosome fractions by differential centrifugation . S . lactis C2 possessed higher activity of intracellular proteinase, alanylglycinase, particulate associated dipeptidase and ribosome associated dipeptidase and ribosome associated dipeptidase than did S . cremoris ML1 . LMO220 was lower in intracellular proteinase and dipeptidase activity and lower in ribosome associated dipeptidase activity than was the parent strain C2 . Particulate associated dipeptidase activity was substantially higher in the mutant cells . Extending incubation times from 5 to 24 and 32 h reduced intracellular proteinase and ribosome associated dipeptidase activity in S . lactis C2 and S . cremoris ML1 . Soluble alanylglycinase activity and particulate associated dipeptidase activity of ML1 were reduced drastically after 24-h incubation. Aust Vet J, 1977 Nov, 53(11), 534 - 7 The New South Wales mastitis control program . 2 . Effect upon bacterial infections; Mylrea PJ et al.; Bacteriological examinations were made on quarter samples from cows in 35 herds over a 3 year period to monitor the response in a mastitis control program . Initially, Staphylococcus aureus predominated in 32 of the herds and the mean herd prevalence was 26% . The control measures halved this rate but there was considerable variation in response between herds . The decline occurred rapidly and there was a significant reduction (P less than 0.01) by 3 months . Streptococcus agalactiae predominated in 3 herds and the overall infection rate was 4.9% . Control measures eliminated the infection completely from most herds but reinfection occurred in 2 herds . The greatest decline occurred in the first 6 months and was significant (P less than 0.05) . The measures had little effect upon Str . uberis and Str . dysgalactiae which remained fairly consistently at low levels . Initially, strains of Staph . aureus resistant to penicillin were dominant in most herds . In a minority of herds strains resistant to streptomycin predominated and in these herds there was a concurrent resistance to penicillin . These patterns did not change greatly over the control period . Resistance by Str . agalactiae to streptomycin occurred in most herds at the start of the program. Ann Dermatol Venereol, 1977 Nov, 104(11), 701 - 5 {Cutaneous microbiol flora in 206 children with diaper dermatitis and pyodermitis}; Maleville J et al.; Staphylococcus aureus (60 p . 100) and Candida albicans (50 p . 100) were mostly found in 73 cases of diaper dermatitis . They were present together in 16 out of these 73 cases . This study enables us to think this is a matter of opportunistic infection . Staphylococcus aureus (75 p . 100) and beta-hemol . Streptococcus A (28 p . 100) were found in 40 children with impetigo contagiosa . They were present together in 7 out of the 40 cases . Nephritis was never found either in those cases or in other 93 cases of pyodermitis. J Clin Pathol, 1977 Nov, 30(11), 1025 - 7 Bacteriological findings in cultures of clinical material from Bartholin's abscess; Wren MW; Purulent exudate from 28 cases of Bartholin's abscess were examined for aerobic, anaerobic, and microaerophilic bacteria . Three cases gave no bacterial growth, five cases grew facultative bacteria only, and a further three grew a mixture of facultative and anaerobic bacteria . One case gave a pure growth of a microaerophilic streptococcus . Anaerobic bacteria were the only isolates in 16 cases and Bacteroides species were the most common organisms isolated; they were present as 62.5% of the total anaerobes cultured and accounted for 45.4% of the total bacteria cultured . Escherichia coli was the most common of the facultative organisms, accounting for 18% of the total bacteria . Most infections seemed to be caused by a single organism, anaerobic types predominating. J Bacteriol, 1977 Nov, 132(2), 541 - 8 Glucose transport in Streptococcus agalactiae and its inhibition by lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate-hydrogen peroxide; Mickelson MN; Transport of 2-deoxyglucose or glucose in Streptococcus agalactiae was strongly inhibited if the cells were first exposed to a combination of lactoperoxidase-thiocyanate-hydrogen peroxide (LP-complex) . The inhibition was completely reversible with dithiothreitol . N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzoate inhibited sugar transport, and the inhibition was also reversible with dithiothreitol . Sodium fluoride also inhibited sugar transport . Glucolysis was completely inhibited, and dithiothreitol completely reversed the inhibition . Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase activity in S . agalactiae was not strongly inhibited by the LP-complex . Interference of the entry of glucose into cells of S . agalactiae by the LP-complex could well account for its growth inhibitory properties with this organism . The inhibition of glucose transport by the LP-complex and its reversibility with dithiothreitol suggest the modification of functional sulfhydryl groups in the cell membrane as a cause of transport inhibition. J Pediatr, 1977 Nov, 91(5), 719 - 21 Detection and quantitation of bacteremia in childhood; Santosham M et al.; Quantitative blood cultures were sought in 383 children, from whom routine blood cultures were obtained because of fever, by direct plating of 10 and 100 microliter blood onto solidified media . There were 14 positive cultures from 12 patients . These were 7 Hemophilus influenzae type b, 5 Streptococcus penumoniae, and 2 Staphylococcus aureus . The direct-plating technique permitted more rapid identification of positive cultures, and detected three episodes not identified by routine broth culture . Bacterial counts ranged from 20 to greater than 10(4) bacteria/ml blood . In the three cases of H . influenzae type b meningitis, bacteremia exceeded 10(3)/ml . Among nine patients in whom bacteremia was unassociated with meningitis, (bacteremia without evident localized disease 5, pneumonia 2, epiglottitis 1, peritonitis 1), bacteremia was less than 10(3)/ml . This technique may aid detection of bacteremia and help identify those children at highest risk for developing septic complications, such as meningitis. J Dent Res, 1977 Nov, 56(11), 1359 - 63 The effect of disaccharides on the plaque-forming potential of Streptoccoccus mutans; Balekjian AY et al.; The comparative and combined effects of sucrose, maltose, and lactose as factors on the plaque-forming potential of Streptococcus mutans were assessed . With increasing additions of maltose to sucrose-supplemented medium there was decreasing plaque formation . Lactose additions slightly increased plaque formation, but when combined with maltose they significantly enhanced the maltose inhibition of plaque formation. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1977 Nov, 32(11), 891 - 7 {Extracellular polysaccharides from Streptococcus mutans of various biotypes--chemical characterization and enzymatic hydrolysis}; Trautner K; The composition and proportions of different types of compound were established in extracellular polysaccharides synthesized in virto by streptococcus mutans strains of various biotypes . The polysaccharides were further enzymatically hydrolysed with dextranase and the degree of hydrolysis as well as the character and amount of the products of decomposition were determined . Under the conditions employed the strains synthesized solely glucanes . The water insoluble polysaccharides of strains of various biotypes show significant differences with regard to the proportions of alpha 1,3 and alpha 1,3,6-compounds . There is a significant correlation between the proportions of these compounds and the degree of hydrolysis by dextranase. J Infect Dis, 1977 Nov, 136(5), 649 - 54 Perinatal immunity to group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus type Ia; Stewardson-Krieger PB et al.; Sera from 14 of 56 adult women protected mice from intraperitoneal challenge with mouse-virulent group B Streptococcus serotype Ia, and sera from seven of 25 nonparturient women in this group were bactericidal for greater than 99% of the organisms in the presence of normal polymorphonuclear leukocytes . There were no discrepancies between the in vivo and in vitro assays . Protective activity was found in the IgG class in seven sera, and in the IgM class in one . Opsonic activity was partially dependent on heat-labile serum factors . Of 31 mother-cord serum pairs studied, seven maternal sera were protective, but four of the corresponding cord sera were not . Pooled human gamma-globulin injected by either the intraperitoneal or the intramuscular route protected mice from bacterial challenge. Infect Immun, 1977 Nov, 18(2), 291 - 7 Opsonic requirements for phagocytosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae types VI, XVIII, XXIII, and XXV; Giebink GS et al.; An assay system employing radiolabeled, heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae and human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was utilized to study serum pneumococcal opsonic requirements . Comparing the kinetics of phagocytosis in normal serum, heat-inactivated serum, immunoglobulin G (IgG)-deficient serum, C2-deficient serum, and magnesium dichloride ethyleneglycol-tetraacetic acid (MgEGTA)-chelated serum allowed definition of the opsonic requirements for four pneumococcal serotypes: VI XVIII, XXIII, and XXV . All four serotypes were efficiently opsonized in 10% normal serum . Only type XVIII was opsonized in heat-inactivated serum . All four were also opsonized in IgG-deficient serum but not as efficiently as in normal serum . Opsonization via the alternative pathway was diminished for all four serotypes in 10% MgEGTA-chelated and C2-deficient serum . Furthermore, by varying the concentration of MgEGTA-chelated serum, it was found that type XXV was least efficiently opsonized via the alternative pathway . The quantitative nature of this assay system will permit measurement of bacterial and host factors that may contribute to host susceptibility to pneumococcal infection. South Med J, 1977 Nov, 70(11), 1357 - 8 Minocycline treatment failure in pneumonia caused by minocycline-sensitive Streptococcus pneumoniae; Satterwhite TK et al.; A previously healthy 23-year-old white woman had fulminant pneumococcal pneumonia complicated by empyema and bilateral pneumothoraces . Despite early treatment with the recommended doses of minocycline, the disease progressed . The S pneumoniae isolate was resistant to a 30microgram tetracycline disk and showed an MIC of 3.13microgram/ml for minocycline and 12.5 microgram/ml for tetracycline; these levels are considered by the manufacturer to indicate sensitivity to minocycline and intermediate sensitivity to tetracycline . The tetracyclines, including minocycline, should not be used to treat bacterial pneumonia since resistant strains of pneumococci are not uncommon and inffective treatment can lead to rapid progression of the infection . This case suggests that the levels of minocycline considered to indicate sensitivity in vitro be reassessed. J Bacteriol, 1977 Nov, 132(2), 564 - 75 Obligatory coupling between proton entry and the synthesis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate in Streptococcus lactis; Maloney PC; Proton influx was measured after imposition of an electrochemical potential difference for protons (delta muH+) across the cell membrane of the anaerobe, Streptococcus lactis . As delta muH+ was increased, there was an approximately parallel increase in proton entry, until delta muH+ attained 175 to 200 mV . At this point, a new pathway became available for proton entry, allowing an abrupt increase in both the rate and extent of H+ influx . This gated response depended upon the value of delta muH+ itself, and not upon the value of either the membrane potential or the pH gradient . For delta muH+ above 175 to 200 mV, elevated proton entry occurred only in cells having a functional membrane-bound Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+stimulated adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.3) . When present, elevated proton entry coincided with the appearance of net synthesis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate catalyzed by this adenosine 5'-triphosphatase . These observations demonstrate that membrane-bound adenosine 5'-triphosphatase catalyzes an obligatory coupling between the inward movement of protons and synthesis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate. N Engl J Med, 1977 Oct 27, 297(17), 897 - 900 Polyvalent pneumococcal-polysaccharide immunization of patients with sickle-cell anemia and patients with splenectomy; Ammann AJ et al.; To reduce the risk of infection from Streptococcus pneumoniae in hyposplenic patients we administered octavalent pneumococcal vaccine to 77 patients with sickle-cell disease and 19 asplenic persons and compared their response with 82 controls (38 age-matched normal persons and 44 normal black African children) . Fifty micrograms each of pneumococcal-polysaccharide Types 1, 3, 6, 7, 14, 18, 19, and 23 were administered subcutaneously . Post-immunization serums (three to four weeks) were available from 52 of 77 patients with sickle-cell disease; the percent responding and the magnitude of the indirect hemagglutination response were comparable to those of the controls . Within two years after immunization we observed eight Str . pneumoniae infections in 106 age-matched unimmunized patients with sickle-cell disease, but none in the 77 immunized (P less than 0.025) . We conclude that pneumococcal polysaccharides are immunogenic in hyposplenic patients and may protect against systemic Str . pneumoniae infection. C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D, 1977 Oct 3, 285(7), 837 - 40 {A gas chromatographic study of the composition of neutral and amino sugars in two neuraminidases, of bacterial and viral origin}; Bienvenu P et al.; The neutral and aminosugar composition has been determined by gas-liquid chromatography for two neuraminidases, either bacterial, from Streptococcus pneumoniae, or viral, from Myxovirus influenzae A/Hong Kong/1/68. Infect Immun, 1977 Oct, 18(1), 35 - 40 Role of sialic acid in saliva-induced aggregation of Streptococcus sanguis; McBride BC et al.; The ability of saliva to induce aggregation of Streptococcus sanguis was destroyed by treating the saliva with protease or neuraminidase . Loss of aggregating activity could be correlated with the appearance of free sialic acid . Clarified saliva contains an endogenous neuraminidase that modifies aggregating activity . Aggregation was inhibited by mixed ganglioside preparations but less effectively by acid-hydrolyzed gangliosides . The aggregating activity of S . sanguis was not related to the rhamnose or phosphorous content of the cell wall or to antigen a, b, c, d, or e. Infect Immun, 1977 Oct, 18(1), 237 - 46 Purification, resolution, and interaction of the glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans 6715; Ciardi JE et al.; The extracellular glucosyltransferase produced by Streptococcus mutans 6715 was purified from culture supernatant fluids to a specific activity of 9.6 IU/mg of protein, with an overall recovery of 87% . The purified enzyme preparation, designated unfractionated enzyme (UFE), synthesized only water-insoluble glucans from sucrose during the initial stages of the reaction, although some water-soluble polymers accumulated after extended periods of incubation . It was free from measurable fructosyltransferase activity . The UFE preparation was resolved into two different catalytically active components by ethanol fractionation . One fraction (designated insoluble product enzyme {IPE}) synthesized water-insoluble glucans, whereas the other (designated soluble product enzyme {SPE}) produced primarily water-soluble glucans . The difference between the insoluble glucans made by the UFE preparation and those made by the IPE fraction appeared to be due to interaction of the SPE and IPE components in the UFE preparation . Addition of commercial dextrans or enzymatically prepared glucans to the glucosyltransferase assay altered the amounts of soluble and insoluble glucans synthesized by the UFE preparation . The molecular weights of the major enzymatically active proteins producing insoluble and soluble glucans were estimated by gel filtration chromatography to be 150,000 and 175,000, respectively. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1977 Oct, 85B(5), 341 - 6 Interaction of hydroxyapatite and protein-coated hydroxyapatite with Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis; Rolla G et al.; The present study showed that S . mutans and S . sanguis behaved like negatively-charged particles in their interaction with hydroxyapatite in vitro . Phosphate in the system inhibited bacterial uptake by apatite, whereas calcium increased the uptake . A layer of acidic protein inhibited the uptake of bacteria by hydroxyapatite . The opposite was true when a basic protein was first adsorbed to the apatite . A saliva film on the apatite decreased the uptake of bacteria, supporting the view that acidic proteins are selectively adsorbed by hydroxyapatite from saliva . The results indicate clearly that electrostatic forces may be involved in bacterial interaction with tooth surface. Q J Med, 1977 Oct, 46(184), 499 - 512 Bacterial endocarditis in England in the 1970's: a review of 70 patients; Schnurr LP et al.; The features of 70 cases of bacterial endocarditis are reported . Streptococcus viridans was the cause in 45 per cent, staphylococci in 27 per cent, and enterococci in 7 per cent . Rheumatic heart disease was the predisposing factor in less than one quarter of patients and in almost half there was no obvious pre-existing cardiac disease . Apart from cardiac murmurs and pyrexia, the classical features of infective endocarditis were uncommon, haematuria being observed in less than one-third . Most patients were over the age of 30, one-third more than 60 years of age and the peak incidence occurred in the seventh decade . The mortality was 34 per cent, being highest in infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus . Adverse prognostic features included cardiac failure, advanced age and peripheral embolization . One-third of infections were caused by bacteria resistant to penicillin. J Clin Pathol, 1977 Oct, 30(10), 937 - 42 Streptococcus milleri in the appendix; Poole PM et al.; The appendix was investigated as a possible habitat of Streptococcus milleri . Both normal and inflamed appendices were examined and the isolation rates compared . S . milleri was present in a quarter of the normal appendices and more than half of those associated with apendicitis--a difference that was statistically highly significant . The isolation rates throughout were indepencent of age . There was a pronounced connection between the presence of S . milleri in the appendix and the purulent manifestations of appendicitis . S . milleri was isolated from other abdominal sites associated with appendicitis . The frequency of isolation was increased by culture in an enrichment broth containing nalidixic acid and sulphadimidine. Jpn J Exp Med, 1977 Oct, 47(5), 341 - 9 Antitumor activity of protoplast membrane from group A streptococcus; Koshimura S et al.; Cytoplasmic membrane of Group A streptococcus has been obtained by treatment of the cells with a phage-associated lytic enzyme to dissolve the streptococcal cell wall, followed by shocking osmotically . The protoplast membrane fraction (PMF) remained as a distinct homogeneous structure in the electron micrograph and analysis showed a low rhamnose content . Febrile response produced by PMF was very slightly exhibited or not at all . PMF showed weak suppression against the growth of rat Yoshida sarcoma cells in culture and inhibition of {3H}-uridine incorporation into the sarcoma cells in vitro . In vivo antitumor experiments demonstrated that PMF has a mild inhibiting effect against mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, though there was not observed a definite correlation between survival rate and dose level . Antitumor activity of PMF was thermo-labile and was strikingly abolished by treatment with a bacterial enzyme, Nagarse, but not so much by alpha-chymotrypsin. South Med J, 1977 Oct, 70 Suppl 1, 44 - 5 Role of preventive antibiotics in patients undergoing cesarean section; Work BA Jr; Eighty patients in labor and requiring cesarean section were selected randomly for a double-blind study using prophylactic cephalosporin and placebo . There were 26 treated patients who had no morbidity versus 13 in the control group . The reduction in endometritis was significant (P = less than .05) . The most prevalent organism was Streptococcus viridans, followed by Escherichia coli . Bacterioides organisms were recovered 17 time in 11 patients . Tabulation of the fever index showed significant difference . No major complication occurred in the treatment group . Gastric aspirates from infants showed a good correlation with maternal morbidity and are suggested as a screening procedure. J Dent Res, 1977 Oct, 56(10), 1185 - 91 The effects of fluoride on the percentage bacterial composition of dental plaque, on caries incidence, and on the in vitro growth of Streptococcus mutans, Actinomyces viscosus, and Actinobacillus sp; Beighton D et al.; Administration of 250 mug/ml NaF in drinking water to rats reduced both caries incidence (P less than 0.001) and the percentage of S mutans (0.01 greater than P greater than 0.001) although the percentage of Actinobacillus sp . was increased (P less than 0.001) . An Actinobacillus sp . and S mutans FA1 both proliferated in NaF broth only if the NaF greater than 10 mug/ml, which was associated with the inhibition of acid production. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1977 Oct, 116(4), 671 - 7 Determinants of lung bacterial clearance in mice after acute hypoxia; Harris GD et al.; Net lung bacterial clearance in normal mice is determined by the balance of in vivo bacterial multiplication on the one hand, and the defense mechanisms of mucociliary clearance and phagocytosis and killing by the oxygen-dependent alveolar macrophage on the other . The bactericidal function of the macrophage is the major component of the defense mechanism . The effect of acute hypoxia on the defense mechanism was studied in mice exposed to aerosols of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae . Physical clearance was not impaired by acute hypoxia, and bacterial replication was not stimulated by the low oxygen atmosphere . Clearance of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli was impaired during acute hypoxia due to decreased phagocytosis or killing by the alveolar macrophage . The important human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae was cleared normally in the presence of acute hypoxia . This observation suggests that an oxygen-independent clearance mechanism is important in lung defense against the pneumococcus . This may be a separate mechanism within the alveolar macrophage or a system as yet unidentified. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1977 Sep 15, 129(2), 185 - 9 Neonatal scalp abscess and fetal monitoring: factors associated with infection; Okada DM et al.; Forty-two of 929 (4.5 per cent) newborn infants prospectively studied following continuous, direct fetal heart rate monitoring during labor developed a scalp abscess at the site of electrode application during the neonatal period . Factors associated with infection with the use of a multivariate analysis were duration of monitoring (p less than 0.01) and high-risk indications for monitoring (p less than 0.01) . Of the 42 infected neonates, 33 had complete bacteriologic studies . Microorganisms were isolated from all the infection tended to be polymicrobial, most commonly containing both aerobes and anaerobes . Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, and Peptococcus were the predominant isolates . These data indicate that scalp abscess complicating intrapartum fetal monitoring may be nosocomial importance, and infants monitored should be closely observed in order to prevent more serious infectious complications. J Biol Chem, 1977 Sep 10, 252(17), 6061 - 8 On the structure of the prosthetic group of citrate (pro-3S)-lyase; Singh M et al.; The prosthetic group of citrate (pro-3S)-lyase from Klebsiella aerogenes as well as Streptococcus diacetilactis was obtained eigher by beta elimination or pronase digestion of the enzyme and purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography . The compound was shown to contain 3 mol of PO4, 2 mol of ribose, and 1 mol of sulfhydryl/mol of adenine . 5'-AMP and dephospho-CoA are components of the prosthetic group . The evidence obtained so far support our proposed structure of 3' (or 2') leads to 1''-(5''-phosphoribosyl)dephospho-CoA for the prosthetic group of citrate lyase . The presence of one phosphomonoester group in the compound isolated after beta elimination and the absence of the same in the compound isolated after pronase digestion indicated that the prosthetic group is attached to the enzyme through a phosphodiester bond . Analyses of the pyruvate released by beta elimination and subsequent acid hydrolysis of the peptide-bound prosthetic group and its degradation products showed that the phosphodiester linkage is between the hydroxyl group of a serine residue of the protein and the 5''-PO4 group of the second ribose. Z Kardiol, 1977 Sep, 66(9), 501 - 7 {Present aspects of bacterial endocarditis in infants and children . Observation during the years 1969-1976 (author's transl)}; Liersch R et al.; 21 infants and children with proven bacterial endocarditis were observed at the Unviersity Children Hospital of Dusseldorf from January 1969 to December 1976 . There was high incidence of cases in the infant group and again among the 6 to 8 years old children . Some important aspects of the disease were characteristic for the infant group (N=5): No congenital cardiac abnormality was present, but a surgical cerebro-atrial connection in two cases of hydrocephalus and a prolonged artifical respiration in a third patient could have been predisposing factors . Staphylococci were the pathologic organisms in three infants . The course of the disease consistently resembled that of septicemia and the outcome was always lethal . The diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis was disclosed only by the post mortem examination . The mitral and the tricuspid valves were affected twice respectively, the pulmonary cusps only once . In the children group (N=16) fifteen patients had a congenital malformation of the heart confirmed by previous catheterization . 8 were cyanotic and 5 of them had a tetralogy of Fallot with previous aorto-pulmonary shunting procedure (Waterston) . Unlike the spectrum of micro-organisms presently found in adults, the streptococcus viridans prevailed as before, it was isolated in 11 of the 13 blood cultures which yielded positive results . The disease displayed a subacute course and mortality remained with 3 deaths relatively low . In 3 other cases a valve lesion subsisted, in two instances severe enough to necessitate surgery (aortic valve prosthesis, mitral annular narrowing) . No relapse was observed during the mean follow up period of 2;8 years. J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 102(1), 45 - 53 Streptococcus pleomorphus sp.nov.: an anaerobic streptococcus isolated mainly from the caeca of birds; Barnes EM et al.; A new species Streptococcus pleomorphus is described . It is obligately anaerobic and classified in the genus Streptococcus because it is a Gram-positive coccus growing in pairs and chains, with a homolactic fermentation of glucose producing L-lactic acid . The GC content of the DNA is 39 mol% . The organism has been mainly isolated from chickens, turkeys and ducks. Br J Nutr, 1977 Sep, 38(2), 233 - 8 The effect of in utero protein malnutrition and subsequent renutrition on rat saliva and some salivary enzymes; Watson RR; 1 . Rat pups developed chronic protein insufficiency resulting from malnutrition diet in utero while their dams received 40 g protein/kg diet . 2 . Before weaning they were found to have decreased salivary amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) and aminopeptidase activities . 3 . A complete diet (250 g protein/kg) rapidly restored salivary amylase activity before weight normalization . However, renourished pups (malnourished pups given 250 g protein/kg for 14 d) still had increased numbers of Streptococcus multans in their plaque. Infect Immun, 1977 Sep, 17(3), 644 - 50 Effective immunity to dental caries: passive transfer to rats to antibodies to Streptococcus mutans elicits protection; Michalek SM et al.; Rat dams, given intravenous injections of heat-killed Streptococcus mutans 6715, mutant C211 demonstrated significant agglutinin activity to the homologous S . mutans in colostrum, milk, and serum . This antibody activity was associated with the immunoglobulin G (IgG) class . High titers of anti-S . mutans antibody associated with the IgG class were also exhibited in the sera and saliva of the offspring that suckled these dams . After challenge with the homologous, live S . mutans, these offspring developed significantly fewer caries on all molar surfaces than did nonimmunized infected controls . A secretory immune response (manifested by the presence of specific IgA antibody to S . mutans in colostrum and milk) was elicited (i) in rat dams locally injected, in the region of the mammary gland, with heat-killed S . mutans antigen, and (ii) in other rat dams that were provided formalin-killed S . mutans in their drinking water . Offspring suckling these dams were challenged with virulent S . mutans before weaning and developed significantly fewer caries than did their infected controls . These findings clearly suggest that passively derived IgG or IgA antibodies to S . mutans are protective against dental caries. Infect Immun, 1977 Sep, 17(3), 504 - 9 Effect of warfarin on the induction and course of experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis; Thorig L et al.; The effect of warfarin treatment on an experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis was studied . Warfarin was found to affect both the induction and course of the infection of catheter-induced endocardial vegetations . In warfarin-treated rabbits, larger bacterial inocula were needed to induce an infection, and the degree of infection of the vegetations was also significantly lower, eventually resulting in the total elimination of the bacteria from the vegetations . Thus, warfarin treatment seems to have an inhibitory effect on the induction and development of an S . epidermidis infection of the endocardium . The results differ from previous findings in studies done with Streptococcus anguis, where warfarin was found to have no effect on the induction or course of the infection of endocardial vegetations, which suggests that different mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of endocarditis caused by these two species of bacteria. Am J Clin Nutr, 1977 Sep, 30(9), 1512 - 3 Specific metabolic effects imposed by Streptococcus pneumoniae upon the response to femoral fracture in the rat; Kaminski MV Jr et al.; The possible potentiation of an infection upon the metabolic consequences of trauma was tested in rats using a 2 X 2 block design which included control, femoral fracture, pneumococcal infection, and fracture plus infection groups . Infection introduced unique metabolic effects different from those of starvation, femoral fracture, or both together . Infection-induced effects included an accelerated conversion of 14C-alanine to glucose, higher serum haptoglobin, alpha2-macrofetoprotein, copper, and ceruloplasmin values, and lower serum iron, zinc, and transferrin concentrations . The first three of these infection-induced effects were diminished in rats with a femoral fracture . No measured effect of infection was increased in traumatized rats. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Sep, (9), 68 - 73 {Study of the methods of specific desensitization therapy in immediate hypersensitivity to Streptococcus under experimental conditions . 1 . Immunological data}; Aspetova NA et al.; Three series of experiments were conducted on 427 guinea pigs . A model of allergy of the immediate type was obtained by 3-fold subcutaneous injections of 2 mg of lysed streptoallergen with an imcomplete Freund's adjuvant . The effect of allergens (corpuscular--vaccines, lysed, and streptoallergens after Ando-Verzhikovsky) varying by physico-chemical properties was studied in the first experimental series . The best hyposensitizing action was produced by vaccine used for the study of the influence of various doses on the sensitized organism . Two doses were approved: the threshold one (diluted 10 times) and the subthreshold one (diluted 10000 times) . The use of the threshold doses caused reduction of increased sensitivity of the immediate type . In the III experimental series this dose was injected subcutaneously, intradermally, and intravenously . Subcutaneous method proved to produce a more marked hyposensitizing action in comparison with other methods. Arch Intern Med, 1977 Sep, 137(9), 1171 - 4 Infective endocarditis caused by Streptococcus mutans . A complication of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis; Robbins N et al.; Three patients with endocarditis caused by Streptococcus mutans were seen during a six-month period . All had clinical features of subacute bacterial endocarditis, including fever, heart murmurs, and positive blood cultures . One had underlying aortic insufficiency and two had idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis . All patients were treated with parenteral antibiotics and were cured . Streptococcus mutans is a pleomorphic, microaerophilic organism that is associated with dental caries and plaque . Differentiation of S mutans from enterococcal endocarditis is important because the former condition can be treated for a shorter period of time with penicillin alone, without the addition of aminoglycoside antibiotics. J Infect Dis, 1977 Sep, 136(3), 422 - 7 Rapid bioassay for clindamycin alone and in the presence of aminoglycoside antibiotics; Jorgensen JH et al.; A rapid bioassay for determination of concentrations of clindamycin in serum was developed with use of a strain of Lancefield group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) that is uniformly resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics, tetracycline, and polymyxin . An agar diffusion assay system was used that included the addition of patient's sera and three standard concentrations of clindamycin to 5-mm wells cut in the seeded agar . Pretreatment of serum with penicillinase allowed measurement of clindamycin in the presence of penicillins and cephalosporins by the same assay method . Assays of clindamycin in serum using this system could be read routinely in as little as 4 hr and allowed determination of levels of drug in serum of 2.5-40 microgram/ml . Linear regression analyses indicated that values obtained by this assay compared favorably with the results obtained with use of Bacillus subtilis strain ATCC 6633 or Sarcina lutea strain ATCC 9341 (American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md.) . Repetitive measurement of sera with known concentrations of clindamycin indicated the average deviation to be +/- 10% . Seeded bioassay plates could be prepared in advance and stored at 2 C-8 C for up to one week before use . This assay may also be used for measurement of lincomycin, erythromycin, vancomycin, and certain beta-lactam antibiotics in the presence of aminoglycosides. Arch Dis Child, 1977 Sep, 52(9), 683 - 6 Early neonatal bacteraemia . Comparison of group B streptococcal, other Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections; Jeffery H et al.; All cases of neonatal bacteraemia associated with clinical illness occurring at Hammersmith Hospital, over a 9-year period, 1967-1975 inclusive, have been reviewed . The infants studied were those born in the hospital's maternity unit and those admitted from other hospitals from a wide area round London who were ill or of low birthweight . Positive blood cultures occurred in 91 infants, 47 of them in the first 48 hours of life . These 47 infants were analysed separately and divided into three groups, 13 with group B streptococcal infections, 11 with other Gram-positive infections, and 23 with Gram-negative infections . There were no significant differences in birthweight or gestation, in mortality, in incidence of clinically diagnosed respiratory distress syndrome or recurrent apnoea, or in the need for mechanical ventilation between the three groups . The age at which a diagnosis of infection was suspected, and the age at death were both significantly earlier in the group infected with group B streptococcus than in those obtained with other organisms (P less than 0-01 for both comparisons) . There were no significant differences in the incidence of hyaline membrane formation or pneumonia seen at necropsy among the three groups . In some of the earliest deaths in the Gram-negative bacteraemic group, Gram-negative rods comprised the bulk of the hyaline membrane as did cocci in the group B streptoccal group. Infect Immun, 1977 Sep, 17(3), 665 - 7 Induction of nephrocalcinosis in rabbit kidneys after long-term exposure to a streptococcal teichoic acid; Waltersdorff RL et al.; New Zealand white rabbits were administered soluble lipoteichoic acid from Streptococcus pyogenes 1-RP41 on alternate days for up to 30 days . An increased incidence of renal cortico-medullary calculi was observed after day 21; the use of fluorescent-labeled anti-teichoic acid antibody located teichoic acid predominantly in the cortical-associated tubules. Pediatrics, 1977 Sep, 60(3), 360 - 3 Significance of radiographic findings in early-onset group B streptococcal infection; Lilien LD et al.; Chest radiographs on 73 neonates with early-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection were reviewed . Eighty-six percent of the infants were premature (less than 38 weeks); 68% weighed less than or equal to 1,500 g . In infants weighing less than or equal to 1,500 g, the predominant radiographic pattern was hyaline membrane disease (HMD) (80%) . There was a significant increase in radiographic HMD in 1,000 to 1,500-g neonates with GBS infection (77%) when compared to a control group of infants without GBS infection (44%) . Mortality in 1,000 to 1,500-g infants with GBS infection and radiographic HMD (95%) was also significantly higher than in the control group of infants with hmd HMD and no GBS infection (38%) . In larger premature and full-term infants, the radiographic findings were not specific and also were not helpful in distinguishing GBS infection from other newborn respiratory disorders. Scand J Dent Res, 1977 Sep, 85(6), 387 - 91 Adsorption of Streptococcus mutans lipoteichoic acid to hydroxyapatite; Ciardi JE et al.; Lipoteichoic acid extracted from cells of S . mutans strain BHT exhibited a high affinity for hydroxyapatite . Phosphate ions, fluoride ions and to a lesser extent human saliva inhibited or reversed this adsorption . Extracellular lipoteichoic acid preparations obtained from the supernatant of cultures of the same bacteria exhibited similar properties . It is suggested that lipoteichoic acids could play a significant role in the colonization of teeth by Gram-positive bacteria and thereby contribute to the formation and pathogenicity of dental plaque. J Dent Res, 1977 Sep, 56(9), 1107 - 10 In vitro enamel demineralization by Streptococcus mutans in the presence of salivary pellicles; Zahradnik RT et al.; Salivary pellicles developed on extracted teeth favorably affected the degree and nature of enamel demineralization when the teeth were incubated in vitro with either of two pure strains of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans . The mechanism responsible for this protection may relate to the permselective properties of these salivary pellicles. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1977 Sep, 32(9), 735 - 7 {Synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides by various forms of Streptococcus salivarius}; Trautner K et al.; Streptococcus salivarius synthesizes extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) from saccharose under aerobic and anaerobic conditions . Under aerobic conditions primarily soluble fructanes are formed . There are no differences between the EPS synthesized by r- and s-forms under aerobic conditions; anaerobically the s-forms produce more EPS and more fructane than the r-forms . As compared to streptococcus mutans, the streptococcus salivarius produces considerably more fructane and insoluble glucane under the conditions used. Scand J Dent Res, 1977 Sep, 85(6), 373 - 9 Enamel microhardness and fluoride uptake underneath fermenting and non-fermenting artificial plaque; Turtola LO; Washed cells of Streptococcus sanguis were used to form artificial plaque on the surface of bovine enamel and incubated underneath buffer solutions, initial pH 6, for 36 h at 37 degrees C . The decrease in the microhardness of the enamel surface under fermenting "plaque" could be prevented with fluoride . Enamel under a fermenting "plaque" took up significantly more (P less than 0.0u) fluoride than enamel under a non-fermenting "plaque" (initial F- in buffer: 10 parts/10(6)) . The artificial plaque did not accumulate fluoride . Within fermenting "plaques/, the pH decreased significantly more without flouride (P less than 0.01) than with fluoride . Fluoride combined with sucrose more than negated the softening of the enamel caused by sucrose fermentation, i.e . it increased the hardness above the original values . The diffusion of fluoride through the fermenting artificial plaque was more rapid than through a non-fermenting plaque . These findings suggest that caries-conducive circumstances may promote fluoride uptake by enamel compared with non-caries-conducive circumstances. Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol, 1977 Sep-Oct, 13(5), 709 - 13 {Influence of pH on nisin production by Streptococcus lactis cultures}; Baranova IP et al.; The pH effect on the nisine biosynthesis during the cultivation of Streptococcus lactis was studied at pH 5,8 6,7 and 7,2 . The pH maintenance at the specified level did not stimulate the growth of Str . lactis, did not increase the total yield of nisine and did not produce a significant effect on the level or cellular nisine . This indicates an important physiological difference between the culture-nisine producer described by Hirsh and our culture Str . lactis, str . Moscow University. South Med J, 1977 Sep, 70(9), 1103 - 5 Demonstration of cryoprecipitable immune complexes in pneumococcal pneumonia; Moore WL Jr et al.; Cold-insoluble protein complexes (cryoprecipitates) can be found in the serum in a variety of infectious diseases . We studied serum cryoprecipitates isolated from three patients with pneumococcal pneumonia by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CEP) and immunofluorescent technics for the presence of immune complexes . The cryoprecipitates and supernatant serum were tested for pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP) by CEP at 37 C and 56 C with the appropriate controls . Antibodies against PCP in the cryoprecipitates and the supernatant serum were detected as follows . Streptococcus pneumoniae from each case was fixed onto slides . The slides were incubated with each cryoprecipitate and supernatant serum at 37 C, and further incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated antisera to human IgG, IgM, and IgA . The slides were examined with an immunofluorescent microscope . PCP was demonstrated in all of the cryoprecipitates . IgG antibodies against PCP were detected in all of the cryoprecipitates, while IgM antibodies were detected in Cases 1 and 2, and IgA antibodies in Case 1 only . Complement components of C3 and C4 also were demonstrated in the cryoprecipitates by CEP . These findings suggest that some patients with pneumococcal pneumonia have cryoprecipitable-immune complexes consisting of PCP and its antibodies. Pediatrics, 1977 Sep, 60(3), 352 - 5 Early-onset pneumococcal sepsis in newborn infants; Bortolussi R et al.; Five infants with pneumococcal sepsis presented with respiratory distress and clinical signs of infection in the first day of life . Although there was no apparent epidemiological relationship among the patients, four of the five were seen within a 12-month period . Pneumonia, prolonged rupture of fetal membranes, and prematurity were features in these patients . Three infants died, two within 12 hours of diagnosis . Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from the vagina of three of the mothers; in two, the serotype was identical to that recovered from their infants . Clinical features of neonatal pneumococcal sepsis are similar to those of early-onset group B streptococcal infection . Like the group B Streptococcus, S . pneumoniae acquired from the maternal vagina is a potential life-threatening pathogen in the newborn period. J Pediatr, 1977 Sep, 91(3), 371 - 8 Decreased opsonization for Streptococcus pneumoniae in sickle cell disease: studies on selected complement components and immunoglobulins; Bjornson AB et al.; Opsonic activity for Streptococcus pneumoniae in the sera of patients with sickle cell disease was reduced in comparison to the opsonic activity of sera from age-matched normal children . No difference in opsonic activity for Escherichi coli was observed in the sera from patients or normals . Total hemolytic complement, conversion of C3 by inulin and cobra venom factor, and levels of C3, factor B, properdin, C3b inactivator, and immunoglobulins G, A, and M were normal in patients' sera . The opsonic abnormality for S . pneumoniae was attributed to a deficiency of serum proteins rather than to an inhibitor of opsonic function . The data suggest that decreased opsonization was not associated with a deficiency of those complement components or immunoglobulins measured in this study. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Aug, (8), 77 - 81 {Quantitative evaluation of the patterns of the mechanism of pathogenic streptococcal transmission}; Khodyrev AP et al.; In the course of a one week observation in the organized collective body with a daily bacteriological examination for streptococcus group A carrier state 20 infections were recorded per 70 risk man-days . Statistical analysis of conditions for the recipients' infection showed bedrooms to be the main site of streptococcus infection in the organized collective bodies . The most important role in the epidemic process belonged to healthy carriers capable of infecting sensitive recipients, with the potency of microbial foci in the pharynx and the nose of about 1000-2000 microbes per standard tampon . The greatest frequency of infection occured at a distance of from 1 to 1.2 m . Consequently, the main direction of prophylaxis of streptococcus infection at the collective bodies should be associated with measures directed to the source of infection (isolation and penicillin therapy of the patients, urgent antibiotics prophylaxis in case of threatening epidemic or at its initial period). Appl Environ Microbiol, 1977 Aug, 34(2), 115 - 9 Effect of Tween 80 on glucosyltransferase production in Streptococcus mutans; Umesaki Y et al.; Glucan production from sucrose by Streptococcus mutans OMZ 176 was stimulated approximately threefold in the presence of 0.1% Tween 80 . When OMZ 176 was grown in a medium containing glucose, the glucosyltransferase level in the medium was also increased about fivefold in the presence of 0.1% Tween 80 . The glucosyltransferase level increased in proportion to the logarithm of the concentration of Tween 80 in the glucose medium . Tween 80 affected neither bacterial growth nor the activity of glucosyltransferase . The appearance of glucosyltransferase in the glucose medium was inhibited immediately by chloramphenicol and actinomycin D and, after a lag, by rifampin as well . It was observed that the fatty acid composition of the cells grown with Tween 80 was altered . These results suggest that Tween 80 stimulates glucosyltransferase synthesis either directly, or indirectly by promoting glucosyltransferase secretion. J Infect Dis, 1977 Aug, 136 Suppl, S14 - 9 Formation of antibody in the newborn mouse: study of T-cell-independent antibody response; Mosier DE et al.; The ontogeny of immune responsiveness, as assayed by antibody formation in vitro, of mouse spleen lymphocytes to thymus-independent antigens is reviewed . Responsiveness to trinitrophenyl (TNP)-lipopolysaccharide and TNP-Brucella abortus appear soon after birth and one to two weeks before TNP-Ficoll or capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae (SSS-III) elicits significant antibody formation . This hierarchy of responsiveness to antigens is also apparent in the CBA/N mutant mouse strain, which has a bone marrow-derived (B-) cell maturation arrest and fails to respond to either TNP-ficoll or SSS-III . These findings are interpreted to suggest sequential maturation of different populations or lines of B-lymphocytes, each of which can respond to a defined class of thymus-independent antigens . The implication for vaccine use in humans is that a late-appearing subclass of B-cells may be required for adequate immune responses to polyaccharide antigens. J Dent Res, 1977 Aug, 56(8), 977 - 82 The effect of Procion Blue on certain metabolic activities of Streptococcus mutans; Vicher EE et al.; Metabolic activities of S mutans were selectively affected by Procion Blue, known to cause covalent bonds and stable cross links in relation to carbohydrate and protein . In this study, despite the reduction in extra polysaccharide, the level of activity of glucosyltransferase was not significantly changed from the control level and colonial morphology was not transformed from smooth to rough . The results of the investigation imply at least interference with formation of extra cellular polysaccharide, possibly in the bacterial cell wall. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1977 Aug, 85(4), 271 - 6 Origin of intestinal beta-glucuronidase in germfree, monocontaminated and conventional rats; Rod TO et al.; The intestinal beta-glucoronidase was studied in germfree, monocontaminated and conventional rats . The greater part of the beta-glucuronidase of the caecum and the large intestine of the contaminated animals was of bacterial origin . No bacterial beta-glucuronidase was found in the small intestine . Monocontamination with Escherichia coli gave activities corresponding to those of the conventional rats, whereas content from the caecum and the large intestine of the rats monocontaminated with Streptococcus pyogenes showed an activity approximately 10 per cent of that of the conventional rats. J Reprod Med, 1977 Aug, 19(2), 51 - 4 Prophylactic antibiotics for women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy; Lett WJ et al.; PIP: A triple-blind prospective study of 153 women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy between March 1974-February 1975 at Brooke Army Medical Center, was conducted to compare prophylactic antibiotic treatment with nontreatment . The antibiotics studied included cefazolin and cephaloridine . Treated patients received either 1 gm cefazolin on call to the operating room, 3 gm cephaloridine divided into 1 gm doses on call to the operating room, and 1 gm 12 hours later; or were untreated . Febrile morbidity occurred in 7.7% of patients on cefazolin, 12% on cephaloridine, and in 49% of the controls . The predominant organisms recovered were beta hemolytic Streptococcus, group D, intraoperatively and Escherichia coli, postoperatively . The effective use of preoperative prophylaxis is demonstrated . J Infect Dis, 1977 Aug, 136(2), 278 - 85 Streptococcal infections that fail to cause recurrences of rheumatic fever; Bisno AL et al.; Prospective studies of recurrences of streptoccal infection and acute rheumatic fever were conducted among patients attending the acute rheumatic fever prophylaxis clinic (City of Memphis Hospitals, Memphis, Tennessee) between 1965 and 1972 . The patient population consisted of 124 rheumatic children and adults, two-thirds of whom had evidence of rheumatic heart disease . A total of 104 immunologically documented streptococcal infections occurred during 235 patient-years of follow-up (44.3 infections per 100 patient-years) without a single recurrence of rheumatic fever . Immune responses tended to be modest, and 80% of the infections were subclinical . The majority of our group A streptococcal isolates were obtained from routine cultures of specimens from asymptomatic individuals . Many of these strains were "pyoderma" serotypes, whereas others exhibited a characteristic (production of opacity factor) recently reported to be associated with decreased immunogenicity . Several factors may have contributed to the low recurrence rate of acute rheumatic fever, including the age range of the population under study and immunologically significant infections with strains of Streptococcus that were not group A, but a major reason may be the possibility that the group A strains prevalent in this population have diminished rheumatogenic potential. Am J Dis Child, 1977 Aug, 131(8), 845 - 9 The sequelae of group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal meningitis in early infancy; Haslam RH et al.; The group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus is responsible for an escalating frequency of neonatal meningitis . Of the 18 consecutive cases we report in this study, the mortality was 17% . Among the 15 survivors, there were two children with extensive neurological and psychological impairment . There were no major differences between the survivors and controls in tests of hearing and language function, social skills, and psychological testing . There was a greater number of minor neurological signs among the study group . The mortality and morbidity of group B beta-hemolytic streptococcal meningitis is apparently substantially less than that of all other types of neonatal bacterial meningitis. J Infect Dis, 1977 Aug, 136 Suppl, S98 - 104 Immunological investigation of infants with septicemia or meningitis due to group B Streptococcus; Baker CJ et al.; Purified polysaccharide from type III group B Streptococcus contains both a type III-specific determinant and another determinant that is common to strains of serotypes other than type III . The polysaccharide contains sialic acid, galactose, heptose, glucose, glucosamine, and mannose . Serum antibody to this antigen was measured by means of a radioactive antigen-binding assay . Sera from 36 (67.9%) of 53 women with healthy newoborns contained antibody, a prevalence significantly different from that in sera from 15 women (13.3%) whose neonates developed septicemia or meningitis due to type III group B Streptococcus . Complete concordance for presence or absence of anticapsular antibody in sera from 14 women at delivery and in their neonates' cord sera was demonstrated; this concordance indicates transplacental transfer of antibody . Sera from each of four adults with invasive infection who were studied during convalescence contained antibody to the capsular polysaccharide of type III group B Streptococcus . In contrast, antibody was absent from 10 infants who had recovered from bacteremia, septicemia, and/or meningitis due to type III group B Streptococcus. J Infect Dis, 1977 Aug, 136 Suppl, S38 - 42 Prevention of pneumococcal infection by immunization with capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae: current status of polyvalent vaccines; Austrian R; Because of the continuing morbidity and mortality resulting from pneumococcal infection, a program was instituted to redevelop polyvalent vaccines consisting of capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae . Vaccines containing 50 microgram each of the capsular polysaccharides of as many as 13 pneumococcal types have been shown to be safe, antigenic, and 78.5% effective in the prevention of type-specific putative pneumococcal pneumonia and of type-specific pneumococcal bacteremia in adults . In a population in which pneumococcal pneumonia predominated, the total incidence of radiologically confirmed pneumonia, irrespective of cause, was reduced by 54.3% by use of a tridecavalent vaccine . The efficacy of vaccine in the prevention of infection during the first two years of life is under investigation . The vaccine is recommended for those at high risk of pneumococcal infection or of a fatal outcome from such illness. J Infect Dis, 1977 Aug, 136 Suppl, S208 - 15 Temperature-sensitive mutants of type I Streptococcus pneumoniae: preparation, characterization, and evidence for attenuation and immunogenicity; Helms CM et al.; Thirteen temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of type I Streptococcus pneumoniae were selected after exposure of virulent wild-type (ts+) organisms to nitrosoguanidine . Each mutant resembled the ts+ parent in properties of alpha-hemolysis, bile solubility, optochin sensitivity, antibiotic sensitivity, and serotype . Unlike the ts+ parent, however, each ts mutant was restricted in its capacity to form colonies on blood agar at 38 C . With the exception of two mutants, there was a correlation between the degree of temperature-sensitivity of a mutant and its genetic stability . When inoculated intraperitoneally into mice, 11 of 13 mutants were attenuated and induced homologous resistance . Three mutants (ts 1, ts 3, and ts 4) were also studied in hamsters and were found to be attenuated and immunogenic after intraperitoneal injection . Study of the behavior of mutants ts 1, ts 3, and ts 4 in the blood of hamsters suggested that attenuation may be related, in part, to decreased growth and survival of ts organisms at body temperature . Mutants ts 1 and ts 4 were completely attenuated for hamsters when administered intranasally and induced significant resistance to subsequent challenge with wild-type organisms by the same route . Local administration of ts mutants of type 1 S . pneumoniae to hamsters may provide a model for evaluating the potential of live vaccines in the prevention of disease due to bacterial respiratory tract pathogens. J Infect Dis, 1977 Aug, 136 Suppl, S20 - 4 Maturation of regulatory factors influencing magnitude of antibody response to capsular polysaccharide of type III Streptococcus pneumoniae; Baker PJ et al.; Mice of different ages were evaluated for their ability to give a plaque-forming cell response to the capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae (SSS-III) . The response of amplifier and suppressor thymus-derived (T-) cells was also evaluated . The responses to an optimally immunogenic dose of SSS-III for two-and three-week-old mice were only 7% and 14%, respectively, of that produced by adult mice; values comparable to those of adult mice were attained by four weeks of age . Activity of amplifier T-cells, which was minimal at two to four weeks of age, matured slowly and did not reach a maximum until eight to 10 weeks of age . However, activity of suppressor T-cells was found to be fully developed as early as two weeks of age . These findings indicate that the inhibitory effects of suppressor T-cells are predominant in young mice and that such cells may play an active role in determining the ease with which immunological unresponsiveness is induced in neonates. J Infect Dis, 1977 Aug, 136 Suppl, S191 - 5 Comparison otitis media due to types 3 and 23 Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Chinchilla model; Giebink GS et al.; Only a few pneumococcal serotypes are responsible for the majority of cases of acute otitis media due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in children . The immunopathogenesis of otitis media cause by two serotypes, type 3 and 23, was studied in chinchillas . Chinchillas with type 23 pneumococcal otitis media were capable of clearing the infection over a six-week period without treatment, whereas the type 3 infection persisted throughout the six-week study . In addition, bacteremia or meningitis occurred more frequently and earlier with type 3 pneumococcal otitis media than with type 23 . The resolution of the type 23 pneumococcal infection paralleled the development of type-specific antibody, as measured by radioimmunoassay, whereas type 3 infection was associated with a fall in serum antibody to low levels . Since the pathogenesis of pneumococcal otitis media in the chinchilla differs between pneumococcal serotypes, it may be important to correlate pneumococcal serotypes with sequealae and recurrence of otitis media in children. J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Aug, 6(2), 181 - 2 Isolation of an obligately anaerobic Streptococcus pneumoniae from blood culture; Yatabe JA et al.; An obligately anaerobic strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from blood culture in a 14-month-old child with an upper respiratory tract infection. Infect Immun, 1977 Aug, 17(2), 296 - 302 Classical and alternative complement pathway activation by pneumococci; Stephens CG et al.; Sixty-two strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were studied for their abilities to consume selected components of classical and alternative complement pathways in human sera . The classical pathway was blocked by chelating calcium with ethyleneglycol-bios (beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid and by removing C4 . The alternative pathway was blocked by removing factor B . Each strain's activation of the two pathways was compared with its nonimmune reactivity with the Fc region of immunoglobulin G (IgG) . Activation of the classical complement pathway appeared to be independent of such Fc reactivity . Highly Fc-reactive strains, however, were shown to activate the alternative pathway more effectively than did less Fc-reactive strains . Since pneumococcal activation of the alternative pathway requires non-immunospecific IgG, these findings suggest that nonimmune binding of IgG on the pneumococcal surface endows it with complement-activating properties. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1977 Aug, 32(8), 575 - 9 {The effect of various front tooth filling materials on the in vitro growth of Streptococcus mutans}; Schmalz G; While silicate cement inhibits bacterial growth, resin materials promote it immediately after mixing . Toxic tissue reactions may be induced by bacterial plaque accumulation . Our testing method complements existing in-vitro tests for recording chemo-toxic activities. Am J Clin Nutr, 1977 Aug, 30(8), 1359 - 63 Effects of pneumococcal infection on rat liver microsomal enzymes and lipogenesis by isolated hepatocytes; Canonico PG et al.; Modification in the enzymatic complement and lipogenic functions of rat liver endoplasmic reticulum (ER) were shown to occur during pneumococcal sepsis . Glucose-6-phosphatase, 5'nucleotidase, esterase, and NADPH cytochrome C reductase decreased in activity by as much as 50% with respect to controls . Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA and NADH cytochrome C reductases were increased 6-and 2-fold, respectively . Alkaline phosphatase and inosine-5'-diphosphatase did not differ with respect to fasted controls . The lipogenic capacity of the ER was shown to be enhanced . In vitro {14C}acetate incorporation into cholesterol and other lipids by hepatocytes isolated from infected rats was increased 2-to 10-fold . It is concluded that the flow of acetyl-CoA in liver cell of Streptococcus pneumoniae-infected rats is toward lipogenesis rather than ketogenesis. Science, 1977 Jul 15, 197(4300), 263 - 5 A bactericidal effect for human lactoferrin; Arnold RR et al.; Streptococcus mutans and Vibrio cholerae, but not Escherichia coli, were killed by incubation with purified human apolactoferrin . Concentrations of lactoferrin below that necessary for total inhibition resulted in a marked reduction in viable colony-forming units . This bactericidal effect was contingent upon the metal-chelating properties of the lactoferrin molecule. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1977 Jul-Aug, 34(4), 787 - 96 {Serologic survey for the determination of antibodies against various virus infections, Mycoplasma, beta hemolytic A Streptococcus and Toxoplasma gondii, performed on children of a State-of-Mexico municipality}; Golubjatnikov R et al.; A seroepidemiologic inquest was carried out in 667 children from the county of Huixquilucan, Mexico, looking for serum antibodies against infections caused by the following microorganisms: Epstein-Barr virus; cytomegalovirus; syncytial respiratory; para-influenza 1, 2 and 3; measles; rubella; mumps; Mycoplasma pneumoniae, beta hemolytic A Streptococcus and Toxoplasma gondii . The findings are reported . Considerations are made on the incidence of these diseases in different age groups and a comparison is established with the findings in other countries, since there is no previous information in Mexico for some of the viral agents studied. J Infect Dis, 1977 Jul, 136(1), 82 - 9 The capsular polysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis as a virulence factor: comparison of the pathogenic potential of encapsulated and unencapsulated strains; Onderdonk AB et al.; The pathogenic potentials of encapsulated and unencapsulated strains of Bacteroides fragilis were compared by use of a rat model of intraabdominal sepsis . Implantation of encapsulated B . fragilis alone resulted in abscesses in most recipients, whereas unencapsulated strains seldom produced this effect unless they were combined with another organism . Implants of heat-killed, encapsulated B . fragilis also resulted in abscess formation . Subsequent experiments suggested that the abscess-potentiating ability of encapsulated B . fragilis is related to the capsular polysaccharide . Implantation of 200 microgram of the purified capsular material alone or in conjuction with unencapsulated strains caused abscess formation in a majority of animals . Comparable results were not obtained with capsular polysaccharide from Escherichia coli O7:K1(L)"NM or with heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae type III . The capsular polysaccharide of B . fragilis appears to potentiate abscess formation and may represent a virulence factor for this species. Infect Immun, 1977 Jul, 17(1), 215 - 26 Survey of the extrachromosomal gene pool of Streptococcus mutans; Macrina FL et al.; Fifty strains of Streptococcus mutans independently isolated from human dental plaque were examined for the presence of covalently closed circular plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) . Cesium chloride-ethidium bromide centrifugation of {3H}thymidine-labeled, Sarkosyl-lysed cells revealed that 2 of the 50 strains contained plasmid DNA . The plasmid DNA from these strains was characterized by velocity and equilibrium centrifugation and by electron microscopy . The plasmids in these strains were virtually identical in size, with molecular weights of 3.6 X 10(6) and 3.7 X 10(6), Both were present to the extent of approximately 20 molecules per genome equivalent . Interlocked catenated dimeric molecules of each plasmid were readily detected by velocity sedimentation and electron microscopy . These plasmid-containing strains were compared with representative plasmid-free S . mutans strains by using such criteria as bacteriocin production, antibiotic susceptibility, and hemolysis of mammalian erythrocytes . Although no correlation of phenotype to plasmid content could be made, production of bacteriocin-like activity differed significantly between the two plasmid-containing S . mutans isolates . Thus, although the plasmids in these two isolates appeared identical by the criteria of molecular weight, presence of dimers, and copy number, they appeared to be harbored by two distinct S . mutans strains. Vet Pathol, 1977 Jul, 14(4), 332 - 7 Extrapulmonary lesions of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in guinea pigs; Parker GA et al.; A retrospective study of extrapulmonary disease in 17 guinea pigs with Streptococcus pneumoniae infection showed the most common to be either chronic active or acute fibrinopurulent pericarditis, pleuritis or peritonitis, or all three . In periparturient females the uterus was commonly affected . Hepatic and adrenal necrosis, splenitis, otitis media, encephalitis, lymphadenitis and ovarian abscesses also occurred . There were gram-positive diplococci in all lesions and Strep . pneumoniae, most often type 19, was cultured from tissues of 11 guinea pigs. Am J Dis Child, 1977 Jul, 131(7), 784 - 7 Bacterial meningitis and septicemia in sickle cell disease; Overturf GD et al.; A total of 422 patients with sickle cell disorders have been observed for 3,442 patient years . During this period, 53 episodes of septicemia or meningitis occurred, indicating a risk of 12.5% from these infections for each individual . If only patients with SS hemoglobinopathy (sickle cell anemia) (323 patients) are considered, the risk was 15.2% . The case fatality ratios for sepsis and meningitis were 35% and 10%, respectively . Disease due to Streptococcus pneumoniae occurred, almost exclusively, among children with SS hemoglobinopathy who were less than 5 years of age . After the first decade, illnesses among patients with all types of sickle cell disorders were frequently associated with an identifiable source of infection, a chronic course, and frequent involvement of Gram-negative organisms. Gastroenterology, 1977 Jul, 73(1), 158 - 63 Bacteriological studies in a patient with antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis; Allen SD et al.; Detailed aerobic and anaerobic bacteriological studies on the operative specimen from a patient with antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis revealed approximately 10(11) facultatively anaerobic bacteria, but less than 10(5) obligate anaerobes per g of involved colonic tissue . Fourteen isolates of Escherichia coli, three isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and two isolates of Streptococcus fecalis were identified . The majority of the organisms were resistant to most of the antibiotics that the patient had received . Examinations of E . coli for heat-labile and heat-stable enterotoxins and tissue invasiveness were negative, and enterotoxin tests on the P . aeruginosa isolates were negative . Inoculation of mice with the bacterial isolates revealed no unusual pathogenicity . These findings suggest that antibiotic-associated colitis is associated with a marked loss in anaerobic colonic flora, but the colitis could not be explained by the presence of enterotoxins, tissue invasiveness, and pathogenicity of remaining microorganisms. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Jul, 238(3), 330 - 5 Streptococcus group B typing: comparison of counter-immunoelectrophoresis with the precipitin method; Kubin V et al.; The method of counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) was tested for its applicability to group B streptococcus typing . The results obtained were compared with the typing by the ring precipitin test . Identical antigens and identical hyperimmune typing serum batches had been used in both methods . A large majority of 75 freshly isolated strains were typed identically by both methods . Five strains with a weak antigenic outfit were untypable by the ring precipitin test but were typed by CIE owing to a higher sensitivity of CIE method . Two strains were typable by the precipitin test but not by CIE; an explanation for this phenomenon is lacking . The CIE method in group B typing is specific, rapid, highly sensitive and relatively simple . It requires strict maintenance of standard conditions . The method is economical with respect to manipulation and material, requires small amounts of diagnostic antisera . Potent antisera may be used diluted . Moreover, sera for CIE typing need not be absorbed to remove group B antibodies . CIE method is practicable for group B streptococcus typing, especially in laboratories carrying out routine large scale type identification. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Jul, (7), 78 - 80 {Cytolytic activity of human tonsillar lymphocytes}; Giulling EV et al.; The radioisotopic method was applied to the study of cytolytic activity of human tonsil lymphocytes against chick erythrocytes, intact and loaded with streptococcus and staphylococcus antigens . Lymphocytes proved to be much more active in the lysis of target cells treated with microbial antigens than of the intact ones . The degree of erythrocytolysis dispension of the tonsillar cells and their treatment with antiglobulin serum. Am J Surg, 1977 Jul, 134(1), 52 - 7 Bacteriology of necrotizing fasciitis; Giuliano A et al.; Sixteen patients with necrotizing fasciitis were observed under clinical and laboratory conditions for collection, preservation, and culture that permitted optimal retrieval of anaerobes . The clinical observations of necrosis of fascia, subcutaneous fat and skin with thrombosis of the microvasculature, and absence of myonecrosis were clearly apparent in these patients . Two clear-cut groups of culture and gram stain results were found, suggesting that the clinical entity of necrotizing fasciitis can occur after infection by different infecting organisms . The cultivation of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A), either alone or in combination with staphylococcus, in three patients conforms to the culture results found by Meleney {1} in his original description. Cancer Treat Rep, 1977 Jul, 61(4), 533 - 8 Regulatory control of tetrahydrofolate coenzymes in folate auxotrophs; Albrecht AM; The interrelated enzymic reactions of folate metabolism are presented and key tetrahydrofolate-producing reactions are emphasized . As observed with the methotrexate (MTX)-resistant mutant strain Streptococcus faecium var . durans/Ak, the regulatory roles of serine and purines in controlling their own synthesis by the repression of enzymes required for co-factor synthesis are reviewed . Positive induction of the dihydrofolate reductase activity of this mutant by folate and the antagonism of the folate effect by purines and thymine are discussed . A protective agent of the reductase-active protein, MTX is viewed also as a "positive" inducer of dihydrofolate reductase . Preliminary studies with L1210 leukemia-bearing mice and the murine leukemia ERLD in vitro suggest that citrovorum factor (CF) also triggers a positive induction of the reductase of the small intestine and of ERLD cells without apparently influencing the reductase level of L1210 in vivo . The possibility that control mechanisms, by which MTX and CF indirectly regulate enzyme synthesis in drug-stressed, CF-rescued cells, contribute to the success of high-dose MTX-CF rescue therapy is introduced. J Forensic Sci, 1977 Jul, 22(3), 610 - 3 Splenectomy and sudden death; Jindrich EJ; Four cases of fatal fulminant Streptococcus pneumoniae septicemia in asplenic individuals have been presented, demonstrating the relative lack of specificity of the symptoms and rapidity of the clinical course . Vigorous specific therapy was without apparent effect in two of the cases . No apparent reticuloendothelial deficiency prior to splenectomy was detected in two cases, and theoretically rather than clinically present in the others . Individual was hyposplenic secondary to splenic atrophy . The rapidity of the course and unexpected death will often bring such cases under the jurisdiction of the coroner or medical examiner, and medicolegal investigators should be alert for this syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1977 Jul, 74(7), 3060 - 4 A protonmotive force drives bacterial flagella; Manson MD et al.; Streptococcus strain V4051 is motile in the presence of glucose . The cells move steadily along smooth paths (run), jump about briefly with little net displacement (twiddle), and then run in new directions . They stop swimming when deprived of glucose . These cells become motile when an electrical potential or a pH gradient is imposed across the membrane . Starved cells suspended in a potassium-free medium respond to the addition of valinomycin by a brief period of vigorous twiddling . They also twiddle, although less vigorously, when the external pH is lowered . Valinomycin-induced twiddling occurs in the absence of external alkali or alkaline earth cations and without significant net synthesis of ATP . When a chemoattractant is added to cells swimming in the presence of glucose, twiddles are transiently suppressed, and the cells run for a time . Similarly, when starved cells are suspended in a potassium-free medium containing both valinomycin and an attractant, many cells initially run rather than twiddle . We conclude that the flagella are driven by a protonmotive force. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol Suppl, 1977 Jul-Aug, 86(4 Pt 3 Suppl 41), 1 - 15 Normal and abnormal middle ear ventilation; Cantekin EI et al.; Studies in infants and children have suggested a functional rather than mechanical obstruction of the Eustachian tube as a predisposing factor in middle ear effusions (MEE) . To simulate this condition in the laboratory, an animal model was prepared using juvenile Rhesus monkeys . The tensor veli palatini muscle was transected or expunged posterior to the hamulus of the medial pterygoid lamina . Transection of the muscle resulted in negative middle ear pressure without effusion, whereas when the muscle was expunged, the animals developed a brief episode of negative middle ear pressure followed by a persistent MEE that was sterile for bacteria . An acute bacterial MEE developed following instillation of Streptococcus pneumoniae into the nasopharynx of animals that had had a previous unilateral transection of the muscle . The condition of the middle ear was documented by impedance measurements and presence of the effusion was verified by myringotomy . Animals were periodically examined and tested for Eustachian tube ventilatory function over a period of one year . Before surgical alteration of the tensor muscle . Eustachian tube function tests demonstrated normal ventilatory function, whereas, functional Eustachian tube obstruction patterns similar to studies in children who had MEE were found during the postoperative period . Only after the development of a reliable animal model can current and future methods of management of MEE be tested under controlled laboratory conditions . These data suggest that the Rhesus monkey appears to be an excellent model for the study of normal as well as abnormal tubal function. J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jul, 6(1), 62 - 5 Value of sputum culture in diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia; Drew WL; In our laboratory, culture of sputum was extremely useful in diagnosing the etiology of pneumococcal pneumonia . Of 31 consecutive patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, 29 (94%) had Streptococcus pneumoniae cultured from sputum . Recovery of pneumococci in culture was enhanced by anaerobic incubation as well as by a plate bile test and an optochin disk on a primary blood agar plate. Nouv Presse Med, 1977 Jun 11, 6(24), 2133 - 6 {Treatment of bacterial endocarditis with oral amoxicillin and intra-muscular gentamicin}; Aubertin J et al.; Fourteen patients suffering from bacterial endocarditis due to a streptococcus or staphylococcus were treated using a combination of amoxicillin per os in a dose of 1 gram every 2 or 3 hours and gentamicin in a dose of 60 mg intramuscularly every 6 or 8 hours . Two patients failed to tolerate amoxicillin, which had to be replaced by penicillin G . Two others, after a period of improvement, relapsed and were cured by the substitution of penicillin G given intravenously, in place of amoxicillin . The ten remaining patients were cured after a normal period of time had elapsed . Two of them were even treated at home . Bactericidal powers of serum obtained by the combination were satisfactory at between 1/16 to 1/4096 one hour after the administration of the antibiotics . This therapeutic protocol is thus effective, and has the advantage of improving the patient's comfort . It should nevertheless be reserved for use against sensitive organisms in patients without digestive problems, the bactericidal power of the serum being verified. Infect Immun, 1977 Jun, 16(3), 760 - 5 Specific method for the purification of Streptococcus mutans dextransucrase; McCabe MM et al.; A convenient and rapid method for the purification of Streptococcus mutans dextransucrase is described . Affinity chromatography, on a column containing insoluble dextran purified from a culture of S . mutans 6715-49, gave an almost 300-fold purification, with 76% recovery of enzyme . Subsequent hydrophobic chromatography on butyl-agarose increased the overall enzyme purification to more than 1,000-fold, with a 65% recovery of activity . Two components of the dextransucrase activity were separated during hydrophobic chromatography . Both synthesized insoluble glucan as their major product and were capable of synthesizing soluble glucan in the presence of exogenous soluble dextran . However, the major enzyme component, which coeluted with a catalytically inert, dextran-binding protein, was greatly stimulated by exogenous soluble dextran, whereas the second enzyme component was not. J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Jun, 5(6), 578 - 83 Comparative recovery of Streptococcus mutans on ten isolation media; Little WA et al.; The ability of Streptococcus mutans (Bratthall serotypes a through e) to grow on 10 isolation media was examined . The number and morphology of the colonies were observed to vary on different media . The use of blood-sucrose media consistently produced the highest recoveries . Mitis salivarius agar (MS) and higher recovery values than modified medium 10 (MM10SB), Trypticase-yeast extract-cystine medium (TYC), or MS with 1% tellurite (MST) . MST with 40% sucrose (MS40S), MST with 20% sucrose and 0.2 U of bacitracin per ml (MSB), and Carlsson medium with 1% sulfasoxazole (MC), media formulated for the selection of S . mutans, were the most inhibitory for all serotypes . The morphology of several S . mutans strains was atypical on MC and MS40S, making positive identification difficult . Absence of growth of serotype a strains on MSB and serotype d strains on MC were the two major differences observed among the serotypes . Results are discussed in terms of the difficulties in making quantitative determinations from cultural data. Pediatrics, 1977 Jun, 59 Suppl(6 Pt 2), 1006 - 11 Radiographic findings in early onset neonatal group b streptococcal septicemia; Leonidas JC et al.; Chest roentgenograms obtained in the first two days of life from 67 infants with respiratory distress were reviewed to determine whether the radiographic features of group B streptococcal septicemia were diagnostic or distinctive . The retrospective review contained 24 infants with proven and 14 with suspected septicemia, as well as 29 patients with other causes of respiratory distress . The films were reviewed in random order by two pediatric radiologists without their prior knowledge of clinical or laboratory data . Typical radiographic appearance of pneumonia was present in only ten of the 24 proven and two of the 14 suspected cases of group B streptococcal sepsis . The radiographic pattern of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was just as common among these patients . The most prominent associated radiographic feature of infants with proven septicemia was cardiomegaly which was significantly increased when compared with infants who had other causes of respiratory distress (P less than .001) . X-ray recognition of neonatal group B streptococcal septicemia is limited because of superimposition of roentgen patterns probably related to associated disorders . Pediatrics, 59:1006-1011, 1977, NEWBRON, SEPTICEMIA, GROUP B STREPTOCOCCUS. J Biol Buccale, 1977 Jun, 5(2), 99 - 106 Synthesis of bacteriocins in liquid cultures of Streptococcus mutans; Kelstrup J et al.; Strains of Streptococcus mutans synthesized bacteriocins in agar plates, but synthesis of detectable bacteriocins in liquid media took place only under certain culture conditions . The composition of the medium proved to be crucial . Trypticase Soy Broth with 4% Yeast Extract meeting the requirements . The effect of the Yeast Extract is obscure, for some strains also formed detectable bacteriocins in a special Trypticase medium without this agent . It was noted that the broth should be filter-sterilized rather than autoclaved and only a few days old . Attempts at liberating cell-bound bacteriocins from washed cells were unsuccessful, even when they were treated with ultrasound, EDTA, or various chemicals followed by ultrasound . On the basis of size and sensitivity to heat the bacteriocins could be divided into two groups, while their resistance to ether and chloroform and to trypsin did not follow this pattern . Dependence on plasmids could not be demonstrated by attempts at curing with acridine orange or ethidium bromide; and the involvement of phages was unlikely, since the inhibition was not transmissible and phage-like structures were not observed in the electron microscope. J Dent Res, 1977 Jun, 56(6), 559 - 67 Comparison of antiplaque agents using an in vitro assay reflecting oral conditions; Evans RT et al.; An in vitro assay is described using saliva-treated bovine enamel slabs for determining the potential of chemotherapeutic agents to adsorb to tooth surfaces and act against plaque-forming bacteria . Chlorhexidine was found to inhibit the formation of in vitro plaque by Actinomyces viscosus, A naeslundii, Streptococcus mutans and S sanguis . Actinobolin was found to have marked antibacterial properties but limited adsorptive qualities. Aust N Z J Med, 1977 Jun, 7(3), 294 - 8 Characteristics of the immune response in a patient with Whipple's disease; Clancy R et al.; A patient with Whipple's disease has been studied to examine the effect of antibiotic therapy on the immune status of the patient, and the specific immune response to a cell wall deficient form of an alpha-haemolytic streptococcus (alpha HS) isolated from this patient . T lymphocyte numbers were reduced, and cutaneous anergy was present . Autoantibodies directed against smooth muscle and mitochondria were detected . These abnormal parameters became normal following antibiotic therapy . The specific immune response to the alphaHS was characterised by IgA antibody and lymphocyte sensitisation . The latter was detected as antigen-inducedd lymphocyte stimulation and antigen-induced leucocyte inhibition factor (LIF) production . Antibiotic therapy was associated with a fall in antibody titre and reduced LIF production . No defect in neutrophil function was found . These results are most consistent with the postulates that (i) immunological abnormalities in Whipple's disease are secondary to infection and (ii) the primary abnormality is an unusual pathogenic bacterium. Infect Immun, 1977 Jun, 16(3), 867 - 75 Purification and characterization of group A streptococcal T-1 antigen; Johnson RH et al.; A method is described for the recovery of purified T-antigen from crude trypsin extracts of an avirulent strain of M-1 protein deficient, T-type 1 group A Streptococcus . The purified T-antigen was resistant to enzymatic degradation with trypsin and pepsin, formed a single precipitin line with standard T-1 antiserum, failed to react with antisera for teichoic acid, group A carbohydrate, and cross-reactive protein antigens, stimulated only a single precipitin system when rabbits were immunized, contained glycine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, and serine as the five most predominant amino acids, and consisted of subunit size isomers. Infect Immun, 1977 Jun, 16(3), 947 - 54 Effect of temperature on bacterial killing by serum and by polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Sebag J et al.; Bacterial killing by serum alone and by polymorphonuclear )PMN) leukocytes was studied at 37 degrees C and compared with killing at 39 and 41 degrees C . The test organisms for serum killing were Staphylococcus aureus 502A (serum resistant) and Escherichia coli O14 (serum sensitive) . The organisms used in PMN killing tests were Streptococcus pneumoniae type 29 and E . coli O86.S aureus was not killed by serum alone at any temperature . Changes in temperature did not affect the rate of serum killing of E . coli O14 for the first 60 min, but by 90 and 120 min there was a discrepancy with continued killing at 37 degrees C, but no further killing at 39 and 41 degrees C . PMN phagocytic killing of the pneumococcus was enhanced at 39 degrees C compared with 37 degrees C, and phagocytic killing of E . coli O86 was decreased at 41 degrees C when compared with 37 degrees C . Therefore, it appears that under certain circumstances fever may aid the host PMNs in destroying organisms, whereas under other circumstances it may interfere with such destruction. J Bacteriol, 1977 Jun, 130(3), 1017 - 23 Effects of potassium ions on the electrical and pH gradients across the membrane of Streptococcus lactis cells; Kashket ER et al.; Bacteria transduce and conserve energy at the plasma membrane in the form of an electrochemical gradient of hydrogen ions (deltap) . Energized cells of Streptococcus lactis accumulate K+ ions presumably in exchange for H+ . We reasoned that if the movement of H+ is limited, then an increase in H+ efflux, effected by potassium transport inward, should result in changes in the steady-state deltap . We determined the electrical gradient (deltapsi) from the fluorescence of a membrane potential-sensitive cyanine dye, and the chemical H+ gradient (deltapH) from the distribution of a weak acid . The deltap was also determined independently from the accumulation levels of the non-metabolizable sugar thiomethyl-beta-galactoside . KCl addition to cells fermenting glucose or arginine at pH 5 changed the deltap very little, but lowered the deltapsi, while increasing the deltapH . At pH 7, the deltapH only increased slightly; thus, the decrease in deltapsi, effected by addition of potassium ions, resulted in a lowered steady-state deltap . These effects were shown not to be due to swelling or shrinking of the cells . Thus, in these nongrowing cells, under conditions of energy utilization for the active transport of K+, the components of deltap can vary depending on the limitations on the net movement of protons. Nouv Presse Med, 1977 May 21, 6(21), 1853 - 6 {The detection of soluble bacterial antigens studied in various pathological substances using counterimmunoelectrophoresis . Contribution to diagnosis(151 cases)}; Geslin P et al.; Examinations for soluble bacterial antigens using counter-immunoelectrophoresis (C.I.E.) was carried out in 151 patients suspected of suffering from various infectious syndrome were successful for S . pneumoniae, H . influenzae b, N . meningitis, sero-group B and D streptococcus . Thus meningitis and pneumonia represent those areas in which the technique is particularly useful . Apart from its rapidity--result in a hour--C.I.E., in association with bacteriology, makes possible an increase in aetiological diagnosis of 27% with H . influenzae b, 24% with S . pneumoniae and 6% with N . meningitidis (lower result by virtue of technical difficulties with sero-group B) . Thus using this technique we were able to reach an aetiological diagnosis in 10 (23.8%) out of 42 cases of purulent meningitis where blind antibiotic therapy had already been given . These two advantages--rapidity and increase in aetiological diagnosis--justify the introduction of this simple te