S Afr Med J, 1995 Jul, 85(7), 675 - 7 Diagnosis and treatment of ear disease among children in the Ellisras district . An outreach programme; van Rooy CH et al.; Audiologists and ENT registrars examined 2,036 children aged 10 years or younger by means of pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry and otoscopic examinations . Twenty per cent of these children had ear pathology and 7.5% had impaired hearing . Forty-three pus swabs taken from patients with suppurative otitis media most often cultured Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas species . The prevalence of otitis media with effusion was twice as high in white children as in black children, resulting in a much higher prevalence of hearing loss in the first group . The black children had 7 times more dry perforations of the tympanic membrane and 11 times more wet perforations . A hundred and thirty-six patients were treated by the team and 137 were referred for further treatment . Sixteen operations were performed at a later stage . Further programmes are needed to diagnose and treat ear disease in rural communities. J Mol Biol, 1995 Jun 23, 249(5), 933 - 54 Crystal structure of Proteus mirabilis PR catalase with and without bound NADPH; Gouet P et al.; A catalase from a peroxide resistant mutant of Proteus mirabilis binds NADPH tightly . Interestingly, this enzyme can be stripped of NADPH without loss of the catalatic activity . It is the only known non-mammalian catalase able to bind NADPH . The structure without cofactor was solved by molecular replacement using the structure of beef liver catalase as a model . The structure was refined to an R-factor of 19.3% in the range 8 to 2.2 A resolution . According to the sequence, a methionine sulphone was positioned in the haem active site . This oxidized form of methionine is particular to Proteus mirabilis catalase and likely to produce some steric hindrance in the active site . Two important water molecules are positioned in the haem distal site . These two water molecules are not located in the structure of beef liver catalase, but are supposed to account for the catalytic mechanism . The liganded form was obtained by soaking crystals of the unliganded form into an NADPH solution . The structure was refined to an R-factor of 15.9% in the range of 8 to 3.1 A resolution using the unliganded structure as a model . The NADPH was clearly located in the electron density map with the same conformation as in beef liver catalase . The NADPH binding induces slight structural changes . However, the imidazole ring of a histidine residue (His284) rotates about 50 degrees to accommodate the cofactor . The electron transfer from NADPH to the haem molecule was examined and several pathways are proposed. J Chemother, 1995 Jun, 7 Suppl 2, 155 - 60 Comparison of the efficacy and safety of isepamicin and amikacin in the treatment of skin and skin structure infections; Rodriguez-Noriega E et al.; Two hundred and three patients with skin and skin structure infections were treated with isepamicin once daily or amikacin twice daily in an open, randomised, comparative multicentre trial . Patients were randomised to treatment with isepamicin or amikacin in a 2:1 ratio . Severe infections (63 patients) were treated with isepamicin 15 mg/kg once daily (n = 15) or amikacin 7.5 mg/kg twice daily (n - 18), less severe infections (140 patients) with isepamicin 8 mg/kg once daily (n = 93) or amikacin 7.5 mg/kg twice daily (n = 47) . The overall clinical response rate at the end of treatment was excellent in all treatment groups (94-96% cured or improved) with no significant differences between isepamicin and amikacin in patients with either server or less severe infections . The most commonly isolated target pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus . Overall, in patients who had a valid target pathogen isolated prior to treatment and who met other evaluability criteria, bacteriological eradication was achieved in over 90% of patients; amikacin patients with severe infections had a somewhat lower eradication rate (82%) . Over all infections, 4/110 (4%) patients in the isepamicin group and 5/54 (9%) patients in the amikacin had organisms which persisted . Adverse events were reported in 12% of patients in the isepamicin group and 6% in the amikacin group . The most frequently reported adverse event in the isepamicin group as headache . Two patients (one in each treatment group), both of whom experienced skin rashes, were withdrawn . Potentially clinically significant changes in serum creatinine occurred in two patients, who received isepamicin and one who received amikacin (who was withdrawn from the study) . Ototoxicity was rare, occurring in one patient treated with isepamicin. Microbiology, 1995 Jun, 141 ( Pt 6), 1349 - 57 Nucleotide sequences of two fimbrial major subunit genes, pmpA and ucaA, from canine-uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis strains; Bijlsma IG et al.; Proteus mirabilis strains were isolated from dogs with urinary tract infection (UTI) and fimbriae were prepared from two strains . The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the major fimbrial subunits were determined and both sequences appeared identical to the N-terminal amino acid sequence of a urinary cell adhesin (UCA) (Wray, S . K., Hull, S . I., Cook, R . G., Barrish, J . & Hull, R . A., 1986, Infect Immun 54, 43-49) . The genes of two different major fimbrial subunits were cloned using oligonucleotide probes that were designed on the basis of the N-terminal UCA sequence . Nucleotide sequencing revealed the complete ucaA gene of 540 bp (from strain IVB247) encoding a polypeptide of 180 amino acids, including a 22 amino acid signal sequence peptide, and the pmpA (P . mirabilis P-like pili) gene of 549 bp (from strain IVB219) encoding a polypeptide of 183 amino acids, including a 23 amino acid signal sequence . Hybridization experiments gave clear indications of the presence of both kinds of fimbriae in many UTI-related canine P . mirabilis isolates . However, the presence of these fimbriae could not be demonstrated in P . vulgaris or other Proteus-related species . Database analysis of amino acid sequences of major subunit proteins revealed that the UcaA protein shares about 56% amino acid identity with the F17A and F111A major fimbrial subunits from bovine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli . In turn, the PmpA protein more closely resembled the pyelonephritis-associated pili (Pap)-like major subunit protein from UTI-related E . coli . The evolutionary relationship of UcaA, PmpA and various other fimbrial subunit proteins is presented in a phylogenetic tree. Ginecol Obstet Mex, 1995 Jun, 63, 226 - 30 {Non-puerperal mastitis . Clinical study of 30 patients}; Paredes Lopez A et al.; Non puerperal mastitis is an inflammatory disease that resembles carcinoma, the course is insidious and frequently this entity is misdiagnosed . The recurrence has been reported until 60% . This report is a prospective clinical investigation, of 30 patients with diagnosis of periductal mastitis, in these women were analyzed; age, marital stage, deliveries, breast feeding symptoms like tumour, inflammatory signs, mammary ductal fistula, mamography, cytology, bacteriology, histopathology, medical and surgical treatment . The middle age was 36 years old, 70% between 30 and 50 years old, 26 patients were multiparous, breast feeding were mentioned for 20 women . The tumor was palpable 70% of the cases, localized preferentially in the retroareolar segment, inflammatory changes were observed in 25 cases, 19 patients with fistula . The cytology was negative in 13 cases . In the bacterial culture were isolated, Staphylococcus aureus in 7 cases, Proteus vulgaris in 2 cases and seven cases resulted negative . Mamographic exams were realized in 23 patients; one case resulted adenocarcinoma . The medical treatment were with Eritromycin and Metronidazol and then, ducts resection surgery were performed in 16 cases, one case with adenocarcinoma was performed a modified radical mastectomy . The results were satisfactory 22 women improved, 6 cases with recurrence and two cases with spontaneous improvement. Semin Dermatol, 1995 Jun, 14(2), 111 - 21 Epidermal nevus syndromes; Happle R; A clinical entity called "the epidermal nevus syndrome" does not exist . Rather, there are various epidermal nevus syndromes that can be distinguished by clinical, histopathological, and genetic criteria . In this review, five distinct epidermal nevus syndromes, recognizable by different types of associated epithelial nevi, are described . The Schimmelpenning syndrome is characterized by a sebaceous nevus associated with cerebral anomalies, coloboma, and lipodermoid of the conjunctiva . By contrast, cataracts are a prominent feature of the nevus comedonicus syndrome . The pigmented hairy epidermal nevus syndrome includes Becker nevus, ipsilateral hypoplasia of the breast, and skeletal defects such as scoliosis . In the Proteus syndrome, the associated epidermal nevus is of a flat, velvety, nonorganoid type . The CHILD syndrome occurs almost exclusively in girls . The associated CHILD nevus shows unique features such as a diffuse form of lateralization, ptychotropism, and microscopic changes of verruciform xanthoma . The five epidermal nevus syndromes differ in their genetic basis . The Schimmelpenning and nevus comedonicus syndromes are most likely nonhereditary traits . By contrast, the pigmented hairy epidermal nevus syndrome and the Proteus syndrome may be explained by paradominant inheritance . The CHILD syndrome is caused by an X-linked dominant mutation exerting a lethal effect on male embryos . A correct diagnosis of these phenotypes is important for both recognition and treatment of associated anomalies as well as for genetic counseling. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 1995 Jun, 24(3), 195 - 200 Perspectives on craniofacial asymmetry . VI . The hamartoses; Cohen MM Jr; The hamartoses are a large group of disorders with autosomal dominant inheritance or sporadic occurrence . The genes responsible for some have been localized to specific chromosomes and in several instances, genetic heterogeneity has been established . Thus neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis are no longer single entities . For example, the gene for Type I neurofibromatosis is on chromosome 17 and the gene for Type II is on chromosome 22 . In this paper, genetic aspects of the hamartoses are updated and asymmetry is discussed in Sturge-Weber angiomatosis, epidermal nevus syndrome, Gardner syndrome, neurofibromatosis, and Proteus syndrome. Int J Paediatr Dent, 1995 Jun, 5(2), 103 - 7 Unusual distribution of enamel hypoplasia in an 11-year-old child with Proteus syndrome; Mason C et al.; An 11-year-old girl with Proteus syndrome attended our dental department because her teeth were sensitive to cold stimuli and because of the poor appearance of her anterior teeth . Extraoral examination revealed several of the previously reported craniofacial features of Proteus syndrome: facial and skull asymmetry, exostoses of the nasal bridge, and mandibular prognathism . Intraoral examination revealed enamel hypoplasia of primary and permanent teeth . The distribution of hypoplasia was unusual in that only teeth on the right side of the mouth were affected, and also in that only the distal half of the crown of the maxillary right permanent central incisor was affected . Behavioural problems necessitated treatment under general anaesthesia; the affected primary teeth were extracted and the hypoplastic permanent teeth were restored, relieving the patient's symptoms and greatly improving aesthetics. Eur J Biochem, 1995 Jun 1, 230(2), 713 - 21 Structure and epitope specificity of the O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus penneri strain 12 (ATCC 33519) containing the amide of D-galacturonic acid with L-threonine; Sidorczyk Z et al.; O-specific polysaccharide was isolated from Proteus penneri strain 12 (ATCC 33519) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and studied using NMR spectroscopy, including selective spin-decoupling, one-dimensional NOE, two-dimensional homonuclear correlation spectroscopy, 13C,1H heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy and chemical methods (O-deacetylation, Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis followed by borohydride reduction and methylation) . The amide of D-galacturonic acid with L-threonine {D-GalA(L-Thr)} was identified as a constituent of the polysaccharide and the following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit was established: {formula: see text} where the degree of O-acetylation at either position varies over 20-40% . Serological study with LPS, its degradation products and related synthetic glycoconjugates (2-acrylamidoethyl glycosides of amides of alpha-D-GalA with L-amino acids copolymerised with acrylamide) showed that D-GalA(L-Thr) plays an important role in manifesting the serological specificity of the P . penneri 12 O-antigen . Serological cross reactions between LPSs of P . penneri 12 and Proteus mirabilis S1959, R14/S1959 (transient-like form), O23 and O28 are discussed. Eur J Biochem, 1995 Jun 1, 230(2), 705 - 12 Structure and epitope characterisation of the O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O28 containing amides of D-galacturonic acid with L-serine and L-lysine; Radziejewska-Lebrecht J et al.; The O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O28 was found to contain D-galactose, D-galacturonic acid (GalA), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, L-serine, L-lysine, and O-acetyl groups in molar ratios 1:2:1:1:1:1, the amino acids being linked via their alpha-amino group to the carboxyl group of GalA . The polysaccharide was studied using 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including selective spin-decoupling, one-dimensional total correlation spectroscopy, two-dimensional homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear 13C,1H COSY, one-dimensional NOE, and two-dimensional rotating-frame NOE spectroscopy and partial acid hydrolysis followed by borohydride reduction, methylation, and GLC/MS analysis of the derived glycosyl alditols . The following structure of the repeating unit was established: {formula: see text} Epitope specificity of the P . mirabilis O28 polysaccharide was analysed using a homologous rabbit polyclonal antiserum in quantitative precipitation, passive immunohemolysis, and inhibition of passive immunohemolysis . Study with related synthetic glycopolymers (2-acrylamidoethyl glycosides of amides of alpha-D-GalA with amino acids copolymerised with acrylamide) showed the importance of D-GalA(L-Lys) for manifesting serological specificity of the O-antigen . Serological cross-reactions between P . mirabilis O28, S1959, and R14/S1959 (a transient-like form) are discussed. Am J Med Genet, 1995 May 22, 57(1), 74 - 8 Neoplasms in Proteus syndrome; Gordon PL et al.; We report on 2 children with Proteus syndrome who developed neoplasms . Patient 1 had a probable mesothelioma, although papillary carcinoma of the thyroid could not be completely ruled out . Patient 2 had bilateral ovarian serous cystadenomas with nuclear atypia . Other unusual neoplasms in Proteus syndrome are discussed, together with their etiologic and pathogenetic possibilities. Gene, 1995 May 19, 157(1-2), 73 - 9 Characterization of pPvu1, the autonomous plasmid from Proteus vulgaris that carries the genes of the PvuII restriction-modification system; Calvin Koons MD et al.; Plasmid pPvu1 from Proteus vulgaris carries the genes of the PvuII restriction-modification system {Blumenthal et al., J . Bacteriol . 164 (1985) 501-509} . This report focuses on physical and functional features of the 4.84-kb plasmid, which shows a composite genetic architecture . Plasmid pPvu1 has a replication origin and an incompatibility locus that each function in Escherichia coli, and an apparent cer recombination site . The replication origin includes a possible RNA I gene, and the incompatibility locus closely resembles a rom gene . These loci show substantial sequence similarity to corresponding loci from the E . coli plasmids P15A, ColEI and pSC101, and closely flank the PvuII genes . The close association between a recombinational locus and the PvuII genes has implications for their mobility. Br J Rheumatol, 1995 May, 34(5), 418 - 20 Antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis in the sera of ankylosing spondylitis patients with/without iritis and enthesitis; Maki-Ikola O et al.; IgM, IgG and IgA class serum antibodies against the whole Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis bacteria, as well as against K . pneumoniae and E . coli lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) were studied earlier in the sera of 98 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and in 102 healthy blood donors by enzyme immunoassay . In this study the patients were divided into groups according to the clinical picture, i.e . presence or absence of iritis and enthesitis . The previous major finding of increased IgA class antibody levels against the whole K . pneumoniae bacteria in AS patients when compared to the healthy controls was not specifically associated with any single patient group in the present study . However, the patients with iritis had higher levels of IgA class antibodies to LPS of K . pneumoniae and E . coli when compared to the patients without iritis . In addition, the patients without enthesitis had higher level of IgG class antibodies against whole K . pneumoniae bacteria compared to the patients with enthesitis . The increased IgA class antibody levels against K . pneumoniae and E . coli LPS in AS patients with iritis may reflect an inflammatory process in the gut area . Furthermore, there were certain other differences in the immunological parameters between the AS patients with and without iritis or enthesitis and the possibility that they reflect different mechanisms involved in the disease processes cannot be excluded. Br J Rheumatol, 1995 May, 34(5), 413 - 7 Antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis in the sera of patients with axial and peripheral form of ankylosing spondylitis; Maki-Ikola O et al.; IgM, IgG and IgA class serum antibodies against the whole Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis bacteria, as well as against K . pneumoniae and E . coli lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) were studied earlier in two separate patient populations of 99 and 85 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and in 102 healthy blood donors by enzyme immunoassay . In this study the patients were divided into groups according to the presence or absence of peripheral arthritis . The patients with peripheral type AS had increased levels of IgM and IgA class antibodies against K . pneumoniae, whereas the patients with axial type AS had increased levels of IgG and IgA class antibodies to K . pneumoniae, as well as IgA class antibodies against E . coli and P . mirabilis bacteria . Sulphasalazine treatment decreased the IgM and IgA class antibodies in peripheral AS and IgA class antibodies in axial AS against K . pneumoniae LPS . The antibody levels were also decreased against E . coli and P . mirabilis bacteria in the sera of patients with axial AS . The immunological findings in patients with peripheral and axial form of AS were different from each other and thus may reflect different aetiopathogenetic mechanisms for these two types of AS. Infect Immun, 1995 May, 63(5), 1796 - 9 Effect of salicylate on expression of flagella by Escherichia coli and Proteus, Providencia, and Pseudomonas spp; Kunin CM et al.; Osmotic stress, salicylate, and Mar (multiple antibiotic resistance) mutation are known to block the expression of the OmpF porin . Since these conditions have also been shown to inhibit the expression of P and CFA fimbriae in Escherichia coli, we speculated that they might affect the expression of flagella as well . Hyperosmotic conditions have been shown to block the synthesis of flagellin and expression of flagella in E . coli (C . Li, C . J . Louise, W . Shi, and J . Adler, J . Bacteriol . 175:2229-2235, 1993) . In the current study, sodium salicylate was found to inhibit the motility of E . coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia rettgeri, and Providencia stuartii in a reversible, concentration-dependent manner . Swarming did not occur at 20 mM sodium salicylate . Salicylate also blocked the synthesis of flagellin in E . coli . Phenotypic Mar mutants of E . coli derived from motile strains were amotile . Flagella were markedly reduced as determined by scanning electron microscopy when P . mirabilis was grown in broth containing 20 mM salicylate . Salicylate had no apparent effect, however, on expression of a 40-kDa porin protein in P . mirabilis . This finding suggests that the noted effect of salicylate on Proteus spp . may be mediated through a mechanism other than porin production or that the Proteus porin may not be analogous to OmpF in E . coli . Salicylate decreased the motility of Pseudomonas cepacia but had no effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The exact mechanism by which salicylate exerts its effect is not known, but it appears to be related to osmoregulation. Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol, 1995 May, 44(2), 78 - 80 {Antibacterial effects of antiseptics in vitro and in an experiment in vivo}; Ondrovcik P et al.; The effect of topical antiseptics routinely used in the Department of plastic and aesthetic surgery was tested against bacteria commonly infecting burns and major skin defects . In vivo, the effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was examined, in vitro also on Proteus mirabilis . A very good effect on tested microorganisms was observed with 0.1% Persteril, Peruvian balsam and Dermazin crm . (Lek, Ljubljana) . Gentian violet in a 0.5% concentration and 3% boric acid were not effective on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 0.05% permanganate and 2% Jodonal were moreover not effective against S . aureus. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1995 May-Jun, (3), 96 - 9 {The approval of an immunoenzyme test system based on the F(ab)2 fragments of staphylococcal antibodies for determining staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin}; Semina NA et al.; In the approbation of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system on the basis of F(ab)2 fragments of antistaphylococcal antibodies on 307 cultures of the representatives of the genera Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Proteus high sensitivity, specificity and effectiveness of ELISA for the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the alpha-hemolytic activity of S.aureus were established . The ELISA system has made it possible to additionally detect alpha-hemolysin in 62% of S.aureus strains classified with as nontoxigenic strains using hemolysis test in Petri dishes . The sensitivity limit of this method is 0.0005 binding units or 1.0 ng in terms of protein content . The use of the ELISA system may be recommended for the study of the toxigenic properties of staphylococci. Gematol Transfuziol, 1995 May-Jun, 40(3), 32 - 4 {Biological properties of microflora in pyo-inflammatory complications in hematologic patients}; Bakirov AB et al.; The occurrence of opportunistic bacteria isolated from hematological inpatients with pyo-inflammatory complications and strain affiliation of these bacteria were investigated . Gram-negative and gram-positive agents made up 51.9 and 48.1%, respectively, of the 1699 bacterial strains obtained from 814 patients . Klebsiella, E.coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus strains were able to produce LT-enterotoxin showing weak enterohemolytic activity, were sensitive to gentamicin and claforan and insensitive to carbenicillin, ampicillin, oxacilin, tetracycline, erythromycin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 May, 39(5), 1199 - 200 New variant of TEM-10 beta-lactamase gene produced by a clinical isolate of proteus mirabilis; Palzkill T et al.; A clinical isolate of Proteus mirabilis was found to produce a new variant of the TEM-10 beta-lactamase gene . This is the first report of TEM-10 production by P . mirabilis and the first report of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production by an isolate of this species recovered in the United States. Radiats Biol Radioecol, 1995 May-Jun, 35(3), 412 - 7 {In vivo study of the functional activity of peripheral blood leukocytes of intact and irradiated dogs with an inactivation test of endogenous hemopoietic stem cells of sublethally irradiated mice}; Man'ko VM et al.; Peripheral blood leukocytes of intact dogs, when transplanted to sublethally irradiated mice, have been found to suppress endogenous colony formation . The inactivation effect in hemopoietic stem cells of mice is enhanced with an increase in the number of effector cells in the graft . Radiation exposure results in failure of the effector function of leukocytic cells at the peak of acute radiation sickness . Nine months after irradiation, the inactivating capacity of dog leukocytes is restored and exceeds that of the control . Administered to dogs 9 months after irradiation, proteus vaccine stimulated the effector function of leukocytes at days 7 and 28 and suppressed it at days 14 and 62 post-administration. CLAO J, 1995 Apr, 21(2), 122 - 4 Bacterial contamination in soft contact lens wearers; Lipener C et al.; We prospectively analyzed bacterial contamination in 15 soft contact lens wearing subjects . Contact lenses, cases, tips of saline solution bottles, and conjunctiva were cultured . Cultures were positive for 13 subjects (86.6%) . Contamination was present in 13 contact lens cases (86.6%), 12 contact lenses (80.0%), nine saline solution bottles (60.0%), and in the conjunctiva of three patients (20.0%) . Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis) were the most frequently isolated organisms . Staphylococcus aureus was the only gram-positive organism isolated . We discuss the possible sources of contamination, and emphasize the importance of contact lens care instruction. Kansenshogaku Zasshi, 1995 Apr, 69(4), 420 - 5 {Immunological properties of Weil-Felix test negative sera from patients with Japanese spotted fever}; Amano K et al.; Sera from 4 out of 19 patients with the Japanese spotted fever were negative to OX2 antigen of Weil-Felix (WF) test . These WF test negative sera were analyzed by ELISA and immunoblot used whole cells and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of rickettsiae and Proteus strains as antigens . These acute-phase sera have already possessed the IgG antibodies against LPS of Proteus OX2 strain, whereas IgM antibodies in these acute- and convalescent-phase sera did not react with this LPS . On the other hand, the reactivity of IgM antibodies of the convalescent-phase sera in the 2 patients with LPS of Proteus OX19 strain increased as compared with that of the acute-phase sera by ELISA, and these IgM antibodies also showed the reactivity with bands of OX19-LPS in the immunoblot . On the basis of these results, it is interpreted that the WF test negative sera from patients with Japanese spotted fever are due to the presence of IgG antibodies against OX2-LPS in the sera. J Med Genet, 1995 Apr, 32(4), 316 - 9 Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis with a mutation in the NF1 gene; Legius E et al.; Encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis (ECCL) is a congenital hamartomatous disorder characterised by unilateral skin lesions, lipomas, and ipsilateral ophthamological and cerebral malformations . The disorder is thought to represent a localised form of Proteus syndrome . In this report, a child is described with ECCL and a de novo nonsense mutation in exon 29 (S1745X) of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene . Although it is possible that both ECCL and NF1 occur coincidentally in this patient, we favour the hypothesis that in exceptional cases a mutation in the NF1 gene might give rise to severe congenital malformations such as ECCL . Possible pathogenetic mechanisms for these malformations are discussed. West Afr J Med, 1995 Apr-Jun, 14(2), 78 - 81 Prevalence of bacterial otitis media in primary school children in Enugu Surburb, Enugu state, Nigeria; Oyeka CA et al.; Out of a total school population of 3,070 pupils examined for discharging ear due to bacterial etiology, 44 (1.4%) had discharging ear . Forty eight species of bacteria belonging to 5 genera were isolated . These included, Staphylococcus aureus, 16 isolates; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 10; escherichia coli, 11; Proteus species, 7; Bacillus sp . 4 . The highest prevalence of infection (3.0%) was recorded in central school Akwuke, Awkunanaw . Analysis of the data showed that infection rate was highest among the 6-9 year old age group (61%) and lowest among the 15 years and above age group (5%) . Boys recorded a higher prevalence of infection (55%) than girls (45%) . However the difference was not statistically significant (x = 2.08, p > 0.01) . All the organisms isolated were sensitive to genticin but resistant to other commonly used antibiotics. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen, 1995 Mar 30, 115(9), 1055 - 6 {What nobody thought possible--a "demobilization chain" gone astray . Foreign body in the urinary bladder--a current differential diagnosis}; Haakonsen P et al.; Intravesical foreign bodies should be considered in cases of unexplainable lower urinary tract symptoms or recurrent urinary tract infections with therapy-resistant microbes like Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas . Usually these conditions are due to accidents in genitourinary surgery or instrumentation, but in our case occurred as a complication to an erotic procedure . This paper describes a case with a so-called "dimme-lenke", i.e . a chain used to count down days until demobilization from compulsory military service for Norwegian recruits, found in the bladder of a 13-year-old boy . A knot at the end of the chain made endoscopic removal impossible and it had to be removed by cystotomy. J Craniofac Surg, 1995 Mar, 6(2), 151 - 60 Proteus syndrome: a newly recognized hamartomatous syndrome with significant craniofacial dysmorphology; Tattelbaum AG et al.; A new disorder describing multiple hamartomas distinct from neurofibromatosis and Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome was first reported in 1979 . It was named Proteus syndrome after the Greek god Proteus, the polymorphous, who could change his shape at will to avoid capture . The clinical manifestations are extensive, including cranial exostoses; progressive enlargement, asymmetry and disfigurement of the skull; macrocephaly; exostoses of the ear canals, nasal bridge, and alveolar ridge; partial gigantism of the hands or feet, asymmetry of the limbs, plantar hyperplasia, hemangiomas, lipomas, lymphangiomas, varicosities, verrucous epidermal nevi, and long bone overgrowth . A case report of Proteus syndrome is presented and discussed along with a review of the pertinent literature. Lijec Vjesn, 1995 Mar-Apr, 117(3-4), 73 - 6 {Determination of antibody kinetics in Mediterranean spotted fever using the Weil-Felix agglutination test, complement fixation and indirect immunofluorescence}; Punda-Polic V et al.; The kinetics of antibodies in human cases of Mediterranean spotted fever was studied by applying Weil-Felix (WF) agglutination with Proteus OX antigens, complement fixation (CF) and indirect immunofluorescence (IF) tests with Rickettsia conorri antigen to 46 sera from 21 patients . The kinetics of specific (CF and IF) and nonspecific (WF) antibodies was similar . The percentage of the positive sera and geometric mean titers of antibodies reached the maximum after 14 days from the onset of illness. Urology, 1995 Mar, 45(3), 377 - 80 Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis, the gatekeeper's dilemma: a contemporary look at an old problem; Nataluk EA et al.; OBJECTIVES . To review 12 patients with a clinicopathogenic diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) and to determine if a computed tomography (CT) scan is the imaging procedure of choice for diagnosis . METHODS . A retrospective review, over the last 12 years, of patients with XGP at our institution . RESULTS . Nine of 10 patients (90%) who were evaluated by CT scan had the correct diagnosis made prior to nephrectomy . The most common presenting symptoms and signs were flank pain (64%), leukocytosis (73%), and anemia (82%) . Seventy-five percent of the patients had a ureteropelvic junction stone or a staghorn stone in the affected kidney at the time of clinical presentation . Proteus was the most common organism cultured . CONCLUSIONS . After reviewing the clinical features of these 12 patients, we recommended CT scan to evaluate the patient in whom clinical suspicion of XGP is entertained . CT has proven to be the most accurate imaging study to evaluate this disease. Infect Immun, 1995 Mar, 63(3), 1127 - 9 Expression of a nonagglutinating fimbria by Proteus mirabilis; Tolson DL et al.; We have clarified growth conditions and isolation strategies for the nonagglutinating fimbriae from Proteus mirabilis . Nonagglutinating fimbriae were expressed by all P . mirabilis strains we examined, and the major subunit proteins, which ranged from 23 to 29 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, had highly conserved N-terminal sequences. Chemotherapy, 1995 Mar-Apr, 41(2), 125 - 33 Effects of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of beta-lactam antibiotics against R-plasmid-bearing bacteria; Kondo F et al.; The effects of subminimal inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of nine beta-lactam antibiotics {penicillin-G, ampicillin (ABPC), cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, nafcillin, cephalothin, cephradine, cefazolin (CEZ) and cefoxitin} against seven different R-plasmid-bearing gram-negative bacterial strains were tested . Morphological changes, such as filamentous development and lysis, occurred at concentrations considerably lower than the MIC values and the presence of R plasmids did not influence the morphological changes compared with those of Escherichia coli NIHJ, which is non-R-plasmid-bearing . Clear cooperation of ABPC and CEZ with rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes PMNs against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris and of CEZ against Salmonella typhimurium was observed, but not against the other strains tested . Therefore, the filamentous bacteria produced as a result of exposure to sub-MICs of antibiotics were not always phagocytosed easily . The ratios between the drug concentrations (microgram/ml) at which the morphological changes began to occur (minimal antibiotic concentration) and the MIC values (microgram/ml) were calculated . A large ratio indicated a wide range of effective concentrations below the MIC value for that antibiotic. Ann Rheum Dis, 1995 Mar, 54(3), 221 - 4 Decrease in anti-Proteus mirabilis but not anti-Escherichia coli antibody levels in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with fasting and a one year vegetarian diet; Kjeldsen-Kragh J et al.; OBJECTIVE--To measure Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli antibody levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during treatment by vegetarian diet . METHODS--Sera were collected from 53 RA patients who took part in a controlled clinical trial of fasting and a one year vegetarian diet . P mirabilis and E coli antibody levels were measured by an indirect immunofluorescence technique and an enzyme immunoassay, respectively . RESULTS--The patients on the vegetarian diet had a significant reduction in the mean anti-proteus titres at all time points during the study, compared with baseline values (all p < 0.05) . No significant change in titre was observed in patients who followed an omnivorous diet . The decrease in anti-proteus titre was greater in the patients who responded well to the vegetarian diet compared with diet non-responders and omnivores . The total IgG concentration and levels of antibody against E coli, however, were almost unchanged in all patient groups during the trial . The decrease from baseline in proteus antibody levels correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with the decrease in a modified Stoke disease activity index . CONCLUSION--The decrease in P mirabilis antibody levels in the diet responders and the correlation between the decrease in proteus antibody level and decrease in disease activity supports the suggestion of an aetiopathogenetic role for P mirabilis in RA. Ann Rheum Dis, 1995 Mar, 54(3), 216 - 20 Shared amino acid sequences between major histocompatibility complex class II glycoproteins, type XI collagen and Proteus mirabilis in rheumatoid arthritis; Wilson C et al.; OBJECTIVES--To show molecular similarity between two sequences of Proteus mirabilis (haemolysin--ESRRAL; urease--IRRET) with HLA-DR antigens (EQRRAA) which are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and type XI collagen (LRREI), respectively; and, in patients with RA, to measure levels of antibody against a 16-mer synthetic peptide containing the ESRRAL sequence, and the haemolysin and urease proteins of Proteus mirabilis . METHODS--The homologous sequences EQRRAA and ESRRAL were modelled with Alchemy III, using the crystalline structure of DRB1*0101 (HLA-DR1) . Sera from 40 patients with RA, 30 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and 30 controls were tested against synthetic ESRRAL peptide and the haemolysin of Proteus mirabilis by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay . Similar tests were also carried out on sera from 20 patients with RA, 40 with AS, and 15 controls, against Proteus mirabilis urease . RESULTS--Molecular modelling of the homologous sequences ESRRAL/EQRRAA and IRRET/LRREI showed stereochemical similarities . Antibodies to the 16-mer synthetic peptide containing the ESRRAL sequence, the haemolysin, and urease proteins were significantly increased in RA patients compared with AS patients (p < 0.001) and healthy controls (p < 0.001) . No such increases were observed with three control peptides including the EDERAA sequence of DRB1*0402 (HLA-DR4/Dw10), the haemolysin proteins of Streptococcus pyogenes and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and the urease of Bacillus pasteurii . CONCLUSION--The additive effect of the immune responses to the two Proteus mirabilis antigens, haemolysin (ESRRAL) and urease (IRRET), could be relevant in the aetiopathogenesis of RA. J Invertebr Pathol, 1995 Mar, 65(2), 125 - 31 Bacterial entomopathogens from the Drosophila paulistorum semispecies complex; Miller SG et al.; Bacteria which are infectious by inoculation in lepidoptera have been isolated and characterized from semispecies comprising the Drosophila paulistorum complex . These microorganisms are pathogenic toward lepidopteran hosts such as Heliothis virescens when introduced by injection of Drosophila tissue extracts and have been given the trivial name DpLE (D . paulistorum lepidopteran entomopathogen) . The DpLE from two of the semispecies, Transitional and Andean, were determined to be related to Proteus vulgaris based upon nucleotide sequence comparisons of 16S rDNA genes . Infectivity and 16S rDNA-based PCR assays showed the bacterium to be localized in a number of drosophilid tissues except adult heads and thoraces . Based upon similar experiments, the DpLE in transinfected Heliothis larvae were found in all tissues assayed prior to the onset of mortality . Stocks of Drosophila which had spontaneously lost DpLE continued to produce sterile sons when crossed with incompatible semispecies' females, confirming that the bacilliform DpLE is not the causative agent of the Drosophila paulistorum intersemispecific hybrid male sterility . Acquisition of the sequences of the 16S rDNA molecules of DpLE from all six semispecies permitted the construction of a phylogenetic tree in which the groupings were found not to be congruent with the phylogenies of their insect hosts. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol, 1995 Mar, 11(1), 13 - 8 Immunoblot cross-reactions among Rickettsia, Proteus spp . and Legionella spp . in patients with Mediterranean spotted fever; Raoult D et al.; Sera from patients suffering from Mediterranean spotted fever (i.e . an infection due to Rickettsia conorii) were studied by immunoblot to investigate cross-reactivity . A prevalence of IgM antibodies to Proteus OX 19, Proteus OX 2, to the Rickettsia typhus group, to Legionella pneumophila serovars 4 and 5, to L . bozemanii Wiga and to L . micdadei Tatlock was found . Western blot confirmed that the antibodies were directed against the lipopolysaccharide as demonstrated by proteinase K digestion of the antigens . Cross-adsorptions showed that there is a common cross-reacting epitope among L . bozemanii Wiga, R . typhi and Proteus OX 19 but cross-reacting antibodies to L . micdadei and OX 2 were distinct and independent . This IgM cross-reaction could lead to a misdiagnosis. Crit Care Med, 1995 Feb, 23(2), 301 - 7 Inhibitory effect of bile on bacterial invasion of enterocytes: possible mechanism for increased translocation associated with obstructive jaundice; Wells CL et al.; OBJECTIVE: To clarify the effect of bile salts on internalization of enteric bacteria by intestinal epithelial cells . DESIGN: Randomized study . SETTING: Research laboratory . SUBJECTS: Cultured human intestinal epithelial cells, namely HT-29 cells . INTERVENTIONS: The effect of bile was studied by adding bile during the time period in which bacterial cells were permitted to interact with enterocytes . In subsequent experiments, bile was added to the culture medium used to grow bacteria, and bacterial cells were washed before adding bacteria to enterocytes . Three different concentrations of three different bile preparations were tested . MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Salmonella typhimurium and Proteus mirabilis were each incubated with HT-29 cells for 1 hr; the numbers of internalized bacteria were subsequently quantified following enterocyte lysis . The presence of bile during bacteria-enterocyte incubation had no effect on the numbers of internalized bacteria . However, if S . typhimurium or P . mirabilis were grown in the presence of bile, these washed bacterial cells were generally internalized by HT-29 cells in significantly fewer numbers, compared with bacterial cells grown in medium without bile supplementation . Enterocyte viability and morphologic ultrastructure did not appear to be affected by the presence of bile itself, or by the interaction with bacterial cells that had been cultivated in unsupplemented medium or in bile-supplemented medium . CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to bile during bacterial growth resulted in bacterial cells with decreased invasiveness for cultured intestinal epithelial cells . This observation is consistent with previous in vivo studies of obstructive jaundice, where the absence of bile in the intestinal lumen, not bile duct ligation, appeared to facilitate bacterial translocation in obstructed animals . Thus, the presence of bile in the intestinal lumen may decrease bacterial translocation by a mechanism that involves decreased epithelial internalization of enteric bacteria. J Bacteriol, 1995 Feb, 177(3), 823 - 8 Genetic analysis of Proteus mirabilis mutants defective in swarmer cell elongation; Belas R et al.; Swarmer cell differentiation is a complex process involving the activity of many gene products . In this report, we characterized the genetic locus of Tn5 insertion in each of 12 mutants defective in swarmer cell elongation . The mutations fell into four categories affecting either flagellar biosynthesis or energetics, lipopolysaccharide and cell wall biosynthesis, cellular division, or proteolysis of peptides. J Protein Chem, 1995 Feb, 14(2), 59 - 72 Complete amino acid sequence of Proteus mirabilis PR catalase . Occurrence of a methionine sulfone in the close proximity of the active site; Buzy A et al.; The catalase of Proteus mirabilis PR, a peroxide-resistant (PR) mutant of Proteus mirabilis, binds strongly NADPH, which is a unique property among known bacterial catalases . The enzyme subunit consists of 484 amino acid residues for a mass of 55,647 daltons . The complete amino acid sequence was resolved through the combination of protein sequencing, mass spectrometry, and nucleotide sequencing of a PCR fragment . The sequence obtained was compared with that of other known catalases . Amino acids of the active site are all conserved as well as essential residues involved in NADPH binding . Among the amino acids interacting with the heme, a methionine sulfone was found at position 53, in place of a valine in most other catalases . The origin of oxidation of this methionine is unknown, but the presence of this modification could change iron accessibility by large substrates or inhibitors . This posttranslational modification was also demonstrated in the wild-type P . mirabilis catalase. Mol Microbiol, 1995 Feb, 15(4), 761 - 9 Requirement for FlhA in flagella assembly and swarm-cell differentiation by Proteus mirabilis; Gygi D et al.; Swarming by Proteus mirabilis is characterized by cycles of rapid population migration across surfaces, following differentiation of typical rods into long, aseptate swarm cells that overexpress flagella and virulence factors, particularly haemolysin . A non-swarming Tn5phoA mutant was unable to synthesize flagella, to fully elongate or to induce high levels of the toxin . The mutation lay within a 2091 bp gene encoding a homologue of the Escherichia coli FlhA belonging to a family of proteins that are required for assembly of flagella or virulence proteins and that are suggested to act either directly in membrane translocation and/or in regulating synthesis of the export apparatus . In trans expression of multicopy flhA restored cell elongation and migration and generated differentiation-specific hyperexpression of flagellin and toxin genes to levels above those seen in the wild-type strain . Transcription of flhA was strongly induced during differentiation, from its own putative sigma 28 promoter . The results suggest a mechanistic coupling of flagella assembly and swarm-cell differentiation. Acta Paediatr Jpn, 1995 Feb, 37(1), 81 - 3 Proteus syndrome with renal involvement; Sato T et al.; We report on a case of an 11 year old girl with Proteus syndrome involving both kidneys morphologically and functionally . The patient had hemihypertrophy, scoliosis, overgrowth of lower extremities, partial macrodactyly, subcutaneous lipoma, and pigmented nevi compatible with the Proteus syndrome . She also had overgrowth of the right kidney with mildly impaired function and a small left kidney with severe dysfunction . Morphological involvement of visceral organs has previously been described; however, deteriorating renal function has not previously been reported in this syndrome. Jpn J Antibiot, 1995 Feb, 48(2), 293 - 8 {Antibacterial activities of fosfomycin against recent clinical isolates from patients of otitis media and otitis externa}; Deguchi K et al.; Clinical isolates from patients with otitis media and/or otitis externa were collected at otorhinology clinics nationwide and sent to us during 1989, 1991 and 1993 . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of fosfomycin (FOM) and of reference drugs against these strains were determined to investigate year-to-year antibacterial activity of FOM . A comparative analysis of the results revealed trends described below . 1 . The MIC90 of FOM against Staphylococcus aureus subsp . aureus increased 4 times by 1993 as compared to those measured for strains isolated in 1984 and 1985, when FOM for otic use was under development . This was thought to be due to the recent increase in the detection frequency of methicillin-resistant S . aureus (MRSA) which is also resistant to FOM . 2 . No annual changes were seen for MIC distribution of FOM against Proteus group and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . 3 . Since there was no large annual change in the antibacterial activity of FOM against recent clinical isolates obtained from patients with otitis media and/or otitis externa, FOM may be considered as one of the useful drugs even now, in the mid-1990's. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 Feb, 39(2), 453 - 7 Cloning of multidrug resistance gene pqrA from Proteus vulgaris; Ishida H et al.; The multiple antibiotic resistance gene pqrA was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of a clinical isolate of Proteus vulgaris 881051 into Escherichia coli KY2563 . The MICs of quinolones tetracycline, cephalosporin, and chloramphenicol for transformant strain DNS7020 were from 8 to 32 times higher than those for the parent strain, KY2563 . The level of expression of outer membrane protein F (OmpF) by DNS7020 was lower than that of KY2563 but not as low as that of an OmpF-deficient control strain . The 1.4-kb fragment containing the pqrA gene had an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 122 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of about 14,000, which was consistent with the experimental value identified by the Maxicell method . The putative PqrA polypeptide showed significant amino acid sequence similarity to the E . coli proteins SoxS and MarA . These polypeptides are strongly conserved in predicted helix-turn-helix DNA binding domains . The MarA protein, which is responsible for multiple antibiotic resistance in E . coli, also decreases OmpF expression . Moreover, the SoxS protein, which is characterized as a superoxide response regulon of E . coli, has also been shown to increase resistance to many structurally unrelated antibiotics . The soxS gene increases superoxide dismutase levels in addition to decreasing OmpF expression . The expression level of superoxide dismutase with DNS7020 was about 1.5 times higher than that with KY2563 . These findings suggest that the pqrA gene in P . vulgaris confers multidrug resistance in a way similar to that of the soxS and marA genes in E . coli. Pediatr Pol, 1995 Feb, 70(2), 177 - 80 {Necrotizing vasculitis}; Torbus O et al.; We present a boy who had been under observation for 4 years, suffering since the age of nine from necrotizing vasculitis, which appeared during Proteus sp . sepsis . Complex treatment with antibiotics, large doses of steroids, antithrombotic and peripheral circulation improving drugs, as well as local drugs applied to the skin and oral cavity mucosa, resulted in a complete cure . This illness left some cosmetic skin defects on the face and extremities, a shortening of the tongue and malocclusion. Protein Eng, 1995 Feb, 8(2), 167 - 73 Design of four-helix bundle protein as a candidate for HIV vaccine; Eroshkin AM et al.; To be efficient, a synthetic vaccine should contain different T and B cell epitopes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens, and the B epitope regions in the vaccine and in the HIV should be conformationally similar . We have suggested previously the construction of vaccines in the form of a protein with a predetermined tertiary structure, namely a four-alpha-helix bundle . Antigenic determinants of cellular and humoral immunity are blocks for the vaccine design . From experimentally studied HIV-1 T and B cell epitopes, we constructed a sequence of a four-helix protein TBI (T and B cell epitopes containing immunogen) . The gene of the protein was synthesized and the protein was produced in C600 Escherichia coli cells under recA promoter from Proteus mirabelis . CD spectroscopy of the protein demonstrated that 30% of amino acid residues adopt an alpha-helical conformation . Mice immunized with TBI have shown both humoral and cellular immune responses to HIV-1 . The obtained data show that the design of TBI was successful . The synthesized gene structure makes possible further reconstruction and improvement of the protein vaccine structure. Urol Res, 1995, 23(5), 335 - 8 In vivo effects of urease-producing bacteria involved with the pathogenesis of infection-induced urolithiasis on renal urokinase and sialidase activity; du Toit PJ et al.; Many hypotheses have been proposed for renal stone formation . It has been argued that with infection-induced renal stones the hydrolysis of urea by bacterial urease increases urinary pH, with consequent stone formation . Unfortunately, this theory is not applicable to the micro-organisms that do not produce urease (e.g . Escherichia coli) . It has been recently reported that E . coli reduces the urinary urokinase activity of male rats, but does not influence the urinary sialidase activity . This study has now been expanded to the urease-producing bacteria Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, S . epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Micrococcus luteus . Subcutaneous injections with these bacteria were found to significantly (P < 0.003) reduce the UK activity of extrarenally obstructed kidneys . The urease-producing mammalian skin bacterium, M . luteus, was, however, the exception (P = 0.1079) . In contrast to S . epidermidis, P . aeruginosa and M . luteus (P < 0.0213), P . mirabilis and S . aureus had no effect on renal sialidase activity (P < 0.4047) . These results may explain why Proteus species are predominant in infection-induced renal stones . According to the urokinase-sialidase hypothesis, a decrease in urinary urokinase activity should increase the uromucoid levels, whilst no effect on the urinary sialidase activity should favour conversion of urinary uromucoid to mineralizable matrix . These conditions may lead to renal stone formation . An increase in urinary pH resulting from urease-producing micro-organisms will increase salt precipitation on the uromucoid . It is thus concluded that urease-producing bacteria may play a double role in renal stone formation. Med Dosw Mikrobiol, 1995, 47(3-4), 169 - 76 {Use of synthetic antigens in studies of antigenic specificity of Proteus mirabilis 027 lipopolysaccharide}; Krajewska-Pietrasik D et al.; The frequency of occurrence in clinical material of P . mirabilis strains belonging to serogroup 27 shows the need of identification of their antigenic determinant . Earlier examinations established the chemical structure of the O-specific part of P . mirabilis 027 lipopolysaccharide and showed the significant role of the lateral GlcNAc as well as the participation of P-EtN in determining antigenic specificity of this strain . Using synthetic antigens, analogues of the O-specific part of P . mirabilis 027, 028 and S1959 lipopolysaccharides linked to acrylamide allowed to undertake the further characteristics of the specificity of antibodies in rabbit serum against P . mirabilis 027 . Serological studies (EIA, passive hemolysis and their inhibition) confirmed earlier foundings about the role of GlcNAc and P-EtN, but they did not determine the epitope in 027 antigen . The achieved results prove the importance of a wider epitope, containing at least 3 compounds: GlcNAc, GlcA and L-Lys, in the antigenic specificity of P . mirabilis 027. Bull Mem Acad R Med Belg, 1995, 150(5-6), 252 - 7; discussion 257-8 {Polyamines and cell growth: specific aspects in Amoeba proteus and in certain cancer cell lines}; Dubois J et al.; The differences between the metabolic schemes of polyamines can be the starting point to investigate the discovery of new antiparasitic or anticancer drugs which would be cell type specific . The studies, which were undertaken with the P388 cancer cells and Amoeba proteus, have shown that the pool of polyamine was very different in both cell types . Moreover, the cytotoxicity of putrescine, spermidine, spermine and 1-3 diaminopropane was found to be dependent of the activity of cell enzymes which could play a role to control cell proliferation by producing toxic metabolites. Am J Otol, 1995 Jan, 16(1), 104 - 9 Intracranial complications of suppurative otitis media: 13 years' experience; Kangsanarak J et al.; Among 24,321 patients with otitis media treated at the Otolaryngology Department of Chiang Mai University Hospital from 1978 through 1990, 87 patients had 140 central nervous system complications (0.36%) . Multiple complications existed simultaneously in almost 45% of the patients . The group developing the complications were mainly in their second decade of life . Meningitis occurred in 43 patients, brain abscess in 29, perisinus abscess in 23, lateral sinus thrombosis in 16, and extradural abscess in 12 patients . The most striking symptoms and signs were increasing otorrhea, visible cholesteatoma and/or granulations, fever, headache and otalgia, and vestibular symptoms . Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and staphylococcal organisms were found in almost 80% of patients . Overall mortality was 18.4% with brain abscess being the main cause (31%) . Epidemiologic presentation, clinical features, and results of treatment for each disease are compared and contrasted to those of previous studies. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1995 Jan, 109(1), 60 - 4; discussion 64-5 Critical issues in pediatric lung transplantation; Armitage JM et al.; Forty children (aged 1 to 18 years, 27 female and 13 male) have undergone heart-lung (21), double lung (17), and single lung (2) transplant procedures at our center from 1985 through April 1994 . The indications for transplantation have been diverse, primary pulmonary hypertension (10), cystic fibrosis (11), congenital heart disease (10), arteriovenous malformation (3), emphysema (1), graft-versus-host disease (1), rheumatoid lung (1), cardiomyopathy (1), desquamative interstitial pneumonitis (1), and Proteus syndrome (1) . The actuarial 1-year survival was 73% (mean follow-up 2 years) . One-year actuarial survival for disease groups ranged from 60% for cystic fibrosis to 90% for congenital heart disease . We have identified six issues critical to the patient and programatic survival of pediatric lung transplantation . Our experience and management strategies in these areas are reviewed . Cytomegalovirus: Cytomegalovirus disease developed in six of eight patients with cytomegalovirus mismatching (donor +/recipient-) and in seven of 32 patients who survived more than 30 days (23%) . All but cytomegalovirus donor -/recipient- patients were treated with ganciclovir for 4 weeks after transplantation . Obliterative bronchiolitis: Obliterative bronchiolitis developed in seven of 32 (25%) patients who survived more than 30 days . Obliterative bronchiolitis was manifest within the first posttransplantation year as a rapid decline in small airway function . Aggressive augmentation of immunosuppression has been used with little success . Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease: Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease developed in five of 32 (15%) patients who survived more than 30 days developed . One patient died (17% mortality) despite retransplantation . In four patients the disease resolved with reduction in immunosuppression alone, and one required the addition of interferon alfa . Cystic fibrosis: We have changed our management strategies to avoid triple drug immunosuppression, perioperative blood and bronchial cultures, aggressive antimicrobial therapy, and exclusion of patients with panresistant organisms; this has resulted in elimination of infectious mortalities thus far in the pediatric cystic fibrosis group . Airways: In 21 heart-lung recipients with tracheal anastomoses we have had no airway complications . The double and single lung transplant recipients accounted for 34 bronchial and one tracheal anastomoses . Three (9%) bronchial stenoses developed . Two were treated with silicone stents and one with balloon dilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Microbiol Immunol, 1995, 39(1), 63 - 5 Serological studies of the antigenic similarity between typhus group rickettsiae and Weil-Felix test antigens; Amano K et al.; The sera from two patients with murine typhus reacted with whole cells of Rickettsia prowazekii, R . typhi, and Proteus vulgaris OX19, and with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the spotted fever group rickettsia strain TT-118 and P . vulgaris OX19 in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay . Sera from these patients reacted with ladder-like bands of LPS from R . prowazekii and R . typhi in the immunoblot, whereas the reactivity of these sera with LPS from P . vulgaris OX19 differed from each other . These results indicate that LPS from the typhus group rickettsiae and P . vulgaris OX19 contain similar epitopes. East Afr Med J, 1995 Jan, 72(1), 72 - 4 Urinary tract infection with proteus species in a teaching hospital; Ozumba UC et al.; This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of urinary tract infection due to proteus species, the predisposing factors, age and sex distribution, complications and the extent of drug resistance . A total of 580 patients were studied . Proteus species comprised 33 (9%) of the total number of bacterial isolates causing urinary tract infection during a one year study period between June 1991-May 1992 . Proteus urinary tract infection was found to be the most common from the age of 55 years upwards in males, while in females, they were more evenly distributed . All the proteus isolates were completely resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole . Ofloxacin was the most potent antibiotic (94.4%) sensitive, followed by gentamicin (83.3%) sensitive . Majority of the cases occurred in surgical department with more cases being nosocomially acquired than community . All male patients had at least one predisposing factor with catheterization being the commonest . To help reduce morbidity and mortality associated with urinary tract infection due to proteus species, strict aseptic catheter techniques and more efficient infection control measures must be reinforced. Minerva Med, 1995 Jan-Feb, 86(1-2), 55 - 60 {Pilonidal sinus in a patient with Buckley's syndrome . A case report}; Schiffino L et al.; Buckley's syndrome is a nosologic entity characterized by the presence from birth of extremely elevated levels of circulating immunoglobulin E and an important deficiency of polymorphonuclear chemotaxis . The consequences of such alterations are represented by the premature rising of recurrent cutaneous, pulmonary and articular infections, slowing down of growth and quite significant disturbances of the immune system . We report a case which presents all the characteristics of Buckley's syndrome: familial history for atopy; otorhinolaryngologic, gynecologic and pulmonary recurrent infections from birth (caused by Staphylococcus, Candida albicans but also Proteus, Enterococcus, Pyocyanea and Moraxella) some of which necessitate surgery therapy; immune disturbances . The patient had hospitalized in our Surgery Department for sinus pilonidalis abscess . At a first treatment of removal of the primary orifice and accurate curettage of the cavity (Marti's intervention) there followed another operation of larger exeresis for an abscess relapse of the sinus at a distance of 2 months . In the interval between the two treatments, an eczematous patch of 8 cm diameter appeared on the left buttock, a probable manifestation of the state of hypersensitivity of the patient . We believe, therefore, that in patients with Buckley's syndrome who must be subjected to surgical intervention it is necessary to resort to a radical treatment from the beginning, given the particular tendency to an infection relapse presented in these cases. Acta Derm Venereol, 1995 Jan, 75(1), 31 - 3 The effect of antiseptic solutions on microorganisms in venous leg ulcers; Hansson C et al.; The effect on the microbial ulcer flora of wet gauze dressings soaked in antiseptic solutions used for desloughing leg ulcers is not known . Quantitative cultures were therefore performed in 45 venous leg ulcers, before application and after 15 minutes' treatment with gauze dressings with four different antiseptic solutions: aluminium acetotartrate (Alsol) 1%, potassium permanganate 0.015%, acetic acid 0.25% and chloramine 0.25% . The percentage of ulcers with each type of microorganism did not differ before and after application of the antiseptic solutions . Staphylococcus aureus was found in 79% of the ulcers, gram-negative rods in 39%, S . epidermidis in 21%, Proteus spp in 21%, Pseudomonas spp in 14% and fungi in none . Potassium permanganate reduced the mean number of bacteria per ulcer from 4.4 x 10(6) to 0.9 x 10(6) (ns), chloramine from 2.7 x 10(6) to 2.2 x 10(6) (ns), Alsol from 1.2 x 10(7) to 3.5 x 10(6) (ns) and acetic acid from 6.3 x 10(6) to 2.6 x 10(5) (p = 0.007) . S . aureus was reduced by acetic acid (p = 0.002), gram-negative rods by both chloramine (p = 0.03) and acetic acid (p = 0.03) . The number of Pseudomonas, Proteus, S . epidermidis and Streptococcus haemolyticus group G was not reduced significantly (p > 0.05) by any of the solutions. Arch Pediatr, 1995 Jan, 2(1), 52 - 6 {Hamartomatous dysplasias with hemihypertrophy . 2 cases including one with Proteus syndrome}; Delaporte E et al.; BACKGROUND--Hamartomatous dysplasias with hemihypertrophy are a part of several congenital diseases, sometimes difficult to classify when their symptomatology is relatively poor . CASE REPORTS--Case 1 . A girl, 11 year-old, suffered from gigantism of the feet, left hemihypertrophy of the limbs, scoliosis and kyphosis . X-rays showed frontal hyperostose, bony and soft tissues overgrowth involving the left limbs and pelvis with hip dislocation and coxa valga . The vertebrae were hypertrophic and dysplastic . No tumor could be found . Case 2 . A girl, 18 year-old, suffered from left hemihypertrophy of limbs and face associated with homolateral cutaneous hemangioma . X-rays showed enlargement of bone and soft tissue . No tumor or venous abnormalities were observed . CONCLUSION--A diagnosis of Proteus syndrome was made in the first patient while the second patient was considered to have Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome even though hemangiomatous involvement has been seen in Proteus syndrome. J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod (Paris), 1995, 24(1), 69 - 73 {Study of amniotic fluid bacterial colonization sampled by amniocentesis in cases with premature rupture of membranes . Prospective multicenter study}; Berardi JC et al.; OBJECTIVE . To determine the relationship between bacterial colonization of the amniotic fluid sampled by amniocentesis and premature rupture of the membranes . METHODS . A prospective multicentric study conducted over a one year period in 6 maternity wards in the suburban area of Paris . Thirty-six women with premature rupture of the membranes were studied . RESULTS . There were 11 patients (30%) with contaminated fluid at the first amniocentesis . Twenty-five patients had sterile fluid . In 7 patients with prolonged rupture for more than one week, repeated amniocentesis . Twenty-five patients had sterile fluid . In 7 patients with prolonged rupture for more than one week, repeated amniocenteses were used to follow bacterial colonization . In one patient, Proteus mirabilis in the amniotic fluid was eradicated by adapted antibiotic therapy . In patients with sterile amniotic fluid, there was no secondary colonization . In the 11 cases with colonized liquid, the vaginal swab could only be considered as positive in 4 cases . Amniocentesis was able to discover 7 bacterial colonizations of the amniotic fluid in patients with an indeterminant vaginal swab . Likewise, C-reactive protein levels were raised only in 26% of the cases with a colonized amniotic fluid. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 Jan, 39(1), 215 - 20 Randomized, double-blind comparison of single-dose regimens of rufloxacin and pefloxacin for acute uncomplicated cystitis in women . French Multicenter Urinary Tract Infection-Rufloxacin Group; Jardin A et al.; In a double-blind, randomized, multicenter study, 463 adult women with symptomatic acute uncomplicated cystitis were treated orally with either a 400-mg single dose of rufloxacin (n = 226) or an 800-mg single dose of pefloxacin (n = 237) . Escherichia coli (78%) and Proteus mirabilis (7%) were the most common isolates from 350 patients with significant pretreatment bacteriuria (uropathogens, > or = 10(5) CFU/ml) . In the intention-to-treat analysis of patients with significant pretreatment bacteriuria, 343 patients were assessed for bacteriological outcome and 345 were assessed for clinical outcome . The bacteriological cure rate was 88% in the rufloxacin group and 84% in the pefloxacin group (95% confidence interval {CI} for difference in proportions, -4 to 12%), while the clinical resolution rate was 85 and 84%, respectively (95% CI, -8 to 9%) . The per-protocol analysis demonstrated that among the 264 assessable patients, the bacteriological cure rate obtained with rufloxacin at 4 weeks of follow-up was comparable to that with pefloxacin (91 versus 85%; 95% CI, -3 to 15%) . Among 295 clinically assessable patients, the clinical resolution rate at 4 weeks of follow-up was 89% in the rufloxacin group and 88% in the pefloxacin group (95% CI, -6 to 10%) . Potentially drug-related adverse events occurred in 19% of the rufloxacin patients and in 18% of the pefloxacin patients . A single oral dose of 400 mg of rufloxacin is as effective and safe as a single oral dose of 800 mg of pefloxacin for the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis in women. Medicina (B Aires), 1995, 55(2), 106 - 10 {Bacterial sacroileitis . Clinical findinds and clinical course in 9 cases}; Durlach RA et al.; Since septic sacroileitis is one of the less frequent localizations among joint infections, we decided to review 9 cases in a retrospective study of 5 females and 4 males, aged between 22 and 60 years old . None had a clinically predisposing condition . The initiating factor was gynecologic-obstetric in 4 women, the irruption of the skin barrier in 3 cases and finally in one case the infection reached the joint through the psoas muscle . Fever and lumbar pain were present in all cases and allowed diagnostic orientation . Radiologic and centellographic alterations were useful for clinical confirmation . An articular biopsypunction was performed in 4 cases, while in the other 5 cases the clinical and radiologic features and the bacteriologic positivity in the blood cultures were enough criteria for diagnosis . The bacteriologic findings were Staphylococcus aureus (4 cases), Streptococcus group A beta hemolitico (1 case), Staphylococcus coagulase negative (1 case), Streptococcus agalactiae (1 case), Proteus mirabilis (2 cases) . Eight out of 9 patients were treated with a B-lactamic and aminoglycoside association . One patient received her treatment per os, with quinolones . Six patients recovered, 2 died and one needed to be sent to another hospital. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1995 Jan-Feb, (1), 37 - 9 {The antigen-specific activity of a multicomponent vaccine administered orally and subcutaneously}; Mansurova NL et al.; The antigen-specific activity of polycomponent vaccine VP-4 consisting of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli antigens was studied . The same form of the vaccine was used for both subcutaneous injection and oral administration . The oral administration of the preparation to rabbits and guinea pigs induced a rise in the level of antibodies to all components of the vaccine in their blood sera, the optimum oral doses exceed only 2- to 4-fold the doses used for subcutaneous injection . The form of vaccine VP-4, developed for subcutaneous injection, may be recommended for wider trials with its oral administration. Urol Int, 1995, 54(2), 89 - 94 Chemical compositions of 300 lower urinary tract calculi and associated disorders in the urinary tract; Takasaki E et al.; The stones removed from 273 patients (220 males, 53 females) with bladder stones and 27 patients with urethral stones (males) were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy . Of these stones 50.0% contained magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP), 39.9% calcium (oxalate and/or phosphate), 9.4% uric acid (urate), and 0.7% cystine . The disorders associated with bladder stones were prostatic hyperplasia and cancer (47.8%), neurogenic bladder (11.8%), urethral stricture (3.6%) and so on in males, and neurogenic bladder (48.1%), after operation of uterus (29.0%), bladder cancer (5.7%) and so on in females . Urinary infections were complications in 59.3% of patients with MAP stones, 41.2% with urate stones and 20.0% with calcium stones . The most often isolated bacteria from the infected urine were of the Proteus species. Rheumatol Int, 1995, 15(2), 79 - 82 The specificity of the anti-Proteus antibody response in tissue-typed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from Brest; Fielder M et al.; Anti-Proteus mirabilis antibody titres were found to be elevated in 50 active tissue-typed French rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from Brest when compared to 49 healthy French controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; P < 0.001) and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA; P < 0.001) . However, there was no significant elevation in antibody titres against Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium in the RA patients compared to the controls when measured by ELISA . Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were also found to be significantly higher in RA patients when compared to healthy control subjects (P < 0.001) . These results suggest that P . mirabilis may play an important and specific role in the triggering and persistence of RA. J Biol Chem, 1994 Dec 23, 269(51), 32536 - 41 Molecular cloning and site-directed mutagenesis of glutathione S-transferase from Escherichia coli . The conserved tyrosyl residue near the N terminus is not essential for catalysis; Nishida M et al.; Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was purified from Escherichia coli K-12, and its N-terminal sequence was determined to be MKLFYKPGAXSLAS . The gene encoding this sequence was cloned and mapped at 1731-1732 kilobases on the E . coli gene map . It encoded a polypeptide of 201 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 22,860 . The overexpressed product of the gene was confirmed to have GST activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and ethacrynic acid and GSH-dependent peroxidase activity toward cumene hydroperoxide . The relative molecular mass of the gene product was determined to be 40,000 by gel chromatography and 25,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, indicating a homodimeric structure . The deduced amino acid sequence was 54% identical with that of Proteus mirabilis GST . Although the homologies between the GSTs from E . coli and mammals were low, many of the residues assigned to be important for the enzymatic function or structure in mammalian cytosolic GSTs were found to be conserved in E . coli GST . Therefore, E . coli GST is considered to have diverged from the same ancestor with other cytosolic GSTs . A specific tyrosyl residue in the vicinity of the N terminus is conserved in all of the known cytosolic GSTs and has been shown to function as a catalytic residue in alpha, mu, and pi class GSTs from mammals . Although Tyr5 in E . coli GST appeared to be the counterpart of the catalytic residue, its replacement with phenylalanine did not significantly affect the enzymatic activity . Therefore, this apparently conserved tyrosyl residue is not essential for catalytic activity in E . coli GST. Gene, 1994 Dec 2, 150(1), 101 - 4 Genetic organization and complete sequence of the Proteus mirabilis pmf fimbrial operon; Massad G et al.; Proteus mirabilis, commonly associated with urinary tract infection, pyelonephritis and bacteremia, produces a number of fimbriae, including PMF (P . mirabilis fimbriae) . Genes encoding PMF were isolated and the complete nucleotide (nt) sequence was determined . The pmf gene cluster, encoded by 5655 bp, predicts five polypeptides: PmfA (18,921 Da), PmfC (93,107 Da), PmfD (28,208 Da), PmfE (38,875 Da) and PmfF (19,661 Da) . PmfA, PmfC, PmfD and PmfF share > 25% amino acid (aa) sequence identity with gene products of the pap, mrp and sfa fimbrial gene clusters . PmfE shares no similarity with any polypeptide in the SwissProt database . No regulatory gene(s) or regulatory elements were evident in the sequence . The pmf cluster shares common features with other enteric fimbrial gene clusters, but also displays features that are unique. J Med Microbiol, 1994 Dec, 41(6), 389 - 92 Rapid identification of micro-organisms from urinary tract infections by beta-glucuronidase, phenylalanine deaminase, cytochrome oxidase and indole tests on isolation media; Giammanco G et al.; Two commercially available media recommended for the isolation and rapid identification of Escherichia coli from urinary tract infections were supplemented with L-phenylalanine and L-tryptophan . The non-selective medium proved suitable for the direct detection of lactose fermentation, beta-glucuronidase and phenylalanine deaminase activities, indole production and the oxidase test . It was highly efficient in making a presumptive identification at species level of the most common gram-negative urinary pathogens, E . coli, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that account for c . 85% of all urinary isolates . Among the gram-positive isolates, most colonies were non-fluorescent and could be separated into staphylococci and enterococci on the basis of the catalase test . Fluorescent colonies were found to be Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolates, 61% of which were fluorescent . The selective medium proved suitable for the same biochemical tests, with the exception of indole, which was not visible against the red colour of the medium . Therefore, the differentiation of P . mirabilis from other Proteus-Providencia species was impossible on this medium. J Bacteriol, 1994 Dec, 176(23), 7190 - 6 Isolated fibrils rescue cohesion and development in the Dsp mutant of Myxococcus xanthus; Chang BY et al.; Extracellular fibrils are involved in cell cohesion and cell development in Myxococcus xanthus . One group of social motility mutants, Dsp, is unable to produce extracellular fibrils; these mutants also lose the abilities to cohere and to develop . Extracellular fibrils isolated from vegetative wild-type cells and added to Dsp cells fully restored the abilities of these cells to cohere and to undergo normal morphological development . The fibrils thus mimic the ability of intact, wild-type cells to carry out the same rescue . Optimal cohesion rescue by fibrils required calcium and magnesium ions, did not require protein synthesis, but was energy dependent, i.e., sodium azide and sodium cyanide blocked rescue . Cohesion rescue was also blocked by the diazo dye Congo red . Cohesion rescue is genus specific, i.e., isolated fibrils did not cause the cohesion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, or the related myxobacterium Stigmatella aurantiaca . Developmental rescue of Dsp by isolated fibrils included aggregation, fruiting body formation, and myxospore morphogenesis . Developmental gene expression in the Dsp mutant was only partially rescued by the isolated fibrils. J Bacteriol, 1994 Dec, 176(23), 7169 - 81 Expression of multiple flagellin-encoding genes of Proteus mirabilis; Belas R; The overproduction of flagella is a distinguishing characteristic of Proteus mirabilis swarmer cell differentiation . The synthesis of flagellin, the principal protein composing the flagellar filament, is coordinately regulated as part of a larger regulon of genes whose expression is a prerequisite in urinary pathogenesis . In this report, the regulation of expression of the flaA locus, comprising flaA and flaB, two tandemly linked and nearly identical copies of flagellin-encoding genes, is examined . Transcriptional expression studies reveal that flaA, but not flaB, is expressed by wild-type cells, and flaA transcription increases eightfold during differentiation . The flaA transcriptional start site for both swimmer and swarmer cells was determined to be located at a guanine, 8 bases downstream of the flaA sigma 28 promoter . FlaA- mutants are nonmotile and undifferentiated and do not synthesize flagellin, while FlaB- mutants are wild type, thus verifying that FlaA is the sole flagellin produced by wild-type cells and that flaB is silent . FlaA- mutants frequently revert to a Mot+ phenotype that is antigenically distinct from that of wild-type cells . Southern blot analysis of the flaA Mot+ revertants reveals a deletion of between 2 and 7kb in the flaA locus . Biochemical analyses of revertant flagellin indicate major changes in protein size and composition but conservation of the first 28 N-terminal residues . The result of this process is to produce an antigenically distinct flagellum that may be significant in ensuring the survival of P . mirabilis during pathogenesis. Khirurgiia (Mosk), 1994 Dec, (12), 24 - 6 {Microbiological and immunological indicators of local peritonitis of appendiceal origin}; Perfil'ev DF; The causative agents of localized peritonitis are certain microbial associations of 2-6 bacterial species including staphylococci, enterococci, Escherichia coli, Proteus, and obligate anaerobes Cl . perfringens . A dominant position is occupied by Escherichia coli and obligate anaerobes in critical doses (105 and more microbial bodies per 1 ml of exudate) . In the course of the disease all five types of antibodies accumulated independently of one another, while the intensity of their rise depended on the term of treatment and the patient's age . A twofold and greater increase of the antibody titers may confirm the etiological role of the microbes in peritonitis, whereas the level of their increase may be an indirect criterion of localized peritonitis prognosis. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1994 Dec 1, 124(2), 185 - 90 The urease structural gene ureA in Rhizobium meliloti is preceded by an open reading frame necessary for urease activity; Miksch G; An open reading frame (ORF1) located upstream of the urease structural gene ureA in Rhizobium meliloti strain AK631 was cloned and characterized by DNA sequencing . Comparison of the amino acid sequence revealed partial homology with the urease accessory gene ureD of Klebsiella aerogenes and Proteus mirabilis . Mutational analysis of ORF1 showed that the gene is necessary for urease activity . Its function is still unknown. J Med Assoc Thai, 1994 Dec, 77(12), 646 - 51 King cobra bite; Karnchanachetanee C; King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) bite is rare . The milestones of management should have specific antivenom, adequate assisting respirator and appropriate antibiotics against Proteus vulgaris infection . Tourniquet may play some role in delaying venom absorption and allow a greater chance of venom detoxification by the human body. Antibiot Khimioter, 1994 Dec, 39(12), 31 - 4 {Use of a combination of cefoperazone with sulbactam for treatment of patients with wound infections}; Iakovlev VP et al.; The clinical efficacy of sulperazone (cefoperazone + sulbactam) manufactured by Pfizer (USA) was studied in the treatment of 25 patients with wound infections . By the disease severity and complications 9 patients belonged to the risk group . Insulators with abacterial media or bandages with ointments on the polyethylene glycol base and drugs stimulating reparative processes (methyl-diadioxylin, dioxyzol, gentacycol) were used for the local treatment of the wounds . The clinical efficacy was stated in 92 per cent of the cases and in 76 per cent of the cases the efficacy was bacteriological . The tolerance of sulperazon was good in all the cases . The signs of the drug intolerance or affection of the hepatic or renal function were not detected . 281 clinical isolates of the aerobic microflora were tested for their antibiotic susceptibility . The highest susceptibility to sulperazone was observed in gram-positive organisms, gram-negative bacilli (Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.) and some nonfermenting bacteria. Pathologica, 1994 Dec, 86(6), 681 - 4 {Isolated macrodactyly or extremely circumscribed Proteus syndrome?}; Guelfi M et al.; We report on two unrelated female patients with unilateral macrodactyly of the 1st and 2nd toes and of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th toes, respectively . In addition, they had a local plantar soft tissue lump and radiographically abnormally broad phalanges of the affected toes . These clinical manifestations may represent either an isolated macrodactyly or an extremely localized form of Proteus syndrome. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax, 1994 Nov 29, 83(48), 1348 - 54 {Vomiting, upper abdominal pain and sepsis}; Berchtold P et al.; A 78-year-old man was admitted to a surgical emergency room because of an acute abdomen . He had vomited violently four times shortly after a meal . This episode was followed by severe upper abdominal and thoracic pain, radiating to the back . Clinical evaluation revealed epigastric peritoneal signs and a soft lower abdomen . Emergency laparotomy disclosed peritoneal adhesions, a distended stomach and numerous diverticula of the small intestine . Neither a perforation nor inflammatory signs were noted . A dramatic accentuation of the pain occurred, followed by the clinical picture of septic-toxic shock . On a chest X-ray, liquid was noted in the left pleural cavity . On occasion of a puncture, this liquid was found to be malodorous and bloody . Cultures yielded Vibrio vulmificus, streptococcus viridans as well as proteus and klebsiella species . The patient succumbed to multiorgan failure on the third day of hospitalization . The autopsy disclosed a recent rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome) with purulent peri-esophagitis and mediastinitis as well as fibrinopurulent left-sided pleuritis. FEBS Lett, 1994 Nov 7, 354(2), 191 - 4 Immunogold localization of glutathione transferase B1-1 in Proteus mirabilis; Allocati N et al.; By using the immunolabelling technique, the cellular localization of glutathione transferase in Proteus mirabilis was investigated . Evidence was obtained indicating a significant higher content of glutathione transferase in the periplasmic than cytoplasmic space . This result further support the idea that bacterial glutathione transferase is involved in xenobiotic detoxication. Am J Kidney Dis, 1994 Nov, 24(5), 868 - 72 Infection-induced stone formation in a renal allograft; Hess B et al.; Stone formation is an uncommon complication in renal allograft recipients . We report a 61-year-old woman who had undergone cadaveric renal transplantation in 1982 because of chronic renal failure due to polycystic kidney disease . Since 1985 she has developed recurrent urinary tract infections with Proteus mirabilis, and persistent microhematuria was detectable from 1988 on . Since renal function remained stable, she was repeatedly treated with antibiotics . Following a septicemia with P mirabilis, a staghorn calculus was discovered and was surgically removed from the allograft . Stone analysis (infrared spectrometry) revealed 60% struvite and 40% carbonate apatite . Since urinary tract infections with urea-splitting bacteria are a more frequent cause of stone formation in transplant patients than in nontransplant patients with kidney stones, stone disease should be considered in every allograft recipient presenting with recurrent urinary tract infection and microhematuria. J Bacteriol, 1994 Nov, 176(22), 6836 - 41 Single-step purification of Proteus mirabilis urease accessory protein UreE, a protein with a naturally occurring histidine tail, by nickel chelate affinity chromatography; Sriwanthana B et al.; Proteus mirabilis urease, a nickel metalloenzyme, is essential for the virulence of this species in the urinary tract . Escherichia coli containing cloned structural genes ureA, ureB, and ureC and accessory genes ureD, ureE, ureF, and ureG displays urease activity when cultured in M9 minimal medium . To study the involvement of one of these accessory genes in the synthesis of active urease, deletion mutations were constructed . Cultures of a ureE deletion mutant did not produce an active urease in minimal medium . Urease activity, however, was partially restored by the addition of 5 microM NiCl2 to the medium . The predicted amino acid sequence of UreE, which concludes with seven histidine residues among the last eight C-terminal residues (His-His-His-His-Asp-His-His-His), suggested that UreE may act as a Ni2+ chelator for the urease operon . To exploit this potential metal-binding motif, we attempted to purify UreE from cytoplasmic extracts of E . coli containing cloned urease genes . Soluble protein was loaded onto a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid column, a metal chelate resin with high affinity for polyhistidine tails, and bound protein was eluted with a 0 to 0.5 M imidazole gradient . A single polypeptide of 20-kDa apparent molecular size, as shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-10 to 20% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was eluted between 0.25 and 0.4 M imidazole . The N-terminal 10 amino acids of the eluted polypeptide exactly matched the deduced amino acid sequence of P . mirabilis UreE . The molecular size of the native protein was estimated on a Superdex 75 column to be 36 kDa, suggesting that the protein is a dimer . These data suggest that UreE is a Ni(2)+-binding protein that is necessary for synthesis of a catalytically active urease at low Ni(2+) concentrations. Gastroenterology, 1994 Nov, 107(5), 1573 - 8 The proton pump inhibitor omeprazole inhibits acid survival of Helicobacter pylori by a urease-independent mechanism; McGowan CC et al.; BACKGROUND/AIMS: Omeprazole, a benzimidazole proton pump inhibitor, has an antibacterial effect against Helicobacter pylori at neutral pH and inhibits its urease activity . The aim of this study was to characterize H . pylori acid resistance and to determine whether omeprazole effects its survival at low pH . METHODS: We studied survival of H . pylori and other enteric organisms in buffered solutions (pH 2-7) in the presence or absence of 10 mmol/L urea and/or omeprazole . RESULTS: In the absence of urea, the acid tolerances of wild-type H . pylori, a urease-negative H . pylori mutant, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis were similar . In the presence of urea, the survival of the wild-type H . pylori at pH 2 was significantly greater than that of the other organisms . Omeprazole (100 micrograms/mL) had a marked inhibitory effect on the survival of both wild-type and urease-negative H . pylori at low pH, and similar effects on E . coli, P . mirabilis, and Salmonella typhimurium . CONCLUSIONS: Whereas survival of H . pylori below pH 4 is urease dependent, H . pylori uses non-urease-mediated mechanisms at or above pH 4 . Omeprazole inhibits the survival of H . pylori at low pH through a mechanism independent of its effect on urease, an antibacterial effect that extends to other enteric bacteria. Kidney Int Suppl, 1994 Nov, 47, S129 - 36 Virulence determinants of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis; Mobley HL et al.; The urinary tract is among the most common sites of bacterial infection and E . coli is by far the most common infecting agent . In patients with urinary catheters in place or structural abnormalities of the urinary tract, Proteus mirabilis is also a frequent isolate . To study virulence of these bacterial species, we have isolated the genes that encode putative virulence factors, constructed specific mutations within these genes, introduced the mutation back into the wild type strain by allelic exchange, and analyzed these mutants for virulence in appropriate in vitro and in vivo models . Specific virulence markers have been identified for strains that cause urinary tract infection . For E . coli, these include P fimbriae, S fimbriae, hemolysin, aerobactin, serum resistance, and a small group of O-serotypes . Redundant virulence factors must be present in these organisms as mutation of the most clearly identified epidemiological marker, P fimbriae, does not result in attenuation of a virulent strain . For P . mirabilis, urease appears to contribute most significantly to virulence . Fimbriae play a significant but more subtle role in colonization . Hemolysin, although potently cytotoxic to renal cells in vitro, does not appear to contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of ascending urinary tract infection . We can conclude that the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection and acute pyelonephritis caused by uropathogenic E . coli and P . mirabilis are multifactorial, as mutation of single genes rarely causes significant attenuation of virulence. J Rheumatol, 1994 Nov, 21(11), 2082 - 7 Antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis in ankylosing spondylitis: effect of sulfasalazine treatment; Nissila M et al.; OBJECTIVE . To make a longitudinal study of antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to assess treatment effects . As a comparison we measured antibodies of 2 other gut associated bacteria, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis . METHODS . In a double blind study in 84 Finnish outpatients with AS before and after 26 weeks' treatment with sulfasalazine or placebo we measured serum antibodies to Klebsiella pneumoniae, E . coli and Proteus mirabilis with ELISA . Serum samples of 100 healthy blood donors served as controls . RESULTS . The levels of IgA class antibodies to all 3 bacteria were statistically significantly higher in the sera of the patients compared to the controls . During sulfasalazine treatment significant decreases were observed in concentrations of the IgA class antibodies to Klebsiella and E . coli whereas only a slight decrease was observed in the concentrations of IgA antibodies to Proteus mirabilis . There were no correlations between the clinical and laboratory results observed with sulfasalazine and decrease in concentrations of IgA class antibodies . CONCLUSION . Our results agree with the role of gut associated lymphoid tissue in the pathogenesis of AS, but do not totally exclude Klebsiella pneumoniae as a specific agent contributing to the development of AS. Hinyokika Kiyo, 1994 Nov, 40(11), 999 - 1003 {Clinical analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection}; Takezawa Y et al.; In 14 patients from which methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated at the Department of Urology, Tone Chuo Hospital June, 1992 and October, 1993, the site of infection, background of patients, and drug resistance were analyzed . The 14 patients consisted of 11 males and 3 females between 45 and 85 years old with a mean of 71.6 years . The site from which MRSA was isolated was urine in 11, wound in 2, nasal cavity in 1, pharynx in 1, and renal fistula in 1 (detected at 2 or more sites in 2) . The underlying condition was prostate hyperplasia in 2, prostate cancer in 4 (after radical prostatectomy in 1, complicated by bladder stone in 1), bladder tumor in 3, (during bladder instillation of BCG in 1), perirenal abscess in 2, renal pelvic tumor in 1, neurogenic bladder in 1, and after Boari's operation in 1 . Urethral catheterization had been performed in 3 . A fewer of 38 degrees C or above was noted in 3 . Mixed infection was observed in 10, and was caused by Escherichia coli in 2, Proteus mirabiris in 1, Candida in 1, Klebsiella in 2, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 2, and Serratia in 2 . Four patients has previously been administered antibiotics, which were third generation cephems in 3 and penicillin in 1 . The drug sensitivity was 100% for vancomycin (VCM), 30% for imipenam (IMP), 31% for minomycin (MINO), 31% for amikacin (AMK), and 7% for fosfomycin (FOM) . As for chemotherapy, VCM+FOM+sulbactam/cefoperazone were administered to 6, and ceftazidime+ MINO were administered to 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Gene, 1994 Oct 11, 148(1), 43 - 9 A novel strong promoter of the groEx operon of symbiotic bacteria in Amoeba proteus; Ahn TI et al.; Gram- symbiotic bacteria (called X-bacteria), present in the xD strain of Amoeba proteus as required cell components, contain a large amount of a 67-kDa protein, a GroEL analog . The complete nucleotide (nt) sequence of the groEx operon of X-bacteria has been determined and it has a high degree of nt identity with those of other bacterial groE operons . The groELx gene is expressed in transformed Escherichia coli and has a novel and potent promoter (P2) in addition to the heat-shock consensus promoter (P1) . This is shown by the production of GroELx in Escherichia coli transformed with modified DNA clones lacking P1 and by an enhanced production of a GroELx::beta-galactosidase fusion protein when a portion of groEx containing P2 is linked to the lacZ gene . Primer-extension analyses revealed the presence of possible P2 sequences within the open reading frame of the groESx gene . It is suggested that the presence of a potent P2 in the X-bacterial gene is an adaptation for the endosymbiotic bacteria to survive within a potentially hostile intracellular environment. Gene, 1994 Oct 11, 148(1), 33 - 41 Sequence and genetic analysis of multiple flagellin-encoding genes from Proteus mirabilis; Belas R et al.; Surface-induced overproduction of flagellin is one of the hallmarks of Proteus mirabilis swarmer cell differentiation . In this study, we analyzed the nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequences, and expression of the P . mirabilis flagellin-encoding gene (fliC) region . The nt sequence analysis of a 3567-bp region reveals three ORFs, each with homology to known Escherichia coli flagellar genes . The first ORF corresponds to fliD, the gene encoding the flagellar filament capping protein, FliD (HAP2) . The second and third ORFs are highly homologous to each other and to fliC genes from many other Gram- bacteria . To distinguish between the two alleles, we have designated these genes fliC1 and fliC2 . Sequences highly homologous to promoter sites for the alternate sigma factor of RNA polymerase, sigma 28, are found 5' to the start of each gene . Additionally, both fliC1 and fliC2 have a conserved direct tandem repeat (DTR) sequence upstream from the sigma 28 promoter that may have functional significance in the transcriptional control of fliC expression during swarmer cell differentiation . Both FliC1 and FliC2 were produced in E . coli, but only FliC1 could complement FliC- mutants of E . coli . Southern hybridization data indicate the presence of fliC1 and fliC2 in six distinct P . mirabilis strains, indicating that multiple flagellin-encoding genes are common in P . mirabilis . Hybridization data also suggest the presence of a third flagellin-encoding gene, fliC3, in all isolates . The possible significance of multiple fliC in swarmer cell differentiation is discussed. J Biol Chem, 1994 Oct 7, 269(40), 25078 - 84 Hemoglobin, a newly recognized lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein that enhances LPS biological activity; Kaca W et al.; Cell-free hemoglobin (Hb) is a purified preparation of human hemoglobin that is being developed as a resuscitation fluid . In vivo administration of hemoglobin has resulted in significant toxicity, due in part to contamination with bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) . To better understand this toxicity, we have studied the interaction between Hb and LPS . Mixtures of each of three different Hb preparations (cross-linked alpha alpha Hb, cross-linked carbon monoxy-alpha alpha HbCO, and non-cross-linked (native) HbAo) and LPS (Escherichia coli O26:B6 or Proteus mirabilis S1959) were examined by several independent methods for evidence of Hb.LPS complex formation . Binding assays in microtiter plates demonstrated saturable binding of LPS to immobilized Hb, with a kD of 3.1 x 10(-8) M . Binding of LPS to Hb also was demonstrated wiht a radiolabeled LPS photoaffinity probe . Ultrafiltration of Hb/LPS mixtures by 300- and 100-kDa cut-off membranes showed that the majority of LPS in these mixtures (87-97 and 64-72%, respectively) was detected in the filtrates, in contrast to the lack of filterability of LPS in the absence of Hb . Density centrifugation demonstrated that LPS co-migrated with each of the three Hbs, whereas unbound LPS had a distinctly greater sedimentation velocity than Hb or Hb.LPS complexes . Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that in the presence of Hb, LPS migrated into the gel and co-electrophoresed with Hb, whereas LPS alone did not appreciably enter the gel . Finally, precipitation by ethanol of each of the three Hb preparations was increased in the presence of LPS compared with precipitation in the absence of LPS . Interaction of LPS with each of the three Hb preparations was also associated with altered biological activity of LPS, as shown by enhancement of LPS activation of Limulus amebocyte lysate . Therefore, our data provide several lines of independent evidence for Hb-LPS complex formation and indicated that LPS exhibited altered physical characteristics and enhanced biological activity in the presence of Hb. Clin Dysmorphol, 1994 Oct, 3(4), 351 - 2 Isolated macrodactyly or extremely localized Proteus syndrome? van Bever Y, Hennekam RC. We report on a woman with unilateral macrosyndactyly of the second and third toes, a local plantar soft tissue lump, and radiographically an abnormal shape of the phalanges of the affected toes . This finding may represent either an isolated macrosyndactyly or an extremely localised form of Proteus syndrome. J Endourol, 1994 Oct, 8(5), 335 - 40 Clinical correlates of the gross, radiographic, and histologic features of urinary matrix calculi; Stoller ML et al.; We present five patients with urinary matrix calculi, which, in contrast to the normally brittle calcigerous calculi, are soft, pliable, and amorphous . Common clinical features include a history of calcigerous stone disease, renal surgery, urinary obstruction or stasis, and chronic infection with Proteus species or coliforms . The diagnosis is usually made at surgery, but certain preoperative radiographic findings may be suggestive . Matrix calculi are radiolucent on plain abdominal films, although their appearance on nonenhanced CT scans is similar to that of calcigerous calculi despite their small mineral content . Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy is ineffective; open or percutaneous techniques are necessary . Histologic inspection reveals laminar concentric rings of organized matrix with an orderly, layered deposition of minerals . Histochemical investigation can provide insight into the possible sequence of events in normal calculogenesis . The successful management of urinary matrix calculi depends on a high index of suspicion and a thorough knowledge of their clinicopathologic features. G Chir, 1994 Oct, 15(10), 422 - 8 {Variations in the antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial strains after contact with the metals used for the construction of prosthetic implants}; Cenni E et al.; The antibiotic sensitivity of 19 Gram-positive bacterial strains (11 Staphylococcus aureus and 8 Staphylococcus epidermidis) and 16 Gram-negative strains (8 Escherichia coli and 8 Proteus species) was evaluated after contact with stainless steel and with some metals compounding the alloys used for prosthetic devices . The hypothesis was that the resistance to antibiotic therapy of infections associated with prosthetic implants is also due to a modification in the sensitivity of microorganisms . The results, compared to those obtained from control tests, showed only slight variations in the antibiotic sensitivity of the strains put in contact with the metals . In Gram-positive strains, after contact with metals, the increase in sensitivity occurred more frequently than the reduction . In Gram-negative strains, the decrease in sensitivity was more frequent than the increase . Proteus strains showed sensitivity variations more frequently than Escherichia coli strains . Titanium and nickel induced the highest number of variations, both in Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. J Nutr, 1994 Sep, 124(9), 1604 - 14 A single 210-mumol oral dose of retinol does not enhance the immune response in children with measles; Rosales FJ et al.; This trial assessed the effect of vitamin A on reversing measles-induced unresponsiveness to recall antigens and on enhancing measles antibody production . These assessments were part of a randomized, double-masked clinical trial of the efficacy of 210 mumol of retinol as retinyl palmitate for reducing measles-associated morbidity . Two hundred children between 5 mo and 17 y of age with acute measles were enrolled at the Urban Health Centers in Ndola, Zambia; 110 subjects received a placebo and 90 received vitamin A . At enrollment and 2 wk later, blood samples were collected to determine measles hemagglutinin antibody titer and, at 1 and 2 wk post-enrollment, cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity tests (DTH) for seven antigens were applied . Both groups of subjects showed marked DTH unresponsiveness, but vitamin A-treated subjects had a significant prolongation of unresponsiveness to tuberculin {odds ratio (OR) 3.22 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-8.2}, Candida (OR 5.43, CI 1.13-25.9) and Proteus (OR 5.17, CI 1.14-28.4), after adjustment for previous vaccination and age . DTH unresponsiveness was antigen specific, reflecting prior vaccination history, and was not associated with acute respiratory infection status . In addition, children in both treatment groups showed a significant increase in measles antibody titer from baseline to wk 2, but this increment was not significantly different between the groups (P = 0.25) . These results indicate that a single oral dose of 210 mumol of retinol as retinyl palmitate in oil does not enhance the immune system during measles. Pediatr Dermatol, 1994 Sep, 11(3), 222 - 6 Proteus syndrome; Darmstadt GL et al.; A 10-month-old girl had macrodactyly, facial and extremity hemihypertrophy, plantar cerebriform hyperplasia, a subcutaneous mass on the back, macrocephaly, and lumbar kyphosis . These findings were diagnostic of Proteus syndrome . The clinical features, etiology, management, and points of differential diagnosis are discussed. Eur J Biochem, 1994 Sep 1, 224(2), 613 - 22 The single-stranded-DNA-binding proteins (SSB) of Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescens; De Vries J et al.; The single-stranded-DNA-binding (SSB) proteins from Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescens were purified from overproducing Escherichia coli strains, which were devoid of their own ssb gene . The strains harboured an endA insertion mutation and a xonA mutation resulting in the absence of endonuclease I and exonuclease I activities from the preparations . The amino acid sequences of the SSB of all three species are nearly identical in the N-terminal parts of the proteins that contain the DNA-binding domain, but differ in the C-terminal parts . Both proteins have an apparent binding-site size of 65 and 35 nucleotides at high and low salt concentrations, respectively . The association-rate constant for binding to poly(dT) is 3.2 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 for P . mirabilis SSB (PmiSSB) and 3.4 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 for S . marcescens SSB (SmaSSB) . These binding parameters are very similar to those of E . coli SSB (EcoSSB) . The structural similarity of the proteins is also documented by the finding that they can exchange subunits among each other to form mixed tetramers . The transcriptional regulation of the ssb and uvrA genes from P . mirabilis and S . marcescens in SOS-induced E . coli cells was studied using lacZ fusions . While the uvrA genes were inducible, there was no induction of the ssb genes transcribed divergently from the uvrA genes . Apparently, regions with nucleotide sequence similarity to the E . coli SOS-box preceding the ssb genes of P . mirabilis and S . marcescens had no gross effect on the transcription . Studies on growth of the cells and recovery from ultraviolet damage indicate that the heterologous SSB proteins support DNA replication and recombinational DNA repair of E . coli with the same efficiency as the E . coli SSB protein . Interactions with other E . coli proteins involved in these processes either do not occur, or are not impeded. J Bacteriol, 1994 Sep, 176(17), 5225 - 32 Analysis of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable peptidoglycan autolysins of select gram-negative pathogens by using renaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; Bernadsky G et al.; For the first time, peptidoglycan autolysins from cellular fractions derived from sonicated cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, Escherichia coli W7, Klebsiella pneumoniae CWK2, and Proteus mirabilis 19 were detected and partially characterized by zymogram analysis . Purified murein sacculi from P . aeruginosa PAO1 were incorporated into a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel at a concentration of 0.05% (wt/vol) to serve as a substrate for the separated autolysins . At least 11 autolysin bands of various intensities with M(r)s ranging between 17,000 and 122,000 were detected in each of the homogenated cultures . Some of the autolysins of the four bacteria had similar M(r)s . The zymogram analysis was used to show that a number of the autolysins from E . coli were inhibited by the heavy metals Hg2+ and Cu2+, at 1 and 10 mM, respectively, high ionic strengths, and reagents known to affect the packing of lipopolysaccharides . The activity of an autolysin with an M(r) of 65,000 was also impaired by penicillin G, whereas it was enhanced by gentamicin . A preliminary screen to determine the relationship between penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and autolysins was carried out by using a dual assay in which radiolabelled penicillin V bands were visualized on an autolysin zymogram . Radiolabelled bands corresponding to PBPs 3, 4, 5, and 6 from E . coli and P . aeruginosa; PBPs 3, 4, and 6 from Proteus mirabilis; and PBP 6 from K . pneumoniae degraded the murein sacculi in the gels and were presumed to have autolytic activity, although the possibility of two distinct enzymes, each with one of the activities, comigrating in the SDS-polyacrylamide gels could not be excluded . Some radiolabelled bands possessed an Mr of <34,000 and coincided with similar low-Mr autolysin bands. Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol, 1994 Sep-Oct, (5), 3 - 8 {The role of the chromosome and its interaction with extrachromosomal determinants during the process of genetic control of bacterial pathogenicity}; Petrovskaia VG et al.; The authors analyze current data on genetic control of the principal factors of pathogenicity of Shigella, Salmonella, Yersinia, Listeria and Proteus . They review the phases in the development of an infectious process and discuss problems in interaction of chromosomal and plasmid genes determining t