Ter Arkh, 1986, 58(4), 86 - 9 {Effectiveness of various programs of immunocorrective therapy in chronic infectious-inflammatory diseases}; Gordienko SM et al.; An immunological study of patients with chronic pneumonia, osteomyelitis, pyoderma and candidosis showed various changes in cellular immunity values within each nosological group of examined patients . The efficacy of levamisole therapy was higher in the group of patients where an increase in the number of E-rosette forming cells and NBT-test values by more than 10% was noted in vitro in the presence of 10 micrograms/ml of levamisole as opposed to patients with a less increase in these values or their decrease . Nonspecific immunotherapy (levamisole, prodigiosan) following specific immunotherapy (staphylococcal anatoxins and antiphagin or autovaccines) proved to be more effective in the treatment of patients with chronic infectious inflammatory diseases than the reverse sequence of immunotherapy courses. J Dairy Sci, 1986 Jan, 69(1), 32 - 7 Bacterial cell counts in goat milk and their correlations with somatic cell counts, percent fat, and protein; Park YW et al.; Representative milk samples at morning and afternoon milking were collected periodically for 5 mo from 32 does in a Prairie View A&M University milking herd to test the concentrations of total bacterial, coliform, and staphylococcus counts and to determine the correlations among the bacterial cell counts, somatic cell counts, percent fat, and percent protein . Bacterial cell counts were assayed by microbiogical methods using different nutrient media for the three cell types . Somatic cell counts were determined by an automated fluorescent microscopic somatic cell counter . Percent fat and protein were analyzed by an automated dual beam infrared absorption analyzer . Mean counts for total bacterial, coliform, staphylococcus, and somatic cell were 2.54 X 10(4), .966 X 10(3), 3.32 X 10(3), and 9.08 X 10(5) cells/ml, respectively . The Nubian goats had higher counts in all three bacterial cell types than the Alpines, and the difference in staphylococcus counts between breeds was significant (P less than .05) . However, Alpine milk contained slightly higher somatic cell counts than the Nubians . None of the correlation coefficients (r) between somatic cell and bacterial cell counts was significant for the pooled data from the two breeds, but r between staphylococcus and somatic cell counts for Alpine breed was significant (P less than .05) . The r between somatic cell counts and percent fat or protein were significant (P less than .01) for combined or separated breed data . Bacterial cell counts could not explain high somatic cell counts in the goat milk with the present testing standards of cow milk. Infection, 1986, 14 Suppl 2, S148 - 53 {Effect and tolerance of daily 2 X 1 g imipenem/cilastatin in general surgery}; Wenzel M et al.; The clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety of imipenem/cilastatin were studied in a open, prospective trial with 63 general surgical patients suffering from bacterial infections . According to study criteria, 48 of the patients were evaluable . Clinical cure was achieved in 47 of these 48 patients (97.9%) . The causative organisms were eliminated in 39 of the 47 patients cured . Clinical side-reactions were observed in 4.2% of the 63 patients treated . In 8.3% of these laboratory parameters were changed . 77 of the 78 microorganisms isolated before therapy were sensitive to imipenem (MICs 0.02-2.0 mg/l) . In one patient a coagulase-negative staphylococcus with an MIC of 16 mg/l was isolated after five days of therapy. J Cell Biochem, 1986, 30(4), 281 - 9 Guanidine hydrochloride denaturation studies of mutant forms of staphylococcal nuclease; Shortle D; Several mutant forms of staphylococcal nuclease with one or two defined amino acid substitutions have been purified, and the effects of the altered amino acid sequence on the stability of the folded conformation have been analyzed by guanidine hydrochloride denaturation . Two nuc- mutations, which greatly reduced the level of enzyme activity accumulated in E coli colonies carrying a recombinant plasmid with the mutant nuc gene (ie, a NUC- phenotype), both result in protein unfolding at significantly lower guanidine hydrochloride concentrations than the wild-type protein, whereas three sup mutations isolated on the basis of their ability to suppress partially the NUC- phenotype of the above two mutations result in unfolding at significantly higher guanidine hydrochloride concentrations . Characterization of nuclease molecules with two different amino acid substitutions, either nuc- + sup pairs or sup + sup pairs, suggests that the effect of an amino acid substitution on the stability of the native conformation, as measured by the value of delta delta GD, may not be a constant, but rather a variable that is sensitive to the presence of other substitutions at distant sites in the same molecule . Surprisingly, the slopes of the log Kapp vs guanidine hydrochloride concentration plots vary by as much as 35% among the different proteins. Tohoku J Exp Med, 1986 Jan, 148(1), 87 - 97 A cytotoxic substance (CTS-51) produced by human buffy coat cultures stimulated by staphylococcal enterotoxin B: further characterizations and combined action with interferon; Hirai N et al.; A recently recognized unique cytotoxic substance, CTS-51, was tested for the hear or acid stability, trypsin digestion and dialysis . Moreover, influences of elevated incubation temperatures or serum concentrations of medium on the cytotoxic activity of CTS-51, and the combination effects of CTS-51 and human leucocyte interferon (HuIFN-alpha (Le)) were investigated . The cytotoxic activity of CTS-51, which is promoted by a small molecule easily passable the dialysis membrane, was found to be very stable to heat (even at 100 degrees C for 30 min) or acid (pH 2.0 for 24 hr at 4 degrees C) treatments . The treatment with 0.75% trypsin for 1 hr did not diminish the CTS-51 activity . The susceptibility of Daudi lymphoma cells to the antiproliferative action of HuIFN-alpha (Le) was further potentiated by treating the cells with CTS-51 for 16 hr . On the other hand, the CTS-51 activity which was revealed to be prescribed by its concentration in the medium, was not potentiated at 39 degrees C when compared to that at 37 degrees C in contrast to HuIFN-alpha (Le) action, and was reduced according to the increase of the fetal calf serum concentration in the medium. Exp Cell Biol, 1986, 54(1), 16 - 24 Use of donor-specific T-cell lines for monitoring of human allograft recipients . I . Demonstration of IgG binding to autologous TCL; Huber C et al.; Donor-specific and highly cytotoxic T-cell lines (TCL) as well as lectin-induced TCL were established from pretransplant lymphocytes of 6 cadaveric renal allograft recipients . These TCL were used in the 125I-staphylococcus protein A assay to detect IgG antibodies in pre- and posttransplant sera of these patients preferentially binding to autologous donor-specific TCL . Such antibodies were detected in pretransplant sera from 4 of these 6 allograft recipients . Antibody levels in these 4 patients and in 1 additional case who became positive after transplantation further increased during acute cellular rejection episodes . They disappeared after successful treatment but remained elevated until transplantectomy for treatment of irreversible rejection in 1 case . IgG antibodies binding to autologous lectin-induced TCL were detected in only 1 patient and exhibited a pattern clearly different from those binding to donor-reactive TCL . Although attempts to define the antigenic specificity of the autoantibodies binding to donor-specific TCL by genetical and biochemical means has remained unsuccessful so far, the demonstration of their relationship to in vivo expansion of donor-reactive immune cells deserves further attention. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1986 Jan-Feb, 10(1), 58 - 62 Hickman catheter complications in marrow transplant recipients; Petersen FB et al.; The complications associated with the insertion and use of 95 single lumen and 312 double lumen Hickman right atrial catheters in 357 marrow transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed . Three-hundred (84%) first inserted catheters were in place for a median of 93 days (range, 16-209) without complications and were removed electively . Thirty-nine (9.6%) of all catheters were removed for infections and 24 (5.9%) for mechanical complications . Ninety-five patients (26.6%) had 111 episodes of septicemia involving 128 separate organisms and 25 patients had 25 episodes of localized catheter infection with 26 separate organisms . The most frequently isolated organism was coagulase-negative staphylococcus . Twelve of 24 removals due to mechanical complications were caused by accidental pulling of the catheter by the patient. Infect Immun, 1986 Jan, 51(1), 141 - 6 Plasmodium berghei malaria: effects of acute-phase serum and erythrocyte-bound immunoglobulins on erythrophagocytosis by rat peritoneal macrophages; Packer BJ et al.; Acute-phase serum (APS) collected from Plasmodium berghei-infected rats inhibited phagocytosis of trypsinized rat erythrocytes and of erythrocytes from P . berghei-infected rats . Macrophages (M phi) incubated with APS or heat-aggregated acute-phase serum (HAAPS) for 6 h, followed by 18 h incubation in serum-free medium, exhibited significantly higher levels of phagocytosis than M phi similarly cultured but with normal rat serum . When APS was present at the time of assay, it inhibited erythrophagocytosis by M phi which had been in culture for 0 or 24 h . M phi activation by HAAPS was inhibited by 2-deoxy-D-glucose, which suggests that activation by HAAPS is Fc-receptor mediated . Adsorption of APS with staphylococcal protein A abrogated the ability of APS to inhibit phagocytosis and that of HAAPS to effect M phi activation, suggesting that immune complexes are involved in both processes . Surface-bound immunoglobulins eluted from erythrocytes of P . berghei-infected rats promoted phagocytosis of trypsinized erythrocytes by HAAPS-activated M phi but not by resting M phi . These results indicate that the immunoglobulins which bind to infected or damaged erythrocytes during malarial infections promote erythrophagocytosis by activated M phi and that the immune complexes in serum from rats with acute malaria may inhibit erythrophagocytosis early in the infection but may, over time, induce changes in the M phi which later facilitate erythrophagocytosis. Rheumatol Int, 1986, 6(3), 103 - 9 Properties and reactivity of immune complexes in rheumatoid synovial fluid; Mochan E et al.; Fractionation of immune complexes (IC) from rheumatoid synovial fluid revealed the presence of three different fractions of IC . The largest molecular weight form, fraction I (above 1000 Kdaltons) was predominately composed of IgG and IgM and contained both IgM-RF and IgG-RF . The other IC, fraction II (480 Kdaltons) and fraction III (330 Kdaltons), contained predominately IgG with some IgA and only significant amounts of IgG-RF . All three fractions of IC can bind Clq and stimulate human monocyte prostaglandin E (PGE) production . Fraction I IC bound Clq most readily while fraction III IC were the most effective stimulators of monocyte PGE production . IC stimulation of monocyte PGE production was inhibited by staphylococcus protein A suggesting mediation via activation of Fc receptors . It remains to be determined whether this IC reactivity has any pathologic significance. Int J Biochem, 1986, 18(5), 485 - 8 NH2-terminal localization of that part of the staphylococcal enterotoxins polypeptide chain responsible for binding with membrane receptor and mitogenic effect; Ezepchuk YuV et al.; It is established that the part of the SEA and SEC2 polypeptide chain responsible for the binding of these toxin proteins with the membrane receptor on the surface of rabbit thymocytes and mitogenic effect is localised in the NH2-terminal region of the molecule . The SEC2 splits in two fragments T1 (17 kdalton) and T2 (12.5 kdalton) under limited proteolysis by trypsin in the presence of 2-ME . The amino acid terminal residues of SEA, SEC2 and their proteolytic fragments are also studied. Ann Allergy, 1986 Jan, 56(1), 22 - 7 Assessment of IgE-mediated sensitivity during immunotherapy: comparison of the RAST with and without adsorption of IgG to titrated prick skin tests; Squire EN Jr et al.; The effect of specific IgG induced by allergy immunotherapy on specific IgE binding in the RAST was assessed by removal of the IgG with staphylococcus protein A bound to Sepharose . In sera from those patients with the highest titers of specific IgG, RAST binding was increased 8% following adsorption of the post-immunotherapy sera while in sera obtained from the same patients before immunotherapy adsorption increased binding only 3% . The effect of allergy immunotherapy on the titrated prick skin test was compared to the effect on the RAST to the same allergen . In nine patients who received the highest dose of grass extract, the area of the titrated prick skin tests was reduced following immunotherapy by 75% . Staphylococcus protein-A adsorption of sera from these patients drawn before immunotherapy resulted in an increase in RAST binding of 2.7% compared to an increase of 6% in sera obtained after immunotherapy, suggesting suppression of RAST binding of only 3% by specific IgG . It is concluded that RAST levels are affected less than prick skin tests by the immunologic response to allergy immunotherapy . Some interference in RAST binding is produced by specific IgG antibody in high titers, but for many critical purposes the degree of interference is not significant. Exp Clin Immunogenet, 1986, 3(4), 208 - 18 Phenotypic similarity between T-cell antigen binding molecules; Cone RE et al.; T-cell antigen binding molecules (TABM) specific for trinitrophenol (TNP), oxazalone, azobenzenearsonate or sheep erythrocytes were purified by affinity to antigen, adsorption to monoclonal antibodies to antigen binding molecules or were synthesized by translation of immunopurified mRNA for TABM in vitro . These molecules and a T-cell line, BW5147, membrane protein bound by rabbit antibodies to TABM were radiolabeled by 125I, digested with Staphylococcus V8 protease, and peptides of the proteolytic digest were resolved by 2D-gel peptide mapping . Comparison of the peptide maps of these proteins and amino acid analysis of T-cell antigen binding molecules specific for TNP or sheep erythrocytes indicate similarities and distinctions suggesting variable and constant domains in these molecules. Microbiol Immunol, 1986, 30(10), 1023 - 35 Use of protein A in the serum-in-agar diffusion method in immune electron microscopy for detection of virus particles in cell culture; Furui S; A modified technique using protein A in the serum-in-agar (SIA) method for immune electron microscopy (IEM) was presented . Grids coated with staphylococcal protein A were floated on samples mounted on agar containing 2% antiserum and incubated at 37 C, for 60 min . After washing and staining, the grids were observed in an electron microscope . The effects of protein A on virus detection were evaluated using poliovirus and bovine rotavirus infected cell culture fluids . The results showed that the technique using protein A (PA-SIA) had at least 10-fold higher sensitivity for virus detection than the original SIA . The optimal concentration of protein A was 1 to 10 micrograms/ml for coating the grids to trap virus particles . The PA-SIA method was also compared with immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM) . The former showed higher or at least the same sensitivity and some advantages in detecting antigen-antibody reaction than the latter method . These results indicate that our PA-SIA method may be superior to other IEM techniques presented previously for the detection and identification of viruses. Prep Biochem, 1986, 16(3), 217 - 26 Partial purification and characterization of feline gamma-like interferon; Yasuda M et al.; Feline interferon (IFN) was produced from spleen cells stimulated by Staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA) . The IFN was purified by a three-step procedure using controlled pore glass adsorption chromatography, concanavalin A (ConA)-agarose column chromatography and gel filtration . The final product of these procedures which had activity of an IFN appeared as a single peak of activity with molecular weight of approximately 50,000 . It was sensitive to acid and heat, suggesting that the isolated material was a gamma IFN . The total recovery of feline gamma IFN was 8.2% . Specific activity was 2.95 X 10(4) unit/micrograms protein and was concentrated 2.8 X 10(4) times . This preparation of purified feline gamma IFN was destroyed completely by 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate within 20 min . As an inducer of feline gamma IFN, SEA appeared to produce a more uniform IFN product than did ConA . Further, the presence of 10% ethylene glycol in the sample applied to ConA-agarose column as well as its absence in the elution buffer was effective in reducing contaminating acid- and heat-resistant IFNs in the preparation. Am J Pathol, 1986 Jan, 122(1), 169 - 76 Enhancement of endotoxin-induced isolated renal tubular cell injury by toxic shock syndrome toxin 1; Keane WF et al.; The pathogenesis of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) remains unknown . On the basis of experimental data, it has been hypothesized that staphylococcal TSS Toxin 1 (TSST-1) may interact synergistically with low levels of endotoxin and give rise to many of the clinical findings . We have demonstrated previously that lipid A, the biologically active component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or endotoxin, induces dose-dependent necrosis of isolated rat renal tubular cells (RTCs) . In the present studies, the authors investigated whether this injury could be augmented by TSST-1 . The viability of RTCs was assessed by vital dye exclusion . Incubation of freshly isolated rat RTCs with either 1 ng/ml of TSST-1 or 0.1 ng/ml LPS or lipid A had minimal cytotoxicity (less than 6%) . Exposure of RTCs to 1 ng/ml TSST-1 for 20 minutes, followed by washing, resulted in a significant enhancement of cytotoxicity when RTCs were exposed to 0.1 ng/ml LPS or lipid A . The sensitization of RTCs by TSST-1 to LPS- or lipid-A-induced injury was prevented by methylamine and chloroquine, two inhibitors of receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) . Chelation of extracellular calcium by 2 mM EGTA also blocked the TSST-1-induced sensitization of RTCs to LPS or lipid A . Inhibition of RTC arachidonic acid metabolism by methylprednisolone, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and piriprost significantly inhibited RTC necrosis induced by TSST-1 and LPS or lipid A by 33-62% . Thiourea and deferoxamine, agents which ameliorate oxidant injury, also inhibited this synergistic injury by 34-67% . Thus, TSST-1 enhanced the cytotoxic effects of LPS/lipid A, and the sensitization of RTCs appeared to involve RME or TSST-1 . Oxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid and generation of reactive oxygen species appeared to participate in LPS/lipid-A-mediated RTC death. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol, 1986, 79(1), 1 - 7 Augmentation of natural killer cytotoxicity by alpha or gamma natural and recombinant interferons and interferon inducers . Effect of monocytes; Platsoucas CD et al.; We investigated the effect of human peripheral blood monocytes on the augmentation of natural killer cytotoxicity by alpha or gamma natural and recombinant interferons (IFN) and certain interferon inducers . We observed that: (1) in the majority of the donors examined (75%) human peripheral blood monocytes do not affect natural killer cytotoxicity, determined by a 4-hour chromium-51 release assay, against target cells from hemopoietic human tumor cell lines . (2) Monocytes are not required and do not affect the augmentation of natural killer cytotoxicity by Escherichia coli-derived IFN-gamma, natural human IFN-gamma, E . Coli-derived IFN-alpha 2 or natural human IFN-alpha . E . Coli-derived IFN-gamma and natural human IFN-gamma have been reported to activate monocyte cytotoxicity determined in 72-hour assay . (3) Monocytes are not required for the augmentation of natural killer cytotoxicity against target cells from hemopoietic tumor cell lines by polyinosinic acid-polycytidylic acid or staphylococcal enterotoxin A. Int J Biochem, 1986, 18(12), 1107 - 14 Formation of HCN and its chlorination to ClCN by stimulated human neutrophils--2 . Oxidation of thiocyanate as a source of HCN; Stelmaszynska T; Leucocytes challenged by Staphylococcus epidermidis or stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) produce cyanide from thiocyanate . The amount of H14CN formed depends on KS14CN concentration and is enhanced by pretreatment of phagocytosed bacteria with penicillin or by adding amine-taurine to the medium of PMA-stimulated neutrophils . The reaction of taurine chloramine or chlorinated Staphylococcus epidermidis (containing N-Cl groups) with thiocyanate results in HCN formation . At higher concentration of chloramine cyanogen chloride is formed . Cyanide is chlorinated by PMA-stimulated neutrophils and this process is significantly enhanced by exogenous taurine and inhibited by 3-amino 1,2,4-triazole . It is conceivable that oxidation of thiocyanate to HCN and chlorination of HCN to ClCN is mediated by the chlorinating species (taurine chloramine) produced by stimulated neutrophils. Cor Vasa, 1986, 28(4), 315 - 9 Myocardial changes in influenza virus and staphylococcus infection; Barlybaeva NA et al.; Experiments carried out on 134 newborn mice showed that influenza virus and staphylococcus infection and their combination induces local necrosis in the myocardium . Morphometric measurement has shown that the extent of necrotic changes amounted with the action of the influenza virus to 1.37%, with the action of staphylococcus to 1.4% and with their combined action to 1.8% . Electron microscopy revealed dystrophic changes in cardiomyocytes with subsequent intracellular regeneration. Dermatologica, 1986, 173(6), 278 - 84 Exfoliative dermatitis . A prospective study of 80 patients; Sehgal VN et al.; A prospective study in 80 exfoliative dermatitis patients over a period of 5 years establishes 41.9 years as its mean age at onset . The disease affected both males and females, with a preponderance of the former . The clinical features were identical, irrespective of the etiology . The onset of the disease was usually insidious except in staphylococcal scalled skin syndrome and drug-induced erythroderma, where it was abrupt and florid . Microcytic hypochromic anemia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophilia, low serum proteins and electrolytes were salient laboratory features . Histopathology was largely unrewarding; only in 12 patients, a good clinicohistologic correlation was present . Preexisting dermatoses, namely psoriasis, air-borne contact dermatitis, phytophotodermatitis, photosensitive and seborrheic dermatitis, and other dermatoses constituted the major etiology . Antituberculous drugs were responsible for a substantial proportion of drug-induced erythroderma . No lymphomas were found . This study outlines that some salient features of exfoliative dermatitis may show geographic variations. Arch Virol, 1986, 91(3-4), 313 - 27 Morphology of staphylococcus bacteriophage P 1; Black BC et al.; The group D staphylococcal phage P 1 was examined in the electron microscope after preparation by a variety of procedures . The virion was found to have an icosahedral capsid attached to a long contractile tail structure, the viral tail could be seen in partially contracted configurations . Morphological variants in the length of the sheath and needle were frequently found. Int Angiol, 1986 Jan-Mar, 5(1), 33 - 7 Pathogenesis of aortoenteric fistula . An experimental study; Ikonomopoulos DC et al.; The pathogenesis of aortoenteric fistulas was studied in the experimental laboratory . In 23 dogs patch of woven dacron was interposed in the anterior wall of the infrarenal abdominal aorta . In two groups (I and II), the serosa denuded duodenal wall was sutured to an opening of the proximal anastomosis--creating a pseudoaneurysm--, with induction of staphylococcal bacteremia, without (group I) and with simultaneous administration of methicillin (group II) pre and postoperatively . In the remaining two groups (III and IV), the serosa stripped duodenal wall, was simply attached to overlay the intact proximal anastomosis, with induction of staphylococcal bacteremia, without methicillin in group II and with administration of methicillin without bacteremia in group IV . Aortoduodenal fistulas developed in 100% of animals in group I, 80% in group II and 14% in group III . No aortoduodenal fistula was observed in group IV . We conclude that mechanical factors have the decisive role for the formation of aortoenteric fistulas, especially the development of a false aneurysm, which subsequently ruptures into the duodenum or the bowel. Clin Exp Immunol, 1986 Jan, 63(1), 218 - 27 Immune defects in chronic renal impairment: evidence for defective regulation of lymphocyte response by macrophages from patients with chronic renal impairment on haemodialysis; Tsakolos ND et al.; Cellular mechanisms contributing to impaired lymphocyte proliferative responses in chronic renal impairment (CRI) were investigated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 25 patients receiving haemodialysis . Impaired T cell proliferative responses to phytohaemagglutinin were demonstrated . The hyporeactive PBMC from patients with CRI suppressed the responses of PBMC from normals to a greater degree than did control PBMC . This immunosuppression was reversed significantly by depleting adherent monocytes (M phi) . To further determine if these impairments might be critically dependent on cell-cell contact, M phi from an additional 10 patients on haemodialysis were examined for ability to support B and T cell colony formation in semi-solid cultures stimulated by Staphylococcus protein A (SpA) . When compared to normal controls, significantly fewer B and T cell colonies were observed with M phi from CRI patients than when autologous M phi were used . Also, T cells from patients were significantly less effective than controls in supporting B cell colony growth . Decreased T and B cell colony responses in patients were not due to a primary abnormality of these cells, since allogeneic mixing experiments showed that B and T cells from patients were able to form a sufficient number of colonies when control M phi or T cells from normals were used as accessory and helper cells . These findings suggest that although M phi-mediated suppressor activity is an important mechanism contributing to impaired lymphocyte responsiveness in patients with chronic renal impairment on haemodialysis, additional or related abnormalities in M phi 'accessory' function may also exist. Neurochirurgie, 1986, 32(4), 304 - 10 {Postoperative abscesses and empyemas . Apropos of 13 cases}; Rousseaux M et al.; 13 cases of severe intracranial postoperative infections, abscesses and/or empyema, are reported . These lesions, whose clinical diagnosis is often difficult, have benefited from C.T . scan . The diffusion of the infectious process in operatory focus, the frequency of Staphylococcal origin and the importance of high doses antibiotherapy must be underlined . This one is, of course, an indispensable complement to reintervention, but it may be utilized alone with success in selected cases, or insure the definitive cure when reintervention is partial. Intensive Care Med, 1986, 12(1), 39 - 42 Benzodiazepine-opiate antagonism--a problem in intensive-care therapy; McDonald CF et al.; A 14-year-old previously fit schoolboy was admitted with staphylococcal pneumonia secondary to influenza A infection . His condition deteriorated as he developed adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); during a stormy recovery exceptionally high doses of benzodiazepines and opiates were given in order to suppress voluntary breathing during a successful period of assisted ventilation . It is possible that benzodiazepine-opiate antagonism developed . Subsequent studies in laboratory mice indicate that the respiratory depressant effects of morphine can be antagonized by prior treatment with lorazepam. Toxicon, 1986, 24(4), 403 - 11 Staphylococcal alpha-toxin: a structure-function study using a monoclonal antibody; Harshman S et al.; A monoclonal antibody (A-Tox-653.1) selected for its reactivity in a dot immunoblot assay with denatured staphylococcal alpha-toxin has been isolated and its capacity to block the hemolytic and lethal activities of alpha-toxin measured . In addition, 'reactivity with monomer, hexamer, 125I-monoiodinated and CNBr peptides of alpha-toxin was studied . In all cases the reactions of the monoclonal antibody were compared to those obtained with anti-alpha-toxin rabbit hyperimmune serum . We find that while both the monoclonal antibody and the rabbit antiserum react with all forms of alpha-toxin, only the rabbit antiserum blocks hemolytic or lethal activity . Further, the rabbit antiserum reacts with CNBr fragments IV, V ad VII, whereas the monoclonal antibody reacts only with the carboxy terminal CNBr peptide VII . We conclude that, in solution, the carboxy terminal segment of alpha-toxin is relatively free and reaction with the monoclonal antibody neither impedes its binding to the specific receptor on the membrane nor interferes with formation of the hexamer complex. Clin Exp Immunol, 1986 Jan, 63(1), 32 - 40 Electrophoretic transfer blotting analysis of immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis; Inman RD et al.; Immunochemical analysis of immune complexes (IC) derived from synovial fluid and serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was undertaken . IC were isolated by differential polyethylene glycol precipitation and competitive binding to staphylococcal Protein A . Anti-IC antisera were raised in rabbits by immunization with purified IC . IC were characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), electrophoretic transfer to nitrocellulose sheets, reaction with either anti-IC antiserum or monospecific antiserum against putative components, then developed with 125I-Protein A and autoradiography . Synovial fluid IC from both RA and control inflammatory joint diseases contained immunoglobulin light chains, and mu and gamma heavy chains . IC from RA synovial fluid also contained alpha chain, and Clq . Cross-over studies of IC and antisera revealed cross-reactive antigens in IC of RA synovial fluid and that remained unidentified were of the following relative molecular masses: 26,000; 39,000; 40,000; and 43,000 . Studies using early and late serum samples to probe the blotted IC failed to disclose serological autoreactivity . This sensitive analytical technique provides a means for detailed description of the constituents of IC in inflammatory joint diseases. Thromb Haemost, 1985 Dec 17, 54(4), 853 - 6 Anticoagulant properties of extracellular slime substance produced by Staphylococcus epidermidis; Bykowska K et al.; Slime produced by S . epidermidis strain KH 11 was extracted with phenol-saline . The saline phase was fractionated on a DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column . The crude slime solution and its phenol-saline fraction were found to possess anticoagulant properties . They inhibited the coagulation of human plasma by thrombin, prolonged the activated partial thromboplastin time, but did not change the rate of plasma coagulation by reptilase . The anticoagulant effect of slime could be neutralized by rather high concentrations of protamine sulphate . In the presence of plasma, the staphylococcal slime also inhibited in a concentration dependent fashion the amidolytic activity of thrombin and factor Xa against synthetic chromogenic substrates . Both antithrombin III (AT III) and other plasma component(s), presumably heparin cofactor II, were required for the full expression of the slime effect . The anticoagulant action of slime was markedly less AT III dependent than that of heparin . The activity was resistant to heating (100 degrees C, 30 min) . Slime and its fractions were stronger inhibitors of thrombin than of factor Xa . Fraction IV separated by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography and particularly rich in galactose and glucuronic acid had the highest inhibitory potency . It is conceivable that slime component(s) similar to glycosaminoglycans from other sources can carry the anticoagulant activity. Z Hautkr, 1985 Dec 15, 60(24), 1940 - 2, 1947-50 {Therapy and etiology of sebopsoriasis}; Doring HF; 9 patients suffering from psoriasis vulgaris associated with sebopsoriasis lesions as well as 21 patients showing sebopsoriasis only were treated with 1% bifonazole cream and gel . We found good and excellent results in 86% of the sebopsoriatic, but only in 40% of the psoriasis vulgaris lesions . These results were achieved independently of the galenic preparation . In some of the sebopsoriasis patients, typical lesions were brought about by intracutaneous injection of bacterial antigens like steptococcus viridans and staphylococcus albus; my be, this is a hint on the etiology. Presse Med, 1985 Dec 7, 14(42), 2135 - 8 {Fosfomycin-cefotaxime combination in severe staphylococcal infections in newborn infants}; Gouyon JB et al.; Clinical and bacteriological effectiveness of the fosfomycin-cefotaxime combination is reported in four cases of serious staphylococcal infections in neonates (1 meningitis, 2 osteomyelitis, 1 superinfection of congenital varicella) . Owing to the strong synergistic effect of this combination on methicillin-resistant staphylococcal strains, the authors suggest that the fosfomycin-cefotaxime combination should be considered for anti-staphylococcal therapy in neonates with deep tissue and/or methicillin-resistant infections. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1985 Dec, 181(3-5), 345 - 63 {Determination of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C and D in foods using sandwich ELISA with labeled antibody}; Windemann H et al.; The noncompetitive Sandwich-ELISA (polystyrene balls) with labelled antibody for staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) A, B, C, and D according to Fey et al . (1984), which have recently been introduced commercially, was applied to analysis of foods . The effect of various food ingredients on the quantitative determination and recovery of SE was investigated . The unspecific effect of food components which, in some cases, caused false-positive results in the competitive ELISA was less frequent . Nevertheless, the differences in binding of unlabeled antigen between buffer and food were still observed . Using ELISA microtiter plates the effect of food components was less pronounced . Enterotoxin type A or a mixture of A and D were dominant in foods which were involved in food poisoning (about 150 samples) . In meat the recovery of SE added (1-10 ng/g) ranged from 30-60% . The assay sensitivity in buffer ranged from 0.1 ng/ml for enterotoxins A, B, C and D (5 ml sample) to 0.2 ng/ml for enterotoxins A-D (1 ml sample) using polystyrene balls and was 1 ng/ml for enterotoxins A-D using ELISA plates . In foods the detection limit was occasionally higher . The required sensitivity for enterotoxin A (maximum limit 1 ng/g) could mostly be reached . Because of the differences in antigen binding in buffer and in various food extracts the determination of the enterotoxin content in this range is laborious. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1985 Dec, 181(3-5), 320 - 44 {Determination of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B and C in foods using ELISA with labeled antigen}; Windemann H et al.; The competitive ELISA (polystyrene balls) with labeled antigen according to Stiffler-Rosenberg and Fey (1978) was applied to the analysis of Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) A, B and C in food to see if the enterotoxin concentration corresponding to maximum limit for SEA and SEB (1 ng/g food and 10 ng/g food respectively) could be measured . The effect of various food ingredients on the quantitative determination of SE in single-step and two-step variants of competitive ELISA was investigated . Generally, the effect of food was the lowest in extracts of cheeses and the highest in extracts of meats and pasta products . All enterotoxins were equally affected . However, within the same type of food significant differences in binding of both labeled and unlabeled antigen were found . The effect of food components often depended on the assay variant; the extracts of cheese gave better results in the two-step and the extracts of pasta better results in the single-step ELISA . In some weak-positive extracts, false positive results could not be excluded . In the samples of cheese which were involved in food poisoning exclusively the enterotoxin type A was found (up to 30 ng/g) . The recovery of added SE (1-10 ng/g food) ranged from 50-70% in cheese and was about 70% in pasta foods . The assay sensitivity in buffer ranged from 0.2 ng/ml for enterotoxins A and B and 0.3 ng/ml for enterotoxin C (20 ml sample) to 0.5 ng/ml for A and B and 0.6 ng/ml for C (5 ml sample) to 1 ng/ml for A and B and 2 ng/ml for C (1 ml sample) . In food, especially in meat and pasta the detection limit was often higher . With some exceptions the required sensitivity for enterotoxin A (1 ng/g) could only be reached in cheese. J Dairy Sci, 1985 Dec, 68(12), 3323 - 8 Effect of chronic staphylococcal mastitis on mitogenic responses of bovine lymphocytes; Nonnecke BJ et al.; We compared mitogenic responses of milk and peripheral blood lymphocytes from nonmastitic (control) cows and cows with experimentally induced staphylococcal mastitis in one gland . Milk lymphocytes from infected glands were essentially unresponsive to Concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin-P, and pokeweed mitogen . Proliferative responses of milk lymphocytes from uninfected glands of infected cows were not as depressed as those from infected glands but were significantly less than those of milk lymphocytes from control cows . Proliferative responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes from control and infected cows to Concanavalin A and phytohemagglutinin-P were similar; however, peripheral blood lymphocytes from infected cows responded in reduced fashion to pokeweed mitogen compared with peripheral blood lymphocytes from control animals . These observations demonstrate that in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis is markedly depressed during infection, suggesting that in vivo lymphocyte function is compromised, possibly contributing to the chronicity of staphylococcal mastitis. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1985 Dec, 78(13), 1955 - 8 {Pulmonary artery aneurysms in patent ductus arteriosus}; Touze JE et al.; Two cases of pulmonary artery aneurysm are reported in patients with persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) . The first was a mycotic aneurysm complicating staphylococcal pneumonia; the other was a calcific aneurysm of the right pulmonary artery . The mycotic origin was confirmed in the first case . The aetiological roles of pulmonary hypertension and previous endocarditis are discussed in the second case . Based on these two observations, the authors analyse the aetiology and evolution of mycotic aneurysms and review the therapeutic problems posed by their association with PDA. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1985 Dec, 260(4), 436 - 42 Comparison of a coagglutination test with the GM1-ELISA and the Y-1 adrenal cell assay for the detection of heat-labile enterotoxin from Escherichia coli; Steinruck H et al.; A number of different assay methods has been developed for the detection of the heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) of ETEC strains isolated from humans and animals . In the present study 40 Escherichia coli strains were subject of a comparative study of the staphylococcal coagglutination (Coa-LT) test, the GM1-ELISA and the Y-1 adrenal cell test . All but two of 20 "LT-ST" or "LT-only" producing ETEC strains gave identical results in both the Coa-LT test and the bioassay . None of the 14 "ST only" producing ETEC strains gave false positive results . It is concluded that the Coa-LT test is a simple and rapid assay method for the routine diagnosis of LT producing ETEC strains. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1985 Dec, 16(6), 789 - 97 CAPD peritonitis: a prospective randomized trial of oral versus intraperitoneal treatment with cephradine; Boeschoten EW et al.; In a prospective randomized clinical trial 84 peritonitis episodes were treated with cephradine, either orally or intraperitoneally . No difference in treatment outcome between both groups could be demonstrated . In episodes caused by susceptible micro-organisms a good response was seen in 82% in the oral and 82% in the intraperitoneal groups . These clinical findings were supported by the demonstration of adequate cephradine concentrations in serum and dialysate after oral as well as after intraperitoneal administration . Altogether cephradine was given orally or intraperitoneally in 88 episodes of peritonitis as drug of first choice . In 52 a complete cure was obtained, in 36 another antibiotic was subsequently needed as soon as bacterial susceptibility was known . No patient deteriorated appreciably during the delay between the start of cephradine and the switch to another antibiotic . Of the 36 episodes 14, caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, responded well initially to cephradine but relapsed later . Change to another antibiotic effected a complete recovery in all 14 cases . Of the remaining 22 episodes, 14 were cured by the other antibiotic, in eight the catheter had to be removed . Aminoglycosides could be avoided except for ten of the episodes . During peritonitis CAPD was continued, in 71% of the cases on an outpatient basis . Mortality due to peritonitis was absent . We conclude that oral cephradine can be used as drug of first choice in the initial treatment of CAPD peritonitis, because a good initial response was obtained in 66 (52 + 14) i.e . 75% of 88 episodes . However, complete cure by cephradine alone was achieved in only 60%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Immunol, 1985 Dec, 135(6), 3772 - 6 Effects of diacetyl diamines on in vitro activation and proliferation of human B lymphocytes; Lacy J et al.; N,N'-Diacetylputrescine (tetramethylenebisacetamide {TMBA}) and its six carbon analog, hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA), inhibited the proliferative response of human B lymphocytes to anti-mu and formalinized Cowan I strain Staphylococcal aureus (SAC) stimulation . In contrast, B cell growth factor-stimulated proliferation of human B cells was minimally inhibited by TMBA or HMBA . The antiproliferative effect of these diamine derivatives was specific for anti-mu (or SAC) activation of normal B cells, because the proliferation of PHA-stimulated human T cells and transformed human B cells was not affected by the presence of TMBA or HMBA . The inhibitory effect of diacetyl diamines on anti-mu (or SAC)-induced B cell activation was dose dependent and persisted after removal of the diamine derivatives from the culture media . These studies show that diacetylated derivatives of polyamines modulate human B cell activation in vitro by specific abrogation of anti-mu or SAC activation. Chemioterapia, 1985 Dec, 4(6), 436 - 8 Susceptibility of some Staphylococcus species to aminoglycosides; Geraci C et al.; The Staphylococcal strains, identified by "The Simplified Lyogroups System" were tested for their susceptibility to methicillin and some aminoglycosides . The results, besides showing a higher ratio of susceptibility against aminoglycosides in methicillin-susceptible (MS) strains, show a different trend within each lyogroup . A total of 1616 wild Staphylococcus strains were isolated in microbiological units in Catania, Messina, Rome and Genoa . The results show a high susceptibility to aminoglycosides, both in MS and methicillin-resistant (MR) groups but with different trends among lyogroups. J Virol, 1985 Dec, 56(3), 904 - 11 Proteolytic cleavage of the E2 glycoprotein of murine coronavirus: activation of cell-fusing activity of virions by trypsin and separation of two different 90K cleavage fragments; Sturman LS et al.; In the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus, a single glycoprotein, E2, is required both for attachment to cells and for cell fusion . Cell fusion induced by infection with mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 was inhibited by the addition of monospecific anti-E2 antibody after virus adsorption and penetration . Adsorption of concentrated coronavirions to uninfected cells did not cause cell fusion in the presence of cycloheximide . Thus, cell fusion was induced by E2 on the plasma membrane of infected 17 Cl 1 cells but not by E2 on virions grown in these cells . Trypsin treatment of virions purified from 17 Cl 1 cells quantitatively cleaved 180K E2 to 90K E2 and activated cell-fusing activity of the virions . This proteolytic cleavage yielded two different 90K species which were separable by sodium dodecyl sulfate-hydroxyapatite chromatography . One of the trypsin cleavage products, 90A, was acylated and may be associated with the lipid bilayer . The other, 90B, was not acylated and yielded different peptides than did 90A upon limited digestion with thermolysin or staphylococcal V8 protease . Thus, the cell-fusing activity of a coronavirus required proteolytic cleavage of the E2 glycoprotein, either by the addition of a protease to virions or by cellular proteases acting on E2, which was transported to the plasma membrane during virus maturation . There is a striking functional similarity between the E2 glycoprotein of coronavirus, which is a positive-strand RNA virus, and the hemagglutinin glycoprotein of negative-strand orthomyxoviruses, in that a single glycoprotein has both attachment and protease-activated cell-fusing activities. Blood, 1985 Dec, 66(6), 1336 - 42 Transformed T lymphocytes infected by a novel isolate of human T cell leukemia virus type II; Chorba TL et al.; Human T cell leukemia virus type II (HTLV-II) has been isolated from a patient (Mo) with features of leukemic reticuloendotheliosis (LRE) and from a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) . We have obtained another isolate of HTLV-II from a patient (CM) with severe hemophilia A, pancytopenia, and a 14-year history of staphylococcal and candidal infections but no evidence of T cell leukemia/lymphoma, AIDS, or LRE . Fresh mononuclear cells and cultured lymphocytes from CM express retroviral antigens indistinguishable by molecular criteria from HTLV-IIMo . Leukocyte cultures from CM yield hyperdiploid (48,XY, +2, +19) continuous lymphoid lines; human fetal cord blood lymphocytes (CBL) are transformed by cocultivation with these CM cell cultures but retain normal cytogenetic constitution . Electron microscopic examination of the CM cultures and transformed CBL reveals budding of extracellular viral particles, intracellular tubuloreticular structures, and viral particles contained within intracellular vesicles . CM cell cultures and the transformed CBL do not require exogenous interleukin 2, have T cell cytochemical features and mature T helper phenotypes, and exhibit minimal T helper and profound T suppressor activity on pokeweed mitogen-stimulated differentiation of normal B cells . These characteristics, which are similar to those observed with the first HTLV-II isolate, may represent properties of all HTLV-II-infected T cells. Infect Immun, 1985 Dec, 50(3), 869 - 76 Skin reactivity of unsensitized monkeys upon challenge with staphylococcal enterotoxin B: a new approach for investigating the site of toxin action; Scheuber PH et al.; The correlation between skin tests and emetic responses in unsensitized monkeys was used to elucidate the cellular site of action of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) . Evidence is presented that SEB administered intradermally provoked immediate-type skin reactions associated with mild degranulation of cutaneous mast cells . The cytoplasma showed signs of synthetic and metabolic activity, with formation of vesicles and increased prominence of mitochondria . Carboxymethylation of histidine residues of SEB altered the molecule (cSEB) from more alkaline components to more acidic species with increased microheterogeneity . This modification caused a loss in toxicity and completely abrogated the skin-sensitizing activity without changing the immunological specificity . cSEB, however, could compete with SEB for binding sites on the target cell surface . Previously, compound 48/80-treated skin sites behaved refractively to challenge with SEB, indicating that mediators from cutaneous mast cells are required for SEB-induced skin reactions . Skin reactions as well as emetic responses challenged with SEB were completely inhibited by H2 receptor antagonists and calcium channel blockers but not by H1 antihistamine or competitive antagonists of serotonin . This new approach provides a model for investigating the mechanisms of SEB action. J Occup Med, 1985 Dec, 27(12), 905 - 14 Industrial exposure to organophosphorus compounds . Studies of a group of workers with a decrease in esterase-staining monocytes; Emmett EA et al.; When an automated counting instrument using an esterase stain was employed, decreased monocyte counts were observed in a group of process workers exposed to organophosphate esters . Their monocyte counts were not found to be depressed with manual counting or with an automated counter using another staining method . The apparent depression was transient . In these workers and a comparison group, theoretical adverse consequences of decreased monocyte esterase and also possible changes in other esterases were explored . No anergy was seen with mumps or staphylococcal phage lysate hypersensitivity skin tests . Histology of the mumps reaction was similar in both groups . The depressed monocyte counts were significantly associated with a mild reduction in erythrocyte cell acetylcholinesterase, but no reduction was seen in plasma pseudocholinesterase or lymphocyte neurotoxic esterase. J Exp Med, 1985 Dec 1, 162(6), 1811 - 24 IgG rheumatoid factors and staphylococcal protein A bind to a common molecular site on IgG; Nardella FA et al.; The antigenic determinant on the Fc region of human IgG for two IgG rheumatoid factors (IgG-RF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis were investigated in detail . The RF did not interact with IgG fragments that contained the C gamma 2 or C gamma 3 region alone, but required the presence of both regions for binding . The RF binding to solid-phase IgG were poorly inhibited by the IgG3 subclass and strongly inhibited by staphylococcal protein A (SPA) (42 kD), and fragment D of SPA (7 kD), indicating that the binding site is most likely the same as the Ga antigenic determinant described for IgM-RF, and is in the same location as the site on IgG that binds SPA . pH titration studies of the RF binding to IgG indicated the involvement of histidine and lysine or tyrosine side chains . Chemical modification studies showed the histidines were involved on the Fc side of the interactions, and tyrosines were involved on both the antigenic and antibody sides of the interactions . Lysines were not involved . The above information, and the knowledge of the number and position in space of the amino acid residues involved in the C gamma 2-C gamma 3 interface region of IgG, the binding site for SPA, and the amino acid substitutions in IgG3 that account for its inability to bind protein A, allowed the identification of the site on IgG that bind IgG-RF . This binding site involves some of the same amino acid side chains, His 435, Tyr 436, and one or both His 433 and 310, and is in the same location as the site that binds SPA . The same site is likely to be a common antigenic determinant for other RF . Furthermore, the described molecular mimicry suggests a biological relationship between bacterial Fc-binding proteins and the production of RF in rheumatoid arthritis. Infect Immun, 1985 Dec, 50(3), 860 - 8 Expression of human choriogonadotropin-like material in coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species; Acevedo HF et al.; We identified 101 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strains obtained from different laboratories, the American Type Culture Collection, and our collection, isolated from 23 patients with overt cancer and 34 normal individuals through Kloos and Schleifer conventional methods and the Staph-Ident staphylococcal system (Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.) . In 40 strains, identity was further verified by DNA-DNA hybridization techniques . Identification revealed 39 S . epidermidis, 22 S . hominis, 8 S . haemolyticus, 9 S . capitis, 5 S . warneri, 5 S . cohnii, 8 S . saprophyticus, and 5 S . xylosus strains, all resident species found in humans . All bacteria were tested for the expression of human choriogonadotropin (hCG)-like material by the indirect fluorescein and peroxidase immunocytochemical labeling techniques by using specific antisera to the whole hormone, to its alpha and beta subunits, to the hCG beta COOH-terminal peptide, and to a monoclonal antibody to the hCG beta . The results demonstrated that the isolates from cancer patients were not unique bacteria, as has been postulated by others; the expression of immunoreactive hCG-like material is a strain, not a species, characteristic; not every bacterial strain isolated from a cancer patient is able to express the material; hCG-producing bacteria do not necessarily indicate the presence of active disease; 20% of the strains that we studied revealed a clonal variation of the expression of hCG-like material or its subunits or both as well as a variable expression of a single hCG epitope, an observation similar to that described for malignant cells; and a specific antiserum to the whole hormone with a high affinity and high sensitivity for immunocytochemistry can be a reliable reagent for screening purposes. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 1985 Nov 30, 291(6508), 1554 - 5 Patients with suspected Lassa fever in London during 1984: problems in their management at St Thomas's Hospital; Tilzey AJ et al.; During 1984, 23 patients in whom a diagnosis of viral haemorrhagic fever was considered presented to the accident and emergency department at St Thomas's Hospital . There were no confirmed cases of viral haemorrhagic fever . Nine patients were transferred to Coppett's Wood Hospital, the nearest specially designated high security isolation unit . Malaria was the final diagnosis in 14, and in six this diagnosis was confirmed only after examining repeated smears at Coppett's Wood Hospital . Transferral of patients to such units is time consuming, expensive, and often unnecessary . Specially designated isolation units in district general hospitals and all teaching hospitals would simplify and improve the care not only of patients with a possible viral haemorrhagic fever but also patients with tuberculosis, multiply resistant staphylococcal infections, and viral infections that may be hazardous if transmitted to immunocompromised patients. Eur J Biochem, 1985 Nov 15, 153(1), 13 - 28 Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase from human liver . Primary structure, differences in relation to the cytosolic enzyme, and functional correlations; Hempel J et al.; The 500-residue amino acid sequence of the subunit of mitochondrial human liver aldehyde dehydrogenase is reported . It is the first structure determined for this enzyme type from any species, and is based on peptides from treatments with trypsin, CNBr, staphylococcal Glu-specific protease, and hydroxylamine . The chain is not blocked (in contrast to that of the acetylated cytosolic enzyme form), but shows N-terminal processing heterogeneity over the first seven positions . Otherwise, no evidence for subunit microheterogeneities was obtained . The structure displays 68% positional identity with that of the corresponding cytosolic enzyme, and comparisons allow functional interpretations for several segments . A region with segments suggested to participate in coenzyme binding is the most highly conserved long segment of the entire structure (positions 194-274) . Cys-302, identified in the cytosolic enzyme in relation to the disulfiram reaction, is also present in the mitochondrial enzyme . A new model of the active site appears possible and involves a hydrophobic cleft . Near-total lack of conservation of the N-terminal segments may reflect a role of the N-terminal region in signaling the transport of the mitochondrial protein chains . Non-conservation of interior regions may reflect the differences between the two enzyme forms in subunit interactions, explaining the lack of heterotetrameric molecules . The presence of some internal repeat structures is also noted as well as apparently general features of differences between cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes. J Biol Chem, 1985 Nov 15, 260(26), 13976 - 83 Microsomal glutathione transferase . Primary structure; Morgenstern R et al.; The primary structure of rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase has been determined . The 14C-carboxymethylated protein was fragmented with CNBr and proteolytic enzymes . The basis of the analysis was information from sequenator degradations of the intact protein, the largest CNBr fragment, and a large COOH-terminal fragment derived from a digest with Glu-specific staphylococcal protease . Remaining, smaller fragments were analyzed with the manual dimethylaminoazobenzene isothiocyanate method . Pepsin and limited acid hydrolysis were used to obtain peptides to confirm and overlap hydrophobic structures in the COOH-terminal half of the protein where trypsin and chymotrypsin failed to give any cleavage . Combined, these data permit the deduction of a 154-residue amino acid sequence . No evidence for micro-heterogeneity was obtained . The NH2-terminal alanine residue has a free alpha-amino group and the cysteine residue involved in activation of the enzymatic activity by sulfhydryl reagents is at position 49 . The protein chain contains three regions with predictions for long beta strand secondary structures (positions 11-26, 103-120, and 131-145) . Predictions may be inaccurate in membrane-associated proteins, but two of these regions also affect the three most hydrophobic segments . Thus, residues 11-35 form a long, largely hydrophobic part interrupted by only one charged residue (Lys-25), and residues 81-97 and 114-126 constitute the most hydrophobic segments directly noticeable from the hydrophilicity curve of the protein chain . These special parts of the molecule are of interest in relation to membrane interactions. Acta Paediatr Scand, 1985 Nov, 74(6), 874 - 80 Fusidic acid binding to serum albumin and interaction with binding of bilirubin; Brodersen R; Sodium fusidate, an antibiotic used in staphylococcal infections, is strongly bound to human serum albumin, competitively with bilirubin . It is given in molar amounts sufficient to occupy a considerable fraction of circulating albumin . In order to avoid a risk of bilirubin encephalopathy, induced by displacement of bilirubin, fusidate should be given with caution to newborn infants, particularly if patients are prematurely born, icteric or acidotic . Fusidate does not interfere with albumin binding of warfarin or diazepam. Muscle Nerve, 1985 Nov-Dec, 8(9), 783 - 90 Fiber type-specific autoantibodies in a dog with eosinophilic myositis; Shelton GD et al.; Serum from a 2-year-old male Belgian sheepdog with eosinophilic myositis, which particularly affects the masticatory muscles, was tested for the presence of muscle-specific autoantibodies . Control type 2 temporalis muscle fibers were selectively stained following incubation with the patient's serum and staphylococcal protein A conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (SPA-HRPO) . Likewise, type 2 fibers in the patient's temporalis muscle were selectively stained with SPA-HRPO . The same staining procedures applied to limb muscle did not result in fiber staining . Proteins isolated from the temporalis and triceps brachii muscles of a normal dog were separated under denaturing conditions by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The separated proteins were transferred onto nitrocellulose paper and incubated with either sera from the patient, normal dogs, or neuromuscular disease controls . Subsequent incubation with peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-dog IgG demonstrated antibodies to at least four proteins of the temporalis muscle (myosin heavy chain and three unidentified proteins) when incubated with the patient's serum but not with the controls . Under all conditions, antibodies to the proteins of the triceps brachii were not detected . These findings establish the presence of autoantibodies to specific temporalis muscle proteins that may initiate the myonecrosis and inflammatory response as well as limit the distribution of the response. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1985 Nov, 133(11), 847 - 9 {Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in a patient with cystic fibrosis}; Schneider K et al.; An 11-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis additionally suffered from hypertrophic osteoarthropathy . Despite a mild pulmonary involvement the polyarthritis was surprisingly long-standing and resistant to antiinflammatory treatment . The arthropathy completely disappeared within two months after antibiotic therapy of the bronchopulmonary staphylococcus infection. Pediatr Dermatol, 1985 Nov, 3(1), 54 - 8 Toxic epidermal necrolysis due to antiepileptic therapy in an 8-year-old boy; Muhar U et al.; Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) has rarely been documented in children . We treated an 8-year-old boy who developed generalized blistering dermatosis after anticonvulsive therapy with diphenylhydantoin . The diagnosis was proved by exfoliative cytology, histology, and electron microscopy . The disease entity and its differentiation from staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome and toxic shock syndrome are reviewed. J Infect Dis, 1985 Nov, 152(5), 930 - 7 Opsonic defense to Staphylococcus epidermidis in the premature neonate; Fleer A et al.; The determinants of opsonic defense to Staphylococcus epidermidis were studied in 47 premature newborns . Opsonic activity for S . epidermidis in serum from premature newborns proved to be proportional to gestational age (r = .664, P less than .001) . The level of IgG antibodies to staphylococcal peptidoglycan in neonatal sera was similarly proportional to gestational age (r = .604, P less than .001) . However, all opsonic activity of premature neonatal serum proved to be heat labile, i.e., dependent on activation of complement . Thus, no heat-stable, IgG-dependent opsonic activity to S . epidermidis was detected in any of the preterm sera, despite the presence of IgG antibodies to peptidoglycan . Further studies with purified IgG isolated from paired sera from term neonates and their mothers revealed that at similar concentrations the opsonic activity to S . epidermidis of neonatal, transplacentally derived IgG was only 26% of the activity of maternal IgG, a finding that may explain the absence of heat-stable opsonic activity in preterm newborns. Cell Immunol, 1985 Nov, 96(1), 175 - 83 Kinetics of IL-2 and interferon-gamma production, expression of IL-2 receptors, and cell proliferation in human mononuclear cells exposed to staphylococcal enterotoxin A; Carlsson R et al.; Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA) at picogram amounts induces high levels of interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon in human mononuclear cells . SEA is a stronger inducer of IL-2 than phytohemagglutinin, leukoagglutinin, and concanavalin A . The IL-2 induction is very rapid with maximal levels being reached after 18 to 24 hr . The IL-2 concentration decreases rapidly and almost no IL-2 activity can be detected in supernatants of cells cultured for 3 days or more . Maximal DNA synthesis is recorded 3 days after maximal IL-2 levels have been reached in the culture medium . The DNA synthesis shows a 24 hr delay as compared to the expression of the IL-2 receptor during the initiation phase . An increase in the level of IL-2 receptor expression is apparent as early as 12 hr after stimulation with SEA and maximal expression is reached 48 to 72 hr after stimulation . The percentage of cells expressing the IL-2 receptor is maximal at 96 hr after onset of culture but the surface concentration of the receptor is lower than at 72 hr . The decline in expression of the IL-2 receptor is accompanied by a decline in mean cell size and in DNA-synthesis . The concentration of the T-cell marker T11 increases in parallel with the growing expression of the IL-2 receptor . It remains increased over a longer period than the IL-2 receptor and is still significantly augmented after 10 days' exposure to SEA. Cell Immunol, 1985 Nov, 96(1), 104 - 12 Histamine modulates the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 by mitogen-activated human mononuclear blood cells; Carlsson R et al.; Histamine inhibited the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin 2 (IL-2) induced in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA) but had no effect on the expression of IL-2 receptors . The effects on lymphokine production were dose dependent with maximal inhibition occurring at histamine concentrations of 10(-4) to 10(-6) M . The H2-agonist 4-methylhistamine but not the H1-agonist 2-methylhistamine modulated lymphokine production in a similar manner as histamine . Histamine at concentrations of 10(-3) to 10(-8) M had no inhibitory effect directly on the activity of admixed IL-2 containing medium . The inhibitory effects of histamine could be reversed by the H2-antagonist cimetidine but not by the H1-antagonist diphenhydramine . This indicates that the inhibitory effects of histamine on lymphokine production are mediated through H2-receptors on mononuclear cells. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1985 Nov, 50(5), 1322 - 4 Agar overlay method to measure adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to four plastic surfaces; Mackenzie AM et al.; The comparative adherence of seven strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis to plastic surfaces was measured by an agar overlay technique in which adherent organisms were counted by their ability to form colonies under an agar overlay . The degree of adherence to plastics decreased in the order polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, Silastic, and polytetrafluoroethylene. Transfusion, 1985 Nov-Dec, 25(6), 528 - 34 Binding of fluid phase C3b to nonsensitized bystander human red cells . A model for in vivo effects of complement activation on blood cells; Salama A et al.; There is evidence that activated complement fragments (C3b) can bind to human red cells (RBCs) serving as adsorbing surfaces, but not as antigens . This evidence prompted the present in vitro experiments . Using the standard antiglobulin test (AGT), the radioimmune antiglobulin test (RIAT), and the immune adherence test, we found that C3 can indeed be attached to "bystander" human RBCs if complement is activated either through the classical pathway (anti-A hemolysins plus blood group A1 RBCs) or the alternative pathway (activator surfaces, i.e., Escherichia coli bacteria, rabbit RBCs, or inulin) . On Scatchard plot analysis, between 24,000 and 44,000 radiolabeled anti-C3d molecules were bound per one adjacent "bystander" RBC, while untreated control RBCs, or RBCs preincubated with fresh compatible serum, bound only 200 to 300, and 600 to 800 molecules, respectively . Despite strong coating with C3 fragments, only "bystander" paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, but not normal, RBCs were hemolyzed by complement activation, i.e., through E . coli at pH 8.0 . RBCs were not coated with C3 when complement was activated in the fluid phase by heat-aggregated IgG or a staphylococcal "decomplementation antigen." We conclude that the findings of our in vitro experiments accurately mimic some old, but as yet insufficiently understood, in vivo effects of complement activation on circulating blood cells. J Histochem Cytochem, 1985 Nov, 33(11), 1176 - 9 Use of fluorescence flow cytometry to study the binding of various ligands to platelets; Dunstan RA; Fluorescence flow cytometry can be used to analyze the binding of different ligands to platelets . However careful choice of volume gates is essential in selecting the population of platelets for analysis . The use of fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated to staphylococcal protein A or F(ab')2 fragments of immunoglobulin G anti-immunoglobulin offers no advantage in sensitivity or specificity in fluorescence studies of platelets and prefixation of washed platelets with paraformaldehyde has no effect on nonspecific fluorescence . The application of this technology to platelets facilitates quantitation of fluorescence intensity and may yield additional useful information. J Bacteriol, 1985 Nov, 164(2), 925 - 8 Export defect adjacent to the processing site of staphylococcal nuclease is suppressed by a prlA mutation; Liss LR et al.; Plasmids have been constructed in which the Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase promoter and signal sequence have been fused to the staphylococcal nuclease gene to promote the high-level expression and secretion of this gene product in E . coli . We determined that the first amino acid residue after the signal sequence can determine whether this protein was processed and exported to the periplasmic space . Fractionation and protease accessibility studies were used to show that the export-defective, nuclease precursor is internal to the cytoplasmic membrane barrier of the cell . Furthermore, this export defect was suppressed in a strain containing a prlA mutation . These findings are novel in that this region of the polypeptide chain has been implicated in processing but not export and that prlA mutations have not been previously known to suppress such defects. Mol Cell Biol, 1985 Nov, 5(11), 3048 - 57 Simian virus 40 minichromosomes contain torsionally strained DNA molecules; Barsoum J et al.; Sundin and Varshavsky (J . Mol . Biol . 132:535-546, 1979) found that nearly two-thirds of simian virus 40 (SV40) minichromosomes obtained from nuclei of SV40-infected cells become singly nicked or cleaved across both strands after digestion with staphylococcal nuclease at 0 degrees C . The same treatment of SV40 DNA causes complete digestion rather than the limited cleavages produced in minichromosomal DNA . We have explored this novel behavior of the minichromosome and found that the nuclease sensitivity is dependent upon the topology of the DNA . Thus, if minichromosomes are pretreated with wheat germ DNA topoisomerase I, the minichromosomal DNA is completely resistant to subsequent digestion with staphylococcal nuclease at 0 degrees C . If the minichromosome-associated topoisomerase is removed, virtually all of the minichromosomes are cleaved to nicked or linear structures by the nuclease treatment . The cleavage sites are nonrandomly located; instead they occur at discrete loci throughout the SV40 genome . SV40 minichromosomal DNA is also cleaved to nicked circles and full-length linear fragments after treatment with the single strand-specific endonuclease S1; this cleavage is also inhibited by pretreatment with topoisomerase I . Thus, it may be that the nuclease sensitivity of minichromosomes is due to the transient or permanent unwinding of discrete regions of their DNA . Direct comparisons of the extent of negative supercoiling of native and topoisomerase-treated SV40 minichromosomes revealed that approximately two superhelical turns were removed by the topoisomerase treatment . The loss of these extra negative supercoils from the DNA probably accounts for the resistance of the topoisomerase-treated minichromosomes to the staphylococcal and S1 nucleases . These findings suggest that the DNA in SV40 intranuclear minichromosomes is torsionally strained . The functional significance of this finding is discussed. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1985 Nov, 98(5), 1417 - 25 Dissociation of bovine cytochrome c1 subcomplex and the status of cysteine residues in the subunits; Mukai K et al.; Purified bovine heart two-band cytochrome c1 subcomplex was dissociated by treatment with p-chloromercuribenzoic acid (pCMB) into its heme subunit and a colorless subunit called hinge protein, which is essential for the formation of cytochrome c1-c complex . The subcomplex was found by titration to react with 4 mol of pCMB per mol of cytochrome c1 . The contents of mercury of the dissociated heme subunit and the hinge protein were 3 and 1 mol per mol of polypeptide, respectively . These results, together with the sequence analysis, indicated that the three cysteine residues in cytochrome c1 heme subunit not involved in heme-binding existed in free thiol form . One of the five cysteine residues in the hinge protein was in free form and four in two disulfide bonds . The dissociated hinge protein was digested with staphylococcal protease and the cysteine-containing peptides were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . The content of mercury and the result of performic acid oxidation of cystine peptides revealed that Cys-30 existed in free thiol form and two disulfide bridges were formed between Cys-24 and Cys-68 and between Cys-40 and Cys-54 . The conformation of the hinge protein was predicted to be composed largely of either two-alpha-helical or four-alpha-helical conformation with the amino (N)-terminal 20 residues being in a random structure. J Virol, 1985 Nov, 56(2), 489 - 94 Specificity of Fc receptors induced by herpes simplex virus type 1: comparison of immunoglobulin G from different animal species; Johansson PJ et al.; Cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) express a cell surface receptor able to bind the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (IgG) . Of the four human IgG subclasses, the HSV-1 Fc receptor, like staphylococcal protein A, binds to all except IgG3 . In this paper, we describe the binding of a number of animal IgG and IgG subclass molecules to HSV-1-infected cells and compare this binding to that of protein A . Although only few representatives from each animal order were tested, we found that IgG from Carnivora and Rodentia did not bind or bound only slightly to the HSV-1 receptor, whereas IgG from Primates, Lagomorpha, and Artiodactyla bound well . This pattern was clearly different from the species spectrum of IgG binding of protein A . Differences between the two receptors were also found when animal IgG subclasses were tested . The pronounced differences in affinity for the HSV-1 Fc receptor between immunoglobulins from, for example, mouse and rabbit may influence the interpretation of animal studies with this virus. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol, 1985 Nov, 8(6), 903 - 7 Late purulent pacemaker pocket infection caused by staphylococcus epidermidis: serious complications of in situ management; Ruiter JH et al.; The pathophysiology of late pacemaker pocket infection is poorly understood . We report three cases of late infection caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis . Despite initial local conservative management ultimate removal of the entire pacing system was required . In late pacemaker pocket infection we recommend initial removal of the entire pacing system and replacement on the contralateral side . When retrieval of the lead system requires open-heart surgery epicardial wires should be placed. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol, 1985 Nov, 8(6), 897 - 9 Osteomyelitis of the first rib presenting as a cold abscess nine months after subclavian venous catheterization; Rosenfeld LE; Percutaneous subclavian catheterization has been associated with numerous complications including osteomyelitis of the clavicle and sternoclavicular joint . We report a case of staphylococcal aureus osteomyelitis of the first rib associated with subclavian vein catheterization performed for temporary right ventricular pacing . This case is unusual because of its involvement of the first rib, its late development, and its presentation as a cold chest wall mass. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1985 Nov, 180(2), 369 - 74 Rabbits immunized with mixtures of staphylococcal protein A and autologous IgG produce anti-human IgG antibodies; Portanova JP et al.; The results of this study provide evidence that protein A may render IgG immunogenic in the autologous host . Antibodies to human but not rabbit IgG were detected in sera of rabbits immunized with a mixture of autologous serum and protein A . Anti-human IgG antibodies appeared within 2 weeks at which time the antibodies were of the IgM class . Upon further immunization, both IgM and IgG antibodies were produced with the IgG class predominating . The antibodies elicited by a mixture of protein A with autologous IgG resembled those which arise in response to autologous IgG that has been denatured by physicochemical means, in that they react mainly with foreign species IgG and weakly, if at all, with IgG of rabbit origin. Biochemistry, 1985 Oct 22, 24(22), 6044 - 9 Thermal denaturation of staphylococcal nuclease; Calderon RO et al.; The fully reversible thermal denaturation of staphylococcal nuclease in the absence and presence of Ca2+ and/or thymidine 3',5'-diphosphate (pdTp) from pH 4 to 8 has been studied by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry . In the absence of ligands, the denaturation is accompanied by an enthalpy change of 4.25 cal g-1 and an increase in specific heat of 0.134 cal K-1 g-1, both of which are usual values for small globular proteins . The temperature (tm) of maximal excess specific heat is 53.4 degrees C . Each of the ligands, Ca2+ and pdTp, by itself has important effects on the unfolding of the protein which are enhanced when both ligands are present . Addition of saturating concentrations of these ligands raises the denaturational enthalpy to 5.74 cal g-1 in the case of Ca2+ and to 6.72 cal g-1 in the case of pdTp . The ligands raise the tm by as much as 11 degrees C depending on ligand concentration . From the variation of the denaturational enthalpies with ligand concentrations, binding constants at 53 degrees C equal to 950 M-1 and 1.4 X 10(4) M-1 are estimated for Ca2+ and pdTp, respectively, and from the enthalpies at ligand saturation, binding enthalpies at 53 degrees C of -15.0 and -19.3 kcal mol-1. J Biol Chem, 1985 Oct 15, 260(23), 12730 - 4 Minimal requirements for exocytosis . A study using PC 12 cells permeabilized with staphylococcal alpha-toxin; Ahnert-Hilger G et al.; The membrane-permeabilizing effects of streptolysin O, staphylococcal alpha-toxin, and digitonin on cultured rat pheochromocytoma cells were studied . All three agents perturbed the plasma membrane, causing release of intracellular 86Rb+ and uptake of trypan blue . In addition, streptolysin O and digitonin also damaged the membranes of secretory vesicles, including a parallel release of dopamine . In contrast, the effects of alpha-toxin appeared to be strictly confined to the plasma membrane, and no dopamine release was observed with this agent . The exocytotic machinery, however, remained intact and could be triggered by subsequent introduction of micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ into the medium . Dopamine release was entirely Ca2+ specific and occurred independent of the presence or absence of other cations or anions including K+ glutamate, K+ acetate, or Na+ chloride . Ca2+-induced exocytosis did not require the presence of Mg2+-ATP in the medium . The process was insensitive to pH alterations in the range pH 6.6-7.2, and appeared optimal at an osmolarity of 300 mosm/kg . Toxin permeabilization seems to be an excellent method for studying the minimal requirements for exocytosis. J Biol Chem, 1985 Oct 15, 260(23), 12815 - 21 Composition and peptide maps of cross-linked human choriogonadotropin-receptor complexes on porcine granulosa cells; Ji I et al.; Radioiodinated human choriogonadotropin was affinity-cross-linked with a cleavable (nondisulfide) homobifunctional reagent to the hormone receptor on porcine granulosa cells and the solubilized sample was electrophoresed . Cross-linked samples revealed four additional bands of slower electrophoretic mobility in addition to the hormone alpha, beta, and alpha beta dimer bands . The four bands corresponded to masses of 68, 74, 102, and 136 kDa whereas the alpha beta dimer band corresponded to 50 kDa . Formation of the four bands requires the 125I-hormone to bind specifically to the receptor with subsequent cross-linking . Binding can be prevented by excess of native hormone but not by follitropin . A monofunctional analog of the cross-linking reagent failed to produce the four bands . They were also produced by cross-linking Triton X-100-solubilized hormone-receptor complexes . Reagent concentration-dependent cross-linking revealed that their formation was sequential; smaller complexes formed first and then larger ones . When gels of the cross-linked sample were treated with reagents that cleave covalent cross-links and then electrophoresed in a second dimension gel, 18-, 24-, 28-, and 34-kDa components were released, in addition to the alpha and beta subunits of the native hormone . Simultaneous peptide mapping of the cross-linked complexes in the gel matrix with Staphylococcus V8 protease or papain revealed progressive proteolysis to generate terminal fragments of 30 or 27 kDa, respectively . These fragments were unique to and commonly present in the 74-, 102-, and 136-kDa hormone-receptor complexes but were not produced by proteolysis of the cross-linked human choriogonadotropin (hCG) alpha beta dimer or the hCG alpha subunit . Apparently, the radioactively labeled segment(s) of the alpha subunit of 125I-hCG was cross-linked to the 24-kDa component . The results demonstrate the protein nature of the receptor and suggest that 125I-hCG was initially cross-linked to the 24-kDa component to generate the 74-kDa complex, then the 28- and 34-kDa components were sequentially cross-linked to the 24-kDa component in the 74-kDa complex to generate the 102- and 134-kDa complexes. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 1985 Oct 5, 291(6500), 949 - 50 Epidemic of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis; van den Broek PJ et al.; In an epidemic of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis the surgeon was found to be the source of contamination . The probable route was accidental puncture of gloves during operation . During the epidemiological investigation a second cluster of patients contaminated with Staph epidermidis during open heart surgery was found also related to one surgeon . This strain caused no detectable signs or symptoms of infection . Carriage of virulent staph epidermidis has rarely been recognised as a hazard but may have serious consequences. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1985 Oct 4, 110(40), 1535 - 9 {Hyperimmunoglobulinemia E, recurring staphylococcal infections and a defect in granulocyte chemotaxis in adults . A variant of Job's syndrome}; Heim ME et al.; Two cases in adults with recurrent staphylococcal infections associated with abnormal granulocytic chemotaxis and hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E (Job's syndrome) are described . The pathophysiological mechanisms seems to consist of an abnormal IgE reaction against staphylococcal antigens causing secondary abnormality of granulocyte function . Abnormal cellular immune function was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo . Corticosteroid administration at first proved effective in both patients . One patient developed Hodgkin's disease of the mixed type in the course of the disease. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1985 Oct, 93(5), 341 - 6 Consumption of antibiotics in three clinical departments and antimicrobial susceptibility of clinically significant isolates of coagulase-negative Micrococcaceae; Hansen BG; A total of 67 clinically significant isolates of coagulase-negative Micrococcaceae originating from blood specimens from oncologic patients, from dialysate from patients on peritoneal dialysis, and from cerebrospinal fluid from neurosurgical patients with ventricular drainage devices were identified and classified 1) according to the scheme of Baird-Parker and 2) by means of a simplified Kloos and Schleifer nomenclature . All blood isolates were classified as Staphylococcus epidermidis biotype 1 (Baird-Parker), while approximately 20% of dialysate isolates and cerebrospinal fluid isolates fell into other staphylococcal biotypes or were classified as micrococci . Using the simplified Kloos and Schleifer nomenclature, five staphylococcal isolates (8%) (four from dialysate, one from cerebrospinal fluid) were classified as "Species other than S . epidermidis" . Isolates from blood exhibited a high frequency of resistance to the antibiotics tested, and 92% were found multiple-resistant (i.e . were resistant to three or more antibiotics) . Isolates from cerebrospinal fluid showed multiple-resistance in 28%, while isolates from dialysate formed an intermediate group, 42% being multiple-resistant . The frequency of multiple-resistance was found to be correlated to the total consumption of antibiotics in the three clinical departments. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1985 Oct, 260(2), 197 - 205 Interaction of the staphylococcin-like peptide Pep 5 with cell walls and isolated cell wall components of Gram-positive bacteria; Sahl HG et al.; Unlike bacteriocins of Gram-negative bacteria, the strongly basic staphylococcin-like peptide Pep 5 lacked specific receptor mediated binding to sensitive Gram-positive bacteria . Studies with whole cells, purified cell walls, teichoic acids, and lipoteichoic acids strongly suggested that it binds reversibly via electrostatic interaction to negatively charged groups . Thus, Pep 5 binding could be reversed by sufficiently high concentrations of monovalent (K+, 150-250 mM) and divalent (Ca2+, 15-30 mM) cations (Fig . 1, 2) and by low pH (pH 2), where Pep 5 binding groups are protonated . Cells of Staphylococcus cohnii 22 with a reduced teichoic acid content showed a reduced Pep 5 binding capacity (Fig . 3) . The results indicate that teichoic, teichuronic, and lipoteichoic acids are the unspecific cell wall binding sites for Pep 5. Tsitologiia, 1985 Oct, 27(10), 1106 - 10 {Patterns in the occurrence and the submicroscopic organization of elongated metaphase chromosomes isolated from the cell}; Nasedkina TV et al.; Chinese hamster metaphase chromosomes were investigated under different conditions of isolation . Light microscopic study demonstrated different forms of stretched chromosomes, from those in which merely a small region is stretched to rope-like structures 20-25 microns long with diameter of about 0.4 micron . The ratio between the number of stretched and of compact chromosomes is dependent on the concentration of bivalent cations, on the pH and temperature of the isolation buffer . A study of the submicroscopic organization of stretched chromosomes revealed lengthwise fibrils that disappeared after the treatment with 0.6 NaCl and staphylococcal nuclease . Distinct aggregates were seen, whose array is maintaining the stretched chromosome structure . It is suggested that stretched chromosomes appear due to the existing in vivo lability of bonds between the main chromosome components involved in organization of chromatin fiber packing . It is proposed that the structure obtains rigidity in the course of isolation with bivalent cations. J Invest Dermatol, 1985 Oct, 85(4), 289 - 94 Lamellar body-enriched fractions from neonatal mice: preparative techniques and partial characterization; Grayson S et al.; Several problems have frustrated the isolation of lamellar bodies (LB) from mammalian epidermis . We obtained pellets enriched in intact LB by utilizing the staphylococcal epidermolytic toxin to provide intact, outer epidermal sheets, by controlled homogenization in a cell disrupter, and by passage of homogenates through a graded series of nuclepore filters (Science 221:962, 1983) . Such preparations contained more intact LB than did fractions prepared by a variety of differential or sucrose/metrizamide discontinuous centrifugation methods . Initial characterization of the enzymatic content of this fraction revealed it to be enriched in certain hydrolytic enzymes (acid phosphatase, carboxypeptidase, cathepsin B, acid lipase, sphingomyelinase, and phospholipase A), but strikingly depleted in all sulfatases, beta-glucuronidase, and the non-lysosomal protease, plasminogen activator . Thus, LB show some properties of lysosomes, although certain characteristic lysosomal enzymes are strikingly absent . Lamellar body fractions contained 2-3 times more lipid per unit weight than did homogenates, and were enriched in phospholipids, free sterols, and glycosphingolipids, but not in other neutral lipids or ceramides . In summary, whereas some of the enzymes in LB could participate in the metabolism of LB lipid precursors to hydrophobic barrier constituents, others may attack intercellular constituents, ultimately resulting in desquamation . The lipid profile of these organelles suggests that they deliver precursors of permeability barrier lipids to intercellular domains. Infect Immun, 1985 Oct, 50(1), 142 - 5 An early effect of the S component of staphylococcal leukocidin on methylation of phospholipid in various leukocytes; Noda M et al.; On incubation of rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes with the S component of staphylococcal leukocidin at 37 degrees C, the 3H-labeled methyl group of S-adenosyl{methyl-3H}methionine was rapidly incorporated into phospholipid . Subsequently, the methylated phosphatidylcholine was degraded by activated phospholipase A2 . Complete blockage of the methylation of phospholipid by a mixture of erythro-9-{2-hydroxy-3-nonyl}adenine, adenosine, and L-homocysteine thiolactone markedly inhibited the activation of phospholipase A2 by the S component . It also inhibited the binding of 125I-labeled F component to the cells, but not that of the labeled S component . These results suggest that methylation of phospholipid in the cell membranes by the S component results in activation of phospholipase A2, which induces the binding of the F component to the cells. Clin Orthop, 1985 Oct, (199), 207 - 14 Infected total knee arthroplasties; Bliss DG et al.; Thirty infected total knee arthroplasties were investigated in 29 patients over an average interval of 42 months . Eleven infections began in the immediate perioperative period . Six developed from postoperative wound-healing problems . The remainder were late infections . Staphylococcus was found in 16 infections, gram-negative agents in five, mixed organisms in five, and other gram-positives in four . Sixteen knees were arthrodesed, six knees were treated by retention of the components, and two above-knee amputations and one resection arthroplasty were performed . Five patients had two-stage revisions to new components . Evidence of persistent infection was present in three arthrodeses, two retained arthroplasties, and one knee that was revised . Perioperative infections were associated with staphylococcal organisms and responded less favorably to conservative treatment . The failure of primary wound healing demands immediate measures to obtain skin coverage . Retention of the arthroplasty components is possible only in selected patients. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1985 Oct, 93(5), 371 - 6 Binding of human serum high density lipoprotein to Staphylococcus capitis; Osland A; Of twelve different staphylococcal species tested, Staphylococcus capitis and Staphylococcus warneri bound human serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) . The binding of HDL was observed with bacteria cultivated of brain-heart infusion broth agar, but not on nutrient broth agar . The factor mediating the binding of HDL seems to be a bacterial component and not a component of the growth medium . Studies on the binding of HDL to S . capitis showed that a subfraction of HDL was involved in the reaction . This subfraction constituted approximately 30% of the total purified serum HDL. Ann Thorac Surg, 1985 Oct, 40(4), 388 - 92 Infectious complications and cost-effectiveness of open resuscitation in the surgical intensive care unit after cardiac surgery; McKowen RL et al.; From July, 1982, to May, 1984, 2,412 patients underwent cardiac surgery . Open resuscitation through a midline sternotomy was performed in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) 88 times in 64 patients one minute to 10 days after admission . There were 49 initial survivors; 31 patients had primary closure in the SICU (Group 1), and 18 patients had delayed closure (Group 2) . In Group 1 there was 1 death . Wound infection developed in 2 of the 30 survivors--Escherichia coli in 1 and Staphylococcus epidermidis in 1 . The latter required subsequent debridement . In Group 2 there were 8 survivors and no wound infections . Fifteen patients could not be resuscitated because of ventricular arrhythmia (13%), asystole (33%), cardiogenic shock (47%), and tamponade (7%) . Only 2 of 38 patients, or 5%, experienced wound infections . This study demonstrates that open resuscitation in the SICU is a safe, rapid, and cost-effective procedure that will allow earlier intervention, diagnosis, and treatment . In no instance was death attributed to wound infection, and at our institution, this method resulted in cost savings of more than $1,000 per patient. Blood, 1985 Oct, 66(4), 882 - 90 Characterization of patients with an increased susceptibility to bacterial infections and a genetic deficiency of leukocyte membrane complement receptor type 3 and the related membrane antigen LFA-1; Ross GD et al.; Three children from two unrelated families had a history of recurrent bacterial infections, and their neutrophils were shown to have deficient phagocytic and respiratory responses and possible deficiencies in chemotaxis or adherence . Their neutrophils were strikingly deficient in the ability to ingest or give a respiratory burst in response to unopsonized bakers' yeast or zymosan (Z) . Tests for neutrophil and monocyte CR1 (C3b/iC3b receptor) and CR3 (iC3b receptor) demonstrated rosettes with both EC3b and EC3bi . However, EC3bi were bound only to CR1, and not to CR3, because EC3bi rosettes were inhibited completely by anti-CR1 . Neutrophils, monocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells also did not fluorescence stain with monoclonal antibodies specific for the alpha-chain of CR3 (anti-Mac-1, anti-Mol, OKM1, and MN-41) . Quantitation of C receptors with 125I monoclonal anti-CR1 and anti-CR3 indicated that neutrophils from each patient expressed normal amounts of CR1 per cell but less than 10% of the normal amount of CR3 . Examination of neutrophils by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that a normal glycoprotein of approximately 165,000 daltons was missing . Immunoblotting of these gels indicated that the missing band was the alpha-chain of CR3 . Subsequent analysis of all three patients' cells also demonstrated a deficiency of LFA-1 alpha-chain and the common beta-chain that is shared by the CR3/LFA-1/p150,95 membrane antigen family . The deficiency of LFA-1 probably explained the absent NK cell function, as normal NK cell activity is inhibited by anti-LFA-1 but not by anti-CR3 . The reduced phagocytic and respiratory responses to Z were probably due to CR3 deficiency, because treatment of normal neutrophils with anti-CR3, but not anti-FLA-1, inhibits responses to Z by 80% to 90% . Ingestion of Staphylococcus epidermidis by normal neutrophils was shown to be partially inhibited by monoclonal antibodies to the alpha-chain of either CR3 or LFA-1, and monoclonal antibody to the common beta-chain inhibited ingestion by 75% . Thus, both CR3 and LFA-1 may have previously unrecognized functions as phagocyte receptors for bacteria . The absence of this type of nonimmune recognition of bacteria by these children's neutrophils may be one of the reasons for their increased susceptibility to bacterial infections. Am J Clin Pathol, 1985 Oct, 84(4), 509 - 12 Increased detection of staphylococcal bacteremia using an anti-microbial removal device; Carlson LG et al.; During the period of August 16, 1981, through December 16, 1982, 15-mL blood culture specimens collected at the Seattle Veterans Administration Medical Center (SVAMC) were divided into two aliquots . The first 10-mL aliquot was inoculated directly into aerobic and anaerobic BACTEC (Johnston Laboratories, Towson, MD) vials (DIR); the remaining 5 mL was processed in an resin-containing Antimicrobial Removal Device (Marion Scientific, Kansas City, MO) before transfer to a second, identical set of aerobic and anaerobic vials (ARD) . The final volume of inoculated blood from the ARD specimen was half that of the DIR specimen . Both sets of vials were processed using the BACTEC radiometric detection system . One hundred fifty specimen pairs grew 161 significant pathogens; 43 isolates were recovered only from the ARD sample, 39 only from the DIR samples, and 79 from both . Of the 35 isolates recovered from patients receiving anti-microbial agents active against the isolated pathogens, 21 were recovered only from the ARD specimen and 5 only from the DIR specimen (P less than 0.005) . Of the 15 S . aureus strains isolated from patients on therapy, 12 were recovered only from the ARD specimen, 2 only from the DIR sample, and 1 from both samples (P less than 0.01) . Ten of the 32 isolates of S . aureus recovered from antibiotic-free patients were found only in the ARD specimen and three only in the DIR specimen (P = 0.05) . The ARD specimens recovered significantly more S . aureus from all patients regardless of antibiotic status. Am J Clin Pathol, 1985 Oct, 84(4), 464 - 8 A comparison of immunofluorescent assays to detect anti-granulocyte antibodies; Lape ML et al.; Three immunofluorescent assays were compared to detect anti-granulocyte antibodies (AGA) in patients with immune disorders: the granulocyte immunofluorescence test (GIFT), the avidin-biotin coupling test (ABCT), and the modified staphylococcal protein A test (MSPAT) . The ABCT was more sensitive than both the GIFT and MSPAT for patient sera, but it also detected more positivity among random normal sera . Although less sensitive than the ABCT, the GIFT and MSPAT showed greater specificity and higher predictive values for positivity . When normal lymphocytes were run in parallel with normal granulocytes, 68% of positive AGA sera were nonreactive with lymphocytes, indicating the antibody specificity for granulocytes . Comparison of three direct and indirect immunofluorescent assays suggested a general co-existence of both cell-bound and circulating AGA . However, the direct test displayed minimal amounts of fluorescence for negative controls in contrast to the variable levels of fluorescence seen in normal sera for the indirect test. Hautarzt, 1985 Oct, 36(10), 581 - 5 {Erythema scarlatiniforme desquamativum recidivans localisatum}; Landthaler M et al.; Two patients are reported who had the clinical picture of localized erythema scarlatiniforme desquamativum recidivans . The lesions were thought to be drug induced in a 56-year-old female patient . In the other 54-year-old male patient, staphylococcal infections may have caused the rash. Blood, 1985 Oct, 66(4), 993 - 8 A longitudinal immunologic evaluation of hemophiliac patients; deShazo RD et al.; Over an average span of one year, we performed a prospective clinical and immunologic evaluation of 30 patients with hemophilia . No patient developed life-threatening opportunistic infection or malignancy; however, the immunologic abnormalities and lymphadenopathy initially present in nine patients (lymphadenopathy group) persisted . In addition, five patients, representing 24% of the initial group without lymphadenopathy, developed generalized lymphadenopathy (converter group) . One episode of idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP) and one episode of staphylococcal sepsis occurred in this "converter" group; one episode of ITP also occurred in the lymphadenopathy group . Sixteen patients remained asymptomatic . At the time of the follow-up evaluation, those differences in mononuclear cell (MNC) percentages and numbers noted initially among the three hemophiliac groups were no longer present . Natural killer cell function alone or in the presence of biologic response modifiers was not different among hemophiliac and control groups . Before developing lymphadenopathy, the converter group of patients had significantly better lymphocyte mitogenic function than did the other two groups of patients with hemophilia . However, lymphocyte mitogenic responses of all groups of patients with hemophilia significantly deteriorated over the course of the study . The abnormal mitogenic responses noted in these patients was explained in part by higher levels of spontaneous suppressor cell activity in mononuclear cell preparations from patients with hemophilia . We conclude that long-term immunologic studies of this patient population requires both quantitative and qualitative evaluations . Our data show that patients with hemophilia have progressive dysfunction of cell-mediated immunity. Histochem J, 1985 Oct, 17(10), 1147 - 53 Lyophilization of protein-gold complexes; Baschong W et al.; Conditions for dialysis, freezing and lyophilization of protein-gold complexes were established . Lyophilized complexes formed by colloidal gold with staphylococcal protein A, with Helix pomatia lectin and with horseradish peroxidase retained their original staining properties when reconstituted after several months of storage. FEBS Lett, 1985 Sep 2, 188(2), 336 - 40 beta-Granins: 21 kDa co-secreted peptides of the insulin granule closely related to adrenal medullary chromogranin A; Hutton JC et al.; Three closely related forms of a 21 kDa protein which is co-secreted with insulin have been purified and analysed . These differed in behaviour on ion-exchange chromatography but were indistinguishable by their susceptibility to staphylococcal V8 proteinase digestion, amino acid composition or N-terminal amino acid sequence . Their amino acid composition and N-terminal sequences were remarkably similar to adrenal medullary chromogranin A, a much larger protein (72 kDa) . Antibodies to chromogranin A also reacted strongly with the 21 kDa protein in isolated insulin granules . It is concluded that the 21 kDa proteins either represent a repeated domain within the chromogranin molecule or a closely related gene product . The name beta-granin is proposed for these proteins. J Pediatr, 1985 Sep, 107(3), 352 - 7 Defective humoral immunity in pediatric acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Bernstein LJ et al.; Specific antibody production was assessed in six young children with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) . All patients were immunized with bacteriophage phi X 174, a T cell-dependent neoantigen . In addition, antibody responses to pneumococcal vaccine and tetanus toxoid, lymphocyte responses to mitogens, and serum immunoglobulin levels were determined . Polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia was documented in three patients . Responses to bacteriophage phi X 174 were abnormal in all patients: primary responses were blunted, secondary responses were markedly decreased, and the class switch (IgM-IgG) was absent in five of six patients . Antibody formation to pneumococcal vaccine and tetanus toxoid was also diminished . Lymphocyte mitogenic responses to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen, and staphylococcal Cowan A were generally decreased . These findings confirm that pediatric patients with AIDS have significant abnormalities in humoral immunity . Dysfunction of both T cells and B cells plays a role in the resultant poor specific antibody production. Cancer Res, 1985 Sep, 45(9), 4486 - 94 Staphylococcal Protein A column: correlation of mitogenicity of perfused plasma with clinical response; Bertram JH et al.; Eleven patients with advanced breast cancer and four with astrocytoma were treated with plasma perfused over columns containing staphylococcal Protein A (SPA) . Doses of 5 to 20 mg of SPA were bound to collodion charcoal particles, and this treatment resulted in partial remissions in one patient with astrocytoma and in two patients with breast cancer . Remission duration was 6 wk to 6 mo . Resolution of lymphadenopathy and a decrease in carcinoembryonic antigen were noted in an additional two breast cancer patients . Systemic reactions to infused plasma consisted of fever, chills, and rigors . In brain cancer patients, increased intracranial pressure was also noted . A mitogenic substance was generated in plasma of 11 patients after it was perfused over the SPA charcoal matrix . The mitogenic material induced lymphoproliferation comparable to concanavalin A and required the presence of SPA on the collodion charcoal but was not due to leakage of SPA from the column during plasma perfusion . Of considerable significance was that only patients whose column perfused plasma contained this mitogenic activity exhibited systemic reactions, and five of these patients obtained antitumor responses . This striking correlation implies that the mitogenic factor is an active component of SPA therapy . The ability to demonstrate mitogenicity in column perfused plasma might also be useful for selecting patients amenable to SPA therapy . These findings attest to the therapeutic value of this mode of treatment and provide an initial definition of a mediator of SPA antitumor activity. Can J Surg, 1985 Sep, 28(5), 407 - 9 Intraoperative bacterial contamination of vascular grafts: a prospective study; Wooster DL et al.; The establishment of graft infection depends on host response, an appropriate field and bacterial contamination . Intraoperative bacterial contamination of prosthetic graft material was studied prospectively in 77 patients . Vascular reconstruction was indicated for abdominal aortic aneurysm (15%), claudication (42%), rest pain (25%) and ulceration or gangrene (18%) . In 78% of cases the procedure was elective . Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated in 80% of cultures; mixed flora were more frequent in patients with rest pain (60%) and ulceration or gangrene (45%) than in those with aneurysms (22%) or claudication (16%) . Grafts became contaminated in 56% of cases using standard techniques; this was lowered to 35% when the surgeon changed gloves before preclotting the graft . There was no significant difference with respect to the surgeon who performed the operation, the indication for operation, primary versus secondary repair or the use of skin barriers . One patient (1.3%) had an established graft infection . It is concluded that the incidence of contamination is high but may be decreased by glove changing. Vet Pathol, 1985 Sep, 22(5), 492 - 9 Gold-induced immune thrombocytopenia in the dog; Bloom JC et al.; In two seven-year studies with gold compounds in dogs of both sexes, thrombocytopenia was observed after 45 to 72 months of dosing in three of 14 and two of 14 dogs in high-dose groups that received 2.4 to 3.6 mg/kg of auranofin per day orally or 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg of gold sodium thiomalate intramuscularly once every three days, respectively . An immune basis for the disorder was suggested by the apparent consumptive nature of the thrombocytopenia (increased bone marrow megakaryocytes and large peripheral blood platelets), the response to corticosteroid therapy and the demonstration of increased platelet-associated immunoglobulin . The latter was demonstrated with a solid phase radioimmunoassay and by electron microscopy using a staphylococcal protein A-colloidal gold conjugate . Platelet-associated immunoglobulin decreased as the platelet counts rose, and in one dog monitored over periods of steroid-induced remissions and subsequent relapses, the amount of platelet-associated immunoglobulin G correlated inversely with the platelet count (r = 0.82) . These findings suggest that the long-term administration of gold compounds in dogs is associated with a dose-dependent incidence of thrombocytopenia, which is immune-mediated and similar to that associated with parenteral chrysotherapy in man . The application of tests for platelet-associated immunoglobulin to canine patients with immune thrombocytopenia should be useful in the diagnosis of the disorder in clinical practice. Blood, 1985 Sep, 66(3), 562 - 9 Comparison of inhibitory and binding characteristics of an antibody causing acquired von Willebrand syndrome: an assay for von Willebrand factor binding by antibody; Fricke WA et al.; An acquired inhibitor of von Willebrand factor (vWF) activity occurring in a patient with benign gammopathy and von Willebrand syndrome (vWS) has been partially characterized . The inhibitor-induced syndrome resulted in low to undetectable plasma levels of vWF/ristocetin, vWF/botrocetin, FVIIIR:Ag, and FVIII:C with a normal to slightly prolonged bleeding time . Platelet vWF was normal . Intensive and continuous infusion of a heat-treated factor VIII concentrate (Hemofil-T, Hyland, Glendale, Calif) elevated the FVIII:C plasma levels to about 100%, with an increase in FVIIIR:Ag levels to about 340% and vWF/ristocetin levels to about 40%, much lower than expected based on the dose of Hemofil-T and its content of vWF and FVIII:C activities . The inhibitor bound to staphylococcal protein A (SpA) with high affinity, indicating an IgG antibody (Ab) . An assay for the vWF-binding capacity was developed on the basis of absorption of the Ab from serially diluted plasma by SpA and removal of vWF and FVIII:C activities from normal plasma by the SpA-Ab complex . The Ab-binding site was on the vWF component of the factor VIII complex . The Ab was unable to bind isolated FVIII:C . The combined use of the new vWF-binding assay and a battery of tests for inhibition of vWF-dependent platelet aggregation with ristocetin (which detects high molecular weight vWF), with botrocetin (which detects high and low molecular weight vWF), and with platelet-aggregating factor (which detects high molecular weight vWF) provided a means of analysis of Ab effect on in vitro vWF function . Using these tests, a comparison was made of the effects of the vWS Ab with those of an Ab inhibitor occurring in homozygous von Willebrand's disease . The Ab of the vWS patient had weak inhibitory action on vWF/ristocetin without having an effect on vWF/botrocetin and platelet-aggregating factor, a high titer vWF-binding capacity, and no anamnestic response following concentrate therapy . These findings contrasted with those of the Ab occurring in inhibitor von Willebrand's disease in which vWF inhibitor and binding values were similar, with a strong anamnestic response . The findings indicate that the vWS Ab binds to an epitope on the molecular vWF in such a way that causes only limited inhibition of vWF/ristocetin function and no inhibition of vWF/botrocetin function, suggesting that these two functional domains are at separate sites. J Immunol, 1985 Sep, 135(3), 2128 - 33 Induction of antibody responses to influenza virus in human lymphocyte cultures . I . Role of interleukin 2; Tan PL et al.; The in vitro T cell-dependent antibody response of human lymphocytes to influenza virus X31 was used to study the role of T cell-derived lymphokines in antigen-specific responses . Supernatant from cultures of phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated, pooled human tonsil cells (PHA-MLR) was capable of replacing T cells and inducing T-depleted tonsil cells to secrete influenza-specific antibody . The T cell-replacing activity of PHA-MLR supernatant co-purified with interleukin 2 (IL 2) on Ultrogel AcA54 gel filtration and reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography . PHA-MLR supernatant and IL 2 also enhanced B cell proliferation induced by anti-mu or Staphylococcal aureus strain Cowan I (SAC) . A murine monoclonal antibody directed against the human IL 2 receptor (Mab 2A3) was used to completely block the enhancement of influenza-specific antibody production mediated by PHA-MLR supernatant, purified IL 2, and recombinant human IL 2 . Mab 2A3 did not affect the T-independent B cell proliferation induced by anti-mu or SAC, but abrogated the enhancing effect of the PHA-MLR supernatant and IL 2 in this culture system . Immunofluorescence studies failed to demonstrate binding of Mab 2A3 to B cells activated by the X31 influenza virus and IL 2, or by SAC . By using Mab 2A3 to mask out IL 2 effects in the influenza-specific culture system, no other B cell differentiating activities were revealed in supernatants from lymphocytic cultures stimulated with a variety of mitogens . Thus, our results indicate that the production of influenza-specific antibodies by T-depleted human lymphocyte cultures is absolutely dependent on the presence of both antigen and IL 2. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1985 Sep, 28(3), 421 - 4 Plasmid-mediated resistance to lincomycin by inactivation in Staphylococcus haemolyticus; Leclercq R et al.; Staphylococcus haemolyticus BM4610 was resistant to high levels of lincomycin and susceptible to macrolides, clindamycin, and streptogramins . This resistance phenotype, not previously reported for a human clinical isolate, was due to inactivation of the antibiotic . The gene conferring resistance to lincomycin in strain BM4610 was carried by a 2.5-kilobase plasmid, pIP855, which was cloned in Escherichia coli . Plasmid pIP855 caused inactivation of both lincomycin and clindamycin in S . haemolyticus and in E . coli but conferred detectable resistance to lincomycin only in S . haemolyticus and to clindamycin only in E . coli. Exp Hematol, 1985 Sep, 13(8), 827 - 32 Different Ia antigen characterization between granulocyte progenitor cells (CFC-G) and monocyte-macrophage progenitor cells (CFC-M); Numata M et al.; Ia-like antigen-positive (Ia+) and -negative (Ia-) cell populations were separated from human cord blood cells and bone marrow mononuclear cells by a rosette technique with a combined use of staphylococcal protein-A-coated bovine red blood cells and the monoclonal OKIa 1 antib