Z Erkr Atmungsorgane, 1984, 162(2), 163 - 70 {Abscessing staphylococcal pneumonia following virus infection of the respiratory tract}; Kunze W et al.; Severe abscessing staphylococcic pneumonia due to viral infections of the respiratory tract developed in two infants age 1 7/12 and 3 1/12 years . Clinical features, roentgenological symptomatology and the importance of bacteriological and virological diagnostics are discussed, fundamental characteristics of the chemotherapy are explained . The causal relation between viral infections of the respiratory tract and abscessing staphyloccic pneumonia as well as the special diagnostical and therapeutic problems are discussed. Ann Dermatol Venereol, 1984, 111(1), 39 - 46 {A syndrome of hyper-IgE and recurrent infections . Developmental variants? A familial study}; Lorette G et al.; The first patient suffered from a very severe atopic dermatitis with intense pruritus and thickened skin . He had also recurrent infections, particularly related to Staphylococcus coagulase +, and axillary and inguinal lymphodermopathy . The use of tetracosactide given intramuscularly allowed controlling the evolution of his atopic dermatitis . After several months of treatment, the skin became less infiltrated, lymphodermopathy disappeared and no severe infection had happened . The second patient had a less severe atopic dermatitis and recurrent infections without any particular severity . Topical corticosteroids allowed to control the atopic dermatitis . These two patients had high levels of circulating IgE and an important deficiency of polymorphonuclear chemotaxis which was evaluated by migration through boyden room . Study of the family showed atopic manifestations in several members, but with lower levels of IgE . The most characteristic abnormality of this syndrome is the according to considerable increase of IgE . The deficit in polymorphonuclear chemotaxis may vary according to time and even become normal . The prognosis over long periods remains to be determined. Int Ophthalmol Clin, 1984 Summer, 24(2), 65 - 77 Blepharoconjunctivitis; McCulley JP; Most patients with chronic blepharoconjunctivitis will fall into one of the four seborrheic groups or the primary meibomianitis group . With all of these, there appears to be a predisposition to develop an abnormality in sebaceous glands, as manifested by the fact that such patients have clinically diagnosable seborrheic dermatitis or acne rosacea . These patients tend to develop an abnormality of either the anterior portion of the eyelid with involvement of the gland of Zeis or the posterior portion of the eyelid with involvement of the meibomian glands . Patients in the staphylococcal group are typically younger, a higher percentage are female, and they have a history of symptoms for a relatively shorter period of time . It is only in this latter group that one can hope for a cure with therapy, whereas in the other groups one must aim for control of the disease process . The diagnosis of the various types of blepharoconjunctivitis is important not only because it directs therapy, but also because it gives both the physician and patient an idea about the prognosis . Laboratory evaluation in these patients appears to be of limited value; only in the staphylococcal and mixed seborrheic-staphylococcal group is a pathogen found in the form of S . aureus . The other organism that may contribute directly to disease is S . epidermidis . The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of these two organisms are fairly consistent, and so it is not necessary to culture them to determine antibiotic sensitivities: The majority are sensitive to both bacitracin and erythromycin ointments, as well as the aminoglycosides . Attempts to identify Demodex or to obtain conjunctival scrapings for cytology have not proved helpful . Therefore, the diagnosis is a clinical one and, from a practical standpoint, laboratory evaluation is not required for either diagnosis or management . Therapy for each case of chronic blepharoconjunctivitis must be tailored to the individual and based on the type and severity of blepharoconjunctivitis present . The mainstays in therapy are mechanical and hygienic (i.e., warm compresses and eyelid scrubs ) . The use of topical antibiotics must be based on the sensitivities of the likely pathogens (i.e., S . aureus and S . epidermidis) . Therefore, while sulfonamides would not appear to be appropriate therapy, bacitracin, erythromycin, or the aminoglycosides are effective antibiotics . The therapy is topical, with the exception of the rare and more severe case of seborrheic blepharoconjunctivitis with secondary meibomianitis and all cases of primary meibomianitis (meibomian keratoconjunctivitis).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Scand J Immunol, 1984 Jan, 19(1), 75 - 8 Localization of the binding site on IgG for solubilized placental Fc gamma receptor; Matre R et al.; Placental Fc gamma R (FcR) inhibited the rosette formation between monocytes and rabbit IgG-sensitized erythrocytes (EA), whereas the rosette formation with granulocytes was not impaired . Staphylococcal protein A (SpA) inhibited the rosette formation with both cell types . Results obtained in absorption and agglutination experiments showed that SpA blocked the binding of FcR to IgG, and Cl did not . Furthermore, FcR did not interfere with the binding of SpA to IgG, whereas C1 affected this binding . FcR apparently bind to the C gamma 3 region . Since FcR inhibited the binding of EA to monocytes, the monocyte FcR binding site is probably also located within the C gamma 3 region. Am J Dis Child, 1984 Jan, 138(1), 17 - 9 Adverse reactions to vancomycin used as prophylaxis for CSF shunt procedures; Odio C et al.; From January to May 1982, 37 children undergoing CSF shunt procedures in two different countries were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, controlled study to receive vancomycin hydrochloride (15 mg/kg/dose) or placebo (saline) one hour before surgery and again six hours later . Twenty patients received vancomycin, and 17 received placebo . In the 35 cases that could be evaluated, shunt-associated infections developed in three (17%) of 18 patients who received vancomycin and in four (23%) of the 17 placebo recipients . All infections were caused by Staphylococcus species susceptible to vancomycin . A histaminelike rash developed in seven (35%) of 20 patients during vancomycin infusion . It recurred with readministration in one patient and was accompanied by hypotension in another patient . The reactions were not related to too rapid infusion of vancomycin . Because of the adverse reactions to vancomycin, the study was discontinued. Zentralbl Neurochir, 1984, 45(1), 28 - 39 Subarachnoid empyemas . Considerations in connection with 55 cases; Arseni C et al.; The authors present data concerning the nosologic frame of the subarachnoid empyemas . Aspects such as incidence, predominance in males (65.4% of all cases), involvement of subjects in their II-nd--IV-th decade, and the complex pathogeny of this affection are discussed . From the bacteriologic viewpoint the predominance of the monomicrobial flora is stressed, mainly staphylococcus strains (24.4% of all cases) . The clinical picture consists in a severe infectious syndrome, intracranial hypertension syndrome (27.2% of all cases), neurologic syndrome (motor deficit in 81.8% of the cases, focal attacks in 43.6% of all patients), meningeal syndrome (83.6% of all cases), and psychical disturbances (in 89% of the patients) . Of the para-clinical investigations performed cerebral angiography provided conclusive data in 88.5% of all cases . Surgical treatment was applied in 50 of the patients using various methods with an overall death-rate of 26% . The early diagnosis is stressed, as well as the necessity to apply surgical therapy using the bone-flap method, and full surgical cure of the primary infectious focus. Mol Gen Genet, 1984, 195(1-2), 374 - 7 Staphylococcal plasmid cointegrates are formed by host- and phage-mediated general rec systems that act on short regions of homology; Novick RP et al.; Cointegrates involving pairs of compatible staphylococcal plasmids can be isolated either by co-selection during transduction (Novick et al . 1981) or by selection for survival at the restrictive temperature of a thermosensitive, replication defective plasmid in the presence of a stable one . Cointegrates are formed by recombination at two specific sites, RSA and RSB . RSB is present on each of six plasmids analyzed, namely pT181, pE194, pC194, pS194, pUB110, and pSN2, and RSA is present on two of these, pT181 and pE194 . In this communication, it is shown that the RS represent short regions of homology (RSA is some 70 bp in length and RSB is about 30) embedded in largely non-homologous contexts and that the crossovers take place within these homologous regions . The pT181 and pE194 RSA sequences contain several mismatches which permit the localization of the crossover events to several different sites within the overall RS segment . The recombination system involved is therefore general (homology-specific) rather than site-specific (sequence-specific) . Mismatches included within the crossover region are always corrected to the pT181 configuration . The cointegrates are therefore formed by a relatively efficient general rec system that recognizes short regions of homology and gives rise to Holliday junctions that probably involve very short heteroduplex overlaps . The sequence results are consistent with asymmetric single-strand invasion of a contralateral gap with nucleotide conversion by copying . It is noted that RSB has substantial homology with the par sequence of plasmid pSC101, suggesting that it may be involved in plasmid partitioning. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1983 Dec 28, 749(3), 312 - 7 Purification and some properties of the staphylococcal extracellular lipase; Tyski S et al.; Staphylococcal lipase has been purified by application of a multistep procedure involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography followed by gel filtration through Sepharose CL-4B . A purified enzyme was obtained which appeared to be homogeneous by molecular sieving, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sucrose gradient centrifugation . The enzyme was then subjected to physicochemical analysis . It has been found that staphylococcal lipase appears in two molecular forms: light (45 kDa) and heavy (300 kDa) . Amino acid analysis indicates that lipase contains 17 amino acids with a prevalence of hydrophobic amino acids . No sulfur-containing amino acid was found in the enzyme molecule . The lipase contains about 2% sugars and some amount of lipids . The lipase preparation is stable within pH 5.0 to 9.0 and exhibits maximal activity at pH 8.0 . The optimal temperature for the enzymatic reaction was established at 55 degrees C. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1983 Dec 28, 749(3), 244 - 8 Characterization of a new fetal hemoglobin variant, Hb F Izumi A gamma 6Glu replaced by Gly, by molecular secondary ion mass spectrometry; Wada Y et al.; Molecular secondary ion mass spectrometry has characterized the structure of a new fetal hemoglobin variant, Hb F Izumi, without separation of peptides or amino acid analysis . First, the mass spectrum of a tryptic digest of the abnormal gamma globin revealed a decreased by 72 mass units in the molecular mass of peptide T-1,2, indicating the presence of a Glu leads to Gly substitution . Next, the analysis of the digest produced by the addition of staphylococcal protease, which specifically cleaves glutamyl peptide bonds, determined the site of substitution at 6th glutamic acid residue in peptide T-1,2 which contains two glutamic acid residues . Since this mass spectrometric approach provides digitalized data on peptide analysis, we call it 'digit printing' . The high sensitivity of this technique is especially promising for the analysis of molecular abnormality in various genetic disorders. J Biol Chem, 1983 Dec 25, 258(24), 15361 - 4 Close contacts between H1 histone molecules in nuclei; Ring D et al.; H1 histone homodimer has been purified from nuclei treated with either long (dimethylsuberimidate, dimethyl dithiobisproprionimidate) or short (ethyl dimethylaminocarbodiimide) cross-linking reagents . When such H1 dimers were cleaved with N-bromosuccinimide, chymotrypsin, or staphylococcal protease, analysis of the resulting fragments suggests that the major cross-links were formed between the COOH-terminal portions of neighboring H1 molecules, and that substantial bridging can also be made between the NH2-terminal portion of one H1 molecule and the COOH-terminal portion of another . NH2-terminal to NH2-terminal cross-links were not seen at significant levels, suggesting that the position of the NH2-terminal portion of H1 in chromatin is more restricted. FEBS Lett, 1983 Dec 12, 164(2), 227 - 30 The effect of aglycosylation on the binding of mouse IgG to staphylococcal protein A; Leatherbarrow RJ et al.; Aglycosylated IgG produced by hybridoma cells cultured in the presence of tunicamycin was compared with normal IgG for its ability to bind to staphylococcal protein A . No differences were found in binding or elution profiles . It is concluded that aglycosylation does not produce major structural alterations at the CH2-CH3 interface of the Fc region of IgG. G Ital Cardiol, 1983 Dec, 13(12), 363 - 6 {Emergency surgical treatment of infectious endocarditis . Experience developed on 19 consecutive cases}; Massini C et al.; Our experience with the emergency surgical treatment of 19 consecutive cases of infective endocarditis (IE) is reported . The aortic valve was always affected, either alone (n = 16) or together with the mitral valve (n = 3) . All patients were male . In 10 cases it was possible to identify the infecting agent (a staphylococcus was found in 6) . Congestive heart failure (CHF) was the principal indication for surgery in 14 cases (in 6 active IE was associated) . Five patients (1 with CHF) underwent operative treatment because of systemic emboli . Fifteen patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV, 3 in class III and 1 was in class II . Two patients (10.5%), both operated on for CHF, died in the early postoperative period . Early prosthetic valve dehiscence occurred in 2 cases, reoperation was successful in both . Follow-up of operative survivors ranges between 7 and 108 months (mean = 53.24 +/- 41.89) . One patients died 10 months after operation with CHF following late prosthetic dehiscence . Out of 16 currently surviving patients 14 are in NHYA functional class I, 1 is in class II and 1 in class III . No one of them has had relapse of IE. Trop Geogr Med, 1983 Dec, 35(4), 353 - 5 Hand and foot ulcers in Nigerian diabetics - a comparative study; Akintewe TA et al.; A total of 160 consecutive diabetic patients were examined for hand and foot ulcers . We found 6 patients with ulcers of the hand . Antecedent trauma, all trivial, was noted in all the patients with ulcers . Five patients with foot ulcers had peripheral neuropathy and 1 patient had occlusive vascular disease . Only 3 of the 10 diabetic foot cases had a history of trauma . The mean age of the patients with hand and foot ulcers was 43 years and 56 years respectively . Staphylococcus was the commonest isolate . Digital gangrene was a more common complication in hand ulcers compared with the foot. J Appl Bacteriol, 1983 Dec, 55(3), 461 - 72 Production and partial purification of a peptide antibiotic from Staphylococcus epidermidis; Eady EA et al.; When grown on solid or in liquid Brain Heart Infusion at 37 degrees C, Staphylococcus epidermidis NCIB 11536 produced antibiotic activity against a wide range of Gram positive bacteria . Production was influenced by aeration, pH, glucose concentration and specific growth rate . Inhibitory activity could be concentrated by ammonium sulphate precipitation (30-55% saturation) . On Sephadex G50 using 0.05 mol/l sodium phosphate buffer, pH 6.0, two peaks of antibiotic activity were detected . The first peak eluted with the void volume (Kd = 0) and the second peak was retained by the gel (Kd = 0.73-0.77) . These two substances did not represent the monomeric and polymeric forms of a staphylococcal bacteriocin . The low mol . wt inhibitor, which was responsible for over 95% of the recovered activity on Sephadex G50, could be partially purified by a combination of gel filtration on Biogel P2 and ion-exchange chromatography on Sephadex C-25 . Yields were increased by combining these two steps into a single procedure (duocolumn) . The semi-purified inhibitor was desalted using Sep-pak C18 cartridges . Biological activity was resistant to enzymic denaturation except by high concentrations of trypsin (50 units/micrograms, 3 h, 25 degrees C) . This peptide antibiotic is different from any previously described staphylococcal inhibitors. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 46(6), 1351 - 6 Direct skin test in highly sensitized guinea pigs for rapid and sensitive determination of staphylococcal enterotoxin B; Scheuber PH et al.; The direct skin test in highly sensitized guinea pigs was developed as a rapid and extremely sensitive assay for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in foods . This report details the experimental conditions required to elicit optimal sensitization of guinea pigs to SEB . An intense and persistent immunoglobulin E (IgE) anti-SEB response was established in strain 13 guinea pigs pretreated with cyclophosphamide followed by four sensitizing doses of 10 micrograms of SEB 1 month apart . The conditions, however, optimal for eliciting IgE responses led to a sustained failure to produce antibody of the IgG1 subclass . With the use of highly sensitized guinea pigs, one can achieve a sensitivity ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 pg of purified SEB by the direct skin test for at least 7 months after the last challenge . For analysis of SEB in food extracts, the entire assay can be accomplished within 20 min with a sensitivity of 10 to 100 pg SEB per ml of prepared food samples, and the recovery of enterotoxin from spiked food products ranged between 75 and 89% of the amount added. Ann Ophthalmol, 1983 Dec, 15(12), 1160 - 4 Laboratory studies in chronic conjunctivitis; Stenson S et al.; Conjunctival cultures and scrapings for cytological examination were done in 852 cases of chronic conjunctivitis . Bacteria were recovered in 464 . Of these, Staphylococcus sp were isolated in 91%; their etiologic importance over normal flora is questionable . Important cytological findings included atypical epithelium (three cases), Halberstaedter-Prowazek inclusion bodies (two), and eosinophils (104) . Epithelial degenerative changes were common (585 cases) . Crystals (105) and microorganisms (283) were other frequent findings . Active infection seems to be an uncommon cause of chronic conjunctivitis . Cultures are important in avoiding unnecessary antibiotic therapy when no organism is present . Cytological examination can be a helpful diagnostic adjunct in selected cases and is to be recommended especially in chronic follicular conjunctivitis, possible drug toxicity or allergy, dry eye states, and other atypical clinical presentations. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1983 Dec, 65(9), 1256 - 65 Total hip replacement in the previously septic hip; Cherney DL et al.; Total hip replacement was performed in either one or two stages in thirty-three hips with active sepsis . The sepsis had followed hemiarthroplasty in six hips, open reduction with internal fixation of a fracture in eight, cup arthroplasty in one, and total hip replacement in eight hips within six years prior to the second total hip replacement . Ten additional patients had total hip replacement following destruction of the hip joint by hematogenous sepsis in nine and by infection following a shrapnel wound in one . Of these thirty-three patients, twenty-three (70 per cent) reveal no signs of infection at three to nine years after prosthetic replacement . Of the remaining ten in whom an infection developed, six had definite recurrences of the original infection, three were infected with organisms different from the original one, and one was either a local recurrence or reseeding from a persistent pyelonephritis . The success rate when the original organism was gram-positive was 78 per cent, including two of three total hip replacements done in the presence of active infection with Staphylococcus epidermidis . The success with gram-negative organisms, however, was only 58 per cent . The prosthetic failure rate was highest in patients who had had a previous infection about a total hip replacement (37 per cent) and in patients who had had a previous infection but no prior prosthetic or internal fixation devices (37 per cent) . The lowest prosthetic failure rates were in patients with an infected hemiarthroplasty (16 per cent), an infection around an internal fixation device (25 per cent), or an infected cup arthroplasty . A complete and differential blood-cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, aspiration arthrogram, and radiographs did not effectively predict success or failure . For gram-positive infections, the success rates were similar following either a one or a two-stage procedure . We found that the success rates could be improved by a repeat course of parenteral antibiotics after the total hip replacement even if all preoperative and intraoperative studies failed to identify an infection . Patients with a successful total hip replacement achieved much better functional results than those who had to have a Girdlestone procedure . However, all patients must be carefully assessed prior to reimplantation of a prosthesis because of the high failure rate, especially with gram-negative organisms (Pseudomonas having the gravest prognosis), even when the procedure is done in two stages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) J Adolesc Health Care, 1983 Dec, 4(4), 290 - 1 Toxic shock syndrome and diaphragm use; Wilson CD; PIP: A case of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) associated with diaphragm use is presented . A 15-year-old female was admitted to the hospital . 36 hours prior to the onset of her symptoms she had been fitted with a diaphragm . The diaphragm was in place for 12 hours, removed for 17 hours, and then replaced 7 hours prior to the onset of illness . Pelvic exam revealed copious vaginal discharge and a diaphragm still in place . When previously questioned however, the patient had reported she had removed the diaphragm . After 12 months, during which time the patient did not use tampons or a diaphragm, there was no recurrence of symptoms . The role of a diaphragm in the etiology of TSS is unclear . Some authors say that the blockage of the normal clearance of vaginal secretions by intravaginal devices may lead to the overgowth of staphylococcus and its enterotoxin . Others have suggested that vaginal ulcerations or trauma may enable the staph toxin to be absorbed . Neither hypothesis has been proved . TSS may also occur in women who use the cervical cap which remains in place for 4-7 days, but this has not yet been reported . It may be important for physicians to educate their patients as to the possibility of TSS, its early signs and symptoms . Since many adolescent girls use diaphragms, a teen with TSS should be questioned about diaphragm use . author's modified J Adolesc Health Care, 1983 Dec, 4(4), 287 - 9 Apparent oral contraceptive failure associated with antibiotic administration; Silber TJ; PIP: The concomitant use of antibiotics and oral contraceptives should be included in the assessment of contraceptive failure . A case of unwanted adolescent pregnancy in an 18-year-old female who had a severe staphylococcal skin infection and an underlying chronic granulomatous disease is presented and discussed . She had been receiving semisynthetic penicillin (500 mg . of oxacillin sodium every 6 hours) for 6 weeks and reported not having a menstrual period for 40 days . She was also on an oral contraceptive (1 mg . norethindrone/0.035 mg . estradiol) . Results of a beta subunit human chorionic gonadotropin in serum test confirmed that she was pregnant . Careful review of her contraceptive package and antibiotic prescription suggests that indeed she had faithfully followed directions with both medicines . She and her boyfriend and the family received counseling; a therapeutic abortion was done . Advising a different contraceptive method or an additional contraceptive modality may be indicated in adolescents taking longterm antibiotic medication . author's modified Z Kinderchir, 1983 Dec, 38 Suppl 2, 71 - 3 In vitro colonisation of cerebrospinal fluid shunts; Tucker OP et al.; A reliable method of colonizing cerebrospinal fluid shunts has been developed in vitro . A simulated cerebrospinal fluid is described in which the test organism (Staphylococcus epidermidis) multiplied . All experiments were conducted in a CO2 enriched atmosphere. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1983 Dec, 256(2), 153 - 61 Physical and chemical properties of extracellular staphylococcal lipase; Tyski S et al.; Highly purified staphylococcal lipase was subjected to physico-chemical analysis . Effect of ionic strength and of protein structure modifying agents supports views suggesting the subunit structure of this enzyme . Chelating and reducing agents, thiol group inhibitors, and bile acid salts do not influence the enzyme activity . Digestion of purified staphylococcal lipase with proteolytic enzymes indicates that lipase is sensitive to trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin and pronase. Isr J Med Sci, 1983 Dec, 19(12), 1046 - 9 Bacterial colonization of the nose and external ear canal in newborn infants; Ostfeld E et al.; The bacterial flora of the nose and external ear canal of 132 newborn infants, aged 3 days and 4 to 7 days, was examined . Cultures taken from the nose showed the following pattern of bacterial colonization: normal flora (39%); potentially pathologic gram-positive microorganisms (23%); gram-negative enteric rods (16%); and sterile cultures (22%) . The most frequent bacterial cultures from nostrils were Staphylococcus epidermidis (39%); Staph . aureus (11%) and Escherichia coli (8%) . The cultures from the external ear canal showed normal flora (37%); potentially pathologic gram-positive microorganisms (5%); gram-negative enteric rods (24%); and sterile cultures (34%) . The most frequent bacteria cultured from the ear canal were: Staph . epidermidis (37%); E . coli (8%); and Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.5%) . Of several factors studied, the type of delivery, Apgar score and the duration of hospitalization were found to have a significant influence on the pattern of bacterial colonization. Clin Exp Immunol, 1983 Dec, 54(3), 661 - 70 Liver cell membrane antibody detected by protein A and isolated rabbit liver plasma membrane in sera of patients with chronic liver diseases; Toda G et al.; Using the plasma membrane fraction isolated from rabbit liver (RLPM), we detected non-species specific IgG antibody against liver cell surface membrane in the sera from the patients with chronic liver diseases . The sea were treated with dithiothreitol and iodoacetamide, and absorbed with sufficient amount of actin isolated from rabbit striated muscles . The antibody was detected by incubation of RLPM with the treated and absorbed sera and subsequent determination of IgG bound to RLPM by 125I-staphylococcal protein A . It was found mainly in the patients with autoimmune hepatitis (12 of 28) and liver cirrhosis (eight of 24) . It occurred more frequently in HBsAg negative liver cirrhosis than in HBsAg positive forms (six of 13 vs two of 11) . The frequency of the antibody was low in chronic hepatitis except autoimmune hepatitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis . Thus the antibody against RLPM was an immunological marker of autoimmune hepatitis and HBsAg negative liver cirrhosis . The occurrence did not correlate with those of anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-nuclear antibody and anti-mitochondrial antibody . In two cases of autoimmune hepatitis, the antibody against RLPM decreased with clinical improvement induced by corticosteroids. Ann Intern Med, 1983 Dec, 99(6), 834 - 9 Staphylococcus epidermidis infections; Lowy FD et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis, an organism routinely found on the skin and in the hospital environment, has become a primary pathogen in infections associated with prosthetic devices . Because these infections are indolent and often clinically silent, diagnosis and therapy are often difficult . Pathogens are often misidentified as contaminants . Their variable, often resistant antibiotic susceptibility pattern and the uncertain correlation of in-vitro beta-lactam sensitivity testing with therapeutic efficacy make selection of an effective antibiotic regimen difficult . Vancomycin combined with rifampin, gentamicin, or both, is recommended for empiric therapy of these infections . Usually, removal of the prosthetic device is also necessary and may contribute equally to a successful therapeutic outcome. Pediatr Clin North Am, 1983 Dec, 30(6), 1033 - 42 Ophthalmia neonatorum; Friendly DS; Although many types of conjunctival infections in neonates are relatively inconsequential, chlamydial, gonococcal, and herpes simplex infections can cause permanent ocular damage and serious systemic complications . These specific causes are discussed along with silver nitrate conjunctivitis, staphylococcal infections, and nasolacrimal duct obstructions. Exp Parasitol, 1983 Dec, 56(3), 298 - 313 Dirofilaria immitis: performance and standardization of specific antibody immunoassays for filariasis; Hamilton RG et al.; The factors associated with the development, optimization, and validation of immunoassays for the detection of parasite-specific antibody in filariasis infections were investigated using the dog heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis as a model . We examined two assays, the Protein A solid-phase radioimmunoassay (SPRIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for quantitation of specific antibody to the parasite in canine serum . Precision, reproducibility, and parallelism were examined using response-error relationships and precision profile analyses . A staphylococcal Protein A saturation analysis was applied to the standardization of IgG anti-parasite antibody reference sera in weight per volume units (microgram/ml) . Using the mean minimal detectable dose + 3 SD and an intraassay precision profile less than 10% coefficient of variation (CV) as criteria for assay sensitivity, the SPRIA and ELISA displayed comparable positive thresholds of 1 microgram/ml IgG anti-parasite antibody/ml of serum . Both assays demonstrated good reproducibility (less than 15% interassay CV) and parallelism (less than 20% interdilutional CV) over their working ranges (SPRIA: 1-40 micrograms/ml; ELISA: 1-5 micrograms/ml) . Specificity of each assay was enhanced by preadsorption of cross-reacting antibodies in canine serum (i.e., specific for Toxocara canis antigens) with solid-phase antigen prior to assay . Methods for comparing different immunoassay designs are considered in relation to the variables that influence the assays' performance characteristics. J Cell Biol, 1983 Dec, 97(6), 1933 - 8 Fetal calf ligament fibroblasts in culture secrete a low molecular weight collagen with a unique resistance to proteolytic degradation; Sage H et al.; A highly unusual collagen was secreted by fibroblasts cultured from 150- and 270-d-old fetal calf nuchal ligaments . Purification revealed that this protein (which may be synthesized in a higher molecular weight form) was precipitated at unusually high concentrations of ammonium sulfate and was also eluted from DEAE-cellulose at greater salt concentrations than were types I and III procollagens . On SDS PAGE, the collagenous protein exhibited an Mr of approximately 12,750 that was not altered in the presence of reducing agent . The low molecular weight collagen (FCL-1) was sensitive to bacterial collagenase and had a {3H}glycine content comparable to that found in type I procollagen, although the {3H}Hyp to {3H}Pro ratio was 0.43 . FCL-1 was not cleaved by human skin collagenase, mast cell protease, trypsin, Staphylococcal V8 protease, or proteinase K at 37 degrees C . The collagen was susceptible to trypsin, but not to V8 protease, only after heating at 80 degrees C for 30 min . Preliminary structural studies indicate that FCL-1 was resistant to cleavage by CNBr but exhibited limited proteolysis with pepsin . Both 150- and 270-d-old fibroblasts produced comparable levels of interstitial (types I and III) procollagens, which comprised approximately 70% of the total protein secreted into the culture medium . However, 270-d-old (term) fibroblasts secreted approximately 50% more FCL-1, as percent of total culture medium protein, in comparison to the cells from the earlier gestational stage . This collagen may therefore play a role in the development of the nuchal ligament. Clin Exp Immunol, 1983 Dec, 54(3), 827 - 33 Immune adherence and staphylococcus protein A binding of soluble immune complexes produced by complement activation; Schifferli JA et al.; Complement has been shown to affect the solubility of antigen-antibody complexes by two mechanisms: in the first, classical pathway dependent, complement inhibits the formation of the immune precipitate; in the second, alternative pathway dependent, complement reacts with a formed precipitate to bring about its solubilization . The biological properties of complement reacted immune complexes (IC) has been assessed by studying their binding to staphylococcus protein A (SPA) and to human erythrocytes . BSA-anti-BSA complement reacted IC bound to human erythrocytes and to SPA . Complexes generated by solubilization of immune precipitates showed greater immune adherence than complexes held in solution by complement, despite their similar size . Complexes held in solution in a factor D depleted human serum bound more efficiently to erythrocytes than complexes formed in normal serum . These experiments demonstrate that complement reacted IC cannot be regarded as biologically inert and that factors affecting complement function may have important effects on the properties of antigen-antibody complexes. J Lab Clin Med, 1983 Dec, 102(6), 947 - 59 Serial circulating immune complexes and mononuclear phagocyte system function in infective endocarditis; Schned ES et al.; Twenty patients with infective endocarditis were followed prospectively and all had elevated levels of circulating immune complexes (CICs) detected by staphylococcal binding assay . Mean CIC levels declined for the group as a whole (193 micrograms/ml +/- 24 to 100 +/- 17, p less than 0.05) and became undetectable in eight patients (47%) who were cured . Patients who died or had complicated courses had higher mean CIC levels at the start and finish (254 micrograms/ml +/- 24 and 145 +/- 37) of antibiotic therapy than patients with uncomplicated courses (178 micrograms/ml +/- 19 and 38 +/- 24), p less than 0.05 . CIC levels did not decline significantly in patients with glomerulonephritis or arthritis, in contrast to patients without these features . Despite elevated CIC levels, 10 patients had enhanced mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) function as assessed by Fc-dependent IgG-coated red blood cell clearance . These data suggest that CICs probably are pathogenic in endocarditis and may contribute to the development of arthritis and glomerulonephritis . Elevated CICs in infective endocarditis do not appear to be directly related to defective MPS function. J Cell Biol, 1983 Dec, 97(6), 1852 - 9 Cell type-dependent expression of tubulins in Physarum; Burland TG et al.; Three alpha-tubulins and two beta-tubulins have been resolved by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of whole cell lysates of Physarum myxamoebae or plasmodia . Criteria used to identify the tubulins included migration on two-dimensional gels with myxamoebal tubulins purified by self-assembly into microtubules in vitro, peptide mapping with Staphylococcus V8 protease and with chymotrypsin, immunoprecipitation with a monoclonal antibody specific for beta-tubulin, and, finally, hybrid selection of specific mRNA by cloned tubulin DNA sequences, followed by translation in vitro . Differential expression of the Physarum tubulins was observed . The alpha 1- and beta 1-tubulins were detected in both myxamoebae and plasmodia; alpha 2 and beta 2 were detected only in plasmodia, alpha 3 was detected only in the myxamoebal phase, and may be specific to the flagellate . Observation of more tubulin species in plasmodia than in myxamoebae was remarkable; the only microtubules detected in plasmodia are those of the mitotoic spindle, whereas myxamoebae display cytoplasmic, centriolar, flagellar, and mitotic-spindle microtubules . In vitro translation of myxamoebal and plasmodial RNAs indicated that there are distinct mRNAs, and therefore probably separate genes, for the alpha 1-, alpha 2-, beta 1-, and beta 2-tubulins . Thus, the different patterns of tubulin expression in myxamoebae and plasmodia reflect differential expression of tubulin genes. J Immunol Methods, 1983 Nov 11, 64(1-2), 1 - 6 Desorption of immunoglobulins from Protein A-Sepharose CL-4B under mild conditions; Bywater R et al.; Conditions which permit the dissociation of IgG-staphylococcal protein A interactions without resort to low pH buffers or the use of chaotropic ions are discussed in relation to: (a) the mechanism of the binding reaction; (b) the use of immobilised protein A for purification of cells or removal of immune complexes from serum . Glycyl-tyrosine, glycyl-histidine, glycyl-phenylalanine and tryptophan, representing the class of competing ligand desorbents, and ethylene glycol, an agent which disrupts hydrophobic interactions, were found to be the best desorbents. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1983 Nov 4, 108(44), 1680 - 3 {Staphylococcal spondylitis--cause of a recurrent fever for 24 years}; Ringe JD et al.; A 72-year-old man had had recurrent fever of undetermined cause, for which he had repeated periods in hospital . There were no specific organ-related symptoms . Conventional radiology of the vertebrae, tomography, CT scan and CT-guided needle biopsy finally revealed the presence of staphylococcal spondylitis of thoracic vertebrae 11 and 12 with bilateral paravertebral abscesses . Particularly valuable diagnostically was the CT scan with demonstration of bony destruction in the axial plane and of the paravertebral soft-tissue changes, as well as the use of CT-assisted puncture of the abscess . Asymptomatic spondylitis should be thought of as a possible cause of pyrexia of unknown origin. Muscle Nerve, 1983 Nov-Dec, 6(9), 661 - 3 Immunohistochemical demonstration of beta-enolase in human skeletal muscle; Ibi T et al.; We have localized beta-enolase activity in human skeletal muscle fiber using the immunohistochemical method (two-step method) . The first immunoreagent was rabbit anti-human beta-enolase serum raised in New Zealand white rabbit, and the second was peroxidase conjugated staphylococcal protein A . The immunohistochemical reaction for beta-enolase was noted higher in type 2 fiber, which demonstrates the low oxidative and high glycolytic enzyme activity, than in type 1 fiber. J Bacteriol, 1983 Nov, 156(2), 524 - 8 Transport and processing of staphylococcal alpha-toxin; Tweten RK et al.; Two larger precursors to staphylococcal alpha-toxin were identified and partially characterized . Both precursor proteins were present on the cell membrane at very low levels and appeared to be rapidly processed to the mature form . Dinitrophenol inhibited processing such that the two precursors accumulated in the membranes, whereas little extracellular (mature) alpha-toxin is formed . The peptide maps of the 35S-labeled peptides from extracellular alpha-toxin and the two precursors were almost identical . The larger precursor protein contained four additional peptides and the smaller precursor protein contained three additional peptides not found in the extracellular toxin. Antibiotiki, 1983 Nov, 28(11), 823 - 6 {Production of penicillinase by staphylococcal strains of different origins}; Ivanov NA et al.; A total of 319 strains of S . aureus and 729 strains of S . epidermidis belonging to different biovars isolated from the skin and nasal mucosa of 349 persons representing 8 independent groups were tested . On the whole production of penicillinase was more often observed in the strains of S . aureus than in the strains of S . epidermidis . Within the first species this property was more often detected in the strains of biovar I as compared to the other biovars . However, the frequency of the penicillinase-producing strains within S . aureus and the biovars of S . epidermidis markedly varied. J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 18(5), 1122 - 6 Reliability of in vitro susceptibility tests for detecting coagulase-negative staphylococcal resistance to penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillins; Lowy FD et al.; The reliabilities of five in vitro susceptibility tests (agar dilution, broth microdilution, automated MS-2, Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion, and ability to grow on methicillin-containing agar) to predict the susceptibility of 204 coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates to penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillins were compared . There was wide variation in susceptibility, with results ranging from 86.3% susceptible by MS-2 to 38.2% by growth on methicillin-containing agar . The results of the broth dilution techniques, including the MS-2, were significantly different (P less than 0.02) from the remaining tests . Nafcillin disks were less effective (P less than 0.02) than oxacillin disks in predicting resistance . Kirby-Bauer oxacillin disks and the ability to grow on methicillin-containing agar were the most reliable predictors of resistance . The MS-2 did not reliably predict resistance. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1983 Nov-Dec, 7(6), 569 - 72 An outbreak of Staphylococcus epidermidis septicemia; Deitel M et al.; During 45 wk from August 1980 to June 1981, the catheter sepsis rate increased from a prior 2 to 34% (23 of 68 patients on intravenous hyperalimentation) . The causative organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis, grown on blood cultures in 21 of the 23 patients and on the catheter-tips of all 23 . Routine cultures of the catheter-tips of the 45 patients who received intravenous hyperalimentation during this period with no evidence of catheter sepsis grew S . epidermidis on three catheter-tips (6.7%), possibly contamination during catheter removal . Sepsis resolved within 24 hr after catheter removal, with no antibiotics given for the sepsis . The organism had identical antibiograms on the blood and catheter-tip cultures in each patient, but antibiograms varied between patients . In these complex patients undergoing multiple medical events, the intravenous hyperalimentation nurse recorded that iv tubing in septic patients had leaked solution at the attachment to the catheter hub, and a review of nursing notes on charts of patients who had been on intravenous hyperalimentation revealed that a leak had been noted in the patients who subsequently had catheter sepsis . The leak was due to a manufacturing defect resulting in a decrease in diameter of the plastic connection of the iv tubing, which produced a loose attachment to the hub . The problem was remedied by switching to a Luer-lok attachment . However, in July 1982, two patients had separation of the Luer due to a manufacturing defect in the threads, followed by a catheter sepsis . Sepsis from the local contamination was not manifest until 5.4 +/- 2.7 days later . Quality control by manufacturers is emphasized. Infect Immun, 1983 Nov, 42(2), 634 - 8 Molecular basis of immunological cross-reactivity between Treponema pallidum and Treponema pertenue; Baker-Zander SA et al.; Protein antigens of Treponema pallidum, Nichols strain, and Treponema pertenue, Gauthier strain, were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting techniques . Treponemal proteins were solubilized in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate, electrophoresed on 12.5% polyacrylamide gels, and either stained with Coomassie brilliant blue or electrophoretically transferred to nitrocellulose paper . These antigen blots were incubated with sera from rabbits infected with either T . pallidum or T . pertenue and 125I-labeled staphylococcal protein A and exposed to X-ray film for visualization of antigenic molecules . Protein profiles of each organism separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and stained with Coomassie brilliant blue showed no distinguishable differences . Antigenic profiles as determined by Western blots were similar with two exceptions . A 39,500-dalton band was present on T . pertenue but absent from T . pallidum, and a 19,000-dalton band was present on T . pallidum but absent from T . pertenue (although two additional antigenic bands at 21,000 and 18,000 daltons were seen on T . pertenue) . Because these differences were detected by using antisera raised against either T . pallidum or T . pertenue, these molecules must contain some antigenic determinants in common despite their differences in molecular weight. Virology, 1983 Oct 30, 130(2), 331 - 41 Identification of a new protein present in vesicular stomatitis virus-infected Chinese hamster ovary cells as a degradation product of viral M protein; Rosen CA et al.; In addition to the five previously described vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) proteins (L, G, N, NS, and M), a protein (Mr 17,500) accumulated late in infection of Chinese hamster ovary cells . The protein, designated M', was a cleavage product of the viral M protein (Mr 26,000) both in vivo and in vitro . (a) M' was precipitated by anti VSV serum, indicating that it is of viral origin . (b) M' peptides generated using Staphylococcus V8 protease or chymotrypsin were shared by M, but not by the other VSV proteins . (c) The conversion of M to M' was enzymatic . The enzyme denoted M protease was heat labile, was inhibited by the serine protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, and its accumulation, which commenced between 2 and 3 hr after infection, required protein synthesis . (d) The amounts of L, G, N, and NS increased in CHO-infected cells while the amount of M increased for only 3-4 hr and decreased thereafter . Since M has been implicated in the inhibition of VSV transcription, it is possible that regulation of the amount of M by degradation is important in the regulation of VSV transcription. Med J Aust, 1983 Oct 29, 2(9), 440 - 3 Clinical trial of prophylaxis of wound sepsis in elective colorectal surgery . Cephamandole with tinidazole versus tinidazole alone; The toxic shock syndrome exotoxin structural gene is not detectably transmitted by a prophage; Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a complex of generalized symptoms caused by a local staphylococcal infection, and a circulating toxin is thought to be involved . Indeed, nearly 100% of TSS isolates produce an exoprotein, TSSE, that is thought to have an aetiological role on the basis of positive animal tests (refs 1,2 and F . Quimby, personal communication) and human serological data . Although the precise role of TSSE in TSS remains unclear (E . Kass, personal communication), no other staphylococcal factor has been implicated . Our preliminary studies of the genetics of TSSE production failed to demonstrate plasmid or phage involvement or linkage with known chromosomal genes (ref . 4 and B.N.K . et al., unpublished data); however, Schutzer et al . have found that most TSS strains harbour prophages with common plating characteristics and suggest that the toxin(s) involved in TSS are transmitted by lysogenic conversion . We show here that TSSE is not demonstrably transferred by lysogeny; moreover, we have cloned the gene and found that the cloned product is serologically and biologically indistinguishable from the native protein, and that the TSSE determinant is associated with a larger DNA segment that is absent or rearranged in TSSE- strains. Eur J Biochem, 1983 Oct 17, 136(1), 223 - 32 The primary structure of Escherichia coli glutaredoxin . Distant homology with thioredoxins in a superfamily of small proteins with a redox-active cystine disulfide/cysteine dithiol; Hoog JO et al.; An immunosorbent method using antiglutaredoxin-Sepharose was developed for purification of glutaredoxin in high yield from a mutant strain of Escherichia coli K 12 lacking thioredoxin reductase (C 10-17) . The primary structure of the protein was determined by analyses of {14C}carboxymethylated glutaredoxin and its proteolytic fragments obtained by digestions with trypsin, clostripain, chymotrypsin and staphylococcal Glu-specific extracellular protease . The single active-center disulfide has the structure-Cys-Pro-Tyr-Cys-, with the half-cystine residues located at positions 11 and 14 in the polypeptide chain . In total the protein was deduced to have 85 residues corresponding to a molecular weight of 9674 for the reduced form of glutaredoxin, making it one of the smallest known enzymes (a glutathione-disulfide transhydrogenase) . The half-cystines are identically spaced and similarly positioned in the N-terminal part of the protein when compared with a corresponding functionally active disulfide/dithiol in thioredoxins . Glutaredoxin is also distantly homologous with thioredoxins from phage T4 and E . coli, but extensive differences, even around the redox-active disulfide, distinguish glutaredoxin from the thioredoxins . Allowing for deletions in the glutaredoxin sequence (or insertions in the T4 thioredoxin sequence) at four places, there are identical residues at 25 positions of the 77 compared (= 32% identity) . The results establish that glutaredoxin belongs to the same superfamily of small redox proteins as the thioredoxins . The structures are, however, subject to large changes, only four positions have residues identical among all presently analyzed forms . The fluorescence of reduced and oxidized glutaredoxin demonstrates an increase in the quantum yield of the tyrosine emission upon reduction with dithiothreitol . Differences in the spectra support the presence of tyrosine adjacent to the redox-active disulfide bridge . They also confirm that glutaredoxin lacks the disulfide-adjacent tryptophan residues of E . coli thioredoxin . There are known to be great differences between the bacterial E . coli and phage T4 forms of thioredoxin . The glutaredoxin structure is most similar to the phage type, both with respect to size of the polypeptide chain and to actual sequence . From the structural results and the previously known functional similarities it appears possible that the phage thioredoxin may have evolved from an early glutaredoxin gene . The mixed properties are compatible with this conclusion, the superfamily assignment, and the differences in biological activity. J Mol Biol, 1983 Oct 15, 170(1), 93 - 117 Nucleosome arrangement in green monkey alpha-satellite chromatin . Superimposition of non-random and apparently random patterns; Wu KC et al.; We have studied the structure of tandemly repetitive alpha-satellite chromatin (alpha-chromatin) in African green monkey cells (CV-1 line), using restriction endonucleases and staphylococcal nuclease as probes . While more than 80% of the 172-base-pair (bp) alpha-DNA repeats have a HindIII site, less than 15% of the alpha-DNA repeats have an EcoRI site, and most of the latter alpha-repeats are highly clustered within the CV-1 genome . EcoRI and HindIII solubilize approximately 8% and 2% of the alpha-chromatin, respectively, under the conditions used . EcoRI is thus approximately 30 times more effective than HindIII in solubilizing alpha-chromatin, with relation to the respective cutting frequencies of HindIII and EcoRI on alpha-DNA . EcoRI and HindIII solubilize largely non-overlapping subsets of alpha-chromatin . The DNA size distributions of both EcoRI- and HindIII-solubilized alpha-chromatin particles peak at alpha-monomers . These DNA size distributions are established early in digestion and remain strikingly constant throughout the digestion with either EcoRI or HindIII . Approximately one in every four of both EcoRI- and HindIII-solubilized alpha-chromatin particles is an alpha-monomer . Two-dimensional (deoxyribonucleoprotein leads to DNA) electrophoretic analysis of the EcoRI-solubilized, sucrose gradient-fractionated alpha-oligonucleosomes shows that they do not contain "hidden" EcoRI cuts . Moreover, although the EcoRI-solubilized alpha-oligonucleosomes contain one EcoRI site in every 172-bp alpha-DNA repeat, they are completely resistant to redigestion with EcoRI . This striking difference between the EcoRI-accessible EcoRI sites flanking an EcoRI-solubilized alpha-oligonucleosome and completely EcoRI-resistant internal EcoRI sites in the same alpha-oligonucleosome indicates either that the flanking EcoRI sites occur within a modified chromatin structure or that an altered nucleosome arrangement in the vicinity of a flanking EcoRI site is responsible for its location in the nuclease-sensitive internucleosomal (linker) region . Analogous redigestions of the EcoRI-solubilized alpha-oligonucleosomes with either HindIII, MboII or HaeIII (both before and after selective removal of histone H1 by an exchange onto tRNA) produce a self-consistent pattern of restriction site accessibilities . Taken together, these data strongly suggest a preferred nucleosome arrangement within the EcoRI-solubilized subset of alpha-oligonucleosomes, with the centers of most of the nucleosomal cores being approximately 20 bp and approximately 50 bp away from the nearest EcoRI and HindIII sites, respectively, within the 172-bp alpha-DNA repeat . However, as noted above, the clearly preferred pattern of nucleosome arrangement within the EcoRI-solubilized alpha-oligonucleosomes is invariably violated at the ends of every such alpha-oligonucleosomal particle, suggesting at least a partially statistical origin of this apparently non-random nucleosome arrangement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) J Immunol Methods, 1983 Oct 14, 63(2), 163 - 70 A solid-phase radioimmunoassay for IgG gliadin antibodies using 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A; Troncone R et al.; A sensitive radioimmunoassay for IgG gliadin antibodies is described . Serum specimens were added to wells of plastic microtitre plates coated with gliadin . After removal of the unbound material, gliadin antibodies were detected by adding 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A (125I-SpA) . Serum specimens from coeliac patients on a normal diet or on a gluten-free diet were tested, as well as sera from an age-matched control group . Measurements to obtain precise quantitative values were made with gliadin antibody-rich serum as reference standard . High titres of gliadin antibodies were found in 18 out of 19 coeliac patients on a normal diet (95%); in patients on a strict gluten-free diet serum values did not exceed 2 S.D . of the control mean . Due to the high sensitivity of the method a low but detectable amount of gliadin antibody was present in the sera of all controls. Nucleic Acids Res, 1983 Oct 11, 11(19), 6755 - 73 The chromatin structure of an actively expressed, single copy yeast gene; Lohr D; When the yeast galactokinase gene is not active (repressed, not expressed, quiescent), there is an exceptionally regular nucleosome array on coding sequence galactokinase chromatin, as shown by both denaturing and non-denaturing gel analysis of staphylococcal nuclease digests . Expression of the gene results in a limited smearing of the nucleosome repeat peaks and an increase in interpeak DNA, appearing as a regular ladder of DNA bands on denaturing gels . On non-denaturing gels the pattern is more complex and molecular weight dependent . These data suggest an increase in intracore particle DNA accessibility, allowing staphylococcal nuclease to digest throughout the nucleosome in expressed chromatin . Comparison to bulk chromatin and to an operationally inactive gene (35S rDNA) show that the alteration is specific to expressed chromatin . In contrast, DNase I shows no differences in the digestion of the gene specific chromatin in expressed or inactive states. Nucleic Acids Res, 1983 Oct 11, 11(19), 6803 - 19 HMG 14/17 binding affinities and DNAase I sensitivities of nucleoprotein particles; Stein A et al.; We show that ordinary (bulk) chicken erythrocyte nucleosomes are digested more rapidly by DNAase I when they are associated with high mobility group (HMG) proteins 14/17 . Digestion of HMG 14/17-nucleosome complexes, under conditions where the DNA in control nucleosomes is digested to 10 to 20% acid solubility, results in a particular depletion of single-strand DNA fragments greater than 80 nucleotides in length, relative to the DNA fragments produced from control nucleosomes . Additionally, we show that staphylococcal nuclease digests of H1/H5-depleted chromatin contain an abundant subclass of nucleosomes that are not present in appreciable amounts in digests of native chromatin . These nucleosomes contain longer lengths of DNA and have lower electrophoretic mobilities than core particles . HMG 14/17 associates highly preferentially with these nucleosomes and renders them sensitive to DNAase I, similar to what has been found for active nucleosomes. Hautarzt, 1983 Oct, 34(10), 496 - 9 {Multiple lymphocytoma at the point of puncture as complication of acupuncture treatment . Traumatic origin of lymphocytoma}; Bork K; In general, side effects of acupuncture are rare and this also concerns dermatological diseases caused by acupuncture . Mostly, infectious diseases occur by inoculation of the infectious agents, especially cutaneous bacterial diseases as staphylococcal folliculitis and abscesses, favoured by insufficient sterilisation of the needles . A 34-year-old female patient is reported, who developed multiple lymphocytomata cutis over the ears in the course of an acupuncture . The tumors appeared at the insert sites of the needles and always followed the auricular acupuncture though taking place at different times . During the past the connection between different traumata and lymphocytoma cutis has been stressed several times and in the same way this case report underlines the etiological hetrogeneity of this peculiar inflammatory reaction type. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1983 Oct, 131(10), 108 - 9 {Immunotherapy in the complex treatment of acute suppurative diseases of soft tissues and the hand under ambulatory conditions}; Zebzeev EF et al.; On the basis of clinical experiences with the surgical treatment of 145 patients the authors recommend using active immunization with staphylococcal anatoxin after operation . It is found to shorten the time of treatment. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Oct, 12 Suppl C, 29 - 34 In-vivo effects of clindamycin on neutrophil function--a preliminary report; Faden H et al.; Neutrophil functions were evaluated in six normal subjects who had received 300 mg of clindamycin orally four times each day for two days . The mean serum concentration was 1.0 mg/l at the time of neutrophil collection . Clindamycin increased phagocytosis of a clindamycin-resistant staphylococcus from 0.8 to 1.0 organism per polymorphonuclear leukocyte (P less than 0.05) . The proportion of killed intracellular bacteria increased from 23.8% to 29.8% . Zymosan-induced chemiluminescence was reduced from 130 X 10(3) to 86 X 10(3) counts per 0.2 min (P less than 0.05) . Chemotaxis was unaffected . These preliminary results demonstrate measurable effects of clindamycin on neutrophil functions in the host; however, further studies are needed in order to confirm the observed changes. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Oct, 2(5), 453 - 8 Cross-reacting opsonic antibodies to clinically important pneumococcal serotypes after pneumococcal vaccination; Braconier JH et al.; Opsonic activity of serum to pneumococcal serotypes 6 B, 9 V and 19 A was measured in 16 patients before and after immunization with a pneumococcal vaccine . The capsular polysaccharides of these serotypes are not included among, but are antigenically related to the vaccine polysaccharides . Patients responding to immunization with a twofold increase in serum antibodies to vaccine polysaccharides 6 A, 19 F and 23 F were studied . Increased opsonic activity towards serotypes 6 B, 9 V and 19 A was found in 12, four and ten patients respectively . In ten of the patients antibodies to serotypes 6 B, 9 V and 19 A were measured by a staphylococcal protein-A binding assay . A twofold increase in antibodies was found in postvaccination samples from ten, three and seven patients respectively . These results indicate that humans responding to pneumococcal vaccination, may also develop opsonic antibodies to other clinically important pneumococcal serotypes . The degree of cross-immunization appears to vary between individuals and between different pneumococcal serotypes. Neurosurgery, 1983 Oct, 13(4), 371 - 6 Postoperative intervertebral disc space infection; Rawlings CE 3rd et al.; Intervertebral disc space infection is an uncommon, but serious, complication of disc surgery . By a retrospective chart review, we identified 27 patients at our institution who had a postoperative disc space infection; 14 were diagnosed and treated within the last 5 years . The characteristic symptoms were severe spinal pain and limited spinal mobility beginning 7 to 30 days postoperatively . The key physical findings were paravertebral muscle spasm and marked mechanical signs . The key laboratory findings were an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a mildly elevated white blood cell count . The diagnosis was based on the clinical presentation and early radiographic changes in the vertebral bodies adjacent to the involved disc, especially irregularities of the cortical margins seen best by tomography . Definitive bacteriological diagnosis by Craig needle biopsy was attempted in 14 patients; 7 had positive cultures and all yielded a Staphylococcus species . The usual treatment consisted of the administration of antistaphylococcal antibiotics and immobilization of the spine with a spica cast, a plastic body jacket, or complete bedrest . The final radiographic findings showed bony fusion or bridging in 19 patients, and 25 patients had a pain-free recovery after 1 to 9 months . There was 1 recurrent infection, and 3 patients eventually required an anterior discectomy and fusion . Based on a review of our own cases and those reported in the literature, we stress the importance of spinal tomography in establishing the diagnosis of postoperative disc space infection at a relatively early stage in a patient who is suspected of having this condition on the basis of typical symptoms and signs combined with an elevated sedimentation rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Clin Exp Immunol, 1983 Oct, 54(1), 39 - 48 Regulation of natural and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by staphylococcal enterotoxin A; Kimber I et al.; The capacity of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), a potent T cell mitogen and inducer of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), to modulate human lymphocyte cytotoxic function has been examined and compared with the influence of purified and/or gene cloned IFN-alpha . While the natural killer (NK) cell function of peripheral blood lymphocytes is significantly augmented after exposure to IFN-alpha, levels of cytotoxicity were even greater following pre-treatment with optimal concentrations (0 X 1 microgram/ml) of SEA . Moreover lymphocyte (K cell)-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), which is uninfluenced by exposure to IFN-alpha, was, in most instances, potentiated by SEA . However the efficacy with which SEA augmented natural cytotoxic function was most apparent from experiments utilizing extravascular lymphoid effectors in which basal NK activity is weak and the response to IFN-alpha variable (in the case of lymph node cells) or undetectable (in the case of tonsillar lymphocytes) . Co-fractionation on Percoll gradients of lymphocytes responding to SEA with native NK cells suggested that SEA affects NK cells or their non-cytolytic precursors possibly by elaboration of soluble mediators rather than by the induction of a ligand binding mechanism analogous to lectin-dependent cytotoxicity . This system could have important implications for the regulation of NK cell function by lymphocyte stimulatory factors, particularly in lymphoid tissues where indigenous NK activity is low and relatively unaffected by IFN-alpha. Scand J Immunol, 1983 Oct, 18(4), 319 - 28 An extended C1q-binding assay using lactoperoxidase- and chloramine-T-iodinated C1q . Immediate distinction between immune-aggregate-mediated and non-immune-aggregate-mediated C1q binding; Spaeth PJ et al.; An extension of the C1q-binding assay for the detection of immune-aggregate-mediated and non-immune-aggregate-mediated C1q binding is reported . The assay involves the use of two different C1q preparations, one radioiodinated by means of lactoperoxidase (LPO-125I-C1q) and the other by means of chloramine-T (CT-125I-C1q) . The treatment with CT for 20 min at room temperature before iodination for 1 min led to abolishment of the C1q-binding capacities to complexed IgG: approximately 50% of LPO-125I-C1q but only 2% of CT-125I-C1q bound to 80 micrograms/ml of IgG forming part of tetanus toxoid/anti-tetanus toxoid complexes or to 200 micrograms/ml of heat-aggregated human gamma globulin . Similar results were obtained with staphylococcal protein-A-aggregated IgG . CT-treated C1q was haemolytically inactive . In contrast to the results with complexed IgG, CT treatment did not markedly reduce binding capacities of C1q to heparin: approximately 55% of LPO- and CT-125I-C1q were bound by 127 U/ml of commercial heparin in normal human serum . Both C1q preparations bound to a comparable extent to fibronectin, fibrinogen, and various bacterial endotoxins . When the LPO- and CT-125I-C1q-binding patterns obtained on serum samples from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, or essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia were compared with binding patterns observed using laboratory reactants, an immediate detection of non-immune-aggregate-mediated C1q binding became possible. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1983 Oct, 80(20), 6376 - 80 Characterization of human hybridomas secreting antibody to tetanus toxoid; Larrick JW et al.; We have selected a thioguanine-resistant lymphoblastoid cell line (LTR228) that forms human-human hybrids with high efficiency . Fusions with peripheral B cells consistently yield one colony per 10(5) cells plated . To produce antitetanus monoclonal antibodies, we withdrew blood from persons who had recently received booster injections of tetanus toxoid . T cells were separated from peripheral mononuclear cells by 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide-induced rosette formation, given 1,500 rads (1 rad = 0.01 gray), and cultured in a 1:1 ratio with nonrosetting cells . After 3 days of pokeweed mitogen stimulation, heterokaryons were produced by a plate-fusion technique and cultured in Iscove's Dulbecco's minimal essential medium for 24 hr prior to hybrid selection . Colonies appeared after 10-14 days in hypoxanthine/azaserine supplemented medium . A direct binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with specific tetanus toxoid inhibition identified positive wells . The hybridomas were cloned twice in soft agarose and by limiting dilution . The subcloned hybridomas double every 26 hr (vs . every 16 hr for LTR228) and produce 1-5 micrograms of specific IgG, kappa antibody per 10(6) cells per ml per 24 hr . All subclones (almost 200) continue to secrete antibody after 11 months of continuous culture . Twelve representative subclones have near tetraploid amounts of DNA . From hybridomas grown in 5-liter spinner flasks, milligram quantities of the IgG, kappa antibody were purified by staphylococcus protein A affinity chromatography . Specific antibody from hybridoma cultures protected mice injected with 1,000 times the LD50 of tetanus toxin . Our cell line and associated techniques should permit the production of therapeutically important human monoclonal antibodies. Biokhimiia, 1983 Oct, 48(10), 1739 - 46 {Purification and identification of mRNA of immune (gamma) interferon from human splenocytes}; Liakh LA et al.; The isolation of total RNA from primary culture of human splenocytes and its physico-chemical and biological properties are described . Human splenocytes are characterized by a high content of mRNA of human immune interferon, low content of total RNA and an extremely high activity of RNAases . Therefore it was necessary to elaborate conditions for the isolation of mRNA without DNA contaminants in the presence of extensive inhibitors of the RNAase activity . These include cell homogenization, separation of cytoplasm at -10 degrees C and treatment by RNAase inhibitors--ribonucleoside-vanadyl complexes or a combination of aurin-tricarboxylic acid with dithiothreitol . The resulting preparations of total RNA were purified by chromatography on oligo (dT)-cellulose and translated in a cell-free system from rabbit reticulocytes . These preparations were free of nonspecific translation inhibitors which are normally present in the lymphoid cells mRNA . In a cell-free system mRNA of human splenocytes induced with staphylococcal enterotoxin A code the synthesis of biologically active interferon which was identified as immune (gamma) human interferon, using a serological analysis . The preparations of immune interferon mRNA obtained under the conditions described above can further be used for cloning of the corresponding gene in bacterial cells. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1983 Oct, 131(10), 94 - 6 {Principles of complex treatment of suppurative surgical diseases in children}; Rakhimov SR et al.; The authors describe their experiences with the treatment of 174 children with purulent diseases of the skin and subcutaneous fat, staphylococcal destruction of lungs, acute hematogenic osteomyelitis . The intensive infusion therapy for desintoxication is shown to be necessary as well as immune therapy, antibacterial and desensitizing preparations. Immunol Commun, 1983 Oct, 12(5), 465 - 71 A rapid assay for immunoglobulin in hybridoma supernatants; Male D et al.; A single step assay is described which allows detection of IgM and IgG in tissue culture supernatants at concentrations below 100 ng/ml . The assay is based on the agglutination of staphylococcal protein A coated sheep red blood cells (E-spA) in the presence of an enhancing antibody . The assay was designed for the rapid screening of antibody production by hybridoma cultures. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1983 Oct, 80(19), 6010 - 3 Human lymphocyte production of immunoreactive thyrotropin; Smith EM et al.; Interferon-alpha inducers were previously shown to cause human lymphocyte production of a corticotropin (ACTH)-like peptide . Thyrotropin (TSH) was not produced under these conditions . In contrast, this report shows that a T-cell mitogen (staphylococcal enterotoxin A), which does not induce the ACTH-like peptide, caused human lymphocyte production of an immunoreactive (ir) TSH . Lymphocyte synthesis of the ir TSH was first detectable at 24 hr, peaked at 48 hr, and thereafter declined . NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of intrinsically radiolabeled lymphocyte-derived ir TSH showed radiolabeled peaks at 80, 50, and 26 kilodaltons . These peaks presumably correspond to trimeric, dimeric, and monomeric TSH-like proteins, respectively . Acid treatment and reduction caused the ir TSH to migrate as a 14-kilodalton peak with a 12-kilodalton shoulder in a gel filtration column run in 6 M guanidine . HCl . Thus, the ir TSH seemed to be composed of subunits with molecular masses corresponding to those of the beta and alpha chains of human TSH, respectively . The ir TSH appeared to be glycoprotein because it bound to a concanavalin A affinity column . Taken together these data suggest that in addition to ACTH, human lymphocytes can also produce a TSH-like substance. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Oct, 36(10), 2730 - 2 {Cefotiam passage into the maxillary sinus tissues}; Nakashima M et al.; Clinical study was made on cefotiam (CTM) and the following results were obtained . Tissue concentrations of CTM were determined 1 hour after intravenous injection (CTM 1 g) in chronic sinusitis and maxillary cyst . Concentrations of CTM were 16.53 micrograms/g, 13.26 micrograms/g in mucosa of the maxillary sinus, maxillary cyst, respectively . Antibacterial activity of CTM was measured on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Aerococcus, Acidaminococcus fermentans, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius; that were isolated from pus of maxillary sinus . The highest MIC on them was 3.13 micrograms/ml. Jpn J Antibiot, 1983 Oct, 36(10), 2688 - 92 {Clinical studies of cefotiam in otorhinolaryngologic infections}; Sato F et al.; Cefotiam (CTM) was intravenously given to 12 patients with infectious diseases in the field of otorhinolaryngology including 10 cases with chronic suppurative otitis media . Daily doses of CTM were 1 to 4 g . Clinical responses were excellent in 3 patients, good in 5, fair in 1 and poor in 3 . The rate of overall clinical effectiveness was 67% . Staphylococcus species were most frequently isolated from the patients and all of them were eradicated by the CTM treatment . No side effects and no abnormal laboratory findings relating to the drug administration were observed. Am J Physiol, 1983 Oct, 245(4), G492 - 8 Binding of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin to receptors on rat intestinal cells; Giannella RA et al.; This study was performed to determine whether receptors for Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) exist on intestinal epithelial cells . Binding sites for 125I-ST were found on rat jejunal and ileal villus cells . Binding was rapid, reversible, linear with cell number, saturable, and temperature dependent . Significant degradation of 125I-ST occurred when incubated with cells at 37 degrees C but not at 25 degrees C . Binding was specific to ST since binding of 125I-ST was competitively inhibited by increasing concentrations of human or porcine ST but not by E . coli heat-labile, cholera, or staphylococcal enterotoxins . Addition of excess unlabeled ST to cells preincubated with 125I-ST resulted in dissociation of much but not all of the bound 125I-ST . Binding of 125I-ST to jejunal and ileal cells occurs with two affinities, and this is due to the phenomenon of negative cooperativity . The potency of ST for inhibiting the binding of 125I-ST was identical to the potency of ST in stimulating cGMP production . These data support the existence of receptors for ST on intestinal cells, and these receptors may be involved in the action of ST. Cell Immunol, 1983 Oct 1, 81(1), 61 - 70 Inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis block the induction of staphylococcal enterotoxin B-activated T-suppressor cells; Donnelly RP et al.; A variety of arachidonic acid metabolites possess the ability to modulate immune cell function . Various inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism were compared with regard to their effects on T-suppressor (Ts) cell function . Using staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) to activate Lyt-2+ Ts cells, it was shown that indomethacin and 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) inhibit the induction phase, but not the expression phase, of suppressor cell activity . Agents which inhibit thromboxane synthetase or lipoxygenase activities (imidazole, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and pyrogallol) were not found to affect Ts cell induction . Since inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis are thought to induce lower levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, an attempt to overcome the indomethacin inhibition of Ts cell induction by modulating cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels was made . It was found that theophylline and isoproterenol are not able to overcome the inhibition by indomethacin of Ts cell activity . These results strongly suggest that induction of Ts cells by SEB is dependent on the synthesis of products of the prostaglandin synthetase pathway. Pediatr Res, 1983 Oct, 17(10), 820 - 4 Neutrophil and T lymphocyte characteristics of two patients with hyper-IgE syndrome; Soderberg-Warner M et al.; Immunologic parameters including quantitative and qualitative immunoglobulin studies, various T cell functions and neutrophil chemotaxis were evaluated in two patients with the Hyper-IgE syndrome . Both exhibited pruritic dermatitis in locations atypical for atopic dermatitis, marked elevations in serum IgE levels (to 40,000 IU/ml), recurrent staphylococcal abscesses, coarse facial features and variable chemotactic defects characteristic of this syndrome . Both patients responded favorably to courses of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, particularly in helping control the cutaneous infections . We believe that this is a useful therapeutic alternative to anti-staphylococcal antibiotics and prophylactic treatment has permitted therapeutic response . Serum IgG, IgG subclasses, IgM, and IgA were normal for age . Serum IgD was markedly deficient in one patient . Functional IgM was normal with positive isohemagglutinin titers . IgG poliovirus titers were present in both patients; however, tetanus titers were not detectable in either patient, despite repeated immunizations . Despite normal E rosette numbers, subtle T cell abnormalities were noted with variable responses to both in vivo SK-SD, candida, and mumps skin tests and in vitro PHA-, Con A-tetanus-induced lymphocyte proliferation . Lymphocyte production of macrophage inhibitory factor and interferon and responsiveness in a mixed lymphocyte culture were normal in both patients . Considerable Con-A-induced suppressor cell activity was present in one patient, but diminished in the other . In vivo chemotaxis determined by a Rebuck skin window, revealed a markedly delayed PMN migration in both patients during a time when both patients were clinically free of furunculosis or dermatitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1983 Oct, 96(10), 16 - 9 {Effect of staphylococcal toxin and antistaphylococcal gamma-globulin on the electrical and contractile activity of the guinea pig myocardium}; Vornovitskii EG et al.; A study was made of the action of staphylococcal toxin (ST) and its combination with antistaphylococcal gamma-globulin (ASGG) on intracellular potentials (rest potential--RP, and action potential--AP), and isometric contractions of guinea-pig auricle . ST (initial concentration 18.10(-2)Lh) diluted with normal Tyrode's solution at 1:1000, 1:100 and 1:10 (spontaneously active preparations), and Tyrode's solution with 13.5 mM KCl (evoked activity of preparations), significantly increased the duration of AP of myocardial cells . In evoked activity of preparations, RP and the amplitude of AP declined as the concentration of ST was raised . The amplitude of isometric contractions and maximal rates of their growth and fall increased under the effect of ST (1:1000) and decreased at 1:100 and 1:10 . ASGG combined with ST (1:100) did not produce any protective effect on the myocardium . On the contrary, it provoked a still greater inhibition of contractility . The inhibitory action of combined ST and ASGG was seen at all ratios of ST to ASGG (use was made of ASGG shortage, equivalent amount and excess as regards ST) and reached 50% for all study characteristics of contractility . Anatoxin (inactivated toxin) combined with ASGG also produced a cardiodepressant action which was manifested in an approximately 50% decrease in the maximal rate of the growth and fall of contractions in the absence of significant changes in the contraction amplitude. Infect Immun, 1983 Oct, 42(1), 341 - 9 Effect of immune serum on infectivity of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi; Hanson BA; Hyperimmune antirickettsial serum was shown to prevent the attachment/penetration stage of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi infection of suspended chicken cells . The extent of the inhibition depended on the serum concentration but not on the presence of complement . The neutralizing activity was reduced by prior adsorption of immune serum with staphylococcal protein A or with intact rickettsiae but was not affected by adsorption with target cells . In the neutralization tests, there was no cross-reactivity between the Karp and Gilliam strains of R . tsutsugamushi . Incubation of rickettsiae with immune serum did not alter their capacity to metabolize glutamate nor grossly damage the permeability barrier function of their cytoplasmic membranes . Although the assay method had the capacity to detect some aggregated infectious organisms, none were found in immune serum-treated suspensions . It was concluded that immune serum may inhibit rickettsial infection by blocking a surface component(s) whose function is necessary for attachment to and/or penetration of target cells. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1983 Sep 28, 747(3), 253 - 62 Nitration of the tyrosine residues of porcine pancreatic colipase with tetranitromethane, and properties of the nitrated derivatives; De Caro JD et al.; The nitration of the long form (N-terminal valine) of porcine pancreatic colipase with tetranitromethane was investigated under a variety of conditions . Fractionation of the nitrated monomers on DE-cellulose led to well-defined derivatives containing one, two and three nitrotyrosines per mol . Automated Edman degradation of the nitrated peptides, especially that of the staphylococcal proteinase peptide (49-64) showed that Tyr-54 was nitrated very fast under all conditions . This residue was the only one to be nitrated in water . Partial nitration of Tyr-59 was induced by bile salt micelles, while both Tyr-59 and Tyr-58 reacted extensively in the presence of lysophosphatidylcholine micelles (in which tetranitromethane is concentrated 150-fold compared to water) or of a liquid tetranitromethane-water interface . The strong negative Cotton effect at 410 nm which has already been observed using unfractionated preparations of nitrated colipase (Behnke W.D . (1982) Biochim . Biophys . Acta 708, 118-123) is linked with the nitration of Tyr-59 and it is markedly reduced by taurodeoxycholate micelles, suggesting a conformational change induced by the micelles in the tyrosine region . Moreover, the pKa of the nitrotyrosine residues in nitrated colipase is the same as that of free nitrotyrosine (pKa = 6.8) and it is shifted to 7.6 in the presence of taurodeoxycholate micelles . Micelles protected colipase against polymerization during nitration . These data suggest that Tyr-58 and Tyr-59 are part of the interface recognition site of colipase . The participation of Tyr-55 in binding is not excluded . The upwards nitrotyrosine pKa shift in the colipase micelle complex may explain why nitrated colipase can reactivate lipase in a triacylglycerol-taurodeoxycholate system at pH 7.5. J Immunol Methods, 1983 Sep 16, 62(3), 365 - 71 A pre-amplified reverse hemolytic plaque assay; Makonkawkeyoon S et al.; A pre-amplified reverse hemolytic plaque assay has been developed . Sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were coated with staphylococcal protein A (SPA) by the chromic chloride method . The protein A-coated SRBC (SPA-SRBC) was then pre-amplified with an appropriate amount of human class-specific Ig . The pre-amplified Ig-SPA-SRBC was used to detect class-specific Ig-producing cells . It was found that this pre-amplified reverse hemolytic plaque assay gave clearer, larger and more numerous hemolytic plaques which were easy to count and thus gave more accurate results. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1983 Sep 14, 747(1-2), 93 - 9 The complete primary structure of phospholipase A2 from human pancreas; Verheij HM et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of phospholipase A2 (phosphatide 2-acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.4) from human pancreas was determined . The protein consists of a single polypeptide chain of 125 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 14003 . The chain is cross-linked by seven disulfide bridges . The main fragmentation of the polypeptide chain was accomplished by digestion of the reduced and thialaminated derivative of the protein with clostripain, yielding three fragments . The largest fragment (residues 7-100) was further degraded both with staphylococcal proteinase and chymotrypsin . The sequence was determined by automated Edman degradation of the intact protein and of several large peptide fragments . Phospholipase A2 from human pancreas contains the same number of amino acids (125) as the enzyme from horse, while the enzymes from pig and ox contain 124 and 123 residues, respectively . The enzymes show a high degree of homology; human phospholipase differs from the other enzymes by substitutions of 26 (porcine), 28 (bovine) and 32 (equine) residues, respectively. Biochemistry, 1983 Sep 13, 22(19), 4574 - 80 Physical properties and function of phallolysin; Faulstich H et al.; Phallolysin, a mixture of two to three cytolytic proteins (all of Mr 34 000), has been isolated from Amanita phalloides mushrooms and purified to homogeneity (specific activity 24 000 hemolytic units/mg of protein) . After separation by isoelectric focusing, the amino acid composition of two of these proteins has been determined . They are rich in water-soluble amino acids and contain one tryptophan residue each, but no cysteine or methionine . Mr was determined to be 34 000 in the native form as well as under denaturing conditions, indicating that the native proteins exist as monomers . Many of the physical properties of phallolysin are strikingly similar to those of staphylococcal alpha-toxin, e.g., molecular weight, existence of multiple forms, pI values, amino acid composition, and thermolability (60 degrees C) . Pure phallolysin allowed us to prepare a radioactively labeled toxin . Labeling was achieved by reaction with formaldehyde, followed by reduction with sodium {3H}borohydride . With the labeled toxin (specific activity 7-14 Ci/mmol, ca . 60% biological activity), we investigated its binding to human A2 erythrocytes . We determined the number of receptors on these cells (2 X 10(4) per cell) as well as their affinity to the toxin (KD = 4 X 10(-9) M) . In studies on the mechanism of cytolytic activity, we were able to distinguish at least three sequential events: binding of the toxin to human erythrocytes, K+ release, and membrane rupture (hemoglobulin release) . These steps could be characterized by different kinetics as well as by different temperature dependencies . Again, the kinetic data for phallolysin are very closely related to those obtained for staphylococcal alpha-toxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biochemistry, 1983 Sep 13, 22(19), 4527 - 34 A protected region upstream and limited nucleosomal positioning downstream of the transcription initiation region of the yeast 35S ribosomal gene; Lohr D; To locate nucleosome positions around the transcription initiation site of 35S rDNA in yeast, single and double cleavage site data for staphylococcal nuclease and single cleavage site data for DNase I were obtained by methods involving some modifications of the usual indirect end-labeling procedure . Results show that immediately upstream of the initiation site there is an approximately 225 base pair (bp) stretch of chromatin which is quite resistant to nuclease digestion . The nucleosomal domain begins on the coding sequences, at the downstream end of the resistant region, with the major locus 30 bp and a minor locus 5 bp downstream of the initiation site in growing cells . The location of the major locus is corroborated by analysis within the coding sequences, although results within the gene are less convincing because of a strong similarity of chromatin and naked DNA digestion profiles . The staphylococcal nuclease cleavage maps were tested by their ability to reproduce chromatin digest profiles and to explain the presence or absence, depending on which parts of the region were used as probes, of specific bands within the pattern . The site of the major upstream locus of the nucleosomal domain differs in growing and stationary cells . This shift changes the accessibility of approximately 25 bp of DNA and may be associated with the expression of these genes. FEBS Lett, 1983 Sep 5, 161(1), 84 - 8 Selective cleavage of the connector segments within the myosin-S1 heavy chain by staphylococcal protease; Chaussepied P et al.; The existence of the two connector segments linking the tryptic 50 kDa fragment of skeletal S1 heavy chain to the adjacent 27 kDa and 20 kDa peptides was ascertained by digestion of S1 with staphylococcal protease which was found to act specifically at these particular regions . Three new peptides of Mr 28000, 48000 and 22000 were produced and the novel S1 derivative formed had an intact actin-activated ATPase activity . Amino acid sequence analyses indicated that the 48 kDa and 22 kDa peptides overlap the two connector elements. Science, 1983 Sep 2, 221(4614), 962 - 4 Isolation of lamellar bodies from neonatal mouse epidermis by selective sequential filtration; Grayson S et al.; Isolation of epidermal lamellar bodies has presented a challenge because pressures required to homogenize keratinocytes can destroy these organelles and because the lamellar body readily releases its contents during prolonged isolation procedures . In an attempt to isolate lamellar bodies, sheets of intact stratum corneum and stratum granulosum were obtained from neonatal mice with highly purified staphylococcal epidermolytic toxin, disrupted, and passed through a series of filters . The final filtrate was rich in intact lamellar bodies and contained variable amounts of ribosomes and other vesicular structures . Availability of a highly purified lamellar body preparation from postnatal epidermis should help to clarify the role of this organelle in epidermal function . The technique of selective, sequential filtration represents a new approach to cell fractionation that may have wide applications in cell biology and biochemistry. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1983 Sep, 225(2), 475 - 81 Localization of the ATP binding site on alpha-tubulin; Zabrecky JR et al.; The binding site for ATP to tubulin was established by use of the photoaffinity label {gamma-32P}N3ATP . Photolysis of the analog in the presence of tubulin resulted in covalent modification of the protein as revealed by autoradiography of electropherograms . Scanning the autoradiograms showed that the ATP analog was bound mainly to the alpha subunit of the tubulin dimer; the alpha subunit was two to three times more radioactive than was the beta subunit . The location of a particular site on the alpha subunit was further defined by peptide maps . The alpha and beta subunits from affinity-labeled tubulin were separated and digested with Staphylococcus protease . Radioactivity was found predominantly in one peptide band from the alpha subunit . The location of the {gamma-32P}N3ATP binding site on the alpha subunit distinguishes it from the previously known exchangeable GTP binding site which is on the beta subunit . Moreover, excess GTP did not compete with {gamma-32P}N3ATP binding . The ATP binding site is distinct from the nonexchangeable GTP binding site . The GTP content of tubulin was the same after dialysis in 0.5 mM ATP as it was following dialysis against ATP-free buffer . Proof that the binding site for {gamma-32P}N3ATP is the same as that for ATP was obtained by competition experiments . In the presence of ATP, photolysis of the affinity analog did not label the alpha subunit preferentially. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1983 Sep, 1(3), 261 - 4 Rapid determination of novobiocin susceptibility for the identification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus; Leighton PM et al.; In order to provide a rapid presumptive identification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, the Autobac MTS was investigated as a method of determining susceptibility to low concentrations of novobiocin . Novobiocin-sensitive strains showed an LSI of greater than or equal to 0.6 and a zone size of greater than or equal to 16 mm on Mueller-Hinton agar; resistant strains showed an LSI of less than or equal to 0.6 and no zone of inhibition. Aust Paediatr J, 1983 Sep, 19(3), 172 - 4 Pulmonary function following staphylococcal pneumonia in children; Soto M et al.; Twenty three subjects with proven staphylococcal pneumonia (19 with empyema) were studied 12-25 years after the original infection . Clinical radiological, and lung function status and airway response to histamine inhalation was assessed . No clinical or radiological changes resulted from the original staphylococcal infection . No subject had physiological evidence of chronic lung disease and there was no evidence of an increased incidence of airways hyperreactivity. Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Sep-Oct, 5(5), 885 - 97 Mediastinitis after cardiovascular surgery; Bor DH et al.; Postoperative mediastinitis complicated 21 (3.4%) of 616 median sternotomy procedures at Beth Israel Hospital (Boston, Mass.) between 1975 and 1979 . These cases were analyzed by means of a case control study to identify host and operative risk factors and to characterize the clinical features of mediastinitis . Eighteen patients with mediastinitis (86%) had serious underlying noncardiac diseases, as compared with 14 (33%) of 42 noninfected controls (P = .001) . Reoperation was positively associated with infection (P = .03) . All patients had abnormal sternal wounds and fever; sternal instability and mediastinal widening were unusual . Twelve patients (57%) were bacteremic . Twenty-four organisms were recovered from the 21 patients with mediastinitis; 13 of the isolates were gram-positive, and 11 were gram-negative . Infections due to gram-negative bacteria appeared earlier and were more likely to be bacteremic (70%) . All gram-negative isolates and five of six isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis were resistant to the antimicrobial agent used perioperatively . Patients were treated with extensive debridement and appropriate antibiotics . The mortality rate was 24% (five of 21) . Long-term complications in survivors were not seen. Farmakol Toksikol, 1983 Sep-Oct, 46(5), 75 - 82 {Electron microscopic studies of experimental staphylococcal infections in mice as chemotherapeutic models}; Stebaeva LF et al.; Study of ultrastructural changes in the brain and renal tissues has shown that both intracerebral and intraperitoneal administration of staphylococcus in low infecting doses leads to the development in the brain and renal tissues of acute purulent inflammation, with a dramatic growth of infectious process and involvement of all parts of the organs under consideration . The presence in the brain tissues and in its meninges of inflammatory pyonecrotic foci might attest to the necrotic purulent encephalomeningitis, whereas the presence in the cortex and renal medullary substance of histiolymphocytic infiltration and foci of necrosis might be evidence of necrotic glomerulonephritis of bacterial etiology. Arch Dis Child, 1983 Sep, 58(9), 728 - 31 Early and late neonatal septicaemia; Placzek MM et al.; Between 1979 and 1982 we reviewed 1000 consecutive admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit of this hospital . Sixty five infants had positive blood cultures . Mortality was 70% among 17 infants who had septicaemia in the first 48 hours of life and for whom appropriate treatment may have been too late because of difficulties of early diagnosis . In the remaining 48 infants mortality was 12%, septicaemia occurred later, and was associated with Staphylococcus epidermidis (56%) and with the presence of an intravascular catheter (50%). Clin Exp Immunol, 1983 Sep, 53(3), 529 - 35 Evidence for a disease specific antigen in circulating immune complexes in ankylosing spondylitis; Bruneau C et al.; The presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC) has been documented in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by various investigators . It has been suggested that these may be used as probes to identify antigens playing a role in these pathological processes . Using a solid-phase cross-reaction assay to establish if these complexes reacted with each other in specific disease groups, it was found that polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitates of six AS patients cross reacted in 29 of 36 tests, but reacted with SLE and RA PEG precipitates in only two of 24 tests in each case . SLE PEG precipitates cross-reacted in four of 14 tests and reacted with none of the six AS and four RA precipitates . Similarly, RA PEG precipitates did not cross-react (none of 16 tests), nor did they react with AS (none of 24 or SLE precipitates (none of 16) . Similar results were observed when IgG, obtained after acid dissociation on sucrose density gradients of CIC isolated by PEG precipitation and staphylococcal protein A chromatography, was used as the solid phase component . F (ab')2 fragments with similar antibody specificity were obtained by pepsin digestion of isolated CIC from three of six AS patients . These bound radiolabelled AS PEG precipitates (2.02-2.40%) significantly more than SLE (0.22-0.28%) or RA (0.29-0.35%) precipitates . These studies demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining F (ab')2 fragments with antibody activity from isolated CIC and the presence of a disease specific antibody specificity in AS CIC . The nature of the antigen involved remains to be elucidated . Such a cross-reactive antibody specificity was not found in RA nor SLE CIC. South Med J, 1983 Sep, 76(9), 1203 - 4 Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis: a community-acquired methicillin-resistant isolate; Lockman DS et al.; We have described a patient with community-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis that occurred on a prolapsing mitral valve . The patient was successfully treated with vancomycin and rifampin for six weeks and had no signs of relapse four months later. Mol Immunol, 1983 Sep, 20(9), 917 - 30 T cell regulation of IgA immunoglobulin production in gut-associated lymphoid tissues; Kawanishi H et al.; To explore mechanisms of gut-mucosal IgA immune response, we have established Con A-induced cloned T cell lines originating from PP and spleen . These cloned cells expressed Thy-1.2+, Lyt-1+2-, Ia (I-A and I-E) and H-2 (K/D) surface antigens . Cloned T cells derived from PP were found to suppress LPS-induced IgM and IgG synthesis and secretion of co-cultured PP B cells; in addition, whereas the PP cloned T cells did not bring about IgA production, they did cause the appearance of large numbers of cells expressing sIgA . In contrast, cloned T cells derived from spleen had little or no effect on LPS-induced IgM synthesis and secretion by PP B cells; in addition, whereas they did suppress IgG production, they neither brought about IgA production nor the appearance of cells expressing sIgA . These studies provide evidence for the existence of a new type of T cell in PP, a switch T cell, which is able to induce B cells to undergo class-specific switches from IgM to IgA; the PP switch T cells appear to govern the pathway of DNA recombination (or RNA splicing) rather than cellular events resulting in terminal differentiation . Thus, these switch T cells are probably responsible for the fact that PP are a major source of mucosal IgA B cells . In additional studies, we show that post-switch IgA B cells, i.e . cells precultured with PP cloned T cells, have the capacity to undergo terminal differentiation into IgA producing plasma cells . provided they are exposed to helper T cells (uncloned) and an appropriate mitogenic stimulus (staphylococcal protein A) . We can conclude, therefore, that the development of PP B cells into IgA-producing plasma cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT) appears to require at least two steps: one which involves heavy chain switching to IgA and which is governed by IgA class-specific switch T cells in PP, and one which involves differentiation of post-switch B cells and which is governed by helper T cells in lymphoid tissues outside of PP (such as MLN and spleen). Clin Exp Immunol, 1983 Sep, 53(3), 521 - 8 C1 inactivator-C1s complexes in inflammatory joint disease; Inman RD et al.; A newly developed enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for the quantitation of C1 inhibitor (C1In)-C1s complexes was used to study activation of the classical pathway of complement in inflammatory joint diseases . Synovial fluid (SF) specimens were obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), other arthritides and non-inflammatory joint effusions . Paired serum (S) samples were obtained in 17 cases . Immune complexes (IC) were measured by the staphylococcal binding assay . C1In-C1s were higher in RA SF samples than in paired RAS samples (P less than 0.01) . IC were higher in RA SF than non-RA SF . There was a significant inverse correlation between SF C1In-C1s complexes and SF total haemolytic complement . For all SF samples there was a correlation between IC and C1In-C1s complexes, but for RA SF alone there was no significant correlation between these parameters . There was no correlation between titre of rheumatoid factor and C1In-C1s complexes . These results demonstrate that activation of the classical pathway of complement is the hallmark of rheumatoid synovitis, yet also suggest functional heterogeneity of both circulating and intra-articular IC. J Exp Med, 1983 Sep 1, 158(3), 649 - 69 Mechanisms regulating IgA class-specific immunoglobulin production in murine gut-associated lymphoid tissues . II . Terminal differentiation of postswitch sIgA-bearing Peyer's patch B cells; Kawanishi H et al.; Our previous studies indicated that cloned T cells obtained from Peyer's patches (PP) (Lyt-1+, 2-, Ia+, and H-2K/D+) evoked immunoglobulin (Ig) class switching of PP B cells from sIgM to sIgA cells in vitro; however, these switch T cells could not in themselves provide optimal help for the differentiation of postswitch sIgA-bearing PP B cells to IgA-secreting cells . Thus, in the present report we described studies focused on mechanisms regulating terminal differentiation of the postswitch PP sIgA-bearing B cells . First, to explore the effect of T cell-derived B cell differentiation factor(s) (BCDF) and macrophage factor(s) (MF) on the terminal maturation of PP B cells, LPS-stimulated PP B cells were co-cultured for 7 d with cloned T cells in the presence or absence of the above factors . In the absence of PP cloned T cells the BCDF and MF had only a modest effect on IgA production, whereas in the presence of PP, but not spleen cloned T cells, IgA production was increased . Next, to investigate the effect of T cells derived from a gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), as well as from spleen on terminal differentiation of postswitch sIgA PP B cells, LPS-driven PP B cells were precultured with the cloned T cells to induce a switch to sIgA, and subsequently cultured with MLN or spleen T cells or a Lyt-2+-depleted T cell subset in the presence of a T-dependent polyclonal mitogen, staphylococcal protein A . Alternatively, in the second culture period BCDF alone was added, instead of T cells and protein A . Here it was found that B cells pre-exposed to switch T cells from PP, but not spleen, were induced to produce greatly increased amounts of IgA in the presence of protein A and T cells or a Lyt-2+-depleted T cell subset as well as in the presence of BCDF alone . Furthermore, in the presence of BCDF alone many B cells expressed cytoplasmic IgA . These observations strongly support the view that the terminal differentiation of postswitch sIgA B cells is governed by helper T cells and macrophages, or factors derived from such cells . Such cells or factors do not affect preswitch B cells. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1983 Sep, 10(9), 2030 - 5 {Augmentation of the cytostatic activity of granulocytes by biological response modifiers (BRM)}; Shimizu E et al.; The effects of various biological response modifiers (BRM) such as Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS), OK-432, muramyl dipeptide (MDP), Staphylococcal protein A, interferon, lymphokine on the cytostatic activity of granulocytes against cultured tumor cells were examined . The cytostatic activity of untreated granulocytes from 10 normal healthy volunteers ranged from 14% to 30% . Lymphokine obtained from the supernatant of lymphocytes cultured with Con A-Sepharose directly suppressed the DNA synthesis of K 562 cells in high concentration, however, other BRM showed no direct cytostatic activity . The cytostatic activity of granulocytes was augmented by low concentrations (2.5 micrograms/ml) of N-CWS, OK-432 and protein A as well as by high concentration (25 micrograms/ml) of MDP . However, the cytostatic activity was not influenced by alpha-interferon . The meanings and mechanisms of the elevation in cytostatic activity of granulocytes by BRM were discussed with regards to the clinical immunotherapy. J Exp Med, 1983 Sep 1, 158(3), 670 - 89 Identification of interferon-gamma as the lymphokine that activates human macrophage oxidative metabolism and antimicrobial activity; Nathan CF et al.; Human blood mononuclear leukocytes stimulated with toxoplasma antigen, concanavalin A, mezerein plus lentil lectin, or staphylococcal enterotoxin A secreted a factor (macrophage-activating factor, or MAF) that enhanced the capacity of human macrophages to release H2O2 and to kill toxoplasmas . The same lymphoid supernatants contained IFN gamma but not IFN alpha or IFN beta . The MAF activity of six of seven unfractionated supernatants was completely eliminated by a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes IFN gamma, and MAF in the remaining supernatant was almost completely neutralized . Native IFN gamma partially purified by two independent protocols to specific activities of 1 X 10(6) and 10(7) U/mg protein was enriched in MAF activity at least as much as in antiviral activity . The capacity of macrophages to secrete H2O2 after incubation in partially purified native IFN gamma (mean peak stimulation, 8.8-fold) was greater than with unpurified lymphokines (3.8-fold) and sometimes equaled or exceeded the capacity of freshly harvested monocytes . The MAF activity of the partially purified native IFN gamma preparations was abolished by monoclonal anti-IFN gamma . Finally, IFN gamma of greater than 99% estimated purity was isolated (at Genentech, Inc.) from bacteria transformed with the cloned human gene for this lymphokine . Recombinant IFN gamma had potent MAF activity, stimulating the peroxide-releasing capacity of macrophages an average of 19.8-fold at peak response and enhancing their ability to kill toxoplasmas from 2.6 +/- 1.3% for untreated cells to 54 +/- 0.4% for treated cells . Attainment of 50% of the maximal elevation in peroxide-releasing capacity required a geometric mean concentration of 0.1 antiviral U/ml of recombinant IFN gamma, which is estimated to be approximately 6 picomolar for this preparation . Peroxide secretory capacity and toxoplasmacidal activity of macrophages peaked 2-4 d after exposure to IFN gamma . Peroxide-secretory capacity remained elevated during at least 6 d of continuous exposure, but the effect of IFN gamma was reversed within about 3 d of its removal . Activation was usually but not invariably accompanied by characteristic changes in cell morphology . Thus, IFN gamma activates human macrophage oxidative metabolism and antimicrobial activity, and appeared to be the only factor consistently capable of doing so in the diverse LK preparations tested. Acta Physiol Pol, 1983 Sep-Dec, 34(5-6), 519 - 23 The effect of X-radiation on the process of lung clearance after inhalation of bacteria labelled with 3H-thymidine; Baltrukiewicz Z et al.; The respiratory tract is cleared very effectively from the inhaled particles by the ciliated bronchial epithelium, secretion of secretory cells, and specialized phagocytic cells . Within 4 hours about 80% of the inhaled microorganisms are destroyed in the respiratory tract . The rate of removal of the micro-organisms from the lungs and their destruction may play a very important role in preventing infection development . The aim of the present experiment was to study the adverse effect of ionizing radiation on the mechanisms involved in cleaning the lungs . Wistar rats were used for this purpose . They received a dose of 500 cGy . The irradiated animals and the control non-irradiated ones inhaled in a PIANO IV apparatus Staphylococcus epidermidis labelled with tritiated thymidine . Determining the clearance of the bacteria from the bronchial tree and pulmonary tissue an impairment of the mechanisms clearing the lungs in the irradiated group was demonstrated . The effect of radiation may be related to a damage to the alveolar macrophages which are principally responsible for destroying bacteria at the level of pulmonary alveoli . The relatively radiation-resistant ciliated epithelial bronchial cells may have their efficiency reduced owing to disturbances in mucus secretion by the secretory cells. J Clin Invest, 1983 Sep, 72(3), 1072 - 80 Clinical disorders associated with autoantibodies to the insulin receptor . Simulation by passive transfer of immunoglobulins to rats; Dons RF et al.; Patients with autoantibodies to the insulin receptor (Anti-R) may exhibit either fasting hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia and extreme insulin resistance . Occasionally, both these phenomena are observed in the same patient at different times in the clinical course . In an effort to understand what determines the patient's response to Anti-R, we developed an animal model of these clinical disorders by passive transfer of Anti-R IgG to rats . IgG fractions from the plasma of Anti-R patients and control subjects were prepared by affinity chromatography with staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose . Anti-R IgG, injected into fasting rats, induced severe and persistent hypoglycemia (plasma glucose 30-60 mg/dl) . Rats injected with control IgG maintained a plasma glucose within the range of 75 (fasting) to 165 mg/dl (feeding) . In comparison with the effects of insulin, the hypoglycemic response to Anti-R IgG had a slower onset (2-4 h) and lasted longer (8-24 h) . Similar, dose-dependent hypoglycemic responses were observed in rats whether the Anti-R IgG was derived from an insulin-resistant or hypoglycemic patient . When Anti-R IgG was administered in sufficiently high doses for several days to fed rats, persistent hyperglycemia (plasma glucose 200-400 mg/dl) developed . Based on these in vivo and previous in vitro studies, we attribute the hypoglycemic response to an insulin-like effect of Anti-R, and the hyperglycemic response to a desensitization of host tissues to the effects of insulin, with more prolonged exposure to higher levels of Anti-R. Eur J Biochem, 1983 Sep 1, 135(1), 113 - 21 Primary structure of histone H2A from nucleated erythrocyte of the marine worm Sipunculus nudus . Presence of two forms of H2A in the sipunculid chromatin; Kmiecik D et al.; The complete amino acid sequence (123 residues) of histone H2A from erythrocytes of the marine worm Sipunculus nudus, has been established from data provided by automated sequence analysis of large fragments generated by V8 staphylococcal protease digestion of histone H2A and by limited hydrolysis of the protein with alpha-chymotrypsin and from structural studies of tryptic peptides of the protein . By comparison with calf homologous histone, the sipunculid histone H2A shows 6 deletions and 13 substitutions . Six of the substitutions are non-conservative . Most of the evolutionary changes are mainly observed in the basic amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal regions of the molecule, which are the primary DNA-binding sites . Few conservative point changes are observed in the central region (residues 18-118) which interacts strongly with histone H2B to form the dimer H2A-H2B . 60% of the H2A molecules were found phosphorylated on the amino-terminal residue, N-acetyl-serine . The high content of phosphorylated histone H2A in the sipunculid erythrocyte chromatin could probably be related to smaller repeat length (177 +/- 5 base pairs) of nucleosomal DNA and to nuclear inactivation and chromatin condensation. Gene, 1983 Sep, 23(3), 369 - 78 Gene fusion vectors based on the gene for staphylococcal protein A; Uhlen M et al.; Two plasmid vectors, containing the gene coding for staphylococcal protein A and adapted for gene fusion, have been constructed . These vectors will allow fusion of any gene to the protein A gene, thus giving hybrid proteins which can be purified, in a one-step procedure, by IgG affinity chromatography . As an example of the practical use of such vectors, the protein A gene has been fused to the lacZ gene of Escherichia coli . E . coli strains containing such plasmids produce hybrid proteins with both IgG binding and beta-galactosidase activities . The hybrid protein(s) can be immobilized on IgG-Sepharose by its protein A moiety with high efficiency without losing its enzymatic activity and they can be eluted from the column by competitive elution with pure protein A . The fused protein(s) also binds to IgG-coated microtiter wells which means that the in vivo product can be used as an enzyme conjugate in ELISA tests. J Hosp Infect, 1983 Sep, 4(3), 257 - 68 The influence of the total body exhaust suit on air and wound contamination in elective hip-operations; Blomgren G et al.; An evaluation of the effect of total body exhaust clothing on air and wound contamination was made in an operating theatre with a zonal ventilation system . Sixty-four patients who underwent total hip replacement using the Charnley-Muller prosthesis were studied . The members of the surgical team wore total body exhaust suits (TBE-suit), or conventional theatre clothing (C-clothing) at alternate operations . Nearly half of the patients in each group were given prophylactic antibiotics . Both the mean and median values of airborne bacteria in the operating theatre were significantly lower during operations with TBE-suits than with conventional theatre clothing . The lowest number, 4.0 cfu/m3, was found at the site of the operation wound . Cultures from adhesive drapes showed growth in 46 per cent of the C-group and in 43 per cent of the TBE-group samples . Wound washouts showed growth in 43 per cent of the C-group and in 10 per cent of the TBE-group samples . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequently isolated bacteria both from adhesive drapes and from wound washouts . The rate of superficial infections was slightly higher when C-