Dev Comp Immunol, 1983 Summer, 7(3), 435 - 43 Specificity and memory in increased defence reactions against bacteria in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis; van der Knaap WP et al.; In Lymnaea stagnalis injections with dead Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus saprophyticus bacteria resulted in an enhanced clearance of both live S . saprophyticus and E . coli injected 4 days later . A non-specific activation of the internal defence system was concluded from these findings . The activation was dose-dependent: pre-injections with high doses resulted in a higher increase in the clearance capacity of the snails than pre-injections with low doses of bacteria . The state of increased activity of the defence system, induced with injection of dead E . coli, lasted at least 64 days . The heightened responses of the defence system were probably due to an activation of the blood cells (amoebocytes) since: 1) amoebocyte numbers increased faster in bacteria pretreated snails than in control animals; 2) ultrastructural observations revealed that the amoebocytes of bacteria pre-treated animals had a more ruffled outline than those of control snails; 3) amoebocytes from sensitized snails showed a higher phagocytic activity in vitro; 4) mitotic activity of amoebocytes increased after snails had been injected with bacteria. Ciba Found Symp, 1983, 96, 125 - 45 Host recognition of fetal antigens: do they induce specific antibodies? Brent L, Hunt R, Hutchinson IV, Medawar PB, Palmer L, Welsh L. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether the protection afforded to adult mice against the induction and growth of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced tumours by prior exposure to syngeneic fetal cells has an immunological basis . Adult CBA mice were inoculated with fetal cells according to a variety of protocols and the sera were tested for their ability to bind to fetal and adult tissue cells, using a staphylococcal protein A binding assay . All 10 sera tested showed some degree of binding though this varied from strong to weak, and there was some cross-reactivity with adult thymic cells but relatively little with adult spleen cells . Absorption studies were carried out with one of these sera and with two others raised against testicular and thymic cells, respectively . The absorption patterns obtained so far suggest that fetal cells possess at least three, and possibly up to five, distinct antigens . Although none of the anti-fetal sera were produced with a sensitizing protocol identical with that used in in vivo protection, some of them were so close as to suggest that protection is associated with, and perhaps causally related to, these IgG antibodies . The in vitro evidence presented here, together with the in vivo data of P . B . Medawar & R . Hunt, shows that antigens are shared between fetal cells and adult thymic and testicular cells . It therefore lends support to the notion that the production of a vaccine against anaplastic neoplasms, using immunogens derived from adult tissues, is within the realms of possibility. Arch Intern Med, 1983 Jan, 143(1), 66 - 9 Comparative culture methods on 101 intravenous catheters . Routine, semiquantitative, and blood cultures; Moyer MA et al.; Broth cultures and semiquantitative cultures (SQCs) were done on 101 intravenous (IV) catheters from 82 patients . Catheters were in place an average of ten days (range, one to 40 days) . Twenty-eight catheters yielded 15 colonies or more to SQCs of transcutaneous catheter segments . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common microbial isolate found on 21 of the 28 catheters on SQC . Broth tip cultures, SQCs on tips and transcutaneous segments, qualitative blood cultures (QIBCs), and quantitative blood cultures (QnBCs) drawn via the catheters were significantly associated with peripheral bacteremia . The presence of systemic antimicrobials made no significant difference in SQC, QIBC, or QnBC positivity . With the exception of gross pus, local inflammation was not significantly associated with catheter infection . Local site care by a special team of nurses resulted in significantly fewer catheter infections than did care given by ward nurses. Postgrad Med, 1983 Jan, 73(1), 275 - 80, 285-8 Toxic shock syndrome; Tofte RW et al.; Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is an exotoxin-mediated illness that occurs primarily in young menstruating women who use tampons . The syndrome ranges from a potentially fatal disease characterized by hypotension and failure in multiple organ systems to a less severe condition commonly misdiagnosed as a nonspecific viral illness or gastroenteritis . Physicians should recognize that an exanthematous, febrile illness that recurs during menstruation or that occurs primarily in the postoperative or postpartum period and in association with staphylococcal infections may be TSS even in the absence of requisite diagnostic criteria . Unless TSS can be excluded with reasonable certainty, appropriate cultures should be obtained, with treatment initiated presumptively . In all menstrual cases, women should be advised to avoid tampon use indefinitely. Prep Biochem, 1983, 13(5), 461 - 74 Separation of human T-lymphocyte colony-forming cells on Percoll gradients; Tice DG et al.; Formation of T-lymphocyte colonies in semi-solid agar by mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells is a sensitive indicator of a proliferative response . The exact identity of the T-lymphocyte colony forming cell (T-CFC) is not known, nor is it known if more than one T-CFC exists . It is possible that different subsets of mononuclear cells, each responding to diverse mitogens, give rise to different T-CFC . In this study, we separated mononuclear cells into seven subsets based on their density utilizing Percoll at concentrations of 40% to 55% . Following separation, the cells from each fraction were stimulated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), concanavalin A (Con A), or staphylococcal protein A (SPA), and cultured in a semi-solid agar system . Each fraction was fully characterized by immunologic and cytochemical cell markers . Monocytes were found in the light density fraction, whereas T-lymphocytes and large granular lymphocytes were predominantly seen in the heavier density fractions . B lymphocytes were concentrated in the middle density fractions . Cells from fraction 1 (the lightest density fraction) formed significantly more T-cell colonies when stimulated by PHA than did fractions 4, 5, 6, or 7 . This effect was not observed when other mitogens were used . We conclude that mononuclear cells can be separated into enriched cell subpopulations by Percoll fractionation and that PHA-stimulated T-CFC may also be enriched by Percoll fractionation . In addition, the data suggest that different subsets of T-CFC may exist. J Med Virol, 1983, 12(1), 1 - 16 Opsonization of alphaviruses in hamsters; Jahrling PB et al.; Immune elimination of alphaviruses in immunized hamsters appears to involve formation of virus/antibody aggregates which are subsequently cleared from the circulation by cells of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) . Virulent strains of Venezuelan (VEE) and Western equine encephalitis (WEE) viruses which were cleared slowly from the circulation of nonimmune hamsters, were cleared rapidly when inoculated into the blood of immunized hamsters . Likewise, when these viruses were mixed with specific hamster immune serum prior to inoculation, they were efficiently cleared from the circulation of nonimmune hamsters . Virus, mixed with specific immune serum, or inoculated into immunized hamsters, formed virus/antibody aggregates, as demonstrated by density gradient centrifugation, filtration through polycarbonate membranes, precipitation with Staphylococcus protein A, and electron microscopy . Cleared virus was concentrated primarily in liver and spleen, as confirmed by autoradiography . Immune clearance of virulent VEE was demonstrable within 5 to 6 days following immunization of hamsters with live attenuated VEE vaccine, strain TC-83 . In these hamsters, a close association was established between formation of virus/antibody aggregates, rapid clearance, and survival of challenged hamsters . Adsorption of virus to hamster macrophages in culture was enhanced by immune serum in the presence of complement . These results are compatible with the hypothesis that immune clearance of virus in the intact hamster involves a complement-dependent interaction of virus/antibody complexes with cells which possess Fc and complement receptors . The clearance of immune complexes by the RES serves to amplify the protective effect of neutralizing antibody alone. Vopr Virusol, 1983 Jan-Feb, 28(1), 58 - 62 {Formation of immune (gamma) interferon induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin and phytohemagglutinin}; Mentkevich LM et al.; Some conditions of production of human and mouse immune interferon induced by phytohemagglutinin and a national preparation of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) were studied . The latter was shown to be suitable for use as an inducer of this type of interferon . Production of mouse immune interferon could be increased by using a mixture of spleen and peritoneal exudate cells . Interferon production induced by SEA was also higher in spleen cells of mice immunized with BCG. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 1983, 6(1), 57 - 65 Enzyme-linked immunoassay in the diagnosis of leptospirosis in domestic animals using peroxidase-conjugated protein-A; Biancifiori F et al.; The ELISA test for detection of antibodies to Leptospirosis in domestic animals was performed using Staphylococcal protein-A coupled to peroxidase in place of antisera to IgG . Genus- and type-specific antigens were extracted with SDS technique from four pathogenic serotypes and two non-pathogenic ones, and they were identified with the aid of ELISA using specific rabbit antisera . Micro-agglutination (MA) and ELISA were compared using a total of 48 positive swine sera and a 100% agreement was obtained, since with sera from 16 dogs clinically suspected of Leptospirosis the ELISA resulted highly more sensitive and precocious than MA in detecting specific antibodies. Leuk Res, 1983, 7(6), 703 - 12 Kinetics of protein A activation of mononuclear cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia--I . CLL B-cells are not intrinsically unresponsive to staphylococcal protein A; Scouros MA et al.; The response of lymphocyte subpopulations to staphylococcal Protein A (SPA) was studied in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and normal volunteers . The kinetics of the proliferative response, optimal dose and sera requirements were determined . Of 92 experiments conducted in 60 patients, SPA induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) proliferation in 81.5% of cases studied . The mean proliferative response of CLL PBMC was significantly lower than normal PBMC, 5823 vs . 30,364 cpm . However, enriched CLL B-cells failed to respond to SPA compared to normal enriched B-cells, with mean cpm 444 vs . 6438 respectively . As PBMC from CLL consist of increased proportions of B-cells and decreased proportions of T-cells, enriched CLL B-cells were cultured at 1: 1 ratio with autologous or allogeneic normal T-cell enriched fractions . CLL B-lymphocytes were stimulated by SPA when cultured in the presence of T-lymphocytes, indicating a T-helper defect in the B-CLL proliferative response to SPA, rather than an intrinsic inability of CLL B-cells to proliferate . These observations are of import for further studies of CLL B-lymphocyte function, cytogenetics, and establishment of CLL B-cell lines in culture. J Gen Virol, 1983 Jan, 64 (Pt 1), 191 - 8 Structure and properties of the rapidly sedimenting replicating complex of staphylococcal phage K DNA; Rees PJ et al.; Rapidly sedimenting complexes (RSCs) of replicating phage K DNA, isolated by rate zonal centrifugation in sucrose gradients, contain bacterial membrane lipids and protein . During the first half of the latent period the number of DNA molecules in a RSC increased from 1 to about 27 . Digestion by Pronase caused the complexes to dissociate and release virion lengths of DNA which sedimented slowly like free mature DNA . RSCs treated with SDS disintegrated and released tangled DNA molecules, each about one virion length in size, but these structures retained their fast sedimentation characteristic . Chloramphenicol (CM) at 100 micrograms/ml did not completely inhibit complex formation or DNA replication, indicating that pre-existing host proteins were involved in these processes . CM reduced DNA replication by 50 to 80% . It is concluded that phage K DNA replicates attached to the cytoplasmic membrane of the host. Arch Virol, 1983, 78(3-4), 315 - 9 Effect of hyaluronidase on cell response to the antiviral and interferon inducing activity of poly(rI) . poly(rC); Romano A et al.; The effect of hyaluronidase on cell response to poly(rI) . poly(rC) {poly(IC)} was investigated in rabbit kidney (RK) cells . For this purpose, bovine testicular and Staphylococcal hyaluronidase preparations at various degrees of purity were used . These enzyme preparations were employed at the maximal nontoxic dose for 2 hours before poly(IC) treatment . This enzymatic pretreatment of the cells strongly inhibited the antiviral activity of poly(IC), determined by using both Herpes simplex virus type-1 and vesicular stomatitis virus . It also remarkably reduced the poly(IC)-induced interferon production . This later effect could account for the diminished antiviral activity of poly(IC) in the hyaluronidase-treated cells. Scand J Infect Dis, 1983, 15(2), 161 - 5 Immunoassay of acute phase reactants and Latex-CRP as activity tests in chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis; Hedstrom SA; 20 patients with chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis were tested for 6 acute phase reactants: alpha 1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and antichymotrypsin during different phases of the disease . CRP was best correlated to clinical activity and in 3 cases CRP and ceruloplasmin increased a few weeks before a clinically apparent exacerbation of the osteomyelitis took place . A Latex-CRP slide method showed fairly good agreement with CRP assessed by immunoassay . Determination of CRP is a suitable test for following the activity of chronic osteomyelitis. Vopr Virusol, 1983 Jan-Feb, 28(1), 14 - 21 {Comparative study of the biological properties of plasmid and natural human interferons}; Ovchinnikov IuA et al.; A comparative study of biological properties of natural and plasmid human interferons was carried out . Natural and leukocyte interferons: alpha (induced by Newcastle disease virus) and gamma (induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin A) as well as natural fibroblastic beta interferon induced by poly(I) X poly(C) were studied in comparison with plasmid interferons alpha-F and alpha-F/D obtained from recombinant bacteria . Antigenic determinants of plasmid interferons alpha-F and alpha-F/D were found to be identical with those of natural and alpha-interferon of man and to differ from those of natural human alpha- and beta-interferons . Both plasmid interferons demonstrated the kinetics of development of the state of resistance to viruses in a human diploid cell culture typical of alpha-interferon but not of gamma-interferon from human leukocytes . Plasmid and natural alpha-interferons have similar anticellular activity for human tumor HeLa cells, similarly activate natural human killer cells and are similarly stabilized in the presence of 0.01 M lantan chloride . All these data permit a conclusion that plasmid human interferons alpha-F and alpha-F/D are analogous and close to the total preparation of natural alpha-interferon from human leukocytes . On the other hand, the range of cells sensitive to the antiviral effect of alpha-F and alpha-F/D interferons is wider than for leukocyte alpha-interferon, and stability on storage and heating is higher. Antibiotiki, 1983 Jan, 28(1), 27 - 31 {Determination of the species specificity of interferons in the translation of the their mRNA from various cell cultures}; Nosik DN et al.; Interferons obtained on induction of human lymphocytes with Newcastle viruses and staphylococcal enterotoxin A and diploid fibroblast cells of human embryos with poly (I).poly (C), as well as translation products of interferon mRNA obtained from these cells were analysed serologically . It was shown that the main type of interferon produced by the cells depended on the cell culture and inductor nature . It was defined at the level of the respective gene depression . Effective translation of mRNA of the interferons of the 3 types makes possible production of cDNA and creation of bacterial plasmids coding the genetic information for the synthesis of human interferon. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1983 Jan, 80(1), 215 - 8 Immunocytochemical localization of prosomatostatin fragments in maturing and mature secretory granules of pancreatic and gastrointestinal D cells; Ravazzola M et al.; Pancreatic and gastrointestinal D cells were examined by immunocytochemistry using antisera against somatostatin-28 (SS28) and its NH2-terminal fragment SS28-(1-12), followed by the staphylococcal protein A-gold (pAg) complex . In pancreatic and gastric D cells incubated with antiserum against SS28-(1-12) the gold particles produced intense staining of the mature secretory granules but weaker staining of the immature granules associated with the Golgi area, whereas after SS28 antiserum treatment the particles accumulated selectively over the population of immature secretory granules . In intestinal D cells not only SS28-(1-12) but also SS28 antiserum produced an intense gold staining over the mature delta granules . These observations show that the relative amounts of immunoreactive sites related to SS28 and its cleavage product SS28-(1-12) in maturing and mature secretory granules are different in pancreatic, gastric, and intestinal D cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 1983 Jan, 56(1), 156 - 63 Partial purification and characterization of thyrotropin binding inhibitory immunoglobulins from normal human plasma; Brown RS et al.; Whole human plasma contains a factor that inhibits the binding of bovine TSH to human thyroid membranes . To determine whether this activity is attributable to the presence of small amounts of immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules that bind specifically to the thyroid, we have extracted from normal human plasma by a process of selective membrane adsorption a subfraction of IgG that is much more potent in TSH binding inhibition that the starting IgG . The enriched fraction was shown to be IgG by multiple criteria: precipitation in ammonium sulfate, elution by the anion exchange resin DEAE-cellulose, and electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea polyacrylamide gel . Pretreatment with staphylococcal protein A, with specifically binds IgG, completely removed its activity . Significant TSH binding inhibition was retained under salt conditions, which have been shown to optimize the sensitivity and specificity of the TSH receptor . The enriched fraction was not an antimicrosomal or antithyroglobulin antibody, and did not bind to the TSH label . A similar enriched subfraction of bovine TSH binding inhibitory IgG could be prepared using membranes obtained from kidney and liver, suggesting that the membrane antigen with which it bound was not thyroid specific . These data indicate that in the plasma of individuals presumed to be free of thyroid disease there circulates low concentrations of an IgG which reacts with a thyroid membrane antigen(s) . It may be an autoantibody or a normal constituent of plasma with specific binding properties. Adv Enzyme Regul, 1983, 21, 333 - 52 Mechanisms of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase regulation; Dudkin SM et al.; The mechanisms of regulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases were studied using the cytoplasmic fraction of PC-12 cells sensitive to the action of nerve growth factor . The cells contain phosphodiesterases of two types . One of them possesses a high affinity for cyclic AMP (Km = 2.46 mM), whereas the other has the affinity by an order worse (Km = 37.1 mM) . PC-12 cell differentiation under the action of nerve growth factor is connected with the cyclic nucleotide elevation; however, activities of both phosphodiesterases remain unchanged . This indicates that the regulation of activity of these enzymes in PC-12 cells is mediated by second messenger effects . The main object of cell regulation is phosphodiesterase with low affinity for the substrate . Its activity is modulated by the calmodulin-Ca2+ complex, cyclic GMP and NAD+ at micromolar concentrations . The effect on the phosphodiesterase system of both a "quick" messenger, Ca2+ and "slow" messengers, cyclic GMP and NAD+, has the same consequences: the turnover number of the enzymic reaction increases that is accompanied by a proportional decrease in the enzyme affinity for cyclic AMP so that the ratio Vmax/Km remains constant . A possible explanation of functional significance of such an activity modulation may be the necessity to maintain the conditions for phosphodiesterase functioning when Km much greater than {cyclic AMP} and the reaction rate are directly proportional to the substrate concentration: v = Vmax/Km {cyclic AMP} . Then the cells are transferred into such a mode when autoregulation of the cyclic nucleotide level takes place . Besides the transient effects causing changes in phosphodiesterase activity, studies of PC-12 cells revealed a chronic effect of phosphodiesterase activity change under the action of staphylococcal enterotoxin A . This protein which induces differentiation of PC-12 cells and possesses a NAD+-glycohydrolase activity is translocated into cytoplasm of cells in the presence of NAD+ and accomplishes ADP-ribosylation of phosphodiesterase . As a result, the enzyme activity falls, cyclic AMP level increases and cell differentiation starts . The activity of soluble phosphodiesterase of PC-12 cells also decreases under the effect of two neurotoxins from bee venom, melittin and tertiapin . Both the toxins at concentration of 10 microM completely block calcium regulation of the enzyme . The mechanism of tertiapin action was investigated on a model system of calmodulin-bovine brain phosphodiesterase . It appeared that inhibition of Ca2+ action is achieved as the result of binding of two toxin molecules with Kd = 2 mM to the activated calmodulin molecule.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Biochim Biophys Acta, 1982 Dec 17, 719(3), 539 - 43 Human fibrinogen gel formed by the action of a cell surface polysaccharide obtained from a Staphylococcus; Usui Y et al.; An alkali-stable polysaccharide (called compact-colony forming active substance; substance 1) obtained from the cell surface of a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis caused gel formation of human fibrinogen, with no release of fibrinopeptides . Substance 1 possessed neither esterase nor caseinolytic activities; no inhibition of gel formation was shown by dinitrofluorophosphate . Heparin and galactose prevented gel formation of fibrinogen with substance 1 . With the addition of early- and late-fibrinogen or fibrin degradation products into the fibrinogen sample, no prolongation of the gel formation time was observed . This substance is, therefore, assumed to nonenzymatically induce gel formation with fibrinogen, a process resembling paracoagulation. Early Hum Dev, 1982 Dec 6, 7(3), 281 - 92 A simplified system of human milk banking; Reynolds GJ et al.; A simplified system of human milk banking, from milk supplied from home or hospital, has been evaluated for use in a neonatal intensive care unit . Twenty milk samples were obtained at a single expression using a standard hand pump and divided into three parts . Analyses were performed on the raw milk and on samples stored at -20 degrees C for 1 week and 1 month . No pathogens were isolated from any samples and the counts of Staphylococcus albus in the raw milk remained unchanged after storage . 19% of the cells in the original milk survived freezing and remained viable . There was a loss of bacteriostatic activity after storage for one month but significantly less than that caused by pasteurization . No change in levels of IgA, IgM, IgF, lactoferrin, lysozyme, C3 and C4 was apparent and concentrations of amino acids and fatty acids also remained unchanged after storage . We conclude that milk can be safely and conveniently stored by this method without loss or damage to the components of raw breast milk important for preterm and sick infants. Diabetes, 1982 Dec, 31(12), 1041 - 3 Phagocytic and bactericidal activity of granulocytes in diabetic children; Dziatkowiak H et al.; Phagocytic and bactericidal activity of granulocytes were estimated in granulocytes of normal and diabetic children . The influence of candidal, tuberculin antigens, and staphylococcal antitoxin on these parameters was also tested . Thirty diabetic and forty healthy children made up the study group . Their ages were 6-18 yr . The disease duration was from 1 to 12 yr . Granulocytes from diabetic children demonstrated a normal ability to absorb staphylococcus . On the other hand, the capacity for intercellular killing of bacteria by granulocytes of diabetic children was decreased. J Clin Lab Immunol, 1982 Dec, 9(3), 207 - 11 Autoantibodies to liver antigens in chronic liver disease . I . A radioimmunoassay for antibody to liver membrane antigens; Kronborg IJ et al.; A radioimmunoassay using a single cell suspension of glutaraldehyde-treated monkey hepatocytes was developed to measure antibody in human serum to liver membrane antigens . Hepatocytes were exposed to doubling dilutions of test sera in microtitre trays and binding of serum IgG was determined by exposure of the washed cells to 125I-labelled staphylococcal protein A . Specificity of binding was established according to several criteria including use of non-hepatic cells such as monkey kidney cells and various cell lines, IgG depletion of serum, absorption of binding activity by pre-exposure of serum to liver cells, and demonstration that binding was mediated by the F(ab) rather than Fc portions of immunoglobulin molecules . This radioimmunoassay distinguished autoimmune-type chronic active hepatitis (CAH) from other categories of liver disease . It should prove useful for diagnosis and classification of cases of CAH, and could facilitate identification of a liver-specific membrane antigen relevant to pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis. J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Dec, 16(6), 1019 - 24 Detection of circulating free and complexed staphylococcal antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Lentino JR et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for the detection of circulating free and complexed staphylococcal antigens in various clinical categories of staphylococcal infections . Circulating immune complexes were studied by the polyethylene glycol precipitation method . Circulating immune complexes and staphylococcal antigen (at titers of greater than or equal to 1:32) dissociated from the complexes were found in 7 of 8 patients (87.5%) with staphylococcal endocarditis and in 4 of 20 patients with staphylococcal bacteremia (20%) . Although the majority of patients did not have detectable free staphylococcal antigen, it was found in three patients with staphylococcal pneumonia . We conclude that detection of complexed antigen in high titer may differentiate patients with staphylococcal endocarditis from those with other forms of staphylococcal infection or transient bacteremia. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Dec, 44(6), 1349 - 55 Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in foods; Freed RC et al.; An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins in foods . The "double-antibody sandwich" protocol combines parts of several procedures reported previously . Horseradish peroxidase was conjugated to antibody specific for an enterotoxin, and the antibody-enzyme conjugate was assayed with a 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid)-H2O2 substrate solution . Enterotoxins were added to a variety of foods that were representative of those implicated in staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks . Extracts of the foods were assayed by the ELISA and radioimmunoassay . Enterotoxin levels below 1 ng/g of food were consistently detectable by the ELISA . These results compared favorably with those of the radioimmunoassay . Experiments confirmed the interference of protein A in double-antibody sandwich ELISAs . Although protein A interference has not been demonstrated to be a problem in food extracts, we suggest a screen for protein A interference in which immunoglobulin G from nonimmunized rabbits is used . All of the known staphylococcal enterotoxins could be detected by this method . Analysis of a food product for entertoxin by the ELISA can be completed in an 8-h working day. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Dec, (12), 95 - 9 {Immunological mechanisms of specific hyposensitization in allergic diseases of an infectious nature . IV . The comparative characteristics of the changes in the immunological processes in nonspecific (dekaris) and specific (autovaccine) immunotherapy of infectious-allergic bronchial asthma}; Berezhnaia NM et al.; The data based on the comparative evaluation of changes in immunological processes due to the effect of decaris, autovaccine and standard staphylococcal allergens are presented . These data indicate that such changes resulting from the clinical effectiveness of different kinds of immunotherapy are accompanied by identical changes in the immune system of patients with infectious allergic bronchial asthma . At the same time the results of this study point out that the therapeutic effectiveness of autovaccine is higher than that of decaris. Infect Immun, 1982 Dec, 38(3), 817 - 24 Stimulation of migration of human monocytes by bacterial cell walls and muramyl peptides; Ogawa T et al.; Bacterial cell walls, water-soluble fragments of the wall peptidoglycan, N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), and 6-O-acyl derivatives of MDP were examined for migration-stimulating activity on human peripheral blood monocytes by using a multiwell chemotaxis assembly . Cell walls isolated from 11 bacterial species caused a definite increase in monocyte migration, but the walls of Micrococcus lysodeikticus were scarely active . The migration-enhancing activity of Staphylococcus epidermidis cell walls was retained by a monomer as well as a polymer of disaccharide peptides which were prepared by digestion of the peptidoglycan with enzymes . It was finally revealed that the migration of monocytes was enhanced by MDP . 6-O-Octadecanoyl-MDP, 6-O-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl)-MDP, and 6-O-(3-hydroxy-2-docosylhexacosanoyl)-N-acetylmuramyl-L-seryl-D-isoglutamine were active, but to a lesser extent . A checkerboard assay demonstrated that the increased monocyte migration caused by S . epidermidis cell walls was directed toward a positive stimulus (chemotaxis). Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Dec, 253(3), 390 - 6 Antibacterial activities of Candida yeasts . Partial purification and characterization of the active substance of Candida guilliermondii; Budak A et al.; The activity spectra of 25 Candida strains on strains of different species of bacteria were recorded . The active substance produced by Candida guilliermondii strain 848 was partially purified by cation exchange and chromatography gel filtration on Sephadex G-15 . The substance is heat stable (80 degrees C, 10 min), not susceptible to treatment with proteases and most probably of a molecular weight smaller than 3500 Dalton . At a concentration of 50 A.U./ml it acts bacteriostatically on a Staphylococcus epidermidis strain (Fig . 1). Quad Sclavo Diagn, 1982 Dec, 18(4), 472 - 8 {Determination of IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies with the immunoenzymatic (IE) method}; Aggazzotti G et al.; The immunoenzymatic method for the research of specific IgM antibodies anti-Toxoplasma gondii is compared to the traditional methods of dosage: absorption of the IgG on staphylococcus and depolymerization of the IgM with 2-mercaptoethanol . The sensitivity and specificity of this method have been analyzed on a sample of 193 serums in order to consider the probabilities of false positive and negative reactions . The simplicity of method and the possibility of expressing values as reciprocal of the maximum dilution make this an elected method for the research of specific IgM . The reduced quantity of serum necessary in carrying out the test represents such a prerogative as to make this method particularly fit for researches on new-born babies. J Clin Pathol, 1982 Dec, 35(12), 1356 - 60 Velvet pad surface sampling of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria: an in vitro laboratory model; Raahave D et al.; Velvet pads have been evaluated in an experimental, laboratory model, simulating intraoperative sampling of Staphylococcus epidermis, Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis . After sampling, the pad was placed in a transport medium and kept in an anaerobic atmosphere, before being shaken and rinsed, followed by anaerobic and aerobic culture . This technique permitted quantitatively high recoveries of the test bacteria . Velvet pad sampling could be a measure to determine the density of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria during operation in an effort to predict the risk of postoperative wound sepsis. J Immunol, 1982 Dec, 129(6), 2636 - 40 Structure of the murine plasma cell alloantigen PC-1: comparison with the receptor for transferrin; Goding JW et al.; The plasma cell alloantigen PC-1 was isolated from C1.18 myeloma cells by immunoprecipitation and was analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . It was found to consist of two similar or identical disulfide-bonded polypeptide chains, each of Mr 115,000 . The mobility of PC-1 in nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis was similar to that of bovine serum albumin (pI 4.9) . The PC-1 antigen is therefore similar to the transferrin receptor in Mr, charge, subunit composition, disulfide bonding, and developmental regulation . Similarities can also be detected by peptide mapping with subtilisin, but not with staphylococcal V8 protease . It is suggested that the PC-1 protein and the transferrin receptor may have had a common evolutionary origin, and may have similar functions. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Dec, 253(3), 321 - 30 Experimental bacteriophage set for typing Staphylococcus intermedius; Kawano J et al.; A new phage set for typing Staphylococcus intermedius is proposed . By using 14 phages, 581 strains isolated from dogs, pigeons, horses, foxes and mink were subjected to typing at routine test dilution (RTD) and 100 X RTD . The typability of each ecovar ranged from 78.9% to 100% . Most of the strains were typable at RTD . Phage patterns obtained could be divided into 4 types (Canine I, Canine II, Pigeon, and Equine) . The phage set was considered useful for typing S . intermedius. Ann Rheum Dis, 1982 Dec, 41(6), 563 - 8 Effect of sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis on normal lymphocytes: a possible immunoregulatory role for immune complexes; Highton J et al.; The ability of rheumatoid sera to support concanavalin-A transformation of normal lymphocytes was inversely related to serum C1q binding activity . When C1q binding activity of the sera was removed by absorption with staphylococcal protein A, subsequent lymphocyte response increased to the level found in immune-complex negative sera . Gel filtration of a small number of sera suggested that the suppressive material had a molecular weight in the range 1.8-4.9 x 10(5) daltons . Aggregated human gammaglobulin suppressed con-A transformation of normal lymphocytes in a dose-dependent fashion . These results suggest that immune complexes present in rheumatoid sera can suppress lymphocyte responsiveness . The relevance of this observation to be clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis is discussed. J Neurochem, 1982 Dec, 39(6), 1759 - 62 The complete amino acid sequence of human P2 protein; Suzuki M et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of P2 protein from human peripheral nerve myelin was determined from nine staphylococcal protease peptides and four cyanogen bromide peptides . Human P2 protein is composed of 131 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 14,818 . Compared to bovine P2 protein, there are replacements at nine positions (human in equilibrium bovine): 18(Asp in equilibrium Glu), 39(Thr in equilibrium Arg), 56(Thr in equilibrium Pro), 83(Ile in equilibrium Thr), 87(Gln in equilibrium Ala), 96(Arg in equilibrium Lys), 100(Lys in equilibrium Asn), 115(Ala in equilibrium Val), and 121(Gly in equilibrium Asp). J Immunol Methods, 1982 Nov 26, 55(1), 35 - 41 Interaction of staphylococcal protein A in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detecting staphylococcal antigens; Notermans S et al.; ELISA procedures for detecting staphylococcal antigens may be subject to interference by reactions between staphylococcal protein A (SPA) and IgG molecules . It was found that rabbit IgG reacted with SPA, both in the native state and after conjugation with peroxidase . Sheep IgG, however, did not react with SPA if conjugated with peroxidase . Peroxidase conjugated SPA reacted with rabbit IgG but not with sheep IgG . These results demonstrate that the source of IgG used in an ELISA system is of major importance to correct quantitation of staphylococcal antigens. Biochemistry, 1982 Nov 23, 21(24), 6037 - 40 Sequence analysis of a growth hormone releasing factor from a human pancreatic islet tumor; Spiess J et al.; A growth hormone releasing factor of a human pancreatic islet tumor (hpGRF) of an acromegalic patient was purified and subjected to Edman degradation in a spinning cup sequencer . Approximately 0.7-1.2 nmol of peptide was applied to the cup without any pretreatment, after coupling to 3-sulfophenyl isothiocyanate or after cleavage with cyanogen bromide, staphylococcal protease, or trypsin . On the basis of the analytical data, the N-terminal sequence of 39 residues is established to be H-Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn- Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala-Arg-Lys- Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser- Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly- . It is proposed that alanine is residue 40 and represents (as free acid) the C terminus of hpGRF . Synthetic hpGRF(1-40)-OH is highly potent in stimulating GH secretion from the rat anterior pituitary in vitro and in vivo . The C-terminal sequence of hpGRF does not appear to contribute significantly to the biologic intrinsic activity and potency of hpGRF, as demonstrated by the fact that the natural product and the synthetic peptides hpGRF(1-40)-OH, hpGRF(1-40)-NH2, and hpGRF(1-29)-NH2 show equivalent in vitro activities . On the basis of sequence homologies, hpGRF is closely related to members of the glucagon secretin family, especially to the porcine gut peptide PHI. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Nov, 22(5), 895 - 6 Susceptibility of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus to fifteen commonly used antimicrobial agents; Nicolle LE et al.; Susceptibility of 34 recent clinical isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus to 16 commonly used antimicrobial agents was studied . Strains were uniformly resistant to nalidixic acid but tended to be sensitive to other agents, with occasional resistance noted to penicillin (3%), tetracycline (6%), sulfamethoxazole (6%), and erythromycin (15%). Ann Clin Lab Sci, 1982 Nov-Dec, 12(6), 471 - 6 Phagocytosis of monocytes and platelets in a neutropenic infant with septicemia; Coppola A et al.; The case is described of a low birth weight infant who developed severe neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and monocytosis in the course of staphylococcal septicemia . Light microscopy examination of the blood revealed bacteria inside the monocytes . On electron microscopy, the monocytes were degranulated and distorted by the presence of large vacuoles containing bacteria . While most of the bacteria were intact, some showed capsular dissolution suggesting the effect of lysosomes . Rarely, the bacteria were also noted within the polymorphonuclear leukocytes and platelets . Based on the finding of electron microscopy in this case, the phagocytic function of the monocytes, neutrophils and possibly the platelets was intact . In view of the fatal outcome, despite the previous findings, it is suggested that granulocyte transfusion be considered in low birth weight infants with persistent sepsis. J Med Microbiol, 1982 Nov, 15(4), 475 - 84 Changing resistance to antimicrobial drugs, and resistance typing in clinically significant strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis; Richardson JF et al.; Resistance to 11 antimicrobial drugs was assessed in 532 clinically significant strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis received in the years 1978, 1979 and 1980 and compared with that of strains collected in 1976 and 1977 for an international study . Only 14% of strains were sensitive to all the drugs tested . Resistance to gentamicin increased significantly from 7% to 33% during the study period . The degree of association between pairs of drugs was assessed . There was strong association between resistance to methicillin, aminoglycosides and macrolide antibiotics and only weak association between resistance to novobiocin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and penicillin . Patterns of resistance were complex and may be useful as an accessory typing system. Mikrobiologiia, 1982 Nov-Dec, 51(6), 919 - 25 {Urease synthesis regulation in Staphylococcus saprophyticus by urea and ammonia}; Iuodval'kite DIu et al.; The effect of growth conditions on urease synthesis was studied with Staphylococcus saprophyticus L-1 isolated from natural sources . Urease biosynthesis was recorded in the absence of urea in the complete medium and in the conditions of nitrogen deficiency; the highest level of the enzyme biosynthesis was found when the culture was grown in the absence of amine nitrogen in the medium . Ammonium ions were a reversible inhibitor of urease and, at a high concentration (30 g of (NH4)2SO4 per litre of the medium), partly repressed its biosynthesis . The rate of growth was low when the cells were cultivated in flasks in a medium containing urea (20 g per litre of the medium) . The growth was not inhibited when the cells were cultivated in 20-litre fermenters at the same concentration of urea, but with automatic pH regulation . The alkaline medium rather than urea contained in it appeared to be the principal factor inhibiting growth of the culture. Int Ophthalmol, 1982 Nov, 5(3), 155 - 61 Toxigenic strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and their experimental corneal pathogenicity in rabbits; Mahajan VM et al.; Thirty strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, ten each from normal conjunctival sacs, corneal ulcer cases and from those who developed postoperative endophthalmitis, were examined for their dermonecrotic and haemolytic activities . Dermonecrosis was studied on rabbit skin whereas haemolysis was determined against sheep, guinea pig, rabbit and human erythrocytes . None of the cell free filtrates from strains derived from normal sacs showed any evidence of toxin production . Four strains from corneal ulcer cases and five from postoperative infections produced + to + + + dermonecrosis whereas haemolytic activity was exhibited by one strain in the former and by two in the latter . Only those strains that were highly dermonecrotoxic were haemolytic . Experimental corneal lesions in the rabbit were mild by strains from normal sacs . Those showing highest dermonecrotoxic reaction, irrespective of their source, produced identical and most severe corneal pathology when compared to those producing minimal necrosis. J Neuroimmunol, 1982 Nov, 3(3), 225 - 35 Preparation of anti-GM4 antiserum and its assay by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay; Jacobson RI et al.; Anti-GM4 antiserum was prepared from rabbits by immunization with pure human brain GM4 ganglioside in complete Freund's adjuvant and methylated bovine serum albumin . None of the immunized animals developed any clinically apparent neurological dysfunction . The antiserum titer and specificity were analyzed by double immunodiffusion and a novel solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) . In the latter procedure, microtiter plate wells were coated first with the glycolipid antigen, followed by sequential application of antiserum and {125I}-Staphylococcal Protein A . The absorbed radioactivity in the well was then counted . Employing the RIA procedure, anti-GM4 antibody achieved a titer of 1:1600 . The antiserum also exhibited a high degree of specificity to GM4; cross-reactivity with glycolipids of similar structure was negligible . The production of highly specific antiserum to GM4 and the feasibility of detecting antibodies to glycolipid antigens by a convenient solid-phase RIA should be useful to further study the biological and immunological roles of GM4 and other glycolipids in the central nervous system. Arch Intern Med, 1982 Nov, 142(12), 2191 - 2 Graft infection and bacteremia with Listeria monocytogenes in a patient receiving hemodialysis; Zeitlin J et al.; Patients receiving hemodialysis are particularly susceptible to infection . We report a case of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia and graft infection developing in a patient receiving hemodialysis . Vancomycin hydrochloride therapy was initiated in anticipation of a staphylococcal infection, and continued as the patient's clinical course improved . Ultimately the arteriovenous graft required excision . Identification of the organism and drug susceptibilities are described . To our knowledge, this is the first case report of both an L monocytogenes arteriovenous graft infection and the use of vancomycin in the treatment of this infection. Can J Surg, 1982 Nov, 25(6), 613 - 6 Elective colon surgery: clindamycin versus metronidazole prophylaxis; Gahhos FN et al.; Orally administered clindamycin-neomycin as a prophylactic antibiotic in patients scheduled to undergo colon surgery was compared to orally administered metronidazole-neomycin . Clindamycin levels of the colon contents and the mucosa were 8 to 10 times higher than the serum levels . Three of the 43 patients who received metronidazole had wound infection whereas none of the 38 patients who received clindamycin did . Clindamycin may help to prevent staphylococcal infection, a known problem associated with metronidazole use . It may also play a role in preventing infection at the anastomosis in patients who undergo colon resection. Eur J Cell Biol, 1982 Nov, 29(1), 104 - 13 Physical relationship between replicons and transcription units in Physarum polycephalum; Pierron G et al.; Electron microscope spread preparations of nuclear chromatin derived from early S-phase of Physarum reveal 'beads on a string' for nonreplicated and a portion of newly replicated chromatin . Many of the early replicons contain transcription units as visualized by nascent transcripts . They are, in most cases, arranged in continuous length gradients on both newly replicated strands of chromatin, the putative origin of replication being within the transcription unit . Preferential release of DNA as acid precipitable material by DNAse I and of RNA polymerase B (estimated as release of labeled alpha-amanitin bound to isolated nuclei) is observed in early S-phase, but only if DNA synthesis is not inhibited . Also, generation of a small particle (peak A) by staphylococcal nuclease, characteristic of transcriptionally active chromatin, depends on concomitant replication of early replicons . It is concluded that DNA replication is a prerequisite for its transcription by RNA polymerase B . Thus, the sequential replication of the genome of Physarum dictates the order of transcription during S-phase which may in part control the proliferative mitotic cycle of Physarum. J Immunol, 1982 Nov, 129(5), 1806 - 10 Alterations of interferon production in a mouse model of thermal injury; Suzuki F et al.; The effect of thermal injury on the response of interferon (IFN) production in vivo and in vitro after stimulation with eight representative inducers was investigated in a mouse model . The response of mice to immune IFN (IFN-gamma) inducers, staphylococcal enterotoxin A, concanavalin A, and a specific antigen for BCG-sensitized lymphocytes (purified protein derivative) was impaired after a 30% total body surface area third-degree burn . Suppression of IFN-gamma production was observed at day 2 and persisted until day 7 after burn . Decreased IFN-gamma production correlated closely with the percentage of total body surface area burned . When virus type IFN (IFN-alpha/beta) inducers, Newcastle disease virus, polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidylic acid, 10-carboxymethyl-9-acridanone, and E . coli endotoxin, were administered to mice, no change in IFN response was observed after thermal injury . Similar results were obtained when spleen cells obtained from thermally injured mice were stimulated with IFN-gamma inducers in vitro . These studies suggest that although the capacity for IFN-alpha/beta production remains intact in thermally injured mice, IFN-gamma production may be selectively decreased in burned animals and in their spleen cells. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1982 Oct 23, 112(43), 1507 - 14 {Cushing's syndrome in bronchial carcinoid: suppressible ectopic ACTH selection}; Komor J et al.; In a 60-year-old woman Cushing's syndrome was induced by an ACTH producing bronchial carcinoid . In spite of the presence of an ectopic ACTH syndrome, the clinical, radiological and biochemical findings and the positive dexamethasone suppression test were compatible with Cushing's disease . Selective enucleation of an adenoma or total hypophysectomy was therefore felt to be indicated . Following total hypophysectomy, however, the Cushing's syndrome persisted and this suggested the possibility of an ectopic ACTH syndrome . As tumor localization was impossible, bilateral adrenalectomy was planned, but before this could be done the patient had to be hospitalized for staphylococcal septicemia and died . Autopsy revealed a subpleurally located bronchial carcinoid as the source of ACTH. Infect Immun, 1982 Oct, 38(1), 212 - 7 Intracage ammonia promotes growth of Mycoplasma pulmonis in the respiratory tract of rats; Schoeb TR et al.; Ammonia (NH3) from soiled cage bedding is known to enhance the progression and severity of murine respiratory mycoplasmosis in rats . To test the hypothesis that NH3 directly or indirectly enhances the growth of Mycoplasma pulmonis in vivo, pathogen-free F344 rats were inoculated intranasally with 1 x 10(4) to 4 x 10(4) or 4 x 10(6) to 5 x 10(6) colony-forming units of M . pulmonis and exposed to less than or equal to 1.5 or 76 microgram of NH3 per liter (less than or equal to 2 or 100 ppm, respectively) . Nasal passages, larynges, tracheas, and lungs from rats killed at intervals up to 28 days after inoculation were quantitatively cultured . Growth of M . pulmonis was much greater in NH3-exposed rats than in controls, particularly in those inoculated with the lower dose . Increases in M . pulmonis populations were more rapid in proximal airways than in distal airways . Serum immunoglobulin G and M antibody responses to M . pulmonis as measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were greater in NH3-exposed rats . In other experiments, the nasal passages absorbed virtually all NH3 when the rats were exposed to less than 380 micrograms of NH3 per liter (500 ppm), indicating that NH3 induced increases in the numbers of organisms in the distal respiratory tract, probably by a secondary, rather than a direct, effect . Also, NH3 exposure did not inhibit pulmonary antibacterial activity as measured by clearance of radiolabeled Staphylococcus epidermidis . The growth of M . pulmonis in vitro was inhibited by 1 mM NH4+ added to the medium as NH4OH but not by NH4+ concentrations of 0.5, 0.1, or 0.01 mM, suggesting that NH3 increases growth indirectly through effects on the host. J Clin Pathol, 1982 Oct, 35(10), 1138 - 41 Detection of antibodies to tetanus toxoid: comparison of a direct haemagglutination method with a radioimmunoassay; Wang AS et al.; Two methods of detecting antibodies to tetanus toxoid were compared, a radioimmunoassay (RIA) employing radiolabelled staphylococcal protein A and a direct haemagglutination (HA) method employing sheep erythrocytes coupled to tetanus toxoid with chromic chloride . These were shown to have a similarly high specificity with the HA method showing slightly higher sensitivity . Haemagglutination offers several additional advantages in terms of simplicity, low cost and less requirement for specialised equipment . The assays were also used to demonstrate a transient IgM response after repeated booster injections with absorbed toxin given to seropositive individuals, and these antibodies were found to be protective in biological tests. J Infect Dis, 1982 Oct, 146(4), 456 - 9 Recovery of staphylococcal enterotoxin F from the breast milk of a woman with toxic-shock syndrome; Vergeront JM et al.; At 22 hr after an uncomplicated delivery of a healthy full-term infant, a 26-year-old woman developed toxic-shock syndrome (TSS) . A vaginal culture yielded a coagulase-positive Staphylococcus that produced staphylococcal enterotoxin F (SEF) but no other enterotoxins . Breast milk specimens obtained on postpartum days 5, 8, and 11 contained 3.0, 2.5, and 2.0 ng of SEF/ml, respectively . Sera obtained from the mother on postpartum days 4 and 38 had titers (by radioimmunoassay) of antibody to SEF of 1:5 and less than 1:5, a result demonstrating a persisting lack of antibody to SEF after the first episode of TSS; the infant's serum titer of antibody to SEF on day 38 was also less than 1:5 . Further longitudinal monitoring of SEF and antibody to SEF in breast milk from this patient is presented . This case is the first isolation of SEF from a body fluid obtained from a patient with TSS further strengthens the association between SEF and TSS. Blood, 1982 Oct, 60(4), 807 - 13 Cumulative experience with a simplified solid-phase radioimmunoassay for the detection of bound antiplatelet IgG, serum auto-, allo-, and drug-dependent antibodies; Faig D et al.; A simplified, sensitive, solid-phase radioimmunoassay employing 125I-staphylococcal protein A has been developed that is capable of detecting bound antiplatelet IgG as well as serum auto-, allo-, and drug-dependent antiplatelet antibodies . The simplified assay employs a ratio of test over control platelet counts per minute (cpm) for detection of positive results . All reagents are commercially available . The assay can be performed with as little as 10(6) washed platelets (10 microliters of whole blood) that have been stored for as long as 8 wk at 4 degrees C in microtiter plates . The assay time, employing stored platelets, is 4 hr . Bound platelet IgG is positive in 93% of 46 thrombocytopenic patients with autoimmune disease and correlates inversely with their platelet count, r = -0.65, p less than 0.001 . The ability of this assay to detect serum antibody was studied with a rabbit anti-human platelet antibody capable of giving optimal immunoprecipitation with solubilized platelet membranes at a tier of 1:10 . The present assay increases the sensitivity of antibody detection 256-fold to a titer of 1:2560 . Human serum antiplatelet membrane antibody was positive in 2 of 2 patients with anti-PLA-1 antibody (titers of 1:256 and greater than 1:64); 7 of 12 multiply transfused patients who were refractory to platelet transfusion (2 had titers of greater than 1:256 and greater than 1:32); 5 of 19 patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (2 had titers of 1:64 and 1:32); and 10 of 14 patients with clinical histories of drug-dependent antiplatelet antibody (2 had titers of 1:1280 for quinidine and 1:384 for phenazopyridine). J Immunol, 1982 Oct, 129(4), 1700 - 5 Variable and common antigens of Babesia bovis parasites differing in strain and virulence; Kahl LP et al.; Virulent and avirulent K strain (KV and KA) and virulent L strain (LV) Babesia bovis parasites were biosynthetically labeled with 35S-methionine . Labeled proteins, extracted in detergent from infected cultures, were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis . Protein antigens common to these forms of babesia and those specific for strain and correlating with the degree of virulence were identified by immunoprecipitation with antisera . Dominant labeled protein antigens were found to differ both between the K and L strains of B . bovis and between virulent (KV) and avirulent (KA) forms of the K strain . Partial cleavage of biosynthetically labeled proteins by staphylococcal V-8 protease and peptide mapping revealed that no extensive amino acid homology existed between the candidate variant antigens . KA B . bovis parasites are currently in use as a live attenuated vaccine for bovine babesiosis in Australia . Antigens that are better expressed in KA relative to virulent strains may therefore be markers of avirulence and/or candidate "host-protective antigens" of B . bovis . At least one protein (Mr 43,000) was identified as being a dominant labeled antigen of KA that is poorly represented in the KV and LV B . bovis isolates. Thromb Res, 1982 Oct 1, 28(1), 11 - 7 A simple and rapid method to detect platelet associated IgG; Takahashi A et al.; In order to measure platelet associated IgG (PAIgG), a semiquantitative method was devised, utilizing the ability of staphylococcal protein A (SpA) to bind human IgG specifically . Platelets bound to sheep red blood cells coated with SpA were separated from non-bound platelets by centrifugation through Ficol-paque solution and an adhesive percentage (Binding Rate) was calculated by enumeration of platelets remaining in an upper phase . In a total of 72 cases including 15 cases of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), PAIgG was studied, using this new method and quantitative Fab, anti-Fab assay . Binding Rate was 9.3 +/- 3.8% in normal subjects and 26.5 +/- 10% in ITP patients, which difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01) . A good correlation was observed between Binding Rate and peripheral platelet count in ITP (r = 0.7299, p less than 0.01) and also between Binding Rate and values of PAIgG by Fab, anti-Fab assay (r = 0.8309, p less than 0.01) . These results indicate that this new method is reliable to detect PAIgG in addition to its simplicity and rapidity. Arch Ophthalmol, 1982 Oct, 100(10), 1611 - 3 Microbial contamination of donor eyes . A retrospective study; Pardos GJ et al.; The culture results of 4,167 donor eyes received over a two-year period are evaluated . Irrigation of the cornea and conjunctiva with 20 mL of sterile saline prior to enucleation decreased the incidence of bacterial contamination to 12.4% . The major contaminant is Staphylococcus epidermidis (66.4%) . The incidence of endophthalmitis in the 1,880 corneal transplants performed during this time was 0.1% . The significance of irrigation and antibiotic use in processing donor corneas is discussed J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Oct, 16(4), 676 - 85 Enzyme immunofiltration technique for rapid diagnosis of herpes simplex virus eye infections in a rabbit model; Cleveland PH et al.; A rapid enzyme immunofiltration assay for herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been developed which is sensitive enough to detect viral antigens in eye swabs from rabbits with primary herpes keratitis . This assay employs a specially designed filter manifold to immobilize whole cells and cell debris dissociated from the swabs . Viral antigens trapped on the filters are then detected in an indirect immunoassay utilizing staphylococcal protein A conjugated with horseradish peroxidase . The assay required only 2.5 h to perform and could be read visually . Reconstruction experiments indicated that antigen from as few as 49 HSV-infected cells could be detected . Calcium alginate swabs were shown to recover more viral antigen than dacron swabs . The enzyme immunofiltration assay detected HSV antigens on 95% of the eye swabs from which infectious virus was recovered . In addition, HSV antigen was also detected in several swabs from infected eyes which did not yield infectious virus, presumably because the virus was neutralized by native antibody present in the lacrimal fluid . This enzyme immunofiltration assay technique lends itself to the elution of native antibody bound to the viral antigens, and this may be especially applicable in the diagnosis of recurrent HSV keratitis, where antiviral antibody in the lacrimal fluid may interfere with virus isolation and fluorescent-antibody or other virus detection assays. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 1982 Sep 24, 299(1094), 29 - 38 The human fibroblast and human immune interferon genes and their expression in homologous and heterologous cells; Fiers W et al.; The genetic information coding for human fibroblast interferon (IFN-beta) has been cloned both as a DNA copy (cDNA) and as a genomic clone . Human IFN-beta is made as a precursor and consists of a signal sequence 21 amino acid residues long followed by the mature protein 166 amino acids long . A single site for glycosylation is present . The human IFN-beta gene does not contain introns . Transfection of monkey cells with a chimeric SV40 derivative containing the human IFN-beta cDNA clone under control of the late SV40 promoter leads to secretion of high levels of IFN-beta . When a genomic clone is used in the same vector, IFN-beta synthesis can be further enhanced up to 30-fold by treatment with poly(rI) . poly(rC); this shows that a cis-active control element is present in the clone . An efficient expression system in Escherichia coli was worked out based on a plasmid containing the promoter PL of bacteriophage lambda, which is regulated by a temperature-sensitive repressor . This promoter is followed by a segment derived from bacteriophage MS2 that contains the ribosome-binding site of the replicase gene . The latter, however, is replaced by the human IFN-beta gene . Upon induction, high levels (about 5 x 10(9) IU 1(-1)) of IFN-beta are synthesized by the bacteria; this corresponds to about 2% of the total bacterial protein . The human immune (type II) interferon (IFN-gamma) gene has similarly been cloned . Partly purified mRNA derived from human spleen cells that had been induced with staphylococcal enterotoxin A was used as starting material . A full-length cDNA clone was sequenced . The total cDNA sequence is about 1150 nucleotides long; it contains a single open reading frame coding for 166 amino acids, the first 20 of which constitute the transmembrane signal . There are two sites for glycosylation . The amino acid sequence is quite different from that of IFN-alpha or IFN-beta, although a few similarities can be noted . The untranslated 3'-terminal region is about 550 nucleotides long . The IFN-gamma gene was expressed in monkey cells, again by using the SV40-derived vector, and the secreted product was characterized as true human IFN-gamma . A genomic clone in the form of a bacteriophage lambda derivative was also obtained . The IFN-gamma gene extends over at least 5 kilobases and contains at least two introns. J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Sep, 128 (Pt 9), 2141 - 7 Growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis in soft agar in relation to respiration, dehydrogenase activity and biotype; Ohtomo T et al.; Using 200 fresh isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis, the relationship between type of growth in soft-agar medium and respiration, dehydrogenase activity and biotype was investigated . When strains of S . epidermidis were cultured in Brain Heart Infusion medium containing 0.15% (w/v) agar, the following different growth types were observed: compact colonial morphology with growth throughout the medium (type A), or with growth only at the surface (type B); and diffuse colonial morphology with growth throughout the medium (type C), growth only at the surface (type D), or growth from the surface to the middle of the tube (type E) . Five representative strains of each growth type were studied and different results for cytochrome pattern, oxygen consumption and relative activities of lactic dehydrogenase and succinic dehydrogenase were obtained with different growth types . However, there was no correlation between growth type and biotype. Strahlentherapie, 1982 Sep, 158(9), 546 - 50 {Vaginal bacterial flora of patients with operated endometrial carcinoma prior to and following intracavitary vaginal irradiation (Ir-192, afterloading)}; Gerstner G et al.; In a prospective bacteriological and clinical study the vaginal bacterial flora of 35 patients with endometrial carcinoma, who underwent surgery 4 to 6 weeks earlier, was investigated prior to and following intracavitary vaginal irradiation with 10 Gy in 0,75 cm(Ir-192, afterloading device, Buchler) . Bacteriological swabs were taken prior to and following ther insertion of a tube applicator . Anaerobic transport-media were used an cultures were performed aerobically and anaerobically . The mean number of aerobic species per patient increased slightly from 3.26 to 3.60 (n.s), anaerobic species remained constant (1.36 before and 1.30 after irradiation) . Also the frequency of isolation of most aerobic and of all anaerobic species was statistically not altered following irradiation . Staphylococcus epidermidis decreased from 51.4% to 22.8% significantly (2 p less than 0.05), Micrococci increased from 0.0% to 11.4% (2 p less than 0.05) and aerobic sporeformers form 0.0% to 34.3% (2 p less than 0.01) . Among the anaerobes Pepto- and Peptostreptococci were isolated prior to and following intracavitary irradiation in 11 to 14%, Bacteroides-species in 11 to 20% . Our bacteriological results suggest, that intracavitary irradiation in the therapeutically usual doses has no sterilizing effect on the vaginal flora . This flora plays an important role in infection following gynecologic radiotherapy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1982 Sep, 22(3), 391 - 4 Pharmacokinetics of vancomycin: observations in 28 patients and dosage recommendations; Rotschafer JC et al.; Studies of the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were conducted in a group of 28 patients with serious staphylococcal infection . Serum specimens were collected before and on 11 occasions after vancomycin administration . Serum concentration time data were fitted to a biexponential equation, using nonlinear regression analysis . A prolonged distribution phase with a half-life of 0.5 +/- 0.3 h (standard deviation) and a central component volume of 9.0 +/- 4.0 liters were demonstrated . Wide interpatient variation was observed in the terminal half-life which ranged from 3 to 13 h (mean, 6 h) and in the distribution volume which ranged from 14 to 111 liters (mean, 39 liters) . A correlation of 0.45 (Pearson product moment correlation coefficient) was found between vancomycin clearance and creatinine clearance . Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that 50% of the variance (R2) in the terminal half-life and vancomycin clearance could be explained on the basis of renal function, volume of distribution, age, weight, and sex . These observations suggest that adults with normal renal function should receive an initial dosage of 6.5 to 8 mg of vancomycin per kg intravenously over 1 h every 6 to 12 h . After 24 h, and through the period of therapy, trough and peak serum vancomycin concentrations should be monitored, and the dose and dosage interval should be changed to produce the desired peak (30 to 40 micrograms/ml) and trough (5 to 10 micrograms/ml) levels. Ann Plast Surg, 1982 Sep, 9(3), 249 - 53 Toxic epidermal necrolysis-case report and review of the literature; Ortiz JE et al.; A patient who developed toxic epidermal necrolysis secondary to a sulfonamide derivative is presented . Treatment consisted of fluid resuscitation and silver nitrate soaks to the affected areas . Silver nitrate was selected over silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene) and mafenide in view of the nature of the offending agent . Tissue biopsy helps in the differentiation of toxic epidermal necrolysis from staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome . A biopsy is especially useful if the offending agent is not known so that appropriate treatment can be started promptly . The mortality associated with toxic epidermal necrolysis is in the neighborhood of 30% . The priniciples of burn wound management are the key to treatment of this disease . The wound usually heals by epithelialization without the need of skin grafting. Infect Immun, 1982 Sep, 37(3), 1181 - 90 Liberation of serotonin from rabbit blood platelets by bacterial cell walls and related compounds; Harada K et al.; A study was made on the activity of various bacterial cell walls and peptidoglycans to liberate serotonin from rabbit blood platelets . All of the test cell walls or peptidoglycans prepared from 27 strains of 21 bacterial species were shown to cause a marked release of serotonin, regardless of differences in types of peptidoglycan and non-peptidoglycan moieties and in some biological properties . The assay made with the water-soluble "digests" of Staphylococcus epidermidis cell wall peptidoglycans, which were prepared by use of appropriate enzymes, revealed that a polymer of peptidoglycan subunits (a disaccharide-stempeptide) was definitely active in the release of serotonin, but a structural unit monomer was inactive . Among a variety of synthetic muramylpeptides and their 6-O-acyl derivatives, only 6-O-(3-hydroxy-2-docosylhexacosanoyl)-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl- L-lysyl-D-alanine was found to hold a strong serotonin-liberating activity. Arch Surg, 1982 Sep, 117(9), 1164 - 5 Rifampin and cefazolin as prophylactic agents . A comparison in an animal model of vascular graft infection; Rutledge R et al.; We investigated rifampin and cefazolin sodium as prophylactic agents in a dog model of vascular graft infection . A 1-cm segment of 3-mm-diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-tex) graft was sewn into the right carotid artery of each dog, and prior to closure, 10(3) Staphylococcus organisms sensitive to both cefazolin and rifampin were injected over the graft . The dogs were killed five days after surgery and the grafts cultured . Infection occurred in 100% of controls, 58% of cefazolin-pretreated dogs, and 17% of rifampin-pretreated dogs . Mean blood levels of antibiotics were assayed as follows: cefazolin, 50.1 micrograms/mL; rifampin, 2.9 micrograms/mL . Both were well above the minimal inhibitory concentration . Thus, rifampin proved to be more effective than cefazolin in this animal model. Clin Orthop, 1982 Sep, (169), 264 - 8 Silver antibacterial bone cement . Comparison with gentamicin in experimental osteomyelitis; Dueland R et al.; An animal model was used to evaluate and compare silver methacrylate with gentamicin methacrylate in experimental Staphylococcus osteomyelitis . One tibia from each of 54 rabbits was innoculated with 4 X 10(6) CFU of S . aureus and inserted with prepolymerized PMM rods containing either 1% Ag2SO4, 2.5% gentamicin, or no additives . By six weeks, the mortality rate was 61% in controls, 22% in Ag-PMM animals and 6% in gentamicin-PMM animals . Bacterial counts from the bone of dying and surviving animals were significantly lower than controls, 23.6% of controls for the Ag-PMM treated and 6.0% for the gentamicin-PMM treated groups . All surviving animals were culture positive, except for three sterile bones obtained from the gentamicin-PMM group . In light of these results and the favorable characteristics as an antimicrobial agent, further investigation of silver in bone cement (or other vehicles) for the prevention or treatment of bone infection appears warranted. Pediatrics, 1982 Sep, 70(3), 487 - 90 Use of peripheral intravenous cannulas in premature infants: a controlled study; Batton DG et al.; A randomized, controlled study was done to determine whether a 25-gauge steel needle or a 24-gauge Teflon catheter was preferable for the administration of peripheral intravenous fluids and medications to premature infants . A total of 58 cannulas--28 steel needles and 30 catheters--were used in 34 infants . The needles remained in place for 15.4 +/- 13.2 hours (mean +/- SD) and the Teflon catheters for 49.5 +/- 30.9 hours (mean +/- SD) . All of the steel needles had to be removed because of infiltration whereas only 17/30 (57%) of the catheters infiltrated . A local inflammatory reaction, which was not related to infection, occurred with 11/30 (37%) of the Teflon catheters . Following removal, Staphylococcus epidermidis was grown from the culture of 1/19 steel needles and 1/25 catheters . In both instances this organism was thought to be a contaminant . Teflon catheters remain functional three times longer than steel needles with no apparent increase in complications . The use of these catheters, therefore, appears to be the preferred method for administering intravenous fluids to premature infants. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss, 1982 Sep, 75(9), 1005 - 11 {Abnormal communications in acute bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve}; Baehrel B et al.; Abnormal communications acquired during acute aortic valve bacterial endocarditis are rare but serious complications . Seven cases are reported; between the left ventricle and right atrium (3 cases), the left and right ventricles (2 cases), the aorta and right atrium (I case) and the aorta and left atrium (I case) . The usual causal organisms is a staphylococcus (4 out of 7) . The diagnosis is suspected on the development of atrio-ventricular block, a parasystolic murmur and sudden severe cardiac failure, but can only be confirmed by catheterisation and angiocardiography (impractical in our patients because of their poor condition) . Echocardiography is of great diagnostic value . Surgical cure involves a double approach aortotomy and opening the other chamber involved), with extensive excision of the infected tissues, closure of the perforation, reconstruction of the aortic ring and implantation of an aortic valve prosthesis . The extent of the anatomical lesions affects the choice of the mode of reparation . There was no operative mortality in our series but two patients have persistent diastolic murmurs due to perivalvular leaks . In one case, recurrent infection led to the implantation of an apico-aortic tube with a fatal outcome. Immunol Lett, 1982 Sep, 5(3), 161 - 6 The use of fibronectin-coated polyvinyl chloride microtest plates to detect monoclonal antibody-binding to adherent tumor cells; Eskinazi DP et al.; This report describes the use of fibronectin-coated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plates as a time-saving modification in an assay measuring antibody-binding to live adherent tumor cells . Three cell lines (A-431, Colo 16 and UCLA-SO-P3) derived from human squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and forming monolayers in cultures were plated onto flexible PVC microtest plates rather than the commonly used rigid polystyrene plates . In PVC plates, two of the three cell lines (A-431 and Colo 16) grew as foci of clumped cells instead of monolayers . Coating of the plates with plasma fibronectin restored the monolayer morphology . {125I}Staphylococcal protein A radioimmunoassays measuring the binding of a monoclonal anti-beta 2 microglobulin antibody to the cells were slightly, but consistently, more sensitive in coated PVC plates than in polystyrene plates . In contrast, the sensitivity of the radioimmunoassay was remarkably constant when the assay was performed on the third cell line (UCLA-SO-P3), which formed monolayers in any of the conditions tested . Preliminary experiments suggested that the inability to form monolayers on uncoated PVC plates correlates with the amount of fibronectin associated with the cell surface. J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Sep, 16(3), 509 - 16 Identification of Staphylococcus species with the API STAPH-IDENT system; Kloos WE et al.; The API STAPH-IDENT system was compared with conventional methods for the identification of 14 Staphylococcus species . Conventional methods included the Kloos and Schleifer simplified scheme and DNA-DNA hybridization . The API STAPH-IDENT strip utilizes a battery of 10 miniaturized biochemical tests, including alkaline phosphatase, urease, beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, and beta-galactosidase activity, aerobic acid formation from D-(+)-mannose, D-mannitol, D-(+)-trehalose, and salicin, and utilization of arginine . Reactions of cultures were determined after 5 h of incubation at 35 degrees C . Results indicated a high degree of congruence (greater than 90%) between the expedient API system and conventional methods for most species . The addition of a test for novobiocin susceptibility to the API system increased the accuracy of identification of S . saprophyticus, S . cohnii, and S . hominis, significantly . Several strains of S . hominis, S . haemolyticus, and S . warneri which were difficult to separate with the Kloos and Schleifer simplified scheme were accurately resolved by the API system. Rev Infect Dis, 1982 Sep-Oct, 4 Suppl, S465 - 71 Clinical experience with cefotaxime in the treatment of serious bone and joint infections; LeFrock JL et al.; Cefotaxime, a new parenteral cephalosporin that is beta-lactamase resistant, was evaluated for safety and efficacy in 55 patients (at 22 hospitals) with serious bone and joint infections . Septic arthritis and bursitis and acute and chronic osteomyelitis were treated with 2-16 g of parenteral cefotaxime per day (mean, 7.45 g) for 4-54 days (mean, 22.8 days) . Thirty-seven patients had underlying diseases or conditions, 13 patients had infections that were hospital acquired, and 39 patients required surgery . Staphylococcus was the most frequently isolated pathogen . Overall, 39 of the 51 patients who met all criteria for evaluation had satisfactory responses to cefotaxime . The drug was well tolerated by all patients . Further investigation of cefotaxime for the treatment of bone and joint infections is warranted. J Immunol Methods, 1982 Aug 27, 53(1), 61 - 8 A highly sensitive solid-phase radioimmunoassay for the assay of Plasmodium falciparum antigens and antibodies; Avraham H et al.; A highly sensitive radioimmunoassay for detection of P . falciparum antibodies and antigens is described . A partially purified P . falciparum antigen preparation is obtained from in vitro cultured parasites enriched after gelatin sedimentation by sonicating the infected red blood cells and precipitating the proteins with 50% saturated ammonium sulfate . The precipitate is dissolved in buffer, ultracentrifuged and used to coat wells of microtiter plates . Anti-P . falciparum antibodies are detected by incubating antiserum dilutions in the coated wells and detecting the bound IgG with radioiodinated staphylococcal protein A . P . falciparum antigens are detected by their ability to inhibit binding of antibodies to the coated wells . Sera of individuals with a history of P . falciparum infection contain antibodies detectable at a dilution of 1:75,000 . P . falciparum RBC infected in vitro can be detected at levels of parasitemia of the order of 1 parasite or less per 10(6) RBC. J Immunol Methods, 1982 Aug 27, 53(1), 103 - 8 A modified ELISA technique for anti-hapten antibodies; Suter M; Polystyrene tubes pretreated with glutaraldehyde in phosphate buffer were used in a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassary (ELISA) . The hapten o-dinitrocarboxyphenol (o-DNCP) was used as coat . The binding of homologous rabbit antibodies was measured with phosphatase-labelled staphylococcal protein A (SPA-PH) . This method is both very sensitive (serum dilutions greater than 2 x 10(-6) were still positive) and highly reproducible . Anti-DNP rat IgE was detected with o-DNCP hapten as a coat using avidin/biotin as a marker. Nature, 1982 Aug 26, 298(5877), 852 - 4 Macrophage binding of Staphylococcus albus is blocked by anti I-region alloantibody; Stewart J et al.; Cell surface interactions involving carbohydrate may be important in immune recognition . Previous work from this laboratory has demonstrated the presence of 'lectin-like' receptors on mouse peritoneal macrophages that bind bacteria by means of their cell wall sugars . Others have shown that Ia molecules can bind antigen at specific sites which may be involved in presenting antigen to the immune system and recent work has shown that these molecules can carry carbohydrate determinants . It has also been found that human Ia molecules can bind to carbohydrates . As cell surface carbohydrate recognition mechanisms have been implicated in other immune interactions sugar-specific receptors may have a function in self--non-self recognition . We show here that the binding of the bacterium Staphylococcus albus to mouse peritoneal macrophages was inhibited by various conventional and monoclonal antibodies to Ia antigens suggesting that an I-region gene product may be associated with the binding of unopsonized bacteria. J Biol Chem, 1982 Aug 25, 257(16), 9593 - 7 The cell attachment domain of fibronectin . Determination of the primary structure; Pierschbacher MD et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of the cell attachment domain of human plasma fibronectin (Pierschbacher, M . D., Hayman, E . G., and Ruoslahti, E . (1981) Cell 26, 259-267) has been determined by automated sequential degradation of a peptic fragment comprising this region and of peptides derived from this fragment by digestion with thermolysin, staphylococcal V8 protease, cyanogen bromide cleavage, and partial acid hydrolysis . The fragment contains 108 residues with isoleucine and methionine as the NH2- and carboxyl-terminal amino acids, respectively . No cysteines are present . The calculated molecular weight of the cell attachment fragment, based on the amino acid sequence, is 11,482, which is in good agreement with the molecular weight estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation . There are no homologies in this fragment with other published sequences . The implications of the structure of the cell attachment fragment to the molecular mechanism of cell-fibronectin interaction are discussed. J Biol Chem, 1982 Aug 25, 257(16), 9335 - 44 Structural studies of bovine heart cytochrome c1; Wakabayashi S et al.; The complete primary structure of bovine heart cytochrome c1 was established by analyses of peptide fragments prepared by digestion using trypsin, staphylococcal protease, and chymotrypsin and by cyanogen bromide cleavage of cytochrome c1 and its derivatives . The total number of amino acid residues is 241, giving a molecular weight of 27,924 including the heme group . The NH2- and COOH-terminal residues are serine and lysine, respectively . One characteristic of the protein is that cytochrome c1 contains 43.6% hydrophobic residues and the polarity is estimated to be 41.1% . No clear homology was found between cytochrome c1 and other membranous proteins such as cytochrome b5 or the subunits of cytochrome oxidase for which sequences have been reported . Cytochrome c1 is predicted to have a high content of alpha-helix (46%) . Partial sequence studies were also carried out on cytochrome c1 preparations obtained by different procedures and showed that there is no difference among the sequences of various preparations of cytochrome c1 . The presence of a hydrophobic cluster near the COOH-terminal region indicates that the COOH-terminal region of cytochrome C1 associates with, or is buried in, the phospholipid bilayer of the mitochondrial membrane. Biochemistry, 1982 Aug 17, 21(17), 3955 - 65 Orthogonal packing of beta-pleated sheets in proteins; Chothia C et al.; Two classes of beta-sheet to beta-sheet packing can be distinguished in globular proteins . Both classes have beta sheets with the usual right-handed twist packed face to face . In orthogonal beta-sheet packings, the strand directions of the different beta sheets are 90 degrees to each other . Twisted beta sheets in this orientation have anticomplementary surfaces: one pair of diagonally opposite corners in the beta sheets is very close, and the other pairs of corners splay apart . At the close corners, the beta sheets are usually covalently connected: a strand that is part of one beta sheet turns through a right-handed bend to become part of the second beta sheet . The bend may occur at a beta bulge, or over a stretch of residues with a characteristic conformation, forming what we call a beta bend . Contacts between the beta sheets occur along the diagonal joining the close corners . They improve about one-fourth of the beta-sheet residues, and two-thirds of them are Val, Ile, or Leu . Elsewhere, the space between the beta sheets is filled by side chains from other parts of the protein, often alpha helices placed at the splayed corners . Examples of orthogonal beta-sheet packing are found in alcohol dehydrogenase, the acid proteases, the trypsin family, papain, staphylococcal nuclease, and thermolysin . In aligned beta-sheet packings, the angle between the strand directions of the packed beta sheets is approximately -30 degrees . In this orientation, the twisted beta-sheet surfaces are complementary . The principles governing this class of beta-sheet packings have been described previously . Here we discuss the difference and similarities of the aligned and orthogonal packing classes. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Aug, (8), 102 - 7 {Immunostimulating activity of antigenic complexes isolated from various Staphylococcus strains}; Egorova NB et al.; The study of the immunostimulating potency of the staphylococcal antigenic complex obtained from different strains by aqueous extraction indicated that the preparations obtained from highly virulent strains showed the lowest potency after challenge with both homologous and heterologous strains . The preparations obtained from strains with low virulence stimulated resistance to highly virulent strains to a greater extent than the preparations from the same virulent strain which was used for challenge . The necessity of revising the requirements to strains used for the production of antibacterial staphylococcal preparations is substantiated. J Cell Sci, 1982 Aug, 56, 337 - 56 Mechanism of Fc-mediated interaction of eosinophils with immobilized immune complexes: I . Effects of inhibitors and activators of eosinophil function; Oliver RC et al.; A protein of apparent molecular weight 55000, designated protein 3, becomes newly detectable on the eosinophil surface as a specific consequence of interaction with antigen-antibody complexes immobilized in agar layers . The effect of various agents upon this interaction has been determined by monitoring the appearance of this protein by lactoperoxidase-catalysed iodination . Other parameters that have been measured include: the attachment of eosinophils to the agar layers and their subsequent degranulation, as measured by the release of granule peroxidase, and the degree of spreading of the eosinophils, as assessed by electron microscopy . Attachment of eosinophils to antibody-coated layers is inhibited by heat-aggregated immunoglobulin G (IgG), suggesting that this attachment is mediated via eosinophil Fc receptors . In addition, agents, such as the eosinophil chemotactic factor Ala-Gly-Ser-Glu, that enhance the expression of Fc receptors also enhance the appearance of protein 3, while agents, such as hydrocortisone, that inhibit the expression of Fc receptors reduce its appearance . It is concluded that the appearance of protein 3 parallels the expression of Fc receptors . Attempts to block the Fc region of the bound antibody with staphylococcal protein A were not successful . These experiments indicated that the Fc region of bound IgG has different binding sites for protein A and for the Fc receptor . The correlation between the appearance of protein 3 and subsequent degranulation of the eosinophils was confirmed by the use of agents, such as cytochalasin D and levamisole, that enhance both the appearance of protein 3 and degranulation . Conversely, hydrocortisone reduces the appearance of protein 3 and inhibits degranulation . Protein 3 does not appear when eosinophils adhere to agar layers coated with concanavalin A instead of antibody and the eosinophils do not degranulate . Addition of the calcium ionophore A23187, while causing the release of granule peroxidase, does not elicit the appearance of protein 3 . These observations provided additional evidence that the appearance of protein 3 is a specific consequence of the interaction of eosinophils with antibody-coated surfaces . The fact that protein 3 appears at the eosinophil surface as a direct consequence of the interaction with antibody suggests that this protein is closely associated with the eosinophil Fc receptor . The enhancement of the appearance of protein 3 in the presence of cytochalasin D indicates that the movement and reorientation of both this protein and the Fc receptor are constrained by association with cytoplasmic microfilaments. Ophthalmology, 1982 Aug, 89(8), 921 - 9 Infectious endophthalmitis . Review of 36 cases; Puliafito CA et al.; A three-year retrospective study of 36 cases of infectious endophthalmitis seen at a large referral eye center between 1977 and 1980 was conducted . The criterion for infectious endophthalmitis was the culture of microorganisms from aqueous or vitreous on at least two media . The most frequent pathogen was Staphylococcus epidermis; it was isolated from 18 (50%) of the cases . In cases of infectious endophthalmitis following recent cataract extraction, S . epidermidis was isolated from 10 to 17 eyes (58.8%) . Complete loss of visual function occurred in 16 of the 36 eyes (44.4%); a visual acuity of 20/400 or better as recorded in 15 eyes (41.6%) and 20/100 or better in eight (22.2%) . Fifty percent of the cases were treated with vitrectomy and intraocular antibiotics . Poor visual outcome was associated with gram-negative organisms or delay of vitrectomy more than 24 hours after the initial diagnosis . In cases of postoperative S . epidermidis endophthalmitis, the most favorable visual outcomes were associated with use of intraocular antibiotics and vitrectomy; 80% of cases so treated had a final visual acuity of 20/400 or better and 60% had a visual acuity of 20/100 or better. AJR Am J Roentgenol, 1982 Aug, 139(2), 251 - 3 Periaortic fluid aspiration for recognition of infected graft: preliminary report; Cunat JS et al.; Diagnostic aspiration of a periaortic fluid collection was performed four times on three patients suspected of aortic graft infection . One aspiration was positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis and the others were sterile . The results of aspiration were critical in determining if radical surgical treatment should be performed . CT guidance is well suited for this type of aspiration because it results in accurate needle placement without inadvertent puncture of bowel or the graft. Antibiotiki, 1982 Aug, 27(8), 626 - 31 {Therapeutic effectiveness of gentamycin and rifampicin in experimental staphylococcal-Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and their effect on immunological processes}; Dnestranskaia LI et al.; The survival level of the experimental animals with infection caused by Staphylococcus and Ps . aeruginosa was the highest when the animals were treated with a combination of gentamicin and rifampicin as compared to the use of every antibiotic alone . The combination had a more favourable effect on the plasmocytic reaction and production of the antibody-forming cells in the lymphoid organs which correlated with the therapeutic efficacy of the antibiotics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1982 Aug, 79(15), 4756 - 60 Mediators from cloned T helper cell lines affect immunoglobulin expression by B cells; Paige CJ et al.; When cloned T helper cells encounter antigen presented by I-A-compatible macrophages, soluble mediators are produced that affect the differentiation and activation of normal B lymphocytes and cell lines of the B lineage . Exposure to such T cell culture supernatants causes two effects in the murine 70Z/3 cell line, which represents a pre-B stage of differentiation . These cells begin to synthesize Ig light chains and gain membrane Ig that is detectable by immunofluorescence . Two other effects are seen after similar treatment of the WEHI-279.1 murine cell line, which represents a mature, Ig+ B cell . These cells shift the ratio of mu chains produced from mostly membrane to mostly secretory type and begin to secrete large amounts of IgM, which can be detected either by biosynthetic radiolabeling followed by immunoprecipitation or by a staphylococcal protein A plaque assay . The majority also die . Similar to WEHI-279.1, normal small resting B cells also show the shift from membrane mu to secretory mu and are activated to Ig secretion after exposure to these supernatants . These results show that products from T cell immune reactions exert multiple effects on B cell development and activation, at several stages of teh B cell developmental pathway . The observed change range from nuclear processes, including gene transcription and RNA splicing, to such post-translational aspects as protein processing, catabolism, membrane architecture, and cell survival. Can Med Assoc J, 1982 Aug 1, 127(3), 207 - 11 Self-administration of intravenous antibiotics: an efficient, cost-effective home care program; Stiver HG et al.; The effects of a home care program with 102 courses (2336 patient-days) of intravenous antibiotic therapy were evaluated . Home care nurses changed the intravenous cannula site every 3 days . The initial hospital stay averaged 11.8 days and the duration of home therapy averaged 22.9 days . The diseases treated included osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, cystic fibrosis and pneumonia, staphylococcal bacteremia, blastomycosis, actinomycosis and other soft tissue infections . All classes of commonly used antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and amphotericin B, were administered, alone or in combination . There were no side effects that necessitated discontinuation of home treatment or readmission to hospital . The average cost per patient-day was $58, compared with an estimated $193 for in-hospital therapy; in addition, 2336 hospital bed-days were made available . Most patients were able to resume many or all of their daily activities while receiving intravenous antibiotic therapy. Am J Hosp Pharm, 1982 Aug, 39(8), 1305 - 8 Determining a time frame for sterility testing of intravenous admixtures; DeChant RL et al.; Defining an optimal time of analysis for detecting bacterial contaminants in intravenous admixtures was studied . Three different intravenous solutions were inoculated with low-level numbers (10(1)) of Staphylococcus epidermidis and tested for sterility using the Ivex-2 Filterset method at six time intervals after inoculation: less than 1, 20, 40, 60, 120, and 240 minutes . Solutions used were 5% dextrose injection 1000 ml, 0.9% sodium chloride injection 1000 ml, and 5% dextrose injection 50 ml . At each interval, 10 solutions of each type were tested . An additional 20 controls were employed to monitor technique, facilities, and environmental conditions . Successful recovery of Staph . epidermis decreased significantly when sample processing was delayed for longer than 40-60 minutes after inoculation . Furthermore, the number of false negatives was greater for dextrose solutions than for sodium chloride solutions after this time period . Volume of admixtures had no effect on contamination detection . This study suggests that sterility testing should be completed within 40-60 minutes after preparation of intravenous admixtures. Am J Hosp Pharm, 1982 Aug, 39(8), 1299 - 302 Evaluation of three methods for detecting bacterial contamination in intravenous solutions; Hoffman KH et al.; Membrane filtration, small-aliquot inoculation, and double-strength broth methods of sterility testing were evaluated for detection of small numbers of bacteria in 5% dextrose injection (D5W) . Each of 240 bags of D5W 50 ml were inoculated with approximately 10 2 Staphylococcus epidermidis and subjected to one of the three test methods at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, or 48 hours after inoculation . After incubating at 25 degrees C for seven days, the test units were examined for turbidity, indicating growth of bacterial contaminants . Double-strength broth was shown to be more reliable than the other two test methods, detecting the bacterial contaminants in 30 of 30 samples through six hours . Successful recovery of low-level Staph . epidermidis in D5W decreased significantly after a nine-hour delay in processing . Membrane filtration and aliquot-sampling methods were comparable, each detecting contamination in 3-4 of 10 bags at one hour after inoculation . The number of false negatives increased with time, with no contaminants detected in any of the bags tested with these two methods nine hours after inoculation . It is concluded that the testing method selected to monitor for sterility and the amount of time elapsed before processing the sample are critical to the accuracy of results. Ophthalmic Surg, 1982 Aug, 13(8), 653 - 6 Moxalactam (Moxam) in the treatment of experimental staphylococcal endophthalmitis; Leeds NH et al.; We investigated the intraocular penetration, retinal toxicity, clearance from the vitreous, and antibacterial activity of moxalactam (Moxam), a new third-generation cephalosporin with activity against aerobic and anaerobic gram positive organisms and many gram negative organisms . Seventy-four albino rabbits were used . Subconjunctival injection yielded therapeutic aqueous and vitreous levels for all hours studied . Intraocular penetration following single dose intravenous and intramuscular administration was poor . Two mg injected into the vitreous produced rare focal retinal toxicity . Eleven of the 11 eyes receiving intravitreal injections of 2 mg moxalactam eight hours after inoculation with S . aureus were sterile and free of morphologic changes . Moxalactam appears to be a potent broad spectrum antibiotic with a low degree of toxicity to rabbit retinal tissue. J Clin Invest, 1982 Aug, 70(2), 393 - 400 Human monocyte-derived soluble product(s) has an accessory function in the generation of histamine- and concanavalin A-induced suppressor T cells; Beer DJ et al.; We have analyzed the cellular interactions required for the generation of histamine- and concanavalin A (Con A)-induced suppressor T cells by employing a co-culture assay and techniques for fractionation of human blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) . PBMC cultured in the presence of histamine (0.1 mM-1 mM) or Con A (20 micrograms/ml) for 24 h, mitomycin treated and subsequently combined with autologous mitogen-stimulated mononuclear cells, significantly suppressed a subsequent blastogenic response . PBMC fractionated over nylon wool columns and depleted of adherent cells and enriched for T cells (NWNA-T) were unable to generate suppressor activity . However, suppressor cell function by NWNA-T cells was reconstituted by the addition of autologous monocytes . In both the histamine and ConA suppressor systems, the requirement for monocytes in the activation process was enhanced by suspending the NWNA-T population in supernatants derived from allogeneic monocytes stimulated with heat-killed Staphylococcus albus . These crude supernatants contained leukocytic pyrogen (LP) and lymphocyte activating factor (LAF) . Sequential purification and separation of the crude supernatants using gel-filtration, immunoadsorption, and isoelectric focusing demonstrated that only those fractions containing LP and LAF were capable to reconstituting NWNA-T cell histamine and Con A-induced suppressor activity . Thus, these studies suggest that the accessory role of supernatants derived from activated monocytes in the generation of suppressor cells may be mediated by LP/LAF . Further studies are in progress to explore the mechanism by which soluble factors stimulate suppressor T cells. Nucleic Acids Res, 1982 Jul 24, 10(14), 4121 - 33 Sequence-specific cleavage of chromatin by staphylococcal nuclease can generate an atypical nucleosome pattern; Pauli UH et al.; We have investigated the nucleosomal organization of ribosomal genes in the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum . When probed with staphylococcal nuclease, the ribosomal genes appear to be uniformly packed in nucleosomes, in an arrangement which is indistinguishable from the pattern obtained with bulk chromatin . During this study, an unusual pattern of digestion was obtained from a DNA region immediately upstream of the initiation site of rRNA transcription, in addition to the nucleosomal profile, a second regular ladder of fragments with a repeat length of 30-40 basepairs was generated from this region . We established that this pattern of degradation reflects the strong preference of staphylococcal nuclease for certain nucleotide arrangements on the DNA, rather than a particular chromatin configuration . These observations clearly show that great caution needs to be exerted whenever data from staphylococcal nuclease digestions are interpreted in terms of chromatin structure. G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1982 Jul-Dec, 75(7-12), 289 - 301 {Dynamics of the production of staphylococcal enterotoxin and thermonuclease in foods responsible for outbreaks of food poisoning}; Baldini I et al.; The behaviour of staphylococcal growth, thermonuclease and enterotoxin production in foods responsible of different food poisoning outbreaks is described . The significance of thermonuclease estimation, as a simple laboratory test for evaluating the hygienic status of foods in different steps of their commercial life, is discussed. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Jul, 252(3), 405 - 13 The sensitivities of different immunoassays for detecting leptospiral antigen; Adler B et al.; The detection of leptospiral antigen in biological fluids is important for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in animals and man . However the sensitivity of dark field microscopy, the usual detection method, is often inadequate . A comparison was made between the sensitivities of several immunological techniques for detecting Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo . By staphylococcal coagglutination 10(8) leptospires per ml could be detected and by countercurrent immunoelectrophoresis 10(7) per ml . The best sensitivity obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was 10(5) leptospires per ml, and by radioimmunoassay 10(4) to 10(5) per ml . Radioimmunoassay offers the prospect of improved diagnosis of leptospirosis through the detection of leptospiral antigen. Vopr Pitan, 1982 Jul-Aug, (4), 67 - 9 {Detection of thermostable staphylococcal DNAse in broth cultures and food products}; Sedova NN et al.; Thermostable deoxyribonuclease and plasmocoagulase have been demonstrated in broth cultures of St . aureus and St . aureus-infected foods . Two strains of St . aureus, the control one and that isolated from infected canned food, have been found to be capable of producing thermonuclease, plasmocoagulase and type A enterotoxin. Am J Hum Genet, 1982 Jul, 34(4), 566 - 75 Normal reconstruction of DNA supercoiling and chromatin structure in cockayne syndrome cells during repair of damage from ultraviolet light; Cleaver JE; The chromatin of human cells undergoes structural rearrangements during excision repair of ultraviolet damage in DNA that were detected by transient relaxation of DNA supercoiling and increased staphylococcal nuclease digestibility of repaired sites . Inhibition of polymerization and/or ligation of repaired regions with inhibitors of DNA polymerase alpha (cytosine arabinoside and aphidicolin) resulted in the accumulation of single-strand breaks, delayed reconstruction of DNA supercoiling, and maintenance of the staphylococcal nuclease digestibility . These observations suggest that reconstruction of the native chromatin state requires completion of repaired regions with covalent ligation into the DNA strands . Although previous claims have been made that a late stage associated with ligation of repaired regions may be defective in cells from patients with Cockayne syndrome, complete reconstruction of the native chromatin occurred in cells from three unrelated patients after ultraviolet irradiation . No abnormality in repair was therefore detected in Cockayne syndrome cells . The hypersensitivity of cell survival and semiconservative DNA replication to damage by ultraviolet light in this human disorder must therefore be regarded as features of a primary defect in DNA metabolism unrelated to DNA repair. J Clin Pathol, 1982 Jul, 35(7), 715 - 8 Diagnosis of bacteraemia by automated head-space capillary gas chromatography; Larsson L et al.; Blood cultures from 196 patients with suspected bacteraemia or septicaemia were analysed by automated head-space gas chromatography, using a 25 m fused silica capillary column, when turbidity indicated growth . Gas chromatography correctly identified 105 cultures as positive and 71 correctly as negative . No false-positive results were obtained . Of the 20 false-negative chromatographic results, Staphylococcus spp accounted for 14 . Automated head-space gas chromatography is quicker, easier and more efficient than other gas chromatographic techniques for the evaluation of blood cultures. Arch Dermatol, 1982 Jul, 118(7), 498 - 502 Pyoderma gangrenosum . Occurrence with altered cellular immunity and a circulating serum factor; Greenberg SJ et al.; Aberrations of cellular immune functions in pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) may lead to nonspecific activation of inflammatory cells or to an imbalance of suppression leading to autoaggression (chronic ulceration) . A patient with severe unremitting PG had anergy to a battery of seven skin test antigens . Mixed lymphocyte reactions, autologous mixed lymphocyte reactions, lymphocyte proliferative responses to antigens, and the production of leukocyte inhibitory factor were substantially suppressed, while the lymphocyte responses to mitogens were unaffected . Quantitative immunoglobulin and complement levels were normal . The inhibition of cellular immune functions was mediated by a factor in the patient's serum . This factor also inhibited lymphocyte functions of normal unrelated control subjects . Preliminary studies demonstrated that the factor is nondialyzable, heat stable, and not adsorbed by Staphylococcus A protein . Pulse therapy with large doses of corticosteroids resulted in dramatic clinical improvement. Am J Ophthalmol, 1982 Jul, 94(1), 106 - 10 Congenital lacrimal sac mucoceles; Weinstein GS et al.; Seven infants had tense, blue-gray swellings inferior to the medial canthal tendon with otherwise normal-appearing eyelids and puncta . All lacrimal sacs transilluminated and A-scan ultrasonography performed in one case demonstrated a nonloculated cystic cavity . Four (57%) infants had uncomplicated mucoceles . One was treated with massage, and has remained asymptomatic for 14 months . The other three were cured with a single probing and irrigation of the entire lacrimal system . Three (43%) infants had developed erythema of the tissues overlying the swollen lacrimal sacs by the time of referral . Because none of the mucoceles could be decompressed by massage, prompt probing and irrigations were performed in each case . Cultures from the aspirates of all three sacs yielded Staphylococcus organisms . In contrast to the uncomplicated cases, two patients developed recurrences that necessitated additional treatment. Hum Pathol, 1982 Jul, 13(7), 631 - 4 Bone infarcts in bacterial endocarditis; Eide J; Vertebral bone infarcts in two fatal cases of staphylococcic endocarditis are reported . It is suggested that they were embolic in nature, and that ischemia could be a reason for bone pain in infective endocarditis. Cancer Res, 1982 Jul, 42(7), 2748 - 56 Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of membrane proteins from the R3327 prostate adenocarcinoma; Kozlovskis PL et al.; The Dunning rat prostate adenocarcinoma (R3327) is a reliable model that shares many similarities with the human tumor . Two sublines of the tumor, G and H, represent opposite extremes in histology and growth rate . Purified membrane fractions from G and H solid tumors were isolated by sucrose gradient . Tumor and normal prostate membrane proteins were labeled with 125I, incubated with G and H antisera, and precipitated by adsorption of antibody-antigen complexes to staphylococcal Protein A . Proteins were resolubilized and electrophoresed on two-dimensional gels, and the gels were autoradiographed . A total of eight labeled proteins were precipitated from the G and H tumors in the presence of G antisera . Of these, seven were homologous . One high-molecular-weight protein (Protein b) present on the G tumor was absent from the H tumor . The H tumor contained another high-molecular-weight protein (i) that was not found on the G tumor or on normal prostate . Normal prostate revealed a pattern similar to the G tumor except that Protein b appeared to be quantitatively reduced . Precipitation in the presence of H antisera showed similar patterns except that Protein b was not detected in the G tumor and was greatly reduced in the normal prostate . Therefore, despite variable growth characteristics, there were few changes in membrane proteins between the solid tumors and between the tumors and normal prostate . Iodination of surface proteins of cultured cells from normal prostate and the G and H sublines also showed a high degree of homology . No consistent differences between cultured cell lines were noted. J Histochem Cytochem, 1982 Jul, 30(7), 691 - 6 Applications of immunocolloids in light microscopy . Preparation of protein A-silver and protein A-gold complexes and their application for localization of single and multiple antigens in paraffin sections; Roth J; The protein A-gold (pAg) complex, a useful reagent for electron microscopic localization of antigens in thin sections, is tested for its suitability as second step reagent in light microscopic immunohistochemistry . In addition, the preparation of colloidal silver, its complex formation with staphylococcal protein A and the application of the protein A-silver complex for antigen localization in paraffin sections is reported . The antigens were visualized in a two-step technique with specific antisera in the first incubation step and pAg or pA-silver as a general second step reagent . The pAg complex gives a red coloration of antigenic sites, whereas the pA-silver stained yellow . The contrasting color provided by the two immunocolloids allowed localization of two antigens in the same section . No color mixing occurred, showing that removal of the antibodies of the first staining sequence is unnecessary . Staining is virtually permanent with the light microscopic immunocolloid method . It is concluded that pAg and pA-silver complexes are useful as general second step reagents for the localization of a variety of antigens in paraffin sections. J Lab Clin Med, 1982 Jul, 100(1), 94 - 104 Therapy of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis experimental endocarditis; Lowy FD et al.; Antibiotic therapy of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis was investigated with the rabbit endocarditis model . Time-kill studies in vitro demonstrated that gentamicin and rifampin had the most rapid early bactericidal rates . With rifampin alone, rifampin-resistant subpopulations emerged . Combinations of antibiotics with gentamicin or rifampin in vitro did not significantly alter the killing rate but prevented emergence of subpopulations resistant to the latter . In the rabbit endocarditis model, gentamicin and vancomycin were the most effective single antibiotic regimens in terms of ability to reduce the bacterial densities on cardiac valve vegetations . Five treatment regimens were equally effective, including vancomycin, gentamicin, vancomycin plus rifampin or gentamicin, and rifampin plus gentamicin . The three-drug combination of vancomycin, rifampin, and gentamicin did not significantly improve the results . Cephalothin therapy was significantly less effective than any of the regimens noted above . It was no more effective than no treatment at 2 days and was only slightly more effective at 4 days . This result with cephalothin treatment was not predicted by routine types of in vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing . Treatment of rabbits with methicillin or cephalothin was associated with an increase in the subpopulation of bacteria resistant to the respective drugs . A number of regimens show potential for therapy of these infections, including vancomycin plus rifampin or gentamicin, rifampin plus gentamicin, and vancomycin alone. Pediatr Infect Dis, 1982 Jul-Aug, 1(4), 228 - 31 Staphylococcal protein A in the serologic diagnosis of congenital rubella and toxoplasmosis; Chonmaitree T et al.; Staphylococcal protein A (SPA) has been used to remove maternal IgG from cord or neonatal sera to make serologic testing for congenital infection more IgM specific . To evaluate the clinical usefulness of this procedure, sera sent for TORCH titers that had rubella hemagglutination inhibition (RHI) reciprocal titers greater than or equal to 8 or toxoplasmosis indirect fluorescent antibody (TFA) titers greater than or equal to 16 were adsorbed with SPA and retested . Nine of 109 sera were TFA positive by routine testing, and all but one from an infant with congenital toxoplasmosis became negative after SPA adsorption . A repeat TFA at 4 to 26 months of age was negative in all six children without eviden