Staphylococcus

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 evidence of toxoplasmosis who returned for follow-up . Fifty of 55 sera were RHI positive by routine testing, and all but one from an infant with congenital rubella became negative after SPA adsorption . The repeat routine RHI was negative in 32 of 35 children whose sera were initially negative after SPA adsorption . SPA adsorption greatly increased the specificity of routine RHI and TFA tests in the diagnosis of congenital rubella and toxoplasmosis.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1982 Jul, 49(1), 41 - 9
Spontaneous plaque forming cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; Wangel AG et al.; A reverse haemolytic plaque assay using staphylococcal protein A coupled to sheep red blood cells was set up in Cunningham chambers . Using this method, the numbers of Ficoll-Hypaque isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) secreting IgG, IgA or IgM without preceding culture or mitogen stimulation were estimated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and control subjects . Seven patients with clinically inactive SLE at the time of the study had values similar to those of the control subjects . In contrast, eight patients who had clinically active SLE had markedly increased numbers of PBL secreting IgG, IgA and IgM . Control experiments confirmed that the plaques were due to Ig secretion by lymphoid cells rather than to immune complexes adsorbed onto Fc receptor bearing cells or to passively adsorbed Ig . The results confirm the expected polyclonal B cell activation in patients with SLE and serial measurements showed that clinical relapses occurred only when the numbers of immunoglobulin secreting cells were high . Experiments in three patients with active SLE using native DNA prepared from T2 bacteriophage as the 'developing antigen' suggest that PBL secreting nDNA antibody can also be demonstrated by this method.

J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Jul, 128(7), 1529 - 35
Coordinate production of three exoenzymes of Staphylococcus staphylolyticus; Larrimore SA et al.; Staphylococcus staphylolyticus produced three exoenzymes (a staphylolytic endopeptidase, a hexosaminidase and a protease) coordinately under a range of conditions of induction and repression by various peptides and carbohydrates . Mutants of S . staphylolyticus were isolated and shown to have pleiotropic variations in the production of the three enzymes . Hypo- or hyperproducing mutants of one enzyme were invariably hypo- or hyperproducers for the other two enzymes . Mutants that had lost the ability to produce one of the exoenzymes invariably failed to produce the other two enzymes . Revertants isolated from non-producers that regained the ability to produce one of the exoenzymes always regained the ability to produce the other two as well . These results suggest that the three exoenzymes share a common regulatory or processing mechanism.

J Immunol, 1982 Jul, 129(1), 190 - 2
The modification of human immunoglobulin binding to staphylococcal protein A using diethylpyrocarbonate; Haake DA et al.; Human IgG subclasses 1, 2, and 4, as well as proteins of the IgG3 subclass that are allotype G3m (s+t+), bind avidly to staphylococcal protein A by means of their Fc portion . Proteins of the IgG3 subclass that are allotype G3m (s-t-) do not bind . The importance of a histidine residue at position 435 has been implicated from comparison of amino acid sequences of immunoglobulins that bind with those that do not bind to staphylococcal protein A, as well as from crystallographic data . Modification of histidines at a low concentration of diethylpyrocarbonate successfully and reversibly alters the binding of immunoglobulins to staphylococcal protein A with only minimal change in the antigenic properties . This method provides strong evidence for the critical importance of histidine in the binding of immunoglobulins to staphylococcal protein A.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jul, 37(1), 318 - 26
Adherence of slime-producing strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis to smooth surfaces; Christensen GD et al.; Slime production is not a generally recognized feature of Staphylococcus epidermidis . In a recent outbreak of S . epidermidis intravascular catheter-associated sepsis, we noted that 63% of clinically implicated strains grew as a slimy film coating the culture tube walls when propagated in tryptic soy broth . Only 37% of randomly collected blood culture contaminants and skin isolates demonstrated a similar phenomenon (p less than 0.05) . Transmission electron micrographs of these coating bacteria showed them to be encased in an extracellular matrix that stained with alcian blue . Slime production was most evident in autoclaved media containing Casamino Acids and glucose supplementation (0.25% wt/vol) . There were strain and media preparation variability of slime production in the presence of other carbohydrates . Some strains were not able to produce slime under any of the tested conditions . The production or nonproduction of slime did not influence growth rate . When grown in vitro, slime producers accumulated on the surface of intravascular catheters as macrocolonies, whereas non-slime, producers did not . Transmission and scanning electron micrographs showed slime producers to be encased in an adhesive layer on the catheter surface, whereas nonproducers were not encased . These results suggest that slime-mediated adherence may be a critical factor in the pathogenesis of S . epidermidis infections of medical devices.

J Immunol, 1982 Jul, 129(1), 76 - 80
Gamma interferon (IFN gamma) and IFN alpha/beta suppress murine myeloid colony formation (CFU-C)N: magnitude of suppression is dependent upon level of colony-stimulating factor (CSF); Klimpel GR et al.; The effect of different types of interferon (IFN) on macrophage and granulocyte colony formation (CFU-C) in vitro was studied using bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 mice . CFU-C formation was measured at 7 days using a standard methylcellulose culture system with L-cell conditioned medium (LCCM) as a source of colony-stimulating factor activity (CSF), IFN gamma was obtained from staphylococcal enterotoxin A- (SEA) stimulated mouse spleen cells and was partially purified (50-fold) using affinity chromatography . IFN alpha/beta was obtained from Newcastle disease virus-infected mouse L-cells and was partially purified (286-fold) using an AcA 202 column . IFN gamma inhibited CFU-C formation in a dose-dependent manner and was 100 times more inhibitory than IFN alpha/beta . IFN gamma completely suppressed CFU-C formation with as little as 15 units of antiviral activity . In contrast, 1000 to 2000 units of antiviral activity of IFN alpha/beta was required for complete suppression of CFU-C formation . The ability of IFN gamma to inhibit CFU-C formation was completely abolished after pH 2 treatment (24 hr), heat treatment (60 degrees C, 2 hr), or treatment with a specific antiserum against IFN gamma, which indicated that IFN gamma was the mediator of CFU-C inhibition . When IFN gamma and IFN alpha/beta were mixed together and added to bone marrow cells, they had a synergistic effect on the suppression of CFU-C formation . The level of inhibition mediated by both IFN gamma and IFN alpha/beta was totally dependent upon the amount of CSF present in the culture system; increasing the level of CSF could completely overcome the IFN suppressive effect . These results suggest that IFN gamma and IFN alpha/beta may have regulatory roles in hematopoiesis.

Arch Fr Pediatr, 1982 Jun-Jul, 39(6), 353 - 8
{Susceptibility to infections and hyper IgE: 19 new case reports }; Pham Huu Trung et al.; Nineteen patients exhibiting a susceptibility to infections due to staphylococcus and fungi, allergy and hyper IgE are reported (syndrome described by R . Buckley) . Prognathism, coarse features and marked osteoporosis were observed in more than half the patients . Immune disorders were characterized by a defective chemotaxis of granulocytes and depressed in vivo and in vitro immune responses to antigens . These cellular abnormalities could be secondary to a dysregulation of IgE synthesis resulting in an excess of secretion of histamine, heparin and other substances from mast cells . According to this possible mechanism, we suggest a therapy associating anti-histaminic substances which block H1 and H2 receptors and an agent which inhibits mast cell degranulation.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1982 Jun, 90(3), 197 - 203
Properties of the serum factor involved in the precipitation reaction with Staphylococcus capitis; Osland A; The serum factor was precipitated by both Rivanol and ammonium sulphate, and it bound to both DEAE-cellulose and Blue-Sepharose CL-6B from which it subsequently could be eluted . Immunoelectrophoresis showed that the serum factor had alpha 1-mobility, and isoelectric focusing indicated an apparent isoelectric point of 5.2 . Purification by ultracentrifugation, followed by agarose chromatography, showed that the serum factor is present in the high density lipoprotein fraction of serum.

Am J Hematol, 1982 Jun, 12(4), 337 - 46
Detection of IgG sensitization of red cells with 125I staphylococcal protein A; Yam P et al.; Most cases of immune hemolytic anemia are associated with a positive direct antiglobulin test . However, in some cases, the antiglobulin test is not sensitive enough to detect low levels of red-cell bound antibodies . This report describes a method using radiolabelled purified staphylococcal protein A which is capable of detecting IgG sensitization of red cells beyond the threshold of serologic techniques . It is less cumbersome than previously described methods and does not require antibody purification procedures . Its effectiveness was demonstrated for the detection of red-cell alloantibodies and in evaluation of patients with acquired hemolytic anemias associated with a negative direct antiglobulin test.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Jun, (6), 73 - 6
{Effect of staphylococcal substance on the phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal exudate cells}; Vershigora AE et al.; The cell walls, peptidoglycan and whole cells of St . aureus inhibit the phagocytosis of sheep red blood cells in the culture of mouse peritoneal macrophages . The intraperitoneal injection of cell-wall components (peptidoglycan, teichoic acids) and whole staphylococcal cells stimulates phagocytosis at different periods after immunization, then follows suppression . Teichoic acids seem to act as agents suppressing phagocytic activity during 24 hours after immunization.

J Vet Pharmacol Ther, 1982 Jun, 5(2), 131 - 5
Pharmacokinetics of sulphadimidine in normal and febrile dogs; Riffat S et al.; Pharmacokinetic parameters which describe the distribution and elimination of sulphadimidine were determined in normal dogs and dogs in which fewer was produced by an intravenous injection of escherichia and staphylococcal species of bacteria . Sulphadimidine was injected as a single intravenous bolus at the dose of 100 mg/kg and the kinetics of the drug were described in terms of the biexponential expression: Cp = Ae-alpha t + Be-beta t . The distribution half-times of the drug were 1.52 h in the normal and 0.81 h in the febrile dogs . The drug distribution was significantly more rapid (P less than 0.05) in febrile than in normal dogs . Average +/- SD values for the half-lives of the drug were 16.2 +/- 5.7 h in normal and 16.7 +/- 4.7 h in the febrile dogs . The apparent volume of distribution (V'd(area)) was 628 +/- 251 ml/kg in the normal dogs, and was not statistically different from 495 +/- 144 ml/kg in the febrile dogs . The volume of the central compartment (V'c) was 445 +/- 55 ml/kg in normal dogs and this was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than the V'c of 246 +/- 72 ml/kg in the febrile dogs . The body clearance was 22.4 +/- 4.8 and 20.2 +/- 3.6 ml/hour . kg in the normal and febrile dogs, respectively . The investigation revealed that the dosage regimen of sulphadimidine did not differ significantly between normal and febrile dogs.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jun, 36(3), 1263 - 6
Emetic action of staphylococcal enterotoxin A on weanling pigs; Taylor SL et al.; Peroral and intraduodenal administration of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) to weanling pigs elicited an emetic response . Peroral administration of an emetic dose of SEA resulted in a single emetic episode occurring 90 to 180 min after dosing . Intraduodenal administration via a surgically implanted catheter of 100 or 150 micrograms of SEA resulted in multiple emetic episodes occurring 150 to 210 min after dosing, suggesting an intestinal site of action for SEA . The 50% emetic dose for perorally administered SEA was between 40 and 50 micrograms for 4.1- to 9.1-kg weanling pigs and 20 micrograms in 0.9- to 2.3-kg weanling pigs . Neurobehavioral responses, including alternating periods of drowsiness and restlessness, staggering, temporary loss of the righting reflex, and refusal to feed were also observed in pigs given an oral dose of SEA . Based on the demonstrated responsiveness of pigs to SEA, pigs should be considered suitable animal models for studies on the sites and mode of action of the toxin.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1982 Jun, 63(3), 330 - 5
Incidence of ketamine-induced emesis in cynomologus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) used for staphylococcal enterotoxin bioassay; Adesiyun AA et al.; Ten (24%) of 41 cynomologus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) showed emetic response to 2.5-20 mg/Kg of ketamine injected i.m . Reduction of the levels of ketamine to one half or less of the emetic level resulted in faster recovery from sedation yet provided adequate time for intubation and subsequent intragastric feeding of staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) in only 6 of the 10 monkeys without emesis . The onset of the first emetic episode with ketamine was similar to that induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) . Cynomologus monkeys showing emetic response to ketamine could still be used for SE bioassay if an experimentally determined non-emetic dose for individual monkeys is employed for sedation.

Arthritis Rheum, 1982 Jun, 25(6), 647 - 54
Adult-onset Still's disease . Twenty-year followup and further studies of patients with active disease; Elkon KB et al.; Eleven female patients with adult-onset Still's disease were followed for 7-36 years (mean 20.2 years) after the onset of their illness . Ten of these patients had a chronic course characterized by remissions and exacerbations of arthritis associated with fever and rash . Five patients had terminal interphalangeal involvement, and carpal ankylosis was demonstrated on x-ray film in 10 . Two patients developed a widespread polyarthritis, and renal amyloidosis was diagnosed 10 years after disease onset in the most severely affected patient . In 4 patients studied during an exacerbation of the disease, circulating immune complexes were detected by the staphylococcal A binding assay, but not by the C1q binding assay . Synovial fluid analysis in 1 patient revealed a low C3 level and total hemolytic complement (CH50) together with immune complexes and IgG rheumatoid factor . Immune complexes were not identified in the characteristic Still's rash by immunofluorescence or electron microscopy, although mast cell degranulation, neutrophil lysis, and perivascular fibrin deposition were reminiscent of immune complex--mediated vascular injury . The clinical and laboratory features as well as the long-term course of adult- and juvenile-onset systemic Still's disease are similar, but further studies of genetic markers and immunopathology are required to establish a common pathophysiology.

Ann Intern Med, 1982 Jun, 96(6 Pt 2), 865 - 70
Persistent neuropsychological sequelae of toxic shock syndrome; Rosene KA et al.; Twelve women, aged 16 to 29 years, were interviewed and examined for possible neuropsychological sequelae 2 to 12 months after they recovered from toxic shock syndrome . Six of the 12 women had symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, headache, recent memory lapses, inability to compute, and loss of other higher integrative functions . Eight patients were found to have electroencephalographic abnormalities . All six symptomatic patients but no asymptomatic patients had abnormal neurologic findings . Abnormalities such as impaired memory and calculation and poorly sustained concentration were found in five of six symptomatic patients but in no asymptomatic patient . Six control subjects, all asymptomatic women aged 17 to 29 years, were interviewed and examined 2 to 12 months after they recovered from postpartum endometritis; these subjects were normal in all parameters tested . A direct effect of the staphylococcal toxin on the central nervous system may be the cause of these sequelae.

Ann Intern Med, 1982 Jun, 96(6 Pt 2), 852 - 7
Pathologic findings in twelve fatal cases of toxic shock syndrome; Paris AL et al.; Pathologic changes in 12 fatal cases of toxic shock syndrome occurred in the vagina, cervix, lung, liver, and kidney . Desquamation and ulceration of the cervical and vaginal mucosa were seen in all six cases where adequate specimens were submitted . Hyaline membrane formation characteristic of "shock lung" was found in all lung tissues . Periportal inflammation was found in all liver specimens and acute tubular necrosis was seen in eight of the 12 kidney specimens . Although not specific for toxic shock syndrome, the findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the illness is caused by a staphylococcal toxin.

J Infect Dis, 1982 Jun, 145(6), 875 - 85
The role of understaffing and overcrowding in recurrent outbreaks of staphylococcal infection in a neonatal special-care unit; Haley RW et al.; Understaffing and overcrowding in the neonatal nursery are thought to contribute to the spread of infectious diseases among neonates, although little scientific documentation exists to support the view . In the present investigation of recurring epidemics in one nursery, the incidence rate of clustered staphylococcal infection was 16 times higher after periods when the infant:nurse ratio exceeded 7, seven times higher after periods when the infant census exceeded 33, three times higher in the summer months, and 1.5 times higher in the absence of bathing with hexachlorophene . All four factors were significantly associated with infection in a multivariate statistical model which predicted the occurrence of infection well (goodness-of-fit chi 2 = 6.08; df = 9; P = 0.73) . These results support the contention that staphylococcal outbreaks periodically resulted when, in the presence of overcrowding, serious understaffing made frequent handwashing between infant contacts difficult . Elimination of these problems appears to be important in reducing cross infection in the nursery.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Jun, 15(6), 984 - 6
Identification of Staphylococcus hyicus with the API staph strip; Maddux RL et al.; The API Staph Strip system (API System S.A., Montalieu-Vercieu, France) was compared with conventional methods for identification of Staphylococcus hyicus isolated from cases of exudative epidermitis in swine . The API Staph Strip was found to provide unique profile numbers, namely, 6-514-151, 6-514-153, and 6-516-153 . These profile numbers are not listed in the API Staph Strip data base . It was found that the use of this miniaturized system is preferable to conventional methods for the identification of the causal agent of swine exudative epidermitis.

Eur J Biochem, 1982 Jun, 124(3), 489 - 98
The amino-acid sequence of histone H2A from cuttlefish Sepia officinalis; Wouters-Tyrou D et al.; The amino acid sequence of cuttlefish testis histone H2A (124 residues) was established from structural data obtained by automated sequencing of large peptides generated by the cleavage of the protein with V8 staphylococcal protease or by limited chymotryptic hydrolysis . Compared to the calf thymus homologous histone, cuttlefish H2A shows 14 substitutions (most of them conservative) and 5 deletions . Extensive evolutionary changes were mainly observed in the basic amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal regions of the molecule, which are the primary DNA-binding sites . Few punctual changes are observed in the central region (residues 18-118), which interacts strongly with histone H2B to form the dimer H2A-H2B.

J Am Acad Dermatol, 1982 Jun, 6(6), 1028 - 33
Bactericidal activity and chemotaxis in pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid; Ahmed AR et al.; Host defense mechanisms were studied in six patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and six patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) . Polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte killing of Staphylococcus organisms was evaluated, and chemotaxis of PMN and mononuclear (MN) leukocytes in patients was compared with that in twenty age- and sex-matched controls . All patients had extensive widespread disease with the clinical diagnosis confirmed by immunopathologic studies . No statistically significant differences were observed in the PMN leukocyte bactericidal activity between PV patients and controls . In BP patients, PMN leukocyte bactericidal activity was very slightly reduced when normal cells and patient serum were used, but activity was normal when patient cells and patient serum were used . PMN leukocyte chemotaxis was normal in PV and BP patients . MN leukocyte chemotaxis was normal in PV patients and increased in BP patients when compared with that in controls . This study indicated that in spite of very severe and extensive disease, patients with PV and BP have intact neutrophil and monocyte functions . Drugs that compromise the patient's ability to fight infections should be used cautiously and judiciously.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1982 Jun, 125(6), 723 - 6
Effects of bacterial pneumonitis on development of pneumocystosis in rats; Pesanti EL; Disease caused by the protozoan parasite Pneumocystis carinii complicates management of patients with a variety of defects in immune function and is most commonly observed in patients who receive long-term therapy with glucocorticoids . In the rat, disease is readily induced by chronic administration of glucocorticoids . However, rats that have had polymorphonuclear leukocytic pneumonitis induced by Pseudomonas are protected from development of pneumocystosis, whereas rats that have received an intratracheal injection of Staphylococcus, which does not induce a polymorphonuclear leukocytic alveolar exudate, are not protected . It is possibly that accidental contact of polymorphonuclear leukocytes with dormant Pneumocystis is an important element of control of the organism in healthy animals, and suppression of polymorphonuclear leukocytic inflammatory response underlies glucocorticoid-induced and spontaneous activation of the disease.

Pathol Biol (Paris), 1982 Jun, 30(6 Pt 2), 473 - 5
{Controlled study of pristinamycin versus oxacillin in staphylococcal infections }; Bastin R et al.; A prospective double-blind study was conducted in patients hospitalized with a staphylococcal infection . The effects of oxacillin (4-6 g/d) and pristinamycin (2-3 g/d) were compared . These were 52 cutaneous infections and 17 other ones . The results of the two antibiotics effects were not different . Tolerance was appreciated in the 82 patients who entered the study: pristinamycin had fewer (but not significantly different) side effects than oxacillin (3/37 vs 9/45) . As pristinamycin is active in vitro on at least 95 p . cent of strains, we concluded that it can be the first choice antibiotic in staphylococcal infections when the oral route is possible.

Ophthalmology, 1982 Jun, 89(6), 643 - 50
Extended-wear contact lenses in patients with corneal grafts and aphakia; Cavanagh HD et al.; Extended-wear contact lenses (EWCL) were fitted successfully on 61 aphakic eyes with penetrating corneal grafts . In two- to 32-months follow-up there were 26 eyes that had varying amounts of superficial neovascularization of the grafts and one Staphylococcus epidermidis corneal graft ulcer . There were five homograft rejections, all occurring in severely diseased eyes . Variable vision and visual acuity less than that with hard contact lenses or aphakic spectacles were the most frequent problems . Both were due to the high corneal astigmatism present in many patients . The results indicate that EWCLs may be used safely by patients with penetrating corneal grafts and aphakia, particularly if there is no host corneal edema, scarring, or vascularization, if these are no synechias to the graft wound, and if the astigmatism is less than 3.0 diopters.

Infect Immun, 1982 Jun, 36(3), 915 - 7
Membrane alteration responsible for the induction of gamma interferon; Dianzani F et al.; Induction of gamma interferon in human lymphoid cells cultures appears to be dependent upon specific membrane-mediated events and calcium flux . Since blastic response had been observed after enzymic oxidation of membrane-bound galactose residues, we used this system to study the nature of membrane alterations responsible for the activation of interferon induction . The results of these experiments suggest that a membrane oxidation is essential for interferon induction and depletion of calcium abolishes interferon production . In addition, we have shown that interferon induction by concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, and staphylococcal enterotoxin A, but not by galactose oxidase is prevented by cleavage of N-acetylneuraminic acid residues . Thus, interferon induction in human lymphoid cell cultures by galactose oxidase, concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, staphylococcal enterotoxin A, and NaIO4 appears to reside in terminal oligosaccharides of the cell membrane . How this specific membrane event relates to the derepression of the interferon locus is being actively pursued.

Eur J Biochem, 1982 May 17, 124(2), 331 - 8
Nucleomeric organization of chromatin; Kiryanov GI et al.; In the nuclei fixed in situ, as well as in nuclei in low-ionic-strength solutions containing magnesium ions, chromatin is represented by globular nucleomeric fibrils 20-25 nm in diameter . Staphylococcal or endogenous nucleases cleave chromatin fibrils to nucleomers and multinucleomers . On removal of firmly bound magnesium, the nucleomers unfold into chains of four, six or eight nucleosomes . Mild staphylococcal nuclease digestion of nuclear chromatin releases mononucleomers, dinucleomers and trinucleomers that sediment in the sucrose density gradient in the presence of EDTA as 37-S, 47-S and 55-S particles, respectively . The mononucleomers in the sucrose density gradient with MgCl2 sediment as 45-S particles . The determination of the length of staphylococcal-nuclease-digested DNAs contained in the chromatin fragments showed that a nucleomer is composed of 8, and a dimer and trimer of 14-16 and 21-24 nucleosomes, respectively . When deprived of Mg2+ ions, the monomers lose their compactness (45 S) and become loose particles (37 S) . This transition is completely reversible if nucleomers contain histone H1 . Removal of this histone or dialysis of the nucleomer against EDTA at low ionic strength results in the complete unfolding of the nucleomer into a chain of nucleosomes . A structural model of a nucleomer fibril is suggested where the helicity of the nucleosome chain in a nucleomer (two turns of four nucleosomes each) is periodically discontinued . Such an organization of chromatin apparently provides additional hindrances for site-specific recognition of DNA in chromatin but permits local changes (within a single nucleomer) in chromatin when a hindrance is abolished.

Biochemistry, 1982 May 11, 21(10), 2557 - 64
Characterization of deoxyribonucleic acid repair synthesis in permeable human fibroblasts; Dresler SL et al.; We have extended our permeable cell system for measuring DNA excision repair {Roberts, J . D., & Lieberman, M . W . (1979) Biochemistry 18, 4499-4505} so that steps of the repair process, beginning with incision and extending at least through the "rearrangement" of repaired nucleosomes which follows repair synthesis, all take place in permeable cells . In the revised protocol, human fibroblasts are made permeable, damaged with UV or chemicals in suspension, and incubated with a reaction mix containing ATP and the four deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates, one of which is labeled with 32P . By reducing the exogenous dNTP concentration to 3 microM and including 15 mM KCl in the reaction mixture, we have greatly reduced background incorporation in undamaged cells without significantly reducing repair synthesis . This permits us to measure repair synthesis without separating it from replicative synthesis by isopycnic centrifugation . Repair synthesis in this system is very similar to that occurring in intact cells: in response to DNA damage, nucleotides are incorporated into DNA of parental density (when analyzed by the BrdUrd density shift technique), incorporation increases with increasing DNA damage, synthesis is dependent on the presence of all four dNTPs, and the system accurately reflects the genetic UV repair deficiency of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cells . Furthermore, as has been observed in intact cells, repair-incorporated nucleotides in these permeable cells are initially overrepresented in staphylococcal nuclease sensitive regions of chromatin and are subsequently redistributed to give a nearly uniform distribution between nuclease-sensitive and -resistant regions . The UV dose curve of permeable cells differs somewhat from that of intact cells; however, the dose differs somewhat from that of intact cells; however, the dose curve for permeable cells treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea is very similar to that of intact cells . Repair synthesis in UV-damaged, permeable normal and XP cells is stimulated by addition of Micrococcus luteus UV endonuclease, indicating that the damaged DNA is accessible to exogenous repair enzymes and suggesting that incision, or an obligatory preincision step, is rate limiting for excision repair in these permeable cells . Repair synthesis in this system is inhibited by aphidicolin, but not by high levels of dideoxy-TTP, suggesting involvement of DNA polymerase alpha in excision repair . Novobiocin is also inhibitory alpha and the HeLa cell type II DNA topoisomerase.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 May, (5), 89 - 94
{Enhanced nonspecific anti-infective resistance of animals with the use of a polysaccharide complex of plant origin}; Goncharov AI; In experimental studies on mice a biostimulating agent of plant origin, introduced parenterally in doses of 2-10 mg per mouse 1-10 days before infection, has been shown to induce the development of high nonspecific resistance to septic staphylococcal and P . aeruginosa infections, ensuring the survival of 55-90% of the stimulated animals against the mortality rate of 60-100% among the controls.

Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1982 May, 128(5), 102 - 4
{Kidney lesion in acute suppurative septic diseases in children}; Sultanbaev TZh et al.; The examination of 122 children aged 2 to 14 with osteomyelitis, peritonitis and staphylococcal destruction of the lungs was performed . The first symptoms in developing pyelonephritis made their appearance in children following a purulent infection . So, the children after acute purulent process must be regularly examined in the outpatient clinics in order to prevent the development of chronic renal insufficiency.

Vet Pathol, 1982 May, 19(3), 223 - 9
A transient deficit in neutrophilic chemotaxis in a dog with recurrent staphylococcal pyoderma; Latimer KS et al.; A transient neutrophilic chemotactic deficit was confirmed in a 3 1/2-year-old castrated male dog with recurrent staphylococcal pyoderma accompanied by a persistent eosinophilia and intermittent basophilia . Neutrophilic chemotaxis was quantitatively assessed over the next seven months, and the disappearance of the chemotactic deficit correlated with complete clinical remission of the skin lesions . Aberrations of the complement system were not discovered, and the dog's serum showed increased chemoattractiveness for control neutrophil preparations.

J Bacteriol, 1982 May, 150(2), 844 - 50
Arrangement of peptidoglycan in the cell wall of Staphylococcus spp; Amako K et al.; The arrangement of peptidoglycan in the cell wall of Staphylococcus was observed with the newly developed freeze-fracture technique, using n-octanol instead of water as the freezing medium . The replica of the trichloroacetic acid-extracted cell wall (TCA-wall) showed two areas . One of them has a concentric circular structure, a characteristic surface structure of the staphylococcal cell wall, and the other showed an irregular and rough surface . The chemical analysis of the wall revealed that the TCA-wall consisted of mostly peptidoglycan . By digesting the TCA-wall with lysozyme, the circular structures were greatly disturbed, and they disappeared after 60 min of treatment . From these observations it can be expected that the peptidoglycan is arranged in a concentric circular manner in the newly generated cell wall of Staphylococcus.

J Immunol, 1982 May, 128(5), 2300 - 5
The binding of staphylococcal protein A by the sera of different animal species; Richman DD et al.; The capacity of purified immunoglobulin or serum to bind (125I)-labeled staphylococcal protein A (SPA) was measured by means of an immunofiltration assay that facilitated the examination of large numbers of sera and required only a minute quantity of each . Sera from 80 species, including humans, laboratory animals, domestic animals, and a variety of African mammals were examined . A wide interspecies variation in the SPA-binding capacity of serum immunoglobulins was confirmed . Only small variations were observed among individuals within the same species with one notable exception . A greater than 10,000-fold variation in SPA-binding capacity was observed among sera from nine goats . Interspecies differences in serum SPA-binding capacity correlated well with taxonomic differences, and the serum SPA-binding capacity correlated well with taxonomic differences, and the serum SPA-binding capacities of African mammals corresponded closely to those of their more common relatives . The sensitivity of antibody detection by indirect (125I)SPA immunoassay was shown to be determined mostly by the SPA-binding capacity of the serum examined . The titer of antibody to influenza A/Texas/1/77(H3N2) virus in sera from several different species, when measured by (125I)SPA immunofiltration assay, was directly proportional to the SPA-binding capacity of the serum and was not proportional to the hemagglutination inhibition titer . An (125I)SPA immunofiltration assay for antibody to Lassa virus in the serum of Mastomys natalensis (which binds SPA only one-thousandth as well as human serum) was at least as sensitive as the standard fluorescent antibody assay.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1982 May, 35(5), 589 - 93
The inhibition of bacterial beta-lactamases by some monocyclic beta-lactams; Isaacs NS et al.; The inhibition characteristics of 25 monocyclic beta-lactams mainly with an amido function at C3 have been studied against the beta-lactamases produced by 4 bacterial types . Significant levels of inhibition were found for only a few of the compounds tested and primarily against Staphylococcus beta-lactamase . The most active inhibitor tested, 3-p-nitrophenylacetamido-4-phenylazetidin-2-one, was found to require a cis geometry, the trans isomer being almost inactive.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1982 May, 48(2), 315 - 20
Circulating immune complexes in Plasmodium knowlesi infected Kra, and merozoite vaccinated Rhesus monkeys; Shepherd PS et al.; The presence of circulating soluble immune complexes that bind the C1q component of complement has been determined in the sera of two monkey species showing different degrees of clinical immunity to Plasmodium knowlesi infection . Material binding C1q was found in the serum of both primarily infected Kra monkeys and post-vaccinated immune Rhesus monkeys following the onset of parasitaemia . The complexes then disappeared from the circulation of Kra monkeys despite continuing low-grade parasitaemia, but in Rhesus monkeys C1q binding material remained detectable for up to 3 weeks after apparent elimination of parasites . The ability of complexes to bind C1q was removed by reduction and alkylation and binding material was absorbed by staphylococcal protein A suggesting the presence of Ig . Further analysis of the binding material is required to fully establish its constitution and possible immunoregulatory function at different stages of infection in the two monkey species.

J Virol Methods, 1982 May, 4(4-5), 219 - 27
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of herpes simplex virus-specific IgM antibodies; Kimmel N et al.; Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific IgM in human serum could be detected by a microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using extracts of HSV-infected cells as antigen . Peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgM was used to detect human IgM bound to viral antigen . Pretreatment of sera with protein A-bearing staphylococcus or with aggregated human IgG was necessary to eliminate false-positive results caused by the presence of rheumatoid factor . Specificity controls included sera of patients with other herpes group virus infections.

Arch Dermatol, 1982 May, 118(5), 322 - 5
Patch tests with killed sonicated microflora in patients with psoriasis; Lober CW et al.; Heat-killed sonicated suspensions of malassezia ovalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis were applied to the intact volar surface of the forearm of ten patients with psoriasis and ten control subjects . All ten of the patients with psoriasis reacted to M ovalis, and four patients reacted to S epidermidis . Two of the control subjects responded to M ovalis, and none responded to S epidermidis . Lesions that both clinically and histologically were consistent with those of psoriasis developed in the patients with psoriasis.

Nucleic Acids Res, 1982 Apr 24, 10(8), 2487 - 501
Molecular cloning of human immune interferon cDNA and its expression in eukaryotic cells; Devos R et al.; Starting with mRNA derived from Staphylococcal enterotoxin A induced human splenocytes, dsDNA was synthesized and inserted into unique BamHI site of the eukaryotic expression vector pSV529 (1) . A recombinant plasmid containing human immune interferon (IFN-gamma) cDNA was identified by hybridization of plasmid inserted DNA bound onto nitrocellulose filters with mRNA derived from SEA-induced splenocytes, translation of the eluted RNA in Xenopus laevis oocytes and assaying for IFN activity . Plasmids containing the entire human IFN-gamma cDNA sequence were identified by colony hybridization and were sequenced . A unique coding region was identified which predicted a protein of 166 amino acids, the 20 N-terminal amino acids of which presumably represent a signal peptide . After transfection of monkey cells with plasmid DNA isolated from one of the recombinant clones (pHIIF-SV-gamma 1), IFN was excreted into the culture medium . This IFN was not distinguishable from human IFN-gamma by serological criteria or by cell target species specificity.

Vet Rec, 1982 Apr 17, 110(16), 372 - 6
Progressive pathology of staphylococcal mastitis with a note on control, immunisation and therapy; Anderson JC; In the light of experimental work using the mouse model of staphylococcal mastitis and supported by material from staphylococcal mastitis in cows a progressive pathology of the disease in cattle is proposed . The rationale of the standard control measures (dry cow therapy, teat dipping, etc) is defended, the possibility of immunisation is doubted but the prospect of advances in therapy is thought to be good.

No Shinkei Geka, 1982 Apr, 10(4), 375 - 81
{Treatment of brain tumors with anticancer pellet--experimental and clinical study (author's transl)}; Oda Y et al.; Eighty three patients suffering from brain tumors have been treated by anticancer pellets containing 5-FU, urokinase, mitomycin and BUdR in dimethylsiloxan (Silastic) for three years . Constant and prolonged release of the chemicals from the anticancer pellet had already been proved in vitro . The amount of daily release were 1-3/1,000 of original volume . Tissue concentration of 5-FU was measured by bioassay system using staphylococcus 209 P strain with plate dilution method . In spite of the rapid disappearance of serum 5-FU, the local high accumulation of 5-FU was demonstrated in vivo . In rat neurogenic tumor, 1.104 microgram/g was detected on 60 days after the application of anticancer pellet containing 500 mg of 5-FU . The growth of tumor was also suppressed . The clinical study consists of 83 patients, 30 of glioblastoma, 19 of metastatic brain tumor, 13 of astrocytoma, 7 of oligodendroglioma, 4 of ependymoblastoma, 4 of malignant lymphoma and 6 of others . The median survival time of gliblastoma was prolonged to 71.5 weeks by the implantation of anticancer pellet from 40 weeks of control group . However, the median survival time of astrocytoma and metastatic brain tumor were 24 and 6 months, respectively, which have no significant difference from control groups . In the patients of metastatic brain tumor, the regrowth of metastatic foci in the brain was completely suppressed . However, most of them were succumbed from the original tumors . The concentration of 5-FU in several human tissue was measured in ten patients with different time intervals after the implantation of the anticancer pellet . Although they have different histologic patterns, the concentrations of 5-FU in human brain tumors were ranged from 0.05 to 0.67 microgram/g by 14 months after the implantation of the anticancer pellet . The adjacent cystic fluids also contain from 0.62 to 4.9 microgram/ml of 5-FU for two years . These results mean that they are keeping higher level of 5-FU than the tumoricidal level of 5-FU (0.056 microgram/g) for more than two years . On the other hand, no respective accumulation was demonstrated in other tissues . None of the patients showed any adverse reactions except a continuous slight fever up to 38 degrees C.

Clin Cardiol, 1982 Apr, 5(4), 294 - 8
Mid-diastolic aortic valve opening in bacterial endocarditis of aortic valve; Nathan MP et al.; Echocardiographic features of acute aortic regurgitation resulting from bacterial endocarditis have been well documented (Nathan et al., 1980; Weaver et al., 1977; Wray, 1975a), and include thick shaggy echoes from aortic valve in diastole, fine diastolic flutter of aortic valves suggestive of rupture of cusps, and premature closure of mitral valves . Echocardiography being a sensitive noninvasive technique for detecting aortic valve vegetations is heavily relied on for earlier diagnosis and prompt therapy of these patients . Prognosis of echocardiographically positive endocarditis is known to be worse than for echo-negative patients . The following case is being presented because of an unusual echocardiographic manifestation with mid-diastolic aortic valve opening secondary to flail aortic valve from staphylococcal endocarditis of the aortic valve.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Apr, (4), 30 - 3
{Use of a countercurrent immunoelectrophoretic method for isolating antistaphylococcal antibodies and staphylococcal antigen in the blood serum of children with staphylococcal infections}; Fomenko GA et al.; In cases of staphylococcal infection in children (osteomyelitis, purulent destructive pneumonia, phlegmons, abscesses) the use of counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) allowed one to detect antistaphylococcal antibodies (anti-poly-A beta) in 12.5-69.1% of cases and staphylococcal antigen in the blood serum in 6.1-25.0% of cases, the antigen titer reaching 1 : 1-1 :8 . In staphylococcal sepsis with faintly pronounced local pyo-inflammatory processes, as well as in diseases of nonstaphylococcal etiology and in healthy children, no clear reactions indicating the presence of antistaphylococcal antibodies and staphylococcal antigen were registered . CIE may be used as a specific serological diagnostic test in the severe forms of staphylococcal infection in children.

Am J Hematol, 1982 Apr, 12(2), 203 - 6
Agranulocytosis associated with chronic oral administration of cloxacillin for suppression of staphylococcal osteomyelitis; Shah I et al.; Oral cloxacillin was used for chronic suppression of a 59-year-old woman with staphylococcal osteomyelitis . She received 380.5 gm of cloxacillin over 263 consecutive days . Severe agranulocytosis followed, reverting rapidly to normal with cessation of drug . The absence of signs of an allergic reactions such as rash, fever, or eosinophilia suggests that cloxacillin, like other semisynthetic penicillins, may exert a direct bone marrow toxicity.

Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1982 Apr, 21(4), 252 - 4
Bacterial endocarditis with a tolerant staphylococcal organism; McMillan JA et al.; An eight-year-old boy developed staphylococcal endocarditis . He was treated initially with nafcillin and gentamicin, but he remained febrile . The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of nafcillin was 130 times the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) . Following the addition of rifampin to the antibiotic regimen, the patient became afebrile and recovered . The discrepancy between the MBC and MIC indicated tolerance to nafcillin . Tolerance is a mode of antibiotic resistance that must be considered in treating life-threatening illness.

Br J Haematol, 1982 Apr, 50(4), 673 - 82
Factor IX antigen by a rapid staphylococcal protein A-membrane binding radioimmunoassay: results in haemophilia B patients and carriers and in fetal samples; Suzuki LA et al.; Staphylococcal protein A-membranes have been used with isolated, radiolabelled factor IX and specified rabbit antisera for modification of a radioimmunoassay . The current method is a rapid 4 h procedure and dilution curves of plasma parallel those of isolated, unlabelled protein . Non-specific binding is 5%; the assay readily detects concentrations as low as 0.6 u/dl . Carrier detection of haemophilia B was improved and/or confirmed by the demonstration of factor IX antigen in excess of clotting activity in nine of 15 women tested from pedigrees in which the affected members had excess circulating antigen . Of 15 new haemophilia B pedigrees examined, 13 had antigen levels which were in two-fold or greater excess over their clotting activities; all but three were considerably below normal, however . To diagnose haemophilia B in newborns at risk, levels in three cord blood samples were tested; two were positive and the third was normal . Six fetal blood samples were assayed and contained from 4 to 20 u/dl factor IX antigen; levels correlated with fetal age.

J Parasitol, 1982 Apr, 68(2), 177 - 84
Inhibition of antibody-binding as a radioimmunoassay for Plasmodium berghei infection in rats; Avraham H et al.; Sonicated red blood cells of rats infected with Plasmodium berghei (Pb) were used to coat plastic tubes, which were subsequently tested for capacity to bind anti-P, berghei antibodies . Binding was detected using radioiodinated Staphylococcus Protein A . Two antigenic preparations were used to make the solid-phase adsorbent (and also as inhibitors in the inhibition tests): sonicated red blood cells (SIRC), and a supernate of frozen-thawed, infected red blood cells (FTE) . Treatment of the antigen-coated tubes with sera of immunized rats or by rabbits resulted in binding of antibodies to the tubes . The specificity of the binding was confirmed by inhibition tests . Preparations derived from infected blood but not from normal blood inhibited the binding of the anti-Pb antibodies . Using the inhibition tests, an infection corresponding to 0.00005% parasitemia could be detected . The sensitivity was higher when SIRC rather than FTE was used as antigen . The sensitivity of the inhibition test for the detection of parasites in the blood greatly surpassed that of the standard microscopical procedure . Parasites were demonstrated in blood samples 2 days after infection, 5 days before a microscopic diagnosis was positive . Repeated assays conducted with the same batch of reagents showed that the test was remarkable reproducible.

Ophthalmology, 1982 Apr, 89(4), 354 - 60
Staphylococcus epidermidis endophthalmitis . Visual outcome following noninvasive therapy; O'Day DM et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis has been reported with increasing frequency as a cause of bacterial endophthalmitis . Over the past eight years 18 consecutive postsurgical cases have been treated by combined antibiotic-corticosteroid therapy without intravitreal antibiotics or vitrectomy . Fourteen (78%) achieved a final visual acuity of 20/50 or better . When these cases were added to similarly reported cases in the literature, 72% achieved this level of vision . By contrast, 42% of adequately documented cases in the literature treated by intravitreal antibiotics, and 42% treated additionally by vitrectomy, achieved a vision of 20/50 or better . S . epidermidis is an organism with a low order of virulence . The use of intravitreal antibiotics and vitrectomy do not appear to be necessary for effective treatment.

J Immunol, 1982 Apr, 128(4), 1671 - 5
Expression of histoincompatibility antigens during spermatogenesis in the rat; Soderstrom KO et al.; The expression of the AgB-SB and -LD (Ia-like) antigens on spermatogenic cells has been investigated by using a protein A-containing Staphylococcus Cowan I rosetting assay . The results show that the Ia-like antigens are present on all spermatogenic cells although the relative expression seems to decrease slightly concomitant with the differentiation . The AgB-SD antigens are detected on spermatogenia, leptotene, and zygotene spermatocytes but not on later developmental stages.

Br J Exp Pathol, 1982 Apr, 63(2), 125 - 32
Synthesis of immunoglobulins by human endocervix in organ culture; Cowan ME et al.; The synthesis of immunoglobulins by the uterine cervix was investigated in an endocervical organ-culture system . Using Ouchterlony immunodiffusion gels immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin A and secretory piece were detected in washings of endocervical explants and in explant incubation medium . Synthesis of immunoglobulin in the organ-culture system was investigated by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of radiolabelled polypeptides; 2 polypeptides co-migrated with the heavy and light chains of a reference polyclonal immunoglobulin G and were confirmed, by use of anti-human globulin and iodinated staphylococcal protein A, to be the heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin G . This experimental system will provide a useful model in future investigations of the efficacy of a local vaccine in human subjects.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 Apr, 251(4), 487 - 93
Isolation of bacteriophages for typing staphylococcus intermedius isolated from pigeons; Kawano J et al.; Attempts to isolate phages for typing Staphylococcus intermedius isolated from pigeons were made . Five phages were isolated from the lysogenic strains and the nostrils of pigeons, and were used for typing 50 strains isolated from pigeons in Japan, Belgium and Czechoslovakia . Thirty-one (62.0%) of the 50 strains were typed at either routine test dilution (RTD) or 100 X RTD into 8 phage patterns . A total of 122 strains of S . intermedius isolated from dogs, horses, mink and foxes were subjected to phage typing with pigeon phages, with the result that 10 (8.2%) of the 122 strains were typable . S . aureus and S . epidermidis, 59 and 58 strains, respectively, were resistant to lysis due to the pigeon phages . The experimental phages were considerably specific for S . intermedius isolated from pigeons.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Apr, (4), 107 - 10
{Production of a monovalent staphylococcal enterotoxic antiserum type A and its use for typing staphylococcal enterotoxins}; Fluer FS et al.; A monovalent specific staphylococcal antiserum, type A, was obtained by means of the isolated and purified preparation of type A staphylococcal enterotoxin . This antiserum was proved to be identical to antiserum of the same type, manufactured by Serva Feinbiochemica GmbH & Co . (West Germany) . The titer of the newly obtained antiserum in the precipitation test was 1 : 16, and its use allowed one to detect enterotoxin of the above-mentioned type at a concentration of 0.004 mg/ml . The study of 320 staphylococcal strains with the use of this antiserum revealed that 25 strains (7.8%) produced type A enterotoxin.

Rev Can Biol Exp, 1982 Mar, 41(1), 77 - 81
{Disappearance of specific membrane components during reticulocyte maturation in sheep}; Johnstone RM et al.; Using antibodies prepared against whole reticulocyte suspensions, it is possible to identify specific membrane proteins from sheep reticulocytes . These membrane proteins can be isolated using the antibodies and Staphylococcus A protein to precipitate the immune complex . With fluorescein-labelled antireticulocyte antibody it may be shown that only reticulocytes and not red cells become fluorescent on exposure to the antibody, confirming that the antibody is directed against reticulocytes . Using either immobilized antibody columns or immobilized transferring columns, the same peptide bands from the membrane are retained by either column . The data suggest that the antibody is directed against the transferrin receptor . When the antibody is incubated for several hours with the reticulocytes, the cells release vesicles containing the transferrin receptor . This release is energy dependent since the process is inhibited by agents which interfere with metabolic activity.

Rev Can Biol Exp, 1982 Mar, 41(1), 3 - 12
In vitro adhesion of Staphylococcus strains to rabbit tissues; Mathieu LG et al.; Differences in the in vitro adhesion of Staphylococcus strains on rabbit tissues were evaluated by viable unit counts and radio-labeling . Among coagulase-positive strains, two freshly isolated strains and the Cowan I strain adhered much more than the Wood 46 strain especially to peritoneum . In addition, the Smith strain, which is coagulase-positive and encapsulated, showed on rabbit peritoneum a degree of adhesion smaller than that of the Cowan I strain and similar to that of the Wood 46 strain . These quantitative results were corroborated by examination of the bacteria on thin sections of peritoneum or on whole mesentery samples with fluorescence microscopy . With fluorochroming either with acridine orange or fluorescent homologous antibodies, we could detect a preferential localization of the bacteria on the epithelium and also on fibers of the mesentery . Even if the Cowan I strain produces Protein A, this substance does not seem to have been involved in the adhesion of this strain to rabbit tissues, since IgG did not affect the degree of its adhesion . Treatment by Na metaperiodate of the peritoneum had an inhibitory effect of about 50% on the degree of adhesion; several other known inhibitors had no effect . The higher affinity of the Cowan I strain for the peritoneum or the mesentery, when compared with the Wood 46 strain, is an observation which could contribute to the study and understanding of adhesion, presumably an element of the experimental pathogenicity of Staphylococcus.

Mol Immunol, 1982 Mar, 19(3), 407 - 12
The effect of fragment B of staphylococcal protein A on the binding of rabbit IgG to human granulocytes and monocytes; Foster DE et al.; The effect of fragment B of staphylococcal protein A on the binding of rabbit IgG to human granulocytes has been examined . When rabbit IgG sensitized sheep erythrocytes (EA) were preincubated with increasing amounts of fragment B, a dose dependent inhibition of rosette formation between the human granulocytes and the treated EA was observed . In contrast, rosette formation between human monocytes and fragment B treated EA was not impaired . These results confirm previous findings which revealed differences in the specificities of the human Fc receptors of these cells . Rabbit IgG was used in place of human IgG for the preparation of the sensitized erythrocytes since human IgG coated human erythrocytes were agglutinated by fragment B, indicating the possibility of a secondary binding site for human IgG in this fragment.

Scand J Immunol, 1982 Mar, 15(3), 275 - 8
Staphylococcal protein A and human IgG subclasses and allotypes; Van Loghem E et al.; Staphylococcal protein A binds molecules belonging to the IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 subclasses . IgG3 proteins generally do not bind, except for those coded by the two gamma 3 alleles, which are G3m(u-): G3m(b0,b3,b5,s,v) . G3m(u) is located in the CH2 domain . The difference between G3m(u-) and G3m(u+) IgG3 proteins correlates with the sequence at position 339 in the CH2 domain--Ala and Thr respectively . There is another structural difference in the CH3 domain which correlates with protein A binding and non-binding: all IgG proteins that bind protein A have His at position 435, whereas those that do not, have Arg at that position.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Mar, (3), 66 - 9
{Experimental study of the allergenic action of a staphylococcal antigenic complex obtained by aqueous extraction compared to other staphylococcal preparations}; Efremova VN et al.; Anaphylactic and skin reactions in guinea pigs immunized with the antigenic staphylococcal complex obtained from strains showing different virulence of the strains has been shown to considerably affect the allergenic activity of the preparation . Similar results have been obtained by means of the model of paw edema in mice, and it has been shown that the staphylococcal antigenic complex produces a lesser allergenic effect than commercial adsorbed toxoid and formalin-treated corpuscular vaccine . In experiments carried out with the use of the model of septic infection in rabbits the preparations of the antigenic staphylococcal complex, obtained from less virulent strains and showing less pronounced allergenic effect in animals have been shown to be most immunogenic.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1982 Mar, (3), 59 - 63
{Acute and chronic toxicology of different staphylococcal immune preparations}; Korzaia LI; The data obtained of the acute and chronic toxicity of a number of staphylococcal immune preparations are presented . The paw edema test has been shown to yield more informative results for the evaluation of acute toxicity than the method of intraperitoneal injection and LD50 determination . The paw edema test has revealed that the toxicity of corpuscular vaccine is higher than that of the preparations of water-soluble antigenic staphylococcal complexes . The chronic toxicity test has demonstrated that corpuscular vaccine, antiphagin, adsorbed toxoid and the antigenic complex have low toxicity: their multiple administration in doses exceeding the equivalent doses 30-200 times have been found to exert no influence on the increase of the weight of the animals.

J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Mar, 15(3), 402 - 7
Rapid serological technique for typing herpes simplex viruses; Cleveland PH et al.; A rapid technique is described which can accurately identify a herpes simplex virus (HSV) isolate as type 1 or type 2 . Filter paper disks were used to immobilize viral antigens, which were then identified by means of an (125)I-labeled staphylococcal protein A immunoassay . The assay was performed in a specially designed 96-well filtration device which served as both an incubation chamber and a filter manifold . By using this system and cross-absorbed antisera to HSV types 1 and 2, 69 coded clinical isolates of HSV were correctly and unequivocally typed . HSV was also clearly distinguished from varicella-zoster virus and cytomegalovirus . This assay can be rapidly executed (less than 2 h) and yielded an objective endpoint; it required only minute quantities of typing sera and can be easily performed with the cells from a single infected roller tube culture . Thus, it can be used to type initial clinical isolates of HSV, yielding results within hours after the first appearance of cytopathic effects in the culture used for primary virus isolation . Moreover, it is particularly well suited to the simultaneous analysis of many specimens and is amenable to automation . These characteristics suggest that this (125)I-labeled staphylococcal protein A immunofiltration technique will be applicable to the rapid identification of other herpesviruses, as well as other clinical isolates.

J Neurol Sci, 1982 Mar, 53(3), 433 - 41
Oligoclonal IgG in the cerebrospinal fluid of guinea pigs with acute experimental allergic encephalomyelitis; Rostami A et al.; The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of guniea pigs with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis was examined for the presence of oligoclonal IgG using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Oligoclonal IgG (greater than or equal to 2 bands) was seen in the CSF obtained from 3/4 animals with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis induced by myelin basic protein and 2/3 with spinal cord-induced disease . It was not seen in CSF of 3 non-sensitized, 4 adjuvant-sensitized and 7 liver-sensitized guinea pigs . Scanning of stained gels confirmed the oligoclonal pattern . The bands were found in the region of gels which bound {125I}Staphylococcal Protein A . The data demonstrate that a non-infectious inflammatory reaction within the central nervous system can result in an oligoclonal IgG pattern in the CSF.

Dis Colon Rectum, 1982 Mar, 25(2), 131 - 4
Bacteremia associated with lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, fact or fiction? I . Colonoscopy; Kumar S et al.; A survey of the medical literature reveals conflicting data as to whether bacteremia occurs during endoscopic examination of the lower gastrointestinal tract . In an attempt to study this problem a prospective study was undertaken, and the first arm of the study included patients undergoing colonoscopy . The second arm of the study, comprising patients undergoing proctosigmoidoscopy, will be presented subsequently . Fifty-one patients undergoing colonoscopy were studied . Excluded from the study were patients with elevation of temperature above 101 degrees F, inflammatory bowel disease, diarrhea, valvular heart disease, vascular prosthesis, chemotherapy, or immunosuppression . Aerobic and anaerobic culture were done before and after the procedure, as well as at timed intervals during the procedure . Whenever biopsy or polypectomy were carried out, further cultures were done . Skin cultures were done from venipuncture sites . In one patient (2 per cent) Staphylococcus epidermidis was found in more than one set of cultures . Polypectomy or biopsy were not associated with bacteremia.

J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1982 Mar, 69(3), 275 - 82
Desensitization of patients allergic to penicillin using orally administered beta-lactam antibiotics; Sullivan TJ et al.; When patients allergic to penicillin develop life-endangering infections that require treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics, they face a fatal infection or the possibility of a fatal allergic reaction . We have approached this situation by using an oral desensitization procedure before full-dose antibiotic therapy . Thirty consecutive patients with histories of allergic reactions to penicillin, positive immediate wheal and flare skin-test reactions to penicillin determinants, and life-threatening infections were studied . Bacterial endocarditis requiring penicillin G therapy led to desensitization of 19 patients, Pseudomonas sepsis of pneumonia requiring treatment led to desensitization of nine subjects, and staphylococcal infections requiring therapy with a penicillinase-resistant penicillin led to desensitization of two patients . Penicillin G or carbenicillin were administered orally, beginning with 100 U or 60 microgram, respectively . At 15-min intervals, progressively doubled doses were given during continuous monitoring for the appearance of allergic reactions . Within 5 hr, full therapeutic doses were administered intravenously . Skin-test reactions disappeared or diminished in all 23 subjects who were retested after desensitization . Full courses of antibiotic therapy and cure of the infections were accomplished in 30 of 30 patients . No deaths, anaphylaxis, or severe acute allergic reactions occurred . Pruritic cutaneous eruptions appeared in nine patients (30%) 6 to 48 hr after the onset of therapy . One patient developed reversible nephritis 3 wk into therapy with penicillin G . The results of this study suggest that oral desensitization is an effective, relatively safe approach to administering beta-lactam antibiotics to penicillin-allergic patients with life-threatening infections.

Am J Clin Pathol, 1982 Mar, 77(3), 328 - 32
Routine subcultures shown to be unnecessary in radiometric detection of bacteremia using three media; Strand CL; A study to determine the necessity of routine blind subcultures when using the radiometric BACTEC-460 instrument for detection of bacteremia was conducted . In the first phase, blind subcultures were performed on day 10 of incubation; in the second phase, blind subcultures were performed on day 4; in the final phase the subculture was performed on day one . During the study, 6,208 blood cultures from 2,455 patients were inoculated into three different culture media . There were 454 microbial isolates recovered, including 269 presumed pathogenic isolates . The single significant discrepancy between blind subculture and radiometric detection was a case of Staphylococcus epidermidis septicemia in which the organism was detected 48 hours earlier by blind subculture . There were no cultures in which significant bacterial isolates were detected by blind subcultures but not radiometrically . Thus, under the conditions of this study, routine blind subcultures are not necessary when using the BACTEC radiometric system for detection of bacteremia.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1982 Mar, 93(3), 323 - 6
Bacterial endophthalmitis resulting from radial keratotomy; Gelender H et al.; Staphylococcus epidermis endophthalmitis developed nine days after surgery in a 47-year-old man who underwent a 16-incision radial keratotomy during which the cornea was inadvertently perforated . The anterior chamber showed marked cellular reaction and flare and there was a 5% hypopyon inferiorly . There was also a marked cellular reaction in the vitreous, which contained many fluffy white balls . Visual acuity decreased to counting fingers at 1 foot . A pars plana vitrectomy and intraocularly, periocularly, intravenously, and topically administered antibiotics resulted in recovery of the visual acuity to 6/9 (20/30).

Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Mar, 35(3), 821 - 34
{Laboratory and clinical studies of cefmetazole in serious infection by Staphylococcus (author's transl)}; Motohiro T et al.; Cefmetazole (CMZ) is an antibiotic agent belonging to the cephamycin group, which is resistant to beta-lactamase and has a broad antibacterial spectrum covering from Gram-negative to -positive organisms . Although this agent has been proved to have an antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus spp., it has not been used for treatment of the infections caused by the organism . Thus, 62 strains of S . aureus isolated clinically were compared for their sensitivity to CMZ, cefoxitin (CFX), cefuroxime (CXM), cefazolin (CEZ), and ampicillin (ABPC) . In addition, 5 children suffering from septicemia due to S . aureus were treated with CMZ 158 mg/kg at a mean daily dose for a mean period of 14 days . The dose was used after dividing into 3 and 4 equal parts in 1 and 4 children, respectively . One old patient with septicemia was given 2,000 mg of CMZ twice daily for 4 days and once daily for subsequent 3 days . Another child with bacterial meningitis was treated with 50 mg/kg of CMZ 4 times daily for 63 days . The drug was given intravenous injection by one-shot or drip infusion in all cases under observation of clinical effects, bacteriological effects and side effects . The MIC of CMZ against S . aureus at inoculum sizes of 10(6) and 10(8) cells/ml was 1.56 mcg/ml in 72.6 and 56.5% of the strains, respectively . When 5 drugs were compared on the basis of the MIC to which the largest number of strains were sensitive, CEZ was most active, and CMZ was ranked in the next place and similar to CXM in activity . However, when the whole range of the MIC was considered, CMZ was more excellent than CXM, its MIC was lower than those of CEZ, CFX and ABPC in a greater number of strains . It was considered from the results that the serum level of CMZ was effective against 100 and 93.5% of strains at an inoculum size of 10(6) cells/ml and against 100 and 83.9% of strains at an inoculum size of 10(8) cells/ml until 4 and 6 hours after a one-shot intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg of Moni-trol I standard, respectively in the children . Thus, CMZ is expected to manifest a sufficient effect on septicemia caused by S . aureus in children who receive a one-shot intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg of it 4 times daily . Treatment with CMZ was clinically evaluated to be excellent in 3, good in 3 and poor in none of 6 patients with septicemia due to S . aureus, and fair in the 1 with Staphylococcal meningitis . The bacteriological result was excellent, since the causal organisms were eradicated in all cases . With regard to side effects, abnormal eosinophilia was found in 2 cases, but it was no ascribable to this drug in 1 of them . GOT showed an abnormal rise in 1 case and both GOT and GPT in 1, although they were considered not to be related to this drug in either case . It is considered from these results that CMZ is a valuable drug in treatment of septicemia due to S . aureus.

Arch Intern Med, 1982 Mar, 142(3), 583 - 6
CSF infections complicating the management of neoplastic meningitis . Clinical features and results of therapy; Trump DL et al.; This study analyzes the clinical and bacteriologic features of CSF infections that occurred in patients with neoplastic meningitis treated with thiotepa and methotrexate administered through a subcutaneous reservoir and ventricular catheter (SRVC) . Thirty-one patients were treated, and CSF infections occurred in four (13%) . Staphylococcus epidermidis was the infecting organism in each case and Pseudomonas maltophilia occurred with S epidermidis in one patient . Fever, headache, lethargy, and evidence of CSF extravasation around the SRVC were the common manifestations of infection . The CSF leukocytosis was the only laboratory abnormality noted . All infections were cured with the appropriate antibiotics and removal of the SRVC . Risk of CSF infection did not seem to be related to the use of high doses of dexamethasone, cranial radiation therapy, or the presence or absence of leukopenia . The SRVCs were replaced and treatment of neoplastic meningitis was resumed in three patients; infection did not recur . A CSF infection during management of neoplastic meningitis may be treated effectively and does not preclude adequate therapy of neoplastic meningitis.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1982 Mar, 79(6), 1810 - 4
Nucleosome segregation at a defined mammalian chromosomal site; Roufa DJ et al.; When animal cells replicate chromatin under conditions precluding new histone biosynthesis, half of the daughter DNAs are devoid of nucleosomes and are sensitive to staphylococcal nuclease . DNA sequences resistant to nuclease are associated with preexisting nucleosomes, which redistribute to progeny DNA duplexes during replication . We labeled newly replicated DNA sequences in a simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed Chinese hamster cell clone with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) in the presence and absence of a protein biosynthesis inhibitor, emetine . We resolved single-stranded BrdUrd- and dT-DNA sequences protected from nuclease digestion by nucleosomes and determined from which strands of the integrated viral DNA parental template (dT) and newly replicated progeny (BrdUrd) sequences were derived . Because we knew that the cell clone studied contained all of its integrated SV40 DNA at a single chromosomal site, we were able to determine that preexisting nucleosomes segregated to only one of the two daughter duplexes containing the integrated viral sequence . Additionally, in the presence of emetine, the integrated viral origin of replication, ORIsv, appeared not to function as a chromosomal replication origin, perhaps reflecting the drug's effect on synthesis of SV40 large tumor antigen.

Eur J Biochem, 1982 Mar, 123(1), 141 - 52
Temperature dependence of the activity of DNA-modifying enzymes: endonucleases and DNA ligase; Pohl FM et al.; The activities of 17 endonucleases: the restriction endonucleases AvaI, Bam HI, EcoRI, HindIII, PstI and SalI, which cleave pBR322 DNA once: AluI, AvaII, CfoI, HaeIII, HhaI, HinfI, HpaII and TaqI, which cut pBR322 DNA several times, and three 'unspecific' nucleases (S1 nuclease, staphylococcal nuclease and DNase I from bovine pancreas) were determined between 0 degrees and 65 degrees C . The reaction was followed by the disappearance of covalently closed circular pBR322 DNA, using the alkaline ethidium fluorescence assay of Morgan et al . {Nucleic Acids Res . (1979) 7, 547-594}; the activity of T4 DNA ligase was similarly measured by the conversion of nicked circular DNA to closed circular DNA . For each enzyme, small aliquots of the same solution were incubated at different temperatures simultaneously in a temperature gradient device, resulting in a high relative precision . The experimental results are summarized by the simplest possible theoretical description, using linear or exponential kinetics and apparent activation energies Ea for the enzymatic reaction, Ei for the enzyme inactivation and Ti for the inactivation temperature . To a good approximation these three parameters suffice for describing the temperature dependence of the activity of most of the enzymes.

J Invest Dermatol, 1982 Mar, 78(3), 206 - 9
Measurement of cutaneous inflammation: estimation of neutrophil content with an enzyme marker; Bradley PP et al.; We examined the hypothesis that myeloperoxidase (MPO), a plentiful constituent of neutrophils, might serve as a marker for tissue neutrophil content . To completely extract MPO from either neutrophils or skin, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) was used to solubilize the enzyme . With this detergent treatment, 97.8 +/- 0.2% of total recoverable MPO was extracted from neutrophils with a single HTAB treatment; 93.1 +/- 1.0% was solubilized with a single treatment of skin . Neutrophil MPO was directly related to neutrophil number; with the dianisidine-H2O2 assay as few as 10(4) neutrophils could be detected . The background level of MPO within uninflamed tissue was 0.385 +/- 0.018 units per gram of tissue, equivalent to only 7.64 +/- 0.36 X 10(5) neutrophils . In experimental staphylococcal infection, skin specimens contained 34.8 +/- 3.8 units MPO per gram, equivalent to 8.55 +/- 0.93 X 10(7) neutrophils . These studies demonstrate that MPO can be used as a marker for skin neutrophil content: it is recoverable from skin in soluble form, and is directly related to neutrophil number . Further, normal skin possesses a low background of MPO compared to that of inflamed skin.

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol, 1982 Mar, 5(2), 190 - 5
Late unheralded pacemaker pocket infection due to Staphylococcus epidermidis: a new clinical entity; Wohl B et al.; Late pacemaker pocket infections in the absence of predisposing factors such as multiple pacemaker related procedures, skin erosion, chest wall trauma or generalized sepsis have been rarely reported . In the past year, we have seen three late pocket infections (18, 32 and 47 months post-implantation) due to Staphylococcus epidermidis (S . epidermidis) . All three patients with late S . epidermidis infections presented with painless swelling over the pulse generator site and had been well until shortly before admission . The patients denied febrile illnesses or chest trauma in the preceding year and no skin erosion was evident . All had been seen regularly in clinic and bimonthly transtelephonic recordings had shown normal pacemaker function . Local drainage, antibiotics and removal of the pacing system was successful in all three patients . We conclude that late pacemaker pocket infections due to S . epidermidis may become an important clinical problem in this era of long-lasting pulse generators . In light of the insidious nature of S . epidermidis infections, regular inspection of the pocket area by both patient and physician is mandatory.

Sem Hop, 1982 Feb 25, 58(8), 457 - 60
{Value of anti hemolysin and anti-gammahemolysin assays for the diagnosis of staphylococcal infections, particularly of osteoarthritis (author's transl)}; Queneau P et al.; The authors report the results of more than twelve years' personal research on the value of anti-alphahemolysin (AASTL) and antigammahemolysin (AGSTL) assays for the diagnosis of staphylococcal infections, and particularly of osteoarthritis . Among 574 controls, AASTL levels exceeded 2 IU in only 14 subjects (11 of these, levels were between 2 and 3 IU) . Levels less than, or equal to, 2 IU were therefore considered normal . This is consistent with previously published data . In 144 staphylococcal infections, confirmed by bacteriology, an increase in AASTL was found in 95 of all cases (65.9%) and in 54 of the 76 osteoarthritis' (71%) . Similarly, AGSTL titres, which were under 1/160 (upper normal limit) in 138 controls, were increased in 35 patients with unequivocal staphylococcal infections (61.4%), and in 25 of 36 patients with osteoarthritis (69.4%) . These results show that AASTL assay is reliable and often abnormal . However, assay of both hemolysins yields even better results . This dual assay was performed in 57 patients with staphylococcal infection . One hemolysin at least was increased in 47 patients (82.4%) . This represents additional positivity in 15.7% of patients when compared to AASTL assay alone, and in 21% when compared to AGSTL assay alone . The high level of positive results with dual assay is even more striking when only staphylococcal osteoarthritis is considered: one or both hemolysins were increased in 91.1% of these patients (31/34).

Jpn J Med Sci Biol, 1982 Feb, 35(1), 1 - 8
Experimental production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C on rice flour gel medium; Shinagawa K et al.; Production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C was studied on the rice flour gel plate consisting of rice flour and distilled water devised by the authors simulating cooked rice that has commonly been incriminated for staphylococcal food poisoning in Japan . Enterotoxin produced on the rice flour gel plate was determined quantitatively by reversed passive hemagglutination . The rice flour plate supported production of fairly large quantities of enterotoxins A, B, and C . The rice flour concentration of the plate and the quantity of the surface water largely affected the enterotoxin production . The largest amount of enterotoxin, 0.2-0.4 mg/25-ml plate, was produced in 3 days at 37 C on 16% rice flour gel plates overlaid with 4 to 8 ml of saline . It appeared that the production of enterotoxin A was more rapid than that of enterotoxin B or C.

Br J Haematol, 1982 Feb, 50(2), 351 - 9
Serological and biochemical analysis of the PlA1 alloantigen of human platelets; Lane J et al.; A solid phase platelet antibody assay has been developed which rapidly and sensitively detects PlA1 antibodies . The three-step assay is performed by: (1) adhering platelets to the wheels of a microtitre plate, (2) incubating the platelets with test serum, and (3) adding radiolabelled Staphylococcal protein A which binds to the Fc domain of IgG antibodies . Immune reactions are detected by overnight autoradiography . Characterization of the PlA1 antigen was performed by using PlA1 antisera in immune precipitation assays . A 90 000 dalton molecular weight species was precipitated from PlA1 positive human and dog platelets.

Infect Immun, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 627 - 32
Plasmid pattern analysis of Staphylococcal epidermidis isolates from patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis; Archer GL et al.; The electrophoretic pattern formed by individual bacterial plasmid DNA molecules of differing molecular size was evaluated as an epidemiological marker among isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) . Purified covalently closed circular plasmid DNA was obtained from selected isolates, and 79% of the plasmids were found to be less than 10 megadaltons in size; only these small plasmids were sought in subsequent screening gels . Crude cell lysates obtained by a rapid lysis technique and screened by agarose gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of one or more small plasmids in 54 of 58 (93%) PVE isolates; 79% contained two or more . Among 45 plasmid-containing isolates from cases of sporadic PVE at three institutions there were no identical plasmid patterns, although several isolates differed by a single plasmid . In contrast, among nine isolates from a cluster of cases of PVE in Canada, two groups of three isolates each had identical plasmid patterns . Additional clinical data suggested that these isolates were epidemiologically related . Phage typing distinguished one of the groups with plasmid pattern identity, but not the other, from the three isolates with dissimilar patterns . Plasmid pattern analysis shows promise as an epidemiological marker for clinically important isolates of S . epidermidis.

South Med J, 1982 Feb, 75(2), 143 - 6
Staphylococcal bacteremia in cancer patients: intravenous and oral antimicrobial therapy; Carney DN et al.; Eighteen adult cancer patients with 21 episodes of staphylococcal bacteremia were treated with sequential intravenous and oral antimicrobial agents . Adequacy of antimicrobial therapy was monitored with serum antibacterial activity studies . The mean duration of intravenous and oral therapy was nine and 25 days, respectively . Clinical and bacteriologic cures were achieved in all cases except one, in which relapse occurred after only 16 days of therapy . One patient had staphylococcal endocarditis and one had staphylococcal pneumonia . Four patients died of causes unrelated to staphylococcal bacteremia after 12, 21, 27, and 40 days of therapy, respectively . Initial intravenous therapy followed by oral antimicrobial agents to complete treatment, monitored with serum antibacterial activity studies, is effective therapy for patients with cancer and staphylococcal bacteremia.

Vox Sang, 1982 Feb, 42(2), 74 - 80
Characterization of various immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous application . II . Complement activation and binding to staphylococcus protein A; Romer J et al.; 14 immunoglobulin preparations for intravenous use were tested to assess functions of their Fc portion . Inhibition of the hemolytic activity of complement, C1q binding and the interaction of IgG subclasses with Staphylococcus protein A were investigated . Complement studies were done on both the ready-for-infusion and the heat-aggregated preparations . Three groups of products could be distinguished: (1) Enzymatically and chemically treated products were devoid of complement-activating capacity, both when tested and ready-for-infusion and as heat-aggregated preparations . The chemically treated preparations showed atypical binding properties to Staphylococcal protein A . (2) The poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-treated preparations and the untreated reference activated complement before and after heat-aggregation . (3) The albumin protected and the pH 4-treated product did not spontaneously activate complement in the ready-for-infusion state but did so after heat-aggregation . These results suggest that only the albumin-protected and the pH 4-treated products can be expected both to be well tolerated when given intravenously to high-risk agammaglobulinemic patients and to exhibit normal Fc functions in vivo.

Eur J Immunol, 1982 Feb, 12(2), 113 - 20
The expression and functional involvement of nuclease- specific idiotype on nuclease-primed helper T cells; Nadler PI et al.; The expression and functional significance of idiotypic determinants on antigen-specific helper T (Th) cell populations for responses to Staphylococcal nuclease (Nase) were evaluated in an in vitro antibody response system . Trinitrophenyl (TNP)- specific plaque-forming cell responses to TNP-conjugates of Nase (TNP-Nase) were shown to require the cooperation of Nase-primed Th cells as well as unprimed B and accessory cells . The expression on these antigen-primed Th cells of idiotypic determinants cross-reactive with those on anti-Nase antibodies was demonstrated by the specific elimination of Th cells for TNP-Nase by treatment with affinity-purified anti-idiotypic antibodies plus complement . The susceptibility of Nase-primed Th cells to elimination by such treatment was specific in that anti-idiotypic antibodies affected Th cells only from strains normally expressing the same (or a cross-reactive) idiotype on anti-Nase antibodies . A functional role of the idiotypes expressed on Nase-primed Th cells was suggested by the fact that anti-idiotypic antibody present throughout the period of culture, in the absence of complement, suppressed responses to TNP-Nase in an antigen- and strain-specific manner . It was further shown, by cell mixing experiments, that this inhibition appeared to occur at the level of the Th cells and was not dependent on the strain of origin of the B cells . Thus, antigen-specific Nase-primed Th cells express strain-specific idiotypic determinants cross-reactive with, or identical to, those of anti-Nase antibodies . These cell surface idiotypic determinants appear to be functionally involved in the activity of Th cells for the induction of antibody responses to TNP-Nase in vitro.

Cell, 1982 Feb, 28(2), 375 - 85
Selective arrangement of ubiquitinated and D1 protein-containing nucleosomes within the Drosophila genome; Levinger L et al.; We have a new approach, two-dimensional hybridization mapping of nucleosomes, to compare the structures of mononucleosomes from different regions of the Drosophila melanogaster genome . Approximately one in two nucleosomes of the transcribed copia and heat-shock 70 (hsp 70) genes in nonshocked cultured cells contains ubiquitin-H2A (uH2A) semihistone, a covalent conjugate of histone H2A and a small protein, ubiquitin . In striking contrast, less than one in 25 nucleosomes of tandemly repeated, nontranscribed 1.688 satellite DNA contains uH2A, suggesting that most of the nucleosomal uH2A is located in transcribed genes . Approximately 25% of all nucleosomes are ubiquitinated in nonsynchronized cultured Drosophila cells . The hsp 70 genes in nonshocked cells occur in nucleosomes, are greatly enriched in uH2A and are not digested preferentially by staphylococcal nuclease . In contrast, the same genes in chromatin from heat-shocked cells are highly sensitive to staphylococcal nuclease and no longer possess nucleosomal organization recognizable with this probe . Histone ubiquitination in transcribed nucleosomes may prevent formation of higher order chromosomal structures by modifying nucleosome-nucleosome interactions . The observed loss of nucleosomal organization in very actively transcribed genes, such as the hsp 70 genes in shocked cells, may be related to the recent finding that ubiquitin conjugates are substrates for the cytoplasmic ATP-dependent proteolytic system . We have also found that 1.688 satellite mononucleotomes contain a specific approximately 50,000 dalton nonhistone protein, D1, in addition to being extremely under-ubiquitinated . D1 may be involved in formation of the highly compact structure of satellite heterochromatin.

Infect Immun, 1982 Feb, 35(2), 383 - 90
Gamma interferon production by combinations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, and cultured macrophages; Arbeit RD et al.; Mitogen-induced interferon (IFN) production was studied using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and subpopulations of lymphocytes, monocytes, and cultured macrophages . Cell populations were prepared in suspension to permit quantitative analysis of the interactions among different cell types . After stimulation by staphylococcal enterotoxin A, nylon column-purified lymphocytes produced only 5% as much IFN as the peripheral blood mononuclear cells from which they were prepared . When lymphocytes were supplemented with as little as 2% monocytes, IFN production increased two- to eightfold; with the addition of up to 20% monocytes, IFN production increased further, to levels approximating those of peripheral blood mononuclear cells . Monocytes alone produced no or very little IFN . Macrophages were derived from monocytes by culturing in vitro for 7 days . The addition of 2 to 5% autologous macrophages augmented IFN production to the same extent as 2 to 5% monocytes . However, more macrophages consistently resulted in less, rather than more, IFN, so that lymphocytes with 20% monocytes produced three- to eightfold more IFN than did lymphocytes with 20% macrophages . Thus, whereas the addition of monocytes over a broad dose-response range (2 to 20%) progressively augmented IFN production, macrophages showed an optimal effect at 2 to 5%, with higher percentages being inhibitory . The IFN induced by stimulation with staphylococcal enterotoxin A was characterized as IFN-gamma by its resistance to neutralization by antibody to IFN- alpha and its inability to induce antiviral protection in embryonic bovine trachea cells.

J Biol Chem, 1982 Jan 10, 257(1), 122 - 5
Prostate alpha-protein . Complete amino acid sequence of the component that inhibits nuclear retention of the androgen-receptor complex; Liao S et al.; The amino acid sequence of Component I of alpha-protein, a glutamic acid-rich protein, is presented . Component I is a single chain polypeptide which consists of 88 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 10,191 . Component I has the amino acid composition Lys6, His, Arg2, Cys3, Asp5, Asn2, Thr3, Ser4, Glu13, Gln3, Pro3, Gly2, Ala6, Val9, Met4, Ile4, Leu8, Tyr6, Phe3, Trp, with serine and asparagine as NH2(-) and COOH-terminal amino acids, respectively . Automated sequences analysis of the whole protein, as well as characterization of the peptides obtained from trypsin, chymotrypsin, and staphylococcal protease digestion and cyanogen bromide treatment, led to the elucidation of the complete primary structure of this protein.

Life Sci, 1982 Jan 4, 30(1), 99 - 106
Renin synthesis by canine aortic smooth muscle cells in culture; Re R et al.; Angiotensin-I generating activity has been detected in homogenates of arterial tissue but it remains unclear whether this enzymatic activity results from the presence of renin itself or from the action of other proteases such as cathepsin D . In an assay system employing anephric dog plasma as substrate and buffered to pH 7.4, we detected angiotensin-I generating activity in homogenates of canine aortic smooth muscle cells . This enzymatic activity was in large part inhibitable by renin-specific antisera raised to pure canine renal renin . Immunofluorescent study of cultured arterial smooth muscle cells was also performed using renin specific antiserum . Granular cytoplasmic immunofluorescence was detected when specific antirenin serum was used but not when preimmune serum was employed . The addition of pure canine renin to the renin antiserum during staining suppressed the granular immunofluorescence confirming the specificity of staining . Finally, biosynthetic radiolabelling studies were performed . Immunoprecipitation of newly synthesized proteins with antirenin serum and staphylococcal protein A followed by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography demonstrated the synthesis of an immunoreactive protein with the molecular weight of renin . Pretreatment of the antirenin serum with pure canine renin resulted in the disappearance of this immunoreactive protein band . Thus these studies provide multiple lines of evidence to indicate the in situ synthesis of renin by vascular smooth muscle cells.

Vopr Pitan, 1982 Jan-Feb, (1), 38 - 40
{Effect of vitamin A on immunogenesis}; Pletsityi KD et al.; Experiments made on mice, rats and rabbits have shown that administration of vitamin A promotes an increase in the weight of the lymphoid organs, thymus and spleen and stimulates production of the antibody-forming cells by the spleen, as well as that of serum antibodies during immunization with different antigens: sheep red blood cells, influenza virus, tetanus and staphylococcal toxoids . The possible mechanisms that underlie vitamin A action are discussed.

Immunology, 1982 Jan, 45(1), 129 - 37
IgE antibodies are more species-specific than IgG antibodies in human onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis; Weiss N et al.; To explore the relative species specificities of the IgE and IgG antibody responses to helminth infections in man, we studied four pools of sera from patients infected with Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Onchocerca volvulus or Ascaris lumbricoides and ten individual sera from patients with onchocerciasis . IgE antibodies were detected by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) analysis and IgG antibodies by a Staphylococcus protein A radioimmunoassay (Staph A-RIA) . Analysis of the binding curves with four different immunosorbents (prepared from antigens of B . malayi, O . volvulus, Dipetalonema viteae and A . lumbricoides) in the RAST and the binding curves with these same four antigens in the Staph A-RIA confirmed the relative species specificities for both the IgE and IgG antibody responses . Then determination of these antibody levels after specific absorption of the sera with both homologous and heterologous antigens showed that in all instances there was significantly less cross-reactivity with heterologous parasite antigens (i.e . higher species specificity) in the IgE antibody response to filarial infection than in the corresponding IgG antibody response . Such findings imply that efforts toward developing techniques for specific immunodiagnosis of filarial infections are likely to be particularly successful if focused on the IgE antibody response of exposed individuals.

Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung, 1982, 29(4), 277 - 84
Cytotoxic material released from Staphylococcus epidermidis . II . Fractionation and some effects of the fractions on lymphocytes and hepatocytes; Solymossy M et al.; Cytotoxic substance(s) of about 4 X 10(3) molecular weight, containing 9.5% peptide and 73% carbohydrate was released from Staphylococcus epidermidis in phosphate buffered saline . The material was soluble in ethanol and was heat-resistant . It blocked amino acid uptake and E-rosette formation of human tonsillar and blood lymphocytes . In isolated mouse hepatocytes the toxin inhibited protein synthesis, but only in the presence of calcium ions . The results suggest that eukaryotic cell membranes are damaged by the coccal agent.

Arkh Patol, 1982, 44(10), 21 - 7
{Mechanisms of development of pneumonia after burns}; Galankin VN et al.; Experiments in rats (burns followed by intratracheal infection with a staphylococcus suspension) were used to study association between disorders in phagocytosis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and alveolar macrophages and histological manifestations of the inflammatory-infectious process in the lungs . Different resistance of micro- and macrophage cells to burn trauma was demonstrated . Disorders in the phagocytic properties of the cells were shown to precede the development of the inflammatory-infectious process documented at the tissue level.

Med Pediatr Oncol, 1982, 10(6), 549 - 52
Cure of Ommaya reservoir associated Staphylococcus epidermidis ventriculitis with a simple regimen of vancomycin and rifampin without reservoir removal; Connors JM; Staphylococcus epidermidis ventriculitis developed in a patient undergoing treatment for meningeal lymphoblastic lymphoma via Ommaya subcutaneous reservoir . Treatment with a regimen of intravenous and intraventricular vancomycin and oral rifampin resulted in prompt cure of the infection without removal of the reservoir . The antibiotic therapy, guided by CSF bacteriocidal levels, was convenient to administer, nontoxic, and well tolerated . No interruption of lymphoma treatment was necessary.

Scand J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1982, 16(3), 269 - 74
The occurrence of Staphylococcus epidermidis in a department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery . A clinical and epidemiological investigation; Hansen BG; Changes in resistance traits of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated in the preoperative and postoperative phases from patients undergoing open heart surgery were studied in a two-step prospective investigation . Period 1 comprised 32 patients . All received streptomycin for five days and methicillin for seven days, starting the evening before operation . None of the patients was colonized with multiresistant (MR) strains before or immediately after operation . Two days after operation, in the intensive care unit (ICU) 79% of the patients carried MR S . epidermidis in the nose . Air analyses showed that 30% of the bacteria isolated from the ICU were MR, while such strains were seldom found in the operating theatre . Nose swabs from the staff showed that 26% at the ICU and none in the operating theatre carried MR strains . In an attempt to counteract the selection for MR strains, all patients in period 2 received methicillin alone for only 3 days, and disinfection of the ICU was then performed after each patient . Period 2 comprised 105 patients . The frequency of MR S . epidermidis in the patient material declined from 80% to 40% and from 26% to 15% in the staff members . No changes were found concerning the frequency of postoperative complications . The conclusion is that methicillin alone for three days gives as good a protection against postoperative infections as a more broad-spectrum treatment and that reduced use of antibiotics will reduce the risk of early colonization with resistant strains.

Vet Med Nauki, 1982, 19(8), 19 - 24
{Diseases of the locomotor apparatus in pigs on commercial farm complexes}; Vachev B et al.; This type of affections concern mainly pigs in the first several days following birth, and rarely pigs up to the age of 15 to 20 days . Their manifestation has a stationary character . They are encountered more frequently and on a mass scale in the winter and spring months . The carpus joints are chiefly affected, whereas the distal joints of the hind legs are much more rarely involved . Detailed epizootiologic, bacteriologic, clinical, haematological, biochemical, and X-ray investigations have been carried out with normal and diseased pigs and the respective sows . The disease process has been found to develop under the influence of occasionally pathogenic pigsty microbial flora, which entered the body most often through the affected skin of the knee joints when sucking . Laboratory studies revealed that Staphylococcus hyicus took part . Carriers of the infection were the sows from which the same causative agents were isolated . Biochemically, a lowered level of the serum calcium was demonstrated, accompanied by well defined leukocytosis in the more strongly affected pigs and their sows . It was shown that in terms of prophylaxis most effective were the local treatments of the diseased knee joints of pigs in the first three days after birth with granulin as well as the treatment of the sows and their offsprings with antibiotics, vitamins, and calcium preparations . It was shown that the regular and opportune disinfection with 1-2 per cent sodium hydroxide was of special interest.

J Med Virol, 1982, 10(4), 243 - 53
Solid-phase immune electron microscopy (SPIEM) by use of protein A and its application for characterization of selected adenovirus serotypes; Svensson L et al.; Staphylococcal protein A was used for the anchoring of specific antibodies for a solid-phase immune electron microscope method (SPIEM) . More IgG adsorbed to grids in the absence of protein A than in its presence . However, the virus trapping efficiency was markedly improved in the presence of protein A . The specificity of the test was evaluated by use of different adenovirus preparations and matching rabbit hyperimmune sera . The degree of serological reaction was evaluated by counting the number of particles attached to the grid . Type specific reactions and inter- and intrasubgroup reactions were identified.

Ann Med Interne (Paris), 1982, 133(7), 462 - 7
{Staphylococcus, the most frequent agent of serious complications of acute sinusitis in children . 5 cases}; Moranne JB et al.; The high incidence of staphylococcal infection in severe forms of orbital cellulitis is reviewed with 4 case reports of children with complications of acute sinusitis due to staphylococcal infection . Three cases of thrombosis of the sinus cavernosus due to ethmoidal extension were observed, complicated in one case by fatal purulent meningitis . In one case, the sinusitis was a mixed staphylococcal and anerobic infection with orbital cellulitis and subcutaneous gas gangrene . No organism was isolated in the fifth child who had exophtalmos due to retroorbital cellulitis, but a rapid recovery was obtained with anti staphylococcal antibiotics after failure of inappropriate antibiotics . In conclusion, all periorbital cellulitis complicating sinusitis should be prescribed active anti staphylococcal antibiotics . In addition low dose anti coagulant therapy and prophylactic treatment against cerebral aedema are recommanded because of the risk of extension of the infection by thrombophlebitis of the sinus cavernosus and of intracranial propagation of the periorbital aedema.

Scand J Gastroenterol, 1982 Jan, 17(1), 5 - 9
Virus antibodies in the serum of patients with liver disease; Myren J et al.; Two hundred and twenty-six patients suspected of having liver disease were examined clinically, by a liver biopsy and laboratory test, according to a prospective scheme . Blood samples obtained just before the liver biopsy were coded and subsequently examined blindly, using the complement fixation test (CFT) . The antigens were influenza A and B viruses, parainfluenza 1, 2, and 3, respiratory syncytial viruses, varicella, morbilli, cytomegalo and herpes simplex viruses . The sera were also examined by the CFT against Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigen . Antibodies against rubella virus were determined in a haemolysis-in-gel test . HBsAg and HBsAb were determined by a staphylococcal radioimmunoassay, and sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH) were also examined for antibodies against hepatitis A virus by radioimmunoassay . Highly significant antibody titres against morbilli virus were found in patients with CAH and CPH . Patients with CPH or liver cirrhosis also had significantly higher titres against rubella virus than other groups . Some patients with liver granulomas had high titres against rubella virus . Only in one patient with CAH was a positive test for HBsAg found, and in one a positive test for HBsAb . Seven patients in the CAH and CPH groups had very high titres against both rubella and morbilli viruses.

Immunogenetics, 1982, 16(1), 11 - 22
Primary structure of the H-2Db alloantigen . II . Additional amino acid sequence information, localization of a third site of glycosylation and evidence for K and D region specific sequences; Maloy WL et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of the CNBr fragment comprising residues 229-284 of the murine major histocompatibility complex antigen H-2Db has been determined using radiochemical methodology . The sequence was determined by N-terminal sequence analysis of the intact CNBr fragment and by sequence determinations of peptides derived from this fragment by trypsin and staphylococcal V8 protease cleavage . In addition to the amino acid assignments for H-2Db, it was possible to assign the linkage position of the third N-linked glycosyl unit to the asparagine at residue 256 . Additional amino acid sequence assignments have also been made for three other CNBr fragments that span residues 99-138, 139-228, and 308-331 of the H-2Db molecule . The total protein sequence information available (222 of 338 residues) agrees in every comparable position with the protein sequence derived from the cDNA clone (pH203) isolated by Reyes and co-workers (1982b), which strongly suggests that this clone encodes H-2Db . Combination of the protein sequence with that deduced from the cDNA clone provides the complete H-2Db protein sequence . Comparison of this sequence with other available protein sequence information for murine class I molecules has revealed protein sequences that may be unique to either K or D region molecules.

Basic Life Sci, 1982, 20, 303 - 14
Alterations in chromatin structure during DNA excision repair; Lieberman MW; Work from a number of laboratories recently has demonstrated that alterations in chromatin structure occur during excision repair in mammalian cells . It is now clear that when cells are damaged with a wide variety of chemical agents or ultraviolet radiation, almost all of the repair synthesis is initially sensitive to staphylococcal nuclease . With time, there is a redistribution of the counts incorporated during excision repair synthesis so that many of them become nuclease resistant and associated with nucleosome core length DNA . In our laboratory, we have demonstrated this phenomenon in human cells damaged with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene, 7-bromomethylbenz{a}anthracene, and ultraviolet radiation . It is clear from the work of others that the phenomenon is not unique to human cells since African green monkey cells damaged with either ultraviolet radiation or angelicin also show an initial nuclease sensitivity of repair-incorporated nucleotides follow by rearrangement . Two models to explain these observations have been proposed; one suggests that there is an unfolding of nucleosomes during excision repair followed by a refolding, while the other suggests that sliding of core proteins with respect to DNA occurs during excision repair . These models, as well as recent data bearing on them, will be discussed.

Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(3), 229 - 39
Parenteral rifampicin in tuberculous and severe non-mycobacterial infections . Clinical data on 237 patients; Kissling M et al.; A parenteral formulation of rifampicin (Rimactan i.v., Ciba-Geigy, Basel, Switzerland) was administered to 237 critically ill or comatose patients, or patients with gastro-intestinal or absorption problems . There were 160 patients suffering from tuberculosis, 77 suffering from non-tuberculous (non-tb) infections including 30 cases of sepsis, 8 cases of bacterial meningitis and/or cerebral abscess and 9 patients with Legionnaires' disease . The usual daily dose of rifampicin was 450-600 mg, administered in most cases by i.v . bolus (122 cases) or i.v . drip infusion (79 cases) for a period of 1-113 days . Rifampicin was in all cases combined with one or more antimicrobial drug(s) . The physicians considered the therapy as successful when the treatment with oral rifampicin could be instituted soon after parenteral administration or when the patients markedly improved their clinical condition . Of a total of 123 tuberculous patients for whom assessment of efficacy was possible, 100 (81.3%) showed favourable clinical results . Of 40 non-tb patients who could be analysed for clinical progress, 32 (80.0%) had a favourable outcome . Special attention should be drawn to the 11 patients with proven staphylococcal infections, of whom 10 were cured clinically and/or bacteriologically . Thrombophlebitis occurred in 10 out of the 237 (4.2%) patients, almost always in patients who were treated for more than 30 days . Systemic unwanted effects occurred in 14 (5.9%); the relationship to the treatment was not always established . Treatment was withdrawn due to unwanted effects in 5 (2.1%) of the 237 patients . Taking into account the severe, life-threatening infections reported, the results suggest that i.v . rifampicin is useful and in some critically ill patients even life-saving . Tolerability was good, even in long-term i.v . administration, although there seems to be the possibility that thrombophlebitis might develop if treatment is continued over 30 days.

Pediatr Cardiol, 1982, 2(2), 141 - 3
Echocardiographic diagnosis of tricuspid valve endocarditis in a child with a normal heart . Special emphasis on surgical considerations; Goessler MC et al.; A previously healthy 8-year-old girl with a normal heart had development of tricuspid valve staphylococcal endocarditis . Serial two-dimensional echocardiograms first demonstrated an enlarging vegetation and later showed reduction in its size coincident with a pulmonary embolus . The occurrence of the pulmonary embolus along with persistent fevers, despite adequate antibiotic treatment, prompted surgical intervention . Surgical excision of a large residual vegetation, valve debridement, and pulmonary embolectomy led to prompt subsidence of fever and improvement in the patient's condition . Three months after surgery, the child remained asymptomatic with minimal tricuspid insufficiency . However, by eight months after surgery, the hemodynamic consequences of the tricuspid insufficiency had progressed, and the patient is mildly symptomatic . Additional tricuspid valve repair or replacement is expected.

Nephron, 1982, 30(1), 45 - 50
Spectrum of rapidly progressive (crescentic) glomerulonephritis in northern India; Dash SC et al.; 36 consecutive patients whose biopsies showed significant extracapillary proliferation in the face of rapidly declining renal function were reviewed between 1967 and 1979 . About 30% of the patients belonged to the pediatric age group with a male:female ratio of 2.5:1 . Oliguria/anuria, hematuria, and progressive renal insufficiency were present in all cases . There was evidence of 9 cases being poststreptococcal, 2 SLE, 1 Henoch-Schonlein purpura, 2 possibly viral and 1 staphylococcal . Histologically, 29 cases had more than 60% crescents, 5 between 50 and 60% and 2 cases a little less than 50% . 28 cases were fatal in less than 10 months . 2 were lost of follow-up . 6 survivors with reversal of renal functions had 3 common factors to note, namely an antecedent disease, less crescents both in number and size, accompanied by fewer interstitial changes and early treatment . Rebiopsy in 2 survivors showed regression of histologic severity.

Arkh Patol, 1982, 44(3), 27 - 33
{Clinico-morphologic analysis of septic (infectious) endocarditis}; Serov VV et al.; Pathomorphosis of the disease has been studied on the basis of clinical and autopsy observations in the last three decades . The importance of staphylococcus, enterococcus, and gram-negative bacteria has been shown to increase among the causative agents of septic endocarditis; frequently the infectious agents have been observed to alternate in the course of the disease . Many manifestations of endocarditis were established to be associated with the circulating immune complexes containing bacterial antigens . In the last decade, primary septic endocarditis comprised about half of the observations . The proportion of isolated endocarditis and destructive changes of aortal valves increased . Myocarditis has become more frequent and in more than half of the cases it is associated with glomerulonephritis . In contrast, peripheral manifestations of endocarditis have considerably lost their diagnostic value . Among thromboembolic complications, venous thromboembolus of the pulmonary artery, and pulmonary infarction became more prevalent.

J Immunol Methods, 1982, 48(1), 51 - 60
ELISA for antibody measurement: aspects related to data expression; Malvano R et al.; In an ELISA for antitoxoplasma IgG (antigen-coated polystyrene beads, horseradish peroxidase-coupled IgG or staphylococcal protein A), 3 modes of expressing the analytical results were considered, i.e . end-point antibody titre, untransformed absorbance reading at a single sample dilution, and antibody-activity unit from a calibration response curve (reference sera as calibrators) . Criteria of merit for evaluation were defined as (a) stability of data under various conditions relating to both changes in assay design and minor variability of experimental conditions, and (b) linearity of response with dilutions of positive sera in negative serum, i.e., with positive sera sequentially defined as to antibody activity . Conclusions emerging were: single absorbance readings have some validity as indicators of trends but are very prone to systematic and random variability and inconsistent in response-antibody activity parallelism; parallelism of response proved to be an advantage of titration, but disadvantages are lack of practicability (manipulation and reagent costs involved) and lack of reliability (high levels of systematic and statistical error) The introduction of a reference scale allowing data to be expressed in activity units eliminates systematic components of error and gives analytical consistency . Use of the latter appears mandatory for between-run, between-laboratory and between-method normalization.

J Assoc Off Anal Chem, 1982 Jan, 65(1), 180 - 4
Improved radioimmunoassay of Staphylococcal enterotoxin a; Dickie N et al.; A simple solid-phase radioimmunoassay was developed for detecting staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in food . The method detected 85-100% SEA added to extracts of 6 kinds of foods, and 52-100% SEA added directly to foods at a concentration of 1 ng/g . Assay sensitivity is about 0.3 ng toxin/mL extract . The method is specific for SEA; results are only marginally affected by staphylococcal enterotoxins B and C2 present at concentrations as high as 500 ng/mL extract.

Farmakol Toksikol, 1982 Jan-Feb, 45(1), 92 - 5
{Characteristics of drug interaction with staphylococcal toxin}; Ponomareva AG; UV spectra of ethazole, streptomycin, monomycin and penicillin in different concentrations were studied separately and in combination with staphylococcal toxin . The drugs under study interact with staphylococcal toxin to form biocomplexes depending on their concentration in the reaction mixture . The biocomplexes drug-toxin differ from the drugs and toxin in optical density and in the absorption spectrum curve.

Farmakol Toksikol, 1982 Jan-Feb, 45(1), 83 - 6
{Teratogenic and embryotoxic properties of drugs and alcohol}; Skosyreva AM; Experiments on rats were made to study the direct and mediated action of a number of drugs (antibiotics, drugs of the phenothiazine series, prostaglandin F2alpha , partusisten, staphylococcal anatoxin) and alcohol on the development of the fetoplacental complex . The author emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive approach to the study of the embryotoxic properties of xenobiotics with the use of the methods of in vitro cultivation of mammalian embryos and histological and histochemical examinations of the placenta and liver.

Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(1), 46 - 53
Subcutaneous staphylococcal infections in mice: the influence of antibiotics on staphylococcal extracellular products; Shibl AM; Using a mouse subcutaneous abscess model the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics upon alpha-hemolysin, nuclease, lipase and esterase production was investigated . Infected mice treated with erythromycin (10 mg/kg), chloramphenicol (10 mg/kg) and fucidin (5 mg/kg) were compared with those given lincomycin (10 mg/kg) and clindamycin (5 mg/kg) . In reference to the first three drugs, early blanching occurred at the inoculation site and necrosis appeared within 18 h, whereas wit the other two agents, lesion progressed more slowly with a slight induration only at the site of injection becoming apparent after 24 h . Neither alpha-hemolysin nor nuclease was elaborated in the lesion of mice treated with lincomycin and clindamycin . Histological examinations of skin of mice treated with the latter antibiotics revealed a localized abscess with little or no spreading of the bacteria as compared to untreated mice and to mice treated with the other antibiotics . Evidence is presented which suggests significant involvement of the extracellular products in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal infection.

J Clin Invest, 1982 Jan, 69(1), 136 - 44
Immunoglobulin G3 subclass production by rheumatoid synovial tissue cultures; Hoffman WL et al.; The cellular infiltrate in the deeper layers of the rheumatoid synovium produces a substantial amount of immunoglobulin (Ig)G . Culture supernatants of synovial tissues from 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing joint replacement or synovectomy have been analyzed for the subclass of IgG present . IgG3 was measured by separation with Staphylococcal Protein A chromatography, precipitation with specific anti-IgG3 antibody, and differential separation of IgG3 heavy chains using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . IgG from RA synovial cultures contained an average of 41% IgG3 (range, 8-97%) compared with 12% IgG3 (range, 6-17%) in the serum IgG of the same patients . A group of non-RA control lymphoid tissues (four lymph nodes and five tonsils) produced 23% of total IgG as the IgG3 subclass (range, 16-35%) . An average of only 9% of the synovial IgG showed aggregation compatible with IgG-rheumatoid factor (IgG-RF) . Purified IgG from some of the RA synovial culture supernatants also showed significant restriction when separated by isoelectric focusing . This restriction and the enrichment for the IgG3 subclass in the IgG from RA synovial cultures suggest that either an antigen in the inflamed joint is selectively stimulating an antibody in this subclass, or that significantly differences in the catabolic rate of this subclass are found in cultures of synovial tissue when compared with that occurring in intact patients.

Ann Intern Med, 1982 Jan, 96(1), 1 - 10
Nosocomial septicemia due to multiply antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis; Christensen GD et al.; Thirteen episodes of Staphylococcus epidermidis sepsis occurred over a 20-month period in 11 patients receiving general surgical and medical care . These episodes were characterized by fever, toxicity, multiple positive blood cultures, and uniformly colonized intravascular catheters . An additional 16 patients had possible sepsis . Four associated deaths occurred; all three patients autopsied had multiple pulmonary abscesses in which gram-positive cocci were profusely present . In individual patients, prolonged episodes of septicemia were confirmed by multiple blood culture isolates of S . epidermidis, identical in antibiotic resistance pattern, phage type, and biotype . A prominent feature of the S . epidermidis isolates was resistance to many commonly used antimicrobial agents . Case-control studies and review of laboratory records indicated a significant association between multiply resistant S . epidermidis blood isolates and prolonged hospitalization and parenteral hyperalimentation . Most of these patients were hospitalized in the intensive care unit; nose and hand cultures taken from the personnel showed frequent carriage of multiply resistant S . epidermidis Staphylococcus epidermidis associated with intravascular devices may produce life-threatening bloodstream infections.

Int J Biochem, 1982, 14(6), 505 - 10
Properties of staphylococcal enterotoxin A under limited proteolysis; Ezepchuk YuV et al.; 1 . Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was exposed in a state of limited proteolysis to five kinds of proteolytic enzymes: papain, pepsin, pronase, trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin . SEA was found to be sensitive to the action of three of them: papain, pepsin and pronase . 2 . Four fragments were produced after papain proteolysis of SEA in the presence of beta-mercaptoethanol . 3 . Papain processing of SEA does not influence its capacity to interact with antibodies to intact toxin, but the capacity of SEA to hydrolyse NAD to nicotinamide (NA) and adenosinediphosphatribose (ADP-ribose) completely disappears . 4 . SEA under the action of pepsin and pronase has been hydrolysed to small peptides, which appear to be moving with the front of leading dye in disc-electrophoresis.

J Pediatr, 1982 Jan, 100(1), 123 - 6
Semiquantitative cultures and routine tip cultures on umbilical catheters; Adam RD et al.; One hundred and fourteen umbilical catheters (79 arterial and 35 venous) were cultured with a semiquantitative technique . Twelve cultures were SQC positive with greater than or equal to 15 colonies, and all but two of these had greater than or equal to 100 colonies . Organisms usually considered to be pathogens were associated with SQC positive catheters, whereas organisms generally considered nonpathogens were associated with less than 15 colonies on SQC . Therefore SQC may help to differentiate between contamination and infection related to umbilical catheters . The one case with purulence at the cord base grew 100 colonies of Staphylococcus epidermidis on SQC . S . epidermidis showed a bimodal distribution in colony count and should be considered as a pathogen when high colony counts are present . Duration of catheterization was longer in SQC positive catheters . Empiric antibiotic use was associated with negative SQC . Further study is indicated in a newborn population with a lower rate to antibiotic use for correlation of SQC results with catheter-induced bacteremia and sepsis.

Acta Cardiol, 1982, 37(2), 85 - 92
Rapidly progressive vegetative endocarditis; Buda AJ et al.; Echocardiography has become a valuable tool in visualizing and localizing vegetations in patients with bacterial endocarditis . Since the natural course of vegetative lesions remains poorly understood, we report a case of a rapidly progressive vegetative lesion in a patient with staphylococcal endocarditis . Although the significance of this observation will require a larger experience, it may represent an accelerated form of disease necessitating surgical management.

Blood, 1982 Jan, 59(1), 194 - 7
Human platelet surface binding of endogenous secreted factor VIII-von Willebrand factor and platelet factor 4; George JN et al.; Washed human platelets in buffers containing either 2 mM Ca++ or 4 mM EDTA were stimulated by human alpha-thrombin to induce secretion . The binding of two endogenous secreted proteins, factor-VIII-related protein (VIII-R) (von Willebrand factor) and platelet factor 4, was measured by reacting thrombin-treated and control platelets with specific antibodies to these proteins, then quantifying antibody binding with 125I-staphylococcal protein A . Both of these granule proteins were associated with the platelet membrane surface by a calcium-dependent mechanism after thrombin-induced secretion . This ability to bind endogenous secreted proteins to the plasma membrane surface may provide a mechanism by which the platelet can concentrate and organize its secreted proteins for subsequent physiologic reactions.

Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc, 1982, 80, 369 - 90
Treatment of bacterial ulcers of the cornea in the rabbit: a comparison of administration by eye drops and subconjunctival injections; Baum J; The various routes of antibiotic administration available to treat a bacterial corneal ulcer were reviewed and compared, and the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of each route analyzed in the rabbit . I then evaluated the efficacy of eye drops and subconjunctival injections in the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers for each of the following drug-organism combinations: staphylococcal ulcers/cefazolin, staphylococcal ulcers/gentamicin and Pseudomonas ulcers/gentamicin . Both topical and subconjunctival administration of each drug effectively reduced or eliminated the bacteria from infected corneal tissue . For both cefazolin and gentamicin, the subconjunctival and the topical route were of similar efficacy in the treatment of Staphylococcal and Pseudomonal ulcers . Subconjunctival injections produced high but transient peaks followed by persistent low troughs for both drugs . In contrast, eye drops produced moderate but sustained concentrations throughout the treatment period . Under the circumstances studied, it appears that transient high peaks are not needed to eliminate bacteria effectively from a bacterial corneal ulcer . Since both routes are equally effective, other factors should determine the preferred route.

Jpn J Surg, 1982, 12(5), 349 - 55
Skin sliding closure technique is effective for management of infected prostheses in cases of arterial reconstruction with synthetic grafts; Okadome K et al.; A clinical review of 400 prosthetic arterial reconstructions, carried out in the Second Department of Surgery of Kyushu University Hospital during a period from 1965 to 1981, revealed 10 graft infections (2.5 per cent) . There were two out of 120 abdominal aneurysms (1.7 per cent) and 8 out of 260 aorto-femoral occlusive diseases (3.1 per cent) . The contributing factors included intraoperative contamination with duodenal juice during surgery for abdominal aneurysms ruptured into the duodenum (2 cases), minor hematoma and/or lymphorrhoea at the groin or lower abdominal wall (5 cases), wound infection (1 case), compression necrosis of the sigmoid colon by the implanted graft (1 case) or perityphlitic abscess due to a perforating appendicitis (1 case) . Bacteriologic examination revealed a predominance of a variety of staphylococcus at the groin or lower abdominal wall and E . coli in the abdominal cavity . Four patients expired . Limb amputation had to be done in 2, and 4 were cured . In the management of infected graft at the groin or lower abdominal wall, we used with success a skin sliding closure technique after continuous wound lavage in 3 patients.

J Med Virol, 1982, 9(4), 299 - 305
A rapid enzyme immunofiltration technique using monoclonal antibodies to serotype herpes simplex virus; Richman DD et al.; A rapid enzyme immunofiltration technique using monoclonal antibodies to serotype herpes simplex virus is described . It requires only a single tube culture showing viral cytopathology and can accommodate multiple specimens in a single assay . The monoclonal antibodies confer absolute specificity and the use of horseradish peroxidase-conjugated staphylococcal protein A or antiglobulin permits easy visual interpretation of the results following the 2-3 hour assay . Although it is possible that an occasional wild strain of HSV might escape recognition by monoclonal antibody, this potential problem has not been observed among the more than 500 clinical isolates tested to date, all of which have yielded an unequivocal result.

Infection, 1982, 10(2), 76 - 80
{Penetration of ceftizoxime (FK 749) into the cerebrospinal fluid (author's transl)}; Ruf B; After the cytology and the chemistry of the CSF had returned to normal, the concentration of ceftizoxime was determined in the CSF and in the serum of 27 patients who had suffered from purulent or serous meningitis . The patients were divided into four groups . The concentration in the CSF was mean = 0.87 mg/l two hours after a bolus injection of 2 g ceftizoxime . After an infusion of 2 g ceftizoxime over 30 minutes, the concentration in the CSF was mean = 0.32 mg/l one hour and mean = 0.99 mg/l two hours after the infusion was started . The highest concentrations in the CSF were obtained six hours after a bolus injection of 2 g ceftizoxime . The peak value was 4.3 mg/l and the mean 1.78 mg/l . Based on these pharmacokinetic data, additional injections could have a cumulative effect on the concentration of ceftizoxime in the CSF . With the exception of Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp . and some anaerobes, it can be expected that ceftizoxime will be effective against other organisms causing meningitis . The results of clinical applications remain to be seen.

Dev Comp Immunol, 1982 Winter, 6(1), 161 - 70
Effects of diphtheria toxin and other exotoxins on oxidant generation by human and murine phagocytes; Mookerjee BK et al.; Bacterial exotoxins such as diphtheria toxin (D.T.), staphylococcal alpha toxin and Leucocidin can powerfully activate granulocytes and macrophages as detected by production of chemiluminescence in presence of Luminol . Production of superoxide by granulocytes and of prostaglandin E2 in macrophages is also stimulated by D.T . In contrast with the known resistance of rodent parenchymal cells to the diphtheria toxin, human and rodent leucocytes have similar sensitivities to D.T.

Antibiotiki, 1982 Jan, 27(1), 41 - 4
{Effect of antibiotic and vaccine therapies on the succinate dehydrogenase and phosphatase activity of liver cells of mice infected with Staphylococcus}; Balakliets NI et al.; Changes in the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), total and acid phosphatase (TP and AP) were studied in treatment of laboratory animals with rifampicin, lincomycin and with inactivated staphylococcal vaccine used alone or in combinations . It was shown that immunization of the animals with inactivated staphylococcal vaccine under conditions of experimental staphylococcal infection promoted stimulation of the enzyme activity . Rifampicin and lincomycin used for the treatment of such animals lowered the activity of the enzymes . The suppressing effect of the antibiotics increased with an increase in the period of their use . It should be noted that the inhibitory effect of rifampicin on the activity of SDH, TP and AP was less pronounced than that of lincomycin . The combined use of the vaccine and antibiotics for the treatment of the animals promoted an increase in the enzyme activity as compared to the use of the antibiotics alone . Sometimes the activity of SDH, TP and AP reached the control levels in such animals or the levels observed in the animals treated with the vaccine alone . Stimulation of the enzyme activity was more pronounced when the vaccine was used in combination with rifampicin.

Hybridoma, 1982, 1(4), 423 - 32
Serological and biochemical analyses of monoclonal antibodies to human melanoma-associated antigens; Harper JR et al.; Monoclonal antibodies submitted and exchanged by participating laboratories were analyzed serologically and biochemically in accordance with the goals and aims of the Workshop on Monoclonal Antibodies to Melanoma . Serological evaluation of the workshop panel revealed that when a variety of tumor and normal cell lines were tested by enzyme-linked immunoassay, a majority of antibodies reacted preferentially with melanoma cells . Indirect immunoprecipitation analysis of those antibodies that bound staphylococcal protein A provided molecular weight estimates for some antigens and additional information that suggested possible commonalities among antigens recognized by antibodies 9.2.27, 225.28S and 763.24TS . Competitive binding analyses demonstrated that antibodies 225.288 and 763.24TS bound separate and distinct epitopes from that recognized by antibody 9.2.27 on the core glycoprotein of melanoma-associated chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans . Immunoperoxidase staining of fresh frozen melanoma tissue with antibody 9.2.27 revealed a limited tissue distribution and preferential association with the cell surface of human melanoma cells.

Folia Biol (Praha), 1982, 28(6), 377 - 94
Monoclonal IgG3 (kappa) antibodies against murine Thy-1.2 antigen produced by murine hybridomas . Differences in the specificity of the antigen binding site and in the structure of the hinge region; Zikan J et al.; Two monoclonal IgG3 (kappa) antibodies against murine Thy-1.2 antigen produced by murine 1B5 and 1aG4/C5 hybridomas were partially characterized . The 1aG4/C5 antibody has slightly higher affinity for the Thy-1.2 antigen in binding tests and more efficiently kills the Thy-1.2+ thymocytes in cytotoxicity assays as compared to the 1B5 antibody . The latter, in addition, reacts significantly with the Thy-1.1 antigen (the allelic form of Thy-1 antigen expressed on the cells of the donor of the immune cells . Both monoclonal antibodies exhibit some characteristic properties of IgG3 of myeloma origin, e.g . a tendency to aggregation, high pI and interaction with protein A . Our monoclonal antibodies are sensitive to pepsin digestion, resistant to trypsin, their disulphide bonds are rapidly cleaved by sulphitolysis and reduction by dithiothreitol . They possess characteristic acidic peptides bearing the disulphide bonds between the heavy chains . These antibodies, however, differ to some extent from each other in some properties (precipitation with staphylococcal protein A, solubility, pI, electrophoretic behaviour of the light chains) . They possess different heavy chain peptides bearing the interchain disulphide bonds and thus they probably differ in the hinge region . This structural difference may be associated with different sensitivity of these two antibodies to sulphitolysis and proteolysis.

J Cell Biochem, 1982, 19(3), 223 - 30
The antigenic structure of the acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica; Gullick WJ et al.; The immunological structure of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) from the electric organ of Torpedo californica was studied using a large number of monoclonal antibodies which were initially selected for their abilities to bind to intact AChRs . The monoclonal antibodies were tested for their ability to bind to denatured AChR subunits labeled with 125I . Antibodies derived from rats immunized with individual denatured subunits or a mixture of subunits of Torpedo AChR reacted well in the assay . A much smaller proportion of antibodies derived from rats immunized with native Torpedo AChR or native AChR from Electrophorus electricus electric organ, bovine muscle, or human muscle reacted with denatured subunits of Torpedo AChR . Many monoclonal antibodies reacted with more than one subunit, but they always reacted best with the subunit used for immunization . Those monoclonal antibodies that bound to intact subunits were mapped more precisely by their ability to bind characteristic fragments of each subunit generated by proteolysis with Staphylococcal V8 protease . These fragments were analyzed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and monoclonal antibodies that precipitated the same fragment pattern were placed in groups . By this method, we define a minimum of 28 determinants on Torpedo AChR.

Chromosoma, 1982, 86(2), 239 - 49
The structure of partly decondensed metaphase chromosomes; Nasedkina TV et al.; The technique of freeze-drying was applied to examine the submicroscopic organisation of metaphase chromosomes from Chinese hamster after removal of bivalent cations with EDTA and removal of histone HI with 0,6 M NaCl . Treated chromosomes increased in size, and nucleosomal filaments appeared at the periphery of the chromosomes . Removal of bivalent cations is accompanied with the appearance of regularly organized structures of the "beads-on-a-string" type . The regular organization of the fibers is damaged as soon as histone H1 is removed . After decondensation in a 0.6 M NaCl solution the metaphase chromosomes were treated with staphylococcal nuclease in situ on EM grids nd the residual structures analysed using electron microscopy . Nucleohistone fibers wer visible at the periphery of the chromosomes at the beginning of digestion . After complete elimination of the nucleohistone fibers in the course of digestion the remaining proteinaceous material was represented by aggregates of irregular shape and of varying size . These were either concentrated along the central axis of the chromatids or, at the final step of digestion, scattered evenly over the entire area that had been occupied by the chromosome . Presumably, in the chromosome prior to digestion, the material did not form an integral protein structure similar to a scaffold in dehistonised and spread chromosomes . An alternative interpretation for the fragmentation of protein material in the chromosome considers possible degradation of the protein scaffold in the course of digestion.

J Interferon Res, 1982, 2(3), 409 - 20
Isolation and characterization of IFN-gamma mRNA derived from mitogen-induced human splenocytes; Devos R et al.; Human splenocytes from large cultures (5 1) were stimulated with Staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA) . After 2.5 d of conditioning, poly A+RNA was isolated from these cultures and its in-vitro translational capacity was evaluated in a wheat germ extract . Injection of the RNA into Xenopus laevis oocytes yielded a low but reproducible amount of IFN activity, which was neutralizable only by an antiserum to gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and not by antisera to alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) and/or beta interferon (IFN-beta) . Formamide sucrose gradient centrifugation analysis indicated that the mRNA which codes for IFN-gamma sediments at around 15 S . The profile, however, suggested a size heterogeneity of IFN-specific mRNA . Electrophoresis of cDNA synthesized on these mRNA fractions indicated that the mRNA coding for gamma IFN has a length of between 900 and 1400 nucleotides.

J Interferon Res, 1982, 2(1), 11 - 20
Induction of human gamma-interferon in lymphoid cells by Staphylococcus enterotoxin B; partial purification; von Wussow P et al.; Human white blood cells produced interferon (IFN) in response to Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) in vitro . The majority of this IFN was classified as IFN-gamma by virtue of its acid instability, non-neutralization by antisera recognizing alpha or beta IFNs and species-specificity for human cells . The IFN activity appeared after 3-6 hr and reached maximum levels between day 2 and 3 . The SEB-induced IFN was partially purified to about 10(5.5) units/mg protein by chromatography on controlled pore glass beads (CPG) and Sephadex G-100 columns . While the CPG column purification step increased the specific activity 50 to 100-fold, two peaks of IFN activity were eluted from the Sephadex G-100 column . The first activity peak containing the majority of the loaded IFN appeared to be active only on human cells and was not neutralized by anti-HuIFN-alpha and had an apparent molecular weight of about 44,000 daltons, the second peak (about 5% of the loaded IFN) showed antiviral activity on both human and bovine cells, was at least partially neutralizing by anti-HuIFN-alpha and had an estimated molecular weight of 21,000 daltons . The specific activity in the first IFN peak was about 30-fold increased by the gel filtration chromatography with a recovery of approximately 60-80%.

Int J Immunopharmacol, 1982, 4(3), 235 - 42
Effects of NPT 15392 in vitro on human leukocyte functions; Hadden JW et al.; NPT 15392 (Erythro-9 (2-hydroxy-3 nonyl) hypoxanthine), a novel heterocyclic immunomodulatory compound, was analyzed over a broad concentration range on a variety of human blood leukocyte functions in vitro . NPT 15392 augmented mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation in a variable fashion; lymphocytes from 9 of 24 individuals showed significant stimulation with phytohemagglutinin at 0.01 microgram/ml of NPT 15392, and 3 of 14 and 3 of 3 showed similar augmentation with concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen, respectively . NPT 15392 above 10 microgram/ml inhibited mitogen responses and did not itself stimulate cell division . NPT 15392 also augmented responses of lymphocytes to antigenic stimulation with Candida and Staphylococcus antigens, purified protein derivative, and allogeneic cells in a variable manner . When observed, stimulation occurred at 0.01-1 microgram/ml of NPT 15392 for Candida and Staph . and at 0.01 microgram/ml with PPD and allogeneic cells . NPT 15392 (0.01-1 microgram/ml) consistently induced suppressor cell function alone and in combination with concanavalin A . This effect is apparently mediated by T lymphocytes since suppression was not mediated by interferon, prostaglandin or histamine . In addition, NPT 15392 (0.01-10 microgram/ml) significantly augmented "active" T cell rosettes . NPT 15392 over a broad concentration range and in the presence and absence of interferon did not stimulate natural killer cell activity or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity . The data indicate that NPT 15392 is a modulator of such T lymphocyte functions as proliferative response to antigen and mitogen, suppressor activity and receptor display . Such activities imply potential therapeutic use in immunodeficiency related to defects of the thymus and thymus-derived lymphocytes.

Can J Comp Med, 1982 Jan, 46(1), 43 - 6
The effect of lead on immune and viral interferon production; Blakley BR et al.; Female BDF1 mice were exposed to lead acetate in the drinking water at concentrations ranging form 0 to 1000 micrograms/mL lead for three weeks . The mice tolerated these levels of lead exposure without exhibiting signs of clinical toxicity . Weight gains were not affected by lead exposure . The production of viral interferon induced by the oral administration of tilorone was not altered by lead exposure . The T-lymphocyte mitogens concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin and staphylococcal enterotoxin A induced immune interferon to varying degrees, with concanavalin A and staphylococcal enterotoxin A exhibiting the most potent induction capabilities . The production of immune interferon induced by T-lymphocyte mitogens was not suppressed by lead exposure.

J Immunol Methods, 1982, 48(2), 213 - 9
A whole-blood technique for testing production of human interferon by leukocytes; Kirchner H et al.; Interferon production was studied in mixtures of whole blood of healthy adults with tissue culture medium . There was no need to supplement the system with additional foreign serum and even the autologous serum and even the autologous serum could be removed by washing in serum-free medium with-out impairment of interferon production . Heparinized blood samples could be stored in the refrigerator overnight before performing the assay . In this test, production of interferon gamma was observed in response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen, staphylococcal enterotoxin A, and to OKT-3, a monoclonal anti-T cell antibody . Production of interferon alpha was observed when viruses were used as inducers . Our experiments show that in the whole-blood assay the responses to several inducers of different types of interferons may be readily monitored under serum-free conditions . We believe that this test will be of value for testing large numbers of normal individuals (for investigations of the genetics of interferon production) or of patients with a variety of diseases.

Klin Padiatr, 1982 Jan, 194(1), 46 - 7
{Anaerobic microflora of praepubertal children (author's transl)}; Gerstner G et al.; Bacteriologic cultures of the vagina and the cervix of 38 praepubertal children, aged 3 months to 16 years (average age 9 years) from the outpatient department for infants and juveniles of the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Vienna were obtained vaginascopically using anaerobic transportmedia (Port a Cul) and were examined for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria . An average of 5.3 species was also isolated per child (2.9 aerobic and 2.5 anaerobic species) . The commonest anaerobes were Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Bact . melaninogenicus, Proprionibacterium and Veillonella parvula, the prevalent aerobes, were Enterococci, E coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis . Our results suggest that anaerobic bacteria amount a significant component of the flora of the lower genital-tract of healthy children, as well as of infants with vaginal discharge.

Tumori, 1981 Dec 31, 67(6), 511 - 20
Resistance to Moloney murine sarcoma virus (M-MuSV) tumor induction is associated with natural antibody production to "endogenous" Moloney leukemia virus (M-MuLV) in BALB/Mo mice; D'Andrea E et al.; BALB/Mo mice are characterized by early expression of "endogenized" M-MuLV and are resistant to M-MuSV tumor induction . Furthermore, compared to normal BALB/c mice, sera from BALB/Mo mice exhibit a significant reactivity which is specific for M-MuLV when tested in a 125I-labelled Staphylococcus protein A binding assay . The possible significance of this reactivity in conferring tumor resistance is explored.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1981 Dec 29, 671(2), 193 - 20
Analysis of the near-ultraviolet circular dichroic spectra of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B and C; Spero L; The near-ultraviolet CD spectra from 260 to 300 nm of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B and C were resolved empirically into Gaussian curves . Each spectrum contained the same six components with maximum ellipticities at virtually identical wavelengths . The rotatory strength of the bands of enterotoxin A, however, differed significantly from that of enterotoxins B and C . Each Gaussian curve was identified as corresponding to a prominent CD transition of an aromatic chromophore: two phenylalanine bands from its 1Lb transition (0-0 and 0 + 930 cm-1); four tyrosine bands from its 1Lb transition (the 800 cm-1 primary vibronic progression) with the weakest of these overlapping a phenylalanine band; and one 1Lb tryptophan band . At alkaline pH, tyrosylate CD bands arose, centered at 247-249 nm and at 295-298 nm . The intensity of the 295-298 nm bands indicated that most of the tyrosine CD in the neutral enterotoxins was contributed by buried residues . The tryptophan contribution to the CD of enterotoxin A was positive, while that of B and C was negative . Also indicative of a different milieu was the ready oxidation of the A toxin by N-bromosuccinimide and the unavailability of the single tryptophan residue in the other two toxins to this reagent . The environment of the disulfide bond was markedly diverse in the three enterotoxins . Enterotoxin C was refractory to reduction by mercaptoethanol under conditions where enterotoxins B and A were readily reduced . The contribution of the disulfide of enterotoxin B to its CD spectrum was positive with an intensity of about 9000 deg . cm2 . dmol-1 and was centered near 273 nm . The difference spectrum between native and reduced enterotoxin A was much smaller and appeared to be conformational in origin.

Nouv Presse Med, 1981 Dec 12, 10(45), 3715 - 6
{Lumbar spondylodiscitis after insertion of a Mobin-Uddin caval "umbrella" filter (author's transl)}; Herbiere P et al.; Two cases of staphylococcal spondylodiscitis after insertion of a Mobin-Uddin caval "umbrella" filter are reported . This complication, not previously described, occurred as result of staphylococcal septicaemia with secondary inoculation of the intervertebral disc . The patients were cured after the umbrella filters were removed.

Am J Vet Res, 1981 Dec, 42(12), 2049 - 52
Comparisons of hemagglutination inhibition, staphylococcal clumping, and latex agglutination tests for canine fibrinolytic degradation products; Chen JP et al.; Two assay systems for fibrinogen-fibrin degradation products (FDP) in canine serum, the glutaraldehyde erythrocyte hemagglutination-inhibition immunoassay (GEHII) and the staphylococcal clumping test (SCT), were compared for reactivity with the plasmin digests of canine fibrinogen and with sera obtained from dogs suspected of having circulating FDP, The GEHII reacted well with early and late plasmin digests of fibrinogen . With early-stage fibrinogen digests, the SCT was more reactive than was GEHII . However, after the appearance of D and E fragments in the digests, SCT reactivity decreased progressively during plasminolysis . The sensitivities of GEHII and SCT for assaying FDP were 0.5 and 0.125 microgram of fibrinogen equivalent/ml, respectively . Serum FDP values for dogs with desease were comparable, with values ranging from 1 to 122 micrograms/ml by GEHII and 8 to 64 micrograms/ml by SCT . One dog with fulminating disseminated intravascular coagulation had a serum FDP value of 128 micrograms/ml by SCT and 179 micrograms/ml by GEHII . Howeever, normal canine sera had values by SCT of 4 to 16 micrograms of fibrinogen equivalent/ml, whereas normal values by GEHII were 0.5 to 2 micrograms/ml . Serum FDP concentrations were also determined for healthy and diseased dogs by latex-agglutination test . The dog with fulminating disseminqated intravascular coagulation had a FDP value of greater than 40 micrograms/ml, and only 1 other diseased dog had greater than 10, but less than 40 micrograms of fibrinogen equivalent/ml . All other dogs were considered negative, with FDP values of less than 10 micrograms/ml.

J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Dec, 14(6), 671 - 3
Identification of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus intermedius and Staphylococcus hyicus subsp . hyicus isolates from veterinary clinical specimens; Phillips WE Jr et al.; Coagulase-positive isolates of Staphylococcus intermedius from dogs and coagulase-positive isolates of Staphylococcus hyicus subsp . hyicus from a pig and cows were identified initially by a simplified scheme which can be readily performed in a routine diagnostic laboratory . Characters tested in the scheme included coagulase activity, colony pigment, and aerobic acid production from maltose . The identity of these isolates was confirmed by deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization experiments . The strains of S . hyicus subsp . hyicus isolated from porcine sources were positive for protein A, whereas the strains recovered from bovine mastitic milk were negative for protein A.

Inflammation, 1981 Dec, 5(4), 313 - 22
Effect of staphylococcal alpha-toxin on neutrophil migration and adhesiveness; Schmeling DJ et al.; The effect of staphylococcal alpha-toxin on the chemotactic response of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes was studied by measuring the migration of alpha-toxin-treated cells either through membrane filters toward C5a or under agarose toward N-formyl-l-methionyl-l-phenylalanine . At doses of greater than or equal to 5 hemolytic units, alpha-toxin depressed chemotactic responsiveness in both best systems . Further studies revealed that alpha-toxin was also a potent granulocyte aggregant at doses similar to those necessary for depressed chemotactic capacity . It is proposed that the inhibitory effect of this membrane-active toxin on chemotactic function may be related to increased granulocyte adhesiveness and that the pathogenic properties of alpha-toxin may in part by explained by these effects.

Laryngoscope, 1981 Dec, 91(12), 2007 - 17
The round window membrane following application of staphylococcal exotoxin: an electron microscopic study; Schachern PA et al.; The round window membrane has been considered as a pathway for the passage of toxic substances from the middle ear cavity to the vestibular labyrinth in cases of otitis media . To determine the role of the round window membrane in this passage, chinchillas were given intrabullar inoculations with staphylococcal exotoxin and the round window membranes were examined electron microscopically . We observed cytoplasmic vacuolization, intercellular edema, cellular and nuclear swelling of the surface epithelia and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration of the fibrous layer . Light microscopic observation of the labyrinth revealed PMN infiltration of the most basal portion of the scala tympani . These findings demonstrate a chemotactic effect of the toxin for PMNs and support the concept of the round window membrane as an important avenue of entry.

J Am Acad Dermatol, 1981 Dec, 5(6), 666 - 9
A case of contact dermatitis, erythema multiforme, and toxic epidermal necrolysis; Thompson JA Jr et al.; A young adult female patient, on prolonged corticosteroid therapy for nephrotic syndrome, developed erythema multiforme and toxic epidermal necrolysis following a double exposure to a locally applied perfume . We believe that this route of exposure should be re-emphasized . Toxic epidermal necrolysis, or the scalded skin syndrome, has become a well-recognized entity which may be divided into three distinct subgroups: the staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, nonstaphylococcal or drug-induced scalded skin syndrome, and idiopathic . We present a patient who developed a dermatitis on her chest and abdomen after using a spray cologne, which resulted in the development of erythema multiforme with progression toxic epidermal necrolysis and, ultimately, her death.

Am J Med, 1981 Dec, 71(6), 1068 - 70
Sterilization of Ommaya reservoir by instillation of vancomycin; Sutherland GE et al.; We describe the management of a patient with a Staphylococcus epidermidis infection of an Ommaya reservoir that was being used for the treatment of carcinomatous meningitis . Intravenous vancomycin failed to eradicate the organism . We treated our patient successfully with parenteral antibiotics and local instillation of vancomycin (25 micrograms/ml) without removing the reservoir . The patient tolerated the intraventricular vancomycin well . We recommend this approach in the treatment of infected Ommaya reservoirs in patients who have diseases with extremely poor prognoses and who wish to be discharged from the hospital early.

Am J Epidemiol, 1981 Dec, 114(6), 873 - 9
Risk factors for staphylococcal toxic-shock syndrome; Kehrberg MW et al.; Fifty-two cases of toxic-shock syndrome that occurred in January 1, 1976 through August 31, 1980, were reported to the Utah State Health Department between February 1 and August 31, 1980 . The annual attack rate for Utah based on a six-month surveillance period was 14.4 per 100,000 women ages 12-49 years . All cases were in women who had onset of illness within two days of menses . Potential risk factors were investigated with a case-control study utilizing 29 women hospitalized with toxic-shock syndrome and 91 neighborhood female controls . Nine of the 29 (31%) women reported recurrences of similar illness . Use of tampons (p = 0.012) and use of a single brand of tampon-Rely-during the month of illness (p less than 0.005, RR =6.11) were associated with a significantly increased risk of acquiring toxic-shock syndrome . More controls were sexually active than women who had toxic-shock syndrome (p less than 0.05, RR - 0.277) . This epidemiologic investigation of toxic-shock syndrome in menstrual-age women has identified tampons generally and a single brand specifically as significant risk factors in acquiring toxic-shock syndrome.

J Immunol, 1981 Dec, 127(6), 2535 - 8
Early effects of low-doses exposure to asbestos on local cellular immune responses in the lung; Rola-Pleszczynski M et al.; We recently developed an animal model to study the pulmonary reactions after exposure to environmental pollutants . In this model, sheep received monthly intratracheal instillations of a suspension of varying amounts of chrysotile asbestos in saline . All animals were studied by pulmonary function tests, transbronchial biopsies, and bronchoalveolar lavage . During the 6 mo of the study, no changes were seen in the 2 former tests, but bronchoalveolar lavage yielded leukocytes that responded with enhanced proliferative activity to concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen, and staphylococcal lysate . The response to phytohemagglutinin was poor but also enhanced in the asbestos-exposed animals . Enhanced responsiveness was dose-related, except for the highest dose used, 128 mg, which was associated with a less enhanced proliferative response or none . Our data suggest that the initial response to low-dose exposure to asbestos consists in a stimulation of lymphocyte function; the possibility that this phenomenon may be linked to the eventual fibrogenic response of asbestosis warrants further studies.

J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Dec, 127 (Pt 2), 223 - 30
Effect of starvation on transport, membrane potential and survival of Staphylococcus epidermidis under anaerobic conditions; Horan NJ et al.; When washed suspensions of Staphylococcus epidermidis were starved under anaerobic conditions the viability declined to less than 10% within 12 h . Although RNA was slightly degraded during this period the principal substrate for endogenous metabolism was protein and the intracellular amino acid pool . The adenylate energy charge and the ability to transport serine declined markedly within the first 6 h of starvation . With the majority of batches of organism investigated the membrane potential, as measured by the accumulation of Cs+ by valinomycin-treated organisms, also decreased significantly during this period . Addition of glucose or serine during starvation reversed these effects to varying extents provided that feeding took place during an early phase (2 h) of starvation . There was no apparent correlation between the magnitude of the membrane potential and viability.

Ann Rheum Dis, 1981 Dec, 40(6), 575 - 9
Fall in immune complex levels during gold treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; Highton J et al.; Prior to starting gold treatment 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis had an elevated mean level of circulating immune complexes measured by Clq binding activity . Gold treatment led to an improvement in disease reflected by significant falls in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p less than 0.001), C-reactive protein (p less than 0.01), Ritchie articular index (p less than 0.001), and duration of morning stiffness (p less than 0.05) . Concurrently immune complex levels fell, and this change first reached significance after 3 months' treatment (p less than 0.05) . Serum Clq binding activity was not related to clinical and laboratory measurements of joint inflammation . This suggested to us that there is no direct immunopathological relationship between circulating immune complexes and joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis . Serum Clq binding activity was strongly related to IgM-RF levels measured at latex titre (r - 0.7, p less than 0.001) . Removal of immune complexes from serum with Sepharose 4B-staph A (staphylococcal protein A) led to a fall in IgM-RF from 2 mg/ml (2 g/l) to 0.4 mg/ml (0.4 g/l) . This suggests that the reason for the relationship between Clq BA and IgM-RF is that, on average 80% of serum IgM-RF exists as part of immune complexes containing IgG.

J Immunol, 1981 Dec, 127(6), 2453 - 5
Ir genes of different high responder haplotypes for staphylococcal nuclease are not allelic; Berzofsky JA et al.; The Ir gene controlling high responsiveness to staphylococcal nuclease in the H-2d haplotype has been mapped to the I-A subregion, in contrast to that in the H-2k and H-2a haplotypes, which maps in the I-B subregion . The nonallelic high responder genes also confer differences in fine specificity on the antibodies produced . This nonallelism of Ir genes for the same antigen in different haplotypes is consistent with Ir gene mechanisms involving associative recognition of antigen plus Ia by T lymphocytes . It further suggests that products of different subregions can perform the same function.

Infect Immun, 1981 Dec, 34(3), 880 - 7
Antibody responses in humans to individual proteins of herpes simplex viruses; Gilman SC et al.; Sera from 231 women were used to examine their frequency of precipitation of various herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) proteins and to determine if there was a rank order of immune responsiveness of humans to these HSV antigens . Radiolabeled viral proteins were reacted with serum and immune complexes isolated with staphylococcal protein A . Individual antigens were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and visualized by fluorography . As a group, these sera precipitated 31 HSV-1 and 27 HSV-2 proteins . HSV-1 polypeptides with molecular weights of 133,000, 99,000, and 82,000, as well as HSV-2 polypeptides with molecular weights of 131,000 and 101,000, were precipitated by essentially all sera that contained antibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2 . When attempts were made to order the viral proteins by constructing precipitation profiles ranking the antigens in patterns according to their frequency of precipitation, it was observed that the antigens were generally not ordered . Demographic analysis of the sera suggested that the differences in the number of proteins precipitated were associated with differences in age, education, age at first marriage, and income, which collectively may reflect the frequency of exposure to the virus.

J Natl Cancer Inst, 1981 Dec, 67(6), 1363 - 8
Immunogenicity of guinea pig cells transformed in culture by chemical carcinogens; Ohanian SH et al.; The immunogenicity of inbred strain 2/N guinea pig fibroblasts transformed to the malignant state in vitro by chemical carcinogens was evaluated with the use of a variety of in vivo and in vitro methods including delayed-type hypersensitivity skin and tumor transplantation tests and analysis of antibody production by immunofluorescence, complement fixation, and staphylococcal protein A binding tests . Neoplastic transformation was induced by direct treatment of cells in culture with benzo{a}pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or by the host-mediated method by which fetuses were exposed to diethylnitrosamine or MNNG in vivo prior to cell culture . Rabbits and syngeneic guinea pigs were inoculated with unirradiated and X-irradiated clonally derived cells . Delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions to immunizing or other cells were equivalent in immunized or control guinea pigs, and no protection to tumor outgrowth from a challenge inoculum of immunizing cells was observed . Antibody activity induced in the sera of immunized guinea pigs was cross-reactive and removed by absorption with nontumorigenic cells . Rabbit antisera after absorption with fetal guinea pig cells were nonreactive with the specific immunizing or other culture cells . Chemical carcinogen-induced neoplastic transformation of guinea pig cells can, therefore, occur without formation of detectable, individually distinct cell surface tumor-specific neoantigens.

Rev Infect Dis, 1981 Nov-Dec, 3 suppl, S236 - 9
Vancomycin therapy in severe staphylococcal infections; Kirby WM; Vancomycin was developed in the 1950s, when available therapy for severe staphylococcal infections was unsatisfactory . Early clinical experiences with vancomycin indicated a cure rate of 70% . The introduction of beta-lactamase-resistant penicillins and cephalosporins, which have a lower potential for toxicity, resulted in limited use of vancomycin . The current renewal of interest in vancomycin for treatment of severe staphylococcal infections stems primarily from the efficacy of this drug against methicillin-resistant pathogens and its utility in a number of unique clinical situations . In addition, the development of more purified preparations of vancomycin has lowered the frequency of adverse side effects.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1981 Nov, 46(2), 443 - 52
Advantages and limitations of staphylococcal protein A-Sepharose for isolating soluble immune complexes from goat, rabbit and human sera; Reisberg MA et al.; Staphylococcal protein A (SPA), bound to CNBr-activated Sepharose, was evaluated as a selective adsorbent for soluble immune complexes (ICs) prepared in antigen (Ag) excess . Goat antibody (Ab) to human serum albumin (HSA) and rabbit and human antisera to diphtheria toxoid (DT) were utilized for complex formation . Monomeric goat IgG did not bind SPA . However, HSA-goat anti-HSA complexes which were greater than 12S by sucrose density-gradient ultracentrifugation and had molar Ab:Ag ratios greater than 1.5 were adsorbed, and could subsequently be eluted with acidic phosphate-buffered saline, pH less than or equal to 3.8 . Elution with 3.5 M MgCl2 enhanced recovery, but also resulted in hydrolysis of the bound Ab . Ninety per cent of the DT-anti-DT ICs prepared with rabbit Ab and 55% of those prepared with human Ab, in the presence of excess free Ag, bound to the SPA columns . However, only 42% of the DT-rabbit anti-DT complexes, and 32% of those prepared with human antisera were isolated in the acidic phosphate-buffered eluate, free of contaminating proteins . Recovery of ICs by SPA affinity chromatography was significantly decreased when the ICs were partially purified by PEG or ammonium sulphate precipitation before application to the SPA-Sepharose columns . These studies indicate that SPA can be used to isolate ICs prepared in far Ag excess and with Abs which, by themselves, do not bind to this absorbent . They also demonstrate that recovery of ICs from sera using this adsorbent is invariably incomplete.

Ann Clin Lab Sci, 1981 Nov-Dec, 11(6), 511 - 5
Nature of platelet antibody in Evans syndrome: a case report; Kakaiya RM et al.; The association of autoimmune thrombocytopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (Evans Syndrome) has been recognized previously . Recently the present authors investigated a patient with this disorder . Both IgG and C3d were found on the patient's red cells and the serum contained a polyspecific IgG red cell antibody demonstrable only by the antiglobulin test . IgG antiplatelet antibody was demonstrated on circulating platelets as well as in the serum from the patient by using 125I-staphylococcal Protein A (ISPA) assay . Absorption of serum with normal platelets resulted in removal of platelet antibody, but not the red cell antibody . Furthermore, eluate prepared from platelets sensitized with patient serum contained an IgG antibody directed specifically against platelets, since it did not cross react with red cells . Our data suggest the presence of two distinct antibodies, one directed against platelets and the other against red cells in our patient with Evans Syndrome . Both these antibodies are IgG in nature and belong to subclass other than IgG3 since staphylococcal Protein A (SPA) binds to all subclasses of human IgG except IgG3.

Immunology, 1981 Nov, 44(3), 529 - 34
Presence of bacterial binding 'lectin-like' receptors on phagocytes; Glass E et al.; Lectin-like receptors capable of binding the bacterium Staphylococcus albus have been demonstrated in the membranes of phagocytes including macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils from various sources and species . Such receptors are likely to contribute to bacterial adherence and phagocytosis in the non-immune animal.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, 1981 Nov, 82(5), 794 - 6
Infected epicardial pacemaker systems . Partial versus total removal; Choo MH et al.; Nine patients with infected epicardial pacemakers are described . All of the patients had infection localized to the generator pocket . Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most common organism isolated, was found in seven (77.8%) . Conservative nonsurgical treatment was initially attempted in five patients . This failed in all and necessitated subsequent operation . At the time of the initial operation, lead transection and partial removal of the system was performed in seven patients . In four of them (57%), persistent infection necessitated further operation and complete extraction to eradicate the infection . In contrast, in all six patients (100%) in whom total removal was achieved (two at the time of initial operation and four at the time of subsequent operation), there was successful resolution of the infection . Therefore, complete extraction of the entire pacing system should be carried out, whenever possible, to achieve the greatest likelihood of eradicating the infection.

Gastroenterology, 1981 Nov, 81(5), 928 - 31
Acute cholestasis in patients with toxic- shock syndrome; Gourley GR et al.; Serum liver function tests were performed in 22 females fulfilling the criteria for toxic-shock syndrome . All patients showed evidence of hepatic dysfunction during their hospital course . These findings included hyperbilirubinemia in the absence of laboratory evidence for significant hemolysis, mold elevation of the transaminases, threefold increase in their serum bile salt concentration, and hypoalbuminemia . These findings are best explained by hypoperfusion of the liver and a canalicular injury secondary to staphylococcal exotoxin . Cholestasis appears to be a universal finding in toxic-shock syndrome.

Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1981 Nov, 250(4), 446 - 55
Effect of staphylococcal leukocidin on mouse leukocyte system; Grojec PL et al.; Staphylococcal Panton-Valentine leukocidin has been purified and tested in mice for its biological properties . Applied even in high doses the leukocidin was not lethal . It caused however, disturbances in the peripheral blood occurring in several phases . First reaction after leukocidin injection was seen as marked granulocytosis persisting for 16-20 hours and accompanied by lymphopenia . At the same time, decrease in serum lysozyme activity and increase of intracellular digestion by mature granulocytes, was observed . In the second phase, these phenomena have reversed . 131I-labelled leukocidin has been used for the study of distribution of this toxin in the mouse . Accumulation of leukocidin in some tissues was observed . The leukocidin affected not only granulocytes but also other peripheral blood cells.

Biokhimiia, 1981 Nov, 46(11), 1923 - 37
{Nucleomeric organization of chromatin}; Kir'ianov GI et al.; Chromatin in the nuclei fixed in tissue and in the nuclei isolated by low ionic strength solutions in the presence of Mg2+ is represented by globular (nucleomeric) fibrils, 20-25 nm in diameter . The staphylococcal or endogenous nuclear nuclease splits the chromatin fibrils resulting in fragments corresponding to nucleomers and their multimers . Upon removal of firmly bound Mg2+ the nucleomers unfold to form chains consisting of 4-6-8 nucleosomes . Mild hydrolysis of nuclear chromatin by staphylococcal nuclease results in a split-off of mono-, di- and trimers of nucleomers sedimenting in a sucrose density gradient in the presence of EDTA as particles with the sedimentation coefficients of 37, 47 and 55S, respectively . The sedimentation coefficient for the mononucleomer in a sucrose density gradient with MgCl2 is 45S . Determination of the length of DNA fragments of chromatin split-off by staphylococcal nuclease showed that the nucleomer consists of 8 nucleosomes, while the dimer and trimer of the nucleomer consists of 14-16 and 21-24 nucleosomes, respectively . The nucleomeric monomer undergoes structural transition from the compact (45S) to the "loose" state (37S) after removal of Mg2+ . This transition is completely reversible, when the nucleomer contains histone H1 . The removal of the latter or dialysis of the nucleomer against EDTA in low ionic strength solutions results in a complete unfolding of the nucleomer into a nucleosomal chain fragment . A model for the nucleomer fibril structure in which the helical organization of the nucleosomal chain in the nucleomer (2 turns with 4 nucleosomes in each) is alternated with the impaired helical bonds between the nucleomers is discussed . The functional significance of the nucleomeric organization of chromatin may be an additional restriction of the site-specific recognition of DNA in chromatin with the possibility of local (at the level of one nucleomer) changes in chromatin conformation excluding this restriction.

J Biol Chem, 1981 Oct 25, 256(20), 10228 - 30
Two regions of the bifunctional protein aspartokinase I- homoserine dehydrogenase I are connected by a short hinge; Sibilli L et al.; Four proteases differing in their specificity, i.e . subtilisin, trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin and V8 staphylococcal protease, cleave the bifunctional protein Escherichia coli aspartokinase I-homoserine dehydrogenase I (composed of 820 residues) producing an active homoserine dehydrogenase fragment . This cleavage occurs within a short segment of the polypeptide chain extending from residue 293 to residue 300.

Biochemistry, 1981 Oct 13, 20(21), 5966 - 72
Detailed analysis of the nucleosomal organization of transcribed DNA in yeast chromatin; Lohr DE; The precise chromatin structure of actively transcribed DNA in yeast has been analyzed by electrophoretic transfer of high-resolution staphylococcal nuclease and DNase I chromatin digest DNA patterns to DBM paper and hybridization with active sequence probes . The DNA patterns of the transcribed DNA sequences resemble the DNA patterns produced by digestion of bulk yeast nucleosomes . Hence, these active sequences must be arranged in "typical" nucleosome structures . Furthermore, in details of the structure, the active sequence nucleosomes look almost exactly like the average yeast nucleosome in repeat length, in the length of DNA associated with the core particle, in the amount and type of heterogeneity found within and between the oligomeric and monomeric repeat lengths of DNA, in the occurrence of discrete spacer lengths including the characteristic five nucleotide increments (i.e., 5, 15, 25, .. . base pairs), and in the length of DNA between yeast nucleosomes . Early in digestion, there are some differences: increases in peak breadths (i.e., in the distribution of spacer lengths) and some preferential release of monomer DNA . These results suggest that transcribed DNA can exist in the typical (yeast) type of nucleosome organization and thus that active chromatin regions do not necessarily require profound structural rearrangements . The slight differences noted are consistent with some slight, mainly spacer, modification in the vicinity of the transcription event itself.

Med Clin (Barc), 1981 Oct 10, 77(6), 240 - 2
{Delayed skin reaction in a group of 400 hospital patients: control study (author's transl)}; Orriols R et al.; Delayed hypersensitivity skin tests were carried out with 5 antigens - PPD, staphylococcus, streptokinase/streptodornase, candida and trichophytin-in 400 hospital patients without any known causes for diminished delayed hypersensitivity . The degree of reactivity to each antigen was: PPD . 69.50%; candida 49.75%; streptokinase/streptodornase 44.50%; trichophytin 42.00%; staphylococcus 14.25% . Reactivity to either PPD or candida occurred in 86.50% of all cases . Positive response to streptokinase/streptodornase was present in 7%; which brings the total cases with reactions to one or more of the 3 antigens to 93.50% . Those who responded to trichophytin or staphylococcus were 3% only, bringing the total response of all cases to at least one antigen, to 96.5%.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1981 Oct, 46(1), 9 - 19
Isolation of circulating immune complexes by conglutinin and separation of antigen from dissociated complexes by immobilized protein A; Gupta RC et al.; A method for the isolation of complement-fixing immune complexes from human serum and the separation of antigen from antibody is described . In order to isolate the complexes, we used soluble bovine conglutinin in a three-step procedure: (1) serum containing immune complexes is reacted with conglutinin in the presence of 10 mM calcium; (2) the conglutinin-bound immune complexes are precipitated by anti-conglutinin rabbit serum; (3) the precipitate is washed and the complexes are eluted from the precipitate by EDTA (pH 7.5) which chelates calcium and releases C3-associated immune complexes from conglutinin . To separate the antigen from the antibody, the isolated complexes are acid-dissociated (pH 3.0), and the antibody is absorbed to staphylococcal protein A conjugated to Sepharose leaving the antigen in solution . The antibody bound to Sepharose-protein A is recovered by elution with 3.5 M magnesium chloride . This procedure permitted the isolation of immune complexes from sera of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive chronic active hepatitis . In addition, immune complexes were isolated from sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and primary biliary cirrhosis . The isolated immune complexes contained IgG, IgM, C3 and albumin . Specific antibodies such as rheumatoid factors, anti-nuclear antibodies and antimitochondrial antibodies in varying titres have been found to be present in the isolated immune complexes . The conglutinin method has proven to be a useful technique for the isolation of immune complexes and for the identification of antibody and could be applied to the identification of the antigen in immune complexes.

Med Interne, 1981 Oct-Dec, 19(4), 367 - 72
Frequency of Giardia lamblia in certain allergic syndromes; Chirila M et al.; To detect the frequency of Giardia lamblia association with certain allergic syndromes as well as the most frequent allergens involved in this association, allergologic and parasitologic investigations were carried out in 434 patients with chronic urticaria, Quincke's edema, urticaria + Quincke's edema or urticaria + bronchial asthma . The greatest frequency of Giardia lamblia (62%), detected in chronic urticaria associated with Quincke's edema, was three times higher than the maximum percentages reported in Romania for the adult population . In the patients with an allergic syndrome and Giardia, the most frequently involved allergens were the microbial ones (Colibacillus, Staphylococcus) and the food proteins (especially pork) . The intensely positive skin tests to histamine in very high dilutions, constantly obtained in the association allergic syndrome + Giardia, may be almost sure indication of infestation with this parasite.

J Neurosurg, 1981 Oct, 55(4), 633 - 6
Vancomycin and rifampin therapy for Staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis associated with CSF shunts: report of three cases; Gombert ME et al.; Three patients with Staphylococcus epidermis meningitis associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt devices were treated with a combination of intravenous vancomycin and oral rifampin . Two of the isolates were methicillin-resistant . All patients had a favorable clinical response . Time-kill curves showed that the addition of rifampin to vancomycin resulted in enhanced bactericidal activity against all isolates when compared to either antibiotic alone . This finding suggests that the combination of oral rifampin and intravenous vancomycin may be useful in the treatment of methicillin-resistant and recalcitrant methicillin-sensitive S . epidermis meningitis associated with CSF shunts . In vitro susceptibility testing should be performed.

Surgery, 1981 Oct, 90(4), 779 - 86
Multiple-organism bacteremia in the surgical intensive care unit: a sign of intraperitoneal sepsis; Ing AF et al.; Multiple-organism bacteremia (MOB), as defined by the growth of two or more organisms in the same blood culture, was studied in the surgical intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital . Over the 2 years encompassing 1977 and 1978, there were 125 bacteremic episodes in 83 patients; of this total, 32 episodes of MOB were present in 27 patients . The mortality rate associated with MOB was 48% compared to 25% in those patients with a single organism in their blood (P less than 0.025) . Three patients had two episodes of MOB, and one had three episodes; all died . The etiology in two patients was, surprisingly, intravascular devices . Two patients with four episodes of MOB had severe burns, whereas aspiration pneumonia and an infected amputation stump accounted for two more episodes . In the remaining 21 patients (78%) with 24 episodes of MOB (75%), all had intraperitoneal pathologic findings . Of these cases, 19 (59%) episodes were clearly related to intraperitoneal sepsis . The remaining five appeared related to intraperitoneal causes but were without confirmation . There was no difference in the incidence of Bacteroides and Staphylococcus epidermidis . The incidences of enterococci and Escherichia coli were significantly higher (P less than 0.005 for both) and dominant in multiple- versus single-organism bacteremia . Multiple-organism bacteremia is associated with an increased mortality rate, with origins characteristic of polymicrobial infections . The most important source is intraperitoneal and the occurrence of MOB should alert the surgeon to the likelihood of intraperitoneal sepsis.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1981 Oct, 89(5), 333 - 8
Antibodies to staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid in serum and in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis; Aasjord P et al.; Antibodies to staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid (LTA) were determined in serum and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a group of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and a group of healthy individuals . Sera from 11 out of 74 MS patients, i.e . 15 per cent, contained precipitating antibodies demonstrated by the double diffusion in agar test, compared to 48 out of 94 control sera, i.e . 51 per cent . By using an indirect haemagglutination test, antibodies to LTA were found in all sera from both patients and controls . On the other hand, LTA antibodies were detected in a higher proportion of the CSF samples from MS patients than from controls . A reduced serum to CSF ration of LTA antibodies compared with the ratio for a reference antibody was demonstrated in 7 out of 10 MS patients, suggesting a local synthesis within the central nervous system . Absorption of seven MS CSF samples with LTA removed one to three of the cathodic oligoclonal IgG bands demonstrated by agarose electrophoresis and reduced the IgG concentration.

J Virol, 1981 Oct, 40(1), 126 - 32
Identification of a virus-specific polypeptide associated with a transforming fragment (BglII-N) of herpes simplex virus type 2 DNA; Docherty JJ et al.; The BglII N fragment of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) DNA (approximately 0.58 to 0.63 map unit) was examined for encoded products . Using plasmid pGZ59, which consists of BglII-N cloned in pAT153, in conjunction with hybrid arrested translation, mRNA selection, and in vitro protein synthesis, we found that the major translated product of this region has an approximate molecular weight of 37,800 . By further mapping, coding sequences for this polypeptide were located within the region of BglII-N representing approximately 0.58 to 0.61 genome map unit . To demonstrate immunological specificity, we used staphylococcal A protein immunoprecipitation with rabbit anti-HSV-1 or HSV-2 sera and antigens from HSV-1 or HSV-2 total mRNA translated in vitro and BglII-N-selected mRNA . The results show that the 37,800-dalton polypeptide has HSV-2 immunological specificity, as it is precipitated with anti-HSV-2 sera but not with anti-HSV-1 or control sera.

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