J Gen Virol, 1987 Jun, 68 ( Pt 6), 1525 - 32 Transmembrane cation movements during infection of Lactobacillus lactis by bacteriophage LL-H; Alatossava T et al.; Phage LL-H-induced cation (K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cd2+) movements in Lactobacillus lactis bacteria have been studied . The effects of the m.o.i . and external cation concentration have been quantified . LL-H-induced effluxes showed cation specificity: K+ but practically no Mg2+ was lost during LL-H infection at low and moderate m.o.i . (up to about 100) . Simultaneously to K+ efflux, divalent cation influxes were observed . These were dependent on the m.o.i . and on concentrations of external divalent cations and were concomitant with phage DNA transport, as concluded from the timing of the first phage-promoted biochemical changes in host cell metabolism and from electron microscopical observations . Host energy was not mobilized with phage-induced divalent cation influx . Several features of divalent cation influxes support the view that divalent cations have to be cotransported into the cell as counterions of LL-H DNA . Phage DNA associated with divalent cations may be the basic feature of the divalent cation dependence of LL-H infection. J Appl Bacteriol, 1987 Jun, 62(6), 513 - 20 Surface properties of lactobacilli isolated from the small intestine of pigs; Wadstrom T et al.; One hundred wild-type strains of the genus Lactobacillus were isolated from the small intestine of newly-slaughtered pigs up to 6 months of age . Cell surface hydrophobicity and capsule formation were studied on a number of strains . Strains showing high surface hydrophobicity as measured by the salt-aggregation test and hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Octyl Sepharose were commonly found to adhere in high numbers to isolated pig intestinal epithelial cells . Heat and protease treatment of bacteria of high surface hydrophobicity, including autoaggregating strains in phosphate-buffered saline, showed a drastic decline in this surface property . Three hydrophilic strains (LBp 1044, 1068 and 1073) also showed binding to intestinal cells but at a lower level (approx . 5 bacteria/cell) as compared with the best binding hydrophobic strain (LBp 1063, approx . 11 bacteria/cell) . These findings suggest that different or multiple adhesion mechanisms may be involved in the colonization of the small intestinal mucosa of pigs . Cultures of selected strains grown in liquid media rich in carbohydrates did not affect their hydrophobic cell surface character . Therefore it seems less likely that carbohydrate capsule polymers are the major determinants of intestinal colonization of lactobacilli in pigs. J Rheumatol, 1987 Jun, 14(3), 415 - 9 The role of humoral immunity in Lactobacillus casei cell wall induced arthritis; Lehman TJ et al.; Although both cellular and humoral immunity have been shown to play important roles in the development of collagen induced arthritis, their roles in the pathogenesis of bacterial cell wall induced arthritis remain unclear . Previous studies of humoral immunity in bacterial cell wall induced arthritis were carried out in outbred animals and measured the humoral response to only the eliciting bacteria . We compared the humoral immune responses of arthritis susceptible Lewis and arthritis resistant Fisher rats after the injection of arthritogenic group B Lactobacillus casei cell wall fragments . Both strains developed significant IgG and IgM responses to the Lactobacillus casei cell wall fragments . Neither strain developed a significant immune response to types I, II, IX or 1a2a3a collagens . These data suggest that humoral immune responses to the Lactobacillus casei cell wall fragments and types I, II, IX, or 1a2a3a collagens do not play a significant role in determining the differing arthritis susceptibilities of Lewis and Fisher rats. J Biol Chem, 1987 May 25, 262(15), 7171 - 9 Folate transport in Lactobacillus salivarius . Characterization of the transport mechanism and purification and properties of the binding component; Kumar HP et al.; Lactobacillus salivarius cells contain an inducible transport system for folate . Influx via this system is time- and temperature-dependent, requires glucose and glutamine for optimum activity, and is half-maximal at folate concentrations in the nanomolar range . The folate internalized after 30 min at 30 degrees C is not released from the cells by excess extracellular folate and is recovered in cell extracts primarily in metabolized forms . A membrane-associated folate-binding protein is also present in cells that have been induced to transport folate . This binding protein constitutes 1% of total cellular protein, exhibits a high affinity for folate (KD = 0.40 nM), and requires divalent cations for optimum binding activity . Folate binds rapidly to this protein, while the exchange of bound substrate with folate added subsequently is relatively slow and dependent on the metabolic state of the cell . The transport rate per binding site is 0.05/min at 30 degrees C . A comparison of substrate specificity showed that folate binding and transport are both inhibited to the same extent by several different folate compounds, and a parallel irreversible inhibition of both processes is observed by prior treatment of the cells with a carbodiimide-activated derivative of folic acid . Binding protein labeled covalently with {3H}folate and solubilized with Triton X-100 was purified by a fractionation procedure involving absorption and elution from microgranular silica and molecular sieve chromatography . The isolated protein appeared homogeneous by gel electrophoresis and had an apparent molecular weight of 21,000 . Monoclonal antibodies to the folate transport protein of Lactobacillus casei showed a high degree of cross-reactivity to the isolated binding protein from L . salivarius, indicating that these proteins share common epitopes . These results suggest that folate uptake by L . salivarius proceeds via an abundant membrane-associated binding protein which facilitates the movement of folate across the membrane as an electroneutral complex with cations . The substrate then slowly dissociates from internalized binding sites and is metabolized sequentially to coenzyme forms and then to membrane-impermeable folylpolyglutamates. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1987 May, 7(1), 1 - 7 Effects of feeding lactobacillus GG on lethal irradiation in mice; Dong MY et al.; Mice exposed to 1400 rads of total body irradiation experienced 80%-100% mortality in 2 wk . Bacteremia was demonstrated in all dead animals . Feeding Lactobacillus GG strain reduced Pseudomonas bacteremia and prolonged survival time in animals colonized with this organism . In animals not colonized with Pseudomonas, feeding Lactobacillus GG also produced some reduction in early deaths, and there was less Gram-negative bacteremia in these animals compared with controls. J Dent Res, 1987 May, 66(5), 1025 - 8 Antimicrobial action of new, proprietary lining cements; McComb D et al.; The antibacterial activity of innovative, commercial lining cements was investigated . A liner which contains calcium hydroxide and is polymerized by visible light (Prisma VLC Dycal) and a glass-ionomer lining cement (GC lining cement) were compared with two more established lining cements (Advanced Formula II Dycal and Life) . Antibacterial activity and hemolysis-like agar change at 24, 48, and 72 hours were measured on blood agar plates inoculated with Streptococcus mutans KPSK 2 (serotype c), Lactobacillus casei ssp rhamnosus ATCC 11981, and chewing-stimulated saliva . Prisma VLC Dycal did not affect bacteria or agar . The glass-ionomer lining cement, with an acidic pH at setting, had the most pronounced effect on all test organisms and on the agar . Even after 48 hours' setting, it inhibited growth of S . mutans . The control lining cement (AFII Dycal) showed antibacterial activity toward both specific micro-organisms as well as some activity against the salivary organisms . The material Life showed only partial inhibition of microbial growth . For all lining cements, the hemolytic-like agar change correlated with antibacterial effects . The surface pH of the freshly-set cements containing calcium hydroxide was alkaline . It would seem that a simple correlation between high surface pH and antibacterial activity among these cements does not exist . Also, further biological characterization of new lining cements is required to direct their appropriate clinical use. J Appl Bacteriol, 1987 May, 62(5), 433 - 40 Characterization and DNA homology of Lactobacillus strains isolated from pig intestine; Axelsson L et al.; Twenty strains of the genus Lactobacillus were isolated from pig intestines and characterized with phenotypic tests . Eleven of these strains, together with selected reference strains, were subjected to DNA homology studies . Three major groups could be distinguished by biochemical/physiological tests and by DNA homology studies: one homofermentative group of the subgenus Thermobacterium and two heterofermentative groups . The DNA homology studies revealed that strains from the homofermentative group were related to Lactobacillus acidophilus strain VPI 1754, but showed a low relationship to the type strain of Lact . acidophilus . One One group of the heterofermentative strains was related to the type strain of Lact . reuteri; the other group, consisting of three strains, showed a low relationship to all reference strains used . These three strains had the unusual property of producing succinic acid in large amounts. Rev Infect Dis, 1987 May-Jun, 9(3), 470 - 87 Bacterial adherence in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection: a review; Reid G et al.; Bacterial adherence to the uroepithelium is recognized as an important mechanism in the initiation and pathogenesis of urinary tract infections (UTI) . The uropathogens originate predominantly in the intestinal tract and initially colonize the periurethral region and ascend into the bladder, resulting in symptomatic or asymptomatic bacteriuria . Thereafter, depending on host factors and bacterial virulence factors, the organisms may further ascend and give rise to pyelonephritis . Uropathogens are selected by the presence of virulence characteristics that enable them to resist the normally efficient host defense mechanisms . Considerable progress has been made in identifying bacterial adhesins and in demonstrating bacterial receptor sites on uroepithelial surfaces . Recent studies have identified natural anti-adherence mechanisms in humans as well as possible increased susceptibility to UTI when these mechanisms are defective and when receptor density on uroepithelial cells is altered . Knowledge of bacterial adherence mechanisms may permit alternative methods of prevention and management of urinary infection, including the use of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics, vaccine development, nonimmune inhibition of bacterial adhesins and receptor sites, and the use of autochthonous flora, such as lactobacilli, to exclude uropathogens from colonizing the urinary tract. J Biol Chem, 1987 Apr 15, 262(11), 5298 - 307 Molecular characterization of the cell cycle-regulated thymidylate synthase gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Taylor GR et al.; The complete nucleotide sequence of a 1.8-kilobase DNA fragment containing the cell cycle-regulated thymidylate synthase gene (TMP 1) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is presented . This analysis has revealed a 912-base pair open reading frame which encodes a 304-amino acid residue protein with a calculated Mr of 35,007 . The tmp1-6 and cdc21-1 mutant alleles of this gene also have been sequenced, and both show single base pair changes which would result in different amino acid substitutions . The amino acid sequence of the yeast thymidylate synthase gene derived from the DNA sequence shows considerable homology when compared with the human, mouse, Herpesvirus saimiri, Leishmania major, Leishmania tropica, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus casei, bacteriophage T4, and Bacillus subtilis phage phi 3T enzymes . Northern blot hybridization reveals that the TMP 1 mRNA is a 1.15-kilobase polyadenylated transcript . A set of consensus yeast mRNA splice sequences appears within the open reading frame of TMP 1, but S1 nuclease protection experiments reveal that splicing of the mRNA does not occur . Disruption of the gene by the introduction of a large insertion did not produce any defect besides the expected dependence on dTMP for growth . Specifically, the viability of the mutants in the presence of dTMP indicates that the protein does not play a significant structural role in a complex of replication enzymes. Biochemistry, 1987 Apr 7, 26(7), 1895 - 902 2'-Deoxy-2'-halonucleotides as alternate substrates and mechanism-based inactivators of Lactobacillus leichmannii ribonucleotide reductase; Harris G et al.; The interaction of the ribonucleoside-triphosphate reductase of Lactobacillus leichmannii with various 2'-halogenated ribo- and arabinonucleoside triphosphates has been investigated . All analogues examined acted as mechanism-based inactivators of the enzyme, producing base, triphosphate, and halide . In all cases, the inactive enzyme had developed the distinctive chromophore at 320 nm that is characteristic of enzyme inactivated by 2-methylene-3(2H)-furanone . The striking similarities between these results and those previously reported for the inactivation of this enzyme by 2'-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate suggest a common reaction path for all 2'-halonucleotides . In the pyrimidine series, it was found that 2'-fluoro- and 2'-chloronucleotides partitioned between inactivation and formation of the normal reduction product 2'-deoxynucleotide . Normal reduction predominated with 2'-fluoronucleotides, whereas it was a minor pathway for 2'-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate . With 2'-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate, the relative partitioning between the two modes was pH dependent: the amount of 2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate formed increased 2.8-fold upon changing from pH 6.1 to pH 8.3 . The ability of 2'-arabinohalonucleotides to inactivate ribonucleotide reductase and the variation of partitioning of the pyrimidine analogues with leaving group and reaction pH are consistent with our radical cation hypothesis and support the proposal that the difference between normal catalysis and inactivation is related to the protonation state of the reductase. J Anim Sci, 1987 Apr, 64(4), 1215 - 26 Ruminal microbial development in conventionally or early-weaned calves; Anderson KL et al.; Eight bull calves (four Holsteins and four Ayrshire calves with mean birth weight of 38.8 kg) were ruminally cannulated at 3 d of age and allocated to one of two weaning programs . All calves were fed colostrum for 3 d after birth and milk until weaning . Calves in the conventional-weaning program were fed a starter diet from 3 d of age and weaned at 6 wk of age . In the early-weaning program, calves were fed a highly palatable pre-starter diet from 3 d of age until they consumed 227 g/d, and then fed a mixture of pre-starter (227 g) and starter diet ad libitum . Calves in this group were weaned at 4 wk of age . Ruminal samples were collected at 3 and 7 d, then weekly thereafter through 8 wk and at 10 and 12 wk of age to assess microbial activity . Calves in the early-weaned group had a higher concentration of total ruminal volatile fatty acids at an earlier age than the calves in the conventional-weaning program . This was accompanied by a trend toward higher lactate concentrations and lower ruminal pH in the early-weaned group during their first 4 wk of age . Lactate and ammonia concentrations decreased with calf age . The total anaerobic bacterial counts increased slightly with calf age, whereas Streptococcus bovis and facultative bacterial populations decreased with calf age . Amylolytic, proteolytic, lactobacilli, lactate-utilizers, cellulolytic and methanogenic bacterial populations increased progressively in both groups . Cellulolytic and methanogenic bacteria were present in both groups at 3 d of age . No protozoa were detected in calves of either group . In general, the most significant changes in bacterial populations and metabolic activity in both groups occurred between 4 and 6 wk of age . Although calves in both groups had similar patterns of bacterial development, calves in the early-weaning program tended to have high ruminal microbial activity at an earlier age than the conventionally weaned calves. Pathology, 1987 Apr, 19(2), 193 - 6 Incidence of motile, curved anaerobic rods (Mobiluncus species) in vaginal secretions; Teo C et al.; Aerobic and anaerobic cultures as well as a Gram stain and wet mount preparation were made of vaginal swabs taken from various groups of women including those with vaginal discharge . The bacteria commonly found in cultures were lactobacilli, coryneforms, Staphylococcus epidermidis and facultative streptococci . Anaerobes were isolated from 75% (475 of 632) of specimens . The incidence of Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida species, Gardnerella vaginalis and Mobiluncus species in the five groups of women varied from 2.2-5.1%, 11.5-35.7%, 23.3-36.7% and 20.0-34.8% respectively . Except for Candida species, differences in the prevalence of these organisms between the groups of women were not significant . The isolation rates of Candida species in women attending the antenatal clinic and staff health clinic were significantly higher than women in the other groups . Mobiluncus species were found to occur either with T . vaginalis, Candida species or G . vaginalis alone or with any two or with all three or in the absence of these organisms . However, the incidence of Mobiluncus species was significantly higher in women colonized with G . vaginalis (112 of 185, or 60.5%) compared with women not infected (47 of 477, or 9.8%) . Also, Mobiluncus species occurred in large numbers when found in the presence of G . vaginalis . When found without G . vaginalis, Mobiluncus species occurred in much smaller numbers . As with G . vaginalis, Mobiluncus species also occurred concomitantly with certain anaerobes, mainly Bacteroides species and peptostreptococci. Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Apr, 95(2), 97 - 103 Rate of plaque formation--some clinical and biochemical characteristics of "heavy" and "light" plaque formers; Simonsson T et al.; The purpose of the present study was to give a clinical and biochemical characterization of two groups of individuals with different rates of plaque formation . From 133 individuals, 9 "heavy" and 10 "light" plaque formers were selected . The mean plaque index after 3 days of plaque accumulation, on buccal surfaces of premolars and first molars, was 2.6 for the "heavy" and 0.6 for the "light" plaque formers . The following variables were determined: periodontal status, DFS, dietary habits, salivary secretion rate and buffer effect, S . mutans and lactobacillus counts in saliva, salivary content of IgA, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme, saliva-induced aggregation of certain oral streptococci, gel electrophoresis of saliva, amino acid composition of saliva and the acquired pellicle and retention depth of the dentogingival area . Comparing the two groups of plaque formers, statistically significant differences were found for the following three variables: parotid saliva-induced aggregation of a strain of S . sanguis, content of glutamic acid in the acquired pellicle and retention depth of the dentogingival area for maxillary premolars . Large variations for all studied variables were found, both within and between the groups . Several factors may be involved in plaque formation and none of the studied variables alone could explain the large difference in the amount of plaque formed after 3 days between the "heavy" and "light" plaque formers. Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Apr, 95(2), 128 - 31 Lysozyme activity and L(+)-lactic acid production in saliva in schoolchildren with high Lactobacillus counts; Twetman S et al.; Out of 374 schoolchildren, aged 13-15 yr, 42 with high counts of salivary lactobacilli (greater than or equal to 10(5} were selected for this study . Lysozyme activity in saliva and L(+)-lactic acid (LA) production after addition of glucose were determined . The mean values of lysozyme activity and LA concentration were 19.4 micrograms/ml and 1.4 mmol/l respectively . The levels of LA produced without addition of glucose were less than 0.2 mmol/l . The results showed a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) negative correlation between lysozyme activity and the levels of LA produced . The findings of this study suggest that lysozyme may be of importance in limiting acid production in saliva. Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Apr, 95(2), 124 - 7 Can the presence of erupting or exfoliating teeth increase the salivary lactobacillus count? Wikner S, Moum I. The salivary lactobacillus count was assessed during school attendance among 1734 7-15-yr-old children and related to the number of teeth erupting within each age group . The prevalence of extremely low lactobacillus counts (less than or equal to 10(3)) was inversely correlated with the number of erupting teeth (P less than 0.001) but the differences were small . High counts differed only by 7% between ages with the lowest and the highest mean number of erupting or exfoliating teeth tend to elevate the lactobacillus count in individuals . On a population level the effect is small. Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Apr, 95(2), 119 - 23 Proportions of Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli and Actinomyces spp in root surface plaque; Fure S et al.; The incidence of Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli and Actinomyces was examined in root surface dental plaque from 24 subjects with root surface caries and in 24 subjects with exposed root surfaces as a consequence of periodontitis but without root surface caries . Plaque was collected from the most posterior teeth in each quadrant: in the caries group from carious lesions and in the periodontitis group from buccal root surfaces . There were significantly higher proportions of S . mutans and lactobacilli in dental plaque samples taken from subjects suffering from root surface caries than in samples from subjects without root surface caries . The level of the group A . viscosus/naeslundii in the periodontitis group was higher than that found in the root surface caries group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1987 Apr, 21(2), 91 - 7 {Levels of S . mutans and Lactobacilli in the dental plaque of caries-prone and caries-free persons}; Uygun H et al.; The ratio of Streptococcus mutans to the total streptococci and lactobacilli to the total plaque bacteria in dental plaque (smooth-pits and fissures) of 10 caries-prone, mean, number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) 13, and 10 caries-free mean DMFT 1.7, Hacettepe University Faculty of Dentistry students ages 19-22 is investigated . The ratio of S . mutans to the total streptococci in the smooth-surface plaque was found lower than pits and fissures in the caries-prone and caries-free groups . The ratio of S . mutans to the total streptococci in the smooth surface and pit and fissures plaques in the caries-prone group was found higher than caries-free group. Am J Vet Res, 1987 Apr, 48(4), 569 - 77 Antimicrobial alternatives for calf diarrhea: enteric responses to Escherichia coli, deferoxamine, or gallium in neonatal calves; Fettman MJ et al.; Intestinal malabsorption or transferable resistance in enteric bacteria are potentially serious complications of routine oral administrations of antibiotics . On the basis of reports on antimicrobial effects of host iron sequestration and on synthetic iron chelators or competitors in vitro, 2 iron antagonists were studied for their potential as alternative antimicrobials for Escherichia coli diarrhea . Deferoxamine, a fungal iron chelator used to treat acute iron intoxication, and elemental gallium, a competitive inhibitor of iron activity in metabolic enzyme systems, were examined for their effects on enteric morphology and function in neonatal calves . Twelve male calves were allotted to 4 groups: (1) given nonpathogenic E coli (control); (2) given enterotoxigenic B44 E coli; (3) given deferoxamine (50 mg/kg, twice a day); and (4) given gallium (4 mg/kg, twice a day) . Calves were studied for 8 days, including the conduct of oral glucose and lactose tolerance tests on days 1, 3, and 7 . By day 7, according to oral glucose and lactose tolerance tests, peak plasma glucose concentrations in all calves of groups 2, 3, and 4 were lower than those values in controls . The frequency of diarrhea was significant in all treated calves, and disease was most severe in the deferoxamine-treated calves . Quantitative cultural examination on day 8 showed significant numerical increases of jejunal and ileal E coli and ileal lactobacilli in deferoxamine-treated calves (group 3) and of ileal streptococci in gallium-treated calves (group 4) and showed jejunal and ileal overgrowths of Saccharomyces yeast in deferoxamine-treated calves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Bacteriol, 1987 Apr, 169(4), 1702 - 11 Assembly of D-alanyl-lipoteichoic acid in Lactobacillus casei: mutants deficient in the D-alanyl ester content of this amphiphile; Ntamere AS et al.; D-Alanyl-lipoteichoic acid (D-alanyl-LTA) from Lactobacillus casei ATCC 7469 contains a poly(glycerophosphate) moiety that is acylated with D-alanyl ester residues . The physiological function of these residues is not well understood . Five mutant strains of this organism that are deficient in the esters of this amphiphile were isolated and characterized . When compared with the parent, strains AN-1 and AN-4 incorporated less than 10% of D-{14C}alanine into LTA, whereas AN-2, AN-3, and AN-5 incorporated 50% . The synthesis of D-{14C}alanyl-lipophilic LTA was virtually absent in the first group and was approximately 30% in the second group . The mutant strains synthesized and selected the glycolipid anchor for LTA assembly . In addition, all of the strains synthesized the poly(glycerophosphate) moiety of LTA to the same extent as did the parent or to a greater extent . It was concluded that the membranes from the mutant strains AN-1 and AN-4 are defective for D-alanylation of LTA even though acceptor LTA is present . Mutant strains AN-2 and AN-3 appear to be partially deficient in the amount of the D-alanine-activating enzyme . Aberrant morphology and defective cell separation appear to result from this deficiency in D-alanyl ester content. J Bacteriol, 1987 Apr, 169(4), 1651 - 5 Purification and characterization of ribitol-5-phosphate and xylitol-5-phosphate dehydrogenases from strains of Lactobacillus casei; Hausman SZ et al.; A simple three-step procedure is described which yields electrophoretically homogeneous preparations of ribitol-5-phosphate dehydrogenase and xylitol-5-phosphate dehydrogenase . The former enzyme is a 115,000-molecular-weight protein composed of two subunits of identical size and is specific for its substrate, ribitol . The xylitol-5-phosphate dehydrogenase exists as a tetrameric protein with a molecular weight of 180,000; this enzyme oxidizes the phosphate esters of both xylitol and D-arabitol . Characterization of the physical, kinetic, and immunological properties of the two enzymes suggests that the functionally similar enzymes may not be structurally related. Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1987 Apr, 9(2), 141 - 5 Carbamate kinase of Lactobacillus buchneri NCDO110 . II . Kinetic studies and reaction mechanism; Manca de Nadra MC et al.; The participation of Mg2+ or Mn2+ nucleoside diphosphates in the reverse reaction catalyzed by purified carbamate kinase (ATP:carbamate phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.2.2) of Lactobacillus buchneri NCDO110 was studied . The results of initial velocity studies have indicated that Mn2+ ADP is as effective as a substrate as Mg2+ ADP is . Product inhibition studies have revealed that the enzyme has two distinct sites, one for nucleoside diphosphate and the other for carbamyl phosphate . The reaction of the enzyme with the substrates is of the random type. Poult Sci, 1987 Mar, 66(3), 480 - 6 Production performance of White Leghorn layers fed lactobacillus fermentation products; Goodling AC et al.; A series of trials was conducted to determine if adding a Lactobacillus fermentation product (LAC) to the feed of laying hens would improve their production performance . Feeding a liquid, nonviable LAC product to either cage or floor housed laying hens did not improve hen-day egg production, feed efficiency, nor egg size during a 48 week experimental period . Laying hens fed a dried, nonviable LAC product did not show any improvement in hen-day egg production nor feed efficiency compared with laying hens fed no LAC or zinc bacitracin . Addition of a viable LAC product to ratios of differing protein levels did not improve hen-day egg production, livability, or egg size of laying hens. Bioorg Khim, 1987 Mar, 13(3), 386 - 94 {Isolation and structure of the active component of the antitumor agent blastolysin}; Bezrukov MV et al.; Active principle of blastolysin, comprising ca . 40% of the total weight of Lactobacillus bulgaricus cell wall preparation, has been isolated and structurally studied by chemical and spectral methods . The substance a glycopeptide with Mr aa . 10,000, consists of two tetrasaccharide moieties connected by oligopeptide bridges; glycerophosphate, glucose, and galactose moieties are also attached to N-acetylmuramyl residue of the peptidoglucan core . Tetrasaccharide-containing muramylpeptides were shown to be responsible for the antitumour activity. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1987 Mar, 32(3), 173 - 9 {Lactobacillus flora and colonization resistance}; Lentsner AA et al.; Lactobacillus flora of healthy persons and the properties influencing the protective function of lactobacilli are described . It was shown that the species and quantitative composition of the Lactobacillus flora in healthy persons was characterized by individual features and the Lactobacillus flora of separate microbiotopes was different . Furthermore, the properties defining the protective function of lactobacilli in the host: colonization capacity, direct antimicrobial activity and interference with other protective mechanisms were also different in separate species and even strains. Anal Biochem, 1987 Mar, 161(2), 533 - 42 Antibody for detection and quantitation of membrane-associated folate-binding protein from Lactobacillus casei; Pope LE et al.; Lactobacillus casei cells contain a 25 kDa, membrane-associated, folate-binding protein (fbp), which is a component of the folate transport system . Polyclonal antibody to fbp (anti-fbp) has been prepared, and conditions have been established for detection and quantitation of the protein . Anti-fbp did not block {3H}folate transport or binding in L . casei cells . As judged by Western blots, the antibody reacted only with fbp on sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoretograms of Triton X-100 extracts of L . casei membranes . Anti-fbp showed no cross-reactivity with L . casei dihydrofolate reductase, L . casei 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase, L1210 dihydrofolate reductase, rat liver dihydrofolate reductase, or L1210 folate-binding protein . Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measurements indicated the presence of an fbp in membranes of Lactobacillus salivarius and two transport-defective sublines of L . casei . Anti-fbp was used to demonstrate selective extraction, with n-butanol, of fbp from a mixture of Triton-solubilized L . casei membrane proteins; repression of fbp in membranes of L . casei cells grown on high levels of folate; and localization of fbp by electron microscopy, using anti-fbp in conjunction with goat anti-rabbit IgG gold conjugate, in L . casei membranes. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1987 Mar, 156(3), 649 - 55 Preterm labor: stimulation of arachidonic acid metabolism in human amnion cells by bacterial products; Bennett PR et al.; There is a strong association between preterm labor and infection . Some potentially pathogenic bacteria have phospholipase activity, and it has been suggested that release of phospholipase from these organisms may increase prostaglandin E2 synthesis in amnion cells and hence initiate preterm labor . In this study we established monolayer amnion cell cultures from tissue collected at elective cesarean section at term before labor . Cells were prelabeled with tritiated arachidonic acid and then further incubated after addition of 2%, 5%, or 10% (vol/vol) filtered medium in which either group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Streptococcus viridans, Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, or Lactobacillus had been growing . Tritiated arachidonic acid and its metabolites released by the amnion cells in these or control incubates were extracted from culture medium and separated by high-performance liquid chromatography . Addition of conditioned medium from each of the organisms with the exception of Lactobacillus caused an increase in overall arachidonic acid metabolism . There was an increase in the ratio of cyclooxygenase to lipoxgenase metabolism and in prostaglandin E2 production in particular when compared to controls . The profile of arachidonic acid metabolism in amnion cells following addition of filtered bacterial medium resembled that obtained from amnion cells cultured following spontaneous labor . We suggest that abnormal bacterial colonization of the genital tract may lead to an increase in arachidonic acid metabolism in amnion cells with an increase in prostaglandin E2 production and the consequent initiation of preterm labor. J Biol Chem, 1987 Feb 25, 262(6), 2817 - 22 Escherichia coli S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase . Subunit structure, reductive amination, and NH2-terminal sequences; Anton DL et al.; S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is one of a small group of enzymes that use a pyruvoyl residue as a cofactor . Histidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30a, the best studied pyruvoyl-containing enzyme, has an (alpha beta)6 subunit structure with the pyruvoyl moiety linked through an amide bond to the NH2-terminal of the larger alpha subunit (Recsei, P . A., Huynh, Q . K., and Snell, E . E . (1983) Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U . S . A . 80, 973-977) . To examine potential structural analogies between the two enzymes, we have isolated and partially characterized S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase . The purified enzyme comprises equimolar amounts of two subunits of Mr = 14,000 and 19,000 (by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and has a native molecular weight of 136,000 (by gel filtration) . Approximately 4 mol of {methyl-3H} adenosylmethionine are incorporated per mol of enzyme (Mr = 136,000) when the enzyme is inactivated with this substrate and NaCNBH3 . These data suggest an (alpha beta)4 structure with 1 pyruvoyl residue for each alpha beta pair . The two subunits have been separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography after reduction and carboxymethylation . The smaller subunit (beta) has a free amino terminus . The amino terminus of the larger subunit (alpha) appears to be blocked by a pyruvoyl group; this subunit can be sequenced only after this group is converted to an alanyl residue by reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride in the presence of ammonium acetate . This work suggests that S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is structurally much more similar to histidine decarboxylase than previously thought. Ann Neurol, 1987 Feb, 21(2), 176 - 82 Anticonvulsants, folate levels, and pregnancy outcome: a prospective study; Dansky LV et al.; Folate levels in serum and red cells, as determined by a microbiological assay using Lactobacillus casei, and plasma anticonvulsant concentrations were monitored concurrently in nonpregnant (50 subjects) and pregnant (49 pregnancies in 46 subjects) epileptic women . Twenty-three (46%) nonpregnant women had subnormal serum folate levels and 4 nonpregnant women (8%) showed subnormal red cell folate levels . In pregnant women not taking folate supplements, the incidence of folate deficiency increased as the pregnancy advanced . Pregnant women taking folate supplements achieved normal or supranormal blood folate concentrations . In both nonpregnant and pregnant women, serum and red cell folate levels were inversely correlated with plasma concentrations of phenytoin and of phenobarbital, and with the number of anticonvulsants . In 49 pregnancies, there were 10 abnormal outcomes (20.4%): 4 spontaneous abortions (8.2%) and 6 children with major congenital malformations (12.2%) . Blood folate levels were significantly lower in pregnancies with an abnormal outcome than in those with a normal outcome . The results suggest a dose-response relationship among anticonvulsants, folate, and adverse pregnancy outcome. Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 95(1), 32 - 6 Erupting third molars and salivary lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans counts; Meurman JH et al.; The salivary lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans counts in 217 university students of 25.4-yr-old were studied with regard to the state of eruption of their third molar teeth . Statistically significantly higher counts of both bacterial species were found in students who had one or more third molars partly erupted, compared with those whose third molars were lacking or fully erupted . No other parameters studied such as salivary flow rate or buffering capacity of the saliva were found to explain the high bacterial counts . These findings should be taken into consideration when interpreting salivary microbial counts in young adults . Also, special interest should be focused into these aspects at oral hygiene and dietary counseling of young patients. Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 95(1), 18 - 26 Lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans in saliva, diet and caries increment in 8- and 13-year-old children; Stecksen-Blicks C; The aim of this paper was to evaluate the correlation between some dietary factors and prevalence of lactobacilli and S . mutans in saliva in randomly selected groups of 8- and 13-yr-old children . The relation between these parameters and caries increment over a 1-yr period was also studied . In general there was a weak correlation between the number of these bacteria in saliva and total intake of sugar, sucrose intake and meal frequency . However, the probability of finding low total sugar intake, low sucrose intake and a low meal frequency was highest when there was a low prevalence of both bacteria and finding high total sugar, high sucrose and high meal frequency when there was a high prevalence of both bacteria . It was also shown that knowledge of sugar intake and meal frequency provided some supplement to bacterial tests in the selection of caries-risk patients. Scand J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 95(1), 13 - 7 Caries status and microbial conditions in children in 1973 and 1984; Klock B et al.; In 1973 all 9-12-yr-old children in a county in Sweden were examined with regard to caries prevalence, salivary Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli . Eleven years later the same parameters were analyzed in 250 randomly selected children of the same age and from the same county . Both the number of cariogenic microorganisms and the caries prevalence were significantly lower in 1984 than in 1973 (P less than 0.001) . The lower number of S . mutans and lactobacilli could be due to several factors and is probably one of the reasons for the low caries prevalence in the children in the present study. J Dent Res, 1987 Feb, 66(2), 467 - 74 Lysozyme-protease-inorganic monovalent anion lysis of oral bacterial strains in buffers and stimulated whole saliva; Pollock JJ et al.; Similar to Streptococcus mutans, buffer suspensions of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Fusobacterium nucleatum all undergo cell lysis when treated with the lysozyme-protease-inorganic monovalent anion antibacterial system . For Lactobacillus species treated with lysozyme and proteases at pHs of 4 and 5.3, lysis resulted when a lytic activating concentration of bicarbonate anion followed enzyme treatment . Furthermore, synergistic lysis of these bacteria was noted when lysozyme-protease treatment was followed by bicarbonate anion used in combination with chloride or fluoride anions . Noteworthy, the halides were not active in promoting lysis when used by themselves in the absence of bicarbonate . For F . nucleatum suspended at pH 6.9, lysis was dependent upon the ionic strength of the buffer and resulted when lysozyme-protease treatment of the organism was followed by 100 mmol/L bicarbonate activation . When lysozyme and proteases were omitted from the incubation mixtures and replaced by stimulated whole saliva, pH 5.3, lysis was observed only with L . plantarum and S . mutans, but not with L . casei . The latter could be lysed, however, if suspended in saliva which was diluted several-fold with distilled water . In experiments where lysozyme was selectively depleted from whole saliva by immunoadsorption affinity chromatography, the great majority of the lysis capability of the saliva for L . plantarum was lost, although a significant degree of lysis appeared to be due to salivary factors other than lysozyme . F . nucleatum was also found to lyse in saliva at neutral pH, suggesting that both Gram-positive and Gram-negative oral bacteria may be susceptible to this antibacterial system in vivo. J Gen Virol, 1987 Feb, 68 ( Pt 2), 569 - 72 Electron microscopic study of the process of DNA ejection from the head of PL-1, a Lactobacillus casei phage; Watanabe K et al.; The process of DNA ejection from the head of PL-1, a Lactobacillus casei ATCC 27092 phage, was studied by electron microscopy by counting the number of ghost particles with empty heads among phages already adsorbed to the cell . The process of DNA ejection was temperature- and live cell-dependent. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Feb, 53(2), 325 - 30 Lactobacilli as effectors of host functions: no influence on the activities of enzymes in enterocytes of mice; Whitt DD et al.; Preparations of lactobacilli are often used as dietary supplements to improve the growth and efficiency in utilizing food of animals of commercial value . We tested in an experimental model whether the effects of lactobacilli on growth of and food utilization by animals may be due to alteration of the activities of absorptive enzymes in the small bowel . Germfree mice housed in isolators under tightly controlled conditions were monoassociated with one of four strains of indigenous Lactobacillus spp . From 1 to 5 weeks later, the activity of alkaline phosphatase was assayed in homogenates of segments of the upper small intestines of the associated animals and of matched germfree controls . The specific activity of the enzyme was the same in the mice in the two groups . In other experiments, epithelial cells were isolated from the upper small intestines of mice associated with eight Lactobacillus strains (octa-associated) and from those of matched germfree mice and assayed for alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, and thymidine kinase activities . The epithelial cells were harvested sequentially from the tips of the villi toward the crypts of Lieberkuhn of the intestines . In all preparations, mice of both types yielded an equivalent mass (wet weight) of cells . The protein content of the cells reflected the mass . The activities of the microvillous membrane enzymes alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase and the cytosol enzyme thymidine kinase were the same whether or not the animals contained the bacteria . Therefore, any effects on animal growth and food utilization observed when lactobacilli are used as dietary supplements may not be due to a direct alteration by the bacteria of the absorptive enzymes of the host animal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Med Chem, 1987 Feb, 30(2), 409 - 19 5-Quinone derivatives of 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-phosphate: inhibition and inactivation of thymidylate synthase, antitumor cell, and antiviral studies; Al-Razzak LA et al.; Both photochemical aromatic substitution and palladium (0)-catalyzed biaryl coupling reactions have been employed in the synthesis of 5-substituted 2'-deoxyuridines . The former procedure was useful in the preparation of the 3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl derivative 12a and the 3,4,6-trimethyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl derivative 12b . The latter reaction was efficient in the preparation of the 2-(3-methyl-1,4-dimethoxynaphthyl) derivative 14 . These compounds and their nucleotides (20a-c) were converted to the corresponding quinone nucleosides 19a-c and nucleotides 6-8 by an oxidative demethylation reaction using ceric ammonium nitrate and silver(II) oxide, respectively . The kinetics and products of the reaction of the quinone nucleosides 19a,b with methyl thioglycolate showed rapid addition to the quinone ring in the trisubstituted derivative 19a and somewhat slower redox reactions with the tetrasubstituted quinones 19b and 19c . All six nucleotides had high affinity for the title enzyme from Lactobacillus casei with Ki values ranging from 0.59 to 3.6 microM; the most effective compounds were the dimethyl quinone 6 and the naphthoquinone 8 . Somewhat higher inhibitory constants were observed with the quinones against the L1210 enzyme . The dimethyl quinone nucleotide 6 showed time-dependent inactivation (kinact = 0.015 s-1) against the L . casei enzyme, a rate saturation effect, and substrate protection in accord with the kinetic expression for an active-site-directed alkylating agent . The apparent second-order rate of this reaction (2.5 X 10(4) M-1 s-1) is one-twentieth the rate (kcat.) of the normal enzymatic reaction leading to product . None of the compound exhibited sufficient activity in the antitumor cell or antiviral assays to warrant further study. Science, 1987 Jan 23, 235(4787), 448 - 55 Atomic structure of thymidylate synthase: target for rational drug design; Hardy LW et al.; The atomic structure of thymidylate synthase from Lactobacillus casei was determined at 3 angstrom resolution . The native enzyme is a dimer of identical subunits . The dimer interface is formed by an unusual association between five-stranded beta sheets present in each monomer . Comparison of known sequences with the Lactobacillus casei structure suggests that they all have a common core structure around which loops are inserted or deleted in different sequences . Residues from both subunits contribute to each active site . Two arginine side chains can contribute to binding phosphate on the substrate . The side chains of several conserved amino acids can account for other determinants of substrate binding. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1987 Jan, 53(1), 189 - 92 Isolation from swine feces of a bacterium which decarboxylates p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid to 4-methylphenol (p-cresol); Ward LA et al.; An obligate anaerobe has been isolated from swine feces which decarboxylates p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid to 4-methylphenol (p-cresol) . The bacterium was an ovoid rod, gram positive, nonsporeforming, and nonmotile . Lactate and acetate were major end products of glucose fermentation . Based on its characteristics, the bacterium is tentatively assigned to the genus Lactobacillus. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 449 - 56, 637-8 Interrelations between mucosal and luminal microflora of gastrointestine; Mikelsaar M et al.; The quantitative relations of various groups of microbes, the biological properties of lactobacilli in the luminal and mucosal microfloras of the gastrointestine of rats after having received kanamycin and after starvation, of conventional and germfree mice after irradiation and of piglets of different ages were compared . It was revealed that there exists a positive correlation between the mucosal and the lumenal microfloras which remains considerably stable under different conditions . Nevertheless, in case of irradiation or starvation influencing the gastrointestine microflora, the mucosal microflora gets more changed and the translocation of microbes through the mucosa into blood circulation takes place . The mucosal lactoflora of piglets is formed during the first (1-5) days of life on account of microbes with well-expressed antagonistic activity and lysozyme resistance. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 405 - 11 {The defense function of the digestive tract lactoflora}; Lencner A et al.; Lactobacilli can belong to the gut flora or to the flora associating with gastrointestinal epithelial surfaces . They play an important role within the microbial defense mechanisms taking part in the colonization resistance and in the decontamination of the host . Lactobacilli affect the immune response . They accelerate the revival of the small intestinal epithelial cells . Those strains of lactobacilli with distinct antagonistic properties with lysozyme activity and resistance against lysozyme often develop a compact glycocalyx . They are endowed with a high adhesion capacity . The intestinal lactoflora consists of several species with different defense properties. Plasmid, 1987 Jan, 17(1), 73 - 5 Lactobacillus protoplast transformation; Morelli L et al.; A method for the transformation of Lactobacillus protoplasts by plasmid DNA is reported . The procedure involves polyethylene glycol treatment of protoplasts to induce DNA uptake . A transformation efficiency ranging from 5 to 1000 transformants per microgram of DNA is achieved; the efficiency of protoplast regeneration ranged from 10 to 20%. Vopr Onkol, 1987, 33(3), 51 - 6 {Mechanism of the anti-tumoral effect of the blastolysin fraction isolated from Lactobacillus bulgaricus}; Ketlinskii SA et al.; A blastolysin fraction, isolated from lysosyme lysates of Lactobacillus Bulgaricus strain 51 by gel chromatography, was shown to markedly inhibit the growth of sarcoma S-180 . A single administration of the agent was followed by an insignificant decrease in tumor growth rate, while repeated treatment induced a complete regression of tumor in 15% of animals and resulted in a prolonged suppression of tumor growth in the others . Cells isolated from metastases which developed after the withdrawal of the drug retained susceptibility to fraction 2 of blastolysin . The latter fraction showed a similar pattern of inhibition of the growth of Ehrlich ascites tumor but did not affect hemocytoblastosis in mice LA . Histologically, fraction 2 produced tumor cell necrosis which commenced at 24 hours posttreatment . Such signs of hypercorticoidism as lysis of lymphocytes in the cortical layer of the thymus, depletion of T-dependent zones of spleen and lymph nodes and adrenal cortical hyperplasia were registered . Macrophage level in tumor was not increased . A 7-fold rise in murine serum corticosterone level at 1 hour posttreatment was established by the method of competitive protein binding. Lab Anim, 1987 Jan, 21(1), 48 - 52 The attachment of filamentous segmented micro-organisms to the distal ileum wall of the mouse: a scanning and transmission electron microscopy study; Koopman JP et al.; Scanning electron micrographs are presented of the ileal epithelium of mice aged 5, 15, 20 and 25 days . During this period the villous pattern develops to full maturity . By the twentieth day of life a segmented filamentous micro-organism colonizes the ileal epithelium and is firmly attached via a small segment . During the first days of colonization the segmented filamentous micro-organisms themselves are subcolonized by small rod-shaped bacteria, presumably lactobacilli . At the age of 25 days this subcolonization was no longer observed. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1987, 32(1), 85 - 8 Effect of cultivation conditions on proteinase production by Lactobacillus murinus; Strasser de Saad AM et al.; Proteinase production by Lactobacillus murinus was influenced by temperature, glucose concentration, initial pH and nitrogen sources . Maximum proteinase production occurred at 45 degrees C, pH 6.6 and with 0.5% (W/V) glucose . Tryptone, peptone and gelatin inhibited it. Clin Chem, 1987 Jan, 33(1), 52 - 4 Microbiological assay for vitamin B12 with use of a colistin-sulfate-resistant organism; Kelleher BP et al.; In this simplified microbiological assay for serum vitamin B12, Lactobacillus leichmanii (NCIB 8117) adapted to tolerate high concentrations (500 mg/L) of the polymyxin antibiotic colistin sulfate is used . Results were similar in parallel experiments in which we used both the parent strain of L . leichmanii (NCIB 8117), and the new adapted strain . Evaluation of assay performance showed excellent analytical recovery of added cyanocobalamin (97%, SD 3%) and good interassay and intra-assay precision (CV less than 5%) . This modified assay system obviates the need to sterilize culture medium and glassware . Consequently, assay manipulations may be carried out openly, without aseptic precautions . Moreover, this adapted organism would be suitable for use in an automated microbiological assay system. Swed Dent J, 1987, 11(4), 163 - 8 Effect of inactivated salivary lysozyme on L(+)-lactic acid production in saliva and in cultures of Streptococcus mutans BHT; Twetman S et al.; The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial contribution of human lysozyme in saliva . In one series of experiments, L(+)-lactic acid (LA) production in exponential phase cultures of Streptococcus mutans BHT treated with lysozyme-deficient salivary supernatant was determined . In other experiments, LA concentration was measured in whole saliva samples from 22 school-children where the lysozyme activity had been inhibited by the addition of goat antiserum to human lysozyme (GAsL) . LA production in both S . mutants cultures and saliva samples was stimulated by D-glucose addition . The results indicated a time dependent increase (approximately 30%) in LA production in lysozyme-deficient reaction-mixtures compared to untreated controls . The mean LA concentration in lysozyme-inactivated whole saliva samples was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) compared to untreated saliva . However, in 4 out of 22 children the GAsL-treatment did not affect LA production . The individual differences could not be related to salivary secretion rate, lysozyme activity or the number of S . mutans and lactobacilli in saliva . The findings of this study suggest a protective role for lysozyme in limiting acid production in saliva, but individual differences exist. J Dent Res, 1987 Jan, 66(1), 23 - 8 A bacteriological study of rampant caries in children; Boue D et al.; We undertook a microbiological study, in children, of dental plaque from sound surfaces or associated with rampant caries, both black-colored and unstained . Improved selective media allowed for the enumeration of bacteria belonging to specific genera or species present in plaque samples . A nearly similar bacterial distribution was found in both types of rampant caries . Aciduric flora, Streptococcus mutans, Veillonella, and Lactobacillus predominated in plaque over the lesions, whereas extracellular polysaccharide-producing streptococci other than S . mutans, as well as Actinomyces, were more abundant in plaque from sound surfaces . However, more lactobacilli and Actinomyces were recovered from pigmented lesions than from the unstained ones . These findings suggest that the microbial flora associated with black-pigmented lesions did not strongly differ from that observed over unstained caries lesions. Adv Exp Med Biol, 1987, 224, 127 - 34 New developments in the etiology and pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis; Spiegel CA; Bacterial vaginosis is unlike the "classic" sexually transmitted diseases . Unlike cervical infection with Chlamydia or salpingitis caused by N . gonorrhoeae, no single etiologic agent has been identified, and the organisms which are associated with infection have all been found as members of endogenous vaginal flora, with the possible exception of Mobiluncus species . If, as we suspect, BV is due to interactions among various organisms found in the vagina during vaginal health, we must determine what changes in the microbial or chemical ecology determine the development of BV . If, for instance, BV is simply due to an inversion in the concentrations of various organisms such that the anaerobes which are usually present in low numbers become predominant and the lactobacilli which usually predominate become few in number, we must determine which causes what . That is, does some organism or environmental change allow the anaerobes to overgrow and thereby inhibit the lactobacilli, or does some change inhibit the lactobacilli, thereby, allowing the other flora to overgrow? Answers to questions such as these await further research. Zentralbl Gynakol, 1987, 109(23), 1428 - 37 {Bacteriologic studies in premature rupture of fetal membranes and correlation with the clinical aspects of chorioamnionitis and the amnion infection syndrome}; Lettau R et al.; One of the major complications following premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) is ascending infection . In this aspect the bacteria of the vaginal flora play a major part . Bacterial spectra of a group with PROM and another control group with punctual rupture of the membranes are comparatively analysed . This analysis is based on swabs taken from vagina and newborns . Data are interpreted in correlation to clinical picture of chorioamnionitis and amnion infection syndrome (AIS) . Twelve newborns clinical suspected to have a neonatal infection are retrospectively judged . In the group with pregnant women with PROM potential pathological germs such as group B streptococci and E . coli are found more often, whereas physiological flora, specially Lactobacillus species, are clearly reduced . In newborns with AIS even germs can be detected, which so far have seemed to be more apathogenic, such as Gardnerella vaginalis . Bacteriological findings are discussed in connection with clinical parameters, specially group B streptococci are looked at more precisely . In newborns with AIS microbiological results are demonstrated including course of pregnancy and delivery . For the management of PROM alternatives are shown and advice for prophylaxis is given. Gene, 1987, 60(1), 75 - 83 Allele-specific complementation of an Escherichia coli leuB mutation by a Lactobacillus bulgaricus tRNA gene; Hottinger H et al.; A Lactobacillus bulgaricus gene encoding a serine tRNA with the anticodon CGA was isolated from a L . bulgaricus clone bank and characterized . This gene is expressed and active in Escherichia coli . The wild-type form of the gene allele specifically complements the E . coli leuB6 mutation . This process depends on gene copy number; high copy number restores leucine prototrophy, while low copy number does not . We suggest that restoration of activity of the mutant leuB6 allele occurs by missense suppression . The L . bulgaricus tRNA(CGASer) when overproduced in E . coli is misacylated at a low frequency, leading to the insertion of an amino acid other than serine in response to the presumed mutant codon UCG in the leuB6 gene . Nucleotide (nt) sequences flanking the tRNA coding region are present in the L . bulgaricus tRNA gene, closely resembling E . coli promoter and terminator elements . A noteworthy feature of this tRNA gene is the extreme length (22 nt) of its extra arm . The 3'-terminal CCA of the tRNA is not encoded in this tRNA gene and thus must be added posttranscriptionally. Microbios, 1987, 51(208-209), 133 - 43 Effect of different preservative treatments on the microbial population of Nigerian orange juice; Sodeko OO et al.; The effect of different preservative treatments on the microbial load of Nigerian orange juice was studied over a period of 1 month . Results obtained indicated that pasteurization at 60 degrees and 80 degrees C for 20 to 40 min, freezing at -5 degrees C, and addition of sodium benzoate at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.4% (w/v) could form a microbiological basis for the preservation of the juice for 1 month . Leuconostoc mesenteroides, L . paramesenteroides, Streptococcus avium, Lactobacillus plantarum, L . fermentum, L . fructivorans, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were the micro-organisms isolated from the untreated and treated juice samples. Nahrung, 1987, 31(5-6), 359 - 64 Overview of gastrointestinal microecology; Luckey TD; In germ-free life many characteristics are not the consequence of living bacteria's metabolic activities but of bacteria acting as antigens . On the other hand, merely some bacteria species are able to activate the immune system . Noteworthy experimental results relate to inhibitory effects of dietary lactobacilli on intestinal carcinomas . Besides bacteria other components play a role within the very complex man-microbe ecosystem . Thus, protozoa, fungi, and viruses may be generally concerned with diseases in monogastric animals. Scand J Infect Dis, 1987, 19(5), 531 - 7 Impact of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements on the human oropharyngeal and intestinal microflora; Lidbeck A et al.; The influence of Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements on the oropharyngeal and intestinal microflora was studied before, during and after L . acidophilus administration . 10 healthy volunteers participated in the study . L . acidophilus was given as a fermented milk product containing 5 X 10(8)-2 X 10(9) CFU/ml in a dose of 250 ml twice a day for 7 days . Only minor changes in the number of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms in the oropharynx were observed, with no increase in the number of lactobacilli . In the aerobic intestinal microflora a decrease in the number of Escherichia coli was observed in 6/10 subjects . Concerning the anaerobic intestinal microflora there was a significant increase in the number of lactobacilli in 9/10 subjects within 7 days of L . acidophilus administration . The increase in the number of lactobacilli remained as long as the subjects were consuming the L . acidophilus preparation . Lactobacilli returned to the same level as before the study 9 days after the L . acidophilus administration was stopped . Anaerobic cocci showed a decrease in 4/10 subjects, while the number of other anaerobic bacteria remained relatively constant throughout the observation time . These studies suggest that L . acidophilus in this type of preparation should be taken continuously in order to maintain high levels of lactobacilli in the intestine. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1987, 53(4), 215 - 31 Selection of Lactobacillus acidophilus strains for use in "acidophilus products"; Johnson MC et al.; Recent studies by DNA-DNA hybridization revealed that strains now designated as L . acidophilus, can be divided into several groups and only one group should be classified as L . acidophilus . We studied several phenotypic characteristics in representative strains from the six DNA-homology groups of L . acidophilus . No group specific pattern was observed among the strains for fermentation of eight carbohydrates, growth at 15 and 45 degrees C, resistance to 0.2% oxgall, lysis by lysozyme or sensitivity to 17 antibiotics . However, some differences among groups were observed in beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) activity and surface layer (s-layer) protein . Strains in B1 do not have a s-layer or beta-gal while B2 strains also lack a s-layer but do possess beta-gal . All strains in groups A1, A2, A3 and A4, capable of growing in lactose, have beta-gal activity and also have a s-layer composed of protein subunits of different molecular weights (MW) . Strains in A1 homology group have a s-layer with 46 Kd protein subunits while strains in other A groups have s-layer protein subunits that varied in MW within each group . On the basis of these two traits several isolates of unknown homology groups have been tentatively placed in A1, B1 or B2 groups . L . acidophilus from A1 group showed strain variation in beta-gal specific activity and rate of acid production and growth . For use in dietary adjuncts, L . acidophilus strains should be selected for these three and other desirable traits . They should be maintained and grown in media containing lactose. J Basic Microbiol, 1987, 27(3), 123 - 30 Peptidases of Lactobacillus casei and L . plantarum; Abo-Elnaga IG et al.; Fractionation of cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus casei NCDO 151 (grown in Man's et al . (1960) broth) by polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis showed the presence of 4 constitutive peptidases . The enzymes appear to be a tripeptidase with a narrow substrate specificity, two true dipeptidases with identical broad-specificity, and a probable carboxypeptidase with broad-specificity . A probable amino peptidase could also be isolated from the cell-free extract by density gradient electrofocusing . Growth of the organism in skim milk resulted in the formation of two inducible dipeptidases . Examination of 5 other strains of L . casei for the presence of the two constitutive dipeptidases and the carboxypeptidase confirmed the results obtained for the species . Some strains, however, had one more peptidase . The peptidases of the strains differed relatively in the activity and substrate specificity from strain to strain . On polyacrylamide gel, the peptidase activity of L . plantarum appeared as one band only, probably of a carboxypeptidase. Nahrung, 1987, 31(3), 225 - 32 Proteolytic activity of crude cell-free extract of Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum; Hegazi FZ et al.; Crude cell-free extracts of some strains of each L . casei and L . plantarum were assayed for their amino-, imino- and endopeptidase as well as the caseinolytic activity . L-alanine-, L-phenylalanine- and L-leucine-p-nitroanilide but not L-glutamic acid-p-nitroanilide, were hydrolyzed by all the strains indicating an amino-peptidase activity . The activity of proline iminopeptidase was very low compared to that of the aminopeptidase . L . casei could be distinguished from L . plantarum by its high endopeptidase activity against succinyl-phenylalanine- and glutaryl-phenylalanine-p-nitroanilide . The caseinolytic activity of cell-free extract of L . casei ATCC 393 was about one seventh the caseinolytic activity of intact cells, suggesting that the bulk of the cellular proteinase activity is located in the cell wall . It appears that a metallo aminopeptidase and a probable cysteine one are involved in the hydrolysis of amino acid-p-nitroanilide, whereas the endopeptidase activity appears to be related to a cysteine enzyme . Incubation of gels with L-leucine-p-nitroanilide after electrophoresis allowed the revealing of 2 zones of aminopeptidase activity in a strain of L . casei and only one in two others, but in L . plantarum it did not allow the revealing of any . The high proteolytic activities of L . casei compared to those of L . plantarum may explain its more frequent occurrence in cheese and its probable role in the ripening of many cheese varieties. Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 1987, 57(1), 53 - 8 High performance liquid chromatographic determination of riboflavin in food--a comparison with a microbiological method; Johnsson H et al.; The riboflavin content of commercial products of different origin was determined by reversed phase liquid chromatography . The method was compared with a standard microbiological assay with Lactobacillus casei . A comparison between the two methods gave a correlation coefficient of 0.9996 for vitamin enriched foods, dairy and health-food products . For these products the LC-method is well adapted for use in routine work . The results obtained from unenriched flours and flours with a high rate of extraction showed significantly lower values for the LC-method . The sensitivity for the LC-method is good with a minimum detectable quantity of 50 pg. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1987, 24(2), 99 - 105 Antimetastatic effect of Lactobacillus casei YIT9018 (LC 9018) on a highly metastatic variant of B16 melanoma in C57BL/6J mice; Matsuzaki T et al.; The effect of Lactobacillus casei YIT9018 (LC 9018) on a highly metastatic variant of B16 melanoma, B16-BL6, was determined in C57BL/6 mice . Intralesional (i.l.) injection of LC 9018 inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival after s.c . inoculation of B16-BL6 into C57BL/6 mice . Injection of LC 9018 i.v . protected the mice against pulmonary metastasis after i.v . inoculation of B16-BL6 . Injection of LC 9018 i.l . before surgical excision of the primary tumor inhibited axillary lymph node metastasis and i.v . injection of LC 9018 after surgical excision of the primary tumor inhibited both axillary lymph node and lung metastases . On the other hand, the combination of i.l . and i.v . injections of LC 9018 markedly inhibited both lymph node and lung metastases . Natural killer cell activity of axillary lymph node cells was augmented by the injection of LC 9018 into a front footpad, while the cytolytic activity of axillary lymph node cells was significantly enhanced . However, the cytolytic activity was diminished by depleting whole lymph node cells of the plastic adherent cells . Furthermore, alveolar macrophage-mediated cytotoxic activity was augmented by the i.v . injection of LC 9018. J Anim Sci, 1987 Jan, 64(1), 182 - 90 Poultry offal ensiled with lactobacillus acidophilus for growing and finishing swine diets; Tibbetts GW et al.; Poultry offal (heads, feet, viscera) from a broiler processing plant was ground and mixed with corn, dried molasses and a Lactobacillus acidophilus culture . Fermentation was shown to be effective in batch sizes of 3.8, 75.7 and 208.1 liters, as well as a 1,360-kg silo . It was generally complete at 72 h . In trial 1, rats were fed silage mixtures of 60:30:5:5, 45:45:5:5 and 30:60:5:5, offal, corn, molasses and inoculant, respectively . Rats did not gain as well when fed the silage diets (P less than .05) as when fed the basal diet; however, the ranking of silages was 45:45, 60:30 and 30:60, offal-to-corn ratio for rat daily gains and feed conversions . In trial 2, growing-finishing pigs were fed the 60:30:5:5 silage at rates of 0, 10, 20 and 30% of the diet . Average daily gains and feed-to-gain ratios were not affected by including offal silage at up to 20% of the diet, but 30% offal silage in diets resulted in depressed gains (P less than .05) and increased feed-to-gain ratios . Carcasses were not different among treatments for dressing percentage, length, average backfat and percentage of ham, loin, shoulder, lean cuts and primal cuts . Carcasses from pigs fed 20 and 30% offal silage had significantly darker and firmer loin-eyes than those from control fed pigs . Marbling was higher (P less than .05) in loin-eyes from pigs fed 30% offal silage as compared with those from pigs fed 0% offal silage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Plasmid, 1987 Jan, 17(1), 69 - 72 Sequence and functional analysis of a divergent promoter from a cryptic plasmid of Lactobacillus acidophilus 168 S; Damiani G et al.; We have characterized three of at least five plasmids borne by Lactobacillus acidophilus 168 S . Restriction mapping indicates extensive sequence homology between at least two of them (p1 and p3) . We have cloned them in Escherichia coli, and for the smallest (p1) we present the sequence of a region with two divergently arranged promoters which probably share a symmetrical (TTTAAA)-35 box and function efficiently in E . coli cells; an open reading frame contiguous to the promoter, which codes for a 120 amino acid protein of unknown function, and is transcribed in E . coli; and a transcription termination sequence next to this open reading frame . The promoter region contains an AT cluster which is similar to that of the ori2 region of the E . coli F plasmid, and is probably involved in the control of the replication of p1. Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1987, 25(2), 100 - 4 Inhibition of tumor metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma in C57BL/6 mice by intrapleural administration of Lactobacillus casei; Matsuzaki T et al.; The antimetastatic effect of Lactobacillus casei YIT9018 (LC 9018) against Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) in C57BL/6 mice was determined . Intrapleural (i.pl.) administration of LC 9018 was effective in inhibiting pulmonary metastasis after s.c . inoculation of 3LL tumors into C57BL/6 mice . The combination of i.pl . and intralesional or i.v . injections of LC 9018 also markedly inhibited pulmonary metastasis in 3LL-bearing mice . The i.pl . administration of LC 9018 into mice induced an increase in the number of thoracic exudate cells (TEC) and the cell population in the TEC was mainly polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the early stage, while macrophages were dominant in the late stage . In addition, in vitro cytolytic activity against 3LL cells and natural killer cell activity of TEC were augmented by the i.pl . administration of LC 9018 . Furthermore, i.pl . administration of LC 9018 into the mice rendered their lung macrophages tumoricidal for 3LL cells in vitro . These results show that TEC induced by i.pl . administration of LC 9018 played a key role in the inhibition of metastasis in 3LL-bearing mice. Nahrung, 1987, 31(10), 971 - 80 {The effect of a raffinose diet and cooked legumes on various processes in the large bowel in the rat}; Jacorzynski B; Changes of pH, enzyme activity and microflora in the large bowel of the rat after feeding them various diets containing raffinose and leguminous seeds (soybean, peas and beans) have been studied . Feeding a 12% raffinose-containing diet as well as cooked leguminous seeds lowered pH . However, similar decrease of pH was observed after some other diets (for example, milk powder or raw pearl barley) . Remarkable alpha-galactosidase activity in the large bowel of rats after legume diet has been observed whereas it was not noted in the small bowel . The source of alpha-galactosidase are probably bacteria of the large intestine content (Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus, Escherichia coli) . No relationship between the isolated microflora and kind of a diet was observed. J Biol Chem, 1986 Dec 5, 261(34), 15836 - 43 Multisubstrate analogs for deoxynucleoside kinases . Triphosphate end products and synthetic bisubstrate analogs exhibit identical modes of binding and are useful probes for distinguishing kinetic mechanisms; Ikeda S et al.; Comparative inhibition kinetics with natural dNTP end products (dNp3) and new synthetic bisubstrate-type analogs, dNp4A (deoxynucleoside 5'-adenosine 5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate), have been studied with their target deoxynucleoside kinases from Lactobacillus acidophilus . Analysis of inhibition specificity, inhibition patterns, and Ki(app) under various conditions has revealed the following conclusions . Both dNTP and dNp4A bind to the active site of the corresponding kinase through multiple binding determinants . The deoxynucleoside moiety of dNTP fits optimally at the deoxynucleoside binding site and provides the basis for its inhibition specificity, whereas the triphosphate group interacts with the ATP binding site, reinforcing the affinity of the molecule as a potent end product inhibitor (Ki = 0.4-3 microM) . The adenosine moiety of dNp4A does not contribute to the binding of this compound, whereas the tetraphosphate portion is the second binding determinant, just as in the model developed for dNTP . dNTP and dNp4A proved to be useful tools for distinguishing the kinetic mechanisms of kinases which follow sequential pathways, i.e . the rapid equilibrium Random Bi Bi for dCyd and dGuo kinases and the steady state Ordered Bi Bi mechanism for two dAdo kinases associated either with dCyd kinase or with dGuo kinase on different multifunctional proteins. Bioorg Khim, 1986 Dec, 12(12), 1625 - 36 {Mass-spectrometric determination of the structure of glycopeptides from the bacterial cell wall (illustrated by Lactobacillus bulgaricus)}; Reshetova OS et al.; Mass spectrometry has been applied to the structural analysis of one of the glycopeptides from blastolysin, antitumor bacterial preparation isolated from the Lactobacillus bulgaricus cell wall . The glycopeptide (MW 10,000) was subjected to partial acid hydrolysis (6 N HCl, 100 degrees C) and the resulting products were dansylated or trifluoroacetylated and methylated or deuteromethylated . The mixture of these derivatives was examined by high-performance liquid chromatography or gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry using electron impact and ammonia chemical ionization techniques. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1986 Dec, 94(6), 399 - 403 Vaginal lactobacilli inhibiting growth of Gardnerella vaginalis, Mobiluncus and other bacterial species cultured from vaginal content of women with bacterial vaginosis; Skarin A et al.; On a solid agar medium the growth-inhibitory effect of 9 Lactobacillus strains cultured from vaginal content was tested on bacteria cultured from vaginal content of women with bacterial vaginosis: Mobiluncus, Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides and anaerobic cocci . Inhibition zones were observed in the growth of all of the strains isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis around all lactobacilli . The inhibitory effect of the lactobacilli was further tested on various anaerobic and facultatively anaerobic species, both type strains and fresh extragenitally cultured strains . Four Bacteroides fragilis strains as well as 2 out of 4 Staphylococcus aureus strains were clearly inhibited by the lactobacilli . The inhibition zones were generally wider at pH 5.5 than at 6.0 . For all inhibited strains, (the S . aureus excepted) a low pH on the agar around the lactobacilli correlated to wider growth-inhibition zones. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1986 Dec, 183(1), 23 - 7 Specific nutritional requirements of Lactobacilli spp . from meat; Montel MC et al.; The nutritive requirements of atypical streptobacteria isolated from fresh meat were examined . Niacin and pantothenate were essential for all strains and some strains also required pyridoxal phosphate and riboflavin . Most of them were characterized by their great requirements for aminoacids and their failure to ferment many sugars compared with L . plantarum or L . casei. Vet Rec, 1986 Nov 15, 119(20), 495 - 500 The influence of dietary protein and antimicrobial feed additives on salmonella carriage by broiler chickens; Hinton M et al.; Salmonella carriage in broiler chickens was not apparently influenced by the protein concentration of the ration, pelleting or by the coccidiostat monensin . The inclusion of penicillin in the diet was associated with an increase in salmonella shedding, particularly in the first half of the rearing period, but did not influence the lactobacillary count in the crop or the pH of the contents of the crop, gizzard and caecum . Furazolidone medication (150 mg/kg food) for the first 10 days had no effect on salmonella carriage at the time of slaughter (seven weeks) and studies into the influence of growth promoting antibiotics (avoparcin, bacitracin and virginiamycin) on salmonella shedding were inconclusive . Circumstantial evidence indicated that the food was the most probable source of infection for the birds studied in these experiments. J Biol Chem, 1986 Nov 15, 261(32), 15186 - 91 Cloning and nucleotide sequence of wild type and a mutant histidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30a; Vanderslice P et al.; Prohistidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30a is a protein that autoactivates to histidine decarboxylase by cleaving its peptide chain between serines 81 and 82 and converting Ser-82 to a pyruvoyl moiety . The pyruvoyl group serves as the prosthetic group for the decarboxylation reaction . We have cloned and determined the nucleotide sequence of the gene for this enzyme from a wild type strain and from a mutant with altered autoactivation properties . The nucleotide sequence modifies the previously determined amino acid sequence of the protein . A tripeptide missed in the chemical sequence is inserted, and three other amino acids show conservative changes . The activation mutant shows a single change of Gly-58 to an Asp . Sequence analysis up- and downstream from the gene suggests that histidine decarboxylase is part of a polycistronic message, and that the transcriptional promotor region is strongly homologous to those of other Gram-positive organisms. Infect Immun, 1986 Nov, 54(2), 494 - 9 The ability to sensitize host cells for destruction by autologous complement is a general property of lipoteichoic acid; Weinreb BD et al.; Previous studies have demonstrated that lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Streptococcus pneumoniae binds to erythrocytes and renders them susceptible to lysis by autologous complement . The present study was performed to determine whether LTA from two other gram-positive bacterial species had the ability to render mammalian cells susceptible to lysis by autologous complement . Human erythrocytes were sensitized with LTA from S . pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, or Lactobacillus fermentum . Under incubation in normal autologous serum, lysis was observed with each of the LTA-sensitized erythrocyte preparations . When erythrocytes from a C2-deficient patient were sensitized with the LTA preparations and then incubated in autologous, C2-deficient serum, the erythrocytes sensitized with S . pyogenes or L . fermentum LTA demonstrated relatively little lysis, whereas the erythrocytes sensitized with S . pneumoniae LTA yielded near-total lysis . After reconstitution of the C2-deficient serum with purified human C2, lysis was observed with all three LTA preparations . When erythrocytes from an agammaglobulinemic patient were sensitized with either the S . pyogenes or the L . fermentum LTA, they were not lysed in the presence of autologous agammaglobulinemic serum, whereas the erythrocytes sensitized with S . pneumoniae LTA were completely lysed . Serum obtained from the agammaglobulinemic patient after reconstitution with intravenous pooled gamma globulin was able to lyse autologous erythrocytes sensitized with each of the three LTA preparations . These results demonstrate that the ability to render host cells susceptible to lysis by autologous complement is a general property of LTA . Whether activation of the autologous complement occurs by the classical or alternative pathways and whether it is antibody dependent depends on the nature of the bacterial LTA. Fed Proc, 1986 Nov, 45(12), 2765 - 72 Design of dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors from X-ray crystal structures; Roth B; Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an important therapeutic target for treatment of cancer and microbial disease . Its species specificity has resulted in the sequencing of a number of vertebrate and bacterial DHFRs, and the three-dimensional structure of isozymes from Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus casei, and chicken liver has been elucidated, in the presence of the coenzyme NADPH and of a number of inhibitors . This information has enabled scientists to try to design improved and more selective inhibitors, based on the known coordinates of the enzyme features . Simple use of computer graphics or wire models has resulted in the design of inhibitors with 50 times the activity of trimethoprim, an antibacterial DHFR inhibitor, by making use of an unused ionic binding site . However, in a number of instances this approach was completely unsuccessful because hydrophobic sites of interaction were preferred . More sophisticated techniques involve energy minimization of the small molecule-macromolecule interactions to optimize the geometry . In this paper I describe the use of a molecular mechanics program, AMBER, for predicting the geometry and relative energetics of binding . Very encouraging results have been obtained for a closely related series of compounds . Where differing entropic and solvent effects are involved, predictions may be poor . The use of super computers and molecular dynamics methods should increase this capability in the near future. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus, 1986 Nov-Dec, 23(6), 284 - 6 Bacterial flora of the conjunctiva at birth; Isenberg SJ et al.; In the largest study to date of bacterial flora in newborns, we cultured the conjunctivae of 100 infants within 15 minutes after vaginal delivery and before any antimicrobial agents had been applied to the eye . All cultures were intensively analyzed for anaerobic and aerobic bacteria . By far the largest group of bacteria isolated were microaerophilic, such as Lactobacillus species and diphtheroids, accounting for 46.8% of positive cultures and 62.3% of all bacteria isolated . The second largest group were true anaerobic bacteria, such as Bacteroides and Propionibacterium species . The smallest group were aerobic bacteria . This incidence of non-aerobic bacteria in the conjunctiva of newborns is the highest reported to date . Our finding should alert clinicians to consider non-aerobic, especially microaerophilic, bacteria in the differential diagnosis of ophthalmia neonatorum . The high rate of supposedly sterile cultures reported in other studies may be explained at least partially by improper isolation of non-aerobic bacteria. Pediatr Infect Dis, 1986 Nov-Dec, 5(6), 663 - 8 Lack of effect of Lactobacillus on gastrointestinal bacterial colonization in premature infants; Reuman PD et al.; Studies were carried out on premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit to determine the effect of feeding of lactobacilli on colonization of the gastrointestinal tract by antibiotic-resistant gram-negative enteric organisms . Thirty premature infants were matched by birth weight and gestational age, randomized and fed double blind either lactobacilli-containing formula or non-lactobacilli-containing formula within 72 hours of delivery . The two study groups were screened weekly by culture for stool lactobacilli, for gram-negative bacteria and for antibiotic resistance of these bacteria . Lactobacilli were cultured from the stools of 13 of 15 patients receiving lactobacilli and from 3 of 15 patients not receiving lactobacilli (P less than 0.001) . Gram-negative enteric organisms were isolated during 40 of the 86 weeks (47%) of hospitalization for patients receiving lactobacilli and during 28 of 57 weeks (49%) for patients not receiving lactobacilli . There was no significant difference between the study groups in the number of resistant organisms or in the proportion of resistant organisms per gram-negative enteric isolates (4 of 40 vs . 0 of 28) . These results suggest that facultative gram-negative enteric bacterial colonization, with either total or aminoglycoside-resistant strains, is not decreased by oral feedings of Lactobacillus acidophilus in premature infants. Biochemistry, 1986 Oct 21, 25(21), 6650 - 5 Conformational analysis of thymidylate synthase from amino acid sequence and circular dichroism; Manavalan P et al.; Circular dichroism studies were carried out in the vacuum ultraviolet region for thymidylate synthase from Lactobacillus casei and its ligand complexes . The CD spectrum was analyzed for secondary structure by our method and the variable selection method, and both gave similar results . Our method predicts 33% alpha-helix, 25% (23% antiparallel and 2% parallel) beta-sheet, 20% turns, and 16% other structure . The secondary structure of this protein was also predicted from the amino acid sequence by four different methods . Though there is a variation in the prediction among these methods, the prediction of 32% alpha-helix and 23% beta-sheet by combining the four methods is in excellent agreement with our CD results . Further, the location of the predicted regions of alpha-helices and beta-strands along the sequence and the CD characteristics strongly suggest that this protein belongs to an alpha + beta structural class . Binding of the inhibitor FdUMP or the cofactor 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate did not change the CD spectrum . However, when both ligands were present, there was a significant change in the CD spectrum and the maximum changes occurred when the concentration of FdUMP was 1 mol/mol of enzyme . The addition of FdUMP and cofactor causes, respectively, a 5% and 6% decrease in beta-sheet and beta-turns and about an 8% increase in "other" structure. Anal Biochem, 1986 Oct, 158(1), 55 - 8 Assay for biotin in the presence of dethiobiotin with Lactobacillus plantarum; DeMoll E et al.; At concentrations greater than approximately 0.5 microM, dethiobiotin can cause the bioassay for biotin, which employs Lactobacillus plantarum, to over value the actual biotin level . This can be as much as 30-fold at 10 microM DL-dethiobiotin and 5 pM biotin . Dethiobiotin does this by exerting a sparing effect on the biotin response by the assay organism . We demonstrate one way to determine the actual biotin concentration in the presence of interfering levels of dethiobiotin. Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 1986 Oct, 8(5), 370 - 4 D-(+)-lactate dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus murinus; Strasser de Saad AM et al.; D-(+)-Lactate dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus murinus was purified 670-fold . The Mr was 140,000 as determined by gel filtration . Maximum enzymatic activity was observed at 25 degrees C and pH 6.0 in 200 mM Na2KPO4 buffer . When the temperature was increased from 60 to 65 degrees C, the enzyme was completely inactive in 5 min . The apparent Km for pyruvate and NADH were 4.7 x 10(-4) and 1 x 10(-5) M, respectively . Pyruvate analogs such as oxalate, oxamate, 2-oxobutyrate, and malonate acted as a competitive inhibitors . L-Lactate and L-malate were noncompetitive inhibitors. Scand J Dent Res, 1986 Oct, 94(5), 436 - 42 Cross-sectional study of patients treated with removable partial dentures with special reference to the caries situation; Bergman B et al.; Thirty-four patients provided with removable partial dentures (RPDs) were reexamined after 3 yr . Caries that had developed during the period were analyzed with regard to the following potential caries risk factors: Lactobacilli, Streptococcus mutans, flow rate and buffer pH of paraffin stimulated saliva, oral hygiene and daily sucrose intake . Of 436 initially intact surfaces 31 (7.1%) had decayed and/or were restored during the 3-yr period . Caries recurred in 26 (6.2%) out of 422 initially restored surfaces during the same period . The development of new or recurrent caries had no correlation to whether or not the surfaces affected were in contact with the RPDs . No single caries risk factor seemed to be sufficiently closely correlated to the number of caries lesions developed to be used alone in the selection of patients at risk . When the sum of assumed negative factors was used a correlation was found for the group as a whole between the number of negative factors and the development of caries . However predicting the development of caries in any individual case seems to be more complicated. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Oct, 52(4), 898 - 901 Radiation resistance of lactobacilli isolated from radurized meat relative to growth and environment; Hastings JW et al.; Of 113 lactobacilli isolated from radurized (5 kGy) minced meat, 7 Lactobacillus sake strains, 1 L . curvatus strain, and 1 L . farciminis strain were used for radiation resistance studies in a semisynthetic substrate (i.e., modified MRS broth) . Five reference Lactobacillus spp., one Staphylococcus aureus strain, and one Salmonella typhimurium strain were used for comparative purposes . All L . sake isolates exhibited the phenomenon of being more resistant to gamma-irradiation in the exponential (log) phase than in the stationary phase of their growth cycles by a factor of 28% . Four references strains also exhibited this phenomenon, with L . sake (DSM 20017) showing a 68% increase in resistance in the log phase over the stationary phase . This phenomenon was not common to all bacteria tested and is not common to all strains with high radiation resistance . Four L . sake isolates and three reference strains were used in radiation sensitivity testing in a natural food system (i.e., meat) . The bacteria were irradiated in minced meat and packaged under four different conditions (air, vacuum, CO2, and N2) . Organisms exhibited the highest death rate (lowest D10 values {doses required to reduce the logarithm of the bacterial population by 1} ) under CO2 packaging conditions, but resistance to irradiation was increased under N2 . The D10 values of the isolates were generally greater than those of the reference strains . The D10 values were also higher (approximately two times) in meat than in semisynthetic growth medium. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Oct, 52(4), 727 - 32 Residual effect of storage in an elevated carbon dioxide atmosphere on the microbial flora of rock cod (Sebastes spp.); Wang MY et al.; A residual inhibitory effect on microbial growth due to modified-atmosphere (MA) storage (MA, 80% CO2-20% air) was demonstrated for rock cod fillets stored in MA and transferred to air at 4 degrees C . Results of measurements of CO2 concentrations of the fillets suggested that the residual effect after transfer from MA to air was not due to retention of CO2 at the surface of the fillets but was probably due to the microbial ecology of the system . Lactobacillus spp . and tan Alteromonas spp . (TAN) predominated after 7 and 14 days of storage in MA . During storage in MA, Pseudomonas spp . were inhibited or killed . Following transfer from MA to air, the percentage of the total flora represented by Lactobacillus spp . and TAN bacteria decreased, and 6 days after transfer Pseudomonas spp . were again dominant. Biochemistry, 1986 Sep 23, 25(19), 5453 - 9 Comparison of solution structures of dihydrofolate reductases and enzyme-ligand complexes using cross-reacting antibodies; Ratnam M et al.; Polyclonal antibodies against dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from the human lymphoblastoid cell line WIL-2/M4 were used as probes to compare the antigenic structures in solution of native DHFRs obtained from a broad range of species and their complexes with substrate, cofactor, and folate antagonist inhibitors . All these antibodies could bind to the denatured human DHFR, indicating that they were specific for the primary structure of this enzyme . Denatured chicken liver and L1210 murine leukemic DHFRs competed for all of the antibodies that bound to the human enzyme, although less effectively than the denatured human enzyme, showing the presence of similar epitopes among the vertebrate enzymes . However, both direct binding and competition experiments showed low antibody cross-reactivities with native chicken liver (8%) and murine (10%) DHFRs, suggesting differences in the disposition of similar epitopes in these enzymes . The lactobacillus casei DHFR showed a low amount (less than 2%) of cross-reactivity with the antibodies while the same antibodies did not cross-react with the Escherichia coli enzyme . DHFR from soybean seedlings competed for a large proportion (70%) of the anti-human DHFR antibodies, indicating a close similarity in the antigenic structures of plant and animal DHFRs . Binary complexes of the L . casei, avian, murine, and human DHFRs with dihydrofolate, methotrexate (MTX), trimethoprim (TMP), NADPH, and NADP+ all showed significantly lower antibody binding capacity as compared with the corresponding free enzymes . Further, these ligands inhibited antibody binding to the enzyme to varying degrees.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Mol Biol, 1986 Sep 5, 191(1), 147 - 50 Crystallization and crystallographic data for new forms of thymidylate synthase from Lactobacillus casei; Tykarska E et al.; Several new crystal forms of thymidylate synthase (5,10-methlenetetrahydrofolate:dUMP C-methyltransferase; EC 2.1.1.45) were obtained by controlled pH change . In the crystals the dimeric molecule has a 2-fold symmetry axis coinciding with crystallographic symmetry . The crystals scatter to at least 2.7 A resolution in the synchrotron X-ray beam and appear to be suitable for high-resolution X-ray diffraction analysis . The crystals were successfully derivatized and preliminary results are reported for the covalent inhibitory ternary complex of thymidylate synthase, 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. Can J Microbiol, 1986 Sep, 32(9), 758 - 60 Fast and slow milk-coagulating variants of Lactobacillus helveticus HLM 1; Morelli L et al.; Slow milk-coagulating variants were isolated from Lactobacillus helveticus HLM 1, a fast strain which coagulates milk in 16 h at 42 degrees C . Variants were isolated after subculturing in reconstituted skim milk or complex broth media . Analysis of plasmid content revealed that in slow variants a 3.5-megadalton plasmid was missing. Antibiot Med Biotekhnol, 1986 Sep, 31(9), 691 - 4 {Enhancement of the phagocytic activity of cells of the mononuclear phagocytosing system by the peroral administration of lactobacilli}; Zaitseva LG et al.; The phagocytic function of the peritoneal exudate cells after oral and intraperitoneal administration of Lactobacillus casei subsp . casei, L . plantarum and L . fermentum was studied on mice C57Bl and inbred rats CDF/F344/Crl . The phagocytic function was estimated by the capacity for absorbing and excreting 14C-labeled typhoid vaccine . Intraperitoneal administration of a mixture of various Lactobacillus strains resulted in two-fold increase of the bacteria absorption and digestion when the Lactobacillus strains were administered 4 days before administration of the test antigen . On their simultaneous administration the phagocytic function of the peritoneal exudate cells lowered . Oral administration of the Lactobacillus strains for 6 and 18 days resulted, respectively, in 1.5- and 3-fold increase of absorption and digestion of the labeled typhoid vaccine . This route of Lactobacillus administration provided more rapid increase of the level of the antibodies to the typhoid antigen . Possible immunomodulating action of Lactobacillus administered orally is discussed. J Am Geriatr Soc, 1986 Sep, 34(9), 627 - 32 Folate and vitamin B12 levels in an urban elderly population with chronic diseases . Assessment of two laboratory folate assays: microbiologic and radioassay; Grinblat J et al.; Folate levels of serum and red blood cells (RBC) and vitamin B12 serum levels were investigated in 326 urban chronically ill elderly ambulatory patients and 41 healthy young control subjects . Two laboratory methods were used for investigating the folate levels, the microbiologic assay (MBA) with Lactobacillus casei and radioassay (RA) . Serum and RBC samples of 326 patients were tested by the folate MBA and 270 of the same samples by the RIA methods . In the MBA 6.8% of the patients and 12.2% of controls had low levels of folate RBC (less than 200 ng/mL) and 1.8% of patients and 4.8% of controls had low serum folate levels (less than 5 ng/mL) . All of the patients with the low folate levels had normal hematologic findings and no clinical symptoms of folate deficiency . In the RIA method, all of the patients and almost all of the control subjects (except one) had normal folate levels . Ten of the patients (3%) had low levels of serum vitamin B12 (less than 200 pg/mL) . They were hematologically normal . They had normal Schilling tests and normal vitamin B12 dietary intake . Their RBC folate levels were normal and even somewhat higher . Forty percent of these patients had macular degeneration of the eyes . The data indicate the superiority of the RA method over the MBA and bring into question the accuracy of previous studies . The data furnish further evidence that a low vitamin B12 level in the elderly is not necessarily a true vitamin B12 deficiency and raise the possibility of an association between low B12 serum levels and macular degeneration of the eyes. J Clin Periodontol, 1986 Sep, 13(8), 758 - 67 Long-term evaluation of root surface caries in periodontally treated patients; Ravald N et al.; Caries development on exposed root surfaces was evaluated in 31 patients who had been subjected to surgical and/or nonsurgical periodontal treatment 8 years earlier due to advanced chronic periodontitis . Besides assessments for evaluation of the periodontal treatment, a number of examinations and tests were carried out in order to assess variables presumed to influence the root surface caries development . Both statistical and graphical analyses were carried out to test differences between groups of subjects and to evaluate the variables studied as possible risk factors for root surface caries . The variables studied were: salivary lactobacillus count, salivary Streptococcus mutans count, plaque score, salivary secretion rate, salivary buffer effect, oral sugar clearance time, dietary habits and the age of the subject . The final results support previous findings from an initial 4-year period that root surface caries occurs, though to a minor extent, in this patient category demonstrating good or excellent periodontal conditions after periodontal treatment . A positive correlation was found between the baseline and final root surface caries scores . After the second 4-year period, the salivary counts of S . mutans and lactobacilli, the plaque score and the dietary habits differed significantly between groups of subjects who had developed 0 or greater than 5 new DFS % . Root surface caries was far more prevalent when risk values of the variables studied were present than when they were absent . The important variables in this respect differed considerably between the subjects . No single variable was found to be discriminative in all subjects. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1986 Sep, (9), 32 - 5 {Characteristics of blastolysin preparations in their ability to inhibit hemagglutination caused by bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus}; Bershadskaia ED et al.; Anabol and blastolysin preparations obtained from L . bulgaricus may contain surface structural components of the initial strain with adhesion activity; of these, one is similar in specificity to L . casei adhesin and the other, to L . plantarum adhesin . The antigenic activity of anabol and blastolysin, evaluated in the immunodiffusion test, does not correlate with their capacity for binding the receptors of susceptible bacterial cells, determined in the Lactobacillus-induced hemagglutination inhibition test. Rev Infect Dis, 1986 Sep-Oct, 8(5), 771 - 6 Clinical manifestations and therapy of Lactobacillus endocarditis: report of a case and review of the literature; Sussman JI et al.; A case of Lactobacillus casei endocarditis that occurred on a Carpentier-Edwards porcine valve is reported . A review of the literature, which yielded 23 other reports of endocarditis due to this organism, suggests that Lactobacillus is a rare cause of endocarditis . Typically, it occurs in a patient with preexisting structural heart disease (20 of 24 {83%}) and often with some form of recent dental infection or manipulation (18 of 24 {75%}) . Six (25%) of 24 patients died of this infection; however, only one (5%) of 19 who were treated with adequate antimicrobial therapy died . The response to antimicrobial therapy was better in the more recent cases . Of those 18 patients who completed a full course of therapy, seven (39%) experienced a relapse; five of these were cured of their infection with a second course of antimicrobial therapy, which usually included higher doses of intravenous penicillin . Our case represents the second reported case that required surgical intervention for cure . Embolic phenomena occurred in 10 (42%) of 24 cases . Various combinations of antibiotics have been successful in achieving cure; however, at present, high-dose penicillin (greater than 25 million units/day) in combination with an aminoglycoside for a period of six weeks appears to be the optimum therapy. J Med Chem, 1986 Sep, 29(9), 1786 - 9 Synthesis and antifolate properties of 5,10-methylenetetrahydro-8,10-dideazaminopterin; DeGraw JI et al.; The synthesis of the 5,10-methylene analogue of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8,10-dideazaminopterin, a potential dual inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and thymidylate synthase (TS) enzymes, is described . The dimethyl ester of 10-carboxy-4-amino-4-deoxy-8,10-dideazapteroic acid was converted to the tetrahydro derivative by hydrogenation . Thermally induced cyclization of the 10-carbomethoxy and the 5-NH groups afforded the 5,10-carbonyl analogue . Reduction of the lactam with borane readily yielded the key 5,10-methylene-4-amino-4-deoxy-8,10-dideazatetrahydropteroic acid methyl ester . Saponification of the benzoate ester and coupling with L-glutamate concluded the synthesis . The title compound was a modest inhibitor of growth in folate-dependent bacteria . Streptococcus faecium and Lactobacillus casei, but inhibition of DHFR or TS derived from L . casei was poor . The compound was also a weak inhibitor of DHFR derived from L1210 murine leukemia and was a weak inhibitor of L1210 growth in culture. J Urol, 1986 Sep, 136(3), 719 - 21 Antitumor activity of Lactobacillus casei (LC 9018) against experimental mouse bladder tumor (MBT-2); Asano M et al.; The purpose of this paper is to investigate the inhibitory effect of Lactobacillus casei (LC 9018) on the growth of transplantable murine bladder tumor . Lactobacillus casei, viable and/or heat-killed bacteria, either in oral or intravenous administration, produced a significant inhibitory effect on the tumor growth and much less pulmonary metastasis. J Virol, 1986 Sep, 59(3), 551 - 5 Physical and genetic characterization of the genome of Lactobacillus lactis bacteriophage LL-H; Trautwetter A et al.; Bacteriophage LL-H is a virulent phage of Lactobacillus lactis LL23 . A restriction map of the phage genome was constructed with various restriction endonucleases . This chromosome has a 34-kilobase size and seems to be circularly permuted . We used a bank of LL-H restriction fragments to study the expression of five of the seven main phage particle proteins . Immunoblotting experiments permitted the mapping on the chromosome of several genes coding for phage particle proteins . We also show that the gene of the main capsid protein is expressed from its own promoter in an Escherichia coli strain. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Aug, 52(2), 392 - 3 Protoplast fusion of Lactobacillus fermentum; Iwata M et al.; Tetracycline-resistant (Tetr) erythromycin-resistant (Eryr) fusants of Lactobacillus fermentum 604 carrying a 10-megadalton Tetr plasmid and L . fermentum 605 carrying a 38-megadalton Eryr plasmid were obtained by means of polyethylene glycol-induced protoplast fusion. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1986 Aug, 52(2), 302 - 4 Lipoteichoic acids in Lactobacillus strains that colonize the mouse gastric epithelium; Sherman LA et al.; Extracts of cells of 22 strains of Lactobacillus species, and of fluids from cultures in a defined medium of two of the strains, were assayed by hemagglutination inhibition for lipoteichoic acids . A total of 10 of the preparations gave positive tests for the acids, including those from eight strains known to adhere to the keratinized squamous epithelium of the mouse stomach . These findings are consistent with an hypothesis that lactobacilli colonize the epithelial surface via adhesive interaction with the keratinized cells mediated by macromolecular complexes containing lipoteichoic acids. Infect Immun, 1986 Aug, 53(2), 404 - 10 Effect of perorally administered lactobacilli on macrophage activation in mice; Perdigon G et al.; The effect of perorally (p.o) administered Lactobacillus casei and L . bulgaricus on macrophage activation in mice was studied . L . casei and L . bulgaricus were administered p.o . to mice for 8 days . The macrophage activation was measured on days 2, 3, 5, and 8 of lactobacillus administration by using biochemical and functional criteria . We measured the release of lysosomal hydrolases, the level of a nonlysosomal enzyme, and in vitro phagocytic activity of mouse peritoneal macrophages . All the assays were performed comparatively with mice inoculated with L . casei and L . bulgaricus (viable and nonviable cells) intraperitoneally (i.p.) at the same dose as for p.o . administration . The phagocytic activity was significantly higher in mice treated i.p . than in control mice . For p.o . administration, there was an increase only when L . casei was used . L . bulgaricus had little effect . No differences were found between viable and nonviable cells . The phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system was tested by the carbon clearance test, which showed that L . casei and L . bulgaricus accelerate the phagocytic function in mice treated p.o and i.p., from day 2 onward . These observations show that L . casei and L . bulgaricus given by p.o . administration are able to activate macrophages in mice and suggest that these bacteria, when passing through the intestinal tract, may be responsible for the enhanced host immune response . This fact is very significant because the diet includes fermented and manufactured products containing lactobacilli. Genitourin Med, 1986 Aug, 62(4), 256 - 63 Quantitative studie