Mikrobiyol Bul, 1982 Jan, 16(1), 43 - 52 {The value of antibody coated bacteria in the evaluation of the level of urinary tract infections}; Demirag MN et al.; In 51 female and 43 male patients urinary tract infections (UTI) were detected by urinary cultures . The levels of UTI were detected by clinical and by physical studies, and by laboratory and X ray findings . In 42 of the patients, lower level UTI and in 52 patients upper level UTI were found . In 57.4% of the cases E . coli and in the remainder, proteus, pseudomonas, klebsiella, staphylococci and streptococci were found in decreasing rates as being the etiological agents of UTI . In 20 male and 32 female patients, upper level UTI were found . In the urine sediments of 85% males and 84.3% females with upper level UTI and in 13% males and 11% females with lower level UTI, antibody coated bacteria (ACB) were found to be positive . The difference of ABD in upper and lower level UTI was found to be significant and the detection of ACB by direct fluorescens method in urine sediments was shown to be valuable in the diagnosis of UTI. Chemotherapy, 1982, 28(5), 381 - 9 Kinetic in vitro studies of antibacterial effects of the combination of new penicillins and cefalosporins against Proteus vulgaris; Dalhoff A et al.; In vitro studies simulating human as well as animal pharmacokinetics were performed in order to assess the combination effect of mezlocillin plus cefotaxime or cefoperazone . Different Proteus vulgaris strains exhibiting varying degrees of in vivo response to the antibiotics were selected for this study . Retardation of bactericidal efficacy was caused by the combination of mezlocillin plus cefoperazone in those strains exhibiting high degrees of beta-lactamase inducibility and being exposed to high levels of cefoperazone; lower drug levels caused indifferent effects . In any case, cultures were completely sterilized during the study period . Among the three beta-lactams studied, cefoperazone was the best beta-lactase inducer, while cefotaxime and mezlocillin exhibited only minor inducer activity . The combination of mezlocillin with cefotaxime, being only minimally active as beta-lactamase inducers, caused either indifferent or synergistic effects when simulating drug disposition in humans or animals . beta-Lactamase-negative strains exhibited only indifferent effects . The augmented bioavailability of mezlocillin due to its simultaneous administration with a cefalosporin resulted in an increased antibacterial efficacy. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(5), 299 - 307 Binding of a bacteriophage to wall-membrane adhesion in proteus mirabilis; Cole SA et al.; A bacteriophage was shown to adsorb to plasmolyzed non-swarming cells of Proteus mirabilis preferentially at the sites of adhesion between the inner membrane and outer cell wall membrane; 75% of phage particles were adsorbed at these sites, while 25% were not . Differences in outer membrane composition between swarming and non-swarming cells were reflected in altered phage-binding properties, with only 33% of phage absorbed at these adhesion sites in swarming cells . On the basis of their phage distribution, cross-sections of swarm cells could be distinguished from sections of short non-swarming cells. Clin Ther, 1982, 5 Suppl A, 19 - 25 Cefotaxime treatment of skin and skin structure infections: a multicenter study; LeFrock JL et al.; The efficacy, safety, and tolerability of cefotaxime, a new parenteral cephalosporin resistant to beta-lactamase, were evaluated in a multicenter open trial . The study population comprised 594 hospitalized patients with infections of the skin or subcutaneous tissue . Of these, 409 patients fulfilled the protocol requirements for assessment of clinical efficacy . Usual dosages of cefotaxime were in the range of 1.5 to 12 gm/day for 5 to 85 days . Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent gram-positive organism; Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most frequent gram-negative bacilli; and Peptococcus sp, the most frequent anaerobic organism isolated . Of the 409 evaluable patients, 382 (93.4%) were clinically cured . Bacteriological cures were obtained in 316 of 372 (84.9%) patients . Reactions to cefotaxime included asymptomatic eosinophilia, rash, drug fever, phlebitis, and elevated hepatic enzyme levels . All reactions were transient, and drug therapy had to be terminated in only eight patients . Cefotaxime proved effective for treating a variety of skin and soft tissue infections . The lack of serious toxicity and adverse reactions associated with cefotaxime, together with its broad antimicrobial spectrum, makes it a suitable substitute for aminoglycosides in certain clinical settings. Jpn J Antibiot, 1982 Jan, 35(1), 9 - 32 {Laboratory and clinical studies on ceftizoxime in the field of pediatrics (author's transl)}; Toyonaga Y et al.; Ceftizoxime, a new cephalosporin preparation, was evaluated for its antibacterial activity, absorption, excretion and clinical effectiveness, and the following results were obtained . The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ceftizoxime against 211 clinical isolates were determined in comparison with those of cefazolin, cefmetazole, cefotiam and 6059 S . Against S . pyogenes (50 strains), ceftizoxime was 1 tube inferior to cefazolin inoculum size of 10(8) cells/ml, but was 2--3 tubes superior to cefmetazole and 6059-S . Against E . coli (50 strains), ceftizoxime and 6059-S were significantly more active than the other drugs . The susceptibility pattern of Klebsiella sp . (50 strains) to ceftizoxime was similar to that to cefotiam and 6059-S . Against Proteus sp . (50 strains), cefotiam and 6059-S were more active than the other drugs . Ceftizoxime was intermediate in activity, and cefazolin was the least active . Against H . influenzae (11 strains), ceftizoxime was the most active, with concentrations of 0.1 mcg/ml required to inhibit 100% of strains with an inoculum size of 10(8) cells/ml and 10(6) cells/ml . A dose of ceftizoxime 10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg was administered to 15 patients aged from 5 years to 12 years, and serum levels and urinary excretion of the drug were measured . Intravenous bolus injection of the drug in dose of 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg yielded mean serum levels of 26.6 mcg/ml and 55.7 mcg/ml at 30 minutes, respectively . The serum levels of the drug, thereafter, declined gradually but still remained 1.3 mcg/ml and 2.7 mcg/ml at 6 hours . The serum half-lives (T 1/2) were estimated to be 1.17 hours in dose of 10 mg/kg and 1.31 hours in dose of 20 mg/kg . When a dose of 20 mg/kg was infused over a period of 30 minutes, the serum levels attained the peak of 72.4 mcg/ml to 82.4 mcg/ml (mean 79.4 mcg/ml) at the end of infusion . The levels, thereafter, tapered to mean levels of 45.3 mcg/ml at 30 minutes, 24.7 mcg/ml at 1 1/2 hours, and 3.6 mcg/ml at 5 1/2 hours, with a T 1/2 of 1.22 hours . Meanwhile, when the same dose was infused over 1 hour, the serum levels attained the peak of 59.4 mcg/ml to 68.5 mcg/ml (mean 64.2 mcg/ml) . The mean serum levels after the end of infusion were 41.3 mcg/ml at 30 minutes, 21.6 mcg/ml at 1 hour and 1.9 mcg/ml at 5 hours, with a T 1/2 of 0.97 hours . Urinary recovery of the drug was 69.2% to 79.9% after intravenous injection and 62.3% to 79.9% after drip infusion, most of the given drug was excreted in the first 2 hours after administration . In our clinical study, 27 children with moderate or severe infections (12 cases of bronchopneumonia or bronchitis, 5 of pyelonephritis, 3 of purulent meningitis, etc.) were treated with ceftizoxime at the daily dose of 30--309 mg/kg for 3--23 days . Clinical response was excellent in 10, good in 9, fair in 5 and poor in 3 . The drug was proved to be very effective against infections due to H . influenzae K . pneumoniae, E . coli and S . aureus . No serious side effects were observed in any case. Infection, 1982, 10 Suppl 3, S176 - 81 An assessment of the intramuscular and intravenous administration of mezlocillin in urinary tract infections; Del Rio G et al.; The efficacy of mezlocillin in urinary tract infections was assessed using both the intramuscular and intravenous route . Patients with comparable diseases were divided into two groups . The microorganisms were sensitive to mezlocillin . Thirty patients were given i . m . doses and 20 i . v . doses . These patients had upper or lower urinary tract infections . The doses were 2 g i . v . or 1 g i . m . every eight hours . Treatment lasted for an average of six days . The MICs for mezlocillin were determined for the strains isolated, all of which were gram-negative organisms, with the exception of nine enterococci . In addition, sensitivity to cephalothin, carbenicillin and gentamicin was determined using the disc diffusion test . The geometric means of the MICs for mezlocillin were 3.85, 2.8 and 1.3 mg/l against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and enterococci, respectively . There were no marked differences in activity between the i . m . and i . v . routes on Days 1, 7, 14, 30 and 60 after treatment . There was a short-term cure rate of 79% with mezlocillin, independent of the route of administration; reinfections were observed in 8% of the cases and the infection persisted in 13% . There are no significant differences between our results and those from other studies on mezlocillin and piperacillin . There was no indication of toxicity, nor were there deviations in the haematological and biochemical parameters . One patient had severe pruritus following each i . m . injection; the treatment had to be discontinued. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(10), 687 - 92 Antimicrobial activities of daunorubicin and adriamycin derivatives on bacterial and protoplast type L-form cells of Bacillus subtilis 170, Escherichia coli B, and Proteus mirabilis VI . Structure--activity relationship; Gumpert J et al.; The antibacterial activity of ten N-alkylated derivatives of daunorubicin and adriamycin as well as of 5-iminodaunorubicin has been tested by using Bacillus subtilis 170, Escherichia coli B, and Proteus mirabilis VI and their stable protoplast type L-forms in an agar diffusion test . Eight of the substances showed similar activities against B . subtilis and the L-forms of all test organisms, but no activity against the bacterial forms of E . coli and P . mirabilis . The cell wall of these gram-negative bacteria is responsible for this resistance by not allowing the antibiotics to enter the cells . The piperidino compound N-(CH2)5 daunorubicin shows 2-4 times higher activity against B . subtilis and all L-forms in comparison to daunorubicin and the other derivatives . Five of the substances were inactive against all test strains . Their inactivity seems to be associated with the larger substituents at the C-3' position . Relations between molecular structure and activity are discussed considering data about the interaction with DNA and the antitumor activity . Stable protoplast type L-forms and their bacterial forms represent a suitable and effective test system to screen for more effective substances and to get more information about their mode of action. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1982, 22(3), 197 - 203 Regulation by repression of urease biosynthesis in Proteus rettgeri; Zorn C et al.; Measuring the specific enzyme activity in cells of Proteus rettgeri it was shown that urease formation is controlled by repression through ammonia . Derepressed synthesis of the enzyme, as initiated by the absence of ammonia, required an external nitrogen source, which may not only be urea, but also nitrate, glutamate or nutrient broth . In contradiction to earlier reports the observations indicated that urea is not required for the synthesis of this enzyme, and that, therefore, urease is not an inducible enzyme in this microorganism. Eur J Cell Biol, 1981 Dec, 26(1), 144 - 9 {Effect of phalloidin on the contractile structures in cytoplasmic preparations of Amoeba proteus}; Paulin-Levasseur M et al.; The effect of phalloidin on ultrastructural components involved in movement have been studied in spread cytoplasmic preparations of Amoeba proteus . In absence of phalloidin, actin filaments are usually rare and only myosin rods are observed . With concentrations of phalloidin between 2 X 10(-6) M and 5 X 10(-6) M, numerous F-actin filaments are present in the preparations . Most of these actin filaments are straight, however some appeared branched and interconnected . Higher concentrations of phalloidin inhibit the movement of naked cytoplasm . Fibrils composed by aggregation of F-actin filaments are present in these preparations . Myosin rods are unaffected by phalloidin. Lab Anim Sci, 1981 Dec, 31(6), 697 - 700 Spontaneous proteus nephritis among male C3H/HeJ mice; Maronpot RR et al.; The spontaneous occurrence of nephritis and resultant mortality was investigated among 2,836 control or treated (dermal carcinogenesis bioassays) C3H/HeJ male mice . Overall incidence of nephritis putatively caused by Proteus mirabilis was 1.2% . Incidences were similar in control and treated mice and ranged from 2.5--32.5% among 73 unrelated treatment or control groups . Diagnosis was based upon characteristic gross or histologic renal lesions . Grossly affected kidneys contained either multiple, discrete tan foci or elevated pale tan patches . Histologic renal lesions consisted of a multifocal necropurulent nephritis with numerous gram negative bacteria present in affected tubules . Necrotizing pyelitis and papillitis usually was present, an necropurulent cystitis was present in half of the cases examined histologically . Proteus mirabilis, isolated in pure culture from an affected kidney, produced similar renal lesions after intraperitoneal or intravenous inoculation of clinically normal C3H/HeJ males . The organism was reisolated from the kidneys of the experimentally produced cases . It was concluded that nephritis putatively caused by Proteus mirabilis was an important cause of mortality in male C3H/HeJ mice. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Dec, 14(6), 617 - 9 Evidence against the practicality and cost-effectiveness of a gram-positive coccal selective plate for routine urine cultures; Bale MJ et al.; A total of 899 urine cultures were evaluated to assess the need for and cost-effectiveness of using a gram-positive coccal selective plate in the initial plating of urine cultures . Of these cultures, 437 were examined retrospectively and 462 were examined prospectively . Urines were quantitatively plated to three media: sheep blood sugar, MacConkey agar, and phenyl ethyl alcohol agar . Of all urine samples in both studies, 52% yielded no growth on any of the three media . Of all 899 urine cultures, there were only 5 cultures (less than 1%) in which a significant count of a gram-positive organism was detected only on the phenyl ethyl alcohol agar plate and not recoverable on the sheep blood agar plate . In each of these five instances, the need for the use of the selective plate occurred when a Proteus mirabilis strain swarmed over an enterococcus . The inclusion of a selective gram-positive coccal medium for initial plating of urine cultures is unnecessary and not cost-effective . When Proteus swarms on sheep blood agar, a sweep should be made with an inoculating loop from the sheep blood agar and streaked to phenyl ethyl alcohol agar or a similar gram-positive coccal selective medium. Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Dec, 34(12), 1571 - 82 {Laboratory and clinical studies on ceftizoxime in otorhinolaryngological field (author's transl)}; Hatano T et al.; From the laboratory and clinical studies on ceftizoxime (CZX), the following results were obtained 1) CZX was compared with cefazolin (CEZ) for in vitro activity against 6 standard strains and clinically isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus (19 strains), Staphylococcus epidermidis (14), Proteus sp . (17), Escherichia coli (3), Klebsiella sp . (3) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13) . While somewhat less active against Gram-positive cocci than CEZ, CZX was far more active than CEZ against Gram-negative bacilli . 2) The time course of mean serum CZX levels in 2 patients given a single intravenous dose of 10 mg/kg was as follows: 24.9 microgram/ml at 15 minutes, 18.5 microgram/ml at 30 minutes, 13.2 microgram/ml at 1 hour, 6.4 microgram/ml at 2 hours and 2.7 microgram/ml at 4 hours . The mean serum half life was 1.36 hours . The mean tonsil concentrations of CZX 30 minutes after a single intravenous dose of 0.5 g and 1.0 g were 5.9 microgram/g and 9.6 microgram/g . respectively, with the ratio to the serum concentration of 0.33 and 0.32 . 3) CZX was given to 28 patients with ear, nose, and throat infections, and overall rate of effectiveness was 92.3% . No clinical side effects were observed . Changes in laboratory test findings included slightly elevated GOT and/or GPT in 3 cases. Infect Immun, 1981 Nov, 34(2), 610 - 22 Alterations of pulmonary defense mechanisms by protein depletion diet; Jakab GJ et al.; Pulmonary defense mechanisms were quantitated in mice that were fed a protein-free diet (PFD) for periods of 2 and 3 weeks . Despite the severe weight loss and emaciation induced by the diet, the bactericidal mechanisms in their lungs were preserved against aerogenic challenges with staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, and Listeria monocytogenes . Phagocytic assays of alveolar macrophages that were retrieved by pulmonary lavage from PFD-fed animals showed a decrease in Fc receptor-mediated binding activity but no alteration in the ingestion of sensitized erythrocytes . In contrast, the PFD induced defects in both the attachment phase and the engulfment phase of the phagocytic process when the challenge organism was Candida krusei . The PFD suppressed the pulmonary inflammatory response after mice were infected with influenza virus strain PR8; such mice also failed to eliminate infectious virus from their lungs . Virus infection in control mice suppressed pulmonary antibacterial defenses against challenges with S . aureus and P . mirabilis, and defect that was ameliorated in the lungs of PFD-fed mice with viral pneumonia . The data demonstrated that pulmonary defense mechanisms were modulated by a PFD but that the observed effect was dependent on the agent used to test host defenses. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Nov, 34(11), 1469 - 75 Properties of cephalosporinase from Proteus morganii; Toda M et al.; The cephalosporin beta-lactamase (cephalosporinase) was purified from a strain of Proteus morganii which showed resistance to cephalosporins . The optimal pH was about 8.5, and the optimal temperature was 40 degrees C . The isoelectric point was 8.7 and the molecular weight was estimated to be about 41,000 from sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis . The enzyme activity was inhibited by cloxacillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime (FK749), cefmenoxime (SCE-1365), cefoxitin, cefmetazole, YM09330 and moxalactam (6059-S), but not by clavulanic acid or CP-45899 . The beta-lactamase also hydrolyzed cephaloridine, cefazolin, cephalothin, cephalexin, cefotiam, cefamandole and benzylpenicillin . These results suggest the possibility that the properties of beta-lactamases may be characterized by measuring the kinetic parameters of the enzyme toward newly-introduced beta-lactam antibiotics and beta-lactamase inhibitors. Mutat Res, 1981 Nov, 87(3), 211 - 97 An evaluation of tests using DNA repair-deficient bacteria for predicting genotoxicity and carcinogenicity . A report of the U.S . EPA's Gene-TOX Program; Leifer Z et al.; The detection of DNA-damaging agents by repair-deficient bacterial assays is based on the differential inhibition of growth of repair-proficient and repair-deficient bacterial pairs . The various methodologies used are described and recommendations are made for their improved use . In a survey of the literature through April 1979, 91 of 276 papers evaluated contained usable data, resulting in an analysis of 611 compounds that had been assayed in 1 or more of 55 pairs of repair-proficient and repair-deficient strains . The results indicate that (1) a liquid suspension assay is more sensitive than a spot (diffusion) test . In a review of the Escherichia coli polA assay, 45 compounds that gave "No Test" in the spot test were clearly positive or negative in the liquid suspension assay . (2) Of the 21 compounds analyzed by the E . coli polA assay and by other E . coli repair-deficient strains (e.g., rec, uvr, hcr, and exr derivatives of WP2 and AB1157), 10 were in complete agreement in all strains except uvrA strains . This indicates that strains other than polA+/polA- are useful for detecting DNA-damaging agents . However, in selecting strains for use in these assays, care should be taken to consider repair pathway specificity for particular compounds . (3) There was a 78% correspondence between results obtained with E . coli polA and Bacillus subtilis (H17/M45, 17A/45T) rec assay and between E . coli polA and Proteus mirabilis . (4) In a comparison of test results with carcinogenicity data, 44 of 71 (62%) carcinogenic compounds assayed by the polA system were positive, 10 (14%) were negative, and 17 (24%) gave No Test or doubtful results . 7 carcinogens were assayed by other E . coli strains and all were positive . 56 carcinogens were assayed in B . subtilis: 24 (43%) were positive, 9 (16%) were negative, and 23 (41%) gave No Test or doubtful results . Of the 7 carcinogens assayed in P . mirabilis, 6 (86%) were positive and 1 (14%) was negative . (5) The results were analyzed with respect to chemical classes . E . coli polA detected the highest percentage of hydroxylamines and alkyl epoxides . The B . subtilis rec assay detected the highest percentage of nitrosamines and sulfur and nitrogen oxides . It is concluded that some of these test systems are effective tools for the detection of DNA-damaging and potentially carcinogenic compounds, especially if the assay is done in liquid suspension and if more than 1 pair of tester strains is used . Advantages and disadvantages of the assay are discussed and suggestions are made for improvements in the system. J Gen Virol, 1981 Nov, 57(Pt 1), 211 - 3 Proteus mirabilis converting phage 5006Mpa has an oversized genome; Pretorius GH et al.; Proteus mirabilis phage 5006Mpa is a converting variant for ampicillin resistance of phage 5006M . We show here that the ampicillin resistance marker of transposon Tn1 is located on a 9.8% insertion with respect to the wild-type phage genome . This renders the 5006Mpa genome 5% oversized, albeit without loss of wild-type genetic material from the phage population. J Bacteriol, 1981 Nov, 148(2), 736 - 8 Induction of tryptophanase in short cells and swarm cells of Proteus vulgaris; Hoffman PS et al.; Tryptophanase was noninducible in swarm cells of Proteus vulgaris despite transport of the inducer tryptophan . Further, cyclic AMP, which stimulated increased levels of tryptophanase in short cells, had no effect on swarm cells. J Laryngol Otol, 1981 Oct, 95(10), 1023 - 9 Comparison of pre- and post-operative bacteriology of chronic ears; Ojala K et al.; The over-all distribution of the pre-operative bacteria of 806 ears and the post-operative bacteria of 109 post-operatively moist or discharging ears correlated very well, the only clear difference being the detection of diphtheroid bacilli more often post-operatively than pre-operatively . When comparing the pre- and post-operative bacteriology of 109 post-operatively infected chronic ears which had undergone radical surgery and obliteration with Palva flaps (and which were drawn from a group of 806 ears originally operated on and followed yearly for 5-14 years) it was noticed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus sp were cultured more often post-operatively than pre-operatively in the same ears . Statistically, other bacteria were not found to be significantly present in the same ears. Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Oct, 34(10), 1395 - 400 {Studies on in vitro antibacterial effects of amoxicillin against Proteus mirabilis IID-994 and Escherichia coli NIHJ JC-2 (author's transl)}; Kochi T et al.; Amoxicillin (AMPC), a synthetic penicillin for oral use, was studied in the aspect of in vitro antibacterial efficiencies brought about by different schedules of AMPC-treatment . Using Proteus mirabilis IID-994 and Escherichia coli NIHJ JC-2 as test strains . The results were obtained as follows . 1 . The antibacterial effects of AMPC against P . mirabilis IID-994 and E . coli NIHJ JC-2 were shown to be bactericidal rather than bacteriostatic and the numbers of viable cells were decreased in proportion to the length of exposing time to AMPC . 2 . The decrease of viable cells was independent on the drug at which level concentration we tested, namely, it was not much changed by the level of AMPC at least among 1 to 4 times of minimal inhibitory concentration . 3 . The length of time retaining growth-inhibitory ability was longer in the case of treating continuously for 4 hours than that of contacting twice for 2 hours at intervals of 6 hours, although the levels of viable cells after 12 hours incubation were almost same in both cases . 4 . The level of bactericidal effect and the length of growth-inhibitory time were proportional to the length of exposing time to AMPC. Am J Med Technol, 1981 Oct, 47(10), 835 - 40 Comparison of epidemiological methods for differentiation of Proteus mirabilis; Kusek JW et al.; During the study of suspected cross-infection within a hospital, epidemiological typing techniques are often employed to aid in the identification of transmission patterns of nosocomially-acquired bacteria . In this study, five bacteriological typing methods were assessed for their ability to type and differentiate 100 clinical isolates of Proteus mirabilis . The methods evaluated include biotyping, bacteriophage typing with the method of Hickman and Farmer and the scheme of Schmidt and Jeffries, and typing by both bacteriocin production and bacteriocin sensitivity . Each of the phage and bacteriocin methods were further evaluated by typing 14 isolates of P mirabilis derived from an outbreak of infection on a surgical intensive care unit . All 100 isolates were typed by biochemical characteristics and were divided into seven distinct biotypes . Ninety-five percent of these strains were separated into 61 lysis patterns with the phage set of Hickman and Farmer whereas the Schmidt and Jeffries phage scheme was able to type 67% of the cultures into nine unique lysis patterns . Bacteriocin sensitivity typing resulted in 41 distinct patterns with 71% of the strains typable and typing by bacteriocin production yielded 29 distinct bacteriocin types among the 80% typable strains . Typing by bacteriocin production demonstrated that 13 of the 14 epidemic isolates were the same strain . All epidemic-related cultures were untypable with the Hickman and Farmer phage set, whereas typing by bacteriocin sensitivity and the phage set of Schmidt and Jeffries resulted in two and four isolates typable, respectively . Based on the results of typing random and epidemic isolates of P mirabilis, bacteriocin production typing is recommended as a sensitive and specific typing method for future epidemiological surveys. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1981 Oct, (10), 72 - 4 {Serologic shifts in food poisoning by 1 and 2 infectious agents}; Bogomolov BP et al.; Features of serological shifts in patients with alimentary toxicoinfections (ATI) caused by one infective agent (E . coli, staphilococci, Proteus, enterococci) and by two infective agents in various combinations have been studied . The suppression of immunogenesis has been found to be most pronounced in patients having ATI mixed according to agglutinin titers to the autostrains of infective agents . The features of serological shifts in mixed ATI should be taken into consideration in evaluating the diagnostic significance of this reaction in the time course of the disease. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Oct, 14(4), 365 - 9 Plasmid-encoded lysine decarboxylation in Proteus morganii; Cornelis G et al.; As a rule, Proteus morganii does not decarboxylate lysine . However, lysine-positive P . morganii strains have been recently described . We suspected a plasmid origin for this atypical character, and we analyzed 14 strains to study this question . Among these strains, 8 yielded lysine-negative segregants after acridine orange or ethidium bromide treatment, and 10 transferred their lysine-positive character to a recipient P . morganii strain . All of the 14 strains analyzed at least segregated or conjugated . Three lysine-positive transconjugants, in turn, segregated lysine-negative variants after ethidium bromide treatment . The eight wild-type lysine-positive strains that segregated lysine-negative subclones contained a large (35 to 45 megadaltons) plasmid detectable by agarose gel electrophoresis . Similarly, the 10 lysine-positive transconjugants contained a plasmid of the same size, whereas P . morganii 1000, the recipient strain, did not contain any detectable plasmid . The large plasmid clearly disappeared in 9 of 11 lysine-negative segregants analyzed . It is concluded that the lysine-positive character of these P . morganii strains is plasmid encoded, and the taxonomical implications are discussed. J Cell Sci, 1981 Oct, 51, 219 - 28 An autoradiographical study of amino acid and nucleoside incorporation during the cell cycle of Amoeba proteus; Mills KI et al.; The incorporation of tritiated thymidine, uridine and leucine, into the acid-precipitable material of DNA . RNA and proteins, respectively, was studied by autoradiography throughout the cell cycle of Amoeba proteus . DNA synthesis occupied the first 17 h of the cycle (57 h long) and 2 peaks between 0.5 and 9.13 h accounted for the majority of the thymidine incorporation . RNA synthesis was represented by a series of peak uridine grain counts, the 3 major peaks occurring at 10, 26-27 and 47-48 h . The incorporation of leucine also followed a pattern of peaks and dips, the main peaks occurring 1-2 h after the major increases in uridine incorporation . The fraction of label present over the nucleus decreased during the cell cycle, and this was probably due to a lowered incorporation of the leucine label by proteins synthesized in the cytoplasm and destined to become nuclear proteins . The incorporation patterns of 6 amino acids (arginine, aspartic acid, leucine, lysine, serine and valine) were studied individually during 3 periods of the cell cycle: 0-10 h (S phase); 20-30 h (early G2); and 40-50 h (mid-late G2) . Variations in the intensity and timings of the incorporation maxima of the amino acids were observed, although the timings of increased grain counts of some of the amino acids frequently coincided . "Unique" incorporation peaks (i.e . only observed in one of the amino acids studied) possibly indicate the synthesis of phase-specific proteins . The amino acid and nucleoside incorporation profiles presented in this paper will enable the results obtained from future studies on amoebae to be related to the macromolecular synthesis patterns. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Oct, 126(Pt 2), 397 - 403 Phage t: a group T plasmid-dependent bacteriophage; Bradley DE et al.; Phage t was isolated from sewage from Pretoria . It formed plaques only on Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium strains that carried plasmids belonging to incompatibility group T . Five of six group T plasmids permitted visible lysis of R+ host strains . There was no visible lysis of E . coli J53-2 or S . typhimurium LT2trpA8 carrying the T plasmid Rts1 although the strains supported phage growth as indicated by at least a 10-fold increase in phage titre . The latter strains transferred the plasmid at high frequency to E . coli strain CSH2 and the resulting transconjugants plated the phage . Proteus mirabilis strain PM5006(R402) failed to support phage growth although it transferred the plasmid and concomitant phage sensitivity to E . coli J53-2 . The phage was hexagonal in outline, RNA-containing, resistant to chloroform and adsorbed to the shafts of pili determined by T plasmids. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Oct, 126(Pt 2), 389 - 96 Phage X: a plasmid-dependent, broad host range, filamentous bacterial virus; Bradley DE et al.; Phage X was isolated from sewage as plating on Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium strains harbouring the incompatibility group X plasmid R6K . It also plated on a strain of Serratia marcescens carrying this plasmid . It failed to form plaques on Proteus mirabilis, P . morganii or Providencia alcalifaciens harbouring R6K, but did multiply on them . No phage increase occurred with homologous R- strains . Phage X also plated or registered an increase in titre on E . coli or S . typhimurium strains carrying various plasmids of incompatibility groups M, N, P-1, U or W as well as the unassigned plasmid R775 . It adsorbed to pili determined by a group P-10 plasmid in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain but did not multiply on this organism . The phage was filamentous and curly, resistant to ribonuclease and diethyl ether and sensitive to chloroform . It adsorbed to the tips of pili. Nucleic Acids Res, 1981 Sep 25, 9(18), 4525 - 36 Two new restriction endonucleases from Proteus vulgaris; Gingeras TR et al.; Two novel sequence-specific endonucleases have been isolated from Proteus vulgaris, ATCC 13315 . PvuI recognizes the sequence: 5' C G A T decrease C G 3' 3' G C increase T A G C 5' and PvuII recognizes the sequence: 5' C A G decrease C T G 3' 3' G T C increase G A C 5' and cleave as indicated by the arrow (decrease) . PvuI is an isoschizomer of XorII, RshI, and XniI . No enzyme with the specificity of PvuII has been described previously. Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Sep, 34(9), 1335 - 52 {Chemotherapy on the biliary tract infections . XIII . Miloxacin, a novel chemotherapeutic agent, its excretion into bile and clinical effect on the biliary tract infections (author's transl)} {Clinical studies of cefoxitin for the treatment of septicemia (author's transl)} Yoshida S, Katsurada K, Matsuoka K. Laboratory studies of CFX were performed on susceptibility of 123 strains isolated from 72 patients with septicemia by disc sensitivity method in comparison with CER and ABPC . Antibacterial activity of CFX was superior against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Serratia marcescens and Proteus than that of CER and ABPC, especially against Serratia marcescens and Bacteroides which were mostly resistant to CER and ABPC . CFX was administrated to 8 patients with septicemia . Clinical effects were obtained, excellent and good in 5 patients and poor in 3, and effective rate was 63% . No side effects were observed . The above results indicate that CFX is mainly useful in the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli, especially resistant to penicillins, cephalosporins, and Bacteroides. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex, 1981 Sep-Oct, 38(5), 749 - 55 {Microbiology of chronic otitis media in children and comparison of 2 technics for obtaining otic secretions}; Guiscafre H et al.; Samples of otic secretion for culture were taken to 50 children with suppurative chronic otitis media; two techniques were followed: with a cotton swab from the external meatus or with a sterile metal aspirator, through the tympanic perforation under microscopic control . To 20 of them with unilateral chronic otitis media, a swab with product from the external meatus of the healthy ear was also taken; in 65% of the latter, the same germs were found in both ears, but when the sample was taken with the aspirator, only in 15% were the germs the same (p less than 0.01) . Two or more germs were isolated in 54% of the ears following the technique of the swab and in 32% with the aspiration . The predominant microorganisms with the swab technique were gram-positive cocci (S . epidermidis 48% S . aureus 16%); while the aspiration technique reported gram-negative germs in 96% of cultures (Proteus sp . 42%, Pseudomonas sp . 30% and S . aureus only in 14%) . We believe that the sample obtained with a swab has a high degree of contamination with the normal flora of the external meatus; therefore, it should be relinquished. Trop Geogr Med, 1981 Sep, 33(3), 249 - 52 Bacteriological study of diabetic foot ulcers; Prabhakar P et al.; Bacteriological study of 61 patients with diabetic gangrene or non-gangrenous foot ulcers was undertaken to determine the pattern of infection and antimicrobial susceptibility with a view to suggest optimal antibiotic therapy for these patients . Gangrenous ulcers showed a higher frequency of mixed infection; the predominant organisms being enterococci, Proteus sp., Pseudomonas sp . and Klebsiella sp . Infected non-gangrenous ulcers showed Staph . pyogenes, and beta haemolytic Streptococcus as single organism in 12 patients . Anaerobes were more frequently isolated in gangrenous lesions than in non-gangrenous ulcers . Antimicrobial susceptibility showed that gram positive organisms were sensitive to co-trimoxazole, cephaloridine, ampicillin and penicillin . Gram negative aerobic bacilli were sensitive to gentamycin, chloramphenicol, cotrimoxazole and streptomycin . Anaerobes were sensitive to chloramphenicol, clindamycin and metronidazole . Antibiotics of choice for gangrenous lesions with spreading infection and septicaemia are a combination of gentamycin, ampicillin and metronidazole as an adjuvant to surgical treatment. Farmaco {Sci}, 1981 Sep, 36(9), 817 - 26 {Effect of propyl gallate on the antibacterial activity of meclocycline sulfosalicylate}; Retico A et al.; Propyl gallate shows little antibacterial activity however it markedly potentiates the activity of meclocycline against Pseudomonas, Proteus, Serratia, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella strains . The potentiating effect of propyl gallate is seen especially with resistant strains whereas sensitive strains of Salmonella do not manifest a potentiating effect on meclocycline by propyl gallate . The mechanism of action of propyl gallate is discussed. Minerva Med, 1981 Sep 1, 72(31), 2071 - 8 {Boutonneuse fever in clinical practice}; Scaffidi L et al.; Boutonneuse fever has become endemic in some parts of Sicily and the Italian mainland over the last five years . An account is given of the features assisting its clinical recognition and serological verification . The main nosographical aspects of the disease are described . The conditions required for certain, probable and presumed diagnosis are stated, stress being laid on the prime importance of timely clinical assessment, and the possibility of serological ascertainment when the disease is waning, or even later . Serum diagnosis via complement fixation or microagglutination will be positive in the second half of the second seven-day period of fever . It is specific with Rickettsia conorii antigens, though these have not been easy to find so far . The Weil-Felix reaction with Proteus OX19 and OX2 is significantly positive in advanced coalescence . While this is always a practical possibility, it is of indicative, and usually retrospective, value only. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1981 Sep, 173(6), 478 - 87 {Histamine formation by Proteus species in tunafish (author's transl)}; Yamani MI et al.; Introducing the authors report on cases of scombroid poisoning episodes in food serving establishments . These cases were related to the formation of histamine in tuna meat due to Proteus morganii although the meat was sound when taken from cans . It is demonstrated experimentally (Table 1) and shown in a critical literature review (Table 2) that among Proteus species Proteus morganii is the only species being able of producing histamine levels high enough to cause food poisoning in humans . Multiplication and histamine formation by Proteus morganii at different temperatures show (Fig . 1 and 2) that the concentration of histamine increases rapidly once the formation has started and the level of 1000 mg/kg considered as critical may be exceeded within a short period of time . These results confirm our observations obtained during epidemiological studies of food poisoning cases that improper handling and storage of tuna meat from cans at food serving establishments may bear the risk of causing scombroid poisoning . It should be emphasized that certain cultures of Proteus morganii are able to form histamine at levels of more than 1000 mg/kg even at a temperature of 7 degree C although prolonged incubation is necessary (Fig . 1) . This fact should be taken into consideration in the evaluation of results when a prolonged period of time has elapsed between sampling or consumption of the suspect food and its examination. Arch Microbiol, 1981 Sep, 130(1), 44 - 9 The influence of growth conditions on the synthesis of molybdenum cofactor in Proteins mirabilis; Claassen VP et al.; Cell-free extracts of Proteus mirabilis were able to reconstitute NADPH-dependent assimilatory nitrate reductase in crude extracts of the Neurospora crassa mutant strain nit-1, lacking molybdenum cofactor . Molybdenum cofactor was formed in the cytoplasm of the bacterium even in the presence of oxygen during growth though under these conditions no molybdo enzymes are formed . As a consequence no cofactor could be released by acid treatment from membranes of cells growth aerobically . The amount of cofactor released from membranes of cells grown anaerobically under various conditions was proportional to the amount of molybdo enzymes formed . During growth in the presence of tungstate a cofactor, which lacks molybdenum, was found in the cytoplasm . For detection of this so-called demolybdo cofactor the presence of molybdate during reconstitution was essential . Moreover, the cytoplasmic cofactor pool in cells grown in the presence of tungstate appeared to be two to three times higher than in cells grown under similar conditions without tungstate . After anaerobic growth in the presence of tungstate, the inactive demolybdo reductases were shown to contain partly no cofactor and partly a demolybdo cofactor . The P . mirabilis chlorate resistant mutant S 556 did not contain molybdenum cofactor . In two other chl-mutants the cofactor activity was the same as in the wild type. Gene, 1981 Sep, 14(4), 301 - 8 Cloning of a recA-like gene of Proteus mirabilis; Eitner G et al.; A gene of Proteus mirabilis that can substitute for functions of the recA gene of Escherichia coli has been cloned into the plasmid pBR322, using shotgun experiments . The recA-like gene (recAp.m.) has been localized by restriction mapping within a 1.5-Md PstI fragment that is a part of two cloned HindIII fragments of the chromosome of P . mirabilis . The restriction map of the recAp.m . gene differs from that of the recA gene of E . coli . Functionally, the recombinant plasmids containing the recAp.m . gene restore a nearly wild-type level of UV-resistance to several point and deletion mutants in the recA gene of E . coli. Science, 1981 Aug 7, 213(4508), 668 - 70 Bulk solute extrusion as a mechanism conferring solute uptake specificity by pinocytosis in Amoeba proteus; Prusch RD; A variety of positively charged solutes induce pinocytosis in Amoeba proteus, ranging from metabolically useful material to solutes that may prove harmful, such as Alcian blue . Alcian blue is taken up by pinocytosis and then a fraction of the accumulated dye is expelled in bulk form through "extrusion channels." This response is not elicited by other solutes taken up by pinocytosis in the amoeba, implying that if any selectivity is associated with this process, it is by specific solute extrusion mechanisms in the cytoplasm. J Cell Sci, 1981 Aug, 50, 245 - 58 Functional interdependence of pseudopodia in Amoeba proteus stimulated by light-shade difference; Grebecki A et al.; Polytactic cells of Amoeba proteus were exposed to localized photic stimulation . When a pseudopodium is stimulated to advance, by shading it, other pseudopodia are retracted . Activation of the shaded front is the primary response, and contraction of other fronts the secondary one . When a pseudopodium is inhibited by illuminating its frontal segment, or when it is allowed to enter the bright zone in the course of migration, it slows down and stops but its eventual retraction depends on the existence of other possible directions for the endoplasmic flow . Therefore, if other active pseudopodia are lacking, the front suppressed by light cannot retreat effectively until new fronts arise in other body regions kept in shade . In all experimental situations the development of new fronts or the activation of forward flow in lateral pseudopodia precedes the contraction of the former leading pseudopodium . Also the reversal of direction of the endoplasmic streaming begins at the new front, and then it gradually extends until it reaches the former front . The results confirm the interdependence of different pseudopodia in the same individual and they contradict the concept that pseudopodia behave as separate functional units . On the other hand, they indicate that formation of new pseudopodia should not be explained as a simple secondary effect of contraction of the older ones but, on the contrary, as a phenomenon that initiates the changes in the pattern of flow in amoeba . The general interpretation is based on this variant of the pressure-flow theory of amoeboid movement, which attributes the motive power to the contractile activity of the whole cell cortex and the steering role to events taking place in the front of the migrating cell. J Pharm Sci . 1981 Aug;70(8):964. Antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine gluconate against natural and artificial contamination during simulation of in-use conditions; Aly R; Commercial bottles containing chlorhexidine gluconate (antimicrobial skin cleanser), whether exposed to room atmosphere or experimentally inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas cepacia, and Proteus mirabilis, did not exhibit microbial growth. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Aug, 125(Pt 2), 445 - 50 Changes in metabolic activity of Proteus mirabilis during swarming; Armitage JP; Proteus mirabilis in the long, swarming form had altered metabolic activity compared with bacteria in non-swarming phases on solid media . During swarming the rates of incorporation of precursors into DNA, RNA and protein, as measured in broth cultures immediately after harvesting from swarm plates, were lowered . The rates of uptake of these precursors into the bacteria were also lowered, and at the same time the rate of oxygen uptake was reduced to less than 20% of the normal rate, although intracellular ATP concentrations remained constant . The return of macromolecular synthesis and oxygen uptake to preswarming rates corresponded to the end of the active swarm period . The results indicate that in the multiflagellate swarmers of P . mirabilis metabolic activity was lowered to a level necessary to maintain flagella activity but not bacterial growth. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Aug, 20(2), 262 - 4 Immunological properties of beta-lactamases that hydrolyze cefuroxime and cefotaxime; Hirai K et al.; Antiserum against purified beta-lactamase from Proteus vulgaris GN7919 cross-reacted with beta-lactamases produced by strains of Pseudomonas cepacia in a neutralization test . Anti-P . cepacia beta-lactamase serum, however, did not show any cross-reactions with P . vulgaris beta-lactamases . Each of these enzymes can hydrolyze cefuroxime and cefotaxime. J Pharmacobiodyn, 1981 Jul, 4(7), 469 - 74 Therapy for urolithiasis with hydroxamic acids . IV . Prevention of infected urinary stone formation with N-(pivaloyl)glycinohydroxamic acid; Satoh M et al.; With the aim of finding a prospective therapeutic compound with a promising potential for the treatment of urolithiasis, we evaluated the effectiveness of a new potent inhibitor of urease, N-(pivaloyl)glycinohydroxamic acid . The present study revealed that N-(pivaloyl)glycinohydroxamic acid effectively inhibited the alkalinization of urine and the stone formation in vitro and in vivo, due to its strong inhibitory potency against the ureolytic activity of intact Proteus mirabilis . The possibility of the clinical application of this compound in the prevention of struvite stone formation caused by infection of urea-splitting bacteria awaits evaluation of the safety of this compound. Am J Vet Res, 1981 Jul, 42(7), 1203 - 5 Experimental induction of Proteus mirabilis cystitis in the pony and evaluation of therapy with trimethoprim-sulfadiazine; Divers TJ et al.; Proteus mirabilis cystitis was induced in 9 ponies by chemically eroding the bladder mucosa before the organism was inoculated . Comparisons were made in the treatment of P mirabilis cystitis between ponies treated daily for 13 days with a trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (TMP-SDZ) paste and both positive and negative controls . Urine cultures from ponies treated with TMP-SDZ became negative for P mirabilis between days 3 and 9 after the start of the treatment, whereas positive controls remained infected until day 13 . Urine cultures from all ponies were negative for P mirabilis on day 28 . Urine concentrations of TMP and SDZ were relatively high after day 1 of therapy. J Clin Pathol, 1981 Jul, 34(7), 701 - 5 Investigation into the microbial flora of healing and non-healing decubitus ulcers; Daltrey DC et al.; Seventy-four pressure lesions in fifty-three geriatric patients were observed at weekly intervals to determine the bacterial flora and the healing index of each lesion, expressed as initial area of lesion (cm2) - final area of lesion (cm2) divided by time in days . The micro-organisms which caused infection included Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacteroides fragilis and Bacteroides asaccharolyticus . Many lesions contained a mixed flora . P mirabilis and Ps aeruginosa were associated with necrotic (p less than 0.005) and enlarging (p less than 5 x 10(-7)) lesions . Bacteroides spp were associated with necrotic lesions (p less than 0.05) . The presence of S aureus in a lesion was not associated with any particular trend in healing index . The implications of the microbiological findings are discussed. Eur J Cell Biol, 1981 Jun, 24(2), 163 - 75 Effects of localized photic stimulation on amoeboid movement and their theoretical implications; Grebecki A; The uroids, the posterior, middle and anterior segments of the intermediate body regions, and the frontal zones of Amoeba proteus were exposed, separately or in different combinations, to local increases or decreases of light intensity . In general, an increase of luminosity promotes contraction, and its decrease induces relaxation in any body region of amoeba . The contracting or relaxing effects of luminosity changes are detectable along the whole length of the cortical tube, including its most anterior part . The response induced by stimulation of the tip of an advancing pseudopodium is functionally opposed to the reaction elicited by the same stimulus acting on all other body regions . The uroidal retraction and frontal extension are accelerated by illumination any segment of the cortical tube, or by shading the frontal zone . They slow down when shade is applied to any part of the tube, or light to the front alone . The motor efficiency of the light-induced contraction is modified by the position of the simulated area in respect to the adhesion sites . Velocities of uroidal retraction and frontal extension depend (in the same degree as on the cortical contraction) on the availability of frontal openings accessible for the endoplasmic outflow from the cortical tube . Thus, the uroid accelerates when more fronts are formed, and an older advancing pseudopodium slows down when it has to compete with new fronts . It is concluded in general that the movement of amoeba depends on the contractile activity of the whole cell cortex which plays the motor role, and on the opening or obscuring the frontal breaches in the cortical envelope which perform the controlling and steering roles in locomotion. Antibiotiki, 1981 Jun, 26(6), 456 - 60 {Increase in novobiocin activity and an expansion of its antimicrobial action spectrum}; Chernomordik AB et al.; It was found that with an increase in the medium acidity (pH 6.0 - 6.2) the antistaphylococcal effect of novobiocin significantly rose and the drug began to inhibit gram-negative bacteria, in particular, P . aeruginosa and Proteus . The method efficacy was demonstrated on a limited number of patients with urological infections caused by P . aeruginosa and increased acidity of the urine (because of cranberry juice use) . Wider observations in patients with urological and some other diseases caused by gram-negative bacteria are advisable. Antibiotiki, 1981 Jun, 26(6), 447 - 50 {Antimicrobial activity of chlorine-substituted 4-alkyl- and arylphenols}; Pisanenko DA et al.; The results of the study on the antimicrobial activity of 12 chlorine-substituted 4-alkyl- and arylphenols against Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, E . coli, Salmonella typhosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae, Proteus, Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, Candida, Trichophyton gypseum and Microsporum lanosum are presented . It was found that introduction of the alkyl substitute to position 4 of orthochlorphenol increased the activity of the substances against the majority of test microbes . The antimicrobial effect of the substances depended on the length and structure of the alkyl radical . With an increase in the number of the carbon atoms in the alkyl radical from 3 to 7 and in the presence of the cyclic radical C5 - C6 the antimicrobial activity of the substances increased. J Cell Physiol, 1981 Jun, 107(3), 329 - 34 Use of an encapsulated fluorescent probe to measure intracellular PO2; Podgorski GT et al.; The objectives of this investigation were to produce a reliable, sensitive probe to measure intracellular PO2 with a high degree of resolution and to apply this technique to biological systems . A fluorescent molecule, pyrene dissolved in paraffin oil, was encapsulated in polyacrylamide to form a probe of nanometer dimensions . The quantitative and microscopic oxygen values were determined by analyzing the quenching of the fluorescence of the probe by oxygen, as displayed on a television monitor by a silicon-intensified-target camera . The nanocapsules had a sensitivity of approximately 1 mm PO2, a spatial resolution of 0.5 micrometer, and a temporal resolution of milliseconds . Calibrated nanocapsules within nonrespiring Amoeba proteus responded to ambient partial pressures of oxygen . At two different ambient partial pressures, nanocapsules engulfed by respiring amoebas indicated an intracellular PO2 28 mm Hg less than extracellular PO2 . The capsules retained their sensitivity to oxygen for at least 8 months. Cell Biol Int Rep, 1981 Jun, 5(6), 595 - 600 Testing steering functions of the frontal zone in the locomotion of Amoeba proteus; Grebecki A et al.; Light and chemical stimuli were asymmetrically applied to the advancing front of amoeba without affecting any body region behind the frontal zone . Stimulation limited to the front alone was sufficient to control the frontal expansion and, as a further consequence, the locomotion and shape of the whole cell . Contracting factors applied locally to the front inhibited it, whereas the relaxing agents activated its expansion. Cell Biol Int Rep, 1981 Jun, 5(6), 587 - 94 Testing motor functions of the frontal zone in the locomotion of Amoeba proteus; Grebecka L et al.; The hypothesis which attributes the motive power to the frontal zone has been tested by cinematographic analysis of the movements of amoeba, in which the front was either blocked by negative stimuli or destroyed . Partial inhibition and consecutive reorganization of the frontal activity by a beam of light had minor effect on the retraction of other body parts . Microsurgical destruction of the whole frontal zone had no effect on the functions of more posteriorly situated cell regions, which continue to contract and squeeze the endoplasm out into the external medium. J Hyg (Lond), 1981 Jun, 86(3), 295 - 301 Contamination of chlorhexidine cream used to prevent ascending urinary tract infections; Salveson A et al.; Chlorhexidine-containing cream is often used as an antimicrobial barrier to ascending urinary tract infection in patients with indwelling urethral catheters . The cream is dispensed in small tubes for personal use but repeated use of a tube still entails a potential infection hazard . The extent of cream contamination was analysed by emulsifying it in 1% peptone broth with 1% Tween-80 added as a wetting agent, and culturing quantitatively for bacteria and fungi by membrane filtration . Twenty-three per cent of cream samples and 35% of swabs taken from outside the tube beneath the screw cap demonstrated microbial contamination . Isolates included potential pathogens such as enterococci, staphylococci, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, opportunists like Moraxella spp . and diphtheroids, and contaminants such as Bacillus spp., micrococci, and a mould of the genus Cladosporium . Contamination of cream with a particular bacterial strain was found to precede urinary tract infection with the same microbe . We recommend that chlorhexidine cream for this use be dispensed in single dose units to ensure sterility. Nucleic Acids Res, 1981 May 25, 9(10), 2325 - 33 The sequence of the ribosomal 16S RNA from Proteus vulgaris . Sequence comparison with E . coli 16S RNA and its use in secondary model building; Carbon P et al.; The complete nucleotide sequence of the 16S RNA from Proteus vulgaris has been determined . The molecule (1544 nucleotides) shows 93% homology with the sequence of E . coli 16S RNA . Six methylated nucleotides have been localized in positions homologous to those observed in the E . coli RNA molecule . Both E . coli and P . vulgaris 16S RNA chains can be folded up into a common secondary structure scheme . Comparative sequence analysis of the two molecules has provided a valuable contribution to 16S RNA secondary structure model building. J Am Geriatr Soc, 1981 May, 29(5), 236 - 9 Predictability of methenamine efficacy based on type of urinary pathogen and pH; Nahata MC et al.; This study involved 27 geriatric patients with asymptomatic chronic bacteriuria; all had indwelling Foley catheters . The treatment regimens (daily oral dosage) were: methenamine mandelate (MM) granules, 4 gm; MM, 4 gm, plus ascorbic acid, 4 gm; and MM, 4 gm, plus ascorbic acid, 4 gm, plus cranberry cocktail, 1 liter--administered according to a cross-over design . Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E . coli were the most common urinary organisms . Proteus organisms were more often found in alkaline than in acidic urines, but the type of pathogen had no influence on urinary pH . Urinary formaldehyde concentration {HCHO} was lower in patients with Proteus infection (17.7 micrograms/ml) than in those with Pseudomonas (21.9 micrograms/ml) or E . coli infection (21.8 micrograms/ml) . However, for Proteus infection, {HCHO} was higher in patients receiving MM plus ascorbic acid than in those receiving MM alone . Addition of cranberry cocktail to ascorbic acid did not enhance urinary pH, {HCHO} or methenamine efficacy . Our data suggest that in Foley catheter patients with chronic asymptomatic bacteriuria secondary to Proteus, Pseudomonas or E . coli infection, the type of urinary pathogen or the urinary pH cannot be used to predict the efficacy of methenamine therapy either with or without urinary acidifying agents. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 May, 41(5), 1123 - 7 Response of bacteria in wastewater sludge to moisture loss by evaporation and effect of moisture content on bacterial inactivation by ionizing radiation; Ward RL et al.; Two studies were carried out to determine the influence of moisture content of the survival of bacteria in raw wastewater sludge . The first study involved the effect of water loss by evaporation on the bacterial population . The second used these dewatered samples to measure the effects of moisture content on the inactivation of bacteria sludge by ionizing radiation . Both studies involved survival measurements of six representative fecally associated bacteria grown separately in sterilized sludge as well as survival data on bacteria indigenous to sludge . Growth of bacteria was stimulated in sludge during the initial phase of moisture removal by evaporation, but the reduction of moisture content below about 50% by weight caused a proportional decrease in bacterial numbers . In comparison with the original sludge, this decrease reached about one-half to one order of magnitude in all dried samples except those containing Proteus mirabilis, which decreased about four orders of magnitude . The rates of inactivation of bacteria by ionizing radiation in sludge were usually modified to some degrees by variations in moisture content . Most bacteria were found to be somewhat protected from ionizing radiation at reduced moisture levels . The largest effect was found with Salmonella typhimurium, whose radiation resistance approximately doubled in dried sludge . However, no excessively large D10 values were found for any bacterial species tested. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 May, 41(5), 1117 - 22 Effects of moisture content on long-term survival and regrowth of bacteria in wastewater sludge; Yeager JG et al.; The effects of moisture content on the survival and regrowth of seeded and indigenous enteric bacteria in raw sludge were determined . Cultures of six strains of fecally associated bacteria grown in sterilized, liquid sludge (5% solids) were all quite stable at this moisture level for over 90 days at 21 degrees C . When the moisture content of the sludge containing these organisms was reduced by evaporation and the samples were stored at 21 degrees C for extended periods, bacterial inactivation rates were generally proportional to the moisture losses of the samples . A dramatic reversal in this effect was observed in samples containing more than 90% solids . In this dried sludge, every bacterial species studied except Proteus mirabilis was found to be extremely stable . Bacteria indigenous to sludge were also found to survive for long periods in dried sludge . Regrowth of bacterial isolates in sterilized raw sludge was found to occur readily at 37 degrees C in samples containing less than or equal to 75% solids, but no growth was observed in samples with greater than or equal to 85% solids . Some growth, but to less than saturation densities, occurred with 80% solids . Growth of seeded Salmonella typhimurium was also found to occur in the presence of indigenous organisms in both liquid and dewatered raw sludges . However, the population density attained was well below that found in sterilized samples of the same sludges . In addition, the number of salmonellae dropped below detectable limits within a few days in sludges containing viable indigenous organisms, whereas little decrease occurred during this time with salmonellae grown in previously sterilized sludges. Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 May, 34(5), 723 - 8 {Fundamental and clinical studies of cefotiam in the field of pediatrics (author's transl)}; Akita H et al.; The fundamental and clinical studies on cefotiam (CTM) were performed in the field of pediatrics, and the following results were obtained: 1 . The peak MIC's of CTM against Gram negative rods such as E . coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Proteus were 1.56 mcg/ml . The MIC distribution against S . aureus was almost equal to the conventional cephalosporin antibiotics . The MICs against P . pseudomonas and Serratia were over 400 mcg/ml . 2 . The mean serum levels of CTM after bolus intravenous injection of 25 mg/kg were 59.9 mcg/ml after 15 min., 30.0 mcg/ml after 30 min., 15.6 mcg/ml after 1 hour . 3 . Administration of CTM to 6 pediatric patients produced the clinical responses which were good in all 6 cases and the bacterial effects of eradication in 3 cases and superinfection in the 2 cases in the 5 cases from whom the organism were isolated . No side effect was observed . From the above results, it is considered that a bolus injection of CTM 25 mg/kg t.i.d . to q.i.d . is a safe and useful treatment for pediatric cases. Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 May, 34(5), 690 - 704 {Basic and clinical studies of cefotiam in the field of pediatrics (author's transl)}; Toyonaga Y et al.; A new synthetic cephalosporin, cefotiam (CTM) was studied from the basic and clinical aspects, and the following results were obtained: 1 . Bacteriological study: The bacterial activities of CTM against the clinical isolates of S . aureus, S . pyogenes, E . coli, Klebsiella sp . and Proteus sp . were compared with those of CEZ, CER, ABPC and GM . (1) As for S . aureus and S . pyogenes, the antibacterial actions of the conventional cephalosporins were slightly more potent than those of CTM . (2) However, CTM had the antibacterial actions which were most potent Proteus sp . among the above 4 antibiotics and more potent against E . coli and Klebsiella sp . than the above 2 conventional cephalosporins . 2 . Pharmacokinetic study: The peak serum levels of CTM were comparatively low with 19.30 +/- 1.66 mcg/ml 30 minutes after a bolus injection of 20 mg/kg and 25.85 +/- 4.32 mcg/ml just after a drip infusion of 20 mg/kg . The half-life of the serum levels was 0.98 hrs . and 0.87 hrs., respectively . The 4 hours urinary excretions in six patients ranged from 38.6 to 64.9%, showing a slightly wide variance . 3 . Clinical study: The clinical response was good in 23 out of total 25 cases, i.e . 14 cases with respiratory tract infection, 7 with urinary tract infection and 4 with skin and soft tissue infection . The response rate was 92% . Also, neither side effects nor abnormal laboratory findings was observed. J Lab Clin Med, 1981 May, 97(5), 672 - 9 Detection of potential biochemical indicators of infection in the burned rat; Powanda MC et al.; Sever thermal injury is often complicated by infection . Moreover, the injury itself render the early detection of infection more difficult . Rapid early detection of infection would thus aid in the treatment of severely burned patients . PCA filtrates of whole blood from burned-infected rats contain three substances that appear to be early indicators of infection in the thermally injured animal . These factors are only slightly affected by the extent of injury . These factors do not appear to be microorganism-specific in that they are found in rats infected with Proteus mirabilis as well as with Pseudomonas aeruginosa . One factor absorbs light at 398 nm and seems to be associated with some cellular component of blood . The other two substances are fluorescent, one gamma ex 280 nm gamma em 340 nm, the other gamma 355 nm gamma em 420 nm, and are detectable in PCA filtrates of plasma as well as of whole blood . All factors are retained by filters with a 25,000 dalton pore size . All factors are precipitable from PCA filtrates by phosphotungstic acid, suggesting that they may be proteins . The 355/420 factor increases with oxidation, whereas both the 280/340 substance and 398 nm material decrease. Schweiz Med Wochenschr, 1981 Apr 4, 111(14), 502 - 8 {Pharmacokinetic study of a cephalosporin, cefoperazone, in liver failure}; Belaieff J et al.; The pharmacokinetics of cefoperazone, a semi-synthetic cephalosporin for parenteral use with a spectrum covering P . aeruginosa, E . cloacae, indole-positive Proteus and S . Marcescens, was studied after a 2-h intravenous infusion of 2 g of the drug in 6 patients with moderate liver function impairment (viral hepatitis in 4 cases, alcoholic fatty liver and cirrhosis in 2 cases) . At the end of the infusion, mean serum concentrations (determined by a bioassay) were 208 microgram/ml in the patients and 134 microgram/ml in healthy volunteers . The half-life was 4.3 h in patients and 1.6 h in healthy volunteers . Volume of distribution and renal clearance were similar in the two groups . Extrarenal clearance of cefoperazone was lower in the patients (7.3 ml/min) than in the control group (59.4 mg/min) . Urinary excretion of biologically active drug was markedly increased in the patients (79% of the dose) compared with healthy volunteers (24%) . This study provides evidence that liver function impairment increases with both the apparent half-life of elimination and the urinary excretion of the drug . The results raise the question of the desirability of cefoperazone dosage adjustment in patients with hepatic diseases. J Postgrad Med, 1981 Apr, 27(2), 99 - 104 Non-specific seminal tract infection and male infertility: a bacteriological study; Mogra N et al.; PIP: 70 infertile males with epididymal tenderness, pus cells in the semen, and/or history of urinary tract infection were studied by semen culture examination . Significant growth of Streptococcus fecalis, Escherichia coli, coagulase positive Staphylococci, Proteus valgaris, Pseudomonas pyocyanea, and beta hemolytic Strepticocci was found in 42.9% of the cases . Most of the tested strains were sensitive to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, nitrofurantoin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol . In a control group of 20 healthy fertile males, only an insignificnat growth of Staphylococcus albus and Streptococcus facalis was found in 65% of the samples . Nonspecific seminal tract infection can be an important cause of male infertility . These infections may affect fertility in several ways: by damaging sperm, hampering their motility, altering the chemical composition of the seminal fluid, or by producing an inflammatory structure in the tract . Seminal infection could also be the cause of the chronicity of urinary tract infection by acting as the reservoir of infection . author's modified J Biochem (Tokyo), 1981 Apr, 89(4), 1059 - 66 Structure of the peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) of the Proteus mirabilis outer membrane . II . Sequence of the amino-terminal part of the peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein; Mizuno T; The amino acid of the lipooligopeptide (LOP) derived from the N-terminal region of the peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) of Proteus mirabilis was determined to be {X}-Ser-Ser-Asn-Lys . An unidentified compound{X} present at the N-terminus was identified as glycerylcysteine {S-(propane-2,'3'-diol)-3-thio, 2-amino-propanoic acid} . The partial amino acid sequence of the lipopolypeptide (LPP), which contained the lipooligopeptide (LOP) at its N-terminal part, was also determined, mainly by Edman-degradation . The structure of the N-terminal part of PAL was determined to be {3 Fatty acids approximately glycerylcysteine-Ser-Ser-Asn-Lys-Asn-Asp-Asp-Glu-Thr-Asp-Thr-Ser...} . The structure of PAL is discussed in comparison with Braun's lipoprotein. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1981 Apr, 89(4), 1051 - 8 Structure of the peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) of the Proteus mirabilis outer membrane . I . Isolation and characterization of fatty acid-containing peptides from PAL; Mizuno T; In the outer membrane of P . mirabilis, a peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) of apparent molecular weight 18,000 is present as a major protein . A fatty acid-containing polypeptide (lipopolypeptide; LPP) was isolated by digestion of the purified PAL with trypsin in the presence of 0.05% SDS . It was composed of 31 amino acid residues, an unidentified compound{X}, and ca . 3 fatty acid residues . A lipooligopeptide (LOP) was also isolated after further digestion of LPP with trypsin in the absence of SDS . LOP was composed of 4 amino acid residues (Asx, 2Ser, Lys), a compound{X}, and ca . 3 fatty acid residues . The C-terminal amino acids of LPP and LOP were determined as arginine and lysine, respectively . On the other hand, the N-terminus of PAL, LPP, or LOP could not be identified by conventional N-terminal analysis of PAL, LPP, or LOP could not be identified by conventional N-terminal analysis, indicating that the N-terminus is probably masked . These results indicate that LPP and LOP are derived from the fatty-attached amino terminal region of PAL. J Clin Pathol, 1981 Apr, 34(4), 439 - 42 Resistance to trimethoprim in 1978-79 compared with 1973-75; Hamilton-Miller JM et al.; The incidence of resistance to trimethoprim among urinary isolates between October 1978 and November 1979 was 11.5%, more than double the figure found April 1973 and October 1975 . Of the resistant strains, 60% had a minimum inhibitory concentration in excess of 1 mg/ml . Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis showed the greatest increase in resistance since the previous study . Rather wide fluctuations occurred in the incidence of resistance for various species when the figures were analysed over two-month periods, hence studies of short duration must be interpreted with caution . There are not yet enough data from this or other studies for the cause of the increased incidence of resistance to trimethoprim to be determined. Antibiotiki, 1981 Apr, 26(4), 311 - 5 {Effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in pyelonephritis after kidney transplantation}; Vasina TA et al.; Determination of bacteriuria, leucocyturia, active leucocytes and Sternheimer-Malbin's cells in patients with transplanted kidneys during the postoperative period provided identification of pyelonephritis in the transplanted kidney . E . coli, Proteus, Staphylococcus, P . aeruginosa and microbial associations were the main causative agents of pyelonephritis in such patients . The majority of the causative agents were polyresistant to antibiotics . Investigation of the microbial sensitivity to antibiotics and determination of their levels in the patients promote development of rational schemes for the treatment of pyelonephritis . Early identification of pyelonephritis of the transplanted kidney and its timely treatment with antibiotics allow avoiding destruction of the transplanted organ and promote its normal functioning. Infect Immun, 1981 Apr, 32(1), 32 - 7 Role of urease in the formation of infection stones: comparison of ureases from different sources; Rosenstein IJ et al.; Bacterial and vegetable ureases were found to differ in certain important respects . For maximal clinical relevance, in vitro studies on the pathogenic role of urease should use whole bacterial cells of Proteus spp., and urease inhibitors should be assessed without preincubation of enzyme with inhibitor . Urease from Proteus morganii was very different from ureases of other species of Proteus; this factor should be taken into account when infections with P . morganii are being treated. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1981 Apr, 89(4), 1039 - 49 A novel peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) found in the outer membrane of Proteus mirabilis and other Gram-negative bacteria; Mizuno T; A novel peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) was found in the cell envelope of Proteus mirabilis . This protein showed the following properties: (1) The apparent molecular weight in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel was 18,000 . (2) The protein was present in the cell envelope in a form very closely, but not covalently, associated with the peptidoglycan layer . (3) The protein was recovered predominantly from the outer membrane fraction after separation of the cell envelopes . (4) {1-14C}Palmitic acid and {2-3H}glycerol were incorporated into the protein . (5) The protein contained covalently linked fatty acids (about 3 mol of fatty acid per mol of protein) . (6) An unidentified compound was present in the hydrolysate of the protein . These properties, except for molecular weight and non-covalent association with the peptidoglycan, showed resemblance to those of Braun's lipoprotein . However the protein was distinct from Braun's lipoprotein in regard to amino acid composition . A similar peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) was present widely in the cell envelopes of various Gram-negative bacteria . P . mirabilis contains about twelve times as much PAL as Escherichia coli . Antiserum against PAL of P . mirabilis was cross-reactive against PAL of E . coli, but not against Braun's lipoprotein of E . coli. Laryngoscope, 1981 Mar, 91(3), 422 - 31 Perichondritis of the auricle; Bassiouny A; A search of the literature reveals reports of only 191 cases of auricular perichondritis . The present study includes 15 further cases caused by pseudomonas and proteus . Stroud's excision technique was used in four cases and resulted in marked deformity, repeated debridement, and protracted treatment . Tubal drainage was used in the remaining ears with very good esthetic results . It has been demonstrated in experimental animals and in humans that new cartilage forms in the subperichondrial auricular space in the second postoperative week, being maximum in the fourth week . In the present study tubes were retained two to four weeks to maintain an elevation of the perichondrium from what remains of the auricular cartilage to ensure homogeneous cartilage formation and provide local antibiotic treatment . Hospitalization is required for only two days . The four weeks tubal drainage method should be the method of choice for all cases of perichondritis and the excision method abandoned, even in gram-negative infections . A case of relapsing polychondritis is also presented because it is important to distinguish auricular perichondritis from relapsing polychondritis as the treatment of the latter is not surgical but with steroids. Poult Sci, 1981 Mar, 60(3), 569 - 74 The airborne microflora of poultry houses; Sauter EA et al.; Two experiments were conducted to compare effects of housing temperatures and bird density on the airborne microflora of poultry houses . Temperatures of 15.6 and 26.7 C were used with birds housed at densities of .42 or .84 m3 per bird . Air samples were taken using a New Brunswick STA 200 microbiological air sampler . Numbers of aerobic, anaerobic, coliform and lactic acid bacteria, and molds were determined by plate counts with numbers of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus determined by most probable numbers procedures . Microorganisms were identified by picking representative colonies from plates and inoculating into differential media for biochemical tests . Higher bird density (.42 m3/bird) resulted in greater numbers of airborne microorganisms in both experiments . Fifteen genera of bacteria were identified with two or more species identified for eight genera . Among the most commonly identified aerobic genera were Bacillus, Micrococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus, while four species of Clostridia were the most frequently identified anaerobes . Nine genera of molds were identified with over one-half of all isolates being either Aspergillus or Penicillium . Microorganisms represented only a small fraction of the airborne particulate matter in the study. Jpn J Antibiot, 1981 Mar, 34(3), 257 - 78 {Basic and clinical studies on cefoxitin in pediatrics (author's transl)}; Toyonaga Y et al.; Laboratory and clinical studies were performed on a newly introduced antibiotic of the cephamycin series, cefoxitin (CFX), and the results obtained were as follows: 1 . Employing clinical isolates, MICs were determined and comparisons made with those of cephalosporins . The MICs of CFX against S . aureus and S . pyogenes slightly inferior to those of the cephalosporins, while the MICs of CFX against Gram-negative bacilli such as E . coli, Proteus sp . and Klebsiella sp . were considerably superior to those of CER and CET, and slightly superior to those of CEZ . 2 . The peak serum concentrations were 34.7 mcg/ml and 67.6 mcg/ml at 30 minutes after an intravenous injection in doses of 12.5 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively . The peak serum concentration was 40.8 mcg/ml at the end of 60 minutes intravenous drip infusion when it was given in a dose of 25 mg/kg . In these cases, the serum half life were 25.8-51.2 minutes, and their urinary recovery were 67-90% . 3 . Clinically, CFX was given to the 29 children with a total of 31 of varying bacterial infections: 6 cases of urinary tract infection (U.T.I.), 19 of respiratory tract infection (R.T.I.), 2 of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (S.S.S.S.), 2 of purulent lymphadenitis and 2 cases of soft tissue dermatological infections . Overall efficacy rate was 83.9% (26 cases) . No significant adverse reaction was noted except for 1 case of rash . Abnormal laboratory findings observed were elevation of GOT and GPT in 1 patient and of GPT in 1 patient. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1981 Mar 1, 178(5), 489 - 93 Use of cystine, lactose, electrolyte-deficient medium for isolation and identification of bacteria and yeasts from the skin and ears of dogs; McKeever PJ et al.; Cystine, lactose, electrolyte-deficient (CLED) medium, a culture medium used for isolation and identification of bacteria from the urinary tract of human beings, was evaluated in a clinical setting for isolation and identification of bacteria and yeasts from the skin and ears of dogs . Staphylococci, streptococci, Pseudomonas sp, Proteus sp, and Candida sp were isolated in cases of secondary pyoderma, otitis, demodectic mange, and folliculitis in 50 dogs . Proteus sp was found along with other organisms in 5 cases . Spreading of Proteus sp was prevented by the CLED medium, permitting isolation of the other pathogenic organisms . Observations of growth characteristics on CLED medium and use of 4 additional simple laboratory procedures permitted correct identification of 90.3% of the isolates. Antibiotiki, 1981 Mar, 26(3), 106 - 9 {Initial antibiotic resistance of the microflora isolated in various pathological states}; Abausi I et al.; Composition of microflora was studied in complicated wound infections and some inflammatory diseases . The comparative characteristics of the antibiotic resistance of the isolates is presented . It was noted that Pseudomonas and Proteus predominated in the microflora isolated in complicated wound infections . The etiological structure of the causative agents of the inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract was mainly presented by enteropathogenic Coli bacteria . All the isolated were highly sensitive to gentamicin and resistant to other antibiotics, the levels of the resistance being different. Am J Med, 1981 Mar, 70(3), 638 - 40 Infection surveillance and control in the severely traumatized patient; Caplan ES et al.; Among severely traumatized patients, infection is second only to head trauma as the leading cause of death . Few studies have defined the infections that occur, the risk factors involved, or the appropriate means of evaluating these patients . In our trauma unit, daily infection surveillance included clinical evaluation of every patient and all microbiologic data . In addition, prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotics were directly under our control . Over a two period 2,368 patients were admitted, most arriving directly from the scene by patients were admitted, most arriving directly from the scene by helicopter . The over-all mortality was 20 percent . In this setting, 639 nosocomial infections occurred in 381 patients of whom 14 percent died of their infection . Sites of infection in percent of total and of bacteremia (given in parentheses) were urinary tract 18 (3), pneumonia 15 (19), empyema 11 (11), phlebitis 12 (17), primary bacteremia 10 (21), surgical wound 19 (8), intraabdominal 8 (11), CNS 7 (5), sinusitis 5 (0), arterial lines 2 (4) and other 3 (1) . Over-all 44 percent of infections were bacteremia . Organisms involved in nosocomial infections as percent of total and in bacteremias given in parentheses) were coagulase-positive Staphylococcus 24 (39), other gram-positive cocci 13 (8), Escherichia coli 13 (9), Proteus 4 (5), anaerobes 3 (1) and other organisms 12 (8) . Most infections were directly related to an invasive procedure. Infect Immun, 1981 Mar, 31(3), 957 - 64 Evidence from a carbohydrate incorporation assay for direct activation of bone marrow myelopoietic precursor cells by bacterial cell wall constitutents; Monner DA et al.; The stimulation of incorporation of {3H}galactose into membrane glycoconjugates, measured in a precipitation test, was used as a criterion for activation of bone marrow cells . In this assay, purified bacterial lipopolysaccharide, lipoprotein, and murein monomer and dimer fragments all activated rat bone marrow cells in vitro . The response was dose dependent, followed a defined time course, and was not serum dependent . O-Acetylated murein dimer fragments from Proteus mirabilis were much less active than their unsubstituted counterparts, indicating a structural specificity for murein activation . Removal of adherent and phagocytizing cells from the marrow suspensions did not alter these results . The labeled, activated cells constituted a distinct population of buoyant density 1.064 to 1.069 g/cm3 when centrifuged on a continuous gradient of Percoll . Enrichment of the target cell population was achieved by a combination of adherent cell removal and discontinuous density gradient centrifugation to remove granulocytes and erythropoietic cells . It was concluded that a population of myelopoietic precursors could be activated by direct contact with bacterial cell wall constituents . The stimulation of galactose incorporation was not coupled to active deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the marrow cells . Thus, the activation was interpreted as an induction of differentiation rather than a mitotic event. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Mar, 34(3), 292 - 7 Separation and biologic activities of individual components of S15-1, a streptothricin class antibiotic; Liu WC et al.; A method is described for isolation of gram quantities of the components of the streptothricin complex S15-1 utilizing CM Sephadex column chromatography eluted with 10% acetic acid as an eluant followed by gradient elution with 10% acetic acid containing 0.02 N approximately 0.03 N HCI . Streptothricins F and E, as well as an unidentified component C1, have been isolated and their comparative biological activities determined . Streptothricins F and E were comparable in taeniacidal activity in mice infected with Hymenolepis nana ia feeding either one at 0.05% in the diet removed 92 approximately 100% of the adult tapeworms . The unidentified component C1 was inactive at the levels tested . In contrast, component C1 was the most active in antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and in inhibiting the urease activity of proteus mirabilis . In the former test, the ratios of activity were; 1:7:30 for F:E:C1 and in the latter; 1:2:4 for F:E:C1. Infect Immun, 1981 Mar, 31(3), 862 - 7 Antibody-producing cell responses to an isolated outer membrane protein and to complexes of this antigen with lipopolysaccharide or with vesicles of phospholipids from Proteus mirabilis; Karch H et al.; Antibody-producing cell responses of mice to a protein isolated from the outer membrane of Proteus mirabilis were typical of the responses to a thymus-dependent antigen . The immunoglobulin G antibody-producing cell responses to the protein were increased after administration of the antigen complexed with either lipopolysaccharide or with vesicles of phospholipids extracted from P . mirabilis . The protein in turn significantly increased the immune response to lipopolysaccharide and also converted this response from predominantly immunoglobulin M to predominantly immunoglobulin G. Nouv Presse Med, 1981 Feb 26, 10(8), 629 - 33 {Cefotaxime in childhood infections (author's transl)}; Garnier JM et al.; Cefotaxime was administered to 20 patients suffering from severe bacterial infections . Four were newborn babies, seven were infants, and nine were children . The infections treated included 9 bronchopulmonary infections and 6 urinary tract infections . In 9 patients, the infecting organism was identified: E . coli (3), Klebsiella (2), Staphylococcus aureus (3), and Proteus (1) . Except in one case, cefotaxime was administered alone at doses of 50 to 100 mg/kg every 12 hours . The route of administration was intramuscular . 4 patients had already received unsuccessful antimicrobial therapy . All patients were clinically cured . In those with pneumonia, the clinical and radiological response was very prompt; in urinary tract infections, the temperature returned to normal in less than 48 hours . The local and general tolerance was always good . It may be concluded from these results that cefotaxime, a new parenteral cephalosporin, is especially useful and should prove particularly effective in severe infectious conditions found in pediatric practice. J Cell Sci, 1981 Feb, 47, 55 - 63 The appearance of carbohydrate-rich material in the developing Golgi apparatus of amoebae; Flickinger CJ; The silver proteinate reaction was used to stain carbohydrate-rich substances in normal Amoeba proteus and in the developing Golgi apparatus of renucleated amoebae . Normal cells contained stained material, which probably is glycoprotein, in the cell surface, cisternae at the concave pole of the Golgi apparatus, and cytoplasmic vesicles and vacuoles . Previous radioautographic studies had shown tht glycosylation occurs in the Golgi apparatus, and that material in the Golgi apparatus is precursor to the cell surface . Amoebae were enucleated for 5 d, which results in a decline of the Golgi apparatus, the disappearance of the glycoprotein-containing cisternae preceding that of the rest of the organelle . A new nucleus was then transplanted into the enucleate amoebae, bringing about the regeneration of the Golgi apparatus . small curved cisternae that appeared 30 min after renucleation lacked staining with silver proteinate . By 1 h after renucleation, however, the content of cisternae toward the concave poles of Golgi bodies stained with silver proteinate . The Golgi apparatus in cells fixed 6 h and 1 d after operation resembled that of normal amoebae in both morphology and staining pattern . The results suggest that the developing Golgi apparatus acquired the capacity to participate in assembly of cell-surface material within 1 h after renucleation . This occurred before development of the normal enzymic activity of the Golgi apparatus was completed. Antibiotiki, 1981 Feb, 26(2), 92 - 6 {Use of ionizing radiation for sterilizing alginate dressings containing various antibacterial preparations}; Moroz AF et al.; The effect of various doses of ionizing radiation on activity of antibacterial drugs contained in polymer alginate coatings was studied . Sensitivity of P . aeruginosa, E . coli, Staph . aureus, Proteus and B . subtilis used as the test organisms to the drugs and their combinations after radiation sterilization was determined on liquid nutrient media with the method of serial dilutions and agar diffusion and the use of the respective reference antibiotics . The coatings were irradiated in an isotope unit with 60Co at a dose of 7 Krad/min . The data are indicative of the possible use of ionizing radiation for sterilization of pharmaceutical alginate coatings in trade packings . Combined effect of antimicrobial substances and ionizing radiation plays an important role in the efficiency of radiation sterilization . Sterility of the majority of the drugs was achieved after irradiation in doses of 0.5-1 Mrad . The bactericidal activity of gentamicin, mafenid, polymyxin M and neomycin contained in the alginate coatings sterilized with gamma-radiation in doses of 1-2.5 Mrad did not decrease immediately and 1 year after irradiation. J Med Microbiol, 1981 Feb, 14(1), 151 - 2 A rapid and simple method for distinguishing colonies of proteus from those of Salmonella and Shigella; Senior BW; A rapid and simple method is described by which colonies of Proteus can be distinguished from those of Salmonella and Shigella and other non-lactose-fermenting organisms growing on MacConkey's agar or desoxycholate citrate agar . The method is based on the ability of Proteus to produce urease constitutively . The enzyme was detected by the degradation of urea by the inoculum, thereby creating an alkaline reaction on pH-indicator paper. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1981 Feb, 34(2), 212 - 7 C-19393 S2 and H2, new carbapenem antibiotics . IV . Inhibitory activity against beta-lactamases; Okonogi K et al.; New carbapenem antibiotics, C-19393 S2 and H2, have been found to be potent and broad-spectrum inhibitors of beta-lactamases . Among 11 types of beta-lactamases tested, those from Escherichia coli (plasmid-bearing), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Serratia marcescens and Bacteroides fragilis were especially sensitive . They also inhibited cephalosporinases insensitive to clavulanic acid . The inhibition by C-19393 S2 and H2 was of progressive type, except for the inhibition of E . coli enzyme (plasmid-mediated type I) by C-19393 H2 . The inhibition of E . coli beta-lactamase by C-19393 S2 was irreversible, while that by C-19393 H2 was reversible. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1981, 60(4), 284 - 7 Resistance of genus Proteus to ovotransferrin; Valenti P et al.; A total of 100 strains of Proteus, clinically isolated, were tested for sensitivity to ovotransferrin and CrCl3 . Only a minority of the tested strains were not capable of growing in the presence of these iron chelating substances . Significant differences in the resistance among the four species of Proteus were noticeable only by addition to the culture medium of CrCl3 5 mM . The fact that sensitive strains were capable of growing after addition of citrate to culture medium containing ovotransferrin or CrCl3 suggests the presence in the genus Proteus of a citrate-dependent iron transport system. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Jan, 122(Pt 1), 155 - 60 Phage C-1: an IncC group; plasmid-specific phage; Sirgel FA et al.; A phage was isolated from sewage and shown to form plaques on Salmonella typhimurium strains carrying C plasmids . It failed to multiply on strains lacking plasmids of this group . It also plated on Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescens strains carrying various IncC plasmids but failed to form plaques on Escherichia coli strains harbouring most of these plasmids, although in all cases, phage multiplication on the strains was demonstrated . No phage increase occurred in any of the strains which lacked an IncC plasmid or contained plasmids of other incompatibility groups . The phage is small, hexagonal in outline, contains RNA, is resistant to chloroform and adsorbs to the shafts of pili coded for by IncC plasmids. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1981, 173(3-4), 250 - 9 {Microbiological studies of small hot-bath-pools and hot-whirl-pools (author's transl)}; Exner M et al.; Hot small bathing pools and hot whirl-pools have the following characteristics: small watervolume, thick squeeze of swimmers, high water temperature (37-40 degrees C) and small dimension of filters . By this, the quality of bathing-water is influenced detrimentally . To elaborate the hygienic problems, bathing-water samples were taken before, during and after the visiting-hours and were tested for facultative-pathogenic microorganisms . During this investigation E . coli was isolated in 25 degrees, Coliforms and Proteus species in 37.3%, P . aeruginosa in 36%, S . aureus in 26.3%, Enterococci in 42.3 %, Candida albicans in 3.6% and yeast totally in 8.3%. Ann Sclavo, 1981 Jan-Feb, 23(1), 57 - 63 {Sensitivity in vitro of 192 Proteus strains to several aminoglycosides}; Thaller MC et al.; The antibacterial activity of tobramycin, gentamicin, amikacin, sisomicin and kanamycin against 192 strains of genus Proteus has been studied in vitro . Tobramycin and amikacin showed the highest activity . furthermore curves of distribution of frequency, concerning the sensitivity of Proteus mirabilis strains, have been drawn for every tested antibiotic, to study the modal values. Rev Gastroenterol Mex, 1981 Jan-Mar, 46(1), 1 - 5 {Postoperative reactive hepatitis in the septic patient}; Gutierrez Samperio C et al.; After major surgery some patients, especially those with an infectiouss process or sepsis, develop jaundice which has been called reactive hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, septic hepatitis or benign postoperative cholestasis; these terms do not have a very precise connotation . Eighty patients with postoperative sepsis and jaundice where studied, excluding those with liver or biliary tract disease, hepato-toxic drugs or repeated halogenated anesthetics . All of them had complete laboratory tests, cultures and percutaneous liver biopsy when it was feasible . Thirty five patients were submitted to percutaneous liver biopsy and they are the material for this paper . There was no correlation with the type and duration of the operation, postoperative complications, shock or kind of anesthesia . The main laboratory changes were leukocytosis, neutrophilia, elevation of the bilirubins mainly the direct type and increase of the alkaline phosphatase; transaminases were within normal limits . Cultures were positive in 76% of the cases predominating E . coli, Pseudomonas a . and Proteus, anaerobics were present in 22.8% of the cases . The liver biopsy showed lymphoctic infiltration, hyperplasia of the Kupffer cells, hepatic regeneration and turbid tumefaction; pericholangitis, focal necrosis, retention of pigment and steatosis were less frequent . We consider that the best denomination of these complications is benign postoperative cholestasis. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {B}, 1981, 172(6), 508 - 19 {About the antimicrobial activity of substituted aromatic aldehydes (author's transl)}; Rehn D et al.; The MIC-values and the antimicrobial activity in the paper disc diffusion method of 86 resp . 79 substituted aromatic aldehydes have been investigated . Antibacterial activity has been tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the antifungal activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans . 13 classes of substituents have been investigated . The most active compounds are substituted with nitro-, hydroxy- and halogen groups. Immun Infekt, 1981, 9(3), 106 - 12 {Aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (author's transl)}; Wiedemann B et al.; Bacterial resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics can occur by a variety of mechanisms (including alteration of the drug target site, interference with drug transport into the cell, or enzymatic detoxification of the antibiotics) due to chromosomal mutations or the inheritance of new genetic information mediated by resistance plasmids . Studies with 475 gram-negative bacteria isolated at the university hospital Bonn revealed that about 10% of the strains were resistant to gentamicin . 44 of 46 strains produced aminoglycoside modifying enzymes; the remaining two strains do not produce detectable enzymatic activity . Among those aminoglycoside transferases causing multiresistance to modern aminoglycosides, the nucleotidyltransferase ANT-(2") occurs most frequently and accounts for 88% of the gentamicin resistant klebsiella strains . The gentamicin acetylating enzymes AAC-(2'), AAC-(6'), and AAC-(3) are detected less frequently . All aminoglycoside transferases, except one acetyltransferase AAC-(2') from Proteus vulgaris, were found to be plasmid encoded. Paraplegia, 1981, 19(1), 50 - 8 Antiseptic and antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacteria causing urinary tract infection in spinal cord injured patients; Stickler DJ et al.; Fifty-seven isolates of Gram-negative bacterial species from urinary tract infections in spinal cord injured patients were tested for their sensitivity to chlorhexidine, cetrimide, glutaraldehyde, phenyl mercuric nitrate (PMN), a phenolic disinfectant (Hycolin) and a proprietary antiseptic containing a mixture of picloxydine, octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol and benzalkonium chloride (Resiguard) . None of the isolates were resistant to glutaraldehyde, Hycolin or PMN but a substantial percentage were resistant to chlorhexidine (44 per cent), cetrimide (26 per cent) and Resiguard (42 per cent) . The resistant organisms were members of the genera Proteus, Providencia and Pseudomonas and they were also generally resistant to five, six or seven antibiotics . Significant correlations were observed between multiplicity of antibiotic resistance and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the three cationic antiseptics . It is suggested that an antiseptic policy for the bladder management of spinal cord injured patients that relies on the extensive use of cationic agents might lead to the selection of a flora of notoriously drug-resistant species. Antibiotiki, 1981 Jan, 26(1), 65 - 9 {Bile microflora in noninfectious digestive organ diseases and sensitivity to antibiotics}; Veselov AIa et al.; Bile microflora and its relation to pH of gastric juice was investigated in 225 patients . The isolation rate of microbes from bile of patients with gastritis, duodenitis and duodenal ulcer increased with an increase in the pH value of gastric juice from 1.9 to 6.9 . At pH values over 7.0 the isolation rate of the microbes decreased . No such relation was observed in patients with pathological conditions of the hepatobiliary system and intestine . In patients with various diseases of the stomach, the isolation rate of Coli bacteria at pH 1.2-6.9 increased from 20 to 51.5 per cent and at higher pH values it decreased . At higher pH values of gastric juice the composition of microflora isolated from bile was more diverse . Thus, in patients with hypo- and achlorhydria there were isolated Proteus, P . aeruginosa, Candida and associations of various microbes . The isolates were characterized by a relatively low sensitivity to antibiotics. Vopr Onkol, 1981, 27(2), 39 - 43 {Sensitization study of oncological patients to bacterial allergens with the aid of the leukocyte migration inhibition reaction}; Kochetkova VA et al.; The results of studying sensitization of 88 patients with cancer (larynx, esophagus, ovaries) to 7 bacterial allergens (pathogenic and nonpathogenic staphylococcus, hemolytic streptococcus, catarrhal diplococcus, Proteus, Escherichia coli and blue pus bacilli) are reported . These bacilli are most frequently the cause of development of postoperative suppurations . The studies performed (before, during and after the combined therapy) indicated by leucocyte migration inhibition test that during the disease ad therapeutic course there occurs nonspecific sensitization of leucocytes to bacterial allergens which gradually disappears following termination of the therapy . Postoperatively, the sensitization offers grounds for the development of suppurative complications, the latter is associated with the enhanced inhibition of leucocytes migration by an allergen of that microbial species which caused the development of suppurative complications . Therefore, this test with a set of bacterial allergens may be used as a diagnostic adjunct early reveal the postoperative suppurations. Eur Urol, 1981, 7(3), 122 - 5 A review of urinary calculi in children in the Bristol clinical area; Gingell JC et al.; We have undertaken a detailed retrospective study of urinary calculi in the Bristol clinical area from 1950 to 1978 . Most calculi in children are detected in the upper urinary tract and the majority are associated with urinary infection . There were two predominant aetiological groups . First the children under 5 years of age, usually male, with a Proteus infection and triple phosphate calculi of the staghorn type in the renal pelvis and calyces . Of the 7 children with a sterile urinary tract in this age group, 4 were discovered to have a metabolic cause for the their calculi . These included 2 patients with cystinuria, 1 with uric acid calculi secondary to the treatment of leukaemia and 1 baby with the adrenogenital syndrome . A second smaller group of children between 8 and 13 years of age presented with ureteric calculi due to calcium oxalate stones in a sterile urinary tract . In the first group the importance of Proteus infections of the urinary tract is emphasised, and possibility of an underlying metabolic abnormality is noted if the urine is sterile . The second group presenting with ureteric colic are no different from adults with "idiopathic" calcium oxalate stones. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1981, 47(6), 525 - 38 Proteus-typing by proticin production and susceptibility; Bongaerts GP et al.; A Proteus-typing method based on proticin production and proticin susceptibility (c.f . Senior, 1977) has been modified to increase its sensitivity Proticins were prepared in fluid medium and applied to agar-plates shortly before seeding the plates with indicator bacteria . A given 10 proticin producer strains, which are responsible for the susceptibility patterns of the indicator-bacteria (S-types), form the foundation for this typing method . Using this producer-set and indicator-set (28 strains) was selected which was suitable for the typing of strains with different proticin activities (P-types) . Standardization of the temperature for proticin production proved to be necessary . The degree of similarity between proticins was further elaborated by testing all indicator strains for susceptibility to proticin titrations . In the group of 148 clinical Proteus-isolates (four species) used for the development of the typing system 28 S-types and 34 P-types were observed . By combining the S-and P-type parameters 86 S-P-types were obtained for the 4 species combined . Seven strains were not typable . A separate group of 100 clinical Proteus-isolates was tested in order to prove the usefulness of the method . 39 new S-P types were found . Repeated isolations from the same patients yield the same patterns . Proteus S-P-typing is a useful method for the typing of Proteus vulgaris and Proteus mirabilis, but proves inadequate for the typing of Proteus rettgeri and Proteus morganii. Scan Electron Microsc, 1981, (Pt 3), 65 - 72 Papillary necrosis in vitro: a scanning electron microscopic comparison of escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis infection; Cohen MS et al.; The effect of bacterial infection on excised renal papillae as a model for papillary necrosis and subsequent calcification was investigated . Sterile rat renal papillae were placed in 25 ml aliquots of filter sterilized human urine and then inoculated with one ml suspensions of sterilized human urine and then inoculated with one ml suspensions of sterile saline as a control, or 1 x 108/ml Escherichia coli or proteus mirabilis . After incubation at 37 degrees C for periods of 8 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr, 1 wk, 2 wk and 3 wk, urinary pH was measured, bacterial culture performed and the renal papillae were recovered and examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrophotometry (EDS) . In the case of Proteus mirabilis, the sequence of events noted included bacterial-papillary interactions consisting of cell desquamation and strand formation, despite infrequent bacterial attachment . After 10 hr, a rapid, urease induced pH rise resulted in calcium salt deposition on the papillae surface . Organism death was apparent after 72 hr . Escherichia coli infected papillae demonstrated similar cell surface changes after a 8 hr as seen in P . mirabilis; however, frequent evidence of bacterial attachment and penetration was apparent . Bacterial attachment was a prominent feature throughout the incubation period with E . coli . After one week, rare areas of degenerating cells and bacteria with increased calcium levels as compared to surrounding areas were noted by EDS analysis . Urinary pH was stable throughout the incubation period . This study suggests varied roles for the organisms most associated with infection induced papillary necrosis (E coli) and papillary necrosis with subsequent stone formation (P . mirabilis) . A role for bacterial calcification in the absence of bacterial urease activity by E . coli is also suggested. Mol Gen Genet, 1981, 183(2), 369 - 75 Repair and plasmid R46 mediated mutation requires inducible functions in Proteus mirabilis; Hofemeister J et al.; In Proteus mirabilis nalidixic acid or a predose of UV induce Rec protein formation, a portion of post-UV replication repair and "post-UV replication enhancement." These inducible functions are not significantly affected by the plasmid R46, which renders P . mirabilis efficiently UV-mutable . The R46-mediated UV induction of rif mutations requires additional inducible functions, as existing after nalidixic acid treatment in rec+ strains . After a nalidixic acid pretreatment UV efficient induction of rif mutations occurs without an otherwise obligatory period of post-UV incubation prior to plating on rifampicin agar . THe inducible character of this "qualification" of plasmid R46-mediated UV mutagenesis in P . mirabilis is evident from the inhibitory effects of chloramphenicol and starvation . Constitutive high-level synthesis of Rec protein in cells harboring the recombinant (multi-copy) rec+ plasmid pPM1 reduced plasmid R46-mediated UV mutagenesis, probably by preventing (inducible?) functions required by the plasmid R46 repair-mutator. Acta Chir Scand, 1981, 147(2), 93 - 7 Serum antibodies against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis after different types of operations; Bergman B et al.; The serum antibody titer against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis before and after different types of operations was studied in 105 adult patients . The different operations were: pyelo- or ureterolithotomi (32); ileal conduit urinary diversion (20); cholecystectomi (34); operation in the thyroid area (10); operation of varicose veins of the legs (9); and colectomies (10) . High serum antibody titers against E . coli were found in 16% of the patients preoperatively . Antibody titres against P . mirabilis were high in 19% of the patients with urinary tract calculus but in none of those without urological disease . The antibody titre against E . coli and/or P . mirabilis increased significantly more often after operation in the urinary tract or colon than after the other operat