Cancer Immunol Immunother, 1985, 20(2), 109 - 16 Anti-tumour effect of humoral and cellular immunities mediated by a bacterial immunopotentiator, Lactobacillus casei, in mice; Yasutake N et al.; Administration of a mixture containing Lactobacillus casei YIT 9018 (LC9018) and methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (Meth A) cells into the peritoneum of syngeneic BALB/c mice suppressed the tumour growth and protected the mice from tumour death . With the appearance of the anti-tumour activity, serum complement-dependent tumour cytotoxic (CDC) antibody was induced on the 5th day after the administration as a result of the adjuvant effect . The cytotoxic antibody was not found in serum on the 5th day after inoculation of Meth A cells alone, but it was induced before the mice died of the tumours . Adjuvant induction of the cytotoxic serum antibody at an early time was also observed using Kirsten murine sarcoma virus-transformed tumour (K234) cells . Both of these cytotoxic antibodies in sera from Meth A-suppressed and the tumour-bearing mice were specific for the tumour cells and were IgM class, since they were absorbed with rabbit anti-mouse IgM antibody . However, the cytotoxic antibody was not found in the peritoneal cavity which was the tumour inoculation site, but binding antibody against the tumour cells was faintly detected in the region using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) . In neutralization tests, the cytotoxic antibody did not exert anti-tumour activity in recipient mice when it was administered to the mice along with the tumour cells or when it was administered i.v . at the time of tumour inoculation . Moreover, the cytotoxic antibody was not available for the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) . These results suggest that the cytotoxic antibody did not exert anti-tumour activity in the tumour-suppressed mice . In contrast, peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) on the 5th day, and PEC and spleen cells on the 15th day after i.p . administration of the mixture exerted strong anti-tumour activity as measured by the Winn test . In conclusion, the adjuvant effect of LC9018 induced tumour-specific humoral and cellular immunities but the anti-tumour activity was dependent only on the cellular effectors of the host . The possible use of LC9018 in tumour immunotherapy is discussed. Gene, 1985, 35(1-2), 217 - 22 Nucleotide sequence of the dihydrofolate reductase gene of methotrexate-resistant Lactobacillus casei; Andrews J et al.; The nucleotide sequence of the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene of a methotrexate-resistant strain of Lactobacillus casei, which is the source of DHFR for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies, has been determined . The derived amino acid sequence differs from that obtained by protein sequencing by the presence of aspartic acid instead of asparagine at position 8 and proline instead of leucine at position 90 . The nucleotide sequences of 320-bp 5' and 335-bp 3' flanking regions of this gene have also been determined. Swed Dent J, 1985, 9(2), 55 - 64 Oral conditions in patients receiving long-term treatment with cyclic antidepressant drugs; Rundegren J et al.; The function of the salivary glands, the caries situation, and pathological alterations of the oral mucosa of 32 patients, 20 dentulous and 12 edentulous, who had received long-term treatment (median 5.5 years) with cyclic antidepressant drugs were studied . Anamnestic information on dry mouth problems was recorded . Although a normal secretion rate for stimulated saliva was recorded in about 50% of the patients all but four complained over dry mouth . The majority of the patients had low values of salivary buffer capacity, high numbers of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in the saliva, and poor oral hygiene . All except two patients had received dental care a year or less before the time of examination . Nevertheless 72% of the patients showed pathological alterations of their oral mucosa and 55% of the dentulous patients had new caries lesions . From an evaluation of the caries risk it was concluded that about half of the dentulous patients had a high caries risk, which seemed to be emphasized if combinations of psychotherapeutic drugs were used . It is recommended that patients receiving treatment with antidepressant drugs should be given an individually related dental prophylactic programme. Gene, 1985, 34(2-3), 335 - 42 Nucleotide sequence of the thymidylate synthetase gene (thyP3) from the Bacillus subtilis phage phi 3T; Kenny E et al.; The thyP3 gene, encoding thymidylate synthetase, from the Bacillus subtilis phage phi 3T has been cloned and the nucleotide sequence determined . The derived amino acid sequence indicates a subunit Mr of 32 748 . The primary amino acid sequence is compared with the sequences of the analogous proteins specified by Escherichia coli (thyA), Lactobacillus casei, (thyA) and phage T4 (td) . Extensive conservation exists in all four sequences implying a shared tertiary structure. J Pharm Sci, 1985 Jan, 74(1), 40 - 3 Structure-activity relationships among substituted N-benzoyl derivatives of phenylalanine and its analogues in a microbial antitumor prescreen III: derivatives of p-fluoro-DL-phenylalanine; Otani TT et al.; Twelve substituted benzoyl derivatives of p-fluoro-DL-phenylalanine were prepared and tested for growth-inhibitory activity in a Lactobacillus casei system used as an antitumor prescreen . The 12 substituted benzoyl groups were the same as those attached to o-fluorophenylalanine and m-fluorophenylalanine studied earlier . The activity of these compounds was compared vertically among themselves and horizontally with the corresponding derivatives of o-fluorophenylalanine and of m-fluorophenylalanine . It was found that the derivatives of p-fluorophenylalanine, like those of o- and m-fluorophenylalanine, exhibited remarkable inhibition, all but one, i.e., the o-nitrobenzoyl derivative, showing inhibition that is considered to be positive in the prescreen . Particularly potent compounds in this group were the m-chlorobenzoyl-, p-chlorobenzoyl, m-nitrobenzoyl, and p-nitrobenzoyl derivatives . Comparison of the activity of the substituted benzoyl derivatives of all three structural isomers of fluorophenylalanine at equimolar concentrations showed that the derivatives of m-fluorophenylalanine were generally better inhibitors than those of o-fluoro- or p-fluorophenylalanine . Study of the ID50 values of the more active substituted benzoyl derivatives of the fluorophenylalanines showed that the most active of this group was m-chlorobenzoyl-p-fluoro-DL-phenylalanine. Infect Immun, 1985 Jan, 47(1), 84 - 9 Competitive exclusion of uropathogens from human uroepithelial cells by Lactobacillus whole cells and cell wall fragments; Chan RC et al.; Previous studies have shown that indigenous bacteria isolated from cervical, vaginal, and urethral surfaces of healthy women are able to adhere to human uroepithelial cells in vitro . Furthermore, these organisms were found to block the adherence of uropathogenic bacteria to uroepithelial cells from women with and without a history of urinary tract infections . In the present study, complete or partial inhibition of the adherence of gram-negative uropathogens was achieved by preincubating the uroepithelial cells with bacterial cell wall fragments isolated from a Lactobacillus strain . Competitive exclusion was most effective with whole viable cells and less effective with cell wall fragments obtained by sonication, extraction with sodium dodecyl sulfate, and treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate and acid . Analysis of the Lactobacillus cell wall preparations suggested that lipoteichoic acid was responsible for the adherence of the Lactobacillus cells to uroepithelial cells but that steric hindrance was the major factor in preventing the adherence of uropathogens . This conclusion was also supported by blockage studies with reconstituted lipoteichoic acid-peptidoglycan, which was more effective at blocking adherence than lipoteichoic acid or peptidoglycan alone . The results suggest that the normal flora of the urinary tract may be used to protect against the attachment of uropathogens to the surfaces of uroepithelial cells . The long-term implications of these findings may lead to alternative methods for the management and prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections in females. Ann Rech Vet, 1985, 16(1), 51 - 6 The diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency in sheep: comparison of serum vitamin B12 levels measured by a microbiological and a radioisotope dilution technique; Mohammed R et al.; Serum vitamin B12 from 6 sheep fed a diet containing 0.06 mg cobalt per kg dry matter (DM) was analysed by a radioisotope dilution (RID) technique . The results were compared with values obtained by a microbiological method (Lactobacillus leichmannii - ATCC 7830) specific for "true" vitamin B12 . Serum vitamin B12 concentrations were four to six times greater during the 16 weeks experimental period with the RID method as compared to the microbiological technique . During the course of the experiment, values obtained by the RID method remained superior to the threshold value (200 pg B 12/ml) of the microbiological method . This investigation indicates that the RID method is not suitable for the rapid diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency in subclinically cobalt-deficient sheep. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd, 1985 Jan, 45(1), 43 - 7 {Amine colpitis, not only an esthetic problem: increased infection risk in labor}; Petersen EE et al.; In 76 women with non-specific vaginitis we could always isolate Gardnerella vaginalis and several anaerobics, especially Bacteroides species, in hgh counts . In 19 puerperae, bacteriologial examinations of the infected episiotomy wound yielded a spectrum of pathogens similar to that of non-specific vaginitis . In 74 per cent of the women with wound infection following episiotomy, non-specific vaginitis had either already been present before childbirth (and identified as Gardnerella vaginalis vaginitis), or was confirmed at the time of infection . Staphylococcus aureus was seen in 16 per cent of the wound infections, whereas other pathogens were identified in 10 per cent . In a prospective study on vaginal flora ante partum and rate of infection post partum, based on 405 vaginal deliveries, 80% of the examined pregnant women had a normal vaginal flora with lactobacilli . In 12%, we found Gardnerella vaginalis, and in 8% a mixed flora . Since the rate of infection in women with Gardnerella vaginalis vaginitis and episiotomy was found to be ten times higher than that in women with Doderlein's flora and episiotomy, it is obvious that Gardnerella vaginalis vaginitis is not just an aesthetic problem. Arch Oral Biol, 1985, 30(5), 397 - 401 The association between dietary sucrose consumption and microbial population shifts at six oral sites in man; Minah GE et al.; Sucrose-related microbial population shifts were evaluated at 6 oral sites in 22 volunteers, who consumed high-sucrose diets for 21 days followed by low-sucrose diets for 21 days . Culturing was performed at 0, 12, 21, 33 and 42 days of the 6-week experiment . Over 50,000 microbial isolates were characterized and analysed . Analysis of initial cultures showed the following site-specific microbial characteristics of the 6 sites evaluated: (1) molar fissures harboured higher levels of Neisseria species and showed the highest facultative-to-anaerobic ratio; (2) molar fissures and cervical buccal sites showed high Streptococcus sanguis levels and total Gram-positive cocci and fewer Gram-negative bacilli; (3) the tongue and saliva gave high concentrations of Streptococcus salivarius and Veillonella sp . Sucrose intake was positively related to concentrations of yeasts and Streptococcus mutans in the molar fissures; Actinomyces viscosus in the mandibular approximal site; Strep . mutans, Veillonella sp . and Lactobacillus sp . in the maxillary approximal site and Strep . salivarius on the tongue and in saliva . Sucrose intake was negatively related to concentrations of Neisseria sp . on the tongue and total Gram-positive bacilli in saliva . A definite ecological effect of sucrose on the oral microflora was confirmed . The high inter-subject and site variations of target bacteria and the generally low magnitude of shifts, however, discourage implementation of microbiological criteria in dietary assessments. Swed Dent J, 1985, 9(1), 1 - 7 Dietary pattern and dental caries in 19-year-old adolescents subjected to preventive measures focused on oral hygiene and/or fluorides; Bergendal B et al.; Dietary habits and dental caries were analysed in 95 19-year-old Swedish adolescents who had been subjected to different preventive measures during their late teens . A 24-hour recall was used and showed that the intakes of milk and milk products, meat, fish and eggs accorded with recommended norms but not those of vegetables, fruits and berries, and potatoes and root vegetables . Only 6% of the subjects had eaten the recommended three principal meals during the day tested . At the end of the trial, only weak or moderate correlations were found between snacks, including sucrose snacks, and selected clinical variables . Subjects who did not develop new carious lesions during the experimental 2 years had fewer risk factors, defined as the most negative values (quartile limit) for sucrose snack consumption, tooth cleaning score, lactobacillus count, saliva secretion rate and saliva buffer capacity, than those who developed one or more new lesions . During the experimental period, with an overall low caries incidence, no single factor tested for presumed risk was found to be the discriminating factor for occurrence of dental caries. G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1985 Jan-Jun, 78(1-6), 8 - 14 Fastidious bacteriuria and pyuria; Solaro L; Mid stream specimens of urine that showed pyuria or bacteriuria on direct microscopy and no bacterial growth on initial routine culture were collected from 346 patients . These specimens were cultured for the presence of fastidious organisms using two different test systems . One system used non selective media and the other used selective media . Any fastidious organism isolated was identified by standard methods . Lactobacilli were the only fastidious organisms isolated in significant numbers . Using comparable test systems, equivalent numbers of Lactobacilli were isolated from both test and control group and because of the difficulty in specimen collection, these are to be considered as possible contaminants. Int J Immunopharmacol, 1985, 7(1), 103 - 9 Induction of tumoricidal peritoneal exudate cells by administration of Lactobacillus casei; Kato I et al.; The lifespan of mice into which Meth A fibrosarcoma was transplanted intraperitoneally (i.p.) was prolonged by i.p . treatment with Lactobacillus casei YIT 9018 (LC 9018) . Treatment with LC9018 before the tumor inoculation (pre-treatment), was more effective than after the tumor inoculation (post-treatment) . When tumor cells were inoculated subcutaneously along with peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) harvested from LC 9018-treated mice in the Winn type test, the tumor growth was significantly inhibited, but it was not inhibited by spleen cells . Adherent and nonadherent cells of LC 9018-induced PEC suppressed tumor growth in the Winn type test . PEC induced with LC 9018 showed significant cytolytic activity for 51Cr-labeled Meth A from 3 days to at least 2 weeks after a single injection of LC 9018 . The adherent cells lysed tumor cells in the cytolytic test, though nonadherent cells did not show cytolytic activity . These results show that LC 9018 can induce two cell populations possessing the ability to kill tumor cells in vivo . One may be activated macrophages which directly kill tumor cells and the other may be T-lymphocytes which can induce cytotoxic cells. Mol Gen Genet, 1985, 200(2), 193 - 8 ISL1: a new transposable element in Lactobacillus casei; Shimizu-Kadota M et al.; The genome structures of a temperate Lactobacillus phage, phi FSW, and its virulent mutants, phi FSVs, were examined by restriction, heteroduplex and nucleotide-sequence analyses . The results showed that two out of three phi FSVs had the same 1.3 kbp insertion (designated as ISL1) at different positions in the phi FSW sequence . ISL1 was 1,256 bp long and contained at least two long open reading frames of 279 and 822 bases on one strand . Inverted repeats were found at the termini of the ISL1 which was bracketed by 3 bp direct repeats of the phi FSW sequence . From this evidence, we concluded that ISL1 was a transposable element in Lactobacillus casei. Eur Biophys J, 1985, 11(4), 211 - 8 1H and 15N NMR studies of protonation and hydrogen-bonding in the binding of trimethoprim to dihydrofolate reductase; Bevan AW et al.; The binding of trimethoprim and {1,3,2-amino-15N3}-trimethoprim to Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase has been studied by 15N and 1H NMR spectroscopy . 15N NMR spectra of the bound drug were obtained by using polarisation transfer pulse sequences . The 15N chemical shifts and 1H-15N spin-coupling constants show unambiguously that the drug is protonated on N1 when bound to the enzyme . The N1-proton resonance in the complex has been assigned using the 15N-enriched molecule . The temperature-dependence of the linewidth of this resonance has been used to estimate the rate of exchange of this proton with the solvent: 160 +/- 10 S-1 at 313 K, with an activation energy of 75 (+/-9) kJ X mole-1 . This is considerably faster than the dissociation rate of the drug from this complex, demonstrating that there are local fluctuations in the structure of the complex. Clin Ther, 1985, 7(4), 512 - 21 Results of prifinium bromide therapy in irritable bowel syndrome; Sasaki T et al.; An open clinical trial with prifinium bromide, an anticholinergic agent, was carried out in 21 patients with irritable bowel syndrome showing clear psychosomatic characteristics . The clinical efficacy was evaluated by comparing the symptomatic severity before, during, and after treatment with prifinium bromide, 90 mg/day for four weeks . Of these 21 patients, 18 patients were allowed to take antacids or lactobacillus preparations concomitantly only when necessary . As a result, marked or moderate improvement in symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation was seen in 43% after two weeks and 86% after four weeks . Prifinium bromide's efficacy in the treatment of abnormal bowel movements was most evident in patients with diarrhea and slightly less evident in patients with alternation of diarrhea and constipation, and in constipated patients . Side effects attributable to the drug were encountered in four (19%) of the patients . None were serious enough to require that use of the drug be discontinued . All laboratory test values were within normal ranges before and after therapy . Overall, prifinium bromide was judged to be useful in 14 (67%) of the 21 patients studied. Klin Wochenschr, 1984 Dec 17, 62(24), 1173 - 4 Lactobacillus plantarum endocarditis; Shinar E et al.; Subacute bacterial endocarditis developed in a 30-year-old male with rheumatic valve disease . The causative organism was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum . After three different antibiotic regimens had failed to control the infection, surgical replacement of the affected valve was curative. Biochemistry, 1984 Dec 4, 23(25), 6235 - 40 Distinct sites for deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine phosphorylation on a monomeric kinase from Lactobacillus acidophilus; Chakravarty R et al.; Base-line separation of two paired deoxynucleoside kinase activities (deoxycytidine/deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine/deoxyadenosine kinase), previously resolved as overlapping peaks from Blue Sepharose, has now been achieved . The improved separation and recovery in relatively small volumes were accomplished by eluting Blue Sepharose with a bisubstrate mixture: 0.5 mM dCyd plus 1 mM ATP released dCyd/dAdo kinase, and 1 mM dGuo plus 5 mM ATP eluted dGuo/dAdo kinase . The latter pair of activities showed copurification through UDP-Sepharose affinity chromatography and HPLC anion-exchange chromatography . The HPLC preparation appeared to be homogeneous, on the basis of nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at several gel concentrations and pH values . Both dGuo and dAdo kinase activities coincided with the protein band . A single band of protein was also observed upon sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis . The estimated molecular weight of the denatured protein (56 000) agrees closely with values obtained for native activity by sedimentation equilibrium or gel permeation chromatography . The rate of dAdo phosphorylation was found to be stimulated more than 3-fold by the presence of dGuo, and dGuo kinase was also slightly activated by the presence of dAdo . This mutual activation indicates that dGuo and dAdo kinase activities do not share a common site . Selective chemical inactivation of dGuo kinase by 5'-{p-(fluorosulfonyl)benzoyl}adenosine eliminated the ability of dGuo to stimulate dAdo kinase in parallel with the loss of dGuo kinase activity . These lines of evidence strongly suggest that dGuo and dAdo kinase activities are functions of separate sites on a monomeric polypeptide and that these sites may be in allosteric communication. Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Dec, 92(6), 524 - 32 Stimulated salivary flow rate, pH and lactobacillus and yeast concentrations in medicated persons; Parvinen T et al.; Flow rate, pH and lactobacillus and yeast counts of paraffin-stimulated whole saliva were analyzed in an adult population of 463 medicated persons . Of the very large number of drugs only a few groups were found to decrease salivation to such an extent that they can be considered to cause dental harm . Persons using neuroleptics, tricyclic antidepressants or antihypertensives were nevertheless found to produce stimulated saliva at rates significantly lower than unmedicated persons . Age had no influence on the flow rate, but postmenopausal age seems to predispose medicated women to a decrease in salivary flow . Higher microbial counts were found in the medicated men. Infect Immun, 1984 Dec, 46(3), 765 - 72 Longitudinal investigation of bacteriology of human fissure decay: epidemiological studies in molars shortly after eruption; Loesche WJ et al.; In the present investigation, the proportions of Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli, Streptococcus sanguis, veillonellae, and an unidentified actinomyces-like organism in dental plaque on occlusal fissures of first mandibular molars were monitored at 6-month intervals over a 3-year period in 368 children who were initially in grades 1 or 2 . Teeth destined to become decayed exhibited a significant increase in the proportions of S . mutans from 6 to 24 months before the diagnosis of dental decay . Lactobacilli were sporadically detected but when present were associated with dental decay . Children whose teeth exhibited the greatest number of decayed surfaces had, at all time periods, significantly higher proportions of S . mutans than did children who were caries free . Many teeth had high proportions of S . mutans at their entry into the study . About 10% of the monitored teeth erupted during the period of observation, and in these teeth both S . mutans and lactobacilli could be significantly associated with decay . In these newly erupted teeth S . mutans outnumbered lactobacilli by ca . 20 to 1 . S . sanguis, veillonellae, and the unidentified actinomyces-like organism could not be associated with the development of decay . These findings strongly implicate S . mutans and possibly lactobacilli as dental pathogens and suggest that if decay is to be controlled by strategies based upon a S . mutans infection, then the various tactics used probably will have to be performed on primary teeth, as these teeth are the most likely sources of infection for the permanent teeth. J Dairy Sci, 1984 Dec, 67(12), 3045 - 51 Importance of bile tolerance of Lactobacillus acidophilus used as a dietary adjunct; Gilliland SE et al.; Cultures of lactobacilli identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus from the intestinal contents of young calves varied in their ability to grow in broth containing .3% oxgall compared with control broth . Frozen concentrated cultures were prepared from a strain exhibiting low tolerance to bile and from a strain exhibiting high tolerance to bile . Plate counts were comparable from the concentrated cultures before and after frozen storage on lactobacilli MRS agar with and without .15% oxgall . In a feeding trial involving newborn dairy calves supplementation of the diet with the more bile resistant strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus caused greater increases of numbers of facultative lactobabilli in the upper small intestines than did the strain exhibiting lower resistance to bile . It was not possible to determine whether the lactobacilli would prevent intestinal infections in the calves challenged with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli . This portion of the study failed as the challenge with Escherichia coli did not cause infections even in control animals. J Med Chem, 1984 Dec, 27(12), 1672 - 6 A 1H NMR study of the interactions and conformations of rationally designed brodimoprim analogues in complexes with Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase; Birdsall B et al.; A consideration of the detailed structural information available from X-ray crystallographic and NMR studies on complexes of dihydrofolate reductase with inhibitors has led to the design of trimethoprim analogues with improved binding properties . Computer graphic techniques have been used to predict which substituent groups were required at the 3'-O position of brodimoprim (2,4-diamino-5-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-bromobenzyl)pyrimidine) to make additional interactions with the enzyme . NMR spectroscopy provided a convenient method of assessing if the analogues were binding in the predicted manner . On the basis of this approach, the C4,C6-dicarboxylic acid analogue IX was designed to interact with Arg-57 and His-28 in the enzyme, and this analogue was found to bind 3 orders of magnitude more tightly than the parent brodimoprim. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Dec, (12), 44 - 8 {Intestinal microflora of monkeys, normal and in pathology, and its correction by preparations of live bacteria from human biocenosis (coli bacteria, bifikol and bifidum bacterin)}; Dzhikidze EK et al.; The study of the qualitative and quantitative composition of intestinal microflora in 15 anthropoid apes, 60 lower primates and 72 monkeys with clinically pronounced dysbacteriosis was made, which revealed the prevalence of microorganisms belonging to the genus Proteus, a decrease in the biological activity of normal Escherichia coli and in the content of bifido- and lactobacteria . The treatment of 39 rhesus and pig-tailed macaques with the preparations of live bacteria occurring in normal human microflora led to clinical convalescence and the normalization of the bacteriocenosis, while in 33 control animals no positive shifts in clinical and bacteriological data were observed . The essential similarity of the composition of intestinal microflora in higher and lower primates and in man makes it possible to use these animals as models for testing the effectiveness of new biological preparations and determines the expediency of using bacterial therapy for the treatment of monkeys at the period of acclimatization. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd, 1984 Dec, 44(12), 796 - 802 {Microbiologic findings in vaginal discharges}; Hoyme UB et al.; Microbiological examinations were performed in 247 women complaining of vaginal discharge . An average of 3.9 different organisms was isolated from each patient . Gardnerella vaginalis was found in 62.8% of all women . Candida spp . were seen in 22.7% . Trichomonas vaginalis occurred in 6.5%, Neisseria gonorrhoeae in 1.2%, Chlamydia trachomatis in 10.1%, Mycoplasmata in 13.8%, Cytomegalovirus in 2.8%, and Herpes simplex Type 2-virus in 1.1% . None of the above was found in 17.4% of the patients . Statistic evaluation revealed correlation between different pathogens and between pathogens and normal vaginal bacteria, e.g . a higher prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasmata and Bacteroides spp . in association with Gardnerella vaginalis, and a lower prevalence of Candida spp . and lactobacilli . A pathogenic role of the Mycoplasmata in connection with vaginal discharge cannot be supported by this study . The results of antimicrobial therapy are reported and discussed. J Inorg Biochem, 1984 Dec, 22(4), 259 - 70 The inactivation of thymidylate synthase by periodate; Ivery TC et al.; Thymidylate synthase from methotrexate-resistant Lactobacillus casei rapidly lost about 90% of its catalytic activity when incubated with an equimolar concentration of IO4- at 0 degree C . Nearly complete inhibition resulted when the IO4- concentration was twice the enzyme concentration or higher . The inhibition reaction appeared to be pseudo-first-order with respect to enzyme when IO4- was in excess . The substrate dUMP, the product dTMP, and inorganic phosphate all protected the enzyme from inactivation by IO4-, with the order of effectiveness: dUMP greater than dTMP greater than phosphate . Deoxyuridine, which is not a substrate, did not protect the enzyme . Titrations with dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) (DTNB) showed that approximately 1.5 titratable SH groups were lost when thymidylate synthase was completely inhibited by IO4- . Essentially no reactivation occurred when periodate-inhibited enzyme was dialyzed against buffered 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) or dithiothreitol (DTT) . Enzyme that had been treated with p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, DTNB, or methylmethanethiosulfonate prior to treatment with periodate could be completely reactivated with ME or DTT. Anal Biochem, 1984 Nov 1, 142(2), 529 - 35 High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of the distribution of naturally occurring folic acid derivatives in rat liver; Wilson SD et al.; Procedures which allow extraction and quantitation of labile, reduced folic acid derivatives in rat liver have been developed . These procedures entail extraction of hepatic folates at 100 degrees C in 2% (w/v) sodium ascorbate, 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol, pH 7.85 . The extract was treated with conjugase to hydrolyze folate polyglutamates and reverse-phase, ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography was used to separate the resulting monoglutamates which were measured by microbiological assay using Lactobacillus casei . Experiments with HPLC-purified standard derivatives, so treated, showed excellent stability of tetrahydropteroylglutamic acid (H4PteGlu), 10-formyl-H4PteGlu, 5-formyl-H4PteGlu, 5-methyl-H4PteGlu, and pteroylglutamic acid (PteGlu) . Under these conditions, approximately 56% of H2PteGlu was recovered unchanged while about 27% was converted to PteGlu; 5,10-methylene-H4PteGlu was quantitatively recovered as H4PteGlu . These procedures were applied to the task of measuring the distribution of naturally occurring folate cofactors in rat liver . These results indicated that rat liver folates have the following compositions: 5-methyl-H4PteGlu, 37.2%; H4PteGlu, 32.7%; 10-formyl-H4PteGlu, 22.6%; and 5-formyl-H4PteGlu, 7.7% . Experiments with {3H}PteGlu injection showed that all hepatic folates had the same specific radioactivity as determined by radioassay and L . casei assay, indicating that L . casei exhibited the same growth response to all the folates detected in rat liver. Am J Vet Res, 1984 Nov, 45(11), 2467 - 70 Antimicrobic effects of Lactobacillus fermentation on edible waste material contaminated with infected carcasses; Shotts EB Jr et al.; Survival of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Salmonella enteritidis serovar typhimurium (introduced as infected carcasses) in Lactobacillus-fermented edible waste material was studied to determine the ability of the fermentation to activate disease agents in carcasses . Two trials were conducted . In the 1st trial, the fermented wastes contained 20% infected carcasses (protein) consisting of equal numbers of chicken (NDV) and rat (Salmonella) carcasses, and the 2nd trial contained 40% carcasses (protein) . Mixtures were incubated at 20 C, 30 C, and 40 C for 216 hours . Samples were obtained daily for quantitative virus and bacterial isolation . Temperature, pH, and redox potential were monitored . In both trials, pH and redox potential changes occurred between 24 and 48 hours depending on the incubation temperature . In both trials, NDV survived 4 days at 20 C, 2 days at 30 C, and 1 day at 40 C . Salmonella enteritidis serovar typhimurium survived 5 days at 20 C, 1 day at 30 C, and was not isolated from the 40 C samples after 24 hours in both trials. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho, 1984 Nov, 11(11), 2427 - 33 {Antitumor activity of Lactobacillus casei YIT 9018 (LC 9018)--effect of administration route}; Yokokura T et al.; Antitumor activity of lactobacilli on Sarcoma 180 was investigated and was shown to be different from strain to strain . In general, Lactobacillus casei had higher antitumor activity compared with other species of lactobacilli . Among these, L . casei YIT 9018 (LC 9018) had significant antitumor activity against Meth A fibrosarcoma when administered into BALB/c mice intravenously, intraperitoneally, subcutaneously, intratumorally or orally . LC 9018 showed antitumor activity against rat ascites hepatoma by intravenous or oral administration, but this activity was lower than that against Meth A in mice. J Lab Clin Med, 1984 Nov, 104(5), 829 - 41 Is there a "gold standard" for human serum vitamin B12 assay? Herbert V, Colman N, Palat D, Manusselis C, Drivas G, Block E, Akerkar A, Weaver D, Frenkel E. In a study from four laboratories using two commercial vitamin B12 radioassays (impure hog intrinsic factor concentrate containing both intrinsic factor and R binders (IF + R) to measure total corrinoids and the same concentrate presaturated with cobinamide (Cbi) to block B12 binding sites on R binder (IF + R + Cbi) to measure only cobalamins), the rank order of results was generally the same . The concordance between the two tests for classifying sera as normal or deficient was 91% in 311 serum samples . Three percent of sera below the "true B12" (B12 binding to IF + R + Cbi) normal cut-off point were not below the cut-off point for normal "total B12" (B12 binding to IF + R); 6% of sera below the total B12 normal cut-off point were not below true B12 cut-off point . The correlations between Euglena gracilis and the radioassays were 0.80 and 0.83 in the 50 serum samples that also had E . gracilis serum vitamin B12 levels . Lactobacillus leichmannii serum vitamin B12 levels were determined in 49 of the 311 serum samples and results were comparable with results obtained by four radioassay binder systems: IF + R, IF + R + Cbi, highly purified hog IF, and saliva R binder . The closest correlate with L . leichmannii was radioassay using IF + R as binder (r = 0.93), then IF + R + Cbi (r = 0.92), pure IF (r = 0.80), and pure R (r = 0.73) . The key to reliable results appears not to reside in a particular assay but rather in determining for each assay its own range of results in participants determined clinically and morphologically normal vs . participants with deficient vitamin B12 (with B12 deficiency defined independently of a serum B12 assay) . When laboratory assay results differ from clinical judgment, further evaluation is the appropriate course . There is no "gold standard" for human serum vitamin B12 assay. Can J Microbiol, 1984 Nov, 30(11), 1344 - 8 Endogenous infection in mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes . A feature of bacterial translocation; Imai A et al.; Slc:ddY mice that received a single intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) were examined for persistency of diabetes (changes of indigenous bacterial floras, and bacterial translocation . Significant diabetes (increase in plasma glucose and decrease in insulin) was recognized 2 weeks after the injection, and persisted for 12 weeks . The numbers of aerobic gram-negative bacilli, staphylococci (including micrococci), and streptococci in caecal and oral floras were significantly increased, but the numbers of anaerobic bacteria in caecal flora were hardly changed . Bacterial translocation of indigenous bacteria to the mesenteric lymph node, lung, or kidney was detectable in some mice 2 weeks after the injection . The incidence of bacterial translocation in these STZ-treated mice then increased; infection caused by several organisms, e.g., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, streptococci, or Lactobacillus sp., occurred in lung, liver, spleen, kidneys, and mesenteric lymph node . No indigenous bacteria were cultured from these organs of control mice . This endogenous infection may have been due to the over population of several bacterial strains caused by disruption of indigenous floras along with depression of immunological function. J Nutr, 1984 Nov, 114(11), 2010 - 20 Studies of the effect of diet on saliva secretion and caries development: the effect of fasting on saliva composition of female subjects; Johansson I et al.; In the present investigation 11 females of normal constitution were subjected to a standardized fasting diet for 8 days . Three subjects dropped out early during the experimental period . Saliva and blood samples were collected before, during and after the fasting period . Serum analyses were made of some parameters often studied during undernutrition . As expected, values for creatinine and uric acid were increased . Secretion rate, pH, buffer capacity, electrolytes, total protein, carbohydrates, some antibacterial substances, the amount of Streptococcus mutans, total streptococci, and lactobacilli were determined in the saliva samples . The rate of plaque formation was also estimated . The effect of fasting on the measured parameters varied greatly among the individuals . Fasting caused a significant decrease in secretion rate, concentration of phosphate and sialic acid in stimulated whole saliva . There was no significant increase in concentration of any substance measured . The decrease of the ratio of sialic acid to protein indicates a disturbance of glycoprotein synthesis . In resting saliva the activity of a bacteria-aggregating glycoprotein appeared to be unchanged, whereas the decreases in thiocyanate concentration and lysozyme activity were statistically significant . Lactoperoxidase activities did not change significantly . The amount of IgA, IgG, IgM as well as the microbial counts showed no changes . The rate of plaque formation increased during fasting. Biochemistry, 1984 Oct 23, 23(22), 5214 - 25 Mechanism of inactivation of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus leichmannii ribonucleotide reductases by 2'-chloro-2'-deoxynucleotides: evidence for generation of 2-methylene-3(2H)-furanone; Harris G et al.; Incubation of 2'-chloro-2'-deoxy{3'-3H}uridine 5'-diphosphate ({3'-3H}ClUDP) with Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase (RDPR) and use of thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase as reductants result in release of 4.7 equiv of 3H2O/equiv of B1 protomer, concomitant with enzyme inactivation . Inactivation is accompanied by the production of 6 equiv of inorganic pyrophosphate {Stubbe, J . A., & Kozarich, J.W . (1980) J . Am . Chem . Soc . 102, 2505-2507} and by the release of uracil as previously shown {Thelander, L., Larsson, A., Hobbs, J., & Eckstein, F . (1976) J . Biol . Chem . 251, 1398-1405} . Reisolation of RDPR by Sephadex chromatography and analysis by scintillation counting indicate that 0.96 equiv of 3H is bound per protomer of the B1 subunit of the inactivated enzyme . Incubation of {5'-3H}ClUDP with RDPR followed by similar analysis indicates that 4.6 mol of 3H is bound per protomer of the B1 subunit of the inactivated enzyme . No 3H2O is released, and 6 equiv of inorganic pyrophosphate is produced during the inactivation . RDPR is protected against inactivation when dithiothreitol (DTT) is used as a reductant in place of thioredoxin-thioredoxin reductase . Incubation of {5'-3H}ClUDP with RDPR and DTT results in the isolation of CHCl3-extractable material that exhibits infrared absorptions at 1710 and 1762 cm-1 . The infrared spectrum and the NMR spectrum of the CHCl3-extracted material are very similar to model compounds prepared by the interaction of 2-methylene-3(2H)-furanone with ethanethiol . Incubation of ribonucleoside-triphosphate reductase (RTPR) from Lactobacillus leichmannii with {3'-3H}ClUTP and 3 mM DTT also results in time-dependent 3H2O release concomitant with enzyme inactivation . Reisolation of the inactive protein by Sephadex chromatography followed by radiochemical analysis indicates that 0.4 equiv of 3H is bound covalently per mol of inactivated enzyme . Similar studies with {5'-3H}ClUTP indicate that 2.9 equiv of 3H is bound covalently per mol of inactivated enzyme . No 3H2O is released . High concentrations of DTT protect the enzyme against inactivation . Extraction of the enzymatic reaction mixture with CHCl3 and analysis of the isolated products result in an infrared spectrum and an NMR spectrum remarkably similar to those observed with the E . coli RDPR . Data presented are consistent with the proposal that both the E . coli and L . leichmannii enzymes are able to catalyze the breakdown of the appropriate 2'-chloro-2'-deoxynucleotide to a 3'-keto-2'-deoxynucleotide that can collapse to form the reactive sugar intermediate 2-methylene-3(2H)-furanone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1984 Oct 15, 124(1), 75 - 9 CU(II)-dependent inactivation of Mn-catalase by hydroxylamine; Kono Y; Hydroxylamine is a strong inhibitor of the Mn-catalase of Lactobacillus plantarum in the presence of hydrogen peroxide {Kono, Y., and Fridovich, I . (1983) J . Biol . Chem . 258, 13646-13648} . In the presence of CuCl2 the Mn-catalase was rapidly inactivated by hydroxylamine without the addition of hydrogen peroxide . FeSO4 and MnCl2 were approximately 10% and 4% as effective as was CuCl2 . Under anaerobic conditions, the inactivation did not occur . The chelating agents such as EDTA and histidine completely prevent the inactivation . These results indicate that the hydrogen peroxide produced during the autooxidation of hydroxylamine catalyzed by CuCl2 participates in the CuCl2-dependent inactivation by hydroxylamine. J Biol Chem, 1984 Oct 10, 259(19), 12299 - 305 Species-specific irreversible inhibition of Neisseria gonorrhoeae dihydrofolate reductase by a substituted 2,4-diamino-5-benzylpyrimidine; Tansik RL et al.; Neisseria gonorrhoeae dihydrofolate reductase undergoes a time-dependent, irreversible inactivation by 2,4-diamino-5-{3,5-dimethoxy-4-(p-bromoacetamidophenoxy)benzyl} pyrimidine . The kinetics of inactivation are consistent with the reversible formation of an enzyme-inhibitor complex followed by covalent binding to the enzyme . The reversible component is competitive with dihydrofolate and has an inhibitor binding constant of 10 nM . Irreversible inactivation proceeds as a pseudo first-order process with a minimum inactivation half-time of 20 min and a Ki of 28 nM . Using radiolabeled inhibitor, it was shown that approximately 1 mol of ligand was covalently bound to the enzyme/mol of methotrexate binding site when the enzyme was completely inhibited . Radiolabeled inhibitor remained associated with the enzyme following denaturation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Cyanogen bromide cleavage of the 14C-labeled enzyme-inhibitor complex yielded only one radioactive polypeptide, and sequence determinations showed that His-25 was modified by covalent attachment of the inhibitor . When dihydrofolate reductases from Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, SR-1 rodent lymphoma, and chicken liver were tested with the affinity label, only the L . casei enzyme showed a time-dependent increase in inhibition . These data, along with comparisons of known amino acid sequences and x-ray crystal structures, were used to make predictions concerning the three-dimensional conformation of the gonococcal enzyme. J Biol Chem, 1984 Oct 10, 259(19), 12291 - 8 Characterization and amino acid sequence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae dihydrofolate reductase; Baccanari DP et al.; Dihydrofolate reductase has been purified from a trimethoprim-resistant strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae . The enzyme showed a single component on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Mr = 18,000) and on isoelectric focusing in 5 M urea (pI = 6.8) . Although gel electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions resolved the preparation into two enzymatically active proteins (called form 1 and form 2), they were not genetically determined isozymes . Both had a similar dihydrofolate Km (2 microM), NADPH Km (10 microM), and trimethoprim Ki (20 nM), and form 2 (the slower migrating species) was shown to be generated from form 1 by the electrophoresis conditions . The complete covalent structure of the enzyme has also been determined . It is a single polypeptide composed of 162 residues and containing 4 cysteines . The gonococcal dihydrofolate reductase shares a 35% homology with the chicken liver enzyme and a 40% homology with the Escherichia coli enzyme . Most of these identities are residues that have been implicated in the binding of NADPH and methotrexate to the E . coli and Lactobacillus casei reductases. Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Oct, 92(5), 412 - 8 Stimulated salivary flow rate, pH and lactobacillus and yeast concentrations in persons with different types of dentition; Parvinen T; The flow rate of stimulated whole saliva did not differ significantly in relation to dentition in men and premenopausal women in an unmedicated population . In the postmenopausal women the flow rate was lower in full denture wearers and in those having a highly reduced number of occluding pairs of teeth . Full denture wearers had salivary yeasts and lactobacilli more often and with higher counts than fully dentate persons, a group which in any case showed a difference in the yeast distribution between the sexes. Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Oct, 92(5), 408 - 11 Short term fasting and lactovegetarian diet does not affect human saliva; Birkhed D et al.; Forty-two adults, visiting a Swedish health home, participated in the investigation, which included a 6-day period of fasting, followed by a 6-day period with a lactovegetarian diet . The results obtained indicated only a minor and mostly not significant influence on secretion rate, buffer effect, concentration of various electrolytes, and number of lactobacilli and S . mutans of whole saliva. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Oct, 26(4), 462 - 5 In vitro activity of A-16686, a potential antiplaque agent; Pallanza R et al.; A-16686, a new glycoproteide antibiotic from Actinoplanes sp., was evaluated as a potential antiplaque agent in comparison with chlorhexidine, benzalkonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride . A-16686 had good activity against gram-positive organisms associated with dental plaque (various streptococci, Streptococcus mutans in particular, lactobacilli, Actinomyces viscosus, and Actinomyces naeslundii); most of the strains tested were clinical isolates . It was bactericidal for streptococci (MBC/MIC ratio of less than or equal to 8 for 92% of the strains) and for growing cells of S . mutans briefly exposed to antibiotic (99.9% killing within 5 min of contact with 200 micrograms of A-16686 per ml) . It also inhibited the in vitro plaque formation by S . mutans and had good activity against preformed plaques . For most cases, its activity was comparable to those of chlorhexidine, benzalkonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride . A-16686 appears to be a promising antiplaque agent because of the following attributes: narrow spectrum of activity, rapid bactericidal action, lack of selection of resistant mutants, absence of cross-resistance with clinically used antibiotics, nonabsorption by oral route, good tolerability by the oral mucosa (rats and dogs), and physical characteristics (white powder, soluble in water). J Appl Biochem, 1984 Oct-Dec, 6(5-6), 374 - 83 Purification and properties of malolactic enzyme from Lactobacillus murinus CNRZ 313; Strasser de Saad AM et al.; The malolactic enzyme of Lactobacillus murinus was purified 79 fold . Mr = 220,000 as determined by gel filtration and gradient gel electrophoresis . The enzyme consists of two apparently identical subunits (Mr = 110,000) that were observed after treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate . NAD protected the enzyme against inactivation and its addition, after dissociation, restored the malolactic activity . The apparent Km's for malate, NAD, and Mn2+ were 2.31 X 10(-2), 4.5 X 10(-4), and 1.4 X 10(-4) mM, respectively . Maximum enzymatic activity was observed at 37 degrees C and pH 5.5 in 0.2 M phosphate buffer . At pH values substantially different from the optimum, a positive cooperativity between substrate molecules was observed . The activation energy of the reaction was 8000 and 16,200 cal mol-1 for the temperature values more than and less than 30 degrees C, respectively . Malolactic enzyme catalyzes the NAD and manganese-dependent reaction L-malate----L-lactate + CO2 . Therefore, this enzyme can be distinguished from the well-known malic enzymes {L-malate: NAD+ oxidoreductase, oxaloacetate decarboxylating (EC 1.1.1.38) or decarboxylating (EC 1.1.1.39)}. J Med Microbiol, 1984 Oct, 18(2), 217 - 31 Quantitative bacteriology of the vaginal flora in genital disease; Wilks M et al.; Samples from the posterior vaginal fornix of 102 women with various clinical conditions were analysed by a quantitative method . Aerobes were isolated from all but one of the specimens at a mean concentration of 7.2 log10 cfu/g and anaerobes from 92 specimens at a mean concentration of 8.1 log10 cfu/g . In most clinical conditions and in a control group of asymptomatic women, anaerobes outnumbered aerobes by about ten to one (one log10 unit) . The most common organisms were aerobic and anaerobic lactobacilli, coryneforms, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacteroides spp . and anaerobic gram-positive cocci . Lactobacilli did not appear to confer any protective effect by excluding the presence of other organisms such as Gardnerella vaginalis or anaerobes . The isolation of anaerobic organisms from the vagina cannot be regarded as being of pathogenic significance without other supporting evidence. J Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 160(1), 462 - 5 Physiological role of pyruvate oxidase in the aerobic metabolism of Lactobacillus plantarum; Sedewitz B et al.; Under aerobic growth conditions Lactobacillus plantarum produced acetic acid in addition to lactic acid . It was found that lactic acid was predominantly produced at first, and then when the carbohydrate was nearly exhausted, lactic acid was metabolized further to acetic acid . The most likely enzyme involved in the aerobic metabolism of L . plantarum is pyruvate oxidase . Its activity is enhanced in the presence of oxygen and is reduced in the presence of glucose . The specific activity of pyruvate oxidase is highest at the beginning of the stationary-growth phase, where a strong increase in acetic acid production was also observed. J Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 160(1), 273 - 8 Purification and biochemical characterization of pyruvate oxidase from Lactobacillus plantarum; Sedewitz B et al.; Pyruvate oxidase (EC 1.2.3.3) was isolated and characterized from Lactobacillus plantarum . The enzyme catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate in the presence of phosphate and oxygen, yielding acetyl phosphate, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen peroxide . This pyruvate oxidase is a flavoprotein, with the relatively tightly bound cofactors flavin adenine dinucleotide, thiamine pyrophosphate, and a divalent metal ion, with Mn2+ being the most effective . The enzyme is only slightly inhibited by EDTA, implying that the enzyme-bound metal ion is poorly accessible to EDTA . Only under relatively drastic conditions, such as acid ammonium sulfate precipitation, could a colorless and entirely inactive apoenzyme be obtained . A partial reactivation of the enzyme was only possible by the combined addition of flavin adenine dinucleotide, thiamine pyrophosphate, and MnSO4 . The enzyme has a molecular weight of ca . 260,000 and consists of four subunits with apparently identical molecular weights of 68,000 . For catalytic activity the optimum pH is 5.7, and the optimum temperature is 30 degrees C . The Km values for pyruvate, phosphate, and arsenate are 0.4, 2.3, and 1.2 mM, respectively . The substrate specificity revealed that the enzyme reacts also with certain aldehydes and that phosphate can be replaced by arsenate . In addition to oxygen, several artificial compounds can function as electron acceptors. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch, 1984 Oct, 179(4), 305 - 7 {Concentration profiles of putrescine and cadaverine in inoculated vacuum packed beef}; Slemr J et al.; The potential of some Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus strains for producing putrescine and cadavering during growth in vacuum packed beef was studied . Throughout the six weeks storage at 4 degrees C the samples were sensorily assessed at regular intervals, and their pH values and diamine contents were determined . The amines were quantified by means of capillary gas chromatography . The putrescine and cadaverine contents remained within the range of the initial values until overt spoilage at the end of the sixth week (at about 0.08 mg amine/100 g). J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 57(2), 213 - 20 Growth and end-product formation in fermenter cultures of Brochothrix thermosphacta ATCC 11509T and two psychrotrophic Lactobacillus spp . in different gaseous atmospheres; Blickstad E et al.; The effects of different gaseous atmospheres were determined on the maximum specific growth rate (mumax) and end-product formation by Brochothrix thermosphacta ATCC 11509T, Lactobacillus viridescens SMRICC 174 and Lactobacillus sp . SMRICC 173 (homofermentative) . The highest mumax-values for Lact . viridescens (0.47/h) and Broc . thermosphacta (0.49/h) were obtained in air . Under anaerobic conditions mumax was reduced, an atmosphere containing CO2 alone giving the greatest reduction . Lactobacillus sp . 173 did not grow in air or N2 . Aerobic growth was obtained by adding peroxidase while anaerobic growth occurred in the presence of 5-20% CO2 . Carbon dioxide alone reduced the growth rate . All test organisms produced mainly lactic acid anaerobically . Lactobacillus viridescens also produced ethanol while Broc . thermosphacta produced small amounts of ethanol and formic acid . With O2 present, the number of end-products increased for all organisms . Lactobacillus sp . 173 produced small amounts of acetic acid and acetoin together with lactic acid . Oxygen induced acetic acid production in Lact . viridescens and Broc . thermosphacta . Aerobically, Broc . thermosphacta also produced a large amount of acetoin and smaller amounts of 2,3-butanediol, iso-valeric acid and iso-butyric acid . The production of lactic acid by Broc . thermosphacta was completely prevented under strictly aerobic conditions . All test organisms consumed O2 during aerobic growth . Hydrogen peroxide was produced by Lact . viridescens and Lactobacillus sp . 173. FEBS Lett, 1984 Oct 1, 175(2), 364 - 8 The combined use of selective deuteration and double resonance experiments in assigning the 1H resonances of valine and tyrosine residues of dihydrofolate reductase; Birdsall B et al.; Selective deuteration is a general solution to the resolution problem which limits the application of double resonance experiments to the assignment of the 1H NMR spectra of proteins . Spin-decoupling and NOE experiments have been carried out on Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase and on selectively deuterated derivatives of the enzyme containing either {gamma-2H6}Val or {alpha, delta 2, epsilon 1-2H3}His, {alpha, delta 1, delta 2, epsilon 1, epsilon 2, zeta-2H6}Phe, {alpha, delta 1, epsilon 3, zeta 2, zeta 3, eta 2-2H6}Trp and {alpha, epsilon 1, epsilon 2-2H3}Tyr . When combined with ring-current shift calculations based on the crystal structure of the enzyme, these experiments allow us to assign 1H resonances of Val 61, Val 115, Tyr 46 and Tyr 68. J Dent Res, 1984 Oct, 63(10), 1197 - 200 Selection of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in an intra-oral human caries model; Arneberg P et al.; Microbiologic changes during caries development underneath a plaque-retaining band were investigated by the use of selective media for streptococci, Streptococcus mutans, and lactobacilli . The final four-week plaque samples on 16 experimental teeth in six young subjects were assessed . Seven experimental teeth in three other subjects were sampled at baseline and after one, two, and four weeks . All 23 experimental teeth developed a white spot lesion . In the final four-week plaque samples on the lesions, S . mutans accounted for 8% and lactobacilli 0.1% of the total CFU, both being significantly higher than in plaque from unbanded control surfaces . All experimental teeth sampled during lesion formation showed consistently elevated plaque levels of S . mutans and lactobacilli in comparison with baseline and control values at weeks one, two, and four . The results demonstrated a cariogenic environment in the human mouth associated with rapid selection of aciduric bacterial species such as S . mutans and lactobacilli. J Inorg Biochem, 1984 Oct, 22(2), 119 - 24 Oxidation of thymidylate synthase by inorganic compounds; Aull JL et al.; Thymidylate synthase from methotrexate-resistant Lactobacillus casei was rapidly and completely inactivated by low concentrations of permanganate, periodate, or potassium triiodide at 0 degree C . The enzyme was not inactivated to any appreciable extent by iodate, iodide, ferricyanate, iodosobenzoate, or hydrogen peroxide . The inactivation by permanganate was retarded by the substrate 2'-deoxyuridylate and, to a lesser extent, by phosphate . Titration of enzyme activity with permanganate showed that two moles of permanganate were required to completely inactivate one mole of thymidylate synthase. J Bacteriol, 1984 Oct, 160(1), 211 - 5 Futile xylitol cycle in Lactobacillus casei; Hausman SZ et al.; A futile xylitol cycle appears to be responsible for xylitol-mediated inhibition of growth of Lactobacillus casei Cl-16 at the expense of ribitol . The gratuitously induced xylitol-specific phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase accumulates the pentitol as xylitol-5-phosphate, a phosphatase cleaves the latter, and an export system expels the xylitol . Operation of the cycle rapidly dissipates the ribitol-5-phosphate pool (and ultimately the energy supply of the cell), thereby producing bacteriostasis. Biochemistry, 1984 Sep 25, 23(20), 4733 - 42 Multinuclear NMR characterization of two coexisting conformational states of the Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase-trimethoprim-NADP+ complex; Birdsall B et al.; The complex of Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase with trimethoprim and NADP+ exists in solution as a mixture of approximately equal amounts of two slowly interconverting conformational states {Gronenborn, A., Birdsall, B., Hyde, E . I., Roberts, G . C . K., Feeney, J., & Burgen, A . S . V . (1981) Mol . Pharmacol . 20, 145} . These have now been further characterized by multinuclear NMR experiments, and a partial structural model has been proposed . 1H NMR spectra at 500 MHz show that the environments of six of the seven histidine residues differ between the two conformations . The characteristic 1H and 31P chemical shifts of nuclei of the coenzyme in the two conformations of the complex are identical in analogous complexes formed with a number of trimethoprim analogues, indicating that the nature of the two conformations is the same in each case . The pyrophosphate 31P resonances have been assigned to the two conformations, and integration of the 31P spectrum shows that the ratio of conformation I to conformation II varies from 0.4 to 2.3 in the complexes with the various trimethoprim analogues, the ratio for the trimethoprim complex itself being 1.2 . Transferred NOE experiments, together with the 1H and 13C chemical shifts, indicate that in conformation II of the complex the nicotinamide ring of the coenzyme has swung away from the enzyme surface into solution; this is made possible by changes in the conformation of the pyrophosphate moiety . In conformation I, by contrast, the nicotinamide ring remains bound to the enzyme . 13C and 15N experiments show that trimethoprim is protonated on N1 in both conformations of the ternary complex . Analysis of the 1H chemical shifts of trimethoprim in terms of ring current effects shows that in conformation I of the ternary complex trimethoprim retains the same conformation as in its binary complex, but 13C, 15N, and 19F {using 2,4-diamino-5-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-fluoro-benzyl)pyrimidine} experiments show that the environment of both the pyrimidine ring and benzyl ring is affected by the proximity of the coenzyme . Less information is available about the conformation of the inhibitor in conformation II of the complex, but its environment is similar to that in the binary enzyme-inhibitor complex . The implications of the existence of these two conformations of the enzyme for understanding cooperativity in binding between NADP+ and trimethoprim are briefly discussed. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1984 Sep, 63(4), 331 - 7 {Isolation, assay and biotyping of lactobacillary flora of the vagina}; Magliano EM et al.; The results of the isolation, quantitation and biotyping of 120 strains of vaginal Lactobacillus are presented . The more effective culture media for isolation and different methods of pH measurement were investigated . Five different species of Lactobacillus were isolated in vaginal specimens (Lactobacillus acidophilus 88.8%) . The size limits found in the 120 Lactobacillus acidophilus strains were 0.8 to 6,0 mu length and 0.3 to 0.8 mu width . The effort to correlate number of Lactobacillus to pH and weight of vaginal fluid did not give satisfactory results because of difficulties in collecting homogeneous samples . Biochemical investigation of 120 vaginal strains of Lactobacillus did not show any peculiar biotype . The A.A . suggested the "routine" detection of vaginal lactobacillar flora as a usefull marker of ecological status in the choice of the therapy. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1984 Sep, (9), 61 - 5 {Effect of homologous serum globulin preparations on the intestinal automicroflora of mice after irradiation}; Pinegin BV et al.; In experiments on 4000 noninbred and CBA mice the influence of the injections of alpha-, beta- and gamma-globusin, IgG and IgM, obtained from the sera of hemostimulated and intact mice, on the intestinal microflora after irradiation has been studied . The experiments have revealed that 3 subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg per mouse, made 2, 24 and 48 hours after the irradiation of the animals with gamma-rays in a dose of 700 r, considerably reduce the intensity of the accumulation of opportunistic bacteria in the small and large intestines, commonly occurring in irradiated animals . A decrease in the number of lactobacteria is less pronounced . The preparations of globulin and IgG obtained from hemostimulated mice, i.e . enriched with normal tissue antibodies, have proved to be most effective. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch, 1984 Sep, 179(3), 228 - 31 The metabolism of several carboxylic acids by lactic acid bacteria; Radler F et al.; The anaerobic metabolism of citrate, fumarate, gluconate, malate, 2-oxoglutarate and pyruvate by 137 strains of 23 species of lactic acid bacteria was investigated . The bacteria were from various sources (plant material, meat and dairy products, dough and wine) and belonged to the genera Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, and Streptococcus . The ability of metabolize the acids was determined by thin layer chromatography or by enzymatic analysis after growth of the strains in a glucose-containing medium . All strains metabolized pyruvate and only 12 mainly heterofermentative strains were malate negative . These strains were also unable to decompose citrate . This acid was fermented by 23 strains, all of which metabolized malate . Many lactic acid bacteria reduced 2-oxoglutarate to hydroxyglutarate . The strains of Lactobacillus plantarum did not metabolize 2-oxoglutarate whereas all strains of Leuconostoc oenos decarboxylated this acid and formed 4-hydroxybutyrate and succinate . Gluconate was fermented by 52 mainly heterofermentative strains . No correlation was observed between the ability to ferment citrate, malate or gluconate. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1984 Sep, 26(3), 328 - 34 Purification and characterization of the Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteriocin lactacin B; Barefoot SF et al.; Parameters for production and purification of a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus N2 are described . Production of lactacin B was pH dependent, with maximum activity detected in broth cultures maintained at pH 6 . Lactacin B was purified by ion-exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration, and successive gel filtrations in the presence of 8 M urea and then 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate . The molecular weight of lactacin B was ca . 6,000 to 6,500, and the purified compound showed maximum absorbance at 211 nm . The activity of purified lactacin B was bactericidal to sensitive cells and restricted to members of the family Lactobacilliaceae, L . leichmannii, L . bulgaricus, L . helveticus, and L . lactis . Characteristics identified for lactacin B indicated that it was a peptide and confirmed its identity as a bacteriocin. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1984 Sep, 91(9), 917 - 23 Microbiology of vaginitis associated with the intrauterine contraceptive device; Kivijarvi A et al.; A malodorous, homogeneous, grey, thin and non-purulent discharge, which resembles non-specific vaginitis occurs in 20% of women with an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD); four times more common than in non-users . The aim of this investigation was to study the bacteriological aetiology of this IUCD-associated vaginal discharge, and to assess whether the infection was ascendent . No specific microbiological aetiology was found, but the normal, Lactobacillus-dominated microbial vaginal flora was replaced by Gardnerella vaginalis and certain anaerobic species in IUCD-users with the discharge . Clue cells, pepper-salt phenomenon and curved rods and/or fusiform-shaped rods demonstrated by microscopy, were typical of symptomatic patients . The endometrium and the IUCD were infected with these species in the symptomatic group more often than in IUCD-users who had no symptoms or in the control women who did not use the IUCD. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1984 Aug 28, 789(1), 26 - 36 Isolation and characterization of an aminopeptidase from Lactobacillus acidophilus R-26; Machuga EJ et al.; An intracellular aminopeptidase (alpha-aminoacyl-peptide hydrolase (cytosol), EC 3.4.11.1) isolated from cell extracts of Lactobacillus acidophilus R-26 was purified 634-fold to homogeneity . This enzyme, which was responsible for all of the N-terminal exopeptidase and amidase activities observed in crude extracts, had no detectable endopeptidase or esterase activity . Although a broad range of L-amino acid peptide, amide and p-nitroanilide derivatives possessing free alpha-amino termini are attacked, the enzyme favored substrates with hydrophobic N-terminal R groups . The native enzyme, which was found to be a tetramer of molecular weight 156000, contained 4 mol of tightly bound Zn2+ . The catalytically inactive native zinc metalloenzyme was capable of being activated by either Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ or Mn2+ . The shape of the log Vmax versus pH plot indicates that two active-center ionizable groups (pKES1 = 5.80; pKES2 = 8.00) may be involved in catalysis . Methylene-blue-sensitized photooxidation of the enzyme resulted in the complete loss of activity, while L-leucine, a competitive inhibitor, partially protected against this inactivation . Amino-acid analysis indicated that this photooxidative loss of activity corresponds to the modification of one histidine residue per monomer of protein. Anal Biochem, 1984 Aug 15, 141(1), 189 - 93 Use of avidin to prepare biotin-free culture media; Waller JR et al.; Dialysis of avidin-treated casein hydrolysate and peptone solutions produced biotin-free dialysates which, when incorporated into growth media resulted in media devoid of biotin . Wright-Skeggs medium supplemented with dialyzed, avidin-treated, casein hydrolysate did not support significant growth of Bacillus coagulans or Lactobacillus plantarum without biotin supplementation . Eagle's minimal essential medium supplemented with avidin-treated, peptone dialysate (MEMAPD) would not support the growth of LM strain mouse cells through more than a single passage without biotin supplementation . MEMAPD supplemented with biotin supported good growth of the LM cells through repeated passages . Using this medium it was possible to demonstrate that LM cells require biotin for growth and that they cannot utilize avidin-complexed biotin . Avidin treatment of peptone or casein hydrolysate solutions allowed accurate control of the biotin content in culture media and did not remove significant amounts of substances other than biotin . By comparison, activated charcoal nonspecifically removes biotin as well as other essential nutrients and adds unknown substances to the medium which interfere with the growth of tissue culture cells. Anal Biochem, 1984 Aug 15, 141(1), 149 - 54 Preparation of (-)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate using immobilized dihydrofolate reductase; Ahmed F et al.; Dihydrofolate reductase from methotrexate-resistant Lactobacillus casei was immobilized on carbodiimide-activated CH-Sepharose . The immobilized enzyme was utilized in the synthesis of (-)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate from dihydrofolate and NADPH in a batchwise reaction system . The products of the reaction, (-)-tetrahydrofolate and NADP+, were separated on a Sephadex G-10 column equilibrated with 50 mM NH4HCO3 containing beta-mercaptoethanol and ethanol . The tetrahydrofolate was then characterized by ultraviolet and circular dichroic spectra and its reactivity as a cofactor in the thymidylate synthetase reaction. Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Aug, 92(4), 315 - 8 Stimulated salivary flow rate, pH and lactobacillus and yeast concentrations in non-smokers and smokers; Parvinen T; The effect of smoking habit on flow rate, pH and lactobacillus and yeast counts of paraffin stimulated whole saliva was analyzed in an unmedicated adult population of 462 nonsmokers and 180 smokers . Regular but not immediate smoking was not associated with any significant changes in the salivary flow rate . The pH of stimulated whole saliva was in both sexes lower in smokers than in non-smokers, the differences between the groups being statistically significant . Smoking did not affect salivary yeast counts, but smokers did show increased proportions of high lactobacillus counts. Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Aug, 92(4), 294 - 301 Secretion rate, buffer effect and number of lactobacilli and Streptococcus mutans of whole saliva of cigarette smokers and nonsmokers; Heintze U; Secretion rate and buffer effect of resting and stimulated whole saliva, and number of lactobacilli and S . mutans in stimulated whole saliva were determined for 182 subjects, of whom 109 were cigarette smokers . For secretion rate, no difference between smokers and non-smokers was observed . The median buffer effect was significantly lower in smokers . The median numbers of lactobacilli and S . mutans were significantly higher in saliva of smokers . The number of lactobacilli was significantly correlated with number of cigarettes smoked per day . About 40% of the smokers had greater than or equal to 10(6) S . mutans CFU/ml, which was more than twice that of non-smokers . In a complementary study on 20 smokers, the immediate influence of cigarette smoking on secretion rate and buffer effect of stimulated whole saliva was investigated for 1 h after smoking . No significant effect was found. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1984 Aug, 12(4), 243 - 8 Differentiating positively and negatively health oriented Finnish university students by discriminant analyses; Murtomaa H et al.; Dental health practices among Finnish university students were studied in 1980 . In order to obtain more information about the factors associated with different health status this problem was studied using linear discriminant analyses . 360 students were separately classified into fifths according to increasing individual VPI, GBI and DMFS index scores . According to the classification, the students of the two first fifths with lowest mean index scores were combined in the positively health oriented group . The students with low VPI and GBI index scores reported that they brushed their teeth most frequently . Also the good results of the dip-slide method for counting salivary lactobacilli correlated well with the low VPI and DMFS index scores . In the discriminant analysis toothbrushing frequency was the most important single variable related to a good VPI score . By a computer method, 64% of the students were found to be correctly placed in the group of the positively health oriented . The corresponding percentage for the negatively oriented was 69% . The most important single variable related to good GBI and DMFS scores was subjective estimation of condition of dentition . According to GBI score the method correctly placed 57% of the students in the group of the positively and 69% in the group of the negatively health oriented . The respective percentages for DMFS-index were 65% and 68% . The predictor variables failed to make an important contribution toward explaining the great variations in the oral health status indicators. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1984 Aug, 365(8), 877 - 84 Intramolecular hydride transfer of a combined coenzyme-substrate analog by D- and L-lactate dehydrogenases; Philipp R et al.; The synthesis of 3-{(3-carboxy-3-oxopropyl)aminocarbonyl}pyridine adenine dinucleotide, a new combined analog of NADH and pyruvate with pyruvate covalently attached to the amide nitrogen atom of the dihydronicotinamide ring via an additional methylene group, is described . In the presence of D-lactate dehydrogenase from Limulus polyphemus, from Lactobacillus leichmannii, and L-lactate dehydrogenase from pig skeletal muscle a redox reaction takes place between the pyruvate moiety and the dihydropyridine ring of the analog . This reaction is shown to be intramolecular by competition experiments with pyruvate . Degradation of the reaction products reveals that the carbon-2 atom of the formed lactate side chain exhibits D configuration in each of these cases studied. J Dent Res, 1984 Jul, 63(7), 1006 - 9 Microbiological assessment of dental plaque on bovine enamel implants worn intra-orally in children; Minah GE et al.; Nine caries-active children, each from six to nine years old, wore small removable enamel implants intra-orally for four weeks as part of an effort to develop removable model systems for studying dental plaque in fissures . The implants, consisting of two enamel cubes arranged to simulate a fissural space, were cemented in box preparations in stainless steel crowns on pulpotomized primary molars . Upon removal, the fissural spaces were opened to facilitate plaque harvesting . The plaque samples were cultured, and enamel decalcification of the plaque-exposed surfaces was measured . Quantitative microbial values were compared with those of natural fissure plaque samples from both caries-active (CA) and caries-and restoration-free (CF) children, also from six to nine years old . Streptococcus mutans and S . sanguis levels of fissural insert plaque (FI) and natural fissural plaque from (CA) were similar . Both contained higher S . mutans levels than did plaque from (CF) . FI harbored higher concentrations of Lactobacillus and Actinomyces species and lower concentrations of Neisseria species . Otherwise, FI plaque resembled natural fissure plaque . Microhardness of FI plaque-exposed enamel decreased significantly compared with pre-experimental values and showed a significant negative correlation with values for total lactobacilli on selective media, and for S . mutans on non-selective media. Gastroenterology, 1984 Jul, 87(1), 173 - 9 Studies on the origins of biliary immunoglobulins in rats; Manning RJ et al.; This study was designed to investigate the origins of biliary immunoglobulins in rats . Natural antibodies to species of Lactobacillus and Staphylococcus were detected in blood, bile, and lymph, with predominant activity being associated with immunoglobulin A in lymph and bile and with immunoglobulins M and G in blood . Six hours after thoracic duct cannulation, serum immunoglobulins G, M, and A had fallen to 60%, 65%, and 40%, respectively, of the preoperative levels, whereas the level of total and specific immunoglobulin A in bile was reduced to 25% with no significant decline of immunoglobulin G . Thoracic duct occlusion caused a similar selective reduction in biliary immunoglobulin A . It is calculated that 50% of thoracic duct lymph immunoglobulin A entering the blood is secreted in bile . Synthesis of immunoglobulins M, G, and A in the liver was established by the detection of antibody-secreting cells . It is proposed that the major part of biliary immunoglobulin A is derived from intestinal lymphoid tissues and that a portion of the remainder, as well as part of biliary immunoglobulins M and G, results from local synthesis. J Immunol, 1984 Jul, 133(1), 217 - 21 Characterization of sequential immune complexes in infective endocarditis by Western blot analysis; Inman RD et al.; A patient with cutaneous vasculitis during infective endocarditis due to Lactobacillus casei was studied . Immune complexes (IC) were isolated from serum at the time of diagnosis and after 4 wk of therapy . Purification of IC used differential polyethylene glycol precipitation and competitive binding to staphylococcal protein A . In situ radioiodination of IC was performed, followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) . Anti-IC antisera were raised in rabbits by immunization with purified IC . IC were characterized by SDS-PAGE followed by electrophoretic transfer to nitrocellulose, incubation with antiserum and then with 125I protein A, and autoradiography . Although early and late IC differed quantitatively, there were no differentiating immunochemical features . Both IC contained a 60,000 dalton component that did not react with preimmune serum nor with anti-normal human serum . This component reacted with antiserum rendered specific for L . casei by affinity chromatography . The restricted antigen-antibody representation in IC contrasted with a wider panel of antibody activity in patient serum . The Western blot analysis proves to be an ideal method for the characterization of IC because of its sensitivity, dissociative capability, and preservation of immunoreactivity . IC isolated at a time removed from the original antigenic challenge may provide insight into the nature of the inciting antigen. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch, 1984 Jul, 179(1), 36 - 9 {The microflora of sourdough . XIX . The effect of temperature and dough yield on the proteolytic effect of lactic acid bacteria in sourdough}; Spicher G et al.; During fermentation of sour dough the flour proteins are degraded . The proteolysis depends not only on lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum, L . brevis ssp . lindneri, L . fructivorans) but also on the conditions of fermentation of the sour dough . An increase of temperatures between 25 degrees C and 35 degrees C causes an increase in the amino acid content . The water content of the dough (T.A . 150/T.A . 210) influences the proteolytic activity of the bacteria to a lesser degree. J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 56(3), 503 - 5 A note on the heterofermentative Lactobacillus isolated from kefir grains; Marshall VM et al.; Heterofermentative lactobacilli have been isolated from kefir grains obtained from four different sources . A number of these isolates ferment only L-arabinose and gluconate and are similar to the species 'Lactobacillus desidiosus' . The DNA of these isolates, however, have 85-109% homology with 'L . caucasicus' NCDO 190 which is now regarded as L . kefir . The relationship between these strains is discussed. J Appl Bacteriol, 1984 Jun, 56(3), 495 - 8 A note on the effect of host specific fermented milk on the coliform population of the neonatal rat gut; Cole CB et al.; An adhering strain of Lactobacillus salivarius isolated from the intestine of a rat was used to ferment cow's milk fortified with whey protein and threonine . When the fermented milk was used to dose baby rats orally for the first three days of life, the numbers of coliform organisms in the gut decreased significantly. J Lab Clin Med, 1984 Jun, 103(6), 944 - 8 Aspirin and folate binding: in vivo and in vitro studies of serum binding and urinary excretion of endogenous folate; Lawrence VA et al.; To clarify the effect of aspirin on folate balance, we studied serum concentration, protein binding, and urinary excretion of endogenous folate . A healthy woman twice followed an 11-day protocol of constant diet, blood sampling twice daily, collection of all urine, and 650 mg of aspirin by mouth every 4 hours on the middle 3 days . As determined by equilibrium dialysis and Lactobacillus casei assay, aspirin induced a brisk, significant but reversible fall in total and bound serum folate and a small but insignificant rise in urinary folate excretion . Aspirin in vitro also displaced significant amounts of bound serum folate . Thus, aspirin in therapeutic doses can contribute to subnormal serum folate values, and if it increases urinary folate excretion even slightly, may impair folate balance. Can J Microbiol, 1984 Jun, 30(6), 849 - 53 The derivation and use of mice which do not harbour lactobacilli in the gastrointestinal tract; Tannock GW et al.; Penicillin treatment used in conjunction with germfree technology has allowed the derivation of a colony of BALB/c mice which do not harbour lactobacilli in the gastrointestinal tract . The animals continue to harbour Gram-negative anaerobes and coliforms, but not enterococci or filamentous segmented ileal microbes . Isolates of lactobacilli from rodents were able to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of the mice; and isolate from a fowl could not establish in these animals. Eur J Pediatr, 1984 Jun, 142(2), 78 - 82 Plasma and red cell folate values and folate requirements in formula-fed premature infants; Ek J et al.; Plasma and red cell folate concentrations (lactobacillus casei activity) and other pertinent blood values have been studied during the 1st year of life in 41 premature infants (mean gestational age 31.6, range 26-35 weeks) . They were formula-fed, 48.5 nmol (21 micrograms) folate per 1, from 1 month of age . The infants were divided into two groups according to their birth weights (BW): group A, BW less than or equal to 1750 g and group B, BW greater than 1750 g, respectively . One-half of the infants in each group received an extra 113.5 nmol (50 micrograms) folic acid daily . The premature infants were compared with 35 breast-fed term infants considered to have an optimal folate status . The infants not receiving folic acid supplementation had low plasma and red cell folate concentrations during the first months of life, while those receiving supplementation had values comparable to the breast-fed infants . No significant differences in the gain in weight and increase in length were observed when the folic acid supplemented infants in group A were compared with the non-supplemented infants . However, in the case of group B a significant increase in length and a somewhat greater weight gain were observed for infants with folic acid supplementation in comparison with those not given extra folate . No significant differences were observed between the haemoglobin, RBC and VPRC values in the folic acid supplemented and non-supplemented infants . It is estimated that the optimal folate intake during the first months of life in formula-fed premature infants is about 150 nmol (65 micrograms) per day . This amount is higher than previously recommended . The infants from all groups had a folate intake similar to, or above, the minimal daily requirement needed for erythropoiesis. Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Jun, 92(3), 204 - 10 Variation in human oral lactobacilli following a change in sugar intake; Crossner CG; For 19 wk oral lactobacilli was registered continuously in 10 dental hygienist students . During the study period these subjects were submitted to a change in between-meals consumption, rinsing with chlorhexidine and determination of sugar clearance, flow rate and buffer effect of saliva . An increase in the frequency of sugar consumption increased the number of lactobacilli in saliva, and in particular of Lactobacillus casei . However, in spite of an hourly intake of sugar between 7 a.m . and 9 p.m . every day for 4 wk, this increase of lactobacilli was small . The probable reason for this was the very high dental health consciousness of the test subjects, with a perfect oral hygiene and a strong wish to have a clean taste in the mouth . The sugars were too rapidly eliminated to create such an acid oral environment as favors the aciduric lactobacilli . A week of twice daily rinsing with chlorhexidine had no obvious effect on the number of lactobacilli in saliva. Biochemistry, 1984 May 22, 23(11), 2377 - 83 Dismutation of dihydrofolate by dihydrofolate reductase; Blakley RL et al.; Degradation of 7,8-dihydrofolate (H2folate) in the presence of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has been shown due not to an oxygenase activity of the reductase as previously reported but to dismutation of H2folate to folate and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate (H4folate) . The reaction can be followed spectrophotometrically or by analysis of the reaction mixture by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) . The products have also been isolated and characterized . Oxygen uptake during the reaction is much less than stoichiometric with H2folate disappearance and is attributed to autoxidation of the H4folate formed . The dismutation activity is a property of highly purified Streptococcus faecium DHFR isoenzyme 2 (but not isoenzyme 1) and of Lactobacillus casei DHFR, but not of bovine liver DHFR . The activity is dependent on tightly bound NADP+ and/or NADPH . Removal of the nucleotide results in loss of dismutation activity, which is restored by adding NADP+ or NADPH . Maximum activity is obtained when approximately 1 mol equiv of nucleotide is added per mol of DHFR . It is proposed that in the dismutation reaction bound NADP(H) is alternately reduced and oxidized by incoming molecules of H2folate with release of folate and H4folate, respectively . The relatively slow rate of folate formation presumably limits the rate of the overall reaction . The equilibrium constant for the dismutation reaction is 19.4 +/- 7.4 at 22 degrees C and pH 7.0 . Calculation of standard oxidation-reduction potentials at pH 7 gave values of -0.230 V for the H2folate/H4 folate pair and -0.268 V for the folate/H2folate pair . The mechanism by which NADP+ is retained by the enzyme from some sources during purification procedures is unclear.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Anal Biochem, 1984 May 15, 139(1), 228 - 36 Comparison of polyvinyl chloride membrane electrodes sensitive to alkylphosphonium ions for the determination of the electrical difference (delta psi) of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei; Keevil CW et al.; Polyvinyl chloride membrane electrodes sensitive to tetraphenyl phosphonium (TPP+), butyltriphenyl phosphonium ( bTPP +), and methyltriphenyl phosphonium ( mTPP +) ions have been compared for the determination of the electrical potential difference (delta psi) of the oral bacteria, Streptococcus mutans DR0001 /6 and Lactobacillus casei RB1014 . All three types of electrode proved suitable for determining delta psi, although the TPP+-sensitive electrode was particularly susceptible to interference by protonmotive force (delta p) dissipators known to inhibit sugar uptake by the bacteria . The mTPP +-sensitive electrode was the least affected . Similarly, both strains had a high nonspecific binding capacity for TPP+ and bTPP + ions, and this increased for all three ions when the bacteria were heated to 80 degrees C for 1 h to abolish glucose uptake and metabolism . This heat-treatment procedure is therefore not a suitable control for determination of nonspecific binding to cells . However, 1% (v/v) toluene, 20 microM gramicidin, or 10 microM valinomycin effectively depolarized the bacteria without interfering with nonspecific binding . The ionophores were therefore used subsequently for the determination of nonspecific binding of the lipid-soluble cations . The mTPP + ion and corresponding electrode proved the most effective system, and delta psi values of -89 and -107 mV were obtained for S . mutans and L . casei, respectively, harvested from glucose-limited continuous cultures and incubated in 100 mM Hepes-KOH buffer (pH 7.0), containing 1 mM dithiothreitol and 10 mM glucose . Although the delta psi of S . mutans decreased significantly in the presence of Mes-KOH and potassium phosphate buffers at pH 7.0, it increased to -119 mV in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.0).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Arch Microbiol, 1984 May, 138(1), 44 - 8 Correlation of oxygen utilization and hydrogen peroxide accumulation with oxygen induced enzymes in Lactobacillus plantarum cultures; Murphy MG et al.; Two strains of Lactobacillus plantarum accumulated H2O2 when grown aerobically in a complex glucose based medium . The H2O2 accumulation did not occur immediately on exposure of the culture to O2 but was delayed for a time which, in the case of one strain, was dependent on the amount of inoculum used to seed the culture . The accumulation was always preceded by an increase in the rate of O2 utilization by the cultures . The latter coincided approximately with an increase in specific activity of NADH oxidase, pyruvate oxidase and NADH peroxidase . H2O2 was not a product of NADH oxidase in vitro but was formed in substantial quantities from O2 during oxidation of pyruvate . The three enzymes were induced by O2 and H2O2; the induction of NADH oxidase responded to lower levels of O2 (but not of H2O2) than the pyruvate oxidase or the NADH peroxidase. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd, 1984 May, 44(5), 311 - 4 {Effect of lactobacillus immunotherapy on genital infections in women (Solco Trichovac/Gynatren)}; Karkut G; In view of the high cure rates of Trichomonas vaginitis after vaccination with the immunotherapeutic drug Solco Trichovac Gynatren, the therapeutic efficacy of this regimen in nonspecific vaginitis was investigated . 94 patients were treated in a multicentre study . Concurrent with a decrease of pathogens, the growth of a normal lactobacilli flora was observed . The degree of vaginal purity according to Schroder and the vaginal pH returned to normal . A cure or at least a marked improvement of symptoms was documented in about 80% of patients . Compared to conventional forms of therapy, this regimen protects against reinfection, thus providing a decisive advantage. J Gen Virol, 1984 May, 65 ( Pt 5), 981 - 6 A phage-resistant mutant of Lactobacillus casei which permits phage adsorption but not genome injection; Watanabe K et al.; A phage-resistant mutant of Lactobacillus casei (strain YIT 9021) was capable of adsorbing both PL-1 and J-1 phages, but did not yield phage-infected cells . The mutant and wild-type strains were identical in morphology and sugar composition of the cell walls . Attempts to induce prophages from strain YIT 9021 were unsuccessful . Electron microscopic examination of negatively stained mixtures of phage PL-1 and YIT 9021 bacteria revealed that the phages were adsorbed to the cells in a tail-first orientation . All the absorbed phages had DNA-filled heads . It was concluded that PL-1 adsorbed normally but was blocked in the injection of the phage genome into the cell. Infect Immun, 1984 May, 44(2), 445 - 51 Enhancement of host resistance against Listeria infection by Lactobacillus casei: role of macrophages; Sato K; Among the 10 species of the genus Lactobacillus, L . casei showed the strongest protective action against Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice . The activity of L . casei differed with regard to the dose of administration . The anti-L . monocytogenes resistance in mice intravenously administered 5.5 X 10(7), 2.8 X 10(8), or 1.1 X 10(9) L . casei cells was most manifest at ca . 2, 2 and 13, and 3 to 21 days after its administration, respectively . The growth of L . monocytogenes in the liver of mice injected with L . casei (10(7), 10(8), or 10(9) cells) 48 h after infection was suppressed, particularly when 10(8) or 10(9) L . casei cells were given 2 or 13 days before the induced infection, respectively . This suppression of L . monocytogenes growth was overcome by carrageenan treatment or X-ray irradiation . {3H}thymidine incorporation into the liver DNA increased 13 days after administration of L . casei, and augmentation of {3H}thymidine incorporation during 6 to 48 h after infection was dependent on the dose of L . casei . Peritoneal macrophage accumulation observed 1 to 5 days after intraperitoneal injection of UV-killed L . monocytogenes was markedly enhanced when the mice were treated with L . casei cells 13 days before macrophage elicitation . Therefore, the enhanced host resistance by L . casei to L . monocytogenes infection may be mediated by macrophages migrating from the blood stream to the reticuloendothelial system in response to L . casei injection before or after L . monocytogenes infection. Z Lebensm Unters Forsch, 1984 May, 178(5), 389 - 92 {The microflora of sourdough . XVIII . The protein degrading capabilities of lactic acid bacteria in sourdough}; Spicher G et al.; Acidification of the dough by the use of sourdough or acidifiers is necessary not only for good baking quality of rye flour but it is also very important for development of the typical sensory characteristics of rye bread . We confirmed that the lactic acid bacteria of sour dough are proteolytic . Proteolytic effects are observed in the increase of the amino acid content during fermentation . A marked increase was found in the content of leucine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, glutamic acid, glutamine, arginine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and serine . Lactobacillus plantarum showed a higher proteolytic activity than L . brevis ssp . lindneri or L . fructivorans. Am J Clin Pathol, 1984 May, 81(5), 629 - 33 Evaluation of the MS-2 and Lumac systems for the rapid screening of urine specimens; Welch WD et al.; The authors have evaluated the MS-2 (Abbott) and Lumac (3M) systems for the rapid screening of urine specimens for bacteriuria . These systems, which can detect significant levels of microorganisms in urine in five hours (MS-2) or 30 minutes (Lumac), were compared with a standard overnight plate culture method . Three hundred fifty-eight voided urine specimens were examined . The two systems compared equally at greater than 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL in terms of false-positive results (11%), false-negative results (2%), sensitivity (98%), specificity (approximately equal to 86%), and positive predictive value (98%), although the Lumac was found to have a lower negative predictive value (by 10%) than the MS-2 . The only organism not recognized by the MS-2 at greater than 10(5) CFU/mL was a Lactobacillus; whereas the only specimens missed by the Lumac at greater than 10(5) CFU/mL were two pure cultures of Escherichia coli . At counts of greater than 10(4) to 10(5) CFU/mL, both systems missed numerous (15 of 21 isolates for the MS-2; 12 of 9 isolates for the Lumac) gram-positive cocci . The Lumac system was the most costly, being 3.6 times as expensive as the standard plate method . Although both systems greatly reduce the time required to process urine specimens, the large number of false-positive results, false-negative results at greater than 10(4) to 10(5) CFU/mL, as well as cost suggest that a careful evaluation of a laboratory's specific needs for urine cultures be made to determine whether or not such rapid urine screening systems are appropriate. J Infect Dis, 1984 May, 149(5), 801 - 9 Clinical and microbiological characterization of patients with nonspecific vaginosis associated with motile, curved anaerobic rods; Thomason JL et al.; The vaginal secretions of 20 normal control subjects and 21 patients with motile, curved anaerobic rods were cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, Chlamydia trachomatis, herpes simplex virus, and Trichomonas vaginalis . Extensive histories and physical examinations of the patients and microscopic appearance and gas-liquid chromatography patterns of vaginal secretions were compared between the two groups . The patients who had motile rods in their vaginal secretions more frequently presented with a history of complaints about foul-smelling discharge (18 {86%} of 21); discharge noted during physical examination at their introitus (15 {71%} of 21); a vaginal pH greater than 4.5 (21 {100%} of 21); and a highly specific microscopic appearance of their secretions . The secretions were characterized by the absence of lactobacilli, the presence of highly motile, curved bacilli, and an increased number of background bacteria when compared with normal patients . Patients had more frequent anaerobic isolates than did controls (P less than .001), with increased numbers of Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Propionibacterium, and Bacteroides species . All patients with motile bacteria in their secretions met the criteria of the syndrome of nonspecific vaginosis that has been previously described. J Bacteriol, 1984 Apr, 158(1), 1 - 8 Manganese acquisition by Lactobacillus plantarum; Archibald FS et al.; Lactobacillus plantarum has an unusually high Mn(II) requirement for growth and accumulated over 30 mM intracellular Mn(II) . The acquisition of Mn(II) by L . plantarum occurred via a specific active transport system powered by the transmembrane proton gradient . The Mn(II) uptake system has a Km of 0.2 microM and a Vmax of 24 nmol mg-1 of protein min-1 . Above a medium Mn(II) concentration of 200 microM, the intracellular Mn(II) level was independent of the medium Mn(II) and unresponsive to oxygen stresses but was reduced by phosphate limitation . At a pH of 5.5, citrate, isocitrate, and cis-aconitate effectively promoted MN(II) uptake, although measurable levels of 1,5-{14C}citrate were not accumulated . When cells were presented with equimolar Mn(II) and Cd(II), Cd(II) was preferentially taken up by the Mn(II) transport system . Both Mn(II) and Cd(II) uptake were greatly increased by Mn(II) starvation . Mn(II) uptake by Mn(II)-starved cells was subject to a negative feedback regulatory mechanism functioning less than 1 min after exposure of the cells to Mn(II) and independent of protein synthesis . When presented with a relatively large amount of exogenous Mn(II), Mn(II)-starved cells exhibited a measurable efflux of their internal Mn(II), but the rate was only a small fraction of the maximal Mn(II) uptake rate. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1984 Apr, 230(1), 49 - 60 Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase from Lactobacillus plantarum: a dimeric protein; Muth JD et al.; a++Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase has been purified from Lactobacillus plantarum . It catalyzes the formation of a C55 polyprenyl pyrophosphate having isoprene residues with cis stereochemistry . The enzyme was shown to be an acidic protein (pI = 5.1), which can be partially purified by preparative gel electrophoresis and Blue-agarose column chromatography . The Km's of the enzyme for its substrates t,t-farnesyl pyrophosphate and isopentenyl pyrophosphate were determined to be 0.13 and 1.92 microM, respectively . The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated by molecular sieve chromatography and gradient centrifugation to be 56,000 +/- 4000 . Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the protein was composed of a dimer of 30,000-Da subunits . The enzyme was inactivated by the arginine-specific reagents phenylglyoxal, butanedione and, cyclohexanedione, but this inactivation was not prevented by either of the substrates. Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Apr, 92(2), 134 - 40 Factors predicting caries risk in children; Honkala E et al.; Selection of caries-risk groups is difficult and unreliable . In this study we analyzed the known correlates of caries and their interrelations . The subjects (n = 153) were seventh graders (13 yr old) from a school in Kuopio . Data were collected by mail survey (n = 150), from the clinical registers of the local health center (n = 135), and from a saliva test . In the first stage we computed the bivariate correlates between the D-index and its traditionally defined determinants . In the second stage the predictors of caries risk were ranked using discriminant and multiple regression analyses . The bivariate correlates of caries were: DMF-index of the previous year (r = 0.69), D-index of the previous year (r = 0.59), lactobacillus count (r = 0.26), buffer capacity (r = 0.20), and toothbrushing frequency (r = 0.07) . In discriminant analyses the DMF-index among girls and the frequency of consumption of sweets among boys were the only significant discriminators . In the multiple regression analyses, however, the final model (P less than 0.001) for girls included: DMF-index of the previous year (beta = 0.64) and lactobacillus count (beta = 0.31) . The corresponding model for boys (P less than 0.001) included: DMF-index of the previous year (beta = 0.55) and frequency of consumption of sweets (beta = 0.24) . Using these variables, it is difficult to develop a reliable method for determining the caries susceptible groups, but of them, the DMF-index seems the most reliable for predicting caries risk among children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1984 Apr, 12(2), 69 - 71 Long-term effect of intensive caries prophylaxis; Klock B; The purpose of the present study was to examine the long-term effect of intensive caries prophylaxis . A preventive program mainly based on professional toothcleaning was demonstrated to be highly effective against caries incidence over a 2-yr period . Five years after the termination of the test period 519 subjects, 17-21 yr of age, were reexamined . The results showed that 1) the smooth surface caries prevalence was very low, 2) a high number of the carious lesions became arrested with time, 3) a long-term effect seemed to be obtained in subjects at a high caries risk, and 4) salivary S . mutans and lactobacilli could be used for caries prediction over a 7-yr period. J Am Dent Assoc, 1984 Apr, 108(4), 587 - 92 The effect of chewing xylitol gum on the plaque and saliva levels of Streptococcus mutans; Loesche WJ et al.; Eating foods containing sucrose between meals can be highly cariogenic . The use of sucrose substitutes that provide the hedonistic appeal of sucrose, yet are not fermented by the plaque flora to the low pHs that are associated with caries, is a reasonable approach to caries control . Xylitol, a sweet-tasting pentitol, has been reported to cause about an 80% reduction in caries increment when chewed in a gum . The present investigation was designed to determine whether the chewing of xylitol gums affected the salivary and plaque levels of S mutans and lactobacilli . The chewing of xylitol gums for four weeks caused a significant reduction in saliva levels and plaque proportions of S mutans compared with pretreatment values . The levels were also significantly reduced to values obtained by chewing either sorbitol or fructose sweetened gum . The chewing of various gums had no significant effect on the proportions of lactobacilli in the plaque . These findings suggested that the small amounts of xylitol used (about 5 gm) resulted in a suppression of S mutans. J Bacteriol, 1984 Apr, 158(1), 202 - 7 Structural and functional properties of the folate transport protein from a methotrexate-resistant subline of Lactobacillus casei; Ananthanarayanan M et al.; A methotrexate-resistant subline of Lactobacillus casei has been isolated which transports folate at a reduced rate and contains a binding protein whose affinity for folate (Kd = 280 nM) is considerably lower than that of the corresponding protein of wild-type cells (Kd = 0.6 nM) . After the addition of mercaptoethanol, however, this same protein exhibits a high affinity for folate (Kd = 1.2 nM) and transports the substrate at a normal rate . Subsequent removal of mercaptoethanol causes a rapid reversal of the activation process . Binding protein labeled covalently with carbodiimide-activated {3H}folate, solubilized with Triton X-100, and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate had an apparent molecular weight which was approximately twofold higher than that of the corresponding protein of wild-type cells, but it could be reduced to the parental size (Mr = 20,000) by prior treatment with mercaptoethanol . Purified binding protein also exhibited a similarly elevated molecular weight, and its amino acid composition was indistinguishable from that of the wild-type counterpart, except for the presence of a single cysteine residue . These findings indicate that the mutant binding protein exists in a low-affinity form due to disulfide bridge formation between two homologous protein subunits and that cleavage of this bond by mercaptoethanol generates the high-affinity state . The rapid and specific interconversion of these binding forms suggests further that the high-affinity form of the binding protein also resides in the membrane as a dimer, held together by noncovalent interactions. Infect Immun, 1984 Apr, 44(1), 61 - 7 Oxygen radical production by peritoneal macrophages and Kupffer cells elicited with Lactobacillus casei; Hashimoto S et al.; BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intravenously (i.v.) with Lactobacillus casei YIT9018 (LC 9018) . The i.p . injected LC 9018 augmented oxygen radical (OR) production by peritoneal macrophages (PM) and suppressed the production of prostaglandin E2 by PM . The growth of i.p . inoculated Meth A fibrosarcoma was also inhibited by an i.p . injection of LC 9018 . i.v . injection of LC 9018 stimulated OR production by fixed macrophages and inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in the liver . Furthermore, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the liver was significantly increased (10 to 20 times) by LC 9018 i.v . injection . A significant correlation was observed between the augmentation of OR production by PM or fixed macrophages in the liver and inhibition of growth of Meth A or L . monocytogenes . The augmentation of OR production by LC 9018 was more marked and was maintained for a longer period of time than that by other bacterial immunostimulants. J Anim Sci, 1984 Apr, 58(4), 1040 - 9 Ruminal metabolism of plant toxins with emphasis on indolic compounds; Carlson JR et al.; Ruminal bacteria can perform biochemical transformations on plant constituents that may affect the health of ruminant animals . Reactions carried out by ruminal bacteria on oxalates and some pyrrolizidine alkaloids include decarboxylation, hydrolysis and reduction steps . Prior exposure of ruminal bacteria to these substances increases the rate of detoxification, indicating an adaptive response by the bacteria to these substrates . The formation of toxic substances by ruminal bacteria also occurs and may involve similar reactions . Hydrolysis of cyanogenic glycosides and miserotoxins , reduction of nitrate and S-methylcysteine sulfoxide to nitrite and dimethyl disulfide can result in toxicity in ruminants . Similarly, the deamination and decarboxylation reactions associated with the degradation of tryptophan and tryosine result in the formation of 3-methylindole and p-cresol, which are toxic . Formation of 3-methylindole results from fermentation of tryptophan to indoleacetic acid, with subsequent decarboxylation of indoleacetic acid to 3-methylindole by a Lactobacillus sp . The 3-methylindole causes acute pulmonary edema and emphysema in ruminants as a result of mixed function oxidase metabolism in tissues . The 3-methylindole is also the cause of naturally-occurring acute bovine pulmonary edema and emphysema after abrupt pasture change . Inhibition of ruminal 3-methylindole formation by monensin and other antibiotics lowers ruminal 3-methylindole concentrations and prevents acute lung injury in experimental animals. Scand J Dent Res, 1984 Apr, 92(2), 97 - 108 Sucrase and maltase activities in supragingival dental plaque in humans of streptococcal, actinomyces and lactobacilli species; Fiehn NE et al.; 20 reference strains and 72 isolated strains from dental plaque of streptococci, actinomyces, and lactobacilli species were examined for sucrase and maltase activities . The type of sucrase in the different strains was determined by use of the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose . The enzyme activities were determined as formation of monosaccharide, and quantitated spectrophotometrically . Although variations occurred in enzyme activities between reference and isolated strains, the same general pattern was noticed . Strains of Streptococcus mutans and S . salivarius showed regularly the highest sucrase activities, followed by strains of Actinomyces viscosus and A . naeslundii . Most lactobacilli belonged to the bacteria with low sucrase activity like S . sanguis and S . mitior . In some lactobacilli strains, however, a high sucrase activity was observed . The level of sucrase activity in S . mutans strains was dep