Proteus

J Cell Sci, 1979 Jun, 37, 217 - 29
Morphological alterations in the mitochondria of Amoeba proteus induced by uncoupling agents; Smith RA et al.; Ultrastructural changes in mitochondrial morphology were observed in amoebae exposed to the uncoupling agents dinitrophernol (DNP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), and m-chlorocarbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone (CCCP) . These alterations occurred with rapidity and were present before whole-cell activity changes could be detected . They included changes in profile shape and overall dimensions, matrix density changes, and alterations to the cristal membranes, so that distinction between control Type I and Type II conformations was eliminated and a form with intermediate characters generated . It is proposed that, in producing these altered forms, the uncoupling agents are acting by suppressing the control functional states of the mitochondria . At the end of the uncoupler treatment all alterations were shown to be reversible, i.e . in cells transferred back to normal culture medium, mitochondrial profiles identical to those in control cells were again evident with time . These effects on the mitochondria could be produced whether the uncoupler was introduced externally by total cell exposure, or to the inside of the cell by microinjection . The importance of precisely defining conditions for treatments and at disrupting cell activity was evident . Thus, an uncoupler, which is a weak acid, proved to be more effective in whole cell treatments if applied at a pH near to it pKa - so ensuring its penetration across the outer cell membrane.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Jun, 97(1), 141 - 6
Outer membrane proteins of smooth and rough strains of Proteus mirabilis; Rottem S et al.; The outer membranes of the smooth Proteus mirabilis S1959 strain and its rough R13, R110, R51 and R45 mutants were isolated by sonication of the cells and sucrose density gradient centrifugation . The outer membrane of the rough strains had a lower density than that of their parent smooth strain, but the protein-to-phospholipid ratios were the same . The electrophoretic patterns of outer membrane polypeptides of the S and R strains in sodium dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gels were identical, with two major polypeptide bands, C1 and C2 (Mr 39,000 and 38,000) predominating . The C1 polypeptide band was a heat-modifiable polypeptide, which migrated as a band at Mr 33,000 when membranes were solubilized at 37 degrees C or 50 degrees C, and at Mr 39,000 when solubilization was at 100 degrees C . Susceptibility of outer membrane polypeptides to proteolytic digestion was found to be higher in isolated outer membrane preparations of the rough strains than in the smooth strain, suggesting that the availability of the polypeptide chains to proteolytic activity depends on the length of the polysaccharide chains of the outer membrane lipopolysaccharide.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jun, 138(3), 878 - 83
Asymmetric transcription of R plasmid NR1 in Proteus mirabilis; Appelbaum ER et al.; The composite R plasmid NR1, its resistance transfer factor which specifies resistance to tetracycline (RTF-Tc component), and its r-determinants component were each denatured and centrifuged to equilibrium in CsCl density gradients containing polyuridylic acid-polyguanidylic acid . The complementary deoxyribonucleic acid strands of NR1 and the complementary strands of the RTF-Tc component could be separated by this technique because of a threefold difference in polyuridylic acid-polyguanidylic acid binding to the strands of the RTF-Tc component . The two strands of the r-determinants component bound equal amounts of polyuridylic acid-polyguanidylic acid . Hybridization of single strands of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid with in vivo-labeled ribonucleic acid from Proteus mirabilis containing NR1 indicated that transcription within the RTF-Tc component is from the NR1 strand which preferentially binds polyuridylic acid-polyguanidylic acid, whereas transcription within the r-determinants component is predominantly from the complementary strand.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Jun, 139(6), 621 - 7
A nosocomial outbreak of infections due to multiply resistant Proteus mirabilis: role of intestinal colonization as a major reservoir; Chow AW et al.; An outbreak of nosocomial infections involving an unusual strain of multiply resistant Proteus mirabilis (phage type 8888) occurred in 15 patients, 14 of whom were in the surgical intensive care unit at that time . No common source of infection was identified, and person-to-person transmission was the most likely mode of spread . Case-control analysis indicated a significantly increased risk infection related to length of hospital stay (P less than 0.005), number of operations (P less than 0.005), proximity to another case (P less than 0.01), number of antibiotics received (P less than 0.02), and use of a respirator (P less than 0.01) . Only the number of operations (P less than 0.01) and proximity to another case (P less than 0.05) remained significant risk factors when related parameters were controlled by multivariate analysis . Thirteen of 14 patients prospectively cultured were colonized by the epidemic organism in the intestinal tract, while rectal carriage preceded infection by the same strain in at least four patients . These data suggest that intestinal colonization may have been an important reservoir for this outbreak, and the findings may explain the unduly prolonged course of intrahospital spread as well as the difficulty encountered in the eradication and control of the outbreak.

Eur J Biochem, 1979 Jun, 97(1), 229 - 37
Metabolic carbohydrate-labelling of glycolipids from mouse splenocytes . Mitogen-stimulated B and T cells show different labelling patterns; Rosenfelder G et al.; Splenic lymphocytes from CBA/J, AKR/A/J, BALB/c/A, C57/BL/6J, C3H/HeJ and C3H/Tif nu/nu mice and B lymphocyte or T lymphocyte preparations derived from CBA/J mouse spleen were cultivated in the presence of either concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin, Salmonella minnesota R595 lipopolysaccharide or Proteus mirabilis soluble lipoprotein . The mitogens stimulated the incorporation of {14C}galactose into acid-insoluble cell material with the same specificity for B or T cells as that known for thymidine incorporation . The glycolipids extracted from mitogen-activated, carbohydrate-labelled B or T cells were compared by thin-layer chromatography and characteristic differences between B and T cells were noted in the ganglioside as well as in the neutral glycolipid fractions . In addition, subsets of B or T cells, namely lipopolysaccharide-responsive or lipoprotein-responsive B-cell populations or nylon-purified T cells may be recognized by characteristic neutral glycolipid bands.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 May 16, 584(3), 389 - 97
Alterations in the cell envelope composition of Proteus mirabilis during the development of swarmer cells; Armitage JP et al.; Long, swarming cells of Proteus mirabilis had different proportions of some lipopolysaccharide components when compared to short cells, either agar grown or broth grown . Fluorescence spectrophotometry of antibody binding, and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the change was in the proportion of lipopolysaccharide with long O-antigenic sidechains, swarmer lipopolysaccharide relative to short sidechain lipopolysaccharide than the non-swarming cells . The proteins and phospholipids of the envelop remained the same during swarmer development . The results are discussed in relation to the increase in flagella synthesis and permeability to some antibacterial agents during swarmer development.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1979 May 15, 174(10), 1100 - 4
Dissolution of a struvite nephrolith in a dog; Klausner JS et al.; A large radiodense calculus in the left renal pelvis of a 22-month-old, male Great Dane disappeared one month following surgical removal of two struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) calculi from the right renal pelvis . The dog's urine likely became undersaturated with struvite for a sufficient period to permit dissolution of the renal calculus . Several factors may have contributed to the decrease in urine struvite concentration, including eradication of a urease-producing Proteus sp from the urinary tract and induction of polydipsia and compensatory polyuria by oral administration of sodium chloride.

Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1979 May 15, 55(9), 894 - 900
{Frequency and antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from urine cultures}; Ceddia T et al.; The AA report the data pertinent to the urine culture performed during a year in the Sanitary and Prophylactic Laboratory of the district of L'Aquila . In urine samples with number of bacteria > 10(5)/ml have been found E . coli (49%), Proteus mirabilis (32%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%), Staphylococcus aureus (5%), Proteus rettgeri (1%), Enterococco (1%) . The data are also reported concerning germ resistance to several antibiotics.

J Am Geriatr Soc, 1979 May, 27(5), 222 - 4
Relative efficacy of carbenicillin indanyl sodium and of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in urinary-tract infections; Seneca H; In a 10-day study, carbenicillin indanyl sodium cured urinary-tract infections in 22 of 30 patients (ages, 24-91) . In 3 of the remaining patients the treatment was a failure; in 3 others the drug had to be discontinued because of diarrhea and vomiting; and in 2 instances it induced overgrowth of Candida albicans in the urine . Carbenicillin was lethal to Pseudomonas aeruginosa in all 9 cases, to Proteus mirabilis in all 6 cases, and to enterococcus in all 3 cases . A trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole combination cured urinary-tract infections in 18 of 30 other patients (ages, 28-91), but failed in 3 . In 3 patients it gave rise to a skin rash; in 2 to elevation of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels; in 1 to neutropenia; and in 1 to overgrowth of Candida albicans in the urine . Reinfection occurred in 2 patients . Carbenicillin indanyl sodium was more effective than the sulfonamide/trimethoprim combination.

Rev Chir Oncol Radiol O R L Oftalmol Stomatol Chir, 1979 May-Jun, 28(3), 199 - 203
{Primary renal actinomycosis}; Proca E; A case of renal actinomycosis, treated by nephrectomy, in a 41 year-old male, is reported . The clinical diagnosis, to which urography and renal arteriography lent support, was renal anthrax . The pus being sterile on conventional seeding, the investigations were directed towards the finding of characteristic mycelium . Five months after nephrectomy a cerebral abscess developed and the patient died . Although in the cerebral pus only B . proteus and coagulase-positive staphylococci were found, the actinomycotic etiology cannot be excluded since the specific granules were not looked for.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1979 May, 32(5), 631 - 7
{Clinical studies on PC-904 in biliary tract diseases (author's transl)}; Ohhara K et al.; The clinical effects of PC-904, a new semisynthetic penicillin, were studied in patients with biliary tract diseases, and the results were as follows: 1) PC-904 showed an average peak serum level of 40.7 +/- 11.6 microgram/ml 2 hours after an intravenous drip infusion of 1 g of the agent . The biliary level showed a peak value of 126.5 +/- 85.4 microgram/ml 2 hours to 3 hours after the infusion . 2) Isolated organisms from bile before the treatment were E . coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus and Bacteroides . MIC of PC-904 on 18 strains of isolated organisms was almost 6.25 microgram/ml or less . All isolated organisms except one strain of Klebsiella oxytoca disappeared after the treatment . 3) Six patients with cholelithiasis were medicated with PC-904 to prevent post-operative infections . The clinical effects were good in 4, poor in 1 and unknown in 1 case . 4) As to side effects no adverse reactions and allergic reactions were noted . Also no significant abnormalities of laboratory findings were observed.

Arch Microbiol, 1979 May, 121(2), 177 - 80
Covalent linkage of lipoprotein to peptidoglycan is not essential for outer membrane stability in Proteus mirabilis; Gmeiner J; Isolated rigis layers from Proteus mirabilis harvested at different growth phases were degraded by endo-N-acetylmuramidase from Chalaropsis B, and the degradation products were investigated . The results show the complete absence of covalently linked lipoprotein in exponential-phase cultures . Stationary cells, however, possess covalently linked lipoprotein in amounts similar to those found in Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium during all growth phases . The overall peptidoglycan structure did not change during transition from logarithmic to stationary growth . Implications of these findings for the organization of the outer membrane are discussed.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1979 May, 32(5), 583 - 97
{Morphological studies on antibacterial activities of cefotiam (author's transl)}; Konno M et al.; 1 . Cefotiam was demonstrated to be more potent than cefazolin in its antibacterial activities against clinical isolates of E . coli, Klebsiella, Serratia, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus morganii and Proteus inconstans . MICs of cefotiam with 10(6) cells/ml inoculum size were considerably lower than those with 10(8) cells/ml . 2 . Organisms lysed when exposed to cefotiam at concentrations higher than the MICs with 10(8) cells/ml . Morphological changes of organisms into filament occurred even at concentrations lower than the MICs with 10(6) cells/ml . This indicates that cefotiam is incorporated into organisms at remarkably low concentrations and exerts its antibacterial activities . 3 . Cefotiam showed a high affinity for penicillin-binding proteins (PBP) 1A, 1Bs and 3 . The formation of filament at low concentrations of cefotiam is possibly attributable to the high affinity of cefotiam for PBP 3 in addition to its high permeability through outer cell membrane . 4 . As the antibacterial activities of cefotiam are displayed at lower concentrations, it is reasonable to consider that doses of cefotiam on clinical use can be reduced in comparison with those of conventional cephalosporins.

J Med Microbiol, 1979 May, 12(2), 195 - 9
Measurement of Proteus cell motility during swarming; Douglas CW; The motilities of Proteus long forms during swarming on agar were measured on cells transferred to liquid suspension . During concentric-ring formation on solid medium, when the edge of the swarm was advancing slowly or had stopped, the velocity of long-form motility was low . When the colony was spreading rapidly, long-form velocitywas relatively high . This periodic variation in cell velocity, which determines the zones formed during swarming, cannot adequately be explained by negative chemotaxis.

Antibiotiki, 1979 May, 24(5), 345 - 8
{Mechanisms of Proteus resistance to chloramphenicol}; Shvidenko IG; Data on chloramphenicol sensitivity of clinical Proteus strains isolated within 1970--1975 and some mechanisms of their resistance to this antibiotic are presented . It was found that most of the Proteus strains (62.82 +/- 2.15 per cent) were resistant to chloramphenicol . 75 per cent of the isolates had resistance of transmissive character . Resistance of the Proteus cultures to chloramphenicol was not a stable feature and was lost during storage under laboratory conditions . Direct correlation between stability of the antibiotic resistance in the Proteus, the resistance level and the period of the culture storage was found . It was shown that the transmissive resistance to chloramphenicol in the Proteus cultures was due to synthesis of a highly active constituitive chloramphenicol-inactivating enzyme . Direct relation between the Proteus resistance level to chloramphenicol and the rate of the enzyme synthesis was noted . A number of the Proteus strains phenotypically sensitive to this antibiotic was capable of its inactivation . Still, the activity of the enzyme was low . The rate of the enzyme synthesis and the level of the acquired resistance in the chloramphenicol resistant mutants depended on the presence or absence of the enzyme in the cells of the initial sensitive strain . The capacity for chloramphenicol accumulation in a number of the chloramphenicol resistant mutants of the Proteus was decreased.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1979 May 1, 174(9), 1003 - 5
Trimethoprim in combination with a sulfonamide for oral treatment of canine urinary tract infections; Ling GV et al.; Trimethoprim, in combination with sulfadiazine or sulfamethoxazole was administered orally for 7 to 14 days to 84 dogs with urinary tract infections (UTI) . The daily dosage of 26.4 mg/kg (12 mg/lb) was divided into 2 equal parts and administered at about 12-hour intervals . Response to treatment, based on negative urine culture during or after therapy, was 37 of 45 (82%) for UTI caused by Escherichia coli, 11 of 15 (73%) UTI caused by Proteus mirabilis, 8 of 12 (67%) UTI caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, 6 of 6 (100%) UTI caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and 5 of 9 (56%) UTI caused by Streptococcus spp . These 5 species comprised 88% of the bacteria isolated from the dogs in this study.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1979 Apr 12, 567(2), 511 - 21
Purification and properties of the membrane-bound hydrogenase from Proteus mirabilis; Schoenmaker GS et al.; The cytoplasmic membrane-bound hydrogenase of the facultative anaerobe, Proteus mirabilis, has been solubilized and purified to homogeneity . The purified enzyme exhibited a maximal specific activity of about 780 mumol H2 oxidized/min per mg protein (benzyl viologen reduction) . The hydrogenase has a molecular weight of 205 000 and is composed of two subunits with a molecular weight of 63 000 and two of 33 000 . The absorption spectrum of the enzyme was characteristic of non-heme iron proteins . The millimolar extinction coefficients at 400 and 280 nm are 106 and 390, respectively . The hydrogenase has about 24 iron atoms and 24 acid-labile sulfide atoms/molecule . Amino acid analyses revealed the presence of 39 half-cystine residues/molecule and a preponderance of acidic amino acids . The hydrogenase in its oxidized form exhibits an EPR signal of the HiPIP-type with g values at 2.025 and 2.018 . Upon reduction with either dithionite or H2 the signal disappears; no other signals were detectable.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1979 Apr 1, 174(7), 705 - 7
Urinary tract infection induced by intermittent urethral catheterization in dogs; Thomas JE; Sterilized and unsterilized catheters were passed into the urinary bladders of 9 clinically normal adult male dogs once daily for 5 consecutive days, and the dogs were examined for up to 30 days to determine whether urinary tract infections developed . Two dogs that were catheterized with clean unsterilized catheters (1 clinically normal dog and 1 dog given immunosuppressant drugs) developed persistent cystitis and pyelonephritis due to infection with Proteus sp . One dog given immunosuppressant drugs developed a mixed bacterial infection (Proteus sp and Escherichia coli) that resolved without treatment between 22 and 30 days later.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Apr, 111(2), 243 - 51
Patterns of mobilization of the Proteus mirabilis chromosome by R plasmids; Coetzee JN; R plasmids R40a, Rip69, R447b, R769 belonging to incompatibility groups A-C, M, N, V, respectively, were investigated for chromosomal mobilizing ability in Proteus mirabilis . Plasmids R40a, Rip69 and R447b mediated polarized transfer of markers in a clockwise direction from origins near tyr-1, metF and ser-2, respectively, on the linkage map . The recovery frequency per donor cell of proximal markers approached 1 x 10(-4) for these three plasmids and the efficiency of chromosomal transfer was higher than that of the previously studied plasmid D . The plasmid-guided chromosomal trajectories overlap and it was possible to complement results obtained with plasmid D to assemble a time-of-entry chromosomal map and directly establish the circularity of the linkage group . The map comprises a length of 93 min in terms of transfer time . Plasmid R769 had a different pattern of chromosome transfer . This plasmid produced recombinants for all markers at frequencies of about 4 x 10(-6) per donor . It effected multiple and more or less simultaneous entry of markers and produced recombination over lengths of chromosome rarely corresponding to more than 10 min on the linkage map.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1979 Apr, 32(4), 280 - 6
PS-5, a new beta-lactam antibiotic . III . Synergistic effects and inhibitory activity against a beta-lactamase; Okamura K et al.; PS-5 was shown to have synergistic activity in combination with other beta-lactam antibiotics and it markedly decreased the minimum inhibitory concentration values of ampicillin or cephaloridine with a beta-lactamase-producing Proteus vulgaris strain on agar plates . The synergistic activities were also shown in bactericidal activity in liquid medium . PS-5 was shown to be inhibitory against an extracted beta-lactamase of P . volgaris.

Prax Klin Pneumol, 1979 Apr, 33 Suppl 1, 536 - 40
{Results of continuous suction drainage in the treatment of pleural empyema (author's transl)}; Gabler A et al.; 201 adults with non-specific pleural empyema (58 women, 143 men) had suction drainage . Most of the patients were aged 61-70 years . In the 47 patients who had not had antibiotic therapy before admission the main causal micro-organisms were staphylococci, pneumococci and streptococci; in the 149, who had had antibiotic therapy outside, micro-organisms such as Pseudomonas, Esch . coli and Proteus predominated . Suction drainage had to be kept up for a remarkably long time: for 4-8 weeks in 36% of the cases and for more than 8 weeks in 8% . 31 patients died, but only 17 of them as a direct result of the pleural empyema . They had all been "high risk" cases on account of age (average 67.7 years), type of bacteria (59%), serious primary or complicating disease (59%), duration of the pleural empyema (76%) . Suction drainage succeeded in 140 patients in clearing the infection; but marked adhesions were demonstrable in 27% of the patients when they were discharged from hospital.

Stomatol DDR, 1979 Apr, 29(4), 307 - 13
{Antibacterial effect of Ankerplast Spray}; Oehring H et al.; The diffusion test yielded no satisfactory results . In the tube test, both the spray and the solvent (in a dilution of 1:4 and 1:8, respectively) proved to be bacteriostatically active against enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Escheria coli, Proteus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . These germs were killed within 30 minutes in the test for bactericidal activity, whereas the reference substance (1% phenol) required 1--2 hours, except against the last-named germ . Even the copolymer exerted a bactericidal effect, it is true, but only within 8 or 24 hours . The following results were obtained from the spray test with agar plate cultures: Streptococcus viridans species, streptococci, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Escheria coli, and Proteus were killed, whereas others survived under the plastic film for up to 9 days . Klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa had grown through the film within 7 days . In vivo experiments demonstrated a very potent antibacterial activity on the skin under the spray film.

Antibiotiki, 1979 Apr, 24(4), 306 - 12
{Structure of the microflora of suppurative wounds and its sensitivity to antibiotics}; Grigorian AV et al.; Clinico-bacteriological examination of patients with purulent infections showed that Staphylococcus was the predominating microflora in the wounds . Simultaneously an increasing role of gram-negative conditionally pathogenic bacteria was shown . Multiple drug resistance was found in the organisms tested . The highest sensitivity levels were observed to gentamicin, kanamycin, tetracycline, levomycetin . It was shown by means of special typing methods that staphylococci of phage group III and Ps . Aeruginosa of serotype II predominated in the infected wounds . When the pathological material contained the antibiotic resistant cultures of Ps . aeruginosa, Proteus, Klebsiella and toxigenic strains of Staphylococcus, a tendency for prolongation of the suppurative process was observed.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1979 Apr, (4), 17 - 21
{Effect of immunization on the radioresistance of mice to the action of 90Sr}; Kal'nitskii SA et al.; The preliminary immunization with heated Proteus vulgaris culture introduced in a single injection was found to have a positive influence on the resistance of white mice to radiation emitted by incorporated 90Sr . This effect was manifested by an increase in the survival rate and the mean survival time of the animals, as well as by their increased physical endurance, and the stimulation of recovery process in the spleen.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Apr, 138(1), 284 - 7
Gene copy number effects in the mer operon of plasmid NR1; Nakahara H et al.; The level of resistance to Hg2+ determined by the inducible mer operon of plasmid NR1 was essentially the same for three gene copy number variants in Escherichia coli, less in Proteus mirabilis, and intermediate in P . mirabilis "transitioned" to a high r-determinant gene copy number . Cell-free volatilization rates of radioactive mercury indicated increasing levels of intracellular mercuric reductase enzyme from low- to high-gene copy number forms in P . mirabilis and from low- to high-copy number forms in E . coli, but the additional enzyme in E . coli was effectively cryptic.

Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1979 Mar 30, 55(6), 534 - 7
{In-vitro antimicrobial activity of 2 aminoglycoside antibiotics: tobramycin and gentamycin}; Ceddia T et al.; It has been determined the in vitro antibacterial activity of two antibiotics on 409 bacterial stocks isolated from several pathologic materials and composed by E.coli,Propeus,Salmonellae,Pseudomonas,Staphylococcus aureus . The Tobramicin has shown to have activity against all stocks of E.coli(82),Pseudomonas aeruginosa (62) and Salmonellae (21) and to have a better activity in comparison with Gentamicin also against Proteus and Staphylococcus aureus.

Cell Tissue Res, 1979 Mar 19, 197(2), 263 - 79
Pinocytosis and locomotion of amoebae: XII . Dynamics and motive force generation during induced pinocytosis in A . proteus; Klein HP et al.; The mechanism of induced pinocytosis was investigated in Amoeba proteus by light and electron microscopy . The application of nine different inducing substances revealed that pinocytotic channel formation, elongation, vesiculation, shortening and disappearance are the result of the successive or simultaneous action of both traction and pressure forces, which are produced by the contractile activity of a plasma membrane-associated layer of filaments ranging from a few hundred nm to several micrometer in thickness . The initial phase of channel formation is caused by traction forces according to the membrane flow concept, whereas channel elongation and vesiculation mainly result from pressure forces in conjunction with the extrusion of small hyaline pseudopodia . Shortening and disappearance of the pinocytotic channels are brought about by local contractions of the cortical filament layer in the basal region of the hyaline pseudopodia . Experiments using latex beads as marker particles together with inducing substances show that a rapid membrane turnover duirng pinocytosis can be excluded, and that the plasma membrane slides as an entire structure over the underlying cytoplasm.

Fortschr Med, 1979 Mar 8, 97(9), 419 - 21
{The biliary excretion of azlocillin}; Duben W et al.; The excretion of azlocillin into the human biliary tract was investigated in 8 patients with a T-tube in the common bile duct after intravenous injection of 2 g . Samples of serum and common duct bile were assayed from 15 min to 12 hours after injection . Biliary tract levels generally run parallel to serum levels but were about 15 times higher than those . Peak levels in T-tube bile averaged 1137 mg/l 60 to 90 min after administration . 12 hours after administration there were still mean concentrations of 13 mg/l to be found . It is concluded that azlocillin concentrations in bile exceed for a long time the minimum inhibitory concentrations for gram-negative and gram-positive causative organisms (above all E . coli, enterococci, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., staphylococci) of biliary tract-infections.

Contraception, 1979 Mar, 19(3), 207 - 12
Spermatozoa repellent as a contraceptive; Tso WW et al.; Early report by Kopp et al . have demonstrated that p-nitrophenyl-glycerol (PNPG) is an effective antiswarming agent in Proteus and that this inhibition may have been caused by PNPG interfering with the negative chemotaxis mechanism in the organism . With an inverted capillary assay, designed to test the motility response of rat epididymal spermatozoa to various suspending conditions including those exposed to chemical gradient, PNPG was shown in this study to exhibit an inhibitory effect at slightly higher than 10(-5) M . Moreover, this inhibitory effect appears to have stemmed from spermatozoa being repelled by PNPG as indicated by the observation that significantly less spermatozoa swim into a gradient of PNPG . The possibility of using spermatozoa repellents as contraceptives is discussed.

Antibiotiki, 1979 Mar, 24(3), 189 - 93
{Antibiotic sensitivity of the microflora isolated in ENT diseases}; Fal' NI et al.; Sensitivity of beta-hemolytic streptococci of group A, Streptococcus viridans, Staphylococcus aureus, epidermal staphylococci, pneumococci, Proteus and Ps . aeruginosa isolated in 1975-1978 from patients with tonsillitis, otitis, sinusitis and other otorhinolaryngological diseases was studied with respect to 19 antibiotics . Data on comparison of the antibiotic sensitivity of the microflora isolated from the patients with otorhinolaryngological diseases in 1964-1974 and 1975-1978 are presented . It was shown that beta-hemolytic streptococci were highly sensitive to all the antibiotics tested except tetracycline . Among Streptococcus viridans the strains resistant to many antibiotics were more frequent than among beta-hemolytic streptococci . Most of the Staphylococcus aureus strains were sensitive to gentamycin, cephaloridin, oxacillin and resistant to the other antibiotics . The epidermal staphylococci were characterized by approximately the same antibiotic sensitivity as Staphylococcus aureus . Resistance of the predominating majority of the Pneumococcus strains to tetracycline was noted . Proteus and Ps . aeruginosa were resistant to all the antibiotics except aminoglycosides . The microflora isolated from the cases with otorhinolaryngological diseases in 1975-1978 were mainly characterized by lower antibiotic sensitivity than that isolated from the cases with the same diseases in 1964-1974 . It is possible to suppose that the microorganisms isolated from the patients with otorhinolaringological diseases had no significant differences with respect to their antibiotic sensitivity from those isolated from the patients with other pathological processes.

Medicine (Baltimore), 1979 Mar, 58(2), 171 - 81
Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP): a local disease with systemic manifestations . Report of 23 patients and review of the literature; Goodman M et al.; The clinical, pathological and radiographic findings of 135 cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis have been reviewed . It is a form of renal suppuration and obstruction most commonly seen in middle aged women although all ages and both sexes may be affected . There is no race predilection . Gram-negative organisms are usually present and bilateral involvement has not been reported . The most common offending organism is Proteus mirabilis . Hepatic dysfunction is seen and appears to normalize with removal of the XGP process . Preoperative angiography may increase the accuracy of differentiating this disorder from hypernephroma and may aid the surgeon in planning his approach to kidney resection depending upon the staging of XGP . Chronic renal failure is not usually a feature of XGP and nephrectomy is curative without any incidence of recurrence.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 25(3), 312 - 20
{Properties of an hydrogen peroxide resistant Proteus mirabilis mutant}; Sauret G et al.; A peroxide-resistant mutant (PR) was isolated from Proteus mirabilis using the hydrogen peroxide mutagenic property . Under the same conditions, resistance of mutant PR bacteria to H2O2 was 50 to 100 times greater than that of the wild type . The total amount of catalase produced by P . mirabilis PR was on the average 10 times greater than that of the wild type . When PR bacteria were subjected to high doses of H2O2 (150mM), the determination of catalasic activity in vivo increased; paradoxically, there was a net decrease in the activity of the solubilized catalase after the breakdown of the cells . The hypothesis of an enzyme transfer from the inside towards the periphery of the cells is discussed . The behavior of a membrane enzyme (L-phenylalanine oxidase) of the PR mutant shows that H2O2 may cause lesions way up to the internal membrane of bacteria.

Can J Microbiol, 1979 Mar, 25(3), 302 - 11
{Regulation of catalase synthesis in Proteus mirabilis}; Jouve H et al.; During the log-phase growth of Proteus mirabilis the specific activity of catalase decreases, while at the beginning of or during the stationary phase an increase takes place which is abolished by inhibitors of nucleic acid or protein synthesis . Glucose in the culture medium has no appreciable effect on the level of enzyme synthesis nor does the passage of bacteria to anaerobiosis bring any noticeable change . Successive additions of hydrogen peroxide up to weak final concentrations (0.2--0.5 mM) stimulate catalase synthesis . Determination of the enzyme in vivo reveals but a weak proportion of the total catalase which can only be titrated after the breakdown of cells . The titrable enzyme in vivo represents, as an order of magnitude, the activity found associated with the cell wall, in an easily released form after the mechanical separation of the inner and outer membranes . Thus, bacteria can act upon exogenous peroxide only through a peripheral catalase while they possess in a masked form an important reserve of cytoplasmic enzyme.

J Infect Dis, 1979 Mar, 139(3), 329 - 32
Prevention of colonization of the urinary tract of mice with Escherichia coli by blocking of bacterial adherence with methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside; Aronson M et al.; Methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside (alpha MM), a competitor inhibitor of the binding of mannose by Escherichia coli, was tested for its ability to prevent infection of the urinary tract of mice with infective strains of the organisms . Injection of the bacteria in the presence of the drug resulted in a considerable reduction in the number of bacteriuric mice . In this system alpha MM was inactive against Proteus mirabilis in accordance with its inability to inhibit the adherence of this organism to epithelial cells in vitro, and methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside proved inactive against both E . coli and P . mirabilis.

Scand J Work Environ Health, 1979 Mar, 5(1), 35 - 41
Humidifier-associated extrinsic allergic alveolitis; van Assendelft A et al.; Three cases of allergic alveolitis due to indoor humdification systems are described . Thermoactinomyces vulgaris precipitins were detected in the serum of a 37-year-old female patient who had typical febrile attacks during exposure to cool-mist from a home humidifier . When the cause was detected and eliminated, the symptoms and signs disappeared and the woman's gas transfer factor improved from 56% to normal within six months . In a printing office a 60-year-old woman had had febrile attacks with cough for more than a year . The patient herself associated the respiratory disease with a cool-mist humidifier sometimes used at work . The water reservoir was heavily contaminated with amoebas (Amoeba proteus), which might have been the causative organisms in this case . Aspergillus fumigatus precipitins were found in the serum of a 53-year-old female printer with the clinical picture of occupational allergic alveolitis . The same organism was detected in the ambient air of the printing office.

JAMA, 1979 Feb 2, 241(5), 487 - 8
Bacteriology of chronic otitis media; Brook I et al.; Tympanocentesis was performed in 50 patients with chronic otitis media; pus was cultured aerobically and anaerobically . Only aerobes were isolated from 21 patients (42%), three patients had only anaerobes (Peptococcus sp), and 25 patients (50%) had both aerobes and anaerobes . Only one specimen had no growth . There were 68 aerobic isolates . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered in 36 patients (72%); other aerobes commonly recovered included Proteus sp and Staphylococcus aureus . There were 48 anaerobes isolated . Anaerobic Gram-positive cocci were isolated in 24 instances (21 Peptococcus sp and three Peptostreptococcus sp) . Sixteen Bacteroides sp were recovered, including seven B fragilis group and six B melaninogenicus.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Feb, 110(2), 263 - 73
Properties of R plasmid R772 and the corresponding pilus-specific phage PR772; Coetzee JN et al.; R plasmid R772 was isolated from a strain of Proteus mirabilis and is a self-transmissible P-1 incompatibility group plasmid having a molecular weight of about 27 x 10(6) . It renders bacterial hosts resistant to kanamycin . Phage PR772 was isolated as a phage dependent on the presence of R772 in bacterial hosts . It is hexagonal-shaped with a diameter of 53 nm, has a thick inner membrane and no tail . Vaguely defined appendages are sometimes apparent at some vertices and the phage possesses double-stranded DNA . The DNA has a guanine plus cytosine molar content of 48% . The phage is sensitive to chloroform and has a buoyant density of 1.26 g cm(-3) . These observations suggested that the inner membrane of the phage could contain lipid . Phage PR772 differs in morphology from the double-stranded DNA plasmid-specific phages PR4 and PRR1 which adsorb to tips and sides, respectively, of sex pili coded for by P-1 incompatibility group plasmids . Phage PR772 formed clear plaques which varied in diameter . Serologically, phages PR772 and PR4 are possibly related though very distantly, but the two phages have identical host ranges . Phage PR772 adsorbed by one of its apices to tips of sex pili coded for by plasmid R772 in Escherichia coli . It also formed plaques on Salmonella typhimurium Proteus morganii and Providence strains harbouring this plasmid as well as strains of E . coli carrying plasmids of incompatibility groups N or W . The phage produced areas of partial clearing on lawns of P . mirabilis PM5006 harbouring plasmid R772, the P-1 incompatibility group plasmid RP4, the W group plasmid RSa or the N group plasmid N3, and on lawns of Providence strain P29 carrying plasmid RP4.

Infect Immun, 1979 Feb, 23(2), 398 - 402
Defective cellular immunity to gram-negative bacteria in cystic fibrosis patients; Sorensen RU et al.; In vitro lymphocyte responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been found to be impaired in cystic fibrosis patients with advanced clinical disease . The responses to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Proteus mirabilis were studied in a similar group of cystic fibrosis patients and normal individuals . Cystic fibrosis patients found to be unresponsive to pseudomonas were also unresponsive to klebsiella, serratia, and proteus . Responsiveness to Staphylococcus aureus was not impaired in cystic fibrosis patients . We postulate that in vitro lymphocyte responses to several gram-negative bacteria require the function of a lymphocyte subpopulation which may be impaired in some cystic fibrosis patients.

N Z Med J, 1979 Jan 24, 89(628), 54 - 6
Dysuria in general practice; Rasanathan M; An analysis of 98 clinical consultations for dysuria in an urban general practice revealed that only 60 percent of patients had proven urinary tract infections . Two percent had gonorrhoea and the rest had an urethral syndrome . Most of the urinary tract infections were caused by Escherichia coli and Streptococcus epidermidis . Proteus mirabilis was the next commonest infecting organism . Among the commonly used urinary antimicrobials, nitrofurantoin was found to be the cheapest and most effective agent . The aetiology of the urethral syndrome was obscure and apart from a small minority of patients who had thrush (16 percent) no obvious cause could be found.

Med Klin, 1979 Jan 12, 74(2), 45 - 50
{Experiences with the uripret-system in pediatric practice (author's transl)}; Scharf J et al.; The present study reports on the application of the Uripret-System for identification and susceptibility testing of microbial agents causing urinary tract infections carried out in a pediatric outpatient clinic . The findings were compared with those determined with the conventional methods in an institute of medical microbiology . For the detected mono- and mixed-cultures, in 85% of the cases a concurrent result of both methods was found . Only in one case a different microbial agent genus was determined with Uripret from that found in the institute . The quota of concurrence of the antibiograms for the mono-cultures was highest at 100% for gentamicin and lowest at 85.07% for tetracycline . With the mixed-cultures the concurrence ranged between 81.25% for tetracycline and 96.88% for sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim . With proteus in mono- and mixed-culture the antibiograms showed concurrence to a lesser degree compared to the other microbial agent geni . The application of the Uripret-System in pediatric practice can be recommended on the basis of the present results.

J Cell Physiol, 1979 Jan, 98(1), 49 - 57
Growth and electron microscopic studies on an experimentally established bacterial endosymbiosis in amoebae; Ahn TI et al.; A strain of nonsymbiotic A . proteus was infected with endosymbiotic bacteria isolated from another strain of amoeba which had become dependent on the symbionts after a few years of spontaneously established symbiosis . In the newly infected amoebae, the bacteria avoided digestion and multiplied at a faster rate than the hosts, reaching the maximum carrying number (about 42,000 per amoeba) in fewer than ten cell generations of the hosts . The experimentally infected amoebae were also examined under the electron microscope, and the development of bacteria-containing vesicles was followed . The results show that the infective bacteria that were initially harmful to host amoebae have become harmless and that they have changed in their mode of multiplication during the course of establishing a stable symbiosis with their hosts.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1979, 29(12a), 1979 - 81
Treatment with azlocillin in complicated urinary tract infections; Alfthan O et al.; 20 patients, aged 18-84 years, with complicated urinary tract infections admitted to hospital were treated with 6-{(R)-2-(2-oxo-imidazolidine-1-carboxamido)-2-phenyl-acetamido}-penicillanic acid sodium salt (azlocillin, Securopen) for 5 to 10 days . Isolated bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14), Proteus mirabilis (3), Escherichia coli (2) and Klebsiella spp . (1) . Serum concentrations and urine recovery were measured on the fifth day of treatment . The mean serum half-life was 1.85 h and the mean value of the urine recovery 47% of the single dose . Tissue concentrations were analyzed in one patient . The samples were taken 3 h after the infusion . The azlocillin concentration of the renal cortex, 60 microgram/g, was six times higher than the corresponding serum concentration . On the 5th day of treatment the urine was sterile in 80% of the patients . In 12 patients (60%) the urine was still sterile when controlled 2-6 months later . Three patients were treated twice and bacteriologically cured after each period . No sign of sensitization was seen . Side-effects were not reported.

Padiatr Padol, 1979, 14(4), 429 - 40
{Pediatric pharmacology of azlocilin (author's transl)}; Sitka U et al.; Pharmacokinetic investigations of acylureido-penicillins azlocillin in newborns, infants and school shildren showed age dependend results . The differences were especially evident in a prolongation of the serum half-life to 2,56 hours in newborns compared to 0.94 hours in school children . On the basis of our pharmacokinetic results and of the dosages resulting from the data the antibiotic was used clinically in twenty eight patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and one patient with a Proteus mirabilis infection . The results were much better in infections of the urinary tract than in infections of the respiratory tract . This might be due to an observe bacterial presistence in spite of highly effective levels of azlocillin in bronchial secretion . The tolerance to the antibiotic was good.

Microbios, 1979, 24(97-98), 141 - 50
Chlorhexidine resistance and the lipids of Providencia stuartii; Thomas B et al.; The lipid composition of Providencia stuartii has been shown to resemble closely that of Proteus mirabilis . The ability of some Pv, stuartii strains to survive exposure to high concentrations of the antiseptic chlorhexidine could not be explained in terms of differences in lipid content between sensitive and resistant strains . In addition, resistance could not be attributed to either reduced adsorption of the antiseptic or to its gross enzymic degradation.

Urol Int, 1979, 34(5), 356 - 62
Experimental embolization in kidneys: tissue concentration of antibiotics; Bischoff W et al.; In 7 dogs renal arterial embolization was performed using the Seldinger technique and an inflatable Swan Ganz balloon catheter . Methyl methacrylate and butyl-2-cyanoacrylate were injected . 6 months later, the tissue concentration of Cefazolin was measured in the embolized and contralateral kidneys and in serum 2 h after a short infusion of 1 h Cefazolin . The concentrations in serum and homogenized kidney tissue were determined by means of the agar gel diffusion method . Angiography showed no vessels in the embolized kidneys . Histologically there was total atrophy of the tissue, especially of the tubular system . The mean tissue level of Cefazolin in the embolized kidney was 70% of serum . The tissue concentration was always above 10 micrograms/g . This concentration is high enough to inhibit nearly all strains of E . coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Shigella and a large part of Proteus mirabilis, whereas nearly all gram-positive bacteria are inhibited at a lower concentration . The value and necessity of antibiotic therapy in embolized kidney cancer is discussed.

Chir Pediatr, 1979, 20(3), 165 - 71
{Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in the infant . A report on 4 cases (author's transl)}; Juskiewenski S et al.; Four cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in children are reported . In three cases, the disease took a diffuse form and in the fourth it was of a localised form . Around these cases, the authors review 39 case histories published between 1963 and 1978 and which involve only children . An over-all assessment of the 43 cases thus gathered together allows the general picture of xanthogranulomatous pyelonepn 9 cases, it was of the localised type; and in 4 cases, the pyelonephritis only involved one or another pyelon in patients with re-duplication . The diffuse type is more common in boys and the localised type in girls . Twenty-nine cases were found in children of less than five years . In 23 cases, there was a proteus infection . The etio-pathogenesis of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis remains obscure . The main clinical and therapeutic problems are dealt with.

Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg, 1979, 13(1), 85 - 7
A ten-year retrospective study of sepsis in severely burned patients treated with or without silver sulfadiazinate; Micheels J et al.; Three groups of extensive burn patients of the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) have been compared: Group I: twenty patients, who were treated locally without silver sulfadiazinate (1968-1970); Group II: the twenty first patients topically treated with silver sulfadiazinate (1970-1972); Group III: twenty similarly treated patients, with silver sulfadiazinate, six years later (1976-1977) . The groups are statistically comparable . All bacteriological samples were computerized; the chi-square method was used for statistical analysis of the data . The main conclusions are: (A) Silver sulfadiazinate treatment reduced Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus sepsis . No change in Coliform bacilli sepsis was observed . After six years, a rise in Klebsiella sepsis and Candida sepsis was noted . (B) A quantitative estimate of infections in each group was made by measuring the percentage of positive samples, taking into account the five above-mentioned strains . In the beginning, silver sulfadiazinate reduced quantitative sepsis, but this benefit decreased after six years; the same evolution was demonstrated for positive blood bacteriology; severe septicaemia showed a parallel pattern.

Scand J Urol Nephrol, 1979, 13(1), 17 - 22
Prostatitis in the rat; Muntzing J et al.; A high incidence of spontaneous, non-acute, age-dependent prostatitis was observed in the lateral prostate of Copenhagen rats and Wistar rats . The lumen of infected acini was filled with polymorphonuclear leucocytes, shed epithelial cells and cell residues . Epithelial cells lining such acini showed degenerative changes . Lymphocytes and macrophages were seen in the stroma . A histochemically observed increase in acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase activity in affected epithelial cells may indicate an increased lysosomal activity . Some bacteriological cultures of infected lateral prostates were positive for Proteus vulgaris and diphtheroids . It is suggested that this spontaneous rat prostatitis may be a useful model for the study of the pathogenesis and treatment of human non-acute prostatitis.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Jan-Feb, 1(1), 73 - 89
Cefoxitin and cephamycins: microbiological studies; Stapley EO et al.; The cephamycins are a family of beta-lactam antibiotics that are produced by actinomycetes and are structurally similar to the cephalosporins . They are characterized by the presence of a 7-alpha-methoxyl group, which confers unusually high resistance to beta-lactamases . Cefoxitin, the first semisynthetic cephamycin, is resistant to almost all beta-lactamases . Cefoxitin retains the 3-carbamoyl group of cephamycin C and thus has excellent metabolic stability . Cefoxitin is bactericidal and almost devoid of any inoculum effect . Active against many cephalothin-resistant gram-negative bacteria, cefoxitin demonstrates a very broad spectrum that includes indole-positive Proteus and many strains of Serratia . In contrast to that of the cephalosporins, cefoxitin's spectrum of activity against anaerobic pathogens includes Bacteroides fragilis . The therapeutic effectiveness of cefoxitin in experimental infections in mice confirms the excellent characteristics of this semisynthetic cephamycin and indicates that it should be a very valuable agent for treatment of bacterial infections.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Jan-Feb, 1(1), 175 - 82
Infections due to endemic, multiply resistant gram-negative rods: sensitivity to and therapy with cefoxitin; Alford RH; A nosocomial outbreak of infections due to bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics evolved into an endemic prevalence of several antibiotic-resistant gram-negative rods . The resistance of these bacteria to available beta-lactam antibiotics, a variety of broad-spectrum agents, and available aminoglycosides other than amikacin led to an evaluation of cefoxitin, a beta-lactamase-resistant cephamycin . Most multiply resistant isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Proteus mirabilis were sensitive to cefoxitin in vitro . Cefoxitin therapy of 11 severe nosocomial infections caused by multiply resistant K . pneumoniae resulted in clinical and bacteriologic cure in seven patients.

Infection, 1979, 7 Suppl 6, 536 - 9
{The antibacterial efficacy of cefaclor against bacteria resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole (author's transl)}; Machka K; The antibacterial activity of the new oral cephalosporin cefaclor was investigated using 623 freshly isolated bacterial strains . A high degree of efficacy of cefaclor was noticed against Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella . Nearly all strains which were sensitive to ampicillin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole were also inhibited by cefaclor . Some of the strains resistant to the three above-mentioned antibiotics were also sensitive to cefaclor as follows: all of ten P . mirabilis strains resistant to co-trimoxazole, 54% of the E . coli strains resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and co-trimoxazole, and 18% of the Klebsiella strains resistant to tetracycline and co-trimoxazole.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1979, 29(2a), 417 - 8
Antibiotic activity of cefazedone in experimental pyelonephritis; Quante T et al.; The new cephalosporin derivative (6R,7R)-7-(2-{3,5-dichloro-4-oxo-1(4H)-pyridyl}-acetamido)-3-({(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-thio}methyl)-8-oxo-5-thia-1-azabicyclo{4,2,0}oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid (cefazedone, Refosporen) has been tested for antibacterial activity in the infection and therapy model of acute E . coli pyelonephritis in rats . The reference substance was cephalothin . The tests showed a superiority of cefazedone which, however, could not be clearly confirmed by the significance test . Owing to its favourable pharmacokinetics in combination with good antibacterial activity, cefazedone can be added to the cephalosporins considered for use in clinical practice, especially so as the statistics for 1977 show that the causative agents of pyelonephritis which these drugs can often combat effectively are present in the majority of the urine strains: E . coli accounted for 45%, enterococci for 18%, and Proteus for 15% out of a total number of 6100 urine strains.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1979, 29(2a), 394 - 6
Bactericidal activity of cefazedone; Dingeldein E; Distinct bactericidal activity of (6R,7R)-7-(2-{3,5-dichloro-4-oxo-1(4H)-pyridyl}-acetamido)-3-({(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-thio}methyl)-8-oxo-5-thia-1-aza-bicyclo{4,2,0}oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid (cefazedone, Refosporen) could be demonstrated in 2 Staphylococcus aureus and 3 Escherichia coli strains . The effect was less in 1 strain of Proteus mirabilis . Whereas the activity in serum and bile was higher than in nutrient broth, the bactericidal activity in urine was less pronounced . The combination of cefazedone and gentamicin proved to be bactericidal in low concentrations.

Chemotherapy, 1979, 25(5), 303 - 7
Cyclacillin: in vitro activity against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria; Thadepalli H et al.; Cyclacillin at 50 microgram/ml inhibited streptococci (100%), shigella (72%), and Bacteroides (B) fragilis ss fragilis (84%) . At 100 microgram/ml it inhibited proteus (75%), B . fragilis (86%), and E . coli (50%) . Cyclacillin was more effective than ampicillin against beta-lactamase-producing H . influenzae . The activity of cyclacillin was found to be more enhanced when tested in nutrient agar and Mueller-Hinton agar than in brain heart infusion agar.

Probl Khig, 1979, 4, 165 - 74
{Proteeae enzymes that participate in the amino acid metabolism of food products}; Enikova R; Biosynthesis of enzymes, catalyzing amino acid conversion in food products, and deposition of end products of protein metabolism is a current problem for hygiene-indicatory microorganisms . Results are reported of a study of decarboxylase and aminotransferase activities of a large number of Proteus strains . It was found that aminotransferases are produced by all members of this group of microorganisms, despite the specific differences in their quantitative characteristics . The composition of the different protein-containing food substrata exerts emphatic influence on the induction of these enzymes . The results of study of decarboxylase activity also point to some specific differences, applicable in the differential diagnosis . The inferences summarize the importance of the whole Proteus group as hygiene-indicatory microorganisms, producing enzymes of essential importance for the quality and biologic value of food products.

Chemotherapy, 1979, 25(2), 96 - 105
In vitro sensitivity of Proteus organisms to gentamicin and sisomicin; Legakis NJ et al.; The antibacterial activity of gentamicin and sisomicin was studied in 148 recent clinical isolates of Proteus obtained from patients hospitalized in Athens . Both gentamicin and sisomicin were found to be active with sisomicin generally being the more active of the two; P . mirabilis strains were less susceptible than the indole-positive strains, but P . mirabilis organisms isolated from the respiratory tract were more sensitive to sisomicin than those isolated from the urine . Susceptibility testing with the two aminoglycoside antibiotics was affected by inoculum size and by the test broth used . Sisomicin sensitivity testing with the disc-agar diffusion method and broth dilution method was reliable for the indole-positive strains of Proteus but did not separate all sensitive from resistant strains of P . mirabilis . An in vitro synergism was demonstrated between sisomicin and the semisynthetic penicillin, ticarcillin.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1979, 19(1), 3 - 8
{F' transfer from Escherichia coli to Proteus mirabilis}; Fleischhacker M et al.; The task of this work was the establishment of an effective transfer system for F'-plasmids from Escherichia coli to Proteus mirabilis . It is shown that cells of PG VI act as recipients in crosses with E . coli F' strains but with a low transfer rate of the plasmid . The presumption that a restriction -- modification system in P . mirabilis was the only reason for the low transfer could not be confirmed . An indirect selection method was developed to isolate P . mirabilis cells which are better recipients . Conjugation experiments showed that the isolated mutants had a better recipient capacity (increase of about 100) . This is true not only for the transfer of a F'-plasmid but also for a R-plasmid . The stability of these plasmids in the mutant cells, however, was much lower than in the wild type.

J Gen Microbiol, 1979 Jan, 110(1), 171 - 6
Genetic circularity of the Proteus mirabilis linkage map; Coetzee JN; The T incompatibility group plasmid R394 can mobilize the chromosome of Proteus mirabilis strain PM5006 . It transferred relatively large segments, corresponding to at least 20 min on the D plasmid chromosomal map of the organism . The frequency of recombination for a large number of selected markers was nearly constant at 5 X 10(-6) per donor cell and it is concluded that mobilization takes place from a number of chromosomal sites . All recombinants were R+ and displayed all properties of the plasmid . By analysing crosses for co-inheritance frequencies of unselected markers, a number of chromosomal loci were assembled in linear array . Linkage between markers at the ends of this linkage group was established to markers at the respective termini of the existing D plasmid linkage group . This established a composite circular linkage map of genes of the P . mirabilis strain PM5006 chromosome.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1979 Jan, 32(1), 18 - 24
{Basic and clinical examinations of CS-1170 in pediatrics (author's transl)}; Nanri S et al.; 1 . CS-1170 was administered for the purpose of prophylaxis during cardiac catheterization in patients with heart disease, and its blood levels were measured . 2 . The mean blood level (Moni-Trol I standard) after one intravenous shot of 20 mg/kg was 53.6 mcg/ml in catheterized children aged below 6 and 66.9 mcg/ml in catheterized children aged above 10 at 30 minutes, and 1.95 mcg/ml and 5.2 mcg/ml respectively at 6 hours . 3 . The mean half life of the blood level was 1.09 hours in catheterized children aged below 6, 1.37 hours in catheterized children aged above 10, and 0.71 hours in infections children . 4 . The urinary excretion seemed satisfactorily high although there was a great variation . 5 . The clinical efficacy was 88.9% . 6 . The bacteriological efficacy was 100% for E . coli, Klebsiella, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus and was 0% for Staphylococcus epidermidis . 7 . Although GOT and GPT were elevated in one case as a side effect, they rapidly returned to normal after discontinuation of administration.

Scand J Urol Nephrol, 1979, 13(1), 71 - 7
Conduit urinary diversion and urinary-tract infection . II . Raised serum antibody titers against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis in relation to bacteriologic findings; Bergman B et al.; Elevated serum antibody titers against Escherichia coli and/or Proteus mirabilis were found in 35% of 89 patients with a conduit urinary diversion . Statistical analysis showed significant correlation between the titers and growth of E . coli or P . mirabilis in conduit urine . But 17 (24%) of 72 patients without E . coli in urine cultures had raised E . coli antibody titer . Only 3 (4%) of 68 patients without growth of P . mirabilis had raised P . mirabilis antibody titer . When the post-diversion observation period was more than five years, the frequency of antibody titer elevation was greater than in patients with shorter post-diversion follow-up . The volume of residual urine in the conduit showed statistically significant correlation with presence of bacteriuria and with the antibody titer level against P . mirabilis . Patients with high antibody titers tended to have high readings of serum creatinine . Antibiotic therapy reduced elevated E . coli and P . mirabilis antibody titers . Titration of antibodies to E . coli and P . mirabilis is recommended in the follow-up care of patients with conduit urinary diversion.

Scand J Urol Nephrol, 1979, 13(1), 65 - 70
Conduiturinary diversion and urinary-tract infection . I . Serum antibody titers against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis in relation to urographic findings; Bergman B et al.; The serum antibody titers against Escherichia coli and/or Proteus mirabilis were elevated in 26 of 80 patients (33%) with a conduit urinary diversion . Urographic findings were abnormal in 44 of these 80 patients (55%) . Urography was normal in 59% of the patients with normal antibody titers, but in only 15% of those with elevated titers . Raised antibody levels against E . coli O antigen (greater than 256 before and/or greater than 32 after mercaptoethanol treatment of serum) were associated with wide upper urinary tract or calculi more often than were normal E . coli antibody titers . Raised titers against P . mirabilis (greater than 256 before and/or greater than 32 after mercaptoethanol treatment of serum) were associated with scarring of the renal parenchyma more frequently than were normal titers . A statistically significant association was found between "small" kidney area and raised serum antibody titers against E . coli or P . mirabilis . The frequency of "small" kidney increased with the time lapse after urinary diversion . At 3 to 11 months postoperatively it was 29%, but among the patients with urinary diversion for more than five years the corresponding frequency was 82% . When at least one kidney was "small", the serum creatinine was higher than when both kidneys were of normal size . Patients with raised antibody titers tended also to have high serum creatinine (greater than or equal to 124 mumol/l) more often than those with normal titers (23 vs . 10%) . These observations imply a connection between elevation of the antibody titers and destruction of the renal parenchyma in patients with conduit urinary diversion . They illustrate the value of antibody titration in the follow-up of patients with urinary diversion.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jan, 137(1), 474 - 9
Penicillin-binding proteins in Proteus species; Ohya S et al.; Penicillin-binding proteins in three species of Proteus, Proteus mirabilis, P . morganii, and P . rettgeri, were investigated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide slab gel electrophoresis . Penicillin-binding proteins in these Proteus species were compared with those in Escherichia coli K-12 . An approximate correlation between penicillin-binding proteins in E . coli and those in Proteus species was shown by several criteria: electrophoretic mobilities; affinities of several beta-lactam antibiotics which show characteristic patterns of binding to penicillin-binding proteins in E . coli; relation between affinities of antibiotics to the proteins and effects on morphological changes in Proteus species; location of beta-lactamase activity among penicillin-binding proteins; and thermostability . The electrophoretic mobilities and several other characteristics of penicillin-binding proteins among the Proteus species examined were found to be similar from species to species and differed only slightly from those of E . coli.

J Bacteriol, 1979 Jan, 137(1), 161 - 8
Regulation of phenylalanine oxidase synthesis in Proteus mirabilis; Laboure AM et al.; Cells of Proteus mirabilis could oxidize L-phenylalanine to phenylpyruvate only when grown in the presence of a number of amino acids, particularly, L-alanine, L-asparagine, L-glutamate, and L-glutamine . Production of phenylalanine oxidase was slowly lost upon growth in a minimal medium containing ammonium ions as a nitrogen source but was reversed by the addition of casein hydrolysate . Oxidase activity as well as a phenylalanine-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCIP) reductase activity increased in P . mirabilis only during cell multiplication . Both rifampin and nalidixic acid caused inhibition of oxidase synthesis . A phenylalanine-active transport was found to be operative when bacteria were grown in the absence of added amino acids . After anaerobic growth, cells of P . mirabilis had lost their ability to carry the phenylalanine oxidase reaction when assayed in the presence of air, and nitrate could not be used as an electron acceptor for the oxidation of phenylalanine . However, some phenylalanine-dichlorophenolindophenol reductase activity was still present in anaerobic bacteria at the early stage of cell multiplication.

Rev Infect Dis, 1979 Jan-Feb, 1(1), 206 - 9
Clinical evaluation of cefoxitin in treatment of infections in 47 orthopedic patients; Schurman DJ et al.; Cefoxitin was administered to 47 patients on an orthopedic service; 1 or 2 g of the drug was given intravenously every 4-8 hr . Thirty-one evaluated patients with acute or chronic infections of bone, joint, or muscle and tendon had an overall rate of cure of 84% . Ten patients with spinal cord injuries who had urinary tract infections due to Serratia or indole-positive Proteus were treated, and all 10 were cured . Significant adverse effects of cefoxitin included one case of fever due to the drug and three cases of superinfection . Cefoxitin therapy was successful in a variety of difficult-to-treat infections, including some of polymicrobial etiology.

Cell Biol Int Rep, 1979 Jan, 3(1), 17 - 23
Ca2+-binding modulator protein in protozoa and myxomycete; Kuznicki J et al.; Ca2+-binding protein with the properties of brain modulator protein of 3,5-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase was identified in Physarum polycephalum plasmodia and in Euglena gracilis and Amoeba proteus cells by urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and activation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and of myosin light chain kinase.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1979, 27(1-2), 105 - 11
Ultrastructural changes in rat liver cells induced by Proteus mirabilis endotoxin; Lipinska-Piotrowska I; Changes in individual organella of rat hepatocytes developing under the effect of Proteus mirabilis endotoxin (Pme) were observed under electron microscope . The effect of drugs which diminish liver cell injury by Pme (polymyxin, cholestyramine and hydrocortisone) on the changes was studied.

Vet Med Nauki, 1979, 16(8), 50 - 7
{Differentiation of nonspecific serological reactions in brucellosis}; Khristoforov L; Differentiation of non-specific agglutination was performed by the complement binding reaction, Coombs' reaction, Hajdu reaction, the surface fixation and agglutination reaction and the reaction of complement binding with heterologic antigens . For that purpose the following were used: 1) Serums--antiglobulin against cattle globulin, 5720 serum of various animals which had manifested non-specific agglutination with brucella antigen and brucella serums of experimentally infected sheep, of naturally infected swine and of cattle--received from abroad . 2) Antigens--of Br . abortus 99, of bacteria heterologic to brucellae: Proteus vulgaris, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus albus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, S . abortus ovis, for O and OH agglutination, water extraction antigens--for complement binding and concentrated suspensions of all bacteria used in brucellose and non-brucellose serum absorption . Highest number of non-specific reactions were observed in cattle serums and lowest--in goat serums . Titers with heterologic antigens were higher than these with brucella antigens . Often the serum having non-specific agglutiantion reacted not only with one, but with more heterologic antigens . Non-specific complement binding reactions were not produced in complete antibodies with the brucella antigen . Heterologic brucella antigens were exhausted more fully than heterologic complement binding antibodies . In their effectiveness (differentiation of non-specific agglutination with brucella antigen in cattle serum) the serological reactions studied rank as follows: complement binding reaction, slow agglutination with serums absorbed by heterologic antigens, surface fixation reaction, Coombs' reaction, and Hadju agglutination.

J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1979, 23(3), 256 - 60
Magnetic susceptibility of microorganisms; Chervinets VM et al.; Total magnetic susceptibility of 13 species and varieties of bacteria was investigated using the relative method of Guy . It has been established that the index of magnetic susceptibility is a constant characteristic of bacteria . Total magnetic susceptibility ranged from --0.3295.10(-6) in Escherichia P678 to --0.4965.10(-6) in Proteus . It has also been established that magnetic susceptibility changes during long-term passages of bacteria in fluctuating +/- 0.1 Oe) magnetic field . This is suggestive of a low threshold of their magnetic susceptibility and permits a rough assessment of the importance of fluctuations of the geomagnetic field for the viability of microbes.

Chemotherapy, 1979, 25(5), 282 - 5
In vitro efficacy of Bay k 4999, a new ureido-penicillin, in combination with aminoglycosides against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus strains; Daschner FD et al.; The in vitro effects of Bay k 4999 in combination with gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin sisomicin and netilmicin in bacteriostatic (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations were compared using the checkerboard dilution technique against 20 different strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and indole-positive-negative Proteus species . On average 63% of Bay k 4999-aminoglycoside (AG) combinations inhibited Pseudomonas, Proteus and Klebsiella strains additively and/or synergistically in bacteriostatic as well as in bactericidal concentrations as compared to only 14% additive or synergistic activity on E . coli . 35% of the combinations tested proved to be synergistic in K . pneumoniae, 20% in Proteus, 13% in Pseudomonas, but only 5% in E . coli . No significant differences between various Bay k 4999-AG combination effects could be demonstrated.

Folia Biol (Praha), 1979, 25(1), 70 - 5
Effect of active and passive antibacterial immunization on skin allograft survival in rabbits; Liska M et al.; The effect of active and passive antibacterial immunization on transplantation immunity was investigated in rabbits . Immunization with dead bacterial vaccines prepared from E . coli, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudmonas aeruginosa had no effect on skin allograft survival, whereas immunization with vaccines prepared from streptococcal and staphylococcal strains shortened allograft survival . Similar results were obtained with specific antisera against individual microbial species . Skin allografts survived in rabbits treated with antisera against E . coli, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the same manner as in untreated controls, whereas allograft survival was shortened with antisera against streptococci or staphylococci . The possible mechanism of the stimulatory effect of Gram-positive cocci on transplantation immunity is discussed and the possibilities of using active and passive antibacterial immunication in clinical transplantation are considered.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979, 245(3), 317 - 23
{The distribution of minimal inhibitory concentrations of recently introduced cephalosporins in multiresistant strains of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella spec . as revealed by zone sizes of a standardized agar diffusion test (author's transl)}; Schroter G et al.; Strains of a species were divided into two groups according to the number of resistances (less than or equal to 4, greater than or equal to 5) using 10 standard chemotherapeutics regularly examined, the new cephalosporins not being among them . These groups of less than or equal to 4- and greater than or equal to 5-fold resistant strains were compared for each cephalosporin tested (Fig . 1) . The most different distributions of zone diameters (of both groups) were seen in Cephalothin, whereas in Cefoxitin and - with little limitations - also in Cefuroxime in the main these distributions did not differ; they covered the same field . The distributions of Cefaclor and Cefamandole took an intermediate position . With respect to the two groups similar observations were made for E . coli, proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella spec . The differences between the two groups were most marked in Klebsiella strains . E . coli exhibited the smallest differences (Fig 1) . On the assumption that the distribution of zone diameters reflect that of MIC's it can be concluded that nearly all of the Cefaclor- and Cefamandole-sensitive multiresistant strains have more elevated MIC's than those with only less than or equal to 4 resistances . On the other hand it must not be expected that MIC'S OF Cefoxitin and Cefuroxim are rising in multiresistant strains . It could be demonstrated that the different qualities of the recently introduced cephalosporins revealed in multiresistant strains can be explained by different dependences on mechanisms of Cephalothin-resistance (Fig . 2) . This resistance is much more frequent in greater than or equal to 5-fold resistant strains . Recommendations for clinical use derived from these results are discussed.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1979, 245(3), 312 - 6
{Comparison of four recently introduced cephalosporins with respect to probability of resistance in multiresistant strains of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella spec . (author's transl)}; Loch R et al.; Strains with the same number of resistances were arranged in so-called resistance classes . Nine classes of resistance (0 to greater to or equal to 8) were formed by means of ten standard chemotherapeutics; the four new cephalosporins were excluded . For every resistance class frequency of cephalosporinresistance was described as coefficient ranging from 0 to 1 (Fig . 1) . In Cephalothin the coefficients were markedly rising only in 6 (7)-fold resistant strains of the species examined . Similar but somewhat reduced rising of coefficients was also observed in Cefaclor and Cefamandole . In Cefaclor this is particularly evident for E . coli, whereas in Cefamandole, it concerns Klebsiella spec . In the other species rising of coefficients of Cefaclor and Cefamandole are less marked . The probability of restance in multiresistant strains are therefore distinguished more clearly from that of Cephalothin . Cefuroxime and Cefoxitin take a special position because the probability of resistance does not rise in multiresistant strains . The coefficients of Cefoxitin do not show any recognizable dependance on multiresistance . For clinical purpose the following conclusions can be derived: Because of their effectiveness in multiresistant strains Cefoxitin and Cefuroxime are suitable for empiric use in intensive care units where many multiresistant Klebsiella-strains are to be expected . Cefamandole on the other hand is characterized by a rising probability of resistance in multiresistant strains . Therefore it should only be given after antibiotic testing . Cefaclor, a new oral cephalosporin, will be introduced specially for outpatients where multiresistant strains are rarely found.

Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1979, 19(3), 181 - 5
{Photodynamic effect of quinacrine on bacteria}; Jacob HE; The acridine dye quinacrine (QA) was tested with regard to the photodynamic action on bacteria (Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli) . The absorption maximum of the yellow dye QA ist in contrary to the photodynamically active dyes methylene blue (MB) and thiopyronine (TP) situated in the short wave region of the visible spectrum . Using for illumination a common light source--they have in general a weak emission in the short wave region--relatively high concentrations of QA are necessary for photodynamic action, and the difference between photodynamic inactivation and toxic effect is small . Using that light source XBO 500 with nearly equal emission in the range from 400 to 700 nm, a distinct photodynamic action of QA results . Comparing the photodynamic action of QA with those of MB and TP, QA has a low photodynamic effect, and the kinetics of inactivation of bacteria with QA is completely different from those obtained with the dyes MB and TP.

Infection, 1979, 7(5), 247 - 51
Anaerobic isolates in chronic recurrent suppurative otitis media . Treatment with carbenicillin alone and in combination with gentamicin; Brook I; Tympanocentesis was performed in 32 pediatric patients with chronic recurrent suppurative otitis media . The aspirate was cultured aerobically and anaerobically . Aerobes were isolated from ten patients (31.2%); anaerobes from one patient; and both aerobes and anaerobes from 21 patients (65.6%) . There were 46 aerobic isolates . The aerobes commonly recovered were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24 isolates) Proteus sp . (5) and Staphylococcus aureus (3) . There were 32 anaerobes isolated including anaerobic gram-positive cocci (19 isolates) and Bacteroides sp., the latter of which included Bacteroides fragilis group and Bacteroides melaninogenicus (9) . The patients were treated by parenteral carbenicillin 300 to 400 mg per kg per day given in four dosages administered for a period of 12 to 21 days (average 17 days) . An aminoglycoside (gentamicin) was added in 15 patients . The clinical response was good in 17 patients and poor in 15 . There were no side effects or adverse reactions noted during therapy . The above findings demonstrate the polymicrobial etiology of chronic recurrent suppurative otitis media and suggest that treatment directed against the aerobic and anaerobic isolates is efficacious in more than half of the cases.

South Med J, 1978 Dec, 71(12), 1575 - 6
Skeletal muscle involvement in Rocky Mountain spotted fever; Krober MS; A case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in a 10-year-old boy accompanied by an unusually high degree of myalgia and muscle weakness was presented . On admission to the hospital, his creatine phosphokinase, SGOT, SGPT, and aldolase values were all abnormally high . Rash did not appear until the fourth hospital day . On the same day results of a proteus OX-19 titer of blood were reported as positive (titer 1:320) and intravenous therapy with chloramphenicol was started . The child's condition gradually improved and five months later he had no detectable muscle weakness.

Helv Chir Acta, 1978 Dec, 45(4-5), 475 - 81
{Antibiotic prophylaxis in intensive care}; Daschner F; Of 611 prospectively studied patients in a surgical intensive care unit, 177 developed hospital infections (29%): urinary tract infections (37.2%), pneumonia (22.5%), sepsis (19.7%), wound infections (9.6%), etc . The commonest pathogens were Pseud . aeruginosa, E . coli, Staph . aureus, enterococci, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis . In preventing and combating hospital infections in intensive care units, priority should be given not to antibiotics but to hygiene in the hospital . Systemic antibiotic prophylaxis prevents neither hospital-contracted pneumonia, sepsis nor urinary tract infections . There is an urgent need for controlled studies on the necessity and selection of locally active antibacterial and antimycotic substances to prevent germ ascension in vein and bladder catheters.

J Clin Microbiol, 1978 Dec, 8(6), 715 - 24
Typing methods for Proteus rettgeri: comparison of biotype, antibiograms, serotype, and bacteriocin production; Anderson RL et al.; Two hunderd five strains of Proteus rettgeri from epidemic and nonepidemic sources were differentiated by a new biotyping scheme, agglutination in O antisera, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and a new scheme based on bacteriocin production . The P . rettgeri were divided into 10 groups by their fermentation of lactose, sucrose, D-mannitol, and salicin . These groups were then subdivided into 19 biotypes by other biochemical reactions . Bacteriocin production was tested by the cross-streak method . Thirty-four bacteriocin-sensitive indicator strains were evaluated, and 16 were selected for the final scheme and used to type the 205 P . rettgeri, which were divided into 15 bacteriocin types . Serologically, 43% of the P . rettgeri were O42, 13% were untypable, 4% were O15, and 3% each were O33, O64, and O84 in addition to 31 remaining serotypes . Strains of P . rettgeri from known outbreaks contained fewer biotypes, O groups, and bacteriocin types and were more resistant to antimicrobial agents than endemic strains . Strains with common patterns with all four marker systems were frequently associated with outbreaks . A strong correlation between multiple antibiotic resistance and bacteriocin production was shown.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Dec, 31(12), 1262 - 71
A new cephalosporin . SCE-963: 7-{2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-acetamido}-3-{{{1-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1h-tetrazol-5-yl}-thio}methyl}ceph-3-em-4-carboxylic acid . Chemistry and structure-activity relationships; Numata M et al.; The synthesis and the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activities of a series of 7-{2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)acetamido}cephalosporins (1) having varied 3-substituents, such as methyl, hydroxymethyl, acetoxymethyl, pyridiniomethyl and heterocyclicthiomethyls, are described . The derivatives having five membered heterocyclicthiomethyls exhibited strong inhibitory activities against Gram-negative organisms including some strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus morganii which are insensitive to cefazolin and cephaloridine . Pronounced activities were noted with 7-{2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-acetamido}-3-{{{1-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-1H-tetrazol-5-yl}thio}methyl}ceph-3-em-4-carboxylic acid (1y; SCE-963).

Minerva Med, 1978 Dec 1, 69(59), 4097 - 104
{Antibacterial activity of fosfomycin in chronic kidney infections}; Schena FP et al.; Authors have carried out a retrospective study in vitro on the bacteria isolated from renal parenchyma and stones in patients with CPN associated to kidney stones . Results show a different inhibitory action of the some antibiotics to Proteus, E . coli and P . aeruginosa . Fosfomycin inhibits the growth of bacteria in a wide range of concentration (50-1000 microgram/ml) . A prospective study in vivo shows an excellent therapeutic action of fosfomycin in recurrent urinary infections, and a very good one in CPN and in some forms associated to kidney stones.

Histochemistry, 1978 Nov 24, 58(1-2), 89 - 95
Diaminobenzidine reactions in control and treated Amoeba proteus; Smith RA; Cytochrome oxidase activity was demonstrated in Amoeba proteus by diaminobenzidine (DAB) cytochemistry . Deposition of the reaction product occurred on the inner mitochondrial membranes and the cristae . The reaction was abolished by cyanide incubations . Positive reactions were produced with both unfixed and fixed cells: although staining potential was destroyed by any prefixatives which included glutaraldehyde . Cells prefixed with 4% formaldehyde, to raise structural preservation, retained staining ability . Amoebae subjected to prolonged anaerobiosis or to treatment with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourethane (MNU) displayed a reduction in DAB reactivity . A positive reaction was only produced in incubations of unfixed cells and even in these the intensity of cristal staining was depleted . The possible use of DAB reactions where lesions in mitochondrial functioning have occurred is considered.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1978 Nov 1, 173(9), 1134 - 6
Meningoencephalitis secondary to otitis in a gorilla; Iverson WO et al.; An adult female gorilla died following a 13-day illness and was necropsied . Gross and microscopic findings included a 2-cm straw deep in the external auditory meatus, suppurative otitis media and interna, and suppurative meningoencephalitis . Proteus mirabilis was cultured from the internal acoustic pore.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1978 Nov, 242(2), 222 - 7
R plasmids coding for supra-levels of gentamicin, tobramycin and sisomicin resistance in Proteus morganii and P . mirabilis: high-level resistant strains from two hospitals; Zikmundova V et al.; Transfer of high-level gentamycin-tobramycin-sisomycin resistance could be easily demonstrated in strains of P . morganii and P . mirabilis which emerged, in two hospitals, at the end of 1976 . First such strains were demonstrated in a patient of a urological ward who died, in September 1976, from generalised sepsis caused by a high-level gentamycin-tobramycin-sisomycin-resistant P . morganii . Since that event, at least nine such strains were isolated in 1976, and the presence of transferable resistant to the antibiotics listed plus other antibacterial substances including carbenicillin and more classical antibiotics could be demonstrated either by a high-frequence direct transfer to suitable recipient strains of Gentamycin or Tobramycin resistance, or by indirect selection, i.e . by analysis of exconjugants selected with kanamycin, streptomycin or carbenicillin . Further numerous strains of P . morganii highly resistant to gentamycin, tobramycin and sisomycin (M.I.C . over 128 mcg/ml) still emerge from wards in the two hospitals monitored and their transferability is under experimental study . It is stressed that, in order to demonstrate a transfer of gentamycin or tobramycin resistance in strains resistant to these substances, it is inevitable to examine properly also exconjugnants showing direct transfer to other, more classical antibiotics . We could not demonstrate, in our strains, any prodromal signs of resistance to netilmycin or amikacin.

J Pharm Sci, 1978 Nov, 67(11), 1629 - 31
Drug resistance studies with topical antiseptics; Prince HN et al.; Species of Proteus, Serratia, and Pseudomonas became resistant to chlorhexidine after five to eight transfers in vitro . Cross-resistance to benzalkonium chloride also was detected . Resistance to povidone-iodine was not encountered . Chlorhexidine resistance was stable after drug-free transfers of Serratia and Pseudomonas but was transitory for Proteus.

Niger Med J, 1978 Nov, 8(6), 514 - 7
Serological evidence for the presence of rickettsial infections in parts of Nigeria; Emejuaiwe SO et al.; Weil-Felix tests using OX19 and OXK proteus antigens reveal high antibody titers to OXK and OX19 antigens in patients reporting at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu with clinical diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown origin . These findings suggest the presence of either or both scrub typhus fever and Epidemic typhus fever in this community . While the advisablility of using other diagnostic techniques to support and confirm positive Weil-Felix reaction will be useful, it is felt that the above findings are strong evidences for the prevalence of these diseases in this part of Nigeria.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Nov, 31(11), 1110 - 5
A hydroxamic acid from Aspergillus nidulans with antibiotic activity against Proteus species; Middleton AJ et al.; An iron-complexing antibiotic with a narrow spectrum of biological activity was produced by several strains of Aspergillus nidulans when grown in a low-iron, chemically defined medium . Its chemical and biological properties closely resembled those of desferritriacetylfusigen, a metabolite of several other Aspergilli and Penicillia.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Nov, 138(5), 664 - 7
Influence of pili on the virulence of Proteus mirabilis in experimental hematogenous pyelonephritis; Silverblatt FJ et al.; The ability of heavily and lightly piliated Proteus mirabilis to infect the renal parenchyma was compared in a model of hematogenous pyelonephritis . Cortical abscesses occurred in 13 of 24 rats injected with lightly piliated P . mirabilis but in none of 24 rats challenged with heavily piliated organisms (P less than 0.001) . Lightly and heavily piliated organisms were cleared from the vasculature equally rapidly and were also delivered to the kidney in equal numbers . During the first 24 hr, however, titers of the lightly piliated organisms in the kidney increased by 4 logs, whereas the heavily piliated P . mirabilis were virtually all eliminated . Pili are believed to mediate attachment to cell surfaces, and heavy piliation has been correlated with enhanced virulence when P . mirabilis invades the kidney across the pelvic mucosa . The results in this study suggest, however, that pili may adversely affect bacterial survival within the renal parenchyma.

Biochem J, 1978 Nov 1, 175(2), 669 - 74
An enzyme degrading reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in Proteus vulgaris; Davies R et al.; Cell-free extracts of a strain of Proteus vulgaris degrade NADH to reduced nicotinamide riboside, adenosine and two molecules of phosphate . The system is weakly active in fresh cell extracts, but activity is increased about 10-fold on rapid heating to 70-100 degrees C . On returning to room temperature, the activity returns rapidly to its initial low value but can be re-activated by again heating to 70-100 degrees C . Reversible activation can also be effected by extremes of pH or by teatment with 8M-urea . Activation appears to be due to reversible changes in conformation of the protein of the enzyme rather than to combination of the enzyme with a heat-labile inhibitor . The active form can be stabilized by addition of PPi . The system, which also possesses 5'-nucleotidase activity not separable from the NADH pyrophosphatase, requires Co2+ (0.4mM) for maximum activity . Although activated at relatively high temperatures, it is not enzymically active until cooled to 50-60 degrees C . It may be purified by affinity chromatography (with NAD+ as ligand) to an activity over 400 times that of the crude cell extract, and yields only one major band on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Nov, (11), 103 - 6
{Detection of antibodies to Rickketsia prowazekii by using the antigen neutralization test}; Lobanov AV et al.; The authors studied a possibility of using the antigen neutralization test with dry immunoglobulin typhus erythrocytic diagnostic agent for the purpose of detection of Rickettsia prowazeki antibodies . Blood sera of 315 healthy persons, 24 patients with sporadic typhus, and 18 laboratory animals immunized with R . sibirica and R . burneti, as well as with Proteus OX19 were examined . The results obtained pointed to the high specificity and sensitivity of the given serological test . A possibility of its use for antibody detection both in the typhus patients and in persons who sustained this infection in the past was demonstrated . In difference from the complement fixation test it permits to study anticomplementary sera.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Nov, 31(11), 1170 - 4
In vitro activity of HR 756, a new cephalosporin compound; Shah PM et al.; The in vitro activity of HR 756, a new cephalosporin, has been determined against recent clinical isolates and compared with that of other beta-lactam antibiotics . The geometric means of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for different isolates of Escherichia coli (100 isolates), Klebsiella pneumoniae (84), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (121), Proteus mirabilis (52), indole-positive Proteus species (9), Salmonella species (19), Staphylococcus aureus penicillin-sensitive (29) and penicillin-resistant (39) were: 0.095, 0.124, 11.1, 0.095, 0.0107, 0.078, 1 and 0.95 mcg/ml, respectively . Its activity was affected by rise in inoculum against S . aureus and P . aeruginosa but not against K . pneumoniae and E . coli . Bactericidal activity was determined by membrane filtration method . HR 756 was found to be bactericidal to E . coli, K . pneumoniae, P . aeruginosa and Proteus species . Although the MICs of the tested S . aureus strains were 1 mcg/ml, 5 mcg/ml of HR 756 failed to kill 99% of the inoculum within 24 hours.

Pediatrics, 1978 Oct, 62(4), 521 - 3
Urinary tract infection in high-risk newborn infants; Maherzi M et al.; The prevalence of neonatal urinary tract infection (UTI) was studied in 1,762 high-risk neonates . Symptomatic bacteriuria was found in 1.9% and asymptomatic bacteriuria in 0.5% of these neonates . Male preponderance was 5:1 . Clinical manifestations were extremely variable--vomiting, weight loss, and diarrhea being the prominent symptoms . Bacteremia was associated with UTI in six infants . The organisms identified in the urine obtained by suprapubic aspiration were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Proteus . A mixed infection was found in four patients . Roentgenographic examination of the urinary tract showed abnormalities in 44% of the symptomatic patients . It is conclued that symptomatic high-risk newborn infants should be screened for bacteriuria, and that radiological investigations be preformed in those with proven infection.

Cytobiologie, 1978 Oct, 18(1), 114 - 31
The influence of microinjected phalloidin on locomotion, protoplasmic streaming and cytoplasmic organization in Amoeba proteus and Physarum polycephalum; Stockem W et al.; Microinjected phalloidin induces both time and concentration-dependent changes in morphology and motility of amoebae and acellular slime moulds . In A . proteus injection of a 10(-3)M solution of the drug causes a separation of cortical hyaline plasma from central granular plasma . Simultaneously protoplasmic streaming and cellular locomotion are lost irreversibly . Lowering the concentration of phalloidin to 2 x 10(-4)M results in a reversible disturbance; amoebae recover after 30 to 60 minutes and show normal movement . In Ph . polycephalum the injection of a 10(-3)M solution of phalloidin into single veins induces a local gelation of the protoplasm followed by the separation of hyalo- and granuloplasm . In semi-thin and ultrathin sections the hyaline plasma regions contain a fine granular groundplasm rich in ribosomes but free of cellular organelles . The central granular plasma consists mainly of membrane-surrounded cellular compartments . The two morphologically distinct plasma regions are separated by a 0.5 to 1.0 micrometer layer of filamentous material . In A . proteus the filamentous layer is found shortly after phalloidin injection in close proximity to the plasma membrane, and consists of thin 5 to 6 nm filaments . With increasing time this layer contracts, separates from the inner plasma membrane and moves to the interior of the cell . During contraction thicker filaments with diameters of 10 to 30 nm and lengths of 300 to 500 nm are formed . The results indicate that the display and contraction of the phalloidin-induced filament layer can account for the changes observed in cellular movement and cytoplasmic organization . The resulting phenomena i.e . separation of hyaline plasma from granular plasma and changes in both the protoplasmic streaming pattern and locomotory activity of the cells, are discussed in terms of a general understanding of amoeboid movement.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Oct, 23(10), 888 - 92
{Sensitivity of bacteria of the genus Proteus to antibiotics and their combinations}; Nesterova GN et al.; Sensitivity of 99 Proteus strains isolated from infants with gastro-intestinal diseases was studied by the method of serial dilutions on the Ploskirev's medium with respect to 19 antibiotics and some of their pair combinations . High resistance levels were registered with respect to penicillin and semi-synthetic penicillins, such as oxacillin, methicillin, ampicillin, as well as oleandomycin, erythromycin, lincomycin and oxytetracycline . The minimum inhibitory concentration for most of the strains was at least 128 gamma/ml . The Proteus strains were more sensitive to aminoglycosides, such as monomycin, neomycin and kanamycin, as well as carbenicillin, cephalosporine, streptomycin, levomycetin, chlortetracycline and novobiocin . Rifampicin, gentamycin and ampicillin combinations with gentamycin had a pronounced antimicrobial effect on Proteus.

Cytobiologie, 1978 Oct, 18(1), 95 - 106
Demonstration of membrane-associated and oriented microfilaments in Amoeba proteus by means of a Schiff base/glutaraldehyde fixative; Hauser M; After fixation with a reaction product of glutaraldehyde and spermidine phosphate Amoeba proteus cells show a network of cortical microfilaments and oriented bundles of thick and thin filaments . The cortical filament network appears to be membrane-attached and extends beneath the whole cytoplasmic membrane surface . In the uroid region and in retracting pseudopods the cortical layer is thicker than in advancing cell regions . The filament bundles are located predominantly in the ectoplasmic tube within the cortical network . They strictly parallel the cell surface contours.

Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {C}, 1978 Oct, 86C(5), 215 - 20
Protection against experimental Proteus mirabilis pyelonephritis in rats and significance of immunity; Larsson P et al.; Intraperitoneal immunization with formalin-killed bacteria as well as previous hematogenous infection with Proteus O3H1 showed a protective effect against hematogenous pyelonephritis in rats when the homologous strain was used . Transfer of hyperimmune antisera protected against hematogenously induced infection . Neither intravesical or intraperitoneal immunization with formalin-killed bacteria nor transfer of urines containing antibodies of the IgG class protected against ascending pyelonephritis when the O3H1 strain was used . Data are presented indicating that a rise of pH might decrease the biological effect of antibodies, suggesting that Proteus urease activity is a virulence factor of importance in this context.

Chromosoma, 1978 Sep 11, 68(4), 319 - 25
Identification of the small nuclear RNAs associated with the mitotic chromosomes of Amoeba proteus; Goldstein L et al.; Amebas contain 7 electrophoretically distinct species of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), some of which are known to associate in a striking manner with mitotic chromosomes . These RNAs can be divided into 2 classes, one consisting of 4 snRNA species that shuttle in a non-random way between nucleus and cytoplasm during interphase and one consisting of 3 snRNA species that do not leave the nucleus at all during interphase . In the work reported here we sought to determine which class is associated with mitotic chromosomes . Through a series of micromanipulative procedures we arranged for the shuttling snRNAs to be the only radioactive molecules in the cell . Such cells were allowed to enter mitosis, whereupon they were fixed and subjected to autoradiography . In those cells no radioactive snRNAs were found associated with mitotic chromosomes . It is concluded, therefore, that those snRNAs that do associate with mitotic chromosomes must be one or more of the non-shuttling species.--In the Discussion, how the non-shuttling snRNAs may function in cell activities is considered.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {B}, 1978 Sep, 167(3), 234 - 41
{Investigations on the antimicrobial activity of amin-aldehyde-condensates . 5 . Communication: azomethins of benzaldehyde (author's transl)}; Rehn D et al.; In the scope of our research about the antimicrobial activity of amin-aldehyde-condensates a number of benzylidene-amines (azomethins of benzyldehyde) was synthesized by condensation of primary amines with benzaldehyde . Structures and physical constants are shown in table 1 and 2 . The antimicrobial activity of these benzylidene-amines is demonstrated by the results of the disk-test (table 3), of the minimal inhibition concentration test (MIC, table 4) and the suspension test (table 5) following the method of the DGHM . The different hydrophilic behaviour was equalized by using the standard solution described earlier with 3% dioxane . The results show, that the germistatic activity of the benzylideneamines resembles or exceeds in some cases that of benzaldehyde (table 4) . Some compounds show good fungistatic activity versus Trichophyton mentagrophytes (table 3) . The bactericidal power versus Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris is remarkable and quiet stronger than that of the benzaldehyde.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {B}, 1978 Sep, 167(3), 224 - 33
{Investigations on the antimicrobial activity of amin-aldehydecondensates . 4 . Communication: azomethins of aliphatic aldehydes (author's transl)}; Rehn D et al.; In the scope of our research about the antimicrobial activity of amin-aldehyde-condensates a number of azomethins was synthesized by the condensation of primary aliphatic and aromatic amins with aliphatic aldehydes . Structures and physical constants are listed in table 1 and 2 . - The antimicrobial activity of these azomethins is demonstrated by the results of the disk-test (table 3), of the minimal inhibition concentration test (MIC, table 4), and the suspension test (table 5) following the method of the DGHM . - The different water-solubility of the azomethins was equalized by using the standard solution described earlier . - It may be shown that the azomethins have both bacterio- and fungistatic activity which resembles that of the corresponding aldehydes (table 4) . The fungistatic activity against Trichophyton mentragrophytes shown by the results of the disk-test is remarkable . - The bactericidal power of the azomethins versus Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris is quiet stronger than that of the corresponding aldehydes.

Am J Surg, 1978 Sep, 136(3), 375 - 8
The use of a laminar airflow isolation system for the treatment of major burns; Demling RH et al.; A laminar airflow isolation burn ward was designed which would maintain a sterile environment and also allow unrestricted burn care and rehabilitation to be performed . A very low rate of sepsis and sepsis-related complications have been found in the 115 patients treated in the unit . Patient cross contamination has been completely controlled under laminar airflow conditions . The incidence of burn colonization and infection by virulent gram-negative organisms, namely pseudomonas, serratia, klebsiella, and proteus, in these patients has been extremely low, particularly in comparison with burn patients managed in a non-laminar flow intensive care environment.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Sep, (9), 119 - 22
{Tissue and bacterial sensitization in patients with bone pathology}; Veselov AIa; The author studied sensitization to normal tissues (bone, muscle, spleen) and tissues altered by pathological process (sequestrum, scars), and also to allergens of widespread causative agents of purulent infection (staphylococcus, streptococcus, Proteus, E . coli) in 87 patients with different bone pathology and in 24 donors . Leukocytolysis reaction (modified by Karapaty) was used for ascertaining the sensitization; a total of 592 tests were conducted . With the development of infection in soft tissues and then in the bone there was an increase in frequency of positive reactions and their manifestation in interaction with the antigens of both normal tissues and those altered by pathological process . The incidence of positive reactions and their manifestation with bacterial allergens coinciding with the microbial flora of the focus of infection was also increased.

Clin Exp Immunol, 1978 Sep, 33(3), 486 - 94
Macrophage secretion and the complement cleavage product C3a in the pathogenesis of infections by mycoplasmas and L-forms of bacteria and in immunity to these organisms; Taylor-Robinson D et al.; Mouse peritoneal macrophages in culture exposed to Mycoplasma pulmonis show marked biochemical changes . This micro-organism induces the release of hydrolytic enzymes from macrophages . The release is time- and dose-dependent and is not associated with loss of the cytoplasmic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase or any other sign of cell death . Secretory products of macrophages may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory responses elicited by mycoplasma infections . One of the products of activated macrophages is the complement cleavage product C3a . Purified C3a was incubated with M . hominis, M . pulmonis, Proteus mirabilis and an L-phase variant of this organism . All mycoplasmas and the L-phase variant were lysed by low concentrations of C3a, whereas the bacterial form of Pr . mirabilis was resistant.

J Histochem Cytochem, 1978 Sep, 26(9), 713 - 8
Quantation by flow microfluorometry of total cellular DNA in Acanthamoeba; Coulson PB et al.; The DNA content of five species of Acanthamoeba was determined by flow microfluorometry . Acanthamoeba castellanii (AC-30), acanthamoeba polyphaga (APG and P-23), acanthamoeba rhysodes, acanthamoeba culbertsoni (A-1), and acanthamoeba royreba were grown in a casitone based medium 24-48 HR . The trophozoites were harvested, and evaluated for DNA-bound fluorescence . All species tested has DNA values between 2.0-5.0 pg/cell . These results placed DNA/cell values of Acanthamoeba slightly lower than DNA/cell values of other eucaryotic cells and much lower than Amoeba proteus values . These results indicate that FMF may be a useful adjunct in distinguishing Acanthamoeba cells from either eucaryotic cells or some other amoeba . However, differences in DNA/cell between species of Acanthamoeba are small and would not be useful in identification of species.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Sep, 23(9), 819 - 22
{Chemotherapy of experimental lactational mastitis in mice}; Moroz AF et al.; More severe mastitis on infection with Proteus was shown on a standardized model of experimental lactation mastitis of mice caused by Staphylococcus, Proteus and their mixture . Significant differences in the morphological pictures of the staphylococcal and Proteus mastitis were noted . A pronounced effect was observed with the use of kanamycin in combination with fuzidin in treatment of experimental mastitis of various etiology.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Sep, 23(9), 802 - 4
{Antibiotic sensitivity of the H- and O-forms of bacteria in the genus Proteus}; Nesterova GN et al.; Proteus strains isolated from the gastro-intestinal tract of children not older than 1 year were characterized by resistance to oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, benzylpenicillin and erythromycin . The strains were more sensitive to neomycin, monomycin and streptomycin . Antibiotic sensitivity of Pr . mirabilis and Pr . vulgaris strains increased on transfer from H- to O-form . Inverse dependence of the urease activity of the strains on their sensitivity to tetracyclines was noted.

Acta Paediatr Scand, 1978 Sep, 67(5), 591 - 6
Urinary tract infections caused by Proteus mirabilis in children . The antibody response to O and H antigens and Tamm-Horsfall protein and bacterial adherence to uro-epithelium; Larsson P et al.; Sera from seven girls with acute symptomatic pyelonephritis and nine children with acute symptomatic cystitis caused by Proteus mirabilis were analysed for antibodies against the bacterial O and H1 antigens and the Tamm-Horsfall protein . An increase in antibody levels against O antigen and Tamm-Horsfall protein was noted only in patients with acute pyelonephritis indicating that antibody determinations can be useful in differentiating between upper and lower urinary tract infection caused by Proteus in similarity to those caused by E . coli . In contrast no difference in adhesive ability was noted comparing Proteus strains causing acute pyelonephritis or cystitis.

J Gen Microbiol, 1978 Sep, 108(1), 103 - 9
Mobilization of the Proteus mirabilis chromosome by R plasmid R772; Coetzee JN; The P-1 incompatibility group plasmid R772 can mobilize the chromosome of Proteus mirabilis strain PM5006 . The decreasing gradient of recombinant recovery frequencies found for markers which were increasingly distal to 0 min with plasmid D donors was not found with R772 . Instead, it produced recombinants for all markers at frequencies of about 5 X 10(-5) per donor . This is about 10-fold lower than the plasmid transfer frequency . Recombinants were stable and recombination was only detected over short segments of the chromosome which corresponded to about 10 min on the D plasmid map of the chromosome . All recombinants had inherited R772 and expressed all properties of the plasmid . Attempts to isolate variant plasmids with increased frequencies of recombinant formation were unsuccessful.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1978 Sep, 96(9), 1659 - 61
Alternate pathway activation of complement in a Proteus mirabilis ulceration of the cornea; Mondino BJ et al.; A 63-year-old patient had an extensive infiltration, ulceration, and eventual perforation of the cornea caused by Proteus mirabilis . Histopathological examination of corneal tissue that was obtained at keratoplasty disclosed that the stroma was ulcerated with a diffuse infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Immunopathological examination of the cornea revealed prominent and diffuse staining for properdin and C3 complement . There was an absence of staining for IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and C4 complement . These findings suggest that the alternate pathway of complement was activated in this ulcerated cornea and that immunopathological phenomena contribute to the polymorphonuclear infiltration found with Gram-negative ulcerations of the human cornea.

J Urol, 1978 Sep, 120(3), 315 - 8
Studies of introital colonization in women with recurrent urinary infections . X . Adhesive properties of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis: lack of correlation with urinary pathogenicity; Fowler JE Jr et al.; The ability of a bacterial strain to adhere to the vaginal mucosa and the mucosa of the urinary conduits seems to be important in the pathogenesis of urinary infection . Bacterial adherence to vaginal epithelial cells was measured in vitro for 37 strains of Escherichia coli and 18 strains of Proteus mirabilis isolated from the anus, bladder and renal pelvis . No correlation could be demonstrated between the adhesive properties of a bacterial strain and its clinical pathogenicity, suggesting that host factors determining bacterial adherence are more important than bacterial adhesive factors in determining susceptibility to urinary infections.

Am J Med, 1978 Sep, 65(3), 403 - 5
A paradigm that explains gram-negative shock; Waisbren BA; PIP: In 1950 the 1st case of gram-negative shock to be recognized as such occurred in a 93-year-old man who suffered shock due to a Proteus bacteremia following a transurethral resection . This 1st case of gram-negative shock illustrated facts concerning the syndrome that have been repeatedly observed in the ensuring 26 years . All organ systems in the body were involved other than the mere invasion of the blood stream by gram-negative bacilli . A paradigm of gram-negative shock that appears to adequately explain this 1st case along with hundreds of other cases seen since it is presented . It is based on clinical observations and laboratory studies conducted over the past 27 years . Reflecting upon the observation of gram-negative shock for 27 years has led to the concept that it really represents 2 diseases -- an initiating series of intracellular events followed by a vicious cycle of death . A paradigm that suggests that the intracellular events result from a quantum between the antigenic structure of the bacteria involved and the genetic constitution of the cell walls of the patient with, possibly, the involvement of a 3rd factor, such as Herpes virus, is proposed . Experiments based on the open-ended nature of the paradigm clearly present themselves and are in progress in the laboratories .

J Pediatr, 1978 Sep, 93(3), 383 - 8
Prospective study of enteropathogens in children with diarrhea in Houston and Mexico; Pickering LK et al.; During a 22-month period, 595 children with diarrhea and 210 age-matched controls attending clinics in Houston (367 children) and Mexico (438) were prospectively evaluated for enteric pathogens . Enteropathogens associated with disease were Shigella (18%), rotavirus (14%), Salmonella (9%), toxigenic Escherichia coli (6%), and others (12%), including 14 Proteus isolates that caused rounding of adrenal cells . Enteropathogens were isolated from a greater (P less than 0.001) number of children with diarrhea (59%) than from asymptomatic controls (6%) . Paired sera tested for antibody to heat-labile toxin of E . coli rarely demonstrated a fourfold rise during episodes of diarrhea . This study demonstrates: (1) more striking illness in children from Mexico; (2) more common occurrence of Shigella in Houston, and of rotavirus and Salmonella in Mexico; (3) lack of seasonal occurrence of rotavirus isolation in either population and a summertime occurrence of Shigella in Houston; (4) lack of toxigenic E . coli isolation in endemic diarrhea of either population; and (5) a significant (P less than 0.001) age-related acquisition of E . coli LT antibodies.

Cytobiologie, 1978 Aug, 17(2), 343 - 53
Response to light-shade difference in anucleate and polynucleate specimens of Amoeba proteus; Grebecki A et al.; The enucleated specimens of Amoeba proteus, the anucleate fragments, and the polynucleate individuals which all are capable of cortical contraction but not of locomotion, may be reactivated by the light-shade difference established across their body . Individual cells or fragments migrate toward the shade . The motory polarity and coordinated movement disappear immediately after cessation of the stimulus . The results are interpreted according to the earlier hypothesis that the necessary to maintain the motory polarity of amoebae . It is suggested that the anucleate and polynucleate specimens are incapable of coordinated movements when non-stimulated, because of a deficiency or an excess, respectively, of the regulatory relaxing factor secreted by the nucleus of Amoeba proteus.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1978 Aug, 126(8), 512 - 7
{Pharmacokinetic investigations on sisomicin in children (author's transl)}; Weingartner L et al.; Sisomicin is an aminoglycoside effective against gramnegative germs . The sensitiveness of coli, proteus, pseudomonas and klebsiella ranges from 0,1 to 0,4 mcg/ml . Germs with inhibition-values of up to 1 mcg/ml are certainly Sisomicin-sensitive . The side-effects of Sisomicin resemble those of other aminoglycosides, as for instance lesions of the VIIth cranial nerve and the kidney . Since aminoglycosides have a relatively small therapeutic range between toxicity and effective minimal-concentration, investigations are important especially in children . 66 children of different age groups received Sisomicin in doses of 3 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg, and examined pharmacokineticly . Serum-levels were measured after 30 min 1, 2, and 4h, in some cases also after 6 and 8 h . In a separate group we determined the values after 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 min . The urinary output was controlled and the content of Sisomicin in meconium determined . Based on these results we recommend an individual, Sisomicin dosage for each age group . Clinically the Sisomicin proved to be well tolerated and effective antibioticum.

Dis Colon Rectum, 1978 Jul-Aug, 21(5), 377 - 9
Fournier's gangrene complicating perinal abscess: report of two cases; Lichtenstein D et al.; Two cases of Fournier's gangrene in which toxemia and gangrene of the scrotum developed due to perianal abscesses are described . Cultures of anaerobic gram-negative Bacteroides with a mixed flora of Pseudomonas, E . coli and Proteus were obtained . Early diagnosis, wide and deep incisions, debridement of the necrotic tissue, and adequate antibiotic therapy can prevent a fatal outcome of this disease . A high mortality rate is still prevalent.

J Urol, 1978 Jul, 120(1), 48 - 50
Nitrosamine formation in bladder infections and its role in the etiology of bladder cancer; Radomski JL et al.; Dimethylnitrosamine, a powerful carcinogen, is produced in the urine of patients with urinary tract infections of Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli when nitrite is present . Treatment with tetracycline antibiotics does not enhance the concentration of this carcinogen but, rather, sharply reduces it . The results emphasize the importance of proper antibiotic therapy for the infections to reduce the possibility of the subsequent development of bladder cancer.

J Gen Microbiol, 1978 Jul, 107(1), 155 - 63
Extension of a chromosome linkage group of Proteus mirabilis; Coetzee JN; Mating procedures for detection of mobilization of the Proteus mirabilis chromosome were re-investigated . The chromosome was mobilized by plasmid D, the previously used hybrid between plasmids P-lac and R1drd19 . About a 40-fold increase in recombinant recovery correlated with the absence of swarming during mating and a lower temperature of incubation . The modification introduced was that conjugation was allowed to proceed on a non-selective supplemented minimal medium at 30 degrees C before washing and plating on selective media . Final incubation was also at 30 degrees C . This technique enabled eight additional chromosomal markers to be mapped . Polarized transfer of the chromosome was shown by gradient of transmission experiments using a previously described marker as reference, by linkage analysis with reference to proximal and distal markers and (less successfully) by interrupted mating on solid medium . Markers of plasmid D transferred at high frequency to all recombinants . The plasmid was stable in recombinants and could transfer itself and chromosomal markers of the new hosts in further matings . Resulting recombination of markers occurred at usual frequencies . The marker order, his-1, ser-2, ura-2, pyrB1, trp-3, cysA1, ade-2, ilv-2, cysG1, gly-1, cysC1, argA2, metF2, nalA1, thr-1, leuB2, did not resemble the order of these markers in Escherichia coli.

Arch Ophthalmol, 1978 Jul, 96(7), 1265 - 7
Diagnostic limulus lysate assay for endophthalmitis and keratitis; McBeath J et al.; The limulus lysate assay is an inexpensive, reliable, and rapid means of detecting and presence of Gram-negative endotoxin . In all ten cases of experimentally induced Proteus endophthalmitis in rabbits, the assay was positive, and the assay was appropriately negative in all ten cases of Staphylococcal endophthalmitis, ten cases of Candida endophthalmitis, and ten cases of sterile endophthalmitis in rabbits . In a clinical assessment of keratitis, the assay of corneal scrapings was positive in 11 of 13 Gram-negative corneal ulcers . In a similar study of clinical endophthalmitis, both Gram-negative cases had a negative limulus assay, but two cases are insufficient to be conclusive . The assay may prove to be a useful adjunct both to standard diagnostic evaluations and in the rapid direction of appropriate therapy for these conditions.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1978 Jun 16, 510(1), 87 - 98
Interaction of lipopolysaccharide with detergents and its possible role in the detergent resistance of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria; Nixdorff K et al.; In the presence of MgCl2, amounts of detergents which disrupted phospholipid vesicles caused lipopolysaccharide I from Proteus mirabilis to aggregate and form vesicular, membrane-like structures . Vesicle formation with P . mirabilis lipopolysaccharide II containing longer O-polysaccharide chains was extremely poor . Lipopolysaccharides of Salmonella minnesota R mutants (chemotypes Ra, Rc and Re) displayed a growing tendency for vesicle formation with increasing deficiency of the R core polysaccharide . Lipopolysaccharides of chemotypes Rc and Re produced vesicles even in the absence of MgCl2 and detergent . Spherical aggregates consisting of P . mirabilis lipopolysaccharide I MgCl2 and detergent were unable to either entrap or retain {14C}-sucrose, {3H=inulin or {3H}dextran . On the other hand, S . minnesota R mutant lipopolysaccharides of chemotypes Rc and Re could entrap all three saccharides and retain them for at least short periods of time . Leakage of {3H}-inulin out of re-lipopolysaccharide vesicles was greatly retarded by addition of MgCl2 to the vesicle system . Incorporation of P . mirabilis lipopolysaccharide I or S . minnesota Rc lipopolysaccharide into phospholipid vesicles protected these model membranes from disruption by detergent . This suggested a similar protective function of lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane of enteric bacteria against the action of surfactants occurring in their normal intestinal habitat.

Cytobiologie, 1978 Jun, 17(1), 62 - 72
Ultrastructure of the frontal cap of monotactic forms of Amoeba proteus; Hrebenda B et al.; The frontal cap of the monotactic form of Amoeba proteus is separated from other cell components by a continuous structure defined as the "membrane-like envelope" (MLE) . It originates from the membranes of cytoplasmic vesicles and vacuoles . The border zone between the cap and the cytoplasm is strongly vacuolized . Structural differences between frontal caps, depending on the degree of their development, indicate that the growing cap gradually fills up the whole tip of an advancing pseudopodium, and at the front it reduces the cortical layer in the interstice between the MLE and the outer cell membrane, up to its eventual disrupture . This is probably the efficient cause of the specific morphological and motory pattern of monotactic amoebae . These results and conclusions are supported by an ultrastructural analysis of the artificial frontal caps obtained by injecting oil droplets into polytactic cells, a procedure transforming polytactic forms into forms morphodynamically analogous to the natural monotactic amoebae.

J Cell Biol, 1978 Jun, 77(3), 698 - 701
Differences between nucleus and cytoplasm in the degree of actin polymerization; Rubin RW et al.; For purposes of studying the degree of polymerization of actin in nuclei, nuclei from 35S-labeled amoebas (Amoeba proteus) were transplanted into unlabeled cells, which were immediately lysed and extracted under conditions considered to stabilize preexisting fibrous actin . The enucleated 35S-donor cells were similarly treated for analysis of cytoplasmic actin . The extraction conditions permitted separation of soluble (unpolymerized or G) actin from pelletable (polymerized or F) actin, and the radioactivity of each was determined after the actin was separated from other proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . We found that about 2/3 of the actin within the nucleus is pelletable, whereas only about 1/3 of the cytoplasmic actin is pelletable . We speculate that polymerized actin in the nucleus is involved in the condensation of chromatin.

Dev Med Child Neurol, 1978 Jun, 20(3), 366 - 8
Proteus mirabilis brain abscess in a neonate; Darby CP et al.; Occasionally a brain abscess has been observed in a neonate . This report presents a unique case of a septic infant who developed a proteus mirabilis brain abscess shortly after birth, which persisted undetected until 21/2 months of age.

Infect Immun, 1978 May, 20(2), 347 - 51
Cross-protection of mice provided by active and passive immunization against experimental infections with virulent Proteus rettgeri and Providencia bacteria; Penner JL et al.; Immunization with Providencia and Proteus rettgeri Formalin-treated bacterial suspensions produced high levels of protection in mice against homologous and heterologous challenge . Mice were also cross-protected, but less effectively, by passive administration of rabbit type-specific antisera . The protective activity appeared to be due to an antigen common to strains of different O-serotypes . It was not detectable in agglutination reactions, and preliminary results indicate that it is thermostable, not being inactivated in its antibody binding capacity at 121 degrees C for 1 h.

J Infect Dis, 1978 May, 137 Suppl, S119 - S124
Clinical experience with cefamandole for treatment of serious bone and joint infections; Levine LR et al.; The safety and efficacy of treatment with cefamandole were evaluated in 30 patients (from 18 institutions) with serious bone and joint infections . Five of the subjects were children . The antibiotic was given intramuscularly or intravenously in doses ranging from 2 to 12 g daily for five to 44 days . Twenty-six of the 30 patients responded satisfactorily . Fourteen of the fifteen infections due to Staphylococcus aureus were among the successful cases . Other pathogens were streptococci, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Bacteroides fragilis . The drug was well tolerated in patients in this series . Studies indicated that cefamandole penetrated the bones and joints . Further investigation of cefmandole in the treatment of bone and joint infections is warranted.

Urology, 1978 May, 11(5), 466 - 71
Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis masquerading as occult malignancy; Gerber WL et al.; Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) can present with weight loss, anemia, leukemoid reaction, and generalized debility; there may be no signs or symptoms referable to the urinary tract . Confusion between XGP and renal adenocarcinoma is well recognized, but other malignancies can also be simulated . Case histories of patients with proved XGP whose clinical presentations suggested occult malignancies are recorded . Proteus urinary tract infection, calculi, and a nonvisualizing kidney on intravenous pyelogram should suggest the correct diagnosis . The pathology, bacteriology, diagnosis, and treatment are reviewed.

J Bacteriol, 1978 May, 134(2), 674 - 6
Lipoprotein from Proteus mirabilis; Katz E et al.; The biosynthesis of a Proteus mirabilis outer membrane protein of molecular weight of approximately 7,000 was found to be relatively resistant to puromycin and rifampin, as is the case for the Escherichia coli liporotein . Furthermore, the existence of the lipoprotein in P . mirabilis was indicated by a comparison of the amino acid compositions of the purified free and bound forms of this protein with those of the E . coli free and bound lipoproteins.

J Bacteriol, 1978 May, 134(2), 606 - 11
Structure, function, and regulation of Escherichia coli rRNA in Proteus mirabilis; Morgan EA et al.; Escherichia coli rRNA genes have been introduced into Proteus mirabilis on an F-prime factor (F'14) . A portion of the ribosomes in the resulting merodiploid consist of E . coli rRNA and P . mirabilis ribosomal proteins . These ribosomes are structurally similar to normal P . mirabilis or E . coli ribosomes and exhibit many or all of the functional properties of normal ribosomes . The accumulation of E . coli rRNA in the merodiploid is regulated in a way similar to the the regulation of P . mirabilis rRNA.

Antibiotiki, 1978 May, 23(5), 424 - 8
{Sensitivity of clinical Proteus strains to antibiotics and their combinations}; Sheina EP et al.; In 1976 isolation of Proteus from wounds of patients with various purulent processes amounted to 14.5 per cent . Serotypes 0-10, 0-3 and H-3 predominated among the isolates . Sensitivity of 35 clinical strains of Proteus to 10 antibiotics, furagin and nevigramone was studied by the method of serial dilutions in liquid media . All the isolates were highly resistant to the antibiotics except gentamicin, furagin and nevigramone, the MIC of which for most of the strains was 3.12, 1.6-3.12 and 6.25-12.5 gamma/ml, respectively . The effect of 14 combinations of chemotherapeutics was also studied . The combinations of gentamicin with carbenicillin, gentamicin with ampicillin and monomycin with ampicillin proved to be most effective against the Proteus strains tested . The following combinations may be of practical value: monomycin + carbenicillin, kanamycin + ampicillin, kanamycin + carbenicillin, ampicillin + furagin, gentamicin + nevigramone . The combinations of carbenicillin with furagin and gentamicin with furagin were also rational.

J Infect Dis, 1978 May, 137 Suppl, S100 - S102
Cefamandole and cefazolin in the therapy of complicated urinary tract infections; Hoyme U et al.; The clinical efficacy and tolerance of cefamandole, a new cephalosporin antibiotic effective against indole-positive strains of Proteus, and cefazolin were studied after intramuscular administration of 500 mg of either of the two cephalosporins every 8 hr for seven days in a prospective, randomized study of 65 elderly male patients with complicated urinary tarct infections . Both antibiotics were effective in eradicating the infections, and there was no significant difference between the two groups in regard to tolerance and cure rate, as defined by a negative urine culture one week and four to six weeks following discontinuation of the treatment . Because of its broader antibacterial spectrum, cefamandole appears to represent an improvement over previously available cephalosporin antibiotics.

Am J Dig Dis, 1978 May, 23(5), 413 - 6
Chymotrypsinlike activity of some intestinal bacteria; Gyr K et al.; Some tests of exocrine pancreatic function are based on the estimation of intestinal chymotryptic activity by using specific substrates such as N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-PABA (BT-P) . In this study the action of a number of bacteria isolated from human or monkey intestines on BT-P was investigated . The monkeys studied had an intestinal flora closely resembling that of man . Except for Bacteroides, Proteus vulgaris No . 73, Proteus morgani No . 202, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa No . 76, significant splitting of BT-P did not take place when the common enteric microorganisms were tested . It was concluded that with the possible exception of bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel, microbial chymotryptic activity is not of importance.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 May, 31(5), 433 - 40
Macrolide antibiotics M-4365 produced by Micromonospora . III . In vitro antimicrobial activity of antibiotic M-4365G2 (de-epoxy rosamicin); Yamaguchi T et al.; Antibiotic M-4365G2 (de-epoxy rosamicin) produced by Micromonospora capillata MCRL 0940 is a new basic 16-membered macrolide antibiotic with activity equal to or superior to erythromycin and josamycin against Gram-positive bacteria . Of interest are the high degree of activity against Gram-negative bacilli and mycoplasmas, and striking inhibitory effects against indole-producing Proteus spp . Bactericidal activity of M-4365G2 is also to be noticed.

Minerva Med, 1978 Apr 21, 69(19), 1303 - 7
{Importance of research on antibacterial substances in the study of bacteriurias}; Spina Gondoni D et al.; A study was made of 1050 urine specimens from the Nephro-Urological and Geriatric Departments of the Malpighi Hospital to see how many percent contained antibacterial substances and the incidence of bacteria species . 26.5% contained antibacterial substances . Proteus rettgeri was significantly more frequent in specimens containing such substances, whereas staphylococci were significantly more frequent in the remainder.

Eur J Biochem, 1978 Apr 17, 85(2), 451 - 6
Cerulenin-induced changes in the lipopolysaccharide content and phospholipid composition of Proteus mirabilis; Rottem S et al.; Inhibition of Proteus mirabilis growth by cerulenin, a specific inhibitor of fatty acid biosynthesis, was reversed by exogenously supplied fatty acid mixtures containing oleic acid and palmitic or pentadecanoic acids . The growth rate of the cells treated with cerulenin in the presence of the fatty acid mixtures was slower, however, than that of untreated cells, and their lipopolysaccharide content was decreased by 30-50%, resulting in an increased sensitivity of the organisms to rifamycin and vancomycin . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the lipopolysaccharide fraction from cerulenin-treated cells revealed that of the two P . mirabilis lipopolysaccharide types, the relative amount of the higher molecular weight lipopolysaccharide was reduced from 50% to 30% of the total lipopolysaccharide . Fatty acid analysis of the phospholipid and lipopolysaccharide fractions from cells grown with cerulenin, pentadecanoate, and oleate revealed that over 60% of the native even-numbered fatty acids of the phospholipid fraction was substituted by the odd-numbered fatty acid, while no incorporation of either the pentadecanoate or oleate could be demonstrated in the lipid A moiety of the lipopolysaccharide . The only change in the lipid A observed was an increase in the content of 3-hydroxymyristic acid accompanied by a decrease in the nonhydroxylated fatty acids, supporting the highly conserved nature of this molecule.

Eur J Biochem, 1978 Apr 17, 85(2), 325 - 30
Interaction between penicillin and the DD-carboxypeptidase of the unstable L-form of Proteus mirabilis strain 19; Schilf W et al.; Binding of penicillin to the DD-carboxypeptidase of the unstable spheroplast L-form of Proteus mirabilis results in the rapid formation of a modified enzyme-inhibitor complex which in turn undergoes rapid decay into reactivated enzyme and an antibiotically inactive penicillin degradation product . Major antibiotic metabolites recovered from such interactions were benzylpenicilloic acid and phenoxymethylpenicilloic acid from benzylpenicillin and phenoxymethylpenicillin, respectively, suggesting a second enzymic function of the DD-carboxypeptidase as a penicillinase of low efficiency . Statistical analyses made with the help of a linear regression program show that the enzyme interacts with the substrate UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-gamma-glutamyl-(L)-meso-2,6-diaminopimelyl-(L)-D-alanyl-D-alanine and either benzympenicillin or carbenicillin in a non-competitive manner.

Eur J Biochem, 1978 Apr 17, 85(2), 445 - 50
Thermal regulation of the fatty acid composition of lipopolysaccharides and phospholipids of Proteus mirabilis; Rottem S et al.; The fatty acid composition of the lipid A moiety of the lipopolysaccharide and phospholipid fractions of Proteus mirabilis changed significantly on varying the growth temperature . A decrease in the growth temperature from 43 degrees C to 15 degrees C resulted in a decrease in the palmitic acid content of the lipopolysaccharide from 19.4% of total fatty acids at 43 degrees C to 1.4% at 15 degrees C, and by the appearance of an unsaturated fatty acid residue, hexadecenoic acid . Changes in the 3-hydroxy-myristic acid content of the lipid A were minimal . The decrease in the growth temperature also resulted in a decrease in the saturated fatty acid content of the phospholipid fraction, which was accompanied by an increase in their fluidity, as measured by the freedom of motion of spin-labeled fatty acids incorporated into dispersions made of the phospholipids . Nevertheless, the fluidity obtained with membrane phospholipids extracted from the cells grown at various temperatures were essentially the same when fluidity was determined at the growth temperature, supporting the hypothesis that variations in the fatty acid composition of membrane phospholipids serve to produce membranes having a constant fluidity at different temperatures of growth.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1978 Apr 15, 172(8), 914 - 6
Chloramphenicol for oral treatment of canine urinary tract infections; Ling GV et al.; Chloramphenicol was administered orally for 7 to 14 days to 83 dogs with urinary tract infections . The daily dosage of 99 mg/kg (45 mg/lb) was divided into 3 equal parts and administered at 8-hour intervals . Response to treatment (negative urine culture after treatment) varied from 84% (11 to 13) for infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus to 51% (24 of 47) for those caused by Escherichia coli; 82% (14 of 17) of the infections caused by Streptococcus spp and 63% (7 of 11) of those caused by Proteus mirabilis responded to treatment . These 4 species comprised 88% of the bacteria isolated from the dogs.

Ophthalmology, 1978 Apr, 85(4), 386 - 9
Prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis; Allen HF; Prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) requires (1) environmental control, (2) tissue control, and (3) anticipation of eyes at special risk of infection . Environmental control entails an adequate supply of finely filtered air and absolute sterility of solutions, medications, and objects and materials used during surgery . Tissue control involves degerming the skin of the operative field, inhibition of the flora of the lid margins by an antibiotic ointment use preoperatively, and pretreatment of the conjunctival tear film by soluble antibiotics possessing activity against Proteus and Pseudomonas as well as gram-positive species . Eyes at special risk of infection include those of diabetics, chronic alcoholics, and individuals who have been maintained for long periods of time on systemic or topical corticosteroids . Patients who have had multiple eye operations, recurrent uveitis, and who are scheduled for surgery on the second eye during a single hospital admission should receive special consideration preoperatively.

J Microsc, 1978 Apr, 112(3), 301 - 5
Holographic microscopy of glycerination of Amoeba proteus; Opas M; The process of glycerination of Amoeba proteus was observed under the holographic microscope with coherent noise elimination . It was found that during glycerination redistribution of cell material occurs, and is accompanied by reversible deformation of the cell cortex . The role of the cortex in shape maintenance in glycerinated models was demonstrated.

Lab Anim, 1978 Apr, 12(2), 55 - 7
Self-mutilation of the penis in C57BL/6N mice; Hong CC et al.; A major cause of male reproductive failure in a C57BL/6N mouse production colony is self-inflicted mutilation of the penis . The extent of the damage ranged from loss of the distal end to loss of the entire penis . From January 1974 to August 1976, 645 adult male mice with mutilated penis were removed from this colony--where the monthly census was 9500 mice, mated 1 male to 4 females using a continuous mating system . On necropsy, it was observed that the substance blocking the urethra in the penile stump resulted in urine retention, grossly distending the urinary bladder . Proteus mirabilis and other bacteria isolated from the urethral plugs were considered secondary invaders.

J Clin Pathol, 1978 Apr, 31(4), 365 - 9
Head-space gas liquid chromatography for rapid detection of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis in urine; Coloe PJ; Measuring ethanol formed from arabinose by Escherichia coli and dimethyl disulphide formed from methionine by Proteus mirabilis is a rapid way of detecting these organisms in the urine . Ethanol and dimethyl disulphide are detected by head-space gas-liquid chromatography . Since sedimented organisms and not whole urine are used the method is not subject to interference from compounds within the urine . When it was tested on 122 samples of urine, 94 from patients with suspected urinary infection and 28 supposedly uninfected control specimens, the results correlated well with viable counts by a conventional bacteriological method . As well as being rapid (results available in four hours) the method is reliable, easy to use, and could be automated . It now requires extensive testing in a hospital laboratory.

J Cell Biol, 1978 Apr, 77(1), 59 - 71
Localization of D-amino acid oxidase on the cell surface of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Robinson JM et al.; The ultrastructural localization of D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) was studied cytochemically by detecting sites of hydrogen peroxide production in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) . Reaction product, which forms when cerous ions react with H2O2 to form an electron-dense precipitate, was demonstrated on the cell surface and within the phagosomes of phagocytically stimulated cells when D-amino acids were provided as substrate . Resting cells showed only slight activity . The competitive inhibitor D,L-2-hydroxybutyrate greatly reduced the D-amino acid-stimulated reaction while KCN did not . The cell surface reaction was abolished by nonpenetrating inhibitors of enzyme activity while that within the phagosome was not eliminated . Dense accumulations of reaction product were formed in cells which phagocytosed Staphylococcus aureus in the absence of exogenous substrate . No reaction product formed with Proteus vulgaris while an intermediate amount formed when Escherichia coli were phagocytosed . Variation in the amount of reaction product with the different bacteria correlated with the levels of D-amino acids in the bacterial cell walls which are available for the DAO of PMNs . An alternative approach utilizing ferricyanide as an electron acceptor was also used . This technique verified the results obtained with the cerium reaction, i.e., the DAO is located in the cell surface and is internalized during phagocytosis and is capable of H2O2 production within the phagosome . The present finding that DAO is localized on the cell surface further supports the concept that the plasma membrane is involved in peroxide formation in PMNs.

Acta Pathol Jpn, 1978 Mar, 28(2), 247 - 52
Function of phagocytosis and intracellular killing of peripheral neutrophils in Kawasaki disease; Tasaka K et al.; NBT (Nitroblue Tetrazolium) test was performed in 17 patients with Kawasaki disease to examine the function of phagocytosis and intra-cellular killing of neutrophils . The value was high compared to other pediatric patients . Activation with Proteus OX-2 antigen before NBF test showed a significant higher level than other proteus antigens, which correspond in serum level . With previous electronmicroscopic observation of rickettsia-like body in biopsy specimen, these findings suggest the existence of an agent in Kawasaki disease which shares antigenicity with Proteus OX-2.

J Microsc, 1978 Mar, 112(2), 215 - 21
Interference reflection microscopy of adhesion of Amoeba proteus; Opas M; A simple method of observing the adhesive behaviour of large cells by means of interference reflection microscope is described, and some observations of monopodial Amoeba proteus are presented . Amoebae may contact with the substratum at any point along the long axis of the cells . Points of contact are usually few, small and temporary . Frequently the cell surface within the contact points oscillates, changing the separation distance from the substratum.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Mar, 23(3), 231 - 5
{Flora of the purulent foci of patients at an orthopedic traumatology clinic and its sensitivity to antibiotics}; Veselov AIa et al.; A total of 4664 bacteriological analyses of the wound and purulent discharge from orthopedo-traumatological patients were performed within a 6-year period, i.e . from 1971 to 1976 . Staphylococci were the dominating microbes of the purulent-inflammatory foci . Its part in the monoculture amounted to 64.5--82 per cent . The specific weight of the monocultures of various microbes decreased during the last 3 years, while the number of the microbial associations increased from 11.6 to 25.4 per cent Staph . aureus predominated in the inflammatory processes (65.8 to 86.5 per cent) . Still, during the last 3 years the number of Staph . epidermidis increased from 16.8 to 26.2 per cent . The number of the so called "intermediate" or dissociated type of Staphylococcus, i.e . Staph . albus usually amounted to 7.5--8.1 per cent . In 1976 its number was 12.5 per cent . The pathogenic microbes of the coccal group were usually sensitive to erythromycin, monomycin, levomycetin and kanamycin . Among these microbes only staphylococci preserved their sensitivity to penicillin . The causative agents of purulent processes, i.e . Escherichia, Proteus, Pseudomonas were resistant to most of the antibiotics . Sensitivity to monomycin was preserved by 50 per cent only in Proteus . The microbial associations were mainly sensitive to monomycin and kanamycin.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Mar, 133(3), 1263 - 72
Replication of plasmid DNA in Proteus mirabilis in limiting concentrations of thymine; Womble DD et al.; Replicating forms of the R plasmid pRR12 and the colicin E1 plasmid RSF2124 were isolated from Proteus mirabilis after growth in medium containing a limiting concentration of thymine . Both plasmids were replicated as partially supercoiled intermediates, which have densities between the values of covalently closed circular and nicked circular plasmid DNA in ethidium bromide-cesium chloride gradients . In addition, both plasmids had replication intermediates, which have densities lower than that of linear P . mirabilis chromosomal DNA . Some structural features of these replication intermediates were examined.

Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med, 1978 Mar-Apr, 12(2), 15 - 9
{Immunological reactivity and the prognosis for allergic complications in the crew of the 2d Saliut-4 expedition}; Konstantinova IV et al.; Immunological reactivity of P . I . Klimuk and V . I . Sevastyanov was studied before and after their 63-day flight aboard the orbital station Salyut-4 . The study used the methods to assay reactivity of T- and B-lymphocytes (PHA-blast-transformation, nonspecific formation of rosettes with sheep red blood cells, immunofluorescence to identify cells carrying immunoglobulin receptors on their surface, serum level of immunoglobulins as a function of Becells) . Sensitization of the human body to allergenes of representatives of normal automicroflora of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Proteus and E . coli was examined . Specific immunological reactivity which was marked on the 2nd day and tended to return to normal on the 7th day postflight as well as a significant decrease of IgA were noted . Postflight P . I . Klimuk showed sensitization to allergens of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus . Results of immunological examinations of the first and second expeditions aboard the orbital station Salyut-4 were compared.

Antibiotiki, 1978 Mar, 23(3), 223 - 7
{Beta-lactamase activity of bacteria of the genus Proteus}; Shvidenko IG; beta-Lactamases of Proteus and their role in the mechanism of the microbe resistance to penicillins and ceporin were studied . It was found that the beta-lactamase of Proteus had low activity and were produced by both beta-lactamide resistant and sensitive clinical strains of Proteus . The resistant cultures of Proteus produced enzymes more frequently (3.4--5 times) than the sensitive ones . The synthesis of beta-lactamase in the clinical Proteus strains was inducable . The high induction coefficient was achieved only in the presence of high concentrations of the inductor . No significant dependence of the culture sensitivity level of ampicillin and ceporin on the induction level was observed . The most significant part of the constitutive enzyme in Proteus was intracellular, while that of the inducable enzyme was extracellular . No correlative dependence between the culture resistance levels to penicillins and ceporin and the enzyme activity was noted . The beta-lactamase activity was not found in the transconjugants with the in vitro acquired R-factor controlling the ampicillin and ceporin resistance, as well as in the resistant mutants selected on the media with increasing concentrations of the above antibiotics . Induction of beta-lactamase synthesis was not found in these strains either . The ability of Proteus to synthesize beta-lactamase can be lost on the strain storage under laboratory conditions which was not always accompanied by reduction of the culture sensitivity to ampicillin and ceporin . The enzymatic destruction of beta-lactamides was not the main mechanism of Proteus resistance to the above antibiotics.

Rofo, 1978 Mar, 128(3), 283 - 6
{Concentration of antibiotics in long term embolized kidneys (author's transl)}; Bischoff W et al.; In 7 dogs renal arterial embolization was performed using Seldinger technique and inflatable Swan Ganz balloon catheter by injection of methyl methacrylate/butyl 2 cyano acrylat . Six months later tissue concentration of cefazolin was measured in the embolized and kontralateral kidneys and in serum two hours after a short infusion of 1 g of Cefazolin . The concentrations in serum and homogenized kidney tissue were determined by means of the agar well diffusion method . Angiography studies showed no vessels in the embolized kidneys . Histologically there was total atrophy of the tissue especially the tubular system . The mean tissue level of Cefazolin in the embolized kidney was 70% of serum . The tissue concentration was always above 10 microgram/g . This concentration is high enough to inhibit nearly all strains of E . coli, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Shigella and a large part of Proteus mirabilis, whereas nearly all gram-positive bacteria are inhibit at a lower concentration . Value and necessity of antibiotic therapy in embolized kidney cancer is discussed.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1978 Mar, 13(3), 394 - 8
Totally synthetic medium for susceptibility testing; Lawrence RM et al.; The results of disk diffusion and plate dilution susceptibility testing of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis on media gelled with agar-agar or with a synthetic hydrogel were compared . Synthetic hydrogel can be combined with a totally defined synthetic amino acid medium to yield a reproducible, totally defined, synthetic solid medium without the antagonistic or booster effects of some components of agar . Such a medium could be used as a reference medium for susceptibility testing.

J Infect Dis, 1978 Mar, 137(3), 251 - 60
Factors influencing the therapy of experimental Proteus mirabilis meningitis in rabbits; Strausbaugh LJ et al.; The therapy of Proteus mirabilis meningitis with gentamicin alone and in combination with chloramphenicol was studied in a rabbit model . Antibiotics were administered for 8 hr . Samples of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained simultaneously were assayed at 2-hr intervals for antibiotic concentration and counts of bacteria in CSF . The percentage of penetration ({concentration in CSF divided by concentration in serum} x 100%) of gentamicin ranged from 14% to 23%, but very large dosages were required to kill bacteria in the CSF . Although the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of gentamicin was 1 microgram/ml, killing in vivo occurred only when concentrations in CSF were 10--30 times the MBC . The high concentration required for bactericidal activity in vivo may be explained by the reduced pH of infected CSF (mean pH, 6.98; range, 6.69--7.18) . The bactericidal action of gentamicin was abolished by the simultaneous administration of chloramphenicol . Titers of bacteria in CSF were reduced 2.60 log10 (mean) with gentamicin therapy vs . 0.92 log10 (mean) with combination (P less than 0.01).

J Med Microbiol, 1978 Feb, 11(1), 59 - 61
p-nitrophenylglycerol--a superior antiswarming agent for isolating and identifying pathogens from clinical material; Senior BW; The antiswarming agent p-nitrophenylglycerol (PNPG) has been found invaluable for the recognition and isolation of pathogenic bacteria from specimens contaminated with swarming strains of Proteus spp . PNPG is cheap, stable and non-toxic . All strains tested grew well in its presence and produced characteristic morphology . PNPG was without effect on the results of a variety of identification tests performed directly on colonies from media containing PNPG . This permitted identification without the need for further subculture.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Feb, (2), 82 - 6
{Study of the immunological activity of blood in various rickettsial and viral infections}; Vinogradov VIa; The content of various types of antibodies were studied in the blood serum of laboratory animals in experimental tick-borne rickettsiosis of Northern Asia . This was done by a simultaneous staging of indirect hemagglutination, indirect hemolysis, compliment fixation under cold conditions, and agglutination with Proteus antigen OX19 tests . Immune horse sera to the influenza virus were also studied with the aid of several serological tests . The data obtained pointed to the significant differences in the properties of individual types of antibodies . Immunological activity of the sera under study depended on the correlation in them of various types of antibodies at various periods of the infectious process in combination with the influence upon the immunogenesis of the individual and species immunological reactivity.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1978 Feb, 31(2), 124 - 30
Pretreatment with colistin and Proteus sensitivity to other agents; Chapman DG et al.; The effects of pretreatment with colistin (polymyxin E) on the sensitivity of Proteus mirabilis, P . vulgaris and P . morganii strains to tris and sodium deoxycholate (DOC) have been studied . Pretreatment of two P . mirabilis strains (NCTC 60 and 4199) with low concentrations (0.25 approximately 1 microgram/ml) of colistin rendered them sensitive to lysis by tris (0.05M) or DOC (250 approximately 1,000 microgram/ml) although DOC induced lysis of control (non-colistin-treated) suspensions also . In contrast, the other P . mirabilis strains, as well as the P . vulgaris and P . morganii strains were little affected by tris (0.2M) or DOC (10,000 microgram/ml) even after exposure of the cells to high colistin concentrations (up to 500 microgram/ml) . Colistin-pretreated or control cells of P . mirabilis NCTC 60 rapidly lost viability when suspended in water but not when held in 0.16M sodium chloride solution . Ethylenediamine tetraacetate-pretreated cells of strains 60 and 4199 were fairly sensitive to tris, although the extent of the lysis was less than when colistin was used as pretreating agent . One strain of P . vulgaris (NCTC 4175) became sensitive to tris and to DOC following exposure of the cells to ampicillin.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Feb, 133(2), 729 - 36
Frequency of replication from alternative origins in the composite R plasmid NR1; Perlman D; The relative frequency of initiation of DNA replication within the RTF-Tc and r-determinant components of the composite drug resistance plasmid NR1 in Proteus mirabilis was evaluated . Using fractionated radioactively labeled plasmid DNA, analytical procedures that distinguished between the two components of the composite plasmid were carried out . A mixture of uniformly 14C-labeled and 3H-pulse-labeled plasmid DNA (pulse-labeled origin{s} of replication) was used in each of three experiments . First, shear products of the DNA were analyzed using CsCl density gradient centrifugation . Second, fragmented DNA was hybridized to nonradioactive RTF-Tc and r-determinant DNAs immobilized on nitrocellulose filters . Third, the radioactive plasmid DNAs immobilized on nitrocellulose filters . Third, the radioactive plasmid DNA was digested with restriction enzyme (EcoRI), producing a set of RTF-Tc and r-determinant fragments with differing 3H/14C isotpe ratios . The three experiments suggested that under the conditions used to accumulate replicating plasmid DNA molecules (DNA substrate limitation), the r-determinant origin of replication was preferentially utilized in the composite plasmid.

Arch Microbiol, 1978 Jan 23, 116(1), 35 - 40
Dimethyl sulfoxide as an electron acceptor for anaerobic growth; Zinder SH et al.; The isolation from lake mud of a bacterium which can use dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as an electron acceptor for growth is described . The isolate, called strain DL-1, was a small, gram negative, non-motile spiral . The sole product of DMSO reduction was dimethyl sulfide (DMS) . Other electron acceptors used by the isolate included sulfite, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, methionine sulfoxide, tetramethylene sulfoxide, nitrate, and oxygen (microaerophilically) . Sulfate was not reduced and could not even be assimilated . Lactate or succinate could serve as electron donors, with acetate as the main product . Hydrogen could be used as an electron donor if acetate was present in the medium as a carbon source . The organism has a c-type cytochrome, and most likely uses electron transport phosphorylation during DMSO reduction . Cultures of Desulfovibrio sp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris were tested for growth using DMSO as an electron acceptor, and only the Proteus strain grew . Both Proteus and strain DL-1 are versatile at coupling reductions with energy generation . There is a marked resemblance between strain DL-1 and the recently described sulfur-reducing spirillum of Wolfe and Pfennig.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1978, 26(1-6), 245 - 7
Studies of a receptor for FP3-phage in Salmonella minnesota R595; Zych K et al.; The adsorption rate constant of the phage FP3 to sensitive S . minnesota R595 strain was used to evaluate the inactivating capacity towards phage FP3 exhibited by isolated glycolipid and free lipid A . The results suggest that phage FP3 receptor is localized in the glycolipid structure . Phage FP3 is not adsorbed on the other Re mutant cells, Proteus R45, but respective products: glycolipid and free lipid A from R45 exhibitory the inhibition capacity towards phage FP3, comparable to the activity of the products derived from the host strain; the minimal PhI50 concentration of glycolipids is 7.8 and 15.6 microgram/ml respectively.

Eur Urol, 1978, 4(3), 157 - 61
Urinary lithiasis in children . A review of 155 cases; Mazeman E et al.; 155 children presenting with lithiasis have been studied . The study confirms other recent analyses: (1) Urinary lithiasis in the child is far more frequent than was previously thought . It is not always easy to diagnose because of the limited opacity of the calculi . (2) Its secondary nature is shown in 25% of the cases . (3) Its cause is still debated in spite of the evident part played by Proteus infection . (4) The prognosis is generally favourable.

Zentralbl Chir, 1978, 103(3), 129 - 37
{Resistance of pyogenic bacteria during a period of five years (author's transl)}; Arzt U et al.; The bacteriological results of 4113 clinical specimens (wound-swabs) were analysed . In 40 per cent of positive findings Staphylococcus aureus was isolated, furthermore, in decreasing frequency Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococci and haemolysing Streptococci . During this study a considerable quota of the examined strains was observed to show large fluctuation in sensitivity, but more than half of the isolates demonstrated increasing resistance against the chemotherapeutics tested . In order to reduce the development of resistance, our results ascertain the necessity for a scientific antibacterial therapy as well as the strict observance of hospital hygienic measures.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1978 Jan 1, 172(1), 66 - 8
Survey of conjunctival flora in dogs with clinical signs of external eye disease; Murphy JM et al.; Bacteria were isolated 68% of the time from the conjunctival sacs of 120 dogs with conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dacryocystitis, or corneal ulcerations . Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism (68%); when both eyes were affected, S aureus was recovered from 29% of the dogs; and in dogs with 1 eye affected, S aureus was isolated from 23% of the affected eyes and in 18% of the nonaffected eyes . Other organisms recovered from eyes were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus epidermidis (27%), beta-hemolytic streptococcus (19%), alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus (17%), Escherichia coli (10%), Bacillus spp (11%), and Proteus spp (7%) . It was concluded that S aureus may appear as a primary pathogen in ocular disease . When 1 eye is clinically affected, S aureus can be a potential invader of the normal eye.

Gerontology, 1978, 24(3), 208 - 19
Characteristics of the 'life spanning' phenomenon in Amoeba proteus . Independent nuclear and cytoplasmic ability to impose finite 'life span'; Widdus R et al.; Amoeba proteus given adequate food grows exponentially and clones of amoebae are normally immortal . After periods of food supply restriction to that necessary for maintenance, or food intake restriction by agitation, cells subsequently given a normal growth diet produce clones of finite life span . Reciprocal nuclear transfer between maintained and normal cells demonstrated that the nucleus and cytoplasm of maintained cells have acquired the independent ability to impose a finite life span on clones developing from cells whose other components are normal . In clones developing from maintained cells, inviable cell production is enhanced and inter-division times are prolonged . Inter-division times and clones mean doubling times do not show normal distribution.

J Bacteriol, 1978 Jan, 133(1), 430 - 2
Physical properties of plasmid Mor174, which determines bacteriocin production in Proteus morganii 174; Williams JA et al.; Plasmid Mor174 has a molecular weight of 3.6 X 10(6) and a buoyant density of 1.6994 g/cm3 . The covalently closed circular form has a sedimentation coefficient of 22S . These are 30 to 40 plasmid copies per genome equivalent, but growth in chloramphenicol results in amplification of the copy number to 600 . In Proteus morganii 174, Mor174 coexists with a cryptic plasmid of molecular weight 15.8 X 10(6) and a buoyant density of 1.7170 g/cm3.

Monatsschr Kinderheilkd, 1978 Jan, 126(1), 27 - 31
{Recognition of bacterial infections in newborns by measuring specific antibody-titres (author's transl)}; Muntean W et al.; Antibodies were measured in 172 unselected neonates against mixed polyvalent antigens derived from E . COLI, Klebsiella, Ps . aeruginosa and Proteus spp . respectively, using a modification of the indirect haemagglutination technique according to Neter . 120 of these neonates with no evidence of infection served as controls . 6 out of 8 children with proven E . coli septicaemia had either raised titres or significant rises in titre . Five further neonates with septicaemia, four due to Klebsiella and one to Pseudomonas, had pathologically raised titres as well . 8 out of 12 neonates with clinically suspected septicaemia in whom no pathogen was isolated from the blood or cerebrospinal fluid had raised antibody titres . Following premature rupture of the membranes 2 out of 3 neonates who subsequently developed proven E . coli septicaemia had raised antibody titres against E . coli even on the first day of life . These results suggest that the measurement of antibody titres can be a valuable aid to the diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1978, 28(9), 1539 - 41
{Bactericidal kinetics of cefazolin, cefoxitin and amikacin alone and in combination (author's transl)}; Shah PM et al.; The in vitro activity of cefazolin, cefoxitin und amikacin alone and in combination was determined via membrane filtration against E . coli (n = 2), K . pneumoniae (n = 2) and of cefoxitin and amikacin against Proteus vulgaris (n = 1) . Therapeutically achievable concentrations of cefazolin (10 micrograms/ml), cefoxitin (10 micrograms/ml) and amikacin (10 micrograms/ml) lead to a rapid bactericidal effect against all of our strains . The combination of cefazolin (10 micrograms/ml) and amikactin (5 micrograms/ml) and cefoxitin (10 micrograms/ml and amikacin (5 micrograms/ml) was synergistic against only one of the 2 K . pneumoniae strains . Cefoxitin and amikacin were antagonistic against the P . vulgaris strain but synergistic against both E . coli strains.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1978, 26(1-6), 239 - 43
Immunochemical studies on free lipid A from Proteus mirabilis 1959; Sidorczyk Z et al.; The chemical composition and serological activity of free lipid A from Proteus were studied . Only two fatty acids: myristic acid and 3-hydroxymyristic acid were detected . When calculated for glucosamine disaccharide unit, 2 moles of ester-linked and 1 mole of amide-linked fatty acid are present . Amino group of glucosaminyl residue is substituted by 3-hydroxymyristic acid . The occurence of an uncommon (4-aminoarabinose) substituent, attached outside the backbone, was noticed . The results of serological investigation indicate the great similarity between antigenic determinants of Proteus lipid A and Salmonella-type of lipid.

Vet Med Nauki, 1978, 15(6), 29 - 35
{Resistance of E . coli and bacteria of the genus Proteus to the thermal processing of perishable meat products}; Delchev Kh et al.; Experiments were carried out in six meat combines to establish the devitalization of Escherichia coli and bacteria of the Proteus genus at the thermal treatment of perishable meat products . Seventy series of experiments were conducted with 16 types of meat products of a different structure (homogenic and heterogenic), varying composition unequal diameter of the casings (3-4 am, 5-6 am, and 7-8 am), and different type of the latter--natural, paper, and cutis-lika . Twenty-four-hour agar cultures at a density of 10(5)-10(7) bacteria per gram of meat mass were used . In a series of experiments the temperature was dermined of the finished product when it reached 68 degrees C; in another group--after smoking and at various intervals during cooking; and in a third group of experiments the temperature was fillowed up during the entire thermal process, using thermo pairs . Studied was the heat resistance of the organisms tested under laboratory conditions, using the thermal curve in the production of meat products . The samples were investigated at the 24th, and 48th hour, and on the 5th day of room temperature storage . Results showed that devitalization of these organisms set in at 63 degrees C (E . coli) and 60 degrees (Proteus) . The composition and homogeneity of the meat mass and the diameter of casings were found to have no effect on the heat resistance of these organisms.

J Int Med Res, 1978, 6(6), 441 - 51
An overview of results of world-wide clinical trials with cefadroxil; Santella PJ et al.; Cefadroxil, a new semisynthetic oral cephalosporin, is absorbed similarly by fasted and non-fasted subjects, produces sustained serum levels and is eliminated at a relatively slow rate . These pharmacokinetic properties permit less frequent and more convenient dosage scheduling than cephalexin and cephradine and consequently greater patient compliance . Cefadroxil was evaluated for safety in 1051 patients and for efficacy in 1030 patients . Overall it achieved a 91.8% rate of clinical success resulting from 881 complete cures and sixty-five clinical cures . Among 363 patients with respiratory tract infections and 471 patients with genito-urinary tract infections, cefadroxil treatment produced 97.5% and 84.5% clinical success, respectively . In the remaining infectious diseases treated, cefadroxil therapy resulted in 99.0% clinical success . Cefadroxil eradicated 87% of 1110 pathogens isolated, among which the most predominant pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, beta-haemolytic streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis . Drug-related side-effects were reported in 7.2% of the patients.

Infection, 1978, 6(3), 105 - 10
Serotyping in epidemiological tracing of nosocomially acquired Proteus mirabilis in a geriatric ward; Larsson P et al.; Samples taken from patients, staff, and hospital milieu at intervals of two weeks for 41 weeks were analysed for nosocomial spread of Proteus mirabilis . Eighty-eight per cent of 3,519 colonies were serotyped into 21 0 groups . By O grouping and H typing, nosocomial spread of P . mirabilis could be demonstrated in several cases between patients in the same room . No spread between rooms was found . The acquisition of P . mirabilis between patients probably occurred as the result of cross-infection due to inadequate nursing technique.

Exp Pathol (Jena), 1978, 15(1), 34 - 7
Experimental pyelonephritis induced by L-forms of Proteus mirabilis in rats; Toshkov A et al.; Pyelonephritis was produced in 75 white rats by applying a 24-hour ligature on the ureter and by intravenous injection of a suspension of 5X10(9) cells of a stable Proteus mirabilis L-form . Pyelonephritis was proved microscopically in 44% of the animals . The revertants of the introduced L-form play an etiological role in the development of the infection . The stability of the pathohistological findings makes this model suitable for the purpose of experimental chemotherapy.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1978 Jan, (1), 27 - 30
{Bacteriocinogenic properties of Proteus}; Shvidenko IG; As revealed, bacteriocinogenia was widespread in bacteria of the Proteus genus (85 +/- 3.87%) . Proteus cultures isolated from various sources failed to differ by the number of bacteriocinogenic cultures and by bacteriocinogenic activity . Bacteriocinogenic cultures were mostly revealed among the Proteius mirabilis strains.

J Urol, 1978 Jan, 119(1), 134 - 7
Gram-negative endocarditis following cystoscopy; Marier R et al.; Patients with bacteriuria are at risk for local and distant infectious complications at the time of urologic procedures . The American Heart Association recommends that penicillin and streptomycin be given prophylactically to patients with rheumatic or congenital heart disease without reference to the presence or absence of bacteriuria . A patient with unrecognized calcification of the mitral annulus who underwent cystoscopy for evaluation of urinary retention is reported . Although bacteriuria was present preoperatively antibiotics were not given . Subsequently, Serratia marcescens and possibly Proteus morgani mitral valve infection developed and the patient died . Calcification of the mitral valve annulus and an extensive urinary tract infection were identified at autopsy . This case suggests that calcification of the mitral annulus may be an endocarditis risk factor . The spectrum of prophylactic antibiotic coverage given at the time of urologic procedures to patients with congenital or aquired heart disease, including calcification of the mitral annulus, should include whatever organisms are present in the urine.

Chemotherapy, 1978, 24(1), 55 - 60
Bladder instillations with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of urinary infection; Hachen HJ; 205 paraplegic inpatients with urinary infections were treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) bladder instillations (160 mg TMP 800 mg SMZ daily for 2 consecutive weeks) . 89.3% out of 84 patients with recent vertebral trauma and no history of previous urinary infection (group A), and 68.6% out of 121 patients with paraplegia since more than 2 years, severe chronic infection and various pathological conditions of the urinary tract (group B) were found to be sterile at the end of the trial . The intravesical concentrations of 3.2 mg/ml TMP and 16 mg/ml SMZ which are reached immediately after instillation are 50--100 times superior to the minimal growth-inhibitory concentrations for most sensitive germs as determined with agar dilution tests . Several strains of Klebsiella and Proteus which had previously proved resistant to oral treatment were eliminated with intravesical TMP-SMZ . The incidence of reinfection, evaluated 1 month after interruption of treatment, was particularly high (62.7%) in patients with known involvement of the upper tract of intravesical obstruction with postmicturition residuals above 75 ml . On the other hand, 28% only among the patients with recent spinal injury and integrity of the upper urinary tract became reinfected after the same interval . The absence of local intolerance could be confirmed in all 21 cystoscopically examined patients between the 6th and 11th day of treatment . Hematuria was never encountered . Systemic side effects were noted in 7.8% Serum concentrations of both drug components are being investigated; results will be published elsewhere.

Cornell Vet, 1978 Jan, 68(1), 51 - 9
The effects of low voltage current on healing of thermal third degree wounds; Dueland R et al.; Bilateral third degree burns were created on the flanks of eight miniature swine . Each animal had one side treated daily with low intensity direct (LIDC) of 400 microamperes (muA) by contact electrode for 2 hours morning and afternoon until healing occurred . The polarity of the electrode was negative in 4 pigs and positive in 4 pigs . One group of 4 pigs had the eschar surgically removed 24 hours post burn . Weekly biopsies and cultures were taken of treated and control wounds . Results indicated: local treatment of 400 muA LIDC did not hasten or delay healing of thermal third degree burns; escharectomy hastened wound healing by 10 days, and superficial proteus infection occurred in 80% of all wounds.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1978 Jan, 75(1), 261 - 5
Diphtheria toxin has the properties of a lectin; Draper RK et al.; The inhibition of protein synthesis in Chinese hamster V79 cells by diphtheria toxin is antagonized by the lectins concanavalin A, succinylated concanavalin A, and wheat germ agglutinin but not by Proteus vulgaris phytohemagglutinin or abrus agglutinin . The effects of concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin are reversed by methyl alpha-mannoside and N-acetylglucosamine, respectively . The inhibition of diphtheria toxin as a function of concanavalin A concentration fits a model of competitive inhibition with an apparent dissociation constant for concanavalin A of 3 X 10(-8) M . These results suggest that the diphtheria toxin receptor may be an oligosaccharide . To test this hypothesis, we screened several oligosaccharides for the ability to inhibit diphtheria toxin . The cell wall polysaccharide of Salmonella cholera suis and the ovalbumin glycopeptide were effective inhibitors . These studies suggest that diphtheria toxin may have the oligosaccharide binding properties of a lectin with specificity for N-acetylglucosamine and mannose.

Arzneimittelforschung, 1978, 28(10), 1661 - 4
{Effects of ampicillin and cefazolin combined with mecillinam (author's transl)}; Stille W et al.; Combination effects of mecillinam + ampicillin and mecillinam + cefazolin were investigated by the cross diffusion test and by the kinetics of bactericidal action . Synergism was found by cross diffusion in about 50% of strains of E . coli, Klebsiella and Proteus . Sensitivity against ampicillin was correlated with synergism . In mecillinam-resistant strains, synergism is usually absent . The combination of ampicillin or cefazolin with mecillinam leads to bactericidal acceleration; the effects are comparable to those of the combination with gentamycin . Mecillinam seems to be a clinically promising agent for combination chemotherapy . A simple test for synergism is desirable.

Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1978, 26(1-6), 233 - 6
Serological investigations on ribitol-containing lipopolysaccharides from Proteus mirabilis; Kotelko K et al.; Lipopolysaccharides containing or noncontaining ribitol derived from several Proteus mirabilis strains were studied using passive hemagglutination, hemagglutination-inhibition and semi-quantitative precipitin tests . The results indicate that ribitol plays a role in the serological specificity of the respective lipopolysaccharides.

Ann Anesthesiol Fr, 1978, 19(11-12), 915 - 8
{Antibiotic treatment in acute peritonitis}; Gouin F et al.; The selection depends on several factors and in particular: -the means of transport by which the antibiotic reaches the peritoneum : the aminosides and the betalactamines attain the peritoneum easily while the polymyxins do not; -the causative agent: most often it is a gram negative aerobic or anaerobic bacteria . The entero-bacteria predominate but in the last few years Bacteroides fragilis has been frequently encountered giving rise to numerous studies . The flora is most often polymicrobic . The betalactamines act on gram positive bacteria whether they are aerobic or anaerobic . The aminosides are active against aerobic gram negative bacteria . The same can be said for Colimycine (except for certain Proteus and Providencia) . All these antibiotics (other than carbenicillin) are not effective against Bacteroides fragilis which are however very sensitive to lincomycine, to the cyclines and in particular to doxycycline and to the derivatives of imidazole . The laboratory is an important aid in judging therapeutic effectiveness by determining the bacteriacidal strength of the serum and even the serum level of the antibiotic whatever the cause it is imperative: to avoid toxicity and to pay particular attention to the frequent problem of renal insufficiency in these subjects.

Lancet, 1977 Dec 17, 2(8051), 1252 - 4
Inhibition of phagocytosis in vitro by obligate anaerobes; Ingham HR et al.; A variety of species of obligate anaerobes have been shown to interfere with the phagocytosis and killing of Proteus mirabilis and other aerobic bacteria in vitro . Although all the obligate anaerobes examined showed this activity, the effect was greatest with strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus and B . fragilis . In contrast, none of the 36 aerobes tested acted in this way . These observations suggest that the presence of obligate anaerobes may be fundamental to the pathogenesis of some types of infections.

J Urol, 1977 Dec, 118(6), 910 - 1
Perinephric abscess: a review of 26 cases; Truesdale BH et al.; Herein we review 26 cases of perinephric abscess, analyzed according to incidence, etiology, laboratory findings, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, radiographic findings, operative procedures, mortality and associated diseases . Of the abscess cultures 67 per cent were gram-negative organisms, most commonly Proteus, and 76 per cent of the abscesses were directly attributable to renal causes, mainly nephrolithiasis . Diabetes mellitus occurred in only 3 of the 26 cases.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1977 Dec, 30(12), 993 - 8
{Clinical study of carfecillin in chronic urinary tract infection (author's transl)}; Hayahara N et al.; 1 . Ten patients with chronic urinary tract infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Proteus species were treated with carfecillin . Excellent response was seen in one case, fairly good in 5 cases and clinical effective rate was 60% . 2 . The recurrence suppression effect of carfecillin was examined in two patients suffering from complicated urinary tract infection . In both cases, recurrence was not found when carfecillin was administered for a week after the effective pretreatment of carbenicillin, but found when administered for two weeks . 3 . Side effects were observed in 3 cases (itching, tinnitus, diarrhea).

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1977 Dec, 165(5-6), 435 - 44
{Investigations on the antimicrobial activity of amin-aldehyde-condensates . 2 . Communication: unsymmetrically substituted animals of formaldehyde (author's transl)}; Rehn D et al.; In the scope of our research about the antimicrobial activity of aldehyde-amin-condensates a number of partly new unsymmetrically substituted animals was synthesized by reaction of formaldehyde with different secondary amines . Structures and physically constants are shown in the tables 1 and 2 . The antimicrobial activity is demonstrated by the results of the disktest (table 3), of the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC, table 4) and the suspension and area disinfecting tests following the method of the DGHM (tables 5 and 6) . For this testing a standardized formulation was used to eliminate the different solubility effects of the various animals . This formulation does not influence the test results . It may be shown, that unsymmetrically substituted animals have both germistatic activity mainly versus Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and germicidal activity especially versus Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Micosporum gypseum.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Nov 15, 81(1), 63 - 9
Reconstitution of model membranes from phospholipid and outer membrane proteins of Proteus mirabilis . Role of proteins in the formation of hydrophilic pores and protection of membranes against detergents; Nixdorff K et al.; Outer membrane proteins extracted from isolated cell walls of Proteus mirabilis were able to combine the cell wall phospholipids in a model membrane system . The presence of outer membrane proteins in vesicular model membranes mediated the release of previously entrapped {14C}sucrose while {3H}inulin was retained . Incorporation of lipopolysaccharide from the same cell walls was not required for the formation of such selectively permeable membranes . Three major outer membrane proteins of apparent molecular weights 39000, 36000 and 17000 were isolated using acetic acid and sodium deoxycholate solution as solvents and avoiding the strongly denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate . The isolated proteins were assayed for their ability to form hydrophilic pores in reconstituted membranes . The trypsin-sensitive 39000-Mr protein and the peptidoglycan-associated 36000-Mr protein were equally effective in this function whereas the 17000-Mr protein mediated little penetration of low molecular weight solute . The 39000-Mr and 36000-Mr proteins also protected reconstituted membrane vesicles from disruption by detergent while 17000-Mr protein was ineffective in this regard.

J Bone Joint Surg Br, 1977 Nov, 59-B(4), 452 - 7
Bacterial infection and acrylic cement in the rat; Elson RA et al.; In thirty-one rat tibiae, plugs of plain acrylic cement were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus; these all remained contaminated at the end of two weeks when the animals were killed . Inoculation with known strains of Pseudomonas, Proteus and Gp . G Streptococcus resulted in 70 to 93 per cent persisting contamination . Gentamicin, to which the organisms were fully sensitive, was efficacious in controlling the infection (90 per cent plugs proving sterile after two weeks) . Fucidin was less successful against Staphylococcus aureus although effective in vitro . Intravenous inoculation with a suspension of Staphylococcus aureus succeeded in contaminanting 70 per cent of sixty plain cement plugs when injected into the tail vein half an hour after closure of the leg wounds . Only 11 per cent of sixty-four plugs were so contaminanted when the injection was delayed for two weeks . This animal model is submitted as a possible future means of testing different antibiotic-cement combinations against infection.

Cell Biol Int Rep, 1977 Nov, 1(6), 511 - 5
Nuclear actin: an apparent association with condensed chromatin; Goldstein L et al.; In Amoeba proteus the concentration of actin is the same in the nucleus and cytoplasm . Certain characteristics, e.g., the ready loss of actin from isolated nuclei, suggest that the association with nuclei is normally not a tight one . Here we report, however, that when nuclei are isolated several hours after mitotic amebas are placed in actinomycin D (which allows normal progression of mitosis), the nuclei retain substantial amounts of actin . Since this finding correlates with other observations that the chromatin of such cells is extensively condensed, we suggest that a relationship may exist between actin and chromatin condensation.

Zh Vopr Neirokhir Im N N Burdenko, 1977 Nov-Dec, (6), 40 - 3
{Spinal cord influences on immune responses demonstrated following interruption of the spinal cord as a result of injury}; Kaplan AE; Specific and nonspecific immunity reactions were studied in dynamics in 126 patients with injury to the spinal cord, in 162 healthy persons (controls), and in 30 persons who had suffered injury to other organs . The serum agglutinins against the causative agents of infection of the urinary system (colibacillus, Proteus, enterococcus) and C-reactive protein were studied . Phases were revealed in the course of the immunologic reactions depending on the neurodynamics of the damaged spinal cord . The correlation established between the character of changes in the immunologic reactivity and the time elapsed after the injury, the level and the degree of damage to the spinal cord allows the conclusion that cerebrospinal effects are one of the links in the complex chain of central control of immunogenesis.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Nov, 30(11), 926 - 31
Nocardicin A, a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic IV . Factors influencing the in vitro activity of Nocardicin A; Kojo H et al.; Factors influencing the in vitro antimicrobial activity of nocardicin A against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis were investigated . Sodium chloride was identified as a major inhibitor . Some of the amino acids, sugars and divalent cations were found to be minor inhibitors . The presence of potassium phosphates enhanced nocardicin A activity against P . aeruginosa, but antagonized the activity against P . mirabilis.

Microbiol Immunol, 1977 Nov, 21(11), 621 - 9
Temperature sensitive R plasmids isolated from Proteus strains; Odakura Y et al.; Out of 32 R plasmids isolated from Proteus strains, 17 were found to be temperature sensitive with respect to inheritance in E . coli cells . They were fi- and classified into incompatibility group T or V . Cells carrying T group Rms273 plasmid were temperature sensitive with respect to growth and conjugal transfer in both E . coli and Proteus . The V group YOR-10 plasmid was stable in Proteus even at 42 C . However, the loss frequency of YOR-10 plasmid in E . coli reached 100% after 4 hr of incubation at 42 C, in spite of stable inheritance at 25 C . Conjugal transfer of the YOR-10 plasmid in E . coli was also strongly inhibited at 42 C . It has been concluded that instability of V group R plasmids in E . coli is due to their thermosensitive inheritance in the progeny cells at high temperatures.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Nov, 30(11), 932 - 7
Nocardicin A, a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic V . In vivo evaluation; Mine Y et al.; Nocardicin A is a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic which provides a potent therapeutic effect in mice experimentally infected with gram-negative bacilli . When given subcutaneously to mice, the therapeutic effect of the drug was stronger than had been anticipated from in vitro studies . Nocardicin A was more potent in therapeutic effect than carbenicillin against infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Pr . vulgaris, Pr . rettgeri and Pr . inconstans, and was similar in effect to carbenicillin against infections due to Escherichia coli in mice . In addition, nocardicin A proved to be active against infections due to Serratia marcescens and other organisms resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics . When nocardicin A was given subcutaneously to mice, blood and hepatic levels of the drug were higher than those of carbenicillin.

Vet Rec, 1977 Oct 29, 101(18), 359 - 60
An epidemic of venereal infection in thoroughbreds; O'Driscoll JG et al.; The clinical pattern, bacteriological investigation and subsequent treatment of a serious outbreak of venereal disease in stud farms on both sides of the Irish Sea is described . The consistency with which Bacillus proteus was isolated from infected mares and stallions was remarkable . Prompt treatment with ampicillin, to which the organism was sensitive in vitro, eradicated the disease . No local treatment was applied.

J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Oct, 102(2), 235 - 44
The Dienes phenomenon: identification of the determinants of compatibility; Senior BW; Two hundred and four isolates of swarming strains of Proteus species which had been typed for their ability to produce bacteriocin (proticine) and also their proticine sensitivity (P/S typing) were tested in all combinations for their Dienes compatibility with each other . Ninety-eight distinct Dienes compatibility groups were found . Physiological and genetic experiments supported the evidence of typing results that, irrespective of species, both the type of proticine a strain produces (P type) and the sensitivity of the strain to proticine (S type) were determinants of Dienes compatibility . Strains showing compatibility in the Dienes test were of the same P/S type, whereas those of different P/S types were incompatible.

Am J Ophthalmol, 1977 Oct, 84(4), 559 - 62
Papilledema in endemic typhus; Manor E et al.; A 21-year-old women developed severe bilateral papilledema during an acute febrile disease . Her optic disk margins were blurred and the disks were elevated up to 5 diopters . Splinter hemorrhages, cotton-wool exudates, cytoid bodies, and sheathing of veins were also present . The pyrexia was caused by murine typhus diagnosed by serologic tests . These tests revealed that Proteus OX-19 agglutination titer rose to 1:12800, and a positive complement fixation test titer was 1:640 with Rickettsia mooseri antigens . Neurological examination results, skull roentgenograms, brain scan, electroencephalogram, and the cerebrospinal fluid were all within normal range, thereby excluding intracranial hypertension . After the patient's recovery from the rickettsial disease, the papilledema abated gradually until her fundi reverted to normal.

Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 1977 Oct, 58(10), 427 - 30
Bacteriuria in patients with spinal cord lesions: its relationship to urinary drainage appliances; Newman E et al.; Urine cultures from spinal cord injuried patients demonstrate a high incidence of bacteriuria, with patterns of bacteriuria varying with the mode of drainage . The highest incidence of positive cultures occurs in patients with indwelling or suprapubic catheters, and the lowest in patients who are appliance-free . The organisms occurring most frequently differ from those of the general hospital population as reported by Needham, Smith and Matsen . There is an increase in the incidence of Pseudomonas, Proteus and Serratia and a decrease in the occurrence of E coli and Klebsiella . Sixty-four percent of the organisms occurred in concentrations of 100,000 col/ml or greater, and 65% of all positive cultures contained multiple species of organisms . Cultures taken from urinary collecting appliances and hands demonstrate possible sources of bacteriuria and the need for careful training and education of patients and their attendants and constant monitoring of urinary tract appliance care.

Ann Microbiol (Paris), 1977 Oct, 128(3), 309 - 17
{Microheterogeneity of R plasmid coded beta-lactamases in analytical isoelectric focusing (author's transl)}; Brive C et al.; Analytical isoelectric focusing of plasmid-coded beta-lactamases in polyacrylamide gels gives rise to several satellite bands in addition to one major active band (microheterogeneity) . When the R plasmids are transferred by conjugation into 4 different bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi-murium, Proteus mirabilis) the position of the main band remains constant, but the number and position of the satellite bands are changed . Furthermore, the minimal inhibitory concentrations of several beta-lactamines are also changed when the plasmids are transferred between these different host strains . These facts suggest that the bacterial host might modify the physical structure and the activity of plasmid-determined beta-lactamases . They also suggest that identification of beta-lactamases and comparison of their isoelectric focusing patterns should always be carried out using the same bacterial host strain.

Jpn J Antibiot, 1977 Oct, 30(10), 819 - 23
{Clinical efficacy of S-6436 in urinary tract infection (author's transl)}; Nakagawa K et al.; S-6436 was orally given to the patients mainly with uncomplicated acute cystitis at two divided doses for 7 days with the following results: 1) One or 2g/day of S-6436 were administered to the patients with 93.7% of effectiveness . There is almost no difference in effectiveness between 1 g and 2g dosages . 2) Bacteria in urine disappeared in 74% of the patients treated and superinfection occurred in 22% . The disappearance of the bacteria was observed in 83.3% of the patients with E . coli and 60% with Staph . epidermidis . The superinfection however was observed in 16.5% with E . coli and 33.3% with Staph . epidermidis . The disappearance of bacteria was observed in each one case with Klebsiella, Staph . aureus and Ps . aeruginosa . The superinfection was observed in 2 cases with Proteus . 3) Sensitivity tests on the organisms indicated that 94.4% of E . coli, 40% of Staph . epidermidis, Klebsiella and Staph . aureus were susceptible to the drug but Proteus and Ps . aeruginosa were not susceptible . 4) No remarkable side effects were observed, though digestive was used in several patients . From the above results, S-6436 is considered to be a useful drug which is expected to have as much effectiveness as regular cephalexin at two divided doses after breakfast and dinner.

Am Rev Respir Dis, 1977 Sep, 116(3), 541 - 3
Contamination of a fiberoptic bronchoscope with Proteus species; Weinstein HJ et al.; We have traced an episode of contamination of a fiberoptic bronchoscope with a Proteus species to an index patient . Bacterial cultures obtained by aspiration through the fiberoptic bronchoscope from 11 of 12 subsequent bronchoscopies in 8 additional patients grew a Proteus species with sensitivities similar to those of the initial isolate . Culture of the fiberoptic bronchoscopic specimen yielded an identical organism . There were no definitive ill effects in the patients . These findings necessitated a change in our fiberoptic bronchoscope disinfection protocol as well as development of culture surveillance mechanism to detect breaks in the cleaning procedure . The importance of this and avoiding potential outbreaks of fiberoptic bronchoscope-related infeciton is emphasized.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Sep, (9), 106 - 14
{Transmission of the R-plasmids and expression of their genes in Proteus mirabilis}; Kuptsova NV; Resistance markers to individual antibiotics are transmitted in E . coli with the same frequency in the shape of a uniform linkage group, and in Proteus mirabilis--with a different one . Possibly in Proteus mirabilis plasmide R6 dissociated, this being expressed in a different incidence of transconjugates, characterized by a different set of antibiotic resistance genes . Tetracyclin resistance gene can be transmitted in P . mirabilis without being bound with other resistance determinants and with the functioning Tra-operon . The expression of individual antibiotic resistance genes of plasmide R6 in P . mirabilis differed, i.e . tetracycline resistance was inducible, and to kanamycin and chloramphenicol--constitutional . The level of expression of the gene controlling the tetracycline resistance was in noninduced condition in P . mirabilis, lower than in E . coli, P . mirabilis containing no R-factor possessed an inducible resistance mechanism to tetracycline, as in case of P . mirabilis strains containing R-factors.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1977 Sep, 74(9), 3927 - 31
Terminus region of the chromosome in Escherichia coli inhibits replication forks; Kuempel PL et al.; Induction of prophage P2sig5 at 42 degrees caused replication of the bacterial chromosome in a dnaA mutant of Escherichia coli . The P2sig5 is integrated in this strain near the metG locus, which is at min 47 on the genetic map . The regions of the chromosome replicated after prophage induction have been determined by means of DNA-DNA hybridization with various DNAs obtained from Proteus mirabilis/E . coli F' merogenotes and from lambda specialized transducing phage . The replication was initiated at the prophage site and was bidirectional . Most of the replication occurred in a counterclockwise direction on the genetic map, and the replication quickly proceeded to the aroD locus (min 37) . The replication forks were retarded between aroD and rac (min 31) loci, although the rac locus was finally replicated . A more severe inhibition of replication occurred between the rac and trp (min 27) loci . It is proposed that the replication terminus is near the rac locus and that the terminus inhibits replication forks.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 6(3), 202 - 8
Assessment of technique for rapid detection of Escherichia coli and Proteus species in urine by head-space gas-liquid chromatography; Hayward NJ et al.; A test depending on the production of ethanol by Escherichia coli from lactose and dimethyl disulfide by Proteus spp . from methionine in the early exponential phase of growth and the detection of these products by head-space gas-liquid chromatography has been applied to 75 specimens of urine selected to provide the most stringent trial of the test . The test was found to be rapid and reliable for the commonest findings in the microbiological examination of urine . In 3 to 4 h it detected "significant" numbers (greater than 10(5)/ml) of E . coli or of Proteus mirabilis or P . inconstans A, identified as Proteus spp., in 23 urines . It recorded the absence of infection from 32 urines containing borderline or "not significant" numbers of any organism . Significant numbers of other organisms in 13 urines were not mistaken for E . coli or Proteus spp . However, the test was less successful for some less common findings . Klebsiella ozenae in significant numbers in one urine was mistaken for E . coli . P . morganii in significant numbers in one urine was not detected . E . coli or P . mirabilis mixed with significant numbers of another organism were not detected in four out of five urines . The technique is simple and could be automated . It appears to merit more extensive trial in a hospital laboratory and further development to detect and correctly identify more species that cause urinary tract infections.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 6(3), 195 - 201
Development of specific tests for rapid detection of Escherichia coli and all species of Proteus in urine; Hayward NJ et al.; Proteus mirabilis was distinguishable from Escherichia coli and from several other species that may be associated with urinary tract infections when grown in a nutrient medium supplemented with 0.1 M L-methionine by the formation of large amounts of dimethyl disulfide and methyl mercaptan, which were detected by head-space gas-liquid chromatography (HS-GLC) . E . coli could be detected by the same HS-GLC technique by ethanol production from methionine peptone water enriched with 1% either lactose or arabinose but not by any product from 10 amino acids tested . Ethanol from lactose was detected early in the exponential phase of growth . Significant numbers, 10(5) or more per ml, of E . coli in urine could be detected in about 5 h by ethanol production from an unshaken culture of urine in lactose methionine peptone water buffered at pH 7.2 (urine test medium); only a trace of dimethyl disulfide was produced . Significant numbers of P . mirabilis in urine could be detected in 4 h by dimethyl disulfide production and in 5 h by methyl mercaptan production from a shaken culture of urine in urine test medium; no ethanol was produced . Incubation of urine specimens in the test medium followed by examination by HS-GLC is proposed as a rapid method of detecting whether or not the urine contains significant numbers of E . coli or a species of Proteus.

J Clin Microbiol, 1977 Sep, 6(3), 187 - 94
Methyl mercaptan and dimethyl disulfide production from methionine by Proteus species detected by head-space gas-liquid chromatography; Hayward NJ et al.; Head-space gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to detect and identify products formed by Proteus vulgaris, P . mirabilis, P . morganii, and P . rettgeri from a defined medium supplemented with either phenylalanine, methionine, valine, leucine, histidine, lysine, ornithine, threonine, asparagine, aspartic acid, or tryptophan . In a detailed study of the products formed by 68 strains of Proteus spp . from L-methionine, the production of large amounts of both dimethyl disulfide and methyl mercaptan was found to be a characteristic of the genus . Both sulfur products appeared within a few hours of inoculation . Dimethyl disulfide was a more sensitive indicator of growth than the spectrometric determination of optical density . This suggests that it could be useful for the rapid, automated detection of any species of Proteus.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Sep, 131(3), 726 - 34
Purification and properties of beta-lactamase from Proteus morganii; Fujii-Kuriyama Y et al.; The cephalosporin beta-lactamase was purified from a strain of Proteus morganii that showed resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and produced the enzyme constitutively . The purified enzyme preparation gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and consisted of a single polypeptide of molecular weight 38,000 to 40,000 from gel filtration of Sephadex G-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis, its isoelectric point being pH 7.2 No cysteine residue was found in its amino acid composition . The specific activity was 190 mumol/min per mg of the purified enzyme protein for the hydrolysis of cephaloridine, the optimal pH was about 8.5 and the optimal temperature was 50 degrees C . Antibodies against the purified beta-lactamase inhibited not only the enzyme activity of the purified preparation, but also the enzyme activity of all of the other strains of P . morganii so far tested, regardless of whether the modes of their production were inducible or constitutive . None of the beta-lactamases produced by beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant strains of other species of Proteus was affected at all by the antibodies, thus showing that the purified cephalosporin beta-lactamase was of the species-specific type . The enzymological properties of the preparation have been compared with those of beta-lactamases derived from other gram-negative enteric bacteria.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Sep, 78(2), 541 - 6
A new factor from enteric bacteria of rats amplifying induction of liver enzyme by glucocorticoid . 2 . Mechanism of action; Kido H et al.; 1 . An amplifier of the action of glucocorticoid was purified from Proteus mirabilis as described previously . It was found that it amplified the induction of liver tyrosine aminotransferase by dexamethasone markedly with doses of dexamethasone that caused minimal enzyme induction, but had little effect with doses that caused maximal induction . Thus the amplification may represent a saving of glucocorticoid . The amplification of enzyme activity was brought about by increase in amount of enzyme . 2 . The amplification was observed when the amplifier was administered before or with dexamethasone, but not when it was given 2 h after dexamethasone . These results and the finding that actinomycin D inhibited the amplification indicate that the amplifier does not act on the translational level of enzyme induction . 3 . It was found that the amplifier increased both incorporation of {3H}dexamethasone into the cytosol and binding of {3H}dexamethasone of cytosol protein and that it decreased decay of the {3H}dexamethasone-protein complex.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Sep, 78(2), 533 - 9
A new factor from enteric bacteria of rats amplifying induction of liver enzyme by glucocorticoid . 1 . Purification, properties and biological action; Katunuma N et al.; 1 . A factor, which amplifies the inductions of several liver enzymes by glucocorticoid, was partially purified from Proteus mirabilis from rat intestine . The factor (amplifier) was completely inactivated by alpha-glucosidase, but not by other glycoside hydrolases, proteases, nucleases or phosphatases tested; it was also hydrolysed by HCl with liberation of reducing sugars . Thus the oligosaccharide in this factor seems to be essential for the amplification . 2 . In adrenalectomized rats the amplifier increased the inductions of several liver enzymes, such as tyrosine aminotransferase and leucine aminotransferase, by glucocorticoid . But it did not amplify the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase by glucagon or insulin or the activities of enzymes that are not induced by glucocorticoid . The amplifier by itself did not have any glucocorticoid-like action in adrenalectomized rat . These results show that the amplifier specifically increases the inductions of liver enzymes by glucocorticoid . 3 . Since similar amplification was also observed in isolated perfused liver and cultured hepatoma cells in vitro, the amplifier seems to act directly on the target organ or cells.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1977 Aug 15, 171(4), 362 - 3
Antibacterial sensitivity patterns of bacteria isolated from dogs with otitis externa; Blue JL et al.; From January, 1973, to December, 1975, the most prevalent microorganisms isolated from ear swab specimens taken from 323 dogs with otitis externa were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus spp . Comparison of the antibiograms of these isolants to those reported from England in 1961 and from the United States in 1970 suggested emergence of a greater proportion of bacterial strains with resistance to antibacterial agents commonly used to treat otitis externa of dogs.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1977 Aug 15, 171(4), 358 - 61
Penicillin G or ampicillin for oral treatment of canine urinary tract infections; Ling GV et al.; Penicillin G or ampicillin was administered orally to 144 dogs with urinary tract infections . The daily dosage of penicillin G ranged from 110,000 to 165,000 U/kg (50,000-75,000 U/lb), and the dosage of ampicillin varied from 77 to 110 mg/kg (35-50 mg/lb) . The daily dose of each antibiotic was divided into 3 or 4 doses and given at approximately 8- or 6-hour intervals for 10 to 14 days . Response to treatment, based on results of urine culture, varied from no response for infections caused by Pseudomonas spp to 100% response for those caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp . About 50% of infections caused by Escherichia coli were eliminated, as were about 80% of those due to Proteus mirabilis . Mean concentrations of penicillin G and ampicillin in urines collected at 6-hour intervals after oral administration to clinically normal adult dogs were approximately 350 microgram/ml for both drugs when each was given individually in daily dosages (divided QID) of 55 mg/kg (25 mg/lb) . The minimum inhibitory concentration of penicillin G for a number of the bacteria isolated from the urine of the infected dogs was compared with the results of the clinical trials and to the minimum inhibitory concentration of a larger number of urinary bacterial isolates.

Immun Infekt, 1977 Aug, 5(4), 138 - 41
{Nosocomial infections of the urinary tract by Proteus rettgeri (author's transl)}; Bauernfeind A et al.; Out of urine samples from 170 male patients strains of the genus Proteus with atypical biochemical characteristics and extensive corresponding multiresistance were isolated . Their significance as causative agents in urinary tract infection looks to be established as well as their ability of transfer by cross infection . Because of this we are concerned with the epidemiological occurrence of a special biotype of Proteus rettgeri as a causative agent in urinary tract infections.

Cell Differ, 1977 Aug, 6(2), 105 - 10
Binding of {125I}concanavalin A by interspecific amoeba hybrids; Chatterjee S; Two types of interspecific amoeba hybrids, viz . PnIc (Amoeba proteus nucleus in A . indica cytoplasm) and InPc (A . indica nucleus in A . proteus cytoplasm), were tested for their {125I}Concanavalin A (Con A) binding activity at different periods of time . The cell surface binding of the labelled Con A was reduced to approx . 40 and 75% in the PnIc and InPc cells, respectively, 96 h after the cells were made hybrids . A significant increase in the binding of radioactive Con A was observed after the homologous nucleus was back transferred into InPc cells, but not in PnIc cells . No significant difference in the binding of the radioactive Con A was found between the progeny of the hybrid amoebae and the control amoebae . The Con A binding activity of the interspecific amoebae has been discussed in relation to the changes in the cytoplasmic membrane structures which presumably play a role in the formation of cell surface in the amoebae.

Arch Surg, 1977 Aug, 112(8), 934 - 6
Subphrenic abscess . The new epidemiology; Wang SM et al.; Recent changes in the etiology, topography, and bacteriology of subphrenic abscess are identified in 93 patients treated between 1955 and 1975 . Gastric and biliary tract operation account for 52% of abscesses . Appendicitis is now responsible for only 8% of subphrenic infections, in contrast with the 40% of previous reports . Colonic surgery (19%) and trauma (8%) are increasing in importance . Left-sided abscesses occur in 40%, and multiple space abscesses in 20% of patients . The bacterial flora consists of multiple strains of aerobic and anaerobic organisms . Since 1970, the aerobes have been Escherichia coli (96%), Klebsiella (21%), and Proteus (38%); anaerobes include Bacteroides (83%), cocci (50%), and clostridia (50%) . The mean interval from the preceding operation until drainage of the subphrenic abscess was 5.5 weeks . Overall mortality was 31%, with higher mortalities for multiple space involvement (39%) and for abscesses developing after emergency procedures (35%) . Recommendations based on this data are: (1) antibiotics selected should be effective against anaerobes, and (2) transperitoneal drainage is frequently indicated because of the increase in multiple abscesses and the need to evaluate the first operation.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Aug, 22(8), 712 - 5
{Antibiotic sensitivity of the causative agents of suppurative surgical infection}; Gorshevikova EV; Sensitivity of 1492 strains of the causative agents of the surgical purulent infections, i . e . pathogenic Staphylococcus, Proteus, Ps . aeruginosa and E . coli to benzylpenicillin, streptomycin, levomycetin, tetracycline, erythromycin, oleandomycin, monomycin, kanamycin, novobiocin, ampicillin, oxacillin, ceporin, gentamicin and rifampicin was studied . Gentamicin was most active against all the bacterial species tested . The staphylococci were in addition sensitive in a high percentage of the cases to rifampicin, novobiocin, ceporin, monomycin and kanamycin . The isolates of E . coli were in addition sensitive to ceporin, monomycin and kanamycin . Sensitivity of the strains of Ps . aeruginosa and Proteus was low to all of the antibiotics except gentamycin . Most of the strains of the causative agents of the surgical purulent infections were multiresistant to 4 antibiotics . The number of the staphylococcal strains sensitive to benzylpenicillin, streptomycin and levomycetin increased in 1976 as compared to 1975 on the background of a limited use of these antibiotics in clinics.

Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1977 Aug, 358(8), 945 - 8
Preparation of (S)2-methylsuccinate and (2S,3S) {2,3-2H}2-methylsuccinate by biohydrogenation of 2-methylfumarate; Krezdorn E et al.; 2-Methylfumarate can be hydrogenated by resting cells of Proteus mirabilis under an atmosphere of hydrogen gas . Optically pure (S)2-methylsuccinate is formed in a yield greater than 95% . The hydrogen addition, presumably catalyzed by the fumarate reductase, occurs in a trans fashion, as with succinate dehydrogenase of mammalian systems . Only one reactive enzyme-substrate complex with 2-methylfumarate seems to be possible.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Aug, 22(8), 747 - 9
{Use of ampicillin trihydrate in transplantation surgery}; Vasina TA et al.; Ampicillin trihydrate was used for the treatment of 29 patients with purulent inflammatory processes, such as peritonitis, suppurating operative wound, urinary tract infection after the kidney allotransplantation . The antibacterial activity of ampicillin was preliminarily tested on 517 microbial strains, i.e . staphylococci, streptococci, E . coli, Proteus and Ps . aeruginosa isolated from the surgical patients . The strains of penicillin sensitive staphylococci, streptococci and E . coli were most sensitive to the drug effect, the MIC ranging from 0.03 to 16 gamma/ml . It was shown that the blood retention time of the antibiotic was much more prolonged in the patients with a decreased excretion function of the kidneys . The treatment was performed under control of the clinical, bacteriological and biochemical parameters . The drug was used in a dose of 0.5 g 6--8 times a day for 5 to 15 days . A satisfactory therapeutic effect was registered in 73 per cent of the cases.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Aug, 22(8), 743 - 7
{Efficient use of gentamycin in treating suppurative puerperal mastitis}; Akhmed'ianova GU et al.; A total of 80 patients with postnatal purulent mastitis were treated with gentamicins . The main causative agent was Staph . aureus resistant to the traditionally used antibiotic and sensitive to gentamicin, fusidin, rifampicin and semisynthetic penicillinase-stable penicillins . Gramnegative bacteria contaminated the purulent foci after opening . Gentamicin was highly effective in treatment of postnatal purulent mastitis in cases with mixed Staphylococcus-Proteus infection.

J Bacteriol, 1977 Aug, 131(2), 689 - 92
Influence of rec and pol genes on the maintenance of a Proteus plasmid (P-lac) in Escherichia coli; Ambrosio RE; The maintenance requirements of a Proteus plasmid, P-lac, in Escherichia coli have been investigated . P-lac could not be inherited by recB and polA1 mutants, and it requires a functional recC gene for maintenance . P-lac replication was inhibited by chloramphenicol.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Aug, (8), 41 - 5
{Biological characteristics of Proteus strains isolated from water sources in the Azerbajiani SSR}; Akhundov VIu et al.; Biological characteristics of 102 Proteus strains isolated from the water bodies is given . The strains studied were referred to Pr . mirabilis, more rarely to Pr . vulgaris; about half of the cultures deviated from these biological types by the signs of indol formation and maltose fermentation . Proteus of groups O3, O5, O13, O23, and O30 were revealed in studying the serological characteristics . All the cultures were polyresistant, nonbacteriocinogenic; most of them were sensitive to the wide colicine spectrum . One strain produced a cytopathogenic action on the tissue culture.

Mol Gen Genet, 1977 Jul 20, 154(2), 135 - 44
Comparative studies of RNA polymerase subunits from various bacteria; Fukuda R et al.; The molecular structure of RNA polymerases from Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella anatum,serratia marcescens, Aerobacter aerogens, Proteus mirabilis and Bacillus subtilis were compared based on:i) inhibition of the enzyme activity by treatment with antibodies against E . coli RNA polymerase subunits;ii) analysis of antibody precipitates by sodium ododecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; and iii) analysis of antibody precipitates by urea-isoelectrofocusing followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-slab gel electrophoresis in the second dimension . All the bacterial RNA polymerases examined cross-react equally with anti-E . COLI HOLOPOLYMERASE BUT EXHIbit different extents of cross-reaction with antibodies against individual subunits . Except for B . subtilis RNA polymerase, the molecular weight and isoelectric point of the enzyme subunits are close to those of E . coli polymerase . However, minor difference were found at least within the resolution of the techniques employed:S . anatum polymerase has sigma subunit larger than E . coli sigma subunit; P . mirabilis enzyme has sigma subunit larger in size and more acidic in charge, and alpha subunit smaller and more basic than corresponding E . coli subunits . The electrophoretic map of B . subtilis enzyme subunits is completely different from that of E . coli enzyme.

J Antimicrob Chemother, 1977 Jul, 3 Suppl B, 137 - 40
A comparison of pivmecillinam and cotrimoxazole in the treatment of simple cystitis in general practice; Guttmann D; Pivmecillinam was compared with cotrimoxazole in the treatment of uncomplicated bacterial cystitis in general practice . Similar bacteriological cure rates were obtained with the two treatments . Although micrococci were judged resistant to pivmecillinam by the disc sensitivity method used, cystitis attributed to these organisms and to resistant strains of Proteus mirabilis responded as readily as those due to apparently sensitive Gram-negative bacteria . Pivmecillinam was well tolerated.

J Urol, 1977 Jul, 118(1 Pt 1), 76 - 9
Staghorn calculi in children; Bartone FF et al.; Nineteen children who underwent extensive nephrotomies and anatrophic nephrotomies for staghorn calculi (bilateral in 4 cases) are presented . Proteus infection was the cause of the calculus in most cases . In the absence of recurrent stones, renal growth and function were excellent post-operatively . Stone recurrence was minimal if all calculi were removed and infection was controlled . Followup ranged from a few months to 13 years.

Lepr India, 1977 Jul, 49(3), 322 - 9
Plantar ulcers with osteomyelitis underneath . A bacteriological study; Palande DD et al.; 39 consecutive cases of plantar ulcers with underlying chronic osteomyelitis admitted in the Sacred Heart Hospital during 1975/1976 were studied for the infecting organisms and their sensitivity to easily available antibiotics . Single organism was iasolated in only 10 cases, the infection in the rest being a mixed one . The commonest organisms were Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Proteus mirabilis . In a few cases Pseudomonas and E-Coli were also isolated . Chloramphenicol was the most effective antibiotic in general and Streptomycin the least . 70% of the staphylococcus strains isolated were found to be resistant to Penicillin . Empirical use of antibiotics especially Penicillin and Streptomycin is hence deprecated.

Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1977 Jul, (7), 67 - 70
{Morphologic characteristics of spheroid elements in a culture of bacterial L-forms according to scanning electron microscopy findings}; Kats LN et al.; The authors studied stable L-cultures of Proteus valgaris, Bac . subtillis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes of group A, and also unstable cultures of the L-forms of Proteus vulgaris and Proteus vulgaris culture at the stage of spheroplasts . Spheroid cells proved to appear at the stage of spheroplasts, prevailed at the log phase in stable and unstable L-cultures, but were less frequent at the stationary phase . Cross section of L-colonies showed that they were located at the surface . The size of spheroid elements was from 1 to 5 micron; their surface was smooth or slightly wrinkled with numerous protrusions and individual sockets . The spheroid cells were distributed in the colonies freely, in clusters, or were connected to one another by anastomosis . Several methods of reproduction of spheroid cells are described, including equal and unequal binary fission, budding, and formation of elementary bodies within the cell . Morphological connection of spheroid cells with large bodies, filamentous structures and structureless matrix of the L-colony apparently pointed to their origin from the corresponding elements of the L-cultures.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Jul, 136(1), 100 - 3
Differential susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis to mouse urine and to urea; Hadas H et al.; The purpose of this investigation was to compare the antimicrobial properties of mouse urine and of urea against Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis . Nornal urine was found to inhibit the growth of E . coli and P . mirabilis, whereas urine from diuresing animals permitted multiplication of these bacteria . Addition of urea to urine from diuresing animals restored its bactericidal effect on P . mirabilis but not on E . coli . This bactericidal effect on P . mirabilis was dependent on the additive action of high content of urea and high pH and was prevented by the addition of urease inhibitor.

Infect Immun, 1977 Jun, 16(3), 983 - 94
Biological and physicochemical properties of the lipopolysaccharide of Chromatium vinosum; Hurlbert RE et al.; The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Chromatium vinosum has anticomplementary activity . This anticomplementary activity is destroyed by alkaline digestion of the LPS and is suppressed by both Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions . Treatment of the LPS with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, sodium deoxycholate, or dimethyl sulfoxide did not affect its toxicity toward mice; however, alkaline-treated LPS was not toxic . Treatment of the LPS with sodium deoxycholate, dimethyl sulfoxide, or sodium dodecyl sulfate resulted in reversible dissociation into subunits . Aggregation of the subunits into the original form was achieved by removing the dispersing agent by dialysis against distilled water followed by freezing and thawing . Electron micrographs of phenol-extracted LPS showed long filaments . Electron micrographs of sodium deoxycholate- and sodium dodecyl sulfate-treated and dialyzed LPS showed a mixture of small subunits and short filaments, whereas dimethyl sulfoxide-treated and dialyzed LPS contained only small ovoid spheres . The LPS produced an ordered series of multiple bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . A similar banding pattern was observed for Salmonella abortus-equi and Proteus mirabilis LPS . The C . vinosum LPS appears to be mitogenic for mouse spleen cells.

Am J Med, 1977 Jun, 62(6), 889 - 93
Treatment of hospita-acquired infections with amikacin; Doughty SC et al.; Amikacin was used in the treatment of 56 serious gram-negative infections in 54 patients of whom 47 survived . In six of the seven nonsurvivors, the infections were under control at the time of death . The clinical isolates were multiple drug-resistant gram-negative organisms, with Proteus rettgeri being most common . Forty-five (80%) of these infections were nosocomial in origin, and the genitourinary tract was the source in 39 (70%) . Complications directly related to amikacin therapy were few and suggested renal or otologic toxicity . In this series of patients, amikacin appeared to be of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of serious gram-negative infections.

Postgrad Med, 1977 Jun, 61(6), 113 - 6
Interdigital athlete's foot: new concepts in pathogenesis; Leyden JJ et al.; In our view, interdigital athlete's foot usually begins with invasion of the horny layer by dermatophytes . Because of hot weather, sweating, exercise, or tight shoes, enough moisture accumulates to stimulate an overgrowth of bacteria . Large numbers of normally resident aerobic diphtheroids cause the common wet, macerated type of athlete's foot, while an overgrowth of Gram-negative organisms, such as Pseudomonas and Proteus, is responsible for the more serious cases . The dry, scaly type (dermatophytosis simplex) often alternates with the wet, macerated type (dermatophytosis complex) . Flare-ups are common in summer and can be experimentally induced by occlusion of fungus-infected feet . Suppression of bacteria is essential in treating symptomatic athlete's foot . This can be accomplished by exposing the feet to air (eg, wearing sandals) to enhance evaporation of water and prevent the accumulation of excess moisture that stimulates bacterial overgrowth . Topical antibiotics are another approach, with the ideal perhaps being an agent with both broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity . The newer imidazoles are broad-spectrum compounds but have limited activity against Gram-negative organisms . Our agent of choice, aluminum chloride, combines broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with chemical drying, a two-pronged attack . We view drying as the decisive element . We doubt that any local treatment can permanently eradicate athlete's foot . Potent antifungal agents can virtually exterminate interdigital dermatophytes, but the inevitable presence of infection in the nails or on the soles assures reinfection . In shoe-wearing populations living in temperate climates, interdigital athlete's foot is mainly a seasonal disease . The various therapies discussed provide a variety of approaches to prevent or ameliorate hot-weather exacerbations.

Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1977 Jun, 238(2), 251 - 4
Pelviperitonitis and bacteremia due to Bacteroides splanchnicus . Report of a case; Labbe M et al.; A case of pelviperitonitis and bacteremia due to Bacteroides splanchnicus is discussed . It occurred in a 56 year old obese woman who had a history of cholelithiasis and of asymptomatic myomatous uterus . B . splanchnicus was isolated from a blood sample drawn on admission, and from peritoneal pus found at laparotomy on the 11th hospital day . In the latter sample, the strain was associated to Proteus mirabilis . The organism was sensitive to all ten antibiotics tested, including penicillin G . Aminoglycosides were not studied . The patient, who received ampicillin made an uneventful recovery after cholecystectom and peritoneal drainage.

Infect Immun, 1977 Jun, 16(3), 748 - 53
Activation of complement by opportunist pathogens and chemotypes of Salmonella minnesota; Bjornson AB et al.; Washed cells of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella minnesota chemotypes (S, Rb, and Re) were tested for their ability to activate the alternative complement pathway (ACP) . Parameters of ACP activation were (i) conversion of C3 in 10 mM ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N1-tetraacetic acid-treated human serum supplemented with 2.5 mM MgCl2, (ii) lysis of glutathione-treated human erythrocytes in the presence of human serum, and (iii) C3 to C9 consumption in C4-deficient guinea pig serum . With the exception of S . minnesota Re and S . aureus, all of the strains were highly active in the test systems when compared with inulin . S . minnesota Re and S . aureus initiated C3 conversion in untreated human serum, suggesting that these microorganisms were capable of activating complement by a mechanism other than the ACP . These results provide direct evidence for ACP activation by opportunist gram-negative bacilli and refute the hypothesis that the lipid A moiety of the lipopolysaccharide cell wall is responsible for ACP activation.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Jun, 22(6), 558 - 64
{Effectiveness of gentamicin sulfate in suppurative-inflammatory processes of varying localization}; Bogomolova NS et al.; Antibiotic sensitivity of 486 strains of grampositive and gramnegative organisms isolated from patients with purulent infections was studied in vitro . Gentamicin was shown to be highly active as compared to kanamycin and other antibiotics against the main causative agents of purulent inflammatory infections including multiresistant E . coli, Proteus, Ps . aeruginosa, Staphylococcus . High efficiency of gentamicin in therapy of peritonitis, septic conditions, purulent postoperative wounds, infections of the urinary tract, pneumonia, etc . (197 patients) was shown . Positive results were obtained in 87.4 per cent of the cases . Side effects, such as albuminuria, hyperthermic reaction, rash, pruritis were registered in 3 per cent of the patients.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1977 Jun, 74(6), 2518 - 22
Selective amplification of genes on the R plasmid, NR1, in Proteus mirabilis: an example of the induction of selective gene amplification; Perlman D et al.; The drug-resistance plasmid, NR1, is a 37-micron circular DNA molecule that contains two components: the resistance transfer factor (29 micron) carrying the transfer genes and the genes for tetracycline resistance, and the r-determinant (8 micron) carrying the genes for resistance to several other antibiotics including chloramphenicol (Cm) . In Proteus mirabilis, these two components are capable of independent replication, or they may replicate as a composite molecule . When cells of P . mirabilis containing NR1 are cultured in medium containing Cm at 250 microgram/ml a growth lag of 20-35 hr ensues . During this lag, Cm induces the selective amplification of the r-determinant, including the gene for resistance to Cm . The amplification results from the excision of the r-determinant from the R plasmid, the independent replication of the r-determinant to give polymeric as well as monomeric r-determinants, and the eventual reintegration of multiple tandem copies of the r-determinant with the resistance transfer factor to form a new R plasmid with multiple copies of the r-determinant . This mechanism represents a new level of control of gene expression in bacterial systems--namely, the induction of selective gene amplification.

J Cell Sci, 1977 Jun, 25, 387 - 402
The self-assembly of synthetic filaments of myosin isolated from Chaos carolinensis and Amoeba proteus; Condeelis JS; Synthetic myosin thick filaments were formed from preparations of electrophoretically homogeneous myosin isolated from Chaos carolinensis and Amoeba proteus when dialysed to physiological ionic strength and pH . Myosin dialysed directly against low ionic strength buffers formed native-like thick filaments in the presence and absence of exogenous divalent cations . The average dimensions of the synthetic filaments grown under these conditions were 455 nm long and 16 nm wide with a distinct bare central zone 174 nm long . Myosin predialysed against EGTA-EDTA solutions at high ionic strength and then dialysed to low ionic strength formed native-like filaments only in the presence of 1mM Mg2+ . 1 mM Ca2+ could not be substituted for Mg2+ under these conditions to achieve native-like filaments . Filaments grown from predialysed myosin in the absence of Mg2+ resembled EGTA-dissociated myosin filaments observed in EGTA-treated cytoplasm and were highly branched, poorly formed filaments lacking a distinct bare central zone . The average dimensions of the filaments grown from predialysed myosin in the absence of Mg2+ were 328 nm long, 13 nm wide with a bare central zone 111 nm long . Under the conditions tested, myosin isolated from these amoebae did not demonstrate a divalent cation requirement for thick filament formation . The results obtained with myosin isolated from the 2 organisms were identical.

Cell Tissue Res, 1977 May 16, 180(2), 139 - 54
Relationships between membranous organelles in amoebae studied by electron microscopic cytochemical staining; Flickinger CJ; The intracellular location of a variety of enzymes was studied in Amoeba proteus with the use of electron microscopic cytochemical methods, in an attempt to assess the relationships between different membranous organelles . One group of enzymes, including nucleoside diphosphatases (IDPase, UDPase, GDPase, ADPase), carbamoyl phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and BAXD oxidase was localized mainly in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear envelope, and convex side of the Golgi apparatus . Esterase activity had a similar localization except that the Golgi apparatus was "stained" throughout most of its extent . A second group of enzymes was found in Golgi cisternae and vesicles, and in come vacuoles . This group included acid phosphatase, thiamine pyrophosphatase, and aryl sulfatase . Some enzymes previously detected in cytoplasmic membranes of other cells, including glucose-6-phosphatase, showed little or no activity in amoebae . The results suggest that there are chemical similarities and probable functional relationships between the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the nuclear envelope, and the convex side of the Golgi apparatus . On the other hand, the concave pole of the Golgi apparatus, aggregates of smooth tubules and vesicles, and the cell surface appear more closely related to one another than to the endoplasmic reticulum and the convex side of the Golgi apparatus . The cytochemical similarity between the Golgi apparatus and certain vacuoles such as food vacuoles may reflect the role of the Golgi apparatus in the formation of lysosomes . The locations of reaction products of the various enzymes in amoebae are compared with observations reported for other cell types.

J Protozool, 1977 May, 24(2), 289 - 93
Effect of chloramphenicol on bacterial endosymbiotes in a strain of Amoeba proteus; Jeon KW et al.; The effect of chloramphenicol (CAP) on the bacterial endosymbiotes of a strain of Amoeba proteus was studied by growing the symbiotic amebae in media containing 0.5-1.6 mg/ml CAP for up to 4 weeks . Treatments with CAP caused such ultrastructural changes as expansion of the nuclear zone and deformation of symbiotes . The CAP treatment also damaged the mitochondria, e.g . disappearance of central and protrusion of peripheral cristae . Number of bacteria per ameba decreased to less than 10% of control in CAP-containing media, but no viable amebae became completely free of symbiotes . The results supported previous studies that amebae were dependent on endosymbiotes.

J Cell Biol, 1977 May, 73(2), 322 - 31
Small nuclear RNA localization during mitosis . An electron microscope study; Goldstein L et al.; The localization of small nuclear ribonucleic acids (snRNAs) during mitosis in Amoeba proteus was studied by high voltage (1,000 kV) electron microscope autoradiography . By suitable micromanipulations, the snRNA's, labeled with {3H}uridine, were made to be the only radioactive molecules in the cell and thus easy to follow autoradiographically . During interphase the snRNA label, which is almost exclusively nuclear, is distributed fairly uniformly through the nucleus with a slightly higher amount of label over chromatin than over nonchromatin areas . During prophase the snRNAs, which continue to be largely nuclear, become highly concentrated in the condensing chromosomes . At metapase, almost all of the snRNAs are cytoplasmic and essentially none are associated with the maximally condensed chromatin . Beginning in early anaphase, the snRNAs resume their association with the chromosomes, with the degree of association increasing throughout anaphase . Most of the snRNAs are back in the nuclei by telophase, but the intranuclear localization is hard to determine . We conclude that snRNAs have a great affinity for the partially condensed chromosomes of prophase and anaphase, but none for the maximally condensed chromosomes of metaphase . A minor amount of snRNA localizations in association with nucleoli and the nuclear envelope are also reported . On the basis of these findings a role of snRNAs in genetic "reprogramming" or chromosome organization is proposed.

Mikrobiologiia, 1977 May-Jun, 46(3), 525 - 8
{Study of the sequential stages of Proteus vulgaris L-transformation by scanning electron microscopy}; Kats LN et al.; Consecutive stages of L-transformation caused by penicillin in Proteus vulgaris were studied, from spheroplasts and unstable, easily reversing L-forms to stable L-forms which did not reverse . To maintain natural topography of the culture on the growth medium, millipore filters were placed on the surface of the medium and then were fixed with the culture . All the main elements of L-cultures were found at the stage of spheroplast formation, before the first passage onto the medium for cultivating L-forms, i.e . spherical cells having a diameter from 3.5 to 1 mcm, elementary bodies 1.0-0.6 mcm large, filamentous structures with a diameter to 4 mcm, large bodies having dimensions of 20 mcm and more, and "cell-free" masses . The composition of the structural elements and their reproduction are supposed to be almost the same in the bacterial culture and L-forms at the stage of spheroplast formation.

Antibiotiki, 1977 May, 22(5), 440 - 4
{Sensitivity of Proteus hauseri bacteria to chemotherapeutic preparations depending on the cultivation conditions and on the composition of the nutrient medium}; Shvidenko IG; Sensitivity of 227 Proteus strains isolated from patients was studied comparatively using the agar-diffusion method (disks) and the method of serial dilutions . Marked differences in the numbers of the strains resistant to benzylpenicillin and chloramphenicol were found with the above methods . It was shown that the ingredients of Ploskirev's medium significantly (by 2.8--13.5 times) inhibited the antibacterial activity of streptomycin, neomycin, monomycin, kanamycin, ampicillin and nalidixic acid and had practically no effect on the activity of benzylpenicillin, chloramphenicol and furazolidone . The values of the MIC of the drugs used in the experiment with liquid media correlated with those obtained with Sabouro's medium, which provided recommendation of the latter for determination of Proteus sensitivity by the method of serial dilutions in the solid medium, Cultivation of Proteus at a temperature of 40 degrees C resulted in a decrease of the resistance to most of the drugs tested by (by 3--12.4 times).

Am J Vet Res, 1977 May, 38(5), 565 - 7
Changes of resistance of enteric bacteria in mice given tetracycline in drinking water; Hooper DG et al.; Tetracycline given to mice via their drinking water for long periods changed the gram-negative enteric flora and increased the minimal inhibitory concentration of tetracycline for Proteus and Escherichia coli in the feces.

J Med Microbiol, 1977 May, 10(2), 241 - 4
Effects of biliary diversion on intestinal microflora in the rat; Burke V et al.; Certain bile acids inhibit the growth in vitro of organisms commonly found in the intestine and, in particular, anaerobic bacteria . As the importance of this effect in vivo has not been demonstrated, we investigated changes in intestinal flora in the rat after diversion of bile to the urinary bladder . Five days after operation there was an increase in numbers of Proteus sp . in the stomach, mid-jejunum and caecum and of coliform bacilli in the stomach and mid-jejunum . Lacto-bacilli were increased in the stomach . There was no change in numbers of anaerobic organisms . Similar changes in bacterial flora followed 5 days of pair feeding in control rats . Our results do not suggest a specific antibacterial effect of bile salts in the rat in vivo . The changes found are probably related to semi-starvation, because the food intake of the rats after operation was about half that of control rats having an unrestricted diet.

Scand J Dent Res, 1977 May, 85(4), 255 - 65
Susceptibility of various microorganisms to chlorhexidine; Emilson CG; The susceptibility to chlorhexidine of bacteria in aerobic, facultatively anaerobic and anaerobic isolates from clinical specimens of wounds, urine, saliva, and dental plaque was studied . Agar diffusion tests using 50 microng chlorhexidine discs and agar dilution tests were performed and the MIC values correlated with inhibition zone diameters . Anaerobic plaque strains were isolated and tested by the agar dilution method in an anaerobic glove box . Regression lines obtained for five agar media demonstrated a good correlation between zone diameters and MIC values . There was a broad range of susceptibility to chlorhexidine among both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains . Low MIC values were noted for staphylococci, S . mutans, S . salivarius and E . coli, while strains of Proteus, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella were less susceptible . S . sanguis showed intermediate susceptibility with both low and high MIC values . Among the anaerobic isolates tested, the strains most susceptible to chlorhexidine were Propionibacterium and Selenomonas, While the least susceptible strains were Gram-negative cocci resembling Veillonella.

Arch Sci Med (Torino), 1977 Apr-Jun, 134(2), 125 - 36
{Bacteriuria . Bacteriological diagnosis and sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents}; Grassi L et al.; In a brief introduction, methods for collecting urine and diagnosis criteria are reviewed . Data relative to a study of about 10,000 samples of urine from patients admitted to various departments of the Milan Ca' Granda Hospital in 1975 are then reported . The frequencies of the various species of bacteria isolated in cases of bacteriuria are reported . Those occurring most frequently were Proteus (40.7%) of whose four species, Proteus mirabilis and Proteus rettgeri cover almost all cases, and Escherichia coli (26.1%) . As for individual isolated microrganisms, the sensitivity to 13 chemotherapeutic agents was tested . E . coli, Klebsiella and Enterococcus demonstrated a high degree of sensitivity with respect to the majority of antibiotics considered.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Mar 15, 74(1), 171 - 80
The ribitol-phosphate-containing lipopolysaccharide from Proteus mirabilis, strain D52 . Investigations on the structure of O-specific chains; Gmeiner J; A soluble hydrophilic lipopolysaccharide, termed lipopolysaccharide II, isolated from Proteus mirabilis, strain D52 contained N-acetylglucosamine, glucose, galactose, ribitol phosphate and ethanolamine phosphate as constituents of the O-specific polysaccharide . Periodate oxidation studies were carried out on the polymer before and after dephosphorylation with hydrofluoric acid and on oligosaccharides derived from the polymer by partial acid hydrolysis . The results obtained indicate that the polysaccharide chain consists of the chemical repeating unit Gal-1,3(4)-GlcNAc-1,3-Glc-1,3-GlcNAc-, where GlcNAc stands for N-acetylglucosamine . Whereas the galactose residue is substituted at C-3 by ribitol phosphate, the glucose is substituted by ethanolamine phosphate at C-6.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Mar, 135 Suppl, S80 - 5
Empiric treatment with clindamycin and gentamicin of suspected sepsis due to anaerobic and aerobic bacteria; Bartlett JG et al.; Clindamycin and gentamicin were used in combination to treat 107 patients empirically for suspected aerobic-anaerobic sepsis . All patients were seriously ill and required initiation of treatment before results of cultures could be obtained . Infections included intraabdominal sepsis, hospital-acquired aspiration pneumonia, and soft tissue infections . Exudate cultured from 65 patients showed that the prediction of a mixed aerobic-anaerobic flora was correct in 46 patients (71%) . Isolates from exudate included Escherichia coli, Bacteroides fragilis, clostridia, peptostreptococci, Proteus species, Klebsiella species, and Staphylococcus aureus . In 29 patients with bacteremia, the most frequent blood culture isolate was B . fragilis . Analysis of response to treatment showed that 92 patients were cured, five could not be evaluated adequately, and 10 failed to respond to therapy . Therapeutic failure primarily resulted from overwhelming sepsis, despite susceptibility of the pathogens to prescribed antibiotics.

J Infect Dis, 1977 Mar, 135 Suppl, S65 - 8
Clindamycin for treatment of sepsis caused by decubitus ulcers; Chow AW et al.; Bacteremia was documented in 19 (76%) of 24 patients with sepsis caused solely by decubitus ulcers, persisted in all but two, and was polymicrobial in 10 (42%) . Obligate anaerobes were isolated from 12 patients (63%) and included Bacteroides fragilis in 11 (58%) . Aerobes, primarily Proteus (21%) and Staphylococcus (16%), were isolated in nine patients (47%) . Therapy was judged appropriate when the microbial isolates were susceptible in vitro to the antibiotic used . Nineteen patients received clindamycin plus gentamicin, which was considered appropriate for all but one patient . Four patients received cephalothin plus kanamycin, which was inappropriate for three patients . One patient received appropriate treatment with methicillin, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol . Patients who received appropriate antibiotics and had surgical intervention had the lowest mortality rate (14%); in those treated with appropriate antibiotics but without surgical intervention, the incidence of death was 67% (P less than 0.05) . Patients who received inappropriate antibiotics, whether or not there was surgical intervention, had a 75% mortality rate (P less than 0.05) . Surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy effective against aerobic as well as anaerobic bacteria are important factors in the treatment of sepsis caused by decubitus ulcers.

J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1977 Mar, 30(3), 215 - 20
Mode of action of the protein, SP127, which enhances the activity of macrolide antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Kikuchi M et al.; Antibiotics, the activity of which enhanced against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by SP127, were restricted to the basic macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin, maridomycin and oleandomycin, the neutral macrolide antibiotics such as lankamycin and lankacidin C, vancomycin and enramycin . Synergistic activity of SP127 with the above antibiotics was found against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and several strains of Escherichia coli, but not against Proteus vulgaris and macrolide-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . SP127 had extremely weak proteolytic but no lytic activity . From the isotopic experiments, the action of SP127 was partially attributed to the promotion of antibiotic penetration to cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Antibiotiki, 1977 Mar, 22(3), 219 - 22
{Sensitivity of the wound microflora of oncological patients to some new antibiotics}; Ganul VL et al.; Sensitivity of the microflora of the oncological patients' wounds to the new antibiotics, such as gentamicin, kanamycin, oxacillin, ampicillin and lincomycin was studied with the help of the disc method . The discs with the above antibiotics were prepared under laboratory conditions in accordance with the respective instructions in the WHO . Sensitivity of 429 bacterial cultures, including 98 cultures of pathogenic staphylocci, 45 cultures of Enterococci, 43 hemolytic streptococci, 143 cultures of Escherichia, 50 cultures of Ps . aeruginosa and 50 cultures of Proteus was determined . The studies showed that gentamicin was the most active antibiotic aganist all the microbial species isolated from the surgical and other wounds of oncological patients . It may be used in treatment of the infections caused by association of the microbes belonging to different species, as well as in treatment of purulent processes before elucidating their etiology, 16.7 per cent of the Enterococcal isolates were resistant to gentamicin . Monomycin, kanamycin, oxacillin, lincomycin and macrolide antibiotics at present are sufficiently active against pathogenic staphylococci and hemolytic streptococci.

Biokhimiia, 1977 Mar, 42(3), 460 - 4
{Comparative study of bacterial agmatinase inhibition by derivatives of putrescine and aliphatic monoamines}; Khramov VA; Aliphatic monoamines and some putrescine derivatives (10(-3) M) are found to inhibit agmatinase from Proteus vulgaris . Constants and the type of inhibition are determined . Investigation of the temperature effect on the inhibition has revealed an exotermic character of this process . Some thermodinamic parameters of agmatinase-anylamine binding reaction are calculated . 1-Guanidobutane is obtained by means of 1-amidobutane guanidilation, and it is found to be more efficient inhibitor than monoamines.

South Med J, 1977 Mar, 70(3), 289 - 92
Resistance to gentamicin: a growing concern; Siebert WT et al.; Gentaminic was introduced in 1969 as a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside effective in vitro against a majority of aerobic gram-negative bacilli . In recent years gentamicin-resistant clinical isolates have become more prevalent . In our laboratory in 1975, 32% of Pseudomonas sp and 44% of indole-negative Proteus sp isolates were resistant to gentamicin . Resistance to tobramycin is also increasing; 24% of Escherichia coli and 28% of indole-negative Proteus sp isolates were found to be tobramycin-resistant . In addition, isolation of previously uncommon gentamicin-resistant species, ie, Proteus rettgeri and other indole-positive Proteus sp, from clinical specimens has increased dramatically in the past five years . This increase in gentamicin and tobramycin-resistant gram-negative bacilli serves as a constant stimulus for the development of new antimicrobial agents.

Mol Gen Genet, 1977 Feb 28, 151(1), 41 - 7
Expression and stability of Escherichia coli F-prime factors in Proteus mirabilis; Morgan EA et al.; The expression and stability of Escherichia coli F-primes in Proteus mirabilis is examined . It is possible to consecutively introduce, and stably maintain, the DNA of several E . coli F-primes in P . mirabilis in the absence of selective pressure for all or some of the plasmids . Additionally, we can recover more than one F-prime from certain P . mirabilis recipient strains which carry DNA derived from several independent matings with E . coli F-prime donors.

Med Klin, 1977 Feb 22, Spec No, suppl 2 - 6
{The antibacterial efficacy of various antibiotics and chemotherapeutical agents (author's transl)}; Schiller K; Sensitivity tests of 5753 organisms (streptococci, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Pyocyaneus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus group and staphylococci) against sulphonamide, nitrofurantoin, ampicillin, gentamicin, cephalosporin, and chloramphenicol are reported, with special consideration of doxycycline, tetracycline and cotrimoxazole . The samples were broken down in accordance with the respective sources . The particularly high resistance quota of co-trimoxazole was striking . The sensitivity quota against doxycycline exceeds that against tetracycline . There were considerable differences in the resistance patterns of organisms from urine samples as compared to samples from other sources.

Med Klin, 1977 Feb 22, Spec No, suppl 12 - 6
{Comparison of the antibacterial efficacy of doxycycline and tetracycline (author's transl)}; Semenitz E et al.; In order to explain the mechanism of resistance within the tetracycline group, the minimal inhibitory concentration of tetracycline HCl was compared with that of doxycycline in the micro dilution test for bacterial collectives of 48 strains each from the groups of gram-negative and gram-positive cocci, resp . There was no significant difference between the inhibitory effect of doxycycline and tetracycline HCl for the bacterial collectives of E . coli, Klebsiella, Proteus and Staphylococcus aureus heamolyticus strains which were inhibited by a relatively low concentration of tetracycline HCl and doxycycline, respectively . On the other hand a significant difference in inhibitory effect was observed the calculation was made according to the Kolmogoroff-Smirnov test for the bacterial collectives of Enterococci and Staphylococcus aureus haemolyticus strains which were tetracycline resistant or only inhibited by higher concentrations . These results also have a practical importance, because a further testing against doxycycline can bring about a sensitivity to this substance in case of tetracycline resistant grampositive cocci . Possible explanations for the higher efficacy of doxycycline on these bacterial collectives will be discussed.

J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1977 Feb 15, 170(4), 414 - 8
Canine urolithiasis: retrospective analysis of 438 cases; Brown NO et al.; In a retrospective analysis of 438 cases of canine urolithiasis, a total of 561 urolithic episodes were found to have occurred in a 6 1/2-year period . The hospital incidence of urolithiasis during that period, defined as the proportion of dogs hospitalized with urolithiasis to the total number of dogs hospitalized, was 2.8% . The major chemical component of the calculus in 307 dogs was phosphate; in 95 dogs, cystine; in 21 dogs, urate; in 12 dogs, oxalate; and in 3 dogs, carbonate . The Miniature Schnauzer, Dachsund, Dalmatian, Pug, Bulldog, Welsh Corgi, Beagle, and Bassett Hound were breeds that had a significantly higher (P less than 0.05) incidence of calculi than did breeds of other dogs hospitalized . Predisposition for calculi, by sex, was not found . Most dogs with calculi were between 3 and 7 years old . Most calculi were radiopaque and were located in the bladder or in the bladder and urethra . Specimens for bacteriologic culture were obtained by catheterization or by swabbing of tissue at the surgical site . Of 259 specimens obtained, 181 were culture-positive . The most common organisms isolated were Staphylococcus spp, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp, Streptococcus spp, and Klebsiella spp . Most of the bacteria were sensitive to gentamicin, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, cephalothin, and methanamine mandelate.

Biochim Biophys Acta, 1977 Feb 9, 480(2), 343 - 50
Purification and properties of aldehyde dehydrogenase from Proteus vulgaris; Sugawara Y et al.; NADP-linked aldehyde dehydrogenase (aldehyde : NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.1.4) was purified from Proteus vulgaris to the stage of homogeneity as judged by ultracentrifugation and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 130000 by gel filtration . The enzyme which was crystallized from ammonium sulfate solution, lost its activity . The enzyme did not require coenzyme A, and the reaction was completely dependent on ammonium ions which could be partially replaced by Rb+ or K+ . The optimum pH was about 9 . Broad substrate specificity was observed and Km values for propionaldehyde, acetaldehyde and isovaleraldehyde were 1.7 - 10(-5), 4 - 10(-5) and 3 - 10(-5) M, respectively . The physiological role of the enzyme in living cells is obscure, but might account for another degradative pathway of L-leucine in P . vulgaris differing from the established pathway.

Wien Klin Wochenschr, 1977 Feb 4, 89(3), 89 - 90
{Cefazolin content in the gall bladder (author's transl)}; Greif S et al.; The concentration of cefazolin in the bile obtained by means of duodenoscopy was determined and compared with the values published as results of sampling by gall bladder puncture and T drains . The results obtained using this endoscopic procedure accorded with the results in the literature . When 1 g cefazolin was administered intravenously, high biliary levels of this drug with antibacterial activity were achieved . Our preliminary studies show that not only highly-sensitive gram-positive organisms, but also most of the E . coli Klebsiella and indol-negative proteus bacteria were affected when 1 g cefazolin was administered 3-4 times daily . These results will be reported later . Cefazolin (Gramaxin) represents a valuable addition to the chemotherapeutic agents available in combating infections of the gall bladder and the biliary duct system.

J Med Microbiol, 1977 Feb, 10(1), 7 - 17
Typing of Proteus strains by proticine production and sensitivity; Senior BW; A simple, reliable and highly discriminating scheme for the bacteriocine typing of Proteus has been developed . Strains are typed on MacConkey's agar according to their ability to produce a proticine active against one of 14 indicator strains having a single and specific proticine sensitivity and also according to their sensitivity to the different proticines of 13 proticine-producing strains . This new scheme of combined production and sensitivity typing was formulated after 250 strains of Proteus from clinical material had been examined for the production of proticines active against the 24 indicator strains of Cradock-Watson's proticine typing scheme and for proticine activity and sensitivity towards each other . Three new types of proticinogenic strains were discovered and defined . Strains producing proticines of types 1, 2 and 3 were isolated frequently . These common proticines could be subtyped by their different actions on newly characterised indicator strains . By means of this production/sensitivity (P/S) typing scheme, 250 Proteus strains were differentiated into 90 distinct types, whereas typing by sensitivity alone distinguished only 40 types and typing by production alone distinguished only 20 types (including subtypes).

J Hyg (Lond), 1977 Feb, 78(1), 85 - 93
Bacteriostasis of Escherichia coli by milk . I . Colonization of breast-fed infants by milk resistant organisms; Dolby JM et al.; Human milk has a bacteriostatic effect on Escherichia coli in vitro . The milks of 40 mothers were tested for this effect against E . coli isolated from their stools, from those of their own babies, and from those of babies not breast-fed . The milks had a direct bacteriostatic effect, not dependent on complement, on some but not all the strains of E . coli . Breast-fed babies receiving supplementary bottle feeds were colonized with milk-resistant strains, whereas bottle-fed babies and, surprisingly, babies completely breast-fed were colonized equally with milk-sensitive and milk-resistant strains, as were the mothers . These results suggest that the bacteriostatic effect of human milk, demonstrable in vitro does sometimes operate in vivo . The antibacterial activity of human milk is not infleunced by the O, H, or K antigens of E . coli and is effective against other Gram-negative organisms, e.g . Salmonella, Klebsiella, Proteus.

Eur J Biochem, 1977 Jan 3, 72(1), 35 - 40
Ribitol-containing lipopolysaccharides from Proteus mirabilis and their serological relationship; Gmeiner J et al.; Ribitol phosphate was recently identified as a constituent of lipopolysaccharides obtained from 'proteus mirabilis strain D52 giving 1:4-anhydroribitol during acid hydrolysis (Gmeiner, 1975) . Two other Proteus mirabilis strains belonging to serogroups O16 and O33 were shown previously to contain an unknown compoound X as lipopolysaccharide constituent (Kotelko et al., 1975) . In this report the identification of compound X as 1:4-anhydroribotol by gas-liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and mass fragmentography is described . Serological investigations using passive hemagglutination, hemagglutination inhbition and semi-quantitative precipitin reactions indicate strongly that ribitol plays a role in the serological specificity of the respective lipopolysaccharides.

Genetika, 1977, 13(7), 1289 - 93
{Stable inheritable increase in the level of cell mortality (experiments on Amoeba proteus exposed to heat and radiation)}; Bychkovskaia IB et al.; Amoeba proteus cultivated as individual lines qt 24 degrees C were exposed to heating at 29 degrees C during three days or to X-rays of 200 kv at a dose of 5 kh or to combination of both . The original method -- periodical resumption of individual lines from sister-cells -- was used to observe the offspring of amoebae during 8 months . It is found that not only radiation but slight heating as well induce unusual hereditary effect in amoebae: stable increase of cell mortality level . The effect was the same at combination of both radiation and heating . It is likely that radiation as well as temperature act on one and the same cell responsible system.

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