J Dent Res, 1982 Sep, 61(9), 1052 - 5 Age dependency of stimulated salivary flow rate, pH, and lactobacillus and yeast concentrations; Parvinen T et al.; No significant influence of age on the stimulated salivary flow rate or pH was observed in a cross-sectional study of unmedicated adults . The females had a lower output than did the males in every age group . A tendency toward higher salivary counts of lactobacilli and yeasts with aging was observed. J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Sep, 128 (Pt 9), 2113 - 20 Common antigens of streptococcal and non-streptococcal oral bacteria: isolation and biochemical characterization of the extracellular protein antigen; Scholler M et al.; An extracellular soluble common protein (ECP) has been purified from extracellular soluble fractions of exponential phase cultures of Streptococcus sanguis OMZ9, of a representative strain of each of Bratthall's seven serological groups of Streptococcus mutans, and of one strain each of Lactobacillus salivarius and Actinomyces viscosus . The ECP antigens from the different strains were prepared from SDS-dissociated immunoprecipitates by affinity chromatography on an anti-rabbit immunoglobulin column . The identity of such purified ECP antigens was demonstrated by their behaviour in immunodiffusion analysis, in SDS-PAGE, in which an identical molecular weight (60000) was found, and by virtue of their similar amino acid and sugar compositions . This common antigen (ECP) consisted of 90% protein and 10% sugar. Antibiotiki, 1982 Aug, 27(8), 612 - 7 {Bacteriocin typing of Lactobacillus cultures using a basic set of bacteriocinogenic strains}; Filippov VA; Lactic bacilli of 15 species were divided into 78 bacteriocin types by their sensitivity spectra with respect to the main set of the bacteriocinogenic strains . L . acidophilus-L . salivarious, L . jugurti, L . casei, L . plantarum, L . fermentum, L . brevis, L . buchneri, L . helveticus, L . lactis and L . leichmannii were used in the study . The cultures were divided into 30, 9, 7, 25, 5, 20, 13, 8, 2.2 and 2 bacteriocin types respectively . The method of determining the lactic bacilli sensitivity spectra to 8 bacteriocinogenic strains of the main kit is simple and economic . It allows marking of lactic bacilli and their dividing into bacteriocin types within the species . This may be used in taxonomy and epidemiological studies. Antibiotiki, 1982 Aug, 27(8), 607 - 12 {Bacteriocin sensitivity as a supplementary taxonomic sign of bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus}; Filippov VA; It was shown that 90.6 per cent of the Lactobacillus isolates belonging to 15 species was sensitive to one or more lactocin types . Lactocins produced by bacteriocinogenic strains of Lactobacillus in liquid media are characterized by a narrow spectrum limited by the representatives of Lactobacillus . The lactocin sensitivity test may be used with taxonomic purposes as an additional indication of the bacteria belonging to Lactobacillus . A kit of 8 bacteriocinogenic strains of Lactobacillus producing 8 lactocin types is recommended to be used in determination of Lactobacillus sensitivity to bacteriocins. J Med Microbiol, 1982 Aug, 15(3), 339 - 50 Immunisation of rhesus monkeys with Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus and lipoteichoic acid for protection against dental caries; Caldwell J et al.; An attempt was made to protect rhesus monkeys from dental caries by immunisation with Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) . The vaccine composed of S . mutans gave significant protection against caries, a decrease in the number of S . mutans, an increase in IgG antibodies and a moderate increase in complement-fixing antibodies to LTA . When LTA was used as immunogen, there was only a small reduction in caries, without any detectable antibodies to LTA and a slight increase in IgG antibodies to cell of S . mutans . Vaccines of L . acidophilus or L . fermentum gave no protection . A combined vaccine of S . mutans and L . acidophilus did not reduce the incidence of caries but the antibody titre to cells of S . mutans was raised to a level comparable with that in the S . mutans-immunised monkeys . The results of this investigation in a subhuman primate confirm that immunisation with S . mutans induces protection against caries, unlike the attempt to immunise with two selected strains of lactobacilli . More studies are required to establish the role of specific serotypes of lactobacilli in the development of dental caries. J Med Chem, 1982 Aug, 25(8), 960 - 4 Methotrexate analogues . 15 . A methotrexate analogue designed for active-site-directed irreversible inactivation of dihydrofolate reductase; Rosowsky A et al.; N alpha-(4-Amino-4-deoxy-N10-methylpteroyl)-N epsilon-(iodoacetyl)-L-lysine (1) was synthesized as a potential active-site-directed irreversible inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) . In an ultraviolet spectrophotometric assay of dihydrofolate reduction of Lactobacillus casei DHFR, 1 and methotrexate (MTX, 4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-methylpteroyl-L-glutamic acid) had ID50 values of 4.5 and 6.2 nM . The corresponding ID50 values in a competitive radioligand binding assay against {3H}MTX were 31 and 16 nM . Thus, as reversible inhibitors of this enzyme over a short exposure time, 1 and MTX had comparable activity . On the other hand, when L . casei DHFR was incubated for up to 6 h with 0.1 or 1.0 microM 1, a progressive decrease in the ability of {3H}MTX to subsequently displace the drug was observed . When MTX itself was used at the same concentrations, the extent of displacement of {3H}MTX did not decrease with time . These results were consistent with rapid reversible binding of 1 to the enzyme, followed more slowly by covalent bond formation near the active site . The pH profile for this effect followed a curve with a sigmoidal shape . The apparent inflection point near pH 7.2 was consistent with alkylation of a histidine residue. Eur J Clin Microbiol, 1982 Aug, 1(4), 223 - 7 Evaluation of a commercially available semi-automated bioluminescence system for bacteriuria screening; McWalter PW et al.; A commercially available semi-automated bioluminescence adenosine triphosphate assay system for rapid detection of significant bacteriuria was evaluated . Excellent reproducibility of results using the bioluminescence apparatus was noted, and there was no bacterial carry-over using a pre-diluter . The results obtained with 2,000 urine specimens tested by bioluminescence and a routine cultural technique were compared . The bioluminescence system gave no false negative results and a bioluminescence positive/culture negative finding of 13.6% in general specimens and 45.0% in ante-natal and maternity specimens . In the latter group, the majority of urines yielded growth of lactobacilli and/or diphtheroids (less than 10(4) organisms/ml) when subcultured on enriched media . Results indicated that bioluminescence may identify urinary tract infections in patients receiving antimicrobial therapy . The advantages of this 45 minute technique for bacteriuria screening are presented. G Batteriol Virol Immunol, 1982 Jul-Dec, 75(7-12), 383 - 9 {Changes in aerobic bacterial flora in the oral cavity of subjects with neoplasms of the head and neck area undergoing antiblastic therapy}; Gismondo MR et al.; The AA . refer their experience about the oral bacterial flora change in patients with malignant diseases regarding to cervic - cefalic district . An increase of Lactobacilli and cariogenic Streptococci was showed in telecobaltotherapy patients, but not in patients chemotherapy treated . Therefore the AA . conclude that the radiotherapy is the most important treatment in these subjects . Arkh Anat Gistol Embriol, 1982 Jul, 83(7), 68 - 73 {Intestinal mucosa of gnotobiotic rats administered lactobacilli}; Iuldashev AIu et al.; When lactobacilli are administered to gnotobiotic rats (Fischer strain), a gradual increase of lymphocytic, eosinophilic and mast cell infiltration of the intestinal connective tissue stroma, dilatation of vessels and their filling with lymphocytes is observed . Radioautographically 7 months later, migration and differentiation of enterocytes in the crypta--villus system of the iliac mucous tunic increases . In the mesenteric lymph nodes the postcapillary venules increase in number, lymphocytes migrate out of them, focal plasmocytic reaction with presence of some blastic forms takes place . Specific antibodies for lactobacilli in the blood serum either are absent or occur in low titers (1:2-1:8) . Owing to the data obtained, a conclusion can be made on a weak immunogenecity of the lactobacilli . Their administration to the germ-free rats produces a certain cellular reaction, probably T-dependent, though any definite signs of hormonal response are absent . One--14 days after lactobacilli have been injected, in the rat intestine mucous tunic no microorganisms are revealed to fix to enterocytes . In cytoplasm of the absorbtive cell villi, the Golgi complex is subjected to hyperplasia and occupies an essential area over the nucleus . Within its cysterns, as well as in the mitochondrial and nuclear membrane areas, myelin-like bodies are revealed; evidently, they demonstrate certain changes in peroxidic oxidation of lipids.. Vopr Pitan, 1982 Jul-Aug, (4), 30 - 3 {Effect of a liquid acidophilic mixture on the intestinal microbiocenosis of infant patients in the 1st months of life}; Kuznetsova GG et al.; The effect of a liquid acidophilic mixture on intestinal biocenosis was studied in 10 premature infants aged 19 days to 1 1/2 months (Group I) with focal inflammation and neurological disorders after hypoxia in the perinatal period, and in 11 children aged 19 days to 3 1/2 months (Group II) with sepsis and intestinal diseases of staphylococcal, proteus and obscure etiology . Before application of the mixture, all the children demonstrated microbiocenosis disorders which were more remarkable in Group II . The liquid acidophilic mixture was shown to have a correcting action as regards lactobacilli, and the quantitative and qualitative composition of intestinal bacteria . The correcting effect exhibited by the mixture was found inadequate to neutralize an adverse effect of the infectious process and intense antibiotic therapy and chemotherapy on intestinal microbiocenosis in children of the first months of life suffering from sepsis and intestinal diseases, provided the mixture was used for 11-20 days. Am J Vet Res, 1982 Jul, 43(7), 1165 - 7 Effects of dietary milk fat (whole milk) and propionic acid on intestinal coliforms and lactobacilli in calves; Ward GE et al.; Calves fed whole milk had 2,000-fold fewer (P less than 0.001) coliforms in the cranial part of the small intestine than did calves fed skim milk (fat removed) . Calves fed milk with 32 mM added propionic acid had nearly 1,000-fold lower (P less than 0.001) counts of lactobacilli in the entire gastrointestinal tract than did calves fed milk without added propionic acid. Poult Sci, 1982 Jul, 61(7), 1298 - 1308 In vivo inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus against pathogenic Escherichia coli in gnotobiotic chicks; Watkins BA et al.; Chicks were hatched germfree in gnotobiotic isolators to determine the inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus towards pathogeneic Escherichia coli in vivo . Twelve trials were conducted in two flexible film isolators utilizing a total of 221 chicks . One treatment consisted of inoculating 2-day-old chicks with L . acidophilus, then challenging with pathogenic E . coli with subsequent dosing with L . acidophilus . The other treatment consisted of challenging with the E . coli at 2 days of age, then subsequently dosing with L . acidophilus . Statistical analysis of the data showed initial dosing with L . acidophilus prevented excessive mortality when chicks were challenged with E . coli . Also, continued dosing with L . acidophilus lowered the pH in the crop, cecum, and rectum whether chicks were initially given L . acidophilus or E . coli . This strain of L . acidophilus was capable of competing with E . coli in the gut of gnotobiotic chicks. J Med Chem, 1982 Jul, 25(7), 777 - 84 Comparison of the inhibition of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase by 2,4-diamino-5-(substituted-benzyl)pyrimidines: quantitative structure-activity relationships, X-ray crystallography, and computer graphics in structure-activity analysis; Hansch C et al.; The inhibition constants (Kiapp) obtained from the action of 44 2,4-diamino-5-(substituted-benzyl)pyrimidines on dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus casei bacteria are used to derive quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) . These equations bring out a number of differences in the DHFR which can be understood at the atomic level by studying color stereo computer graphics models constructed from the X-ray coordinates of the enzyme-inhibitor complexes . The combination of QSAR and X-ray crystallography interpreted via high-performance computer graphics offers a new level of sophistication to extend our understanding of enzyme-ligand interactions, which, when the crystallography is known, opens up a more scientific approach to drug development. Eur J Biochem, 1982 Jun 15, 125(1), 41 - 7 The role of the components sigma and y of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of Lactobacillus curvatus in promotor selection; Gierl A et al.; An average of 0.44 molecule each of the initiation factor sigma and the RNA polymerase binding protein y and 0.54 molecule of the subunit gamma per molecule of Lactobacillus curvatus DNA-dependent RNA polymerase have been found in the cell . Free factor y displaces sigma from free holo enzyme, E sigma . The formation of a binary complex from Ey, free sigma, and poly{d(A-T)}, leads to immediate release of factor y . The release of the sigma factor occurs upon the transition of the binary to a ternary complex . A mixture of E and sigma forms binary complexes with all T7 DNA HpaII restriction fragments . In contrast a mixture of Ey and sigma binds selectively to promoter-containing DNA fragments, indicating that the stimulatory effect of y on transcription is due to an increase in the rate of promoter selection . The same RNA products are synthesised by E sigma and by Ey plus sigma with T7 DNA as template . Thus the nonspecific complexes formed by E sigma and T7 DNA are nonproductive . On the basis of these findings we propose a model for the transcription cycle in Lactobacillus curvatus. Infect Immun, 1982 Jun, 36(3), 864 - 9 Production of lipoteichoic acid by lactobacilli and streptococci grown in different environments; Wicken AJ et al.; Representative strains of Streptococcus sanguis serotype 2 and of four Lactobacillus species were examined for the production of cellular and extracellular lipoteichoic acid (LTA) when grown at pH 6.0 in batch culture to the stationary phase with either glucose or fructose . Extracellular LTA was a minor component in all cases except for L . fermentum and L . casei NIRD R094 grown in fructose . The total amount of LTA (cellular and extracellular) produced by fructose-grown cultures was also considerably greater for these two strains, for L . salivarius, and also two of the S . sanguis strains . Growth of L . fermentum and L . casei in continuous culture in a chemostat showed that generation time and pH of growth can influence the total amount of LTA and the proportion of extracellular material . The results for glucose-limited cultures were quite disparate, with L . fermentum forming considerably more extracellular LTA than L . casei . However, in fructose-limited cultures L . fermentum formed less total LTA and L . casei more so that the differences were only minor . A difference in the utilization of glucose and fructose by the heterofermentative L . fermentum and the homofermentative L . casei strains is also indicated by differences in the yield of organisms at different dilution rates in continuous culture. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1982 Jun, 79(11), 3480 - 4 Synthesis and biological activity of a profluorescent analogue of coenzyme B12; Rosendahl MS et al.; We describe here the synthesis and chemical properties of linear(lin)-benzoadenosylcobalamin, a coenzyme B12 analogue that has a laterally extended nucleoside in the upper axial position . It is an effective competitive inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii . lin-Benzoadenosylcobalamin is nonfluorescent in solution but, on homolytic (light) or heterolytic (acid, cyanide) cleavage of the carbon-cobalt bond, forms fluorescent products . In addition, fluorescence is detectable on binding of the coenzyme analogue to ribonucleotide reductase, and the observed fluorescence polarization of the lin-benzoadenosyl moiety indicates that it is bound loosely to the enzyme when the coenzyme is partially dissociated. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1982 Jun, 10(3), 111 - 6 Effect of mechanical and chemical plaque control measures on oral microflora in schoolchildren; Emilson CG et al.; The incidence of S . sanguis, S . salivarius, S . mutans, total streptococci and lactobacilli was examined in highly caries active 13-14-year-old schoolchildren participating in a prophylactic program . After 1 year of trial, professional toothcleaning once every second week markedly reduced the frequency of gingivitis and the caries increment . Bimonthly topical applications of a 0.5% chlorhexidine gel with or without subsequent rinsing with 2% NFP had no effect on plaque score and gingivitis but tended to reduce the caries activity . No significant changes were found in the groups with regard to the salivary number of total streptococci and S . sanguis . A reduction of the population of S . salivarius, S . mutans and lactobacilli was observed in the chlorhexidine group . In the group where chlorhexidine was combined with MFP, only S . mutans was reduced. Scand J Dent Res, 1982 Jun, 90(3), 193 - 9 Effect of penicillin on Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and lactobacilli in hamsters and in man; Maltz M et al.; The effect of penicillin on the number of oral Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and lactobacilli in hamsters and in man was investigated . This is of interest as S . mutans and lactobacilli are involved in the carious process while S . sanguis is not . Hamsters infected with both S . mutans and S . sanguis or only S . sanguis received penicillin in their drinking water for 14 d . The treatment reduced the proportion of S . mutans and S . sanguis in dental plaque to undetectable levels . After the penicillin treatment the population of S . mutans and S . sanguis gradually increased . In man, the effect of oral penicillin therapy was examined in 21 adults with more than 2 X 10(5) S . mutans per ml saliva . The penicillin treatment had almost no effect on the numbers of S . sanguis and lactobacilli, but a pronounced decrease in the number of S . mutans was observed . The duration of this effect, however, was short . Consequently, such treatment alone is of limited value for the control of the oral infection of these microorganisms. Can J Physiol Pharmacol, 1982 May, 60(5), 664 - 9 Influence of bilateral nephrectomy on selected gastrointestinal bacteria in the rat; Grunewald KK et al.; A series of experiments was designed to investigate the influence of acute renal failure on selected gastrointestinal bacteria . Sprague-Dawley male rats were bilaterally nephrectomized to induce acute renal failure, with sham-operated animals serving as controls . After 48 h animals were sacrificed and the stomachs, upper and lower small intestines, ceca, and colons were excised and subjected to microbial analyses . Lactobacilli and streptococci including enterococci, were 1-2 log counts higher in the stomachs of anephric rats than those of sham-operated controls; lactobacilli were increased similarly in the upper small intestines of these animals . Coliforms including Escherichia coli, and Proteus were 1-2 log counts higher in the lower small intestine of anephric rats than those of sham-operated rats . The decreased gastric pH, increased cecal pH, hypothermia, and delayed gastric emptying observed in nephrectomized rats could partly explain the different microfloras in these animals. Br J Haematol, 1982 May, 51(1), 171 - 3 Demonstration of vitamin B12 analogues in human sera not detected by microbiological assay; Chanarin I et al.; Sera were absorbed with polyacrylamide beads to which purified human intrinsic factor was attached . This procedure removed the vitamin B12 analogues which are measured by microbiological assay with Lactobacillus leichmannii and Euglena gracilis and which are measured in an isotope dilution method using intrinsic factor . Such sera still contained B12 analogues that were assayed in an isotope dilution method using a non-intrinsic factor vitamin B12 binder . Such vitamin B12 analogues make up approximately half of the total vitamin B12 analogues in human serum. Clin Chem, 1982 May, 28(5), 1198 - 200 Use of glycerol-cryoprotected Lactobacillus casei for microbiological assay of folic acid; Wilson SD et al.; A simple procedure for preparing glycerol-cryoprotected Lactobacillus casei cultures has been developed . L . casei grown in medium supplemented with low concentrations of folic acid (0.3 micrograms/L) is diluted with an equal volume of glycerol (800 mL/L) and stored at -20 degrees C . Growth response of the glycerol-cryoprotected L . casei to low concentrations of folic acid exceeded that of cultures maintained by monthly agar stab transfer . Also, growth for the zero-folate blanks was considerably less for the cryoprotected cultures . Assay of folate in several rat tissues correlated well (r = 0.999) with the standard microbiological assay . The growth rate of the culture depends on the inoculum size, and a heavy inoculum of cryoprotected L . casei may be used to complete the assay after only an overnight incubation. J Bacteriol, 1982 May, 150(2), 657 - 61 Xylitol-mediated transient inhibition of ribitol utilization by Lactobacillus casei; London J et al.; The growth of Lactobacillus casei strain Cl-16 at the expense or ribitol was inhibited if the non-metabolizable substrate xylitol was included in the medium at concentrations of 6 mM or greater . At these concentrations, xylitol, did not competitively inhibit ribitol transport . The cessation of growth was caused by the intracellular accumulation of xylitol-5-phosphate, which occurred because growth on ribitol had gratuitously induced a functional xylitol-specific phosphotransferase system but not the enzymes necessary for the further metabolism of xylitol-5-phosphate . Eventually, the cells overcame the xylitol-mediated inhibition by repressing the synthesis of enzyme II of the xylitol phosphotransferase system so that xylitol-5-phosphate would no longer be accumulated within the cell. Zentralbl Bakteriol Mikrobiol Hyg {A}, 1982 May, 252(1), 9 - 16 A mechanism of association of lactobacilli with the rat stomach epithelium; Lorenz A et al.; The stomach wall of the rat is colonised by a dominant lactobacilli flora . The bacteria are localised mainly on the squamous epithelium (Table 1) . They adhere tightly, covering the whole surface of the squamous epithelium (Fig . 1) . On the secreting epithelium yeasts and bacteria were found only in connection with mucus (Fig . 2) . In the present paper a mechanism of adhesion will be discussed . Piliform appendages (PA) were investigated with the aid of electron microscopy between the bacteria and the top cell layer of the epithelium and between the bacterial cells themselves (Fig . 3 and 4) . They contain, following indications with scanning and transmission electron microscopy, material from the thin capsulae of acidic mucopolysaccharides, reported by Savage . Lactobacilli isolated from the squamous epithelium and cultivated in vitro are connected by the same piliform appendages . It seems, that the piliform appendages have an affinity to special receptor sites of the bacterial cell wall and also of the gastric epithelium . Lactobacilli situated on the secreting epithelium show piliform appendages, too, but they don't have a tight connection with the epithelial cells, only with the mucus. Infect Immun, 1982 May, 36(2), 582 - 5 Deficient autolytic enzyme activity in antibiotic-tolerant lactobacilli; Kim KS et al.; To define the mechanism(s) of penicillin tolerance in lactobacilli, one nontolerant and two tolerant strains were examined for autolytic enzyme activity . When incubated with 14C-labeled cell wall preparations, autolysin extracts of tolerant lactobacilli released significantly less radioactivity than did extracts of nontolerant lactobacilli (p less than 0.02) . These differences in the release of radioactivity by nontolerant and tolerant strains were maximal during the logarithmic growth phase . Moreover, this activity was greatest at pH 8, was heat labile, and was inhibited by the addition of magnesium, suggesting characteristics of an enzyme . This study illustrates that autolytic enzyme activity is deficient in strains of antibiotic-tolerant lactobacilli and suggests that this may be partially responsible for the delayed killing effect of penicillins against such strains. J Biol Chem, 1982 Apr 25, 257(8), 4398 - 403 Carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of Lactobacillus casei thymidylate synthetase containing biosynthetically incorporated {guanidino-13C}arginine; Cipollo KL et al.; Thymidylate synthetase, containing {guanidino-13C}arginine, was obtained from amethopterin-resistant Lactobacillus casei grown on a defined medium containing {guanidino-13C}arginine . Carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to investigate the native enzyme and the response of 13C-enriched arginyl residues to binary and ternary complex formation and to chemical modification by 2,3-butanedione . Native enzyme exhibited four resonances (A, 158.3 ppm; B, 157.4 ppm; C, 156.9 ppm; and D, 156.1 ppm) in a chemical shift range of 2.2 ppm . The 12 arginyl residues per subunit of this enzyme were found in a 1:5:5:1 distribution in the four resonances . Carbon 13 NMR spectra revealed that of the four resonances, resonance C was most perturbed by binary and ternary complex formation . The ternary complex formed with {guanidino-13C}arginine-enriched enzyme, 5-fluoro-deoxyuridylate, and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate exhibited two new resonances at 157.9 and 156.5 ppm . Carbon 13 NMR analysis of enzyme inactivated with butanedione yielded three new single-carbon resonances, one from resonance B and two from resonance C, demonstrating that three arginyl residues per subunit were derivatized . The results of the binary and ternary complex studies and the chemical modification experiment suggest that the active site arginyl residue is represented in resonance C of the native enzyme. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper, 1982 Apr 15, 58(7), 371 - 7 {Action of salicylates on the disappearance of bacteria (Lactobacillus casei) phagocytized by polymorphonuclear cells}; Cassone MC; This is a study of the modifications caused by acetylsalicylic acid and CuII (aspirinate)4 in the speed with which phagocytized bacteria disappear from polymorphonuclears (PMN) of the peritoneal exudate of guinea pigs . Acetylsalicylic acid inhibits the normal processes that cause the disappearance of the phagocytized bacteria; CuII (aspirinate)4, on the contrary, at low concentration (5 10(-6)) and during the first 45 minutes, causes an evident increase in the speed of disappearance of bacteria from PMN. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1982 Apr 15, 142(8), 977 - 82 Toxic shock syndrome: an ecologic imbalance within the genital microflora of women? Sanders CC, Sanders WE Jr, Fagnant JE. Epidemiologic data suggested that toxic shock syndrome (TSS) may be caused by an imbalance among the flora of the female genital tract . Since natural defense mechanisms often involve antagonistic interactions between the flora and potential pathogens, the ability of genital lactobacilli to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus was determined in agar overlay assays . Lactobacilli were chosen for study because previous investigations had suggested an important role for this genus in maintenance of health of the female genital tract . Fourteen of 50 strains of lactobacilli and Lactinex inhibited the growth of certain staphylococci, including strains from cases of TSS . The inhibitory activity of some lactobacilli was variable and could be enhanced by exogenously supplied substrates . Growth of one consistently inhibitory lactobacillus was inhibited by Staphylococcus aureus . A model for the etiology of toxic shock syndrome in menstruating women is proposed . The model includes antagonistic interactions between lactobacilli and staphylococci and the influence of tampons on these interactions to favor the staphylococcus. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1982 Apr, 16(2), 113 - 23 {Identification of some thermobacteria isolated from yogurts and the DNA homology of the isolates}; Tunail N; 20 thermobacteria were isolated from Turkish yogurts and some cultural characteristics of the isolated were determined . It was found that 5d and 61f resembled Lactobacillus bulgaricus . On the contrary, 8b was entirely different from these two types . In this study, G + C contents of DNA molecules, configuration of lactic acid production, DNA homology, LHD enzymes were determined and result were compared . Types 5d and 61f were found to be important for the dairy industry . Type 8b could not be classified upon its cultural characteristics . The results of DNA homology showed that type 8b was not L . bulgaricus. J Med Chem, 1982 Apr, 25(4), 427 - 30 Molecular structures of 2,4-diaminopyrimidine antifolates with antineoplastic activity; Cody V et al.; 2,4-Diamino-5-(1-adamantyl)-6-methylpyrimidine (DAMP) and its ethanesulfonate salt (DAMP-ES) are potent inhibitors of mammalian dihydrofolate reductase and also inhibit the growth of cultured cells as effectively as the drug methotrexate (MTX) . DAMP is currently in phase I clinical studies . An analogue of DAMP having 5-(1-naphthyl) in place of the adamantyl group (DNMP) possesses little cytotoxic as well as enzyme inhibitory activity . The crystal and molecular structures of DAMPM-ES and DNMP were determined in order to elucidate the conformational aspects of drug specificity . The molecular conformation of DAMP-ES shows that the C8--C7 bond of the adamantyl ring is nearly coplanar with the pyrimidine ring (C8--C7--C5--C6 = 7.5 degrees) instead of staggered as expected from steric considerations . As a result, the pyrimidine ring and its 4,6-substituents are severely distorted from coplanarity . In DNMP, the 1-naphthalene ring is perpendicular to the pyrimidine ring (C8--C7--C5--C6 = -87.0 degrees) which is itself planar . N1 is protonated in DAMP-ES but not in DNMP . When the two structures are compared, the 5-substituents occupy different regions of space, with the outer ring of the naphthalene group outside of the volume occupied by the adamantyl ring . Therefore, the reduced effectiveness of DNMP may be caused by the inability of the naphthalene to fit the binding site in dihydrofolate reductase . This is the situation when DNMP is placed in the methotrexate binding site of Lactobacillus casei crystal structure. Food Chem Toxicol, 1982 Apr, 20(2), 197 - 204 Effects of lactobacillus, antacids and antibiotics on the levels of nitrite in the gastro-intestinal tracts of rats fed sodium nitrate; Lin JK et al.; No nitrite was detected in the tissues or contents of the gastro-intestinal tracts of normal rats but after 2 wk on a diet containing 0 . 5% sodium nitrate the levels of nitrite in the stomach, small intestine and large intestine contents were 0 . 83%, 1 . 64-2 . 07 and 0 . 83 micrograms/g of contents respectively . Concurrent administration of 2% Lactobacillus preparation and 0 . 5% sodium nitrate in the diet for 2 wk further increased the nitrite levels in the intestines and slightly increased the level in the stomach . The elevation of nitrite levels induced by sodium nitrate administration was potentiated considerably by combined treatment with sodium bicarbonate and hetacillin producing nitrite levels of 3 . 16, 2 . 93-5 . 18 and 1 . 96-2 . 34 micrograms/g of the contents of the stomach, small intestine and large intestine respectively . Like hetacillin, minomycin and thiamphenicol also potentiated the nitrite production whereas amikacin (another antibiotic) strongly inhibited the formation of nitrite in the stomach . The different effects of the antibiotics may be due to their selective activities on the various microbes . The results indicate that the levels of nitrite in the gastro-intestinal tract are regulated by the level of nitrate intake, the population of microflora and the gastric pH . The safety of combined medication with antacids, antibiotics and Lactobacillus preparations in man deserves further investigation. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1982 Apr, 10(2), 77 - 81 Streptococcus mutans, lactobacilli and dental health in 13-14-year-old Swedish children; Zickert I et al.; The dental health and the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli were examined in 101 13-114-year-old children . The average number of decayed (incipient caries) and filled surfaces (DFS) was 10.1 and 12.8, respectively . S . mutans was not detected in 11% of the children while 21% had 10(6) or more S . mutans per ml saliva . Lactobacilli were not found in 21% of the children whereas 11% had 10(5) or more lactobacilli per ml saliva . Statistically significant correlations were found between S . mutans and lactobacilli, S . mutans and DFS, lactobacilli and DFS and S . mutans plus lactobacilli and DFS . Increasing numbers of S . mutans and lactobacilli, alone and in combination, were associated with an increased caries frequency. Scand J Dent Res, 1982 Apr, 90(2), 102 - 8 Effect of caries preventive measures on Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in selected mothers; Kohler B et al.; Mothers of first-born babies were selected on the basis of high salivary counts of Streptococcus mutans . All experimental subjects were given a basic caries preventive program in order to decrease the level of S . mutans in saliva . The program included dietary counseling, which stressed the role of sucrose in the accumulation of S . mutans . The treatment was carried out in a public dental office . The effect of the treatment was assessed by microbiological examination of salivary levels of S . mutans and lactobacilli . A statistically significant reduction in both S . mutans and lactobacilli was found . The basic preventive program was effective in reducing the number of S . mutans below a selected threshold value of 300 000 CFU per ml saliva in 60% of the mothers . In the remaining subjects chlorhexidine treatment was required to suppress the salivary levels of S . mutans below this value. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol, 1982 Apr, 18(4), 347 - 54 The effect of derivatives of folic acid on the fluorodeoxyuridylate-thymidylate synthetase covalent complex in human colon xenografts; Houghton JA et al.; This study was designed to examine the endogenous concentrations of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2FH4) in human colorectal adenocarcinoma xenografts, and to determine the ability of other folate derivatives to increase the formation of the ternary covalent complex between CH2FH4, {6-3H}-5-fluorodeoxyuridylate (FdUMP) and thymidylate synthetase (TS, EC 2.1.1.45) . Levels of CH2FH4 were determined by measuring the release of {3H}2O from {5-3H}-dUMP using TS from Lactobacillus casei . The reaction was linear from 1.9 X 10(-13) to 2.4 X 10(-11) mol of CH2FH4 assayed . Concentrations of CH2FH4 were low, ranging from 66 to 233 nM in cell water . Tetrahydrofolate (FH4) and dihydrofolate (FH2) increased complex formation, while 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-CHOFH4) and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-CH3FH4) decreased the covalent binding of {6-3H}-FdUMP in vitro . Administration of FH4 or FH2 to tumor-bearing mice reduced subsequent formation of the covalent complex in vitro . Since 5-CH3FH4 is a major derivative of folate in mammalian tissues, its effect on the covalent binding of {6-3H}-FdUMP was examined further; even in the presence of homocysteine and cyanocobalamin (B12), the formation of the covalent complex was not increased . The fate of {5-14CH3}-FH4 was subsequently examined in vivo . In tumors at 1 hr after injection, 72% of the radiolabel remained as {5-14CH3}-FH4, while 17% had been converted to {14C}-methionine or incorporated into protein . By contrast, however, the incorporation of radiolabel into the protein fraction of liver was almost 30-fold greater at this time . At 4 hr, radioactivity in tumors (dpm/g) and in the fraction associated with {5-14CH3}-FH4 was decreased by over 60%, while metabolism was increased by only 13% . No polyglutamate forms of {5-14CH3}-FH4 were detected in tumors at 4 hr after treatment. J Anim Sci, 1982 Mar, 54(3), 649 - 58 Effect of lasalocid, monensin or thiopeptin on lactic acidosis in cattle; Nagaraja TG et al.; Lasalocid, monensin or thiopeptin was administered intraruminally each at .33, .65 or 1.3 mg/kg body weight and evaluated for its effectiveness in preventing experimentally induced lactic acidosis in cattle . Four rumen-fistulated cattle were used for each dosage level and the design was a 4 x 4 Latin square with each animal receiving lasalocid, monensin, thiopeptin or no antibiotic . Acidosis was induced by intraruminal administration of glucose (12.5 g/kg body weight) . Control cattle exhibited the typical drop in rumen pH and concurrent increases in L(+) and D(-) lactate concentrations commonly observed in cases of lactic acidosis . Alkali reserves were depleted in the control cattle as evidenced by a decrease in blood bicarbonate and a negative shift in base excess . In all three trials, cattle given lasalocid had higher rumen pH and lower lactate concentrations than did control cattle or cattle given monensin or thiopeptin . Cattle given monensin had a significantly higher rumen pH and a lower lactate concentration than the controls only at the .65 and 1.3 mg/kg body weight dosages, whereas thiopeptin was effective only at the 1.3-mg dosage . Concentrations of total VFA in rumen fluid decreased in the controls but remained unchanged in cattle given antibiotics . A significant reduction in the molar proportion of acetate and an increase in the molar proportion of propionate were observed in the rumen fluid of the cattle given antibiotics . Colony counts of Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus were significantly reduced in rumen fluid of cattle given 1.3 mg antibiotic/kg body weight . Counts of lactate-utilizing bacteria increased in both control cattle and cattle given antibiotics . Cattle given antibiotics showed no evidence of lacticacidemia, hemoconcentration or change in acid-base balance. J Gen Virol, 1982 Mar, 59(Pt 1), 173 - 5 Factors affecting in vitro DNA ejection of the Lactobacillus lactis bacteriophage LL-H; Alatossava T; Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (tris) inactivates Lactobacillus lactis bacteriophages LL-H in vitro . The inactivation is caused by DNA ejection . This effect occurs in tris-HCl buffer only . Both pH and temperature affect the sensitivity of the phage to the tris treatment . The divalent cation Mg2+ prevented the inactivating effected of tris at concentrations about 10(3)-fold lower than monovalent cation K+. J Am Diet Assoc, 1982 Mar, 80(3), 237 - 41 Folacin content of supplemental foods for pregnancy; Thenen SW; Microbiological assay with Lactobacillus casei was made to determine total folacin content of foods allowed in the Special Supplemental Food Program (WIC) serving low-income pregnant women in the United States, who are at risk for folacin deficiency . Results of the assay showed that, when foods with a high nutrient density and Index of Nutritional Quality for folacin were selected, 69 percent of the folacin RDA for pregnancy could be provided in only 34 percent of the energy allowance . Thus the WIC program can contribute significant amounts of folacin to the diet of pregnant women. Br J Nutr, 1982 Mar, 47(2), 183 - 9 Studies on the response of Lactobacillus casei to different folate monoglutamates; Phillips DR et al.; 1 . The response of Lactobacillus casei was measured for a number of the monoglutamyl forms of folate derivatives . 2 . At the concentrations of folate commonly used in the assay of folate vitamin in foods the response of L . casei to folic acid, (pteroylglutamic acid) and 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolic acid was similar, but 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolic acid gave as little as half the response of folic acid . 3 . The response was modified by altering pH but not by concentration of ascorbate . 4 . These results have implications for the assays of foods for folate where mixtures of folate derivatives are present . 5 . A modified procedure is suggested in which the monoglutamates give similar responses. Biochemistry, 1982 Feb 16, 21(4), 737 - 41 Inactivation of dihydrofolate reductase from Lactobacillus casei by diethyl pyrocarbonate; Daron HH et al.; The role of histidine residues of dihydrofolate reductase from Lactobacillus casei was investigated with diethyl pyrocarbonate . This enzyme has no cysteine residues and differs in this respect from many nicotinamide nucleotide dehydrogenases, which have catalytically important sulfhydryl groups . X-ray studies of this enzyme have shown that histidine residues are involved in substrate binding but not in proton transfer {Matthews et al . (1978) J . Biol . Chem . 253, 6946} . Dihydrofolate reductase was inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate; the second-order rate constant for the reaction was 29 M-1 min-1 at 0 degrees C . The difference spectrum of native and diethyl pyrocarbonate inactivated enzyme had a maximum near 242 nm, which indicated a reaction with histidine residues . The absence of any spectral difference near 280 nm indicated that diethyl pyrocarbonate had not reacted with tyrosine residues . Dihydrofolate reductase lost all of its enzymatic activity after about six of the seven histidine residues had been modified . No catalytic activity was lost during an initial rapid reaction with about four histidine residues, but a subsequent slower reaction involving an additional one or two residues was associated with the loss of activity . The enzyme was protected from inactivation by either of the substrates NADPH or dihydrofolate . In fact, treatment with diethyl pyrocarbonate in the presence of either substrate, but particularly with NADPH, resulted in substantially greater activity than that found with untreated enzyme . Treatment with 1 M hydroxylamine partially restored activity to dihydrofolate reductase that had been inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1982 Feb 4, 701(1), 49 - 56 Modification of tyrosine residues in dihydrofolate reductase from Lactobacillus casei; Rosson D et al.; Dihydrofolate reductase from Lactobacillus casei was inactivated by reaction with tetranitromethane and 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole . Loss of activity occurred with modification of four of the five tyrosine residues present in the enzyme . The presence of either substrate, NADPH or 7,8-dihydrofolate, as well as NADP and folate, provided extensive protection against inactivation, while NADH and tetrahydrofolate exhibited none . This protection from inactivation occurred on protection of two of the four susceptible tyrosines from modification . Nitration of the enzyme adversely affected its ability to bind substrates . Restoration of the pKa of the nitrated tyrosines by reduction of the nitro group to an amino group did not result in a regeneration of enzymatic activity . However, fluorotyrosine-containing enzyme, prepared by growing the bacterium in the presence of fluorotyrosine, exhibited specific activity identical to that of native enzyme over the pH range of 4.5-8 . These results suggest that inactivation of dihydrofolate reductase by tyrosine modification occurs primarily due to a steric effect and that the active site tyrosines may participate in substrate binding. J Med Chem, 1982 Feb, 25(2), 157 - 61 A comparison of the inhibition of growth of methotrexate-resistant and -sensitive leukemia cells in culture by triazines . Evidence for a new mechanism of cell resistance to methotrexate; Selassie CD et al.; Forty-five 4,6-diamino-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1-(3-X-phenyl)-s-triazine inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and methotrexate (MTX) were tested on L5178Y/R murine tumor cell culture . The concentration of inhibitor causing a 50% decrease in growth rate was determined, and from these results a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) was developed . This QSAR is compared with QSAR for the same inhibitors acting on isolated DHFR and on L5178Y cell culture sensitive to MTX . The results show that very potent triazine inhibitors of resistant tumor cell growth can easily be made by making the triazines strongly hydrophobic . The optimum pi value for inhibition of MTX-sensitive cell culture is 0.8, while pi 0 for the resistant cell culture is about 6.0 . The QSAR for MTX-sensitive and -resistant tumor cell culture inhibition is compared with the corresponding QSAR for Lactobacillus casei cells . Both the mammalian and bacterial cells appear to protect themselves from the highly hydrophilic MTX by erecting lipophilic barriers. J Dent Res, 1982 Feb, 61(2), 382 - 5 Oral flora of children with "nursing bottle caries"; van Houte J et al.; S . mutans averaged about 60% of the total cultivable flora of dental plaque obtained from caries lesions, white spot margins of these lesions, or clinically-sound areas of upper anterior teeth, and averaged about 27% in plaque from mostly clinically-sound areas of posterior teeth of six children with nursing bottle caries; its concentrations in saliva averaged about 10% of the total cultivable flora . Nearly all of 107 isolated S . mutans strains belonged to the serotype group c/e/f . The proportion of S . sanguis, in contrast to those of S . mutans, were very low in plaque from upper anterior teeth and higher in plaque from posterior teeth . The proportions of S . salivarius in saliva were unusually low, and this organism was not detected in the saliva of most subjects . Lactobacilli were found in nearly all plaque samples; plaque and carious material from cavities contained higher levels than plaque associated with white spots or clinically-sound tooth surfaces . The findings provide further support for the role of S . mutans in the initiation of human dental caries . In the case of lactobacilli, they support other evidence suggesting only the limited involvement of these organisms in the initiation of caries lesions, but a more extensive role in their progression . In addition, they clearly illustrate the marked effect of diet on the dental plaque flora. J Gen Microbiol, 1982 Feb, 128(Pt 2), 319 - 25 The fermentation of lactulose by colonic bacteria; Sahota SS et al.; Sixty-four strains of intestinal bacteria were cultured under anaerobic conditions in lactulose-containing media to assess their ability to ferment lactulose . Some organisms were unable to metabolize the disaccharide, while others, e.g . clostridia and lactobacilli, metabolized lactulose extensively . Quantitative analyses of the fermentation products indicated that the major non-gaseous metabolites were acetic, lactic and butyric acids . Hydrogen and carbon dioxide were the only gases detected . Fermentation products were estimated for selected species throughout their growth cycles . The products of fermentation of lactulose by stool cultures varied with incubation conditions such as pH, but correlated well with those produced by pure cultures . These results are discussed in relation to the therapeutic uses of lactulose. J Pharm Sci, 1982 Feb, 71(2), 214 - 6 Structure-activity relationships among substituted N-benzoyl derivatives of phenylalanine and its analogs in a microbial antitumor prescreen I: Derivatives of o-fluoro-DL-phenylalanine; Otani TT et al.; Twelve derivatives of 0-fluoro-dl-phenylalanine containing fluorine, chlorine, methoxy, and nitro radicals in various positions of the aromatic ring of the benzoyl group were prepared and tested in a Lactobacillus casei system . It was found that most substitutions in the benzoyl phenyl ring resulted in a compound exhibiting greater growth-inhibiting activity than the nonsubstituted benzoyl-o-fluorophenylalanine . The greatest activity was observed in the ortho-substituted fluoro compound and the meta- and para-substituted chloro and nitro compounds . With the methoxy group, the position of substitution appeared unimportant, since all three methoxy isomers exhibited essentially equal inhibition . Nitro substitution in the ortho position had a protective effect in that the product was less active than the unsubstituted benzoyl-o-fluoro-dl-phenylalanine. Gene, 1982 Feb, 17(2), 229 - 33 Molecular cloning of the gene for dihydrofolate reductase from Lactobacillus casei; Davies RW et al.; The Lactobacillus casei gene for dihydrofolate reductase has been cloned in Escherichia coli using the multicopy vector pBR322 . A restriction map of the cloned DNA has been prepared . The cloned DNA directs the synthesis of L . casei dihydrofolate reductase in E . coli and confers trimethoprim and methotrexate resistance. Adv Enzyme Regul, 1982, 20, 389 - 408 Transport of folate compounds, pterins and adenine in L1210 mouse leukemia cells; Huennekens FM et al.; L1210 mouse leukemia cells provide a convenient model for examining the mechanisms and components involved in the active transport of various metabolites and drugs . One of these transport systems exhibits a broad specificity for folate compounds, including 4-amino antagonists such as methotrexate . The primary substrate for this system is 5-methyltetra-hydrofolate (Kt = 1 microM), the principal circulating form of the vitamin in mammals . 5-Formyltetrahydrofolate (Kt = 5 microM) and Methotrexate (Kt = 5 microM) are also taken up efficiently, but folate (Kt = 100 microM) is a relatively poor substrate . Vmax for this system is ca . 15 pmoles/min/mg protein . Energy for substrate internalization is provided by an anion-exchange mechanism, and regulation appears to be mediated by cyclic AMP . The system can be inhibited irreversibly by treatment of the cells with photo-activated azido AMP or carbodiimide-activated folate compounds . The latter method allows the membrane-associated binding protein to be labeled in situ, thereby providing a means for identifying it during subsequent solubilization and purification . Guidance for this latter project is provided by previous experience in the purification to homogeneity of a similar folate-binding protein from Lactobacillus casei . L1210 cells also contain an efficient system for the transport of adenine (Kt = 20 microM; Vmax = 200 pmoles/min/mg protein) . Uptake of adenine is linked with its conversion to AMP via PRPP-dependent adenine phosphori-bosyltransferase . Pterins, which have a close structural similarity to adenine (as well as to a portion of the folate molecule), are also transported into L1210 cells . Transport of {3H} 6-hydroxymethylpterin (Kt = 20 microM) was inhibited by 6-formylpterin, 6-methylpterin and 6-carboxypterin with Ki values of 42, 100 and 350 microM, respectively . Adenine (Ki = 20 microM) and various other purines were also good inhibitors of pterin transport . Present evidence indicates that adenine and pterins use separate transport systems, but isolation of the components of these systems may further delineate their interrelationships. Microbiol Immunol, 1982, 26(3), 199 - 211 Purification and characterization of spirosomes in Lactobacillus brevis; Ueki Y et al.; Spirosomes, very find spiral particles, were isolated from a protoplastlysate of Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 8287 by differential centrifugation and purified further by potassium tartrate density gradient centrifugation . The purified spirosome preparation showed a maximum peak around 275 nm on the ultraviolet absorption spectrum and it consisted of about 94.5% protein . The buoyant density in CsCl of the spirosomes was 1.320 g/cm3 . The spirosomes were composed mainly of a single protein (spirosin with an apparent molecular weight of about 95,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . The protein of the spirosomes was found to be composed predominantly of neutral amino acids accompanied by approximately equal amounts of acidic and basic amino acids . The spirosomes showed one antigenic determinant in the immunodiffusion test . The spirosomes were readily degraded by the action or proteolytic enzymes and lost their antigenicity, but they were not affected by treatment with either deoxyribonuclease or ribonuclease . The spiral structure of the spirosome was also found to be disintegrated by treatment with 1 M guanidine hydrochloride, 4 M urea or 0.1% SDS, but not by the action of deoxycholate, nonionic detergents or mercaptoethanol, as observed in the electron microscope. Arch Oral Biol, 1982, 27(3), 261 - 8 Blood-group-reactive glycoprotein from human saliva interacts with lipoteichoic acid on the surface of Streptococcus sanguis cells; Hogg SD et al.; {3H}-Glycerol-labelled lipoteichoic acid (LTA) was extracted from Streptococcus sanguis cells using aqueous phenol . Chemical analysis of the LTA yielded phosphate:glycerol:glucose:fatty acids in the mole ratio 1.0:0.97:0.76:0.03 . The LTA inhibited the interaction between Strep . sanguis cells and a high mol . wt blood-group-reactive glycoprotein (BGR-glycoprotein) isolated from human saliva and reduced Strep . sanguis-mediated haemagglutination activity . Purified LTA from Strep . mutans strains OMZ61 and HS6, which have been shown not to interact with the BGR-glycoprotein, also inhibited the BGR-glycoprotein mediated aggregation of Strep . sanguis, as did an antiserum prepared against Lactobacillus casei LTA . It is proposed that the binding of the salivary glycoprotein to Strep . sanguis cells in achieved through LTA associated with bacterial surface fibrils. Physiol Chem Phys, 1982, 14(1), 3 - 7 Nonspecific and cooperative binding of lectins to microorganisms; Kahn LD; Binding of lectins to microbial cell walls was investigated by fluorimetric titration and Scatchard plot . Data were correlated with agglutinability . Concanavalin A and lectins of wheat germ, soybean, pea, lentil, and peanut were tested against Escherichia coli . Micrococcus luteus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Bacillus subtilis . In cases where binding occurred, it was either nonspecific or positively cooperative . Agglutination was observed only in those combinations of lectin and microorganism that showed positive cooperative binding, suggesting a definite relation between binding and agglutination . Lectins binding to the same carbohydrate did not necessarily bind to the same microorganism, confirming the complexity of the lectin-receptor bond. Antibiotiki, 1982, 27(9), 681 - 4 {Bacteriocinogenic typing of lactobacilli}; Filippov VA; Sensitivity of 588 strains of Lactobacilli belonging to 15 species was studied with respect to 39 bacteriocinogenic strains of Lactobacilli producing 39 variants of bacteriocins . The study provided a set of 20 indicator strains of Lactobacilli . With the use of this set it is possible to mark Lactobacilli of various species and differentiate them into 39 bacteriocinogenic types . This may be used in taxonomic and epidemiological studies. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1982 Jan, 43(1), 50 - 6 Drug resistance plasmids in Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus reuteri; Vescovo M et al.; Sixteen strains of Lactobacillus reuteri and 20 strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus were tested for resistance to 22 antibiotics by using commercially available sensitivity disks . Evidence suggesting linkage of these resistances to plasmids was obtained by "curing" experiments with acridine dyes and high growth temperatures . Examination of plasmid patterns of agarose gel electrophoresis provided further evidence of loss in plasmid DNA under curing conditions in some of the strains examined. Mikrobiologiia, 1982, 51(5), 784 - 9 {Fine structure and culture characteristics of Lactobacillus plantarum}; Vaisman IS et al.; The preparations of Lactobacillus plantarum 8-PA-3 cultures growing for 6, 8 and 10 hours were taken at the phase of exponential growth in a liquid malt-containing nutrient medium, and their ultrathin sections and replicas were studied after freeze-fracturing and etching by means of electron microscopy . The authors discuss the dynamics of development of structural-functional complexes in the cells, in particular, their membranous structures . Their morphogenesis is correlated with the functional requirements of the cells due to peculiarities of the population growth . The organization of the cytoplasmic membrane is noteworthy: many vesicles appear at the periphery of the protoplast and, probably, are involved in metabolic processes via a mechanism of the exocytosis type . Membranous structures of the nucleoidosome type extend gradually in the nuclear area, most intensively by the time when the exponential growth ceases . This phenomenon may be regarded as a response to the population being crowded under these conditions. J Biol Chem, 1981 Dec 10, 256(23), 12152 - 5 DNA binding by dihydrofolate reductase from Lactobacillus casei; Gronenborn AM et al.; The protein-dependent retention of double-stranded DNA molecules on nitrocellulose filters has been used to show that pure dihydrofolate reductase from Lactobacillus casei has affinity for DNA . Dihydrofolate reductase will bind to end-labeled linear double-stranded DNA and to DNA in supercoiled form . Coenzymes and certain inhibitors do not affect the affinity of the protein to DNA, indicating that the DNA-binding region of the protein is distinct from the binding sites for these molecules . Comparison of the retention on filters by dihydrofolate reductase of two plasmid DNAs, differing only in a 3000-base pair insert containing the L . casei gene for dihydrofolate reductase, showed that in the presence of this DNA region lower concentrations of the protein were required to give significant retention; it is possible that a specific DNA-protein interaction underlies this effect . This presents the possibility of studying the interaction with DNA of a protein for which a crystal structure and considerable nuclear magnetic resonance data are already available. Biochemistry, 1981 Dec 8, 20(25), 7186 - 95 Negative cooperativity between folinic acid and coenzyme in their binding to Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase; Birdsall B et al.; The binding of folinic acid (5-formyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate) to Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase has been measured . The natural 6S, alpha S diastereoisomer has a binding constant of 1.3 (+/- 0.6) X 10(8) M-1 at pH 6.0, 25 degrees C; the 6R, alpha S diastereoisomer binds approximately 10(4)-fold more weakly . The natural diastereoisomer of folinic acid binds negatively cooperatively with the coenzymes NADP+ and NADPH, binding 3 times more weakly in the presence of NADP+ and 600 times more weakly in the presence of NADPH than to the enzyme alone . Negative cooperativity has been unequivocally distinguished from competition by measurements of coenzyme binding as a function of folinic acid concentration, of the effects of folinic acid on the 1H and 31P chemical shifts of the bound coenzyme, and of the effects of folinic acid on the coenzyme dissociation rate constant . The latter experiments also give evidence for the coexistence of two slowly interconverting conformational forms of the ternary enzyme-coenzyme-folinic acid complex . Small changes in structure of the oxidized coenzymes have substantial effects on the cooperativity with folinic acid, with the thionicotinamide analogue showing positive rather than negative cooperativity . The changes in environment of the bound coenzyme produced by folinic acid, as revealed by 1H and 31P NMR, demonstrate clearly that the negative cooperativity shown by NADP+ and NADPH, respectively, arises by two structurally distinct mechanisms. Infect Immun, 1981 Dec, 34(3), 662 - 75 Sucrose-induced ecological response of experimental dental plaques from caries-free and caries-susceptible Human volunteers; Minah GE et al.; Microbial succession, experimental cariogenicity, and sucrose metabolism were examined in dental plaques which developed on sterile bovine enamel inserts in acrylic palatal appliances . The appliances were worn for a period of 14 days by 10 caries-free and 10 caries-susceptible human volunteers . Three of six enamel inserts on each appliance were exposed extraorally to 10% sucrose in 0.85% saline six times a day, and three were exposed simultaneously to 0.85% saline as a control environment . The responses of the plaques to the high-sucrose environment in both caries status populations were compared . In all plaques, exposure to 10% sucrose stimulated the succession of Veillonella spp., Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus salivarius, and, to a lesser extent, Streptococcus mutans and a decline in levels of Streptococcus sanguis, Neisseria spp., and gram-negative anaerobic rods . Plaques from caries-free mouths, in contrast to those from caries-susceptible mouths, harbored higher levels of Veillonella spp., gram-negative anaerobic rods, and Neisseria spp . and lower levels of Lactobacillus spp . Sucrose-exposed plaques from caries-free mouths also induced less enamel microhardness changes and formed less lactic acid from {14C}sucrose during a 60-min incubation at 37 degrees C than did comparable plaques from caries-susceptible mouths . The experiments revealed consistent differences in the ecological response to a cariogenic substrate environment in plaques from the two populations, with plaques from caries-free subjects exhibiting less cariogenic potential than those from caries-susceptible subjects. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 Dec, 42(6), 996 - 1001 Transit time of epithelial cells in the small intestines of germfree mice and ex-germfree mice associated with indigenous microorganisms; Savage DC et al.; Germfree mice housed in isolators under controlled environmental and nutritional conditions were associated with an intestinal microflora . These associated animals and germfree mice drawn from the same population were tested for the rate at which the epithelial cells transited from the crypts of Lieberkuhn to the tips of the villi in their small intestines . The method for estimating the rate of transit of epithelial cells involved the use of liquid scintillation counting to determine the amount of radioactivity entering the cells while the animals were being injected with {3H}thymidine and statistical analysis of th data with a computer program developed for the purpose . As estimated by that method, the cells transited from the crypts to the villous tips in germfree mice in about 115 h and in the associated animals in about 53 h . In monoassociated mice, a strain of a Lactobacillus sp . had no effect on the transit time of the epithelial cells . A strain of Torulopsis pintolopesii stimulated uptake of 3{H}thymidine by the small bowel mucosae in mice monoassociated with the organisms for 5 weeks . In animals monoassociated with the yeast fo 3, 4, and 6 weeks, however, the radioactive compound was incorporated into the bowel mucosae to the same extent as the mucosae of germfree mice . Therefore, similarly to the Lactobacillus strain, T . pintolopesii has no obvious influence on the transit rate of small bowel epithelial cells. Scand J Dent Res, 1981 Dec, 89(6), 458 - 62 Microbial analyses of dental plaque of monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) using fluorescent antibody techniques; Emilson CG et al.; Selected microbial components in supragingival dental plaque from recently captured monkeys were determined . Using specific fluorescent antibody (FA) conjugates S . sanguis was found to constitute an average of 11.8% of all cells . The populations of Actinomyces accounted for 20.7% (range 5-31) with A . viscosus and A . naeslundii as predominant species . Few lactobacilli were encountered . S . mutans was not detected in any specimens when examined by culture and FA. J Dent Res, 1981 Dec, 60(12), 1929 - 35 The relation of stimulated salivary flow rate and pH to Lactobacillus and yeast concentrations in saliva; Parvinen T et al.; This study demonstrates that the presence of yeast, but not lactobacillus infection, is related to salivary flow rate . Salivary pH is correlated with the primary infection of both lactobacilli and yeasts . The low output of saliva appears to influence the quantity of lactobacilli more than that of yeasts . The flow rate was lower and the presence of yeasts was higher in females than in males. Am J Clin Nutr, 1981 Dec, 34(12), 2711 - 5 Effectiveness of milk products in dietary management of lactose malabsorption; Payne DL et al.; Eleven lactose malabsorbers were studied to compare the effectiveness of commercially available products recommended for dietary treatment of lactose malabsorption . One product, a commercial lactase preparation, is added to milk for lactose hydrolysis before consumption . The other is a commercial milk product containing lactose-hydrolyzing, nonpathogenic bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus . Both of these products are presently recommended for management of lactose malabsorption, although such recommendations have not been validated by controlled studies . Lactose malabsorption was determined by breath H2 analyses after subjects drank four different test doses on 4 different days . The first test dose was 480 ml of low fat milk; the second was 480 ml of milk treated with a commercial lactase preparation; the third was 480 ml of a commercial L . acidophilus-containing milk; and the fourth was 480 ml of the L . acidophilus-containing milk after 1 wk of gastrointestinal exposure to this commercial bacteria-containing milk . The mean breath H2 response to the lactase-treated milk was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than the mean response to regular milk . However, the mean breath H2 response to either of the test doses of the L . acidophilus-containing milk were not significantly different than responses to regular milk . It is concluded that the lactase-treated milk reduces breath H2 responses and symptomatic discomfort from malabsorption while the L . acidophilus-containing milk does not. J Med Chem, 1981 Dec, 24(12), 1450 - 5 Methotrexate analogues . 14 . Synthesis of new gamma-substituted derivatives as dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and potential anticancer agents; Rosowsky A et al.; The gamma-tert-butyl ester (1), gamma-hydrazide (2), gamma-n-butylamide (3), and gamma-benzylamide (4) derivatives of methotrexate (MTX) were synthesized from 4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-methylpteroic acid (APA) and the appropriate blocked L-glutamic acid precursors with the aid of the peptide bond forming reagent diethyl phosphorocyanidate . The affinity of these side chain modified products for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from Lactobacillus casei and L1210 mouse leukemic cells was determined spectrophotometrically or by competitive radioligand binding assay, and their cytotoxicity was evaluated against L1210 leukemic cells in culture . The results provide continuing support for the view that the "gamma-terminal region" of the MTX side chain is an attractive site for molecular modification of this anticancer agent. J Med Chem, 1981 Dec, 24(12), 1422 - 9 Comparison of the inhibition of methotrexate-sensitive and -resistant Lactobacillus casei cell cultures with purified Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase by 4,6-diamino-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1-(3-substituted-phenyl)-s-triazines . Use of quantitative structure-activity relationships in making inferences about the mechanism of resistance and the structure of the enzyme is situ compared with the enzyme in vitro; Coats EA et al.; The inhibitory action of a set of 4,5-diamino-1,2-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-1-(3-substituted-phenyl)-s-triazines on Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase is compared with their action on methotrexate-resistant and methotrexate-sensitive cell cultures by means of quantitative structure-selectivity analysis . The analysis uncovers major differences in the steric and hydrophobic interactions of the substituents X with the three different systems . Correlation analysis is used to define the hydrophobic binding site for 3-X in the isolated enzyme . This is shown to be similar to that of the sensitive cells but different from that in the resistant cells, which have a larger hydrophobic binding site . When X has the general structure 3-CH2ZC6H4-Y (Z = O or NH), it is shown that Y does not interact with the isolated enzyme, but in the living cells, Y interacts with a molecular barrier in a way that can be quantitatively related to the molar refractivity of X . The methotrexate-resistant cells are resistant to highly hydrophilic inhibitors such as methotrexate but are not able to resist hydrophobic inhibitors . The results with the inhibition of L . casei dihydrofolate reductase are compared with the inhibition of enzyme from bovine liver. Antibiotiki, 1981 Nov, 26(11), 843 - 7 {Bacteriocin properties of Lactobacillus acidophilus}; Filippov VA; Bacteriocins produced by L . acidophilus were studied with respect to the character and size of the growth inhibition zones, diffusion across cellophane, sensitivity to proteases, nucleases and lysozyme, thermostability, capacity of adsorption by the indicator strains and effect on Lactobacillus . By the differences in the properties and action on various species of Lactobacillus the bacteriocins were classified as belonging to 12 types of L . acidophilus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Nov, 20(5), 683 - 5 Comparative in vitro activity of ceftizoxime, cefoperazone, and cefoxitin against anaerobic bacteria; Drulak MW et al.; Against 482 obligate anaerobes studied by the agar dilution technique, ceftizoxime was significantly more active than both cefoxitin and cefoperazone (P less than 0.001); the latter two agents were comparable in activity . The enhanced activity of ceftizoxime, as compared with the activity of cefoxitin, was against both gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobes (especially Lactobacillus and bacteroides spp) . Cefoperazone, however, was more active than cefoxitin against gram-positive anaerobes (particularly Lactobacillus spp.) but was less active than cefoxitin against gram-negative anaerobes (particularly Bacteroides fragilis and Veillonella spp.). Biochemistry, 1981 Oct 13, 20(21), 6169 - 78 Nuclear magnetic resonance study of dihydrofolate reductase labeled with {gamma-13C}tryptophan; Groff JP et al.; Dihydrofolate reductase isozyme 2 of Streptococcus faecium has been labeled with 13C in the C gamma position of tryptophan residues by growing the organism on a defined medium containing L-{gamma-13C}tryptophan (90% 13C) . The 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of the enzyme shows four well-resolved resonances which have nuclear Overhauser enhancements of 1.1-1.3 . Values of T1 (spin-lattice relaxation time) and T2 (spin-spin relaxation time) are significantly less than predicted for an isotropically rotating, rigid sphere with no intermolecular dipole-dipole interactions . Three of the resonances have chemical shifts downfield from the 13C resonance of urea-denatured enzyme by amounts up to 1.43 ppm . The chemical shift of resonance 4 in the spectrum is 4.0 ppm upfield from Trp C gamma of urea-denatured enzyme . This large upfield shift is attributed to electric field effects generated by polar side chains . The two more upfield peaks both provide evidence that the corresponding tryptophan residues, WC and WD, each undergo chemical exchange between alternative microenvironments . In the case of WC, which gives a resonance with two components, exchange is slow (ve, exchange rate much less than 55 s-1), and the relative populations of the two stable states are in the ratio 2:3 . WD is apparently in intermediate to fast exchange on the NMR time scale . With a two-state model, ve increases from approximately 90 to 150 s-1 as the temperature is increased from 5 to 25 degrees C . This increases in temperature is also accompanied by an increase in the fractional population of the minor downfield state(s), from about 0.062 at 5 degrees C to 0.24 at 25 degrees C . However, the data may also be interpreted as a temperature-dependent equilibrium between a continuum of many states . WD is tentatively identified with Trp-22 since comparison of the sequences of Lactobacillus casei dihydrofolate reductase and S . faecium dihydrofolate reductase and inspection of the crystal structure of the L . casei enzyme indicate that Trp-6, Trp-115, and Trp-160 are probably all involved in regions of beta sheet whereas Trp-22 is in a loop joining beta A to alpha B . Earlier crystallographic evidence for the Escherichia coli reductase suggests that in the methotrexate complex with this enzyme the corresponding loop has a good deal of flexibility . It is probable that in the uncomplexed S . faecium reductase the motion of this loop is the major mechanism for the exchange process involving Trp-22 . The upfield chemical shift of resonance 4 is attributed to electric field effects on C gamma of Trp-22 produced by the carboxylate groups of Asp-27 and Asp-9 . On the basis of the small difference between the chemical shift of resonance 3 and that of tryptophan C gamma in urea-denatured reductase, it is suggested that WC may be identified with Trp-6. Antibiotiki, 1981 Oct, 26(10), 746 - 50 {Sensitivity of lactobacilli of the subgenus Thermobacterium to the action of bacteriocins}; Filippov VA; Sensitivity of 278 cultures of Thermobacterium to 30 types of bacteriocins produced by L . acidophilus, L . salivarius, L . jugurti, L . casei, L . plantarum, L . fermentum, L . brevis and L . buchneri was studied with the method of delayed antagonism . It was shown that all cultures of L . Salivarius, L . jugurti, L . helveticus, L . lactis, L . leichmannii, L . bulgaricus and L . delbrueckii and 94.1 per cent of L . acidophilus were sensitive to one or several bacteriocin types . The cultures of L . acidophilus, L . salivarius and L . jugurti, L . helveticus, L . lactis, L . bulgaricus and L . delbrueckii were sensitive to 26, 15, 28, 2 and 29 lactocin types respectively. Am J Clin Nutr, 1981 Oct, 34(10), 2205 - 9 Pantothenic acid content of human milk; Johnston L et al.; One-day diets were recorded by 22 lactating women 1 to 6 months postpartum . Pantothenic acid content of the diets was estimated using a published table of pantothenic acid values for food . The mean pantothenic acid intake of the lactating women was 7.6 mg/day over the 6-month period . The day after diet recording, the women collected two samples of breast milk during the first feeding of the day after 5 AM . The first sample was obtained at the beginning of the feed (fore milk) and the second at the end of the feed (hind milk) . The pantothenic acid in the milk was determined by microbiological assay using Lactobacillus plantarum, after prior treatment of the milk with intestinal phosphatase and pigeon liver extract to free bound pantothenic acid . There was no significance acid in the milk was 6.7 microgram/ml . No change occurred in the concentration of pantothenic acid in the milk from 1 to 6 months postpartum . There was a significant (p less than 0.005), positive correlation (r = 0.51) between the pantothenic acid in the diet of the mother the day preceding milk collection and the pantothenic acid content of the milk. J Clin Periodontol, 1981 Oct, 8(5), 400 - 14 Prediction of root surface caries in patients treated for advanced periodontal disease; Ravald N et al.; The present investigation was undertaken (1) to analyze the prevalence of root surface caries prior to and after periodontal treatment and (2) to determine the feasibility of using simple clinical criteria for predicting a patient's risk of developing root surface caries following periodontal therapy . Thirty-one patients were given advanced periodontal treatment including periodontal surgery . At baseline they were examined for oral hygiene status, root surface caries experience and number of lactobacilli per ml saliva as evaluated by the Dentocult dip-slide method . Follow-up examinations 1, 2 and 4 years after baseline showed that a majority of the patients were treated successfully and maintained in periodontal health . Root surface caries developed in approximately two-thirds of the patients during the 4-year observation period . However, the total increment of root lesions during these years was mostly extremely low, i.e . less than 5% of exposed root surfaces . In higher risk patients developing new root surface caries, significant correlations were demonstrated with initial pretreatment scorings from (1) their previous root surface caries experience, (2) high lactobacillus counts and (3) advancing age . In addition, root surface caries incidence and low saliva secretion rats were found to correlate significantly during the course of the study. J Med Chem, 1981 Oct, 24(10), 1254 - 8 New synthesis of N-{4-{{(2-amino-4(3H)-oxopyrido{3,2-d}pyrimidin-6-yl)methyl}amino}benzoyl}-L-glutamic acid (8-deazafolic acid) and the preparation of some 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro derivatives; Temple C Jr et al.; Previously, 8-deazafolic acid (17) was shown to be a potent inhibitor of the folate-dependent bacteria, Streptococcus faecium (ATCC 8043) and Lactobacillus casei (ATCC 7469), and to have activity against lymphoid leukemia L1210 in mice . To examine the 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro derivatives, a new synthesis of 17 was developed from 8-deaza-2,4-dichloro-6-methylpteridine . Treatment of the latter with aqueous base gave the corresponding pteridin-4(3H)-one, which was aminated with ammonia to give 8-deaza-6-methylpterin (9) . Bromination of 9 gave mainly 8-deaza-6-(tribromomethyl)pterin, which on reaction with p-aminobenzoyl-L-glutamic acid resulted in the formation of the 9-oxo derivative of 17 . In contrast, bromination of the 2-acetyl derivative of 9 gave mainly the corresponding 6-(bromomethyl)pterin, which was converted to 17 in 23% yield (from 9) . Hydrogenation of 17 at atmospheric pressure and room temperature was unsuccessful either in a basic medium or formic acid . In trifluoroacetic acid, overreduction occurred to give a mixture containing 8-deaza-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-6-methylpterin and the 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro derivative of 17 . The latter was characterized by conversion to the methenyl analogue 21, which was also prepared by hydrogenation of the 10-formyl derivative of 17 . Treatment of 21 with hydroxide gave 8-deaza-10-formyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolic acid . Compound 21 showed cytotoxicity to cultured H.Ep.-2 cells and was tested as an inhibitor of bovine dihydrofolic reductase . Lineweaver-Burk analysis indicated inhibition competitive with dihydrofolate. Contraception, 1981 Oct, 24(4), 481 - 91 The effect of a contraceptive vaginal ring and oral contraceptives on the vaginal flora; Roy S et al.; Premenopausal women seeking a steroid contraceptive method were allowed to choose between a contraceptive vaginal ring (CVR) containing levonorgestrel and estradiol used in a 3-week in, 1-week out regimen (n=20) and an oral contraceptive (OC) containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol in a 28-day regimen (n = 10) . Cultures from the posterior vaginal fornix were obtained before therapy in both groups and monthly for 6 months for the CVR group and after 1, 3, and 6 months for the OC group . These cultures were streaked on specific media to provide quantitative aerobic and anaerobic, lactobacillus, Candida sp., Gardnerella vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae counts in micro-organisms per milliliter . A comparison of the number and types of organisms isolated from vaginal cultures obtained initially and at 6 months demonstrated no statistically significant differences in colony counts between CVR and OC users . The results of this study suggest that the use of the CVR is not associated with a greater growth of pathogens than is oral administration of a progestin and estrogen combination. J Bacteriol, 1981 Oct, 148(1), 64 - 71 Multiple nutritional requirements of lactobacilli: genetic lesions affecting amino acid biosynthetic pathways; Morishita T et al.; Genetic lesions responsible for amino acid requirements in several species of multiple auxotrophic lactobacilli were investigated . Systematic attempts were made to isolate mutants that could grow in the absence of each of the amino acids required by the parental strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, L . casei, L . helveticus, and L . acidophilus . After treatment with appropriate mutagens, such mutants could be obtained with respect to many but not all required amino acids . Successful isolation of mutants for a given amino acid means that a minor genetic lesion reparable by single-step mutations affects its biosynthesis; a failure to isolate mutants suggests the involvement of more extensive lesions . Analysis of these results as well as the specific requirements exhibited by the parental strains revealed certain regularities; some of the biosynthetic pathways for individual amino acids were virtually unaffected by more extensive lesions in at least species tested, whereas others were affected by more extensive lesions in at least some species . Both the number and the kind of pathways affected by extensive lesions differed appreciably among different species . Furthermore, the growth response of the parental strains to some putative amino acid precursors revealed a clear correlation between the extent of genetic lesions and the occurrence and location of a genetic block(s) for a given pathway . These findings are discussed in relation to the phylogeny, ecology, and evolution of lactic acid bacteria. Am J Clin Nutr, 1981 Sep, 34(9), 1725 - 30 The blood-brain barrier and folate deficiency; Botez MI et al.; Twenty-three patients (average age: 63.2 +/- 14.9 (x +/- SEM) ranging from 28 to 83 yr) with low or borderline cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) folate and low serum underwent two lumbar punctures, i.e., before and after 3 wk of folate therapy . The rise in CSF folate content in the whole group after the replacement therapy was significant by both the Lactobacillus casei and radioisotope methods of folate determination . In patients with folate-responsive neurological disorders, the rise of CSF values after replacement therapy was definitely higher than in the group of patients in whom folate deficiency was not related to the actual clinical picture . Contrary to previous statements, the present study revealed that there is not an absolute blood-brain barrier for folate because the lower the CSF folate level was, the more rapid and spectacular the increase in CSF folate after replacement therapy was found. J Med Chem, 1981 Sep, 24(9), 1068 - 73 Folate analogues altered in the C9-N10 bridge region . 18 . Synthesis and antitumor evaluation of 11-oxahomoaminopterin and related compounds; Nair MG et al.; The chemical synthesis of 11-oxahomoaminopterin (1) has been carried out using procedures which were also found to be applicable to the synthesis of 11-oxahomofolic acid (2) . Reaction of 1-bromo-4-{p-(caarbomethoxy)phenoxy}-2-butanone (10) with sodium azide gave 1-azido-4-{p-(carbomethoxy)phenoxy}-2-butanone (11) . Protection of the carbonyl group of 11 as the ethylene ketal and subsequent base hydrolysis of the product gave 1-azido-4-(p-carboxyphenoxy)-2-butanone ketal (13) . The glutamate conjugate 14 was prepared from 13 by the isobutyl chloroformate method and was hydrogenated to diethyl N-{(alpha-amino-2-oxo-4-butanoyl)-p-anisoyl}-L-glutamate ketal (15) . Reaction of 15 with 6-chloro-2,4-diamino-5-nitropyrimidine (16) and 2-amino-6-chloro-4-hydroxy-5-nitropyrimidine (17) and deprotection of the corresponding products gave the intermediates 18 and 19, which were elaborated to 1 and 2 using a series of steps involving deprotection, dithionite reduction, cyclization, oxidation, and hydrolysis . Although 11-oxahomoaminopterin showed antifolate activity against two folate-requiring microorganisms and inhibited Lactobacillus casei DHFR, it was inactive against L-1210 leukemia in mice at a maximum dose of 48 mg/kg . Compound Lactobacillus casei DHFR, it was inactive against L-1210 leukemia in mice at a maximum dose of 48 mg/kg . Compound 1 was also tested for its ability to be transported via the methotrexate transport system using the L-1210 and Ehrlich tumor cell lines, and these results are compared with those of related analogues . The growth inhibitory activity of 1 in the L-1210 cell lines in culture was found to be 15 times weaker than that of methotrexate. Infect Immun, 1981 Sep, 33(3), 690 - 6 Oral ecology and virulence of Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus mutans in gnotobiotic rats; Michalek SM et al.; Lactobacilli comprise a small percentage of the normal oral microbial flora of humans and are isolated commonly from saliva and frequently from an active caries lesion . We have compared the pathogenesis and colonization pattern of Lactobacillus casei with that of Streptococcus mutans strain 6715 in gnotobiotic rats . Of the two L . casei strains tested, L . casei strain ATCC 4646 caused slightly more caries than L . casei strain ATCC 11578 . However, the level of caries induced by either L . casei strain was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) than that observed in similar-aged rats monoassociated with S . mutans strain 6715 . When groups of rats were infected with mixtures of L . casei strain ATCC 4646 and S . mutans strain 6715, or with L . casei followed by S . mutans, higher numbers of L . casei than S . mutans were found associated with the tongue and in saliva; S . mutans always predominated in plaque . The level of caries observed in these groups of rats was similar to that seen with rats monoassociated with S . mutans except when L . casei comprised greater than 1% of the plaque microflora . In this latter situation, the level of caries was significantly lower (P less than or equal to 0.05) than that obtained in S . mutans-monoassociated rats . The results of this study suggest that L . casei colonizes sites in the oral cavity (including the tongue and saliva) other than the tooth surface in rats . The effect of L . casei in plaque toward reduction of S . mutans-induced dental caries in rats is discussed. Lancet, 1981 Aug 22, 2(8243), 393 - 6 Lactobacilli do not cause frequency and dysuria syndrome; Brumfitt W et al.; Mid-stream specimens (MSU) of urine were collected from 142 healthy women (pregnant and non-pregnant) and cultured for lactobacilli and other fastidious bacteria . The latter either require CO2 or are obligate anaerobes . Lactobacilli were present in counts of 10(4)/ml or more in 34.8% of the women, and in counts of 10(5)/ml or more in 20.2% . Besides lactobacilli, which were the bacteria most frequently isolated, anaerobic gram-positive cocci (peptococci and peptostreptococci) were often found . This flora is typical of that of the lower vagina, and none of these women had either symptoms of urinary infection of pyuria . Therefore, the bacteria isolated were commensals or contaminants . Cultures of MSUs taken from 26 women with symptoms of dysuria and/or frequency, but without significant numbers of conventional pathogens such as Escherichia coli, contained commensals and contaminants of the same variety and in similar numbers . Urine samples from 50% of these patients contained at least 10(4) lactobacilli/ml and 27% had 10(5) or more/ml . Lactobacilli were absent from the suprapubic urine specimens cultured from a further 44 women . There was no significant difference between the isolation rate of lactobacilli in urine cultures from healthy women and the rate in women with dysuria and frequency. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1981 Aug, 362(8), 1031 - 6 Amino acid sequence of a dodecapeptide from the substrate-binding region of the L-lactate dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus curvatus, Lactobacillus xylosus and Bacillus stearothermophilus; Hensel R et al.; The amino acid sequence of dodecapeptides from the substrate-binding region of 3 bacterial L-lactate dehydrogenases (Lactobacillus xylosus, Lactobacillus curvatus and Bacillus stearothermophilus) were determined . They show a very high homology to the sequences of the corresponding known animal enzymes . There is, however, an essential difference between the sequences of pro- and eucaryotic enzymes: the Asn residue in position 166, common to all eucaryotes, is replaced by serine in lactobacilli and by isoleucine in Bacillus stearothermophilus . The cysteine residue in position 165, formerly considered as essential, seems to be restricted to the vertebrates, while all so far investigated invertebrates and bacteria have threonine at this position. Am J Clin Nutr, 1981 Aug, 34(8), 1513 - 9 Fatty acid composition of lipids in the maternal diet and establishment of a Lactobacillus sp . strain in the digestive tract of suckling gnotobiotic mice and rats; Lhuillery C et al.; Adult gnotobiotic mice and rats, monoassociated with a homofermentative strain of Lactobacillus sp . of intestinal origin, were fed either a commercial rodent chow A or a semisynthetic diet B . Similar numbers of lactobacilli were established in their gastrointestinal tract whatever diet they ate . The lactobacilli were established in the digestive tract of the newborn of A mothers at 2 days but were hardly established in mouse or rat pups of A mothers than in their mouse homologues . Comparative analysis of milk lipids in the A and B series showed a linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) content which was three times higher in the B than in the A series . Two diets S and H differing only by their lipid fractions, which, respectively, presented the same fatty acid compositions as lipids from diets A and B were then given to two others lots of Lactobacillus monoassociated mice . The establishment kinetics of the strain were the same in the mouse pups of these two lots precedently observed in the B series . The difference observed in the establishment kinetics of the Lactobacillus strain in the digestive tract of suckling gnotobiotic mice was thus attributed to other dietary factors than the fatty acid composition of the maternal diet. Dig Dis Sci, 1981 Aug, 26(8), 681 - 5 Interval sampling of breath hydrogen (H2) as an index of lactose malabsorption in lactase-deficient subjects; Welsh JD et al.; Interval sampling of breath hydrogen content was used in lactose malabsorbers: (1) to compare hydrogen responses following increasing oral doses of lactose in milk and aqueous solutions; (2) to determine the reproducibility of interval breath sampling, and (3) to compare carbohydrate malabsorption following ingestion of either regular milk or milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus . Significant differences in breath hydrogen responses due to increasing amounts of lactose in milk and aqueous solutions were observed . The individual breath hydrogen responses were reproducible using the same lactose dose on different days . There was no significant difference in breath hydrogen responses or symptoms following administration of either regular milk or milk containing Lactobacillus acidophilus . Breath hydrogen sampling at intervals, as performed in these studies, provides a sensitive and reproducible index of lactose malabsorption. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1981 Aug, 9(4), 182 - 90 Salivary lactobacillus counts in the prediction of caries activity; Crossner CG; The aim of the study was to investigate the reliability and clinical value for prediction of caries activity of determining the number of lactobacilli in saliva, the salivary secretion rate and the presence of yeasts in the saliva . For this purpose one entire age group of pupils (115 14-year-olds) attending one of the compulsory 9-year comprehensive schools in Orebro was selected for longitudinal examination . Over a period of 64 weeks three clinical recordings were made and seven salivary samples were collected . The correlations between caries activity, caries frequency (DFS), lactobacillus counts, yeasts in saliva, salivary secretion rate and gingivitis were examined . The results showed that in spite of a well-organized dental health service, including adequate preventive measures, a pronounced variation in caries activity remained and thus a means of predicting the onset of caries would be a valuable asset . Statistically significant correlations were found between caries activity on the one hand and caries frequency and lactobacillus counts on the other . The lactobacillus count was found to be a suitable measure in predicting caries activity . It was concluded that the lactobacillus count should be used for caries prediction in healthy, properly treated patients . It is important that there are no areas of microbial retention on the teeth such as open carious lesions, poorly executed restorations, dentures or orthodontic bands . In such situations, the lactobacillus count seems to reflect the frequency of ingested fermentable carbohydrates and thus, indirectly, the risk of initiating carious lesions. Gann, 1981 Aug, 72(4), 517 - 23 Antitumor activity of Lactobacillus casei in mice; Kato I et al.; The effect of Lactobacillus casei YIT 9018 (LC 9018) on the growth of transplantable allogeneic and syngeneic mouse tumors was studied . Intraperitoneal treatment of LC 9018 caused a significant prolongation of the life span of ICR mice inoculated with sarcoma-180 intraperitoneally and BDF1 mice inoculated with L1210 leukemia intraperitoneally . Intravenous injection of LC 9018 markedly inhibited the growth of subcutaneously inoculated sarcoma-180 . This organism was also effective against methylcholanthrene-induced syngeneic MCA K-1 tumor in BALB/c mice . The antitumor activity of LC 9018 was reduced by treatment with carrageenan, an anti-macrophage agent, and was also observed in T-cell deficient athymic nude mice . These results suggested that the antitumor activity of LC 9018 may be macrophage-dependent. Am J Vet Res, 1981 Aug, 42(8), 1298 - 1301 Introduction and reisolation of selected gram-negative bacteria from fermented edible wastes; Talkington FD et al.; A Lactobacillus fermentation process, using edible food wastes, was tested for its ability to eliminate selected bacterial pathogens . This fermentation process converts food wastes into a feed ingredient for animal consumption . Six gram-negative bacterial pathogens of potential zoonotic importance were tested . These experimental organisms were: Salmonella enteritidis serovar typhimurium, S enteritidis serovar anatum, S cholerae-suis, Yersinia enterocolitica, Y pseudotuberculosis, and Pasteurella multocida . Each organism was introduced into ground waste that had been previously inoculated with L acidophilus, and was mixed . This mixture was divided among 8 containers, and was incubated in duplicate at 5 C, 10 C, 20 C, and 30 C for 96 hours . The temperature of the reactant containers, reduction-oxidation potential, and pH were monitored . Waste samples were obtained initially and subsequently at 24-hour periods for 96 hours . Qualitative and quantitative recovery attempts from each sample were made for the introduced gram-negative bacteria . Pasteurella multocida and the S enteritidis serovars typhimurium and anatum survived the fermentation at 5 C and 10 C, but were killed after 48 hours at 20 C and 30 C . Salmonella cholerae-suis survived at 5 C, but was destroyed by 72 hours at the remaining temperatures . Yersinia enterocolitica was viable through 70 hours, but was killed by 96 hours . Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was not reisolated at any temperature. J Gen Microbiol, 1981 Aug, 125(Pt 2), 357 - 66 A phylogenetic analysis of staphylococci, Peptococcus saccharolyticus and Micrococcus mucilaginosus; Ludwig W et al.; The intra- and intergeneric relationships of the genus Staphylococcus, and the phylogenetic position of Peptococcus saccharolyticus and Micrococcus (Staphylococcus salivarius), were investigated by comparative oligonucleotide cataloguing of 16S rRNA . All the staphylococci investigated form a phylogenetically coherent group at the genus level that, in addition, contains the anaerobic species Peptococcus saccharolyticus . The genus Staphylococcus belongs to the broad Bacillus-Lactobacillus-Streptococcus cluster that is defined by Gram-positive bacteria with a low DNA G+C content . Micrococcus mucilaginosus is not a genuine member of the genus Micrococcus . The binary matching coefficients between the 16S rRNA of Micrococcus mucilaginosus and those representatives of the Arthrobacter/Micrococcus group and related genera indicate that Micrococcus mucilaginosus should be regarded as a member of a new genus. J Biol Chem, 1981 Jul 25, 256(14), 7347 - 51 Light spectroscopic studies of the binary complex of Lactobacillus casei thymidylate synthetase and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate; Lewis CA Jr et al.; In contrast to previous reports, fluorescence and ultraviolet difference spectroscopy are shown to reflect the interaction of the inhibitor, 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate, with thymidylate synthetase isolated from amethopterin-resistant Lactobacillus casei . Analysis of the quenching of protein fluorescence upon nucleotide binding yields a value of 2.1 X 10(5) M-1 for the association constant for binary complex formation . The ultraviolet difference spectrum for the nucleotide-enzyme complex exhibited a broad trough with the greatest loss of absorbance centered at 275 nm . Results of previous circular dichroic studies of nucleotide-enzyme binary complexes showed apparently parallel changes in ellipticity in the 267-269-nm and 290-nm regions, which were interpreted to reflect coordinated alteration in nucleotide and enzyme structure, respectively . When examined by difference circular dichroic spectroscopy, the nucleotide-enzyme interaction is accompanied by a substantial loss in ellipticity from 250 to 300 nm which is greatest at 280 nm . We interpret the results obtained from the three light spectroscopic techniques as indications of subtle alterations in the environments of certain tyrosine and tryptophan residues in the enzyme which are caused by the association of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate with the enzyme. Br Poult Sci, 1981 Jul, 22(4), 305 - 15 Energy and protein retention in holoxenic, axenic and gnotoxenic chickens monoassociated with Lactobacillus spp; Szylit O et al.; 1 . Axenic, holoxenic and monoxenic chickens (strains LEM 220 or LEM 206 of lactobacilli isolated from the crop of the cockerel) were fed ad libitum on semi-purified diets containing 180 or 200 g protein and 30 g long (LCD) or short (SCD) chain dextrins/kg . Energy and protein retentions were determined from 0 to 3 weeks of age by carcass analysis . 2 . Energy retained as a proportion of gross energy intake was only influenced by the microflora in birds receiving 180 g protein/kg and nitrogen retention followed a similar pattern, but differences were less marked: total flora always depressed retentions, but in monoxenic birds the action of the microflora varied with changes in the carbohydrate composition of the diet, the lowest retentions occurring when the diet contained carbohydrates (SCD) which allowed rapid lactate production in the crop. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jul, 20(1), 104 - 8 Lactobacillus prophylaxis for diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; Clements ML et al.; In vitro and animal experiments indicated that lactobacilli might prevent Escherichia coli from colonizing the intestine and may produce substances counteracting enterotoxin . Lactinex, a commercial preparation of dried Lactobacillus acidophilus and L . bulgaricus, is marketed for uncomplicated diarrhea . Preliminary experiments in nonfasting volunteers indicated that lactobacilli in this preparation colonized the small intestine for up to 6 h . To evaluate the protective efficacy of Lactinex, a double-blind randomized study was carried out in which 48 volunteers (23 receiving Lactinex and 25 receiving placebos) were challenged with E . coli strains that produced heat-stable or heat-labile enterotoxins or both . No significant differences between the two groups were noted with respect to attack rate, incubation period, duration of diarrhea, volume and number of liquid stools, and coproculture yields . These data suggest that this lactobacillus preparations does not prevent or alter the course of enterotoxigenic E . coli diarrhea in adults . Lack of efficacy occurred despite efforts to maximize small bowel colonization, including administration of Lactinex in milk and in a 6-hour-interval regimen during 36 h before and 96 h after challenge. J Pharm Sci, 1981 Jul, 70(7), 827 - 8 Enzymatic assays for 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-{(3,4,5-trimethoxyanilino)methyl}quinazoline, a promising new "nonclassical" antifolate; Heusner JJ et al.; 2,4-Diamino-5-methyl-6-{(3,4,5-trimethoxyanilino)-methyl}quinazoline (I) is a promising new "nonclassical" antifolate . Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase from bacterial (Lactobacillus casei)and mammalian (beef liver) sources was employed to develop useful enzymatic assays for this compound . A linear relationship was obtained by plotting the I concentration versus 1/V . The resultant standard curves maintained linearity particularly well between the 30 and 70% control range, with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 for both enzyme systems . The two enzyme systems are characterized by differences in sensitivity, stability, and day-to-day variation . The ID50 for the beef liver reductase system was 1.6 X 10(-9) M (+/-0.03); for the L . casei system, it was 1.35 X 10(-8) M (+/- 0.2) . The apparent advantage for the beef liver enzyme was offset somewhat by its relative instability and its higher day-to-day variability . Studies in mice demonstrated that these assays are suitable for pharmacokinetic studies in vivo . Such studies indicated that I has a serum t1/2 of 45 min in mice; a similar serum t1/2 (50 min) was estimated in studies with 14C-labeled I in position 6. Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med, 1981 Jun-Jul, 15(4), 39 - 43 {Lactobacillus flora of the digestive tract of the crews of Soiuz-13 and Saliut-4}; Lentsner AA et al.; The species composition and biology of lactoflora of the saliva and feces of crewmembers from 8-, 30- and 63-day flights was investigated . Altogether 593 strains of lactobacilli were examined . The space flights did not cause significant changes in physiology, biochemistry, antagonistic properties or lysozyme activity of lactobacilli . They did not change drastically or unify the species composition of the digestive lactoflora . However, transfer of lactobacilli from one crewmember to another cannot be excluded, its probability increasing with flight time. Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med, 1981 Jun-Jul, 15(4), 36 - 9 {Antibiotic sensitivity of Lactobacilli from the digestive tract of the crews of Soiuz-13 and Saliut-4}; Lentsner AA et al.; Sensitivity to 19 antibiotics of 411 lactobacillus strains isolated from the saliva and feces of crewmembers who made 8-, 30- and 63-day flights was determined . Antibiotic sensitivity remained unchanged even in the 63-day flight . The antibiotics tested produced different effects on the lactoflora that varied from gentle--polymyxin and gentamycin, less gentle--neomycin and monomycin, to hazardous--penicillin and erythromycin, then rifampicin and levomycetin, and, finally, tetracycline and oleandomycin. Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Jun, 75(6), 786 - 93 Intrinsic factor, free of R proteins, can be prepared from mouse stomach and used in a ligand assay specific for "true" cobalamin; Reynoso G et al.; A ligand assay specific for cobalamin that uses mouse stomach as the source of intrinsic factor has been developed . When mouse stomach extract incubated with radiocobalamin is fractionated by gel chromatography, the radioactive complex elutes as a single peak with apparent molecular weight of 54,900 . Formation of the complex is greater than 98% inhibited by human anti-intrinsic factor antibody . When the equivalent of 10,000 pg/ml of cobinamide is added to serum, the apparent cobalamin concentration detected averages 8.5 pg/ml . Correlation with the Lactobacillus leichmannii microbiologic assay results in the regression equation y = 0.97x + 20 . In six patients who had megaloblastic anemia the serum cobalamin by the mouse intrinsic factor ligand assay ranged from 0 to 9 pg/ml . Because the primary source of intrinsic factor is free of R proteins, there is no need for extensive purification of the extract . The assay is sensitive, precise, and accurate, and no more difficult to perform than other conventional ligand assay procedures. Infect Immun, 1981 Jun, 32(3), 1113 - 8 Indigenous nasopharyngeal, auditory canal, and middle ear bacterial flora of gerbils: animal model for otitis media; Thompson TA et al.; The indigenous microbial flora of the middle ear cavity of Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, was isolated, characterized, and identified, showing it to be sparse and transitory . Organisms, when found in the middle ear cavity, were most likely to be Staphylococcus epidermidis-like organisms . Cerumen from the external auditory canal of these animals yielded mostly staphylococci, coryneforms, and other gram-positive rods, including some anaerobic species . The nasopharynx supported a flora consisting mainly of staphylococci, lactobacilli, and coryneforms, with a smaller incidence and numbers of many other species . No mycoplasmas were cultured or seen in scanning electron microscope studies . None of the major pathogens of human otitis media were found; therefore, Mongolian gerbils are microbiologically acceptable candidates as a model for induced otitis media, using organisms isolated from human otitic infections. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1981 Jun, 88(6), 588 - 95 Prevalence of bacteria in the vagina of normal young women; Watt B et al.; We report on factors related to the prevalence of bacteria in the vagina of 1498 women who were attending a family planning clinic . Anaerobes were significantly commoner in women with an abnormal vaginal discharge on clinical examination, in women with a history of a troublesome vaginal discharge and in women who used an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) than in others . The association between anaerobes and abnormalities of vaginal discharge was found both in women who used the IUCD and in women who did not . We found no significant associations between symptoms and other bacterial species or combinations of species . Coliforms were significantly commoner in women who did not use tampons, in women who used the diaphragm and in women who had received recent antibacterial or antifungal treatment than in others . Lactobacilli were significantly commoner in women who used the contraceptive pill, and were significantly less common in women who harboured Candida albicans, anaerobes, coliforms or enterococci and in women who had been treated with antibacterial drugs, than in others . We found no important associations between the presence of bacteria and the patients' age, parity or social class. Scand J Dent Res, 1981 Jun, 89(3), 239 - 46 Effect of chlorhexidine gel treatment on Streptococcus mutans population in human saliva and dental plaque; Emilson CG; The effect of topical application of a 1% chlorhexidine gel on the population of S . mutans in dental plaque and saliva was studied in five subjects highly infected with the organism . After treatment for 5 min daily for 14 d, S . mutans was not detected in three of the subjects and counts of 700 colony-forming units or less per ml of saliva were found in the other subjects . Reappearance of S . mutans was slow and did not reach pretreatment level until 14 weeks or more after therapy . The proportion of S . sanguis in plaque increased temporarily after chlorhexidine treatment, whereas the population of lactobacilli was unaffected . These observations indicate that short-term use of chlorhexidine is of value in controlling oral infection of humans by S . mutans. J Bacteriol, 1981 Jun, 146(3), 928 - 36 Manganese, superoxide dismutase, and oxygen tolerance in so