J Cutan Pathol, 1977, 4(1), 14 - 22 Cutaneous microflora of patients with repeated skin infections; McBride ME et al.; The microflora of normal skin in 16 patients with repeated staphylococcal and streptococcal skin infections was examined to determine whether abnormalities existed which would indicate a protective role for the indigenous flora against colonization by pathogens . Five sites-hands, feet, axilla, groin and back-were examined quantitatively and qualitatively and compared with a control group . Total populations of indigenous flora were significantly higher from patients with repeated skin infections of the back, axillae and feet . The frequency of isolation of different species from normal skin was comparable between the control and experimental groups, with the exception of the incidence of Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus species which were isolated only from patients with repeated skin infections . Gram-negative bacteria were isolated with comparable frequency between the two groups, but patients with repeated skin infections tended to carry gram-negative bacteria on multiple sites . It was concluded from the high population of indigenous flora and the types of microogranisms present that the microflora of normal skin did not appear to protect patients with repeated skin infections against colonization by pathogens . The presence of high populations of Staphylococcus aureus on the normal skin of patients with repeated skin infections would appear to be the most important contributing factor. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1977 Jan, 115(1), 33 - 8 Adverse effect of a cigarette smoke component, acrolein, on pulmonary antibacterial defenses and on viral-bacterial interactions in the lung; Jakab GJ; Intrapulmonary antibacterial activity in normal mice and mice with viral pneumonia was determined after continous exposure to the pure tobacco smoke component, acrolein . After inhalation challenge with Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis, exposure to 1 to 2 ppm of acrolein significantly suppressed the intrapulmonary killing of the organisms in normal mice compared to control mice not exposed to acrolein . Sendai virus pneumonia depressed pulmonary antibacterial defenses in a virus dose-related fashion . Exposure of the mice infected with virus to acrolein resulted in a further suppression of intrapulmonary bacterial killing to the extent that, in most instances, the bacteria proliferated in the lungs . These data demonstrate that the cigarette smoke component, acrolein, not only depresses pulmonary bactericidal activity, but can also act as a stressor in aggravating an underlying disease process, resulting in an additional impairment of pulmonary antibacterial defenses. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 358 - 64 Activity of fosfomycin in the treatment of bacterial infections; Hutzler R et al.; 30 patients with different infections were treated with fosfomycin: 13 had urinary infections, 14 had pneumonial infections, 2 had staphylococcus osteomyelitis and 1 had staphylococcus septicemia . The antibiotic was administered in doses ranging from 100 to 230 mg/kg/day, with periods of treatment that lasted from 5 to 58 days . The doses were administered every 6 h by the oral or intramuscular route . A total of 35 organisms were isolated: 7 E . coli, 7beta-hemolitic Streptococcus, 6 Proteus sp., 6 S . aureus, 6 S . viridans, 2 Klebsiella sp . and 1 negative coagulase S . aureus . All were sensitive to fosfomycin in vitro, as was revealed by the diffusion in discs method . The therapeutic results were good in 29 of the 30 cases (96.7%) . There were no important side effects . A patient complained of a local pain in the area of the injection . The transaminases increased temporarily in 2 patients . One patient had a moderate eosinophilia while under treatment. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 324 - 30 Clinical bacteriological evaluation of infantile bacteriuria treated with fosfomycin; Ureta A et al.; The therapeutic action of fosfomycin has been studied in a group of 14 children, with simple and complicated infections of the urinary tract with congenital renal malformations . In the bacteriological study of the urine it was observed that the strains most frequently isolated were E . coli, Proteus sp . and Klebsiella sp . Of the 25 strains isolated 76% were sensitive to the disc of 50 mug fosfomycin and 24% moderately sensitive with a MIC of 64 and 128 mug/ml . The doses of fosfomycin used were 150 mg/kg/day in four administrations . In 13 cases it was administered orally alone and in one case orally and intramuscularly . The results have been good in 10 cases (71.4%) and bad in four cases . The antibiotic has shown good tolerance and no secondary effects have been noticed. Cytobios, 1977, 18(69), 7 - 19 Informational molecules in amoebae: an attempt to follow injected fractions using autoradiography; Hawkins SE; Cytoplasmic fractions from Amoeba discoides contain informational molecules which, when injected into A . proteus, may influence the characters of resulting clones . An attempt was made to follow and locate these molecules by autoradiography . Using either 3H-uridine or 3H-leucine, radioactive fractions of A . discoides were microinjected into A . proteus and cells examined at varying times after injection . A . discoides were injected with the same preparations to serve as controls . Grain counts were compared for equivalent areas of nucleus and cytoplasm, and results expressed in terms of the ratio between nucleus and cytoplasm . When the light microsomal or the supernatant fractions were injected, the level of labelled molecules was higher in the nucleus than the cytoplasm in over 50% of the cells examined after 6 h, except for those cells injected with 3H-leucine-labelled supernatant material when only 15% cells showed a nuclear/cytoplasmic grain count greater than 1.1 . After some purification by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, 'information-containing' peaks '13' from the light microsomal fraction, and '16' from the supernatant fraction were injected . A different pattern of results was obtained . The problems of interpreting these results in the light of known migratory molecules and strain incompatibility are discussed. J Urol, 1977 Jan, 117(1), 115 - 7 Proteus rettgeri infections: a review; Arroyo JC et al.; Proteus rettgeri is an aerobic gram-negative bacillus that displays marked resistance against most of the antibiotics presently available . This organism causes infections usually confined to the urinary tract of certain types of compromised patients . Occasionally, it is recovered from soft tissue abscesses, and rarely from the blood and respiratory tract . Proteus rettgeri is notorious for causing nosocomial outbreaks of urinary tract infections in urological and physical medicine wards . Our experience with a patient who had bacteremia with a multi-drug resistant strain of Proteus rettgeri prompted a review of the literature concerning infections with this organism . The salient features of these reports are discussed and summarized . Data on the antibiotic sensitivity of 15 other strains of Proteus rettgeri are included. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1977, 21(4), 424 - 32 Experimental forms of infection and serological analysis of the antigenic structure of Rickettsia canada; Balayeva NM et al.; Experimental forms of Rickettsia canada infection were characterized and serological analysis of the antigenic structure of R . canada was carried out . According to its pathogenicity for experimental animals, R . canada can be characterized as a poorly virulent species of rickettsiae, similar to R . prowazekii (for guinea pigs) . The complement-fixing, haemagglutinating and agglutinating antigens of R . canada are fairly similar to those of the typhus group rickettsiae . The region of antigenic activity common to or identical in R . canada and the typhus group rickettsiae, is larger in R . canada than in the typhus group rickettsiae . R . canada has common antigens with Proteus OX19 . R . canada has active toxic substances similar to those of R . prowazekii which, however, are detectable only with sera of Brill's disease convalescents . The position of R . canada in the taxonomy of rickettsiae is discussed. Arzneimittelforschung, 1977, 27(1), 89 - 93 Antimicrobial evaluation of cefoxitin: a new semisynthetic cephamycin . Comparative studies with cefazolin and cefalotin; Une T et al.; Antimicrobial activity of 3-carbamoyloxymethyl-7-alpha-methoxy-7-{2-(2-thienyl)-acetamido}-3-cephem-4-carboxylic acid (cefoxitin), a new semisynthetic cephamycin antibiotic, was studied in comparison with that of cefazolin and cefalotin . Cefoxitin exhibited antibacterial activity against both gramnegative and gram-positive bacteria, and its action was bactericidal . Against gram-negative bacteria, cefoxitin was highly active as well as cefazolin, and more active than cefalotin . Especially, cefoxitin was highly active not only against strains of clinical isolates of indole-positive Proteus and S . marcescens but also against those of E . coli and P . mirabilis which were resistant to cefazolin and/or cefalotin, respectively . In addition, cefoxitin was effective against the strains resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics including cefazolin and cefalotin . Cefoxitin was hardly active against the strains of E . cloacae and P . aeruginosa, similar to cefazolin and cefalotin . Against gram-postive bacteria, cefoxitin was less active than cefazolin and cefalotin . In protection tests in mice, cefoxitin and cefazolin were more effective against infection with E . coli than cefalotin . Furthermore, cefoxitin was more active against infections with S . marcescens and P . morgani than the other antibiotics . Cefoxitin, like cefalotin, was less effective against infection with S . aureus than cefazolin . Cefoxitin was highly resistant to hydrolysis by beta-lactamases derived from the organisms insusceptible to the antibiotic . This fact revealed that the resistance of the organisms to cefoxitin may be in part due to factors other than beta-lactamase inactivation. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1977, 21(4), 381 - 6 Health problems of windowless henhouses; Stepanek O et al.; The working, health and zoohygiene problems of keeping chickens (45,000) in TEROZ type windowless houses on deep litter with controlled light regimen and hens (75,000) in cages were the subject of study for 3 years . The poultry was fed on factory-produced feedstuffs with the then permitted addition of CTC in amounts of 20 g/l tonne . Except for the low intensity of illumination in the chicken house (10-1.1 1x) and with the observation of the prescribed technology, the working environment is favourable . The state of health of the employees did not differ essentially from that of other groups of workers in aggriculture . The use of CTC resulted in a growing number of resistant microbial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, E . coli, etc) which led to the banning of its use and replacement by other biostimulants . Every type of large-scale poultry farm should be designed as a whole including the chicken incubator, the egg sorting station, the slaughter house, the use of waste matter and sewage disposal and should be previously tried out experimentally by a group of experts concerned with the given problems, before being introduced into wider use. Antibiotiki, 1977 Jan, 22(1), 50 - 3 {Antibiotic sensitivity of Proteus, Pseudomonas pyocyanea and staphyloccoci isolated from scleroma and ozena patients}; Krylov IA; Antibiotic sensitivity of 292 strains of Proteus, 60 strains of Ps, aeruginosa, 309 strains of S . aureus and 88 strains of S . epidermidis isolated from the upper respiratory tract of patients with scleroma and ozena was studied . The cultures of Pr . mirabilis were sensitive to aminoglucosides (54.9-96.2 per cent) and Pr . morganii were sensitive to levomycetin (81.5 per cent) and neomycin (92.6 per cnet) . Sensitivity of Pr . vulgaris and Pr . morganii was reliably higher (p less than 0.001) than that of Pr . mirabilis . The strains of Pr . morganii were less sensitive to monomycin (P less than 0.001) and streptomycin (p less than 0.01) as compared to the cultures of other Proteus species tested . The strains of Ps . aeruginosa were sensitive only to gentamicin (90 per cent) and neomycin (81.1 per cent) . Most of the strains of S . aureus (85.4-100 per cent) were sensitive to oleadomycin, erythromycin, olemorphocycline, tetraolean, oxacillin, methicillin ceporin, lincomycin, ristomycin, kanamycin, monomycin and gentamicin . Benzylpenicillin (90.8 per cent of the sensitive strains), ampicillin (67.1 per cent), tetracycline (66.7 per cent), levomycetin (68.6 per cent) and streptomycin (38.1 per cent) were less effective . Antibacterial therapy in cases with scleroma and ozena should be directed not only against causative agents of the diseases but also against the microbes developing due to disbacteriosis . Combination of parenteral and local use of the antibiotics in the treatment of chronic clebsiellesis decreased the isolation rate of Proteus and Ps . aeruginosa in the patients. Antibiotiki, 1977 Jan, 22(1), 46 - 50 {Antibacterial activity of rifampicin against the causative agents of suppurative, septic diseases}; Samoilova LN et al.; The antibacterial activity of rifampicin was studied in comparison with other antibiotics with respect to clinical strains isolated from cases with various purulent inflammatory processes caused by Staphylococcus, E . coli, Ps . aeruginose, Proteus . The aim of the study was to define the role of rifampicin in the treatment of the above infections . No rifampicin resistant strains were found among staphylococci belonging to the phenotype carrying the determinants of resistance to 2-8 antibiotics . Rifampicin was less active against gramnegative organisms . High heterogeneity of the microbial population of rifampicin was shown with respect to all microbial strains tested . The rate of the spontaneous mutants was high . The average rate of the mutants was 1-7.7-10-8 . The studies on the dynamics of the rifampicin resistance increase in the strains of Staphylococci, E . Coli, Ps . aeruginosa and Proteus showed that the resistance increased after 1-2 passages, which means that one-stage mutation was characteristic rifampicin. J Gen Microbiol, 1977 Jan, 98(1), 29 - 37 The metabolism of starch, glucose, amino acids, purines, pyrimidines and bacteria by the rumen ciliate Polyplastron multivesiculatum; Coleman GS et al.; The large rumen ciliate protozoon Polyplastron multivesiculatum grown in vitro engulfed a wide range of bacteria (from a population density of 10(9) bacteria ml(-1)) at a rate of 1500 to 137000 bacteria h(-1) protozoon(-1) . No evidence was found for the preferential engulfment of bacteria of rumen origin . Except for Proteus mirabilis none of the bacteria were digested with the liberation of soluble materials into the medium . Glucose and amino acids were taken up rapidly by P . multivesiculatum compared with the rate of uptake by Entodinium caudatam . Glucose was incorporated into protozoal polysaccharide and into bacteria associated with the protozoa and was used for the synthesis of a wide range of amino acids . Evidence showed that bacteria and free amino acids at the concentrations found in the rumen could supply the protein requirements of the protozoa for division at least once each day. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23 Suppl 1, 94 - 8 Evolution of sensitivity to fosfomycin at Jimenez Diaz Foundation; Ales JM; The sensitivity to fosfomycin of more than 8,000 strains of bacteria isolated from products recevied by the laboratory between 1972 and 1974 has been studied . Some were studied by the dilution technique in a solid medium and the remainder was studied by diffusion . A single 50-mug disc was used and the strains inhibited by concentrations of less than 64 mug/ml or with inhibition halos of 15 mm diameter or more were considered sensitive . It is clear from this study that there are no significant changes in the sensitivity of the bacteria studied during the above-mentioned time, with the exception of a decrease in that of indole-positive Proteus, Providentia and Klebsiella. Chemotherapy, 1977, 23(1), 37 - 43 R plasmids coding for gentamicin, tobramycin, and carbenicillin resistance in Serratia, Klebsiella and Escherichia coli strains from a single clinical source; Knothe H et al.; Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella sp . and Escherichia coli strains bearing transferable resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics, namely, gentamicin, tobramycin, kanamycin, streptomycin, lividomycin, and carbenicillin, as well as to a series of more classical drugs, began to emerge in materials from the Frankfurt University Hospital . Plasmids from Serratia, Klebsiella, and E . coli exhibit a broad host range in that they are transferable to E . coli, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella typhimurium receipients . They are not transferable to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, although in that species plasmids of gentamicin and tobramycin resistance, was well as of resistance to further drugs, were detected in that area as early as in 1973 . High-level carbenicillinase has been identified in Serratia and Klebsiella plasmids associated with drug resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics. Vet Med Nauki, 1977, 14(9), 52 - 8 {Change in the quantity of coliform and Proteus bacteria during the ripening of raw, nonperishable meat products}; Iordanov I et al.; Studied were the changes in the amount of coliform and Proteus bacteria in the production of raw-dried and raw-smoked unperishable meat products, employing model testing procedures of experimentally contaminated meat products with Escherichia coli and Bacterium proteus, through following up the changes in the counts of coliform and Proteus bacteria in batches of regular production, and by the investigation of raw meat samples of varying moisture content . The studies were carried out at eight enterprises working under different technologic conditions . A total of twenty series of model experiments were carried out with artificially contaminated batches of products as well as twenty-one series of experiments with batches of regular production, and some 93 meat products, dried to a various extent, were sampled . Results showed that during the ripening process with unperishable meat products the reduce in the numbers of coliform bacteria is more intense than the decrease in the Proteus organisms . The process of smoking did not change the amount of these microbes . In unperishable raw meat products that meet the requirements of the Bulgarian State Standard coliforms are found in 43 per cent of the samples, and Proteus bacteria are not present. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1977, 21(3), 271 - 84 Core region in Proteus mirabilis lipopolysaccharide; Kotelko K et al.; Four R mutants of P . mirabilis were isolated . The composition of their degraded polysaccharides (PS) obtained from the respective lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as well as the composition and properties of the PS-fractions separated by column chromatography were examined . The results were compared with those obtained with PS of the wild type . One of the mutants could be classified as an Ra-type mutant, presenting a complete LPS core . This polysaccharide core contains: galacturonic acid, glucosamine, glucose, D-glycero-D-mannoheptose, L-glycero-D-mannoheptose in a molar ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 2 and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate . Taking into consideration the common sugars described previously in the LPS chemotypes of P . hauseri, the composition of the complete core region mentioned above represents the LPS core part of all the chemotypes, containing two different heptoses. Z Allg Mikrobiol, 1977, 17(6), 451 - 8 {Isolation and characterization of Proteus mirabilis mutants deficient in DNA degradation: function of endonuclease I in postmortem DNA degradation}; Steinborn G et al.; DNase deficient mutants of Proteus mirabilis selected for reduced toluene induced DNA degradation were isolated . Their defect in DNA degradation was shown not only after treatment by toluene but also in crude extracts after cell disintegration by ultrasonic and in untreated starved cultures . The degradation mutants behave just as the wild type with respect ot their in vivo functions proffed . The results inidcate that the affected DNase does not have an essential function in vivo but acts in postmortem DNA degradation . Probably the DNase in question concerns the endonuclease I of P . mirabilis described by Goebel and Helinski (1971 a, b). Chemotherapy, 1977, 23(5), 309 - 13 Studies on the in vitro development of drug resistance of Proteeae to sulfonamides, trimethoprim and combinations of a sulfonamide and trimethoprim; Grunberg E et al.; A strain of Proteus mirabilis repeatedly subcultured in the presence of a combination of sulfisoxazole and 0.4 microgram/ml of trimethoprim and a strain of P . vulgaris subcultured in the presence of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combined in a 5:1 ratio gradually developed resistance to the combinations . However, the level of resistance developed by the organisms exposed to the combination was always appreciably lower than the level of resistance developed by the same strains exposed to either the sulfonamide or trimethoprim alone. Scand J Infect Dis, 1977, 9(2), 111 - 7 Bacteremia after renal transplantation; Nielsen HE et al.; Of 291 patients who received renal allotransplants in 1964-74, 94 patients developed 121 bacteremic episodes within the first 6 months after transplantation . The death rate was 38% . The bacteremic episodes occurred mainly during the first 2-3 months after transplantation . In 65% of the episodes bacteremia was secondary to urinary tract infections . The bacteria fourn were most often gram-negative rods such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Proteus . Predisposing factors were ureteral complications such as leakage or necrosis of the ureter, leucopenia, immunosuppression, and source of the kidney . The frequency of bacteremia was the same in patients with infectious and non-infectious primary renal disease. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig B}, 1977, 164(4), 384 - 9 {Investigations made to test the demarcation line method (DLM) after Dienes for its suitability in the epidemiology of Proteus mirabilis (author's transl)}; Sohnius I et al.; In 1946, DIENES observed that non-identical Proteus-strains, when swarming towards each other, were froming distinctly demarcated lines ("DIENES' phenomenon", demarcation (=AGL) phenomenon) . Strains of the same origin were amalgamating without demarcation . In 1970, STURDZA studied this phenomenon and commented on its relevance for the epidemiology of nosocomial Proteus-infections . An increased number of Proteus-infections in Berlin was the reason that this procedure was tested for epidemiological purposes . Approx . 300 Proteus mirabilis-strains, tested on normal meat fluid agar, could be divided into 52 AGL-groups . When tested by several investigators, the coordination to any AGL-group seemed to be very subjective . Consequently, a DNase-agar with o-toluidinblue as an indicator, as had been mentioned by CHAMBERS in 1975, was used in order to give a more exact demonstration of AGL . This resulted in a reduction from 52 to 42 AGL-groups . Another 140 newly isolated Proteus-strains belonged to the 42 known as well as to another 42 new AGL-groups . Whether these 84 AGL-groups possess the constancy which is imperative for practical purposes, is however, still rather doubtful. Zentralbl Bakteriol Parasitenkd Infektionskr Hyg, 1977, 132(2), 97 - 108 Gentamicins; Abou-Zeid AA et al.; Gentamicin is a new broad-spectrum antibiotic, basic and water-soluble, produced and developed by Schering Corporation-Bloomfield, New Jersey (1967 and 1968) . It is produced by Micromonospora purpurea, a member of a genus of microorganisms from which no other antibiotics have been derived . Paper chromatographic techniques showed the components of gentamicin complex designated as C', C'a, and C2 . Gentamicins are bactericidal antibiotics, active in vivo in low concentrations against a wide spectrum of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms . Among the responsive Gram-positive groups of microorganisms are Staphylococcus aureus including many resistant penicillinase producing strains and group A betahemolytic Streptococci . Among the clinically more important species of Gram-positive organisms responsive to gentamicin are both indole-positive and indole-negative Proteus, Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Aerobacter, Klebsiella, Salmonella, and Shigella . The production of gentamicins was improved by adding cobalt to the growth medium. Clin Pediatr (Phila), 1977 Jan, 16(1), 83 - 4, 89-91 The comparative efficacy of cephalexin and sulfisoxazole in acute urinary tract infection in children; Russo RM et al.; A double blind, comparative study of the efficacy of cephalexin versus sulfisoxazole was conducted on 100 children with initial episodes of urinary tract infections . The overall bacteriologic and clinical cure rates were comparable for both antimicrobials . Children treated with cephalexin had a clinical cure rate of 86 per cent and a bacterial cure rate of 84 per cent, while those given sulfisoxazole were found to have rates of 82 and 92 per cent respectively . However, cephalexin was noted to have a rather high rate of failure in the therapy of Proteus micrabilis infections (4/8), casting some doubt on its use in urinary infections caused by the organism . Untoward effects associated with either medication were minimal. Infection, 1977, 5(4), 214 - 8 Infectious complications of burns casualties during the Yom-Kippur War; Sidi Y et al.; During the October 1973 military conflict, 41 burned patients hospitalized at the Sheba Medical Center were closely followed up . All the patients who had burns occupying 20% or more of the body surface developed wound infections . Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the major pathogen isolated . Most infections occurred during the second week following the injury . Serial cultures revealed that only the isolation of Proteus species and P . aeruginosa from wounds could predict an infection caused by those microorganisms . During treatment with gentamicin and carbenicillin a marked increase in carbenicillin-resistant P . aeruginosa and gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella strains was noted . Cross-infections with carbenicillin-resistant P . aeruginosa was not a major cause in the development of resistant strains. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1977, 25(1), 139 - 48 Elimination of Proteus mirabilis 51Cr endotoxin from the liver in rats; Lopinska-Piotrowska I; Using isotope methods, elimination of the endotoxin of Proteus mirabilis labeled with chromium (CrEPm) from the liver of rats was studied . The following studies were carried out: intravital exploration of the liver with a scintillation probe, measurements of radioactivity of organs and excreted urine and stools, scrintigraphy of the liver, binding of CrEPm by subcellular fractions of hepatocytes, and the influence of selected drugs (polymyxin and hydrocortisone) on elimination of CrEPm from the liver and organelles of hepatocytes. Br J Urol, 1977, 49(7), 751 - 6 The effect of temperature on the motility and viability of sperm; Appell RA et al.; PIP: Semen specimens were obtained from 42 fertile men requesting voluntary vasectomy and stored at 4, 20, and 37 degrees C . Analysis of motility, viability under oil immersion, and pH was made after 3, 6, 12, and 18 hours . When semen was kept at 20 degrees C there was negligible deterioration in motility after 12 hours . However, there was a significant (p .01) decrease in motility in semen kept at 4 or 37 degrees, the worst being at 4 degrees . In these experiments mortility could not be restored by rewarming the semen . Viability followed motility closely at 20 and 37 degrees but at 4 degrees C viability was well preserved despite loss of motility . At the higher temperatures the motionless sperms were dead but this was not the case at 4 degrees . As expected, there was more bacterial growth at higher temperatures, mainly gram-negative bacteria such as Esch . coli and Proteus although an occasional gram positive Enterococci were identified . At 37 degrees the semen became significantly acidic (p .001) . To determine the effect of bacterial growth on sperm motility, the experiment was repeated with antibiotics added . None grew any organisms and there was no fall in pH, even at 37 degrees C . Sperm kept in the presence of antibiotics retained motility at 20 and 37 degrees C better than those kept without antibiotics but there was still a significant deterioration (p .01) in the samples kept at body temperature even when bacterial growth was prevented . These studies show it is better to keep a sample of semen at room temperature (20 degrees C) during the time between ejaculation and semen analysis but do not fully explain why this is so . Specimens kept at 37 degrees C lose both motility and viability . Those kept at 4 degrees lose motility from so-called thermal shock but retain viability . Prog Clin Biol Res, 1977, 17, 581 - 603 The contractile basis of amoeboid movement III . Structure and dynamics of motile extracts and membrane fragments from Dictyostelium discoideum and Amoeba proteus; Taylor DL et al.; Motile extracts from D, discoideum and A . proteus have been characterized in order to compare the structural dynamics and chemical regulation of movement in 2 different types of amoeboid cells . The structural dynamics of both extracts involve the formation of a nonmotile cytoskeleton followed by the contraction of actin and myosin to generate both direct contractile force and cytoplasmic streaming . The contractions are regulated by calcium ions and a threshold of ca . 1.0 X 10(-6) M calcium induces a transformation of actin to the free F-actin state which is capable of interacting with myosin . Furthermore, 3 low molecular weight proteins are concentrated along with actin and myosin during contraction and might play a regulatory role in movement . Several common characteristics of amoeba cytoplasm have been exhibited by these two types of amoeboid cells . The major contractile and "associated" proteins are similar, actin and associated proteins are structurally dynamic, and movement is regulated by calcium . The different modes of movement observed in different types of amoeboid cells could result from the site, rate, and extent of actin transformation followed in some regions by contractions. Eur J Biochem, 1976 Dec 11, 71(2), 585 - 93 Purification of the membrane-bound DD-carboxypeptidase of the unstable spheroplast L-form of Proteus mirabilis by affinity chromatography . Non-competitive inhibition of the enzyme by penicillins and low stability of the enzyme-inhibitor complex; Martin HH et al.; Membrane-bound DD-carboxypeptidase of the unstable L-form of Proteus mirabilis was solubilized by the non-ionic detergent Genapol X-100 and purified to protein homogeneity by affinity chromatography on ampicillin bound to succinyl-aminododecyl-cellulose . The purified enzyme with a molecular weight of 43000 is inhibited non-competitively by penicillin G and carbenicillin, indicating a function of the penicillins as allosteric inhibitors . Sensitivity of the enzyme to penicillins is only moderate with a Ki of 1 muM for penicillin G . Breakdown of.the enzyme-inhibitor complex EI with different penicillins occurs rapidly with reappearance of active DD-carboxypeptidase . The half-life of EI with penicillin G is 5.5 min at 30 degrees C and 3.5 min at 37 degrees C, 10--1000-fold shorter than EI half-lives of DD-carboxypeptidases in several other bacteria . The low stability of the enzyme-inhibitor complex and the moderate penicillin sensitivity appear to be the basis for the continued activity of DD-carboxypeptidase during growth of the L-form and synthesis of peptidoglycan in the presence of high concentrations of penicillin. Med Klin, 1976 Dec 10, 71(50), 2214 - 7 {Further investigations into the effectiveness of gentamicin and other antibiotics against urinary tract infection organisms (author's transl)}; Schmid W; In continuance of our investigations from 1968 to 1972, we isolated 32939 microorganisms from urinary tract infections and subjected them to routine sensitivity tests against six antibiotics from 1973 to August 1975 . All organisms except enterococci and proteus proved to be sensitive to gentamicin at a level exceeding 90% during the study period of two and a half years . A loss of activity of gentamicin worth mentioning was not detected during the studies . So this antibiotic must further be considered as one of the drugs of first choice in the treatment of urinary tract infections. J Cell Sci, 1976 Dec, 22(3), 521 - 30 Timing of nucleolar DNA replication in Amoeba proteus; Minassian I et al.; Light- and electron-microscope autoradiography have been used to follow the incorporation of {3H}thymidine at different stages during the interphase of synchronously growing populations of Amoeba proteus . Two main patterns were found for tritiated thymidine incorporation, i.e . DNA synthesis . The major incorporation was in the central region of the nucleus, but a lesser degree of incorporation occurred in the nucleolar region . The bulk of this nucleolar DNA was found to be late replicating, i.e . it replicated during the G2 phase. Biol Bull, 1976 Dec, 151(3), 450 - 66 Ocular development and involution in the European cave salamander, Proteus anguinus laurenti; Durand JP; The anatomy and development of the eye of Proteus anguinus are described . The relationships between organogenesis of the eye in embryos and larva and its involution in the young and the adult are discussed . The availability (in breeding cultures) of a significant number of Proteus embryos (which are normally rare) allowed experimental analysis of the effects of light, xenoplastic differentiation and thyroid hormones on the development of the eye . The results of this study suggest that development and involution of the eye of Proteus are controlled by genetic factors which are not greatly influenced by environment, and one can, therefore, consider the microphthalmy of Proteus as a relict characteristic which is the result of a specific development with disturbance of the normal ontogenic process. Br J Urol, 1976 Dec, 48(6), 399 - 401 The surgical significance of the proteus stone; Moores WK; 62 patients with staghorn calculi who underwent conservative surgery at the Liverpool Regional Urological Centre since 1962 have been reviewed . The evidence shows that stone disease due to proteus is more rapidly progressive than that due to other organisms . Recurrences of proteus stones continue to behave in the same manner . Complete kidney clearance at operation is an essential part of the management of these stones, if renal substance is to be preserved. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1976 Dec, 84B(6), 421 - 7 Correlation of the characters fermentation of trehalose, non-transmissible resistance to tetracycline, and relatively long flagellar wavelength in Proteus morganii; Siboni K; An investigation of strains of Proteus morganii isolated from patients in Odense, Denmark, and of 21 serotype strains revealed a close correlation between the fermentation of trehalose and a non-transmissible resistance to tetracycline . The trehalose fermenting, tetracycline resistant strains had a longer flagellar wavelength than the non-fermenting, sensitive strains . Resistance to chloramphenicol occurred only in strains of the former group. Antibiotiki, 1976 Dec, 21(12), 1082 - 5 {Comparative activity of 6 cephalosporin antibiotics against the causative agents of surgical infection}; Ved'mina EA et al.; Activity of 6 cephalosporanic antibiotics, such as cephaloridin, cephalotin, cephradin, cephacetry1, cephamezin and cephalexin was studied on 200 strains of microorganisms causing purulent infections in surgical patients (Staphylococcus, E . coli, Proteus and Ps . aerugionsa, 50 strains of each organism) . The studies showed significant differences in the activity of the above antibiotics against definite species of the pathogenes . The highest activity of the cephalosporins was observed with respect to the clinical strains of staphylococci resistant to such drugs as benzylpenicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, kanamycin, lincomycin . A significant part of the clinical isolates of gramnegative organisms, i.e . E coli and indol-negative Proteus was characterized by sensitivity to cephalosporins . Among the cephalosporins tested cephaloridin was most active against Staphylococcus, cephacetryl and cephaloridin were most active against E . coli . With respect to the indol-negative Proteus no pronounced advantages of the separate drug were noted . All 6 cephalosporins had low activity against the indol-positive strains of Proteus and all strains of Ps . aeruginosa. Arch Microbiol, 1976 Dec 1, 111(1-2), 37 - 43 The correlation between the protein composition of cytoplasmic membranes and the formation of nitrate reductase A, chlorate reductase C and tetrathionate reductase in Proteus mirabilis wild type and some cholate resistant mutants; Oltmann LF et al.; Three genotypically different chlorate resistant mutants, chl I, chl II and chl III, appeared to lack completely nitrate reductase A, chlorate reductase C and tetrathionate reductase activity . Fumarate reductase is only partially affected in chl I and chl III and unaffected in chl II . Formate dehydrogenase is only partially diminished in chl II, hydrogenase is diminished in chl I and chl II and completely absent in chl III . Subunits of nitrate reductase A, chlorate reductase C and tetrathionate reductase have been identified in protein profiles of purified cytoplasmic membranes from the wild type and the three mutant strains, grown under various conditions . Only the presence and absence of the largest subunits of these enzymes appeared to be correlated with their repression and derepression in the wild type membranes . On the cytoplasmic membranes of the chl I and chl III mutants these subunits lack for the greater part . In the chl II mutant, however, these subunits are inserted in the membrane all together after anaerobic growth with or without nitrate . A model for the repression/derepression mechanism for the reductases has been proposed . It includes repression by cytochrome b components, whereas the redox-state of the nitrate reductase A molecule itself is also involved in its derepression under anaerobic conditions. Arch Microbiol, 1976 Dec 1, 111(1-2), 25 - 35 Characterization of purified nitrate reductase A and chlorate reductase C from Proteus mirabilis; Oltmann LF et al.; Nitrate reductase A has been solubilized from purified cytoplasmic membranes by extraction with tert-amyl alcohol . The resulting aqueous solution contained monomeric reductase which polymerized slowly to dimers and tetramers with sedimentation coefficients of respectively 10.5, 16 and 23 Svedbergunits . The polymerization could be stopped to some extent by addition of a small amount of Triton X-100 . These distinct entities of nitrate reductase A were separable on electro-focusing, DEAE-column chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and have been proved to consist of similar subunits with molecular weights of 104000, 63000, and 56000 daltons . The molecular weights of monomeric nitrate reductase A was found to be about 240000 daltons . Chlorate reductase C has been solubilized by a similar procedure, resulting in only monomeric enzyme . Chlorate reductase C exhibited a sedimentation coefficient of 7.7 Svedbergunits, an isoelectric point of pH = 4.55 and a molecular weight of approx . 180000 daltons . It was found to consist of three subunits with molecular weights of 75000, 63000 and 56000 daltons . The latter two subunits are most probably common in nitrate reductase A and chlorate reductase C. Can J Microbiol, 1976 Dec, 22(12), 1771 - 3 Survival value of chemotaxis in mixed cultures; Pilgram WK et al.; A motile, chemotactic strain of Proteus mirabilis outgrew a motile, non-chemotactic mutant in a semisolid, amino acid medium, although the two strains grew equally well in broth. J Bacteriol, 1976 Dec, 128(3), 834 - 41 Diploidy for a structural gene specifying a major protein of the outer cell envelope membrane from Escherichia coli K-12; Datta DB et al.; Homogenotes, heterogenotes, and intergeneric hybrids have been studied that are diploid for the structural gene of a major outer cell envelope membrane protein (protein II) from Escherichia coli . This protein can act as a phage receptor . In wild-type homogenotes, diploidy for the gene did not cause a gene dosage effect . It could be shown with two heterogenotes that both the chromosomal mutant and the episomal wild-type genes are expressed, and in each case more of the mutant than the wild-type protein species was found in the cell envelope . In on case of 21 phage-resistant mutants missing protein II was a trans effect observed of the mutant gene on the expression of the episomal wild type gene . Transfer of E . coli episomes carrying the protein II structural gene into Salmonella typhimurium and Proteus mirabilis resulted in intergeneric hybrids that became sensitive to the relevant phage and harbored the E . coli protein II in their cell envelopes . The results may be taken as suggestive evidence for a simple feedback mechanism for the regulation of synthesis of protein II, and they show that there are no highly specific requirements on protein primary structure for incorporation into an outer cell envelope membrane. J Bacteriol, 1976 Dec, 128(3), 693 - 700 Control of replication and segregation of R plasmid Rts1; Terawaki Y et al.; A mutant plasmid, pTW2, which was derived from the integrated Rst1 genome in the Escherichia coli chromosome, was studied as to its mode of replication at 30 degrees C . When Proteus mirabilis Pm17 harboring pTW2 was grown in broth at 30 degrees C, a considerable number of R- segregants (approximately 40%) were consistently observed . This indicates that pTW2 is unstable even at the permissive temperature for the replication of Rts1 . The pTW2+ cells in a culture were heterogeneous with respect to the level of kanamycin resistance, ranging from 500 to 4,000 mug of the drug per ml . The amount of pTW2 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) relative to the Pm17 chromosomal DNA was about fivefold as large as that of Rts1 DNA in an exponentially growing culture . In addition, pTW2 in P . mirabilis continued to replicate after the chromosome had ceased to replicate, which was shown in the study of the inhibition of protein synthesis . Contrary to pTW2, the parent plasmid Rts1 is highly stable, and the relative percent Rts1 DNA is maintained at approximately 7% in any cultural conditions at a permissive temperature . These results suggest that copies of pTW2 may not segregate evenly into the host progeny upon cell division and that the replication of pTW2 does not coordinate with that of the chromosome . A remarkable instability of pTW2 as well as an increase in the relative percent pTW2 DNA was also shown when E . coli were used as the host cells . These results suggest the possibility that there is a gene or a gene cluster on the Rst1 genome responsible for the control of both replication and segregation of Rts1. Lancet, 1976 Nov 20, 2(7995), 1107 - 10 Urinary infection in boys.A three-year prospective study; Hallett RJ et al.; 73 boys who presented to their general practitioners over the course of one year with symptoms of urinary-tract infection and were found to have bacteriuria were referred to a three-year prospective study . This included clinical and radiological investigations and monitoring of the preputial flora and midstream-urine culture at monthyl intervals . 22 (30%) of the boys had radiological abnormalities of the urinary tract; 6 had pyelonephritic changes.Only 2 required urinary-tract surgery . Several findings of the study suggest that the natural history of the disease in boys is different from that in girls.Proteus spp.predominated as the infecting organisms.Culture of swabs from the preputial sac, and comparison with matched controls, suggested that the source of infection in boys is the prepuce or urethra rather than the bowel as in girls . Recurrence of infection, in the absence of radiological abnormality, was rare; 51 boys (70%) had no recurrence throughout the follow-up period . There was evidence that recurrence in boys is related to the persistence of gram-negative organisms in the urethra, revealed by low bacterial counts on midstream culture, and it is suggested that in boys urethral infection may be as important as bladder bacteriuria. Biochimie, 1976 Nov 13, 58(9), 1083 - 7 {Inducible cephalosporinases from Proteus morganii}; Labia R et al.; It has been shown that two Proteus morganii strains produce an inducible cephalosporinase . No significative difference was shown between them: they present the same isoelectric poit: 8,3 and very similar kinetic constants . The parameter tau, proportional to the half life of antibiotic at low concentration, in presence of beta lactamase, shows that cefamandole is the most stable cephalosporin studied. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1976 Nov 5, 118(45), 1469 - 72 {In vitro activity of cefoxitin, a new cephalosporin (author's transl)}; Shah PM et al.; The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of Cefoxitin (CEX), Cefazolin (CEZ) and Cephalothin (CEF) against E . coli (n = 380), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n =108) and Staph . aureus (n = 47) were determined by the agar diffusion method . For Proteus mirabilis (n = 69) and indole-positive Proteus species (n = 23), the tube dilution test was used . CEF was the most active against Staph . aureus while CEZ showed greater activity against E . coli . CEX was the most active against Kl . pneumoniae and Proteus species . In particular, CEX was also active against pathogens resistant to CEF or CEZ . The good bactericidal effect of CEX was demonstrated by membrane filtration methods. Arch Microbiol, 1976 Nov 2, 110(23), 195 - 206 Fumarate reduction in Proteus mirabilis; Van der Beek EG et al.; 1 . Proteus mirabilis formed fumarate reductase under anaerobic growth conditions . The formation of this reductase was repressed under conditions of growth during which electron transport to oxygen or to nitrate is possible . In two of three tested chlorate-resistant mutant strains of the wild type, fumarate reductase appeared to be affected . 2 . Cytoplasmic membrane suspensions isolated from anaerobically grown P . mirabilis oxidized formate and NADH with oxygen and with fumarate, too . 3 . Spectral investigation of the cytoplasmic membrane preparation revealed the presence of (probably at least two types of) cytochrome b, cytochrome a1 and cytochrome d . Cytochrome b was reduced by NADH as well as by formate to approximately 80% . 4 . 2-n-Heptyl-4-hydroxyquinilone-N-oxide and antimycin A inhibited oxidation of both formate and NADH by oxygen and fumarate . Both inhibitors increased the level of the formate/oxygen steady state and the formate/fumarate steady state . 5 . The site of inhibition of the respiratory activity by both HQNO and antimycin A was located at the oxidation side of cytochrome b . 6 . The effect of ultraviolet-irradiation of cytoplasmic membrane suspensions on oxidation/reduction phenomena suggested that the role of menaquinone is more exclusive in the formate/fumarate pathway than in the electron transport route to oxygen . 7 . Finally, the conclusion has been drawn that the preferential route for electron transport from formate and from NADH to fumarate (and to oxygen) includes cytochrome b as a directly involved carrier . A hypothetical scheme for the electron transport in anaerobically grown P . mirabilis is presented. Immunology, 1976 Nov, 31(5), 707 - 15 Protection against Gram-negative infection by 'super-active' antigen; Roe EA; 'Super-active' antigens modified antigens released from bacteria which had been phagocytosed and killed by human leucocytes, were found to induce protective responses in mice within 24 h of immunization . At the earliest time (24 h) when immunized mice were protected against lethal intrapertoneal (i.p.) challenge by the bacteria from which which the 'super-active' antigens were made (Proteus mirabilis) the leucocytes of peripheral blood from immunized mice showed enhanced phagocytosis and killing of autologous bacteria and there was an increase in the number of lymphocytes producing anti-proteus antibody . Another mouse protective factor inducing transient protection lasting 1-2 days against lethal i.p . challenge by P . mirabilis was found in preparations of lysed heman leucocytes not engaged in phagocytosis . Burned mice, immunized with 'super-active' antigen preparations were protected against lethal invasive proteus infection, inoculated on to the burn surface, 2 h after burning and immunization. Mikrobiologiia, 1976 Nov-Dec, 45(6), 1012 - 7 {Spheroplasts of Proteus studied by scanning electron microscopy, freeze etching and ultrathin sections}; Kats LN et al.; Spheroplasts are formed 15 min after the addition of penicillin . Swellings appear at the end or in the middle of the cell . Buds were found on the surface of the spheroplasts . As was found by scanning electron microscopy, the surface of the spheroplasts is folded and, during later stages, wrinkled . "Expulsion" of mesosomes into the periplasmic space was found, as well as separation of vesicles, formed by the outer and cytoplasmic membranes, from the cell surface . The two fracture faces of the outer membrane are uncomplementary; the convex fracture face is mainly smooth but contains occasional dents of the rod-like shape while the concave face does not contain them . The outer (true) surface of the cell wall is smooth . The similarity and differences between the protoplasts, spheroplasts and L forms are discussed . The protoplasts and spheroplasts may divide, grow and multiply under definite conditions of cultivation, like the L forms do, but they do not possess the well developed intracytoplasmic membrane system typical of the L forms. Microsc Acta, 1976 Nov, 78(5), 388 - 406 {Preparation of biological specimens for the scanning electron microscope (author's transl)}; Klein HP et al.; Three methods usually applied in preparing biological material for the scanning electron microscope were tested by the investigation of two species of amoebae with different content of water (Amoeba proteus, Vannella simplex) . Air drying resulted in both the production of cell shrinkage and cell distortion . When the specimens were dryed from media with increasing vapour-pressure, more satisfactory preservation of surface structures could be obtained . The sequence of potency was: Ethanol, chloroform, isopentane, ethyl ether, freon 11 and freon 13 . Short drying periods proved to be more favourable than long ones . Critical-point drying provided much better details of cell surface morphology in both amoebae species . However, some arteficial changes were still detectable as small breaks and destruction of the mucous layer . They must be attributed to the fixation and dehydration procedure . Freeze drying turned out to be superior to both air drying and critical-point drying . Specimens prepared by this method showed no visible differences in cell surface morphology compared to living cells . As a consequence of the relatively high content of water the preparation of A . proteus was more difficult than that of V . simplex. J Med Microbiol, 1976 Nov, 9(4), 497 - 500 Development of concentric zones in the Proteus swarm colony; Douglas CW et al.; Two main mechanisms of concentric ring formation in cultures of Proteus species are described . One of these is the classically accepted method, wherein rings are produced as the advance of the swarm stops and recommences . In the other, the ring is produced as a fold inside the colony . These are considered to be extremes of a spectrum of growth types, the common feature being that rings are formed by piling-up of growth, and this process is not always directly correlated with morphological change in the individual bacteria, or with cessation of advance of the swarm . The validity of the presently accepted theories of ring formation and swarming in general are thus called into question. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1976 Nov, 114(5), 929 - 35 Human oral defenses against gram-negative rods; Laforce FM et al.; Gram-negative rods are unusual pharyngeal isolates in normal man, which suggests the presence of effective oral defense mechanisms against these organisms . To understand this protection better, we studied the elimination of gram-negative rods from the mouth after gargle challenge . Suspensions of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis (108 organisms per ml) were gargled by normal volunteers, and pharyngeal swabs for serial quantitative cultures were taken for 3 hours . Initial swabs yielded approximately 10(5) organisms . Bacterial counts rapidly decreased, and less than 1 per cent of the original inoculum was still recoverable 3 hours later . Studies of tongue, pharynx, and buccal mucosa samples showed the most rapid decrease in buccal mucosa samples and the slowest decrease in tongue swabs . To evaluate physical clearance, gargle challenges were performed using E . coli radiolabeled with technetium-99m . External counts of the oral cavity decreased rapidly, with 21.8, 14.7, 8.9, and 7.8 percent of the initial counts remaining at 30, 60, 120, and 180 min, respectively . Nonpiliated E . coli adhered poorly to buccal epithelial cells in vitro, in contrast to good adherence when piliated strains were tested . Despite these findings, no differences in radiolabel clearance was noted in vivo using piliated and nonpiliated E . coli for gargle challenges . Normal oral defenses against gram-negative rods are highly effective and seem to involve both physical clearance and local bactericidal activity. Vopr Med Khim, 1976 Nov-Dec, 22(6), 804 - 8 {Inhibition of bacterial agmatinase by substrate analogs}; Khramov VA; Activity of agmatinase (EC 3.5.3.11) from Proteus vulgaris was studied in presence of guanidine derivatives of agmatine as substrates . The guanidine derivatives, containing carboxyl group, did not interact with the enzyme . An inhibitory effect developed if the carboxyl group was esterified . For exhibition of the effect the length of hydrocarbon radical in ligand and presence of hydrophobic groups were important . One of the most effective inhibitor was N-isoamylene agmatine (K1=0.001 M) . Compounds, containing an amino- or guanidine group at the position opposite to the guanidine end and possessing the hydrocarbon chain not less that C4 were shown to be substrates of agmatinase. Experientia, 1976 Oct 15, 32(10), 1266 - 7 The role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate in the swarming phenomenon of Proteus mirabilis; Armitage JP et al.; The levels of cylic AMP and adenyl cyclase in swarming and non-swarming cells of Proteus mirabilis and the effect of glucose on swarming have been investigated . The results indicate the cAMP is required for swarming, but that the flagellar derepression characteristic of swarming does not result from increased cAMP levels. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Oct, (10), 24 - 31 {Bacteria of the Proteus genus in surface waters}; Kalina GP; The authors present the results of quantitative and qualitative detection of bacteria of the Proteus group in the surface waters of various degree of contamination . By the new method of study there was revealed a number of regularities reflecting the ecology of these microbes in water . There proved to be a distinct correlation between the degree of water contamination by salmonellae and Proteus at various seasons of the year (the prevalence in spring and autumn and reduction in summer and winter) . Pr . morgani prevailed over the other Proteus species in the water bodies relatively clean by other indices, this pointing to their prolonged survival and possibly reproduction in surface waters . This accounted for the correlation between the quantitative content of salmonellae and Proteus in highly contaminated waters in towns and a discrepancy in these indices lower than the town boundaries, where the processes of water self-purification begin to prevail. Antibiotiki, 1976 Oct, 21(10), 936 - 9 {Antibiotic sensitivity of the causative agents of pyelonephritis in pregnant and puerperal women}; Abramova ZI et al.; The data presented are evident of the fact that the causative agents of pyelonephritis in pregnant women and puerpera are mostly Ecsherichia . Ilebsiella, Enterococcus and Ps . aeruginosa were isolated not so often . Strains with multiple antibiotic resistance were mainly isolated from the urine . It should be noted that 64 per cent of the Klebsiella strains and 90 per cent of the Proteus strains were sensitive to ampicillin . It should be taken into account in development of rational therapy of pyelonephritis in pregnant women and puerpera. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 Oct, 29(10), 1058 - 70 Ceftezole, a new cephalosporin C derivative I . In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity; Noto T et al.; Ceftezole, a new cephalosporin antibiotic similar to cefazolin, has the following chemical structure: (6R,7R)-8-oxo-7{2-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)acetamido}-3-{(1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylthio)methyl}-5-thia-1-azabicyclo{4.2.0}oct-2-ene-carboxylic acid . Ceftezole was found to be a broad-spectrum antibiotic, active in vitro against many species of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens and Proteus vulgaris . The activity of ceftezole against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp . appeared to be nearly equal to that of cefazolin and higher than those of cephaloridine and cephalothin . Cross-resistance was observed between ampicillin and cephaloridine, but not between ampicillin and ceftezole, in susceptibility tests on clinical isolates of P . mirabilis . The in vitro activity was little affected by the inoculum size, the presence of human serum or the test medium . Ceftezole exhibited apparent bactericidal activity at the concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against both S . aureus and E . coli . The development in vitro of resistance by S . aureus 209p and E . coli NIHJ to ceftezole after 16 transfers was similar to or somewhat slower than that to other drugs tested . Ceftezole was relatively stable in nutrient broth and minimally degraded in the serum or tissue homogenates of rats . Ceftezole, in a single subcutaneous administration, exhibited somewhat less efficacy in mice against intraperitoneal infections with Streptococcus pyogenes, S . pneumoniae, E . coli, K . pneumoniae or P . mirabilis than either cephaloridine or cefazolin . However, ceftezole exhibited efficacy similar to that of cephaloridine or cefazolin when administered in three doses . Furthermore, ceftezole was as effective as cefazolin in the treatment of experimental abscesses in mice caused by subcutaneous inoculation with S . aureus. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Oct, 4(4), 326 - 9 Quantitative and bacteriological studies of urine specimens from canine and feline urinary tract infections; Wooley RE et al.; The most prevalent microorganisms isolated from urine specimens of dogs (385) and cats (132) with clinical signs of urinary tract infections were Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., and Staphylococcus aureus . The results of quantitative urine-culturing methods showed 48.6% of the canine and 12.1% of the feline specimens had more than 10(5) organisms per ml of urine . The bacteria isolated appear to have a greater resistance to antibacterial agents than previously reported. Ann Intern Med, 1976 Oct, 85(4), 461 - 3 Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in diabetic foot ulcers; Louie TJ et al.; Twenty diabetic foot ulcers were cultured using optimal microbiologic techniques . Anaerobic bacteria coexisted with the more commonly recognized aerobic bacteria in 18 specimens . There were a total of 116 isolates with an average of 5.8 species per specimen (3.2 aerobes and 2.6 anaerobes) . The principal isolates were Bacteroides species (sp.) (17 strains), peptococci (16), Proteus sp . (11), enterococci (9), Staphylococcus aureus (7), clostridia (7), and Escherichia coli (6) . When antimicrobial therapy is indicated the selection of agents should consider the likelihood of a complex aerobic-anaerobic flora. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Oct, (10), 125 - 9 {Possible circulation of R . prowazekii among animals (according to data of serological studies)}; Sarycheva NI; The authors present the results of serological studies of the sera obtained from various animal species in the complement fixation test of agglutination with rickettsial antigens, particularly with the R . prowazeki antigen . The Proteus OX19 antigen was also used to ascertain the true nature of the positive agglutination test of the sera of domestic animals with the R . prowazeki antigen; immunochemical analysis of the sera in Sephadex G-200 gel was employed . Agglutinins to the R . prowazeki antigen in sera of domestic animals were found to be nonspecific . In the majority of the cases the antibodies detected by this antigen were apparently induced by the contacts of the animal organism with other causative agents both or rickettsial and nonrickettsial nature, particularly with Proteus OX19 (having antigens common with R . prowazeki) . The results are discussed in connection with the Reiss-Gutfreund hypothesis on the circulation of typhus causative agent among the animals. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1976 Oct, 10(4), 449 - 57 {Induced filament formation in various types of Salmonella and other bacteria by means of sodium chloride}; Baykal M; Induced filament formation in various Salmonellae (S . typhimurium, S . newport and S . cholerae suis) and other bacteria Proteus, E . coli, Ps . aeruginosa and Sh . flexneri was seen . Sodium chloride was used as inducing agent in filament formation . The filaments were reversible morphologic variants and transformed to normal bacteria when the effects of inducing agent were removed from the growth media. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Oct, (10), 38 - 41 {A study of Proteus L forms during reversion by means of electron microscopy and ultrathin sections}; Kats LN et al.; The method of scanning electron microscopy was applied to the study of the Proteus L-forms which reversed directly on the millipore filters . It appeared that reversion was accompanied by elongation of the cell, piriform cells forming as the result . Filamentous cells segmented into short fragments and large bodies with a spongy surface structure with numerous ruptures were also revealed in the reversing culture . The method of ultrathin sections showed the other membrane in many cells to be fragile and readily twisting forming vesicles collecting into chains . As supposed, this is connected with degenerative changes involving the outer membrane of the paternal L-forms at the early reversion periods . An interrupted structure of the outer membrane was also demonstrated in many cells . It is supposed that in this case a synthesis of the outer membrane de novo at the later stages of reversion is dealt with . Phenomenon of "extrusion" of the multilayer structures into the periplasmic space, characteristic of spheroplasts, is described . A marked similarity of the morphological picture of reversion and at the initial stages of L-transformation, i.e . of the processes representing a looking glass reflection of one another, is described. Antibiotiki, 1976 Oct, 21(10), 910 - 4 {Resistance of clinical strains of Proteus to various beta-lactam antibiotics}; Shvidenko IG; Sensitivity of Proteus clinical strains to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin and ceporin, as well as the dynamics and stability of the drug resistance was studied . It was found that the beta-lactamides were active against Proteus, ceporin being the most effective antibiotic . Strains resistant simultaneously to 2 or 3 drugs were also resistant to higher concentrations of each of them . The Proteus cultures isolated from various pathological materials did not differ by their sensitivity to benzylpenicillin and ceporin, while the strains isolated from the patient urine were least sensitive to ampicillin . The cultures of Proteus vulgaris were more resistant to the beta-lactamides as compared tcal material were more resistant to benzylpenicillin and ceporin as compared to the cultures in the H-form . No increase in the number of the Proteus strains resistant to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin or ceporin was observed within 1968-1973 . The Proteus resistance to ampicillin and ceporin was not stable and was lost on storage . Reversion to sensitivity depended on the individual properties, the period of storage and the resistance level . The studies showed that the clinical strains of Proteus preserved their sensitivity to the above beta-lactame antibiotics which provided their recommendation for therapy of Proteus infections. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Oct, 236(1), 113 - 9 An investigation into factors affecting proteocine production by Proteus isolates; Al-Jumaili IJ; Proteocine production was found to the influenced by the medium used, the temperature of incubation and the length of incubation . Different amounts of proteocine were produced in different media . Production in liquid media was maximum in proteose-peptone No . 3 (Difco) . This medium gave a very high titre (1:10000) of proteocine when inoculated with the producer strain, and the aerated culture was induced with mitomycin C . Therefore a method of producing a high titre proteocine was developed using proteosepeptone No . 3 (Difco) and cultural conditions of 25 degrees C for 24 hours. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 Oct, 29(10), 1092 - 5 Effect of cephalothin on growth patterns of micro-organisms; Bodey GP et al.; Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli . Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis were incubated in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of cephalothin . After destruction of the antibiotic, there was a lag phase before S . aureus began to proliferate again . When similar experiments were conducted with E . coli, K . pneumoniae, and P . mirabilis, no lag phase was observed . This data suggests that the inhibitory activity of cephalosporins may be different for gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli. Lab Anim, 1976 Oct, 10(10), 413 - 7 Dienes typing of Proteus strains isolated from barrier-maintained animals; Simpson W et al.; The possible use of Dienes' phenomenon for typing proteus strains as an aid to bacteriological monitoring of barrier-maintained animal units was investigated . It was rare for more than 1 Dienes' type to be isolated from an individual animal . A persistent relationship between 1 or 2 Diene's types and each strain of animal was demonstrated, although these same types were shown to be capable of causing clinical disease in their normal host . The findings suggest that Dienes' phenomenon may be of value in detecting outside contamination of barrier-maintained animals and also might usefully be applied to experimental epidemiological studies. J Infect Dis, 1976 Oct, 134(4), 370 - 6 Variation in urease activity of endemic hospital strains of Proteus rettgeri and Providencia stuartii; Penner JL et al.; Both urease-positive and urease-negative Proteeae isolated from cross-infected patients in the same hospitals and, in three cases, from the same patients were examined for their biochemical reactions and somatic (O-) antigens . All isolates gave the same reactions in 17 biochemical tests and possessed O-antigens characteristic of Providenic O-type strains 4 or 17 . Study of the isolates indicated that endemic strains are capable of undergoing variation in urease activity . In the current classification urease-positive and urease-negative strains are classified as Proteus rettgeri and Providencia stuartii, respectively . The observed variation in urease activity of nosocomial isolates of Proteeae suggests that taxonomy should be modified so that all such strains would be accommodated in a single group. Laryngol Rhinol Otol (Stuttg), 1976 Oct, 55(10), 804 - 12 {The effect of ear surgery to the immunologic defense system of the middle ear during chronic otitis media (author's transl)}; Kastenbauer ER et al.; Alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobuline are very important proteinase inhibitors for the healing process in chronic otitis media, because they can inhibit numerous bacterial and leukocytic proteinases: Alpha-2-macroglobuline can block the malignant proteinases of pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aureus and proteus vulgaris . In 58 cases in the middle ear secretion was examined and the level of alpha-1-antitrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin investigated pre- and postoperatively . By these investigations we could demonstrate that the postoperative level of these two inhibitors is higher than preoperatively . In a couple of cases with cholesteatoma the postoperative concentration of alpha-2-macroglobuline was nearly three times higher than prior to the tympanoplasty . We believe that one of the causes for this high inhibitor level is the liberation of alpha-2-macroglobuline by injuring blood vessels during a tympanoplasty . It is our opinion that the increase of the inhibitor level in the postoperative phase is one of the prerequisites for the healing process in chronic otitis media. Mol Gen Genet, 1976 Sep 23, 147(3), 315 - 23 Properties of plasmids constructed by the in vitro insertion of DNA from Rhizobium leguminosarum or Proteus mirabilis into RP4; Jacob AE et al.; Plasmids have been constructed by insertion of DNA from Rhizobium leguminosarum or Proteus mirabilis into RP4 (an R factor of group P) . Such recombinant plasmids retain the wide host range of the parental plasmid, being as efficiently transmissible as the unmodified RP4 and are stably maintained in rapidly growing cultures . The recombinant plasmids, even though each contained a DNA sequence absolutely identical with that of the host strain, are no more efficient at mobilizing the transfer of chromosomal genetic information from that host strain than was unmodified RP4 . We therefore conclude that an unknown factor must be essential in the process of chromosome mobilization and rate limiting for that process. Lancet, 1976 Sep 18, 2(7986), 616 - 9 Rational choice of penicillins and cephalosporins based on parallel in-vitro and in-vivo tests; Selwyn S; Because of the unavailability of strictly comparable data, seven representative penicillins and the five cephalosporins currently used in Britain were evaluated in parallel, both in vitro and in vivo . Penicillin sensitive and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis were the main test organisms . Minimum bacteriocidal concentrations of cloxacillin, flucloxacillin, cephalothin, and cephazolin in serum were much higher than conventional minimum inhibitory concentrations in the absence of serum . Cephalexin and cephradine showed the smallest divergence in these values . Staph, aureus beta-lactamase caused least damage to methicillin and cephradine, whereas enzymes from Escherichia, Klebsiella, and Bacillus cereus had least effect against cephradine followed by cephalexin . In mouse protection experiments, highly protein-bound antibiotics had relatively low efficacy . Cephradine had the highest mean activity followed closely by cephaloridine and cephalexin . From the data, cephradine was the cephalosporin of choice, and firm decisions were also made about the choice of penicillins. Med Klin, 1976 Sep 10, 71(37), 1491 - 6 {Significance of antibody titers in recurrent urinary tract infection in children (author's transl)}; Daschner F; 2254 antibody titers have been measured by the indirect hemagglutination method in 84 children with recurrent urinary tract infection using single organisms as homologous or several strains from one species (E . coli, Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas) as polyvalent antigens . Increase of homologous antibody titers within 3 weeks following a significant bacteriuria (65% of all cases) has been found to be a more reliable parameter for diagnosis of infection than leukocyturia or clinical symptoms . Determination of antibody titers is a special diagnostic clue for differentiation of contamination of midstream urine and bacteriuria with less than 10(5) organisms/ml . Cross reactivity between a polyvalent E . coli antigen and homologous E . coli antigens was found in 85% of cases . High or low antibody titer levels do not allow to differentiate between upper or lower urinary tract infection nor are antibody titer levels indicative for kidney involvement and prognosis of the disease. Am J Epidemiol, 1976 Sep, 104(3), 278 - 86 Nosocomial infection with highly resistant, Proteus rettgeri . Report of an epidemic; Kaslow RA et al.; Over 22-1/2 months an epidemic of at least 127 cases of nosocomial infection developed from a strain of Proteus rettgeri resistant to all antibiotics commonly tested in hospital laboratories . Although there were at least four cases of septicemia and one related death, the majority of cases consisted of asymptomatic bacteriuria or clinically mild urinary tract infection . Indwelling urinary tract devices and antibiotic therapy were important predisposing factors . Data supported an association between increasing use of gentamicin and increasing rates of resistant infection . No common source was found, and contact spread appeared more likely . Control measures included efforts to reduce unnecessary exposure to the incriminated risk factors and to improve asepsis in the management of catheterized patients . An additional 36 cases and one related death were identified in the 7-1/2 months following the investigation and institution of control measures . Nosocomial infection with extremely resistant organisms may pose a serious hazard wherever indwelling urinary tract devices and antibiotics are used together intensively. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Sep, 4(3), 296 - 305 Use of droplet plating method and cystine-lactose-lactng electrolyte-deficient medium in routine quantitative urine culturing procedure; Neblett TR; Droplet plating of 0.01 ml of 10(-2) dilutions of mixed sonically treated urines onto cystine-lactose electrolyte-deficient agar permits formation of discrete, easily counted colonies within a small circumscribed area without interference by Proteus overswarm . Each colony is considered as arising from a single viable cell . The single dilution permits precise reproducible quantitation of urine bacteria population within the range 10(4) to 10(6) cells/ml of sample . Droplet-plated counts were found to be consistently (approximately) double those determined by standard pour plate quantitation . The method requires only inexpensive readily available materials and has been performed routinely in a large-volume clinical laboratory for several years. Antibiotiki, 1976 Sep, 21(9), 832 - 8 {Experimental study of the chemotherapeutic activity of gentamicin sulfate}; Lobuseva AN et al.; Antibacterial activity of gentamycin sulfate was studied in vitro and in treatment of albino mice with experimental infections . Gentamycin was superior to kanamycin with respect to its antibacterial effect against clinical strains of Staphylococcus, Coli bacteria, Proteus and Ps . aeruginosa . High efficiency of gentamycin was found with respect to acute and chronic staphylococcal infection, acute Proteus and Coli sepsis . The antibiotic was characterized by low LD50, high chemotherapeutic index, rapid decrease in isolation of the causative agent from the animal organs . The activity of gentamycin against infections caused by Ps . aeruginosa was the main advantage of gentamycin in comparison to kanamycin. J Gen Microbiol . 1976 Sep;96(1):95=107. Derivation and properties of Proteus mirabilis systems for high frequency transduction of streptomycin--sulphonamide and streptomycin-sulphonamide--kanamycin resistances; Coetzee JN; Properties of two transducing systems with phages capable of high frequency transduction (HFT) of streptomycin and sulphonamide resistance markers of the V group plasmid R905, and of these markers plus the kanamycin resistance marker derived from a previously described HFT phage 5006MHFTak, are described . Transducing particles of the former phage, named 5006MHFTsus, were detected using the replica-plate technique in an ultraviolet-induced lysate of Proteus mirabilis strain PM5006 transduced to streptomycin and sulphonamide resistance by phage 5006M grown on PM5006 carrying R905 . Phage 5006MHFTsusk was also detected by the replica-plate technique in ultraviolet-induced lysates of of phage 5006MHFTsus transductants retransduced to ampicillin and kanamycin resistance by phage 5006MHFTak . Both phages were serologically identical to the parent phage 5006M . Ultraviolet-induced lysates transduced their markers to PM5006 at frequencies of about 5 X 10(-2)/plaque-forming unit adsorbed for both the phages . With phage 5006MHFTsusk, this frequency was increased about 10-fold by simultaneous infection of recipients with homologous non-transducing phage, while phage 5006MHFTsus transductions only underwent a twofold increase . Transductants took about 60 min to express complete resistance to 50 mug streptomycin/ml, and resistance to 1600 mug sulphadiazine/ml was complete within 120 min after phage adsorption . Phage 5006MHFTsusk was slightly more resistant to ultraviolet inaction of its transducing potential and reasons are given for the belief that transductants of both phages are heterogenote-like . Both phage lysates were also capable of generalized transduction and, like previously described HFT phages, lysates transduced the leucine marker at increased frequencies . Using previously described extra- and intra-species phages hosts, it was found that the phages could transduce in single infection and were defective in the lysogenic conversion function as well as in a maturation step . Possible modes of formation of the HFT particles are discussed9 Scott Med J, 1976 Sep, 20(5), 232 - 5 The prevalence of ampicillin, cephalosporin and sulphonamide resistance amongst urinary tract pathogens; Andrews J et al.; A total of 2,031 clinical isolates of Gram negative bacilli was obtained from hospitals in 4 centres and these cultures were tested for resistance to ampicillin, cephazolin and sulphonamide . Ampicillin and sulphonamide resistance in outpatients ranged from 15 to 28 per cent of E . coli strains and 4 to 11 per cent of Proteus mirabilis strains . Resistance to cephazolin in outpatients ranged from 0 to 3 per cent of E . coli and 0 to 6 per cent of Proteus mirabilis . Resistance patterns for E . coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella strains isolated from inpatients were much higher and varied widely . These patterns are presented and the reasons for these variations discussed. J Bacteriol, 1976 Sep, 127(3), 1590 - 2 Growth inhibition of Proteus mirabilis by cyclic adenosine 3'-5'-monophosphate; Schwarzhoff RH et al.; Growth of Proteus mirabilis on a synthetic agar medium containing either glycerol, galactose, or trehalose as the sole source is inhibited by 5 mM cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) . Inhibition on an agar medium is evident as loss of viability, but in broth cAMP only slightly inhibits growth rate . Inhibition is associated with the accumulation of methylglyoxal in the medium . A nonswarming mutant of P . mirabilis is not inhibited by cAMP on either of the three carbon sources, but it is sensitive to exogenous methylglyoxal. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Sep, (9), 101 - 4 {Experimental infection of domestic animals with R . prowazeki and R . canada}; Sarycheva NI et al.; The authors infected lambs with R . prowazeki and R . canada to ascertain their possible role in the natural infection of the animals . The lambs were infected subcutaneously with increasing doses; rickettsiemia was recorded with the aid of tests on guinea pigs and Ixodidae and Argasidae ticks fed on the lambs . Dynamics of antibody formation was ascertained in the infected animals in the agglutination reaction and in the complement fixation test . The antigenic affinity of R . canada and rickettsia of the typhoid group and the presence of common antigenic determinants with the Proteus OX19 was confirmed . The absence of any clinical manifestations, the character of antibody formation, impossibility of inducing the generalized infection and of the isolation of the causative agent from the blood pointed to the low susceptibility of lambs to R . prowazeki and R . canada; thus a possibility of circulation of the causative agents of typhius among the domestic animals scarcely probable. Mol Gen Genet, 1976 Aug 19, 147(2), 179 - 88 Transcription of Escherichia coli ribosomal DNA in Proteus mirabilis; Morgan EA et al.; Transcription of Escherichia coli ribosomal DNA introduced into Proteus mirabilis on F14 is described . We have developed an assay for E . coli coded ribosomal RNA involving fingerprinting of ribonuclease T1 digests of RNA isolated from ribosomal subunits . Sequence differences in the ribosomal RNA of the two species have allowed us to detect E . coli coded 16S, 23S, and 5S ribosomal RNA in ribosomal subunits of the E . coli-P . mirabilis hybrid . The proportion of E . coli coded rRNA in the hybrid is found at a level which is compatible with the number of E . coli (and P . mirabilis) ribosomal DNA sequences . The resulting ribosomal RNA appears in ribosomes in a form which indicates extensive compatibility of E . coli coded ribosomal RNA with P . mirabilis ribosomal proteins and maturational factors. Eur J Biochem, 1976 Aug 16, 67(2), 487 - 94 Phospholipid and lipopolysaccharide in Proteus mirabilis and its stable protoplast L-form . Difference in content and fatty acid composition; Gmeiner J et al.; Cells of the stable protoplast L-form of Proteus mirabilis contain 1.5 to 2 times more extractable lipid, mostly phospholipid, per dry weight than cells of the bacterial form . Under identical conditions of cultivation the qualitative and quantitiative composition of the phospholipid is very similar in both cell forms . The range of mole percentages of individual phospholipid species is 78-80 for phosphatidylethanolamine, 10-13 for phosphatidylglycerol, 3.9-5.5 for diphosphatidylglycerol and 1.0-2.1 for lysophospholipid . However, all phospholipid species in the L-form differ from those of the bacterial form by a lower content of long-chain fatty acids and a higher content of short-chain fatty acids . Growth of the L-form in the presence of growth-stimulating horse serum results in a change of phospholipid composition accompanied by the uptake of phospholipid and fatty acids from the serum into L-form phospholipid . L-form protoplasts synthesize the same two types of lipopolysaccharide, I and II, that were previously identified in the bacterial form of Proteus mirabilis . However, only small amounts of the more hydrophilic lipopolysaccharide II are present in the L-form . Lipopolysaccharides from both cell forms have virtually identical polysaccharide compositions but differ strikingly in the relative content of fatty acids in their lipid-A moieties . Molar ratios of tetradecanoic acid, hexadeconoic acid and 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid are 5:1:6 in the bacterial form and 5:0:1:6 in the L-form grown in serum-free medium . The observated differences between the bacterial form and the protoplast L-form are interpreted as results of the adaptation of the L-form to life in the state lacking an envelope by formation of a physically more stable but still sufficiently fluid protoplast membrane . A rapid method based on fatty acid analysis for the simultaneous quantitative determination of phospholipid and lipopolysaccharide content of whole cells is reported. Ann Intern Med, 1976 Aug, 85(2), 161 - 4 Multidrug-resistant Proteus rettgeri: an emerging problem; Iannini PB et al.; The recent development of multidrug-resistant strains of Proteus rettgeri prompted a 6-year review of infections with this organism . Ninety percent of infections involved the urinary tract . Fifty percent of infections occurred on the neurology ward, where a progressive annual increase in attack rate was noted . Statistically significant (P less than 0.005) increases in total length of hospitalization, length of hospitalization before infection, presence and duration of indwelling Foley catheterization, prior exposure to antibiotics, and the prevalence of paraplegia were present in P . rettgeri urinary tract infections as compared with a control group . A progressive increase in resistance to kanamycin, streptomycin, ampicillin, and gentamicin occurred during 6 years . Disc diffusion sensitivities of recent isolates show total resistance to commonly tested antibiotics . Eighty percent or more of strains are inhibited, however, by 3.13 mug/ml of amikacin and cefoxitin, and 0.4 mug/ml of ticarcillin. Zentralbl Bakteriol {Orig A}, 1976 Aug, 235(4), 421 - 32 Physical properties and the fine structure of proteocines; al-Jumaili IJ; Proteocines derived from twelve previously described bacteriocinogenic strains of Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris were investigated . All proteocine preparations were particulate, unaffected by trypsin, and destroyed by freezing and thawing or by heating at 60 degrees C for 30 minutes . Proteocine activity was removed by adsorption with the appropriate sensitive organisms . The active principles of all preparations were partially purified by precipitation with 70% (w/v NH4(SO4)2 followed by ultra-centrifugation . Column chromatography showed that proteocine activity was associated with only one of the peaks of material which absorbed strongly at 257 mu . All twelve proteocine preparations were revealed by electron microscopy as a phage-tail-like structure and each particle had a sheath, a core, and a base-plate from which spine-like fibres extend . Adsorption of these particles to the cell wall of sensitive strains did not disrupt the bacterial cell wall, but the cytoplasmic membrane and the cell contents shrank, with consequent death of the "infected" cell. J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134 Suppl, S156 - 7 Evaluation of tobramycin in severe urinary tract infection; Bennet AH; Twenty-five patients with severe urinary tract infections were treated with 3 mg of tobramycin/kg per day (given in two doses) . Susceptible organisms were Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus, and enterococcus . Clincal conditions in which treatment produced excellent bacteriological results included a wide range of urological disorders; the most common were pyelonephritis, cystitis, and epididymo-orchitis, Three patients had septicemia, and 12 had an infection that was the result of urinary tract obstruction requiring surgery. J Infect Dis, 1976 Aug, 134 Suppl, S175 - 7 Tobramycin and cephalothin for treatment of suspected sepsis in neutropenic children with cancer; Cohen JD et al.; The safety and efficacy of tobramycin and cephalothin in treatment of suspected sepsis were studied in neutropenic children with various malignancies . Twenty episodes of suspected sepsis in 19 febrile children with cancer were treated with parenteral tobramycin and cephalothin; the duration of therapy ranged from one to 80 days . In 14 of the 20 episodes of suspected sepsis, a favorable clinical response was achieved within five days after initiation of antibiotic therapy . These episodes included a urinary tract infection with Proteus mirabilis and sepsis due to Escherichia coli . In four of the additional six episodes, clinical deterioration was though to be caused by the underlying malignancies . Two episodes included a case of E . coli spesis that ended fatally and a nosocomial infection with Eikenella corrodens . Results of this study suggest that combination therapy with tobramycin and cephalothin is safe and efficacious in treatment of suspected sepsis in febrile children with malignancies and neutropenia. Br J Exp Pathol, 1976 Aug, 57(4), 395 - 9 Oral vaccination against Porteus mirabilis; Jones RJ; Mice given a single dose of proteus vaccine orally were protected against 1 MLD (minimum lethal dose) of autologous Proteus mirabilis by the fourth day after vaccination . Three doses of oral vaccine induced protection against 1 MLD autologous challenge for 7 days after vaccination and partial protection for a further 8 weeks . Cross-protection against different strains of Pr . mirabilis and against some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens and Providencia species was found in mice immunized orally on three consecutive days with a bivalent proteus vaccine. Infect Immun, 1976 Aug, 14(2), 389 - 98 Factors influencing the immune enhancement of intrapulmonary bactericidal mechanisms; Jakab GJ; The effect of specific immunization on the antibacterial defense mechanisms of the murine lung was assessed against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus (Smith), Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Immunization by aerosol inhalation significantly enhanced the intrapulmonary killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis but not the remaining organisms . With P . mirabilis, systemic immunization induced higher titers of specific serum agglutinins as compared with local respiratory tract immunization; however, local immunization was more effective in enhancing pulmonary bactericidal activity than was parenteral vaccination . Passive immunity against P . mirabilis or aerogenic challenge with preopsonized P . mirabilis significantly enhanced intrapulmonary killing of the homologous organism . With S . aureus, pulmonary bactericidal activity was not accelerated by aerosol challenge with the preopsonized organism, nor was it accelerated in passively immunized mice . These data demonstrate that the immune enhancement of pulmonary bactericidal activity is governed by the bacterium used for challenge and the route of immunization . The results further demonstrate that with P . mirabilis, antibody-mediated mechanisms are involved in the immune enhancement of pulmonary bactericidal activity. J Biol Chem, 1976 Jul 10, 251(13), 3875 - 80 Purification and properties of the alpha2beta2 complex of tryptophan synthetase of Proteus mirabilis; Riverin M et al.; A procedure is described for the purification of the tryptophan synthetase alpha2beta2 complex from cell extracts of Proteus mirabilis . A 30-fold purification was achieved with an overall yield of about 23% and a specific activity of 1,600 . The complex can be dissociated and the subunits isolated in a pure form . The complex can be reconstituted from the isolated subunits to regain the initial activity . The alpha and beta2 subunits of the tryptophan synthetase complex of P . mirabilis are not significantly different from those of Escherichia coli and other enteric bacteria as to their physical properties, amino acid compositions, and enzymic properties . Complementation studies indicate that the alpha subunit of P . mirabilis hybridizes well with the beta2 subunit from E . coli . Similarly, the beta2 subunit of P . mirabilis readily complexes with the alpha subunits from E . coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Serratia marcescens . The hybrids formed are all effective in catalyzing the conversion of indoleglycerol phosphate plus serine into tryptophan and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate . However, these hybrids have reduced or no activity in the other reactions, namely, the condensation of indole and serine to form tryptophan or the aldolytic cleavage of indoleglycerol phosphate. MMW Munch Med Wochenschr, 1976 Jul 2, 118(27), 871 - 4 {Increased growth of chemotherapy-resistant hospital organisms through disinfection (author's transl)}; Bauerfeind A; In addition to determinants of resistance to chemtoherapy, a resistance plasmid of the hospital strain of Prtoeus rettgeri from the Munich Hospital area also carries information on resistance to mercury ions . At the same time strains with this R-factor are more insensitive to phenylmercuric borate, the active principle of the widely used disinfectant Merfer . This significance of the widely used disinfectant Merfer . This significance of this resistance to disinfectants for the appearance of the local hospital strain of Proteus rettgeri is discussed . Moreover, the far-reaching risks of the selection of chemotherapy-resistant bacterial strains by disinfectants with reduced activity against bacteria resistant to chemotherapy are pointed out . Therefore, it is recommended to abandon the use of mercury as an active principle of disinfectants. Jugosl Ginekol Opstet, 1976 Jul-Aug, 16(4), 275 - 81 {C-reactive protein in inflammatory processes of the female genital organs}; Milosevic B et al.; C-reactive protein (CRP) was investigated in 202 women: in 20 women with acute non-specific inflammation and the presence of different bacteria (Streptococcus pyocyaneus, Enterococcus, Escherichia colli, Proteus), in 12 women with confirmed genital tuberculosis, in 66 women with the chronic inflammation of genital organs, and in 104 women with normal genital findings . In all patients with acute inflammations CRP was positive . It was highly positive in those with elevated temperature and sedimentation values . CRP was also positive in the group of women with genital tuberculosis . A quantitative analysis mainly gave low CRP values in these women . The CRP values correlated with the Middelbrook-Dubos reaction titer . In women with chronic inflamations and those with a normal genital finding CRP proved negative . In women with CRP was positive even when the antistreptolysin caused by streptococci but also for those caused by other agents . It is concluded that C-reactive protein is a useful indicator of the activity of different inflammatory processes and that it may be affected by different drugs. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 Jul, (7), 48 - 51 {Various data concerning the ultrastructure of Proteus spheroplasts}; Glazacheva LE et al.; Spheroplasts were obtained under the action of penicillin on the same medium which was later used to obtain the L-forms . Spheroplast formation started 15 to 20 minutes after the addition of penicillin and reached the maximum in 2 hours . The first dividing forms were revealed at that time, and this division continued for at least 24 hours . The majority of the cells represented spheroplasts surrounded by outer and cytoplasmic membrane, and only some--true protoplasts--had cytoplasmic membrane alone . Division was anomalous in comparison with the bacterial forms with the cell wall: it was noted that either both daughter cells were surrounded by a common outer membrane, or one daughter cell had two membranes serving as a spheroplast and the other--one membrane, serving as a true protoplast . Individual vesicles and myelin-like structures were found to be extruded into the periplasmic space or directly into the surrounding environment . In the latter case pearl-like structures described by Ryter in the formation of protoplasts in bacilli were observed . However, in the Proteus such structures were largely formed by the material of the plastic layer of the cell wall, and to a lesser extent--by the lipoproteid membrane. J Bacteriol, 1976 Jul, 127(1), 619 - 36 EcoRI restriction endonuclease map of the composite R plasmid NR1; Tanak N et al.; A physical map of the composite R plasmid NR1 has been constructed using specific cleavage of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by the restriction endonuclease EcoR- . Digestion of composite NR1 DNA by EcoRI yields thirteen fragments . The six largest fragments (designated A to F) are from the resistance transfer factor component that harbors the tetracycline resistance genes (RTF-TC) . The seven smallest fragments (designated G to M) are from the r-determinants component that harbors the chloramphenicol (CM), streptomycin-spectinomycin (SM/SP), and sulfonamide (SA) resistance genes . The largest fragment of several RTF-TC segregants of NR1 that have deleted the r-determinants component is 0.8 X 10(6) daltons larger than fragment A of composite NR1 . Only a part of fragment H of the r-determinants component is amplified in transitioned NR1 DNA in Proteus mirabilis, which consists of multiple, tandem sequences of r-determinants attached to a single copy of the RTF-TC component . Both of these changes can be explained by the locations of the excision sites at the RTF-TC: r-determinants junctions that are involved in the dissociation and reassociation of the RTF-TC and r-determinants components . The thirteen fragments of composite NR1 DNA produced by EcoRI have been ordered using partial digestion techniques . The order of the fragments is: A-D-C-E-F-B-H-I-L-K-G-M-J . The approximate locations of the TC, CM, SM/SP, and SA resistance genes on the EcoRI map were determined by analyzing several deletion mutants of NR1. J Bacteriol, 1976 Jul, 127(1), 237 - 48 Evidence against the involvement of chemotaxis in swarming of Proteus mirabilis; Williams FD et al.; Nonswarming and nonchemotactic mutants of Proteus mirabilis were isolated after mutagenesis with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or ultraviolet light . These mutants were used in experiments to determine if chemotaxis is involved in the swarming of P . mirabilis . Nonchemotactic mutants failed to form chemotactic bands in a semisolid casein hydrolysate medium, yet they swarmed on the same medium containing 1.5% agar . Nonswarming mutants were attracted towards individual amino acids and components of tryptose . In cross-feeding experiments, no evidence was obtained to indicate the production of a diffusable chemical repellent . In studies with the wild-type P . mirabilis, no clear-cut negative chemotaxis was seen even though three different assays were used and numerous chemicals were tested . Additional evidence against the involvement of chemotaxis in swarming comes from finding that dialysis does not interfere with swarming; swarm cells will swarm immediately when transferred to fresh media, and swarm cells will swarm on an agar-water medium supplemented with a surfactant . These data indicate that chemotaxis is not involved in the swarming of P . mirabilis. Vopr Med Khim, 1976 Jul-Aug, 22(4), 488 - 93 {Intracellular nucleodepolymerase of bacteria, representatives of the Proteus and Providencia groups . Its isolation and properties}; Sokolova RB et al.; High activity of enzymes, splitting native, denaturated DNA, deoxyribooligonucleotides and RNA, was observed in cell free extracts of bacteria--representatives of 5 strains of Proteus-Providencia . Some properties of nucleases were studied in cell free extracts . In the bacteria studied DNAases were thermolabile proteins, which were completely inactivated at 50-60 degrees, RNAases were more thermostable . The pH optima of the DNAases were at pH 9.0-11.0 in cell free system; RNAases were maximally active at pH 8.0-9.0 J Cell Biol, 1976 Jul, 70(1), 123 - 43 The contractile basis of ameboid movement . II . Structure and contractility of motile extracts and plasmalemma-ectoplasm ghosts; Taylor DL et al.; The role of calcium and magnesium-ATP on the structure and contractility in motile extracts of Amoeba proteus and plasmalemma-ectoplasm "ghosts" of Chaos carolinensis has been investigated by correlating light and electron microscope observations with turbidity and birefringence measurements . The extract is nonmotile and contains very few F-actin filaments and myosin aggregates when prepared in the presence of both low calcium ion and ATP concentrations at an ionic strength of I = 0.05, pH 6.8 . The addition of 1.0 mM magnesium chloride, 1.0 mM ATP, in the presence of a low calcium ion concentration (relaxation solution) induced the formation of some fibrous bundles of actin without contracting, whereas the addition of a micromolar concentration of calcium in addition to 1.0 mM magnesium-ATP (contraction solution) (Taylor, D . L., J . S . Condeelis, P . L . Moore, and R . D . Allen . 1973 . J . Cell Biol . 59:378-394) initiated the formation of large arrays of F-actin filaments followed by contractions . Furthermore, plasmalemma-ectoplasm ghosts prepared in the relaxation solution exhibited very few straight F-actin filaments and myosin aggregates . In contrast, plasmalemmaectoplasm ghosts treated with the contraction solution contained many straight F-actin filaments and myosin aggregates . The increase in the structure of ameba cytoplasm at the endoplasm-ectoplasm interface can be explained by a combination of the transformation of actin from a less filamentous to a more structured filamentous state possibly involving the cross-linking of actin to form fibrillar arrays (see above-mentioned reference) followed by contractions of the actin and myosin along an undetermined distance of the endoplasm and/or ectoplasm. J Clin Microbiol, 1976 Jun, 3(6), 613 - 25 Differential agar medium (A7) for identification of Ureaplasma urealyticum (human T mycoplasmas) in primary cultures of clinical material; Shepard MC et al.; A differential agar medium for the identification of Ureaplasma urealyticum in primary cultures of clinical specimens is described . The differential medium (no . A7) is specific for the identification of U . urealyticum and other members of the genus Ureaplasma . Large-colony, classical Mycoplasma and Acholeplasma species and Proteus L colonies are unreactive on this differential medium . The medium incorporates the biochemical principle of the direct spot test for urease in colonies of Ureaplasma and contains added urea and a sensitive indicator of ammonia, manganous sulfate . Ureaplasma colonies on this medium are identified as dark golden-brown or rich deep-brown colonies, in sharp contrast to the light background of the medium, when viewed by direct transmitted illumination under the low power of the microscope. J Cell Sci, 1976 Jun, 21(1), 209 - 17 Relations between the nuclear activity and the variable 3H-amino acid incorporation pattern in Amoeba proteus; Chatterjee S et al.; Tracer kinetic studies have revealed the existence of a variable pattern of 3H-amino acid incorporation into amoeba proteins during the early G2 phase of the cell cycle . Two peaks of incorporation of {3H}leucine were found to occur at 19 and 22 h, whereas a single peak at 17 h was noticed in the amoebae labelled with {3H}lysine . An almost 2-fold increase of the labelled amino acid incorporation occurred during the peak periods, while the other periods showed a more or less steady state of incorporation, suggesting a basal rate of synthesis at these times . In a detailed study involving the peaks and the basal incorporation period of {3H}leucine, it was shown that the removal of the nucleus or Actinomycin D treatment eliminated the peaks but the base line protein synthesis was not affected . This suggests that for the peak synthetic periods, mRNA is probably transcribed concurrently, followed by immediate translation, whereas long-life mRNA accounts for the basal synthetic activity. J Laryngol Otol, 1976 Jun, 90(6), 509 - 18 Destruction of ossicles in chronic otitis media; Karja J et al.; The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in the destruction of ossicles in chronic ear disease caused solely (monoinfection) by one of the most common three bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Proteus strain . Material included 337 cases from 1,093 radically operated ears both with cholesteatoma and without cholesteatoma and in addition cholesteatomatous ears without signs of infection since diagnosed . In 190 ears with cholesteatoma but without discharge the ossicular chain was found damaged at the time of operation in 75 per cent and in 147 discharging ears with cholesteatoma in 79-97 per cent . In infected ears without cholesteatoma the chain was broken in 59-78 per cent . In all groups the most extensive lesions were caused by Proteus strains . This was also the fact in microscopic studies concerning extension and severity of histopathological findings . It seems to us that vascular bone erosion caused by active granulation tissue, the process triggered initially by infection, is the main mechanism for destruction of ossicles both in cholesteatomatous and in non-cholesteatomatous ears . From the histological point of view the ossicles in ears with Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus strains can be so destroyed that their use for autografts is questionable. Eur J Biochem, 1976 May 1, 64(2), 423 - 8 Absolute configuration of 3-hydroxy fatty acids present in lipopolysaccharides from various bacterial groups; Rietschel ET; The absolute configuration of 3-hydroxy fatty acids has been studied, which are present in the lipopolysaccharides of the following bacteria: Phodopseudomonas gelatinosa, Rh . viridis, Rhodospirillum tenue, Chromobacterium violaceum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bordetella pertussis, Vibrio metchnikovii, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri, Proteus mirabilis, Yersinia enterocolitica and Fusobacterium nucleatum . The 3-hydroxy acids were liberated by strong alkaline hydrolysis, converted to 3-methoxy acid L-phenylethylamides and analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography . With the aid of authentic D-3-hydroxy fatty acids it was shown for all lipopolysaccharides that the 3-hydroxy acids, regardless of chain lengths, branching, 3-O-substitution or type of linkage, possess the D-configuration . 2-Hydroxydodecanoic acid, which is present in some lipopolysaccharides, was analyzed in an analogous way and shown to possess the L-configuration. J Cell Sci, 1976 May, 20(3), 525 - 37 Inhibition of cell division in amoebae: the incorporation of tritiated precursors into Amoeba proteus after the injection of non-homologous cytoplasm; Cameron JM et al.; The injection of non-homologous cytoplasm into any strain of large free-living amoebae leads to a 60% inhibition of division amongst recipient cells . When the post-microsomal supernatant fraction of Amoeba discoides was injected into A . proteus, this inhibition of division was as high as 95% . The incorporation of tritiated precursors, either {3H}uridine or 3H-amino acids, into these inhibited amoebae was studied at various times after the injection of the inhibitory material using autoradiography . When cells were grown in {3H}uridine, autoradiographs indicated that RNA synthesis had ceased 2 days after the injection of non-homologous material . However, if {3H}uridine was injected into the inhibited cells, some synthesis of RNA could be detected up to 4 days after the injection of inhibitor . These results suggested that uptake of {3H}uridine was impaired and that one site of action of the inhibitory molecules was RNA synthesis for membrane components . Experiments with a variety of 3H-amino acids suggested that protein synthesis continued for at least 9 days after the injection of non-homologous cytoplasm, and that in these cells some informational RNA molecules were long-lived . There seemed to be accumulation of material containing {3H}lysine in the nuclei of control cells taken at random from cultures, and this was seen in the nuclei of inhibited cells 1 day after injection . However, 2 days after the injection of inhibitor, no accumulation of {3H}lysine-containing material was found in the nuclei. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1976 May, 29(5), 492 - 500 Nocardicin A, a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic . I . Discovery, isolation and characterization; Aoki H et al.; Nocardicin A is a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic obtained from the fermentation broth of a strain of actinomycetes . The producing organism, strain WS 1571, was identified as Nocardia uniformis subsp . tsuyamanensis ATCC 21806 . The antibiotic, obtained as colorless crystals, exhibits moderate in vitro antibacterial activity against a broad-spectrum of Gram-negative bacteria including Proteus and Pseudomonas . It has low toxicity in laboratory animals. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1976 May, (5), 81 - 6 {Use of the swarming phenomenon for the purpose of isolating pure cultures of salmonellae from feces . I}; Litinskii IuI et al.; The authors elaborated and tested a number of elective-differential media for swarming of salmonellae . When pure cultures of Proteus, E . coli and salmonellae were seded on these media the latter exeeded the rest of enteric bacteria by the intensity of swarming . In the capacity of saprophyte inhibitors the most effective were media with the addition of penicillin and sodium selenite . Satisfactory results were obtained on the mentioned media in isolation of salmonellae from the artificially contaminated feces by the method of swarming Ann Sclavo, 1976 May-Jun, 18(3), 485 - 93 {Further researches on antimicrobial agents invo