Nord Vet Med, 1983 Dec, 35(12), 460 - 4 Antimicrobial drug susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine milk; Franklin A et al.; The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ten antimicrobial drugs for 287 S . aureus strains recently isolated from bovine mastitic milk in different herds all over Sweden was determined . The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of benzylpenicillin for 20 strains was determined . Thirty strains (10%) produced beta-lactamase . All strains were susceptible to oxacillin and neomycin, and more than 90% to streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole chloramphenicol, erythromycin and tetracycline, whereas all were resistant to sulphamethoxazole . None of 20 strains investigated was tolerant to benzylpenicillin . However, S . aureus strains, isolated from bovine milk, should be tested for beta-lactamase production prior to treating mastitic cases with beta-lactam drugs. Biochem J, 1983 Dec 1, 215(3), 525 - 9 Identification by n.m.r . spectroscopy of a stable intermediate structure in the unfolding of staphylococcal beta-lactamase; Thomas RM et al.; The unfolding of beta-lactamase (penicillinase) from Staphylococcus aureus by guanidinium chloride was followed by using n.m.r . spectroscopy . On the basis of the observation of resonances corresponding to histidine, tyrosine and other amino acid side chains, the existence of a stable partially folded species was demonstrated . These experiments provide detailed characterization of the intermediate that confirms and extends previous characterization by absorption and c.d . spectroscopy and by flow properties . In addition, they show that residues in the N-terminal third of the molecule are affected by the native-to-intermediate transition . Persistent non-equivalence of the two imidazole C2 proton resonances at high guanidinium chloride concentrations is discussed in terms of local sequence effects on the chemical shift. Infect Immun, 1983 Dec, 42(3), 1013 - 6 Soluble peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus is a murine B-lymphocyte mitogen; Babu UM et al.; Soluble peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus has been shown to be capable of causing murine B lymphocytes from the spleen to proliferate and to secrete immunoglobulins in both an in vitro and an in vivo assay . The optimal concentration in vitro was between 33 and 100 micrograms/ml . A 3-day incubation with soluble peptidoglycan was more stimulatory than was a 1- or 2-day incubation . Removal of most of the T lymphocytes with anti-theta serum did not result in any significant change in the mitogenic activity of soluble peptidoglycan on the remaining B cells. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Dec, 12 Suppl D, 79 - 87 Comparative imipenem treatment of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in the rat; Baumgartner JD et al.; The efficacy of imipenem alone or in association with gentamicin against Staphylococcus aureus experimental endocarditis was compared to the efficacy of cloxacillin alone or in association with gentamicin . Parenteral treatment was started 24 h after intravenous bacterial challenge of rats with catheter-induced aortic valve vegetations . The cloxacillin MIC and MBC for Staph . aureus were 0.125 and 32 mg/l and the imipenem MIC and MBC 0.008 and 8 mg/l, respectively . In-vitro killing curves showed a synergistic effect between cloxacillin and gentamicin, and an additive effect between imipenem and gentamicin . Only large doses of cloxacillin (400 mg/kg tid) (producing serum levels above those obtained after intravenous injection of 2 g in man) achieved results comparable to those of imipenem 80 mg/kg tid (producing serum levels similar to those obtained after an intravenous dose of 750 mg in man) in reducing the bacterial numbers in vegetations after 3 and 5 days of treatment . There was a significantly greater reduction of bacterial numbers in vegetations after treatment with the association of cloxacillin and gentamicin than with cloxacillin alone . In contrast, the addition of gentamicin to imipenem did not improve significantly the results of treatment with imipenem alone, but imipenem alone was as good as the combination cloxacillin and gentamicin after 5 days of treatment . We conclude that imipenem is a highly bactericidal drug in this animal model, worth considering for clinical trials in the treatment of Staph . aureus infections. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Dec, (12), 30 - 3 {Mechanisms of the bactericidal action of hydrogen peroxide}; Samoilenko II et al.; The comparative study of some aspects of the bactericidal action of H2O2 on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacterium subtilis wild-type cells and their mutants with lesions in the systems of the reparation of DNA has been carried out . Hydrogen peroxide has been shown to cause disturbances in the structure and permeability of the cell wall, the cytoplasmic membrane, as well as to induce ribosomal lesions and the ruptures of bacterial DNA . The activity of the systems responsible for the reparation of lesions in the cell genome plays an important role in the resistance of bacteria to H2O2. J Gen Microbiol, 1983 Dec, 129 ( Pt 12), 3603 - 10 Immunochemical studies of Staphylococcus aureus Oeding-Haukenes antigen a5: a phosphorus-containing polysaccharide; Ndulue AN et al.; Antigen a5 was isolated from strain 830 of Staphylococcus aureus by autolysis in phosphate buffer followed by alcohol precipitation . Purification was principally achieved by affinity chromatography on wheat germ agglutinin ultrogel and on anti-S . aureus teichoic acid immunosorbent . The a5 antigen was weakly immunogenic in rabbits . Chemical analysis showed that a5 is a teichoic acid composed of ribitol phosphate, N-acetylglucosamine and alanine . It has similar physico-chemical properties to the wall beta-N-acetylglucosamine ribitol teichoic acid of S . aureus but is serologically distinct. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1983 Dec, (12), 60 - 4 {Neutrophil phagocytic activity of the peripheral blood in experimental keratoconjunctivitis in a sensitized macroorganism}; Milovidova OV et al.; The study of the characteristics of the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils (the activity and intensity of phagocytosis, the index of its completeness) in the sensitized organism in experimental keratoconjunctivitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli has revealed a decrease in the phagocytic function of neutrophils . Still more pronounced suppression of the ingestive and digestive activity of leukocytes has been observed in cases of the combined action of bacterial allergens and benzylpenicillin potassium, which probably accounts for the ineffectiveness of the penicillin treatment of bacterial keratoconjunctivitis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1983 Dec, 80(23), 7109 - 12 Protease-sensitive regions in myosin subfragment 1; Applegate D et al.; Proteolytic digestions of myosin subfragment 1 (S-1) with elastase, subtilisin, papain, thermolysin, and Staphylococcus aureus protease reveal that the two trypsin-sensitive regions in S-1 have broad protease susceptibility . The cleavage of S-1 by these enzymes yields products that correspond within 1-2 kilodaltons (kDa) to the 25-, 50-, and 20-kDa fragments produced by trypsin . Papain and thermolysin cut preferentially at the 26-kDa/70-kDa junction, whereas elastase, subtilisin, and S . aureus protease cleave both the 26-kDa/70-kDa and 75-kDa/22-kDa junctions in S-1 . Binding of actin to S-1 decreases the rate of all proteolytic reactions in the 95-kDa heavy chain . The protection of the 26-kDa/70-kDa junction by actin is greatest against papain and thermolysin attack . The reaction times of elastase, subtilisin, and S . aureus protease with S-1 increase 2-fold in the presence of actin . However, in contrast to similar reactions with trypsin, they proceed at both junctions and lead to formation of the 50- and 22-kDa fragments . The cleavage of the 22-kDa/50-kDa junction by elastase increases the Km value for the actin-activated ATPase . The presence of the two protease-sensitive regions in S-1 is consistent with a three-domain structure of the myosin head and may have important implications to the mode of intersite communication in this protein. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {C}, 1983 Dec, 91(6), 355 - 9 Effect of temperature on polymorphonuclear leukocyte function; Johansen KS et al.; The effect of temperature on the function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) has been investigated in vitro . Increases in temperature from 37 degrees C to 40 degrees C progressively increased chemiluminescence (CL) responses by PMN after stimulation by Staphylococcus aureus, zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) while increases above 40 degrees C decreased these functions . Temperature increases from 37 degrees C to 40 degrees C also produced increased PMN bactericidal activity against S . aureus . In contrast, similar increases in temperature did not change superoxide production by PMN stimulated by PMA . Incubation of PMN at the various temperatures did not cause release of LDH indicating that damage to PMN was not the cause of reduced PMN chemiluminescence and bactericidal activity seen within the temperature range studied . The discrepancy between the influence of temperature on PMN chemiluminescence and bactericidal activity of PMN compared to superoxide anion production by PMN suggests that superoxide anion production may not be solely, or at least directly, responsible for killing of bacteria . Careful temperature control is needed when assaying PMN function . Febrile responses up to 40 degrees C may play a beneficial role in host defense. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1983 Dec, 91(6), 425 - 9 Population analysis in strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis . II . Cefuroxime and cefotaxime; Hansen BG; Population analyses of susceptibility to cefuroxime and cefotaxime in penicillin-susceptible, penicillin-resistant, and methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (S . aureus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S . epidermidis) were carried out . All strains were clinical isolates . Both antibiotics were shown to be more penicillinase-stable than cephalothin in studies of the penicillin-resistant strains of S . aureus, but less stable than methicillin . The studies of penicillin-resistant strains of S . epidermidis showed no differences in penicillinase-stability between cephalothin and the new cephalosporins . From the methicillin-resistant strains of S . aureus and S . epidermidis it was possible to select highly-resistant mutants against both antibiotics with a frequency of c . 10(-5) although MIC determinations had shown the strains to be susceptible. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1983 Dec, 80(24), 7538 - 41 Vitamin D metabolites change the phenotype of monoblastic U937 cells; Dodd RC et al.; U937 is a human-derived lymphoma cell line that has monoblastic properties and high-affinity receptors for 1 alpha,-dihydroxyvitamin D3 . Incubation of these cells with the vitamin D metabolite at 10 nM for 5 days produced marked stimulation in adherence and ingestion of Staphylococcus aureus (645% of control) and of C3b receptor (CR1) expression (292% of control) and a slight increase in hexose monophosphate shunt activity without changing cell growth rates or Fc fragment receptor expression . The changes in cellular association of S . aureus and the CR1 were detected as early as 48 hr of incubation and peaked between 3 and 5 days . Similar changes in the CR1 were induced by 25-hydroxy- and 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 at micromolar concentrations . Dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, and progesterone had no effect on CR1 expression . U937 cells incubated in the presence of vitamin D metabolites exhibited a change in their phenotype . These results suggest that vitamin D metabolites may contribute to monocyte/macrophage differentiation. Sem Hop, 1983 Dec 1, 59(44), 3087 - 8 {Selection of mutant rifampin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus during the therapeutic use of this antibiotic in combinations . 3 cases}; Dellamonica P et al.; Selection of rifampicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been described in vitro and in vivo when this compound is given as monotherapy or orally . That this occurrence may be prevented by combination-antibiotic therapy is generally accepted . We report three cases of serious staphylococcal infection treated by a synergic association of rifampicin with either an aminoglycoside or vancomycin . Therapy failed as a result of selection of the same rifampicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (serotype and lysotype) . These observations may be explained by insufficient diffusion or inactivation of the other antibiotic in the infection site. Am J Vet Res, 1983 Dec, 44(12), 2366 - 72 Suppression of neutrophil and lymphocyte function induced by a vaccinal strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus with and without the administration of ACTH; Roth JA et al.; Effects of a modified live vaccine (MLV) strain of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVD) on lymphocyte and neutrophil function were determined in cattle with and without increased plasma cortisol (hydrocortisone) concentrations . Cattle were given MLV-BVD vaccine IM and intranasally . Cattle given ACTH received 200 IU every 12 hours for 10 doses . The MLV-BVD virus when administered alone caused no apparent clinical signs or body temperature response . Of 4 MLV-BVD-treated calves that were also given ACTH, 2 developed increased body temperature and respiratory distress . The MLV-BVD virus caused a decrease in circulating lymphocytes and neutrophils, whereas administration of ACTH and MLV-BVD induced a neutrophilia and lymphopenia . The MLV-BVD virus and ACTH when administered separately or in combination caused a depression of lymphocyte blastogenesis in response to selected mitogens . Neutrophils were separated from the peripheral blood and their function was evaluated, using the following procedures: (i) random migration under agarose, (ii) ingestion of 125I-labeled Staphylococcus aureus, (iii) quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, (iv) iodination, and (v) antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) . The MLV-BVD virus produced a significant (P less than 0.05) suppression of neutrophil iodination and ADCC . Neutrophils from cattle given MLV-BVD virus and ACTH had enhanced random migration, enhanced S aureus ingestion, suppressed iodination, and suppressed ADCC activity. Virology, 1983 Dec, 131(2), 315 - 27 The feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA) is related to, but distinguishable from, FeLV-C gp70; Snyder HW Jr et al.; The feline oncornavirus-associated cell membrane antigen (FOCMA) on the surface of feline lymphosarcoma (LSA) cells is defined as the target(s) recognized in immunofluorescence (IFA) tests by antibody in sera of cats relatively resistant to development of FeLV (feline leukemia virus) LSA and FeSV (feline sarcoma virus) fibrosarcoma . The specificities of antibodies in cat FOCMA-typing sera and the nature of the LSA antigens recognized were investigated in the present study . FOCMA sera obtained from viremic cats were separable into at least two classes : those which contained antibodies against the envelope glycoprotein (gp70) of subgroup C FeLV and those which did not contain antibodies against any subgroup of FeLV . The first class of sera could be further subdivided into three groups: those whose FOCMA reactivity could be completely absorbed, partially absorbed, or not absorbed by FeLV-C antigens . The second class of sera could be further subdivided into two groups: those whose FOCMA reactivity could be partially absorbed and those whose activity could not be absorbed by FeLV-C . The results indicate that the FOCMA reactivity exhibited by some viremic cat sera can be partially, if not entirely, attributed to antibodies not crossreactive with FeLV virion antigens . A consistent property of all FOCMA sera in this study is the ability to bind to 70-kDa proteins on the surface of LSA cells . Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease partial digest maps of 70-kDa proteins purified from 12 primary feline LSAs (five FeLV positive and seven FeLV negative) all showed 18-, 14-, and 10-kDa fragments . V8 maps of FeLV-C gp70 showed similarly sized fragments while the maps of the RD114, FeLV-A, and FeLV-B gp70s were distinct . However, in a subgroup-specific radioimmunoassay for FeLV-C gp70-related antigens, the LSA 70-kDa proteins were found to be serologically related to, but distinct from, FeLV-C gp70 . The results on the antigenic variations among LSA 70-kDa proteins and the antibodies which bind them are entirely consistent with previous studies indicating heterogeneity among FOCMA determinants. Eur J Biochem, 1983 Dec 1, 137(1-2), 269 - 77 The primary structure of turkey muscle acylphosphatase; Camici G et al.; The complete primary structure of turkey muscle acylphosphatase has been determined . The sequence was derived from peptides obtained by digestion of the carboxymethylated protein with pepsin and thermolysin and by subdigestion of some of the cyanogen bromide fragments with trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus protease . Peptides were purified by preparative finger prints and/or preparative high-performance liquid chromatography . Sequencing of the various peptides was achieved by manual Edman degradation and by time-course analysis of amino acids released by carboxypeptidases . The amino-terminal blocking group (acetyl) was determined by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry . This sequence was compared with that of horse muscle enzyme determined previously. J Hosp Infect, 1983 Dec, 4(4), 331 - 7 Genetics of drug resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Australian hospitals; Townsend DE et al.; The drug-resistance determinants in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from three different hospitals in Eastern Australia have been examined . With one exception, all the isolates had chromosomal determinants for penicillinase and resistance to cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), phenyl mercuric acetate, methicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, lincomycin and low level streptomycin . The strain which was the exception differed in that it did not have chromosomal resistance to Cd and lincomycin . In addition, the strains often contained plasmids which belonged to one of three categories: a small cryptic plasmid of either c . 1.4 Mdal, c . 1.7 Mdal or c . 1.9 Mdal; a chloramphenicol resistance plasmid of c . 2.8 Mdal; and a gentamicin resistance plasmid within the range of c . 15.3 to c . 28.5 Mdal . The predominant gentamicin-resistant plasmid in isolates from two hospitals had a molecular weight of c . 18 Mdal, whereas the isolates from the third hospital had a plasmid of molecular weight c . 15.3 Mdal . The only other gentamicin resistance plasmids detected were associated with penicillinase determinants . In one isolate, this corresponded to a plasmid of c . 19.6 Mdal and in the other to a plasmid of c . 28.5 Mdal . These results indicate that MRSAs which are prevalent in Eastern Australian hospitals are substantially different in the location of their drug resistance determinants to earlier strains reported in the literature. Boll Ist Sieroter Milan, 1983 Nov 30, 62(5), 406 - 11 Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and gentamicin as a cause of outbreak of epidemic enteritis in a hospital; Scopetti F et al.; During the month of February 1982 in an orthopedic department (37 patients admitted), episodes of diarrhoea occurred in 9 patients, one of these resulting in the death of one patient . From the stool cultures of the patients methicillin/gentamicin resistant S . aureus (MRGRSA) was isolated . The clinical, microbiological and epidemiological analysis demonstrated the staphylococcal origin of the enterocolitis . The statistical analysis brought to light a significant increase in the acquisition of the infection in relation to age, surgical intervention, catheter, ulcers and antibiotic therapy . The medical staff, colonized at hand and nose by the epidemic strain contributed probably to the transmission from person to person . Antimicrobial therapy with oral vancomycin of colonized patients and application of topical ointment (betadine) on personnel eliminated colonization with methicillin/gentamicin resistant S . aureus. Nucleic Acids Res, 1983 Nov 25, 11(22), 7679 - 93 Nucleotide sequence of the staphylokinase gene from Staphylococcus aureus; Sako T et al.; We have determined the entire nucleotide sequence of a 1,4-kilobase segment containing the staphylokinase gene, sak, molecularly cloned from the bacteriophage S phi-C genome of Staphylococcus aureus . The probable coding region is 489 base pairs long and these base pairs are translated into a polypeptide of 163 amino acid residues (Mr = 18,490) with a presumed signal sequence of 27 amino acid residues at the NH2-terminal end . In regions adjacent to the sak structural gene a possible promoter sequence and three possible terminator sequences for transcription were found about 100 base pairs upstream from the initiation codon and about 300, 400, and 500 base pairs downstream from the termination codon, respectively; they are active in an in vitro transcription system using Escherichia coli RNA polymerase . The immunoactive 18,500-dalton and 15,500-dalton proteins corresponding to a precursor form before secretion and a mature form after secretion of the sak gene products, respectively, were identified by the E . coli maxicell system. J Biol Chem, 1983 Nov 10, 258(21), 13120 - 6 Pre-steady state beta-lactamase kinetics . The trapping of a covalent intermediate and the interpretation of pH rate profiles; Anderson EG et al.; The hydrolysis of sodium 3-dansylamidomethyl-7-beta (thienyl-2')-acetamido-ceph-3-em-4-oate, catalyzed by the beta-lactamase of Staphylococcus aureus PC1, has previously been shown (Anderson, E . G., and Pratt, R . F . (1981) J . Biol . Chem . 256, 11401-11404) to follow the reaction scheme Formula; see text . where ES' is an enzyme-substrate complex in which the substrate has undergone nucleophilic attack at the beta-lactam carbonyl group and P is product . Acid quenching of the reaction mixture has now been shown to yield, in amounts predicted by the rate constants, a covalent enzyme-substrate complex . The liability of this complex in alkaline solution is suggestive of that of an ester . Together, all of these results prove that the turnover of this apparently normal substrate by a class A beta-lactamase involves an acyl-enzyme intermediate . In the case of another fluorescent substrate, dansylcephalexin, no intermediate analogous to ES' accumulated during catalysis; presumably here, acylation of the enzyme is rate-determining . The pH profiles (pH 4-9) of the pre-steady state rate constants for hydrolysis of the former substrate have also been determined . Binding (1/K8) is pH invariant except at low pH where it weakens, probably because of substrate protonation and/or a protein conformational change . The rate constants, k2, k-2, and k3, are pH invariant at low pH but decrease at higher pH in a way which can be described by ionization of an essential acid of pKa around 7.7 . This may be the same acid for each constant, being either an active participant at the active site, or a more distant acid which controls an essential conformational change. J Biol Chem, 1983 Nov 10, 258(21), 13262 - 7 Isolation and characterization of a 115,000-dalton matrix-associated glycoprotein from chick aorta; Bressan GM et al.; Chick aortas were extracted sequentially with phosphate-buffered saline, 6 M guanidine HCl, and 6 M guanidine HCl containing dithioerythritol . The proteins present in the guanidine HCl + dithioerythritol extract were separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and the fractions recovered were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis . Five major glycoprotein components with apparent Mr = 205,000, 195,000, 150,000, 135,000, and 115,000 (gp 115) were identified . gp 115 was further studied since it was the only noncollagenous protein based on amino acid analysis . The protein was purified to homogeneity by preparative electrophoresis . Its amino acid composition was characterized by a high content of glutamic acid and arginine and a relatively high content of leucine, glycine, and alanine . The concentration of gp 115 in the guanidine HCl + dithioerythritol extract was about 15-fold that in the guanidine and saline extracts . Overall, about 80% of the protein was solubilized with guanidine HCl + dithioerythritol, suggesting that most of it formed large aggregates stabilized by disulfide bonds in vivo . Immunofluorescence studies with specific antibodies showed that gp 115 formed an extracellular fibrillar network in the aorta wall . One-dimensional finger printing with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and immunological studies indicated that the protein was unrelated to fibronectin and laminin . The data led us to conclude that gp 115 is a novel extracellular component of chick aorta. Anal Biochem, 1983 Nov, 135(1), 221 - 9 Functional heterogeneity of monoclonal antibodies obtained using different screening assays; Mierendorf RC Jr et al.; Two alternate screening methods have enabled the detection of monoclonal antibodies with different specificities toward the lysosomal enzyme alpha-mannosidase of Dictyostelium discoideum . Spleen/myeloma hybrid cell cultures were screened for antibody production by separate assays: an indirect enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) based on the antibody binding to enzyme adsorbed on plastic, and a direct assay of the antibodies' ability to precipitate enzyme activity with fixed Staphylococcus aureus cells (Pansorbin) . Fourteen stable antibody-producing cell lines resulted from a single fusion; these fell into three distinct classes based on their screening characteristics . A group of eight were positive in both assays, and these immunoprecipitated a 140,000 Mr precursor form of alpha-mannosidase in addition to the 58,000 and 60,000 Mr mature enzyme subunits from {35S}methionine-labeled total secreted protein preparations . Two of the antibodies were positive only in the immunoprecipitation assay; these failed to precipitate the 140,000 Mr precursor . The third class consisted of four antibodies that were positive only in the ELISA method . These exclusively recognized an altered conformation of the enzyme (precursor and mature forms) that was immobilized either on plastic or on nitrocellulose paper . In addition, only members of this class were able to bind to immobilized fragments of protease-treated enzyme . The implications of these findings for the general design of monoclonal antibody screenings and for the alternative structures of this enzyme are discussed. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr), 1983 Nov-Dec, 11(6), 457 - 64 Intrinsic polymorphonuclear chemotactic defect in a boy with chronic granulomatous disease; de la Cruz R et al.; A six year old boy is described who suffured from recurrent and protracted infections of multiple organs by various catalase positive bacteria . A severe episode of osteomyelitis involving several bones was caused by Aspergillus fumigatus . Studies of his PMNs revealed impaired metabolic as well as microbicidal functions characteristic of CGD . Chemiluminescence in response to both opsonized zymosan and sodium fluoride was markedly depressed, while control PMNs showed significant responses . Control leukocytes suspended in patient's serum likewise evoked normal chemiluminescence . Microbicidal activity against staphylococcus aureus 502A was also decreased using patient's PMNs, whereas control PMNs were able to reduce the number of colony forming bacteria by 2 logs in 120 minutes . Viable intracellular bacteria after lysis of extracellular bacteria formed 3 X 10(7) colonies from patient's PMNs and less than 2 X 10(5) colonies from the control . NBT dye reduction studies of the family members suggested an x-linked recessive mode of inheritance . The extraordinary nature of this case lies in the discovery of an associated intrinsic cellular defect of chemotaxis involving his polymorphonuclear leukocytes . Specifically, the Rebuck skin window showed predominantly mononuclear cells from 4 up to 24 hours . In addition, the patient's PMNs failed to migrate in response to cultured filtrates of E . coli as the chemoattractant . This abnormality persisted in the presence of autologous plasma or serum as well as in control plasma or serum . Control PMNs showed normal chemotaxis in the presence of the patient's plasma or serum . The extent to which the rare coexistence of these two phenomena influence the clinical disease is not known and remains to be elucidated. Cytometry, 1983 Nov, 4(3), 254 - 62 Simultaneous measurement of phagocytosis and phagosomal pH by flow cytometry: role of polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocyte granules in phagosome acidification; Bassoe CF et al.; Human polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (PMNLs) phagocytosed fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled Staphylococcus aureus . Free bacteria, phagocytes, and nonphagocytes were discriminated and quantified by flow cytometry (FCM) . The relative fluorescence of phagocyte-associated and free bacteria (Nf:N) was calculated by dividing the mean phagocyte fluorescence by that of the free bacteria and the number of phagocytosed bacteria . Bactericidal capacity and chemiluminescence were measured by standard methods . The red-to-green fluorescence ratio of acridine orange-stained PMNLs (R/G) was measured by FCM . Degradation of bacteria was monitored by the reduction in FITC and ethidiumbromide fluorescence of bacteria liberated from the phagocytes . Bacterial FITC fluorescence was pH dependent . Nf:N was 0.5 to 0.7 . Using a standard curve for the interrelationship between bacterial fluorescence and pH, phagosomal pH was 5.0-5.5 . Phagocytes, kept at 4 degrees C for 24 h had Nf:N approximately 1, did not degrade bacteria, but killed them and emitted chemiluminescence . NH4Cl increased phagocyte fluorescence by 27% and decreased R/G by 50% . Cyanide and azide did not affect Nf:N . Nf:N of phagocytes from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease was 32% below, and R/G was 32% higher than the controls . Acidification of the phagosomes seems to be related to discharge of PMNL granule contents and independent of the respiratory burst. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Nov, 24(5), 823 - 6 Subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics alter fibronectin binding to Staphylococcus aureus; Proctor RA et al.; Fibronectin, a high-molecular-weight glycoprotein, is found in plasma and on mammalian cell surfaces . Recent reports have suggested that bacterial-fibronectin interactions play a role in bacterial attachment to host cells . Subinhibitory concentrations of lincosamines, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol decreased fibronectin binding to Staphylococcus aureus, whereas beta-lactam antibiotics enhanced this interaction. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1983 Nov, 24(5), 653 - 7 Value of serum tests in combined drug therapy of endocarditis; Drake TA et al.; Two in vitro tests, the serum killing level and the serum bactericidal rate assays, were evaluated for correlation with therapeutic efficacy in the rabbit model of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis . Animals were treated with nafcillin alone and in combination with tobramycin or gentamicin . Both were effective therapies, but rapidity of vegetation sterilization by the single and combined regimens was shown by the serum bactericidal rate assay but not the serum killing level assay . As a direct measure of bactericidal activity in serum during therapy, the serum bactericidal rate assay may be a clinically useful supplemental test for providing information that the serum killing level assay cannot. Plasmid, 1983 Nov, 10(3), 293 - 5 The "erythromycin-resistance" methylated sequence of Staphylococcus aureus ribosomal RNA; Ranzini AC et al.; We have determined the sequence of an oligonucleotide from the large ribosomal subunit RNA of Staphylococcus aureus whose methylation renders the organism resistant to erythromycin and other antibiotics (the "MLS" phenotype) . Analysis of RNase A digests of {3H}methyl-, 32P-labeled RNA yielded the sequence GG . m6(2)A . AAGACp, where m6(2)A is an N6-dimethylated adenosine residue that in sensitive cells is unmethylated . Comparison with homologous sequences recently reported for Saccharomyces cerevesiae mitochondria indicates that an A to G mutation in this latter system mimics dimethylation in St . aureus with regard to functional consequences. Plasmid, 1983 Nov, 10(3), 251 - 9 Complete nucleotide sequence of pT181, a tetracycline-resistance plasmid from Staphylococcus aureus; Khan SA et al.; pT181 is a naturally occurring Staphylococcus aureus plasmid, encoding inducible resistance to tetracycline . The plasmid has a copy number of about 20 per cell, and belongs to the incompatibility group inc3 . The complete nucleotide sequence of pT181 has been determined and consists of 4437 bp . The nucleotide sequence contains 69.8% A-T and 30.2% G-C pairs . pT181 was found to contain four open reading frames capable of coding for polypeptides containing more than 50 amino acids . All the putative polypeptides are coded by one strand . The molecular weights of the four putative polypeptides are (in daltons): A, 37,500; B, 35,000; C, 23,000, and D, 18,000 . Polypeptide A corresponds to the repC protein, earlier shown to be specifically required for pT181 replication . Polypeptide B (and possibly polypeptide D) are involved in tetracycline resistance . No role has yet been established for polypeptide C; deletion of the coding sequence for the C polypeptide has no detectable effect on any property of the pT181 plasmid . A region consisting of about 1200 bp contains information for the replication and copy number control of this plasmid . The sequencing results are discussed in relation to the replication properties and tetracycline resistance associated with the pT181 plasmid. Transfusion, 1983 Nov-Dec, 23(6), 508 - 11 Prolonged cryopreservation of human granulocytes; Richman CM; Normal human granulocytes prepared by dextran sedimentation were cryopreserved in 10 percent dimethyl sulfoxide and 25 percent autologous plasma using controlled-rate freezing at -1 degrees C per minute . Twenty-four samples were stored from 0 to 8 months in the vapor or liquid phase of liquid nitrogen . The mean cell recovery was 58 +/- 4 percent and the mean bactericidal activity using Staphylococcus aureus was 72 +/- 4 percent . Cells stored for approximately 5 months examined with transmission electron microscopy had intact cell membranes and granules although some nuclear changes were observed . No decline in cell recovery or bactericidal activity was observed with prolonged storage and there was no advantage of liquid over vapor phase . Samples stored for over 8 months showed a 73 percent cell recovery and a 77 percent bactericidal activity . Maintenance of granulocyte function after prolonged cryopreservation in these studies suggests the feasibility of cryopreserved granulocyte transfusion therapy. J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 18(5), 1055 - 60 Serum antibodies to enterotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus with special reference to enterotoxin F and toxic shock syndrome; Notermans S et al.; The presence of antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins (enterotoxins A through F) in sera of healthy subjects (n = 567) and in sera of patients with toxic shock syndrome (n = 20) was determined . Furthermore, production of enterotoxins by Staphylococcus aureus isolated from humans was investigated . In 46, 86, 78, 41, 20, and 91% of the sera of healthy subjects, antibodies were found against enterotoxins A, B, C, D, E, and F, respectively . The high percentage of sera with antibodies against enterotoxin F correlated with the relatively high frequency of enterotoxin F-producing S . aureus isolated from humans (one-third of the isolates produced enterotoxin F) . In patients with toxic shock syndrome, antibodies against enterotoxin F were not present or were present only at very low levels . An increase of antibodies after onset of the disease was observed in two of eight patients investigated . From the results, it can be concluded that only those humans who show low levels of antibodies are susceptible to toxic shock syndrome. Zhonghua Min Guo Wei Sheng Wu Ji Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi, 1983 Nov, 16(4), 300 - 6 Production of penicillinases by certain penicillin-resistant bacteria . (C) factors affecting the activities of penicillinases produced by Staphylococcus aureus, S9; Elwan SH et al.; The activities of penicillinases produced by Staphylococcus aureus, S9 were found to be affected by pH, temperature, substrate concentration and type of penicillin derivative used as a substrate . The optimal activities of penicillinases produced by S . aureus, S9 were obtained at pH 6, at 37 degrees C, 0.5-10 mu/ml penicillin G concentration, and by increasing the enzyme concentration. Infection, 1983 Nov-Dec, 11(6), 322 - 5 Susceptibility and tolerance of beta-lactamase-producing, methicillin-sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus towards seven broad-spectrum penicillins; Wehrli R et al.; The activity of penicillin G, ampicillin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, azlocillin, mezlocillin and piperacillin against 102 beta-lactamase-producing, methicillin-sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus was determined by agar dilution (method A) and broth microdilution (method B) techniques . By NCCLS breakpoint criteria, 4% of the strains were "sensitive" to penicillin and ampicillin, and almost 100% were "sensitive" to the other drugs when method A was used . Results with method B were only significantly lower as far as the cumulative percentage of strains "sensitive" to azlocillin, mezlocillin and piperacillin was concerned (63-71%) . Bactericidal effects at "sensitive" levels were observed in 0-2% (penicillin, ampicillin), 31-35% (carbenicillin, ticarcillin) and 10-14% (azlocillin, mezlocillin, piperacillin) . While differences in MIC and MBC levels ranged from 0 to 8 dilution steps, tolerance (a greater than 32-fold difference) was seen in at least 9-22% of all strains (depending on the drug tested); experimental limitations, however, excluded a determination of tolerance in all our strains . In a semi-quantitative nitrocefin assay, "strong" beta-lactamase production was correlated to high MIC and/or MBC levels. J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 18(5), 1226 - 36 Interlaboratory variation of antibiograms of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains with conventional and commercial testing systems; Aldridge KE et al.; Laboratory-prepared (conventional) and commercial susceptibility testing systems were compared by using a group of methicillin-resistant (MR) and methicillin-susceptible (MS) strains of Staphylococcus aureus . A group of 25 MR and 15 MS S . aureus strains were coded and tested blindly by disk diffusion, agar dilution, broth microdilution, Sensititre, Micro-Media, Sceptor, API 3600S, MicroScan, Autobac I, and MS-2 systems . All systems were incubated at 35 degrees C and read with either a manual or automated reader at the recommended times . Where applicable, systems were also read at 48 h . Among the conventional assays, the broth and agar dilution methods were comparable, both detecting 88% of the MR strains at 24 h and detecting 92 and 96%, respectively, at 48 h . The disk diffusion method was less efficient, detecting only 36 and 72% at 24 and 48 h, respectively . Detection of cephalothin resistance was low for all systems at both time periods, with agar dilution and disk diffusion being the most and least efficient, respectively . Some variability was also seen with detection of resistance to clindamycin and gentamicin . Among the MS strains, variability among the conventional systems occurred with methicillin, gentamicin, ampicillin, and penicillin . Comparison of the commercial systems with manual readers with the broth microdilution method (reference method) showed that for MR strains, the Sceptor system gave identical results at 24 and 48 h . Sensititre detected 68 and 88% of the MR strains, whereas Micro-Media was least effective detecting 12 and 80% at 24 and 48 h, respectively . None of the commercial systems detected cephalothin resistance well, with only one strain being indicated by the Sceptor and Sensititre systems at 48 h . Slight differences were also seen among the systems with clindamycin and gentamicin . With regard to the MS strains, variability among the systems was seen with methicillin, penicillin, ampicillin, clindamycin, and gentamicin . Among commercial systems with automated readers, the API system detected a greater number of MR strains than did the reference method at 24 and 48 h, 96 and 100%, respectively . The MicroScan method was comparable to the reference method detecting 80 and 88% of the MR strains at both time periods, respectively . Both Autobac I and MS-2 were much less effective in detecting MR strains, noting only 32 and 16%, respectively, at the 3- to 6-h readings . Poor detection of cephalothin resistance among MR strains was evident in all systems . Variability also occurred among the systems with clindamycin, gentamicin, and ampicillin . A single strain of the MR group was reported to be vancomycin resistant by the API system . Among the MS group, the greatest variability was seen with methicillin . Less variability occurred with penicillin, ampicillin, gentamicin, and vancomycin. J Immunol, 1983 Nov, 131(5), 2279 - 81 Monocyte-independent stimulation of human B lymphocytes by phorbol myristate acetate; Bertoglio JH; Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induces a low level of proliferation in purified human B lymphocytes when added in nanomolar concentrations to the culture medium . Much higher levels of thymidine incorporation, however, are obtained in the presence of other B cell stimuli such as anti-IgM antibodies or Staphylococcus aureus Cowan Strain 1 (SAC) . The peak activity of PMA was observed on day 3 of B cell cultures containing either anti-IgM or SAC . The rigorous depletion of monocytes as well as add-back experiments indicate that the effect of PMA on anti-IgM-stimulated B cells is not mediated by the stimulation of accessory cells . Thus, PMA acts as a very potent mitogenic agent for human B cells under culture conditions that are commonly used to assess B cell growth factor activity. Clin Nucl Med, 1983 Nov, 8(11), 543 - 5 Gallium-67 citrate imaging in subcutaneous abscess; Sagar VV et al.; The value of Ga-67 images in identifying unsuspected locations of subcutaneous Staphylococcus aureus abscess is presented . Many of the lesions detected on the Ga-67 study were not clinically evident . In addition, follow-up studies show resolution of the changes after antibiotic therapy. Am J Clin Nutr, 1983 Nov, 38(5), 769 - 74 Selenium deficiency with total parenteral nutrition: reversal of biochemical and functional abnormalities by selenium supplementation: a case report; Baker SS et al.; A patient with multiple intestinal fistulae maintained on total parenteral nutrition for 18 months developed low serum selenium . Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was 6% of normal . Erythrocytes were not able to metabolize H2O2 as well as those from controls, although the hexose monophosphate shunt itself was intact . Granulocytes from this patient had 15% of the erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity found in normals . Patient granulocytes were not able to metabolize H2O2 as well as controls, although the hexose monophosphate shunt was intact . Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase-deficient granulocytes incubated with a respiratory burst stimulant, phorbol myristate acetate, had only 60% of the hexose monophosphate shunt activity present in control granulocytes . These abnormalities were reversed with selenium supplementation . Bacterial killing of Staphylococcus aureus 502A and cardiac function were not affected by selenium deficiency . Thus, selenium deficiency resulted in biochemical and functional abnormalities of erythrocytes and granulocytes . These abnormalities were reversed with selenium supplementation. Surgery, 1983 Nov, 94(5), 765 - 9 A passive system using rifampin to create an infection-resistant vascular prosthesis; Powell TW et al.; Vascular prosthesis infection is a devastating complication of vascular operations . The development of a simple process for imparting infection resistance to vascular prosthesis material would be invaluable . Rifampin was added to the blood that was used to preclot 8 mm Dacron vascular prostheses that were used to replace the infrarenal aorta in 10 mongrel dogs . Rings of the grafts were resected after blood had flowed through them for 0 minute, 15 minutes, 60 minutes, and 24 hours . The resected graft rings were placed on culture plates that had been inoculated heavily with Staphylococcus aureus . The rate of antibiotic dialysis from the graft was determined by comparison of the inhibition rings that were produced by the graft rings at each subsequent interval . At 60 minutes, inhibition was 94% of that at time 0 . Inhibition at 24 hours was 91%, which demonstrated no significant decrease from 60 minutes . Other antibiotics were screened by this technique, but none of them demonstrated inhibition at 24 hours . In a pilot study in which two dogs were given parenteral rifampin before and after operation and grafts were preclotted with blood that contained rifampin, it was suggested that there was a slight increase in inhibition at 24 hours (93%) . The data indicated that rifampin that is added to the blood that is used to preclot a porous Dacron prosthesis is so slowly dialyzed from the graft that inhibition remains at 24 hours . This passive system imparts potential resistance to the prosthesis. Rev Infect Dis, 1983 Nov-Dec, 5(6), 1003 - 11 Pyogenic psoas abscesses: noninvasive diagnostic techniques and review of the literature; Gordin F et al.; Psoas muscle abscesses are a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge . Until recently, surgery was mandated for diagnosis and drainage of these deep posterior lesions . Scanning techniques such as computerized tomography, radionuclide imaging, and ultrasonography now enable noninvasive visualization of abnormalities of the psoas muscle . Patients with abscesses in the greater psoas muscle fall into two distinct groups . Six of 12 patients reviewed had no apparent predisposing conditions . These patients presented with subacute symptoms of fever, pain, and disability . Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant organism isolated . Psoas infections developed in six other patients secondarily to infection or trauma elsewhere in the abdomen . Gram-negative and enteric organisms were the predominant bacteria isolated from this group . Surgical drainage in selected patients and appropriate antimicrobial therapy is necessary for treatment of these infections . Late complications such as osteomyelitis are not unusual. Clin Exp Immunol, 1983 Nov, 54(2), 580 - 6 Characterization of immunological depression in mice exposed to normobaric oxygen; Levacher-Place M et al.; Immunological cell functions were evaluated during 24, 48 and 96 h O2 exposure in C57Bl/6 mice . A normobaric O2 exposure resulted in depression of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) to oxazolone and Staphylococcus aureus antigens . This effect was proportional to the duration of O2 exposure . The antibody response of splenic cells was more rapidly (24 h O2 exposure) and markedly depressed using a T-dependent antigen (sheep red blood cell, SRBC) than with a T-independent antigen (trinitrophenylated lipopolysaccharide, TNP-LPS) . While mitogen-induced proliferative responses of spleen cells to Con A and PHA were inhibited after 72 h of O2 exposure, proliferative responses to LPS were inhibited after 96 h . A dissociated antigen and mitogen responses was observed after a short time of O2 exposure (48 h): the antigen specific responses were impaired with a more pronounced effect on T lymphocytes, whereas the DNA synthesis in response to mitogen remained normal. Am J Kidney Dis, 1983 Nov, 3(3), 205 - 8 Antibiotic activity in peritoneal dialysate; Rubin J et al.; There are few studies investigating whether antibiotics added to 30% glucose concentrate preserve their activity in the delivered dialysate . Using a Drake-Willock proportioning system, samples were obtained from the "to" patient path at ten minutes after starting and at four hours . Samples were tested for minimal inhibitory dilution (MID) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Antibiotics evaluated included amikacin, tobramycin, gentamicin, cephalothin, cefamandole, moxalactam, ampicillin, penicillin, carbenicillin, and vancomycin . In all antibiotics studied, similar MIDs were obtained at the ten-minute and four-hour samples . Compared to saline, dialysate significantly impaired the antibiotic activity (a difference of two or more tube dilutions) of all antimicrobial agents except amikacin and vancomycin. J Infect Dis, 1983 Nov, 148(5), 861 - 7 Resistance of Nocardia asteroides to oxygen-dependent killing by neutrophils; Filice GA; Nocardia asteroides resists killing by neutrophils despite the occurrence of the oxidative metabolic burst when the organism is phagocytosed . In a study of the apparent resistance of N asteroides to oxygen-dependent killing by neutrophils, this organism and (for comparison) Staphylococcus aureus were exposed to metabolites of the oxidative metabolic burst . N asteroides was more resistant than S aureus to H2O2, hydroxyl radical, and singlet oxygen and to the combination of H2O2, lactoperoxidase, and iodide . The rate of iodination of N asteroides by neutrophils or by the combination of lactoperoxidase and H2O2 was significantly lower than that of S aureus . Lysates of N asteroides had 2.8 times more catalase than lysates of S aureus, but levels of superoxide dismutase were similar in the two lysates . A reduction in the level of catalase activity of N asteroides with aminotriazole or azide resulted in a modest decrease in resistance to oxidative metabolites . Thus, the relative resistance of N asteroides to killing appeared to be due partially but not completely to its relatively high level of catalase activity. Plasmid, 1983 Nov, 10(3), 270 - 8 Construction and characterization of plasmid vectors for cloning in Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus carnosus; Keller G et al.; Several plasmid vectors for cloning in Staphylococcus aureus and S . carnosus have been constructed and characterized . The chimeric plasmids are composed of parts of the following parental plasmids: The chloramphenicol-resistance plasmid, pC194, the tetracycline-resistance plasmid, pMK148, and the erythromycin-resistance plasmid, pE12 . All the chimeric plasmids confer two selectable antibiotic-resistance markers on host cells . Insertional inactivation of the various antibiotic-resistance markers occurred at the BclI site of pE12, and the Sau96- or AvaII-site of pMK148; only a slight inactivation of the chloramphenicol-resistance marker occurred at the HaeIII-site of pC194 . The chimeric plasmids pCT20 and pCE10 are both stable in S . aureus and S . carnosus . In addition, the hybrid plasmids of pCT20 and pCE10, containing lambda-DNA fragments in various restriction sites between 0.4 and 1.2 kb, are stably maintained . The inserted lambda-DNA fragments appear unchanged. Plasmid, 1983 Nov, 10(3), 260 - 9 Inhibition of Tn554 transposition: deletion analysis; Murphy E; Tn554, a transposon in Staphylococcus aureus that specifies resistance to erythromycin and spectinomycin, exhibits a high preference for a single chromosomal insertion site . If this site is already occupied by a copy of Tn554, the transposition of a second element is inhibited 100- to 1000-fold . This report defines the locus of the inhibitory activity and presents both a functional and a restriction map of Tn554 . Fragments containing parts of Tn554 were cloned on an autonomously replicating plasmid . Those clones containing the "left" end of Tn554 strongly inhibited the transposition of an incoming, intact copy of Tn554 . Analysis of deleted derivatives of these clones defined a locus tnpI, which is both necessary and sufficient for transpositional inhibition . This locus consists of the terminal 89 bp of the "left" end of Tn554 . It is suggested that this terminal sequence acts to titrate a factor required for transposition. J Immunol, 1983 Nov, 131(5), 2273 - 8 Human-human B cell hybridomas from in vitro stimulated lymphocytes of patients with common variable immunodeficiency; Denis KA et al.; Human-human B cell hybridomas have been established from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) by fusion with an HGPRT-negative B lymphoblastoid cell line . IgM-secreting hybridomas were successfully obtained from CVI lymphocytes after stimulation for 5 days in vitro with a combination of PWM and Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I . Fusion of peripheral blood lymphocytes that were stimulated for 5 days in vitro with a single mitogen resulted in no viable hybrids from a total of 600 X 10(6) CVI lymphocytes . The combination of PWM and Cowan I did not induce appreciable Ig secretion from the CVI lymphocytes during the 5-day course, although it did so in normal lymphocytes . After the 5-day stimulation with this mitogen combination, however, a large percentage of the original number of peripheral blood cells were recovered, and these had a fusion frequency of approximately 1 to 2 per 10(6) with the B lymphoblastoid line . Fifteen cloned IgM-secreting hybridomas have been isolated from five different CVI patients . These hybridomas are tetraploid and have been stable in culture for 6 to 12 mo . All of the hybridoma lines that were examined contain a functionally rearranged IgM heavy chain gene from the B cell parent of the CVI patients . These human-human B cell hybridoma lines will enable a more thorough characterization of the B cell defects involved in CVI at the cellular and molecular levels. J Clin Invest, 1983 Nov, 72(5), 1639 - 49 Identification and structural characterization of two incompletely processed forms of the fourth component of human complement; Chan AC et al.; Immunoprecipitates of human C4 from EDTA-plasma were incubated with {14C}methylamine and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography . In addition to finding label in the alpha-chains of the secreted (C4s) and predominant plasma (C4p) forms of C4, two additional molecules with apparent molecular weights of approximately 168,000 (p168) and approximately 125,000 (p125) covalently incorporated methylamine, indicating the presence of an internal thioester bond . These two molecules were present at a concentration of approximately 5% of total plasma C4 and were not immunoprecipitated by antisera to C3 or alpha 2-macroglobulin . A human hepatoma-derived cell line (HepG2), in addition to synthesizing C4s and small quantities of the polypeptide precursor of C4 (pro-C4), was found to secrete p168 and p125 at concentrations of 14 +/- 4.8 and 21 +/- 9.2% (mean +/- SD), respectively, of total secreted C4 . These molecules were not found intracellularly . Both molecules were present on reduced, but not nonreduced, SDS-polyacrylamide gels . Chido (C4B) and Rodgers' (C4A) alloantisera precipitated the C4A and C4B variants of pro-C4, p168, p125, and C4s . Both tryptic and Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease peptide analyses showed homology between p168 and the beta- and alpha-chains and between p125 and the alpha- and gamma-chains . Partial NH2-terminal sequencing revealed that the beta-chain was NH2-terminal in p168 and that the alpha-chain was NH2-terminal in p125 . Taken together, these data indicate that p168 and p125 represent uncleaved beta-alpha- and alpha-gamma-fragments of pro-C4, respectively . Thus, in most individuals, plasma C4 consists of five structurally distinct molecules, the single polypeptide precursor (pro-C4), the three-subunit secreted (C4s) and predominant plasma (C4p) forms of C4, and two incompletely processed two-subunit molecules with uncleaved beta-alpha- (p168) or uncleaved alpha-gamma (p125)-subunits . In addition, all five molecules are observed for both C4A (Rodgers) and C4B (Chido) structural genes. J Med Microbiol, 1983 Nov, 16(4), 391 - 9 Correlation of penicillinase production with phage type and susceptibility to antibiotics and heavy metals in Staphylococcus aureus; Rosdahl VT et al.; One hundred and thirty-nine bacteraemia strains of Staphylococcus aureus, representing different combinations of phage type and susceptibility to antibiotics and to cadmium (Cd), arsenate (As) and mercury (Hg), were investigated for penicillinase production . The determination of enzyme activity in induced and uninduced conditions was performed by iodometric titration . The amount of penicillinase produced could be correlated with phage pattern . Epidemically occurring strains of the 94,96 and the 83A complexes produced the largest amount of penicillinase, whereas strains of the 52,52A,80,81 complex were weaker producers . Group-II and group-III strains produced the smallest amount . Susceptibility to antibiotics and to Cd, As and Hg could not be correlated with enzyme activity, but strains resistant to penicillin plus tetracyclines and strains resistant only to Cd did produce less enzyme than strains with other resistance patterns . The percentage mean values than strains with other resistance patterns . The percentage mean values of extracellularity of the enzyme was highest amongst strains of the 94,96 complex and of type 95 . Four strains had constitutive production, one being macro-constitutive and three micro-constitutive . All four strains represented rare combinations of the above properties but were susceptible to fusidic acid . The importance of penicillinase production by epidemically occurring strains is discussed. J Nucl Med, 1983 Nov, 24(11), 1019 - 22 Scintigraphic detection of osteomyelitis with Tc-99m MDP and Ga-67 citrate: concise communication; Graham GD et al.; Using both Tc-99m methylene diphosphonate and gallium-67 citrate, images of the lower extremities in New Zealand white rabbits were obtained on sequential days after inoculation of tibias with Staphylococcus aureus . Gallium-67 scintigraphy was positive earlier in the course of infection than Tc-99m MDP scintigraphy . In addition to 4-hr Ga-67 scintigrams, 24-hr and 48-hr scintigrams were obtained, contributing substantially to interpretation . However, 72-hr Ga-67 scintigrams contributed little additional information. Can J Surg, 1983 Nov, 26(6), 540 - 5 Experimental colonization of vascular grafts with Staphylococcus aureus; Goeau-Brissoniere O et al.; In an attempt to solve the problem of infection of arterial grafts, the authors designed an experimental model to reproduce, in vitro, hematogenous seeding of grafts with Staphylococcus aureus . The inoculum, containing an average of 10(7) viable bacterial cells per millilitre, was circulated through grafts of various types . Normal dog aortas were used as controls . They entrapped a mean of 8 bacteria/cm2 . The prosthetic grafts, previously placed in dogs as femorofemoral arteriovenous bypasses for 2 hours, trapped many more cells: expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, 23 cells/cm2; bovine heterograft, 607 cells/cm2 and Dacron velour, 2801 cells/cm2 . All cell counts were significantly (p less than 0.001) different from control values . Thoracoabdominal aortic bypass grafts implanted in dogs 2 months previously gave the following mean numbers of trapped bacteria: expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, 19 122 cells/cm2; bovine heterograft, 863 cells/cm2 and Dacron velour, 3500 cells/cm2 . Polytetrafluoroethylene had significantly (p less than 0.001) higher numbers of trapped bacteria than any other type of prosthesis . The bacteria were located mainly on irregular fibrin strands and on surface defects of the grafts . The addition of cefazolin during the seeding process at concentrations 10 to 25 times the minimal inhibitory concentration did not decrease the numbers of bacteria in any graft . Bacterial colonization of prosthetic arterial grafts depends on the graft material and on the duration of implantation, but this study provided no answer to the controversial question of how to prevent arterial graft infections with antimicrobial agents in patients who undergo vascular procedures that expose them to bacteremia. J Gen Virol, 1983 Nov, 64 (Pt 11), 2357 - 65 Location of an immunizing determinant within polypeptide VP1 of type O aphthovirus; Haresnape JM et al.; VP1 is the only structural polypeptide of aphthovirus able to stimulate the production of neutralizing antibody . The region of VP1 responsible for this activity was located by testing various proteolytic fragments of VP1 for their ability to compete for virus-specific antibodies in serum raised against the intact polypeptide . No antigenic activity could be detected in VP1 fragments isolated from trypsin-treated virus . Controlled digestion revealed that trypsin cleaved VP1 in four places in a preferred order, whereas chymotrypsin cut at a maximum of two sites . The initial cuts by the two proteases were made very close to each other, and in each case resulted in a greatly reduced affinity of the VP1 fragments for virus-specific antibodies in anti-VP1 serum . In contrast, aphthovirus was resistant to Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, and treatment of isolated VP1 with this protease generated a peptide of mol . wt . 8500 which competed efficiently with virus for antiserum to VP1 and for an absorbed antiviral serum specific for trypsin-sensitive sites . The results indicate that these antisera interact specifically with aphthovirus at a single antigenic determinant located on VP1 approximately two-thirds of the way along the polypeptide sequence. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1983 Nov, 36(11), 1549 - 60 MIC values do not predict the intraphagocytic killing of Staphylococcus aureus by naphthalenic ansamycins; Marshall VP et al.; Ten naphthalenic ansamycins were compared for their ability to kill extracellular or phagocytosed Staphylococcus aureus 502A . These included rifamycins, streptovaricins and tolypomycin Y . Although the compounds differed markedly in killing extracellular S . aureus, there was surprisingly little difference between them in assisting human leukocytes to kill phagocytosed S . aureus . In fact, when compared to rifampin, some ansamycins that were less effective in killing extracellular bacteria were more effective in killing phagocytosed bacteria . These data, together with an analysis of structure and activity, suggested that a specific transport mechanism might be involved . First considered was a vitamin K transport mechanism . Indeed warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist, blocked the ability of rifampin to kill phagocytosed S . aureus, as did the coumarins, novobiocin and coumarin-3-carboxylic acid . However, direct evidence for a vitamin K transport mechanism could not be obtained using vitamin K preparations . The fused phenolic, bicyclic system common to all of these ansamycins was tentatively considered to be the portion necessary for phagocyte penetration. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1983 Oct 28, 748(2), 205 - 12 Proteolysis of rat IgG subclasses by Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase; Rousseaux J et al.; Monoclonal IgG belonging to the four rat IgG subclasses (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgG2c) and some IgG subclasses from normal rat serum were subjected to enzymatic degradation with Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase . The results show that only one subclass, IgG2b, is significantly cleaved by the enzyme, with the release of two main products identified as F(ab)2 and Fc-like fragments . This unique susceptibility of the IgG2b subclass represents therefore an easy means of identification and also offers a simple procedure for a preparation of F(ab)2 fragments from monoclonal IgG2b antibodies. J Biol Chem, 1983 Oct 25, 258(20), 12728 - 32 Rapid purification and characterization of DNA topoisomerase I from cultured mouse mammary carcinoma FM3A cells; Ishii K et al.; We have previously shown that a DNA topoisomerase I from mouse mammary carcinoma cells is inhibited by heparin . Taking advantage of this enzyme-heparin interaction, we developed a rapid and efficient method of purification of this enzyme to near homogeneity by extraction of chromatin with 0.15 M phosphate buffer followed by two-step column chromatography on heparin-Sepharose and phenyl-Sepharose . Electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels revealed that the final preparation is composed of two polypeptides with apparent Mr approximately 98,000 (p98) and 102,000 (p102), p98 comprising 70% and p102 30% . Extraction and renaturation of the polypeptides from the gel shows that both p98 and p102 seem to possess topoisomerase activity . Partial proteolytic digestion of p98 and p102 with Staphylococcus aureus V8 and chymotrypsin yielded a series of identical peptides, indicating that the two polypeptides are structurally related . The enzyme sedimented through sucrose density gradient with s20,w of 4.0 S, and thus is monomeric in solution. J Biol Chem, 1983 Oct 25, 258(20), 12702 - 6 Site of action of a ribosomal RNA methylase responsible for resistance to erythromycin and other antibiotics; Skinner R et al.; The enzyme which confers resistance to erythromycin in the producing organism Streptomyces erythraeus dimethylates a single adenine residue in Bacillus stearothermophilus 23 S rRNA . This corresponds to residue Ade 2058 in Escherichia coli 23 S RNA . The methylase responsible for resistance to macrolides, lincomycin, and streptogramin B-related antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus also acts at this site. Eur J Biochem, 1983 Oct 17, 136(1), 89 - 99 Covalent structure of chicken pepsinogen; Baudys M et al.; Chicken pepsinogen is a glycoprotein consisting of a single polypeptide chain and containing the following 367 amino acid residues: Asp23, Asn16, Thr26, Ser41, Glu14, Gln11, Pro18, Gly31, Ala17, Cys7, Val25, Met9, Ile23, Leu28, Tyr22, Phe20, His8, Lys17, Arg7, Trp4 . The Mr-value of the protein is 42 074 . This value includes the carbohydrate moiety of the protein, i.e . Man3, (GlcNAc)7, (-SO3H)5 . The primary fragmentation of the molecule was effected by limited trypsinolysis at arginine residues after preceding modification of the lysines with citraconic anhydride . All eight peptides expected in theory were obtained and their size, amino acid composition, and N-terminal amino acid sequence were characterized . To elucidate the amino acid sequence of these large fragments the latter were subjected to secondary cleavage by CNBr, trypsin (after removal of the protecting groups from the lysines), the proteinase from Staphylococcus aureus V8 strain, alpha-chymotrypsin, hydroxylamine, or dilute acid; the resulting peptides were isolated by gel permeation and ion-exchange chromatography and by the fingerprint techniques . Overlaps at sites of the arginine residues were obtained in an earlier study {Baudys, M . & Kostka, V . (1982) Collect . Czech . Chem . Commun . 47, 2814-2832} . Chicken pepsinogen shows the highest degree of homology with the primary structures of pepsinogens A . The internal homologies are apparent in the neighborhood of the two active aspartic acid residues . We have assigned tentatively chicken pepsinogen to the group of pepsinogens A (EC 3.4.23.1); this assignment is a result both of our sequence studies and of an investigation of the kinetic characteristics of the enzyme. Eur J Biochem, 1983 Oct 17, 136(1), 101 - 6 Purification, subunit structure and immunological comparison of fructose-bisphosphate aldolases from spinach and corn leaves; Kruger I et al.; The cytosol and chloroplast fructose-bisphosphate aldolases from spinach leaves were separated by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, and were purified by subsequent affinity chromatography on phosphocellulose to apparent homogeneity as judged from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate . The two aldolases had specific activities of 7.2 and 7.8 units mg protein-1 . Molecular weight determinations by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate gels and by sedimentation velocity centrifugation in sucrose gradients showed that the aldolases contained four subunits of Mr 38 000 and 35 000, respectively . Antibodies against the cytosol and chloroplast aldolase from spinach leaves were raised in a guinea pig and in a rabbit, respectively . In the Ouchterlony double-diffusion test, the two aldolases did not cross-react . A small degree of cross-reaction was observed by a test in which immune complexes were adsorbed to a solid-phase support (Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I cells) and nonbound enzyme activity was determined after centrifugation . These results imply major structural differences between the two spinach leaf aldolases . Only one major aldolase could be resolved on DEAE-cellulose from corn leaves . The aldolase was purified and had a specific activity of 6.4 units X mg protein-1 . The corn leaf aldolase cross-reacted with the antiserum raised against the chloroplast enzyme from spinach leaves, but not with the other antiserum . Thus, the corn leaf aldolase could be identified as a chloroplast enzyme . Since aldolase activity is mostly restricted to the bundle sheath cells of corn leaf, it was concluded that it is compartmentalized in the chloroplasts of these cells but not in chloroplasts of the mesophyll cells. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1983 Oct 15, 226(2), 643 - 56 Amino acid sequence of bovine white matter proteolipid; Lees MB et al.; The sequence of the bovine white matter proteolipid has been studied by a combination of proteolytic digestion and chemical cleavage at tryptophan residues . Alignment of peptides obtained by digestion with trypsin, chymotrypsin, clostripain, and Staphylococcus aureus protease gave the sequence of 52 residues at the amino terminus, 96 residues at the carboxyl terminus, and several additional segments . Peptides obtained by treatment of the protein with 2-(2-nitrophenylsulfenyl)-3-methyl-3'-bromoindolenine confirmed the alignment and extended the sequence . This information, combined with that of other investigators, permits us to propose the primary structure for the entire protein . On the basis of the sequence determination, the molecular weight of the proteolipid protein is 29,869. J Immunol Methods, 1983 Oct 14, 63(2), 145 - 57 Radioimmunoassays for protein A of Staphylococcus aureus; Langone JJ et al.; Radioimmunoassays have been developed that can detect nanogram amounts of protein A (SpA), a product generated by Staphylococcus aureus that binds selectively to the Fc region of IgG from most mammalian species . Competition assays for fluid phase SpA utilize antibodies produced in chickens, 125I-labeled SpA as the tracer molecule, and either F(ab')2 fragments of rabbit IgG anti-chicken IgG or 40% ammonium sulfate as the precipitating agent to separate antigen-antibody complexes from free antigen . The double antibody assay could be carried out in serum from species that form only soluble complexes with SpA (e.g., rabbit), that react poorly with SpA (e.g., rat), or under appropriate conditions in serum from species (e.g., dog) that show high reactivity with SpA and form precipitating complexes . Chicken antibodies prepared by affinity chromatography on SpA-Sepharose and labeled with 125I were used in a direct binding assay for SpA present either on the cell wall of Cowan strain I or Wood 46 bacteria, in insoluble complexes prepared from SpA and whole serum or purified IgG, or in Clq binding complexes that were formed by passage of serum from normal or tumor bearing humans or dogs over SpA-collodion charcoal . Since both types of assays could detect SpA even in the presence of serum or IgG, they offer advantages over other techniques in which the SpA-Fc interaction may interfere. Brain Res, 1983 Oct 3, 276(1), 127 - 39 Specificity of antisera prepared against pure bovine MAO-B; Pintar JE et al.; Antisera have been prepared against purified bovine MAO-B that appear to react selectively with MAO-B and not MAO-A, Rabbit and mouse antisera indirectly immune precipitated {125I}bovine MAO-B using inactivated Staphylococcus aureus cells, and binding of antibodies to bovine and rat MAO-B did not inhibit enzyme activity . Two continuous rat cell lines, hepatoma line MH1C1 and glioma line C6, were used to elucidate the specificity of the antisera . MH1C1 cells, which express both MAO-A and MAO-B, showed immune-specific staining with rabbit antiserum, and staining was blocked with pure MAO-B . Further, MAO-B activity and {3H}pargyline-labeled MAO molecules could be immune precipitated from solubilized mitochondrial preparations of MH1C1 cells; and immune fixation of mitochondrial proteins following SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed staining of the MAO-B, but not of the MAO-A, flavin-containing subunit . In contrast, no immune-specific immunocytochemical staining was observed in C6 cells, which have only MAO-A activity; no MAO-A activity or {3H}pargyline-labeled MAO could be immune precipitated from solubilized mitochondrial preparations of these cells, and no stained bands were observed for mitochondrial proteins resolved by SDS-PAGE and processed for immune fixation . Further support for the selectivity of this antiserum for MAO-B comes from immunocytochemical staining of rat tissues which express varying amounts of MAO-A and MAO-B activities . Hypothalamus and liver, with high levels of MAO-A and MAO-B activities showed a large number of immunoreactive cells, whereas spleen, heart and superior cervical ganglia, with high MAO-A and low MAO-B activities showed only a few or no stained cells . Catecholamine neurons in the substantia nigra, thought to contain MAO-A, did not show immune-specific staining . Skeletal muscle cells with low MAO-A and MAO-B activities did not stain . These studies provide additional evidence that MAO-A and MAO-B are distinct molecules, differentially expressed in different cell types. Pediatrics, 1983 Oct, 72(4), 476 - 80 Epidural abscess and vertebral osteomyelitis following serial lumbar punctures; Bergman I et al.; Lumbar epidural abscess and vertebral osteomyelitis were diagnosed in a 3-month-old infant, born prematurely, who had had repeated lumbar punctures for the treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus . Staphylococcus aureus was the causative organism . Successful treatment was achieved with 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics without surgical drainage . Infectious complications of lumbar punctures are rare, but may occur when multiple punctures are attempted in small premature infants whose subarachnoid space contains large amounts of blood . Infection can be introduced directly by a contaminated spinal needle, or trauma to the tissues with bleeding can create a favorable site for bacterial adherence and multiplication . Posthemorrhagic ventricular dilation often resolves spontaneously and serial lumbar punctures should be used to treat this condition only when CSF flow is easy to establish and maintain. J Virol, 1983 Oct, 48(1), 10 - 7 In vitro and in vivo studies of bovine parvovirus proteins; Lederman M et al.; Total cytoplasmic RNA from bovine parvovirus (BPV)-infected cells or BPV-specific RNA selected by hybridization to cloned BPV genomic sequences were translated in a message-dependent rabbit reticulocyte lysate . Immunoprecipitation, using immunoglobulin G from rabbits injected with purified BPV, resulted in the detection of {35S}methionine-labeled polypeptides with MrS of 80,000, 72,000, 62,000, and 60,000 . These in vitro translation products had the same mobility on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels as that of the four proteins found in purified virions . The three largest polypeptides had amino acid sequence homology, as judged by serological methods and partial proteolysis with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease . Additional noncapsid proteins with MrS of 25,000, 27,000, and 31,000 were also detected as translation products of these RNAs . All of the above species were immunoprecipitated by immunoglobulin G from a calf which was naturally infected with BPV . All four capsid proteins but only one of the lower-molecular-weight polypeptides were detected after the immunoprecipitation of BPV-infected cells . The results presented here indicate that the BPV genome codes for four capsid proteins and a noncapsid protein which may be structurally related to the capsid proteins. J Pathol, 1983 Oct, 141(2), 157 - 67 Acute haematogenous osteomyelitis: an experimental model; Emslie KR et al.; A simple and reproducible model of acute haematogenous staphylococcal osteomyelitis is described . Twenty-nine day-old chickens were inoculated intravenously with 10(4)-10(8) viable organisms Staphylococcus aureus per kg body weight and were killed 1-8 days after inoculation . Macroscopic septic foci could be detected within 24 hr of inoculation and were most commonly situated in the metaphyseal region of the proximal tibia and distal femur . Lesions in other organs were not observed . The production of osteomyelitis was dependent on the bacterial inoculum size . It was estimated that 5.5 X 10(5) viable organisms per kg body weight of chicken were required to produce osteomyelitis in 50 per cent of injected chickens . Chicken weights were monitored throughout the experiment . A close negative correlation existed between the logarithm of the bacterial inoculum size and the chicken growth rate in the first 24 hr following inoculation (r = -0.968, P less than 0.01) . The chicken growth rate was therefore used as an accurate predictor of osteomyelitis in individual chickens. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1983 Oct, 91(5), 351 - 6 Antibody response to alpha- and betahemolysin from Staphylococcus aureus in patients with staphylococcal infections and in normals; Christensson B et al.; One hundred and nineteen patients with S . aureus infections and 22 patients with non-S . aureus septicemia were investigated for anti-alpha hemolysin antibodies using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) . As compared to 16- healthy controls, patients with S . aureus endocarditis, septicemia, chronic osteomyelitis and recurrent furunculosis showed significantly higher antibody levels, while the non-S . aureus septicemia group showed normal levels . Corresponding results were obtained using the conventional anti-staphylolysin (ASTA) test . Only patients with recurrent furunculosis had significantly elevated anti-beta hemolysin antibody levels assessed by RIA, in comparison with healthy controls . The highest antibody levels were found in furunculosis patients infected with S . aureus strains which were high producers of beta hemolysin . The results indicate that furunculosis patients do not have a defective serological response against S . aureus beta hemolysin. Antibiotiki, 1983 Oct, 28(10), 767 - 71 {Microflora of the burned, its sensitivity to antibiotics and bacteriophages}; Panchenkov NR et al.; Pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus remain the most frequent causative agents of infection in patients with burns . With expansion of deep burns the frequency of gram-negative bacteria increased . The isolates were highly resistant to antibiotics . This required constant control of the sensitivity to antibiotics and bacteriophages. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Oct, 12 Suppl C, 85 - 95 Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on Staphylococcus aureus interactions with fibronectin; Proctor RA et al.; Bacterial adherence to host tissues relies on interactions between tissue macromolecules and bacterial surface molecules . One of the major predisposing factors to infection with Staphylococcus aureus is trauma to tissues . A common element in traumatized tissues is fibronectin . In previous studies, we have shown that fibronectin binds to Staph . aureus . In this paper, we have investigated the effects of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on fibronectin interactions with Staph . aureus . Exposure of Staph . aureus to 1/4 MIC of penicillin increases the number of binding sites and enhances adherence of Staph . aureus to a collagen-fibronectin matrix . Chloramphenicol, erythromycin, clindamycin, and U57,930E all decreased the number of binding sites . Also, U57,930E reduced Staph . aureus adherence to a collagen-fibronectin matrix . Taken together, these data suggest that penicillin may enhance Staph . aureus adherence to tissue fibronectin whereas U57,930E might reduce such binding. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1983 Oct, 12 Suppl C, 51 - 62 Interactions of Bacteroides fragilis and phagocytes: studies with whole organisms, purified capsular polysaccharide and clindamycin-treated bacteria; Wade BH et al.; Bacteroides fragilis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of anaerobic infections and is often found mixed with aerobic organisms . We explored the interactions of this organism with phagocytes in an attempt to discern additional information about its virulence factors . We confirm an earlier report that killing of aerobic organisms by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is decreased in the presence of high numbers of Bact . fragilis but this effect could also be demonstrated with Bact . distasonis or Staphylococcus aureus . Our data support the concept that this phenomenon may be due to competition for opsonins . Virulence of Bact . fragilis has been associated with a polysaccharide capsule . We were unable to demonstrate any deleterious effect of the purified capsular polysaccharide of Bact . fragilis on phagocytosis, killing, or chemotaxis by PMN . We were not able to demonstrate any effect of subinhibitory levels of clindamycin on the interactions of neutrophils and Bact . fragilis. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1983 Oct, 364(10), 1383 - 409 Hemocyanins in spiders, XIX . Complete amino-acid sequence of subunit d from Eurypelma californicum hemocyanin, and comparison to chain e; Schartau W et al.; The complete primary structure of subunit d of the hemocyanin from the tarantula Eurypelma californicum was determined by manual micro sequencing . Subunit d of Mr = 73000 is split about in the middle of the chain during limited trypsinolysis, only one single bond being attacked . The whole chain contains 14 methionine residues and after cyanogen bromide cleavage 15 peptides could be isolated by gel and ion exchange chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography . The cyanogen bromide peptides and the large (Mr = 34000 and 37000, respectively) fragments resulting from limited trypsinolysis, were further cleaved with trypsin, chymotrypsin, Staphylococcus aureus proteinase, formic acid, and Astacus fluviatilis proteinase, the latter being very useful in obtaining certain overlapping peptides . The total chain length is 627 residues . Carbohydrate side chains were not found . The sequence is discussed with respect to the gross physical properties of the subunit, to homologies with subunit e and the cleavage specifities of the enzymes employed. J Infect Dis . 1983 Oct;148(4):764. Effect of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin F on human neutrophil oxidative metabolism; Goetz MB et al.; Epidemiologic and animal challenge studies have suggested that SEF may play a critical role in toxic-shock syndrome {1} . However, the pathogenic mechanism of SEF activity is not known . One means by which this toxin could elicit the widespread organ dysfunction observed in toxic-shock syndrome would be by directly promoting PMN production of toxic oxygen species and the resultant secondary endothelial cell damage {2} . To evaluate this possibility, we assayed the effect of SEF on PMN oxidative metabolism . SEF at 0.01-100 ng/ml did not stimulate O2- release or O2 consumption by inactive PMNs . Similarly, incubation of PMNs with 10 ng of SEF/ml for 1 hr neither potentiated nor inhibited cellular O2 consumption stimulated by optimal (10 mg/ml) or suboptimal (0.1 mg/ml) concentrations of opsonized zymosan . Finally, SEF had no effect on O2- release by PMNs stimulated by PMA . PMN viability, as assessed by trypan blue exclusion, was unaffected by SEF . This study did not address the possibility that SEF might indirectly activate PMN oxidative metabolism by promoting leukocytic pyrogen production by monocytes and macrophages {3} . SEF neither directly activated PMN oxidative activity nor potentiated the cellular oxidative response to particulate or soluble stimuli . Consequently, direct stimulation of PMN-derived, O2- mediated damage to endothelial cells is not a tenable hypothesis to explain the mechanism of SEF toxicity. J Infect Dis . 1983 Oct;148(4):763. Impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on the incidence of nosocomial staphylococcal infections; Boyce JM et al.; MRSA strains have become increasingly prevalent in the United States and are now an important cause of nosocomial infections in many large, medical school-affiliated hospitals . In affected institutions, from a few percent to 50% of all hospital-acquired S aureus infections are caused by MRSA strains . It has been suggested that the overall incidence of nosocomial S aureus infections may not increase in hospitals where MRSA strains have become epidemic or endemic and that MRSA strains merely replace methicillin-susceptible strains as a cause of hospital-acquired infections . Several recent studies lend support to this theory . Thompson et al {1} reported that the overall incidence of nosocomial S aureus-associated bacteremias and postoperative wound infections in a university hospital did not increase during a period when MRSA strains caused a significantly greater proportion of such infections . Similarly, Linnemann et al {2} found that the overall incidence of nosocomial S aureus-associated bacteremias did not change during a four-year period when the incidence of MRSA-associated bacteremias increased appreciably . At the University of Mississippi Medical Center, MRSA strains have been recovered from patients with increased frequency since an outbreak of MRSA infections occurred in the burn unit in June 1979 {3} . Continuing surveillance has revealed that the incidence of nosocomial MRSA infections was significantly higher in 1980-1982 than during 1979 (P = 0.002 by Mann-Whitney U test) . MRSA strains accounted for 11% of nosocomial S aureus infections in 1979, 38% in 1980, 50% in 1981, 36% in 1982, and 32% in early 1983.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Infect Dis, 1983 Oct, 148(4), 692 - 8 Prevalence of serum antibody to staphylococcal enterotoxin F among Wisconsin residents: implications for toxic-shock syndrome; Vergeront JM et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin F (SEF) has previously been shown to be a marker for toxic-shock syndrome (TSS)-associated strains of Staphylococcus aureus, whereas the serologic absence of antibody to SEF (anti-SEF) has been shown to be a marker for susceptibility of persons to TSS . In this study, anti-SEF was measured by radioimmunoassay in 689 banked sera obtained from Wisconsin residents during 1960, 1970, and 1980 . The prevalence of anti-SEF as estimated by logistic regression analysis was 47%, 58%, 70%, 88%, 96%, and 99% at ages one, five, 10, 20, 30, and 50 years, respectively . Evidence for the transplacental transfer of anti-SEF is also presented . Despite the reported increased incidence of TSS occurring during the past five years, with a preponderance of cases occurring among women, no significant differences in the prevalence of anti-SEF were noted between sexes or longitudinally between the years 1960, 1970, and 1980 . These data enhance our understanding of the epidemiology of TSS and further identify the population that may be susceptible to TSS. Br J Urol, 1983 Oct, 55(5), 564 - 7 Wound infection following vasectomy; Randall PE et al.; PIP: 94 patients undergoing vasectomy as day cases were studied prospectively to assess the true wound infection rate for vasectomy in the Hope Hospital in Salford Manchester, England, to assess the subsequent morbidity, and to elucidate any factors that may be responsible for infection . The pilot study had already indicated an unacceptably high infection rate and so it was decided to investigate the value of a preoperative hibiscrub shower in reducing the size of the problem . All patients had nasal, scrotal, and perineal swabs taken, the swabs being taken by rolling the swab several times against the area to be sampled . The patients were then randomly assigned to 3 groups . Group 1 consisted of 32 patients undergoing vasectomy alone with no preoperative shower; Group 2, 32 patients undergoing a single preoperative hibiscrub shower; and group 3, 30 patients undergoing a single preoperative shower with ordinary soap . All patients were assessed 7 days postoperatively for wound infection and hematoma formation . The patients also were questioned as to time off work . An infected wound was considered to be any wound that was open and discharging either purulent or serous fluid . In the context of vasectomy an erythematous wound was not considered to be infected, this being part of the inflammatory reaction caused by the catgut skin closure . If the wound was infected a swab was taken . Of the 94 patients, 83 returned postoperatively . The 10 who were contacted at home reported no problems and only 1 patient was lost to follow-up . There were 31 infections among the 94 patients, an overall infection rate of 32.9% . 4 infections were severe and 3 of these had an associated epididymoorchitis . 21 patients (22%) developed hematomas under the wound . None of these was more than 1.5 cm in diameter . 9 of the infected patients had time off work because of the infection . 3 of these were severe infections but 6 were mild . 9 of the noninfected patients also had time off work, the reasons being given being swelling (4) and pain (5) . Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 60% of the infections and in only 1 case was it part of a mixed growth . All of the other infections were mixed . No perineal carriers of Staph . aureus were encountered but 15 patients (16%) were found to be nasal carriers of this organism . Phage typing revealed that only 3 of the staphylococcal wound infections were due to the same organisms as found on the nasal swab . Of the Staph . aureus wound infections, 1 group of 3 cases and a separate group of 4 cases revealed the same phage types . The most common organisms found on the scrotum and perineum preoperatively were Staphylococcus epidermidis and diptheroids . A soap shower exerted no significant effect on the number of organisms . Radiat Res, 1983 Oct, 96(1), 41 - 50 Radiosensitization of Staphylococcus aureus by secobarbital sodium and other barbiturates; Sade N et al.; The barbiturate hypnotic, secobarbital sodium, at millimolar concentrations, sensitizes Staphylococcus aureus in anoxic buffer-saline suspension (pH 7.0) to the lethal effects of gamma rays . The maximal response represents 50% of that for oxygenated suspensions without additive . Secobarbital sodium operates within the oxygen effect . It must be present at the time of irradiation for modification of radiation response . This, coupled with its testing in the presence of other additives, points to its involvement in an intracellular reaction with a radiation-induced short-lived chemical species, probably the electron . Preliminary tests show that pentobarbital sodium also operates as an efficient hypoxic radiosensitizer . Lack of sensitization by phenobarbital sodium is attributed to its low lipid solubility. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1983 Oct, 364(10), 1347 - 56 {The primary structure of the alpha-amylase inhibitor Hoe 467A from Streptomyces tendae 4158 . A new class of inhibitors}; Aschauer H et al.; The native or modified alpha-amylase inhibitor Hoe 467A - isolated from the culture medium of Streptomyces tendae 4158 - and overlapping peptides were degraded by the automatic Edman technique . The oxidized or aminoethylated or oxidized and maleoylated inhibitor was digested with trypsin and the native inhibitor with pepsin . Further digestion with Staphylococcus aureus proteinase was also carried out . After peptic digestion two cystin peptides were isolated, which allowed the establishment of the disulfide bonds . The alpha-amylase inhibitor is a polypeptid consisting of 74 amino-acid residues with a molecular mass of 7958 Da . The inhibitor is composed of all naturally occurring amino acids except methionine and phenylalanine and shows no sequence homology to known inhibitors . The clinical and pharmacological importance in respect to the inhibitors ability for inactivation of human salivary and pancreatic alpha-amylase is discussed . Especially the proteinase resistance of the inhibitor enables a clinical application in human (e.g . Diabetes mellitus) per os. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1983 Oct, 36(10), 1380 - 6 Release of lipoteichoic acid from Staphylococcus aureus by treatment with cefmetazole and other beta-lactam antibiotics; Utsui Y et al.; The effect of cefmetazole on the growth together with the release of cellular lipoteichoic acid from cefazolin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus was compared with that of cefazolin, cefotiam, cefoxitin and cefuroxime . Bacteriolytic actions were measured by turbidity and bactericidal actions were followed by viable cell count . Release of cellular lipoteichoic acid was measured by the radioactivity in the supernatant of the cultures . Cefmetazole exerted more potent effects on the bacterial growth and induced more marked release of cellular lipoteichoic acid from resistant strains as compared with other beta-lactams. Microbiologica, 1983 Oct, 6(4), 277 - 91 Biochemical and physical properties of the endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidases from Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus simulans, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus; Valisena S et al.; Biochemical and physical properties of the pure bacteriolytic enzymes excreted by three different Staphylococcus species (S . aureus, S . simulans, and S . saprophyticus) were investigated . Although the three enzymes have previously been shown to share the same specificity of action (endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity), their biochemical features clearly indicated that they were three different enzymes, confirming what had previously been suggested by the different lytic-activity patterns displayed by each species and the different procedures needed to achieve purification of each enzyme . Very different values resulted from molecular weight determination: 80,000 for the S . aureus enzyme, 45,000 for the S . simulans enzyme and 31,000 for the S . saprophyticus enzyme . Other important differences were observed in their kinetics of activity on Micrococcus luteus purified cell walls; their stability; their bacteriolytic spectrum against heat-killed cells of various microorganisms; and their response to physical and chemical factors, such as temperature, pH, ionic strength, divalent cations, chelating agents, thiol compounds, and glucose derivatives. J Rheumatol, 1983 Oct, 10(5), 688 - 93 Influence of agents with immunomodulating activity on phagocytosis and bactericidal function of human polymorphonuclear cells; Pruzanski W et al.; Six immunomodulators were tested for the influence on phagocytosis and intracellular bactericidal activity of human polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) . Frentizole, lamprene, intal and levamisole but not dapsone enhanced phagocytosis in the presence of serum . Without serum, frentizole strongly enhanced phagocytosis, whereas lamprene, levamisole and dapsone had weaker enhancing activity . Rifampin suppressed phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus whether the serum was present or not . The influence on phagocytosis was time and dose dependent . All drugs but dapsone markedly enhanced intracellular bactericidal activity of PMN in a dose dependent fashion . Dapsone enhanced bactericidal activity without the serum and suppressed it in its presence . It may be concluded that immunomodulators are a heterogeneous group of substances and their influence on phagocytosis and cellular bactericidal activity varies . Enhancing activity of some immunomodulators implies that they may be used in conditions with impaired phagocytosis. Immunol Commun, 1983 Oct, 12(5), 453 - 64 Inhibition of rat mammary tumor growth by purified protein A--a potential anti-tumor agent; Ray PK et al.; Intravenous inoculations of purified Protein A of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I cause significant (p less than 0.01) regression of di-methyl-benz-anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary adenocarcinomas in Sprague-Dawley rats . Direct tumor cell counts of treated tumors showed fewer (p less than 0.005) viable tumor cells than did tumors from untreated controls . Plasma immunoglobulin G concentration showed a significant (p less than 0.05) increase compared to that of controls . However, the concentration of immune complexes and percentages of T-rosettes did not change . Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from treated animals showed increased cytotoxicity (p less than 0.005) compared to that of controls . Plasma of treated animals potentiated PBMNC cytotoxicity (p less than 0.05) and showed increased antibody and complement-mediated cytotoxicity (p less than 0.025) . The exact mechanism of protein A-induced potentiation of anti-tumor immune reactivities leading to tumoricidal response is not known . However, our data are suggestive of the involvement of both cellular and humoral immunity of the host in the tumor regressive phenomenon. J Clin Microbiol, 1983 Oct, 18(4), 895 - 900 Production of monoclonal antibodies to Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1 and 6; Para MF et al.; To better define the surface antigens of Legionella pneumophila for clinical and experimental purposes, we have produced monoclonal antibodies to L . pneumophila serogroups 1 and 6 . Two hybridomas were produced in serogroup 1 . One antibody, LP-I-17, recognized a serogroup-common antigen . The second antibody, LP-I-81, was specific for serogroup 1 . This antibody was able to agglutinate bacterial cells belonging to the serogroup 1 reference strains . Philadelphia and Knoxville . Microagglutination assays of environmental and clinical isolates revealed a subgroup of serogroup 1 environmental isolates which were not agglutinated by LP-I-81 . This subset of isolates was segregated to certain buildings in the medical complex . Immunodiffusion studies showed identity between the LP-I-81 antigen and the serogroup-specific antigen of serogroup 1 organisms . This antigen could be absorbed out of the serogroup 1 organism extract with LP-I-81-coated Staphylococcus aureus, leaving the serogroup-common antigens . Three hybridomas were produced to serogroup 6 . All three produced antibodies which were serogroup 6 specific and agglutinated serogroup 6 bacteria. Acta Pathol Microbiol Immunol Scand {B}, 1983 Oct, 91(5), 307 - 10 Comparison of four methods for differentiation of Staphylococcus aureus from other Micrococcaceae in the routine laboratory; Dibb WL et al.; Four methods for the identification of Staphylococcus aureus (tube coagulase test, thermostable nuclease test, indirect agglutination of fibrinogen coated erythrocytes and a commercial latex kit: SeroSTAT Staphylococcus Test) have been compared . Clinical isolates (698) and 40 reference strains of Micrococcaceae were included in the study together with control organisms . The coagulase test gave no false positive results but 39/406 clinical isolates of S . aureus were negative at 2h and one half were only weakly positive . At 18 h, all but 2 of 406 isolates gave a positive reaction . The thermostable nuclease test was very specific; no clinical isolates of S . aureus gave negative results and no "coagulase-negative" clinical isolates gave a definite positive reaction . The indirect haemagglutination method was sometimes difficult to interpret and frequently gave negative or doubtful results for S . aureus . The SeroSTAT test was easy to use and interpret and was specific; the method is suitable for routine laboratory use, particularly when a rapid result is desirable. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1983 Oct, 36(10), 1290 - 4 Safracins, new antitumor antibiotics . III . Biological activity; Ikeda Y et al.; Safracins A and B have antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro but no therapeutic activity in mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus . Safracins A and B induce abnormal morphological changes in Echerichia coli cells . Tests with transplantable mice tumors demonstrate that safracins A and B inhibit the growth of P388 leukemia and IMC carcinoma. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1983 Oct, 364(10), 1357 - 81 Hemocyanins in Spiders, XVIII . Complete amino-acid sequence of subunit e from Eurypelma californicum hemocyanin; Schneider HJ et al.; The complete amino-acid sequence of subunit e of the hemocyanin from the tarantula, Eurypelma californicum, was determined by a combination of manual and automated methods . By limited proteolysis with chymotrypsin, two large fragments (e-CHn 29 and e-CHn 42) were obtained . The large peptides were further cleaved with cyanogen bromide, trypsin (with and without prior blocking of lysine residues), chymotrypsin, Staphylococcus aureus proteinase, Astacus fluviatilis proteinase, or 25% formic acid . The complete chain comprises 621 residues . A remarkable feature of the sequence is a hexapeptide -His-His-Trp-His-Trp-His- which is believed to take part in the binding of copper. J Infect Dis, 1983 Oct, 148(4), 682 - 91 Activation of purified human plasma prekallikrein triggered by cell wall fractions of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus; Kalter ES et al.; Whether Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus cell wall fractions can trigger the activation of prekallikrein was investigated in a mixture of purified human factor XII, prekallikrein, and high-relative-molecular-weight (Mr) kininogen . After exposure for 30 min to bacterial preparations (0.02-5 mg/ml) at 0 C, lallikrein amidolytic activity was expressed as a percentage of the optimal activation of prekallikrein induced by dextran sulfate . Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) fractions of five E coli strains and lipid A of E coli O111B4 induced 50%-90% optimal activity . However, the polysaccharide fraction induced less than 5% activity . Peptidoglycan and teichoic acid of S aureus induced 70%-100% optimal activity at 5 mg/ml, but protein A did not generate activity . No activation of prekallikrein occurred in the absence of factor XII . Thus, LPS and lipid A of E coli and peptidoglycan and teichoic acid of S aureus can generate kallikrein amidolytic activity in a mixture of purified factor XII, prekallikrein, and high-Mr kininogen. Biull Eksp Biol Med, 1983 Oct, 96(10), 102 - 4 {Phagocytosis of bacteria by polymorphonuclear leukocytes suspended in liquid or adhering to a surface}; Pal'tsyn AA et al.; Phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PNL) was studied in healthy men . PNL suspended in nutrient medium did not practically ingest bacteria . The intake of bacteria got considerably intensified if leukocytes and bacteria ran into each other by turning over the test tubes during incubation . A still greater rise of phagocytic activity was discovered under the conditions favouring the attachment of PNL to the surface and the possibility of chemotaxis . These conditions were created by introducing a gelatin-coated film into the test tube. Biochem J, 1983 Oct 1, 215(1), 183 - 9 Completion of the amino acid sequence of the alpha 1 chain from type I calf skin collagen . Amino acid sequence of alpha 1(I)B8; Glanville RW et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of the 279-residue CNBr peptide CB8 from the alpha 1 chain of type I calf skin collagen is presented . It was determined by sequencing overlapping fragments of CB8 produced by Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase, trypsin, Endoproteinase Arg-C and hydroxylamine . Tryptic cleavages were also made specific for lysine by blocking arginine residues with cyclohexane-1,2-dione . This completes the amino acid sequence analysis of the 1054-residues-long alpha (I) chain of calf skin collagen. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1983 Oct, 128(4), 662 - 7 Effects of aging on antibacterial mechanisms in experimental pneumonia; Esposito AL et al.; Disease-free mature (6 to 8 months old) and senescent (24 to 26 months old) C57BL/6 mice were infected with Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae by peroral intratracheal inoculation . The lethal inoculum for 50% of animals (LD50) was identical for both groups of animals with Staphylococcus LD50 = 1.2 X 10(9) colony-forming units (cfu} and Klebsiella (LD50 = 2.3 X 10(8) cfu) . After challenges with high inocula of Staphylococcus (3 X 10(8) cfu) or Klebsiella (3 X 10(7) cfu), senescent mice more rapidly cleared viable organisms from the lungs than did the younger animals, and the differences were statistically significant at 48 h . The enhanced pulmonary clearance demonstrated by the older mice was associated with the recruitment of greater numbers of neutrophils into the bronchoalveolar spaces . When challenged with lower inoculums, mature mice cleared viable bacteria more rapidly than did the senescent animals, although a significant difference was observed only at 24 h after infection with 3 X 10(4) cfu Klebsiella . In contrast to high-inoculum infection in which greater than 90% of cells present in bronchoalveolar spaces were neutrophils, the predominant cells after low inoculum challenges remained alveolar macrophages in all groups . Differences in pulmonary clearance of viable bacteria in young and old mice were not associated with significant discrepancies in the rates of physical removal of 35S-methionine-labeled bacteria . Thus, the normal aging process results in alterations in the manner in which the host responds to pulmonary challenge with common bacterial pathogens, but these changes do not predispose to lethal infection. Am J Clin Pathol, 1983 Oct, 80(4 Suppl), 603 - 8 Quality control of agar diffusion susceptibility tests: data from the Quality Assurance Service Microbiology program of the College of American Pathologists; Knowles RC et al.; Over a 12-month period, between July 1981 and June 1982, 115 active participants in the Microbiology program of the College of American Pathologists Quality Assurance Service (QAS) submitted a total of 555,619 individual determinations on three quality control reference strains using the NCCLS standardized disc diffusion procedure . Data is presented for those antimicrobic agent/reference strain combinations for which NCCLS control limits have been changed since the last report of QAS microbiology data or that continue to show discrepancies with current NCCLS individual daily test control guidelines . Data for Escherichia coli versus cefoxitin, doxycycline, and nalidixic acid and for Staphylococcus aureus versus cefoxitin, nafcillin, and oxacillin show good compliance with the new NCCLS guidelines and distributions that are all approximately Gaussian . Significant discrepancies were noted for six combinations; cefamandole, cephalothin, neomycin, and nitrofurantoin versus E . coli and amikacin and clindamycin versus S . aureus . Of these discrepancies, only neomycin/E . coli and amikacin/S . aureus can be accounted for by a subpopulation of laboratories, which, when removed, corrects the data. Arch Dermatol, 1983 Oct, 119(10), 840 - 6 Staphylococcus aureus and atopic dermatitis; Dahl MV; Atopic dermatitis is a genetically determined skin disease that is strongly influenced by environmental factors . The skin of affected patients is usually colonized by large numbers of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria . These bacteria may aggravate atopic dermatitis or prevent resolution of the disease . The deleterious effects of S aureus on atopic dermatitis may be due to direct biologic action or may be due to indirect damage mediated by the immune and inflammatory systems. J Clin Pathol, 1983 Oct, 36(10), 1120 - 8 Defective neutrophil function and microbicidal mechanisms in the myelodysplastic disorders; Martin S et al.; Neutrophil function studies have been carried out in a series of 44 patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) . In vitro tests of phagocytosis and killing of Candida guilliermondii and Staphylococcus aureus identified 13 patients with abnormal neutrophil function at presentation and a further 10 who developed abnormalities during the course of their disease . The incidence of defective function in the five disease categories in this series was: refractory cytopenia (RC) 8/17; refractory cytopenia with sideroblastic change (RC + SC) 5/8; acquired idiopathic sideroblastic anaemia (AISA) 2/4; refractory anaemia with excess blasts (RAEB) 7/11; chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) 1/4 . Eleven of 23 patients with defective neutrophil function experienced severe infective complications; in only three of these patients were neutrophil counts less than 1 X 10(9)/l and susceptibility to infection was considered to reflect, at least partially, qualitative neutrophil abnormalities . There was no correlation between absolute neutrophil count and defective function . Abnormal overall neutrophil microbicidal activity was equally associated with impaired and normal phagocytosis . Some patients with intracellular killing defects had reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities and one had reduced hexose monophosphate shunt (HMPS) activity . In two patients, whose neutrophils showed markedly impaired candidacidal activity, levamisole corrected function when added in vitro at 10(-7) M and also when administered in therapeutic dosage . It is suggested that deranged function, probably reflecting abnormalities in maturation of the granulocyte series, occurs across the myelodysplastic spectrum and that several microbicidal mechanisms may be defective. Mikrobiyol Bul, 1983 Oct, 17(4), 267 - 9 {Bacteriophage typing of Staphylococcus aureus in Turkey}; Sevuk N et al.; S . aureus strains have been tested with several phages in Turkey . All of the phage groups of S . aureus strains were found in these investigations. J Hyg (Lond), 1983 Oct, 91(2), 235 - 42 Enterotoxin production, phage typing and serotyping of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from clinical materials and food; Melconian AK et al.; The production of enterotoxins A, B, C and F by strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from various clinical sources and from isolates implicated in food poisoning was investigated . One hundred and ninety one of the 374 clinical strains (51.1%) were found to be enterotoxigenic; of these, 81 (27.7%) strains produced enterotoxin A, 57 (15.3%) strains produced enterotoxin B, 23 (6.2%) strains produced enterotoxin C, and 64 (17.1%) strains produced enterotoxin F . These enterotoxigenic strains were most frequently lysed by phages of group III (21.5%) or were not typable (22%) . Eighteen of the 29 strains implicated in food poisoning were enterotoxigenic . The correlation of antigens and bacteriophage patterns with enterotoxigenicity was determined: enterotoxin A being related to a4 antigen, enterotoxin B to phages of 94/96 complex with c1, o antigens, and enterotoxin F to phages of group I with 2632, k1k2, m antigens. J Clin Immunol, 1983 Oct, 3(4), 392 - 8 Antigen-specific B-cell function in human autoimmune thyroiditis; De Bernardo E et al.; T-B cells from the peripheral circulation of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis were cocultured with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) or soluble human thyroglobulin (Tg), a self-antigen . The B-cell mitogen, Staphylococcus aureus, combined with macrophage-derived B-cell differentiating factor, induced in vitro lympho