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| Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1975 Dec, 115(12), 96 - 9 {Pyosurgery departments in a multiprofile pediatric-surgery hospital}; Misharev OS et al.; In the Child Surgery Centre situated in a 9--storied building a special pus department, an isolated operating room and a "pus" unit in the intensive care division were designed for treatment of patients with suppurative-inflammatory diseases . The conducted bacteriological studies of the environmental objects and air made it possible to determine the presence of significant differences in qualitative and quantitative indices of contamination of the "pus" and "pure" departments, "pus" and "pure" units of the intensive care divisions, operating rooms with general microflora and pathogenic staphylococcus . Four-year observations (1970-1973) indicated that such functional divisions designed in a multipurpose hospital for treatment of patients with suppurative-inflammatory processes along with the routine prophylactic measures allowed a considerable reduction in the incidence of postoperative suppurative complications. Scand J Clin Lab Invest, 1975 Dec, 35(8), 737 - 44 Cationic proteins of human granulocytes . V . Interaction with plasma protease inhibitors; Venge P et al.; Several cationic proteins of human granulocytes possess chymotrypsin-like and bactericidal activities . The heat-labile chymotrypsin-like activity is inhibited by serum, owing to complex formation with alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin . The molar affinity of the cationic proteins for alpha2-macroglobulin is much higher than that for alpha1-antitrypsin . The results indicate that the molar combining ratios are 1:1 for cationic protein to alpha1-antitrypsin and 2:1 for cationic protein to alpha2-macroglobulin . The proteolytic activity against fibrinogen and casein is inhibited by both alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin, whereas the activity against small molecular synthetic substrates is inhibited by alpha1-antitrypsin but not alpha2-macroglobulin . The heat-stable bactericidal action of the cationic proteins against Staphylococcus was also inhibited by serum, probably owing to complex formation with alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand Suppl, 1975 Dec, 83(6), 561 - 8 Multiple forms of staphylococcal alpha-toxin; Dalen AB; A group of proteins was readily extracted at neutrality from trichloroacetic acid precipitates of staphylococcal culture filtrate supernatants, while alpha-toxin was dissolved and activated by treating the precipitate with 8 M urea, with acidic buffers or by heating to 90-100 degrees C at neutrality . Heat activation of the precipitate produced a relatively pure alpha-toxin with a molecular weight of 39,000 . alpha-Toxin was eluted together with three other proteins on hydroxyl apatite chromatography, and evidence was obtained for an association between the four proteins . On isoelectric focusing a haemolytic fraction was obtained at pH 6.2, probably due to acid activation of the precipitate formed at the cathodic end of the column . The alpha-haemolytic fractions with pI's of 7.4 and 8.6 were shown to consist of alpha-toxin only when analyzed by acrylamide electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate . The haemolytic component with a pI of 9.2 contained two additional components of molecular weights of 27,500 and 18,000 . Chromatography of this material on Sephadex G-200 showed that alpha-toxin and the two proteins appeared as a high molecular complex. Arch Microbiol, 1975 Nov 7, 105(3), 303 - 12 Purification and properties of a fructose-1,6-diphosphate activated L-lactate dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus epidermidis; Gotz F et al.; L-(+)-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 14990 was purified by affinity chromatography . The purified enzyme was specifically activated by fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) . The concentration of FDP required for 50% maximal activity was about 0.15 mM . The enzyme activity was inhibited by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and oxamate . The inhibition by ADP appeared to be competitive with respect to reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) . The catalytic activity of the LDH for pyruvate reduction exhibited an optimum at pH 5.6 . The enzyme is composed of four, probably identical, subunits . Sephadex gel filtration and sedimentation velocity at pH 5.6 Yielded molecular weights of about 130 000 and 126 000, respectively . The molecular weight at pH 6.5 and 7.0 was found to be only about 68 000 . Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate and sedimentation velocity at pH 2.0 or 8.5 revealed monomeric subunits with an approximate molecular weight of 36000 . The thermostability of the heat labile enzyme was increased in the presence of FDP, NADH and pyruvate . The purified LDH exhibited an anomalous type of kinetic behavior . Plots of initial velocity vs . different concentrations of pyruvate, NADH or FDP led to saturation curves with intermediary plateau regions . As a consequence of these plateau regions the Hill coefficient alternated between lower and higher n-values . Some distinguishing properties of the S . epidermidis LDH and other LDHs activated by FDP are discussed. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Nov, (11), 77 - 86 {Immunoglobulins and staphylococcal antitoxin in the sera of patients subjected to surgery for acute appendicitis}; Nurmanbetora UE et al.; The content of staphylococcus antitoxin and IgA, IgG and IgM was studied in the sera of 200 patients operated on for various forms of acute appendicitis . 147 patients were subjected to express-immunization with a crude staphylococcus toxoid . It was revealed that the IgA, IgG and IgM level was much lower in the operated on patients than in healthy persons . Express immunization with the toxoid led to a marked increase in the level of staphylococcus antitoxin and also of the IgA, IgG, IgM in the sera of the vaccinated persons . There was no distinct association between the immunoglobulin content in the sera of the patients and the appearance in them of postoperative complications of staphylococcus etiology; it is not excluded, however, that an intensified IgM synthesis could play a certain role in the protection of the macroorganism from staphylococcus infection . A moderate, but statistically significant correlation between the titre of the staphylococcus antitoxin in the sera of the patients and the content of the IgM and IgA in them was revealed. Arch Dermatol, 1975 Nov, 111(11), 1433 - 7 Toxic epidermal necrolysis . Rapid differentiation between staphylococcal- and drug-induced disease; Amon RB et al.; Based on the difference in the level of epidermal split, staphylococcal-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) can be rapidly differentiated from drug-induced TEN . The microscopic pathologic findings of the staphylococcal-induced disease shows epidermal cleavage high in the malpighian layer, while the nonstaphylococcal-induced disease shows a subepidermal split . Rapid differentiation is accomplished by histologically examining a frozen section of peeled skin obtained from a fresh lesion of TEN and by performing a Tzanck preparation on the denuded base . In order to illustrate these techniques, we present the cases of two adult patients with TEN; in one the disease was staphylococcal-induced while in the other it was drug-induced. Ann Ophthalmol, 1975 Nov, 7(11), 1470 - 2 Lysozyme in corneal ulcer; Mehra KS et al.; In the present experimental study the role of lysozyme drops in healing of corneal ulcer of staphylococcal origin (sensitive to chloramphenicol) was studied on 16 albino rabbits . In 8 rabbits, in one eye placibo drops (distilled water) and in the other eye lysozyme 1% were put 4 times daily . In the other 8 rabbits, in one eye chloramphenicol drops 0.4% and in the other eye chloramphenicol drops 0.4% + lysozyme drops 1% were instilled 4 times daily . It was observed that the rate of healing of corneal ulcer was much earlier in the eyes which had local instillation of chloramphenicol drops + lysozyme in comparison to the eyes which had only chloramphenicol drops, lysozyme drops, or distilled water. Infect Immun, 1975 Nov, 12(5), 1018 - 20 Mitogenicity of formalinized toxoids of staphylococcal enterotoxin B; Spero L et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is a potent mitogen for mouse and human lymphocytes . Mitogenic activity was retained after detoxification of the enterotoxin by formaldehyde at pH 5.0, 7.5, OR 9.5 . The most active toxoid (pH 7.5) was separated into a monomeric, a dimeric, and a polymeric fraction (1 x 10(5) to 3 x 10(5) molecular weight) by gel filtration, and although each fraction demonstrated mitogenic activity, the polymeric fraction was clearly the most efficacious . These data show that mitogenicity of staphylococcal enterotoxin B does not depend on toxicity . This suggests that the mitogenic and toxic activities are effected by different sites on the molecule. J Bacteriol, 1975 Nov, 124(2), 597 - 601 Recombinant plasmid obtained from two different, compatible staphylococcal plasmids; Iordanescu S; From two different, compatible staphylococcal plasmids that determine streptomycin and chloramphenicol resistance, respectively, a recombinant plasmid was obtained . This plasmid can be transduced with a rather high frequency (10(-4)/plaque-forming unit) to plasmid-negative strains, the linkage of the two markers being 100% . The maintenance of the recombinant plasmid in the host cell seems to be controlled by the chloramphenicol resistance plasmid . The recombinant plasmid proved to be incompatible with both parental plasmids, which are unrelated . The relationship between the chloramphenicol resistance plasmid and the recombinant plasmid was the same as the between genetically marked derivatives of the recombinant plasmid, whereas the relationship of the streptomycin resistance plasmid to the recombinant plasmid was of a different, asymmetrical type. Am J Med, 1975 Nov, 59(5), 660 - 73 The role of complement, immunoglobulin and bacterial antigen in coagulase-negative staphylococcal shunt nephritis; Dobrin RS et al.; We describe three patients with arrested hydrocephalus in whom glomerulonephritis developed secondary to Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia from an infected ventriculoatrial shunt . Investigation of the immune-mediated renal disease associated with this chronic infection showed that (1) complement depletion during the acute phase of bacteremia and nephritis was predominantly via the classic pathway; (2) rheumatoid factor was associated with bacteremia, fever, proteinuria and low complement levels; (3) early complement components (C1q, C4, C3), immunoglobulin (predominantly immunoglobulin M {IgM}, Staph . epidermidis antigen(s) and electron denxe subendothelial deposits were localized within the renal glomerulus; (4) C1q, and IgM derived from patient serums, were the most prominent in vitro immunoreactants to Staph . epidermidis cell walls; and (5) the causative organisms, Staph . epidermidis, shared common antigens with Staph . aureus, and antibody from patient serums cross reacted with extracts from both of these organisms. J Invest Dermatol, 1975 Nov, 65(5), 423 - 8 Action of staphylococcal epidermolytic toxin on mouse skin: an electron microscopic study; McLay AL et al.; The ultrastructure of the skin of 3-day-old mice challenged with small doses of highly purified staphylococcal epidermolytic toxin was examined at various time intervals . Up to 130 min few changes were evident, but at this time wide gaps developed between cells in the horizontal planes of the stratum granulosum, and "bubbles" normally present in the intracellular spece were no longer apparent . Splitting of the desmosomes occurred after the development of distended intercellular spaces . After 20 hr, that is, in the "healing" phase, the appearance suggested that normal maturation of keratinocytes was altered . Also at this time a degree of cell separation was still apparent in the outermost actively maturing layer of the stratum granulosum . The proteinase inhibitor Trasylol was tested for its effect on the toxin when administered up to 45 min after challenge. Neurochirurgia (Stuttg), 1975 Nov, 18(6), 207 - 13 Intrasellar abscess; Arseni C et al.; A case of intrasellar abscess in a 31-year-old male, with pituitary insufficiency, visual field and acuity disturbances, is reported . In the pus extracted at surgery E . coli and Staphylococcus haemolyticus were identified . The patient died 20 days after the operation . Necropsy revealed the fibrous capsule of an abscess in the hypophyseal region and putriform tissue at the level of the hypothalamus, with three small tumours one of which proved to be a craniopharyngioma. J Immunol, 1975 Nov, 115(5), 1449 - 55 Functional activities of rosette separated human peripheral blood leukocytes; Dean JH et al.; Subpopulations of human peripheral blood leukocytes were isolated by rosette formation and tested for functional activity . E -rosette-forming cells (E-RFC) and EAC-RFC were separated from non-resetting cells by sedimentation on Ficoll-Hypaque gradients . The efficiency of the method and the purity of the resulting subpopulations were high . E-RFC responded to PHA Con A, allogeneic leukocytes, and PPD, with higher levels of proliferative reactivity than the unseparated lymphocytes while E-RFC depleted, EAC-RFC, and null cells showed only low levels of reactivity . Reactivity to PWM and tetanus toxoid was also restricted to the E-RFC subpopulation, but was lower than that of unseparated cells . A staphylococcal antigen preparation triggered lymphoproliferative reactivity in the E-RFC, E-RFC depleted, EAC-RFC, and the null cell subpopulations . 51Cr release lymphocyte cytotoxicity against a human lymphoblast target cell line was found in the E-RFC and null cell fractions but was not observed with the EAC-RFC subpopulation. Appl Microbiol, 1975 Nov, 30(5), 755 - 8 Influence of pH on the heat inactivation of staphylococcal enterotoxin A as determined by monkey feeding and serological assay; Humber JY et al.; The effect of pH on the thermal inactivation of staphylococcal enterotoxin A was investigated . Analysis of heated toxin by immunodiffusion in gel indicated that enterotoxin A in beef bouillon was inactivated faster at pH 5.3 than at pH 6.2 . The z values (slopes) for the heat inactivation curves at pH 6.2 and 5.3 were 49.5 and 55 F (about 27 and 30 C), respectively . Enterotoxin produced and heated in dialyzed Casamino Acids medium and assayed by monkey feeding was more easily inactivated by heat at pH 5.3 than at pH 7.8 . Thermal inactivation curves for enterotoxin A in beef bouillon (5 mug/ml, pH 5.3) were determined by two methods, monkey feeding and serological assay . The z values for the curves obtained by these two methods were both 55 F, although loss of biological or toxic activity of the enterotoxin occurred before loss of serological activity. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1975 Oct 3, 100(40), 2022, 2025 - 7 {Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), an important disease not only in the tropics (author's transl)}; Gottstein U et al.; A 39-year-old woman contracted visceral leishmaniasis on a 14-day visit to southern Italy and died of staphylococcal septicaemia before specific treatment could be effective, diagnostic efforts over four months having failed to make the diagnosis until four weeks before death . Eight further cases reported in German-speaking medical journals illustrate similar diagnostic difficulties . The disease is accompanied by septic temperatures, frequently with two daily spikes, hepato- and splenomegaly, normochromic anaemia and leucocytopenia . But diagnosis can only be made by specific tests . The organisms can be discovered in sternal puncture and organ biopsies only if the Giemsa stain is used . Complement-fixation reaction for leishmania should be tried repeatedly, in case the disease is suspected. Can J Ophthalmol, 1975 Oct, 10(4), 514 - 7 Bilateral corneal perforations in Stevens-Johnson syndrome; Tabbara KF et al.; A case of Steven-Johnson syndrome was treated with topical and systemic corticosteroids . The patient developed bilateral simultaneous staphylococcal corneal ulcers . The ulcers eventuated in bilateral corneal perforations within 48 hours, in spite of topical, subconjunctival, and systemic antibiotic therapy. Appl Microbiol, 1975 Oct, 30(4), 700 - 1 Staphylococcal enterotoxin C: solid-phase radioimmunoassay; Bukovic JA et al.; A solid-phase radioimmunoassay test employing 125I-labeled enterotoxin C and polystyrene tubes coated with specific antibody was used for the detection and quantitation of entertoxin C in condensed milk, cheddar cheese, custard, and ham salad . The assay was sensitive to 1 to 10 ng of toxin per g of food; nonspecific inhibitions were 16% or less. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Oct, (10), 55 - 8 {Antistaphylococcal bacteriostatic activity of the sera from surgical patients}; Akatov AK et al.; Blood serum was examined in 41 patients (operated for various forms of acute appendicitis) on the 5th--6th day after the operation when 10 of the patients developed purulent complications of staphylococcal etiology . A determination was made of the titres of beta-lysins and the bacteriostatic activity against 2 strains of S . aureus by the modified Ehrenkranz et al method . The mentioned indices were low in the great majority of cases; consequently, the appearance of purulent complications in the operated patients was independent of the antistaphylococcal bacteriostatic activity and the beta-lysin titres in their sera . Prophylactic express-immunization of a number of patients by crude staphylococcus toxoid did not influence the nonspecific humoral immunity factors. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand {B}, 1975 Oct, 83(5), 416 - 24 Experimental evaluation of the velvet pad rinse technique as a microbiological sampling method; Raahave D; The use of velvet pads glued to aluminium foil has been evaluated as a microbiological sampling method in quantitative bacterial recovery experiments, and the efficiency and precision have been determined . The velvet pads uptake of Staphylococcus epidermidis was 0.93 (or 93 per cent) after sampling from a test surface on blood agar, while the release by subsequent imprinting on blood agar was 0.02, the median effective transfer being 0.02 . A mechanical rinse and shake procedure of the velvet pad in 0.9 per cent saline followed by centrifugation and surface plating significantly increased the median release to 0.66, the median effective transfer being 0.61 . There was no difference in uptake, release and effective transfer between a pure culture of S . epidermidis and a mixed culture of S . epiderimidis and Escherichia coli . Storage of the velvet pad in 0.9 per cent saline for 2 h at room temperature did not influence bacterial recovery significantly, in contrast to a significant decrease after storage in saline for 24 h or storage in a dry Petri dish for 2 h . The high and fairly constant efficiency of bacterial recovery of the velvet pad rinse technique suggests that it could be employed clinically. Appl Microbiol, 1975 Oct, 30(4), 525 - 9 Double-antibody radioimmunoassay for staphylococcal enterotoxin C2; Robern H et al.; A sensitive double-antibody radioimmunoassay for staphylococcal enterotoxin C2 is described . The assay procedure employs anti-rabbit gamma globulin, prepared in goats, to precipitate the antigen-antibody complex of enterotoxin C2 and anti-enterotoxin C2 . The test is sensitive to 100 pg of enterotoxin. Aust N Z J Med, 1975 Oct, 5(5), 413 - 20 Infective endocarditis in a Sydney teaching hospital--1962-1971; Bailey IK et al.; This report represents a comprehensive review of infective endocarditis in a major Australian centre between the years 1962 and 1971 . During the later years of this study prosthetic valves were inserted in significant numbers and cardiac surgery became available in the treatment of endocarditis . The following major points emerged . There has been no reduction in the incidence of this disease within the period of study . A higher percentage of cases have followed surgery, particularly cardiac . There has been a decreased number of cases following dental extraction or urological surgery . A change in the pattern of the infective organisms was observed, particularly an increase in Staphylococcal infections, although Strep . viridans was the most frequent infecting agent . Infected prosthetic valves accounted for 11% of cases in the latter five year period, Staphylococcal infections being responsible for the majority of these cases . The mortality for prosthetic infections was 80%, and a loss of anticoagulant control contributed to death in 42% of patients . There was a reduction in mortality due to endocarditis from 39% between 1962 and 1966 to 24% between 1967 and 1971 (P less than 0-05). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1975 Oct, 72(10), 3978 - 82 Analysis of DNA of isolated chromatin subunits; Lacy E et al.; Partial digestion of rat liver nuclei with staphylococcal nuclease results in the liberation of nucleo-protein complexes consisting of one or more upsilon bodies . By velocity centrifugation we have isolated the monomeric subunit in relatively pure form . We find that this subunit contains 185 base pairs of DNA and 240,000 daltons of protein, resulting in a protein to DNA ratio identical to that of unperturbed chromatin . The isolated monomeric particle is further susceptible to internal nuclease attack resulting in the solubilization of 46% of the monomeric DNA . Analysis of the resistant DNA reveals a complex but highly reproducible pattern of DNA fragments ranging from 160 to 60 base pairs in length . Analysis of the reassociation kinetics of the isolated subunit DNA reveals that most, if not all genomic sequences, are involved in this basic subunit structure . No special frequency class of DNA is absent from upsilon bodies . Furthermore, virtually all liver sequences transcribed into mRNA are present in upsilon body DNA . These results indicate that upsilon body formation may be random with respect to DNA sequence and suggest that the mere presence of upsilon bodies over a specific region of DNA is not sufficient to restrict its transcription. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Oct, (10), 65 - 70 {Effect of thermal treatment on the properties of staphylococcal enterotoxin type A}; Ezepchuk IuV et al.; Thermal treatment of staphylococcus enterotoxin of type A at the stage of the cultural fluid failed to influence the character of the enterotoxin purification under the given conditions . In both cases the amount of the removed nitrogen components constituted about 97% . The purified preparations of the staphylococcus enterotoxin of type A differed from one another by the data of electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation and also by the antigenic composition . Under the action of thermal treatment staphylococcus enterotoxin of type A changed its antigenic properties and lost some of its biological activity. Infect Immun, 1975 Oct, 12(4), 821 - 7 Effect of staphylococcal protein A on complement-potentiated neutralization of herpes simplex virus and immune lysis of virus-infected cells; Austin RM et al.; Interaction of staphylococcal protein A (SPA) with human serum depressed the ability of such serum to neutralize herpes simpled virus (HSV)-antibody labialis . SPA-induced depression of serum-dependent virus neutralization appeared to be due to consumption of complement by SPA . In addition, SPA attached to antibody-treated, HSV-infected cells and inhibited complement mediated immune cytolysis . The amount of inhibition obtained depended upon the with the infected cells . The possible significance of SPA in the pathogenesis of viral disease complicated by secondary staphylococcal infection is discussed. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Oct, (10), 61 - 4 {Study of the functional activity of the macrophages of animals immunized with staphylococcal alpha-anatoxin}; Maiorova GF et al.; A study was made by histochemical methods of the activity of the enzymatic systems of macrophages from normal rabbits and those immunized with staphylococcus alpha-toxoid per se and infected with the strains of staphylococcus--producers of alpha-toxin or leukocydin . Immunization of rabbits was accompanied by a reduction in macrophages of the activity of the group of lysosomal enzymes and by an increase in the activity of the redox enzymes . In infection of "immune" macrophages with the living culture of the alpha-toxigenic strains the mentioned changes were more pronounced; no such changes were found after the infection with the leukocydin-active strain . The data obtained suggested that the lysosomal enzymes played a definite role in the process of phagocytosis. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1975 Oct, 115(10), 80 - 84 {Experience in treating staphylococcal destruction of the lungs in children}; Tikhonenko MM et al.; An experience with treatment of 278 patients having various forms of staphylococcic destruction of the lung is discussed . Patients with a pneumopleural form of SLD were predominating . The treatment in such patients should be initiated with draining of the pleural cavity in combination with an intensive therapy . Radical treatment should be conducted only on strict indications . An early diagnosis and timely therapy are felt to be of great importance. J Clin Microbiol, 1975 Oct, 2(4), 318 - 21 Efficacy of phage typing epidemiologically related Staphylococcus epidermidis strains; Blouse L et al.; A total of 118 epidemiologically related Staphylococcus epidermidis strains from hospital patients, staff, and fomites were examined with a provisional set of 18 typing phages . Seventy (59.3%) of these strains were typed using phage concentrations of 100 times routine test dilution . The remainder were nontypable . Thirty-six (30.5%) of the strains were of related phage types, 71/108/275A/459 and 71/108/275A . These latter strains were associated with clinical S . epidermidis endocarditis in patients with prosthetic valve replacements . Ninety-eight strains were characterized by the Baird-Parket biotyping schema . Eighty-three (84.7%) were biotype 1, and the majority (68.4%) of these were resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, methicillin, cephalothin, erythromycin, and clindamycin . Type 71, 71/108/275A/459, 71/108/275A and 71/108/275/459 strains were generally resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, and methicillin, whereas a less consistent resistance pattern was noted among miscellaneous and nontypable strains. J Immunol, 1975 Oct, 115(4), 1060 - 4 In vitro human reactivity to staphylococcal phage lysate; Dean JH et al.; The cell-mediated reactivity of normal individuals to staphylococcal phage lysate (SPL) were tested in vitro in the lymphocyte stimulation (LS) and leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI) assays . There were 95% positive responses in LS (stimulation ratio larger than or equal to 3 with p less than 0.01) and 67% positive responses in LMI (migration index less than or equal to 0.80) . Enriched subpopulations of T and B lymphocytes were prepared with rosette formation and density gradient centrifugation . SPL stimulated lymphoproliferative responses in both T and B cell subpopulations whereas phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated only the T cell subpopulation . Cord blood leukocytes were tested in the LS assay and 41% gave positive responses to SPL, 81% to PHA, and 17% with SLO . SPL appears to be a useful reagent for the in vitro study of cell-mediated reactivity, and may provide somewhat different information from that obtained with other mitogens or antigens. JAMA, 1975 Sep 29, 233(13), 1377 - 9 Sporadic puerperal mastitis . An infection that need not interrupt lactation; Marshall BR et al.; Sporadic (nonepidemic) acute puerperal mastitis was diagnosed 65 times over a period of 26 months in 2.5% of mothers who elected to nurse their infants . Staphylococcus auereus was cultured from the milk of 23 of 48 infected breasts, but from only one breast of 19 normal mothers . Forty-one women with mastitis continued to nurse without difficulty for an average of 13 weeks, although mastitis recurred in four women . Three breast abscesses resulted from the 65 infections (4.6%). Lancet, 1975 Sep 27, 2(7935), 599 - 600 Clinical aspects of outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning during air travel; Effersoe P et al.; An outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning among 364 charter-flight passengers and crew members is described . Symptoms appeared just before landing, about an hour after a meal containing contaminated ham had been served . 143 passengers were admitted to hospital . 1 patient developed acute anuria and 1 had hemiplegia and aphasia; both recovered . Fever and bloody stools were recorded with unusual frequency. J Biol Chem, 1975 Sep 10, 250(17), 6990 - 7 Amino acid sequence of a presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus (Australian tiger snake); Halpert J et al.; The complete amino acid sequence of notexin, a presynaptic neurotoxin from the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus (Australian tiger snake), has been elucidated . The protein consists of a single chain of 119 amino acids cross-linked by seven disulfide bridges and has a formula weight of 13,578 . The main fragmentation of the peptide chain was accomplished with a staphylococcal protease specific for glutamoyl bonds . A cyanogen bromide fragment and tryptic peptides were used to align the five major staphylococcal protease peptides . The sequence was determined by Edman degradation using the direct phenylthiohydantoin method and with carboxypeptidase A . Notexin is shown to be homologous to both porcine pancreatic phospholipase A and a phospholipase A from the venom of Naja melanoleuca. Antibiotiki, 1975 Sep, (9), 813 - 7 {Changes in the ultrastructure of Staph . aureus cells under the action of certain antibiotics}; Zhukov VG et al.; The ultrastructure of staphylococcal cells being in contact with oxacillin, cephaloridin, lincomycin, fusidin or gentamycin was studied with the help of electron microscopy . Differences in the changes of the submicroscopic sturcutre of the cells under the effect of the antibiotics inhibiting the synthesis of the cell walls or protein synthesis were shown . Teh level of the structure changes depended on the drug concentration. Infect Immun, 1975 Sep, 12(3), 696 - 7 Inhibitory effect of flavin mononucleotide on the hemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes by staphylococcal alpha-toxin; Kato I et al.; Flavin mononucleotide diminished the hemolytic action of staphylococcal alpha-toxin on rabbit erythrocytes by competitive inhibition, probably by its interaction with the alpha-toxin binding sites on the cell membrane. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1975 Sep, 57(6), 819 - 25 Pyogenic infection of the sacro-iliac joint . Report of thirteen cases; Delbarre F et al.; Thirteen cases of infectious sacro-iliitis caused by pyogenic organisms are reported and compared with thirty-four cases in the literature . Staphylococcus was the commonest infecting organism (six cases) . Two clinical patterns were noted, acute (nine cases) and subacute (four cases) . Treatment was by antibiotics and bed rest in all patients . Surgery was indicated for diagnosis in three patients and for abscess in three patients . All of our patients had very good functional recovery. Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem, 1975 Sep, 356(9), 1343 - 52 The primary structure of the 5s rRNA binding protein L25 of Escherichia coli ribosomes; Bitar KG et al.; The primary structure of protein L25 from the large subunit of Escherichia coli ribosomes was determined by isolation and analysis of peptides obtained after cleavage of the protein with trypsin, thermolysin and Staphylococcus protease as well as by Edman degradation of the intact protein and of a CNBr peptide . The complete amino acid sequence is shown in Fig . 4 . There are sequence homologies within protein L25 (Table 6) as well as between protein L25 and other ribosomal proteins (Table 5). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1975 Sep, 72(9), 3536 - 40 Subunit structure of a naturally occurring chromatin lacking histones F1 and F3; Gorovsky MA et al.; Macronuclei of the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis contain at least five classes of histones, including two with properties like those of histones F3 and F1 of higher eukaryotes . Micronuclei isolated under identical conditions contain little or no detectable F3 or F1 . Digestion of both macronuclei and micronuclei with staphylococcal nuclease results in DNA fragments of discrete sizes . The electrophoretic mobilities of the larger fragments suggest that they are oligomers of the smallest ones . These results indicate that the periodic subunit structure observed in the chromatin of higher organisms also occurs in protozoans, and that this structure does not depend on the presence of either histone F1 or F3, even in an organism which has the genetic information for synthesizing these proteins. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1975 Sep, 112(3), 387 - 92 Intermittent neutrophil-monocyte bactericidal defects in a patient with sarcoidosis; Drutz DJ et al.; Reccurrent abnormalities of polymorphonuclear leukocyte and monocyte bactericidal activity were demonstrated in a patient with sarcoidosis . Defective function occurred during hypercalcemia complicating recovery from Listeria meningitis, and during separate, unrelated episodes of erythema nodosum, staphylococcal cellulitis, and pneumococcal pneumonia . Leukocyte morphology, oxidative metabolism, degranulation, and content of myeloperoxidase and lysozyme were normal, but low leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activity was demonstrable on one occasion . Despite defective bactericidal function of monocytes, the patient's macrophages killed bacteria normally . The relationship between an intermittent leukocyte bactericidal defect and sarcoidosis is unclear; however, further studies of leukocyte function in sarcoidosis patients with opportunistic infection are indicated. Vopr Virusol, 1975 Sep-Oct, (5), 592 - 7 {Human rhinovĂruses circulating in Moscow (author's transl)}; Dreizin RS et al.; In the period of 1971--1973 in Moscow, 85 strains of rhinoviruses (types IB, 14, 20, 27, 33, 48, 56, 60 and 69) were isolated from patients with respiratory diseases . In March-May 1971 in one administrative district of Moscow, from ambulatory patients with ARD rhinoviruses of types 48 (24 strains) and 27 (8 strains) were predominantly isolated . An outbreak of diseases due to these two types appeared to have occurred . From children rhinoviruses were isolated not only from nasopharyngeal washings . From 3 children they were isolated from the lower respiratory tract (from the blood collected before his death due to staphylococcal sepsis . Surveys for virus-neutralizing antibody to 17 rhinovirus serotypes in 10 lots of gamma globulin prepared in different towns of the Soviet Union revealed wide spread of rhinovirus types IB, 13, 18, 31 and 32 limited spread of types 17 and 42 and moderate spread of types 2, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, 22, 24, 48 and 53. J Virol, 1975 Sep, 16(3), 642 - 51 Genetic map of the Staphylococcal bacteriophage phi11; Kretschmer PJ et al.; Ten sus mutants of the staphylococcal bacteriophage phi 11, each a representative from a different complementation group, have been used in three-factor cross experiments . The results of these crosses indicate a circular genetic map for phi 11 . Functional studies of the mutants have been limited to electron microscopic examinations of lysates after prophage induction (or infection) . One gene is an early gene, five genes are concerned with tail formation, and three are concerned with head formation . The tenth gene is possibly a head gene . The contribution by phi 11 to the genomic content of the plasmid-phage hybrid phi 11 de has been investigated . Phi 11 de contains most of the late genes and appears to be missing a continuous phi 11 segment that includes the early gene flanked by two late genes. Klin Wochenschr, 1975 Aug 15, 53(16), 755 - 60 {Influence of a streptokinase-induced fibrinolysis on the extent of the acute experimental myocardial infarction (author's transl)}; Wende W et al.; In 17 unaesthetized dogs several side branches of the left descending coronary artery were ligated . The ST-segment elevation in the epicardial ECG ascended to 22 mV after 5 min and to 19 mV after 20 min . Aortic pressure, left ventricular enddiastolic pressure, heart rate and hemostasiological parameters (thrombin-time, thrombin-coagulase-time, reptilase-time, plasma-fibrinogen, staphylococcal clumping test) did not change significantly . 20 min after the beginning of coronary occlusion, the vessels were reopened . When ST-segment elevation had disappeared, a controlled fibrinolytic therapy (Streptokinase 1.5 Mega I.E . in 30 min, later on 0.75 Mega I.E./h) was induced . When an effective fibrinolysis could be demonstrated by the hemostasiological parameters, the same vessels were occluded again . Now the hemodynamic parameters too did not change significantly, but the ST-segment elevation was significantly diminished for more than 50% compared with simple ligation . A control group, which only got the solvent of the streptokinase, showed the same ST-segment elevation . This effect, induced by streptokinase is ascribed to fibrinogen degradation products and a diminution in the amount of fibrinogen which cause an improvement of microcirculation. Nucleic Acids Res, 1975 Aug 8, 2(8), 1401 - 19 Studies on chromatin . II . Isolation and characterization of chromatin subunits; Bakayev VV et al.; Earlier findings /1-10/ bearing on a subunit organization of chromatin were confirmed and in some points detailed . Besides this, a large-scale isolation of chromatin subunits; their protein composition, electron microscopic appearance and CsCl banding pattern are described . Although the purified chromatin subunit contains all five histones, the relative content of histone H1 i in it is two times lower than that in the original chromatin . tit is shown that a mild digestion of chromatin with staphylococcal nuclease produced not only separate chromatin subunits and their "oligomers' but also deoxyribonucleoprotein particles which sediment more slowly than subunits . It appears that these particles and subunits are produced from different initial structures in the chromatin . Finally, a crystallization of the purified chromatin subunit as a cetyltrimethyl ammonium salt is described. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol, 1975 Aug, (8), 113 - 6 {Relation of intrahospital morbidity from staphylococcal infections to some properties of hospital strains}; Ankirskaia AS et al.; Analysis of staphylococcus infection morbidity in a large obstetrical hospital for 5 years offered a possibility of establishing an association between the severity of the course of staphylococcus infections in patients, the bacteriophage type of the causative agent and its resistance to antibiotics . The qualitative changes in morbidity in the direction of the prevalence of minor forms and mild course ocurred in parallel with the changes of the leading bacteriophage type from the epidemic 75/77 and 80/81 to the nonepidemic bacteriophage types of the III bacteriophage group and the changes of the antibiograms of the causative agents in the direction of an increase in the number of strains sensitive to antibiotics . Since the severity of the course of staphylococcus infection characterized the pathogenicity of the strain of the causative agent a conclusion could be drawn on the association between the sign of virulence and determinants of the medicinal resistance and definite prophages in the hospital strains of staphylococcus. J Immunol, 1975 Aug, 115(2), 575 - 8 The effect of staphylococcal enterotoxins on the primary in vitro immune response; Smith BG et al.; Staphylococcal enterotoxins, like several plant lectins, have been shown to stimulate mitogenic activity and lymphokine production in lymphocytes . The effect of enterotoxins A and B on the primary in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) response of mouse (C57BL/6) spleen cells to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was examined . PFC responses in 4- or 5-day cultures were inhibited greater than 90% by 0.1 mug enterotoxin A and by 3- to 6-mug enterotoxin B when the toxins were added to the cultures either at the time of SRBC addition or 24 hr before . Both enterotoxins A and B were shown to be T lymphocyte mitogens . Kinetic data indicated that the enterotoxins (10 mug) inhibited the PFC response as early as day 3, but were relatively more inhibitory at days 4 and 5 . The PFC response was inhibited when enterotoxins were added to cultures at the same time as antigen or a day later; it was enhanced when added at day 2; and it was unaffected when added at day 3 of 4-day cultures . Further, the presence of enterotoxin A during the first 24 hr of culture and subsequent removal was still as effective in inhibiting the PFC response as when it was present throughout the culture period . The PFC inhibitory properties of enterotoxins appear, then, to affect some early event(s) in the in vitro immune response . Alpha-methyl-D-mannopyranoside blocked the PFC inhibitory effect of concanavalin A (con A), but it had no effect on enterotoxin A . The two mitogens appear, then, to react with different receptors on the lymphocytes or to differ in the dynamics of their reactivity . The effects of staphylococcal enterotoxins on the PFC response of spleen cells were remarkably similar to those reported for lectins such as con A . Enterotoxins are structurally simpler than con A and should therefore be quite useful in studying various biologic activities of lymphocytes. Jpn J Antibiot, 1975 Aug, 28(4), 525 - 9 {Treatment of dermatological cases with BB-K8 (author's transl)}; Kameyama A et al.; Twenty-seven cases were treated with BB-K8, a new derivative of kanamycin acylated with l-(-)-gamma-amino-alpha-hydroxybutyric acid at the C-1 amino group of the 2-deoxystreptamine moiety . The majority of them were acute primary pyoderma and acute secondary pyoderma . BB-K8 was effective in 23 cases (85.2%) out of 27 cases treated and no side effect was encountered . BB-K8 had antibacterial activity against not only Staphylococcus but also Pseudomonas and Klebsiella . Thus, BB-K8 was considered to be effective in acute pyodermic condition. J Clin Invest, 1975 Aug, 56(2), 503 - 11 Effects of oxygen exposure on it vitro function of pulmonary alveolar macrophages; Murphey SA et al.; Bacterial infection may complicate pulmonary oxygen (O2) toxicity, and animals exposed to high O2 concentrations show depressed in vivo pulmonary bacterial inactivation . Therefore, in vitro studies were undertaken to define the mechanism by which O2 alters pulmonary antibacterial activity . Normal and BCG pretreated rabbits were exposed to 100% O2 for 24, 48, and 72-h periods . Pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) were obtained from the experimental animals and from nonoxygen exposed controls by bronchopulmonary lavage . O2 exposure did not alter cell yield or morphology . PAMs were suspended in 10% serum-buffer, and phagocytosis of (14C)Staphylococcus aureus 502A and (14C)Pseudomonas aeruginosa was measured . Comparison of the precent uptake of the 14C-labeled S . aureus after a 60-min incubation period demonstrated that normal PAMs exposed to O2 for 48 h showed a statistically significant increase in phagocytosis when compared to their controls (43.5 vs . 29.2%) . A similar, but smaller increase was seen after 24-h O2 exposures . 48 and 72-h O2 exposures produced no significant changes in phagocytosis in PAMs from BCG-stimulated rabbits . Normal PAMs also showed an increased phagocytosis of Ps . aeruginosa after 48-h oxygen exposure . No impairment of in vitro bactericidal activity against either S . aureus 502A or Ps . aeruginosa could be demonstrated in PAMs from normal rabbits exposed to O2 for 48 h . These results indicate that the in vitrophagocytic and bactericidal capacity of the rabbit PAM is relatively resistant to the toxic effects of oxygen, and that imparied in vivo activity may possibly be mediated by effects other than irreversible metabolic damage to these cells . The mechanism for the observed stimulation of phagocytosis remains to be determined. Arzneimittelforschung, 1975 Aug, 25(8), 1244 - 8 Staphylococcal micrococcins . II . Isolation, purification and identification; Breiter J et al.; Seven strains belonging to the Micrococcaceae family and excreting substances with antibiotic activity, were grown in submerged cultures on technical scale for isolation, purification and identification of biologically active compounds . Two basic substances were isolated and classified to the micrococcin antibiotics family . The naturally occurring mixture of micrococcin M1 and M3 was called micrococcin M . This antibiotic has the formula C48H50O11N12S6 and a molecular weight of about 1160, melting point 221--224 degrees C, and optical rotation {a}20/D = + 66.6 . Other antibiotically active substances produced by seven investigated strains were identified as micrococcin M or as separate compounds . Comparison with previously described micrococcin and micrococcin P has been made. J Lab Clin Med, 1975 Aug, 86(2), 344 - 8 Polymorphonuclear leukocyte phagocytosis: quantitation by a rapid radioactive method; Miller DS et al.; A rapid quantitative assay of phagocytosis has been developed . The method has been used to determine the phagocytic capability of human or dog polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's) in a defined medium without added sera . The engulfment of 3H-labeled Staphylococcus albus is essentially complete in 30 minutes at 37 degrees C . Increase of phagocyte radioactivity is directly proportional to PMN per cubic centimeter over a wide range of cell concentrations . Maximal phagocytosis is observed at pH 7.5. Eur J Biochem, 1975 Aug 1, 56(1), 157 - 62 Chlorinating ability of human phagocytosing leucocytes; Zgliczynski JM et al.; The course of chlorination in neutrophilic granulocytes has been shown . The process of 36Cl incorporation occurs during and after the engulfment of bacteria by granulocytes . Incorported radioactivity was found in insoluble fractions . The myeloperoxidase obtained from neutrophils catalyzes chlorination of protein (bovine serum albumin) and bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and chloride . The products of chlorination are insoluble . Chlorination in neutrophils is inhibited by the iodide and myeloperoxidase inhibitors azide and cyanide . A quantitative method of determination of biological chlorination in cells has been devised. JAMA, 1975 Jul 21, 233(3), 264 - 6 Sustained bacteremia and transvenous cardiac pacemakers; Corman LC et al.; Five patients with transvenous cardiac pacemakers had sustained staphylococcal bacteremia (defined as bacteremia for at least 12 hours) two weeks to ten months after pacemaker insertion . Three of the five patients had no evidence of an extravascular focus of infection at the time of stphylococcal bacteremia . An additional patient had a petechial rash, which is unusual in staphylococcal bacteremia, unless endocarditis is present . All patients were treated with antibiotics and drainage of the pacemaker packet when it was infected, removal of the pacemaker generator, or removal of the catheter electrode . One patient without evidence of pocket infection was treated successfully with antibiotic therapy alone. J Biol Chem, 1975 Jul 10, 250(13), 5076 - 81 Primary structure of porcine pepsin . II . Amino acid sequence of two cyanogen bromide fragments, CB3 and CB4; Marciniszyn J Jr et al.; The amino acid sequences of two cyanogen bromide fragments from porcine pepsin have been determined . Fragment CB3 which represents the NH2-terminal 80 residues of pepsin was assembled from the peptides purified from proteolytic digests of this fragment using alpha-chymotrypsin, thermolysin, and staphylococcal protease . Two chymotryptic peptides were isolated from the NH2-terminal region of this fragment . One of these contains 2 extra residues, Ala-Leu-, at the NH2 terminus . This peptide is apparently derived from a different cleavage site of pepsinogen in its conversion to pepsin . The second cyanogen bromide fragment, CB4, contains 47 residues . The sequence was established from the peptides resulting from proteolytic digests using alpha-chymotrypsin, alpha-lytic protease, and thermolysin . An isoleucyl residue at position 29 of fragment CB4 appears to be absent in some molecules . This represents a structural variant of pepsin. South Med J, 1975 Jul, 68(7), 817 - 23 Antibiotics in the treatment of chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis; Hodgin UG Jr; Fourteen patients with chronic osteomyelitis were treated with oral penicillin, oxacillin, or cloxacillin at a dose of 5 gm/day, plus 0.5 gm of probenecid (Benemid) three or four times per day . Treatment was continued for 2 1/2 to six months . In ten patients, evidence of osteomyelitis disappeared and there has been no recurrence during follow-up periods varying from six months to 2 1/2 years . Significant hepatotoxicity was encountered in two patients; one similar patient, not in this series but receiving a similar regimen of antibiotic, developed leukipenia . Thus, patients with chronic osteomyelitis appear to benefit from such a therapeutic program, but they must be monitored closely for hepatic or hematologic toxicity. J Biol Chem, 1975 Jul 10, 250(13), 5026 - 32 Biological activity and complementation of the two peptides of staphylococcal enterotoxin B formed by limited tryptic hydrolysis; Sero L et al.; Tryptic hydrolysis after reduction and carboxamidomethylation of staphylococcal enterotoxin B cleaved the single susceptible bond located between the 2 half-cystines of the molecule, Lys-Thr at positions 97 and 98 (Spero, L., Warren, J . R., and Metzger, J . F . (1973) J . Biol . Chem . 248, 7289-7294) . The product remained as a single particle but was separated into the two constituent peptides by denaturants, and purification of the two fragments was accomplished by chromatography on CM-cellulose in 8 M urea . Antigenic activity was exhibited by the separated peptides after dialysis of urea solutions against dilute buffer, but was very labile . No emetic activity in rhesus monkeys was found for either separated peptide . The derivative behaved as two random coil peptides in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride but upon removal of guanidine refolded to a single molecular entity . Viscosity and unfolding kinetics in 1.5 M guanidine indicated physical identity of the recombined peptides with the derivative prior to treatment with guanidine . Three biological measures (serological, mitogenic, and emetic activity) were also essentially unaltered for the recombined material . Since these biological activities are dependent upon different aspects of enterotoxin structure, it is concluded that the recombined derivative was restored to its original conformation. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek, 1975 Jul, 115(7), 114 - 5 {Treatment of exudative pericarditis in children}; Kudriavtsev VA; Three case reports of successful treatment for exudative pericarditis in children are presented . These were the result of staphylococcal pneumonias or acute hematogenic osteomyelitis . The treatment comprised punctures or drainage of the pericardium with lavage of its cavity with solutions of antibiotics and hydrocortisone against the background of general therapy . Late results were studied within the terms from 3 to 5 years . All children made good recovery. Pathology, 1975 Jul, 7(3), 193 - 7 Minocycline, doxycycline and tetracycline levels in serum and bronchial secretions of patients with chronic bronchitis; Ruhen RW et al.; Serum and sputum levels of minocycline, doxycycline and tetracycline were determined in patients with chronic bronchitis who were producing copious amounts of purulent sputum . Antibiotic estimations were carried out by the plate agar diffusion method using the Oxford staphylococcus . A close correlation was obtained between the sputum and the average serum levels for patients receiving tetracycline . Values obtained for minocycline showed a poor correlation between serum and sputum . A correlation between serum and sputum levels of doxycycline could not be established due to the low levels present in sputum . Our results indicate that while adequate serum levels of tetracycline reflect the attainment of theapeutic concentrations in bronchial secretions; the same predictions cannot be made for minocycline or doxycycline. Biochemistry, 1975 Jul, 14(13), 2921 - 5 Cleavage of DNA in nuclei and chromatin with staphylococcal nuclease; Axel R; Treatment of either rat liver chromatin or intact nuclei with the enzyme staphylococcal nuclease results in the conversion of about half of the DNA to acid-soluble oligonucleotides . As previously described, mild digestion of nuclei results in the liberation of a series of nucleoprotein particles containing DNA fragments which are all integral multiples of a unit length DNA 185 base pairs in length . Analysis of the kinetics of appearance of these fragments suggests that at least 85% of the nuclear DNA is involved in the formation of the repeating subunit profile . More extensive digestion of nuclei however results in the generation of a series of eight unique DNA fragments containing 160 to 50 base pairs . The series of smaller molecular weight DNA is virtually identical with the profile obtained upon limit digestion of isolated chromatin . By velocity centrifugation we have obtained highly purified preparations of the monomeric nucleoprotein particle . Digestion of this monomeric subunit results in the solubilization of 46% of the DNA and analysis of the resistant DNA again reveals the set of eight lower molecular weight fragments . These data suggest that the initial site of nuclease cleavage in chromatin resides within the DNA bridging the repeating monomeric subunits . Further attack results in cleavage at a set of sites within the monomer liberating a pattern of smaller DNA fragments which probably represents the points of intimate contact between the histones and DNA. Biochemistry, 1975 Jul, 14(13), 2915 - 20 A comparison of the digestion of nuclei and chromatin by staphylococcal nuclease; Sollner-Webb B et al.; We have followed the kinetics of staphylococcal nuclease digestion of duck reticulocyte nuclei and chromatin from early stages to the digestion limit . We confirm that partial digestion of nuclei produces discrete DNA bands which are multiples of a monomer, 185 base pairs in length . The multimers are shown to be precursors of the monomer, which is next digested to a homogeneous, 140 base pair fragment . This fragment in turn gives rise to an array of nuclear limit digest DNA bands, which is almost identical with the limit digest pattern of isolated chromatin . As in the case of chromatin, half the DNA of nuclei is acid soluble at this limit . While the DNA limit digest patterns of nuclei and chromatin are similar, the large multimeric structures present as intermediates in nuclear digestion are absent in chromatin digestion . Alternate methods of chromatin gel preparation appear to leave more of the higher order structure intact, as measured by the production of these multimeric bands . Our results are consistent with the "beads on a string" model of chromatin proposed by others. Infect Immun, 1975 Jul, 12(1), 193 - 7 Chromosomal synthesis of staphylococcal exfoliative toxin; Keyhani M et al.; Tox-+ staphylococcal strains, as opposed to Tox-minus strains, produce epidermal exfoliation within 18 h after direct subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection into newborn mice . The extracellular product responsible for exfoliation is termed exfoliative toxin (ET) . When culture supernatant fluid from the plasmid-cured Tox-minus substrains UT 0100 or UT 0111 or from six naturally occurring phage group 2 Tox-minus strains was concentrated 20-fold and inoculated into newborn mice, ET activity could be detected . The Tox-minus, cured derivatives produced ET at levels which were 32 minus and 64-fold lower than the amounts made by their Tox-+ parent strains . Since these Tox-minus, cured substrains contained no plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid, it was postulated that the product possessing ET activity in strains UT 0100 and UT 0111 was made by chromosomal genes . This product has been isolated and purified from strain UT 0100 and appears as two faint bands after electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels and corresponds in position to a heavy band of ET isolated from the Tox-+ strain UT 0007. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1975 Jul, 112(1), 109 - 12 Subacute staphylococcal pneumonia in a renal transplant recipient; Gallis HA; A patient is reported who developed subacute staphylococcal pneumonia 17 months after renal transplantation . Although the illness was modified by oral antimicrobial drugs, a remarkably benign course was observed, leading to a presumptive diagnosis of opportunistic fungal infection . Thus, staphylococcal pneumonia may complicate the differential diagnosis of pulmonary infection in transplant recipients. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 1975 Jul, 149(3), 622 - 5 Blood pressure changes in mice after lethal staphylococcal infection and endotoxin challenge; Rhoden CH et al.; A radioisotope technique has been used to determine blood pressure changes in mice after lethal staphylococcal infection and after lethal endotoxin challenge . The method was verified by making simultaneous direct measurements in rats . Mice in both groups became hypotensive to a similar level (a fall 20-30 mm Hg) . This tailcuff technique is simple and reliable but is dependent upon normal tail blood flow . Spurious low pressure readings are obtained in hypothermic or chilled mice because the tail is a major thermoregulator organ . These difficulties can be overcome by warming chilled or hypothermic mice. J Immunol, 1975 Jul, 115(1), 49 - 53 Evidence for cell-receptor activity in lymphocyte stimulation by staphylococcal enterotoxin; Warren JR et al.; A wide dose-response curve and the inhibitory effect on mitogenicity of specific antitoxin suggest that polyclonal lymphocyte activation by staphylococcal enterotoxin requires direct interaction of toxin with lymphocyte receptors of low avidity for the protein . Staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, and C1 demonstrated equivalent mitogenic activity . Lymphocyte receptors involved in enterotoxin activation thus appear to be specific for nonantigenic regions of the toxin molecule . Monosaccharide (hapten) inhibiton data indicate that lymphocyte receptors for staphylococcal enterotoxin lack alpha-mannoside, galactose, acetylgalactosamine, acetylglucosamine, and fucose (or closely related saccharides) as determinant sugars and thus differ significantly in structure from lectin cell receptors. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1975 Jul, 40(1), 126 - 9 The staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome versus erythema multiforme; Ossoff R et al.; This article reports a case of scalded-skin syndrome in a young child . Characterized by a generalized exfoliative dermatitis resembling scalded skin, the disease may involve the oral mucosa and must be differentiated from Stevens-Johnson syndrome (erythema multiforme) . Since the etiology is specific, the disease can be treated with antibiotics with dramatic results. Arzneimittelforschung, 1975 Jul, 25(7), 1004 - 6 Staphylococcal micrococcins . I . Isolation of antibiotic-producing strains; Pulverer G et al.; Seven strains belonging to the family Micrococcaceae and possessing strong antagonistic properties against Staph . aureus and several other Gram-positive bacteria, have been isolated . The strains were characterized and identified, phage typed, tested for antibiotic-sensitivity and antagonistic activities . Two patients of inhibition were noted. Z Immunitatsforsch Exp Klin Immunol, 1975 Jul, 149(2-4), 168 - 78 Measurement of peptidoglycan antibodies by a radioimmunoassay; Heymer B et al.; Staphylococcus epidermidis peptidoglycans solubilized by sonication or lysozyme digestion, and synthetic peptidoglycan analogs such as HSA-carboxymethyl-Gly-L-Ala-L-Ala-D-Ala-D-Ala (HSA-pentapeptide) or L-Ala-gamma-D-Glu-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala (pentapeptide) have been labeled with 125I and tested for their applicability in the radioactive antigen binding assay . Use of radioiodinated Staph . epidermidis peptidoglycans was found to be considerably impeded by the presence of at least 2 different antigenic sites on such molecules, the pentapeptide and the glycan determinant . Application of labeled HSA-pentapeptide was limited by the necessity to use PEG for precipitation of Ag-Ab-complexes and by short linear potions of binding curves . However, the synthetic pentapeptide hapten, radioiodinated by the active ester method of BOLTON and HUNTER, proved to be a most useful regent for the selective measurement of pentapeptide antibody . Inhibition studies indicated that the immunological specificity of the labeled hapten was retained . Pentapeptide binding curves were linear from 15-500 g/ml of antibody . Generally, there was good agreement between pentapeptide antibody concentrations measured by radioimmunoassay and quantitative precipitation. Biochemistry, 1975 Jun 3, 14(11), 2343 - 9 Evaluation of quantitative affinity chromatography by comparison with kinetic and equilibrium dialysis methods for the analysis of nucleotide binding to staphylococcal nuclease; Dunn BM et al.; The elution of staphylococcal nuclease on thymidine 3'-(p-Sepharose-aminophenyl phosphate) 5'-phosphate (nucleotide ligand of nuclease covalently bound to Sepharose 4B) was studied in the presence of a variety of soluble nucleotide ligands . The elution volumes of nuclease vary proportionally with matrix-bound ligand concentration (at constant soluble ligand concentration), inversely with soluble ligand concentration (at constant matrix-bound ligand concentration), and inversely with dissociation constant of soluble ligand (at constant concentrations of soluble and matrix-bound ligand) . The variation of elution volume was related to an expression which described the competition of soluble and matrix-bound ligand for nuclease binding . Using this expression, values for dissociation constants were derived for nucleotide ligands in both the soluble and bound form . The values for soluble ligand were found to correspond closely to those obtained by either equilibrium dialysis or kinetics of inhibition of nuclease activity . Furthermore, a close correspondence was found between the values of dissocation constants for matrix-bound and soluble thymidine 3'-(p-aminophenyl phosphate) 5'-phosphate, thus defining the interaction of nuclease with the matrix-bound ligand as a process quite similar to that occurring in solution. Biochemistry, 1975 Jun 3, 14(11), 2489 - 95 The structure of the globin genes in chromatin; Axel R et al.; The distribution of proteins in the neighborhood of the globin genes of duck reticulocyte chromatin has been studied . This chromatin is first shown to be an active template for transcription in vitro of globin messenger-like RNA . The chromatin is then treated with staphylococcal nuclease and the DNA fragments protected from nuclease attack ("covered DNA") are isolated . Alternatively, the chromatin is titrated with poly-D-lysine, and by successive treatment with Pronase and nuclease, the DNA regions accessible to polylysine are isolated (open "DNA") . In order to determine the distribution of globin gene sequences in open and covered DNA, these two fractions are annealed to globin cDNA (globin probe) . It is found that while all globin gene sequences are represented in covered DNA, a specific portion of the globin gene is missing from open DNA, corresponding to about 20% of the gene length . It is concluded that specific regions of the globin genes of reticulocyte chromatin are partly covered by proteins in such a way as to render them in accessible to polylysine . In contrast, no difference is observed in the annealing properties of open and covered regions to globin probe using DNA isolated from erythrocyte chromatin, which is a poor templete in vitro for production of globin message . The annealing of open and covered DNA to each other has also been studied . It is found that open and covered DNA have identical sequence populations . Thus, in contrast to the special arrangement of proteins in the neighborhood of the globin gene, there does not appear to be any sequence-specific arrangement of the bulk of the chromatin proteins on chromatin DNA.
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