Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1997 Dec 23, 94(26), 14948 - 53 Leaf-specifically expressed genes for polypeptides destined for chloroplasts with domains of sigma70 factors of bacterial RNA polymerases in Arabidopsis thaliana; Isono K et al.; Genes for sigma-like factors of bacterial-type RNA polymerase have not been characterized from any multicellular eukaryotes, although they probably play a crucial role in the expression of plastid photosynthesis genes . We have cloned three distinct cDNAs, designated SIG1, SIG2, and SIG3, for polypeptides possessing amino acid sequences for domains conserved in sigma70 factors of bacterial RNA polymerases from the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana . Each gene is present as one copy per haploid genome without any additional sequences hybridized in the genome . Transient expression assays using green fluorescent protein demonstrated that N-terminal regions of the SIG2 and SIG3 ORFs could function as transit peptides for import into chloroplasts . Transcripts for all three SIG genes were detected in leaves but not in roots, and were induced in leaves of dark-adapted plants in rapid response to light illumination . Together with results of our previous analysis of tissue-specific regulation of transcription of plastid photosynthesis genes, these results indicate that expressed levels of the genes may influence transcription by regulating RNA polymerase activity in a green tissue-specific manner. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1997 Dec 23, 94(26), 14759 - 63 Cloning and mutagenesis of a herpesvirus genome as an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome; Messerle M et al.; A strategy for cloning and mutagenesis of an infectious herpesvirus genome is described . The mouse cytomegalovirus genome was cloned and maintained as a 230 kb bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) in E . coli . Transfection of the BAC plasmid into eukaryotic cells led to a productive virus infection . The feasibility to introduce targeted mutations into the BAC cloned virus genome was shown by mutation of the immediate-early 1 gene and generation of a mutant virus . Thus, the complete construction of a mutant herpesvirus genome can now be carried out in a controlled manner prior to the reconstitution of infectious progeny . The described approach should be generally applicable to the mutagenesis of genomes of other large DNA viruses. J Interferon Cytokine Res, 1997 Dec, 17(12), 781 - 8 Interleukin-10 functions in vitro and in vivo to inhibit bacterial DNA-induced secretion of interleukin-12; Anitescu M et al.; Bacterial DNA (bDNA) has a number of biologic properties, including the ability to induce interleukin-12 (IL-12) production by macrophages . We studied the role of the regulatory cytokine IL-10 as a potential inhibitor of bDNA-induced IL-12 production . IL-10 concentrations as low as 0.3 ng/ml profoundly inhibited bDNA-induced macrophage IL-12 production as measured by Elispot analysis of IL-12 p40-secreting cells . Additionally, we found that IL-10 inhibited bDNA-induced IL-12 secretion by the macrophage cell lines J774 and RAW 264 . Preincubation of splenic adherent cells with IL-10 markedly reduced bDNA-induced transcription of IL-12 p40 mRNA . Interestingly, after 2 h of exposure, bDNA also induces transcription of IL-10 mRNA by splenic adherent cells . The importance of IL-10 in the in vivo regulation of bDNA-induced cytokine secretion was illustrated by the response of mice with disrupted IL-10 genes (IL-10 ko mice) to i.v . bDNA challenge . Compared to +/+ mice, IL-10 knockout (ko) mice exhibited increased numbers of IL-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-secreting cells following either single or repeated challenge with bDNA . These findings indicate that IL-10 plays a key role in regulating bDNA-induced production of inflammatory cytokines. J Clin Gastroenterol, 1997 Dec, 25(4), 688 - 90 Pneumoperitoneum and ascites secondary to bacterial overgrowth; Raju GS et al.; Abdominal bloating, weight loss, pneumoperitoneum, and ascites developed in a 73-year-old woman . She had scleroderma, megajejunum, small bowel dysmotility, and bacterial overgrowth . After treatment with a course of antibiotics, the pneumoperitoneum and ascites resolved, but her symptoms and the pneumoperitoneum recurred after the antibiotics were stopped . She was placed on cyclical antibiotics, and during a 2-year follow-up period she has remained well . The pneumoperitoneum and ascites may have been secondary to small bowel bacterial overgrowth . Ours is the first case that demonstrates this association. Biophys J, 1998 Jan, 74(1), 569 - 75 Quasi- and nonequivalence in the structure of bacterial flagellar filament; Hasegawa K et al.; In supercoiled forms of flagellar filaments, which are thought to be produced by combinations of two distinct subunit lattices, the lattices are elastically deformed in 11 different ways, depending on their azimuthal positions on the circumference of a tube with 11 protofilaments . Those two interactions are nonequivalent as opposed to quasiequivalent ones in elastically deformed lattices of otherwise identical interactions . The term nonequivalence is defined to represent different bonding interactions, and quasiequivalent is used to describe deformed but conserved bonding interactions . By using two distinct lattices that were accurately determined by x-ray fiber diffraction, 10 possible supercoiled forms of flagellar filaments were simulated, based on a bistable-subunit packing model . Comparison to the observed forms showed good agreement, indicating that the model and determined lattice parameters effectively represent realistic features of the structure . The simulated quasiequivalent lattices have been compared to the two nonequivalent lattices, revealing an interesting feature: the maximum deviation in the intersubunit distance by elastic deformation is almost three-quarters of the difference between the two distinct lattices, demonstrating a balanced coexistence of a well-defined conformational distinction and extensive adaptability in the molecular structure of flagellin and its packing interactions. Biophys J, 1998 Jan, 74(1), 182 - 91 Reorganization energy of the initial electron-transfer step in photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers; Parson WW et al.; The reorganization energy (lambda) for electron transfer from the primary electron donor (P*) to the adjacent bacteriochlorophyll (B) in photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers is explored by molecular-dynamics simulations . Relatively long (40 ps) molecular-dynamics trajectories are used, rather than free energy perturbation techniques . When the surroundings of the reaction center are modeled as a membrane, lambda for P* B --> P+ B- is found to be approximately 1.6 kcal/mol . The results are not sensitive to the treatment of the protein's ionizable groups, but surrounding the reaction center with water gives higher values of lambda (approximately 6.5 kcal/mol) . In light of the evidence that P+ B- lies slightly below P* in energy, the small lambda obtained with the membrane model is consistent with the speed and temperature independence of photochemical charge separation . The calculated reorganization energy is smaller than would be expected if the molecular dynamics trajectories had sampled the full conformational space of the system . Because the system does not relax completely on the time scale of electron transfer, the lambda obtained here probably is more pertinent than the larger value that would be obtained for a fully equilibrated system. J Immunol Methods, 1997 Nov 10, 209(1), 75 - 83 Retrieval of phage displayed scFv fragments using direct bacterial elution; Wind T et al.; Phage displayed repertoires of antibody fragments, either single chain Fv (scFv) or Fab, have become a real alternative to traditional hybridoma technology in the generation of monoclonal antibodies . The steps usually taken in the selection from such repertoires were analysed and the necessity of chemical elution of bound phage-Abs and precipitation of amplified phage particles questioned . By using a semi-synthetic scFv library as a source, phage antibodies recognising a panel of seven antigens were isolated utilising direct bacterial elution of bound phage . Selections against two antigens were subsequently performed with bacterial or chemical elution in parallel and the resulting pools of phage antibodies compared . It is demonstrated that direct bacterial elution can be used when selecting from phage displayed antibody repertoires but that the enrichment of high affinity binders might be jeopardised . In addition, a simplified and more rapid scheme for amplification and use of phage displayed repertoires is described. Trends Microbiol, 1997 Dec, 5(12), 496 - 501 Bacterial associations with mycorrhizal fungi: close and distant friends in the rhizosphere; Perotto S et al.; Bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere interact with each other at different levels of cellular integration, ranging from apparently simple association, through surface attachment, to intimate and obligatory symbiosis . This synergism may not only be important in promoting plant growth and health, but may also be significant to rhizosphere ecology. Am J Surg, 1998 Jan, 175(1), 38 - 43 Gut bacterial translocation during total parenteral nutrition in experimental rats and its countermeasure; Nakasaki H et al.; BACKGROUND: The use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is commonly associated with mucosal lining of the intestinal tract, causing degenerative changes within the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) . These phenomena are probably caused by the translocation of indigenous intestinal bacteria into other organs and tissues where they induce infections . METHODS: Using TPN model rats, this paper looks at the result of the investigation of the action of PSK (proteoglycan), a biological response modifier, which appears to suppress bacterial translocation and maintain local immunity activity . RESULTS: Culture of mesenteric lymph nodes obtained post-TPN demonstrate a bacterial rate as high as 60% . Immunohistochemical examination indicates a reduction in the number of plasma cells and a decrease in S-IgA production and secretion . A similar reduction in S-IgA within bile and portal venous blood was also confirmed . Continuous oral administration of PSK in a daily dose of 1,000 mg/kg had a protective effect against the degeneration of GALT . A staining in immunocytes of Peyer's patches using immunohistochemical study was performed after administration of PSK and revealed constant levels of MHC-I, MHC-II, T helper cells, and interleukin-2 producing cells, supporting the protective role of PSK against degeneration of GALT with a subsequent reduction in bacterial translocation . CONCLUSIONS: Proteoglycan can restore the impaired local immunity in the intestinal tract to normal levels and suppression of the bacterial translocation to provide an important function for patients receiving TPN treatment. Neurology, 1998 Jan, 50(1), 196 - 203 Recent bacterial and viral infection is a risk factor for cerebrovascular ischemia: clinical and biochemical studies; Grau AJ et al.; We performed a case-control study to investigate the role of recent infection as stroke risk factor and to identify pathogenetic pathways linking infection and stroke . We examined 166 consecutive patients with acute cerebrovascular ischemia and 166 patients hospitalized for nonvascular and noninflammatory neurologic diseases . Control subjects were individually matched to patients for sex, age, and season of admission . We assessed special biochemical parameters in subgroups of stroke patients with and without recent infection (n = 21) who were similar with respect to demographic and clinical parameters . Infection within the preceding week was a risk factor for cerebrovascular ischemia in univariate (odds ratio {OR} 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.57 to 6.1) and age-adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis (OR 2.9; 95% CI, 1.31 to 6.4) . The OR of recent infection and age were inversely related . Both bacterial and viral infection contributed to increased risk . Infection elevated the risk for cardioembolism and tended to increase the risk for arterioarterial embolism . Stroke patients with and without preceding infection were not different with respect to factor VII and factor VIII activity, fibrin monomer, fibrin D-dimer, von Willebrand factor, C4b-binding protein, protein S, anticardiolipin antibodies, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, soluble tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and neopterin . In conclusion, recent infection is an independent risk factor for acute cerebrovascular ischemia . Its role appears to be more important in younger age groups . The pathogenetic linkage between infection and stroke is still insufficiently understood. Pediatr Pulmonol Suppl, 1997, 16, 88 - 9 Influence of viral and bacterial respiratory infections on exacerbations and symptom severity in childhood asthma; Johnston SL; The recent development of PCR for the diagnosis of respiratory viral infection has highlighted the importance of these infections in acute exacerbations of asthma . Rhinoviruses are important in all age groups, but particularly over 1 yr, while the role of RSV in bronchiolitis and wheezing in infants has been reaffirmed . Recent studies using the same technique for the detection of C . pneumoniae suggest a high prevalence of chronic infection in asthmatic children, and that the immune response to this organism may play a pathological role . These studies now require confirmation with larger carefully controlled studies. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, 1997, 13, 457 - 512 The two-component signaling pathway of bacterial chemotaxis: a molecular view of signal transduction by receptors, kinases, and adaptation enzymes; Falke JJ et al.; The chemosensory pathway of bacterial chemotaxis has become a paradigm for the two-component superfamily of receptor-regulated phosphorylation pathways . This simple pathway illustrates many of the fundamental principles and unanswered questions in the field of signaling biology . A molecular description of pathway function has progressed rapidly because it is accessible to diverse structural, biochemical, and genetic approaches . As a result, structures are emerging for most of the pathway elements, biochemical studies are elucidating the mechanisms of key signaling events, and genetic methods are revealing the intermolecular interactions that transmit information between components . Recent advances include (a) the first molecular picture of a conformational transmembrane signal in a cell surface receptor, (b) four new structures of kinase domains and adaptation enzymes, and (c) significant new insights into the mechanisms of receptor-mediated kinase regulation, receptor adaptation, and the phospho-activation of signaling proteins . Overall, the chemosensory pathway and the propulsion system it regulates provide an ideal system in which to probe molecular principles underlying complex cellular signaling and behavior. J Biol Chem, 1998 Jan 23, 273(4), 2078 - 89 Sesquiterpene synthases from grand fir (Abies grandis) . Comparison of constitutive and wound-induced activities, and cDNA isolation, characterization, and bacterial expression of delta-selinene synthase and gamma-humulene synthase; Steele CL et al.; Grand fir (Abies grandis) has been developed as a model system for the study of oleoresin production in response to stem wounding and insect attack . The turpentine fraction of the oleoresin was shown to contain at least 38 sesquiterpenes that represent 12.5% of the turpentine, with the monoterpenes comprising the remainder . Assays of cell-free extracts from grand fir stem with farnesyl diphosphate as substrate indicated that the constitutive sesquiterpene synthases produced the same sesquiterpenes found in the oleoresin and that, in response to wounding, only two new products were synthesized, delta-cadinene and (E)-alpha-bisabolene . A similarity based cloning strategy yielded two new cDNA species from a stem cDNA library that, when expressed in Escherichia coli and the gene products subsequently assayed, yielded a remarkable number of sesquiterpene products . The encoded enzymes have been named delta-selinene synthase and gamma-humulene synthase based on the principal products formed; however, each enzyme synthesizes three major products and produces 34 and 52 total sesquiterpenes, respectively, thereby accounting for many of the sesquiterpenes of the oleoresin . The deduced amino acid sequence of the delta-selinene synthase cDNA open reading frame encodes a protein of 581 residues (at 67.6 kDa), whereas that of the gamma-humulene synthase cDNA encodes a protein of 593 residues (at 67.9 kDa) . The two amino acid sequences are 83% similar and 65% identical to each other and range in similarity from 65 to 67% and in identity from 43 to 46% when compared with the known sequences of monoterpene and diterpene synthases from grand fir . Although the two sesquiterpene synthases from this gymnosperm do not very closely resemble terpene synthases from angiosperm species (52-56% similarity and 26-30% identity, there are clustered regions of significant apparent homology between the enzymes of these two plant classes . The multi-step, multi-product reactions catalyzed by the sesquiterpene synthases from grand fir are among the most complex of any terpenoid cyclase thus far described. Genomics, 1997 Dec 15, 46(3), 480 - 2 A mammalian homolog of the bacterial monomeric sarcosine oxidases maps to mouse chromosome 11, close to Cryba1; Herbst R et al.; We have cloned a cDNA from a mouse gene, Pso (peroxisomal sarcosine oxidase) . Pso appears to encode a homolog of the single-subunit (40 kDa) bacterial sarcosine oxidases . The mouse Pso gene product would contain a peroxisomal localization sequence, like that of the recently reported rabbit enzyme, Mouse Pso lies between 20 and 50 kb upstream of the promoter of the Sez6 gene, close to Crybal on chromosome 11 . Pso is expressed very strongly and specifically in liver and kidney . The gene appears to be present widely in eutherian mammals. Klin Khir, 1997, (5-6), 7 - 11 {The choice of surgical strategies in bacterial infections of the transplants after the reconstructive surgery of the aorto-femoral segment}; Dominiak AB; The experience of the purulent complications treatment occurring while synthetic prosthesis application in the aorto-femoral region and venous shunts-in femoral-popliteal zone is presented . Reconstructive procedures on the abdominal aorta and peripheral arteries were conducted in 4462 patients of whom in 158 (3.5%) the transplant infecting occurred . All the patients were divided conventionally on three groups: with local and total infecting of the transplant and with angiogenic sepsis . New methods of reoperative procedures depending on the infecting kind were proposed . Application of the surgical tactics elaborated for the transplant infecting on aorto-ileal and femoral-popliteal levels have permitted to reduce the lethality from 49.8 to 13.2%, to save the life in 158 (75.5%) patients and to achieve the lower extremities revascularization. Brain Res, 1997 Nov 14, 775(1-2), 63 - 73 Differential expression of fibronectin, tenascin-C and NCAMs in cultured hippocampal astrocytes activated by kainate, bacterial lipopolysaccharide or basic fibroblast growth factor; Mahler M et al.; Different reports demonstrated that reactive glial cells express increased amounts of adhesion and matrix molecules . Despite a wealth of information on the expression of these molecules during development and after lesion, very little is known of how this expression is regulated . In the present report we used Western blots and immunocytochemistry to investigate the expression of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), fibronectin and tenascin-C in cultured astrocytes from rat hippocampus . The effects of three different extracellular signals were analyzed: the glutamatergic receptor agonist kainic acid, the basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and the bacterial lipopolysaccharide . Each treatment had a specific pattern of glial activation and differentially modified the expression of these proteins . Treatment of astrocytes with kainic acid resulted in an increase of tenascin-C, a decrease of fibronectin and a shift of NCAMs isoforms: NCAM 140 and PSA-NCAM (polysialic acid-rich NCAMs) were increased while NCAM 120 was decreased, bFGF increased fibronectin, tenascin-C and NCAM 120, while decreasing PSA-NCAM . Finally, the treatment of astrocytes with lipopolysaccharide induced a significant increase of fibronectin, tenascin-C and NCAM 120 but did not modify the expression of NCAM 140 and PSA-NCAM . These data suggest different mechanisms for modulation of cell surface interactions . They suggest that glial activation by bFGF and lipopolysaccharide are associated with an increase of the adhesive properties, while kainate action is rather associated with a decrease of the adhesiveness of astrocytes. Biochemistry, 1997 Dec 23, 36(51), 16247 - 58 Redox thermodynamics of the native and alkaline forms of eukaryotic and bacterial class I cytochromes c; Battistuzzi G et al.; The reduction potentials of beef heart cytochrome c and cytochromes c2 from Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and Rhodobacter capsulatus were measured through direct electrochemistry at a surface-modified gold electrode as a function of temperature in nonisothermal experiments carried out at neutral and alkaline pH values . The thermodynamic parameters for protein reduction (DeltaS degrees rc and DeltaH degrees rc) were determined for the native and alkaline conformers . Enthalpy and entropy terms underlying species-dependent differences in E degrees and pH- and temperature-induced E degrees changes for a given cytochrome were analyzed . The difference of about +0.1 V in E degrees between cytochromes c2 and the eukaryotic species can be separated into an enthalpic term (-DeltaDeltaH degrees rc/F) of +0.130 V and an entropic term (TDeltaDeltaS degrees rc/F) of -0.040 V . Hence, the higher potential of the bacterial species appears to be determined entirely by a greater enthalpic stabilization of the reduced state . Analogously, the much lower potential of the alkaline conformer(s) as compared to the native species is by far enthalpic in origin for both protein families, and is largely determined by the substitution of Met for Lys in axial heme ligation . Instead, the biphasic E degrees /temperature profile for the native cytochromes is due to a difference in reduction entropy between the conformers at low and high temperatures . Temperature-dependent 1H NMR experiments suggest that the temperature-induced transition also involves a change in orientation of the axial methionine ligand with respect to the heme plane. Sex Transm Dis, 1998 Jan, 25(1), 24 - 7 Accuracy of cervical/vaginal cytology in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis; Giacomini G et al.; BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The cytological pattern of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in the Papanicolaou smear has a controversial history (coccoid vs . Gardnerella type) that has not allowed an efficient use of cervical/vaginal cytology in the diagnosis of this condition . Our study is an attempt to clarify this topic . GOALS: To evaluate the accuracy of cervical/vaginal cytology in the diagnosis of BV . STUDY DESIGN: 1,896 separate examinations were performed on 1,471 women attending our sexually transmitted diseases center between 1990 and 1993 . Amsel's composite clinical criteria were used as a gold standard . The Pap smear was prepared on two slides with the addition of a vaginal specimen . RESULTS: In the 166 cases of BV, sensitivity is 88.7%, and specificity is 98.8% . Positive predictive value is 89.8, and negative predictive value is 98.7 . Kendall's correlation coefficient is 0.88 (p < 0.001) . CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the validity of the vaginal Pap smear in diagnosing BV and suggest the screening of such a disease. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, 1998 Jan-Feb, 22(1), 37 - 41 Elemental diet-induced bacterial translocation associated with systemic and intestinal immune suppression; Xu D et al.; BACKGROUND: Elemental diets can lead to a loss of intestinal barrier function, promote bacterial translocation, and impair host immune defenses . The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of i.v . and orally administered total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solution on systemic and intestinal immunity and to establish whether supplemental cellulose fiber could improve the impaired immune response . METHODS: The incidence of bacterial translocation and immune function was quantitated by measuring organ weights, immune cell population levels, and the mitogenic response of lymphocytes from the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches of rats receiving parenteral or enteral TPN solution, with and without fiber supplementation . RESULTS: Parenteral and enterally administered TPN solution promoted bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph nodes, reduced immune cell population levels, and decreased the lymphocyte mitogenic response to T- and B-cell mitogens . Supplemental cellulose fiber reduced the incidence of diet-induced bacterial translocation from 84% to 31% (p < .01) and improved immune cell function . To more closely examine the relationship between bacterial translocation and impaired lymphocyte mitogenic activity, rats receiving TPN orally or i.v . were separated into two groups based on whether or not bacterial translocation occurred . Rats in which fiber prevented bacterial translocation had normal mitogenic responses, whereas the sub-group of rats in which fiber failed to prevent bacterial translocation had profound decreases in their lymphocyte mitogenic responses . CONCLUSIONS: Both parenteral and enteral elemental diets induced bacterial translocation and impaired systemic and intestinal immune function . Fiber supplementation was effective in reducing elemental diet-induced bacterial translocation and significantly prevented diet-induced impairment of lymphocyte function. Arerugi, 1997 Nov, 46(11), 1132 - 5 {Influence of beclomethason dipropionate inhalation therapy on respiratory bacterial infection in patient with an asthmatic attack}; Watanabe Y et al.; The aim of this clinical study was to investigate the influence of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) inhalation therapy on respiratory bacterial infection in patient with an asthmatic attack . We studied 267 asthmatic attack episodes of 241 patients with/without BDP inhalation therapy . There was no difference between two groups in %peak flow, body temperature, CRP, WBC count, bacterial culture of sputum on admission . BDP inhalation therapy has little influence on respiratory bacterial infection at an asthmatic attack. Oncol Res, 1997, 9(8), 411 - 7 In vivo antimetastatic action of ginseng protopanaxadiol saponins is based on their intestinal bacterial metabolites after oral administration; Wakabayashi C et al.; The present study demonstrated in vivo and in vitro antimetastatic activities of a major intestinal bacterial metabolite M1 formed from protopanaxadiol saponins of ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng C . A . Meyer) in comparison with its whole standardized extract and ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc . Although Ginseng extract (1 mg/mouse) and ginsenosides (0.5 mg/mouse) significantly inhibited lung metastasis produced by i.v . injection of B16-BL6 melanoma cells in syngeneic mice (27-61% of untreated control), they hardly inhibited the invasion and migration of B16-BL6 melanoma and HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells in vitro . However, the intestinal bacterial metabolite M1 inhibited lung metastasis of melanoma cells and in vitro tumor cell invasion and migration at nontoxic or marginally toxic concentrations . Additionally, pharmacokinetic studies of ginsenoside Rb1 and M1 after oral administration (2 mg/mouse) revealed that intact Rb1 was not detectable in serum for 24 h by HPLC analysis, whereas the level of M1 in the serum reached maximum at 8 h (8.5 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml) after Rb1 administration and at 2 h (10.3 +/- 1.0 micrograms/ml) after M1 administration . These findings suggest that the in vivo antimetastatic effect by oral administration of ginsenosides is mediated by their metabolic component M1. Scand J Infect Dis, 1997, 29(5), 453 - 9 Increased prevalence of HIV-2 infection in hospitalized patients with severe bacterial diseases in Guinea-Bissau; Norrgren H et al.; We studied the association between HIV-2 infection and bacterial pneumonia, sepsis or pyomyositis, as well as the influence of HIV-2 infection on the clinical outcome in patients with these bacterial infections . A total of 201 consecutive hospitalized patients were included at the Simao Mendes National Hospital in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau . Age- and sex-matched controls were selected from an ongoing census in a semi-urban area of Bissau . Among 201 cases with such bacterial infection the prevalence of HIV-1 was 5.4%, HIV-2, 27.9%, and both HIV-1 and HIV-2 reactivity 6.4% . Among controls, the corresponding prevalence rates were significantly lower, 1.5%, 9.0% and 1.0%, respectively . A total of 140, 31 and 30 cases of pneumonia, sepsis and pyomyositis were included, and the differences in prevalence of HIV-2 compared with the controls also remained significant for each diagnosis separately . Lymphocyte subsets were determined in 93 consecutive patients, and the CD4 cell counts and CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratios were markedly suppressed in the HIV-2-seropositive group . Due to excess mortality in the seropositive groups with sepsis (75.0%) and pyomyositis (25.0%), the mortality during hospitalization was significantly higher among HIV-2 infected compared to HIV-negative patients . Among cases of pneumonia the mortality was low in the HIV-2-seropositive (2.9%) as well as in the HIV-seronegative (3.4%) groupPIP: The association between HIV-2 infection and bacterial pneumonia, sepsis, and pyomyositis was examined in 201 consecutive patients hospitalized at Simao Mendes National Hospital in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau with such bacterial diseases and 201 age- and sex-matched controls drawn from a census in a semi-urban area of Bissau . Among cases, HIV-1 prevalence was 5.4%, HIV-2 prevalence was 27.9%, and combined HIV-1 and HIV-2 prevalence was 6.4% . Among controls, these prevalences were 1.5%, 9.0%, and 1.0%, respectively . The prevalence of HIV-2 infection was 25.0% among cases with pneumonia (n = 140), 38.7% among those with sepsis (n = 31), and 30.0% among those with pyomyositis (n = 30) . Among the 93 cases for whom T lymphocytes were determined, the absolute number and percentage of CD4 cells and the CD4/CD8 cell ratios were markedly suppressed in the HIV-2-positive group, especially in those with sepsis . Of the 194 patients available for follow-up, 160 were classified as cured or improved, 10 did not improve, and 24 died . Mortality from sepsis and pyomyositis was significantly greater among HIV-2-infected cases than HIV-negative patients . The median percentage of CD4 cells was significantly lower among HIV-2-positive patients who died (9.0%) than survivors (16.5%) . These findings confirm the existence of a significant association between HIV-2 and severe bacterial infections as well as a significantly higher mortality during hospitalization from sepsis and pyomyositis in HIV-2-positive patients compared to HIV-negative patients . Nephron, 1997, 77(4), 479 - 81 Impaired bacterial killing and hydrogen peroxide production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils in end-stage renal failure; Porter CJ et al.; Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) isolated from a sub-population of patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) who were identified because they demonstrated impaired intracellular bacterial killing, were assayed for hydrogen peroxide activity using two different techniques capable of distinguishing between total and intracellular hydrogen peroxide generation . In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of impaired intracellular bacterial killing further, hydrogen peroxide activity was compared to PMN isolated from patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and a control group of healthy normal volunteers . PMN from conservatively treated ESRF patients demonstrated reduced production of intracellular hydrogen peroxide (mean 37.7 +/- 4.3 fluorescence units), compared to PMN from both ESRF patients treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (mean 57.9 +/- 6.6 fluorescence units) and normal controls (mean 60.4 +/- 3.5 fluorescence units) . This suggests that the probable mechanism of impaired bacterial intracellular killing by the PMN of conservatively treated ESRF patients involves the production of intracellular hydrogen peroxide. Eur J Biochem, 1997 Dec 1, 250(2), 524 - 31 Molybdate-uptake genes and molybdopterin-biosynthesis genes on a bacterial plasmid--characterization of MoeA as a filament-forming protein with adenosinetriphosphatase activity; Menendez C et al.; A gene cluster consisting of homologs to Escherichia coli moaA, moeA, moaC and moaE, which encode enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of molybdopterin cofactor (MoCo), and to modA, modB and modC, which encode a high-affinity molybdate transporter, were identified on pAO1 of Arthrobacter nicotinovorans near genes of molybdopterin-dependent enzymes involved in nicotine degradation . This gene arrangement suggests a coordinated expression of the MoCo-dependent and the MoCo-biosynthesis genes and shows that catabolic plasmids may carry the transport and biosynthetic machinery for the synthesis of the cofactors needed for the functioning of the enzymes they encode . pAO1 MoeA functionally complemented E . coli moeA mutants . The overexpressed and purified protein, of molecular mass 44,500 Da, associated into high-molecular-mass complexes and spontaneously formed gels at concentrations above 1 mg/ml . Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy revealed that MoeA forms fibrilar structures . In the presence of Mg2+ MoeA exhibited ATPase activity (0.020 pmol ATP x pmol protein(-1) x min(-1)) . ATP, ADP or AMP induced the disassembly of the MoeA fibers into aggregates . pAO1 MoeA shows 39% identity to the C-terminal domain of the rat neuroprotein gephyrin . Like gephyrin it binds to neurotubulin, but binds with preference to tubulin dimers. Gene, 1997 Nov 20, 202(1-2), 203 - 8 Co-integration and expression of bacterial and genomic transgenes in the pancreatic and intestinal tissues of transgenic mice; Ali S et al.; Previous studies in the mammary gland have reported the 'rescue' of poorly expressed cDNA transgenes by their co-integration with a genomic sequence specifically expressed in the mammary tissue . To determine whether a highly expressed genomic sequence co-integrated with a cDNA sequence can rescue expression in other tissues, the expression of a bacterial gene, celE', encoding endoglucanase E' (EGE'), was investigated in the pancreatic and intestinal epithelia of transgenic mice . To rescue pancreatic expression, the human growth hormone genomic sequence was co-integrated with the bacterial gene, whereas to rescue intestinal expression, the genomic sequence encoding the intestinal fatty acid binding protein was used . In both studies the number of transgenics expressing celE' was significantly increased (60%) by the use of a genomic sequence, but only in the intestinal tissues was the level of celE' expression improved . However, this improvement was modest, representing at maximum only a doubling in the levels of EGE' . Thus permissive integration or rescue may be general, but the overall level of rescue is often insubstantial compared to the endogenous expression of the transgene genomic DNA. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin, 1997 Oct, 15(8), 418 - 21 {Historical cohort study on bacterial pneumonias as predictors of the progression of the human immunodeficiency virus disease}; Teira R et al.; BACKGROUND: Recognition of the importance of bacterial pneumonias in the context of HIV infection has continuously grown throughout the pandemia . It has recently been suggested that these may be predictors of progression of the disease . PATIENTS AND METHODS: The evolution of an historic cohort of patients with HIV infection who were studied in 1989 with pneumonia regarding the presentation of AIDS or death was investigated . A control cohort was established, being age matched for sex, CD4 lymphocyte count, previous HIV disease and the use of zidovudine . Kaplan-Meier curves of survival without AIDS were made and compared by the logarythmic range test . Other predictors of progression were studied by the Cox models . RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were studied in each group, with a total of 121 and 153 patients/year of follow up . Final events were counted in 33 and 27 cases, respectively (p = 0.11) . The relative risk of progression was 1.55 (confidence interval of 95%, 0.93 to 2.56) for the group of pneumonias . The estimated relative risk (hazard) performed by a Cox model of proportional risks was however 1.85 (confidence interval of 95%: 1.05 to 3.25, p < 0.05) when the lymphocyte count adjustment was carried out according to the real values rather than by categories . CONCLUSIONS: The results of this historic cohort study support the existence of an association between history of bacterial pneumonia and the risk of HIV disease progression. Infect Immun, 1998 Jan, 66(1), 343 - 6 Bacterial cytolysin perturbs round window membrane permeability barrier in vivo: possible cause of sensorineural hearing loss in acute otitis media; Engel F et al.; The passage of radioiodinated streptolysin-O (SLO) and albumin through the round window membrane (RWM) was studied in vivo . When applied to the middle ear, SLO became quantitatively entrapped in this compartment and no passage to the cochlea occurred . However, flux of radioiodinated albumin through the toxin-damaged RWM was observed . We propose that the passage of noxious macromolecules, such as proteases, from a purulent middle-ear effusion may be facilitated by pore-forming toxins, resulting in cochlear damage and sensorineural hearing loss. Biochem J, 1997 Nov 15, 328 ( Pt 1), 145 - 51 N-terminal stretch Arg2, Arg3, Arg4 and Arg5 of human lactoferrin is essential for binding to heparin, bacterial lipopolysaccharide, human lysozyme and DNA; van Berkel PH et al.; Human lactoferrin (hLF), a protein involved in host defence against infection and excessive inflammation, interacts with heparin, the lipid A moiety of bacterial lipopolysaccharide, human lysozyme (hLZ) and DNA . To determine which region of the molecule is important in these interactions, solid-phase ligand binding assays were performed with hLF from human milk (natural hLF) and N-terminally deleted hLF variants . Iron-saturated and natural hLF bound equally well to heparin, lipid A, hLZ and DNA . Natural hLF lacking the first two N-terminal amino acids (Gly1-Arg2) showed reactivities of one-half, two-thirds, one-third and one-third towards heparin, lipid A, hLZ and DNA respectively compared with N-terminally intact hLF . A lack of the first three residues (Gly1-Arg2-Arg3) decreased binding to the same ligands to one-eighth, one-quarter, one-twentieth and one-seventeenth respectively . No binding occurred with a mutant lacking the first five residues (Gly1-Arg2-Arg3-Arg4-Arg5) . An anti-hLF monoclonal antibody (E11) that reacts to an N-lobe epitope including Arg5 completely blocked hLF-ligand interaction . These results show that the N-terminal stretch of four consecutive arginine residues, Arg2-Arg3-Arg4-Arg5, has a decisive role in the interaction of hLF with heparin, lipid A, hLZ and DNA . The role of limited N-terminal proteolysis of hLF in its anti-infective and anti-inflammatory properties is discussed. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1997 Dec, 104(12), 1391 - 7 Impact of metronidazole therapy on preterm birth in women with bacterial vaginosis flora (Gardnerella vaginalis): a randomised, placebo controlled trial; McDonald HM et al.; OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether metronidazole treatment of women with a heavy growth of Gardnerella vaginalis during mid-pregnancy would reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm birth . DESIGN: A multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial . SETTING: Four metropolitan hospitals . PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred and seventy-nine singleton women with a heavy growth of G . vaginalis or Gram stain indicative of bacterial vaginosis at 19 weeks of gestation . INTERVENTIONS: Oral metronidazole (400 mg) or placebo twice daily for two days at 24 weeks of gestation, and at 29 weeks if G . vaginalis found in test-of-cure swab four weeks after treatment . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spontaneous preterm birth less than 37 weeks . RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analysis showed no difference between metronidazole and placebo groups in overall preterm birth (31/429 {7.2%} vs 32/428 {7.5%}) or spontaneous preterm birth (20/429 {4.7%} vs 24/428 {5.6%}) . Among the 480 women with bacterial vaginosis treatment had no effect on spontaneous preterm birth (11/242 {4.5%} vs 15/238 {6.3%}) . In the subset of 46 women with a previous preterm birth, women in the metronidazole group showed a significant reduction in spontaneous preterm birth (2/22 {9.1%} vs 10/24 {41.7%}, OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.01-0.84) . A treatment effect was also found in compliant women with a previous preterm birth and bacterial vaginosis (0/14 {0%} vs 6/17 {35.3%}, OR 0.0, 95% CI 0.0-0.94) . CONCLUSION: Metronidazole treatment of women with a heavy growth of G . vaginalis or bacterial vaginosis did not reduce the preterm birth rate . Among women with a previous preterm birth, treatment reduced the risk of spontaneous preterm birth . Further studies are required to confirm these findings. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1997 Dec, 104(12), 1398 - 404 Fetal fibronectin, endotoxin, bacterial vaginosis and cervical length as predictors of preterm birth and neonatal morbidity in twin pregnancies; Wennerholm UB et al.; OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive values of fetal fibronectin, bacterial vaginosis, endotoxin and cervical length for preterm birth (< 35 and < 37 weeks) and neonatal morbidity in twin pregnancies . PARTICIPANTS: One-hundred and twenty-one women with twin pregnancies recruited into a prospective longitudinal study at three antenatal clinics in the southwest of Sweden . METHODS: Cervical or vaginal fluid was sampled and determined for fetal fibronectin (> or = 0.05 microgram/mL was used as cutoff), endotoxin (> or = 100 pg/mL) and bacterial vaginosis (presence of clue cells) at two week intervals from 24 to 34 weeks of gestation . The cervical length was measured with transvaginal sonography at the same time intervals . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Occurrence of preterm birth (< 35 and < 37 weeks of gestation) and neonatal morbidity . RESULTS: All positive fetal fibronectin samples obtained at screening between 24 and 34 weeks predicted birth < 35 weeks (RR 18.0; 95% CI 2.2-145.9) . A positive fetal fibronectin at 28 weeks of gestation predicted delivery < 35 weeks (RR 6.3; 95% CI 2.6-15.1) with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 50.0, 92.0, 62.5 and 87.3%, respectively . An independent association between fetal fibronectin at 28 weeks and preterm birth (< 35 weeks) was verified with logistic regression (P = 0.03) . A positive fetal fibronectin at 28 weeks of gestation predicted neonatal morbidity (RR 5.1; 95% CI 2.4-11.0) and a longer period of care at the neonatal intensive care unit . The predictive power of cervical sonography was generally low but cervical length (cutoff < or = 33 mm) measured at 28 weeks of gestation was significantly associated with birth < 37 weeks (RR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1-4.2) . The presence of endotoxin correlated to bacterial vaginosis, but these tests were not significantly related to preterm birth or neonatal morbidity . CONCLUSIONS: Fetal fibronectin predicted preterm birth and neonatal morbidity in twin pregnancies . The predictive value of cervical length determinations was low . Endotoxin and bacterial vaginosis had no predictive power for preterm delivery in this study. Microbiology, 1997 Dec, 143 ( Pt 12), 3671 - 82 Bacterial chemotaxis: Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Sinorhizobium meliloti--variations on a theme? Armitage JP, Schmitt R. We are only beginning to understand the mechanisms involved in tactic sensing in the alpha-subgroup of bacteria . It is clear, however, from recent developments that although the central chemosensory pathways are related to those identified in enteric species, the primary signals and the effect on flagellar behaviour are very different . The expression of chemoreceptors is under environmental control, and the strength of a response depends on the metabolic state of the cell . This is very different from enteric species which always respond to MCP-dependent chemoeffectors, and in which the expression of the receptors is constitutive . Chemotaxis in R . sphaeroides and S . meliloti is therefore more directly linked to the environment in which a cell finds itself . The integration of chemosensory pathways dependent on growth state may be much more suited to the fluctuating environment of these soil and water bacteria . There is still a great deal that needs to be understood about the mechanisms involved in motor control . The presence of at least two CheY homologues and the finding that the swimming speed of these bacteria can vary, and, in the case of S . meliloti, vary with chemosensory stimulation, suggests a different control mechanism at the flagellar motor where speed can be altered, or the motor stopped, with a full delta p still present . Why R . sphaeroides should have at least two functional sets of genes encoding homologues of the enteric chemosensory pathway remains to be determined . The major differences in sensory behaviour between the two alpha-subgroup species so far studied in detail and the differences from the enteric species suggests that many more variations of the chemosensory pathways will be found as more species are studied. Shock, 1997 Dec, 8(6), 439 - 43 Role of peroxynitrite in the protein oxidation and apoptotic DNA fragmentation in vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma; O'Connor M et al.; In the present study, we investigated the role of endogenous and exogenous peroxynitrite in the process of DNA fragmentation and protein oxidation in cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells . Peroxynitrite induced DNA fragmentation over a 24 hr period . The effect of peroxynitrite was unaffected by pretreatment with 3-aminobenzamide, an inhibitor of the nuclear enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) . Stimulation of the smooth muscle cells with bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma produced nitric oxide and peroxynitrite, and resulted in a significant degree of apoptotic DNA fragmentation . The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-methyl-L-arginine (3 mM), but not the PARS inhibitor 3-aminobenzamide (1 mM), reduced the DNA fragmentation . Stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma also caused a marked oxidation of proteins in the smooth muscle cells, which was inhibited by NG-methyl-L-arginine, as well as by the superoxide dismutase mimetic Mn(III)tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin . Based on these data, we propose a role for peroxynitrite-mediated, PARS-independent pathways in the apoptotic process and in the protein oxidation in bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma-stimulated smooth muscle cells. J Infect Dis, 1998 Jan, 177(1), 102 - 6 Differences in N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase and lysozyme in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with bacterial meningitis; Hoijer MA et al.; N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase (NAMLAA) specifically degrades peptidoglycan, a major component of bacterial cell walls . Lysozyme degrades peptidoglycan differently by hydrolyzing the aminosugar backbone of peptidoglycan . In another study, it was shown that the two enzymes act synergistically to inactivate the inflammatory properties of peptidoglycan . The presence of lysozyme and NAMLAA was determined in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with bacterial meningitis . High concentrations of lysozyme were found in CSF while, surprisingly, NAMLAA was not present . To explain this phenomenon, the degranulation pattern of neutrophils in CSF was compared with that of neutrophils from blood . Specific granules contain lysozyme and the azurophil granules contain both lysozyme and NAMLAA . CD66b expression on the cell surface, indicative for fusion of the specific granules with the cell membrane, was higher in CSF than in blood, while the marker for the azurophil granules was lower. Pediatr Neurosurg, 1997 Mar, 26(3), 115 - 9 Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts; Gaskill SJ et al.; Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an infection of the peritoneal fluid in the absence of an obvious intra-abdominal source . It is most commonly diagnosed in patients with cirrhotic ascites, although it has been described in other syndromes as well . The organisms most frequently cultured from the peritoneum are those of intestinal flora; however, there are cases which have all the features of SBP, but remain culture negative . This article discusses 7 cases of SBP in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts; a combination which has previously not been described . The most significant features of these cases include: a remote history of shunt revision (mean 3.4 years), and cultures consistent with normal intestinal flora . None had a history of recent abdominal surgery, gastrostomy or wire-impregnated catheters . Cerebrospinal fluid cultures are often negative, and when positive, suggest SBP with an ascending shunt infection . While SBP is clearly differentiated from pseudocyst of the abdomen, it may represent a point on the continuum of intra-abdominal processes in the shunted patient . The precise etiology of SBP is unclear . A number of suggested theories are reviewed . It is proposed that patients with shunts may be predisposed to develop SBP because spinal fluid can behave as an ascitic fluid even in the absence of a peritoneal accumulation . Recommendations for the recognition and management of SBP in the shunted patient are discussed in detail. Trends Biotechnol, 1997 Dec, 15(12), 500 - 6 Bacterial biosensors for monitoring toxic metals; Ramanathan S et al.; Biosensors utilize biological components to provide selectivity for monitoring compounds of environmental, clinical and industrial importance . A number of biosensors based on bacteria have recently been developed for monitoring toxic metals in the environment . The advantages and disadvantages of these types of biosensors are discussed. Biol Reprod, 1997 Dec, 57(6), 1438 - 44 Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 production by human amnion: regulation by cytokines, growth factors, glucocorticoids, phorbol esters, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide; Keelan JA et al.; Amniotic fluid at term contains high concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 . The source of these cytokines has not been identified, although the fetal membranes (amnion and chorion) are likely contributors . Amnion cytokine production was investigated by using amnion cells isolated by enzymatic digestion (from placentas delivered at term before labor) and cultured in vitro . IL-6 and IL-8 were measured in conditioned media by ELISA . Amnion cells produced detectable amounts of both IL-6 and IL-8 throughout the 7-day culture period . The ratio of IL-8 to IL-6 was approximately 5:1, similar to the ratio found in amniotic fluid . Production of both IL-6 and IL-8 was stimulated in a concentration-dependent fashion by interleukin-1beta (0.1-10 ng/ml), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (1-100 ng/ml), and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (0.1-10 microg/ml), and also by 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate . Epidermal growth factor (1-25 ng/ml) had only minimal effects on amnion cytokine production . Dexamethasone (10 nM) inhibited IL-6/-8 production by approximately 50% throughout the culture period . Production of IL-6/-8 by cultured amniotic fibroblasts, which under basal conditions was much lower than that by epithelial cells, was regulated by all the agents tested in a fashion similar to that of the epithelial cells . These findings suggest that the amnion contributes to the pool of IL-6 and IL-8 in amniotic fluid . We speculate that amnion-derived cytokines might have functions during normal human parturition that are distinct from their conventional roles as inflammatory mediators. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev, 1997 Dec, 61(4), 442 - 55 Rolling-circle replication of bacterial plasmids; Khan SA; Many bacterial plasmids replicate by a rolling-circle (RC) mechanism . Their replication properties have many similarities to as well as significant differences from those of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) coliphages, which also replicate by an RC mechanism . Studies on a large number of RC plasmids have revealed that they fall into several families based on homology in their initiator proteins and leading-strand origins . The leading-strand origins contain distinct sequences that are required for binding and nicking by the Rep proteins . Leading-strand origins also contain domains that are required for the initiation and termination of replication . RC plasmids generate ssDNA intermediates during replication, since their lagging-strand synthesis does not usually initiate until the leading strand has been almost fully synthesized . The leading- and lagging-strand origins are distinct, and the displaced leading-strand DNA is converted to the double-stranded form by using solely the host proteins . The Rep proteins encoded by RC plasmids contain specific domains that are involved in their origin binding and nicking activities . The replication and copy number of RC plasmids, in general, are regulated at the level of synthesis of their Rep proteins, which are usually rate limiting for replication . Some RC Rep proteins are known to be inactivated after supporting one round of replication . A number of in vitro replication systems have been developed for RC plasmids and have provided insight into the mechanism of plasmid RC replication. Am J Emerg Med, 1997 Nov, 15(7), 626 - 9 Measurement of synovial tumor necrosis factor-alpha in diagnosing emergency patients with bacterial arthritis; Jeng GW et al.; Because of the high morbidity and mortality in patients with bacterial arthritis, rapidly and correctly diagnosing this critical condition is a challenge to emergency clinicians . Synovial fluid samples were obtained from 75 patients with arthritis disorders who presented to an emergency service, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured . Twenty patients with culture-proven bacterial arthritis had higher levels of synovial TNF-alpha than patients with osteoarthritis or with inflammatory arthritis, including gouty arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, and lupus arthritis . There was a good sensitivity for synovial TNF-alpha level in diagnosing patients with bacterial arthritis . Nearly 100% of patients with bacterial arthritis had elevated synovial TNF-alpha levels . However, synovial IL-1 beta and IL-6 levels failed to discriminate bacterial arthritis from other inflammatory arthritis . Measurement of synovial TNF-alpha level may be useful as a diagnostic aid in emergency patients with bacterial arthritis disorders. Biochemistry, 1997 Nov 18, 36(46), 14238 - 49 Proton and electron transfer to the secondary quinone (QB) in bacterial reaction centers: the effect of changing the electrostatics in the vicinity of QB by interchanging asp and glu at the L212 and L213 sites; Paddock ML et al.; The bacterial reaction center (RC) plays a central role in photosynthetic energy conversion by facilitating the light induced double reduction and protonation of a bound quinone molecule, QB . Two carboxylic acid residues, Asp-L213 and Glu-L212, located near QB, were previously shown to be important for proton transfer to QB . In this work, the ability of Glu to substitute for Asp at L213 and Asp to substitute for Glu at L212 was tested by site-directed mutagenesis . Both single mutants and a double mutant in which Asp and Glu were exchanged between the two sites were constructed . The electron transfer rate constants kBD (D+QAQB- --> DQAQB), and kAB(2) (DQA-QB- + H+ --> DQA(QBH)-), that are known to be sensitive to the energy of the QB- state, were found to be altered by Asp/Glu substitutions . Both rates were fastest ( approximately 10-fold) in RCs with Asp at both sites, slowest with Glu at both sites ( approximately 50-fold) and relatively unchanged by the caboxylic acid exchange . These changes could be explained if Asp was predominantly ionized and Glu was predominantly protonated at both sites (pH 7.5) . The charge recombination kBD suggests an observed approximately 5 pKa unit difference of Glu over Asp . Modeling of kBD by strong electrostatic interactions ( approximately 3-4 pKa units) among negatively charged acids and QB- indicated a lower intrinsic pKa for Asp compared to Glu at either site of approximately 2-3 units . The mechanism of the kAB(2) reaction was determined to be the same in all mutant RCs as for native RCs . A quantitative explanation of the effect of the electrostatic environment on kAB(2) was obtained using the two-step model proposed for native RCs {Graige, M . S., Paddock, M . L., Bruce, J . M., Feher, G., & Okamura, M . Y . (1996) J . Am . Chem . Soc . 118, 9005-9016} which involves fast protonation of the semiquinone followed by rate-limiting electron transfer . Using simple models for the quinone/quinol conversion rate, it is shown that the optimal electrostatic potential for the QB site is close to that found in native RCs. J Biol Chem, 1997 Nov 21, 272(47), 29518 - 26 A mercuric ion uptake role for the integral inner membrane protein, MerC, involved in bacterial mercuric ion resistance; Sahlman L et al.; Bacterial detoxification of mercuric ion depends on the presence of one or more integral membrane proteins (MerT and/or MerC) whose postulated function is in transport of Hg2+ from a periplasmic Hg2+-binding protein (MerP) to cytoplasmic mercuric reductase . In this study, MerC from the Tn21-encoded mer operon was overexpressed and studied in vesicles and in purified form to clarify the role played by this protein in mercuric ion resistance . MerC-containing vesicles were found to take up mercuric ion independently of MerP . Since uptake correlated with the level of MerC expression was unaffected by osmotic pressure, and was only partially decreased in the presence of 0.05% Triton X-100, the observed uptake appears to represent mainly binding to MerC . Binding was inhibited by thiol-specific reagents, consistent with an essential role for cysteine residues . The essential thiol groups were inaccessible to hydrophilic thiol reagents, whereas hydrophobic reagents completely abolished Hg2+ binding . These observations are consistent with the predicted topology of the protein, wherein all 4 cysteine residues are either in the cytoplasm or the bilayer . A role for MerC in Hg2+ transport is thus also likely . Based on these results, a modified model for bacterial Hg2+ transport is proposed. J Am Soc Nephrol, 1997 Dec, 8(12), 1971 - 6 Subacute bacterial endocarditis masquerading as type III essential mixed cryoglobulinemia; Agarwal A et al.; An adult man presented severely ill with vasculitis of his lower extremities and with impaired kidney function . After detailed evaluation at a local hospital, a diagnosis of essential type III cryoglobulinemia was made . High-dose steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy was begun . The patient improved dramatically . However, 6 wk later when his steroid dose was reduced to 30 mg daily, vasculitis recurred . Intensifying his immunosuppressive therapy only worsened his condition . He was than transferred to the Ohio State University Medical Center for consideration for plasmapheresis for the presumed essential type III cryoglobulinemia . However, our evaluation showed that he had bacterial endocarditis causing his type III cryoglobulinemia . When immunosuppressive drugs were stopped and antibiotics were begun, his condition resolved completely . This case illustrates the difficulty of identifying infectious causes of cryoglobulinemia and emphasizes that an initial, highly favorable response of vasculitis to immunosuppressive therapy does not exclude an infectious cause for the vasculitis. Res Microbiol, 1997 Jan, 148(1), 11 - 20 Inhibition of bacterial cell surface extension by various means causes blocking of macromolecular synthesis; Lleo MM et al.; It has been suggested that, in rod-shaped bacteria, two sites for peptidoglycan assembly exist: one which is responsible for septum formation and the other, for lateral wall extension . The balance between the activities of these two sites enables bacteria to conserve their own morphology during cell growth . The effect of specifically inhibiting septum formation by different means (antibiotics and/or mutations), upon cell surface extension and macromolecular synthesis in rod-shaped and coccoid bacteria of various species, was studied . Inhibition of either cell wall expansion or macromolecular synthesis did not occur when septum formation was impaired in both rod-shaped bacteria and cocci possessing the two sites for peptidoglycan assembly, whereas a rapid and complete block of such synthesis was caused by inhibiting both sites in rod-shaped bacteria, or septum formation in cocci which possess only this site . These data indicate that bacteria possess a control mechanism that prevents macromolecular synthesis when envelope extension is inhibited. Biol Trace Elem Res, 1997 Sep, 58(3), 255 - 61 Bioavailability of rumen bacterial selenium in mice using tissue uptake technique; Serra AB et al.; A tissue uptake experiment was conducted to determine the bioavailability of rumen bacterial Selenium (Se) in mice . The donor animal was wether fed a diet containing 0.2 mg Se/kg dietary dry matter (DM) . Ruminal fluid was collected 2 h postprandially . Bacterial-rich precipitate was obtained by differential centrifugation of the ruminal fluids . This was later freeze-dried and mixed in the diet to be used in feeding the mice experiment . Thirty growing female mice with a body wt (mean +/- SD) of 21.4 +/- 0.74 g were housed in plastic cages (5 mice/cage) and allotted equally to three dietary treatments . Diet 1 and Diet 2 were formulated based on AIN-76, except that no Se supplementation in the form of selenite was made in the former . In Diet 3, rumen bacterial matter was 20% of the diet, which gave an equivalent of 0.1 mg Se/kg dietary DM . The other two diets, Diet 1 and Diet 2, had an Se content of 0.025 and 0.1 mg/kg dietary DM, respectively . A 7-d feeding commenced after 7 d of acclimatization of the semipurified diet . Results showed that those mice fed an Se- (selenite) supplemented diet (Diet 2) had higher (P < 0.05) tissue Se concentrations than those mice fed the other two diets . No statistical differences were observed on various tissue Se concentrations between Diet 1 and Diet 3, although the latter diet had higher values . Kidney and liver had the highest Se concentrations compared to the other tissues . This study concludes that bacterial Se collected from the rumen of wether is not fully available for absorption in the intestine of the mice. Trends Microbiol, 1997 Nov, 5(11), 454 - 8 Are bacterial exotoxins cytokine network regulators? Henderson B, Wilson M, Wren B. Bacterial exotoxins are generally thought to act by damaging cells or altering cell metabolism . However, recent work has established that many exotoxins modulate eukaryotic cell cytokine synthesis . Cytokine induction may play a significant role in exotoxin action, and therapeutic targeting of cytokines could be beneficial in infectious diseases involving bacterial exotoxins. J Neurol, 1997 Oct, 244(10), 634 - 8 Level of transforming growth factor beta 1 is elevated in cerebrospinal fluid of children with acute bacterial meningitis; Huang CC et al.; We investigated the levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in children with meningitis, with a view to prognostic relevance . CSF TGF-beta 1 levels on admission were measured by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay in children with bacterial meningitis (n = 16), aseptic meningitis (n = 12), and control subjects without evidence of central nervous system (CNS) infection (n = 16) . Patients were followed up for a mean duration of 13 months, and neurodevelopmental sequelae was determined for those with bacterial meningitis . On admission, CSF TGF-beta 1 levels were significantly higher in children with bacterial meningitis (mean, standard error, 32.92, 2.36 pg/ml) as opposed to those with aseptic meningitis (25.26, 1.72 pg/ml) (P = 0.0155), or control subjects (20.53, 1.05 pg/ml) (P < 0.0001) . The CSF TGF-beta 1 levels in children with aseptic meningitis were higher than those in the control group, but without significance (P = 0.02) . No apparent correlation existed between CSF TGF-beta 1 levels and CSF protein or cell counts in patients with bacterial meningitis . No significant difference in CSF TGF-beta 1 levels was found between patients with or without major sequelae following bacterial meningitis. J Bacteriol, 1997 Dec, 179(24), 7869 - 71 Comparison of the bacterial HelA protein to the F508 region of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator; Goldman BS et al.; The HelA protein of Rhodobacter capsulatus is the ATP-binding-cassette subunit of an exporter complex required for cytochrome c biogenesis . By primary sequence comparisons the F88 residue of HelA is similar to the F508 residue of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein . Previous studies have established that CFTR F508delta or F508R proteins are defective but F508C is functional . Our results demonstrate that the HelA F88 mutants functionally mimic the phenotypes of known CFTR F508 mutants . The phenotypes of additional HelA mutants and the in vivo steady-state levels of these proteins are also reported. J Leukoc Biol, 1997 Dec, 62(6), 859 - 64 Bacterial LPS and IFN-gamma trigger the tyrosine phosphorylation of vav in macrophages: evidence for involvement of the hck tyrosine kinase; English BK et al.; We and others have previously reported that tyrosine kinases play key roles in the activation of macrophages by both bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) . However, little is known regarding the substrates of tyrosine phosphorylation that mediate macrophage activation and the resultant production of inflammatory mediators . In lymphocytes and other hematopoietic lineages, tyrosine phosphorylation of the proto-oncogene vav appears to be an essential component of cell activation . In this study, we demonstrate that both LPS and rIFN-gamma trigger the prompt, dose-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of vav in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages . In addition, vav is physically associated with the src-related kinase hck in murine macrophages, and antisense oligonucleotides specific for murine hck block both LPS and rIFN-gamma-mediated vav phosphorylation . These findings suggest that hck probably mediates vav tyrosine phosphorylation during macrophage activation and that LPS and rIFN-gamma-mediated signaling pathways partially overlap. J Prosthet Dent, 1997 Nov, 78(5), 518 - 21 Quantitative study of bacterial colonization of dental casts; Mitchell DL et al.; STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Contamination of dental casts can occur if the record bases are improperly disinfected or inadvertently not disinfected during fabrication of a prosthesis . It is essential to develop an effective means of disinfecting dental casts from professional, medical, and legal points of view . PURPOSE: This study determined whether: (1) saliva contamination on the surface of the dental cast contributed to bacterial growth over time and (2) cleaning or disinfecting of dental casts can minimize bacterial growth . MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five dental casts were contaminated with saliva . Each cast was divided into six areas and swabbed at 15, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes . Sheep blood agar plates were inoculated and incubated at 37 degrees C for 72 hours . Standardized dental stone cylinders were contaminated with 25 microliters of saliva and treated by rinsing in tap water, scrubbing with soap and tap water, soaking in 2% glutaraldehyde, or as controls with and without saliva contamination (n = 12) . The treated dental stone cylinders were placed in individual test tubes containing 2.5 ml of sterile phosphate-buffered solution and a final dilution of 10(-4) was achieved . Sheep blood agar plates were inoculated and incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 hours . RESULTS: Contamination of dental casts did not decrease, even when allowed to sit 4 hours before handling . Results also demonstrated that rinsing saliva-treated stone cylinders for 20 seconds significantly diminished bacterial contamination . Scrubbing with soap and tap water or soaking in 2% glutaraldehyde significantly reduced the bacterial contamination of saliva-treated stone cylinders when compared with rinsing with tap water . CONCLUSION: Bacterial contamination of dental casts can occur and requires an effective method of disinfecting. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1997 Nov 26, 240(3), 629 - 34 Bacterial lipopolysaccharide induces early and late activation of protein kinase C in inflammatory macrophages by selective activation of PKC-epsilon; Shapira L et al.; Experiments from our and other laboratories have shown that specific inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibited the secretion of nitric oxide, TNF alpha, and IL-1 beta from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, suggesting an important role for PKC in the inflammatory response . The present study was designed to investigate the mechanism whereby LPS stimulates PKC activity in inflammatory macrophages . Mouse macrophages were stimulated with 0-1 microgram/ml LPS for 0-18 hours, and PKC activity was detected in cell lysates . PKC isoform specificity was determined by blocking PKC activity with isoform-specific antibodies . Treatment of macrophages with 1 microgram/ml LPS induced a two-fold increase in PKC activity within 15 minutes and an additional more significant peak of PKC activity appeared 3 hours post-LPS stimulation . A lower dose of LPS (10 ng/ml) induced the later peak only . The enhancement in PKC activity induced by LPS occurred in both the cytosol and membrane fractions, but the enhancement in the membrane fraction was significantly greater than in the cytosol . The increase in PKC activity in both peaks was abolished only by the addition of anti-PKC-epsilon antibody . The present experiments suggest that PKC activation is an important pathway in the LPS-induced secretory response of macrophages and that PKC-epsilon is the major isoform involved. J Theor Biol, 1997 Nov 7, 189(1), 107 - 19 Modelling Bacterial Degradation of Organic Compounds with Genetic Networks Serra R, Villani M. The bacterial degradation of organic compounds plays a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycles of the earth and in the clean-up of contaminated soils . The processes are carried out by bacterial consortia, rather than isolated strains, which are usually modelled by phenomenological kinetic equations which describe a fictitious, homogeneous bacterial species which mimics the behaviour of the consortium . An alternative modelling framework is presented here, where the bacterial consortia are considered as networks of genes interacting with other genes as well as with chemicals, which may be either introduced from outside or produced by bacterial metabolism . The model is based on an extension of the random Boolean network model of genetic networks, which makes use of continuous dynamical variables . Three different models are introduced, which differ in the way how they account for the existence of different species: (i) a single supercell model, where all the genes can interact strongly with each other; (ii) a graded interaction model, where genes interact strongly within a species, and weakly among different species; and (iii) a separate subsets model, where genes interact only within species . It is shown how this modelling framework is sound, as it is able to reproduce some of the generic behaviours of bacterial consortia, describing experimentally observed phenomena like population changes induced by contamination, and prey-predator dynamics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1997 Nov 25, 94(24), 12833 - 8 Isolation and bacterial expression of a sesquiterpene synthase cDNA clone from peppermint (Mentha x piperita, L.) that produces the aphid alarm pheromone (E)-beta-farnesene; Crock J et al.; (E)-beta-Farnesene is a sesquiterpene semiochemical that is used extensively by both plants and insects for communication . This acyclic olefin is found in the essential oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita) and can be synthesized from farnesyl diphosphate by a cell-free extract of peppermint secretory gland cells . A cDNA from peppermint encoding (E)-beta-farnesene synthase was cloned by random sequencing of an oil gland library and was expressed in Escherichia coli . The corresponding synthase has a deduced size of 63.8 kDa and requires a divalent cation for catalysis (Km for Mg2+ approximately 150 microM; Km for Mn2+ approximately 7 microM) . The sesquiterpenoids produced by the recombinant enzyme, as determined by radio-GC and GC-MS, are (E)-beta-farnesene (85%), (Z)-beta-farnesene (8%), and delta-cadinene (5%) with the native C15 substrate farnesyl diphosphate (Km approximately 0.6 microM; Vrel = 100) and Mg2+ as cofactor, and (E)-beta-farnesene (98%) and (Z)-beta-farnesene (2%) with Mn2+ as cofactor (Vrel = 80) . With the C10 analog, GDP, as substrate (Km = 1.5 microM; Vrel = 3 with Mg2+ as cofactor), the monoterpenes limonene (48%), terpinolene (15%), and myrcene (15%) are produced. Eur J Clin Invest, 1997 Nov, 27(11), 936 - 42 The role of intravenous administration of dextran 70 in enteric bacterial translocation after partial hepatectomy in rats; Wang XO et al.; The aim of this study was to assess the effect of intravenous dextran on bacterial translocation and intestinal vascular endothelial and epithelial barrier function after experimental partial hepatectomy . We determined systemic arterial pressure, enteric bacterial growth (proximal and distal small intestine and colon) and bacterial translocation (BT) to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys and blood, as well as intestinal vascular endothelial and epithelial barrier permeability, after sham operation or partial hepatectomy (50% and 90%) with preoperative intravenous administration of saline, albumin or dextran 70 . Subtotal hepatectomy induced a significant decrease in arterial pressure and an increase in the number of Escherichia coli in the distal small intestine . BT was not observed in sham-operated animals or in rats with 50% hepatectomy administered dextran . The number of positive cultures of enteric bacteria was significantly increased after hepatectomy, whereas dextran treatment decreased the number of animals with BT . Increased permeability of the intestinal vascular endothelial and epithelial barriers was noted in hepatectomized animals, while dextran prevented hepatectomy-induced vascular endothelial barrier injury . Enteric bacterial translocation occurred following partial hepatectomy in the rat, associated with bacterial overgrowth in the distal small intestine . Intravenous administration of dextran 70 prevented bacterial overgrowth and translocation, at least in part, by maintaining gut vascular endothelial barrier integrity Eur J Clin Invest, 1997 Nov, 27(11), 885 - 92 Helicobacter pylori and non-Helicobacter pylori bacterial flora in gastric mucosal and tumour specimens of patients with primary gastric lymphoma; Jonkers D et al.; There is an association between Helicobacter pylori (H . pylori) and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and MALT lymphoma . Histologically, mainly non-specific stains are used to detect H . pylori, such as haematoxylin-eosin (HE) or modified Giemsa (MG) . In this study, both a MG and a specific immunohistochemical stain (IMM) for H . pylori (Dako B471) were performed on sequential slides of resected material containing tumour and non-tumorous gastric mucosa from patients with primary gastric lymphoma (n = 52) . Special attention was paid to the presence of non-H . pylori bacterial flora diagnosed by a positive MG (according to form and localization) and a subsequently negative IMM . On all slides, bacterial density was scored semiquantitatively (grades 0, 1, 2, 3) . In total, 32 (61.5%) patients were H . pylori positive using IMM and 34 (65.4%) were non-H . pylori positive using MG . In 24 out of the 34 patients, the non-H . pylori flora consisted mainly of cocci in combination with rods in 15 patients, mostly in minor quantities; in another 10 patients, high numbers of both cocci and different types of rods were present . Most non-H . pylori bacteria were localized superficially, although in 22 patients minor quantities of non-H . pylori were also seen in the glandular lumina . After all of the patients had been analysed, no differences in the density of H . pylori and of non-H . pylori flora were found . Only when comparing patients who had a small-cell lymphoma with those who had a large-cell lymphoma was a significantly higher density of H . pylori found in the corpus mucosa of large-cell lymphomas and a higher prevalence of non-H . pylori was found in tumours, in antrum or corpus, of patients with large-cell lymphomas . In conclusion, with joint evaluation using MG and a H . pylori-specific immunohistochemical stains, the proportion of H . pylori-positive gastric lymphoma patients was lower than in most previous studies but other bacteria were found in a relatively high proportion . The role of the non-H . pylori intragastric bacterial flora identified in this study has to be further elucidated in the aetiopathogenesis of primary gastric lymphoma. Gastroenterology, 1997 Dec, 113(6), 1848 - 57 Murine CD4 T-cell response to Helicobacter infection: TH1 cells enhance gastritis and TH2 cells reduce bacterial load; Mohammadi M et al.; BACKGROUND & AIMS: Previous findings suggest that TH1 cellular immune responses contribute to Helicobacter-associated gastritis . To further investigate this issue, interleukin 4 gene targeted mice were infected with Helicobacter felis, and a series of adoptive transfer experiments was performed to evaluate the role of both TH1 and TH2 cells . METHODS: Antigen-specific spleen cells from immunized/challenged or nonimmunized/infected mice or CD4+ T-cell lines were transferred adoptively into naive recipients before live bacterial challenge . RESULTS: Transfer of cells from both groups of donors as well as TH1 or TH2 cell lines exacerbated gastric inflammation in the recipients . No effect on bacterial load was observed in recipients of bulk spleen cells from infected mice or recipients of TH1 cell lines . In contrast, when either a TH2 cell line or bulk cells from immunized challenged mice were transferred adoptively, recipients showed a dramatic reduction in bacterial load . Increased numbers of bacteria were also noted in interleukin 4-deficient mice . CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a differential contribution of TH1 and TH2 cell-mediated immune responses in Helicobacter infection: one associated with the pathogenesis of disease (TH1 phenotype) and the other associated with protection from or control of infection (TH2 phenotype). J Cereb Blood Flow Metab, 1997 Nov, 17(11), 1221 - 9 Heparin inhibits leukocyte rolling in pial vessels and attenuates inflammatory changes in a rat model of experimental bacterial meningitis; Weber JR et al.; Heparin is a natural proteoglycan that was first described in 1916 . In addition to its well characterized effect on blood coagulation, it is becoming clear that heparin also modulates inflammatory processes on several levels, including the interference with leukocyte-endothelium interaction . Anecdotal observations suggest a better clinical outcome of heparin-treated patients with bacterial meningitis . The authors demonstrate that heparin, a glycosaminoglycan, inhibits significantly in the early phase of experimental pneumococcal meningitis the increase of 1) regional cerebral blood flow (125 +/- 18 versus 247 +/- 42%), 2) intracranial pressure (4.5 +/- 2.0 versus 12.1 +/- 2.2 mm Hg), 3) brain edema (brain water content: 78.23 +/- 0.33 versus 79.49 +/- 0.46%), and 4) influx of leukocytes (571 +/- 397 versus 2400 +/- 875 cells/microL) to the cerebrospinal fluid compared with untreated rats . To elucidate the possible mechanism of this observation, the authors investigated for the first time leukocyte rolling in an inflammatory model in brain venules by confocal laser scanning microscopy in vivo . Heparin significantly attenuates leukocyte rolling at 2, 3, and 4 hours (2.8 +/- 1.3 versus 7.9 +/- 3.2/100 microm/min), as well as leukocyte sticking at 4 hours (2.1 +/- 0.4 versus 3.5 +/- 1.0/100 microm/min) after meningitis induction compared with untreated animals . The authors conclude that heparin can modulate acute central nervous system inflammation and, in particular, leukocyte-endothelium interaction, a key process in the cascade of injury in bacterial meningitis . They propose to evaluate further the potential of heparin in central nervous system inflammation in basic and clinical studies. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol, 1997 Nov 1, 16(3), 169 - 75 Are HTLV-II-seropositive injection drug users at increased risk of bacterial pneumonia, abscess, and lymphadenopathy? Modahl LE, Young KC, Varney KF, Khayam-Bashi H, Murphy EL. Disease associations of HTLV-II are poorly defined, despite a high seroprevalence among injection drug users (IDU) . One hundred twenty-four HTLV-II-seropositive emergency room and clinic patients were matched by age, sex, and clinic to 120 HTLV-I/II-seronegative patients . Medical records were reviewed blinded to HTLV-II status, and International Classification of Disease 9th Clinical Modification (ICD-9CM)-coded diagnoses were compared between seropositive patients and controls . After adjustment for relevant confounding variables such as human immunodeficiency virus infection, HTLV-II-seropositive IDU had an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia (odds ratio {OR}, 3.45; 95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.58, 7.56), abscess (OR, 8.30; 95% CI, 4.02, 17.11), and lymphadenopathy (OR, 3.91; 95% CI, 1.24, 12.32) compared with HTLV-II-negative non-IDU patients . In contrast, HTLV-II-negative IDU were at only marginally increased risk of the same conditions, with OR of 1.76 (95% CI, 0.42, 7.40), 3.00 (95% CI, 0.94, 9.59), and 1.31 (95% CI, 0.15, 11.66), respectively . These results indicate that HTLV-II seropositivity may define a subgroup of IDU who are at particularly high risk of bacterial pneumonia, skin and soft tissue abscess, and lymphadenopathy . Whether HTLV-II has an etiologic role in predisposing IDU to bacterial infections and lymphadenopathy will require further investigation. J Trauma, 1997 Nov, 43(5), 852 - 5 Splanchnic ischemia and bacterial translocation in the abdominal compartment syndrome; Diebel LN et al.; BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Major trauma or abdominal injury may lead to the development of increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and the onset of the abdominal compartment syndrome . Although the effect of raised IAP on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics have been described, the consequences of the resultant gut hypoperfusion in this setting are unknown . Bacterial translocation (BT) occurs after a period of splanchnic ischemia and may contribute to later organ failure . A rodent model was used to examine the effect of raised IAP on ileal mucosal blood flow (MBF) and BT . IAP was increased to 25 mm Hg for 60 minutes and mean arterial blood pressure was maintained with fluid . Animals were killed 24 hours later and examined for BT . RESULTS: Increased IAP resulted in a decrease of MBF to 63% of baseline despite maintaining normal mean arterial blood pressure . BT occurred principally to the mesenteric lymph nodes after 60 minutes of IAP at 25 mm Hg . CONCLUSIONS: Increased IAP leads to decreased MBF and to BT, which may contribute to later septic complications and organ failure. J Trauma, 1997 Nov, 43(5), 759 - 63 Secretory immunoglobulin A blocks hypoxia-augmented bacterial passage across Madin-Darby canine kidney cell monolayers; Diebel LN et al.; OBJECTIVE: To study the relative impact of previous hypoxic exposure and the addition of secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) on bacterial translocation . DESIGN: In vitro randomized experimental study . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells were grown as monolayers in a two-chamber tissue culture system . Stationary growth phase Escherichia coli M14 were inoculated in the apical chamber with medium or medium containing polymeric secretory IgA . Tissue culture dishes were then placed in a 21 or 5% O2 incubator environment for 90 minutes followed by a 21% O2 environment . Medium from the basal compartment was then obtained at timed intervals for bacterial culture . MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: Bacterial translocation increased with time in co-culture . Previous hypoxic exposure augmented translocation across the monolayers . The addition of IgA blocked translocation under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions . CONCLUSION: Secretory IgA is important in mucosal defense under both normal and shock conditions. Arch Biochem Biophys, 1997 Dec 1, 348(1), 157 - 62 The role of cysteinyl residues in the activity of bacterial elongation factor Ts, a guanosine nucleotide dissociation protein; Hwang YW et al.; The modification of E.coli elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts) by NEM and other sulfhydryl reagents inactivates the protein's ability to bind EF-Tu.GDP and to catalyze GDP exchange . The reactive residue was found to be Cys-22 . Replacement of Cys-22 by Ser or Gly only partially impairs the binding or catalytic properties of EF-Ts while it completely protects EF-Ts from the inactivation by NEM . Cys-22 of EF-Ts is not located at the EF-Ts.EF-Tu interface, yet it can be modified only when EF-Ts is not bound to EF-Tu . These results support the proposal that the conformation change around Cys-22 in the amino terminus of EF-Ts rather than Cys-22 itself is essential for binding EF-Tu . Apparently, modification of Cys-22 by NEM disrupts the conformation change and inactivates EF-Ts . The return of EF-Ts to its native conformation may provide the driving force for the rate-determining step in the catalytic cycle, the dissociation of EF-Ts from EF-Tu.GNP. J Clin Pathol, 1997 Sep, 50(9), 790 - 1 Screening for bacterial vaginosis: a novel application of artificial nose technology; Chandiok S et al.; The AromaScan system was used to analyse vaginal swabs from 68 women attending a genitourinary clinic . Using clinical criteria, subjects were assessed for bacterial vaginosis . After training the AromaScan system to recognise patterns generated from four patients with and four patients without bacterial vaginosis, 16 of the 17 (94%) remaining subjects were correctly identified as having the condition . The positive predictive value of the test was 61.5% . These results indicate that the AromaScan technology may be of value as a screening test for bacterial vaginosis. Genitourin Med, 1997 Aug, 73(4), 306 - 7 When is bacterial vaginosis not bacterial vaginosis?--a case of cervical carcinoma presenting as recurrent vaginal anaerobic infection; Hudson MM et al.; Vaginal anaerobic infection is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women . We present a case of recurrent vaginal anaerobic infection and cervical carcinoma and discuss the association of the two conditions . More frequent cytology/colposcopy may be indicated in women who give a history of recurrent or persistent vaginal anaerobic infection. Genitourin Med, 1997 Aug, 73(4), 267 - 70 Treatment of male partners and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis: a randomised trial; Colli E et al.; OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of treatment with clindamycin of a partner on the recurrence rate of bacterial vaginosis in women within 3 months from diagnosis . SUBJECTS: Eligible for the study were sexually active women with one current sexual partner, who were aged 18-45 years, with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis and whose partner agreed to be treated . METHODS: A double blind, randomised, controlled trial was conducted comparing the effect of treating the partner with either clindamycin capsules or placebo on the reduction of the recurrence rate of bacterial vaginosis . Women were treated with clindamycin 2% vaginal cream, administered intravaginally once daily at bedtime for 7 consecutive days . The partners were randomly allocated to clindamycin hydrochloride capsules, 150 g by mouth four times daily for 7 consecutive days, or a placebo . A total of 139 couples were randomised--69 were treated with clindamycin vaginal cream group and 70 with placebo . One, 4, and 12 weeks after the end of treatment the patients and their partners were examined; vaginal discharges were examined to check for clue cells, vaginal pH was determined, and a KOH test carried out . RESULTS: Overall, 131 women out of the 139 who entered the study were cured (94.2%, lower 95% confidence interval 79.8, based on Poisson's approximation) . There was no difference in the cure rate among women whose partner received clindamycin or placebo (chi(2) p = not significant) . A total of 55 couples (26 in the clindamycin and 29 in the placebo group) withdrew from the study during the follow up period . Of the 69 women whose partner received clindamycin, 22 (31.9%) reported "recurrence" or persistence . The corresponding number was 21 (30%) of the 70 women whose partner received placebo (chi(2) p = not significant) . Of the 84 couples in which the woman was cured by the first week's visit and who completed the study; there were five recurrences (11.6%) among the 43 women whose partner received clindamycin and nine (22.0%) of the 41 whose partner received placebo (chi(2) p = not significant) . CONCLUSION: This study indicates that vaginal clindamycin is effective and safe in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis, but it does not support the suggestion that male treatment markedly reduces the short term recurrence rate. Hua Xi Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao, 1996 Dec, 27(4), 418 - 21 {Rhubarb decoction prevents intestinal bacterial translocation during necrotic pancreatitis}; Chen X et al.; This is a study on the efficacy and mechanism of rhubarb therapy for necrotizing pancreatitis in rats induce by intraductal infusion of 2% deoxycholate 0.4 ml/kg . The rats with such pancreatitis were orally fed with 10% rhubarb decoction 1.5 ml (treatment group n = 8) or normal saline 1.5 ml (control group n = 9) per 8 hours . Sham operated rats (sham group n = 8) were given intraductal infusion of normal saline 0.4 ml/kg . 48 hours after infusion, the rats were killed for studies of intestinal motility, serum endotoxin and amylase levels as well as bacterial cultures in messentary lymph nodes (MLN) and pancreas tissues . 5 rats died in the control group (5/9) and 1 died in the treatment group (1/8) . Remarkable inhibition of gut motility was observed in control group, but gut motility was significantly improved by administration of rhubarb in treatment group . No rat died in the sham group and the rate therein were all free from endotoxemia or positive cultures . Endotoxin level of control group is much higher (61.36 +/- 28.30 pg/L) than that of treatment group (5.41 +/- 3.58 pg/L), (P < 0.001) . Positive cultures were noted in most of MLN (4/4) and pancreas (4/4) in control group, but only 1 in MLN and 1 in pancreas were noted in treatment group . It is concluded that in the treatment of necrotic pancreatitis in rats rhubarb decoction is effective for promoting gut motility and preventing intestinal bacterial translocation. Acta Ophthalmol Scand, 1997 Aug, 75(4), 466 - 9 Metastatic bacterial endophthalmitis . A report of four cases all leading to blindness; Piczenik Y et al.; PURPOSE: To draw attention to the rare but severe entity of endophthalmitis as encountered due to metastatic spread of bacteria . METHODS: We report our experience from four cases of metastatic bacterial endophthalmitis . RESULTS: Systemic infection (Pneumococcus meningitis) was evident in two cases, but in the other two there was no early clue to systemic infection . Eventually, however, endocardial vegetations were disclosed as the source of bacterial emboli (E.coli, peptostreptococcus) . In the most atypical patient, magnetic resonance scanning had indicated disseminated brain tumours, and only autopsy revealed the infectious nature of the disease . Ocular ultrasonography being part of the work-up, the four eyes under study all showed marked morphological intraocular changes, including 'solid tumour' in the presumed neoplastic case . CONCLUSION: Our cases stress the severity of metastatic bacterial endophthalmitis and the easily missed early diagnosis, even where experienced clinicians are involved . The role of diagnostic ultrasound is discussed. Transplantation, 1997 Nov 15, 64(9), 1370 - 3 Influence of bacterial endotoxin on radiation-induced activation of human endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo: interleukin-10 protects against transendothelial migration; Lindner H et al.; To extend previous studies on the anti-inflammatory role of interleukin (IL)-10 in vivo, mice pretreated with IL-10 were subjected to ionizing radiation (IR), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or both and assessed for the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in immunohistochemical analyses . IL-10 was able to almost fully protect LPS+IR-treated animals against ICAM-1 up-regulation . Because LPS and IR also increased adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, transendothelial migration assays were performed to investigate the functional significance of these findings . IR was found to induce transendothelial migration, and this effect could be enhanced by cotreatment with LPS, in the same fashion as peripheral blood mononuclear cell adhesion . Also in this system, IL-10 proved to act as a potent LPS antagonist . Finally, in vivo immunohistochemical analyses revealed an infiltration of CD3+ T lymphocytes into organs that were the target of transplant-related complications after LPS+IR treatment . This infiltration could also be completely reversed by IL-10 pretreatment. J Bacteriol, 1997 Nov, 179(22), 6971 - 8 hetC, a gene coding for a protein similar to bacterial ABC protein exporters, is involved in early regulation of heterocyst differentiation in Anabaena sp . strain PCC 7120; Khudyakov I et al.; Transposon-generated mutant C3 of Anabaena sp . strain PCC 7120 is unable to form heterocysts upon deprivation of combined nitrogen but forms a pattern of spaced, weakly fluorescent cells after 2 days of deprivation . Sequence analysis of chromosomal DNA adjacent to the ends of transposon Tn5-1058 in mutant C3 showed a 1,044-amino-acid open reading frame, designated hetC, whose predicted protein product throughout its C-terminal two-thirds has extensive similarity to the HlyB family of bacterial protein exporters . Its N-terminal third is unique and does not resemble any known protein . hetC lies 1,165 bp 5' from the previously described gene hetP . Reconstruction of the C3 mutation and its complementation in trans with a wild-type copy of hetC confirmed that hetC has an essential regulatory role early in heterocyst development . hetC is induced ca . 4 h after nitrogen stepdown, hours after induction of hetR . Expression of hetC depends on HetR and may depend on HetC . Highly similar sequences are present 5' from the initiation codons and in the 3' untranslated regions of hetC and of two heterocyst-specific genes, devA and hetP. J Reprod Fertil, 1997 Sep, 111(1), 135 - 41 Inhibition of bacterial and boar epididymal sperm immunogenicity by boar seminal immunosuppressive component in mice; Dostal J et al.; Intravenous deposition of the immunosuppressive component, isolated from boar seminal vesicle secretion, led to suppression of primary and secondary antibody response to boar epididymal spermatozoa and to bacterial antigens . The most effective suppression of the immune response was achieved in female mice treated with immunosuppressive component 3 days before the immunization with antigen . The treatment with immunosuppressor 3 days after the immunization resulted in less effective immunosuppression . After the primary immunization, male mice displayed low sensitivity to epididymal spermatozoa . The production of IgG and IgM antibodies to spermatozoa was depressed for a relatively long period in female mice treated with immunosuppressor . The immunosuppressive components of the reproductive gland secretions may protect sperm cells from the adverse effect of the immune system cells and enhance the chance of conception . However, seminal immunosuppressive components may play an unfavourable role by producing a predisposition in the reproductive tract to bacterial or viral infections. Eur J Biochem, 1997 Oct 15, 249(2), 383 - 92 Different consequences of incorporating chloroplast ribosomal proteins L12 and S18 into the bacterial ribosomes of Escherichia coli; Weglohner W et al.; We have incorporated chloroplast ribosomal proteins (R-proteins) L12 and S18 into Escherichia coli ribosomes and examined the hybrid ribosomes for their ability to form polysomes in vivo and perform poly(U)-dependent poly(Phe) synthesis in vitro . The rye chloroplast S18 used for the experiment is a highly divergent protein (170 amino acid residues; E . coil S18, 74 residues), containing a repeating, chloroplast-specific, heptapeptide motif, and has amino acid sequence identity of only 35% to E . coli S18 . When expressed in E . coli, chloroplast S18 was assembled in E . coli ribosomes . The latter formed polysomes in vivo at about the same rate as the host ribosomes, indicating that the replacement of E . coli S18 with its chloroplast homologue has only a minor, if any, effect on function . The L12 protein is much more conserved in sequence and chain length, and is known to have a very important function . The Arabidopsis chloroplast L12 used in the experiment was incorporated into E . coli 50S subunits that associated with the 30S subunits to form ribosomes, but the latter were unable to form polysomes . This result indicates functional inactivation of E . coil ribosomes by a chloroplast R-protein . To further confirm this result, we overproduced chloroplast L12 through the use of a secretion vector and purified the protein to homogeneity . Chloroplast L12 could be efficiently incorporated in vitro into L7/12-lacking E . coli ribosomes, but the hybrid ribosomes were totally inactive in poly(U)-dependent poly(Phe) synthesis . Computer modeling of the spatial structure of all known chloroplast L12 proteins (using E . coli L12 coordinates) indicated a 'chloroplast loop' present only in chloroplast L12 . The presence of this loop might have a role in the observed inactivation . Taken together with previously reported results (summarized in this paper), it would appear that the features of chloroplast R-proteins concerned with specific functions are more divergent than their assembly properties . We have previously described methods suitable for overproduction and purification of chloroplast R-proteins that are encoded in organellar DNA (approximately 20), but that gave poor yield for those encoded in the nuclear DNA (approximately 45) . Here we describe a method that overcomes this problem and allows the purification of nucleus-encoded chloroplast R-proteins in milligram quantities. Trends Biotechnol, 1997 Nov, 15(11), 458 - 64 Bacterial N-acyl-homoserine-lactone-dependent signalling and its potential biotechnological applications; Robson ND et al.; N-acyl homoserine lactones are bacterial signalling molecules involved in regulating diverse metabolic functions, particularly those relating to virulence, in concert with cell density . Each aspect of the signalling pathway, from production and recognition of the signal to expression of the target genes, offers a potential opportunity for exploitation . Attention is now focusing on the development of novel methods for bacterial enumeration, modulation of bacterial virulence and flexible, coordinated expression of heterologous genes through the use of N-acyl-homoserine-lactone-based systems. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract, 1997 Nov, 13(3), 483 - 93 Bacterial pneumonia; Mosier DA; Bacteria play a critical role in the severe pneumonia and fatalities associated with the bovine respiratory disease complex . Although numerous bacteria have the potential to cause pneumonia, only a small number of these are responsible for the majority of cases of disease . Virulence and immunogenic characteristics of these organisms are important determinants of the host response to infection . These bacterial characteristics are reviewed and applied to a discussion of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and prevention of bacterial pneumonia is also discussed. Arch Surg, 1997 Nov, 132(11), 1190 - 5 Bacterial translocation is inhibited in inducible nitric oxide synthase knockout mice after endotoxin challenge but not in a model of bacterial overgrowth; Mishima S et al.; BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) inhibitors injure and protect organs after endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide {LPS}) challenge . OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that LPS-induced gut injury and bacterial translocation (BT) are mediated through activation of inducible NOS (iNOS) . DESIGN: A randomized, controlled study using genetically altered, iNOS gene knockout mice . SETTING: University research laboratory . METHODS: Forty-five wild-type (iNOS+/+) or homozygous mutant (iNOS-/-) mice weighing 25 to 35 g were challenged with Escherichia coli LPS or saline (10 mg/ kg) intraperitoneally (n = 8/group) . In a second set of experiments, a bacterial overgrowth model of BT (E coli monoassociation) was tested (n = 6-7/group) . The mesenteric lymph nodes and cecums were cultured, and liver, ileal, and blood nitrite and nitrate levels measured 24 hours after LPS or E coli monoassociation . RESULTS: After LPS challenge, 87.5% of the iNOS+/+ mice but 0% of the iNOS-/- mice had BT to their mesenteric lymph nodes (P < .01; chi 2 analysis) . Nitrite and nitrate levels of the liver, ileum, and blood were higher in the iNOS+/+ mice (P < .05) . In the E coli overgrowth model, BT to mesenteric lymph nodes occurred in 100% of iNOS-/- and iNOS+/+ mice . CONCLUSIONS: In this limited study, LPS-induced BT did not occur in iNOS-deficient mice, suggesting that LPS induction of increased iNOS activity is necessary for LPS-induced BT to occur . In contrast, iNOS activation does not seem to be necessary in a bacterial overgrowth model of BT. Carcinogenesis, 1997 Oct, 18(10), 1883 - 8 Bacterial and mammalian DNA alkyltransferases sensitize Escherichia coli to the lethal and mutagenic effects of dibromoalkanes; Abril N et al.; Here we confirm and extend our previous studies demonstrating that the mutagenic potency of 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) and dibromomethane (DBM) is markedly enhanced (not prevented) in bacteria expressing the O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (ATase) encoded by the Escherichia coli ogt gene . We demonstrate that, in close parallel with mutagenesis, the Ogt ATase sensitizes the bacteria to the lethal effects of these carcinogens, suggesting that one or more of the potentially mutagenic lesions induced by DBE and DBM in the presence of Ogt has additional lethal capacity . We further demonstrate that the sensitization to both lethality and mutagenesis by DBE and DBM is a property shared by other DNA alkyltransferases . This objective was accomplished by quantifying the induction of mutations and lethal events in ogt- ada- E . coli expressing an exogenous bacterial or mammalian ATase from a multicopy plasmid . Mammalian recombinant ATases enhanced the lethal and mutagenic actions of DBE and suppressed the lack of sensitivity of the vector-transformed bacteria to DBM . In most cases the order of effectiveness of the ATases ranked: murine > human > Ogt > rat . Further comparisons included the full-length Ada ATase from E . coli and a truncated Ada version (T-ada) that retains the O6-methylguanine binding domain of the protein . The full-length Ada ATase was effective in enhancing the lethality but not the mutagenicity induced by DBE and DBM . The T-ada ATase provided less sensitization than Ada to lethality by DBE, but of the three bacterial ATases T-ada yielded the highest sensitization to mutagenesis by this compound . T-ada and Ada ATases were in general less effective than the mammalian versions, with the exception of the rat recombinant ATase . The effectiveness of the different mammalian and bacterial ATases in promoting the deleterious actions of dibromoalkanes was compared with the effectiveness of these proteins in suppressing the lethal and mutagenic effects induced by N-nitroso-N-methylurea . The ability to sensitize E . coli to the lethal and mutagenic effects of DBE and DBM seems restricted to DNA alkyltransferase, since overexpression of thioredoxin (Trx) or glutaredoxin (Grx1) in ogt- ada- cells showed no effect, in spite of the reported potential of bioactive dihaloethane-derived species to alkylate Trx. Braz J Med Biol Res, 1997 Jul, 30(7), 843 - 7 Fibronectin in the ascitic fluid of cirrhotic patients: correlation with biochemical risk factors for the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; Mesquita RC et al.; Cirrhotic patients (23 with alcoholic cirrhosis, 5 with posthepatitic cirrhosis and 2 with cryptogenic cirrhosis) with ascites and portal hypertension were studied and divided into two groups corresponding to high or low risk to develop spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) related to the concentration of total protein in the ascitic fluid (A-TP): group I (high risk): A-TP < or = 1.5 g/dl and group II (low risk): A-TP > 1.5 g/dl . Fibronectin (FN), C3 and C4 concentrations were measured by radial immunodiffusion while total protein was measured by the biuret method . The mean values (group I vs group II) of C3 (12.59 +/- 4.72 vs 24.53 +/- 15.58 mg/dl), C4 (4.26 +/- 3.87 vs 7.26 +/- 4.14 mg/dl) and FN (50.47 +/- 12.49 vs 75.89 +/- 24.70 mg/dl) in the ascitic fluid were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the group considered to be at high risk for SBP . No significant difference was observed in the plasma/ascites fibronectin ratio (3.91 +/- 1.21 vs 3.80 +/- 1.26) or gradient (131.46 +/- 64.01 vs 196.96 +/- 57.38) between groups . Fibronectin in ascites was significantly correlated to C3 (r = 0.76), C4 (r = 0.58), total protein (r = 0.73) and plasma FN (r = 0.58) (P < 0.05) . The data suggest that the FN concentration in ascites is related to the opsonic capacity of this fluid, and that its concentration in the ascitic fluid may be a biochemical risk factor indicator for the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1997 Nov, 63(11), 4612 - 6 Small-subunit rRNA genes and in situ hybridization with oligonucleotides specific for the bacterial symbionts in the larvae of the bryozoan Bugula neritina and proposal of "Candidatus endobugula sertula"; Haygood MG et al.; Larvae of the bryozoan Bugula neritina harbor bacterial symbionts . These symbionts were identified as a novel species of gamma-proteobacterium, based on ribosomal small-subunit rRNA gene sequences . In situ hybridization with oligonucleotides specific for the symbiont confirmed the origin of the sequence . The taxonomic status "Candidatus Endobugula sertula" is proposed for the larval symbiont. Prev Vet Med, 1997 Sep, 32(1-2), 23 - 34 Risk factors for bacterial gill disease in young rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in North America; Bebak J et al.; A retrospective whole-population survey was used to investigate putative risk factors for bacterial gill disease (BGD) in young hatchery-reared rainbow trout in North America . Three sets of analyses were done . The first analysis included as cases all